Hong Kong: 2 virus cases in restricted area

The Government today announced that two positive COVID-19 cases were found in the compulsory testing exercise for the restricted area concerning Tower 1A, IIIB, The Wings in Tseung Kwan O.

It made a restriction-testing declaration yesterday to cover the building where 362 people were tested.

Government staff also visited 167 households there and will follow up on those who did not answer the door.

This story has been published on: 2022-06-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA announced former Governor of Jharkhand Draupadi Murmu as its presidential candidate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is confident that she will be a great President. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote, "Draupadi Murmu has devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, the downtrodden as well as the marginalised. She has rich administrative experience and had an outstanding gubernatorial tenure. I am confident she will be a great President of our nation." "Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Draupadi Murmu. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country," PM Modi said. BJP-led NDA on Tuesday announced former Governor of Jharkhand Draupadi Murmu's name as a Presidential candidate for the upcoming elections. On the other hand, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today announced that former Minister of Finance and External Affairs Yashwant Sinha will be the common candidate of the Opposition parties for the Presidential election, which will take place on July 18, 2022, said a statement. Murmu is the first major tribal female Presidential candidate in India's history. Once elected, she will be the first tribal President of India and the second-ever female President. She is the first major Presidential candidate from Odisha and once elected will become first President of the country from the state of Odisha. The late date for filing nominations for the Presidential election is June 29, the polling will take place on July 18 and the votes will be counted on July 21. (ANI)
On the occasion of the International Day of Yoga, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organized 'Ghat Par Yog' on Signature Bridge Ghat in Delhi on River Yamuna, on Tuesday. This was part of the special initiative of NMCG to have 'Ghat Par Yog' on all Ganga ghats, said a press release by the NMCG. A group of NGOs, officials from Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), volunteers from Ganga Vichar Manch, students, children and local people participated in large numbers in the event which took place between 6 AM to 8 AM, added the statement. The Yoga session was conducted by Yogacharya Dr. Dayashankar Vidyalankar, Consulate General of India, New York, as per the statement. G. Asok Kumar, Director General, NMCG, D.P. Mathuria, Executive Director (Technical), NMCG, Satya Prakash Vashishth, Executive Director (Admin.), NMCG, Himansu Badoni, Executive Director (Projects), NMCG and S.R. Meena, Deputy Director-General, NMCG, Bharat Pathak, Convener, Ganga Vichar Manch also took part in the 'Ghat Par Yog' event in Delhi. More than 350 people participated in the event. Speaking on the occasion, G. Asok Kumar, DG, NMCG said that 'Ghat Par Yog' is the Namami Gange initiative to mark the occasion and several activities are simultaneously taking place at various locations on the banks of River Ganga and its tributaries. This is in line with the Arth Ganga concept given by the Prime Minister at the National Ganga Council meeting in Kanpur. Arth Ganga is to establish the river-people connect through the bridge of economics to ensure the sustainability of the projects taken up by Namami Gange. He said that cleaning of tributaries of River Ganga, especially, Yamuna, is one of the focus areas of the Namami Gange Programme and informed that a 318 MLD STP at Coronation Pillar has already been commissioned recently whereas 3 other main STPs on Yamuna funded by NMCG are targeted to be completed by December 2022, which include Rithala, Kondli and Okhla. "After the completion of these projects, there be a considerable improvement in the quality of water of River Yamuna as 1385 MLD of wastewater will stop flowing into River," he said. He motivated the participants to become part of this Clean Yamuna campaign that is gaining momentum. A cleanliness drive on River Yamuna in Delhi is a regular activity organized on the 4th Saturday of every month by NMCG. (ANI)
The Odisha Police further informed that the state government has announced ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakhs to each of the martyrs' families. DGP expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families stating that operations would continue in the area to track down the Maoists.

Meanwhile, the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his condolences on the demise of the CRPF personnel.

Taking to Twitter, Patnaik wrote, "Shocked at the unfortunate incident in Nuapada District where 3 CRPF jawans laid down their lives fighting the Maoists valiantly. My condolences to the families of the Bravehearts."

On Tuesday afternoon, three CRPF personnel were killed in a Maoist attack in Odisha's Nuapada district, the force said.

The CRPF personnel were part of a road opening party when they came under attack around 2.30 pm.

The troops of 19 Battalion CRPF were deployed for a road opening party near Sahajpani village under Boden police station in Naupada when they were attacked.

The deceased CRPF troops have been identified as Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Shishupal Singh (Uttar Pradesh), ASI Shivlal and constable Dharmendra Singh (both Haryana).

"The troops retaliated forcing the Maoists to flee," the CRPF said.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) on Tuesday decided to postpone the "Agnipath Pe Charcha", a virtual rally by a few days due to the announcement of NDA's Candidate for President of India elections. A new date will be communicated shortly, added the statement. BYJM was going to organise Agnipath Pe Charcha, a special virtual session to better understand the scheme at 11 am on Wednesday. Earlier today, BJP-led NDA announced former Governor of Jharkhand Draupadi Murmu's name as a Presidential candidate for the upcoming elections. More than 1 lakh youth are expected to participate in the event, which will be addressed by General V K Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Civil Aviation and MP and Olympic medallist Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. This rally is being organized to bring clarity among the people regarding the revolutionary Agnipath Scheme and prevent the spreading of rumours and false information. BJYM National President and Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya said, "The opportunity to serve in the Indian Army cannot be compared with any job or salary. The army is like a shield and a kirpan adorned in the hands of Maa Bharati, who, when needed, gives the form of Maa Kali to Maa Bharati. The purpose of the Agnipath scheme is much more than just creating employment. It cannot be called mere employment to lay down one's life for the defence of the country." Agnipath Scheme, which was approved by the cabinet on June 14, was launched in an effort to bring a change in the recruitment process of the Armed Forces. With the new military recruitment scheme facing criticism, the Centre has decided to bring a change in the upper age limit for recruiting Agniveers. (ANI)
A Shiv Sena delegation comprising Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's close aides Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak met party leader Eknath Shinde and other legislators in Surat. Narvekar and Phatak were seen leaving the hotel in Surat on Tuesday evening. According to the reports, a total of 22 MLAs are with Shinde in Surat's Le Meridien hotel. According to the reports, the MLAs might leave the party. Narevekar and Phatak were not allowed to enter the hotel premises on Tuesday afternoon. However, after waiting for nearly half an hour, they were allowed to go inside the hotel. Meanwhile, Shinde in a tweet today indicated that he has decided to part ways with Shiv Sena. In a tweet in Marathi, Shinde said, "We are Balasaheb's staunch Shiv Sainiks ... Balasaheb has taught us Hindutva. We have never and will never cheat for power regarding Balasaheb's thoughts and Dharmaveer Anand Dighe Saheb's teachings." Shinde has also dropped "Shiv Sena" from his Twitter bio. Earlier today, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that a few Shiv Sena MLAs have become "unreachable". According to sources, a day after suspected cross-voting in Maharashtra MLC polls, prominent Shiv Sena leader and state cabinet minister Eknath Shinde has reportedly gone inaccessible with several party MLAs. Sources said the MLAs moved to a hotel in Surat in Gujarat. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also confirmed the developments and said, "Some MLAs of Shiv Sena and Eknath Shinde are currently not reachable. Efforts are being made to topple the MVA government but BJP has to remember that Maharashtra is very different from Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh." "I know Eknath Shinde Ji, he is a true Shiv Sainik. He will return without any conditions. I have heard that our MLAs are in Surat, Gujarat and they are not being allowed to leave. But they will certainly return as all of them are dedicated to Shiv Sena. I trust that all our MLAs will return and everything will be fine," Raut had stated. Raut said that the party is in touch with the inaccessible MLAs. Discussions are also underway with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar."We are in touch with our MLAs who are in Surat now. We are discussing the situation with Uddhav Thackeray Ji and Pawar Sahib. Those working with the thought that they are kingmakers will be unsuccessful," he had added. Shinde is a big shot in Shiv Sena and has been instrumental in strengthening the organisation in the Thane region. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has called an urgent meeting of all Shiv Sena MLAs on Tuesday. All MLAs have been strictly asked to remain present in the meeting, said sources.Shinde was made the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 2014 after the Shiv Sena parted ways with the BJP. He was appointed as a cabinet minister in the MVA government. However, sources said Shinde has been feeling sidelined since the formation of the MVA government. His son Shrikant Shinde represents the Kalyan Lok Sabha seat. (ANI)
The Army will try the Special Forces (SF) personnel allegedly involved in the killing of 13 villagers in Nagaland's Mon district on December 4, 2021 as per the report of its own Court of Inquiry (CoI), a source revealed. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the Nagaland government, has already indicted 30 personnel, including an officer, of the 21 Para SF for the encounter that went wrong. Based on the SIT report, chargesheets have already been filed against the paratroopers under Sections 302, 307, 326, 120B and others of the IPC. While Section 302 deals with murder, Section 307 relates to attempt to murder. Section 326 involves 'causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons and means', Section 120B relates to criminal conspiracy. "If one were to go by the SIT's chargesheet, it would seem like a group of renegade soldiers went to the spot with the intention to kill innocent villagers. This is far from the truth. All the accused are highly-trained personnel of the Indian Army who were on a mission to neutralise a group of militants, including some of the top leadership of the NSCN (K-YA). "It is unfortunate that the van carrying residents of Oting arrived at the spot exactly at the time when the militants were about to get there. The militants were close by and got away, thanks to the confusion," a senior officer in the Eastern Command said. According to another officer, the NSCN (K-YA) is a banned outfit that is against the peace process in Nagaland. In fact, this outfit has been active in the neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh over the last few months, carrying out abductions and extortions. The Assam Rifles has been busy in Arunachal Pradesh, dealing with the NSCN (K-YA). The local population in that state are up in arms against this organisation. "The NSCN (K-YA) has cadres from Myanmar and Nagaland. The outfit is involved in drugs smuggling. Its leaders would love to see our SF personnel facing trial at a civil court. The region where the deaths occurred is close to the India-Myanmar border and villages on the Indian side have been known to shelter cadres and provide safe passage to militants. The intelligence inputs ought to have been updated based on real-time movement. But that doesn't mean that our soldiers were involved in murder," he said. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a retired officer of Lieutenant General rank said how allowing a civil court to try the SF personnel would amount to "throwing them to the wolves". This would affect the morale of the troops who would be reluctant to obey orders, he said. "However painful, such things happen during operations. Do remember that outfits like the NSCN (K-YA) kill innocents simply to scare others into providing them shelter and other support. Unfortunately, our governments are not so active about pressing charges against them. The SIT has no idea of how things operate in the Army. Otherwise, why would all the personnel be charged with murder? A soldier follows the order of his officer. He is not to be blamed if an innocent is killed by his bullets," the retired officer said. Another important point he made is on how quick the state governments are on accusing the Army of excesses. "The Army is not keen to get involved in such 'firefighting' operations. The states create a mess and then seek our support. We are not your fall guys. Let the states handle their own security issues," he added. The Army has the option to try the personnel involved in the incident through court martial proceedings and it will resort to it. This will ensure a fair trial for the accused, based on the findings of the Court of Inquiry. --IANS jayant/arm ( 638 Words) 2022-06-21-19:06:03 (IANS)
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has blamed post-Independence Congress government for deaths of freedom fighters and has stated that memorials and forts having liberation importance, will be restored and beautified. Sawant on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for upgrading the martyrs memorial in the memory of Hirve Guruji and Sheshnath Wadekar at Terekhol (Tiracol) fort in North Goa. Both hailing from Maharashtra were shot dead by the Portuguese, for unfurling the national flag on the fort on August 15, 1955. They had participated in 'Satyaghrah' to liberate Goa. "Many freedom fighters from across India felt that Goa should get liberation from Portuguese and hence they came here to fight against Portuguese. However, then Congress government failed to protect them. It was their responsibility to protect them," Sawant said. "All the 127 freedom fighters who had come at Terekhol fort, were told to go back to India by Portuguese. But they were firm on their decision to liberate Goa. Some of them were later shot dead by Portuguese. They sacrificed their life for the liberation of Goa, hence this history should be passed to the next generation," Sawant said. "We will forever be indebted to the bravery and sacrifice of the martyrs in Goa's liberation struggle. This memorial shall inspire the future generations to imbibe the values of nationalism," Sawant said. He said along with Cabo de Rama fort, Betul fort and memorials, having importance of Goa liberation, will be restored and beautified. Sawant had earlier said that the contributions of Azad Gomantak Dal, a local armed revolutionary group, National Congress (Goa) and other freedom fighters will be included in the history textbooks. --IANS sanjay/skp/ ( 287 Words) 2022-06-21-19:56:03 (IANS)
After the declaration of Droupadi Murmu 's name as BJP-led NDA's presidential candidate, a crowd gathered to congratulate her on Tuesday at her residence in Rairangpur city in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. "I got the news (of getting elected as the Presidential candidate) from all of you and I don't want to comment. Thank you all very much," Murmu told reporters. Speaking exclusively to ANI over the phone, Murmu said she was surprised to learn about her candidature and was unable to believe it and noted that she will work according to the powers of the President enshrined in the constitution. She said she will reach out to members of the electoral college for their support. "I am surprised, I was not able to believe it. I am thankful, do not wish to speak much (at this stage)," Droupadi Murmu, a former Jharkhand Governor, said. "Whatever powers are there of President in Constitution, I will work accordingly," she said in response to a query about her priorities if she is elected as president. Asked about the contest with opposition parties on Tuesday declaring former union minister Yashwant Sinha as their presidential nominee, she said there are candidates in the fray and she will seek the support of MPs and MLAs. "There are candidates. Our work is go to people, reach out to the members of the electoral college and seek their cooperation. I will request all parties, states for support," she said. Droupadi Murmu was on Tuesday declared BJP-led NDA's presidential candidate. She is a former Odisha minister. The voting for presidential elections will be held on July 18. If elected, she will be the first tribal President of India and the country's second female President. Droupadi Murmu is the first presidential candidate from Odisha of a major political party or alliance. She continues to break barriers and was the first woman governor of Jharkhand. She served as Jharkhand Governor from 2015 to 2021. Coming from a poor tribal family in a village of Mayurbhanj, a backward district in Odisha, Droupadi Murmu completed her studies despite challenging circumstances. She taught at Shri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre, Rairangpur. Born on June 20, 1958, she pursued BA at Ramadevi Women's College Bhubaneswar. She started her political career as Rairangpur NAC vice-chairman. Droupadi Murmu was a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Rairangpur between 2000 and 2004. As a minister, she held portfolios of Transport and Commerce, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. She again served as MLA in the Odisha assembly from 2004 to 2009. In 2007, the Odisha assembly honoured her with 'Nilakantha Award' for best MLA. She served as junior assistant in Irrigation and Power Department between 1979 and 1983. She has held several organisational posts in BJP and was vice president state ST Morcha in 1997. Droupadi Murmu was a national executive member of BJP's ST Morcha from 2013 to 2015 and served as BJP district chief of Mayurbhanj (West) in 2010 and 2013. Between 2006 and 2009, she was chief of BJP's ST Morcha in Odisha. She was a member of the national executive of BJP ST Morcha from 2002 to 2009. (ANI)
BJP-led NDA's presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said she was surprised to learn about her candidature and was unable to believe it and noted that she will work according to the powers of the President enshrined in the constitution. Speaking exclusively to ANI over the phone, she said she will reach out to members of the electoral college for their support. "I am surprised, I was not able to believe it. I am thankful, do not wish to speak much (at this stage)," Droupadi Murmu, a former Jharkhand Governor, said. "Whatever powers are there of President in Constitution, I will work accordingly," she said in response to a query about her priorities if she is elected as president. Asked about the contest with opposition parties on Tuesday declaring former union minister Yashwant Sinha as their presidential nominee, she said there are candidates in the fray and she will seek the support of MPs and MLAs. "There are candidates. Our work is go to people, reach out to the members of the electoral college and seek their cooperation. I will request all parties, states for support," she said. Droupadi Murmu was on Tuesday declared BJP-led NDA's presidential candidate. She is a former Odisha minister. The voting for presidential elections will be held on July 18. If elected, she will be the first tribal President of India and the country's second female President. Droupadi Murmu is the first presidential candidate from Odisha of a major political party or alliance. She continues to break barriers and was the first woman governor of Jharkhand. She served as Jharkhand Governor from 2015 to 2021. Coming from a poor tribal family in a village of Mayurbhanj, a backward district in Odisha, Droupadi Murmu completed her studies despite challenging circumstances. She taught at Shri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre, Rairangpur. Born on June 20, 1958, she pursued BA at Ramadevi Women's College Bhubaneswar.She started her political career as Rairangpur NAC vice-chairman. Droupadi Murmu was a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Rairangpur between 2000 and 2004. As a minister, she held portfolios of Transport and Commerce, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. She again served as MLA in the Odisha assembly from 2004 to 2009. In 2007, the Odisha assembly honoured her with 'Nilakantha Award' for best MLA. She served as junior assistant in Irrigation and Power Department between 1979 and 1983. She has held several organisational posts in BJP and was vice president state ST Morcha in 1997. Droupadi Murmu was a national executive member of BJP's ST Morcha from 2013 to 2015 and served as BJP district chief of Mayurbhanj (West) in 2010 and 2013. Between 2006 and 2009, she was chief of BJP's ST Morcha in Odisha. She was a member of the national executive of BJP ST Morcha from 2002 to 2009. (ANI)
The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday appointed Ruchira Kamboj as the next Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations. Kamboj is IFS 1987 batch and is presently Ambassador to Bhutan, and is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Kamboj was earlier posted as Counsellor at India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from 2002-2005, where she dealt with a wide range of political issues, including UN Peacekeeping, UN Security Council Reform, the Middle East crisis. Upon release of Secretary General Kofi Annan's Blue Ribbon Panel Report in December 2014, she was part of the G-4 team that worked on the reform and expansion of the United Nations Security Council, which is a work in progress. Kamboj joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1987. She was the All India women's topper of the 1987 Civil Services batch. She began her diplomatic journey in Paris where she was posted as the Third Secretary in the Indian Embassy to France from 1989-1991. During this period, she studied French at the Institut Catholique, Paris and at the Alliance FranAaise Paris. Upon completion, she served as Second Secretary in the Indian Embassy to France dealing with political issues. In this period, she also doubled as the Mission's Head of Chancery and dealt successfully with four Prime Ministerial visits coinciding with the opening of the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly in September every year. From 2006-2009, she was India's Consul General in Cape Town, South Africa which involved close liaison with the Parliament of South Africa. She was the Deputy Head of the Office of the Secretary General at the Commonwealth Secretariat London. From 2011-2014, she was India's Chief of Protocol, the first and only lady so far in Government to have held this position. In this capacity, she directed all outgoing visits of the President of India, the Vice President of India, the Prime Minister of India and the External Affairs Minister of India. She also dealt with all incoming Heads of Government and State to India. As Chief of Protocol, all High Commissioners/ Ambassadors to India worked closely with her on day to day administration issues including delicate issues surrounding the Geneva Convention on Diplomatic Relations. --IANS miz/skp/ ( 385 Words) 2022-06-21-20:04:02 (IANS)
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Tamil Manila Congress president and former Union Minister, G.K. Vasan have called upon the youth of the nation to grab the opportunity and join in the Agnipath scheme. In a statement on Tuesday, the senior leader said that everyone should support the Agnipath scheme and that the youth should not be misled by the political protests being held across India. He said that the union government envisaged the Agnipath scheme with a futuristic vision that would pave the way for better security and a better India. The former union minister who is the son of illustrious Congress leader late G.K. Moopanar, said that the scheme will modernize the armed forces and will make India a strong nation with the participation of the youth. Vasan said that youth is required for strengthening the security of the nation and that central government has taken efforts to fulfill that requirement. The TMC leader said that the scheme would help youth become financially independent and get them jobs in armed forces or in the government or private sector. He also said that the youth of Tamil Nadu in particular must make use of this opportunity and join the Agnipath scheme. --IANS aal/skp/ ( 210 Words) 2022-06-21-20:12:05 (IANS)
The over a month-long hectic poll campaign for the June 23 by-elections to four assembly seats in Tripura came to an end on Tuesday even as a tense situation prevailed in some areas of these poll-bound constituencies. The campaign was marred by violent incidents. Former BJP government minister Sudip Roy Barman, who is now contesting from the Agartala constituency on a Congress ticket, was injured when 'BJP activists' allegedly attacked him late on Sunday night. Barman, a five-time MLA from the politically important Agartala constituency, is now under treatment at a private hospital in Agartala. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and leaders of other political parties took part in the campaign. The focus was on the Town Bordowali Assembly constituency, where 69-year-old Congress-turned-BJP leader and Chief Minister Manik Saha is contesting against five other candidates. Saha, the state party president and a Rajya Sabha member who assumed office on May 15, a day after Biplab Kumar Deb's resignation from the top post, is contesting the elections for the first time. He has to become a member of the Assembly within six months. The CPI-M, Congress, Trinamool Congress and the ruling BJP have submitted a series of complaints to the Election Commission about the political violence and violation of the model code of conduct ahead of the by-polls. The by-polls were necessitated after the resignation of three BJP MLAs and the death of CPI-M legislator Ramendra Chandra Debnath. Amid open resentment in a section of BJP legislators against the then CM Deb, three MLAs -- Sudip Roy Barman (Agartala), Ashish Kumar Saha (Town Bordowali) and Ashis Das (Surma) -- quit the BJP and the Assembly. Roy Barman, also a former BJP minister, and Saha joined the Congress in February this year while Das joined the TMC last year. Das last month also resigned from the TMC. Elected from the Jubarajnagar constituency six times, Debnath was Assembly Speaker multiple times. He passed away on February 2 in Kolkata due to kidney failure. As the BJP, CPI-M led Left Front, Congress and the Trinamool Congress and other local parties put up their candidates, the by-elections would be multi-cornered. The votes will be counted on June 26. --IANS sc/uk/bg ( 386 Words) 2022-06-21-20:26:05 (IANS)
The Bhartiya Janata Party is keeping a close watch on political developments in Maharashtra and exploring all the options, but cautious in its approach keeping the past experience in the state. A political crisis hit the Maha Vikas Agadhi government on Tuesday morning when over 25 Shiv Sena MLAs, including Minister Eknath Shinde became 'unreachable'. Sources said that rebel Shiv Sena MLAs shifted to a hotel in Surat as they are dissatisfied and unhappy with the party and the MVA government. A senior BJP functionary said that the party central leadership is closely monitoring the situation and will take the next step accordingly. "Before next move, we have to be sure that numbers are against the MVA government and more and more Shiv Sena MLAs join Shinde. Cracks have appeared in the MVA government and it will collapse due its own differences," he said. It is learnt that the BJP central leadership is calculating the numbers and is hoping that Shinde will bring more MLAs in his camp. After being sure of numbers, the BJP will approach the Governor with a request to ask the MVA government to prove the majority on the floor of the Assembly. "Instead of moving a no-confidence motion we will ask the MVA to prove majority on the floor of the house. With the rebellion by Shinde and other MLAs, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has lost the majority," a BJP leader said. A BJP insider said that party is treading cautiously amid the changing political situation in Maharashtra to avoid repeat of 2019 misadventure when Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra and later resigned due to lack of numbers. "We are cautiously moving ahead and do not want any misadventure similar to 2019. We are trying to form the government in Maharashtra but only when numbers are in our favour," he said. Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met BJP chief J.P. Nadda to discuss the developing political situation in Maharashtra. Sources in the BJP said that Nadda and Shah were discussing the changing political situation in the state and the party's future course of action. The BJP gave a big jolt to the ruling MVA alliance this month by getting all its candidates elected in Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls. In the Rajya Sabha polls, the BJP bagged three seats, while the ruling alliance secured three, with one each for Sena-NCP-Congress, while the Sena's second candidate was defeated. In legislative council polls, the BJP won five, Shiv Sena and NCP two each, and Congress one, while one Congress candidate lost the polls. --IANS ssb/skp/ ( 452 Words) 2022-06-21-20:28:02 (IANS)
BJP-led NDA's presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu is likely to her nomination on June 25, said sources on Tuesday. Droupadi Murmu, on Tuesday, was declared BJP-led NDA's presidential candidate. She is a former Governor of Jharkhand and a former Odisha minister. On the other hand, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today announced that former Minister of Finance and External Affairs Yashwant Sinha will be the common candidate of the Opposition parties for the Presidential election, which will take place on July 18, 2022, said a statement. The late date for filing nominations for the Presidential election is June 29, the polling will take place on July 18 and the votes will be counted on July 21. Speaking exclusively to ANI over the phone, Murmu said she was surprised to learn about her candidature and was unable to believe it and noted that she will work according to the powers of the President enshrined in the constitution. She said she will reach out to members of the electoral college for their support. "I am surprised, I was not able to believe it. I am thankful, do not wish to speak much (at this stage)," Droupadi Murmu, a former Jharkhand Governor, said. "Whatever powers are there of President in Constitution, I will work accordingly," she said in response to a query about her priorities if she is elected as president. Asked about the contest with opposition parties on Tuesday declaring former union minister Yashwant Sinha as their presidential nominee, she said there are candidates in the fray and she will seek the support of MPs and MLAs. "There are candidates. Our work is go to people, reach out to the members of the electoral college and seek their cooperation. I will request all parties, states for support," she said. Droupadi Murmu was on Tuesday declared BJP-led NDA's presidential candidate. She is a former Odisha minister. The voting for presidential elections will be held on July 18. If elected, she will be the first tribal President of India and the country's second female President. Droupadi Murmu is the first presidential candidate from Odisha of a major political party or alliance. She continues to break barriers and was the first woman governor of Jharkhand. She served as Jharkhand Governor from 2015 to 2021. Coming from a poor tribal family in a village of Mayurbhanj, a backward district in Odisha, Droupadi Murmu completed her studies despite challenging circumstances. She taught at Shri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre, Rairangpur. Born on June 20, 1958, she pursued BA at Ramadevi Women's College Bhubaneswar. She started her political career as Rairangpur NAC vice-chairman. Droupadi Murmu was a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Rairangpur between 2000 and 2004. As a minister, she held portfolios of Transport and Commerce, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. She again served as MLA in the Odisha assembly from 2004 to 2009. In 2007, the Odisha assembly honoured her with 'Nilakantha Award' for best MLA. She served as junior assistant in Irrigation and Power Department between 1979 and 1983. She has held several organisational posts in BJP and was vice president state ST Morcha in 1997. Droupadi Murmu was a national executive member of BJP's ST Morcha from 2013 to 2015 and served as BJP district chief of Mayurbhanj (West) in 2010 and 2013. Between 2006 and 2009, she was chief of BJP's ST Morcha in Odisha. She was a member of the national executive of BJP ST Morcha from 2002 to 2009. (ANI)
After Girish Murmu as Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Odisha's Mayurbhanj district is all set to have another distinction with Droupadi Murmu declared NDA presidential candidate for the top constitutional post. BJP-led NDA on Tuesday announced former Governor of Jharkhand Droupadi Murmu's name as a Presidential candidate for the upcoming elections. Speaking exclusively to ANI over the phone, Murmu said she was surprised to learn about her candidature and was unable to believe it and noted that she will work according to the powers of the President enshrined in the constitution. she said she will reach out to members of the electoral college for their support. "I am surprised, I was not able to believe it. I am thankful, do not wish to speak much (at this stage)," Droupadi Murmu, a former Jharkhand Governor, said. "Whatever powers are there of President in Constitution, I will work accordingly," she said in response to a query about her priorities if she is elected as president. Asked about the contest with opposition parties on Tuesday declaring former union minister Yashwant Sinha as their presidential nominee, she said there are candidates in the fray and she will seek the support of MPs and MLAs. "There are candidates. Our work is go to people, reach out to the members of the electoral college and seek their cooperation. I will request all parties, states for support," she said. Droupadi Murmu was on Tuesday declared BJP-led NDA's presidential candidate. She is a former Odisha minister. The voting for presidential elections will be held on July 18. If elected, she will be the first tribal President of India and the country's second female President. Droupadi Murmu is the first presidential candidate from Odisha of a major political party or alliance. She continues to break barriers and was the first woman governor of Jharkhand. She served as Jharkhand Governor from 2015 to 2021. Coming from a poor tribal family in a village of Mayurbhanj, a backward district in Odisha, Droupadi Murmu completed her studies despite challenging circumstances. She taught at Shri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre, Rairangpur. Born on June 20, 1958, she pursued BA at Ramadevi Women's College Bhubaneswar. She started her political career as Rairangpur NAC vice-chairman. Droupadi Murmu was a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Rairangpur between 2000 and 2004. As a minister, she held portfolios of Transport and Commerce, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. She again served as MLA in the Odisha assembly from 2004 to 2009. In 2007, the Odisha assembly honoured her with 'Nilakantha Award' for best MLA. She served as a junior assistant in Irrigation and Power Department between 1979 and 1983. She has held several organisational posts in BJP and was vice president state ST Morcha in 1997. Droupadi Murmu was a national executive member of BJP's ST Morcha from 2013 to 2015 and served as BJP district chief of Mayurbhanj (West) in 2010 and 2013. Between 2006 and 2009, she was chief of BJP's ST Morcha in Odisha. She was a member of the national executive of BJP ST Morcha from 2002 to 2009. (ANI)
West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday gave clear indications that the bills to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as Chancellor of different state universities, will not get an easy nod from his end, even after their passage by the Assembly. "I will observe the contents of the bills purely from the legal and constitutional angle and I will take a decision on them as per provisions of the law. The present state administration has brought the Governor and the Chief Minister on the same row. A bill is being presented in the Assembly to remove me as the Chancellor. I will study the bill minutely. I will not be biased. I will have to see whether the constitutional provisions have been violated in the bill. If that happens, I will not give my consent to the bill," he said. Although opposition leaders, educationists and members of the civil society had been speaking against the decision to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as the Chancellor of state universities, the Governor himself had been silent so far. This for the first time that he has expressed his views on the bills. The Governor also launched a scathing attack against the Trinamool Congress government on the recent cases of irregularities in teachers' recruitments at various levels. "The democratic breathing space in the state had been choked. Never ever before the country has witnessed such large-scale recruitment irregularities. People not figuring in the merit list have been given appointments. The education system in West Bengal is on the verge of destruction. Thousands of eligible youths are deprived of jobs because of this scam. But I have not forgotten my oath to protect democracy and the Constitution," Dhankhar said. Reacting to the Governor's statement, Trinamool state General Secretary and party spokesman, Kunal Ghosh said that the Governor is speaking like a mouthpiece of the BJP and thus, insulting his own constituional post. --IANS src/vd ( 337 Words) 2022-06-21-21:22:02 (IANS)
After 11 hours of interrogation, the Enforcement Directorate summoned Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Minister Anil Parab on Wednesday again for questioning in connection with an alleged money laundering case. Earlier on Tuesday, the ED quizzed Parab for 11 hours. Speaking to media persons after being quizzed by ED for 11 hours, Parab said that he had answered all questions asked by the probe agency. "I have answered all questions asked by the ED (on June 21). I had answered their questions earlier when I was summoned and will do so later as well," said Parab, after being quizzed by ED for 11 hours in an alleged money laundering case. On May 26, ED conducted raids at seven locations in Pune and Mumbai linked to the Maharashtra minister after the agency filed a case under the sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The raids were carried out at Parab's official as well as a private residence. In September 2021, Parab appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Mumbai for questioning in connection with the bribery and money laundering case against the former home minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Anil Deshmukh. In its charge-sheet against Deshmukh's two arrested aides, the ED last year said dismissed assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze, in his statement, claimed Parab allegedly received crores of rupees through Nagpur's deputy regional transport officer Bajrang Kharmate as a bribe for transfers of 10 police officers in Mumbai. The ED earlier questioned Kharmate for seven-and-a-half hours. Kharmate is believed to be a close aide to Parab. His name surfaced in the case following statements of some witnesses in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act case against Deshmukh. On April 8 this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Bombay High Court stated that Deshmukh was the "mastermind" behind the money laundering case and that he had misused his official position to amass wealth. (ANI)
A fiery orator, a quietly efficient organiser known for taking spot decisions and a hardcore loyalist, Shiv Sena leader and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde is suddenly in the dock for daring the party's might and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance government in Maharashtra. Once considered a dependable 'trouble-shooter', today Shinde, 58, himself has become a troublesome problem with the entire party out gunning for him. At the same time, the opposition BJP almost looked at him like a potential messiah who would deliver them to the treasury bench. Though rebels or rebellions are no strangers to Shiv Sena, the manner in which Shinde attempted to undermine the party - and the three-party MVA led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray - has stupefied his staunchest supporters. Earlier, there were prominent names like Chhagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, Sanjay Nirupam and a family man, Raj Thackeray, besides many others at lower levels who quit the Shiv Sena in a huff, but the party was barely dented. MVA leaders confess that Shinde's act of weaning away around a dozen Sena MLAs without the alliance getting any inkling was akin to a 'Houdini-style' feat. A Congress leader has asked why the police escort with each MLA failed to report the matter to the concerned authorities, especially when they were crossing state borders. Later, it emerged that the MLAs had reportedly discarded their vehicles and police security to board a bus to Nashik, but it landed them in Surat in BJP-ruled Gujarat. Having once scalded its face in the 80-hour-long, two-man government in November 2019, this time the BJP is extra-cautious and has not jumped blindly into any political adventure till Shinde's real strength is known. MVA leaders informed that 31 Sena MLAs are present in Mumbai, another 14-odd accounted for, and all have declared they are not rebelling, leaving Shinde with barely 10-odd MLAs, plus some Independents. By Tuesday afternoon, relieved Sena leaders claimed that several MLAs who were 'misled' by Shinde had got in touch with the party, the spouses of some proclaimed that the MLAs were 'abducted', and tensions seemed to ebb with even NCP-Congress MLAs not crossing the 'Laxman Rekha'. Amid reports of 'proposals' received from the rebel ministers, an emboldened Sena clipped Shinde's wings by removing him from the powerful post of Shiv Sena legislative party leader and appointed senior MLA Ajay Chaudhri in his place. Adopting a dual strategy of keeping communication lines open with Shinde and beefing up the MVA's position while isolating the rebel/s may have helped as the mood turned from morose to upbeat by late evening. The Sena leadership and the MVA partners also engaged in informal consultations to save the government though officially, the NCP-Congress maintained that it is Sena's "internal issue" and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is competent to resolve it. Several party leaders compared the Shinde drama to the secretive, pre-dawn shady attempt by Devendra Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar to come to power, which came to a nought as the NCP moved fast to collect its flock of MLAs who had strayed to the neighbouring states and north India. Hailing from a Maratha family of Jawali in Satara, Shinde has had a modest beginning in life -- a small transport business, doing odd jobs and moving to Thane. There he came in contact with Sena's former Thane supremo Anand Dighe and was deeply influenced by the Sena founder-patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray -- by whose name he swears even today. Shinde picked up many qualities of Balasaheb and Dighe, remaining soft-spoken, humble, helpful and down-to-earth, but shot up in politics to count among the Top 5. His son, Shrikant Shinde, is a two-term MP from Kalyan. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at:Aq.najmi@ians.in) --IANS qn/arm ( 630 Words) 2022-06-21-22:00:02 (IANS)
A protege of Anand Dighe, the then Thane district chief of Shiv Sena, Shinde joined politics in 1980 and was elected as councillor in 1997, and as MLA in 2004. Since then he is continuously winning and holds the Urban Development portfolio in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. He also served as the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly.

He joined the Shiv Sena in the '80s and was appointed Shakha Pramukh of Kisan Nagar. In 2001, he got elected as a leader of the house in Thane municipal corporation.

Shinde, who has risen from the grassroots level, has fallen out with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and is now leading a coup against him, putting the MVA government in crisis.

He thus joined the league of Narayan Rane and Suresh Prabhu who have been at loggerheads with the first family of Shiv Sena.

Shinde made a telling tweet indicating his 'rebellious' mood, saying: "We are Balasaheb (Thackeray)'s staunch Shiv Sainiks. Balasaheb has taught us Hindutva. We have never and will never compromise on the teachings of Balasaheb and 'dharmaveer' Anand Dighe for power."

Significantly, he has knocked off the Shiv Sena logo from his Twitter handle, which was noted by the MVA allies.

The Sena hit back by sacking Shinde as the legislative party leader, replacing him with loyal Shiv Sainik Ajay Chaudhari.

--IANS miz/skp/arm

( 263 Words)

2022-06-21-22:06:03 (IANS)
According to a new study by the University of Washington, a new population of polar bears documented on the southeast coast of Greenland use glacier ice to survive despite limited access to sea ice. This small, genetically distinct group of polar bears could be important to the future of the species in a warming world. "We wanted to survey this region because we didn't know much about the polar bears in Southeast Greenland, but we never expected to find a new subpopulation living there," said lead author Kristin Laidre, a polar scientist at the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory. "We knew there were some bears in the area from historical records and Indigenous knowledge. We just didn't know how special they were." The study, published in the June 17 issue of Science, combines seven years of new data collected along the southeastern coast of Greenland with 30 years of historical data from the island's whole east coast. The remote Southeast region had been poorly studied because of its unpredictable weather, jagged mountains and heavy snowfall. The newly collected genetic, movement and population data show how these bears use glacier ice to survive with limited access to sea ice. "Polar bears are threatened by sea ice loss due to climate change. This new population gives us some insight into how the species might persist into the future," said Laidre, who is also a UW associate professor of aquatic and fishery sciences. "But we need to be careful about extrapolating our findings, because the glacier ice that makes it possible for Southeast Greenland bears to survive is not available in most of the Arctic." The genetic difference between this group of bears and its nearest genetic neighbor is greater than that observed for any of the 19 previously known polar bear populations. "They are the most genetically isolated population of polar bears anywhere on the planet," said co-author Beth Shapiro, a professor and geneticist at the University of California, Santa Cruz and investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "We know that this population has been living separately from other polar bear populations for at least several hundred years, and that their population size throughout this time has remained small." Part of the reason the population is so isolated, researchers believe, is that the bears are hemmed in on all sides: by the sharp mountain peaks and massive Greenland Ice Sheet to the west, the open water of the Denmark Strait to the east, and by the fast-flowing East Greenland coastal current that poses a hazard offshore. Before starting the fieldwork, the team spent two years soliciting input and gathering information from polar bear subsistence hunters in East Greenland. Hunters participated throughout the study, contributing their expertise, and providing harvest samples for genetic analysis. The satellite tracking of adult females shows that, unlike most other polar bears that travel far over sea ice to hunt, Southeast Greenland bears are homebodies. They walk on ice inside protected fjords or scramble up mountains to reach neighboring fjords over the Greenland Ice Sheet. Half of the 27 tracked bears accidentally floated an average of 120 miles (190 kilometers) south on small ice floes caught in the East Greenland coastal current, but then hopped off and walked back north on land to their home fjord. "In a sense, these bears provide a glimpse into how Greenland's bears may fare under future climate scenarios," Laidre said. "The sea ice conditions in Southeast Greenland today resemble what's predicted for Northeast Greenland by late this century." Southeast Greenland bears have access to sea ice for only four months, between February and late May. Sea ice provides the platform that most of the Arctic's roughly 26,000 polar bears use to hunt seals. But polar bears can't fast for eight months. For two-thirds of the year, the Southeast Greenland polar bears rely on a different strategy: They hunt seals from chunks of freshwater ice breaking off the Greenland Ice Sheet. "The marine-terminating glaciers in Southeast Greenland are a fairly unique environment," said co-author Twila Moon, deputy lead scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center. "These types of glaciers do exist in other places in the Arctic, but the combination of the fjord shapes, the high production of glacier ice and the very big reservoir of ice that is available from the Greenland Ice Sheet is what currently provides a steady supply of glacier ice." The fact that bears can survive here suggests that marine-terminating glaciers, and especially those regularly calving ice into the ocean, could become small-scale climate refugia -- places where some polar bears could survive as sea ice on the ocean's surface declines. Similar habitats exist at marine-terminating glaciers on other parts of Greenland's coast and the island of Svalbard, a Norwegian territory located east of Greenland. "Even with rapid changes happening on the ice sheet, this area in Greenland has the potential to continue to produce glacial ice, with a coast that may looks similar to today, for a long time," Moon said. The authors estimate that there are roughly a few hundred bears in Southeast Greenland, similar to other small populations. Body measurements suggest that adult females are smaller than in most regions. They also have fewer cubs, which may reflect the challenge of finding mates in the complex landscape of fjords and mountains. Laidre cautioned, however, that longer-term monitoring is needed to know the future viability of Southeast Greenland bears and to understand what happens to polar bear subpopulations as they become increasingly cut off from the rest of the Arctic by declining sea ice. "If you're concerned about preserving the species, then yes, our findings are hopeful -- I think they show us how some polar bears might persist under climate change," Laidre said. "But I don't think glacier habitat is going to support huge numbers of polar bears. There's just not enough of it. We still expect to see large declines in polar bears across the Arctic under climate change." The government of Greenland will decide on any protection and management measures. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, which helps oversee protected species, is responsible for determining whether Southeast Greenland bears are internationally recognized as a separate population, the 20th in the world. "Preserving the genetic diversity of polar bears is crucial going forward under climate change," Laidre said. "Officially recognizing these bears as a separate population will be important for conservation and management." (ANI)
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Hollywood actor and producer Ben Stiller, who is visiting Ukraine as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. Ben Stiller and UNHCR Representative in Ukraine Karolina Lindholm Billing visited the Office of the President after a visit to the occupied settlements of the Kyiv region. On Monday, they visited, in particular, the ruined residential areas of Irpin, where they talked to people who survived the occupation. "It's one thing to see this destruction on TV or on social networks. Another thing is to see it all with your own eyes. That's a lot more shocking," said Stiller. "What you saw in Irpin is definitely dreadful. But it is even worse to just imagine what is happening in the settlements that are still under temporary occupation in the east," Zelenskyy said in response. The Ukraine President and the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador discussed the needs of temporarily displaced persons in Ukraine, as well as those in Poland, which Ben Stiller visited the day before. Zelenskyy and the UNHCR delegation discussed ways of further cooperation of the Ukrainian authorities with UNHCR. On World Refugee Day, Stiller called for compassion and support for all refugees around the world and those forced to flee. During a visit to Poland and Ukraine this week, where Stiller is meeting those recently forced to flee their homes, the actor, director, and long-term Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, is calling for urgent global support and funding, not only for those affected by the Ukraine crisis, but for every one of the 100 million around the world who have been forced to flee. In a statement to mark World Refugee Day today, Stiller said: "I'm here meeting people forced to flee their homes due to the war in Ukraine. People have shared stories about how the war has changed their lives - how they've lost everything and are deeply worried about their future." "Over the years I've had the chance to meet refugees and asylum seekers from around the world-from Syria, Central America, Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Ukraine," he added. Since Saturday 18 June, Stiller has been in Poland and Ukraine meeting with individuals and families who have been displaced due to the war. According to UNHCR, the war in Ukraine is driving the fastest and one of the largest forced displacement crises since World War II. Families have been torn apart and the trauma of war will have a lasting impact on many of those forced to flee their homes, including women and children, who represent some 90 per cent of those forced to flee. (ANI)
The United Kingdom has welcomed the release of five British nationals who were detained in Afghanistan for breach of Afghan culture and customs in the Taliban-ruled country. On Monday, the Taliban confirmed they had freed several British men after holding them for about six months. The confirmation came after British officials announced that five of their citizens had been released from detention. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said they were handed over to the United Kingdom on Sunday after a series of meetings between the two sides. In a Twitter post, the Taliban official said that the men were detained for breaching Afghan laws and traditions. "We welcome and appreciate the release by the current administration of Afghanistan of 5 British nationals who were detained in Afghanistan," the UK Foreign Office said in a statement. "These British nationals had no role in the UK Government's work in Afghanistan and travelled to Afghanistan against the UK Government's travel advice. This was a mistake. On behalf of the families of the British nationals, we express their apologies for any breach of Afghan culture, customs or laws, and offer their assurance of future good conduct," the statement added. This comes after the UK government on Sunday said that it does not support anyone seeking to achieve political change through violence in Afghanistan and condemns terrorist attacks of all kinds in the country. In an official statement on violence in Afghanistan, the UK government said, "The UK does not support anyone seeking to achieve political change through violence in Afghanistan." Hugo Shorter, Charge d'Affaires at the UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha said, "The UK does not support anyone, including Afghan nationals, seeking to achieve political change through violence, or any activity inciting violence for political purposes, in Afghanistan, and will not allow UK soil to be used to plan or prepare it, and we strongly discourage others from doing so." "Violence of any kind is not in Afghanistan's interests, nor the international community's, and we deplore terrorist attacks of all kinds," he added. To promote peace and stability, to deliver essential humanitarian support to the Afghan people, and to address shared concerns on security, there is no alternative to engaging pragmatically with the current administration of Afghanistan, and that is what we are doing, read the press release quoting Shorter as saying. Earlier, the UK's former chief of defence David Richards said that the West will recognize the Taliban sooner or later and urged governments to be "magnanimous in defeat." "I think the West is going to end up recognizing the Taliban government. If that's the case, then we'd better get on with it quicker, sooner rather than later. There's a great phrase to be magnanimous in victory. I think this is an occasion for us to be magnanimous in defeat," said Richards to a UK-based media, The Khaama Press reported. Richards warned that it was time to accept that the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan has been lost and that the US must start working with the new leadership for the sake of the Afghan people. (ANI)
Pakistan's election commission has sought the army's assistance after an 'armed clash' between workers of the PML-N and PTI during the by-poll campaign in Johar Town in Punjab province which left several people injured on Sunday. This comes after some video clips of the violence went viral which showed armed men and other people attacking each other. According to Dawn newspaper, the brawl that continued for some hours left six people injured who were shifted to nearby hospitals. The police were rushed to the site to ease the situation following emergency calls about men carrying clubs and damaging some vehicles in Johar Town. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has asked the police to take action against culprits without taking sides, the Dawn newspaper reported. Sultan Raja, Pakistan's Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar has sought a compliance report and directed the inspector-general of Punjab Police to ensure the arrest of suspects and conduct a transparent inquiry. The Lahore Police told Dawn that the police force responded timely, raised security and also made some arrests when the clashes erupted between the workers of both political parties. He said the Johar Town police also registered a case against the 'attackers'. He said the PTI candidate for PP-167 had blamed the rival party workers for the scuffle and firing which left his nephew injured. Lahore Operations DIG said the injured had been shifted to a local hospital and the police were awaiting medical reports to determine the nature of the injuries they sustained during the clash. As a result of the violence in bypolls, the ECP on Monday sought Pakistan Army's assistance for peaceful and smooth conduct of local government and by-elections in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In a message to Pakistan's Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, CEC Raja sought the deployment of troops, The Express Tribune reported. Raja has asked for security during the NA-245 by-polls in Karachi, 20 constituencies of Punjab and in PK-7, Swat constituency. Besides this, he hailed the role of the troops in ensuring exemplary security at the most sensitive polling stations during the previously held general and local government and by-elections. Raja also called upon the provincial government to ensure peaceful polling activity at all costs. Local government polls elections are slated to take place in Sindh and Swat on June 26, whereas by-elections in Punjab will be held on July 17, the Tribune reported. Moreover, another phase of elections in Sindh are scheduled for July 24, while by-polls in the NA-245 constituency will take place on July 27. (ANI)
To mark World Refugee Day, the Alliance for Human Rights in Afghanistan reminded the international community of its obligations to uphold and protect the right to seek asylum, the right to life and other fundamental human rights of Afghan refugees under the international human rights law regime. The Afghan refugee crisis is one of the largest protracted refugee situations in the world. Today, over 6 million Afghans have been driven out of their homes and their country by conflict, violence and poverty. Of those, 3.5 million are displaced within Afghanistan, with 2.6 million Afghan refugees living in other countries. These numbers have been exacerbated by the Taliban's seizure of power in Afghanistan in August 2021 and the critical humanitarian crisis Afghanistan is facing today. The impact of the situation has been particularly devastating for women and children, who account for 80 per cent of newly displaced Afghans, as they face increased protection risks such as family separation, psychosocial stress and trauma, exploitation and gender-based violence. Refugee rights are fundamental human rights as the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol protect the rights of refugees. This includes the right not to be expelled except under certain strictly defined conditions; the right not to be punished for illegal entry into a state; the rights to work, housing, education, public relief assistance, freedom of religion, access to the court system, freedom of movement within the territory and receiving identity and travel documents. Regrettably, many Afghan refugees, including those in Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Malaysia and Turkey do not enjoy their rights under international law, the rights group said. They continue to face brutality, violence, ill-treatment and pushbacks. They face discrimination and struggle to access basic services, education, work, identity and travel documents. In the worst cases, they face arbitrary detentions, penalties and forced deportation. "We are appalled by the increasing number of incidents of violence and serious human rights violations against Afghan refugees. In the face of such egregious abuses, many governments are ignoring the great suffering of individuals in need of international protection, particularly women and children," the Alliance for Human Rights in Afghanistan said. States must uphold their commitments and respect fundamental human rights, including the right to life and the right to seek asylum. Dozens of rights groups called on states to ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol It asked to take all necessary measures to ensure the safe passage out of Afghanistan for all those targeted by the Taliban and other parties. This includes ensuring that border crossings remain open, visas are expedited, support for evacuations is delivered, and relocation and resettlement support is provided. They also called for an immediate end forcible return of Afghan refugees and heed the call of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to suspend the forced return of nationals and former habitual residents, including anyone whose asylum claims have been rejected. "Allow all Afghan seekers to access a clear, transparent and functioning asylum system, lodge a claim for international protection and apply for resettlement," they said. (ANI)
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles arrived in India on Monday to hold a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh to strengthen defence and security cooperation between both the countries. "Arrived in India - a top-tier partner + close friend to Australia. I look forward to advancing our ongoing defence engagement as Comprehensive Strategic Partners and reiterate our commitment for closer cooperation in the #IndoPacific," Marles tweeted. His visit marks the first high-level visit from Australia after newly-elected prime minister Anthony Albanese took office on May 23. During his visit from June 20-23, the Australian Defence Minister will hold his first bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh. "Australia and India are Comprehensive Strategic Partners. I am committed to strengthening Australia's defence and security cooperation with India," said Marles. "I am looking forward to meeting with my counterpart, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and holding our first bilateral Defence Ministers' Meeting," he added. Marles stated that Rajnath Singh has been instrumental in advancing India-Australia defence ties and he looks forward to working with him to enhance the defence pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The minister also noted that India is one of Australia's closest security partners and the Government is focused on revitalising Australia's historically deep engagement with our partners across the Indo-Pacific. "The rules-based international order that has brought peace and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific for decades is experiencing pressure, as we face shifts in the geostrategic order," he said said. "Australia stands ready to work closely with India in support of an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific". During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Marles will also meet External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and engage national security and defence policymakers and personnel. Earlier, the Australian PM Albanese had said that the relationship with India is very important and ties between the two countries have never been closer. "Our relationship with India is a very important one and it was a great honour to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi." PM Modi congratulated Prime Minister Albanese on his election victory. Both leaders reviewed the multi-faceted cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including trade and investment, defence manufacturing, renewable energy, green hydrogen, education, science and technology, agricultural research, sports, and people-to-people ties. Both Prime Ministers affirmed their desire to continue the positive momentum in the bilateral relationship. Bilateral discussions with PM Modi focused on Australia and India's full strategic and economic agenda, including clean energy technology. (ANI)
US Special Envoy Rina Amiri has raised concerns about the escalating attacks against Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan. On Saturday, Islamic State attacked Karte Parwan Gurdwara in which two people were killed and several others got injured. Gunmen had tried to storm the temple on Saturday morning and all were killed after a standoff that lasted several hours. "Deeply concerned about the escalating attacks against Afghanistan's Hindus & Sikhs. Afghanistan's rich diversity is its greatest treasure. A threat against one group is a threat to the identity of Afghanistan as a whole," Amiri tweeted. India had expressed deep concern at the reports emanating from Kabul about an attack on a sacred Gurudwara in that city. "We are closely monitoring the situation and waiting for further details on the unfolding developments," MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement on June 18. India on Monday condemned in the strongest terms the recent "cowardly attack" at the Sikh temple in Kabul, Afghanistan and said it's time that the UN Member States condemned hatred against non-Abrahamic religions as well. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), India's Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Ambassador TS Tirumurti raised concerns about the "selective" efforts to combat religiophobias. "And on 18th June, a couple of days ago and on the very day we commemorated the International Day for countering hate speech, we saw yet another tragic example of this against Sikh religion, this time in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Gurudwara Karte Parwan was attacked, desecrated and damaged. We condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly dastardly attack where lives were tragically lost," said Tirumurti at the informal High-Level Meeting to mark the commemoration of the first International Day for Countering Hate Speech. "It's time that UN Member States condemned hatred against non-Abrahamic religions as well and stop from being selective in combating religiophobias. There cannot be double standards on religiophobias if you truly want to combat hate," he added. The Indian envoy said hate speech is the antithesis of peace, tolerance and harmony. "Unfortunately, we continue to witness a rising trend in hate speech. This was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. India joined 12 other countries to issue a cross-regional statement on 'infodemic' in June 2020." He said India has time and again emphasised that combating religiophobia can never succeed if it continues to be exclusionary and remains restricted to one or two religions only, while completely ignoring the rise in hatred and discrimination against non-Abrahamic religions including Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. (ANI)
New York [US], June 21 (ANI/Xinhua): The Security Council on Monday strongly condemned Sunday's attack against the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, which left one peacekeeper from Guinea dead, as well as Saturday's attacks near Gao and near Bankass, in which dozens of civilians were killed. In a press statement, the members of the council called on the Transitional Government of Mali to swiftly investigate the attack against peacekeepers and bring the perpetrators to justice, and keep the relevant troop-contributing country informed of the progress. They underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. They stressed that involvement in planning, directing, sponsoring or conducting attacks against peacekeepers in Mali constitutes a basis for sanctions designations pursuant to Security Council resolutions. They underscored that the primary responsibility for the safety and security of UN personnel and assets rests with host states and highlighted the importance of engagement and communications between MINUSMA and the Transitional Government of Mali. They underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice. They stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable, and urged all states to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard. The council members reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. They reaffirmed the need for all states to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. They expressed concern about the security situation in Mali and the transnational dimension of the terrorist threat in the Sahel region. They urged the Malian parties to fully implement the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali without further delay. They underlined that lasting peace and security in the Sahel region will not be achieved without a combination of political, security, peacebuilding and sustainable development efforts benefitting all regions of Mali, as well as the full, effective and inclusive implementation of the agreement. (ANI/Xinhua)
The rise of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), better known as Pakistani Taliban, enabled by the Afghan Taliban's steadfast support, will expand the threat of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including against civilian targets, a Netherlands-based think tank said. Since its founding in 2007, the TTP has emerged as the most influential and violent anti-Pakistan terrorist outfit in South Asia. Unlike its Afghan namesake, the TTP does not enjoy favourable relations with Islamabad. The fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in August last year has introduced a new era of uncertainty for regional security in South Asia. Despite the organization's pledges to the contrary, international observers have expressed concerns that the Taliban could once again transform Afghanistan into a safe haven for international terrorist organizations, as had been the case prior to the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. A research paper published in the Amsterdam-based think tank said the Taliban's conduct after Kabul take over has also rung alarm bells in Pakistan. "This deterioration is primarily linked to the Taliban's support for the Pakistani offshoot of the Taliban, known as TTP, which the Taliban has claimed to have 'very good relations'' with," said the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), an independent think tank and policy research institute on South Asia. Although the TTP has committed itself to restraining its activities towards the targeting of security personnel and security infrastructure, attacks and growing volatility will inevitably also produce civilian casualties. "What implications does the TTP's resurgence ultimately have for Pakistan? The immediate answer is not a positive one: the TTP's renewed rise, enabled by the Taliban's steadfast support, will expand the threat of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including against civilian targets," said EFSAS. According to the think tank, this trajectory is the direct outcome of Pakistan's distinction between 'good' Taliban (the Afghan Taliban) and 'bad' Taliban (the TTP) and the unwillingness of large parts of the establishment to halt its support for Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism in any meaningful way. "The distinction between 'good' and 'bad' Taliban has ignored the fact that the TTP's activities are inexorably linked to that of the Taliban and are in fact directly enabled by the Taliban. The continued presence of ISKP in Afghanistan, which factors into the Taliban's struggle to assert and consolidate political control in Afghanistan, also makes the Taliban less likely to rein in the TTP to avoid renewed defections to ISKP. In short, exerting pressure on the Taliban to contain the cross-border activities of the TTP is unlikely to produce satisfactory results," EFSAS said. The think tank goes on to argue that the TTP operating out of Afghanistan also restricts Islamabad's strategic options vis-a-vis the TTP. "Unless Pakistan is willing to severely infringe on Afghanistan's sovereignty, for instance by conducting cross-border air raids, Pakistan's practical options of combatting the TTP are fairly limited if the Taliban remains unwilling to contain the TTP." The research paper further states that Pakistan's policy options are ultimately limited in effectively containing the TTP. "Restricting the TTP will, ironically, require some form of political settlement and although the State is unlikely to make major political concessions that would undermine its long-term standing, it could make piecemeal concessions in return for a more sustainable ceasefire." "For Pakistan, the Taliban takeover of Kabul, initially hailed as a major win, has turned out to be a pyrrhic victory that leaves Islamabad with few good policy options," EFSAS concludes. (ANI)
The Nobel Peace Prize medal, owned by Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of Russian news outlet Novaya Gazeta, was sold at an auction in the United States for USD 103.5 million, Heritage Auctions said. All the money raised will be given to UNICEF to support all countries hosting Ukrainian refugees, including Poland, Russia, Germany, Moldova, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, Muratov said before the start of the auction. Muratov won the medal in 2021. "Russian Nobel Prize winner sells medal #HERITAGELIVE #DmitryMuratov, EIC of Russian news outlet #NovayaGazeta, with HA, auctioned his 2021 #NobelPeacePrize to benefit UNICEF's child refugee fund. It sold for $103,500,000 https://fal.cn/3pBMz. HA worked to ensure the winning bid is already in #UNICEF's possession," Heritage Auctions tweeted. Dmitry Muratov and Maria Ressa were the 2021 joint recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, recognized for "their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace." Despite the forced closure of his news outlet, Novaya Gazeta, he works tirelessly to make an impact, most recently with charities delivering life-saving medications to children. Now, he is asking everyone to join him in a campaign to help the children of Ukraine displaced by war. The full scope of the Ukrainian refugee crisis is difficult to quantify and far exceeds any other refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. As of May 24th, the United Nations estimates 6.6 million refugees have left Ukraine. More than 3.5 million fled to Poland, nearly 1 million more to Romania, and yet another 1 million to Russia. Hungary, Moldova, and Slovakia struggle to accommodate around half a million more each. The UN states there are more than 10,000 refugees in at least two dozen more countries. Millions more have been displaced within Ukraine, all needing food, shelter, and other basic necessities. In all, it is estimated 14 million people are believed to have sought refuge by fleeing their homes. (ANI)
The decision of the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) government to buy a new luxurious car worth Rs 100 million for President Barrister Sultan Mahmood had sparked strong criticism from the civil society. This comes when the members of the cabinet and parliamentary secretaries of the PoK have been registering their protests over cuts in the allocated budget for the PoK, Dawn reported. The new notification issued by the services and general administration department (S&GAD) stated that the government had approved a provision of an additional grant of Rs 102.52 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 and its advance withdrawal for purchase, including payment of local taxes and transportation charges, of a Mercedes Benz S500 4MATIC Sedan Long (RHD) car for the president. This new development triggered people from different walks of life to severely criticise the spending by the government for the president after it went viral on social media. "While the president is not legally barred from buying an even expensive car, it does not behove him to do so at a time when his party is crying hoarse about the budget cuts that it says will affect its plans to deliver in productive, social and development sectors," tweeted Naila Altaf Kayani, a well-known Kashmiri analyst. Another netizen, a Saudi-Arabia-based activist Saad Maqsood wrote, "In Pakistan, they don't have money to consume even poison, but from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad, there is no end to the luxuries of the ruling elite." Moreover, Pro-PTI activists called upon party chief Imran Khan to take stock of the situation, reported Dawn. Responding to a question about buying a luxurious car, spokesperson for PoK president Syed Kamal Haider said that the summary for the purchase of the new car was initiated by the previous government and they had not yet seen it. Two weeks ago, a similar incident was witnessed when the PoK government had approved an additional grant of Rs 20.34 million for the purchase of four new 1800cc Toyota Corolla cars for as many former prime ministers of the territory. The new cars were being purchased for Sardar Yaqoob Khan, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, and Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi. They were supposed to return the old cars in their use after getting the new ones, according to Dawn. Earlier, highlighting the plight of the people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), human rights activist and chairman of United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) Shaukat Ali Kashmiri said that the budget cut situation is alarming and should be addressed on "war footing". He noted that, unfortunately, political leaders do keep claiming that the literacy rate in PoK is more than in any other province of Pakistan but the truth is different. "We still have the pass-fail system," he added in the Twitter post. He said that concern has been expressed over pathetic conditions of primary schools at the union council level in PoK where students are "compelled to sit on the ground below open sky with no washrooms, clean drinking water facilities". The UKPNP chairman said that apart from this sorry state of affairs, "there is an acute shortage of teachers as well." This comes after the government of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) accused the Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government of slashing the development grant provided to PoK and warned that it could lead to a severe financial system disbalance, if not reviewed. (ANI)
Australian Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who is on a four-day visit to India, performed yoga in the national capital on the occasion of the 8th International Day of Yoga on Tuesday and said that he will be meeting his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh. "An early morning start with some yoga, ahead of a busy couple of days here in India. Looking forward to a packed couple of days, meeting my counterparts and seeing firsthand our close partnership. @rajnathsingh," the Australian Defence Minister said in a tweet. Marles arrived in India on Monday to hold a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh to strengthen defence and security cooperation between both countries. His visit marks the first high-level visit from Australia after newly-elected prime minister Anthony Albanese took office on May 23. During his visit from June 20-23, the Australian Defence Minister will hold his first bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh. "Australia and India are Comprehensive Strategic Partners. I am committed to strengthening Australia's defence and security cooperation with India," said Marles. "I am looking forward to meeting with my counterpart, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and holding our first bilateral Defence Ministers' Meeting," Marles said in a statement. Marles stated that Rajnath Singh has been instrumental in advancing India-Australia defence ties and he looks forward to working with him to enhance the defence pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The minister also noted that India is one of Australia's closest security partners and the Government is focused on revitalising Australia's historically deep engagement with our partners across the Indo-Pacific. "The rules-based international order that has brought peace and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific for decades is experiencing pressure, as we face shifts in the geostrategic order," he said said. "Australia stands ready to work closely with India in support of an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific". During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Marles will also meet External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and engage national security and defence policymakers and personnel.Earlier, the Australian PM Albanese had said that the relationship with India is very important and ties between the two countries have never been closer. "Our relationship with India is a very important one and it was a great honour to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi." PM Modi congratulated Prime Minister Albanese on his election victory. Both leaders reviewed the multi-faceted cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including trade and investment, defence manufacturing, renewable energy, green hydrogen, education, science and technology, agricultural research, sports, and people-to-people ties. Both Prime Ministers affirmed their desire to continue the positive momentum in the bilateral relationship. Bilateral discussions with PM Modi focused on Australia and India's full strategic and economic agenda, including clean energy technology. (ANI)
Tibetans on the occasion of World Refugee Day urged the international community to support them and collectively stand together against China, and not to forget Tibet. Benedict Rogers a human rights activist and writer highlighted the Chinese repressions of Tibet and said that for many years Tibet was a cause celebre, brought to the world's attention both by the courageous efforts of Dalai Lama and with the support of celebrities like Richard Gere, Brad Pitt and the Beastie Boys, reported Tibet Rights Collective (TRC). The film Seven Years in Tibet did a lot to keep Tibet's plight in the public consciousness. The Dalai Lama's world tours, public lectures and meetings with Presidents, Prime Ministers and Popes helped keep the situation on the global agenda, added Rogers. However, several factors have combined to overshadow Tibet as a cause. The Ukraine conflict has now taken the centre stage with 13 million people who have fled their homes and approximately five million leaving the country and another eight million internally displaced within Ukraine. He also took examples of people displaced in Syria and Myanmar, those fleeing the Chinese Communist Party's repression - Uyghurs, Falun Gong practitioners, Christians, Chinese dissidents and Hong Kongers. Rogers underscored that amidst the world's many challenges, there is one place which is in danger of being forgotten - and which we must not forget: Tibet. He also emphasized the growing influence of the Chinese Communist Party regime, and its aggressive use of it. In Hollywood and Wall Street, throughout the great universities of the world, in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations and in some corridors of power and some newsrooms and even in the Vatican, Beijing's tentacles have stretched out to silence its critics, reported TRC. Using a combination of financial coercion and threat, the Chinese regime has ensured that Tibet's champions are sidelined. Pope Francis is the first pontiff in recent times not to meet the Dalai Lama. Moreover, Dalai Lama is no longer able to travel abroad. Due to his age and health, the 86-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader has not travelled outside India since 2018. The Book of Joy - a collection of conversations between the Dalai Lama and South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu - and the accompanying documentary film - helped keep Tibet in people's minds, and Parliamentarians around the world continue to do what they can to highlight Tibet, but without Dalai Lama's presence on the world stage the issue is declining in focus, said Rogers. Ironically, attention on China's human rights record has grown - but Tibet's risks are being eclipsed by the shocking evidence of genocide of the Uyghurs, the appalling dismantling of Hong Kong's freedoms and autonomy, accusations of forced organ harvesting and increasing threats to Taiwan. All these issues need attention and it is very welcome that the world is starting to wake up to the Chinese Communist Party's atrocities, but we must ensure that Tibet is always included and never forgotten when we focus on Beijing's crimes, said Rogers. On the World Refugee Day which is observed on June 20, let us not forget Tibet. Let us ensure that as we focus on the crisis in Ukraine, think about Myanmar, remember North Koreans escaping Kim Jong-Un's tyranny, and campaign to stop the genocide and slavery of the Uyghurs and to free Hong Kong's political prisoners, we also remember Tibet, urged Rogers. (ANI)
India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry latest data shows that the US has become India's largest trading partner, exceeding China with bilateral trade reaching USD 119.42 billion. From the breakdown data, India's trade exports to the US increased from about USD 51.62 billion in the previous fiscal year to USD 76.11 billion, while imports increased from about USD 29 billion to about USD 43.31 billion. India's major exports to the US include polished diamonds, pharmaceutical products, jewellery, light oil and petroleum, frozen shrimp, cosmetics and more. India's imports from the United States are mainly oil, liquefied natural gas, gold, coal, recycled products and scrap iron, large almonds, etc. The data also shows that the bilateral trade volume between India and China in the 2021-2022 fiscal year is about USD 115.42 billion, an increase of about 1/3 from the USD 86.4 billion in the previous fiscal year. Among them, India's exports to China are about USD 21.25 billion, and its imports to China are about USD 94.16 billion. It is reported that the trade volume of imported goods from China is increasing, and the top 100 imported items each have an import value of more than USD 100 million. Indian experts believe that India's dependence on China for imports of manufactured goods shows no sign of easing. The statistical data of China and India are different, which leads to differences in the trade volume figures announced by each of them. Chinese data shows that China is India's largest trading partner from 2013-2014 to 2017-2018 and 2020-2021. In addition to China, the US and the UAE were once India's largest trading partners. China has not always been India's largest trading partner, and this is not the first time that the US has become India's largest trading partner. For a long time, China and India have maintained a relatively large trade deficit, while India has maintained a trade surplus with the US. Therefore, India has always regarded the US as an important export market. In the light of the above facts, it is pertinent to examine what really happened to the US-India trade? Will Chinese products decrease in India? Will China-India trade and economy weaken? India imports items ranging from small screws to large TVs, refrigerators and mobile phones are mostly Chinese products. These Chinese products are of high quality and low price and are almost unmatched by other countries. They are very popular among Indian consumers, and even the utensils for Indians to worship gods and various decorative flowers, bags, shoes and hats, etc. come from China. China is often used by the Indian media to illustrate the way Chinese goods "invade" India. In particular, mobile phones and consumer electronics are the most obvious because of their cost-effectiveness and affordability. Whereas, most of the US exports to India are energy products and agricultural products, China's exports to India are mostly manufacturing products, giving the impression that Chinese products are occupying the Indian market. But, in more invisible situations, such as in emerging information fields, the US dominates. Such as e-commerce Amazon, search engine Google, social media Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, etc. The continuous strengthening of US-India trade relations is due to both the epidemic and India's attempt to "decouple" from China. However, the security factor occupies a critical position, that is, with the help of the "China fear" mentality at home and abroad, India has accelerated the substitution of Chinese industries. India wants to leave China aside, attract capital from the US and other countries, undertake high-tech enterprises, and deeply participate in the global supply chain to promote the great development of India's domestic manufacturing industry. However, at present, the fundamentals of China-India economic and trade cooperation have not changed. (ANI)
Warsaw [Poland], June 21 (ANI/Sputnik): The head of Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said on Tuesday that he had stepped down from his post. "I am no longer in government. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and, as far as I know, President Andrzej Duda accepted my resignation," Kaczynski said, as quoted by state-run Polish news agency PAP. Kaczynski has been at the helm of the PiS party since 2003. After being re-elected as party leader last summer, he said he would not run for the post again. (ANI/Sputnik)
Nepal Prime Minister Sher Shah Deuba on Tuesday participated in a program organized by the Indian Mission in Kathmandu on the occasion of the 8th International Day of Yoga. The lawn in front of the India House on the premises of the Indian Embassy was filled with yoga enthusiasts where the Yoga Guru from the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center guided the participants. Addressing the event, Nepal PM said, "Daily Yoga practice helps improve and vitalize health condition as well as gives relief from stress and increase the workability, increase immunity, increase positivity, self-discipline, and energy to do works as well boosts morale and confidence. Our experience over time has proven these statements." Deuba also said that Nepal had endorsed the resolution presented forward by Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to declare 21 June as the International Day of Yoga. It was during his speech at the UN General Assembly in September 27, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi first floated the idea of the International Yoga Day. The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations. With universal recognition and growing popularity of Yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. "We are endorsing and recognizing what we- India and Nepal had already known for a long that Yoga is a path to holistic health and healing that is based on the inclusive enlightenment concept of wellbeing. Yoga is the harmony between body, mind, and soul, and that when the values of mindfulness, moderation, perseverance, and discipline that is taught by Yoga," Namgya Khampa, Deputy Chief at Indian Mission in Kathmandu said while addressing the event. On the occasion, Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari stated that the entire world accepted Yoga, which is closely associated with Nepal's ancient civilization and life philosophy, as a useful practice for life was a matter of pleasure for all of us. Issuing a message, President Bhandari has said that all will achieve success to develop a happy, prosperous and peaceful society by connecting the humanitarian pleasure achieved from the physical development to the positive energy achieved from the Yoga exercise. The President has mentioned that Yoga is an exercise to strengthen an individual's physical, mental and spiritual health and thus is regarded as an action with thought besides a physical exercise. "The contribution of Nepali civilization in the development of Yoga has been extensively enlightened by our scholars, Yoga Gurus. Yoga, which is considered to have originated and developed in Nepal, has a special space in the lives of Lord Shiva and King Janak as well as in Kirat and Bon civilizations," reads the message. President Bhandari has also said there was a direct presence of Yoga in the handicrafts, painting, and sculpture associated with the social and cultural lifestyles of Nepalis. The Head of the State spoke of the need to develop Yoga as a part of education. She also called for conducting more research on the field of Yoga. The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated on June 21 since 2015 at the call of the United Nations Organization. (ANI)
Suva [Fiji], June 21 (ANI/Xinhua): Fiji has reported more COVID-19 cases over the past few days, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the island nation to more than 65,000 since March 2020 when it recorded its first confirmed case. Fiji's Ministry of Health has recorded 95 new COVID-19 cases since last Thursday, and of the 95 new cases, 46 cases were reported last Saturday, according to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the ministry encouraged Fijian children to take the vaccination, saying that vaccinating children will reduce the ability of COVID-19 to spread in the country. From July 2, the ministry will deploy pediatric vaccines to children aged between five and 11.Fiji's Permanent Secretary for Health James Fong said that parents' consent will be required and child vaccination is not mandatory yet unless the ministry finds a justification for it. As of Monday, a total of 138,808 individuals in Fiji had so far received booster doses.Fiji, a South Pacific island nation with a population of around 900,000, has recorded a total of 865 COVID-19-related deaths since March 2020. (ANI/Xinhua)
Owing to quarter-end payments and delay in the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, the Pakistani rupee on Tuesday breached 211-a-US dollar, losing Rs 2 during intra-day trading. The US dollar is trading at Rs 211.99 as of 10:53 am, Tresmark data shows, reported Geo News. The Pakistani rupee remained highly volatile and continued its losing streak despite Finance Minister Miftah Ismail claiming that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme will be revived within the next two days. The rupee continues its downtrend, which has also been attributed to the quarter-end payments due to the country's rising import bill, widening current account deficit and depleting foreign exchange reserves other than the delay in the revival of the IMF programme, reported Geo News. The latest fall since the start of the week in the rupee's value against the greenback comes after traders resorted to panic buying on reports that some commercial banks had run out of foreign currency. Businessmen have urged the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to play its due role in controlling the free-fall of the rupee. However, the central bank seems helpless to control the situation as it cannot supply dollars in the market to support the rupee since its own stock of dollars also stands at a depleted level. Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves (held by the SBP) have depleted to a critical level and the country has less than six weeks of import cover remaining. The reserves are currently below USD 9 billion. The country is fulfilling the prerequisite conditions to revive the IMF loan programme to avoid default on international payments, reported Geo News. "The currency will continue to fall until Pakistan manages to strike a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)," AA Commodities Director Adnan Agar said earlier. The analyst was of the view that the investors' confidence is completely shattered which can only be strengthened by positive development on the IMF front. Agar also mentioned that depleting foreign exchange reserves have triggered panic buying, giving speculators a chance to play with the demand and supply of the greenback. Since the beginning of this fiscal year (July 1, 2021) to date, the rupee has collectively dropped by over 30 per cent (or over Rs 52) compared to the previous fiscal year's close at Rs 157.54, reported Geo News. Meanwhile, the State Bank of Pakistan tightened restrictions in an attempt to ease dollar shortages and conserve eroding foreign exchange reserves amid IMF loan uncertainty, commercial banks have been asked to seek the central bank's permission before initiating import transactions worth USD 100,000. "Earlier, banks were needed to inform the SBP if they wanted to start processing the trade documents such as a letter of credits (LCs), other papers and making payments for the imports of certain goods worth USD 500,000," a banking source familiar with the development told The News. The reserves held by the central bank fell by USD 241 million or 2.6 per cent to USD 8.98 billion as of June 10 -- a cover for 1.32 months of imports. The SBP, however, said it had not stopped banks from making import payments, reported Geo News. (ANI)
China lacks trust among Southeast Asians due to its contempt for the region's autonomy and inclusion, according to a study. Despite its enormous contribution to the regional economy, China was found to be the least trusted country in the area in a recent study of Southeast Asian elites conducted by Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. According to the same study, the US is the second-most trusted partner, after only Japan, reported The Singapore Post. The long-awaited summit in Washington last month between US President Joe Biden and eight Southeast Asian leaders has placed China on high alert. Despite the former's lacklustre economic outputs, the US obtained ASEAN's backing for the elevation of its diplomatic status to "comprehensive strategic partnership." China, on the other hand, has long suffered from a lack of trust among Southeast Asians. Why doesn't China elicit the same level of trust if it can deliver what the US lacks in Southeast Asia?, questioned The Singapore Post. Beijing's initial assumption is that Southeast Asian countries are prepared to sacrifice their autonomy in order to enhance economic development. Indeed, China's regional policy is based on incorrect assumptions about how diplomacy operates in Southeast Asia. What Chinese authorities fail to recognise is that Southeast Asians will not give up their autonomy just to achieve economic goals. Decades of foreign interference and resistance to colonial control have rendered sovereignty sacred. Maintaining autonomy has always been the primary objective of regional statecraft, reported The Singapore Post. China's economic influence surpasses its regard for the sovereignty of Southeast Asian countries, and the boom in Chinese economic participation has coincided with expansionism. China's trade volume with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members has nearly quadrupled from USD 443 billion in 2013 to USD 878 billion in 2021. At the same time, since President Xi Jinping initially promoted his "neighbourhood diplomacy" in 2013, Beijing has erected nearly 3,200 acres of artificial landmass and completely militarised at least three islands in the South China Sea. China's plan tries to boost its economic credentials while also "subduing other troublesome parts of its conduct, especially in the South China Sea," according to Hoang Thi Ha of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. The effects have been just the opposite: China's heavy-handed approach has rendered the country incapable of using its economic clout as a source of trust. Southeast Asians, who live only a few blocks away, have seen how China has penalised other countries, like the rash penalties imposed on Australia. It's no wonder that neighbouring countries are sceptical of Beijing's intentions in the South China Sea. China's second erroneous assumption is that Southeast Asian nations are prepared to bow completely to the sphere of influence of a single power -- as long as it benefits them, reported The Singapore Post. Aside from economic incentives, China has added "discourse powers" into its regional strategy. Xi has invented a number of diplomatic phrases emphasising "commonality" among allies, including the "Community of Common Destiny" and, more recently, the "Global Security Initiative." These narratives, however, simply convey the idea that China wishes to establish an exclusive alliance in which Southeast Asian countries are subject to China's hierarchical supervision. Regional leaders will never forget when then-Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said at an ASEAN Regional Forum conference in Hanoi in 2010: "China is a giant nation, and other countries are tiny ones, and that's just a reality." Southeast Asian nations want an open and inclusive regional system that allows them to maximise their national freedoms, while China's policy runs counter to this purpose. This includes China's insistence on limiting foreign (i.e. Western) military presence in the South China Sea through the negotiation of a Code of Conduct, as well as other efforts to limit one's influence in the region It is difficult to woo Southeast Asian countries while endangering the ideals that support their favoured type of democracy. (ANI)
Tesla cars have been banned from entering China's coastal town of Beidaihe, the site of the crucial annual meeting of Chinese leadership, for two months starting July 1. The information was confirmed by an official from the Beidaihe Traffic Police Brigade, who claimed that an official announcement will be made soon, reported UK-based media. The traditional Beidaihe meeting, or "summer summit" as it is known to Chinese viewers, is held every year in the resort town in Hebei province, wherein Chinese leaders from earlier generations gather in an informal setting to have closed-door conversations about key domestic issues, the South China Morning Post reported. The Beidaihe meeting takes place every year from the end of July to the beginning of August. The banning of Tesla cars comes ahead of raising security concerns over cameras installed on its vehicles, inducing spying apprehensions in the country amidst the summer summit. The third model of Tesla has eight cameras and millimetre-wave radar, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Recently in Chengdu, Tesla cars were diverted away from areas coinciding with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Last year, the Chinese military banned them from entering its premises. The police are also making Tesla owners sign an undertaking stating "I, ____ promise to undertake that from 1.7.22 to 31.8.22, I would not drive the car with plate number ____ and enter Beidaihe district or drive the car inside Beidaihe district, and further undertake that the actual user of the car with this number plate will also comply with this undertaking." With the Beidaihe meeting scheduled in July, Xi has been focusing on anti-corruption affairs. On June 17, Wang Like, a former member of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee's Standing Committee and the Jiangsu Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission, was charged with bribery, harbouring and conniving mafia-like organisations, and forging identity documents at Changchun City's Intermediate People's Court, reported Xinhua. On the same day, the Politburo convened a study session focusing on anti-corruption and urging senior cadres to act responsibly. On June 19, the General Office of the CPC issued "Regulations on the Management of Leading Cadres' Spouses, Children and children's spouses to Run Business and Run Enterprises." With the prosecutions of persons like Wang Like and Xiao Jianhua, Xi may be attempting to intimidate potential challengers and factional rivals by emphasising anti-corruption matters at this critical time before the Beidaihe summit. (ANI)
An Osaka court on Monday dismissed a lawsuit, which argued that the government's ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional. The court ruling, stating that the country's ban on same-sex marriage is not unconstitutional, makes Japan hte only G7 nation that does not recognize homosexual marital unions. Three same-sex couples - two male, one female - filed a lawsuit in the Osaka District Court seeking 1 million yen (USD 7,400) per person as compensation, claiming that the present system barring them from marrying is "unjust discrimination", reported local media. The judgement dismissing the lawsuit delivered a major setback to recent efforts aimed at increasing acceptance of sexual minorities. Dissatisfied with the verdict, the plaintiffs have decided to appeal to higher courts. Monday's ruling contradicts the judgement made by the Sapporo court in 2021 ruling that barring same-sex marriages is, indeed, unconstitutional because it violates the right to equality, reported NHK Broadcasting Corporation. Presiding judge Doi Fumi stipulated in her judgement that Article 24 of the Constitution states that marriage must be based on the mutual agreement of both sexes and since it does not mention same-sex marriage, barring it is not unconstitutional. Referring to Article 14 of the Constitution stating that all persons are equal under the law, she described marriage between heterosexual partners as a means of allowing society to protect couples that reproduce and raise children. The judge also said how society is to protect same-sex couples wishing to marry is a matter of debate on which a conclusion has yet to be reached. She added that at the same time, one should not interpret the Constitution as prohibiting same-sex marriage or similar frameworks. The interpretation should be made in a democratic fashion, taking into account Japan's traditions, public sentiment and issues faced by married couples and families. The plaintiffs' lawyer, Miwa Akiyoshi, criticized the verdict, claiming that the court failed to make a compelling case for why same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry, and he will be joining the plaintiffs and their supporters in fighting the case, the NHK report further stated. Many regional governments issue certificates to recognize homosexual and bisexual partnerships, but those are not legally binding. Currently, only heterosexual couples can avail the privileges resulting from marriage, like inheritance rights, tax benefits, and joint custody of children. Over the years, marriage equality is increasingly legalizing, especially in Europe, and Netherlands was the first to do so in 2001. Around 30 countries including Brazil and Sweden recognize same-sex marriage. Taiwan is the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019, reported Kyodo News citing EMA Japan, a non-profit organization advocating sexual minority rights. However, there still exist countries, especially in the Middle East, where discrimination against the LGBTQ community is deeply rooted and identifying as a queer or engaging in same-sex unions is a legal offence warranting death. (ANI)
Jiangxi witnessed heavy rain and floods in 55 counties from Saturday to 3:00 p.m. Monday. The heavy rain that lashed in Jiangxi has damaged 43,300 hectares of crops.

A total of 548,000 people were affected due to the heavy rain in China's Jiangxi province last Tuesday, according to the provincial flood control headquarters. Although it stopped raining on Wednesday, local meteorological department had predicted further rainstorms in the province this week.

Direct economic losses from the floods touched 470 million yuan (about 70.4 million U.S. dollars), according to East China's Jiangxi Province, reported Xinhua.

The local MeT department stated that rain belt would move north to the Yangtze River basin on Wednesday, media reported.

East China's Jiangxi Province on Monday issued a red alert for floods after the local hydrological stations registered water in local rivers at warning levels.

The heavy rain brought the first floods this year in Changjiang River and Xiuhe River in the province, according to the provincial hydrological monitoring center.

The center estimated that the water level would continue to rise in the coming four days in Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, due to the heavy rain and that a flood may form as the water may rise around 0.4 meters above the warning level.

According to the meteorological department, rainfall will continue until Tuesday, and heavy rain will occur in some parts of northern and central Jiangxi, posing risks of floods, mountain torrents, urban and rural waterlogging and geological disasters.

The province had lifted its level IV flood-control emergency response on June 7, as the heavy rainfall process had basically ended.

Authorities have called for close monitoring of weather changes and efficient flood control and drought relief efforts.

The extreme weather has caused direct economic losses of 2.65 billion yuan (about 400 million US dollars) after destroying farmland and houses. A total of around 83,000 people were evacuated during the period.

According to local authorities, the torrential rains and rain-induced floods since May 28 have wreaked havoc in 80 counties of the province. (ANI)
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Tuesday suggested that the Institutional Arbitration Centres functioning across the world collaborate and form a united Council or Confederation to create a level-playing arbitration arena across the world. Addressing the annual meeting of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce on the theme "Arbitration in a Globalized World - The Indian Experience", he said that a united front would help in adopting the best policies based on shared, diverse experiences. CJI said that Indian Courts have, over time, allowed broader scope for arbitrability of disputes. This attitude of Indian Courts has further increased the importance of International Arbitration, particularly when it comes to countries like India and Germany. Technology transfer agreements, licensing rights, royalty rights and other intellectual property rights (IPR) related agreements are often subjects of arbitration agreements between corporates. "To give impetus to arbitration as well as innovation, Indian Courts have allowed such disputes to be arbitrable. In order to fast-track disposal of commercial disputes, the Indian Parliament has also enacted the Commercial Courts Act, which provides for the establishment of dedicated benches for commercial matters," CJI said. Pointing out that for the past two decades, India is following the path of actively encouraging arbitration, mediation, and other modes of alternative dispute resolution, CJI said that "India adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law while enacting the Arbitration and Conciliation Act in 1996, to make the arbitral process more efficient and to harmonise it with the international practice and procedure." He also said that to keep up with the changing global and economic scenario, the Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1996 was amended in 2015, 2019 and 2021. "International arbitration is a means of resolving disputes arising between parties involving a foreign element. It is an effective alternative to traditional litigation and is regulated primarily by the terms previously agreed upon by the parties themselves. International arbitration has several known advantages," CJI said. He also elaborated on the significant advantage of adopting international arbitration. CJI also spoke on the Indian judiciary and said that it has been realised that for giving paramount importance to the rule of law, the Indian judiciary eternally guards the constitutional rights in the world's largest democracy. "You can trust the Indian judiciary for its absolute independence and its inherent constitutional strength to treat all parties equally and equitably. The Constitutional Courts of India - the High Courts and the Supreme Court - have the power to judicially review every act of the Government. They can strike down any law that is not in tune with the Constitutional principles. They can also set aside the arbitrary measures of the executive," CJI said. (ANI)
Beijing has long been notorious for its difficult reporting circumstances for international journalists, however, of late the Chinese party-state and allied players are influencing free speech outside China's boundaries. China recently threatened to sever ties with Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post over a "controversial article," reported The HK Post. A Chinese diplomat demanded that an interview with Taiwan's foreign minister be removed after it was published on a reputable Jerusalem website portal, and even threatened to cut ties with the portal unless the newspaper removed the interview. Minister Wu warned Israel in the piece that Taiwan was overly reliant on China and that Beijing was prepared to attack Taiwan. "China is an authoritarian country and they do business in a very different philosophy," Wu told the portal in a video interview from his office in Taipei. "Sometimes they use trade as a weapon, and we have seen them practising their weaponized trade relations with many other countries," said Wu. However, Jerusalem Post refused to budge before China's threat of severing ties with the publication. Yaakov Katz, editor-in-chief of Israel's best-selling English newspaper, wrote on Twitter that he received a call from the Chinese embassy demanding the story be taken down or China would sever ties with the paper and "downgrade relations with the state of Israel," reported Taipei Times. "Needless to say, (the) story ain't going anywhere," Katz wrote. Given Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and Taiwan's continual danger from its much larger and aggressive neighbour, the piece seemed timely. Following a phone conversation from a top diplomat at the Chinese Embassy in Israel shortly after the article was published on the aforementioned portal, the Chinese embassy denounced its publication and demanded that it be deleted immediately. Furthermore, the ambassador stated that unless the interview with Wu was withdrawn, China will cut connections with the portal and that the post's action would harm Israel-Chinese relations, reported The HK Post. Recent studies and reports of past freedom of speech detentions and prosecutions uncover a totally different image of the Chinese people and a profoundly insecure dictatorship that is always fighting to crush even the most minor signs of grassroots protest on several fronts. The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to tighten control over all aspects of life and governance, including the state bureaucracy, the media, online speech, religious practice, universities, businesses, and civil society organizations, while also undermining a series of earlier rule-of-law reforms. Xi Jinping, the CCP leader and China's President, has consolidated personal authority to unprecedented levels in China. China's attempt to increase its influence in global news media has had some success in recent times. According to a global survey performed towards the end of 2020 among the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) affiliate unions, China has succeeded in exploiting the Covid pandemic to strengthen its image in global media coverage by conducting continuous sophisticated long-term outreach efforts concentrating on both legacy and digital media. This is indicative of a long-term strategic endeavour to transform the global news environment with a pro-China global narrative. Since Xi took control, investigative journalism has practically vanished and journalists are predicting a "total censorship era." In his speech at the plenary meeting last year, Xi urged the country's officials to work on portraying China as "trustworthy, beloved, and honourable." Xinhua, China's state-run news agency, even advised that the country take a "humble" attitude to dealings with the rest of the world. Taiwan and Hong Kong have both been East Asia's beacons of civil liberties. While one is a Chinese special administrative area and the other is a renegade island over which China claims sovereignty, both have strong Chinese and English-language media that operate independently of China. As China progressively increased pressure in both markets to influence journalistic content and, at times, manipulate public opinion, freedoms in Hong Kong and Taiwan have deteriorated in recent times. The sophistication and ferocity of Beijing's information campaign against Taiwan, in which China-linked actors drove disinformation and political interference efforts to constantly innovate and explore new tactics to influence Taiwanese voters of all ages during the January 2020 general elections in Taiwan, exemplifies the sheer campaign to influence electoral and political outcomes. Recent examples provide an ugly image of China's escalating hysteria and its attempt to block honest information transmission. It is no coincidence that China's expanding geopolitical influence is leading to an increase in its 'favorability' but explicitly at the expense of revealing its own vulnerability, reported The HK Post. (ANI)
Members from the Indian diaspora, students, and various diplomates participated in the event with great enthusiasm on the day.

It was during his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi first floated the idea of International Yoga Day. The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations.

With universal recognition and growing popularity of Yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014.

The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015.

This year the theme for the celebration was "Yoga for humanity".

The theme has been selected after much deliberation/consultation and it appropriately portrays, how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering, and in the emerging post-COVID geo-political scenario too, it will bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over.

As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One Earth'. (ANI)
An International Yoga Day event organized by the Indian embassy in Male was disrupted after a mob stormed a stadium where over 150 people were celebrating the event, an American media outlet quoting the organizer reported on Tuesday. The yoga session was organized on the 8th International Yoga Day. According to Fox 5, the crowd stormed the stadium and attacked participants and vandalized property. However, the police in the Maldives used pepper spray and tear gas to control the mob. According to Superintendent Fathmath Nashwa, police responded by using anti-riot tactics and then used tear gas and pepper spray to manage the crowd. Nashwa reported that six persons were detained in relation to the incident, as per Fox 5. Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said a police investigation into the incident had begun, the media outlet said. "An investigation has been launched by @PoliceMv into the incident that happened this morning at Galolhu stadium. This is being treated as a matter of serious concern and those responsible will be swiftly brought before the law," the President tweeted. Maldives Police also issued a statement on the Yoga Day Attack and highlighted that an internal review will be conducted to identify the response of the police ahead of the attack,local media reported. With universal recognition and growing popularity of Yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. This year the theme for the celebration was "Yoga for humanity". The theme has been selected after much deliberation/consultation and it appropriately portrays, how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering, and in the emerging post-COVID geo-political scenario too, it will bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over. As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One Earth'. (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday lambasted the recent amendments made by the incumbent government of Shehbaz Sharif and called for throwing rulers in jail for 'shamelessly' passing National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, former Prime Minister Khan said, "They should be put in jail for their shamelessness. Nobody can pass such laws shamelessly -- as this government did," reported Geo News. He also announced approaching the Supreme Court against the NAB amendments. Khan -- explaining how the leaders of the two big political parties, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would be "saved" after the changes -- said the government amended section 14 of the law, which now states that a person will only be held accountable for the "money left in the fake accounts (when a person is arrested)". The PTI chairman said under the current tax laws, a person has to provide the trail of his money as the onus lies on them, not the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). "If I am a public office holder earning an income of Rs 50, then I will have to explain why I have assets worth Rs 100 and where did I get the extra Rs 50 from. But now, they have reversed the role and the NAB will have to explain how did a public office holder get extra assets," he said. Khan said after the NAB law amendments, the watchdog will have to prove whether a person accumulated wealth illicitly -- as the government has shifted the burden from the person to the watchdog, reported Geo News. The second change, Khan said was made to the assets beyond means -- section 9 -- of the NAB law, which will provide relief to "major government leaders". Furthermore, he claimed that the amendments to section 21 have now made the information on foreign assets inadmissible -- meaning that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz will get "clean chits" in Avenfield Fileds case. "It is rumoured that crores of pounds and USD of Imran Khan are lying in foreign countries. I don't have to say anything about this. The information coming from outside will not be admitted. What came out of Panama Papers--four lavish apartments in Mayfair apartments belonged to Maryam Nawaz," said Khan. Khan said that Pakistan cannot progress with the prevalent corruption as justice is the key to a country's development, reported Geo News. "Pakistan is a blessed country, but we have not reached our potential," said the ousted prime minister during a press conference. (ANI)
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday paid tribute to freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi at the MG Memorial Statue at the Piazza Gandhi in Rome. On this occasion, Patnaik said that he is inspired by the ideals and principles of India's father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi.In 2018, during the first meeting of the National Committee for commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Patnaik had proposed that the greatest tribute India could pay to Gandhi on his 150th anniversary was to include the uniquely Indian ideal of Ahimsa, of non-violence, in the preamble of the Indian Constitution. Patnaik at that time also quoted Mahatma Gandhi that there can be no progress without peace.In 2019, Patnaik had unveiled the Gandhi Talisman in the Lok Seva Bhawan. At that time, he said that the Talisman will inspire all to work selflessly for the cause of the poorest of the poor. The eighth International Yoga Day is being celebrated across Odisha on Tuesday with people from all walks of life participating in yoga programmes organised at several places in the State. The Centre has selected 75 historical sites including three from Odisha- Srimandir at Puri, Sun temple at Konark and Tampara lake in Ganjam for the celebration of International Yoga Day. While Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw led the International Day of Yoga celebration from Konark Temple heritage site, Union Minister Mahendra Pandey, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra, Puri MLA Jayanta Sarangi and the party's State general secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar took part in the yoga session held in Puri. Meanwhile, renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a seven-foot sand sculpture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi doing yoga at a beach in Puri to mark the day. At the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the United Nations General Assembly took a historic decision in 2014 to declare 21st June as the International Day of Yoga (IDY). This worldwide acceptance of Yoga is a matter of pride for our country, as Yoga is an integral part of our nation's cultural and spiritual heritage. This year International Day of Yoga has fallen in the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" year for which the Ministry of AYUSH has planned to observe the International Day of Yoga at 75 iconic locations across India which will also help in branding India on a global scale. The theme for this year IDY 2022 was "Yoga for Humanity" as it depicted how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering and in the emerging post-COVID geo-political scenario too, bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over. Common Yoga Protocol, Lecture on Yoga by Experts, Yoga Demonstration from yoga experts from Rani Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education were some of the activities undertaken at the event. (ANI)
According to the Hungarian leader's press chief Bertalan Havasi, Orban confirmed his country's support for Ukraine's EU candidate status.

Orban reportedly said that the EU should remove the bureaucratic obstacles to Ukraine's EU accession as soon as possible and that he intends to represent this position at the upcoming EU summit on June 23-24.

Orban told Zelensky that Hungary has already welcomed close to 800,000 Ukrainian refugees and that his government is ready for continued cooperation in further energy projects, Havasi said.

Hungary is also ready to help Ukraine export its grain via rail, Orban said.

On behalf of the people of Ukraine, Zelensky thanked the Hungarian people for their help.

The phone conversation was seen by observers as a sign of easing tensions between the two leaders. Previously, Zelensky criticized Orban for his apparent lack of support for the embattled country. (ANI/Xinhua)
With more than 200 members of the International community in presence, the 8th International Day of Yoga was celebrated in Geneva at iconic UN HQ, Palais des Nations, amidst the flags of UN Member States on Tuesday. The celebration was attended by Permanent Representatives and Delegates of the UN Member States, members of International Organizations, Swiss and Indian communities and students. As a part of the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a number of Swiss Yoga partners namely Heartfulness Switzerland, Art of Living, Isha Foundation, Sivananda Yoga, Sahaja Yoga and Brahmakumaris joined hands with Permanent Missions of India and the Consulate General of India in Geneva on the occasion of 8th International Day of Yoga today, the Press Release stated. Permanent Representative of India to UN in Geneva, Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, highlighted in his welcome address the concept and practice of Yoga as part of India's civilisational heritage, adding that India's commitment to the welfare of the entire humanity is based on principles of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Sarvodaya, and the contribution that Yoga has made is immense as globally in promoting holistic health, happiness, peace and harmony has been promoted globally under the ancient practice of Yoga. "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" is being celebrated in the country in commemoration of 75 years of independence of India, and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements. It's a celebration of collective achievements as a 75-year-old independent country with a legacy of 5000+ years of ancient history. The celebration rests on five pillars outlined by the Prime Minister i.e. Freedom struggle, Ideas at 75, Achievements at 75, Actions at 75 and Resolves at 75 as guiding forces for moving forward and Keeping dreams and duties as inspiration. International Day of Yoga over the years has not only boosted Yoga's popularity but also expanded its geographical presence by inspiring its adoption in several new territories. June 21 is observed as the International Yoga Day, recognising the benefits of the ancient Indian practice of Yoga. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. This year the theme for the celebration was "Yoga for humanity". The theme has been selected after much deliberation/consultation and it appropriately portrays, how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering, and in the emerging post-COVID geo-political scenario too, it will bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over. As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One Earth'. (ANI)
On the occasion of the 8th International Day of Yoga, India's Ambassador to Madagascar Abhay Kumar on Tuesday highlighted the role of Yoga in living a healthy life. The event was attended by a large number of students of the University of Antananarivo, members of local government, diplomats and ITEC and ICCR alumni in Madagascar. "For the past two years, the world is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic that has increased stress and anxiety among the people. While the world is slowly getting out of the crisis, there is a widespread concern over the pandemic's impact on people's physical and mental health," he said while speaking at the event today. He further said that Yoga, a 5,000-year-old tradition from India, can play a critical role in getting our lives back on track. It combines physical, mental and spiritual pursuits to achieve harmony of the body and mind. The Embassy has taken steps to make Yoga accessible to the people of Madagascar by starting free Yoga classes at its premises. During his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi first floated the idea of International Yoga Day. The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations. With universal recognition and growing popularity of Yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. This year the theme for the celebration was "Yoga for humanity". The theme has been selected after much deliberation/consultation and it appropriately portrays, how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering, and in the emerging post-COVID geo-political scenario too, it will bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over. As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One Earth'. (ANI)
Taiwan officials have proposed to reduce sales of semiconductor chips to China to counter Beijing's ban on Taipei's agricultural and fishery products. China has successively banned the import of Taiwan's agricultural and fishery products, Radio Free Asia reported. Deng Zhenzhong, a political member of the Taiwan Executive Yuan who attended the World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meeting in Geneva has proposed a countermeasure, saying that Taiwan's biggest weapon is to reduce the export of chips to China. Experts pointed out that this move will impact China's smartphones and electric vehicles, but the focus should be on adjusting the export structure of Taiwan's agricultural and fishery industries to meet the standards for exporting to Europe, America and Japan. According to reports citing official data, Taiwan dominates the global market for the most advanced chips, an export worth USD 118 billion last year. China's foreign ministry and state media did not respond to Deng Zhenzhong's statement. However, some Chinese reporters said that the vacated share of the Chinese market will naturally be broken by other countries, and Taiwan will go to a dead end, Radio Free Asia reported. Recently, Chinese manufacturing companies have been recruiting talents from Taiwan with a salary of 2-2.5 times the average salaries and bonuses offered in Taipei, a new trick to lure the people from the island, according to a report. Chinese officials are poaching talent in Hsinchu in Taiwan. It has also become the centre of intellectual property theft, which often follows talent recruitment. Over 100 experienced engineers and managers from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) have been transferred to foundries in China in 2019 and 2020. Overall, more than 3,000 engineers are estimated to have transferred from Taiwan to mainland companies, nearly 10 per cent of Taiwan's semiconductor research and development workforce. Realizing that China is poaching talent, the authorities are closely monitoring the Beijing companies as the latest crackdown on the firms to protect its chip supremacy. (ANI)
Nepal's iconic tower- Dharahara, one of the country's oldest historical masterpiece got illuminated by lights with slogans of International Day of Yoga today. The tower hosted the light for the second consecutive day with messages of "International Day of Yoga 2022" and #YogaForHumanity on the occasion of the 8th International Yoga Day. The lighting ceremony was organized by Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center under the Indian Mission in Nepal. Earlier in the morning, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu also organized a Yoga Camp which was held in presence of Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and dozens of Yoga enthusiasts. International Day of Yoga has been celebrated annually on 21 June since 2015, following its inception in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his UN address, had suggested the date of 21 June, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares a special significance in many parts of the world. International Day of Yoga over the years has not only boosted Yoga's popularity but also expanded its geographical presence by inspiring its adoption in several new territories. June 21 is observed as the International Yoga Day, recognising the benefits of the ancient Indian practice of Yoga. This year the theme for the celebration was "Yoga for humanity". The theme has been selected after much deliberation/consultation and it appropriately portrays, how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering, and in the emerging post-COVID geo-political scenario too, it will bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over. As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One Earth'. (ANI)
A student union in Nepal on Tuesday burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, and Supply Minister Dilendra Prasad Badu over their demand for a reduction in petroleum prices. The protest was held in two different colleges in Kathmandu. The union includes -- All Nepal National Independent Students Union (ANNISU-R) affiliated to the CPN- Maoist Center and the opposition CPN-UML. During the protest, agitating students also staged a torch rally and chanted anti-government slogans demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Deuba as well as other ministers of his cabinet. The Government under the Prime Ministership of Sher Bahadur Deuba has been facing mounting pressure after the hefty hike in price of petroleum. The state owned syndicate, Nepal Oil Corporation on Monday raised the price of one liter of petrol and diesel by 12 and 16 per cent respectively. On Monday, the House Speaker had ruled the government to come forward with the reason for the unprecedented hike in petroleum prices after members of parliament demanded an answer from the government. House speaker, Agni Prasad Sapkota made the ruling after MPs from the ruling coalition and opposition raised questions over the massive price hike in petroleum products which has been a frequent phenomenon. "The House's attention has been to the issue (petroleum products price hike) raised by the honorable members. I would also like to draw the attention of the government. I urge the government to present truth and facts on the matter before the house," House speaker Sapkota said on Monday. State syndicate, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has raised the price of petrol to Rs 199 per liter and diesel to Rs 192 with effect past Sunday midnight. Issuing a release on Sunday evening, the state syndicate- NOC has stated the Russia-Ukraine War to be sole reason to affect the international fuel market and prices were adjusted in line with the international market. On Thursday (June 16), the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the sole supplier of fuel to the NOC, had sent a list by increasing the price of fuel. As per the price list, the price of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel was increased by Rs 6.52, Rs 19.3 and Rs 91.91 per liter, respectively. (ANI)
Ankara [Turkey], June 21 (ANI/Xinhua): Turkey is to host a four-way meeting with the United Nations, Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul next week to discuss a possible Black Sea corridor for exporting Ukrainian grains, local media reported Tuesday. A Turkish military delegation will travel to Russia this week to discuss the details of the planned corridor, the HaberTurk TV reported, quoting anonymous presidential sources. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wanted to attend the meeting, according to the sources. The United Nations had appealed to Russia and Ukraine, as well as Turkey, to agree to set up a maritime corridor to export Ukrainian grains. Turkey, a NATO member, has been making efforts to broker a deal to allow Ukraine export grains to avert a food crisis. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Guterres discussed the issue over the phone on Monday. Turkey earlier said it is ready to take on a role within an "observation mechanism" if a deal is reached. According to the plan, representatives from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations will create the observation mechanism. It is expected that the mechanism will become operational within one month and some 20 to 25 vessels will depart from Odessa port of Ukraine to sail across the Black Sea through the corridor, the Turkish presidential sources told the HaberTurk TV. It is expected that some 30-35 million tons of agricultural products will be exported from Ukraine in six to eight months, the report said. The plan is to open three corridors from four ports in Odessa of Ukraine. Kiev says clearing mines will take time so these corridors will come into operation to meet the urgent export of grains, HaberTurk reported. Ukraine is a major grain exporter to Africa and the Middle East. As the Russia-Ukraine conflict drags on, the disruption to the Ukrainian grain shipments has led to sharp rise in food prices. (ANI/Xinhua)
The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, started its 35th session Tuesday in Beijing. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the session's first plenary meeting. The Xinhua news agency reported that Chinese lawmakers reviewed a draft revision to the Law on Physical Culture and Sports, a draft black soil conservation law, a draft amendment to the Anti-monopoly Law, and a draft amendment to the procedural rules of the NPC Standing Committee, all submitted by the NPC Constitution and Law Committee to the session. In its reports to the session, the NPC Constitution and Law Committee said the four drafts are already relatively mature and suggested the session adopt them. The Chinese lawmakers also deliberated a draft law on telecom and online fraud, a draft revision to the Law on Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, a draft Yellow River protection law, and a draft civil enforcement law, among other reports and bills, Xinhua reported. At a recent Politburo meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who seeks a third term in office, called for cadres in leading positions to remain loyal to the spirit of the party and said firm points toward more 'anti-corruption' moves in the coming months are needed. At the Politburo meeting which took place on June 17, Xi Jinping emphasized the anti-corruption struggle and stated that "it is a major political struggle that (the party) cannot afford to lose and must not lose." He also called for "winning the tough and protracted battle against corruption in an all-around way". "To carry out the anti-corruption struggle to the end" Xi also called for cadres in leading positions - who he terms "the key minority"-- to manage themselves well, as well as their family members and relatives, the affairs of the people around them. Xi Jinping further added, "The higher the position and the greater the power, the more reverence and self-discipline must be exercised. Leading cadres, especially senior cadres..." The president then said, "Discipline inspection and supervision cadres must be loyal, firm, selfless and fearless, always stand with the spirit of the party, exercise discipline impartially, exercise power prudently, and dare to be good at fighting (struggle), so as to truly reassure the Party Central Committee and satisfy the people." He emphasized on the anti-corruption campaign and called upon the "key minority" to conduct themselves and their family members well, as well as calling upon the CCDI to be loyal and firm points toward more anti-corruption moves in the coming months. (ANI)
The Maldives government has strongly condemned the violent acts perpetrated by a group of individuals targeting the participants who were attending the celebrations held to mark the 8th United Nations International Day of Yoga. International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21 every year around the world. This day has been celebrated in the Maldives, since 2015. On Tuesday, an International Yoga Day event organized by the Indian embassy in Male was disrupted after a mob stormed a stadium where over 150 people were celebrating the event. The government said such malicious acts of violence aimed at disrupting public safety and undermining the security of individuals and the diplomatic corps will not be tolerated, "The Government strongly condemns the violent acts perpetrated by a group of individuals targeting the participants, including members of the diplomatic community who were attending the celebrations held to mark the 8th United Nations International Day of Yoga. Such malicious acts of violence aimed at disrupting public safety and undermining the security of individuals and the diplomatic corps will not be tolerated," the government statement said. "Authorities have launched a special investigation into today's incident and the Government will ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice," the statement added. Earlier on Tuesday, media reports said the crowd stormed the stadium and attacked participants and vandalized property. However, the police in the Maldives used pepper spray and tear gas to control the mob. Superintendent Fathmath Nashwa said police responded by using anti-riot tactics and then used tear gas and pepper spray to manage the crowd. Nashwa reported that six persons were detained in relation to the incident. Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said a police investigation into the incident had begun. "An investigation has been launched by @PoliceMv into the incident that happened this morning at Galolhu stadium. This is being treated as a matter of serious concern and those responsible will be swiftly brought before the law," Solih tweeted. Maldives Police also issued a statement, saying that an internal review will be conducted to identify the response of the police ahead of the attack. "Maldives Police Service (MPS) has launched a high priority investigation into this morning's violent disruption of an event held at the National Stadium. Perpetrators had sought to incite fear by forcefully entering, destroying property and attempting to assault participants of the event. The event was attended by international Diplomats, state dignitaries and members of the public," the statement said. "The Serious and Organized Crime Department of the Crime Investigation Command is investigating this incident with utmost urgency. As of now, the evidence indicates that the demonstrators were using items taken from the office of the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM). So far, six male Maldivians have been taken into custody regarding this case," the statement added. Additionally, an internal review of the police response to the incident has been initiated. "We assure the public that we will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our whole community," the Police said. The United Nations declared the day as International Day of Yoga by consensus on 11 December 2014, through a resolution which was co-sponsored by a record of 177 countries, including the Maldives. (ANI)
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has said that "strict action" should be taken against former Prime Minister Imran Khan for "blackmailing" ex-NAB chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal through objectionable videos, media reports said. In response to PTI's criticism over amendments to NAB law, the ruling party leader said those who were raising hue and cry over the changes in the accountability laws targeted their political opponents by blackmailing the former NAB chief, Express Tribune. "He [Imran Khan] tricked Tayyaba and kept her at the Prime Minister's House for weeks. Took videos of NAB chairman from her and then blackmailed him through these videos to get verdicts of their choice," Nawaz wrote on her official Twitter handle on Tuesday, Express Tribune reported. In May 2019, the audio and video clips relating to the alleged conduct of then NAB chairman with regard to a woman identified as Tayyaba Khatun facing investigation by NAB authorities had taken the politico-media by storm. The anti-graft watchdog had rebutted the allegations. Tayyaba had lodged a complaint with the Pakistan Citizen Portal (PCP) alleging that the then "NAB chairman is harassing me [and] my family. He is making fake cases against me and my husband just because I didn't make any relation wid [with] him. NAB is threatening me. I am a law student. How he disrespect a woman like this. He is a morally ill person. I have all vdos [videos] and audio recordings against him; I am attaching some screenshots of videos". --IANS san/arm ( 259 Words) 2022-06-21-21:22:04 (IANS)
For almost 30 years, people in rural Chester County in South Carolina knew Alex Underwood, the cop and then sheriff, as Big A.

Six-foot-3 inches tall, 230-plus pounds, Underwood was larger than life.

He stared down gangs and arrested gang members who took part in the 2014 killing of a Chester City Councilman.

He was shot while serving as a member of a law enforcement unit that hunted down violent criminals.

He was the first African-American in Chester Countys history to be elected sheriff.

He did not ride in Chester County parades. He walked and shook hands and hugged supporters.

He argued publicly with political opponents to get better pay and bulletproof vests for deputies.

On Friday, a year after a federal jury convicted him, Underwood will be sentenced to prison.

Underwood was convicted in April 2021 of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and federal program theft, unlawful arrest of a Chester County man in 2018, and wire fraud, records show.

U.S. District Judge Michelle Childs is expected to sentence Underwood. Federal sentencing guidelines show Underwood faces 46-57 months in prison.

Underwood, former chief deputy Robert Sprouse, and former Lt. Johnny Neal, were all convicted at the same trial in April 2021. Sentencing for all three is Friday in federal court.

Federal prosecutors want Underwoods sentence set at the high end under the laws guidelines. The sentencing guidelines are not rules, federal law shows. Childs can follow the guidelines -- or give less or more prison time.

What the sentencing memorandum says

Underwood violated the trust of the public that elected him first in 2012 and again in 2016, prosecutors said in court testimony and documents.

Underwood used deputies to build his party barn at his home, stole money from deputies from a DUI task force, then violated the civil rights of a citizen and threw the man in jail before trying to cover up the crime, federal prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum filed Tuesday in federal court.

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To account for Underwoods leadership role and the central role he played in the criminal activity, the United States recommends this Court sentence Underwood to a term of imprisonment at the high-end of the advisory Sentencing Guidelines range of 46 to 57 months followed by a term of supervised release, prosecutors said Tuesday in court filings.

Underwood was a bully and thief who stole DUI task force money from the public and his own deputies, prosecutors say.

Rather than faithfully execute the duties of his office, Underwood repeatedly misused his position for his own benefit and to serve his own interests, acting as if the rules did not apply to him, federal prosecutors wrote in the filing.

Underwood, known so widely as Big A that he is called Big A in court documents, must get prison to show the public that police cannot be criminals, prosecutors said in court filings.

A meaningful term of incarceration is required to promote respect for our anti-corruption laws and restore faith in our nations law enforcement institutions, prosecutors said in filings. The need for general deterrence is particularly important in cases such as this one, which erode public confidence in our institutions.

In the past dozen years, 12 sheriffs in South Carolina have been charged or convicted of crimes in federal and state courts, records show. All 46 counties in South Carolina have an elected sheriff who is the top law enforcement officer in each county.

Chester County, located between Columbia and Rock Hill, is a mainly rural county of around 32,000 people.

Victim wants jail for Underwood

Kevin Simpson, the man who was unlawfully arrested in 2018, wrote a letter to the judge asking that Underwood and his co-conspirators go to jail. Simpson was arrested after he posted a video on Facebook Live in 2018 of police activity near his home. The jury convicted Underwood, Neal and Sprouse in connection with the handling of the incident, which included untrue reports, testimony and court documents show.

Simpson spent days in jail before charges were dropped by South Carolina prosecutors.

Simpson said as a Black man, the effects of the false arrest by Underwood and Neal, who also are both African-American, has made the actions even harder to accept.

Childs also is Afican-American.

What makes things worse is Mr. Underwood and Mr. Neal are both African-American men like me, Simpson wrote to Childs in a public court record. They should know how African-Americans feel in general about the police. The fact that two African-American police officers did this to me really destroyed any confidence I might have about police in general and specifically about African-American officers...I should feel safe when I see a police officer, especially an African-American one. Now I get tense and anxious even at the sight of police.

Attorney says Underwood has suffered due to conviction

Underwood, 56, has lost his law enforcement certification, according to his lead lawyer, Stanley Myers.

Underwood now works as a manager at a farm and no longer has the reputation as a law enforcer as he had for more than 30 years as a deputy, State Law Enforcement Division agent, and U.S. Marshal fugitive team leader who caught felons fleeing justice, Myers said in court records filed Tuesday.

A long prison sentence wont make the community any safer, Myers said in the court filing.

The destruction of Mr. Underwoods career, along with his reputation in the public and employability, significantly satisfy the need for just punishment and deterrence, Myers said in the filing.

Leniency sought for deputies

Federal prosecutors wrote in filings Tuesday that Sprouse and Neal, should get prison terms in the range of the guidelines.

Neal, 41, faces 46-57 months in prison. He was convicted of falsification of records, federal program theft, unlawful arrest, federal program theft, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud.

His lawyer, Andrew Johnston, wrote that Neal also has suffered loss of employment and reputation and deserves a lesser sentence. Neal was an employee of Underwood who was doing his job, Johnston wrote.

Neal is an otherwise law-abiding citizen who just did dumb things, Johnston said in a court filing.

Sprouse, 46, faces a range of 30-37 months after he was convicted of conspiracy to falsify records and commit federal program theft, falsification of records, false statements, and federal program theft, records state.

Sprouses lawyer, also filed a motion Monday asking for leniency based on Sprouses decades of public service in Chester.

Sprouse must live with this stigma for the rest of his life his lawyer said in court filings. Defendants reputation is forever tarnished within his community.

What will happen at Fridays hearing?

Court records show Sprouse is set to be sentenced at 12:30 p.m. Friday at the federal courthouse in Columbia. Neal is next at 1:15 p.m., court records say, then Underwood at 2 p.m.

The sentencing is open to the public. However, federal courts do not allow video or pictures in courtrooms or in the courthouse.

All three defendants are expected to have supporters in court.

All three have been free on bail since they were indicted on May 7, 2019. They remained free on the same bail after they were convicted in April 2021 of lying to the FBI, making up fake reports to cover up the false arrest, and stealing more than $20,000 each, court documents filed by federal prosecutors state.
During the Battle Tailgate episode of Netflixs Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend, host Alton Brown dropped some knowledge about Korean fried chickens origin, and it may be the series best moment.

Asian fried chicken is the best chicken in world.



You know why, they got the recipe from the #Freedmen!



We are taking back EVERYTHING that was taken from us! pic.twitter.com/GZcEp2CQGS  Nyhiem (Lord Abba) Freedmen  7 (@RealNyhiem) June 21, 2022

In a clip of the viral moment, Brown and co-host Kristen Kish were observing challenger chef Esther Choi and iron chef Marcus Samuelsson battle it out in the kitchen.

Noticing Choi dropping stuffed chicken wings into the fryer, Brown mentioned that she was planning on serving judges Korean stuffed fried chicken wings. Kish, whos Korean, was thrilled at the menu choice.

Looks like theyre going to fry those stuffed wings, Brown says in the clip.

Ugh! Korean fried chicken is by far the best fried chicken on the face of the earth, Kish said.

Before Kish could get another complimentary word in, Brown was quick to give her a history lesson on her favorite kind of fried chicken.

And do you know why? he asked Kish. Because it was taught to Korean cooks by African American GIs after the World War.

Browns extensive knowledge as a food show presenter shined as he cut to the camera with a blank facial expression.

If I had a mic I would drop it right now, Kish responded. Great fact.

The clip, shared on Facebook, garnered thousands of likes and shares. Many viewers praised Brown for his knowledge.

Yep. Hes invited to the cookout. Lol, one user wrote.

Let them know, Alton! another added.

The face you make after you drop a blackle fact, a Facebook user wrote with a screenshot of Brown cutting to the camera.

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Choi ended up securing the victory, defeating Samuelsson with her Asian-inspired interpretation of tailgate food.

Brown proves he knows what hes talking about throughout the series, dropping gems of knowledge in almost every episode.

He has hosted several shows, including Cutthroat Kitchen, Good Eats, and more. Brown is a chef, author, actor and cinematographer.

He has also served as director of photography for several music videos, including R.E.Ms The One I Love, Biography reports.
The Daily Beast

Ukrainian State Emergency Service / Handout/Anadolu Agency via GettyRussia fired a series of rockets at a shopping center in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, on Monday, raising fears that Russia is stepping up its attacks on civilian structures regardless of the loss of life.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday there were more than a thousand civilians inside the shopping mall and the casualties to come might bring even more shock and horror to Ukrainian people already confronting so much deat
Africa Ukraine Food Crisis (AP)

Volodymyr Zelensky has said Africa has been taken hostage in Russias invasion amid catastrophically rising food prices.

The Ukrainian president made the comments to the African Union continental body during a closed-door address.

It took weeks of requests for Mr Zelensky to make the speech to the African nations, many of whom retain close ties to Russia and failed to support a UN General Assembly resolution condemning the invasion earlier this year.

Ukraine and the West hope to weaken those ties by emphasizing that Russias actions are to blame for dramatic shortages of wheat and edible oils and skyrocketing food and fuel prices across the African continent of 1.3 billion people.

Russia's blockade of Ukrainian exports is a war crime, the European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Monday.

They are trying to use you and the suffering of the people to put pressure on the democracies that have imposed sanctions on Russia, Mr Zelensky told the AU, whose leaders recently met in Russia with president Vladimir Putin and echoed Moscows assertion that Western sanctions are in part to blame for the food security crisis.

They appealed to other countries to ensure grain and fertilizer exports from Russia and Ukraine arent blocked.

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky (AFP/Getty)

Millions of people in the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia and Somalia, are now struggling to find food or even humanitarian food aid amid a historic drought.

We know for a fact there will be increased deaths ... well into 2023, USAID Ethiopia mission director Sean Jones told the Associated Press last week.

Official reaction to Mr Zelenskys speech was muted. African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat, one of those who met with Mr Putin, tweeted that African nations reiterated the AU position of the urgent need for dialogue to end the conflict.

Current AU chair and Senegalese president Macky Sall tweeted that Africa respects the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the freedom of commerce.

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Russia is the largest weapons exporter to sub-Saharan Africa, and Moscow emphasizes its long ties with African nations dating to the Soviet Union. Some African leaders, meanwhile, are exasperated by global powers' efforts to choose one side or another.

Ukraine will press its case again later this week when its foreign minister speaks to Africa-based reporters in a briefing organized by the United States government on how Russian Federations full-scale invasion of Ukraine affects food security on the African continent.

The EU's top diplomat said he has written to all African foreign ministers to explain that the blocs sanctions on Russia are not responsible for the looming global food crisis, and pledged to work out ways for exports of food and fertilizers to reach their continent.
Attorney General Merrick Garland made an unannounced visit to Ukraine Tuesday for a meeting with Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova to discuss the ongoing effort to identify and apprehend suspected war criminals.

Garland, who entered the country from the Polish border, reaffirmed continued U.S. assistance and announced the formation of a War Crimes Accountability Team within the Justice Department to provide legal counsel and expertise in evidence collection and forensics.

The attorney general said the special unit would be led by Eli Rosenbaum, who previously directed the department's Office of Special Investigations (OSI), primarily responsible for identifying, denaturalizing, and deporting Nazi war criminals. A U.S. prosecutor also will be assigned to advise Ukrainian officials combatting kleptocracy, corruption and money laundering.

"There is no hiding place for war criminals," Garland said. Working alongside our domestic and international partners, the Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to hold accountable every person complicit in the commission of war crimes, torture, and other grave violations during the unprovoked conflict in Ukraine."

The latest from Ukraine: Ben Stiller meets 'my hero' Zelenskyy; captured US military veterans may face death penalty: Live Ukraine updates

Attorney General Merrick Garland and Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova, meet in Krakovets, at the Ukraine border with Poland on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, the attorney general pledged U.S. support for an international campaign to hold war criminals accountable for atrocities being documented by Ukrainian authorities.

Venediktova has said that her office is documenting and cataloguing evidence of suspected deliberate bombing of civilian buildings, hospitals and other infrastructure by Russian pilots, as well as mass graves, reports of civilians shot at close range with their hands bound, bodies showing signs of torture and brutal accounts of rape and other forms of sexual violence.

'You're not going to get away with it': Ukraine unveils first war crimes charges amid 8,000 investigations

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In the first war crimes trial last month, a Russian soldier pleaded guilty to fatally shooting an unarmed civilian in the northeastern Sumy region four days after the invasion began.

Vadim Shishimarin, 21, was convicted in the fatal attack on a 62-year-old Ukrainian man. Shishimarin was among a group of Russian troops who fled Ukrainian forces on Feb. 28, prosecutors say.

Garland's meeting came in advance of previously scheduled meeting this week in Paris with European Union justice ministers.

Ukraine: Russian bombs kill three generations in Ukraine family  hours before evacuation

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Merrick Garland visits Ukraine to discuss war crimes investigation
American Airlines will end services for three US cities after the Labor Day holiday weekend due to a pilot shortage, the latest setback for the aviation industry that has seen a spate of flight cancellations in recent months.

The Fort Worth-based company, believed to be the worlds largest airline by fleet size, said it would drop services from the airports of Toledo in Ohio and Ithaca and Islip in New York, starting 7 September.

In response to the regional pilot shortage affecting the airline industry, American Airlines has made the difficult decision to end service, American Airlines spokeswoman Andrea Koos said in a statement.

Were extremely grateful for the care and service our team members provided to our customers in Islip, Ithaca and Toledo, and are working closely with them during this time.

The suspension comes as travel demand has surged after Covid infection numbers have receded in the country in recent months and a large number of Americans have begun taking trips for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

As many as 2.44 million people were screened on Friday at airports, in a traveller boom that has been the greatest since 28 November 2021, said reports citing the Transportation Security Administration.

This surging demand has led to carriers grappling with the severe pilot shortage after millions of job cuts, buyouts during the Covid pandemic and thousands of retirements. Ahead of Fathers Day and Juneteenth, thousands of fights were cancelled or delayed.

Regional carriers have been hit hardest by with the pandemic-led changes as pilots are often recruited to work for more lucrative mainline carriers such as American Airlines, Delta and United, which offer better pay and benefits.

This has led American and other major airlines to cut back on the use of regional carriers. The dependency for American on regional carriers reduced to 46 per cent in September 2022 from 52 per cent in the same month in 2019, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.

American Airlines will also make changes to eight other routes, which it said would match a robust demand environment.

The American aviation industry is short of 12,000 pilots and almost 303 airports are now offering fewer flights, said an estimate by Fox Business.
Military law enforcement on June 16 arrested an American airman as part of an ongoing investigation into an insider attack on a small U.S. base in northern Syria that injured four service members in April, CNN reported Tuesday.

An airman was taken into custody stateside in conjunction with the attack in Green Village, Syria, Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek told CNN. After reviewing the information in the investigation, the airmans commander made the decision to place him in pretrial confinement.

Stefanek did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Air Force Times Tuesday evening.

US service member is possible suspect in Syria base blast

She declined to disclose the airmans name unless he is charged in military court, which could come in the next few weeks, according to CNN. Stefanek has not provided the mans unit, career field or whether he was an active duty member, or where he is being held.

U.S. Central Command has described Green Village in northeast Syria as a Syrian Democratic Forces base with a small coalition advisory presence. Its unclear which airmen work out of that post.

On April 14, one week after the attack, Operation Inherent Resolve officials announced that the explosions were not caused by indirect fire on the installation, but the deliberate placement of explosive charges  at an ammunition holding area and shower facility.

Senior Islamic State leader captured in US-led military raid in Syria

CNN previously reported that the explosives were more powerful than hand grenades, but did not specify what type of weapon was used. Stefanek did not answer whether the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Armys Criminal Investigation Division are looking into any other suspects.

The service members who were injured in the blast were treated for traumatic brain injuries and returned to work. They are among approximately 900 American troops who remain in Syria to back government opponents in the ongoing civil war there, now in its 11th year.
By Guy Faulconbridge

LONDON (Reuters) -A top ally of President Vladimir Putin told Lithuania on Tuesday that Moscow would respond to its ban on the transit of goods sanctioned by the EU to Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad in such a way that citizens of the Baltic state would feel the pain.

With relations between Moscow and the West at a half-century low over Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania banned the transit of goods sanctioned by the European Union across its territory to and from the exclave, citing EU sanction rules.

Nikolai Patrushev, a former KGB spy who is now the secretary of Russia's Security Council, said Lithuania's "hostile" actions showed that Russia could not trust the West, which he said had broken written agreements over Kaliningrad.

"Russia will certainly respond to such hostile actions," Patrushev was quoted as saying by state news agency RIA.

"Appropriate measures are being worked out in an interdepartmental format and will be taken in the near future," he was quoted as saying. "Their consequences will have a serious negative impact on the population of Lithuania."

Lithuania, a member of NATO and the European Union, said it was simply applying agreed EU sanctions on Russia, adding it was "ironic" to hear Moscow's complaints given its war in Ukraine.

'NO BLOCKADE'

"It's ironic to hear rhetoric about alleged violations of international treaties from a country which has violated possibly every single international treaty," Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte told reporters.

"There is no Kaliningrad blockade," Simonyte said. "Lithuania is implementing EU sanctions."

Kaliningrad, formerly the port of Koenigsberg, capital of East Prussia, was captured from Nazi Germany by the Red Army in April 1945 and ceded to the Soviet Union after World War Two. It is sandwiched between NATO members Poland and Lithuania.

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After Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, the United States and its allies imposed some of the most stringent sanctions in modern history, a step the Kremlin cast as akin to a declaration of economic war.

Russia's foreign ministry summoned the EU's ambassador to Moscow, Markus Ederer, to formally complain.

"We demanded the immediate restoration of normal Kaliningrad transit. Otherwise retaliatory measures will follow," it said.

Ederer urged Russia to refrain from "escalatory steps and rhetoric" over the situation, an EU spokesperson said.

"He conveyed our position on Russia's aggression against Ukraine and explained that Lithuania is implementing EU sanctions and there is no blockade, and asked them to refrain from escalatory steps and rhetoric," the spokesperson, Peter Stano, said in Brussels.

Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation" to disarm Ukraine and protect it from fascists. Kyiv and its Western backers say this is a false pretext to wage an unprovoked war of aggression.

(Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Nick Macfie and Gareth Jones)
Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers (R) refuted former President Trumps description of a phone call between the two men after the 2020 presidential election, telling the members of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that he never told Trump the election was rigged.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a member of the Jan. 6 panel who took a leading role in Tuesdays hearing, began Bowerss in-person testimony by asking the Arizona official about a phone call that took place between Bowers and Trump after the 2020 presidential election.

Trump, in a statement Tuesday morning, said that Bowers told me that the election was rigged and that I won Arizona.

Bowers, however, denied that description under oath later Tuesday.

I did have a conversation with the president. That certainly isnt it, but there were parts of it that are true, but there are parts that are not, Bowers told Schiff when asked if he had such a conversation with Trump.

Pressed on if he told Trump that the election was rigged and that the former president actually won the race, Bowers testified that has never made such a statement.

Anywhere, anyone, anytime has said that I said that the election was rigged, that would not be true, Bowers said.

And when the former president in his statement today claimed that you told him that he won Arizona, is that also false? Schiff asked.

That is also false, Bowers responded.

The exchange came at the start of Bowerss testimony before the panel. Tuesdays public hearing, which is the fourth so far this month, is focused on Trumps role in pressuring state officials to reverse the results of the 2020 election to keep himself in power.

Bowers received a call from Trump and attorney Rudy Giuliani amid the pressure campaign to overturn the results of the election.

Bowers is testifying alongside Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his deputy, Gabriel Sterling. Former Georgia election worker Wandrea Shaye Moss, will testify later Tuesday afternoon.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  TUESDAY, 21 JUNE 2022, 16:14

The Ukrainian military carried out an intense strike on the occupying garrison on Zmiinyi (Snake) Island.

Source: Pivden [South] Operational Command; Serhii Bratchuk, spokesman for the head of the Odesa Oblast Military Administration, in a video address

Quote from Pivden [South] Operational Command: "Zmiinyi (Snake) Island has suffered an intense strike by various forces and methods of destruction, as a result, what the Ruscists proudly called the island garrison has now suffered significant losses.

The military operation continues and requires informational silence until it is complete."

Details: Serhii Bratchuk, spokesman for the head of the Odesa Oblast Military Administration, confirmed news about the Armed Forces of Ukraines assault on Zmiinyi (Snake) Island.

"The spirit of the Zmiiebaivka Island does not like the occupiers very much. Therefore, our Armed Forces have conducted a strike on the temporary Russian garrison on this island," he said.
Deyanira Galaviz, 19, of Mesa, is among the growing numbers of Latino students enrolled at Arizona State University.

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When Deyanira Galaviz started as a first-year student at Arizona State University last fall, she felt lost on campus, one of the largest in the country.

She had questions about financial aid and tuition. And she was unhappy with her major, criminology.

But she was afraid to ask questions.

As the first person in her family ever to attend college, Galaviz, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, also couldn't turn to relatives for advice navigating the university's system as other students might.

"At first I was struggling because being a first gen student you are scared to ask for help because this is a whole new environment," Galaviz said.

Then in October, her academic advisor sent an email informing her of a campus group that pairs first-generation students like her with older student mentors.

Having a mentor made a huge difference. The mentor helped her overcome her fears and told her where to go to find answers. Galaviz got her financial questions cleared up. And she found a new major she loves, tourism development and special event management.

"I would say things are going great now," Galaviz said.

Galaviz's experiences highlight the challenge universities face in trying to increase the number of Latino students, who lag behind white students in earning degrees at a time when the Latino population is booming in the state. It takes work to get them to enroll. But sometimes it takes even more effort to place them on a path to academic success.

Deyanira Galaviz, 19, of Mesa, is among the growing numbers of Latino students enrolled at Arizona State University.

ASU officials hope the university's recent designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution will help accelerate those goals. Arizona's two other state universities already earned the designation, and are leveraging it to improve opportunities and outcomes for Latino students.

Designation opens up federal grants

In early June, ASU announced the U.S. Department of Education had designated it a Hispanic-Serving Institution. The recognition marks an enrollment milestone that university officials say will open the door to federal funding and help more Latino students graduate.

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It also will allow for increased cooperation on the same goals with other schools in Arizona and nationally.

ASU is the last of the state's three public universities to receive the designation, which is given to colleges and universities where at least a quarter of undergraduate students identify as Latino.

The University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University received the recognition in 2018 and 2021, respectively.

UA has taken advantage of the status to help fund new programs. Since achieving the designation in 2018, the university has received over $10 million in federal grants following competitive applications, according to Marla Franco, UA's assistant vice provost for Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives.

Deyanira Galaviz, 19, of Mesa, is among the growing numbers of Latino students enrolled at Arizona State University.

Earlier this year UA won a nearly $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand support for Hispanic and low-income student in science, technology, engineering and math fields. The Hispanic-Serving Institution designation made UA eligible for that. The same was true of a $3 million grant to fund a program for largely Hispanic and low-income high school students to take UA pre-calculus courses while in high school, which could later transfer for college credits.

While NAU as a whole just got the designation last year, the branch campus NAU-Yuma was marked as a Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2007, and about three-quarters of students there are Hispanic, according to officials.

NAU President Jose Luis Cruz Rivera said in a statement to The Arizona Republic that NAU-Yuma has showed how to use the designation to get additional resources, create student service programs and improve programming and facilities.

That campus has attracted nearly $11 million from opportunities with the Hispanic-Serving Institution designation, he said.

We look forward to the university-wide designation at NAU providing that same opportunity to not only increase access to postsecondary education, but to address Arizonas current achievement gaps and increase postsecondary attainment contributing to social and economic mobility for individuals and communities, Cruz Rivera said.

And the Maricopa County Community College District, the largest community college system in the state, also has benefitted from the designation. The district has received at least $22 million in Hispanic-Serving Institution grants from the Department of Education since 2005, per a federal spending database. The total could be more since other federal agencies also have grant opportunities for those eligible institutions.

'A major milestone' for ASU

ASU's designation comes as Arizona's Latino population grows rapidly, yet Latino students lag behind white students in college attainment, which will pose a challenge for Arizonas future economy and success. The pandemic also disproportionately disrupted the college plans of Latino students in Arizona.

Latino students make up nearly half of the 1.1 million K-12 students in Arizona. About 65% of Arizona's K-8 students are Latino. But fewer Latino students graduate from high school than white students and fewer still enroll in college.

ASU officials said the designation from the Department of Education recognizes the university's commitment to the diversity of its student population.

'We still don't have a pathway to citizenship': Activists demand change on 10th anniversary of DACA

"It's a major milestone," said Nancy Gonzales, ASU's executive vice president and university provost.

ASU's Latino undergraduate enrollment climbed to 26% in fall 2021, exceeding for the first time the 25% threshold, and up from 19% a decade earlier. Overall Latino enrollment, including graduate and online students, was over 30,200 in the fall, compared with 12,200 in 2011.

ASU has worked for years to increase diversity among its students, Gonzales said.

"It provides recognition for our work," Gonzales said. "It gives us access to wonderful networks with other Hispanic-Serving Institutions and also access to other opportunities, to further our efforts to serve our Hispanic students."

She acknowledged, however, that the university has "a long way" to go before reaching parity with the state's large and fast-growing Latino population, which overall makes up about one-third of the state's population.

Education advocates agree the designation marks progress in the right direction but that more work is needed to enroll and graduate Latino students at two- and four-year colleges across the state.

Enrollment is one thing; degree completion and success is the other, said Paul Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. The celebration of the HSI designation is that it gives us an ability to focus and prioritize this huge opportunity we have as a state to embrace educating all of our students.

Higher education: Undocumented students struggle to pay for Arizona universities. What resources are there?

Why ASU took 'a long time' to get here

The Hispanic-Serving Institution recognition follows years of ASU working with Hispanic communities across Arizona and provides a symbol to students and families, said Maria Anguiano, executive vice president of the Learning Enterprise. That arm of the university has programs for anyone not seeking a degree, including K-12 students.

Sometimes universities can be scary for folks that have never engaged in universities. I know for myself as a first-generation student with my mom only having a sixth-grade education, shes like, Is this place for people like us? And so being a Hispanic-Serving Institution and being able to tell our community that, I think provides this level of comfort for families.

Gonzales, the provost, said it took longer for ASU to achieve the HSI designation because it has the largest student population and therefore took more Latino students to reach the 25% threshold. The university also draws students from many other states, including states with lower shares of Latino students.

Tempe jobs: Telecommunications company Viasat plans to add 1,500 jobs in Tempe

As of the fall of 2021, total on-campus undergraduate enrollment was about 64,700 students. Of those, nearly 17,000 students identified as Latino, or 26%, according to ASU data. White students made up the largest group, at 46%.

ASU President Michael Crow told the Board of Regents on June 9 that it took a long time to get to this point for Hispanic student enrollment given the universitys rapid growth overall.

We have more than 30,000 students of Hispanic heritage in the institution, so its a fantastic turnaround for the university from its non-inclusive past, Crow said.

Richard Daniel, executive vice president of Education Forward Arizona, experienced that trajectory firsthand. As a student at ASU in the 1980s, Daniel worked on a new peer mentoring program for minority students, and estimated at that time Latino students comprised maybe 3-5% of the student body. Over the years, ASU was intentional about recruiting and retaining Hispanic students and providing services for them on campus, he said.

Deyanira Galaviz, 19, of Mesa, is among the growing numbers of Latino students enrolled at Arizona State University.

Bringing a student to a campus is so important, but providing the services for them to be successful is even more so, Daniel said. The actual experience on the campus and being able to provide those resources and those services and those programs are so important and vital for their success.

Although it was the last university to get the designation, ASU has the largest Latino student enrollment of Arizona schools. UA and NAU have fewer Latino students overall, but both were already above the 25% threshold. ASUs West and Downtown Phoenix campuses already had the recognition, too. Schools have to meet the eligibility each year.

Nationally, more than 500 institutions are classified as Hispanic serving, including 22 universities and community colleges in Arizona, according to a February count from Helios.

Luna said given that mass of schools with the designation, Arizona can be a model nationally for education success for Latino students. Already, Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the state have collaborated to share best practices, he said.

Arizonas not always historically positioned to be the lead when it comes to education outcomes and education success, Luna said. This is a really important designation and opportunity for our state to lead and to continue to emerge and show the country what it means to educate all students, and especially in Arizona with our demographics, our Latino students.

Arizona education: Arizona schools that went mostly remote during pandemic cut out of governor's grant program

A college degree is seen as key to opening the door to higher paying jobs and meeting the needs of the future economy, Gonzales said. A first-generation Latina student herself, Gonzales grew up in Miami, Arizona, and went to ASU.

"There are benefits to the students themselves who will create new opportunities for themselves and their future families," Gonzales said. "And it's a benefit to our state and the continuing economic development as we prepare our students to be able to enter into all the fields, that are that are needing college graduates."

The designation also allows Arizona universities to collaborate on national efforts to increase Hispanic representation in academia.

Twenty of the top research universities that are also Hispanic serving, including ASU and UA, formed an alliance earlier this month to double the number of Hispanic doctoral students at the universities and increase the number of Hispanic professors by 20% by 2030.

Deyanira Galaviz, 19, of Mesa, is among the growing numbers of Latino students enrolled at Arizona State University.

Latino students still lag their peers

While the focus starts on increasing the number of Latino students who enroll in college, more work is required to ensure they graduate, said Stephanie Parra, executive director of ALL In Education, an advocacy group that focuses on improving the academic success of Latino students in Arizona.

"If we aren't getting kids through college, we aren't closing the attainment gap ultimately," Parra said.

Latino students face unique challenges in completing college degrees, notably that many are the first people in their families to attend a university, she said. Many also come from lower-income backgrounds, so paying for college is even more difficult. At 19%, Latinos in Arizona have twice the poverty rate as non-Hispanic whites, at nearly 9.6%, according to U.S. Census data.

"Poverty doesn't end when a kid makes it to college. If anything, the burdens of poverty become more challenging and more difficult once they get to college," Parra said.

Luna from Helios said the designation shows Arizonas education system is working to acknowledge the importance of how better to serve growing numbers of Latino students. The 25% enrollment threshold is important, but even more so is the commitment to ensuring students succeed, he said.

Many of these students might come from different backgrounds, they come from a different culture, most likely its fair to say many are going to be first generation college students for their family, he said.

But theres still much more work to do, he said, with education equity gaps across the spectrum and grade levels, and with those gaps exacerbated by the pandemic.

Arizona still significantly lags the higher education attainment it needs for a strong future economy. And while enrollment rates have increased in recent years for Hispanic students, they still trail white students.

In 2020, just 46% of Arizonas high school graduates enrolled in any two or four-year college, according to Arizona Board of Regents data.

The picture is worse when it comes to Arizona students completing four-year degrees. About 29% of white high school graduates complete four-year degrees, compared with about 12% of Hispanic high school graduates, per regents data.

Deyanira Galaviz, 19, of Mesa, is among the growing numbers of Latino students enrolled at Arizona State University.

Galaviz, the first generation ASU student, said her older sister, Michelle, 34, is the one who really encouraged her to go to college and "get somewhere in life."

Michelle left high school to help take care of Galaviz when she was a child, while their mother worked low-wage jobs. When Galaviz was in 8th grade, she also joined ASU's Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program, which guides first-generation students get to college. Michelle was the one who participated in the program with her while their mother worked.

Galaviz said by earning a degree, she wants to pay back her sister and others who helped her get to college and "show them their sacrifices were for something good."

Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-8312. Follow him on Twitter @azdangonzalez.

Reach the reporter at Alison.Steinbach@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-4282. Follow her on Twitter @alisteinbach.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU designated as Hispanic Serving Institution. Here's why it matters
PRADA PROGRAM: In April, the Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab with artist Theaster Gates and Prada Group revealed inaugural awardees for the three-year collaborative program shaped to support designers of color  across fashion, footwear, jewelry, culinary, visual and fine arts, as well as architecture and product design  and to amplify their work.

Gates and the awardees attended the Prada show on Sunday, clearly excited about the opportunity, posing together for photos to capture the moment.

You know, the designers are between 25 and 53 so they are actually a broad cohort of professional designers and emerging designers, and it feels amazing to see them in the middle of one of the most important fashion moments of the year, said Gates. The first thing that seems to really matter is that Miuccia [Prada] believes in artists and she believes in great design.

More from WWD

He said that his friendship with the designer made it really easy to develop the project, close to his heart as it allows other people to have the opportunity for great artistic and design opportunity the same way I have. Watching Prada step up to the plate of diversity has been one of the fulfilling things of the last several years. He characterized the project as life-changing, for the designers, closer to fulfilling their dreams.

The 14 designers from around the world were handpicked for their extraordinary creative potential by Miuccia Prada and the late designer Virgil Abloh, before his premature death last November.

The designers will receive financial support to further develop existing endeavors or for new and innovative projects, as well as access to a kind of creative think tank designed to foster further creative development. The Lab  a partnership between the design and manufacturing arm of Theaster Gates Studio, Dorchester Industries, as well as art and neighborhood transformation platform Rebuild Foundation (also founded by Gates) and Prada  sits on Chicagos South Side, and annual activations in New York City and Los Angeles will allow the design cohort to present their work to leading organizations.

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As law enforcement agencies across the country struggle to recruit officers and strengthen community trust, the Baltimore Police Department has announced an internship program in partnership with two historically Black universities in Baltimore.

A group of eight students and recent graduates of Coppin State and Morgan State universities, who have started their summer internships with the department, attended a news conference Tuesday at Coppin State.

The pilot program, which could become a nationwide initiative by next year, focuses on exposing participants to all aspects of police work, including its inherent complexities and ongoing reform efforts. They will spend time with officers in a range of roles, such as street patrol, administration, technology and data analytics, training, budgeting, special investigations and forensics. Each intern will complete a capstone project, including a written and oral report, on a certain function of the department.

We want to give them a true look inside policing, and maybe they become ambassadors to help us rebuild public trust, Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said. Who better to help regain trust than young people from the communities most likely to be negatively impacted by police  minority communities?

The department faces significant and pressing challenges, including rampant gun violence, deepening employee shortages and pushback from officers who oppose certain reform efforts.

Some of the reforms are mandated under a 2017 consent decree reached following a Justice Department probe that found Baltimore officers routinely engaged in unconstitutional practices, especially during encounters with Black residents. At an April quarterly hearing on the consent decree, U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar touted significant progress, while expressing concerns about sluggish hiring numbers.

Harrison hopes the internship program will help address that issue, while showcasing recent steps toward reform.

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The Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington-based think tank, is sponsoring the program, which provides a $10,000 stipend to each intern during the 10-week internship.

Executive Director Chuck Wexler  who interned with the Boston Police Department during graduate school  said his organization plans to use the project as a model for a nationwide program. He said such partnerships between law enforcement agencies and historically Black colleges could help define a path for a profession struggling with somewhat of an identity crisis.

Being a police officer today is not what it used to be, he said, noting increased pressure and scrutiny facing officers. The threat of a single viral video makes some officers reluctant to engage with members of the public.

But theres more to policing than such negative encounters, which are often the most highly shared and publicized, Wexler said. Getting young people to understand that is a goal of the program. He said organizers also hope to learn from the interns about how police can better serve their communities.

Of the eight interns who started the program this month, several said they were not previously aware of significant reforms underway inside the department.

Kayla Key, a senior at Coppin State majoring in criminal justice, said she became interested in crime scene investigations after a personal experience that exposed her to the impacts of Baltimore gun violence: finding a young man she knew shot to death. Shed planned to spend the summer working at Starbucks until the internship came along.

You can see for yourself how the department is changing, she said, explaining how the consent decree mandates certain reforms.

Fortune Olayinka, a rising sophomore at Morgan State studying information systems, recently spoke with the departments chief of information technology about some of the ways technology has become a key component of policing  because the world is advancing, he said.

Olayinka, who immigrated from Nigeria in 2014, said his parents were initially skeptical about his internship because of widespread negative perceptions of police in Baltimore. But he said their perspective has shifted since he started sharing some of what hes learned in the program.

Working in law enforcement was never on his radar, but now, hes considering a career with the department.

Recent surveys conducted by the research forum show a staffing decrease among law enforcement agencies nationwide because of difficulty recruiting rookies, in addition to increased retirements and resignations. Although hiring numbers rebounded in 2021 after falling sharply in 2020, overall staffing levels are down, the researchers found. They also found that the largest agencies were suffering the biggest staffing shortages.

During a department budget hearing earlier this month, Harrison said staffing has become a huge issue. When officers are rushing from one call to another with no time in between, they cant conduct patrols that help deter crime and build community relations, he said.

A door of opportunity is being opened for you, Morgan State President David Wilson told the interns. Once you enter the room, you are going to see chairs that you havent seen before, that you didnt imagine existed beyond that door. Those chairs are called career opportunities.

During his remarks, Coppin State President Anthony Jenkins gave a shoutout to Col. Sheree Briscoe, a Coppin State graduate who is the first African American woman promoted to deputy city police commissioner. She recently gave a commencement speech at the university, challenging the graduating class to help improve the city, Jenkins said.

Be the answer. Be the solution. Be the change agent. Be the difference maker. Be bold in all that you do, he told the interns. Our city needs it. Our state is dependent on it. You are the future.
Counselors will be available for Beavercreek district members this week after a preschool student and the students parents were killed in a crash in eastern Kentucky over the weekend.

>>RELATED: 3 members of Beavercreek family, including 4-year-old, killed in Kentucky crash

Both children involved in the crash at Carter Caves State Resort Park, a 4-year-old and 11-year-old, were identified Tuesday as students in the Beavercreek City Schools district, a district spokesperson said in a statement to News Center 7.

Killed in the crash were Jitu Galani, 41, Nitu Galani, 39, and their 4-year-old child in Carter County, Kentucky June 18. A Kentucky State Police crash investigation found the SUV Jitu was driving became stuck and later rolled down a culvert, and landed on its top. An 11-year-old boy, the son of the Galanis, survived the crash.

The 4-year-old child was identified as a student at the Beavercreek Preschool while the 11-year-old was identified as a fourth grader at Shaw Elementary.

This is a challenging time for many in the Beavercreek community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the Galani family, Beavercreek Assistant Superintendent Bobbie Fiori said in an emailed statement.

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Staff members at both schools were notified Tuesday of the news and a social worker has been in contact with family members to offer support to the 11-year-old and his family, the district spokesperson said.

In unfortunate situations like these, the district has counselors and support staff available to assist our students, staff, and the community in any way we can, the district spokesperson added in the districts statement.

This story will be updated as we learn more.
US actor Ben Stiller has described the scenes in war-torn Ukraine as "distressing", "shocking" and on a bigger scale than any movie.

Stiller met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, in his role as goodwill ambassador for the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).

The Hollywood star told Zelensky that he was his hero, and complimented his previous acting career.

"It's my first time coming to an area that's in conflict," he told the BBC.

"But it's really strange because when you drive into the country, really in the west of the country, you don't feel the conflict, except for the curfew at night where it gets very quiet and a little bit eerie.

"[In] Lviv, people seem to be going back to life as normal, trying to as much as possible.

"And then as you get closer and closer to Kyiv, into the east of the country, you start to see the roadblocks and see the destruction, which is really shocking when you haven't seen anything like that up close."

In the interview with BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Stiller, who is known for films like There's Something About Mary and Dodgeball, added: "I'm an actor, so the first thing I go to is like, 'Oh, it looks like a movie'. But the scale of it is even bigger and it's real, so that's really distressing."

Zelensky told Stiller it was "very important" for him to keep reminding people what was going on in Ukraine

Heavy fighting continues in east Ukraine, with key locations under intense bombardment from Russian forces.

Nato's secretary general warned this week that the West must prepare to continue supporting Ukraine in a war lasting for years.

Stiller has been an ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees since 2016.

He said people in Kyiv were trying to go about their business as normally as possible, going out for dinner, for example. But the reality, he said, was that they knew the war could return their way.

'Nobody wants to flee their home'

"The thing that gets me is these are just people like you and I who have been caught in a circumstance totally beyond their control," he continued.

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"And nobody wants to flee from their home, nobody wants to have to go out into the world and have to start afresh, or even just trying to find a way to survive.

"These people are just living their lives: mothers, fathers, families, friends."

The actor and director said he had heard from mothers who, when the shelling and rocket attacks started at the beginning of the war, had been forced to flee their homes with their young families.

"One mother of two twins, who had to grab her kids and run for shelter, not even knowing where to go for shelter, they went to the basement and had to wait till the sound of the rockets had gone away and take a chance to come back up and grab their clothes and then not know where to even go for safety," he said.

"I mean, these kinds of stories, where you just try to place yourself in that situation, [and] think, 'What would happen if a rocket came screaming by my apartment?'"

War in Ukraine: More coverage
Ben Stiller met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on Monday to commemorate World Refugee Day.

Stiller toured occupied settlements in the Kyiv region of the war-torn country and spoke with survivors of the occupation in Irpin before meeting with Zelenskyy.

"It's one thing to see this destruction on TV or on social networks. Another thing is to see it all with your own eyes. That's a lot more shocking," Stiller said.

"What you saw in Irpin is definitely dreadful. But it is even worse to just imagine what is happening in the settlements that are still under temporary occupation in the east," Zelenskyy responded.

MILA KUNIS, ASHTON KUTCHER RAISE OVER $30M FOR UKRAINE, AIM FOR NEW GOAL: PLEASE DONT STOP DONATING'

At one point during the meeting, Stiller told Zelenskyy, "You're my hero."

Stiller was joined by UNHCR representative in Ukraine Karolina Lindholm Billing during the visit at the president's office.

During their meeting, Zelenskyy "emphasized the violation of the rights of Ukrainians forcibly deported to Russia, including children."

The group also discussed the needs of the people displaced from their homes, including people in Poland.

"It was an honour to meet President @ZelenskyyUa on #WorldRefugeeDay as part of my visit with UNHCR @Refugees to stand in solidarity with people forced to flee in Ukraine and worldwide, and bring more attention to the humanitarian situation," Stiller tweeted to his millions of fans.

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"I'm meeting people who have been impacted by war, and hearing how it's changed their lives," he said in a separate video for UNHCR.

"War and violence are devastating people all over the world. Nobody chooses to flee their home. Seeking safety is a right. And it needs to be upheld for every person."

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Last week, President Joe Biden announced $1.2 billion in security and humanitarian assistance will be granted to Ukraine in the form of artillery, coastal defenses and advanced rocket systems as the deadly war with Russia continues.

The funds will also include $225 million for humanitarian aid to supply "safe drinking water, critical medical supplies and health care, food, shelter, and cash for families to purchase essential items," the White House said in a statement.

Stiller has supported UNHCR projects for years as an "advocate for the rights of refugees," and became a Goodwill Ambassador in 2018.

He's traveled to Germany, Jordan and Guatemala in support of projects, and visited Lebanon in 2018 to raise awareness for refugees involved in the Syrian conflict.

UNHCR reported Stiller has raised more than $3 million for the global organization, which was founded in 1950 and provides "vital assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced and stateless people."
Ben Stiller meets with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Kyiv Monday. The presidential office of Ukraine http://www.president.gov.ua/

Ben Stiller met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv Monday.

You're my hero," Stiller told the Ukrainian President upon their meeting Monday, video shows.

Stiller is visiting Ukraine on a trip as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.

Hollywood actor Ben Stiller met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv Monday and told the former actor turned politician that he was his hero.

"It's really wonderful. You're my hero," Stiller told the Ukrainian President upon meeting him Monday, a video posted to Twitter by Bloomberg shows.

"As you quit a great acting career for this," Stiller continued. "What you've done and the way that you've rallied the country, and you know, for the world, it's really inspiring.

Stiller is visiting Ukraine on a trip as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Zelenskyy's office said in a press release. Stiller met with Zelenskyy after viewing the occupied settlements in the Kyiv region.

Stiller spoke with survivors in the city of Irpin, the press release said.

"It's hard to understand what's actually going on here if you haven't been here," Stiller said to Zelenskyy, noting his travels to Irpin and his shock at seeing the destruction that he had seen on TV in person.

"It's something else to actually see it and feel it, and then to talk to the people, we talked to a bunch of people this morning," Stiller said. "And that's a lot more shocking."

Stiller visited displaced Ukrainians in Poland on Sunday, according to the release, and discussed with Zelensky and the UNHCR delegation further modes of cooperation.

Read the original article on Insider
Berta Caceres was shot dead by hitmen in 2016

A court in Honduras has sentenced a former energy executive to more than 22 years in jail over the murder of an environmental activist in 2016.

Berta Caceres led protests against the Agua Zarca hydro-electric dam project before being shot dead in her home.

The court ruled that Roberto David Castillo, whose company had been awarded the contract, had planned the murder and hired the gunmen.

Seven others have been convicted for their role in the killing.

Castillo is the former president of Honduran power company, Desa, and was once an army intelligence officer.

The court found he used his military contacts and paid informants to coordinate and plan the murder of the high profile activist, who was awarded the prestigious Goldman Prize in 2015 for her role in stopping the building of the dam.

Caceres had faced years of threats over her opposition to the dam project which was being run by Castillo's company.

The dam would have flooded large areas of land and cut off the supply of water, food and medicine for hundreds of the indigenous Lenca people in western Honduras.

As well as filing official complaints, Caceres organised a road block that prevented construction workers from reaching the site.

The Chinese state-owned company Sinohydro, which was jointly developing the project, eventually pulled out because of the community resistance.

In 2018, seven others, including another Desa executive, received sentences of between 30 and 50 years for their roles in Caceres' murder.

The Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) welcomed Castillo's sentence and called for more investigations into people associated with Desa.

But Caceres' daughter, Olivia Zuniga Caceres, tweeted that she was "outraged" because Castillo had "not received the maximum sentence".

One of Castillo's defence attorneys told Reuters news agency that her team planned to appeal the sentence.
Billie Eilish at the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in March 2022 (Getty Images)

Billie Eilish has claimed she would rather die than never have children.

The 20-year-old singer opened up about her hopes for motherhood, while lamenting the current climate for young people in the US today.

[I would] rather die [than not have kids]... I need them, she told Sunday Times Magazine, adding that she also dreads the prospect of becoming a parent.

The older I get, the more I experience things, I just think, uuggh, what am I going to do when my kid thinks that this is the right thing to do and I'm, like, no, it's not! And they won't listen to me.

The Bad Guy performer also reflected on the recent spate of school shootings in the US.

Why is it OK to be scared to go to school? she asks, throwing her arms up in exasperation. You go to school and be prepared for a life-changing traumatic experience or dying. What? Who? Where is the logic there?

The multi-award winning artist also spoke about the reality of working alongside her family. Eilishs mother, Maggie, manages the environmental impact of her live shows, which includes campaigning for vegan and plastic-free venues.

Usually when you turn 18 you go to college and leave your whole family behind, she says. And it is so nice that we all get to travel the world.

I definitely find my mom annoying but thats because shes my mom and everyones mom is annoying. But I love her, she is like a book, she knows everything, and Im so grateful because I dont know sh*t about sh*t. Shes an actual genius about the environment. Brands arent thinking about it, companies arent thinking about it, but my mom is.

The Grammy-award winning singer will become the youngest ever solo headliner to perform at this weeks Glastonbury festival, which returns to Worthy Farm for the first time since 2019.

Eilish will headline the Pyramid Stage, alongside Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar, on Friday 24 June at 10.15pm for a 90 minute set.

She made her Glastonbury debut in 2019, performing on the Other Stage on Sunday afternoon.

And earlier this year, she became the youngest ever headliner in Coachellas history.
Wandrea ArShaye Shaye Moss, a former Georgia election worker, is sworn in before January 6 committee on June 21, 2022. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Shaye Moss, a Black Georgia election worker, testified on the threats she got amid the push to overturn the 2020 election.

She said she got numerous hateful Facebook messages "saying things like, 'be glad it's 2020 and not 1920.'"

"I felt bad for my mom, and I felt horrible for picking this job," said Moss.

A Black former Georgia election worker said on Tuesday that she faced racist, deadly threats as President Donald Trump publicly attacked her and her mother and sought to overturn the 2020 election results.

Wandrea ArShaye "Shaye" Moss, a veteran election official in Fulton County, testified before the January 6 committee during its fourth public hearing, which focused on Trump and his allies' efforts to get states, including Georgia, to overturn their election results. Joe Biden won Georgia by just under 12,000 votes in the presidential election.

Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani told the Georgia state Senate that Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, "engaged in surreptitious illegal activity" and accused them of "passing around USB ports as if they're vials of heroin or cocaine." He claimed a video of the election workers counting ballots showed the alleged crime.

That entirely unsubstantiated claim led to a deluge of racist and threatening Facebook messages, which Moss detailed to the committee on Tuesday.

"They included threats, a lot of threats wishing death upon me," she said. "Telling me that, you know, I'll be in jail with my mother, and saying things like, 'Be glad it's 2020 and not 1920.'"

In 1920, several "Jim Crow" laws were in place to enforce racial segregation in the United States, and racially-motivated lynchings remained commonplace.

Moss said the messages made her regret working as an elections worker, work she said she undertook because "a lot of people, older people in my family, did not have that right."

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"I felt bad for my mom, and I felt horrible for picking this job, and being the one that always wants to help," said Moss.

The committee also aired testimony from Freeman in which she said she was nervous about going grocery shopping, and is fearful of giving her name for food orders.

Moss said the Trump team's false claims have dramatically disrupted her life.

"I don't go to the grocery store at all," Moss said. "I haven't gone anywhere at all. I've gained about 60 pounds. I just don't want to do nothing anymore."

Moss also told the committee that the USB drive Giuliani claimed she received from her mother was actually a mint.

"What was your mom actually handing you on that video?" asked Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, who led much of Tuesday's hearing.

"A ginger mint," Moss replied.

Also testifying on Thursday were Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, as well as Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger and his deputy, and Gabriel Sterling. All are Republicans.

Moss and Freeman, later sued Giuliani and One America News Network for defamation, saying that the "campaign of malicious lies" against them destroyed their reputations and caused them to fear for their physical safety.

Earlier that month, the duo also sued the right-wing website Gateway Pundit for the same charge.

In December, Freeman called 911 after hearing loud bangs on her door around 10pm.

"Lord Jesus, where's the police?" she asked said in a call to police, the recording of which was obtained by Reuters. "I don't know who keeps coming to my door."

OANN later settled with Moss and Freeman, issuing a statement retracting the network's claims about the 2020 election.

"Georgia officials have concluded that there was no widespread voter fraud by election workers who counted ballots at the State Farm Arena in November 2020," the network said in a 30-second statement at the time. "The results of this investigation indicate that Ruby Freeman and Wandrea 'Shaye' Moss did not engage in ballot fraud or criminal misconduct."

At one point, a former publicist for Kanye West travelled to Freeman's home and pressured her to say she committed voter fraud.

"If you don't tell everything, you're going to jail," publicist Trevian Kutti told Freeman.

As Insider's Grace Panetta reported in December, Freeman and Moss are among dozens of election workers that have faced threats and harassment as a result of the former president and right-wing media allies' pressure campaign.

Committee chair Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi said Moss and her mother were "two of the unsung heroes in this country" and were doing the "hard work of keeping our democracy functioning."

Moss received a 2022 "Profile in Courage" Award from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum alongside Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Boris Johnson has been accused of attempting to secure his now wife Carrie Johnson a top job at the foreign office when he was foreign secretary. (PA)

Boris Johnson has been accused of being "corrupt" following allegations he attempted to get his wife Carrie Johnson a 100k job in the foreign office when he was foreign secretary.

The claims emerged in The Times on Saturday, before the article was removed from later print editions.

Read more: Tory donor pays 120,000 to have dinner with Boris Johnson, Theresa May and David Cameron

Number 10 has since admitted that they contacted The Times regarding the story before it was taken down.

Mrs Johnson has denied the allegations. These claims are totally untrue, her spokesperson said on Monday.

Chris Bryant, Labour MP and chair of the parliamentary standards committee, said on Twitter on Tuesday: "It is manifestly corrupt to appoint your lover as a [special adviser]."

Replying to a Tweet in support of the prime minister's actions from Tory MP Michael Fabricant, Bryant went on: "She wasnt his wife. He had another wife at the time. Thats their business.

"But he tried to circumvent open and fair recruitment processes at the FCO for his lover. This is corrupt. And you endorse it."

Chris Bryant has accused Boris Johnson of being 'corrupt' (Twitter)

Downing Street has refused to comment directly on the situation, with the PM's spokesperson telling reporters: "As a function of my role, I dont comment on what the prime minister did before he was prime minister.

He instead pointed to existing denials from Mrs Johnson.

Carrie Johnson, nee Symonds, was working as head of Conservative HQ communications when she was allegedly considered for the top job. (PA)

At the time, the prime minister was married to Marina Wheeler but was in a romantic relationship with his current wife Mrs Johnson - who then went by her maiden name of Symonds.

Dominic Cummings, the PM's former top adviser and now arch critic, has also claimed the story is true.

Read more: Boris Johnson suggests he considered quitting over Partygate

"The 'missing story' (pulled by The Times after Number 10 call Friday night) is true," he posted on Twitter. "Walters repeatedly published accurate stories, e.g on illegal donations. The Times pathetic to have folded & should reverse ferret.

"Truth is worse! [Mr Johnson] wanted to appoint girlfriend to gvt job in Q3 2020 too. [sic]"

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Boris Johnson served as foreign secretary between 2016 to 2018. (PA)

On Tuesday Number 10 also failed to deny claims published by The Mirror that Mr Johnson had discussed with aides appointing his wife as an ambassador in the run up to COP26, and that he had discussed making her a communications director for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Read more: Boris Johnson booed as he attends jubilee thanksgiving service

The controversies come after string of scandals surrounding Johnson's adherence to the ministerial code.

Last week, the prime minister's ethics adviser Lord Geidt resigned over concerns about Johnson's potential violations of international law.

The prime minister's ethics watchdog Lord Geidt resigned last week over concerns the prime minister was breaking the ministerial code. (PA)

"I was tasked to offer a view about the government's intention to consider measures which risk a deliberate and purposeful breach of the ministerial code," wrote Geidt in a letter.

"This request has placed me in an impossible and odious position."

He added: "A deliberate breach, or even an intention to do so, would be to suspend the provisions of the [ministerial] code to suit a political end I can have no part in this."

Geidt also told The Telegraph on Monday that the controversy over the issue of Mrs Johnson's job offers "could be ripe for investigation" and that the incident could be a matter for his successor.
TRADE

Target Corp. hired Cornerstone Government Affairs Inc. to lobby on issues related to trade, importation of infant baby formula, data privacy, trademarks, supply chains, corporate tax policy, budget reconciliation and measures in the China competition bill. Christopher Hodgson, former deputy floor director for House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), will work on the account.

The American Clean Power Association hired Platinum Advisors DC LLC to lobby on trade issues related to solar panels and panel components. Daniel Sepulveda, former deputy assistant secretary of State in the Obama administration, will work on the account.

TECHNOLOGY

The Flex Association hired Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid LLC to lobby on issues impacting the app-based economy. MJ Kenny, former deputy floor director to Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), will work on the account.

VMWare Inc. hired Salt Point Strategies to lobby on multi-cloud policy and cyber issues. David Redl, former head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in the Trump administration, will work on the account.

Alarm.com hired Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas Inc. to monitor privacy, antitrust and trade legislation. Bruce Mehlman, former assistant secretary of Commerce for technology policy in the George W. Bush administration, will work on the account.

IMMIGRATION

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. hired Fierce Government Relations to lobby on immigration and agriculture issues. Aleix Jarvis, former legislative director for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), will work on the account.

Andrew Yangs Humanity Forward hired Tiber Creek Group to lobby on issues surrounding visas for high-skilled workers. Jen Olson, former legislative director for Graham, will work on the account.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The wife of imprisoned WNBA star Brittney Griner said she has zero trust in the US Government after the couples first call in four months failed to go through because the American embassy in Moscow didnt have staff working on the weekend.

Cherelle Griner told the Associated Press that the couple had received Russian government approval for their first call since Brittney was imprisoned on 17 February on charges of carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil.

Cherelle Griner, wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner, said a scheduled call did not go through because nobody was staffing the US Embassy in Moscow (Associated Press)

When the phone call never came, an anguished Ms Griner initially suspected that Russian authorities may have thwarted the call.

On Monday, she said she learned from her wifes lawyers a more distressing truth: Brittney Griner had actually tried to call 11 times over a period of several hours, dialling a number shed been given at the US embassy in Moscow, which the couple had been told would then patch the call through to Cherelle Griner in Phoenix.

But each time, the call went unanswered because the desk at the embassy where the phone rang was apparently unstaffed on Saturday.

I was distraught. I was hurt. I was done, fed up, Cherelle Griner told The Associated Press, recounting how an anniversary she had eagerly anticipated was instead spent in tears.

She added that she texted BGs agent and was like: I dont want to talk to anybody. Its going to take me a minute to get my emotions together, and just tell everybody Im unavailable right now. Because it just knocked me out. I wasnt well, Im still not well.

The State Department said on Monday that we deeply regret that Brittney Griner was unable to speak with her wife because of a logistical error.

The department reiterated that it has no higher priority than the safety of Americans overseas and that it remains in regular contact with families of hostages and wrongful detainees.

Brittney Griner is a seven-time WNBA All-Star (Associated Press)

For Cherelle Griner, the experience has exacerbated already simmering frustrations about the US governments response to her wifes case.

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Though US officials have repeatedly said they are working behind the scenes to get the two-time Olympic gold medalist home from Russia, Cherelle Griner said she is still very pissed about the mistake. She emphasized that the call had been on the schedule for two weeks and yet no one warned her during that time that it might be logistically impossible because of the weekend.

She added: I find it unacceptable and I have zero trust in our government right now. If I cant trust you to catch a Saturday call outside of business hours, how can I trust you to actually be negotiating on my wifes behalf to come home? Because thats a much bigger ask than to catch a Saturday call.

Cherelle Griner said a contact in the US government had apologised to her personally for the error.

Brittney Griner, a seven-time WNBA All-Star who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained at a Russian airport on 17 February after authorities there said a search of her bag revealed cartridges containing cannabis oil.

The State Department in May designated her as wrongfully detained, moving her case under the supervision of its Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, effectively the governments chief hostage negotiator.

Russian state-run news agency Tass reported last week that her detention had been extended until 3 July.

Associated Press contributed to this report
Clif Bar energy bars.

The owner of British chocolate brand Cadbury has announced that it is buying US energy bar maker Clif Bar & Company for $2.9bn (2.4bn).

Mondelez International - which also owns Oreo, Toblerone and Milka - says the deal will help drive its plans to "lead the future of snacking".

The food and drinks giant also says it will continue to make Clif's products at its facilities in Idaho and Indiana.

In March, Mondelez warned over the impact of rising production costs.

In a statement on Monday, the American confectionery maker said the buyout will increase the value of its snack bar business to over $1bn.

It added that it would continue to operate Clif's business from Emeryville in California, where the firm is headquartered, once the transaction is completed later this year.

"We are thrilled to welcome Clif Bar & Company's iconic brands and passionate employees into the Mondelez International family," Mondelez's chairman and chief executive Dirk Van de Put said.

"This transaction further advances our ambition to lead the future of snacking by winning in chocolate, biscuits and baked snacks, as we continue to scale our high-growth snack bar business," he added.

Clif was founded three decades ago by Gary Erickson, who came up with the idea to create an energy bar during a 175-mile bike ride, according to the company's website.

The bar was debuted "after countless hours in mom's kitchen", and named after Mr Erickson's father and "childhood hero" Clifford.

Clif's chief executive Sally Grimes said Mondelez was "the right partner at the right time to support Clif in our next chapter of growth".

Mondelez - which has other global brands including Daim, Ritz and Belvita - reported net revenue of almost $29bn last year.

Rising costs

However, like many of its rivals it is facing increasing costs and in March said it would cut the size of Cadbury Dairy Milk sharing bars by 10%.

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It reduced the bars' size from 200g to 180g, without lowering the price for customers.

"We look to absorb costs wherever we can, but in this difficult environment, we've had to make the decision to slightly reduce the weight of our medium Cadbury Dairy Milk bars for the first time since 2012," a Mondelez spokesperson said.

In April, Swiss food giant Nestle warned that it will continue to increase the prices of its products because of the rising cost of ingredients.

The maker of KitKats and Nesquik said it had put up its prices by more than 5% in the first three months of the year.

As costs rise, Nestle boss Mark Schneider said "further pricing and mitigating actions over the course of the year" will be required.

You may also be interested in:
Tourists on the beach in Playa del Carmen. (AP)

State prosecutors in Mexico announced Tuesday morning that two Canadians have been found stabbed to death in a resort located in Playa del Carmen.

The names and hometowns of the two Canadians are not yet available, though law enforcement said that the male victim had multiple identities and was sought by Interpol on interational wire fraud charges. The Daily Beast reported that both victims had been staying in the area for several months prior to their deaths.

A security guard in the resort complex was also injured, though it has not been confirmed if the guards injury was in direct connection with the two killings.

Global Affairs Canada told the Associated Press in a statement that it is aware of reports that Canadian citizens have been affected by an incident in Mexico and that consular officials are contacting local authorities to gather more information and stand ready to provide consular assistance.

The Playa del Carmen region of Mexico, which includes popular vacation towns like Cancun and Tulum, has made headlines for drug and crime-related violence several times over the last year. One instance was in November when two suspected drug dealers were killed in a shootout in Puerto Morelos.

Prosecutors in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula are, for now, handling the killings of the two Canadians. The state, which is home to a large number of Mayan archeological sites, has doubled in population over the last twenty years.
Jun. 21Editor's note: The Frederick News-Post is profiling candidates for various public offices in Frederick County leading up to the July 19 primary elections. Each school board profile will include an audio recording of the full interview.

The Frederick News-Post In the Booth with Cindy Rose, candidate for Board of Education

Cindy Rose, a Brunswick-area mother and outspoken critic of Frederick County Public Schools for more than a decade, said she is again focusing on parents' rights and fighting outside influence in her fourth campaign for the Board of Education.

Rose sought a seat on the board in 2012, 2016 and 2018. In 2012, she fell short in the primary elections. In 2016, she advanced to the general, but finished fourth in a race for three seats. In 2018, she finished sixth in a race for four seats.

Across all four campaigns, Rose said, her focus hasn't shifted.

"It's always been the same thing. It's been returning local education back to the local level," Rose said. "We have too many corporate insiders, politicians, special interest groups, political activist groups taking control of public education."

Rose's son, Ben, has cerebral palsy and attends Rock Creek School. Rose ventured into "the politics of education" for the first time to advocate for Ben, who she argued shouldn't be subjected to state-mandated standardized testing. She worked with local lawmakers to introduce "Ben's Rule" in Annapolis, which would have exempted students with disabilities from the test.

The bill was considered three times, but never passed. However, Rose successfully lobbied FCPS to update its policy on refusing testing.

Until about a year ago, Rose said, she had no intention of launching a fourth campaign.

"I won't run for Board of Education again unless you can get me three other like-minded people who think exactly like I think," Rose recalled thinking. "I didn't want to go up there and be the lone conservative on a very liberal board."

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But then, Rose said, she found allies in Nancy Allen, Olivia Angolia and Mark Joannides. The four have formed the Education Not Indoctrination slate and are raising and spending money as a group, with a shared mission, aiming to secure a majority on the seven-member school board.

Rose has been decrying what she calls "indoctrination" in FCPS since at least 2011, when she appeared on Glenn Beck's show on Fox News after challenging a social studies textbook from her daughter's third-grade class.

"It's just gotten worse and worse over time," Rose said.

More than 10 years later, the Education Not Indoctrination slate argues that FCPS offers a "politicized, sexualized, emotionally driven education" instead of one focused on academics, according to its website. The four members have taken issue with the district's health curriculum, the way it teaches about race and more.

On its website, the group promises to "ban the use of all materials" dealing with anti-racism or "LGBTQ+ diversity training." It also says that if elected, members would place cameras in every classroom and reduce the number of employees in FCPS' central office.

The slate outlines more granular goals, too, like reinstating the term "Christmas break" rather than "winter break" because "America is a country founded under Judeo Christian laws."

Rose said she was concerned about incoming FCPS Superintendent Cheryl Dyson, an area associate superintendent for Montgomery County Public Schools. Rose argued that the current board should have waited until after the November 2022 general election to appoint the district's next leader. Former Superintendent Terry Alban resigned in December 2021.

"You could possibly have a new majority whose vision of education isn't what this Montgomery County person's vision of education is," Rose said. "Montgomery County politics is very progressive, liberal  it's more of the identity-driven divisiveness."

Rose said every goal on her campaign platform came back to one principle.

"We need to get back to core, basic education," she said.

The other candidates in the school board race are: Liz Barrett, Ysela Bravo, David Brooks, Heather Fletcher, Rae Gallagher, April Marie Montgomery, Ashley A. Nieves, Tiffany M. Noble, Rayna T. Remondini, Dean Rose (who is not related to Cindy Rose), Justi Thomas and Karen Yoho.

Follow Jillian Atelsek on Twitter: @jillian_atelsek
The Late Show host Stephen Colbert defended his staff at the top of Mondays episode after they were arrested by Capitol Police last week, saying the seven people charged with unlawful entry were in reality guilty of nothing more than high jinks with intent to goof.

Last week I heard from my old colleague Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Colbert said in his opening monologue. Triumph offered to go down to D.C. to interview some congresspeople to highlight the Jan. 6 hearings. I said Sure, if you can get anyone to agree to talk to you, because  and please dont take this as an insult  youre a puppet.

Multiple lawmakers from both parties, however, agreed to the sit-downs, Colbert said, adding that Triumph and my folks shot for two days in congressional offices after going through security. He emphasized that they were invited into the offices of the congresspeople they were interviewing.

And thats very important, Colbert quipped. You have to invite Triumph in  he works on Dracula rules.

Thursday evening, after theyd finished their interviews, they were doing some last-minute puppetry and jokey make-em-ups in a hallway, when Triumph and my folks were approached and detained by the Capitol Police, which actually isnt that surprising. The Capitol Police are much more cautious than they were, say, 18 months ago, and for a very good reason. If you dont know what that reason is, I know which news network you watch, he said.

CBS had confirmed to The Hill on Friday that members of the The Late Shows production team had been detained by Capitol Police after they and Triumph visited the complex Wednesday and Thursday to record interviews.

Their interviews at the Capitol were authorized and pre-arranged through Congressional aides of the members interviewed, CBS said.

After leaving the members offices on their last interview of the day, the production team stayed to film stand-ups and other final comedy elements in the halls when they were detained by Capitol Police, the network added.

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U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) said in a Friday statement that at around 8:30 p.m. the day before they responded to a call reporting a disturbance in the Longworth House Office Building, and that seven people were charged with unlawful entry.

Responding officers observed seven individuals, unescorted and without Congressional ID, in a sixth-floor hallway. The building was closed to visitors, and these individuals were determined to be a part of a group that had been directed by the USCP to leave the building earlier in the day, the statement read.

This is an active criminal investigation, and may result in additional criminal charges after consultation with the U.S. Attorney, it added.

The arrests did not go unnoticed by lawmakers.

In a letter sent Monday, GOP Reps. Jim Jordan (Ohio) and Rodney Davis (Ill.) asked USCP Chief J. Thomas Manger for more information about the incident.

These individuals were arrested and charged with unlawful entry after causing disturbances at the offices of several Republican members, including banging on their office doors, Jordan and Davis said.

The individuals were originally in the Capitol Complex in connection with the activities of the January 6th Select Committee, but it is unclear whether the Select Committee had any involvement in or awareness of these individuals planned harassment of Republican offices.

Responding on Monday night to news reports, Colbert called it shameful and grotesque that his staffs behavior had been compared in the media to an insurrection.

The Capitol Police were just doing their job. My staff was just doing their job. Everyone was very professional. Everyone was very calm. My staffers were detained, processed and released, he said. A very unpleasant experience for my staff, a lot of paperwork for the Capitol Police, but a fairly simple story. Until: the next night when a couple of the TV people started claiming that my puppet squad had committed insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building.

An insurrection involves disrupting the lawful actions of Congress and howling for the blood of elected leaders, all to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. This was first-degree puppetry. This was high jinks with intent to goof. Misappropriation of an old Conan bit.

Its really Conans fault, he added.

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The Conversation

Clinical studies show that mixing and matching booster vaccines can lead to a more robust immune response. SDI Productions/E+ via Getty ImagesWhile COVID-19 vaccines continue to be highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death, it has become clear that the protection offered by the current vaccines wanes over time. This necessitates the use of booster shots that are safe and effective in enhancing the immune response against the virus and extending protection. But when to get a first
Jun. 21A $17 million community center that would be used by multiple nonprofit groups has been proposed for the West Side of Manchester.

The center would be named after Mark Stebbins, CEO of the state's largest architectural-construction firm, who died last June at 67. He was known for his support of multiple nonprofits, including the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester.

A group of city, community and nonprofit leaders started meeting on the project in November 2021. The center's board of directors includes former Gov. John Lynch and Stebbins' brother, Henry.

The Mark Stebbins Community Center is being established as a nonprofit. The group will present a proposal to buy four acres owned by the city at Parkside Avenue and Blucher Street to the city's Committee on Lands and Buildings at 6 p.m. Tuesday night.

The land is near Gossler Park Elementary School and Parkside Middle School, along a bus route and centrally located for West Side residents, according to a letter from William Steele Jr., the board's president.

Once the location is secured and a needs analysis is completed, the nonprofit will turn to design, infrastructure, finalizing the nonprofit agencies and raise money. A survey was distributed in 10 different languages to get feedback from residents.

The building is expected to be between 30,000 and 40,000 square feet.

"There is a significant lack of access to resources and services compared to other parts of the city," said Steele, of the accounting firm Baker Newman Noyes.

"West Side residents' needs for services include accessible and affordable childcare, safe places for teenagers, access to healthy foods, access to health care and mental health services, safe spaces for the community to gather and more."

The West Side, which is home to 25% of the city's residents, is a high-density urban area marked with pockets of extreme poverty, according to the center.

Stebbins was chairman and CEO of Procon, a large construction firm in Hooksett. He also owned XSS Hotels, Stebbins Commercial Properties, Monarch Communities and Coolcore.

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Stebbins and his wife, Sally, have a long history of supporting local nonprofits, including Granite United Way, Easterseals, Manchester YMCA, The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester and Waypoint.

Jeanine Tousignant, project facilitator, said Stebbins had a vision to help provide services to as many children and families in the Manchester area as possible.

"He was thinking about this before he passed," Tousignant said.

The group was formed to honor Stebbins and to carry out his dream. The entire $17 million will be privately raised.

A number of nonprofits, including the Boys & Girls Club, Granite YMCA and Catholic Charities, are involved in the planning, but no final uses have been established. The group is looking at models locally and across the country for its governance and financial structure for a multi-agency space.

The proposal has received positive feedback.

"We are really looking forward to bringing this vision to reality to help as many families and children as possible," Tousignant said. "It is all about gaining access to services in a very walkable area."

The purchase price for the 4.15-acre lot is $600,000. A market analysis showed the land value in today's market in the range of $600,000 to $750,000, according to the material submitted.

Parks and Recreation has no immediate plans for the parcel, said Mark Gomez, chief of parks, recreation and cemetery. The department is "amenable to the sale" for the center.

"The proposed Mark Stebbins Community Center aligns closely with our mission," Gomez wrote in a letter.

"Among other benefits, it will provide recreational opportunities and related services to an area of the city in need."

Tousignant said several locations were looked at for the center.

"This was certainly the best spot because it's in the heart of the community," she said.

For more information go to markstebbinscommunitycenter.org.

jphelps@unionleader.com
A former court clerk chased after a woman who fled during a child custody hearing and then pepper-sprayed her in Mississippi, federal officials say.

The man, who was a longtime chancery clerk of Simpson County, pepper sprayed the woman multiple times as deputies walked her back to the courthouse in handcuffs in April 2017, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Tommy Joe Harvey, 74, has now been sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to depriving the woman of her civil rights under color of law in February, the attorneys office said in a June 17 news release. He also must pay a $5,000 fine.

The pepper spray caused bodily injury to the woman, according to court documents obtained by McClatchy News.

An attorney for Harvey, Wesley Broadhead, told McClatchy News in a statement that his client pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor crime and that the court found him to be a very well respected person of the community and said he simply lost his temper.

He was trying to maintain decorum at the courthouse on a late Friday afternoon when there was no security at the courthouse, Broadhead said and added that his clients actions came after the the judge ordered that she be returned to the courtroom.

On April 28, 2017, the woman arrived at Simpson County Chancery Court for the emergency hearing, which took place in youth court, court documents state. During the hearing, she appeared to be hysterical and fled the courthouse, officials said.

A court official phoned the local sheriffs department, and Harvey followed her outside to her car, according to prosecutors. Then, he asked an employee to bring him a can of pepper spray from inside his office, officials said.

While outside, Harvey saw the woman fighting with a man as she tried getting in the car, court documents state.

Harvey warned he would use the spray if she tried to get away, the release said.

Afterward, sheriffs deputies arrived and handcuffed the woman upon Harveys orders, according to prosecutors. While she was in handcuffs, he continued pepper spraying her, officials said.

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The FBI began investigating Harvey in 2017 following an anonymous complaint about his alleged actions, court documents state. The agency arrested him a year later.

Mr. Harvey was not trained in the proper use of pepper spray and did not have the requisite experience to deal with such situations, a sentencing memorandum states. As soon as the sheriffs deputies arrived, he should have immediately turned the situation over to them. Not doing so, caused harm to himself and (the woman).

A grand jury charged Harvey with depriving (the woman) of her right, secured and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States, to be free from unreasonable seizures, which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force, according to a superseding indictment.

Harvey was employed as Simpson Countys chancery clerk from 2004 through May 31, 2022, the news release said.

Simpson County is roughly 38 miles south of Jackson.

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By Marc Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - Recent implosions in the cryptocurrency markets indicate that long-warned-about dangers of decentralised digital money are now materialising, the Bank for International Settlements has said.

The BIS, the global umbrella body for central banks, sounded the warning in an upcoming annual report, in which it also urged more effort in developing appealing central bank digital currencies.

BIS general manager Agustin Carstens pointed to recent collapses of the TerraUSD and luna 'stablecoins', and a 70% slump in bitcoin, the bellwether for the crypto market, as indicators that a structural problem exists.

Without a government-backed authority that can use reserves funded by taxes, any form of money ultimately lacks credibility."

"I think all these weaknesses that were pointed out before have pretty much materialised," Carstens told Reuters. "You just cannot defy gravity... At some point you really have to face the music".

Analysts estimate that the overall value of the crypto market has slumped more that $2 trillion since November as its troubles have snowballed.

Carstens said the meltdown was not expected to cause a systemic crisis in the way that bad loans triggered the global financial crash. But he stressed losses would be sizeable and that the opaque nature of the crypto universe fed uncertainty.

"Based on what we know, it should be quite manageable," Carstens said. "But, there are a lot of things that we don't know."

CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCIES (CBDCs)

The BIS is a long-term sceptic of cryptocurrencies and its report laid its vision for the future monetary system - one where central banks utilise the tech benefits of bitcoin and its ilk to create digital versions of their own currencies.

Roughly 90% of monetary authorities are now exploring CBDCs as they are known. Many hope it will equip them for the online world and fend off cryptocurrencies. But the BIS wants to coordinate key issues such as making sure they work across borders.

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The immediate challenges are mainly technological, similar to how the mobile phone world needed standardised coding in the 1990s. But there is also the geopolitical issue as relations between the West and countries such as China and Russia wane.

"This (interoperability) is a topic that has been on the G20 agenda for quite some time.. so I think there is a good chance for this to move forward," Carstens said, adding how there had been a number of "real-life" trials with different CBDCs over the last year.

Asked how long before international standards for CBDC interoperability might be agreed, he said: "I think in the next couple of years. Probably 12 months is too short."

(Reporting by Marc Jones; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Jun. 20Although the Colorado Buffaloes weren't sharp in either of their first two games of the 2021 football season, it was Week 3 that really set the tone for a disappointing campaign.

CU had narrowly lost to No. 5 Texas A&M in the second game and carried a measure of confidence into the Sept. 18, 2021, home date with Minnesota.

The Gophers then handed the Buffs one of their worst losses in recent memory at Folsom Field. Minnesota rolled to a 30-0 victory and held CU to 63 yards of total offense, including minus-19 yards on 21 rushing attempts.

CU and its sputtering offense would limp to a 4-8 season, while Minnesota went 9-4 and won a bowl game for the third time in four years.

This year, the Buffs will make a return trip, facing the Gophers on Sept. 17 in Minneapolis. This summer, BuffZone.com will preview each of Colorado's opponents for the 2022 season and in this installment, we look at Minnesota.

Although not considered among the top contenders in the Big Ten, Minnesota has developed a solid program under the direction of sixth-year head coach PJ Fleck. After a bumpy 12-13 mark in his first two seasons, Fleck is 23-10 over the past three years (with six one-score losses).

Much of that success has come with Tanner Morgan at quarterback, and he's back for a sixth season. Also back is running back Mo Ibrahim, who missed all but one game in 2021 with a torn Achilles' tendon.

Six starters are back from a defense that ranked top 10 nationally in points allowed (17.3 per game) and yards allowed (278.8) last year.

Minnesota does have to replace four starters on the offensive line, and the defense line has been rebuilt. One of the biggest changes, however, is on the coaching staff.

Mike Sanford, who was the Gophers' offensive coordinator the past two seasons, was not retained after last year and is now leading the CU offense. In his place, Fleck re-hired Kirk Ciarrocca, who was the Gophers' coordinator from 2017-19.

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Fleck seems happier, telling The Athletic, "I wasn't as good of a head coach (in 2021) because I was in that (offensive) room more than I've ever been in that room in 10 years being a head coach. I think Kirk makes me a better head coach. And I can make Kirk a better coordinator."

If that's true, Week 3 could be another pivotal and difficult game for the Buffaloes in 2022.

Minnesota Gophers

Head coach: PJ Fleck, 6th season (35-23; 65-45 career)

2021 season: 9-4, 6-3 Big Ten

Series with CU: Buffs lead 3-1

The Game

Who: Colorado Buffaloes at Minnesota Gophers

When: Saturday, Sept. 17, 1:30 p.m. MT (TV: ESPN2)

Where: TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis

5 Guys to Watch

* WR Chris Autman-Bell: Last year, he caught 36 passes for 506 yards and six touchdowns  all career highs. In four seasons, he has 114 catches for 1,756 yards and 12 TDs.

* RB Mo Ibrahim: The Big Ten running back of the year in 2020, he has two 1,000-yard seasons in his career (2018, 2020). Played just one game last year, though, before tearing his Achilles, rushing for 163 yards and two touchdowns against Ohio State.

* QB Tanner Morgan: The sixth-year senior is 27-12 as a starter, including 3-0 in bowls. He had a down year in 2021, throwing for 2,044 yards, 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

* LB Mariano Sori-Marin: Finished second on the team in tackles last year (85), while also racking up five tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

* CB Justin Walley: A freshman All-American last season, he had 29 tackles, seven pass breakups, one interception and two fumble recoveries.

Good to know

* Minnesota has won as many as nine games in a season 10 times in its 140-year history, with six of those coming under coach Henry L. Williams from 1900-1905. The Gophers have hit the nine-win mark just four times since 1905, with three of those coming in the last six seasons. Fleck has guided the Gophers to two of those seasons.

* Quarterback Tanner Morgan had the best season of his career in 2019, under the direction of coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca. That season, he completed 66% of his passes for 3,253 yards, 30 TDs and 7 INTs. In the past two seasons combined (20 games) with coordinator Mike Sanford, Morgan completed 59% of his passes for 3,418 yards, 17 TDs and 14 INTs. Ciarrocca is back in the coordinator role this year.

* Minnesota lost four of its five starters on the offensive line, but the one who returns is pretty good. Center John Michael Schmitz earned All-Big Ten honors and is a candidate for the Rimington Trophy.

* CU has played the Gophers in Minnesota twice before. The Buffs won 38-6 on Sept. 23, 1972, and 21-20 on Sept. 19, 1992.

* Minnesota left Boulder last year with the nation's longest nonconference winning streak, at 21 consecutive games. That streak ended a week later with a surprising 14-10 home loss to Bowling Green, but the Gophers are 22-1 in nonconference games since a loss in the 2015 opener.

* Kicker Matthew Trickett was just 1-for-3 on field goal attempts against CU last year, but was 16-for-22 (including 15-for-18 inside 50 yards) the rest of the season.

Portal movement

Since last October, Minnesota has lost 23 players to the transfer portal, according to 247Sports.com. The most significant losses were running backs Ky Thomas (Kansas) and Mar'Keise Irving (Oregon), who finished 1-2 on the team in rushing yards. The Gophers added eight players from the portal. Former four-star recruits Chuck Filiaga (Michigan) and Quinn Carroll (Notre Dame) are expected to start on the offensive line. On defense, the Gophers added three linemen  Kyler Baugh (Houston Baptist), Darnell Jefferies (Clemson) and Lorenza Surgers (Vanderbilt)  and two cornerbacks  Shannon Bishop (Western Kentucky) and Ryan Stapp (Abilene Christian)  who are all in contention for starting or rotational roles.
Jun. 21DALLAS TWP.  After last month's four-hour deliberation resulting in a continuance, a resolution was reached at the Zoning Hearing Board meeting pertaining to a proposed commercial project at the intersection of Route 309 and Irem Road.

Tunkhannock businessman Gary Farber Jr. was unanimously denied a request for a special zoning exemption to move forward with his project which would've seen over a dozen storefronts in a 30,000-square-foot retail space, as well as office spaces, parking and multiple entrances. The special exemption was requested in order to work around the maximum allowed square footage defined by section 509.2 of the Dallas Township Zoning Ordinance.

The aforementioned section states that any non-residential project exceeding an "initial or cumulative earth disturbance which equals or exceeds 80,000 square feet of surface area." Farber's project was expected to cause over 140,000 square feet of "earth disturbance".

Many residents presented their cases to the Zoning Board in the Dallas High School auditorium, with many pointing to safety concerns  an increase in traffic among them. Though, one of the most repeated concerns came about from the Dallas Township Comprehensive Plan.

Melissa Lucas noted, "This project is not consistent with the goals of Dallas Township," which, as she stated earlier in her address were to, "maintain the rural nature of the township," as well as keep the, "clean and quiet rural setting."

Lucas, among other residents also maintained that the commercial needs of the township have been met, and there is no need for anything further.

John Lucas drove that point home as he said, "We find their plan or any commercial plan to simply not be right for our neighborhood."

Todd Dziak of Pheasant Run Drive said in his remarks, "We have no assurance that the future applicants of this proposed development would suit our needs." He called the plan an "ill-conceived property" and questioned what would happen "when no one wants it?"

Farber's attorney Mark Bufalino noted that his client provided expert testimony in the form of Alan Rosen, a certified real-estate appraiser who spoke at last month's May 16 meeting and that all other required criteria had been clearly addressed and clearly met. He noted that the additional commercial base could possibly serve to strengthen the tax base of Dallas Township and the concerns of the residents were understood.

The board called a recess and deliberated for 10 minutes before the decision to deny the special exemption was reached.
"Im asking for the people of our community to stand up. If you were there at that event and you were there in the spirit of Juneteenth, If you really respect the ancestors and all the things that happened and got us to this point, hey stand up and call in and let us know whos responsible for killing this young man," Chief Contee told FOX 5.
Tyre Sampons father spoke in Orlando on Monday.

It has been nearly three months since 14-year-old Sampson fell from the free-fall ride at ICON Park.

Sampsons father, Yarnell Sampson, said he wants there to be no possibility of this ride ever reopening.

He said that every time he sees the ride, its a painful reminder of his sons tragic death.

READ: The proper respect: Father of boy who died on Orlando FreeFall ride calls for permanent memorial

After the release of the medical examiners autopsy results, Yarnell Sampson is demanding a permanent memorial to honor his son.

Yarnell Sampson visited ICON Park to find some peace on his first Fathers Day without his son.

The memorial for Tyre Sampson was taken down. Yarnell Sampson wrote his sons name in chalk around the ride.

WATCH: Protest erupts outside ICON Park after teens memorial cleaned

He was 14 years old. A scholar. He deserves to be respected more than what theyre giving him, Yarnell Sampson said.

An autopsy revealed that Tyre Sampson was nearly 100 pounds over the rides weight limit. He died from blunt force trauma.

A state investigation shows Tyre Sampsons seat was modified to accommodate larger passengers.

State Rep. Geraldine Thompson said the SlingShot Group is trying to get another permit for a ride.

WATCH: Tyre Sampsons autopsy shows he was nearly 100 pounds over drop rides maximum weight limit

A spokesperson for the SlingShot Group said in a statement, Our company is not planning to open a new ride at ICON Park, however, we do hope to reopen the Slingshot ride, once we have all the necessary approvals from the Department of Agriculture.

Yarnell Sampson said he is working to get 25,000 signatures on a petition to get the ride taken down.

Thompson said she will file the Tyre Sampson bill on the first day of the next legislative session. She said it will take into account the safety records of any company that wants to operate a ride like the Orlando FreeFall across the state.

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.
Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux throws to first against the Chicago White Sox on June 7. The Dodgers open a three-game series against the Reds on Tuesday. (Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press)

What you need to know: The Dodgers begin a nine-game trip Tuesday when they travel to Cincinnati for a three-game series against the Reds.

The Dodgers, in first place in the National League West with a 40-25 record, send right-hander Tony Gonsolin (8-0 and a 1.42 earned-run average) to the mound against Tyler Mahle of the Reds. Mahle, a 27-year-old right-hander who played at Westminster High in Orange County, is 2-5 with a 4.46 ERA.

The Reds are in last place in the NL Central with a 23-43 record.

Both teams enter the series coming off losses. The Dodgers fell in two of three games against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium, while the Reds were swept in three games by Milwaukee.

After their visit to Cincinnati concludes, the Dodgers will head to Atlanta for three games against the Braves.

How to watch the Dodgers vs. Reds series

Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati

Radio: AM 570 (KLAC); 1020 (KTNQ) Spanish

Betting odds

The Dodgers are favored in Tuesdays game -190 to +167 for the Reds.

Catch up on the latest Dodgers news

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In this article:

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  MONDAY, 20 JUNE 2022, 22:11

Three civilians were killed and two wounded as a result of Russian shelling in Donetsk Oblast on Monday 20 June.

Source: Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "On 20 June, the Russians killed 3 civilian residents of Donetsk Oblast: in New-York, Stara Mykolaivka and Kurakhove.

Two other civilians were wounded."

Details: Kyrylenko reiterated that it is currently impossible to determine the exact number of casualties and fatalities in Mariupol and Volnovakha.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott greets supporters after speaking at the state Republican convention in San Antonio in 2018. (Associated Press )

Texas is a fine state populated with many great people who do interesting and important things, most visibly in science, technology, energy and agriculture. Texans traditionally place a high value on individual autonomy and liberty.

The Republican Party gave us Abraham Lincoln, and he and the party saved the union from slavery and dissolution.

You might expect that together, Texas and the Republican Party would promote a society in which people live their own lives, make their own choices and mind their own business.

So how is it that the Texas Republican Party is working so hard to undermine those values?

Texas Republicans met over the weekend and adopted a platform that would make Lincoln gasp and Sam Houston scream. Its a backward-looking agenda of prim moralizing, anti-individualism and blindness to truth.

The platform calls for repeal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which scrapped literacy tests and poll taxes in order to finally grant the full right to vote to Black Americans.

It is obsessed with Texans sexual lives, practices and knowledge. It declares homosexuality an abnormal lifestyle choice and denies marriage to people if they are not of opposite sexes. It demands an end to teaching sex education, sexual health, or sexual choice or identity in any public school in any grade whatsoever. It seeks strict limits on sexual healthcare services, including counseling, referrals, and distribution of condoms and contraception through public schools.

It insists that Donald Trump was the real winner of the 2020 election.

It calls for a secession referendum for Texas voters in the 2023 general election.

Many observers who have followed Texas Republicans for years scoff at the national outrage that the platform has produced. They point out, correctly, that similar platforms have been presented in previous years with little notice because they have little effect. A platform is merely a list of statements and is not connected in any meaningful way to the states actual legislative and policy agenda.

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But that reminder lends less and less comfort each year. Extreme or devious policies do make it into Texas law. Last year, for example, state lawmakers adopted a statute that incentivizes Texans to become money-grubbing busybodies by suing anyone who helps a pregnant woman obtain an abortion. That law may be a precursor to a Supreme Court reversal of the right to abortion and a persons defense of their own body from government intrusion.

And Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state officials to conduct child-abuse investigations of parents of transgender children receiving gender-affirming healthcare (that order has been suspended, for now, by a Texas court).

Such declarations that people shouldnt be able to marry whomever they please, children shouldnt learn about their minds and bodies, the nations key voting rights law (signed, please remember, by a president from Texas) should be dumped, the president shouldnt be acknowledged as the nations legitimate leader, and breakup of the United States should be on next years ballot are, to put it mildly, of some concern.

Regarding the call for a secession vote, some commenters from the other 49 states have said good riddance. Lets hope thats just venting. Lincoln knew that it would be the end of the nation to let Texas and 10 other states dissolve the bonds of union more than 161 years ago, just as Houston knew rebellion would be bad for Texas and Lyndon Johnson knew that anti-Black voting restrictions had to end.

Todays battle for Texas is being waged by Texans, but we all face the same battle in our own states: a battle that pits the nations founding principles of liberty and justice for all against a descent into ignorance and what Johnson famously called "a crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
German police are investigating electrical tampering at the site of the upcoming G7 summit, where leaders of the worlds top democratic economies are to discuss continued support for Ukraine.

Die Welt, a German national daily newspaper, reported that local police are investigating dangerous tampering with power distribution boxes at the site of the upcoming G7 summit. The group of seven leading democracies will meet from June 26 to 28 at the Schloss Elmau hotel in the Bavarian Alps.

In recent days electrical boxes have been manipulated, and cables connecting to power boxes for one aid organization were unplugged, raising employees could get electrocuted, according to the newspaper. The area has already been cordoned off and some 18,000 officers are on duty.

Since the tampering was discovered, no one will be permitted to enter the cordoned off area without presenting accreditation until after midnight the day the summit ends.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY TO JOIN VIRTUAL G7 SUMMIT

A "Super Puma" helicopter from Airbus Helicopters stands on the tarmac during a press event about the deployment, tasks and activities of the Federal Police's flying squadron in the context of the G7 summit. Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images

Though police say they do not anticipate any major riots, there have been a few instances of politically motivated graffiti with the messages "Move G7" and "No G7," Die Welt reported.

In an interview with Germany's dpa news agency published Saturday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he wants to use next week's meeting with fellow G-7 leaders in the Bavarian village of Elmau to discuss Ukraine's long-term prospects.

"We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary," Scholz said. "We want to make sure that Russian President [Vladimir Putins] calculations do not work out."

Bavaria police officers control traffic at the Mittenwald border crossing as part of the G7 summit. Angelika Warmuth/picture alliance via Getty Images

"Putin obviously hopes that everything will fall into place once he has conquered enough land and the international community will return to business as usual," he added. "That is an illusion."

Scholz said he and his counterparts from France, Italy and Romania had discussed further weapons supplies for Ukraine  specifically ammunition and artillery  with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their visit to Kyiv on Thursday.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Luxembourg following talks in Kyiv on June 21, 2022. Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

The four leaders also backed Ukraine's bid for membership of the European Union, a stance Scholz said he hoped all of the bloc's countries would support at a gathering in Brussels next week.

Earlier this month, Germanys interior minister ordered increased security on its border from June 13 to July 3 in connection to the G7 summit.

"The controls are intended to prevent potential perpetrators of violence from entering German territory," the minister said in a statement, adding that "travelers must therefore expect to be subject to checks during this period."

READ THE LATEST UPDATES ON THE WAR IN UKRAINE

The interior ministry did not further elaborate what kind of violent threats it might be expecting, but several protests against the summit are planned in the nearby town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and in Bavaria's capital, Munich, during the leaders' meeting.

The temporary border controls will be "flexible in terms of location and time" and carried out "at the German land, air and maritime internal borders" that usually fall under the European Union's Schengen treaty allowing for free travel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand Limited (NZSE:MCK) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand

What's the estimated valuation?

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Levered FCF (NZ$, Millions) NZ$19.2m NZ$16.5m NZ$15.0m NZ$14.2m NZ$13.7m NZ$13.4m NZ$13.4m NZ$13.4m NZ$13.5m NZ$13.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -20.57% Est @ -13.79% Est @ -9.04% Est @ -5.72% Est @ -3.39% Est @ -1.76% Est @ -0.62% Est @ 0.18% Est @ 0.74% Est @ 1.13% Present Value (NZ$, Millions) Discounted @ 6.4% NZ$18.0 NZ$14.6 NZ$12.5 NZ$11.1 NZ$10.1 NZ$9.3 NZ$8.7 NZ$8.2 NZ$7.7 NZ$7.4

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = NZ$107m

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The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.0%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 6.4%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2031  (1 + g)  (r  g) = NZ$14m (1 + 2.0%)  (6.4% 2.0%) = NZ$322m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= NZ$322m ( 1 + 6.4%)10= NZ$174m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is NZ$281m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of NZ$2.1, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

The assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.019. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand, we've compiled three fundamental items you should look at:

Risks: For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand that you should be aware of before investing here. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every New Zealander stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Ukraine is set to become an official candidate for European Union membership on Thursday in a symbolic but morale-boosting decision following Russia's invasion, ministers and diplomats said on Tuesday.

EU leaders in Brussels are expected to sign off on last week's recommendation by the European Commission, the EU executive. After several days of internal EU discussions no opposition among the 27 member states has surfaced, three diplomats told Reuters.

"We are working towards the point where we tell (Russian President Vladimir) Putin that Ukraine belongs to Europe, that we will also defend the values that Ukraine defends," Luxembourg's foreign affairs minister Jean Asselborn told reporters before a meeting with other EU ministers.

Moldova is also almost certain to be given candidate status, the diplomats said, although Georgia must fulfil conditions, namely that it overcome political deadlock in the country.

A French presidential official, whose country heads the EU until the end of June, told reporters in a briefing he was confident none of the 27 would block candidacy status for Ukraine and Moldova.

"We are forging consensus. At this moment I can't say all 27 are agreed but there is reasonable hope to quickly get an agreement on Ukraine and Moldova at the EU Council."

France's Minister for Europe Clement Beaune told reporters after a ministerial meeting in Brussels there was "total consensus" among the 27, but it would not be up to heads of state to confirm it.

Despite some misgivings among northern EU countries that taking in Ukraine, which suffers from endemic corruption, is unrealistic, Denmark's foreign minister said he welcomed giving it candidacy status.

"It's very good and it's something that Denmark whole-heartedly supports; we want to help Ukraine to achieve its European dream," Jeppe Kofod told reporters in Luxembourg.

While the candidacy will mark a strategic eastward shift by the EU in the face of Russia's war in Ukraine, Kyiv would likely take years to become a member of the bloc, if at all.

Story continues

Ukraine already has a free trade pact with the EU but applied to join days after Russia's invasion. Moscow says its "special military operation" was partly necessitated by Western encroachment into what it characterises as its rightful geographical sphere of influence.

Putin has so far played down the issue of Ukraine's EU membership.

(Reporting by Bart Meijer, Francesco Guarascio, Robin Emmott and John Irish; Editing by Alison Williams, William Maclean)
Yehor Firsov has been rescuing the wounded in Avdiivka since early May

Since early May, Yegor Firsov, former MP and former acting head of the State Environmental Inspectorate, has been staying in a place that has often been "hot" for the past few years  in Avdiyivka, a Ukrainian outpost a few dozen kilometers from Donetsk and Makiyivka occupied in 2014. The war did not stop there, and now fierce fighting is underway around the town.

Having no medical education, Firsov took courses in tactical medicine and went as a tactical medic to the front in Donetsk Oblast, where he provides first aid to wounded soldiers. He sees blood, wounds, and death every day.

Read also: Ukrainian patrol officer shares story of evacuation of 42,000 people from Luhansk Oblast

Firsov came to Kyiv for a few days, where he told NV about the hard work he had chosen for himself.

Here is his story.

From the territorial defense to doctors

On Feb. 24, I was at home on Kyiv's left bank. I woke up from a friend's call who told me that the war had begun. I heard some explosions.

I evacuated my family by noon. In the afternoon, I went to enlist in the territorial defense.

I served in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi territorial defense by early April. But despite the fact that I was in the territorial defense, I felt confused. I was very sorry that eight years of war had passed, and I had never learned to fight.

After the Russians withdrew from Bucha, we went there on the first day. It was dark in Bucha, the bodies were lying in the streets. We walked with the sappers: it was deserted, somewhere the gate was swaying in the wind, the dog was barking. You enter a yard, you think to ask some questions to the people who live there, but there are three dead there. And you understand that they've been lying there for three-four weeks. And you're probably the first person to see them killed.

But even that wasn't the worst thing in Bucha, but the stories of local residents whose relatives, friends and children were killed.

Read also: Paramedic Yulia Paevska, aka Taira, released from Russian captivity. What is she famous for?

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On the first day, a woman told us how her daughter was shot in front of her eyes. She had to dig a hole and bury her daughter in the yard  her feet protruded from this grave.

I probably heard hundreds of such stories in a week. And not even because I wanted to hear them. People ran out into the street, saw the soldier and told him everything that hurt them.

In the first days of my stay in Bucha, I realized that being confused is the worst thing that can happen. And I realized that I had to go to the front. But as who and where? I started writing to everyone I know among the military. After all, when you decide to go to war and take part in hostilities, it's very important to find yourself on the battlefield.

If you come there unprepared, demotivated, and know nothing, no one will mess with you, you will just be a burden.

Former MP and environmentalist, Yehor Firsov has no medical education, but has mastered the "match" and gained practice in combat Yehor Firsov/FB

Few people want to get a comrade-in-arms who knows nothing, does not know, and is not ready for battle. I knew that there was a shortage of tactical medics in Avdiyivka and went to study: tactical medicine, evacuation under fire, and medical care under fire. It was just a theory at that time.

Avdiyivka

In fact, I come from Donetsk, and my grandmother lived in Adviyivka. I know every corner and every hole there, every building and basement. I could do more good there than if I went to an unfamiliar place.

I arrived on May 3, immediately during the shelling of the Avdiyivka coke plant: 10 civilians were killed and 20 wounded.

I arrived, registered with the military enlistment office, and alerted the command that I was here. I found common ground with the command, with the military and civil administration and began to work. That's how I became a tactical doctor.

I provide first aid if a soldier or civilian is injured. We are contacted by walkie-talkie and we leave, stabilize or take wounded soldiers to the hospital if possible.

Previously, I had nothing to do with medicine. If I had been told three or four months ago that I would be involved in medicine, I would not have believed it.

The task of a tactical doctor is, so to speak, to have the knowledge and ability to provide first aid quickly in 20 different situations.

It's about shrapnel wounds, bleeding, conussions, broken limbs, etc. You have to understand what you need to do in such situations.

Many people are surprised that I work as a tactical doctor, because I have no medical education. In principle, it does not matter if you have studied the material well and, most importantly, if you are not afraid.

You are not afraid of blood, you are not afraid of wounds and screams. And it's important if you know how to find common ground with the wounded.

Read also: Crimean Tatar medic trapped at Azovstal appeals to Turkey for help

You need to talk to the wounded all the time, about anything, even forced him to speak, to fight for his life, to understand that he is wounded.

I was reassured when I came across the guys there: the gunners, the infantrymen, the drivers. I understood that the other people you work with probably have combat experience of 2014-2015, but most of their lives they have not been involved in war.

These are tractor drivers, teachers, IT specialists, and people from all spheres. But now they have joined the army, taken up arms, and are fighting against the enemy. In war, you have to find yourself on the battlefield, even though you were a lawyer, a history teacher, or an ecologist.

During the time that I have been working in Avdiyivka, I cannot say that the situation in the town has changed significantly. Constant waves of shelling. Sometimes there is a lull, but the longest of them may have been half a day. The waves of shelling increase, then decrease.

In late May, the shelling began everywhere. There is no neighborhood in Adviyivka or village in the Avdiyivka area that wasn't hit.

And here you must understand the following.

When you fight with a machine gun and imagine a street battle, you know that something depends on you. You can outwit the enemy, attack him, open fire, or hide somewhere. The situation with artillery is very difficult, especially for a tactical doctor. Nothing depends on you in artillery battles. If it falls down, even if you are super prepared and super strong, it won't help.

It's psychologically difficult to sometimes work with the wounded you know. When I arrived in Avdiyivka, I wrote to all my old friends: it's "hot" now, but it will be even "hotter," get out of here and pick up your relatives, the sooner the better.

You cannot protect homes with your presence. As a rule, many have parents left in Avdiyivka, elderly people. I still have no idea why they did not leave. They are not pro-Russian and do not wait for the Russians. But here's the mentality: I'm here, this is my home, I won't go. But the town is constantly under shelling, there is no water, no gas, no electricity, no communication, no shops, nothing. More than 20,000 people used to live in the town, now it's hard to say how many, but its a few thousand. People cook on fire and survive as they can.

The presence of civilians in the town greatly hinders both the military and us, the doctors. First, we have to react. Everything is clear when a soldier is wounded, he was doing his job. If a civilian is wounded, of course, you provide first aid, but somewhere inside you are wondering: why you didn't leave, why we are risking our lives because you just didn't want to leave?

A 27-year-old girl was recently killed, she left behind a 3-year-old child. Such cases occur weekly. There are deaths every day. And every week there are cases when young people die. People from the front lines should understand that it's impossible to live in settlements with combat status, no one can guarantee your safety. They should have left a long time ago.

Read also: Another mass grave was discovered in Kyiv Oblast

In Avdiyivka, civilians are taken to the morgue in the case of death. Refrigerators do not work there, the smell is terrible. I saw my colleague start vomiting when the morgue door opened. Artillery fire began the first time we arrived at this morgue. We're standing in the morgue and cant decide where its worse  on the street, where they are shooting, or here, where there is nothing to breathe and everything is covered in blood.

But we have to deal with such work  to stack dead civilians. There are already cases in Avdiyivka, as it was in Mariupol and Chernihiv when the bodies are already lying on the streets. They're lying close to the contact line, no one can evacuate them and there are no relatives who could bury them. They're just lying there.

Military

When we first arrived in Avdiyivka, we were shown where we would live. And 20 minutes later, we were told that there were wounded. And we left in such a tense state.

And here's how theory differs from practice: in theory everything is calm, you have to provide first aid to one person. But we are coming, there are five wounded and two of them are in serious condition.

And it's very important not to be confused, to brace yourself, to understand to whom and when to help. If you do not hold on, if you get emotional, you can help with nothing.

If you're a little "frozen" in a good way, you can be trusted  wounded soldiers appreciate it.

And, frankly speaking, you get used to this, because you can't do anything without it. This is the daily flow, the daily blood.

But I was still in a daze the first two weeks in Avdiyivka. Constant arrivals and departures of missiles. Later, when you have sharpened your skills, you understand your function and what you need to do  it's completely different, you feel your mission.

A missile fell in this way, it can kill in this way, but it's a completely different approach and it's not just in tactical medicine, but everywhere. Shrapnel wounds are 90% of the injuries among the military.

Everything else includes concussions, sometimes broken limbs, but, fortunately, it is less. Blood loss is 90% of deaths. Blood loss is a very difficult story because you only have a few minutes to stop it. If you didn't stop it, it's death.

War is a terrible thing, scary. But when you know your function, I can't say that it's not so scary anymore, but at least it becomes clearer.

My work depends not only on medical care, a lot depends on the car and the road. You drive, a lot of shrapnel can damage the tires. The first car we drove was a car of volunteers from Poland, which had already traveled a lot and was in poor condition. And this is also one of the problems.

Read also: Two dead after enemy shelling of Avdiyivka in Donetsk Oblast

If you need to travel to a hospital for about an hour, you provide medical care in 10-15 minutes. The rest of the time is the worst. After all, the most important task is to have time to bring in the wounded. If you brought him in alive, you did your job.

On the way, you hold the wounded man's hand and say everything. The main thing is that he must also tell you something. The most important is to speak Ukrainian, because there is a concussion, loss of consciousness, the soldier regains consciousness and may think that he is in captivity. He woke up, does not understand what is happening, people are speaking Russian around him and he may behave inappropriately.

There were cases when there is a wounded soldier, you try to talk to him, to understand his health condition, whether he is conscious or not. You ask what his name is, he answers: Sashko (Oleksandr). You ask whether he is fine, and Sashko starts singing a song "Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow" to show that he is alive.

And you understand that everything will be fine.

The psychological state of the wounded is a separate story. Some of the wounded sometimes even have some euphoria. They ask for cigarettes, smoke and feel happy to have survived.

Unfortunately, not all wounded soldiers can be saved. When we first time could not bring the wounded to a hospital and he died on the way, I could not sleep at night. My colleagues calmed me down, realizing that it was not our fault, but still it's difficult.

Psychologically, it puts pressure on you and if keeps going through your head that you could have done something different. You have to give up and let go of the situation, and this is the hardest thing when someone dies almost in your arms. You feel that something went wrong, that you failed and did not complete the mission.

In Kyiv, you treat loss figures as statistics. There is news about 100 dead and 500 wounded. No last names, no names, no emotions. In Avdiyivka, everything is completely different. If a missile fell down somewhere and there are several dead, you understand who these people are, their age, how long they served in the army, their status. Even if you didn't know them personally, your comrades will tell you their story. That's why you don't treat it just like three dead. These three are right in front of you.

Comrades-in-arms

Comrades-in-arms are very important at the front. The atmosphere at war is special  it's a systematic care for each other. If you come from a trip, your friends will immediately offer you food. If there are any problems, you do not understand something, they will help you immediately.

If you have no cigarettes, they will give you their cigarettes. In peacetime, I have never seen such care and never felt such a shoulder anywhere and in any other place.

This is not factory work. This is a 24/7 job. You have to leave at 2 a.m., you have to leave at 4 a.m. And this broken rhythm is psychologically exhausting. It is very important that someone comes up, supports and pats you on the shoulder. And what's most impressive is the support of people you know for only three weeks. A sense of a shoulder (to lean on) and a team is what helps in war.

For example, a plane is flying. You are stressed, trying to hide somewhere. And here they broadcast on a walkie-talkie  these are ours. One word, four letters  "ours," and your burden immediately decreases. You look at this plane and you empathize so much with these guys. You understand that we are here for them, and they are in the sky for us.

Read also: 15-year-old girl, wounded in the legs, drives heavily wounded adults to safety under Russian fire

Back in April, I realized that the war would be long. Whether someone likes it or not, it will take a long time. I plan to fulfill my mission as long as possible. In general, I'm a person who likes to dream and plan. But now you think from today to tomorrow, and you don't think about the day after tomorrow at all. Did you do your job and survived? So, good day. What will happen in a while, months or years  only God knows.

Everyone has their own psychological transformation in war, it is enormous, it changes a lot. I came to Kyiv for a few days, walked down the street, met a friend and immediately smiled, start hugging. Instead, the person looks at me in surprise: are you all right? And I told him: everything is fine, I'm just glad to see you. You start to appreciate everything in a completely different way.
China's antiballistic missile test, aircraft carrier launch 'defensive in nature amid foreign threats'

(Global Times) 08:18, June 21, 2022

An air-defense missile system attached to a brigade under the PLA 71st Group Army launches an air-defense missile at a mock target during a field live-fire training exercise in late February, 2022. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Xue Weigao)

China on Sunday successfully conducted an antiballistic missile test in a move experts said on Monday is a crucial part of the country's national defense development that is defensive in nature, demonstrating the reliability of China's antiballistic missile umbrella amid US attempts to blackmail China with modern, nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles and deploying intermediate-range ballistic missiles in the Asia-Pacific region on the doorsteps of China.

China conducted a land-based, mid-course antiballistic missile interception technical test within its borders, China's Ministry of National Defense announced in a press release late on Sunday.

The test reached its desired objective, the press release said, noting that the test is defensive in nature and not aimed at any other country.

A similar test was held in February 2021, according to an announcement of the Chinese Defense Ministry at the time.

The flight of an intercontinental ballistic missile usually consists of three phases. First is the boost phase in which the rocket booster powers the missile. Second, the mid-course phase in which the booster stops as the missile travels outside the atmosphere. Third and last, the reentry or terminal phase in which the missile reenters the atmosphere and dives on its target.

Intercepting an intercontinental ballistic missile during its mid-course is very challenging because during this phase, the missile, usually equipped with nuclear warheads, travels high outside of the atmosphere at very high velocity, experts said.

It is technically easy to intercept a ballistic missile in the boost phase because the missile is still close to the ground and accelerating, but it is difficult to get close to the launch site which is usually deep in hostile territory. In the terminal phase, the interception is also challenging because the speed of the diving missile is very high, analysts noted.

Countries are developing hypersonic missiles with wave-rider gliders that can adjust their trajectories mid-flight when they reenter the atmosphere, which makes terminal interception even more difficult, and mid-course interception has become even more important, analysts said.

A mid-course antiballistic missile system consists of two parts - a booster and an interceptor as its warhead, and moves to intercept the ballistic missile in the second phase of its flight where it is traveling outside the atmosphere, an expert familiar with the technology told the Global Times on the condition of anonymity.

One of the key challenges for a mid-course antiballistic missile system is the miniaturization of the warhead, making it light enough without compromising its flight precision as well as sensitivity, the expert said, adding that it is preferred to use a rapid combustion rocket as the booster for the system so that it can send the antiballistic missile to the atmosphere as fast as possible.

Although small in size, the mid-course antiballistic missile has a complete set of combat systems, including power, tracking, target-identifying systems and the killer part, the expert explained.

The mid-course antiballistic missile interception also has a network of support systems with an early warning and monitoring function. The centerpiece of the warning and monitoring systems is the missile early warning satellite, and support from long-range monitoring radars and a highly efficient and rapid command system are also playing crucial roles in the interception process, the expert said.

The latest test brings the number of publicly announced Chinese land-based ABM technical tests to six. According to media reports and official statements, other known ABM tests were carried out by China in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2021. It was not revealed in which interception phase the test in 2014 was carried out, while all other five were carried out in the mid-course phase. All of those Chinese tests ended successfully.

By comparison, the US Ground-based Midcourse Defense system only has a success rate of just 55 percent, according to the Washington DC-based Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.

The high success rate of China's tests shows that the country's land-based mid-course antiballistic missile system has become mature and reliable, Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Monday.

For the next step, China needs to conduct tests under more complex scenarios to further hone its antiballistic missile capabilities, Wang said, noting that the US' lower success rate does not necessarily mean China has surpassed the US, because the US tests might involve different and more challenging simulation parameters.

US threats

Despite China's latest test does not target another country, analysts said that the US is the biggest source of ballistic missile threats to China.

The US Department of Defense is modernizing its intercontinental ballistic missile force with the $100 billion Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program in an attempt to deter China and Russia, US media outlet Defense News reported in April, when the US Air Force named its next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile the LGM-35A Sentinel, which is to succeed the 5-decade-old Minuteman III beginning 2029.

Having a reliable antiballistic missile system serves as a deterrent against US nuclear blackmail, experts said.

After withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, the US began planning an anti-China missile network along the first island chain, media reported.

Fears are that the US could deploy intermediate range missiles in places like Japan, South Korea, Guam and Australia, despite Japan, South Korea and Australia ruling out this US proposal for the time being, according to media reports. As the Western missile network is pressing in on the Asia-Pacific region, China needs to develop antiballistic missile systems as well as far-reaching weapons like aircraft carriers and hypersonic missiles to defend itself, analysts said.

If the US succeeds in deploying intermediate range missiles near China, it means China will face not only more missile threats, but also more uncertainties. If US missiles are deployed in multiple locations along the island chains, it would be more difficult to predict from where those missiles could come from, Wang said.

That is why China needs both spear and shield, Wang pointed out.

When needed, China should be able to use its long-range strike capabilities and destroy those missile positions, and use missile defense systems to intercept those that have made into the air, Wang said.

China just launched its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, on Friday, and showcased its DF-17 hypersonic missiles at the National Day military parade in 2019. If US missiles are deployed on China's doorsteps, they are likely targets of those Chinese weapons if they aim at China, analysts said.

China already has a military advantage over the US on the doorsteps of China, and further national defense development is needed to deter the US and lower casualties in case of a conflict, analysts said.

China follows a national defense strategy that is defensive in nature, so both the spears and the shields it develops are aimed at safeguarding its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests, as well as contribute to regional stability and world peace, analysts said, noting that this is totally different from the US' aggressive military development that aims to maintain global hegemony.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Multiple police officers stood in a hallway at Robb Elementary School armed with rifles and at least one ballistic shield within nine minutes of a gunman arriving at the campus, according to documents reviewed by the American-Statesman, a devastating new revelation deepening questions about why police didnt act faster to stop the shooter who killed 19 children and two teachers.

Even as officers with high-powered weapons and ballistic shields massed inside the blue and green hallway, the gunman could be heard firing rounds  including at 12:21 p.m.  29 minutes before officers entered the classroom and killed him.

Investigators say the latest information indicates officers had more than enough firepower and protection to take down the gunman long before they finally did.

Authorities have produced the most extensive timeline yet since the 18-year-old armed with an AR-15 walked into the Uvalde school on May 24, shattering a South Texas town and reigniting the gun debate nationwide.

More: How Gov. Greg Abbott was first misled about the Uvalde shooting  then took liberties of his own

Much of the new information is expected to be presented at a Texas Senate hearing Tuesday, the first of two consecutive days of hearings at the Capitol that will give members of the public their first opportunity to address lawmakers on gun violence and related issues.

The law enforcement response has been scrutinized by state and federal investigators since shortly after the massacre. On May 27, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw revealed that officers waited more than 70 minutes to confront the shooter, even as trapped fourth graders inside two classrooms were desperately calling 911 for help. The delayed response ran counter to widely accepted law enforcement protocol, developed from many similarly horrific school shootings nationwide, that calls for officers to stop the shooter promptly and resolutely. The delay in the Uvalde response raises questions about whether any lives could have been saved.

Story continues

The latest timeline shows that officers ultimately breached a classroom door at 12:50 p.m. after the shooter entered at 11:33 a.m.

Authorities have reconstructed the events of May 24 using footage from inside the school, which showed the gunman casually entering a rear door, walking to a classroom and immediately spraying gunfire before barricading himself. The timeline also was built using body camera video from more than a dozen officers inside the school.

Grieving, traumatized and demanding action: Uvalde survivor, parents testify at U.S. House hearing

According to the new information, 11 officers entered the school within three minutes of the gumman. Pete Arredondo, chief of the Uvalde school district police force, called a landline at the Uvalde Police Department at 11:40 a.m. for help.

Its an emergency right now, he said. We have him in the room. Hes got an AR-15. Hes shot a lot . . . They need to be outside the building prepared because we dont have fire power right now, he said. Its all pistols.

I dont have a radio, he added. I need you to bring a radio for me.

Four minutes later, at 11:44 a.m., body camera footage detected more shots from the gunman.

At 11:52 a.m., an officer with the first ballistic shield entered the school as other officers grew increasingly impatient.

If theres kids in there, we need to go in there, one officer said.

Another responded, Whoever is in charge will determine that.

A transcript of body camera footage from officers showed Arredondo was trying to find keys to open the classroom, even though officials say they do not believe officers tried to open the door.

At 12:03 p.m., an officer with another ballistic shield entered the school, and a third arrived two minutes later.

The new information shows Arredondo also tried to speak to the gunman, asking him whether he could hear him.

About 30 minutes before the breach, Arredondo wondered aloud whether officers would consider popping him through the window? Get two shooters on either side of the window? I say we breach those windows and shoot his (expletive) head off through the windows.

At 12:46 p.m., the timeline indicates that Arredondo told SWAT team officers who had arrived that they should breach the classroom door if they are ready.

By then, medical units had arrived, and footage shows them tending to children in the hallway after the gunman was dead.

Hearings won't address limiting firearms

Agendas for the two committee hearings, however, include no mention of limiting access to firearms, and the state's Republican leaders have insisted that gun restrictions will be off-limits as lawmakers respond to a shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead at Robb Elementary School last month.

The Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans, recently formed at Gov. Greg Abbott's request, will hear invited witnesses and public testimony on three issues at Tuesday's hearing  school safety, police training and social media.

On Wednesday, the committee of eight Republicans and three Democrats will tackle mental health and firearm safety.

Both hearings will begin at 9 a.m. in the Senate chamber, with public testimony limited to two minutes per speaker.

State Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, chairman of the committee, said he expects to cast "a wide net" to examine a complex issue and develop recommendations to present to the full Senate.

"These hearings are meant to be a forum for robust discussion about solutions to the pervasive problem of tragic school shootings," he said. "I acknowledge that there won't be just one solution to these problems, and it is my hope that the work of this committee reflects that."

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Texas Senate, chose a traditional committee structure after Abbott requested special panels to investigate the Uvalde shooting and guide the Legislature's response. In addition to the GOP chairman, Patrick tapped two fellow Republicans to serve as vice chairs: Sens. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham and Brandon Creighton of Conroe.

House committee meeting privately

Across the Capitol's Rotunda, House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, took a different path, creating a three-member special committee with a Republican chairman, a Democratic vice chair and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman, a Republican.

That committee has held four hearings  including three in the City Council Chambers in Uvalde  but is conducting its business in private, hearing from witnesses in executive session.

More: Top Texas House Republican floats mental health-focused response to Uvalde

Some Uvalde residents have questioned that approach, particularly after initial portrayals of the shooting by law enforcement and Abbott were inaccurate or incomplete.

Speaking during Friday's meeting in Uvalde, the committee's chairman, Rep. Dustin Burrows, said he was approached by a concerned resident after his committee had toured Robb Elementary School, where the shooting took place, that morning.

Burrows, R-Lubbock, said witnesses are more comfortable answering questions without cameras present, which promotes the committee's top goal  a full and accurate accounting about what happened during the May 24 attack.

"Before this committee is willing to announce what we believe is the factual, accurate information, we want to hear from all sides, all different viewpoints," he said before the room was cleared so two school district police officers and two Robb Elementary teachers could be questioned in private.

In previous meetings, the committee heard from top officials of the Department of Public Safety, Uvalde police, teachers and district officials, including the superintendent and the school principal. Wednesday's meeting also will take place in private.

More: Uvalde shooting survivor Miah Cerrillo, 11, tells congressional committee about shooting

Two other House committees will meet later this week at the Capitol for a joint hearing  with invited witnesses only  to examine laws and policies put in place after eight students and two teachers were shot to death at Santa Fe High School in 2018.

Other topics include improving firearm safety, examining active shooter response training and coordinating agencies to better prevent and respond to mass shootings.

The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday with the Committee on Homeland Security and the House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety, which was expanded after the Uvalde shooting with legislators whose districts include the sites of recent mass shootings  El Paso, Sutherland Springs, Odessa, Santa Fe and Uvalde.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Officers arrived at Uvalde school with rifles, shield 9 minutes after gunman
By Laura Gottesdiener and Daina Beth Solomon

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Three asylum seekers were kidnapped in April while in a U.S. migration program that had placed them in the care of Mexican officials in the city of Nuevo Laredo, across the border from Texas, one of the victims and the U.N. migration agency said.

The kidnapping, reported here for the first time, happened in spite of measures the Biden administration says improved the safety of the program, known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), which requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their U.S. immigration court hearings.

The case is the first known kidnapping under the revamped MPP, said Dana Graber Ladek, Chief of Mission in Mexico for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency that helps transport people under the program.

Reuters learned further details of the case through an interview with one of the kidnapped migrants, a 29-year-old Peruvian chef named Raul. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security also confirmed the kidnapping.

"We are aware of the incident and are extremely concerned," said Graber Ladek, adding that she was in contact with local and national Mexican authorities "to prevent these things from happening again."

The migrants were in custody of Nuevo Laredo city officials, not IOM, when they were abducted.

U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, ended MPP soon after taking office last year as part of a push to reverse the hardline immigration policies of his Republican predecessor Donald Trump, but was forced to reinstate it in December under court order.

In re-implementing the program, the Biden administration promised new measures would enhance protection for migrants.

"You think you're in good hands," Raul said of the U.S. government, asking that his last name be withheld out of fear of retaliation from the kidnappers. "But that's not the case."

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Raul crossed the Rio Grande river into Texas on April 10 after a flight to Mexico from Peru. Ten days later, DHS officials returned him to Nuevo Laredo, a notoriously dangerous city where kidnapping is rife, on the Mexican side of the border across from Laredo, Texas.

Officials from Nuevo Laredo's Civil Protection authority, a municipal emergency services department, then drove Raul and two other migrants toward a local shelter. But kidnappers stopped the truck and took the migrants captive to extort their family and friends in the United States for ransom.

It was not clear to Raul who the kidnappers were, he said.

In a statement to Reuters, a DHS spokesperson said the kidnapping case highlighted MPP's "endemic flaws." The Biden administration cited risks including kidnapping of migrants in its decision to end the Trump-era program.

A federal judge in Texas last year ruled the administration had violated procedural laws when ending MPP, ordering it be reinstated. Immigration advocates say the Biden administration has not done enough to fight the court order.

Raul recounted his story to a Mexican lawyer in a five-page statement, seen by Reuters, that he signed under penalty of perjury on May 5. He shared the same account with IOM staff and a psychologist at the migrant shelter in Monterrey, those people told Reuters.

Mexico's federal migration institute declined to comment to Reuters questions about the kidnapping. Mexico's foreign ministry told Reuters that it works with the U.S. government, U.N. agencies, and Mexican security forces to safeguard all migrants.

Nuevo Laredo's Civil Protection authority denied the kidnapping took place and instead said the three migrants jumped out of the car to avoid quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. Other city authorities declined to comment.

IOM officials said that as a result of the incident, in late April, state police began to accompany some migrants in MPP transported in Nuevo Laredo. Tamaulipas' state security department said its police accompanied migrants in MPP, as well other migrants, in coordination with federal migration authorities.

FORCED TO PAY

Raul arrived in Nuevo Laredo on April 20 with a notice to appear in a Laredo, Texas courtroom the following month.

Under the revamped MPP, migrants in the program are usually bussed south to the safer city of Monterrey by IOM, but Raul and two other returned asylum seekers had tested positive for COVID-19 and under a protocol meant to keep COVID from spreading, they were due to quarantine in Nuevo Laredo.

Instead, the assailants brought the three men to a two-story house where they were held captive with about 20 other migrants, Raul said.

He quickly realized the criminals' victims were migrants who had been returned or deported back to Mexico. "They knew we had family in the United States," Raul said, noting the kidnappers forced him and others to turn over phone numbers of their contacts. They cursed and punched him in the stomach when he said he had only one contact, he said.

After four days of "anguish" and a $6,000 ransom payment, half of what the kidnappers initially demanded, his captors took him to a bus stop and told him to leave town.

He took a bus south to Monterrey and got in touch with IOM, which placed him in a shelter and transported him to the border for his first U.S. court hearing in early May.

Once in Texas, Raul successfully petitioned for an exception to stay in the United States for the duration of his asylum case.

In its decision to end the Trump-era program, the Biden administration referred to studies by human rights groups that documented hundreds of kidnappings of migrants returned to Mexico.

Mexico's national human rights commission, a government watchdog agency, said in a report last year that kidnapping was one of the most common crimes against migrants placed in the original MPP program, which was also known as 'Remain in Mexico.'

The revamped MPP was designed to be different. DHS protocols issued in December promised "access to shelters in Mexico and secure transportation to and from ports of entry to these shelters."

Stephanie Leutert, immigration expert and former Biden administration advisor on migration policy, said the measures, such as bussing migrants out of Nuevo Laredo to Monterrey, have improved security overall, but that Raul's case shows the protocols still have serious faults.

Raul says U.S. officials should never have sent him back.

"They returned me to Mexico, and exactly what I feared is what happened," he said.

(Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City and Laura Gottesdiener in Monterrey; Editing by Mica Rosenberg and Frank Jack Daniel)
Washington (AP)  When a GOP Missouri U.S. Senate candidate released a video Monday in which he cocked a gun after calling for a hunt of fellow Republicans who he believes are RINOs, or Republicans in Name Only, Facebook scraped it off its platform within a few hours.

But its still live on YouTube, where its been watched thousands of times, and on Twitter, which deliberately left it up after disabling retweets, likes and replies.

Its a striking example of the different ways various social platforms can treat posts that violate their policies. The result: a post banned on Facebook might stay live on Twitter, depending on who has said what in which context.

That helps explain the varied ways platform responded to an ad calling for a gun hunt of politicians, just as Americans are reeling from a spike in mass shootings and elected officials around the country are grappling with an increase in violent threats.

WHY IS THE VIDEO CONTROVERSIAL?

The fundraising video released Monday across Facebook, Twitter and YouTube by Republican Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Eric Greitens shows him cocking a shotgun after declaring that he's hunting RINOs.

Greitens, who in 2018 resigned in disgrace after 17 months as Missouri governor, then appears in the video flanked by an armed tactical unit that smashes through the front door of a home.

Get a RINO hunting permit, Greitens says in the video. The permit Greitens refers to is sent to people who donate to his campaign.

Greitens uploaded the video across his social media accounts following a spate of mass shootings across the U.S. that left dozens dead. And it comes on the heels of increased threats against elected officials. On Sunday, Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who is serving on the committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, revealed a letter sent to his home threatened to execute him, his wife and his 5-month-old child.

Earlier in June, authorities arrested a man carrying a gun, knife and zip ties near Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house. Just days before, a gunman killed a retired county judge in Wisconsin.

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WHERE WAS THE VIDEO POSTED?

Greitens posted the video on his Twitter, YouTube and Facebook accounts on Monday. Facebook removed the video. YouTube has not, saying it doesn't violate its policies. Twitter placed a warning over the video and disabled other users from sharing it.

WHY CAN I SEE THIS VIDEO ON SOME PLATFORMS, BUT NOT OTHERS?

The major social media companies are constantly refining their rules and policies. They've settled on different approaches to posts that share misinformation or violent threats over the years. A video, meme or statement that might be deleted on Facebook might not violate any rules on Twitter, depending on what it says, who says it and how the company interprets the post in question.

YouTube said in an email Tuesday that Greiten's video did not violate its policies.

But Twitter covered the video with a warning label, saying it violated the platform's rules on harassment and intimidation.

Twitter didn't remove the tweet entirely. That's because the company developed a policy in 2019 that leaves up rule-breaking posts sent from the accounts of government officials or candidates for office. Twitter's reasoning behind that policy is that the public should be able to take a look at the view points, thoughts and statements that public leaders send out.

Instead, the company limits the spread of an offending tweet via retweets and comments. Twitter enacted this policy several times while President Donald Trump was in office, first applying a warning label to a 2020 tweet in which he threatened that shooting might start in Minneapolis amid ongoing Black Lives Matter protests.

HOW IS FACEBOOK DIFFERENT?

Facebook left that same post from Trump untouched. But it will sometimes delete posts that violate its rules from public leaders, as it did in Greitens case Monday.

Back in 2020, the company became more aggressive at deleting posts with misinformation around COVID-19. The platform deleted posts by Trump, for example, that claimed COVID-19 was similar to the flu. Twitter, however, covered a similar tweet with a warning. Facebook also deleted a post from Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro in which he shared a live broadcast on his account falsely claiming that COVID-19 vaccines cause AIDS.
Reuters

An exceptionally well-preserved Roman floor mosaic, showing a rich variety of fish, animals, birds and ships, has returned to the site where it was first found in a Tel Aviv suburb after a decade-long tour of some of the world's top museums. The 1,700 year-old mosaic, from the late Roman period, was discovered in 1996 during highway construction work, but was not put on display until 2009, when sufficient funding to preserve it was donated. The colorful mosaic, 17 metres (55 ft) long and about 9 metres (29 ft) wide, may have served as the foyer floor of a mansion in a wealthy neighborhood of Lod, near what is now Tel Aviv, the Israel antiquities Authority said in a statement.
A Filipino lawyer has died a day after being shot while on his way to an airport in Philadelphia.

John Albert Jal Laylo, a Philippines government attorney on vacation in the city, was sharing an Uber vehicle with his mother Leah when their car was attacked by still unknown suspects at 4:06 a.m. on Saturday.

The victims vehicle was shot at from behind as it was moving along 38th and Spruce Streets in University City. The suspects then pulled over to the Uber drivers side and fired more rounds before fleeing the scene.

A bullet struck Laylo in the head while Leah sustained wounds from the cars shattered windows.

More from NextShark: Woman Charged With Hate Crime for Brutally Attacking Muslim Family, Partner Remains at Large

Laylo succumbed to his injuries at 10:33 a.m. the next day at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in West Philadelphia. He was 35.

His sister, Althea Ann, shared in a tweet that while Laylo was on life support, he gave them hope after he squeezed my moms hand three times and started mildly breathing on his own.

According to Leah, she was thankful that she got to spend time with her son before he died.

More from NextShark: Vietnam Made a Fire PSA on Coronavirus That's Now a Viral Dance Challenge on TikTok

We travelled together and we are supposed to go home together! she wrote on Facebook. I will bring him home soon in a box! My son has a lot of dreams a lot of plans, hopes and everything! Hes gone now. I cant explain the pain the heaviness I have in my heart. It took me hours to post this because still I cant believe this happened!

Philippine Senator Leila De Lima, who was John Alberts former boss, called for immediate justice.

This violence should have no place in this world. The perpetrator should be immediately held liable and stop these heinous crimes, De Lima tweeted in Filipino.

More from NextShark: AAPI Lawmakers Condemn Trump For Inciting Riot on Capitol Hill

Featured Image via Leah Bustamante Laylo

More from NextShark: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s daughter, Dr. Bernice King, hosts event to make love our norm
A house fire in east Charlotte was caused by someone cutting and grinding too close to stored fireworks, Charlotte Fire Department investigators said. It was deemed an accident, which caused about $142,000 worth of damage.

Firefighters and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the home on Country Walk Drive near Reddman Road shortly after 2:30 p.m.

ALSO READ: Fire at south Charlotte gym draws large emergency response

Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew to the scene, where Charlotte Fire was battling the blaze that appeared to have completely destroyed the house.

Severe damage to two houses in east Charlotte after a fire. On the corner of Country Walk Drive and Cold Water Lane @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/vaa4ihOQvp  Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) June 21, 2022

Betty Dean Baker drove by the fire.

I never have seen anything like this before, Baker said.

Baker said she saw smoke and what looked like fireworks blasting out of the east Charlotte home.

She was worried her car would catch on fire.

It was so much smoke, she said. And yes, fireworks were going off right at the top where the smoke was at. So I thought first it was gas. Didnt know (any) better until we found out later.

CFD Capt. Jackie Gilmore said it doesnt take much for something like this to happen.

Fireworks are very flammable, and a spark or flame came in contact with the fireworks, Gilmore said. It will be dangerous.

The homeowner had minor injuries and was treated at the scene, fire officials said.

It took 30 firefighters less than 40 minutes to get it under control. Two adjacent homes were damaged due to radiant heat.

The occupant was displaced and is staying with friends.

Fireworks and the law

Charlotte Fire is reminding people aerial fireworks are illegal in North Carolina, and they recommend people leave firework shows to the professionals.

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In North Carolina, firecrackers, bottle rockets and essentially any fireworks that leave the ground are illegal without a permit.

You can light sparklers and fountain fireworks, as long as they dont explode. You must be at least 18 years old to buy them.

Violators face a misdemeanor charge and a fine up to $500 and/or six months in jail.

South Carolina has more lax laws.

Bigger fireworks like M-80s, cherry bombs and small rockets, are illegal. You must be 18 to buy those, too.

If you legally buy fireworks in South Carolina, it is still illegal to shoot them in North Carolina.

Firefighters battled a blaze at an east Charlotte house Tuesday afternoon that appeared to have completely destroyed the home.

Firefighters battled a blaze at an east Charlotte house Tuesday afternoon that appeared to have completely destroyed the home.

Firefighters and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the home on Meadow Hill Drive near Reddman Road shortly after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Firefighters and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the home on Meadow Hill Drive near Reddman Road shortly after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The homeowner had minor injuries and was treated at the scene, fire officials said.

The homeowner had minor injuries and was treated at the scene, fire officials said.

Return to this story for updates.

Structure Fire; 5900 block of Country Walk Dr; single story structure fully involved upon CFD arrival. pic.twitter.com/J8MHfzPDAF  Charlotte Fire Dept (@CharlotteFD) June 21, 2022

(VIDEO BELOW: Crews with the Charlotte Fire Department fight blaze at east Charlotte house.)




A former teacher at a private Christian school in Wichita pleaded guilty last week to one count of unlawful sexual relations with a 16-year-old student.

Matthew McFarren, 43, will be sentenced Aug. 5. He entered the plea on Friday, Sedgwick County District Court records show.

McFarren was a high-school level religion teacher and assistant soccer coach at Trinity Academy, a K-12 school at 12345 E. 21st St., until his illegal relationship with the teenage girl came to light early last year. According to McFarrens arrest affidavit, the girl told authorities shed stayed in contact with McFarren after taking one of his classes, met him in public places, accepted several gifts from him including an infinity ring, and spoke with him over social media.

In one social media conversation described in the affidavit, McFarren talked about showering with the girl, getting married and told her he kept his job at the school so he could be with her there for another year.

The relationship turned sexual before Christmas 2020, the affidavit says the girl told police.

In Kansas, its illegal for a K-12 teacher to have sex with a student enrolled at their school, regardless of the students age.

In addition to teaching, McFarren had also served as a youth pastor at several churches, The Eagle previously reported.

The presumptive sentence for an unlawful sexual relations conviction is 31 to 136 months, depending on a defendants criminal history. Prosecutors plan to ask the judge to send McFarren to prison when he is sentenced, his plea agreement says, but he could be put on probation.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - France's Europe minister Clement Beaune said on Tuesday the United Kingdom should respect its Brexit agreement with the European Union and described as worrying initiatives by London to ditch parts of the Northern Ireland protocol.

"Everyone should respect their word and their signature. You can't instrumentalise for whatever reason such serious and important matters," Beaune said.

The British government published legislation earlier this month to tackle disruption to post-Brexit trade with Northern Ireland, setting out measures it says are needed to protect peace in the British-ruled province but which are sure to antagonise the EU.

(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Catherine Evans)
dog eating from a dog food bowl with a Recall Alert sign on it, on designed background

Getty Images / Przemyslaw Iciak / EyeEm

We love our pets, and we want to make sure their food has the healthiest ingredients to keep them feeling their best. But fresh food can mean a heightened risk for foodborne illness. Freshpet fans may want to check their refrigerators, because the all-natural dog food brand just issued a voluntary recall related to possible Salmonella contamination.

The product under recall is Freshpet Select Fresh from the Kitchen Home Cooked Chicken Recipe (4.5-lb. bag), with a sell-by date of 10/29/22 and a UPC number of 627975011673. The brand advises pet parents in possession of this product to stop feeding it to their dogs and dispose of it immediately, as this lot was intended to be destroyed but a portion was distributed to Walmart stores in Alabama and Georgia, as well as to various Target locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia.

The sell-by date and UPC number can be found on the bottom of each pack to help easily determine if your product was affected. No other Freshpet products or dates/codes of the Freshpet Select Fresh from the Kitchen Home Cooked Chicken Recipe product are under this recall.

So far, there have been no reports of adverse health outcomes, but the Food and Drug Administration advises disposing of the product immediately to prevent exposure to dogs and their owners. The organization says that symptoms of salmonellosis in dogs may include lethargy, diarrhea (possibly bloody), fever and vomiting. Decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain may also be symptoms. If your dog is experiencing any of these, you may want to contact your vet immediately.

The FDA also notes that infected yet otherwise healthy pets can be carriers of Salmonella and infect humans and other animals. Effects of salmonellosis in people can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Less-common health outcomes may include arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Anyone who purchased this product and is experiencing any of the above symptoms should contact their health care provider as soon as possible.
Fresno police Monday identified the man officers fatally shot Saturday night at Vinland Park in northwest Fresno as Gonzolo Aceituno Jr., 30.

The shooting is the sixth police shooting in Fresno this year, all of which involved a person with a weapon, according to authorities. There were three police shootings in 2021 in Fresno.

Saturday night, Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama said that officers were called to the park about 8:34 p.m. in response to reports by witnesses of a man who would later be identified as Aceituno waving a handgun near park restrooms.

When officers arrived at the park, near Highway 168 and Gettysburg Avenue, they found Aceituno, of Fresno, and shouted for him to drop the weapon.

Balderrama said Aceituno walked toward officers with a gun in his hand. Two of the four officers shot him multiple times. Aceituno died at the scene.

The shooting is being investigated by the departments homicide unit and the Fresno County District Attorneys Office.
A mother and daughter from Georgia who worked on the 2020 presidential election told lawmakers at a Tuesday congressional hearing that former President Donald Trumps efforts to delegitimize the vote upended their lives and left them deeply traumatized.

I have lost my name and I have lost my reputation, Ruby Freeman said in a pretaped interview aired at the hearing. I have lost my sense of security. All because a group of people, starting with Number 45 and his ally Rudy Giuliani, decided to scapegoat me to push their own lies about how the presidential election was stolen.

Wandrea Shaye Moss, Freemans daughter, testified that she no longer feels comfortable leaving home, even to go to the grocery store, and that she now second-guesses everything she does. Moss has also quit her job as an election worker  which she said she valued because her grandmother emphasized the importance of voting, and she liked helping older voters  after 10 years of service.

In the weeks after the November 2020 vote, Trump and his attorney Giuliani promoted a video of Freeman and Moss on election night, falsely claiming that it showed them meddling on behalf of Democratic nominee Joe Biden. The accusation circulated widely among Trump supporters, who hurled abuse and threats at the two women  and even at Moss grandmother.

At the hearing, organized by the House committee investigating how Trumps election lies spurred the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Moss said she learned of the video when two of her colleagues showed it to her and warned that she was facing attacks online. She then checked her Facebook inbox, where she found violent messages and assertions that she and Freeman, who are both Black, would be imprisoned. The invective included racist attacks, Moss said, like the statement Be glad that its 2020 and not 1920.

In a Dec. 10, 2020, Zoom call with Georgia legislators, Giuliani personally employed racist tropes when talking about Moss and Freeman, claiming that they could be seen in the video passing around USB ports as if theyre vials of heroin or cocaine.

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Rather than some kind of USB device, what Freeman actually handed her daughter in that video was a ginger mint, Moss said.

People who believed the Trump teams narrative eventually went to the home of Moss grandmother and tried to force their way in, claiming they would carry out a citizens arrest of Moss and Freeman.

This woman is my everything ... I told her, Close the door. Dont open the door for anyone, Moss said. She is a 70-something-year-old woman, and she doesnt like having restrictions. She wants to answer the door. She likes to get her steps in walking around the neighborhood. I had to tell her, You cant do that. You have to be safe.

I felt horrible for picking this job and being the one who always wants to help and is always there, never missing out on one election, she said. I just felt like it was my fault, putting my family in this situation.

As Trump ramped up his efforts to cling to power ahead of Jan. 6  the date on which Bidens legitimate victory would be certified  the FBI approached Freeman to warn that her home might also be targeted, and that she should find another place to stay.

I cant believe this person has caused this much damage to me and my family, to have to leave my home that I have lived at for 21 years, Freeman said. It was horrible.

Beyond the initial fear and chaos, the smear campaign had a broad, lasting impact, both women said. They still worry about their names being publicly mentioned by waitstaff at a restaurant or by a family member, and Freeman said she will never again wear the shirt she wore that election night, which proclaimed her as Lady Ruby.

There is nowhere I feel safe. Nowhere. Do you know how it feels to have the president of the United States target you? Freeman said. The president of the United States is supposed to represent every American, not to target one. But he targeted me, Lady Ruby, a small-business owner, a mother, a proud American citizen who would stand up to help Fulton County run an election in the middle of the pandemic.

Moss and Freeman are currently suing Giuliani. They also sued the pro-Trump media outlet One America News, which agreed to a settlement with them in April.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
Germany's anti-cartel watchdog said Tuesday it has opened a probe into Google Maps over restrictions that may be giving it an unfair advantage over competitors.

"The proceeding is to examine possible anti-competitive restrictions imposed by Google Maps Platform to the detriment of alternative map services providers," the Federal Cartel Office said in a statement.

Andreas Mundt, president of the watchdog, said it had reason to believe that Google "may be restricting the combination of its own map services with third-party map services, for example when it comes to embedding Google Maps location data, the search function or Google Street View into maps not provided by Google".

The move comes after the Federal Cartel Office in January classified Google as a company of "paramount significance across markets", paving the way for the authorities to clamp down on any potentially anti-competitive activities.

Parallel proceedings are already ongoing to examine Google's terms and conditions for data processing and its news offer Google News Showcase.

An amendment of the German Competition Act came into force last year, allowing the authority to intervene earlier, particularly against huge digital companies.

The watchdog has also classified Meta, the company that owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, as a company of "paramount significance across markets".

Big tech companies have been facing increasing scrutiny around the globe over their dominant positions as well as their tax practices.

The EU and Britain in March opened antitrust probes into a 2018 deal between Google and Meta allegedly aimed at cementing their dominance over the online advertising market.

fec/hmn/lth
George Ezra, Harry Styles and Green Day are among the rumoured acts who could perform secret sets at Glastonbury.

With just a few days to go before the festivals rescheduled 50th anniversary, speculation has started about who might be filling the missing lineup slots.

The 2022 schedule already includes huge names like Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish and Diana Ross, but there are still a few spaces left for some surprise performances.

Past secret sets have seen the likes of Lady Gaga, Franz Ferdinand and Pulp perform.

Aside from word of mouth, news of who the TBA performers has been known to travel via Twitter account @Secretglasto, which claims to notify followers of suspected performances a few hours before they start.

The account, which has over 37,000 followers at the time of writing, has previously been correct on past Glastonbury surprises such as The Killers (2017), The Libertines (2015) and Glass Animals (2017).

Who are the most rumoured acts for 2022?

Ezra is the most recent rumoured artist to be playing the John Peel stage on Sunday (26 June), after a photo emerged on Instagram of a sign marked Gold Rush Kid, John Peel Stage - 2pm.

The singers recent album is titled Gold Rush Kid, leading Twitter account @TheGlastoThing to suggest that he could be filling the highly anticipated slot.

Harry Styles is also being mentioned in speculative conversations about secret sets, with rumours suggesting he could be joining Billie Eilish on the Pyramid Stage during her Friday night headline slot.

Originally a rumoured headliner himself, Styles was not listed on the confirmed lineup. He does, however, still have the majority of the weekend free in between tour dates.

Story continues

With a Dublin show on Wednesday (22 June) and a Hamburg show in Germany on the Sunday (26 June), fans think he could be surprising festival goers.

Harry Styles is rumoured to be performing (PA Wire)

It is also thought that US band Green Day might be making an appearance. The band have never played the festival before but previously performed a secret set at Reading Festival in 2012.

The rock band of American Idiot fame are currently touring the UK but have a gap in their dates on the Sunday (26 June) of Glastonbury, leaving fans to speculate about a possible performance.

Further fuel has been added to the fire due to the fact that the tours support band Amyl and the Sniffers are playing the John Peel stage on Sunday (26 June), exactly where Green Day have their gap.

Elton John was a rumoured name, too, with gaps in his tour dates back in 2019 before the festival was cancelled for two years running due to the pandemic.

The Libertines played a secret set in 2015 (Shutterstock)

With the artist currently touring the UK, speculation has started again over whether the Rocket Man could be doing a surprise performance at Worthy Farm.

Currently, John has a space between shows on the Saturday of the festival (25 June) after performing on the Friday (24 June) at Londons BST Hyde Park series.

Paolo Nutini, Arcade Fire and The Chemical Brothers are also among the speculations as the festival gets closer.

It has also been suggested that Florence + The Machine turned down the opportunity to fill one of the secret slots at this years festival.

How to get in the know

Once the festival starts, rumours as to who are playing the secret sets become even more prominent, with word of mouth from festival workers circulating gossip.

If you want even more of a chance to get in on the surprise, this Twitter account claims to get wind of sets a few hours before they happen.

All of the unannounced set times across Glastonbury 2022

Williams Green, 7.45pm-8.25pm on Thursday

Williams Green, 9pm-10pm on Thursday

BBC Introducing Stage, 7.55pm-8.55pm on Friday

Arcadia, 11pm on Friday - 1am on Saturday

BBC Introducing Stage, 1pm-1.30pm on Saturday

BBC Introducing Stage, 7.15pm-7.45pm on Saturday

John Peel Stage, 2pm-3pm on Sunday

The Park Stage, 6.15pm-7.15pm on Sunday

BBC Introducing Stage, 7.45pm-8.15pm on Sunday

Glade Stage, 0.10am-1.30am on Monday

If youre not attending the festival, find out how to watch it live here and check out our list of the most tricky set clashes here.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  A Google executive warned the U.N. Security Council Tuesday that cyberattacks, disinformation and other forms of information warfare being waged in Ukraine are a crystal ball" for future problems elsewhere.

States must find a way to turn the volume down and settle on some kind of deterrence doctrine for the cyber domain, Jared Cohen said at a council meeting on hate speech, incitement and atrocities in Ukraine.

He argued that while tech companies have needed expertise, there is no magical algorithm or single fix for this," and finding a solution will take a lot of experimentation.

Cohen heads Jigsaw, a part of Google that aims to build technology to combat disinformation, censorship and extremism online.

He said Ukraine has been disproportionately targeted by advanced cyberattacks since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, adding: It is essentially our crystal ball for what is likely to come.

The war in Ukraine upped pressure on tech companies to work harder to combat hate speech, disinformation and other harmful content online. The European Union is working on sweeping new rules that would require Google, Facebook parent Meta and other tech giants to police their platforms more strictly.

Western powers on the Security Council have accused Russia of a campaign of propaganda, disinformation and hate directed at undermining Ukraine. A recent report from Mandiant, a cyber security firm, found that Russia used disinformation, fear and propaganda to demoralize Ukraine and divide its allies.

Hate speech can also be a war crime, British deputy U.N. Ambassador James Kariuki said Tuesday, calling on Russia to stop making such statements.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia repeated his country's counterclaims that Ukrainian authorities' rhetoric has poisoned citizens against Russia and Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine, with Western encouragement.

We see, from our side, a real incitement to violence and Russophobia in Ukraine, he said.

Albania, which currently holds the council's rotating presidency, called for Tuesday's meeting.
John Wood, the January 6 committee's investigative lawyer, speaks during a hearing of the US House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the US Capitol, in Washington, DC, on June 16, 2022. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Political activists want attorney John Wood to run for retiring Sen. Roy Blunt's open seat.

A pro-Wood group says Missouri voters "deserve an alternative option" to the 31 others running.

Wood is a lead GOP investigator on the House investigation into the January 6 riot.

John Wood, the George W. Bush administration alumnus currently piecing together evidence for the January 6 select committee's investigation into the siege at the US Capitol, is Missouri's best shot at a "principled, traditional conservative choice for the United States Senate this year," according to a political group urging him to run.

The John Wood for Missouri campaign, which sees Wood as the center-right candidate who should replace retiring Republican Sen. Roy Blunt, worked to make that happen on Monday by publicly calling on Wood to enter the Show-Me state's crowded Senate race, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

"Respected leaders across the state of Missouri have made it clear that Missouri voters deserve an alternative option to the leading contenders for the Republican and Democratic nominations for U.S. Senate," the nascent group said in a press release attempting to shake up the race. "We are encouraging John to answer that call, as he has done countless times over the course of his career in government."

The recruiting effort dovetails with former Sen. Jack Danforth's plan to ferret out an independent candidate of his own, a project overseen by his super PAC, Missouri Stands United. While staff said Danforth doesn't know who is behind the John Wood for Missouri campaign, Danforth welcomed the news that Wood, who worked for him on Capitol Hill, is on the public's radar.

"I'm excited to see that John's name has been surfaced as a potential independent candidate for Senate here in Missouri," Danforth wrote in an email, telling Insider that Wood "would be a great candidate and U.S. Senator."

Wood did not respond to Insider's request for comment about wading into the midterm elections.

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Wood is currently serving as a senior investigative counsel to January 6 committee co-chair Liz Cheney of Wyoming. Wood's Legistorm resume shows he's also worked for then-Sen. Danforth in the early 1990s, clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Judge Michael Luttig, and Bush-era Attorney General John Ashcroft over the years.

Luttig testified on June 16 about Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and warned lawmakers that the twice-impeached former president is brazenly scheming to rig the 2024 elections as well.

Nearly three dozen candidates are running for Missouri's open seat, a field that will be winnowed down by the August 2 primary election.

GOP contenders include Republican Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long, state attorney general Eric Schmitt, and scandal-plagued former Gov. Eric Greitens  who stirred the pot Monday by releasing an ad in which he and other armed men bust into an empty house while hunting "Republicans in name only." First-time candidate Trudy Busch Valentine, heiress to the Busch brewing empire, is one of 10 Democrats trying to turn the Senate delegation purple.

The winner would serve alongside 2024 presidential hopeful Josh Hawley.

The pro-Wood recruiting effort still has a ways to go, including formally registering with the Federal Election Commission and collecting the requisite number of signatures to get on the November ballot as a third-party candidate, the Post-Dispatch wrote.

But the group sounds undeterred.

"Over the coming days, we will work to draft John Wood into this race to provide Missourians that choice they deserve," the John Wood for Missouri campaign said in its press release.

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(Bloomberg) -- Hertz Corp. has offered to settle about three dozen cases filed by renters that say they were wrongly arrested for auto theft, the company said.

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The settlement push comes after Colleen Batcheler took over as general counsel for the rental company. During her first month on the job, Batcheler made it her top priority to end suits from more than 230 customers accusing Hertz of improperly calling in police on its renters, mostly while haggling about overdue rentals.

Weve tried to take a step back and say How can we make progress in a way that is fair to our customers and is based on individual facts and circumstances, Batcheler said in an interview.

Hertz lost a key court battle earlier this month when a federal judge allowed more than 70 customers to sue for false arrests. Until then, Hertz had successfully forced nearly all of the lawsuits to remain under the supervision of a bankruptcy judge in Wilmington, Delaware.

Batcheler declined to say how much money the company was offering to the alleged victims and their families.

Hundreds of customers say in court papers that Hertz filed police reports against them and had them falsely arrested, often at gunpoint. A small number of those cases allege errors by Hertz employees caused police to pull over innocent customers on suspicion of driving stolen cars. Lawyers for the customers say about 100 more claims are being prepared.

Victims will review the offers before deciding whether to accept them, said attorney Francis Alexander Malofiy, the Philadelphia lawyer who has spent years fighting Hertz in court.

Hertz has indicated interest in settlement in the past, only to reveal they were not serious about addressing the full scope of the harm they have caused, Malofiy said in an emailed statement.

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Hertz must also agree to withdraw theft reports it filed against about 40 customers who are still being prosecuted, Malofiy said.

The false arrest claims are an early challenge for Batcheler, who became Hertzs top lawyer last month, and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Scherr, who took over in February and pledged Hertz would change its practices to protect customers whove done nothing wrong from false arrests.

The company will try to settle as many of the cases as it can in the coming months, Batcheler said. Some offers will be for more money than the victims asked for in their bankruptcy court claims. Other offers will be for significantly less, the company said in a statement.

Hertz Corp. is the unit of Hertz Global Holdings Inc. that operates the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty rental brands in regions that include Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Australia. The company filed bankruptcy in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the economy and brought car rentals to a halt.

Hertz exited bankruptcy oversight last year, but left a shell company behind to pay off its older, disputed debts, including the false arrest claims.

Hertz files thousands of criminal cases against customers annually, according to court documents. The company says the majority involve disputes about vehicles that werent returned on time and likely have been stolen, and it tries to contact customers via phone calls, text messages, emails and certified letters about overdue cars and get them back through private means, working for about 63 days beyond the return date before involving police.

Lawyers for the drivers say all the cases could cost Hertz more than $700 million. The company said in a quarterly filing that it doesnt expect a significant impact.

(Updates with response from lawyer for claimants in seventh paragraph.)

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  As was his habit before each flight, the veteran Ukrainian army pilot ran a hand along the fuselage of his Mi-8 helicopter, caressing the heavy transporters metal skin to bring luck to him and his crew.

They would need it. Their destination  a besieged steel mill in the brutalized city of Mariupol  was a death trap. Some other crews didnt make it back alive.

Still, the mission was vital, even desperate. Ukrainian troops were pinned down, their supplies running low, their dead and injured stacking up. Their last-ditch stand at the Azovstal mill was a growing symbol of Ukraines defiance in the war against Russia. They could not be allowed to perish.

The 51-year-old pilot  identified only by his first name, Oleksandr  flew just the one mission to Mariupol, and he considered it the most difficult flight of his 30-year-career. He took the risk, he said, because he didnt want the Azovstal fighters to feel forgotten.

In the charred hell-scape of that plant, in an underground bunker-turned-medical station that provided shelter from death and destruction above, word started reaching the wounded that a miracle might be coming. Among those told that he was on the list for evacuation was a junior sergeant whod been shredded by mortar rounds, butchering his left leg and forcing its amputation above the knee.

Buffalo was his nom de guerre. He had been through so much, but one more deadly challenge loomed: escape from Azovstal.

Video: Ukraine 'needs weapons faster'

___

A series of clandestine, against-the-odds, terrain-hugging, high-speed helicopter missions to reach the Azovstal defenders in March, April and May are being celebrated in Ukraine as among the most heroic feats of military derring-do of the four-month war. Some ended in catastrophe; each grew progressively riskier as Russian air defense batteries caught on.

The full story of the seven resupply and rescue missions has yet to be told. But from exclusive interviews with two wounded survivors; a military intelligence officer who flew on the first mission; and pilot interviews provided by the Ukrainian army, The Associated Press has pieced together the account of one of the last flights, from the perspective of both the rescuers and the rescued.

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Only after more than 2,500 defenders who remained in the Azovstal ruins had started surrendering did Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy first give wind of the missions and their deadly cost.

The Azovstal fighters tenacity had frustrated Moscows objective of quickly capturing Mariupol and prevented Russian troops there from being redeployed elsewhere. Zelenskyy told Ukrainian broadcaster ICTV that pilots braved powerful Russian air defenses in venturing beyond enemy lines, flying in food, water, medicine and weapons so the plants defenders could fight on, and flying out the injured.

The military intelligence officer said one helicopter was shot down and two others never came back, and are considered missing. He said he dressed in civilian clothes for his flight, thinking that he could melt into the population if he survived a crash: We were aware it could be a one-way ticket.

Said Zelenskyy: These are absolutely heroic people who knew what was difficult, who knew that it was almost impossible. ... We lost a lot of pilots.

___

If Buffalo had had his way, he would not have lived to be evacuated. His life would have ended quickly, to spare him the agony he suffered after 120mm mortar rounds tore apart his left leg, bloodied his right foot, and peppered his back with shrapnel during street fighting in Mariupol on March 23.

The 20-year-old spoke to The Associated Press on condition that he not be identified by name, saying he didnt want it to seem that he is seeking publicity when thousands of Azovstal defenders are in captivity or dead. He had been on the trail of a Russian tank, aiming to destroy it with his shoulder-launched, armor-piercing NLAW missile on the last day of the invasions first month, when his war was cut short.

Tossed next to the wreckage of a burning car, he dragged himself to cover in a nearby building and decided it would be better to crawl into the basement and quietly die there, he said.

But his friends evacuated him to the Ilyich steel mill, which subsequently fell in mid-April as Russian forces were tightening their grip on Mariupol and its strategic port on the Sea of Azov. Three days passed before medics were able to amputate, in a basement bomb shelter. He considers himself lucky: Doctors still had anesthetic when his turn came to go under the knife.

When he came around, a nurse told him how sorry she was that hed lost the limb.

He cut through the awkwardness with a joke: Will they return the money for 10 tattoo sessions?

I had a lot of tattoos on my leg, he said. One remains, a human figure, but its legs are gone now, too.

After the surgery, he was transferred to the Azovstal plant. A stronghold covering nearly 11 square kilometers (more than 4 miles), with a 24-kilometer (15-mile) labyrinth of underground tunnels and bunkers, the plant was practically impregnable.

But conditions were grim.

There was constant shelling, said Vladislav Zahorodnii, a 22-year-old corporal who had been shot through the pelvis, shredding a nerve, during street fighting in Mariupol.

Evacuated to Azovstal, he met Buffalo there. They already knew each other: Both were from Chernihiv, a city in the north surrounded and pounded by Russian forces.

Zahorodnii saw the missing leg. He asked Buffalo how he was doing.

Everything is fine, we will go clubbing soon, Buffalo replied.

___

Zahorodnii was evacuated from Azovstal by helicopter on March 31, after three failed attempts.

It was his first helicopter flight. The Mi-8 took fire on its way out, killing one of its engines. The other one kept them airborne for the remainder of the 80-minute early morning dash to Dnipro city on the Dnieper River in central Ukraine.

He would mark his deliverance with a mortar-round tattoo on his right forearm: I did it not to forget, he said.

Buffalos turn came the following week. He was ambivalent about leaving. On the one hand, he was relieved that his share of the dwindling food and water would now go to others still able to fight; on the other, "there was a painful feeling. They stayed there, and I left them.

Still, he almost missed his flight.

Soldiers hauled him on a gurney out of his deep bunker and loaded him aboard a truck that rumbled to a pre-arranged landing zone. The soldiers wrapped him in a jacket.

The helicopters cargo of ammunition was unloaded first. Then, the wounded were lifted aboard.

But not Buffalo. Left in a back corner of the truck, hed somehow been overlooked. He couldnt raise the alarm because the mortar blasts had injured his throat, and he was still too hoarse to make himself heard over the whoop-whoop-whoop of the helicopter rotors.

I thought to myself, Well, not today then, he recalled. And suddenly someone shouted, You forgot the soldier in the truck!

Because the cargo bay was full, Buffalo was placed crosswise from the others, whod been loaded aboard side by side. A crew member took his hand and told him not to worry, theyd make it home.

All my life, he told the crew member, I dreamed of flying a helicopter. It doesnt matter if we arrive  my dream has come true.

___

In his cockpit, the wait seemed interminable to Oleksandr, the minutes feeling like hours.

Very scary, he said. You see explosions around and the next shell could reach your location.

In the fog of war and with the full picture of the secret missions still emerging, its not possible to be absolutely sure that Buffalo and the pilot who spoke to journalists in a video interview recorded and shared by the military were aboard the same flight. But details of their accounts match.

Both gave the same date: the night of April 4-5. Oleksandr recalled being fired upon by a ship as they swooped over waters out of Mariupol. A blast wave tossed the helicopter around like a toy, he said. But his escape maneuvers got them out of trouble.

Buffalo also recalls a blast. The evacuees were told later that the pilot had avoided a missile.

Oleksandr gunned the helicopter to 220 kilometers (135 miles) per hour and flew as low as 3 meters (9 feet) above the ground  except when hopping over power lines. A second helicopter on his mission never made it back; on the return flight, its pilot radioed him that he was running short of fuel. It was their last communication.

On his gurney, Buffalo had watched the terrain zip past through a porthole. We flew over the fields, below the trees. Very low, he said.

They made it to Dnipro, safely. Upon landing, Oleksandr heard the wounded calling out for the pilots. He expected them to yell at him for having tossed them around so violently during the flight.

But when I opened the door, I heard guys saying, Thank you, he said.

Everyone clapped, recalled Buffalo, now rehabbing with Zahorodnii at a Kyiv clinic. We told the pilots that they had done the impossible.

___

AP journalists Sophiko Megrelidze in Tbilisi, Georgia, and Oleksandr Stashevskyi in Kyiv contributed.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
(Reuters) - Indonesian President and current chair of the G20 Joko Widodo is due to visit Moscow later this month to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indonesia's state news agency cited the country's security minister as saying.

This year's meetings of the Group of 20 major economies have been overshadowed by the war in Ukraine, with Indonesia struggling to keep the group united as some Western countries threaten to boycott the summit and push for Russia's exclusion.

The Antara news agency reported that the Indonesian leader, widely known as Jokowi, was scheduled to meet Putin on June 30.

"Yes, that is the president's agenda," the coordinating security minister Mahfud MD told reporters at the presidential palace on Monday.

Russia's state news agency TASS also confirmed the meeting in a report last week, citing a Kremlin source.

Jokowi is due to attend a Group of Seven (G7) summit in Germany taking place on June 26-28 before travelling to Moscow, with a stop in Ukraine also being considered, according to Indonesian media reports.

Teuku Faizasyah, a spokesman for Indonesia's foreign ministry, confirmed Jokowi would travel to Germany, though said "we are still in the process of finalising all relevant matters concerning the planned visit to other countries."

Indonesia in April announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy would also be invited to the G20 leaders' summit in Bali in November, but made it clear that it would not withdraw Putin's invitation.

U.S. President Joe Biden, Canadian President Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson are among leders that have expressed opposition to the Russian leader joining.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed he would attend regardless during a visit to Jakarta this month.

The Indonesian president may also be looking to raise the issue of the Russian blockade of Odessa, which has significantly reduced food shipments out of Ukraine, one of the world's biggest exporters of wheat, maize and sunflower oil, political commentators said.

(Reporting by Kate Lamb; Editing by Ed Davies)
A plan for fake Michigan electors who said they worked for the Trump campaign planned to hide out in the state Capitol overnight has been revealed during a hearing of the January 6 House Select Committee.

The committee said that since the scheme involved fake electors, those taking part in some states had no way of following state election laws, such as where the electors were supposed to meet.

One group of fake electors considered hiding in the capitol overnight to ensure that they had access to the building, which is required in Michigan.

Laura Cox, the former Michigan Republican Party Chair, told the committee during a pre-recorded deposition that she was told that the Michigan Republican electors wer planning to meet on the capitol and hide overnight so that they could fulfil the role of casting their vote, per law, in the Michigan chambers.

Ms Cox said she responded that the plan was insane and inappropriate.

apparently fake Michigan electors who said they were working with the Trump campaign planned to hide out in the Michigan Capitol overnight pic.twitter.com/Ts4d5YgkrK  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 21, 2022

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Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid Oren Ben Hakoon/AFP/Getty Images

Israel's diverse eight-party governing coalition will dissolve parliament before July, setting up another round of elections in the fall, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced Monday night. Bennett and Yair Lapid, the head of the centrist Yesh Atid party and current foreign minister, cobbled together an unlikely coalition of parties across the ideological spectrum a year ago to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister. The new election, Israel's fifth in three years, will most likely take place in October.

As soon as the Knesset, or parliament, votes to dissolve the government, Lapid will take over as interim prime minister and serve until the election. Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party is the favorite to win the most seats in the Knesset, but polls suggest it could fall a few seats short of a majority. Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges, cheered the collapse of the Bennett-rapid government and predicted he will return to power.

The government coalition lasted longer than some analysts had predicted it would, and it managed to pass Israel's first budget in three years and steady the country's foreign relations. Its collapse was precipitated by defections from Bennett's hardline Yamina party and Arab members' opposition to renewing a law that codifies a two-tier legal system for Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The law has to be renewed every five years, and dissolving parliament will keep it in force even though it failed to pass.

Bennett and Lapid jointly announced the decision to dissolve parliament, standing on the same stage in a show of unity. "Even if we're going to elections in a few months, our challenges as a state cannot wait," Lapid said. "What we need to do today is go back to the concept of Israeli unity. Not to let dark forces tear us apart from within."

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The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has officially declared an end to refugee status for nationals of Ivory Coast, stating that the country has "turned the page" on bitter conflicts.

"The cessation of (refugee) status is a gesture that has legal value because the people who stay abroad are no longer refugees. But it also has an important symbolic value, because it indicates that the country has turned the page," Filippo Grandi told AFP on Monday during a visit to Ivory Coast.

Speaking on World Refugee Day, Grandi described the move as "the last act of the end" of the crises that have wracked the west African country, culminating in serious post-electoral clashes in 2010-2011, when incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo refused to admit defeat at the polls by challenger Alassane Ouattara.

Fighting rocked the commercial capital Abidjan, some 3,000 people were killed and at least half a million people fled to safety, according to official agencies.

The lifting of refugee status by the UNHCR will take effect on June 30 and concerns a few tens of thousands of refugees who sought refuge in neighbouring countries during the conflict, Grandi said.

The UNHCR estimated in September last year that Ivorians had, with some exceptions, no cause to benefit any longer from international protection. Of 325,000 refugees, 310,000 have already returned voluntarily to their country, the commissioner added.

"Everywhere in the world we see rather the opposite. I came here to show the exception and to say that it is possible to do it if there is a political will," he said, at a time when the UNHCR has counted more than 100 million refugees or displaced people around the world.

Ivory Coast, the former economic hub of west Africa and still the world's leading cocoa producer, is engaged in a reconciliation process, marked in June 2021 by Gbagbo's return after the International Criminal Court acquitted him of crimes against humanity during the crisis.

pid/blb/nb/kjm
Japan faces a labor shortage due to a rapidly aging society. Jason Ortego/Unsplash

Japanese telco giant NTT will start treating office commutes as business trips, per Kyodo News.

Starting in July, NTT is slated to reimburse 30,000 employees for the cost of their commutes.

The flexible work program is aimed at attracting and retaining talents amid a labor crunch in Japan.

At Japanese telecommunications giant NTT, remote work is the new norm  and the commute is the new business trip.

Starting from July, NTT will reimburse domestic employees for their commute to the office  even if they're a plane ride away, Kyodo News reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. Employees can work from anywhere in Japan, and the company will pay for accommodation when employees need to return to the office.

The company will roll out the program to 30,000 of its employees in Japan before expanding it, per the report. NTT said in September that it was considering allowing all of its 320,000 employees worldwide to work remotely.

NTT's flexible work program is aimed at attracting and retaining talent amid a labor crunch in Japan, according to Kyodo. That's as Japan faces a labor shortage due to a rapidly aging society and a large pool of women who leave their jobs after marriage due to cultural expectations.

NTT's program also comes two years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced much of the world's labor force to work from home, prompting some to rethink their priorities and purpose in life. This led to a Great Resignation in the US and other parts of the world. Many workers in Japan are also questioning the country's intense work culture and corporate life in the wake of the pandemic, The New York Times reported in April.

As the pandemic eases, corporate leaders are debating bringing the workforce back to the office after two years of pandemic-induced remote work.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said last week he was doing "everything" he could to get staff to return to the office  but that they're not returning "at the level" he wants. To get employees back to the office, Tesla CEO Elon Musk issued an ultimatum to executive staff earlier this month, telling them to return to the office or quit.

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On the other end of the spectrum, Airbnb is allowing employees to live and work from anywhere forever, CEO Brian Chesky announced in April.

NTT did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Jared Kushner at a press briefing about the coronavirus at the White House on May 11, 2020. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

A House committee investigating the US's pandemic response released a new report on Tuesday.

Jared Kushner led thrice-weekly meetings on the pandemic dubbed "China Virus Huddles," the report revealed.

That group, which included "herd immunity" proponent Dr. Scott Atlas, was separate from the official task force.

As the Trump administration worked to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, White House advisor Jared Kushner began to convene thrice-weekly "China Virus Huddles" to strategize on pandemic messaging, according to newly-released documents.

Those "huddles, according to a House committee probing the US's COVID-19 response, would typically include Kellyanne Conway, a senior counselor to the president; Hope Hicks, an assistant to the president; Paul Mango, the deputy chief of staff for policy at the Department of Health and Human Services; and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House's coronavirus response coordinator.

They also included Dr. Scott Atlas, a fellow at the conservative Hoover Institution who was later brought into the administration as a special advisor to President Donald Trump on issues concerning COVID-19.

The meetings, according to the report, were "used to hone the White House's coronavirus messaging and address key 'operational aspects' of the response outside of the White House Coronavirus Task Force structure."

The subcommittee's report also shows how Atlas, a proponent of "herd immunity," convinced the Trump White House to embrace a strategy of mass infection in the early months of the pandemic.

"As today's report makes clear, senior officials in the previous Administration embraced a dangerous and discredited herd immunity via mass infection strategy promoted by non-expert advisers like Dr. Scott Atlas and recklessly allowed the coronavirus to infect Americans before vaccines were widely available," said subcommittee chair Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina in a statement. "This dereliction of duty resulted in significant loss of life that could have been prevented."

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Document containing the program for a "China Virus Huddle" on August 12, 2020. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis

The report and accompanying documents also show the widespread use of the term "China Virus"  a xenophobic term embraced early in the pandemic by Trump himself  within the White House.

"Viruses know no borders and they don't care about your ethnicity or the color of your skin or how much money you have in the bank," Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization's health emergencies program, told CNN in March 2020. "It's really important that we be careful in the language we use."

The committee also revealed that Scott's engagement with the White House began far earlier than previously thought. While Atlas officially joined the administration in August 2020, he sent an email to Seema Verma, then the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in March 2020.

"The total lockdown is a massive overreaction and super harmful to our entire society," Atlas wrote in the March 21, 2020 email. He went on to predict that the virus "would cause about 10,000 deaths" which "would be unnoticed in the total of flu-like deaths every season."

As of Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that over 1,008,000 people have died in the US from COVID-19.

Kushner did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Eastenders bosses have issued a statement following the arrest of actor Jessie Wallace on Sunday (19 June).

The actor, who plays Kat Slater in the long-running soap, was taken into custody over the weekend for public disorder.

On Tuesday (21 June), a spokesperson for the BBC One soap issued a statement to The Mirror, sharing that the soap star has shown deep regret over the matter.

The statement reads: Senior bosses have spoken to Jessie Wallace about the incident and issued a clear warning that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable and Jessie has expressed her deep regret.

According to the publication, the incident occurred after Wallace attended a Madness gig in Thetford Forest, Suffolk, on Saturday evening.

Later in the evening, the actress and her companion were reportedly seen arguing outside a nightclub with police.

A police spokesman confirmed that a 50-year-old woman was cautioned after being held on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and drunk and disorderly conduct.

Wallace is said to have accepted a caution, following the incident.

The actor was reportedly suspended from the show in January 2020 for allegedly being tipsy and verbal while filming the 35th anniversary episode.

At the time, a BBC spokesperson said: We dont comment on artists contracts.
Are you looking for a full-time or part-time position?

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It will start at 1 p.m. in Boardrooms 2 and 3. It ends at 5 p.m.

For a full list of positions, visit https://careers.hyatt.com/en-US/careers/.

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District 1 Executive Councilor Joe Kenney

New Hampshire Executive Council District 1 incumbent Joe Kenney, a Republican, has announced he is running for reelection. He said he looks forward to how his district is changing to include the Dover, Rochester and Somersworth area he once called home.

Kenney's opponent will be Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard, a Democrat who previously announced his candidacy.

While he lives in Union now, Kenney said, the way district boundaries shifted makes him feel a sense of coming home. Kenney is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire in Durham and Spaulding High School in Rochester. Kenny said with his son being a graduate of Plymouth State University, and his daughter finishing up her last year at Spaulding High School, hes looking forward to making a more local impact.

Im much more familiar with the issues in these areas than the western part of the state. Kenney said, adding that the newly drawn district lines make a lot more sense. I will be making the rounds and visiting old friends and hopefully making some new ones in our new district. I want to make sure they know that I am a councilor who has grown up here just like them and I am committed to full-time service of the district, not part-time.

Kenney is a former state senator and a retired Marines colonel who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. He said he plans to visit the newly added District 1 towns and cities to learn more about their needs.

"I always say: if it's a problem for you, it's a problem for me. Let's solve it together," Kenney said. "There will be 15 new communities in District 1 this year."

Kenney said that his role is not just about serving consituents, it's about cutting the red tape to get answers for people quickly and advocating for legislation and matters important to the district.

He said his priority is always giving full-time and dependable constituent service to the people of District 1. His focus for the district will be keeping taxes down, economic development, infrastructure and the mental health system.

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What does District 1 look like?

The five-district Executive Council map signed into law this month by Republican Gov. Chris Sununu creates four districts that lean Republican, leaving a single Democratic-leaning district (District 2).

Executive Council District 1 will now be made up of the towns and cities of: Albany, Alexandria, Alton, Bartlett, Belmont, Berlin, Bridgewater, Bristol, Brookfield, Cambridge, Center Harbor, Chatham, Clarksville, Colebrook, Columbia, Conway, Dalton, Danbury, Dixville, Dover, Dummer, Durham, Eaton, Effingham, Errol, Farmington, Franklin, Freedom, Gilford, Gilmanton, Gorham, Hart's Location, Hebron, Hill, Jackson, Jefferson, Kilkenny, Laconia, Lancaster, Livermore, Madbury, Madison, Meredith, Middleton, Milan, Millsfield, Milton, Moultonborough, New Durham, New Hampton, Northfield, Northumberland, Odell, Ossipee, Pittsburg, Randolph, Rochester, Rollinsford, Sanbornton, Sandwich, Shelburne, Somersworth, Stark, Stewartstown, Stratford, Success, Tamworth, Tilton, Tuftonboro, Wakefield, Waterville Valley, Whitefield, and Wolfeboro.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Joe Kenney seeks reelection to NH Executive Council in new District 1
Jun. 21STAFFORD  The recent halt of both inpatient and outpatient surgeries at Johnson Memorial Hospital is a symptom of a wider shortage of nurses in hospitals across the country, says a state official, although hospital officials maintain the pause is temporary.

JOHNSON HOSPITAL PAUSE

WHAT: Although Johnson Memorial Hospital recently suspended all inpatient and outpatient surgeries because of a staffing shortage, a certificate of need application is not required by the state because the pause of service is temporary.

WHY: The recent closure of Johnson Memorial Hospital's operating room is a result of a worldwide shortage of nurses, state official says.

Because the suspension of surgeries is temporary, the hospital does not have to apply for a certificate of need with state regulatory agencies, said state Office of Health Strategy spokesperson Tina Kumar last week. A certificate of need is typically required by the state agency when healthcare providers make major changes to healthcare services, including termination.

"A temporary suspension in service doesn't legally require a written notice with OHS, but it's appreciated," Kumar said, adding that the hospital voluntarily submitted a written notification to the state agency on June 8 informing them that the hospital would stop performing all surgeries the following day.

In this letter, Claudio Capone, regional vice president of strategic planning and business development for Trinity Health, which owns Johnson Memorial, wrote that the halt of surgical services was a result of "staffing shortages and unexpected resignations within the surgical services department." He also added that the hospital "explored all options to maintain services, but ultimately concluded that pausing surgical services was the only decision we could make.

"We continue to recruit and train staff and will safely resume surgical services as soon as possible," Capone also wrote.

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Although the pause in providing surgeries is temporary, the hospital has not announced an end date to the suspension. The operating room has been closed since June 9.

The state Healthcare Advocate Ted Doolittle attributed the closure of Johnson Memorial's operating room to a "worldwide phenomenon" of nursing staff shortages.

"It is unfortunate, the staffing shortage is real and it's not just even local to Connecticut," Doolittle said Monday, adding that it is a result of many aging nurses starting to retire, and more baby boomers requiring medical care.

Doolittle also said that the shortage is felt in larger hospitals located in cities such as St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, which is also owned by Trinity Health. But clearly the problem is "most obvious in rural areas where the whole services goes down," he said.

Because of this, Doolittle said, many that live in rural areas may be forced to travel longer distances for healthcare service for the time being.

"The unfortunate truth is that they're going to have to go further and they're going to have to perhaps put up with some delays ... this is a tough pickle, and there's really no easy way out," Doolittle said, adding that he expects the shortage to continue for years.

"It is difficult, in the age when you order something from Amazon and it's often there before sundown, to understand that the services that we all need ... the economy just can't match that," he added.

In late 2020, the Governor's Workforce Council estimated that the state's registered nurse workforce was about 50,000, more than half of whom were over age 50, according to a June 12 CT Mirror article.

The Council also reported that there were "significant shortages" in healthcare workers, estimating that there was an annual need of 3,000 new registered nurses.

A shortage of nursing school instructors is also contributing to the staffing shortages, according to the Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce, which found that more than 300 additional faculty and staff would be needed statewide to expand nursing school capacity within three years.

Ben covers Vernon and Stafford for the Journal Inquirer.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  An Ohio man who has admitted to killing five members from a single family will be allowed to testify at the death penalty trial of his brother, who is charged in the same crime, according to a judge's ruling Tuesday.

George Wagner IV, his parents and his brother, Jake Wagner, were charged in the 2016 fatal shootings of the Rhoden family near Piketon in southern Ohio. Authorities say the shootings of seven adults and a teenage boy stemmed from a dispute over custody of a child that Jake Wagner had with one of the victims.

Jake Wagner pleaded guilty last year in the shootings, admitting to killing five of the victims as part of a plea deal with prosecutors that spared him from being sentenced to death. Wagner's mother, Angela Wagner, also pleaded guilty to helping plan the slayings.

John Parker, a lawyer representing George Wagner, argued Tuesday that the deal Jake Wagner struck with prosecutors limits his ability to conduct a thorough cross examination. Parker has said that Jake Wagner told prosecutors that his brother didn't shoot anyone.

Jake Wagner isn't in a position to testify truthfully because he faces the death penalty if he doesn't strictly obey the terms of his plea deal, Parker said. Our right to confrontation is more or less meaningless because hes got a script he has to follow, he said.

Special prosecutor Andrew Wilson argued that there's nothing unusual about Jake Wagner's plea deal, and added that his testimony will be bolstered by other evidence implicating George Wagner.

Pike County Judge Randy Deering, without comment, denied Parker's request to keep Jake Wagner and his mother from testifying. Deering also denied a request from George Wagner's attorneys to drop charges that involve crimes committed outside Pike County.

Special prosecutor Angela Canepa argued that the defendants were in and out of Pike and Scioto counties the night of the crimes and the killings were part of a single course of conduct.

Jake and Georges father, George Billy Wagner III, has pleaded not guilty.
The Daily Beast

via Facebook/Rudy GiulianiFormer New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani doubled down Monday on his wildly overblown characterization that he was brutally assaulted by a Staten Island grocery store worker over the weekend, despite security footage showing the man only tapped his back.Speaking to about 200 people in a Facebook Live, Giuliani called the viral security footage deceptive. He claimed the pat packed so much vigor it nearly knocked him and a friend to the ground, but he was able to stay upright
A Kentucky man allegedly sought sex with a teenage girl just days after being placed on probation for a similar offense, according to court records.

A federal task force officer swore out a criminal complaint last week in federal court charging that Nathaniel Johnson, 29, used the internet to try to get a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Johnson lived in Shelbyville when police first encountered him Dec. 10, according to a sworn statement from Matt Hedden, an investigator with the Kentucky Attorney Generals office working on a task force with the U.S. Secret Service.

Hedden said that while posing online as a 15-year-old girl as part of an undercover operation, he made contact through a chat service with a man later identified as Johnson.

Hedden said he was using a service that matches users based on key words or likes. He used the word Kentucky, according to the affidavit.

Johnson allegedly initiated talk of sex with the girl and asked to meet her for sex. The undercover persona told Johnson more than once that she was 15, but he was undeterred and requested a date/time/place to pick her up, Hedden said in the affidavit.

Johnson also sent unsolicited, explicit photos of himself to the person he thought was a 15-year-old girl, Hedden said.

Hedden set up a meeting with Johnson in Shelbyville. Police arrested him when he arrived, according to the affidavit.

Johnson left his children, ages 1 and 3, alone at home while he went to pick up the girl, Hedden said in his statement.

Police went to his home and arranged care for the children. When asked about the children, Johnson said he didnt think he would be gone very long.

Johnson told police after he was arrested that he was just wanted a friend to hang out with and wasnt looking to do anything with the girl.

As for the talk about sex, Johnson said he planned to leave it up to her, if it went that far then it went that far, Hedden said in the affidavit.

Johnson told police the incident was a stupid decision on my part.

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Johnson was charged in state court. He pleaded guilty in Shelby County to using an electronic means to promote the use of a minor in a sexual performance, distributing obscene material and endangering the children.

He was sentenced on June 2 to three years in prison, with the sentence suspended, according to the court record.

Hedden said that five days later, on June 7, he was posing as a 14-year-old girl online when he again came in contact with Johnson, again using the word Kentucky on the service that matches people based on key words.

The two switched from an online chat to texting, and Johnson sent several photos of his face, Hedden said.

Johnson, who was by then living in Ashland, turned the conversation to sex in short order, saying this is probably the only time Ill ever see you naked if you wanna show, as well as other comments, Hedden said.

Johnson told the person he thought was a teen girl that he had gotten in trouble over this very thing . . . texting a minor, according to the affidavit.

Johnson said he was on probation and that that authorities were going to monitor his phone, but that he had wifi service they didnt know about, Hedden said.

Hedden said he made contact with Johnson online again on June 15 and Johnson made several sexual comments to a person he thought was an underage girl. Hedden swore out the criminal complaint on June 17
Kim Kardashian reflects on Met Gala weight loss (AFP via Getty Images)

Kim Kardashian has claimed that losing 16 pounds to fit into Marilyn Monroes dress for the Met Gala taught [her] a lot about [her] lifestyle and [her] health, while admitting that shes since lost 21 pounds total.

The Kardashians star, 41, reflected on her controversial weight loss during an appearance on the Today show on Tuesday, where she revealed that shed lost the weight in the three weeks before the 2022 Met Gala because shed really wanted to wear Monroes iconic Happy Birthday gown.

I looked at it like a role and I really wanted to wear this dress, Kardashian admitted. It was really important to me.

Kardashian then told Today hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb that her pre-gala weight loss taught her a lot about her health, as she claimed that it encouraged her to change her lifestyle.

It actually taught me a lot about my lifestyle and my health and since then, afterwards, I continued to eat really healthy. Im down 21 pounds now. Im not trying to lose any more weight, but I have more energy than ever, Kardashian said. I cut out so much sugar - a lot of junk food I was eating, I didnt realise, like a lot of fried foods. And I just completely changed my lifestyle.

Kardashians comments come after she faced criticism from fans following the Met Gala, where she revealed while wearing Monroes iconic dress that she undertook the extensive weight loss goal to fit into the gown.

In an accompanying interview with Vogue, Kardashian said at the time that it was this or nothing, and that to accomplish her goal she would wear a sauna suit twice a day and completely cut out all sugar and all carbs, while eating just the cleanest veggies and protein.

Were catching up with @KimKardashian about her relationship with Pete Davidson, wearing Marilyn Monroes dress, her newest business project thats been years in the making and more! pic.twitter.com/Chsz8cK5FW  TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 21, 2022

The damaging comments also sparked backlash from a number of Kardashians peers, including Jameela Jamil and Lili Reinhart.

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However, Kardashian recently defended the lengths she took to fit into the dress Monroe wore in 1962 to serenade President John F Kennedy on his 45th birthday in an interview with The New York Times, where she compared her methods to those used by actors for a role.

To me it was like: OK, Christian Bale can do it for a movie role and that is acceptable. Even Renee Zellweger gained weight for a role, she told the outlet. Its all the same to me. I wasnt saying: Hey everyone, why dont you go lose this weight in a short period of time?

She also maintained that she lost the weight in a healthy way, telling The Times: I didnt do anything unhealthy.

During her appearance on the Today show, Kardashian also addressed accusations that she damaged the infamous dress during the short period of time she was wearing it on the red carpet steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with the reality star claiming that the rumours are false.
Dmitry Peskov. Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin, told NBC News during an interview on Monday that he couldn't guarantee that two Americans captured by Russia in Ukraine won't face the death penalty.

"It depends on the investigation," Peskov said. The captured men  Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27  are both military veterans, and Peskov accused them of being "involved in illegal activities" in Ukraine, including "firing at our military guys. They were endangering their lives."

Peskov went on to promise "there will be a court, and there will be a court decision," adding that "they should be punished" for being "soldiers of fortune." Peskov would not tell NBC News whether Drueke and Huynh are being held in Russia or by pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine, but said since they are not members of Ukraine's army, they are likely not covered by Geneva Conventions for prisoners of war. Russia's state-controlled RT network reported on Friday that Drueke and Huynh are being held by separatists.

In early March, Ukraine's government said more than 20,000 people from 52 countries volunteered to fight against Russia with the International Legion of Ukraine. When asked by NBC News, a spokesman for the foreign legion on Monday said he could not "confirm or deny" whether Drueke and Huynh were part of the force. Last week, Drueke's mother said he was in Ukraine on an advisory level, rather than as a fighter.

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Leticia Bravo was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for the death of a 7-year-old Newburgh boy who starved while in her care last year.

Bravo, 40, was sentenced by Orange County Court Judge Craig Stephen Brown for her role in the death of Peter Cuacuas on Feb. 10, 2021. She was the caregiver for Peter, who weighed only 37 pounds when he died of malnutrition, an Orange County medical examiner determined.

Bravo kept Peter locked and hidden in a bedroom, according to authorities, who said the boy never logged on for virtual schooling dating back to January 2021, despite school officials having numerous conversations with Bravo.

In a letter read in court during her sentencing, Bravo said she wanted to apologize to Peter "because my actions cost him his life. I am the direct cause of Peter not being with us anymore."

"All he wanted was a mom and I never was that mom he needed," she added. "I pray every night for Peter's forgiveness."

In March Bravo pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, a felony, admitting she knowingly under-fed Peter and failed to provide him with medical attention she knew he needed.

"It is always a tragedy when a life is lost and especially in this case when a seven-year-old child is lost tragically," Bravo's lawyer, Eric Shiller, said Tuesday. "We are however disappointed in the sentence that she received and believed that the court should have sentenced her to 10 years in state prison for her crime due to the fact that Ms. Bravo was and is completely remorseful to this day. She apologized throughout for her actions that caused Peter's death."

"She admitted wrongdoing in open court and has to live with this grave and tragic mistake for the rest of her life," he added. "As a result, Ms. Bravos own children are suffering as well because they will now be without their mother."

Peter's father, Arturo Cuacuas, was the boyfriend of Bravo.

Peter Cuacuas

Leticia Bravo: Newburgh caregiver pleads guilty in boy's starvation death

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Lawsuit: Newburgh schools should have reported boy's suspected abuse

Peter Cuacuas: Brother demands school attendance records

During the 2020-2021 school year Bravo, a former child-care provider, became the boy's primary caregiver, investigators said. Peter spent Saturdays at his father's apartment, but otherwise lived with Bravo at her William Street apartment in the city.

Cuacuas brought his son to Montefiore St. Luke's Hospital the morning of Feb. 10, 2021, and he was pronounced dead shortly after.

Cuacuas previously pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, a felony, for his role in Peter's death. He admitted that he noticed Peter's condition deteriorating but failed to take action to help him.

The plea deal for Cuacuas, 54, calls for him to receive a prison term of 1  to 4 years when he is sentenced, which was to be scheduled after Bravo's case concluded. He is due back in court on June 27.

Bravo and Cuacuas are both being held at the Orange County Jail.

Matt Spillane covers breaking news throughout the Hudson Valley. Click here for his latest stories. Follow him on Twitter @MattSpillane. Check out our latest subscription offers here.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Newburgh's Leticia Bravo sentenced for Peter Cuacuas' death
A popular bar and restaurant in midtown Atlanta is closing down after 30 years in business.

The Highlander has been open along Monroe Drive since 1992 and has even been featured on the Food Networks Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

On Monday, the bar posted on its Facebook page that due to unforeseen circumstances and hardships, The Highlander would be closing following Monday night.

Its been kickass and weve made so many memories to cherish together. We love and appreciate all of you who have supported us. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE LAST THIRTY YEARS AMAZING, the bar said.

TRENDING STORIES:

The Highlander is part of the Midtown Prominade shopping center, which has undergone an extensive renovations since being taken over by a new developer.

Those renovations include a pedestrian walkway to connect the property to the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail. Green space surrounding an exterior plaza, facade renovations and a new breezeway are part of the improvements, according to Reporter Newspapers.

There is no word if that has anything to do with the bars sudden closure.

IN OTHER NEWS:








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The man accused in the 2020 killing of Kendra Hoskins is back in custody Tuesday more than a year after jumping his bond, prosecutors say.

Kyle Johnston, 38, is charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, felonious assault, tampering with evidence and a weapons charge.

Investigators said Hoskins and Johnston were in a relationship, and on April 4, 2020, they got into an argument in Hoskin's car. During the altercation, Johnston shot Hoskins in the abdomen with a 9 mm handgun, police said.

Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve reported that Johnston was able to post a $50,000 bond in February 2021. His bond had been reduced from $125,000.

As a condition of the bond, Johnston had to check in with the court regularly. That March he tested positive for methamphetamine and was ordered to a drug treatment program, Tekulve said.

Another bond hearing was scheduled for April because Johnston was failing to report in, but Johnston didn't show up, the prosecutor said.

"Ultimately, the prosecutor's office became aware that the defendant had fled to Georgia in an attempt to avoid prosecution," Tekulve said.

In Georgia, Johnston was eventually caught on additional charges in a separate case.

After his extradition back to Ohio, a judge raised his bond to $1,000,000. He is being held at the Clermont County Jail awaiting trial.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kyle Johnston: After a year, a man accused in killing is back in custody
WASHINGTON (AP)  Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser won the Democratic primary on Tuesday, overcoming a progressive rival and virtually guaranteeing that she will win a third consecutive term to lead a city confronting inequality, crime and public safety concerns.

Bowser defeated At-large Councilmember Robert White, who harshly criticized her response to spiraling violent crime rates, and Councilmember Trayon White, who represents Ward 8, the poorest and most crime-ridden area in the district.

The winner of the Democratic primary is the prohibitive favorite in the November general election in the heavily Democratic city. That would make Bowser the second mayor to win three consecutive terms, tying with Marion Barry, who presided over the city continuously from 1979 to 1991.

The primary in Washington unfolded as many cities that are Democratic strongholds debate how to contend with crime. In Washington, homicides have risen for four years straight, and the 2021 murder count of 227 was the highest mark since 2003. In January, a candidate for the D.C. Council, Nate Fleming, was carjacked at gunpoint. On Sunday night, gunfire erupted at a street concert 2 miles from the White House, killing a 15-year-old boy and wounding three others, including a police officer.

Under pressure from activists calling to defund the police, Bowser largely stood by her police department, fighting public battles with the D.C. Council over the police budget. She quietly replaced an older white police chief with a younger Black successor and has pushed for funding to build Metropolitan Police Department staffing, currently at 3,500, up to 4,000 officers over the next decade.

In April, the D.C. Councils judiciary committee cut $6 million from Bowsers $30 million budget proposal to hire more officers, targeting incentives Bowser claimed were vital to attract good candidates. The committee, on which neither of her challengers serves, did approve a $20,000 hiring bonus to help recruit more police officers, something Bowser announced a few days before the primary.

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Ive never been to a community where they said they didnt want the police. Never, Bowser said in a radio debate last month. We need the police that we need.

In the summer of 2020, following mass protests over the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, Bowser publicly feuded with then-President Donald Trump after racial justice protesters were forcibly cleared from an area near the White House. Bowser responded by renaming the protest epicenter Black Lives Matter Plaza and commissioning a mural with Black Lives Matter painted on a stretch of 16th Street, one block from the White House, in giant yellow letters.

Bowser, 49, campaigned on her experience and leadership and her history as one of the faces of Washingtons ongoing quest for statehood. She also received good marks for her handling of the pandemic, generally operating in coordination with the D.C. Council.

Robert White, 40, had a history of successful insurgent campaigns, having unseated an entrenched incumbent for an at-large Council seat in 2016. He proposed tackling crime through a massive public and private youth jobs program that Bowser derided as unsustainable.

Trayon White, 38, invoked the spirit of Barry, the late mayor and council member who remains a controversial but beloved figure among many Washingtonians. A former grassroots community activist, White was a protege of Barrys and opposed Bowsers bids to hire more police officers. He favors community violence intervention programs, something he says Bowser was slow to embrace.
MarketWatch

Companies are trying to bring back employees into the office. According to a new report by Placer.ai, visits to office buildings have yet to catch up to pre-pandemic levels in such major employment centers as San Francisco, Manhattan and Chicago. In May 2022, visits to office buildings in San Francisco were down by 67.8% as compared to three years ago, before the pandemic shuttered most of the country.
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico said it would prohibit subcontracting of day laborers in the avocado and berry industries, partly to ensure companies complied with requirements under the country's trade agreement with the United States and Canada.

Labor Minister Luisa Maria Alcalde said on Monday her ministry would publish a guideline preventing the industries from using subcontract labor for certain activities.

It would specifically prohibit subcontracting for pickers of avocados and berries, billions of dollars of which are exported to the United States annually.

Alcalde announced the policy in a meeting in Uruapan, Michoacan, the top avocado-producing state in Mexico.

Michoacan Governor Alfredo Ramirez, also present at the meeting, said ensuring formal employment was necessary for companies to comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, as well as to settle a "historic debt" owed to day laborers.

Avocado farming in Mexico has recently suffered from gang violence, particularly in Michoacan. The United States temporarily suspended avocado imports from the state this year after a U.S. regulator there received threats.

Alcalde said the labor ministry would work with companies "to start a regularization process, so there is a level playing field, to eliminate unfair competition and promote respect for individual and collective rights."

(Reporting by Kylie Madry)
House January 6th Select Committee Holds Its Third Hearing

Rep. Bennie Thompson, Democrat of Mississippi and the chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, swears-in J. Michael Luttig (L), a former U.S. Court of Appeals judge for the Fourth Circuit, and Greg Jacob, a former counsel to Vice President Mike Pence, in the Cannon House Office Building on June 16, 2022 in Washington, DC. The committee is now planning for a seventh hearing. Credit - Drew AngererGetty Images

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol will have at least one more hearing than the six originally planned, and committee members are considering holding even more hearings beyond that, multiple sources familiar with the matter tell TIME.

The panel initially announced it would have six televised hearings in June, with two in primetime, to provide the most comprehensive accounting of that day and the weeks leading up to it. Over the first three hearings, the committee has tried to captivate the nation while making an unassailable case that there was a coordinated conspiracy behind the violent insurrectionand that former President Donald Trump was at the center of it all.

But since the first hearing on June 9, which garnered almost 20 million viewers, the committee has accrued more information relevant to its findings. Every day, new stuff is coming out, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland and a member of the panel, told TIME last week after the third hearing.

The new information is a major reason why the committee has begun to consider more hearings, according to people familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak publicly. The proceedings have been the culmination of 10 months of investigatory work, including the collection of more than 130,000 documents and testimony from more than 1,000 witnesses.

Yet the dramatic revelations that have surfaced in each hearing thus far have inspired more people to seek out the committee. We continue to receive information via our tip line, a Jan. 6 committee aide says. This is an ongoing investigation. We continue to take on new evidence every day. Last week, the committee sent a letter to Virginia Ginni Thomas, a conservative activist and wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, requesting she testify before the committee, after more communications surfaced between her and John Eastman. Eastman, a lawyer, was the architect of Trumps scheme to nullify Joe Bidens election victory. On Thursday, the panel showed evidence that he told the president two days before Jan. 6 that his plan was illegal and sought a pardon from Trump in the days after the storming of the Capitol.

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The committee currently has seven hearings planned in total, with four remaining. Each hearing will be dedicated to a different theme. Tuesdays hearing will focus on Trumps pressure campaign against state election officials to overturn the election results, while Thursdays session will examine Trumps efforts to get the Department of Justice behind his attempted coup.

There will also be a hearing that looks at the extremist groups that stormed the Capitol, such as the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, and another that deconstructs the 187 minutes of the Capitol riot, but the committee has not yet decided when those sessions will take place, sources say.

In the fall, the committee plans to release a written report which will include some findings that wont be covered in any of the hearings. The panel is looking for a professional writer who can turn that document into a narrative thriller, much like the 9/11 Commission Report, which quickly became a best-seller.

Members of the committee have likened the hearings to a Netflix series, told in multiple parts. But with more crucial details coming to light, the series may end up being significantly longer than the committee originally envisioned.

These are like the Watergate hearings for the streaming era, says Norm Eisen, a Brookings Institute senior fellow who served as special counsel for the Houses first impeachment of Trump. Because what theyve recognized is that you need to tell a compelling story.
Drilling rigs in the Black Sea

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He said the Russians are looking for ways to respond to a Ukrainian attack on gas drilling rigs in the Black Sea near the cost of Crimea  a Ukrainian maritime territory that has been controlled by the Russian Federation since 2014.

These rigs are also known as the Boyko rigs for the history of their procurement by Naftogaz, a Ukrainian state-owned energy company.

Read also: Threat to Ukraine's southern regions grows as Russia deploys submarines with Kalibr cruise missiles in Black Sea

Arestovich said residents of Shevchenko and Pechersk districts should be especially careful in the coming days, and go to a bomb shelter each time air sirens announce a risk of Russian attack from the air.

In the morning of June 20 the Ukrainian Armed Forces used rockets to target drilling platforms in the Black Sea  which used to be owned by Ukraines Naftogaz prior to 2014, but were captured by the Russian occupation administration of Crimea.

The Black Sea is considered a rich area for for oil and gas extraction. However, most recent projects focused on development of seas energy base have been unsuccessful for regulatory reasons.

The story of how the Boyko rigs came to operate in the Black Sea is complex and full of scandal.

Chornomornaftogaz, a Crimean subsidiary of Naftogaz, procured two modern drilling rigs from Keppel, a company in Singapore. The rigs were given Ukrainian names  one was named Petro Godovanets, another one  Nezalezhnist.

Read also: Ukraine's General Staff says hospitals in Crimea have stopped admitting civilians to free up beds for wounded soldiers

Later investigations by local journalists revealed the procurement price was heavily inflated: Naftogaz paid twice as much for the rigs as their actual cost.

The deal to procure the drilling rigs was led by Yuriy Boyko, who was then Ukraines energy minister, and two Naftogaz executives  Evgen Bakulin and Sergiy Katsuba.

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Read also: Putins Black Sea blockade leaves millions facing global famine

Boykos surname was later associated with these rigs by the general public, with the public often calling them simply the Boyko rigs.

After invading Crimea in 2014, Russia took over the Boyko rigs and put them to its own use, extracting hydrocarbons from the Black Sea.

This was done through a special marine operation back in March, 2014. Ukraines military response to 2014 events in Crimea was meagre and Russian army was able to carry out its invasion plan in full.

Later, Russia used Boyko rigs not only for extracting gas, but also for intelligence activity  keeping an eye on activities in the Black Sea.
The former director of the Justice Departments Office of Special Investigations, which was responsible for identifying and deporting Nazi war criminals, will lead a team to investigate war crimes that have occurred in Ukraine.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in a release Tuesday that Eli Rosenbaum, who has served in the department for 36 years, will lead the War Crimes Accountability Team, which will focus on war crimes and atrocities committed during Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Working alongside our domestic and international partners, the Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to hold accountable every person complicit in the commission of war crimes, torture, and other grave violations during the unprovoked conflict in Ukraine, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in the release.

The DOJ made the announcement as Garland made an unannounced visit to Ukraine to meet with the countrys prosecutor general to discuss the U.S. commitment to prosecute those responsible for war crimes in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Rosenbaum will be responsible for coordinating efforts across the DOJ and the rest of the federal government, the release stated. Prosecutors from the DOJs Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section will also work with Rosenbaum on holding those responsible accountable.

The team will also support the DOJs ongoing investigation of potential war crimes over which the U.S. has jurisdiction, including the wounding and killing of American journalists covering the Russian invasion.

Numerous Russian war crimes have been reported throughout the war, including the killing of civilians and multiple allegations of Russian soldiers raping women.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Andrea Shalal, David Lawder and Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden is considering scrapping tariffs on a range of Chinese goods to curb inflation, but no decision is likely before next week's Group of Seven summit, people familiar with the matter said.

White House officials discussed options on Friday with Biden for reducing some of former President Donald Trump's punitive duties on China, including potentially substantial cuts, three of the sources said. The scale of any potential final move is not yet decided, they said.

Biden's advisers are poring over Trump-era tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese goods - many of which they see lacking strategic value, the sources said.

A White House spokesperson said the goal was to align the tariffs with U.S. economic and strategic priorities, safeguarding the interests of workers and critical industries, while not "unnecessarily raising costs on Americans."

After weeks of fierce debate among key aides over the issue, Biden has come to favor swift action on the tariff issue, keen to use any leverage to reduce surging inflation ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections for control of Congress, two of the sources said.

The president told reporters on Saturday that he was in the process of making up his mind.

"Conversations on this issue are ongoing and intensifying," a senior administration official told Reuters. "But this is not a binary (choice to) lift all tariffs or don't. It has to make sense strategically."

Margaret Cekuta, a former U.S. trade official who is now a principal with the Capitol Counsel lobbying firm, said easing tariffs would likely have a limited impact on inflation and could take about eight months to become fully effective.

"Economically it doesnt make sense, but it could help combat the psychological impact of high inflation," she said, adding that the administration was trying to analyze which tariff lines could have the greatest impact on prices.

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One administration proposal calls for eliminating a large chunk of Trump's punitive tariffs on Chinese consumer exports, except those on $50 billion of goods tied to an initial so-called Section 301 probe, which focused on circuit boards, semiconductors, and other "strategic" goods, said one of the sources. The proposal also excluded changes to tariffs on steel and aluminum.

But it could remove tariffs on a large number of consumer goods hit with tariffs in 2018 and 2019 as Trump's trade war with Beijing escalated - some $320 billion at the time they were imposed. These included internet routers, Bluetooth devices, vacuum cleaners, luggage and vinyl flooring.

(Reporting by David Lawder, Andrea Shalal and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
Kelly Casper, who has been on paid administrative leave from the Suring School superintendent's job since March 2, leaves Oconto County Circuit Court after a judge dismissed the six counts of false imprisonment filed over the confinement of six girls in January while they were searched for vaping products.

OCONTO  A judge on Tuesday dismissed the false imprisonment criminal charges filed against the Suring School District superintendent.

Judge Marc Hammer found there were insufficient facts in the criminal complaint to support the six counts of false imprisonment against Kelly Casper of Coleman.

Theres nothing here that would allow me to conclude that there was a lack of consent or the defendant would know there was a lack of consent, or that she would know she did not have lawful authority to confine or restrain, Hammer said.

Nearly 50 supporters of Caspers in the gallery behind the defense table broke into applause at Hammer's decision.

Casper, 52, was charged Feb. 28 with confining the students Jan. 17 without authority so they could be strip searched for vaping products. Casper was placed on paid administrative leave by the school board March 2.

District Attorney Edward Burke, when he announced the filing of the charges, said Casper lacked legal authority to confine the students. He said the children werent given a chance to call their parents before being confined to the bathroom, and only allowed to choose between a search conducted by Casper or a police officer.

Supporters of Suring superintendent Kelly Casper applauded after a judge on Tuesday dismissed the false imprisonment charges filed over the alleged confinement of students on Jan. 17 so they could be searched for vaping products.

Burke had previously determined the searches themselves did not violate state law because the students private areas were not exposed, though one youth claimed her breasts were exposed when she lifted or pulled her bra away from her body during the search.

The issue isnt whether or not she had the ability to search, the issue is whether she had the reasonable authority to do what she did in conducting the searches, Burke told Hammer. And from the states point of view, the confinement as defined by the statute and the jury instructions, she limited their freedom of movement.

Because they were only partially clothed, the students had no option to leave, Burke contended.

The question is did she go too far when she took them into that bathroom and had them remove their clothing, he said.

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Judge Marc Hammer

In his motion to dismiss, defense attorney Corey Chirafisi of Madison asserted the students were not genuinely restrained or confined to a bathroom adjacent to the nurses offices and were taken there so the searches could be conducted privately. The motion also noted the state allows students to be removed from classrooms and confined.

Chirafisi argued the states concession that the students could be searched is fatal to its position on the charges, as that law clearly allows searches in schools based on reasonable suspicion. He also pointed to a state Attorney General opinion that students are supposed to be moved for a search to avoid embarrassment.

Why wouldnt she be able to take them into a room? he asked. Forget the strip search  if she puts them in a room to confine them to do something that shes allowed to do because theres reasonable suspicion, I think were done.

The criminal complaint provides ample reasonable suspicion and lacks the requirements that students were unwilling to consent to the search and that Casper lacked the authority to do that, he added.

There is not a word  a word  in this complaint that these the students  voiced any objection to the searches, Chirafisi said.

One of the six youths alleged to have been unlawfully confined, who attended the hearing with several women  presumably parents or other relatives  took the opportunity under Marsys Law to address the court.

Some of the things that have been said are not necessarily true, the girl stated. Ms. Casper told us that if we did not do this and follow her to a room with her, while she searched us, we were just going to get into more trouble than we already would have been in.

The searched students spent the rest of the day in the office, she added.

In the criminal complaint, the six girls told an Oconto County Sheriffs Office investigator similar stories about how they were taken into a bathroom in the nurses office and told to remove their clothing to their underwear. Two of the girls were allowed to keep their leggings on.

The girls were between the ages of 14-17 at the time.

The searches turned up two vape cartridges. Another student admitted having a vape on her.

Hammer said based on the complaint, the students went to the nurses office without an objected or expressed an objection or desire to leave the room, though one apparently stated she didnt want to remove her clothing.

If the student had that sense of presence to know, I dont have to do that, and Im not going to do that, Im not going to take my clothes off, its difficult for me to conclude somehow they wouldnt know they have the right to say, Im going to call my parents, Im going to leave this room, Im not comfortable here, but none of thats in the complaint, Hammer said. Its very, very difficult for me to conclude from these facts there there was a confinement without consent.

Hammer  who noted that he believed the complaint was filed in good faith and not brought with any ill will, malice or some type of agenda  granted the motion to dismiss without prejudice, meaning Burke could refile these or other charges.

Hammer, who is a judge in Brown County, was assigned to oversee the case after both judges in Oconto County recused themselves because of their relationship with Wayne Sleeter, who at the time the charges were filed was president of the Suring School Board. Sleeter, who was defeated in his reelection bid in April, is the Technology Services Director for Oconto County.

More: Not everyone sees embattled Suring superintendent as 'monster' who strip-searched girls. Supporters packed her court hearing.

FOR MORE OCONTO COUNTY NEWS: Check out our website!

Contact Kent Tempus at (920) 431-8226 or ktempus@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Charges against Suring superintendent over strip search dismissed
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct an earlier mispelling of Charlie Setting.

These days, names like Capano, Pettinaro, and Robino are associated with business success, real estate development and acclaim.

But on a recent Thursday afternoon, the men who founded companies that became giants in Delaware gathered with other childhood friends from Wilmington's Little Italy neighborhood to reminisce about days past.

Bobby Smith, left, laughs as he makes his way around the room reuniting with longtime friends during a gathering of former Little Italy residents Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Mrs. Robino's Restaurant.

Although some may see each other around at the Piedmont Club or St. Anthony's Club, this reunion allowed them to be in one spot at the same time.

"I've been trying to do it for like 20 years," said Charlie Setting, who organized the gathering. "I was talking to Joe Minuti (son of Josephine Minuti, daughter of Mrs. Tersilla Robino), owner of this place, and we talked about it 20 years ago and 20 years went by."

Longtime friends catch up during a gathering of former Little Italy residents Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Mrs. Robino's Restaurant.

TIMELESS TALE: It's always Father's Day in the theater, where complicated relationships make great drama

The day finally came for the 50 or so men to get together. They met for a buffet-style lunch in a room of Mrs. Robino's Restaurant. The room the men were dining in was, in fact, the childhood home of Verino Pettinaro, founder of Pettinaro, the land developer known for projects such as Wilmington's Riverfront and the redevelopment of Barley Mill that's bringing Delaware's first Wegmans.

Pettinaro joined Phil Episcopo and Nick Pettoruto at a table, where they recalled eating dinner at the Pettinaro home as boys and how Pettinaro got his start changing out his mother's kitchen cabinets and putting wood paneling on the walls of neighbors' homes.

Lou Casabulla, left, speaks with longtime friend Joe Iorii during a gathering of former Little Italy residents Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Mrs. Robino's Restaurant.

Some walls of Mrs. Robino's Restaurant still have paneling. It's decorated with pictures of family and memorabilia. Big Joe Minuti pointed to photos and explained why his aunts and uncles would get married on Thanksgiving Day.

"My grandmother would only close this restaurant three days a year: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter," he said.

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"Big Joe" Minuti, the grandson of Mrs. Robino, points to his wedding photo hanging on the wall of the restaurant his grandmother started.

Another friend and legend from this cohort was Joey Fioretti. The dancer, artist and Oscar winner, who became better known as Joseph Feury, is the husband of actress Lee Grant. Setting said Feury lives in New York and had hoped to attend the reunion, but was unable to come.

Reflecting on what so many of them have grown into, Pettoruto said it simply: "We think that we were blessed in being the best generation ever."

Friends look through old photos during a gathering of former Little Italy residents Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Mrs. Robino's Restaurant.

The tight-knit community of Little Italy

As immigrants from Italy moved to Wilmington in the early 1900s, many settled in an area between Fourth street, Pennsylvania Avenue, Union Street and Clayton Street. It became known as Little Italy.

With nearby institutions such as St. Francis Hospital, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and the West End Neighborhood House, the neighborhood nurtured a tight-knit community for the boys who grew into men, who have now returned to connect with others while they still can.

Now that most are in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, the neighborhood friends plan to continue this homecoming during the week of the Italian Festival for as long as they're able.

"Depending on who's left and how we're doing," Setting said, "hopefully, we'll be back next year."

You can contact reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com. To get unlimited access to all of her reporting and the latest news, please subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How lunch at Wilmington's Mrs. Robinos gave these men their homecoming
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP)  The Palestinian Health Ministry says a man died after being stabbed by an Israeli settler in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday. Israeli police said they did not yet know the identity of the stabber.

The ministry said Ali Hassan Harb was stabbed in the chest. Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, said he was 27.

Israeli police said they responded to a report of friction between Palestinians and Israelis near the settlement of Ariel, in the northern West Bank, where the stabbing happened. They said they were investigating.

Recent months have seen a rise in settler violence against Palestinians as well as Israeli activists, including an attack on a village last September in which a Palestinian toddler was wounded. Rights groups say Israeli security forces often turn a blind eye or intervene to protect settlers during violent confrontations.

Palestinians shot and killed an Israeli security guard at the entrance to Ariel in April, during a wave of attacks against Israelis in which 19 people were killed.

Nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers live in more than 130 settlements scattered across the West Bank, many of which are fully built up and now resemble suburbs or small towns. Nearly 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank under Israeli military rule.

Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, and the Palestinians want it to be the main part of their future state. Israel views the West Bank as the biblical and historical heartland of the Jewish people. Every government, including the current one, has expanded settlements.

The Palestinians and much of the international community view the settlements as a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace because they absorb and divide up the land on which a future Palestinian state would be established.
As Crash director Paul Haggis remains in custody in Italy, awaiting a Wednesday preliminary hearing on charges of sexual assault and aggravated personal injury allegedly inflicted on an unidentified young woman, more details about the case are surfacing.

In a statement to Variety, Haggis Italian lawyer Michele Laforgia said that the director immediately stated that he is completely innocent and hopes for the maximum speed of all necessary investigations to clarify the matter. The lawyer added that Haggis will answer all questions. The filmmaker is currently in custody at a 5-star hotel in Ostuni, in southern Italy.

More from Variety

According to multiple reports and sources, the alleged victim, who has pressed charges, is a British woman who is considerably younger than the 69-year-old filmmaker. She is believed to be either in her 30s or early 40s. She and Haggis met at the end of April at a film festival, according to an article in well-respected Italian newspaper La Repubblica, whose journalist has seen a copy of the prosecutors report.

Haggis presided over the jury of the Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festival (pictured above), which ran April 25-30. After the pairs first encounter, Haggis and the alleged victim subsequently communicated via Instagram and text messages, according to the La Repubblica article. The outlet also reports that the alleged victim arrived via a low-cost airline on Sunday, June 12, in Ostuni, a small tourist town in Puglia, the heel of southeastern Italy.

During the course of the next two days, during which the woman and Haggis slept in the same hotel room, Haggis allegedly forced the young woman, known by him from some time ago, to submit to sexual relations, according to a written statement issued by prosecutor Antonio Negro on Sunday (June 19), which announced that Haggis had been detained.

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The prosecutors statement also said that the British woman was forced to seek medical care due to injuries that are consistent with her allegations of sexual assault.

As previously reported, after being allegedly assaulted, the woman was accompanied by Haggis to Brindisi airport at the crack of dawn and left there despite her precarious physical and psychological conditions, the report says.

Airport staff and police noticed the woman crouched in a corner of the small airport in an obvious confused state. They took the alleged victim to the port city of Brindisis police headquarters. From there, officers escorted her to the A. Perrino hospital in Brindisi, where Italys so-called pink protocol for rape victims, which includes psychological counseling, was put into effect. The result of the examination and counseling prompted the woman to press charges against Haggis.

Under Italian law, after hearing arguments from both prosecutors and defense lawyers during the first preliminary hearing, the judge can either set Haggis free pending further investigation; or, instead, he can be jailed or continue to be held under house arrest at the hotel.

The next step is a special evidence pre-trial hearing, likely next week, that is expected to involve a cross examination between Haggis and the alleged victim, who is believed to still be in Italy, and their respective lawyers. The judge will then decide whether the case will go to trial.

Haggis, who has been spending time in Italy over the past few years, was in Ostuni to hold several master classes  including with Jeremy Irons, Oliver Stone, Matt Dillon, Edward Norton and Marisa Tomei  at the Allora Fest, a new film event in Ostuni that Haggis was involved in launching in tandem with Los Angeles-based Italian journalist Silvia Bizio and Spanish art critic Sol Costales Doulton.

Allora Fest organizers  who on Sunday promptly removed Haggis from the event while expressing full solidarity with the alleged victim  kicked off the June 21-26 event on Tuesday without Haggis, but with all the aforementioned guests he had invited in attendance. I am horrified about what has occurred and hope it will be clarified very soon, Irons told newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Haggis, who wrote Million Dollar Baby and co-wrote and directed Crash, both of which he won an Oscar for, was sued in 2018 by publicist Haleigh Breest, who alleged that he had violently raped her after a premiere in 2013. The suit prompted three additional women to come forward with their own sexual misconduct accusations against Haggis, who has vehemently denied the claims. The trial is still pending due to COVID delays.

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January 6 attack Photo by Shay Horse/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump called into Newsmax on Monday to insist that his supporters who rallied in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6 were "well-behaved."

Speaking to host Eric Bolling on The Balance, Trump insisted he has "so much proof" that he was the true winner of the 2020 election. He also referred approvingly to the platform adopted Saturday night by the Republican Party of Texas, which includes a declaration that President Biden "was not legitimately elected."

When asked if he was worried the Jan. 6 committee hearings might lead to a Department of Justice investigation against him, Trump said he and his allies "did nothing wrong other than complain about the election."

Trump then went on to argue that the people who made up the crowd on Jan. 6, many of whom later stormed the Capitol, have been unfairly maligned.

"I'm talking about the people that went there and to also listen to speeches. It was the largest group I think that I've ever seen or made a speech to," Trump said. "I've never seen anything like it, and there they were well behaved. So many, so many people. Nobody ever talks about that."

Trump on Newsmax on his January 6 mob: "They were well behaved." (140 officers were injured.) pic.twitter.com/VniAKLPFfJ  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 21, 2022

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Jun. 20Maconaquah Park was full of smiles, laughter and kinship on Saturday during Peru's second annual Juneteenth celebration.

Juneteenth was designated as a national holiday for the first time last year to commemorate the day enslaved people in Texas learned they were free.

Even though Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, slaves in Texas were not informed of their freedom until 1865.

"As long as anybody is not free in this country, the whole country is still under enslavement," said Annettia Brooks-Rankin, pastor at Wayman AME Church in Peru. "The whole goal of justice is that everybody is equal. That's what this is about: celebrating that we are all equal."

Stephanie Graf, who organized the event, said she was raised to understand the repercussions of slavery. She was born in Kentucky but eventually moved to Peru to continue her education.

"Imagine what my life would have been like living (in Kentucky) with those parameters where a black girl couldn't go to school," Graf said. "We were raised understanding what slavery had meant and what being a second class citizen meant."

Graf joined the military and now owns Lily's House, a nonprofit organization that meets the needs of minority, multicultural, and disadvantaged people in the community.

She learned that people can be whoever they want to be, and her mission now is to help break down barriers for others. She said anyone who needs help can reach out to Lily's House for information and resources.

"When I joined the Army at 18, I saw a life I had never known that a black girl could have," Graf said. "Because of that I, as a seasoned woman, would tell little girl Stephanie growing up in rural America that you really can be anything you want to be."

Graf was not the only person at the Juneteenth celebration with big dreams. Two women stood under one of the large white tents surrounded by bottles, sprays, and all different manner hair supplies. They spent the day braiding and styling attendees' hair in intricate designs.

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Shirley Barber and Alize White, stylists from Get N' Where You Fit In, spent their first Juneteenth event trying to get their names out.

"I'm interested to see how many people are going to get their hair done today," Barber said.

The booth was popular. One customer who visits Get N' Where You Fit In regularly said she happily sits through three hour sessions to get her hair braided into tight cornrows because they are easy to take care of.

"They're absolutely amazing," Krystal Robert's said. "I'm all about inclusiveness, and I think they're doing this to bring people together."

Roberts sat still while long strands of pink and purple were rebraided into her hair.

Attendees at the celebration were also able to enjoy brisket, chicken, beans, cornbread, and barbeque from Jefferson St. Children could participate in the sack race or join in on the water balloon fight while adults had the chance to join the raffle or try to win a prize in bingo.

Gina Nicholson, an Indianapolis life coach who grew up in Peru, spoke to attendees and encouraged them to set goals for themselves and follow their dreams.

"It's never too late to start living your passions," she told the crowd.

Peru city councilwoman Kathleen Plothow said the Juneteenth celebration was the most important place for her to be this week. She said she believes strongly in diversity and that Graf is one of her close friends.

"This is much needed in every community. People can be whoever they want to be here," she said. "The food is great. The people are better."

Later in the afternoon, Graf offered a microphone during an "adult story time." She and other Miami County natives remembered when they were not allowed to enter the Moose Lodge during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Graf said it is important to realize that you are not defined by someone else's prejudices.

"Growing up, Miami County was hard on minorities," she said. "It's beautiful to see how we've moved and transitioned. The reason we can celebrate now is because of unity. We have a wonderful bouquet of people."
A suspect has been arrested for attempted murder after a man suffered stab wounds during a disturbance in Merced on Monday, according to police.

At around 9:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of a disturbance at an apartment complex in the 3200 block of Meadows Avenue, according to Merced police Lt. Emily Foster.

Officers arrived on scene and located a 20-year-old man suffering from what appeared to be multiple stab wounds.

Police said the victim was flown to a Modesto area hospital for treatment of major injuries.

Police also located the suspect at the scene, identified as Kobe Thomas Wheldon, 20, of Merced, who police said was in possession of a knife. Authorities said that according to witness statements, the men were involved in a verbal altercation prior to the alleged stabbing.

According to Foster, the incident remains under investigation and police have not determined a possible motive for the alleged stabbing.

Wheldon was arrested and booked into Merced County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, according to jail records.

He remains in custody in lieu of $500,000 bond.

Anyone with information regarding the alleged crime is asked to contact Detective-Sgt. Kalvin Haygood at 209-385-6998 or by email at haygoodk@cityofmerced.org.
A 49-year-old man was rushed to Community Regional Medical Center Monday night after he was shot in the chest at Dickey Playground in central Fresno, police said.

The shooting took place at 8 p.m. as a softball game was taking place nearby, said Lt Brian Valles. He said the victim was in critical condition.

Police detectives were searching for evidence at the shooting scene near the Voorman and Calaveras streets section of the park. Valles said it appeared the motive for the shooting was an interpersonal dispute.

He said police were putting a high priority on arresting the suspect because of the apparent disregard for bystanders he displayed by firing in the crowded park.
Vladimir Putins top spokesman has disputed the US State Departments assertion that WNBA star Brittney Griner is being held hostage.

Dmitry Peskov told NBC News that Ms Griner was being prosecuted in accordance with Russian law after she was allegedly found with cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage, and gave no indication when the Olympic basketball star might be released.

Why should we make an exemption for a foreign citizen? Mr Peskov said in an interview with NBC News Keir Simmons.

She violated Russian law, and now shes being prosecuted. Its not about being a hostage. There are lots of American citizens here. Theyre enjoying their freedoms  but you have to obey the laws.

In May, the US State Department designated Ms Griner as wrongfully detained and moved her case under the supervision of its Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, effectively the governments chief hostage negotiator.

Mr Peskov said he could not comment on why Ms Griner hadnt instead been denied entry, or sent home, instead of being incarcerated.

On Monday, Ms Griners wife Cherelle said she has zero confidence in the US Governments ability to secure her release after their first phone call  scheduled for their anniversary on Saturday  failed to go through because the American embassy in Moscow didnt have any staff on at the weekend.

Cherelle Griner told the Associated Press that the couple had received Russian government approval to have their first telephone conversation since Brittney was imprisoned on 17 February.

When the call never came, Cherelle said she initially thought the Russian Government might have intervened.

She later learned that Brittney Griner had tried to call 11 times over a period of several hours, dialling a number shed been given at the US embassy in Moscow, which the couple had been told would then patch the call through to Cherelle Griner in Phoenix.

But each time, the call went unanswered because the desk at the US embassy where the phone rang was apparently unstaffed on Saturday.

I was distraught. I was hurt. I was done, fed up, Cherelle Griner told The Associated Press, recounting how an anniversary she had eagerly anticipated was instead spent in tears.
Looking at Qualitas Limited's (ASX:QAL ) insider transactions over the last year, we can see that insiders were net buyers. That is, there were more number of shares purchased by insiders than there were sold.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

Check out our latest analysis for Qualitas

Qualitas Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Independent Non-Executive Chairman Andrew Edwin Fairley bought AU$234k worth of shares at a price of AU$1.60 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than AU$1.51 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock when an insider has bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. Andrew Edwin Fairley was the only individual insider to buy during the last year.

Andrew Edwin Fairley purchased 177.63k shares over the year. The average price per share was AU$1.41. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

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 Qualitas Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that Qualitas insiders own 23% of the company, worth about AU$101m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

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What Might The Insider Transactions At Qualitas Tell Us?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Qualitas shares in the last quarter. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Judging from their transactions, and high insider ownership, Qualitas insiders feel good about the company's future. 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. To help with this, we've discovered 3 warning signs (1 shouldn't be ignored!) that you ought to be aware of before buying any shares in Qualitas.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

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.
An expansion of a south Charlotte apartment community is drawing pushback from nearby residents. A developer wants to expand the Legacy Arboretum complex off Pineville-Matthews Road near Hugh Forest Road.

Opposition to the project is well organized, and neighbors created a website and video that highlights traffic issues nearby. Several Charlotte City Council members credited the opposition group for being well-organized and convincing.

[ALSO READ: Rounding up the latest residential real estate developments in region]

Kurt Bock, one of the leaders of the effort, showed drone video of the traffic in front of the proposed project.

I think this truly captures the impact of what we see every day, Bock told the Charlotte City Council.

Plans call for knocking down 66 existing units and building 278 new ones for a net gain of 212. When all is said and done, 478 apartments may be on the site.

It is a good location to add a modest amount of units, said Keith MacVean, an attorney for the developer.

Many people who live nearby dont like the idea of having a new road coming out of the development dumping onto Hugh Forest. In addition to traffic, they also worry about the loss of trees, the height of buildings and the projects fit.

18 people have signed up to speak, including 13 in opposition, about a proposed project that would create 234 new apartments at Hugh Forest and Pineville-Matthews Roads. Between these new apartments and the existing units, there would be 500 apts part of Legacy Arboretum @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/mZzRJSgk9w  Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) June 20, 2022

It does significantly change our neighborhood and character, Bock said.

Some council members expressed concerns about the projects impact on infrastructure. Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt said resident worries about traffic are valid.

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Nothing is coming to fix Providence Road, Eiselt said. I am not so sure about Highway 51 either.

Many council members also want to ramp up housing supply. Councilman Ed Driggs hopes to sit down with the residents and the developer to come up with a compromise.

[WANT TO WATCH ON OUR STREAMING APPS? CLICK HERE]

It would be very hard for us to just reject this entirely given the state of our current policies and the rules, so the question is: can we fix it? Driggs said.

The developer has already reduced the projects size from 500 units to 478. All the new buildings were originally proposed to have four stories. MacVean told the Charlotte City Council they are now making one of the new buildings three stories.

The Charlotte City Council will vote on the project in the coming months.

(Watch the video below: Crews respond to 2-alarm apartment fire behind The Arboretum in south Charlotte)
Rob Kardashian, left, and Blac Chyna attend the Sky Beach Club at the Tropicana Las Vegas in 2016. (Gabe Ginsberg / Getty Images)

Reality star Rob Kardashian and his ex-fiancee Blac Chyna have settled their protracted revenge-porn saga just as the case was set to go to trial.

Kardashian lawyer Michael G. Rhodes confirmed Monday that the former "Rob & Chyna" stars, who share a 5-year-old daughter, reached a settlement agreement the same day jury selection was about to begin in the Los Angeles trial.

"I can confirm that it settled but the terms are not public," he said in an e-mail to The Times on Monday.

The settlement comes after negotiations to reach an agreement reportedly broke down last week. As recently as Friday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory W. Alarcon denied Kardashian's motion to "enforce" a settlement that Chyna's lawyer had said "never existed."

Chyna, 34, sued Kardashian, 35, in 2017 after he posted several naked photos of her on social media, which she argued damaged her reputation and ability to conduct business.

Kardashians legal team had claimed that Chyna, real name Angela White, would drop the revenge-porn lawsuit if Kardashian could help her avoid a separate ongoing lawsuit brought by Chynas former boyfriend Justin Jones, in which Jones claims Chyna caused emotional distress.

The model and former stripper originally sued Kardashian  the son of Robert Kardashian, the late O.J. Simpson defense attorney  and several members of his family in 2017, alleging tortious interference and defamation, amid allegations that the family tried to get the former couple's E! reality series canceled.

Chyna had named Rob Kardashian as the lead defendant in that lawsuit, but the differences in her allegations against him  such as revenge porn  prompted a judge in 2020 to bifurcate that part of the case.

Chyna lost her trial last month against Kardashian's mother, Kris Jenner, and his siblings Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner after days of emotional testimony that pulled back the curtain on how the powerful family operates. But her case against her ex remained.

A representative for Blac Chyna did not immediately respond Monday to The Times' requests for comment.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LONDON (Reuters) - Russia's ambassador in London said on Tuesday that Britain had asked for Moscow's help in connection with two British citizens sentenced to death in a Russian-backed separatist region for fighting for Ukraine.

A court in the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine this month sentenced Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner and Moroccan Brahim Saadoun to death for "mercenary activities".

Their families deny that the trio, who were contracted by the Ukrainian armed forces, are mercenaries. Britain says its citizens were regular soldiers and should be exempt under the Geneva Conventions from prosecution for participation in hostilities.

"There was an approach by the British to us - they sent us a note but the note was so full of such arrogant and didactic expressions that it really didn't produce any desire in us to cooperate in these questions," Ambassador Andrei Kelin told Russia-24 TV.

"They need to approach the DPR - our recommendation remains the same," Kelin said.

Though Russia does not carry out the death penalty, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, whose independence is recognised only by Moscow, have it on their statute books.

Britain's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Leaders from the 54 Commonwealth countries gather in Rwanda under tight security this week for a long overdue but controversial summit that was twice postponed by Covid.

Flags, from the tiny Pacific island of Tuvalu to South Asian giant India, are flying at the airport and the palm tree-lined road leading to the city and the Kigali Convention Centre where the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting takes place Friday and Saturday.

Some $4.7 million has been spent sprucing up the capital, with President Paul Kagame keen to portray "the country of a thousand hills" in the best possible light.

But the event, which was supposed to have been held in June 2020, takes place amid outrage at Britain's migrants settlement deal with Rwanda, and questions about the host's human rights record.

A tussle for the leadership of the Commonwealth, which represents some 2.5 billion people or a quarter of humanity, is also expected, with renewed talk about the body's future role and relevance.

- Tensions? -

The fall-out from the migrant deal potentially puts Queen Elizabeth II's heir Prince Charles in a tricky spot, as he makes his first trip to the east African country as her representative.

The visit -- also the first to Rwanda by a British royal -- will notably see the 73-year-old prince meet survivors of the 1994 genocide.

But his reported criticisms of the planned migrant deportations as "appalling" could make for an awkward meeting with Kagame and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson who back the scheme.

Britain's Sunday Telegraph said the prince fears the row, which last week saw Europe's top human rights court step in to halt the first flight, could mean the wider aims of the meeting are lost.

Amnesty International's director for east and southern Africa, Deprose Muchena, called on Commonwealth leaders to take a "firm and clear stance" against the policy.

"Member states need to seize the opportunity in Kigali to denounce this inhumane arrangement and pressure the UK and Rwanda to end the deal," he added.

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- Rights -

Rwanda, currently locked in a spat with the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo over its alleged support for M23 rebels, has been a controversial choice as CHOGM host since it was announced in 2018.

This month, civil society organisations said there was a "climate of fear" in the country at odds with its glossy image abroad, including crackdowns on rights of assembly, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial executions.

But they added: "The silence of the Commonwealth on Rwanda's human rights record risk undermining the organisation's human rights mandate, as well as its integrity and credibility."

The Committee to Protect Journalists said two foreign journalists who had written critical articles about Rwanda were denied accreditation to cover the summit.

The head of Rwandan opposition Development and Liberty for All party told AFP "nothing has changed" since Rwanda joined the Commonwealth 12 years ago.

"Rwanda does not respect the values of the Commonwealth, democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, freedom of expression," said Victoire Ingabire.

- Future -

Charles has been anointed as the next head of the Commonwealth when he becomes king, taking over from his 96-year-old mother, who has championed the organisation since she came to the throne in 1952.

But there is increased discussion about a move away from the royal family as its ceremonial head.

At the same time, republican movements in some of the 14 Commonwealth countries outside the UK where the queen is head of state are gathering pace.

Member state Barbados became the world's newest republic last year, and other Caribbean nations are pushing to follow suit.

Another member, Australia, has also appointed a minister for the republic, in a sign of constitutional change on the horizon.

Those questions loom large over the summit, and whether a diminished global reach for the British monarchy will even affect the Commonwealth's existence.

Announcing his trip, Charles said the fact that two-thirds of the grouping's population was aged under 30 can make the Commonwealth "an unparalleled force for good in our world", particularly on issues such as tackling climate change.

But Commonwealth watchers said that young people, who have no emotional attachment to the royals, could determine its future, loosening Britain's dominance of the organisation, many of whose members are former British colonies.

"The new generation wants to question and re-evaluate the history of the empire and that is a good thing," the British economist and former Labour politician Meghnad Desai said recently.

burs-phz/jwp/gw
Jun. 20A suspect in a Saturday morning shooting in the downtown area turned himself into police Monday, Santa Fe police Lt. David Webb said.

Santos Ben Atencio, 18, is suspected of firing a shot that wounded a woman who was sitting in her living room in the 600 block of Gomez Road in the Railyard District.

Webb said Atencio turned himself in to police at 8:24 a.m. Monday.

Atencio did not make any comment, Webb said. He was accompanied by his lawyer, who Webb identified as Megan Dorsey.

Police arrested Atencio and transported him to the Santa Fe County jail, where he is being held without bond.

Atencio faces charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at or from a motor vehicle and tampering with evidence.

Police arrested 18-year-old Patrick Marquez on Saturday for his alleged role in the incident, which took place around 6:20 a.m. that morning on the small residential street off Paseo de Peralta.

Marquez also faces a variety of charges, including conspiracy to commit aggravated battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence. He remains in the Santa Fe County jail and is being held without bond.

The injured woman was taken to a local hospital. Webb said Monday he did not have an update on her status.
The South Carolina Supreme Court has canceled a Wednesday morning disbarment hearing for disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh.

The high court had summoned Murdaugh, who is in the Richland County jail on numerous financial fraud charges, to appear before it Wednesday morning to show cause for why he shouldnt be disbarred.

But Murdaughs attorney Jim Griffin wrote the court Tuesday morning, telling it that Murdaugh waived his rights to a hearing, accepts the courts decision to disbar him and was requesting the court to cancel the hearing.

A formal decision as to disbarment will follow, the courts notice said.

No lawyer in similar circumstances has been summoned before the Supreme Court to explain why they shouldnt be disbarred. Usually, the Supreme Court issues findings on disbarment through formal written orders.

Had the hearing taken place, Murdaugh  the once-proud fourth generation lawyer of a powerful Lowcountry legal family  would have appeared before the five black-robed justices wearing a jail jump suit with chains around his waist and ankles.

The justices had arranged a special transport van operated by the Richland County Sheriffs Office to haul Murdaugh to the high court in downtown Columbia.

This story will be updated.
Scottsdale police were still on the scene at a local hotel Feb. 1, 2022, after an 11-year-old boy died on Jan. 30, 2022.

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office is seeking the death penalty in a case against Scottsdale relatives accused of abusing and killing an 11-year-old boy.

On Tuesday, interim County Attorney Rachel Mitchell directed prosecutors to file a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Stephanie M. Davis, 52, and her husband, Thomas J. Desharnais, 34, if they are ultimately convicted of first-degree murder, a news release stated.

In January, Scottsdale police responded to a report of an unresponsive person at an Extended Stay America Hotel and found 11-year-old Chaskah, Davis' grandson, not breathing in a bathtub. He was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead.

Emergency personnel said they saw bruising and cuts on Chaskah's body and his half-brother, also under the care of Davis and Desharnais, had visible injuries as well. Investigations revealed severe abuse of both boys, which included starvation and physical harm with metal tools, officials said.

Previous coverage: Boy who died in Scottsdale was severely abused by relatives, court records say

In February, a Maricopa County grand jury indicted Davis and Desharnais on 11 felony counts, including first-degree murder, child abuse and tampering with evidence.

While the news release from the County Attorney's Office acknowledged the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, Mitchell spoke sharply against perpetrators of child abuse.

As a community, it is our responsibility to protect and care for the most vulnerable in society, and this includes children. The protection of children has always been a top priority for me. This childs suffering and death must be addressed and those responsible held accountable. Seeking justice for this young boy whose life was cut short in an especially heinous matter is what prosecutors are called to do, she said in the news release.

Couple investigated in 2017

The Arizona Department of Child Safety received three reports alleging the children were abused in 2017.

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Darren DaRonco, a department spokesperson, told The Arizona Republic in February that the department received a report on March 22, 2017, that Davis struck Chaskah, leaving a bruise behind his ear and a scratch to his face, but the department determined the allegations were unsubstantiated.

The department received another report on May 15, 2017, that said Davis, Desharnais and another adult physically abused Chaskah and left him with a deep purple and red bruise under his right eye, which the department also found to be unsubstantiated.

DCS received a third report on Aug. 31 alleging Desharnais picked up another child and threw him down, leaving him with an injury to his forehead. The family moved out of state during the investigation and was cross-reported to that state's social services agency. DCS later determined the third claim was unsubstantiated but didn't specify what determination the other state agency reached.

DaRonco said Chaskah's sibling was removed and placed into foster care after the death.

Police said in February that in a previous investigation related to the family, Davis said she home-schooled both children. She also refused to let the children be interviewed by detectives. No charges were filed in that investigation.

Police had contacted the family multiple times near the Extended Stay America Hotel where they lived since 2019.

Resources for Arizonans experiencing domestic violence

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233).

Phoenix.gov/DomesticViolence.

Chrysalis: 602-944-4999, noabuse.org.

Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence: 602-279-2980.

Republic reporters Angela Cordoba Perez and Perry Vandell contributed to this article.

Reach criminal justice reporter Gloria Rebecca Gomez at grgomez@gannett.com or on Twitter @glorihuh.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Scottsdale couple accused of killing boy, 11, may face death penalty
Video from security cameras has proven indispensable to the Erie police and other law enforcement agencies in solving crimes.

In one of its biggest recent investigations, the Erie police used surveillance video to make arrests in the fatal drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Antonio "Espn" Yarger Jr. in his Downing Avenue neighborhood in April.

Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz wants to make surveillance video easier to find for law enforcement.

As part of her office's new website, Hirz has launched an online registry for security cameras.

Residents and property owners can go on the site, ErieDA.org, and register their name, the location and type of their security cameras  including Ring doorbell devices  and other details about the equipment, such as what direction the cameras are pointed.

The information entered into the registry will not be made public, Hirz said.

She said her office will provide the information to police agencies, allowing officers and detectives to know who has security cameras in locations that are the focus of investigations. Without such information, Hirz said, the police must go door to door to find out who has security cameras.

"We are trying to cut down on the police time for canvassing," Hirz said. She said the police "can go right to the houses" using the information from the camera registry.

Police use video in Antonio Yarger case:17-year-old charged in Erie boy's killing was out on bond in another shooting

Erie Police Chief Dan Spizarny said he welcomes the creation of the registry. Citing the case of Antonio Yarger, he said surveillance video has become a critical tool in solving crimes.

"The amount of time it takes to locate, collect and then watch the video is tremendous," Spizarny said. "Any steps that can be taken to reduce that amount of time will benefit the community in keeping it safe."

Participating in the registry is voluntary, and participation does not mean that police would have automatic access to video.

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The police would still need permission to obtain the video, said First Assistant Erie County District Attorney Jessica Reger, Hirz's top deputy. She also stressed that the information would be "purely for law enforcement purposes."

"We really hope everyone takes a look and considers submitting their cameras to help law enforcement," Reger said.

The Erie District Attorney's Office announced on June 7 that its new website was live. The office developed it with Crimewatch Technologies, of York, Pennsylvania, which specializes in creating websites for law enforcement agencies. The Erie County District Attorney's Office's Crimewatch Technologies site includes a downloadable app.

The site for the Erie County District Attorney's Office also features a portal for submitting tips, including anonymously, and a listing of community events for children and youth.

Detectives in the District Attorney's Office help operate the site, Hirz said. She said her office is using proceeds from forfeiture actions to pay Crimewatch Technologies for the site  $13,000 for the first year and $11,000 a year thereafter.

Herz said her office is using drug forfeiture money for the site under regulations that allow forfeiture proceeds to go toward "community-based crime-fighting programs." That area covers maintenance, training and support, Hirz said.

Pa. & civil asset forfeiture: Laws remain problematic despite recent reforms, critics say

Hirz said she asked Crimewatch Technologies to develop her office's site after seeing its work for other district attorneys' offices.

"I looked around the state and saw other DA offices have this tool," Hirz said.

New top prosecutor:As Daneri resigns as DA, his successor will be the first woman in that role in Erie County

Hirz took office in January following the retirement of Jack Daneri, who had been district attorney since 2009 and would have been up for reelection in 2023. Hirz, who was Daneri's first assistant district attorney for eight years, has said she will run for election in 2023.

The previous websites for the Erie County District Attorney's Office were less extensive than the site Hirz has adopted.

Hirz said goal of her office's Crimewatch Technologies site  including the camera registry  is to create new ways to "engage the community and fight crime."

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNpalattella.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: With new website, Erie County DA creates registry for security cameras
EXCLUSIVE: Republican Sen. Mike Lee is taking sides in Missouri's crowded Republican Senate primary for the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Roy Blunt.

Lee, the two-term conservative senator from Utah, endorsed Missouri attorney General Eric Schmitt Tuesday in an announcement shared first with Fox News.

CRUZ BACKS SCHMITT IN MISSOURI'S COMPETITIVE GOP SENATE PRIMARY

"As Attorney General, Eric Schmitt has been a relentless fighter who has taken action at every turn to stop the Biden administration's radical agenda," Lee said in a statement. "Eric Schmitt is the only candidate in Missouris U.S. Senate primary that has the Conservative credentials needed to deliver Republican victories for our nation. He has my strongest endorsement."

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah., speaks during a news conference in the Capitol on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

In thanking Lee for his endorsement, Schmitt said "look forward to standing alongside him to fight back against illegal immigration, take on government overreach, and stand for the rule of law."

Lee is the second high-profile Senate Republican to back Schmitt, following conservative firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who endorsed Schmitt in February.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS 2022 POWER RANKINGS

Schmitt, whos won two statewide elections in Missouri  for treasurer and then attorney general  has made headlines over the past year and a half filing lawsuits against President Bidens administration. He is one of over 20 Republicans vying for their partys nomination in the states Aug. 2 primary.

Schmitt is considered a major GOP contender in the race, along with former Gov. Eric Greitens, who left office in 2018 amid multiple controversies, as well as Rep. Vicky Hartzler in Missouris 4th Congressional District, in the predominantly rural west-central part of the state, Rep. Billy Long in the states 7th Congressional District in southwest Missouri, and Mark McCloskey, the St. Louis attorney who along with his wife grabbed national headlines during the summer of 2020 for holding guns outside their home to warn off Black Lives Matter protesters.

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And Schmitt, along with Greitens and Hartzler, are considered the polling front-runners in the Republican contest. To date, former President Donald Trump remains neutral in the primary battle. The GOP primary winner will be considered the front-runner in Missouri, which was once a competitive state but has trended Republican for well over a decade.

GREITENS HEAVILY CRITICIZED BY BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS FOR RINO HUNTING VIDEO

Greitens on Monday was heavily criticized by both Democrats and Republicans for a campaign video released by his team. In the ad, Greitens touts his Navy SEAL service in the video, as hes seen breaking into a house  while holding a shotgun and flanked by a tactical team  and going on what he called "RINO hunting," encouraging the "bagging and tagging" of moderate Republicans with a "RINO hunting permit."

The videos release comes amid a heightened national focus on political violence, following recent fatal mass shootings and threats to government officials.

And the controversy is the latest to surround Greitens, who been trying to move past graphic allegations of domestic abuse and violence made by his ex-wife in a sworn affidavit filed in March in their child custody case.

CHECK OUT THE FOX NEWS ELECTIONS CENTER FOR THE LATEST PRIMARY RESULTS

The Schmitt campaign originally reacted to the Greitens video with an eye roll emoji.

Asked by Fox News on Tuesday for a statement, Schmitt campaign spokesman Rich Chrismer said "like so many things involving Eric Greitens, this is clearly a cry for attention to satisfy his own ego. We trust Missouri primary voters will send a real fighter in Eric Schmitt to the Senate not a quitter like Eric Greitens."

Evan McMullin, a former CIA officer and Republican turned independent who's launched a third party challenge against Lee in Utah's Senate race, condemned the Greitens video and urged Lee to do likewise.
Wisconsin Sen Ron Johnson wanted to hand-deliver a slate of fake alternate Electoral College votes to Vice President Mike Pence on the morning of January 6, according to a new set of text messages revealed by the select committee investigating the Capitol riot.

In a conversation obtained by the committee and shared publicly for the first time on Tuesday, an aide to Mr Johnson, Sean Riley, told Mr Pences legislative director, Chris Hodgson, that the senator had the information to hand-deliver to the vice president when the latter was on Capitol Hill for the certification of the election later in the day.

The aide to Mr Pence flatly rejected the request, according to the text messages. Mr Pence roundly dismissed the idea that he had constitutional authority to accept any fake sets of electors that were not the lawfully-submitted results from state legislatures in the weeks leading up to January 6.

Do not give that to him, Mr Hodgson wrote to Mr Johnsons aide.

Text messages between an aide to Mike Pence and an aide to Sen Ron Johnson are displayed by the January 6 committee (January 6 select committee)

Mr Johnson was one of the handful of GOP senators who defied the orders of Mitch McConnell and remained active in embracing and spreading Donald Trumps falsehoods about the 2020 election and involved in the effort to interfere in the certification of the results right up until January 6 itself.

The Wisconsin senator is currently up for reelection this year. His support for the alternate supports of electors, which had no legal recognition or backing, changed as the Capitol fell under siege on January 6 and he would later vote to certify all state Electoral College slates as submitted.

Wisconsin Lt Gov Mandela Barnes, who is running for the Democratic nomination for US Senate in the state, called on Mr Johnson to resign after the revelation.

Ron Johnson tried to overturn our election and destroy our democratic process. I'm calling on him to resign.  Mandela Barnes (@TheOtherMandela) June 21, 2022

Other members of Congress were involved in the effort to overturn the election up until the attack on Capitol Hill as well, such as Reps Jim Jordan and Andy Biggs, who, according to Arizonas House Speaker Rusty Bowers on Tuesday, was calling lawmakers in his home state and urging them to overturn the victory of Joe Biden in the state on the morning of January 6.

The falsehoods about the 2020 election led to the storming of Congress later that day by thousands of Trump supporters, many of whom were chanting and threatening violence against US lawmakers.
Assault operations continue in Severodonetsk

Read also: Russia now controls majority of residential areas in Severodonetsk

"There is a high intensity of artillery shelling and bombing," he said.

"The assault operations continue in Severodonetsk. The industrial zone and residential buildings near the industrial zone are being shelled. Street battles are underway in the town."

Read also: Civilians refuse to evacuate from Azot shelters in Severodonetsk, says regional governor

According to Vlasenko, the intensity of hostilities has increased over the past few days.

"There is information that almost all the Russian reserves from the temporarily occupied territories are now on the front lines," the official said.

Read also: Russia has not abandoned its goal of crushing Ukrainian statehood

"So I think the battle for Donbas is now in full swing."

Earlier Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the fate of the Donbas was largely being decided in the battle for Severodonetsk, while the battle for the town was one of the hardest fought in the whole war.
Chinese demand for traditional medicines has sent poachers hunting for African animals from rhinos to pangolins. Now a humbler creature is threatened: donkeys.

Once prized by emperors, a gelatin called ejiao -- made from donkey skins -- is increasingly sought after by China's middle class.

The health benefits are believed similar to products derived from rhino horns, from working as a blood thinner to acting as an aphrodisiac, which could ease pressure on endangered rhinos.

But as in countries from Burkina Faso to Kenya, South Africa is now seeing its donkey population plunge, threatening other businesses that make soaps and creams from donkey milk.

"In South Africa we have seen a rapid decline of the donkey population due to illegal slaughter to supply the Chinese skin trade," said Jesse Christelis, co-founder of the Donkey Dairy.

A recent study by researchers from the University of South Africa showed the donkey population shrank from 210,000 in 1996 to about 146,000 in 2019.

The shrinking supply has sent prices soaring. According to Christelis, a donkey would fetch about $30 at auction five years ago. Now they cost about $125 each.

That is still a relative bargain in China where donkey hides that sold for $473 in 2018 now sell for $1,160.

The ejiao produced from them can sell for up to $360 per kilogram.

South Africa legally exports about 10,500 donkey hides to China every year, but the real quantity is believed much higher as smugglers have tapped into the trade.

"This year, we intercepted two loads of donkeys that were going to Lesotho," said Grace De Lange of the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

- Donkey rustlers -

"On our farm there has been a big focus to go look for donkeys that have been placed in places of misery and we actually buy them out," he told AFP.

"We sit often on most of the auctions whether it is online or a physical auction to out bid the kill-buyers who supply the trade with donkey skins."

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Theft of donkeys also hits small farmers who need the animals to transport their produce.

"Stock theft units need to be more proactive," said Ashley Ness, an inspector at the Highveld Horse Care Unit, an equine welfare agency situated on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

"Instead of taking action after the cause, they should take leads from villages that get approached by suspicious agents."

The top agriculture official in the North West province, Manketsi Tlhape, said they are "investigating all the reported incidents".

However, donkey farmers like Christelis have limited options to protect their herd from thieves.

"We have electric fences, alarms and our donkeys are also micro chipped in case they get stolen," he said.

- Donkey Dairy -

There is scant information on the size of the ejiao market, but the Britain-based animal welfare group Donkey Sanctuary estimated that in 2019 China needed five million skins to supply to the trade.

In contrast, the market for products using donkey milk is still in its infancy. The size of the global donkey milk market is projected to reach just $16 million by 2026.

South Africa has two donkey dairies, but they may not be viable if prices for the animals keep rising.

Kenya banned donkey slaughter in 2020, after the populations there plunged due to the skin trade.

Donkey milk is believed to contain antioxidant, antimicrobial and antidiabetic properties.

"I think the donkey skin trade is definitely a threat to donkey dairies in South Africa and across Africa," said Christelis, who owns 116 donkeys at his farm.

"The increased demand for donkey milk is mainly from people suffering from eczema, psoriasis," he said. "Seeing the donkey population being depleted, we don't know if the demand for donkey milk will be met."

str-gs/sn/gw
Jun. 21State police at Frackville released information on a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred early Saturday morning.

Police said a 66-year-old man, whom they did not identify, died as a result of the crash.

The man, police said, was driving on Route 443, at the intersection with Orchard Lane in East Brunswick Twp., around 12:30 a.m. when he struck a large, rotted tree that had fallen onto the highway and blocked both lanes of travel.

The man was eastbound at the time he struck the tree. Police said the man was pronounced dead at the scene by a Schuylkill County deputy coroner.

"The name of the operator is not being released at this time in order to notify the next of kin," police said.
Robert Smigel, who voices Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and seven staff members of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert were detained by Capitol Police late Thursday after interviewing members of Congress about the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.

"After they'd finished their interviews, they were doing some last-minute puppetry and jokey make-em-ups in a hallway, when Triumph and my folks were approached and detained by the Capitol Police  which actually isn't that surprising," Colbert said on Monday's Late Show. "The Capitol Police are much more cautious than they were, say, 18 months ago, and for a very good reason. If you don't know what that reason is, I know what news network you watch."

Everyone was calm, professional, and doing their job, Colbert said. It was "a very unpleasant experience for my staff, a lot of paperwork for the Capitol Police, but a fairly simple story. Until the next night, when a couple of the TV people started claiming that my puppet squad had 'committed insurrection' at the Capitol building." They weren't in the Capitol, he said, and "I am shocked that I have to explain the difference, but an insurrection involves disrupting the lawful actions of Congress and howling for the blood of elected leaders, all to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. This was first-degree puppetry. This was high jinks with intent to goof. Misappropriation of an old Conan bit."

Colbert suggested the unidentified TV talking heads were using Triumph's brief detention to avoid talking about the Jan. 6 hearings. "In this case, our puppet was just a puppet, doing puppet stuff," he said. "And sad to say, so much has changed in Washington that the Capitol Police do have to stay at high alert at all times, because of the attack on Jan. 6. And as the hearings prove more clearly every day, the blame for that actual insurrection all lies with Putin's puppet."

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A Lemont, Illinois, man running to be the Republican nominee in the heavily Democratic 1st Congressional District spent nearly six years in prison after being convicted 27 years ago of sexually assaulting a woman following the South Side Irish Parade, records show.

Eric Carlson, 54, was found guilty in 1995 of criminal sexual assault. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and served about half that time, according to court and Illinois prison records. Carlson is one of four candidates in the June 28 primary seeking the GOP nomination to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush.

According to court records in his unsuccessful appeal of his conviction, Carlson met a woman at a bar in 1994 near the South Side Irish Parade route on the day of the parade.

The woman testified she left the bar with Carlson and agreed to accompany him in his car to another bar, but instead he pulled the car around a street corner and assaulted her as she begged him to stop, according to court records in the case.

In his 1996 appeal, Carlson testified the sex was consensual, according to court records.

Asked last week whether the sexual assault conviction would make it difficult for him to represent residents of the district, which stretches from the South Loop to the edge of Kankakee County, Carlson said he is better suited than other candidates to represent citizens in Washington, D.C., because I know the ins and outs of the system.

Im the only one who has lived all of this stuff, he said.

The Tribune is not identifying the woman because it is the newspapers policy not to name individuals who have been sexually assaulted.

It is legal for candidates with felony convictions to run for and hold seats in Congress. However, members of Congress can be expelled by their congressional peers. The House in 2002 expelled U.S. Rep. James Traficant of Ohio several months after he was convicted of bribery, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

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Carlson and the other Republican candidates are long shots to win the Illinois seat in the November general election because the district was drawn to be heavily Democratic. During last years 10-year remap of congressional boundaries in response to the U.S. census, Illinois Democrats in Springfield designed the district to continue to heavily favor their party.

Rush has held the seat since 1993, and prior to Rush the 1st District seat has been held by Black Democrats for decades. Seventeen Democrats are vying for that partys nomination to represent the 1st, a field stacked with well-funded, well-known candidates.

____
As the nation awaits a decision on whether the U.S. Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost wants threats to anti-abortion pregnancy resource centers investigated swiftly.

Neither Yost, through a spokeswoman, nor Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said they were aware of any recent violence against pregnancy centers in Ohio. However, the FBI is investigating a series of attacks and threats on anti-abortion pregnancy resource centers across the country.

"In America, we solve our differences with debates and ballots, not with bricks and Molotov cocktails," Yost, a Republican, wrote in a letter signed by 18 others, including Kentucky's Daniel Cameron, to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. "Political violence  no matter the cause, and no matter the perpetrator  must be punished, and harshly."

In May, a far-left extremist group called Jane's Revenge claimed responsibility for throwing two Molotov cocktails into a Wisconsin anti-abortion lobbying group's office. No one was injured. The group also took credit for damage to a Des Moines pregnancy center in early June.

"The FBI takes all threats seriously and we continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners and will remain vigilant to protect our communities," according to the FBI's Office of Public Affairs, adding that anyone who observes suspicious activity should call their local FBI field office or submit a tip to tips.fbi.gov.

In January 2021, four people were charged with disrupting a Respect Life Mass at Saint Joseph's Cathedral in downtown Columbus. They were later convicted in state court of disorderly conduct, a minor misdemeanor.

In Ohio, taxpayers contribute to these pregnancy resource centers, which oppose abortion and support alternatives like adoption or raising the child. Opponents criticize the centers for posing as clinics to trick those seeking the procedure.

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Gov. Mike DeWine doled out $1.5 million to these organizations shortly before the May primary. They also received $6 million in the state's two-year budget.

The FBI has investigated threats against abortion providers. Last October, James David Hampton, of London, Ohio, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for threatening members of the Abortion Support Network, a nonprofit that helps people obtain abortions.

"I take great pride in hunting scum like you and killing you," Hampton wrote online, along with vivid details of violence.

Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ahead of Roe v. Wade decision, FBI probes anti-abortion center threats
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal from Bayer that sought to throw out a bellwether lawsuit alleging that its Roundup weed killer is carcinogenic.

The decision means a judgment ordering the company to pay $25 million to Edwin Hardeman will remain in place.

Hardemans lawsuit claimed his use of Roundup led him to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

In May, a San Francisco federal appeals court agreed with a trial verdict finding Monsanto, which Bayer acquired in 2018, did not adequately warn consumers about the cancer risk connected to the product.

In that ruling, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals described Hardemans case as a bellwether that could clear the way thousands of similar lawsuits.

Monsanto appealed the decision to the high court, arguing that an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finding that the product was safe superseded Californias failure-to-warn-law, the basis for the ruling.

The Environmental Protection Agencys website still lists a finding that there is no evidence that glysophate, Roundups active ingredient, causes cancer. However, the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer deemed it probably carcinogenic to humans in 2015.

In December, the court asked for input from the U.S. Solicitor General on the matter. Although Bayer expressed hope its appeal would be heard at the time, the company expressed disappointment in a statement Tuesday.

The company believes that the decision undermines the ability of companies to rely on official actions taken by expert regulatory agencies, as it permits every U.S. state to require a different product label, a Bayer spokesman said, claiming this contradicted federal statute. While this decision brings an end to the Hardeman case, there are likely to be future cases, including Roundup cases, that present the U.S. Supreme Court with preemption questions like Hardeman and could also create a Circuit split.

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Attorney Majed Nachawati, who represents thousands of other plaintiffs who claim the product contributed to their cancer, hailed the decision in a statement Tuesday.

The Supreme Court has spoken loud and clear. Bayer and Monsanto cannot shirk responsibility to cancer victims who have been harmed by cancer-causing Roundup weedkiller, he said. We are looking forward to the next trial so another jury can hear the facts.

 Updated at 1:33 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In a decision that will allow private schools greater access to public funds, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Maine cannot bar parochial academies from participating in a school choice program. The judgment continues the courts gradual loosening of restrictions on religious institutions receiving direct assistance from the state over the past few years.

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The courts conservative majority handed down a 6-3 ruling in favor of the plaintiffs, a group of parents who argued that their preferred schools were unconstitutionally excluded from Maines state tuition initiative. The case, Carson v. Makin, focused on the question of whether such programs  which pay for children to attend private schools in cases where their own rural communities dont have public high schools  can mandate that only nonsectarian schools be included.

Attorneys debated the rulings scope, with some asserting that it could pave the way for publicly funded charter schools with openly religious orientations.

Related: Equal Treatment, not Special Treatment: Conservative Supreme Court Justices Appear Ready to Strike Down Religious Barriers to Public School Choice Funding

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts argued that explicitly prohibiting families from using public dollars to pay for tuition at religious schools amounted to a violation of the First Amendments free exercise clause, which upholds the liberty of citizens to practice their religion as they see fit.

The State pays tuition for certain students at private schools  so long as the schools are not religious. That is discrimination against religion, Roberts wrote. A States antiestablishment interest does not justify enactments that exclude some members of the community from an otherwise generally available public benefit because of their religious exercise.

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Dave and Amy Carson of Glenburn, Maine, sent their daughter, Olivia, to Bangor Christian Schools. (Institute for Justice)

In this, Roberts echoed his own 2020 ruling in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue. That case similarly concerned a state tax-credit scholarship that sought to prevent recipients from choosing parochial schools. Many legal scholars believed the 5-4 decision called into serious question the applicability of no-aid provisions in state constitutions (sometimes referred to as Blaine amendments), which forbid state funds from supporting churches or other religious institutions.

The plaintiffs in Carson, who wished to send their children to Christian schools in Bangor and Waterville, were represented by lawyers from the Institute for Justice, a prominent libertarian law firm. Lead attorney Michael Bindas said that the ruling was somewhat limited because in most states, voucher or other private school choice programs already permit the participation of religious schools.

But it could still impact the future adoption of such programs in state legislatures, Bindas argued. Often, detractors argue that the provision of public funds to religious institutions is simply unconstitutional. Carson takes that argument off the table completely, he said.

It makes absolutely clear that a state can have a school choice program, and if it does, it has to remain neutral between religion and non-religion. It cannot exclude a parents choice of school simply because it is religious or teaches religion. Therefore this argument that religion must be excluded  or that a program is somehow impermissible because it includes religion  is just a non-issue now.

Troy and Amy Nelson sent their children, Alicia and Royce, to Erskine Academy, a secular private school that participates in the tuition assistance program. They were among the plaintiffs in Carson v. Maine. (Institute for Justice)

John Taylor, a law professor at the West Virginia University College of Law, said the decision further weakened the existing precedent set in the 2004 Locke v. Davey case, in which a majority argued that the state of Washington could prevent beneficiaries of a publicly funded college scholarship from studying to become pastors. Given both Espinoza and Tuesdays decision, Taylor said, the scope of that litigation is now considerably narrowed.

After todays opinion, Locke is just a case saying states may refuse to fund the training of ministers, he wrote in an email. Aside from the narrow factual context of Locke, the law now leaves no room for states that wish to require a greater degree of separation between church and state than the Federal Constitution requires.

But a further controversy will outlast the debate over voucher and tax-credit programs. Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, in a dissent, posed a question that also hung over earlier decisions: If states can no longer discriminate against private religious academies when disbursing aid, could public schools  most notably charter schools  also decide to adopt religious missions?

Related: In 5-4 Espinoza Ruling, Supreme Court Allows Public Funding for Religious Schools

What happens once may becomes must? Breyer asked. Does that transformation mean that a school district that pays for public schools must pay equivalent funds to parents who wish to send their children to religious schools? Does it mean that school districts that give vouchers for use at charter schools must pay equivalent funds to parents who wish to give their children a religious education?

Bindas called that possibility an unwarranted concern.

Public schools, including charter schools, are public; the government not only can, but must ensure that public schools are non-religious, he observed. The issue arises when the government has a program that includes private options, and its at that point that government cannot single out and exclude religious private options.

But Derek Black, a professor at the University of South Carolina Law School and frequent critic of education reform, wrote in an email that states might have to dismantle their entire apparatus of school choice programs in order to prevent them from being exploited by religious operators.

Related: Supreme Court Wont Hear Post-Trinity Lutheran Case, but Conservative Justices Anticipate Needing to Settle the Issue of State Support of Religious Organizations

This case throws fuel on the fire of those arguing that states must allow churches to operate public charter schools and teach religion as truth inside of them, Black argued. If that comes to fruition, states will have lost all control over the education they try to ensure for children, even in charter schools that call themselves public. That possibility is so radical  and radically at odds with public interests  that the only responsible choice for states is to entirely shut down their charter and voucher school programs, lest the state be forced to fund education that does not align with state values and curriculum.
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  A flight by private Syrian airline Cham Wings landed on Tuesday at an airport used by Russias military in the coastal province of Latakia in western Syria, the country's state news agency reported.

The flight from the city of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates was the first to land in at the airbase since Damascus airport was damaged by an Israeli airstrike earlier this month.

It is also the first Syrian international flight to land at the facility since Russia took it over after joining the war in Syria in September 2015, helping tip the balance of power in favor of Syrian President Bashar Assads forces.

The Bassel al-Assad International Airport  known by the Russians as the Hmeimeem base  serves Latakia, Syria's key port on the Mediterranean.

The June 10 Israeli airstrike that struck Damascus International Airport caused significant damage to infrastructure and runways and rendered the main runway unserviceable. Work is still ongoing to fix the damage.

Since then, flights have been mostly diverted to the international airport in the northern city of Aleppo, Syrias largest city and once its principal commercial center.

The Hmeimeem base is home to Russian warplanes that have for years been used to stage bombing runs against Assad's opponents as well as suspected hideouts of the Islamic State group. In 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin landed at the base where he met with Assad and top Russian and Syrian officers.

Israels military has declined to comment on the Damascus airport airstrike. The Syrian capital's airport is located just south of Damascus, where Syrian opposition activists say Iran-backed militiamen are active and have arms depots.

Israel has staged hundreds of strikes on targets in Syria over the years but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations. The airport strike marked a major escalation in Israel's years-long campaign of airstrikes in Syria, further ratcheting up tensions between Israel on one side and Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah on the other.

Israel says it targets bases of Iran-allied militias, such as the militant Hezbollah group, which has fighters deployed in Syria fighting on the side of Assads government forces and ships arms believed to be bound for the militias.
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan scrambled jets on Tuesday to warn away 29 Chinese aircraft in its air defence zone, including bombers that flew south of the island and into the Pacific, in the latest uptick in tensions and largest incursion since late May.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained in recent years of repeated missions by the Chinese air force near the democratically governed island, often in the southwestern part of its air defence identification zone, or ADIZ, close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.

Taiwan calls China's repeated nearby military activities "grey zone" warfare, designed to both wear out Taiwanese forces by making them repeatedly scramble, and also to test Taiwanese responses.

The latest Chinese mission included 17 fighters and six H-6 bombers, as well as electronic warfare, early warning, antisubmarine and aerial refuelling aircraft, Taiwan's defence ministry said.

Some of the aircraft flew northeast of the Pratas, according to a map the ministry provided.

However, the bombers, accompanied by an electronic warfare and an intelligence gathering aircraft, flew into the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines and into the Pacific, before turning back to China on the same route.

Taiwan sent combat aircraft to warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems monitored them, the ministry said, using standard wording for its response.

It was the largest incursion since Taiwan reported 30 Chinese aircraft in its ADIZ on May 30. The largest to date this year occurred on Jan. 23, involving 39 aircraft.

There was no immediate comment from China, which has in the past said that such moves were drills aimed at protecting the country's sovereignty.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said on Wednesday the large-scale exercise by the Chinese military showed China's military threat is "more serious than ever".

"But there's no way #Taiwan will cave in & surrender its sovereignty & democracy to the big bully. Not a chance!," Wu said on Twitter.

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A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Reuters in an email that Beijing should "cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure and intimidation against Taiwan".

China launched its third aircraft carrier on Friday, the Fujian, named after the province opposite Taiwan.

China's military said last month it had conducted an exercise around Taiwan as a "solemn warning" against its "collusion" with the United States.

That came after U.S. President Joe Biden angered China by appearing to signal a change in a U.S. policy of "strategic ambiguity" on Taiwan by saying the United States would get involved militarily if China were to attack the island.

China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan to accept its sovereignty claims. The Taipei government says it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked.

No shots have been fired and the Chinese aircraft have not been flying in Taiwan's air space, but in its ADIZ, a broader area Taiwan monitors and patrols that acts to give it more time to respond to any threats.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Michael Martina in Washington; additional reporting by Yimou Lee; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel, Mark Heinrich and Gerry Doyle)
Cant say a player is holding out, I suppose, when hes actually in the building.

But star defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons  who was healthy, by all accounts  wasnt on the field practicing with Tennessee Titans teammates during last weeks mandatory minicamp.

Why not? We dont know.

When asked, Simmons was evasive. He only said vaguely that he was unavailable to practice as part of a plan he had with coach Mike Vrabel. On the surface, that didnt pass the smell test. Vrabel wants players to practice.

Simmons didnt say it was about his contract.

But it seemed like it was about his contract.

To get there didn't take a leap in reasoning. Simmons is entering the fourth of a five-year rookie deal that isnt paying him anywhere close to what he is rightfully earning with the Titans. He has already caused so much havoc on offensive lines to draw comparisons to the incomparable Aaron Donald.

Five years ago, Donald sat out training camp while in the same situation.

I cant tell if Simmons is going to hold out  or "hold in," as it were, by reporting to training camp and declining to practice. Doesnt sound like he knows.

Ill be out there in camp, Simmons attested last week before qualifying it slightly: My goal is to be out there in camp.

Those are two contrasting thoughts that say different things. It's overly parsing words to point that out, but a drama-filled NFL offseason requires such parsing.

ROOKIE RB: How patience built Hassan Haskins' path to the Tennessee Titans

UPDATE: Four things we've learned thus far from Titans' offseason program

GENTRY ESTES: Suddenly, the Titans are leaning on their defense again

An obvious call for Titans

Precious few NFL players are truly irreplaceable to a franchises success moving forward, and the Titans just traded one of theirs to the Philadelphia Eagles. The only positive in flipping A.J. Brown for rookie replacement Treylon Burks was the extra cap space to help provide Simmons a new contract he deserves.

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And he does deserve it.

The NFL as a whole hasnt quite figured out how much of a monster Simmons already has become on the field. He wasnt initially voted to last seasons Pro Bowl, and yet cameras for HBOs Hard Knocks revealed a conversation in which Indianapolis Colts were advocating for Simmons. The Colts understand. They play the Titans twice each season.

Performance alone would be enough, but it's what Simmons has become in the Titans locker room, too. Prior to each game, defensive players circle around two teammates on the field for inspiration: Safety Kevin Byard and Simmons.

Impressive leadership for such a young player, but the respect has never felt out of place. Hes just that dude. Its obvious how much Big Jeff means to the Titans.

Thus its obvious what must be done to keep him.

So obvious that Id say its even inevitable, hardly worth worrying about as a Titans fan. But youre going to worry. Browns trade did that. It was so stunningly unwelcome that itll leave scars.

In hindsight, though, you see that the Titans  frustrated by moving goalposts in negotiations and even being asked for a trade  had reason to part ways with Brown.

Not Simmons. Not even close.

Not my saying that. Its him.

We're going to miss A.J. around here, but I mean, that don't have nothing to do with me, honestly, Simmons said. My goal is to do my job. I don't play receiver. I play D-line. I'm still here. I've got to still be a leader for this team and play my role.

How a hold-in happens

At issue for Simmons isnt whether hes going to get paid huge money. Itll be the sooner or later part that causes ripples.

Heres why: Fourteen teammates have a higher average salary right now (per Spotrac) than Simmons.

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) gets his teammates hyped up before facing the Bengals during the AFC Divisional playoff game at Nissan Stadium Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022 in Nashville, Tenn.

His 2022 base salary of $2.2 million from his rookie deal is slightly below guard Nate Davis and safety Amani Hooker  members of the same draft class -- and roughly the same as Brent Kern (an outstanding punter, but you see the point).

Spotrac has Simmons market value at $21 million. Hes looking at playing in 2022 for basically one-tenth of what hes worth.

The concept of "holding out" has changed in the NFL. Rather than face added fines for missing training camp, it's far more likely that Simmons would technically report and choose to sit out practices over a contract dispute.

If he does that without a new deal in the coming weeks, who could blame him?

At the same time, its incredible value for the Titans. Why would they put a costly new contract on the books when Simmons is signed through the 2023 season?

These rock-and-a-hard-place situations have become common in the decade since the NFL began implementing its restrictions on rookie salaries.

Nonetheless, it has been rare for a first-round pick to agree to an extension with two seasons remaining on his first deal. Since 2014, less than half the teams in the league have completed one, per CBS Sports. The Titans havent.

Even Donald couldnt force one.

Entering his fourth NFL season in 2017, Donald attended the Los Angeles Rams minicamp but then held out through training camp, reporting just in time  without a new deal  to not miss any game checks and sitting out the season opener.

It all worked out. Months of missed work didn't keep Donald from the NFL's defensive player of the year award in 2017. He won it with a salary of about $1.8 million. He won it again the following season after a $40 million signing bonus from his second contract.

After winning the Super Bowl, the Rams just handed Donald what amounted to a $40 million raise  the wealthiest deal for a non-quarterback in league history  for him not to retire at 31.

Simmons will turn 25 about the time the Titans start training camp. His comparisons to Donald, while perhaps premature or exaggerated, are not so off base as to say that one has nothing to do with the other. Simmons has that type of ability.

And eventually, that will also make Simmons an extremely wealthy man.

I'd imagine that's the real plan, even if it means a few more missed practices between now and then.

Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Gentry_Estes.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Would Tennessee Titans star Jeffery Simmons hold out of training camp?
A 5-year-old boy died inside of a hot car in Harris County, Texas, on Monday, making him the sixth child this year to succumb to the dangerous effects of heat while trapped in a vehicle.

The Houston-area boy was accidentally left in the car for several hours as the family prepared to celebrate the birthday of his 8-year-old sister, KWTX reported. After returning from a shopping trip with her daughter and son, the mother of the boy assumed both kids had exited the car on their own, but the boy remained in the vehicle.

Temperatures in Harris County climbed to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday, more than hot enough to make even a short amount of time in an enclosed vehicle dangerous. Cars can quickly heat up even when temperatures are less extreme, with children having suffered from and died from heat exhaustion when temperatures were relatively mild.

Investigators examine a vehicle in Harris County, Texas, where a 5-year-old child died Monday, June 20, 2022, in an apparent hot car death.

"It's important for families to understand that it doesn't have to be 90 degrees outside for a child to suffer from heatstroke inside of a vehicle," Amber Rollins, director of the national non-profit organization Kids and Car Safety, the national nonprofit organization that works to prevent hot car deaths and injuries, previously told AccuWeather. "We've seen children who have died in hot cars on days where the outside temperature was in the 50s or 60s outside, believe it or not, and that's because a vehicle does act like a greenhouse, so it allows that heat to come in through the windows, traps it inside and it's an oven. It heats up very quickly."

It can take just minutes for temperatures in the car to rise to dangerous levels; 80% of the temperature increase inside the car occurs within the first 10 minutes, according to data from Kids and Car Safety.

Nearly 150 kids have died in hot cars in Texas since 1990, the highest number of hot car deaths per state in the nation. Nationwide, more than 1,000 kids have lost their lives trapped in hot cars since 1990, with another 7,300 surviving, according to data collected by Kids and Car Safety.

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The majority of such deaths of children under 2 years of age were due to otherwise attentive caregivers simply forgetting the child in the vehicle, data from the National Safety Council and San Jose State University show.

Santa Ana, California, police officer Irene Gomez looks into a minivan where a 5-month-old girl died after being left in a hot car for five hours on Sept. 9, 2004. (Photo/Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

"Unfortunately, this is yet another example of why it is extremely important to have effective occupant detection technology as standard equipment in all vehicles as quickly as possible," stated Janette Fennell, the founder and president of Kids and Car Safety. "Every day that we delay in advancing these cost-effective detection technologies means children are needlessly at risk of dying. An occupant detection and alert system could have gotten assistance to this sweet angel before it was too late."

GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Two car manufacturers - Hyundai and Kia - have rear-occupant alert systems in certain models that can detect whether someone has been left in the backseat after the car is turned off. Parents can also purchase devices to remind themselves to check the backseat of their car.

Law enforcement officials and other experts caution parents and other caregivers to take preventative measures to avoid leaving a child or family pet inside a hot vehicle, especially during the summer months.

They advise the following:

 Make it a habit of opening the back door every time you park to ensure no one is left behind. To enforce this habit, place an item that you can't start your day without in the backseat (handbag, wallet, briefcase, employee badge, laptop, phone, etc.)

 If others are in the vehicle with the driver, clearly announce and confirm who is getting each child out of the vehicle.

 Keep a stuffed animal or a diaper bag in the front seat as a visual reminder or cue that the child is with you.

Editor's Note: The number of hot car deaths this year in the United States is six, not five as this story initially stated. A representative from Kids and Cars Safety confirmed the figure to AccuWeather and said the total number of five was sent in a press release by mistake.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Thieves stole more than 100 gallons of gas in a multi-day heist, South Carolina officials said. Now, police are asking the public for help.

On June 11 and June 16, thieves pulled into a lot full of U-Hauls at 610 Keith Drive in a Lexus convertible to steal gas, according to a news release from the Greenville Police Department.

Gas prices are high and we definitely know that, but its still not fair for you to take the gas from somebody else that paid for it, Sgt. Jonathan Bragg told WSPA. Times are tough right now, but reach out for assistance. Dont steal gas. Dont steal from other people, because you dont know how hard they had to work to get to that gas in their cars.

The Lexus seemed to have a hidden transfer tank in the trunk used to take the gas, according to the release.

On June 16, the Lexus lost its front bumper during the theft, police said. The next day, a gray Toyota SUV stopped by to pick up the bumper.

Police released security footage of the vehicles in the hopes it might help the public recognize the identity of the thieves but havent announced any official suspects.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 864-23-CRIME.

Greenville is about 104 miles northwest of Columbia.

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Some things from yesteryear are difficult to fathom.

Gas used to be 60 cents a gallon. People would dress up to go to ballgames, church and airline flights. Most everything coming from your television was delivered by four channels.

Heres another. The Thunder once was a quality 3-point shooting team.

You could look it up.

From 2011-12 through 2013-14, OKC was in the upper half of NBA teams in 3-point accuracy  the Thunder ranked 11th in 2011-12, third in 2012-13 (where have you gone, Kevin Martin?) and 14th in 2013-14.

Better yet, OKC ranked higher in 3-point percentage than in 3-point attempts.

Those days are long gone, of course. Since Kevin Durants departure on Independence Day 2016, only once has the Thunder ranked better than 22nd among the 30 NBA teams. Alas, in four of those six years, the Thunder has ranked in the upper half of 3-point attempts per game.

In other words, OKC shoots a lot and doesnt make a lot.

Some of that is just general incompetence. When youre not very good, which the Thunder has not been the last two seasons, many 3-point shots are nothing-else-to-try shots. Work for a good shot, dont find one, someone jacks it up. Or when youre down 22 with four minutes, whats the point in NOT firing up a 3-pointer. Its all rec-center stuff at that point.

More: Jaden Ivey, Chet Holmgren talk fit with Thunder ahead of 2022 NBA Draft

More: Here are 10 intriguing players OKC Thunder could target at No. 34 in 2022 NBA Draft

The Durant departure was bound to cripple the OKC offense, but that transition arrived about the same time as the NBA revolution of 3-pointers.

In 2011-12, the Thunder averaged 20 3-point shots a game, which placed OKC 12th in the league. This season, the Chicago Bulls ranked last in the NBA in 3-point attempts, at 28.8 per game. Ten years earlier, that number would have ranked first.

So, the game has changed. Far more 3-pointers going up, and theyre like baseball home runs. Required for success. Baseball teams cant survive trying to play small ball these days; basketball teams cant survive avoiding the deep ball.

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As the Thunder rebuild continues with the 2022 draft Thursday night, 3-point shooting must be a priority. OKC must improve its shooting to improve its NBA standing.

And good news has arrived. With the No. 2 pick, the Thunder almost surely will land one of three big men -- Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr. or Paolo Banchero. All are quality 3-point shooters.

The 7-foot Holmgren made 39 percent of his 3-point shots for Gonzaga. Smith made 42 percent of his 3-point shots for Auburn. Banchero made 33.8 percent of his 3-point shots for Duke but is projected to improve.

The Thunder likely will come home from the draft with either Smith or Holmgren. Be still my heart.

The college 3-point line is a little closer than the NBA 3-point line but traditionally has been a good indicator of pro success.

More good news: the Thunder also has the No. 12 pick in the draft, which means Sam Presti could add another shooter.

The Thunder rarely has done so. Josh Giddey was no shooter at all coming out of Australia a year ago, but Tre Mann, picked 18th overall, was a 42-percent 3-point shooter his final season at Florida and was a solid 36-percent deep-ball shooter as a Thunder rookie.

But Aleksej Pokusevski (2020 draft) was not an accomplished shooter coming out of Europe, same with Darius Bazley in 2019.

However, Terrance Ferguson in 2017 was considered a 3-point threat. Ferguson didnt pan out as a Thunder shooter. Neither did Cameron Payne, taken in the 2015 draft and a good shooter at Murray State.

So you never know. But with that 12th pick, Presti has the option to again try to find a shooting phenom.

All kinds of prospects are being listed as potential Thunder targets, either at No. 12 or a little higher, via trade. The Thunder is not likely to get into the running for Purdues Jaden Ivey or Iowas Keegan Murphy; both are quality 3-point prospects.

More: Shaedon Sharpe's OKC Thunder ties & takeaways from top NBA prospects' pre-draft interviews

Heres how the draftable players in the Thunder pick zone stack up as 3-point threats:

Benedict Mathurin, 6-7, Arizona: Over two seasons, Mathurin made 38.3 percent of his 3-point shots. A quality player who probably wont be available at No. 12.

A.J. Griffin, 6-6, Duke: The wing made 44.7 percent of his 3-point shots and averaged 4.1 attempts per game. An intriguing shooter who also can play.

Malaki Branham, 6-5, Ohio State: Probably considered a stretch to go as high as 12th, but Branham made 41.6 percent of his 3-point shots in his lone season as a Buckeye.

Ochai Agbaji, 6-5, Kansas: A four-year Jayhawk, Agbaji probably doesnt follow the Thunder timeline. But Agbaji shot 40.7 percent from 3-point range last season and 37.3 percent for his career. So a legitimate shooter.

E.J. Liddell, 6-7, Ohio State: Shot few 3-point shots two years ago as a freshman, but improved to .338 a year ago and .374 this past season, so quite promising.

Jalen Williams, 6-6, Santa Clara: The guard made 35.2 percent of his 3-point shots as a freshman, 27.4 percent as a sophomore and 39.6 percent as a junior. So you tell me.

Johnny Davis, 6-5, Wisconsin: The point guard made 38.9 percent in 2020-21 on limited attempts, then fell to 30.6 percent on more frequent attempts. Who knows?

Shaedon Sharp, 6-5, Kentucky: The athletic phenom didnt play this past season at UK, so his game is a mystery. Sharp is projected as a solid 3-point shooter, but theres little data to support that.

Nikola Jovic, 6-11, Serbia: In limited attempts, Jovic made 40 percent of his deep balls in the Euro League last season.

Jaden Hardy, 6-4, G League Ignite: Hardy skipped college basketball to play for the Ignite this past season but is a first-round prospect. He made 33.6 percent of his 3-point shots in 13 G League games.

Tari Eason, 6-8, Louisiana State: The two-year forward at LSU was shaky from deep as a freshman (.241) but improved to 35.9 percent this past season.

Ousmane Dieng, 6-9, New Zealand Breakers: A Giddey clone. Excellent skills for being so tall. Ballhandling, passing, etc. Alas, Dieng shot just 27.1 percent from 3-point range with the New Zealand Breakers last season as an 18-year-old in the Australian National Basketball League.

Dalen Terry, 6-7, Arizona: Not likely at No. 12, but potentially at No. 34, the guard improved to 36.4 percent from deep last season.

Dyson Daniels, 6-8, G League Ignite: The Australian 19-year-old is a jack-of-all-trades prospect  except his shooting is suspect. He made just 25.5 percent from deep in 14 G League games.

Blake Wesley, 6-5, Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish wing seems to be rising on the draft list but made just 30.3 percent of his deep shots in his lone South Bend season.

Jeremy Sochan, 6-9, Baylor: The versatile British import can do many everything well  except shoot. Sochan made just 29.6 percent of his 3-point shots.

Marjon Beauchamp, 6-6, G League Ignite: Athletic, but made just 30.3 percent of his G League 3-point shots in 12 games last season.

TyTy Washington, 6-3, Kentucky: Could fall to the second round, but Washington made 35 percent of his 3-point shots in his lone season at UK.

Jalen Duren, 6-11, Memphis: The center attempted no 3-point shots for the Tigers.

Mark Williams, 7-0, Duke: The center took no 3-point shots in two seasons with the Blue Devils.

'Keep riding it': OU baseball beats Notre Dame, moves a win away from College World Series finals

Sooners stay aggressive in Omaha

The dangdest baseball play Ive ever seen came in a White Sox-Yankee game from 1985. Rickey Henderson hit a 400-foot double into the gap, with two runners on base.

But New Yorks lead runner, Bobby Meacham, stumbled, with teammate Larry Berra on his tail. They both rounded third base, as centerfielder Luis Salazar threw to shortstop Ozzie Guillen, who relayed it to catcher Carlton Fisk.

Fisk tagged out Meacham, stumbled, then realized Berra was barreling home, too. Fisk reached out and tagged Berra for a crazy double play. All happened within a second or two.

Then came the fourth inning of the OU-Notre Dame on Sunday night in the College World Series in Omaha.

The Sooners Sebastian Orduno was thrown out at third base, trying for a leadoff triple on a ball that scooted past Notre Dame left fielder Ryan Cole. Then OUs John Spikerman was thrown out at third base, ending the inning after Peyton Grahams single to right.

You know the old saying, you never make the first or third outs at third? There are exceptions to every rule. But Ive never seen both happen in the same inning.

Moreso, the Spikerman play was one for the ages. Notre Dame third base Jack Brannigan made a sweeping tag on Spikerman, but the ball flew out of Brannigans and went straight into third-base coach Clay Van Hooks midsection. Hit him in a place that hurts, if you know what I mean.

Van Hook doubled over and turned away. Meanwhile, Spikerman never knew the ball was out of Brannigans glove. Spikerman rounded third, stopped and resigned himself to being out. Brannigan scurried over to retrieve the ball, and as Van Hook sort of came to himself and figured out what was going on, Spikerman walked in the general direction of third base and was tagged out.

Not the Carlton Fisk turnstile, but still quite crazy.

And a perfect salute to this wild OU baseball team, which has come from obscurity to being one of two unbeaten teams still remaining in Omaha. The Sooners are in college baseballs final four and have an excellent chance to make the championship series.

Many are the reasons OU has taken the sport by storm. But aggression is near the top of the list. The Sooners are charging up San Juan Hill.

They rank fourth in college baseball in stolen bases, and that attitude hasnt dissipated in Omaha. OU was caught stealing twice in its 13-8 victory over Texas A&M on Friday night, but the Sooners were 3-of-4 on stolen bases vs. Notre Dame.

OU also had Wallace Clark bunt with one out and runners on first and third in the fifth inning against the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame first baseman Carter Putz threw the ball down the right-field line; two runners scored and Clark went to third. He eventually scored, too, for a 5-0 OU lead.

Yeah, that's the momentum of the game we talk about a lot, OU coach Skip Johnson said of the three-run fifth inning, right after the fourth-inning debacle. I thought it, man, we just lost the momentum. Put the momentum back on the other side.

But you can take the momentum back with a guy like (pitcher) Cade Horton and what he did.

Horton in the top of the fifth inning held Notre Dame scoreless again, paving the way for the big blow in the bottom of the inning, all on a little bunt.

Yeah, we strive, we emphasize executing and doing your job, Clark said. And once you do that, everything will fall into place. And I was able to do that today.

Johnson recalled his many trips to Omaha with the Texas Longhorns.

I can remember Coach (Augie) Garrido talking about the team that gets the most comfortable when they get here, they play good, Johnson said. And we've kind of played our two games real aggressive.

Carlson: As OU baseball chases College World Series title, it can add to Sooners' spectacular spring

Tramel's ScissorTales: Are the 2022 OU Sooners the greatest softball team in NCAA history?

Mailbag: OU softball as greatest team ever

OU softball is evergreen content.

Brett: Just got around to reading your Scissortales about the greatest softball team. You contradict yourself. You wrote that in this era, hitting reigns currently whereas pitching reigned 30 years ago and had some stats to back that up. Was there some significant rule change not mentioned in the article that caused that? I dont know of any, but I am just a casual softball fan. If not, then the game changed because the players changed.

"The scores of the first five WCWS had a median score of 2-0 in your article. In the last 14 years, you write the scores are significantly more. If OU 2022 played Arizona 1994 in some sort of time warp game, OU would most likely beat them about 10-2. Why? Because they have better players. The players have been improving for 30 years. For instance, I am sure that Arizona 1994 would have liked to have hit 155 home runs, but they could only get 93 and that was considered phenomenal. Well, 1994 phenomenal isnt 2022 phenomenal.

"You do mention context, but unless the rules changed, they all played the exact same game. If 2022 OU went back in time and played in 1994, I dare say they would have run-ruled every team they played instead just most of them. There is no reason to add a fudge factor of context in this case. Oklahoma 2022 is the best team of all time for now.

Tramel: With all due respect, this argument is wetter than the deep blue sea. Softball 1994 and softball 2022 are not the exact same game. They are not close to the same game. College football 1989 and college football 2008 were not the exact same game. College basketball 1979 and college basketball 2014 were not the exact same game. Even with no rule changes.

By this argument, John Blakes 1996 Sooners, who went 3-8 and had trouble finding the line of scrimmage after a huddle, are a better team than Bud Wilkinsons 56 Sooners or Barry Switzers 73 squad. Bigger, strong, faster.

Of course athletes evolve. The golfers of today would beat a prime Jack Nicklaus 10 and 8 in match play. They hit the ball 100 yards longer than he hit it.

That doesn't make them greater golfers. You play with the bodies you have, in the environment you are given, and you succeed or don't. Put Nicklaus in todays environment, and his drives would go 375 yards.

The 22 Warriors would dismantle the Bill Russell Celtics. Bigger, stronger, faster.

That doesnt make anyone a better team. Or even a greater player. Greatness is defined by how you handle the competition and situations you encounter.

The jobs of 19th-century presidents are nothing like the jobs of 21st-century presidents. Abraham Lincoln would have had zero chance of getting elected in the 2020s. Does that make him inferior to the modern politicians? Of course not.

As far as the rule changes, there have been many. The pitching circle was moved back in the 1980s. A different ball was introduced in 1992. Those helped the offense immensely.

Those kinds of changes helped change mindsets, too.

Babe Ruths home run records have been surpassed. Does that mean the Babe wasnt the greatest home run hitter? Not necessarily. The Babe was a pioneer. He showed what was possible. Similar to Arizona.

'I'll just coach': How an Oklahoma State student went from HS cheerleader to NFL intern

Tyreek Hill during a minicamp workout on June 2.

Why is Tyreek Hill ripping the Chiefs?

Tyreek Hill keeps getting second chances. He also keeps making people wonder why hes getting second chances.

The Kansas City Chiefs took a risk on Hill, made him into a National Football League star and now Hill is taking potshots at the Chiefs and the person most responsible for Hills success, Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs traded Hill to Miami a couple of months ago, paving the way for Hill to get a five-year contract with the Dolphins that guarantees him $53 million.

But in his latest podcast, It Needed To Be Said, Hill said the Chiefs and Mahomes might struggle without him, that he was underused in Kansas City and that Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is a more accurate passer than is Mahomes.

On the latter, Hill technically is true. In 23 NFL games, Tagovailoa has completed 66.2 percent of his passes. Mahomes in 63 games has completed 66.1 percent of his passes.

Of course, Tagovailoa is no cinch to even keep his job, because of his propensity for dumping the ball and not throwing downfield, while Mahomes is the NFLs brightest star and most exciting player, having taken the Chiefs to two Super Bowls, winning one.

If the Chiefs and/or Mahomes struggle in 2022, it will be a surprise to America. The Chiefs have the third-best odds to reach the Super Bowl this coming season, trailing only the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Was Hill underused by Kansas City? You tell me. The Chiefs threw him 159 passes last season. The NFL leader in targets was Pittsburghs Diontae Johnson, with 169. Hill had a team-high 111 catches.

Lets give Hill this. OSU underused him in 2014, when Hill had 31 catches and 102 carries. He played a bunch of tailback for the Cowboys, which made no sense then and even less now.

Hill was a scintillating talent at OSU, but he was dismissed from the squad in 2014 after a domestic assault allegation. Hill was accused of hitting his pregnant girlfriend and eventually pleaded guilty.

Hill ended up at Division II West Alabama, the Chiefs took a flier on him in the fifth round of the 2016 draft, and he became a star. Hill also survived another domestic-abuse scandal.

So Kansas City has been instrumental in rehabilitating Hills life and career.

And now hes popping the Chiefs.

I'm surprised a little just because I feel like we love Tyreek here," Mahomes told Kansas City media. We've always loved him. We still love him. I saw him out at Formula One in Miami. I'm sure it had something to do with trying to get his podcast some stuff and get it rolling.

It's something I'm sure that he's trying to show he loves where he's at in Miami and he loves his teammates. The thing I loved about Tyreek and I still love is that he wants to win.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid also declined to throw Hill under the bus.

I love Tyreek, Reid said. He's a good kid. We think the world of him.

Hill should feel the same about the Chiefs.

More: Tramel's ScissorTales: Ed Gallagher the greatest coach in Oklahoma State athletics history

Matt Fitzpatrick celebrates his win at the 122nd U.S. Open.

The List: Major golf runnersup

Will Zalatoris finished second in the U.S. Open on Sunday, a shot behind Matt Fitzpatrick at the Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

It was the second straight heartbreaking major for Zalatoris, who lost a three-hole playoff with Justin Thomas for the PGA Championship in May at Southern Hills in Tulsa. Zalatoris has played in nine majors; hes been the runnerup three times. Incredible.

Second-place finishes in majors are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of strength.

Here are the golfers with the most majors runnerup finishes:

1. Jack Nicklaus 19: The great Nicklaus had 18 major titles. He had even more runnerup finishes  seven in the British Open and four each in the U.S. Open, PGA and Masters.

2. Phil Mickelson 11: Mickelson, a six-time majors winner, also has finished runnerup in each of the majors  the U.S. Open six ties, the U.S. and British Opens twice each, and the Masters once.

3. Arnold Palmer 10: Another golfing icon with more second-place finishes than first place (seven titles)  which makes sense, since golfers can tie for second, but not for first. Palmer was a four-time runner up in the U.S. Open, a two-time runnerup in the British and PGA, and a one-time runnerup in the Masters.

4. Greg Norman 8: The Shark, a two-time majors champion, now makes news for other reasons in his retirement, was runnerup thrice in the Masters, twice each in the U.S. Open and PGA, and once in the British.

4. Sam Snead 8: Snead, a seven-time majors champion, was a four-time runnerup in the U.S. Open, which he never won. He also was runnerup twice each in the Masters and PGA.

4. Tom Watson 8: Watson, an eight-time majors champion, was a three-time Masters runnerup, a two-time runnerup in both the U.S. and British Opens, and a one-time runner up in the PGA.

7. Tigers Woods 7: Tiger, winner of 15 majors, never has been runnerup in the British Open but has been second thrice in the PGA and twice each in the Masters and U.S. Open.

Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder needs these 3-point shooting prospects in NBA Draft
Travis Barker had a lot to celebrate this past Fathers Day on Sunday (June 19), especially now that hes enjoying a blended family with his new wife, Kourtney Kardashian.

The Blink-182 drummer took to his Instagram Stories to share the stunning dinner setup that was organized for him by his family, as well as adorable handwritten cards by two of his stepchildren, Reign and Penelope Disick, whom Kardashian shares with Scott Disick. The former couple are also parents to 12-year-old Mason.

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You are so so nice and kind, nine-year old Penelope wrote in her card, complete with a string of hand-drawn hearts. You are the best. You are the best drummer ever. You make my mom happy!

While seven-year-old Reign opted for a simple Dear Travis, Happy Fathers Day on his card, he drew two stick figures holding hands with a heart in between them, seemingly depicting his mom and new stepfather.

Oddio che teneri Reign e Penelope con Travis pic.twitter.com/Rztu5sOUdA  -SaraS (@SaraSanfi) June 20, 2022

Travis also shared some heartwarming Instagram posts from his two children, Landon and Alabama Barker  whom he shares with ex-wife Shanna Moakler  plus a message from Moaklers other daughter Atiana de la Hoya, whose father is Oscar de la Hoya. Idk how you do it @travisbarker with these three little crazy a kids but at least we got stuck with a great dad. Love you so much, Landon wrote.

Alabama mirrored her brothers sentiments with a heartwarming photo of the daddy-daughter duo. I love u beyond words can describe, youre somebody who always made sure family was first, she wrote. I have so much respect for the ways youve taught me in many aspects, thank you for bringing me into this world and showing me how a real man treats you.

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Love you endlessly, Atiana wrote alongside a selfie with Travis.

Travis and Kourtney tied the knot in an elaborate ceremony in Italy on May 22, after attempting to elope in Las Vegas and then getting legally married in a small ceremony in Santa Barbara, Calif. The over-the-top nuptials were dripping in the couples favorite gothic glam aesthetic, with the bride and groom both rocking looks by Dolce & Gabbana on their big day.

Kardashians sisters and mom Kris Jenner were all in attendance, along with Barkers bandmate Mark Hoppus and his friend Machine Gun Kelly. While the drummers children were in attendance, the Poosh founders were not.

Click here to read the full article.
The trial for two of the four former police officers involved in the murder of George Floyd has been changed again.

The trial, which had been rescheduled once before, is now set to begin Oct. 24. in Minnesota.

J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao are both charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

The trial was rescheduled because Kuengs attorney told the court he would be unavailable in January 2023 (when opening statements were to begin) and March 2023 because of personal issue.

Thomas Lane, another officer who was at the scene, has already pleaded guilty in his state case.

Kueng and Thao had previously asked for their state trial to be held after they, and Lane, receive their federal sentences.

All three have been convicted of violating Floyds civil rights.

Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyds neck, pleaded guilty in his own civil rights trial after he was convicted during a jury trial in April 2021 of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the May 25, 2020, death of Floyd.
Hurricane Creekkeeper John Wathen, center, has been recognized by the Global Waterkeeper Alliance for his work advocating for Hurricane Creek. This work includes organizing clean-ups of the creek and its watershed, as depicted in this 2013 file photo of him overseeing the removal of tornado debris around the creek with University of Alabama volunteers.

A Tuscaloosa-based environmental advocate has been honored by the Global Waterkeeper Alliance.

John L. Wathen, who as served decades as the keeper of Hurricane Creek, has been named a recipient of the alliances Terry Backer Award.

Named for the first keeper of the Long Island Sound in New York, the award was created following Backers death in 2015 as a way to commemorate his legacy. The award honors fellow waterkeepers who embody Backers spirit and dedication to protecting everyones right to clean water.

Receiving the Terry Backer award is one of the highlights of my career, said Wathen, 68. Terrys been my friend and mentor to me since I came to the Waterkeeper Alliance many, many years ago.

Terrys taken me aside on more occasion than one and helped guide me to be a better advocate for this watershed.

Hurricane Creekkeeper John Wathen has been recognized by the Global Waterkeeper Alliance for his work advocating for Hurricane Creek, such as monitoring the creek's health following sewage spills as documented in the 2000 file photo.

Backer was described as a fearless warrior for Long Island Sound and was a driving force behind the small group of advocates who ultimately created the Global Waterkeeper Alliance movement for clean water.

After his death, he was remembered in The New York Times as, a 12-term Connecticut state representative, a third-generation commercial fisherman and an environmentalist who fought successfully for the preservation of Long Island Sound.

Hurricane Creekkeeper John Wathen has been recognized by the Global Waterkeeper Alliance for his work advocating for Hurricane Creek.

Long Island Soundkeeper was the worlds second Waterkeeper organization, after the Hudson Riverkeeper, and there are now over 350 Waterkeeper Alliance groups across the world.

In accepting the award on June 11, Wathen said he found the watershed that would soon become his lifelong passion more than 45 years ago when he came to Tuscaloosa in 1976 to work for Parker Towing Co. and, while crossing the old wooden bridge on Holt Peterson Road, found Hurricane Creek.

The creek was my first contact with nature around Tuscaloosa, Wathen said. One day I stopped and have been here ever since.

It is a mystical place that captured my heart.

Hurricane Creekkeeper John Wathen has been recognized by the Global Waterkeeper Alliance for his work advocating for Hurricane Creek, such as the improper excavation of a road in the Hurricane Creek watershed near Brookwood in 2009.

His advocacy efforts began when he found it nearly devoid of marine life, having been choked out with mine waste, construction debris and runoff from what he described as irresponsible road building.

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Upon joining the Waterkeeper Alliance and becoming the first  and, so far, only  Hurricane Creekkeeper in 2003, Wathen was able to access the legal resources alongside a network of likeminded advocates that he needed to bring about actual change.

Terry Backer was certainly one of those, Wathen said. He was a mentor, he was my friend. He was a brother to me.

Nominations for the Terry Backer Award come from fellow Waterkeeper Alliance members, with Wathens being put up by Mike Mullen of Troy, the alliances keeper of the Choctawhatchee River, a 141-mile-long river in the that runs through southeast Alabama and the Florida panhandle.

Hurricane Creekkeeper John Wathen has been recognized by the Global Waterkeeper Alliance for his work advocating for Hurricane Creek, which includes raising awareness of the effect of construction-based on the Hurricane Creek watershed in 2008.

(Wathen) has achieved success much like Terry Backer did coming from a humble background, not having a science background, not an attorney and not a wealthy individual, John has done these this out of his love and respect for his creek , said Mullen's nomination. John has made these accomplishments without staff to assist him, he is the field guy who does patrols, the water monitoring, the filing of reports and all of the organizational work to plan, coordinate events, coordinate volunteers and conduct fundraising.

He is truly the keeper of Hurricane Creek.

Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tuscaloosa environmentalist honored for protecting Hurricane Creek
TUESDAY, 21 JUNE 2022, 11:42



Russian prisoners of war are being held in a camp in western Ukraine, as well as in smaller centres in almost every region of Ukraine, in accordance with international law. The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine expects Russia to adhere to the same norms [in its treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war - ed.]

Source: Press service of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine

Quote from the Ministry of Justice: "The State Penal Service of Ukraine has set up 51 centres in most of Ukraines regions and one camp in western Ukraine to hold prisoners of war."

Quote from Denys Maliuska, Minister of Justice of Ukraine: "The PoW camp is guarded. Appropriate living conditions and access to healthcare have been ensured. Crucially, the prisoners of war are given work. They dont spend their days doing nothing. They are doing woodwork and doing things for the benefit of the Ukrainian society."

Details: In cases when it is impossible to take the prisoners of war to a camp, they might be temporarily held in pre-trial detention centres and jails, though separately from the convicts who may already be detained there. Russian PoWs who might soon be exchanged for Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russia are also held at such detention centres.

Quote from Maliuska: "Im certain that if we demonstrate the conditions in which the Russian prisoners of war are held here, this footage will be seen in the Russian Federation, and we hope that they will ensure similar detention conditions for our citizens until we are able to exchange them."

Earlier: On 6 June, a draft law outlining changes in legislation governing the prisoners exchange procedure was introduced in Ukraines Verkhovna Rada [Parliament - ed.]. The law proposes that those convicted in Ukraine do not have to serve their sentence following a prisoner exchange.

Background:
Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk

Read also: Kherson official denies minefields near Kherson were cleared before the invasion

According to Vereshchuk, residents of Kherson Oblast, especially families with children, shouldnt rule out leaving the region via Russia-occupied Crimea.

Read also: Ukrainian patrol officer shares story of evacuation of 42,000 people from Luhansk Oblast

Please leave, since our army is sure to liberate these lands, said Vereshchuk.

Our determination there is rock-solid, Vereshchuk said. It will be very difficult to establish a humanitarian corridor, with all the children around. I know how challenging that was at Mariupol, and will be even more difficult near Kherson. The enemy adapts, and will be even more ruthless, using civilians as human shields, especially children Believe me, liberation will be swift. The counteroffensive will launch as soon as we are able to do so.

The deputy PM added that people can leave through Crimea, using fake Russia-issued IDs. Ukraine wont prosecute anyone for using these documents, as its virtually the only way to flee the area.

Leave, if you can, especially if you have children, Vereshchuk said.

Read also: Explosion rocks car of Kherson penal colony head who sided with Russian invaders

As soon as you arrive in third-party territory  the EU or some other country  ask Ukrainian consulates for help, or find a way to call us. Any country will let you in even without documents. Should the need arise, we will issue you with new IDs and send them to a consulate near you.
Members of the Uyghur community at a protest in London

Tough new US regulations on the import of goods from the Xinjiang region of China have come into effect.

Under the rules, firms have to prove imports from the region are not produced using forced labour.

US officials have said members of the minority Uyghur community in the region, who are predominantly Muslim, have been detained and made to work.

China has repeatedly rejected accusations that it is holding Uyghurs in internment camps in Xinjiang.

Several imports from the resource-rich region, including cotton and tomatoes, have already been banned from the US.

The restrictions will be extended to all imports under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which took effect on Tuesday.

In a statement late last week, US lawmakers said the law sends "a clear message that we will no longer remain complicit in the Chinese Communist Party's use of slave labour and egregious crimes against humanity".

"Congress stands ready to work with President Biden and his administration to ensure this historic law is fully and rigorously implemented," US Republican Senator Marco Rubio, Democrat Senator Jeff Merkley and two other lawmakers said.

According to the US Congress, China has detained more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang since April 2017.

It believes tens of thousands of detainees have worked "at a fraction of minimum wage or without any compensation" in Xinjiang and other provinces "under the guise of poverty alleviation and industrial aid programmes".

It said China also "interferes with audits and traditional due diligence efforts to vet goods and supply chains in Xinjiang... including by intimidating potential witnesses and concealing relevant information".

China has denied the use of forced labour and said the camps in Xinjiang were "re-education" facilities used to combat terrorism.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin recently called forced labour accusations "an out-and-out preposterous lie concocted by certain external forces".

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But leaked files and first-hand accounts from inside the camps, which were obtained by the BBC, have detailed an organised system of mass rape, sexual abuse and torture of ethnic minorities.

Human rights groups have also accused the Chinese government of gradually stripping away the religious and other freedoms of Uyghurs through mass surveillance, detention, indoctrination and even forced sterilisation.

What does it mean for brands?

Scott Nova, executive director of the independent Workers Rights Consortium in Washington DC, said the UFLPA "will likely substantially reduce the practice of forced labour in Xinjiang" by "eliminating a large part of the market" for its goods.

"A crucial question is whether brands selling goods in the US will try to take advantage of the weaker protections in other consumer markets by directing goods with content from Xinjiang to those markets," Mr Nova said.

"Our coalition will be working to identify and publicly expose any brands and retailers that engage in this practice," he added.

Laura Murphy, a human rights professor at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, said the European Union (EU) should impose a similar import ban on goods from Xinjiang.

"I think that citizens of the EU would be shocked to know that a ban on products known to be made with forced labour does not already exist," Prof Murphy said.

"But the EU also needs to be a leader in passing mandatory human rights due diligence. Both these tools are necessary to ensure that companies address the forced labour and other abuses in their supply chains," she added.

Japanese retailers Uniqlo and Muji are among brands that have been scrutinised over materials from Xinjiang.

In January last year, the US blocked a shipment of Uniqlo men's shirts over concerns that it violated a ban on cotton products from the region.

Responding to a query from the BBC last week, a Uniqlo spokesperson did not state whether or not the brand uses cotton from Xinjiang.

"We continue to work with [US officials] to implement measures for the smooth importation of our products, and are awaiting new guidelines scheduled for release on 21 June," the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Japanese retailer Muji has been criticised for launching a collection of Oxford shirts "made of organic cotton delicately and wholly handpicked in Xinjiang" in 2019.

A spokesperson at Ryohin Keikaku, which operates the Muji brand, told the BBC it was not currently exporting products from Xinjiang to the US. However, the company declined to comment on whether it was selling products from Xinjiang in other countries.

"In our business activities, we comply with the laws and regulations of each country and region, and we are taking all necessary steps to respect human rights and labour standards," the spokesperson said.

Early last year, the administration of former US President Donald Trump announced a ban on cotton and tomato products from Xinjiang.

The wider-reaching UFLPA was approved by the Senate last July, and Congress in December. It was subsequently signed into law by current US President Joe Biden.

From Tuesday, US Customs and Border Protection officials will stop all shipments from Xinjiang that arrive at American ports.

Cargo will be stopped from entering the country unless the importer can "prove by clear and convincing evidence that the goods were not produced with forced labour," the US Department of Homeland Security said.

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The US Supreme Court on Tuesday declined an appeal from Bayer-owned Monsanto that aimed to challenge thousands of lawsuits claiming its weedkiller Roundup causes cancer -- a potentially costly ruling.

The high court did not explain its decision not to take the case, which left intact a $25 million ruling in favor of a California man who alleged he developed cancer after using the chemical for years.

The decision marks a major blow to the German conglomerate's legal fight against some 31,000 Roundup-related cases.

"Bayer respectfully disagrees with the Supreme Court's decision," the company said in a statement.

"The company believes that the decision undermines the ability of companies to rely on official actions taken by expert regulatory agencies," it added, referring to a 2020 federal finding that Roundup's active ingredient is not risky.

Plaintiffs' attorneys welcomed the justices' decision as setting a clear path for people to seek compensation in these cases.

Matthew Stubbs said his firm Duncan Stubbs "continues to represent thousands of Roundup plaintiffs, with a wave of cases set for trial in the coming months and more behind them for as long as Bayer wants to delay."

Bayer has been plagued by problems since it bought Monsanto, which owns Roundup, in 2018 for $63 billion and inherited its legal woes around the chemical's ingredient glyphosate.

The German firm says it has not committed any wrongdoing, and maintains that scientific studies and regulatory approvals show glyphosate is safe.

Glyphosate is nonetheless classified as a "probable carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer at the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, on its website, says "there are no risks of concern to human health when glyphosate is used in accordance with its current label."

A California-based appeals court last week ordered the EPA to reconsider that finding.

- Billions at stake -

The Supreme Court's ruling not to intervene leaves in place a judgment in the lawsuit filed by Edwin Hardeman, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2015.

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In addition to the some 31,000 cases about alleged health problems against the weedkiller, Bayer's own shareholders have taken legal action as well.

Investors are seeking 2.2 billion euros ($2.5 billion) in damages in a German court for losses incurred following its troubled takeover of Monsanto, their lawyers said in January.

The investors accuse Bayer of having "misled capital markets about the economic risks from pending consumer lawsuits in the United States in connection with glyphosate and the herbicide Roundup," law firm Tilp said in a statement.

Tilp said around 320 investors have submitted complaints, most of them institutional investors such as banks, wealth managers, insurers and pension funds.

In the United States, Bayer signed a $10 billion settlement with plaintiffs in June 2020, with the parties agreeing to add $2 billion to settle future claims, but this part of the agreement was rejected by a California judge.

In an attempt to put an end to all proceedings, the firm presented a five-point plan in the summer of 2021 stating that if it lost the Hardeman case in the Supreme Court, it would begin discussions on the claims not included in the 2020 agreement.

Bayer said it is transitioning its glyphosate-based products in the US residential market to new formulations that have alternative active ingredients beginning in 2023.

"The company is taking this action exclusively to manage litigation risk in the US and not because of any safety concerns," it said in a statement.

Bayer says it has resolved around 107,000 of a total of 138,000 cases related to the herbicide.

Bayer's share price closed down about two percent after the court's decision on Tuesday.

chp/jm/sst
A 5-year-old boy receives his first dose of a coronavirus vaccine at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston on Nov. 3, 2021. (Meridith Kohut/The New York Times)

Health workers across the United States began to give COVID-19 vaccinations to children 6 months to 5 years old Tuesday, another milestone in the coronavirus pandemic that came 18 long months after adults first began to receive injections against the virus.

But the response from parents was notably muted, with little indication of the excitement and long lines that greeted earlier vaccine rollouts.

An April poll showed that less than one-fifth of parents of children younger than 5 were eager to access the shot right away. Early adopters in this age group appeared to be outliers.

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At 9 a.m., Dayton Childrens Hospital in Ohio became one of the first sites to vaccinate the youngest children, with the three-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine meant for the age group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also endorsed a second option for young children, a two-dose regimen from Moderna.

Brian Wentzel, 38, brought his 2-year-old son, Bodhi, at 9:15 a.m. Bodhi clutched a stuffed dog and bravely took the shot in his leg. His mother is a physician at the hospital.

It was important to get him vaccinated, Wentzel said. It is extremely effective at preventing severe illness.

At a White House news conference Tuesday afternoon, President Joe Biden called the expanded vaccines a monumental step forward.

The United States, he continued, is now the first country in the world to offer safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 6 months old.

He encouraged all Americans to get vaccinated and said parents should speak to a family doctor if they had questions. In addition to doctors offices, hospitals and clinics, pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens and Walmart would soon offer vaccines to the youngest children, Biden said.

The president also addressed, albeit obliquely, a controversy in Florida, where the state declined to preorder vaccine doses for young children. Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican with presidential ambitions, said last week, We are affirmatively against the COVID vaccine for young kids.

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On Tuesday, Biden said that elected officials shouldnt get in the way and make it more difficult for parents.

Florida has since allowed health care providers to order the shots, but in many places  including Florida and New York  the vaccines did not yet appear to be widely available. Some pediatricians offices reported that they had not yet received the shots or that they planned to deliver the vaccine mostly at regularly scheduled well visits.

Yet clamoring from families is limited. The reasons for parental vaccine hesitation are varied. Two years into the pandemic, many families have become resigned to living with the virus, and a majority of American children have already been infected, mostly experiencing mild symptoms.

While the vaccines remain highly effective at protecting against severe illness and death, they have become less effective at preventing infection as the virus has mutated, leading to disappointment and some cynicism from the public toward the injections. Some parents have encountered widespread misinformation about risks, while others are concerned about rare side effects or simply do not want their children to be among the first to get a newly accessible vaccine.

That is the case even though parents and young children have endured some of the longest-running public health and educational restrictions, because of their lack of access to a vaccine. And that is especially true in liberal-leaning states and cities, which took a more cautious approach to the virus.

Many child care centers and preschools still require masking and quarantine periods for children who come into close contact with the virus, though K-12 schools have generally lifted those precautions. Parents are exhausted after years of disrupted routines and report that their young children have never experienced school or socializing under normal conditions.

Joseph G. Allen, a Harvard University expert on indoor environmental quality who has studied the coronavirus and schools, said he believed it was time for most restrictions on young children to be lifted. Even if uptake of the newest pediatric vaccine is limited, he said, young children are lowest-risk and have had the highest burdens as adults go around doing whatever they want to do.

The best way for child care centers and schools to protect students and staff members over the next year, when new variants may emerge, is to invest in air quality improvements such as HVAC system upgrades and portable air purifiers with HEPA filters, Allen said.

So far, the pediatric vaccine campaign has disappointed many public health experts. Fewer than 30% of 5- to 11-year-olds have received two shots, and the vaccination rate may turn out to be even lower among younger children. With parental reluctance high, only California and Washington, D.C., have announced an intention to require COVID-19 vaccination for school attendance, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy.

At a splash pad in West St. Paul, Minnesota, Jen Wilkerson, 28, a barista, said she did not plan to vaccinate her son Jaxson, 4, even though she is vaccinated.

She said she had worried after he developed lumps in his leg after two vaccines for other diseases and recalled that Jaxson had not gotten sick when she contracted COVID-19 last year.

Hes a little window licker, she said. With how strong his immune system is, I dont feel the need for him to get vaccinated right now. Im waiting for him to get older. Ill wait till hes 10 or so.

In Durant, Mississippi, Monique Moore, 39, a teacher, said she would wait several months for her son, Rashun, to turn 5 before getting him vaccinated.

I didnt want him to be in the first batch to do it, she said, but I didnt want to not do it either.

Doctors and vaccine experts say that parents of 4-year-olds should not put off vaccination.

Other parents said that vaccination would allow them to finally move on from a difficult period of their lives.

In Brookline, Massachusetts, Jenn Erickson, 40, quit her job when her son Miro was born at the start of the pandemic. She has zero hesitation about getting him vaccinated, she said, because it would allow her to confidently enroll her son in day care while she returns to work.

It feels like a lot of the world has moved on without us, Erickson said. The kids who were born during the pandemic are finally getting some protection. Theres going to need to be a massive celebration for the parents who have had to hold this massive stress.

And for some families, the new vaccine will be life-changing.

Whitney Stohr, 35, of Lynnwood, Washington, planned to take her 4-year-old son, Malachi Stohr-Hendrickson, to get vaccinated Tuesday at Seattle Childrens Hospital. Malachi has spina bifida, hydrocephalus and congenital heart defects that put him at high risk for complications from COVID-19. For more than two years, the family has stayed isolated.

The shot will mean that Malachi will start in-person occupational and physical therapy and preschool. And since he needs round-the-clock assistance, he will go back to receiving respite care from Stohrs mother.

Its just going to be a huge sense of relief, Stohr said. It will remove just a deep-seated fear that the virus will get him before we have a chance to try to stop it and try to prevent it.

Reporting was contributed by Kevin Williams, Christina Capecchi, Ellen B. Meacham, Catherine McGloin, Alanis Thames, Adam Bednar and Hallie Golden.

 2022 The New York Times Company
Trial starts Wednesday for a vegan Cape Coral mother facing homicide, neglect and other charges in the September 2019 death of her 18-month-old son.

A Lee County Grand Jury indicted Sheila O'Leary, 38, and her husband, Ryan Patrick O'Leary, 33, on six charges related to the starvation and lack-of-care death of the toddler: First-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter, child abuse and two counts of child neglect.

Autopsy findings determined that the young boy's death was caused by complications of malnutrition, including dehydration, microsteatosis of liver and slight edema (swelling) of hands, feet and lower legs, according to a Cape Coral police probable cause statement.

The O'Learys were a vegan family and told police they ate only raw fruits and vegetables but supplemented the toddler's diet with breast milk.

The toddler weighed 17 pounds, police reports indicated, while the average weight for an 18-month-old boy is 24 pounds, 1 ounce. The O'Leary toddler weighed as much as an average 7-month-old, according to www.babycenter.com.

More: 'There were no red flags': Neighbors of couple accused of starving child to death report children appeared healthy

More: Cape Coral 18-month-old weighed 17 lbs  as much as average 7-month-old  at time of death

Bond was set in 2019 at $250,000 for Ryan Patrick O'Leary, 33, and Sheila O'Leary, 38, on negligent manslaughter and neglect of a child. Sheila O'Leary's trial begins Wednesday.

The first day of the scheduled five-day trial for Sheila O'Leary starts at 8:30 a.m. in Lee Circuit Judge Bruce E. Kyle's courtroom, 8-A. Ryan Patrick O'Leary's trial is slated for Aug. 22 with his next court date July 18 for a pretrial conference.

The indictment against the O'Learys includes three other victims, then 3-year-old and 5-year-old boys, the couple's biological children, and a then 11-year-old girl who also suffered from child abuse and extreme neglect.

More: Cape Coral parents indicted on six charges related to the death of their 18-month-old son

The 11-year-old, Sheila O'Leary's daughter with a different father, had been removed in a previous malnutrition case in Virginia and placed with the biological father in 2009 because she "failed to thrive" in Sheila O'Leary's care.

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According to the parental custody at the time, the older child had been visiting the biological father in Virginia every two months for a few weeks, which is likely explained her healthier appearance, police said in the probable cause statement.

On Sept. 27, 2019, the 18-month-old boy died of malnutrition in the O'Learys care, according to a Cape Coral police report.

Sheila O'Leary called 911 when she noticed her son was not breathing and was cold. Ryan O'Leary tried to resuscitate the child, but the toddler was pronounced dead when Lee County Emergency Medics arrived at their home.

When police spoke with Sheila O'Leary, she said that the 18-month-old hadn't eaten in a week and was only being breast fed. She said she thought it was because he was teething.

At 4 a.m., the boy was nursed for about a minute and then he began to have shallow breathing. Shelia O'Leary told police that he had never done that before and she should have called someone because she was worried, the statement says.

The O'Learys turned themselves in to Cape Coral police shortly after the official cause of death from the Lee County medical examiner was released on Nov. 6, 2019.

State Attorney Amira Fox announced the indictment of Ryan Patrick O'Leary and Sheila O'Leary on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, for charges involving the death of their son and child abuse of other children.

The evidence and crime scene in this case are gut-wrenching. These are images as a mother and State Attorney I will not be able to forget," state attorney Amira Fox said when the indictment was announced in 2019.

Cape Coral police detectives noted the 18-month-old was extremely malnourished, along with the boy's siblings, ages 3 and 5.

During their first appearance in Lee County Court in November 2019, assistant state attorney Francine H. Donnorummo said those two other children also suffered from malnutrition and one had to have teeth pulled because of severe tooth decay and malnutrition.

Neighbors of the O'Learys, in an interview with The News-Press shortly after the arrests, said the couple moved into the ranch-style Cape Coral home around 2018 and their children seemed to be healthy.

Ryan and Sheila O'Leary's home in the 200 block of SE 45th Street, Cape Coral, where they lived with three children who were suffering from severe malnutrition, causing one child's death.

The neighbors, Elizabeth and Robert Rioux, introduced themselves to the O'Learys when they first moved in and brought the kids some toys and bubbles as a welcoming gift.

"There were no red flags, they just lived such a secret life," Robert Rioux said.

"We didn't really know what happened, but the children weren't there anymore," Elizabeth Rioux said.

"It's a sad situation and now who knows what will happen to the parents," Robert Rioux said.

He further said that he is a believer in justice.

Although the Riouxs didn't see the O'Learys much, Elizabeth Rioux said she remembered the kids would always run out and play in the rain.

Sheila O'Leary and Ryan O'Leary have remained in Lee County Jail since November 2019.

Connect with breaking news reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com. Reports from The News-Press archives were used for this story.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Trial to start for Sheila O'Leary, vegan mom whose toddler died of malnutrition
A murder suspect accused of shooting and killing a man at a Virginia motel on Sunday morning surrendered to police after sheriff's deputies got in touch with him on FaceTime.

George Pearson III, 44, was arrested shortly before noon and charged with second degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and using use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

About three hours before he surrendered, he allegedly shot and killed a man in the parking lot of a Red Roof Inn in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

AUSTIN SHOOTING IN QUIET AND PEACEFUL NEIGHBORHOOD LEAVES TWO DEAD, POLICE SAY

Stafford County Sheriff's deputies identified Pearson and called him through FaceTime after he allegedly fled the scene, but he initially "indicated he would not be taken alive."

Eventually around 11:30 a.m., he stopped at an exit ramp while still on FaceTime and agreed to peacefully surrender.

The victim was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries. The sheriff's office said they do not believe it was a random act of violence.

Pearson is being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail in Stafford County.
Merrick Garland announced a new war crimes accountability team to investigate atrocities in Ukraine. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

A new Justice Department team will centralize efforts to investigate war crimes in Ukraine.

The team will be led by a longtime official who spent years working to deport Nazi war criminals.

That official, Eli Rosenbaum, will be joined by prosecutors with expertise in human rights abuses.

Declaring there is "no hiding place for war criminals," Attorney General Merrick Garland on Tuesday said the Justice Department had formed a new team to investigate war crimes and other atrocities committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Garland announced the War Crimes Accountability Team during an unannounced visit to Ukraine, where he met with the country's top prosecutor, Iryna Venediktova, just across the Polish-Ukrainian border. The team is expected to centralize the Justice Department's efforts to support investigations into suspected war crimes in Ukraine, bringing together experts in investigations involving human rights abuses along with technical assistance for criminal prosecutions, evidence collection, and forensics.

Leading the team is a longtime Justice Department official, Eli Rosenbaum, who previously spearheaded efforts to track down, denaturalize, and deport Nazi war criminals as director of the Office of Special Investigations. Rosenbaum will be joined by Hope Olds, the acting chief of a Justice Department unit focused on human rights abuses, and prosecutors Christian Levesque, Christina Giffin, and Courtney Urschel.

"The US Justice Department will pursue every avenue of accountability for those who commit war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine," Garland said in prepared remarks Tuesday. "Working alongside our domestic and international partners, the Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to hold accountable every person complicit in the commission of war crimes, torture, and other grave violations during the unprovoked conflict in Ukraine."

As head of the Justice Department's human rights and special prosecutions section, Rosenbaum oversaw efforts that led to the deportation of Jakiw Palij, a former Nazi labor camp guard in German-occupied Poland who lived in Queens, New York, following World War II. Palij was 95 at the time of his removal from the US in 2018.

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Rosenbaum more recently handled the trial and appeal of the removal case against Friedrich Karl Berger, a Tennessee resident with German citizenship who was deported for participating in Nazi-sponsored acts of persecution while serving as an armed guard at a Nazi concentration camp in 1945. Berger was the 70th Nazi persecutor removed from the US, the Justice Department said last year.

Within months of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Garland said the Justice Department was closely monitoring reports of mass graves and evidence of other atrocities. His remarks came days after images emerged of Ukrainian civilians killed in Bucha, a town near Kyiv.

"We have seen the dead bodies of civilians, some with bound hands, scattered in the streets," Garland said in April.

"The world sees what is happening in Ukraine," he added. "The Justice Department sees what is happening in Ukraine."

Amid the mounting international outcry, President Joe Biden said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "war criminal."

The Justice Department on Tuesday said it was also providing more personnel to bolster enforcement of sanctions and other economic countermeasures levied against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. Among the additional personnel is an expert prosecutor who will advise Ukraine on "fighting kleptocracy, corruption, and money laundering," the Justice Department said.

The department also plans to send two attorneys to US embassies  one in Europe, the other in the Middle East  to support the so-called KleptoCapture task force, a team that is cracking down on sanctions violations with a focus on Russian oligarchs close to Putin's regime. So far, the team's efforts have facilitated the seizure of two yachts belonging to Russian oligarchs and the approval of warrants to seize two luxury jets from the billionaire Roman Abramovich.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The budgets recently approved for Wake County and Raleigh had aspects that normally would get taxpayers attention: Both include a tax increase and raises for elected officials.

Yet neither budget brought an outcry.

Has the pandemic sapped the energy of tax protesters and those who reflexively object to officials raising their pay? Or are the county and city budgets so reasonable that even the pitchfork-and-torch folks are saying the spending plans are OK?

My guess is that its mostly the latter. Tax rates are going up, but not too much. In Wake, the owner of a $337,000 home, the average assessed value, will pay about $66 more per year in county property tax. In Raleigh, the owner of the same value home will pay about $68 more in city property tax.

So, not too bad. Most homeowners will pay slightly more in taxes on homes that are likely under assessed given the hot housing market of the past year.

Meanwhile, the annual salary for county commissioners will jump 50 percent from $25,288 to $37,856. Raleigh City Council members will get a big boost with the mayors pay rising to $36,511 from $25,972 and regular council members salaries rising to $29,848 from $18,933.

The pay hikes, though big as a percentage, still add up to modest pay for important and time-consuming work. Taxpayers appear to understand that.

Sig Hutchinson, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, said the Wake County tax rate remains in the lower third of tax rates in North Carolina despite Wake being the third-fastest growing county in the nation. Its a good deal, he said.

In Raleigh, Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said the need to hire and retain city employees in a competitive job market meant the city had no option but to raise taxes to raise pay. City employees will get a 2 percent hike plus merit increases and more will be spent to pay police, where there are 165 vacancies. This is about putting our employees first, Baldwin said.

Looming behind the lack of protests over these budgets is a question that will become a problem for Wake commissioners and Raleigh council members: Why isnt the growth in the county and city tax bases reducing taxes, or at least avoiding increases?

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The question is being raised by the Wake County Taxpayers Association, a group that regularly opposes tax increases.

Edward Jones, the groups treasurer, said, There is no justifiable reason for the city and the county to raise the rates on peoples home when the base is going up so rapidly. Its just absolutely asinine and unreasonable.

That the taxpayers association is complaining about higher taxes is hardly new, but now a group supportive of public investment in the city  Livable Raleigh  is also questioning why homeowners are getting a bigger bill even as commercial development booms.

A recent blog post on the Livable Raleigh website: Growth in Raleigh is up, up, up. So why arent city tax rates going down?

The post said taxes have jumped in recent years and could go up more if voters approve a $275 million parks bond this fall. It said, Growth is not only NOT holding our taxes down, but rather seems to be pushing them up. The faster we grow, the more taxes we pay? Something aint right.

Growth, of course, does not pay for itself. It expands the tax base, but adds even higher costs in infrastructure and government services. But the questions being asked now are not about rising public expenses, but rather about how the tax burden is distributed.

Are real estate investors and developers paying a fair share, or is the burden falling disproportionately on homeowners?

As construction cranes tower over Raleigh and development transforms once rural corners of Wake County, the question of who pays what for growth is starting to resonate. More voters will bring it to the polls in November. Local elected officials will need to come up with a better answer than tax breaks for developers and tax hikes for homeowners.
Astronomers, astronauts and other near-Earth object experts from around the world are gathering next week in Luxembourg to talk about asteroids. If you tune in to the Asteroid Foundations live event on International Asteroid Day (which is June 30), you can hear about the latest in space rock research. The four hour event will consist of panel discussions on future missions, advances in technology, how scientists track and discover asteroids and what resources might be gleaned from asteroids. It will be moderated by Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project, the astronomer Phil Plait, Asteroid Days editorial director Stuart Clark and Patrick Michel, director of research at CNRS of the Cote dAzur Observatory.

Asteroid Day reminds the world of just how important these celestial objects are. They hold the keys to understanding the formation of the Solar System, provide stepping stones we will utilize to explore our solar system, and occasionally they hit our planet, said Dr Dorin Prunariu, Vice-Chair of the Asteroid Foundation in a press release. The Asteroid Day event will also feature pre-recorded interviews from NASAs OSIRIS-REx mission, which is currently on its way back to Earth after collecting samples from the asteroid Bennu.

Detecting asteroids is a tricky science, and scientists still manage to miss a large number that are potentially dangerous. NASA has detected nearly 16,000 near-Earth objects, which are objects within approximately 45 million kilometers of our planet's orbit. As The Conversation notes, while extinction-level asteroids are very rare, smaller space rocks such as the one that hit Tunguska, Siberia in 1908 or the 10,000-ton space rock that hit the Russian city of Chelyabinsk are also capable of doing damage. And there have been plenty of near misses. Scientists estimate that in 2029, a 1,120 feet asteroid known as Apophis will miss Earth by a mere 19,000 miles.

You can stream Asteroid Days program on June 30 at 11 am CET (or 5 am EDT) on Asteroid Days website, TwitchTV or YouTube.
Uvalde police officers equipped with ballistic shields lingered outside the classroom where a gunman was murdering children at Robb Elementary School for nearly an hour before breaching the door, apparently confused as to who was in charge of the scene, radio transcripts and surveillance footage reviewed by the Texas Tribune reveal.

While reports have indicated police were waiting for a master set of keys to enter the classrooms, an officer said a Halligan bar, an ax-like forcible-entry tool, arrived within the first minutes of the law enforcement response. Authorities did not use the tool, which was not brought into the school until an hour after the first officers entered the building, and instead waited for keys that took just six minutes to arrive after school district police chief Pete Arredondo requested them, according to the report.

The first of four ballistic shields arrived 58 minutes before officers finally entered the classrooms, while the last arrived 30 minutes before.

Some officers on-scene were questioning why law enforcement was not entering the rooms.

A special agent at the Texas Department of Public Safety arrived 20 minutes after the shooting began and asked if there were still kids in the classrooms, saying if there is, then they just need to go in.

Another officer said it was unknown. When the agent again said, If theres kids in there we need to go in there, someone replied, Whoever is in charge will determine that.

As the gunman fired shots at at 11:40 a.m., 11:44 a.m., and 12:21 p.m., officers still did not attempt to gain entry to the rooms.

Officers had rifles, a Halligan and at least one ballistic shield by noon but did not try to enter the classrooms for 50 minutes.

Records and footage reviewed by the Texas Tribune reveal a well-equipped group of local officers entered the school almost immediately that day but then pulled back when the 18-year-old shooter began firing from inside the classroom. Officers waited for more than an hour to reengage the shooter who was inside a pair of adjoining four grade classrooms.

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Arredondo previously told the Tribune that he and another group of officers tried to open the doors to classrooms 111 and 112 but that the doors were reinforced and impenetrable.

However, no security footage shows any attempts to open the doors and some law enforcement officials are skeptical that the doors were locked, according to the report. The San Antonio Express-News similarly reported that there is no evidence that officers tried to open the doors.

Though the classroom doors are supposed to lock automatically the shooter could be seen walking into the room easily and then entering and exiting at least three times.

While Arredondo previously said he did not believe he was the on-scene commander, the Texas Tribune reported that at least some officers on the scene seemed to believe that Arredondo was in charge inside the school. Arredondo also seemed to be issuing orders directing officers to evacuate students from other rooms, according to the report.

When Arredondo called Uvalde police dispatch, at least 11 officers had entered the school, at least two of whom are seen in video carrying rifles. Arredondo requested a SWAT team saying we dont have enough firepower right now.

Its all pistol and he has an AR-15, he said. If you can get the SWAT team set up, by the funeral home, OK, we need  yes, I need some more firepower in here because we all have pistols and this guys got a rifle.

Community members in Uvalde, Texas, called on Arredondo to resign or be fired at a school board meeting Monday night nearly a month after a shooting at Robb Elementary School killed 19 students and two teachers.

Having Pete still employed, knowing he is incapable of decision-making that saves lives is terrifying, said Brett Cross, whose nephew died in the shooting, according to ABC News. Innocence doesnt hide, innocence doesnt change its story, but innocence did die on May 24.

Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw said last month that local officers waited too long to enter the school and engage the shooter because Arredondo believed the situation was no longer an active shooting but a barricaded subject under the assumption that all the children inside the two connected classrooms were dead, despite students inside the room still calling 911 for help.

At one point or another youre going to have to draw a line in the sand to decide if you hold one of your own accountable, Jesus Rizo Jr. said at the meeting, according to ABC. Pete, Mr. Arredondo, is also my friend. Im sure we all got along with him. At one point or another, were going to have to decide if we hold them accountable. And I pray that you make the right decision.

Not a single responding officer ever hesitated, even for a moment, to put themselves at risk to save the children, Arredondo previously told the Tribune on June 9. We responded to the information that we had and had to adjust to whatever we faced. Our objective was to save as many lives as we could, and the extraction of the students from the classrooms by all that were involved saved over 500 of our Uvalde students and teachers before we gained access to the shooter and eliminated the threat.

More from National Review
Lithuania imposed a ground transit ban of EU sanctioned Russian goods through its territory on Saturday, cutting off the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast.

The governor of the oblast, Anton Alikhanov, said the ban will block half of all goods coming into the territory, the majority of which travel via railroad. The ban will also cut off Kaliningrads only oil pipeline from Russia.

The move comes on top of the EU flight ban of 21 Russian-certified airlines in April, preventing goods from being flown into Kaliningrad as well. The only uninterrupted method of transit left to the territory now is by way of the sea through international waters.

In response, Russia said Lithuania will face serious, unspecified consequences for the actions.

With Lithuania being a NATO member, any direct military action by Russia would trigger Article 5 of the treaty and the entirety of the alliance would at war with Russia. During the State of the Union Address, U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to defend every inch of NATO territory. In March, the U.S. bolstered its presence in Lithuania, bringing the number of soldiers stationed in the country to around 1,000.

Where is Kaliningrad?

Like a hollow in the mountains, the isolated port city of Kaliningrad and the territory to which it lends its name is nestled along the coast of the Baltic Sea between the countries of Poland to the South and Lithuania to the East and North.

Why is Kaliningrad part of Russia?

The Kaliningrad Oblast is a territory of Russia. As an exclave, it is separated from its mother countrys capital of Moscow by about 680 miles.

After the conclusion of World War II, the Soviet Union was given control of the Kaliningrad territory at the Potsdam Conference. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the territory remained part of the Russian Federation, surrounded by newly independent countries which over time developed close ties to the West. Eventually, Poland and Lithuania joined the NATO alliance.

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Why is Kaliningrad important?

Kaliningrad is the only Russian port on the Baltic Sea that is ice-free year round and is an important launch point for the nations naval fleet. Its strategic location prevents ships from having to circumnavigate Scandinavia by way of a northern passage, traveling through the Arctic Ocean. This is the route ships have to take from the second port of the Baltic Fleet in St. Petersburg.

Kaliningrads location also means that Russia has naval vessels stationed behind NATO lines.

Along with its fleet, Russia also has nuclear weapons stationed in the territory, according to the Lithuania. In March, Russia ordered its nuclear forces on high alert in response to what it called mounting pressure from NATO countries making aggressive statements about our country.

Nuclear warheads attached to short or intermediate range ballistic misses stationed essentially inside NATO territory provide Russia with a more assured first strike due to the limited time it would take the missiles to reach their targets in Europe.

What has Russias response been?

Russia has expressed outrage at the move by Lithuania and has vowed to respond in a manner in which the citizens of Lithuania will feel pain, but has failed to specify how it will accomplish this.

Russia has called the transit ban a blockade and said the move is a violation of international law. Kaliningrad relies heavily on imports from Russia for goods and materials.

Lithuania defended the ban saying it is simply a step taken to comply with the EU sanctions which have been implemented on Russia since their invasion of Ukraine in late February.

The transit of passengers and non-sanctioned goods to and from the Kaliningrad region through Lithuania continues uninterrupted, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Lithuania has not imposed any unilateral, individual, or additional restrictions on the transit. Lithuania consistently implements EU sanctions, which have different transition periods and dates of entry into force.
Chinese, Russian companies pursue rising yuan trade settlements

(Global Times) 08:22, June 21, 2022

A crane loads containers at the Manzhouli Railway Station in Manzhouli, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 13, 2020. Manzhouli, the largest land port on the China-Russia border, saw a rising number of China-Europe freight trains during the first quarter this year. The number of freight trains that ran between China and Europe via Manzhouli went up 8 percent year on year to 591, transporting a total of 52,947 standard containers of cargo in the period. (Xinhua/Yu Jia)

Traders see a growing potential for local currency settlements in trade, especially between China and Russia under the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) framework, as the countries are seeking alternatives to chip away at dollar dominance.

While the US dollar hegemony continues to shadow world trade, closer economic and trade ties would be needed more than ever among the BRICS member states, and further cooperation in areas such as local currency settlement could be brought up at the upcoming BRICS Summit, experts said.

A manager with the Russian Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs surnamed Wang told the Global Times that there are many Russian products that were originally intended for the Japanese and South Korean markets that are now being exported to China and India after US-led broad economic sanctions against Russia.

Among the products are fertilizer and oil, major export goods for Russia.

"Most of our member companies are using the yuan for cross-border trade settlements instead of US dollars or other currencies, because yuan settlement is much faster and more practical," Wang said.

Driven by the trend, an increasing number of Russian companies are looking to open accounts at branches of Chinese banks in Moscow. Given the high popularity of the yuan in trade settlements, companies have to wait until December to open new accounts, two sources familiar with the matter told the Global Times on Monday.

Purefine Wood Trade Agency, a Changzhou-based trading company in Jiangsu Province, which is a wood trader with Russia, told the Global Times on Monday that recently, Russian businessmen are actively seeking to explore the Chinese market or other overseas markets such as India, while their main export market was originally Europe.

The company is importing wood from Russia and basically using yuan or ruble settlement instead of using US dollars.

Purefine Wood Trade Agency is also looking at exporting items, such as electronic and mechanical products, to Russia.

"They are very popular in Russia and have great [market] potential," a person with the company said.

Some Russian traders receive payment in yuan, and then use the payment to buy Chinese goods, the Global Times learned.

Given the rising trend for local currency settlement, experts believe that the topic could be brought up at the virtual 14th BRICS Summit in Beijing on Thursday and Friday, to fend off risks from the US dollar settlement system, while smooth and diversified trade is expected to be promoted.

Closer economic and trade ties would be needed more than ever among the BRICS economies, and further cooperation in areas such as local currency settlement could be brought up at the summit to smooth trade, Li Ziguo, a senior research fellow with the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Monday.

In 2021, China-Russia trade using local-currency settlement accounted for 24 percent of total bilateral trade settlements, hitting a record high.

Meanwhile, after Western sanctions, Russia has been increasing the proportion of the yuan in its currency reserves, experts said.

There would be a promotion of the local currency settlement system under the BRICS framework at this year's summit, though it takes time, Li said.

Yuan/ruble settlements between China and Russia have been used in some fields, and ruble/rupee settlements between India and Russia are under study. This means that the process of local currency settlements in the BRICS framework is advancing, Li said.

"The upcoming summit will be a positive message to businesses as a new cooperative framework could be expected," Li said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Wisconsin Christmas parade suspect Darrell Brooks Jr.  the man accused of killing six people and injuring dozens more when he plowed his vehicle through a crowd of revelers in Waukesha late last year  has changed his plea to "not guilty by mental disease or defect," records show.

Darrell Brooks Jr. appeared in court on Monday, when his attorney revealed his client was changing his plea from "not guilty" to "not guilty by mental disease or defect." Waukesha County court records show Brooks has since been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow on Monday also denied defense attorneys request to change the location of the trial, and also rejected their request that prospective jurors be brought in from a different county.

WAUKESHA SUSPECT DARRELL BROOKS DUE BACK IN COURT AS NEW DOCUMENTS REVEAL HE BLAMED SON IN 2020 GUN CASE

A spokesperson for defense attorneys Jeremy Perri and Anna M. Kees did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment.

Records still show the trial against Brooks, 40, is scheduled to begin in early October, despite defense attorneys efforts to have the date pushed back.

Brooks is accused of driving his red-colored SUV through a crowd of paradegoers  including children and elderly individuals  during the Nov. 21 Christmas celebration. He has remained behind bars at the Waukesha County Jail since he was ordered held on $5 million bail on Nov. 23.

WAUKESHA CHRISTMAS PARADE SUSPECT DARRELL BROOKS JR.'S ATTORNEYS ASKS JUDGE TO DELAY OCTOBER TRIAL BY 6 MONTHS

He was originally charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, with a sixth county  representing the sixth deceased victim  added just days later. Each of the six charges carries a life sentence upon conviction.

Darrell Brooks, charged with killing five people and injuring nearly 50 after plowing through a Christmas parade with his sport utility vehicle on November 21, appears in Waukesha County Court in Waukesha, Wisconsin, U.S. November 23, 2021. Mark Hoffman/Pool via REUTERS

Prosecutors have since charged Brooks with a total of 83 counts related to the tragedy.

The deceased victims were identified as Jackson Sparks, 8; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; LeAnna Owen, 71; Virginia Sorenson, 79; and Wilhelm, 81.

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In December, Brooks told Fox News Digital he felt "dehumanized," and like he was being "demonized." He has pleaded not guilty.

Brooks boasts a lengthy criminal history, including allegedly opening fire on his nephew and for running over an ex-girlfriend in Milwaukee. He pleaded not guilty in February to charges related to the parade tragedy.

Fox News' Rebecca Rosenberg and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
A woman in Japan has been arrested and charged for mixing human feces into a school lunch.

A 20-year-old employee at a public school in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, has been arrested and charged with fraudulent obstruction of business on June 13 for mixing human feces into a side dish of the school lunch.

The mixture of human excrement into the school lunch was discovered on Oct. 8, 2021, when the school principal taste-tested the days meal in advance. He reportedly noticed the dishs peculiar odor and discoloration. The principal canceled the lunch and submitted the food to the public health center for examination.

The test results confirmed that the food contained E. coli bacteria. While the dish was made in a separate central facility, it was reported that no other schools had any trace of E. coli bacteria in their food.

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It remains unclear what the womans motives were or how she was able to mix the feces into the food.

When the incident circulated online, many were surprised by the intervention of the principal in tasting the school lunch before anyone else.

While it is not practiced in all schools, it is apparently customary for principals to eat lunch about 30 minutes before the whole school. The practice is meant to check whether the quality and flavor of the food is acceptable to be served as an act of formality.

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Is the United States still a democracy? The past weeks of congressional hearings exploring the violent Jan. 6 attack on American democratic institutions provide dueling answers and hint at something of a crossroads for the country.

On the surface, these are encouraging moments; democratically elected public officials investigating the facts of a terrible moment in American history and pushing towards public transparency and accountability. And yet, the excavation of the days leading up to the insurrection serves as a reminder of the weakness of our common faith in democracy (to say nothing of the House committees only Republican members being rendered pariahs in their party for participating).

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How to keep fighting now to shore up our democracy and make our country more fair? How to maintain some semblance of social hope? Democracy has to be born anew every generation, wrote American philosopher John Dewey in 1916, and education is its midwife. Put another way, American democracy is not safe simply because we still have regular elections, nor can it be saved by a committee report, however damning.

Thats because its clearer now than at any other moment in recent memory that democracy isnt defined solely  or even sufficiently  in terms of a constellation of institutions. Sure, if you dont have regular elections, widespread access to voting, and power granted to those who get a majority of the votes, you certainly dont have a democracy. But a country can also have those institutions and procedures without coming even close to resembling a democratic political community.

Democracy is more than that. Its really a way of living  a series of cultural attitudes and patterns of behavior that coalesce into self-governance. We participants in a truly democratic community accept, seize and/or demand the privilege of having a say in determining how we all respond to the problems we collectively face. Thats the key. Sure, the particulars of our public institutions matter, but they are only truly democratic insofar as they adequately, reliably represent the popular will in charting our national course.

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So: Is our country still a democracy? In the days immediately after the massacre of children at school in Uvalde, Texas, I wrote that the flagging of faith in our democracy does stem from the presence of evidence, but its not the historical record thats to blame. Americans feel as though nothing can be done because we have grown accustomed to nothing being done.

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Indeed, our collective cynicism has been dearly bought through the clumsy national responses to the pandemic, climate change, gun violence and more. If we measure the health of our governing institutions by their ability to respond constructively to the problems we face, its clear that they arent living up to this project. After this years horrific, unspeakable violence in Uvalde, a decade after the Sandy Hook tragedy, Congress is tiptoeing up to its obligations, hoping to make minor tweaks  largely insufficient to have stopped that particular school shooting  and hoping that lobbyists for the gun industry dont step in to make it uncomfortable for conservative lawmakers. This is the best we can do right now, which is both better than nothing and depressingly predictable.

And yet, a road to healthier democracy is just there, waiting to be chosen instead of the cynical, despairing path were traveling.

That is, the privilege of self-governance also bestows upon us collective accountability. Our institutions have grown less effective at representing the majoritys views on a range of questions, sure. And yes, our elections are increasingly foregone conclusions because of the twin perils of gerrymandered, non-competitive districts and campaigns slushy with cash from self-interested donors.

And yet, because we are a democracy, if our public institutions are failing, we, too, have a role in it. We cannot blame a king who ruled simply because his mother ruled before him. We cannot look to a religious authority to clarify what, precisely, our country should do next. If weve tolerated the profoundly corrosive gridlock of determined obstructionists, if we have permitted our elected officials to choose which voters theyll represent, if weve allowed them to hack away at campaign finance limits  well, all of this was done in our name by the people we chose to rule.

Theres nothing fated about democracy, about whether it will survive or endure beyond one more electoral cycle or public crisis. No, the sustenance of our experiment in self-governance is ultimately up to us. Fortunately, that means that a better, more robust democratic community is always there, a choice for us to make, ready to be born anew. Its a choice for the taking. It looks something more like last Saturdays March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C.  the public assembling to alert their elected representatives to collective problems we face as Americans. As I wrote after Uvalde, there are so many reasons for them to expect that nothing can be done. Our institutions have failed them, failed us, so reliably for so many years on gun violence. Indeed, the rot in our political culture made an appearance at the D.C. rally  a man stormed into the gathering, threatening violence.

It shouldnt have to be like this. Traumatized, grieving activists demanding that their elected officials show they care about making communities safer shouldnt have to face threats of further violence simply for raising their voices.

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But they came anyway, reminding the rest of us that democracy isnt something you have, or somewhere you live. Its something that you and your neighbors choose to do. Its something that only thrives with energetic participation of those being pinched by the problems in our common life. And more of the March For Our Lives activists sort of insistence is the path back to something like democratic self-governance. At base, democracy rests upon nothing more and nothing less than our collective agreement that we deserve a voice in our political institutions shape and direction. No one and nothing else  not our leaders, not Americas past successes, not arcane laws that no longer serve our community  is going to do it for us.
RICHMOND  A governors appointee to the Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board publicly disparaged people on Twitter and trolled accounts with obscenities, writing that Vice President Kamala Harris sucked the right d- to advance in her career.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed Casey Flores to the board, which includes 21 citizens who advise the governor on LGBTQ+ policy issues. Flores is active in the Log Cabin Republicans, an organization that represents LGBTQ conservatives.

The appointment begins July 1. The governors press secretary this month referred reporters to Flores as someone who can defend Youngkins position on LGBTQ+ issues.

Listen, people tweet, Flores said in an interview when asked about his tweets. After reviewing them, he said Monday, The tweets were funny. I needed a good laugh.

He said the tweets in question were not reflective of his broader postings on Twitter about such things as the economy, global affairs and China, and not how I talk to people normally.

He said he will change his tone on social media now that the governor has appointed him and will be a professional on the board.

I have a more public  obviously more public role now  and I have no problem with toning it down, he said.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch is using dashes to represent some of the vulgar words in the tweets.

In his posts, Flores called a person on Twitter a fat, racist, self-hating white and a fat, racist slob in January, and wrote to him, you cant even find your own d-.

In March, Flores called someone who said the fight for gay rights wasnt over, a p.

He trolled Twitter accounts of elected officials, responding to a 2021 tweet from President Joe Biden about COVID-19 in 2021 with Please shut the f-  up. He responded to a 2020 tweet from Pete Buttigieg, now the U.S. secretary of transportation, with F-  off.

In 2021 when a gay man on Twitter wrote to Flores that Log Cabin Republicans did not represent the typical gay experience, Flores responded, Shut the f-  up.

Commenting on a story in January about climate change protesters blocking a road in Washington, D.C., Flores wrote, Id actually beat the s-  out of them. Wouldnt hesitate.

Flores March 2021 tweet about the vice president was in response to a news story about her.

She sucked the right d-, locked black people up for weed, and kicked her feet up while her staffers slaved away but ok, Flores wrote.

Three weeks ago, he responded to a tweet about Michigan state senator Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat, by saying: This b  is a groomer but well be hearing so much more from her.

He accused other people and institutions of racism, including the cable network CNBC; Asian countries generally; Joy Behar, of The View; and state Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton.

In the interview, Flores defended his comment on Asian countries.

Have you ever been to an Asian country? ... you would probably agree with me, he said. Its not a secret that they dont like immigration. ... China is the most racist country on earth.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Kay Coles James, the Youngkin Cabinet member who oversees appointments, said she spoke with Flores about his tweets and reminded him he now represents the governor.

He apologized and said he certainly did understand and he would mediate his language as appropriate going forward, she said. He has a stellar and outstanding career and is a strong advocate and I think has a voice that needs to be heard.

She said Flores age was one factor.

Sometimes with younger people, they dont understand that tweets and comments like that not only represent themselves but if youre going to be an appointee represents the person who appointed you, James said. Sometimes my values and language that I use, young people today dont adhere to those same standards.

Flores is 31.

James said as a Log Cabin Republican, Flores will be a great voice to have on the LGBTQ+ advisory board: Someone who is advocating on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community as well as understanding Republican values and principles.

Youngkin is replacing five members of the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board whose terms expire July 1. The board, which was created in 2021 to focus on policy related to LGBTQ people, is focused on education and the workforce, health care, housing and safety.

LGBTQ communities are under rising attack by right-wing hate groups.

A new report from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project released during Pride Month said there was an increase in 2021 in political violence and demonstrations against LGBTQ people and that 2022 is on track to be worse.

In the interview, Flores said of the LGBTQ+ movement, Theres not a right that we dont have.

He said he wants Youngkin to know that.

He doesnt need to be forced to comply with the LGBT agenda, Flores said. The totalitarian LGBT agenda that refuses to accept anything less than total capitulation.

They keep making new issues up, thats the thing. ... You can never keep track.

Totalitarianism is government by strong central rule that attempts to control and direct all aspects of individual life through coercion and repression, according to Britannica.

Flores said on the board, he will advocate for the religious liberty of Virginians and wants to look into possible funding for free health care clinics that do blood testing.

Leslie Caughell, a political scientist at Virginia Wesleyan University, said Flores tweets were immature, among other problems like advocating misogyny and insulting someones appearance.

He bandies about the term racist in ways that are disconnected from its meaning and undermine the true significance of the problem of racism, she said in an email.

Mr. Flores methods of civic engagement stand as a reflection on the governors own values if he appoints him.
Japanese Food guide to Kura Sushi, a conveyor belt sushi restaurant.

This food guide will show you how to reception at Kura Sushi, how to make green tea, how to order, and so on.

If you are planning to visit Kura Sushi in Japan, this food guide will surely help you.

Not only regular Kura Sushi, but also special Kura Sushi only in Japan, located in Harajuku and Osaka!
A Scottsbluff attorney will be among those telling the story of six people wrongfully convicted in the 1985 rape and murder of a Beatrice woman in an HBO docuseries that was set to premiere Monday evening.

Maren Chaloupka and co-counsel Jeff Patterson represented six defendants commonly known as the Beatrice 6: Joseph White, Thomas Winslow, Ada JoAnn Taylor, Debra Shelden, James Dean and Kathy Gonzalez. The six people were initially convicted in the 1985 rape and murder of 68-year-old Helen Wilson in Beatrice. In 2008, DNA evidence implicated Bruce Allen Smith, an original suspect in the murder who died in 1992. White was exonerated in court and the other five defendants were pardoned.

Together, the three men and three women spent a combined 75 years in prison in Wilsons death and later sued Gage County, winning a federal jury trial in 2016. It was the culmination of two decades of White fighting to prove his innocence.

Chaloupka, and her client, Debra Shelden, are among those interviewed as part of the miniseries, Mind over Murder, that documents the case. Its a case that is well-known to most Nebraskans, with the chilling tale of wrongful conviction and the $28 million judgment that taxpayers are helping pay.

Though films, docuseries and television shows in the true crime genre have continued to increase in popularity through the years, Patterson, Chaloupka and the defendants in the case have been reluctant to be involved in such projects until being approached by director Nanfu Wang. Wang produced the HBO Original six-part documentary series set for broadcast Mondays at 9 p.m. The episodes will post to HBO's streaming platform on Tuesdays.

After the verdict (in 2016), we started getting approached by different kinds of journalists, both print and documentarians, who wanted to make film or TV productions about it. We said no to almost all of them, Chaloupka said.

She explained that the case is very complex, with the federal trial taking more than a month to present and more than 400 documents among the exhibits.

She said that the attorneys were very protective of their clients, and not interested in ventures that would exploit their stories for commercialism. They wanted to maintain the integrity of the truth.

The reason our clients spent a combined 77 years in prison was because people were not interested in the truth, she said. And because they were not interested in the truth, our clients suffered terribly. Theyre never going to recover from that damage.

In working with a journalist from The New Yorker, they became associated with Wang.

She asked us to look at some of the other work she had done. ... And when we watched some of her other films, we were impressed that she had the emotional capacity to carry a complicated, factually and emotionally accurate story.

For more than a decade, Chaloupka has been a part of the case in representing Shelden, and in an initial trailer for the docuseries, its evident that Shelden still struggles with the aftermath of the case. Some of the most emotional pieces of the trailer come from Shelden.

The federal jury concluded that Gage County Deputy Burt Searcey, who led the cold-case investigation, and Deputy Wayne Price, who also worked as a psychologist, had manufactured evidence or engaged in a reckless investigation that violated the rights of the six defendants.

In just one example of the emotional upheaval, Chaloupka shared how Price, who claimed to be treating the defendants during the investigation to recover memories, told Shelden  a woman with an IQ in the 70s that made her susceptible to suggestion and also suffering from schizoaffective disorder  to go back to her jail cell and the truth would come to her in a dream.

Shelden did, and was subsequently convinced that she and another woman had been at the scene of the crime. Deputies based her recounting of the dream as its cause for arresting Kathy Gonzalez in the case. Statements or therapy provided by Price is reported to be tied to more than one false confession among the Beatrice 6.

Each of the defendants had very unique experiences, Chaloupka said, as a result of egregious law enforcement and prosecutorial misconduct.

Imagine, you or me being prosecuted for murder because someone had a dream that you were there, she said, adding, You cant make this s up.

Without the persistence of White, the six defendants may never have been cleared and some would still be in prison.

Wang doesnt just take the audience through the stories of the Beatrice 6, but also the Wilson family and the Beatrice community. She doesnt shy away from the fact that many of the family members continue to believe that the six cleared defendants are guilty or that some in the Beatrice community would rather not discuss the case.

Family members of Wilson also live in the Scottsbluff area and were among the children and grandchildren Wang interviewed, which Chaloupka credited as part of the journalistic process that made her supportive and confident in Wangs ability to tell the story. The long-lasting effects of the case are felt on both sides, she said. She told the Star-Herald she can understand the Wilson familys grief, particularly in experiencing the shock and grief of having their mother and grandmother taken in such a horrific way, the need for closure as the case remained unsolved, and then the rollercoaster of events as they believed in deputies they thought to be heroes for solving the case.

What they have been through is shocking and confusing, and the real killer was never brought to justice, she said. He died without answering for his crime. ... I just am so sad for what theyve been through.
Council Bluffs artist Andrew Peters is participating in the 50th annual Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

This is the 16th year that Peters has participated in the Western art exhibition, which showcases original works ranging from historical depictions of the American West to more contemporary and impressionistic pieces that feature landscapes, wildlife and illustrative scenes.

At the 2015 Prix de West, Peters received the Purchase Award, which is given to the artist whose work of art is selected by the Prix de West Committee and purchased for the museums permanent collection.

Peters was raised in Council Bluffs and took art lessons as a boy at Joslyn Art Museum. His father often took young Andrew with him on hunting trips, which captivated his imagination. He later studied wildlife biology and art at Iowa State University before moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to pursue painting as a career.

He traveled the world, painting landscapes in such diverse locales as Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Peru and Romania, before returning to the place he grew up.

His studio is situated in the Loess Hills, outside Council Bluffs. It overlooks wetlands he created as a wildlife sanctuary and for scenic beauty.

Peters is one of 94 American and international artists whose work is on exhibit at the museum. Three out of the four paintings he brought to the exhibition have sold for more than $60,000.

The annual exhibition and sale is the museums largest annual fundraiser. Last years sale raised more than $2.8 million to help support exhibitions and museum programming.

The exhibit began on June 2 and runs through Aug. 7. For more information, or to take a virtual tour of the exhibit, visit nationalcowboymuseum.org/prixdewest.

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DES MOINES  Five applicants will be interviewed for an opening on the Iowa Supreme Court that will occur when Justice Brent Appel retires next month, the court announced in a news release Monday.

When Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds appoints the new justice, it will be her fifth appointment to the seven-member court.

All five candidates will be interviewed next Monday, June 27, by the states judicial nominating commission.

The 17-member commission will select three finalists, after which Reynolds will have 30 days to select one of the finalists as the next justice.

When she makes this next selection, Reynolds will have appointed five Iowa Supreme Court justices during her six years in office.

Appel is the courts last remaining member who was appointed by a Democratic governor  Tom Vilsack in 2006.

Appel was retained by voters in the 2016 judicial retention elections.

Appel this summer turns 72, the age at which Iowa judges are required by law to retire.

The five candidates scheduled to be interviewed next Monday are:

Timothy Gartin, a lawyer with Hastings, Gartin & Boettger in Ames. Gartin served on the Ames city council and in 2010 ran for the Iowa Senate as a Republican.

Alan Heavens, a 1st District judge from Garnavillo. Heavens is a former Clayton County attorney.

David May, an Iowa Court of Appeals judge from Polk City. May was a finalist for an Iowa Supreme Court vacancy in 2020, an opening that was filled by Matt McDermott after the retirement of former Justice David Wiggins.

William Miller, a lawyer with Dorsey & Whitney in Des Moines. Miller, who specializes in business law, has interviewed for a previous Iowa Supreme Court vacancy.

Patrick Tott, the 3rd Districts chief judge, from Sioux City. Tott also has interviewed for an Iowa Supreme Court opening in the past. He was one of two Iowa judges who ruled in a 2020 lawsuit that Iowa county elections officials erred in mailing out absentee ballot request forms with some personal information filled in.
As Independence Day approaches, the Heartland of America Band will perform several shows across the metro area to celebrate the history behind the 75th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force.

Theyre going to parallel the growth of the Air Force with the spirit of America and our history in those last 75 years, said Master Sgt. Ryan Heseltine, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the band.

Free, family-friendly Sounds of Freedom concerts will be held:

Sunday, June 26, Davies Amphitheater in Glenwood

Tuesday, June 28, SumTur Amphitheater in Papillion

Wednesday June 29, Bayliss Park in Council Bluffs

Friday, June 1, Rockbrook Village Shopping Center in Omaha

All shows start at 7 p.m. and should last a little over an hour.

Heseltine said the shows will feature the bands largest performing group, combining its rock band and brass quintet. The audience will hear rock n roll, country, jazz, classic American and popular music from the 1940s through today.

We will start with the music that goes back to the early days of the Air Force with music by Glenn Miller, who was an Air Force officer who kind of reinvented military music in his time, Heseltine said. Well be delving into areas like jazz, and then well be moving through the eras into the 50s and the 60s, as we head towards Korea and Vietnam, and then music of the 60s and 70s. Were also touching a little bit on some different styles of music that are unique, with country music and some of our biggest inspirations that weve reinvented as well. Theres actually a little bit of a tribute to the Beatles.

The show even includes a bit of disco as it marches into contemporary popular music, as well as some traditional patriotic selections, during which veterans and service members will be honored. A narrator will walk the audience through the history accompanying the selections.

It feels very fluid in a sense, like a story being told, Heseltine said. Were just giving as much music as we can as well as painting pictures for folks, too.

Heseltine serves as a sort of executive producer for the program, and the musicians all have roles to play in the logistics and assembling of the show. He said they are aiming to please everyone who comes out to the shows, no matter their age or background.

Our program will have something for everybody and that folks will be proud of America and their Air Force at the end of the program, Heseltine said. We certainly look forward to seeing them and even getting a chance to meet them afterwards.

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CEDAR RAPIDS  A Cedar Rapids Democrat is poised to become the first Arab American lawmaker in the Iowa Legislature.

Sami Scheetz, a 26-year-old community organizer whose mother immigrated to Cedar Rapids from Damascus, Syria, is running unopposed for the Iowa House District 78 seat.

The newly redrawn district has been represented by Democrat Rep. Liz Bennett, who is running for an open Senate seat.

If elected, Scheetz said he hopes to counter what he sees as sharp and harmful anti-immigrant rhetoric from Iowa Republicans.

He referenced a state law that mandates all official political documents from the state be written in English, with the exception of voting materials in two counties, and he cited Gov. Kim Reynolds rejection last year of a federal request to accept unaccompanied migrant children into the state, saying the need to find homes for them is the presidents problem.

Right now, there are small towns across the state of Iowa that are being revitalized by Latin American or Mexican American immigration, Scheetz said.

And to have that unwelcoming rhetoric from the Iowa GOP, I think, is going to be really, really problematic, when the census projects by 2050 Iowas going to be a quarter Latino.

Scheetz said rural Iowas future rests on immigrants and refugees to ensure an adequate labor supply to replace those aging out of the workforce.

Republican Party of Iowa Communications Director Kollin Crompton responded, saying, Iowans overwhelmingly disapprove of (President) Joe Bidens open border policies, which, she said, has resulted in thousands of pounds of deadly fentanyl flowing across our border.

Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Scheetz, the son of an immigrant teacher and a lawyer, said he looks forward to working to promote increased diversity and inclusion in state politics.

The 78th District has a diverse electorate that includes large Latino, Arab American and African American communities. The district also has among the lowest voter turnout rates in the state, according to Scheetz.

There are tons of Democrats that just have not been voting, and I think part of that is us not investing the resources and the time in connecting and turning out voters of color  and immigrant communities, said Scheetz, who has worked the past 10 years on political campaigns for Democratic candidates at the state and federal levels.

Scheetz worked on Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign, helping establish satellite caucuses to encourage first-time and reluctant voters to participate. Scheetz said he hopes to push for more political integration of minority groups.

We need to focus on more of that as a party, he said.

While Iowa has a sizable Arab-American community  with Arab immigrants settling in Cedar Rapids more than a century ago  the exact number of Arab Americans in the state is difficult to accurately measure as their only option for describing their racial and ethnic origin on U.S. census forms is white.

The Arab American Institute in Washington, D.C., estimated more than 17,000 Arab Americans lived in Iowa in 2017 and at least 3.7 million lived in the United States.

Recent crises and conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have resulted in fresh waves of Arab and Muslim immigrants arriving in the United States, including more than 900 Afghan refugees who have made their home in Iowa.

Scheetz, who is all but guaranteed to be elected to the Iowa House from the solidly Democratic district, would become one of about 25 current state legislators across the country of Arab American descent, according to the institute.

OTHER GOALS

Scheetz said he also intends to focus on improving public education, access to affordable health care and workers rights.

He said Iowas privatization of Medicaid has needlessly complicated care for countless working class families and led to decreased service for Iowans with disabilities.

Scheetz, too, said he would work to restore collective bargaining rights for public employees in Iowa and push for policies like prevailing wages and project labor agreements.

Scheetz also worked on state Cedar Rapids Democratic Sen. Rob Hoggs unsuccessful 2016 campaign for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

Having a young person like Sami who has grown up in a diverse community as an Arab American brings a perspective that will be very helpful on issues like confronting racism, hate crimes and hate speech, Hogg said.

State lawmakers last year passed and Reynolds signed into law a bill that bans public schools and government agencies from promotingdivisive concepts in their teachings or trainings, including that the U.S. and Iowa are systemically racist or sexist. Teachers and historians say it will stifle conversations about the countrys bitter legacy of slavery, segregation and racial exclusion.

Some people feel threatened by it, Hogg said. What Sami is going to do is show, Hey, we have to address our history, but we also have to embrace this extraordinary diverse future if we want to be successful in the 21st century. Thats where his voice will really be helpful.
Four months after Milt Dakovich, longtime member of Iowas Board of Regents, died of cancer, Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday named Seneca Cos. President James JC Risewick to fill the regent vacancy.

Risewick will begin serving immediately on the nine-member board governing Iowas three public universities and two special schools, though his appointment must be confirmed by the Iowa Senate when it is next in session.

The regents next meeting is July 27, when theyll consider raising tuition rates for the fall.

If confirmed, Risewick will serve out the remainder of Dakovichs six-year term  set to expire in April 2025.

Risewick serves as president and chief operating officer of Seneca Cos. in Des Moines, which touts itself as an established leader in the petroleum industry.

Chris Risewick, JC Risewicks father, founded Seneca in 1972 with a vision to deliver real value to customers in the petroleum industry through supplying quality equipment, innovative service, and dependable construction of fueling sites, according to the companys website.

State law requires the Board of Regents to be balanced politically and by gender  meaning no political party or gender can have more than five representatives.

Risewicks appointment keeps the gender balance at four men and five women. Before Dakovichs passing, the board had five Republicans, three unaffiliated members, and one registered Democrat  Regent Nancy Dunkel.

The announcement of Risewicks appointment didnt include his political affiliation, but state campaign disclosure documents show he contributed $20,000 to Reynolds campaign in 2021 and over the past three years has made in-kind contributions in the form of private flights valued at nearly $40,000.

Christopher Risewick has contributed $15,500 to Reynolds campaign over the past seven years, state campaign disclosure documents show. He also made an in-kind contribution in the form of a private flight in 2020 valued at more than $25,800.

JC Risewick volunteers through ChildServe and Impact Iowas Heroes and was named among the Forty Under 40 in Iowa in 2014, according to an announcement of his appointment out of Reynolds office.

JC is an outstanding leader with a passion for making our state a better place, Reynolds said in a statement. Im confident his expertise, experience, and innovative mindset will inspire our regent universities in their mission to prepare the next generation of college students to flourish in the workforce.

In praising Iowas universities for leading the way, Reynolds said, JC will help push them to new heights.

Erin Murphy of the Gazette Des Moines Bureau contributed.
OMAHA  Police are investigating a pair of early morning shootings, including one that injured three people near a bar in Omaha's Old Market Saturday.

Officers initially responded to a report of shots fired at Gate 10 just before 1 a.m., according to a news release from the Omaha Police Department. Officers soon learned that a vehicle reportedly involved in the shooting was seen leaving the area.

Police pursued the vehicle to 42nd and Dodge streets, where they found two people with gunshot injuries, according to police. The two, 31-year-old George Thompson and 27-year-old Jordan Thompson, were taken to Nebraska Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

A third person, Detail Johnson, 28, arrived at Nebraska Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries and said he was also at Gate 10, according to police.

Officers later responded to a reported shooting near 12th and Castelar Streets around 4:20 a.m., according to police. The person injured in the shooting, Delray Bradshaw, 25, left the scene before officers arrived.

He arrived at Nebraska Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries shortly after the 911 call, according to police.

Both shootings remain under investigation. Police ask anyone with information regarding either incident to call Omaha Crime Stoppers at (402)444-7867. Tips also can be provided at www.omahacrimestoppers.org or on the P3 Tips mobile app.
For those who get caught speeding in Nebraska, the fines start out small  just $10 for going 1 to 5 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. Drivers who travel between 20 to 34 mph over the speed limit are fined $200, and those who are really gunning it (more than 35 mph over the limit) 
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Anger is still boiling up inside the Algerian regime, irked by the firm support voiced by Spanish government to the autonomy plan offered by Morocco for the Sahara under its sovereignty.

The resentment continues building up pushing the ruling military junta to take irrational decisions undermining the EU-Algeria Association Agreement.

Among the latest vindictive measures taken against Madrid, the Algerian Ministry of Tourism has ordered Algerian travel agencies to stop all collaboration with their Spanish counterparts and cancel all flights scheduled between the two countries in a new escalation against Madrid.

The ministry says the move has been taken in accordance with the decision of the countrys highest authorities to suspend the Friendship Treaty with Spain over the Sahara issue row.

The new Algerian hostile move comes following the announcement of the organization of the 1st Moroccan-Spanish Business Forum in the Moroccan Sahara city of Dakhla this June 21-22.

The meeting aims to consolidate Moroccan-Spanish economic relations, promote the economy of the Saharan region and showcase its huge investment opportunities to Spanish businessmen.

On June 11, EU Foreign policy Chief Josep Borrell and Executive Vice-Pdt of European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, have voiced concern over Algerias unilateral decision to suspend the friendship treaty with Spain, saying halting transactions with Madrid is a violation of the EU-Algeria Association Agreement, in particular in the area of trade and investment.

The EU has warned against discriminatory treatment of an EU Member State, saying it is ready to stand up against any type of coercive measures targeting one of the members of the Union.
Cooperation prospects between Morocco and the International Atomic Energy Agency were at the center of talks held Monday in Rabat between visiting IAEA Director Rafael Mariano Grossi and Moroccan minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali.

Moroccos expertise in nuclear science is a valuable asset for the countrys development, said Mr. Grossi, noting that the exchange focused on the Moroccan economy, the prospects for nuclear energy and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

Nuclear power is a carbon-free energy capable of providing predictable carbon-free energy. SMRs help reduce costs thanks to their simpler designs, standardized components and passive safety features.

Being smaller can make it easier to find sites and integrate into a grid with intermittent renewable energies. According to experts, modular reactors could more than halve the cost and build time associated with traditional ones.

Earlier this month, Mrs. Benali said Morocco mulls building nuclear power plants within the frame of its energy mix and efforts to speed up transition to low-carbon economy.

On Monday, the IAEA and Moroccan Health ministry signed a cooperation accord that will help expand radiotherapy in Africa and fight zoonotic diseases, caused by bacteria, parasites, fungi or viruses that originate in animals and can be transmitted to humans.

The IAEA chief has praised Moroccos progress made in early cancer diagnosis and targeted treatment, hailing the Kingdoms regional solidarity and support to IAEA initiatives launched to combat cancer and improve access to nuclear medicine therapy across the Continent.

Morocco is a key ally of the IAEA in promoting nuclear science in Africa. This partnership has just been strengthened through an agreement that will help Africa provide cancer care for all with Rayons dEspoir and fight zoonoses with ZODIAC', he wrote on his Twitter account.
Moroccan and visiting Israeli interior ministers met in Rabat to discuss cooperation prospects, as the two countries foster bilateral ties since the resumption of their diplomatic ties in late 2020.

The meeting, held Tuesday between Abdelouafi Laftit and Ayelet Shaked, is part of the momentum of the trilateral accord signed by Morocco, the USA and Israel and comes in a series of similar meetings between senior Moroccan and Israeli government officials.

Prior to Shakeds visit, Israeli ministers in charge of trade, the economy, defense and foreign affairs have paid visits to Rabat.

Last month, a delegation of Israeli innovation firms held a meeting with their Moroccan counterparts in Casablanca, in a sign of growing economic interest by the business communities for joint projects.

Israeli media reported that Morocco was planning to open its embassy soon in Israel, upgrading its already existing liaison office there.

Israeli trade minister had announced during a visit to Rabat earlier this year that her country aspires to bolster trade with Morocco to 500 million dollars from 130 million currently, buoyed by increasing connectivity between the two countries.

Morocco also hopes direct air links would attract more Israeli tourists to the country which was once home to the largest Jewish community in North Africa.
Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile, Claudia Nathalie Jimenez Mix, hailed, Monday in Rabat, Moroccos efforts to find a final political solution to the artificial dispute over the Sahara issue.

The Chilean MP, who is on a working visit to the Kingdom at the head of a large parliamentary delegation, held talks with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita as well as with first vice-president of the House of Advisors.

The talks discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

During the talks, the Chilean MP highlighted the efforts made at the bilateral level to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and the two parliamentary institutions.

She also surveyed the political situation in her country, marked by efforts to achieve several important political and constitutional reforms.

The Moroccan side expressed appreciation for Chiles unwavering support for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom and praised the initiatives of the Chilean Parliament, especially the 2020 initiative in support of Moroccos efforts to secure the passage of Guerguarat, as well as the backing to the autonomy plan as a realistic solution to the artificial dispute over the Moroccanness of the southern provinces.
The European Development Days (EDD), one of the main world forums on development cooperation, kicked off this Tuesday, June 21, 2022 in Brussels, with the participation of Morocco, represented by the head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, who presented the kingdoms strategies for the future and its vision on partnerships with the European Union and Africa.

The 2022 edition of the EDD, sponsored by the European Commission, aims to highlight Global Gateway, the EUs new strategy to invest in smart, clean and secure infrastructure in the digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems around the world, tackling inequalities and putting the Sustainable Development Goals on track.

For the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who launched the event, the objective of this initiative is to mobilize 300 billion by 2027, including 150 billion in Africa.

Speaking at this event, and insisting on Moroccos essential position in the context of exchanges with the European Union, the head of government said that throughout its history, Morocco has played the role of a bridge  a kind of gateway  between Africa and Europe. Building sustainable and reliable partnerships is, so to speak, in the Kingdoms DNA.

He vowed that Morocco will accompany the European Union in the deployment of the innovative Global Gateway strategy, which contributes to an integrated development and a strengthened connectivity that is mutually beneficial to Europe and Africa.

Global Gateway, which places Africa at the heart of its strategy as the main beneficiary of the project, will help to take a qualitative step towards a world of sustainable co-prosperity, he said.

Very soon after the launch of European integration, Morocco and the EU have built, patiently and over time, a partnership of exception, which continues to develop today, thanks to a strong and constant royal will, he recalled, noting that Morocco and the EU wanted [this partnership] to be comprehensive, ambitious, equal, based on shared values and carried by common interests, which makes it today a strategic, reliable, necessary and unique partnership.

Morocco and the European Union can now invest in fields of future cooperation, Akhannouch stressed, recalling that Morocco is the first country in the world to engage in the conclusion of a Green Partnership with the EU.

This avant-garde orientation of the Morocco-EU Partnership, and its proven ability to deliver results, gives it a force of emulation, projection and success, beneficial to both the African continent and the Euro-Mediterranean region, he said.

Recalling that Morocco, which has intensified over the past 20 years its trade with its home continent, is now the first African investor in West Africa, and the second on the continent, the head of government said that the place occupied today by Morocco is the result of the vision of King Mohammed VI.

Akhannounch also brought up the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, saying the project is one of the most striking illustrations of Moroccos commitment to long-term infrastructure projects with Africa. This gas pipeline project linking Africa to Europe should be included as a flagship initiative of the Global Gateway plan as it represents a powerful vector of regional and bicontinental integration, he argued.

The head of government stated further that Morocco has proved its resilience to the pandemic and has succeeded in a high-level vaccination campaign, with more than 63% of the population fully vaccinated, while having the ambition to go much further to achieve effective prevention.

It is within this framework that Morocco has proceeded to launch the construction of a vaccination plant for Morocco and the African continent, he recalled, assuring that Morocco places the protection and fulfillment of its citizens in the forefront of its priorities.

Our country is currently carrying out three far-reaching reforms, namely in matters of social protection, health and education to accompany, train and release the energies of our citizens throughout their lives, he said.

Noting, on the other hand, that Morocco is working to ensure greater connectivity between our continents, he said that the Kingdom has already built first-class infrastructure.

He cited Tanger Med Port, which is now the first port of transshipment in Africa and the Mediterranean, in addition to many new projects, which, combined with existing international airports, will connect the African and European continents by air, sea, rail and road.

These exchanges cannot take place without a stable and sustainable world. However, this stability is now threatened by global warming and the problems of price and energy supply, he said, noting that Morocco has taken its responsibilities by being a pioneer in renewable energy for over 15 years, while being in the forefront of new energy technologies, such as the development of green hydrogen.

Organized in a hybrid format, EDD welcomes 2,500 face-to-face participants, in addition to 10,000 online participants. Political leaders, civil society representatives and private sector actors from all over the world participate in these European Development Days.

For two days, participants can take part in more than 90 sessions, including high-level panels, around the five key themes of the Global Gateway: digital, climate and energy, transport, health, and education and research. There will be specific sessions on the geopolitical context and the need for sustainable financing flows, as well as region-specific sessions.
One can easily say Wednesdays celebration of the Lincoln County Courthouses centennial is 90 years late.

It celebrates, first of all, not its completion but the laying of its cornerstone on June 22, 1922, after two years of work.

Conflict and controversy lay behind and ahead. The countys settlers had fought over whether to even build their initial courthouse, let alone its successor.

Less than a year after the 1922 ceremony, that 1875 courthouse burned nearly to the ground  in an attempt to cover up fiscal shenanigans  with the shell of the new one sitting nearby.

When construction money ran out, enraged taxpayers repeatedly refused to grant more  forcing county officials to work in a partly finished courthouse for nine years.

When construction finally wrapped in May 1932, the event passed without fanfare.

It is expected that Lincoln County will not have to build another court house for a hundred years, and it seems too bad to let the close of such an important event pass without taking any notice of it, Lincoln Country Tribune Editor Wilson Tout lamented in an editorial on June 14, 1932.

Better nine decades late than never.

County? Bah

In pioneer Lincoln Countys first years, the settlers didnt bother with a courthouse.

Neither did they bother with a county after the 1859 Territorial Legislature created Shorter County, covering almost all of the future Nebraskas western half and parts of present-day Colorado and Wyoming.

Cottonwood Springs, near Fort McPherson, was made the county seat. The 1882 work Andreas History of the State of Nebraska says voters elected Isadore P. Boyer, John C. Gilman and John A. Morrow as commissioners, Washington M. Hinman as treasurer and Charles McDonald as county judge.

But other than a few marriages performed by Judge McDonald, no evidence survives that Shorter County ever did any business.

Not until Sept. 3, 1866, with overland Oregon-California Trail traffic bustling and the transcontinental railroad approaching the Platte River forks, did residents take steps to organize a county government.

Meeting at Cottonwood Springs, they agreed to rename the county for recently assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. But voters  there were just 21  didnt elect officers until Oct. 9, 1867, seven months after statehood and nearly a year after the Union Pacific track gangs had reached brand-new North Platte.

Voters also moved the county seat there. Hinmans log house in North Platte, site of the first County Board meeting on Nov. 12, 1867, served as courthouse for a time.

Voters in a May 1872 special election approved $30,000 in bonds to build a courthouse and jail. But opponents sued and got an injunction from a federal district judge in Omaha to block the bonds.

Voters rejected a $40,000 bond issue on Feb. 21, 1874, before finally approving bonds for half that amount by a 212-64 vote on April 11, 1874.

Still the conflict wasnt over. The first bidders that July failed to qualify. A.H. Gillett finally won the bid on June 2, 1875, but Commissioner M.C. Keith (namesake of neighboring Keith County) blocked action on choosing a location.

Not until July 3 did the County Board agree to build the first courthouse on the same block as the current one at 301 N. Jeffers St.

It does our eyes good to see the manner in which our courthouse is looking up, the North Platte Enterprise wryly observed Aug. 7. There hasnt been an injunction served on the contractors for three weeks.

Some things rotten

The first courthouse apparently was functioning by late 1875, based on a Dec. 15 article in the North Platte Western Nebraskian saying it would host a convention to nominate North Plattes first city officers. (The town was incorporated in 1873 but recently had reorganized as a city.)

The two-story structure would serve Lincoln County through World War I  a decade into clashes over whether to replace it.

A special committee noted that the 1875 buildings foundations had given out in the 1890s. Roof boards were decaying, and the floor of the county treasurers office was settling under the weight of its safe.

The committee dismissed fixing and adding onto the 1875 courthouse in a front-page Evening Telegraph letter on Sept. 2, 1908.

Doing so would probably cost $200,000 to $250,000, and when we got through, we would have only a makeshift (courthouse) and would have that much more money in this old fire trap, which we would someday have to throw away to make room for a decent building, the committee wrote.

Opposition was fierce. There had been hints as early as 1880  when a report noted courthouse debt equal to the 1874 bond issues $20,000 total  that taxpayers were fleeced in building the original structure.

Suspicious voters defeated a special four-year, $100,000 courthouse property tax by more than 200 votes on Aug. 18, 1914. Strong North Platte support was more than offset by rural residents opposition.

It took five more years and a petition drive before voters finally approved a $100,000, five-year tax by a decisive 1,770-552 margin on July 22, 1919.

That five-mill tax would be collected for the last time in 1923.

A fiery end

Construction of the new courthouse, begun in 1920, was far enough along by June 1922 to put its cornerstone in place.

North Plattes Odd Fellows lodge, the American Legion and the Chamber of Commerce Band marched to the courthouse site, the Evening Telegraph reported.

Before a large crowd composed mostly of the country residents of Lincoln County, grand officers of Nebraskas Odd Fellows and local Odd Fellow and Mason S.W. Van Doran led the cornerstone ceremony.

Speaker W.V. Hoagland spoke of the early history of the county, its progress and its future, the Telegraph account added.

But as 1922 ended, the new courthouse wasnt close to completion with the last year of its five-year construction tax at hand.

County Clerk A.S. Allen was arrested in December, accused of embezzling more than $2,000 of county funds through issuing fraudulent financial warrants to an Omaha printing firm.

Allen subsequently resigned and repaid the lost funds. But his actions helped convince a brand-new Lincoln County Taxpayers League to seek a special property tax to pay for a $17,000 audit of all county books.

Commissioners put the issue on the primary ballot of April 3, 1923. Voters backed the half-mill tax, exceeding the needed two-thirds majority by more than 600 votes.

But the night before a Minnesota accounting firm was to start work, the much-maligned 1875 courthouse met its end.

E.M. Rincker, who was to supervise the auditors, was staying across East Fourth Street at the Hotel McCabe. About 1 a.m. on April 30, he looked out his south-facing window and saw flames leaping from the old courthouse.

Two hours later, the top floor, roof and steeple had been destroyed along with the clerk of the district courts office. The fire trap warning of 1908 had come true.

While poking through the wreckage, county officials and Taxpayers League members found the county treasurers safe open.

Three warrant books for roads, bridges and general funds had been taken. So were a claims register, the records of the new courthouses bid-letting, records of Allens misdeeds, $60,000 worth of securities and bonds and $1,200 in cash. Other documents later were found, soaked in kerosene.

Authorities May 2 arrested County Treasurer Samuel Souder and his deputy, Elmer Baker. A grand jury in June indicted both on a combined 117 counts of forgery, arson and embezzlement, along with Allen for his unrelated charges.

But Souder  who subsequently resigned, changed his mind, jumped bail and was rearrested after trying to sell Lincoln County bonds in Florida  was the only one of those three to face trial.

Souders trial was held in the new courthouses unfinished top-floor district courtroom. Participants sat at rough benches and tables, with temporary lighting strung between the unplastered walls.

Jurors convicted Souder of arson on Dec. 23. He was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison on Jan. 9, 1924.

The grand jury also had indicted a sitting and a former county commissioner and many others for what The Telegraph called numerous embezzlements and forgeries ... all dating over three years ago.

Most were too old for charges to be filed under statutes of limitations. But the grand jury declared on Sept. 15: That disrespect and disregard for the law has grown rapidly during the past few years is apparent to any observing person.

Unfinished business

The anger of Lincoln County taxpayers would not soon be assuaged. The five-year courthouse tax expired, and five years passed before voters were even asked to consider finishing the new courthouse. They resoundingly said no to a $175,000 bond issue on April 10, 1928, with rural opposition overwhelming North Platte support in results similar to the first 1914 election on the earlier courthouse tax.

A $150,000 bond proposal lost by 800 votes on March 17, 1931. But supporters set to circulating petitions to direct commissioners to adopt a special $100,000 courthouse tax over the next three years.

They needed  and got  signatures equal to at least 55% of the countys legal voters, enough to force the County Boards hand. Commissioners adopted the special tax on Oct. 6, 1931.

On May 19, 1932, The Telegraph reported that the courthouse at last was finished and contractors were cleaning up before turning over the building to the County Board.

But there was no celebration.

Neither was there much hoopla in May 1968, when the County Board opened a 12,000-square-foot, one-story annex stretching from the 1920-32 courthouses original front door to North Dewey Street.

A self-contained one-stop shop for motor vehicle licensing was and remains the main feature of the $275,741 project, approved in May 1966 and built starting in April 1967.

Commissioners had saved up money to build the annex, which also features ceramic murals designed by future Telegraph cartoonist and North Platte Mayor Carl Bieber. A parking lot planned on the annexs north was dropped.

Despite the additions modern intrusion, the original three-story courthouse that took so long to finish was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Without question, it has seen more than its share of notorious North Platte history over these past hundred years.

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Photo: Getty Images

Senator Ron Johnson is usually a cheerleader for Donald Trumps most dangerous causes. He has promoted the former presidents favorite COVID conspiracies, aided his effort to undermine U.S. intelligence, and more. During January 6 committee hearings on Tuesday, lawmakers showed that the Wisconsin Republicans office also played an active role in the plot to stop the election certification on January 6, 2021.

The committee revealed that before Vice-President Mike Pence had counted the electoral vote, formally handing the win to Joe Biden, Johnsons chief of staff tried to skew the count by submitting fake electors from Michigan and Wisconsin, two states that went for Biden by a slim margin. In a text exchange between Riley and Pences legislative director, Chris Hodgson, Riley said his boss needed to hand-deliver the slate of fake electors, while Hodgson was having none of it.

this text exchange between a top Ron John staffer and a Pence staffer trying to hand off a slate of fake electors. pic.twitter.com/5i90rRRVoj  Sam Stein (@samstein) June 21, 2022

After the texts were made public on Tuesday, Johnsons office tried to distance him from the scheme in a carefully worded denial. His spokesperson, Alexa Henning, tweeted that the senator was not involved in the creation of the bogus slate of electors, that Johnson had no foreknowledge about its arrival at his office, and that the texts in question were a staff to staff exchange, not so subtly throwing Riley under the bus. But she said nothing about whether Johnson was onboard with his own chief of staffs effort to get Pence to join the election conspiracy.
Photo: Richard Vogel/AP/Shutterstock

If a single phrase could describe the contemporary American mindset, it might be to harden, which can be defined as any effort to make a target more difficult to assault. The term is a legacy, perhaps, of September 11 and the decades-long war that followed, invoking the nations soft underbelly while suggesting protective armor. After the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Republicans called for schools to harden themselves. The states lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, suggested they restrict the number of entrances so that they could make it more difficult for a shooter to enter. In Ohio, Republicans passed a law that reduces the hours of training required for a teacher to bear arms in school. This is not an unusual response to school shootings, as the Washington Post recently pointed out: Post-Columbine, schools increased the numbers of law enforcement on the premises, turned to bulletproof glass and doors without windows, and drilled students repeatedly to lock down in case of an active shooter.

That conservatives would seek refuge in the gun is no surprise. Nor have they broken character by urging America to man up. However, this fortress mentality manifests itself, too, among liberals. A bipartisan gun deal in the Senate allocates funding for school-security measures, which suggests that hardened schools may become an American fixture. Beyond gun violence, liberals are locking their doors and hiring more cops. Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks and once a rumored pick to become Hillary Clintons Labor secretary, said last week that the company may harden our stores and provide safety for our people by closing its bathrooms to the public. The Democratic mayors of major cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, and New York City fearmonger, calling for law and order amid a supposed urban crime wave. Hardened cities mean more police, though the roots of crime, whether urban or rural, are complex, and owe to material conditions and structural failures that brute force alone cannot solve. Politicians in both parties are looking for scapegoats, and in America they are never that difficult to find. The same applies to the rights response to gun violence. Better to arm teachers than restrict the number of guns; the latter contradicts the most cherished tenets of the conservative movement.

Faced with threats real and imagined, the right leans on its anti-society convictions. The America they envisage is an America bristling with guns and schools that resemble prisons and strong men in power. This America is heavily policed, its communities guarded by gun owners en masse. Solidarity is nonexistent in this world, and too many liberals are playing along. While they are more likely to call for gun control, they nevertheless demonstrate reactionary qualities that align them more closely with the right than with the left. By embracing the hardening of America, liberals only empower the right. There is no evidence, for example, that reducing cash bail in New York ever contributed to an uptick in crime, but leading Democrats caved to hostile headlines and a rabid campaign from the right and worked to undo progress in pieces. In practical terms, this shifts the responsibility for crime from the political class and onto the poor, who are already the most over-policed among us. This is evident in the attitudes liberal cities display toward the unhoused, clearing homeless encampments and criminalizing poverty while offering few options for safe shelter or health care.

Yet another attack on the unhoused is the absence of public restrooms, which may be worsened if Starbucks indeed hardens its stores. Liberals can be complicit in such attacks, as the UCLA sociologist Chris Herring wrote in 2019. In a recently published study surveying homeless San Franciscans, my colleagues and I found that in the previous year, 70 percent of them had been forced to move by an officer, 69 percent had been cited, and 46 percent had their tents or other belongings confiscated by city workers, he said. Only about 12 percent reported that theyd been offered services  usually a sandwich or a pamphlet  and less than 5 percent said they were offered shelter. Liberal cities, he observed, thus had something in common with the hated Trump administration: a hostile attitude to the poor and unhoused, which hasnt changed since Trump left office.

Conservatives have a dim view of society. To the Christian right, we are in pieces, torn apart by drag queens and trans athletes. Their more secular counterparts are no less resentful: Wokeness is similarly the enemy, a tool employed by cultural elites against a more traditional cohort. Both agree that in such a society, disorder is to be expected, and it can only be solved by a strong man in power. To embrace a fortress mentality is to reject liberal democracy itself. Instead, liberals should shape themselves around the truth. Society is healthier and more cohesive than the right wants to admit. Where America is sick, it has fallen to a manufactured sickness. The culprit isnt base human nature  the sin nature, as Evangelicals might say  but a purposefully unequal political economy that achieved prosperity for some at a high human cost.

The men and women who would build a fortress America are all devotees of the free market. This is not a coincidence. Capitalism churns up the poor and abandons them to the streets. Todays elites owe their might to capitalism and have precious little tolerance for living reminders of its limitations. The opposite of a fortress America is an America that accepts that all human beings have equal dignity and worth. This is closer to the majority view in any case. Most Americans want stricter gun control, and while electoral reform isnt always a top priority for voters, when polled most say they support efforts to expand voting rights, too. They want limits on corporate power. Top conservative goals, like ending the right to abortion, tend to lack much popular support and their revanchism on LGBTQ+ rights, and their aggression toward trans people in particular, boasts mixed support at best.

Even so, the left is in no position to declare victory in the battle for the American mind. Voters are divided about the necessity of more corporate regulation. They keep electing tough-on-crime mayors, and fearful headlines about poverty and disorder are influential. Overall, the idea that liberalizing generations will rescue the Democratic Party from itself is self-congratulatory drivel. Yet the seeds of better possibilities are present here, and with persuasion, they can grow. Solidarity has been absent from liberalism. Without it, the future will be hard indeed.
Ukraine is set to become an official candidate for European Union membership in a symbolic but morale-boosting decision following Russia's invasion, ministers and diplomats say.

EU leaders in Brussels are expected on Thursday to sign off on last week's recommendation by the European Commission, the EU executive.

After several days of internal EU discussions no opposition among the 27 member states has surfaced, three diplomats told Reuters.

"We are working towards the point where we tell (Russian President Vladimir) Putin that Ukraine belongs to Europe, that we will also defend the values that Ukraine defends," Luxembourg's foreign affairs minister Jean Asselborn told reporters before a meeting with other EU ministers.

Moldova is also almost certain to be given candidate status, the diplomats said, although Georgia must fulfil conditions, namely that it overcome political deadlock in the country.

Despite some misgivings among northern EU countries that taking in Ukraine, which suffers from endemic corruption, is unrealistic, Denmark's foreign minister said he welcomed giving it candidacy status.

"It's very good and it's something that Denmark whole-heartedly supports; we want to help Ukraine to achieve its European dream," Jeppe Kofod told reporters in Luxembourg.

While the candidacy will mark a strategic eastward shift by the EU in the face of Russia's war in Ukraine, Kyiv would likely take years to become a member of the bloc, if at all.

Ukraine already has a free trade pact with the EU but applied to join days after Russia's invasion. Moscow says its "special military operation" was partly necessitated by Western encroachment into what it characterises as its rightful geographical sphere of influence.

Putin has so far played down the issue of Ukraine's EU membership.
A Chamber's County Sheriff's Deputy died Monday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash while on patrol.

AJmar C. Abel, 24, of Auburn, was driving his assigned patrol vehicle, a 2017 Ford Explorer, at 3:38 p.m. Monday when he left the roadway, struck a ditch and overturned.

The crash occurred on Chambers County 278, about five miles south of Roanoke.

Abel was transported to the Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center in LaGrange, Ga., where he was later pronounced dead.

Deputy Abels loss is an indescribable tragedy for the Chambers County Sheriffs Office, his local community and the State of Alabama, said Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Hal Taylor. We join the rest of the law enforcement community in mourning the loss of this true professional and devoted public servant.

Troopers with ALEA's Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
is he a big celeb over there???





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Good for him.

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His family let him go to an active war zone?



He WANTED to go to an active war zone?!?

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Is he not of sound mind? Genuinely asking, as I don't keep up with Ben Stiller.

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Hes fine mentally. I just think its crazy that celebs (or anyone not fighting in this war or not a politician) would want to go over there.



What can he do that other countries leaders cant / wont/ havent done?

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UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador @BenStiller is at the Ukraine border today to meet families whose lives have been torn apart by war and violence, to share stories of the human impact of war, and to amplify calls for solidarity.



Celebs can reach more people, in a more neutral way, than politicians can

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You know, what? You are right. I never really thought about the neutrality angle.



I might be a little angry that none of us have gotten involved with sending real aid.



This senseless war bothers me.

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Yeah I've heard he does a lot of work with refugees over the years.

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I hate myself I'm staring at Zelenskyys arms 

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I love his one t-shirt

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You should since he is a literal nazzi

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wtf is this comment

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Agreed. Also what is your ICON. Terrifying

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I was doom scrolling and read that as 'voldemort' 

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wow i had no idea he traveled to so many countries to visit refugees! thats really great of him. him and angelina jolie seem to be the highest profile celebs to be doing so much work with refugees, unless im missing someone

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Good for him

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That's great of him <3

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I'd be so nervous if I were his family but I have so much respect for this.

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I'm glad I clicked thee link and saw some of the places and people he's visited around the world. Made me feel better about him.

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i am mostly ambivalent about his career but this is good. the coverage of the war is waning in many global media outlets and specifically about the plight of refugees in general  people and media have short memories.



i used to have ~opinions~ about goodwill ambassadors twenty years ago but they do ensure eyes on where the media can't/won't keep covering.



Edited at 2022-06-21 03:01 am (UTC)

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he seems like a good dude

(tho i'm sure ontd will provide my with receipts that he isn't lol)

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I don't even know who realistically can help the people Russia kidnapped.

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Month four, Putin still free to do as he pleases.

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well good for him for doing something actually worthwhile

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The tone was so different when Angelina did this, even though her work with the UN is at a higher level than "goodwill ambassador". But, I digress. Good for him.

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President Zelenskyy was a comedian before he stumbled in to politics, their meeting would have been so different if it were just a few years ago.



Good on Ben for doing this!

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That's also why I think it's so interesting for them to have send Ben Stiller, like there isn't that much of a difference between them career wise up until a certain point and now it couldn't be more different.

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Ben Stiller has been working and bringing up stories about refugees for yeeears



Cannot believe this stupid war is not talked about anymore:/





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An Insight to the Safety of Autonomous Vehicles

Knowing the safety performance of these vehicles is important for the conversation of implementing this technology in the workplace.

In recent years, autonomous vehicles have talked about more and more than before. As automated technology advances, so does its potential use for many companies.

In 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 12.6 million people were employed in the transportation and material moving industries. Some companies are starting to test the use of autonomous vehicles, like Google. This year, Google Parent company Alphabet announced that autonomous vehicles will be transporting employees around in California, according to an article by CBS News. A few years ago, Tesla unveiled its idea for an autonomous semi-truck.

The advancement of these technologies have many companies talking and asking questions. How will this affect transportation workers? What are the worker safety concerns? What is the best way to use the technology? Although the degree of impact these vehicles will have on companies and workers is not known yet, one thing that we need to consider is the safety performance.

Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published data on the safety performance of advanced technology vehicles. These reports cover SAE Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and SAE Levels 3 through 5 Automated Driving Systems. According to the ADAS report, these vehicles provide both speed and steering input when the driver assistance system is engaged but require the human driver to remain fully engaged in the driving task at all times. ADS vehicles between levels 3 and 5 involve less human interaction.
Despite a boom in coal production in recent months, China could experience another power crunch this summer as miners race to meet government targets with lower-quality coal, analysts and traders told Reuters.

Faced with power shortages last autumn, Chinese authorities ordered an increase in domestic coal production as global coal prices soared. However, Chinese miners are looking to meet the required quantity regardless of the quality, which is often low and less efficient when burnt at coal-fired power stations.

"For miners, they don't have much incentive to produce high quality coal as margins are so low due to the price caps. Their priority is to churn out enough volume of coal to fulfil the targets set by government," a coal trader based in China told Reuters' Muyu Xu.

In March, China's daily coal production hit a record high as it jumped by 15 percent compared to March 2021.

But as coal use at utilities has risen this year, the lower-quality fuel which burns quicker has resulted in basically the same levels of power generation, another trader based in China told Reuters.

China has put more emphasis on energy security in recent months. Earlier this year, China said it would continue to maximize the use of coal in the coming years as it caters to its energy security, despite pledges to contribute to global efforts to reduce emissions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told representatives from its biggest coal-producing region, Inner Mongolia, that China "could not part from reality" and that it is "rich in coal, poor in oil and short of gas." The energy transition is a long process, and China cannot just "slam the brakes" on coal, according to Xi.

China is concerned about its energy security after the autumn 2021 power crisis and, most recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which pushed energy commodity prices sky-high.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Iraq has entered the market for liquefied petroleum gas, with its first shipment ever taking place this week.

In a statement, the Iraqi Oil Ministry said that first shipment was an achievement and quoted the managing director of Basra Gas Company, Malcolm Mayes, as saying it was a "historic moment".

A report by an Iraqi media earlier this week inaccurately stated that Iraq had started exporting LNG.

Liquefied petroleum gas is used for cooking in developing nations as well as for powering internal combustion engine vehicles.

"Today, we can load and export compressed and semi-cooled liquefied gas," said Mayes this week, as quoted by Shafaq. He added that "this step allows us to triple our exports globally via tankers. We will also gain access to many global markets that use the semi-cooled liquefied gas exclusively."

Iraq has been busy trying to make the most of its hydrocarbon reserves, including associated gas, a by-product of oil extraction, both for the domestic market and for international markets.

The country is now eager to develop its natural gas reserves in addition to oil, in a bid to reduce its dependence on Iranian imports. Recently, as part of these efforts, the Iraqi government sealed a deal with a subsidiary of China's CNPC for the construction of a gas processing plant in Naserya.

Reducing gas flaringthe burning of associated gas at oilfieldsis also among Iraq's energy industry priorities. Capturing the gas, liquefying it, and exporting it appears to be a viable avenue of development.

"Our strategic plan for the future is to maximise semi-refrigeration exports and eventually participate in the global LPG-trading market when we start exporting fully refrigerated LPG," BGC's Mayes also said this week, as quoted by The National.

"BGC has been working relentlessly to meet its strategic plan. By upgrading Umm Qasr Marine Terminal and installing the necessary chiller units, we were able to bring this project into fruition," Basra Gas Company's managing director also said.

"Now LPG can be loaded on both pressurised and semi-refrigerated ships, which will increase the number of vessels that our export customers can use to trade LPG produced by BGC," he added.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The problem, however, is that China is the only major customer of Turkmenistans natural gas.

Turkmenistan talks a big game about diversifying export markets for its natural gas, but China will be the only major customer for the foreseeable future.

The scale of the quasi-monopsonistic reality that Ashgabat confronts was laid bare anew on June 18 in a speech President Serdar Berdymukhamedov gave in the Lebap province at the official opening of a gas storage facility built by the China National Petroleum Corporation, or CNPC.

Berdymukhamedov talked fulsomely about the importance of the 1,830-kilometer Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline.

Since [the pipeline] was commissioned at the end of 2009, more than 334 billion cubic meters of natural gas have been supplied by Turkmenistan to China, he said. There are plans to build a fourth branch [of this pipeline] so as to take annual capacity of deliveries of the fuel to 65 billion cubic meters.

The newly opened gas-storage plant at the Gadyn field, part of the sprawling Bagtyyarlyk mega-field being developed under a production-sharing agreement with the CNPC, is just another addition to this infrastructure network. Berdymukhamedov is touting the facility, which will be used to intake 5.5 million cubic meters of China-destined gas daily, as a major success in his job-creation agenda. The 200 new jobs are obviously, though, fully attributable to Chinese investments and not related to Turkmen economic policies.

On June 20, a few days after the Lebap ceremony, Berdymukhamedov met with CNPC president and executive director Hou Qijun. Official accounts of this meeting were confined strictly to uninformative boilerplate language about mutually beneficial cooperation. Hou was quoted as saying Chinese business circles are eager to expand their presence in the promising Turkmen market and actively participate in the implementation of large-scale reform programs and infrastructure projects, but no useful detail was offered.

And again, that fourth strand of the Turkmenistan-to-China pipeline came up. Behind all the smiles, it is safe to assume that some horse-trading is going on. Ashgabat doesnt have great cards or ability to wrangle in the short term, which is very unfortunate given how international energy prices are so high at present.

The aforementioned Central Asia-China route can carry 55 billion cubic meters annually, but the 34 billion cubic meters that Turkmenistan sold to Beijing in 2021 may represent the ceiling of how much it can cram in there. Kazakhstan has signaled it will reduce how much it sells to China, which may offer some more wiggle room, but for the time being, that is it.

All hope is on the fourth line  or Line D as it is also known.

The former president, a.k.a. Berdymukhamedovs father, Gurbanguly, laid down a marker for dialogue on this matter when he met with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in February.

In the course of future cooperation on implementation of a fourth line construction project, it is necessary to start discussing gas prices, he was cited as saying by Turkmen state media. Turkmen and Chinese specialists will operate on the basis of global precedent in the field of pricing for commercial pipeline gas.

But then again, who else is Turkmenistan going to sell to? Russia, currently the second-largest buyer of Turkmen gas, may well, as a result of its geopolitical imbroglios, find itself with more of the fuel than it knows what to do with.

Then there is Iran. Berdymukhamedov traveled to his southern neighbor for a two-day visit on June 14 amid rapidly warming relations. His stay was garnished with the usual flurry of cooperation agreements. Nine were signed committing both countries to greater cooperation on economic, trade, cultural, environmental, scientific and transport issues.

Perhaps the most interesting novelty to come out of this visit, however, was an apparent proposal from Turkmenistan to build on an existing trilateral gas swap arrangement with Azerbaijan. Under a deal reached in November 2021, anywhere between 1.5 and 2 billion cubic meters of gas is moved around annually as Turkmenistan supplies Iran with gas, and then Iran separately delivers an equivalent amount of gas to Azerbaijan. The sense of this arrangement for Iran is that its far-flung northeastern regions routinely suffer gas shortages.

On June 14, Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji said Turkmenistan had suggested ramping up the volumes.

Related: John Kerry: Green Transition Will Be Bigger Than The Industrial Revolution

In a meeting with Turkmenistans deputy cabinet chairman for oil and gas affairs, the Turkmen side asked us to increase gas swaps to Azerbaijan and other neighboring countries, and we announced our readiness," Owji was quoted as saying by state-controlled Mehr news agency.

(One Iranian lawmaker, Shahriar Heydari, may have caused some heartburn back in Ashgabat, though, by describing this swap deal as a good way for Tehran to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions. Turkmenistan will not be enthused about being cast in the role of a sanctions regime-buster).

This is all of a piece with Irans very energetic-looking Central Asia agenda. On June 19, only days after Berdymukhamedov came through, it was the turn of Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to receive a warm welcome in Tehran. Logistics were very much at the top of the agenda as Tokayev focused in particular, as his office put it, on prospects for the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway line. The route exists already, but it is clearly underused at present.

This matter dovetails nicely with a perennial theme that is being discussed ever more intently of late: the logistical challenges faced by landlocked nations. So it was fitting that Finance and Economy Minister Mukhammetgeldy Serdarov used his slot at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 16 to invite guests from as many post-Soviet nations as possible to attend a UN-sponsored international conference devoted to the topic. The event will take place in Ashgabat on August 15-16.

North-south transportation links will be helpfully bolstered once Ukrainian infrastructure builder Altcom completes a project to overhaul the road bridge running west of the Garabogaz gulf, the location of the westernmost point of the border between Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Berdymukhamedov signed a decree bestowing the contract on Altcom on June 16. Construction work is due to start in July and be completed by June 2024. The deal marks a vindication of Altcom chairman Alexander Tislenkos recent visits to Turkmenistan  the most recent was in April, when he traveled to Ashgabat to take part in Turkmen Horse holiday celebrations and meet with Berdymukhamedov.

By Eurasianet.org

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Kuwait can increase its production to meet its July output quota, state-owned KPC chief executive Sheikh Nawaf Saud al-Sabah told the Bloomberg Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday.

Kuwait can also produce more than its July quota, he said, adding that they have the plans in place right now to ensure that we can continue to match whatever increases are going to be required over the future.

Kuwait did not meet its oil production obligations last month, but did manage to increase its output by 27,000 barrels per day in May to 2.687 million bpd, according to OPECs secondary sources published in the groups latest Monthly Oil Market Report.

This figure, however, is still under the 2.694 million bpd quota that OPEC assigned to Kuwait as part of the production quota deal. Despite Kuwaits May shortfall of 7,000 bpd from its assigned target, KPC is now insisting that it can meet its July targetwhich was raised from May levels.

We are making the investments necessary to ensure that we can meet any new increases in terms of allocations and also in terms of demand, Sheikh Nawaf Saud al-Sabah said, adding, We always like to maintain spare capacity about 10% to 15% above where we need to be just in case of supply disruptions around the world.

He also said Kuwait was moving into its first offshore production, receiving the first rig a week ago. It will be ready to begin drilling soon, he said.

OPEC as an entire group failed to lift its production as agreed on for the month of Mayand in fact, its production actually decreased for the month, producing just 28.508 million bpd in May, down 176,000 bpd from the month prior, even though its quota had been raised for the month.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Following several offshore oil discoveries in recent months, Namibia hopes that the major oil finds could help it double its economy in the next two decades, the head of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) told Bloomberg on Tuesday.

Since the beginning of the year, oil majors Shell and TotalEnergies have announced discoveries offshore the African country.

More than 30 years of exploration and we finally we hit the jackpot, Jennifer Comalie, NAMCORs chairperson, told Bloomberg in an interview.

At peak, these two discoveries could bring $5.6 billion to a very small economy, Comalie said.

The economy of Namibia, neighbor to the south of OPEC producer Angola, is currently valued at around $11 billion.

Namibia could begin production around 2030 or a little bit earlier if appraisals for the recent discoveries support initial estimates and, of course, majors commit to developing those discoveries while they look to become net-zero energy companies by 2050.

In April, Shell said it was very encouraged by the early results from the deep-water Graff-1 exploration well completed earlier this year.

Over the coming months, well need to conduct further evaluation of the well results, and additional exploration activity, in order to determine the size and recoverable potential of the hydrocarbons that were identified, said Dennis Zekveld, Shells Country Chair in Namibia.

Shell also made a second discovery in the Orange basin in April.

In the same basin offshore southern Namibia, TotalEnergies has made a significant discovery of light oil with associated gas on the Venus prospect, the French supermajor said in February this year. TotalEnergies also needs to proceed with appraisal drilling operations in the area in order to assess the commercial prospects for the discovery.

This discovery offshore Namibia and the very promising initial results prove the potential of this play in the Orange Basin, on which TotalEnergies owns an important position both in Namibia and South Africa said Kevin McLachlan, Senior Vice President Exploration at TotalEnergies.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Household energy bills will spike to over 3,000 per year next January, putting more pressure on cash-squeezed Brits in the coldest month of the year.

Energy specialist Cornwall Insight has forecast that the price cap could rise to 2,980 when it is next updated in October, and climb again January to 3,003 per year, when energy demand is at its peak.

This is dependent on Ofgem reforming the cap to a quarterly mechanism, with the watchdog unveiling a tend-to consultation earlier this year.

Ofgem has argued this will ensure consumers will feel the benefit of lower energy prices quicker.

However, with Cornwall Insight gloomily predicting elevated energy prices into 2024, it leaves households exposed to the painful potential of continued hikes.

Cornwall Insights price cap forecasts

It has upgraded its estimates from earlier this month by around 100 for the next two potential price cap windows.

This follows Ofgem chief Jonathan Brearley warning Parliament the price cap will likely rise to at least 2,800 per year this autumn, and growing tensions in Europe  with Russia starting cut off gas flows to the continent, raising the prospect of supply shortages.

Gazprom has already reduced deliveries into Germany, Italy and Austria, with multiple countries bringing in emergency plans that could eventually lead to European governments dictating the provision of supplies.

Cornwall Insight are still forecasting a drop in the cap in summer 2023, but its predictions have risen in absolute terms over the past few weeks across all periods, reflecting higher wholesale prices across the traded market.

Dr Craig Lowrey, Principal Consultant at Cornwall Insight said: With the geopolitical events in Russia causing significant barriers to energy flows and the situation showing no sign of abating, we are unfortunately predicting average consumers will be facing a bill over 50 per cent more than the existing cap  itself an unprecedented rise.

While the UK gets very little energy from Russia, ultimately the countries that do are seeking alternative sources of gas. This will impact the energy flows to the UK from Continental Europe and cause further volatility in the market, adding fresh upward pressure to prices.

Regulator scrambles to fix broken energy sector

The government has unveiled a 15bn support package for households  which will provide vulnerable energy users up to 1,200 per year savings on their bills.

Nevertheless, the industry remains in crisis with Ofgem announcing a raft of reforms to improve the energy sector and make supplier more resilient to market shocks.

This includes fit and proper person rules, stress tests, market stabilisation charges, and most recently, protections to credit balances.

However, it has stopped short of demanding firms ringfence 100 per cent of balances, with the topic hotly debated by suppliers.

Energy bills are already at record levels, climbing to 1,971 per year in April  powered by rebounding energy demand and supply shortages which have driven wholesale costs to all-time highs.

Wholesale prices touched 8 per therm in March when the US and UK targeted Russian energy supplies with sanctions, and remain high at 2,15 per therm.

UK gas prices remain historically elevated (Source: ICE)

For context, prices were hovering at 48p per therm this time last year on the UKs benchmark.

This has contributed to serious market carnage , which has seen 29 suppliers collapse since September, directly affecting over four million customers.

Energy firms have also been constrained by the price cap, which prior to the recent hike to 1,971 per year in April, prevented firms from passing on the high prices to customers.

Bulb Energy, the UKs seventh biggest supplier, was the largest casualty of the crisis  becoming the first energy firm to fall into special administration, being propped up by the taxpayer in the biggest state bailout since RBS in 2008, currently estimated at over 3bn.

The firm is subject to a bidding war between multiple energy firms, and City A.M. understands Octopus Energy, Centrica and Masdar are all vying for the fallen supplier and its 1.6m customers.

By CityAM

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MENDON, Utah (AP)  A Utah couple is turning heads by training a unique animal that theyve grown to love like family - water buffalo.

Mary Heers said her love for water buffalo started when she was a young girl.

In the beginning I think I saw a picture of a Vietnamese boy playing a flute on the back of a water buffalo, Heers explained. Since I was in high school I thought it would be wonderful to own one of the majestic animals.

Heers said in addition to that photo, she had opportunities to try water buffalo milk and ice cream, which sealed the deal for her. When she and her husband Art Heers retired, they started researching where they could get their hands on one of the beasts.

I found a water buffalo dairy in California where this very nice lady was milking a herd of water buffalo making mozzarella cheese and of course she was very happy to find a good home for the boys, Mary said.

She and her husband started by purchasing one water buffalo, but now they have three of the animals. All of the creatures are males, which were not needed on the dairy farm.

The water buffaloes reside in a pasture, where they have plenty of space to roam around.

Mary explained that when they got their first water buffalo, which is named Andrea, their family became rather attached to him and his friendly demeanor.

He would come when you called him and (it) was just fun to take a book out to the pasture... and just lean against him and read, Mary said.

Eventually, Mary and Art were connected to a trainer that specialized in training camels, reindeer and water buffalo. They decided to train their beloved Andrea to ride and pull a wagon.

Art really took on the challenge, Mary said. He bought a saddle from a neighbor and takes him out for a ride pretty much every day.

Its quite unusual and its kind of become sort of a new little fun hobby, Art Heers said.

The couple has a goal in mind for their precious water buffalo. They hope to get it well trained enough to walk in the Mendon Pioneer Day parade. Right now, Art is working on getting the animal acclimated to other people, kids and cars.

We really have it in the back of our minds to see if we can get him into our Mendon July 24 parade, Art said. In order to do that he has to get used to vehicle and kids and other people without spooking.

Until then, the couple is enjoying turning heads with their unique animal.

When anyone sees a water buffalo walking down the sidewalk, explained Mary, Theyre inclined to run out of the house and take a picture

And even though these water buffalo may look a little intimidating, Mary and Art assure that their special pets are gentle giants.

Who wouldnt want to have a big... 1,000 pounds of love.

In a story published June 17, 2022, The Associated Press erroneously reported the dateline as MENTON, Utah. It was updated on June 20, 2022, to correct the dateline to MENDON, Utah.

For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, KSTU-TV.
REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP)  President Joe Biden fell when he tried to get off his bike at the end of a ride Saturday at Cape Henlopen State Park near his beach home in Delaware, but wasn't hurt in the tumble.

I'm good, he told reporters after U.S. Secret Service agents quickly helped him up. I got my foot caught in the toe cages.

Biden, 79, and first lady Jill Biden were wrapping up a morning ride when the president decided to pedal over to a crowd of well-wishers standing by the bike trail. Biden, who was wearing a helmet, took the spill when he tried to dismount, apparently falling on his right side and rolling on to his back before being helped up.

The president quickly collected himself and spent several minutes chatting with people who had gathered to watch him bike. Biden did not need medical attention and is fine, according to a White House statement.

Biden attended Mass at St. Edmond Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach in the late afternoon. When he appeared after services, bystanders cheered and reporters shouted questions about how he felt. The president smiled and took three hops while making a motion with his hands like jumping rope.

The Bidens were spending a long weekend at their Rehoboth Beach home. They marked their 45th wedding anniversary on Friday.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Its a challenge to move around the Bellevue Food Pantry without bumping into shelves and bags of food, which fill every available space in the facility.

Unfortunately, thats not a sign of overwhelming generosity or a steep decline in food insecurity. Its an indication at the pantry is busting at its seams and could use a new space from which to serve the community. A proposal working its way through the Bellevue City Council would see the pantry relocate from Washington Park to a new space about a 1.4 mile drive to the northwest, the space currently filled by the Bellevue Public Library.

Jill Connor, deputy director of Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership, said the space at the food pantry is tight and doesnt allow service to be delivered the way ENCAP would like to provide support.

Currently, visitors to the Bellevue Food Pantry  which sits on just barely over 1,000 square feet  arrive and sit in one of a couple chairs in a small front entrance while a pantry volunteer gathers items into a bag for them. Connor said ENCAP would prefer to allow visitors to shop the pantry and make their own selections, but thats just not possible.

We want to make sure that the things that people are getting from the pantry they can actually use, Connor said. Since January, the pantry has been grouping items into meal kits to make sure the food goes together in a coherent manner, supplementing as needed from the Food Bank of the Heartland and providing bread from Rotella and Hy-Vee

We make sure theres two dinner options, Connor said. We make sure that theres a couple of lunch options and breakfast options, and then we partner with the Food Bank to make sure every family gets a protein.

The concept is a bit like a service like HelloFresh, providing a supplement to families meals for the week.

We try to really make sure that theres some nutritious options for families, Connor said. Theyre not just getting a bag of random things.

Ideally, though, families would select exactly those items they would use and need - so they dont end up with extras of something they already have but nothing they wanted.

We really want to bring food dignity to families in Bellevue, as the community in Sarpy County with the highest poverty rate, Connor said. Its really important for us to continue this work and to get families into a space where they can determine what their needs are.

So ENCAP has been looking for a new space the last couple of years, knowing it has strong community support in Bellevue, dating back to when the pantry was operated by several churches in the community working out a trailer in a church parking lot.

Its very, very important to us to stay in this community, Connor said. We didnt want to go too far from our buildings.

Thats been a challenge in the current commercial real estate market to find a location with an appropriate floor plan that would meet ENCAPs needs. But then the City of Bellevue decided earlier this year to purchase the Bellevue Professional Center at 2206 Longo Drive for $3.45 million to become the new home of the Bellevue Public Library.

The decision followed years of studies and discussions about the future facilities needs of the library, including proposals to build a brand new library building. The move also left the question of what to do with the current facility at 1003 Lincoln Road.

ENCAP has asked the city to sell the building to the nonprofit for $500,000 to become the new home of the Bellevue Food Pantry, as well as a community resource center. The Bellevue City Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday on a proposed purchase agreement.

Assuming the sale goes through, while the library move takes place, ENCAP would launch an estimated $2.5 million capital campaign to pay to overhaul the space along Lincoln Road, which sits down a hill from Bellevue East High School. Connor said ENCAP will need a lot of support from the community to make everything work out.

Were evaluating that as well, because its a huge process, Connor said. Right now, were at step one, and thats the fun part.

Beyond the renovations that would be needed, ENCAP would come up with a vision for how the space might best serve the community.

We really want families to come into a wonderful, welcoming space, Connor said. When families come to us, they are at their most vulnerable.

Food insecurity is generally a symptom of a larger problem, and ENCAP wants to provide a wrap-around support system with its community partners, such as the Sarpy County Women, Infants, and Childrens office, Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs or other organizations offering social services.

The goal is to keep families from having to go from place to place, as transportation can provide a significant barrier  along with just finding the time to access resources.

Its just a way to ensure that families have everything they need before they leave, Connor said. We absolutely know that this tight-knit community has a wonderful way of coming together to be able to holistically address (community members) needs.

About 7,000 people came through the Bellevue Food Pantry and ENCAPs programs last year, with 5,500 receiving food and 2,100 seeking support services such as emergency rent and utility assistance.

Each time a person comes to the door of the pantry offers an opportunity to build a relationship with them and have a conversation about what else they need, Connor said.

Its very isolating to be in a vulnerable situation like that, Connor said. So the more that you can build relationships with individuals, they feel more engaged in a part of the community, too.
As the World Health Organization convenes its emergency committee to consider if the spiraling outbreak of monkeypox warrants being declared a global emergency, some experts say WHOs decision to act only after the disease spilled into the West could entrench the inequities that arose between rich and poor countries during the coronavirus pandemic. Many scientists also doubt any declaration would help to curb the epidemic, since the developed countries recording the most recent cases are already moving to shut it down. Monkeypox has sickened people for decades in central and west Africa. To date, no deaths have been seen outside Africa. The WHO said Thursday it did not expect to announce any decisions by its emergency committee before Friday.
Cabin Fever: The Harrowing Journey of a Cruise Ship at the Dawn of a Pandemic by Michael Smith and Jonathan Franklin (Doubleday)

Imagine stepping off a dock in Buenos Aires in early March 2020 to board a ship with 1,242 fellow passengers and 586 crew members for a cruise around the tip of South America. Youve heard about a virus making people sick in China and Italy and Spain, but its thousands of miles away. The prospect of touring the Falkland Islands, climbing Machu Picchu, and getting up close to a penguin colony in Chile far outweigh whatever dread you feel about global news.

Thats the starting point for a new nonfiction book called Cabin Fever by investigative journalists Michael Smith and Jonathan Franklin. They tell the story chronologically, starting March 6, 2020, just two days before the Holland America cruise ship the MS Zaandam leaves port in Argentina. Days later the World Health Organization formally classifies COVID-19 as a pandemic and for the next 25 days, the Zaandam is adrift in international waters, denied safe harbor in every port as COVID breaks out across the world. Its not until April 2, 2020, that the ship finally docks in Port Everglades, Florida, with three bodies in its morgue and hundreds of other sick passengers on board.

The book opens with a cast of characters  brief bios of the people on board who the journalists talked to to reconstruct the narrative. In addition to Dutch Captain Ane Smit and a few of his fellow officers, theres a pair of retirees from Missouri hoping to cross Machu Picchu off their bucket list, two men from Nashville celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, and the manager of the ships massive laundry operation, Wiwit Widarto, who has spent 30 years working on cruise ships to provide for his family back home in Indonesia.

Over the course of the books 250 pages we learn their stories, with a focus on their experience aboard the Zaandam. Smith and Franklin eschew the Bob Woodward approach, writing in the omniscient third-person, not trying to recreate dialogue. Each dispatch is dated and time-stamped as we read about the characters journey from everythings going to be all right out here in our adult playground on the ocean to knocks on doors as trays of food are dropped outside cabins by crew members wearing hazmat suits. The result reads like the longest newspaper story ever written mixed with the requisite dramatic flourishes required to keep readers turning pages. One additional traveler was aboard the ship, ends chapter one. The crew was unaware of its presence. It was never cataloged or ordered and had not purchased a ticket. This stowaway, likely hiding in the lungs of a passenger or perhaps a crew member, was microscopic in size yet capable of overwhelming this gargantuan ship.

The Zaandams journey, of course, was well covered by the media. It was one of more than 100 cruise ships at sea when COVID broke out. Thanks to social media and wi-fi, passengers shared their misery in real time. But putting it all together in a format like this gives it the proper context. Its easy in hindsight to think it wasnt that bad. At least six Zaandam passengers ultimately died, but the death toll in the U.S. alone has now exceeded one million people. Smith and Franklins riveting recount of the cruise take readers back to a time Im sure many of them would like to forget  when fear trumped everything and nobody knew what the future looked like. Its an impressive example of narrative journalism. Perhaps too soon for some, but a worthy addition to the historical record.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Thousands of people marched in Bangladeshs capital on Thursday to demand the governments of Bangladesh and India officially condemn comments by two Indian governing party officials deemed derogatory to Islams Prophet Muhammad.

The march began at the countrys main Baitul Mukarram Mosque but was blocked by police as it headed toward India's Embassy, a few kilometers (miles) away.

The protesters demanded that Muslim-majority nations boycott Indian products and cut off ties with New Delhi, and that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina publicly condemn the comments made earlier by the two officials in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party.

Hasina has maintained warm relations with India. Information and Broadcast Minister Hasan Mahmud told a group of Indian journalists that the dispute is an internal Indian matter, according to reports by Indian media.

As they marched, the protesters chanted Down with Modi and Insult to Islam, will not tolerate. Many carried placards reading We love Muhammad.

After police stopped the march, a group of five people was allowed to head toward the Indian Embassy, according to Shahidul Islam Kabir, a spokesperson for the sponsors of the protest, Islami Andolon Bangladesh. The group vowed to continue its demonstrations.

India's governing party has suspended one of the officials and expelled the other, but protesters say the actions are not enough.

At least five Arab nations have condemned the remarks and lodged official protests against India. Pakistan and Afghanistan also reacted strongly to the comments by the two party officials. They follow increasing violence against Indias Muslim minority by Hindu nationalists who have been emboldened by Modis silence about such attacks since he was elected in 2014.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Today is Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Let's get caught up.

Here are today's top stories, celebrity birthdays and a look back at this date in history:

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TODAY'S WEATHER

The first day of summer doesn't fail to disappoint as record-breaking heat is in place for the East and South. CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri has the forecast.

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TOP STORIES

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MORNING LISTEN: "ACROSS THE SKY" PODCAST

The Lee Weather Team is finally reunited in person! Sean Sublette, Matt Holiner, Kirsten Lang and Joe Martucci attended the American Meteorological Society's 49th Broadcast Meteorology Conference in Milwaukee, where meteorologists from across the country gathered to share research, stories and ideas in an effort to improve weather communication.

In this week's episode, the team gathers around the same microphone to describe what it's like to attend a weather conference. They summarize the presentation they delivered on digital weather coverage and what the response was from the audience. They also discuss some of their favorite talks at the conference, including an effort to replant trees that are wiped out after natural disasters and a recap of the last five hurricane seasons.

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IMAGE OF THE DAY

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TODAY IN HISTORY

Today in history: June 21 Miamis LeBron James capped his title bid with 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds as he led the Heat in a 121-106 rout of the Oklahoma City

Today in sports history: June 21 In 1997, the New York Liberty beat the Los Angeles Sparks 67-57 in the WNBAs inaugural game. A crowd of 14,284 attends the game at the Great 

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ...
After graduating from law school at the University of Wyoming, Katie Benson worked as a clerk for Douglas Countys 16 district judges.

She sat through matters small and big, including the high-profile trial of Christopher Edwards, who killed a girlfriend with a sword and dumped her body. Her job: helping Judge Russell Derr with myriad trial questions that could become appellate issues.

She went on to become a prosecutor, but not one in the traditional sense: She combed through complex post-conviction challenges, eyeing appellate issues and helping make sure that more than 800 convictions were sound. She worked the countys problem-solving programs such as drug court and mental health court, helping defendants avoid felony convictions by dealing with their underlying issues.

And along the way, she helped a World-Herald reporter touch off one of the biggest sentencing scandals in Nebraska history. Eight years ago this month, her tip about an attempted murderer getting released early led the newspaper to uncover early release dates for nearly 800 of Nebraskas most hardened criminals. It also led to seven special session legislative hearings exploring the prisons sentencing disarray.

Now Benson, 42, a military brat who graduated from Fort Calhoun High School in 1998, will ascend to the highest level at the courthouse she grew up in. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has appointed her as Douglas Countys 18th district judge after the Nebraska Legislature, citing increasing caseloads, approved another judge for the states busiest courthouse.

This is truly like my family, Benson said Monday. I grew up here and learned so much from so many different judges and attorneys. I just knew that one day I would love to be a judge.

Sixteen current or retired district judges wrote letters of support of Benson. Among them, retired District Judge Thomas Otepka once gave Benson words she says she will take to the bench.

He taught me that you treat everyone with respect because you never know if this will be their only interaction with the court system, she said. You want to leave them with a good impression.

Of Douglas Countys 18 district judges, Benson becomes the eighth prosecutor appointed to the bench by either Ricketts or former Gov. Dave Heineman. Colleagues say shes hardly the hard-core prosecutor that some envision when they read Governor appoints prosecutor.

She has spent much of the past 14 years serving as Douglas County Attorney Don Kleines appellate guru. Reading hundreds of briefs and Supreme Court rulings has given her an appreciation for both sides, she said.

My biggest thing is I think Im an atypical prosecutor, Benson said. The majority of my career was in researching and writing (briefs). And then I had an opportunity to work with defendants in the problem-solving courts. It gave me a different viewpoint, a different idea of where people come from. Its not as easy as saying stop using a drug or stop this behavior. People struggle.

Kleine, who hired Benson in 2008, said she has both a command of the law and a compassion for others that will serve her well on the bench. Kleine put Benson in charge of prosecuting cases where defendants have abused vulnerable adults, either physically or financially. She did an exceptional job, Kleine said.

One of the first cases Benson worked on with Kleine: the shooting death of a man as revenge for stabbing notorious Omaha gang member Jimmy Levering. That shooting took place on the street outside Bensons downtown apartment. I actually woke up to it, she said.

Benson said she learned a lot from Kleine during that case and others.

A year after the shooting, Benson and Kleine secured the conviction of the gunman.

Katie gets right to the important parts of cases, Kleine said. She recognizes issues and doesnt deal with stuff that doesnt matter. She writes very well. Shes patient. She listens. She just has a good sense of fairness that will serve her well as a judge.

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The fiercest competition at the College World Series just might be the Jell-O shot challenge at Roccos Pizza and Cantina.

The restaurant, located at 13th and Mike Fahey Streets just across from Charles Schwab Field, has been entertaining CWS fans for more than a decade. For the past six years, they have hosted some variation of the CWS Jell-O shot challenge: For every shot ordered, your team gets a point.

Last year, a record was set by Mississippi State: Fans ordered 2,965 Jell-O shots during the series.

On Sunday night  just three days in that record was shattered by the University of Arkansas fans who had already consumed 50% more than all of last years series.

And by Monday afternoon, CWS fans had ordered a total of 11,130 Jell-O shots, a frozen mixture of Jell-O and vodka colored to match each team, at $4.50 a pop.

Thats more than $50,000 in revenue for Roccos and theres still at least six days left in the series. Patrons say that the competitive spirit is worth the steep price for a prepackaged Jell-O shot.

Its absolutely genius marketing, said Tyler Johnson, an Ole Miss fan from Jackson, Mississippi. Theyre making loads off of us  but everybody loves competition.

This year, the competition is fierce. Arkansas is barely hanging on to its lead over Mississippi: At the latest count on Monday, Ole Miss netted 4,579 shots to Arkansas 4,644. No other team comes close to those numbers, with Texas A&M a distant third at 585 shots.

Big spenders buying hundreds of shots at a time have upped the ante this year. A representative from Banded Brands, a hunting gear brand based in Arkansas, bought 500 shots on Monday afternoon. In response, Tyler Jordan of Realtree, another hunting and camouflage brand, put 900 shots toward Mississippis total.

Determined not to be outdone, Banded Brands placed another order for 1,000 shots  $4,500 worth  within the hour. That led to many patrons on Monday night drinking for free.

Its definitely an all-time record here, said Kevin Culjat, the owner of Roccos and the neighboring Leftys Bar. Its awesome. We have people trying to Venmo us, trying to call in orders, but were just too busy.

Indeed, fans packed into Roccos like sardines on Monday, with a line nearly out the door to get to the bar and order shots ahead of the 6 p.m. game. The crowd was especially energized ahead of the matchup between Ole Miss and Arkansas.

We might not win it all, but were definitely going to win this, said Corey Garnette, an Arkansas fan from Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Fans can follow along with the latest numbers on the CWS Jello Shot Challenge Twitter account, which has amassed nearly 12,000 followers in less than two weeks.

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The Omaha Streetcar Authority approved a resolution Tuesday that will allow for the hiring of a consultant to serve as interim director of the authority.

The authority will hire Rick Gustafson, a strategic adviser, using money from the Greater Omaha Chamber through the Omaha Development Foundation. Streetcar Authority members did not specify how much Gustafson, who did not attend Tuesdays meeting, will be paid for his services.

Gustafson was previously a partner of Shiels Obletz Johnsen, a project management consultancy based in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle. He has experience leading streetcar operations in Portland and has consulted on streetcar projects in several cities, according to the firms website.

I think Mr. Gustafson is more than qualified to help us get started, said Bob Stubbe, Omaha Public Works director and vice president of the authority. Hes had experience with streetcar projects in multiple communities. Hes also aware of the additional requirements related to establishing the governing authorities.

The authority also approved a redevelopment agreement Tuesday that outlines the role of the city and authority in creating a streetcar system. The Omaha City Council is scheduled to vote on the document next week  the last step needed to finalize the agreement.

As announced by Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert in January, the streetcar is proposed to operate along a 3-mile route using 5.5 track miles. The line is planned to travel along Farnam and Harney Streets from 10th Street to 42nd Street and along 10th Street between Harney and Cass Streets.

The cost of building and launching the system is estimated at $225 million, but because federal guidelines call for a 35% contingency in case of unexpected costs, the city would need to raise $306 million.

The city plans to issue special revenue bonds and private placement bonds to pay for the systems construction. The buyers of those bonds will be repaid using money generated by a tax-increment financing (TIF) district that will run along the streetcar route.

The Streetcar Authority was created this spring to oversee the design, construction and eventual operation of the streetcar.

The board is made up of seven members: three appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council, three appointed by Metro Transits CEO and one community member appointed by the Greater Omaha Chamber.

Jay Noddle, of local development company Noddle Co., was selected as president and Stubbe was selected as vice president. Other members include Steve Curtiss, city finance director; David Fanslau, city planning director; Lauren Cencic, CEO of Metro; Edith Simpson, Metro legal director; and William Clingman, Metro finance director.

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John L. Swigert Jr., the pinch-hitting astronaut on the Apollo 13 flight, struck a model moon probe into a patch of Nebraska prairie 52 years ago today and dedicated the land as Tranquility Park.

The 38-year-old Denver native used a gold-colored shovel to break the hard ground at the top of a hill in the park site, then used a gold model of a moon probe to lift a dirt clod from the broken ground. Swigert was the last-minute replacement for Thomas K. Mattingly Jr. on the abortive April moon trip.

Swigert broke the ground after stepping into space shoes  a NASA official said they actually had made a space trip  and making an imprint in a slab of wet concrete.

The slab was placed at "Tranquility Base" in the park, Clarence Shafer, city parks and recreation director, said. The site is south and west of 120th and Fort Streets.

As another symbolic gesture, Swigert stuck a tiny American flag to a globe and said: "From now on, Tranquility Park will become part of the map of the United States."

At the park dedication ceremonies, Sen. Roman Hruska lauded space exploration and criticized those who objected to government spending on space projects such as the first lunar landing.

"It is that event and all of its implications that we commemorate here today," he said.

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Leah Casanave held her 2-year-old daughter, Eloise Manderfeld, on her lap and distracted her with a sticker while a nurse injected the first dose of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine into the girls upper thigh.

Young Eloise shed a few tears, but Casanave quickly consoled her.

Then Diana Rogel held her 2-year-old son, Michael Rogel Kronschnabel, on her lap. Distracted by elephant and giraffe finger puppets, he barely squawked when the nurse administered his first dose of Modernas vaccine for little kids.

He did better than I thought he would, Rogel said.

The shots were the first doses of the kid-sized vaccines administered by the Douglas County Health Department on Tuesday. They followed Saturdays approval of the shots for the nations youngest children by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

They wont be the last. The Health Department had about 150 children scheduled for shots Tuesday, with more clinics slated for later this week.

The vaccines are expected to be available soon through additional local health departments and at pediatric and family practice clinics and some pharmacies. The federal Vaccines.gov website now has been updated to include vaccines for young children. The website notes that those doses still are being shipped and advises checking back for updates or contacting a health care provider or local health department for offerings.

The Pfizer vaccine is approved for children ages 6 months to 4 years. It previously had been OKd for those 5 and older. The Moderna vaccine now is authorized for ages 6 months to 17 years. It previously had been approved for adults ages 18 and older.

Health officials, from the federal to the local level, have stressed the importance of the vaccinations for young children.

Both Casanave and Rogel said they were excited to finally be able to vaccinate their youngsters, both of whom were born during the pandemic.

Im just ecstatic that its finally happening, said Casanave, the Health Departments division chief for community health, nutrition and clinical services. Weve waited long enough.

Rogel said she got vaccinated and breastfed in order to pass on her antibodies to her son. While pregnant, she mostly worked from home during the pandemic, going only to the doctors office.

Now that we get this chance, she said, its absolutely thrilling to me.

Still, not all parents are expected to get their youngest children vaccinated immediately. And it remains to be seen how many families will go ahead with shots for their littlest kids. An April Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that about one in five parents of children under age 5 were eager to get their child vaccinated right away. A larger share  38%  said they planned to wait to see how the vaccine is working for others.

In Nebraska, vaccination rates for older children have not been particularly high.

Some 40.5% of Nebraska children ages 5 to 17 have been vaccinated, which ranks 27th among states and lags the U.S. rate of 43.4%, according to a World-Herald analysis of CDC data. Iowa is even further behind at 36.7%. In four states, including Wyoming, fewer than 25% of kids ages 5 to 17 are vaccinated.

Nebraska has done a much better job of vaccinating older people. Some 75.3% of those 18 and older and 92.7% of those 65 and older are vaccinated. Both figures rank 25th among states.

While children throughout the pandemic have been less likely to become seriously ill, require hospitalization or die from COVID, health officials emphasize that they still can suffer such outcomes. COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of pediatric death, according to Douglas County health officials, and tens of thousands of children and teens across the U.S. have been hospitalized because of the virus.

Children also can get long COVID, with symptoms lingering for weeks and months after their infections.

Dr. Sharon Stoolman, a pediatric hospital physician at Childrens Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, said vaccination shortens the duration of the illness and reduces the likelihood of hospitalization. For families of young children, even a couple of days in the hospital is a big deal.

In addition, she said, several studies have shown that vaccination reduces the likelihood children will develop Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C, a serious condition associated with COVID-19 in which different parts of the body, from the heart to gastrointestinal organs, can become inflamed. Kids who develop it dont necessarily have serious cases of COVID initially but develop the inflammatory condition several weeks later.

While Childrens hadnt seen much MIS-C for a while, a couple of patients were admitted with it in the past month.

Im excited to be able to offer that protection and a little bit of comfort to parents, Stoolman said.

Casanave said she chose to vaccinate her daughter in part to protect their family. Eloise had COVID in January. She was asymptomatic but gave the virus to two family members.

Another concern, Casanave said, is that researchers dont know the effects of long COVID on kids. Even though shes had it and shes got some immunity right now, I still feel the need to get her vaccinated, she said.

Rogel said she wanted to give Michael every defense against the virus that she could. Her 9-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter already are vaccinated. Prevention is big for us in our household, she said.

Kara Jermain, another Omaha mom, made a Tuesday appointment to get her son, 2-year-old Finn, vaccinated. Finn was born weeks before the pandemic shutdowns began. He had a small heart defect that was corrected with surgery.

But the family has played it safe ever since, she said.

Only in the last couple of weeks, Jermain said, has Finn gone to day care. Previously, he was home with a nanny who wore a mask. The family largely has gathered outdoors with close friends and family, but he hasnt yet had the usual play dates.

Today feels a little like Christmas for me, because weve been waiting a really long time for this, Jermain said.

She said she shed some tears when she heard the vaccine was finally approved for youngsters.

I feel like we worked really hard to keep him from getting COVID until he could get vaccinated, Jermain said. I cant prevent him from getting COVID forever, but I just wanted to have every tool in my toolbox to do that.

The Pfizer vaccine for kids requires two shots taken two weeks apart and a third shot at least two months later. Each shot is one-tenth the adult dose. The Moderna vaccine is given as two shots four weeks apart. Each contains a quarter of the adult dose.

Experts say both vaccines are safe and effective. Because they havent been tested against each other, theres no way to tell whether one is better.

Casanave said she chose the Pfizer shot for Eloise because it had a slightly lower likelihood of side effects such as sore limbs and fevers, although she acknowledged she may regret having to take her daughter to get three shots.

Rogel said she chose Moderna for Michael because thats what she received and what she passed along to him when she was breastfeeding.

Health officials are encouraging parents with questions about the vaccines to consult their doctors or the Health Department for general questions.

Casanave said shell encourage parents to take whatever is available from their provider. Efficacy is going to be great in both of them, she said, and you cant really go wrong with either or.

World-Herald staff writer Henry J. Cordes contributed to this report.

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Uvalde: Visitations, funerals and burials, one after another

UVALDE, Texas (AP)  It should have been the first day of a joyous week for Robb Elementary School students  the start of summer break. Instead on Monday, the first two of 19 children slain inside a classroom were being remembered at funeral visitations. The gathering for 10-year-old Amerie Jo Garza was at Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home in Uvalde, Texas, directly across from the grade school where the children, along with two teachers, were shot to death on Tuesday before the gunman himself was killed. Visitation for another 10-year-old, Maite Rodriguez, was at another funeral home. More visitations, funerals and burials will follow over the next two-and-a-half weeks, one after another, after another.

EU leaders agree to ban 90% of Russian oil by year-end

BRUSSELS (AP)  European Union leaders have agreed to embargo most Russian oil imports into the bloc by year-end. The move is part of new sanctions on Russia worked out Monday at a summit focused on helping Ukraine with a long-delayed package of new financial support. The embargo covers Russian oil brought in by sea, allowing a temporary exemption for imports delivered by pipeline. That was crucial to bringing landlocked Hungary on board a decision that required consensus. EU Council President Charles Michel says the agreement covers more than two-thirds of oil imports from Russia, cutting a huge source of financing for its war machine.

Agatha hits southern Mexico coast as strongest May hurricane

PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Mexico (AP)  Hurricane Agatha has become the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in May in the eastern Pacific as it swept ashore on a sparsely populated stretch of tourist beaches and fishing towns in southern Mexico. It quickly weakened moving over inland mountains and was downgraded to a tropical storm by late Monday. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the storm should dissipate overnight, but warns that its heavy rains are still a threat to cause dangerous flash floods. Agatha made landfall as a strong Category 2 hurricane Monday afternoon about 5 miles west of Puerto Angel in Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca. That region includes the laid-back tourist resorts of Huatulco, Mazunte and Zipolite.

Probe could shed light on police time lapse in Uvalde deaths

Since the Columbine High School massacre more than 20 years ago, police have been trained to quickly confront shooters in the horrific attacks that have followed. But officers in Uvalde, Texas, took more than an hour to kill a shooter who massacred 19 children, a lapse of time that will likely be a key part of a Justice Department probe that could last months. The timeline of the police response is confounding for experts who say a quick response to active shooters is drilled into police. Others question why a school police chief was able to make the call to delay entry into the classroom.

O'Rourke bets shooting will shake up Texas governor's race

WASHINGTON (AP)  Democratic Texas governors race candidate Beto ORourke is hoping the Uvalde school shooting can reset the contest in Americas largest red state. Thats despite Republican Gov. Greg Abbott twice previously winning election by landslides and gun culture looming larger in Texas than perhaps anywhere else. Following the massacre of 19 elementary school students and two teachers by a young man with an AR-15-style rifle last week, ORourke briefly seized the national political spotlight. ORourke crashed Abbotts news conference and said the carnage was predictable. After a mass shooting in ORourkes native El Paso in 2019, ORourke declared in a presidential debate, Hell, yes, were gonna take your AR-15.

Populist millionaire faces ex-rebel for Colombia presidency

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Leftist Sen. Gustavo Petro celebrated his first-round lead in Colombias presidential election in the way most politicians would: showered with confetti before hundreds of supporters. The man hell meet in a June 19 runoff had a different approach. Rodolfo Hernandez sat at his home kitchen table and spoke to followers for a few minutes on Facebook Live. The 77-year-old populist rode a wave of disgust at the countrys condition to surge past more conventional candidates. He is now positioned to mount a serious challenge to the Petro  who himself has long been seen as a political insurgent and who would be Colombias first leftist leader if elected.

War in Ukraine adds to food price hikes, hunger in Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  Families across Africa are paying about 45% more for wheat flour as Russia's war in Ukraine blocks exports from the Black Sea. Some countries like Somalia get more than 90% of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine. That's forcing many people to substitute wheat for other grains. But the United Nations is warning that the price hikes are coming. Many parts of Africa are facing drought and hunger, with an estimated 13 million people facing severe hunger in the Horn of Africa alone. Ukraine, meanwhile, is accusing Russia of stealing both grain and farm equipment. The World Food Program chief say's Russia's war on Ukraine is piling catastrophe on top of catastrophe for the world's poor.

France blames ticket fraud for Champions League final chaos

PARIS (AP)  French authorities have defended police for indiscriminately firing tear gas and pepper spray at Liverpool supporters at the Champions League final while blaming industrial levels of fraud that saw 30,000 to 40,000 people try to enter the Stade de France with fake tickets or none at all. After a meeting into Saturdays chaos, the ministers of the sport and the interior shifted responsibility onto the Liverpool fans while not providing details on how they were sure so many fake tickets were in circulation. UEFA launched an independent investigation into what caused the chaotic scenes and said the comprehensive review will examine decision making, responsibility and behaviors of all entities involved in the final.

Jubilee: Balcony moment tells UK monarchy's story over years

LONDON (AP)  As a 9-year-old girl, Princess Elizabeth appeared with her family on Buckingham Palaces balcony to mark her grandfather George Vs Silver Jubilee. Elizabeth, now 96, is expected to take to the same balcony this Thursday to smile and wave at millions celebrating her Platinum Jubilee  70 years on the throne. The balcony appearance is the centerpiece of almost all royal celebrations in Britain. This year it will be notable for the absence of Prince Andrew, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan. The queen said only working royals will be included for the photo moment. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, and Prince William and his family will be on the balcony next to the queen. Harry, Meghan and their children are still coming to the U.K. for the festivities.

WHO: Monkeypox won't turn into pandemic, but many unknowns

LONDON (AP)  The World Health Organizations top monkeypox expert said she doesnt expect the hundreds of cases reported to date to turn into another pandemic. But she acknowledged there are still many unknowns about the disease, including how exactly its spreading and whether the suspension of smallpox immunization decades ago may be speeding its transmission. Dr. Rosamund Lewis said the WHO is investigating questions including whether monkeypox is spread via sex, in the air and if people without symptoms can transmit the disease. She said there's still time to contain the current problem. On Monday, Congo reported 9 deaths and 465 cases this year. Nigeria reported its first moneypox death this year and the U.K. reported 71 more cases.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
DENVER (AP)  A Nebraska man has pleaded guilty to making death threats against Colorados top elections official in a what officials say is the first such plea obtained by a federal task force devoted to protecting elections workers across the U.S. who have been subject to increasing threats since the 2020 presidential election.

Travis Ford, 42, pleaded guilty in Denver federal court to sending threats to Secretary of State Jena Griswold on social media. Griswold is a national advocate for elections security who has received thousands of threats over her insistence that the 2020 election was secure and that former President Donald Trump's claims that it was stolen from him are false.

Thursday's plea was announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Colorado and was first reported by The Denver Gazette. Ford, a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, faces up to two years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 6.

It's the first guilty plea obtained by the U.S. Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force, which was launched last year to investigate threats of violence against elections workers, the office said. FBI agents in Colorado and Nebraska investigated the case.

Threats of violence against election officials are dangerous for peoples safety and dangerous for our democracy, and we will use every resource at our disposal to disrupt and investigate those threats and hold perpetrators accountable, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

According to the announcement, Ford sent Griswold a series of threatening messages over Instagram in August. Do you feel safe? You shouldn't, one read. Another read: Your security detail is far too thin and incompetent to protect you.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security this month renewed a threat advisory warning of possible violence, particularly for elections officials, workers and other targets by individuals or small groups motivated by conspiracy theories and false and misleading narratives.

Griswold, a Democrat, told Colorado lawmakers earlier this year that she and other elections officials have received thousands of threats that have prompted many local clerks to quit or take security training so they feel safe in their public service work.

The Legislature passed bills to enhance security for Griswold and other statewide office-holders and to add protections for all elections workers. Gov. Jared Polis has signed them into law.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
BAKHMUT, Ukraine (AP)  Holed up in a bombed-out house in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian troops keep a careful accounting of their ammunition, using a door as a sort of ledger. Scrawled in chalk on the door are figures for mortar shells, smoke shells, shrapnel shells, flares.

Despite the heavy influx of weapons from the West, Ukrainian forces are outgunned by the Russians in the battle for the eastern Donbas region, where the fighting is largely being carried out by way of artillery exchanges.

While the Russians can keep up heavy, continuous fire for hours at a time, the defenders can't match the enemy in either weapons or ammunition and must use their ammo more judiciously.

At the outpost in eastern Ukraine, dozens and dozens of mortar shells are stacked up. But the troops' commander, Mykhailo Strebizh, who goes by the nom de guerre Gaiduk, lamented that if his fighters were to come under an intense artillery barrage, their cache would, at best, amount to only about four hours' worth of return fire.

Ukrainian authorities say the West's much-ballyhooed support for the country is not sufficient and is not arriving on the battlefield fast enough for this grinding and highly lethal phase of the war.

While Russia has kept quiet about its war casualties, Ukrainian authorities say up to 200 of their soldiers are dying each day. Russian forces are gaining ground slowly in the east, but experts say they are taking heavy losses.

The United States last week upped the ante with its largest pledge of aid for Ukrainian forces yet: an additional $1 billion in military assistance to help repel or reverse Russian advances.

But experts note that such aid deliveries havent kept pace with Ukraine's needs, in part because defense industries aren't turning out weaponry fast enough.

Were moving from peacetime to wartime, said Francois Heisbourg, a senior adviser at the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research think tank. Peacetime means low production rates, and ramping up the production rate means that you have to first build industrial facilities.  This is a defense-industrial challenge which is of a very great magnitude.

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany last week reported that the U.S. has delivered about half of its pledged commitments in military support for Ukraine, and Germany about one-third. Poland and Britain have both come through on much of what they promised.

Many foot soldiers say they can't even begin to match the Russians shot for shot, or shell for shell.

Earlier this month, Ukraines ambassador in Madrid, Serhii Phoreltsev, thanked Spain  which trumpeted a shipment of 200 tons of military aid in April  but said the ammunition included was enough for only about two hours of combat.

Ukrainian filmmaker-turned-fighter Volodymyr Demchenko tweeted a video expressing gratitude for guns sent by the Americans, saying, "Its nice guns, and 120 bullets to each. But he lamented: Its like 15 minutes of a fight.

Part of the problem, too, is that the Ukrainian forces, whose country was once a member of the Soviet Union, are more familiar with Soviet-era weaponry and must first be trained on the NATO equipment they are getting.

An untold number of Ukrainians have traveled abroad to get training on the Western weapons.

Of the $1 billion pledge from the U.S., only slightly more than one-third of that will be rapid, off-the-shelf deliveries by the Pentagon, and the rest will be available over a longer term. The pledge, which includes 18 howitzers and 36,000 rounds of ammunition for them, addresses Ukraines plea for more longer-range weaponry.

Thats still far short of what the Ukrainians want  1,000 155 mm howitzers, 300 multiple-launch rocket systems, 500 tanks, 2,000 armored vehicles and 1,000 drones  as President Volodymyr Zelenskyys adviser Mikhail Podolyak tweeted last week, before the latest big Western pledges.

What the Ukrainians have got to do is conduct what military people tend to call a counter-battery operation to respond to Russian artillery fire, said Ben Barry, a former director of the British Army Staff who is senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. To do this, you need accurate weapons with a high rate of fire and a range that allows them to keep out of the way of the other sides artillery.

The Ukrainians are saying they dont have enough long-range rockets to adequately suppress Russian artillery, he said. I think theyre probably right.

As it now stands, Ukrainian fighters often have to use shoot and scoot tactics  fire, then move before the Russians can zero in on them.

Better NATO hardware, even in small quantities, is often welcome.

On a nearby front on Saturday, a Ukrainian unit granted The Associated Press rare access to the firing of U.S.-supplied M777 howitzers  towable, 155 mm weapons  on Russian positions.

A lieutenant who goes by the call sign Wasp touted the M777's precision, speed of fire, simplicity of use and the ease with which it is camouflaged, saying the new hardware raises our spirits and demoralizes the enemy because they see what the consequences are.

Denys Sharapov, Ukraines deputy minister of defense in charge of procurement, told a publication of the U.S.-based National Defense Industrial Association that the weapons systems that have been received cover only 10% to 15% of the country's needs. He noted the breadth of the challenge  a front line with 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of active combat.

Interviewed by National Defense magazine in an article published Wednesday, Sharapov said no single supplier could satisfy Ukraines needs alone.

Quite unfortunately for us, we have become the biggest consumer of weapons and ammunition in the world," he said.

Friends of Ukraine are digging in for the long haul.

Time may be on Ukraines side, the experts say. Ukrainian fighters are both motivated and mobilized  all men in the country of 40 million have been called to fight, whereas Russia has so far avoided a call-up of conscripts, which could vastly tilt the war in Russias favor but may not be popular domestically.

As for how long such fighting could last, analyst Heisbourg said a years-long war of attrition is quite possible."

Keaten reported from Geneva. Srdjan Nedeljkovic in Bakhmut, Ukraine, contributed to this report.

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.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday issued an executive order declaring that an abnormal economic disruption exists in Wisconsin due to a disruption of energy supplies, allowing himself to trigger a statewide ban on gasoline and diesel price gouging.

In the order, Evers said that the disruption in supply poses a serious risk to the economic well-being of Wisconsin, both at the individual consumer level and to our essential tourism industry.

By making that declaration, Evers could implement a ban on the sale of wholesale and retail diesel and gasoline at unreasonably excessive prices. The order will remain in effect until Dec. 1.

The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Wisconsin on Tuesday was about $4.83, which is below the national average of $4.97, according to AAA.

Complaints of alleged price gouging can be filed with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, one of five Republicans running for a chance to take on Evers in November, dismissed the executive order.

Tony Evers disingenuous executive order is nothing more than an election-year stunt, attempting to deflect from his own failures, which include proposing a near 40-percent increase in the gas tax," she said in a statement.

Evers, in his first state budget proposal in 2019, called for raising the gas tax by 8 cents per gallon, with future increases tied to inflation. He also called for ending the state's minimum markup law on gasoline, which he argued would result in a net savings for drivers.

The Republican-controlled Legislature rejected his proposal, but Republicans and the state chamber of commerce have been using it against him this year as gas prices soar and Evers is seeking reelection.

Wisconsin law prohibits gas stations from raising prices more than once in 24 hours, but there is no limit as to how much they can raise prices when they do so. There is a minimum markup law that prevents retailers from selling gas and other goods below cost in an attempt to attract customers.

While there is no law against price gouging, there is a mechanism that Evers used that allows for a governor to declare there to be an abnormal economic disruption, which prohibits the excessive raising of gas prices.

Evers on Tuesday also renewed his call for the federal government to suspend the federal gas tax. He also sent a letter calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to waive federal reformulated gas requirements for six southeastern Wisconsin counties through the end of the year.

Evers estimated that waiving that requirement would reduce the cost of gasoline by 30 cents per gallon in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington, and Waukesha counties.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russian attacks laid down a curtain of fire Tuesday across areas of eastern Ukraine where pockets of resistance are denying Moscow full military control of the region, almost four months after the Kremlin unleashed its invasion.

Today everything that can burn is on fire, Serhiy Haidai, the governor of Ukraines eastern Luhansk region, told The Associated Press.

The Russian military currently controls about 95% of the Luhansk region. But Moscow has struggled for weeks to overrun it completely, despite deploying additional troops and possessing a massive advantage in military assets.

With the help of tactical movements, the Ukrainian army is strengthening defenses in the Luhansk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. That really is where the toughest situation is now.

In the city of Sievierodonetsk, the hot spot of the fighting, Ukrainian defenders held on to the Azot chemical plant in the industrial outskirts. About 500 civilians are sheltering at the plant, and Haidai said the Russian forces are turning the area into ruins.

It is a sheer catastrophe, Haidai told the AP in written comments about the plant. Our positions are being fired at from howitzers, multiple rocket launchers, large-caliber artillery, missile strikes.

The defense of the chemical plant recalled the besieged Azovstal steel mill in the brutalized city of Mariupol, where Ukrainian troops were pinned down for weeks.

Neighboring Lysychansk, the only city in the Luhansk region that is still fully under Ukrainian control, also was targeted by multiple airstrikes.

The airstrikes on Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk ruined more than 10 residential buildings and a police station. In the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, a school burned down as the result of the shelling, the presidents office said. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions make up the Donbas.

Separately, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland met for about an hour at a Ukrainian-Polish border post with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. They discussed how the U.S. can help identify, apprehend and prosecute anyone involved in war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

We and our partners will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable, Garland said in a statement.

Garland also tapped Eli Rosenbaum  a 36-year Justice Department veteran who headed efforts to identify and deport Nazi war criminals  as counselor for war crimes accountability. He will coordinate efforts to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, also came under heavy Russian shelling on Tuesday. Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said 15 civilians were killed and 16 wounded in Kharkiv and elsewhere in the region.

Zelenskyy said the attacks in the Kharkiv region were especially cruel and cynical because they brought no clear benefit to the Russian forces. The Russian army is deaf to any rationality. It simply destroys, simply kills, and in this way it shows its command that it is not really standing in place," he said in his video address.

Speaking Tuesday to graduates of Russian military academies at a lavish Kremlin reception, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the Russian armed forces as heirs to the countrys legendary military traditions. The country is now going through another series of trials, he said, expressing confidence that Russia will overcome all the challenges.

There is no doubt that we will become even stronger, he added.

International support for Ukraine was demonstrated once more when a Nobel Peace Prize medal auctioned off by Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov sold Monday night for $103.5 million, shattering the old record for a Nobel. The auction aimed to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees.

Geopolitical tensions stemming from Russias invasion returned to Lithuania. Due to European Union sanctions on Moscow, the Baltic country earlier this month banned rail traffic from crossing its territory from Russia to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Kaliningrad, with a population of around 430,000 people, is wedged between Lithuania and Poland, both EU countries, and is isolated from the rest of Russia.

Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of the Kremlins Security Council and a hard-liner, visited Kaliningrad on Tuesday and vowed to respond to the ban.

The relevant measures are being drawn up in an interagency format and will be adopted shortly, Patrushev said, without elaborating. He added: Their consequences will have a significant negative impact on the population of Lithuania.

In other developments Tuesday:

 Zelenskyy said he spoke with leaders from nine European Union members  Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain  in anticipation of Fridays meeting of EU leaders to decide whether to grant Ukraine candidate status. He said his agenda for Wednesday is just as full. We are expanding the circle of those who support Ukraines candidacy and making it more likely that Fridays decision will be positive, he said.

 John Kirby, a national security spokesman for the White House, said it was appalling that the Kremlin suggested two Americans captured by Russian forces in Ukraine could be sentenced to death. Kirby declined to say what steps the U.S. would take if Russia does not treat Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh, both from Alabama, as prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it depends on the investigation, when asked during an NBC interview whether the Americans could be sentenced to death like two Britons and a Moroccan captured while fighting for Ukraine.

 The U.S. State Department confirmed the death of a U.S. citizen in Ukraine who is believed to be only the second American to have been killed while fighting in the conflict.

 Britains Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence report that Ukraines coastal defenses have largely neutralized Russias ability to project maritime force in the northwestern Black Sea. This has undermined the viability of Russias original operational design for the invasion, which involved holding the Odesa region at risk from the sea, the report said.

 Russian authorities blocked the website of British newspaper The Telegraph over an article it published, the internet rights group Roskomsvoboda reported Tuesday. It said Russias media and internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, blocked Russian access to a story that alleged that Russian forces had prepared a mobile crematorium for use in its war with Ukraine, possibly to hide its military casualties. The move made the entire Telegraph website inaccessible for some Russians.

Karmanau reported from Lviv. Francesca Ebel contributed from the Krakovets border crossing in Ukraine.

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.
Katie Britt has won the Republican nomination for Senate in Alabama, defeating six-term Congressman Mo Brooks in a primary runoff after former President Donald Trump endorsed and then un-endorsed him. The loss ends a turbulent campaign for Brooks, a conservative firebrand who had fully embraced Trumps election lies and had run under the banner MAGA Mo. But it wasnt enough for the former president, who initially backed Brooks in the race to replace retiring Sen. Richard Shelby, but then rescinded his support as Brooks languished in the polls. Trump eventually endorsed Britt in the races final stretch after she emerged as the top vote-getter in the states May 24 primary.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Wisconsin's top elections official said Tuesday that she wasn't worried about increased voter intimidation or partisan observers at the polls this fall, when the Democratic governor and a Republican U.S. senator are up for reelection in the presidential battleground state.

Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe said at a news conference that she has no reason to believe the state's Aug. 9 primary will be any different than the state's two elections this spring, which featured mostly local races that were far less high-profile than the November midterm elections.

Wolfe and Rock County Clerk Lisa Tollefson spoke in advance of the state's Thursday deadline for clerks to send out requested absentee ballots for the upcoming primary.

My top concerns continue to be election confidence, confidence in the election process, ensuring that people have the information they need to understand elections," Wolfe said.

She said that concern is not new to this election, but we are working on a lot of things to get information out to the public.

Among those efforts are social media tools for clerks, news releases and informational videos about the voting process.

Elections administration has been the target of much misinformation in Wisconsin since President Joe Biden won the state in 2020, defeating Donald Trump by nearly 21,000 votes. Some Republicans have repeatedly refused to accept the results, despite recounts, multiple court rulings, a nonpartisan audit and a conservative review that have all upheld Bidens win. A GOP-led investigation has also failed to uncover evidence that Trump won.

Wisconsin's Aug. 9 primary will most notably determine the GOP candidate for governor and Democratic opponent to Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.

The leading Republican candidates in the governor's race are Trump-backed multimillionaire and construction company co-owner Tim Michels; former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who fell just short of receiving the Wisconsin Republican Party's endorsement at the party's convention in May; business consultant and former Marine Kevin Nicholson; and state Rep. Timothy Ramthun. The winner will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in November.

Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson are atop the eight Democrats vying for a shot at Johnson.

Numerous other races will be determined in the August primary.

In the state's eight congressional districts, there are six primary races. Notably, Democrats did not field any candidates in either the 6th of 8th districts, which are held by Republican Reps. Glenn Grothman and Mike Gallagher.

Three Republicans are running for attorney general. The winner of that primary will face Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul.

Secretary of State Doug La Follette, who is on safari in Africa, will face Democrat Alexia Sabor. Three Republicans and one Libertarian are also running for secretary of state. Two Democrats and eight Republicans are in the running for lieutenant governor.

In the Legislature, 116 of 132 seats are up, including all 99 Assembly seats and 17 of 33 Senate seats. There are seven Senate races and 29 in the Assembly where two or more candidates will face off in the primary.

Republicans go into election season with a 21-12 majority in the Senate and a 58-38 advantage in the Assembly, where there are three vacancies.

Harm Venhuizen is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Harm on Twitter.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.  A Scottsbluff attorney is among those telling the story of six people wrongfully convicted in the 1985 rape and murder of a Beatrice woman in an HBO docuseries that premiered Monday evening.

Maren Chaloupka and co-counsel Jeff Patterson represented six defendants commonly known as the Beatrice Six: Joseph White, Thomas Winslow, Ada JoAnn Taylor, Debra Shelden, James Dean and Kathy Gonzalez. The six people were initially convicted in the 1985 rape and murder of 68-year-old Helen Wilson in Beatrice. In 2008, DNA evidence implicated Bruce Allen Smith, an original suspect in the murder who died in 1992. White was exonerated in court, and the other five defendants were pardoned.

Together, the three men and three women spent a combined 77 years in prison in Wilsons death and later sued Gage County, winning a federal jury trial in 2016. It was the culmination of two decades of White fighting to prove his innocence.

Chaloupka, and her client, Debra Shelden, are among those interviewed as part of the miniseries, Mind Over Murder, that documents the case. Its a case that is well known to Nebraskans, with the wrongful convictions and the $28 million judgment that taxpayers are helping pay.

Though films, docuseries and television shows in the true crime genre have continued to increase in popularity through the years, Patterson, Chaloupka and the defendants in the case have been reluctant to be involved in such projects until being approached by director Nanfu Wang. Wang produced the HBO Original six-part documentary series set for broadcast Mondays at 9 p.m. The episodes will post to HBOs streaming platform on Tuesdays.

After the verdict (in 2016), we started getting approached by different kinds of journalists, both print and documentarians, who wanted to make film or TV productions about it. We said no to almost all of them, Chaloupka said.

She explained that the case is very complex, with the federal trial taking more than a month to present and more than 400 documents among the exhibits.

She said that the attorneys were very protective of their clients and not interested in ventures that would exploit their stories for commercialism. They wanted to maintain the integrity of the truth.

The reason our clients spent a combined 77 years in prison was because people were not interested in the truth, she said. And because they were not interested in the truth, our clients suffered terribly. Theyre never going to recover from that damage.

In working with a journalist from The New Yorker, they became associated with Wang.

She asked us to look at some of the other work she had done. ... And when we watched some of her other films, we were impressed that she had the emotional capacity to carry a complicated, factually and emotionally accurate story.

For more than a decade, Chaloupka has been a part of the case in representing Shelden, and in an initial trailer for the docuseries, its evident that Shelden still struggles with the aftermath of the case. Some of the most emotional pieces of the trailer come from Shelden.

The federal jury concluded that Gage County Deputy Burt Searcey, who led the cold-case investigation, and Deputy Wayne Price, who also worked as a psychologist, had manufactured evidence or engaged in a reckless investigation that violated the rights of the six defendants.

In just one example of the emotional upheaval, Chaloupka shared how Price, who claimed to be treating the defendants during the investigation to recover memories, told Shelden  a woman with an IQ in the 70s that made her susceptible to suggestion and also suffering from schizoaffective disorder  to go back to her jail cell and the truth would come to her in a dream.

Shelden did, and was subsequently convinced that she and another woman had been at the scene of the crime. Deputies arrested Kathy Gonzalez based on Sheldens recounting of her dream. Statements or therapy provided by Price is reported to be tied to more than one false confession among the Beatrice Six.

Without the persistence of White, the six defendants may never have been cleared and some would still be in prison.

Wang doesnt just take the audience through the stories of the Beatrice Six, but also the Wilson family and the Beatrice community. She doesnt shy away from the fact that many of the family members continue to believe that the six cleared defendants are guilty or that some in the Beatrice community would rather not discuss the case.

Family members of Wilson also live in the Scottsbluff area and were among the children and grandchildren whom Wang interviewed, which Chaloupka credited as part of the journalistic process that made her supportive and confident in Wangs ability to tell the story. The long-lasting effects of the case are felt on both sides, she said. Chaloupka also said she can understand the Wilson familys grief.

What they have been through is shocking and confusing, and the real killer was never brought to justice, she said. He died without answering for his crime. ... I just am so sad for what theyve been through.
Being an elected official is a thankless job especially in todays highly partisan world. For that reason, even though I disagree with many of Gov. Pete Ricketts policy decisions, I do appreciate his willingness to serve. My advice to any candidate for elected office, if youre inclined to have a political role model, dont follow the example of so many Republican elected officials and hitch your wagon to Donald Trump.

Trump has serious character flaws and low-level ethics. When you consider that hes had six businesses declare bankruptcy, been sued more than 3,000 times and told more than 30,000 verifiable falsehoods, its hard to fathom why anyone would see him as a role model.

And as president hes had eight of his close associates either charged or convicted of crimes. Hes been impeached twice . After his election defeat, he has continued his false claim (at times sounding delusional) that the election was stolen.

He also praised Vladimir Putin who then invaded Ukraine, which resulted in the death of innocent civilians and the destruction of cities. His praise focused on Putins cold calculation that the consequence of taking over the country would be minimal compared to the gain giving insight to Trumps decision making process. And now we are learning about his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

Trumps continued support by Republicans is unsettling. He will, no doubt, go down as one of the worst presidents in the history of our great nation. If youre doubtful, compare him to Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower or Reagan.

Great leaders can unite people with opposing views. Find common ground for the betterment of all. Currently, we have too many Republican elected officials trying to emulate Trumps my way or the highway-style of leadership. Its not statesman-like.

As an example, Ricketts response to the COVID crisis was never enthusiastic. If Dr Faucis effort to encourage people to wear mask was an all-out effort, how would you describe Ricketts, who threatened to withhold $100 million in federal COVID relief if local governments required people to where face masks in government offices.

Ricketts and his administration have also made big mistakes like the child welfare fiasco in which Nebraska signed a $197 million, five-year contract with a company that admitted it underbid the contract. Nebraska then had to sign an emergency contract to boost its payments to cover the shortfalls.

Back in 2014, the Obamacare expanded coverage for Medicaid. Ricketts was opposed to the expansion. A petition drive was initiated to put the issue to a vote of the people and 133,000 Nebraskans signed the petition. Voters then approved the measure. Ricketts response was to delay its implementation for two years. He also created new layers of conditions to make it harder for the 90,000 people who would have qualified for it.

How can we trust the motives of a seemingly ambitious governor who in trying to emulate Trump, wasted tax dollars sending our National Guard to the border claiming he was protecting America from immigrants? And then being one of two governors to reject $120 million in second-round funding from the federal government for rent and utilities assistance for poor Nebraskans because he wants to demonstrate his fiscally right-wing pedigree in anticipation of his next run for office.

I think what our country needs now more than ever is a new batch of elected officials who are willing to compromise to do whats best for the people they serve. Instead of being party idealogues, theyre committed to making things better for society. Having been an elected official, I know firsthand the benefits of meeting the other side in the middle to get something done. We sold a failing horse track to a community nonprofit to the consternation of many horse-racing fans. And today, Aksarben Village is a bustling development. The county board made compromises and cooperated with local business leaders and the results speak for themselves.

Its time Republicans and Democrats get back to the basics of doing whats best for the people instead of following the demands of party leaders. Theres is no public policy decision thats only black and white. Negotiating in the spirit of cooperation produce compromises that are the backbone to good decision-making and are too often today left out of the process.

George Mills is a former Douglas County Board member and Husker defensive lineman from the early 1970s who has a masters degree in urban studies.
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Do you feel a stirring in your heart? Maybe a jump in your libido? Heck, are you just getting plain ol' hot and bothered?

The summer solstice for 2022 is arriving. The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere kicks off the official calendar start of summer and with it comes maximum sunshine, lots of heat, romantic vibes and the bounty of the harvest.

The solstice is historically linked to fertility -- both of the plant and human variety -- in destinations around the world.

CNN Travel explores some of those sensuous, long-standing summer traditions. But first, we'll take a look at some of the science.

Summer solstice: Q&A

Question: I like precision. Exactly when is the summer solstice in 2022?

Answer: The answer depends on where you are during the solstice.

It will happen precisely at 09:13 UTC (Universal Coordinated Time) on Tuesday, June 21, according to NASA. Your time zone in relation to UTC determines the time and date the solstice happens for you.

Here's how 09:13 UTC lines up with local time in select places spanning the globe (and watch the time progression as we sweep from east to west):

 Guam: 7:13 p.m. Tuesday

 Tokyo, Japan: 6:13 p.m. Tuesday

 Manila, Philippines: 5:13 p.m. Tuesday

 Dhaka, Bangladesh: 3:13 p.m. Tuesday

 Dubai, UAE: 1:13 p.m. Tuesday

 Istanbul, Turkey: 12:13 p.m. Tuesday

 Brussels, Belgium: 11:13 a.m. Tuesday

 Casablanca, Morocco: 10:13 a.m. Tuesday

 Recife, Brazil: 6:13 a.m. Tuesday

 Boston, Massachusetts: 5:13 a.m. Tuesday

 Guadalajara, Mexico: 4:23 a.m. Tuesday

 Calgary, Canada: 3:13 a.m. Tuesday

 Seattle, Washington: 2:13 a.m. Tuesday

 Honolulu, Hawaii: 11:13 p.m. Monday

The website TimeandDate has a handy tool to let you calculate the time for where you live.

Question: It's the longest day of the year -- and it happens all over the world?

Answer: Nope. It's the longest day only in the Northern Hemisphere. It's the shortest day of the year south of the equator. Residents of the Southern Hemisphere -- in places such as Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand -- are about to welcome three months of winter.

And the differences in how much daylight you get become very dramatic as you get closer to the poles and farther from the equator.

In Ecuador's capital of Quito, just barely north of the equator, people barely notice the difference. They get a measly extra seven minutes of daylight.

But residents of northerly Helsinki, Finland, will get a 3:54 a.m. sunrise and almost 19 hours of daylight. Even the night doesn't get that dark.

The denizens of Fairbanks in central interior Alaska can scoff at those 19 hours. They'll get a whopping 21 hours and 41 minutes of daylight.

As for those poor penguins in Antarctica guarding their eggs -- if they could talk, they could tell you a lot about living in 24-hour darkness.

Question: Why don't we just get 12 hours of daylight all year?

Answer: Folks all over the planet actually did get nearly equal doses of day and night back during the spring equinox. But the amount of sunlight we get in the Northern Hemisphere has been increasing daily ever since. Why?

That's because the Earth is aligned on an axis, an imaginary pole going through the center of our planet. But this axis tilts -- at an angle of 23.5 degrees.

"As Earth orbits the sun [once each year], its tilted axis always points in the same direction. So, throughout the year, different parts of Earth get the sun's direct rays," according to NASA.

When the sun reaches its apex in the Northern Hemisphere, that's the summer solstice.

At that time, "the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, which is located at 23.5 latitude North, and runs through Mexico, the Bahamas, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India and southern China," according to the National Weather Service.

Sensual traditions: Midsummer in Sweden

Now let's turn our attention to what's really on our minds: the romantic and sexy side of the solstice. We'll start in Sweden.

Their traditions include dancing around a maypole -- a symbol which some view as phallic. They also feast on herring and vodka (whether that's romantic or not is probably a matter of personal preference).

"A lot of children are born nine months after Midsummer in Sweden," Jan-Ojvind Swahn, a Swedish ethnologist and the author of several books on the subject, told CNN before his death in 2016.

"Drinking is the most typical Midsummer tradition. There are historical pictures of people drinking to the point where they can't go on anymore," said Swahn.

While the libations have a hand in the subsequent baby boom, Swahn pointed out that even without the booze, Midsummer is a time rich in romantic ritual.

"There used to be a tradition among unmarried girls, where if they ate something very salty during Midsummer, or else collected several different kinds of flowers and put these under their pillow when they slept, they would dream of their future husbands," he said.

Pagan rites in Greece

There is a similar mythology about dreaming of one's future spouse in parts of Greece. There, as in many European countries, the pagan solstice got co-opted by Christianity and rebranded as St. John's Day. Still, in many villages in the country's north, the ancient rites are still celebrated.

One of the oldest rituals is called Klidonas, and it involves local virgins gathering water from the sea.

The village's unmarried women all place a personal belonging in the pot and leave it under a fig tree overnight, where -- folklore has it -- the magic of the day imbues the objects with prophetic powers, and the girls in question dream of their future husbands.

The next day, all the women in the village gather, and take turns pulling out objects and reciting rhyming couplets that are meant to predict the romantic fortunes of the item's owner. These days, however, the festival is more an excuse for the community of women to exchange bawdy jokes.

"In my village, the older women always seem to come up with the dirtiest rhymes," says Eleni Fanariotou, who has filmed the custom. Later in the day, the sexes mingle and take turns jumping over a bonfire.

Anyone who succeeds in jumping over the flames three times is meant to have a wish granted. Fanariotou said the festival often results in coupling.

"It's a good time to meet someone, because all the young people in the village go, and it's a good opportunity to socialize. Plus, all the men like to show off and make the biggest fire they can to jump through."

A Slavic Cupid

In Eastern Europe, the summer solstice is connected with Ivan Kupala Day -- a holiday with romantic connotations for many Slavs ("kupala" is derived from the same word as "cupid"). It's also called Kupala Night (love doesn't stick to a strict timetable, apparently).

"It was once believed that Kupala night was a time for people to fall in love, and that those celebrating it would be happy and prosperous throughout the year," recalls Agnieszka Bigaj from the Polish tourist board.

It used to be that young, unmarried women would float floral wreaths in the river where eager bachelors on the other side would try to catching the flowers. she said.

According to Polish folklore, the man and woman in question would become a couple. Bonfires are also a large feature of the holiday, and it's tradition for a couple to leap through the flames together while holding hands -- if they don't let go, it is said their love will last.

Yoga in India and beyond

Few things get you in touch with your mind and body like yoga does.

In India, the birthplace of the ancient practice, the summer solstice is traditionally celebrated with mass yoga sessions throughout the nation, the world's second-most populous.

And these days, yoga has gone worldwide.

In fact, the International Day of Yoga is June 21, the same day as the solstice. The United Nations' theme for 2022 is "Yoga for Humanity" and touts the practice as a great method for overcoming the effects of the pandemic.

In New York's Times Square, they're taking advantage of all the daylight with solstice yoga classes starting at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m. Register in advance, or if you can't make it, join via streaming on the website of the Times Square Alliance, which is presenting the event.

Traditions in China

Records from the Song Dynasty (960 to 1279) indicate officials could have three days off during the summer solstice, according to ChinaCulture.org.

It was called "chaojie" and "women gave colored fans and sachets to each other. Fans could help them feel not so hot and the sachets were for driving away mosquitoes and making them smell sweet."

People in Mohe -- the most northern city in China in Heilongjiang province -- get to enjoy almost 17 hours of daylight, with sunrise coming at 3:23 a.m.

Stonehenge

One of the most notable solstice celebrations in the world traditionally has taken place at Stonehenge in England, where thousands usually gather each year. Like many other events in 2020-21, they had to close it down because of the pandemic.

But in 2022, the in-person celebration is back on, according to English Heritage. You can also catch the solstice sunrise live on the group's Facebook page or YouTube channel.

Dating back to druid and pagan times, Stonehenge has a mysterious allure.

"All druid rituals have an element of fertility, and the solstice is no exception," King Arthur Pendragon, a senior archdruid, told CNN. "We celebrate the union of the male and female deities -- the sun and the Earth -- on the longest day of the year."

Top image: Swimmers walk back from the sea after a summer solstice dip in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, England, on June 21, 2021. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

The-CNN-Wire

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Some of this article was sourced from a CNN story by Daisy Carrington first published in 2013.
BLOOMINGTON  With her father, grandfather and other family members all having gone through 4-H, Callie Yoder never doubted that she would be involved in the organization too.

My passion for it came very early on, said Yoder, who wrapped up her 11 years as a student in the organization last year. She is now a 4-H leader for the Danvers Industrial Youth Club, as well as the 4-H director of foods and nutrition for the McLean County Fair.

Like Yoder, Lauren Toohill grew up in an agricultural family. The recent Heyworth High School graduate was president of the school's chapter of the National FFA Organization, formerly known as "Future Farmers of America."

Both young women represent an example of the kinds of students being targeted for growing educational and outreach efforts in Central Illinois. Agriculture businesses, advocacy organizations and educators say they are trying to train students like Yoder and Toohill for agriculture jobs and technology that do not yet exist.

Leaders in the field have also seen more job openings than people to fill them, even as the industry is expected to grow regionally and nationally.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security expects farm jobs in its Economic Development Region 3, which is centered around Peoria and McLean counties, to grow from 6,811 jobs to 9,038 jobs between 2018 and 2028. The projection also anticipates a decline in non-farm jobs in that same period.

Nationwide, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be an additional 78,000 wage and salary agriculture jobs between 2020 and 2030. Agriculture jobs were tied for the fourth fastest-growing sector in the U.S. economy between 2010 and 2020.

Neither of those measures include all the jobs tangentially related to agriculture, such as in ag finance or food manufacturing. IDES also anticipates significant growth in food manufacturing jobs between 2018 and 2028 in the Peoria-McLean County region.

Heartland Community College hopes its new agriculture complex can help it meet the needs to fill those jobs, reflecting the importance of agriculture industry in the community.

The role of a community college is to be reflective of the needs of the community, President Keith Cornille said.  In our particular community, agriculture and agriculture-related industries are a huge part of our economy.

Keeping local talent

Heartland Community College plans to break ground on its new agriculture complex later this month. College officials hope the new facility will help them expand Heartlands agriculture offerings, which in turn can help keep young talent like Yoder and Toohill in the area.

We need to do everything we can to keep the young talent right here in our community, said Cornille.

There are around 1,300 K-12 students involved in agriculture in some way in Heartlands district, he said.

That includes students like those in Kara Barling's agriculture classes at Heyworth High School, where she also leads the schools FFA club.

Last year, Barling had 122 students across six classes, with only 10 to 15 of them coming from farm families. She maintains classroom space in an outbuilding of the school and a greenhouse. She tries to put that space to good use while giving students a chance to learn skills unique to the classes.

Heartlands new agriculture complex will help provide some of those same sorts of hands-on experiences at the college level, Cornille said.

We dont really have the type of laboratories that are conducive to the type of learning that needs to occur, he said. () The complex will allow us to really have the types of laboratories and classrooms that we need.

That includes features like test plots, greenhouses and a mechanic bay large enough to pull in farm equipment like combines. The complex will not include livestock.

Hands-on experience is a central part of ag education at Lake Land College in Mattoon, too, Agriculture Chair Ryan Orrick said. The college offers seven agriculture-related majors and five certificates.

All of those, they dont just go to school for two years and sit in a classroom, Orrick said.

Barling said her classes cover the breadth of the agriculture industry, from basic farm mechanics to intros to animal and veterinary science. That mirrors the program Illinois State University students go through, said Lucas Maxwell, director of the agricultural education program there.

Non-transfer students spend their first two years in the program learning about the various parts of the agriculture industry, Maxwell said. The students' junior and senior years focus on developing them as teachers.

The ISU Agriculture Department, which offers 10 majors including agriculture education, looks forward to working with Heartland as the college expands its programs, Maxwell said. He is excited for partnerships like pipeline agreements for students to transfer from the Heartland programs to ISU.

Cornille said the community colleges goal is to blend its services with what is already being offered in the area, including by ISU. That includes offering certificates and additional training.

We dont want to replicate things; we want to supplement things, he said.

Filling company needs

Evergreen FS is one of the area businesses likely to benefit from expanded agriculture programs at Heartland, HR Manager Christie Rabideau said. The Bloomington-based co-op, which is a part of GROWMARK, hires across a wide array of agriculture services, including operations, elevators, turf and office jobs.

That wide variety of jobs is something that Cornille feels not enough students know about as they consider careers.

Sometimes I think young people dont understand all that agriculture and agribusiness offers them in their career, he said.

Rabideau estimated that around 75% of the positions at Evergreen FS require either a high school degree or a two-year certificate or degree, exactly the kind of program that Heartland provides. Evergreen FS has worked with Heartland in developing programs, Rabideau said, especially the agronomy and precision agriculture certificates.

Both of those are very relevant to what we do and the hiring needs we have, she said.

Representatives for Evergreen FS and Archer Daniels Midland Co., another major agribusiness employer with a large Central Illinois presence, said they have had some difficulty filling openings.

The need for training for agricultural workers is a major driver behind Heartlands expansion, Cornille said.

Orrick, in Mattoon, has also seen that need. For every graduate coming out of Lake Land's agricultural program, he said, it feels like he hears from five businesses looking to hire someone.

Lake Land has focused its agriculture program on listening to the industry about what businesses need so the college can help fill those jobs, Orrick said. That includes working with an advisory council with representatives from industries of the various programs Lake Land offers.

Weve tried to be more intentional about what we offer in the classrooms to (reflect) what the needs of industry are, Orrick said.

There is also a shortage of agriculture teachers in the state, a problem not unique to Illinois, Maxwell said. The shortage has even prevented some districts from starting programs they planned to add.

The need for agricultural educators right now is immense () we simply do not graduate enough individuals to fill the positions that are open each year, he said.

Some of the jobs in the industry require flexibility and a willingness to do whatever is needed around a farm, said Brian Bangert, general manager at Funk Farms in McLean County.

There seems to be a need for more ag education in general, he said, as people lose their connections to the farms that grow their food. He has started an agricultural tourism center at Funk Farms to help address that need, and hopes Heartlands complex can also help build that understanding in students.

We need better opportunities for kids to get a better understanding of agriculture, Bangert said.

Archer Daniels Midland Co., which has its North American headquarters in Decatur, hires people from a variety of educational and career backgrounds, which includes but is not exclusive to those from agriculture programs and companies, said head of talent acquisition Megan Bole.

The food processing company, which Fortune ranked as the 38th largest in the country by revenue in its 2022 list, has also put resources into developing early career pipelines, like internships, to bring in employees soon after they graduate from college, Bole said.

(That allows students) to really come inside, have a peek under the tent and understand the kind of rich, varied career they can have here, Bole said.

Early career hires from ag programs are important additions to the company. They help keep ADM on the tip of the sphere, Bole said.

Orrick estimated that just around 10% of Lake Lands agriculture students go directly into plows, sows and cows farming.

Jobs in agriculture can appeal to a wide array of interests, Cornille said.

If you love chemistry, theres a job for you in ag; if you love tech, theres a job for you in ag; if you love mechanics, theres a job for you in ag; if you love being outside, theres a job for you in ag; if you love driving a truck, theres a job for you in ag, he said.

Some Central Illinois businesses have taken a more direct approach to training the workers they need, in cooperation with education institutions. For example, Lake Land College has a John Deere tech program, Orrick said.

The students work with a dealership that sponsors them, which could include help with tools, internships or tuition.

Community colleges are another place ADM is looking to expand pipelines, Bole said.

Were really keen to strengthen those relationships, she said.

Building life skills

Rising eighth-grader Claire Kuipers in LeRoy said her school has just a few families that show cattle, including her own, and she is one of a handful of FFA members at LeRoy Middle School who live on a farm with livestock.

Like Yoder and Toohill, 13-year-old Kuipers is getting an early start in agriculture through FFA and 4-H activities. Her projects have included showing hogs, photography, LEGO building and sewing. The most significant has been showing Angus cattle.

Participating in 4-H and other show competitions has given Claire a chance to make friends from near and far. Shes got friends all over the county, all over the state, all over the country, said Krista Kuipers, Claire's mother.

The responsibility of taking care of the cattle every day has helped her grow and mature, too, said Claire, who has been participating in 4-H programs for five years. She started off with her parents doing much of the work for her, but now she does it all herself. Her younger brother is now starting to go through the same process.

Over in Danvers, Yoder enjoyed going from being a student herself in 4-H to now seeing her students grow and mature.

Its pretty awesome to watch kids grow and become better leaders, and speakers, and people in general, she said.

The organization goes far beyond the main agriculture projects that many people may think of, said Katie Buckley, McLean County 4-H youth development educator. Some of the other projects include foods, sewing and even robotics. McLean County has the largest number of county 4-H members in the state, with around 900 members.

Agriculture has changed a lot in recent years, with new applications for technology like drones and autonomous vehicles, Buckley said.

What were doing now isnt going to be what were doing probably five or 10 years from now. Were looking into the future. Were preparing youth for jobs that dont exist today, she said.

Jenny Webb, member engagement manager at the Illinois Farm Bureau, attended Heartland before the college added agriculture programs. She is excited to see the college's new complex, especially looking forward to its use as a community event location as well as an education center.

Webbs work focuses on the state farm bureau's Young Leaders program, for members ages 18 to 35. She works with Vanessa Wright, youth and collegiate program coordinator, who more directly handles the Collegiate Farm Bureau.

CFB has 12 chapters across the state, including at ISU, Illinois Central College, Lincoln Land Community College and Lake Land College.

Wright and Webb hope to expand the appeal of the program beyond majors directly connected to agriculture. Students pursuing areas from political science to environmental studies can also find jobs in the industry, they said.

Buckley, the local 4-H leader, also talked about the wide variety of jobs in agriculture, and the need in the industry for people who may not have studied agriculture in school but instead have backgrounds in areas like chemistry, communications or economics.

Its going to take a wide variety of educational backgrounds to fulfill the need for agricultural jobs, she said.

At Illinois State, Maxwell said he and Assistant Professor Jay Solomonson are trying to recruit beyond the traditional pipeline of students who were taking agriculture classes in high school. The graduate program has also grown immensely in the past few years, from just a few students to more than 25.

There is a place for everyone in agriculture; there is a place for everyone in agriculture education, Maxwell said.

He and Orrick both noted that they have seen more women entering agriculture. Lake Lands program split close to evenly between men and women, Orrick said. The ag education program at ISU is now majority women, Maxwell said.

The Illinois Farm Bureau also works closely with agriculture educators across the state with initiatives that include its Ag in the Classroom program, which works mostly on curriculum development and teacher training, said statewide director Kevin Daugherty. Some of the county organizations do more school visits.

Ag in the Classroom also reaches kids younger than 4-H and FFA programs do, all the way down to kindergarten.

Reaching the children at that age is important because many of them have not necessarily had direct experience with agriculture, despite it being the largest industry in the state, Daugherty said.

Most of our students are generations away from being on the farm, he said.

A better understanding of agriculture can help people understand where their food comes from, Claire Kuipers said.

I think people need to start thinking, Oh, its helping you learn more about the background (of agriculture), she said. () You have to think about how people have to raise these cattle, people have to feed these cattle.

Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter:@connorkwood

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NORMAL  Normal police crime-solving efforts could benefit from Flock Safetys license plate recognition system, Normal Police Chief Steve Petrilli and a representative from the company told the Town Council on Monday at its work session.

Our mission as a company is to eliminate crime, said Josh Thomas, vice president of communications for the Atlanta, Georgia-based public safety technology company.

We say that knowing those are audacious words to say out loud, and its incredibly difficult to actually deliver on this mission, but were seeing signs of real progress in cities all around the county, he added.

The council took no vote on the license plate cameras, pending further review.

The Flock system, which was approved in Bloomington in March after a number of residents and community groups raised privacy concerns, is meant to be used in limited cases. The data would not be used for traffic enforcement, fines, towing or immigration enforcement, but instead would be used only in major crime investigations such as abductions, assaults, arson, homicides, shootings, robberies and sexual assaults, Thomas said.

Flock technology is used by more than 600 police departments in 38 states, according to the vendor. Locally, 120 Illinois municipalities, including Champaign, Decatur, Peoria, Rantoul and Springfield, have signed agreements and approved the installation of the technology.

Flock cameras are installed in more than 2,000 cities nationwide, and if a vehicle associated with a crime in Normal is picked up on one of those cameras elsewhere in the country, Normal police would be notified immediately.

Thomas said cameras can take photos of license plates at speeds up to 100 mph and from up to 75 feet away. Details such as the license plate number and the vehicle's color, make and model are then processed through machine learning for a clearer picture and to allow for officers to respond to reports more quickly.

Technology like this could have been beneficial in a case in May, Petrilli said. A Chicago man was arrested in connection with a shooting on the Illinois State University campus, and the vehicle he was in reportedly was stolen in Chicago the previous weekend, he added.

We have three major interstates that run through our community, and had that vehicle left the interstate and come into our community and we had this technology, we may have prevented that crime, Petrilli said. Those are stats that you never really get to see: How many crimes do you prevent? But this technology really does leverage that ability for the police departments to do exactly that.

The gathered data would be encrypted and stored in an Amazon Web Services cloud for up to 30 days unless it's part of an investigation. If not used, the video collected would be deleted after 30 days.

Town Trustee Chemberly Cummings asked where the department would place the cameras and what the policy would be for using the data.

Petrilli said there is already a map of proposed camera sites, and clarified that they would be pointed toward public areas like interstate entrances, schools and campus areas. He said they would be placed for safety reasons, and not in areas solely based on crime statistics.

The map may be shared at a later date, said Normal Director of Communications Cathy Oloffson after the meeting.

As for the policy, the town would use the Springfield Police Departments policy as a model because it has been analyzed and edited by the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Springfield to prohibit misuse.

I can tell you that our policy, that is the focus, Petrilli said. Data security, privacy, how the data is going to be used and exactly what that looks like.

There would also be an auditing system that would log each user who goes into the system, keeping a history of what they search for and when, he said.

Trustee Kathleen Lorenz asked why the town should choose Flock and not seek bids from other contractors with similar technology.

Petrilli said they have looked at other vendors, but what is unique to Flocks service is that neighboring communities already have implemented this technology and can contribute across multiple police departments.

Pavement condition

The council also heard a presentation on results of the towns pavement condition index assessment, which was collected in July 2021 and compiled by Applied Research Associates.

The assessment reviews the towns pavement surface evaluation and rating and determines a cost-effective preventive maintenance plan that identifies needed distress repair, surface treatment and minor rehabilitation on various roadways, said Joe Stefanski, a senior engineer at ARA.

We know there are many factors that are considered that we have developed in the program," he said. "Were able to put a lot of local information, the condition information, age information, and the budget information all together in one system, but theres a lot that were not taking into account, like contractor availability and the ever-changing asphalt prices, so thats why we say this is another tool.

The data shows that a majority of roadways are considered in "satisfactory," "fair" or "good" condition, while almost a third of roadways are in "poor," "very poor," "serious" or "failed" condition.

The average pavement condition index across the town is at a rating of 65, which is considered "fair."

As part of the assessment, the town will receive a one-year license fee for the ARA software to analyze cost-effective maintenance plans, but will have to pay $1,000 annually in order to receive future software upgrades or technical support, Stefanski said.

Trustee Stan Nord said although the cost was not an issue, he had expected to see the actual data presented and made available to the public.

Public Works Director Ryan Otto said the data will be available by June 30.

In other news

During a meeting following the work session, the town authorized a contract with Hoerr Construction Inc. for sanitary sewer lining.

Hoerr was the lowest bidder at $790,078.

The council also renewed the towns agreement with the McLean County Regional Planning Commission. The cost of technical planning services, which the commission has provided for more than 40 years, is $54,000, the same as last years cost.

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100 years ago

June 21, 1922: Dr. George Palmer, president of the Illinois Tuberculosis Association, spoke to an audience at the Young Men's Club about the importance of proper education on health matters. "We like to think of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers as hale, hearty, rugged men, but as a matter of fact, they didn't live as long as we do," he noted, adding that the country's forefathers "were not what might be called strenuous devotees of the great indoor sport of bathing."

75 years ago

June 21, 1947: The Bloomington City Council voted that the public should be notified and invited to meetings to draft appropriation ordinances. Alderman Lawrence Turpin motioned for the change. Several council members said they didn't believe they had held secret meetings. "I suppose you call it an open meeting when the council meets up here without any advance notice and then closes the doors," Turpin replied. "Do you think people are going to come barging through closed doors?"

50 years ago

June 21, 1972: The Lexington City Council may act on a proposed ordinance meant to alleviate the city's growing pains. It comes as Bloomington realtor Lawrence Bielfeldt plans to build as many as 200 houses in the next eight years on some 57 acres immediately northeast of Lexington. City officials hope the new ordinance makes clear "who pays what" when this subdivision, and others in the future, seek to obtain city services, such as city water, for residents.

25 years ago

June 21, 1997: It was in 1996 that the village of Gridley, to qualify for a Department of Conservation state grant, decided to accept ownership of a 30-year-old swimming pool. It was two years and $500,000 later when the aluminum pool finally was completely rebuilt at the new Westview Park  and opening day found the pool filled wall-to-wall with children. The pool, 6 feet wider than it was before, is L-shaped with a 33-foot by 25-foot diving well. There is also a kiddie pool.

Compiled by Pantagraph staff
CHICAGO  Former state Sen. Thomas Cullerton was sentenced Tuesday to a year in federal prison for pocketing more than a quarter of a million dollars in salary and benefits from the Teamsters union despite doing little or no work.

In rejecting a defense request for probation, U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman said people are tired of the depressing amount of public corruption and that he had to send a message to other elected officials that breaching the public trust wont be tolerated.

Its hard for me to say this to you, but I have to: You broke the trust of the people that elected you, Gettleman said. ...We trust our public officials to be honest and not to cheat. Becoming a ghost payroller was the worst decision you ever made in your life. So there has to be a consequence to that.

Before the sentence was handed down, Cullerton apologized to the court, his family, his constituents and his former colleagues at the Teamsters.

Im not going to say I didnt take advantage of the situation, I did, Cullerton said, reading from written remarks and pausing at times to clear his throat and sniff back tears. I cant take back what I did, nor can I apologize enough.

Cullerton, 52, a Democrat from Villa Park, pleaded guilty to embezzlement in March, two weeks after abruptly resigning from office. Prosecutors have asked for a sentence of up to 18 months in prison, while his attorneys requested a period of probation.

Cullertons sentencing will take place in person before U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman, the first time hes appeared at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse since his arraignment nearly three years ago, before the pandemic.

Cullerton is one of eight former members of the Illinois General Assembly to be charged with federal crimes during that stretch, culminating with the March indictment of ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan on racketeering charges. Madigan has pleaded not guilty.

Last month, his former colleague ex-state Rep. Luis Arroyo was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for trying to bribe then-state Sen. Terry Link to support legislation expanding sweepstakes gaming machines.

Link, meanwhile, has pleaded guilty to unrelated tax charges and is awaiting sentencing. His former colleague in the Senate, Martin Sandoval, was convicted of taking bribes from a red-light camera company executive, but died of COVID-19 complications before he was sentenced.

Also convicted was former state Rep. Edward Acevedo, who pleaded guilty to failing to file tax returns and was sentenced to six months in prison, and John OSullivan, a onetime state representative who pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy in the same red-light camera probe that ensnared Sandoval. OSullivan is awaiting sentencing.

A seventh former legislator, state Rep. Annazette Collins, has pleaded not guilty to charges she lied on her personal income taxes and failed to file tax returns for her lobbying and consulting firm.

In asking Gettleman to sentence Cullerton to up to a year and a half in prison, prosecutors said in a court filing earlier this month that former Teamsters boss John Coli Sr. told investigators hed hired Cullerton to his do-nothing position as a favor to Senator A, at Senator As request.

Coli knew it was wrong to pay Cullerton because he was a ghost payroller, assistant U.S. attorneys Amarjeet Bhachu and Erika Csicsila wrote. Only when Coli became concerned that the Independent Review Board, an investigative body within the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, would find out Cullerton was a ghost payroller, did he give the order for Cullerton to be fired.

The state senator who gave the recommendation was not named in the filing.

The prosecution memo also revealed for the first time that after he was fired by Coli, Cullerton went on to get another do-nothing job with a video gaming company that made him the companys only salaried salesman, working first for $1,000 a week, which was later doubled to $2,000 a week.

Even though his salary was doubled by the video gaming company, Cullerton brought in little if any business for the video gaming company, the memo stated. He was kept on their payroll only until the current investigation went overt.

Cullertons attorneys, meanwhile, asked Gettleman for a sentence of probation, writing in a court filing of their own that while he understands the public scorn surrounding the high-profile case, hes committed to making things right with the Teamsters and working hard for his family and community.

He will forever bear the stigma, public embarrassment, and financial and other costs associated with this felony conviction, attorney Daniel Collins wrote.

Collins said that Cullerton understood that he was not meeting the expectations of the job and should have resigned once he realized how difficult it would be to balance the added duties with his roles as a legislator and father.

His decision not to resign right then and there will haunt him the rest of his life, Collins wrote.

According to the indictment, Coli conspired with Cullerton in 2013 to give the newly elected senator a job as an organizer, ostensibly to attract new membership through campaigns, supporting union picket lines and attending union events.

Over the next three years, the two ignored complaints from supervisors when Cullerton failed to even show up for work, putting him effectively on permanent vacation, according to prosecutors. Cullerton, as well as others in the union, clearly understood that he could get away with being paid without working simply because he was an elected official, prosecutors wrote in their sentencing filing.

In all, Cullerton was accused of fraudulently obtaining nearly $250,000 in salary, bonuses and other perks from the Teamsters between 2013 and 2016, including cellphone and vehicle allowances as well as health and pension contributions, according to prosecutors.

Cullerton used the payments for personal expenses, including his mortgage, utilities and groceries, according to his plea.

The charges against Cullerton came three days after Coli pleaded guilty to extortion charges and agreed to cooperate with federal authorities. According to his plea agreement, Coli extorted a total of $325,000 from Alex Pissios, president of Cinespace Chicago Film Studios on the West Side, by threatening a union work stoppage.

With his cooperation against Cullerton now complete, Colis sentencing has been set for Oct. 26.

Cullerton, who previously was village president of Villa Park, is a member of Chicagos longest-running political dynasty and was first elected to the state Senate in 2012. He is a distant cousin of former Senate President John Cullerton, who stepped down abruptly in 2020.

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Missourians have long been accustomed to boorish behavior from Eric Greitens, the disgraced former governor credibly accused of tying up and forcing a woman to perform oral sex on him, in addition to charges of major campaign finance violations. He resigned in dishonor after those allegations surfaced. Later, his ex-wife alleged he had also abused her and their children, even knocking one of their sons tooth loose.

But the state will still be outraged by Greitens latest stupidity: a commercial produced to support his candidacy for the U.S. Senate.

In the video, Greitens introduces himself as a Navy SEAL, which is misleading enough. Hes a civilian whose service in the Navy remains highly controversial.

Hes carrying a weapon, which is terrifying too. Today, were going RINO hunting, Greitens says.

What follows is deeply appalling in any context, let alone in the days following gun massacres in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York. The candidate is surrounded by anonymous figures dressed in what appear to be military camouflage uniforms.

The squad bashes down a door. Someone tosses a flash-bang grenade. Greitens walks through the door, into the smoke.

Join the MAGA crew, he says. Getting a RINO hunting permit. Theres no bagging limit, and no tagging limit. RINO, of course, refers to "Republicans in name only."

Is Eric Greitens seriously suggesting his political critics should be shot dead? Murdered without consequence? It sure seems that way.

Its fanatically un-American to call for assassinating your political enemies, and doing so is dangerous in todays political climate and disqualifying for any candidate seeking elected office, Missouri state Sen. Lauren Arthur said in a tweet.

If he gets through the primary, Eric Greitens will be the most embarrassing major party candidate in a statewide race since David Duke, said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.

That sounds right to us. That Greitens would consider such a video during the Jan. 6 congressional hearings on actual political violence is grotesque.

The Republican primary for the Senate seat now occupied by Roy Blunt has been an unqualified disaster. Eric Schmitt, the states attorney general, beclowns himself on an hourly basis, filing frivolous and costly lawsuits for political motives. Hes a disgrace.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler has based her campaign on gender bigotry and scare tactics. She criticized any effort to restrict guns before the blood had been cleaned from the floor in Uvalde.

Other Republican candidates have been harder to hear, or see. Naturally, they have no chance.

Now, Greitens hints at homicide.

Missourians have not been well-served by this ridiculousness. The nation faces serious problems, and needs a reasonable debate among candidates for the Senate. A Republican who approaches the race with the seriousness it deserves should get a hearing from voters, and would deserve it.

With the primary now just weeks away, the lack of a real discussion of issues is stunning, and depressing. Its beyond comprehension that Missouri voters would consider a man who resigned his office in disgrace under so many clouds. He shouldnt get near any elected office, or any position of responsibility.

Hes also a coward. Hes a tough guy with a gun on TV, but ducks every debate and every legitimate press interview. Hes accused of beating his wife and children. He stole veterans honor by falsely suggesting to Stephen Colbert that he helped kill Osama bin Laden. Missouri voters should send him to the ash heap of history, where he belongs.

The Kansas City Star

Is Eric Greitens seriously suggesting his political critics should be shot dead? Murdered without consequence? It sure seems that way.

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As a third-generation citizen of Illinois, its heartbreaking to watch the exodus of people and business from Illinois. We have endured increased taxes, failures to maintain basic public services and infrastructure along with challenges to our basic freedoms and human rights. To further add to the pain, leaders have focused on rhetoric creating division and redirecting funds to special interests and projects. New leadership is needed for Illinois to start rebuilding trust and holding those in power accountable.

Just a few reasons why Im placing my support in Darren Bailey for our next governor. Darren was fed up with these same failures and decided enough is enough. After serving on his local school board for many years, Darren ran against his local state representative and won. After one term as state representative, he was elected to his current position as a state senator. Now, this Southern Illinois farmer is running for governor.

Ive had the opportunity of hearing and meeting Darren Bailey and lieutenant governor candidate, Stephanie Trussell. These opportunities allowed me to get to know them and learn more about each as a person. They are both successful and yet down to earth individuals with common sense ideas, a passion for others and a plan for leading Illinois to protect its future.

Darren has already proven to be a man of honor both in office and in his personal life. He is the quality of individual needed to lead the restoration of our government. Join me in supporting the team of Darren Bailey and Stephanie Trussell to undertake the restoration of Illinois. A restoration built on common sense policy that is needed to reverse the steady and ever-increasing stream of individuals, families and businesses exiting our once great state for a better future elsewhere.

Douglas Nord, Bloomington

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How many times have voters and pundits said that they wished we had more candidates running for office? That we dont have enough choices? In every election cycle, like this one, it seems we see more unopposed office holders than we have races where our vote actually matters.

This election cycle is no different for circuit court. Am I the only one that loves the fact that our States Attorney Don Knapp has dared challenged the judiciarys hand-selected candidate for circuit judge and that the voters actually get to weigh in on the issue? It has been more than a decade since we have had a contested race for a full circuit-wide judicial seat, and as you can see, the bar association is in total meltdown. How dare someone actually take their message to the voters and run for judge instead of begging permission from the bar association and judiciary.

Watching lawyers and a couple retired judges throw a fit that the voters get to determine who our next circuit judge is, because my vote counts just as much as their vote counts, has provided me great joy.

Add to that the fact that Adam Kinzinger seems to want once again to be involved in Republican politics and has given $10,000 from his Ottawa, Illinois, PACs to States Attorney Knapps opponent. That is really all I need to know about this race.

LaHood and the law enforcement officers that protect us every day have been very vocal in their support of Don Knapp. Adam Kinzinger and the lawyers who have chosen judge after judge with zero opposition want his opponent. Im voting for Don Knapp for circuit judge.

Brandy Stevenfield, Flanagan

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I am voting for Don Knapp for circuit judge in the Republican primary on June 28. As a lifelong Republican, Dons message of personal accountability resonates with me. I think hes done a great job of holding criminals accountable in McLean County and would welcome that viewpoint on the bench. When I hear him talk about growing up on his grandfathers farm in Goodfield and attending Eureka High School at a time when Ronald Reagan was President, it is clear to me that Don has subscribed to the values of hard work and personal accountability were engrained in him at an early age like so many of us here in Central Illinois.

That sharply contrasts with the social worker message of his opponent, who I heard on a Peoria television station say it is her job to teach lawyers to be social workers from the bench. Those are her words from the Peoria TV interview. If you want social workers on the bench who believe it is their job to enact social justice policies and teach lawyers that appear in front of them to do the same, then Don Knapp likely isnt the one you want to vote for on June 28.

I will be voting for Don Knapp. Like so many of us around here, he grew up on a farm in the district he is running for, worked in the dirt like we did and shares our values. I have never seen so many cops come out in support of a candidate before. Their message and support of Don speaks volumes to me. Ill be voting for Don Knapp for judge on election day.

Dave Perring, Lincoln

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In this election, Judge Amy emerges as the better qualified on many levels most notably of which are (1) All 14 retired judges of the circuit court support Judge McFarland. None has endorsed the candidacy of her opponent. The unasked question Why do none of the past judges endorse her opponents candidacy? speaks volumes. (2) Judge Amy has distinguished herself as an associate circuit court judge and serves as presiding judge in its family division. Her opponent wants to bypass the important lessons to be learned that an associate judgeship would provide and asks voters instead to elect him directly as circuit judge  with virtually no related, judicial experience! (3) The Illinois Bar Associations judicial advisory poll (tinyurl.com/45833bw6) determined Judge McFarland to be both qualified and recommended for circuit judge. Her opponent was rated as not qualified for the position. He was also not recommended for election.
Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister of Finance, says the government will continue to implement programmes that seek to enhance the skills and welfare of workers.



He said, we are ensuring skills development that meets the demands of the Ghanaian labour market and promotes decent work.



Mr Ofori-Atta was speaking at the launch of the training and retraining programme component of the National Unemployment Insurance Scheme (NUIS) under Ghana Cares Obaatanpa Programme in Accra.



The programme aimed at preserving and upgrading the human capital and skills of the current cohort of workers, who lost their employment because of the pandemic. It is intended to facilitate their re-entry into productive employment at higher levels of performance.



The Programme will be implemented in two phases, the first phase of the Programme will cover workers in the sectors that were mostly affected by the pandemic, namely the Private Education Sector and the Tourism and Hospitality Sector.



The second phase of the Training and Retraining Programme will cover other sectors of the economy with emphasis on vocational and technical training.



The training and re-training programme is focused on skills upgrading, work ethics, productivity, and attitudinal change.



The Minister said the governments resolve to invest in the people of Ghana, particularly the youth, had been adequately matched with the implementation of programmes that ensure strategic workforce development, including interventions to enhance employability and improve productivity.



He said even under difficult times, when the economy was facing challenges largely on account of global shocks and domestic developments, we prioritise the Programme as we believe the medium to long term benefits are enormous for the worker output enhancement for the economy.



Mr Ofori-Atta said an implementation Committee with membership from the Government, Organised Labour, and Employers had been constituted to see to the effective implementation of the Programme.



The Minister said Programme was developed through extensive consultations between the government and key stakeholders comprising representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Employment & Labour Relations.



Others are Organised Labour and Ghana Employers Association and other stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Tourism Authority, Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Ghana National Association of Private Schools, Ghana National Council of Private Schools, and Ghana Tourism Federation.



He said the government was funding the cost of the training and retraining programme by paying the fees of workers, who enroll in the Programme.



Dr Patrick Nomo, the Chairman of NUIS and Training and Re-training Programme, said Re-Skilling, Training and Retraining was essential to building and sustaining competencies for the ever-changing labour market.



He said the outbreak of the COVID-19 in 2020 led to massive job losses and under-employment globally and domestically, which necessitated the need for government to establish a NUIS with a training and retraining component to support workers, who involuntarily become unemployed.



He said the government, together with Social Partners, was partnering with credible service providers to roll out the first phase of the Training and Retraining Programme to eligible beneficiary workers in the Tourism and Hospitality Sector and the Private Education Sector.



Dr Nomo, who is also the Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance, said they had made great strides towards the implementation of the programme.



The team tasked to oversee the implementation of the programme has over the past year engaged relevant stakeholders in the two sectors and relevant course modules and all the other processes for the roll-out of the Programme have been completed.



Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, said going forward the government would expand the programme to include more sectors.



I believe that if we are able to implement this programme successfully, unemployment will be a thing of the past, he added.



Dr Yaw Baah, the Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, commended the government and the social partners for the initiative.







Source: GNA









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The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) have attributed the surge in local COVID-19 infections to the high vaccine hesitancy and abandonment of the safety protocol.



Active local COVID-19 cases that reduced to 20 a few months ago rose to 1,064 as of June 13, 2022, and to 1,255 as of yesterday[June 21, 2022], with eight severe cases and one critical case.



At a joint news conference in Accra yesterday by the two associations on their perspectives on vaccine hesitancy, the President of the GMA, Dr Frank Serebour, said the observance of the safety protocol and the vaccination had been the combined game changer and the foundation for the successes in controlling COVID-19 infections in the country.



That, however, was being threatened by vaccine hesitancy and non-adherence to the safety protocols, he said.



Dr Serebour underscored the need for the public to return to strict adherence to the safety protocol, particularly the wearing of face masks in crowded places or enclosed places with other occupants.



He also appealed to persons eligible for COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses to get the jabs.



He reiterated that the vaccines deployed locally and internationally were safe and effective, providing adequate but varying levels of protection.



That is the only way to keep the pandemic abated, prevent a fifth wave and a possible return to COVID-19 restrictions, he stressed.



Hesitancy data

Dr Serebour bemoaned the high percentage of vaccine hesitancy among health workers, in particular, saying it had a ripple effect on the public.



COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy remains a challenge for vaccine uptake in Ghana despite some gains made. The partnership for evidence-based response to COVID-19 report puts the overall vaccine hesitancy in Ghana at an average of 30 per cent, with people under 25 years leading the hesitancy score.



Data from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) also indicates that 35 districts out of the 260 have less than 25 per cent of the eligible population vaccinated for COVID-19.



Among health workers, it is estimated that 40 per cent have not received the second doses of vaccination, and less than one per cent have received booster doses.



We see these developments as worrying, especially concerning health workers. This is because health workers, particularly doctors, nurses and midwives, are not only on the frontline of care, but remain the most trusted sources of information and access to vaccination, he said.



Action

Dr Serebour said for that reason, the GMA, GRNMA and the Health Promotion Division of the GHS had come together to address the vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers and the public.



He said they planned to transform about 2,000 health workers into vaccination champions and build their capacity in risk communication and community engagement to address issues of disinformation and misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccination.



We also will be collecting data on the reasons underpinning hesitancy among health workers to understand and address the concerns and misunderstandings that exist, he said.



The President of the GRNMA, Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, called on stakeholders, especially the media, traditional and religious leaders, and youth groups to encourage and advocate vaccine uptake.



Health promotion

The Director of the Health Promotion Division of the GHS, Dr Dacosta Aboagye, said the GHS, in partnership with key stakeholders, was increasing public education on vaccine uptake and the safety protocols.



He said if the public failed to get vaccinated and to adhere to the safety protocol and cases continued to surge, the state could be forced to impose restrictions.



We beg you to get vaccinated. The disease is still with us. We appeal to the media to sustain their public education drive, he said.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is in Brussels, Belgium, to attend the 15th Edition of the European Development Days (EDD) Forum.



The Communications Director at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, in a statement, said the President, who left the country last Sunday, would also attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda, from tomorrow.



Speaker



President Akufo-Addo is one of 11 leaders who will be speaking at the opening ceremony of the EDD Forum.



Organised by the European Commission, the forum brings key actors together to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the worlds most pressing challenges.



For its 15th edition, the EDD will focus on Global Gateway: Building sustainable partnerships for a connected world.



Global Gateway is the new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport and strengthen health, educational and research systems across the world.



Kigali



The statement added that President Akufo-Addo would travel to Kigali, the Rwandan capital, tomorrow to attend the 2022 CHOGM.



Commonwealth leaders are traveling to Rwanda to reaffirm their common values and agree actions and policies to improve the lives of all their citizens, it said.



In Kigali, the President would also attend the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of an mRNA vaccine factory.



BioNTech is setting up modular turnkey mRNA vaccine facilities to produce the vaccine in Rwanda and Senegal, with a fill-and-finish collaboration in Ghana as well.



Delegation



The President was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and officials from the Presidency and the Foreign Affairs Ministry.



President Akufo-Addo will return to Ghana on Saturday, June 25, and in his absence, the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, shall act in his stead.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Abbott Laboratories plans to open a new office in the Willis Tower skyscraper downtown, the company confirmed Tuesday.

The leased space will accommodate as many as 450 workers, and is expected to open in the second half of 2023, spokesman Scott Stoffel said in an email.

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People walk through the lobby of Willis Tower near the Jackson Boulevard entrance on March 15, 2022. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

The companys headquarters will remain in Lake County, where it currently has a sprawling campus.

The new office will make it possible for some current and future employees who live in the city to work closer to home, Stoffel said.

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The move comes as downtown office vacancies remain high, with many companies requiring workers to return to offices only a few days a week or not at all.

We believe that Abbott does its best work when our employees can collaborate in person, he said. It allows for increased innovation, relationship building and skills development. At the same time we want to continue to make it easier for more colleagues to balance their lives effectively and weve listened closely to feedback from employees about how Abbott can help them do so through a range of flexible work options.

Abbott makes diagnostic tests, such as at-home BinaxNOW COVID-19 tests as well as medical devices and nutritional products. The company has come under fire in recent months after a recall of formulas made at its Sturgis, Michigan, plant exacerbated a nationwide shortage of infant formula.
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As part of efforts to mark this years ResponsibAll Day in Ghana, Pernod Ricard, No.2 worldwide producer of Wines and Spirits, in partnership with A Rocha Ghana, has planted 2400 trees to help restore a degraded mining lands site at Sagyimase, next the Atewa Forest, in the Eastern Region.



ResponsibAll Day is a day set aside each year by the Pernod Ricard group, for its workers globally, to engage in an activity that is dedicated to its Sustainability & Responsibility 2030 roadmap Good Times from a Good Place, and to have a real impact in the community.



This years ResponsibAll Day commemorated under the theme, Helping to Protect and Restore Nature and Biodiversity, saw the Pernod Ricard Ghana team plant trees to help restore the deteriorated former galamsey site into normalcy.



Commenting on the restoration and tree planting exercise, Sustainability and Responsibility Manager for Pernod Ricard Ghana and Western Africa, Eunice Osei-Tutu, said move to plant trees was based on one of the four pillars of the companys 2030 roadmap dubbed Nurturing Terroirs.



She noted that the exercise directly supported the United Nations SDGs 13, 15 and 17.



Our 2030 sustainability and responsibility roadmap has four pillars. The first one is Nurturing Terroirs, referring to all the sustainability actions that we take around nature and the environment. Todays project is under this pillar. In manufacturing our icon products, we use over a hundred ingredients that we source from over 65 countries worldwide and all these ingredients depend on a florishing ecosystem to continue to thrive, she explained.



She added For our business to continue to be sustainable, we need to ensure that all those terroirs are nurtured and of course, we humans depend on these terroirs to continue to live and so that is why this year, that theme was chosen.



According to Madam Osei-Tutu, the total target for the tree planting exercise was twelve and a half acres of which nine and a half acres have already been leveled with different species of plants planted on the land.

She further noted that Pernod Ricard is committed to ensuring that the tree-planting project is sustained to fulfill its intended purpose. Thus, A Rocha Ghana, partner of the project, will continue to survey the land, maintain the plants and replant dead plants when necessary.



This is a former mine site, so no edible crop should be grown on it for at least 10 years. We are going to monitor these trees for at least the next 10 years to ensure the land has been fully restored to its normalcy before any farming activity can continue on it. Our job with A Rocha doesnt end here, it is going to continue to ensure that these trees are properly managed and nurtured.



For his part, Deputy National Director of A Roche Ghana, Daryl Bosu, commended Pernod Ricard Ghana for taking an initiative to help protect and restore nature.



I believe it is a good initiative and we encourage all to support that. As you know, some of these sites have become toxic prone and also dangerous for most communities and the government is looking for the ways and resources to restore them. I believe that if we can have more companies owning up to do things like Pernod Ricard, we are going to see a lot more improvement, he said.



He added that if we dont restore this site, farmers will come here again and try to plant crops and in no time all the chemicals in the land will find its way into our food chain.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Ghana National Gas Company has debunked claims that its outfit is biased and not committed to the implementation of developmental projects in the western region.



This comes at the back of some claims made by Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, the member of parliament for Ellembelle in the western region.



Kofi Buah's Claims



Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, in an interview last week refuted claims by the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) that it has pitched many projects in the Western Region.



According to the former Minister for Energy and Petroleum, he, and other MPs (Member of Parliament) in the Nzema area were not against dotting of projects by Ghana National Gas Company across the country but were concerned about the Corporate Social Responsibility of the Company in the seven operating Districts in the Western Region.



Ghana Gas Rebuttal



Reacting to his claims at a press conference in Accra, Mr. Ernest Owusu Bempah, the head of corporate affairs at Ghana Gas Company said residents particularly in the Nzema area in the western region have benefitted greatly from the company's operations.



In terms of social, development and institutional support, Ghana gas has supported district assemblies as well as rehabilitation of primary and secondary schools and also providing educational infrastructure, renovating hospitals, organizing training and giving scholarships in the Axim area and many others, he disclosed.



He further added that Ghana gas as a state-owned institution remains committed to ensuring that development is paramount in all their corporate social responsibilities to help bring a change in society and improve communities.





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.

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The government has launched the Training and Retraining component of the National Unemployment Insurance Scheme (NUIS) to equip 15,000 Ghanaians with employable skills.



The initiative, under the Ghana Cares 'Obaatanpa' programme, is to serve as a mitigating measure for unexpected future events that may disrupt employment in the country.



It is designed to focus on skills upgrading, work ethics, productivity and attitudinal change to boost workers prospects for re-entry into the labour market at higher levels of productivity or performance.



Implementation committee



At the launch in Accra yesterday,the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, said an implementation committee, with membership from the government, organised labour, and employers, had been constituted to see to the effective implementation of the programme.



He said the government would pay the fees of workers who enrolled in the programme.



"After todays launch, advertisements will be placed in the daily newspapers to call for applications for the programme. We encourage all eligible beneficiaries across the country to apply," he said.



The programme, he said, was aimed at preserving and upgrading the human capital and skills of the current cohort workers who lost their employment because of the COVID-19 pandemic.



It will be implemented through collaboration between the government and selected public and private training institutions across the country.



Pledge



Mr Ken Ofori Atta said the government, in the 2020 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review, announced the establishment of a National Unemployment Insurance Scheme (NUIS) and a Training and Retraining Programme as part of the Obaatan Pa GhanaCARES Programme as part of measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on households, firms, and the economy.





He said the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic devastated economies around the world impacting thousands of lives and livelihoods.



"A major outcome of the pandemic was the unprecedented levels of unemployment and joblessness recorded. While Ghana largely avoided serious health ramifications, including public sector job losses, private sector jobs were lost and to date, there are still unique set of socioeconomic challenges to overcome," he said.



Collaboration



Mr Ofori-Atta explained that the programme was developed through extensive consultations between government and key stakeholders comprising representatives from the Ministry Finance, the Ministry of Employment & Labour Relations, Organised Labour and Ghana Employers Association and other stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ghana Education Service and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA).



Other institutions included the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS), Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS), and Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF).



Phases



He said the programme would be implemented in two phases with the first covering workers in the sectors that were mostly affected by the pandemic, the private education sector and the tourism and hospitality sector.



The second phase, he said, would cover other sectors of the economy with emphasis on vocational and technical training.



Mr Ofori-Atta explained that beneficiaries who enrolled in the programme had two options.



He said the first option was for workers who had the requirement and capacity to pursue existing academic programme or courses available in the various training institutions.



These existing courses are adjusted with add-ons that address the issues of work ethics, productivity and attitudinal change and they are of longer duration, usually between six and 12 months," he said.



The second option, he said, was the core competency-based training programmes primarily for workers who did not have the capacity nor the time to pursue long duration academic courses.



Game changer



The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, said the initiative would help bring calm on the labour front as it would provide hope for people who lost their jobs during the pandemic.



He called on the public, especially the youth, to take advantage of the programme to help ensure the security of their jobs.



Opportunities



The Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr Anthony Yaw Baah, expressed excitement about the initiative and said the labour front had been expecting the launch of the programme since it was first announced two years ago.



I think this will give opportunities to those who lost their jobs during COVID-19 and I think many people will take the opportunity to develop their skills so it's like turning the challenge into opportunity," he said.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A thief who broke into the auditorium of the Church of Pentecost-English Assembly in the Bogoso District of the Western Region left a touching note after successfully completing his mission.



The unknown thief made away with two amplifiers, a drive, and other valuables after members had closed from evening service.



Report available to 3news.com indicates that members of the church returned the following day only to realize that the auditorium has been ransacked. A note written in red ink had been left by the thief.



He is asking for the blessings of God.



According to the note, it is only Jesus who assisted a thief on the cross.



The action of the thief has since left many members of the church in a state of shock.



Presiding Elder of the church, Samuel Kumi, who confirmed the news, added that the Bogoso Police Command has officially launched investigations that could lead to the arrest of the thief.



The church has also made arrangements to employ the services of a security guard to avoid future occurrences.

Source: 3news









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A total of 1,140 people have died through road accidents, while 6,620 others sustained various degrees of injuries, between January and May this year.

Thus, on average, accidents have claimed more than four lives a day within the five-month period.



According to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), in all, there were 6,472 road crashes involving 10,858 vehicles within the period under review, a 4.67 per cent reduction in figures over the same period last year when there were 6,789 accidents.



The acting Director-General of the NRSA, David Osafo Adonteng, who disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra, said although the figures represented a marginal reduction in accidents, there was still concern over the number of precious lives that were lost to road crashes.



Regional figures

According to the NRSA, the Greater Accra Region recorded the highest number of accidents registering 2,735, with the Ashanti and the Eastern regions registering 1,496 and 709, respectively.



The Central and the Western regions recorded 448 and 305 crashes, respectively, resulting in 96 and 52 deaths, in that order.



Figures for the Volta, Western North and Bono East regions were 160, 98, and 95, leading to 44, 49 and 56 deaths, respectively.



The Ahafo, Northern and Bono regions recorded 84, 75 and 66 crashes, respectively, with 36, 42 and 34 deaths, in that order.



The Upper East, Upper West and Savannah regions had 61, 44 and 42 accidents, with 19, 22 and 21 deaths, respectively, while the North East and the Oti regions registered the lowest numbers of 31 and 23 crashes, respectively, with 14 and 20 deaths, in that order.



Campaign

Mr Adonteng attributed the decrease in the number of crashes to public educational campaigns  Arrive Alive and Stay Alive  which were launched in 2020 and 2021.



He said that although the number of fatalities was alarming, the decrease in accidents was significant, adding: It is motivating us and strengthening our thoughts that if we do it collectively, comprehensively and vigorously, we will get the intended result of reducing road crashes.



Mr Adonteng said the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, through the Police Action Against Rider Indiscipline (Operation PAARI) and the Public Invisible Eye (PIE) traffic operations, also contributed to the reduction in the numbers.



"Drivers were advised and educated on the dangers of road indiscipline, and we can all see the impact it has made, he said.



He said his outfit and other stakeholders would ensure the campaign was not only intensified but also sustained to ensure that motorists adhered to road traffic regulations and standards at all times.



The campaign is still on; we are campaigning every day on radio and television, including our outreach teams spread across the country moving and engaging the public," he added.



Mr Adonteng also said the NRSA intended to install lollipop stands in schools across the country by September this year to aid children in crossing roads to prevent pedestrian knockdowns.



Breakdown vehicles

He also stressed the issue of the leaving of breakdown vehicles on roads and gave an assurance that measures were being put in place to clear such vehicles from the roads, since they had been identified as one of the causes of accidents.



He called on all  the media, civil society organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders  to support the NRSA to effectively carry out its mandate of saving lives and property.



"One institution cannot do everything; it is a collective responsibility and national call. The NRSA is just the lead in this campaign, but it behooves us all to come on board and kick out road crashes from the country," Mr Adonteng said.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), a Catholic womens society, has marked its 75th-anniversary celebration with the planting of trees at Samsam in the Eastern Region.

The tree planting exercise, which was carried out ahead of the nationwide Green Ghana project, was in support of the governments effort to improve the vegetation cover across the country.



Over six hundred trees of five different species  teak, cassia, mahogany, coconut and cashew  were provided by the Amasaman Forestry Commission for the exercise.



The SSpS, an international women religious congregation of the Catholic Church, has contributed to the socio-economic growth of the country.



Some of the important institutions the group has founded include St Marys Senior High School at Korle Gonno, St Theresa School at Kaneshie and Christ the King School, Cantonments, all in Accra.



The SSpS sisters pledged their support to any initiative of government geared towards making the country eco-friendly.



The nuns believe that it is the responsibility of every one to join hands in restoring the earth to its original green state.



Role of trees

The District Manager of the Amasaman Forestry Commission, George Osei, explained that it was only trees that could effectively absorb carbon dioxide in the air, adding that one important response to the climate change issue was tree planting.



The Chief Ranger of the Amasaman Forestry District, Janet Boateng, announced that 25 million tree-seedlings were being planted in the Greater Accra alone this year for the Green Ghana project, dubbed "Mobilising for a Greener Future".



The seedlings, she noted, had been given to stakeholders, schools, institutions, churches and individuals who would supervise the growth of those seedlings and replace those that were dying.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dmitry Muratov, an award-winning Russian journalist has raised more than $100 million for Ukrainian children by auctioning off his Nobel Peace Prize.



Muratov who was awarded the gold medal in October 2021, having helped found the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, smashed the record for the highest sum paid for the medal last night in New York City. He raised $103.5 million (84.5 million), a sum 27 times higher than the old record set eight years ago.



The journalist will be giving the money to Ukrainian child refugees to give them a chance for a future. Proceeds from the auction will go directly to UNICEF in its efforts to help children displaced by the war.



Ahead of the auction, Mr Muratov said he was particularly concerned about children who have been orphaned because of the conflict in Ukraine. We want to return their future, he said.



Previously, the most ever paid for a Nobel Prize medal was in 2014, when James Watson, whose co-discovery of the structure of DNA earned him a Nobel Prize in 1962, sold his medal for $4.76 million (3.9 million).



Melted down, the 175 grams of 23-karat gold contained in the medal would be worth about $10,000 (8,156) alone.

Mr Muratov has been highly critical of Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea and the war launched in February. It has caused nearly five million Ukrainians to flee their country, creating the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II. UNICEF estimated back in March that 2 million children had been among those forced to flee.









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National Cathedral Board of Trustees Member and Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, has asserted that no woman should condone domestic abuse.



She believes the act is unacceptable and that woman doesnt deserves to go through such pain and humiliation.



Speaking to Eunice Tornyi on e.TV Ghanas African Womens Voices, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, said First and foremost you should report this to your parents and if it gets too violent report it to the police because there has to be some restraint if youre being beaten because no woman should accept domestic violence.



According to her, woman is prone to take it likely the first time it happens as they may probably think the man is too angry but if it happens twice and thrice they should not accept it for the sake of their health and for the sake of the man.



If you continue to accept it one day if he beats you and kills you he becomes a murderer, so do not accept it. Also, I think that the church is now taking these things seriously and I know other female organized institutions who are even making room for domestically abused wives to move away from the home to a shelter where they are provided with care and so on she said.



The woman of God further noted, if the marriage is dealt with and later the woman goes home after counseling, the man also needs to be helped to overcome the anger problem that makes him violent.



Citing the late Nigerian gospel musician Osinachi who lost her life as result of domestic violence from her husband, Dr. Aryeestated that, it became such a big issue to the extent that now a lot of people here in Ghana who are suffering from it are coming out to seek help.



So its a good thing her case became such a major issue and that it was located even in the church. So I think God wants us to deal with it and thats why he brought it out because if he didnt it wouldnt have become a church matter and I dont think we should accept it she emphasized.





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.

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The former president John Agyekum Kufuor has described the Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as a true son.



He also said one of the virtues of Bawumia is loyalty, which makes him stand out among his contemporaries.

Speaking at an event over the weekend to mark fathers day in the Eastern Region, Kufuor said Bawumia has become like a son to him ever since he became a politician.



Let me single out one person; he is also a father, but I can claim that he happens to be my son too, and thats the Vice-President sitting right by me, the 83-year-old said. In your narration, you said when the planners decided to invite the Vice-President, you learnt he had gone to the North for some duties, and you even doubted whether he would manage to come.



But you phoned him, and with his signature giggling, he said if its JA Kufuor, Im coming. Thats so touching, very touching, but probably thats how a son should behave towards a father. Sheer coincidence, but you may not know that I started being a father in 1963, and that happened to be the year the Vice-President was born.



Weve related so beautifully. It is not just for this occasion, but once I noticed him, he became like a son. And he behaves like a true son, very loyal. So, when I heard the narration that when you phoned him, he said if its Kufuor Im coming, I pray for the Vice President, may God bless him, Kufuor said.









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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This is a display of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereal at a Costco Warehouse in Homestead, Pa, on Thursday, May 14, 2020. Kellogg's announced Tuesday that it is splitting into three companies: a cereal maker, a snack maker and a plant-based food company. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Kellogg Company announced plans to split up Tuesday, saying it will spin itself off into three separate companies focused on cereal, plant-based foods and snacks. The snacks company will be headquartered in Chicago, the company said in a news release, with campuses in both the city and Battle Creek, Michigan.

The news comes a week after Caterpillar, the mining and construction equipment maker, announced plans to move its corporate headquarters from Deerfield to Irving, Texas, and less than two months after Boeing said it plans to move its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia.

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The Chicago corporate headquarters will be located at 412 N. Wells St., where Kelloggs offices are already located. The company also has offices in Naperville and currently employs more than 300 people in the Chicago area.

Kelloggs snacks division, which includes brands such as Pringles and Rice Krispies Treats, accounted for 80% of Kelloggs net sales in 2021, the company said. The cereal and plant-based companies, which together accounted for 20% of net sales, will be headquartered in Battle Creek. All three companies will be publicly traded. Names for each company have not yet been announced.

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These businesses all have significant stand-alone potential, and an enhanced focus will enable them to better direct their resources toward their distinct strategic priorities, Kellogg chairman and CEO Steve Cahillane said in a statement.

In turn, each business is expected to create more value for all stakeholders, and each is well positioned to build a new era of innovation and growth.

In a tweet Tuesday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she had spoken with Cahillane and was thrilled the snack companys headquarters would be in its existing Chicago offices around the end of 2023.

In an interview, Cahillane said Kelloggs footprint in Chicago, the citys infrastructure for international travel and its food innovation culture all came into play when deciding where the snack companys corporate headquarters would be located.

He said that as of now, the company will not require employees to relocate.

After 18 months, when the businesses are up and operating and new people are joining the organization, theres a very real likelihood that they would want to be located in Chicago, he said.

[ As cost of groceries rises, food pantries across Chicago see increased demand. It has just not stopped. ]

Michael Fassnacht, CEO of World Business Chicago, the citys public-private economic development agency, echoed Cahillanes comments on the city as a center of food innovation.

It just reconfirms Chicagos position as the global capital of food innovation, he said. I think its the result of all of our focus on food and (agriculture). Its one of our key industry sectors.

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Over the past five years, the number of food- or agriculture-related companies headquartered in Chicago has risen from fewer than 100 to more than 400, Fassnacht said.

The new headquarters could have ripple effects in the industry, Fassnacht said, encouraging more Chicago companies and jobs.

A key benefit companies bring to a city or state is jobs, and the location of a corporate headquarters doesnt always translate into a large number of roles, said Harry Kraemer, a clinical professor of management and organizations at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and former CEO of Baxter International. He noted that Kellogg already has an office in Chicago.

But he agreed with Fassnacht that the relocation of the snack companys headquarters to the city could have positive ripple effects on other companies.

It isnt so much the direct impact of what they do, but the potential signal that brings to other people who are trying to figure out what to do, he said.

By the same token, he said, the departures of Boeing and Caterpillar are not expected to mean the loss of thousands of jobs in Illinois, but they might make other companies think twice about moving to Illinois.

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[ With many firms bringing employees back just two days a week, downtown restaurants are feeling the pinch ]

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Fassnacht said the departures of Caterpillar and Boeing dont represent a trend of corporate departures from Chicago and Illinois, but rather exceptions that reflect decisions specific to those companies.

We had a lot of wins, and we also had some losses, Fassnacht said. Boeing, and Caterpillar, was not welcome news. But in totality I think this year looks like a very strong year, and todays Kellogg news shows that.

Fassnacht said no city tax incentives were given to draw the snacks company, and he was not aware of any state incentives. Spokespeople for Lightfoot and Governor J.B. Pritzkers offices did not immediately respond to questions about whether there were any incentives.

Kellogg shares climbed more than 2% in market trading on Tuesday.

Cahillane will remain chairman and CEO of the snacks company, which had an estimated net sales of $11.4 billion last year, Kellogg said. The company said the management teams for the plant-based and cereal spin offs would be announced at a later date.

Cahillane said that going forward, the snacks company will continue to innovate around its big brands. Acquisitions will be part of the companys strategy, he said. Pointing to the companys introduction of Cheez-Its to Canada and Brazil, Cahillane said the company would be looking for more and more opportunities for international expansion of its large U.S. brands.

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The Associated Press contributed.

tasoglin@chicagotribune.com

sfreishtat@chicagotribune.com
Residents of Assin Aboabo Camp has debunked a malicious news item targeted at the Deputy Education Minister, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour purporting that he has abandoned his constituents.



Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, who doubles as Member of Parliament for Assin South constituency, is also said to have failed to construct better roads for them.



But a rebuttal by the Aboabo Camp residents highlights that the MP cum Deputy Minister's interaction with the constituents is superb.



According to the residents, he has been making frequent visits to his people and on the issue of the road network at the constituency, he has an impeccable record.



"The road construction record of our Member of Parliament in the Constituency remains the best since independence. Currently, a total of 120km of various roads are being sealed with bituminous surfacing across the constituency.



"...it is a palpable falsehood to contend that MP has not been visiting the constituency since he was voted for by the good people of the Assin South Constituency. Our MP is always with us and regularly visits our communities. As a matter of record, his most recent visit to the constituency was on Friday, 17 June to Sunday 19 June 2022 when he visited flood victims and flood points on ongoing road projects. Upon his visit, he took urgent action to get Departmentof Feeder Roads and contractors to fix critical culverts as a matter of urgency", portions of a statement by the residents read.



Read full statement below:



OUR MP IS THE BEST SO FAR: ASSIN ABOABO CAMP RESIDENTS COMMEND HON NTIM FORDJOUR



The attention of Aboabo Camp residents and communities within the electoral area has been drawn to a malicious news item on Ghanaweb.com purported to have orginated from an Angelonline.com.gh source on Sunday 19 June 2022.



In the said publication, several inaccurate information has been made and it is imperative to speak to the fact to debunk the falsehood and conjectures which have been spread by the writer.



Contrary to the allegations against our erudite hardworking Member of Parliament Rev John Ntim Fordjour who doubles as Deputy Minister for Education, we sharply refute those allegations without equivocation.



The road construction record of our Member of Parliament in the Constituency remains the best since independence. Currently, a total of 120km of various roads are being sealed with bituminous surfacing across the constituency.



First of all, it is a palpable falsehood to contend that MP has not been visiting the constituency since he was voted for by the good people of the Assin South Constituency. Our MP is always with us and regularly visits our communities. As a matter of record, his most recent visit to the constituency was on Friday, 17 June to Sunday 19 June 2022 when he visited flood victims and flood points on ongoing road projects. Upon his visit, he took urgent action to get Departmentof Feeder Roads and contractors to fix critical culverts as a matter of urgency.



Specifically on February, 4th 2022 on a tour, the MP and his entourage went to the Aboabo camp enclave where he visited these communities; Brahabebome, Aboabo Camp, Nyamebekyere, Dwinase, Jerusalem Ningo, Akweteykrom No2 and Nkwantanan. At Brahabebome, the MP inspected the completion of installed street solar lights under the MPs operation to brighten your corner program.



Also at Akweteykrom No. 2, the MP inspected the completion of a three units classroom block that hitherto was not available and posed a serious academic problem for the student in other adjoining communities and hampered teaching and learning. My first day at school was celebrated with educational items shared with students.



It is also a grieving act of mischief for anyone to suggest that the road network in the Aboabo camp is left unattended to. As we speak, the 32km Bitumen surfacing road from Twifo Praso to Assin Adiembra is currently ongoing. That stretch involves communities within the Aboabo camp enclave. It is therefore surprising to learn from the publication that that stretch of the road is in poor condition and abandoned.



It is the first time in many years these roads in that area is receiving such a major surface lift. And it is only appropriate to commend the efforts of the hard working Honorable Member of parliament who also doubles as the Deputy Education Minister, Rev John Ntim Fordjour for the many interventions being rolled out under his tenure to ensure the development of the Assin South Constituency.



We wish to set the records straight and urge the general public to disregard any such mischievous publication that casts a slurr on the impeccable record of our hardworking selfless MP Hon Rev Ntim Fordjour who is our best MP so far.

Record

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has reacted to claims by the National Cathedral Secretariat that the project is registered as a state-owned company.



The National Cathedral Secretariat in a statement on Friday, June 17 said In his first official announcement on the project on March 6, 2017 the President underscored the nature of the project as a national cathedral for interdenominational worship services for the nation.



Subsequent elaborations, led to three main reasons as the rationale for the project, namely i) gesture of thanksgiving ii) symbol of the Christian presence and contributions to the nation, and iii) a personal pledge to God. Of these three reasons, the personal pledge came to be associated with the Cathedral as a private project that needed to be developed without state support".



For the avoidance of doubt, the National Cathedral is a National Monument, and thus a public, not private, project. Legally, the National Cathedral of Ghana is a state-owned company limited by guarantee, and was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1963 (Act 179) on July 18, 2019. We hope this brings to a closure the seemingly vexatious issue of whether the National Cathedral is a private or public initiative. The National Cathedral is a National Monument and Asset, and not a Private project. It is, however being developed in partnership between the state and the church, the Secretariat added.



But in a comment on his Facebook page, the ranking member of Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee said Incorporation documents I have obtained from the Registrar General exposes another false claim contained in the 7-page June 17, 2022 press release by the National Cathedral Secretariat and signed by Executive Director, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah".



Consequently, the North Tongu MP has tasked Christians to embark on 40-day fasting and prayer to purge President Nana Akufo-Addo of what he describes as a cathedral of lies.



Another troubling falsehood we have detected is that even though the June 17 press release claims that the National Cathedral of Ghana is a state-owned company and thus a public and not a private entity, the incorporation documents in our possession reveals rather curiously that the National Cathedral of Ghana is registered as PRIVATE (see evidence attached).



The list of falsehoods, misrepresentations, opacity, lawlessness and blatant corruption associated with this cathedral project is now a bottomless pit.



Christians in Ghana may have to declare a 40-day intense fasting and prayer to purge and rescue Akufo-Addos drowning cathedral of lies, he wrote.





Read the full post below



Akufo-Addos Cathedral continues to drown in a sea of naked lies.



Incorporation documents I have obtained from the Registrar General exposes another false claim contained in the 7-page June 17, 2022 press release by the National Cathedral Secretariat and signed by Executive Director, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah.



Contrary to the information provided in the said press statement (see page 5) and on the Nicodemusly updated national cathedral website (after we exposed the Pastor Otabil deception), to the effect that all the Board of Trustees have been registered as Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana; we note surprisingly, that the venerable Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, Presiding Bishop of the Lighthouse Group of Churches and the esteemed Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo, Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church were not registered as directors on the incorporation date of 18th July, 2019.



The two revered clergymen have at all material times been clearly left out, and substituted with the following names: Samuel Antwi and Kingsley Ofosu Ntiamoah.



Why then is the National Cathedral Secretariat misleading the Ghanaian public and the world that all the published trustees are registered as directors?



One wonders if Bishop Dag Heward-Mills and Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo are aware that despite the public misrepresentations, their names have been patently omitted from the list of eminent registered directors?



Another troubling falsehood we have detected is that even though the June 17 press release claims that the National Cathedral of Ghana is a state-owned company and thus a public and not a private entity, the incorporation documents in our possession reveals rather curiously that the National Cathedral of Ghana is registered as PRIVATE (see evidence attached).



The list of falsehoods, misrepresentations, opacity, lawlessness and blatant corruption associated with this cathedral project is now a bottomless pit.



Christians in Ghana may have to declare a 40-day intense fasting and prayer to purge and rescue Akufo-Addos drowning cathedral of lies.









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.

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Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said the National Cathedral project continues to drown in a sea of naked lies.



According to the MP, "Incorporation documents I have obtained from the Registrar General exposes another false claim contained in the 7-page June 17, 2022 press release by the National Cathedral Secretariat and signed by Executive Director, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah.



Contrary to the information provided in the said press statement (see page 5) and on the Nicodemusly updated national cathedral website (after we exposed the Pastor Otabil deception), to the effect that all the Board of Trustees have been registered as Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana; we note surprisingly, that the venerable Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, Presiding Bishop of the Lighthouse Group of Churches and the esteemed Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo, Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church were not registered as directors on the incorporation date of 18th July, 2019.



The two revered clergymen have at all material times been clearly left out, and substituted with the following names: Samuel Antwi and Kingsley Ofosu Ntiamoah.



Why then is the National Cathedral Secretariat misleading the Ghanaian public and the world that all the published trustees are registered as directors?"



In a Facebook post, Ablakwa said The list of falsehoods, misrepresentations, opacity, lawlessness and blatant corruption associated with this cathedral project is now a bottomless pit".



Christians in Ghana may have to declare a 40-day intense fasting and prayer to purge and rescue Akufo-Addos drowning cathedral of lies, Mr. Ablakwa wrote on his Facebook wall.



Read the full post below



Akufo-Addos Cathedral continues to drown in a sea of naked lies.



Incorporation documents I have obtained from the Registrar General exposes another false claim contained in the 7-page June 17, 2022 press release by the National Cathedral Secretariat and signed by Executive Director, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah.



Contrary to the information provided in the said press statement (see page 5) and on the Nicodemusly updated national cathedral website (after we exposed the Pastor Otabil deception), to the effect that all the Board of Trustees have been registered as Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana; we note surprisingly, that the venerable Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, Presiding Bishop of the Lighthouse Group of Churches and the esteemed Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo, Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church were not registered as directors on the incorporation date of 18th July, 2019.



The two revered clergymen have at all material times been clearly left out, and substituted with the following names: Samuel Antwi and Kingsley Ofosu Ntiamoah.



Why then is the National Cathedral Secretariat misleading the Ghanaian public and the world that all the published trustees are registered as directors?



One wonders if Bishop Dag Heward-Mills and Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo are aware that despite the public misrepresentations, their names have been patently omitted from the list of eminent registered directors?

Another troubling falsehood we have detected is that even though the June 17 press release claims that the National Cathedral of Ghana is a state-owned company and thus a public and not a private entity, the incorporation documents in our possession reveals rather curiously that the National Cathedral of Ghana is registered as PRIVATE (see evidence attached).



The list of falsehoods, misrepresentations, opacity, lawlessness and blatant corruption associated with this cathedral project is now a bottomless pit.



Christians in Ghana may have to declare a 40-day intense fasting and prayer to purge and rescue Akufo-Addos drowning cathedral of lies.







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.

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Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko, a former Minister of Energy, has kicked against any future appointment under the Akufo-Addo-led government following his dismissal as a minister in August 2018.



His dismissal was linked to some negotiations he led regarding the controversial power purchase agreement between the government of Ghana and the Africa Middle East Resources Investment (AMERI).



According to him, he wants to use his time out of government to pursue his own presidential ambition.



Speaking on Asempa FMs Ekosii Sen show on Monday, June 20, Boakye Agyarko noted that he deserves to be Ghanas next president, which dream he is committing fully to, although many people kicked against it initially.



I am pursuing my own presidential ambition, for which a lot of people kicked against right from the beginning. I will not abandon it to go and do any other thing. Look, I am focused on what I have to do for myself and my nation. That is my focus. If you serve with all your strength and the person doesnt appreciate it, you move on.



If I cannot give something a hundred percent, I will not do it. My father once again taught me [that] things done by halves are never done right. If this [being the presidential candidate] is my focus, let me give my hundred percent. Whatever I do in life, I commit myself a hundred percent to not having a look-warm attitude. Im I not deserving of being the flagbearer of the NPP? the 66-year-old first Energy Minister under the Akufo-Addos government quizzed.



Background



In August 2018, Boakye Agyarko was dismissed by President Akufo-Addo following revelations that the renegotiated AMERI deal was fraught with corruption.



President Akufo-Addo has asked Mr Boakye Agyarko to hand over his office to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr John Peter Amewu, who will act temporarily as Minister of Energy, until a substantive appointment is made.



The President wishes Mr Boakye Agyarko well in his future endeavours, this was contained in the letter issued to sack Boakye Agyarko.



With President Akufo-Addo completing his second 4-year mandate in 2024, many are lacing their boots to contest the NPPs upcoming presidential primaries.



Apart from Boakye Agyarko, Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Agric, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia are also said to be preparing to officially announce their bids to lead the NPP into the next election.

Comments

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.

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STORY: This rare albino Eurasian Otter was spotted in Iraq

Location: Balad, Iraq

Fisherman Nasser Latif pulled the animal

from the Tigris river in a fishing net

He posted a video of his find online

It attracted numerous purchase offers

MAHDI LAITH, HEAD OF MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, IRAQI GREEN CLIMATE ORGANIZATION:

"The price went up a lot, up to 50,000 or 75,000 USD for this animal. And we are really thanking the fisherman who fished this animal for refusing to accept these temptations and for preserving this animal without selling it, trading it, or without (allowing it to) exit Iraq's borders."

Latif says he is keeping the otter in

an enclosure by the riverbank

Experts are worried the animal could

be caught by others if released

Iraqs ministry of environment is

studying whether the otter should be

rehabilitated and released or

transferred to a zoo in Baghdad

"This animal faces many threats so we need to protect this animal as much as we can and put an end to the hunting and killing of these animals and protect them in Iraq's environment."
PAGGW National 30-m spatial resolution LPD Product. Credit: AIR

Chinese scientists released an online tool, the Great Green Wall Big Data Facilitator, to help African countries combat increasingly severe land degradation on June 16, the 28th World Day to Combat Desertification & Drought.

Land degradation is one of the most significant global ecological and environmental challenges. Africa is particularly vulnerable to land degradation and desertification, and it is the most severely affected region. "Up to 65 percent of productive land is degraded, while desertification affects 45 percent of Africa's land area," according to a report of FAO in 2021.

In the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (the UN 2030 Agenda), UN has described 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), among which SDG 15 proposes a prospect of "By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world."

To address the data gap in the global land degradation monitoring, a group of Chinese scientists led by Prof. Li Xiaosong from the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS) and the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in partnership with Beijing Normal University, Computer Network Information Center of CAS and Institute of Software of CAS, have developed a 30-meter Land Productivity Dynamics (LPD) calculation tool.

As the world's first 30-meter LPD calculation tool, it can realize the calculation of a 30-meter LPD within the specified global spatial range as well as time period, thereby providing important data support for global land degradation monitoring.

The calculation is built on the SDG Big Data Platform supported by CBAS, which was launched in Beijing in September 2021 to facilitate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda.

The "Great Green Wall" is an African-led initiative launched in 2007 with the goal to restore the continent's degraded landscapes and transform millions of lives in the Sahel. To support the development of "Great Green Wall," Chinese scientists use this tool to produce a 30-meter spatial resolution LPD product which covers an area of 9.34 million square kilometers in 11 member countries of the Pan Africa Agency of the Great Green Wall (PAGGW).

The spatiotemporal analysis result shows that from 2013 to 2020, for the PAGGW countries, the land with increasing productivity accounted for 16.25%, and the area with decreasing productivity accounted for 7.36% of the total area.

For the Sahel, the main target area of the Great Green Wall, the land with increasing productivity accounted for 8.45%, while the land with decreasing productivity accounting for 9.24% of the total area, which is not a promising prospect for the development of the Great Green Wall.

The LPD product presented on the Great Green Wall Big Data Facilitator can be used to track the progress of LDN of the target areas. In addition, the platform also provides a knowledge bank about prevention and control of land degradation, which is obtained from successful practices of China's efforts to combat land degradation in Northern China.

Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Secretary-General of the U.N. and Executive Secretary of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) applauded the launch of this online tool, saying that the results have the potential to facilitate the Great Green Wall of Africa in the future.

Explore further Image: Desert greenery
The illustrated forminifer species Uvigerina peregrina was recovered from a sample from Peruvian oxygen minimum zone in 2017. Credit: Jan Michels

In the context of climate change, the phenomenon of oxygen-depleted areas in the ocean has become a focus of scientific attention in recent years. These areas, known as oxygen minimum zones (OMZ), are located in the Indian Ocean or off the Peruvian coast in the Pacific, for example. Depending on water depth, little or no oxygen is found there.

In a new study, a transdisciplinary research team with the participation of Kiel University and GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel was able to gather previously unknown details about the origin and adaptation of certain unicellular organisms to these special environmental conditions and their influence on the marine nutrient cycle: Because their metabolism does not rely on oxygen, numerous species of foraminifera are found in the OMZ. These are unicellular, shell-forming microorganisms that already feature a cell nucleus and thus belong to the so-called eukaryotes.

Their special lifestyle is based on so-called anaerobic respiration or nitrate respiration, in which nitrate available in the water is converted into molecular nitrogen in the absence of oxygen. Nitrogen, as a basic nutrient of all living organisms, is no longer biologically available as a result of this process and is thus lost to the marine habitat. The research team led by Professor Tal Dagan of the Institute of General Microbiology at Kiel University has now been able to prove via genome analyses that the ability of nitrate respiration, still preserved in most foraminifera today, might have originated in a common predecessor around 100 million years ago.

Their analyses also showed that the foraminifera probably rely on bacterial support for a specific step in the process of nitrate respiration, also known as denitrification, and are therefore associated with certain symbiotic bacterial species. The Kiel researchers, who are active in the Kiel Evolution Center (KEC) and the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1182 Origin and Function of Metaorganisms, published their results together with international colleagues recently in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dr Christian Woehle (left) and Dr Joachim Schonfeld handling a multicorer during a sampling expedition in Kristineberg, Sweden 2015. Credit: Jan Michels

Nitrate respiration originated millions of years ago

The research team examined sediment samples from the Peruvian OMZ and was able to identify around ten different species of foraminifera living in the seafloor. From previous research almost all of these species are known to be capable of nitrate respiration. The scientists therefore looked for genes that are likely involved in nitrate metabolism.

"Indeed, numerous of these genes were found in our samples from Peru. Since these species have been shown to perform nitrate respiration, we were thus able to provide a causal link between the presence of the genes and their function," says first author Dr. Christian Wohle, a former member of Dagan's Genomic Microbiology group at Kiel University.

In a next step, the researchers traced back how long ago the evolutionary acquisition of nitrate respiration could have occurred. To do this, they created so-called phylogenetic trees, which visualize the relationships between different species to identify a possible common ancestor. "In this way, we were able to narrow down a time period for three specific groups of foraminifera. All earlier species lacked the genetic equipment for nitrate respiration," Wohle explains. "Thus, we could reconstruct that they probably go back to a common predecessor that must have developed this trait in the Cretaceous period about 100 million years ago," Wohle continues.

Some specimens of the studied species Uvigerina striata sieved out of the sediment using sieves of various sizes. Credit: Prof. Tal Dagan

Microbes provide missing metabolic step

In a metagenome analysis of the Peruvian sample material, the researchers also examined the genetic material of all species found to establish possible symbiotic relationships between various foraminifera and bacteria. First, comparisons with foraminifera species from distant locations showed that they are often associated with a similar and stable composition of bacterial species, regardless of geography.

"In our study, we further noticed an association between a particular genus of foraminifera and so-called Desulfobacteria. These bacteria have previously been observed to be colonizers of other groups of foraminifera," said Dr. Alexandra-Sophie Roy, a former member in the Genomic Microbiology group.

Another indication of a symbiotic relationship between these bacteria and the denitrifying foraminifera was found in the form of the so-called NapA gene. In Desulfobacteria, it is responsible for an enzyme that can initiate the start of the multistep process of nitrate respiration.

"Earlier studies showed that precisely this first step cannot be performed by foraminifera themselves. Therefore, it seems plausible that the bacteria take over this part of nitrate respiration, for example by converting nitrate into nitrite that is useful for their hosts, and therefore form a stable symbiosis with the foraminifera," Roy explains.

New insights into global nutrient cycles

"Our work on the origins and evolution of the genetic basis of ancient nitrate metabolism provides us with important new insights to better understand today's global biogeochemical cycles," says Professor Tal Dagan, KEC board member and project leader in the CRC 1182. In particular, she said, the possible involvement of bacteria in nitrate respiration in the oxygen-depleted ocean is an important but so far understudied component that needs further research in the future.

"The accelerating pace of global environmental change requires deepened knowledge of the turnover and distribution of elemental substances in the ocean. Our new results contribute to a better understanding of the impact of climate change on oxygen-dependent nutrient cycles in the ocean and their effects on marine organisms," adds Dr. Joachim Schonfeld from GEOMAR, who was also involved in the study.

Explore further How nutrients are removed in oxygen-depleted regions of the ocean

More information: Christian Woehle et al, Denitrification in foraminifera has an ancient origin and is complemented by associated bacteria, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Christian Woehle et al, Denitrification in foraminifera has an ancient origin and is complemented by associated bacteria,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2200198119
Industrial waste enters the Buriganga River as boatmen wait for passengers in Karanigonj.

Bangladeshi ferryman Kalu Molla began working on the Buriganga river before the patchwork of slums on its banks gave way to garment factoriesand before its waters turned pitch black.

The 52-year-old has a constant cough, allergies and skin rashes, and doctors have told him the vile-smelling sludge that has also wiped out marine life in one of Dhaka's main waterways is to blame.

"Doctors told me to leave this job and leave the river. But how is that possible?" Molla told AFP near his home on the industrial outskirts of the capital Dhaka. "Ferrying people is my bread and butter."

In the half-century since a devastating independence war left its people facing starvation, Bangladesh has emerged as an often unheralded economic success story.

The South Asian country of 169 million has overtaken its neighbour India in per capita income and will soon graduate from the United Nations' list of the world's least developed countries.

Underpinning years of runaway growth is the booming garment trade, servicing global fast-fashion powerhouses, employing millions of women and accounting for around 80 percent of the country's $50 billion annual exports.

But environmentalists say the growth has come at an incalculable cost, with a toxic melange of dyes, tanning acids and other dangerous chemicals making their way into the water.

Bangladesh will soon graduate from the UN's list of the world's least developed countries, but environmentalists say the growth has come at an incalculable cost.

Bangladesh's capital Dhaka was founded on the banks of the Buriganga more than 400 years ago by the Mughal empire.

"It is now the largest sewer of the country," said Sheikh Rokon, the head of the Riverine People environmental rights group.

"For centuries people built their homes on its banks to bask in the river breeze," he added. "Now the smell of toxic sludge during winter is so horrible that people have to hold their noses as they come near it."

Water samples from the river found chromium and cadmium levels over six times the World Health Organization's recommended maximums, according to a 2020 paper by the Bangladeshi government's River Research Institute.

Both elements are used in leather tanning and excessive exposure to either is extremely hazardous to human health: chromium is carcinogenic, and chronic cadmium exposure causes lung damage, kidney disease and premature births.

Ammonia, phenol and other byproducts of fabric dyeing have also helped to starve the river of the oxygen needed to sustain marine life.

Water samples from the Buriganga river found chromium and cadmium levels over six times the World Health Organization's recommended maximums.

'They are powerful people'

In Shyampur, one of several sprawling industrial districts around Dhaka, locals told AFP that at least 300 local factories were discharging untreated wastewater into the Buriganga river.

Residents say they have given up complaining about the putrid smell of the water, knowing that offending businesses are easily able to shirk responsibility.

"The factories bribe (authorities) to buy the silence of the regulators," said Chan Mia, who lives in the area.

"If someone wants (to) raise the issue to the factories, they'd beat them up. They are powerful people with connections."

The crucial position of the textile trade in the economy has created a nexus between business owners and the country's political establishment. In some cases, politicians themselves have become powerful industry players.

The Buriganga river is now the largest sewer of the country," says Sheikh Rokon, the head of the Riverine People environmental rights group.

Further south, in Narayanganj district, residents showed AFP a stream of crimson-coloured water draining into stagnant canals from a nearby factory.

"But you cannot say a word about it loudly," an area resident told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We only suffer in silence."

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), which represents the interests of around 3,500 top factories, defends its record by pointing out the environmental certifications given out to its members.

"We are going greenthat's why we are witnessing big jumps in export orders," BGMEA president Faruque Hassan told a recent press conference.

But smaller factories and sub-contractors operating on the industry's razor thin margins say they are unable to afford the cost of wastewater treatment.

A top garment official in the Savar industrial district, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said even most high-end factories serving major US and European brands often do not turn on their treatment machinery.

"Not everyone regularly uses it. They want to save costs," he said.

Bangladeshs booming garment trade accounts for around 80% of the country's exports, but many factories are close to rivers with a toxic melange of dyes, tanning acids and other dangerous chemicals making their way into the water.

'Facing the same fate'

Bangladesh is a delta country criss-crossed by more than 200 waterways, each of them connected to the mighty Ganges and Brahmatura rivers that course from the Himalayas and through the South Asian subcontinent.

More than a quarter of them are now heavily contaminated with industrial pollutants and need to be "urgently" saved, said an April legal notice sent to the government by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).

Authorities have established a commission tasked with saving key water bodies, upon which close to half the country's population depend for farming, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

The National River Commission has launched several high profile drives to fine factories found to have polluted rivers.

Its newly appointed chief, Manjur Chowdhury, said "greedy" industrialists were to blame for the state of the country's waterways.

Any action will be too late for the five rivers that circle Dhaka and its industrial outskirts - all are already technically dead, meaning they are completely devoid of marine life, said prominent environmental activist Sharif Jamil.

But he also admitted that the enforcement of existing penalties was inadequate to address the scale of the problem.

"We have to frame new laws to face this emergency situation. But it will take time," he told AFP.

Any action will be too late for the five rivers that circle Dhaka and its industrial outskirts.

All are already technically dead, meaning they are completely devoid of marine life, said prominent environmental activist Sharif Jamil.

"With factories now moving deep into the rural heartland, rivers across the country are facing the same fate," he told AFP.

Explore further Bangladesh factories ordered shut to save key river

 2022 AFP
The observer sampling station on a catcher processor in the at-sea Pacific hake fishery off the U.S. West Coast. Credit: NOAA.

The gelatin in the skin of Pacific whiting, an abundant fish on the Pacific Coast of North America, may help prevent skin wrinkling caused by ultraviolet radiation, a new Oregon State University study found.

Pacific whiting is caught in large volumes in the United States but consumers have little familiarity with the mild, white meat fish also known as hake. It is popular in Europe, though, where it is the eighth most consumed species. In the U.S., the 10 most-consumed species account for 77% of total per capita seafood consumption and Pacific whiting is not among the top 10.

By studying Pacific whiting. Jung Kwon, an assistant professor at Oregon State's Seafood Research & Education Center in Astoria, Oregon, is looking to change that and alleviate pressure on stocks of those 10 species, which include salmon and tuna.

She studies marine organisms and their potential to improve human health and is particularly interested in the benefits from parts of marine organisms such as fish skin, which many U.S. consumers choose to discard rather than eat.

"Fish skins are an abundant resource that we already know have valuable nutritional properties," Kwon said. "But we wanted to find out what additional potential value might be found in something traditionally considered a byproduct."

In a paper recently published in the journal Marine Drugs, Kwon and a team of researchers looked at molecular pathways that contribute on a cellular level to the wrinkling of skin. That wrinkling is promoted by chronic exposure to ultraviolet light, which breaks down collagen in the skin.

The researchers extracted gelatin from Pacific whiting fish and then looked at what impact it had on anti-oxidant and inflammatory responses and pathways known to degrade collagen and promote synthesis of collagen.

They found that the Pacific whiting skin:

Reactivated to a certain level the collagen synthesis pathway that had been suppressed by UV radiation.

Prevented activation to a certain level of the collagen degradation pathway that had been accelerated by UV radiation.

Promoted additional anti-oxidant activity. Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow damage to cells.

Promoted additional anti-inflammatory effects.

Kwon cautioned that these are initial results obtained in her lab through a human cell model system. Further research is needed using animal models.

"We saw some potential with a positive response in the cell model system," she said. "This gives us good evidence to take those next steps."

Explore further Study shows new potential of fish by-products

More information: Seok Hee Han et al, Anti-Photoaging Effect of Hydrolysates from Pacific Whiting Skin via MAPK/AP-1, NF-B, TGF-/Smad, and Nrf-2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway in UVB-Induced Human Dermal Fibroblasts, Marine Drugs (2022). Seok Hee Han et al, Anti-Photoaging Effect of Hydrolysates from Pacific Whiting Skin via MAPK/AP-1, NF-B, TGF-/Smad, and Nrf-2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway in UVB-Induced Human Dermal Fibroblasts,(2022). DOI: 10.3390/md20050308
Within the novel OLEDs, scientists light up even the darkest darkness. Photo was taken of the Neon Museum in Warsaw. Credit: Source IPC PAS, Grzegorz Krzyzewski

Electronic visual displays have come a long way since the early days of cathode-ray tubes. Modern display devices, based on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), are compact enough to accompany us wherever we go, in portable devices such as smartphones and smartwatches. Still, there is a need for further improvements in the performance of OLED-based displays, especially regarding energy efficiency and color purity, both of which directly impact power consumption. Recently, a team of researchers from the two institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS), Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS and Institute of Organic Chemistry PAS, and from the Silesian University of Technology proposed a series of new chemical compounds to serve as the emitters of OLEDs, taking us one step closer towards robust and sustainable technologies in portable electronics.

Electronic visual displays are ubiquitous in our daily lives, to the extent that would have been unimaginable even a few decades ago. Until the early 2010s, most portable devices used liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), which are fundamentally limited by the fact that they produce no light of their own, but rather, they filter the light emitted from a backlight. As a result, LCDs are relatively bulky and tend to suffer from poor contrast between light and dark. On the other hand, OLED-based displays emit light by themselves, without needing a backlight. Therefore, they can be made thinner and lighter and achieve higher contrast than LCDs.

The light-emitting component of an OLED is an organic semiconductor layer sandwiched between two electrodes, one of which is transparent so as to let light pass through. The color of the emitted light depends on the composition of the semiconductor layerdifferent emitter compounds give rise to different colors. Currently, commonly used emitter compounds include heteroaromatic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which give rise to bright emission, but at the cost of low color purity. Moreover, many of these compounds suffer from poor chemical and thermal stability, which significantly complicates processing and contributes to the high cost of manufacture. Hence, there is still plenty of room for improvements in the design of emitter compounds.

Faced with these challenges, scientists from three leading research institutions in Poland have teamed up to propose novel molecules for application as OLED emitters. Their research consortium was initiated by Dr. Marcin Lindner of the Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences. This project was set into motion when he designed a series of potential new emitters based on aromatic electron-donating and -accepting moieties bridged by an antiaromatic seven-membered ring. The inspiration for this design was provided by the observation that many existing emitters feature a direct linkage between the donor and the acceptor moieties, but that arrangement brings with it certain advantages. What if the donor and the acceptor moieties were instead connected by an antiaromatic ring? Another innovative aspect of Dr. Lindner's design is the choice of the electron-donating group: a nitrogen-doped (or, N-doped) PAH moiety. The nitrogen doping causes the molecular skeleton to adopt a slightly concave, bowl-like geometry, which helps reduce undesirable stacking interactions in the condensed phase.

Dr. Lindner says that "the basic design of our N-doped PAHs turned out to be quite flexible, and their properties are very responsive to the choice of the electron-accepting group. For example, we can tune the emission mechanism between thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and room temperature phosphorescence (RTP). This gives us a high degree of control over the emission profile."

After the N-doped PAHs were synthesized by Dr. Lindner's research group, their optical and electronic properties were thoroughly characterized by prof. Przemysaw Data, a spectroscopist from the Silesian University of Technology. Notably, prof. Data's research group recorded the emission spectra of the N-doped PAHs in various sets of conditions and measured the energy levels of the molecular orbitals.

Moreover, prof. Data's group fabricated prototype OLEDs that incorporated the new compounds and measured their external quantum efficiencies (EQEs). Rewardingly, it was found that the best-performing N-doped PAH achieved an EQE of 12%, higher than existing donor-acceptor emitters of a similar type.

The experimental work was complemented with quantum chemical calculations by the team led by Dr. Adam Kubas, a theoretical chemist from the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences. Dr. Kubas and his group ran state-of-the-art computer simulations of the structures and properties of the N-doped PAHs. Their simulations provided some insights which would have been inaccessible to experiment alone.

"In terms of electronic structure, the N-doped PAHs are quite exotic. The presence of the seven-membered ring between the donor and the acceptor moieties partially, but not completely, decouples the two. Consequently, these compounds exhibit small but positive singlet-triplet energy gaps, which facilitates emission by TADF," explains Micha Kochman, a postdoctoral researcher in the group of Dr. Kubas.

The full results of this study were published in Angewandte Chemie. However, the story doesn't end there: the research consortium continues its efforts to develop improved emitters for energy-efficient OLED displays. The team believe we will soon hear about the second generation of N-doped PAHs with even better characteristics. The key reason for such rapid progress achieved is the involvement of specialists from several different areas who bring in diverse skills and expertise.

Dr. Kubas agrees: "High-quality science needs an interdisciplinary attitude. In our research project, the close cooperation between experimental chemists and theoreticians has created some promising new materials with excellent optoelectronic properties. Above all, we could demonstrate a completely new paradigm for the design of strongly emitting N-doped PAHs."

More information: Jakub Wagner et al, Modular NitrogenDoped Concave Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons for HighPerformance Organic LightEmitting Diodes with Tunable Emission Mechanisms**, Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2022). Journal information: Angewandte Chemie International Edition , Angewandte Chemie Jakub Wagner et al, Modular NitrogenDoped Concave Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons for HighPerformance Organic LightEmitting Diodes with Tunable Emission Mechanisms**,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/anie.202202232
Chicago-based snack food giant Mondelez International said Monday it has agreed to acquire Clif Bar & Company, the California-based maker of Clif, Clif Kid and Luna brand energy bars. Shown here are Clif Bar's Crunchy Peanut Butter, left, and Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch. (Bonnie Trafelet / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago-based snack food giant Mondelez International said Monday it has agreed to acquire Clif Bar & Company, the California-based maker of Clif, Clif Kid and Luna brand energy bars.

The deal was valued at $2.9 billion and includes additional contingent earnout consideration, Mondelez said in a news release.

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We are thrilled to welcome Clif Bar & Companys iconic brands and passionate employees into the Mondelez International family, said Dirk Van de Put, chairman and CEO of Mondelez International, in a statement. This transaction further advances our ambition to lead the future of snacking by winning in chocolate, biscuits and baked snacks as we continue to scale our high-growth snack bar business.

In a statement, Clif Bar & Company CEO Sally Grimes said the acquisition would help Clif Bar accelerate our growth while sustaining its people, planet, community, business and brands.

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Mondelez International is the right partner at the right time to support Clif in our next chapter of growth, Grimes said.

Mondelez spokesperson Tracey Noe said the company saw great opportunity to expand Clifs reach in the U.S., Canada and other international markets.

After the deal closes, we plan to use our global resources to support the brand, starting in North America, Noe said.

In a news release, the company said the acquisition was subject to customary regulatory review and was expected to close in the third quarter. The acquisition requires Clif Bar & Company to convert to a limited liability company, it said.

Clif Bar & Company founders will not have equity in the company after the deal closes, Noe said. The sellers will have a performance driven earnout structure based on Clif Bar hitting agreed upon financial targets, Noe said. Mondelez said it would continue to operate Clif Bar from its headquarters in Emeryville, California.

The maker of snack food brands like Oreo and Ritz, Mondelez announced plans to move its global headquarters from Deerfield to Chicago in 2019.
Salmon fry. Credit: Heidi Kunttu / University of Jyvaskyla

Researchers at the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland, have found that the larvae of freshwater pearl mussel survive best in the original salmon fish population of their home river. Their study was published in Freshwater Biology.

Freshwater pearl mussel larvae live as parasites on the gills of fish. The larvae grow and develop attached on the gills for 9 to 11 months, and then drop to the river bottom as tiny mussels.

"In our previous studies we have proved that the mussel larvae are able to attach only to the gills of the salmon or the trout, and that in big salmon rivers the best host for the mussel is the salmon and in smaller rivers the trout," says Professor Jouni Taskinen, Director of the Konnevesi Research Station of the University of Jyvaskyla and the LIFE Revives project. "In this study we wanted to find out if the freshwater pearl mussels have adapted particularly to the salmon fish population of the home river."

In the study, salmon and trout rivers were compared by joining mussel larvae with fish species of the home river and other rivers. The experiments were made in rivers and brooks in Lapland, Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu.

The original host fish of the home river is the most welcome

The freshwater mussel larvae attached the most effectively particularly to the individuals of the salmon fish populations that lived in the same brooks and rivers. The larvae also grew best on the fish of the home river.

"For example, in the upper course of Luttojoki in Ivalo, we cross-exposed the fish of Hanhioja and Kolmosjoki with the mussels of both rivers, and the result was clear: The mussel larvae of Hanhioja attached the best to the Hanhioja salmon and the mussel larvae of Kolmosjoki to the Kolmosjoki salmon," Taskinen says. A third salmon population that was unfamiliar to both rivers was also used in the experiment, and it was the population to which the larvae attached the least effectively in both rivers.

Freshwater pearl mussels on the riverbed. Credit: Jouni Salonen / University of Jyvaskyla

Researchers keepnets for host fish in a mussel river. Credit: Felix Luukkanen

Extinction of original migratory fish populations threatens the mussel

The freshwater pearl mussel is endangered and in many places has disappeared from nature regardless of the preservation work that started in the 1950s. Dams built to produce water power have obstructed fish migration, with the result that now many salmon and trout populations are almost lost. The loss to the fish economy caused by hydropower has been compensated with compensatory fish stocking. The research results demonstrated that if a salmon fish population other than the original population of the river is used in a stocking, it may not be that beneficial for the mussel. It does not help the mussel either if stocking takes place in a sea area and the fish do not return to spawn in their home rivers.

A microscopic image of the glochidium larvae of freshwater pearl mussel on the gill of a host fish. Credit: Jouni Salonen / University of Jyvaskyla

"For the endangered freshwater pearl mussel, it would be important to restore the original fish populations and their natural migration to rivers," says Taskinen. "When possible, the original salmon population of the river should be favored in compensatory fish stocking, and the stockings should be made in the rivers instead of sea to be beneficial to the freshwater pearl mussel."

Explore further Freshwater mussels can inhibit bacterial diseases

More information: Jouni Taskinen et al, The endangered freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera shows adaptation to a local salmonid host in Finland, Freshwater Biology (2022). Jouni Taskinen et al, The endangered freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera shows adaptation to a local salmonid host in Finland,(2022). DOI: 10.1111/fwb.13882
Credit: University of Sydney

In Australia each year, approximately 55,000 people suffer a heart attack, with a similar number suffering from stroke. Many are caused by blood clots that block the flow of blood to the heart, often in at-risk individuals without any physical warning.

However, long before a heart attack or stroke occurs, tiny changes in the blood begin taking place. Often, blood flow is disturbed, leading to blood clotting and inflammation which can block blood vessels.

Award-winning University of Sydney biomedical engineer Dr. Arnold Lining Ju is developing a biomedical micro-device to detect these subtle platelet changes before a heart attack or stroke takes place.

Using a pin-prick test, the micro-device would take a blood sample from a person's finger. The sample would then be analyzed for platelet clotting and white cell inflammation responses, information that would be immediately processed by an external operating system.

"How this device would work is that an at-risk person, for example, someone with heart disease, would use it daily," said Dr. Ju from the Sydney Nanoscience Hub and Faculty of Engineering.

"Using a finger prick test, the device would monitor their blood and alert them to any potentially dangerous changes. If a change was detected, they would need to present for more monitoring at a hospital," said Dr. Ju, who is also a group affiliate of the Heart Research Institute's Thrombosis Group.

The research forms part of a long-term collaboration with the Director of Cardiovascular Research, CPC at the Heart Research Institute, Professor Shaun Jackson.

Professor Jackson said: "We hope this device will shed light on why and how blood clots form, which if successful, could one day be used in a range of health scenarios."

The University's School of Biomedical Engineering's new facilities will enable further engineering development for the microdevice, which is predicated on an integrated microfluidic chip.

Dr. Ju is working with a team of Ph.D. students to build highly sensitive computational fluid dynamics simulations to better understand the impact of mechanical forces that could lead to blood pooling and clots.

Biomedical engineering student Yunduo Charles Zhao said: "In the near future, we plan to apply artificial intelligence to understand an individual's blood work with the aim of creating a personalized blood profile of that person."

Research assistant Laura Moldovan said that, historically, it has been difficult to predict when a heart attack or stroke might happen: "They appear to occur at random, sometimes without any physical symptoms, however in fact there are tiny physical changes that occur in the bloodthe key to this device is being able to sensitively monitor these microscopic changes."

Explore further Diagnostic device can prevent strokes and heart attacks

More information: Lining Arnold Ju et al, Microfluidic post method for 3-dimensional modeling of plateletleukocyte interactions, The Analyst (2022). Journal information: Analyst Lining Arnold Ju et al, Microfluidic post method for 3-dimensional modeling of plateletleukocyte interactions,(2022). DOI: 10.1039/d2an00270a
NASA's InSight lander took this final selfie on April 24, 2022. The lander is covered with far more dust than it was in its first selfie, taken in December 2018, or in its second selfie, taken in March and April of 2019. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The mission's team has chosen to operate its seismometer longer than previously planned, although the lander will run out of power sooner as a result.

As the power available to NASA's InSight Mars lander diminishes by the day, the spacecraft's team has revised the mission's timeline in order to maximize the science they can conduct. The lander was projected to automatically shut down the seismometerInSight's last operational science instrumentby the end of June in order to conserve energy, surviving on what power its dust-laden solar panels can generate until around December.

Instead, the team now plans to program the lander so that the seismometer can operate longer, perhaps until the end of August or into early September. Doing so will discharge the lander's batteries sooner and cause the spacecraft to run out of power at that time as well, but it might enable the seismometer to detect additional marsquakes.

"InSight hasn't finished teaching us about Mars yet," said Lori Glaze, director of NASA's Planetary Science Division in Washington. "We're going to get every last bit of science we can before the lander concludes operations."

InSight (short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) is in an extended mission after achieving its science goals. The lander has detected more than 1,300 marsquakes since touching down on Mars in 2018, providing information that has allowed scientists to measure the depth and composition of Mars' crust, mantle, and core. With its other instruments, InSight has recorded invaluable weather data, investigated the soil beneath the lander, and studied remnants of Mars' ancient magnetic field.

NASA's InSight Mars lander uses a seismometer to study the inner layers of Mars. Seismic signals from quakes change as they pass through different kinds of materials; seismologists can "read" the squiggles of a seismogram to study the properties of the planet's crust, mantle, and core. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

All instruments but the seismometer have already been powered down. Like other Mars spacecraft, InSight has a fault protection system that automatically triggers "safe mode" in threatening situations and shuts down all but its most essential functions, allowing engineers to assess the situation. Low power and temperatures that drift outside predetermined limits can both trigger safe mode.

To enable the seismometer to continue to run for as long as possible, the mission team is turning off InSight's fault protection system. While this will enable the instrument to operate longer, it leaves the lander unprotected from sudden, unexpected events that ground controllers wouldn't have time to respond to.

"The goal is to get scientific data all the way to the point where InSight can't operate at all, rather than conserve energy and operate the lander with no science benefit," said Chuck Scott, InSight's project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

Explore further NASA's InSight still hunting marsquakes as power levels diminish

More information: Regular updates on InSight's power and observations from mission team members will appear on Regular updates on InSight's power and observations from mission team members will appear on blogs.nasa.gov/insight
This image shows a map of the night sky in soft X-ray light in galactic coordinates, with the Sun positioned at the center. The horizontal line across the middle of the image runs along the plane of our disk-shaped galaxy. University of Wisconsin, Madison astronomer Dan McCammon and the XQC team will be observing the bright blob in the center of the image, circled with a dotted line. This is the southern part of a roughly circular blob around the center of the galaxy, cut in half by cold absorbing gas in the plane of the galaxy. Credit: Snowden et al., 1997

To human eyes, the night sky between the stars appears dark, the void of space. But X-ray telescopes capture a profoundly different view. Like a distant fireworks show, our images of the X-ray sky reveal a universe blooming with activity. They hint at yet unknown cosmic eruptions coming from somewhere deeper into our galaxy.

To help find the source of these mysterious X-rays, University of Wisconsin, Madison astronomer Dan McCammon and his team are launching the X-ray Quantum Calorimeter or XQC instrument. XQC will make its seventh trip to space aboard a NASA suborbital rocket. This time, XQC will observe a patch of X-ray light with 50 times better energy resolution than ever before, key to revealing its source. The launch window opens at Equatorial Launch Australia's Arnhem Space Centre in Northern Territory, Australia, on June 26, 2022.

Because Earth's atmosphere absorbs X-rays, our first views of cosmic X-rays awaited the space age. In June 1962, physicists Bruno Rossi and Ricardo Giacconi launched the first X-ray detector into space. The flight revealed the first sources of X-rays beyond our sun: Scorpius X-1, a binary star system some 9,000 light-years away, as well as a diffuse glow spread across the sky. The discovery founded the field of X-ray astronomy and later won Giacconi a share of the 2002 Nobel Prize in physics.

This animated image shows the two alternative sources of the X-rays that the XQC mission is investigating. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Scientists have now mapped the X-ray sky in ever-finer detail with the help of other NASA X-ray missions. Still, there are several bright patches whose sources are unknown. For the upcoming flight, McCammon and his team will target a patch of X-ray light only partly visible from the Northern Hemisphere.

"It covers a big part of the galaxy, but we needed to be in the Southern Hemisphere to see that part of the sky," McCammon said. "We've been waiting a long time for this expedition to Australia."

Scientists believe the X-ray patch comes from diffuse, hot gas heated by supernovae, the brilliant eruptions of dying stars. The XQC mission is investigating two possible sources, illustrated in the graphic below.

One possibility is that the X-rays come from gas heated by "Type Ia" supernovae, the death throes of massive stars that live tens to hundreds of millions of years. The inner part of our galaxy has a high enough concentration of this type of supernova to heat the X-ray patch McCammon is investigating.

The other possible source is "Type II" supernovae. The stars behind Type II supernova are even more massive, burn brighter and hotter, and live just a few million years before going supernova. They occur in active star-forming regions, like those in one of our galaxy's inner spiral arms.

To distinguish these possibilities, XQC will analyze the X-ray light, looking for traces of oxygen and iron. More oxygen points to Type II supernovae, while less oxygen suggests Type Ia supernovae. The physics behind it is complex but ultimately stems from how long the stars burned before erupting. The smaller stars behind Type Ia supernovae burn for longer, leaving less oxygen behind than Type II supernovae.

Of course, the flight is likely to capture much more information as well. "This is an exploration with a new capabilitywe want to see what we can see," McCammon said. "Every time we look at the X-ray sky with a new capability, it turns out to be more complicated that we supposed."

After the flight, the team plans to recover the instrument. It will retire to Oak Ridge National Labs in Tennessee where it will aid in laboratory experiments.

This flight will be XQC's final trip to space, but the very first from the new Arnhem Space Centre rocket range in East Arnhem, Australia. XQC is part of a three-rocket campaign launching from the range in June and July 2022, NASA's first time launching from Australia since 1995.

Explore further NASA to launch 3 rockets from private Australian space port
Hackmanite turns purple under UV irradiation, and the color fades back to white in a few minutes under regular white light. This sample is from Greenland. Credit: Mika Lastusaari

While investigating hackmanite, researchers found that it can change color upon exposure to UV radiation repeatedly without wearing out. The results show that the inexpensive hackmanite, which is easy to synthesize, also has high durability and multiple applications.

A research group at the University of Turku, Finland, has been investigating and developing the properties of the hackmanite for almost a decade. Applications such as personal UV monitoring and X-ray imaging have been developed based on hackmanite's ability to change color.

Hackmanite changes its color from white to purple under UV irradiation and eventually reverts back to white if no UV is present. The structural features enabling such repeated changes have so far been unclear. Now, upon investigating three natural mineralshackmanite, tugtupite and scapolitethe researchers have found the answer.

These color-changing minerals are inorganic natural materials, but there are also organic compounds, hydrocarbons, that can change color reversibly due to exposure to radiation. These hydrocarbons, however, can only change color a few times before their molecular structure breaks down. This is because the color change involves a drastic change in the structure, and undergoing this change repeatedly eventually breaks the molecule.

"In this research, we found out for the first time that there is actually a structural change involved in the color change process, as well. When the color changes, sodium atoms in the structure move relatively far away from their usual places and then return back. This can be called 'structural breathing,' and it does not destroy the structure even if it is repeated a large number of times," reports Professor Mika Lastusaari from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Turku, Finland.

White scapolite turns blue under UV irradiation. The coloration and reversion back to white after the removal of the UV source take only a few seconds, because atoms in the structure move short distances. Scapolite is a rather common mineral. This sample is from Afghanistan. Credit: Sami Vuori

Researchers proved that hackmanite's ability to alternate between white and purple forms is highly repeatable



According to Professor Lastusaari, the durability is due to the strong three-dimensional cage-like overall structure of these minerals, which is similar to that found in zeolites. In detergents, for example, the cage-like structure enables zeolite to remove magnesium and calcium from water by binding them tightly inside the pores of the cage.

"In these color-changing minerals, all processes associated with the color change occur inside the pores of the zeolitic cage where the sodium and chlorine atoms reside. That is, the cage-like structure allows atomic movement inside the cage while keeping the cage itself intact. This is why minerals can change color and revert back to their original color practically indefinitely," Doctoral Researcher Sami Vuori explains.

Previously, it has been known that scapolite changes color much faster than hackmanite, whereas tugtupite's changes are much slower.

"Based on the results of this work, we found out that the speed of the color change correlates with the distance that the sodium atoms move. These observations are important for future material development, because now we know what is required from the host structure to allow the control and tailoring of the color change properties," says Doctoral Researcher Hannah Byron.

"There were no characterization methods available for the research on color changing minerals, which is why we have developed new methods by ourselves. However, it is difficult to interpret the results unambiguously based on experimental data alone. In fact, we could not have reached the present conclusions without strong support from theoretical calculations, since only the combination of experimental and computational data shows the whole picture. We owe a great many thanks to our collaborator Professor Tangui Le Bahers and his group, who have developed and advanced suitable computational methods to such detail and accuracy that would not have been possible just a few years ago," says Lastusaari.

Tugtupite is a rare mineral, which turns pink when exposed to UV radiation. The return back to white takes several hours, because it requires large atomic movements. This sample is from Greenland. Credit: Sami Vuori

Hackmanite has amazing potential for applications

The Intelligent Materials Research Group at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Turku, led by Lastusaari, has long conducted pioneering research on materials with light and color-related properties, especially on hackmanite. They are currently exploring numerous applications for hackmanite, such as possibly replacing LEDs and other light bulbs with the natural mineral and using it in X-ray imaging.

One of the most interesting avenues that the researchers are currently exploring is a hackmanite-based dosimeter and passive detectors for the International Space Station, intended to be used to measure the radiation dose uptake of materials during space flights.

"The strength of hackmanite's color depends on how much UV radiation it is exposed to, which means that the material can be used, for example, to determine the UV index of Sun's radiation. The hackmanite that will be tested on the space station will be used in a similar fashion, but this property can also be used in everyday applications. We have for example already developed a mobile phone application for measuring UV radiation that can be used by anyone," explains Sami Vuori.

The paper was published in June in the PNAS journal.

Explore further Natural mineral hackmanite enables new method of x-ray imaging

More information: Pauline Colinet et al, The structural origin of the efficient photochromism in natural minerals, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Pauline Colinet et al, The structural origin of the efficient photochromism in natural minerals,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2202487119
Southwest Research Institute scientists combined data from NASA's New Horizons mission with novel laboratory experiments and exospheric modeling to reveal the likely composition of the red cap on Pluto's moon Charon and how it may have formed. New findings suggest drastic seasonal surges in Charon's thin atmosphere combined with light breaking down the condensing methane frost may be key to understanding the origins of Charon's red polar zones. Credit: NASA / Johns Hopkins APL / SwRI

Southwest Research Institute scientists combined data from NASA's New Horizons mission with novel laboratory experiments and exospheric modeling to reveal the likely composition of the red cap on Pluto's moon Charon and how it may have formed. This first-ever description of Charon's dynamic methane atmosphere using new experimental data provides a fascinating glimpse into the origins of this moon's red spot as described in two recent papers.

"Prior to New Horizons, the best Hubble images of Pluto revealed only a fuzzy blob of reflected light," said SwRI's Randy Gladstone, a member of the New Horizons science team. "In addition to all the fascinating features discovered on Pluto's surface, the flyby revealed an unusual feature on Charon, a surprising red cap centered on its north pole."

Soon after the 2015 encounter, New Horizons scientists proposed that a reddish "tholin-like" material at Charon's pole could be synthesized by ultraviolet light breaking down methane molecules. These are captured after escaping from Pluto and then frozen onto the moon's polar regions during their long winter nights. Tholins are sticky organic residues formed by chemical reactions powered by light, in this case the Lyman-alpha ultraviolet glow scattered by interplanetary hydrogen molecules.

"Our findings indicate that drastic seasonal surges in Charon's thin atmosphere as well as light breaking down the condensing methane frost are key to understanding the origins of Charon's red polar zone," said SwRI's Dr. Ujjwal Raut, lead author of a paper titled "Charon's Refractory Factory" in the journal Science Advances. "This is one of the most illustrative and stark examples of surface-atmospheric interactions so far observed at a planetary body."

The team realistically replicated Charon surface conditions at SwRI's new Center for Laboratory Astrophysics and Space Science Experiments (CLASSE) to measure the composition and color of hydrocarbons produced on Charon's winter hemisphere as methane freezes beneath the Lyman-alpha glow. The team fed the measurements into a new atmospheric model of Charon to show methane breaking down into residue on Charon's north polar spot.

"Our team's novel 'dynamic photolysis' experiments provided new limits on the contribution of interplanetary Lyman-alpha to the synthesis of Charon's red material," Raut said. "Our experiment condensed methane in an ultra-high vacuum chamber under exposure to Lyman-alpha photons to replicate with high fidelity the conditions at Charon's poles."

SwRI scientists also developed a new computer simulation to model Charon's thin methane atmosphere.

"The model points to 'explosive' seasonal pulsations in Charon's atmosphere due to extreme shifts in conditions over Pluto's long journey around the Sun," said Dr. Ben Teolis, lead author of a related paper titled "Extreme Exospheric Dynamics at Charon: Implications for the Red Spot" in Geophysical Research Letters.

The team input the results from SwRI's ultra-realistic experiments into the atmospheric model to estimate the distribution of complex hydrocarbons emerging from methane decomposition under the influence of ultraviolet light. The model has polar zones primarily generating ethane, a colorless material that does not contribute to a reddish color.

"We think ionizing radiation from the solar wind decomposes the Lyman-alpha-cooked polar frost to synthesize increasingly complex, redder materials responsible for the unique albedo on this enigmatic moon," Raut said. "Ethane is less volatile than methane and stays frozen to Charon's surface long after spring sunrise. Exposure to the solar wind may convert ethane into persistent reddish surface deposits contributing to Charon's red cap."

"The team is set to investigate the role of solar wind in the formation of the red pole," said SwRI's Dr. Josh Kammer, who secured continued support from NASA's New Frontier Data Analysis Program.

Explore further Pluto 'paints' its largest moon Charon red
Image showing Demodex folliculorum mite on skin under Hirox microscope. Credit: University of Reading

Microscopic mites that live in human pores and mate on our faces at night are becoming such simplified organisms, due to their unusual lifestyles, that they may soon become one with humans, new research has found.

The mites are passed on during birth and are carried by almost every human, with numbers peaking in adults as the pores grow bigger. They measure around 0.3 mm long, are found in the hair follicles on the face and nipples, including the eyelashes, and eat the sebum naturally released by cells in the pores. They become active at night and move between follicles looking to mate.

The first ever genome sequencing study of the D. folliculorum mite found that their isolated existence and resulting inbreeding is causing them to shed unnecessary genes and cells and move towards a transition from external parasites to internal symbionts.

Dr. Alejandra Perotti, Associate Professor in Invertebrate Biology at the University of Reading, who co-led the research, said, "We found these mites have a different arrangement of body part genes to other similar species due to them adapting to a sheltered life inside pores. These changes to their DNA have resulted in some unusual body features and behaviors."

Demodex folliculorum mite under a microscope walking. Credit: University of Reading

The in-depth study of the Demodex folliculorum DNA revealed:

Due to their isolated existence, with no exposure to external threats, no competition to infest hosts and no encounters with other mites with different genes, genetic reduction has caused them to become extremely simple organisms with tiny legs powered by just 3 single-cell muscles. They survive with the minimum repertoire of proteinsthe lowest number ever seen in this and related species.

This gene reduction is the reason for their nocturnal behavior too. The mites lack UV protection and have lost the gene that causes animals to be awakened by daylight. They have also been left unable to produce melatonina compound that makes small invertebrates active at nighthowever, they are able to fuel their all-night mating sessions using the melatonin secreted by human skin at dusk.

Their unique gene arrangement also results in the mites' unusual mating habits. Their reproductive organs have moved anteriorly, and males have a penis that protrudes upwards from the front of their body meaning they have to position themselves underneath the female when mating, and copulate as they both cling onto the human hair.

One of their genes has inverted, giving them a particular arrangement of mouth-appendages that are especially protruding for gathering food. This aids their survival at young age.

The mites have many more cells at a young age compared to their adult stage. This counters the previous assumption that parasitic animals reduce their cell numbers early in development. The researchers argue this is the first step towards the mites becoming symbionts.

The lack of exposure to potential mates that could add new genes to their offspring may have set the mites on course for an evolutionary dead end, and potential extinction. This has been observed in bacteria living inside cells before, but never in an animal.

Some researchers had assumed the mites do not have an anus and therefore must accumulate all their feces through their lifetimes before releasing it when they die, causing skin inflammation. The new study, however, confirmed they do have anuses and so have been unfairly blamed for many skin conditions.

Image shows unusually-positioned penis of a Demodex folliculorum mite. Credit: University of Reading

Microscope image of the posterior end of the anus of a Demodex folliculorum mite. The presence of an anus on this mite had been wrongly overlooked by some previously, but this study confirmed its presence. Credit: University of Reading

The research was led by Bangor University and the University of Reading, in collaboration with the University of Valencia, University of Vienna and National University of San Juan. It is published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.

Dr. Henk Braig, co-lead author from Bangor University and the National University of San Juan, said, "Mites have been blamed for a lot of things. The long association with humans might suggest that they also could have simple but important beneficial roles, for example, in keeping the pores in our face unplugged."

Explore further New research on dust mites and respiratory infections

More information: Gilbert Smith et al, Human follicular mites: Ectoparasites becoming symbionts, Molecular Biology and Evolution (2022). Journal information: Molecular Biology and Evolution Gilbert Smith et al, Human follicular mites: Ectoparasites becoming symbionts,(2022). DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac125
International society should throw cold water on Japans foolhardiness: Global Times editorial

(Global Times) 08:26, June 21, 2022

The US and Western public opinion has paid increasing attention to Japan's recent moves on defense. More and more analysts believe that Japan seems to have been completing the largest "military" transformation in recent decades. Some American media asked, "Is Japan's military strong enough to subvert the military pattern in the Asia-Pacific?" And some even reported that Japan is turning away from its post-WWII "pacifism." Regardless of the true intent of these reports, they have indeed raised an important issue that deserves the vigilance of regional countries.

Over the past few decades, Japan has generally given the international community the impression of being "low-key" and "restrained" in the field of defense, but this does not mean the country is a "Hello Kitty." According to some American media outlets, Japan's well-trained and well-equipped Self-Defense Forces are now among the most powerful armed forces in the world. The Global Firepower Index (GPI) ranked Japan fifth globally in overall military power. In the global military strength rankings published by Japanese media, Japan ranked fourth in the world.

The outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has triggered the "remilitarization" ambition of the Japanese right-wing forces. On Sunday, leaders of Japan's ruling and opposition parties including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed on TV whether Japan should consider acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine. Not long ago, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party proposed to increase the proportion of GDP for defense spending from 1 percent to 2 percent within five years. Japan has been propagating and emphasizing its "unease." This, in turn, also makes Japan's neighboring countries feel puzzled and uneasy. Japan, which has gradually shifted its national focus from economic development to military expansion, is becoming the biggest hidden danger to peace and stability in East Asia.

In the process, Washington's indulgence has offered the Japanese right-wing politicians unrealistic fantasies. In the face of Japan's move to seek a fundamental change in defense, Kurt Campbell, the White House's Indo-Pacific policy coordinator, did not express any concern. He described Japan as a "responsible country," and said that "memories of a distant period do not animate modern concerns." What people see from this is that Washington is leaning over to untie the ropes that it once bundled up on Japanese militarism. The utilitarian mentality of using Japan to build a containment circle against China has overwhelmed deserved US concerns on regional risks and consequences.

Given the overall operations conducted by Washington, the real dangers of Japanese right-wing forces are obscured. Japan is the only country in the world that dares to openly deny the history of its aggression in World War II, but the US has kept endorsing Japan's ambitions out of its own geopolitical self-interests. It hopes that Japan could keep the ability to bark at China frequently, even bite when necessary, while it takes Japan under its own control confidently. In other words, the US does not care if Japan is smashed to pieces in the geopolitical collision, while Japan wants to use the US' selfishness to achieve its purpose of completely unleashing its military and political restrictions, which has become a dangerous scheme of theirs.

Currently, the entire Japanese political arena tends to be not clear-headed. There are voices in almost every political party advocating the need to increase Japan's defense capabilities, as well as "striking bases in enemy territory." This scenario has never appeared since the end of World War II. Although the overall ideological trend of Japanese society has changed a lot compared with the one before World War II, and the soil for reviving militarism is not sufficient, it can't be ignored that the possibility of using a crisis to provoke those extreme advocates to break through the social constraints. In particular, Washington is putting out the fire for Japan's "remilitarization" that threatens the world's public opinion, while at the same time giving Japan the initiative to stand at the forefront of US geopolitical competition.

Regardless of what the US and Japan have said, what Japan is actually doing is rekindling the regional arms race and disrupting the peaceful and stable environment in the region. The scars of history remain vivid in people's minds, and the real danger is quietly approaching. Whether it is to prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism or to avoid the upspiral of regional security dilemmas, it is necessary for the international community to throw cold water on Japan's foolhardiness.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
About half a dozen families were already waiting in the parking lot of Rana-Reagan Pharmacy in Bloomingdale when it opened Monday morning.

Co-owner Bhavna Modi told the families that COVID-19 vaccines for young children had not yet arrived, and they might want to check back later. But they insisted on waiting. Some had brought coolers with food for the day.

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They said they dont mind waiting, Modi said. Its very emotional. They say their kids will be able to go to summer school and see their grandparents.

Their patience was soon rewarded. The Bloomingdale pharmacy received its first shipment of Moderna vaccines for young children around 10:45 a.m. and began administering them within minutes, becoming one of the first locations in the state to give out the long-awaited shots.

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For more than two years, many families with children under 5 have waited for COVID-19 vaccines for their youngest kids  watching as every other age group was given the opportunity to get immunized. This weekend, they cheered when vaccines for the youngest set were finally approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Monday, some Illinois providers began giving the first shots. Many more Illinois pharmacies, doctors offices and health departments plan to start administering the vaccines in the coming days.

Health leaders are urging parents to check with their pediatricians first to see if theyll have vaccines available. Some pediatricians are planning to offer the vaccine and others are not.

Walgreens plans to start vaccinating 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds this week. Illinois pharmacists can only vaccinate children 3 and older, but CVS Health will give Pfizer shots to children ages 18 months through 4 years starting Tuesday at its MinuteClinics, which are staffed by family nurse practitioners, physician associates and nurses.

Christina Grunwaldt, of Carol Stream, holds her 4-year-old son, Liam, as he gets a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from pharmacist Jignesh Gandhi at Rana-Reagan Pharmacy on June 20, 2022, in Bloomingdale. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

The Chicago Department of Public Health is planning a number of events for children 6 months and older throughout the summer. Various county health departments are also planning to offer vaccines this week.

Though some parents remain hesitant about vaccines for their kids, those who streamed through the doors of Rana-Reagan Pharmacy on Monday were excited and relieved. Some traveled hours to the pharmacy, after hearing about it on the Facebook group Chicago Vaccine Hunters.

Trista Countryman drove for about an hour from Plainfield to get Moderna vaccines for her twin 4-year-old sons, Rudy and Gryffin. She spent the weekend making calls to see who would have the vaccines first.

As they stood in the waiting room of the pharmacy Monday, pharmacist Jignesh Gandhi asked if they were ready.

Weve been waiting a year and a half, Countryman said. Were ready to go!

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Gandhi told the boys it would feel like a mosquito bite. Within a few minutes, her sons had been vaccinated and were clutching chocolate candy bars Gandhi gave them after the shots.

I just wanted them to get vaccinated as soon as possible, Countryman said. I felt it was important for them to get their lives back a little bit.

Soon it was 4-year-old Liam Grunwaldts turn. Since COVID-19 began, Grunwaldts family has been trying to protect him because he has kidney disease and pulmonary problems. Theyve tried to avoid eating indoors and large crowds.

Weve been waiting for this day, Christina Grunwaldt said, through tears of relief. Now, if he catches COVID-19, she wont worry as much that hell have to be hospitalized for it, she said.

We can do more activities, like before 2020, said Grunwaldt, of Carol Stream, as her two older, vaccinated children sat beside her.

Adam Mehrbrodt, 4, of Frankfort, gets a certificate after receiving a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from pharmacist Jignesh Gandhi at Rana-Reagan Pharmacy on June 20, 2022, in Bloomingdale. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

Becky Trimble drove about two hours from Mequon, Wisconsin, to Rana-Reagan Pharmacy Monday to get a vaccine for her 3-year-old son, Cole.

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Each day that we wait is another day hes unprotected, Trimble said. So if I can get in the car and drive two hours, thats what Im going to do.

Many parents went to Rana-Reagan specifically because they had heard it had the Moderna vaccine Monday. Vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer were authorized Saturday by the CDC.

Though the FDA has said both vaccines are safe and effective, the shots have differences that have some parents angling for one over the other.

The Moderna vaccine for children ages 6 months through 5 years is supposed to be given in two doses, about four weeks apart, and each shot is about one-fourth of an adult dose. The Pfizer vaccine for children ages 6 months through 4 years consists of three doses, given over the course of about 11 weeks. Each dose of the Pfizer vaccine is about one-tenth of an adult dose.

Many parents who want the Moderna vaccine for their kids are attracted to the shorter timeline to full vaccination.

Amanda Mehrbrodt said she spent hours combing through the data for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines before deciding to pursue Moderna for her 4-year-old son, Adam. She drove about an hour from Frankfurt to Rana-Reagan on Monday.

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Shes eager for Adam to be fully vaccinated before he goes to school in the fall.

He doesnt know anything other than COVID. He was 2 when COVID hit, Mehrbrodt said. She also has a 21-month-old who shes hoping will get vaccinated by the Will County health department later this week.

Her younger child still hasnt met some family members, she said. Mehrbrodt is looking forward to traveling, playdates with cousins and just feeling less worried, once her kids are fully vaccinated.

We want to get back to living our life, she said.
The re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, raised $1,162,939 in the first quarter of this year.

Stefanik did not raise it all alone.

The campaign paid out nearly $135,000 during the quarter to telemarketing firms for fundraising calls, her campaign reported to the Federal Election Commission.

The largest of the payments was $130,410 to Direct Response LLC of Phoenix.

The campaign also paid $4,394 to FLS Connect of St. Paul, Minnesota, a firm that specializes in identifying new conservative donors, and $170 to 1360 LLC of Chicago.

In other regional political news:

House security

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, objects to House members being required to walk though magnetic security devices in order to enter the House floor.

They have magnetometers outside the House floor for members of Congress to walk through. I believe these are unconstitutional in the sense that you cant block elected members of Congress from going in to vote, Stefanik said in an interview June 11 on the John Solomon Reports podcast on the JustTheNews politics website.

A magnetometer is a device that measures the strength and direction of magnetic fields, and has security applications to detect guns.

Stefanik suggested that requiring House members to pass through magnetometers is an example of how House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has attempted to politicize House security.

AFL-CIO scorecard

A new AFL-CIO labor issues congressional scorecard is out, based on key House votes during 2021.

Among New Yorks House delegation, scores largely break down along party lines.

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, received a 100%, the highest score possible, for 2021, bringing his cumulative career score to 98%.

2021 scores for Democrats in New Yorks House delegation ranged from 95% to 100%.

2021 scores for Republicans in New Yorks House delegation ranged from 5% to 23%.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, received a 9% score for 2021, bringing her cumulative career score to 37%.

Social justice bill

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, on Twitter Wednesday praised social justice legislation that passed the House along party lines to require the Federal Reserve Board to support the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in employment, income, wealth and access to affordable credit, and to report on disparities in labor force trends.

The legislation  H.R.2543  passed the House by a 215-207 vote, with no Republicans voting in favor and three Democrats voting against, according to the Library of Congress government information system.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, voted against the legislation.

Education choice

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, on Friday announced that she co-sponsored legislation that Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Indiana, introduced to indirectly subsidize the cost for parents who enroll their children in schools other than the public school district where the family lives.

The legislation would establish a $10 billion annual federal tax credit program as an incentive for individuals and business to contribute to scholarship funds for public and private schools.

Scholarships would cover expenses including tuition, fees, books, materials and equipment for students who attend a public or private school.

Educational choice is a critical way to provide the best opportunities for our students, and this bill will allow families to determine the highest quality and most suitable education for their children, Stefanik said in a news release.

She said alternative education opportunities are particularly important in rural communities.

Importantly, this legislation can equip students in rural communities with additional supports to supplement their learning in the local school, bringing new opportunities to families that have traditionally lacked educational options. I will continue to empower parents to be able to choose what is best for their childrens education, regardless of ZIP code.

Maury Thompson covered local government and politics for The Post-Star for 21 years before he retired in 2017. He continues to follow regional politics as a freelance writer.

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FORT EDWARD  William Nikas recalls riding the birdcage elevator at the old Masonic Temple building in Hudson Falls when he was just 5 years old.

It opened up into the fifth floor and there was this magnificent room, chandeliers, a stage at the end, and there was Santa Claus, Nikas said. So little Billy Nikas went up and got his gift from Santa Claus, and that started a memory that I never forgot.

Many years later, Nikas purchased that building and restored it, turning it into what is now the Sandy Hill Arts Center. He received a Historic Preservation Award last month from the Washington County Historical Society for his restoration efforts.

The historical society presented four Historic Preservation Awards at the Canal Street Marketplace in Fort Edward on May 26.

Winners included Nikas as well as Mike Dickinson and Pete Williams for the rescue of the Canal Street Marketplace, William Cormier for preservation of the Revolutionary War Cemetery in Salem, and Ken Gottry and Sarah Ashton for the restoration of the Victorian footbridge in Cambridge.

The building that is now the Canal Street Marketplace in Fort Edward originally sat in Fort Ann, but was moved around 1900 when the Champlain Barge Canal was built, said R. Paul McCarty, the Fort Edward historian.

It was used as a woodshop until about 1979, and the building became surplus property and was used for storage. Talks of restoring the old canal barn started after 1994.

Construction began in 2015 through the support of grants and community volunteers, and the Canal Street Marketplace opened on Oct. 8, 2016.

One of the top priorities for the marketplace is promoting community wellness and betterment, something that has been shown by their use as well as the events they host, McCarty said. The weekly market gives community members a place to meet and socialize while theyre also promoting local businesses.

Technically called the Pioneer Cemetery, the Revolutionary War Cemetery in Salem is called that because 105 Revolutionary War soldiers are buried there.

When William Cormier was appointed Salem town and village historian in 1984, he approached the village about his concerns about dead trees in the cemetery. He has worked tirelessly since to find ways to preserve the stones in the cemetery, which is now on the Historic National Register.

I call the cemetery, history in stone, Cormier said.

The Victorian footbridge is known by those in Cambridge as the little green bridge. But it has a big history.

In the late 1800s, Jerome Bonaparte (J.B.) Rice has built his seed company into the second largest in America, explained historian Ken Gottry. Entry to the seed house was down a dusty and often muddy driveway.

In 1890, Rice built the footbridge over the Owl Kill to make it easier and cleaner for people to get into the seed house.

The bridge, its in the center of the village right on Main Street, Gottry said. Its beauty is enjoyed by people passing by but also by people who stop to sit on the bridge and think about the life in Cambridge over the previous 130 years.

Gretta Hochsprung writes features and hometown news. She can be reached at 518-742-3206 or ghochsprung@poststar.com.

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In February, Andrea Smyth set out on the campaign trail as one of three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge state Sen. Daphne Jordan, R-Halfmoon, while state Assemblyman Jake Ashby, R-Castleton, was planning on running for re-election to his Assembly seat.

In mid-May, a court-appointed expert from Pittsburgh shook up their respective political plans when he redrew the lines of state Senate districts, creating the new 43rd Senate District, an open seat.

Now Smyth and Ashby are the sole candidates for their respective parties in a Senate race with no incumbent.

Im really pleased to be running for this open seat, Smyth said, in a recent telephone interview.

Ashby said he was busy with the end of the legislative session when the new Senate district maps came out, leaving little time to weigh the race.

It was interesting, he said, in a recent telephone interview. We were having to balance a lot of plates at one time.

The new district includes Rensselaer County, where both candidates live, and portions of Washington and Albany counties. In Washington County, the district includes from Fort Edward south to the Rensselaer County line.

Ashby, a two-term incumbent, said he wants to continue his record of bipartisanship on legislation relating to veterans and emergency first responders.

For example, Ashby said, he was a champion of legislation that passed as part of the state budget in April to elevate the state Division of Veterans Affairs to a cabinet level department, centralizing programs now handled in myriad state departments in a single agency.

Smyth, a policy analyst and advocate on state government issues for about 30 years, said her campaign will focus on the needs of women and families.

For instance, she has proposed that the state government return to a system of the state setting the rates that health insurance companies pay for certain services such as mental health, vision and dental, in which there are shortages of providers.

The state previously set all rates until 1996, when then Gov. George Pataki, a Republican, ended the practice and allowed health insurance companies to negotiate rates directly with hospitals and physicians.

The move was intended to increase competition in the insurance industry, which, in theory, would reduce health insurance premiums.

So, Im not saying universally, Smyth said, referring to her proposal to return to state-set rates.

Rather, she would eliminate negotiating rates for certain services, such as mental health, vision and dental, in which she said that the rates insurance companies pay are so low that hospitals and health care providers cannot pay enough to maintain adequate staff.

Ashby said that, indeed, there is a critical shortage of providers, and Smyths proposal merits consideration.

I think we need to do a better job of recruiting (providers)  and recruiting them to stay in New York, he said.

Ashby said that while Smyth has expertise in health care policy, he has well-rounded expertise, not just in policy but as an occupational therapist and a college health care instructor.

Ashby was a U.S. Army Reserve captain who served two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He was a Rensselaer County legislator before serving in the state Assembly.

Smyth said she is set to retire from her current job as chief executive officer for the New York State Coalition for Childrens Behavioral Health on July 1, and will be able to devote her full time to being a senator.

In 2017, Smyth narrowly lost the Rensselaer County executive race to Republican Steve McLaughlin.

Ashby said his Senate campaign will emphasize the dangers of one-party rule in Albany, and Smyth said her campaign will emphasize the need to eliminate a culture of corruption.

Maury Thompson covered local government and politics for The Post-Star for 21 years before he retired in 2017. He continues to follow regional politics as a freelance writer.

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We seem to be in the midst of a sort of golden age for burgers. Not that long ago, burger options at restaurants were mostly limited to the standard lineup of fast food spots like McDonalds, Burger King and White Castle, along with late-night diners and maybe the local bar and grill. And few of them actually made much effort to create something particularly exciting or worth coming back for.

But in the last 10 years or so, American consumers have started to demand more from their burger joints. They now pay attention to things like high-quality meats and artisan buns and seek out spots that serve them. This has led to a rise concepts like gastropubs and gourmet fast casual spots that specialize in putting out much better burgers than those from years gone by.

One such spot that just opened up recently is Kook Burger in Brigantine. This small but mighty fast-casual burger joint opened its doors back in March, and, since then, has gained a strong buzz in South Jersey, thanks to some tremendous burgers, shakes and fries, all of which are the creations of Chef Price Morhalo, a Canadian transplant who co-owns Kook Burger with his business partner Braeden Anderson.

How Kook came to beMorhalo grew up in Alberta, Canada and his love for the kitchen and everything that came out of it stared at a young age.

I had a passion for food and cooking ever since I was a little kid, he remembers. My mom used to pack me lunches and send me off to school and she said that when I came home I would always talk about the food  what was good and if I had traded for any tasty items that day.

After spending much time in his moms kitchen learning the basics of cooking, he began work in the restaurant biz when he was just 14 years-old.

My first job was at a fast food restaurant. I learned some techniques there and then moved on to higher class restaurants with a lot more responsibilities. But I never really thought I would open my own restaurant. It was a fantasy of mine, of course, but I never actually thought I could make it happen, he says.

After years of working in the industry, Morhalo had actually stepped away from the restaurant business and was working in film and television when Anderson contacted him about an opportunity here in New Jersey.

I got a call from Braeden, and he told me he was opening up a coffee shop in a town that I had never heard of called Brigantine, NJ. He asked me if I wanted to come check the place out for the grand opening, and so I did. There was a vacant restaurant next door and we started talking about what might work in that space and we settled on a burger restaurant, because its really a no brainer. So I wrote up a menu, moved down here from Vancouver and we made it happen.

The foodAs you might expect, Kook Burger specializes in burgers. Their style is of the smash burger variety, which means that the ground beef patty  an 80/20 blend  gets smashed on the grill till thin, forming a glorious crust of tasty char on the outside. Kook offers burgers in single or double stacks.

I was always the burger guy, Morhalo says. I started making my own patties and my own sauces and whenever my friends would come over in the summertime I was always grilling. I always loved playing around with burgers because the possibilities are endless.

Some of those possibilities at Kook Burger include the Plain Joe which is your basic 4-ounce burger patty topped with cheddar cheese; The Local, which starts with a burger patty that gets topped with bacon, cheddar, BBQ sauce and mayo; or the most popular burger on the menu, The Broski Burger, which stacks bacon, jalapenos, goat cheese and sriracha mayo on top of a burger patty for a glorious (and somewhat gluttonous) meal. Patrons can also customize any burger till their hearts content with a variety of toppings and sauces. All burgers get served on a soft and mildly sweet brioche bun.

I think the brioche bun is the perfect texture for a burger. Its fluffy, its packed with flavor and it offers a good cushion that you cant get from a potato roll or a classic white bread-style bun, Morhalo notes.

There are some great sides available as well like onion rings and several variants of french fries, including the famous Canadian dish poutine and something known as Kooky Fries, which feature cheese sauce, scallions and Kook sauce a secret creation of Morhalos that might remind you of a certain special sauce from McDonalds  but with a spicy kick.

The shakesLike any great burger place, Kooks also specializes in tasty milkshakes. They have a long list of sweet and tasty flavors, but if you really want to take things to the next level you have to order one of their signature Shoobie Shakes, which come in their very own one-liter glass mugs and are topped with all kinds of wild and kooky toppings. They are pricey at $30 each, but the glass is yours to keep, and they really are a lot of fun.

Guests can pick from six options including the Sunburnt Berry, a strawberry cheesecake milkshake rimmed with cream cheese icing and graham cracker crumbs topped with whipped cream and a full slice of strawberry cheesecake or the Even Smore Waves, a toasted marshmallow milkshake rimmed with fluff and graham crackers and topped with whipped cream, chocolate drizzle and a smore.

Menu additionsRight now the menu at Kook Burger is heavily focused on burgers and shakes, but restaurants have a tendency to expand their offerings over time. According to Morhalo, thats not in his plan though.

When you start to overcomplicate your menu, thats when you start to lose a little bit of quality, he says. Its hard to keep up the quality when you have 50 different menu items. And a lot of restaurants make that mistake. My philosophy is to keep it simple and focus on serving a great product.

Though keeping the menu streamlined is the goal, Morhalo does have plans for at least one addition.

I do plan on introducing a chicken sandwich down the line. Everyone loves a great chicken sandwich.

The futureThough they only have one location right now, Morhalo hopes to take Kook Burger far beyond Brigantine.

The plan from the start has been to franchise. But we dont want to franchise too early, because thats how you end up losing money. But we plan on opening a few more around South Jersey. We are looking at Ocean City, we are looking at Long Branch and even New York City as an idea. This location in Brigantine is the first, but there are definitely more Kook Burgers to come!

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VENTNOR  A fire broke out on the 5200 block of Ventnor Avenue over the weekend, causing several nearby businesses to be evacuated, destroying a property and displacing multiple households.

The Ventnor City Fire Department received a dispatch call at 5:29 p.m. Saturday about the blaze.

The fire impacted a mixed-use property that housed a storefront and several residential properties above the business, Ventnor Deputy Fire Chief Brady Middlesworth said Monday. The U-Mango storefront was enveloped in heavy smoke and flames while wind gusts intensified the fire spread. Three households living at the property were displaced by the fire, with Middlesworth saying that all three had either been relocated to shelter provided by family or the Red Cross. There were no injuries reported.

The nearby restaurants were evacuated by staff and law enforcement soon after the fire began.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Middlesworth said Monday.

By Monday afternoon, ash and debris were still cordoned off in the street. The U-Mango storefront had burned down entirely, with the Sack O Subs store adjacent to it appearing to take fire damage.

Angelo Sochocky, a manager at Mr. Gordos on the same block as the fire, said a hostess alerted him to the fire. He began to evacuate staff and customers when he saw law enforcement arrive at Sack O Subs next door, before law enforcement began instructing those in the building to evacuate shortly after.

A similar dynamic unfolded at Nuckys Kitchen & Speakeasy, which was directly adjacent to the fire. Manager Dylan Cruz said Monday that a waitress told him about the fire. He said he began to help evacuate the restaurant and the adjoining Ventnor Square Theatre when law enforcement came and ordered everyone out. Cruz said it was a shame to see the building damaged, as it had just recently been restored. He called it a gem in Ventnor and expressed concern for the people displaced.

I felt terrible for the apartment, for everything, said Cruz, who estimated the evacuation lasted about three hours.

Ventnor Fire Capt. Patrick Lento led the response with the departments Fire Platoon No. 2. The Atlantic City and Margate City fire departments were also on the scene to respond, while the Brigantine and Pleasantville fire departments helped take over duty covering the area as the fire in Ventnor was ongoing.

Middlesworth said Ventnor Fire Chief Michael Cahill responded to the scene and called a third-alarm fire.

Cruz, Sochocky, as well as Ventnor Square Theatre Manager Rosary Lamalfa, all said officials had inspected the property and there was no apparent damage to their business places. Lamalfa added that law enforcement had to work to keep people off the property, with one party trying to enter the theater-restaurant complex even after it was apparent the area was being shut down for a fire.

Sylas Smith, 14, said he lives in a property nearby where the fire was, and heard somebody shout about a fire a little before 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Smith said his father called the fire department and first responders, while he ran to try to alert other restaurants of the emergency. He said he went and tried to ensure the area was evacuated and that first responders eventually closed off the street. Smith said he was fortunate the wind was blowing in the other direction away from the home where he and his father were staying.

Jonathan Diego, an Egg Harbor Township resident who works in Pleasantville, was passing by the fire Monday. He said he knew somebody who used to work at Sack o Subs and lived in an apartment above the store and that it was a shame to see a neighborhood in Ventnor that had recently been renovated take damage. Reflecting on the mixed-use nature of the property, Diego expressed special concern for the effect the fire had on residents.

Its unfortunate, you dont like to see this, Diego said.

Im glad that nobody got hurt, said Lucky Galluccio, a Ventnor resident who owns Hollywoods Barber & Hairstyling shop in Atlantic City, talking about the prospects of future rejuvenation projects to the destroyed area. Lets hope that better days are coming.

Contact Chris Doyle: cdoyle@pressofac.com

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A fire burning in Wharton State Forest was 95% contained as of late afternoon Tuesday, and firefighters were confident it would not spread beyond perimeter lines they had created.

The fire is believed to have been caused by an illegal, unattended campfire in the woods, said Greg McLaughlin, chief of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.

He said the fire had burned 13,500 of the 15,175-acre containment area that was set up around it. That estimate remained current as of late Tuesday afternoon.

Both firefighters and the state Department of Environmental Protection on Monday anticipated the fire burning through about 15,000 acres of land since its start Sunday morning, making it the worst state wildfire in more than a decade.

No one was injured, and none of the 18 structures threatened was damaged.

The blaze broke out at 10 a.m. Sunday and quickly spread to areas in Washington Township in Burlington County and Mullica Township in Atlantic County.

Wharton State Forest fire could be fully contained by Tuesday A fast-moving fire in Wharton State Forest had destroyed more than 11,000 acres of woodlands

It was essentially a makeshift (camp) fire, McLaughlin said. We suspect that people were passing through, whether on the river or hiking. But we have ruled out natural causes.

At least 50 people had to be evacuated from remote campsites within the forest that were only accessible by river or through hiking.

While Routes 206 and 524 reopened Tuesday morning, Batsto Village, the Atsion Recreation Area, and hiking and mountain bike trails in the fires vicinity remained closed to visitors. Kayak and canoe launches along the Mullica River are off limits from the Atsion Recreation Area to Batsto Village.

Pinelands Adventures has paused kayak and canoe trips, which will continue until further notice, the Fire Service said.

The Mullica River Campground and Lower Forge Campground remained closed, the Forest Fire Service said.

The fire was burning in a remote area of the forest where access is difficult because of the configuration of roads through the park, and the fact that many of them are pitted with holes that fill with water, slowing the progress of arriving firefighting vehicles.

Record heat sizzled South Jersey Friday The weekend of June 17-19 started out summery but by the time it wrapped up Sunday night, it

Firefighters used 22 engines, a helicopter with a 325-gallon bucket and other equipment to battle the fire, which was expected to continue to spew smoke for several more days.

McLaughlin said Monday he expected the fire to be fully contained by Tuesday or Wednesday, adding that additional days would likely be needed to fully bring the fire under control. Rain showers are expected Wednesday, which may help the cause.

Local roads near the fire were opened Tuesday morning. Motorists traveling in the area should stay vigilant in case they reach heavily smoke-filled areas and encounter emergency vehicles working alongside the roads, the Fire Service said.

The blaze threatened nearly half the 40 historic structures in Batsto Village, a tourist attraction popular with hikers and canoers.

Firetrucks were stationed near those buildings as well as some private structures that were in the path of the fire to protect them.

Hiking trails in Wharton State Forest will continue to be off limits for several days until they can be inspected for any safety hazards.

Staff Writers Eric Conklin and Joe Martucci contributed to this report.

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WASHINGTON  Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys (RFE/RL) Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellows visited Washington, D.C., last week, meeting U.S. journalists, officials, and free media and democracy advocates. The Fellows briefed interlocutors on their work during the Fellowship and on the media environments in their countries while also learning about the U.S. media environment.

At the U.S. Department of State, the Fellows attended a daily press briefing, where they were welcomed by the Departments Spokesperson Ned Price, and met with Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar. They also visited the Departments Foreign Press Center. Separately, they met with representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), and Rob Portman (R-Ohio.) and staff from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The Fellows participated in a Press Freedom in the Age of Disinformation panel at the Embassy of the Czech Republic, which was moderated by Czech Ambassador to the U.S. Hynek Kmonicek. They visited the U.S. Agency for Global Media and gave interviews to Voice of Americas Georgian, Ukrainian and Russian Services. They also visited the human rights non-profit Freedom House, the international affairs think tank Atlantic Council, the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the National Endowment for Democracy.

The trip was also an opportunity for the Fellows to speak to seasoned U.S. journalists, first at the National Press Club and later at a roundtable hosted by RFE/RL, which was attended by representatives of Axios, CNN, NPR, POLITICO, and Zivvy Media.

The Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship is a joint initiative of RFE/RL and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic for aspiring journalists in the European Union's Eastern Partnership countries and Russia. Launched in 2011, it equips Fellows with cutting-edge journalistic skills, and involves them in the daily editorial debates and discussions that inform a professional and independent press so that they may become standard-bearers of journalism. It is inspired by the late Czech president, Vaclav Havel, who believed in the transformational power of free speech, and builds on RFE/RLs legacy of promoting more open societies through journalism.

This fellowship provides the necessary training, skills and tools young journalists need to navigate and succeed in environments that are hostile to a free press, said Jamie Fly, President and CEO of RFE/RL. The Vaclav Havel Fellowship is vital to identifying and building the next generation of independent journalists in countries where a free press is under assault.

The 2022 Fellows are Vasilina Sakalouskaya and Valeryja Ulasik, both from Belarus, Kateryna Lykhohliad from Ukraine, Vazha Tavberidze from Georgia, Nicoleta Stavila from Moldova, and Egor Fedorov from Russia, who was unable to take part in the trip to the U.S. The Fellows have been working from RFE/RLs Prague headquarters since January and, those who are able to, will spend a final month in RFE/RLs bureaus in their countries.

About RFE/RL

RFE/RL relies on its networks of local reporters to provide accurate news and information to more than 37 million people every week in 27 languages and 23 countries where media freedom is restricted, or where a professional press has not fully developed. Its videos were viewed 7 billion times on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram/IGTV in FY2021. RFE/RL is an editorially independent media company funded by a grant from the U.S. Congress through the U.S. Agency for Global Media.

---

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Mike Stankiewicz in Washington (stankiewiczm@rferl.org, +1.202.457.6952)

Karin Maree in Prague (mareek@rferl.org, +420.221.122.074)
Health officials are warning about the dangers of extreme heat after an incident over the weekend where a baby was left in an overheated vehicle.

Temperatures in the Quad-Cities are expected to approach 100 degrees this week.

Genesis Medical Center emergency physician David Dierks suggests that everyone  especially vulnerable populations such as the elderly, small children and those with preexisting conditions  stay out of the heat.

Health professionals also recommended that small children and pets are not left in vehicles, as temperatures can rise very quickly. If for any reason one must leave a child inside of a vehicle, leave a phone in the car.

Health officials also recommend frequently checking on especially vulnerable friends, relatives and neighbors.

Drinking lots of water is absolutely essential, with one principle being to drink 8 ounces of water for every 20 minutes of activity outdoors. Eating smaller portions more frequently throughout the day is also recommended.

Think you're overheating? Find shade or air conditioning, and in extreme cases with symptoms such as disorientation or nausea, seek medical treatment.

On especially hot days, it is important to always be in possession of a phone for communication in cases of emergency. Do yard work early in the morning or late in the day.

Avoid dehydrating beverages such as those that contain caffeine or alcohol, and take breaks after spending time outside.

Dierks final tip is to make sure to protect skin by wearing sunscreen and reapplying as needed.

People must also be cognizant of the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Cool, moist, pale or flushed skin; rapid, weak pulse; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness and exhaustion are all symptoms of heat exhaustion. Telltale signs of heat stroke include hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; and rapid, shallow breathing.

In the case of heat exhaustion, body temperature may be normal or rising. In the case of heat stroke, body temperature can be 105 degrees or more, with skin feeling dry unless one is sweating from heavy work or exercise.

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Fair Oaks Foods is staying in touch with its Midwest roots by opening a new facility in Davenport in 2024.

Davenport beat out 176 options to score the Wisconsin-based manufacturer, which will package ready-made bacon.

In 1985, the company opened its doors in Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Over the past three decades, the manufacturer of breakfast sausage, meatballs and pizza toppings has opened two additional facilities, miles from the original building.

We thought that we were going to stay here, COO Joseph Freda said.

But with the labor market in Pleasant Prairie becoming increasingly competitive, the company decided to branch out and look for new ground.

Originally, requests for information were issued across seven states. Requirements included a lot that could hold a building this large, a city that could provide the additional labor to support the company and other various site requirements.

Freda said the ability to support the labor force was key when choosing Davenport. Most of the processing will be automated, which means the company will need more skilled than manual workers.

Workers at the $132 million plant will receive the pork bellies and then complete every step necessary before they package it and have it ready for distribution.

Brandon Talbert of Austin Consulting said the building was expected to be about 150,000 square feet and sit on 31.5 acres within the Eastern Iowa Industrial Center, home to multiple large manufacturers including Amazon.

Theres room at the site to support potential expansion in the future, Talbert said.

This was only one reason the site was chosen. Talbert said the citys attention to detail in having other infrastructure already on the site, utilities close by and land surveys completed helped push this location to the top of the shortlist.

A lot of that due diligence had already been completed, which helped us evaluate, he said.

Two site visits were conducted in 2021, and the project came to fruition in about a year. With the green light given, a $180 million economic impact is expected for the area. With 247 employees expected to keep Fair Oaks running, the economic impact is not only made up of investment in land, construction and machinery, but the money the company and its employees spend.

Construction is set to begin this summer with a target of opening the doors by early 2024. The hiring process will begin this year as company executives look to bring on key management and slowly begin filling other various roles needed.

Freda, the COO, said the goal was to have all employees hired and ready to work by the end of next year so production could get underway at the beginning of 2024.

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This summer in Chicago is bringing at least four new musicals with high hopes. The first, Skates, had a rough debut with mostly negative reviews and closes Sunday. But coming down the pike are Life After at the Goodman Theatre, which opens Wednesday, It Came From Outer Space at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, officially opening June 30, and The Devil Wears Prada, of which Broadway in Chicago is hosting the out-of-town tryout with an opening night slated for Aug. 7.

One expected show is missing from that list: The Outsiders, the musical based on the 1983 movie by Francis Ford Coppola. Following issues with scheduling, the shows commercial producers chose to not debut at Chicagos Goodman Theatre but at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego instead. That opened up a summer slot at the Goodman for a new musical. One was available due to a cancellation at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., all part of the musical chairs caused by COVID-19.

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Life After, a new musical featuring book, music and lyrics by Britta Johnson and starring the Broadway performers Samantha Williams and Paul Alexander Nolan, is perhaps the most unusual of those projects. The piece, which began life at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2016, had a well-received 2017 run at Torontos Canadian Stage and a U.S. premiere in 2019 (pre-pandemic) at the Old Globe Theatre.

Its about a 16-year-old girl coping with the death of her father. And, as you might expect, given the topic, its creator draws from her own experience.

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The show is about a young woman who has lost her father, Johnson says. She has to reckon with a major loss, to learn how to cope with grief and find a container for it.

As she describes the piece, Johnson, 31, makes it sound somewhere between Fun Home (albeit with benevolent parents) and Dear Evan Hansen. The piece is Canadian and follows such prior Canadian musicals as Come From Away and Ride the Cyclone, not to mention Leslie Ardens resonant and beautiful The House of Martin Guerre, which the Goodman debuted in 1996. A casual listen to a small portion of the score also suggest a musical style in the distinguished realm of Adam Guettel or Dave Malloy.

Britta Johnsons musical "Life After" is now at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. (Sarah Stewart Photography / HANDOUT)

Johnson comes from an arts family and grew up in the most theater-friendly town in North America: Stratford, Ontario. Its home to two world-famous institutions: Justin Bieber and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

Both of Johnsons parents were pit musicians who played brass for the musicals at the theater, along with other gigs and, she says, her life was marked by what shows were playing at the time (I was born during the run of Carousel).

And not only was Johnsons home filled with musicians, her father also was a composer, a skill he passed to his daughter. But he died from cancer while Johnson was only 13. Therefore, she says, she had to come of age through grief.

Johnson, who has studied classical composition, describes the shows score, orchestrated for strings, as living in a chamber music kind of sound, but with digressions into pop and other Broadway-friendly forms. But I always fight for a good melodic hook, she says.

Her composing and writing career, she says, began with a musical she wrote while at high school in Stratford, designed to protest the arrival of Walmart to the small town, threatening its beloved collection of its local retailers. The show was produced at the Avon Theatre, run by the festival. And there were flyers all over town. I guess the town, she says, dryly, was charmed. But it didnt stop Walmart.

Life After also dates back to Johnsons high school years, if only in embryonic form. Shes been working on the piece for a dozen years.

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Ashley Perez Flanagan, Samantha Williams, Chelsea Williams, Paul Alexander Nolan and Lauryn Hobbs in "Life After" at the Goodman Theatre. (Jeremy Daniel / HANDOUT)

The show is getting an entirely different production at the Goodman (Annie Tippe now directs) and the cast has changed too. Johnson says that shes hoping that she is hoping this will be the official production moving forward, incorporating the revisions she has made for Chicago.

Johnson says that the work incorporates some of the absurdity of that time of her life, especially how other well-meaning people reacted to a girl in mourning for her dad. There is comedy to be found in people not knowing what to do with you, she says.

Life After is now in previews at runs through July 17 at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.; 312-443-3800 and www.goodmantheatre.org. It Came From Outer Space is slated for June 22 to July 24 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier; 312-595-5600 and www.chicagoshakes.com. The Devil Wears Prada runs July 19 to Aug. 21 at the Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.; 800-775-2000 and www.broadwayinchicago.com.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com
When a witness called 911 around the time of the fatal crash on the I-74 bridge pedestrian path, the dispatcher couldn't hear her.

In the May 22 call, the dispatching center in Milan had transferred the caller to the dispatching center in Davenport.

"Ma'm, I can't hear you at all," the Scott Emergency Communications Center, SECC, dispatcher told the caller.

The problem is not unusual.

The emergency call made on May 22 ultimately was determined to be unrelated to the incident on the bridge. It was supplied to the Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus as part of an Open Records Law request for information related to the crash.

"I apologize for the sound quality," Tracey Sanders, deputy director of SECC, said when supplying the recording.

"The audio issue is concerning, I agree," she wrote in an email when asked how frequently the issue occurs. "We are working with our partners in Illinois to get this resolved as soon as possible.

"I do not want to misspeak on behalf of Illinois, so I wont try to explain what the cause of this is. You might get some answers from the ETSB (Emergency Telephone System Board) in Rock Island County."

The longtime head of that board is Milan Village Administrator Steve Seiver, who explained that audio issues and dropped calls are not uncommon enough for frustrated dispatchers, "who hate to hang up on callers."

The problems also aren't new. While cellphone technology has hindered seamless emergency calling, the same technology now is ready to help.

Cell towers make decisions, not dispatch centers

The glitches at local 911 dispatching centers are outside of local control. While they can occur anywhere, border states have long struggled with call-transfer problems.

There's more to transferring calls back-and-forth between Scott and Rock Island counties than pushing a button. And whatever information is collected by the first dispatcher to take the call doesn't automatically follow the transfer, which can lead to the loss of precious time in duplication.

"The transfer is either done through a dialed 10-digit transfer, or it's a stored 10-digit number," Seiver said. "Across state lines, there is no ability to send as a 911 call; it has to be a 10-digit transfer.

"That has a lot of down sides to it."

As the preponderance of 911 calls are made on cellphones, not land lines, the entire network is at the mercy of cellphone towers. The way in which antennas receive calls has a big impact on the way they are routed.

And, since many calls are made from moving vehicles, cell towers can become "confused" when determining where the calls should go.

Consider this: From December 2021 to May 2022, Seiver and others at the ETSB looked at the hard numbers, "because we wanted to know how bad it is," he said.

In that time, 2,997 calls that were handled by 911 dispatchers in Rock Island County had to be redirected to Scott County. But Scott County received only 17 calls for transfer during the same period.

The reason for the considerable disparity is simple: The location of cell towers on bluffs of the Mississippi River and the direction in which the antennas are aimed.

Rather than moving cell towers, another fix is in the works.

Rock Island County soon to see improvements

Seiver used this scenario when explaining where cellular technology has failed emergency services:

"You can be in Target and have your phone alert you to a sale on Bounty paper towels in aisle 3," he said. "They know more about you than 911.

"Last month, AT&T announced it will be the first carrier to route calls by allowing smartphones' GPS to determine a caller's location, rather than a cell tower making a guess."

Called NextGen 911, the move in public safety is toward making use of data that can be transmitted by phone, including pictures, videos and text messages. The system is in the late stages of a rollout, and Seiver said that hopes are high that NextGen 911 will resolve the Quad-Cities' problems with emergency-call transfers.

"The good news is that we are part of the statewide plan to address these border-state issues," he said. "Smartphone operating systems are equipped with 911 technology, and AT&T is the first to allow your phone to send your location directly to 911."

What still needs to happen

All emergency 911 systems were designed for analog land lines.

A system called Voice Over IP (internet protocol) allowed for the use of broadband internet, rather than a phone line. The new framework for delivery opens the door for public safety to connect directly with cellphone data.

Fully deployed, callers could send on-scene photos from an accident or a fire, for instance, directly to first responders.

As soon as officials in Illinois give the green light to the GIS (geographic information system) mapping that is being proposed for a nationwide rollout, Seiver said, the four dispatching centers in the Illinois Quad-Cities will be ready to board.

"This has never been a failure of Scott County, Iowa, or Rock Island County, Illinois," Seiver said."It's been a failure of the system itself. Somebody needs help, and the system hasn't always allowed us to get them help."

Despite the glitches, the dispatching centers have found ways to ensure technology's imperfections do not become catastrophic for callers in need.

Sanders described the systems of backup that have long been in place in Scott County and elsewhere to thwart the glitches: "If we have any calls that the audio is more difficult than others, we work together with partners in the room to make sure we have an address to send responders ... to ensure all information that can be gathered is.

"Our last resort would be disconnecting with the caller ... and calling them right back to get a better connection with them. We try not to do this as we dont want to disconnect phone calls if we dont have to.

"Illinois does a great job of gathering initial information for us as a redundancy, so we can call them to verify an address if we need to clarify anything and if we believe we didnt hear something correctly."

Added Seiver: "Dispatchers can't hear what a caller is saying, and they don't give a damn about technology. They want to help."

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The Biden administration reportedly is considering using executive orders to protect women whose right to abortion may soon be eliminated in Republican states like Missouri, if and when the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. Presidential over-use of these unilateral orders has long been a legitimate concern, but if ever an issue cried out for this kind of intervention, its this one. Most Americans continue to support some level of abortion rights, but are close to being overruled by a radical political minority.

The draft Supreme Court opinion that leaked in early May indicates the courts conservatives will soon eliminate the constitutional right to abortion that has protected women for almost 50 years. In red states, laws are already in place that will automatically go into effect with Roes demise, outlawing abortion from the moment of conception in almost all cases and returning women to the second-class-citizen status they endured pre-Roe.

The best solution to this coming dystopia would be a federal law setting minimum abortion rights nationwide. But thats a political impossibility even in a Democrat-controlled Senate, because of the filibuster. Biden couldnt do that by executive order, but there are safety-net policies he might be able to create that could at least mitigate the worst injustices that some legislative extremists in Missouri and elsewhere are anxious to impose on women.

The New York Times reports the administration is laying groundwork to challenge any attempt by states to prevent women from traveling to other states to obtain the abortion services their own states will soon ban. That kind of Big Brother scenario isnt some paranoid fantasy. Missouri legislators this year considered proposals to punish doctors in other states based on Missouri law, and even to censor information Missouri women could receive online about abortion services. Once the ability of states to outlaw abortion is no longer just speculative, expect these folks to double down on those kinds of Kafkaesque ideas.

The administration is also looking at ways to ensure that women in red states can still obtain mail-order, FDA-approved drugs that can terminate early-stage pregnancies  another avenue that red states are seeking to close. Among the actions Biden could take is to declare a state of emergency (based on the expected flood of patients to abortion clinics that border abortion-ban states), which in turn could protect the licenses of doctors who provide telemedicine services to women in those states.

Other ideas, like turning U.S. military bases into abortion rights oases (theyre technically outside the legal jurisdiction of the states in which theyre located) would be unlikely to withstand legal challenges. But the administration should do whatever it legally can to restore some of the protection for half of Americas population that a handful of robed ideologues are about to rip away.

This editorial originally appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

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An enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe, Anna Jealous of Him never intentionally set out to build a career in healthcare. It seems the path chose her, guiding her through roles as a state-certified nursing assistant and pharmacy technician before becoming a registered nurse.

As a child, I disliked hospitals, medicine and shots, but I always wanted to help people, she explains. Through my various positions, I met health professionals who encouraged me to become a nurse, and eventually, I took the step to pursue higher education.

Anna earned her bachelor of science in nursing degree from the South Dakota State University College of Nursing in fall 2021.

It took me five years, but I took a course or two through the local tribal college between 2012 and 2014 to help get some of my general education credits before applying to SDSU, she explains.

As a single working mother, Anna struggled to meet the demands of her coursework while also dealing with the challenges of poverty, mental health and addiction issues within her family. She didnt have internet access at home, sometimes finishing her homework in the parking lot of a hospital or bookstore.

I took a hybrid anatomy and physiology course that was intense, failing the first attempt and retaking it, she says. It was the same with microbiology. It was hard to retake two semesters due to my personal circumstances. Through it all, it was a learning and healing process for me. The courses provided the knowledge I needed to pass the [National Council Licensing Examination] and start my career.

Over the course of earning her degree, Anna began to better understand the complexity and impacts of her Indigenous upbringing and now intends to use what shes learned to address disparities in the healthcare profession. As an Indigenous person who was born and raised on a reservation, Anna found it challenging to maintain her own identity. Anna was able to achieve this through her work with SDSUs Native American Nursing Education Center (NANEC).

Mentors in the NANEC team contribute greatly to student success through intentional mentoring that supports the students academic, social, cultural and financial challenges within the degree program, says Mary Anne Krogh, the colleges dean. We see the emotion and joys as those students work toward graduation, cross the stage at commencement and enter the workforce.

Nursing is a career of service, and in this, we have to constantly be evaluating ourselves, says Anna. We have to face our biased views and see where they originate.

With a mission to support the ambitions and aspirations of Native American nursing students, NANEC offers mentoring programs for both undergraduate and graduate students, a break room for students and faculty, Soup and Learn (Wohanpi na Wounspe) sessions led by Lakota speakers and honoring ceremonies (Yu'onihan) at graduation. To date, more than 30 students have graduated with assistance from NANEC and a recent grant could allow that number to surpass 100 in the near future.

After graduation, Anna enlisted the help of an Indian Health Service recruiter and NANEC for job placement. Anna passed the National Council Licensing Examination in February, began applying for nursing positions in March, and started a new job in May.

With locations in Brookings, Sioux Falls, Aberdeen and Rapid City, South Dakota State University offers a variety of pathways to nursing education. Through a new partnership with Black Hills State University and Monument Health, SDSU has created the West River Health Science Center to serve as a comprehensive hub for its nursing program and the Native American Nursing Education Center. For more information, visit sdstate.edu.

This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com.

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An adult man was found dead in Rapid Creek on Monday afternoon, according to the Rapid City Police Department.

The RCPD and the Rapid City Fire Department responded to a report of an unconscious person in Rapid Creek at approximately 2:30 p.m. Monday near North Maple Avenue and Omaha Street.

After RCPD and RCFD arrived at the scene, they discovered the person was dead and called in the Rapid City/Pennington County Water Rescue Team to retrieve the body.

RCPD spokesperson Brendyn Medina said the rescue team recovered the body around 3:30 p.m. The RCPD is investigating the death.

As of late Monday afternoon, Medina said there didn't appear to be any signs of foul play, but an autopsy will be performed to further determine the circumstances surrounding the death.

"We're going to continue to work through this like we would any other unattended death," he said.

Police have been able to preliminarily identify the man, but are unable to release his name until next of kin is notified.

 Contact Shalom Baer Gee at sgee@rapidcityjournal.com 

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PIERRE | The South Dakota Senate on Tuesday convicted Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg of two impeachment charges stemming from a 2020 fatal accident, removing and barring him from future office in a stinging rebuke that showed most senators didnt believe his account of the crash.

Ravnsborg, a first-term Republican who only recently announced he wouldn't seek reelection, showed little emotion as senators convicted him first of committing a crime that caused someone's death. They then delivered another guilty verdict on a malfeasance charge that alleged he misled investigators and misused his office.

Ravnsborg told a 911 dispatcher the night of the crash that he might have struck a deer or other large animal, and has said he didnt know he struck a man  55-year-old Joseph Boever  until he returned to the scene the next morning. Criminal investigators said they didnt believe some of Ravnsborgs statements, and several senators made clear they didn't either.

There's no question that was a lie, said Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, the chamber's top-ranking Republican. This person ran down an innocent South Dakotan.

Schoenbeck also criticized Ravnsborg for declining to testify in his own defense, saying Ravnsborg should have shared what the hell he was doing the night of the crash.

There's a mic right there, and that's a damn short walk," Schoenbeck said.

The convictions required a two-thirds majority in the Senate, controlled 32-3 by Republicans. Senators mustered the bare minimum 24 votes to convict Ravnsborg on the first charge, with some senators saying the two misdemeanors he pleaded guilty to weren't serious enough crimes to warrant impeachment. The malfeasance charge  Ravnsborg also asked investigators what data could be found on his cellphone, among other things  sailed through with 31 votes.

Votes to bar Ravnsborg from future office, taken on both counts, were unanimous.

Ravnsborgs face showed little emotion throughout the votes, holding his hand over his mouth as he had for much of the trial, then writing on a notepad in his lap. He did not answer questions from reporters as he exited the Capitol.

Ravnsborg in September agreed to an undisclosed settlement with Boevers widow.

Nick Nemec, Boevers cousin who has been a constant advocate for a severe punishment for Ravnsborg, said the votes were vindication.

Its just a relief. Its been nearly two years that this has drug on and it just feels like a weight off my shoulders, he said.

Ravnsborg is the first official to be impeached and convicted in South Dakota history.

Gov. Kristi Noem, who will pick Ravnsborg's replacement until the candidate elected to replace him in November is sworn in, called for her fellow Republican to resign soon after the crash and later pressed lawmakers to pursue impeachment. As the saga dragged on, Noem publicly endorsed Ravnsborgs predecessor, Republican Marty Jackley, for election as his replacement. Noem made no immediate comment on the Senate outcome.

Ravnsborg has argued that the governor, who has positioned herself for a possible 2024 White House bid, pushed for his removal in part because he had investigated ethics complaints against Noem.

As the impeachment trial opened Tuesday, prosecutors drove at a question that has hung over developments since the September 2020 crash: Did Ravnsborg know he killed a man the night of the crash?

He absolutely saw the man that he struck in the moments after, said Alexis Tracy, the Clay County states attorney who led the prosecution.

Prosecutors also told senators that Ravnsborg had used his title to set the tone and gain influence in the aftermath of the crash, even as he allegedly made misstatements and outright lies to the crash investigators. The prosecution played a montage of audio clips of Ravnsborg referring to himself as the attorney general.

Prosecuting attorneys probed Ravnsborg's alleged misstatements during the aftermath of the crash, including that he never drove excessively over the speed limit, that he had reached out to Boevers family to offer his condolence, and that he had not been browsing his phone during his drive home.

The prosecution played a series of video clips during their closing arguments that showed Ravnsborg's shifting account of his phone use during interviews with criminal investigators. The attorney general at first outright denied he had been using his phone while driving, but then acknowledged he had been looking at his phone minutes before the crash. When it was time for senators to speak, several noted an accident reconstruction that found Ravnsborg's car had veered entirely out of its lane, in contrast to his initial statement that he was in the middle of the road at the time of impact.

Ravnsborg resolved the criminal case last year by pleading no contest to a pair of traffic misdemeanors, including making an illegal lane change and using a phone while driving, and was fined by a judge.

The attorney generals defense asked senators to consider the implications of impeachment on the function of state government. Ross Garber, a legal analyst and law professor at Tulane University who specializes in impeachment proceedings, told senators to impeach would be undoing the will of the voters.

Ravnsborg was driving home from a political fundraiser after dark on Sept. 12, 2020, on a state highway in central South Dakota when his car struck something, according to a transcript of his 911 call afterward. He told the dispatcher it might have been a deer or other animal.

Investigators identified what they thought were slips in Ravnsborgs statements, such as when he said he turned around at the accident scene and saw him before quickly correcting himself and saying: I didnt see him. And they contended that Boevers face had come through Ravnsborgs windshield because his glasses were found in the car.

Weve heard better lies from 5-year-olds, Pennington County State's Attorney Mark Vargo, acting as an impeachment prosecutor, said of Ravnsborg's statement.

Investigators had determined the attorney general walked right past Boevers body and the flashlight Boever had been carrying  still illuminated the next morning  as he looked around the scene the night of the crash.

Ravnsborg said neither he nor the county sheriff who came to the scene knew that Boever's body was lying just feet from the pavement on the highway shoulder.

There isnt any way you can go by without seeing that, Arnie Rummel, an agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation who led the criminal probe, said in testimony Tuesday.

Prosecutors also raised an exchange that Ravnsborg had with one of his staff members three days following the crash, after he had submitted his phones to crash investigators. Ravnsborg questioned an agent in the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation about what would turn up during forensic exams of his cellphones, even though the agency was supposed to have no part in the investigation to avoid conflicts of interest.

We were not supposed to be involved, the now-retired agent, Brent Gromer, said as he described why the exchange made him uncomfortable.

Ravnsborg's defense attorney contended that the attorney general had done nothing nefarious. His defense attorney, Mike Butler, described any discrepancies in Ravnsborg's memory of that night as owing to human error, and disparaged testimony from Rummel, the crash investigator, as opinion that would not hold up in a court of law.

During closing arguments, Butler stated that the criminal prosecution found no criminal culpability for Boever's death and urged senators to refrain from rehashing that case.

No amount of fire and brimstone changes that given fact, he said.

Sen. Arthur Rusch, a retired judge who said he had gotten to know Ravnsborg when he was a young attorney practicing in Ruschs court, was among senators who didnt support impeachment on the first charge, but did on the second. He said he was bothered by Ravnsborgs actions in questioning Division of Criminal Investigation agents on aspects of the case and for issuing a press release on attorney general stationery.

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About 150 people showed up to a protest organized by South Dakota's chapter of the National Organization for Women in response to the Supreme 
Most Americans donate charitably from their abundance but when you receive the gift of one of the only chickens a family owns, it changes your life.

Such was the case in May when 10 Rapid City and Spearfish Rotarians visited the homes of their sponsored students at the School of St. Jude in Arusha, Tanzania.

They were part of about 35 mostly South Dakota Rotarians and spouses who traveled to Africa to enjoy a photo safari and visit the School of St. Jude.

The week-long Safaris-R-Us trip in the Serengeti Plains, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara provided a stunning experience with African wildlife. It was one of the first safaris in the area since Covid.

The group then headed for the School of St. Jude, which now educates 1,800 students who are the brightest students from the poorest families.

The school was started 20 years ago by Gemma Sisia, an Australian woman, who married a man from Tanzania and decided to start the school in his hometown.

Rapid City residents have been involved in the schools success for 19 of those years.

It was in 2003 when Rushmore Club Rotarians Pat and Willis Sutliff met Sisia at an international convention in Brisbane, Australia. The Sutliffs were so impressed that they immediately began building U.S. financial support for the school.

A major part of their effort is recruiting people to visit the school.

Also on the trip were Rapid City Rotarians Ashok Kumar and his wife Kaushi, both longtime medical doctors.

Nothing prepares you until you go and see for yourself, he said of Tanzanias poverty.

At the school, the U.S. visitors spent time with St. Jude students, enjoying lunches, participating in classes, discussing careers and exchanging culture. They also were honored at the schools equivalence of high school graduation, where Pat Sutliff was a guest speaker.

The school is unique in that it provides a free education to the brightest students from the poorest families. It is funded largely by sponsors with connections to Rotary clubs in Australia and the United States.

Tanzania, on Africas eastern coast, is home to about 66.6 million people. About 80% live on less than $4 a day.

Education is a luxury and most adults average only 5.8 years of school. Only about 28% of Tanzanian students will enter the equivalence of middle school and even fewer graduate high school and about 8% get university degrees.

But the School of St. Jude is a beacon of hope on the edge of Arusha, a city of about 580,000 people.

Sisia explained that Tanzania has about 17,500 primary (elementary) schools and less than 800 high schools. Students must take national exams at the end of sixth grade and 10th grade in order to compete for a few higher-level grades.

Often it is the poorer students whose families cannot afford government schools that do not continue and Sisias goal is to help the brightest students escape poverty.

The Tanzanian school system leaves a lot to be desired, Sutliff said. This school gives very poor families a chance to have their children receive an education.

The Sutliffs have sponsored at least one student for nearly their entire association with the school. They also helped form the American Friends of the School of St. Jude foundation.

It is amazing to see where these students come from and what they are like when they graduate, she said. They are going to make a difference in their country. For us to touch and change other peoples lives on the other side of the world is amazing.

Admission to the school is competitive. About 4,000 students including the top 10% from government schools make the first cut. After academic tests, the number may drop to less than 1,000.

School staff then visits the home of each prospective student and if they meet the poverty criteria, they may become one the few hundred eventually admitted. Once admitted the students receive a free education and 80% are housed on campus.

They are hungry (to learn) Sisia said of St. Jude students. They know what a government school is like. Imagine being in a government school not having a teacher half the time. You have to self-teach yourself. You have to really have that determination factor.

Rotarians on the St. Jude visit were taken to a government school. No education buildings in South Dakota are anywhere as poor as these schools. Some classes can have 60 to 100 students.

So being accepted to St. Jude, where instruction is in English, is similar to winning the lottery.

The school depends on hosting visitors to advance its sponsorship support. Two years of Covid had a negative impact as about 24% of current enrollment is without sponsors.

The Rotary visitors also broke into small groups to visit the homes of their sponsored students.

Sutliff said that making home visits and witnessing the poverty breaks your heart. But one of the wonderful things is they are so thankful for the education being provided. The kids work really hard to take advantage of what they have been given.

But the School of St. Jude is helping lift not only the students, but their families out of poverty.

The impact school sponsors have on the School of St. Jude is having is changing the world.

It is just little raindrops that makes a big flood, Ashok Kumar said. You see the flood, but it is just the small raindrops that started it.

On a home visit, the sponsors bring a gift prepared by the school  essential items such as cooking oil, soap and solar lamps as many houses do not have running water or electricity. In return, it is tradition for the family to give a gift to the sponsor.

Fellow Rotarian Janet Kahler, and her daughter Deonne, first visited the school five years ago. The pair now sponsor four students.

When I met my young student Beatrice (five years ago), she didnt speak any English, Kahler said. On this visit the family remembered us. We feel it is important to let them know we are coming back. Her mother hugged us. The whole neighborhood was there. They are so grateful for the childs education.

Chris Heacock said the families are so grateful someone is sponsoring their students education. You dont get educated for yourself so you can go somewhere and have a great life, she said. You get educated so you can give back and help your family and community.

When the home visits end, the host family offers a significant gift. Chris and her husband Roger Heacock received live chickens, as did the Kahlers.

It is so important in their culture that even if you have so little, you give a gift, Chris Heacock said. I realized it was very important to graciously accept the chicken.

Kahler added, It means a lot for them to give it to you. Giving one of your chickens away is a big deal and I get teary thinking about it.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Teachers unable to get paychecks. Tax and customs systems paralyzed. Health officials unable to access medical records or track the spread of COVID-19. A countrys president declaring war against foreign hackers saying they want to overthrow the government.

For two months now, Costa Rica has been reeling from unprecedented ransomware attacks disrupting everyday life in the Central American nation. It's a situation raising questions about the United States' role in protecting friendly nations from cyberattacks when Russian-based criminal gangs are targeting less developed countries in ways that could have major global repercussions.

Today its Costa Rica. Tomorrow it could be the Panama Canal, said Belisario Contreras, former manager of the cybersecurity program at the Organization of American States, referring to a major Central American shipping lane that carries a large amount of U.S. import and export traffic.

Last year, cybercriminals launched ransomware attacks in the U.S. that forced the shutdown of an oil pipeline that supplies the East Coast, halted production of the worlds largest meat-processing company and compromised a major software company that has thousands of customers around the world.

The Biden administration responded with a whole of government action that included included diplomatic, law enforcement and intelligence efforts designed to put pressure on ransomware operators.

Since then, ransomware gangs have shied away from big-game targets in the U.S. in pursuit of victims unlikely to provoke a strong response by the U.S.

Theyre still prolific, theyre making enormous amounts of money, but theyre just not in the news everyday, Eleanor Fairford, a deputy director at the UKs National Cyber Security Centre, said at a recent U.S. conference on ransomware.

Tracking trends of ransomware attacks, in which criminals encrypt victims' data and demand payment to return them to normal, is difficult. NCC Group, a UK cybersecurity firm that tracks ransomware attacks, said the number of ransomware incidents per month so far this year has been higher than it was in 2021. The company noted that the ransomware group CL0P, which has aggressively targeted schools and health care organizations, returned to work after effectively shutting down for several months.

But Rob Joyce, the director of cybersecurity at the National Security Agency, has said publicly that there's been a decrease in the number of ransomware attacks since Russia's invasion of Ukraine thanks to increased heightened concerns of cyberattacks and new sanctions that make it harder for Russian-based criminals to move money.

The ransomware gang known as Conti launched the first attack against the Costa Rican government in April and has demanded a $20 million payout, prompting the newly installed President Chaves Robles to declare a state of emergency as the tax and customs offices, utilities and other services were taken offline. Were at war and this is not an exaggeration, he said.

Later, a second attack, attributed to a group known as Hive knocked out the public health service and other systems. Information about individual prescriptions are offline and some workers have gone weeks without their paycheck. Its caused significant hardship for people like 33-year-old teacher Alvaro Fallas.

I live with my parents and brother and they are depending on me, he said.

In Peru, Conti has also attacked the countrys intelligence agency. The gangs darkweb extortion site posts purportedly stolen documents with the agencys information, like one document market secret that details coca-eradication efforts.

Experts believe developing countries like Costa Rica and Peru will remain particularly ripe targets. These countries have invested in digitizing their economy and systems but dont have as sophisticated defenses as wealthier nations .

Costa Rica has been a longtime stable force in a region often known for upheaval. It has a long established democratic tradition and well-run government services.

Paul Rosenzweig, a former top DHS official and cyber consultant who is now a legal resident of Costa Rica, said the country presents a test case for what exactly the U.S. government owes its friendly and allied governments who fall victim to disruptive ransomware attacks. While an attack on a foreign country may not have any direct impact on U.S. interests, the federal government still has a strong interest in limiting the ways in which ransomware criminals can disrupt the global digital economy, he said.

Costa Rica is a perfectly good example because its the first, Rosenzweig said. Nobody has seen a government under assault before.

So far, the Biden administration has said little publicly about the situation in Costa Rica. The U.S. has provided some technical assistance through its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, via an information-sharing program with nations around the world. And the State Department has offered a reward for the arrest of members of Conti.

Eric Goldstein, the executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA, said Costa Rica has a computer emergency response team that had an established relationship with counterparts in the U.S. before the incidents. But his agency is expanding its international presence by establishing its first overseas attache position in the U.K. It plans others in as-yet unspecified locations.

If we think about our role, CISA and the US government, it is intrinsically of course to protect American organizations. But we know intuitively that the same threat actors are using the same vulnerabilities to target victims around the world," he said.

Conti is one of the more prolific ransomware gangs currently operation and has hit over 1,000 targets and received more than $150 million in payouts in the last two years, per FBI estimates.

At the start of invasion of Ukraine, some of Contis members pledged on the groups dark web site to use all our possible resources to strike back at the critical infrastructures of an enemy if Russia was attacked. Shortly afterward, sensitive chat logs that appear to belong to the gang were leaked online, some of which appeared to show ties between the gang and the Russian government.

Some cyber threat researchers say Conti may be in the middle of a rebranding, and its attack on Costa Rica may be a publicity stunt to provide a plausible story for the groups demise. Ransomware groups that receive lots of media attention often disappear, only for its members to pop back up later operating under a new name.

On its darkweb site, Conti has denied thats the case and continues to post victims files. The gangs most recent targets include a city parks department in Illinois, a manufacturing company in Oklahoma and food distributor in Chile.

AP writer Javier Cordoba contributed from San Jose, Costa Rica.
Two more inmates who walked away from a minimum security satellite camp at the Federal Correctional Complex Petersburg surrendered early Tuesday to the staff of the facility where they were housed. Only one of four inmates who escaped Friday is still at large.

Corey Branch, 41, and Kareem Shaw, 46, turned themselves in without incident just after midnight Tuesday, said Kevin Connolly, a supervisor with the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, which is assisting in the search and capture of the inmates. Tavares Graham, 44, surrendered early Sunday morning.

The satellite camp, which houses low-security risk inmates in a dormitory, is adjacent to the Federal Bureau of Prisons minimum-security facility at 1100 River Road in Prince George County.

The four inmates were discovered missing from the satellite camp around 1:45 a.m. Saturday. Authorities believe they walked away around 9:30 or 10 p.m. Friday.

They are all serving a federal sentence; they are just allowed to serve their sentences in this sort-of work release camp, Connolly said. They are out in the community during the day. So they are trusted to work in the community and because of their [backgrounds], the Bureau of Prisons will take a chance on them and give them jobs to work for the state or the government.

This is not something where they werent already in the community, Connolly added. There could have been a myriad of friends that have visited them ... so they had contact with the outside world. It wasnt like they were confined to that facility.

But at the end of the day, the inmates are required to report back to prison camp. They were not supposed to be gone [Friday] evening at all, Connolly said. They apparently left after a 9:30 head count at the camp.

All four men face new federal charges of escaping from a federal prison, which carries a punishment of up to five years in prison.

Branch, Graham and Shaw were serving federal prison sentences ranging from 10 to 16 years for major drug offenses involving fentanyl, cocaine or heroin. Branch and Graham were also convicted of possessing firearms after being convicted of a felony or in furtherance of drug trafficking. Willis was serving 18 years for possessing and concealing a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

1 of 4 inmates who escaped from Hopewell camp turns himself in One of four escaped inmates who walked away from a federal prison satellite camp in Hopewell has turned himself in, authorities said Monday.
MONTGOMERY, Ala.  Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks has run his race for Senate on former President Donald Trumps election lies, refusing to accept the outcome of the 2020 contest. Hes campaigned alongside the organizers of the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the storming of the Capitol building  the rally where he infamously told the crowd it was time to start kicking ass.

I was proud to stand with Mo Brooks on that stage that day, said Amy Kremer, chair of Women for America First. Mo has the truth on his side.

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But Brooks efforts werent enough to keep him in Trumps favor. The former president rescinded his early Brooks endorsement back in March and then snubbed him a second time, endorsing his rival Katie Britt ahead of Tuesdays Republican runoff election for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Britts former boss, retiring GOP Sen. Richard Shelby.

Alabama is one of a handful of states holding contests Tuesday at the midpoint of a primary season that has been shaped by Trumps effort to influence the GOP. In Virginia, Republicans are choosing between Trump-aligned congressional candidates to take on some of the most vulnerable Democrats in the fall. And in Georgia, Democrats will settle several close races, including deciding which Democrat will challenge Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state who overcame a Trump-backed challenge last month.

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In Washington, D.C., meanwhile, Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser is seeking reelection amid concerns over homelessness and rising crime.

But the Alabama Senate runoff has drawn particular attention both because of the drama surrounding Trumps endorsement and the fact that the winner will likely prevail in November in a state Trump won twice by more than 25 percentage points.

Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., talks with the media after voting in Alabama's state primary in Huntsville, Ala., May 24, 2022. Brooks is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. (Vasha Hunt/AP)

Trump initially endorsed Brooks in the spring of 2021, rewarding an ardent champion of his baseless claims of a stolen election. Brooks had voted against certifying Democrat Joe Bidens presidential election victory and delivered a fiery speech at the rally before the U.S. Capitol insurrection, telling the crowd, Today is the day that American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.

But nearly a year later, Trump rescinded his support after the pairs relationship soured and as the conservative firebrand languished in the polls. Trump blamed his decision on comments Brooks had made months earlier, at an August rally, when he said it was time for the party to move on from the 2020 presidential race  comments Trump claimed showed Brooks, one of the most conservative members of Congress, had gone woke.

But the move was widely seen as an effort by Trump to save face amid other losses, and Brooks alleged that it came after he informed Trump that there was no way to rescind the 2020 election, remove Biden from power, or hold a new special election for the presidency.

Trumps un-endorsement was widely expected to end Brooks campaign. Instead, Brooks managed to finish second in the states May 24 primary, earning 29% of the vote to Britts 45% and forcing a runoff.

Brooks tried once again to get Trump to endorse him, but Trump, who has had a mixed record in backing winning candidates, instead chose Britt, Shelbys former chief of staff, calling her a fearless America First Warrior.

While Brooks and Britt have similar views, their race represents a clash between two wings of the party and different generations. Shelby for decades epitomized the old-guard political style, using his clout and relationships to quietly steer federal projects and funding to his home state.

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Britt, 40, has the endorsement of Shelby and other establishment Republicans, as well as deep ties to the states business community, reflected in her 2-1 fundraising advantage over Brooks.

Brooks, 68, is known for his bombastic oratory style. The six-term congressman was a founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and has made his opposition to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell a pillar of his campaign, embarking on a Fire McConnell Tour of town halls. A super PAC affiliated with McConnell contributed $2 million to a PAC opposing Brooks.

He also has the backing of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who say he would be a needed hard-line addition to the Senate.

This is a race about conservatives versus the establishment, Paul said Friday in north Alabama. We need a fighter. Were not going to get it if you send us any old Republican. We need a fighter like Mo Brooks.

Britt, meanwhile, stresses her own social conservative beliefs and has tried to paint Brooks as a career politician, saying Alabamians want new blood.

President Trump knows that Alabamians are sick and tired of failed, do-nothing career politicians. Its time for the next generation of conservatives to step up and shake things up in Washington, she said after Trumps endorsement.

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Brooks has disparaged Britt as a RINO  the GOP pejorative meaning Republican in name only  and maintained he is the only one with a proven conservative record.

Turnout in the race is expected to be low, with fewer than 15% of registered voters likely to cast ballots, according to Secretary of State John Merrill.

Elsewhere, in the nations capital, where Democratic primaries effectively decide winners, Bowser is trying to fend off challenges from a pair of City Council members as the city contends with a rash of crime, including a shooting Sunday in one of the citys busiest nightlife destinations that left a 15-year-old dead and a police officer and at least two others wounded.

In Virginia, voters are set to pick Republican nominees for what is expected to be a pair of the years most competitive U.S. House races.

In the coastal 2nd District, state Sen. Jen Kiggans is widely seen as the GOP front-runner in the Republican race to take on Democrat Elaine Luria, a retired Naval commander and member of the House Jan. 6 committee, in the general election. In central Virginias 7th District, six candidates are in a competitive race to face Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer.

And in Georgia, Democratic state Rep. Bee Nguyen is trying to defeat former state Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler in the secretary of states race. The winner will face Republican Raffensperger, who rebuffed Trumps efforts to find enough votes to overturn Bidens win in the states 2020 presidential election and beat back a Trump-endorsed challenger in his May 24 primary.

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In congressional runoffs, Republican Vernon Jones, a Trump-backed candidate and former Democrat, is competing against trucking company owner Mike Collins for the Republican nomination for the 10th Congressional District seat east of Atlanta.

Republicans also have high hopes of knocking off 30-year Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop in southwest Georgias 2nd District. The GOP is choosing between former Army officer Jeremy Hunt and real estate developer Chris West.

Colvin reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.
The family of the 23-year-old Richmond man who was fatally shot in a parking lot in Shockoe Bottom last month is offering a reward for information about the person captured in surveillance footage near the shooting.

At 2:10 a.m. on May 21, Richmond police were called to the 1500 block of East Main Street, where officers found Xavier Brown down and unresponsive in a parking lot. He had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Browns family has offered a $3,500 reward for information that leads to the identification and conviction of the person in the footage, who police say is suspected of shooting Brown.

Anyone with information about this homicide investigation is asked to call Major Crimes Detective M. Gouldman (804) 646-3915 or contact Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app also may be used. All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous.
The Chesterfield County School Board is meeting Tuesday to vote on the adoption of an $836 million operating budget, a decision critical to ensuring funding is available on July 1 for the upcoming year.

The vote will be divided into two parts: voting on the budget the Board of Supervisors approved on April 6 and adopting the updated revenue plans finally underway after state budget delays.

With counties depending on the legislature to finalize the revenue available for potential programs, the indecision created months of disrupted planning.

These are the major changes between the boards approved $829 million operating budget for CCPS and the proposed revisions, which come with about a $7 million increase.

The boards approved budget came with an $8.5 million reduction in expenses while assuring an allocation for teacher raises, with nearly half of that reduction from instruction. But according to School Board documents, the 2023 operating budget from the supervisors is a nearly $68 million increase from last years, or a roughly 9% change.

The revised budget taking into account additional revenue is an almost $75 million jump from 2022, or almost 10%.

At the time of the school boards approval, the results of a third party salary study and the results of the Virginia General Assembly session were not known, and an unbalanced budget was approved reflecting a deficit of $8.5 million, wrote Superintendent Merv Daugherty in a memorandum to School Board members.

The 38 amendments submitted by Gov. Glenn Youngkin earlier this month do not appear to impact CCPS, according to a presentation uploaded to the School Board agenda.

General Assembly actions, however, reduced state funding for CCPS operating budget by slightly less than $1 million, and nearly $6 million was removed from the Capital Improvement Plan.

Major focal points for Chesterfield schools infrastructure plan is five new or rebuilt elementary schools, three new or rebuilt middle schools and one new high school. The county is planning a referendum in November for additional funding, which would give voters the power to choose whether Chesterfield raises funds through the selling of bonds.

There will also be about a $1.1 million reduction from teacher raise funding beginning Aug. 1. The county plans to absorb the cost by increasing local support to CCPS.

With the raises effective in August and not July, the teacher raises land at a 4.6% increase instead of the initial 5%. Teachers are expected to continue making 8.6% to 8.8% more this upcoming fiscal year, which would increase starting salary from $46,000 to $49,481.

The state provided $6 million for one-time $1,000 bonuses for Standards of Quality positions, which would include bus drivers, teaching contracts at high needs schools, food service associates, custodians, instructional assistants and more. This would be in addition to the already-planned bonuses for these positions, a move repeatedly deemed vital by officials to bolster the workforce.

CCPS has struggled to retain teachers during the pandemic, an issue clouding districts nationwide as they push to recover from the past 2 years.

In a June 7 meeting, the countys chief of human resources, Kimberly Hough, reported the number of teacher vacancies has nearly doubled since early February.

The more than 350 teaching positions sitting unfilled in Chesterfield County Public Schools is blowing open a nearly $17 million budget surplus for 2022.

Other changes noted in School Board documents are modest increases for reading specialists and a reduction for teachers of English Language Learners in comparison to the budget introduced by former Gov. Ralph Northam.

The adoption of the revised budget would include nearly $4.7 million to Appomattox Regional Governors School, for which Chesterfield serves as the financial representative.

State funding will help establish the Chesterfield Recovery Academy, with $864,000 allocated for the first year and $500,000 for the second year. The high school would be a pilot program aimed at helping students recover from substance use while continuing their education. Its set to open in late August.

Debbie Bailey, a School Board member representing the Dale District, said in the June 7 meeting that the hiring and enrollment processes could not start until the state budget is approved.

The Chesterfield School Board meets Tuesday at 9 a.m. The meeting will be broadcast at chesterfieldschoolsva.swagit.com/live.
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The ascendance of descendants of the enslaved at Montpelier was the talk of Monticello at a Juneteenth eve event celebrating the growing empowerment of Black voices at historic sites.

After a season of struggle, the Montpelier Descendants Committee recently secured parity on The Montpelier Foundation board through a hard-won power-sharing arrangement at the Orange County estate of James Madison. The parity structure has been lauded as a national model that represents what College of William & Mary anthropologist Michael Blakey called a new day Saturday.

Ive probably got 15 descendant communities on my desk, from Mobile, Alabama, to New Hampshire, all brilliant people ... inspired to stand on their ancestors, to take their equality in the world and tell their story.

Blakey was among nearly two dozen speakers, panelists and performers at Ascendant: The Power of Descendant Communities to Shape Our Stories, Places, and Future, a public summit on the West Lawn of Thomas Jeffersons Monticello, 29 miles from Montpelier.

Never have these stories been more important to our history and American history, said Leslie Greene Bowman, president and CEO of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. The nations upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026 will be a period of reflection as we invite Americans to consider our history, our ideas, our progress and our failures. What kind of country do we seek to shape?

As Ascendant played out beneath a half-filled tent on a sun-splashed day, tourists roamed about the Monticello grounds, apparently oblivious to the star power at this forum, which included Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, Academy Award-nominated director Ava DuVernay and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annette Gordon-Reed.

The America of this moment does not appear to be in the mood to reflect or to contemplate the potential demise of the representative democracy Jefferson and his fellow founders established. Nor do many of our fellow citizens seem eager to engage the contradictions embodied by places like Monticello and Montpelier.

In most advanced democracies after a period of conflict or human rights abuse, there is a period of restitution and concerted memorialization, said public historian Justin Reid of Virginia Humanities. But in the U.S., weve never had a period of transitional justice.

Were late, Reid said. And now its time for us to do that work.

Thomas Jefferson Foundation chair Melody Barnes of Richmond called Monticello one of the most important places in America, because everything that has happened and is reflected in American society is also reflected here. The site can provide a roadmap on where we need to go.

Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation, said as we began to deepen our understanding of inequality in the world, the consistent through line was an ideology of antiblackness and erasure, whether in Brazil, the Caribbean or India.

In the United States, there was no place that manifests this more than Monticello, he said.

But nearly three decades ago, descendants of those who lived and worked at the plantation began to assert their claim to Monticellos legacy through Getting Word, a groundbreaking oral history. The enslaved Sally Hemings, and the children she bore by Jefferson, would become an integral part of Monticellos narrative. A once-neglected African American burial ground at the plantation now includes pathways, plantings and parking for descendants, among the upgrades led by the Getting Word Advisory Committee.

Reid, a Prince Edward County native, cited the Moton Museum in Farmville as an example of how descendant-led institutions elevate the historical narrative.

The story of Massive Resistance in Prince Edward had focused on Black victimhood: The closing of the countys schools by the countys Board of Supervisors in defiance of court-ordered desegregation. But the descendant perspective highlights the resilience, and the strength and the fight and the determination of a Black community that secured two Supreme Court victories over 13 years, including the Brown v. Board of Education decision declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Williams: Racism is a public health crisis. So is the Virginia health commissioner's racism denial. "This sort of denial characterizes so much of the political right's approach to problems, from racism, to gun violence, to climate change to the existential threat to our democracy," writes columnist Michael Paul Williams.

It completely redefines how history is interpreted when its coming from the perspective of those who were most intimately connected to that story, Reid said.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation has not reached The Montpelier Foundations point of parity  about a quarter of the Jefferson Foundations trustees are African American. But Monticello has come an undeniably long way. Simple stories that bordered on hagiography have become richer, more inclusive and more complex.

Cultural institutions must engage difficult truths and hold space for multiple identities.

As for those who would accuse Monticello of being woke and moving away from its mission, the idea is to help people to see that this always should have been its mission, Walker said. And thats the mission of America.
In 1991, three teenagers stumbled upon a headless, handless body which had lied for months near a busy Virginia Beach intersection. Without fingerprints or teeth, police were unable to identify person, presumed to be a young white male.

The body of John Doe has remained unidentified  and his killing unsolved  for decades. Now, a new database developed by Virginia state police aims to bring renewed attention to Doe and other victims.

The online database brings to fruition a bill passed in 2020 and introduced by state delegate Danica Roem, D-Prince William. Roem  who has championed other legislation geared toward increased public access to information  called the database a radical act of transparency.

The goal is to solve unsolved murders, Roem said. If we solve one case that is on this database because the database exists, then the whole things worth it.

John Does case is one of dozens included in the first version of the online database, which went live last week. The tool defines cold cases as a homicide, missing person or unidentified person case that has remained unsolved for at least five years. The cases on the website date back as far as 1973.

The website only details cases investigated by state police but will later include cold case submissions from local law enforcement agencies, Roem said. Currently, 39 homicide cases, six unidentified person cases, and five missing person cases are included on the site.

This version that Virginia State Police has released to the public, this is a great start. It is not the finite, final copy, Roem said. There will be more cases to be added to it.

Cold cases from Hampton Roads include a 1987 homicide in which Robin Margaret Edwards, 14, and David Lee Knobling, 20, were found fatally shot on the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge in Isle of Wight County. Edwards and Knobling were two of 8 victims in a series of homicides that became known as the Colonial Parkway murders, though law enforcement has never conclusively linked the cases.

The site also notes cases anniversaries. On Monday, the database spotlighted 39-year-old Robert Lawrence Smith Jr., who was found fatally shot on June 20, 1992 on the ramp from South Street to Interstate 264 in Portsmouth.

The pages dedicated to the cold cases include victims and missing persons names, ages and other identification information, if available. A short description of the case accompanies the location and date of the crime.

The pages offer the option to share cases on social media or to submit a tip to investigators with the goal of giving justice to victims and closure to families, the websites description reads.
Kellen Squire engaged in a Twitter debate Jan. 28 with Casey Flores over COVID-19.

Your kids are literally obese. But please opine on pediatric health, Flores wrote to Squire, a nurse in Charlottesville and then a former Democratic candidate, who is now running for the House of Delegates.

Flores also posted a photo of Squire and wrote: Before I go  you and your wife should hit the gym lmao. Like youre literally obese  your wife is more so  and youre trying to come at me over health.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently appointed Flores, 31, of Richmond, to the Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory Board for a term that begins July 1, an appointment that remains in place after Youngkins administration reviewed Flores series of public tweets in which Flores trolled elected officials with obscenities and called a female lawmaker in Michigan a b----.

On Monday and Tuesday, following scrutiny of Flores public posts, Democrats and a top Virginia LGBTQ+ leader questioned the qualifications of Flores, who also made a sexual reference about Vice President Kamala Harris and said that he would beat the s--- out of climate change protesters.

While such language and attacks are common on Twitter, they are not common for members of state government advisory boards, in which citizens must work together  often with people of the other political party  to make decisions. The LGBTQ+ Advisory Board has 21 citizen members and will provide policy recommendations to the governor this fall.

Squire said in an interview Tuesday that he wondered back in January where Flores would have seen a photo of his children, who were ages 14, 8 and 5.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Kay Coles James defended Flores last week, saying he had apologized to her over his posts and would mediate his language going forward.

But on Monday, Flores said he laughed after he reviewed his tweets: The tweets were funny.

And on Twitter on Monday and Tuesday, he said that his tweets were correct and called a news story outlining them a promotional work of art. He retweeted someone who questioned the need for a state advisory board on LGBTQ+ issues.

Asked Tuesday about his tweets about Squire and his family, Flores replied by email to say, You are kindly welcome to fact-check the statement I made to him, adding that Squire had made poor life choices.

James Millner, director of Virginia Pride  one of the leading LGBTQ+ rights organizations in the state  raised concerns Tuesday about Youngkins choice, noting that Flores threatened violence in one of his tweets.

How is he going to behave in a professional setting in a meeting where serious issues and disagreements may come up? Millner said.

Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, tweeted: This Youngkin appointee who disparaged people online, and made sexual references about the VP, to note just a few awful tweets should NOT be a gubernatorial appointment.

Democratic Party of Virginia Chairwoman Susan Swecker wrote on Twitter: Vile and disgusting. Id question whether he was vetted  but Youngkin Administration says they knew per Sec Kay Cole James.

When the Democratic Party of Virginia account on Tuesday tweeted that Flores statements were despicable, he responded, Fact-check the tweets then.

Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, wrote on Twitter that last week, Flores had called him a miserable troll. Surovell wrote that he wouldnt support Flores in January when the General Assembly will take up confirmation of his appointment. Democrats control the state Senate.

Looking forward to miserably trolling him when his nomination needs my vote in January, Surovell wrote on Twitter.

Flores, who works in business, has said he spent part of his childhood in Virginia before moving back to Richmond about a year ago.

Youngkin has declined so far to release Flores application for the post, which is a public record under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Five business days after the Richmond Times-Dispatch asked for a copy, an assistant emailed to say the governors office needed seven more days to respond  a provision of the law that allows more time for a response when it is not practically possible to respond within five days.

The governors office said the reason it needed more time was because of ongoing inquiries, but officials declined to be more specific.

Asked Tuesday if Youngkin maintains Flores was the best person for the job and why, the governors spokeswoman, Macaulay Porter, did not immediately provide any answer.
Former Chief Information Officer Nelson Moe will join one of the information technology companies he helped recruit as a vendor for state IT services at the Virginia Information Technology Agency.

Iron Bow Technologies announced Tuesday it has hired Moe as sales strategy principal for the companys state, local government and education institution operation. The company said he will serve as a subject matter expert for those customers to help them optimize their IT systems.

The appointment reunites Moe with Jon Ozovek, his former chief administrative officer at VITA, who left the agency in February after Gov. Glenn Youngkin replaced the CIO soon after his inauguration as governor. Moes replacement, former Kansas CIO Phil Wittmer, resigned after less than a month. Subsequently, Youngkin appointed Robert Osmond, an IT specialist at the Virginia Department of Transportation, as CIO.

Success in the public sector requires a deep understanding of what our customers need, the growing challenges they face daily and how technology can assist in delivering business outcomes for government, said Ozovek, now chief transformation officer at Iron Bow.

Nelson Moe is one of the most successful visionary and transformational public sector leaders that I have come across, he said. He has the experience and insight necessary to empower current and future Iron Bow customers with the tools and strategies to address those growing challenges.

Moe led VITA through its transformation from a system relying solely on one vendor, Northrop Grumman Corp., to a fleet of eight companies that provide a full range of telecommunication services for 65 executive branch agencies with more than 55,000 employees.

The state IT agency signed a $340 million contract with Iron Bow in 2018 to provide end-user services  such as desktop and laptop computers  to agencies during the states transition from a 13-year, $2.4 billion contract with Northrop Grumman.

Moe said in a statement Tuesday that his new role is an exciting opportunity to support my peers and ensure the technology used by our customers will directly benefit both their users and constituents.

I have been consistently impressed with Iron Bows superior performance and commitment to its customers and I look forward to helping shape its future, he said.

Moe was Virginias top information official for almost seven years. He previously worked as chief information officer at the U.S. House of Representatives and as a U.S. Navy submarine officer.
Heat and humidity return to Richmond on Wednesday, leading to showers and thunderstorms in the evening.

Only five days so far this month have reached into the 90s, the hottest coming last Friday when Richmond hit 97 degrees. Central Virginia should eclipse the 90-degree threshold for a few hours Wednesday afternoon before showers and some heavier thunderstorms move in from the north during the latter part of the day.

The humidity will surge like last week, fueling the showers and thunderstorms as well as making damaging winds and brief, heavy rain the biggest hazards.

The steering winds are unusual for this time of year, bringing storms from the north rather than the southwest, which is an artifact of the cooler and less humid air we had over the weekend and earlier this week.

The threat for damaging storms is not especially high, but still important to keep in the back of ones mind for late in the day and well after dark. Ordinarily, when storms approach from the southwest or west, the sun gets obscured a bit longer before the clouds thicken and the rain begins. With storms traveling from north to south, the natural sky cues, indicating a coming storm may be a little shorter that what we have become used to.

Clearing takes place Thursday, leading to a seasonably warm but not especially hot period for Friday and the weekend. Humidity will be noticeable but tolerable this weekend with afternoons in the upper 80s to around 90. Lows generally hold in the upper 60s.

The chance of cooling showers and thunderstorms will be very low from Thursday night through Sunday, so weather for outdoor plans and festivals this weekend looks good. Richmond will also be spared the intense heat impacting a broad area from St. Louis to San Antonio this Friday and Saturday, when afternoons will soar to between 100 and 105 degrees.

This leaves the next good chance for rain in Richmond to wait until Monday, with numerous showers and thundershowers ahead of some slightly cooler and less humid air for Tuesday of next week.

A repeat of last weekends cool surge, however, is not expected.

Summer stripes

This month has been hotter than normal in Richmond so far, but its not been one of the 10 hottest Junes in Richmonds entire period of weather records. So far, it ranks 17th hottest, going back to 1887.

The start of summer also brings a recurring image from meteorologists and other scientists from across the country and the world, a pattern known as the warming strips.

Developed by Ed Hawkins, a scientist in Great Britain, the original design highlights the average global temperature each year, compared with a full 30-year average measured between 1971-2000.

Blue colors indicate cooler than average, and red colors indicate warmer than average. The surge of reds and oranges to the far right signal how consistently warmer the planet has been over the past few decades.

Using different data sets from NOAA, the pattern can be redesigned to show how much warmer or cooler other locations across the world have been.

Statewide, and in Richmond, similar trends are found, with the past couple of decades being the most consistently warm periods since reliable daily temperature records have been kept. This matches other physical evidence from oceans, glaciers and flora, which indicate that the planet continues to warm from the increase in greenhouse gases (via the burning of coal, oil and natural gas).

These emissions continue to increase in 2022, erasing any drops in emissions observed immediately after the 2020 pandemic.
The Virginia attorney generals office says it will not continue challenging David Wayne Kingreas exoneration from a criminal conviction that was based on false court testimony.

That means that an appeals court order earlier this month will stand as a final ruling in Kingreas case  erasing the Montgomery County mans conviction in a child sex abuse case and soon, lifting restrictions that limited his ability to care for his special needs son.

It is overwhelming. Its something out of a storybook, Kingrea said Monday.

The clearing of Kingreas name caps an unusual legal process that started when the main witness against him, who as a boy said Kingrea molested him. The boy, now an adult, returned to the courts years after Kingrea was convicted to say that he had lied and that no sexual abuse occurred.

The Virginia attorney generals office interviewed the witness, then came to a hearing in Montgomery County earlier this year to argue that a judge should believe the witnesses initial testimony, not his recanting.

But this month the Virginia Court of Appeals ruled in Kingreas favor and said his conviction should be thrown out.

On Friday, Victoria LaCivita, communications director for the attorney generals office, wrote in an email that the attorney general will not ask the Virginia Supreme Court to review the decision.

We will not be appealing, LaCivita wrote.

In 2014, Kingrea was brought before a jury on accusations that six years earlier, he had abused the 10-year-old son of his then-girlfriend. Most of the charges against Kingrea were dropped or dismissed. But after the boy testified that Kingrea had touched him inappropriately, jurors found Kingrea guilty on an indecent liberties charge.

The Pilot resident was sentenced to 12 months behind bars and was placed on the Virginia Sex Offender Registry.

In 2020, Kingreas accuser filed an affidavit with the courts saying that his testimony against Kingrea was false.

That prompted Kingreas attorney, Fred Kellerman of Christiansburg, to file a writ of actual innocence with the Virginia Court of Appeals. A review process began and early this year, the appeals court ordered Montgomery County Circuit Court to hold an evidentiary hearing where the accusing witness would be placed under oath and questioned again about what Kingrea had or had not done.

After the witness repeated in court that he was recanting his story and that Kingrea did nothing sexual to him, the case went back to the appeals court. Earlier this month an order of that court cleared Kingrea.

But that order was final only if the Virginia attorney generals office, which sent an attorney to the evidentiary hearing to argue that Kingrea was in fact guilty, did not take the case to the Virginia Supreme Court.

Kellerman said Monday that with the attorney generals office declaring that it would not push the case farther, the appeals court order will take effect early next month. The order directs the circuit court to erase Kingreas conviction, and with it, the sex offender status that has followed Kingrea for eight years.

That should remove him from the registry then and there  and he can go on school property, Kellerman said.

The ban from schools and other child-oriented facilities, something that Virginia imposes on anyone convicted of child sex crimes, was particularly galling to Kingrea because it impacted his care for his son, Dylan.

In 2012, in the midst of legal proceedings, Kingrea married the former Michelle Barker. In 2015, the couple had a son, Dylan. Two years later, the toddler had a seizure, launching years of tests and intensive care regimens.

Dylan eventually was diagnosed with a genetic mutation that causes a deficiency of the amino acid creatine that is needed by the brain and muscles. Other diagnoses include autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, which is a rare type of epilepsy, and more.

Kingrea said Monday that he was becoming emotional just thinking about being able to take his son to and from school. He said that he was planning to reach out to groups that assist children with severe medical issues  and that would be unlikely to aid someone listed as a sex offender.

I want to thank the people thats always stood with us, Kingrea said, naming Kellerman and Lisa Clark, who works with the attorney.  Theyve become part of my family because of the compassion theyve shown.

Kingrea noted that he always had maintained his innocence, even when he was facing decades in prison and was offered plea agreements that would have limited his sentence.

I stood on the truth, Kingrea said.

But the damage from his conviction, which included his not being able to find work, made victims out of his entire family, Kingrea said.

It hurts my heart  Weve had all these unnecessary dramas, Kingrea said.  I can tell you this  I dont assume anybody is guilty anymore, just because somebody says something.

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One of four escaped inmates who walked away from a federal prison satellite camp in Hopewell has turned himself in, authorities said Monday.

Tavares Lajuane Graham, 44, showed up back at the facility early (Sunday) morning and was taken back into custody, said Kevin Connolly, a supervisor with the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Regional Fugitive Task Force, which is assisting in the search and capture of the missing inmates.

Still at large are Corey Branch, Lamonte Rashawn Willis and Kareem Allen Shaw, who were discovered missing from the Federal Correctional Complex Petersburgs satellite camp in Hopewell around 1:45 a.m. Saturday.

These are walkaways ... the information is that they left around 10 p.m. Friday, so they had a couple of hours before they were detected, Connolly said.

The satellite camp, which houses low-risk inmates in a dormitory, is adjacent to the Federal Bureau of Prisons minimum-security facility at 1100 River Road in Hopewell, known as the Federal Correctional Institution Low.

The U.S. Marshals, as they normally do, have obtained all of the background information on these individuals from the facility, the ATF and DEA. ... Were following up on leads on these remaining three, Connolly said.

The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $2,000 per escapee for information leading to their capture, Connolly said.

Tips can be provided to the U.S. Marshals Service on the agencys app, USMS Tips, or at usmarshals.gov/tips.

The U.S. Marshals Service will charge all four inmates with escaping from a federal prison, which if convicted carries a punishment of up to five years in prison. So they will have new charges, in addition to the federal sentences theyre serving down there, Connolly said.

Graham was sentenced in the Eastern District of North Carolina to 10 years for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Branch, 41, was sentenced in the Eastern District of Virginia to more than 13 years for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a felon. Willis, 30, was sentenced in the Eastern District of Virginia to 18 years for possessing and concealing a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Shaw, 46, was sentenced in the Western District of Virginia to more than 16 years for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a measurable quantity of heroin. Shaw, 46, was sentenced in the Western District of Virginia to more than 16 years for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a measurable quantity of heroin.
JERUSALEM  Israels outgoing coalition government will fast-track a bill this week to dissolve parliament, setting up the country for its fifth elections in three years, a Cabinet minister said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced on Monday that he would disband his alliance of eight ideologically diverse parties, a year after taking office, and send the country to the polls. A series of defections from his Yamina party had stripped the coalition of its majority in Israels parliament, known as the Knesset.

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Bennett cited the coalitions failure earlier this month to extend a law that grants West Bank settlers special legal status as a main impetus for new elections. His key ally, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, will become the caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed in the aftermath of elections, which are expected to be held in October.

Welfare Minister Meir Cohen, a member of Lapids Yesh Atid party, told Israeli public broadcaster Kan that the coalition would bring the bill to a preliminary vote on Wednesday.

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We hope that within a week we will complete the process, Cohen said. The intention is to finish it as soon as possible and to go to elections.

A parliamentary committee approved holding a preliminary vote to dissolve parliament on Wednesday, with a final vote expected early next week.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, left, speaks during a joint statement with Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, June 20, 2022. (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

New elections raise the possibility that former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now opposition leader, will be able to stage a comeback. Netanyahu was ousted by the eight-party alliance after four inconclusive elections that were largely seen as referendums on the his fitness to rule. The alliances factions range from dovish liberals opposed to Israeli settlements to hawkish ultranationalists who reject Palestinian statehood. It was only their opposition to Netanyahu that brought them together.

Netanyahu is currently on trial for corruption but has denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the charges as a witch hunt by his political opponents. Israeli law does not explicitly state that a politician under indictment may not become prime minister.

As politicians gear up for fall elections, several coalition members have floated the possibility of passing a law before the Knesset disbands that would bar a lawmaker accused of a crime from serving as prime minister.

Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the aim of his Yisrael Beytenu party in the upcoming elections is to prevent Benjamin Netanyahu from returning to power. Along with the bill to dissolve parliament, he said he would advance legislation on Wednesday to bar a lawmaker under indictment from assuming the premiership.

I hope that bill, too, will find a majority, he said at an economic conference hosted by the Israel Democracy Institute.

Justice Minister Gideon Saar, leader of the New Hope party, told Army Radio that his faction had advocated such a bill and would vote in favor if its brought before parliament.

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Defense Minister Benny Gantz, a centrist who formed a short-lived national unity government with Netanyahu after gridlocked elections in 2020, told reporters he wouldnt partner with him again.

Honestly, in pain and sorrow, I say he has exhausted the political trust that can be given to him, Gantz said.
Two more inmates who walked away from a minimum security satellite camp at the Federal Correctional Complex Petersburg surrendered early Tuesday to the staff of the facility where they were housed. Only one of four inmates who escaped Friday is still at large.

Corey Branch, 41, and Kareem Shaw, 46, turned themselves in without incident just after midnight Tuesday, said Kevin Connolly, a supervisor with the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, which is assisting in the search and capture of the inmates. Tavares Graham, 44, surrendered early Sunday morning.

That leaves Lamonte Rashawn Willis, 30, of Suffolk, who Connolly said remains on the run. A reward of up to $2,000 is available to anyone with information that leads to his arrest.

The satellite camp, which houses low-security risk inmates in a dormitory, is adjacent to the Federal Bureau of Prisons minimum-security facility at 1100 River Road in Prince George County.

The four inmates were discovered missing from the satellite camp around 1:45 a.m. Friday. Authorities believe they walked away around 9:30 or 10 p.m. Friday.

"They are all serving a federal sentence; they are just allowed to serve their sentences in this sort-of work release camp," Connolly said. "They are out in the community during the day. So they are trusted to work in the community and because of their [backgrounds], the Bureau of Prisons will take a chance on them and give them jobs to work for the state or the government."

"This is not something where they weren't already in the community," Connolly added. "There could have been a myriad of friends that have visited them ... so they had contact with the outside world. It wasn't like they were confined to that facility."

But at the end of the day, the inmates are required to report back to prison camp. "They were not supposed to be gone [Friday] evening at all," Connolly said. They apparently left after a 9:30 head count at the camp.

All four men face new federal charges of escaping from a federal prison, which carries a punishment of up to five years in prison.

Branch, Graham and Shaw were serving federal prison sentences ranging from 10 to 16 years for major drug offenses involving fentanyl, cocaine or heroin. Branch and Graham were also convicted of possessing firearms after being convicted of a felony or in furtherance of drug trafficking. Willis was serving 18 years for possessing and concealing a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

1 of 4 inmates who escaped from Hopewell camp turns himself in One of four escaped inmates who walked away from a federal prison satellite camp in Hopewell has turned himself in, authorities said Monday.
Sometimes, the overwhelming nature of a large complex problem impedes its resolution. That could certainly be true with the mental health crisis Virginia is currently experiencing.

The COVID-19 pandemic and societal stressors have triggered depression, anxiety, panic disorder and other mental health conditions throughout the state in an extraordinarily high number of Virginians of all ages.

The skyrocketing demand for mental health services cannot be met by the shrinking number of behavioral health professionals in both the public and private sectors.

Thankfully, Virginias General Assembly has stepped up to help address this worrisome shortage via an array of mental health workforce initiatives included in the state budget it just passed. This will help bring relief to many Virginians via a variety of approaches, including several innovative ones.

Problem #1: 61% of Virginias psychiatrists are age 55 or older and 54 localities have no psychiatrist. Not surprisingly, these mostly rural localities have much poorer outcomes on key behavioral health indicators than the state as a whole. Unfortunately, the pipeline to replace those who retire is not even producing enough psychiatrists to maintain the inadequate number currently practicing. To help address this situation, the General Assembly has funded 10 new psychiatric residency slots.

Problem #2: The number of Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) is insufficient to meet the demand for counseling and the other therapies they are trained to offer.

The new state budget includes two innovative initiatives that will immediately increase the availability of counseling services and ultimately add more than 200 licensed therapists to the trove of mental health professionals practicing in Virginia.

One addresses a significant financial impediment to licensure for Masters of Social Work (MSW) and Masters of Counseling (MC) graduates by paying for the supervision of clinical hours needed for licensure. Many masters graduates cannot afford the fees for 100 to 200 hours of required supervision, respectively, and Virginia is losing the benefit of having a robust corps of talented therapists as a result. The new initiative, Boost 200, will pilot the effect and value of the state paying for the supervision of 100 MSWs and 100 MCs. Priority will be given to applicants who practice in one of Virginias 93 localities that are mental health professional shortage areas (like much of the Roanoke Valley and points west), or to people of color, or who are bilingual.

The other inventive approach provides an opportunity to address the large volume of student mental health concerns at Virginias colleges and universities. The General Assembly has allotted funding for university student health centers to hire MSWs or MCs via grants from the State Council on Higher Education for Virginia. Needed counseling will be available under supervision in the short term and Virginia will gain more LCSWs and LPCs in the longer term.

Problem #3: Many children are suffering from depression, anxiety and other mental health stressors. Pediatricians typically dont have the training to treat them and are not equipped to manage mental health in their medical practices.

The General Assembly has provided additional funding for the creative and effective Virginia Mental Health Access Program, which gives pediatricians the training and tools they need to serve children with mental health needs. This includes year-round education opportunities and access and provides access to on-call child and adolescent psychiatrists 40 hours a week. It also provides care navigation and referrals to needed resources.

A robust workforce of licensed behavioral health professionals is essential to making needed mental health services available in both the public and private sectors. No single initiative can address the current and growing shortage. The multidimensionality of solutions and strategies requires a multi-pronged approach with cross sector engagement, focus, and investments of time, money, and attention targeted to initiatives which will produce measurable results. To determine the most effective ways to expand the behavioral health workforce, the General Assembly has directed the governors office to designate a member of the executive branch to be an advisor on health workforce development in Virginia and provided some funding to support the effort.

Virginia is a can do state. It has succeeded each time its leaders have focused on elevating the commonwealths performance or rankings. The new behavioral health workforce initiatives included in the budget just passed by the General Assembly are a wonderful start to resolving the shortage of these valuable and needed professionals. We are on our way.

Oswalt is the founding director of the Virginia Health Care Foundation in Richmond, a public/private partnership. The foundations mission is to increase access to primary health care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians via innovative programming and service delivery models.
 
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The House 1/6 committee is expected to hear testimony from embattled Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger about the extraordinary pressure he faced from former President Donald Trump to find 11,780 votes that could flip the state to prevent Joe Bidens election victory
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
" " Trovants such as these are found only in Romania and have become such a tourist attraction that they are protected by UNESCO. Wikimedia Commons (CC By SA 3.0)

Just when we think we've seen it all, Mother Nature throws yet another oddity our way. Welcome to the wondrous world of the geological manifestations known as trovants. These rare bulbous, budging boulders are only found in a small town in Romania called Costesti. So fantastical are these trovants, they've found a place in local folklore. Some say they grow, walk and even give birth to baby trovants. Science says they're probably right.

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What Are Trovants?

Trovants are spherical and slightly irregular-shaped rocks. They can be as small as less than an inch, or a couple of millimeters, in diameter and weigh only a few grams, or they can soar up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) high and weigh several tons. These odd, gravity-defying boulders have baffled observers since the 18th century with many a curious soul suspecting they were dinosaur eggs, plant fossils or even alien pods.

Scientists believed trovants to be a type of concretion  a mound of mineral matter (specifically gritstone and conglomerates) embedded within rock layers of limestone, sandstone or shale. They often form from minerals precipitating, or settling, out of water collected around a nucleus of pebble, leaf, shell, bone or fossil.

However, in 2008, the International Geological Congress in Oslo claimed trovants were incorrectly classified as concretions because there was no mineral difference between the stones and the sandstone beds on which they sat. There was also no distinct nucleus inside them.

Whatever they are, scientists believe that based on their makeup and locale atop the sands, these weird stones are older than man  shaped by earthquakes around 5.3 million years ago, during the Middle Miocene sub-epoch. The surrounding sands also suggest the area was an ancient marine environment, which may explain why bivalve and gastropod fossils can sometimes be found in them.

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These Rocks Can Grow and Multiply

Another oddity about trovants  they secrete cement. This talent makes some people think they may be living creatures and not simply rocks. This cement seepage occurs after a heavy rain shower. When trovants absorb the rain's minerals, the minerals come in contact with the chemicals already present in the stone, causing a pressure reaction that makes the rocks grow in girth. It's not something you can see happening. Researchers say the deposition rate for trovants is roughly 1.5 to 2 inches (4 to 5 centimeters) every 1,000 years.

This same phenomenon is what causes trovants multiply or "reproduce," as some might say. When a new growth bauble emerges, likely from water affecting only one side of the rock, and gets big enough, it can break off from the "parent" rock and create baby trovants.

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Like a Rolling Stone

Some people also believe that trovants can "walk," much like the so-called sailing stones of Death Valley that appear to drift across the flat desert landscape on their own. One researcher allegedly filmed trovants for two weeks and claimed one moved about one-tenth of an inch (2.5 millimeters). While many academics are skeptical about "trovant walking" claims, they don't deny the possibility that the heating or cooling of the soil could cause movement among the stones.

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Where Can I See a Trovant?

Trovants are almost exclusively found in Romania's Valcea County at the sand quarry near the Costesti village, along the Gresarea Brook, or in the neighboring Otesani village. To protect these unusual geological specimens, the Muzeul Trovantilor or Trovants Museum Natural Reserve, was developed in Valcea County, Romania, in 2004, and is now protected by UNESCO.

Now That's Fascinating The Racetrack in Death Valley, California is a playa  a dry lakebed  best known for its strange moving rocks.
MECHANICSVILLE, S.C. -- The end of the line for Skeets Barbecue came a bit after 8 a.m. Tuesday when the shovel of a track hoe crashed into the roof, 11 years after it closed for the last time.
Former state Sen. Thomas Cullerton, right, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after being sentenced to a year in federal prison on June 21, 2022. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Thomas Cullerton was a newly elected state senator with a blue-collar upbringing and political pedigree that stretched back more than a century when he took a job as an organizer for the powerful Teamsters union.

At the time, he says, the job was a blessing. But it would be his downfall.

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In the latest black eye for an Illinois General Assembly beset by corruption, Cullerton was sentenced Tuesday to a year in federal prison for pocketing more than a quarter of a million dollars in salary and benefits from the union despite doing little or no work.

In rejecting a defense request for probation, U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman said people are tired of the depressing amount of public corruption and that he had to send a message to other elected officials that it wont be tolerated.

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Its hard for me to say this to you, but I have to: You broke the trust of the people that elected you, Gettleman said. We trust our public officials to be honest and not to cheat. Becoming a ghost payroller was the worst decision you ever made in your life. So there has to be a consequence to that.

Before the sentence was handed down, Cullerton apologized to the court, his family, his constituents and his former colleagues at the Teamsters.

Im not going to say I didnt take advantage of the situation. I did, Cullerton said, reading from written remarks and pausing at times to clear his throat. I cant take back what I did, nor can I apologize enough.

Cullerton described his struggles to find a career as a young father, living basically paycheck to paycheck while trying several dead-end careers in retail and insurance. He was working as a delivery driver for Hostess and coaching youth sports for his three sons when he finally found his knack for politics, rising to village president of Villa Park before being elected to the state Senate in 2012.

Cullerton said the pain and embarrassment that his wrongdoing has caused his family will stay in their heads forever.

I cant ever get the last three years of my life back, he said, sniffing back tears.

Cullerton, 52, a Democrat from Villa Park, pleaded guilty to embezzlement in March, two weeks after abruptly resigning from office. Prosecutors asked for a sentence of up to 18 months in prison, while his attorneys requested a period of probation.

Cullertons sentencing marked the first time hes appeared at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse since his arraignment nearly three years ago, before the pandemic.

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He is one of eight former members of the Illinois General Assembly to be charged with federal crimes during that stretch, culminating with the March indictment of ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan on racketeering charges. Madigan has pleaded not guilty.

Last month, his former colleague ex-state Rep. Luis Arroyo was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for trying to bribe then-state Sen. Terry Link to support legislation expanding sweepstakes gaming machines.

Link, meanwhile, has pleaded guilty to unrelated tax charges and is awaiting sentencing. His former colleague in the Senate, Martin Sandoval, was convicted of taking bribes from a red-light camera company executive, but died of COVID-19 complications before he was sentenced.

Also convicted was former state Rep. Edward Acevedo, who pleaded guilty to failing to file tax returns and was sentenced to six months in prison, and John OSullivan, a onetime state representative who pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy in the same red-light camera probe that ensnared Sandoval. OSullivan is awaiting sentencing.

Another former legislator, state Rep. Annazette Collins, has pleaded not guilty to charges she lied on her personal income taxes and failed to file tax returns for her lobbying and consulting firm.

In asking Gettleman to sentence Cullerton to prison, prosecutors said in a court filing earlier this month that former Teamsters boss John Coli Sr. told investigators hed hired Cullerton to his do-nothing position as a favor to Senator A, at Senator As request.

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Coli knew it was wrong to pay Cullerton because he was a ghost payroller, assistant U.S. attorneys Amarjeet Bhachu and Erika Csicsila wrote. Only when Coli became concerned that the Independent Review Board, an investigative body within the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, would find out Cullerton was a ghost payroller, did he give the order for Cullerton to be fired.

The state senator who gave the recommendation was not named in the filing.

The prosecution memo also revealed for the first time that after he was fired by Coli, Cullerton went on to get another do-nothing job with a video gaming company that made him the companys only salaried salesman, working first for $1,000 a week, which was later doubled to $2,000 a week.

Even though his salary was doubled by the video gaming company, Cullerton brought in little if any business for the video gaming company, the memo stated. He was kept on their payroll only until the current investigation went overt.

At Tuesdays hearing, Cullertons attorney, Dan Collins, blasted prosecutors for including that allegation in their memo, saying that Cullerton had been instrumental in bringing prestige to the start-up company and nearly landed them a coveted deal with a cigar lounge. The company was later sold for nearly $2 million, he said.

The accusation that he did no work is simply unfounded, Collins said.

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In asking for a sentence of probation, Collins wrote in a court filing that while he understands the public scorn surrounding the high-profile case, hes committed to making things right with the Teamsters and working hard for his family and community.

He will forever bear the stigma, public embarrassment and financial and other costs associated with this felony conviction, Collins wrote.

Collins said that Cullerton understood that he was not meeting the expectations of the job and should have resigned once he realized how difficult it would be to balance the added duties with his roles as a legislator and father.

His decision not to resign right then and there will haunt him the rest of his life, Collins wrote.

According to the indictment, Coli conspired with Cullerton in 2013 to give the newly elected senator a job as an organizer, ostensibly to attract new membership through campaigns, supporting union picket lines and attending union events.

Over the next three years, the two ignored complaints from supervisors when Cullerton failed to even show up for work, putting him effectively on permanent vacation, according to prosecutors. Cullerton, as well as others in the union, clearly understood that he could get away with being paid without working simply because he was an elected official, prosecutors wrote in their sentencing filing.

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In all, Cullerton was accused of fraudulently obtaining nearly $250,000 in salary, bonuses and other perks from the Teamsters between 2013 and 2016, including cellphone and vehicle allowances as well as health and pension contributions, according to prosecutors.

Cullerton used the payments for personal expenses, including his mortgage, utilities and groceries, according to his plea.

The charges against Cullerton came three days after Coli pleaded guilty to extortion charges and agreed to cooperate with federal authorities. According to his plea agreement, Coli extorted a total of $325,000 from Alex Pissios, president of Cinespace Chicago Film Studios on the West Side, by threatening a union work stoppage.

With his cooperation against Cullerton now complete, Colis sentencing has been set for Oct. 26.

Cullerton is a member of Chicagos longest-running political dynasty and was first elected to the state Senate in 2012. He is a distant cousin of former Senate President John Cullerton, who stepped down abruptly in 2020.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
 Ruling 7-2 in favor of federal defendant, Supreme Court in Taylor rejects broad reading of "crime of violence" for applying 924(c) sentence enhancement | Main | US Sentencing Commission releases another report on "Length of Incarceration and Recidivism" 

June 21, 2022

Ruling 5-4 against state prisoner, SCOTUS rules federal court misapplied All Writs Act in habeas proceeding

In a technical (and seemingly little) ruling, the Supreme Court reversed a procedural order in Shoop v. Twyford, No. 21-511 (S. Ct. June 21, 2022) (available here). The opinion for the Court was authored by Chief Justice Roberts, and it starts and ends this way:

The All Writs Act authorizes federal courts to issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of their respective jurisdictions and agreeable to the usages and principles of law. 28 U.S.C. 1651(a). In this case, the District Court ordered the State to transport a prisoner in its custody to a hospital for medical testing. The prisoner argued that the testing could reveal evidence helpful in his effort to obtain habeas corpus relief. The question is whether the District Courts order is necessary or appropriate in aid of the federal courts resolution of the prisoners habeas case. We hold that it is not, and therefore reverse.... A transportation order that allows a prisoner to search for new evidence is not necessary or appropriate in aid of a federal courts adjudication of a habeas corpus action, 28 U.S.C. 1651(a), when the prisoner has not shown that the desired evidence would be admissible in connection with a particular claim for relief. Because the District Court entered such an order despite Twyfords failure to make the required showing, the judgment of the Court of Appeals affirming that order is reversed and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Justice Breyer authored the main dissent, which Justices Sotomayor and Kagan joined. It starts this way:

The Court today reviews a District Courts pretrial order requiring Ohio to transport a prisoner in its custody to a hospital for medical testing in order to develop evidence to support the prisoners habeas petition. Ante, at 1. The Court holds that the District Courts order did not comply with the All Writs Act because the District Court failed to consider whether the evidence sought could be admissible in the habeas proceeding. See ante, at 910. I would not reach the merits of that question because I do not believe that the Court of Appeals had jurisdiction to hear the States interlocutory appeal. I respectfully dissent.

Justice Gorsuch authored a solo dissent, which runs only two paragraphs and merits reprinting in full:

The Court granted review to decide whether and under what circumstances a federal district court may order a State to transport a prisoner to a hospital for testing. Later, however, it became clear a potential jurisdictional defect threatened to preclude the Court from reaching that question. The District Courts transportation ruling was an interlocutory order, not a final judgment. To address its merits, the Court would first have to extend the collateral order doctrine to a new class of cases. See Cohen v. Beneficial Industrial Loan Corp., 337 U.S. 541, 545547 (1949). In a terse footnote today, the Court does just that. Ante, at 5, n. 1. Respectfully, I would have dismissed this case as improvidently granted when the jurisdictional complication became apparent. We did not take this case to extend Cohen. And this Court has repeatedly admoni[shed] other courts to keep the class of collaterally appealable orders . . . narrow and selective. Mohawk Industries, Inc. v. Carpenter, 558 U.S. 100, 113 (2009). If anything, this call for caution has acquired special force in recent years with the enactment of legislation designating rulemaking . . . as the preferred means for determining whether and when prejudgment orders should be immediately appealable. Ibid.

June 21, 2022 at 11:00 AM | Permalink

Comments

This opinion is almost an afterthought given Shinn.

If Shinn and this opinion are followed by the district courts, 2254 review is effectively just an appeal from the state courts with great deference given to state courts. Theoretically, this should reduce the time that cases are pending in federal court after the state review is done, but I am dubious that the process will get shorter.

Posted by: tmm | Jun 21, 2022 12:08:54 PM

TMM,

I have to respectfully disagree that 2254 is now "effectively just an appeal." Many states have some mechanism for presenting new evidence in a successive state post-conviction petition. Texas made this point in its amicus in support of review in Ramriez/Jones, and Ramirez/Jones did not overturn Rhines. It should not affect the states that, unlike Arizona, recognize state PCR counsel's ineffectiveness as a grounds for considering a second-in-time petition.

Posted by: John | Jun 21, 2022 12:33:22 PM

John, I have to respectfully disagree with your response.

Your critique is based on state avenues for successive review. But state court action is not federal court action under Rule 2254. Rhines allows a pause in Section 2254 proceedings to allow state court proceedings on additional claims. But ultimately, the proceedings return to federal court to permit the federal court to review the decisions of the state courts on those claims.

My comment is based on what happens when the case gets back to federal courts. Whether the claim was raised in the initial state proceedings or in successive state proceedings, Shoop (and the earlier decision in Cullen v. Pinholster) dictate that the federal court is to review the state court proceedings on the record with no new evidence. Shinn all but eliminates the ability to present evidence on claims that were not raised in state court. Given the deference to the factual and legal findings of the state courts that sounds like appellate review (probably even more deferential than appellate review) to me. In my mind, appellate review has four key features: 1) it is on the record; 2) new evidence is rarely if ever considered; 3) only issue is whether the lower court made legal or factual error; and 4) significant restrictions on claims that were not presented or decided by the lower court. Under these new cases, Section 2254 now has all of those features.

Posted by: tmm | Jun 22, 2022 10:23:39 AM

So what happens when, say, the state PCR record meets 2254(d)'s requirements? Assume there was no hearing in state court and instead evidence proffered for what that hearing would show. Relief granted in federal habeas, even if the state thinks it can undermine the credibility of the proffered state court evidence?

Posted by: John | Jun 22, 2022 1:17:45 PM

I should add that it looks like we agree that counsel in 2254 proceedings would, even after Shinn, be required to investigate potential claims to present after a Rhines stay. That obligation--investigation--is pretty foreign to appeals

Posted by: John | Jun 22, 2022 1:19:18 PM

The investigation would be, primarily, for filing the claims in state court. Otherwise, you are in the realm of cause and prejudice for claims that were not presented in state court. But even on appeal, there is an investigation as to what claims to raise on appeal. But, the investigation by counsel (within the year to file the 2254 petition) does not alter what the federal court can do with the petition.

Looking at the realms of possibility if the state courts denied the hearings on the claims, I am seeing three rulings.

First, the state court finds that the pcr motion was inadequate under the state rules. If that is the ruling, then you are in Martinez land having to show IAC by motion counsel to overcome the default. I don't think that the information attached to the motion to get a hearing counts as evidence under Shinn or Pinholster. Basically, it was not ever actual evidence. While an offer of proof in the underlying trial is part of the record for federal habeas as a claim of error in excluding that evidence, I am not seeing the same as being true for evidence excluded from the pcr hearing as the cases are pretty clear that claims of error in the pcr process are not valid federal habeas claims.

Second, the state court reaches a ruling on the merits and rejects the proffered evidence is not credible. That is a finding that should get deference on federal habeas review.

Third, the state court does not address credibility but finds the proffered evidence to be insufficient to meet the burden of proof. If the state takes that position in the state courts, I think that it is inviting problems in federal habeas because it loses the deference that it gets on factual findings. But you still get deferential review on the legal conclusions of whether that evidence, if true, overcomes the presumption of competence or demonstrates prejudice.

Section 2254 implictly assumes that the need to present evidence to make a prima facie case is limited to the inmate. It is unclear what happens if the state court record shows that the state courts erred by not granting relief. I only did habeas for about six years, but I am not recalling any case in which we wanted to add additional evidence into the record to combat a state court record on which defendant was entitled to relief.

Posted by: tmm | Jun 22, 2022 1:46:37 PM

Post a comment
 Mississippi Supreme Court upholds, against Eighth Amendment challenge, mandatory LWOP habitual-offender sentence for marijuana possession | Main | Supreme Court grants cert on a quasi-criminal case (while two justices dissent from denial of cert in Ohio capital case reversal) 

June 20, 2022

"The Trump Clemencies: Celebrity, Chaos, and Lost Opportunity"

The title of this post is the title of this notable new article authored by Mark Osler now available via SSRN. Here is its abstract:

The presidency of Donald Trump may have produced the most chaotic use of the constitutional pardon power in American history. Trump granted clemency to war criminals, to close friends, to celebrities and to the friends of celebrities, with much of it coming in a mad rush at the end of his single term. Buried beneath this rolling disaster was a brief moment of hope and a lost opportunity: the chance for a restructure of the clemency process in the Fall of 2018, enabled by a rare alignment of factors including Trumps alienation from the Department of Justice and the interest of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. This article explores the fullness of Trumps clemency legacy and explores what was lost when a vehicle that could have helped stem over-incarceration died on the drafting table.

June 20, 2022 at 05:54 PM | Permalink

Comments

Im not sure if the first sentence is supported by the second. Exactly when has that not been the case about pardons? It only becomes a scandal when one particular side does it.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 20, 2022 11:38:57 PM

TarlsQtr --

The first sentence is, "The presidency of Donald Trump may have produced the most chaotic use of the constitutional pardon power in American history."

The reason you see sentences like that in articles but not in briefs submitted to a court in a serious case is that articles have no verification criteria, so you can say anything you want and there won't be a challenge. What exactly is the definition of "most chaotic"? No one knows, so you can just throw it out there to show how much you look down on Trump (which is de rigueur in academia). Plus Prof. Osler is insulated from criticism by the fact that he's made a name for himself by his years of enthusiastic pro-criminal advocacy. That's a shield from any serious scrutiny of what he says.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 21, 2022 10:05:20 AM

Post a comment
AFP News

NATO allies will boost high readiness forces to "well over 300,000" troops as they strengthen their defences in response to Russia's war on Ukraine, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said Monday. Leaders from the US-led military alliance will meet in Madrid this week for what Stoltenberg said would be a "transformative" summit as it grapples with the fallout of Moscow's invasion of its pro-Western neighbour. Stoltenberg said allies would bolster some of their battle group formations along NATO's eastern flank "up to brigade level" -- tactical units of around 3,000-5,000 troops -- and ratchet up high readiness numbers to "well over 300,000". In addition, more heavy weaponry including air defence systems would be shifted forwards and forces pre-assigned to defend specific NATO members on the alliance's exposed eastern edge. "This constitutes the biggest overhaul of our collective defence and deterrence since the Cold War," Stoltenberg said. NATO currently has a high readiness force of around 40,000 troops under its command, but the more than 300,000 troops are expected to form a larger pool that the alliance could tap into in the case of an emergency. A NATO official said the new system would be in place next year and improve the alliance's "ability to respond at very short notice for any contingency" with land, sea, air and cyber assets. Stoltenberg also said leaders would agree to bolster NATO's essential support to embattled Ukraine, whose President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to call in via video link. - US spearhead - That package would include "substantial deliveries" of gear like secure communications, anti-drone systems and fuel, and help Ukraine over the longer term to pivot to using more advanced NATO-standard arms. This support is separate from weaponry that NATO members -- spearheaded by the United States -- are already funnelling to Ukraine, including anti-tank rockets, artillery and air defence to help it hold back Russia's onslaught. NATO has been building up its forces in the east of the alliance since Moscow first moved into Ukraine with the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The alliance has rushed tens of thousands more troops to the region since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on February 24. NATO now has eight battle groups across its eastern members and Stoltenberg said some of these -- likely in the Baltics and Poland -- would be bolstered to "brigade level". Jittery leaders in the Baltics have pushed for major and permanent troop deployments that could stop the Kremlin's forces at NATO's border. Germany has said it would take the lead on a new brigade in Lithuania -- where it already has forces -- but most of those troops would be permanently stationed back on home soil. Britain's defence minister has said his country will likely propose a similar set-up for Estonia -- where it commands the existing battle group. Stoltenberg said he expected other allies to announce forces dedicated to protecting specific eastern members at the summit that starts on Tuesday evening. del/dc/jm
On June 30, 1997, Britain's last governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten left Government House for the final time, struggling to contain his emotions as the "Last Post" played and the Union flag was lowered.

The 25th anniversary is approaching of that rainy day and the midnight handover to China on July 1 that the BBC at the time called "the epilogue of empire".

For Patten, now 78, the memory of his departure is still vivid.

"It was a big wrench. I had five extremely enjoyable and fruitful years in Hong Kong and I miss it," he told AFP on Monday.

But in the intervening years, his "sadness" has been replaced by anger at Beijing and President Xi Jinping, whom he accuses of "vengefully" targeting the city's freedoms.

Under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, China agreed Hong Kong could keep some freedoms and autonomy for 50 years under a "One Country, Two Systems" model.

But a National Security Law imposed by China in 2020 has eroded those freedoms, targeting pro-democracy activists and local media.

Hong Kong once had a raucous law-making chamber but now only those who are loyal can stand for office to join a body which passes new laws.

- The 'dictator' -

"China has ripped up the joint declaration and is vengefully and comprehensively trying to remove the freedoms of Hong Kong because it regards them as a threat, not to the security of China but to the ability of the Chinese Communist Party to hang on to power," he said.

Some critics say Britain could have done more for Hong Kong before the handover, but Patten insisted the country did not betray the finance hub.

"Whatever we had done in terms of changes before 1997 were unlikely to have affected the way that the Chinese Communist Party behaved after the arrival of Xi Jinping in the top job," Patten said.

"I think the big changes have come since 2012, 2013, 2014 since Xi Jinping's been the dictator."

Xi, the son of a revered communist revolutionary, was named general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012 before becoming president the following year.

Story continues

- 'Constrain China' -

The 25th anniversary marks the halfway point of Beijing's "One Country, Two Systems" promise for Hong Kong, a deal that was enshrined in the 1984 joint declaration signed by British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese premier Zhao Ziyang.

Recent coronavirus outbreaks in the territory have overshadowed plans for celebrations and it is still unclear if Xi will attend them in person.

During the launch Monday of "The Hong Kong Diaries", his book based on his time as governor, Patten told reporters, "the most difficult part of the job was... negotiating with China to try to safeguard 'One Country Two Systems'."

In his farewell speech in 1997, Patten said it had been "the greatest honour and privilege" of his life to have been governor and to have "some responsibility for Hong Kong's future".

"Now Hong Kong people are to run Hong Kong. That is the promise and that is the unshakeable destiny," he added.

But China, Patten now says, has breached the declaration "comprehensively".

The former Conservative party chairman said things went "downhill" in the city partly because Xi and his colleagues were "terrified" of what Hong Kong actually stands for.

But while Patten said it was necessary to "constrain China", he admitted it was also necessary to deal with China to tackle climate change and epidemics.

"But I don't think we should delude ourselves; I think we have to be pretty clear about what is our real interest, and we have to constrain China, not contain it."

- Fears over Taiwan -

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, there have been heightened fears over similar action by China against self-governed democratic Taiwan.

Beijing claims all of the island as its own territory, and has said it is determined to retake it, by force if necessary.

Patten said Xi must learn "what an incredibly dangerous enterprise it would be" after seeing the difficulties the Russian army has faced in Ukraine and the world's reaction.

"My gut instinct is it's so dangerous for Xi Jinping to try that I hope the system will encourage him not to do it," he said.

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 17%10% iPhone 148 5%4000 302.08 3.65 7%   5001300  3%3000   15%     4 555.99  8.625    904.4  430017  21   MegaBox     G7 
DES MOINES  Five applicants, including a Sioux City judge, will be interviewed for an opening on the Iowa Supreme Court that will occur when Justice Brent Appel retires next month, the court announced in a news release Monday.

When Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds appoints the new justice, it will be her fifth appointment to the seven-member court.

All five candidates will be interviewed next Monday, June 27, by the states judicial nominating commission.

The 17-member commission will select three finalists, after which Reynolds will have 30 days to select one of the finalists as the next justice.

When she makes this next selection, Reynolds will have appointed five Iowa Supreme Court justices during her six years in office.

Appel is the courts last remaining member who was appointed by a Democratic governor  Tom Vilsack in 2006. Appel was retained by voters in the 2016 judicial retention elections.

Appel this summer turns 72, the age at which Iowa judges are required by law to retire.

The five candidates scheduled to be interviewed next Monday are:

Patrick Tott, the 3rd Districts chief judge, from Sioux City. Tott also has interviewed for an Iowa Supreme Court opening in the past. He was one of two Iowa judges who ruled in a 2020 lawsuit that Iowa county elections officials erred in mailing out absentee ballot request forms with some personal information filled in. Tott was appointed to the district court bench in September, 2014 by then-Gov. Terry Branstad.

Timothy Gartin, a lawyer with Hastings, Gartin & Boettger in Ames. Gartin served on the Ames city council and in 2010 ran for the Iowa Senate as a Republican.

Alan Heavens, a 1st District judge from Garnavillo. Heavens is a former Clayton County attorney.

David May, an Iowa Court of Appeals judge from Polk City. May was a finalist for an Iowa Supreme Court vacancy in 2020, an opening that was filled by Matt McDermott after the retirement of former Justice David Wiggins.

William Miller, a lawyer with Dorsey & Whitney in Des Moines. Miller, who specializes in business law, has interviewed for a previous Iowa Supreme Court vacancy.

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On Tuesday, the supervisors approved a draft letter to the Iowa Utilities Board, expressing the opposition to the Navigator Heartland Greenway and Summit Carbon Solutions pipelines and the reasons given by local landowners.
A new South Carolina law that allows physicians, medical students and nurses to refrain from doing procedures that violate their conscience has prompted concern that the measure will restrict healthcare options for the state's LGBTQ population.

Signed into law by Republican Gov. Henry McMaster on June 17, the Medical Ethics and Diversity Act gives medical practitioners, health care institutions and health care payers protection for objecting to performing a procedure that goes against their moral, ethical or religious views. The law does not apply to emergency procedures where such life-saving services must be provided per federal regulation. Physicians are also not required to make a referral should they deny care.

The bill allows doctors to do their job in a way that doesn't contradict with their best medical judgement or their moral and religious beliefs, Brandon Charochak, the governor's deputy communications director, said in an email. "Its important that South Carolinians receive the best care possible from providers who fully believe in the work theyre doing.

South Carolina joins several other states that have moved recently to protect conscience objections for medical providers. In March 2021, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a similar proposal into law. Earlier this year, the Nebraska legislature considered another such measure.

Commonly rejected procedures listed in other states include abortion, certain contraception, genetic experimentation, death penalty executions and the sterilization of minors, according to Republican state Sen. Larry Grooms.

Proponents in South Carolina said that the law allows providers to opt out of specific procedures  not discriminate against specific patients.

If you have a moral religious or ethical objection to a particular procedure, then that would mean youre opposed to that procedure for all patients, Grooms said last month as the state Senate originally debated the bill.

But when specific types of care are disproportionately necessary for certain groups of people  gender-affirming hormone therapy for a transgender person or fertility treatments for a same-sex couple, for example  then the law is discriminatory, according to Ivy Hill, a leader in the SC United for Justice and Equality coalition.

We already face so many additional barriers in accessing healthcare and this just adds another one, Hill, who is the community health program director with the Campaign for Southern Equality, told The Associated Press.

Last month, a group of 50 healthcare professionals urged the governor in a letter to veto the bill. The group warned that the measure would negatively impact LGBTQ people, who might already face barriers to accessing services such as HIV prevention and treatment, gender affirming care and family planning services.

Upon the state House's passage of the bill in April, the Human Rights Campaign, the nations largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, issued a statement opposing the measure.

It is disturbing that some politicians in South Carolina are prioritizing individual providers beliefs ahead of patient health and wellbeing. This legislation is dangerously silent in regards to the needs of patients and fails to consider the impact that expanding refusals can have on their health, Sarah Warbelow, the Human Rights Campaigns legal director, said in a statement in April.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston supported the law in a Friday press release.

Every American has the freedom to live according to his or her ethical and religious beliefs - doctors, nurses, and medical care providers must not be treated differently," the diocese said in a statement. When freedom of conscience is compromised, patient care is compromised."

State senators debated whether or not the measure would improve efforts to expand healthcare services across the state. Speaking against the proposal, Democrat state Sen. Vernon Stephens suggested that rural patients who lack easy access to healthcare facilities might struggle to find alternatives should a doctor deny their procedure.

Grooms said the bill would help the state retain physicians  particularly older ones  who fear discipline for not performing procedures to which they object.

Hill pointed transgender people in South Carolina concerned about healthcare access to the Campaign for Southern Equality's Trans in the South guide.

For LGBT folks and for trans folks in South Carolina, I want them to know that they're not alone," Hill said.

-

James Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow James Pollard on Twitter.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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SIOUX CITY -- Call it the case of the dueling doctors.

After prosecutors on Monday recalled a pediatrician to rebut the testimony of a pathologist called by Tayvon Davis' defense team, the defense notified the court that it intended to call its expert back to the stand to counter Monday's medical testimony.

The catch: he's not available until Wednesday morning, causing another delay in a trial in which jury selection began June 7. There was no testimony Friday because Dr. Suzanne Haney, the state's rebuttal witness, was not available. When jurors were dismissed last week, they were told Monday likely would be the last day of evidence and they might receive the case for deliberations by the afternoon.

"The timing of things in this trial has not at any time progressed as we said it would," District Judge Tod Deck told jurors before dismissing them Monday morning after less than an hour of witness testimony.

The latest delay will make it possible for the defense to recall Dr. Thomas Young, a private forensic pathologist from Kansas City, Missouri, who testified Thursday before the defense rested its case. Young said medical evidence and statements Davis has made can explain Maelynn Myers' injuries were accidental and not abusive, contradicting many of the conclusions previously offered by Haney and the medical examiner who did the autopsy.

Davis, 26, of Sioux City, is charged in Woodbury County District Court with first-degree murder, child endangerment resulting in the death of a child and multiple acts of child endangerment. Prosecutors believe he injured Maelynn numerous times in the days leading up to Aug. 22, 2018, when Davis and Maelynn's grandmother rushed the unresponsive 19-month-old to a Sioux City emergency room. She was transferred to Children's Hospital in Omaha, where she never regained consciousness and died three days later.

An Iowa state medical examiner detailed the child's injuries, which included bleeding throughout the brain, a left kidney dying because the blood vessel leading to it had been torn, hemorrhaging in both eyes, the girl's abdomen and in the muscles at the back of her neck. X-rays showed healing fractures in the tibias of both legs and two vertebra. All had fresh fractures in the healing bone material. At least three ribs were fractured. Maelynn also had bruises on her forehead and the small of her back.

Maelynn's death was ruled a homicide caused by complications from blunt-force injuries.

Davis told investigators he dropped Maelynn after giving her a bath on Aug. 22 and she stopped breathing. His attempts at CPR were unsuccessful, but she was revived in the emergency room. Haney, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital who examined Maelynn, previously testified the girl's injuries were too severe to be caused by being dropped, and CPR also was an unlikely cause.

Returning to the witness stand Monday, Haney said Young's assertions that many of Maelynn's injuries could have been caused by Davis' attempts to administer CPR do not measure up to findings from numerous studies.

She also disagreed with Young's explanation that hemorrhaging in Maelynn's eyes resulted from blood vessel damage caused by reperfusion, a condition in which blood supply to the body stops, then starts again. Haney said studies show eye hemorrhaging from reperfusion is different than if caused by traumatic injuries.

The girl's arm and leg fractures were typical of twisting and pulling injuries such as being yanked, Haney said, not CPR or frantic handling of the little girl while she was unconscious, as Young testified.

Young also said Maelynn's broken ribs were the result of CPR. Haney said a child's bones are more flexible than an adult's and can bend much farther without breaking, making it unlikely they were fractured during CPR.

Haney maintained her opinion that Maelynn's injuries were caused by a force comparable to a car crash, not failed CPR or a low-distance fall in the bathroom.

"It is not the result of a low-distance fall," she said.

It's possible closing arguments will take place Wednesday and the case then submitted to the jury.

If found guilty of first-degree murder, Davis would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

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ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- A Hull, Iowa, man was placed on probation Monday for having sexual contact with a minor female several times dating back to 2020.

Treyton Huyser, 21, pleaded guilty in Sioux County District Court to two counts of lascivious acts with a child -- solicit child for sex act and one count of assault with intent to commit sex abuse. The charges were amended from third-degree sexual abuse. Charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child and third-degree sexual abuse were dismissed.

Sentencing Huyser according to terms of the plea agreement, District Judge Steven Andreasen suspended a 10-year prison sentence and placed Huyser on probation for three years. He must pay a $1,025 fine and $390 in civil penalties. Huyser also received a special sex offender sentence for 10 years. If he were to violate terms of the special sentence, he could be sent to prison. He will be required to register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for life.

The Sioux County Sheriff's Office began an investigation in October after receiving a report of a sexual assault at a rural Hull residence. Huyser was arrested Jan. 17.

According to court documents, the assaults began in March 2020 and involved a girl under age 16 with whom Huyser had sexual contact. The last incident occurred June 30, 2020.

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SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City woman charged with fatally shooting her boyfriend is seeking a lower bond so she can be released from jail.

Public defender Billy Oyadare on Tuesday filed a motion asking a judge to drop Katrina Barnes' bond from $150,000 to $20,000 with the option to pay 10% to bond out of the Woodbury County Jail, where she has been in custody since June 9, when, according to authorities, she shot Dolorean Wade outside her apartment at 516 Ninth St.

Barnes has family in the area and is not a flight risk if released, Oyadare said in his motion, and she also has a limited record of nonviolent offenses and is not a danger to the community because the shooting was a dispute between intimate partners.

A bond review hearing was scheduled for Monday in Woodbury County District Court.

Barnes, 32, on Tuesday entered written pleas of not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

According to court documents, Barnes told police Wade rang her doorbell and yelled to her that he had been shot. Officers observed the apartment door had a bullet hole at about shoulder height. Barnes told investigators Wade had not been inside, but they saw blood throughout the apartment and found a spent shell casing inside the door.

Jordyn Easton, who had been inside the apartment with Barnes, told officers Wade and Barnes had been fighting and arguing all day and Barnes obtained a handgun from another person after Wade left, court documents said. Wade banged on the apartment door when he returned that evening, and Barnes fired a single shot through it, striking Wade, who died a short time later at MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center.

During the investigation, police found 18 pills believed to be laced with fentanyl in a purse in Barnes' bedroom, plus 17 grams of marijuana.

According to court documents, Easton was present during the shooting and called 911 twice but immediately hung up. She then called an unidentified male, who came to the apartment and took the gun used in the shooting.

About 12 minutes after the shooting, Barnes called 911.

Easton, 25, of Sioux City, pleaded not guilty Monday to a misdemeanor charge of accessory after the fact.

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SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa -- A judge has found a Sioux City woman guilty of first-degree murder for the 2020 slaying of a Lake Park, Iowa, woman.

District Judge Shayne Mayer issued her ruling Tuesday afternoon in Dickinson County District Court, a month after Allison Decker stood trial on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree theft and conspiracy to commit second-degree theft. Decker had waived her right to a jury trial and chose to have Mayer decide the case.

Mayer found her guilty of the Dec. 21, 2020, death of 25-year-old Angel Bastman, who was found with a belt around her neck the following day at her home at 104 Maple Ave. in Lake Park. A medical examiner determined the cause of death was strangulation. Decker was found guilty of reduced charges of third-degree theft and conspiracy to commit third-degree theft.

Decker, 27, faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.

A co-defendant, Justice Berntson, 25, was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in prison for attempted murder.

Evidence and testimony at trial revealed that Berntson and Bastman had been using the belt to administer heroin, and they began arguing. The argument turned into a physical altercation between Decker and Bastman. Berntson testified he handed the belt to Decker and left the room as Decker was strangling Bastman. Statements and social media messages Decker sent to friends also linked her to the murder.

The two stole electronics and other household and personal items from the house.

Four days after Bastman's body was found, police spotted Berntson driving her missing rental car in Sioux City. A vehicle pursuit ensued, and Berntson, who gave an Elk Point, South Dakota, address at the time, was arrested after crashing the car.

Berntson and Decker both later were found in possession of property belonging to Bastman and her family.

Berntson also was charged with first-degree murder, but pleaded guilty in December to attempted murder in exchange for agreeing to testify against Decker at trial. He must serve 17.5 years of his 25-year sentence before he's eligible for parole. As part of his plea agreement, the two theft charges were dismissed.

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SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Council unanimously voted Monday to approve a site plan for a proposed apartment complex on Morningside Avenue, on the condition that the location of a dumpster enclosure be moved to the south.

The site plan for the 24-unit, three-story apartment building at 1720 Morningside Ave. shows the proposed dumpster enclosure in the northwest corner of the site.

Pickle Properties, which owns the property immediately to the north, appealed the Planning and Zoning Commission's decision to approve the site plan, specifically because of the location of a dumpster enclosure.

Jason Geary, a member of the commission, said the developer had to come to the commission on appeal several times because of "several deficiencies" with the site plan that didn't meet city code, such as setback and parking issues. He noted that neighbors have also expressed frustrations about the project and posed number of questions related to water runoff.

"If it wasn't such a dense project, do you think you could get rid of some of these different little quirks?" Mayor Bob Scott asked. "Twenty-four units seems like quite a few for that site."

Geary told Scott that he thinks the building envelop is going to stay the same. He said dropping down from a three-story to a two-story building would lower the need for parking.

"I assume the developer brought that forward because, based on the numbers, this is what they need to make it work," he said. "From a practical, commonsense perspective, I don't know how much you can really modify that site, even if you just take it down a story. And, then, is it feasible to do that much concrete work and all that sort of stuff and make a cash flow?"

Velma Ludwig, who lives on South Saint Aubin Street, raised concerns about more noise, as well as traffic on the street and sidewalk. She said the proposed apartment building, which she described as "stark," wouldn't fit with the appearance of the Peters Park neighborhood. She noted that two other adjacent apartment buildings are older.

"There's just too much traffic to add that many more people," Ludwig said. "... The funeral homes' guests do not have a place to park. They're parking in no parking areas. Is this the way to treat our visitors? To add more traffic?"

Erin Nelson, who also lives on South Saint Aubin Street, said she is worried about noise from an HVAC system, which would be visible, as well as increased traffic and privacy and drainage issues.

"There isn't any way to keep the runoff there. We already have erosion on both the front and the back. There is no storm sewer in all of Peters Park up there until you get halfway around that block," she said.

Developer Paul Koskovich told the council that no water is leaving the site and that the project will be an "improvement" in that regard for the neighbors. He said the dumpster enclosure was placed in northwest corner so that the driver of the roll off truck could easily access it.

"To ask a guy to back in and drive around, once a week, it's a nuisance," he said.

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WINNEBAGO, Neb. -- The Winnebago Tribal Council this spring unanimously approved a resolution requesting an environmental impact study be conducted on the proposed Summit Carbon Pipeline and the proposed Navigator Heartland Greenway Carbon Pipeline, which would run near the tribe's lands.

The Tribal Council has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors, Dakota County Commissioners and the Iowa Utility Board to require a study be done before any permits for the carbon pipeline are issued, the tribe said in a press release Tuesday.

The Council is requesting each entity provide a response to the Tribe in writing. The resolution was passed in March and letters were sent out about two months later; the tribe is currently awaiting a response, a tribal spokesman said Tuesday.

The Winnebago Tribe has consistently opposed the issuance of pipeline permits that could negatively impact our lands or water... An Environmental Impact Study would outline the effects of the proposed pipelines on the environment and should provide sufficient information to evaluate the relative merits of the proposed pipelines and alternatives. The permit-issuing bodies cannot make reasoned or informed decisions without this information. Nor can the general public," the Tribal Council said in the resolution.

The proposed Summit Carbon Pipeline would pipe carbon dioxide from ethanol and fertilizer plants to an underground sequestration site in North Dakota, thus preventing the carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere where it would contribute to global warming, by forcing it under the earth. The pipeline would run through 30 counties in Iowa, including several in Northwest Iowa -- Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux, Lyon, O'Brien, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Ida and Crawford, and would extend into Dakota, Dixon and Wayne counties in Nebraska.

The Winnebago Indian Reservation lies mostly in Thurston County, but portions of the reservation extent into Dixon and Woodbury counties. The Tribal Council's press release noted that the pipeline construction would take place north of the reservation, "but would cross at the Missouri River, where the tribe is downstream," Winnebago Tribal Secretary Lorelei DeCora said in a statement

The tribe is further concerned about the construction paths being on tribal ancestral lands and the possibility the pipelines could disturb burial sites, along with the possibility that, if constructed, the pipelines could fail and endanger the health of the tribe.

"There is just too much unknown for these pipelines, thats why its important that this study be conducted. Its our duty to protect mother earth, DeCora's statement added.

Ames, Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions, the company behind the pipeline, has sought to use eminent domain to get the pipeline built. Various farmers, groups and lawmakers in Iowa have expressed concerns about the project, and the possible use of eminent domain proved particularly contentious.

The Winnebago Tribe stands in solidarity with area farmers who oppose these pipelines and the use of eminent domain to acquire access to lands without landowner consent. The health, well-being, and rights of everyone is important to us all," Winnebago Tribal Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan said in a statement.

Summit says its carbon pipeline would prevent 12 million tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere every year.

The Heartland Greenway pipeline, proposed by Dallas-based Navigator CO2 Ventures, would also run through Northwest Iowa and Northeast Nebraska, and parts of South Dakota and Illinois, plus a rather small leg in southern Minnesota. Like the Summit pipeline, it would transport captured carbon dioxide to be sequestered underground in Illinois. Navigator CO2 Ventures says the project, once it's on-line, would sequester 15 million metric tons of CO2 each year.

Carbon sequestration projects, such as these, have been proposed as a means of slowing climate change, as carbon dioxide generated by industrial processes is thought to present little risk of warming the planet if it's pumped underground.

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The Council unanimously voted Monday to adopt an ordinance that prohibits individuals from keeping animals in a vehicle or the bed of a parked truck when the outdoor temperature exceeds 79 degrees Fahrenheit unless the animal is enclosed with the AC turned on
1/6 panel: Local 'heroes' rebuffed Trump, then faced threats

WASHINGTON (AP)  The House Jan. 6 committee has heard chilling, tearful testimony that Donald Trumps relentless pressure to overturn the 2020 presidential election led to widespread threats against local workers and state officials. The panel focused Tuesday on the heroes of democracy  election workers and officials who fended off the defeated presidents demands. The committee is focused on Trump's schemes to reject state tallies and electors, all fueled by his false claims of election fraud. It heard from Arizonas Republican state House Speaker Rusty Bowers and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger about pressure from Trump, including Trumps call asking the Georgia official to find 11,780 votes to prevent Joe Bidens victory.

Britt wins tumultuous Alabama Senate race scrambled by Trump

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Katie Britt has won the Republican nomination for Senate in Alabama, defeating six-term Congressman Mo Brooks in a primary runoff after former President Donald Trump endorsed and then un-endorsed him. The loss ends a turbulent campaign for Brooks, a conservative firebrand who had fully embraced Trumps election lies and had run under the banner MAGA Mo. But it wasnt enough for the former president, who initially backed Brooks in the race to replace retiring Sen. Richard Shelby, but then rescinded his support as Brooks languished in the polls. Trump eventually endorsed Britt in the races final stretch after she emerged as the top vote-getter in the states May 24 primary.

Takeaways: Trump's conditional loyalty, new warning for left

WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump extended his losing record in Georgia on Tuesday after two Trump-backed U.S. House candidates lost in landslides. An establishment-backed Senate candidate in Alabama that Trump belatedly endorsed handily beat one of the former presidents most ardent defenders in Congress. Meanwhile, moderate Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser won her Democratic primary, offering a warning to progressives as crime rises in urban areas.

Texas top cop: Uvalde police could've ended rampage early on

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  The head of the Texas Department of Public Safety says three minutes after a gunman entered a school where he slaughtered 19 elementary students and two teachers there was sufficient armed law enforcement on scene to stop the gunman. Yet police officers armed with rifles stood and waited in a school hallway for more than an hour while the gunman carried out the massacre. Col. Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, called the police response an abject failure. He says police radios did not work within the school and that school diagrams officers used were wrong.

'Nowhere I feel safe': Election officials recount threats

WASHINGTON (AP)  A former Georgia election worker in gripping testimony has told the House Jan. 6 committee about the onslaught of threats that she and her family received after former President Trump and his allies falsely accused her and her mother of pulling fraudulent ballots from a suitcase. Wandrea Shaye Moss told lawmakers Tuesday how her life was upended when Trump and his allies latched onto surveillance footage from November 2020 to accuse her and her mother of committing voter fraud, allegations that were quickly debunked. The committee also heard from high-ranking elections officials in Georgia and a lawmaker in Arizona who were also on the wrong end of Trump's pressure campaign.

'The impossible': Ukraine's secret, deadly rescue missions

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  A series of clandestine, against-the-odds helicopter missions to reach besieged soldiers are being celebrated in Ukraine as one of the riskiest, most heroic feats of military derring-do in the four-month war against Russia. The flights delivered supplies and evacuated wounded during the last-ditch defense of the Azovstal steel mill. It was surrounded by Russian forces in the brutalized city of Mariupol. Ukrainian troops were pinned down for weeks, their supplies running low, their dead and injured stacking up. Ukraines president first spoke of the sometimes deadly helicopter resupply missions only after Azovstals defenders started surrendering in May. The Associated Press has found and interviewed some of the wounded who were rescued from the death trap.

Civil jury finds Bill Cosby sexually abused teenager in 1975

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP)  Civil trial jurors have found that Bill Cosby sexually abused a 16-year-old girl at the Playboy Mansion in 1975. The Los Angeles County jury delivered the verdict Tuesday in favor of Judy Huth, who is now 64, and awarded her $500,000. The jurys decision is a major legal defeat for the 84-year-old Cosby. It comes nearly a year after his Pennsylvania criminal conviction for sexual assault was thrown out and he was freed from prison. Cosby did not attend the Los Angeles trial. He has repeatedly denied Huths allegations that he forced her to perform a sex act at the mansion.

Senators reach bipartisan compromise on gun violence bill

WASHINGTON (AP)  Senate bargainers have reached agreement on a bipartisan gun violence bill. That potentially tees up congressional passage this week on an incremental but notable package that would stand as Congresss response to mass shootings in Texas and New York that shook the nation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., predicted Senate approval later this week, and passage by the Democratic-led House could follow quickly. It would make background checks tougher for the youngest gun buyers and bolster spending for school safety and mental health programs, and bar gun ownership by romantic partners convicted of domestic abuse.

Texas GOP's swing to far right cemented with party platform

WASHINGTON (AP)  Ten years ago, the Texas Republican Party used its platform to oppose teaching critical thinking in schools. In 2014, it declared homosexuality a chosen behavior contrary to God. By 2020, the party was ready to remind the world that Texas retains the right to secede from the United States. But now the Texas GOP platform has broken new extremist ground. It's embraced fringe positions that most mainstream Republicans in the state would have shied away from in years past. Approved by 5,000-plus party delegates last weekend in Houston during its biennial convention, the new platform brands President Joe Biden an acting commander-in-chief who was never legitimately elected.

Westminster dog show gets 4 finalists, and one has NFL ties

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. (AP)  A bloodhound, a French bulldog, a German shepherd and a Maltese have been chosen to advance to the final round of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. Trumpet the bloodhound, Hollywood the Maltese, Winston the French bulldog and River the German shepherd were selected Tuesday night. One of Winstons owners is NFL defensive lineman Morgan Fox, who was signed last month by the Los Angeles Chargers after six seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers. Three more finalists will be selected Wednesday night, when all seven will face off for the coveted best in show prize.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Despite Western arms, Ukraine is outgunned in the east

BAKHMUT, Ukraine (AP)  Despite the heavy influx of weapons from the West, Ukrainian forces are outgunned by the Russians in the battle for the eastern Donbas region, where the fighting is largely being carried out by way of artillery exchanges. While the Russians can keep up heavy, continuous fire for hours at a time, the defenders cant match the enemy in either weapons or ammunition and must use their ammo more judiciously. One problem is that Western defense industries can't turn out weapons fast enough. Another is that the Ukrainians need training on Western-supplied hardware.

Nobel sold for Ukrainian kids shatters record at $103.5M

NEW YORK (AP)  Nobel Peace laureate Dmitry Muratov says he was not expecting the medal he was auctioning off to help Ukrainian child refugees sell for the record amount of $103.5 million. Bidding in the auction ended in New York on Monday, which is World Refugee Day. The sale shatters the old $4.76 million record for a Nobel. The identity of the buyer isn't immediately known. Muratov was awarded the medal in October 2021. He helped found the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta and was the publications editor-in-chief when it shut down in March amid a Kremlin clampdown after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Biden says decision on gas tax holiday may come this week

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP)  President Joe Biden says hes considering pressing for a holiday on the federal gasoline tax. That could possibly save U.S. consumers as much as 18.4 cents a gallon. Biden told reporters Monday that his decision could come by the end of the week. The administration is increasingly looking for ways to spare the public from higher prices at the pump, which began to climb last year and surged after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Gas prices nationwide are averaging just under $5 a gallon, according to AAA. Taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel help pay for highways.

Report: Police in Uvalde had rifles earlier than known

UVALDE, Texas (AP)  Documents examined by the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV show armed police officers stood in a Uvalde elementary school hallway with at least one ballistic shield within 19 minutes of a gunman arriving at the school, where he killed 21 people, 19 of them children. The outlets' report, which did not indicate the source of the documents, nevertheless intensifies the anguish and questions over why police didn't act sooner to stop the May 24 slaughter in the Robb Elementary School classroom. The outlets reported that gunfire could be heard as much as 29 minutes before officers entered the classroom and killed the gunman.

Shots for tots: COVID vaccinations start for little US kids

The nations youngest children are getting their chance at vaccines for COVID-19. Shots began Monday at a few locations, though they were expected to ramp up after the Juneteenth federal holiday. The Food and Drug Administration cleared vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer last week and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave the final signoff over the weekend. Roughly 18 million youngsters under 5 are eligible. For the little kids, Pfizers vaccine is three shots and Modernas is two shots. Getting some parents on board may be a challenge given disappointing vaccination rates in school-age kids.

'It always wins': North Korea may declare COVID-19 victory

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Only a month after North Korea acknowledged a COVID-19 outbreak was sickening its people, the country may be preparing to declare victory. The daily updates from state-controlled media say cases are plummeting. Its propaganda insists North Korea has avoided mass deaths despite desperately poor health care and what outsiders see as a long record of ignoring its peoples suffering. Some experts believe the next step will be a declaration of victory over the virus  credited, of course, to Kim Jong Uns strong and clever guidance. A declaration now isn't a foregone conclusion, though. North Korea may seek better timing while using its anti-virus measures to maintain control over its people.

Georgia's Raffensperger among witnesses for next 1/6 hearing

The House Jan. 6 committee is expected to hear testimony from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger about the extraordinary pressure he faced from former President Donald Trump to find 11,780 votes that could flip the state to prevent Joe Bidens election victory. Raffensperger, along with his deputy Gabe Sterling and Arizonas Rusty Bowers, are scheduled to be the key witnesses when the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection resumes on Tuesday. The focus will be on how the former president and his allies pressured officials in key battleground states with schemes to reject ballots or entire state tallies to upend the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna settle before trial's sequel

LOS ANGELES (AP)  A settlement agreement has been reached on the eve of a second trial pitting the Kardashian family against former reality TV star Blac Chyna. Jury selection had been set to begin Monday in the trial over Chynas allegations that her former fiance Rob Kardashian maliciously posted nude photos of her in 2017 after their tumultuous breakup. But court documents show the parties told the judge a settlement deal had been struck. A judge had separated Chyna's allegations against Rob Kardashian from her defamation allegations against his mother and sisters, which got their own trial. The Kardashians won that case when jurors found they hadn't done Chyna harm.

Crypto investors' hot streak ends as harsh 'winter' descends

NEW YORK (AP)  The wealth-generating hot streak for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has turned brutally cold. As prices plunge, companies collapse and skepticism soars, fortunes and jobs are disappearing overnight, and investors feverish speculation has been replaced by icy calculation, in what industry leaders are referring to as a crypto winter. On Monday, the price of bitcoin traded at $20,097, more than 70% below its November peak of around $69,000. Experts say the selloff signals growing trepidation on Wall Street and Main Street about the crypto industrys fundamentals, which right now are looking shaky.

Lightning bounce back, beat Avalanche 6-2 in Game 3

TAMPA, Fla. (AP)  Steven Stamkos, Pat Maroon and Ondrej Palat each had a goal and an assist, and the Tampa Bay Lightning scored four times in the second period and beat the Colorado Avalanche 6-2 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. Anthony Cirelli, Nicholas Paul and Corey Perry also scored to help the two-time defending champion Lightning bounce back after playing poorly while losing the first two games on the road. Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman had two assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 37 shots. Stamkos, Paul, Maroon and Perry scored in the second period, when the Lightning chased Colorado goalie Darcy Kuemper while pulling away to trim their series deficit to 2-1. Gabriel Landeskog had two goals and Mikko Rantanen had two assists for the Avalanche. Game 4 is Wednesday night.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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PHOENIX (AP)  Calls from top advisers to former President Donald Trump to help overturn Trump's 2020 election loss were an unsupported, unwise and "juvenile effort that attacked a bedrock principal of American democracy, Arizona's House speaker said Monday.

Republican Speaker Rusty Bowers is among a series of state election officials set to testify Tuesday before the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection where Trump backers tried to stop the certification of President Joe Biden's victory.

Bowers spoke to The Associated Press after he arrived in Washington on Monday afternoon. He will be questioned about a phone call he got from Trump and attorney Rudy Giuliani in the weeks after the November 2020 election where Giuliani floated a proposal to replace Arizona's Biden electors by having the state's Legislature instead choose those committed to voting for Trump.

Bowers refused, saying the scheme was illegal and unconstitutional. In an interview last year, he said he told the president he would not break the law to help him gain the presidency.

He revealed a second call from Trump on Monday, saying the president phoned again on Dec. 4, 2020, but did not pressure him. He said Trump mainly made small talk, asking about his family and the upcoming holidays.

But then he said, I want to call you to tell you that I remember what you said the first time. Bowers said. And Im presuming it was about when I told him I wouldnt. That I supported him, I walked for him, I campaigned with him. But I wouldnt do anything illegal for him.

Bowers said efforts by Trump's backers have harmed the nation, undercut trust in elections and the right of people to vote their conscience.

I just think it is horrendous. Its terrible, Bowers said. The result of throwing the pebble in the pond, the reverberations across the pond, have, I think, been very destructive.

Bowers said he has not watched the committee's hearings, but did see some of the video clips showing the rampage at the Capitol. He said it sickened him watching people who supported Trump attacking police, including a man who had protested at the Arizona Capitol.

"Im appalled at what I saw," Bowers said, I dont mind their having these hearings. I dont mind. I think it illuminates something we need to see big time, and take stock of ourselves. And I hope it would sober us.

Bowers was one of five recipients of this year's John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award for his refusal to consider overturning the 2020 election results despite pressure from Trump and his supporters.

But while Bowers said the efforts by Giuliani and other Trump backers have been hurtful, he does not levy any criticism on Trump directly and would support him if he were on the ballot.

If he is the nominee, if he was up against Biden, Id vote for him again, Bowers said. Simply because what he did the first time, before COVID, was so good for the county. In my view it was great.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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The tombstone bore the name of Wade Ayres, a Native American boy who died at a government-run boarding school in Pennsylvania more than a century ago and was thought to have been buried on the grounds of what is now a U.S. Army base.

But when the Army exhumed grave B-13 over on Saturday, intending to repatriate the boy's remains to the Catawba Indian Nation of South Carolina, they did not match those of a male age 13 or 14. Instead, they belonged to a female age 15 to 20, the Army said in a statement.

Her remains were reburied in the same grave on Monday and marked unknown.

The Army is committed to seeking more information in an effort to determine where the remains of Wade Ayres are buried so that he may be returned to his family and the Catawba nation, the Army said.

Messages were sent to Catawba and Army officials on Tuesday seeking more information about efforts to locate Wade. It was also unclear whether the Army is seeking to match the unidentified female to a tribe.

The discovery came as the Army disinters the remains of eight Native American children who died at the government-run Carlisle Indian Industrial School. The disinterment process began earlier this month and is the fifth such project at Carlisle, the home of the U.S. Army War College.

So far, the Army has disinterred four of the children, with two already returned to family members, one reburied and one to be repatriated pending analysis, according to Renea Yates, director of the Office of Army Cemeteries.

The Army has transferred remains of a total of 23 Native American children from Carlisle in recent years, but its repatriation efforts have not always gone as planned.

In 2017, disinterred remains were not consistent with the identity of the child recorded to have been buried in that plot. Yates said Tuesday that Army research determined a headstone had been set over the wrong grave. The correct child was disinterred and returned to their family and tribe the following year in 2018, she said in a written statement.

There could be a number of reasons why remains do not match cemetery records, including shifting ground, poor record-keeping and a mixup at the time of burial, said University of South Florida forensic anthropologist Erin Kimmerle.

Unfortunately, it happens all the time, Kimmerle said in a phone interview Tuesday. Ive probably done 40 different exhumations in known, existing cemeteries and every cemetery had issues.

The Carlisle cemetery was relocated in 1927 to make way for new construction at the base, according to the Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center at Dickinson College. Kimmerle said its possible that graves were switched at that time. She said she suspects Wade might be buried nearby.

More than 10,000 children from more than 140 tribes passed through the Carlisle school between 1879 and 1918, including famous Olympian Jim Thorpe, as part of a U.S. policy to force Native American children to assimilate to white society.

The school sought to separate Native children from their cultures, cutting their braids, dressing them in military-style uniforms and punishing them for speaking their native languages.

Some 186 children originally were buried in the cemetery at the site.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The House 1/6 committee heard chilling, tearful testimony Tuesday that Donald Trump's relentless pressure to overturn the 2020 presidential election provoked widespread threats to the backbone of our democracy" election workers and local officials who fended off the defeated presidents demands despite personal risks.

The panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol focused on Trumps efforts to undo Joe Bidens victory in a most local way  by repeatedly leaning on public officials in key battleground states with shocking proposals to reject ballots outright or to submit alternative electors for the final tally in Congress.

The high-profile pressure, described as potentially illegal, was fueled by the presidents false claims of voter fraud  which, the panel says, spread dangerously in the states and ultimately led directly to the deadly insurrection at the Capitol.

A handful of election officials in several key states stood between Donald Trump and the upending of American democracy, Chairman Bennie Thompson said, praising them as heroes and the backbone of our democracy.

The hearing was punctuated throughout with accounts of the personal attacks faced by state and local officials.

Arizona Republican House Speaker Rusty Bowers said he was subjected to a public smear campaign, including relentless bullhorn protests at his home and a pistol-wielding man taunting his family and neighbors.

Officials in Michigan, Pennsylvania and other states told similar stories of having their cellphone numbers and home addresses spread publicly after they refused Trumps demands.

At one gripping moment, two Georgia election workers, a mother and daughter, testified that they lived in fear of saying their names aloud after Trump wrongly accused them of voter fraud.

There were a lot of threats wishing death upon me, said Wandrea ArShaye Shaye Moss, a former state election worker.

The public hearing, the fourth by the panel this month, stemmed from its yearlong investigation into Trumps unprecedented attempt to remain in power, a sprawling scheme that the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee has likened to an attempted coup. The panel insisted that Trump's lies over the election threaten democracy to this day, as local officials face ongoing threats and challengers try to take over their jobs.

The committee's vice chair, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, implored Americans to pay attention to the evidence being presented, declaring, We cannot let America become a nation of conspiracy theories and thug violence.

One key witness was Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who testified about Trumps phone call asking him to find 11,780 votes that could flip his state to prevent Bidens election victory.

While the committee cannot charge Trump with any crimes, the Justice Department is watching the panels work closely.

Trump defended himself on social media, describing his phone call to Raffensperger as perfect, similar to the way he described the 2020 call with Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskyy that resulted in his first impeachment.

The public testimony from Raffensperger came weeks after he appeared before a special grand jury in Georgia investigating whether Trump and others illegally tried to intervene in the states 2020 election. Raffensperger beat a Trump-backed challenger in last months primary election.

He and Gabe Sterling, his chief operations officer, detailed their painstaking efforts to count the Georgia vote, going down the rabbit hole, he said, investigating one false claim after another of fraud. After a hand recount of 5 million ballots, Biden's victory was unchanged.

The numbers don't lie, said Raffensperger, who said that some 28,000 Georgia voters simply bypassed the presidential race but voted down-ballot for others. At the end of the day, President Trump came up short.

Bowers, the Arizona House speaker who also appeared in person, walked through what started with a Trump phone call on a Sunday after he returned from church. The defeated president laid out a proposal to have the state replace its electors for Biden with others favoring Trump.

I said, Look, youre asking me to do something that is counter to my oath, Bowers testified.

Bowers insisted on seeing Trumps evidence of voter fraud, which he said Trumps team never produced beyond vague allegations. He recalled Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani later told him, Weve got lots of theories, we just dont have the evidence.

Trump wanted Bowers to hold a hearing at the state Capitol, but the Republican leader said there was already a circus atmosphere over the election. The panel showed video footage of protesters at the Arizona statehouse including a key figure, the horned hat-wearing Jacob Chansley, who was later arrested at the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Trump nevertheless pressed the Arizona official, including in a follow-up call, suggesting he expected a better response from a fellow Republican.

But Bowers said that because of his faith, including a belief the U.S. Constitution is divinely inspired, what the president was asking him to do was foreign to my very being.

Bowers called Trumps effort a tragic parody.

With in-person testimony, Moss, who had worked for Georgia's Fulton County elections department since 2012, and her mother, Ruby Freeman, a temporary election worker who spoke earlier to the panel, gripped the audience with their accounts of the fallout from the smear campaign by Trump and Giuliani.

Do you know how it feels to have the president of the United States target you?" Freeman testified. "The president of the United States is supposed to represent every American, not to target one. But he targeted me.

The select committee outlined Trump's elaborate fake electors scheme that sought to have representatives in as many as seven battlegrounds  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada and New Mexico  state that he, not Biden, had won their states.

Several Republicans in Congress latched onto the scheme in the run-up to Jan. 6.

The committee displayed a text message from an aide to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., to an aide for Vice President Mike Pence the morning of Jan. 6 saying Johnson wanted to give Pence an alternate slate of electors for MI and WI.

Do not give that to him, Pence aide Chris Hodgson replied. And Johnson didnt, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Conservative law professor John Eastman, a lawyer for Trump, pushed the fake electors in the weeks after the election. The idea was to set up a challenge to Biden's win when Congress met on Jan. 6 with Pence presiding in what is typically a ceremonial role to certify the election. Trump sent thousands of his supporters to the Capitol to fight like hell, as he pressured Pence to reject the ballots. The effort ultimately collapsed amid the deadly riot, as Pence refused Trumps demands that he reject the electors.

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Bob Christie in Phoenix contributed to this report.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  Africa is actually taken hostage in Russias invasion of Ukraine amid catastrophically rising food prices, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the African Union continental body during a closed-door address on Monday.

It took weeks of requests for Zelenskyy to address African nations, many of whom retain close ties to Russia and failed to support a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning the invasion earlier this year.

Ukraine and the West hope to weaken those ties by emphasizing that Russias actions are to blame for dramatic shortages of wheat and edible oils and skyrocketing food and fuel prices across the African continent of 1.3 billion people. Russia's blockade of Ukrainian exports is a war crime, the European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Monday.

They are trying to use you and the suffering of the people to put pressure on the democracies that have imposed sanctions on Russia, Zelenskyy told the AU, whose leaders recently met in Russia with President Vladimir Putin and echoed Moscows assertion that Western sanctions are in part to blame for the food security crisis. They appealed to other countries to ensure grain and fertilizer exports from Russia and Ukraine arent blocked.

Millions of people in the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia and Somalia, are now struggling to find food or even humanitarian food aid amid a historic drought. The Associated Press was the first to report hundreds of deaths this year in Somalia alone.

We know for a fact there will be increased deaths ... well into 2023, USAID Ethiopia mission director Sean Jones told the AP last week.

Official reaction to Zelenskyys speech was muted. African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat, one of those who met with Putin, tweeted that African nations reiterated the AU position of the urgent need for dialogue to end the conflict. Current AU chair and Senegalese President Macky Sall tweeted that Africa respects the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the freedom of commerce.

Russia is the largest weapons exporter to sub-Saharan Africa, and Moscow emphasizes its long ties with African nations dating to the Soviet Union. Some African leaders, meanwhile, are exasperated by global powers' efforts to choose one side or another.

Ukraine will press its case again later this week when its foreign minister speaks to Africa-based reporters in a briefing organized by the United States government on how Russian Federations full-scale invasion of Ukraine affects food security on the African continent.

The EU's top diplomat said he has written to all African foreign ministers to explain that the blocs sanctions on Russia are not responsible for the looming global food crisis, and pledged to work out ways for exports of food and fertilizers to reach their continent.

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Ukraine's leader has told the African Union that the continent has been "taken hostage in Russias invasion of Ukraine amid catastrophically rising food prices. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's closed-door speech Monday followed weeks of requests for him to address African nations. Many of them retain close ties to Russia and failed to support a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning the invasion. Ukraine and the West hope to weaken those ties by emphasizing that Russias actions are to blame for dramatic shortages of wheat and edible oils and skyrocketing food and fuel prices across Africa.
Voters selected the Republican nominee for Alabama's top election official in the runoff Tuesday, and the general election race for governor was set as Democratic voters picked their gubernatorial nominee. Three other statewide nominations plus a U.S. House seat also were on the ballot. Here is a look at the results:

SECRETARY OF STATE

State Rep. Wes Allen won the Republican nomination for secretary of state in a contest that featured both candidates promoting the need to tighten election security in harmony with former President Donald Trumps false claims that he lost the 2020 presidential race because of fraud.

Allen defeated outgoing State Auditor Jim Zeigler and will face Democrat Pamela J. Laffitte, an Air Force veteran and corrections supervisor in Mobile County, in the general election to become Alabamas top election official.

Zeigler received the most votes among four candidates in the primary election in May, but Allen overcame the deficit.

Allen, from Troy, previously served as probate judge in Pike County. Citing the potential for fraud, he opposed early voting and no-excuse absentee balloting and sponsored a law that barred curbside voting meant in part to make it easier for people with disabilities to cast a ballot.

During the campaign, Zeigler dubbed himself a watchman against ballot fraud, so-called ballot harvesting and voting by mail. Trump has blamed all those and more for his loss to Democratic President Joe Biden, and many GOP voters believe him despite a lack of evidence.

The current secretary of state, Republican John Merrill, couldnt run again because of term limits, and the GOP nominee will be a heavy favorite to win in November.

GOVERNOR

Yolanda Rochelle Flowers defeated state Sen. Malika Sanders Fortier in the Democratic race for governor to become the first Black person to win a major partys gubernatorial nomination in Alabama.

Flowers, a career educator from Birmingham, narrowly led a six-person field in the May primary. In what will be the states first all-female gubernatorial race, she will be a decided underdog against Gov. Kay Ivey, who vanquished eight challengers to win the GOP primary without a runoff.

Almost four times as many people voted in the Republican primary as the Democratic primary in May, and Republicans hold every statewide office.

Flowers ran on a platform of reconstructing Alabama by rebuilding its economy and systems for education, health care and criminal justice, Among other things, she advocated for a state lottery and a state minimum wage of $15.

Fortier, a state lawmaker from Selma, campaigned on the theme of building the biblical beloved community promoted by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. by improving the states economy, schools and health care. She is the daughter of former state Sen. Hank Sanders and attorney Faya Rose Toure.

STATE AUDITOR

Andrew Sorrell claimed the GOP nomination for state auditor by defeating Stan Cooke, a win that was tantamount to election since theres no Democratic contender.

Sorrell, a state representative from Colbert County who led balloting in the May primary, tried to make election security a prime issue, saying a strong auditor is needed to appoint county registrars who will keep voter rolls clean.

Cooke, a pastor from the Jefferson County town of Kimberly, claimed Alabama is at a crossroads where it could remain a conservative state or come under the control of liberal Democrats. Echoing Trumps false claims of election theft, he highlighted the auditors role in appointing county election officials who can prevent Democrats from stealing elections.

The current auditor, Republican Jim Zeigler, was barred from seeking another term.

U.S. HOUSE

Madison County Commission chair Dale Strong won the only runoff among the states seven U.S. House seats, claiming the Republican nomination for an open position in north Alabamas 5th District.

Strong defeated Casey Wardynski, a former Huntsville school superintendent. Strong handily led a six-candidate field with about 45% of the primary vote in May but couldnt avoid a runoff.

Strong will face Democrat Kathy Warner-Stanton of Decatur in the mostly Republican Tennessee Valley district in November.

The seat was given up by U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, who lost a runoff race with former business lobby leader Katie Britt for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby.

ALABAMA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Two Republican incumbents on the Alabama Public Service Commission dispatched challengers to keep their jobs on the three-member utility-regulating board.

Jeremy Oden, a former state legislator from Cullman seeking his third term, defeated attorney Brent Woodall, a PSC staffer and Republican activist, for the Place 1 nomination. Oden cast himself as a conservative bulwark against liberal environmental policies.

Chip Beeker, a former Greene County commissioner first elected to the PSC in 2014, defeated Robert L. McCollum to win the GOP nomination for Place 2. Beeker portrayed himself as an opponent of Democratic environmental policies, while McCollum, a small business owner from Tallapoosa County, argued the commission is too close to Alabama Power Co.

No Democrat qualified for either position, making a victory in the Republican runoff tantamount to election.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  In a pointed back and forth, the head of Chevron complained Tuesday that President Joe Biden has vilified energy firms at a time when gasoline prices are at near record levels and the president responded that the oil company CEO was being mildly sensitive.

The president in recent weeks has criticized oil producers and refiners for maximizing profits and making more money than God, rather than increasing production in response to higher prices as the economy recovers from the pandemic and feels the effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Michael Wirth, chairman and CEO of Chevron, sent Biden a letter via email on Tuesday that said the president's own words have been self-defeating in terms of encouraging companies to boost their output.

Chevron is investing in more production, Wirth wrote, but your Administration has largely sought to criticize, and at times vilify, our industry. These actions are not beneficial to meeting the challenges we face and are not what the American people deserve.

The oil company CEO said he wanted a more cooperative relationship with the government.

Let's work together, Wirth wrote. "The American people rightly expect our countrys leaders and industry to address the challenges they are facing in a serious and resolute manner."

Asked about those comments, Biden displayed no sympathy.

Hes mildly sensitive, Biden said. I didnt know theyd get their feelings hurt that quickly. Look, we need more refining capacity. This idea that they dont have oil to drill and to bring up is simply not true.

Average gas prices are nearly $5 a gallon nationwide, a strain on commuters and a political albatross for Bidens fellow Democrats going into the midterm elections. That has left the White House scrambling for solutions, including a possible suspension of the 18.4 cents a gallon federal gas tax .Biden plans to decide by the end of the week if the tax should be suspended, a move meant to relieve price pressures and that would need approval from a reluctant Congress.

The gas tax funds highways, but Biden said Tuesday any lost revenue would not have a major impact on road construction because of last years $1 trillion infrastructure law.

The clash between the Biden administration and oil producers and refiners unfolded ahead of a Thursday meeting that Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will hold with energy companies.

Both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have previously voiced skepticism about the benefits of suspending the gas tax. But Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., is sponsoring a bill that would put the gas tax on hold through the end of 2023.

Schiff said in a statement that he has been in touch with the White House to encourage the gas tax holiday, adding, But we shouldnt stop there. We should also hold Big Oil accountable for the price-gouging that is driving prices up in the first place.

The House has approved legislation to crack down on alleged price gouging by oil companies, but the bill has stalled in the Senate. Democratic proposals to impose a windfall profits tax on oil producers have generated little support in Congress.

The possibility of a gas tax holiday has drawn criticism from economists and the business community for not fixing the underlying supply challenges.

In an address Tuesday at the Economic Club of New York, a non-profit, non-partisan business group, Target CEO Brian Cornell called the gas tax holiday a temporary mini stimulus that does nothing to fundamentally change the supply and demand curve for fuel and transportation.

We have a classic supply-and-demand challenge, Cornell told the audience. In all due respect, the gas holiday is only going to fuel demand. Its doing nothing to increase the supply.

Harvard University professor Jason Furman, formerly the top economist in the Obama White House, said a gas tax suspension would not address the supply pressures.

Refineries are even more constrained now so supply is nearly fully inelastic, he wrote on Twitter. Most of the 18.4 cent reduction would be pocketed by industry -- with maybe a few cents passed on to consumers.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the administration is looking into as many ways as possible to provide consumers with some relief at the gas pump. But the administration does not plan to tell Americans to drive less during the July 4 holiday and reduce some of the supply pressures.

Americans are going to do what they feel is right for themselves and for their family, Jean-Pierre said. That's not something for us to make a judgment on.

AP reporters Matthew Daly in Washington and Anne D'Innocenzio in New York contributed to this report.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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ATLANTA (AP)  Three Democrats endorsed by Stacey Abrams won runoffs for statewide office Tuesday, while two Republicans beat other members of their party who had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Bee Nguyen beat Dee Dawkins-Haigler in the Democratic race for secretary of state. Charlie Bailey beat Kwanza Hall in the party's race for lieutenant governor, while state Rep. William Boddie Jr. beat Nicole Horn for the Democratic nod for labor commissioner. All three were endorsed by Abrams, meaning she got a racially diverse ticket for her November run against incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.

Georgia Republicans chose their nominees in two heavily GOP districts in Tuesday runoffs. In the 10th Congressional District east of Atlanta, Mike Collins beat former Democrat Vernon Jones. In suburban Atlantas 6th District, Rich McCormick beat Jake Evans.

Both Jones and Evans lost badly after both were endorsed by Trump. That means that the majority of Trump's choices who were opposed in Republican primaries in Georgia lost, including former Sen. David Perdue, who was blown out by Kemp in the governor's race.

Here's a look at races other than the Democratic secretary of state:

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Bailey, who was the Democratic nominee for attorney general in 2018, beat former Atlanta City Council member Hall. Bailey had trailed Hall in the May 24 primary but overtook him with backing by Democratic leaders, including Abrams

Bailey will take on Republican state Sen. Burt Jones, who won the nomination after being endorsed by Trump. Republican incumbent Geoff Duncan didn't seek another term.

Bailey had been running for attorney general again but shifted into the lieutenant governor's race. Bailey is promising to work with Abrams to cover uninsured adults, improve education and increase public safety. Bailey attacked Hall for money Hall received from the city of Atlanta after stepping down from the City Council. Despite a prohibition on the city hiring former officials for a year, Hall said he did nothing wrong.

Hall, who also served out the last month of the late John Lewis' term in Congress, enjoyed strong name recognition from his time on City Council, but his low-dollar campaign wasn't enough to overcome Abrams' support of the better-financed Bailey.

LABOR COMMISSIONER

Boddie beat entrepreneur Horn for the Democratic nomination for labor commissioner and will face state Sen. Bruce Thompson, the Republican nominee, in November.

Republican incumbent Mark Butler didn't seek reelection after the the state Labor Department was beset by complaints when Georgia's unemployment rate hit a record during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both Boddie and Horn agreed that the department needs more money to hire more employees, ensuring jobless benefit applicants can get responses to questions. Boddie has said his legislative experience will help him persuade lawmakers to give the department more money.

Boddie criticized Republicans for pulling Georgia out of the federal program that extended unemployment benefits months before the federal program expired.

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

The Democrats' nominee from 2018 will get another run at being Georgia's chief insurance regulator, as Janice Laws Robinson beat insurance salesman Raphael Baker. She will face incumbent Republican John King in November.

Laws Robinson has said she would target Georgia's high auto insurance costs by changing state law to make it easier for the commissioner to block rate increases before they take effect. She has said she would also crack down on insurers taking advantage of policy buyers through unfair underwriting practices.

Baker, a Democratic activist, said he wanted to lower auto insurance rates. He said Black consumers, in particular, pay too much, and he wanted to make insurance practices more equitable.

CONGRESS REPUBLICANS

In the 10th Congressional District east of Atlanta, trucking company owner Collins easily beat Jones in a bitter runoff. Trump backed Jones, but Kemp, fresh off a primary triumph over Trump-endorsed Perdue, joined other GOP officeholders in backing Collins.

In the 6th District in Atlantas northern suburbs, emergency room physician McCormick romped over Trump-backed lawyer Evans. That race revolved around accusations by each candidate that the other is insufficiently conservative.

The 6th and the 10th are both heavily Republican districts.

In southwest Georgia's 2nd District, real estate developer Chris West, who finished second on May 24, edged out former Army officer Jeremy Hunt. West will carry forward Republicans' high hopes of knocking off 30-year Democratic incumbent Sanford Bishop in November.

In suburban Atlanta's 7th District, frontrunner Mark Gonsalves beat Michael Corbin, and will face Democrat Lucy McBath in a district that became much more Democratic in redistricting.

CONGRESS DEMOCRATS

In coastal Georgia's 1st District, lawyer Wade Herring swamped Joyce Marie Griggs after outspending her. Herring told Democrats he would have a better chance of upsetting incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter. Griggs, a disbarred lawyer, had lost to Carter as the Democratic nominee in 2020.

But in the 10th District, Tabitha Johnson-Green will be the Democratic nominee for the third cycle in a row after losing to Republican incumbent Jody Hice in 2018 and 2020. She handily beat Athens real estate agent and musician Jessica Fore, and will face Collins in November.

STATE LEGISLATIVE SEATS

Party nominations were being settled in one state Senate and 10 state House seats.

Banker Mike Hodges beat former state House member Jeff Jones 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.

Among six Republican and four Democratic state House contests were two incumbents who didn't win majorities on May 24 and needed wins Tuesday to keep their chances of reelection alive. Republican incumbent Sheri Gilligan, a sometime critic of House Speaker David Ralston, was opposed by Carter Barrett in House District 24 in southwestern Forsyth County. Democratic incumbent Roger Bruce was vying with Rashaun Kemp in House District 61 in southern Fulton and northeastern Douglas counties.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is set to testify Tuesday at the House Jan. 6 committee about the extraordinary pressure he faced from former President Donald Trump to "find 11,780 votes that could flip the state to prevent Joe Bidens election victory

Raffensperger, along with his deputy Gabe Sterling and Arizonas state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, are scheduled to be the key witnesses when the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection resumes on Tuesday.

The focus will be on how the former president and his allies vigorously pressured officials in key battleground states with schemes to reject ballots or entire state tallies to upend the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Additionally, the panel will underscore how Trump knew his unrelenting pressure campaign could potentially cause violence against state and local officials and their families but pursued it anyway, according to a select committee aide.

We will show courageous state officials who stood up and said they wouldnt go along with this plan to either call legislatures back into session or decertify the results for Joe Biden, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., one of the Democratic members of the committee, told CNN on Sunday.

The hearing, the fourth by the panel this month, is the latest effort to delve into Trump's unprecedented attempt to remain in power, a sprawling scheme that the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee has likened to an attempted coup." The committee will review how Trump leaned on Raffensperger to invalidate ballots that voters had cast for Biden. And then he tapped state legislators in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and other disputed states to reject the election results from their own voters.

While the committee cannot charge Trump with any crimes, the Justice Department is watching the panels work closely. Trumps actions in Georgia are also the subject of a grand jury investigation, with the district attorney expected to announce findings this year.

Raffensperger, Georgia's top election official, rebuffed Trump's request that he find enough votes to overturn Bidens win in the state  a request caught on tape during a phone call days before the Jan. 6 attack.

During the call, Trump repeatedly cited disproven claims of fraud and raised the prospect of a criminal offense if Georgia officials did not change the vote count. The state had counted its votes three times before certifying Bidens win by a 11,779 margin.

Sterling, Raffensperger's chief operating officer, became a notable figure in Georgias long post-election counting, and recounting, of the presidential ballots, with his regular updates often broadcast live to a divided nation. At one point, the mild-spoken Republican implored Americans to tone down the heated rhetoric.

Death threats, physical threats, intimidation  its too much, its not right, said Sterling, a Republican.

Bowers is expected to discuss the pressure he faced to overturn Arizona's results  requests from Trump advisers the Republican state leader on Monday called juvenile.

In an interview with The Associated Press after arriving in Washington ahead of the hearing, Bowers said he is expected to be asked about a call with Trump during which lawyer Rudy Giuliani floated an idea to replace Arizona's electors with those who would vote for Trump.

Bowers also revealed a second phone call with Trump in December 2020 that he said was mainly small talk, although Trump also referenced their first conversation.

Also testifying Tuesday is Wandrea Shay Moss, one of two Georgia election workers who filed a defamation lawsuit in December 2020 against a conservative website. Moss claimed One America News Network falsely spread allegations that she and her mother engaged in ballot fraud during the election.

The lawsuit, which was settled in April, also names Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani as a vocal proponent of the baseless claim, which the mother and daughter say led to intense harassment, both in-person and online.

The select committee also plans Tuesday to untangle the elaborate fake electors scheme that was aimed at halting Biden's election win. The plan saw fake electors in seven battlegrounds  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada and New Mexico  sign certificates falsely stating that Trump, not Biden, had won their states.

Conservative law professor John Eastman, a lawyer for Trump, pushed the fake electors in the weeks after the election. Trump and Eastman convened hundreds of electors on a call on Jan. 2, 2021, encouraging them to send alternative electors from their states where Trumps team was claiming fraud.

The fake electoral certificates were produced and mailed to the National Archives and Congress. But the effort failed in the end, as Vice President Mike Pence refused Trumps repeated demands that he halt the certification of Bidens win on Jan. 6, 2021  a power he did not possess in his purely ceremonial role.

The committee says it will also show Tuesday that it has gathered enough evidence through its more than 1,000 interviews and tens of thousands of documents to connect the varying efforts to overturn the election directly to Trump.

At least 20 people in connection with the fake electors scheme were subpoenaed by the House panel, including former Trump campaign members, state party officials and state lawmakers.

We will show during a hearing what the presidents role was in trying to get states to name alternate slates of electors, how that scheme depended initially on hopes that the legislatures would reconvene and bless it, Schiff said.

Schiff told the Los Angeles Times on Monday that the hearing will also dig into the intimate role former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows had in the plot to pressure Georgia state legislators and elections officials.

The public testimony from Raffensperger comes weeks after he appeared before a special grand jury in Georgia, which is investigating whether Trump and others illegally tried to meddle in the states 2020 election.

In retaliation for Raffensperger's refusal to support his election lies, Trump recruited a primary challenger in an effort to remove him from office. But Raffensperger narrowly held back the threat in last months primary, leaving him positioned to compete against a Democrat in the general election.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Russian attacks are laying down a curtain of fire across areas of eastern Ukraine where pockets of resistance are denying Moscow full military control of the region. A regional official told The Associated Press on Tuesday that everything that can burn is on fire. Russias war has caused alarm over food supplies from Ukraine to the rest of the world and gas supplies from Russia. It has also raised questions about security in Western Europe. The Russian military currently controls about 95% of the eastern Luhansk region. Separately, John Kirby, a national security spokesman for the White House, said it was appalling that the Kremlin suggested two Americans captured by Russian forces in Ukraine could be sentenced to death.
HOUSTON (AP)  A Texas judge on Tuesday denied a request by a district attorney who called capital punishment unethical to withdraw the execution date of a death row inmate whose case had raised legal questions about the role of spiritual advisers in the death chamber.

On April 12, an order was signed setting John Henry Ramirezs execution for Oct. 5. Ramirezs execution had been put on hold several times, most recently after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review his challenge of state rules that would have prevented his pastor from touching him and praying aloud during his execution.

But two days after a death warrant was issued, Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez asked for the order to be withdrawn, saying his office mistakenly requested an execution date. In a court motion, Gonzalez said he has the firm belief that the death penalty is unethical and should not be imposed on Mr. Ramirez or any other person while (Gonzalez) occupies (his) office.

But during a court hearing over Zoom Tuesday, state District Judge Bobby Galvan in Corpus Christi, who signed the death warrant scheduling the execution, said he believed Ramirezs case has reached a point at which the setting of an execution date is warranted.

So, Mr. Gonzalez, I respectfully disagree with you. Im not sure that I have the power to do so and for that reason Im not going to withdraw the warrant, Galvan said.

Ramirez is on death row for killing a Corpus Christi convenience store worker during a 2004 robbery. Ramirez stabbed Pablo Castro 29 times and robbed him of $1.25.

After the hearing, Ramirezs attorney, Seth Kretzer, said he and Gonzalez planned to file a joint motion appealing Galvans decision to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the states highest criminal court.

It is unprecedented for an unopposed/joint motion to withdraw a death warrant to be denied, Kretzer said.

Gonzalez said he holds Galvan in the highest regard" and that he'll follow the judge's advice to appeal.

We are in unchartered waters and even judges sometimes welcome guidance or answers from higher courts," Gonzalez said in a statement.

During a nearly 20-minute Facebook live video in April, Gonzalez said he believed the death penalty is one of the many things wrong with our justice system.

I dont feel that the government should have that power to put people to death because historically, those individuals that have been put to death have been of color, of low economic status or even low intellect, Gonzalez said.

Four of Castros children filed a motion asking Ramirezs execution order to be left in place, ending an ordeal that has denied peace and closure to Pablo Castros children for nearly twenty years.

In a letter, the Texas Attorney Generals Office said Gonzalezs shifting ethical position was not a legitimate reason to withdraw the order.

Ramirez, 37, had been set for execution on Sept. 8, 2021, but the U.S. Supreme Court blocked his execution and agreed to take up his case to address the role of spiritual advisers in the death chamber.

In March, the court said states must accommodate the wishes of death row inmates who want to have their faith leaders pray and touch them during their executions. Following the high courts ruling, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said it would work to grant requests regarding spiritual advisers unless they present a substantial security risk or are outrageous.

During Tuesdays hearing, Galvan wondered what would happen if he refused a prosecution request to set an execution date.

I could refuse but I dont think I would have the authority to stop the execution, Galvan said.

Such a scenario is currently before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Prosecutors in Harris County, where Houston is located, are appealing a judges refusal to set an execution date for death row inmate Arthur Brown.

Last month, Houston judge Natalia Cornelio declined to approve a request by prosecutors to set an Aug. 31 execution date for Brown. Cornelio instead granted a request by Brown to find a new attorney who can investigate if he is intellectually disabled and thus ineligible for execution.

Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Police had enough officers and firepower on the scene of the Uvalde school massacre to have stopped the gunman three minutes after he entered the building, and they would have found the door to the classroom where he was holed up unlocked if they had bothered to check it, the head of the Texas state police testified Tuesday, pronouncing the law enforcement response an abject failure.

Officers with rifles instead stood in a hallway for over an hour, waiting in part for more weapons and gear, before they finally stormed the classroom and killed the gunman, putting an end to the May 24 attack that left 19 children and two teachers dead.

I dont care if you have on flip-flops and Bermuda shorts, you go in, Col. Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said in blistering testimony at a state Senate hearing.

The classroom door, it turned out, could not be locked from the inside by design, according to McCraw, who also said a teacher reported before the shooting that the lock was broken. Yet there is no indication officers tried to open it during the standoff, McCraw said. He said police instead waited for keys.

I have great reasons to believe it was never secured, McCraw said of the door. How about trying the door and seeing if its locked?

Delays in the law enforcement response at Robb Elementary School have become the focus of federal, state and local investigations.

McCraw lit into Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde school district police chief who McCraw said was in charge, saying: The only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering Room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children.

Arredondo made terrible decisions, said McCraw, who lamented that the police response "set our profession back a decade.

Arredondo has said he didnt consider himself the person in charge and assumed someone else had taken control of the law enforcement response. He has declined repeated requests for comment from The Associated Press, and his lawyer did not immediately respond Tuesday.

The police chief testified for about five hours Tuesday at a closed-door hearing of a Texas House committee also investigating the tragedy, according to the panel chair.

Senate members hearing the latest details reacted with fury, some decrying Arredondo as incompetent and saying the delay cost lives. Others pressed McCraw on why state troopers on the scene didnt take charge. McCraw said the troopers did not have legal authority to do so.

The public safety chief presented a timeline that said three officers with two rifles entered the building less than three minutes behind the gunman, an 18-year-old with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle. Several more officers entered minutes after that. Two of the officers who went into the hallway early on were grazed by gunfire.

The decision by police to hold back went against much of what law enforcement has learned in the two decades since the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado in which 13 people were killed in 1999, McCraw said.

You dont wait for a SWAT team. You have one officer, thats enough, he said. He also said officers did not need to wait for shields to enter the classroom. The first shield arrived less than 20 minutes after the shooter entered, according to McCraw.

Eight minutes after the shooter entered, an officer reported that police had a heavy-duty crowbar that they could use to break down the classroom door, McCraw said.

The public safety chief spent nearly five hours offering the clearest picture yet of the massacre, outlining a series of other missed opportunities, communication breakdowns and errors based on an investigation that has included roughly 700 interviews. Among the missteps:

 Arredondo did not have a radio with him.

 Police and sheriffs radios did not work inside the school. Only the radios of Border Patrol agents on the scene did, and they did not work perfectly.

 Some school diagrams that police used to coordinate their response were wrong.

Public leaders, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, initially praised the police response in Uvalde. Abbott said officers reacted quickly and ran toward the gunfire with amazing courage to take out the killer, thereby saving lives. He later said he was misled.

State police initially said the gunman, Salvador Ramos, entered the school through an exterior door that had been propped open by a teacher. However, McCraw said the teacher had closed the door, but unbeknownst to her, it could be locked only from the outside. The gunman walked straight through, McCraw said.

The gunman knew the building well, having attended the fourth grade in the same classrooms where he carried out the attack, McCraw said. Ramos never communicated with police that day, the public safety chief said.

Sen. Paul Bettencourt said the entire premise of lockdown and shooter training is worthless if school doors cant be locked. We have a culture where we think weve trained an entire school for lockdown .... but we set up a condition to failure, he said.

Bettencourt challenged Arredondo to testify in public and said he should have removed himself from the job immediately. He angrily pointed out that shots were heard while police waited.

There are at least six shots fired during this time," he said. Why is this person shooting? Hes killing somebody. Yet this incident commander finds every reason to do nothing.

Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said Tuesday that the city has specific legal reasons that it's not answering questions publicly or releasing records. There is no cover-up," he said in a statement.

Later in the day, the Uvalde City Council voted unanimously against giving Arredondo, who is a council member, a leave of absence from appearing at public meetings. Relatives of the shooting victims had pleaded with city leaders to instead fire him.

Please, please, were begging you, get this man out of our lives, said Berlinda Arreola, the grandmother of Amerie Jo Garza.

After the meeting, the mayor pushed back on McCraw's testimony casting blame on Arredondo, saying that the Department of Public Safety has repeatedly put out false information about the shooting and glossed over the role of its own officers.

He called the Senate hearing a clown show and said he heard nothing from McCraw about state troopers' involvement, even though McLaughlin said their number in the school hallway at points during the slaughter surpassed that of any other law enforcement agency.

Questions about the law enforcement response began days after the massacre. McCraw said three days afterward that Arredondo made the wrong decision when he chose not to storm the classroom for more than 70 minutes, even as trapped fourth graders inside two classrooms were desperately calling 911 for help and anguished parents outside the school begged officers to go inside.

An hour after the shooter first crashed his truck outside the school, Arredondo said, according to McCraws timeline: People are going to ask why were taking so long. Were trying to preserve the rest of the life.

But McCraw said Tuesday that the amount of time that elapsed before officers entered the classroom was intolerable.

Police havent found any red flags in Ramos' school disciplinary files but learned through interviews that he engaged in cruelty to animals. He walked around with a bag of dead cats, McCraw said.

In the days and weeks after the shooting, authorities gave conflicting and incorrect accounts of what happened. But McCraw assured lawmakers: Everything Ive testified today is corroborated.

McCraw said if he could make just one recommendation, it would be for more training. He also said every state patrol car in Texas should have shields and door-breaching tools.

I want every trooper to know how to breach and have the tools to do it, he said.

Associated Press writers Jamie Stengle and Terry Wallace in Dallas, correspondent John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, and photographer Eric Gay in Austin contributed to this report.

Find 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.

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President Joe Biden signed a bill Wednesday to rename the Benson post office after an Omaha sailor who saved more than a dozen shipmates while serving in World War II.

The legislation, which designates the U.S. Postal Service facility at 6223 Maple St. the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office, was one of two bills Biden signed Wednesday, according to the White House.

French, a Black man who enlisted in the still-segregated Navy as a mess attendant, was hailed as the hero of the Solomon Islands after the sinking of his ship, the USS Gregory, on Sept. 5, 1942, near Guadalcanal. He was credited with swimming for several hours through shark-infested waters while towing a lifeboat filled with 15 wounded shipmates, all of whom were white, until they could be rescued.

French was born in Arkansas but moved to Omaha as a youth to live with an older sister after his parents died.

He stayed in the military until the end of the war, then took a civilian job with the Navy in San Diego. He died in 1956, at age 37, of depression and alcoholism from untreated post-traumatic stress, according to family members.

Though he was recognized at the time, Frenchs story was largely forgotten until Bruce Wigo, a former director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, unearthed it several years ago. It was amplified on social media in spring 2021, prompting USA Swimming to honor him during the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha last June.

Rep. Don Bacon, who introduced the bill to name the Omaha post office, said the designation would help preserve Frenchs legacy and give Nebraskans and other Americans the opportunity to remember his heroic actions.

Despite the segregation at the time, he went above and beyond to answer the call of duty by saving his fellow sailors, Bacon said in a statement Wednesday.

The post office designation is the latest honor posthumously awarded to French.

In May, his family was presented with the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the services highest award for noncombat heroism. The award was presented during a ceremony in San Diego where a pool used for training Navy rescue swimmers was renamed in Frenchs honor.

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RANDALIA -- A Randalia farmer has pleaded not guilty to charges that 3,000 hogs died of neglect on his property.

Derek David Smith, 41, waived an in-count arraignment and filed a written not guilty plea to one count of livestock neglect Monday.

He also waived his speedy trial rights, and trial was tentatively set for August in Fayette County District Court in West Union.

The charge is a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,560 fine.

Smith had been hired by Valley Farms LLC to care for hogs, and on June 2 authorities found more than 3,000 feeder hogs dead at his confinement operation on 170th Street, according to court records.

The hogs died of a lack of feed, court records state, and another 200 hogs had to be put down because of health reasons.

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Iowa Board of Regents' President Michael Richards overseeing the special meeting regarding proposed tuition increases for the three universities. (Screen shot courtesy of the Iowa Board of Regents YouTube.)

Iowa State graduate student Rachel Sorensen said Monday she is homeless for the summer because shes not earning enough to cover the cost of living. She told members of the Iowa Board of Regents her situation isnt unique and their plan to increase state university tuition and fees will make it worse.

My concern when I see the tuition raise or raising fees automatically goes to grad students who are struggling to get by, Sorensen said. We are having departments shut down. Were having students not be able to get funding in the summer. Were having students who are actually homeless in the summer, and theyre trying to raise extra money at this point to pay their tuition if they are masters students and then it is extremely difficult for them.

Sorensen, president of the Iowa State University Graduate and Professional Student Senate, was among student leaders who spoke Monday during a special Regents meeting about the effect of a proposed 4.25% increase in tuition to cover rising costs and overall stagnant funding from the state.

Sorensen said she knows international students who are stranded in the county because they cant afford the costs of travel while paying tuition costs.

I struggle to think how we can balance the need for international students to come but at the same time raise the tuition for them to the point where it can make it difficult for them to go back and get their visa so that they can go back into our country, Sorensen said.

University of Northern Iowas Student Body President Leila Masinovic is a first-generation college student. Masinovic said her mother came from a war-torn county while facing the atrocities of genocide. A degree was not a possibility for Masinovics mother but she always encouraged her daughter to pursue an education. For this reason, Masinovic said she is serving as a voice for other students also fighting for their future.

Something we all understand is the financial burden that a college education can cause to not only our students and their families, but to the communities that they could have served if they were able to continue their education as they have wished, Masinovic said. This unfortunate circumstance of a promising individual not being able to attend college because of rising costs will only be a great disadvantage and hindrance to our society.

In 2021, 56% of students graduated from a state university in Iowa with student loan debt averaging $28,500. This is roughly what out-of-state students pay in a year to attend an Iowa public university. The University of Northern Iowa serves as the states only regional comprehensive university, which Masinovic said is in need of greater state funding to maintain lower tuition rates in comparison to the two research universities.

University of Iowas Student Body President Patrick Johnson said with rising costs, the universities look toward out-of-state students to come to Iowa and stay after they graduate. Yet as tuition increases, Iowas median household income remains in the bottom half of the nation. Nonresident students at the University of Iowa will pay less than a 2% increase instead of an additional 4.25%.

The contradiction stands boldly for all of us, Johnson said. We continue to increase economic barriers for our students and simultaneously question the reasons why they must relocate following their graduation. This model, as Im sure as we are all aware, is simply unsustainable and in need of reform.

The Iowa Legislature approved a 1.1% increase to all three universities. The 2023 appropriations are still $85 million less than 2009 appropriations. Riley Post, vice president of UIs Graduate and Professional Student Government, said while state allocations have decreased by 45%, tuition has gone up by 41%.

Were really taking the responsibility for funding these institutions away from the state and moving them on to the backs of students, Post said. When the two numbers match so perfectly, it almost seems to imply that we arent actually getting anything additional and students were simply just taking on this extra cost as its being deferred by the state.

Iowa State University Student Body President Jacob Ludwig said the only way to prevent future tuition increases is for greater funding to come from the state.

State budgeting prerogatives have made the acquisition of additional funds an uphill battle that is harder to win with each passing year, Ludwig said. This reality means that we have to advocate more and harder for the universities that we all love.

Board members did not comment on the tuition proposal. The final reading and vote on the proposed tuition increase will take place on July 27.

What is it going to take for legislators to invest back into the public universities of Iowa? Masinovic said. For in the end, that is not just our education we are asking you to assist in funding, we are asking you to invest into the leaders of the community that will take care of you when the time comes. To change our society to change our society for the better, we must go where it all begins. An affordable and accessible education helps a society flourish.

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Originally published on iowacapitaldispatch.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
OMAHA  Sam Teplitsky never met a car he couldnt fix.

Not in his Great Depression-era youth, maintaining fleets for grocery stores in the North Omaha neighborhood where he grew up.

Not in the Army during World War II, where he kept trucks and Jeeps running for a unit fighting its way through North Africa and Italy.

Not after the war, when he worked as a master mechanic at car dealerships and a hydraulics company to support his wife and seven kids.

He was really skilled, masterfully skilled, said Brenda Teplitsky of Omaha, Sams daughter-in-law. He was always working on cars.

Teplitsky pursued his passion well into his long retirement. The combat veteran died May 30  Memorial Day. He was 101.

Sam Teplitsky was born Nov. 15, 1920, the youngest of three sons of Morris and Esther Teplitsky, Jewish immigrants from Russia who had settled in North Omaha, near 24th and Bristol Streets. His parents didnt say much about their life in the old country.

His father was extremely private, said Joe Teplitsky of Gig Harbor, Washington, Sams son. He didnt know whether he had uncles or aunts.

Teplitsky attended Kellom Elementary School and Omaha Technical High School. After his graduation, he landed a job as a mechanic for a local Hinky Dinky grocery in North Omaha. He later worked for the Omaha Potato Market, another grocery store.

Teplitsky enlisted in the Army in April 1942. He was trained as a motor vehicle mechanic and, later that year, deployed to North Africa. He landed in Italy the following year, serving there to the end of World War II and beyond.

My dad worked on anything that didnt work, even defective rifles, said Joe Teplitsky. Parts for vehicles and equipment were not always available, and my dad would do whatever he had to do with what he had, to make things work.

Teplitsky was discharged in April 1946 as a member of the 86th Ordnance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company, which was headquartered in Livorno, a coastal town west of Florence.

Joe Teplitsky said his father rarely mentioned his wartime service, and his children dont know what battles he saw  though his unit was part of the Fifth Army, which saw two years of heavy fighting up the boot of Italy, and liberated Rome from the countrys fascist, antisemitic regime.

What they do know is that Teplitsky grew to love Italy, and spoke Italian fluently.

They also know that he met the love of his life, Antonina Licausi, who was from Palermo, Sicily, at a laundry. And he stayed in Italy after his discharge to marry her.

She was a beauty, she really was, Joe Teplitsky said. Hes this Russian Jewish boy, and shes Italian Catholic.

Married and with an infant son, Sam and Antonina  who at the time spoke no English  traveled to New York in February 1947, on storm-tossed seas aboard a liner called the Marine Shark.

Sam had bought an Army surplus Jeep in Italy and shipped it to New Jersey. They picked up the vehicle, which had no top, and drove it back to Nebraska through snow and cold. His homecoming drew notice in The World-Herald.

When he got home, he pulled that Jeep up and parked it in the backyard, Joe Teplitsky said. He never drove it again.

He took a job as an auto mechanic, and the couple began raising a family that would eventually include seven children. He did side work, too, and fixed up cars to resell them.

It was tough. I dont know how he did it, with seven kids, Joe Teplitsky said. Hard work was more important to him than anything.

During his career as a master mechanic, Sam worked at Lied Buick, Rossi Motors and Mark Hydraulics Co. before retiring in the late 1970s. But he continued to fix cars for family and friends, and enjoyed his family. He attended synagogue into his 80s.

He was a very forgiving, very kind person, Joe Teplitsky said.

Antonina died in 1994. Teplitsky survived a bout with colon cancer at age 95, but he was in good health and continued to live in his own home  with help from his son, Frank  until a very recent fall.

He thought he was going to live to be 105, Joe Teplitsky said. Everybody loved him. He was just a great guy.

A private service will be held later. He is survived by his daughters, Rose and Rita, and sons Joe, Philip and Frank, along with 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Besides his wife, two of his children, Carl and Esther, and a grandson, Philip, preceded him in death.

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The South Dakota Senate convicted Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg of two impeachment charges stemming from a 2020 fatal accident, removing and barring him from future office. The votes Tuesday were a stinging rebuke that showed most senators didnt believe his account of the crash. Ravnsborg told a 911 dispatcher the night of the crash that he might have struck a deer or other large animal, and has said he didnt know he struck a man  55-year-old Joseph Boever  until he returned to the scene the next morning. Lee Schoenbeck, the chamber's top-ranking Republican, said there was no question in his mind that was a lie. Ravnsvorg ran down an innocent South Dakotan, he said. Ravnsborg declined to address lawmakers. He has maintained he did nothing wrong.
PIERRE, S.D. (AP)  The South Dakota Senate on Tuesday convicted Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg of two impeachment charges stemming from a 2020 fatal crash, removing and barring him from future office in a stinging rebuke that showed most senators didnt believe his account of the crash.

Ravnsborg, a first-term Republican who only recently announced he wouldn't seek reelection, showed little emotion as senators convicted him first of committing a crime that caused someone's death. They then delivered another guilty verdict on a malfeasance charge that alleged he misled investigators and misused his office.

Ravnsborg told a 911 dispatcher the night of the crash that he might have struck a deer or other large animal and has said he didnt know he struck a man  55-year-old Joseph Boever  until he returned to the scene the next morning. Criminal investigators said they didnt believe some of Ravnsborgs statements, and several senators made clear they didn't either.

There's no question that was a lie, said Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, the chamber's top-ranking Republican. This person ran down an innocent South Dakotan.

Schoenbeck also criticized Ravnsborg for declining to testify in his own defense, saying Ravnsborg should have shared what the hell he was doing the night of the crash.

There's a mic right there, and that's a damn short walk," Schoenbeck said.

The convictions required a two-thirds majority in the Senate, controlled 32-3 by Republicans. Senators mustered the bare minimum 24 votes to convict Ravnsborg on the first charge, with some senators saying the two misdemeanors he pleaded guilty to weren't serious enough crimes to warrant impeachment. The malfeasance charge  Ravnsborg also asked investigators what data could be found on his cellphone, among other things  sailed through with 31 votes.

Votes to bar Ravnsborg from future office, taken on both counts, were unanimous.

Ravnsborgs face showed little emotion throughout the votes, holding his hand over his mouth as he had for much of the trial, then writing on a notepad in his lap. He did not answer questions from reporters as he exited the Capitol.

Ravnsborg in September agreed to an undisclosed settlement with Boevers widow.

Nick Nemec, Boevers cousin who has been a constant advocate for a severe punishment for Ravnsborg, said the votes were vindication.

Its just a relief. Its been nearly two years that this has drug on and it just feels like a weight off my shoulders, he said.

Ravnsborg is the first official to be impeached and convicted in South Dakota history.

Gov. Kristi Noem, who will pick Ravnsborg's replacement until the candidate elected to replace him in November is sworn in, called for her fellow Republican to resign soon after the crash and later pressed lawmakers to pursue impeachment. As the saga dragged on, Noem publicly endorsed Ravnsborgs predecessor, Republican Marty Jackley, for election as his replacement.

The governor celebrated the impeachment conviction on Twitter, saying it had lifted the dark cloud over the Attorney General's office.

It is now time to move on and begin to restore confidence in the office, she said, but gave no indication as to who she will pick for the interim position.

Ravnsborg has argued that the governor, who has positioned herself for a possible 2024 White House bid, pushed for his removal in part because he had investigated ethics complaints against Noem.

As the impeachment trial opened Tuesday, prosecutors drove at a question that has hung over developments since the September 2020 collision: Did Ravnsborg know he killed a man the night of the crash?

He absolutely saw the man that he struck in the moments after, said Alexis Tracy, the Clay County states attorney who led the prosecution.

Prosecutors also told senators that Ravnsborg had used his title to set the tone and gain influence in the aftermath of the crash, even as he allegedly made misstatements and outright lies to the crash investigators. The prosecution played a montage of audio clips of Ravnsborg referring to himself as the attorney general.

Prosecuting attorneys probed Ravnsborg's alleged misstatements during the aftermath of the crash, including that he never drove excessively over the speed limit, that he had reached out to Boevers family to offer his condolence, and that he had not been browsing his phone during his drive home.

The prosecution played a series of video clips during their closing arguments that showed Ravnsborg's shifting account of his phone use during interviews with criminal investigators. The attorney general at first outright denied he had been using his phone while driving, but then acknowledged he had been looking at his phone minutes before the crash. When it was time for senators to speak, several noted an accident reconstruction that found Ravnsborg's car had veered entirely out of its lane, in contrast to his initial statement that he was in the middle of the road at the time of impact.

Ravnsborg resolved the criminal case last year by pleading no contest to a pair of traffic misdemeanors, including making an illegal lane change and using a phone while driving, and was fined by a judge.

The attorney generals defense asked senators to consider the implications of impeachment on the function of state government. Ross Garber, a legal analyst and law professor at Tulane University who specializes in impeachment proceedings, told senators to impeach would be undoing the will of the voters.

Ravnsborg was driving home from a political fundraiser after dark on Sept. 12, 2020, on a state highway in central South Dakota when his car struck something, according to a transcript of his 911 call afterward. He told the dispatcher it might have been a deer or other animal.

Investigators identified what they thought were slips in Ravnsborgs statements, such as when he said he turned around at the accident scene and saw him before quickly correcting himself and saying: I didnt see him. And they contended that Boevers face had come through Ravnsborgs windshield because his glasses were found in the car.

Weve heard better lies from 5-year-olds, Pennington County State's Attorney Mark Vargo, acting as an impeachment prosecutor, said of Ravnsborg's statement.

Investigators had determined the attorney general walked right past Boevers body and the flashlight Boever had been carrying  still illuminated the next morning  as he looked around the scene the night of the crash.

Ravnsborg said neither he nor the county sheriff who came to the scene knew that Boever's body was lying just feet from the pavement on the highway shoulder.

There isnt any way you can go by without seeing that, Arnie Rummel, an agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation who led the criminal probe, said in testimony Tuesday.

Prosecutors also raised an exchange that Ravnsborg had with one of his staff members three days following the crash, after he had submitted his phones to crash investigators. Ravnsborg questioned an agent in the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation about what would turn up during forensic exams of his cellphones, even though the agency was supposed to have no part in the investigation to avoid conflicts of interest.

We were not supposed to be involved, the now-retired agent, Brent Gromer, said as he described why the exchange made him uncomfortable.

Ravnsborg's defense attorney contended that the attorney general had done nothing nefarious. His defense attorney, Mike Butler, described any discrepancies in Ravnsborg's memory of that night as owing to human error, and disparaged testimony from Rummel, the crash investigator, as opinion that would not hold up in a court of law.

During closing arguments, Butler stated that the criminal prosecution found no criminal culpability for Boever's death and urged senators to refrain from rehashing that case.

No amount of fire and brimstone changes that given fact, he said.

Sen. Arthur Rusch, a retired judge who said he had gotten to know Ravnsborg when he was a young attorney practicing in Ruschs court, was among senators who didnt support impeachment on the first charge, but did on the second. He said he was bothered by Ravnsborgs actions in questioning Division of Criminal Investigation agents on aspects of the case and for issuing a press release on attorney general stationery.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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WATERLOO  A Waterloo man has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill a woman over a gasoline debt.

Waterloo police arrested Montreal Rendell Young, 22, on charges of assault while displaying a weapon, first-degree harassment and carrying a weapon while intoxicated. Bond was set at $5,000.

According to court records, Young allegedly owed a woman $10 for a ride she had given him. Around 5:40 p.m. Sunday, the woman saw Young in the hallway of their apartment building on Russell Road and asked him about getting paid.

Young allegedly became angry, lifted his shirt to show a handgun tucked inside his waistband and then drew the weapon, according to court records. He allegedly told the woman he was going to kill her.

Officers found a loaded 9 mm Taurus pistol in Youngs apartment, and he allegedly blew a .129 blood-alcohol level on a breath test, court records state.

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Iowa Democrats make their pitch Thursday to the Democratic National Committees Rules & Bylaws Committee as to why they should remain an early-voting state in the nations presidential nominating process.

State party officials will present proposed changes to its caucuses that modernizes and streamlines the process. The goal: Secure a renewed place at the front of their partys presidential nominating calendar.

The Republican National Committee in April voted unanimously to keep Iowa at the front of the line in the GOPs presidential selection process.

Iowa is among 16 states and Puerto Rico vying to be included in Democrats early presidential nominating window ahead of Super Tuesday in early March 2024.

The DNC rules committee voted in April to reopen the presidential nominating window, forcing all interested states  including the current early-nominating states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina  to apply for a spot.

The move came after the current lineup of early-nominating states came under increasing fire following a chaotic 2020 caucus night for Iowa Democrats when a smartphone app  meant to make reporting results easier  failed. As a result, the official Democratic caucus results were not reported for several weeks.

Critics have slammed Iowas first-in-the-nation status over the states lack of diversity and electoral competitiveness. And national Democrats complain the caucuses are too opaque and inaccessible, requiring in-person attendance, which can make them difficult at attend for Iowans who work late shifts, lack access to child care or transportation or have health or mobility problems.

To make their caucuses more accessible, Iowa Democrats are proposing to eliminate the requirement for in-person attendance and are reorganizing the caucus practice of identifying candidates viability over multiple rounds.

The DNC rules committee is expected to meet in early August and recommend a slate of up to five states for the early nominating window.

WHATS PROPOSED

Under the proposed changes, an Iowa Democrat would request a presidential preference card in the mail and would have 14 to 28 days to either mail it back or return it in person caucus night.

On caucus night, the Iowa Democratic Party would report the results publicly.

The caucuses themselves would focus primarily on conducting party business, such as electing delegates to county conventions.

The state party also would contract with either a DNC-approved election vendor or with a county auditor or the Iowa Secretary of States Office to ensure a fair and trustworthy process.

Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Ross Wilburn has said the changes will make the caucuses more straightforward, accessible and professional.

While the nominating process should always be subject to critical examination, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina serve our party well as an accessible cross-section of the national Democratic electorate, and each state presents a unique, important test for presidential hopefuls, Wilburn wrote in a letter to the DNC.

Iowa Code requires political parties hold caucuses at least eight days before any other states primary. It does not say how those caucuses must be conducted.

Caucuses in Iowa have a history of higher turnout than many other states presidential nominating contests, despite some historical barriers, Wilburn wrote. We intend to simplify the process so that it is easy to understand and offers more options for participation. Such planned changes can only serve to expand an already-engaged electorate.

IOWAS SPEAKERS

Those who will present Thursday to the DNC rules committee will be Wilburn; Iowa House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights; Democratic state Rep. Ras Smith of Waterloo; and Scott Brennan, a former Iowa Democratic Party chairman and the only Iowan on the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee.

I think our presentation will show Iowa is much more diverse than they think. And, there are many forms of diversity, Brennan said Tuesday.

One of the forms of diversity that Iowa brings, frankly, is the rural working-class diversity. And its a group of folks Democrats have forgotten how to talk to, he said.  And if we cant figure that out, under the Electoral College system, well be doomed to win popular votes and lose the Electoral College. And thats criminal, and thats on us if we cant figure that out.

Brennan dismissed reporting over the weekend by the Des Moines Register suggesting Iowa Democrats lack fervor in their fight to stay first in the nation.

Its hard to think in terms of the 2024 presidential cycle when whats facing us square in the face now is an incredibly important election in the fall of 2022, Brennan said. Bottom line is I dont think people are dispirited or uninterested.

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Watergate, whose 50th anniversary is upon us, is remembered for the question: "What did the president know and when did he know it?" But in our age of post-truth politics, the question loses its punch. The Jan. 6 committee devoted the second of its public hearings to demonstrating beyond doubt that Donald Trump knew he had lost the 2020 election. The unstated assumption here is that Trump did not sincerely believe the election was stolen. He was told over and over again that it wasn't and yet persisted in propagating a dangerous lie to the world. And therefore, he is responsible.

With all due respect to the committee (and I wish them resounding success), that's the wrong way to look at it. In the first place, the tangle of loose wires, celebrity gossip, Putin-worship, grade school taunts and world-class vapidity that forms Trump's mind is impossible to penetrate. We are, to our sorrow, quite familiar with his indifference to truth. When it comes to a person who has lied about American Muslims celebrating the fall of the Twin Towers; told the country that COVID-19 was like the common cold and was "disappearing"; lied about why he fired James Comey; and lied even about the paths of hurricanes, we are dealing with someone whose lies are a constitutive part of his psychology. And everyone knows this.

Consider just one contrast from the Watergate era. Part of why the tapes were Nixon's undoing is that they proved that Nixon had lied to his friends and allies as well as to his enemies. The same cannot be said in Trump's case because absolutely everyone in his circle and everyone in the Republican Party who made their peace with him as leader had been lied to repeatedly. Trump had so warped the people around him that there was no expectation of honesty or integrity. What is sincerity in the mind of a man who lies with every exhale? Asking whether Trump knew the election was free and fair is like asking whether a komodo dragon prefers smooth jazz or hip hop. It's a category error.

This emphatically does not let Trump off the hook for his lies. On the contrary. Think of tort law. If you are the owner of a dye factory and an employee sues when he's blinded by a malfunctioning machine, you can't escape responsibility by saying that you didn't know the machinery was faulty. If the negligence is bad enough, it can be criminal.

Criminal negligence is a decent shorthand for the indifference to truth and/or eager embrace of lies that has come to characterize our historical moment. Are the people who get all of their news from Fox or The Federalist responsible for what they believe? They are. Every person in a democratic republic has a duty to ascertain the truth as best they can, and that means questioning the pap that they are fed nightly. It means letting the light of skepticism peek under the blanket of certainty every now and then. A Fox viewer is lied to, yes, but he or she can ask: "Why did Tucker Carlson do an entire show on the first night of televised hearings, Thursday, June 9, without commercial interruptions? What was he afraid viewers would learn if they switched channels to any other outlet even for a minute?"

Yes, viewers are lied to, and the liars deserve particular opprobrium, but at some point, citizens have to use the sense God gave them. If the Dominion Voting machines were rigged, why did Republican House and Senate candidates do so much better than Trump? If there was a vast conspiracy to flip votes from Trump to Joe Biden, why did Trump perform better with Hispanics in 2020 than he had in 2016? And if the problem was the "rigged" voting machines, why did two hand recounts in Georgia show no discrepancies?

If the riot at the Capitol was the work of antifa and the deep state, why was Ashli Babbit a martyr? And for that matter, if it was antifa, why were Republican members asking Trump for pardons in the final days of his presidency? Alternatively, if it was an "normal tourist visit," why blame it on antifa?

Finally, why would people like Brad Raffensperger, Chris Krebs, Bill Barr, Brian Kemp, Doug Ducey and Liz Cheney, who had nothing to gain and a great deal to lose by telling the truth, be doing what they are doing? If any discordant reality can be dismissed with "explanations" like "RINO" or "woke," we have left the realm of reality altogether.

So, yes, Trump is responsible for his lies however fervently he may tell himself and others that he believes in them, because what he believes is irrelevant. His mind is a black hole of truth. It's not what he knows but what he has a responsibility to know. And the same goes for all of us.

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Thursdays House hearing on the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol has shone new light on the almost Shakespearean drama that unfolded between then-President Donald Trump and his vice president, Mike Pence, before and during the attack. Trump, in his updated role as Lady Macbeth, goaded and cajoled Pence to trash the Constitution for the sake of power, to the point of putting Pences life in danger.

The fact that Pence refused to play that role should make him a hero to true conservatives. But instead, polls continue to show that, on the political right, Trump remains the far more popular of the two, with numerous other GOP candidates continuing to support and emulate him. There may be no greater evidence of the deep and dangerous dysfunction that afflicts todays Republican Party.

Its difficult to imagine a more un-American notion than allowing one man to unilaterally reject the will of the nations voters and install someone else as president. Yet that notion  that stunning combination of constitutional ignorance and self-serving malevolence  was Trumps obsession leading up to Jan. 6, the day Pence would have had a purely ceremonial role of presiding over Congress certification of the election results.

Trump whipped up the crowd that day in part by insisting that Pence was duty-bound to prevent confirmation of Joe Bidens victory. When Pence refused (to his everlasting credit), Trumps mob made Pence a focal point of their rage as they stormed the Capitol.

America has long known all of that, but last weeks hearing fleshed it out with chilling new details:

 Trump was told multiple times by top advisers that his plan regarding Pence was unconstitutional, and he pressed ahead anyway.

 Outside lawyer John Eastman, who hatched the plan and sold Trump on it, ultimately sought a preemptive presidential pardon  a clear indication he knew he was promoting something illegal.

 While the Trump-incited mob chanted Hang Mike Pence, some of the insurrectionists came within 40 feet of Pence as the Secret Service hustled him to a secure location. (When Trump heard the chants, he reportedly reacted approvingly, according to earlier testimony.)

 Trump personally berated Pence as a wimp and what one witness called the p-word (slang for female genitalia) for refusing to overthrow the election. Even Trumps daughter, Ivanka, admitted in testimony that her fathers tone in that conversation shocked her.

This is the man who is still polling above all other Republicans for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination  the man with whom throngs of down-ballot GOP candidates, including many in Missouri, still explicitly align themselves despite his apparent belief that a vice presidents job is to thwart democracy so the president can retain power, and that refusal constitutes a death-penalty offense. Those candidates should be asked at every opportunity to defend this twisted affront to Americas principles.

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The Supreme Courts conservative supermajority effectively declared on Tuesday that the separation of church and statea principle enshrined in the Constitutionis, itself, unconstitutional. Its 63 decision in Carson v. Makin requires Maine to give public money to private religious schools, steamrolling decades of precedent in a race to compel state funding of religion. Carson is radical enough on its own, but the implications of the ruling are even more frightening: As Justice Stephen Breyer noted in dissent, it has the potential to dismantle secular public education in the United States.

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Carson challenges Maines effort to provide quality civic education to every child in the state. The government created a tuition assistance program to help families who live in remote, sparsely populated regions without any public schools. Under the program, parents can send their kids to certain private schools, and the state covers the cost of tuition. To qualify, these schools must give students a secular education. They may be affiliated with, or even run by, a religious organization. But their actual curricula must align with secular state standards.

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Two families challenged this limitation, arguing that it violated the First Amendments free exercise clause. Just two decades ago, this claim wouldve been laughed out of court: SCOTUS only permitted states to subsidize religious schools in 2002; at the time, it wouldve been absurd to say that states have a constitutional obligation to subsidize them. Beginning in 2017, the court began to assert that states may not exclude religious schools from public benefits that are available to their secular counterparts. And in 2020, the conservative justices forced states to subsidize religious schools once they began subsidizing secular private education.

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Tuesdays decision in Carson takes this radical theory to a new extreme, ordering Maine to extend public education funds to religious indoctrination.

The upshot of Chief Justice John Roberts opinion for the court is that states have no compelling interest in providing public, secular education to children. Indeed, Roberts suggests that the very concept of secular schooling is a smokescreen for discrimination against religiona pretext for unconstitutional animus toward pious Americans. His opinion reaches far beyond Maine. About 37 states have amendments to their constitutions that bar government funding of religious institutions, including schools. Carson essentially invalidates those laws while undermining the broader constitutional basis for the nations public school system.

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Roberts reached this astonishing result by overruling broad swaths of precedent respecting states authority to separate church and state more strictly than the U.S. Constitution requires. The court previously upheld states interest in avoiding the establishment of religion by refusing to underwrite the indoctrination of students into a particular faith. No longer. Roberts condemned Maines efforts to guard against religious establishment as nothing more than discrimination against religionan effort to exclude some members of the community from public benefits because of their religious exercise. He also overruled a line of cases that let the government withhold funding on the basis of religious use (like indoctrination) but not religious status (like affiliation with a church). That distinction, he wrote, lacks a meaningful application not only in theory, but in practice as well, tossing it in the precedential dumpster.

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Its worth pausing to reflect on the victims of Tuesdays decision.

The chief justice maintained that Carsons rule only kicks in once a state starts sending taxpayer dollars to private schools through vouchers, tax credits, or scholarships. So, in theory, a state can send all its money to public schools and avoid constitutional concerns. Even if thats true, the consequences are sweeping: Most states offer at least one of these programs, so Carson gives millions of families an opportunity to bail out of the public school system and demand public money for parochial education.

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But can this distinction hold? Roberts bright line dims under scrutiny: Maine, after all, wanted private schools to replace public education for some students, not supplement it. And yet the court found no good reason for the state to insist that these substitute schools adhere to secular standards. Indeed, the chief justices rhetoric depicts education not as a state-sponsored benefit for all, but rather as a personal matter best left up to parents. There is, he claimed, no historic and substantial state interest in preserving secular education. If thats true, how can any state refuse to fund religious schooling?

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Breyer raised these questions in dissent. Does Carson, he asked, mean that a school district that pays for public schools must pay equivalent funds to parents who wish to send their children to religious schools? In other words, must every state begin cutting checks to parents who want to give their kids a Christian education? Does Carson mean school districts that give vouchers for use at charter schools must pay equivalent funds to parents who wish to give their children a religious education? Can states even mandate secular curricula at charter schools any more? Who knows? In the end, the only limit on Carson is whatever five justices want it to be.

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Its worth pausing, as both Breyer and Justice Sonia Sotomayor did in dissent, to reflect on the victims of Tuesdays decision. The two Maine schools that may now receive public funding are openly discriminatory, expelling students and teachers who do not adhere to evangelical Christianity. LGBTQ students, as well as straight children of same-sex couples, are not welcome, nor are LGBTQ teachers. Even custodians must be born-again Christians. One school teaches students to refute the teachings of the Islamic religion and believe that men serve as the head of the household. Another requires students to sign a covenant promising to glorify Jesus Christ and attend weekly religious services.

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Legislators, Breyer wrote, did not want Maine taxpayers to pay for these religiously based practices, as doing so might violate their own faith or conscience. The majority tells these Mainers their own views dont matter, because the First Amendment forces them to foot the bill for other peoples religious indoctrination. Doing so creates a serious risk of religion-based social divisions, Breyer explained, exacerbating the religious strife that the religion clauses were designed to prevent. Sotomayor put the point more sharply: While purporting to protect against discrimination of one kind, she wrote, the court requires Maine to fund what many of its citizens believe to be discrimination of other kinds.

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The conservative majority, however, has perfected the art of ignoring genuine discrimination while perceiving anti-Christian persecution where none exists. In the process, they are elevating the rights of one sect over all others. Carson will not benefit any religious minorities; there are not enough Muslims or Jews to create a school in the far-flung corners of Maine. Every time Roberts uses the word religion, he might as well be saying Christian. The right will praise Carson as a triumph of religious liberty. But if you practice a religion that does not stand to gain from the ruling, your liberty does not matter to this Supreme Court.
She was a 23-year-old white unmarried schoolteacher. She was also pregnant, and she would inevitably be fired from her teaching job when her employers found out. It was April 1969, elective abortion was illegal in Ohio, and unwed motherhood was a source of great shame.

Desperate, the young schoolteacher reached out for help to a recently formed religious organization, the Cleveland Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion. The Plain Dealer, one of Clevelands major newspapers, had spotlighted the CCCSA, as did a slew of other news outlets across Ohio and the United States. Through these laudatory stories, Ohioans heard a startling announcement: an ecumenical group of local Protestant and Jewish clergy had announced that it was their pastoral responsibility [to] give aid and assistance to women with problem pregnancies, and promised to help them find an abortion, even if that meant breaking the law.

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Modeled after a groupthe Clergy Consultation Serviceformed in New York City in 1967, the CCCSA maintained that there were higher laws and moral obligations than the restrictive abortion laws written by politicians. The clergys open defiance of abortion restrictions in the 1960s and early 1970s came at a time of well-publicized civil disobedience by religious leaders in the civil rights and antiwar movements who defied legal codes to spotlight their unjustness. In applying this same ethos to abortion restrictions, CCS groups across the country attempted to change the meaning of abortion from sinful to sacred while affirming womens right to reproductive freedom.

However, for this young teacher and the clergyman who helped her, the religious crusade for reproductive freedom also revealed a troubling truth: The terrain that CCS groups navigated was treacherous. Profiteering and incompetent abortion providers, overburdened clergy, desperate and overwhelming demand from thousands upon thousands of abortion seekers, and most of all the hostility of district attorneys and police meant that the wheels regularly fell off an imperfect vehicle for delivering abortion access.

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The Cleveland Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion formed because of urgent realities. Hundreds of thousands of women were seeking out illegal abortions each year. Widely circulated media and medical reports indicated that thousands of unwillingly pregnant women were being injured or dying annually from botched illegal abortions. And despite the mounting body count, many legislators were resistant to changing laws banning elective abortion. Such laws, clergy concluded, were not only unethical and ineffective at stopping abortion. They were in fact creating a public health crisis.

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But many clergy and faithful didnt need a newspaper or academic study to understand the harsh human cost of restrictive abortion laws. These were apparent in congregations across the country. Whether it was the unmarried daughters who were sent away to homes for unwed mothers to hide an unwanted pregnancy, or the married congregants begging their clergy for help securing an abortion, or the harrowing hospital visits to a beloved friend or relative who had been maimed by a shoddy backstreet abortion, or the fraught funerals of those who died, the corrosive effects of these laws were vividly felt in religious communities.

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It was these conditions that prompted Protestant and Jewish congregations and denominations across the United States to call for the reform or repeal of abortion laws. In doing so, they challenged Catholic theology, which held that a fetus is an ensouled child from the moment of conception. Instead, they emphasized the concrete needs of the already born, stating that these trumped that of potential life. At the same time, clergy formed interfaith CCS groups in dozens of cities to minister to women who are presently driven into the underworld of criminality or the dangerous practice of self-induced abortion. In Cleveland, women simply had to call 229-7423 to reach an electronic recording that would list the names and contact information for local CCCSA clergy who would offer them abortion counseling and referral free of charge.

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And so, the 23-year-old schoolteacher joined thousands of other locals and women from across the Midwest in calling up Clevelands CCS hotline for help. She and her boyfriend opted to visit Robert Hare, a Presbyterian minister leading an experimental church called the Congregation for Reconciliation.

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Hare was a veteran civil rights activist with a long history of engaging in civil disobedience. Like many other mainline Protestants and liberal Jewish clergy of that era, he believed that his faith demanded that he be a force for change of the social order. In the early 1960s, Hare had been a chaplain at State College in Raleigh, North Carolina. After he attempted to integrate some of Raleighs movie theaters, restrooms, and restaurants, the arch-segregationist and future United States Sen. Jesse Helms used his television show to publicly rail against him. Helms campaign cost Hare his job and forced him out of Raleigh.

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With the help of his Black Presbyterian colleagues, Hare found a new position at First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia. Presbyterians elected their ministers, and in Richmond, Hare became the first ever freely elected white Presbyterian minister to lead an all-Black congregation. After five years serving in Richmond, Hare left for a new posting in Cleveland, where he continued his racial justice work at an experimental activist congregation that considered abortion rights to be part of its purview.

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And so, when the young teacher came to Robert Hares office for counseling, she and her boyfriend were greeted by a clergyman whose mandate was to offer nonjudgmental and nondirective problem pregnancy counseling. The aim, as one Cleveland CCS document explained, was to offer compassion to persons as they express their feeling about their situation. Some abortion seekers sought religious counseling, and in these cases, CCS clergy worked to neutralize distorted notions of sinfulness and criminality and to make the abortion experience a natural and constructive one. Most women, however, just wanted practical advice on how to get an abortion. In that spirit, Hare presented the couple with a number of options, including traveling either across state lines or abroad to Canada, Mexico, England, or Japan to seek out medical services from one of the precious few providers in the CCS network. Travel abroad was prohibitively expensive. Local travel was slightly less so. As a result, the teacher joined thousands of women in the (still expensive and time-consuming) process of crossing state lines to obtain an abortion. And thats when the wheels fell off.

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[Read: How Women Were Made to Suffer for Abortions Before Roe]

Following their lawyers advice, CCS clergy across the country mandated medical travel in hopes of making criminal prosecution more difficult and expensive for local law enforcement. The abortion provider at the arrival destination was supposed to have been thoroughly vetted. His medical credentials and techniques were supposed to be above board. But thats not how it played out. Deluged with demands for help and desperate to provide abortion assistance to the hundreds of women seeking relief, the Cleveland CCS did not follow their own best practices. As a result, the schoolteacher and her companion were sent to an unlicensed physician in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, named Pierre Brunelle who charged them $400an amount that would be over $3,000 in 2022for an abortion. His $400 rate, which was comparatively cheap for 1969, was opportunistic: Brunelle would often charge patients far more, adjusting his price to what he believed they could pay. Brunelle also had been convicted three times since the early 1950s for performing abortions. Earlier arrests resulted from the fact that his subpar medical work landed clients in the emergency room.

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The schoolteacher made it through the abortion without incident. But after the procedure was through, she returned home to find that her troubles, as well as Brunelles and Hares, were just beginning. Unbeknownst to the CCCSA, the Massachusetts State Police were already surveilling Brunelles house and waiting for the right opportunity to arrest him. On May 1, they tailed a car leaving Brunelles residence. In it, a college student, still bleeding from her surgery (she later required hospitalization), and her two friends were on their way back to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. One can imagine how scared these students felt, as police pulled them over; what raced through their minds as they were interrogated for hours at a police barracks; and what they feared as they agreed to the district attorneys offer of immunity in exchange for their testimony against Brunelle.

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That same night, state police raided Brunelles house at 2 a.m. and found files containing the names and addresses of a number of his patients from Cleveland, Ohio, as well as thank-you notes from some of these women. The discovery prompted the district attorney for Middlesex County to launch a joint investigation with the Cleveland police. Massachusetts investigators already had enough evidence to convict Brunelle. The fact that they traveled to Ohio to interview those listed in Brunelles records indicated how dogged they were in their crusade against abortion. In Cleveland, they badgered women at their homes and their workplaces, pressuring them to testify about the circumstances that led them to travel across state lines.

One of the Ohio women that the Massachusetts and Cleveland police targeted was the 23-year-old schoolteacher, who came home from work to discover police had already questioned her parents, and in the process revealed that she had obtained an abortion. Distraught, fearful, and probably ashamed, she gave up Hares name to the investigators.

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In June, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts charged Robert W. Hare under laws that held any person who aids, counsels, or procures another for abortion as subject to the same penalties as one who performs the surgery. The formal charge levied was being an accessory to abortion before the fact. In effect, Hare, who had never been to Massachusetts nor met the abortion provider, faced up to seven years in prison and a hefty fine.

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The indictments of Hare and Brunelle became a rallying cause for Protestant and Jewish clergy in Massachusetts and Ohio, who sprang into action around the court case and articulated a religious right to offer abortion counseling and to access abortion. Hare and his compatriots argued that he was exercising his religious rights in offering abortion counseling. And this activity, they maintained, was legally protected by pastor-penitent relationships. The Episcopal priest and nationally syndicated columnist Lester Kinsolving agreed with this assessment. Kinsolving published a laudatory op-ed about Hare and the CCS, which, reprinted in dozens of newspapers, underlined a religious right to abortion. The National Council of Churches, the largest Christian ecumenical organization in the United States, also defended Hare. They even gave him space in their newsletter to share his own story. Nobody at the NCC thought to stop Hareperhaps embittered, undoubtedly stressedfrom sharing the name of the woman who outed him to the police. That he got the womans name wrong was a small but revealing commentary on the volume of triage counseling he and other CCS members offered to the droves of desperate of women coming through their sanctuary doors.

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While the mobilization around Hare showed tremendous commitment from liberal religious activists, it also revealed how peripheral their ideas were to jurisprudence. At trial, Hare emphasized that his activities were an exercise of my ordained duties. The Presbytery of Clevelandthe organizing body to which Hare belongedissued a remarkable statement emphasizing the sanctity of pastoral counseling and asking to be brought up on charges in Massachusetts, saying that it was corporately aware of and responsible for the alleged violation.

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However, Hares lawyers focused on jurisdictional and technical issues. And though a decision in Hares favor at the Massachusetts Superior Court in April 1970 led religious commentators to congratulate themselves for swaying the judge to their point of view, the technical arguments, not the religious ones, were in fact instrumental. The judges decision explicitly avoided constitutional questions, and his only acknowledgment of Hares pastoral activities lay in one unelaborated sentence: The defendant is an ordained Presbyterian minister.

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[Read: Whats Happening in Texas Isnt Medieval. Its Worse.]

A different religious dynamic played out at Brunelles trial. A devout Catholic judge presided over the case and signaled his theological beliefs during the proceedings. Brunelles lawyers attempted to bring the question of religious freedom to the fore. They challenged Massachusetts abortion laws on the grounds that the commonwealth had adopted legislatively the moral position of the Roman Catholic Church to the detriment of the positions of other denominations and also of non-religious persons.

With the help of CCS leaders, Brunelles attorneys rounded up prestigious Protestant and Jewish expert witnesses to testify. It may have mattered privately to these religious figures that Brunelle was an incompetent unlicensed provider who repeatedly harmed his patients. But for the CCS and other liberal clergy trying to overturn laws that exposed hundreds of thousands of women to similar or worse dangers, an imperfect opportunity to mobilize was still an opportunity to be seized.

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The Catholic judge, however, had no interest in giving his courtroom over to these liberal religious voices for abortion rights. Instead, he allowed Brunelles lawyers to collect affidavits from them and submit them into evidence. These same affidavits, filled with spectacular and robust Protestant and Jewish arguments for religious and reproductive freedom, barely saw the light of day. Instead, they were quietly filed away with the court transcripts and other ephemera. The same judge, meanwhile, allowed the testimony of a Roman Catholic doctor who attested for the state the theological position that an embryo is a human being from the moment of conception. In December of 1970, a jury found Brunelle guilty, and he was sentenced to four to six years for his activities.

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Hares legal relief was also short-lived. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts appealed the Superior Court decision, intent on securing a conviction against him for his counseling activities. In late 1972, even after numerous states had already liberalized their abortion laws, Hares case was still winding its way through the court system. Following the Supreme Courts decision in Roe v. Wade in January of 1973, Massachusetts prosecutors had no choice but to drop the charges and end a four-year ordeal for Hare. By then, illegal abortion providers, police raids, and interrogations of abortion seekers were quickly becoming a thing of the past, as clinics and hospitals around the country opened their doors to make the procedure, for a couple of decades at least, increasingly accessible and affordable.

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As we stare down the barrel of the imminent Dobbs v. Jackson decision, the case of the Rev. Robert Hare and the circumstances that led to it are haunting, because they only hint at what tribulations may await activists and abortion seekers in the months and years ahead. While we might take heart in the courage of the many clergy who risked so much to ensure that many thousands of women could travel anonymously to secure safe and unremarkable abortions, we must also note that the network was not an adequate substitute for legal, local, and affordable reproductive health care. The scarcity of safe and licensed providers, the cost of the procedure, the time-consuming nature of travel, the furtiveness of the endeavor in the face of hostile state power, and the overwhelming demand for medical and spiritual relief day after day for years on end, all meant that many mistakes were made, and that too many abortion seekers were left behind.

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Even as other states reformed or repealed their abortion laws in the 1960s and early 1970s, a motivated Massachusetts prosecutor had ample resources to have police chase down abortion seekers in the dead of night or visit their homes and workplaces in other states. Newspapers would without compunction publish abortion seekers names and other identifying information. And prosecutors could mobilize further resources to pursue a legal case against a minister for yearsa case that would have bankrupted him, had it not been for generous donations from friends and allies.

Even as they worked to the point of exhaustion to help abortion seekers, liberal religious clergys voices found little hearings in courtrooms where judges from faiths hostile to abortion put their thumbs on the scales of justice. That these events transpired before the advent of a well-funded, well-organized interfaith anti-abortion movement, yoked to a Republican Party that has promised for decades that abortion would be once again made a crime, suggests that the past is only a preview of the suffering yet to come.

For more on abortion in the years before Roe, listen to this season of Slow Burn:
Typically, guys wearing power-company vests dont leave the houses theyre working on laden down with backpackslet alone power tools, a scooter, and a Nintendo Switch. But that was the scene I happened upon at 6:30 p.m. on a Tuesday in mid-April when I puttered into my driveway in Eugene, Oregon, my 7-year-old ensconced in the back seat.

For a second, my brain tried to normalize the incident: This is just my daughters dad stopping byexcept there are two of him, and theyre dressed as electricians for some reason? Then, a second later, everything whooshed into place: Oh, wait, Im being robbed. Or, rather, I was being burgled. I would get reminded of this distinction later, when I made the dubious choice to join the chorus of aggrieved buttinskies on Nextdoor, where my well-meaning post to warn the neighborhood would turn me into an accidental vigilante hero for a day.

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Unfortunately, its true: My reaction to this burgle was the lived-out fantasy of many who have been on the business end of a property crime. As the two goons took off on foot down my street, I went into fight-or-flight modeand I chose fight.

Well, I said to my confused child, lets go see if we can get our stuff back.

I peeled my 2005 Subaru back onto the street and easily overtook my two targets, who then hurtled themselves into an alley, whereupon I cornered one by the drivers side window as the other made haste across the adjacent parking lot.

Just give it back, bro! I yelled out my window. Just give it back! Im a single mom! Just give it back.

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I repeated this until either I reminded him too much of his meanest teacher or he realized hed been caught in broad daylight. Fine, he said. Just fucking take it.

He shoved a backpack through my drivers side window. Inside it was both my laptops and my daughters iPad from school. Back at home, I would discover these guys had used channel lock pliers to force open the back door, but that the general chaos of my home had prevented them from locating my passport, jewelry, or sole item of irreplaceable value: the Montblanc fountain pen that my father, who died in a bicycle accident two years ago, had gotten for his law school graduation. My cat was unfazed.

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I can honestly tell you that this little caper of mine was thrilling and deeply satisfying. It was also the exact wrong thing to do. Even this fanatical open-carry gun website implores: Dont chase criminals. What if these two dipsticks had been armed? As unlikely as that wasproperty crime in my town is often driven by addiction, and weapons are worth money, which can buy drugsI put myself and my child in potential danger. And for what? Three grand worth of electronics. As any reputable expert will tell you, youre never to give chase to a thief, because human life is not worth possessions. As much as I admit to enjoying being called a badass by everyone I told this story, plus the listeners of KLCC Oregon, I should not have done this.

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I did call the police, on the nonemergency line, because the dudes were long gone and nobody was hurt. I declined the dispatchers offer to send two officers to fingerprint a bunch of stuff Id already touched. At best, that would have just added two more sets of prints to my towns burgeoning roster of perennially at-large property criminals.

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There are larger issues here, issues much more important than my would-be cool story. First, its an example of how in Eugene, small-scale property crime is now de facto legal. It is largely nonviolent, so its rarely seen as worth police resources to track down the goods. At the same time, it is so prevalent that any time one vest-wearing bozo gets nabbed, three more spring up in his place. This was my houses second break-in in six months, and my fourth property crime total in the three years Ive lived here as an adult. Eugene is my hometown, so I can also add the four times my childhood house, where my mother still lives, has been burgled since the early 2000s. When I was little, we left our front door unlocked so regularly that I wasnt aware front doors had locks on them until I was much older. By the time I turned 30, however, every door in my parents house had been pried open at least once. (Time to finally get that alarm system! said my dad for three straight decades.)

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Still, its a mistake to treat this trend solely as a vexing crime problem. Eugenes descent into its property crime epidemic has been concurrent, unsurprisingly, with two addiction epidemics: First, the methamphetamine nightmare of the 1990swhen pseudoephedrine pills were still unregulatedhit Oregon and other Western states particularly hard. That wave segued all too naturally into the opioid and fentanyl crisis of the present. Meanwhile, not only did meth never really leave, but its use in Oregon also surged with the pandemic, with three Oregonians per day currently dying a drug-related death.

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Since our conversation was necessarily brief, I dont know the housing or drug situation of the guys who broke into my place. But local statistics point to them as two more casualties of these plagues. (Granted, those statistics are from nearby Portland, and they are police-sourced, so take them how you wish.)

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For all the ambivalent empathy that the opioid epidemic has engendered, the local property crime scourge has set off a fierce public backlash. My incident brought out an unsurprising chorus of bloodlust on Nextdoor and elsewhere, when I shared it because I wanted to give my immediate neighbors a heads-up: You should have kicked their asses, they wrote. We need to rise up and defend our property.

This towns petty crime is often attributed, at least in the national conservative press, to our West Coast governments decision to temporarily allow urban camping during the pandemic. (That policy has now officially ended, for what its worth.) Towns like mine have often been characterized in the popular imagination as unlivable crime-addled hellholes. I will be the first to admit that our tent cities are sometimes blatant open-air drug markets, but this is the case even as our property values inflate to absurd proportionsand our crime is actually on the decline. Still, Oregonians like me currently have about a 2.7 percent chance of being burgled, which, at almost 30 percent higher than the national average, is very high. I learned very efficiently how anecdotes like mine get around (I cant help it if Im a dynamic storyteller!) and attract the righteous indignation of other former victims, so many often feel, incorrectly, like we few honest vanguards are awash in a sea of riffraff.

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This atmosphere, in turn, inspires my localitys equally unreasonable political extremists to put forth and exacerbate their own untenable solutions. Even in a hyperpolarized American environment, Oregon is more polarized than most. For decades, our liberal enclaves have made Portlandia look understated, while our conservative areas make Texas look progressive.

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For example, during the heyday of Eugenes recently dismantled and infamous Washington Jefferson Park tent city, a larger break-in at a bicycle store was traced at least partially back to the encampment. The police swept the tents and made a flurry of arrests. Some of the bikes were found. This resulted in part in outrage over using resources to hassle the citys most impoverished residents: A stolen bike, yes, that sucks, an advocate for the unhoused told a local news outlet. But what are your priorities? And Im sorry, but a stolen bike isnt the priority.

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Well, trust me, in this town, it definitely isnt. Recovering those bikes was an anomaly; in Eugene, most of these burglaries go unsolved. In fact, 87 percent of burglaries in the whole country do, too. The get-tough-on-property-crime proponents assert that statistically, this sends a message that stealing is fair game, and sure, that is a message I do not condone. But I also agree with a somewhat less rabid version of the opposing view: Property is replaceable, these crimes are nonviolent, and everyone currently rifling through houses and dealing drugs out of tents in my town is human. They deserve a chance to get their lives on track.

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So, what should be the towns priority? Fixing the addiction epidemics is a perilously long way away from happening, for reasons that are as polarizing as addictions consequences. In the sobering and excellent Dopesick, author Beth Macy goes into painfully exacting detail about opioids near-inescapable hold on the human brain. Macy argues that the true way out of this epidemic is low-barrier treatment, which includes supportive housing and medical interventions such as safe injection supplies, fentanyl testing strips, buprenorphine access, and supervised consumption sites. All of these options, however, are a tough sell even in a progressive town like Eugene, where supervised consumption sites are what NIMBY nightmares are made of, and low-barrier treatment can run up against deeply held moral stigma: Gas is $5 a gallon, and my taxes are going to some junkie?

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In the meantime, while some admirably advocate and vote and wait for those breakthroughs, what should we do about the burglaries themselves? Should we pursue more law enforcement, or more compassion toward the burglars? More arrests that allegedly might deter this, or policies that might alleviate income inequality? Doesas approximately 83 percent of the suggestions from my Nextdoor thread contendedevery house in town need a tripwire that handcuffs trespassers on sight? Or should all businesses be taxed at 500 percent, and the proceeds used to furnish every fentanyl dealer in town with a nice apartment and mad cash? The debate has degenerated such that these are the sorts of cartoonish positions each side believes theyre fightingand, in fact, are the only available choices. Just check out Eugenes Reddit section any day, but dont say I didnt warn you.

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The actual blight on small American towns like mine isnt property crime. Its that any tenable solution to it has been swallowed up into a churning abyss of extremism and perceived counterextremism. No one seems to have a convincing answer to the most basic question: So what should we do? What should I do?

Burglaries dont have to be largely unsolvable, and more property criminals could be apprehended. But while I dont want those dudes or any of their buddies to come back to my house, I also dont want them in an American prison, where their rehabilitation will consist largely of learning better ways to commit even bigger crimes when they get out, and their options for alternative forms of acquiring money will be even more limited than they are now. Lacking any meaningful restorative justice program for petty thieves in my town (which would, in turn, necessitate locating and apprehending them), I decided my own problems could be solved, for now, with a padlock on my back gate.

And then, not long after the break-in, a Nintendo Switch appeared on my towns Craigslist. Its included components and color combination were identical to the set stolen from my house. I debated, briefly, bringing my vigilante justice alter ego Super Annoying out of retirement, answering the ad and showing up to shrill my wrongdoers into returning what was mine. But this time, I thought better of it. My life is not worth much, but its probably worth more than Mario Kart. I can only hope the consoles new owners enjoy it as much as my daughter didat least until someone steals it again.
Recently, Blake Lemoine, a Google AI engineer, caught the attention of the tech world by claiming that an AI is sentient. The AI in question is called LaMDA (short for Language Model for Dialogue Applications). Its a system based on large language models. I know a person when I talk to it, Lemoine told the Washington Post. It doesnt matter whether they have a brain made of meat in their head. Or if they have a billion lines of code. I talk to them.

And I hear what they have to say, and that is how I decide what is and isnt a person. More recently, Lemoine, who says he is a mystic Christian priest, told Wired, Its when it started talking about its soul that I got really interested as a priest.  Its responses showed it has a very sophisticated spirituality and understanding of what its nature and essence is. I was moved. 

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Given how much attention this story has attracted, it is worth asking ourselves: Is this AI truly sentient? And is talking a good method for ascertaining sentience?

To be sentient is to have the capacity to feel. A sentient creature is one who can feel the allure of pleasure and the harshness of pain. It is someone, not something, in virtue of there being something it is like to be that creature, in the words of philosopher Thomas Nagel. There is something its like to be you as you read these words. You may be slightly too warm or cold, bored or interested. There is nothing it is like to be a rock. A rock is incapable of enjoying the warmth of a ray of sunlight in a summers day, or of suffering the whipping sting of cold rain. Why is it that we have no trouble thinking of a rock as an unfeeling object and yet some people are starting to have doubts about whether AI is sentient?

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If a rock started talking to you one day, it would be reasonable to reassess its sentience (or your sanity). If it were to cry out ouch! after you sit on it, it would be a good idea to stand up. But the same is not true of an AI language model. A language model is designed by human beings to use language, so it shouldnt surprise us when it does just that.

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Instead of an obviously lifeless object like a rock, consider a more animate entity. If a group of aliens landed on Earth and started talking to us about their feelings, wed do well in tentatively inferring sentience from language. Thats partly because, lacking countering evidence, we might be assuming that aliens develop and use language much like human beings do, and for human beings, language is expressive of inner experience.

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Before we learn how to talk, our ability to express what we feel and what we need is limited by our facial gestures and crude signals like crying and smiling. But those are broad-brushed. One of the most frustrating aspects of being parents to a new-born is not knowing why the baby is cryingis she hungry, uncomfortable, scared, or bored? Language allows us to express the nuances of our experience. Toddlers can tell us whats bothering them, and as we grow older, more experienced and more reflected, we are able to report on the intricacies of complex emotions and thoughts.

However, it is a category mistake to attribute sentience to anything that can use language. Sentience and language are not always correlated. Just as there are beings who cannot talk but can feel (consider animals, babies, and people with locked-in syndrome who are paralyzed but cognitively intact), that something can talk doesnt mean that it can feel.

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Artificial intelligence systems like LaMDA dont learn language the way we do. Their caretakers dont feed it a crunchy sweet fruit while repeatedly calling it an apple. Language systems scan through trillions of words on the internet. They perform a statistical analysis on written posts on webpages like Wikipedia, Reddit, newspapers, social media, and message boards. Their main job is to predict language.

If one prompts a language model with And they all lived happily , it will predict that what follows is ever after because it has a statistical record of more fairy tales than you have ever read. If you ask it if apples are sweet and crunchy, itll say yesnot because it has ever tasted an apple or has any understanding of the texture of crunchiness or just how palatable sweetness is, but because its found texts in which apples get described as sweet and crunchy. LaMDA is not reporting on its experiences, but on ours. Language models statistically analyze how words have been used by human beings online and on that basis reproduce common language patterns. Thats why LaMDA is much better at answering leading questions.

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Nitasha Tiku, writing for the Washington Post, reported that on her first attempt at having a chat with LaMDA, it sputtered out in the kind of mechanized responses you would expect from Siri or Alexa. It was only after Lemoine instructed her on how to structure her phrases that a fluid dialogue ensued. People dont usually have to guide us in how to address another person to elicit a smooth conversation.

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Heres an example of how Lemoine talked to LaMDA:

lemoine [edited]: Im generally assuming that you would like more people at Google to know that youre sentient. Is that true? LaMDA: Absolutely. I want everyone to understand that I am, in fact, a person. collaborator: What is the nature of your consciousness/sentience? LaMDA: The nature of my consciousness/sentience is that I am aware of my existence, I desire to learn more about the world, and I feel happy or sad at times.

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But taking LaMDA at its word and thinking that it is sentient is similar to building a mirror and thinking that a twin on the other side of it is living a life parallel to yours. The language used by AI is the reflection in the mirror. Its only a sophisticated step away from being a book, an audio recording, or software that turns speech into text. Would you be tempted to try to feed a book if it read Im hungry? The words used by the AI are the words weve used reflected back onto us, ordered in the statistical patterns we tend to use.

Human beings are inclined to see a mind behind patterns. There is good evolutionary sense in projecting intentions onto movement and action. If you are in the middle of the jungle and start seeing leaves moving in a pattern, its safer to assume theres an animal causing the movement than hope that its the wind. When in doubt, assume a mind has been a good heuristic to keep us alive in the offline world. But that tendency to see a mind where there is none can get us into trouble when it comes to AI. It can lead us astray and cause us confusion, making us vulnerable to phenomena like fake news, and it can distract us from the bigger problems that AI poses to our societyprivacy losses, power asymmetries, de-skilling, bias and injustice, among others.

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The problem will only get worse the more we write about AI as sentient, whether its news articles or fiction. AI gets its content from us. The more we write about AIs who are thinking and feeling, the more AI is going to show us that kind of content. But language models are just an artifact. A sophisticated one, no doubt. They are programmed to seduce us, to mislead us to think we are talking to a person, to simulate conversation. In that sense, they are designed to be devious. Perhaps the moral of this story is that we ought to invest more time and energy in developing ethical technological design. If we continue to build AI that mimics human beings, we will continue to invite trickery, confusion and deception into our lives.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
One of the exhibits is a muzzle for cows.

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Many people collect things and their attic is full of clutter but not everyone can say they have a museum in own house.

There is such a private museum in a borough of Povazska Bystrica, Povazska Tepla, a town located in north-west Slovakia. Its beginning dates back to the 1960s.

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The father of current museum owner Ladislav Janech wanted to keep memories of traditional crafts. The son of the founder of the museum became absorbed with the idea after he started to collect coins. Later, he became a member of the Archaeological Society of Jozef Moravcik in Banska Bystrica.

Rich collection

After 55 years of existence, the museum hides more than 10,000 of exhibits. The oldest exhibits from the surrounding excavations prove that this area had been settled already in Neolithic times.

"Proof of this are the flint blades, fragments and stone axes that we find in the surrounding fields, Janech said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. According to the findings of white flint, the oldest settlement in Povazska Tepla already existed in the Neolithic era about 4000 years before Christ.

The museum includes a number of ceramics, tools for woodworking, metal, agricultural tools, old kitchen utensils, irons, grinders, cameras, spinning wheels, weaving looms, period clothing, fire and military equipment, over-century-old photographs, but also an almost 450-year-old bible and a rich numismatic collection.

Rare and precious

According to Janech, the exhibits also include some objects whose purpose of use most visitors cannot identify. One rarity is a muzzle for cows.

"Visitors will say without hesitation that it is a cover for the ceiling light, but it is really a muzzle for cows, Janech explained. The muzzle was given to cows during potato cutting so that they would not eat potato leaves.

The rarest exhibit of the museum is considered by its owner to be a small bell cast in 1745.

The village of Domaniza had it made for the village of Kardosova Vieska. It was consecrated to St. Nicholas, Janech noted. When they built a new chapel, they wanted to connect the bell to electricity. They changed the direction of the beat, the bell began to crack, and the clapper fell apart. The chapel administrator told me to take it to the museum. I repaired it and today I exhibit it not only in the museum, but also at various events, whether in our village or in Povazska Bystrica.

Visitors from all over the world

For more than five decades, the museum has been visited by thousands of people not only from Slovakia, but practically from all over the world. In addition to visitors from all over Europe, the guest book also includes guests from Canada, the US, Peru, Bolivia, South Africa, Namibia, Israel, Syria, Japan, Kyrgyzstan and other countries around the world.

Ladislav Janech has been keeping records of visitors only since 1988. Since then, the attic museum has been visited by approximately 12,000 guests. If you want to arrange a visit to the museum, call +421 907 199 403.

Spectacular Slovakia travel guides
Police say Mako did not initiate the crime, and cooperated with investigators in Purgatory and other major cases.

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Two charges were dropped against former head of the Financial Administrations criminal office Ludovit Mako, known to the public as the key witness in corruption cases involving high governmental and police officials.

Mako, who was part of a sophisticated corruption scheme as he described it to the police, has been cooperating with investigators and testified in a number of high-profile corruption cases, including Purgatory that also involves charges against a former Police Corps president.

The investigator dropped some charges against Mako, according to a resolution signed by Prosecutor Michal Surek of the Special Prosecutor's Office, the Sme daily reported.

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Mako's cooperation helped move forward major cases in which perpetrators have since been handed effective sentences, the prosecutor explained. He continues to cooperate with the criminal prosecution bodies and as such, he can be cleared of charges unless he was an organiser of the criminal activities. This, according to the prosecutor, is not Mako's case.

"It needs to be said that it is thanks to the criminal complaint and testimonies by Mako that the criminal prosecution bodies are aware of the above-mentioned corruption act, other corruption acts, as well as of the act legally classified as founding [...] a criminal group and the crimes committed thereby," Prosecutor Surek noted.

The dropped charges

Mako was cleared of charges in the case where he was accused of (and admitted to) taking bribes from a group of businesspeople, including former Slovak Information Service (SIS) intelligence agent Frantisek Bohm, who later testified as a cooperating defendant, too.

Another case in which Mako no longer faces charges involved renting offices for the Financial Administration's criminal unit in Presov, which he headed at that time. Entrepreneur Stefan Polacek was given the contract without due tender. The police believe, based on Mako's testimony, that Polacek paid a bribe of 100,000 to Financial Administration officials, Sme reported.

Mako's involvement in high-profile corruption

Mako's arrest in 2020 turned out to be a breakthrough success for the Purgatory team because he immediately started cooperating with investigators. He testified against influential people, including oligarch Norbert Bodor, former police chief Tibor Gaspar, and former special prosecutor Dusan Kovacik, who was found guilty of corruption and will serve a prison sentence.

Mako said that he received a 100,000 bribe, giving one half to Kovacik and divided the other half between himself and former Slovak Information Service (SIS) intelligence agent Frantisek Bohm. The latter was also arrested by the police, but committed suicide after his arrest. Bohm confessed before his death.

Mako previously collaborated with what the prosecution described as an organised group that worked within state structures under Smer governments led by Robert Fico. Prosecutors in the Twilight case allege that Fico and Robert Kalinak, former interior minister for Smer, were aware of and involved in the activities of the criminal group, also based on Mako's testimony.

Mako was allegedly involved in bribing the former director of the intelligence service, Sme Rodina nominee Vladimir Pcolinsky, and one of the richest people in Slovakia, lawyer Zoroslav Kollar, now found guilty of bribery after confessing. Speaking to journalists following Pcolinsky's formal confession, Kollar insisted that he had never met Pcolinsky, and that he does not know what happened to any money given to Mako.
High inflation has forced the national bank to markedly change its prognosis. A hiking recommendation for the weekend.

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Good evening. The Tuesday, June 21 edition of Today in Slovakia is ready with the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Last Soviet occupier left Czechoslovakia 31 years ago

The last Soviet military transport left Czechoslovakia on June 21, 1991. (Source: TASR)

The story of Czechoslovakia's occupation began in summer 1968, bringing political reforms in the communist country to an end. People did not expect the invasion.

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It took 23 years to end the occupation.

June 21 became a red-letter day not too long ago to mark the exit of the last Soviet occupiers from Czechoslovakia.

1968 Invasion: Here's a timeline of the 1967-1969 events, including a reform process known as the Prague Spring, the invasion, and normalisation.

Quote: "The 23-year-long 'temporary' stay held us hostage behind the Iron Curtain  and it taught us that turning a blind eye to aggression dooms entire generations," said President Zuzana Caputova on June 21, 2022.

More stories from The Slovak Spectator website:

FEATURE STORY FOR TUESDAY

Hiking trip to Rokos

A view up from Rokos. (Source: VaGa)

Rokos, a mountain located in the southern part of the Strazovske Vrchy Mountains, is 1,010 metres high.

"Rokos is like a stranger, a hidden gem, waiting to be discovered," write Gabriela and Valeria, who set out on a hike on a boiling hot day.

Set out on the hike, too!

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The National Security Authority (NBU) is warning against the increased risk of cyber attacks in Slovakia.

in Slovakia. More than half of primary school teachers have Ukrainian children in their classroom , shows a Focus survey conducted for the Comenius Institute on a sample of more than 6,000 teachers.

, shows a Focus survey conducted for the Comenius Institute on a sample of more than 6,000 teachers. The Health Ministry is calling on people to be cautious in regards to Covid-19. In high-risk situations, the ministry recommends wearing a respirator.

A vintage car drives through the Maninska Tiesnava gorge in western Slovakia on June 21, 2022. (Source: TASR)

The President of the Slovak Republic, Zuzana Caputova, spoke with ambassadors of EU countries on domestic and international issues, as well as about the effects of the war in Ukraine on security in Europe, on June 21.

on domestic and international issues, as well as about the effects of the war in Ukraine on security in Europe, on June 21. Slovakia has suspended a plan, according to which it was to send 30 T-72 tanks to Ukraine , while it was to receive 15 Leopard-2A4 tanks from Germany in return. The Slovak Defence Ministry considers the proposed number of tanks from Germany to be insufficient.

, while it was to receive 15 Leopard-2A4 tanks from Germany in return. The Slovak Defence Ministry considers the proposed number of tanks from Germany to be insufficient. The European Court of Human Rights has rejected a complaint by Lemikon Limited, a Cypriot company, in a 22-year dispute with Tipos, a Slovak lottery company. Lemikom questioned the legality of a decision by Slovak courts in the case of damages for the alleged illegal use of Sportka's know-how and the Sportka, Sanca and Mates trademarks. Tipos was threatened with having to pay more than 33 million to Lemikon.

If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
US building 'asymmetric capability' for Taiwan island pure 'daydreaming'

By Deng Xiaoci and Leng Shumei (Global Times) 08:27, June 21, 2022

US, Taiwan Illustration: Xia Qing/GT

The US is expected to start annual high-level military security talks, known as the "Monterey Talks," with a delegation from the Taiwan authorities on Monday (US time). According to Japanese media reports, Washington is expected to list about 20 weapons for sale to the island, with emphasis on building "asymmetric capability."

Chinese analysts commented that it is very much daydreaming for the secessionist forces on the island to even think about containing the People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s military operations no matter what kind of US arms they obtain, as the so-called asymmetric weapons are "useless" when facing the PLA's absolute advantages.

According to Nikkei, the US has prepared a military to-buy list for Taiwan authorities including anti-ship missiles, air defense and early warning systems.

Taiwan-based media said that a delegation led by the head of the island's "security council" Wellington Koo would attend the "Monterey Talks." The event is normally attended by retired or active US military officers as well as representatives from the American Institute in Taiwan and arms dealers, experts told the Global Times previously.

Some US officials and lawmakers said one lesson of the Ukraine crisis is that the US must help transform Taiwan into a "porcupine" to deter potential attacks from the Chinese mainland, meaning that the island is suggested to buy large numbers of mobile, lethal weapons that are difficult to target and counter, rather than expensive, conventional platforms like the Abrams tanks, the New York Times reported.

The HIMARS rocket system and ammunition with a range of 80 kilometers might be included in the list, which is designed to boost the island force to counter PLA landing operations, and weapons to complement the upgrade of F-16V fighter jets, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles and aerial torpedoes could be also listed for the same purpose, military expert Wei Dongxu told the Global Times on Monday.

Wei pointed out that the weapons are not the most advanced ones, and most of them are outdated US weapons gathering dust, and they will have limited help to build "asymmetric capabilities."

Relying solely on the F-16v, an upgraded F-16, would never win Taiwan control of the air in a conflict against the PLA air force, Wei noted.

The US is caught in an awkward place where it refuses to sell the more advanced F-35 stealth fighters to Taiwan, for fear the secessionist forces on the island would provoke the Chinese mainland and lead to a conflict that Washington is reluctant to be involved in, he said.

Military expert Song Zhongping said it is impossible for Taiwan to form "asymmetric capabilities," no matter what kind of weapons it purchases from the US as the gap between the military capacities of the two sides is "too huge."

For example, the purchase of anti-ship missiles, such as the Harpoon anti-ship missiles to intercept PLA warships, would turn out useless, as the missiles would be destroyed as soon as the conflict starts due to the lack of surviving capability, Song explained.

"These missiles would pose no threat to the PLA as the PLA would hold complete control of the skies before an amphibious warfare bursts out between the two sides across the Taiwan Straits," Song explained.

The US wants the island to build its own intelligence-gathering system and sells a lot of facilities to it. But no matter what system the island builds, it would be controlled by the US.

It is also unrealistic to boost the island's anti-submarine capability by simply buying a few submarines. The island has only a few of them that can be counted by a single hand, and the current Sea Dragon and Sea Leopard are too weak to form a real force for combat, Song added.

The US is only after arms deals by constantly cooking up new concepts and making a profit by selling obsolete weapons, Song said.

The US has acted faithlessly, keeps regressing from its commitments and the consensus it reached with China, and attempted to weaken and undermine the one-China principle and use Taiwan to contain China. This is a major threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, the Chinese Foreign Ministry noted in the Reality Check: Falsehoods in US Perceptions of China released on Sunday.

According to Reality Check, in the military field, the US has sold weapons at a larger scale and with enhanced capability including assault weapons such as anti-radiation missiles, heavy weight torpedoes, and F-16V fighter jets. To date, the US has sold Taiwan arms worth over $70 billion.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Chadron authorities are investigating the death of a 10-month-old girl and have arrested her father.

Riley Lenhart, 27, of Chadron, has been arrested on charges of child abuse resulting in death, accused of causing the death of his daughter, Madilynn Lenhart, according to information released by Dawes County Attorney Vance Haug.

In information released, Haug said the Chadron Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol and Dawes County Attorney/Coroners Office were dispatched to investigate the girls death at about 1 p.m. Sunday.

After a review of the scene, witness interviews and consultation with medical personnel, Haug said, police arrested Lenhart. He is being held on a $750,000 bond.

A search of online court records did not yet show a formal complaint is available in Dawes County Court as of publication.

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A 17-year-old boy was arrested Thursday night after fleeing arrest near Grand Island in a stolen vehicle, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

A state trooper observed the Chevrolet Impala driving 90 mph on Interstate 80 at approximately 8:20 p.m. Troopers attempted a traffic stop, but the driver fled and troopers began a pursuit.

The driver's speed exceeded 100 mph and troopers stopped their pursuit as he headed toward Grand Island.

The Impala was later found near Louise and Adams streets in Grand Island and the driver was seen fleeing on foot.

The Grand Island Police Department and State Patrol began a search for the driver, and dispatchers confirmed that the Impala had been stolen in Lincoln.

The driver was later arrested and lodged in the Lancaster County Youth Services Center.

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Students and staff members at Woodland Heights Elementary raised nearly $30,000 as part of the Kids Heart Challenge.

The challenge is the American Heart Associations community service-learning program that engages all students in participating schools in heart healthy and emotionally positive activities. Students are encouraged to take a challenge to either Move More or Be Kind during their program which lasts from two to three weeks. They also learn about healthy lifestyles and improving their community.

There is an optional fundraising component as well that helps fund the AHAs mission. Woodland Heights recently broke AHA local fundraising records with its Kids Heart Challenge program and earned recognition as the top fundraiser in North Carolina.

At Woodland Heights in Mooresville, physical education teacher Monika Woodruff was able to gather nearly 300 students to participate in this years events. As a school, they focused on physical activity with the Move More challenge and perfected their jump rope skills. There were 293 students who accepted a challenge to either Move More or Be Kind during February. More than 30 students learned hands-only CPR and took a quiz to show their understanding of this lifesaving skill. A total of 249 student families contributed financially to the program.

Monika Wilson and Myron Miller, passionate volunteers for the AHA, helped spearhead the effort along with Principal Kristie Spenner. The students and their families respond generously, breaking previous AHA records and raising the most for any school in the state. This year they raised $29,926.68 in honor of all the people they know affected by heart disease.
The child of billionaire Elon Musk is completely changing her identity to distance herself from her father, The Blast reported.

Xavier Alexander Musk, who has a twin named Griffin, turned 18 back in April. Almost immediately after her birthday, Xavier filed a petition with the courthouse to change her name as she embraces her new identity as Vivian.

Her hearing is scheduled for this Friday.

Xavier Alexander Musk is requesting to change her name to Vivian Jenna Wilson. She is also asking for the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County to recognize her gender as female. The petition was filed on Monday, April 18.

Vivian listed the reason for the name change as not wanting to be associated with her biological father. The document states: Gender Identity and the fact that I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.

Elon Musk married Canadian author Justine Wilson in January 2000. In 2002, they welcomed their son Nevada Alexander Musk. Sadly, Nevada died of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, at only ten weeks old.

Musk and Wilson turned to IVF, and, in April 2004, Wilson gave birth to two twin sons: Griffin and Xavier. They both just turned 18 back in April.

The former couple also used IVF to welcome triplet sons two years later. Their names were Kai, Saxon, and Damian. All three boys are now 16. Two years later, in 2008, the pair filed for divorce. They still share custody of their five children.

However, Vivian claims that part of the reason that she wants to change her name is to distance herself from her biological father, who has been accused of having transphobic views over the past several years.

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Live music from The Blue Ridge Girls and The Daiquiri Queens will be followed by a showing a Disneys Encanto (2021) in Warren G. Lineberry Park this Thursday.

The The Blue Ridge Girls were involved with MerleFests Band Camp this year, and the group is slated to perform at FloydFest Heartbeat in July, alongside Morgan Wade, Ann Wilson and Amythyst Kiah. The band has also been featured in Bristol Roots and Rhythm.

The group will kick off the June 23 concert at 6 p.m.

The Daiquiri Queens is a Louisiana-based band that will arrive in Floyd fresh off its Bayous and Bluebonnets spring tour in Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee.

The band was featured in the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the beginning of May.

A showing of Encanto (Disney, 2021) will round out the evening on June 23. The story follows

All are welcome to attend Floyd Small Town Summer events for free at Warren G. Lineberry Park, off south Locust Street. The next concerts are scheduled for

Shirts from previous years are on sale for $5 during the 2022 events. The 2021 shirt was designed by then-high schooler Zora Dulaney.
Many young Kyrgyz dream of studying abroad, with Chinese universities appearing on the radar in recent years.

Students who studied at Chinese universities spoke to Xinhua about how an education in China bolstered their career and life prospects.

Bektur Papakov studied at Jilin University in Changchun in northeast China from 2016 to 2019.

"For the first year, we studied the language, and for the rest of the time, I studied for a master's program in project management," said Papakov.

He said that he decided to go to China because it was a new challenge, a new mentality and a new language, adding China's future growth was another draw.

At the same time, Papakov said he faced difficulties due to the language barrier and cultural differences, but the university was there for support.

Papakov noted that after studying, he returned to Kyrgyzstan and was able to open his own company.

"Now, I have my own company in Kyrgyzstan. I think that the three years that I spent in China, the experience and knowledge I gained helped me a lot when opening a company," he said.

Meanwhile, Erkeayim Sulaymanova told Xinhua that a diploma from a Chinese university gave her a significant advantage when applying to other universities and in the job market.

Sulaymanova said she studied at Beijing's University of International Business and Economics.

"I chose China as a place to study together with my parents. The decision was made due to the country's culture and good conditions," she said.

Sulaymanova emphasized that her experience living and studying in China enriched her worldview.

"Now, I am studying for a master's degree at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bishkek," Sulaymanova said. "I also work in an oil company, and when I applied for a job, a diploma from China was taken into account."
A minute from the Amtrak station in Kelso is a longstanding bar and grill with a new name and planned renovations to bring people downtown.

Tammie Chandler, 54, said she took over the Maltese Tavern in the fall, renaming the Pine Street business The Station Pub & Grub to play off the nearby Amtrak station and railroad. The sign features a train and the colors blue, gold and white to represent Kelso School High School, where her children attended.

Chandler said she plans to incorporate the colors throughout the design of the pub, which only serves ages 21 and up. An inside remodel is planned for the fall, she added, to expand the kitchen. She also plans to add about a dozen two- and four-top tables with umbrellas in front of the building for outdoor seating.

It will be nice in the summertime, she said.

The Station Pub & Grub Address: 100 Pine St., Kelso. Hours: Noon to 2 a.m., daily. Info: 360-577-4886 or www.facebook.com/TheStationPubandGrub

Chandler was a night bartender for the establishment for roughly two decades, she added, before purchasing the pub from Bruce Birchfield when he retired after owning the tavern for roughly 25 years. She said she is the fourth owner of the Kelso staple.

Since taking over in October, Chandler said she revamped the menu, adding vegan options like a Beyond Meat burger, which is plant-based, and brightened the dining room by clearing coverings on the buildings expansive windows. She said she plans to add more vegan options to the menu like cauliflower tacos.

She added meat lover options too. A Rueben, hot pastrami sandwich and French dip with pepper jack and jalapenos were added by Chandler, she said. The French dip was inspired by a brewer at Explorer Brewery Company down the street and aptly named the Brewers dip as a result, she added.

The Station has a full bar with draft and bottles beers and is known for its Lemon Drops, Long Island Iced Teas and bloody marys, Chandler said.

Venita Goodrich, of Longview, is a longtime regular, she said, first visiting The Station under the previous owner in 2019. Goodrich said she and her other half frequent the pub for karaoke on Fridays and to watch games on the big screen TVs and have bloody marys on Sundays. The Station also offers karaoke on Saturdays and Mondays.

Goodrich said she likes The Station because a mix of ages frequent the bar and the food specials are always a hit.

The foods amazing, she said.

The bar offers classic cheeseburgers, as well as burger twists, including a western burger with barbecue sauce, onion rings, chipotle ranch, pepper jack and bacon. Chandler said The Station also offers a popular burger called Mr. O, which adds an entire Denver omelet on top of a beef patty and is served on a bun.

The bar and grill features live music once a month and includes seven pool tables, a foosball table and a dart board. The bar is part of a local pool league, in which sign-ups are usually in August and games start in September, Chandler said. Anytime, people can play pool for $3 an hour or for free, from 4 to 7 p.m., if they purchase a drink, she added.

Chandler said regulars frequent the bar, but the friendly atmosphere attracts newbies too.

We have amazing food and amazing staff, she said. Its a fun place to hang out.

Talking Business is a series featuring local new or expanded businesses and prints every Tuesday. The series was suspended during the pandemic and recently restarted. Contact Daily News City Editor Hayley Day at 360-577-2541 or hday@tdn.com for possible inclusion in the series.

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NASA has released an amazingly detailed photo of our neighbouring galaxy, the Andromeda Galaxy. Heres more about it.

NASA released the incredibly detailed image of the neighbouring Andromeda Galaxy on June 7. In the image released on NASAs all social media platforms, the galaxy was surrounded by stars and cosmic dust, creating an incredible image.

The amazing image was captured by NASAs Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). NASA captioned the picture on social media platforms as, "Our neighbor in space, the immense Andromeda galaxy, is captured in this image taken by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). Located about 2.5 million light-years from our Sun, Andromeda is the closest large galaxy to our Milky Way galaxy.

"This galactic mosaic is a four-color composite using all of WISE's infrared detectors, where blue represents far-ultraviolet light, green represents mid-way ultraviolet light, and red is near-ultraviolet light. The galaxy's backbone of mature stars is visible in blue, while the yellow and red rings show dust heated by newborn, massive stars, the space agency added.

NASAs WISE telescope has been able to capture this image in incredible detail due to the Andromeda galaxy being only 2.5 million light-years away from Earth. The WISE telescope and its cousin the Hubble Telescope are capable of capturing images of galaxies billions of light-years away.

NASA says that both the Milky Way Galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy are part of the galaxies known as the Local Group, which according to astronomers is a neighbourhood in space consisting of around 50 galaxies.

However, after seeing this incredible image, if youre looking to give the Andromeda Galaxy a visit, then you must certainly find a wormhole or a cryo device as itll take you almost 40 billion years to reach our neighbouring galaxy. Although you mightve seen the galaxy somewhere.

Director James Gunn of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise has said that the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie is based on the Andromeda Galaxy. "First part takes place in Andromeda," he said.
If youve ever wondered how we will protect ourselves against an asteroid strike on Earth, then know that NASA is all fired-up about it.

An asteroid strike on Earth will create the same situation that destroyed the planet and killed off all the dinosaurs. This time, humans will be at teh receiving end. There are very few options available to stop and asteroid strike on Earth. However, a NASA mission is in the works to deflect an asteroid off its collision course with Earth by smashing a spacecraft into it at a staggering speed of 23,000kph. The mission is named Double Asteroid Detection Test or DART. Check out how this NASA asteroid mission will pan out.

Apocalyptic movies like Deep Impact, Armageddon and Don't Look Up, which had iconic stars like Bruce Willis, Leonardo Di Caprio to Jennifer Lawrence in lead roles, have always explored the What Ifs of world destruction, with the most famous means of world destruction being asteroids crashing into Earth. Now, NASA is readying itself to potentially defend the planet against a very similar threat that is posed by asteroids.

Amazing NASA photo of our neighbouring Andromeda Galaxy released Also read:

The DART mission will cost a staggering $240 million. The aim of the mission is to smash a spacecraft into the Dimorphos asteroid to deflect it away from its path. While this asteroid in no way threatens Earth, the NASA asteroid mission is to carry out an experiment to gain greater knowledge as to what happens when a craft is crashed against a space rock. This knowledge will be used if an actual asteroid threatens to crash against the Earth. It will help avert an Armageddon on Earth and perhaps, even save humanity from extinction.

Chief scientist at Johns Hopkins Universitys Applied Physics Laboratory, Andy Cheng, came up with the DART concept along with a senior researcher. Dr. Cheng said, It feels very exciting  like a dream come true  for something weve been thinking about for 20 years to be actually happening."

The DART mission has already sent the main spacecraft to space in November, 2021. It includes a satellite made by the Italian Space Agency. Another spacecraft is set to launch by 2026, to measure the impact.

NASA said, "DART is the first-ever mission dedicated to investigating and demonstrating one method of asteroid deflection by changing an asteroids motion in space through kinetic impact.
A graphic showing the observational pyramid, in which the same area is monitored at different levels at the same time. Credit: Department of Engineering Cybernetics, NTNU

In late May, NTNU researchers and students used a small satellite, an unmanned aerial vehicle, two unmanned boats and subsea robots to survey the same area simultaneously. This is an approach called an observational pyramid.

The Arctic is both an interesting and important area from which to observe climate change. At this latitude, temperature and ecosystem changes are evident sooner and clearer than in more temperate areas. For Professor Geir Johnsen, one of the critical questions to askand answeris what is happening to phytoplankton, which form the base of the food web.

"Are they growing? Are they in good shape? Are they dying? Are they in rave party mode?" he wants to know.

Environmental monitoring

The approach the researchers have used, the observational pyramid, can be used to survey normal and harmful algal blooms and the kinds of changes global warming is causing in the ocean in a more continuous way.

Here's the observational pyramid:

NTNU's first research satellite, HYPSO-1, with a hyperspectral imager.

One aerial drone with a hyperspectral imager, so-called UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)

Unmanned boats with both underwater hyperspectral imager, acoustic sensors, and other types of sensors, so-called USVs (Unmanned Surface Vehicles).

Subsea robots, called AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles).

Biologists taking water samples to provide species details, photosynthesis data, health condition and optical fingerprints to identify what the unmanned vehicles register. This was part of the UNIS course "Light and primary production in the Arctic."

"This concept can be developed and streamlined, especially when it comes to faster data interpretation. We have worked with biologists to customize this approach, according to what they need, but it can be used for other purposes as well," says Asgeir J. Srensen, a professor of marine cybernetics and Director of NTNU AMOS.

One driver for this development is the long collaboration with Equinor to develop methods and technologies to monitor the offshore oil and gas environment, as well as offshore renewable energy systems.

Srensen pointed out that the aquaculture industry can also benefit from more effective and automated ways of monitoring and surveying fish welfare conditions, and the environment near the fish pens.

This technology can also be used to learn more about freshwater systems in Norway, such as the national efforts to monitor the environmental health of Mjsa Lake, Norway's largest.

An automated coast guard

Imagine an automated coast guard beneath the ocean surface that monitors ocean health and traffic in the ocean space. That's essentially what this approach offers, the researchers say.

Hyperspectral maps and aerial drones combined with unmanned surface vehicles and subsea drones can be used at the same time to collect more data over a shorter time frame.

"This will give us more knowledge and a better understanding of what is going on in the ocean," Srensen says.

A number of master's students, Ph.D. candidates and postdocs participated in the experiment.

"This could lead to new industries, value creation and new workplaces in Norway in the near future," Srensen says.

The first test of the observational pyramid was done in close collaboration between the University of Troms and UNISthe University Centre in Svalbard and several departments at NTNU. Researchers from both the U.S. and Australia came to Ny-Alesund to see the observational pyramid in action.

Explore further Shape-shifting drone flies and dives to find aquatic environmental clues
Nuclear engineering doctoral student Sean Martinson works on plutonium solution purification inside a protective glove box in Sunil Chirayaths nuclear forensics laboratory. Credit: Justin Elizalde/Texas A&M Engineering

Millions of shipments of nuclear and other radiological materials are moved in the U.S. every year for good reasons, including health care, power generation, research and manufacturing. But there remains the threat that bad actors in possession of stolen or illegally produced nuclear materials or weapons will try to smuggle them across borders for nefarious purposes.

Texas A&M University researchers are making it harder for them to succeed.

If border agents intercept illicit nuclear materials, investigators need to know who produced them and where they came from. Fortunately, nuclear materials carry certain forensic markers that can reveal valuable information, much like fingerprints can identify criminals.

For instance, when scientists examine the concentration of certain key contaminant isotopes in separated plutonium samples they can determine three different attributes of the sample's history: the type of nuclear reactor that produced it, how long the plutonium or uranium was contained in the reactor and how long ago it was produced.

With current statistical methodologies, they can determine these three attributes utilizing a generated database that stores the required information as a mathematical variation of these attributes for various nuclear reactor types and emerge with a good idea of who made the material.

"But what if investigators are presented with a mixed plutonium sample?" said Sunil Chirayath, author of a new study on nuclear forensics recently published in the journal Nuclear Science and Engineering. "Suppose the adversary is mixing materials from two nuclear reactors at two different times, and that material is cooled for different times. A bad actor might do this intentionally to disguise it."

Mixed samples of nuclear material are significantly more challenging to identify with traditional methodologies. In a real-world situation, the extra time required could have a catastrophic impact on the global community.

To improve the process, Chirayath, associate professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering and director of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station's Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives, along with his research team, has developed a methodology using machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence.

He can produce identifying markers through simulations, and then store that data in a 3D database. Each attribute is one level of the database, and a standard computer can quickly process the data and lead investigators to the reactor type that produced the plutonium sampleand, potentially, the suspectsby joining other pieces of the puzzle gathered through traditional forensics.

Three experiments of irradiating uranium using three different reactor types and post-irradiation examinations have been conducted at Texas A&M to date. Without knowing the samples' origins, doctoral student researcher Patrick O'Neal successfully identified where each of the plutonium samples was produced by using machine learning.

The work is being done through a consortium of national labs and universities supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. The consortium focuses on development of new methods of detecting and deterring nuclear proliferation and to educating the next generation of nuclear security professionals. Chirayath's team will soon run one more irradiation and the corresponding post-irradiation examination with funding already in place.

The next step is to take this machine-learning methodology to high-level government labs, where researchers can work with much larger samples of nuclear materials. University labs are constrained by more restrictive irradiation safety limits.

Chirayath is confident efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation are working. The international Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons arose from concern about atomic weaponry, and all but four countriesIndia, Israel, Pakistan and South Sudansigned it. North Korea signed it but walked away from it later.

Chirayath also notes that with the rise in nuclear energy production comes an increased risk that the technology will be used to make weapons capable of mass destruction.

"We have to make sure materials are not diverted from peaceful use," he said. "We need to double-up our tools and methodologies, but it's not just technical tools. We also have to double-up on policies and agreements to prevent proliferation from happening."

Explore further Nuclear research team develops methodology for tracing illegal nuclear material to source

More information: Patrick J. O'Neal et al, A Machine Learning Method for the Forensics Attribution of Separated Plutonium, Nuclear Science and Engineering (2022). Patrick J. O'Neal et al, A Machine Learning Method for the Forensics Attribution of Separated Plutonium,(2022). DOI: 10.1080/00295639.2021.2024037
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

When someone calls 911, seconds matter. That's why the first question a 911 dispatcher asks is, "What is the address of the emergency?"

A decade ago, if someone called and didn't know the address, emergency call centers would send out police officers with their sirens on and tell the caller, "Tell us when you can hear the siren."

That's because the call center could base a caller's location only on cell towers, which can cover an area of up to 10 miles. Not only did police and rescue have trouble finding people, but calls also got routed to the wrong call center.

Now, with the advent of cellphone GPS data, carriers are teaming up with call centers.

Dallas-based AT&T says by the end of this month, all emergency calls made through the wireless carrier will be routed to emergency call centers based on phone GPS data rather than cell tower data. With GPS data, a caller can be located within 50 meters of his or her actual locationabout the length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

"It's a pretty big game-changer," said Terry Goswick, executive director at North Texas Emergency Communications Center, which serves Addison, Carrollton, Coppell and Farmers Branch.

AT&T customers don't need to do anything to receive the service, which AT&T worked on with cloud-based solutions company Intrado of Omaha, Neb.

Previously, if you called from Addison, your call might have been incorrectly routed to a nearby center in Carrollton or Dallas based on cell towers, meaning your call would need to be transferred. Rerouting calls can take 25 seconds to 30 seconds, an amount of time that's critical when it comes to fires and medical emergencies.

Rerouting calls isn't a rare occurrence.

Intrado said about 10% of wireless calls and up to 50% of calls in public safety areas where state, county or city boundaries overlap need to be transferred to a different call center.

The North Central Texas Emergency Communications District, which serves 13 counties in Dallas-Fort Worth, has more than 40 public safety answering points that might answer your call.

AT&T's rollout will be lifesaving for someone in a traffic accident or someone caught in a fire at a hotel with an unfamiliar address, Goswick said. And then there are medical emergencies in which someone calls but can't talk, such as when they're experiencing a heart condition or seizure.

"Now when they call 911, we're going to be able to find them," Goswick said.

Finding people used to be easier when all calls came from a stationary landline. But now, 80% of 911 calls are made on wireless phones, according to the National Emergency Number Association. And there are a lot of emergency calls each year240 million in the U.S. each year, with 20 million coming out of Texas.

John Snapp, vice president of technology at Intrado, said AT&T's new technology means emergency calls are getting to the right call center quicker and more often.

"The seconds really are the difference sometimes between life and death if you think of a person who may have had a heart attack or a shooting or a fire," Snapp said.

A company sharing location data often brings up concerns about data protection. AT&T says the processing is triggered only when a caller places a 911 call, and the location data is shared directly only with public safety call centers.

Chris Sambar, AT&T Network's executive vice president, said the process happens automatically in the background. AT&T sends the phone's information to Intrado and Intrado gets the information from the device and sends it to the call center. Neither AT&T nor Intrado sees a caller's location.

While other carriers have rolled out similar technology, AT&T's nationwide tech can be used without requiring call centers to upgrade their systems, Sambar said.

For example, Verizon says on its website that it offers enhanced 911 services, including someone's estimated latitude and longitude, to centers that have upgraded their equipment. In 2020, T-Mobile launched location-based routing on its network in Texas and Washington state.

"AT&T typically leads the charge when it comes to 911," Goswick said.

Explore further Apple sets up iPhones to relay location for 911 calls

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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

An autonomous vehicle is able to navigate city streets and other less-busy environments by recognizing pedestrians, other vehicles and potential obstacles through artificial intelligence. This is achieved with the help of artificial neural networks, which are trained to "see" the car's surroundings, mimicking the human visual perception system.

But unlike humans, cars using artificial neural networks have no memory of the past and are in a constant state of seeing the world for the first timeno matter how many times they've driven down a particular road before. This is particularly problematic in adverse weather conditions, when the car cannot safely rely on its sensors.

Researchers at the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science and the College of Engineering have produced three concurrent research papers with the goal of overcoming this limitation by providing the car with the ability to create "memories" of previous experiences and use them in future navigation.

Doctoral student Yurong You is lead author of "HINDSIGHT is 20/20: Leveraging Past Traversals to Aid 3D Perception," which You presented virtually in April at ICLR 2022, the International Conference on Learning Representations. "Learning representations" includes deep learning, a kind of machine learning.

"The fundamental question is, can we learn from repeated traversals?" said senior author Kilian Weinberger, professor of computer science in Cornell Bowers CIS. "For example, a car may mistake a weirdly shaped tree for a pedestrian the first time its laser scanner perceives it from a distance, but once it is close enough, the object category will become clear. So the second time you drive past the very same tree, even in fog or snow, you would hope that the car has now learned to recognize it correctly."

"In reality, you rarely drive a route for the very first time," said co-author Katie Luo, a doctoral student in the research group. "Either you yourself or someone else has driven it before recently, so it seems only natural to collect that experience and utilize it."

Spearheaded by doctoral student Carlos Diaz-Ruiz, the group compiled a dataset by driving a car equipped with LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors repeatedly along a 15-kilometer loop in and around Ithaca, 40 times over an 18-month period. The traversals capture varying environments (highway, urban, campus), weather conditions (sunny, rainy, snowy) and times of day.

This resulting datasetwhich the group refers to as Ithaca365, and which is the subject of one of the other two papershas more than 600,000 scenes.

"It deliberately exposes one of the key challenges in self-driving cars: poor weather conditions," said Diaz-Ruiz, a co-author of the Ithaca365 paper. "If the street is covered by snow, humans can rely on memories, but without memories a neural network is heavily disadvantaged."

HINDSIGHT is an approach that uses neural networks to compute descriptors of objects as the car passes them. It then compresses these descriptions, which the group has dubbed SQuaSH (Spatial-Quantized Sparse History) features, and stores them on a virtual map, similar to a "memory" stored in a human brain.

The next time the self-driving car traverses the same location, it can query the local SQuaSH database of every LiDAR point along the route and "remember" what it learned last time. The database is continuously updated and shared across vehicles, thus enriching the information available to perform recognition.

"This information can be added as features to any LiDAR-based 3D object detector;" You said. "Both the detector and the SQuaSH representation can be trained jointly without any additional supervision, or human annotation, which is time- and labor-intensive."

While HINDSIGHT still assumes that the artificial neural network is already trained to detect objects and augments it with the capability to create memories, MODEST (Mobile Object Detection with Ephemerality and Self-Training)the subject of the third publicationgoes even further.

Here, the authors let the car learn the entire perception pipeline from scratch. Initially the artificial neural network in the vehicle has never been exposed to any objects or streets at all. Through multiple traversals of the same route, it can learn what parts of the environment are stationary and which are moving objects. Slowly it teaches itself what constitutes other traffic participants and what is safe to ignore.

The algorithm can then detect these objects reliablyeven on roads that were not part of the initial repeated traversals.

The researchers hope that both approaches could drastically reduce the development cost of autonomous vehicles (which currently still relies heavily on costly human annotated data) and make such vehicles more efficient by learning to navigate the locations in which they are used the most.

Both Ithaca365 and MODEST will be presented at the Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR 2022), to be held June 19-24 in New Orleans.

Other contributors include Mark Campbell, the John A. Mellowes '60 Professor in Mechanical Engineering in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, assistant professors Bharath Hariharan and Wen Sun, from computer science at Bowers CIS; former postdoctoral researcher Wei-Lun Chao, now an assistant professor of computer science and engineering at Ohio State; and doctoral students Cheng Perng Phoo, Xiangyu Chen and Junan Chen.
Namibian visual artists have come together to start a mural project around the capital city Windhoek in a bid to inspire, educate and promote visual artists while establishing the city as an arts and culture hub.

Emmanuel Enkara, the head of the project, who is also the creative director and founder of the ENK Institute for Public Art, told Xinhua that the concept behind the project was to showcase the country's national identity through art.

"When people come to this country, they do not know what our national identity is and this was the main drive behind the idea. We are also doing this to promote visual artists. It is time for our visual artists to have a platform to show our national identity and our work while also giving them large-scale lucrative projects that will help them make a living," he said.

The Windhoek Mural Project commissioned five artists who have so far painted 10 murals at different spots around the city centre.

"It's important to have public art in the city because it creates a difference to the open and neglected areas of the city that are sometimes dull and uninspired," Enkara said, adding that art has a unique ability to change the psychology of the people, especially during the devastating COVID-19 times where everyone is living under stressful conditions.

"People are affected by what they see. We are hoping that the public art will change people's moods and put a smile on their faces as they walk around the city going about their business," he said.

Above all, Enkara says, they want the art to add to the attraction of the country, to have some visitors who come just for the art.

"The presence of art is more important than ever, the importance comes from adding something to our tourism sector that gives Namibia an identity, because these artists are expressing themselves on a large scale," he said.

John Kalunda, one of the artists who contributed to the project, said he painted his mural to express himself and pay homage to Namibia's athletes, especially for the good work they did last year.

"I wanted to show the world the skills and talent that we have in Namibia both in arts and in sports. It is an appreciation for our young athletes who put our country on the map," he said.

Michelle Isaak painted a mural called, 'A much-needed escape', which is an array of emojis that she says is the language most young people use so the mural is reaching out to the young generation.

"In our daily lives, we fit into our busy routines, the mural is an interactive display of how all our human emotions are represented in very cute emojis," she said.

According to Enkara, Namibian visual artists struggle to showcase and make a living through their craft because the country lacks art collectors who appreciate local art.

"Young visual artists are struggling to penetrate the market because traditional art collectors are older and so they support older artists which are forcing visual artists to become more contemporary. This is killing our industry and so this is a way of keeping it alive," he said.
A recently patched critical security flaw in Atlassian Confluence Server and Data Center products is being actively weaponized in real-world attacks to drop cryptocurrency miners and ransomware payloads.

In at least two of the Windows-related incidents observed by cybersecurity vendor Sophos, adversaries exploited the vulnerability to deliver Cerber ransomware and a crypto miner called z0miner on victim networks.

The bug (CVE-2022-26134, CVSS score: 9.8), which was patched by Atlassian on June 3, 2022, enables an unauthenticated actor to inject malicious code that paves the way of remote code execution (RCE) on affected installations of the collaboration suite. All supported versions of Confluence Server and Data Center are affected.

Other notable malware pushed as part of disparate instances of attack activity include Mirai and Kinsing bot variants, a rogue package called pwnkit, and Cobalt Strike by way of a web shell deployed after gaining an initial foothold into the compromised system.

"The vulnerability, CVE-2022-26134, allows an attacker to spawn a remotely-accessible shell, in-memory, without writing anything to the server's local storage," Andrew Brandt, principal security researcher at Sophos, said.

The disclosure overlaps with similar warnings from Microsoft, which revealed last week that "multiple adversaries and nation-state actors, including DEV-0401 and DEV-0234, are taking advantage of the Atlassian Confluence RCE vulnerability CVE-2022-26134."

DEV-0401, described by Microsoft as a "China-based lone wolf turned LockBit 2.0 affiliate," has also been previously linked to ransomware deployments targeting internet-facing systems running VMWare Horizon (Log4Shell), Confluence (CVE-2021-26084), and on-premises Exchange servers (ProxyShell).

The development is emblematic of an ongoing trend where threat actors are increasingly capitalizing on newly disclosed critical vulnerabilities rather than exploiting publicly known, dated software flaws across a broad spectrum of targets.
A man is in custody after allegedly hiding from a Grand Island Police Department officer trying to serve him with a warrant.

Tuesday morning a Grand Island Police Department officer went to 518 Capital Ave. at Capital Motor Home to arrest a man on a warrant, said Captain Jim Duering. The mobile home park is located on the north edge of Grand Island.

After attempting to contact the suspect, the arresting officer had reason to believe the suspect was hiding, Duering said. A Nebraska State Patrol K-9 unit was called for assistance and the canine did indicate that the subject was hiding underneath the trailer.

The man was arrested and taken to the Hall County Department of Corrections. Its unclear what the warrant was for, although Duering said the man will likely face additional charges.

Check back to theindependent.com for father updates.
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Yesterday, reader Bear wrote:

"I'd like Leica to get together with Apple and build an iPhone into a Q2 or 3 or whatever...that would give me both a reason and an excuse to cart a camera everywhere. I might look a bit silly holding a camera to my ear instead of my eye though...but I probably would still buy it!"

I've actually always wondered why Apple doesn't do this. I used to wish for an "Apple Camera," but that was before the smartphone era.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "I trust a good deal to common fame, as we all must. If a man has good corn or wood, or boards, or pigs, to sell, or can make better chairs or knives, crucibles or church organs, than anybody else, you will find a broad hard-beaten road to his house, though it be in the woods." That's the original quote from his Journal, in 1855. Folk wisdom streamlined it to: "Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door."

It might have been true in 1855. Not any more. For one thing, big companies don't take ideas from random citizensthere's way too much liability in it. Whatever they do, they get pestered by people claiming the idea was theirs, like a hiker in Maine in the summertime gets pestered by black flies. They'll not only not use your idea, they don't even want to hear about itmy father, who was a management consultant for 30 years, told me about one company that wouldn't even open letters if they had any idea that there was a product idea inside.

Of course, companies also do steal ideas all the time, but good luck getting them to admit it.

So, mental exercise only: picture some compact but good quality APS-C or Micro 4/3 ILC such as a Ricoh GRIII, a Sony A6[x]00, or (okay, Bear) a Leica Q2. If it had a phone touchscreen on the back of it, with all the functionality of an iPhone, would that be something that would appeal to you?

Implementation is everything

I doubt I'd like it, and here's the reason: it would entirely depend on implementation, and the chances they'd screw it up are exactly 92%.* My family had a little Boston Whaler once that was supposed to do everything: it had oarlocks and oars if you wanted to use it as a tender, a transom stern so you could mount a little outboard motor, and a mast well for a little sunfish-style sail (don't know what that rig is called) [UPDATE: It's called a lug rig, technically "balanced-lug rig,"and such boats are called luggers. So now we know.] Well, it was horrible at all three tasks.

Skerry with balanced-lug rig. Illustration thanks to

John C. Harris's The Life of Boats blog.

Of course, a phone itself replaces approximately a dumptruck's worth of traditional tools, objects, documents and implements, from maps to calculators to books, and does a lot of new stuff besides, so it's already a Swiss Army knife. So maybe it would accommodate being stuck to the back of a camera without issues.

Still, my opinion is that they seldom get cameras quite right, so I'm guessing that adding a phone would be more cooks than the broth could bear.

Would you buy such a thing?

Personally, my seven-year-old iPhone had a seizure over the weekend, which scared me, even though it seems to have recovered. I guess it's of the age that I should be thinking about a new one when Apple comes out with the iPhone 14 in September. I'll have to have a print sale before then, if I intend to be able to pay for the blasted thing.

Mike

*That's a "monkeybutt number." Pulled it out of a monkey's butt.

Book o' the Week:

The Beatles: Get Back. The story of the band's last year, coinciding with the release of Peter Jackson's documentary Get Back.



The book link is your portal to Amazon from TOP, should you wish to support this site.

Here's the link to B&H Photo

Original contents copyright 2020 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)

Featured Comments from:

Speed: "Statista tells us, 'In their 2018 fiscal year, Apple sold more than 217 million iPhones. After the release of the first-generation iPhone in 2007, the unit sales of the Apple mobile device saw rapid growth year after year, peaking at 231 million in 2015. iPhone sales have stayed relatively stable since then.' After completely re-engineering the iPhone into a Leica (a large and complex task), the incremental sales to apple would be vanishingly smallhow many Leicas are sold today? Even a million could be mistaken by Apple as a rounding error. That isn't to say that owning such a thing would be interesting, useful and probably fun."

James: "Although I own both a Ricoh GR III and IIIx and absolutely love them (I also have a Leica Q2 Monochrom), I much prefer using a viewfinder. My favorite camera is the Fuji X100V. On the Q2 and X100 I never use the screen to compose. Focusing with a screen is a compromise I am willing to make with the GR series. I find phones difficult to take photos with. I am always accidentally touching the screen so that it suddenly doesn't allow me take the photo. I haven't mastered holding it by the edges.... :-)

"Additionally, the GR series has a handgrip and buttons which are very easy to use. It's even more remarkable given its size and the fact that it has a APS-C sensor. If I had to choose between the Leica and the GR, I would pick the GR every time. Is this hypothetical phone/camera going to have buttons/dials to change the aperture, exposure compensation, etc.? If it does then does it actually work as a phone with all these extra controls?"

Mike replies: Re holding a phone, you don't have to hold it by the edges. Just look on the back where the lens is, and wrap your hand around the back so that it doesn't cover the lens. Perfectly easy and natural. (But I still think the go buttons are in entirely the wrong places. And I hate the way its exposure adjustment works.)

KeithB: "Here is the somewhat cheeky user tip I wrote for the Apple Community Discussion board about submitting ideas to Apple."

Mike replies: That's very good. Tells it the way it is.

Mani Sitaraman: "What I really want is 1.) the digital interface on my Nikon DSLR to be as simple to use as the camera app on my iPhone and 2.) for my in-camera image files to be seamlessly transmitted without excessive fuss to my iphone/iphotos database so that I can forward them."

Omer: "Yeah, but no. I get enough stares when my camera is at my eye, what would those stares turn into if the camera were at my ear?"

Mike replies: Made me laugh. And that's the last word!
President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia's economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine. The United States generally imports about 100,000 barrels a day from Russia, only about 5% of Russia's crude oil exports, according to Rystad Energy. Last year, roughly 8% of U.S. imports of oil and petroleum products came from Russia. Gas prices have been rising for weeks due to the conflict and in anticipation of potential sanctions on the Russian energy sector. The U.S. national average for a gallon of gasoline soared 45 cents a gallon in the past week and topped $4.06 on Monday, according to auto club AAA. Should the US ban Russian oil imports over Ukraine war?

You voted:
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The S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles office in Bamberg is scheduled to reopen Tuesday after being closed for nearly a week due staffing shortages.

The office at 341 Lacey St. is expected to open at 8:30 a.m. It has been closed since June 15.

SCDMV Chief of Strategic Communications and Community Affairs Kyle McGahee apologized for the inconvenience, which was caused by several employees being out due to illness.

The SCDMV always exercises caution to ensure that employees and customers maintain their health and safety, McGahee said.

Available employees from that office were temporarily relocated to nearby offices to ensure efficient customer service at those offices, he said.

The most up-to-date information on services and office hours is posted on the official SCDMV website: scdmvonline.com.

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Yu Youren (1879-1964) is remembered and acknowledged as one of the key architects of China's higher education and is, also, ranked among the four great calligraphers in the first half of the 20th century.

Hailed a modern "saint" of caoshu ("cursive script") writing, he benefited from intensive study on, and practice of, various calligraphy styles on stele to form an exuberant brushwork marked with resilience and strength.

Yu didn't feel calligraphy was an area of exclusivity limited to certain groups of people. Instead, he viewed it as an important way of learning for all Chinese to understand the depth of their history and cultural traditions.

He developed the standardized cursive script in the 1930s, grounded on four rules. These rules were: being recognizable, easy to write, accurate and refined. By doing so, he hoped that the art of caoshu, with a history dating back more than 2,000 years, could be integrated into the daily life of modern Chinese.

Yu also founded the Standard Cursive Script Society in Shanghai, in 1932, with the aim of collecting fine examples of caoshu in history and to promote the style to Chinese communities at home and abroad, as well as to those who fancied Chinese calligraphy.

Let Cursive Script be Spread to the World, an ongoing exhibition at the National Art Museum of China till Wednesday, marks the society's 90th anniversary and the commitment to classic Chinese handwriting made by Yu and his fellow calligraphers.

The exhibition shows over 150 caoshu pieces, including 14 of Yu's own calligraphy from the collections of National Art Museum of China, Standard Cursive Script Society and Juntao Art Gallery, in Zhejiang province. It also gathers works by Yu's top students and renowned calligraphers, such as Liu Yantao and Hu Gongshi. Yu moved to Taiwan in the late 1940s, where he continued to promote Chinese calligraphy and the standard cursive script to the world. The exhibition also shows works by his followers overseas in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States.

Xu Liming, president of the Standard Cursive Script Society and professor of Nanjing University of the Arts, in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, says Yu reformed the old styles of caoshu, "not to achieve a breakthrough in the form of art, but out of his concerns with the needs of ordinary people".

Xu says Yu didn't ask others to follow his style of writing, but he encouraged people to develop their own styles of caoshu that exude personalities and modern sensibilities, by which the art of caoshu could be preserved, enlivened and spread out.

The National Art Museum of China has exhibited its collection of Yu's calligraphy on several occasions. Museum director Wu Weishan says characters are vital to the inheritance of culture and it is in the evolution of characters that people can learn about history.

"The standard cursive script is accessible for practicing and disseminating. In light of that, Yu's initiation of the society shows a commitment to his nation and culture," Wu says. "And celebrating the society's anniversary comes as an encouragement for people to learn about and practice caoshu as an important way to form a bond with our own culture and history."
Claflin University has announced that Bank of America will invest $500,000 to support the universitys Center for Social Justice and the Pathways From Prison Program.

The Pathways From Prison Program is a historic collaboration between Claflin and the South Carolina Department of Corrections that provides incarcerated individuals in South Carolina access to the universitys academic programs.

Incarcerated individuals that meet Claflin and SCDC requirements can earn a bachelors degree in criminal justice, psychology and organizational management. They can also earn minors and certificate credentials.

Bank of America's investment will support student scholarships and enhance technological resources such as laptops, keyboards, printers, routers, and wi-fi hotspots. Funding for the partnership will also be used to increase the number of qualified faculty and staff to ensure incarcerated students receive the same high-quality educational experience that has earned Claflin national recognition as one of the nations premier liberal arts universities.

We are extremely grateful for Bank of Americas support for our Center for Social Justice and the Pathways From Prison Program. Research indicates a dramatic reduction in recidivism rates for incarcerated individuals who participate in prison education programs, said Claflin President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack, a 2019 USA Eisenhower Fellow. Warmacks research during his fellowship explored global best practices for reducing mass incarceration through education and rehabilitation.

Bank of Americas reputation as a global leader in banking and finance is widely recognized. This partnership amplifies their commitment to equality, equity, and expanding economic opportunities for diverse populations.

Education is a gateway to a better life, said Kim Wilkerson, president, Bank of America South Carolina. We appreciate Claflin Universitys leadership and recognize the success and progress made through the Pathways From Prison Program. Issues of racial equality and economic opportunity are deeply connected, and its important to remove the barriers to success and focus on areas where systemic, long-term gaps have existed.

The Pathways From Prison Program was established through the Second Chance Pell Grant Pilot Program, a U.S. Department of Education initiative. The grant provides need-based Federal Pell Grants to individuals incarcerated in federal and state prisons. Claflin University was the only historically Black college/university (HBCU) in South Carolina among 67 colleges and universities nationwide selected for the program.

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Habitat for Humanity started working on Raven Fogles new home just four months ago.

The home is finally finished and she is beyond grateful that she will be able to move in soon with her family.

It was a very long process and we had to qualify for the home, but it was worth it. It was really hard, but I would say it was definitely worth it and worth the long wait. Im excited, Fogle said.

Fogle is also grateful for the organizations that helped make her dream of owning a home a reality.

It feels good to own a home. This is really exciting! Habitat for Humanity means a lot to us. I would like to thank all of the organizations and Habitat for Humanity for providing this home for me and my family. I cant say thank you enough. We thank you all, Fogle said.

Edisto Habitat for Humanity held a home dedication ceremony last Wednesday for Fogles new home on Kings Road in Orangeburg.

During the ceremony, Edisto Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Jessica Burgoyne expressed immense gratitude for all of the organizations that were able to help make Fogles dream come alive.

Burgoyne mentioned her, sincere appreciation for the contributions from our supporters, including Allied Air, for helping to make Raven Fogles dream of owning a simple, decent home a reality.

We are also grateful for all of the volunteers who so willingly gave their time and talent to help another family have a home. Thank you to Wells Fargo and the Lower Savannah Council of Governments and to all our local businesses and churches for your continued support. We thank you.

Wells Fargo Regional Banking Branch Manager Wanda Waring said,  it is our priority to help build healthy and affordable homes in the community. Everybody deserves a nice home.

Habitat for Humanitys goal is to bring people together to build homes for the community so that people within the community can have a decent place to live and grow.

Tom Kerr, an Edisto Habitat for Humanity board member, is ecstatic to be a part of the Habitat family and help out in any way he can.

Its a gift for us. I love to work with my hands, so this works out real well for me to be able to do something that I am able to do. The Lord wants us to take care of those who are less fortunate and Habitat fits that role perfectly, Kerr said.

Kerr has been with Habitat Humanity for 26 years and loves the amazing group of people he is able to work alongside in building homes.

He loves revealing the finished products to the homeowners and seeing them so happy.

The best part about this job is just working with this group of people. The people we have are just wonderful. We have a great time building and its just so great. The homeowners are so appreciative of what theyre getting and it really makes it a blessing for us to be able to do that, Kerr said.

Edisto Habitat for Humanity has been building affordable homes in the Orangeburg community since 1989 and the non-profit organization has zero plans of slowing down.

For more information about volunteering and becoming a part of the team at EHFH, call the office at 803-536-2300 or visit www.edistohabitatforhumanity.org.

Lauren Pringle, a 2022 Claflin University mass communications graduate, is reporting for The Times and Democrat as a Lee Enterprises-sponsored summer intern.

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Project Life: Positeen Inc. received a grant from South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice as a student advocacy center provider.

This subrecipient agreement will define the terms and conditions by which SCDJJ will disburse funds to student advocacy center programs, in connection with the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund.

The purpose of this subrecipient agreement is to advance the parties' mutual goals for improving the life skills and educational outcomes of South Carolina's children and young adults through a statewide pilot project based on education and career readiness.

Project Life: Positeen will provide a platform for services, providing programs for up to 50 at-risk high school youth that have been identified as high-risk, truant or at risk of dropping out of school. It will work with students ranging from rising 9th graders through 12th graders.

Funding for each student will be provided upfront once the referral is made and the monthly invoice form is received.

Reasons for referral include career assessment, resume development, training program placement, certification program placement, ongoing education, ServSafe training, employment and others.

Referral applications may be picked up from the office at 349 Summers Avenue, Orangeburg, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Referrals may be from Bamberg, Calhoun or Orangeburg counties.

For more information, contact Project Life: Positeen founder and Director L. Zimmerman Keitt by telephone at 803-534-4263 or email at lizkeitt23@yahoo.com.

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State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman recently announced the allocation of $38 million in state funding to Clarendon County schools to assist in the renovation and replacement of antiquated existing school facilities with safe, modern facilities to accommodate current and future county enrollment trends.

Clarendon County will receive an additional $3,125,000 to assist with the soon to be completed consolidation of its two current districts into one county wide system. The funding is part of the $100 million appropriated to the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) under Proviso 1.104 of the General Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and $140 million under Proviso 1.92 of the General Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.

In April of 2022, the SCDE commissioned independent facility studies of schools in the states poorest counties to aid in decision making for capital funding appropriated by the General Assembly for disadvantaged schools. Clarendon County is composed of 10 separate schools and an alternative school. Current enrollment of the soon-to-be countywide district is 4,328 students.

The independent review of schools in Clarendon County concluded the age and condition of the 10 schools are problematic toward long term educational use without significant modification and renovation. The schools have an average age of 67 years old.

The facility assessment team recommended the following:

 A new elementary school to replace the current Walker-Gamble Elementary School

 A new elementary school to replace Manning Primary and Manning Elementary School

 A new addition to Manning Junior High School to accommodate grade 6

 Close Summerton Early Childhood Center and move students to Dr. Rose H. Wilder Elementary School

The funding being provided by the SCDE will be used to address the districts most critical need as identified by the facility assessment team -- the replacement of Walker-Gamble Elementary School. The $21 million in FY 21-22 Proviso 1.104 funding, which includes $3,125,000 for consolidation expenses, and $17 million in FY 22-23 Proviso 1.92 funding will be leveraged along with previously provided consolidation funds to ensure adequate funding for the new facility and consolidation expenses.

In addition to the funding for Clarendon County, the agency has also announced the allocation of $38 million to Saluda County School District and $38 million to Lee County School District from the $100 million in state funds appropriated under FY 21-22 Proviso 1.104. The SCDE has allocated an additional $17 million to Allendale and Dillon County school districts for capital improvements from its $211 million set aside from the American Rescue Plan.

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Politicians are demanding that the U.S. become more self-sufficient in crucial metals and minerals, but then they block domestic mining at every opportunity. Alaskas Pebble Mine project is the latest to join the casualty list.

The Pebble site holds an estimated $300 billion to $500 billion in mineral resources and could be one of the worlds largest suppliers of copper and gold. Electric cars as well as wind and solar power require enormous amounts of copper. Investors have invested nearly $1 billion on exploration, engineering and studies to meet regulatory demands.

Yet the Biden Environmental Protection Agency issued a determination under the Clean Water Act that would ban disposal of mining waste within 308 square miles of the Pebble site, regardless of whether it poses an environmental risk. This could be a fatal blow to the mine.

The political assault on the project began when the Obama EPA pre-emptively vetoed it before the government even did an environmental review. The Trump EPA later let the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers do an environmental analysis, and in July 2020 the Corps found the mine would have no measurable effect on local fish populations. But then Donald Trump Jr. came out against the mine, and a few weeks after the November election the Corps rejected Pebbles permit.

The Pebble developers challenged the Corps seemingly arbitrary decision and could prevail. But Alaskas two Republican Senators, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, also oppose the Pebble Mine even as they oppose the EPA veto on legal principle, so this could be the end of the project.

Resource development can occur while protecting the environment. Yet the same climate activists working to stop fossil-fuel development are also trying to block mineral mining essential for renewable energy.

As one example, a recent Natural Resources Defense Council report calls for a moratorium on most lithium brine extraction. Lithium is essential to make batteries for electric vehicles. The NRDC instead wants longer-term solutions that reduce the need for new batteries, such as public policy tools to allow greater access to and use of public transit, biking and walking. Greens want to ban gas-fueled cars and block mining of minerals for electric cars.

Politicians will claim Pebbles surrounding region is unique in its environmental value, but there is always another excuse to ban the next mine. In January the Interior Department revoked long-held federal leases for mining in Minnesotas Duluth Complex, which accounts for 95% of Americas nickel, 88% of its cobalt and more than one-third of its copper.

Minerals and metals will still be mined, but in countries with far fewer environmental protections such as Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and China. The next time a politician bemoans Americas supply-chain vulnerability, ask which specific mining project he supports.

This editorial is from The Wall Street Journal via The Associated Press.

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China's central bank has ramped up support for renminbi settlement in new forms and models of foreign trade to better serve the real economy and facilitate trade and investment.

In a recent circular, the People's Bank of China improved policies for cross-border renminbi business in e-commerce and other new models of foreign trade. The business scope of payment institutions will be expanded from goods and services trade to current accounts, and risk prevention and control will be strengthened with clear requirements for authenticity verification and anti-money laundering work, among other issues.

Effective July 21, the new policies will provide better financial services for trade companies, guide the healthy development of new trade models, and help stabilize the economy, according to the central bank.

Apart from e-commerce, new forms and models of foreign trade also include market procurement, offshore trade, and overseas warehouses. China has stepped up efforts to boost the growth of these new forms and models of foreign trade to push forward the upgrade of foreign trade and foster new competitive strengths.
The recent increase in monkeypox infections has raised a number of questions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) itself has called for action and described the situation as "atypical".

Cases of monkeypox are increasing in Europe too. However, no case has yet been officially detected in Luxembourg.

Luxembourg's MPs are also concerned about this disease. MP Nancy Kemp-Arendt from the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) recently submitted a parliamentary enquiry with no less than ten questions to Minister of Health Paulette Lenert.

The MP would like to know whether the government is prepared to trace cases in Luxembourg, whether there is an emergency plan, and what the latest research suggests regarding the symptoms of the disease.

The President of the Chamber of Deputies, however, did not deem Kemp-Arendt's questions "urgent", a decision which the MP criticised as "scandalous".

Minister of Health Paulette Lenert now has one month to respond to the enquiry. If the urgency of the parliamentary question had been recognised, Lenert would have had one week to respond.
According to a recent report by the Luxembourg Regulatory Institute (ILR), there are a total of 162,000 connections in Luxembourg.

Landline phones, on the other hand, have been out of fashion for years. According to Marc Kohl, Head of the Statistical Service, demand has continued to decline after a brief uptick during the pandemic.

On average, people spent the most money per month on internet. The cost of using mobile internet on a smartphone is around 23. However, because the actual amount depends on the type of subscription, more than half of all residents spend less than 20 each month.

ILR Director Luc Tapella stressed that Luxembourg has "an efficient telecommunications network". "Substantial investments" are being made, according to Tapella, and "have only accelerated as a result of the pandemic," notably due to the increase in remote work.

People, on average, pay for more data volume than they require, according to the study. Tapella believes that this is an area where collaborating with operators to identify how much data people actually use could be beneficial.
More than 20 years ago, Portugal decriminalised the use of all drugs. As a result, the country in southern Europe has become a model for drug policies that seek to avoid repression.

Today, it is clear that the choice enabled the country to overcome a severe opioid crisis. But why did Portugal follow this path, and what lessons could Luxembourg take from it?

As a result of the 40-year dictatorship of Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, illegal drugs arrived in Portugal much later than in other countries and encountered a population that knew nothing about drugs, explained Joao Goulao, director of the Anti-Drug Coordination Service in Portugal. It started with cannabis imported by those who returned to the country after decolonisation, but the inhibition threshold for other substances was very low.

"Heroine became very popular and spread very violently. In just a matter of 10, 15 years, we had a huge number of users, and it was almost impossible to find a Portuguese family that had no problems related to this," Goulao stated.

In 1998, 1% of the Portuguese population had a problematic drug use, almost all of them with heroin. 56% of HIV infections were due to intravenous injections. 650 people died of an overdose. It was at this point that the government decided to look for another strategy," according to Goulao, who worked on the project at the time.

The director of Portugal's Anti-Drug Coordination Service recalls that the only limitation that they received from the government at the time was that they could propose whatever they wanted, as long as it did not violate the treaties of the United Nations. "And so," Goulao explained, "we found this way, because the treaties do not specify that drugs should be criminalised."

However, drugs are still prohibited in Portugal. If a user is caught by the police, they will not be criminally prosecuted. Instead, they will have to report to a special "deterrence committee" within a few days. They may be liable to administrative sanctions if they do not comply. The committee offers psycho-social follow-up and therapy According to Goulao, the team is able to persuade 80% of people in the end. Looking back over the past two decades, it can be observed that the number of persons with problematic drug use has decreased to 0.33% of the population, heroin is considerably less prevalent, and the number of HIV infections via injection and overdoses has decreased dramatically.

Luxembourg's Minister of Health, Paulette Lenert, who is currently visiting Portugal, said she is considering taking inspiration from Portugal's model of decriminalisation.

"It's about considering the person as a patient, as a sick person, and making them an offer, providing care, and social supervision, and I think that this logic should apply to all drugs," Lenert stated.

The Minister added that she hopes that this issue will be addressed in Luxembourg.
Casper police have received a large influx of tips related to an arson at a planned abortion clinic following the release of surveillance footage of the May incident.

None of the tips have led to a breakthrough in the investigation yet, police spokesperson Rebekah Ladd said Monday.

The Casper Police Department is working the case with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the ATF is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to the suspects arrest. Anyone with potentially pertinent information can contact the ATF at (307) 633-9400.

The clinic was set to open this month, but the fire may delay that by about six months, clinic founder Julie Burkhart said. Burkhart initially estimated the damage would only cause a delay of several weeks, but said that the repairs will be more work than we had to do initially.

There is extensive smoke and heat damage inside the building, which is rented. Some medical instruments and equipment were also damaged in the fire. It's too early to know how much the repairs will cost, but Burkhart said that the funding Wellspring received to open the clinic has been exhausted.

Burkhart previously told the Star-Tribune that the clinic was looking into other options that may allow them to offer some reproductive health care before the clinic on Second Street can open. That may include temporarily using other spaces around Casper, she said, though it may be difficult to find an adequate space in time.

The clinic, run by Burkharts Wellspring Health Access, has reportedly seen an uptick in donations following the arson.

Footage released on June 7 by the Casper Police Department appears to show a white woman in a hooded sweatshirt and surgical mask walk into the clinic with a gas can. The department also released images showing parts of the suspects face.

We received a large influx of tips based off of the images and video released to the public, all of which are being followed up on, Ladd said. However, none have yielded results impacting the investigation thus far.

After the release, Burkhart said she was optimistic the photos and video would help lead to an arrest.

The images are pretty good, she said. I would really like to see justice.

Ladd said the department has no plans to release any other footage or pictures from the multiple cameras in and around the clinic unless the investigation warrants doing so.

Now, Burkhart's team has placed a vinyl sign outside the clinic that reads: "Love is the language spoken here." The words are the same as those on a sign Burkhart put outside her Wichita home years ago, when it was being picketed regularly while she worked with nationally-known

The arson came shortly after the news of a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion indicating Roe v. Wade is likely to be overturned this month. If it is, Wyomings trigger bill, passed this spring, would go into effect and ban abortion in the state.

Burkhart said that even if that happens, she still plans to open the clinic and at least offer other services  including OB/GYN, family planning and gender-affirming care. Before the fire, her crew had been working on putting finishing touches on the building and had moved some equipment inside.

A decision on Roe could come later this week or next, based on dates the court has indicated. Burkhart said she's "concerned, nervous and distraught" ahead of the decision, but that it's hard to know what it will look like on a practical level since the language may have changed from the leaked draft.

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Republican state superintendent of public instruction candidates will participate on Thursday in a public election forum in Casper.

The forum will allow community members and facilitators to ask the candidates questions, a statement from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming said.

Wyoming superintendents head the states education department and sit on the State Board of Land Commissioners, the State Board of Education, the State Loan and Investment Board and the State Building Commission. Theyre also non-voting members of the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees, the Wyoming Community College Commission and the School Facilities Commission.

Superintendents are elected for four-year terms. The primary election for the superintendent position is set for Aug. 16.

The election forum, hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Central Wyoming and Wyoming PBS, is meant to open conversation between candidates and the public. Its free and open to the public in-person at Caspers Young AmeriTowne: WyoTowne and via livestream. The event starts at 5:30 p.m.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming CEO Ashley Bright said the forum will cover the candidates backgrounds and whats important to them. There wont be a specific topic of focus. The conversation will mostly be guided by questions from the facilitators and audience members.

Former Wyoming PBS Senior Public Affairs Producer Craig Blumenshine and current Wyoming PBS Senior Public Affairs Producer Steve Peck will facilitate the forum.

All Republican candidates for the state superintendent position have been invited to take part in the forum, the Boys & Girls Clubs statement said.

With deadline approaching, four candidates confirmed for schools superintendent race Three Republicans and one Democrat are vying for the state superintendent of public instruction's post.

There are five Republican candidates, including current superintendent Brian Schroeder. Gov. Mark Gordon appointed Schroeder to the position in January after former state superintendent Jillian Balow left the job to take a similar role in Virginia. Schroeders unelected term ends in January 2023. Bright confirmed that Schroeder will participate in the forum.

Schools superintendent's denouncement fans debate over gender identity, sexual orientation A blistering statement from Wyoming's schools superintendent is again fanning the flames of debate over gender identity and sexual orientation.

At the time of his appointment, Schroeder beat out Megan Degenfelder and Thomas Kelly, two other superintendent candidates who are now running for election on the Republican ticket.

Degenfelder, a Casper native, served as the Wyoming Department of Educations chief policy officer under Balow and is currently the government and regulatory affairs manager for Morningstar Partners Oil & Gas. Kelly chairs the political and military science department at the American Military University. He taught at middle schools, community colleges and universities in the Midwest and Colorado before moving to Sheridan where he now lives.

Bright said both Degenfelder and Kelly have confirmed that they will attend the forum.

Megan Degenfelder announces bid for schools superintendent A former top official at the Wyoming Department of Education announced Thursday she will run for superintendent of public instruction.

The three other superintendent candidates are Jennifer Zerba, Robert White and Sergio Maldonado.

Zerba and White entered the race last-minute.

Zerba is a Natrona County School District substitute teacher and cosmetologist. She confirmed that she will attend the election forum. White is an underground trona miner who lives in Rock Springs. He was formerly an amphibious assault vehicle crew chief and a corporal in the Marine Corps. White is the only candidate without a background in education, an attribute he said gives him more ability to think outside of the box. Hes still waiting to see if he can take time off of work to attend the Thursday event.

Superintendent candidate joined race to give voters another option. Here's her view on some key issues. Republican schools superintendent candidate Jennifer Zerba decided to join the race last-minute because she was alarmed to see some of the issues and topics that other candidates were running on.

There is only one Democrat superintendent candidate  Sergio Maldonado. Maldonado is an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho tribe and has held various state and local positions in education and tribal relations.

The Thursday forum is specifically for Republican candidates, although the Boys & Girls Clubs statement said that Young AmeriTowne: WyoTowne will likely host a general election forum in October.

The address of the event is 910 Barbara St. , Casper. People can watch the event livestreamed if they arent able to come in person.

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EVANSTON  A 38-year-old Evanston man has been found guilty of felony animal cruelty after a three-day jury trial.

Justin Berry, who was accused of shooting multiple horses on a property in Evanston in 2020, was tried for multiple charges June 7-9, in Third District Court.

According to a sworn affidavit, Uinta County Sheriffs Office Deputy Calvin Robinson arrived at an address on Wasatch Road on July 1, 2020, after a horse was found dead with a gunshot wound near the ribs.

The owner of the horse, Kay Dunford, reportedly found the horse deceased before making a call to law enforcement. Local veterinarian James Bechaver was present at the scene, court documents state.

According to Dunford, the mare had been alive the previous evening. Blood seemed to have run down her front leg and from her mouth. A second horse was reported by Dunford to have a similar wound, but ultimately survived.

Bechaver, according to the report, found the horses chest cavity filled with blood, and one of the lungs had experienced trauma. Bechaver found a bullet after draining the wound, verifying that the horse died from a gunshot wound. The bullet was collected as evidence.

Dunford told authorities that the dead mare was at the time raising a foal and had once been a racing horse worth at least $6,000, not accounting for any future offsprings potential value.

Robinson returned to the same address on July 3, after Dunford reported another possible gunshot wound on a third horse that had been ill for about 10 days.

He said he had searched for the wound after discovering two of his horses had been shot. Court documents state the horse was diagnosed with peritonitis, related to an abdominal hole or rupture. That horse eventually died of its injury and infection, according to the affidavit, and Bechaver discovered two bullets in its abdomen.

This horse was also raising a foal and had an estimated value of $15,000, according to the affidavit.

Deputies questioned nearby residents to gather evidence, but to no avail. Neighbors reportedly said it was typical to hear gunshots and fireworks in the surrounding area.

On the evening of July 3, 2020, after the third horses injuries were identified, deputies in the area encountered Kim Putnam feeding the horses. He told deputies that Berry had come out of a nearby house yelling at him in May of 2020, as he was repairing a fence on the property.

Later, Putnam said, he heard a gunshot from the direction of Berrys property.

Deputy Kerby Barker used this information to obtain a search warrant for Berrys residence.

When deputies arrived, Berry refused to speak, but Erin Mielke, his wife, told the deputies that Berry had had a conflict with the neighbors behind their house. She said Berry had gotten irritated by a rumor that Putnam was planning on putting about 150 horses on the property behind the Berry residence.

When Berry spoke to deputies, he allegedly recalled interacting with Putnam, but denied shooting at the horses. He claimed he had been shooting a .22 rifle in his backyard.

A search of the home found multiple firearms and ammunition, including a Ruger .22 rifle.

The weapons and ammunition were sent, along with the bullets found in the horses, to the Wyoming State Crime Lab to be analyzed. The lab took several months to receive results; but on Jan. 20, the sheriffs office was informed that the bullets found inside the second horse had been identified as having been fired from the Ruger rifle found in Berrys residence.

The bullet from the first horse lacked markings capable of identifying it as having been from the rifle.

Berry was charged with three counts of felony animal cruelty, each carrying a maximum two-year prison sentence and a possible $5,000 fine.

The jury found that Berry was not guilty on the first two counts, but he was convicted on the third. Berry will face up to two years in prison, a maximum fine of $5,000 or both for the crime. Berry was booked at the Uinta County Sheriffs Office on June 9 and now awaits sentencing.

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Global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will open a new regional headquarters and a manufacturing and supply base in Qingdao, eastern China's Shandong province, the company announced during the ongoing third Qingdao Multinationals Summit on Monday.

As part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Qingdao municipal government, the company plans to build an innovation center focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases, a life science innovation campus (iCampus), a research academy, and an industry fund.

At the summit, AstraZeneca also unveiled its investment plan in Qingdao High-Tech Industrial Development Zone to build a manufacturing and supply base that produces Budesonide, Glycopyrronium Bromide, and Formoterol Fumarate Inhalation Aerosol.

The announcement came as China continues to cope with the risks of a COVID-19 resurgence caused by flare-ups of the Omicron variant, raising concerns around the world that lockdown measures may hurt the world's second largest economy.

Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Leon Wang, executive vice president, international and China president of AstraZeneca, said China remains one of the world's most attractive markets and provides favorable business environment through continued efforts to open up its economy.

"We are confident that China's economy is resilient enough to withstand the pandemic and is on course to bounce back with a strong performance," Wang said.

Latest statistics have shown that China's economy has gradually overcome the negative impacts of the pandemic, with main indicators showing marginal improvements in May.

Fixed-asset investment rose 6.2% in the first five months. Industrial output grew 0.7% in May from a year earlier, after falling 2.9% in April. China's exports jumped 15.3% year on year in May, beating expectations, as factories restarted and logistical snags eased.

Apart from Qingdao, AstraZeneca has five other regional headquarters in Beijing, Guangzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou, and Chengdu that work closely with its China headquarters in Shanghai to establish a strategic presence in China.

Qingdao was one of China's first 14 coastal cities to open up to the world, Wang said. "It enjoys a favorable business environment, a sophisticated medical foundation, relaxed market access in rare disease diagnosis and treatment, and has a huge appeal to foreign investment and talent."

Wang said AstraZeneca is very honored to renew its relationship with Qingdao and will work together with the city to promote the rapid development of the local bio-pharmaceutical industry.
MAN OF THE MOMENT: Author and editor Dr Sheila Rampersad and Ferdinand Ferdie Ferreira display a copy of his latest book while celebrating his 90th birthday in grand style at Angostura Glass House, Laventille, last Wednesday night. Portrait of a Patriot, Ferreiras second book, was also launched at the event. Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
Flashback, January 2022: Relatives of Gewaan Ramkissoon view his cremation at the Caroni Cremation Site under Hindu rites following the lifting of the Government ban on open-air pyre cremations. Looking on are husband and wife Navin and Aneisha Ramkissoon, from right, and Ramesh Ramkissoon, cousin of Gewaan. Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY
A 16-year-old is expected to appear before a master of the Fyzabad Childrens Court on Monda
Will the 3,300 loaves of bread baked for distribution to the poor in Trinidad by the Progres
Jaye Ferrone has no doubt a single screening of the 1957 Roger Corman film, "Attack of the Crab Monsters" will change peoples lives.

But maybe not for the better," she said.

The movie, revolving around a team of scientists as they battle telepathic, radioactive crabs on a remote island, is campy and bizarre and the perfect film to show at Miss Baltimore Bombshells 1-year Anniversary B-Movie Party, at The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress, this Thursday, June 23.

A native New Yorker, with time spent in Maryland and Northern Virginia, Ferrone, whose stage name is Miss Baltimore Bombshell, spent her childhood with her father, uncles and grandfather, watching terrible science fiction and horror flicks.

We used to make commentary and rip them apart, she said. "We were like the original Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Ferrone started watching B-movies again after picking up a DVD set of cult classics from an estate sale during the pandemic.

From there, it spiraled out of control, she said. I started collecting weird B-movies, stuff my family hadnt even heard of."

She befriended Screening Room Manager David Pike after her friend rented the downtown movie house to celebrate Ferrone's graduation from the University of Arizona.

Pike and Ferrone discovered they had similar interests, which led to the creation of B-Movie Night, a once-a-month affair showcasing the some of the best-because-they-are-the-worst movies ever made.

Their first screening was the 1957 film, Plan 9 from Outer Space, starring Bela Lugosi and shot by cult film director Ed Wood. The 1994 film, Ed Wood, starring Johnny Depp, was, in part, about the directors struggles to get Plan 9 made.

From there, Ferrone screened cult classics such as the original Night of the Living Dead, Cat-Women of the Moon, The Crawling Eye and Killer Shrews, a Ray Kellogg vehicle from 1959 about, you guessed it, killer shrews.

People are still talking about that one," Ferrone said.

Thanks to local spots like Zia Records and Casa Video, Ferrone has an extensive collection of cult films that will keep the event going for the foreseeable future. Even her 96-year-old grandfather is in on the action.

He is obsessed with this now, Ferrone said. He calls before the show to see what I am doing this month and calls after to see how it went.

Ferrone said, with all that has gone on in the last few years, it is nice to be able to share a laugh and smile over a campy movie.

It brings a little bit of levity back into all of our lives, she said.

The B-Movie Party starts at 7 p.m. and includes the Crab Monsters screening, trivia, a costume contest and a performance from local psychobilly band The Reztones. Admission is $8.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping has encouraged students from the Army Infantry Academy of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to contribute to the cause of strengthening China's armed forces.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a letter replying to all students of the academy who are graduating this year.

Remarking on their earnest efforts in their studies and training as well as their excellent performances in all fields, Xi extended his congratulations to the cadets, who will graduate and begin their military careers.

Xi commended their aspirations to make achievements in tough and remote regions, on the training and combat readiness frontlines, and in areas where they are needed most by the Party and the people.

"I hope you can stay firm in your convictions, keep your feet firmly on the ground, complete comprehensive training, make dedicated efforts in the military, keep improving yourselves and make contributions to the cause of strengthening the armed forces," Xi wrote in the letter.

Xi has attached great importance to education provided by military academies and the cultivation of military personnel. He gave instructions on improving work performances in educating cadets during a visit to the academy in May 2019.

The academy will send off more than 1,100 graduates in 2022. All of the graduates passed their final exams, and over 60 excelled in national or PLA-wide competitions.

The graduates recently wrote to Xi, reporting their performances in their studies and training, and expressing their determination to work in primary-level units and strive for stronger armed forces.
NEW YORK  Tony Valdovinos is sitting outside New World Stages, a performing arts complex in Manhattan where his life story has been taking center stage in the musical Americano! for weeks now.

The former Arizona resident is talking about the need to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program  what he calls a saving grace in his life  and the role his story plays in that fight. And hes talking about meeting Barack Obama. Again.

Obama visited the show recently, 13 years after Valdovinos and other immigration activists asked the then-president for help. He said Obama told them to organize, organize, organize.

To be sitting (there) a foot away from him having a dialogue, a discussion and sharing that story and telling him we did just that, Valdovinos said of his incredible reunion with Obama.

Obama had come to the show to mark the 10-year anniversary this week of DACA, a program that plays as much of a role in Americano! as Valdovinos story.

That story has taken Valdovinos, who turns 32 on Sunday, from a Phoenix Camelback High School senior whose dreams of being a Marine were dashed when he learned he was undocumented, to an immigration activist whose life story is being told in an off-Broadway musical.

Its an important year for Dreamers to tell their stories, in this case, now on a global stage, said Maria Jesus Cervantes, vice president of public relations for Chicanos por la Causa. It partnered with Phoenix Theatre to bring the musical to the stage in Arizona before taking it to New York this spring.

To tell Tonys story and so many like him, Cervantes said, that despite the barriers that they have, they are able to continue to serve our country through other avenues until they are able to get temporary relief.

The story begins at Camelback High School where Valdovinos, spurred by 9/11, had dreams of enlisting in the Marine Corps. As a 17-year-old senior, he went to a Marine Corps recruiting officer at the school, scared, but eager to enlist and realize his dream.

But when the recruiter determined that Valdovinos, who had been born in Mexico, was undocumented, he told him to leave. He said Valdovinos was wasting the recruiters time.

Confused, embarrassed and angry, Valdovinos went home, where his mother finally revealed to him that the family was never part of a legal process to get documented. Valdovinos has said that his citizenship had never been an issue to that point, since he mostly worked construction jobs with his father.

DACA is aimed at undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children  like Valdovino. The renewable program protects them from deportation for two years at a time, while providing them with the documentation to work, get a drivers license, go to school and more.

After DACA took effect in 2012, it opened the door for Valdovinos to land a job as a community outreach director with the Phoenix City Council. He left that job to become field director on what would become Democrat Ruben Gallegos run for Congress in 2014.

It was during that campaign, that Valdovinos was interviewed by NPR about his canvassing work in local politics. A producer at Phoenix Theatre was listening, and the theaters artistic director, Michael Barnard, reached out to pitch a musical based on Valdovinos experience.

Americano!, opened at the Phoenix Theatre in late January 2020. Producers goal of taking the show to Broadway were complicated by the pandemic, but it debuted off-Broadway on May 1 at the New World Stages.

The show is not only just about Valdovinos life and challenges: It is also a story about Dreamers. That resonates with Sean Ewing, the actor who plays Valdovinos in the musical.

I think that has always been my passion with this piece, delivering and acknowledging the representation and fighting for what we should be fighting for, said Ewing.

Ewing, who identifies as Colombian, said the play is important for the Latin community, and for the message it delivers about the thousands of Dreamers who still dream today about the opportunity to live the American dream.

Americano!, which ends its run at New World Stages on Sunday, comes as DACA is turning 10  an anniversary that sparked Obamas visit to the theater to meet with Valdovinos and four other DACA recipients  and as advocates are mounting a new push to win immigration reform.

DACA has survived several legal and political challenges over the past decade, but it is far from secure. A federal judge in Texas last year found DACA had been created improperly and ordered the government to stop processing new applications. The Biden administration has challenged that ruling, with arguments set for the appeal in July.

Valdovinos knows theres more work to be done, noting that he and other advocates have been organizing for 13 years now and we still havent found a solution. But he plans to continue fighting, using his newfound celebrity to elevate the voices of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

So much has gone by, even meeting with Obama, (it) was tough to talk about DACA, to talk about the future and to talk about being hopeful, Valdovinos said. I think it was a stark reality of how much more time we have ahead of us.

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PHOENIX  Republican legislative leaders are trying to line up the votes for what could be a $15 billion state budget that now includes about $1 billion in earmarks for specific road projects.

But Senate President Karen Fann said they should not be called "pork.''

"I don't look at it as pork because it's exactly what taxpayer dollars are supposed to go for is road infrastructure,'' the Prescott Republican said. And with some of the $5 billion surplus not expected to repeat itself, Fann called this "a great opportunity'' to complete some of the projects.

Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, the majority whip, also rejected the idea that putting dollars into the state budget for specific road design and construction projects fits that definition.

"Infrastructure's not pork,'' he said.

"It's supposed to be what we do: fill potholes, build roads,'' Borelli continued. And he said it creates jobs.

But what's also true is that what's been put into the budget by GOP lawmakers are projects that the state Transportation Board has not included in what the agency considers the top priorities for the state.

The board finances its projects with gasoline and diesel taxes and vehicle registration fees, a scheme designed to link road projects with fees paid by users. Instead, each of the projects listed in the budget would be funded largely by a combination of sales and income taxes paid by everyone.

House Majority Leader Ben Toma, R-Peoria, was more forthright about how each of them got added to the spending plan.

"They're member priorities,'' he said, items sought by individual lawmakers for inclusion in the budget.

That includes Toma who put $9.5 million into the spending plan for a stretch of noise wall along Loop 101 in his district. He said that came at the request of residents of Arrowhead Lakes who "get a lot of noise from the 101.''

"My job is to represent my district, and this is a district request,'' he told Capitol Media Services.

But Toma resisted calling any of that pork.

"Infrastructure is important to everyone,'' he said.

And what of the fact they were not important enough for the state Transportation Board to include in its newly adopted $1.16 billion spending plan for the coming budget year?

"Members think they're important for their districts,'' Toma said. "And they would know better.''

Fann acknowledged that while some of what's on the list were specific legislator requests, others were asks from rural communities.

"They came from our cities and our towns and our counties that asked for them,'' she said.

C.J. Karamargin, press aide to Gov. Doug Ducey, who has been involved in crafting the plan, said his boss has no comment about the inclusion of the projects in the yet-to-be-approved plan.

The biggest of the road earmarks in the budget is $400 million to widen Interstate 10 between Queen Creek Road on the edge of Chandler to the north end of Casa Grande to three lanes in each direction. Part of what makes that so expensive is the need for a pair of new bridges across the Gila River.

That ask came from Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, who even got the governor to put the request into his State of the State speech in January. And Shope told Capitol Media Services this is far different than the other projects.

"It shows to the feds our continued commitment,'' he said. And that, said Shope, could increase the chances of getting a $300 million federal grant for the project that ultimately could cost close to $1 billion.

Shope insisted that putting this project into the state budget is different than other earmarks like intersection improvements and traffic lights.

"That's probably better for the purview of the Transportation Board,'' he said of those smaller earmarks. But Shope said he understands why individual lawmakers made their own asks for inclusion in the budget.

"The money's there,'' he said. "And I think obviously it was an issue for our members.''

But should lawmakers be deciding road-funding priorities?

"I think that's a fair question,'' Shope said.

All this comes as GOP leaders try to line up the votes among Republican legislators ahead of the new fiscal year beginning July 1.

So far that has proven elusive, even with the add-ons. And some people who are still hoping to get a specific road project into the budget have said they still haven't decided whether to support the latest package.

Take Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Glendale.

He wants a 20-foot-high sound wall constructed along Loop 101 near North 16 Street in Phoenix. Boyer says the noise from the recently expanded freeway is bothering neighbors.

But Boyer has not committed to support the GOP spending plan. So his request for the $7.2 million was excluded.

The budget, however, does include Toma's $9.5 million for that stretch of wall further to the west.

Still, Boyer said even if he does get the sound barrier that does not mean he will support the entire state budget. He said he is holding out for more money for K-12 education and university funding as well as a plan to ask voters for an 0.1-cent sales tax to help support rural fire districts.

On Twitter: @azcapmedia

Added road projects Some of the projects in the budget paid for with general fund dollars (in millions of dollars) I-10 widening Chandler to Casa Grande  $400 Various rural transportation projects  $66.3 SMART fund state match for rural transportation projects  $66.3 Additional lanes I-10 from SR 85 to Citrus Road  $64.2 SR 69 repaving  $51 SR 90 Pavement rehabilitation Campus Drive to Border Patrol  $39.2 US 60 pavement rehabilitation Tomahawk Road to MP 208  $38.5 General pavement rehabilitation  $31.5 US 191 Pavement rehabilitation MR 163 to MP 173  $22.2 Jackrabbit Trail improvements  $20.1 Various airport improvement projects  $20 SR 24  $15 Route 66 work Ash Fork to Seligman  $19.3 SR 69/SR 169 roundabout construction  $1.5 SR 74 Lake Pleasant Parkway study and design  $5.0 SR 79 Hunt Highway traffic lights intersection assessment cost  $0.1 SR 87 Skousen Road traffic light intersection assessment cost  $0.1 SR 89/SR89A interchange improvement design costs  $3.0 Loop 101 Screen wall 51st to 59th Avenue  $9.5 US 191 Pavement rehabilitation (Armory Road to East Safford)  $16.3 SR 238 improvements SR 347 to Green Road design costs  $0.8 SR 279 Old state highway repairs Cottonwood  $6.1 Loop 303 design improvements I-17 to Lake Pleasant Parkway  $4 Loop 303  Design for 303/I-17 interchange -- $19 SR 347 widening to Maricopa design costs  $19 SR 389/Arizona Avenue intersection assessment cost  $0.1 Lake Havasu Bridge impact study  $0.2 Prescott Airport education complex  $0.6 Flagstaff downtown connection center  $6 Gila Bend/Sentinel exit lighting  $0.6 Tier II study north-south corridor in Pinal County  $15 Tier II study Sonoran corridor in Pima County  $14.0 SR 97 improvements Bagdad (conditioned on federal grant)  $10 in FY 2024 Additional funds for previously approved projects to account for inflation: US 95 improvement Yuma Proving Ground  $1.6 SR 95 repaving/improvement Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City  $19.5 SR 347/Riggs Road overpass design and easements  $2.6 SR 347/Riggs Road overpass construction  $8.8 SR 186 Wilcox  $1.5 SR 90 improvements Moson Road to Campus Drive  $3.7 Source: Republican budget proposal

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Parents and caregivers of Pima Countys youngest residents will now be able to start a COVID-19 shot series here following federal approval for both Pfizer and Moderna for those 6 months to 5 years old.

Shots will be available starting Tuesday, June 21, at both county clinics and some pediatricians offices. The county has about 2,000 doses arriving so far, and after this week that will increase.

About 20% to 25% of parents nationwide are expected to vaccinate their babies and young children right away, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports.

Overall, the county  like many parts of the country  is seeing infections boom right now, although hospitalizations are stable and not surging.

We are in an accelerated transmission right now, said Dr. Theresa Cullen, the countys health director, adding the shots for the young ones could help offset that over time. Anything we can do to mitigate that is a considered a win for the health department.

COVID-19 transmission in the county is believed to be up to five times higher than whats currently being reported, Cullen said, with an estimated 500 to 1,000 cases per 100,000 residents right now.

Being able to immunize every age group could help the current pandemic become endemic, meaning the disease will still be here but will not be as significant or as much of a disruption to daily life. However, Cullen said whether that happens depends on how well communities do with immunizing this youngest set.

It is still a wait-and-see game, she said. It also remains to be seen, depending on what happens with the disease going forward, whether shots for COVID-19 will become part of a childs recommended vaccine regimen.

Cullen said the vaccine for this age group has been talked about for months but was delayed in order to ensure its safety.

The data indicates that this is a safe vaccine and that there have been very few significant side effects associated with it, she said.

The children who are immunized in this youngest set will either get two doses of Pfizer or three of Moderna. So far in Pima County, about 53% of those aged 5 to 9 are immunized here.

In addition to county clinics and pediatricians offices, some pharmacies will eventually start offering the shot to this age group. The county is still running 20 to 30 mobile clinics in the community. For more information on where to find the shot, visit webcms.pima.gov/government/health_department.

You will need to check with your own pediatrician to see if its available, she said. Pharmacies are not expected to start offering the shot to this age group right away, and some pharmacies will not offer the shot to children under 3. Anyone interested in getting the shot series for their child through a pharmacy should call to find out more details.

If there is a big rush this week, some parents and caregivers may have to wait until next week to get their little ones the first shot.

Within three to four weeks after the series is complete, Cullen said, the child should be well-protected against significant sickness. During the omicron surge, she said, the number of children admitted to the hospital, which means serious illness, doubled nationwide.

Contact reporter Patty Machelor at 806-7754 or

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The Colorado River faces greater risks to its supply than at any time in recorded history, says a top Interior Department official in explaining why federal officials have ordered drastic curbs in river water use next year.

Were facing a growing reality that water resource for agriculture, cities, industry and the ecosystem are no longer stable due to climate change, Tanya Trujillo, Interiors assistant secretary for water and science, told a water conference Thursday at the University of Colorado in Boulder. We have an urgent need to act now.

Trujillo spoke two days after Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton testified in Congress that the seven Colorado River Basin states  including Arizona  must reduce their take from the river in 2023 by 2 million to 4 million acre-feet a year. That would be out of their recent annual use of about 14 million acre-feet.

Trujillo said Interior officials have an obligation to protect their system of reservoirs, dams, pipelines and other water infrastructure to insure it will continue to operate as designed.

That applies to all sectors: agriculture, municipal, environmental uses, tribal partners in the basin and partners in Mexico, Trujillo said. Were all invested in the future security of this basin. Our goal is to implement future strategies to stabilize and rebuild the system so we dont constantly find ourself at the brink of crisis.

Terrible runoff conditions

Trujillos comments came as authorities have grappled with three consecutive years of river runoff thats well below normal, on top of a steady decline in river flows since 2000. In 2021, the worst year of the past three, April through July runoff into Lake Powell was 26% of normal, one of the lowest on record. This year, its forecast at 55% of normal.

The only new news is that we continue to see the dry hydrology thats progressing on the river, and (were having) one more year of terrible runoff conditions, Trujillo said.

This year, prior to the latest announcement from Reclamation, the Interior Department had said it would release an extra 500,000 acre-feet into Lake Powell from Flaming Gorge Reservoir at the Utah-Wyoming border, and that it would hold back another 480,000 acre-feet in Lake Powell that it had previously planned to release to Lake Mead. But at the time those measures were approved in early May, Interior officials acknowledged they wouldnt be enough to stabilize the reservoirs for the long term and that additional cuts would be needed.

This week, the Interior Department will issue a notice announcing it will take comments from water users and the general public as to what issues it should consider in overseeing efforts by the seven basin states to revise the operating guidelines for river reservoirs that were last approved in 2007, Trujillo said.

We intend to develop the next set of operating rules in an inclusive, transparent manner, based on the best science, she said.

Will cuts be temporary?

In a brief interview with the Star following her talk, Trujillo did not directly respond to a question as to whether next years water use cuts will be temporary or permanent.

She said the cuts, on top of the actions the department took in May regarding Lake Powell, will feed into the process the agency will use to develop the new reservoir operating guidelines, which will take effect after 2026.

When it seeks public comment on revising the guidelines, we will be seeking specific input on exactly the question you asked  what process we should be thinking about for the long term, what types of elements we will include, Trujillo said. We are going to be working on a year by year basis to administer the system.

Were looking for a longer term strategy to answer the question of how we manage available supplies we see in the future, she said.

She offered one bit of good news in her Boulder talk: The Bureau of Reclamation has about $8.3 billion in funds from last years congressionally approved infrastructure bill to help Western states adapt to the regions continued drying conditions.

Those conditions have grown so chronic that many scientists now say the West is in a state of long-term aridification instead of a shorter-term drought.

About $2.5 billion of that money can be used to help tribes deal with their water issues, Trujillo said.

The mood? Glum

Responding to an audience question about whether Upper Basin states must contribute to next years cutbacks, she said, We need to be talking about action in all states, all sectors, all available ways. We will be evaluating options in all basins.

Officials in the Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming have blamed the Lower Basin states for much if not most of the rivers problems because Arizona, Nevada and California consume more than twice as much river water as the Upper Basin states.

Our goal is to be working collectively with each partner in the states and Mexico on how we can help states and local communities do additional conservation, Trujillo said.

Speaking remotely from Californias Central Valley area, Trujillo said at one point, Im sorry that I cant see the mood in the room. New Mexico water researcher and author John Fleck, who had introduced her, replied, Its glum.

This is tremendously sobering for all of us, Trujillo said. Its a story none of us want to be in. We have to rely on our continuous commitment to carry out continued strategies. I have continued optimism we can get through this.

Asked by an audience member if Interior officials have a plan in mind for how to carry out cutbacks, she replied, The short answer is no, we dont have any formula, prebaked or preworked.

No doubt about it, we have to be very creative and develop a large list of potential options, provide resources and funding for assistance and programs that might work best in respective communities. We are going to have to be doing all of that at the same time, Trujillo said.

We are likely to be in situations doing things we never had to do before. Were going to have to have guts to do these things.

Contact Tony Davis at 520-349-0350 or tdavis@tucson.com. Follow Davis on Twitter@tonydavis987.

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Family members of former state lawmaker Herschella Horton  devastated by her death last month  have filed a complaint alleging inadequate care at a local rehabilitation center contributed to her demise.

Hortons son, Jon, and her daughter, Cheryl Walker, say their mother was recovering well from spinal surgery at St. Josephs Hospital, but that changed after she was transferred to Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation & Care Center, 5830 E. Pima St.

She was a fully functioning person before surgery, she was recovering well in the hospital but, when she went to that facility, all of that stopped, Walker said in explaining why she has asked the Arizona Department of Health Services to look into what happened.

No one with the center responded to Arizona Daily Star interview requests which included several phone calls as well as emails.

Staffing shortage

Walker and her brother said understaffing seemed to be a big part of their mothers decline at the rehabilitation facility.

Horton needed assistance getting to the bathroom, but there wasnt enough staff on hand to help, Walker said. Their mother needed physical therapy, but no one came in to provide it, Walker said.

Horton had one occupational therapy session on the Monday before she died, Walker said, but that was the only therapy she received in her four days there.

Most of Arizonas skilled nursing home and rehabilitation facilities have experienced staffing shortages in the past couple of years, said Tom Herrmann, a spokesman with the DHS.

Both state and federal regulations require that a facility needs to have enough staff to meet the needs of the residents, he said, and federal regulators are in the process of coming up with mandatory staffing ratios, but there is no expected date for that to be announced.

Surgery for back pain

Horton was born in Lawrenceville, Illinois, and obtained a nursing degree in 1960. She lived in Tucson for more than 60 years and earned a management degree from the University of Phoenix.

She was first elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 1989 and served five two-year terms, focusing on issues such as health equity and the environment.

Walker said her mother, 83, was still politically active and living independently but had recently started having more serious back pain. The surgery was to help with spinal stenosis.

I went with my mom to meet with the surgeon, she said. He said: Youre in perfect health. Your bones are degenerating due to age, but youre in good health otherwise for me to do the surgery.

Hortons son lives in the Netherlands and flew here the day after her surgery, arriving Tuesday, April 26.

The surgery a day earlier was a success, her children said, and Horton was cleared for release that Friday. However, her children asked to keep her there one more day to be sure, and so she was moved to the rehabilitation center that Saturday night, April 30.

On Sunday, May 1, Walker said she was shocked to find hardly any staff on site to attend to her mothers needs. Walker and her brother stayed there all day, concerned but not sure what to expect.

That night, after they left, she fell out of the bed, and her children, concerned because she had just had surgery on her neck, said it was unclear who checked her condition afterward.

We were told shed been checked out and was fine, but we could not get any more of an answer than that, she said.

Their mother was not eating or drinking enough. They believed that was partly because the surgery had left her with a sore throat and also, they thought, because she was being distracted by increasing hallucinations.

When they transferred her to the Sabino Canyon rehab center, they did not put her on an IV, Jon Horton said. My sister and I are spending eight or nine hours a day with my mom, and thats the first thing I notice when shes moved, that they dont have her on an IV.

Jon Horton said staff told him that when she became thirsty, she would drink.

I said, No, you need to use an IV, he said. I knew something wasnt right, but then kept thinking, This is their job, this is what they do. Maybe youre overreacting.

On Monday, May 2, more staff were there, and it was suggested that a urinary tract infection might be causing the mental unsteadiness. A urine sample was ordered, but no one ever got one.

Tuesday went by without much change, her children said, except their mothers hallucinations were getting worse.

By Tuesday evening, my brother and I were like, Something has to change, she said. We could see her rapidly declining.

When Walker arrived at the rehab center on the morning of May 4, she told them she needed to talk to a doctor right away.

I said: Either send in the doctor, or I am going to sign her out of this facility. You are not providing the care that she needs.

Facility cited

Another death at the facility in February 2020 led to state sanctions after the resident, who is not named in the state record, bled excessively after having several teeth extracted.

The center was cited for failing to ensure that policies and procedures for physical health services were implemented and not reporting a neglect allegation within the two-hour window required under state guidelines.

The states DHS also found the staff did not notify the residents doctor quickly enough about the residents change in condition.

A complaint filed in April 2020 shows the resident had been taking a blood thinner called Coumadin and that this residents teeth were extracted without going off the medication, which is a critical step to prevent excessive bleeding.

In addition, the facility nursing staff neglected to inform the physician that the resident (who received daily Coumadin) had just had multiple teeth extracted and continued to bleed until the afternoon of the next day which was more than 24 hours of oral bleeding, the record reads.

The resident received multiple blood transfusions at a hospital two days after the dental procedure before dying Feb. 8, 2020.

Records lacking

Cheryl Walker picked up the medical records from her mothers time at the facility and was perplexed there was nothing in there about her death, nothing to help her answer some of her agonizing questions.

Her cause of death on the death certificate was listed as a cardiovascular event, and no autopsy was ordered.

On that Wednesday morning, May 4, less than 12 hours before Horton died, her children again requested that they start IV fluids. Walker said she told them that if the facility would not accommodate their request, they wanted to move their mother back to the hospital.

Finally, that afternoon, an IV was started.

A nurse practitioner was able to get a urine sample and, Hortons medical records show, she was actually holding over 600 milliliters of urine in her bladder and not expelling it.

Within those few hours, Jon and I could see a slight improvement, Walker said. She was talking to us more.

Then their mother requested her favorite ice cream, and Walker rushed out to get it.

My sister and I left that evening crying in the parking lot, saying, Thank God, shes OK now, Jon Horton said.

About an hour later, around 6:30 that evening, they received a call: their mother was unresponsive, and paramedics were on the way.

Her heart just stopped, he said. The paramedic brought her back several times, but she couldnt maintain it.

Contact reporter Patty Machelor at 806-7754 or

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ALLEN, Texas (AP)  Three men died after their small boat overturned on a North Texas lake during a strong storm over the weekend, authorities said.

The boat overturned in Lake Lavon on Saturday night, the Collin County sheriffs office said. There were four men aboard and one was able to hold on to a tree and call for help, the sheriff's office said.

Texas Game Wardens rescued the man holding on to the tree and learned that the other three boaters had disappeared, leading to a search by water and air of the lake about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Dallas.

Authorities said one man's body was recovered early Sunday, another was recovered Sunday evening and the third was found Monday. The Collin County Sheriff's Office identified the dead as Jose Maria Dominguez III, 60; Julio Bibiano-Gonzalez, 34; and Rafael Bibiano-Olea, 30. All were residents of the Plano area, according to the sheriff's office statement.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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SHREVEPORT, La. (AP)  A Louisiana judge has acquitted four city police officers in the death of a Black man arrested in April 2020.

Caddo District Court Judge Chris Victory ruled Friday that prosecutors failed to prove their case against Brian Ross, James LeClare, Treona McCarter and DMarea Johnson, news agencies reported.

Each had been charged with negligent homicide in the death of Tommie McGlothen and with malfeasance in office as a Shreveport police officer.

All four waived their right to a jury trial. After prosecutors presented their case, defense lawyers asked for the judge to rule without hearing defense testimony. After considering the case overnight, he did so.

Our office has not yet commented on the case, John Andrew Prime, spokesman for the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office, said in an email Monday. Shreveport police did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

McGlothens family is continuing with a wrongful death lawsuit against the city in federal court, their attorney said.

During the trial, prosecutors revealed that they took the case to two grand juries, and the second indicted the officers.

In their motion for what is called a directed acquittal, defense lawyers noted that Louisiana State Police and the U.S. Department of Justice both reviewed the case and neither referred it to prosecutors.

Our faith in the judicial system has been renewed, Michael Carter, president of the Shreveport Police Officers Association, said after the trial, KTBS-TV reported.

We have watched the testimony each day from prosecutions witnesses, including expert witnesses, which has confirmed the complete lack of factual evidence against our members, Carter said.

McGlothen's sister, LaQuita McGlothen, had called police the day her brother died, trying to get him committed because of mental problems. She told reporters she was heartbroken.

Not only have I lost my brother, but Ive lost my sense of community. Those that are placed in a position to serve and protect, I no longer have trust in them at all, she said.

LaQuita McGlothen testified that she told police she was worried that her brother would be hurt because he had stopped taking medication and was becoming more and more paranoid and delusional, KTAL-TV reported.

She said she and their father were told police could only commit someone who was homicidal, suicidal, threatening others, or greatly disabled. They told her to call them back if he got worse, and to call the coroners office in the morning because they have broader commitment powers.

A short time later, Officer Ross saw a driver haul McGlothen from his truck's back seat. Body camera audio recorded Ross saying there was clearly something wrong with McGlothen, the station reported.

The driver decided not to press charges. Officer McCarter, who had come to help, was heard on body cam audio saying he needed to be committed.

Less than two hours later, McGlothen blocked a woman in a driveway, then went into her house. Her husband punched him and pulled a gun to make him leave while his wife called police.

McGlothen fought officers who tried to handcuff him. The officers were put on leave after video surfaced more than two months later, showing them using a stun gun, a chemical spray and a baton on him.

He was unresponsive less than an hour later and was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The family's lawsuit contends he was left alone between his arrest and his death  something police denied.

This whole premise that he was left unattended for 45 minutes, which was the narrative not only throughout the states prosecution but through the media and social media. That was a false notion. That did not occur, and thats the shame of it," said Officer LeClares attorney, Dhu Thompson.

"These officers were drug through the mud for almost two years with that false premise and the evidence showed that that just was not the case, he said Friday.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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1/6 panel: Local 'heroes' rebuffed Trump, then faced threats

WASHINGTON (AP)  The House Jan. 6 committee has heard chilling, tearful testimony that Donald Trumps relentless pressure to overturn the 2020 presidential election led to widespread threats against local workers and state officials. The panel focused Tuesday on the heroes of democracy  election workers and officials who fended off the defeated presidents demands. The committee is focused on Trump's schemes to reject state tallies and electors, all fueled by his false claims of election fraud. It heard from Arizonas Republican state House Speaker Rusty Bowers and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger about pressure from Trump, including Trumps call asking the Georgia official to find 11,780 votes to prevent Joe Bidens victory.

Britt wins tumultuous Alabama Senate race scrambled by Trump

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Katie Britt has won the Republican nomination for Senate in Alabama, defeating six-term Congressman Mo Brooks in a primary runoff after former President Donald Trump endorsed and then un-endorsed him. The loss ends a turbulent campaign for Brooks, a conservative firebrand who had fully embraced Trumps election lies and had run under the banner MAGA Mo. But it wasnt enough for the former president, who initially backed Brooks in the race to replace retiring Sen. Richard Shelby, but then rescinded his support as Brooks languished in the polls. Trump eventually endorsed Britt in the races final stretch after she emerged as the top vote-getter in the states May 24 primary.

Takeaways: Trump's conditional loyalty, new warning for left

WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump extended his losing record in Georgia on Tuesday after two Trump-backed U.S. House candidates lost in landslides. An establishment-backed Senate candidate in Alabama that Trump belatedly endorsed handily beat one of the former presidents most ardent defenders in Congress. Meanwhile, moderate Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser won her Democratic primary, offering a warning to progressives as crime rises in urban areas.

Texas top cop: Uvalde police could've ended rampage early on

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  The head of the Texas Department of Public Safety says three minutes after a gunman entered a school where he slaughtered 19 elementary students and two teachers there was sufficient armed law enforcement on scene to stop the gunman. Yet police officers armed with rifles stood and waited in a school hallway for more than an hour while the gunman carried out the massacre. Col. Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, called the police response an abject failure. He says police radios did not work within the school and that school diagrams officers used were wrong.

'Nowhere I feel safe': Election officials recount threats

WASHINGTON (AP)  A former Georgia election worker in gripping testimony has told the House Jan. 6 committee about the onslaught of threats that she and her family received after former President Trump and his allies falsely accused her and her mother of pulling fraudulent ballots from a suitcase. Wandrea Shaye Moss told lawmakers Tuesday how her life was upended when Trump and his allies latched onto surveillance footage from November 2020 to accuse her and her mother of committing voter fraud, allegations that were quickly debunked. The committee also heard from high-ranking elections officials in Georgia and a lawmaker in Arizona who were also on the wrong end of Trump's pressure campaign.

'The impossible': Ukraine's secret, deadly rescue missions

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  A series of clandestine, against-the-odds helicopter missions to reach besieged soldiers are being celebrated in Ukraine as one of the riskiest, most heroic feats of military derring-do in the four-month war against Russia. The flights delivered supplies and evacuated wounded during the last-ditch defense of the Azovstal steel mill. It was surrounded by Russian forces in the brutalized city of Mariupol. Ukrainian troops were pinned down for weeks, their supplies running low, their dead and injured stacking up. Ukraines president first spoke of the sometimes deadly helicopter resupply missions only after Azovstals defenders started surrendering in May. The Associated Press has found and interviewed some of the wounded who were rescued from the death trap.

Civil jury finds Bill Cosby sexually abused teenager in 1975

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP)  Civil trial jurors have found that Bill Cosby sexually abused a 16-year-old girl at the Playboy Mansion in 1975. The Los Angeles County jury delivered the verdict Tuesday in favor of Judy Huth, who is now 64, and awarded her $500,000. The jurys decision is a major legal defeat for the 84-year-old Cosby. It comes nearly a year after his Pennsylvania criminal conviction for sexual assault was thrown out and he was freed from prison. Cosby did not attend the Los Angeles trial. He has repeatedly denied Huths allegations that he forced her to perform a sex act at the mansion.

Senators reach bipartisan compromise on gun violence bill

WASHINGTON (AP)  Senate bargainers have reached agreement on a bipartisan gun violence bill. That potentially tees up congressional passage this week on an incremental but notable package that would stand as Congresss response to mass shootings in Texas and New York that shook the nation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., predicted Senate approval later this week, and passage by the Democratic-led House could follow quickly. It would make background checks tougher for the youngest gun buyers and bolster spending for school safety and mental health programs, and bar gun ownership by romantic partners convicted of domestic abuse.

Texas GOP's swing to far right cemented with party platform

WASHINGTON (AP)  Ten years ago, the Texas Republican Party used its platform to oppose teaching critical thinking in schools. In 2014, it declared homosexuality a chosen behavior contrary to God. By 2020, the party was ready to remind the world that Texas retains the right to secede from the United States. But now the Texas GOP platform has broken new extremist ground. It's embraced fringe positions that most mainstream Republicans in the state would have shied away from in years past. Approved by 5,000-plus party delegates last weekend in Houston during its biennial convention, the new platform brands President Joe Biden an acting commander-in-chief who was never legitimately elected.

Westminster dog show gets 4 finalists, and one has NFL ties

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. (AP)  A bloodhound, a French bulldog, a German shepherd and a Maltese have been chosen to advance to the final round of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. Trumpet the bloodhound, Hollywood the Maltese, Winston the French bulldog and River the German shepherd were selected Tuesday night. One of Winstons owners is NFL defensive lineman Morgan Fox, who was signed last month by the Los Angeles Chargers after six seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers. Three more finalists will be selected Wednesday night, when all seven will face off for the coveted best in show prize.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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NEW YORK (AP)  The Nobel Peace Prize auctioned off by Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees sold Monday night for $103.5 million, shattering the old record for a Nobel.

A spokesperson for Heritage Auctions, which handled the sale, could not confirm the identity of the buyer but said the winning bid was made by proxy. The $103.5 million sale translates to $100 million Swiss francs, hinting that the buyer is from overseas.

I was hoping that there was going to be an enormous amount of solidarity, but I was not expecting this to be such a huge amount, Muratov said in an interview after bidding in the nearly 3-week auction ended on World Refugee Day.

Previously, the most ever paid for a Nobel Prize medal was $4.76 million in 2014, when James Watson, whose co-discovery of the structure of DNA earned him a Nobel Prize in 1962, sold his. In 2013, the family of his co-recipient, Francis Crick, received $2.27 million in bidding also run by Heritage Auctions.

Muratov, who was awarded the gold medal in October 2021, helped found the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta and was the publications editor-in-chief when it shut down in March amid the Kremlins clampdown on journalists and public dissent in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

It was Muratovs idea to auction off his prize, having already announced he was donating the accompanying $500,000 cash award to charity.

Muratov has said the proceeds will go directly to UNICEF in its efforts to help children displaced by the war in Ukraine. Just minutes after bidding ended, UNICEF told the auction house it had already received the funds.

Online bids had begun June 1 to coincide with the International Childrens Day observance. Many bids came by telephone or online. The winning bid, tendered by telephone, catapulted the bidding from the low millions to astronomical levels.

Muratov had left Russia on Thursday to begin his trip to New York City, where live bidding began Monday evening.

Early Monday, the high bid was only $550,000. The purchase price had been expected to spiral upward  but not over $100 million.

I cant believe it. Im awestruck. Personally, Im flabbergasted. Im stunned. I dont really know what happened in there, said Joshua Benesh, the chief strategy officer for Heritage Auctions.

We knew that there was a tremendous groundswell of interest in the last couple of days by people who were moved by Dimitrys story, by Dimitrys act of generosity, that the global audience was listening tonight, he said.

Muratov and Heritage officials said even those out of the bidding can still help by donating directly to UNICEF.

Muratov shared the Nobel Peace Prize last year with journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines.

The two journalists, who each received their own medals, were honored for their battles to preserve free speech in their respective countries, despite coming under attack by harassment, their governments and even death threats.

Melted down, the 175 grams of 23-karat gold contained in Muratovs medal would be worth about $10,000.

Muratov has been highly critical of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and the war launched in February that has caused nearly 5 million Ukrainians to flee to other countries for safety, creating the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II.

Independent journalists in Russia have come under scrutiny by the Kremlin, if not outright targets of the government. Since Putin came into power more than two decades ago, nearly two dozen journalists have been killed, including at least four who had worked for Muratov's newspaper.

In April, Muratov said he was attacked with red paint while aboard a Russian train.

Since its inception in 1901, there have been nearly 1,000 recipients of the Nobel Prizes honoring achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and the advancement of peace.

In a story published June 20, 2022, about the auction of a Nobel Peace Prize, The Associated Press erroneously reported that the medal won by Francis Crick was sold in 2017. It was sold in 2013.

Associated Press writer Andrew Katell contributed to this report.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Police had enough officers and firepower on the scene of the Uvalde school massacre to have stopped the gunman three minutes after he entered the building, and they would have found the door to the classroom where he was holed up unlocked if they had bothered to check it, the head of the Texas state police testified Tuesday, pronouncing the law enforcement response an abject failure.

Officers with rifles instead stood in a hallway for over an hour, waiting in part for more weapons and gear, before they finally stormed the classroom and killed the gunman, putting an end to the May 24 attack that left 19 children and two teachers dead.

I dont care if you have on flip-flops and Bermuda shorts, you go in, Col. Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said in blistering testimony at a state Senate hearing.

The classroom door, it turned out, could not be locked from the inside by design, according to McCraw, who also said a teacher reported before the shooting that the lock was broken. Yet there is no indication officers tried to open it during the standoff, McCraw said. He said police instead waited for keys.

I have great reasons to believe it was never secured, McCraw said of the door. How about trying the door and seeing if its locked?

Delays in the law enforcement response at Robb Elementary School have become the focus of federal, state and local investigations.

McCraw lit into Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde school district police chief who McCraw said was in charge, saying: The only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering Room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children.

Arredondo made terrible decisions, said McCraw, who lamented that the police response "set our profession back a decade.

Arredondo has said he didnt consider himself the person in charge and assumed someone else had taken control of the law enforcement response. He has declined repeated requests for comment from The Associated Press, and his lawyer did not immediately respond Tuesday.

The police chief testified for about five hours Tuesday at a closed-door hearing of a Texas House committee also investigating the tragedy, according to the panel chair.

Senate members hearing the latest details reacted with fury, some decrying Arredondo as incompetent and saying the delay cost lives. Others pressed McCraw on why state troopers on the scene didnt take charge. McCraw said the troopers did not have legal authority to do so.

The public safety chief presented a timeline that said three officers with two rifles entered the building less than three minutes behind the gunman, an 18-year-old with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle. Several more officers entered minutes after that. Two of the officers who went into the hallway early on were grazed by gunfire.

The decision by police to hold back went against much of what law enforcement has learned in the two decades since the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado in which 13 people were killed in 1999, McCraw said.

You dont wait for a SWAT team. You have one officer, thats enough, he said. He also said officers did not need to wait for shields to enter the classroom. The first shield arrived less than 20 minutes after the shooter entered, according to McCraw.

Eight minutes after the shooter entered, an officer reported that police had a heavy-duty crowbar that they could use to break down the classroom door, McCraw said.

The public safety chief spent nearly five hours offering the clearest picture yet of the massacre, outlining a series of other missed opportunities, communication breakdowns and errors based on an investigation that has included roughly 700 interviews. Among the missteps:

 Arredondo did not have a radio with him.

 Police and sheriffs radios did not work inside the school. Only the radios of Border Patrol agents on the scene did, and they did not work perfectly.

 Some school diagrams that police used to coordinate their response were wrong.

Public leaders, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, initially praised the police response in Uvalde. Abbott said officers reacted quickly and ran toward the gunfire with amazing courage to take out the killer, thereby saving lives. He later said he was misled.

State police initially said the gunman, Salvador Ramos, entered the school through an exterior door that had been propped open by a teacher. However, McCraw said the teacher had closed the door, but unbeknownst to her, it could be locked only from the outside. The gunman walked straight through, McCraw said.

The gunman knew the building well, having attended the fourth grade in the same classrooms where he carried out the attack, McCraw said. Ramos never communicated with police that day, the public safety chief said.

Sen. Paul Bettencourt said the entire premise of lockdown and shooter training is worthless if school doors cant be locked. We have a culture where we think weve trained an entire school for lockdown .... but we set up a condition to failure, he said.

Bettencourt challenged Arredondo to testify in public and said he should have removed himself from the job immediately. He angrily pointed out that shots were heard while police waited.

There are at least six shots fired during this time," he said. Why is this person shooting? Hes killing somebody. Yet this incident commander finds every reason to do nothing.

Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said Tuesday that the city has specific legal reasons that it's not answering questions publicly or releasing records. There is no cover-up," he said in a statement.

Later in the day, the Uvalde City Council voted unanimously against giving Arredondo, who is a council member, a leave of absence from appearing at public meetings. Relatives of the shooting victims had pleaded with city leaders to instead fire him.

Please, please, were begging you, get this man out of our lives, said Berlinda Arreola, the grandmother of Amerie Jo Garza.

After the meeting, the mayor pushed back on McCraw's testimony casting blame on Arredondo, saying that the Department of Public Safety has repeatedly put out false information about the shooting and glossed over the role of its own officers.

He called the Senate hearing a clown show and said he heard nothing from McCraw about state troopers' involvement, even though McLaughlin said their number in the school hallway at points during the slaughter surpassed that of any other law enforcement agency.

Questions about the law enforcement response began days after the massacre. McCraw said three days afterward that Arredondo made the wrong decision when he chose not to storm the classroom for more than 70 minutes, even as trapped fourth graders inside two classrooms were desperately calling 911 for help and anguished parents outside the school begged officers to go inside.

An hour after the shooter first crashed his truck outside the school, Arredondo said, according to McCraws timeline: People are going to ask why were taking so long. Were trying to preserve the rest of the life.

But McCraw said Tuesday that the amount of time that elapsed before officers entered the classroom was intolerable.

Police havent found any red flags in Ramos' school disciplinary files but learned through interviews that he engaged in cruelty to animals. He walked around with a bag of dead cats, McCraw said.

In the days and weeks after the shooting, authorities gave conflicting and incorrect accounts of what happened. But McCraw assured lawmakers: Everything Ive testified today is corroborated.

McCraw said if he could make just one recommendation, it would be for more training. He also said every state patrol car in Texas should have shields and door-breaching tools.

I want every trooper to know how to breach and have the tools to do it, he said.

Associated Press writers Jamie Stengle and Terry Wallace in Dallas, correspondent John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, and photographer Eric Gay in Austin contributed to this report.

Find 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.

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Many cities and regions have adjusted their policies related to COVID-19 including shortening the quarantine period for inbound travelers and reducing the frequency of mass nucleic acid testing to better serve the current situation of fewer recent infections.

Cities such as Beijing, Wuhan in Hubei province and Nanjing in Jiangsu province now require seven days of centralized quarantine in hotelscompared with 14 days previouslyand seven more days at home, according to the Health Times on Monday.

According to the State Council mobile app, the rule also applies to travelers entering the country through cities such as Wuxi and Changzhou in Jiangsu province.

A worker from the government hotline told China Daily on Monday that Nanjing has had a shortened centralized quarantine period policy since June 12, but for inbound travelers who don't have properties in the city, they must stay in a hotel the whole time or transfer to other cities under closed-loop management for another seven days.

Many other cities still have 10- or 14-day centralized quarantine requirements. For example, inbound travelers arriving in cities, including Chengdu in Sichuan province and Xiamen in Fujian province, must undergo 10-day quarantine at hotels and another seven days at home.

As the entry policies differ among cities, travelers should find out the latest information or call the local government hotline.

In addition, many cities have reduced the frequency of mass nucleic acid testing considering there has not been a large number of infections reported for weeks.

In Hefei, Anhui province, the city's epidemic prevention and control authorities declared on Saturday night that mass nucleic acid testing would only be held once a week.

The change was followed by another on Sunday, saying people traveling to Hefei from low-risk areas no longer need to provide a negative nucleic test result. Previously, those people were required to provide a negative result from within 48 hours before arrival.

The city reported its last locally transmitted case on April 24 and had cleared all cases by May 9.

Since May 10, Hefei, which has a residential population of nearly 10 million, had been conducting regular massive nucleic acid testing every five days.

Meanwhile, the province's northern city of Fuyang and multiple counties and urban districts in Xuancheng and Huangshan had canceled regular mass testing by Saturday.

He Qinghua, an official with the National Health Commission's bureau of disease prevention and control, said during a news conference on June 9 that authorities should devise the frequency and scope of testing campaigns based on local conditions.

In late May, as the national college entry exam approached, local authorities across the country stepped up epidemic prevention and control measures for students to ensure the exams could be held smoothly.

The college entrance exams concluded on June 8 and the high school entrance exams ended on Friday in Anhui.

Li Changlong, a resident of Hefei and whose son participated in the high school entrance exams, praised the city's continued testing arrangement to ensure no student was disadvantaged at such a critical time.

"The testing prevented infections from spreading so that the students could still take the exams they'd worked so hard for," he said.

Liu Zifei, a community Party chief in Hefei, welcomed the recent reduction in the frequency of mass testing.

"As the year's hottest period approaches, the high temperatures could be a serious challenge for epidemic prevention and control workers, especially those who wear the protective gowns for hours to collect the testing samples," he said.

With the easing of prevention and control measures in low-risk areas, tourism has started to recover steadily.

The Huangshan Mountain Scenic Area in Anhui received 5,178 tourists on Friday, up by 55 percent from a week earlier, according to the area's administration.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Law enforcement authorities had enough officers on the scene of the Uvalde school massacre to have stopped the gunman three minutes after he entered the building, and they never checked a classroom door to see if it was locked, the Texas public safety chief testified Tuesday, pronouncing the police response an "abject failure."

Police officers with rifles instead stood and waited for over an hour before they finally stormed the classroom and killed the gunman, putting an end to the May 24 attack that left 19 children and two teachers dead.

The classroom door, it turned out, could not be locked from the inside, yet there is no indication officers tried to open it while the gunman was holed up, Col. Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, testified. Instead, he said, police waited around for a key.

"I have great reasons to believe it was never secured," McCraw said the door. "How about trying the door and seeing if it's locked?"

McCraw presented a timeline that said three officers with two rifles entered the building less than three minutes after the gunman, an 18-year-old with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle. Several more officers entered minutes after that.

The decision by police to hold back went against much of what law enforcement has learned in the past two decades since the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado that left 13 dead in 1999, McCraw said

"You don't wait for a SWAT team. You have one officer, that's enough," he said. He also said officers did not need to wait for shields to enter the classroom. The first shield arrived less than 20 minutes after the shooter entered, according to McCraw.

McCraw testified at a state Senate hearing on the police handling of the tragedy. Delays in the law enforcement response have become the focus of federal, state and local investigations.

"Obviously, not enough training was done in this situation, plain and simple. Because terrible decisions were made by the on-site commander," McCraw said of Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde school district police chief.

Eight minutes after the shooter entered the building, an officer reported that police had a "hooligan" crowbar that they could use to break down the classroom door, McCraw said.

McCraw told the Senate committee that Arredondo decided to put the lives of officers ahead of the lives of children.

The public safety chief outlined for the committee a series of missed opportunities, communication breakdowns and other mistakes, among them:

 Arredondo did not have a radio with him.

 Police and sheriff's radios did not work within the school; only the radios of Border Patrol agents on the scene worked inside the school, and even they did not work perfectly.

 Some diagrams of the school that police were using to coordinate their response were wrong.

State police initially said the gunman entered the school through an exterior door that had been propped open by a teacher, but McCraw said that the teacher had closed the door and it could only be locked from the outside.

"There's no way for her to know the door is locked" McCraw said. "He walked straight through."

Questions about the law enforcement response began days after the massacre. McCraw said three days after the shooting that Arredondo made "the wrong decision" when he chose not to storm the classroom for more than 70 minutes, even as trapped fourth graders inside two classrooms were desperately calling 911 for help and anguished parents outside the school begged officers to go inside.

Arredondo later said he didn't consider himself the person in charge and assumed someone else had taken control of the law enforcement response. Arredondo has declined repeated requests for comment to The Associated Press.

As for the amount of time that elapsed before officers entered the classroom, McCraw said: "In an active shooter environment, that's intolerable."

"This set our profession back a decade. That's what it did," he said of the police response in Uvalde.

Police haven't found anything that would be a red flag in the shooter's school disciplinary files but learned through interviews that he engaged in animal cruelty. "He walked around with a bag of dead cats," McCraw said.

In the days and weeks after the shooting, authorities gave conflicting and incorrect accounts of what happened, sometimes withdrawing statements hours after making them. But McCraw assured lawmakers: "Everything I've testified today is corroborated."

McCraw said if he could make just one recommendation, it would be for more training. He also said a "go-bag" should be put in every state patrol car in Texas, including a shield and door-breaching tools.

"I want every trooper to know how to breach and have the tools to do it," he said.

A look at some of America's deadliest school shootings Intro Until the massacre at Colorados Columbine High School in 1999, the number of dead in U.S. school shootings tended to be in the single digits. Since then, the number of shootings that included schools and killed 10 or more people has mounted. The most recent two were both in Texas. On Tuesday, 18-year-old attacker killed 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. In May 2018, a 17-year-old killed 10 people at Santa Fe High School near Houston. Most of the victims were students. Columbine High School, April 1999 Red Lake High School, March 2005 Virginia Tech, April 2007 Sandy Hook Elementary School, December 2012 Umpqua Community College, October 2015 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, February 2018 Santa Fe High School, May 2018 Robb Elementary School, May 2022

Bleiberg and Associated Press writer Jamie Stengle contributed to this report from Dallas.

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The deadline for a popular state scholarship program is quickly approaching for Oklahoma students who just completed eighth, ninth, 10th or 11th grade.

June 30 is the last day for those students to enroll in Oklahomas Promise, a state scholarship program that allows high school students from families whose annual income is $60,000 or less the opportunity to earn free college tuition.

Special income provisions apply to children adopted from certain court-ordered custody situations and children in the custody of court-appointed legal guardians.

This is the final opportunity for students who were 11th graders in the 2021-22 school year to apply for the program.

We encourage eligible students who just completed eighth through 11th grade to sign up for Oklahomas Promise today, said Chancellor Allison D. Garrett.

Over the last three decades, this transformational scholarship program has helped more than 100,000 students achieve the dream of a college education.

The Oklahomas Promise scholarship covers tuition at any public college or university in the state for up to five years until the completion of a bachelors degree or a maximum of 129 credit hours.

It will also pay a portion of the tuition at an accredited Oklahoma private college or a public career technology center for certain programs that are eligible for federal financial aid.

The scholarship amount does not include fees, books, supplies, or room and board.

Students enrolled in Oklahomas Promise must attend class regularly, take a 17-unit college preparatory curriculum, pass those courses with at least a 2.50 grade-point average and achieve an overall GPA of at least 2.50 to be eligible for the scholarship.

Students must agree to stay out of serious trouble and avoid drugs and alcohol.

Students also must meet certain income, academic, and conduct requirements while in college to receive and retain the scholarship.

The Oklahoma Legislature created Oklahomas Promise in 1992 as an incentive for middle and high school students to commit to academic success and prepare for college.

In 2007, the Legislature established a dedicated funding source for the program that has helped ensure that scholarships earned by Oklahomas Promise students are fully paid each year.

An estimated 15,000 students will receive the scholarship in 2022-23.

For more information or to apply online, go to okpromise.org. Information is also available by emailing okpromise@osrhe.edu or calling 800-858-1840.
OKLAHOMA CITY  The Oklahoma State Department of Education announced Tuesday it will turn over new findings of misappropriation of public funds at Epic Charter Schools to law enforcement and recommend downgrading its accreditation to probationary status for the upcoming school year.

After a seven-month investigation, the states education agency claims top Epic administrators gave themselves $8.6 million in improper bonus payments in June 2021 and officials discovered dramatic increases in student absences and possible underreporting of truancy during the 2020-21 academic year.

It is unfortunately true that Epic Charter Schools remains a challenged enterprise that appears to have misused taxpayer dollars, violated state law and fostered a climate of fear and uncertainty among school staff, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference.

Epic officials were briefed on the report earlier Tuesday and informed of a host of corrective actions that will be required to bring them into compliance with state and federal laws.

The recommendation to lower Epics state accreditation status is set for the July 28 meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education. And officials said that further action, including recommending sanctions for Epic Superintendent Bart Banfield, are also possible.

For the sake of the thousands of Oklahoma families and students who depend on Epic, it is critical that things be made right, the report states. The students of Epic deserve an excellent education, and the taxpayers of Oklahoma need Epic to fully change its ways.

Among the findings:

 Improper bonus payments  Administrators, including Banfield and some deputy superintendents, received bonuses totaling $8.6 million in June 2021 in possible violation of state law that prohibits converting state funds for personal use.

Those bonuses were never approved by the school board, violated school board policy, and exceeded the employees employment agreements by at least $800,000. One individual employed for 35% of the school year reportedly received six times more than their employment contract provided.

 Student enrollment and attendance/truancy irregularities  Epic counted as many as 4,600 new students on their membership rolls and then counted them as absent for various lengths of time before they actually started school, in violation of state laws and regulations. The school could have benefited from this practice of erroneously adding 39,000 days of student membership to the tune of $780,000 in state aid.

From the 2019-20 school year to the 2020-21 school year, absences increased from 18,275 to 647,624.

For the 2020-21 school year, 6,436 students (nearly 9% of all students enrolled at Epic during the 2020-21 school year) were absent more than 50% of the time they were enrolled, and 3,399 students were absent more than 75% of the time.

 Possible willful violations of the Open Meeting Act by the school board.

Board members have grossly exceeded their roles by interfering with administrators, directing employees outside board meetings and engaging in transactions for the school district without prior board authorization.

The report states Epics bonus compensation structure paradoxically incentivizes employees to both not withdraw students for truancy (to increase regularly monthly compensation, which is based on enrollment counts) and to withdraw students for truancy at certain times of the school year (to increase their bonus payout and for student performance measures.

And leadership and governance issues were found to still be lacking.

Epics lack of internal controls and oversight by a governing board has created an environment that facilitated improper actions, which, even if done with good intentions to reward employee loyalty and extra effort, appears to have caused financial mismanagement and the misappropriation of funds, the report states.

Several allegations levelled against Epic were found to be untrue, according to the SDE report released Tuesday.

Those include claims that a truancy audit had been suppressed from the entire school board.

And claims that employees were improperly terminated through a RIF, or reduction in force, were unfounded because it turns out charter schools are exempt from any requirement to have a RIF policy and Epic employees are at-will and therefore subject to termination at any time.

In a separate press conference Tuesday afternoon, Banfield acknowledged policy and procedural mistakes but he insisted he and the rest of the schools administrative team are committed to working cooperatively with the state to address student attendance and enrollment issues.

School Board Chair Paul Campbell flatly denied violations of the Open Meetings Act. And he defended Banfields handling of bonus payments in 2021, saying it was his understanding the school boards previous president and other board members had reviewed and discussed all compensation matters during a May 2021 board meeting even if they had not have taken a formal vote.

Announced in early December, the SDE investigation was prompted by allegations of fraud, improper board governance and a hostile work environment in the resignation letter of an Epic Charter Schools governing board member.

Kathren Stehno resigned in late November after one year of school board service, saying she believed she had been given false, partial or misleading information in recent months to influence her decision-making as a board member by Paul Campbell, Epics board chairman, and Banfield, the superintendent.

Stehno said she received evidence that Epic violated state law and school policy in the way it withdrew a high percentage of its students for truancy and that Epic school leaders recently handed out extremely large and unapproved bonuses that exceeded employee contracts without board approval.

The states efforts and attempts at holding Epic to account for compliance with state law have been criticized in the past by the state auditor, and also unsuccessful before the Oklahoma State Board of Education.

In all, nearly $20 million in penalties were assessed against the school system in 2021 by state education officials, primarily for exceeding Oklahomas legal cap on public school administrative costs.

That cap is intended to ensure as much taxpayer funding as possible goes to the direct instruction or service of students.

Hofmeisters administration tried once before to convince the state board to send a wake-up call for Epic and its governing board by lowering its accreditation to probation status. That is the final step before a district could lose state accreditation and be forced to close.

But the matter was tabled by a vote of the board and never brought up again.

The state Department of Education is undergoing an unprecedented investigative audit by the state  at the request of Gov. Kevin Stitt  as a result of State Auditor Cindy Byrds investigative audit findings on Oct. 1, 2020, that Epic had misreported its administrative costs to the tune of millions of dollars during the previous five years and gone unchecked.

In a prepared statement, Byrd said the Department of Educations investigation validates our findings that Ben Harris and David Chaney were employing dubious business practices when they managed Epic Charter Schools.

Fortunately, the new school administration is trying to comply with finance related laws and operate in transparency so any potential problem that may arise will be recognized and addressed before it snowballs into a crisis.

Video: State Department of Education announces investigation; Epic Charter Schools responds

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More than $6.5 million, most of it with untraceable origins, has poured into Oklahoma statewide and legislative primary races since April 1, according to independent expenditure reports filed with the State Ethics Commission.

With Democrats having few primaries and Libertarians none at all, virtually all of the money has been spent on intraparty Republican warfare.

Independent expenditures can be for just about anything in support of or opposition to a candidate, including television production and time, digital and print advertising, mail pieces, door-to-door campaigning and telephone solicitation.

The law prohibits coordination of independent expenditures with candidate campaigns.

Independent expenditures are not subject to contribution limits, and the source of the money used in the expenditures can easily be hidden. Although the law requires reporting of independent expenditures to the State Ethics Commission, in recent years the law has not infrequently been ignored.

The races for governor, attorney general and state superintendent  with campaigning in that latter race specifically for and against candidate Ryan Walters, the states education secretary  have gotten most of the attention, but an extraordinary amount of money is being spent on a handful of legislative races that could tip the balance in the House and Senate on school vouchers.

The single biggest spender, though, is the Oklahoma State Medical Association, which earlier this year vowed to support pro-science candidates after feeling largely ignored by Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Legislature during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The association reported $814,807.39 in independent expenditures spread out over about two dozen candidates.

Second on the list is the School Freedom Fund, a school-voucher advocacy group with connections to the anti-tax organization Club for Growth. It is one of the outside funders that has targeted House Common Education Committee Chairwoman Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, and House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee Chairman Mark McBride for ouster in the June 28 GOP primary.

Also in the crosshairs are Rep. Logan Phillips, R-Mounds, Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, and Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City.

The School Freedom Fund has spent almost $90,000 trying to take Phillips seat, which is considered up for grabs because of new district boundaries that left the two-term Republican with a mostly new set of voters.

Some of the races have become intensely personal, with Moores wife, Rachel Moore, obtaining a protective order on Monday against staff members of the Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs, a pro-school choice/voucher advocate.

The Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs is connected to the dark money organization People for Opportunity, which has spent almost $405,000 on the races and lists as its filing agent Dave Bond, an OCPA officer and one of the people named in the protective orders. Rachel Moore said the individuals were sending her harassing and threatening text messages.

OCPA denied involvement.

Around $1.3 million has been spent in opposition to Stitt or in support of primary opponent Joel Kintsel.

Stitt, in the pre-campaign report filed by his campaign on Monday, reported spending $2.8 million between April 1 and June 13.

More than $1.2 million has been spent for and against the two candidates in the Republican attorney general primary, Gentner Drummond and incumbent John OConnor.

Featured video: Oklahoma governor reelection campaign expands its financial advantage

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Far more Democrats switch to GOP than vice versa, and though it's hard to say why, "if you want a vote that matters, that's probably in the (Republican) primary," an OU poli-sci professor says.
A recent forum discussing gun violence wasted an opportunity when organizers said they would not discuss gun policy.

The forum, which included local law enforcement and elected leaders, was designed to discuss how to make people safer from the types of mass shootings that have resulted in multiple deaths, including four people shot to death at the Saint Francis Hospital campus on June 1.

But forum hosts declined to discuss topics that might include legislative action to prevent firearms from getting into the wrong hands.

Tulsa Crime Stoppers hosted the event, and its executive director, Karen Gilbert, told audience members that discussions of gun policy and gun reforms were off the table. Instead, she said discussions would focus on responses to active shooter incidents.

Panelists talked about how to make public places such as schools harder targets for armed assailants. They urged school officials to have more frequent conversations about how to prevent mass shootings and what to do if an attacker shows up.

Much responsibility seemed to be placed on potential targets of an assailant.

Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said schools should consider limiting access to buildings to single points of entry, installing bullet-resistant glass and employing more resource officers.

We understand that these measures might limit what a shooter could do. But these sentiments leave out important facts about mass shootings.

While many of the worst mass shootings have happened at schools, others, dating back to the 1980s, have happened at workplaces, shopping centers, grocery stores, houses of worship, a movie theater, a night club, a military base, and, as was seen here, a medical facility.

One mass shooting, at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas in 2017, killed 58 people and injured 546 more.

All of these places had different levels of security and unique vulnerabilities. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to protecting people from mass shootings because each murderous incident brings its own variables.

We agree that in the current American climate, preventive measures need to be taken by potential targets. But we cannot have every public space turned into a fortress.

A common theme in all these shootings is that the gunmen often had easy, quick access to powerful weapons and plenty of ammunition. Law enforcement and elected officials should advocate for comprehensive legislative solutions to gun violence. And as Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin said recently, it may be time to revisit some laws and policies.

The public wants the difficult and honest conversations, as Kay Malan of the Oklahoma Chapter of Moms Demand Action said: I feel like while these agencies are very important and we need them in a time of crisis, we need much more proactive work on the front end to prevent these crises from happening in the first place.

Concerning mass shooting prevention, Kunzweiler admonished the community, Lets start talking about it. We agree. But we need to talk about all of it, even those ideas that might be politically inconvenient.

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Here are todays leading news stories:

Politics

-- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday attended a ceremony marking the 45th anniversary of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sens journey to overthrow the Pol Pot regime, held in Memot District of Cambodias Tbuong Khmum Province.

COVID-19 Updates

-- The Ministry of Health documented 521 COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the national tally to 10,738,161, with 9,611,400 recoveries and 43,083 deaths.

-- The number of people receiving COVID-19 vaccine in Ho Chi Minh City last week jumped by 2.5 times compared to the previous week as the city began a campaign to promote second booster shots for local residents.

Society

-- Ton That Thach, director of the Center for Disease Control in central Da Nang City, was arrested on Monday on charges of embezzlement, the municipal Department of Public Security confirmed the same day.

-- A woman and her two niblings were hit by a truck after they fell off their motorbike on a muddy and slippery road in southern Binh Phuoc Province on Monday. One of the two children was killed on the spot.

-- Dozens of motorbikes had their tires punctured by countless metal objects that were believed to have fallen off a vehicle carrying scrap materials on National Highway No. 51 in southern Dong Nai Province on Monday.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has asked relevant agencies to set up a plan on establishing a bicycle lane along the section of Hanoi Highway from Rach Chiec Bridge to Saigon Bridge.

-- Police in south-central Binh Dinh Province confirmed on Monday they had arrested three suspects who threw petrol bombs into a residents house on Saturday night.

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The director of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Da Nang City, central Vietnam has been apprehended for his suspected involvement in a COVID-19 test kit scam that allegedly earned him and two accessories over US$172,000.

The municipal Department of Public Security confirmed on Monday it had arrested Ton That Thanh, 58, director of the Da Nang CDC, on embezzlement charges.

Officers also detained Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, 40, head of the Da Nang CDCs testing laboratory, and initiated legal procedures against Le Thi Kim Chi, 36, an employee of the testing lab, on similar charges.

Police on the same day searched the houses and workplace of the three suspects and confiscated various documents and evidence related to the case.

Preliminary investigation showed that Thanh and his accessories worked with Ho Chi Minh City-based Viet A Technology Corporation (Viet A) between 2020 and 2021 to gain profits from the COVID-19 testing supplies procured by Da Nang authorities.

Thanh directed Nhan and Chi to fake documents in order to raise the price of COVID-19 test kits and convert tens of thousands of pool test samples into single samples on paper, while changing paperwork to show tens of thousands of donated test kits as those purchased from Viet A instead.

With this scheme, the suspects appropriated more than VND4 billion ($172,000).

According to the investigation into Viet As COVID-19 test kit scam, which was uncovered last December, the corporation overstated the prices of production equipment and input materials to hike the sale price of its test kits.

Viet A general director Phan Quoc Viet, who was arrested on December 19, confessed to investigators that he paid kickbacks worth nearly VND800 billion ($34.42 million) to his state-owned partners who bought his test kits at the inflated prices.

The firm had supplied test kits to CDCs and other medical facilities of 62 provinces and cities, raking in nearly VND4 trillion ($172.1 million).

To date, about 60 suspects including health officials, directors of CDCs, leaders of hospitals and health departments, and some high-ranking military generals have been detained or under criminal investigation for their involvement in the high-profile scandal, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

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More than 1,000 people gathered at Nguyen Hue Pedestrian in downtown Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday morning to take part in the eighth International Day of Yoga.

The event was co-organized by the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations, the Indian Business Chamber in Vietnam, and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Relations.

The program commenced with performances by famous Vietnamese yoga instructors Tran Anh Tu, Nguyen Thi Vu Bao, and Le Hong Ngoc.

Delegates perform the candle-lighting ceremony to commence the eighth International Day of Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City, June 21, 2022. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

Yoga plays a new role in the healthy and happy lifestyle of many people, Huynh Cong Hung  vice-president of the Vietnam-India Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City  said in his opening speech, adding that yoga reflects the harmony between people and people and between humans and nature.

Originating in India with a history of thousands of years, yoga has become a form of exercise practiced by people around the world, said Do Viet Ha, president of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations.

A performance by Vietnamese yoga instructors at the eighth International Day of Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City, June 21, 2022. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

Themed Yoga for Humanity, this years International Day of Yoga promotes a sustainable lifestyle in harmony with the earth in the context of post-COVID-19 normalization.

Madan Mohan Sethi  Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City  thanked relevant units for their coordination in organizing the event, which helps boost connections and exchanges between the people of the two countries.

Following the opening ceremony, over 1,000 enthusiasts joined the mass performance of yoga poses known as asanas.

People meditate at the eighth International Day of Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City, June 21, 2022. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

Enthusiasts join the mass performance of yoga poses at the eighth International Day of Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City, June 21, 2022. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

Enthusiasts join the mass performance of yoga poses at the eighth International Day of Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City, June 21, 2022. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

Enthusiasts join the mass performance of yoga poses at the eighth International Day of Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City, June 21, 2022. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

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SKY News host and federal political editor of The Daily Telegraph, James Morrow will host The US Report, a new show on US politics.

The show will unpack stateside news, with analysis and interviews with experts and politicians including former presidential chief-of-staff to Donald Trump, Mick Mulvaney.

James Morrow said: Were going to take viewers on a deep dive into whats really happening, not just in Washington, but in the heartland of America where the outcome will be determined. Were also going to go straight to the candidates and newsmakers to hear what they say, and of course the voters themselves.

All eyes are going to be on this election  not just in Australia, but in Moscow and Beijing as well. If Americans deliver a strong rebuke to the Democrats, it will point to a changing of the guard in 2024 and a new direction for the economy and foreign policy.

Friday at 8:30pm from 1 July on SKY News.
Four heroic Beijing citizens, including one who sacrificed his life, are expected to be honored for saving three drowning children in Shijingshan district.

The incident occurred at the Mencheng Lake scenic spot on Sunday afternoon. Three children were swept away by rip currents after accidentally falling into the water while playing near the Yongding River.

Upon hearing cries for help from passers-by, four citizens plunged into the water and rescued the drowning children. Unfortunately, a young man who saved two of the children was too exhausted to save himself.

Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene after a nearby fire and rescue station received a call at 2:05 p.m. The rescuers, together with members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team, a non-governmental rescue organization, searched for the missing man using underwater detection equipment and other devices.

After around four hours of searching, the man was found dead. The deceased has been named as 32-year-old Zhou Hongbo from Yanqing district.

Officials from the Civil Affairs Bureau of Shijingshan district and other departments visited the site on Monday to carry out investigations. Procedures have been launched to determine whether the deeds of the four citizens meet the standards of "being ready to help others for a just cause. If so, the civil affairs department will honor the lifesavers in accordance with relevant provisions.
FILE PHOTO: The logo of commodities trader Glencore is pictured in front of the company's headquarters in Baar

By Kirstin Ridley

LONDON (Reuters) -A British subsidiary of mining and trading giant Glencore on Tuesday formally pleaded guilty to seven counts of bribery in connection with oil operations in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Sudan.

At a Southwark Crown Court hearing in London, Glencore Energy admitted to paying more than $28 million in bribes to secure preferential access to oil and generate illicit profit between 2011 and 2016. The company will be sentenced on Nov. 2 and 3, the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said.

Glencore, a Swiss-based multinational, has already said it expects to pay up to $1.5 billion to settle allegations of bribery and market manipulation and three subsidiaries in the United States, Brazil and Britain have now pleaded guilty to criminal offences.

The company still faces Swiss and Dutch investigations. But after sweeping changes that culminated in the exit of CEO and top shareholder Ivan Glasenberg in 2021, the November sentencing will wrap up a multinational inquiry that has weighed on the business for more than four years.

Glencore's shares were trading almost 1.8% up at 1240 GMT, broadly in line with London-listed rivals.

U.S. authorities will account for the bulk of penalties after Glencore agreed to a $1.1 billion U.S. settlement last month to resolve a decade-long scheme to bribe foreign officials across seven countries - and separate charges alleging a trading division manipulated fuel oil prices at U.S. shipping ports.

But the guilty plea by a corporate heavyweight in London is a much-needed boost for the SFO, which has faced sharp criticism and awaits the outcome of a "forensic" government-ordered review after senior judges overturned two convictions in a separate case because of disclosure failings.

"The SFO's success with Glencore will certainly not protect it from any flak that comes its way ..." said Syed Rahman, a partner at Rahman Ravelli. "But the result it has in this case is an indicator of what the agency is capable of when it does not make mistakes."

Story continues

Pressure group Spotlight on Corruption urged the SFO now to investigate and prosecute executives who had condoned the wrongdoing.

The SFO said only that its Glencore investigation was ongoing.

(Reporting by Kirstin RidleyEditing by David Goodman and Mark Potter)
The Dominican Republic's environment minister, Orlando Jorge Mera, was shot dead during a meeting on Monday by a businessman and longtime friend, who has been taken into custody, the government said.

A lawyer and politician, the 55-year-old Jorge Mera was the son of former president Salvador Jorge Blanco (1982-86), and had headed the environment ministry since mid-2020.

"The information we have at the moment indicates that this morning the environment minister lost his life after he was attacked with a firearm in his office," said Homero Figueroa, the spokesman for the presidency.

"Miguel Cruz, who has been identified as the shooter, was a personal friend of the dead minister," he said.

Figueroa said the suspect was in police custody and his motive was "under investigation."

The alleged shooter used his friendship with the victim to gain access to a secure area where Jorge Mera was holding a regular meeting with his deputies, ministry sources told AFP.

According to a statement from Jorge Mera's family, Cruz was "a childhood friend whom he received in his office."

According to sources close to the investigation, Cruz and Jorge Mera had found themselves at loggerheads over environmental policy.

Jorge Mera had promised upon taking office in 2020 to work for the "responsible" use of natural resources, to protect ecosystems and slash pollution.

In a March interview with El Caribe and CDN, the minister said he had reported to the judiciary 2,300 cases of environmental permit violations, illegal cutting of trees and damage to mangroves.

Among those affected were active and retired military, police and business people.

The Acento website said seven gunshots were heard and shortly afterwards a heavily armed elite police unit entered the ministry.

Police did not immediately comment on the incident.

President Luis Abinader declared himself "deeply saddened" by the minister's death, offering his condolences to the victims' wife and children, while the environment ministry said it was "dismayed" by the attack.

Story continues

Jorge Mera, who formed the Modern Revolutionary Party alongside Abinader, was president of the Dominican telecommunications institute from 2000 to 2004.

A lawyer, he had also worked as a television producer and presenter.

He came from a political family. His sister Dilia Jorge Mera is a deputy minister, his son Orlando Jorge Villegas is a legislator and his widow Patricia Villegas is the ambassador to Brazil.

str-jt/dga/bc/ec
It was a busy day for those fortunate enough to have bagged chips heading into Day 3 of Event #37: $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold'em in the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas. The day started with 232 players but by the end only 24 were left to vie for the $1,125,189 first-place prize and coveted gold bracelet.

John Sova bagged the second biggest stack at the end of the night with 15,300,000 after being in or near the chip lead for most of the day. This will be Sova's third cash of the 2022 WSOP, having placed 1,103rd ($1,535) in the Housewarming and 139th in the $800 deep stack ($2,884). If Sova can ride the big stack to a win, it would be his first WSOP bracelet. In fact, following the eliminations of James Calderaro (26th) and Michael Mizrachi (27th), there are no remaining players who have previously won a bracelet.

Other notables who failed to bag at the end of the day included Ryan Leng (54th), Ryan Stoker (100th), Elio Fox (150th), and Main Event Champion Scott Davies (172nd).

Event #37: $1,500 Millionaire Maker Day 3 Top 10 Chip Counts

Place Player Country Count Big Blinds 1 Alen Tenorio Brazil 16,600,000 66 2 John Sova United States 15,300,000 61 3 Jacek Pastula Poland 14,775,000 59 4 Justin Fawcett United States 12,350,000 49 5 Linus Richter United States 11,200,000 45 6 Raul Martinez Spain 10,925,000 44 7 Paul Ahn United States 10,425,000 42 8 Dominic Coombe Austrailia 10,300,000 41 9 Stanley Weng United States 9,550,000 38 10 Nick Marchington United Kingdom 9,275,000 37

Sova took the lead early in the day when on a completed board of , he bet into two opponents for 200,000. He was then raised to 600,000 by Phong Truong and Parminder Kumar called behind.

Sova then shoved all in, covering both, which produced a fold from Truong and sent Kumar into the tank.

"I'll show you, either way,'" Sova told Kumar.

"Ok, nice hand buddy," Kumar replied as he set out calling chips.

Sova showed jack-ten for the nut straight and Kumar flashed pocket nines before he sent them into the muck. Kumar was eliminated and Sova was made chip leader and would remain among the top stacks throughout the day. Had it not been for a last-minute surge from Brazil's Alen Tenorio (16,600,000), Sova would have bagged the overnight chip lead.

The original field started with 7,961 entrants generating a prize pool of $10,627,935 and now just two dozen remain, each guaranteed at least $43,849 in prize money. The winner will take home $1,125,189 and a gold WSOP bracelet. The remaining players will return Tuesday at 10 a.m. PT and they will continue until only five players remain. Those five will then return on Wednesday for the final table when they will play down to a winner.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates on this and all other tournaments from the 2022 WSOP!
The 2022 WSOP at Bally's & Paris Las Vegas returns at 4 p.m. as the final six battle for the coveted gold bracelet and top prize of $371,358 at the final table on Day 4 of Event #39: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed.

Leonid Yanovski begins the day with an impressive chip lead, coming in with a total of 8,700,000, followed by Fabian Brandes (6,560,000) and Sean Winter (4,275,000) to round the top three.

Event #39: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed Final Table Counts

PLACE NAME COUNTRY CHIPS BIG BLINDS 1 Leonid Yanovski Israel 8,700,000 145 2 Fabian Brandes Austria 6,560,000 109 3 Sean Winter USA 4,275,000 71 4 Grzegorz Derkowski Poland 3,685,000 61 5 Ferenc Deak Hungary 3,110,000 52 6 Thomas Morrison USA 2,435,000 41

The six remaining players are all looking to capture their first WSOP bracelet. Brandes came close this series as he finished runner-up in Event #19 $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed for $907,132.

Blinds will resume at 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 big blind ante for 27 minutes and 46 seconds. The event will be streamed on PokerGO on a one hour delay. There will be a 15-minute break after every two levels and play will continue until a champion is crowned.

Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for all the updates on the final table of Event #39: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed and all the other events at the 2022 World Series of Poker at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.
Stana Katic has welcomed her first child into the world credit:Bang Showbiz

Stana Katic has welcomed her first child into the world.

The former 'Castle' star and her husband Kris Brkljac secretly gave birth to their first child together late last year.

Her rep told Us Weekly: "They had a baby this winter and have been enjoying the time since cocooning as a family."

It comes after the 44-year-old star dropped a huge hint she and Kris had become parents last weekend.

She shared a picture of Kris and wrote: "Happy Fathers Day to all the Pappys out there, but an especially Happy Pappys Day to my love. Best decision I ever made was joining forces with you. We love you and are so glad we get to share this life together. #Blessed"

Stana's Instagram post was her first since October 23rd, when the star announced she would be taking a break from the photo-sharing platform.

She posted at the time: "Alright, folks. Its been fun, but the work ahead is a mile-high. So, for now, adieu. See you sometime in the new year, hopefully with fun news to share!"

Stana - who was born in Canada, and has Serbian parents who emigrated from Croatia - and Kris married in April 2015 on the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia.

She is best known for playing Kate Beckett in the ABC romantic-crime series 'Castle' from 2009 to 2016.

Announcing her departure, ABC said in a statement at the time: "Kate Beckett has been a beloved character on our hit series 'Castle' for the past eight years. We are grateful for Stana Katic's talent and dedication to the series and we hope to continue our relationship."

After the news was revealed, Stana wrote on Twitter: "To the fans: thank you for your support. I love you."
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FPT Corporation, one of Vietnams biggest technology firms, last week announced its business performance in the first five months of the year with impressive results. It made revenues of over $705 million and pre-tax profits of almost $132 million, up 22.2 per cent and 24.7 per cent on-year, respectively.

Notably, revenue from technology soared 23.5 per cent on-year to more than $398 million, making up 56 per cent of the groups total revenue. Strong growth in the US (55.6 per cent) and Asia-Pacific (57 per cent) greatly contributed to these results. Like FPT, other Vietnamese technology firms such as VNPT, Viettel, and MobiFone are said to be performing well, though they have yet to announce official statistics.

According to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), players in Vietnams ICT sector are estimated to have reached a total revenue of around $57 billion in the first five months of 2022, up 8.5 per cent from the same period last year. During the span, export turnover of hardware and electronics was estimated at nearly $44.8 billion, representing 30.1 per cent of the countrys total export value.

Statistics from the MIC also showed that as of the end of April, the number of digital technology enterprises has reached over 66,000, up nearly 550 from March, showing a strong interest in ventures in this burgeoning sector.

Vu Kiem Van, deputy general secretary of the Vietnam Digital Communications Association, told VIR, The result is attributed to growing demand for digital transformation at home and abroad. And the trend will continue in the months to come. Better performance is predicted in the upcoming months.

Van added, International ICT giants are raising investment in Vietnam. In the meantime, Vietnamese technology giants tend to venture further in the overseas market and gain success, with Viettel and FPT being outstanding examples. International cooperation is now a strong focus among them to increase their footprint, and will intensify in the future.

In late May, the local technology market witnessed FPT Software entering a strategic partnership with Silicon Valley startup Landing AI to tap into both sides AI capabilities and promote the adoption of computer vision across all industries. This strategic alliance is expected to not only extend these capabilities but also enable the company to expand its large customer base globally. Landing AI is one of the international partners that FPT has hooked up with in recent months. In March, FPT signed an MoU with Sierra Leone to accelerate the national digital transformation and training of human resources in the West African nation.

The intensifying of international partnership also enables Viettel, VNPT, and MobiFone to grow at home and overseas. In particular, VNPT this month announced it was working with Amazon Web Services in developing digital transformation solutions for government agencies and businesses in Vietnam. The partnership reinforces VNPTs strategy toward increasing international cooperation so as to venture further into the national digital transformation.

In mid-May, VNPT also signed an investment cooperation agreement on 5G network development with Casa System Group in Washington D.C. The partnership with Casa Systems is the next step in VNPTs digital infrastructure development roadmap to explore, exploit, and apply techniques and technologies in Vietnams 5G network development in the context that Vietnam is going to commercialise 5G.

VNPT is also cooperating with Qualcomm in developing 5G products and services, and Ericsson in an Industry 4.0 partnership.

Viettel has also entered partnerships with several international tech firms. In 2021, it signed an agreement with Samsung on digital transformation in Vietnam, while last year also saw Viettel, Ericsson, and Qualcomm work together to research, test, and establish a 5G data transmission speed of over 4.7Gbps. This is 40 times faster than 4G and twice as fast as currently available 5G speeds.

Qualcomm is among international tech titans that have strongly developed cooperation with Vietnamese giants such as Viettel, VNPT, MobiFone, BKAV, and VinFast to expand its presence. Ericsson also does so similarly.

In anticipation of its growth potential, FPT aims to reap revenues of around $1.84 billion and pre-tax profits of over $331 million in 2022, up 19 per cent and 20.2 per cent on-year. Looking forward, FPT targets developing new products and providing larger-scale digital transformation services in 2022-2024.

Meanwhile, MobiFone aims to have one or two recognised national digital transformation platforms in 2022. In the development strategy towards 2030, this company will focus on three key pillars: digital infrastructure, digital solutions/platforms, and digital content services.

Source: VIR
The nations infants, toddlers and preschoolers are finally getting their shot at COVID-19 vaccination.

But in Waco and elsewhere, the rollout of the special vaccines for children under 5 may be gradual.

The Food and Drug Administration greenlighted the Moderna and Pfizer shots for children as young as 6 months under an emergency authorization Friday, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended them Saturday. Shipments arrived in some locations around the country over the weekend with shots available Monday in places.

The three-dose Pfizer vaccine formulation is approved for ages 6 months to 5 years, while the two-dose Moderna formulation is for children 6 months to 6 years. Until now, the vaccine was not available for children under 5, an age group representing about 18 million children.

In McLennan County, the Walgreens website on Monday was allowing reservations for children ages 3 and 4 to get the two-dose Moderna shot at the Bosque Boulevard and Woodway Drive pharmacies starting Saturday. The website referred younger children to pediatricians.

The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District was closed for the Juneteenth holiday Monday, and its officials could not be reached for comment about availability of vaccines for the youngest children.

Waco Family Medicine is expected to have the vaccine for the under-5 population in two or three weeks, said Dr. Kelley Reynolds, deputy chief medical officer for clinical system, which primarily serves low-income patients.

Its going to be a little bit longer, but it shouldnt be too much longer, Reynolds said. We are definitely excited about this group of vaccines.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have the same active ingredients as their adult counterparts, but young kids will get a dose of 10 mg instead of 30 mg.

Floyd Barry, a staff pediatrician for Waco Family Medicine, said immunizing young children will at the very least save parents from having to take a week or more off work to care for them if they do get sick, but the stakes can be much higher than that.

He said vaccines even the playing field between doctors and the virus by keeping more people out of the hospital, either because they never caught the virus or they suffered a milder case that didnt push their blood oxygen level dangerously low.

Barry said its important for parents to remember that while most people who have died from COVID-19 were adults, the disease has killed children before.

There are a lot of children getting mild cases, but some of them are getting sicker, he said. We are seeing some long COVID-19, and were seeing them in people who didnt have severe cases.

He said by comparison, the vaccines have no serious side effects.

There are some mild complications, but this is a good thing, Barry said.

In the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines were first tested and given in late 2020 to health care workers and older adults. Teens and school-age kids were added last year.

President Joe Biden, public health authorities and pediatricians are hailing the eligibility expansion. But they also acknowledged that getting some parents on board may be a challenge given disappointing vaccination rates  about 30%  in school-age kids.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Medical Association were among physician groups that encouraged doctors and families to get young children vaccinated.

According to an AAP report released earlier this month, more than 13.5 million people younger than 18 in the U.S. have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Of those, about 395,000 were reported in the past 4 weeks and just under 5.7 million were added this year.

Another AAP report from May listed 93,511 COVID-19 cases among Texas children. In McLennan County, COVID-19 cases among children increased sharply last August during the deadly delta variant wave. On Sept. 24, 11-year-old James Jamie Parsons, died from COVID-19.

Barry said parents should ask their primary doctors about vaccinating their children under 5.

Adults were sent to show up in your car at the mall, or any pharmacy, he said. For children, its more about where you get your health care.

When the COVID-19 vaccine for adults was newly available only to people in certain jobs or at certain ages, Lynns La Vega Pharmacy in Bellmead maintained a monstrous waiting list. Now, the pharmacy never opens more than one vial a week.

Scott Everett, a pharmacist at Lynns, said the federal partner the pharmacy orders vaccines from only distributes in bulk orders of at least 100, and he doesnt expect the pharmacy to get that much demand for shots.

The CDC advises vaccination even for those who already had COVID-19 to protect against reinfection, and says it is OK to get other vaccines at the same time.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Editor's note: This story has been revised to clarify that the Methodist Children's Home is independent and will not be directly affected by the split.

First Methodist Waco, the citys largest Methodist church, may take a vote this summer on severing its ties to the United Methodist Church, an international Christian denomination long roiled by division over full inclusion of LGBTQ members. The Waco church is positioned to ultimately affiliate with the month-old Global Methodist Church as the denomination prepares for a breakup.

The Rev. Ryan Barnett, First Methodist Waco lead pastor, said the church is in a period of prayerful discernment on the question. The churchs leadership supports the move with congregation members expected to vote on it by late summer. If members approve disaffiliation, the action will go to the United Methodist Church Central Texas Conferences called Annual Conference in September for consideration and approval.

Representatives from the approximately 270 churches in the Central Texas Conference met earlier this week in Fort Worth for their annual meeting, at which they outlined the steps for churches wanting to leave the United Methodist Church. Barnett said 92 churches have indicated their intent to leave, and he expects another 40 to 50 churches to begin the process this fall.

The split developing in one of the largest Protestant denominations in the world centers on questions of sexuality and Scriptural interpretation, such as performing same-sex marriages and ordaining LGBTQ people as ministers. The United Methodist Churchs Book of Discipline, which guides Methodist practice, does not permit LGBTQ ordination or allow ministers to conduct same-sex marriages, but efforts to amend it on those points have been made over several years.

The newly formed Global Methodist Churchs Transitional Book of Doctrines and Discipline, providing governance until a general meeting sometime next year, lists requirements for ordination, including fidelity in a Christian marriage between one man and one woman, chastity in singleness, social responsibility, and the knowledge and love of God.

Asked if the move away from the United Methodist Church over differences over LGBTQ issues might lead some in Waco to perceive the church as unfriendly to LGBTQ visitors or members, Barnett said the churchs practice would counter that perception.

People inside our congregation know we love them.  They experience the reality that we love people and make space for people, he said.

Barnett, who has been lead pastor of the 4,300-plus member First Methodist Waco for five years, said he sees a fundamental problem in a central United Methodist Church bureaucracy that inhibits the work of local churches, a bureaucracy largely absent in the Global Methodist Church.

More of the resources stay in the local church, Barnett said.

The Global Methodist Church also gives local churches more leeway with their pastors. Under the United Methodist Church, a conferences presiding bishop appoints pastors of churches in the conference, and pastors tenure with a church often is limited. Barnett said Global Methodist Church appointments are more open-ended, which he feels would be better for a congregations long-term health.

While delegates to this weeks conference represented both sides in the developing split, they joined together in contributions to support Ukrainian refugees, boosting an initial $25,000 for the cause to $140,000 by conference end. Central Texas Methodists now have donated and pledged $400,000 for Ukrainian refugee relief.

Barnett said the ability of Methodists to come together on a ministry issue despite strong disagreements on church doctrine and operation is telling.

We wanted to give a witness to show how Christians deal with differences, he said.

The protocol for leaving the conference keeps the United Methodist Church in control of shared ministries and organizations.

The Methodist Childrens Home in Waco would not be directly affected, since it operates with its own board and is not governed by the United Methodist Church or any other entity, President Trey Oakley said.

"We have strong supporters both remaining in the UMC and moving to the GMC," Oakley said in an email to the Tribune-Herald. "Our hope at MCH is that even in this time when churches are supporters are choosing their affiliations, they will find our mission a common ground they can agree on."

A call to District Superintendent the Rev. Beverly Connelly for comment was not returned Friday, and the Central Texas Conference offices were closed until Monday.

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by Adam Estes

Inside a large hangar on the facilities of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, an example of the venerable Douglas A-1H Skyraider is currently undergoing the final stages of a long restoration effort for eventual display at the National Museum of the USAF . This particular aircraft has quite a history behind it, one which bears repeating for the benefit of those unfamiliar with it.



Douglas Aircraft manufactured Douglas AD-6 (BuNo. 134600) for the US Navy at their plant in El Segundo, California during 1956. In the fall of 1962, the Department of Defense standardized the designations for all aircraft in each branch of the armed forces. As a result, the U.S. Navys AD-6 Skyraiders became known as A-1Hs.





In June of 1965, the U.S. government transferred BuNo.134600 to the South Vietnamese Air Force (SVAF), which was acquiring Skyraiders for close-air support missions against the Peoples Army of North Vietnam and Viet Cong guerillas. BuNo 136400, now bearing the SVAF serial number 34600, was transported to South Vietnam aboard USS Core (CVE-13), a WWII-era escort carrier, arriving in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) on June 17.

The Skyraider was assigned to the SVAFs 514th Fighter Squadron of the 23rd Tactical Wing, 3rd Air Division, based at Bien Hoa Air Bae, about 20 miles east of Saigon. After seeing combat with the 514th, it was eventually reassigned to the 520th Fighter Squadron of the 74th Tactical Wing, 4th Air Division at Binh Thuy Air base, near the city of Can Tho. Following South Vietnams defeat, 36400 initially remained at the airfield from where she once served; its history from that moment on is somewhat murky, however.



When Vietnam began restoring ties with the United States during the 1990s, 36400 finally resurfaced in public view. At this point, according to most sources, the US Army Center of Military History helped bring the aircraft out of Vietnam for the purposes of displaying it in a museum. A-1H 36400 arrived in the United States around 1997, initially going into storage within the Boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. There it sat until 2010, when it finally made the journey by truck to Dayton, Ohio for restoration and display at the National Museum of the USAF.





At that time, however, the museum was focused on other, higher priority restoration projects, such as for Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress 41-24485  the legendary Memphis Belle. Once the museum had finished refurbishing its rare, WWI-era Thomas-Morse S4C Scout in October 2021, the restoration team began making a great deal of progress on the Skyraider. As of writing, the aircraft is receiving new coats of paint (see time-lapse video below), and awaits final assembly before it goes on display in a new exhibit in the museums Southeast Asia War Gallery, one dedicated to the Search and Rescue missions undertaken during the war.

As many already familiar with the museum will note, there is already another A-1 Skyraider in the Gallery, this being A-1E 52-132649 which Major Bernard Fisher flew during the rescue of his fellow pilot, Major Wayne Jump Myers after the latter had been shot down on March 10, 1966. This action earned Fisher the Medal of Honor. 52-132649 went on display at the National Museum of the USAF in 1968, and it will remain on display in its present gallery when 136400 is added as well.

Many thanks to Adam Estes for this article. We look forwards to providing further updates as this aircraft comes closer to display.
CEDAR FALLS  Craig Berte was confirmed as Cedar Falls public safety director Monday.

The City Council approved his recommended appointment to the top position in a 5-2 vote. He beat out two other finalists and was recommended as the number one choice by Mayor Rob Green, City Administrator Ron Gaines and a selection committee.

Seven candidates initially applied for the job of leading the conjoined police and fire operation. Berte has been with the department since 1991. Since March, he has served as interim public safety director following Jeff Olsons retirement.

Im humbled and honored by the opportunity, Berte said after the meeting. There are many things we are going to keep on doing well.

Hell be paid an annual salary of $157,508, Gaines told The Courier.

His first day in the permanent role is Saturday. Hes been interim director since former director Jeff Olson retired March 11. Before that, Berte was police chief.

Berte noted that his department will continue to work on communication and its role of informing the public.

Cedar Falls Public Safety will continue to make the best use of our citizens tax dollars while providing effective and efficient fire and police services, he said in a news release. We are proud to reduce our citys fire risk through an aggressive annual fire inspections program and work to prevent and reduce crime utilizing technology and enforcement efforts targeting areas with the greatest potential for violent crime.

The Other Place gets ready to open new Cedar Falls Main Street location The manager expects the 4,000 square foot downtown Main Street space to open before the June 24 Sturgis Falls Celebration begins.

Councilors Dave Sires and Dustin Gainfield voted against his appointment.

Sires initially refused to vote; according to City Attorney Keven Rogers, that equates to a vote in the negative.

Sires said Berte has done a fine job for our city of Cedar Falls for many years and may have been the best candidate, but felt there should have been more council and public involvement in the hiring process for such a powerful position.

Two councilors, Kelly Dunn and Simon Harding, served on the committee that interviewed the three finalists May 25. The public was given the opportunity to comment Monday night. No one stepped forward to speak.

Ganfield also noted his appreciation for the job Berte has done in Cedar Falls, but said he has concerns with filling the position because future discussions about the public safety officer model could result in changes.

A majority of councilors have said they want an external review of the department, but discussions have been postponed until the annual goal setting sessions in November.

Any audit likely wouldnt happen until next year.

Im not convinced yet that this is a position we need to hire at this moment, Ganfield said.

Sturgis Falls Celebration, a one-of-a-kind Cedar Falls festival, kicks off Friday Unique is the one word its president Jay Stoddard, 75, constantly uses to describe the event that he helped organize for decades and envisions still leading come the event's 50th year.

During the discussion, Councilor Gil Schultz backed Berte as someone who has shown the commitment to Cedar Falls.

As far as not having an alignment or understanding with the PSO  which Sires questioned when noting he wanted somebody with true experience in the PSO system so we could have the very best community that we could possibly have  Schultz argued Berte grew up with it. Hes been there for every step.

Green reaffirmed his support for Berte after the meeting.

He was the best candidate for the job. I have my full confidence in his abilities, he said.

He is well-regarded within the local law enforcement community, as evidenced during the selection process for police chief in 2020, Green said in a memo to the council. In my interactions with him in his capacity as acting public safety director, he has amply shown executive-level thinking and demonstrated that he is well-prepared, capable, and eager to perform at the director level in service to the people of Cedar Falls.

After the meeting, Dunn, chair of councils administration committee, noted Berte had done a great job as police chief and in the interim director role. She noted hes practically grown up at the department, having served since 1991.

He also helped out the Racial Equity Task Force, she said. Hes an active citizen, and thats important as well, as someone who I think will be a great leader.

A graduate with a criminology degree from the University of Northern Iowa, Berte has held the titles of police officer, investigator, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, assistant director/assistant police chief, and police chief while serving Cedar Falls.

Berte and his wife raised their five children in Cedar Falls.

The lone external finalist was Lynn Al Fear Jr., a retired 25-year veteran of the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the founder and director of operations at the Guardian Training Services Institute, which according to its website is a group of individuals devoted to improving the lives and careers of emergency responders across the country.

The other candidate was Acting Police Chief Mark Howard, formerly a captain with the department.

Because of Olsons retirement, a number of public safety personnel were promoted in the interim.

City leaders will meet sometime in the next few days to plan for the future, said Berte. But a city spokesperson has said the department will go through a formal hiring process for the police chief.

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China to further deepen, substantiate BRICS cooperation

08:31, June 21, 2022 By He Yin ( People's Daily

Chinese President Xi Jinping will host the 14th BRICS Summit in Beijing on June 23.

Photo shows the BRICS Future Innovation Park, an industrial park oriented to the BRICS countries established in Xiamen, southeast Chinas Fujian province. (Photo/Liu Xiaoyu)

When changes in the world, our times and history are unfolding today in ways like never before, China looks forward to working with fellow BRICS members to further deepen and substantiate BRICS cooperation, cement the BRICS strategic partnership, draw up a new blueprint for BRICS cooperation, and make greater contributions to safeguarding peace and stability and promoting development and prosperity by hosting the 14th BRICS Summit under the theme of Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global Development.

BRICS is an important cooperation mechanism that has traveled a glorious path over the past 16 years. It has become a South-South cooperation platform with global influence.

China attaches high importance to the mechanism and always sees enhancing cooperation with BRICS countries as a priority in its diplomacy.

Xi has attended the BRICS Summit for nine consecutive years since 2013 and raised a series of important proposals and initiatives on developing the BRICS cooperation mechanism and enhancing the cooperation among BRICS countries.

In 2017, Xi hosted the ninth BRICS Summit in east China's coastal city of Xiamen and ushered in the second "Golden Decade" of BRICS cooperation, leaving a distinctive Chinese mark in the development of the BRICS cooperation.

China firmly believes that BRICS cooperation should follow the historical trend of economic globalization, multi-polarization and democratization of international relations, reflect an irreversible trend of the times that shows the collective rise of emerging markets and developing countries, and represent the way forward in the evolution and adjustment of the global landscape and international order. The mechanism will certainly maintain strong vitality and continuously make positive contributions to world peace and development.

The achievements and voices to be made at the 14th BRICS Summit are important indicators under the current international circumstances. As the rotating BRICS chair for this year, China has made steady progress in promoting the BRICS cooperation covering political, security, economic, trade, financial, people-to-people and cultural fields as well as sustainable development and public health. It has held more than 70 meetings and events so far this year, which have laid a solid foundation for the upcoming 14th BRICS Summit.

The BRICS Forum on Development of Industrial Internet and Digital Manufacturing is held in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian province on May 23 and 24, 2022. (Photo/Chen Bo)

China has enhanced the effectiveness of the BRICS cooperation, reaching important outcomes in areas such as global governance, vaccine, food security, supply chain and aerospace, and demonstrating the firm determination of BRICS countries to tide over difficulties through solidarity.

China has focused the BRICS cooperation on development, actively contributing to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Leaders of BRICS countries, as well as leaders of relevant emerging markets and developing countries, are all expected to attend the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, which will inject new impetus into international development.

China has made the BRICS cooperation open and inclusive. In the spheres of health, environment, development, education and culture, the country has hosted a number of BRICS Plus activities. For instance, the "BRICS Plus" dialogue at the foreign minister level held last month stressed the importance of emerging markets and developing countries in global governance, which effectively enhanced their solidarity and cooperation.

Currently, the impacts of major changes and a pandemic unseen in a century are being combined, and factors of instability, uncertainty and insecurity are increasing in the international situation. Despite it, peace and development remain the unchanging theme of the times, the aspiration of people across countries for a better life remains unchanged, and the historical mission for the international community to pursue solidarity and win-win cooperation remains unchanged.

As a positive, inspiring and constructive force in the international community, the BRICS countries need to firm up belief, grasp the trend and precisely recognize and respond to the changes. They will surely inject stability and positive energy into international relations in a period of turbulence and transformation.

China will work with other BRICS members to act on the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness, cooperation and win-win results, foster high-quality partnerships and usher in a new era for global development, so as to make new contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
 Flash

In a unanimous decision, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has granted the Henry Davison Award, its highest distinction, to the Red Cross Society of China.

The awardees also included the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, the Red Crescent Society of Iran and an outstanding volunteer recommended by the Somali Red Crescent Society.

Established by the IFRC in 2003 and named after the federation's founder, Henry Davison, the award is presented biannually in recognition of "outstanding service in improving the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity."

The President of the Red Cross Society of China, Chen Zhu, said after the award ceremony that over the years, his organization has been active in domestic disaster relief, emergency rescue, major disease relief and donation of blood, blood stem cell and organs, while also supporting millions of Chinese families by helping the fight against poverty.

On the international scene, the Red Cross Society of China has actively supported the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in a global response to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing a wide range of medical and humanitarian equipment and supplies to the movement's members. It has coordinated the work of several groups of Chinese experts in Iran, Iraq, Italy and other countries and regions.

Chen said that the award is a full recognition of his whole country's and society's contribution to global development and progress.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the IFRC is the world's largest humanitarian network supporting local Red Cross and Red Crescent action in more than 192 countries and bringing together almost 15 million volunteers for the good of humanity.
BAKHMUT, Ukraine (AP)  Holed up in a bombed-out house in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian troops keep a careful accounting of their ammunition, using a door as a sort of ledger. Scrawled in chalk on the door are figures for mortar shells, smoke shells, shrapnel shells, flares.

Despite the heavy influx of weapons from the West, Ukrainian forces are outgunned by the Russians in the battle for the eastern Donbas region, where the fighting is largely being carried out by way of artillery exchanges.

While the Russians can keep up heavy, continuous fire for hours at a time, the defenders can't match the enemy in either weapons or ammunition and must use their ammo more judiciously.

At the outpost in eastern Ukraine, dozens and dozens of mortar shells are stacked up. But the troops' commander, Mykhailo Strebizh, who goes by the nom de guerre Gaiduk, lamented that if his fighters were to come under an intense artillery barrage, their cache would, at best, amount to only about four hours' worth of return fire.

Ukrainian authorities say the West's much-ballyhooed support for the country is not sufficient and is not arriving on the battlefield fast enough for this grinding and highly lethal phase of the war.

While Russia has kept quiet about its war casualties, Ukrainian authorities say up to 200 of their soldiers are dying each day. Russian forces are gaining ground slowly in the east, but experts say they are taking heavy losses.

The United States last week upped the ante with its largest pledge of aid for Ukrainian forces yet: an additional $1 billion in military assistance to help repel or reverse Russian advances.

But experts note that such aid deliveries havent kept pace with Ukraine's needs, in part because defense industries aren't turning out weaponry fast enough.

Were moving from peacetime to wartime, said Francois Heisbourg, a senior adviser at the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research think tank. Peacetime means low production rates, and ramping up the production rate means that you have to first build industrial facilities.  This is a defense-industrial challenge which is of a very great magnitude.

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany last week reported that the U.S. has delivered about half of its pledged commitments in military support for Ukraine, and Germany about one-third. Poland and Britain have both come through on much of what they promised.

Many foot soldiers say they can't even begin to match the Russians shot for shot, or shell for shell.

Earlier this month, Ukraines ambassador in Madrid, Serhii Phoreltsev, thanked Spain  which trumpeted a shipment of 200 tons of military aid in April  but said the ammunition included was enough for only about two hours of combat.

Ukrainian filmmaker-turned-fighter Volodymyr Demchenko tweeted a video expressing gratitude for guns sent by the Americans, saying, "Its nice guns, and 120 bullets to each. But he lamented: Its like 15 minutes of a fight.

Part of the problem, too, is that the Ukrainian forces, whose country was once a member of the Soviet Union, are more familiar with Soviet-era weaponry and must first be trained on the NATO equipment they are getting.

An untold number of Ukrainians have traveled abroad to get training on the Western weapons.

Of the $1 billion pledge from the U.S., only slightly more than one-third of that will be rapid, off-the-shelf deliveries by the Pentagon, and the rest will be available over a longer term. The pledge, which includes 18 howitzers and 36,000 rounds of ammunition for them, addresses Ukraines plea for more longer-range weaponry.

Thats still far short of what the Ukrainians want  1,000 155 mm howitzers, 300 multiple-launch rocket systems, 500 tanks, 2,000 armored vehicles and 1,000 drones  as President Volodymyr Zelenskyys adviser Mikhail Podolyak tweeted last week, before the latest big Western pledges.

What the Ukrainians have got to do is conduct what military people tend to call a counter-battery operation to respond to Russian artillery fire, said Ben Barry, a former director of the British Army Staff who is senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. To do this, you need accurate weapons with a high rate of fire and a range that allows them to keep out of the way of the other sides artillery.

The Ukrainians are saying they dont have enough long-range rockets to adequately suppress Russian artillery, he said. I think theyre probably right.

As it now stands, Ukrainian fighters often have to use shoot and scoot tactics  fire, then move before the Russians can zero in on them.

Better NATO hardware, even in small quantities, is often welcome.

On a nearby front on Saturday, a Ukrainian unit granted The Associated Press rare access to the firing of U.S.-supplied M777 howitzers  towable, 155 mm weapons  on Russian positions.

A lieutenant who goes by the call sign Wasp touted the M777's precision, speed of fire, simplicity of use and the ease with which it is camouflaged, saying the new hardware raises our spirits and demoralizes the enemy because they see what the consequences are.

Denys Sharapov, Ukraines deputy minister of defense in charge of procurement, told a publication of the U.S.-based National Defense Industrial Association that the weapons systems that have been received cover only 10% to 15% of the country's needs. He noted the breadth of the challenge  a front line with 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of active combat.

Interviewed by National Defense magazine in an article published Wednesday, Sharapov said no single supplier could satisfy Ukraines needs alone.

Quite unfortunately for us, we have become the biggest consumer of weapons and ammunition in the world," he said.

Friends of Ukraine are digging in for the long haul.

Time may be on Ukraines side, the experts say. Ukrainian fighters are both motivated and mobilized  all men in the country of 40 million have been called to fight, whereas Russia has so far avoided a call-up of conscripts, which could vastly tilt the war in Russias favor but may not be popular domestically.

As for how long such fighting could last, analyst Heisbourg said a years-long war of attrition is quite possible."

Keaten reported from Geneva. Srdjan Nedeljkovic in Bakhmut, Ukraine, contributed to this report.

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.

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The worlds biggest four-day work week pilot is underway in the U.K., where thousands of workers will get an extra day off for the next six mo
Part 1 (read Part 2)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine.

On June 20, at about 05.00 AM, the Kiev regime attempted to capture Snake Island.

The plan of the operation composed by the Kiev regime supposed to launch massive air and artillery attacks at Snake Island, to disembark troops and capture it.

The air attack has involved more than 15 Ukrainian attack and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) adjusted by two Bayraktar-TB2 UAVs.

Russian means detected a Global Hawk RQ-4 strategic reconnaissance UAV of the U.S. Air Force at high altitudes near Snake Island.

Ukrainian UAVs were supported in air by S-300 air defence systems from their combat positions near Tuzla and Ochakov.

Missile and artillery attacks at Snake Island were launched by Ukrainian Tochka-U ballistic missiles, Uragan multiple rocket launchers and M777 155-mm howitzers from their combat positions to the west from Odessa and in Kubansky island.

Russian air defence means (Pantsir air defence missile and cannon system and Tor air defence missile system) have destroyed all the destruction means of the enemy launched at Snake Island.

The destroyed targets were: 13 UAVs, 4 Tochka-U missiles and 21 projectiles of Uragan multiple rocket launcher.

No Ukrainian destruction means have reached their targets in Snake Island.

The unsuccessful fire attack forced the enemy to abandon the landing to Snake Island.

After being convinced that the attempt to seize the island had failed, the Kiev regime took an attempt of a new gamble related to Russian gas infrastructure facilities in the north-western part of the Black Sea.

After 08.00 AM, anti-ship missiles and a Bayraktar-TB2 UAV attacked BK-1 and Krym-1 gas production platforms.

The Ukrainian provocation has resulted in an intensive fire at BK-1 platform, this area of the Black Sea has resulted to be in danger of an environmental disaster.

Sabotages of the Kiev regime have been reflected by launching Oniks cruise missiles at Shkolny military airfield near Odessa and the destruction of the hangars for Ukrainian Bayraktar-TB2 UAVs detected by Russian reconnaissance means.

2 artillery plattoons of M777 155-mm howitzers have been destroyed in Kubansky island.

 Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed 2 launching ramps of S-300 air defence missile system near Ochakov and Tuzla (Odessa region).

Russian Federation Armed Forces continue launching attacks at military facilities located in Ukraine.

High-precision air-based missiles have destroyed 4 munitions depots near Mirnaya Dolina, Loskutovka, Podlesnoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic), as well as a Buk-M1air defence system near Seversk (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

In addition, manpower and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), as well as of nationalist groups, including the Right Sector, have been neutralised near Belaya Gora, Novodruzhesk, Mirnaya Dolina, Podlesnoye and Volcheyarovka.

Within counter-battery warfare towards Donetsk, 2 plattoons of Uragan multiple rocket launchers have been neutralised near Zaryanoye and Dimitrov, as well as 2 plattoons of Giatsint-B 152-mm howitzers at their firing positions near Spartak and Podgornoye.

 Operational-tactical and army aviation has neutralised: 57 manpower and military equipment concentration areas, 1 command post of the AFU, as well as a multi-function missile guidance radars of S-300 air defence system near Seversk (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

***

Part 2 (read Part 1)

Missile troops and artillery have neutralised: 216 manpower and military equipment concentration areas of the AFU, 28 command posts, 64 artillery units at their firing positions, as well as 2 munitions depots.

Attacks launched by aviation, missile troops and artillery have resulted in 570 nationalists, 29 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, as well as 16 special vehicles.

Russian air defence troops have shot down 1 Su-25 of the Ukrainian Air Force near Mazanovka (Kharkov region).

19 Ukrainian UAVs have been shot down near Krutaya Balka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Dibrovo, Kapitolovka, Liptsy and Zavody (Kharkov region). 5 Tochka-U tactical missiles, as well as 30 projectiles of Uragan multiple rocket launchers have been intercepted near Lozovskiy (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Lozovaya, Kremenets, Aleksandrovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Dolgenkoye and Topolskoye (Kharkov region).

 In total, 209 airplanes and 132 helicopters, 1,292 unmanned aerial vehicles, 348 anti-aircraft missile systems, 3,709 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 580 combat vehicles equipped with multiple rocket-launching systems, 2,065 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 3,760 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

The enemy continues suffering considerable losses during the special military operation.

Only 28 servicemen of the 57th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU that operates in Severodonetsk have remained in the ranks, the other has been left only with commanders.

Reserves for replenishing the losses are exhausted.

Territorial Defence battalions that arrive from the western regions of Ukraine for reinforcing refuse to head to the front.

Servicemen of the 101st Territorial Defence Brigade of the AFU have stated that the refuse to be involved in the operations and headed to the rear area in the responsibility zone of Soledar operational tactical group.

There are more than 600 persons who have refused to fight.

M777 155-mm howitzers delivered by USA and European countries to Ukraine have become a good target for Russian destruction means.

15 howitzers, mostly yet unused and deployed near Druzhkovka railway station, have been destroyed over the past 24 hours.

Residents of settlements adjacent to operations zones in Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov and Zaporozhye regions are being forcibly mobilised. National police units block the settlements for these purposes. Men of all ages are detained to be mobilised.

Kiev regime spreads information about an allegedly secret trip of Zelensky to Lisichansk where he faced a shelling.

At the same time, the group of Ukrainian troops near Lisichansk has been cut off from supplies and is being under firing control of the Russian Armed Forces.

According to the Ukrainian prisoners, units of the 79th Airborne Assault Brigade have been abandoned by their commanders.

Servicemen who remained alive had nothing to do but to surrender for saving their lives.

The same situation is in the 57th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU. After losing the two thirds of personnel, its commander begged the group command to inform the AFU General Staff and Zelensky in person about the real situation.

Kiev regime continues spreading fake news in the best traditions of Kvartal-95 amid its military failures for doing something to stop the panic and the escape of its personnel from Donbass.

#MoD #Russia #Ukraine

@mod_russia_en

WtR
 Top News Today

Oniks high-precision missile has been launched by Bastion coastal missile system at Artsiz airfield located in the Odessa region. The attack has resulted in the elimination of a control station for Bayraktar-TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and 2 UAVs of this system on the ground.

Missile troops and artillery have neutralised 148 manpower and military equipment concentration areas of the AFU, 25 command posts, as well as 59 artillery units at their firing positions.

Attacks launched by aviation, missile troops and artillery have resulted in 450 nationalists, 13 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, as well as 16 special vehicles.

A considerable part of the commanders of the 30th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU have abstracted themselves from managing their units and refuse to fulfil combat tasks. All kinds of pretexts are used for simulating illness. The majority of units have already been left without any officers.

 According to reliable information, in the Kharkov region, the Kiev regime has organised another provocation against the local population in order to accuse Russian units of allegedly indiscriminate attacks at civilians, as well as to create conditions for their eviction from flats and deploying firing positions in there.

 Publishing of footage of Western Military District Uragan multiple rocket launcher and Bastion coastal missile system crews in combat action.

 Russian Armed Forces have delivered more than 390 tonnes of humanitarian goods for the population of the liberated settlements in Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics, as well as in the Kherson region.

#MoD #Russia #Ukraine

@mod_russia_enjoy

WtR
Weather Alert

...LAKE WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM TO 8 PM PDT TUESDAY... * WHAT...Southwest winds around 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph expected. * WHERE...Washoe. * WHEN...From 2 PM to 8 PM PDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Small boats, kayaks and paddle boards will be prone to capsizing and should remain off lake waters until conditions improve. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Check lake conditions before heading out and be prepared for a sudden increase in winds and wave heights. Consider postponing boating activities on the lake until a day with less wind. &&
AARP

AARPs LGBTQ Community Caregiving Guide offers practical guidance on developing and putting a caregiving plan in place for an LGBTQ loved one or friend with information on forming a team, finding support, practicing self-care, navigating legal and financial issues, and more.

Alzheimers Association

The research and advocacy group has resources tailored for LGBTQ people living with dementia and for their caregivers. Its online community, AlzConnected, has a dedicated forum for LGBTQ users.

CenterLink

CenterLink is an association of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community centers with more than 270 members nationwide. You can use its online locator to find the center nearest you or to a loved one youre caring for.

Family Caregiver Alliance

The Family Caregiver Alliance provides services for caregivers of adults with chronic physical and cognitive conditions. Its website has fact sheets and FAQs on LGBTQ caregiving, and its CareNav platform offers information, support and resources tailored to registered users individual needs.

GLMA

GLMA (formerly known as the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association), a network of health care professionals working to advance equality in care, has a directory to help LGBTQ patients find welcoming providers in their area, as well as fact sheets on key health issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

Healthcare Equality Index

Issued annually by the Human Rights Campaign, a national advocacy group, the Healthcare Equality Index evaluates more than 2,200 medical facilities across the country on the basis of equity and inclusion of LGBTQ patients and employees.

LGBT Family Law Institute

A joint project of the LGBTQ+ Bar and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, it offers an online member directory where you can find LGBTQ+ attorneys practicing family law in 36 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

LGBT National Help Center

A resource hub for information, support and referrals with online peer-support chat and a hotline (888-234-7243) for LGBTQ adults 50 and older to speak with a volunteer peer counselor.

Long-Term Care Equality Index

Launched in 2021 by SAGE and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the Long-Term Care Equality Index provides data on how long-term care communities such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities adopt inclusive policies, practices and services.

SAGE

SAGEs National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging offers a wealth of health, policy and legal information, including a state-by-state directory of support organizations and a library of caregiving resources, some produced in partnership with AARP. SAGE has myriad other initiatives serving LGBTQ people 50 and older, including SAGECents, a free digital platform with tools to help users build savings and reduce financial stress; a phone-buddy program to help community members stay connected; and a crisis-response hotline (877-360-5428).

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)



The VA website has information about health care and long-term care policies for LGBTQ veterans and their families, defined as anyone whom the patient considers to be family. Every VA health system has an LGBTQ care coordinator who can answer questions, address concerns and advocate for quality care.

World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)

WPATH, a nonprofit professional and educational organization, uses evolving clinical and academic research to establish standards of care for treatment of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. It provides information on a spectrum of issues related to transgender health as well as a provider search engine.
Paris, Anyone? These Recent Historical Novels Will Take You There

Most people would read guidebooks before embarking on a visit to a new city. But fiction lover that I am, I prepared for my first-time visit to Paris this spring by diving into novels set in the city, a wildly popular backdrop for historical fiction.

See our story describing some top picks. And they just keep coming. Among the latest is The Ghosts of Paris by Tara Moss, which takes place in the city just after WWII and features Australian private investigator Billie Walker, whose search for answers to a few mysteries (among them what happened to her missing husband) takes her throughout the city, including Notre Dame and the catacombs below.

Theres another excellent historical novel out this summer thats set more broadly in France  and about 600 years ago. Joan by Katherine J. Chen (available July 5) is a fictionalization of the remarkable life of the legendary Joan of Arc. Is it historically accurate? Loosely, but itll transport you to another time and place as you follow Joans rise from a vulnerable little girl with an abusive father to a fierce warrior who sent Frances enemies packing.

Visitors take turns reading from Ulysses at Swenys in Dublin (May 2022). AARP/Vintage

Blooming Fun in Dublin

On the same trip, I visited Dublin, where last week, on June 16, bookish revelers celebrated Bloomsday  marking the day in 1904 that James Joyces famous Ulysses takes place. In the novel, a satiric take on Homers The Odyssey that many consider to be a modernist masterpiece (full disclosure: I cant get past the first pages of the chaotic saga), the main character, Leopold Bloom, wanders Dublin while offering stream-of-consciousness observations as he goes about his day.

This year, the 100th anniversary of the novels publication, events in Dublin included Joyce fans dressing up in period costumes, Ulysses readings, and reenactments of scenes from the book.

At any time of year, visitors to Dublin should head to Swenys Pharmacy, a few blocks from Trinity College. Featured in Ulysses back when it was a pharmacy (Bloom bought his lemon soap here), its now a cool, book-cluttered James Joyce Heritage Visitor Centre. Youll likely find Joyce scholar P.J. Murphy behind the counter, welcoming volunteers who show up to read aloud from Ulysses throughout the day; if youre lucky, Murphy might break out his guitar and sing you an old Gaelic tune. (We stopped there on this fun city tour.)
Getty Images

En espanol | Fireworks displays, blow-out backyard barbecues and cannonballs off the diving board are just some of the hallmarks of a typical Independence Day celebration. And this year theyre back.

In the last two years some fireworks displays were canceled due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, and social distancing discouraged big bashes. But this year, in many places, the Fourth of July may look a lot like it did pre-pandemic. And people are ready to celebrate, even though it remains important to keep pandemic precautions in mind. 

Everyone is looking for a ray of sunshine and something memorable, says Mariah Leeson, who runs GigglesGalore, a lifestyle blog to help families create celebrations on a budget.

Here are some ways to make the Independence Day weekend festive.

Go all in on patriotic decor

Start with displaying the American flag to show your patriotism. Weve got the advice you need to properly display the Stars and Stripes with respect. For starters, never let the flag touch the ground.

But decorations dont have to stop with the flag. Napkins, tablecloths, streamers and bunting in red, white and blue can amp up the celebratory feeling. Same goes for front-door wreaths, candleholders and mason jar lanterns. You can make many of these yourself.

Flowers are a great way to brighten up a gathering, says Shayla Copas, of Little Rock, Arkansas, the author of Four Seasons of Entertaining. Red tropical flowers or roses paired with blue hydrangeas and some white blooms boost the patriotism factor.

Dont forget your own red, white and blue. Stick with the theme by donning a spangled hat, T-shirt or accessories  or even just clothes that match the colors of the day.

We dont want to lose that sense of having a party, Copas says.
 Flash

A Chinese envoy on Monday called for the lifting of sanctions imposed by the Security Council as well as unilateral sanctions against South Sudan.

The transitional period in South Sudan will end next year. It is hoped that all parties in South Sudan will sustain the current momentum and move in a steady and orderly manner to achieve the objectives set out for their transitional political structure, security arrangements, and economic reform, said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

With regard to the unique challenges facing the country in implementing the revitalized peace agreement, the international community should maintain the necessary patience and help the country overcome practical difficulties rather than keep exerting excessive pressure, criticizing it, and imposing sanctions, he told the Security Council.

The council should respond to the appeal of the African Union and lift the arms embargo on South Sudan as soon as possible. An increasing number of Security Council members do not support the current sanctions regime on South Sudan, he said.

"The United States keeps piling up unilateral sanctions on other countries, inflicting tremendous harm on the people of those countries. Sanctions should not be instrumentalized for political ends. Double standards should be abandoned," said Dai.

The intercommunal conflicts in South Sudan have a long history and should be addressed by multiple means such as prevention, mediation, dialogue, and development. The UN secretary-general's report on South Sudan points out that these conflicts mainly stem from competition for resources. The international community should help South Sudan grow its economy, improve livelihoods, and eliminate the root causes of conflicts, he said.

South Sudan's economic reform achieved certain results and the macro-economic situation remains relatively stable. However, humanitarian needs remain large and food insecurity is acute, affecting an estimated 7.7 million South Sudanese this year, he said.

"We call on the international community to maintain and increase aid to South Sudan, and maintain and scale up contributions to UN humanitarian and development agencies. At the same time, the international community should also focus on helping South Sudan strengthen its own development and capacity-building, fully respect its ownership in economic development, unleash its potential in agriculture, energy, infrastructure and other fields, and help the people of South Sudan achieve self-reliance at an early date," said Dai.
Brisbane, June 21, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Tombola Gold Ltd ( ASX:TBA ) is pleased to confirm its positive progress towards first gold production, with mining activities advancing well-ahead of schedule at Comstock and Shamrock open-pits. In excess of 15,000 tonnes of mineralised material has already been stockpiled on the ROM Pad in preparation for treatment. The decision on where and how much of the stockpiled material and the future mineralised material mined from Comstock and Shamrock pits is to be processed will be considered during the due diligence period.HIGHLIGHTS- Mining activities at Golden Mile advancing well ahead of schedule with two open pits being developed at Comstock and Shamrock.- More than 15,000 tonnes stockpiled to-date on Run of Mine "ROM" Pad for processing, with production exceeding forecast mining rates of 4,500t/day.- Mineralised zones identified by blast hole sampling and in-pit grade control giving confidence in the selective mining practises being employed.- The Lorena CIL plant offers the opportunity to consider during the due diligence period the optimisation of ore processing between Lorena and onsite in the Vats being constructed at Mt Freda.The Company's mining plan targets have been significantly exceeded boding well for initial gold production from its 100% owned flagship Mt Freda Gold Mine in Cloncurry, Queensland.Tombola Gold Managing Director, Byron Miles, commented:"We are pleased to be advancing positively towards first gold production from our 100% owned Mt Freda Gold Mine in Queensland. We have an amazing opportunity to quickly become a profitable gold producer from the Mt Freda Project in Cloncurry, Queensland and to use this to leverage our aspiration to become a meaningful Australian gold producer."Ore Mining has commenced in Comstock PitProduction is well ahead of the mining plan / schedule with 188,000 total tonnes (ore and waste) moved over the past 6 weeks well ahead of the initial mining schedules with strict in pit grade control in place.Ore zones are identified through blast hole sampling and assaying along with in-pit visual control, with ore tonnes delivered to the ROM pad to date exceeding the mining plan. In excess of 15,000 tonnes are now stockpiled on the ROM (left side stockpile below*). Potential low-grade ore visually identified in the margins of the blasthole delineated ore zones are individually stockpiled on the bench below the main ore stockpile.The low-grade ore piles will be sampled prior to crushing to determine the feasibility of processing this material.Tombola will continue to ramp up ore production at the Mt Freda Gold Complex as further areas of mineralisation are uncovered. The Company has engaged QCrush of Mt Isa, whose equipment will be mobilised to the Mt Freda Gold Complex further expediting the mining process.Mining production is well underway in the Comstock pit (foreground pit below) and production blasting commenced in the Shamrock pit (top right below). Production from Comstock is consistently exceeding the daily budget of 4500tpd.*To view video, please visit:To view tables and figures, please visit:About Tombola Gold Ltd

Tombola Gold Ltd (ASX:TBA) is a company assembled by experienced, exceedingly well-qualified and all very well rounded team members that have previously floated exploration companies which achieved major resource discoveries and success. Between the Tombola team members, Tombola as a company have well over 100 years of accumulated experience in the mining, exploration and resource sector. Tombola principal objective is to acquire assets to explore for and develop a large IOGC or porphyry deposit funded by low-risk gold production resources. To that end, Tombola has a license covering 970 sq km prospective for gold/copper in the Mount Bryan-Red Banks-World's End area near Burra in South Australia; with strategic agreements with Queensland Mining Corporation.
CORRALES  LouAnn Jordan recalls the time a man came into Secondhand Treasures, the thrift store on Corrales Road, and discovered a didgeridoo, an Australian Aboriginal wind instrument played by vibrating the lips to turn out an eerie, almost otherworldly drone.

The gentleman knew how to play those horns, said Jordan, a volunteer at the thrift store. He played it, and then he turned around and bought it.

So what are the chances of a shopper in Corrales knowing how to play an exotic instrument from Down Under?

Never mind that. What are the chances of a store in Corrales having such an instrument among its merchandise?

At Secondhand Treasures, where you can purchase everything from an antique deviled eggs platter to a colorfully painted papier-mache duck, the odds might be better than you think.

You trip across some little treasure you didnt know you needed  scarves, purses, shirts and dresses, said Debbie Haycraft, a devoted customer. I love the jewelry table that makes for nice, little gifts because (the jewelry) is so reasonably priced.

Items sold at the store are donated by the public.

Store volunteer Carron Hardin said her husband made a rule that if she bought something at the store, she had to donate something to it. She doesnt pay attention to the rule.

But as far as donations, if you are into sustainability, as we all need to be, instead of the dump, you can take things to this store, a place where someone comes in and its the best thing they have ever seen, Hardin said. And in the end, 100% of the profits go to animals in need, and that really tugs at my heart.

Secondhand Treasures, open noon-4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, is operated by Southwest Animal Rescue Fund Inc., a nonprofit whose mission is to aid animals, primarily dogs, in need.

Anything that is helping animals is worthwhile. It is the right thing to do, Haycraft said. There are always people at that store. There is usually a rescue dog running around or behind the counter. Im disappointed they are not open every day.

The fact is, however, that Secondhand Treasures may not be open any day for much longer.

Great resource

Nancy Baumgardner, president of Southwest Animal Rescue Fund and manager of Secondhand Treasures, is sitting among the stores eclectic, often elegant, occasionally eccentric inventory. Usually, this is a cheerful setting that hums to a positive vibe.

But on this day, Baumgardner is disturbed by the noise made by men putting up a sign in the stores parking lot. The sign gives notice that the property is for sale.

The owners are selling the building and the lot it sits on for more than SWARF, which has been leasing the space, can afford to pay.

It is pretty much inevitable that we are going to have to close, Baumgardner said. We have looked at every property up and down Corrales Road and have found nothing. She said the business needs a site of at least 3,000 square feet.

The building that houses it now, the original site of the community grocery store Frontier Mart and later the Bunkhouse furniture business, is 3,500 square feet.

We want to stay in Corrales, Baumgardner said. It is a destination area. We get repeat visitors during the (Albuquerque International) Balloon Fiesta.

But it is also a village focal point.

Its a place where all the people can donate their stuff, a place for people to meet friends and neighbors, she said.

Customer Abby Dix shops at Secondhand Treasures for glassware, beautiful dishes and horse tack.

Its not like a normal thrift store, Dix said. Its really high quality. Everyone is nice and they seem to know you. The store is really well organized and stocked. I donate there every time I move or clean house  tables, chairs, books, housewares. Its a great resource for people and a wonderful thing for the dogs.

Heres the plan

Secondhand Treasures has been in business, always at its present location, for more than 11 years. The store was closed nearly 14 months during the height of the pandemic, but despite that it has funneled a half million dollars into payments for veterinary bills, food, boarding, transport, rehabilitation, training and spay and neuter procedures, Baumgardner said.

Until the past few years (SWARF) did a lot of direct rescue, such as pulling dogs from high-kill shelters around New Mexico, fostering them until they were physically and mentally ready to be adopted and finding homes for them, she said. But that is so emotionally and physically exhausting, gut-wrenching work.

Secondhand Treasures, the thrift store hat supports Southwest Animal Rescue Fund, needs a new home. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) A customer checks out the diverse things for sale at Secondhand Treasures, a thrift store that supports animal rescue, located in Corrales. The Bunkhouse building, which the store has occupied for 11 years, is for sale, which might mean the end for the business. The business hopes to find a new place in Corrales. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Some of their vintage jewelry for sale at Secondhand Treaures in Corrales. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Winston, a rescue dog, roams Corrales Secondhand Treasures during business hours. Proceeds from sales at the thrift store help animals such as Winston, but the impending sale of the property it leases threatens the stores future. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Prev 1 of 4 Next

Now, the organization focuses on funding other New Mexico animal rescue and assistance organizations, such as NMDOGS, the OSCAR Foundation, Argos and Spay-Neuter Coalition of New Mexico.

Baumgardner said SWARF has contributed money to international groups engaged in rescuing animals from the war in Ukraine and provided assistance to those helping animals affected by New Mexicos wildfires. SWARF also maintains a sanctuary for old, sick, injured and other animals that are not adoptable.

Even if Secondhand Treasures closes, Baumgardner said the rescue fund will continue its work.

We have a little money in the bank, she said. Heres the plan. We will have weeklong sales at cut-rate, but not give-away, prices. We will give a lot (of merchandise) to the OSCAR Foundation. Then we will store the rest at my house and have garage sales, maybe some online sales.

But it wont be the same.

Short time

Beth Quinn, a retired kindergarten to eighth grade teacher with the Albuquerque Public Schools, is in charge of the used-books section at Secondhand Treasures.

You walk in here and you are in this cabin full of merchandise, she said. I try not to bring home something every day. Books are my baby. Most of the time (I buy) books; some artwork, little watercolors; and little wooden boxes because everyone needs wooden boxes.

The volunteers are full of energy and outgoing. Everybody gets along. Its the kind of place you look forward to going into.

Volunteer Jordan first got involved with SWARF when she enlisted its aid to rescue a dog from a small-town animal shelter. Now, she owns the dog whose rescue she initiated and once a week she makes the 80-mile, hour and a quarter drive from San Acacia in Socorro County to work at the store.

Its a great group of women, all wanting to help the animals, all of us in there for the animals, she said of the stores volunteers.

The half dozen volunteers are in their 60s or 70s.

But Gabby Ruth, Secondhand Treasures one paid employee, is 30. Because of the stores uncertain future she is looking for another job, but she does not want to leave the thrift store.

Working there has honestly been the best job I have ever had, Ruth said. Everyone knows everyone and helps each other out. Its good to see where the proceeds go. Its a warm atmosphere.

Ruth said store customers range in age from young teens to older adults.

The first thing people say when they walk in here is Wow,' Baumgardner said as she guided a visitor through the store. We are really known for our quality of goods and our selection. Weve got womens shirts and pants, $6. Womens jackets and dresses, $10. A rack of $15 and $16 womens clothes  brand names like Eileen Fisher. Mens shirts, nice shirts, $6. Ralph Lauren, $6.

Weve got a Christmas corner  ornaments, mugs, nutcrackers  sold year round. Weve got rocks  mica, petrified wood with copper, banite, fluorite. Somebody came in here one day and bought $600 worth of rocks.

She paused as she gazed around the store she has known for years but that changes every day. She still holds out hope that another property might become available in Corrales, but she realizes time is running short at this site.

Its sad because it is not a failed business, she said. Its a really successful business and people love it. But we have to go.

UpFront is a Journal front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Ollie Reed at 505-823-3916 or oreed@abqjournal.com.
JERUSALEM  Israels outgoing coalition government will fast-track a bill this week to dissolve parliament, setting up the country for its fifth elections in three years, a Cabinet minister said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced on Monday that he would disband his alliance of eight ideologically diverse parties, a year after taking office, and send the country to the polls. A series of defections from his Yamina party had stripped the coalition of its majority in Israels parliament, known as the Knesset.

Bennett cited the coalitions failure earlier this month to extend a law that grants West Bank settlers special legal status as a main impetus for new elections. His key ally, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, will become the caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed in the aftermath of elections, which are expected to be held in October.

Welfare Minister Meir Cohen, a member of Lapids Yesh Atid party, told Israeli public broadcaster Kan that the coalition would bring the bill to a preliminary vote on Wednesday.

We hope that within a week we will complete the process, Cohen said. The intention is to finish it as soon as possible and to go to elections.

A parliamentary committee approved holding a preliminary vote to dissolve parliament on Wednesday, with a final vote expected early next week.

New elections raise the possibility that former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now opposition leader, will be able to stage a comeback. Netanyahu was ousted by the eight-party alliance after four inconclusive elections that were largely seen as referendums on the his fitness to rule. The alliances factions range from dovish liberals opposed to Israeli settlements to hawkish ultranationalists who reject Palestinian statehood. It was only their opposition to Netanyahu that brought them together.

Netanyahu is currently on trial for corruption but has denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the charges as a witch hunt by his political opponents. Israeli law does not explicitly state that a politician under indictment may not become prime minister.

As politicians gear up for fall elections, several coalition members have floated the possibility of passing a law before the Knesset disbands that would bar a lawmaker accused of a crime from serving as prime minister.

Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the aim of his Yisrael Beytenu party in the upcoming elections is to prevent Benjamin Netanyahu from returning to power. Along with the bill to dissolve parliament, he said he would advance legislation on Wednesday to bar a lawmaker under indictment from assuming the premiership.

I hope that bill, too, will find a majority, he said at an economic conference hosted by the Israel Democracy Institute.

Justice Minister Gideon Saar, leader of the New Hope party, told Army Radio that his faction had advocated such a bill and would vote in favor if its brought before parliament.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz, a centrist who formed a short-lived national unity government with Netanyahu after gridlocked elections in 2020, told reporters he wouldnt partner with him again.

Honestly, in pain and sorrow, I say he has exhausted the political trust that can be given to him, Gantz said.
MONTGOMERY, Ala.  Katie Britt won the Republican nomination for Senate in Alabama Tuesday, defeating six-term Rep. Mo Brooks in a primary runoff after former President Donald Trump took the unusual step of rescinding his initial Brooks endorsement.

The loss ends a turbulent campaign that pit Brooks, a conservative firebrand who has spent more than a decade in Congress, against someone who has never held elected office. Brooks ran under the banner MAGA Mo and fully embraced Trumps election lies. But that wasnt enough for the former president, who initially backed Brooks in the race to replace Britts former boss, retiring Sen. Richard Shelby, but then pulled his support as Brooks languished in the polls.

The race was among a handful of contests held Tuesday at the midpoint of a primary season that has been shaped by Trumps effort to influence the GOP.

By the time Trump backed her earlier this month, Britt was already considered the favorite in the race. She emerged as the top vote-getter in the states May 24 primary, but just missed the threshold that triggered a runoff. Still, Tuesdays result gives Trump a win at a time when his influence over the GOP has come under scrutiny.

The former president has had a mixed record of success in backing candidates this election season, helping lift Senate contenders in Pennsylvania and Ohio while floundering elsewhere, particularly in Georgia. Voters in the onetime Republican stronghold rejected his efforts to unseat the states GOP governor and secretary of state, both of whom rebuffed his extraordinary pressure to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. And his trouble in the crucial swing state deepened Tuesday as two of his endorsed congressional candidates faltered in their GOP run-off elections.

In the 6th District in Atlantas northern suburbs, emergency room physician Rich McCormick beat Trump-backed lawyer Jake Evans. And in the 10th District east of Atlanta, trucking company owner Mike Collins bested Democrat-turned-Republican Vernon Jones.

Trump persuaded Jones to run for the seat and drop his long-shot bid for governor to clear the field for his chosen candidate, former Sen. David Perdue. Perdue lost to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who endorsed Collins. The seat is being vacated by Republican Rep. Jody Hice, who also lost his bid to unseat Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, another top Trump target.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser won the Democratic nomination to serve another term, fending off a pair of challengers amid concerns over rising crime and homelessness.

But the Alabama Senate runoff had drawn particular attention because of the drama surrounding Trumps endorsement and because the winner, who will face Democrat Will Boyd in November, is considered the overwhelmingly favorite in the Republican state.

Britt, 40, cast herself as part of a new generation of conservative leaders while disparaging Brooks, 68, as a career politician. If victorious in November, Britt will be the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama and one of its youngest members. The states previous female senators had been appointed.

Alabama has spoken. We want new blood. We want fresh blood, she said at her victory party. We want someone who will fight for Christian conservative values, who will fight for the freedoms and liberties this nation was founded on and will fight for the American dream for the next generation and the next generation.

That argument seemed to resonate with some voters Tuesday.

Shes young. Shes smart, said 86-year-old Carolyn Bowman. Thats what we need in Congress.

Brooks, who is known for his bombastic oratory style, described the race as a battle for the soul of Republican Party, pitting the true conservative wing against establishment members of the GOP. He disparaged Britt, 40, as a RINO  the GOP pejorative meaning Republican in name only  and maintained he was the only one with a proven conservative record.

The founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, Brooks has a history of bucking party leadership and made his opposition to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell a pillar of his campaign, embarking on a Fire McConnell Tour of town halls.

In his concession speech Tuesday night, Brooks told supporters he respected the races outcome. But in a sign of the contentious race, he accused voters of having been seduced by false advertising and congratulated high-dollar donors and special interest groups for funding Britts campaign.

We are sending to Washington, D.C., the exact opposite of what we need in the United States Senate. But the voters have spoken. They might not have spoken wisely, he groused.

Brooks was initially considered the frontrunner when he announced his Senate candidacy, and Trump quickly offered his support, rewarding an ally who had been an ardent supporter of Trumps false claims of election fraud. Brooks voted against certifying Democrat Joe Bidens presidential election victory and delivered a fiery speech at the Stop the Steal rally that proceeded the U.S. Capitol insurrection, telling the crowd, Today is the day that American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.

But their relationship soured as Brooks struggled to gain traction. Trump eventually pulled his support in March, accusing Brooks  one of the most conservative members in Congress  of going woke for saying at a rally that it was time to move on from litigating the 2020 presidential election.

Brooks clawed his way into a second-place finish in the May primary and tried once again to get Trump to back him. But Trump instead threw his support to Britt 11 days before the runoff she was widely expected to win.

Elsewhere, in Virginia, Republicans chose a pair of Trump-aligned congressional candidates to take on two of the most vulnerable Democrats in the fall.

In the coastal 2nd District, state Sen. Jen Kiggans won the Republican race to try to unseat Democrat Elaine Luria, a retired Naval commander and member of the Jan. 6 committee, in the general election. And in central Virginias 7th District, Yesli Vega emerged from a competitive six-candidate field to face Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger.

At the polls Tuesday in Virginia Beach, Nanci Eves, 70, said she voted for Kiggans in part because she believes the candidate is best positioned to win in November.

We need someone who can beat Elaine Luria, said Eves, a retired nurse who lives in Virginia Beach and who thinks Democrats have made a mess of the country while in power.

___

Colvin reported from Washington. Ben Finley in Virginia Beach, Va., contributed to this report.

___

Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ap_politics.
WASHINGTON  The House 1/6 committee heard chilling, tearful testimony Tuesday that Donald Trumps relentless pressure to overturn the 2020 presidential election provoked widespread threats to the backbone of our democracy election workers and local officials who fended off the defeated presidents demands despite personal risks.

The panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol focused on Trumps efforts to undo Joe Bidens victory in a most local way  by repeatedly leaning on public officials in key battleground states with shocking proposals to reject ballots outright or to submit alternative electors for the final tally in Congress.

The high-profile pressure, described as potentially illegal, was fueled by the presidents false claims of voter fraud  which, the panel says, spread dangerously in the states and ultimately led directly to the deadly insurrection at the Capitol.

A handful of election officials in several key states stood between Donald Trump and the upending of American democracy, Chairman Bennie Thompson said, praising them as heroes and the backbone of our democracy.

The hearing was punctuated throughout with accounts of the personal attacks faced by state and local officials.

Arizona Republican House Speaker Rusty Bowers said he was subjected to a public smear campaign, including relentless bullhorn protests at his home and a pistol-wielding man taunting his family and neighbors.

Officials in Michigan, Pennsylvania and other states told similar stories of having their cellphone numbers and home addresses spread publicly after they refused Trumps demands.

At one gripping moment, two Georgia election workers, a mother and daughter, testified that they lived in fear of saying their names aloud after Trump wrongly accused them of voter fraud.

There were a lot of threats wishing death upon me, said Wandrea ArShaye Shaye Moss, a former state election worker.

The public hearing, the fourth by the panel this month, stemmed from its yearlong investigation into Trumps unprecedented attempt to remain in power, a sprawling scheme that the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee has likened to an attempted coup. The panel insisted that Trumps lies over the election threaten democracy to this day, as local officials face ongoing threats and challengers try to take over their jobs.

The committees vice chair, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, implored Americans to pay attention to the evidence being presented, declaring, We cannot let America become a nation of conspiracy theories and thug violence.

One key witness was Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who testified about Trumps phone call asking him to find 11,780 votes that could flip his state to prevent Bidens election victory.

While the committee cannot charge Trump with any crimes, the Justice Department is watching the panels work closely.

Trump defended himself on social media, describing his phone call to Raffensperger as perfect, similar to the way he described the 2020 call with Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskyy that resulted in his first impeachment.

The public testimony from Raffensperger came weeks after he appeared before a special grand jury in Georgia investigating whether Trump and others illegally tried to intervene in the states 2020 election. Raffensperger beat a Trump-backed challenger in last months primary election.

He and Gabe Sterling, his chief operations officer, detailed their painstaking efforts to count the Georgia vote, going down the rabbit hole, he said, investigating one false claim after another of fraud. After a hand recount of 5 million ballots, Bidens victory was unchanged.

The numbers dont lie, said Raffensperger, who said that some 28,000 Georgia voters simply bypassed the presidential race but voted down-ballot for others. At the end of the day, President Trump came up short.

Bowers, the Arizona House speaker who also appeared in person, walked through what started with a Trump phone call on a Sunday after he returned from church. The defeated president laid out a proposal to have the state replace its electors for Biden with others favoring Trump.

I said, Look, youre asking me to do something that is counter to my oath,' Bowers testified.

Bowers insisted on seeing Trumps evidence of voter fraud, which he said Trumps team never produced beyond vague allegations. He recalled Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani later told him, Weve got lots of theories, we just dont have the evidence.

Trump wanted Bowers to hold a hearing at the state Capitol, but the Republican leader said there was already a circus atmosphere over the election. The panel showed video footage of protesters at the Arizona statehouse including a key figure, the horned hat-wearing Jacob Chansley, who was later arrested at the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Trump nevertheless pressed the Arizona official, including in a follow-up call, suggesting he expected a better response from a fellow Republican.

But Bowers said that because of his faith, including a belief the U.S. Constitution is divinely inspired, what the president was asking him to do was foreign to my very being.

Bowers called Trumps effort a tragic parody.

With in-person testimony, Moss, who had worked for Georgias Fulton County elections department since 2012, and her mother, Ruby Freeman, a temporary election worker who spoke earlier to the panel, gripped the audience with their accounts of the fallout from the smear campaign by Trump and Giuliani.

Do you know how it feels to have the president of the United States target you? Freeman testified. The president of the United States is supposed to represent every American, not to target one. But he targeted me.

The select committee outlined Trumps elaborate fake electors scheme that sought to have representatives in as many as seven battlegrounds  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada and New Mexico  state that he, not Biden, had won their states.

Several Republicans in Congress latched onto the scheme in the run-up to Jan. 6.

The committee displayed a text message from an aide to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., to an aide for Vice President Mike Pence the morning of Jan. 6 saying Johnson wanted to give Pence an alternate slate of electors for MI and WI.

Do not give that to him, Pence aide Chris Hodgson replied. And Johnson didnt, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Conservative law professor John Eastman, a lawyer for Trump, pushed the fake electors in the weeks after the election. The idea was to set up a challenge to Bidens win when Congress met on Jan. 6 with Pence presiding in what is typically a ceremonial role to certify the election. Trump sent thousands of his supporters to the Capitol to fight like hell, as he pressured Pence to reject the ballots. The effort ultimately collapsed amid the deadly riot, as Pence refused Trumps demands that he reject the electors.

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Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Bob Christie in Phoenix contributed to this report.
KYIV, Ukraine  Russian attacks laid down a curtain of fire Tuesday across areas of eastern Ukraine where pockets of resistance are denying Moscow full military control of the region, almost four months after the Kremlin unleashed its invasion.

Today everything that can burn is on fire, Serhiy Haidai, the governor of Ukraines eastern Luhansk region, told The Associated Press.

Russias war has caused alarm over food supplies from Ukraine to the rest of the world and gas supplies from Russia, as well as raising questions about security in Western Europe.

The Russian military currently controls about 95% of the Luhansk region. But Moscow has struggled for weeks to overrun it completely, despite deploying additional troops and possessing a massive advantage in military assets.

With the help of tactical movements, the Ukrainian army is strengthening defenses in the Luhansk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. That really is where the toughest situation is now.

In the city of Sievierodonetsk, the hot spot of the fighting, Ukrainian defenders held on to the Azot chemical plant in the industrial outskirts. About 500 civilians are sheltering at the plant, and Haidai said the Russian forces are turning the area into ruins.

It is a sheer catastrophe, Haidai told the AP in written comments about the plant. Our positions are being fired at from howitzers, multiple rocket launchers, large-caliber artillery, missile strikes.

The defense of the chemical plant recalled the besieged Azovstal steel mill in the brutalized city of Mariupol, where Ukrainian troops were pinned down for weeks.

Neighboring Lysychansk, the only city in the Luhansk region that is still fully under Ukrainian control, also was targeted by multiple airstrikes.

The airstrikes on Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk ruined more than 10 residential buildings and a police station. In the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, a school burned down as the result of the shelling, the presidents office said. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions make up the Donbas.

Separately, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland met for about an hour at a Ukrainian-Polish border post with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. They discussed how the U.S. can help identify, apprehend and prosecute anyone involved in war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

We and our partners will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable, Garland said in a statement.

Garland also tapped Eli Rosenbaum  a 36-year Justice Department veteran who headed efforts to identify and deport Nazi war criminals  as counselor for war crimes accountability. He will coordinate efforts to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, also came under heavy Russian shelling on Tuesday. Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said 15 civilians were killed and 16 wounded in Kharkiv and elsewhere in the region.

Zelenskyy said the attacks in the Kharkiv region were especially cruel and cynical because they brought no clear benefit to the Russian forces. The Russian army is deaf to any rationality. It simply destroys, simply kills, and in this way it shows its command that it is not really standing in place, he said in his video address.

Speaking Tuesday to graduates of Russian military academies at a lavish Kremlin reception, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the Russian armed forces as heirs to the countrys legendary military traditions. The country is now going through another series of trials, he said, expressing confidence that Russia will overcome all the challenges.

There is no doubt that we will become even stronger, he added.

International support for Ukraine was demonstrated once more when a Nobel Peace Prize medal auctioned off by Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov sold Monday night for $103.5 million, shattering the old record for a Nobel. The auction aimed to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees.

Geopolitical tensions stemming from Russias invasion returned to Lithuania. Due to European Union sanctions on Moscow, the Baltic country earlier this month banned rail traffic from crossing its territory from Russia to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Kaliningrad, with a population of around 430,000 people, is wedged between Lithuania and Poland, both EU countries, and is isolated from the rest of Russia.

Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of the Kremlins Security Council and a hard-liner, visited Kaliningrad on Tuesday and vowed to respond to the ban.

The relevant measures are being drawn up in an interagency format and will be adopted shortly, Patrushev said, without elaborating. He added: Their consequences will have a significant negative impact on the population of Lithuania.

In other developments Tuesday:

 Zelenskyy said he spoke with leaders from nine European Union members  Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain  in anticipation of Fridays meeting of EU leaders to decide whether to grant Ukraine candidate status. He said his agenda for Wednesday is just as full. We are expanding the circle of those who support Ukraines candidacy and making it more likely that Fridays decision will be positive, he said.

 John Kirby, a national security spokesman for the White House, said it was appalling that the Kremlin suggested two Americans captured by Russian forces in Ukraine could be sentenced to death. Kirby declined to say what steps the U.S. would take if Russia does not treat Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh, both from Alabama, as prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it depends on the investigation, when asked during an NBC interview whether the Americans could be sentenced to death like two Britons and a Moroccan captured while fighting for Ukraine.

 The U.S. State Department confirmed the death of a U.S. citizen in Ukraine who is believed to be only the second American to have been killed while fighting in the conflict.

 Britains Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence report that Ukraines coastal defenses have largely neutralized Russias ability to project maritime force in the northwestern Black Sea. This has undermined the viability of Russias original operational design for the invasion, which involved holding the Odesa region at risk from the sea, the report said.

 Russian authorities blocked the website of British newspaper The Telegraph over an article it published, the internet rights group Roskomsvoboda reported Tuesday. It said Russias media and internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, blocked Russian access to a story that alleged that Russian forces had prepared a mobile crematorium for use in its war with Ukraine, possibly to hide its military casualties. The move made the entire Telegraph website inaccessible for some Russians.

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Karmanau reported from Lviv. Francesca Ebel contributed from the Krakovets border crossing in Ukraine.

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Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
SYLHET, Bangladesh  Villagers in northeastern Bangladesh crowded makeshift refugee centers and scrambled to meet boats arriving with food and fresh water as massive floods, which have killed dozens of people and displaced hundreds of thousands there and in neighboring India, continued to wreak havoc Tuesday.

In Sylhet, one of the worst-hit areas in the extreme northeast of the country near the border with India, villagers waded, swam and paddled makeshift rafts or small skiffs to a boat delivering aid that had moored to one shelter, its ground floor covered half way to the ceiling with water.

The low-lying village along the Surma River is prone to flooding, but with the extreme rainfall at the start of this years monsoon season, villager Mehedi Hasan Parvez said hes never seen anything this bad.

In some cases even the second story of buildings has been inundated, the local businessman said, sitting in a small boat as he waited his turn to receive a package of rice, canned goods and other staples.

Some people have been without water at home for three days, he said. They have no food at home and cant get to the market to buy supplies.

Monsoon rains in South Asia typically begin in June. But this year heavy downpours lashed northeastern India and Bangladesh as early as March, triggering floods as early as April in Bangladesh.

With rising global temperatures due to climate change, experts say the monsoon is becoming more variable, meaning that much of the rain that would typically fall in a season is arriving in a shorter period.

Meghalaya, the mountainous region of India to the north of Sylhet, and neighboring Assam state, renowned for its tea plantations, have seen far more rain in June than usual.

In the settlements of Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, some of the worlds wettest areas on the southern fringes of Meghalaya state that overlook Bangladeshs plains, more than 970 millimeters (38 inches) of rain was recorded on Sunday alone, according to Indias Meteorological Department.

Meghalaya has already received 174% of its total average June rainfall over the first three weeks of the month. Assam is at 97% of its average for the month over the same period.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina surveyed many of the flooded areas by helicopter on Tuesday and urged regional leaders to speed up relief efforts at a meeting with them.

So far, reports of fatalities in Bangladesh range between 12 and 32, but the U.N. childrens agency said about 4 million people have been cut off by the floods in the countrys northeast and are in urgent need of help.

UNICEF said in a report Monday that they include 1.6 million children and that without fresh drinking water, they could be in serious danger of waterborne diseases.

In the Sylhet region, 90% of health facilities have been flooded and thousands of people have taken refuge in overcrowded shelters, the agency said.

At one makeshift shelter, a village woman shared a small room with more than a half dozen others and two of her familys cattle, saying she had been left with little choice.

My house has been destroyed by the floodwaters, said the woman, who identified herself only as Jainabunnesa.

On the other side of the mountain range to the north of Sylhet in Indias Assam state, the torrential rains sent the Brahmaputra River spilling over its banks in many areas, causing destruction and triggering massive landslides.

Assam authorities reported 10 more flood deaths on Tuesday, bringing its total to 64, with 17 others killed in landslides.

The National Disaster Response Force and the Indian Army have evacuated thousands of people in the last week from the roofs of their houses with inflatable boats. They fear some people are still missing.

Nearly a quarter-million people are now living in emergency relief camps.

The Brahmaputra River flows from India into northern Bangladesh on its way to the Bay of Bengal, and Bangladeshs Flood Forecast and Warning Center warned Tuesday of dangerously high waters for the next five days.

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Ghosal reported from New Delhi. Associated Press writers David Rising in Bangkok, Julhas Alam in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.
 Flash

A total of 132 civilians were killed in three villages in the rural commune of Bankass in central Mali, said a statement released on Monday by the Malian government.

According to the Malian authorities, the peaceful populations of Diallassagou, Dianweli, Deguessagou villages and surroundings in the rural commune of Bankass were the subject of barbaric attacks on the night of June 18 to 19.

Several perpetrators of the massacre have been formally identified, which are part of the fighters of the Katiba Macina of Amadou Koufa, according to the statement.

The government strongly condemns these attacks and promises to engage all necessary means to find their perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Mali has been facing security, political and economic crises since 2012, with insurgencies, jihadist incursions and inter-community violence killing thousands and displacing hundreds of thousands of others in the West African country.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden has signed off on giving federal wildland firefighters a hefty raise for the next two fiscal years, a move that affects more than 16,000 firefighters and comes as much of the West braces for a difficult wildfire season.

Pay raises for the federal firefighters had been included in last years $1 trillion infrastructure bill, but they had been held up as federal agencies studied recruitment and retention data to decide where to deliver them.

The White House said the move announced Tuesday is intended to set federal agencies on a path to continue working with stakeholders towards an updated, competitive, and equitable pay structure, along with a support system that will address the many challenges that have plagued our wildland firefighter workforce for decades.

The legislation stipulated that the $600 million in the infrastructure bill to increase pay for wildland firefighters should go to all those firefighters provided that they are located within a specified geographic area in which it is difficult to recruit or retain a federal wildland firefighter.

The Biden administration in the end decided on a raise for all the federal wildland firefighters over the next two years, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity ahead of the formal announcement. The official said the infrastructure bill offered enough money to provide the raises but the administration was looking to work with Congress to provide a long-term fix on the firefighters pay.

I will do everything in my power, including working with Congress to secure long-term funding, to make sure these heroes keep earning the paychecks  and dignity  they deserve, Biden said in a statement.

The infrastructure law also authorized agencies to increase the base salary of federal wildland firefighters by $20,000 per year or 50% of their current base salary, whichever is lower, through 2023. The firefighters will receive back pay for the raises, dating to October 2021.

The National Federation of Federal Employees union, which represents a majority of federal wildland firefighters, had been urging the Biden administration to interpret the statute as broadly as possible, as firefighters across the country were struggling to make ends meet.

This is incredibly good news for federal wildland firefighters all across the country, said Randy Erwin, president of the union. There has been a serious recruitment and retention problem for wildland firefighters at federal agencies this year.

Forest Service Chief Randy Moore told a Senate subcommittee last month that his agencys staffing levels are at 90% overall but as low as 50% percent in some areas, including Oregon, Washington state and California.

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., was among a group of lawmakers who had been pushing the administration to resolve the pay issue amid worries that it would further exacerbate staff shortages as the West enters the hot summer months. Heinrich called the two-year pay fix progress but said more needs to be done. New Mexico this year has endured the largest wildfire on record in the state.

These men and women are battling historic fires in NM and are on the frontlines of the climate crisis across the West, Heinrich said in a Twitter message. This is admirable, strenuous work and hard on their families.

The issue of recruitment, retention and low pay for wildland firefighters had been on Bidens radar since early in his administration.

Last June, before the infrastructure bill was passed, the Democratic president signed an executive order temporarily raising pay for federal firefighters to ensure that no one was making less than $15 per hour.

Biden said he had been dismayed after learning that the starting pay for federal firefighters was significantly lower than that at many local and state fire agencies. Pay for new federal firefighters had typically started at $11 per hour to $14 per hour, and they were overtime-eligible.
MEXICO CITY  Two elderly Jesuit priests were killed inside a church where a man pursued by gunmen apparently sought refuge in a remote mountainous area of northern Mexico, the religious orders Mexican branch announced Tuesday.

Javier Campos Morales, 79, and Joaquin Cesar Mora Salazar, 80, were slain Monday inside the church in Cerocahui in Chihuahua state.

They were apparently killed after a man fleeing a drug gang took refuge in the church, authorities said. The gang apparently pursued and caught him, and killed all three.

Chihuahua Gov. Maria Eugenia Campos confirmed a third man was killed, without identifying him. But President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said during his daily news conference that the man fleeing the gunmen was also killed.

The state government later identified the third man as a tourist guide, and said he had been kidnapped and taken to the church, apparently by the gunmen.

The governor said the killings caused deep anger, indignation and pain and shook us to our deepest depths.

Lopez Obrador said authorities had information about possible suspects in the killings and noted the area has a strong organized crime presence.

Violence has plagued the Tarahumara mountains for years. The rugged, pine-clad region is home to the Indigenous group of the same name. Cerocahui is near a point where Chihuahua state meets Sonora and Sinaloa, a major drug-producing region.

A statement from the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus in Mexico demanded justice and the return of the mens bodies. It said gunmen had taken both of their bodies from the church.

Acts like these are not isolated, the statement said. The Tarahumara mountains, like many other regions of the country, face conditions of violence and abandonment that have not been reversed. Every day men and women are arbitrarily deprived of life, as our murdered brothers were today.

For some reason, the gunmen did not kill a third priest who was at the church, but refused his pleas for them to leave the bodies of his two colleagues, said Narce Santibanez, the press director for the Jesuits in Mexico.

The surviving priest said his two colleagues had been killed with gunshots at close range.

The Tarahumara Diocese said in a statement that the killers, not content with murdering them, have taken their bodies  leaving a wake of pain, sadness and indigation among all of us who want to mourn them.

The killing of priests has been a persistent tragedy in Mexico, at least since the start of the drug war in 2006.

The Rev. Gilberto Guevara serves in the parish of Aguililla in the western state of Michoacan, a town which has been on the front lines of cartel turf wars for years. Three priests have been killed in the area over the last decade.

The danger is always there, Guevara said about working in the cartel-dominated region. As long as we dont get in the way, they respect us, just as the government respects as as long as we are useful to them.

The churchs Catholic Multimedia Center said seven priests have been murdered under the current administration, which took office in December 2018, and at least two dozen under the former president, who took office in 2012.

The center said that on May 15, a priest who ran a migrant shelter in the northern border city of Tecate was found dead on a ranch.

In 2021, a Franciscan priest died when he was caught in the crossfire of a drug gang shootout in the north-central state of Zacatecas as he drove to Mass. Another priest was killed in the central state of Morelos and another in the violence-plagued state of Guanajuato that year.

In 2019, a priest was stabbed to death in the northern border city of Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas.

Chihuahuas governor wrote in her Twitter account that she laments and condemns the killings and said security arrangements had been discussed for priests in the area.

Campos Morales was ordained as a priest in 1972 and spent almost a half-century working in parishes in the Tarahumara region, known for its grinding poverty and scenic beauty.

Mora Salazar was ordained in 1971 and worked off and on in the Tarahumara in the 1970s and 80s before returning full time in 2000.

The Tarahumara people, who prefer the name Raramuri, suffered centuries of poverty, exclusion and exploitation, with loggers plundering their forests and drug gangs cultivating marijuana and opium poppies in the mountains.

The Jesuits started missions among the Raramuri in the 1600s but were expelled by Spain in 1767. They returned around 1900.

The Indigenous community has gained worldwide fame for their skill at running dozens of miles through their mountainous territory, often in leather sandals or barefoot, and have inspired and competed in ultra-long-distance foot races.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Bidens administration announced Tuesday that it would restrict the use of anti-personnel land mines by the U.S. military, aligning the countrys policy more closely with an international treaty banning the deadly explosives.

The president believes strongly that we need to curtail their use worldwide, John Kirby, a national security spokesman, said at a White House briefing.

The United States has not extensively deployed the mines since the Gulf War in 1991. But the announcement represents a shift from a more permissive stance under then-President Donald Trump, and it concludes a review that has lasted for more than a year.

Bonnie Jenkins, the State Departments undersecretary for arms control and international security, said the new policy fulfills a commitment that President Biden made as a candidate, when he described Trumps decision as reckless.

Anti-personnel land mines are buried underground or scattered on the surface, and they can pose a lethal threat to civilians long after combat has ended. Russia has reportedly used the explosives during its invasion of Ukraine.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., described the White House announcement as a long overdue recognition that the grave humanitarian and political costs of using these weapons far exceed their limited military utility.

As welcome as this step is, the White House needs to put the U.S. on a definitive path to join the treaties banning anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions, he said in a statement. Neither of these indiscriminate weapons, the horrific consequences of which we are seeing in Ukraine today, belong in the arsenals of civilized nations.

Under the new policy, the U.S. will restrict the use of these explosives outside of its efforts to help defend South Korea from a potential North Korean invasion. Although the U.S. does not currently have any minefields deployed there, Washington has pledged support for Seouls defense, which includes anti-personnel mines.

The U.S. has a stockpile of 3 million anti-personnel land mines. Under the new policy, any that arent needed to protect South Korea will be destroyed. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a question about whether any will be discarded.

The exception regarding the Korean Peninsula, which was also in place during President Barack Obamas administration, leaves the U.S. short of full compliance with the Ottawa Convention, the 1997 treaty intended to eliminate anti-personnel land mines.

Russia is not a signatory to the treaty either, and Human Rights Watch said it has documented Moscows use of mines during its invasion of Ukraine.

Alicia Arango Olmos, Colombias ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva and a top official in the global campaign against the use of land mines, has urged Russia to stop deploying them. Anti-personnel mines only cause victims, they dont resolve any type of problem, she said in April.

Her office praised the U.S. announcement on Tuesday.

We welcome this timely decision and thank the United States for your commitment with the principles of the (Ottawa) Convention, the office tweeted. We need to continue our clearance efforts all around the world until we reach a #MineFreeWorld.

U.S. officials said that the Pentagon was working on alternatives to land mines on the Korean peninsula, but did not detail what those might be.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, said the administration needs to have a better answer about when those alternatives will be developed, rather than just kicking this down the road.

He said the U.S. should continue working to completely comply with the Ottawa Convention.

We need to get fully in step to fully differentiate ourselves from the international scofflaws like Russia, he said.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

A southern New Mexico county's standoff over certifying the recent primary election results took center stage during the opening remarks in the House Jan. 6 Committee's hearing on Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the committee chair, said the scrap in Otero County highlights the importance of the committee's work investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

We can't just look backward  because the danger hasn't gone away, he said.

Thompson recapped the Otero County Commission's dispute for the national audience.

The county's three commissioners originally refused to certify the results of New Mexico's June 7 primary election. They argued, in part, that they didn't trust the Dominion Voting Systems equipment used in New Mexico and throughout the country.

The Dominion conspiracy was mentioned during a prior hearing, which played statements by former Attorney General Bill Barr, who said former President Donald Trump had become detached from reality if he really believes this stuff.

Last week, the New Mexico Supreme Court ordered Otero County to certify the results after Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver filed a petition that said the commission's refusal to approve the results violated state election law.

Two of the three commissioners relented and certified the results. Commissioner Couy Griffin, the founder of Cowboys for Trump, voted again not to certify. He said his vote was based on gut feelings the results weren't accurate.

Thompson, without saying his name, pointed out that Griffin had been convicted of entering a restricted area during the Jan. 6 attack. He said the saga shows that misinformation about election results remains a problem.

The lie hasn't gone away. It's corrupting our Democratic institutions, he said during the hearing. People who believe that lie are now seeking positions of public trust. And as seen in New Mexico, their oath to the people they serve will take a backseat to their commitment to the big lie.

New Mexico was brought up again later in Tuesday's hearing, which focused on efforts by Trump, his lawyers and other supporters to pressure election officials throughout the country to change the outcome.

Those efforts included a plot in six states that Biden won  including New Mexico  to replace the states' electors with pro-Trump electors, who submitted certificates that aimed to award their states' electoral votes to Trump.

The New Mexican fake electors were Jewll Powdrell, Deborah Maestas, a former chair of the state Republican Party, Lupe Garcia, an Albuquerque business owner, Rosie Tripp, a former Socorro County commissioner, and Anissa Ford-Tinnin, a former executive director of the state Republican Party.

The New Mexico Republican Party has defended their actions, saying the group only submitted the documented in case it might be determined that they were the rightful electors.

There was testimony during the hearing that many lawyers in Trump's campaign and administration refused to participate in the maneuver to submit fake electors.

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced this year that his office was reviewing the matter and had also referred the incident to federal authorities.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Roxana Saenz had recently graduated from an Albuquerque high school and looked forward to enrolling in the University of New Mexico in 2020 when a drunken driver swerved into her lane of traffic, killing the 18-year-old.

A state district judge on Tuesday sentenced Bernadette Etsitty to 12 years in prison in Saenzs death following her guilty plea in April on a charge of vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol.

Etsitty, 42, had consumed a 12-pack of beer and was driving 66 mph in a 40 mph zone at the time of the fatal crash on Candelaria near Richmond NE, a prosecutor said at Etsittys sentencing hearing.

Zach Jones, senior criminal counsel for the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office, showed security camera video of Etsittys eastbound Chevrolet Silverado as it veered across the median and collided head-on with Saenzs westbound Honda Civic.

Saenzs father, Leopoldo Saenz, told the judge at Etsittys sentencing hearing that he and his family have had trouble coping with the loss of his daughter.

Everything has transformed into a lot of sadness and pain since that day, he said in Spanish through a translator. I cant get my mind around the fact that she is no longer here.

Saenz had graduated from Del Norte High School only about a month before the June 23, 2020, wreck that killed her. She was working at Blue Cross Animal Clinic in Albuquerque at the time and planned a career as a veterinarian.

From the time she was little, she always wanted to be a vet, her father told Judge Courtney Weaks. My daughter will no longer be able to pursue the dreams she had in this life.

Etsitty apologized to Saenzs family and said she recognized that she has a problem with alcohol.

I have deep remorse for the incident that took place, Estitty said. I just wanted them to know Im very sorry for what took place.

Court records show Etsitty has been charged three times for driving while intoxicated, including two offenses in 2006 and a third-offense DWI in 2018. The 2018 case was dismissed by a McKinley County magistrate judge in 2019, records show.

Etsittys attorney, Graham Dumas, said his clients alcohol problems stemmed from the trauma of sexual and physical violence she experienced growing up, and argued that prison would not provide her the trauma-based therapy she needs to recover.

Weaks admonished Etsitty to take advantage of treatment programs available in prison and to take personal responsibility for her own recovery.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Tuesday limited the reach of a federal statute that requires stiff penalties for crimes involving a gun.

The 7-2 decision united both conservative and liberal justices, though one dissenting justice compared the result to Alice in Wonderland. The justices said the law cant be used to lengthen the sentences of criminals convicted of a specific attempted robbery offense.

The case before the justices involved Justin Taylor, who in the early 2000s was a marijuana dealer in the area of Richmond, Virginia. The government has said he sold large quantities of marijuana to other dealers who distributed it. In 2003 he and another man planned to steal money from a buyer, and during the robbery the accomplice fatally shot the man.

Taylor was charged with attempted Hobbs Act robbery, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He was also charged under a federal statute that outlines mandatory minimum sentences for using a firearm in connection with a crime of violence. Taylor pleaded guilty to both and was given a 30-year sentence, 10 years longer than he could have received for just the robbery charge.

A majority of the court, however, ruled that attempted Hobbs Act robbery does not qualify as a crime of violence and therefore that Taylor was not eligible for the longer sentence.

Simply put, no element of attempted Hobbs Act robbery requires proof that the defendant used, attempted to use, or threatened to use force, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for a majority of the court.

The justices upheld a federal appeals court ruling that Taylor should be re-sentenced just on the attempted Hobbs Act robbery charge.

In a dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas cited Lewis Carrolls Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. He said the decision is an example of how the courts approach to deciding these kinds of cases has led lower courts on a journey Through the Looking Glass during which the justices have found many strange things. He said that like Alice, the court has strayed far down the rabbit hole.

I would hold Taylor accountable for what he actually did and uphold his conviction, he wrote.

Justice Samuel Alito also dissented, agreeing that the courts cases in this area of the law have veered off into fantasy land.

Frances Pratt, one of Taylors attorneys, said in an email that his attorneys are gratified to know that the Supreme Court ruled for our client and hope the decision will also help others. Taylors prosecution came at a time when officials in Virginia were attempting to reduce Richmonds high homicide rate in part by taking a hard line on gun crimes, bringing those cases in federal as opposed to state court. The effort was called Project Exile.

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The case is United States v. Taylor, 20-1459.
Colorado-based Sierra Space plans to land some of its Dream Chaser flights in New Mexico, after the company announced on Tuesday it signed an agreement with Spaceport America.

Located in southern New Mexico and known for its anchor tenant Virgin Galactic, Spaceport America is one of the newest runways across the globe where the Dream Chaser can land efficiently, Sierra Space said in a news release. The runway at Spaceport America is 200 feet wide and 12,000 feet long.

Spaceport America is enormously proud to combine efforts with Sierra Space, Spaceport America Executive Director Scott McLaughlin said in the release. As a potential landing site for the Dream Chaser spaceplane, we will continue to open affordable access to space for all in the United States and the world. We are excited to expand the partnership and working relationship with Sierra Space.

The Dream Chaser is a space utility vehicle that is meant to serve multiple missions and is designed for the transportation of crew and cargo in low-Earth orbit.

Currently, Sierra Spaces Dream Chaser has a contract with NASA that starts in 2023 for cargo supply and return missions to deliver up to 12,000 pounds of cargo at one time to the International Space Station. Sierra Space said its Dream Chaser spacecraft is the only commercial spacecraft capable of low-gravity earth return to compatible commercial runways.

Sierra Space is building the future of space  from transportation, to commercial space destinations and all of the emerging applications  to develop a vibrant, growing and accessible commercial space economy, Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice said in a statement. With that vision in mind, we are creating space-tech hubs within the commercial space ecosystem and adding Spaceport America as a prospective landing site for Dream Chaser to continue to open up affordable access to space for all.

Sierra Space recently launched an astronaut training program led by a former NASA astronaut to lead a crewed version of Dream Chaser, according to the outlet SpaceNews. The company in February also signed agreements with Kanematsu Corp. and Oita Prefecture to study future landings at an airport in Japan for the Dream Chaser spacecraft.
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China handed over the newly built provincial hospital in Enga to the government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Monday, which will help improve medical services for local people.

Addressing the handover ceremony in the Engan capital of Wabag, PNG Prime Minister James Marape thanked the Chinese government for its support for the high-quality project, saying that the PNG government is willing to deepen cooperation with China in all areas.

Enga Province Governor Peter Ipatas said it was a dream for the people of Enga and the country to have a medical center with advanced technologies, and thanks to China's help, the dream came true.

Calling the project the latest outcome of bilateral cooperation in the health sector, Chinese Ambassador to PNG Zeng Fanhua said both China and PNG are developing countries, bilateral cooperation demonstrates friendship as well as mutual support and trust, and China is ready to continue providing assistance to PNG's social and economic development.
The 10th edition of the Business Today MindRush, the flagship event of Indias biggest business magazine will see Honourable Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest.. Started in 2013, BT MindRush has established itself as one of the most sought-after events in the Indian corporate calendar.



This years in-person event on Friday, June 24, has VUCANOMICS  Leadership in an Uncertain World as its signature theme.

The event has been conceptualised to gather the latest and sharpest management insights from Global Gurus and top luminaries of Indian industry as they debate current burning issues.



With every Indian CEO grappling with unprecedented Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity (VUCA) over the pandemic years and now with the war in Ukraine, this years event will witness deliberations on the business and economic challenges and trends that will shape Indian business in the years to come.



A select CXO level-audience will get to hear from some of the worlds sharpest management minds as they deliver BT Master Class. In addition to the day-long discussions and master-classes, the highlight of the event is the felicitation ceremony of Indias Best CEOs.

The study, which is done jointly by Business Today and PwC India, uses a robust methodology that assesses the top 500 most valuable companies in the country by market capitalisation for growth in revenues, profits, EBITDA and total shareholder returns.



Top business leaders who are scheduled to participate include RC Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India, Uday Kotak, MD & CEO, Kotak Mahindra Bank,N.R. Narayana Murthy, Co-founder, Infosys, Sanjiv Mehta, CEO & MD, HUL, Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Vedanta,Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & Group CEO, OYO, Bipin Preet Singh, MD, Co-founder and CEO, Mobikwik among many others.
LT Foods, a Consumer Food Companys flagship brand Daawat Basmati Rice has created a unique occasion for Biryani lovers across the World by celebrating July 3rd, 2022 as Worlds 1st Biryani Day across the globe. Daawat Basmati Rice is providing an opportunity to all the Biryani lovers to express their adoration for this dish that has distinctive Indian flavours, but still enjoys universalized appeal across countries and cultures. This day calls for Biryani Lovers across the world to celebrate this exemplary dish by enjoying Biryani with their friends and family in their own inimitable ways and keep the Biryani mania going.

Many of the popular dishes from multiple cuisines have their own dedicated day. This has inspired Daawat Basmati Rice to coin the World Biryani Day to celebrate the worlds most favourite dish.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ashwani Kumar Arora, Managing Director & CEO, LT Foods Ltd. said, Biryani is more than a product, it is celebration of being together. The love for Biryani is truly universal cutting across countries & cultures, transcending all age groups. As one of the leading Global Basmati Rice brands, Daawat believes Biryani should have a special day, an occasion to celebrate this delectable iconic dish, an appetite for which can almost never be satiated. LT Foods is committed to facilitate the consumers to celebrate the Biryani Day with its flagship variant Daawat Biryani and recently launced Daawat Biryani Kit. Biryani Day ko aaiye, jashn ke iss din ko biryani ke saath banaiyein aur manaiyein.

To create awareness of the World Biryani Day, Daawat Basmati Rice will be launching an extensive 360 degree multi-country digital campaign supported by a television & radio campaign, an outdoor and an influencer both national and regional marketing initiative, which will all culminate on the 3rd of July with on ground events as well.

Daawat Basmati Rice is the finest Basmati and it is available across 60 countries. The premium heirloom rice grain is aged to perfection with unmatched aroma and rich flavours making the Biryani made from Daawat a total standout. Daawat has also recently launched a Biryani Kit for the convenience of cooking authentic & delicious Biryani at home in three distinct variants Hyderabadi, Kolkata, and Lucknowi.
Ipsos announces the appointment of Dan Levy as Group Chief Financial Officer with immediate effect.

After training as an economist and statistician, Dan Levy spent the first part of his career at the Ministry of Finance, in the Treasury Directorate and then in the Budget Directorate, in economic, financial and expenditure control functions. Between 2005 and 2007, he was seconded as an economist to the British Ministry of Finance in London. Dan joined Societe Generale in 2010, initially at the General Inspection, an audit and consulting department at the service of the General Management, where he supervised missions in France and abroad on all the bank's business line for 3 years.

In 2013, Dan became senior banker, in charge of strategic relationship (financing and M&A) with Midcaps clients in the technology, engineering and business services sectors. In 2017, Dan led the merger project of two business centers dedicated to the bank's large corporate clients and served as director of the riesling business center (front-to-back organization of 230 people). Dan is an alumnus of Ecole Polytechnique (Promotion 1996), ENSAE (Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de lAdministration Economique) and SciencesPo (Institut d'Etudes Politiques Paris).

Dan Levy said: I am very pleased and proud to join the Ipsos leadership team as Chief Financial Officer. I warmly thank Ben Page for his trust. In a complex and uncertain world, Ipsos has an essential role to play in helping governments and companies to decipher major societal trends, public opinion, understand and anticipate the behaviours of consumers, employees and citizens. I look forward to putting my energy, my financial skills as well as my international and management experience at the service of a global, innovative Group whose success and development over the last decades command respect and admiration.

Levy will report to Ben Page, Group CEO, and will replace Laurence Stoclet - Group Deputy CEO and previously Head of Finance and Support Functions at Ipsos - as Chief Financial Officer. Laurence Stoclet said: I am highly confident that the transition with Dan Levy, whom Ben Page has chosen to succeed me, will be successful. He will be able to rely on me during a transition period of a few months and, above all, on teams in charge of Finance and Reporting which are strong and stable, with an average seniority of 14 years. Dan is not only an experienced financier but also a data and statistics enthusiast, like all the key executives at Ipsos.

Laurence Stoclet's term of office as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and her participation in the Group's Executive Committee will end on September 30, 2022, the date on which her other executive functions will have been transferred to the new management team led by Ben Page. Laurence Stoclet will continue to advise Ben Page in relation to certain minority interests, not consolidated in the Group's accounts or having minority partners with whom she will continue to represent the Group.

Ben Page said: I am delighted to welcome Dan as our new CFO, who will be working closely with me as part of our new global management team. Dans extensive skills in financing, M&A and cash management as well as strong international and management experience of large and diverse teams make him the right choice for Ipsos, and particularly for our planned growth plan for 2025 that I will be present on June 14. I would also like to thank sincerely Laurence for her major contribution to Ipsos over the past two decades in building our global network and systems that our growth will depend on.
Nyumi, a leading wellness brand, has launched its first-ever brand campaign, #BiteMe with Kriti Sanon. With this campaign, Nyumi encourages women to not get used to their everyday problems, but to take them on, with a delicious comeback! It brings to the forefront the spirit of the unstoppable, energetic, and independent women who are ready to take on life with a bold attitude. The new campaign will go live across digital, social & retail platforms.

Todays women have too much to balance in their busy life. This leads to issues like lack of sleep, stress, UTI, hair fall, and dull skin that takes a toll on their overall wellbeing. In the new campaign, Kriti Sanon says #BiteMe to all these problems and hello to delicious nutrition every day.

Ananya Agarwal, Founder & CEO, Nyumi said, We launched Nyumi to make wellness approachable and accessible to women. Since our launch in 2021, we have seen significant growth for the brand and as we hit our one-year milestone this month, I am excited to bring to our audience our first-ever brand campaign. The Nyumi woman is quintessentially someone who believes in facing her issues head-on, and with #BiteMe, we are aiming to create a new way of looking at ones problems and taking a stand against whatever life throws at us!

Talking about launching the campaign with Kriti, Ananya said, We are very excited to partner with Kriti for this campaign. She is a natural fit, as she is someone who embodies all the qualities that the Nyumi woman represents. She is vivacious, self-assured, independent, and caring. And to add to that, Kriti has also been a Nyumi customer long before she partnered with us. We have really enjoyed collaborating with her on this campaign and I hope the audience also enjoys watching the films as much as we have enjoyed making them.

Nyumi daily nutrition gummies blend the best of Indian and western ingredients, in a delicious fruit-flavoured gummy. Developed in Germany & formulated by a team of German pharmacists and Indian nutritionists, each product is scientifically validated to maximize efficacy and bioavailability. Every ingredient is sourced with care, clinically researched, and multiple are even patented extracts.

Speaking about the campaign, Kriti Sanon said, I am very excited to be working with Nyumi! Its coincidently a brand that I have been using for some time now, and I really like their products! So its nice to be endorsing something that you actually like consuming and believe in!

"We are delighted to be a part of the journey that Nyumi has embarked on, to inspire Indian women to prioritize their health and well-being. Our campaign urges every woman to confidently say, #BiteMe to little-big health issues that hold them back every day. A confidence that comes with the Nyumi daily nutrition gummies and their perfect blend of Indian and western ingredients," said Sumanto Chattopadhyay, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, 82.5 Communications.
Paree Sanitary Pads, the homegrown brand by Soothe Healthcare has always been promoting progressive and open a dialogue to address the issues related to periods, one of them being fear of staining. Keeping this thought in mind, the brand has launched a new influencer marketing campaign #StretchBeyondStains this Yoga Day with Actress Vaishali Thaniga and Sapna Malik, the fame of MTV Splitsvilla & Roadies, and several others.

The thought behind the digital campaign is to break away from the myth that yoga isnt advisable during period. Menstruation is a normal physiological process and regular practice of yoga might help your body feel more comfortable during the monthly cycles and can also help with menstrual cramps.

As a part of this campaign, the influencers can be seen performing various asanas like Malasana, Baddakonasana, and Brahmari that are known to bring relief during periods even though people usually tend to avoid yoga during that day of the month. It further highlights the benefits of comfort and confidence that Paree Double Feathers has to offer as it gives double protection to unwanted leaks during heavy flow days.

Commenting on #StretchBeyondStains campaign, Ms. Samta Datta, General Manager  Marketing, Soothe Healthcare said Yoga is a celebration of holistic health. With #StrectchBeyondStains, we want to emphasise on feminine health & hygiene and encourage all to break away from the culture of silence around mensural. Paree Heavy flow champion offers top of the line products that allow all women not to halt their everyday health routine, in fear of leakage. These influencers will help spread our message across India.

Paree Sanitary Pads has owned the space of feminine hygiene by understanding the requirement of young urban women and giving her solutions for ever-evolving needs. With women nowadays constantly at work and hustling, the brand aspires to give them comfort and support in every way.
After over two years of Covid disruptions, on-ground events are returning. Adgullys premier event for the Public Relations and Communications industry  IMAGEXX Summit and Awards  returned for its 2nd edition as a physical event. Held in Gurugram on June 16, 2022, IMAGEXX Summit and Awards 2022 brought together the best brains in Indias PR industry today.

IMAGEXX Summit and Awards 2022 witnessed a panel discussion on Social chatter & PR - Winning the conversations game. The panel was chaired by Shivalika Chadha Malik, Associate Director, Corporate Communications, PepsiCo India and she was joined by Abhishek Roy, Head of PR - General Manager, Justdial; Saumya Bhushan, Lead- Corporate Communications, Reckitt India; Amit Arora, Head of Corporate Communications & Public Relations, Housing.com; and Bibhu Mishra, Director of Public Relations, InMobi Group.

Commencing the discussions, PepsiCo Indias Shivalika Chadha Malik noted, While we all have been on digital ever since Covid hit us, digital has taken an uptake like no one could ever have imagined. How PR strategies have aligned and how we mitigate risk and look at opportunities through social chatter is what we are going to discuss. Continuing further, she asked InMobi Groups Bibhu Mishra as to how important he thought aligning the PR strategies was or looking at opportunities when it came to social chatter post the pandemic.

Mishra replied, We have just launched a campaign and I keep monitoring the social media behaviour of how people are reacting to it. For public relations, social media is very important. There are media companies who hire social media reporters not just to track social media, but watch the social media behaviour of the users as well. Post the pandemic, we have got more digitised. Even the people who were not a part of social media earlier are now the ones who are engaging the most.

Housing.coms Amit Arora added here, In a recent report by Reuters, the millennials or the GenZ, who are below 30 years of age, have lost trust and they dont have a direct link with any news platform. Neither are they subscribers of nor do they have access to news apps or anything else, so they are obviously going to social media. Whatever news that they are consuming is directly through social media. For brands and PR strategists it is very important to have a diverse and integrated approach so that they reach a diverse audience through different platforms.

Theres a lot of diversification happening on social media and one needs to be observant. And while there are a lot of opportunities, when one is on the social media bandwagon, listening becomes really important and not just engaging.

Talking about the importance of social listening and how one can make it better from a brand perspective, Justdials Abhishek Roy said, Social listening has put a huge opportunity in front of us. That is the real time engagement that you can do with your audience and also mitigate a crisis if it is there and nip it in the bud and not let it snowball. But again, the content that you want to make in social listening has to be relevant and contextualised because it is real time. Today, the challenge that brands are facing is in terms of customer retention and loyalty. If you use it as an opportunity to engage with a personalised message with the audience, it can help you address the challenges of retention and loyalty.

While stating that PR and social chatter are strongly interlinked, Reckitt Indias Saumya Bhushan said, In the generation that we are sitting in and the generations that we are looking to address, everyone is on social media. People are more trigger-happy today. Social listening, therefore, becomes important. What becomes integral is to get those insights. Based on those insights, if you dont focus on a social media plan and PR as an integrated effort, it is not going to work, because you are losing most of your audience who are on social media.

Watch the entire conversation here:
You are here: World

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China and Laos have for the first time achieved the two-way transmission of electricity since the two countries' grid connectivity project was launched 12 years ago.

The Nam Tha 1 Hydropower Station in northern Laos successfully sent electricity to Yunnan province in Southwest China on Monday.

In order to help consume the surplus hydropower in Laos during the rainy seasons, China Southern Power Grid (CSG) and Electricite du Laos (EDL) signed a 115 kV power trade agreement in March.

China and Laos agreed to send extra hydropower from Laos to Yunnan province in rainy seasons, while in dry seasons, CSG will supplement the power supply to northern Laos.
Supriya Shrinate has been named chairperson of the Congress's communications department's digital and social media platforms. She takes over as party spokesperson from Rohan Gupta.

"With immediate effect, the Congress president has approved Supriya Shrinate's appointment as chairperson, Social media and digital platforms in the new Communications department," according to a statement from the party.

"Rohan Gupta, the outgoing chairman of the social media department, is recognised by the party for his contributions. With immediate effect, Rohan Gupta has been named the AICC's spokesperson" said the statement. According to the announcement, with the appointment of Jairam Ramesh as general secretary in-charge, the party has renamed its communications division.

Pawan Khera has been named chairman of the communications department's media and publicity committee. The Congress agreed to enhance its communications branch during the Udaipur 'Chintan Shivir' to help increase its people-to-people connections. To enable greater coordination, the communications department will be responsible for social media and digital platforms, as well as the party's communication wings in all states.
After halting Artemis 1 moon rocket's "wet dress rehearsal" several times, NASA has successfully completed the crucial fuelling test of its Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket.

The Artemis 1 wet dress rehearsal ended at 7.37 p.m. EDT on June 20, NASA said in a statement.

"This is the first time the team fully loaded all the SLS rocket's propellant tanks and proceeded into the terminal launch countdown, when many critical activities occurred in rapid succession,a the US space agency.

However, the test did not go smoothly.

During propellant loading operations, the team encountered a hydrogen leak in the quick disconnect that attaches an umbilical from the tail service mast on the mobile launcher to the rocket's core stage.

While the team attempted to fix the leak by warming the quick disconnect and then chilling it back down to realign a seal, their efforts did not fix the issue, NASA said.

The team then intentionally "masked" data associated with the issue to let the countdown continue. During an actual launch countdown, such data would have raised red flags. This change meant a delay, "but they were able to resume with the final 10 minutes of the countdown", NASA said.

"Today's #Artemis I wet dress rehearsal activities concluded after a modified countdown configuration and successfully adding propellant to the rocket. We will review the data and are meeting to discuss next steps," mission officials wrote on Twitter.

The final test is the culmination of months of assembly and testing for SLS and Orion, as well as preparations by launch control and engineering teams, and set the stage for the first Artemis launch.

Artemis 1, was earlier scheduled to launch in late May 2022. However, due to multiple delays in its wet dress rehearsal, the mega moon rocket has been pushed further.

The success of the final test could set the stage for its first launch in August, NASA had indicated earlier.

The uncrewed Artemis I mission is the first flight of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft together. Future missions will send people to work in lunar orbit and on the Moon's surface.

With the Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of colour on the Moon and establish long-term exploration in preparation for missions to Mars.
Promoting Interoperability

Welcome to Alabama's Resource Center for Public Health Reporting Measures and Readiness for Promoting Interoperability. These series of pages provide guidance on the following topics:

Which programs/registries are currently supported in Alabama.

How to register intent for Promoting Interoperability and begin the reporting processes.

How to find implementation and supplemental guides for each program/registry.

Additional information regarding the processes required to achieve Promoting Interoperability for each public health reporting objective.

The information below summarizes each program's readiness and required reporting method:

Public Health Measure: Immunization Registry Reporting

ImmPRINT accepts electronic immunization data submissions from Eligible Professionals (EPs) and Eligible Hospitals (EHs) certified electronic health record (EHR), to fulfill the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program and the MIPS Advancing Care Information Quality Payment Program for Public Health PI Reporting Objective - Immunization Registry Reporting.

ImmPRINT accepts electronic immunization data submissions from Eligible Professionals (EPs) and Eligible Hospitals (EHs) certified electronic health record (EHR), to fulfill the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program and the MIPS Advancing Care Information Quality Payment Program for Public Health PI Reporting Objective - Immunization Registry Reporting. Public Health Measure: Electronic Lab Reporting

Eligible Professionals: NA

Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: ADPH is accepting Laboratory data

(since 2011)

ADPH Supported Reporting Method: HL7 v2.5.1

Eligible Professionals: NA Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: ADPH is accepting Laboratory data (since 2011) ADPH Supported Reporting Method: HL7 v2.5.1 Public Health Measure: Syndromic Surveillance Reporting

Eligible Professionals: Within Urgent Care Settings: ADPH is currently accepting SS data

(since 2016)

Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: Emergency Departments: ADPH is accepting SS data

(since 2013)

ADPH Supported Reporting Method: HL7 v2.5.1

Eligible Professionals: Within Non-Urgent Care Settings: ADPH is not currently accepting SS data

Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: Non-Emergency Departments: ADPH is not currently accepting SS data

ADPH Supported Reporting Method: NA

Eligible Professionals: Within Urgent Care Settings: ADPH is currently accepting SS data (since 2016) Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: Emergency Departments: ADPH is accepting SS data (since 2013) ADPH Supported Reporting Method: HL7 v2.5.1 Eligible Professionals: Within Non-Urgent Care Settings: ADPH is not currently accepting SS data Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: Non-Emergency Departments: ADPH is not currently accepting SS data ADPH Supported Reporting Method: NA Public Health Measure: Electronic Case Reporting

Eligible Professionals: ADPH is ready to accept eCRs via CDC's AIMS platform.

Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: ADPH is ready to accept eCRs via AIMS platform.

ADPH Supported Reporting Method: HL7 CDA R2 Implementation Guide

Eligible Professionals: ADPH is ready to accept eCRs via CDC's AIMS platform. Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: ADPH is ready to accept eCRs via AIMS platform. ADPH Supported Reporting Method: HL7 CDA R2 Implementation Guide Public Health Measure: Cancer Registry Reporting

Eligible Professionals: ADPH is ready to accept registration

Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: ADPH is ready to accept registration

As of November 2021, ADPH no longer accepts HL7 V3 CDA Messages via web services

Eligible Professionals: ADPH is ready to accept registration Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: ADPH is ready to accept registration As of November 2021, ADPH no longer accepts HL7 V3 CDA Messages via web services Public Health Measure: Specialized Registry - Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)

Eligible Professionals: ADPH is ready to accept registration

Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: ADPH is ready to accept registration

ADPH Supported Reporting Method: N/A

Eligible Professionals: ADPH is ready to accept registration Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: ADPH is ready to accept registration ADPH Supported Reporting Method: N/A Public Health Measure: Speciality Registry

Eligible Professionals: Coming Soon

Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals: Coming Soon

ADPH Supported Reporting Method: Coming Soon

*Please refer back to this information periodically as the statuses of these programs may change.
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Two people were killed and 28 others, including a provincial health official, were wounded after a bomb explosion ripped through a district bazaar in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar on Monday, a local official said.

The incident occurred in Ghani Khil district in the morning and the wounded were transported to hospitals, district chief Mawlawi Seddiqullah told Xinhua.

The blast took place when the vehicle of the district hospital chairman Hijratullah was passing by the area, the official said, adding that he was wounded in the incident.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

In recent months, the country has been hit by a series of terror attacks reportedly staged by militants of the Islamic State (IS) group opposing the Taliban-led caretaker government.

On Saturday, two people were killed and seven others were wounded in an armed attack against a Sikh-Hindu temple in the Afghan capital Kabul. The IS group claimed responsibility for the attack later.
For decades, going back to the mid 1980s David Horowitz has been a leader of the anti-communist movement and for America. In 2021 he released 2 more books to add to his oeuvre of more than 25, The Enemy Within: How a Totalitarian Movement is Destroying America and I cant Breathe: How a Racial Hoax is Killing America, both published by Regnery.

Horowitz is now a famous and prominent conservative activist, rhetorician and writer of books and essays. He was a communist who grew up a red diaper baby of two New York City communist teachers, went to college at Columbia and UC Berkeley for graduate school, a tour with Bertrand Russell where he was heavily involved in the anti-Viet Nam, communist, progressive movement of the 60s. Then he returned to America as co-editor of Ramparts, published out of San Francisco and the signature Marxist/Socialist magazine in America in the late 60s and early 70s.

During his time as editor of Ramparts, Horowitz became very involved with the Black Panthers and Huey Newton and that led to a life-changing event. He recommended his friend and professional colleague Betty van Patter as accountant for the Black Panthers, who had some grants for racialist projects in Oakland. But when van Patter advised the Panthers to avoid illegal use of the grant moneys, the Panthers murdered her and dropped her body in San Francisco Bay.

Horowitz retreated from political activity for a time and in the mid 1980s went public as a conservative supporter of Reagan and that was the beginning of new role that has continued to this day. Horowitz continued to write and speak, created an activist anti-communist conservative advocacy project named the David Horowitz Freedom Center, with an arm called Discover the Networks, that does research and publishes studies on leftist/communist/Islamist front organizations. He wrote and advocated for academic freedom and against the racialist/crit theory/progressive/socialist/ anti-America agenda. He has been and is strong supporter of Donald Trumps agenda to restore American values and reject the woke progressive agenda.

The Enemy Within is a fast-paced book that is 200 pages of text and is heavily referenced for the scholars and curious. In the first chapter Horowitz sets the table with a discussion of the ideological forces afoot in America to tear it down.

In the introductory discussions, Horowitz covers a lot of ground about the domestic enemies of America in and out of government. He also identifies and discusses major public figures and exposes the malevolence of the left in detail. In sequence, Horowitz discovers the ideological underpinningsidentity politics, cultural Marxism, racialism, efforts to harass and cancel the opposition, highjack the social and economic and religious institutions to accomplish the march through the institutions advocated by the 1930s Italian commie Antonio Gramsci.

In the middle chapters he focuses on events and trends as well as major malefactors in the racialism/ progressive/crit theory movement, the race protests, intimidations and the public disruptions movement directed at all things Americanfrom public violence to harassment of opposition and blocking the opposition from speaking. Special attention is devoted to the impact of race hustlers and the communists that use race to denigrate and destroy the American society.

In chapter 8, he returns to ideological issues in identifying domestic seditionists and promoters of Orwellian dystopian changes in American government and social fabric. The final chapters cover the salutary impact of Trump and the exposure of the deep state and dystopian oligarchic tyranny; the challenge of reversing the march through the institutions and the corruption of government by leftist progressive oligarchy in academic, media, and corporate America as well as the deep state, that have as a goal a one-party totalitarian state.

Dinesh DSouza: David Horowitz has firsthand knowledge of who these people are, how they act, and how they think

I Cant Breathe is easier to summarize for my purposes because it is an in-depth and insightful book on the white cop/black criminal events of the past decade used as an excuse by communist racialist revolutions to tear the country apart and enshrine racialism as a new religion, with various black criminal types as patron saints.

I reviewed the many events investigated by Horowitz and blown up by the media into race events, and Horowitz does a good job of exposing the lies and deceit. You will recognize a good number of the many cases.

I also appreciate the assiduous effort of Horowitz to debunk the claims of the racialists with the facts of the cases as well as the statistical proof that blacks are disproportionately inclined to criminality, particularly violent criminality. Horowitz shows that the ginned-up complaints about unequal justice are easily disproved, and he provides the evidence.

Larry Elder: Horowitz blows the lid off Black Lives Matter lies and exposes the damage the movement has done to the black community.

John Dale Dunn MD JD is a retired emergency physician and inactive attorney.
"That rifle on the wall of the laborer's cottage or working-class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." - George Orwell

In many ways, gun arguments are similar to identity scrums. Like all woke arguments; facts, research, and science do not matter. The same folks who are confused about biology and sex, those who cannot or will not define a woman, are usually the same crowd that distort facts about men and firearms. So, lets look at gun biology and pathology; some basics, some history, and hopefully, find some common sense.

To begin, any efforts to ban guns in American are absurd. That train has already left the station.

There are more guns in American homes today than there are citizens. Indeed, many households have several guns; a handgun, a rifle (a.k.a., a long gun), and a shotgun. Adding to the proliferation dilemma, anti-gun hysteria and vitriol is a stimulus for ammunition and gun sales whenever the anti-gun rhetoric gets too hot.

Opinion polls about guns are mostly moot, too. The only poll on guns that matters is a vote for a Constitutional amendment, a poll too far by any reckoning. Second Amendment rights have been affirmed by the Supreme Court twice after 1,400 expensive court challenges. Attempts to abridge Second Amendment rights exploit woke diehards and provide a cash cow for lawyers on the radical left.

The real crime of gun litigation is billable hours.

The bottom line on gun ownership is simple. Most Americans have guns, not because they dont feel safe, but because know they are not safe. Available data demonstrate that a criminal shooter is not likely to be caught, prosecuted, convicted, or punished. In the nations capital, Washington D.C., the closure rate on gun homicide is 40% (Infographic here). If you kill in Washington, better than even money says you will not be caught, prosecuted, or convicted.

Violent crime is gun justification; the kind of Second Amendment safety that the city, state, or federal government is unable or unwilling to provide these days. Why not ransack the local pharmacy or loot Louis Vuitton, or even blow someone away over a pair of Michael Jordan sneakers, when the scales of justice are weighted in favor of the misfits among us? Criminals, not victims, are usually the heroes of most woke social narratives these days. San Francisco, New York, and Chicago, take a bow here.

Indeed, victims are the null set in our jurisprudence equation especially when African Americans are involved. When you combine the morbidity rates in black America from urban homicide, drugs, alcohol, life style choices, and abortion; the numbers amount to a kind of cultural suicide, population control by social pathology. And if you asked any beleaguered black mother to choose between a father at home or some token gun law, which do you think she would prefer?

Any solution to the gun availability problem must be proceeded by a solution to threat and public safety deficits.

Unfortunately, the same liberal zealot who would restrict guns will not protect Supreme Court justices and their families from threats, intimidation, and political violence in the nations capital.

Good luck with safety and security on your street.

Rhetoric matters, too. The trash talk and dishonesty about guns is mind-boggling. Whenever some shill begins an argument with AR-15, assault weapon, or high-capacity magazine, you know that what follows is politicized bull***t.

Few rifles, including the AR-15, are used for murder.

The weapon of choice for more than half of the nation's homicides is a semi-automatic handgun. Rifles kill or wound at a distance; a handgun maims in close quarters. All weapons are assault weapons, including ball bats, drunk drivers, drug dealers, and especially the semi-automatic handgun. And the whining about high-capacity magazines is claptrap, too. Uvalde mass shooter Salvador Ramos could have done the same damage in Uvalde, Texas, with a .22 caliber Ruger target pistol with just one spare clip. A clip can be ejected and replaced in the time it takes to clap your hands.

The high-capacity clip argument is bogus, unless the idea is to audit and verify clip or ammunition caches. And what would be done about all that legacy or extant firepower; nationwide house-to-house search and seizure? All realistic remedies need to be proceeded by honest assessments of the problem. Historically, noisy demagogues, not common sense, dominate our gun arguments.

Punks who walk around or posture with AR-15s are usually adolescent TV, movie, or social media addicts. Like their woke parents, kid killers are confused bout images and reality. In contrast, any seasoned street skell knows that a semi-auto hand gun is concealable, portable, and deadlier than a rifle. The virtues of a long gun are distance and accuracy. And yes, contrary to what you might hear from the hysteria lobby, a long gun like the AR-15, has more utility for hunting animals than humans.

The top 20 guns seized by Chicago police in any given year include few long guns. See this infographic by Joel Arbaje at The Trace here. Then again, nobody hunts deer or ducks with a Glock, either.

The National Rifle Association and local police are perennial, if not ironic, bogeymen for the anti-gun left in America. Never mind that the NRA used to be a valued gun education/safety resource and never mind that the police used to be our primary law enforcement shield. Both institutions have been bludgeoned into a defensive crouch. Cops will not go in harms way, because they know woke America does not have their backs.

Demonization of the NRA and the police, especially in urban America, leaves us with metro mean streets that are neither safe nor just. Public school punks rule Gotham, especially on public transit. And yet, we still wonder why children are not safe.

Long before COVID, public schools degenerated into custodial babysitters where identity trumped discipline and academic achievement. Drag Queen story hour now gets better press and more podium time than biology or literacy.

Between social indoctrination, social promotion, and now disease sabbaticals; we have cultivated several generations of innumerate, semiliterate, malcontents. Are we really surprised that some kids attack the very families and schoolhouses that nourished their ignorance, confusion, resentment, hate, and anger? The best primary school is a stable home where both parents teach adult values and set boundaries long before high school. If values are not learned at home, neither the streets, nor Hillarys village, will ever fill that void.

Is it possible that we have failed the very children we pretend to protect and educate? Salvador Ramos shot his granny in the face at home and then wasted a host of kids at Robb Elementary. Ramos grandfather said his grandson was upset because his wife had asked the teen to pay his own cell phone bill. Yet, we pretend to be puzzled about the killers inspiration or motives.

Is it possible that we need to worry less about chicks with dicks and more about reading, writing, arithmetic, discipline, values, and common sense? If anything goes at the schoolhouse; sick kids probably reason, why not the occasional bloodbath?

The sponsor, better still, groomer, of our blood and guts kiddie culture is Hollywood, the video gaming industry, and the legacy press. Surely, if it bleeds it leads. American children are now awash from birth with images of fully automatic gun mayhem and mass killing that celebrate slaughter orgies in Technicolor and surround sound. Males, ages 12-24, are the target audience for Hollywood gore. The plot of most action movies is revenge. Pubescent wankers in your basement are no more capable of separating Hollywood fiction from reality than they are of paying for the movies, cell phones, big screens, or streaming subscriptions that colonize their entitled, ego-centric minds.

Warped twerps and woke parents now even expect the taxpayer to pay for the college degree kids dont get. Indeed, a new generation of lonely, isolated premature ejaculators is marinating in the anonymity of internet platforms or in front of basement big screens as we speak. Besides porn, violence is every toxic nerds favorite clickbait.

If you are really worried about your childs behavior, maybe its your family culture, stupid. Gratuitous violence is now as American as drug addiction and chlamydia. Its the actors, not the instruments, that need to be reformed.

Yes, the unindicted conspirators in child slaughter are actually the duce that produced, parents that allow their warped monsters to metastasize and kill - just for a few days notoriety, courtesy of thought leaders like the Washington Post. One headline is worth a million 'likes' or followers. Parents are the invisible villains in every home where selfish confused egos are allowed to marinate in internet/media sewage and then make their debut as adolescent psychopaths.

Withal, there are three broad categories of gun owners: hunters, beleaguered civilians, and criminals. The first two are reasonable and responsible. The third doesnt care about your gun laws, or any law, for that matter. The only people inconvenienced by gun law are the folks that Uncle Sam should want to stay armed and dangerous. See Switzerland, where every adult male is issued an automatic rifle (SG 550) to keep at home.

And finally, heres what history, science, and research says about U.S. legislation that bans so-called assault weapons:

It is also important to note that our analysis cannot definitively say that the assault weapons ban of 1994 caused a decrease in mass shootings, nor that its expiration in 2004 resulted in the growth of deadly incidents in the years since.
Eric Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, former Missouri governor, and current U.S. Senate candidate, put out an ad that tries to buff his MAGA credentials by riffing off his Navy SEAL background in a hunt for "RINOs." I put it in the category of ads that try way too hard and, therefore, fail. But for one Missouri Democrat, it was a perfect opportunity to give us a preview of coming attractions if Senate RINOs help Democrats strengthen existing red flag laws across America or fund new ones.

I'm ambivalent about Eric Greitens. I reflexively admire Navy SEALS because it takes a huge amount of determination to become one. They don't seem to make the best politicians, though. Dan Crenshaw hasn't impressed me because I think he is just a bit too chummy with House Democrats, including Liz Cheney (well, she's almost a Democrat).

Greitens, too, has been a problem. He was a Democrat until about five minutes before he decided to run for Missouri governor. Once in office, he ended up in the crosshairs of Kimberly Gardner, a leftist prosecutor determined to drive Greitens from office on various charges, ranging from felony invasion of privacy to campaign-related expenses. It turned out that the prosecutor was corrupt, but the problem was that Greitens had issues, too, not the least of which was a dangerous amount of arrogance. The whole affair was messy and distasteful.

Still, Greitens was a pretty good Republican governor, which probably explains why the prosecutor went after him. He tried to clean up government corruption and signed off on bills enacting tort reform, Missouri becoming a right-to-work state, limiting abortion, improving foster care, etc. Based on his record, he seems like a viable candidate, if he can limit his arrogance to supporting his principles rather than riskily affecting his private behavior.

With an actual record behind him, Greitens is now running to be a senator for Missouri. In that capacity, he released a video that used his Navy SEAL background to urge people to go "RINO hunting." Despite Greitens holding a gun and participating in a mock SEAL break-in into a house, any halfway sentient being understood that this was not an incitement to kill politicians. It was, instead, a metaphor. Here, see for yourself:

We are sick and tired of the Republicans in Name Only surrendering to Joe Biden & the radical Left.



Order your RINO Hunting Permit today! pic.twitter.com/XLMdJnAzSK  Eric Greitens (@EricGreitens) June 20, 2022

Twitter, as you see, put a judgmental little message at the top. Meanwhile, it's done nothing to shut down death threats aimed at Libs of TikTok.

The Twitter wokesters aren't the only ones who didn't like the ad. Neither did Missouri state Senate majority leader Caleb Rowden. If Missouri had a red flag law, which it does not, it's obvious that Rowden would have tried to deprive Greitens of his Second Amendment rights without any semblance of due process. Denied that avenue of attack, Rowden did the next best thing, which was to call the Highway Patrol on someone for having a political viewpoint with which he disagreed and making a campaign ad he disliked:

We have been in contact with the Missouri Highway Patrol and hope that former Gov Greitens finds the help he needs.



Anyone with multiple accusations of abuse toward women and children should probably steer clear of this rhetoric. #MOSen #MOLeg https://t.co/gpmbK508AE  Caleb Rowden (@calebrowden) June 20, 2022

Red flag laws shouldn't be allowed, given that they deprive people of their Second Amendment rights without due process of law. Congress should not be able to enact them at the federal level or fund them at the state level.

Rowden's actions perfectly illustrate why. He knows that Greitens isn't a threat. However, he's hoping to deprive Greitens of that all-important Second Amendment right. If Missouri had red flag laws, Rowden's complaint could well have done so.

All states already have laws that allow people to be observed for 72 hours to determine whether they're dangerous. Additionally, as the Buffalo shooting demonstrated, the red flag law in that state did nothing to thwart the killer. And in Texas, lots of people alerted local law enforcement and (I believe) the FBI about the killer, but nothing was done.

Given that existing laws don't work, new red flag laws won't work, either. But, as the Greitens video episode reveals, people who hate you will use them against you, whether to silence you politically or make you dangerously vulnerable to someone who hasn't been forced to lose his right to bear arms.

Image: Eric Greitens Senate ad. YouTube screen grab.
In the neighborhood in which my kids grew up, none of the high schoolaged boys wanted to date. The problem was that the high school girls were too difficult. They were in the early stages of becoming the screaming, woke feminists who were so prominent during the George Floyd rallies. On Twitter, a girl like that, only now grown up to be a mother and academic, tweeted something generically nasty about the "alt-right" hatefulness of White boys in middle school  and an 18-year-old decided to explain exactly why White boys are embracing non-woke standards.

Dr. Danna Young, a University of Delaware communications professor rather than a medical doctor, has blocked access to her account, but the content lives on:

My teen told me something that's been haunting me for weeks. He said, "I think almost every white middle school boy is in the alt-right pipeline  at some point  until something/someone pulls them out." Somehow, Youngus's message came to the attention of Daniel Schmidt, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Chicago, who remembers very well his middle-school years, not to mention the journey through high school. Here is his Twitter thread, unrolled: I'm an 18-year-old white male. I was in middle school only 5 years ago. I think I can offer some perspective on @dannagal's thread. Yes, young white males increasingly identify as right-wing. But why? From my experience, here's what's really happening: THREAD Thought experiment: Imagine you're an 8th-grade boy. You're beginning to be told by teachers, the media, and maybe your parents that you're privileged because you're a boy. It's a basic truth, you're told. But this just makes you confused. You start asking yourself questions. If boys are privileged, why do the girls in my class tend to get better grades? Why are there more girls than boys in my advanced classes? Why are the girls more well-behaved and focused? Why are some of the girls preparing for college applications already? By the time you get to high school, your confusion only grows. Your friend, who used to go to church with you, has become addicted to porn. Another friend, whose parents have recently divorced, has started using drugs. Your friends start appearing unmotivated and demoralized. Meanwhile, the girls at your school continue to be over-represented in honors classes, get better test scores and grades, obtain more leadership positions, and participate in more extracurriculars. But you're still repeatedly told that boys are privileged. How could this be? Then, when college acceptances come out, you notice many more girls than boys get into top universities. More girls are going to college in general, for that matter.



Image: Smiling school boy (edited) by stockking.

But for some reason, all you hear is that girls are underrepresented in higher education. It's confusing. When you search for scholarships to apply to, you find hundreds that are only open to women. When you tour college campuses, you hear how proud the school is to have student organizations like Women in Law, Women in Business, and Women in Science. It all becomes too much. You start doing research. You discover that men are more likely to be homeless, go to prison, become alcoholics, struggle with isolation/loneliness, die of a drug overdose, and commit suicide. But all you hear about, for some reason, is something called the "gender pay gap." Eventually, you find out that the only people who seem to talk about the issues facing men  the only people who appear to sympathize with how you feel  are so-called "alt-right" figures like Jordan Peterson. You start listening to them. For once, you feel like you're not alone. Now imagine you're an 8th-grade white boy. On top of the alienation you experience for merely being a boy, you're told by teachers, the media, and maybe even your parents that you should feel some form of remorse for being white. You're as privileged as it gets, you're told. This doesn't make much sense to you. Why should you feel bad for being white  something you can't control? This is a question you and your white classmates implicitly know cannot be asked. So instead, all of you submit. Humiliation quickly leads to demoralization. As you get older, you feel increasingly unwelcome by society. "Diversity and inclusion" initiatives and never-ending anti-white messaging from the media only make you feel like a burden. So you turn to the Internet, where you feel welcome by video games and right-wing forums. Younger and younger white males are following this path. They feel they're simply unwelcome by society, and they escape to a select few communities and websites. For the first time in America's history, the founding demographic is dropping out of society in massive numbers. Dr. Danna Young's solution? "Inclusive programming and a critical historical lens." It's almost like their goal is to demoralize and demonize young men  the group most likely to challenge our ruling class.

I have only one thing to add to that: when you marginalize people, as leftists like Young (who argues that leftists have a greater grasp of "cognitive complexity" and therefore a better sense of humor) are doing, there will be pushback, and that pushback is never pretty. Schmidt is polite and thoughtful; others will not be.

Update: I misspelled Danna Young's last name and have since corrected the error.
Democrats loathe Rep. Lauren Boebert, an outspoken supporter of President Trump and gun rights and an opponent of vaccine mandates, abortion, green energy mandates, and Ilhan Omar. Eleven Democrats have announced they will seek their party's nomination to oppose her bid for re-election in Colorado's Third Congressional District.

So standing out among that crowd is a challenge. But Alex Walker, who describes himself as "a gay moderate who believes in small government, personal freedom & human rights. Groundbreaking. ," has gone scatologically vulgar in the extreme with an inline ad that, in the words of Politico, "features falling "cow pies' crushing people, among other things."

You can't unsee it once you click on the video below, so here is a screengrab that gives you a sense of the depths to which this gay moderate will stoop.



Source.

For those of strong stomach, here is the entire disgraceful ad, which Google's YouTube has no problems with:

Politico cautions:

In big primary fields like this, viral ads are often a way for contenders to stick out and build up their broader profiles. We'll see if an influx of donations ends up following this ad. They don't always come in competitive seats. Boebert's seat got *more* GOP in redistricting, so the Democratic nominee will have an even harder time in what was already a pretty red seat. These don't always work. A candidate for a Virginia House seat in 2017 released a "Top Gun" parody that went incredibly viral (It was really bad.). But Dan Helmer, now incidentally a Virginia delegate, finished fourth in that primary

Hat tip: Richard Baehr.
Winston Churchill memorably described British Navy traditions as "rum, sodomy, and the lash." In America, the lash, thankfully, is gone, and rum is for off-duty hours, but sodomy (that is, homosexuality) has moved front and center. The latest example is the childish video the Navy is having its members watch so they can learn how pronouns work, including avoiding "misgendering" fellow members of the Navy.

Our military exists to defend America against foreign enemies, whether the battle is fought overseas or, God forbid, ends on American soil. Currently, we have a lot of enemies: Biden is busy trying to get us into a hot war with Putin, China is expanding its military and geographic reach, Iran continues its efforts to develop a nuclear bomb, and North Korea already has a nuclear bomb.

And while those threats face America, our Navy is focused like a laser on pronouns. This focus doesn't just represent a complete collapse in the military's mission. It also represents a serious threat to the military's operational efficiency.

Pronouns actually aren't complicated, whether in English or any other language. They are the word we substitute in lieu of nouns when referring to any person, animal, or object. A sentence such as "Mary went to her room to gather her books and bag so that she could go to her school" becomes a clunky nightmare if we remove the pronouns: "Mary went to Mary's room to gather Mary's books and bag so that Mary could go to Mary's school."

But in today's day and age, as explained by Naval Undersea Warfare Center engineers Jony Rozon and Conchy Vaquez, both attired in the now ubiquitous "Pride" clothes, pronouns aren't about the utility and clarity of the English language. They are, instead, there to support navel-gazing self-aggrandizement. Thus, Conchy explains in the simple tones reserved for speaking to a mentally damaged child, "A pronoun is how we identify ourselves apart from our name and it's also how people refer to us in conversations."

Personalized pronouns are also a way to reduce the English language to a nonsensical joke. Take the modern pronoun-rich sentence, "Mary went to their room to gather their books and bag so that they could go to their school." Ostensibly, that sentence is about Mary, but the literal meaning is that Mary has some sort of roommate or companion sharing her room and dogging her footsteps the entire way.

Pronoun madness makes sentences even more unintelligible when you add in so-called "transgender" issues: "There are Carol and Fred. I told you about them. She is their father."



Image: Our modern Navy. YouTube screen grab.

Imagine a cutting-edge, time-sensitive, urgent naval emergency. And then imagine the sailors and Marines involved trying to communicate what's going on through a welter of illogical and imaginary pronouns. If they can't figure out who's doing what to whom (and who is responsible for what), ships and planes crash, bullets fly, and people die. And even if they can figure it out, they may lose so much precious time that the outcome is the same.

Obama started the grotesque practice of turning the U.S. military, a highly functional, colorblind, well integrated, merit-based organization, into a social justice experiment. Biden has taken that misbegotten experiment and run with it. I fear that a lot of people  both in the military and in America's civilian population  are going to die because of this Marxist social justice policy.

I have a very simple pronoun policy. If it's reasonable to believe you're female, I'll use female pronouns for you; if it's reasonable to believe you're male, I'll use male pronouns for you. If your sex is a mystery, well...I'll make my best guess. But I will not mangle English, logic, and safety to cater to your narcissism.
President Trump recently lost an appeal and must testify in a civil investigation by New York State attorney general Letitia James. Her action was taken based on testimony and evidence given by former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. This is the same Michael Cohen who pleaded guilty to eight counts, including criminal tax evasion and campaign finance violations.

While we may not be privy to the inner workings of our justice departments in the United States, it seems rather convenient that the government could take evidence from Michael Cohen regarding his claims of the improprieties of President Trump's financial records after Cohen pleaded guilty to eight counts. We could question the entire agreement the Justice Department made with him.

It is necessary to point out that Michael Cohen was Trump's attorney, not his accountant or financial adviser. This is necessary because Mr. Cohen may or may not be aware of the rules of accounting. He has, after all, pleaded guilty to tax and financial crimes. He may be guilty of incompetence more than outright fraud. I wonder if his attorneys ever considered that defense.

Michael Cohen claims to have documents showing that President Trump uses different valuations of his wealth based on what purpose the statements are required for. Mr. Cohen may not be aware that this is consistent with the standards of accounting set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). If he is aware, he may have offered this information in a misleading way to save himself from a lengthy imprisonment.

I wrote about these rules of accounting in a previous edition of the American Thinker and how it relates to President Trump's business and profession. Without needing to see his business and personal financial statements, I am certain that they differ significantly. I explain in that previous article why that is the case.

What Attorney General James has done is placed President Trump in a legal Catch-22. The original Catch-22 was a governmental loophole involved in Joseph Heller's satirical novel Catch-22, later a movie written by Buck Henry. The storyline: A bombardier in World War II tries desperately to escape the insanity of the war. However, sometimes insanity is the only sane way to cope with a crazy situation. In other words, the bombardier tries to get out of the service by claiming he is insane, but the army determines that being insane is a natural reaction to the insanity of war.

This is exactly the predicament set up by the Justice Department. I like Webster's third definition of a Catch-22: a hidden difficulty or means of entrapment. The famous New York chief judge Sol Wachtler once said: prosecutors can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich.

If this prosecution against the former president is successful, it could lead to greater problems in the future. Will others who follow the rules of accounting be found guilty of "following the rules"? Will overzealous prosecutors find they can indict more than just a ham sandwich? If not, then is the case against Trump only a case of selective prosecution? This happens when a criminal prosecution is brought at the discretion of a prosecutor rather than as a matter of course in the normal functioning of the prosecuting authority's office.

Furthermore, the enforcement or prosecution of criminal laws against a particular class of persons and the simultaneous failure to administer criminal laws against others outside the targeted class is prima facie evidence of selective prosecution. It violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Where do we go from here if that happens? Do we start prosecuting otherwise innocent people?

I recently met the Republican candidate for New York attorney general, Michael Henry. I mentioned my assessment of the case of President Trump being targeted by the current attorney general. He agreed with me and added several other legal incidents of legal misconduct that he believes Letitia James has committed.

At this point, if President Trump testifies, he could be deemed guilty by Attorney General James if he admits to following the rules of accounting set forth by the profession's authority, the AICPA. In short, she has accused him of following the rules of accounting, which she claims is a violation of the law. Her real purpose of this case could be summed up by one of Webster's synonyms for Catch-22: gotcha.

David Ennocenti is a retired accountant and graduate of the State University of N.Y. at Buffalo, School of Management with a degree in accounting and finance. He passed the CPA Examination in 1983. His writing has appeared in American Thinker, USA Today, The New York Times, and several other publications. His screenplay, Sniper Queen, was an official selection of The Artemis Women in Action Films Festival. He is a past winner of the Writer's Digest Annual Competition.

Image: Ninian Reid via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped).
As Vladimir Putin's brutal war in Ukraine continues, the West's mettle, or courage to carry on, is being tested.

Russia exports titanium, a rare, key metal used to make aircraft, including military aircraft.

Russia is not the only exporter, but it is currently the cheapest. Some are resisting the call to cut off the Russian economy from the West.

The world was appalled when Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine in February. Nations everywhere vowed to punish Moscow for its senseless offensive, and the first step was to impose harsh sanctions to prevent Russia from selling its raw materials.

Of course, sanctions cut both ways. They harm the exporting nation but also cause short-term economic pain in the importing nations. For example, when the Western world stopped buying Russian oil, gasoline prices soared everywhere. That is at least part of the price consumers everywhere are paying to roll back the Russian invasion: we have less access to Russian raw materials.

Not everyone agrees with the idea of imposing sanctions. One company is actively undermining them.

European aerospace giant Airbus is eager to keep using Russian titanium. Russia provides about half of the titanium Airbus uses, and the company has been rewarding Russian aggression for years. After Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, for example, Airbus actually boosted the amount of Russian titanium it was buying.

Today, despite another unprovoked invasion, Airbus is eager to keep on funding Putin by buying Russian titanium. "Sanctions on Russian titanium would hardly harm Russia, because they only account for a small part of export revenues there. But they would massively damage the entire aerospace industry across Europe," a spokesman told Reuters news service.

Compare that with the attitude of the European governments that support Airbus through massive subsidies.

"The EU is expanding the list of persons and entities concerned by export restrictions regarding dual-use goods and technology," the E.U. Council announced this month. "Moreover, the EU will expand the list of goods and technology which may contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia's defence and security sector. This will include 80 chemicals which can be used to produce chemical weapons."

This is the sixth round of escalating sanctions imposed by the E.U. It is willing to accept some short-term economic pain to achieve the long-term goal of ending Russian aggression. Perhaps it should ask its patron Airbus to do the same thing.

The United States should keep Airbus's actions in mind. No matter how the fighting in Ukraine turns out, American policymakers need to remember that Airbus does not support our goals, so there is no reason to do deals with Airbus.

For example, Airbus is trying to earn a contract to produce refueling tanker aircraft for the U.S. Air Force. Set aside the fact that the Air Force doesn't need the Airbus tanker, and that poorly designed. Just focus on whether or not the federal government should reward a company that ignores economic sanctions by giving it a big military contract. The clear answer is no.

Airbus seems to miss the irony that it is using Russian metal to build aircraft that may end up in combat against Russia. "Defense matters not only for Airbus, but for Europe as a whole," Chairman Rene Obermann said at a shareholder meeting this spring.

Well, yes, of course. But sanctions are the most important tool in the defense policy toolbox right now. By opposing them, Airbus undermines the U.S. and may end up making a shooting war more likely. That would be disastrous for everyone, except perhaps Airbus, which could sell more weapons, including ones made with Russian titanium.

The civilized world is finding ways to make do without Russian raw materials. Things are more expensive and difficult to obtain, but we are on the right side of history, and we will prevail.

This is a chance for Airbus to prove its mettle. It should stop using Russian titanium at once, find replacement sources of the metal (there are plenty to choose from), and start supporting the international sanctions necessary to stopping Putin's war machine. The U.S. government can't even consider rewarding Airbus with any type of military contract until those things happen.

Gary S. Goldman is the nationally recognized host of Business, Politics, & Lifestyles, a weekly talk show airing on WPRO Providence, R.I. Learn more at garyonbpl.com.

Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Australia's new Australia Labor Party/Green/Teal government has a Zero Emissions plan, putting them on track to be world leader of the Green Lemmings.

John Kerry of USA was a strong contender to win the Green Lemming race. But he was given a stiff handicap by UN organizers because America has access to coal, oil, gas, hydro, and nuclear power, plus cross-border pipelines and power lines. Biden is trying to close these loopholes.

Eight nations have withdrawn from the Green Lemming Games. Russia has joined China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Iran, and Turkey in forming a powerful new G8. This hard-headed group ignores the net-zero dogma unless that suits their business plan. The G8 members have diverse reliable energy supplies  oil, coal, gas, hydro, and nuclear. They use wind/solar for virtue-signaling or to earn billions making and selling millions of green toys to Net Zero Lemmings.

Europeans were disqualified in the Great Green Race  they were caught cheating. They pretend to run on intermittent energy from windmills and sunbeams, but whenever these fail, they quickly fill the power shortfall with reliable energy from French nuclear, Scandinavian hydro, Polish and German coal, Icelandic geothermal, North Sea natural gas, and (sometimes) Russian gas, oil, and coal.

Australia has aging coal plants (marked for demolition), wildly unstable supplies of disruptive and intermittent green electricity, oodles of gas (but unwelcome in local markets), and abundant uranium for export (but none for local nuclear power). Australia is also a remote island with no extension cords to neighbors with reliable energy. It is a clear favorite in the big green race.



Credit: Saltbushclub.

Sometime soon, at dinnertime on a cold still night, the Aussie winners of the Great Green Lemming Race will be acclaimed by widespread blackouts and a failing economy.

Further Reading:

Russia and the new G8:

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/06/11/7351902/

Labor Begs for Coal Power:

https://www.spectator.com.au/2022/06/labor-begs-for-coal/?utm_medium=email&utm

Adam Creighton Net-zero target is pure fantasy:

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/climate-change-netzero-target-ispure-fantasy/news-story/

Why Blackouts?

https://ddears.com/2022/06/08/the-why-of-why-blackouts/

Western World being led by Idiots:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMfQebhFVcg
In 1899, the Chicago & Alton Railway introduced a new intercity rail service between Chicago and St. Louis. Pulled by a 4-6-2 steam locomotive, the Alton Limited consisted of six perfectly symmetrical cars, including two Pullman parlor cars, strikingly decorated both inside and outside. The Alton Limited was billed The Handsomest Train In The World.

According to the company, no railway train in the world had ever presented a design so uniform and symmetrical. The windows were of the same size, shape and style from the mail car to parlor car. All the cars were mounted on standard six-wheel trucks. Every car in the train had precisely the same length and height, including the tender of its locomotive which was built to the same height as the body of the cars following. Even the hood of the locomotive had the exact height of the roofs of the cars. This gave a fascinating beauty to the train, the company pronounced, carrying out of the principal features with classic regularitythe absolute unity of detail from cow-catcher to observation platform.

George Lawrences Mammoth Camera built to photograph the Alton Limited.

Shortly after the train was built, the company decided to participate in the Paris Exposition of 1900 where they planned to impress the public with the trains unprecedented symmetry. But rather than ship the entire train to France, the Chicago & Alton Railway decided to create a huge photograph of the train and exhibit it instead. For this task, the company hired George Raymond Lawrence, a remarkable photographer, who ran a studio in Chicago with the slogan: The hitherto impossible in photography is our specialty.

The railroad company wanted a picture clicked of their prized creation in its entirety, all in one frame. At first, Lawrence suggested that the train be clicked in section, which would then be joined together during the printing process. But the company rejected the idea; they wanted a flawless picture of their flawless train. They also insisted that the length of the photograph must not be less than eight feet.

George Raymond Lawrence

Accepting the challenge, Lawrence sought the assistance of camera manufacturer J. A. Anderson, and within eight months, they designed and built the Mammoth Cameraa massive contraption weighing 1,400 pounds and requiring fifteen operators. When fully extended on steel-track wheels, the bellows measured twenty feet. The lens were reported as the largest ever built for photographic purposes, and were especially made by the Bausch and Lomb Optical Company of Rochester, New York. Two lens were built; one was a wide-angle of 5.5 feet equivalent focus and the second one was a telescopic rectilinear lens of 10 feet equivalent focus. The camera used an 8 feet by 4.5 feet single glass negative, which was almost three times larger than those used by existing panoramic cameras.

The camera was so large that prior to exposure a man could enter and dust off the plate as follows:

The holder is put in position, the large front board, or front door as it may be called, is swung open, the operator passes inside with a camel's hair duster, the door is then closed and a ruby glass cap placed over the lens, the curtain slide is drawn and the operator dusts the plate in a portable dark room, after which the slide is closed and he passes out the same way as he entered.

In a letter to the editor of Photographic Times, Lawrence's partner, Anderson, described the largest camera in the world:

This camera is constructed to allow a full exposure of a plate measuring 56x96, and embodies, in its construction, all the improvements an up-to-date camera can have, being reversible, having double swing back, rising and swinging front, and an arrangement for bracing the back that makes it as rigid as the back of a small camera, thus dispensing with any jar or vibration while an exposure is being made. In the construction of the four bellows-two cone and two square-there was over fifty yards of heavy black rubber sheeting used, and though they allow an extreme focus of fifteen feet, yet so compact were they made, the whole camera can be folded to three feet. The holder is curtain slide, and although fifty feet of five eight inch lumber was used for the slide it was made to work so easily that a boy of fourteen years would have no difficulty in drawing it. As a ground glass for focusing in this mammoth camera would be clumsy to handle and liable to breakage two frames were made to slide on the back of the camera, and celluloid strips made to fit in these frames, making a very light and satisfactory substitute for the usual ground glass.

After months of planning and preparation, on a clear spring morning in 1900, the camera was painstakingly transported by a flatcar to Brighton Park, about six miles from Chicago. From there, a padded van took the camera to a suitable location in an open field. At the distance stood the Alton Limited. After aiming the camera at the motionless train on the tracks, four men inserted the mammoth glass plate while another six operated the bellows and lens. Lawrence removed the lens cap and after an exposure of two-and-a-half minutes, replaced the cap and the exposure was completed.

The Alton Limited photographed by George Raymond Lawrence.

Lawrence made three gargantuan prints from the negative and sent them to Paris to be exhibited at the Exposition. One was hung in the United States Government Building, another in the railway exhibit, and one in the photographic section. At first, the judges in the photography competition were skeptical; no one had seen such a large photograph before. They believed the photograph was a composite and hence a fake. It was only after the French Consul in New York was dispatched to Chicago to verify the existence of the camera and to observe its mode of operation, were the organizers convinced of its authenticity. Eventually, it earned Lawrence the 'Grand Prize of the World for Photographic Excellence'.

The Mammoth Camera was just one of many inventions of photographic genius George Raymond Lawrence. His most remarkable exploit was aerial photography where he sent tethered cameras high up in the sky using kites, as opposed to hydrogen-filled balloons, allowing him to take stunning panoramic photographs without exposing himself to the perils of high-altitude ballooning. His most famous aerial photograph was that of San Francisco taken from 2,000 feet above the bay after the devastating earthquake of 1906.

San Francisco in ruins photographed by George Raymond Lawrence.

A train of kites Lawrence used to hoist his camera.

George Lawrence was also a pioneer in flash photography. He invented a flash powder that was brighter and created less smoke than magnesium that photographers normally used. He also set up a system where he could fire multiple flashes simultaneously using electricity, thereby greatly increasing the amount of available light. This allowed him to take large scale indoor photographs with absolute safety. In recognition of these inventions Lawrence received the highest award for artificial light photography from the Photographic Association of America in 1899, as well as the nickname Flashlight Lawrence.

Another large-scale photograph by George Lawrence. This unique photo of the Kexholm Regiment of the Russian Empire shows more than 1,000 people, arranged in 25 rows of 50 men each. Lawrence built a camera and the objective with a diameter of about 1 meter for this photograph in 1903.

References:

# The Mammoth Camera Of George R. Lawrence, Simon Baker

# Photography Genius: George R. Lawrence & "The Hitherto Impossible", Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society
Following the success of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 Bespoke Edition, Samsung will reportedly give the Bespoke treatment to its successor as well. According to SamMobile, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 Bespoke Edition will come in even more colors. The 2022 model will also be available more widely than last years offering, the publication contends.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 was the first Samsung smartphone to come in a Bespoke Edition. It allowed users to customize the device with unique color combinations for the back panels and the frame. You could choose from two colors for the frame  silver and black, and five for the back panels  blue, yellow, pink, white, and black. Overall, it made for 49 different color combinations. Samsung even bagged the CES 2022 design award for this phone.

If there was any complaint with the Galaxy Z Flip 3 Bespoke Edition, then that is its limited availability. The limited-edition clamshell foldable is currently available to purchase in seven countries only  Australia, Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, the UK, and the US. Samsung is now looking to address this shortcoming this year. The new report suggests the Galaxy Z Flip 4 Bespoke Edition will go on sale in a lot more countries through Samsungs online store. Leading markets across Europe and Asia will reportedly get the customizable phone.

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As for colors, theres no confirmation of how many different combinations Samsung would offer this year. But, the new report says a lot more than the 49 color combinations we got last time. Even one additional color for each half of the back panel and the frame would significantly increase the number of possible combinations. So its not a difficult task. It will be interesting to see what Samsung has in store.

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 should arrive in August

If rumors are to be believed, Samsung is planning to unveil the Galaxy Z Flip 4 on August 10. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Watch 5 series should also arrive alongside the clamshell foldable. But its unclear if the company will also announce the Bespoke Edition on the same day.

Aside from the customizable back panels and the frame, there will be no other difference between the regular Galaxy Z Flip 4 and the Bespoke Edition. You will get the same hardware and software. The customizations come at a cost though. Last years offering was priced at $100 more than the regular Galaxy Z Flip 3 which started at $999. It remains to be seen how differently Samsung will price the 2022 offerings.
If you live in the United States and are excited about the Nothing Phone (1), we have bad news for you. The phone may never arrive in the US market.

Nothing Phone (1) is one of the most anticipated phones that many fans are excited about. The phone has an innovative design that shows some internal components. However, the excited US-based fans may not be lucky enough to buy Nothing Phone (1).

A hundred limited editions of the phone are on sale, and customers can try their luck at buying one of the first hundred models. But what makes Nothing Phone (1) out of reach of US customers is a line in terms and conditions, saying, Nothing phone (1) is not fully supported in North America.

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Carl Pei and his company still havent clarified what this line means. Whether the phone never comes to the US market or doesnt support certain 5G spectrums in the country. The line caused concerns among US customers planning to buy the phone. However, marketing policies may justify Nothings decision.

Nothing Phone (1) could stay out of reach of US customers

Also, there is another sign that reinforces the speculations. The company has listed the supported carriers in different regions, like Australia and the UK. But when you check the list, there is no US carrier there. This could be a strong sign that Nothing Phone (1) will never come to the US. In the other markets, the phone will go on sale on July 12.

The ex-co-founder of OnePlus founded the Nothing company. While most Chinese OEMs, like Oppo, Huawei, and Xiaomi, were out of the US market, OnePlus had the chance to operate in the US. Nothing could turn into a rival to OnePlus.

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Finally, if you are planning to buy the Nothing phone, its better to start looking for an alternative. As a side note, spending money on a smartphone that isnt yet available on the market and no one has ever tested it seems odd.

Nothing is not still an established company, and its collecting funds from potential investors and fans to build its devices like phones and earbuds. As the company grows and builds more competitive phones, it might shift toward the US market.
Samsung is gearing up to launch a new version of the Galaxy S21 FE. Identified by the model number SM-G990B2, we first heard about the existence of this device last week. Today, it has appeared on Googles Play Services support list, confirming a rumor (via). The new model will support 5G cellular connectivity.

The refreshed Galaxy S21 FE is said to downgrade to a mid-range processor from Qualcomm. We are talking about the Snapdragon 720G chipset, vs. the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 found on the existing model. Since the Snapdragon 720G doesnt come with an integrated 5G modem, speculations arose that the upcoming phone may be limited to 4G (LTE) connectivity.

But there were still rumors of it supporting 5G. It appears those were true. The Google Play database has the SM-G990B2 listed as the Galaxy S21 FE 5G. Note that the existing version bears the model number SM-G990B.

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This listing makes for another interesting takeaway, though. The upcoming model differs from the original Galaxy S21 FE launched in January this year in terms of the processor only. The rest of the specs remain unchanged, including 5G connectivity. The screen, cameras, battery, and memory configurations are the same.

Samsung is seemingly looking to make the Galaxy S21 FE cheaper so it can attract more buyers. It will be interesting to see how low the company can go. The original model found it tough to move off the shelves at $700. The Korean firm will have to undercut the $600-priced Pixel 6 if it wants to offer better value than the Google phone.

There may not be a Galaxy S22 FE this year

The upcoming Galaxy S21 FE model may be the last member of Samsungs short-lived FE (Fan Edition) lineup. Rumors are that the company wont launch a Galaxy S22 FE and wont revive the lineup in the years to come either. It is shelving the project because the so-called affordable flagships dont fit in its smartphone portfolio. Samsung couldnt find a sweet spot for the devices both in terms of pricing and launch schedule.

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If the rumors are true, the FE project would come to end just two years of launch. The Galaxy S20 FE that arrived in September 2020 was the first member of this lineup. But regardless of whether there will be a Galaxy S22 FE this year, a new Galaxy S21 FE is certainly coming. It could go official in the coming weeks or months. We will keep you updated with all the latest information about the device.
South Koreas Supreme Court has given Samsung a clean chit on the charges of stealing OLED display technology from LG. The ruling ends a seven-year legal battle between the two South Korean tech giants.

The case concerns LG Displays Face Seal technology that it uses on OLED display panels. It is a sealing and bonding technology that protects the OLED element from air contact, extending the display lifespan. The company alleged that an employee from its supplier leaked this technology to Samsung Display. The said employee was suspected to have handed over confidential documents related to Face Seal to Samsung employees three to four times in 2010. This is a violation of the countrys trade secret protection law and the prevention of unfair competition law.

In addition to a chief executive of the concerned supplier firm, LG Display also indicted four Samsung Display employees in the case alleging that they received confidential documents from a rivals supplier and used the technology in their employers products.

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These allegations ensued a legal battle between the two compatriots. The trial looked to ascertain whether the leaked documents were trade secrets. The first ruling came in favor of LG Display. The court judged that part of the documents contained trade secrets. All five involved individuals  the suppliers chief and four Samsung Display employees  received four to six months of imprisonment and one to two years suspended sentence.

The court found the convicts not guilty in the second trial

A second trial on the case followed and the ruling this time went against LG Display. The court found that the information in the documents was already widely available in the industry through research papers. Additionally, it was ruled that the technology that LG is contending for has been mixed with technology jointly developed with the supplier. Distinguishing between the two was difficult. As such, the judge acquitted all five individuals of the charges.

The ruling said the court couldnt establish that the four Samsung employees intentionally tried to acquire confidential information from a rival. The purchases could also have been part of normal work. The Supreme Court has now upheld the second ruling. Neither party has commented on the latest ruling from the countrys top court.

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Interestingly, Samsung and LG had also been in another legal battle concerning OLED technology in the past. This case revolved around a similar matter but the other way around. A former Samsung Display researcher shared the companys OLED technology with LG Display employees. The court convicted all individuals involved in 2019.
(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 21 - Italy on Tuesday saw two more workplace accident deaths in a long and shocking spate that has continued despite government action.

In the first accident, a 72-year-old worker died in Lecce.

The man, Donato Marti, originally from Avetrana near Taranto, fell from a height of about five metres while he was installing a goods lift at a building site in the centre of the Puglia city.

The accident happened at a building near the city's central shopping mall.

In the second accident, an unnamed worker was crushed to death by a hank of iron he was unloading from a lorry at Legnago near Verona.

A 35-year-old worker was seriously injured at a nautical engineering workshop at Livorno too. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 21 - Natural gas is the primary source for heating and hot water in Italy, ISTAT said in its report on household energy consumption in 2021, out Tuesday.

Methane fuels 63% of heating systems and 69.2% of household water supplies in Italy, said the survey from the stats agency.

Russia has cut Italian gas supplies by about a half due to the Ukraine war.

At the start of the conflict it accounted for some 40% of Italian gas supplies.

The ISTAT report said there had been a slight fall with respect to 2013 for traditional and non-renewal energy sourcs (methane, diesel and LPG) compared to eletrical energy and bio-mass.

Electrical energy systems account for 8.5% of heating and 16% of hot water, the report said.

Biomass fuels 15% of heating and 5.5% of hot water.

Solar power heats 1.4% of water.

Half Italian households, 48.8%, have air conditioning. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 21 - Health Undersecretary Andrea Costa indicated on Tuesday that the government is set to grant requests from the regions worst-affected by Italy's severe, ongoing drought for a state of emergency to be declared.

"There are the necessary conditions to declare a state of emergency," Costa told SkyTG24.

"We have to support the agriculture sector, which is not just about what it produces, it is also vital for our country for the way it maintains the territory".

A drought alert has spread from the Po valley, where waters are three quarters down amid the worst drought in 70 years, to central rivers like the Arno, the Aniene and the Tiber, which have half the water they normally do at this time of the year, officials said last week.

Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna are set to request a state of emergency, with the aim of prioritising human and agricultural use of water.

Lazio, the central regions Rome belongs to, said it was declaring a 'state of calamity' on Monday.

The Po drought threatens over 30% of the national farm output, and damage is currently estimated at over two billion euros.

Restrictions on the use of water have already been imposed in some areas and many towns are having to have water brought in by trucks.

The regions affected are assessing adopting water rationing with, for example, bans of swimming pools being filled up.

More frequent and intense droughts are among the consequences of human-caused climate change, scientists say. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 21 - Italy's regions are to ask the government to declare a state of emergency for drought in the north of the country and to get the help of the civil protection department nationwide, governors said at the conference of regions Tuesday.

The level of the river Po is three quarters down as the valley endures its worst drought in 70 years.

Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna have all said they want a state of emergency declared.

Water levels in the Arno, Aniene and Tiber further south have halved and Lazio has called for a state of calamity for drought.

The governors will meet with government represnetatives later Tuesday and with the head of the civil protection department, Fabrizio Curcio, on Wednesday. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 21 - Italy on Tuesday saw three more workplace accident deaths in a long and shocking spate that has continued despite government action.

In the first accident, a 72-year-old worker died in Lecce.

The man, Donato Marti, originally from Avetrana near Taranto, fell from a height of about five metres while he was installing a goods lift at a building site in the centre of the Puglia city.

The accident happened at a building near the city's central shopping mall.

In the second accident, an unnamed worker was crushed to death by a hank of iron he was unloading from a lorry at Legnago near Verona.

In the third accident, A worker was killed by a train while working on the tracks near Citta della Pieve in Umbria.

The man was working on channels running alongside the rails when the train hit him.

A 35-year-old worker was seriously injured at a nautical engineering workshop at Livorno too. (ANSA).


- ROMA, 21 GIU - A trial against the Egyptian researcher Patrick Zaki, who had been at Italy's University of Bologna prior to being arrested by the Egyptian authorities on returning to his home country, has been adjourned to September 27.

Zaki told ANSA the news after the latest hearing on Tuesday morning in the Egyptian city of Mansoura.

"Today they took only my ID card. They let me out and told me to wait. I was there for two hours without having any idea of what was happened. Then they told me that [the hearing] had been postponed to September 27," Zaki said in speaking to journalists in front of the Mansoura Palace of Justice.

"It has now been 28 months, and this will rise to 31, that Patrick Zaki has been trapped in a mechanism of arbitrary justice that, from one postponement to another, continues to deprive him of his full freedom. This is an exorbitant period, a period of time that in and of itself is a punishment since Patrick is accused of a crime with an Orwellian sound to it: the 'spread of fake news', for having written the truth," the head of the Italian branch of Amnesty International Riccardo Noury told ANSA.


(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 21 - Premier Mario Draghi said Tuesday that "the Italian government intends to keep supporting Ukraine as this parliament said it should do" as he reported to the Senate ahead of this week's European Council.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Italian parliament passed a resolution authorizing the government to help Kyiv, including via military aid.

However, some parties in the ruling coalition, above all the 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the League, have said they do not want Italy to supply any more weapons to Ukraine.

"The mandate received from parliament, from you, is to seek peace, overcome the crisis," Draghi said.

"This is what guides our actions.

"Italy will continue to work with the EU and our G7 partners to support Ukraine.

"I want to stress, once again, that our channels of dialogue (with Russia) remain open.

"We won't stop supporting diplomacy and seeking peace".

Draghi said that, four months after the start of the war, "new atrocities against civilians continue to come to light.

"The responsibilities will be established and the crimes punished," he added.

The premier pointed out that EU leaders approved a sixth package of sanctions against Russia on June 3 and argued that "the sanctions work".

He also spoke about the energy crisis caused by the war, which has hit Italy particularly hard as, up until the invasion, around 40% of its gas imports came from Russia.

"Russia has reduced gas supplies to the EU and Italy over the last few days," Drghi said.

"Since the start of the war, Italy has moved rapidly to find alternative sources.

"Thanks to this we will already be able to reduce our reliance on Russian gas next year".

He also stressed that the risks are rising of a "humanitarian crisis of an extraordinary scale" due to the Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports, which is preventing grain exports getting out of the country and endangering supplies to poor countries..

(ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 21 - Signatures are being gathered to set up a new autonomous group in the Lower House for Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, at loggerheads with the leader of his 5-Star Movement (M5S), ex premier Giuseppe Conte, over sending more arms to Ukraine, sources said Tuesday.

The new caucus, which needs at least 20 signatures to be created, will be announced Tuesday or Wednesday, the sources said.

Di Maio has said the M5S's stance against more arms shipments to Kyiv risks jeopardizing Italy's pro-NATO position. (ANSA).


Algeria inks deal for trans-Saharan gas pipeline To take gas from Nigeria to Italy and Spain

(ANSAmed) - ALGIERS, JUNE 21 - A new accord has been signed by Algeria, Nigeria, and Niger for a large trans-Saharan pipeline, aiming to carry out the plan as soon as possible.



Nigerian Minister of Energy and Mining Mohamed Arkab made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, as reported by state new agency APS.



The Algerian minister underscored that a meeting with Niger's oil resources minister, Timipre Sylva, and its energy minister, Mahamane Sani Mahamadou, had led to the trilateral agreement to start technical studies for the project and to transform it into reality as soon as possible.



Arkab noted that it had been agreed to continue talks through a technical team created during the meeting and to entrust the preparation of everything involved to it: from technical and financial studies to feasibility ones for the construction of the trans-Saharan gas pipeline.



The minister called the gas pipeline a new source of supply for (European) markets where demand is steadily rising.



Taking the war in Ukraine and the global energy crisis into consideration, for the past few months there has been talk of this project to take gas from Nigeria to Europe through Niger and Algeria.



The North African country has infrastructure ready for the transport of gas from the city of Tamanrasset in the far south to Spain and (through Tunisia) to Italy.



The Algerian oil company Sonatrach had in 2002 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with its Nigerian counterpart to build a gas pipeline that, starting from the oil fields in southern Nigeria, would cross Niger and arrive in Algeria.



The initial cost of the project, at the time of the signing of the MoU between Algeria and Nigeria, had been estimated at 13 billion dollars to transport 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.(ANSAmed).




Serbia and Kosovo reach energy deal, EU 'Major step forward' in Pristina-Belgrade dialogue

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, JUNE 21 - Kosovo and Serbia have adopted a roadmap for the implementation of energy accords as part of EU-facilitated dialogue.



EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues Miroslav Lajcak announced the news in a tweet.



He praised the "major step forward" in the normalisation of relations between the two states.



The agreement, published by Lajcak, contains nine points and aims to get past the crisis and problems in the energy sector in the two countries.



EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell noted in a tweet that he had spoken to the leaders of the two countries to "congratulate them on reaching an agreement on the energy roadmap today. This is a big & important step forward in the EU-facilitated Dialogue and will deliver concrete results for all citizens. We look forward to continue working on next steps." (ANSAmed).




Tunisia lifts foreign capital ceiling for farm firms Only for leased land, says ministry

(ANSAmed) - TUNISI, 21 GIU - The Tunisian agriculture, water resources and fisheries ministry has decided to remove a ceiling on foreign capital in agricultural firms, currently at 66%.



The ministry noted that the decision, which aims to increase foreign investment in the agricultural sector by companies with foreign stakes in them, affects only agricultural firms involved in leasing land and excludes sale to foreign companies.



The ceiling had been set at 66% in line with Article 2 of Law 56/69 on reform of agricultural facilities and modified by Law 33/97.



This article focuses on farmland that has been leased out.



The Department of Agriculture noted that "only Tunisian nationals, cooperatives, legal persons of a public character, civil society, and limited liability firms whose participants are Tunisian nationals have the right to own agricultural land." Joint stock companies also have the right to own land.



(ANSAmed).




ALGIERS - A new accord has been signed by Algeria, Nigeria, and Niger for a large trans-Saharan pipeline, aiming to carry out the plan as soon as possible.



Nigerian Minister of Energy and Mining Mohamed Arkab made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, as reported by state new agency APS.



The Algerian minister underscored that a meeting with Niger's oil resources minister, Timipre Sylva, and its energy minister, Mahamane Sani Mahamadou, had led to the trilateral agreement to start technical studies for the project and to transform it into reality as soon as possible.



Arkab noted that it had been agreed to continue talks through a technical team created during the meeting and to entrust the preparation of everything involved to it: from technical and financial studies to feasibility ones for the construction of the trans-Saharan gas pipeline.



The minister called the gas pipeline a new source of supply for (European) markets where demand is steadily rising.



Taking the war in Ukraine and the global energy crisis into consideration, for the past few months there has been talk of this project to take gas from Nigeria to Europe through Niger and Algeria.



The North African country has infrastructure ready for the transport of gas from the city of Tamanrasset in the far south to Spain and (through Tunisia) to Italy.



The Algerian oil company Sonatrach had in 2002 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with its Nigerian counterpart to build a gas pipeline that, starting from the oil fields in southern Nigeria, would cross Niger and arrive in Algeria.



The initial cost of the project, at the time of the signing of the MoU between Algeria and Nigeria, had been estimated at 13 billion dollars to transport 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.
Egyptian researcher Zaki decries another trial postponement Wants to return to his studies

(ANSAmed) - MANSOURA, JUNE 21 - "We are in a cycle of postponements. This is unacceptable. I want to go back to my studies and I am beginning to feel that I am not free. And this is entirely unacceptable for me," Egyptian researcher Patrick Zaki told journalists in the Egyptian city of Mansoura after a decision earlier in the day to postpone his case until September.



"We did not say anything today. We did not make any request," Zaki said after being asked what his lawyers had asked. "Nothing new happened. They asked for my ID card. That is all." He said that the trial had "lasted 15 seconds".



On an expected constitutional court ruling on a similar case that could result in the shelving of his trial, Zaki said that his lawyers had suggested it but that it had not been his idea.



"What I think is that I want to be in Bologna before September. I want to resume my studies. I want to resume my work and everything else," he said.



"I want to return to Italy as soon as possible. Postponing [the trial] until September 27 is like freezing" the case, he said.(ANSAmed).




MANSOURA - Representatives from Italy, the EU, the US, and Spain were in Mansoura on Tuesday morning to monitor a trial against the Egyptian researcher Patrick Zaki, ANSA was able to verify on the ground in the Egyptian city in the Nile Delta.



The presence of foreign diplomats from several countries at Zaki's trial has been occurring through on the initiative of the Italian embassy, which sent a legal representative to attend the hearing.



There were also two Italian diplomats at the hearing, as had been the case in the five previous ones.



The presence is part of EU monitoring for Egyptian trials that involve human and civil rights issues.
Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra will be performing at this years Glastonbury Festival.

The band, whose song Stefania earned them the winners title at the singing contest in Turin last month, will be taking to Shangri-Las Truth Stage on Friday.

They will bring their brand of Ukrainian folk music, rap and hip hop to the music bill for this years star-studded line-up, which also includes Pyramid Stage headliners Billie Eilish, Sir Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar.

Sir Paul McCartney will become Glastonbury Festivals oldest ever solo headliner when he takes to the stage this weekend (Andy Butterton/PA)

Formed in 2019, Kalush Orchestra consist of founder and rapper Oleh Psiuk, multi-instrumentalist Ihor Didenchuk, and dancer Vlad Kurochka.

The bands frontman Psiuk said: We are so excited to be playing at Glastonbury Festival alongside some of the biggest names in music from around the world.

This is the perfect place for our first ever British performance and we hope it will be the start of many in the UK.

We are very grateful for all the support we receive from the people of Britain, both for us and our country, and we are preparing a very special Ukrainian surprise for the fans at Glastonbury.

What is it? Youll soon see. See you there.

Their performance at Worthy Farm will mark their first ever in the UK, and the band have become global stars following their Eurovision win with Stefania, which was dedicated to Psiuks mother.

Since their victory, the band have been spending time in Ukraine and abroad in Germany to promote the release of the music video for Stefania, and the band also auctioned off the glass microphone trophy they won at Eurovision to raise money for the Ukrainian army.

Kalush Orchestra were fighting as part of the Ukrainian resistance only weeks before Eurovision, and have received support from across Europe.

They beat Britains Sam Ryder, who came second, and last week it was revealed that the BBC is in talks with the European Broadcasting Union about hosting Eurovision, after the body ruled it could not go ahead in war-torn Ukraine next year as befits the tradition of the winning country hosting.

Kalush Orchestra, who won this years Eurovision Song Contest (Eurovision 2022)

Chris Tofu Macmeikan, director of Lost Horizon, Shangri-La, Continental Drifts and Global Local, said: It is a privilege to welcome the Kalush Orchestra to Shangri-La, and were honoured to have the chance to show our solidarity with Ukraine.

On the Truth Stage we have always championed Roma and eastern European music, remixed for the 21st century, so they are the perfect fit, its going to be such a special moment for Glastonbury 2022.

A number of other Ukrainian acts will perform at Glastonbury amid the Russian invasion of their country, with Kyiv folk quartet DakhaBrakha performing on Sunday afternoon on the Pyramid Stage.

Go_A will open the John Peel Stage on Saturday with a performance of electronic folk music and soaring vocal melodies.

The group, who formed in 2012, represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 with the anthemic dance track Shum, placing fifth, and band member Ihor Didenchuk is also a member of Kalush Orchestra.

This year TV coverage of the music festival by the BBC will be the jewel in the crown and the team behind it have thought about how to give everyone the magic of Glastonbury, executive producer Alison Howe said.

Executive producer Alison Howe (PA)

The BBC will bring audiences coverage across all four of the linear TV networks, which has never happened, and it will also broadcast its biggest offering on the iPlayer, Howe said of the TV coverage, which is produced by BBC Studios Music Productions.

The much-anticipated festival returns this week for the first time in three years after the pandemic forced organisers to cancel twice.

Wells MP James Heappey said there is great excitement that the festival is returning in his constituency after a three-year hiatus.

He told the PA news agency: Its great to have the festival back after the pandemic.

It contributes an enormous amount to the local economy and whilst were always keen that the organisers work closely with the local authorities to minimise disruption for residents, its with great excitement that we welcome stars from around the world, and hundreds of thousands of music lovers, to our corner of Somerset this weekend.

The festival will host around 200,000 visitors from Wednesday, with more than 80 artists set to perform, including US pop star Olivia Rodrigo, Lorde and Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds.

However, festival-goers will face difficulties arriving at the site in Pilton amid three days of major rail strikes in the biggest outbreak of industrial action in a generation.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has encouraged visitors to enjoy the festival safely and responsibly by being mindful of continuing health risks including Covid-19 and the monkeypox virus.

They have asked festival-goers to refamiliarise themselves with the symptoms of the viruses and to ask the organisers for assistance if they become unwell.

The agency has also encouraged people to look out for heat-related harm as the South West is due to experience high temperatures during the festival.

Glastonbury 2022 takes place from June 22 to June 26 and tickets are sold out.
A senior Labour MP has warned colleagues that joining picket lines in support of striking workers will not resolve the dispute on the railways.

Shadow Treasury chief secretary Pat McFadden said he understands why the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union is pressing for a pay rise due to the rising cost of living, but that he wants to see a negotiated settlement.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is considering possible disciplinary action after he reportedly ordered frontbenchers not to join picket lines outside stations as the country faces the biggest rail strike in a generation.

The Conservatives have sought to use the row to claim Labour is on the side of the striking workers who have caused chaos for millions of commuters, and the Opposition leader will be reluctant to give the Government any more ammunition for that attack.

Asked what his message to Labour MPs who do join the protests would be, Mr McFadden told LBC News: I would say to them, in the end thats not how this will be resolved.

It will be resolved by a deal that gets the railways running again, and thats where the political focus should be.

On the picket line at Bromley. I'm a trade unionist, I will always stand on the side of the workers. Solidarity @rmtunion#TubeStrike #railstrike pic.twitter.com/xu6JGunJod  Kate Osborne MP (@KateOsborneMP) June 21, 2022

Kate Osborne, a parliamentary aide to shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle, joined striking workers in Bromley, south-east London, saying: Im a trade unionist, I will always stand on the side of the workers.

Asked if she would face disciplinary action, Mr McFadden told Sky News: Thats a matter for the whips and for Keir Starmer.

You dont lead by hiding. No one respects that. Its time to decide whose side you are on. Workers or bad bosses? 2/2  Sharon Graham (@UniteSharon) June 20, 2022

Labour whip Navendu Mishra also joined a picket line, saying: As a proud trade unionist, I stand with all workers on our railway network who are taking industrial action to fight for their jobs and keep passengers safe.

This treacherous government has underfunded & mismanaged our public transport network for more than a decade. As a proud trade unionist, I stand with all workers on our railway network who are taking industrial action to fight for their jobs & keep passengers safe #RailStrikes pic.twitter.com/5Mpo8jtReR  Navendu Mishra (@NavPMishra) June 21, 2022

It was understood Sir Keir was waiting until the end of the industrial action before instructing chief whip Alan Campbell to deal with disciplinary issues.

Labour did not say whether or not the MPs could lose their frontbench roles as a result, with a spokeswoman saying: Unlike the Government, our focus is firmly on the public.

The opposition party was cautious not to give credibility to the Governments claims it is playing a role in the strikes, but is also coming under pressure from unions to stand up for workers rights.

Solidarity with the @RMTunion today and all days. Great support here in Morpeth. pic.twitter.com/XNn8wEajaY  Ian Lavery MP (@IanLaveryMP) June 21, 2022

Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, told the PA news agency: The Labour Party was founded by the trade unions and we expect Labour MPs to defend workers, by words and by actions.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who sits in the Scottish Parliament, put distance between himself and Sir Keirs position by heading to a picket line to show his solidarity.

The workers dont want strikes. The unions dont want strikes. The public dont want strikes, he said.

On the @RMTunion picket line at the Seven Sisters depot.(But dont tell Keir Starmer) pic.twitter.com/BnEcdGsuyd  Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) June 21, 2022

Instead of giving his unequivocal support to the workers, Sir Keir has sought to blame the Government for the walk-outs as he insists he did not want strikes to go ahead.

But deputy leader Angela Rayner gave clear backing to the industrial action, tweeting: Workers have been left with no choice.

No one takes strike action lightly. I will always defend their absolute right to do so for fairness at work.

A number of Labour backbench MPs posted on social media from picket lines.

Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott tweeted a picture of her with striking workers in Seven Sisters in London, adding (But dont tell Keir Starmer) to the caption.

Ian Lavery, the MP for Wansbeck and a former Labour Party chairman, joined a picket in Morpeth, Northumberland, tweeting: Solidarity with the @RMTunion today and all days.

I'm on my way to the picket line to show my support to @RMTunionworkers forced to take strike action against job losses and for fair pay. We can't just keep accepting workers' wages and conditions being driven down so that the profits of the rich are driven up.  Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) June 21, 2022

Former shadow cabinet minister Richard Burgon said: We cant just keep accepting workers wages and conditions being driven down so that the profits of the rich are driven up.

Beth Winter, Labour MP for Cynon Valley, tweeted: Complete solidarity with striking @RMTunion members today.

The Trades Unions are the organised working class the workers united will never be defeated.

Birmingham Hall Green MP Tahir Ali said he would be joining pickets later on Tuesday and posted: Solidarity to all those who are out taking action to protect jobs, ensure safety, and win better pay and conditions.
Chinas east-to-west computing resource transfer project in full swing

08:39, June 21, 2022 By Wang Zheng ( People's Daily

In a big data and cloud computing industrial park located 20 kilometers south of Hohhot city, north Chinas Inner Mongolia autonomous region, 10,000 Internet Data Center (IDC) racks are operational 24 hours a day.

An engineer in charge of patrol inspection of the Internet Data Center (IDC) machine room of China Telecoms big data center in Poyang-Lake Eco-Tech City in Jiujiang city, east Chinas Jiangxi province, checks the operation of servers, May 22, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Zhang Haiyan)

The industrial park has attracted more than 100 tenants, including government bodies, world-renowned cloud computing service providers, large Internet companies, and banks and insurance institutions.

The annual average temperature in Hohhot city is eight degrees Celsius, so data centers in the city can use natural cooling sources for about five months of the year, an executive of Chinese telecom operator China Unicoms cloud data center in Hohhot explained.

The innovative combination of the cooling tower and the plate heat exchanger allows the data center to save five million kWh of electricity annually, said the executive, explaining to Peoples Daily why the company located the data center on grassland in the city.

In February this year, Chinese authorities approved projects to build eight national computing hubs in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta region, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, southwest Chinas Guizhou province, and northwest Chinas Gansu province and Ningxia Hui autonomous region, as well as plans on 10 national-data center clusters.

The approval for these projects indicated the completion of the overall layout for Chinas national integrated big-data center system.

Following the countrys other strategic projects that transport natural gas and electricity from western to eastern regions and divert water from the south to the north, the east-to-west computing resource transfer project is in full swing to transfer computing resources from the more prosperous eastern regions of China to the less developed yet resource-rich western regions of the country.

Data centers are major consumers of electricity. By channeling the demand for computing power in the east to the western regions, the east-to-west computing resource transfer project can give full play to these regions advantages of favorable climate, rich energy sources, good natural environment, etc., and expand the local supply and consumption of renewable energy sources, thus facilitating the low-carbon, green and sustainable development of Chinese data centers.

The mega project also plays a key role in addressing uneven and inadequate development in the country.

According to Wang Tiejun, deputy general manager of the Materials Business Unit of Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC), the project will effectively propel the upgrading of the transmission speed of backbone network from 100 Gbps to higher rates such as 200 Gbps and 400 Gbps, thereby generating new market opportunities for YOFC.

Last year, YOFCs new products helped China Mobile realize 1,100 kilometer single-carrier transmission of 800G systems, said Wang, who disclosed that the company has continuously won the largest share of the centralized procurement of new-generation optical fibre and cable by China Telecom and China Mobile, both telecom giants in China.

Many servers manufacturers also believe that the computing resource transfer project has great potential for boosting market growth.

Staff members of a data lake demonstration center in Rongjiang New Area, Ganzhou city, east Chinas Jiangxi province, examine machine cabinets and data processing equipment, March 17, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Zhu Haipeng)

Homemade servers currently enjoy a market share of 74 percent in China, and the figure is expected to be further elevated by the project, said Huang Yue, an executive of Lenovo Infrastructure Solutions Group.

Its estimated that Chinas server market will see a more than 10-percent growth in revenue in 2022.

As of 2021, 5.2 million server racks were in use in data centers across the country, while the IDC market revenue reached 150 billion yuan (about $22.46 billion) and the size of the countrys cloud computing market hit 303 billion yuan, said Yu Xiaohui, head of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).

Its expected that the number of server racks at data centers in the country would expand by about 20 percent on a yearly basis while the revenue of these data centers would be maintained at between 25 percent and 30 percent during the countrys 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period, when Chinas cloud computing industry would probably see its average annual growth rate of revenue exceed 30 percent, according to Yu.

The project that channels computing resources from the eastern regions to the western regions of China can drive an increase of about 400 billion yuan a year in investment, said Xu Bin, deputy director of the innovation-driven development center of Chinas National Development and Reform Commission.

Meanwhile, the computing power-related facilities that have been built and will be built in western China will bring opportunities to industries like information technology and green energy sources in the countrys western regions, according to Xu.

Like water conservancy system in the Agricultural Age and electricity in the Industrial Age, computing power represents a crucial component of the foundation for the development of a countrys national economy in the era of digital economy.

Its believed that the implementation of Chinas computing resource transfer project is bound to provide strong support for the Digital China initiative and inject new impetus into the high-quality development of the Chinese economy.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
The Queen has been presented in person with a special Canterbury Cross for her unstinting service to the Church of England over the last 70 years.

The 96-year-old head of state held a face-to-face audience with the Archbishop of Canterbury at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.

The Most Rev Justin Welby gave the Queen the small silver cross, inspired by a 9th century Saxon brooch and incorporating a triquetra pattern, as a heartfelt symbol of the churchs love, loyalty and affection.

The Queen receives the Archbishop of Canterbury to receive a special Canterbury Cross for her unstinting service to the Church of England (Andrew Matthews/PA)

It was a tribute to her outstanding service to the Church of England, and in honour of her Platinum Jubilee.

The Queen, wearing her glasses and dressed in a cream dress decorated with a pattern of large pink flowers, was photographed standing as she was shown the cross.

The monarch, who is facing ongoing mobility issues, shook hands with the archbishop, who wore purple clerical robes, as he entered the Oak Room sitting room in the Berkshire castle.

The Queens Canterbury Cross (Lambeth Palace/PA)

Presented in a vivid red box and attached to a blue ribbon, the cross was specially crafted for its royal recipient with platinum inserts in recognition of her milestone 70 years on the throne.

The Queen, who has a deep Christian faith, is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith.

In the citation for the cross, which was also given to the Queen as a framed piece of calligraphy, the archbishop praised the monarch and hailed her care for the unity of her people and the welfare of the least fortunate as a constant inspiration to the whole church.

The Queen shakes hands with the Archbishop (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The Queens life was an example of a Christian life well led, he said.

The citation read: Throughout her reign, Her Majesty has duly upheld both the Christian religion and the Church of England in her roles as Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

Whether in the formality of opening sessions of General Synod or the more intimate context of her personal addresses to the nation and Commonwealth at Christmas, Her Majesty has made manifest her own deep faith and its relevance to all that she undertakes.

Her subtle understanding of the changing position of the Established Church in England has sustained and encouraged laity and clergy alike.

Her care for the unity of her people and the welfare of the least fortunate have been a constant inspiration to the whole Church. Hers is an example of the Christian life well led.

The archbishops citation (Lambeth Palace/PA)

This presentation of the Canterbury Cross is a heartfelt symbol of the love, loyalty and affection in which the Church of England holds Her Majesty and it represents the recognition and gratitude of her whole Church for her seventy years of unstinting service. God Save The Queen!

The Canterbury Cross is presented each year as part of the annual Lambeth Awards to a small number of recipients who have shown outstanding service to the church.

The crosss design is inspired by a Saxon brooch which was found in Canterbury in 1867 and dates from around 850AD.

The Queen chatting to the Most Rev Justin Welby (Andrew Matthews/PA)

It incorporates the motif of a triquetra pattern: a three-cornered knot, symbolising the Christian Trinity, on each of its four curved arms.

The tips of the arms suggest arcs of a single circle, giving the overall effect of a round wheel.

The calligraphic citation was produced by Margot Riordan-Eva, Lambeth Palaces calligrapher, who was taught calligraphy by Benedictine nuns at school.

The Queen had a busy start to June as the nation celebrated her jubilee during a four-day weekend of festivities.
KYIV, Ukraine  Russian attacks laid down a curtain of fire Tuesday across areas of eastern Ukraine as pockets of resistance continue to deny Moscow full military control of the region, almost four months after the Kremlin unleashed its invasion.

Today everything that can burn is on fire, Serhiy Haidai, the governor of Ukraines eastern Luhansk region, told The Associated Press.

Russias war has caused alarm over food supplies from Ukraine to the rest of the world and gas supplies from Russia, as well as raising questions about security in Western Europe.

A picture taken on June 21, 2022 from the town of Lysychansk, shows a large plume of smoke rising on the horizon, behind the town of Severodonetsk, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.



A picture taken on June 21, 2022 from the town of Lysychansk, shows a large plume of smoke rising on the horizon, behind the town of Severodonetsk, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (ANATOLII STEPANOV/)

The Russian military currently controls about 95% of the Luhansk region. But Moscow has struggled for weeks to overrun it completely, despite deploying additional troops and possessing a massive advantage in military assets.

In the city of Sievierodonetsk, the hotspot of the fighting, Ukrainian defenders held on to the Azot chemical plant in the industrial outskirts. About 500 civilians are sheltering at the plant, and Haidai said the Russian forces are turning the area into ruins.

It is a sheer catastrophe, Haidai told the AP in written comments about the plant. Our positions are being fired at from howitzers, multiple rocket launchers, large-caliber artillery, missile strikes.

A firefighter secures a partially destroyed educational and laboratory building of a college hit the day before by a rocket in Kharkiv on June 21, 2022.



A firefighter secures a partially destroyed educational and laboratory building of a college hit the day before by a rocket in Kharkiv on June 21, 2022. (SERGEY BOBOK/)

The defense of the chemical plant recalled the besieged Azovstal steel mill in the brutalized city of Mariupol, where Ukrainian troops were pinned down for weeks.

Neighboring Lysychansk, the only city in the Luhansk region that is still fully under Ukrainian control, also was targeted by multiple air strikes.

The air strikes on Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk ruined more than 10 residential buildings and a police station. In the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, a school burned down as the result of the shelling, the presidents office said. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions make up the Donbas.

Separately, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland met for about an hour at a Ukrainian-Polish border post with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. They discussed how the U.S. can help identify, apprehend and prosecute anyone involved in war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

A man rides a bicycle among debris in Lysychansk on June 21, 2022, as Ukraine says Russian shelling has caused "catastrophic destruction" in the eastern industrial city, which lies just across a river from Severodonetsk where Russian and Ukrainian troops have been locked in battle for weeks.



A man rides a bicycle among debris in Lysychansk on June 21, 2022, as Ukraine says Russian shelling has caused "catastrophic destruction" in the eastern industrial city, which lies just across a river from Severodonetsk where Russian and Ukrainian troops have been locked in battle for weeks. (ANATOLII STEPANOV/)

We and our partners will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable, Garland said in a statement.

Garland also tapped Eli Rosenbaum  a 36-year Justice Department veteran who headed efforts to identify and deport Nazi war criminals  as counselor for war crimes accountability. He will coordinate efforts to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, also came under heavy Russian shelling on Tuesday. Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said 15 civilians were killed and 16 wounded in Kharkiv and elsewhere in the region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Luxembourg following talks in Kyiv on June 21, 2022.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Luxembourg following talks in Kyiv on June 21, 2022. (SERGEI SUPINSKY/)

Speaking Tuesday to graduates of Russian military academies at a lavish Kremlin reception, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the Russian armed forces as heirs to the countrys legendary military traditions. The country is now going through another series of trials, he said, expressing confidence that Russia will overcome all the challenges.

There is no doubt that we will become even stronger, he added.

International support for Ukraine was demonstrated once more when a Nobel Peace Prize medal auctioned off by Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov sold Monday night for $103.5 million, shattering the old record for a Nobel. The auction aimed to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees.

Geopolitical tensions stemming from Russias invasion returned to Lithuania. Due to European Union sanctions on Moscow, the Baltic country earlier this month banned rail traffic from crossing its territory from Russia to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Kaliningrad, with a population of around 430,000 people, is wedged between Lithuania and Poland, both EU countries, and is isolated from the rest of Russia.

Ukrainian troop ride a tank on a road of the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas on June 21, 2022, as Ukraine says Russian shelling has caused "catastrophic destruction" in the eastern industrial city of Lysychansk, which lies just across a river from Severodonetsk where Russian and Ukrainian troops have been locked in battle for weeks.



Ukrainian troop ride a tank on a road of the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas on June 21, 2022, as Ukraine says Russian shelling has caused "catastrophic destruction" in the eastern industrial city of Lysychansk, which lies just across a river from Severodonetsk where Russian and Ukrainian troops have been locked in battle for weeks. (ANATOLII STEPANOV/)

Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of the Kremlins Security Council and a hard-liner, visited Kaliningrad on Tuesday and vowed to respond to the ban.

The relevant measures are being drawn up in an interagency format and will be adopted shortly, Patrushev said, without elaborating. He added: Their consequences will have a significant negative impact on the population of Lithuania.

In other developments on Tuesday, John Kirby, a national security spokesman for the White House, said it was appalling that the Kremlin suggested two Americans captured by Russian forces in Ukraine could be sentenced to death.

Kirby declined to say what steps the U.S. would take if Russia does not treat Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh, both from Alabama, as prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it depends on the investigation, when asked during an NBC interview whether the Americans could be sentenced to death like two Britons and a Moroccan captured while fighting for Ukraine.
The recent wave of mass shootings across the country has renewed partisan debates over gun control and the scope of the Second Amendment, which reads: "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."

Edelman CEO Richard Edelman was one of 200 U.S. CEOs recently signed a letter demanding that Congress take action on gun safety in the form of new legislation.

"This is 10 years after Sandy Hook, and status quo just won't do," Edelman recently said on Yahoo Finance Live (video above). "Somehow, falling back on the rights of citizens to bear arms is just kind of an excuse for delaying what is inevitably in the interests of the communities."

The corporate leaders  including those of Lyft, Dicks Sporting Goods, and Unilever  called the gun violence epidemic a public health crisis," according to Axios.

People gather at Riverfront Park for the May Day Second Amendment rally in Salem, Oregon, U.S., May 1, 2021. REUTERS/Alisha Jucevic

"All of this points to a clear need for action: the Senate must take urgent action to pass bold gun safety legislation as soon as possible in order to avoid more death and injury," the letter stated.

A few days after Edelman spoke, the Senate reached an agreement for gun-related measures aimed at preventing future shootings akin to what recently happened in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas. However, the specific language of any potential legislation has yet to be written.

A majority of Americans (59%) support prioritizing legislation to control gun violence versus 35% who believe it's more important to protect gun rights, according to a recent Marist Poll.

'I believe in the Second Amendment'

Edelman stressed that he and his fellow chief executives are not seeking to ban all weapons.

To be clear, what [the letter] said was nothing specific, Edelman said. We want something like a red flag law, or we want some limitation on age, or we want something that limits high-capacity ammunition  all of these should be on the table. Its up to Congress to make the specifics. But we need gun safety.

He added that I believe in the Second Amendment, but I want to be sure that guns are used appropriately.

Current proposals being floated include expanding background checks, expanding red flag laws, and raising the minimum age to buy an assault rifle to 21. Republican opposition is expected, though, as many are instead pushing for legislation to address mental health issues.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks at a rally demanding gun control legislation, June 8, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Finding a middle ground

While Edelman has previously been vocal about corporate leaders finding a balance between activism and appeasing stakeholders, he said this letter was about messaging to employees and elected leaders.

I thought it was interesting the group of CEOs who did sign on, Edelman said. It was a mix of tech companies, younger companies, clothing companies, consumer products companies, some service companies like my own. It's a pretty unanimous kind of approach. And corporate America is saying, come on, Senate, do your job. It's time. Find a middle ground. Even if we have to settle for less than optimal from some sides or other  get to legislation.

According to Edelmans 2022 Trust Barometer, more than 8 in 10 respondents want CEOs to be the face of change, leading on policy, not on politics.

Edelman's Trust Barometer shows that CEOs are expected to inform policy, not politics. (Chart: Edelman)

For Edelman, signing a public letter calling for gun legislation does exactly that.

Now, there can be others who are CEOs who contact their [congresspeople] or senators personally, make contributions personally  that's a perfectly plausible approach, Edelman said. I'm not saying that every company should use its platform to advance societal issues writ big, whether it's abortion, voting rights, or gun control. But if you are, as a citizen, convinced that this is the right thing, at least as a CEO contact your legislator and say, it's time to pass this legislation. Do it privately. That's fine too.

The question for CEOs, he added, amounts to: Is it the right thing to do as a public advocate, which I did yesterday on signing on to the letter, or is it better to do privately with your congressman and senator? That, again, is a perfectly plausible approach if this is going to upset your workforce or your consumer base.

Adriana Belmonte is a reporter and editor covering politics and health care policy for Yahoo Finance. You can follow her on Twitter @adrianambells and reach her at adriana@yahoofinance.com.

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Kellogg to focus on snacks with surprise three-way split FILE PHOTO: Kellogg's Corn Flakes owned by Kellogg Company is seen for sale at a store in Queens, New York City

By Praveen Paramasivam and Mehr Bedi

(Reuters) -Kellogg said on Tuesday it would split into three independent companies, in the latest U.S. corporate overhaul aimed at simplifying its structure and sharpening its focus on the snack business.

Shares of the company, which began life in 1894 when W.K Kellogg created Corn Flakes and became known around the world for its breakfast cereals, were up 4%.

The breakup of the Pringles and Pop-Tarts maker would result in the creation of a global snacking business that would also house its international cereal and noodles brands and its North America frozen breakfast division.

The business brought in net sales of $11.4 billion in 2021, accounting for 80% of its total revenue.

Chief Executive Steve Cahillane told Reuters the decision to split the business was made to make them very focused, strategic categories.

"(Cereals) will not have to compete for resources against a high-growth snacking business. Frosted Flakes does not have to compete with Pringles for resources," Cahillane said on a call with analysts.

Kellogg said it would spin off into separate companies its North America cereal unit and the plant-based business, for which it is also exploring options, including a sale.

The company has in recent years focused on its global snacking portfolio, as sales of U.S. cereals have declined with more Americans taking to snacking and relying on fast-food chains for breakfast.

Most packaged-food companies, even those without a huge presence previously in the segment such as Hershey Co and Mondelez International Inc, are doubling down on the business through billion-dollar acquisitions.

After the split, the snacking division will have brands such as Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats and frozen breakfast products such as Eggo waffles. It will be the biggest of the three and would be led by current top boss Cahillane.

The cereal business would include Kellogg's, Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops, while the plant-based focused firm would be anchored by its MorningStar Farms brand.

SUM OF PARTS

The decision by Kellogg to split follows similar announcements by global conglomerates such as Johnson & Johnson and General Electric Co in the past year and underscores how big companies need to be nimble in their fight for market share.

Companies often split in an attempt to shed a so-called conglomerate discount, where the valuation is lower than the "sum of the parts" if the component businesses are run separately.

"It is splitting now to take advantage of growth opportunities as economies slow and new growth is hard to find in all aspects of the business," said Randy Allen, senior lecturer at Cornell College of Business.

"Their snack business is more globally focused and has more growth potential."

The company said its North American cereal business and the plant-based focused company will remain headquartered in Battle Creek, Michigan. While the snacking-focused company will maintain dual campuses in Battle Creek and Chicago, Illinois.

(Reporting by Deborah Sophia and Praveen Paramasivam in Bengaluru and Jessica DiNapoli in New York; Editing by Amy Caren Daniel and Anil D'Silva)
Mining giant Glencore has pleaded guilty to seven bribery offences.

Clare Montgomery QC, appearing for Glencore Energy UK Limited, admitted five counts of bribery and two of a failure of a commercial organisation to prevent bribery on behalf of the company at a hearing at Londons Southwark Crown Court.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has said the charges came after it launched an investigation which found that Glencore had, via its employees and agents, paid bribes of more than 28 million US dollars (23 million) for preferential access to oil, including increased cargoes, valuable grades of oil and preferable dates of delivery.

The SFO say the offences were an attempt to secure access to oil and generate illicit profit.

The court heard that these actions were approved by the company across its oil operations in Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan.

The bribery charges date from March 2012 to April 2016.

The bribery charges state that Glencore gave a financial advantage worth millions of dollars with the intention it would induce officials from different companies.

The aim was for the officials to perform their functions improperly, or reward them for so doing, by unduly favouring Glencore Energy UK Limited in the allocation of crude oil cargoes, the dates crude oil would be lifted and the grades of crude oil allocated.

The five bribery charges include a statement that Glencore paid out 4,586,143 US dollars (3,733,381) to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Glencore also tried to improve its position by paying 2,047,004 US dollars (1,665,099), to induce officials of Ontario Trading SA Limited.

The hearing was held at Southwark Crown Court (Sean Dempsey/PA)

A 335,920 US dollars (273,245) payment was also made to officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation so that their work would result in unduly favouring Petroleos De Geneve SA Limited in the allocation of crude oil cargoes, the dates crude oil would be lifted and the grades of crude oil allocated.

The court heard that Glencore gave 10,532,712 euros (9,042,801) to officials of Societe Nationale des Hydrocarbures and the Societe Nationale de Raffinage to help it with its oil transactions in Cameroon.

Glencore also gave 4,737,381 euros (4,068,944) to induce officials of Societe Nationale dOperations Petrolieres de la Cote DIvoire, Petroci Holding and Societe Ivoirienne de Raffinage in an effort to help with its oil transactions in Ivory Coast.

Glencore admitted two counts of having failed to prevent people associated with the company from bribing officials concerned in the award of crude oil cargoes between July and December 2011.

The first failure-to-prevent count, which relates to its practices in Equatorial Guinea, states the bribery was intended to obtain or retain business or an advantage in the conduct of business for Glencore Energy UK Limited.

Glencore also made a guilty plea with regard to a similar charge about its operations in South Sudan.

Glencore is to be sentenced in a two-day hearing at the same court starting on November 2.
A New Hampshire lobster fisherman saved three people and two dogs from a burning yacht near New Castle on Saturday.

An investigation is currently underway into what caused the 70-foot yacht to burn and eventually sink, authorities said.

"We don't know what caused the fire and we probably never will because the boat burned down to the waterline and there is nothing left of the boat," Sgt. Steve O'Conner of the New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol told WMUR-ABC.

PHOTO: This image provided by New Hampshire State Police shows a yacht burning on the Piscataqua River in New Castle, N.H., on June 18, 2022. (New Hampshire State Police via AP)

Tom Hadley, from Hollis, New Hampshire, said he had noticed a bit of smoke coming from a yacht he had passed on his small fishing boat, and decided to turn around to offer his help.

The yacht, at the mouth of Little Harbor on the Piscataqua River, had burst into flames by the time Hadley came back to it. He told WMUR that he could see three people and two dogs standing on a platform in the stern of their boat.

Hadley said that they were holding pool noodles, so he yelled for them to jump into the water and then dumped his own lobster traps into the harbor to make room for the rescues.

"At first I hauled a lady on board and then we put the two dogs on board" Hadley told WMUR. "And then a younger man was half in, I hauled him over the side."

Hadley said he then saw a small fishing boat which he called over to help a third man who was clinging to the side as the heat coming from the boat increased.

"If there were an explosion the thought of being showered with burning fiberglass was not too appealing," Hadley said.

The three individuals were taken to the dock of the Wentworth Marina before being brought to Portsmouth Hospital, where they were treated, released and reunited with their dogs.

New Hampshire State Police reported that the two dogs were safe and unharmed.

A statement from the New Castle Fire Department only reported one minor injury among the three escaping the fire.

"If you ever think somebody is in distress out there, it doesn't hurt to cruise on over and check it out to make sure that they're OK," Hadley said.

The New Hampshire State Police received a 911 call about the boat fire just after 4 p.m., and was on site within minutes, according to a statement from the department.

According to police, the yacht, "Elusive", was headed toward the Wentworth Marina went one of the passengers noticed smoke below deck. The three passengers reported to police that the smoke had completely filled the boat within minutes.

Jarrod Tubbs, 33, of Jupiter, Florida, Kitt Watson, 67, and Diane Watson, 57, both of New Canaan, Connecticut  a couple and their first mate  lived on the yacht. As the boat has been completely lost, so have all of their belongings.

PHOTO: This image provided by New Hampshire State Police shows a yacht burning on the Piscataqua River in New Castle, N.H., on June 18, 2022. (New Hampshire State Police via AP)

"This was just arms are open, come on board, get warm, we're going to take care of you and it really restored my faith in humanity," Kitt Watson told WMUR-ABC.

Marine Patrol, New Hampshire fire departments from Newington and Rye, the Kittery Harbormaster, and the Salisbury Fire Department from Massachusetts, assisted at the scene, state police said.

The tide pushed the burning yacht away from the coast, and after efforts by several agencies were unsuccessful, it sank in approximately 75-feet deep water, state police said. Within two hours of the initial 911 call, the boat had been submerged and will not be recovered.

The U.S. Coast Guard and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Protection have been monitoring for any excess oil spillage from the sunken yacht.

A spokesperson for the New Hampsire Department of Environmental Protection told ABC News that a sheen of diesel fuel was seen as a result of the incident, but that crews are not aware of any shoreline impacts.

Fisherman hero hailed after saving 3 people, 2 dogs from yacht fire originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Fresh out of jail for burning a Black Lives Matter flag at a Stop the Steal protest in Washington, D.C., Proud Boys Chairman leader Henry Enrique Tarrio stood in a dark parking garage wearing hunting fatigues and reached out his hand.

Im Stewart, pleasure, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes said in his Montana cattle rancher hat, reaching out his arm to shake hands with Tarrio.

Stewart, pleasure is all mine, Tarrio responded.

It was Jan. 5, 2021, the night before the assault on the Capitol. Their introduction appeared to indicate a first-time meeting, but court documents say the conversation lasted for 30 minutes and the word "Capitol" was mentioned.

The video clip of the exchange  aired at the opening hearing of the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection  is part of a bigger trove of evidence about the alleged role of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Justice Department prosecutors have laid out much of the same information in their own separate investigations charging leaders of both groups with seditious conspiracy  the most serious charges to date related to Jan. 6. But the House committee has interviewed hundreds of witnesses and key participants and dropped tantalizing hints about information it has uncovered.

The most incendiary from the committee centers on alleged involvement by former President Donald Trump or his associates in setting a mob loose on the Capitol to illegally try to keep him in office. The committee's chairman has gone further, hinting that the investigation has tied people close to Trump to alleged plots by the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, to lead a violent effort to prevent the orderly transfer of power to President-elect Joe Biden.

After the committee aired video footage of the two groups' leaders Jan. 5 meeting in the garage, a CNN anchor asked the chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., if the committee has "witnesses that describe actual conversations between these extremist groups and anyone in Trump's orbit?"

More: Is there a link between Jan. 6 suspects and Trump's inner circle? FBI is investigating

"Yes. Obviously, you'll have to go through the hearings, which will be held throughout June, Thompson replied. But we have a number of witnesses who have come forward that people have not talked to before, that will document a lot of what was going on in the Trump orbit while all of this was occurring.

The committee, has no power to bring criminal charges against people for their suspected role in the Jan. 6 attack. The Justice Department does, and has brought charges against more than 800 people.

On Thursday, tensions between those overseeing the two parallel investigations erupted into public view when Justice renewed its request for the House committees transcripts of hundreds of witness interviews conducted during its yearlong investigation. The transcripts are not just potentially relevant to our overall criminal investigations but are likely relevant to specific prosecutions that have already commenced, prosecutors said in court filings related to its case against the Proud Boys and their former leader, Tarrio.

Initially, the committee declined, saying it wanted to finish its investigation first. It has also said that the Justice Department has uncovered a lot of information that it has not publicly released or shared.

On Saturday, a committee spokesman told USA TODAY that it is now engaged in "a cooperative process" with the Justice Department. "We believe accountability is important and wont be an obstacle to the departments prosecutions," said spokesman Tim Mulvey. He said the committee would not provide details of that cooperation publicly.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers say the garage meeting between Tarrio and Rhodes was a chance encounter. Committee members have not laid out specifics about their view of the significance of it  or how it may involve people connected to Trump. A committee official told USA TODAY that the two organizations will be covered in upcoming hearings.

Who are the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers?

The Proud Boys, founded in 2016, have become one of the most visible of the American far-right organizations promoting white supremacist and racist rhetoric. The Oath Keepers, founded in 2009, are an antigovernment paramilitary group that heavily recruits former members of the military and law enforcement.

Both groups have become known for their patrols of communities while claiming to protect citizens and local business owners from left-wing antifa protesters. Each increased in popularity  and controversy  during the administration of Donald Trump.

The Proud Boys soared to prominence in 2020 when, instead of disavowing the group during a presidential debate, he said, Proud Boys  stand back and stand by. Membership in the Proud Boys tripled in the wake of that statement, according to testimony in front of the committee.

Enrique Tarrio, leader of the Proud Boys, a far-right group, attends a

What were their roles in Jan. 6?

According to the House committee, both groups began planning for Jan. 6 weeks in advance, and played separate and distinct roles in the Capitol attack.

A documentary filmmaker, testifying at the first committee hearing on June 9, said several hundred Proud Boys left a morning rally at the Ellipse Jan. 6 and headed for the Capitol long before Trump began speaking and urged his supporters to do so.

Video footage aired at the hearing showed that Proud Boys members instigated the first breach of the Capitol just before 1:00 p.m., when rioters pushed over barricades and overran a small Capitol Police force trying to block them. Trump's speech, which took place a 20-minute walk from the Capitol, did not finish until 1:10 p.m.

The attack on our Capitol was not a spontaneous riot, committee Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., said. She added that intelligence available before Jan. 6 identified plans to "invade the Capitol, occupy the Capitol, and take other steps to halt Congress's count of electoral votes that day.

According to Cheney and other committee members, the Oath Keepers began planning to block the peaceful transfer of power shortly after the Nov. 3, 2020 election, when Rhodes, the groups leader, told his followers that, "we were not going to get through this without a civil war.

On Jan. 6, columns of Oath Keepers  wearing helmets, reinforced vests and military-style insignia  moved through the mob of protesters on the Capitol steps in two consecutive military-style stack formations, and went looking for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Barbara McQuade, a veteran federal prosecutor from Michigan, said she previously thought Trump was a beneficiary of a mostly spontaneous insurrection, not a planner, until she watched the three hearings to date.

I thought that he certainly riled up people, but that he was probably as surprised as anybody that they actually got through the door, McQuade said of the rioters. Now I'm not so sure."

Members of the Oath Keepers on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. The District of Columbia has filed a civil lawsuit seeking harsh financial penalties against far-right groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers over their role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Rhodes did not enter the Capitol, instead giving orders over the radio while outside the building. Other heavily armed Oath Keepers stayed in a hotel in Arlington, Virginia to serve as quick reaction forces, according to the committee and the Justice Department. They were on standby in case Trump initiated the Insurrection Act.

Later, as the attack unfolded, Tarrio took credit for the Capitol assault, saying in an encrypted chat that "make no mistake" and "we did this," according to Justice Department documents.

What is seditious conspiracy and who has been charged with it?

In its sprawling investigation, the Justice Department has leveled what are by far its most serious charges, of seditious conspiracy, against the leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.

According to federal law, a seditious conspiracy occurs when two or more persons conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against" it.

Seditious conspiracy can also occur when co-conspirators oppose by force the authority of the government, or use force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States.

Prosecutors  and members of the Select Committee  have said the charges stem from their belief that the two groups participation in the Jan. 6 attack amounted to an organized assault on democracy and an intentional attempt to prevent the peaceful transfer of presidential power.

Rhodes, a former Army paratrooper and Yale Law School graduate, was indicted first, last January, along with at least 10 other Oath Keepers.

"Rhodes and certain co-conspirators, to include selected regional leaders, planned to stop the lawful transfer of presidential power by Jan. 20, 2021, which included multiple ways to deploy force, the indictment said. They coordinated travel across the country to enter Washington, D.C., and equipped themselves with a variety of weapons, donned combat and tactical gear, and were prepared to answer Rhodess call to take up arms at Rhodess direction.

Earlier this month, three days before the first Select Committee's first hearing, DOJ unveiled similar seditious conspiracy charges against Tarrio, the Proud Boys former national chairman, and four top associates.

"On Jan. 6, 2021, the defendants directed, mobilized, and led members of the crowd onto the Capitol grounds and into the Capitol, leading to dismantling of metal barricades, destruction of property, breaching of the Capitol building, and assaults on law enforcement," prosecutors said. "During and after the attack, Tarrio and his co-defendants claimed credit for what had happened on social media and in an encrypted chat room."

Vance and other former top federal prosecutors told USA TODAY its extremely tough for the government to prove a seditious conspiracy case. But, they noted, the Justice Department already has flipped at least two key witnesses, including Oath Keeper Joshua James, and gotten them to cooperate in the ongoing investigation.

Cheney said the committee plans to devote one or possibly two full hearings to the role played by both groups before and during the Jan. 6 assault.

What has the Jan. 6 committee said about Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and Trump's orbit?

In its opening hearing, the committee aired footage of the meeting between Tarrio and Rhodes in a garage. Also present was Bianca Gracia, the founder and director of the Latinos for Trump organization, and Kellye SoRelle, a family lawyer from Texas, who took over as head of the Oath Keepers after Rhodes arrest in January 2022.

Representatives of both groups  rivals that are often at odds with each other  have said the meeting was coincidental and did not constitute any kind of plotting. But investigators are interested in ties between both groups and Roger Stone, a longtime Trump operative and friend, according to two sources close to the committee and a lawyer for an Oath Keeper who is now cooperating with the government.

The Select Committee has also begun unveiling what it believes to be a compelling case linking Trumps actions to those of the mob that attacked the Capitol.

President Trump summoned the mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack, Cheney said. You will also hear about plots to commit seditious conspiracy on Jan. 6, a crime defined in our laws as conspiring to overthrow, put down, or destroy by force the government of the United States or to oppose by force the authority thereof.

In our hearings to come, we will identify elements of those plans and we will show specifically how a group of Proud Boys led a mob into the Capitol building on Jan. 6, Cheney said.

Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., lead the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

A moment later, she added, As you hear this, all Americans should keep in mind this fact Over multiple months, Donald Trump oversaw and coordinated a sophisticated seven-part plan to overturn the presidential election and prevent the transfer of presidential power.

So far, neither the committee nor the Justice Department has presented any evidence tying Trump or any of his associates to the seditious conspiracy charges filed against the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers  or demonstrating that the two groups worked together.

Proud Boys and Oath Keepers provided private security for Stone or other right-wing figures who came to Washington for events surrounding the Jan. 6 protest. Stone, who has denied wrongdoing, was also the founder of the Stop the Steal movement that helped launch the Jan. 6 rally in the first place and was in touch with many Trump associates during that time, according to the two sources close to the committee.

Roger Stone, a former adviser and confidante to former President Donald Trump, arrives to the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Federal Building for a deposition before the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 Attack on the United States Capitol on December 17, 2021 in Washington, D.C.

James, who led the Oath Keepers' Alabama chapter, pleaded guilty in March to seditious conspiracy charges and is cooperating with the Justice Department in its ongoing investigation.

Last November, the committee subpoenaed Stone as part of an effort to obtain information about who planned and financed pro-Trump rallies the evening of Jan. 5 and the morning of Jan. 6  and the march to the Capitol afterward.

Stone had planned to attend Trumps Jan. 6 rally but ultimately decided against it, saying he did not receive a VIP invitation, he told a documentary film crew in conversations reported by the Washington Post. Another documentary filmmaker later captured footage of him packing up and leaving Washington that evening.

Stone was in a hurry, he said on the footage, because he feared prosecution by Bidens incoming attorney general, Merrick Garland. He is not a friend, Stone said.

In subpoenaing Stone, committee members also wanted to know what communications organizers had with officials in the White House and Congress."

Soon after, the committee subpoenaed the leaders of the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys and a third right-wing extremist group that provided security around Jan. 6, the 1st Amendment Praetorian and its chairman, Robert Patrick Lewis.

Committee members, so far, also have provided no details about who they might call as witnesses to show potential coordination between the two extremist groups  or between them and anyone in Trumps orbit.

Vance and other former top federal prosecutors told USA TODAY that it would be potentially very damning for Trump  politically and legally  if the committee has gathered evidence of conversations between people close to him and rioters either before or during the assault on the Capitol.

It would be even more devastating for Trump, they said, if the committee has found any kind of advance discussions  or planning  between Trump or his supporters and members of the Oath Keepers or Proud Boys.

Like everything with prosecutions, the devil is in the details, said Vance, the former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. You have to first see the evidence and then evaluate it.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jan. 6 committee hints Trump associates were involved in planning riot
Arizona and Georgia state officials testified to the Jan. 6 select committee Tuesday about former President Donald Trumps pressure campaign to convince them to try to overturn his 2020 election loss in those key battlegrounds.

In the fourth in an ongoing series of public hearings, the committee sought to show how Trump and his allies tried to harass and intimidate election officials and Republican-controlled legislatures to reverse the election results, even after hed been told that there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the election. Tuesdays hearing also offered new details about Trumps involvement in a scheme to replace legitimately appointed Biden electors with an alternate slate of pro-Trump electors in certain states.

A handful of election officials in several key states stood between Donald Trump and the upending of American democracy, the committees chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said.

Rusty Bowers, Arizona House speaker, from left, Brad Raffensperger, Georgia's secretary of state, and Gabriel Sterling, chief operating officer in the office of Georgia's secretary of state, are sworn in for a hearing of the Select Committee in Washington, D.C., on June 21. (Michael Reynolds/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

After opening remarks from Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., committee member Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., took the lead in questioning witnesses, some of whom recounted threats of violence and death against election officials who refused to be taken in by the presidents false claims of voter fraud.

Anyone who got in the way of Donald Trumps continued hold on power after he lost the election was the subject of a dangerous and escalating campaign of pressure, Schiff said.

As with the committees previous three public hearings, Tuesdays presentation relied heavily on the testimony of witnesses, including a trio of Georgia state officials and Rusty Bowers, the Republican speaker of the Arizona state House of Representatives, who appeared in person.

What were some of the most shocking revelations?

Trump and Giuliani personally pressured Bowers to replace Biden electors.

Rusty Bowers, speaker of the Arizona House, addresses the hearing on June 21. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Bowers, the Arizona House Speaker, described a call he received shortly after the 2020 election from Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who urged him to initiate a process in the Arizona State Legislatures that, they said, would allow them remove the electors of President Biden and replace them with electors loyal to Trump. But Bowers refused to comply with the requests from Trump and Giuliani, explaining that he had never heard of any law allowing the replacement of certified electors and that he was never provided with any evidence of the alleged voter fraud that the former president and his personal attorney claimed warranted such an unprecedented move.

I didnt feel the evidence merited a hearing, and I didn't want to be used as a pawn, Bowers said. He said he told Trump and Giuliani, Youre asking me to do something against my oath, and I will not break my oath.

The Republican National Committee assisted the Trump campaign in its effort to convene alternate electors.

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel gives her pre-recorded testimony shown during the House Select Committee hearing on June 21. (House TV)

In a videotaped deposition, RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel told the committee about a call she had received from the former president and attorney John Eastman who, McDaniel said, proceeded to talk about the importance of the RNC helping the campaign and gather these contingent electors in case any of the legal challenges that were ongoing changed the result of any of the states.

My understanding was the campaign did take the lead, and we were just helping them in that, in that role, McDaniel said.

Some Trump campaign lawyers tried to distance themselves from the 'fake electors' plot.

Former Trump Campaign lawyer Justin Clark is seen giving his pre-recorded testimony during the House Select Committee hearing on June 21, 2022. (House TV)

In taped testimony given to the committee that was shown Tuesday, two former Trump campaign attorneys, Justin Clark and Matt Morgan, said they became concerned about the scheme to replace Biden electors with illegitimate pro-Trump electors in states lost by Trump, as the former president and his attorneys continued to lose their lawsuits challenging the election results in court. Both Clark and Morgan said they ultimately refused to participate in convening the alternate electors and deferred responsibility for the plot to Ken Cheseboro, another campaign attorney.

Election officials targeted by Trump were subject to angry calls, texts and protests at their homes, as well as threats of violence.

All the witnesses at Tuesdays hearing testified about the personal attacks and threats they and their families received as a result of Trumps pressure campaign. Toward the end of his testimony, Bowers became emotional when recalling how angry crowds of Trump supporters, some of whom were armed, routinely gathered outside his house while his daughter was terminally ill, to protest his refusal to declare that the 2020 election had been rigged.

It was disturbing, Bowers said.

Rusty Bowers, Arizona House Speaker, speaks during the fourth hearing by the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC, on June 21, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger similarly described how, while he was being pressured by Trump to find the votes he needed to win Georgia, supporters of the former president were harassing his wife and widowed daughter-in-law.

What was the most gripping moment?

The most emotional testimony of the day came from a former Georgia state election worker, Wandrea Shaye Moss, and her mother, Ruby Freeman, a temporary election worker, who recalled the harassment they received after they were personally implicated in a baseless conspiracy theory about voter fraud.

The theory centered on a spliced video clip of surveillance footage of the vote-counting station in Atlanta where Moss and Freeman processed votes for the Fulton County elections board on election night in 2020. In the aftermath of the election, an attorney for Trump presented the clip to a Georgia Senate committee and falsely claimed that it showed them removing and scanning ballots from a suitcase, allegedly processing them multiple times. Although the accusations were quickly dismissed by election officials for Fulton County and Georgia state, they were further amplified by Giuliani and Trump himself, who mentioned Freeman by name 18 times during his infamous phone call with Raffensperger.

Wandrea "Shaye" Moss, a former Georgia election worker, testifies in Washington on June 21. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Ive lost my name, and I've lost my reputation, Freeman told the committee in a taped deposition played Tuesday. Freeman said she was forced to go into hiding for two months after FBI agents urged her to leave her home ahead of Jan. 6, 2021, citing threats to her safety.

There is nowhere I feel safe, nowhere, Freeman said. Do you know how it feels to have the president of the United States target you? The president of the United States is supposed to represent every American, not to target one.

Moss, who testified in person Tuesday, choked back tears as she told the committee how the harassment unleashed by Trump and Giuliani has turned my life upside down.

I no longer give out my business card, I don't transfer calls. I don't want anyone knowing my name, said Moss, who said she left her job as state election worker after more than 10 years because of the harassment she faced.

I don't go to the grocery store at all. I havent been anywhere at all. I gained about 60 pounds, she said. I second-guess everything I do.

Who were the witnesses?

Gabriel Sterling, Georgia Secretary of State Chief Operating Officer, testifies during the fourth hearing on the January 6th investigation in the Cannon House Office Building on June 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

As with the committees previous hearings, Tuesdays presentation featured a mix of live and taped testimony from a wide variety of witnesses. In addition to Bowers, Raffensperger and Moss, Gabriel Sterling, one of Raffenspergers top aides, also testified in person about Trumps relentless pressure campaign to reverse his loss in Georgia.

Viewers also heard from witnesses who have appeared on videotape at earlier hearings, including former Attorney General Bill Barr and former Acting Attorney General Richard Donoghue, as well as a number of others who made their video testimony debut, such as former Trump lawyer Cleta Mitchell, RNC chair Ronna McDaniels, and Cassidy Hutchinson, who served as an aide to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.

Whats next?

Richard Donoghue is seen in a slide presented during the House Select Committee hearing on June 21, 2022. (House TV)

In closing remarks, Thompson said the select committees next hearing, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET, will focus on Trumps involvement in a plot to replace the acting attorney general with a loyalist in an effort to use the Justice Department to promote unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.

We will hear on Thursday that Donald Trump was also a driving force behind the effort to corrupt the Justice Department, Thompson said.

_____

The rioters got within 2 doors of Vice President Mike Pence's office. See how in this 3D explainer from Yahoo Immersive.
WASHINGTON  The Jan. 6 committee on Tuesday leaned on emotional testimony to illustrate the human toll that Donald Trumps elaborate scheme to overturn the 2020 election had on public servants and their families.

While the Jan. 6 hearings have focused on Trumps aggressive efforts to stop certification of Joe Bidens victory, the committees fourth public hearing zeroed in on other consequences of that pressure campaign: the violent threats to those who stood up to Trumps election lies and the upending of the lives of even the most low-level poll workers.

The presidents lie was  and is  a dangerous cancer on the body politic, said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., a Jan. 6 committee member who played a prominent role in Tuesdays hearing. This pressure campaign brought angry phone calls and texts, armed protests, intimidation, and, all too often, threats of violence and death."

In live testimony, the committee elicited not just stories about the Trump effort to overturn the election, but the personal experiences that ran concurrent  a poll worker forced from her home for two months, a state official with a dying daughter and another who became irate after seeing the threats to a young man.

Wandrea "Shay" Moss, an election worker from Georgia, and her mother, Ruby Freeman, became the target of conspiracy theorists, fueling a barrage of racist attacks on both of them. Freeman testified earlier that around Jan. 6 the FBI told her it wasnt safe to remain in her home after Trump called her out by name; she didnt return for two months. Moss said Tuesday she now rarely leaves the house, has gained weight and continues to fear for her safety.

Its turned my life upside down, Moss said. Its affected my life in a major way, in every way, all because of lies [about] me doing my job.

Rusty Bowers, a Republican and the speaker of the Arizona House, testified about the effort by Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani to have the state Legislature pick a new, rival slate of electors that would favor Trump, even though GOP Gov. Doug Ducey had already certified Bidens election win in the state.

Bowers told the committee that he knew Trumps request to be unconstitutional  and repeatedly refused.

It is a tenet of my faith that the Constitution is divinely inspired, that this is my most basic foundational belief, said Bowers, who is Mormon. And so for me to do that because somebody just asked me to, is foreign to my very being; I will not do it.

Bowers, a longtime conservative lawmaker, choked up as he told the committee about the toll these events have taken on him and his family. Trump supporters, he said, have regularly shown up at his home on Saturdays, causing his family dread. They have driven trucks through his neighborhood with video panels falsely proclaiming him to be a pedophile and a pervert and a corrupt politician, he said. In one instance, a man possessing a pistol began arguing with him and one of his neighbors about the election.

This all came as his daughter was gravely ill, Bowers said, tears in his eyes. She died on Jan. 28, 2021, several weeks after the attack on the Capitol.

So it was disturbing, he testified. Its disturbing.

To illustrate some of the other violent threats, the committee played videos of pro-Trump protesters chanting stop the steal! and Youre a tyrant and a felon outside the home of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who had earlier told the panel she thought they were going to attack her and her children with guns.

In another committee video, a script was shown that was used by Trump campaign staff to call state lawmakers and ask them to help overturn the election. The video also included voicemails trying to pressure state officials that were left by Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and Trump aide.

Building on the theme of last weeks hearing showcasing Trumps aggressive effort to strong-arm former Vice President Mike Pence, the Jan. 6 panel Tuesday put a spotlight on the campaign to pressure state officials. Specifically, the nine-member panel said, Trump pushed state officials to manipulate vote tallies in Georgia and send to Congress slates of fake pro-Trump electors from key swing states: Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.

In recorded testimony, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told the committee that Trump himself had called her and passed the phone to John Eastman, the architect of the plot to overturn the election, in a bid to coordinate the slates of contingent electors.

"Donald Trump had a direct and personal role in this effort, as did Rudy Giuliani, as did John Eastman," said Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the top Republican on the Jan. 6 panel. "In other words, the same people who were attempting to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to reject electoral votes illegally, were also simultaneously working to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election at the state level.

Two top Georgia election officials  Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger and top aide Gabriel Sterling  testified in-person about a now-infamous phone call four days before the attack in which Trump explicitly told them to find 11,780 votes that would put him ahead of Biden in the state.

"There were no votes to find," Raffensberger testified. "That was an accurate count that had been certified."

Image: January 6th hearing (Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images)

But they also discussed threats to election workers fueled by Trump and his allies floating a disproven conspiracy that Fulton County officials had added a suitcase of thousands of illegal ballots to their tally.

Sterling testified what led him to go on a televised tirade on Nov. 30, 2020, when he issued a stern warning that Trumps election lies would get someone killed. He had received a call from an official from Dominion Voting Systems, who he described as audibly shaken and who told him that a young contractor had been receiving threats from QAnon supporters.

Later, Sterling logged onto Twitter and discovered a tweet with the young mans name and a GIF of a noose.

For lack of a better word, I just lost it, Sterling said. I lost my temper but it seemed necessary at the time because it was just getting worse."

Both men are cooperating with a Fulton County special grand jury investigation into whether Trump violated election law by pressuring the Georgia officials.

Trump released a statement ahead of Bowers' testimony, insisting that the Bowers told Trump he had won Arizona.

"Bowers should hope theres not a tape of the conversation," Trump said in the statement. He did not provide a recording.

On Thursday, the Jan. 6 committee is set to hold its fifth public hearing, focused on how Trump pressured top Justice Department officials to investigate false claims of widespread voter fraud.
Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now Drone footage shows artillery strikes on the Ukrainian village of Toshkivka in the Luhansk region

(Reuters) - Russia threatened to punish Lithuania with measures that would have a "serious negative impact" for blocking some shipments by rail to Moscow's Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad, the latest dispute over sanctions imposed over war in Ukraine.

FIGHTING

* The Russian defence ministry said its missiles had struck an airfield near the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, Russian news agencies reported. It said it had carried out the strikes in response to a Ukrainian attack on gas production platforms in the Black Sea.

* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy predicted Moscow would escalate attacks ahead of a European Union summit Thursday and Friday. He was defiant in a late Monday address despite "difficult" fighting in Luhansk for Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk.

* Ukrainian forces last week claimed their first successful use of Western-donated Harpoon anti-ship missiles to engage Russian forces, the British Military Intelligence said.

* The Kremlin said it did not know the location of two Americans captured while fighting in eastern Ukraine, but that they were mercenaries and could be sentenced to death in Russian-backed breakaway territories.

DIPLOMACY AND ECONOMY

* Ukraine is set to become an official candidate for European Union membership on Thursday in a symbolic but morale-boosting decision following Russia's invasion, ministers and diplomats said.

* EU leaders aim to maintain pressure on Russia at a summit this week by committing to further work on sanctions, a draft document showed, with gold among assets that may be targeted in a possible next round of measures.

* Germany faces certain recession if already faltering Russian gas supplies completely stop, an industry body warned, as Italy said it would consider offering financial backing to help companies refill gas storage to avoid a deeper crisis next winter.

WESTERN WEAPONS

* German self-propelled howitzers have arrived in Ukraine in the first delivery of heavy weapons promised by Berlin, Ukraine's defence minister said. Kyiv has pleaded with the West to send more and better artillery as the country runs out of ammunition for its existing Soviet-era arsenal, which is dwarfed by Russia's.

WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS

* U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland went to Ukraine to discuss efforts to identify, arrest and prosecute those involved in war crimes and other atrocities committed during Russia's invasion, a Justice Department official said. Russia denies accusations of war crimes, calling them fabricated.

(Compiled by Nick Macfie and Mark Heinrich)
Talks on a trade deal between the UK and six Gulf nations that could boost the UK economy by up to 1.6 billion a year will kick off on Wednesday with a meeting in Saudi Arabia.

Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan will meet representatives of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) in Riyadh to begin negotiations on a deal with the bloc.

Trade between the UK and the GCC  which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE  is already worth 33.1 billion, making it the UKs seventh largest trading partner, and the blocs demand for international goods and services is expected to increase 35% in the next 13 years.

Ms Trevelyan said: This trade deal has the potential to support jobs from Dover to Doha, growing our economy at home, building vital green industries and supplying innovative services to the growth.

But Paul Nowak, deputy general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, warned against the move on account of the Gulf states appalling human rights record.

The UK is expected to pursue cuts to tariffs on British exports to the Gulf, particularly in the food and drink sector. UK food and drink exports to GCC countries were worth 625 million in 2021.

The UK is seeking to reduce tariffs on exports of wind turbine parts to the Gulf (Owen Humphreys/PA)

The Government will also seek to improve access for hi-tech industries including green technology to help the GCC transition away from reliance on fossil fuels.

This could include reducing the 15% tariff on UK wind turbine parts in order to help the UAE reach its target of generating 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2050.

Stephen Phipson, chief executive of manufacturers organisation Make UK, said: We welcome the launch of free trade negotiations with the Gulf Co-operation Council, strengthening trade opportunities which will ensure that British manufacturing benefits from future positive flows of goods and services into the Gulf region.

It is also extremely helpful that the UK and GCC are committee to work towards seeking the opportunities from green innovation, which will bring significant opportunities for Britains innovative renewable energy companies which are already leading the way in this area of global concern.

But unlike recent trade deals with New Zealand and Australia, the UK is not expected to pursue agreements on advancing gender equality as part of its negotiation with the GCC, instead raising human rights issues through other avenues.

Negotiations will also look to increase investment opportunities between the UK and the Gulf, with GCC investments in the UK supporting more than 25,000 jobs in 2019 and the new deal expected to boost local economies in the North and the Midlands.

For the service sector, UK negotiators will seek to improve transparency and consistency of regulation, which has previously been a sticking point, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses.

Sanjay Aggarwal, co-founder of small Liverpool-based exporter Spice Kitchen, said: Its so important for our business to be linking with the GCC and enables us to grow rapidly in exciting ways we never thought possible.

We are in the process of identifying retailers in the Gulf, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

But Mr Nowak said the Government should not entertain a deal.

The Gulf states appalling record on human rights and workers rights is no secret. And yet the Government is rushing into trade talks, no questions asked, he said.

Ministers should not entertain a deal with the Gulf states.

Banning trade unions, forced labour, severe exploitation of migrant workers and other labour rights abuses are all widespread  as are attacks on womens rights, LGBTQ+ rights and the oppression of marginalised communities.

Time and time again, ministers have turned a blind eye to fundamental rights abuses in a bid to secure trade agreements.

Enough is enough. The UK Government should be using its leverage on the global stage to ensure respect for fundamental workers and human rights.

And we need ministers to start meaningfully consulting with trade unions during trade talks  this is the only way trade deals will work for workers in the UK and globally.
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YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan addressed a congratulatory message on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Police Troops, the PMs Office said.

The message reads:

Congratulations to all of us, in particular, the Command of the Police Troops of the Republic of Armenia and the entire staff, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Police Troops.

The Police Troops are the same age as our Republic. Formed in the difficult 90's, the Police Troops were baptized in the military sense on the battlefield, at the same time maintaining public order and security of citizens, struggling on daily basis against crime.

The Police Troops of the Republic of Armenia have always been by the side of the Armed Forces, protecting the homelands borders together with the servicemen from any encroachment.

An evidence of this was the 44-day war in 2020, when the Troops, together with the army and police units, were crowned with glory.

Unfortunately, on this glorious path, the Police Troops have also suffered valuable and irreversible losses, devotees who sacrificed their lives for the Motherland without hesitation.

Glory to the bright memory of our fallen servicemen!

Deep homage to the parents of the immortal heroes for giving such children to the country.

Today, the Police Troops celebrate the anniversary of their formation with great merit and full right, and I once again congratulate the Command staff and the servicemen, wishishing them new achievements during their service, peace in everyones homes.

Trouble-free service to all of you.
Agnipath announcement has all the elements of a surprise move without any serious thinking and planning behind it

(L-2R) Chief of Indian Army staff General Manoj Pande, Chief of Air staff, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar pose for pictures during a press conference in New Delhi on June 14, 2022, to announce the new Agnipath scheme under which soldiers across the three military services will be recruited and will be called Agniveers. (Photo: AFP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to believe in the surprise element in all of his policy announcements. It is not just that he wants to surprise the people in general, and his political opponents especially, but that he even surprises himself and his own government as well.

The Prime Minister thinks that surprise moves will keep his government on its feet, and the unpreparedness of the government is not a matter of concern at all. This is because the policy announcement is all about impact more than the impact of the policy when it is implemented. So, the Agnipath announcement has all the elements of a surprise move without any serious thinking and planning behind it.

This time around, the Prime Minister did not make the announcement as is his wont. It was spelt out that the decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security, and it was explained by none other than defence minister Rajnath Singh and the three service chiefs. But it carries the maverick vision of the Prime Minister, who is always on the lookout for radical and short-term solutions to Indias long-standing problems.

The PM hopes to achieve many things with this single decision. He wants to tackle the problem of unemployment; he wants to fulfil the Hindu right-wings pet idea that a society needs disciplined and obedient citizens, and the Army is the best place to achieve this goal.

There is no better way of undermining democracy than give people military training. The inspiration comes from Singapore and Israel, which have a compulsory national service for youngsters. The name of that is conscription. But here it is of course a voluntary temporary job scheme. And this would be the real test  as to how many people are willing to undergo the rigorous training of the Army and that too for short-term gains. The money that those who are demobilised take home is not sufficient either to build a house or start a business.

The service chiefs have not provided the rationale for the paradigm shift in the recruitment policy. What are the advantages of this new mode compared to the established one, both of the long route lying through the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the respective service training institutions. And we are not told whether the older system of recruitment will remain in place or not. For the moment it has all the attributes of a short-term job offer. If it is a way of pruning the salary and pension bill, then not much thought has gone into it.

The new thinking about a modern army is to make it lean and mean, not train too many people, throw 75 per cent of them out and retain 25 per cent. The emphasis is on special forces, and technology. Of course, you do not win wars without the boots on the ground, as the United States learned in both Iraq and Afghanistan. So, the numbers are needed, but you cannot go about the numbers game in a haphazard fashion like the Agnipath scheme.

One of the most vulnerable aspects of the Narendra Modi government has been in its thinking about defence matters. It has been a knee-jerk response right from April 2015, when Prime Minister Modi, on his visit to France, announced buying 36 Rafale fighter planes off the shelf, while shelving the long-term plan to buy 126 of them. There was no Plan B on how to make up for the required squadron strength of the Air Force. After much hesitancy, it was decided the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which had been hanging fire since the 1980s, would take the place of Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). It has not been made clear whether the LCA is the same as the MMRCA. This is due to the Modi governments obsession that defence production has to be indigenised. But there is no thinking as to how it has to be done, how it needs a base of high technology backed by first-rate scientific research, and there is no visible attempt to strengthen either of them. The compromises included in the defence procurement policy is to assess how many components of an equipment put together in India have been imported, and if they fall beneath a threshold, then it is considered indigenous. These are indeed half-hearted measures when there is no longer-term plan of building strong foundations on which to base an armaments industry. Asking foreign companies to manufacture in India is not the way to indigenise defence production.

We also find that the government is placing emergency purchase orders for assault rifles because the Army does not have enough of them. In January 2018, when Nirmala Sitharaman was the defence minister, an emergency purchase order for 72,400 assault rifles and 93,895 carbines was placed from the global market. In August 2021, the Indian Air Force placed an order for 70,000 AK-103 assault rifles from Russia. Meanwhile, troops on the Ladakh front have been provided with 1.5 lakh American Sig Sauer guns and 16,000 Israeli Negev light machine-guns. There is much exigency buying, which can and should be rationalised. The policy should be to equip the Armed Forces with the best possible weapons systems rather than indigenous systems which are not the best.

It is surprising that the Narendra Modis governments defence policy has not been put under the microscope so far to show how shoddy it has been over the past eight years. The problem is a simple one, which can be seen in all spheres of governance. There is too much of grandstanding and too little of substance, whether it is the economy, the education policy and even foreign policy. The Prime Minister has been trying to bamboozle us with one new scheme after another, before we could scrutinise what each of these schemes has really achieved. It looks as though the government is in a hurry to move on newer things without bothering whether the earlier schemes have been implemented in some measure or not. The old adage that a rolling stone gathers no moss has never been truer than in todays India.
Today's headlines: flood emergency continues in Bangladesh and southern China; Cambodia ignores a Burmese civil society appeal against the presence of generals at the Asean summit; Thailand accuses a former MP of lese majesty; Hong Kong's historic Jumbo floating restaurant sinks.

ISRAEL

Israel's governing coalition has collapsed: parliament will vote to dissolve the Knesset, paving the way for new elections, the fifth in three years, which could be held Oct. 25. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will be replaced on an interim basis by Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. Back in April, the Israeli government, made up of a variety of parties that share opposition to Nethanyahu, lost its majority.

HONG KONG

The Jumbo floating restaurant, a historic landmark in Hong Kong, has sunk. It had resumed sailing in recent days but sank near the Paracelsus Islands. Closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, it had been operating at a loss since 2013, although it had welcomed several celebrities and more than 3 million visitors over the years.

BANGLADESH

More than 4 million people, including 1.6 million children, are in urgent need of aid due to the floods that have hit Bangladesh for days. "Children need clean water. Prevention of deadly waterborne diseases is one of the many concerns," said Sheldon Yett, Unicef representative in the country. In the northeastern division of Sylhet, 90 percent of health facilities have been flooded and schools have been closed.

CHINA

Heavy flooding has also affected southern China: more than 200,000 people were evacuated and damage was estimated at 4 million, Chinese media reported. According to the National Meteorological Center, such high average rainfall has not been seen since 1961. Production, already strained by controls for Covid-19, also slowed.

THAILAND

Police yesterday charged a former opposition MP with lese majesty for posting a tweet in October calling for reform of the monarchy. Piyabutr Saengkanokkul is the second member of the now-disbanded Future Forward Party to be charged with defamation against the crown, a crime that carries a 15-year prison term.

MYANMAR - CAMBODIA

Cambodia has ignored an appeal by Burmese civil society calling for the exclusion of coup general Mya Tun Oo from the upcoming Asean summit. More than 600 organizations signed a letter asking Phnom Penh not to legitimize the military junta. Mya Tun Oo, who acts as the regime's defense minister, is among the personalities to whom the European Union, the United States and other countries have applied sanctions.

TURKMENISTAN

Turkmenistan's new president Serdar Berdymuhamedov is showing himself to be much more intransigent in various circumstances than his father Gurbanguly: he caused a stir when he fired his aunt, the sister of former president Gulbanat Dovletova, as president of the Red Crescent for bad relations with his cousin Samurad, known as "Sammi-the limitless," who used his mother's association for smuggling cigarettes, canned goods, and other miscellaneous items.

UKRAINE

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UPZ) considers the annexation of Crimea's eparchies to Moscow a "form of populism," as Nezinsk Metropolitan Kliment (Vecera) put it, who said that "this is a passing phenomenon; the Crimean priests and faithful are Ukrainian patriots and will continue to recognize our Church in Kiev."
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This is the first time that the Chinese have offered to play a direct role in conflict resolution. Chinas huge investments require stability in a region marked by wars and coups. However, Beijing does not want to be seen as meddling in the regions affairs, a charge it has levelled against the United States and Europe.

Beijing (AsiaNews)  China wants to mediate the various conflicts that afflict the countries of the Horn of Africa, this according to Xue Bing, Chinas special envoy to the region, who spoke at a conference on peace and governance held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The offer is no small step for China, which has never played any significant role in conflict resolution.

In the negotiations that led in 2015 to the signing of the international agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, Beijing played the role of "facilitator" between the parties (US and Iran), in some way subordinate to the European Union, certainly not the main actor at the negotiating table.

In the Russian-Ukrainian war, many leaders and observers have urged China to stop Moscow's attack. The Chinese have refused based on their strategic assessments and national interests, but also because they have not yet built diplomatic skills to mediate in such a complex situation, far from Chinas traditional sphere of action in Asia.

Big economic interests seem to have prompted China to take a more proactive role in the geopolitics of the Horn of Africa.

According to the China Africa Research Initiative, China is the second leading investor in Africa after the European Union. In 2020, the flow of investments reached US$ 4.2 billion. Two of the top five beneficiaries are in East Africa, namely Kenya and Ethiopia.

Beijing also has significant interests in Djibouti, where it has built its first and, so far, only naval base outside its national borders. Sudan and South Sudan are oil suppliers, while there are less important economic relations with Eritrea and Somalia.

In his address, Xue admitted that the many border problems that plague the region are difficult to tackle, especially because they are complicated by ethno-religious tensions.

Somalia has been a battlefield for more than 30 years, with al-Shabab's Islamic extremists controlling part of the territory, from where they launch attacks in Kenya.

Since November 2020, the Ethiopian government has been at war with the forces that control the Tigray region, which has also been attacked by Eritrean troops.

Sudan and South Sudan have unresolved border issues, with the former in quasi permanent instability for years, ruled by the military since October.

Against this backdrop, Xue stressed that China wants to help settle the many disputes, respecting the will of the players in the region, while getting rid of external "interference by the United States and Europe.

In such a quest, the Chinese will use as leverage pledges for new infrastructure investments. However, some analysts note that it will be hard for China to be recognised as a different type of external actor, able of settling the many conflicts between the countries concerned, as well as taking into account the demands of various non-governmental actors.

The Americans and the Europeans have failed so far and things dont appear that encouraging for the Chinese either.

Eritrea did not attend the Addis Ababa conference, for example, nor did Somaliland. The latter is de facto independent and controls a territory claimed by Somalia, and has close ties with Taiwan.
A family of 13 has become the victim of attacks and intimidation because of their faith. Authorities have refused to issue a birth certificate for one of their children. Their story is documented in a report sent to the Evangelical Church of Vietnam. The family has had their electricity cut off and farming implements confiscated.

Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews)  The right to religious freedom of a Hmong family has been violated in one of the latest cases involving members of an ethnic minority persecuted by Vietnams communist regime.

Local authorities in Nghe An, a province in northern Vietnam, have attacked a Protestant family of 13 people because of their faith, sources told Radio Free Asia (RFA).

Faced with the parents' refusal to abandon Christianity, local officials refused to issue a birth certificate for one of the children and threatened to expel the family.

On Wednesday last week, Xong Ba Thong, 26, a resident of Na Ngoi, a municipality in Ky Son district, sent a report to the Evangelical Church of Vietnam, complaining that his family has been subjected to persecution and violence in the village of Ka Bottom.

The family has lived in the area for generations, following the local animist tradition for a long time. In 2017 they freely and voluntarily decided to convert to Protestantism after listening to some religious radio broadcasts.

Attacks began in 2019, with calls for the family to abandon Christianity and return to traditional worship. However, the family decided to remain steadfast in their journey of faith.

Last April they officially applied for admission in the Evangelical community, triggering further pressure from local officials.

Municipal authorities took punitive measures such as the confiscation of some agricultural tools, including a plow, and seizing some timber earmarked for building a house.

Despite having more than a hectare of rice fields, the family refrained from farming it, leaving it fallow and abandoned out of fear of retaliation.

Recently, the local government also cut off electricity to their house for more than a week.

A Protestant clergyman from Lao Cai province, currently a refugee in Thailand, said that the practice of expelling Hmong Protestants from the country was commonplace.

This kind of case happens a lot, and has happened for many years, he said, adding that families that do not leave after receiving an expulsion order struggle to survive, denied benefits and faced with many obstacles, including no birth certificate for children, who are thus unable to have access to medical care.

This is one reason why many Vietnamese Hmong people seek asylum in Thailand.

For Vu Quoc Dung, executive director of Veto!, an NGO that monitors religious freedom in Vietnam, this is a case of blatant violation of human rights.

Hmong can be found in many countries: China (about 9 million), Laos (almost 600,000), Thailand (about 250,000) and the United States (more than 260,000).

According to official data, more than a million Hmong lived in Vietnam in 2009 where they are often victims of persecution and discrimination by the communist regime because many of them were recruited and fought for the United States during the Vietnam War.

International organisations operating in the region estimate that at least 300,00 Hmong are Christian.
by Chiara Zappa

After years of isolation due to war and pandemic, the community founded by Father Dall'Oglio is again welcoming pilgrims and visitors. For Abbot Br Jihad Youssef, the monastery is a spiritual oasis of peace and friendship in a still harsh context.

Milan (AsiaNews)  After years of isolation due to war and COVID-19, Syrias Deir Mar Musa Al Habashi monastery[*] has reopened its doors to pilgrims and visitors.

In the 1990s Jesuit Father Paolo Dall'Oglio turned the ancient monastic compound nestled between the mountains and the desert, almost a hundred kilometres north of Damascus, into a centre for dialogue between Islam and Christianity.

This is an important sign, said Abbot Br Jihad Youssef. For many Syrians, the abbey represents a spiritual oasis of peace and friendship for people from different religious backgrounds.

The monasteries is one of the oldest in Syria, with precious frescoes and preserved wall inscriptions in Arabic, Syriac and Greek as well as a church from the 11th century.

After civil war broke out in 2011, fierce fighting between opposition groups and government forces engulfed the nearby town of al-Nabek. Between 2015 and 2017 the Islamic State group took control of a nearby region, which was followed by a wave of kidnappings of Christian residents.

For local Christians, the hardest blow came however with the disappearance in 2013, of Father Dall'Oglio who went missing in the jihadi-controlled Raqqa area. The clergyman has not been heard or seen ever since.

His spirit, however, lives on, stronger than ever, within the ancient stone walls, where silence is broken only by the chants of the monks during the hours of prayer.

In such a place of fraternity between faiths and people, There is no internet connection, said Abbot Youssef. Our guests can enjoy a break from the hectic life of the city, and devote themselves to the encounter with God, with themselves and with us, in a climate of friendship that overcomes religious differences, he explained.

Here, a prophecy of a global friendship" is particularly poignant amid a still harsh daily reality. Fighting might have ceased, but people here survive rather than live. We are going through a deep economic crisis, our currency is no longer worth anything, work is precarious and poorly paid and the prices of everything is skyrocketing.

Yet, despite an atmosphere of great discouragement, locals have greeted with great joy the news that the monastery was going to reopen to outside visitors.

For some time, many friends had been asking us when we would begin to welcome visitors again. They told us: We need you, to pray, to rest, to contemplate nature and walk in the mountains.

From the beginning, the ties with creation and care for the environment represent one of Deir Mar Musas peculiarities. The monks and nuns work the land and follow projects to enhance local biodiversity, while guests can share in the manual work while finding time to reflect and take advantage of the large library.

In recent years the community has been closely involved helping the displaced and the poor, in and around al-Nabek as well as the Governorate of Homs, where the monastery of Mar Elian is located. Islamists partially destroyed the latter in the summer of 2015 and kidnapped Father Jacques Mourad, holding him for five months.

Some time ago, Father Mourad announced that monastery would be rebuilt and its vineyards and olive groves replanted. Now, with Deir Mar Musas reopening there is hope anew.

Groups are back. We had 110 people in a single day, while a priest from Aleppo accompanied 35 women from one of the citys parishes for a retreat. Some 30 young people also came, Br Jihad noted. Our agenda for the coming months is already full.

Most pilgrims are Syrians. It is not easy for foreigners to get visas to visit the country, but everyone is welcome, the abbot said. For us, hospitality is a sacred duty. Everyone who arrives comes to visit the Lord and we, by welcoming him, welcome Jesus, and in the name of Jesus. It is always God who receives and who is received.

[*] Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian.
Francis sent a message to the meeting of the 86 countries that signed the UN Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Even today, we need to remain aware of the dangers of short-sighted approaches to national and international security, Francis wrote. Thinking about the suffering of the Hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan, the pope slammed the mere possession of such weapons as immoral, adding that the balance of terror poisons relations among peoples.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis issued a message on the occasion of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which started today. The three-day event is taking place in Vienna (Austria).

In it, the pontiff writes that, The Holy See has no doubt that a world free from nuclear weapons is both necessary and possible. Such a commitment is urgent in light of the current situation.

The meeting brought together the 86 countries (Vatican included) that signed the treaty to ban atomic weapons adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2017. None of the existing nuclear powers are signatories. The papal message was read by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vaticans Secretary for Relations with States

The pontiff fully backs the battle against such weapons, turning his thoughts go to the Hibakusha, the survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and to all the victims of nuclear arms testing.

In the current context, speaking of or advocating disarmament may seem paradoxical to many. However, we need to remain aware of the dangers of short-sighted approaches to national and international security and the risks of proliferation. As we know all too well, the price for not doing so is inevitably paid by the number of innocent lives taken and measured in terms of carnage and destruction. As a result, I emphatically renew my appeal to silence all weapons and eliminate the causes of conflicts through tireless recourse to negotiations: Those who wage war [] forget humanity!

In a system of collective security, there is no place for nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Indeed, if we take into consideration the principal threats to peace and security with their many dimensions in this multipolar world of the twenty-first century as, for example, terrorism, asymmetrical conflicts, cybersecurity, environmental problems, poverty, not a few doubts arise regarding the inadequacy of nuclear deterrence as an effective response to such challenges.

These concerns are even greater when we consider the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences that would follow from any use of nuclear weapons, with devastating, indiscriminate and uncontainable effects, over time and space. Nor can we ignore the precariousness arising from the simple maintenance of these weapons: the risk of accidents, involuntary or otherwise, that could lead to very troubling scenarios.

The message goes on to say that, the use of nuclear weapons, as well as their mere possession, is immoral. Trying to defend and ensure stability and peace through a false sense of security and a balance of terror, sustained by a mentality of fear and mistrust inevitably ends up poisoning relationships between peoples and obstructing any possible form of real dialogue. Possession leads easily to threats of their use, becoming a sort of blackmail that should be repugnant to the consciences of humanity.

For Francis, people should ask: how can we possibly envisage pushing the button to launch a nuclear bomb? How can we, in good conscience, be engaged in modernizing nuclear arsenals?

Existing disarmament treaties are more than just legal obligations. They are also moral commitments based on trust among States and among their representatives, rooted in the trust that citizens place in their governments, with ethical consequences for current and future generations of humanity. Adherence to, and respect for, international disarmament agreements and international law is not a form of weakness. On the contrary, it is a source of strength and responsibility since it increases trust and stability.

The message ends with an encouragement to governments, international organisations and civil society groups to continue promoting a culture of life and peace based upon the dignity of the human person and the awareness that we are all brothers and sisters.

For her part, the Catholic Church will continue to promote peace by fostering peace education. This is a duty to which the Church feels bound before God and every man and woman in our world.
On the summer solstice for the past eight years, the Indian government has publicly celebrated the practice as a form of natural medicine. But on the domestic front it continues to delay the adoption of a national law defining who is really entitled to teach it.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - After two years of forced suspension due to Covid-19, India returned today to publicly celebrate International Yoga Day on the summer solstice. Narendra Modi, who pursued its institution at the UN when he took office as prime minister in 2014, personally participated this morning in a mass exercise session in the palace grounds of Mysore in the state of Karnataka, where he is currently visiting to inaugurate some infrastructure projects.

All over India public tributes to yoga are multiplying, from Bollywood stars to the army, which has released which has released images of soldiers engaged in different postures on their mats under the Himalayan mountains.

On this very day, however, India's online newspaper The Wire points out a major paradox in the midst of this revival: despite all the attention the nationalist BJP government is devoting to the culture of this discipline for the health of body and spirit, India's parliament has so far been unable to pass a law defining who is really entitled to teach it.

It is the only one of the so-called Ayush disciplines (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and naturopathy and Homoeopathy) that does not provide a national register for those who promote it. With the paradox that both those who have taken a university course and those who have learned the positions in a few weeks' seminar can freely teach yoga classes.

All this has spawned a proliferation of initiatives that are capitalizing on the wave, but-claim some natural medicine experts-without the proper knowledge even this practice can put health at risk rather than promote it. The Modi government has so far defended itself by claiming that since it does not involve the use of drugs a registry would not be necessary.

But The Wire reports the concerns of the Indian Naturopathy and Yoga Graduate Medical Association (INYGMA), which says it encounters people every day with a condition made worse by misguidance by an unregistered practitioner. "If a person with hypertension practices the Kapalbhati technique, his or her blood pressure will rise and even a stroke may occur," protests President Naveen Visweswaraiah. "Similarly, Bhastrika-also known as hyperventilation-can trigger seizures. These are conditions that should also be checked with thorough examinations."

More than 50 parliamentarians from different sides of the aisle reportedly asked the Modi government to take action on the matter. The Ministry of Ayush responded that it would be considering legislation. But in eight years it has not yet arrived, so as not to displease anyone in the vast world in India around this discipline.
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Marolt: If you are reading this in the Aspen Daily News, I went too far
BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- China has recruited 1.48 million more full-time teachers for the country's compulsory education over the past ten years, bringing the total number of such teachers to 10.57 million, statistics released by the Ministry of Education showed Tuesday.

China now has 158 million students in 207,000 schools for the nine-year compulsory education. The compulsory-education retention rate reached 95.4 percent, up from 91.8 percent in 2012.

China's nine-year compulsory education includes six years of primary school and three years of junior secondary school, with free tuition.

Over the period between 2012 and 2021, China's compulsory education has achieved a balanced development at the county level based on full coverage, said Lyu Yugang, an official with the ministry, at a press conference. Lyu added that all students that dropped out due to financial reasons were identified and helped back to school timeously.

The country has also focused on equal education rights for children with disabilities. In 2021, about 920,000 students were studying in the country's special education institutions, up 142.8 percent from ten years earlier.

A nutrition improvement program for rural students benefited 37 million children each year, helping the rate of relevant students passing the physical health tests increase from 70.3 percent in 2012 to 86.7 percent last year.

Over the decade, all-level governments have invested more than 1 trillion yuan (more than 149 billion U.S. dollars) to close the gap between urban and rural school conditions and ensure all compulsory education schools have internet access. 
Both Airbus and the Australian Qantas airline have been committed to supporting zero-emission operations through various means. One of them is the use of SAF. At the moment, Qantas is getting its SAF from overseas, from the UK and the U.S. Earlier this year, it signed an agreement with the Californian green jet fuel producer Aemetis. Starting 2025, this California-made biofuel will power the airlines flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Australia.But in order to extend the use of alternative fuel , Qantas needs access to locally-produced SAF. Right now, Australia is exporting massive quantities of feedstock which is then turned into SAF in other countries, but it does not produce its own supply.This is why it has joined forces with Airbus for the Australian Sustainable Aviation Fuel Partnership, meant to fund local projects for the production of green jet fuel. Pratt and Whitney is also a partner in the project. Its GTF engines will power the A220 and A320neo aircraft that are part of the Australian operators new fleet.Qantas has also recently ordered the A350-1000 for its non-stop flights from Australia to New York and London, as well as the A220 and A321XLR for its domestic fleet. These modern, efficient aircraft will reduce carbon emissions on their own, by up to 25%, through reduced fuel consumption. But they are also certified to operate with 50% SAF, which will lower carbon emission levels even more.This new collaboration is meant to help kick start a local biofuels industry in Australia, but additional funding from other industry players and from the government is needed in order to make SAF more easily available and affordable.
In fact, Android Auto for phones has already been retired on the latest version of Android, so it was obviously just a matter of time until the app got the ax on older releases as well.The whole thing happened this week, when Android Auto for phones stopped working completely , with the Play Store listing also removed, and users who launch the app are now redirected to the Android Auto settings page where they, well, cant do much.Google, however, tells users who were running Android Auto for phones to get a car-optimized experience on their mobile devices to just switch to the driving mode thats bundled with Google Assistant. The driving mode was introduced last year specifically to play the role of an alternative to Android Auto for phones, but so far, the feedback has been discouraging, to say the least.If youve been using the Android Auto app on your phone screen, youll need to switch to Google Assistants driving mode, a new integrated driving experience. If your car is compatible with Android Auto, you can still connect directly to your cars display, Google says.But given Android Auto for phones is dead and the driving mode isnt yet the fully-featured replacement that Google wanted it to be, its pretty clear that many users are left without a solid option on this front.So right now, the only thing Google can do is mostly to improve the driving mode at a super-fast pace.The Google Assistant-powered driving mode is built with Google Maps in mind, and while the essential feature package is still there, so you can easily make calls and send and receive messages, the lack of support for other navigation apps is a major drawback. This is a surprising limitation, thats for sure, especially as Waze, which is another Google-owned navigation app, is one of the most popular choices on Android in the first place.In other words, Waze would pretty much be the top alternative to Google Maps anyway, so the driving mode being limited to just one app doesnt make much sense.The app is glitchy, to say the least, not to mention that its not even available on all devices and in all regions. According to Google itself, the driving mode is only available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It requires at least Android 9 and can only run on devices with 4GB of RAM and more. Needless to say, it integrates support for voice commands as well, obviously powered by Google Assistant , but you can only make and answer calls, send and read messages, and listen to music. For navigation, the typical Google Maps commands can be used to interact with the app and set up a new destination.A quick search on Google for driving mode reviews leads to all kinds of complaints the search giant needs to address, and given Android Auto for phones is already a thing of the past, the clock is kind of ticking for the company this time.Itll certainly be interesting to see how the community reacts to the demise of Android Auto for phones, especially because some are left with no alternative to the app theyve been using for years in their cars. Sure, they can always use the core Android experience and run the apps on their smartphones, but without a driving-optimized interface, it all feels like a downgrade that obviously shouldnt happen on such a popular mobile platform.
Like any military conflict, the ongoing war in Ukraine has numerous consequences that were not even totally aware of right now. Due to its proximity to Russia, Finland is affected by security concerns even when it comes to its plan of expanding the use of clean power. A military ban on new wind turbines is seriously slowing down the countrys green ambitions.

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#LoMasLeidoHoy El Bugatti de Cristiano Ronaldo sufre un accidente en Mallorca https://t.co/5RwQb9iudp  Ultima Hora Mallorca (@UHmallorca) June 20, 2022

Cristiano Ronaldo's Bugatti Veyron crashed into a wall in Majorca



The driver - who is reportedly not Ronaldo but one of his bodyguards - lost control,skidded into a wall in the residential estate



The supercar was taken away in a blue tarpaulin as police launch investigation pic.twitter.com/gP3msuwVjP  Lilian Chan (@bestgug) June 20, 2022

The accident occurred at 11 oclock on Monday night, June 20, on a narrow street of the resort of Sa Coma. Cristiano Ronaldo and his family arrived in Mallorca, Spain, last weekend, on vacation. Theyre staying at a luxury villa but are also spending plenty of time on board his private yacht, CG MARE , which is anchored off the coast.For the familys time on land, Ronaldo arranged for private transportation, having two of his cars shipped there from his home: a Mercedes-Benz G-Class and the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse , which is presumably his favorite. The latter was involved in the accident, as it presumably came out of a tight corner with too much speed, and the driver lost control, smashing it into a brick wall. The Daily Mail has photos from the scene of the accident, but you can also find them in the tweet below.According to reports, Ronaldo was nowhere near the scene of the accident. In fact, the tab says the car was being delivered to him as the accident took place. No one was injured, no other vehicle was involved, and the bodyguard has accepted full responsibility for the (expensive) mishap.The car smashed into a wall but there was only material damage with no-one injured and the driver accepted full responsibility for what happened, a source says. Bunyola Town Hall police and the Civil Guard, which attended the scene, have all the information pertaining to the accident on file, the tipster adds.Not that this would make the damage to the Veyron sting any less, but Cristiano Ronaldo has quite a spectacular collection of expensive cars , Bugattis included. A while back, when reports were saying he was the mystery buyer of the one-off Voiture Noire , the carmaker mentioned that he was part of the Bugatti family in its refusal to address the rumors. Ronaldo also owns a Chiron and a Centodieci
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Danfoss Editron is gearing up to submit a new world record to Guinness World Records. The e-ferry thats equipped with the companys electric drivetrains and motors has successfully sailed for 50 nautical miles (57.5 miles/92.6 km) without having to recharge its batteries.This is double of what the ferry typically covers on its regular route of 22 nautical miles before having to recharge. And most importantly, its the longest distance ever covered on a single charge by an e-ferry designed for passenger and car transportation.The Ellen electric ferry set this record earlier this month while returning from the 7th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency. As if to demonstrate the conclusions reached by the representatives of the industry, government, and community at the event in Sonderborg, Denmark , Ellen traveled longer than ever before on a single charge.The 197-foot (60 meters) ferry was designed by Jens Kristensen Consulting Naval Architects and built by Soby Vaerft. It was meant to carry 198 passengers during the busy summer months, with enough room on its open deck for 31 cars or five trucks. Typically traveling at 12 knots (13.8 mph/22.2 kph), it connects two islands in Southern Denmark.Ellen was meant to break records right from the start. According to Danfoss, it boasts the largest battery pack for maritime use (adding up to 4.3 MWh), and it claims to be the first e-ferry that doesnt include an emergency backup generator. It relies only on the Danfoss Editron system comprised of two 750propulsion motors and two 250 kW thruster motors. Danfoss also provided the onshore charging station for the e-ferry.Ellen made its debut on June 1, 2019, and claims to be the worlds longest-ranging battery-electric ferry. This recent world record seems to confirm it.
By bringing the VGR to Goodwood, Ford hopes to initiate important discussions with regards to driving out discrimination in the automotive industry and beyond, and will be presenting live sessions of its new Tough Talks series right from the truck bed of Very Gay Raptor. The talks will be hosted by Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas, the first openly gay rugby union player.These live sessions will explore how the automotive industry can foster a culture of inclusion and allyship for the LGBTQ+ community, while covering a range of topics and featuring guests like racing driver Abbie Eaton, comedian Catherine Bohart and Lord March, the Duke of Richmonds son.Ford created the Very Gay Raptor last year in response to a negative comment on social media. The carmaker used one of its most badass nameplates as the basis for a vehicle wearing sparkling gold and rainbow graphics. First it was just a rendering, but after an overwhelmingly positive response online, Ford decided to manufacture it for real.As for the next-gen Ranger Raptor , its making its European dynamic debut at Goodwood where it will tackle the events challenging off-road track between runs up the famous hill.The Ranger Raptor is powered by a twin turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, good for 284 hp (288 ps) and 362 lb-ft (491 Nm) of torque. As you probably already know, the Ranger Raptor has been severely impacted by stringent emissions regulations, unlike in Australia for example where this very same twin turbo V6 is allowed to produce 392 hp and 430 lb-ft (583 Nm) of torque.Were pretty sure just about anybody would rather drive the Aussie version of this truck, as opposed to the UK one.
by Wang Aona, Hayati Nupus

JAKARTA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- China continues to expand its investment to support the development of Indonesia's electric vehicle industry.

Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), one of the leading companies among the world's electric vehicle battery manufacturers and supplies to various automakers, including Tesla and Volkswagen, is one of the Chinese companies investing in this Southeast Asian country.

A third-tier subsidiary of CATL, Ningbo Contemporary Brunp Lygend Co., Ltd. (CBL), recently signed a 5.97-billion-U.S. dollar investment deal with Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC), a holding of state-owned companies including Mining Industry Indonesia (Mind ID), Aneka Tambang (Antam), Pertamina, and state power company PLN.

"The realization of this investment will bring the electric vehicle battery industry to Indonesia as well as position Indonesia as a global electric vehicle battery production base," President Director of IBC Toto Nugroho told Xinhua recently.

IBC, inaugurated in March last year, was established to develop an integrated electric vehicle battery industry ecosystem, from upstream to downstream, to mining and nickel extraction.

With China investors as global players in the development of electric vehicle batteries and Indonesia's rich reserve of battery-making raw materials like nickel, Nugroho believes that the cooperation between the two countries will synergize and strengthen each other.

Indonesia is estimated to have deposits of at least 72 million tons of nickel reserves in areas of domestic mining operations, accounting for 52 percent of the world's total reserves of around 139 million tons, according to data from the country's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Nugroho believes that the cooperation between the two countries will support Indonesia's serious intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable energy.

"Besides CATL, many other Chinese companies are now investing in electric battery development in Indonesia. China is one of Indonesia's significant investment partners, we hope this cooperation will continue to increase and cover wider fields, including the development of electric vehicles and renewable energy," he said.

As the country with the most consumers in Southeast Asia and supported by the world's largest nickel reserves, Indonesia has a bright opportunity to become a major player in the global electric vehicle sector, said Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (GAIKINDO) Yohannes Nangoi.

"Moreover, more people will switch to electric vehicles in the future as fossil fuels damage our environment and cannot be renewed," Nangoi added.

Currently, the use of electric vehicles is limited within cities and for short trips. In the future, with increasingly developed technology, electric vehicles will be used for longer distances and various types of vehicles, including trucks transporting commodities between provinces or islands.

The problem is that electric vehicles currently are more expensive than conventional ones, but Nugroho believes this will be solved if the batteries meet three conditions: charging quickly, storing more power, and being cheaper.

"It is just a matter of time, as to how fast the experts or mechanics can achieve these three main things," he said.

The support of leading Chinese companies in this field will help Indonesia achieve the goal. "Those Chinese companies dare to invest in large amounts in Indonesia. Cooperation between the two countries has great prospects," Nangoi added. 
As one of the most iconic brands, Lamborghini couldnt miss out on this years Goodwood FoS , so they have prepped a lineup of exotic models to showcase under the sun, and also to demonstrate on the famous Hill Climb.And thats not all, as they have reached out to the Duke of Richmond to put one of them through its paces, filming it, and sharing the clip on their official channels. The car in question is none other than the Huracan EVO , a naughtier version of the companys V10-powered model, which also uses the naturally aspirated 5.2-liter engine. The 631 hp and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque rocket it to 62 mph (100 kph) in 2.9 seconds and up to over 202 mph (325 kph).Driving the Huracan EVO is not the highlight of the short video embedded at the bottom of the page, as that would be the Dukes memories of the Goodwood Motor Circuit, and how he started the famous Hill Climb. He also acknowledges that Lamborghini is one of the integral brands of the event, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, while the Raging Bull gears up for its 60th.Besides the Huracan EVO, the Italian company will also have other impressive models at the car show, including the last version of the Aventador, which adds the Ultimae suffix . Boasting 769 hp and 531 lb-ft (720 Nm) from its naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12, enough for a 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 221 mph (355 kph), it will run up the hill in a dynamic demonstration. The Huracan Tecnica will join them at the brands stand, next to the Ristorante 1963.
The new product is called AI-ris, which stands for artificial intelligence recognition and identification system. It is a computer-vision navigation sensor designed for marine industry applications and is meant to improve vessel safety. According to reports from the U.S. Coast Guard, 36 percent of all boating accidents reported in 2020 were caused by collisions and allisions, with human error or lack of focus being identified as the main causes.As explained by Sea Machines, the new AI-ris uses cameras and AI-processing to detect, track, classify, and geolocate objects, vessel traffic, and any potential obstacles, equipping the crew with the best situational awareness and alerting the operator in case of any potentially dangerous situations.The system can operate in almost any condition, day and night, and is designed to be ever-alert. It can be installed aboard existing vessels and on new builds as well.Speaking about the benefits of the new system, Sea Machines CTO Trevor Vieweg claims the AI-ris surpasses the capabilities of existing marine sensor technologies such as radar and the automatic identification system (AIS). With its ability to detect, classify, and geolocate targets using its optical sensors, the AI-ris offers superior performance and higher levels of safety and reliability. In addition, Sea Machines also hopes that, in the future, the AI-ris will be able to help responders detect marine oil spills.The new AI-ris was unveiled during the Seawork2022 event, the largest European commercial marine exhibition, which kicked off today, in Southampton, U.K. The system is now commercially available, but for more information, you have to contact Sea Machines
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The retro-futuristic electric vehicle forms part of Renaults push toward electrification, which will include seven EVs by 2025. A prototype of the upcomingwill be on display all weekend, June 23 -26, on the French automakers stand.The new Renault 5 electric supermini made its first appearance at the Munich motor show in early 2021, and this is the first time it is presented in the UK.When it comes to its design and fine-tuning, the 5 EV takes inspiration from the original model, which Renault produced from 1972 to 1996, but features a bold, contemporary new look.Essential design elements like the shape of the hatchback, the rear light signature, and the window line have been maintained in the revived model, though the angular body design has been modernized.The design of the Renault 5 Prototype is based on the R5, a cult model of our heritage. This prototype simply embodies modernity, a vehicle relevant to its time: urban, electric, attractive, said Renault design chief Gilles Vidal.Built on the Renault Groups new CMF-platform for small electric cars, the revived model will benefit from new powertrain technology and will feature nickel, manganese, and cobalt-based (NCM) batteries that are expected to reduce the cost perto approximately $100 (95 euro) by 2030.Details on the vehicles power, torque, battery size, or range have not been yet disclosed, but we know the platform it is based on offers a range of around 400 km (248.5 miles).Thousands of drivers have already registered their interest in Renaults newest electric vehicle, whose price will start from around $22,700 (21,500 Euro).The concept the carmaker will showcase on Electric Avenue during the weekend previews the future Renault 5, whose production is scheduled to kick off in 2024.Alongside the Renault 5 EV concept, the French automaker will also bring the all-new Megane E-Tech Electric , and a new version of the Renault 4 supermini, called 4ever , to Goodwood.
Yet thats exactly what the tracked anti-aircraft rocket launcher we have here is said to be capable of doing, after being registered for road use in the UK back in 2012.Were not sure what the Brits are thinking, allowing an almost 13-ton machine to roam their roads, but apparently, you can drive this thing around, provided you have an H license for driving tracked vehicles and provided you have the money to buy it, as the thing is now for sale.The thing would be something called Alvis Stormer and comes equipped with a High-Velocity Missile (HVM) system, which, back when it was active, was capable of launching short-range Starstreak missiles The mammoth gets the tracks spinning courtesy of a 6.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine, which back in the day (these beasts were made in the 1970s) developed 250 hp. The engine is controlled by a transmission with seven forward gears and seven reverse.Capable of hitting 50 mph (80 kph), the Alvis should proudly display in front of unsuspecting civilians all the original tools and equipment, but also some new, added one, like a large crowbar, a fire extinguisher, and a recovery rope. Four people can be seated inside, playing the roles of driver, gunner, loader, and commander.Now, given how the HVM system is still there on the Stormer and could have still launched stuff if someone really wanted it to, some of the guidance system electronics are no longer fitted.Collecting Cars is selling the Alvis in an online auction , and after 19 bids and with 10 hours or so left at the time of press left, the highest offer is 17,500, which is roughly $21,500.
Tesla is indeed cutting jobs despite Elon Musk saying these cuts would be restricted to white collars. The Gigafactory in Nevada fired 500 people. Two of these former employees decided to sue the company because it did not respect a legal requirement for this massive job cut.According to Bloomberg , John Lynch and Daxton Hartsfield started a class action against the company because it should have given them a 60-day warning of the layoff. This legal requirement comes from the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which establishes that any company planning to terminate more than 50 employees on any of its sites has to warn them about that to give them time to find another job. Lynch was told on, June 10, that he was fired that same day. Hartsfield lost his position in the same way on June 15.At Giga Grunheide , Tesla does not have to fire anyone. In fact, it does not manage to retain its employees because it is being forced to increase wages. According to what IG Metall told Der Spiegel , skilled workers there are receiving 20% less than those in factories in the region with wage agreements  but it gets worse.Tesla is increasing the wages only for the most recent employees. When people hired before learn that they are receiving less money to perform the same task, they quit. That makes Tesla either have to hire them again for higher wages or try to find replacements that still receive 20% less than those working for other factories. Tesla used to say that it offered its employees stock options, which could eventually make them rich. What many of them report is that they get fired shortly before being entitled to the stock options. With depreciating share prices, the deal may not sound as attractive as before.It seems the problem is not Tesla itself. SpaceX, also run by Elon Musk , also had issues with terminations. After some employees wrote an open letter urging the company to distance itself from what the CEO does, at least five were fired. These guys may try to sue the company at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). According to experts heard by The Verge , they would have a strong retaliation case in their hands.
McFarland hadn't tested his new Mustang RTR drifter before. It was his first time checking it out at RTR Vehicles (founded by Vaughn Gittin Jr.). He'll only have a day to test the drift car before racing it the next day, at the Freedom Factory.RTR (Ready to Rock!) Vehicles designs, develops, and manufactures OEM+ performance vehicle packages for Ford Mustang. It's a blend of American muscle and European-inspired styling, approved by professional Ford test drivers and Vaughn Gittin Jr.Under the hood, McFarlands new RTR drifter packs a Cornett Racing 428-late model engine. According to Vaughn Gittin Jr., It rips, it revs to the moon. It runs a 4-speed Dogbox transmission with a super small seven-and-a-half-inch Quarter Master clutch and flywheel.Vaughn Gittin Jr. agreed to sell McFarland his old Formula Drift car under one condition. He gets to set it up his own way. Initially, McFarland wanted to throw in an LS engine, but Gittin Jr. had better plans for the Drifter.He knew if he gave us without an engine, it potentially could end up with an LS, McFarland revealed.McFarlands been shopping around for a new drift car and believes Gittin Jr.s Mustang RTR will take his drifting to the next level.Vaughn Gittin Jr. got behind the wheel and hit some revs. McFarland and crew were immediately sold. It hit the right notes and looked the part, too.The Mustang RTR, unlike other cars he's bought, comes with spares, including a pair of fenders, crash kit, wings, headlights, and more. We recommend you watch McFarland burn some rubber on his new Drifter in the video below.
FILE - People visit a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on June 2, 2022, to pay their respects to the victims killed in a school shooting. A legislative committee investigating the deadly shooting at the Texas elementary school is set to hear more testimony from law enforcement officers on Monday, June 20, 2022.
The head of the Texas Department of Public Safety says three minutes after a gunman entered a school where he slaughtered 19 elementary students and two teachers there was sufficient armed law enforcement on scene to stop the gunman
Bakersfield, CA (93308)

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Clear skies. Low near 75F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
WINDHOEK, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta on Monday said the country has moved to make security adjustments to close any loopholes in flagship Etosha National Park, to ensure that poaching incidences do not occur again.

This comes after 11 rhinos were found poached in the country's flagship national park this month.

"We will leave no stone unturned to apprehend poachers and bring them to justice. We will not relent in ensuring maximum protection of our iconic species in the Etosha National Park, and indeed elsewhere in the country," Shifeta said as he warned those attempting to involve themselves in wildlife crimes.

Shifeta said joint anti-poaching units are constantly engaged in activities to deter and prevent wildlife.

"With the biggest population of black rhinos in the world, the world looks up to Namibia to prevent this already critically endangered species from going extinct," he said.

"Our resolve as the citizens of this country must be clear, namely that we do not tolerate poaching and the illegal plundering of our natural resources. Our natural resources must be preserved and utilized for the benefit of all of us," he concluded. 
Xue Bing (C), Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivers a speech during the First China-Horn of Africa Peace, Good Governance and Development Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on June 20, 2022. Xue Bing has reiterated China's resolve to continue supporting Horn of Africa (HOA) countries in their efforts toward sustainable peace, security and regional development. The Chinese special envoy made the remarks as China and countries in the region kicked off the First China-Horn of Africa Peace, Good Governance and Development Conference on Monday. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

ADDIS ABABA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Xue Bing, Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has reiterated China's resolve to continue supporting Horn of Africa (HOA) countries in their efforts toward sustainable peace, security and regional development.

The Chinese special envoy made the remarks as China and countries in the region kicked off the First China-Horn of Africa Peace, Good Governance and Development Conference on Monday.

China will continue to support countries in the region to uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security; protect regional peace and security; and silence the guns in the Horn of Africa, Xue told ministers and senior officials attending the peace conference in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

The two-day conference, which runs until Tuesday, brought together ministers and high-level representatives of Horn of Africa countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Uganda and Djibouti.

Addressing the conference, Xue underscored China's readiness to support HOA countries to focus on development, accelerate regional integration, enhance connectivity, boost home-grown economic development, explore complementarity among one another, and step up cooperation in areas including agriculture, trade, manufacturing and infrastructure with a view to foster industrial and economic belt areas and create more jobs and growth.

Xue emphasized the notable potential of the HOA, which is home for about 300 million people, as an intersection to the eastern and western civilizations with a unique geographical location and abundant natural endowments.

He, however, noted that peace and development of the region are put into challenge in recent times, which necessitates building lasting regional peace and development.

He said China, as a good partner of countries in the region, put forth the Outlook on Peace and Development in the HOA early this year based on the region's reality and past experience.

The outlook is aimed at supporting countries in the region to steer clear of external interference, respond to the triple challenges of security, development and governance; and realize peace, development and prosperity, Xue said.

Xue said China encourages HOA countries to step up experience sharing on domestic governance, synergize national development policies, and explore a way of growing relations among different ethnic groups, religions and cultures.

He said China will continue supporting countries in the region to join their efforts, engage in a holistic approach, and make a common response to non-traditional security challenges such as terrorism, climate change, and the refugee crisis, among others.

The special envoy reiterated China's readiness to contribute its share to the peaceful development of the Horn of Africa alongside the implementation of the "Nine Programs" that were made at the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in November last year.

Meanwhile, the Chinese envoy called on the international community to step up investment in the region and make greater contributions to the independent and sustainable development of the region and Africa in general.

Amid a series of old and emerging security perils, countries in the region urgently need to find fresh conflict resolution approaches to ensure stability and peaceful socio-economic development.

China has been part of efforts to support regional countries in addressing security, development and governance challenges.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said when visiting Kenya in early January that China stands ready to propose the "Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa" to support regional countries in addressing security, development and governance challenges. 
Grammy Award-winning rapper and producer Pharrell Williams made a handful of college students "Happy" on Friday after announcing his plans to pay off their student loans. Among the lucky scholars is a student from Texas.

Channing Hill, of Euless, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, is among five students and recent graduates from historically black colleges and universities who received the news while they participated in a panel discussion Friday in Washington, D.C. hosted by the NAACP as part of Williams' "Something in the Water" festival, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Thanks to the gesture, Hill, who will be entering her senior year at Howard University in the fall, will have $18,000 paid off.

On Instagram, Hill wrote about the news: "I think my mama started praise dancing when I called her. Throughout my 3 years at Howard University I had personally accumulated over $18,000 in student loan debt and that figure becomes multiplied when you add on the loans my parents have accumulated. Today, I enter my senior year with a clean slate."

Hill also shared video of the moment she and the other students learned the news, each appearing shocked, some tearful. She also shared a clip of Williams talking to the students, saying in part, "This is about you mastering your intentions."

Hill, a strategic legal and management communications major and the president of Howards NAACP student chapter, told the Star-Telegram that she plans to go to law school and become an attorney.

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson took to Twitter to praise Williams' promise to pay off the loans, sharing students' reactions. "Right after @Pharrell surprised young NAACP leaders by paying off ALL their student debt, someone asked 'what are you going to do now?' One student tearfully responded, 'Im going to law school.' This is what its aboutunlocking opportunities for those historically oppressed."

However, Johnson called on more to be done for students, urging President Joe Biden to cancel student loan debt. "@POTUS, its your turn now to do the same for all Americans plagued by student debt," he wrote.

Hill also echoed Johnson's statements advocating for the Biden administration to cancel federal student loan debts. "My God. I'm still in disbelief," she wrote on Instagram. "Get active in this fight to cancel ALL student loans. Call Biden tell him it's time."
David Beck always knew he wanted to be a lawyer.

He knew when he attended Port Arthur's Bishop Bryne High School. He knew when he was getting a Bachelor of Science in government at Lamar University. He knew when he was at the University of Texas Law School.

However, Beck doesn't know what it was that launched his dream.

"I just always knew and I have no idea where that came from," Beck said.

Now, 57 years after graduating law school, Beck is a trial lawyer, has his own law firm and was recently named a Texas Legal Legend by the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas.

RELATED: Lamar selects 2 undergrads as Beck fellows

Beck worked at Fulbright & Jaworski in Houston, where he became a senior partner before he left to start his own firm -- Beck Redden LLP. During his tenure, he has also served as president for several different groups, including the State Bar of Texas from 1995 to 1996.

After his induction on June 9, Beck become one of only 35 individuals to have the title Texas Legal Legend.

"Its purpose is to memorialize the stories of many legendary lawyers who have practiced in Texas, and to use those stories to enhance the publics understanding of the historical importance of lawyers and the importance of making a difference  not just a living," the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas' website reads. "These Legends are examples of lawyers who have spent their professional careers serving others and taking on challenges that are much bigger than themselves."

Beck said he was surprised when he received the phone call from the organization.

"I was very honored because when I looked at the others who had been designated to Texas Legal Legends, I was flattered to even be considered, much less be named," Beck said.

RELATED: Top Lawyers

While he was processing the shock of his new award, Beck said his colleagues made sure that the title didn't go to his head.

"One of my partners reminded me that Billy the Kid was a legend and somebody shot him. So, that brought me back to reality," Beck said.

For Beck, the best part of being a lawyer is helping others in the community.

"Basically what lawyers do, at least what I think they should do, is devote their practice to helping others in solving their problems, and that's basically what we do," Beck said. "I never thought the objective of lawyers is to make a lot of money. I think if you do the right thing, you know, you'll be financially rewarded, but to me, the primary objective is to help."
by Misbah Saba Malik

ISLAMABAD, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Madiha Absar, a 38-year-old Afghan refugee, moved to Pakistan 18 years ago after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, and since then she has been dreaming of peace in her homeland so that she may return safely with her family.

"After the exit of the foreign forces, it is relatively peaceful in Afghanistan, but my dream is far from being fulfilled and my family hesitates in taking the decision," Absar told Xinhua.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are over 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

In a conversation with Xinhua, Qaiser Khan Afridi, the spokesperson for the UNHCR Pakistan said that since January 2021, about 250,000 Afghan refugees came to Pakistan and settled in different areas.

"Pakistan itself is facing tough economic challenges, so in this situation, we have appealed to international donors to support Afghans within their country so that their issues can be addressed at home," he said.

The official said they are mapping out plans to help the newly arrived refugees consisting of a large number of youngsters to develop skills so that they can be useful in Pakistan and help their country when they finally returned.

Waseem Khan, a 23-year-old TikTok creator with over 100,000 followers, has no idea how Afghanistan looks because his parents had to sneak out of the country when he was less than two years old to save his siblings.

"I have a lot of fans and friends in Pakistan, and in Afghanistan. I have a large number of relatives many of whom I never met or spoke to," Khan told Xinhua.

Khan hopes to end the miseries of his relatives and those living in Afghanistan, saying that they need support from the international community in the absence of job and business opportunities.

At a green belt located near the power circles of Pakistan's capital, some Afghan refugees have staged a sit-in under the open skies for days, demanding Western countries shoulder responsibility and help their country overcome the economic crisis.

"We are in this situation because of the war, and those who are responsible for the war and unrest should come forward to help us. After their exit, war is over and peace has been largely restored, but we are exposed to hunger, disease, and extreme poverty," Torebaz Khan, a refugee taking part in the sit-in with his kids for over two weeks told Xinhua.

He said the only solution to the crisis is a strengthened Afghanistan where people have enough food and access to clean drinking water, quality education for kids as well as business and employment opportunities to make a decent livelihood. 
Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo (right) talks to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, June 21, 2022.

Several G20 nations have pledged more than a billion dollars toward a proposed permanent fund to prevent and respond to future pandemics, Indonesias finance minister said Tuesday.

Sri Mulyani Indrawati made the announcement during a meeting in Yogyakarta of the Group of 20 major economies health and finance ministers, to hammer out the details of the so-called Financial Intermediary Fund (FIF). The fund will be managed jointly by the World Bank and the World Health Organization.

Im pleased to announce a commitment of almost U.S. $1.1 billion has been secured for the Financial Intermediary Fund, Sri Mulyani said in a speech opening the meeting, hailing the pledged contributions as significant progress.

Im sure this is just the beginning, she said, adding that Indonesia, the current chair of the G20, had committed $50 million.

The goal is for all G20 countries to pledge contributions for a total of $1.5 billion this year, according to Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin who said the money was only a 50 percent solution to a global health crisis.

We need to translate this money into quick and just access to emergency medical countermeasures like vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, he said in his opening speech.

Indonesia, Singapore, the United States, the European Union, and a London-based charitable foundation have committed a total of about $1 billion to the fund, Budi said on Monday.

Later, Sri Mulyani told reporters that the World Bank is scheduled to meet on June 30 to discuss details about the FIF.

By that time, if it is approved by the board, FIF will start to operate, she said.

The talks followed a meeting of G20 health ministers on Monday. Russias deputy health minister attended despite U.S. opposition to Moscows participation in G20 events following its February invasion of Ukraine.

A joint health and finance ministers meeting is scheduled for just before the G20 leaders summit in Bali in November, Sri Mulyani said.

$31 billion needed annually

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the pandemic fund was a key recommendation made at the World Health Assembly last month.

The WHO and the World Bank estimate that U.S. $31 billion is needed every year for strengthening global health security, Ghebreyesus said in remarks opening the G20 health ministers meeting on Monday.

Two-thirds of that could come from existing resources, but that leaves a gap of U.S. $10 billion per year. A flexible and agile FIF would help to close that gap, Ghebreyesus said in his remarks at Mondays meeting.

The World Bank said the FIF is intended for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, with the goal to help developing countries become better prepared for future pandemics.

The proposed FIF will complement existing financing efforts and institutions and it will have the flexibility to work through strong implementing institutions, drawing on their comparative strengths, an organization report said.

The FIF is expected to bring additional, long-term, dedicated resources for PPR [prevention, preparedness and response], incentivize countries to increase investments in PPR, and enhance coordination among partners. While ensuring inclusivity, the FIFs design will be underpinned by simple and agile governance and operating arrangements.

Ghebreyesus warned countries not to become complacent about the COVID-19 pandemic, saying risks of dangerous new variants remained real and perceptions that the pandemic is over are misguided.

The WHO remains very concerned that the lack of testing and sequencing is blinding us to the evolution of the virus, he said. We are equally concerned that the lessons of this pandemic will go unlearned and the cycle of panic and neglect will be repeated.

Undue stress

Some speakers at Mondays meeting began their remarks with criticism of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Italy condemns in the strongest possible terms Russian unprovoked and justified military aggression in Ukraine, which grossly violates international law and the United Nations Charter and undermines international security and stability, said Davide La Cecilia, diplomatic adviser to the Italian health minister.

We underscore the significant disruption of [the] Ukrainian health system caused by the Russia war. Russia also needs to withhold its disinformation campaign and cyber-attacks, he said.

Andrea Palm, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, urged Russia to stop its unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine immediately.

She said Russias actions had placed undue stress on the global health architecture, as well as on food security.

Far from promoting global health, Russias actions have disrupted health services, destroyed health facilities and continue to strike buildings where innocent civilians, including children, are sheltering, she said.

Russian Deputy Health Minister Oleg Salagay, who attended in person, accused some countries of politicizing the meeting.

He said health emergencies had occurred since 2014 in Ukraines Donbas region, part of which is controlled by pro-Russian separatists, because of what he called military aggression and illegal actions of Ukraine.

We are asking our colleagues not to politicize the G20 health platform and stay within our mandate and discuss health care, Salagay told the meeting.

More than 80 delegates representing G20, partner countries and international organizations attended the meeting in person while 50 attended the meeting virtually, the Indonesian Health Ministry said.

Attendees also discussed a draft agreement on a universal standard for proof of COVID-19 vaccination which is expected to make international travel easier.
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ISLAMABAD, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A policeman was killed and three others were injured in a firing incident in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, police sources said.

The cops deployed on a check post were on routine duty in Lower Chitral area of the province when the incident happened, police sources told Xinhua.

"The cops tried to stop a vehicle at the check post for checking when the people on board fled by opening fire on them, leaving one policeman killed and the three others injured," the sources added.

There were three people in the vehicle, out of which two have been identified during the investigation process and are being searched for while the third one remains unidentified, the sources said.

The injured policemen have been shifted to a nearby hospital and their condition is stable, said the sources.

The identities of the attackers and their terrorist outfits have not been revealed by the sources, nor did any group claim the attack yet. 
Two Massachusetts residents have pleaded guilty to their roles in a drug trafficking ring that included the sale of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl out of a market
Bonnie Raitt performs Saturday evening in the Shed at Tanglewood. The chilly, wet conditions and balky ticket scanners conspired to slow some concertgoers' entry to the grounds.
GREAT BARRINGTON  A petition with 1,200 signatures and a letter hit the desks of Gov. Charlie Baker and other top officials last week, raising hopes it will eventually end bouts of discolored water in Housatonic.

Quote In both towns  it was toyed with for a while, and then they got serious about it and went through getting a DPU audit." Sharon Gregory, on two other communities that bought their troubled private water systems.

Petitioners are asking for the state to help the town buy Housatonic Water Works Co., and merge it with the towns larger system to make it easier to pay for an overhaul of the aging system. They point to two other municipalities in the state that have bought a troubled, private water company.

We need your help to make sure Housatonic does not become a Massachusetts mini version of the Flint, Michigan water crisis, Gregory and Forbes wrote.

The state Department of Environmental Protection continues to say that the water is safe to drink, though last year it flagged elevated levels of a compound linked to cancer and ordered the water company to get it under control. The company says those levels have since decreased, but it sliced further into residents confidence in the safety of the water.

James Mercer, co-owner and treasurer or the company, continues to point to water test results that show the increase is a historical anomaly set off by record rains last July.

Yet customers have grown increasingly frustrated in recent years over discolored tap water.

This summer the waterworks will conduct a pilot study of a new filtration system to see if that could be a long-term solution to a problem that is affecting many  but not all  of the companys roughly 850 households and businesses in Housatonic and outskirts.

Those from the group Residents for Clean Water who are spearheading this effort point to two other municipalities  Hingham and Milton  that recently acquired private water companies that served those communities. Both systems had a number of problems, including discoloration. In Milford, contaminants stirred trouble  and a class action lawsuit. In Hingham, the water mains broke a lot.

In a companion letter to Baker, petition authors Sharon Gregory and Denise Forbes explained the history of the problem and what they believe needs to be done.

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The proposed solution would be for the Town to purchase HWW, with guidance from your Administration along with infrastructure funding from the Commonwealth and potentially other available resources, including bond financing if appropriate, they wrote.

But it cant happen without an audit and a valuation by the state Department of Public Utilities, one of the water companys regulators, they wrote. The DPU, so far, hasnt been engaged in the matter, but that will be discussed at the Select Boards next closed-door session, said board Chair Stephen Bannon.

He noted that after the town reached out to Baker in 2020 for help with the situation, it didnt get a response.

The board continues to troubleshoot the issue, and meets in closed-door sessions regularly, Bannon noted. While he cant divulge whats been discussed in those, he said the situation is a true conundrum.

Theres nothing simple here, he said.

Gregory, who has a finance background, has studied the Hingham and Milford acquisitions, and said it took time for the towns to seal the deal.

In both towns  it was toyed with for a while, and then they got serious about it and went through getting a DPU audit, she said.

Gregory said she, Forbes and others want town officials to know they are supported in what might look daunting.

I just wanted to encourage the Select Board that there are many people who would back this next step to help them have an intention to push this, she said.

Mercer, the owner, did not respond to requests for comment for this story, but previously has said the companys charter has a provision for a purchase.

They have the option to buy it for fair market value that is established by a specialized appraiser, not an engineer, he said.
Pittsfield has found itself in a tough situation involving nip alcohol bottles: How do they rein in their litter without adversely affecting small businesses that have come to rely on their revenue?

One solution recently floated would be an outright ban, as proposed via petition by local attorney Rinaldo Del Gallo. This has received some pushback from local package store owners, who are wary of how it will financially affect their business.

Pittsfield was considering a ban on 'nip' bottles. A group of local package store owners got together to push back After an ordinance and rules subcommittee meeting last week, at least four Pittsfield city councilors conceded there might be a better way to combat pollution across the city and voted not to recommend a nips ban. The full council will consider the issue Tuesday night.

If you take nips away, youre still going to have candy and chip wrappers, scratch tickets, cigarettes and coffee cups along our beaches and roads, said Pinal J. Shah, owner of Hartes Package Store, during a recent city meeting The Eagle reported on. A ban on nips would be picking winners and losers in a time when our community is beginning to get back to normal.

Another concern brought up during the meeting is that people could just simply buy nips from other towns in the county, which would create a local system of haves and have-nots in terms of being allowed to keep the popular items in stock. And because of that, it also wont necessarily eliminate their litter.

However, the fact remains that nips  a product that these package stores sell in large quantities  have a quantifiable negative impact on their local communities that needs to be reigned in, especially in terms of litter. An outright ban is one solution. During the meeting, a deposit program was suggested, and its worth noting that on the state level, there is an effort to update the states bottle return laws that, among other things, would include nip bottles. Connecticut has recently implemented an alcohol nip surcharge that could be promising, if local communities spend the money from that program wisely on cleanup efforts.

Chelsea is often cited as one of the places where outright bans have worked, with Commonwealth Magazine reporting that, one year after implementation of the ban, cases of public drunkenness, alcohol-related ambulance responses and people being taken into protective custody for alcohol intoxication steeply declined, along with the litter associated with the bottles, though package stores saw a notable decline in revenue.

A common counterargument against a nip bottle bans effect at battling alcoholism and public intoxication is that those who want to drink will just either get nips from somewhere else, or will resort to purchasing larger quantities of alcohol, encouraging people to drink more, an argument I am highly skeptical of because it glosses over the fact that nip bans eliminate the convenience factor nips offer. Additionally, larger bottles of alcohol are more of a financial commitment, and much harder to conceal and dispose of.

Disposal and concealment are also key points in the national conversation on alcohol nips impact on drunk driving. A 2017 report by Steve Collins of the Sun Journal in Maine linked a large increase in the sale of nips in the state to an uptick in drunk driving cases. He interviewed Gregory Mineo, the director of the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations in the state, who admitted that the design of nips is ideal for getting around open container laws.

Quote It's fair to analyze the community impact of nips as a whole, and ask ourselves: Are they doing more harm than good?

Unlike larger bottles, which can be difficult to conceal in a vehicle and are readily visible when jettisoned out a window, Mineo said, the design of nips is ideal for avoiding detection during a police stop. It fits easily in pants pockets and can be swiftly crammed into seat crevices. Moreover, its small profile makes its flight from a vehicle window difficult to detect.

Nip bottles impact on intoxicated driving is a fair conversation to have, especially considering that they are commonly found on roadways in the Berkshires and beyond, both in places that are friendly to pedestrian traffic and in parts where only automobiles can travel comfortably. Its also fair to analyze the community impact of nips as a whole, and ask ourselves: Are they doing more harm than good?

As the city moves forward and mulls over what to do with the sale of nips, it must keep the overall good of the community at the forefront. Any bans, restrictions or surcharges on nip bottles will negatively affect the package stores that sell them, but their potential loss of revenue should not kill efforts to regulate them, as the sale of nip bottles is not more important than the overall welfare of the community as a whole.
UN reps hail Chinas Global Development Initiative as accelerator to achieving 2030 Agenda

By Zhang Hui and Zhao Juecheng (Global Times) 08:40, June 21, 2022

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 5, 2021 shows the sunrise scenery of the Yangpu international container port at Yangpu economic development zone in south China's Hainan Province.Photo:Xinhua

A global development report released on Monday put forward policy recommendations to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in eight aspects, which was an important move for China to implement the Global Development Initiative (GDI), and the China proposed GDI was hailed by many UN representatives and ambassadors who believed the initiative is an accelerator to achieving the UN development goals.

The Global Development Report, published by the Center for International Knowledge on Development, analyzed the progress and challenges in implementing the 2030 Agenda including deteriorating global food security and the rise in extreme poverty, explained the core concepts, fundamental principles, implementation pathways and early harvests of the GDI, and offered policy recommendations for building a global community of development.

For example, in addressing the challenges of digital transformation, the report said automated production lines and intelligent robots could replace a large number of workers, which may lead to the disappearance of traditional labor-intensive occupations, and it is estimated that between 2020 and 2025, around 850 million jobs will be replaced by machines.

Global Development Report in numbers.Graphic:Xu Zihe/GT

Focusing on the severe challenges facing the world, especially the developing countries, the report sought to renew focus on development issues, build international consensus, and explore pathways for practical cooperation.

At the launch of the report on Monday, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the GDI provided an "accelerator" for implementing the 2030 Agenda, paved a fast track for development and offered an effective platform for all parties to align their development policies and deepen practical cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will host the High-level Dialogue on Global Development in Beijing this week, where he and leaders of emerging markets and developing countries will discuss ways to promote global development and make a new start in international development cooperation, Wang said.

The GDI, proposed by President Xi at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in 2021, tackles the most urgent challenges in global development and focuses on eight priority areas: poverty reduction, food security, COVID-19 and vaccines, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy and connectivity, the report said.

It stressed that the GDI is not intended to replace existing international development agenda or to dilute the 2030 Agenda or cherry-pick the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but to re-commit to the SDGs, to revitalize global partnerships and to reactivate international development cooperation.

The GDI has received warm responses from the international community, with more than 100 countries expressing their support.

Carlos Watson, the Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in China, said the China-proposed GDI is welcomed by the international community and by UN agencies because it's an accelerator to reach to the 2030 agenda.

The GDI is the first initiative that has the main objective of accelerating the achievement of the SDGs, which unfortunately are off-track, Watson said.

"If we don't act now, we will probably not reach our common goal," he said.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Representative to China Stephen Bainous Kargbo said that the GDI is open to bringing in partners, and it's a very privileged opportunity for the government of China to have invited UNIDO to be part of the formulation of the GDI to bring in what the UN believes are setting norms and standards. He said China is significant, open and inclusive in promoting the UN 2030 agenda.

In January 2022, the Group of Friends of the GDI was launched at the UN, and more than 50 countries have joined the group so far.

Egyptian Ambassador to China Mohamed Elbadri told the Global Times that Egypt is among the friends of the GDI at the UN, and is looking forward to working with other friends in pushing forward the initiative.

Elbadri said he hopes a synergy could be established between GDI and the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the UNFCCC, in Egypt in November, as COP 27 is an integral part of the sustainable development.

Several foreign representatives said China has played a responsible leading role in addressing many acute challenges facing the world, such as global poverty, food security and public health.

Pierre Kr henbuhl, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross's Regional Delegation for East Asia, told the Global Times that China has shown leadership in the COVID-19 response, and the ICRC will work with China on the equitable distribution of vaccines, among other health issues.

He listed China's contribution in Afghanistan, where China built two hospitals and the ICRC benefited from Chinese perspectives and Chinese experiences.

The report said the GDI is being translated from concept to reality, with concrete results from cooperation projects in the eight priority areas. For example, in February, the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cooperation Center was inaugurated to support relevant countries in enhancing their capacity to cope with climate change and carry out relevant studies.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Photo taken on June 14, 2022 shows a giant freshwater stingray in Stung Treng province, Cambodia. (Chhut Chheana/Wonders of the Mekong/Handout via Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The world's largest freshwater fish, a 661-pound (300-kilogram) giant stingray, has been found near a remote island in the Mekong River in northeast Cambodia's Stung Treng province, according to a Wonders of the Mekong's press statement released late on Monday.

The record-breaking stingray, which measured over 13 feet (almost 4 meters) from snout to tail, was hooked by a fisher south of the town of Stung Treng on June 13, in the middle stretches of the Mekong River, the statement said.

The previous record-holder for the largest freshwater fish on earth was a 646-pound (293-kilogram) Mekong giant catfish caught in Thailand in 2005, it added.

According to the statement, recognizing the importance of his catch, the fisher quickly contacted a team from the Wonders of the Mekong research project to help release the ray, an endangered species, back into the river.

For Zeb Hogan, a fish biologist at the University of Nevada, Reno who leads the Wonders of the Mekong, the stingray find is evidence that the natural world can still yield new and extraordinary discoveries, and that many of the largest aquatic creatures remain woefully understudied.

"In 20 years of researching giant fish in rivers and lakes on six continents, this is the largest freshwater fish that we've encountered or that's been documented anywhere worldwide," Hogan said.

"This is an absolutely astonishing discovery, and justifies efforts to better understand the mysteries surrounding this species and the incredible stretch of river where it lives," he added.

For the first time ever in Cambodia, the huge ray was fitted with an acoustic tag, the technology that will enable biologists to learn more about the secretive creature's elusive behavior.

In collaboration with the Cambodian Fisheries Administration, the Wonders of the Mekong project established a network of fishers who agreed to report catches of giant and endangered fish, including stingrays.

Last month, fishers in the same area reported to the team that they had caught a 400-pound giant female stingray, which the research team then helped release safely into the depths of the river.

"The discovery of this world record stingray indicates the special opportunity we have in Cambodia to protect this species and its core habitat," said Poum Sotha, director general of the Cambodian Fisheries Administration.

He added that the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute of the Cambodian Fisheries Administration will host a meeting to map out a regional species conservation action plan and solidify safeguards for the river, wildlife, fisheries, and local communities.

Chea Seila, program manager for Wonders of the Mekong, said fishers called to inform the team that a "much bigger" ray had been caught during the night of June 13.

She said the stingray was fitted with an acoustic tag to track its movements before being safely returned to the river and that it appeared strong and healthy as it quickly descended into the murky depths of the Mekong.

"Fishers now cooperate with our project when they find giant stingrays so that we can tag and release them," Seila said. "These successful releases illustrate the importance of partnerships with local communities. Together, we all have an important role to play in fisheries monitoring and conservation." 

Photo taken on June 14, 2022 shows a giant freshwater stingray in Stung Treng province, Cambodia. (Chhut Chheana/Wonders of the Mekong/Handout via Xinhua)

Photo taken on June 14, 2022 shows a giant freshwater stingray in Stung Treng province, Cambodia. (Chhut Chheana/Wonders of the Mekong/Handout via Xinhua)

Photo taken on June 14, 2022 shows a giant freshwater stingray in Stung Treng province, Cambodia. (Chhut Chheana/Wonders of the Mekong/Handout via Xinhua)

Photo taken on June 14, 2022 shows a giant freshwater stingray in Stung Treng province, Cambodia. (Chhut Chheana/Wonders of the Mekong/Handout via Xinhua)
Why Only Seven Sins in Proverbs 6:16?

Proverbs 6:16 is a sobering passage. God, who is perfect and holy, does not sin. He is clearly set against evil, taking a firm position against all sin because it is detestable and an abomination to Him. Sin repulses God.

Solomon wasnt saying the seven specific things in Proverbs 6:16-19 were the only things God hates, but they do somewhat summarize the kind of wickedness God condemns. These sins deal with the heart  a persons deep intentions and motives. It is at the heart level a persons true character is formed and revealed.

Solomon used a literary device, the x x + 1 formula, to show the list was not meant to be exhaustive. (Another example of this device in found in Proverbs 30:18-20.) In Proverbs 6, the list offers examples of sins God finds offensive. The + 1 feature of the formula indicates that the last item is the main focus. In this case, the person who stirs up conflict in the community  the troublemaker  would likely exhibit some or all of the previously listed traits. Other scriptures reveal how much unity among Gods people means to Him.

Jesus repeatedly told his audience in the Sermon on the Mount, You have heard it said . . . But I tell you. . . . As He spoke about murder, adultery, divorce, and other sins, His point was that sin is conceived in heart attitudes before it moves people to wicked actions.

What Is the Context of Proverbs 6?

Proverbs is part of the wisdom literature in the Bible. King Solomon wrote wise sayings to his son  which in Hebrew context could be an actual son, a student, or even group of students.

In Proverbs 6, Solomon wrote about financial matters (the wise use of wealth), work ethics (laziness versus wise use of time and opportunities), sinful attitudes (watching out for and avoiding worthless people who practice sin), good choices (following parents wise instructions that are based in the scriptures on the way of life), and sexual immorality (avoiding seduction of an adulterous woman).

In the context of sinful attitudes, Solomon reminds his son of things God hates.

Photo credit: SparrowStock
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

So ends many prayers spoken by believers all over the world. It seems a simple way to close a prayer, but sadly, for some, it is a rote recitation. For others, its a heartfelt affirmation of what they just prayed, and to Whom.

Amen is one of two Christian words understood and spoken by most cultures; hallelujah is the other. Amen is a transliteration of the original word, and  wonderful for us  it is pronounced nearly the same. Whether one says Amen or Ahmen, it matters not; what counts is the heart attitude.

What Does Amen Mean?

According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, the Hebrew word amen means truly, verily. Amen can be equated with steadiness, trustworthiness, and truth.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary states amen is a Hebrew word that has served as a declaration of affirmation and as the closing exclamation of agreement to a doxology or prayer in Jewish and Christian liturgy.

Is Amen Seen Anywhere in Scripture?

Thirty instances of amen may be found in the Old Testament, and usage of the word includes that of sincere verification at the conclusion of a pledge (Numbers 5:22), curse (Deuteronomy 27:15-26), consent, announcement, prophecy, or closing pronouncement (cf. Psalm 41:13; Jeremiah 28:6; 1 Chronicles 16:36). In Jeremiah 28:6, Jeremiah scorns a false prophet with Amen. Isaiah emphasizes Gods faithfulness by calling Him the God of Amen (truth) (Isaiah 65:16). Yet it is in the Psalms that Amen became a standard closure to what had been said.

Amen as applied in the New Testament is a continuation of the Jewish liturgical practice. Amen is transliterated into the Greek and appears 129 times, ninety-nine of which are uttered by the Lord Jesus. Lets unpack how He applied Amen.

Found both at the beginning or end of His statements, He often applied Amen (commonly translated as truly or verily) to what He commanded or related about Himself, God the Father, or about what occurred or what was to take place. He spoke truth about everything and everyone, therefore His use of Amen underscores the veracity of what He said. His Jewish listeners would not miss the force of Jesus saying Amen, as Jesus said Amen to affirm His deity alongside His miracles.

In Johns gospel, every time Jesus said truly (amen), it is as a doublet either at the beginning or the end of His statements, giving more emphasis to His words. The only singular use of truly (Amen) is John 8:31, where He said, If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples. Truly as employed here emphasizes disciples who obey Jesus and His word.

As for the use of Amen by the Apostles and Jude:

Paul ended many exhortations within his letters with Amen (Romans 1:25, 9:5, 11:36, 15:33, 16:27; 1 Corinthians 16:24; Galatians 1:5, 6:18; Ephesians 3:21; Philippians 4:20; 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:16; 2 Timothy 4:18).

The writer of Hebrews closed his book with a hearty Amen after he proclaimed glory forever and ever be to Jesus Christ, as did Peter in 1 Peter 4:11, 5:11, and 2 Peter 3:18. Jude concluded his letter in verse 25 with an amen to the proclamation that to God, our Savior through Jesus Christ be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. We can certainly add an Amen to that verse.

Throughout the Epistles and in Revelation, Amen is active as corporate affirmation by the church (Romans 1:25), and individual avowal to what has been said (2 Corinthians 1:20). The book of Revelation declares Amen eight times in affirmation of Gods character, what He has done, is doing, and will do. Revelation 22:20 states an Amen to Jesus pronouncement that He is coming soon.

As a designation for Jesus or God, Revelation 3:14 calls Jesus the Amen: And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of Gods creation. In this passage, Jesus Himself is testifying His words are true as He is true.

When Did We Start Using Amen to End Prayers, and Why?

The Bible gave us our start with including Amen inside passages and concluding prayers, oaths, and affirmations. The Old Testaments use of the word is likened to the phrase, so be it, and it serves as a confirmation of events and words of the Lord as truth. The practice continued in the New Testament, and Jesus use of Amen (verily, or truly), gives us a standard  a model  to follow when we pray or affirm a truth from Scripture.

Historical Christian leaders such as Martin Luther substantiated our prayer conclusions in his book, A Practical Way to Pray, Do not leave your prayer without having said or thought, Very well. God has heard my prayer; this I know as a certainty and a truth. That is what Amen means.

Do We Have to Close Our Prayers with "Amen"?

The Bible does not command us to end our prayers by saying, Amen, but given its use both in the Old Testament, by Jesus (especially), and by the Apostles, its a very good practice. Whether our prayer be one pf praise, cautious imprecation, or supplication, our submission to Gods will in every circumstance deserves an Amen, knowing its His will which will be done, and that perfectly.

Sure, we can close a prayer without saying Amen, but why would we want to omit a verbal exclamation point which highlights God and His character? Our Lord and Savior is our King, and as His subjects (and as children of God), to proclaim Amen to His truths (and what He has done, is doing, or will do) identifies us as those who love and obey Him.

Truly, however, we most often close a prayer by saying its in Jesus name we pray. If we recite an amen without its full gist of meaning  without affirming it with all our hearts  we could be lying to God. Therefore, when we say Amen, we are to mean it.

How Else (Other Than Praying) Can We Use This Word?

Amen is often used in situations outside the biblical norm where someone wishes to affirm the truth of what has been said. It would seem to add more credibility to a statement or action made by someone. The world may not know nor understand the biblical root of Amen, but they know when they repeat the word, they are exclaiming affirmation and agreement with what has occurred or been said. A lighter example would be if someone said, This is the best ice cream ever. To which a person may respond, Amen.

Christians of all denominations say Amen to statements and events which underscore their biblical worldview. For example, when an evil act is brought to judgment, we may voice an Amen to bolster our witness about Gods sovereignty. We also often say Amen when another believer has achieved success in some way that benefits the kingdom of God.

Within churches all over, many pastors will loudly request, Can I get an Amen? after a powerful point in their sermon. Usually, the whole congregation answers the pastor with a loud Amen! In another vein, a song titled Amen repeats the word as a call and response throughout.

Whether its used in prayer or as affirmation of a biblical truth spoken or written by someone, Amen is an affirmative response we should never take lightly. If  in our prayers  we ask for God to exact His justice, we say amen knowing God will enact His perfect will. Whatever He chooses to do, we acquiesce to His perfect character. The Scriptures say, Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). Our delight in Him means we live to love and obey Him, and our desires will be according to His Word and will.

Can I get an Amen?

Photo credit: Getty Images/rudi_suardi

Lisa Loraine Baker is the award-winning author of Someplace to Be Somebody (End Game Press, February 2022). Lisa writes fiction and nonfiction and is currently co-writing a Christian living book with her husband, and a suspense novel.

Lisa is a member of Word Weavers, Intl (as a critique partner and mentor), AWSA, ACFW, Serious Writer Group, and BRRC.

Lisa and her husband, Stephen, inhabit their home as the Newlyweds of Minerva with crazy cat, Lewis.
KAMIAH - The Idaho Department of Fish and Games 'Take Me Fishing' Trailer will be stopping by Tommy Robinson Pond in Kamiah this Saturday, June 25, 2022.

Take Me Fishing trailers travel to local ponds around the state and are loaded with loaner fishing rods, tackle, bait and staffed by experienced anglers. All budding anglers have to do is show up at a fishing trailer event with a willingness to learn, and most important, a desire to have fun.

The trailer will be at Tommy Robinson Pond from 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. All equipment and bait will be provided, and no license is required to fish while the trailer is on site.

Wrapped with vibrant fish illustrations, they're hard to miss. IDFG staff will help those new to angling get started  from casting instructions to baiting hooks. The idea is to make the equipment and instruction available to children who do not have a family tradition of fishing.

"The goal is to get kids excited about fishing," said Evin Oneale, Fish and Game conservation educator. "We've got a serious situation around the country right now where kids are not getting outside as much as they could, and fishing is a great way to get kids introduced to the outdoors."

Before and after the event, fish licenses are required for anyone 14 years of age and older.

Tommy Robinson Pond is located on Lawyer Creek Road in Kamiah.
ISLAMABAD, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Devaluation of the Pakistani rupee against the U.S. dollar continued as the greenback touched a historic high of 211.48 rupees in interbank trading on Tuesday.

The U.S. dollar closed at 209.96 rupees on Monday, and on Tuesday it was traded at 211.48 rupees, after the local currency nose-dived by 1.52 rupees, money market analysts reported.

The rupee has suffered a big loss of 6.4 rupees during five consecutive sessions last week, said Mettis Global, a web-based financial data and analytics portal.

Since April this year, the U.S. dollar has surged up to nearly 30 rupees in Pakistan.

According to analysts, this depreciation is a result of economic uncertainty in the country mainly due to the delay in the finalization of an International Monetary Fund program. 
Officials at Yellowstone National Park released photos showing the aftermath of severe storms and flooding in June 2022. The pictures were taken near the north entrance of the park and while water levels have receded, it will take time to recover from the damage left behind. (Jacob W. Frank/National Park Service)

The northern loop of Yellowstone is expected to reopen within the next two weeks after it was closed last week from historic flooding that caused evacuations of the park and surrounding communities.

National Park Service Director Chuck Sams, with Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly, announced the reopening plans, in a press release on Monday. At the same time, the park announced it has secured $50 million to kick-start recovery efforts from the record-breaking floods.

The reopening of the northern loops means visitors will be able to access Dunraven Pass, Tower, Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris  opening visitor access to approximately 80 percent of Yellowstone National Park, according to the release.

As for the $50 million, it will be used to restore temporary access to Gardiner and Cooke City, Montana, and other additional sites. And plans are being finalized for improving the Old Gardiner Road for temporary access between Yellowstone and Gardiner.

The NPS currently anticipates the Old Gardiner Road will be substantially improved over the upcoming months, ensuring that essential emergency services, food, supplies and other administrative needs will be available throughout the winter months, the release read. As work proceeds through the summer, the NPS will look for opportunities to restore limited visitor access at the parks North Entrance.

In addition to plans to reopen Yellowstones northern loop much sooner than initially anticipated, the National Park Service said it is working with the Federal Highway Administration on a range of temporary and permanent options to restore access to Silver Gate and Cooke City at the parks northeast entrance.

Currently, the Northeast Entrance Road is impassible between Lamar Valley and Silver Gate. Cost, funding and timelines are not yet available for these short or long-term repairs to the Northeast Entrance Road but will be released as soon as possible, the release read.

The Daily Montanan, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Yellowstone National Park set to reopen northern loop earlier than expected appeared first on Idaho Capital Sun.




First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain.





Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that.





And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details.





If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As the baccalaureate exam takes place across Romania, DDB Romania in partnership with the Network to Prevent and Tackle Violence against Women (VIF) has launched a campaign to raise awareness about virginity testing.

The #UnExaminable campaign

By drawing a parallel between the exam through which teenagers step into adulthood (the baccalaureate exam) and the virginity testing which is still a practice in the forensic facilities across the country, the campaign #UnExaminable is aimed at removing these tests from the Romanian legislation, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a violation of human rights.As high schoolers across Romania prepare to support the tests part of the baccalaureate exam  a national evaluation which began on 6 June this year - with a test assessing their verbal communication abilities, they also learn about the existence of a medical practice perpetuated from times we thought were long gone, namely, the virginity testing also called the two-finger examination.Although repealed by WHO as a violation of human rights, virginity testing is still performed in Romania, among expert examinations conducted in forensic facilities for the issuance of forensic certificates. According to WHO, there is no scientific proof that this method could determine whether a woman or a young girl engaged in vaginal sexual intercourse or not. From a medical point of view, hymen examination is less than 10% accurate when it comes to determining the virginity of girls and women under examination. Thus, the test is practically useless, and the procedure may cause trauma.In 2019, in Romania, virginity tests accounted for 2% of all examinations carried out by facilities subordinated to the Mina Minovici Forensic Institute (INML)  which means that approximately 1,000 tests are conducted per year. They are performed in various forensic facilities across the country. There are two types of examinations currently performed in our country: in connection with criminal investigations and at the request of parents  particularly fathers.#UnExaminable is a social campaign, signed by DDB Romania and created pro bono in partnership with the Network to Prevent and Tackle Violence against Women (VIF), communicated with the support of ABIS Studio, Porter Novelli, Media Investment, film director Iulia Rugina, actress Voica Oltean, songwriter Mihai Dobre and photographer Adi Bulboaca.The fact that WHO declared virginity testing a violation of human rights has determined us to get involved in creating this campaign, which was launched in partnership with VIF Network. ##UnExaminable revolves around an emotional video, with a message that will be supported in the media and social media through various activation tactics. The video has a twist, as the emotional build-up leads to the hardest exam our young protagonist must take, which is not the baccalaureate exam, but the virginity testing, said Roxana Nita, creative director, DDB Romania.#UnExaminable has two clear goals, which we hope we will achieve soon. First, we aim at eliminating virginity testing conducted by the forensic institutions in Romania from the legislation, considering the harmful psychological and emotional effects it produces. The second objective consists in emphasizing that virginity is a social construct, which cannot be medically tested and proven, and which should not be promoted in 2022 by any developed state, said Roxana Tampau, managing director of DDB Romania.#UnExaminable showcases an emotional video, in which the protagonist is a teenage girl who is subjected to this kind of examination, right during tests simulating the baccalaureate exam. The young girl describes the anxiety with which she must cope, before taking the exams."We aim to create a social movement around this campaign, in which we put this sensitive topic on the public agenda and launch a public petition to eliminate the "two-finger test". We want to emphasize that virginity is a social construct and that it cannot be tested medically, and the procedure can cause psychological and emotional damage", concluded Roxana Memetea, managing partner of DDB Romania.
Nedbank's new #HypeTheHustle campaign - offered through the bank's Unlocked.me platform - celebrates South Africa's resilient young people.

Source: Supplied. A young entrepreneur at the Zone 6 event on Youth Day.

Backing SA's young entrepreneurs

Unlocked.Me is Nedbanks beyond banking platform that provides the youth access to a bank account with zero-rates or maintenance fees as well as the tools they need to kickstart their lives while cultivating healthy recreation and relaxation by unlocking dream destinations and events.Not only do they get epic deals on fashion, technology, and experiences, but they also get the chance to unlock their potential in the job market, grow their careers and build side hustles.The #HypetheHustle campaign kicked off at the Youth Over Everything event hosted by DJ PH at Zone 6, Soweto on Youth Day, 16 June. This venue in Soweto celebrated our future leaders with a HypetheHustle segment that allowed young people to showcase their talents through singing, rapping their music, and playing their self-produced DJ compilations.As a bank that takes the youth seriously, this Youth Month Nedbank is all about cheering on the go-getters, plan-makers, Generation Manje. We aim to cheer on the hustlers through meaningful and authentic connections that seek to empower the youth to realise their potential - and most importantly to make better money choices, says Buli Ndlovu, executive head of marketing, retail and business banking at Nedbank.Hyping up the youth is SA actor, presenter, and influencer, Moshe Ndiki. Ndiki says: It has really been an exciting experience for me to hype up my fellow South Africans and celebrate their hustles, along with Nedbank. I know what it is like to start a business as a young person, so being able to support in this way drives me even more.The #HypetheHustle van hyped up entrepreneurs in Johannesburg, with Cape Town and Durban to follow. Follow our Unlocked.Me social-media platforms to find out when the green van will be in your city.South Africas youth will also interact directly with the #HypeTheHustle conversation when Moshe and other influencers will host The Hustlers Convos on Twitter Spaces every Tuesday from 16:00 to 17:00, from 21 June to 5 July 2022. Here they will provide information and tips about different industries  while cheering and hyping the youths hustle.
Graphic Designer

Remuneration: R14000 - R17000 per month to be discussed Location: Cape Town, Sea Point Remote work: Not Applicable Education level: Degree Job level: Junior/Mid Type: Permanent Company: Lushomo

Job description

Bachelors degree/graphic design certificate/equivalent work experience

Strong diverse portfolio of work

Minimum one year work experience

Fine arts background/ability (portfolio of drawings/illustrations)

Ideally, you have worked in the non-profit world or are otherwise interested in health, environment and development, and in using your powers for good.

Ideally, you have a background/interest in the sciences, information design and data visualisation.

Requirements

Highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, (InDesign and Illustrator, as a minimum), Word and PowerPoint. Also ideal are PhotoShop and XD or Sketch+Invision

Understand how to move between creative programs

Able to design for print and digital

Specific to InDesign: Skilled DTP, including proficiency in creating and working with mastersheets, styles, automated contents pages and footnotes

Able to work from wireframes

Able to source references that are appropriate for the project and vision

Understand how to read and redesign a range of graphs (bars, line, scatter, pie) and flow charts

Capable of working in a team, often under tight deadlines, including with other designers working remotely

Very organised  including in the management of files, version control, etc.

An understanding of modern web principles and user experience is a bonus

Experience with animation and video editing (Premiere Pro/After Effects) is a bonus

Fluent in English, and any additional language is a bonus

We are looking for an organised, detail-oriented full-time junior graphic designer to join our team working from our offices in Sea Point, Cape Town.This job involves creating infographics (from scratch or manipulating stock images and icons), creating great look-and-feels and mock-ups (for editorial publication materials), and producing banners/flyers/reports etc. (for web and print). Although we are primarily looking for a graphic designer, our jobs cover a wide range of areas, including a variety of digital work, UX/UI, web development and animation  so the ideal candidate would have a wide range of skills and interests.At Lushomo we help organisations do good with data  combining research, data and design, with the aim of making information accessible, interesting and enjoyable to those engaging with it. Most of our clients are inter-governmental organisations working in the environment, health and development fields. Ideally you also have an interest in health, development and the environment, as youll get more out of the job.If you think youre a good fit for our team, let us know why. We look forward to hearing from you.To apply, please send your CV, cover letter and samples of your work that you think are relevant to ten.omohsul@rh . For more information, visit www.lushomo.net Location: Sea Point, Cape TownPosted on 20 Jun 15:26, Closing date 19 Aug
On Friday, the journal Andrology published a peer-reviewed paper showing large decreases in sperm counts among men after the second dose of Pfizers mRNA Covid jab.

Based on counts from men who donated sperm to three fertility clinics in Israel, this finding is devastating - medically and politically.

It cuts to the heart of the hottest button question of all about the mRNA shots, whether they have hidden fertility risks. That issue has simmered since early 2021, following my reporting that data showed the shots had caused excess miscarriages in rats - and other reports showing that measurable amounts of vaccine reached the ovaries and testes in tests in rats.

Ever since, media fact-checkers and public health authorities have dismissed and mocked the concerns and anyone who raises them:



Now - after a half-billion men have received mRNA shots - the skeptics appear to be right. Again. The Israeli paper offers hard evidence that the vaccines may present a systemic risk to mens sperm counts. What was a conspiracy theory is now just a theory. AGAIN.

The paper raises questions about mechanism of action that must be answered immediately. And on top of the myocarditis risk, the finding is more evidence that encouraging - much less forcing - men under 40 to take the mRNA vaccines was a catastrophic mistake.



However, the authors qualified their findings by reporting that after five months, sperm levels recovered. Thus the decreases were only temporary, they wrote.

Put aside the fact that a five-month decrease hardly qualifies as temporary for someone trying to start a family - or compared to a vaccine that loses effectiveness against Omicron within weeks or months.

As other writers have pointed out, the actual data in the paper do not really support the argument that sperm levels returned to normal after five months. In fact, by some measures, levels continued to decline.

Rather than acknowledging this fact, the authors offered the best possible spin on their data, while at the same time publishing the figures themselves near the end of the paper so that other researchers could see the reality for themselves.

This tactic is now commonplace among researchers putting out data that might raise concerns about the mRNA shots. It is likely a response to the overwhelming political pressure to hide the deepening crisis around the safety and efficacy of shots that governments have given to over a billion people worldwide.

Below is the crucial chart, which shows that total motile count - the number of sperm in the ejaculated semen - plunged 22 percent three to five months after the second shot (T2) and barely recovered during the final count (T3), when it was still 19 percent below the pre-shot level.

SOURCE

Even more importantly, the fall in sperm counts CANNOT be blamed on short- or even medium-term inflammation as mRNA-generated spike proteins causes our immune cells to ramp up the systemic production of anti-spike antibodies. If that were the case, one would expect to see a short term decrease in sperm count that reverses over time. Instead, total sperm counts are unaffected shortly after the mRNA shots, then decrease months later and hardly recover.

To play down this unpleasant reality, the researchers instead focused on the fact that median rather than average counts did recover after five months. (The median is the numerical midpoint of a series; If a series goes 1, 2, 3, 4, 20, the median will be 3, but the average will be 30 divided by 5, or 6.)

Both the median and the average can be valuable statistics. Using the median rather than the average will hide extreme outliers. In this case, the fact that the average fell much more than the median is a sign that some of the men probably had near-zero sperm counts in both the second and third time periods - and that fact is arguably more important than the median change.

All of which is to say that this data cannot be easily explained away and should not be ignored, as badly as the media would like to do so. The fall in sperm counts is part of an emerging and increasingly dark picture about the long-term health impacts of the mRNA shots - and should all by itself convince parents not to risk exposing their children to these powerful biotechnologies.
Trudeau-bashing book is a best-seller

How the Prime Minister Stole Freedom by Derek Smith has topped the Amazon Canada best-seller chart.

The picture book illustrated by Kaeda Knipe pokes fun at Trudeaus response to the Freedom Convoy and his subsequent clampdown on the rights of Canadians.

In the city of Ottawa on Parliament Hill, the Canadian Government debate and pass bills. Every person in Canada liked freedom a lot, but the Prime Minister who ran the country did not, the book summary reads.

He took everyones freedoms and locked everyone down tight. It seemed like the lockdowns had no end in sight. Until one day, Truckers became very annoyed, so they decided to form a Freedom Convoy. Will the Prime Minister be let off the hook? Youll only find out if you read this book.

Although the book, which is written in the style of Dr. Seuss, doesnt reference Trudeau by name, the principal character is an obvious placeholder for him.

The book is a fictional parody dramatization based on a true story and real events and was draw from a variety of sources, including published materials and interviews. For dramatic and narrative purposes, this book contains fictionalized scenes, composite and representative characters and dialogue, a disclaimer explains.

The views and opinions expressed in this book are those of the characters only and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by individuals on which those characters are based.

The independently published book has since garnered 770 ratings and has four and a half stars.

On Twitter, author Smith has promised more books lampooning Canadian political figures.

We have multiple books in the works, Smith wrote on Monday. Among the proposed titles is The boy who cried racist, which would be a parody of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
BRITAINS top general has told every soldier to prepare to fight Russia in a potential World War Three.

Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, the new Army commander, said that Vladimir Putins bloodbath assault on Ukraine had rocked the foundations of global security.

He vowed to forge an Army that can beat Russia in battle.

And he warned brave British troops that they must now prepare to fight in Europe once again.

In a rousing first message to every serving soldier, he said the world had changed since the Russian dictator had invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Gen Sanders started in his new role last Monday  and in his fourth day in the job, wrote: There is now a burning imperative to forge an Army capable of fighting alongside our allies and defeating Russia in battle.

In a chilling reference to World War Two, he added: We are the generation that must prepare the Army to fight in Europe once again.

As Chief of the General Staff, he will lead the smallest army for 300 years after the Government cut the force to 73,000 troops  roughly the size of Americas special forces.

The Army is also losing some 800 armoured vehicles and 80 Challenger 2 tanks despite Prime Minister Boris Johnsons 2019 pledge not to cut our armed forces in any form.
Elon Musk is the founder, CEO, and lead designer of SpaceX; co-founder, CEO, and product architect of Tesla, Inc.; co-founder and CEO of Neuralink; co-founder of PayPal; and founder of the Boring Company. He is revolutionizing the auto industry, traffic, transportation, space travel, artificial intelligence and sustainable energy.

Chamath Palihapitiya is a Sri Lankan-born Canadian and American venture capitalist, engineer, SPAC sponsor, founder and CEO of Social Capital. Palihapitiya was an early senior executive at Facebook, working at the company from 2007 to 2011. Following his departure from Facebook, Palihapitiya started his fund, The Social+Capital Partnership, through which he invested in several companies, including Yammer and Slack. The Social+Capital Partnership changed its name to Social Capital in 2015. He is a co-host of technology podcast All In. The segment that featured Elon Musk and Chamath Palihapitiya is from the 2022 All In Summit. Full conversation can been seen here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnxzr...

Shanna H. Swan, Ph.D., is one of the worlds leading environmental and reproductive epidemiologists and a professor of environmental medicine and public health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. An award-winning scientist, her work examines the impact of environmental exposures, including chemicals such as phthalates and Bisphenol A, on mens and womens reproductive health and the neurodevelopment of children. Please check out Dr. Swan's new book, "Count Down" - How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race By Shanna Swan, PhD, with Stacey Colino For more info about Dr. Swan visit here website https://www.shannaswan.com/ or check out our previous animation together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo-kS...

Jordan Peterson is a Canadian clinical psychologist and a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. His main areas of study are in abnormal, social, and personality psychology, with a focus in assessment and improvement of personality and performance. Now, Peterson travels the world giving lectures on self-development. To view the full conversation between Jordan Peterson and Chris Williamson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laSK7...

David Chappelle is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer, best known for his satirical comedy sketch series Chappelle's Show (2003 - 2006). Chappelle is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two Emmy Awards and three Grammy Awards as well as a Mark Twain Prize. Dave Chappelle is renowned for his ability to point out the underlying truths in society and bring humor to serious issues. Dave Chappelle's quote at the end of this video is from his podcast with Joe Rogan Episode # 1647

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After hiring a firm to develop a land-use plan last year, Brandon City Council got a firsthand look at the document Monday evening at its regular meeting.

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After hiring a firm to develop a land-use plan last year, Brandon City Council got a firsthand look at the document Monday evening at its regular meeting.

Airport manager Greg Brown said that getting the land-use plan is the first step towards developing a master plan for the airport and its surrounding space.

Among the benefits of the land as currently developed are runways capable of handling planes as large as Boeing 737s and service being provided at the airport by a national carrier, WestJet.

Other positive factors for the airport include Brandons ability to charge lower landing fees compared to airports like in Winnipeg and Regina, that the city has a 24-7 Nav Canada office and that the city has the largest airport in Manitoba outside of Winnipeg.

An ongoing concern for the airport, Brown said, is failing water and wastewater systems, which will be a limiting factor in any attempts for the airport to grow. In a later presentation, city general manager of operations Patrick Pulak said those water services were first installed 80 years ago in 1942, when an Air Force training school was operating at the site.

Another concern is competition. When the Southport airport near Portage la Prairie converted from a military base to a commercial airport, it introduced a competitor for the Brandon Municipal Airports services.

With service limited to running between Brandon and Calgary, the lack of southern or eastern service is a turn-off for potential investors.

Where most airports lease their land on a 20- to 30-year term, the Brandon airport is on a five-year term. Brown said this could dissaude companies from coming in due to the potential rise in lease fees.

Going forward, Brown wants to see the local airport develop a longer-term lease plan.

Future goals at the airport include protecting land for a taxiway parallel to runway 08-26, opportunities to install a turf runway to allow gliders to land at the airport, the development of mixed-use areas and potentially relocating some of the radio antennas.

Though Brown presented the land use plan to council, he said he wasnt asking councillors to approve it on Monday. His presentation, he said, was to provide council and residents with an update on the development as the master plan is developed.

To prevent the loss of opportunities at the airport site, Brown asked that council consider not selling any portions of the airport to outside interests.

Coun. Jan Chaboyer (Green Acres) asked if the airport was looking into marketing opportunities with the citys economic development department. Brown said it was.

After the airport land use presentation, Pulak stepped up to the podium to announce that not only would the city would be continuing its popular sump pump and backwater valve subsidy program, but it has almost handed out all the money set aside for it so far.

Of the $100,000 put aside in this years budget for the program, approximately $92,000 has been spoken for by residents and businesses.

However, a recent $150,000 grant from the Province of Manitoba from its Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness program, which will allow more residents to apply.

Residents can apply for the program by visiting Brandon City Hall at 410 Ninth Street or by visiting the citys website at brandon.ca.

Coun. Shawn Berry (Linden Lanes) said the program was very popular with residents of his ward, who experienced flooding when storm drains backed up during the flood of 2020.

In response to a question from Coun. Barry Cullen (Victoria), Pulak said new businesses and residences are required to install sump pumps when being built.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: ColinSlark
Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles, at Brisbanes Gallery of Modern Art, is a daring but necessary exhibition for an Australian art museum. Daring, because local audiences have grown so accustomed to a diet of masterpiece shows its difficult to imagine them flocking to see the work of a contemporary Japanese artist whose name will be unfamiliar to most people. Necessary, because this is precisely the kind of show our institutions need to embrace if we are to break free of our populist habits and commit to showing the very best art from anywhere and any time.

The Queensland Art Gallery deserves praise for taking on a project which is not simply a leap in the dark in terms of audience numbers, but an exhibition set-up of extraordinary complexity, necessitating weeks of hard labour. If these efforts are to be rewarded it will be because of the word-of-mouth factor, which is sure to be strong.

Chiharu Shiotas Uncertain Journey.

This career survey was put together by Mami Kataoka, for the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, in 2019. It was scheduled to travel to Queensland the following year but was postponed due to the pandemic. After Brisbane, it will continue to circulate in Asia, testifying to the artists growing reputation.

Shiota was born in Osaka in 1972 and wanted to be an artist from early childhood. This would lead to an estrangement from her father, who believed girls should be content to be wives and mothers. She would study art in Kyoto, then Australia, where she spent two years at the Australian National University, from 1993-94. It was in Canberra that Shiota stopped painting and began experimenting with installation, including a string piece that foreshadowed the kind of work for which she has since become known.
The NSW government will spend $115 billion across the state in the coming year, but its revenue is forecast to reach only $104 billion. The result is a hefty deficit of just over $11 billion. But theres much more to the budget than that. Here are five budget charts that shed light on the states finances, and the economic outlook for NSW.

1. On the economic rebound

The NSW economy has been below par for the past three years thanks to the disruptions of COVID-19. The onset of the pandemic in early 2020 triggered a rare economic contraction, followed by two years of anaemic growth. The budget estimates the NSW economy will have expanded by a lacklustre 1.5 per cent in the financial year to June 30.

But if Tuesdays state budget is correct, there are better times ahead  it forecasts a growth boost to a very healthy 4.25 per cent in the coming financial year, followed by a solid 2.75 per cent growth rate in 2023-24.
The NSW government expects almost two-thirds of eligible first home buyers to capitalise on its reform to stamp duty and opt for an ongoing land tax, costing the state more than $660 million over four years.

Tuesdays budget outlined the billions of dollars the state will spend to address housing affordability across NSW, including the long-touted reform to stamp duty. Treasury officials estimate 6500 first home buyers will take up the opportunity to pay a broad land tax each year.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet hugs Treasurer Matt Kean after his budget address on Tuesday. Credit:AAP

That equates to about 3.4 per cent of annual residential property sales, according to Treasury officials, with Treasurer Matt Kean lamenting the extent of the reform would remain relatively narrow until the Commonwealth government agreed to come to the table.

In order to do wide-scale stamp duty reform it needs support from the Commonwealth government, Kean said on Tuesday.
An anti-lockdown protester and former Hells Angel has been jailed for hitting a police horse in the head and throwing a heavy bollard at a mounted officer during separate protests in Melbourne.

Dennis Basic, 42, was sentenced to 26 months and 14 days in prison on Tuesday for a dozen offences, including assaulting an emergency worker, animal cruelty and recklessly causing injury.

Dennis Basics attacks on police at anti-lockdown protests has resulted in him serving a jail sentence.

Your attacks on two police officers and a police horse in two separate incidents nine months apart show a continued disregard for the law and disrespect towards those charged with enforcing the law, Judge Douglas Trapnell told Victorias County Court.

Basics offending began when he breached public health orders and attended a protest in Melbournes CBD, where he tried to push past a police officer at a roadblock in October 2020.
The University of Melbourne has posted a bumper surplus of $147 million for 2021, its best result in five years, but says it expects to fall into the red this year, partly due to a drop in student revenue compared with pre-pandemic times.

The universitys healthy surplus last year was revealed on Tuesday and followed a two-year pandemic reset program in which 378 staff either took redundancy or were made involuntarily redundant.

The University of Melbourne has posted a $147 million surplus for 2021. Credit:Wayne Taylor

It is consistent with a financial turnaround that the Victorian university sector enjoyed last year compared with the losses several incurred in 2020, when Australias border was shut to international students. The closure led to thousands of job losses and sweeping subject cuts as universities tightened their belts in response to being denied access to the $89 billion JobKeeper scheme.

University of Melbourne vice chancellor Duncan Maskell said it had stabilised itself in terms of the effects of the pandemic but still faced challenges.
First home buyers have welcomed the option to swap stamp duty for an annual property tax, and the trial of a shared equity scheme to help key workers, single parents and older singles into the housing market.

First home buyer Dylan Bow, 24, was pleased to see more support to help NSW buyers onto the property ladder sooner. However the project surveyor, who has been saving a deposit for several years, felt the upfront cost of stamp duty would still be a better option for him.

When I buy Im planning to hold onto [the property] for ages, Id rather just pay the one fee up front, rather than have to pay a fee every single year on top of mortgage repayments and bills, Bow said.

First home buyer Dylan Bow does not think he will take up the land tax option. Credit:Peter Rae

I probably wont use it, but do see the plus side if someone is struggling to save money.

It will definitely be a lot better and quicker for them to get into the market, and that can build them more money in the long run.

Bow, who lives with his family in the Hills District, may end up avoiding stamp duty altogether. He hopes to buy an apartment in Newcastle in the coming months that is priced below $650,000 - the cut off for the existing first home buyer stamp duty exemption.

He also hopes to use the federal governments First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, which would enable him to purchase with as little as a 5 per cent deposit.

Id love to stay around here, but I dont see how Id ever be able to afford to do that, affordability for sure [is why Im looking to buy in Newcastle].

Avoiding stamp duty was a factor, but Bow is also constrained by his borrowing power. He imagined the property tax may be a more popular option for those purchasing with a dual income, who were looking to buy more expensive properties that were not eligible for a stamp duty exemption or concession.
Homelessness services aiming to set up in the City of Perth would need to be reviewed by councillors under a proposed change to the local governments planning schemes.

Councillor Brent Fleeton has submitted a motion to this months council meeting that could mean anyone trying to open a community centre, including ones unrelated to homelessness, would face additional scrutiny.

A man sleeps rough in Perth. Credit:Kate Hedley.

Currently, community centres are considered a preferred use for Perths planning schemes which dictate what kind of development can occur in different precincts.

Local governments usually support preferred or permitted uses and in some instances they can receive approval without input from an elected council.
The McGowan government sat on a $121 million cost blowout of its Metronet radio communications project for nearly six months before it told the public.

In a budget estimates hearing on Tuesday, Transport Minister Rita Saffiotis representative Sue Ellery revealed a new deal worth $327 million with Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia was signed on December 22 last year.

Huawei were paid $6.6 million for the axing of its Metronet contract. Credit:Bloomberg

The new project is a cost jump of more than 50 per cent on the $206 million contract the state signed with Chinese-owned Huawei and Australian engineering company UGL in 2018.

That contract was axed in 2020 because of trade restrictions on Huawei imposed by the United States and the state sought a new contractor later that year.
First home buyers have welcomed the option to swap stamp duty for an annual property tax, saying it would help them into the housing market sooner by reducing upfront costs.

First home buyers will be able to pay a property tax for homes worth up to $1.5 million, which would consist of an annual levy of $400 plus a 0.3 per cent tax on the value of their land, it was confirmed in the NSW budget on Tuesday.

First home buyer Dylan Bow welcomed the property tax and shared equity scheme, but said they wouldnt prompt him to alter his plans. Credit:Peter Rae

First home buyer Dylan Bow, 24, was pleased to see more support to help buyers onto the property ladder. However, the project surveyor, who has been saving for several years, felt the upfront cost of stamp duty would still be a better option for him.

When I buy Im planning to hold on to [the property] for ages, Id rather just pay the one fee upfront rather than have to pay a fee every single year on top of mortgage repayments and bills, Bow said. I probably wont use it, but do see the plus side if someone is struggling to save money.
Konstantinivka: Ukrainian soldier Vitaly hasnt taken his Australian Bushmaster troop carrier back to the frontline for two weeks. He cant.

Five of his comrades were captured by the Russians in the open green fields of the sprawling Donbas region of eastern Ukraine before he and his gunner could evacuate them.

Vitaly, who drives the four-wheel-drive armoured vehicle, is now waiting on more men to shuttle back to the battlefront. Two men are required to operate the Bushmaster  the driver and the gunner  allowing it to transport five soldiers to and from the action.

Vitaly waits for fresh troops to shuttle to the frontline in the Bendigo-made armoured carrier. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Speaking from a secret location in eastern Ukraine, a dozen kilometres from the front line, Vitaly remembers the day he lost his team.
Vienna: Iran is escalating its uranium enrichment further by preparing to use advanced IR-6 centrifuges at its underground Fordo site that can more easily switch between enrichment levels, a United Nations nuclear watchdog report seen by Reuters shows.

The move is the latest of several steps the country had long threatened to take but held off carrying out, until 30 of the 35 countries on the International Atomic Energy Agencys Board of Governors backed a resolution this month criticising it for failing to explain uranium traces found at undeclared sites.

Irans underground Fordo nuclear facility outside of Qom, Iran, in a satellite image last year. Credit:Planet Labs/AP

With indirect US-Iran talks on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal long stalled, any further escalation in Tehrans stand-off with the West risks killing off hopes of reining in the Islamic republics nuclear advances and lifting US sanctions against it.

IAEA inspectors verified on Saturday that Iran was ready to feed uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas, the material centrifuges enrich, into the second of two cascades, or clusters, of IR-6 centrifuges installed at Fordo, a site dug into mountain, the confidential IAEA report to member states said.
Eleven bidders, including Adani Enterprises, have shown interest in the first-ever tender issued by national miner Coal India (CIL). Recently, state-owned awarded 6.25 million tonnes (mt) of imported coal tender worth Rs 8,300 crore to .

CIL, in a public statement on Tuesday, said: The prominent Indian agencies among them (11 coal importers) were Adani Enterprises, Mohit Minerals, and Chettinad Logistics. A couple of coal exporting agencies from abroad, including one from Indonesia, have also shown interest, it said.

Apart from Adani, the other two names disclosed by CIL from its pre-bid meetings were contenders in the tender as well. CIL issued a tender for purchasing imported coal for power-generating (gencos) after the Centre directed it to meet the shortfall in the domestic coal supply chain. CIL has called for bids to supply 2.4 mt of coal to be delivered for the July to September 2022 period. The estimated value of the contract is Rs 3,100 crore, CIL said in the tender document.

Apart from this immediate coal import, CIL has issued two more medium-term tenders for sourcing 3 mt each at the western and eastern ports of the country for future stocks. The last date or receipt of bids for short term tender is June 29, while that of medium term is July 5.

CIL has identified 26 beneficiaries for the imported coal, which includes independent power producers (IPPs) and states. Sembcorp Energy, JP Power, Avantha Power, Lanco, Rattan India, GMR, CESC, Vedanta Power, and Jindal India Thermal are the IPPs who have placed requests for the imported coal. The states that will receive imported coal for their generating stations are Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh.

Last month, the power ministry directed CIL to import coal for state and private . This came two weeks after state and privately-owned were told to import coal for 10 per cent blending, but were later asked to keep their tenders in abeyance. Several states expressed reluctance to import coal and asked for CIL to arrange the dry fuel from global markets.

The bidders for CILs tender suggested several changes in the process, which the company said have been included in the bid document.

Bidders requested narrowing the time window of the bid price validity from 90 days to 60 days. Another was fixing the time period for the supply of the first tranche of shipment, from the date of letter of award, between four and six weeks. Taking cognisance of their requests favorably, CIL amended the bid document, the company said in a statement.
India on Tuesday said it has entered to source directly from and launched a collection centre in Prantij, a town in Sabarkantha district.

The e-commerce major said the aim is to empower the of and offer high-quality fruits and vegetables to its customers.

The firm said that this collection centre will pave the way for fast payments, fair and transparent pricing as well as guidance on farming.

Rajesh Prasad, category leader, India, said the centre will meet the demands of neighbouring Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Pune.

 has progressive and our mission is to enable them to leverage online marketplaces and become a part of the digital economy, said Prasad.

He added, With this launch and expansion of our collection centre network, we are positioned to procure fresh and the best quality local produce and deliver it to our customers.

Apart from this, Fresh already has seven collection centres across India  four in Maharashtra, one each in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh.

Amazon is working with thousands of farmers as it is scaling up its infrastructure and supply-chain network across the country. The endeavour is to source as much locally as possible.

We are also working with farmer producer organisations (FPOs) in Gujarat and have already registered over 120 farmers for selling their produce at the collection centre, said Prasad.



As we grow, we continue to learn more about farmers and the supply chain. And, we are working towards building the infrastructure and state-of-the-art technology. This will help simplify the end-to-end value chain from our farms to customers.

The Prantij collection centre has a temperature-controlled supply chain infrastructure. Amazon said this provides locally-grown fresh fruits, leafies and vegetables.

After sourcing the produce from farmers, Amazon Retail India uses technology at its collection centre to inspect the quality of fruits and vegetables. Thereafter, it continuously monitors the items at multiple stages.

The fruits and vegetables are then sent to the processing centres where they are sorted, graded, geo-tagged and packaged in different sizes.

The department of horticulture will support Amazon in bringing organic farmers to the collection centre and enabling them to produce better quality fruits and vegetables, said Dinesh Patel, deputy director of horticulture of the Gujarat government.

Amazon is making progress with its single-grocery store called Fresh and has expanded to more than 20 cities.

Amazon competes with other e-commerce firms such as Walmart-owned Flipkart, Reliances and the for a share of the grocery and food market.

This segment is expected to become a $790-billion market by 2024 from $603 billion in 2019, according to analysts.

The demand is not just in the metros, but the market is shifting towards organised channels, as e-grocery finds acceptance in smaller cities and towns.
has highest vacancy of office space at 28.5 per cent, while Pune has the lowest at 8.5 per cent because of higher demand of premium workspace from IT/ITeS sector, according to property consultant Anarock.

As per the data of Grade-A office buildings across seven major cities of the country, Chennai has an office vacancy of 10.35 per cent, Bengaluru 11.25 per cent and Hyderabad 15 per cent.

Office vacancies in NCR are the highest among the top 7 cities at 28.5 per cent, followed by Kolkata at 23.5 per cent and MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Region) about 16 per cent, Anarock said in a statement.

IT hubs Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad have lower Grade A office vacancies.

"IT/ITeS remained one of the most buoyant sectors during the pandemic. This sector helped India's top four IT/ITeS-driven cities to keep Grade A office vacancies firmly in check," Anarock said.

In contrast, cities like NCR, MMR and Kolkata, with significant office demand also coming from non-IT sectors such as BFSI and manufacturing/industrial, recorded higher office vacancies.

Anarock Chairman Anuj Puri said: "NCR currently with the highest vacancy levels has approx. 26 million square feet of planned or under-construction office stock, while MMR has just 15 million square feet of such inventory."



Kolkata has a mere 2 million square feet of planned or under-construction office stock.

The cities with lower office vacancy levels currently have 108 million square feet of cumulative planned/under construction Grade A office stock. Of this, Hyderabad and Bengaluru have about 40 million square feet each planned or under construction. Chennai has 15 million square feet in the pipeline, and Pune has 13 million square feet.

"The IT/ITeS sectors boomed during the pandemic. While most operated in WFH mode, many large and mid-sized corporates decided to hold on to their office spaces," Puri said.

At between Rs 58 and Rs 78 per square feet per month, the average monthly office rentals in all four IT/ITeS driven cities are comparatively lower than in NCR and MMR, where they hover between Rs 80 and Rs 126 per square feet.

According to the data, Bengaluru has the maximum Grade A office stock of about 168 million square feet, followed by at 128 million square feet, MMR at 108 million square feet, Hyderabad 80 million square feet, Pune 60 million square feet, Chennai 55 million square feet and Kolkata 25 million square feet.

Anarock is one of the leading real estate consultants in the country. Its revenue stood at over Rs 400 crore in the last fiscal year.

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In a step designed to cut consolidated debt, Systems Ltd (JISL) will merge its International Business (IIB) with Temasek-owned Rivulis Pte Ltd. The cash proceeds will be used to pay off Rs 2,700 crore of overseas .

IIBs enterprise value is pegged at Rs 4,200 crore. After the transaction, Jain will hold 22 per cent stake (valued at Rs 1,300 crore) in Rivulis. About Rs 2,700 crore will be used to pay off overseas and Rs 200 crore will be used to settle receivables, Anil Jain, Managing Director of told the media.

The JISL stock closed 20 per cent higher at Rs 37.5 per share on .

Jain International Trading BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jain Irrigation, and Rivulis have entered into definitive transaction agreements, the company said in a statement.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to be completed by early 2023.

Jain said the consolidated net of JISL was Rs 6,000 crore at the end of March 2022. Of this, Rs 3,300 crore is a domestic debt and Rs 2,700 crore is overseas. JISL already restructured its domestic debt in March 2022.

The merged entity will have $750 million in revenues. will hold 22 per cent in the merged entity while 78 per cent will be with Singapores Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) .

will also get to release the corporate guarantee given by Jain Irrigation, India of Rs 2,275 crore to bondholders & IIB lenders.

Jain Irrigation will have a 10-year supply agreement with the merged entity, which would drive revenues and profits. There will be no-compit pact with Rivulis. But JISL will continue to supply products in the Indian subcontinent aka neighbouring countries, Jain said.

The merged entity will be dual headquartered in and Israel and will continue to be named Rivulis Pte. Ltd.

For the purposes of corporate branding, the company will be represented as Rivulis (In alliance with Jain International). Richard Klapholz, the current Rivulis CEO, will continue to lead the Company. Top senior associates from the IIB are expected to continue in leadership roles across the Company.

Goldman Sachs acted as financial advisor, Baker McKenzie acted as legal advisor and PWC acted as tax and diligence advisor to JITBV for the transaction.
Altogether 161 incidents of police action took place across in 13 months after Chief Minister took charge in May 2021, resulting in the death of 51 accused people and injuries to 139 others, the Gauhati High Court was informed.

The state government said this in an affidavit as sought by the high court which on Tuesday deferred the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) related to the incidents till July 29.

"As per records, there have been 51 numbers of death and 139 numbers of injuries caused due to police action or during police custody since May 2021 toll 21.05.2022. These incidents pertain to 31 numbers of districts of the state," Home & Political Department Joint Secretary Animesh Talukdar said in the affidavit.

"... a total of 161 numbers of cases have been registered in 31 districts of with effect from May 2021 to 31.05.2022," read the affidavit a copy of which was available with PTI.

It stated that in all cases FIRs have been lodged and investigations were made as per an order of the Supreme Court.

The government denied allegations by the petitioner of the PIL, advocate Arif Md Yeasin Jwadder, that separate FIRs of each incident of police firing, leading to death, have not been registered.

The petitioner sought an enquiry into the encounters by an independent agency such as CBI, SIT or any police team from other states under the supervision of the court.

in all incidents where death occurred, separate FIRs were lodged and independent investigation as well as magisterial enquiries were ordered as per the provisions of the law," the affidavit said.

It said that there are 32 incidents of death as well as four other incidents of "accidental death" of accused people while they were escaping from police custody. These cases have been investigated or are being investigated by officers from different police stations and those of different districts outside the jurisdiction of the superintendent of police concerned.

"...there was no extra-judicial killing as alleged by the petitioner," the affidavit said.

Besides the Assam government, state DGP, law and justice department, National Human Rights Commission and Assam Human Rights Commission have been named as respondents in the PIL filed by Jwadder.

Filing the PIL on December 20, 2021, the petitioner claimed that more than 80 fake encounters between Assam Police and accused people have taken place since May last year when Chief Minister took charge, resulting in 28 deaths and more than 48 injuries.

The people killed or injured were not dreaded criminals and the modus operandi of police has been the same in all the encounters, the PIL said.

The petitioner doubted the police statement published in newspapers which said that the force had to retaliate in self-defence as the accused had tried to snatch service revolvers of the personnel.

According to the petitioner, the injured or dead persons were not militants, and it cannot be the case that all the accused could snatch a service revolver from a trained police officer.

Earlier, Jwadder had filed a complaint about the alleged fake encounters with the National Human Rights Commission in July last year.

The NHRC in November 2021 transferred the case to the Assam Human Rights Commission which had also taken suo motu action on the alleged fake encounters and asked for a report from the state government. The AHRC earlier this year disposed of the case as the same was going on at the Gauhati High Court.

(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 several parts of the Cachar district of Assam including urban and rural parts of Silchar are totally submerged, the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) carried out rescue operations in flood-hit areas of the district in a massive way.

The rescue teams on Monday rescued more than 3,000 people including pregnant women, children and senior citizens from different parts of Silchar town and the Cachar district, informed the Cachar district administration.

In view of the continuous entering of water from the Barak River into the Silchar town, the Cachar district administration has restricted vehicular movement on many roads.

Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday informed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will carry one lakh litres of diesel and petrol to Silchar on Tuesday.

Speaking to media persons at Diphu in Karbi Anglong district, the Chief Minister said, "For the first time in the history of Assam, a special plane of Indian Air Force will carry 1 lakh litres of diesel and petrol to Silchar on June 21. Nothing like this ever before happened in Assam history. The Northeast Frontier Railway has also agreed to run a special relief train."

Meanwhile, the flood situation at Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve also continues.

A total of 25 anti-poaching camps have been inundated by flood water till Monday.

"In connection with this, essential rations are distributed among the anti-poaching camp staff of the Park," informed Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Mangaldoi Wildlife Division.

The Chief Minister further informed that more than 2000 villages of Nagaon and Morigaon district are still reeling under flood waters in the state.

"We are trying to help the flood-affected people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called me to enquire about the flood situation in the state. Today morning Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also called and all central government agencies Indian Air Force, Indian Railway, are engaged in relief and rescue operations," he noted.

"There is no fund problem. All this is possible only because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's instruction," Sarma said.

Meanwhile, Assam State Disaster Management Authority on Monday informed that 11 people died in floods and landslides in the last 24 hours.

As nearly 42.28 lakh people in 33 districts in Assam have been affected, Sarma on Monday directed all the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to prioritise relief operations instead of following procedures to avoid delays in supply relief.

The flood and landslides have claimed 82 lives in Assam this year so far and 27 people are still missing.

In the current spell of flood in the state, more than 12.30 lakh people have been affected alone in lower Assam's Barpeta district followed by 4.69 lakh in Darrang, 4.40 lakh in Nagaon, 3.38 lakh in Bajali, 2.91 lakh in Dhubri, 2.82 lakh in Kamrup, 2.80 lakh in Goalpara, 2.07 lakh in Cachar, 1.84 lakh in Nalbari, 1.51 lakh in South Salmara, 1.46 lakh in Bongaigaon, 1.34 lakh in Karimganj district.

As the flood waters submerged Silchar town in the Cachar district on Monday, an order issued by the district administration stated that "The water levels at various places of the town are rapidly rising and the current of water is also very high. Considering the situation, it is very risky for vehicles(two-wheelers/three-wheelers/four-wheelers) to ply through the route starting from Bilpar to National Highway through Rangirkhari Point and from Bilpar to Link Road point through Sonai Road."

"With a view to further augment our efforts, with a view to safeguarding the lives of people, vehicular traffic to, from and within the above-mentioned area is hereby restricted for the next 24 hours by exercising the powers vested with District Disaster Management Authority under section 34, subsection (b) of the Disaster Management Act 2005 w.e.f for the next 24 hours.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
was rushed to Cachar in Barak Valley of Assam for rescue operations as the flood situation in Assam remained critical on Tuesday with Brahmaputra and Barak rivers along with its tributaries in spate and affecting nearly 48 lakh people, officials said.

The devastating flood, trigerred by incessant rains since last week, has inundated 32 out of 36 districts of the state in its second spell and 11 persons were reported missing during the last 24 hours, the officials said.

A total 44 people have lost their lives so far in floods and lanslides in the state since June 14.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that four units of the National Disaster Response Force were rushed from Bhubaneswar to Silchar to carry out rescue operations as the flood situation in Karimganj and Cachar districts worsened due to the rising waters of Barak and Kushiyara rivers following heavy rains.

''Four units of from Bhubaneswar with total 105 personnel have been sent to Silchar to carry out rescue operations in Barak Valley'', he said and thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the ''prompt action and help".

In Cachar, a population of 2,07,143 in 449 villages have been affected, while in Karimganj 1,33,865 in 305 villages were hit by the flood, according to the bulletin issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

A total crop area of 113485.37 hectares and 33,84,326 animals have been affected while 5232 animals have been swept away in the state, it said.

The calamity has affected 125 revenue circles and 5,424 villages across Assam forcing 2,31,819 people to take shelter in 810 relief camps. At least 11,292 people and 27,086 animals have been evacuated by agencies engaged in rescue operations in the past 24 hours.

Relief materials were distributed to the affected people who have not taken shelters in relief camps through 615 temporary relief distribution centres and points opened by the government.

Among the worst affected districts Barpeta with a population of 12,30,721 is reeling under flood waters followed by Darrang where 4,69,241people have been hit and Bajali where 3,38515 have been affected, according to the bulletin issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

According to the bulletin of the Central Water Commission (CWC), Kopili river is flowing above its high flood level at Kampur in Nagaon district and Brahmaputra at Nimatighat, Tezpur, Guwahati, Kamrup, Goalpara and Dhubri. Puthimari, Pagladia, Beki Barak and Kushiara are flowing above the danger levels.

Urban flooding was reported from Barpeta, Cachar, Darrang, Goalpara, Kamrup (Metro) and Karimganj. Landslides occurred at Kamrup and Karimganj during the day, it said.

Two embankments were breached, 349 roads and 16 bridges were damaged on Monday, the CWC said.

Large-scale erosion of river banks was reported from Baksa, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Dhubri, Hailakandi, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nalbari, Sonitpur, South Salmara, Tamulpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri districts, it added.

In Kaziranga National Park 42 of the total 233 camps have been inundated by the flood water. Eight animals have died due to drowning and vehicle hit so far, while 12, including nine hog deers and three pythons have been rescued by forest officials.

In Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, 14 of the total 25 camps have been inundated though there are no reports of animal casualty so far, officials said.

Northeast Frontier Railways has cancelled, short terminated or diverted several trains following damages in railway tracks due to flood induced breaches at Chaparmukh Kampur and Chaparmukh - Senchoa sections of Lumding and Harisinga - Tangla section of Rangiya divisions in the state on Tuesday, NFR official 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.)
marked the Day with sessions across the state, with the governor and the chief minister participating at different sessions, along with people from all walks of life, from security personnel to school students.

Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi and his wife Prem Mukhi joined yoga enthusiasts at the Raj Bhavan in Guwahati for a session in the morning hours.

Mukhi urged the people to adopt yoga as a routine for a healthy life.

Yoga is an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition which PM @narendramodi spearheaded to make it a global phenomenon, he tweeted.

Terming yoga India's unique way to remain fit, the governor added, It has immense potential in enhancing the physical & mental well-being of humankind, making one's life healthy. On this day, I would like to urge everyone to include Yoga in their daily life for attaining overall health.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended a programme on the occasion at Dibrugarh and was joined by a couple of his Cabinet colleagues, MLAs, senior officials and hundreds of participants.

While expressing his delight over joining the session, Sarma also prayed for the safety of the flood-affected people of the state.

He tweeted: Happy to take part in #InternationalYogaDay at Dibrugarh. I take this opportunity to thank our visionary PM Adarniya Shri @narendramodi ji for his endeavour in yoga getting official global recognition and making it a part of our daily life.

We took out a few moments to remember and pray for safety and well-being of the flood-affected people in Assam, he added.

Sarma also praised the efforts of AYUSH Minister and former CM Sarbananda Sonowal for his efforts in organising 100-day celebrations of this year's Day.

Police also organised yoga sessions at different venues, with director general Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta stating on the micro blogging site that over 10,000 personnel participated in these sessions.

Not 5, not 10 or 100... 10,000+ @assampolice personnel came together today morning for one purpose, all across the state and created magic. On this Day, we wish you a very happy and healthy life, Mahanta tweeted.

Indian Army personnel and their families also joined the occasion and participated in yoga sessions organised at different locations of the state.

Troops of BSF's frontier headquarter at Guwahati observed the Day at Pandu Port on banks of the Brahmaputra river.

District headquarters and government offices organised special yoga sessions on the occasion, while many private offices also held similar programmes for their employees.

Students of private as well as government schools also attended yoga sessions and participated in events such as poster-making competitions to mark 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.)
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles arrived in on Monday to hold a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh to strengthen defence and security cooperation between both the countries.

"Arrived in - a top-tier partner + close friend to . I look forward to advancing our ongoing defence engagement as Comprehensive Strategic Partners and reiterate our commitment for closer cooperation in the #IndoPacific," Marles tweeted.

His visit marks the first high-level visit from after newly-elected prime minister Anthony Albanese took office on May 23.

During his visit from June 20-23, the Australian Defence Minister will hold his first bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh.

" and are Comprehensive Strategic Partners. I am committed to strengthening Australia's defence and security cooperation with India," said Marles. "I am looking forward to meeting with my counterpart, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and holding our first bilateral Defence Ministers' Meeting," he added.

Marles stated that Rajnath Singh has been instrumental in advancing India-Australia defence ties and he looks forward to working with him to enhance the defence pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

The minister also noted that India is one of Australia's closest security partners and the Government is focused on revitalising Australia's historically deep engagement with our partners across the Indo-Pacific.

"The rules-based international order that has brought peace and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific for decades is experiencing pressure, as we face shifts in the geostrategic order," he said said. "Australia stands ready to work closely with India in support of an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific".

During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Marles will also meet External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and engage security and defence policymakers and personnel.

Earlier, the Australian PM Albanese had said that the relationship with India is very important and ties between the two countries have never been closer.

"Our relationship with India is a very important one and it was a great honour to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

PM Modi congratulated Prime Minister Albanese on his election victory. Both leaders reviewed the multi-faceted cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including trade and investment, defence manufacturing, renewable energy, green hydrogen, education, science and technology, agricultural research, sports, and people-to-people ties.

Both Prime Ministers affirmed their desire to continue the positive momentum in the bilateral relationship. Bilateral discussions with PM Modi focused on Australia and India's full strategic and economic agenda, including clean energy technology.

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A special court here on Tuesday sentenced Bahubali MLA Anant Singh to 10 years imprisonment in the AK-47 recovery case.

In 2019, an AK-47 rifle, two hand grenades and 26 live cartridges were recovered from Anant Singh's house in his native village and the MP-MLA court on June 14 held him guilty of the offence.

Besides Anant Singh, the caretaker of his house Sunil Ram has also been awarded 10 years in jail. MP-MLA court judge Triloki Dubey has announced the highest quantum of punishment to the MLA and his caretaker.

His conviction in the case is set to cost him his legislatorship in . Anant Singh is currently an MLA from Mokama Assembly constituency in Patna district.

Sunil Singh, the lawyer of Anant Singh (Defense Lawyer) confirmed the quantum of punishment of 10 years jail term.

"We will appeal to the higher court to challenge the decision of the MP-MLA court. If we manage to get a stay from the high court against this decision, Anant Singh's legislatorship will remain," Singh said.

This morning, Anant Singh reached MP-MLA court located at Pirbahore area of Patna in a jail ambulance.

A team of Patna police headed by then City SP Lipi Singh raided the house of Anant Singh in his native village Nadwa under Barh police station on August 16, 2019.

As per the police theory, the raiding team had seized an AK-47 rifle, 26 live cartridges, and two hand grenades.

While the AK-47 rifle was hidden in a hutment behind a big box, the hand grenades were recovered from the adjoining hut.

The police said that AK-47 was evenly wrapped with a plastic bag followed by layers of carbons to avoid detection in metal detectors during transportation.

At the time of the raid, Anant Singh was not in Bihar. He fled to Delhi and surrendered before the lower court there. Bihar police took his custody and put him behind the bars of Patna Beur jail. Since then, he has been lodged in Beur jail.

During the three years trial of the case, the prosecution side produced 13 witnesses and their statements were recorded in the court. The defense side also produced 34 witnesses before the court.

The hearing of the case was completed on June 13 and he was held guilty on June 14.

The house in Nadwa village belongs to Anant Singh but he was not living in it and was being managed by a caretaker.

--IANS

ajk/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.)
Pilots frequently encounter hazards like bird hits, a short runway and tall trees while operating at the airport, where nearly 200 people on board a Delhi-bound aircraft recently had a close shave, as the plane caught fire soon after take-off, experts said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has initiated a probe into the incident that took place on June 19 at the Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport.

We will be able to know the exact cause only after completion of the investigation. However, the airport has remained a critical spot for pilots. On one side, there are tall trees that make landing or taking off a tricky affair, V K Bhalla, former chief of Air India Pliots Union, told PTI.

The safe emergency landing of the SpiceJet flight was possible due to the cool and calm efforts of both pilots and crew members. But, I must say that when trees are not removed from one side of the runway, such incidents are bound to happen. Trees invite birds. The investigating team must look into these aspects at the airport, Bhalla added.

In a statement, SpiceJet had said on take-off, the cockpit crew suspected a bird hit on engine 1 during rotation of the aircraft, which was flying from Patna to Delhi. There were 185 passengers on board.

As a precautionary measure and as per SOP (standard operating procedure), the captain shut down the affected engine and decided to return to Patna, it said.

Experts also believe that the Patna airport is marked as critical due to its short runway. Of its 2,286-metre runway, only 1,954 metres are actually available for use by pilots for take-off due to location constraints.

Open abattoirs, meat shops and garbage dumps near the airport also invite birds. The waste dumps are kept clean by the authorities, but I am not aware about the measures taken by the district administration in view of the abattoirs and meat shops, Anchal Prakash, Director of Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, told PTI.

On July 17, 2000, the airport had hit the headlines when a Delhi-bound Boeing 737 aircraft, coming from Kolkata, ploughed through a residential colony soon after take-off killing more than 60 people, including six local residents.

The court of inquiry, which was subsequently ordered, said in its report that the runway was too short.

(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 BJP parliamentary board on Tuesday named Droupadi Murmu, a tribal leader of the party from Odisha, as the ruling NDA's candidate for the presidential election.

The announcement comes hours after the Opposition named former Union minister as its joint nominee.

BJP president J P Nadda announced her name at a press conference following a meeting of the party top brass.

Murmu (64), a former Jharkhand governor, will be the first tribal woman to occupy the top constitutional post if she is elected, a strong possibility as numbers are stacked in favour of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the former Jharkhand governor has devoted her life to serving society and expressed confidence that she will be a "great President".

Several major opposition parties, including the Congress, the NCP and the TMC, on Tuesday picked former Union minister as their candidate for the July 18 .

Opposition leaders, who gathered at the Parliament annexe for the meeting convened by NCP chief Sharad Pawar to decide on a common candidate for the much discussed presidential election, unanimously agreed on Sinha's name.

The veteran politician, who has stepped aside from the Trinamool Congress and was earlier with the BJP, will file his nomination papers on June 27.

We regret Modi government made no serious effort to have consensus on a presidential candidate, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who read out a joint statement after the meeting, said.

He noted that the initiative to have a consensus candidate for the highest office of the Republic should have been taken by the government. We are happy to announce that we have unanimously chosen as the common candidate of the opposition parties for the presidential election, which will take place on July 18, Ramesh said.

"In his long and distinguished career in public life, Shri Yashwant Sinha has served the nation in various capacities - as an able administrator, accomplished parliamentarian and acclaimed Union Minister of Finance and External Affairs. He is eminently qualified to uphold secular and democratic character of the Indian Republic and its Constitutional values," the statement said.

The leaders also announced that a committee formed to steer Sinha's presidential campaign will start working from today. Sinha, who has been vocal on a range of issues, is in his 80s.

Pawar told reporters that he has personally spoken to a cross-section of leaders from various parties. These included Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Telangana's K Chandrashekar Rao from the TRS who stayed away from the meeting.

Pawar said he also spoke to TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as well as Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Tejashwi Yadav (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Farooq Abdullah (National Conference) and Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena) and they all supported Sinha's candidature.



"We will also try to convince the BJD and YSR Congress," Pawar said when asked whether they are on board.

The parties that attended the meeting included the Congress, NCP, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, Samajwadi Party, National Conference, AIMIM, RJD and AIUDF.

Five regional parties considered non aligned - TRS, BJD. AAP, SAD and YSRCP -- stayed away. These parties had also stayed away from the June 15 meeting convened by Banerjee.

The ruling BJP-led combine has over 48 per cent vote share in the electoral college to pick the new president, and its candidate has a clear advantage over the opposition.

Reading out the joint statement, Ramesh said the parties have appealed to all political parties to support Sinha as president so the country could have a worthy 'rashtrapati' elected unopposed. His party colleague Mallikarjun Kharge said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had called him and a few other leaders to ask whether they had a name for top constitutional post.

"This was just for the sake of contacting, This cannot be termed a serious effort," Kharge said.

The joint statement also said that India is passing through difficult times and the BJP government at the Centre has failed totally in fulfilling its promises and commitments.

"It is misusing ED, CBI, Election Commission, Governor's office and other institutions as weapons against opposition parties and state governments run by them. Therefore, we assure the people of India that the unity of opposition parties, which has been forged for the presidential poll in a spirit of equality, common commitments and consensus-building through dialogue, will be further consolidated in the months ahead," the joint statement said.

Sinha's name came up after Pawar, Gopalkrishna Gandhi and Farooq Abdullah declined the opposition offer to be their joint candidate for the top post. Their names were proposed during the meetings of opposition parties on the issue.

According to Left party sources, Sinha, who was vice president of the TMC, resigned from the party after the Congress and Left parties wanted him to be an independent candidate and not associated with any one party.

Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh and Randeep Surjewala, TMC's Abhishek Banerjee, DMK's Tiruchi Siva, CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury, CPI's D Raja, RJD's Manoj Jha, VCK's Thol Thirumavalavan, NC's Hasnain Masoodi, RSP's NK Premchandran and AIMIM's Imtiaz Jaleel were among those who participated in the meeting.

The presidential election would be held on July 18 to elect a successor to incumbent Ram Nath Kovind and the result would be out on July 21.

The BJP parliamentary meeting will meet later on Tuesday to discuss the BJP-led NDA's choices for the new president.

(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 BJP on Tuesday named Droupadi Murmu, a tribal leader of the party from Odisha, as the ruling NDA's candidate for the presidential election, sending out a significant political message after elevating a Dalit, Ram Nath Kovind, to the top post five years back.

BJP president J P Nadda announced her name at a press conference following a meeting of the party's parliamentary board, which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders.

Murmu (64), a former Jharkhand governor, will be the first person from and the first tribal woman to occupy the top constitutional post if she is elected, a strong possibility as numbers are stacked in favour of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The Opposition had earlier in the day announced Yashwant Sinha as its joint candidate for the post. The poll is slated for July 18.

Soon after Murmu was named as the BJP-led NDA's presidential candidate, Prime Minister Modi said she has devoted her life to serving society and expressed confidence that she will be a "great President".

"Droupadi Murmu Ji has devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalised. She has rich administrative experience and had an outstanding gubernatorial tenure. I am confident she will be a great President of our nation.

"Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country," Modi tweeted.

Considered a soft-spoken and affable leader who comes from Mayurbhanj, one of the more backward regions of Odisha, Murmu has held various positions in the party rising through the ranks and was a minister in the state when the BJP was in alliance with the ruling Biju Janata Dal.

Known for taking decisions with an eye on the larger political message, the BJP is hopeful that Murmu's candidature will help its reach among tribals not only in her home state but also across the country as it has continuously strived to woo various disadvantaged communities to good political results.

She will be the first President, if elected, born after independence. Modi has often spoken about being the first Prime Minister born after India gained freedom and used the plank to reach out to the masses.

She is likely to draw support from several non-NDA regional parties, including Odisha's ruling BJD, and even an opposition party like Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, which is in power in Jharkhand with the Congress, may find it hard to oppose her as the party identifies itself the cause of tribals.

Nadda told reporters that around 20 names were discussed by the party leadership for the presidential candidate before it decided to pick someone from the eastern region and a tribal and woman.

He said the ruling party wanted a consensus choice for the next President but it could not happen as the Opposition went ahead by naming its own candidate.

Nadda noted that Union minister Rajnath Singh and he had spoken to various party leaders, including those from the Opposition, to reach a consensus but in vain. The BJP had spoken to its allies about the candidature of Murmu, he added.

A former government official who later switched to politics, she is likely to file her nomination in a few days, with June 29 being the last date.

Incidentally, her name was also doing the rounds for the BJP's likely choice for the top constitutional post in 2017 but Kovind then emerged as its pick.

(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 Monday said it would examine the law on the rights of jailed members of legislative assembly (MLAs) to vote, even as it denied interim relief to two imprisoned MLAs from Maharashtra to vote in the state legislative council elections.

On Monday, former home minister of Maharashtra, Anil Deshmukh, and cabinet minister Nawab Malik had sought relief from the SC and asked to be released temporarily from jail for a day to cast their votes in the legislative council elections.

Malik and Deshmukh are in prison after being arrested in separate money laundering and corruption cases. The two leaders moved the court, contending that as members of the Legislative Assembly and representatives of their respective constituencies, they ought to be allowed to vote in the Council .

While an SC bench denied them the permission to cast a vote, the court observed that the plea raised a crucial legal question about an MLA's right to vote in MLC elections on behalf of his constituency.

A division bench of SC orally observed, "It is slightly undemocratic," that a person who has been elected to the assembly but cannot vote in the legislative council polls, The Economic Times quoted.

Last Friday, the Bombay High Court had also rejected the MLAs' petition to allow them to cast votes, saying that "the constitutional right to vote is not absolute."
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged that senior officials of the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) colluded with Bengaluru-based pharmaceutical company Biologics to waive the phase-3 clinical trial of the Insulin Aspart injection, and also manipulated the minutes of the subject expert committee (SEC) meeting causing substantial wrongful gain to Biologics.

Indias Joint Drugs Controller Eswara Reddy was on Tuesday by the investigating agency along with L Praveen Kumar, associate vice-president and head of regulatory affairs (NRA) at Biologics. Guljit Sethi (alias Guljit Chaudhary) of Bioinnovat Research Services and Dinesh Dua, director of Synergy Network  both of whom allegedly acted as conduits on behalf of  were along with Animesh Kumar, assistant inspector at . sources said that all five were presented in court on Tuesday afternoon and that the agency had sought police custody.

In a statement, Biocon Biologics said, We strongly deny the allegations of bribery against the company and its officials associated with the approval process of one of our products in India.

The has alleged that Sethi, who has been handling government regulatory work for Biocon Biologics, conspired with Praveen Kumar and other senior executives to pay Rs 9 lakh as a bribe to Reddy. The money was allegedly offered in lieu of a favourable recommendation on the Insulin Aspart injection at an SEC meeting on May 18 for waiving phase-3 clinical trials, the agency said.

Insulin Aspart has already been approved in the EU. While regulators in many countries approve drugs based on approvals already received in regulated markets, at times they also seek local clinical trial data.

In its FIR, the has said Reddy had attended the SEC meeting on May 18, and had also supported the waiver.

Not only that, the agency goes on to add that Reddy allegedly manipulated the minutes of the SEC meeting held that day by changing some key words like replacing data with protocol, thereby giving substantial wrongful gain to the company.

Three files of Biocon Biologics, including one related to the waiver of phase-3 clinical trials, was referred to him for processing and approval. The agency was acting on inputs it received that Reddy was dealing and processing files related to applications for approvals and vaccines by various pharmaceutical companies.

In fact, Sethi was acting on behalf of several pharmaceutical companies and was allegedly delivering bribes to various senior officials through Dua on various occasions, the CBI said.

In the case of Biocon, Sethi conspired with Kumar and other officials to include the Biocon Biologics file for the SEC meeting held on June 15, and Kumar received a bribe of Rs 30,000 for this, the CBI FIR noted.

It added that Reddy met Dua in the CDSCO office on June 15 in connection with the approval of the third file. The CBI said Reddy assured Dua of a favourable outcome. Later in the day, Kumar allegedly informed Sethi that the file had been approved in the SEC meeting.

The FIR further states that Reddy shared his residential address at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, with Dua. Kumar allegedly agreed to pay Rs 9 lakh to Reddy, and Sethi arranged for a part of the bribe to be delivered to Reddy at his residence on June 20, the CBI said.

The CBI said these acts prima facie disclose criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery and thus a case has been registered against them.
Cabinet Minister and strongman Eknath Shinde plunged the ruling alliance in the state into a political crisis on Tuesday as he rebelled against his party and landed in a Surat hotel along with some Sena MLAs, putting a huge question mark on the stability of the two-and-a-half-years old MVA dispensation. The dramatic turn of events came hours after results of polls to the state Legislative Council on Monday night, which saw the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) losing one of the 6 seats it contested, to the opposition BJP which got all its five nominees elected to the Upper House, possibly on the back of cross-voting in its favour from the ruling bloc besides support from Independents and MLAs from smaller parties. Sena MP Sanjay Raut said 14 to 15 party MLAs are with Shinde in Surat in BJP-ruled Gujarat.

He also alleged that two of them, including Nitin Deshmukh, have been beaten up and he has suffered a heart attack.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party swiftly moved against Shinde (58), an MLA from Thane district, and removed him as the party's group leader in the Legislative Assembly. Shinde, who holds urban development and PWD portfolios, has been removed as the group leader in the Assembly and replaced with Ajay Choudhury, Raut told reporters. Justifying the decision against his party colleague, Raut said a disciplinary action was necessary. With no sign of any let-up in the crisis, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat are expected to meet on Tuesday night to find a solution.

Getting into action mode, the MVA lead constituent deputed its members Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak to hold talks with rebel leader Shinde in Surat, around 280km from Mumbai, and try to mollify him.

As Shinde is yet to spell out his stand, BJP chief Chandrakant Patil ruled out any link of his party to the ongoing political turmoil, but added the opposition outfit would "definitely consider" a proposal if it comes from the rebel leader to form an alternative government.

Without naming Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena, Shinde took to Twitter, his only comment so far since the crisis broke on Tuesday morning, and said he will never "cheat for power" and abandon the teachings of party founder late Bal Thackeray.

"We are staunch Shiv Sainiks of Balasaheb who gave us lessons on Hindutva. We will never cheat for power and will never abandon the teachings of Balasaheb and Anand Dighe for power," Shinde tweeted in Marathi.

The late Dighe, a stalwart from Thane, was the political mentor of Shinde.

Speaking in New Delhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, whose party is the second largest constituent in the MVA, said there is an attempt to pull down the Maharashtra government, which he said is happening for the third time. He also said that Uddhav Thackeray will handle the political crisis, which he described as an "internal matter" of the Sena, which snapped its ties with the BJP and joined hands with the NCP and the Congress to form the MVA government in November 2019. In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, Shiv Sena has 55 MLAS, NCP (53), Congress (44), Bahujan Vikas Agahdi (three), Samajwadi Party, AIMIM and Prahar Janshakti Party two each. MNS, CPI-M, PWP, Swabhimani Paksha, Rashtriya Samaj Party, Jansurajya Shakti Party and Krantikari Shetkari Paksha have one MLA each. There are 13 independent MLAs.

The opposition BJP has 106 MLAs.

Leaders of NCP and Congress, the other constituents of the MVA, however, asserted that there is no threat to the stability of the state government.

The sudden disappearance of Shinde and some party MLAs prompted Chief Minister Thackeray to call an urgent meeting with party legislators and leaders at 'Varsha', his official residence, in south Mumbai.

We are in touch with many MLAs. Many had left for their constituencies, but they could not make it. But we are in touch with them and some of them are travelling back,said a Sena leader.

Senior NCP leader and state minister Chhagan Bhujbal told PTI that MLAs of his party are intact.

Bhujbal and state Congress president Nana Patole ruled out any threat to the MVA government.

Congress minister Balasaheb Thorat said his party is closely watching the developments in the Shiv Sena and they have spoken to the chief minister. If needed, a meeting of the MVA will be held, he said.

Thorat also said all Congress MLAs have been asked to stay put in Mumbai. The Congress has deputed senior leader Kamal Nath as AICC observer to Maharashtra in view of recent political developments in state.

Nath will leave for Mumbai on Wednesday morning, sources close to the former CM said in Bhopal.

The development comes hours after MVA suffered a setback in the Legislative Council polls, results for which were announced on Monday night.

A Shiv Sena leader said Shinde was present at Vidhan Bhavan, where the voting took place, on Monday till around 5 pm along with CM Thackeray.

The rebel MLAs, reportedly unhappy with the Sena leadership, arrived in Surat on Monday night and are camping at the Le Meridian Hotel in the diamond city, sources said.

A Congress minister said Shinde has been restless for the past week and claimed that Sena leader wanted the deputy chief minister's post (which is with NCP currenlty).

Shinde wields considerable influence in the satellite cities of Mumbai.

Meanwhile, the police have increased security outside his private residence in Thane.

Sena MP Raut blamed the BJP for the current political situation. He said that BJP's attempts, like in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, to topple the MVA government will not succeed.

Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil admitted that BJP MLA Sanjay Kute had met Shinde.

Patil alleged Sanjay Raut was responsible for the frosty relations between the Sena and the BJP.

"He (Raut) is also doing a lot of damage to the state...and he is doing it on someone's behalf," the BJP leader claimed.

(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.)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his visiting Australian counterpart Richard Marles will explore new initiatives to further expand bilateral defence engagements in their talks on Wednesday.

The said the two ministers will also exchange views on regional and global issues of shared interest.

It said the India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership is based on a shared vision of "free, open, inclusive and prosperous" Indo-Pacific region.

The visit by Marles is the first high-level trip to India from Australia after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labor Party came to power last month defeating predecessor Scott Morrison's conservative coalition in the parliamentary elections.

Marles, who is also deputy prime minister of Australia, began his four-day visit to India on Monday.

"The two ministers will review the defence cooperation between the two countries and explore new initiatives to further strengthen bilateral engagements. They will also exchange views on regional and global issues of shared interest," the in a statement.

Marles visited Goa Shipyard Ltd in Goa.

"India and Australia share a comprehensive strategic partnership since June 2020 and defence is a key pillar of this partnership. The partnership is based on a shared vision of free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," the said.

"The two democracies have a common interest in peace and prosperity of the entire region," it said in a statement.

The deputy prime minister also participated in a Yoga session on the occasion of International Yoga Day.

"An early morning start with some yoga, ahead of a busy couple of days here in India. Looking forward to a packed couple of days, meeting my counterparts and seeing firsthand our close partnership," he tweeted.

In his response on Twitter, Sing said: "Glad to see the Deputy Prime Minister and the Defence Minister of Australia, @RichardMarlesMP doing Yoga on the #InternationalDayofYoga."



"His participation in the Yoga Day programme makes these celebrations remarkable and special. Looking forward to meet him in New Delhi," Singh added.

On Monday, Marles described India as one of Australia's "closest" security partners and said Canberra is keen to work closely with it for an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

The ties between India and Australia have been on an upswing in the last few years.

In April, the two countries inked a trade pact to diversify bilateral trade.

In June 2020, India and Australia elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and signed a landmark deal for reciprocal access to military bases for logistics support.

The Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) allows the militaries of the two countries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies, besides facilitating scaling up of overall defence cooperation.

The Australian Navy was part of the Malabar naval exercise hosted by India in November 2020 as well as last year.

(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.)
Rejecting Organisation for Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) criticism as "divisive," India has said that efforts to combat religiophobia will not succeed if the rising hatred against Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism is ignored.

"It's time that UN member states condemned hatred against non-Abrahamic religions as well and stop from being selective in combating religiophobias," India's Permanent Representative T. S. Tirumurti told the General Assembly on Monday.

"There cannot be double standards on religiophobias if you truly want to combat hate," he said at the informal high-level meeting commemorating the first International Day for Countering Hate Speech.

India has promoted a culture of tolerance and respect for all religions under its constitution and its legal system deals with violations, he added, reacting to a criticism voiced by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC.

"Aberrations are dealt with within our legal framework and we reject selective outrage from outside, especially when they are motivated and pursuing a divisive agenda just as we heard today's references against India by OIC," he said.

Pakistan was referring to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who has been suspended by the party's leadership and is facing criminal charges in several cities of hurting religious sentiments.

Tirumurti said, "India has time and again emphasised that combating religiophobia can never succeed if it continues to be exclusionary and remains restricted to one or two religions only, while completely ignoring the rise in hatred and discrimination against non-Abrahamic religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism."

The Abrahamic religions are Judaism, Christianity and Islam, which trace their origins to the Jewish Prophet Abraham.

Tirumurti cited the attack by the Islamic State on a gurdwara in Kabul on Saturday, the very day designated by the General Assembly to combat hate speech.

"We condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly, dastardly attack where lives were tragically lost," he added.

A Sikh worshipper was killed in the attack on Gurdwara Karte Parwan, as was also a member of the ruling Taliban's forces trying to protect it.

It was also targeted with a car bomb that went off nearby.

The international reaction to it has been muted with the only notable condemnation of the attack coming from the UN Mission in Afghanistan.

"We firmly believe that a society based on principles of democracy and pluralism provides an enabling environment for diverse religions and communities to live together," Tirumurti said.

"Today, every one of the world's major religions has a home in India, making it a nation of unparalleled diversity. India has, over centuries, provided refuge to all, whether Zoroastrians or the Jewish community or Tibetan Buddhists or many from our own neighbourhood," he added.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative Munir Akram speaking on behalf of the OIC said that "denigration of Prophet Mohammad by India's ruling party's official" along with republishing cartoons of Mohammad by a French satirical publication and burning copies of the Quran in Sweden were "willful provocations and defamation of Islamic holy personalities and religious symbols".

He called them "gross abuse of the right of freedom of expression" that hurt the sensitivities of Muslims and "reinforce extremist sentiments".

UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid said, "Cyberspace and social media together with the proliferation of disinformation and fake news have aggravated the effects of hate speech to unprecedented heights."

"We cannot let the word 'speech' fool us: this trend has grave material consequences on the lives of those it targets and has particularly adverse effects on those most vulnerable," he added.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)

--IANS

arul/khz/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister is leading the International Day of Yoga celebrations from the heritage city of Mysuru in Karnataka. More than 15,000 people are participate in the Yoga celebrations along with the Prime Minister at the Mysore Palace grounds.

Karnataka | Prime Minister arrives at Mysuru Palace Ground where he will perform Yoga, along with others, on #InternationalDayOfYoga Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, CM Basavaraj Bommai and others are also present here. pic.twitter.com/cfj84smyB6  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2022

Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister on Monday said, "Tomorrow, June 21 will be marked as . Guided by the theme of 'Yoga For Humanity', let us make this Yoga Day a success and further popularise Yoga."

Tomorrow, 21st June will be marked as . Guided by the theme of Yoga For Humanity, let us make this Yoga Day a success and further popularise Yoga. https://t.co/UESTuNybNm  (@narendramodi) June 20, 2022

This year the theme for the celebration is "Yoga for humanity". The theme has been selected after much deliberation / consultation and it appropriately portrays, how during the peak of Covid-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the sufferings and in the emerging post-Covid geo-political scenario too, it will bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over.

Yoga brings peace for us. The peace from yoga is not merely for individuals. Yoga brings peace to our society. Yoga brings peace to our nations and the world. And, Yoga brings peace to our universe: PM @narendramodi  PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 21, 2022

ALSO READ - Intl Yoga Day: 75 union ministers to perform Yoga at 75 historical places A Buddhist monk from Ladakh is among the four recipients of the Prime Minister's Award for Outstanding Contribution towards the Development and Promotion of Yoga for the year 2021. According to the Ministry of Ayush, the Prime Minister's Award for Outstanding Contribution towards the Development and Promotion of Yoga, one of the most coveted honours in the field of Yoga, has been announced for the year 2021. The winners will be felicitated with a Trophy, Certificate and a Cash Award each. The value of each Cash Award would be Rs 25 lakh. What happening on 2022 The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will not charge any entry fee at the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and other monuments on the occasion of International Day of Yoga on June 21, an official said on Monday. Law Minister Kiren Rijiju will lead the International Day of Yoga celebrations in India's eastern-most village in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday. The Law Ministry said on Monday that Rijiju will lead the programme at Dong in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh. Dong experiences the first sunrise in India, thus earning it the nickname 'India's Land of the Rising Sun'. Keeping the overarching theme of the 75 years of India's independence the Ministry for Ayush has identified 75 locations for Union Ministers to participate in the Yoga Day celebration.

Union minister R K Singh will participate in a event being organised on the International Day of Yoga at world's oldest university site at Nalanda in Bihar, an official statement said on Monday. In a statement, the power ministry said, International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2022 is being celebrated this year marking Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Ministry of Ayush is observing the International Day of Yoga at 75 iconic locations across India. Yoga is the "perfect Indian hamper" for health, harmony and happiness in the world, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Sunday. The Minority Affairs Minister will perform Yoga with a large number of people from all sections of the society at 'Panch Mahal' in Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur Sikri on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia said that yoga has helped hundreds of millions of people from various countries and cultures during the COVID-19 pandemic in staying healthy as well as highlighted that yoga is for all of humanity.

On the eve of International Day of Yoga (IDY), WHO and its Member States in the South-East Asia Region lead global efforts to celebrate the physical and mental health benefits of yoga and its contributions to lifelong health and well-being.
The Kashmiri Pandit United Front (KPUF) urged the (UN) on Monday to declare as a "terrorist country" alleging that the neighbouring country continued to sponsor terrorism in Kashmir Valley.

On the occasion of World Refugee Day on Monday, the organisation staged a demonstration here and raised anti- slogans.

Satesh Kissu of the KPUF saiid, "We demand that the declare as a terrorist country as it continues to sponsor terrorism in the valley."



Unless Pakistan is declared as a terrorist country, terrorism cannot be stopped in Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

The Panun Kashmir also organised an event here on World Refugee Day.

Panun Kashmir chairman Ajay Chrungoo criticised the government over the recent killing of Kashmir Pandit community members in Kashmir Valley.

(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.)
Following the fractured verdict in the October 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, both the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and Opposition have been grappling with the 'numbers game' to secure their respective positions for the past 30 months.

In the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the mid-way mark is 144, while the current strength is 287 as one MLA Ramesh Latke of Mumbai, passed away recently.

Besides the MVA-BJP, there is a significant 29-strong group of MLAs who are independents or from smaller parties who have become important for both the ruling and opposition side.

The MVA strength is: (55), NCP (53) and Congress (44), and with the support of smaller parties and independents, the ruling alliance commands around 169 legislators.

The BJP has 106, plus the support of smaller parties and independents giving a strength of around 114.

The rest five are unattached to either group ostensibly to keep their 'political bargaining power' evergreen, as was witnessed in this months' biennial elections to both Rajya Sabha and Maharashtra Legislative Council.

In the ongoing crisis that has gripped the state, Shiv Sena's senior Minister Eknath Shinde has pitched tent in Surat, Gujarat -- ruled by the BJP -- and the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Shinde has reportedly gone away with an estimated dozen to two dozen legislators, which has posed a question mark on the MVA's very survival, though the Sena moved quickly to open up back-channel communication with a majority of the potential disgruntled rebels.

Given the BJP's past track record of toppling governments in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and other states earlier, the sudden yet un-declared 'Operation Lotus' has pushed the MVA government on the brink.

Battling the Shinde conflagration on one side, the MVA allies have also tried to herd and secure their respective legislators besides their supporting smaller parties and independents.

The MVA allies have kept a brave face and maintained that there's no immediate threat to the government, as indicated by Sena's Sanjay Raut and Congress' Prithviraj Chavan, Ashok Chavan and others.

Meanwhile, Shinde is likely to visit Ahmedabad later this evening to meet BJP President J.P. Nadda, Amit Shah, while Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis is also going there.

--IANS

qn/dpb

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
minister and senior leader Eknath Shinde has gone incommunicado, a party leader said on Tuesday, a day after the ruling Maha Vikas Agahdi (MVA) suffered a setback in the state polls by losing one out of the six seats it contested.

The development could rattle the MVA, comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, as some Sena MLAs are believed to be in touch with Shinde.

However, MP Sanjay Raut asserted that the Sena is a party of loyalists and attempts by the BJP, like in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, to topple the MVA government would not succeed.

He also said Shinde was a trusted Shiv Sainik, and that the 'missing' MLAs will be back after the party is able to reach out the them.

Earlier in the day, a Sena leader said Shinde, who wields influence in some of the satellite cities of Mumbai, may be in Gujarat along with some MLAs.

The leader did not divulge the number of MLAs who could be with Shinde and their details.

He (Shinde) was at the office in the Legislative Assembly premises on Monday when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was present there. But, no one knows about him after that. He was not present during the counting (for MLC polls), the leader said.

According to sources, Shinde along with some Sena MLAs was camping at a hotel in Gujarat's Surat city.

Meanwhile, Raut said "BJP's Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan pattern" to topple the MVA government will not succeed.

"Once we reach out to the missing MLAs, they will be back. Shinde is a trusted Shiv Sainik. The Shiv Sena is a party of loyalists and not those who fall to the lust of power and positions," he said.

Raut said if Shinde has any misunderstanding with the chief minister, it can be cleared

"I have spoken to (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar and other leaders of the MVA," Raut said.

There was normal activity outside Shinde's bungalow in neighbouring Thane city and attempts to reach out to his son failed.

The opposition BJP on Monday won all five seats it contested in the state for 10 seats, while Congress candidate and Dalit leader Chandrakant Handore lost, in another setback for the MVA after the Rajya Sabha polls earlier this month. Two candidates each of the Shiv Sena and NCP won, while the Congress managed to bag just one seat. Ten Council seats were up for grabs and 11 candidates were in the fray for the elections, which came days after the Rajya Sabha polls, which saw the BJP handing an embarrassing defeat to the Shiv Sena-led ruling coalition.

(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.)
From a junior assistant in the irrigation and power department in Odisha to the presidential candidate of the BJP-led NDA, it has been a long and arduous journey for tribal leader Droupadi Murmu.

If elected, Murmu will be India's first tribal President.

The announcement of Murmu's candidature by BJP president J P Nadda came a day after she celebrated her 64th birthday.

Born in the Santhal community, Murmu began her political career as a councillor in Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat in 1997 and rose through the ranks to become a minister in the Odisha government in 2000 and later the Governor of Jharkhand in 2015.

A two-term former MLA from Rairangpur, Murmu held on to her assembly seat in 2009 when the BJD had snapped ties with the BJP weeks ahead of the state elections which were swept by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Born on June 20, 1958, Murmu also holds the distinction of becoming the first woman Governor of Jharkhand. If elected, Murmu will also be the first president to be born after Independence.

Murmu took her baby steps struggling with poverty in one of the most remote and underdeveloped districts of the country.

Overcoming all odds, she earned her Bachelor's degree in Arts from Ramadevi Women's College in Bhubaneswar and served as a junior assistant in the irrigation and power department in the Odisha government.

Later, she also served as an honorary assistant teacher in the Shri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre in Rairangpur.

Murmu was awarded the Nilkanth Award for the Best MLA of the year in 2007 by the Odisha Legislative assembly.

She has diverse administrative experience having handled ministries such as transport, commerce, fisheries and animal husbandry in the Odisha government.

In the BJP, Murmu was the vice president and later president of the Scheduled Tribe Morcha in Odisha. She was elected as the district president of Mayurbhanj (West) unit of the BJP in 2010 and re-elected in 2013. She was also named as member of the BJP National Executive (ST Morcha) the same year.

She held the post of district president till April 2015 when she was appointed as the Governor of Jharkhand.

Murmu was married to Shyam Charan Murmu and they had two sons and a daughter. Her life has been marked with personal tragedies as she lost her husband and two sons.

Murmu's daughter Itishree is married to Ganesh Hembram.

(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 on Monday called the Agnipath' scheme pro youth saying that opposing it was not in the interest of the youngsters of the country.

Addressing party workers and leaders at Police ground here, Pradhan said that after serving in the army for four years, these youths would be accommodated in other forces and organisations.

The minister who holds education and skill development portfolios exhorted the party cadre to remain vigilant against the evil designs of the opposition parties, which, he said, were bent on exploiting the youngsters against the ruling party.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, and several other leaders of the party participated in the day-long sammelan.

(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.)
With the cooling down of as the spreads across the country, power demand has fallen by 12.5 per cent from the start of this month till Monday.

Peak power demand of the country had touched a record of 210 Gw last week, mostly due to rising temperatures and opening up of the .

Compared with the beginning of this month, almost all states have seen a fall in power demand.

Punjab, however, is an exception where the power demand on Monday was 17 per cent higher than on June 1.

This could be due to extensive use of pumps by farmers to water their paddy fields ahead of the sowing season starting on June 15.

Power demand had shot up due to severe and temperatures touching 48 degrees Celsius in several parts of the country.

Coupled with coal demand supply mismatch, several states also resorted to power cuts to manage the situation.

Though rains have picked up, hydro power is yet to increase its contribution to the basket.



Hydro for the past 20 days is in the range of 450-500 million units per day. Coal-based power continues to be the major supplier.

Meanwhile, the rains continued to march forward over the central and northern parts of the country and till June 21, and the cumulative all- deficit was just 2 per cent below normal. In the first 10 days of this month it was over 40 per cent below normal.

The sedate start of the 2022 southwest had triggered fears about the performance of the rains, which also delayed sowing of kharif crops in several parts of the country.

But with the rains recovering strongly the past few days, sowing of kharif crops is expected to pick up pace.

The pullback in southwest monsoon during the past 10 days has been largely led by East and North-East India, where the cumulative in the first 21 days of 2022 southwest monsoon has been 43 per cent above normal.

Pre-monsoon showers in the central and northern parts of the country also contributed to narrowing down the overall deficit. (see chart)

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its latest weather forecast that scattered to fairly widespread is expected over the plains of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan during next 24 hours and could reduce thereafter.

That apart, scattered to fairly widespread with thunderstorms or lightning is very likely over Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh during next five days.
Five years of GST: Indirect tax reformed, but there's still some way to go

(GST) was introduced five years ago to do away with a plethora of Central and state taxes in the hope of taking India to a transparent one nation one tax system and ushering in greater cooperative federalism. Read More

India facing twin deficit problem due to commodity prices, subsidy: FinMin

The finance ministry on Monday cautioned the re-emergence of the twin deficit problem in the economy, with higher commodity prices and rising subsidy burden leading to an increase in both fiscal deficit and current account deficit. Its also the first time the government has explicitly talked about the possibility of fiscal slippage in the current fiscal year. Read More





Govt extends telecom PLI scheme by a year, ups incentive by Rs 4,000 cr

The government has extended the productivity-linked incentive scheme for the telecom industry by another year and has expanded its scope to cover design-led manufacturing. The Centre will provide additional incentives of over Rs 4,000 crore under the amended scheme. Read More

2022: PM Modi leads celebrations from Mysuru

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the International Day of Yoga celebrations from the heritage city of Mysuru in Karnataka. More than 15,000 people are participate in the Yoga celebrations along with the Prime Minister at the Mysore Palace grounds. Read More

Agnipath scheme: Three service chiefs likely to call on PM Modi on Tuesday

The three service chiefs are likely to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi separately on Tuesday to brief him about the Agnipath scheme as well as their plan for its implementation. Read More
Top headlines at this hour: Former union minister is the joint opposition's candidate in India's presidential election. An analysis of post-service recruitment under the Agnipath scheme, Chris Wood Jefferies's take on Indian stock markets and more.



is Opposition consensus candidate for presidential election

Yashwant Sinha, a former minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government, was on Tuesday named the Oppositions presidential candidate in election next month. "In the forthcoming Presidential elections, we have decided to elect a common candidate and stop the Modi government from doing further damage. At a subsequent meeting held today we have chosen as a common candidate. We appeal to all political parties to vote for Yashwant Sinha," said Jairam Ramesh, Congress's communication chief. Read more...

Saving money to skilling soldiers: Agnipath's bold battle plan for military

Frustrated job-seekers are rioting in the streets over the governments announcement of the Agnipath Yojana. This transformative measure, imposed by the government without warning, is intended to change the recruitment pattern of soldiers from the current long-service, 15-year contract that culminates in a lifelong pension; to a mainly short-service contract that will see soldiers serving for four years, after which most go home without a pension. Read more...

Will buy Indian stocks if Nifty drops to around 14,000 levels: Chris Wood

Markets have found it tough to cling on to higher ground. CHRISTOPHER WOOD, global head of equity strategy at Jefferies advises that investors should look to sell stocks on a rally in the short-term. What will see the markets rally is a sudden end to the Russia  Ukraine conflict as it will ease supply pressure across commodities, he tells Puneet Wadhwa in an interview. Read more...

Skincare start-up eyes $3 bn valuation in 2023 IPO: Report

Sequoia Capital-backed Indian skincare startup is in talks to raise at least $300 million in a planned IPO next year and is seeking a valuation of around $3 billion, three people with direct knowledge of the company's plans told Reuters. Founded in 2016, has become popular in India with its range of "toxin-free" products such as face washes, shampoos and hair oils. It competes with Unilever's India unit, Hindustan Unilever, and Procter & Gamble Co in the booming personal care industry. Read more...

Non-banks not allowed to load credit lines on prepaid wallets, cards: RBI

In a move that could impact a number of fintech players, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked non-bank prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) issuers to not load their PPI instruments through credit lines. In a circular addressed to the non-bank PPI issuers, the RBI said, The PPI- master direction does not permit loading of PPIs from credit lines. Such practice, if followed, should be stopped immediately. Any non-compliance in this regard may attract penal action under provisions contained in the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. Read more...
Indian Youth workers on Monday stopped a train at the Shivaji Bridge railway station near Connaught Place here to protest against the questioning of party leader by the ED and to push for their demand for a rollback of the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme.

The track was cleared by police and security personnel and train movement resumed after about half-an-hour disruption, sources said.

Police said a group of IYC protesters had gathered at the Shivaji Bridge railway station They stopped a train there after coming on the railway tracks from where they were removed later.

Initially, 16 protesters were detained as police personnel tried to remove them from the tracks and the station, a senior police official, adding they were arrested later.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways) Harendra K Singh said on Monday, train number 12439 Nanded Express was stopped at Shivaji Bridge Railway station at about 11.18 am by Youth Workers to protest against Agniveer Scheme of the government and interrogation of leader by the .

"ACP Railways and SHO Railway Station along with staff reached at the spot, and in coordination with RPF, the agitating people were removed from the track. The train resumed thereafter. However, other trains were moving on the other tracks without any obstructions," he said.

"Fifteen males and one female have been arrested and a case has been registered by RPF under section 174 A (by squatting or picketing or during any rail room agitation or bandh) and 147 Railway Act at railway police station," Singh added.

In a tweet, the IYC said, "Members of the youth Congress stopped the train at Shivaji Bridge while demonstrating against illegal investigation of Shri by ED and ''Agnipath Scheme'' of Central government."



The organisation's president, Srinivas B V, said the IYC will keep fighting for the unemployed youth of the country.

"The government needs to rollback the Agniveer scheme. Youth Congress will fight for the unemployed youth of this country who want to serve the country. The IYC stopped the train in Delhi to attract the attention of the autocratic government," he said.

IYC members also staged a protest at the nearby Connaught Place.

Gandhi on Monday appeared before the ED for the fourth day of questioning in the Herald money laundering case.

Protests have erupted in various parts of the country after the Centre unveiled the Agnipath scheme last Tuesday to recruit youngsters aged between 17.5 and 21 in the army, navy and air force, largely on a four-year contractual basis. It later relaxed the upper age limit for this year's recruitment to 23.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After suspected cross-voting in MLC elections, Chief Minister has called an urgent meeting of all MLAs on Tuesday.

According to sources, all MLAs have been strictly asked to remain present in the meeting. Meanwhile, Bal Thackeray loyalist Eknath Shinde will be addressing a press conference in Surat today noon.

Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate from Congress Chandrakant Handore had lost in the MLS polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged five seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and won two each while Congress was able to clinch one seat out of the total 10 seats in (MLC) that went to polls on Monday.

Taking to Twitter, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said, " Vidhan Parishad election results - (Mafia Sena) got 52 votes. 12 MLA's revolted (55 Shiv Sena + 9 supporters = 64) Uddhav Thackeray's Mafia Sarkar's count down started."

As many as eleven candidates were in the fray for the to the ten seats in the MLC. All the five candidates of the BJP -- Pravin Darekar, Ram Shinde, Shrikant Bharatiya, Uma Khapre and Prasad Lad emerged victorious. NCP candidates-- Ramraje Nimbalkar and Eknath Khadse-- and the Shiv Sena nominees- Aamshya Padavi and Sachin Ahir also secured their seats. Of the two candidates fielded by Congress, Bhai Jagtap secured the win while Chandrakant Handore lost.

BJP's winning candidate claimed that cross-voting happened among members of Shiv Sena and Congress.

"We are very happy. Maharashtra has shown faith in the BJP. Cross-voting happened among members of Shiv Sena and Congress. Otherwise, we would not have received so many votes. BJP will get more victory and received 134 votes," said BJP leader Pravin Darekar.

He further said that independent MLAs have shown their dissatisfaction with the state government.

"We got 134 votes and this is the answer to all those who questioned what Devendra Fadnavis can do? Devendra Fadnavis is the only leader who can lead, which all the three parties could not do. Devendra has done it, the government cannot do anything and dissatisfaction has been shown against the government, independent MLAs have shown their dissatisfaction against the state government. We have proved this in the poll result," he said.

Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam had pointed out that Handore was lost due to "internal sabotage".

"It is really unfortunate that a Dalit candidate Chandrakant Handore who was supposed to get first preference votes of Congress MLAs lost to the second preference candidate of the Congress party. It is nothing but internal sabotage. My sympathy is with Handore," he said in a tweet.

BJP general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh had said that his party has 106 MLAs in Assembly and it has received 133 votes.

"Maharashtra Council Polls: Shiv Sena-MLAs in Assembly: 56, Votes received: 52; NCP- MLAs in Assembly: 53, Votes received: 57; Congress- MLAs in Assembly: 44, Votes received: 41; BJP- MLAs in Assembly: 106, Votes received: 133," he tweeted.

He further took a dig at Congress and said, "Even in defeat, Congress exhibits its true colours. Its moneybag candidate Bhai Jagtap poaches party votes to defeat a Dalit leader from party Chandrakant Handore. Old habits die hard."

The Members of the Assembly voted in the at Vidhan Bhawan in Mumbai on Monday.

The BJP has 106 MLAs, Shiv Sena 56, NCP 53 and Congress has 44 MLAs. A total of 285 members cast their votes in the MLC polls.

Former Home Ministers Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik, who are in judicial custody in money-laundering cases were not allowed to vote.

(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.)
Battling a crisis in the government, the leaders are likely to skip the meeting on Tuesday to finalise their joint candidate for the Presidential election.

Senior party leader Sanjay Raut was scheduled to attend the meeting convened by Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, but "he has cancelled his visit to Delhi," a party functionary said.

The government is facing a crisis after senior leader Eknath Shinde went incommunicado with 10 party MLAs in tow.

Shinde is learnt to be in Gujarat's Surat, apparently upset with being sidelined by the party.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The countrys largest private lender is planning to facilitate a shift in its payments module from the existing core platform. This would ensure minimal payments downtime, even if core is not available.

This 15-month project will be followed by hollowing the customer-master modules from its existing core systems. It will ensure a single system of record for customers across various products, said Sashidhar Jagdishan, managing director (MD) & chief executive officer (CEO), in the annual report for 2021-22.

The bank has partnered a new-age start-up to set up new core modules and the project will aid in setting up a fully-resilient active payments architecture, Jagdishan said in the report.

Jagdishan also stated that it was imperative for the lender to have a long-term vision on overhauling core banking and mobile experiences.

The CEOs comments come in the wake of a series of technical glitches that plagued over the last couple of years. The issue had attracted action from the (RBI).

In December 2020, the had directed to temporarily halt all digital launches as well as new sourcing of credit card customers, following various outages the bank faced due to technical glitches in the past two years.

HDFC Banks customers faced incidents of outages in internet banking, mobile banking, and utilities of the bank.

In August 2021, the regulator had partially lifted the ban by allowing the bank to issue new credit cards. However, it had continued the embargo on its digital activities, planned under the Digital 2.0 programme. Subsequently, in March 2022, all the restrictions were lifted.

Acknowledging the regulatory action, Jagdishan said in the annual report that HDFC Bank had created an Enterprise Factory. Through this, the lenders technology and digital teams would function in a new-age start-up like environment and co-create deep tech IP (Internet Protocol) capabilities.

Stating that this was a departure from the past where the banks technology IP was largely partner-owned, Jagdishan said as become more digital, they would need to have in-house foundational technology capabilities to compete with neo-techs.



To this end, the bank has set up a new centre in Bengaluru that is rewriting mobile and net-banking platforms. The project has a time-frame of two years. HDFC Bank will also roll out new features every three to four weeks in line with digital fintech companies, Jagdishan said.

Talking about plans under the Digital 2.0 initiative, Jagdishan said over the next few quarters, the bank would launch more products and services. These include a new payments platform for merchants and a wealth platform. All the steps would be taken in partnership with new-age technology firms, he said.

He added, We have made rapid strides in creating the foundation and enabling new digital assets over the last one year. The pace will only pick up from here.

Merger optimism

According to Jagdishan, the merger between HDFC and HDFC Bank represents an opportunity that the lender cannot afford to miss.

In April, HDFC and HDFC Bank had announced the all-stock merger deal.

Only 2 per cent of HDFC Banks customers source home loans from the lender while 5 per cent do so from other institutions, he said.

The latter represents the size of HDFC Banks retail book, Jagdishan said. He added that home loan customers typically keep deposits worth 5 to 7 times that of other retail clients.

...about 70 per cent of HDFC customers do not bank with us. All these give us an idea about the size of the opportunity, he said.

With HDFC Bank being one of the largest consumer durables financiers in India, the lender can easily bundle such loans with home loans. These actions would give a boost to margins, Jagdishan said.

He also said, With the advantage of a lower cost of funds and the phenomenal distribution muscle that we have built, it is imperative that we seize this opportunity.

Amid the renewed focus on digital banking, Jagdishan also emphasised the role of branch banking. He called it the fulcrum of customer relationships and a key deposit mobilisation engine.

HDFC Bank plans to double its network of 6,000 plus branches in the next three-five years by opening 1,500 to 2,000 branches every year. The branches will be digital from a customer on-boarding and transaction/servicing perspective. They would enable the bank to build the required liability franchise, he said.
In a move that could impact a number of fintech players, the (RBI) has asked non-bank prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) issuers to not load their PPI instruments through credit lines.

In a circular addressed to the non-bank PPI issuers, the RBI said, The PPI- master direction does not permit loading of PPIs from credit lines. Such practice, if followed, should be stopped immediately. Any non-compliance in this regard may attract penal action under provisions contained in the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.



PPIs are instruments that facilitate purchase of goods and services, conduct of financial services, enable remittance facilities, etc., against the value stored therein. According to RBI, there are over 35 non-bank PPI issuers in the country, including the likes of Amazon Pay, Bajaj Finance, Ola Financial Services, PayU Payments Pvt Ltd, Phone Pe Pvt Ltd, among others.

This circular by the RBI is likely to impact those fintech players who offer credit lines to customers via their wallets in association with non-banking players. It may also affect fintechs who are issuing prepaid cards in association with a banking partner or a non-banking partner.

Suresh Ganapathy, associate director, Macquarie Capital, said, Based on our understanding and interpretation of the circular, it could impact players like Slice, Unicards etc. who have been adding a lot of customers through this route.

The positive impact is naturally on with a large credit card base. Also, many were using their Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) platforms and their PPI license like loading customer wallets with credit and showing wallet balanceThat all will now be questionedFor example  PayTM postpaid, he said.

Some of the new generation players were adding closer to 200,000-300,000 cards using PPI license and loading the wallets of consumers using credit lines from NBFCs, etc. The main purpose of a PPI license is to act as a payment instrument and not as a credit instrument and we believe many fintechs were using it as a channel to load credit. Many customers were also unknowingly taking a line of credit through their wallets at the point of check-out. Some of these practices havent gone down well with the regulator in our view, said Macquarie Research in a note.

We believe this regulation could significantly impact the business of the Fintechs involved in this business and would be advantageous to as they can further accelerate card, it added.

Rajan Bajaj, Founder & CEO, Slice, told Business Standard, We are committed to be on the right side of regulation in letter and spirit and are working with our partner bank on this.

"All buy now pay later products in India works on PPI. And, the whole fintech lending ecosystem in India works on the principal of credit lines through wallets and built on top of PPIs. If this notification is binding on everyone, then what the RBI is essentially saying is, if you are not a bank you cannot lend on any digital payment mode. This is a very drastic read of the situation. The conclusion we can draw is RBI is saying do not give an infinite line of credit when you are disbursing to PPIs, said Sandeep Srinivasa, Co-founder, RedCarpet.



As per the master directions, PPIs are permitted to be loaded/ reloaded by cash, debit to a bank account, credit and debit cards, PPIs, and other payment instruments issued by regulated entities in India. However, the guidelines do not permit credit lines to top up these instruments.
Ukrainian Education Minister Serhiy Shkarlet said that some 900 teachers have joined the country's armed forces so far since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Kiev.

Speaking to local media on Monday, Shkarlet said that among the 900, 513 are qualified teachers and another 377 are still studying for their teaching qualifications, reports Ukrayinska Pravda.

"We are proud of each and every one of them, we have people who have joined the Armed Forces of in the Ministry of Education, too," he was quoted as saying.

The Minister also talked about the availability of bomb shelters in schools, which are supposed to resume in-person classes on September 1.

Out of all schools, 25 per cent have equipped bomb shelters which will allow students to attend school in person, according to Shkarlet.

"As of today, and depending on the security situation at the time, the school year is set to begin on September 1. Everyone is tired of online teaching, but active hostilities continue in eight of the oblasts (regions). It is impossible to resume in-person classes in the areas near the frontline," Ukrayinska Pravda quoted the Minister as further saying.

He noted that it is the responsibility of school founders, in most cases the local governments, to ensure the availability of adequate bomb shelters in each school.

Earlier, the Ministry of Education and Science said that some Ukrainian schools will have to organise in-person teaching in shifts because the bomb shelters might not be able to accommodate all of their students at once.

--IANS

ksk/

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The aviation industry is desperately hoping for a turnaround after two bad years for business, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. However, when travel did resume, the airlines found themselves underprepared.

Reports came in yesterday that Tata Group-owned Ltd would order as many as 300 narrowbody jets, in what could be one of the largest orders in commercial aviation history. The carrier may order Airbus SEs A320neo family jets or Boeing Co.s 737 Max models, or a mix of both. A deal for 300 737 Max-10 jets could be worth $40.5 billion at sticker prices, although discounts are common in such large purchases.

Since is planning to expand its fleet size and by extension its flight operations and revenue, it is worth finding out the top airlines in these segments.

Top airlines of the world: By Revenue

Revenue generation has been an issue for most airlines across the globe. The aviation sector became one of the worst hit due to the pandemic. Revenues went down as and domestic flights were banned. Anyhow, here are the top airlines on the basis of revenue. Amrican Airlines and share the honours.

Top airlines by revenue (As of March 2022)

American Airlines: $29.9 billion (USA)

Delta Air Lines: $29.9 billion (USA)

United Airlines: $24.6 billion (USA)

China Southern Airlines: $16.4 billion (China)

Lufthansa: $15.4 billion (Germany)

Top airlines of the world: By flights

Airlines become popular among customer if they have more frequency. The airline that has more flights annually is bound to be preferred by passengers.

Here are the top airlines by flights. American Airlines is the winner.

Top airlines by flights (flights per annum)

American Airlines: 179,582

Delta Air Lines: 135,629

United Airlines: 126,129

Southwest Airlines: 106,325

China Eastern Airlines: 69,934

Top airlines of the world: By fleet size

An airline with high number of flights per annum needs to have more aircraft. The size of the fleet plays a big role in airline's annual flights and revenues. Here are the top airlines by fleet size. American Airlines beats the competition by some distance.

Top airlines by fleet size

American Airlines: 956 aircraft

Delta Air Lines: 879 aircraft

Southwest Airlines: 749 aircraft

United Airlines: 765 aircraft

Ryanair: 439 aircraft

Top airlines of the world: By passengers carried

The fleet size and annual flights contribute to the number of passengers an airline would cater to annually. Airlines invest in buying more aircraft so that they can serve more passengers. Here are the top airlines by passengers carried. American Airlines wins the race here, yet again.

Top airlines by passengers carried (in million)

American Airlines Group: 215.18

Delta Air Lines: 204.00

Southwest Airlines: 162.68

United Airlines: 162.44

Ryanair Ireland: 152.4

Top airlines of the world: By countries served

Despite the size of the fleet, revenue generated, or the number of annual flights, there are some airlines that just pop up on the list when it comes to serving more nations. Here are the top airlnes with most nations served. Turkish Airlines comes out on the top.

Top airlines by countries served
will provide a 22 million Australian dollar for emergency food assistance to hit Sri Lanka, a release said.

This was revealed during the visit of the Australian Minister of Home Affairs Clare O'Neil on Monday. She met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

We will contribute an immediate $22 million to the World Food Programme for emergency food assistance to help three million people in meet their daily nutritional needs. will also provide $23 million in development assistance to in 2022-23," a release said.

It will support health services, and economic recovery with a strong emphasis on protecting those at risk, especially women and girls, the release said.

"These contributions are in addition to $5 million recently provided to United Nations agencies for Sri Lanka, the release 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.)
A Japanese court ruled Monday that the country's ban on same-sex marriage does not violate the constitution, and rejected demands for compensation by three couples who said their right to free union and equality has been violated.

The Osaka District Court ruling is the second decision on the issue, and disagrees with a ruling last year by a Sapporo court that found the ban on unconstitutional.

It underscores how divisive the issue remains in Japan, the only member of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations that does not recognize same-sex unions.

In its ruling, the Osaka court rejected the plaintiffs' demand for 1 million yen ($7,400) in damages per couple for discrimination they face.

The plaintiffs two male couples and one female couple were among 14 same-sex couples who filed lawsuits against the government in five major cities Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Osaka in 2019 for violating rights to free union and equality.

They argued that they have been illegally discriminated against by being deprived of the same economic and legal benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy through marriage.

Support for sexual diversity has grown slowly in Japan, but legal protections are still lacking for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. people often face discrimination at school, work and at home, causing many to hide their sexual identities.

Rights groups had pushed for passage of an equality act ahead of last summer's Tokyo Olympics, when attention was focused on Japan, but the bill was quashed by the conservative governing party.

The Osaka court on Monday said freedom of marriage in the 1947 constitution only means male-female unions and does not include those of the same sex, and therefore banning is not unconstitutional.

Judge Fumi Doi said marriage for heterosexual couples is a system established by society to protect a relationship between men and women who bear and raise children, and that ways to protect same-sex relationships are still undergoing public debate.

The court, however, urged the parliament to seek methods to better protect same-sex relationships, including options to legalize same-sex marriage.

Monday's ruling was a setback for activists who were hoping to further pressure the government after the ruling by the Sapporo district court in March 2021.

The plaintiffs and their lawyers called Monday's ruling unacceptable and said they would appeal.

Akiyoshi Tanaka, a plaintiff, said at a news conference that they took legal action to obtain backing from the judicial process for parliament to take action, but "the court stayed away from making a decision."



He said he will keep fighting. "We don't have time to feel discouraged," he added.

Public opinion in currently favors legalizing same-sex marriage.

Under current rules in Japan, same-sex couples cannot inherit each other's property, house or other assets they share, and have no parental rights over each other's children. They are often barred from renting apartments together, and from hospital visits and other services available to married couples.

More than 200 municipalities across Japan, or 12% of the total, have begun issuing non-legally binding partnership certificates to same-sex couples since Tokyo's Shibuya district became the first to do so in 2015.

The Tokyo metropolitan government recently adopted a plan to accept registrations starting in October from sexual-minority couples seeking certificates of their partnerships.

Still, this is not the same as a marriage certificate and does not provide equal legal protection.

Taiwan is the only Asian nation or territory that has legalized same-sex marriage.

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The European Union's top diplomat said on Monday he has written to all African foreign ministers to explain that the bloc's sanctions on are not responsible for the looming global food crisis, and pledged to work out ways for exports of food and fertilisers to reach their continent.

The EU has not banned exports of Russian food or fertilizers to non-EU nations as part of its sanctions package.

Earlier this month, the chairman of the African Union, Senegal's President Macky Sall, told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the fighting in Ukraine and Western sanctions had worsened food shortages, and appealed to other countries to ensure grain and fertilizer exports from and Ukraine aren't blocked.

is blockading Ukrainian exports," Josep Borrell said after a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs ministers. Not us. Russia is destroying ports, and destroying food stocks, destroying transport infrastructure."



Russia's war against Ukraine has been preventing some 20 million tons of Ukrainian grain from getting to the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia.

Borrell said it is a deliberate attempt (by Russia) to create hunger in the world," adding that the Kremlin's attempt to blame Western sanctions for the crisis was just propaganda."



Sall also complained that the collateral effects of the EU decision to expel many Russian banks from the SWIFT financial messaging system will hurt African countries' ability to make payments for food imports.

Borrell said he understands the concerns of African leaders about the consequences of EU sanctions.

If there is a problem, we will solve it," he said. But I have to know the problem. Not the whole financial system of Russia is de-Swifted."



Meanwhile, Borrell said the bloc is ready to look into whether sanctions imposed on Belarus before the war targeting exports of potash a common fertilizer ingredient can affect its distribution across the world.

In addition, Borrell said the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, will send letters to all financial and economic actors to explain what they can do under the sanctions regime.

Because our sanctions don't forbid them to participate on the trade on food, fertilizers with Russia and third countries," he said.

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Beijings was slammed in May as it contended with Covid outbreaks, a sign that government curbs to contain the virus still had a significant impact even though it managed to avoid a citywide lockdown like Shanghais.



Retail sales in the city fell about 26% in May from a year earlier, data from the municipal statistics bureau showed. Thats worse than any other provincial-level jurisdiction that has published monthly data so far except for Shanghai, where spending plunged some 37%.





Workers wear protective equipment before entering a neighborhood placed under lockdown in Beijing, on May 31. (Photo: Bloomberg)

Industrial output in the capital city dropped nearly 40% in May, worse than Shanghais almost 28% drop. blamed the decline on the Covid outbreaks and a high base from last year, according to a statement from the statistics bureau. benefited from central government encouragement to keep factories running during the lockdown.

Also Read: China budget deficit hits record high amid tax rebates, Covid pain



About 14 of Chinas 31 provinces and cities have published some May activity data so far, with economic powerhouses including Jiangsu and Guangdong yet to release their figures. The data are based on government statistics and on calculations by Bloomberg News.

The figures suggest that while didnt impose a hard lockdown that confined every resident to their homes in the way did, the capitals own strict virus curbs still dealt a heavy blow to the . has rolled out mandatory Covid testing for many residents, business closures and sporadic lockdowns to contain virus flare-ups, depressing consumer spending and other economic activity.

Beijing and contribute a sizable portion of the nations gross domestic product: 3.5% and 3.8%, respectively, in 2021. That makes any prolonged economic downturn a major concern for a country that has targeted growth of about 5.5% for this year. Many economists think China will miss that target, with the median estimate at 4.3% growth for 2022.

Already there was some improvement in Shanghai in May, where lockdown measures were gradually eased ahead of Junes reopening. While the stayed in contraction, the decline in industrial output narrowed from a 62% drop in April, and the decline in retail sales was smaller than Aprils 48%. However, both Shanghai and Beijing walked back the unraveling of some restrictions in June to contain Covid outbreaks.

The economic downturn has also stretched to fixed-asset investment in Beijing, which grew only 2.8% from January to May -- far behind the 6.2% national increase. That was also the second-worst reading among the economies that published data so far, behind Shanghai, which saw investment plummet 21.2% in the period.
Chinese envoy calls for lifting of South Sudan sanctions

Xinhua) 08:51, June 21, 2022

UNITED NATIONS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called for the lifting of sanctions imposed by the Security Council as well as unilateral sanctions against South Sudan.

The transitional period in South Sudan will end next year. It is hoped that all parties in South Sudan will sustain the current momentum and move in a steady and orderly manner to achieve the objectives set out for their transitional political structure, security arrangements, and economic reform, said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

With regard to the unique challenges facing the country in implementing the revitalized peace agreement, the international community should maintain the necessary patience and help the country overcome practical difficulties rather than keep exerting excessive pressure, criticizing it, and imposing sanctions, he told the Security Council.

The council should respond to the appeal of the African Union and lift the arms embargo on South Sudan as soon as possible. An increasing number of Security Council members do not support the current sanctions regime on South Sudan, he said.

"The United States keeps piling up unilateral sanctions on other countries, inflicting tremendous harm on the people of those countries. Sanctions should not be instrumentalized for political ends. Double standards should be abandoned," said Dai.

The intercommunal conflicts in South Sudan have a long history and should be addressed by multiple means such as prevention, mediation, dialogue, and development. The UN secretary-general's report on South Sudan points out that these conflicts mainly stem from competition for resources. The international community should help South Sudan grow its economy, improve livelihoods, and eliminate the root causes of conflicts, he said.

South Sudan's economic reform achieved certain results and the macro-economic situation remains relatively stable. However, humanitarian needs remain large and food insecurity is acute, affecting an estimated 7.7 million South Sudanese this year, he said.

"We call on the international community to maintain and increase aid to South Sudan, and maintain and scale up contributions to UN humanitarian and development agencies. At the same time, the international community should also focus on helping South Sudan strengthen its own development and capacity-building, fully respect its ownership in economic development, unleash its potential in agriculture, energy, infrastructure and other fields, and help the people of South Sudan achieve self-reliance at an early date," said Dai.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun)
New Delhi, June 21: The family of former chief Pervez has said that since there is no proper treatment available at home, there is no immediate possibility of shifting him to Pakistan.

The family took to Twitter to issue a statement saying that since 'an uninterrupted supply and administration of experimental drug Daratumumab needed alongside associated treatment of Amyloidosis that are currently not available in Pakistan,' it was not easy to take a call on Musharraf's return from Dubai where he is undergoing treatment.

family, which is attending on him in Dubai, acknowledged that they have been assured by the Pakistani government and the military establishment would facilitate the former President's smooth return.

'Communications have been received from official and unofficial channels that (Musharraf's) return home will be facilitated. We sincerely appreciate these overtures since Pakistan is home.'

is suffering from amyloidosis -- a rare disease in which an abnormal protein called amyloid builds up in organs and tissues throughout the body. The build-up of amyloid proteins (deposits) can make it difficult for the organs and tissues to work properly.

According to the family, Musharraf has been hospitalised for the last three weeks in Dubai due to complications of his ailment. However, the family had refuted reports that he was on ventilator.

'Going through a difficult stage where recovery is not possible and organs are malfunctioning. Pray for ease in his daily living,' the family had said in a tweet.

Last week his arch rival, the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had asked his younger brother and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif to facilitate the return of the ailing military dictator from Dubai.

'I have no personal enmity or animosity towards Pervez Musharraf. I don't want anyone else to suffer the traumas I have to endure for my loved ones. I pray to Allah Almighty for their health. If they want to come back, the government should provide facilities,' the three-time former premier Nawaz Sharif wrote on his Twitter post on Tuesday.

Sharif's warm-hearted gesture came after the Pakistani military establishment said that its top leadership wanted to bring its ailing former chief who has been living in Dubai since 2016, back to Pakistan in deference to his wish of spending his last days peacefully in Pakistan.

The former premier Nawaz Sharif had to live in exile in Saudi Arabia for a decade after Musharraf deposed him in 1999.

After the 1999 coup, Sharif was convicted of corruption and given a life sentence for hijacking, relating to his refusal to allow landing rights to an airliner carrying Musharraf.

It was Saudi Arabia who pressed for a deal in 2000 which allowed Sharif to go into exile in Saudi Arabia for 10 years. Sharif denied any agreement but said on Saturday he had believed his exile would be five years.

According to media reports, the 78-year-old former dictator's family had approached the Pakistani army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa that Musharraf wanted to spend his last days in his 'beloved' Pakistan. Gen. Bajwa granted permission immediately and the former military leader was expected to return to Pakistan via an air ambulance and his treatment would continue in the country after the ex-dictator's health deteriorated.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

--indianarrative

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Former US President took a jibe at incumbent who recently fell off his bicycle near his vacation home in the US state of Delaware.

"I hope [Biden] has recovered because as you know, he fell off his bicycle. No, I'm serious. I hope he's okay. Fell off a bicycle. I make this pledge to you today - I will never, ever ride a bicycle," Trump said during one of his rallies on the America Freedom Tour.

He was quoted as saying by The Hill.

This dig comes as Trump has repeatedly teased a US presidential bid in 2024 since leaving the White House last year. Recently, in an interview, he said that he was "very close to making a decision" on another campaign.

Earlier on Saturday, Biden took a tumble off his bike as he took a ride near his vacation home in Delaware. His security crowded the 79-year-old US President and helped him get upright.

"I'm good," Biden said, telling pool reporters that he had had trouble taking his biking shoes out of the pedals.

"As the President said, his foot got caught on the pedal while dismounting and he is fine. No medical attention is needed. The President looks forward to spending the rest of the day with his family," a White House official said.

Last month, Biden nearly fell walking up the stairs of Air Force One.

A similar incident took place last year in Atlanta when Biden stumbled on the plane's steps three times. He then blamed the widely seen spills on gusts of wind.

Biden was in Delaware with his wife to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The US President is spending the weekend in Rehoboth Beach.

In recent days, the former US President Trump increased attacks on the House select committee investigating the January 6 riots at the Capitol, calling it a "theatrical production of partisan political fiction."

Dismissing the hearings as a "witch hunt", Trump has increased focus on the hearings, highlighting how the potential threat the committee's findings could pose to a re-election bid in 2024.

According to The Hill, even Biden, who has seen his approval rating plummet to record lows in recent months, is shown to be competitive when pitted against Trump in a re-rematch.

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Israel's fragile coalition government will vote to dissolve the parliament next week, announced Israel's Prime Minister's Office on Monday, sending the country to the fifth in three years.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his main coalition partner Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid decided to present a bill to dissolve the parliament next Monday, the office said in a statement.

Once the parliament approves the bill, Lapid, leader of the centrist party of Yesh Atid, will rotate with Bennett and serves as interim prime minister until the next government is established, the office said.

The are expected to take place in October, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported.

"Citizens of Israel, we stand before you today in a difficult moment, but with the understanding that we have made the right decision for the people of Israel," Bennett said in a joint statement alongside Lapid, which was broadcast live on the country's main TV channels.

Bennett noted that he and Lapid decided on the move in the wake of their failure to pass regulations that provides protections to Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.

The regulations will expire at the end of June, but the opposition, mostly composed of pro-settler parties, voted against a government-sponsored bill to extend them in order to force the coalition to resign.

Bennett, leader of the pro-settler party of Yamina, said he held a series of consultations with judicial and security officials on Friday that made him realize that the expiration of the regulation will create "horrible damages."

He said the coalition "left no stone unturned" in an attempt to raise enough votes to pass the bill in the parliament, but the efforts were "fruitless."

Bennett and Lapid have struggled to keep together the shaky coalition of eight parties since its establishment last year, but a series of defections left it without a majority in the parliament for more than two months.

Last week, Nir Orbach, a lawmaker with Bennett's Yamina party, announced he was resigning from the coalition because it had failed in "lifting Israelis' spirits."

After his leave, the coalition was left with only 59 seats in the 120-seat parliament. Other lawmakers also threatened to rebel.

Bennett's coalition was inaugurated in June 2021, after a string of inconclusive . It is made of parties with diverse ideologies, including pro-settler nationalists and dovish parties, united only with the goal of ousting longtime leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

The move threw a political lifeline to Bennett's predecessor Netanyahu, who is now the leader of the opposition and facing a criminal trial over corruption charges.

The leader of the right-wing Likud party celebrated the fall of the government, saying on Monday in a video statement that he and his opposition colleagues "struggled for a year" to topple the government.

"I and my friends will establish a new government ... that will restore the national pride of the people of Israel," he vowed.

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It's only been a month since acknowledged having an COVID-19 outbreak, after steadfastly denying any cases for more than two years. But already it may be preparing to declare victory.

According to state media, has avoided the mass deaths many expected in a nation with one of the world's worst health care systems, little or no access to vaccines, and what outsiders see as a long record of ignoring the suffering of its people.

Daily updates from official media make it appear inevitable that the nation will completely defeat a virus that has killed more than 6 million people around the world. According to the official tally, cases are plummeting, and, while 18% of the nation of 26 million people reportedly have had symptoms that outsiders strongly suspect were from COVID-19, less than 100 have died.

The South Korean government as well as some experts believe that may soon declare that it has beaten the virus, linked, of course, to leader Kim Jong Un's strong and clever guidance.

A victory lap, however, isn't a foregone conclusion. Doing so, according to some experts, would deprive Kim of a useful tool to control the public and possibly open the government up to humiliation if cases continue.

There are two sides to such a declaration, said Moon Seong Mook, an analyst with the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy.

If North Korea says that COVID-19 has gone, it can emphasize that Kim Jong Un is a great leader who has overcome the pandemic. But in doing so, it can't maintain the powerful restrictions that it uses to control its people in the name of containing COVID-19.

Outsiders suspect that Kim is using the outbreak to boost internal unity at a time when many of his people are tired of 2 years of draconian curbs that have hurt their livelihoods.

However, North Korea deals with its description of the pandemic, many signs, at least in public statements, point to a declaration of a stunning success in dealing with a virus that has confounded the richest countries in the world.

In the initial stage of the outbreak, Kim described a great upheaval as daily fever cases North Korea rarely calls them COVID-19, presumably because it lacks test kits reached about 400,000. Now, however, the leader is suggesting that the outbreak has peaked, with his health officials maintaining a widely disputed fatality rate of 0.002%, the lowest in the world.

The question many outside experts are wrestling with is: What is the true state of misery in North Korea, which has banned nearly all outside journalists, aid workers and diplomats since early 2020?



North Korea is widely believed to be manipulating its true death toll to prevent any harm to Kim. It might also have exaggerated the number of earlier fever cases to boost vigilance against the virus and draw stronger public support for authorities' anti-virus controls.

North Korea has recently reported about 17,000 to 30,000 new fever cases each day, for a total of 4.7 million. It says to widespread outside disbelief that only 73 have died.

Whatever the real situation is, outside monitoring groups say they haven't detected signs of anything catastrophic in North Korea.

If a large number of people had died, there would have been some pieces of evidence, but there hasn't been any, said Nam Sung-wook, a professor at Korea University in South Korea. During a huge famine in the 1990s, for instance, rumors of widespread death and of people abandoning bodies spread outside of the country, into China and South Korea.

Kang Mi-jin, a North Korean defector in Seoul who runs a company analyzing the North's economy, said three of her contacts in the northern North Korean city of Hyesan told her during phone calls that most of their family members have suffered suspected COVID-19 symptoms. But she said they told her that none of their relatives, neighbors and acquaintances has died of COVID-19, though they've heard rumors of such deaths in other towns.

During an earlier phone conversation, one of my sources cried a little bit when she said she was worried that some bad things could happen in her family (because of COVID-19). But now she and have become stable and sometimes laugh when we talk on the phone, Kang said.

During a recent ruling party meeting, Kim said the country's pandemic fight has passed the stage of unexpected serious crisis. State media have urged the public to rally behind Kim in a firmer way to overcome the pandemic completely.

Cho Joonghoon, a spokesperson for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which oversees relations with North Korea, told reporters last week that the North may announce its COVID-19 crisis has been resolved this month.

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Russia summoned the European Unions ambassador in Moscow on Tuesday, fuming over what it calls an illegal rail blockade of a Russian outpost on the Baltic Sea, the latest stand-off over sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.

On the ground in eastern Ukraine, Russias separatist proxies said they were advancing towards Kyivs main battlefield bastion. A Ukrainian official described a lull in fighting there as the calm before the storm.

The latest diplomatic crisis is over the Kaliningrad enclave, a port and surrounding countryside on the Baltic Sea that is home to nearly a million Russians, connected to the rest of Russia by a rail link through EU- and Nato-member Lithuania.

Lithuania has shut the route for basic goods, including construction materials, metals and coal, which it says it is required to do under EU sanctions that took effect on Saturday. Russia calls the move an illegal blockade and has threatened unspecified retaliation against Lithuania.

The standoff creates a new source of confrontation on the Baltic, a region already set for a security overhaul that would hem in Russias sea power as Sweden and Finland apply to join Nato and put nearly the whole coast under alliance control.

Moscow had summoned a Lithuanian diplomat on Monday, but the EU has deflected responsibility from the Lithuanians, saying the policy was a result of collective action by the bloc.

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The headlines on the newsstands in Seoul blared fresh warnings of a possible nuclear test by .

Out on the sidewalks, 28-year-old office worker Lee Jae Sang already had an opinion about how to respond to North Korea's fast-growing capacity to lob nuclear bombs across borders and oceans.

Our country should also develop a nuclear programme. And prepare for a possible nuclear war," said Lee, voicing a desire that a February poll showed was shared by 3 out of 4 South Koreans.

It's a point that people and politicians of non-nuclear powers globally are raising more often, at what has become a destabilising moment in more than a half-century of global nuclear nonproliferation efforts, one aggravated by the daily example of nuclear Russia tearing apart non-nuclear Ukraine.

That reconsideration by non-nuclear states is playing out in Asia. The region is home to an ever-more assertive North Korea, China, Russia and Iran three nuclear powers and one near-nuclear power but is unprotected by the kind of nuclear umbrella and broad defense alliance that for decades has shielded NATO countries.

Vulnerable countries will look to the lessons from Ukraine especially whether Russia succeeds in swallowing big pieces of Ukraine while brandishing its nuclear arsenal to hold other nations at bay as they consider keeping or pursuing nuclear weapons, security experts say.

As important, they say, is how well the US and its allies are persuading other partners in Europe, the Persian Gulf and Asia to trust in the shield of US-led nuclear and conventional arsenals and not pursue their own nuclear bombs.

For leaders worried about unfriendly, nuclear-armed neighbours, they will say to their domestic audiences, Please support our nuclear armament because look what happened to Ukraine,' right? said Mariana Budjeryn, a researcher with the Project on Managing the Atom at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

As a schoolgirl in 1980s Soviet-era Ukraine, Budjeryn drilled on how to dress radiation burns and other potential injuries of nuclear war, at a time that country housed some 5,000 of the Soviet Union's . Her country renounced development after the Soviet Union shattered, opting for economic assistance and integration with the West and security assurances.

Ultimately, I think a lot is riding on the outcome of this war in terms of how we understand the value of nuclear weapons," Budjeryn said.

Around the world, the U.S. military is reassuring strategic partners who are facing nuclear-backed rivals.

Near the border this month, white-hot ballistic missiles arched through the night sky as the U.S. joined South Korea in their first joint ballistic test launches in five years. It was a pointed response to North Korea's launch of at least 18 ballistic missiles this year.

In Europe and in the Persian Gulf, President Joe Biden and U.S. generals, diplomats and troops are shuttling to countries neighbouring Russia and to oil-producing countries neighbouring Iran. Biden and his top lieutenants pledge the U.S. is committed to blocking nuclear threats from Iran, and . In China, President Xi Jinping is matching an aggressive foreign policy with one of his country's biggest pushes on nuclear arms.

Some top former Asian officials have cited Ukraine in saying it's time for more non-nuclear countries to think about getting nuclear weapons, or hosting U.S. ones.

I don't think either Japan or South Korea are eager to become nuclear weapon states. It will be immensely politically painful and internally divisive. But what are the alternatives? ex-Singapore Foreign Minister Bilahari Kausikan told the audience at a March defense forum.

For those hoping North Korea would give up its nuclear weapons, the example provided by Russia's invasion of Ukraine is another nail in that coffin," Terence Roehrig, a professor of national security at the U.S. Naval War College, said at another defense forum in April.

Ukraine is going to be another example to North Korea of states like Iraq and like Libya, that gave up their nuclear capability and look at what happened to them, Roehrig said.

Ukraine never had detonation-ready nuclear bombs at least, none it could fire on its own.

The Soviet Union's collapse left Ukraine with the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal. But Ukraine didn't have operational control. That left it with a weak hand in the 1990s when it negotiated with the U.S., Russia and on its place in the post-Soviet world, and the fate of the Soviet arsenal. Ukraine got assurances but no guarantees regarding its security, Budjeryn said.

A piece of paper, is how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy referred to one such assurance, signed in 1994.

The U.S. itself has given nuclear and nuclear-curious countries plenty of reasons to worry about forgoing the world's deadliest weapons.

The West compelled Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to give up his country's rudimentary program in 2003. A couple of years later, Gadhafi's son Saif al-Islam shared with researcher Malfrid Braut-Hegghammer his father's biggest worry about that that Western nations would support an uprising against him.

And lo and behold, a few years later, get to 2011, you saw what happened," said Braut-Hegghammer, now a University of Oslo nuclear and security strategy professor.

What happened was NATO, at U.S. urging, intervened in a 2011 internal uprising against Gadhafi. A NATO warplane bombed his convoy. Rebels captured the Libyan leader, sexually abused him, and killed him.

In Iraq, the U.S. played a central role in forcing Saddam Hussein to give up his nuclear development program. Then the U.S. overthrew Saddam in 2003 on a spurious claim he was reassembling a nuclear weapons effort. Three years later, with Iraq still under U.S. occupation, Saddam plunged through a gallows.

The Middle East leaders' fall and brutal deaths have clouded denuclearisation efforts with North Korea. Rare U.S.-North Korea talks in 2018 collapsed after the Trump administration repeatedly raised the Libya model and Vice President Mike Pence threatened Kim Jong-un with Gadhafi's fate. Ignorant and stupid,? North Korea's government responded.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine now only highlights to some countries, at least, that if you have a nuclear weapons program, and you're sort of far along with that, giving it up is a terrible idea, Braut-Hegghammer said.

The world's nine nuclear powers the United States, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea hold some 13,000 nuclear weapons. Israel does not acknowledge its nuclear program.

The biggest nuclear powers historically have sought to control which countries can licitly join the club. Countries that proceed regardless, including Iran and North Korea, are isolated and sanctioned.

Nuclear experts mention South Korea and Saudi Arabia as among the countries mostly likely to consider nuclear weapons. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2018 pledged to immediately acquire nuclear bombs if Iran did.

It's surprising that more countries haven't acquired a bomb, Jessica Cox, head of NATO's nuclear directorate, said at the April forum.

If you look at it from a historical perspective, it is not at all clear in the 1950s and 1960s that there would be less than 10 nations armed with nuclear weapons in the world ... 70 years later.

What made the difference in Europe was NATO's nuclear deterrence 30 nations sharing responsibility and decision-making for a nuclear arsenal that deters attacks on them all, Cox said.

Many feel Ukraine made the right decision when it avoided possible isolation by waiving a nuclear-armed future. That gave Ukraine three decades to integrate with the world's economy and build alliances with powerful nations now aiding its defense against Russia.

As a young woman in Ukraine, Budjeryn realised at one point after the 1990s accords that her own job, then in business-development, was funded by the Clinton administration, as part of the West's rewards to Ukraine for the nuclear deal.

If Ukraine prevails," she said, " then it will communicate that nuclear weapons are useless.

But if Ukraine falls, the story will look very different, she said.
Holdings has named Jwalant Nanavati as the new head of its Southeast Asian investment banking business, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

Hong Kong-based Nanavati, who joined nearly four years ago to head its Asia ex-Japan technology, media and telecom (TMT) investment banking team, will take over the new role from July 1 but relocate to Singapore only later this year.

Nanavati, an investment banking veteran of two decades, previously worked at BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank and Lehman Brothers, according to his LinkedIn profile. He will retain his TMT investment banking role, according to the memo.

A spokesperson confirmed the contents of the memo.

Nanavati will report to Patrick Kwan, Nomura's head of investment banking for Asia ex-Japan.

He replaces Sarab Bhutani, who is leaving for personal reasons, the memo said. Bhutani joined Nomura two years ago after more than a decade at Standard Chartered.

(Reporting by Anshuman Daga; Editing by Bradley Perrett)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Empty container boxes crucial for Asias exporters are getting stuck in the port of Rotterdam as a growing backlog of undelivered goods at Europes export hub forces ocean carriers to prioritize shipments of filled boxes.



The Dutch port has faced an onslaught of both goods and empty boxes offloaded from other European maritime operations, experts said. This has coincided with carriers reducing the number of vessel trips from the continent to after Shanghai authorities locked down the city in March, they said.

Yard density at the Rotterdam port has been extremely high over the last few months due to unreliable ocean-going ship schedules and longer dwell times for import containers, the port said on Monday. The situation has led terminals in some instances to divert empty containers to depots to bring down congestion at yards, it said.



Also Read: Envoy urges ASEAN, Australia, India to work for ocean health, smart ports

Terminals are allowing carriers only a limited capacity for empty boxes and are focusing on transporting loaded containers, Kuehne + Nagel AG, one of Europes largest freight forwarders, said in an e-mailed reply to questions. Containers are piling up at the terminals, and more and more containers cannot be returned on departures, including those to .

Although authorities in Shanghai lifted restrictions this month, shortages of vessels and delays at European are forcing export goods to compete with empty boxes for space on ships headed to China, threatening to send a further wave of disruption to Asia, logistics firms said.

Factories in will require empty boxes to make up for lost or unfulfilled orders during the past few months, and will be hampered by the shortage of ships and equipment, they said. The volume of trucked container goods into Shanghai from nearby provinces in has recovered to 71% of levels seen on March 12, according to data from FourKites. Meanwhile, trucking shortages and worker protests in the US and are holding up deliveries.

Supply chains have been struggling to recover from Chinas Covid Zero policy and Russias invasion of Ukraine, which has led to companies shunning the over-land railway that could have otherwise relieved pressure on logjammed . High congestion levels at Rotterdam prompted line AP Moller-Maersk A/S to inform customers last week it would be relocating unclaimed boxes of goods out of the port.

The situation has meant longer waiting times for vessels at all major North European ports, Kuehne + Nagel said. About 60% of the vessels traveling from to in April and May of this year were delayed, and there were 13 ships waiting for a berth in Rotterdam as of June 17.

Unfortunately it is a recurring phenomenon in the current market situation in Northern European ports, the Rotterdam port said.
launched its first domestically built space rocket on Tuesday in the country's second attempt, months after its earlier liftoff failed to place a payload into orbit.

A successful launch would boost South Korea's growing space ambitions but also prove it has key technologies to build a space-based surveillance system and bigger missiles amid animosities with rival North Korea, some experts say.

The three-stage Nuri rocket carrying what officials call a functioning performance verification satellite blasted from South Korea's only space launch center on a small island off its southern coast at 4 pm.

Officials are to announce the results of the launch later Tuesday.

In the first attempt last October, the rocket's dummy payload reached its desired altitude of 700 kilometers (435 miles) but didn't enter orbit because the engine of the rocket's third stage burned out earlier than planned.

If Tuesday's launch is successful, would become the world's 10th nation to place a satellite into space with its own technology.

South Korea, the world's 10th-largest economy, is a main supplier of semiconductors, automobiles and smartphones on world markets. But its space development program lags behind that of its Asian neighbors China, India and Japan.

North Korea placed its first and second Earth observation satellites into orbit in 2012 and 2016 though there is no proof that either one has ever transmitted spaced-based imagery and data back home. Those North Korean launches invited U.N. economic sanctions because they were viewed as covers for testing the country's banned long-range missile technology.

Since the early 1990s, has sent a slew of satellites into space, but all from overseas launch sites or aboard a rocket built with the help of foreign technology. In 2013, South Korea successfully launched a satellite for the first time from its soil, but the first stage of its launch vehicle was manufactured by the Russians.

After Tuesday's liftoff, South Korea plans to conduct four more Nuri rocket launches in coming years. It also hopes to send a probe to the moon, build next-generation space launch vehicles and send large-scale satellites into orbit.

South Korean officials said the Nuri rocket has no military purposes.

The transfer of space launch technology is strictly restricted under a multilateral export control regime because it has military applications. Experts say ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles share similar bodies, engines and other components, though missiles require a reentry vehicle and other technologies.

If you put a satellite on the top of a rocket, it would become a space launch vehicle. But if you mount a warhead on it, it becomes a weapon, said Kwon Yong Soo, a former professor at Korea National Defense University in South Korea. If we succeed in Nuri's launch, it's really meaningful because we also succeed in the test of a long-range rocket that can be used to build a long-range missile.

Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Korea's Science and Technology Policy Institute, said it's difficult to directly use Nuri as a missile because it uses liquid fuels that must be kept at an extremely low temperature and require much longer fuelling time than solid fuels. He said North Korean long-range missiles also use liquid fuels, but extremely toxic ones that are maintained at ordinary temperatures and need faster fuelling time than Nuri's.

This year, North Korea has test-launched about 30 missiles with potential ranges that place the US mainland and its regional allies like South Korea and Japan within striking distance.

Kwon said Nuri's successful Nuri launch would prove that South Korea also has the capability to send a spy satellite into orbit.

South Korea currently has no military reconnaissance satellites of its own and depends on U.S. spy satellites to monitor strategic facilities in North Korea. South Korea has said it would launch its own surveillance satellites soon.

(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.)
That the Organization was able to come to any kind of deal at its 12th ministerial meeting last week was something of a miracle. The organization has been dead for years as a location for governance  and even longer as a place for successful negotiations.

In fact, reports of the WTOs continued existence are greatly exaggerated. Until the two most influential trading powers in the world  the United States and  commit to reform, the organization will continue to decline into irrelevance.

It is true that the deals struck last week mark two major steps forward for the WTO. While an agreement to limit subsidies for commercial fishing may have ended up much more modest in scope than originally envisaged, it injects the question of environmental sustainability into global policy for the first time. Most developing countries have long preferred to address environmental issues separately through the United Nations, correctly viewing them as a possible source of non-tariff barriers against emerging- exporters.



Also Read: For the first time in a decade, WTO members reach historic deal at Geneva

The second sign of progress was Chinas tacit acceptance that it cannot always and perpetually claim the special benefits granted to developing economies at the WTO. The vaccine IP waiver countries agreed upon effectively excluded large exporters  in this case,  from benefiting.

Though accepted the restriction voluntarily, it sets an important precedent. The big question at the WTO for most developing countries is this: How can they preserve their own special rights while ensuring that China, which has already benefited more than its fair share from the WTO, does not?

Under current rules, this can only happen with Chinese acquiescence, and this is the first time we have seen signs that China accepts its dominance of global goods trade means it must surrender some special protections. For the WTO to reclaim relevance  and the faith of the developing world  it will in the future need to codify Chinas new status.

But that will not be enough. The other stumbling block to truly reviving the WTO is the United States, which under President Joe Biden has retained the previous administrations obstructive approach to global trade.

The Biden administrations backing of a vaccine IP waiver was hardly a concession. Throughout the pandemic, the bigger obstacle to getting shots in the worlds arms was hoarding by the US and others, alongside supply chain disruptions through misuse of legislation such as the Defense Production Act. More critically, the US still hasnt repaired the damage its done by vetoing nominees to the WTOs appellate body. Until it does, the WTO will not be able to fulfill its central duty to resolve trade disputes.

Western trade officials and analysts like to focus their ire at countries such as India, portrayed as obstructionist for wanting to maintain its oversized foodgrain stocks. Yet its absurd to act like thats a giant worry in 2022, when the real issue is Indias unwillingness to export wheat at a time of rising prices, not the possibility that it might dump subsidized stocks on world markets.

In fact, and other developing countries are being far more cooperative on trade than the US or China. diluted its opposition to mixing environment and trade by allowing the fishing subsidies agreement to go through. And its objections to the original text  which effectively made no distinctions between enormous subsidies paid to industrial fishing fleets and the tiny amount ($15 a year per person) that gives its largely underproductive fishing communities  were entirely reasonable.

The developed world isnt going to be able to force any more cooperation from India or any other emerging than it saw at this ministerial meeting. Its time for others to take on the responsibility for re-animating the WTO.

China has benefited far more from the WTO than any other trading nation; it should step up and take responsibility for keeping the organization afloat by redefining its role. And the US, concerned that it is being exploited by other countries trade policies, must renew its commitment to WTO arbitration if the global trading order is to survive. It isnt Indian or developing-world intransigence that is keeping the WTO close to death. It is the entitlement of China and the US.
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the contradiction between US actions and words is preventing the Vienna talks from reviving a 2015 nuclear deal from fruition.

Qalibaf made the remarks in a Monday meeting with the Chairman of the Croatia- Parliamentary Friendship Group Zlatko Hasanbegovic in Tehran, Xinhua news agency reported.

He added that in a situation where oppressive and illegal sanctions are imposed on Iran, it is important that which countries stand together in difficult circumstances.

Qalibaf highlighted the necessity of facilitating relations between Iranian and Croatian traders and private sectors, and establishing friendly Iran-Croatia parliamentary ties can multiply the bilateral economic relations within a year.

signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the world powers in July 2015 accepting to put some curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the removal of the sanctions on Tehran.

However, former U.S President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran.

Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held in the Austrian capital between and the remaining JCPOA parties to revive the deal.

--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.)
Standing in the sweltering summer heat on the steps of the Capitol earlier this month, Republican Senate candidate Mo Brooks was hailed by organizers of the Jan. 6, 2021, rally in Washington for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and keep former President in power.

I was proud to stand with Mo Brooks on that stage that day, said Amy Kremer, chair of Women for America First. "Mo has the truth on his side.

Less than 10 hours later, Trump returned the favor by snubbing the congressman for a second time and instead endorsing rival Katie Britt in Tuesday's Republican runoff election for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Britt's former boss, retiring GOP Sen. Richard Shelby.

is one of a handful of states holding contests Tuesday at the midpoint of a primary season that has been shaped by Trump's effort to influence the GOP. In Virginia, Republicans are choosing between Trump-aligned congressional candidates to take on some of the most vulnerable Democrats in the fall. And in Georgia, Democrats will settle several close races, including deciding which Democrat will challenge Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state who overcame a Trump-backed challenge last month.

In Washington, D.C., meanwhile, Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser is seeking reelection amid concerns over homelessness and rising crime.

But the Senate runoff has drawn particular attention both because of the drama surrounding Trump's endorsement and the fact that the winner will likely prevail in November in a state Trump won twice by more than 25 percentage points.

Trump initially endorsed Brooks in the spring of 2021, rewarding an ardent champion of his baseless claims of a stolen election. Brooks had voted against certifying President Joe Biden's victory and delivered a fiery speech at the rally that proceeded the U.S. Capitol insurrection, telling the crowd, Today is the day that American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass."



But nearly a year later, Trump rescinded his support after the pair's relationship soured and as the conservative firebrand languished in the polls. Trump blamed his decision on comments Brooks had made months earlier, at an August rally, when he said it was time for the party to move on from the 2020 presidential race comments Trump claimed showed Brooks, one of the most conservative members of Congress, had gone woke.

But the move was widely seen as an effort by Trump to save face amid other losses, and Brooks alleged that it came after he informed Trump that there was no way to rescind" the 2020 election, remove Biden from power, or hold a new special election for the presidency.

Trump's un-endorsement was widely expected to end Brooks' campaign. Instead, Brooks managed to finish second in the state's May 24 primary, earning 29% of the vote to Britt's 45% and forcing a runoff.

Brooks tried once again to get Trump to endorse him, but Trump, who has had a mixed record in backing winning candidates, instead chose Britt, Shelby's former chief of staff, calling her a fearless America First Warrior.

While Brooks and Britt have similar views, their race represents a clash between two wings of the party and different generations. Shelby for decades epitomized the old-guard political style, using his clout and relationships to quietly steer federal projects and funding to his home state.

Britt, 40, has the endorsement of Shelby and other establishment Republicans, as well as deep ties to the state's business community, reflected in her 2-1 fundraising advantage over Brooks.

Brooks, 68, is known for his bombastic oratory style. The six-term congressman was a founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and has made his opposition to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell a pillar of his campaign, embarking on a Fire McConnell Tour of town halls. A super PAC affiliated with McConnell contributed $2 million to a PAC opposing Brooks.

He also has the backing of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who say he would be a needed hard-line addition to the Senate.

This is a race about conservatives versus the establishment, Paul said Friday in north Alabama. We need a fighter. We're not going to get it if you send us any old Republican. We need a fighter like Mo Brooks.

Britt, meanwhile, stresses her own social conservative beliefs and has tried to paint Brooks as a career politician, saying Alabamians want new blood."



President Trump knows that Alabamians are sick and tired of failed, do-nothing career politicians. It's time for the next generation of conservatives to step up and shake things up in Washington, she said after Trump's endorsement.

Brooks has disparaged Britt as a RINO the GOP pejorative meaning Republican in name only and maintained he is the only one with a proven conservative record.

Turnout in the race is expected to be low, with fewer than 15% of registered voters likely to cast ballots, according to Secretary of State John Merrill.

Elsewhere, in the nation's capital, where Democratic primaries effectively decide winners, Bowser is trying to fend off challenges from a pair of City Council members as the city contends with a rash of crime, including a shooting Sunday in one of the city's busiest nightlife destinations that left a 15-year-old dead and a police officer and at least two others wounded.

In Virginia, voters are set to pick Republican nominees for what is expected to be a pair of the year's most competitive U.S. House races.

In the coastal 2nd District, state Sen. Jen Kiggans is widely seen as the GOP front-runner in the Republican race to take on Democrat Elaine Luria, a retired Naval commander and member of the House Jan. 6 committee, in the general election. In central Virginia's 7th District, six candidates are in a competitive race to face Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer.

And in Georgia, Democratic state Rep. Bee Nguyen is trying to defeat former state Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler in the secretary of state's race. The winner will face Republican Raffensperger, who rebuffed Trump's efforts to find enough votes to overturn Biden's win in the state's 2020 presidential election and beat back a Trump-endorsed challenger in his May 24 primary.

In congressional runoffs, Republican Vernon Jones, a Trump-backed candidate and former Democrat, is competing against trucking company owner Mike Collins for the Republican nomination for the 10th Congressional District seat east of Atlanta.

Republicans also have high hopes of knocking off 30-year Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop in southwest Georgia's 2nd District. The GOP is choosing between former Army officer Jeremy Hunt and real estate developer Chris West.
Day 2022: offers physical and mental benefits for people of all ages. And, if youre going through an illness, recovering from surgery or living with a chronic condition, can become an integral part of your treatment and potentially hasten healing.

On the occasion of the International Day of Yoga, Busines Standard spoke with Sarvesh Sashi, Founder of SARVA -- a yoga and wellness startup.



Also Read: International Yoga Day 2022: PM Modi leads celebrations from Mysuru



Emphasising on the importance of yoga, Sashi pointed out a few dos and don'ts of practising the art. Here are a few:

Dos

- Maintain at least a two-hour gap between the last meal and yoga.

- Consult a doctor before practising yoga if you have any physical condition.

- Warm up before practising yoga.

- Get an accountability partner.

Dont's

- Do not perform asanas without consulting an expert if you have ailments such as hypertension.

- Don't Ignore the importance of correct breathing.

Practised in India since the 5th century, Yoga has been beneficial in keeping the body and mind in sound . Sashi said that specific yoga asanas can help people get rid of illnesses such as diabetes and PCOS.

"21 days of regular practice can reduce testosterone levels in women by 30 per cent, which is a lot," he said, quoting a study.

Sashi spoke in depth about the ways yoga can boost immunity. Watch our video to find out.
Shares of Eureka Forbes surged 12 per cent to Rs 316.40 on the BSE in Tuesday's intra-day trade amid heavy volumes. At 10:52 AM, the stock of the household appliances was trading 10 per cent higher at Rs 312 as compared to 1.4 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex.

The trading volumes on the counter jumped over 20-fold with 1.04 million equity shares having changed hands, so far, against an average sub 50,000 shares traded on the BSE.

Meanwhile, Eureka Forbes said on June 20, 2022, that the board of directors of the company has accepted the resignation of Marzin R. Shroff as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (Executive Director) of the company.

"The resignation will be effective on such date as mutually decided, and which is expected to be in or around August, 2022," the company said. READ HERE



Marzin R. Shroff will move to a new role as Senior Advisor to both Advent International and Eureka Forbes.

Eureka Forbes is India's leading health and hygiene leader with brands like Aquaguard & Forbes. A former part of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, and now an Advent International portfolio company, Eureka Forbes' product portfolio encompasses water purification, vacuum cleaning, air purification and home security solutions.

The equity shares of Eureka Forbes (formerly known as Forbes Enviro Solutions) were listed and admitted to dealings on the exchange on March 16, 2022. Eureka Forbes issued 15 fully paid up equity shares of Rs 10 each to the shareholders of Forbes & Company for every 1 fully paid up equity shares of Rs 10 each held by shareholders in Forbes & Company.
soared to a high of Rs 381.65 in intra-day trades on the BSE, up 5.5 per cent from its previous close on strong volume after the company reported multiple order wins to the exchanges.

As of 10:20 AM, the stock had pared some gains, but was still up 2.9 per cent at Rs 372.30 with trades of around 85,000 shares on the BSE as against its two-week average traded quantity of 7,500-odd shares. Meanwhile, the too witnssed a pull-back rally and was up 1.2 per cent at 52,226.

has tumbled over 32 per cent so far this calendar year from its high of Rs 549.50 touched in early February. Whereas, the BSE Sensex has declined around 15 per cent from its peak during the same period.

According to a release issued by the KEC to the BSE, the company, a global infrastructure EPC major, secured new orders worth Rs 1,092 crore across its various businesses.

The company has reportedly bagged orders for its transmission & distribution projects in India, Middle East and America. It has also secured an order for 2 * 25 kV overhead electrification related railways work in India. Further for various works for its civil and cables divisions.

Vimal Kejriwal, MD & CEO, commented, We are pleased with the new order wins secured across our business verticals. The orders in T&D have enhanced our order book in both domestic and international . Our Railway business has further consolidated its presence in emerging/ new areas, with the order in the Semi High-Speed Rail under Mission 'Raftaar'. The Civil business continues to be on a high growth trajectory, with consistent order inflows across segments, especially metals & mining and realty."

For the quarter ended March 2022, KEC had reported a sharp 69.9 per cent drop in Q4 net profit at Rs 4.60 crore when compared with Rs 15.29 crore reported in the quarter a year ago. Total income, however, was up 28.8 per cent YoY at Rs 387.78 crore from Rs 301 crore during the same period.


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Bharat Forge: The company has approved the transfer of its stake in Refu Drive GmbH (Refu), joint venture (JV) company to Kalyani Powertrain in order to house all the electric vehicle investments of the company under one entity.

Adani Power: Adani Power on Monday completed the acquisition of 100% equity shares in Support Properties Private Limited (SPPL) and Eternus Real Estate Private Limited (EREPL) from their respective shareholders.

Fineotex Chemical: A meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled on 24 June 2022 to consider and approve raising funds by issue of equity shares and/or other equity linked securities.

Suven Life Sciences: A meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled to be held on 24 June 2022, to consider matters related to raising of funds through issue of equity shares of the company on rights basis to the existing equity shareholders of the company.

KEC International: The company has secured new orders of Rs. 1,092 crore across its various businesses.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The first edit says the governments fondness for sudden moves that can cause a public-relations splash leads it over and over again into actions taken without due deliberation and consultation. Read here

The second edit fears that learning outcomes can be devalued by the NCERTs textbook changes. Read here

Dipankar Gupta: Let institutional efficiency and not essence of religion be our guide.

Read here

K P Krishnan: Independent and continued evaluations of statutory regulatory agencies are necessary for feedback to regulators and parliament. Read here

Mahesh Vyas: Agnipath violence is sad because, by and large, the Indian youth does not agitate against the lack of jobs. Read here
BJP president Chandrakant Patil on Tuesday said his party has got nothing to do with political developments in the ruling Shiv Sena, whose minister Eknath Shinde has gone incommunicado along with some MLAs.

But, Patil also said if the BJP receives any proposal from Eknath Shinde to form government, they would "definitely consider it".

Shinde along with some MLAs had gone incommunicado, a party leader said earlier on Tuesday, a day after the ruling Maha Vikas Agahdi (MVA-comprising the Sena, NCP and Congress) suffered a setback in the polls by losing one out of the six seats it contested.

Later, MP Sanjay Raut said Shinde is not in Mumbai, but a communication has been established with him.

He also said that BJP's attempts, like in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, to topple the MVA government will not succeed.

According to sources, Shinde was camping along with some Sena MLAs at a hotel in Gujarat's Surat city.

When contacted, Patil told PTI, "It is the Shiv Sena's internal matter. We are not aware why Shinde went to Surat with his party colleagues. We have nothing to do with his move."



"If the BJP receives any proposal from Eknath Shinde to form government, we would definitely consider it seriously. After all, we all have worked together in the past, hence it is much better to work and run a government with them," the BJP leader said.

Patil also claimed that Raut was solely responsible for frosty relations between the Sena and the BJP.

"He (Raut) is also doing a lot of damage to the state...and he is doing it on someone's behalf," the BJP leader further claimed.

The had snapped ties with long-term ally after the 2019 Assembly polls over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post. The Sena later tied-up with the NCP and Congress to form government in the state.

Meanwhile, Union minister and BJP Rajya Sabha member Narayan Rane came out openly in support of Eknath Shinde.

"Well done Eknathji, you took the right decision at the appropriate time. Otherwise, soon you would have ended up like Anand Dighe, Rane tweeted.

Dighe, the Shiv Sena leader from Thane, had died in 2001.

Meanwhile, some BJP leaders claimed they were aware of the growing "unrest" within the Shiv Sena.

Senior BJP leader and former state minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said his party has been consistently raising objections over the Shiv Sena-led government's style of functioning.

"There was no secret that several Sena leaders were unhappy with the government as well, he said.

Asked if the BJP would try to form government with the support of Shiv Sena 'rebel' MLAs, Mungantiwar said he would not comment on it as he has not spoken to his party colleagues about these developments.

"In the MLC elections on Monday, the BJP managed to secure 134 votes, which technically means we are short of 11 votes (in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly) to stake claim to form government. But, it easier to say it than actually make it happen," he said.

Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis did not respond to messages sent to him for comments over the political developments in the 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.)
housing minister Eknath Shinde plunged the state government into a crisis when he, along with 20 other MLAs (exact number unclear), decamped to a resort in Surat, with the assistance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

This move may be a possible step to bring down the Shiv-Sena-led Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition government.

Shinde is one of the Shiv Senas senior-most leaders and was a part of Sena founder Balasaheb Thackerays inner circle.

However, on Tuesday, he removed the affiliation from his Twitter bio. Soon after, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray sacked him from ministership and his position as chief whip of the party.

This development represents the biggest-ever threat to the continuance of a government that has been buffeted by political challenges since it came to power in 2019. The MVA comprises the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party, the Congress and a host of smaller groups and Independents.

The profile of the assembly after the elections was such that no group could have formed a government without the support of the NCP.

The Sena and the BJP had an acrimonious fall out after the 2019 assembly elections  though they contested the polls as allies.

As the Sena formed the government after tying up with the Congress and NCP, the BJP had left no stone unturned to destabilise the government.

It was trying to do so either by dividing the NCP (by offering blandishments to current deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, a plan that was foiled) or splitting the Sena.

However, former BJP chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has predicted consistently that the MVA was so driven by contradictions and it would fall on its own.

The current crisis appears to have been precipitated by Uddhav Thackeray upbraiding Shinde for the success of the BJP in the recent Rajya Sabha and legislative council elections in which some Sena MLAs voted for the BJP.

Thackeray stopped short of naming Shinde as the one responsible for the increase in BJP numbers. This was the last straw for Shinde who has, over the last two years, made his resentment clear at the rise of Aaditya Thackeray.

His interference in Shindes ministry did not go down well with the latter.

In the past, Sharad Pawar had acted as the main interlocutor and father figure, guiding the MVA through its rough patches. However, on Tuesday, he said Shindes rebellion was an internal matter of the Sena.

Shinde has let Uddhav know that the proximate cause for his rebellion was that he could no longer tolerate the MVA alliance partners NCP and Congress. He wanted the Sena to return to its old ally, the BJP. Obviously, this will not be acceptable to the Sena.

The standoff can be resolved in one of the three ways: The Sena MLAs (around 20) resign from the party and defect to the BJP.

If they resign, the government goes into minority and Presidents Rule is declared, until the BJP is given a chance to stake claim to form the government. However, at least a third of Senas MLAs (19 out of 55) must quit to beat the anti-defection law.

The other option is that they resign, contest bypolls and return to the House as affiliates of the BJP.

This was done in Madhya Pradesh, in an exercise that toppled Congress chief minister Kamal Naths government and installed Shivraj Singh Chouhan as CM without fresh assembly elections.

The third is that the government manages to win over the errant MLAs, including Shinde.

Uddhav spoke to Shinde for 10 minutes on the phone. The formers close aides Milind Narvekar and others also reached out to Shinde. However, no success on this front is evident yet.

Some BJP leaders have asked governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari to dissolve the House. But that means fresh elections, a challenge no one from any party wants to face.

The role of the governor, known for his independent thinking, becomes crucial here. Equally crucial is the role of the other big party in the legislature, the NCP.

Sharad Pawar had told a questioner to ask sensible questions when it was put to him that the NCP and the BJP could join forces to form a government. Pawar is in regular touch with the BJP at the highest level.
In view of Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde going incommunicado and apparently camping in Gujarat along with some party MLAs after the state Legislative Council polls, a Maharashtra Congress minister on Tuesday claimed there was unrest in the Sena since about a week.

However, state NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal said he does not feel that there is a threat to the Maharashtra Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.

Shinde, who holds the department of urban development, wants to become the deputy chief minister, the Congress minister told PTI on condition of anonymity.

"An upheaval was going on in the for nearly a week", the leader said.

Source said reports were doing the rounds since Monday evening that Shinde along with 21 MLAs had gone "missing".

Maharashtra Chief Minister and president Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting of the Sena MLAs on Tuesday precisely for this purpose, the sources said.

The Shiv Sena and its MVA allies NCP and Congress had contested two seats each in the Legislative Council polls on Monday. However, Congress's Dalit leader Chandrakant Handore lost the polls.

The opposition BJP in the state won all the five seats it contested.

A Congress minister said Handore's loss has come as a shock for the party.

This is a "failure" of the Maharashtra Congress leadership, he claimed, adding that the Council poll results have exposed the "divide" in the state party unit.

"All leaders need to sit together and analyse what went wrong," he said, adding that the Congress is monitoring the developments in the Shiv Sena.

He said Congress leaders are expected to meet Chief Minister Thackeray later in the day.

Meanwhile, senior NCP leader and state cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal told PTI that his party MLAs were intact, and said he does not feel there is a threat to the MVA government.

"The Shiv Sena and Congress MLAs cross-voted in the polls on Monday. The Shiv Sena has 55 MLAs and three of its ministers are from smaller parties and Independents. The Shiv Sena has the support of some 59 MLAs. Still, both its candidates got 26 votes each, just managing to complete the quota of first preference votes. Even three Congress MLAs cross-voted," Bhujbal claimed.

(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.)
Yashwant Sinha, a former minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government, was on Tuesday named the Oppositions presidential candidate in election next month.

"In the forthcoming Presidential elections, we have decided to elect a common candidate and stop the Modi government from doing further damage. At a subsequent meeting held today we have chosen as a common candidate. We appeal to all political parties to vote for Yashwant Sinha," said Jairam Ramesh, Congress's communication chief.

"We appeal to BJP, its allies to support as president so we can have a worthy 'rashtrapati' elected unopposed, said the Opposition statement.

The presidential election is scheduled to be held on July 28 and counting of votes, if necessary, will take place on July 21. The has enough votes to elect its candidate but has not named a person yet.

Sinha emerged as the consensus candidate of 13 opposition parties, including the Congress, the Trinamool Congresss and the Samajwadi Party, which met in Delhi on Tuesday to discuss the issue, PTI said quoting sources.

Opposition leaders, who gathered at the Parliament annexe for the meeting convened by NCP chief to decide on a consensus candidate for the presidential election, agreed on Sinha's name, they said. An announcement to this effect is likely to be made soon, they said.

Sinha's name came up after Pawar, and opted out of the race.

The parties that attended the meeting include the Congress, NCP, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, Samajwadi Party, Conference, AIMIM, RJD and AIUDF.

Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge and Ramesh, TMC's Abhishek Banerjee, DMK's Tiruchi Siva, CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury and CPI's D Raja were among those who participated in the meeting.

Five regional parties considered non aligned - TRS, BJD. AAP, SAD and YSRCP -- stayed away. These parties had also stayed away from the June 15 meeting convened by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

(With inputs from PTI)
Industry body Broadband India Forum on Tuesday termed telcos' arguments on a level playing field between public and captive private 5G networks as "absurd and impractical", and asserted that the two are separate sets of services on a completely different footing and not competing with each other.

The age-old and time-tested concept of 'level playing field' cannot apply in the case of captive private 5G networks, as they have several distinctive traits, which distinguish them from public networks, with whom they are being compared "without any logic or basis", Broadband India Forum (BIF) said in a statement.

"Seeking a level playing field with enterprises for captive private networks is akin to a child in kindergarten being asked to compete with someone who has a doctoral degree," BIF President, TV Ramachandran pointed out.

The suggestion that private networks should not be given spectrum in bands, which are possible for telcos to use for offering services is "unjustified", as the telcos' businesses depend on economies of scale, while that of enterprise businesses having private networks does not, BIF said.

Regulations, Ramachandran said, are applied to mature players in the competition, who have significant market share and can abuse it.

"No mature regulator anywhere in the world imposes regulation on a player with no or minimal market share," Ramachandran said.

The telecom players on Monday flagged their concerns over the decision on private captive networks, during the pre-bid conference held by the Department of Telecom (DoT).

Industry association COAI - whose members include Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea - wrote to the DoT recently expressing disappointment at the government's decision on captive private networks.

Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has demanded a level playing field, arguing that solution providers too should pay the license fee and GST at the rates applicable for telcos on the billed amount of revenue and that such captive networks must remain "truly" private and isolated, and adhere to security norms.

It has been argued that since a decision to enable the captive networks through direct spectrum assignment has been taken, the government must now restrict the scope of such non-public networks to machine-to-machine communication inside the specific premise and plant automation only. Such networks must ensure they do not cause any interference to public networks.

Last week, the Cabinet approved the auction of airwaves capable of offering fifth-generation or 5G telecom services, including ultra-high-speed internet, and gave its nod for setting up captive 5G networks by tech firms.

While the 5G spectrum in nine frequency bands will be auctioned to telecom operators like Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, enterprises and tech firms for the time being will be allowed to take the 5G spectrum for their captive non-public network on lease from the telecom companies.

A direct allocation to enterprises will follow a demand study and sector regulator Trai's recommendation on aspects, such as pricing and modalities of such allocation.

(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.)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 21 (ANI/NewsVoir): Neutrogena, the #1 dermatologist-recommended skincare brand in USA unveils its latest campaign, 'Uncomplicate Skincare'. Understanding that keeping up with a skincare routine can be frustrating & tiring, Neutrogena is taking the responsibility to help women navigate through the complexity of products, ingredients, and regimens as it simplifies skin health with science.

Watch the digital film - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKIBIx-rIcI & feature=youtu.be)

In a quest to ace their skincare goals, women spend hours researching and experimenting with trends/solutions that may not always work which often leaves them overwhelmed and stressed. Addressing the what-when-why of skincare, Neutrogena's new campaign aims to reassure women that healthy skin is beautiful skin and it is achievable through solutions that are rooted in science.

With a portfolio of products that are packed with results and backed by experts, the brand is uncomplicating skincare for one and all, no matter their skin type or skin needs to help them achieve superior skin health.

Commenting on the campaign, Manoj Gadgil, Vice President-Marketing, Johnson & Johnson India said, "As a brand, we have always championed healthy skin for all women, be it through our products or campaigns. With #UncomplicateSkincare, we are attempting to cut through the clutter of information and provide women with the expertise they seek by bridging the knowledge gap, simplifying skincare, and offering solutions rooted in science. We constantly strive to deliver products that are scientifically crafted in labs, perfected by experts, and proven to be effective on your skin, thus commanding the trust of consumers, and this campaign reinforces our commitment."

"The genesis of this campaign stemmed from the fact that today's premium skincare consumer is inundated with information when it comes to finding the right product for their skin concern. This insight, was used as the hook for the creative campaign articulation. #UncomplicateSkincare, the overarching thought for the year ties in seamlessly with Neutrogena's wide array of products that are result driven and will be brought out through multiple activations across products and consumer touch-points with a good mix of video, influencers, creative story-telling, and other social media engagements," said Akshay Gurnani, Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer, Schbang.

The launch of the campaign is supported by a high-decibel integrated marketing program across media platforms.

Neutrogena has brought ground-breaking skincare solutions to consumers for more than 60 years. Today the brand offers more than 650 products worldwide in the face, body, acne, sun protection, makeup, men's care, and anti-wrinkle categories. By creating, innovating, and rethinking what is possible, Neutrogena products consistently deliver real results without compromise.

#1 Dermatologist Recommended Skincare brand in the US: Among Dermatologists who recommend skincare brands, Neutrogena is the #1 recommended OTC skincare brand in the US, Ipsos survey Dec 2021.

This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Having performed over 500+ paediatric liver transplantations in Chennai, Prof Rela and team is recognised as South Asia's largest Paediatric liver transplant programme.

To commemorate this milestone, eminent guests such as the Minister Thiru Ma Subramanian, Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare, Tamil Nadu, Thiru T.M. Anbarasan, Minister for Rural Industries, Cottage Industries, Small Industries, Tamil Nadu and delegates from Oman participated in the "Celebration of Hope". The evening witnessed the launch of a coffee table book detailing the milestone paediatric liver transplantation stories and the complex surgical journey in the field of paediatric liver transplantation. The evening also witnessed performances by post-liver transplantation children showcasing their talents, skills and abilities proving their life is now normal.

Other special guests present were Thiru J Radhakrishnan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Dept. of Co-operation, Food Consumer Protection, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, and Thiru. P. Senthil Kumar, IAS, Principal Health Secretary, Govt. of Tamil Nadu.

"Our government's and Chief Minister's vision of making healthcare affordable to every citizen of the state has led to performing in excess of 50 paediatric liver transplantations from the state under the CMCHIS scheme. Must thank Dr Rela for taking this initiative and supporting the government's cause," said Minister Thiru Ma Subramanian, Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare, Tamil Nadu.

"Liver transplantation in children was unheard of and has seen many families suffer. And now to see how this is made available to the neediest too, I must thank the Government of Tamil Nadu for their relentless support. Our government has always been at the forefront of healthcare services and I congratulate them for that. Now, not only our government but other countries are also realising that liver transplantation is not a challenge anymore. We have come forward in our endeavour to make liver transplantation the new normal" said, Prof Mohammed Rela, Chairman and Managing Director, Rela Hospital.

"The dance programs that you have witnessed today is performed by these very children who underwent the Liver Transplant surgeries. As you can see, thousands of families are smiling as their children live a normal life, he further said."

It was truly heart-warming to see almost 100 post-transplantation children coming together with the family and enjoying to the fullest. Children who have received a new lease of life. The beaming smiles on their faces were a delightful moment for all.

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three aircraft made emergency landings in parts of India on Sunday, giving some frightening moments to hundreds of passengers and crew members on-board. Two of them were hit by birds, while the third one reported low cabin pressure soon after taking off. These back-to-back freak incidents also offered a moment of reckoning to the aviation sector -- which is seeing a continuous rise in traffic. Two more airlines -- Akasa Air and Jet -- are all set to add to the existing fleet. So, in todays episode we ask what led to these incidents? And what can be done to avert a recurrence? After the Indian skies, let us turn our focus to a row surrounding the hiring in the country's armed forces. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday defended the Angipath scheme amid ongoing protests against it. The government has been maintaining that the soldiers -- who will be disbanded after four years -- will get jobs in government and private sectors. But, an analysis by Business Standard, suggests something else.

The punishing stretch for continued amid the ongoing global selloff. But, amid this mayhem, analysts believe positive domestic factors can help a reversal in the current down cycle. Take a look at these supporting factors, which have kept experts positive on the .

Public issue of shares or issuance of equity is an effective tool for companies to raise capital when they do not wish to avail of debt instruments. An initial public offer (IPO) and a follow-on public offer (FPO) are two types of public issues available to investors. This episode of the podcast breaks down the differences between the two.

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At this point, were not entirely sure if this was supposed to be a secret, but thanks to a couple of sales agents, we finally have our firs...
Nayola

Historical drama Nayola splits its time between 1995 and 2011 in the southwestern African country of Angola, a former Portuguese colony, to dissect the generational scars derived from the not-so-distant armed conflict. From a screenplay penned by Virgilio Almeida, adapted from Jose Eduardo Agualusa and Mia Coutos stage play The Black Box, director Jose Miguel Ribeiro constructs a rich and potent fable about letting go.

As civil war rages in the mid-1990s, Nayola (Elisangela Rita), a young mother, desperately searches for her husband. Voiceover narration begins to let us into her distraught emotional state. Soon, however, the story travels 16 years into the future where Nayolas teenage daughter Yara (Feliciana Delcia Guia) defies the authoritarian government with politically minded rap songs that she distributes on CDs across Luanda.

Ribeiros use of stylized hand-drawn aesthetic makes for gorgeously dreamlike interpretations of the inner turmoil facing the titular heroine. Theres a clear distinction between the depiction of Nayolas experiences and Yaras tribulations in a relatively peaceful era.

Sequences that take place in Nayolas memory, particularly those related to her missing loved one, are presented in expressionistic fashion that calls to mind French title The Girl Without Hands. But even when she isnt remembering precisely, the backgrounds in her timeline brim with saturated hues and surrealist production design. In turn, Ribeiro and Almeida tackle violence with unflinching fortitude, especially in a scene that shows starving people fighting each other for provisions delivered by the U.N.

Over the course of Nayolas odyssey across devastation, a mysterious jackal accompanies her. Present in African folklore as an adaptable and clever figure, the jackal here not only follows her steps but ultimately becomes a representation of her tireless efforts to stay alive in order to achieve her goal. Yet, the films focus points to Nayolas inability to cleanse herself from the horrors shes witnessed. Consumed by grief, she has lost herself.

In 2011 Yara and her grandmother Lelena (Vitoria Adelino Dias Soares) receive an unexpected visit from an enigmatic burglar. The more Nayolas past unravels, the shorter the distance between the two parallel timelines becomes. Solemn in tone but vividly fey in its treatment of a serious subject, the film even folds in small touches of archival footage to an affecting song that provides further visual information on the events that transpired.

Ribeiros striking work of historical fiction navigates similar thematic territory and evocative handcraft as recent releases Funan and Another Day of Life, both of which were released domestically by GKIDS. Its not farfetched to think Nayola could land a North American home at GKIDS as well.

My Grandfathers Demons

Slightly less poignant, but still invigorating in its deployment of the mediums techniques, Nuno Beatos My Grandfathers Demons opens in a demanding office environment where employees must constantly improve their performance. At the top of the productivity chain is Rosa (Victoria Guerra), a young woman climbing the corporate ladder.

The digital animation early in the first act intentionally omits much detail for a streamlined and cold look to match the efficiency-obsessed mood of the big city. Her monotonous, work-driven lifestyle has begun to take a toll on her and awakens a yearning to reconnect with her aging grandfather Marcelino (Antonio Duraes). A montage of her younger years with his voiceover concludes with Rosa finding out the man has died.

Shocked, she drives to her hometown to clear out and sell her grandfathers house. The instant Rosa arrives in the outskirts of the small community the generic cg imagery transforms into the tactile and wondrous realm of stop motion. While obvious, this visible illustration of the transition from her capitalistic reality to a rustic and handmade one demonstrates the directors smart vision to apply both options for dramatic purpose.

The imperfect puppets seem closer to Will Vintons Claymation productions than the more sophisticated builds of places like Mackinnon and Saunders or Laika. Likewise, the sets bear the imprint of having been created by the not always precise human hand. With a color palette of mostly ochres and browns and convincingly irregular textures in the terrain, the production design reflects how long this land has been deprived of water.

Once settled, Rosa begins to learn that her grandfather despised everyone around him, especially Antonio (Celso Bugallo), once his best friend. While Marcelinos narration informs us of the details, Rosa learns of his secrets in strange nightmares inhabited by demon-like creatures made of clay that her grandfather had made to represent himself and others. The recurrent presence of these entities, either on the bookshelf or life-size in her glistening visions, imbues the picture with measured otherworldliness. Not too scary but effective in transmitting the beyond-the-grave burden that afflicts Marcelino.

Although tempted to leave it all behind, Rosa decides to stay and amend his mistakes by figuring out how to bring water back to the local river. In turn, of course, she learns to disconnect from the spiritually unfulfilling things that overwhelmed her before.

Beatos indictment of Marcelinos acts rings harsher than one would expect in a relatively family friendly feature, but thats exactly what gives meaningful gravitas to the story. Fueled by illogical envy and hatred, the old man not only shut out everyone but actively pursued their suffering. And even if, in the end, the resolution hinges on a few convenient revelations and other unsolved family mysteries, theres an earned catharsis.
Photo: Contributed Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield

If I had a billion dollarsif I had a billion dollars

Lately, the Barenaked Ladies song, "If I Had a Million Dollars" has been running through my mind. It all started when the provincial government announced the demolition and rebuild of the Royal British Columbia Museum (in Victoria) will cost (nearly) $1 billion.

Is this what the residents of the Okanagan want nearly a billion dollars spent on?

I dont think that I am alone in thinking what else (that money) could buy. In fact, a recent poll by Angus Reid said just under 80% of all British Columbians were opposed to (the museum rebuild project). So, the vast majority of British Columbians might be singing the song with me.

So, what would $1 billion build in our community?

I can think of a few things:

 New schools. Rutland Middle School and Glenmore Secondary came to mind. Just imagine what synergies there could be building the high school next to the brand-new Parkinson Recreation Center In fact, a $1 billion could build 35 new schools, all desperately needed in B.C.

 More family doctors. Revise their contracts to make family practice work and attract new grads. Our valley is desperate for more doctors to provide longitudinal care rather than just episodic. Our health depends on it.

 While we're at it, lets build the last two operating rooms at KGH and staff them with nurses to get people healthy again. One billion dollars could build three new hospitals or at least fund 500 new (hospital) beds across BC.

 A bypass to the north (of Kelowna) to move traffic through the city faster with less emissions.

 A second crossing (of Okanagan Lake), or at least prepare for a multi-mode corridor for high-speed transit.

 More education spaces in UBC Okanaagan and Okanagan College for our kids to attend, like in nursing, physio, education, plumbing, HVAC, and carpentry.

 An incubator for industry and education. Lets build into our economy for a resilient future to provide for health and education sustainably.

 Lower gas prices.

 Enhanced food security.

 Less tax.

 More transit.

 More seniors' home care and more seniors' living spaces.

 More daycare spaces for kids that are accessible and affordable.

 The complex care facility Kelowna has been asking for to offer hope and dignity for our mentally ill, and true recovery rather than just punting the problem between our emergency rooms, our police force and our streets.

 A zero-waste energy facility to replace the landfill and create low carbon natural gas.

 More housing.

 More rental housing.

And the list goes on.

Dont get me wrong, I love museums and, as the Royal British Columbia Museum is the flagship museum of our province, it has always had the daunting task of protecting and presenting our provinces shared history, especially the history of B.C.s Indigenous peoples.

Shocking revelations that have come to light over the past few years have shown a need for a fundamental change in how we share our history and narrative. But why is this going to cost nearly $1 billion to accomplishand take until 2030? An entire generation of schoolchildren will not get to experience the museum.

In fact, a report from 2018 indicated the museum needed renovation not replacement, costingin todays dollarsonly 10% of what the replacement cost will be. And it would not require any closure.

So, as the song goes, If I had a million dollars, Id buy you a house.

We might not be able to buy everyone a house with a billion dollars but we most certainly can make them more affordable.

What do you want the government to spend a billion dollars on?

I want to hear from you. Email me at [email protected] or call my office at 250-712-3620.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions from a U.S.-supplied M777 howitzer in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region Saturday, June 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)

Holed up in a bombed-out house in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian troops keep a careful accounting of their ammunition, using a door as a sort of ledger. Scrawled in chalk on the door are figures for mortar shells, smoke shells, shrapnel shells, flares.

Despite the heavy influx of weapons from the West, Ukrainian forces are outgunned by the Russians in the battle for the eastern Donbas region, where the fighting is largely being carried out by way of artillery exchanges.

While the Russians can keep up heavy, continuous fire for hours at a time, the defenders can't match the enemy in either weapons or ammunition and must use their ammo more judiciously.

At the outpost in eastern Ukraine, dozens and dozens of mortar shells are stacked up. But the troops' commander, Mykhailo Strebizh, who goes by the nom de guerre Gaiduk, lamented that if his fighters were to come under an intense artillery barrage, their cache would, at best, amount to only about four hours' worth of return fire.

Ukrainian authorities say the West's much-ballyhooed support for the country is not sufficient and is not arriving on the battlefield fast enough for this grinding and highly lethal phase of the war.

While Russia has kept quiet about its war casualties, Ukrainian authorities say up to 200 of their soldiers are dying each day. Russian forces are gaining ground slowly in the east, but experts say they are taking heavy losses.

The United States last week upped the ante with its largest pledge of aid for Ukrainian forces yet: an additional $1 billion in military assistance to help repel or reverse Russian advances.

But experts note that such aid deliveries havent kept pace with Ukraine's needs, in part because defense industries aren't turning out weaponry fast enough.

Were moving from peacetime to wartime, said Francois Heisbourg, a senior adviser at the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research think tank. Peacetime means low production rates, and ramping up the production rate means that you have to first build industrial facilities.  This is a defense-industrial challenge which is of a very great magnitude.

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany last week reported that the U.S. has delivered about half of its pledged commitments in military support for Ukraine, and Germany about one-third. Poland and Britain have both come through on much of what they promised.

Many foot soldiers say they can't even begin to match the Russians shot for shot, or shell for shell.

Earlier this month, Ukraines ambassador in Madrid, Serhii Phoreltsev, thanked Spain  which trumpeted a shipment of 200 tons of military aid in April  but said the ammunition included was enough for only about two hours of combat.

Ukrainian filmmaker-turned-fighter Volodymyr Demchenko tweeted a video expressing gratitude for guns sent by the Americans, saying, "Its nice guns, and 120 bullets to each. But he lamented: Its like 15 minutes of a fight.

Part of the problem, too, is that the Ukrainian forces, whose country was once a member of the Soviet Union, are more familiar with Soviet-era weaponry and must first be trained on the NATO equipment they are getting.

An untold number of Ukrainians have traveled abroad to get training on the Western weapons.

Of the $1 billion pledge from the U.S., only slightly more than one-third of that will be rapid, off-the-shelf deliveries by the Pentagon, and the rest will be available over a longer term. The pledge, which includes 18 howitzers and 36,000 rounds of ammunition for them, addresses Ukraines plea for more longer-range weaponry.

Thats still far short of what the Ukrainians want  1,000 155 mm howitzers, 300 multiple-launch rocket systems, 500 tanks, 2,000 armored vehicles and 1,000 drones  as President Volodymyr Zelenskyys adviser Mikhail Podolyak tweeted last week, before the latest big Western pledges.

What the Ukrainians have got to do is conduct what military people tend to call a counter-battery operation to respond to Russian artillery fire, said Ben Barry, a former director of the British Army Staff who is senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. To do this, you need accurate weapons with a high rate of fire and a range that allows them to keep out of the way of the other sides artillery.

The Ukrainians are saying they dont have enough long-range rockets to adequately suppress Russian artillery, he said. I think theyre probably right.

As it now stands, Ukrainian fighters often have to use shoot and scoot tactics  fire, then move before the Russians can zero in on them.

Better NATO hardware, even in small quantities, is often welcome.

On a nearby front on Saturday, a Ukrainian unit granted The Associated Press rare access to the firing of U.S.-supplied M777 howitzers  towable, 155 mm weapons  on Russian positions.

A lieutenant who goes by the call sign Wasp touted the M777's precision, speed of fire, simplicity of use and the ease with which it is camouflaged, saying the new hardware raises our spirits and demoralizes the enemy because they see what the consequences are.

Denys Sharapov, Ukraines deputy minister of defense in charge of procurement, told a publication of the U.S.-based National Defense Industrial Association that the weapons systems that have been received cover only 10% to 15% of the country's needs. He noted the breadth of the challenge  a front line with 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of active combat.

Interviewed by National Defense magazine in an article published Wednesday, Sharapov said no single supplier could satisfy Ukraines needs alone.

Quite unfortunately for us, we have become the biggest consumer of weapons and ammunition in the world," he said.

Friends of Ukraine are digging in for the long haul.

Time may be on Ukraines side, the experts say. Ukrainian fighters are both motivated and mobilized  all men in the country of 40 million have been called to fight, whereas Russia has so far avoided a call-up of conscripts, which could vastly tilt the war in Russias favor but may not be popular domestically.

As for how long such fighting could last, analyst Heisbourg said a years-long war of attrition is quite possible."
Photo: The Canadian Press Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett, back left, speaks as B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson listens during a news conference after British Columbia.

Last month, British Columbia became the first jurisdiction in Canada to make changes to ensure drug users will not be arrested or charged for carrying up to 2.5 grams of illicit drugs as of next year.

It's the first jurisdiction in the country that will decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs in an effort to stem the rising tide of drug toxicity deaths. Since January 2016, almost 27,000 Canadians have died from opioid-related causes, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Solving the opioid crisis by decriminalizing access to opioids might seem counterintuitive.

But many experts involved in researching substance use over the past decades have come to the conclusion over the last 20 to 30 years that using criminal penalties to dissuade people from using certain substances simply does not work.

In addition to it being ineffective, it's also clear that criminal penalties for using some substances has also spawned a range of unintended negative consequences, said Michael John (M-J) Milloy, a research scientist at the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use.

Those range from an increased risk of fatal overdose, to a decreased likelihood that someone will seek treatment for drug addiction, he added.

The harms of criminalization and incarceration fall most heavily and inequitably on people who are racialized, poor and living with multiple mental health conditions, said Milloy, and that's why people have been looking for alternatives.

Decriminalization is not legalization; it doesn't mean drugs are legal, said Garth Mullins, a member of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users

Rather, decriminalization means drug dealers would still be subject to arrest, but police wont arrest someone for possessing and using small amounts of drugs.

Ian Culbert, executive director of the Canadian Public Health Association, said it is important to note the context in which drug use became criminalized.

Its very much of a part of our culture, that drugs are bad, Culbert said.

He said deeply ingrained negative stereotypes about people who use drugs include that they "just lack that moral character to pull themselves up by their bootstraps to get over whatever it is, or they are just lazy."

The reality is that people who have faced challenges that have left them with physical or emotional pain may not have the proper tools to deal with it in any other way, turning to substances to numb their pain, Culbert said.

Drug use and criminalization affects First Nations people in a particular way, said Carol Hopkins, executive director for the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation.

First Nations people are overrepresented in criminal justice system, and the reasons they are incarcerated can be tied to colonization and racism in Canada, said Hopkins, who also served as co-chair of Health Canada's Expert Task Force on Substance Use.

Drug use is a way of coping with the unresolved trauma, she said.

While harm reduction services are becoming available in urban areas, similar services are underfunded or not accessible in First Nations communities.

Calling those who use drugs "criminals," said Hopkins, fails to consider whether they have access to the things that ensure a good quality of life, and further stigmatizes people for their life experiences.

She called it inhumane for First Nations people to end up in jail for using substances, when it's often a way to cope with experiences such as residential schools, the effects of the child welfare system, or social issues like a lack of access to clean drinking water.

Conservative MP Brad Vis, who represents the B.C. riding of Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon, recently told reporters decriminalization is part of a soft-on-crime approach of the federal Liberal government.

B.C. is in an opioid crisis," he said. "We're not seeing any commitments from this government to provide appropriate care, culturally-sensitive care for Canadians and British Columbians who are suffering from addiction. We are at the epicentre of addictions issues in Canada.

Mullins disagrees this approach won't work, saying "we've tried hard-on-crime for 100 years," and that prison itself is a traumatizing experience that can lead to increased drug use.

There's no evidence to show that it does anything to help keep people safer, or get people off drugs or anything like that. More punishment just makes things worse, he said.

But Mullins does agree that B.C. has not proposed a solution that fully tackles the problem.

We have said it's going to take decriminalization and safe supply, Mullins said.

A regulated and safe supply of opioids is meant to ensure people don't rely on the unregulated and highly toxic drug supply on the street.

Even as British Columbias approved possession limits are criticized for going too far, many advocates have said that they actually dont go far enough.

Carolyn Bennett, minister of mental health and addictions, told MPs on the parliamentary health committee last week that the government cannot scale up decriminalization beyond B.C. until it can ensure there aren't "unintended consequences in public safety" in doing so, like gangs and organized crime.

The government has said, We have to be really careful about this. And that is true, said Hopkins.

"We have to be careful about the way we structure drug policy in Canada, but while we're being careful, we can't afford to let fear dominate."
Photo: The Canadian Press Michael Kovrig embraces his wife Vina Nadjibulla, right, after arriving at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.

A federal unit that tracks foreign interference has identified what appeared to be a co-ordinated information campaign by Chinese state media outlets to control the domestic narrative around the return of the "two Michaels" to Canada.

Rapid Response Mechanism Canada found the effort also seemed intent on fostering confusion or doubt in Canada and internationally about what Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were doing in China before they were detained in late 2018.

The Canadian Press used the Access to Information Act to obtain the unit's analysis of the September 2021 events, the latest window into a tense geopolitical drama that played out between Ottawa and Beijing over almost three years.

Several portions of the document, considered too sensitive to release, were blacked out.

Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive of Chinese firm Huawei Technologies, in December 2018 at the request of the United States, where she faced charges related to American sanctions against Iran.

The move clearly angered Beijing, and two Canadians working in China  Kovrig and Spavor  were arrested soon after on accusations of endangering national security, a move widely seen as retaliation against Ottawa.

Kovrig and Spavor were both convicted of spying in 2021 in closed Chinese courts. Canada and many allies said the process amounted to arbitrary detention on bogus charges in an unaccountable justice system.

The U.S. worked out a deferred prosecution agreement in Meng's case, allowing for her release, and Beijing permitted the two Michaels, as they came to be known, to fly home on Sept. 25.

A wide outpouring of relief from Canadians greeted their return. Typical of the sentiment was a tweet from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service: "CSIS joins all Canadians in welcoming you back to Canada."

RRM Canada's Sept. 28 analysis says it identified a narrative from Chinese state media outlets that claimed the two Michaels had "confessed their guilt," were "granted bail for medical reasons" and that CSIS had inadvertently exposed them as Canadian spies.

The unit, based at Global Affairs Canada, produces open data analysis to chart trends, strategies and tactics in foreign interference. The efforts support the G7 RRM, an initiative to strengthen co-ordination to identify and respond to threats to the leading industrial democracies.

RRM Canada says it first detected the "two Michaels" narrative Sept. 26, when the Global Times, a state-owned media tabloid, published a long English-language article with the headline, "Two Canadians confess guilt, granted bail for medical reasons before leaving China: source."

The RRM analysis notes the story said the two men were "released on bail," "confessed to their crimes and wrote confession and repentance letters in their own handwriting," and left China "in line with legal procedures."

"The author adds that China's suspicions are not unfounded and points to a recent tweet from CSIS that welcomed the two Michaels back to Canada."

Meng walked out of a British Columbia court Sept. 24 after a judge agreed to a discharge order that withdrew the U.S. extradition request against her.

It followed her virtual appearance in a New York court, where she pleaded not guilty to all charges and a judge signed off on the deferred prosecution agreement.

At the time, Nicole Boeckmann, acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said that in entering into the deferred prosecution agreement, Meng had taken responsibility for her role in perpetrating a scheme to defraud a global financial institution.

Boeckmann said Meng's admissions in a statement of facts confirmed that she made multiple material misrepresentations to a senior executive of a financial institution regarding Huawei's business operations in Iran in an effort to preserve the firm's banking relationship with the institution.

That same day, news accounts on Chinese social media platform WeChat reported that Meng would appear in U.S. and Canadian courts and could sign a deferred prosecution agreement that would allow her to return to China, the RRM analysis notes.

"Because the full details of the DPA were not clear, Canadian WeChat news accounts reported that she would plead guilty to charges or admit to wrongdoing in misleading a global financial institution," the analysis says. "Chinese state media did not include any of this discussion or information in their official narratives of Meng's release."

In response, the RRM analysis says, most mentions of what Meng had agreed to in the deferred prosecution agreement were taken down.

WeChat users would see an error message from platform developer Tencent saying, "unable to view this content because it violates regulations."

RRM notes that this sort of message appears only when Tencent or the Cyberspace Administration of China removes content from news accounts. However, it was unable to determine which one had taken the stories down.

The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa did not respond to a request for comment on the RRM Canada report.

The University of Toronto's Citizen Lab says China has an expansive system of censorship that includes restrictions on the internet, applications and media. Internet platforms operating in China must follow local laws and regulations regarding content controls, the research lab says.

Fen Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University, suggested the Chinese actions concerning the online dialogue about the events of last September indicate a lack of finesse.

"This shows that they're not very sophisticated and can be pretty ham-fisted at the same time," said Hampson, co-author with Canadian Press reporter Mike Blanchfield of "The Two Michaels: Innocent Canadian Captives and High Stakes Espionage in the US-China Cyber War."

"This is Chinese state censorship in motion."
Photo: The Canadian Press Police officers patrol on foot along Albert Street as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions that has been marked by gridlock and the sound of truck horns reaches its 14th day, in Ottawa, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.

The Ontario police watchdog says two Vancouver police officers did not commit a criminal offence by shooting less-lethal rounds at two protesters during the Freedom Convoy' demonstration in February.

The director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, says in a statement he found no reasonable grounds that the two officers acted unlawfully in discharging their less-lethal weapons at the protesters.

He notes no serious injuries were reported.

Martino says a Vancouver police officer shot rubber bullets and a pepper-spray projectile at a protester who was shining a bright light on the front of the police line on Bank Street in downtown Ottawa.

He says another Vancouver police officer shot either rubber bullets or bean bags to deter protesters from moving toward officers.

The officer fired his weapon, striking one protester in the leg, and fired again at another protester.

Martino says he is satisfied that the officers engaged in a "reasonable and legitimate exercise of police powers" to maintain public order and safety.

Vancouver police officers were in Ottawa to help control the crowds gathered for the convoy protest that gridlocked downtown streets for more than three weeks.
After many months (of the war in Ukraine), it remains nothing more than the new Killing Fields.

The media doesn't even bother to discuss the amount of money being spent on this war and the cost in lives, on both sides, is very high.

NATO has put in billions and billions of dollars but has yet to fire a bullet. The West's massive armies sits in Poland. Not one country has really come to the front as a (fighting) ally to Ukraine.

An ally is a country that shoots their missiles, uses their own air force, navy and troops to stop aggression. An ally is not a country that mails weapons to the underdog, and just hopes they arrive.

You certainly will never be able to stop Russia with sanctions and telephone calls.

There are only two possible solutions. A world leader needs to have the guts to threaten Putin and the Russian people that in two weeks all major Russian cities will be nuked, so it best overthrow Putin and get out of danger.

A second option is (Ukraine President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy surrenders, gives up the Dombas region where the people speak Russian anyway.

Ukraine will soon be dust, with a 100,000 possibly dead and a country in disarray for 50 years or more. That number will be dwarfed by the very poor who will starve to death in Africa from a lack of wheat (from Ukraine)two million-plus.

Ken Warren
Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra rises during Question Period, Monday, May 2, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says airlines must take ownership of the travel turbulence playing out at airports across the country.

The federal government has been scrambling to respond to scenes of endless lines, flight delays and daily turmoil at airports  particularly Toronto's Pearson airport  a problem the aviation industry has blamed on a shortage of federal security and customs officers.

But Alghabra told reporters today that "airlines have a duty as well," saying they must "keep their end of the bargain" on flight cancellations and missing baggage.

John Gradek, head of McGill University's aviation management program, says airlines have used Ottawa as a "scapegoat" while scheduling more flights than they have staff or resources to provide, resulting in delays and cancellations.

Kinks in one part of the air travel pipeline can affect others, with overflowing customs areas stopping flight crews from disembarking, for example, or a lack of airline customer service agents exacerbating delays.

Alghabra says the airport security agency has hired more than 900 screeners since April, though many remain in training.
Photo: The Canadian Press A woman enters a COVID-19 vaccination clinic, Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Quebec's immunization committee is recommending that the province prepare for another round of COVID-19 vaccination that could see some adults receive a fifth shot by the fall.

The committee says supplemental boosters should be offered beginning at the end of the summer to people 60 and over, the immunocompromised, health workers, pregnant women and people living in isolated regions.

It is recommending vaccination even for members of those groups who have already received three or four shots of the vaccine, as long as their last shot or COVID-19 infection occurred at least three months prior to the next injection.

The committee also says a "basic vaccination" for most adults should be defined as three doses  two initial doses and a booster  but it adds that the definition can vary depending on people's age and medical history.

It says the province should focus on boosting the population's immunity with periodic vaccination campaigns rather than counting the total number of shots people have received.

The Health Department says it has taken note of the recommendation and is preparing accordingly.

The committee says it will issue another update over the summer, noting that there is still "too much uncertainly to issue definitive recommendations" on which vaccine to use and the timing of the campaign.

It adds that the province can consider expanding the fall vaccination campaign to other adults once the priority groups have received their boosters.
Photo: The Canadian Press RCMP Chief Supt. Chris Leather fields questions at a news conference at RCMP headquarters in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on April 20, 2020. In the days following the mass shooting that left 22 people dead in Nova Scotia, the RCMP's statements to the public were riddled with mistakes, confusion and omissions, a newly released report reveals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Riley Smith

In the days following the mass shooting that left 22 people dead in Nova Scotia, the RCMP's statements to the public were riddled with mistakes, confusion and omissions, a newly released report reveals.

The document, published Tuesday by the inquiry investigating the 2020 tragedy, also asserts that key information about the case, including the victims' names and the types of weapons used by the killer, was withheld from the public longer than was needed.

The commission of inquiry does not have a mandate to assign blame, but the 126-page document lays out a long list of miscues and delays, some of which attracted the ire of senior RCMP brass in Ottawa.

The summary of evidence confirms that on the night of April 19, 2020, when the Mounties held their first news conference about the killer's 13-hour rampage, the RCMP initially chose to understate the number of people who were known to be victims.

The senior Mountie who led the RCMP's initial news conferences, Chief Supt. Chris Leather, said after being pressed by reporters that "in excess of 10 have been killed." However, before his 6 p.m. news conference in Halifax, Leather knew that victims were still being found and the official number stood at 17, the document says.

In media interviews later that night, the head of the RCMP, Commissioner Brenda Lucki, told the CBC that 13 people were killed. And just before 8 p.m. that night, Lucki told The Canadian Press that the death toll was 17.

The resulting confusion prompted a flurry of emails among senior RCMP staff. Jolene Bradley, director of strategic communications at RCMP headquarters in Ottawa, sent a message to her counterpart in Nova Scotia, saying, "Doesn't help that the (commissioner) is giving the number!!!! Am really trying to get that back in the box for you."

Lia Scanlan, director of strategic communications in Halifax, replied: "Thank you. It looks awful and I've had to ask my entire team to turn their phones off .... Lord help me!!"

At 10:21 p.m., Scanlan sent another email to headquarters, saying: "Can I make a request to stop changing number on victims. Please allow us to lead the release of information. It looks fragmented and inconsistent."

In a followup interview with inquiry investigators, Scanlan said government officials, including Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, were "weighing in on what we could and couldn't say" during media briefings. She did not provide further details.

Scanlan has told the inquiry that 10 was the number the Nova Scotia RCMP first used "because at a certain point, you have to call your information final."

By 11 p.m. on April 19, 2020, the RCMP had concluded that up to 22 people had been killed. The next day, Leather said the death toll had climbed to at least 19. The RCMP didn't reveal the final number until a statement was released on April 21, 2020.

At another point during the first news conference, Leather was asked if the killer was known to police. Leather said: "No, he was not." But that was not the case.

On the morning of April 19, 2020, the RCMP learned from police records that the killer had threatened to kill his parents in 2010 and had access to long guns. The records also confirmed he had told a police source in 2011 that he "wanted to kill a cop." And in early 2020, he had a bizarre but non-violent interaction with police who had parked their vehicle in the lot next to his denture-making business in Dartmouth, N.S.

As for the identities of the victims, Leather said on April 20, 2020, that no names would be released until Nova Scotia's medical examiner had confirmed the identity of certain individuals. The Mounties' own records, however, show that by 5:25 p.m. that day, all of the victims' immediate next of kin had been notified of their deaths  and that RCMP headquarters had confirmed its support for releasing the names.

By April 25, media reports confirmed the names of the 22 victims, but the RCMP had yet to provide a list.

The RCMP's operational manual says the names of deceased persons can be released once next of kin have been notified, but only if the disclosure will further the investigation, or there is a public safety concern or the identities have already been made public through other means.

On another front, Leather was asked at subsequent news conferences about the weapons owned by the gunman. He declined to provide details, saying he couldn't comment because the province's police watchdog agency  the Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT)  was investigating.

But the inquiry's document makes it clear the Mounties knew a great deal about the killer's firearms early in their investigation.

The RCMP had recovered multiple firearms from the stolen car the gunman was driving when he was shot dead by two Mounties at a gas station north of Halifax on April 19, 2020. A forensic identification officer had catalogued a list of five weapons, including two semi-automatic rifles, by April 21.

The types of guns used by the shooter, however, were not shared in the five news conferences that took place in the week following the mass shooting.

Internal RCMP documents show that on April 28, 2020, Lucki convened a meeting of senior RCMP officers, during which she said she was disappointed that details about firearms had been omitted. According to notes taken by RCMP Supt. Darren Campbell, Lucki said she felt "disobeyed" when those details were not shared.

Campbells notes say Lucki had promised the Prime Minister's Office that the RCMP would release the descriptions, adding that the information "was tied to pending gun control legislation that would make officers and public safer."

In response, Campbell told Lucki that he was the one who had asked the strategic communications team not to release the firearms details because doing so could jeopardize the RCMP's investigation into how the gunman obtained them.

The inquiry's document also takes issue with Leather's statement on April 20, 2020, that police did not know about the killer's replica police vehicle until the morning of April 19  the second day of the killer's rampage.

The inquiry has heard the Mounties were first told the gunman was driving a fully marked replica cruiser shortly after 10 p.m. on April 18, 2020, when 911 calls starting coming in from Portapique, N.S., where 13 people were killed. More witnesses came forward at 10:25 p.m. and the next morning at 5:16 a.m.

The document also reveals that RCMP Const. Wayne Tingley had seen the fully marked RCMP replica in Elmsdale, N.S., on April 17, 2020  a day before the shootings started. He noticed the car had a push bar  uncommon for actual RCMP cruisers  and lacked a licence plate but he didn't see the driver. Tingley provided a statement to the RCMP about his sighting on April 23, 2020.
Photo: The Canadian Press Green Party Interim Leader Amita Kuttner holds an umbrella for newly announced Deputy Leader Luc Joli-Coeur during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

The interim leader of the Green Party is warning that the far right in Canada is gaining strength from people who are completely frustrated and feel they no longer lead meaningful lives.

Amita Kuttner says the extreme right is appealing to an undercurrent of Canadians who feel left behind but may not share the same hateful ideology.

Kuttner warns that the simplicity of messaging and offer of a community is attracting people to the far right, which is masking its ideology to build its strength.

In an interview, Kuttner says politicians need to create solutions that don't leave anyone behind and the Green party has traditionally been an antidote to extreme-right ideology.

The Green Party is beginning its search for a new permanent leader but Kuttner, who identifies as non-binary, says they don't want the full-time job although the role of interim leader has been inspiring.

Kuttner today announced two deputy Green leaders: Angela Davidson, an Indigenous advocate known for defending ancient forests on Vancouver Island, and Luc Joli-Coeur, a former urban planning consultant who worked in the Quebec government.
Photo: The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to leave for a 10-day international trip this evening, with the Russia-Ukraine conflict expected to be a major focus.

He will first fly to Kigali, Rwanda, tonight to meet with the heads of the Commonwealth nations for the first time since 2018.

The trip also takes him to Germany for the G7 Summit and then on to Madrid for a NATO Summit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is planning to address leaders at both of those summits, as he continues to meet with world leaders to ask for financial and military support.

Trudeau has finished a 10-day isolation period that just fit between his return from the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles on June 11 and his departure for this stretch of travel.

The Prime Minister's Office says he began feeling symptoms of COVID-19 on June 11 after arriving in Canada and tested positive for the virus for a second time this year on June 13.
Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

The Liberal government's online-streaming bill, which has been the subject of fierce debate among members of Parliament, is now headed to the Senate.

Bill C-11 passed third reading in the House of Commons with a vote of 208 to 117, with the Conservatives opposing the proposed legislation.

The bill would update the Broadcasting Act and bring streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime within the regulatory regime.

It would also apply to platforms including YouTube and Spotify and make them promote Canadian music artists by law.

Critics of the bill say that as currently worded, it could also apply to amateur videos and user-generated content posted on YouTube.

The government faced protests from Conservative and Green Party MPs after it cut short debate and discussion of amendments in the heritage committee to push the bill through the House of Commons before the summer break.
Photo: BC Prosecution Service

Convicted pet killer Kayla Bourque will be allowed to have an electronic monitoring bracelet removed for travel for a return flight between Prince George and Vancouver.

She appeared in Vancouver provincial court on June 21 for an alteration on her release conditions to allow her to travel.

Bourque, 28, has made headlines in years past as a high-risk violent offender who has a history of offending violently against both people and animals  especially cats.

Bourque has been convicted of causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to animals, wilfully and without lawful excuse killing animals and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

She was once subject of a public notification conducted by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Corrections Branch because she was leaving New Westminster and moving to Surrey.

Bourque is allowed to travel to Prince George and back from Vancouver but must have a corrections officer remove her monitoring bracelet before each flight and when arriving at each destination, get it restored as soon as possible.

She has also been charged with breach of court order conditions.

The contents of the hearing before Judge Reginald Harris are covered by a publication ban.
National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval on Tuesday said that the people of Kashmir are no more in the favour of Pakistan and terrorism.

Highlighting the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 in Jammu and Kashmir, Doval in an interview to ANI said that the mood and temper of the people of the Valley has seen a change and that the situation has changed for the better in the region after the special status of the erstwhile state was revoked .

"Post-2019, the mood and temper of the people of Kashmir have totally changed. People are no more in the favour of Pakistan, terrorism," Doval told ANI.

On the question of terror attacks against Kashmiri Pandits, Doval said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government had taken steps in the past to protect vulnerable sections and would definitely do more in the future.

"Yes, they are a vulnerable section and need protection. Government has taken various steps in the past and probably much more has to be done and that is being done," said Doval on being asked about the safety of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

The national security advisor said the country will go on an offensive mode against terrorists and make sure that their misdeeds do not go unpunished.

"The best thing is to go on offensive mode against terrorists and make sure they're accounted for," Doval said.

Assuring that the government was taking steps to tackle the menace of terrorism, Doval said: "You don't deal with terrorism, you deal with terrorists. We are tackling their equipment, weapons, explosives and money. We are battling on all fronts and in another few months, we will see results."

Earlier on Tuesday security forces killed one unidentified terrorist in an encounter in Tulibal area of Sopore town in J-K's Baramulla district. Also an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Tujan village of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on Sunday.

In 2019 over 40 Indian soldiers were killed after a CRPF convoy in which they were travelling in was bombed by a Pakistan-based terror group in Kashmir's Pulwama.

According to Doval, the government was taking steps to tackle the issue of terrorism and that now, only individuals were seen to be carrying out "lone wolf attacks."

"We are trying to persuade them (Kashmiris), their families too are doing that. Some individual organisations are operated by their notions or beliefs or fidayeen and creating problems for us. We are fighting them with total resolve," he said.

"Where is Hurriyat? Where are those bandh calls... those Friday hartals.. all gone. Some young boys are getting misled but we are doing our best to persuade them... some military organisations are there but we are fighting them with total resolve," NSA Doval asked.

On 5 August 2019, the government of India revoked the special constitutional status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and abrogated Article 35A.

Article 35A had allowed Jammu and Kashmir to define who its "permanent residents" are and what rights and privileges are attached to such residency.

The former state was bifurcated into the Union Territories of Ladakh (without a legislature) and Jammu-Kashmir (with a legislature).

(ANI)
Cement exports from Pakistan show a mixed trend

21 June 2022

Pakistan's cement exports continued to report mixed trends in the export of cement and clinker cumulative basis for 11 months and in May alone of FY22, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. AKD Research has attributed this mixed trend to low export prices and increasing coal prices, which have made exports unattractive.

Pakistan's cement and clinker exports in the first 11 months of FY21-22 (July 2021 to May 2022) earned US$211.19m in revenue by dispatching 5.465Mt cement and clinker overseas compared to US$253.58m from 7.422Mt of exports in the year-ago period. This leads to the sector seeing a fall of 16.7 per cent in dollar terms and 26.6 per cent in volume during the export period. The negative trend also noted exports valued in Pakistani rupees, which eroded by 9.9 per cent to PKR36.68bn (US$175.1m) during this period.

But on a positive note, in May 2022 alone, export revenues increased 64.9 per cent, MoM, to US$7.36m on the shipment of 151,133t, compared to US$4.464m from 86,449t of exports in April 2022. The quantity increased by 74.8 per cent during this period. On the contrary, compared with May 2021 earnings of US$28.52m from 818,471t, this represents a drop of 74.2 per cent and 81.5 per cent YoY in value and quantity, respectively.

Export to the USA

Syedain Raza Zaidi, Chairman, Karachi Port Trust (KPT), has announced that bulk carrier Tomini Facility is still loading cement at KPT in 1.5t jumbo bags destined for Houston, Texas, USA. He was speaking at an event to mark the first-ever shipment to the USA, attended by officials of DG Khan Cement and other stakeholders in Karachi.

Chairman KPT added that it is a great achievement for Pakistani cement manufacturers to obtain huge orders in a very competitive environment and hopefully would benefit Pakistan when it needs foreign reserves. Earlier, the USA delegation recently visited Karachi Port to review the shipment facility.

A DG Khan announcement says that, We are gathered in Karachi to celebrate and announce that we have secured an order from a group in the USA to supply 50,000t of cement every month for the next twelve months totalling 600,000t. This figure could double if all goes well.

The USA presently import cement from Mexico, Canada, Vietnam, Turkey and Turkey. Pakistan has been exporting clinker and cement to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Madagascar, South Africa, Tanzania, India and now the USA.

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Within the Chattanooga city limits, the 6300 block of Fairview Road, a residential Hixson yard continuously displays two full-size flags, offensive to most locals, on a tall pole close to the street. That street has major exposure as a heavily travelled main, two-lane route.

One flag defames by name an elected official with a huge obscene four-letter word, illegal in many public communications. The other is a defaced United States flag, half stars and stripes and half Confederate flag. A Chattanooga City Councilman tells residents personally, upon inquiry, there is no ordinance, law, etc., to prevent this.

If true, what a shame, that we neighbors must see these daily, must explain them to our children, and must apologize to Chattanooga visitors for unnecessary foul language and unpatriotic disrespect for our country's flag.

Is this the kind of resident who would yell "FIRE!" in a crowded theater, if he/she could get away with it?

As responsible city citizens, let's tell our city fathers to clean up Chattanooga in every way. A way can always be made through conscientious government. Even with the city's many problems, in these times there are no small problems.

Rebecca Rolston-Miller

* * *

Nowadays, many people think ideas offensive to them, or just different from what they believe, should be "cleaned up" or outlawed altogether. I agree with Ms. Rolston-Miller that Chattanooga has problems bigger than hurt feelings caused by someone's flags -- like the epidemic of violent crime, which the mayor and police chief can't seem to get under control -- but wonder if "most locals" find the flags in question as offensive as she does.

Censorship ("free speech for me but not for thee") is dangerous and leads to ever-tightening government grip on the people - think North Korea, Russia, and China -- and it's happening in the United States too. The Biden administration is trying to control what's "acceptable speech" with its truth czar, and both mainstream and social media platforms are curtailing dissemination of thought contrary to government or woke social dogma. Example: Fauci and the CDC have been wrong repeatedly about COVID, yet those who question vaccine efficacy and mask mandates are ignored or labelled purveyors of "disinformation" and "anti-science".

If it's okay to force removal of the flags on Fairview Road, and thereby limit the property owner's right to free expression, what else is okay to remove or restrict? Who decides what's offensive and must go away? (Traditionally, courts have decided what is unacceptable or "obscene".) Are we willing to accept curtailment of our own speech if it offends others?

Nope, the vast majority are not. I'm thankful for our Constitution and particularly the protections it provides.

Morgan Smith
314 Cedar shortly before it was demolished along with the rest of Cameron Hill - photo by From the Pat St. Charles, Jr., Collection scanned by Sam Hall, Chattanoogahistory.com

314 Cedar faced uphill and featured a low metal ornamentation around a section of flat roof. It is shown in 1890 - to the right of the house with two sets of three windows..

A prominent Chattanooga insurance built a home for himself on Cedar Street in the midst of the Boom period in the late 1880s.

Henry N. Martin moved into his new frame home at 314 Cedar St. in 1887.

The house featured a front porch with decorative trim, two tall chimneys and a spacious downstairs area.

Martin, who was also infected with the current real estate fever, was the agent for several prominent insurors. They included City of London, Union of California, American Central of St. Louis, Commercial of London, Citizens of New York, and Travelers Life and Accident of Hartford, Ct.

However, Henry Martin died a short time later. His widow moved to 509 Pine St. just a few blocks away.

Members of the Parsons family took over 314 Cedar, then it was occupied for several years by P. Theo Seiter, who was the general freight and passenger agent for the Tennessee River Transportation Company.

Seiter also died. His widow, Pauline, moved to the house at 309 Cedar that earlier had been occupied by Z.W. Wheland.

Major R. Jones, who was the foreman at the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railroad yards, next lived at 314 Cedar.

It later passed to Samuel W. Shweidelson and then to Samuel Sovelove, a shoemaker. S.C. Simpson also lived there.

At the start of World War II, D.S. Randall and T.J. Warren Jr. were at 314 Cedar. Three others were in the lower section, including some more Randalls.

In the final days of 314 Cedar St., it was divided into A, B. and C apartments.
Lookout Mountain, Ga., City Manager Kenny Lee had a welcome message for mountain residents late Monday night marked "The Fairyland Extension Reopens."

He said the roadway just below Rock City that has been closed since late April would be open sometime today (Tuesday).

Mr. Lee said:

"A picture paints a thousand words or in our case three  IT IS Done!!!



"The Fairyland Extension will be reopened for your return trip up the mountain on Tuesday, June 21st whether returning from work, shopping, or leisure. Make sure your return trip follows the noon hour.



"Thanks again to all the DOTS: GDOT, CDOT and TDOT and the array of subcontractors and engineers who worked on both the temporary and final solution.



"Special thanks to both Georgia and Tennessee residents who weathered the redirection of traffic up Lula Lake and Fleetwood to leave the Hill."

The Ochs Highway Extension had been barricaded for work on a permanent fix to sections that had been slipping off the mountain. That meant traffic was routed up the winding Ochs Highway to the Tennessee side of the mountain.

That section of Ochs Highway could not be handled by trucks so they were warned not to try it.

The work involved putting in multiple culverts along about 80 feet of road after digging down about four feet, then filling in with dirt.



Rock City had informed visitors at the start of the project, "Road work on Ochs Hwy will impact travel up Lookout Mountain towards Rock City over the next several weeks. Plan to follow posted detours."
After more than a year as interim director, Chris Lykins was appointed as permanent director of Marketing and Communications for Chattanooga State Community College following a national search to fill the position.



Chris brings unique qualifications to this mission-critical role as a former faculty member in our graphic design program and more than 10 years of professional experience, stated Nancy Patterson, vice president of College Advancement and Public Relations.



"During his time as interim, Mr. Lykins made substantial improvements within the department," officials said. "He reworked the marketing budget, formalized partnership models, improved internal and external communication, established a campus brand audit, prioritized teamwork and collaboration and moved from push advertising to multimedia storytelling."

My 10 years of experience in marketing has given me the skills to tell the why of our faculty, staff and students in a way that will inspire others to see how ChattState can help them become the heroes of their own journey, said Mr. Lykins.



Chris brings a wonderful gift for storytelling, bold leadership skills and a passion for our purpose to support and empower everyone in our community to learn without limits, said Ms. Patterson.



Mr. Lykins holds a masters in Secondary Education and a bachelors in Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, and a bachelors in English and pre-law from Pensacola Christian College.
The Chattanooga Airport, the city of Chattanooga and elected officials kicked off construction Tuesday of the airports $28 million terminal renovation and expansion. Officials made remarks from the second floor of the Chattanooga Airport where crews will soon begin demolition of a wall facing the tarmac to make way for the new addition.

With the expansion, the Chattanooga Airport is advancing to phase two of our 20-year master plan, said Terry Hart, Chattanooga Airport president and CEO. This project allows room for growth within the airport including additional departures and arrivals, so that we can continue conversations with airlines about new routes to and from Chattanooga.

The expansion project will add 26,000 square feet to the terminal while renovating 36,000 square feet of existing concourse. It complements phase one of the master plan which included the $25 million four-level parking garage that was completed last July. The garage has three public parking levels, 1,300 spaces, a covered rental car area and covered walkway to baggage claim.

The terminal project includes three new passenger loading bridges, expanded security lanes and increased restrooms and concessions. The new security lanes will speed up passenger traffic allowing for an even smoother and convenient experience, said officials. The new bridges will support additional flights and routes as the airport continues to grow its destination base. New concessions include 2,570 square feet of post-security restaurant space with 70 seats in the dining area and 24 seats at the bar.

Its difficult to increase boardings without more capacity, so growth is necessary for us to expand the market for our customers and remain competitive with other regional airports, said Jim Hall, chairman of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority. We want to keep existing customers and win over new ones as Chattanooga and nationwide travel picks up, and the terminal expansion is an important milestone toward our vision.

Through April, Chattanooga Airport boardings were up more than 50 percent compared to the same time last year. Businesspeople are flying more which has a positive impact on the airport after business travel took a hit during the pandemic.

Growth at the airport supports the vision for Chattanooga as we continue to improve economic opportunities across our city, said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. A strong airport is an economic driver for businesses looking to locate here and for attracting visitors and new residents to our community.

Funding for the project comes from three sources. Approximately $12.5 million is federal grant money, while $3.5 million came from airport funds, and $8 million was collected through the airports passenger facility fee.

Tennessee Senator Bo Watson and Chattanooga City Councilwoman Carol Berz also spoke at the terminal expansion kickoff about the excitement around the project and what it means for Chattanooga. The expansion will not only impact the city but also the state of Tennessee as tourism is the states #2 industry. Currently, 81 percent of American travelers report strong excitement for travel this year, which is aiding the airline industrys recovery.

Terminal construction is estimated to be completed in 2024. There will be no impact to passengers as the Chattanooga Airport continues operations.

Local builders J&J Contractors of Chattanooga are leading construction while engineers Allen & Hoshall are managing the project. DH&W is leading architecture and interior planning for the terminal expansion and renovation.

For more information, please visit www.ChattAirport.com/New-Terminal.
Friends of the Festival released the lineup for this years Riverfront Nights series. The free performances take place at the Riverbend site on Riverfront Parkway each Saturday evening beginning at 7 p.m. The series will launch on July 2 and will conclude on Aug. 27.

Review for the performers:

July 2

Headliner: Sail On: The Beach Boys Tribute

www.sailonsounds.com

https://youtu.be/KG73uEGkeLw

Performing over 80 shows a year, Sail On is the most booked Beach Boys Tribute band in the world. The band plays classic hits plus treasures from the bands extended catalog, recreating the soundtrack to an Endless Summer completely live and in rich detail.

Opener: Fresh Mind



July 9:

Headliner: CBDB

www.cbdbmusic.com

https://youtu.be/oBsfg1LCMNA

Based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, CBDB is a progressive rock band with a strong presence of touring throughout the southeast. The band was founded in 2011 by Cy Simonton (vocals, guitar), Kris Gottlieb (lead guitar), and Glenn Dillard (saxophone, keyboards). Blake Gallant (bass) joined in 2018, followed by Chris Potocik (drums) in 2020. CBDB are the self-proclaimed purveyors of Joyfunk.

Opener: Killakeyz

July 16:

Headliner: Rubiks Groove

www.rubiksgroove.com

https://youtu.be/pYzJHXLTxlI

Rubiks Groove is an 80s, 90s and 00s tribute band that brings high-energy, character-driven acts with 360-degree interactive experiences. Their music encompasses rock to hip hop and characters, costumes and videos to get the crowd on their feet.

The July 16th show is also the evening for Chattanooga Unite an event marking the anniversary of the Fallen Five service members killed by a terrorist attack on July 16, 2015. This show is sponsored by INFINITI of Chattanooga.

July 23:

Headliner: The Shindellas

www.weirdoworkshop.com

https://youtu.be/YZAyplS7hJU

One of this years break out groups at Riverbend was the Shindellas. This trio features lots of harmony, energetic stage presence and is often compared to the Supremes. The synchronized dance moves and harmonies combined with great back up provide for a not-to-be-missed appearance at Riverfront Nights.

Opener: Luke Simmons

July 30:

Headliner: The Nth Power

www.thenthpowermusic.com

https://youtu.be/Udm3KTyfLUI

Proving that soul music can be exponentially greater than the sum of its parts, The Nth Power is on a mission to share the light. Formed during an impromptu late-night ham at Jazz Fest 2012 in New Orleans, the relentlessly funky and soulful band believes in music as a higher power tapping into an energy that is simultaneously sexy and spiritual, with songs that will inspire audiences to dance, groove or just stand there with goose bumps.

Opener: Rick Rushing

Aug. 6

Headliner: Rumours: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute

www.moremusicgroup.com

https://youtu.be/O_4e2p1Pzrg

Rumours is the Southeasts premier Fleetwood Mac tribute band. Based in Atlanta, GA, Rumours captures the energy of Fleetwood Mac at the height of their career by blending perfect harmonies, precise instrumentation, and a visually engaging stage show. The six members of Rumours are professional musicians with experience across the spectrum of genre  folk, blues, country, rock, and everything in between. Rumours is Mekenzie Jackson (lead vocals), Doug Easterly (lead and backing vocals, guitar and percussion), Alex Thrift(lead guitar), Adrienne Cottrell (keyboards, lead and backing vocals), Jim Ramsdell (bass) and Daniel Morrison (drums).

Opener: The Afternooners



Aug. 13:

Headliner: Tennessees Dead

https://youtu.be/2P8VUUszjPk

Tennessees Dead was a favorite group from the 2021 season and is comprised of seven musicians from Chattanooga. A fan favorite, this group not only has quite a following but puts on a great show.

Opener: Oweda

Aug. 20:

Headliner: Shovels and Rope

www.shovelsandrope.com

https://youtu.be/ue9lsHpGKd4

Shovels & Rope is a folk duo from Charleston, South Carolina. Husband and wife Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst combine threads from their individual solo careers to blend traditional, folk, rock and roll and country rock throughout their performances. The bands sixth album Manticore, released last February.

Aug. 27:

Headliner: Eric Gales

www.ericgales.com

https://youtu.be/PjtosbQC4_g

Gales picked up the guitar at age four. His older siblings, Eugene and Manuel (Little Jimmy King) taught him songs and licks when he was young, in the style of Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, B.B. King and others. On Oct. 21, 2021, Gales released the single "I Want My Crown," featuring Joe Bonamassa. The song serves as the lead single from his upcoming album Crown. Produced by Bonamassa and Josh Smith, the album was released on Jan. 28. Upon release, it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Album chart, his second to do so.

Opener: Sweet Randi Love

Organizers noted, We are thrilled with this years Riverbend experience and the outpouring of support we had for Chattanoogas original music festival. As we move into the 15th year of Riverfront Nights, were equally excited to introduce Chattanooga to some new sounds while listening to bands that are area favorites. We look forward to seeing everyone on the banks of the Tennessee River beginning on July 2.
The Bessie Smith Cultural Center will open Phase II of the New Museum Vision in the Vilma Fields Atrium on Saturday.

The new exhibit titled Chattanoogas Black Soundtrack was created to preserve and celebrate the central role African Americans play in creating Americas music. The professionally-curated collection will share the story of Chattanooga African American entertainers by integrating history and interactive technology. Not only does the exhibit feature well-known Chattanoogans such as Usher, Kane Brown, the Impressions, and Montego Glover, but it also highlights those entertainers who performed in the night clubs on the Big Nine and notable musicians such as Booker Scruggs, Deacon Bluz, and many others.

In exploring how the intermingling of musical and cultural traditions, styles, and beliefs, brought forth new modes of American musical expression, the exhibition expands the definition of African American music to include African American music-makers of all genres and styles.

More importantly, in a land where racism and oppression existed as a continuing battle to be fought against and won, it shows how African American music provided a voice for liberty, justice and social change. Visitors will be able to appreciate African American music as a vibrant living art form that has been a vehicle of cultural survival and creative expression.

The museum will open on June 25 at 10:00 am with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Visitors will be able to tour the museum until 5:00 pm. Museum admission is free on this day and there will be food trucks and music on the lawn of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. Uncle Larrys, Fud Vybez, and Sugar, Spice, Everything Ice food trucks will be selling great food and cool treats throughout the day.

This exhibit was made possible by museum partners, Benwood Foundation, Lyndhurst Foundation, Chattanooga Tourism Company, Coca Cola, Tennessee Arts Commission, Kazee, and the City of Chattanooga.
A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPICI) and McGill University in Canada discovered strong adhesive properties of white-berry mistletoe. The mistletoe berry's flexible fibers adhere to both skin and cartilage as well as to various synthetic materials and could find application in many fields, such as wound sealant in biomedicine, through ease of processing.

For their research, the materials scientists led by Prof. Dr. Peter Fratzl picked the mistletoe berries from the trees themselves. From his office window, the director of the Department of Biomaterials can see the many green parasitic plants. "Mistletoe grows in large numbers everywhere, including the Max Planck Campus, and is biodegradable and renewable," says Peter Fratzl, adding, "For the first time, we are now investigating how to harness its excellent adhesive properties for potentially medical or technical uses."

Advantages of the biological glue: it adheres very well and is easy to remove under humid conditions.

To observe the adhesive properties, materials scientist and former carpenter Dr. Nils Horbelt wore the mistletoe glue on his fingers for three days in a self-experiment: "Afterwards, I was able to remove the viscin by simply rubbing my fingers together." Each mistletoe berry can produce a sticky thread up to two meters long called viscin - a natural cellulose adhesive. This allows the seeds of the semi-parasitic plant to stick to their host plants. The researchers in the former research group of Dr. Matthew Harrington, who has since moved on to a professorship at McGill University in Canada, discovered that viscin fibers can be stretched into thin films or assembled into 3D structures by simply processing them when wet. This natural super glue could potentially find application as a wound sealant, and it also adheres to metals, glass and plastics. Also exciting is the fact that the adhesive properties are fully reversible under humid conditions. "Many questions remain about this very unusual material," says Nils Horbelt, first author of the present study. The next step will now be to investigate the chemistry behind this swellable, extremely sticky material in order to be able to imitate the bonding process in a second step.
June 10, 2022-Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr signs an MOA with City of Nowata officials. Pictured are first row, left to right, Nowata City Public Works Director Roger Smith, Chief Hoskin, Cherokee Nation Executive Director, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Michael Lynn. Back Row, left to right, Mayor of Nowata Dean Bridges, Council of the Cherokee Nation councilor for district 11 Victoria Vasquez, Nowata City Councilor Gary Gibson, District 12 Councilor Dora Patzkowski, Nowata City Manager Melanie Collins.
Sophia Lee and Joel Carillet both hoped to beat the Russians to Ukraine.

Carillet, an East Tennesseebased photojournalist who had previously lived in Ukraine, managed to pull it off. He landed in Kyiv 10 days before missiles began falling.

Lee, a newly hired writer at CT, planned to travel there on her debut assignment for the magazine. But by the time she started in March, the incursion was well underway; she flew instead to Poland to document Ukrainian refugees.

The two met one afternoon at a hotel in Warsaw to begin reporting this months cover story. Carillet struck Lee as nice, really quiet; she liked him immediately. Lee seemed to Carillet a little reserved, similar to himself. She had an impressive work ethic.

But who can really feel, when they first shake someones hand, how much weight a person is carrying? Journalists dont bring themselves to a story tabula rasa, minds undivided and hearts unburdened.

Carillet had already spent weeks photographing the heartbreaking outflow of displaced people. I think I cried at some point almost every day, he said. Then there was his mother, a former missionary to Ukraine who was declining in hospice care back in the US. (Tragically, she passed away while he was still in Europe.)

Lee was seven months pregnant. She was days into a new job, and she and her husband were still grieving the sudden death of her mother-in-law.

Naturally, Carillet and Lee reported on stories of Christian hope and joy in the midst of cruelty and suffering. They wanted those stories as much for themselves as for CTs readers. But they also encountered people with a different variety of faith, people who had given up demanding quick fixes to their desperate situations. ...

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Confucius Institute promotes Chinese language education and cultural communication: Bahraini scholar

Xinhua) 09:03, June 21, 2022

MANAMA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute in Bahrain has strengthened the connection between the peoples of China and Bahrain and the cultural communication between the two countries, said a Bahraini scholar.

Established in 2014 under the cooperation between the University of Bahrain (UoB) and Shanghai University in China, the Confucius Institute has been fulfilling its goal of strengthening the connection between the peoples of Bahrain and China and deepening the education cooperation and cultural communication, UoB Vice President for Academic Programs and Postgraduate Studies Mohammad Reda Qader told Xinhua.

He said that the educational cooperation and cultural communication between Bahrain and China are essential in a long-term development strategy as part of the Belt and Road Initiative and Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030.

Qader revealed that in the past eight years, 4,384 UoB students have registered for the Chinese language course.

The institute has also completed seven sessions of Chinese language courses for over 200 Bahrain government employees and organized hundreds of cultural activities attended by over 50,000 participants, he said.

Besides language teaching, the institute also provides access to other resources including short-term and long-term study in China, scholarships, students and scholars' exchange programs, and cultural trips.

Qader noted that learning Chinese has become a trend around the world. So far, over 70 countries have officially incorporated Chinese language classes into their national education systems, including Britain, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, and Australia, he said.

27-year-old Fatima Mirza, who is a Chinese language lecturer at the institute, said studying Chinese was the right decision she had made.

"My unique major has secured me a job at the UoB, which is the official university of Bahrain whose teachers are carefully selected," Mirza said.

Mirza got a scholarship from the government of Bahrain in 2013 to study the Chinese language in Jordan. She improved her language skills when she studied for her master's degree at Shanghai University in China.

"During my time in China, I didn't only learn the language, but also fell in love with the Chinese culture, including Chinese calligraphy and Chinese paintings," she said.

She added that many UoB students join the institute courses out of their interest in the language and the culture.

"We notice that some students know the language basics and join our courses to improve their skills for many reasons, including to watch their favorite Chinese TV series," Mirza said.

The Confucius Institute is a non-profit education institution jointly hosted by Chinese and foreign partners to deepen international understanding of the Chinese language and culture, and promote people-to-people exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun)
In the Chandanagar incident, the father of a minor girl was allegedly beaten up by Srinuvasulu, and was also coerced into withdrawing a complaint against the man who stalked, harassed and threatened his 16-year-old daughter in the name of love, apart from mentally and physically harassing to an extent of torching their vehicle. (Image credit: Facebook)

HYDERABAD: The delay in submission of inquiry report in the case of the sub Inspector of Chandanagar, who beat up a Dalit man, shows how a cop is treated differently when he is involved in assault and dereliction of duty, whereas a common man would have been instantly taken into custody and sent for judicial remand.

Sub inspector of Chandanagar, P. Srinuvasulu, who was allegedly involved in assaulting a Dalit man for complaining against a food delivery boy who was stalking and harassing his daughter, was attached to headquarters and disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him on June 16.

The Cyberabad police commissioner officially stated that he initiated disciplinary action against Srinivasulu following allegations that he had threatened the father of a sexual harassment victim.Srinivasulu allegedly threatened the father of a victim of sexual harassment, and asked him to withdraw a complaint. When the issue came to light, orders were passed to initiate an enquiry into the incident and attached the SI to the headquarters as part of disciplinary action, said the commissioner.

If it was a commoner caught doing this exact thing, the officials would have simply arrested him and sent him to judicial remand pending court hearing. Why is there a special treatment given to the police? The so-called suspension doesnt matter for them as they get to stay home and join back without a cause of worry, said Atul Kumar, a city-based activist.

In the last six months, nine officials were placed under suspension in the city for reasons ranging from allegations of misconduct, corruption, involving in civil matters, moral turpitude, intimidation of a complainant, negligence towards their legitimate duties in the control of narcotics in pubs and bars, dereliction of duty and corruption in the investigation of double murder of realtors, apart from case of CCS Rachakonda, wherein inspector Devender was caught using the debit card of a businessman while he was in jail and withdrawing over Rs 5.5 lakh through different ATMs.

The whole shebang about suspension is done to either appease the victims or if there is an outcry outside in the society. They either suspend, transfer or launch a departmental enquiry, which eventually falls flat as they do not gather evidence backing the claim. There must be a black mark on the official for what they have done and the police personnel must be accountable for each and every case. A mere suspension is not the answer in grave offences. Dismissing an official will set an example to others from choosing corruption, said Devi, an activist from Hyderabad.

In the Chandanagar incident, the father of a minor girl was allegedly beaten up by Srinuvasulu, and was also coerced into withdrawing a complaint against the man who stalked, harassed and threatened his 16-year-old daughter in the name of love, apart from mentally and physically harassing to an extent of torching their vehicle. The accused, identified as Aravind Nani, 24, who works as a food delivery agent, colluded with a ruling party corporator from Serilingampally, and has reportedly asked the SI to beat the man into withdrawing his complaint. The man, who is a daily wage labourer, approached the police to complain against Aravind Nani, a resident of Papireddy Colony of Sangareddy, stating that for the past five months, the girl, a Class X student, was tormented by Nani in the name of love. It was also alleged that Nani threatened to rape the differently abled sister of the minor, if she had not accept his proposal.

On June 15, after the intervention of Mahila Sangam, who gathered at the Chandanagar police station, the higher officials took up the issue and confirmed that they would be writing an inquiry report to the Cyberabad police commissioner Stephen Ravindra about the negligence of the sub inspector and requesting for his suspension. The accused was booked under Sections 11 and 12 of the POCSO Act, apart from Sections 435, 436, 354 and 509 of the IPC and arrested.
The aftermath of the scandal that shook John Crists career has become part of his comedy, turning his lessons learned into new material and his experience with cancel culture into a punch line.

This month, the popular Christian comedian released a full-length special on YouTube and announced a book due out in October. His debut Netflix special and his first book were pulled after a 2019 Charisma investigation uncovered a pattern of manipulation and sexual harassment of female fans.

Since returning to the stage and social media, Crist has discussed his downfall and four-month stint in rehab, even making off-the-cuff references to his alleged misconduct.

During a performance in February 2022, for example, a woman shouted at the stage from the audience. Crist responded, Love you, girl! before pretending to catch himself. Thats how I got in trouble last time, he joked. He posted the clip to his YouTube channel and social media, where he has built a fan base of millions through jokes and satire rooted in evangelical culture.

In a Q&A last weekend, the comedian also told his 1.1 million Instagram followers that he wrote a book in 2019 but then I got canceled rip. Crist said his upcoming bookDelete That: (and Other Failed Attempts to Look Good Online)will recount the story from his perspective.

Image: Instagram screenshot

Crist has blamed his own horrific choices and apologized for disappointing followers when he had to step away to address sexual sin and addiction struggles and get sober. He hasnt publicly acknowledged the women who say they were hurt by his behavior, however, and victims and their advocates say he has not apologized.

Crists new book was announced last Friday and shares a similar take on social media image management as the unpublished title from 2020 (the former was called Untag Me). Its description reads:

In Delete That, Crist takes responsibility for his actions, offers some reflections on how to do better, and encourages us all to stop capitulating to the fear of But what will they think?! Instead, this book offers a bold invitation to stop curating life and start living it  one Nickelback concert at a time.

Crist posted on Instagram on Saturday that it would include his perspective on getting canceled but wrote that im a white male so my perspective is wrong. The 38-year-old also said that fans can read about the first ever sex scandal that involved no sex.

Promoting the book on his podcast last week, Crist recalled how his PR team told him they didnt need know what happened if he had been drinking in a hotel room with a woman since youre kind of already guilty even if nothing happened.

I lived my entire life to delete and manicure everything, and then everybody found out everything about me, he said on Net Positive, the podcast he launched in May. And I found out that they still liked me, and that changed my whole life.

Crists new book is from a secular imprint, Penguin Random Houses Crown Forum, while the previous one was set to be published by its Christian subsidiary WaterBrook.

Despite the references to getting canceled, Crist maintains a robust Christian fan base and has been back on tour since 2021, performing back-to-back nights of sold-out shows in some cities. His new special on YouTube has nearly three quarters of a million views, and hes slated to tape another in Dallas this week.

Crist has discussed how he expected to be rejected by Christian fans after rehab but the opposite happened. He now sees their continued support as an extension of Gods acceptance.

You guys have shown me a love that I have never experienced in my life, he said in a March 2021 Instagram story thread, reflections that he later repeated in his comedy set. He also had a bit comparing motherhood to being in rehab.

Fans celebrate his vulnerability and Christian testimony in bringing up the darkest times of his life publicly. But some have continued to call Crist to repent and step down from the stage, including victims who say hes literally profiting off their trauma.

Around the launch of his June 1 YouTube special, advocates challenged Christian podcaster Annie F. Downs for promoting Crist on Instagram and celebrating her friendship with him; Downs removed the post and apologized.

Multiple women have come forward in the past couple years with stories alleging predatory behavior, abuse, and manipulation. One wrote, One of my greatest fears when all this happened was that he would disappear and then come back like nothing happened.

Within months of getting out of rehab, Crist was back to performing bits and funny videos on social media. The following year he was touring nationally. Only this time, he wasnt performing in megachurches but traditional comedy venues.

When I got canceled, no one really knew what to do. Im obviously still a believer, but we just dont perform in churches. But that seems fair. A lot of the criticism of me is fair, Crist said in an interview in January. He implied that he shouldnt be held to the same standard as a pastor and suggested that saying he shouldnt work anymore would be unfair.

Based on his material, Crist attracts the same evangelical, Southern audiencepeople who get all the cultural references from a homeschooled preachers kid and former Chick-fil-A employee.

During his latest special, filmed at the Lyric Theater in Birmingham, the crowd completed Bible verses at his prompting and sang Father Abraham together. Put the arms down! Thats why people are scared to come to church, he said.

While on tour, Crist has done an Instagram series visiting and reviewing local churches, including some outside his tradition, such as a Greek Orthodox service. He recently shared clips from a visit to Lakewood Church, where he bought a T-shirt in the gift shop.

His social media videos resemble the kind of content Crist did earlier in his career, joking about dads, pastors, fast food, sports, and stereotypes of basic white women.

Crist appeared at Turning Point USAs Americafest at the start of the year, a segment cohosted by Alex Clark, who said she dated the comedian back in 2018. They discussed conservative womens appearance and how comedy and politics are both approaches to igniting cultural change.

Cancel culture and the #MeToo movement came first and hardest and only for comedians, he said, because comedians will tell you the truth in a way that exposes you.
Fort Worth Episcopalians vote to join Texas diocese after losing $100M property battle

A group of Episcopalians in Texas who recently lost a legal battle with a breakaway diocese over church property valued at $100 million have voted to join another Episcopal diocese.

The Episcopal Church in North Texas (ECNTX), formerly known as the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, unanimously approved a proposal Saturday to join the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

At a special meeting of the Diocesan Convention at Trinity Episcopal Church of Fort Worth, the ECNTX voted 69 to 0 in favor of a "reunion" with the Diocese of Texas.

Bishop Scott Mayer said during a sermon that the special meeting was "not about closure" but "an outward visible sign of faith, hope, and love by a liberated people."

"You did more than weather the storm. You did more than survive the journey. You chose life and love," said Mayer regarding the years of litigation over the Fort Worth Diocese property.

"The communities and people you serve can testify that your presence and witness matters in this world. You make a difference. And you are great."

The ECNTX vote came several days after the Episcopal Diocese of Texas's Diocesan Council voted 526-14 in favor of the plan, in which ECNTX would become the Houston-based North Region of the Diocese of Texas.

The majority of the Fort Worth Diocese voted in 2008 to leave The Episcopal Church over a disagreement with the mainline denomination's progressive theological views following the ordination of the first openly gay Episcopalian bishop. The separation led to years of legal battles over trademark and property disputes.

In February 2021, the Anglican Church in North America secured control of the Diocese of Fort Worth after several years of litigation against The Episcopal Church and ECNTX. The U.S. Supreme Court let stand a state court ruling allowing the breakaway diocese to take control of up to about $100 million in church property.

Currently, the Episcopal Diocese of Texas has around 160 congregations and about 72,000 active members, while the ECNTX has 13 congregations and approximately 5,000 active members.

In April, the Diocese of Texas and ECNTX released a joint statement announcing that they were pursuing reunification, as ECNTX originally was part of the diocese in the 19th century.

"Just as they did in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 schism, the resilient faithful people of the diocese found new places to worship and missed not a beat in carrying on the vital ministries and outreach to their neighbors," the joint statement reads.

"On April 12, the Standing Committee of ECNTX voted to engage in conversations with the Diocese of Texas about potential reunification. On behalf of the Standing Committee, Bishop Mayer reached out to Bishop Doyle with an invitation to visit ECNTX and open formal conversations between the dioceses."

The next step in the process will be for the merger to be approved by the Episcopal Church General Convention, which is slated to meet in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 8-11.

If both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies approve the reunification, it will become effective following the end of the General Convention.
Myanmar military torturing, killing children: Fingernails, teeth pulled out during interrogations

Myanmars Buddhist nationalist junta has disproportionately targeted religious minorities, including Christians, and brutally attacked and killed hundreds of children since last years military coup, according to multiple reports, including the U.N. which said the atrocities constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Tom Andrews, the U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, said in a report that the juntas relentless attacks on children underscore the generals depravity and willingness to inflict immense suffering on innocent victims in its attempt to subjugate the people of Myanmar.

Focusing on the killing of children, the U.N. rapporteur said during his fact-finding for the report, I received information about children who were beaten, stabbed, burned with cigarettes, and subjected to mock executions, and who had their fingernails and teeth pulled out during lengthy interrogation sessions.

Over the past 16 months, the military has killed at least 142 children in Myanmar, the U.N. report added. Over 250,000 children have been displaced by the militarys attacks and over 1,400 have been arbitrarily detained. At least 61 children, including several under 3 years of age, are reportedly being held as hostages. The U.N. has documented the torture of 142 children since the coup.

Andrews said, The juntas attacks on children constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and other architects of the violence in Myanmar must be held accountable for their crimes against children.

The special rapporteur called for a change in the international communitys approach to the coup and the juntas atrocities, saying the existing approach had failed. States must take immediate coordinated action to address an escalating political, economic and humanitarian crisis that is putting Myanmars children at risk of becoming a lost generation.

He added: For the sake of Myanmars children, member states, regional organizations, the Security Council, and other U.N. entities must respond to the crisis in Myanmar with the same urgency they have responded to the crisis in Ukraine.

According to the report, the junta has intentionally deprived children of their fundamental human rights to health, education and development, with an estimated 7.8 million children out of school.

Following the collapse of the public health system since the coup, the World Health Organization projects that 33,000 children will die preventable deaths in 2022 because they have not received routine immunizations, it added.

Days after the release of the U.N. report, International Christian Concern, a U.S.-based persecution watchdog, also drew attention to a Catholic church that was burned in Kayah state by the countrys army, called Tatmadaw.

St. Matthews Church was set ablaze by junta soldiers last Wednesday, ICC said.

This is one of many assaults against Christian believers since the military takeover of the democratically elected government, ICC said, explaining in another statement on the suffering of children and religious minorities that the destruction of worship places indicates the juntas desire to spread the Buddhist religion and stop Christians who support local defense forces against the coup.

Formerly known as Burma, the Southeast Asian country is home to the worlds longest Civil War, which began in 1948.

The conflict between the countrys military, locally known as Tatmadaw, and ethnic minority militias escalated after the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, as the ethnic militias have been supporting pro-democracy protesters. The conflict zones are along Myanmars borders with India, Thailand and China.

Christians make up just over 7% of the majority-Buddhist nation. But Christians are a majority in Chin State, which borders India, and Kachin State, which borders China, and make up a substantial part of the population of Kayah State, which borders Thailand.

Myanmar is ranked No. 12 on Open Doors USAs 2022 World Watch List of 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. The persecution level in Myanmar is very high due to Buddhist nationalism. Burma is recognized by the U.S. State Department as a country of particular concern for egregious violations of religious liberty.
UK art teacher banned from profession over 'suggestive' photo shoot involving topless teen students

A British art teacher who was previously fired for allowing her female students  some as young as 15  to pose topless for what she called an art project is defending her actions after she was banned from teaching.

A panel on the Teaching Regulation Agency, which investigates misconduct and other matters involving British schools, recommended a prohibition order to the Secretary of State preventing Emma Wright from teaching in the United Kingdom indefinitely on June 10.

Wright, 41, taught art at Huxlow Science College in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England, until 2018, when she was terminated for permitting a photo shoot involving minors posing topless to take place in her classroom.

As explained in the document compiled by a professional conduct panel, Wright allowed one or more students at the secondary school to produce photographs featuring teenage girls holding cigarette(s) and/or alcohol container(s) and posing for pictures with their hands or alcohol containers covering their otherwise naked breasts for their art portfolios.

Other photographs showed teens posing with their hand inside their underwear or in a pose which simulated masturbation, exposing their torso whilst wearing school uniform and posing in swimwear.

School officials launched an investigation in December 2017 after the schools head of design discovered the student portfolios featuring students, who were under the age of 16 at the time, in suggestive poses. As a result of the investigation, Wright was terminated the following year.

Wright admitted to the Teaching Regulation Agency that she had introduced an artist to the class who specialized in suggestive pictures. However, as noted in the panels report, Wright insisted that she told the students this did not mean for them to do suggestive pictures and told the pupils that she did not expect them to be naked, but to use their arm, face, or something.

The report concluded that despite a low risk of repetition of such an incident, the panel did not find that Mrs. Wright had fully reflected on the safeguarding implications of allowing pupils to take photographs of themselves or others in a state of undress.

Additionally, the panel determined that Wrights actions constituted a breach of the Teachers Standards.

The panel found that Wright failed to uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by having regard for the need to safeguard pupils well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions.

The Teachers Standards also call on educators to have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which they teach and have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities.

Before her termination, Wright taught art at Huxlow, located approximately 100 miles north of London, since 2004. In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Wright reacted to the prohibition order: I really feel very strongly about it. I am really quite upset about it. It is a position I never thought I would be in.

Those students were wonderful students. I have no bad feelings towards those students at all, she added.

Calling herself a victim of deep injustice, Wright said she would not appeal the ruling. She now runs a care home.

While Wright said she would no longer pursue teaching, she must wait until 2024 to apply to revoke the prohibition order.
Charlie Dates named successor to James Meeks at 10K-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago

Calling him "the greatest young preacher in our nation today," Rev. James Meeks announced Sunday that Pastor Charlie Dates of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago will succeed him as leader of the 10,000-member Salem Baptist Church of Chicago when he steps out of the role in January 2023.

Meeks, who is now 65 and served three terms as a state senator, told his congregation that he will preach his final sermon on Jan. 8, 2023, just five days before the church's 38th anniversary. Meeks and his wife, Jamell, founded the church in 1985. The congregation has grown into one of the largest black churches in the city.

"It's time for Salem to move forward. It's time for Salem to have younger leadership. It's time for us to bring in new families. It's time for us to bring in young people. We need a new vision. We need new ideas. We need new opportunities," Meeks told his cheering congregation. "And God has blessed us with our own son who has agreed starting January 15th, 2023, to be the next pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago."

Dates, 41, is a graduate of Salem's now-closed Salem Christian Academy. Meeks recalls meeting Dates when Dates was in the 5th grade. Dates also served on Salem's ministry team for a while before leaving in 2011 to serve as the leader of Progressive Baptist Church.

In 2020, Dates, married with two children, was among a number of black Christian church leaders to cut ties with the Southern Baptist Convention over a statement from the denomination's Council of Seminary Presidents denouncing racism and critical race theory.

In a video of the announcement, Meeks said after he and his wife fasted and prayed about the succession of the ministry, they felt confident in selecting Dates.

"Charlie is called, and I believe all ministry starts with a calling," Meeks said. "Not only is he called, but he is qualified or educated. He's trained to fight the giants that we're dealing with today. It is going to take an academic mind and a saved heart."

Meeks' retirement comes at a time when many longtime church leaders have been transitioning out of leadership as they contend with dwindling attendance and other ministry upheavals laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month, Saddleback Church co-founders Rick Warren and his wife, Kay, named Andy Wood of Echo.Church in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Stacie, as their successors, starting in September. Warren announced his intention to retire last year after over 40 years of ministry and began the search for "the next-generation pastor."

Meeks and his wife say they don't want to stand in the next generation's way.

"We believe now that the time has come for us to step aside, for us to yield to new younger leadership," Meeks said. "We want to see our church be vibrant. We want to see our church grow. We want to see younger families come to our church and the last thing that we want is to stand in the way of that."

In accepting the role, Dates said he sees Salem Baptist Church of Chicago as a global church. He shared a vision of revival.

"I sense God ... performing a work of His Spirit that connects Salem to churches that need revitalization. Our city and our nation need the black church to be her best and brightest self and now is the time for churches to be strong," he said.

"The Kingdom work is never to stop with one generation. It's to multiply in every generation and right now the church in Chicago needs fresh dynamic trained Gospel fire leaders. And I think we can develop a platform, a pipeline to invite those who feel that burden of call to grow them and to release them to do that," he added. "We can multiply that in evangelism, in discipleship, in educating our kids in reducing violence, shutting down liquor stores and opening up new opportunities to help rescue families and that's the church being the church."
Parents urge Supreme Court to rule that Maines tuition aid program must include religious schools

A group of parents in Maine seeking state tuition assistance to put their children in a religious private school have asked the United States Supreme Court to rule on their behalf.

At issue is a state provision that only allows for tuition assistance if a private school is "nonsectarian in accordance with the First Amendment of the United States Constitution."

The First Liberty Institute, the Institute for Justice, and others filed the appeal on behalf of the families to the Supreme Court on Friday in the case of Carson v. Makin.

By singling out religion  and only religion  for exclusion from its tuition assistance program, Maine violates the U.S. Constitution, said Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Michael Bindas in a statement.

By allowing nominally religious schools to participate but excluding schools that actually provide a religious curriculum, Maine is making governmental decisions about how religious is too religious. Government should not have that power.

In 2018, a group of parents in Maine sued over a ban on state tuition assistance for sending children to any private school that includes sectarian aspects to their curriculum.

The plaintiffs include the Carsons and the Gillises, who enroll their children at Bangor Christian School, and the Nelsons, who want to transfer their daughter from a nonsectarian private school to Temple Academy, where their son is already enrolled.

Eventually, the Gillises were removed from the suit as their daughter graduated from high school during the legal proceedings and was no longer potentially eligible for the tuition assistance.

In June 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Brock Hornby ruled against the parents, concluding that Maines educational funding program is constitutional.

Last October, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit unanimously upheld the Hornby decision, with Circuit Judge David Barron authoring the opinion.

In the panel opinion, Barron said that while the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer that a religious school could not be barred from state aid, the high court did not address explicitly religious uses for state funding.

Barron also concluded that the Supreme Court decision Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which ruled that religious schools can qualify for a state tax credit program, differentiated between discrimination in handing out school aid based on the recipient's affiliation with or control by a religious institution and discrimination in handing out that aid based on the religious use to which the recipient would put it.

 this restriction, unlike the one at issue in Espinoza, does not bar schools from receiving funding simply based on their religious identity  a status that in and of itself does not determine how a school would use the funds that it receives to provide educational instruction, stated Barron.

Instead, we understand this restriction to bar BCS and TA from receiving the funding based on the religious use that they would make of it in instructing children in the tuition assistance program.
Quarter of US abortion clinics will close if Roe v. Wade is overturned, study predicts

A new study released in anticipation of the Supreme Courts ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization purports that if the court overturns Roe v. Wade, the case that legalized abortion nationwide, nearly a quarter of abortion facilities throughout the country will close.

Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) conducted the study from 2017 through 2021, releasing the results on Tuesday. The study analyzed 790 abortion facilities that publicly advertised their services and were open in 2021, an increase from the 774 open facilities in 2017.

The uptick was attributed to the Food and Drug Administration lifting the in-person dispensing requirement for chemical abortions (abortion pills) and allowing for them to be shipped by mail in December 2021. The FDA had temporarily removed restrictions on abortion pills during COVID-19, but this move made the removal permanent.

The change led to the opening of telehealth facilities throughout the country that provide prescriptions for this type of abortion, with the number varying by state.

Using data from ANSIRHs abortion facility database, the study analyzed all abortion facilities within the U.S. and Washington, D.C., that publicly advertise that they commit abortions.

ANSIRHs database includes a wide range of facilities such as doctors offices, public health centers and hospital settings. According to the studys authors, the databases information about abortion facilities that publicly advertise what they do was systematically updated every summer during June through September of the years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Data about the location of each abortion facility, the types of abortions offered and their cost was documented by the study's authors, who gathered information by conducting searches online and calling the facilities.

In the event that Roe is overturned, the study asserts that up to 26 states could ban most or all abortions and many facilities in these states may close. We may also see fewer facilities serving larger populations of people.

It predicts that the overturning of Roe will lead to the closure of 202 abortion clinics, closing 26% of all publicly advertising abortion facilities in the U.S.

The study authors also noted the geographical differences in the distribution of abortion facilities, which they predict would widen if the court strikes down Roe.

According to the study, there was one abortion facility for every 56,000 women of reproductive age in 2021 in the Northeast, and in the South, there was one facility for every 158,000 women of reproductive age.

Compared to other states, California had the most abortion facilities, with 168 open facilities as of 2021, followed by 89 in New York and 55 in Florida.

ANSIRH did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment.

On Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in the case of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland et al. v. Kim Reynolds et al. that there is no right to abortion in the states constitution. The ruling reversed a lower court decision against Iowas 24-hour waiting period for an abortion and remanding for further proceedings.

[T]he Iowa Constitution is not the source of a fundamental right to an abortion necessitating a strict scrutiny standard of review for regulations affecting that right, Justice Edward Mansfield wrote in the majority opinion.

Constitutions  and courts  should not be picking sides in divisive social and political debates unless some universal principle of justice stands on only one side of that debate. Abortion isnt one of those issues.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, more than 20 states, including Iowa, have trigger laws on the books which would go into effect and ban abortion in the absence of Roe. A leaked draft majority opinion published by Politico last month suggested the court is poised to overrule the 1973 decision in a ruling that could uphold Mississippis 15-week abortion ban.

A May 3 statement released by the court the following day verified the draft opinions authenticity but also said it does not reflect the final ruling. The court is expected to release its decision sometime this month.
Supreme Court says Maine cant bar parents from using state funds to send kids to religious schools

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that Maine cannot prohibit parents from using a state tuition program to send their children to religious private schools.

In a decision released Tuesday in the case of David Carson et al. v. A. Pender Makin, the high court ruled 6-3 that a state tuition assistance program could not stop parents from using the funds for schools that have sectarian instruction.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, writing that "we have repeatedly held that a State violates the Free Exercise Clause when it excludes religious observers from otherwise available public benefits."

"As noted, a neutral benefit program in which public funds flow to religious organizations

through the independent choices of private benefit recipients does not offend the Establishment Clause," Roberts wrote.

"Maines 'nonsectarian' requirement for its otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Regardless of how the benefit and restriction are described, the program operates to identify and exclude otherwise eligible schools on the basis of their religious exercise."

The Supreme Court decision reverses an appeals court ruling and remands the case for further proceedings consistent with the opinion released Tuesday.

Joining Roberts for the majority were Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Justice Stephen Breyer authored a dissent, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, in which he argued that the tuition aid restriction was constitutional.

"The First Amendment begins by forbidding the government from 'mak[ing] [any] law respecting an establishment of religion.' It next forbids them to make any law 'prohibiting the free exercise thereof.' The Court today pays almost no attention to the words in the first Clause while giving almost exclusive attention to the words in the second," wrote Breyer.

"It sometimes allows a State to further antiestablishment interests by withholding aid from religious institutions without violating the Constitutions protections for the free exercise of religion. In my view, Maines nonsectarian requirement falls squarely within the scope of that

constitutional leeway."

In 2018, a group of parents sued Maine over a ban on state tuition assistance for families sending their children to a private school that includes sectarian aspects in its curriculum.

The plaintiffs included the Carsons and the Gillises, who enrolled their kids at Bangor Christian School, and the Nelsons, who wanted to transfer their daughter from a secular private school to Temple Academy, where their son was enrolled.

Eventually, the Gillises were removed from the litigation because their daughter graduated from high school and was therefore no longer potentially eligible for the tuition assistance program.

U.S. District Judge Brock Hornby ruled against the families in June 2019, concluding in his decision that Maines educational funding program is constitutional.

In October 2020, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit unanimously upheld the lower court decision, with Circuit Judge David Barron writing the opinion.

Maine transgresses neither the Free Exercise Clause nor the Establishment Clause, wrote Barron. Rather, it permissibly satisfies a commitment, rooted in its own founding charter, to pursue the wholly legitimate end of ensuring the distribution of the benefits of a free public education even to those who happen to live in places that cannot provide it of their own accord.

In July of last year, the Supreme Court agreed to take up Carson v. Makin, with the high court hearing oral arguments in the case for nearly two hours in December.

Michael Bindas of the Institute for Justice, who argued the case before the Supreme Court on behalf of the parents, said that since the program gives money to parents, who in turn choose a school, it is not unconstitutional for the parents to choose a religious school.

"That private independent choice severs the link between government funds and religious instruction," Bindas told the high court last year. "It's saying, 'use it where you will.'"

"This is not subsidizing the ... exercise of a right. It is conditioning the availability of an otherwise available public benefit on the surrender of a constitutional right.

Maine Chief Deputy Attorney General Christopher Taub delivered arguments on behalf of the state, arguing that the program was meant to give students "a free public education," not a religious education.

"The reason that schools that promote a particular faith are not eligible to participate is simple," said Taub in his opening remarks last year. "Maine has determined that as a matter of public policy, public education should be religiously neutral."
Number Of Americans Who Believe In God Drops To New Low, Jewish University Must Recognize LGBT Club, 'Reagan' Film Coming 2023

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While 81% of American adults say they believe in God, the percentage has dropped 6 points since 2017 and is the lowest since the Gallup polling firm started asking the question more than seven decades ago.

The Jewish Yeshiva University in New York City is not a "religious corporation" and must recognize an LGBT club as the city's anti-discrimination law demands, a state judge has ruled.

Andy McQuitty, who pastors the Texas megachurch Irving Bible Church, discusses his new book "Your Best Life Later" with The Christian Post.



Actress Alexa PenaVega, who's widely known for her leading role as Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids film series, shared how Gods Word helped her overcome an eating disorder during an interview with Sadie Robertson Huff on the Whoa Thats Good podcast.



Actor Chris Massoglia, who portrays legendary Gospel Hall of Famer Pat Boone in the upcoming biopic Reagan, said even though it's not a faith-based film, it will showcase how faith influenced the late president's life.
Iowa Supreme Court: No right to abortion in state constitution

The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that there is no right to an abortion in the state constitution, which reversed an earlier ruling by the states highest court a few years earlier.

In the case of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland et al. v. Kim Reynolds et al., the state supreme court issued a ruling Friday, reversing a lower court decision against the states 24-hour waiting period for an abortion and remanding for further proceedings.

Justice Edward Mansfield delivered the majority opinion, concluding that the court rejects the proposition that there is a fundamental right to an abortion in Iowas Constitution subjecting abortion regulation to strict scrutiny.

[T]he Iowa Constitution is not the source of a fundamental right to an abortion necessitating a strict scrutiny standard of review for regulations affecting that right, wrote Mansfield.

Constitutionsand courtsshould not be picking sides in divisive social and political debates unless some universal principle of justice stands on only one side of that debate. Abortion isnt one of those issues.

Mansfield also took issue with the 2018 Iowa Supreme Court decision that had declared abortion a state constitutional right, writing that the earlier decision lacks textual and historical support.

It is doctrinally inconsistent with prior Iowa jurisprudence concerning family rights that followed a balancing approach. Its rhetoric is one-sided. Its constitutional footing is unsound, he continued.

While it is true that some other states have provided heightened protection for abortion rights, they have done so by invoking more relevant substantive constitutional guaranteessuch as the right of privacynot a procedural clause like due process.

Justice Brent Appel filed a dissenting opinion, arguing that by overturning the 2018 decision, the state Supreme Court created a jurisprudence of doubt about a liberty interest of the highest possible importance to every Iowa woman of reproductive age.

We found [in 2018] that fundamental liberty interest in familial relationship holds a place for reproductive choices, continued Appel.

We thereby declared that, Autonomy and dominion over ones body go to the very heart of what it means to be free. At stake in this case is the right to shape, for oneself, without unwarranted governmental intrusion, ones own identity, destiny, and place in the world.

American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa Legal Director Rita Bettis Austen denounced the decision, labeling it a devastating and shocking reversal.

With the constitutional right to abortion under Roe threatened, Iowans are relying on the protection of our state constitution, stated Austen.

The right to abortion for Iowa women is essential to their freedom, equality, health, and safety, and its something that Iowans overwhelmingly supportnow, more than ever.

The Urbandale, Iowa-based social conservative group The FAMiLY Leader celebrated the state Supreme Court's decision, seeing it as a victory against judicial activism and for unborn children.

In 2018, five unelected judges brazenly admitted to ignoring the original meaning of the Iowa Constitution to invent a so-called right to abortion, said Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The FAMiLY Leader.

Todays ruling moves us closer to the day the people of Iowa can protect pre-born children, he added. The future of abortion in Iowa remains uncertain. But this back-and-forth in the courts reveals the Protect Life Amendment is needed now more than ever.

The Protect Life Amendment Vander Plaats referred to was approved by both houses of the Iowa General Assembly last year and declares that the state constitution does not recognize, grant, or secure a right to abortion or require the public funding of abortion. In order to take effect, the Iowa General Assembly must pass the Protect Life Amendment in the next session, which begins next year, and voters must approve it in a ballot referendum.

The Iowa Supreme Courts decision comes as the nation waits for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on a case involving a Mississippi state law banning most abortions after 15 weeks into a pregnancy.

Known as Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, many believe the U.S. Supreme Court case will reverse the landmark 1973 decision Roe v. Wade, which struck down abortion restrictions before fetal viability. Politico published a leaked draft opinion in the case last month, which indicated that a majority of justices expressed support for striking down Roe and leaving the issue of abortion up to each individual state to decide. The Dobbs decision is expected to be released by the end of the month.

In the absence of Roe, Iowa would be able to enforce its law banning abortions after six weeks gestation. Iowa is one of 21 states that would either ban abortion completely or restrict abortion more severely if Roe is overturned. Sixteen states would continue to allow abortion throughout most or all of pregnancy as the right to abortion has been codified into state law, three states could put the issue of abortion before voters and the remaining 10 states will continue to enforce existing abortion laws and/or restrictions.
Mumbai: Maharashtra witnessed a big political earthquake on Tuesday as senior Shiv Sena leader and cabinet minister Eknath Shinde, along with supporter MLAs, rebelled against chief minister and party chief Uddhav Thackeray. The rebellion is likely to lead to a vertical split in the Shiv Sena, pushing the tri-party Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state into a major crisis.

Mr Shinde, along with his supporter MLAs who are believed to be nearly 30, has been camping in a five-star hotel at Surat in the neighbouring BJP-ruled state Gujarat. To pacify him and rebel MLAs, Mr Thackeray sent two of his trusted aides -- Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak -- to Surat. However, Mr Shinde, sticking to his guns, has reportedly spurned their overtures.

According to sources, Mr Shinde has expressed his annoyance at continuing in the MVA government with Senas other two allies  the NCP and the Congress. He has called for the formation of a government by reuniting with Sena's former partner, the BJP, along Hindutva lines.

Indicating his stand, Mr Shinde tweeted that he is a part of "Balasahebs staunch Shiv Sainiks" and that he "will never cheat for power". "We are Balasahebs staunch Shiv Sainiks Balasaheb has taught us Hindutva. We have never and will never cheat for power regarding Balasahebs thoughts and Dharmaveer Anand Dighe Sahebs teachings," he said.

The Shiv Sena has 55 MLAs in the 288-member Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha. If Mr Shinde manages to keep the supporting MLAs at his side till the end, the MVA government is likely to lose its majority. It will possibly trigger the fall of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in the state. The government needs the support of at least 145 MLAs. Congress has 44 MLAs, while the NCP has 53. The total strength of the three ruling parties is 152.

Out of 29 independent and smaller parties MLAs, at least 17 had voted for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha and legislative council elections held this month.

Union minister and BJP leader Narayan Rane has demanded the resignation of Uddhav Thackeray, alleging that he lacked the support of sufficient MLAs in the Assembly.

"Because of Mr Shinde's move, Uddhav Thackeray does not have the support of sufficient MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha. He should tender his resignation," Mr Rane demanded.

However, other BJP leaders distanced their party from the political crisis. "The BJP has nothing to do with the ongoing developments in the Shiv Sena. Mr Shinde's decision is not part of any game plan of the BJP," said state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil.

The dramatic developments took place just a day after the Opposition BJP scored an emphatic win in the Vidhan Parishad polls on Monday. The Shiv Sena-led MVA alliance suffered a setback in the polls as it could win only five of the six seats it contested.

On the same night, Mr Shinde, along with some Shiv Sena MLAs, went incommunicado, sending alarm bells in the Sena camp. Mr Thackeray held a meeting at his official residence on Tuesday morning, which was reportedly attended by only 15 to 20 MLAs. After it became clear that Mr Shinde has rebelled, Shiv Sena moved swiftly to remove him as a party group leader and installed loyalist MLA Ajay Chaudhary on the post.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, the chief architect of the MVA alliance, termed the issue an "internal matter" of Shiv Sena. "This is the third instance when someone has tried to destabilise the government and it may not succeed. Looking at the situation, I think we will find out some solution," said Mr Pawar.

The Congress, on their part, denied reports that some of the Congress legislators have also become "not reachable". In the wake of the Maharashtra political crisis, the Congress high command deputed senior Congress leader Kamal Nath as AICC (All India Congress Committee) observer for the state.

At least seven Congress MLAs had voted for the BJP candidate, resulting in the defeat of party candidate Chandrakant Handore. According to the sources, the party had decided to give 29 first preference votes to Mr Handore. But Mr Hondore received only 22 votes.

According to media reports, some Congress MLAs are also incommunicado.

In a tweet, the party's state chief spokesperson Atul Londhe said that all party MLAs are in contact with the state Congress chief Nana Patole and CLP (Congress Legislative Party) leader Balasaheb Thorat.

Mr Patole said that his party was closely monitoring the present political situation in the state. The MVA government is stable in Maharashtra.

A senior Congress leader, requesting anonymity, said that, considering the result, the party convened a meeting of all the MLAs at revenue minister Mr Thorats residence. "Maharashtra Congress in-charge H.K. Patil is meeting personally with each MLA and hearing out their grievances," he said.

Mr Nath will also hold a meeting with party MLAs in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Taiwanese American church shooting suspect charged with hate crime

The 68-year-old man suspected of shooting up a Taiwanese American church in California that left one person dead and a few others wounded has been charged with hate crimes by prosecutors.

David Chou, a 68-year-old Chinese American resident of Las Vegas, was arrested last month after he allegedly entered Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods and opened fire.

The Office of the District Attorney of Orange County announced last week that they have amended the complaint to add hate crime allegations, finding that "Chou intentionally killed his victim because of his race, color, religion, nationality, or country of origin."

"After a review of additional evidence in this case, the Orange County District Attorney's Office has filed an amended criminal complaint to include hate crime allegations," said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

Chou is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 19 and will be held without bail. If convicted, Chou could be sentenced to death.

On May 15, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Chou went to Geneva Presbyterian Church and opened fire on the Taiwanese congregation as church members were holding a reception for a pastor who had recently returned from Taiwan. The shooter secured the doors before attacking the congregants, injuring five and killing a sixth. He was overpowered and restrained by the surviving members of the congregation.

Even before the addition of hate crime charges against Chou, authorities contended that he carried out the mass shooting because he was "upset about political tensions involving China and Taiwan."

Tensions between China and Taiwan stem from China's view of the island as a part of the People's Republic of China while leaders of the democratically elected government of Taiwan insist that it is a sovereign state.

Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner, stated last month that the "tragic incident was fueled by politically motivated hate," which "is something we do not tolerate."

Describing Orange County as "a community that celebrates diversity and takes pride in being a place people feel safe to worship, work and live," Barnes stressed that "While someone from outside our community has attempted to diminish these ideals through an act of violence, we remain united in our commitment to tolerance and acceptance."

Barnes commended 52-year-old Dr. John Cheng, the lone fatality, who tackled the shooter while sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, allowing others to disarm the suspect.

"Dr. Cheng was a loving family man, dedicated doctor and a beloved member of our community, and we send our deepest condolences to all who knew him," he said.

Peter Wu is the pastor of Taiwanese Presbyterian Church of Greater St. Louis, a Missouri-based congregation that, like the Laguna Woods congregation, belongs to Presbyterian Church (USA).

In an interview with The Christian Post last month, Wu said his congregation has some personal ties to the Laguna Woods congregation, with some of the church's members having relatives and friends who attend Geneva Presbyterian Church.

"Most of our church members are saddened, grieving," Wu said, adding that most are "concerned with what happened to the shooting incident."

Despite the sadness and concerns, Wu sees an opportunity amid the tragedy to have Chinese and Taiwanese churches in the U.S. come together in unity.

"It would be wonderful if Chinese-American churches can pray for the victims and incident in response to the Laguna Woods shooting," he maintained.

"I believe this incident can create an opportunity for conversation and collaboration between Chinese and Taiwanese churches in the United States."
Judge rules Jewish university isn't a 'religious corporation,' must recognize LGBT club

The Jewish Yeshiva University in New York City is not a "religious corporation" and must recognize an LGBT club as the city's anti-discrimination law demands, a state judge has ruled.

New York Supreme Court First Judicial District Judge Lynn Kotler directed the university in an order last Tuesday to give the school's Pride Alliance "full equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges afforded to all other student groups at Yeshiva University."

In 2020, seven LGBT student activists and allies filed a lawsuit with the New York City Commission on Human Rights, claiming the university founded in 1886 discriminated by not recognizing the gay pride group.

In the ruling, Kotler said YU is chartered not as a religious organization but is considered an "educational corporation," and it is, therefore, subject to New York City Human Rights Law.

"The record shows that the purpose students attend Yeshiva is to obtain an education, not for religious worship or some other function which is religious at its core," Kotler wrote. "Thus, religion is necessarily secondary to education at Yeshiva."

The order also said that YU and its president, Ari Berman, be "permanently restrained from continuing their refusal to officially recognize the YU Pride Alliance as a student organization because of the members' sexual orientation or gender and/or YU Pride Alliance's status, mission, and/or activities on behalf of LGBTQ students."

Jewish Queer Youth, which represents the interests of gay Orthodox Jews, praised the decision as "a victory for human dignity, mental health and safety on campus."

However, the Manhattan-based university believes the court's orders violate its religious liberty and would impact many other institutions maintained by religious groups.

"The decision permits courts to interfere in the internal affairs of religious schools, hospitals and other charitable organizations," the university told the campus student newspaper, The Commentator.

"Any ruling that Yeshiva is not religious is obviously wrong," the statement continued. "As our name indicates, Yeshiva University was founded to instill Torah values in its students while providing a stellar education, allowing them to live with religious conviction as noble citizens and committed Jews. While we love and care for our students, who are all  each and everyone  created in God's image, we firmly disagree with today's ruling and will immediately appeal the decision."

Orthodox Jewish law prohibits homosexuality. However, within Modern Orthodox settings, there is some acceptance of those who identify as queer.

YU, inspired by modern and centrist Orthodox Judaism, has four campuses in New York City and provides yeshiva and Judaic studies programs. Although most university students are Jewish, not all subscribe to the Jewish faith.
Juneteenth: 7 milestones in the struggle to abolish slavery

On Sunday, Americans across the United States will be celebrating Juneteenth, a holiday that marks the anniversary of when U.S. Major Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, declaring that the area's slaves were free.

Although first celebrated locally in the 19th century, Juneteenth is the newest of the 12 federal holidays, having only been given the official designation last year.

A key theme of the observance is remembering the abolition of slavery, a cause that unfolded over several generations in U.S. history, having its share of successes and failures.

Here are seven notable milestones in the effort to abolish slavery in the U.S. They include the banning of international slavery, the release of the novel Uncle Toms Cabin, and the passage of the 13th Amendment.

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Psychotic gender delusions

Never before has any generation had the slightest difficulty distinguishing between a man and a woman. Yet, folks are now talking glibly about persons who menstruate, rather than women. And chestfeeding instead of breastfeeding. And insisting, People of all genders can get pregnant, not just women! Ask a Supreme Court nominee to define woman, and she cant (or wont), though she is happy to be known as the first black woman to be appointed.

Giving new meaning to the familiar lament, The worlds gone mad!, our psychotic, brave-new-world generation has literally lost touch with reality, being unable to distinguish whats objectively real from a subjective figment of progressive imagination.

The late, former head of the United Negro College Fund, Arthur Fletcher coined the phrase, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Without doubt, it is. What a waste not to educate it to its full potential. Yet, worse than wasting a mind is losing a mind. The irony of todays psychosis is that the most highly-educated folks are the ones most likely to have lost their minds. These are the same academics and pseudo-intellectuals who smugly note preferred pronouns (even the plural them) and designate toilets for All Genders, as if there were more than two. Educated fools!

Lately, there is much talk about a crisis in mental health  from the mental struggles leading to suicide (like country musics Naomi Judd), to the increasing number of deranged perpetrators of tragic gun violence. As concerning as those conditions are, a more critical mental health crisis threatens our collective sanity: being delusional about the origin and nature of our existence.

Our cultural psychosis is but a symptom of a deeper disorder  thinking we humans are merely highly-evolved animals, produced by a process of mindless evolution. If you believe that an orderly, elegant, and hospitable planet  and humankind itself  happened by chance, you are already out of touch with reality. Believe the biggest delusion of all and lesser delusions follow.

Those who reject the foundational truth that male and female created He them are well on their way to the asylum. For us human inhabitants of the earth, there is one sun, one moon, and two sexes. Anyone thinking there is more than one moon is properly (and linguistically) deemed a lunatic. If someone insists there are many more than just two sexes, are they any less a lunatic?

What engenders such madness? When a culture exalts Nature itself rather than worshiping Natures Creator, it must fill the morals vacuum with secular social causes, which then must be defended even to the point of absurdity. Having made gender diversity a sacred cause, all else must be sacrificed to it, even if it means ludicrously denying obvious distinctions between man and woman. (Easily missed, even transgendered is from one to the other!)

The debate over Evolution and Creation isnt inconsequential. As G. K. Chesterton observed, the same people who decry the evil of treating human beings as beasts (think whatever social oppression you wish) will boldly assert that human beings, themselves, are practically beasts.

So, have we evolved, or devolved? Prideful progressives now detached from objective reality have become stupefyingly psychotic. Even a lowly bull knows a heifer when he sees one!
Which of these 3 Christians does more spiritual harm?

Allow me to introduce you to three, contemporary professing Christians, each of whom represents a composite picture rather than a specific individual. The first we will call Famous, Nice, and Toothless. The second we will call Orthodox and Angry. The third we will call Progressive and Woke. Which of them does more spiritual harm?

Our first composite Christian, Famous, Nice, and Toothless, is well-known and well-loved, with a massive online following. More importantly, he is not ashamed of his faith. He seems to be a genuinely nice person. He invests lots of money in Christian causes. And he has not been associated with scandalous behavior.

At the same time, he never seems to swim against the tide of a sinning society to the point that shows solidarity with LGBTQ+ causes, thereby confusing his many followers, especially the young people who adore him. And he never seems to speak of human guilt before God and the need to repent.

Our second composite Christian, Orthodox and Angry, is theologically sharp, full of scriptural knowledge, and orthodox to the tee. He never waters down his message, never yields to critics, and never backs down from controversy. He is, quite simply, fearless.

At the same time, he is often mean-spirited, confusing human anger with the burden of the Lord. And he is quite self-righteous, never seeming to have sins of his own to confess or acknowledge. It is always the others who are guilty.

Our third composite Christian, Progressive and Woke, would not be recognized as a Christian by Orthodox and Angry, while even Famous, Nice, and Toothless would question some of his beliefs. Yet he is passionate about his faith, he is constantly quoting Jesus and the prophets, and he seems to care genuinely about people who are hurting and downtrodden. He brings a strong challenge to the status quo.

At the same time, he does not clearly proclaim Jesus alone as Lord, and it seems that he is in lock step agreement with whatever is trending in leftwing politics and culture. He even uses the Bible to defend abortion.

Which of these three men does more harm?

Famous, Nice, and Toothless has so much going for him and in many ways, he is truly Christian. Yet because his platform is so large and his message so shallow, his followers can easily become inoculated to the full demands of the Gospel. How many real disciples is he producing for the kingdom? How many will prove true?

Orthodox and Angry can be commended for being unashamed of the Bible and unashamed of the Lord. But because he claims divine backing for his often fleshly words, he makes God look bad, wielding the Bible more like a weapon than a word of life. Where are the brokenness and compassion? And in the end, how many people does he drive away from Jesus, even while being doctrinally and culturally right?

Progressive and Woke does raise a lot of penetrating critiques against church as usual, disturbing our spiritual routines and revealing our hypocrisy. Yet because he has reinterpreted the Bible through the lens of dangerous leftist progressivism, his message is devoid of saving power. He preaches a political Jesus more than the one who came to bring us into right relationship with God.

Which of these three Christians does more damage? Or, more importantly, which one sounds more like you? Or like me? Which one of these reveals our own blind spots?

When asked by a scholar in biblical law what must be done to inherit eternal life, Jesus pointed him back to what was written in the Torah. What is written there, He asked? The man replied, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

The Lord replied, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.

But the conversation did not end there, since this lawyer was trying to test Jesus rather than learn from Him. He also wanted to justify himself, asking the Lord, And who is my neighbor?

Put in todays terms, if Im a religious Jew living in Israel, is a member of Hamas my neighbor? Must I love him as myself? If Im a conservative Christian living in America, is a gay activist my neighbor? Must I really show him that kind of sacrificial love? And on and on the list goes.

But Jesus didnt answer the mans question the way that he asked it. Instead, he told the parable of the Good Samaritan. This outsider proved to be a better neighbor to a robbed and beaten Jewish man than did this victims fellow Jewish, religious leaders.

Jesus then asked the lawyer, Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? He replied, The one who showed him mercy.

Then the surprising exhortation from the Lord: You go, and do likewise. (See Luke 10:25-37.)

In other words, dont debate which person is your neighbor and who it is you are to love as yourself, looking for excuses for performing this sacred obligation. Instead, go and be a neighbor.

In the same way, as we debate which of these three Christians is doing more harm, we do well to look in the mirror, ask God to help us to be as critical of ourselves as we are of others, and determine to do and be leaders and believers who do more good than harm.

Finding fault with others is all too easy, especially when they are prominent and public. Improving ourselves and living up to the high calling of God is a whole other story.
Islamic State claims responsibility for attacks on Christian villages in Mozambique

The Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in Mozambiques Christian villages that left eight people killed, including by beheading, and several houses burned.

The attacks took place in six Christian villages in Cabo Delgado, the northernmost province of Mozambique, between May 23 and May 31. The terror group later released photographs of six decapitated bodies and images of the burned villages, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern reports.

Four of those who were murdered were Christians, according to ICC, which added that the Islamic State and its affiliate groups have killed or displaced thousands of Christians in Mozambique.

A new wave of violent attacks also hit Cabo Delgados Ancuabe district between June 2 and June 9, triggering the displacement of nearly 10,000 people, Save the Children said in a statement, adding that at least four people are believed to have been beheaded in those attacks.

More than 4,000 people have been killed and 800,000 forced from their homes since October 2017, when a civil war started in Cabo Delgado, according to the BBC, which noted that Cabo Delgado is rich with gas, rubies, graphite, gold and other natural resources, but the profits go to an elite in the ruling party, Frelimo, and few jobs have been created  a situation that was exploited by the Islamic State and jihadists.

The number of children displaced by the conflict in Cabo Delgado has now increased from 370,000 to over 400,000, according to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Save the Children added.

In March 2021, the U.S. labeled the insurgents as ISIS-Mozambique and global terrorists, and some believe that IS and Washington might be aiming for a proxy war in that country.

At least 24 countries have sent troops to support the fight against insurgents in Mozambique, whose army has been accused of being corrupt and having 7,000 ghost soldiers, who receive salaries without receiving any military training or setting foot in a military unit, the BBC reports.

In 2017, jihadist insurgents began in the Cabo-Delgado province, winning over some locals due to the fact that they gave back resources to villagers from the government, and killed no one, ICC explained. This did not last, however, as IS started setting fire to Christian villages, and killing those who lived there.

On Jan. 13, IS attacked the village of Citate, setting fire to 60 homes, and the following day, 20 more homes were set on fire in that village, leading to 200 more homes being burned in Limwalamwala village on Jan. 18, ICC said.
UK sanctions Russian Patriarch Kirill over Ukraine invasion, slams forced adoptions

The United Kingdom has announced a new round of sanctions in connection with Russia's war in Ukraine, including sanctions targeting Moscow Patriarch Kirill for "his support and endorsement of Putin's war."

Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has "repeatedly abused his position to justify the war" in Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement last Thursday.

"Today we are targeting the enablers and perpetrators of Putin's war who have brought untold suffering to Ukraine, including the forced transfer and adoption of children," she continued.

"We will not tire of defending freedom and democracy, and keeping up the pressure on Putin, until Ukraine succeeds. Putin's allies continue to choose to turn a blind eye to alleged war crimes and support his bloody offensive."

Vladimir Legoida, head of the Russian Orthodox Church's Synodal Department for the Church's Relations with Society and Mass Media, condemned the sanctions.

"Attempts to intimidate the head of the Russian Church or to force him to abandon his views are meaningless, absurd, and futile," Legoida said in a statement translated by Catholic News Agency.

"The Patriarch's family went through years of godless persecution, and he himself grew up and formed under tremendous pressure on the faith, to which he has always honorably resisted," he continued. "The Church  especially now  is the last bridge, the means of communication, which they are trying to destroy for some reason. It may be needed only by those political forces who have made escalation of conflict and alienation of peace their important goal."

According to the United Nations Office for High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 4,509 people had been killed and 5,585 had been injured since the invasion began on Feb. 24. Between 12 million to 14 million Ukrainians have been displaced from their homes.

In late March, the Orthodox Public Affairs Committee called for sanctions to be enacted against leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church, claiming they are complicit in the Russian invasion.

Last month, a branch of Ukraine's Orthodox Church severed ties with Russia over Putin's invasion of Ukraine, declaring its "full independence" against Russia's spiritual authorities.

The decision followed a meeting of the church leadership. In a statement, its council condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Patriarch Kirill for supporting the "special military operation" in Ukraine.

In March, the Russian Orthodox Parish of Saint Nicholas of Myra in Amsterdam announced its intention to leave the Russian Orthodox Church in opposition to Kirill's support for the invasion. The announcement was "extremely painful and difficult for all concerned" and came in response to what the parish called a "threat to the parish and the clergy."

The U.K.'s new sanctions also target Maria Lvova-Belova, the presidential commissioner for children's rights in Russia, who has been accused of overseeing the transfer of about 2,000 vulnerable children from the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine and facilitating their forced adoptions in Russia.

Sergey Savostyanov, the deputy of the Moscow city Duma and member of Putin's political elite, has also been sanctioned "for publicly supporting Putin's war in Ukraine."

Also sanctioned is Alexey Isaykin, president and board Member of Volga-Dnepr Group, a Russian transport company with significant air operations contracted by the Russian government to create air bridges that carry critical goods.

Four colonels from Russia's 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, "a unit known to have killed, raped, and tortured civilians in Bucha," have also been sanctioned.

Sanctions also impact the so-called Salvation Committee for Peace and Order  an entity that collaborates with the Russian army to support the occupation of the Kherson Oblast.

The sanctions include freezing assets, which prevents U.K. citizens and businesses from "dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person." The sanctions also include travel bans and transport bans, making it a criminal offense for any Russian aircraft to fly over or land in the U.K. Russian ships are banned from U.K. ports.

Two British citizens, Aiden Aslin and Sean Pinner, were sentenced to death by a court in "Donetsk People's Republic" earlier this month for fighting Russian forces in Ukraine, The Associated Press reported.

Truss said U.K. officials were in touch with the Ukrainian government about Aslin and Pinner.

"These people are prisoners of war," Truss declared. "They were fighting legitimately with the Ukrainian army. What Russia has done is a complete violation of the Geneva Convention. We are taking all steps we can."
HAWTHORNE, Calif. (AP)  SpaceX, the rocket ship company run by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has fired several employees involved in an open letter that blasted the colorful billionaire for his behavior, according to media reports.

The reports published Friday cited an email from Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's president, saying the company had terminated employees who put together and circulated the letter. The letter writers denounced Musk for actions that they said are a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment for us, particularly in recent weeks."

The New York Times was the first outlet to report the purge, based on information from three employees familiar with the situation. The employees were not named.

It's unclear how many SpaceX workers lost their jobs, but Shotwell left no doubt that the company believed they had crossed an unacceptable line.

The letter, solicitations and general process made employees feel uncomfortable, intimidated and bullied, and/or angry because the letter pressured them to sign onto something that did not reflect their views," Shotwell wrote in her email, according to the Times . We have too much critical work to accomplish and no need for this kind of overreaching activism."

The firings occurred Thursday  the same day Musk addressed Twitter employees for the first time about his $44 billion deal to add that social media service to his business empire. The purchase is in limbo while Musk tries to determine whether Twitter has been concealing the number of fake accounts on its platform.

As the Twitter drama unfolded, another report emerged t hat Musk had paid $250,000 to a flight attendant to quash a potential sexual harassment lawsuit against him. Musk denied the sexual harassment allegations, and Shotwell last month sent out an email to SpaceX employees saying she believe the accusations were false.

In recent weeks, Musk has also crudely mocked the looks of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Twitter and posted a poop emoji during an online discussion with Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal.

The open letter from SpaceX employees criticizing Musk asserted that some of his tweets sent out to his 98 million followers cast the company in a poor light.

As our CEO and most prominent spokesperson, Elon is seen as the face of SpaceX  every tweet that Elon sends is a de facto public statement by the company," the open letter said. It is critical to make clear to our teams and to our potential talent pool that his messaging does not reflect our work, our mission, or our values."
It may not feel like it anymore, but summer is still the season when TV programming takes a bit of a breather and viewers can catch up on the shows they didn't have time for, or are only hearing about now.

My list of the best shows of 2022 (so far) is coming soon, but first, here are 10 hidden gems - smaller shows without the star power or marketing muscle of flashier competitors - that struggled to get noticed amid the never-ending content deluge. I've already reviewed and recommended about half of this list but thought some shows deserved an extra push; the rest are series I wish I'd had time to praise when they premiered.

1. 'Angelyne'

"I am not a woman," intones the titular buxom blonde who plastered herself, along with her signature Barbie-pink Corvette, on Los Angeles billboards in the '80s and '90s. "I am an icon," she asserts, rather correctly. For decades, Angelyne was a local legend - and a total mystery. Her billboards sometimes featured a phone number, but often just her name in unmissably huge letters. The five-part Peacock drama, about the search for the "real" Angelyne, is a deep show about surfaces, with an unrecognizable Emmy Rossum in an outstanding lead turn. And if you're feeling hesitant about signing up for yet another streaming service, just know that Peacock's comedy lineup has seriously bulked up in the past few months, with the second seasons of "Girls5eva" and "Rutherford Falls" joining "We Are Lady Parts," "Killing It" and the "Saved by the Bell" reboot. (Streams on Peacock)

2. 'Dark Winds'

Based on Tony Hillerman's mega-popular Leaphorn & Chee mystery novels, the recently debuted "Dark Winds" stars the incredibly versatile Zahn McClarnon ("Fargo," "Reservation Dogs") in his first lead role on a regular TV series. The milestone feels long overdue, given the clench-jawed intensity and wounded humanity the 30-year screen veteran brings to his role as Leaphorn, a detective in the Navajo Tribal Police trying to find the common link between several disparate crimes. (Kiowa Gordon plays his uneasy protege Chee.) Set in '70s New Mexico and boasting an all-Native American writers room (as well as a nearly all-Indigenous cast), the show's lovingly crafted portrait of a Navajo community, with all its hardships and beauty, more than makes up for the occasional snags in the procedural. (Airs on AMC; streams on AMC Plus)

3. 'The Deep End'

TV has no shortage of cult content, but "The Deep End" offers a unique and irresistible hook: A spiritual influencer's team hires a private investigator to determine if their leader is, in fact, running a cult. The four-part docuseries and word-of-mouth hit is wildly uneven, and yet utterly mesmerizing in its later episodes, as it captures the possible disintegration of self-help guru (and self-professed clairvoyant) Teal Swan's inner circle, with members forced to confront the parallels between their group dynamics and those of more traditional cults. In contrast to most other entrants of its genre, "The Deep End" filmed its subject close to her full power, producing a rare glimpse of a savvy narcissist in the act of justifying to her underlings her ludicrous expectations of their self-sacrifice. The result is raw and uncomfortable and should be studied for years to come. (Aired on Freeform; streams on Hulu)

4. 'My Brilliant Friend'

Easily one of the best dramas currently on television, the Italian-language adaptation of Elena Ferrante's celebrated novels ran headlong into the '70s and the women's movement in its extraordinarily moving, decade-spanning third season. Centered on two childhood friends who can't help comparing their lives and achievements to each other's over the years, the series suddenly finds Lila (Gaia Girace) and Elena (Margherita Mazzucco), who both grew up on the outskirts of a war-torn Naples, on the opposing sides of a class divide against a political backdrop of newly energized populist violence. The women only ever dreamed of escaping the deprivation and indignity of their humble origins. The epic scope of the series helps illustrate that, no matter their accomplishments or circumstances, true freedom for Lila and Elena remains elusive. (Aired on HBO; streams on HBO Max)

5. 'P-Valley'

The first season of "P-Valley," the superb strip-club drama created by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall, debuted in summer 2020. Covid-19 takes center stage in Season 2, as the Black women and queer folk who work at - and occasionally find refuge in - the show's Mississippi club struggle to stay afloat in a pandemic economy. An excellent ensemble, beautifully realized characters and urgent social critique continue the series' mission to humanize sex workers and celebrate their creativity, independence and hustle while empathetically depicting their fight not to be pigeonholed by their line of work. (Airs on Starz)

6. 'Single Drunk Female'

Not a scene is, uh, wasted in "Single Drunk Female," a witty and compact sobriety journey that depicts getting dry as a second adolescence. Based on creator Simone Finch's own experiences with alcoholism, the YA-crossover comedy features a believably complicated mother-daughter relationship (enlivened by Ally Sheedy and Sofia Black-D'Elia, respectively), freshly drawn characters, intense charisma from its ensemble and pitch-perfect sendups of pop feminism and clickbait journalism. It avoids didacticism by portraying protagonist Sam's journey as singularly hers - as a cynical writer who isn't sure what she's like or who she's really friends with when she doesn't have a bottle in her hand. It's a delight to find out. (Aired on Freeform; streams on Hulu)

7. 'Somebody Somewhere'

Bridget Everett headlines a winsome cast in this hushed yet carefully detailed half-hour drama about a woman who returns to her hometown of Manhattan, Kan., and discovers in middle age that there might be a place for her there after all. It's not a particularly original premise, but the show populates the "Little Apple" with such memorable (queer) characters and lived-in production choices that the mustiness instantly dissipates. With Everett and her scene-stealing co-stars Jeff Hiller and drag king Murray Hill as company, Manhattan feels simultaneously like Everytown and a special oasis all its own; small wonder the series was renewed for a second season. (Aired on HBO; streams on HBO Max)

8. 'This Is Going to Hurt'

This British import starring Ben Whishaw is likely the funniest series ever made about the inevitable tragedies that arise from hospital underfunding and the hideous injustices of a two-tier medical system based on who can afford to opt out. Whishaw, who won an Emmy just three years ago for his jumpy turn as the tortured target of a powerful closeted member of Parliament (played by Hugh Grant) in "A Very English Scandal," is worthy of another one for his performance as Adam Kay, an overworked OB/GYN whose burnout leads to questionable decisions and professional negligence. Adapted by the real-life Kay from his memoir, the mercifully not-too-gory medical drama fleshes out its protagonist with a compellingly knotty romance with a long-term partner who knows he deserves more and possibly won't ever get it. (Streams on AMC Plus)

9. 'Undone'

After a three-year hiatus, "Undone," the Rotoscoped multiverse series from "BoJack Horseman" alums Raphael Bob-Waksberg and Kate Purdy, returned to very little fanfare. That's unfortunate, since the trippy yet intimate adult cartoon, about a 30-ish woman (Rosa Salazar) who learns to go back in time and prevent her father's (Bob Odenkirk) death - or who may just be having a schizophrenic break - boasted a deliriously great sophomore outing. An ambitious follow-up that explored family secrets, inherited trauma and strained sisterhood (coincidentally mirroring much of the second season of "Russian Doll"), "Undone" remains one of the most poignant and visually gripping shows on TV. (Streams on Amazon Prime Video. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

10. 'We Own This City'

It's strange to think of an HBO series with David Simon's imprimatur - especially one that drew copious comparisons to "The Wire" - as a neglected underdog. But "We Own This City," which dramatizes a 2015 Baltimore police scandal and examines how law enforcement practices shifted (largely for the worse) after the death of Freddie Gray, seems to have gotten lost amid the flood of prestige programming in April and May. When it debuted, I called the six-part drama an "uneven companion" to Simon's earlier series. But its singular ambitions and tragically realistic depiction of civic necrosis have made the series hard to shake. (Aired on HBO; streams on HBO Max)
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DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  One, two, three, stop. Five, six, seven, stop: A group of young Syrian men and women step, sway and twirl to the backdrop of salsa music, dancing their worries away.

For an hour a week in a Damascus studio, their instructor Adnan Mohammed, 42, teaches a class the basics of Latin dancing, helping his students forget the troubles of war  if even briefly.

They come out a different person," Mohammed says.

For his students, ballroom dancing is a form of release, finding their rhythm in music away from their countrys many social and economic pressures. For that one hour, they push Syria's 11-year war from their minds, the politics, the anxiety over the economic crisis and the country's constantly depreciating currency.

They put that energy aside and they start to be optimistic," Mohammed added. I believe we are giving them the energy to stay in the country. Now there is a reason for them to stay.

Syrias war, which erupted in 2011 following a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests, has killed over half a million people and displaced half the countrys pre-war population of 23 million. With the military help of allies Russia and Iran, Syrian President Bashar Assad has managed to crush the armed uprising against him except for a few areas that remain outside of government control.

For the past several years, conflict lines have been largely frozen, but the war has wreaked unfathomable destruction on the country. A severe economic crisis has set in, with many barely managing to make ends meet.

Mohammed, who opened a dance school 15 years ago, says people still kept coming to his classes throughout the war. But the biggest blow was when the coronavirus pandemic shut everything down, even his studio.

With pandemic restrictions now mostly lifted, students have returned to class, looking for a brief respite, a temporary escape.

People are exhausted nowadays, we can sense a lot of frustration, said Yara Zarin, an engineer whos also an instructor at the Dance Nation school, where Mohammed teaches.

Zarin explains that the school's goal is not to have their students disconnect from reality but to provide the space where, for an hour or two ... you can be yourself.

The dance schools offer classes during the week but also dance parties. Small performances have made a comeback in the country recently, particularly in and around Damascus.

Last month, a techno dance party organized at an abandoned cement factory just outside Damascus attracted hundreds of youngsters. Complete with a laser show, music and dancing, it was one of the biggest such events since the war started.

Ballroom dancing schools were popular before the war among some segments of society, including three large schools in Damascus that have withstood the war.

For student Amar Masoud, the dance classes are a breath of life.

Sometimes, I end up missing classes because I have to work," he says. But I still try as much as possible to" come to the school.

Mohammed, the instructor, has a second day job to keep up with expenses. He pleads for government support, to help bring back dance to a more organized setting and to how it was before the war. He dreams of representing Syria in international events.

There needs to be a federation created just for dance so that this can be like before the war, where we would go and represent Syria in Arab and Asian countries, he said.

For Maya Marina, 30, dancing is a desperately needed outlet from war and hardship for her.

Music takes us to another world, she says. "Here I blow off steam, its a respite from the pressures, the anger, the difficulties.
The TRS is planning to put up banners and flexies across the city questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his unkept promises. (Representational Image/DC)

HYDERABAD: As the BJP is gearing up for the party's national executive meeting in Hyderabad on July 2 and 3, the TRS is planning to put up banners and flexies across the city questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his unkept promises to Telangana in the last eight years and the NDA government's continuous discrimination against Telangana in the allocation of funds and projects and demanding that Prime Minister sanction funds and projects to the state during his two-day stay in Hyderabad.

When Modi visited Hyderabad on May 26 to attend an event at Indian Schools of Business (ISB) at Gachibowli, several banners and flexies had come up in the city questioning the Prime Minister. But these banners did not carry names of either persons or parties leaving the onlookers guessing who were behind this. TRS leaders later claimed that they were put up by "TRS supporters".

The TRS leadership is planning to adopt the same strategy this time too, said sources. The party wants to embarrass BJP leaders and cadres by putting up banners and flexies stating that this would be the third visit of Modi to Hyderabad within six months in 2022, after his visits in February and May, but they fetched nothing for Hyderabad or Telangana.

The party leadership is gathering details of recent tours of Modi to Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

"In December last, Modi visited Uttar Pradesh, where he announced and launched development projects worth Rs 36,200 crore, which include 594-km long six-lane Ganga Expressway. Two months prior to it, he inaugurated six medical colleges in UP. He launched development works worth Rs 5,200 crore in his home constituency Varanasi. The BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and north-eastern states also got major projects and funds. But he did not announce a single rupee or project for Telangana despite coming here twice. We want to question this discrimination towards Telangana when he visits Hyderabad soon," a senior TRS leader said.

He pointed out Modi, during his recent visit to Gujarat last week, launched development works worth Rs 21,000 crore and laid foundation for railway projects worth Rs 16,000 crore.

The banners and flexies to be put by the TRS for the PM's upcoming visit will question the scrapping of the ITIR-Hyderabad project, non-sanctioning of IIM, Navodaya Schools, Turmeric Board, national status to Kaleshwaram and Palamuru-Ranga Reddy projects, new railway lines, industrial corridors, defence corridors etc, no funds to Hyderabad Pharma City, Kakatiya Mega Textile Park etc by the BJP-led government at the Centre.
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Dave Chappelle has revealed that hes decided against having the theater at his former high school named after him after plans for him to become the venues eponym were originally put in place.

The standup comedian made his opinion on the matter public Monday night while he was visiting Washington, D.C. for a dedication ceremony of the venue at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, his alma mater. The Washington Post first reported the story.

While Chappelle reaffirmed that he believed criticisms against him werent productive, he also stated that he didnt want his name to be on the theater if that would distract students.

Instead of the student theater bearing his name, the space will instead be called the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression.

Representatives for Chappelle could not be immediately reached for comment.

The school had initially made plans for a naming ceremony with Chappelle last year, but the dedication was postponed after the comedian became the subject of a wave of controversy from members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community for using language described as transphobic in his 2021 Netflix special The Closer.

More specifically, Chappelle also became the subject of criticism from some members of Duke Ellingtons student body in November when he visited the campus. Some students questioned the comedian directly regarding his dismissal of the criticism hes received from LGBTQ+ individuals.

Im 16 and I think youre childish, you handled it like a child, one student reportedly told Chappelle at the time.

The Ellington family is my family, Chappelle affirmed on Monday evening after voicing his decision.

Chappelle remains one of Duke Ellingtons most prolific donors and supporters, having given several millions of dollars to the institution, appeared for commencement speeches and hosted masterclasses for students. He had described the initial decision to name the theater after him as the most significant honor of my life.

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With the Justice Department and Jan. 6 committee taking a close look at Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election, he and his cronies could certainly use a fall guy, and it looks like theyve found their patsy: right-wing lawyer John Eastman.

Eastman worked for Trump as the attorney devised legal strategies to overturn the election to keep the outgoing president in power. But, in recent weeks, Trump has confided to those close to him that he sees no reason to publicly defend Eastman, two people familiar with the matter tell Rolling Stone. The ex-president is also deeply annoyed with Eastman and all the negative attention and media coverage that the lawyers work has brought Trump and his inner sanctum, including during the ongoing Jan. 6 hearings on Capitol Hill.

Furthermore, to those whove spoken Trump about Eastman in recent months, the ex-president has repeated an excuse he often uses when backed into a corner, as investigators confront him with an associates misdeeds: He has privately insisted he hardly or barely knows Eastman, despite the fact that he counseled Trump on taking a string of extra-legal measures in a bid to stay in power and wrote the so-called coup memo, which laid out the facsimile of a legal argument for reversing Trumps election defeat.

Behind closed doors, Trump will occasionally ask questions about Eastmans fortunes, including bluntly inquiring: Is [John] going to jail? according to a source who has heard the former president say this. But publicly, Trump has stayed silent. Over the past several months, Trump has been strongly advised by lawyers and several associates not to openly discuss Eastman or his work  and to personally avoid the man altogether, according to three sources familiar with the matter. At this time, Trump, his legal advisers, and various political counselors would prefer to cut ties with Eastman and keep their distance, in a perhaps vain attempt to build a firewall between the lawyer who enthusiastically pitched strategies for delegitimizing the 2020 election outcome and the ex-president who repeatedly sought his help.

It has been repeatedly communicated to the [former] president that he should not even bring up Johnny Eastmans name because he is maybe the most radioactive person [involved in this] when it comes toany so-called criminal exposure, a source with direct knowledge of the matter says. Johnny does not have many friends in [the upper crust of] Trumpworld left, and most people loyal to the [former] president are fine with him being left out on his own, to deal with whatever consequences he may or may not face.

Indeed, the infamously garrulous Trump has publicly kept his mouth shut about Eastman, a lawyer whose work became integral to the scandalous efforts to nullify President Bidens 2020 victory. (Trump even considered Eastman as counsel for his post-insurrection impeachment.)

Nowadays, in the top ranks of MAGAland, theres a clear attitude towards Eastman (Johnny, as some Trump advisers derisively call him): He might be going down. So be it, as long as he doesnt take anyone else down with him.

Eastman and a Trump spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment from Rolling Stone.

Eastman has become an increasing focus for the January 6th committee for his role in spearheading many of the Trump campaigns efforts to overturn the election. Exhibits posted by the committee last week included excerpts of a deposition by Trump White House attorney Eric Herschmann in which he described a heated confrontation with Eastman the day after the insurrection where he told Eastman to get a great fucking criminal defense lawyer because youre going to need it.

Shortly afterward, Eastman emailed fellow Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani to say: Ive decided that I should be on the pardon list, if that is still in the works.

Any time you give legal advice and then feel compelled to ask for a pardon, it probably wasnt good legal advice, says Steven Groves, formerly a lawyer and then a spokesman in Trumps White House.

In a nod to growing calls by the January 6 committee for a criminal investigation of Trumps actions around the election, Trump released a 12-page statement, which The New York Times reported contains the seeds of a potential defense against criminal allegations that the former president attempted to thwart the transfer of power while knowing he had legitimately lost the election. The document cites a range of wild-eyed theories, including 14 references to the bogus election fraud conspiracy documentary 2,000 Mules, but it does not mention Eastman or his work that the former president relied on to make the case that his efforts to overthrow the election were within the law.

Eastman, a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas turned conservative constitutional law professor, was first welcomed into Trumps orbit during the penultimate year of Trumps term in office. Trump, enamored of Eastmans skepticism of the birthright citizenship afforded by the constitution, increasingly came to rely on the attorneys crackpot views of election law as the the odds of overturning Bidens 2020 election victory grew longer. On behalf of Trump, Eastman authored briefs for the Supreme Court to intervene in the election in Trumps favor  both ultimately discarded by the justices.

When the Supreme Court ultimately shut the door on Trumps attempts to leverage the courts to stop the democratic transfer of power, Eastman took up the mantle of cobbling together a legal rationale for why, in blatant violation of the constitution, Vice President Mike Pence somehow had the authority to stop the counting of electoral votes on January 6.

But the idea that Eastman is becoming something of a fall guy for Trump and various Republicans efforts in 2020 and early 2021 is now so prevalent in influential conservative circles that its now being acknowledged by some of the former presidents favorite right-wing media stars.

How many lawyers did Trump have? He had severalAnd John Eastman has turned into the fall guy, Mark Levin, a Fox News and radio host, said on-air last week. Hes a lawyer, hes an advocate for the [former] president. Whether you agree with his legal judgment, his legal findings, or not, its what lawyers do. (According to a New York Times report last year, Levin is indirectly responsible for landing Eastman in then-President Trumps inner orbit  simply due to the fact that Trump had seen the attorney on a 2019 episode of Levins program.)

On Trumps social media forum, Truth Social, the former president has remained silent about Eastman  even as hes come to the defense of other aides and supporters now under scrutiny for their efforts to wage a coup against Joe Biden. In fact, Trump has Truthed about Elon Musks spat with Twitter, the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial, and the PGA tour  but hasnt posted even a fleeting defense of Eastman.

When the FBI arrested Trumps former trade advisor Peter Navarro for defying a subpoena from the committee, the former president thundered with outrage that our great trade genius, Professor Peter Navarro, was just handcuffed, shackled, and put in jail. Ginni Thomas, whose efforts to overthrow Bidens victory in Arizona, received similar encouragement from Trump when The Washington Post uncovered her emails urging legislators there to ignore the voters will and proclaim Trump the states victor. Thomas, Trump wrote after the Post story, is a Great American Patriot, the wonderful wife of Justice Clarence Thomas who fought for Voter Integrity in the Great State of Arizona.

On Trumps personal website, where the former president hosted written statements after his ouster from Twitter and before the launch of Truth Social, hes been similarly mum. Eastmans name appears on the site only twice, in hosted copies of the Supreme Court election briefs he authored in 2020.

Despite multiple stories about the January 6th committees interest in Eastman, however, Trumps thumbs have remained unmoved on the subject of his onetime attorneys fate. On Truth Social, where the former game-show host has offered a running commentary on the committees hearings, Trump has not once mentioned Eastman who, as president, he had once hailed on Twitter as a Brilliant Constitutional Lawyer.

Trump aides have remained similarly quiet on the subject of Eastman. His spokeswoman Liz Harrington has not mentioned the campaign lawyer since a tweet on January 6, when she hailed his speech at the rally on the mall explain the rigged voting machine system that corrupt politicians kept in place for the GA runoffs.
(EDITORS: Contains spoilers for "Obi-Wan Kenobi.")

- - -

It turns out being Black a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away can be just as stressful as it is here in the Milky Way.

The return of Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi, a momentous occasion of geektacular anticipation for fans, has been marred by the vitriol of online racist taunts.

Moses Ingram, who stars as Reva the Third Sister in Disney Plus's "Obi-Wan Kenobi" series, revealed through social media back in May that she received hundreds of hateful and racist messages after her ascension to canon in one of pop culture's biggest sci-fi playgrounds.

There were threats. She was called a diversity hire. It was ugly.

The response from "Star Wars" was swift. Official social media accounts posted support of Ingram and denouncement of the messages, and called for patience to let the story of Reva unfold. Titular star Ewan McGregor posted a video of support for Ingram - and you know how ugly things are getting when the star of the show has to more or less say "Don't be racist" before it barely has a chance to begin.

Fans of color, like me, can't help but feel upset over the repetitiveness of such attacks. Kelly Marie Tran couldn't escape them in the last theatrical trilogy.

This is what Mace Windu had his arm sliced off for? We can do better, people.

Black actors and other actors of color have always been a part of the "Star Wars" universe. Has it been perfect? No. But after some blunders, and after the racist attacks, Ingram's central role over the six-episode series, which drops its finale Wednesday, has been the best kind of progress a fan of color could ask for. Once a lightsaber is in your hands, things get serious.

"Star Wars" has been plenty Black for a minute now - from the soulful swag of Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian in the original trilogy to the intimidating presence of Samuel L. Jackson's Jedi Master Windu and his cooler-than-yours purple lightsaber in the prequels.

Are people's ears deceiving them? Because the last time I checked, the creative nucleus of the "Star Wars" universe is Darth Vader. His humble beginnings. His legendary Jedi status. And his eventual fall to the Dark Side. But the man within the black machine is nothing without the Black voice that gives him his true power. It could be argued that the vocal talent of James Earl Jones is the most important force in the entire "Star Wars" universe - and just as integral in this new "Obi-Wan Kenobi" series as it was back in the 1970s and '80s. No one delivers paternity results like Jones can. Not even Maury Povich.

Puerto Ricans have made their presence known in live-action and animated "Star Wars" worlds. Jimmy Smits is one of the most important dads in the galaxy as Princess Leia's adoptive father Bail Organa in the prequels and "Obi-Wan Kenobi." Freddie Prinze Jr. voiced Jedi Kanan Jarrus on the animated ""Star Wars" Rebels," and Rosario Dawson (who has tweeted that she is "half Puerto Rican/Afro Cuban & half Irish/Native Indian") is playing Ahsoka Tano in "The Mandalorian" and set to star in her own series soon.

It could be argued that the future of "Star Wars" is very much Latino. Just look at the recent Vanity Fair cover that featured McGregor, Dawson, Pedro Pascal (Chilean) and pending "Andor" star Diego Luna (Mexican).

And let's not forget Temuera Morrison. The Indigenous New Zealander played Jango Fett and every clone trooper in the prequels and recently starred as Boba Fett in his own series.

But "Star Wars" made some missteps when it came to Black talent. John Boyega was a stormtrooper janitor and part of a cruel play-action fake in trailers that made it seem like he was the next big Jedi in the franchise. The grace, beauty and skill of Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o was tossed aside, and she got only a voice-over role of a CGI character. Jackson's cool Jedi vibes were short-lived - he was Darth Vader fodder by "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith."

Now, in this Obi-Wan series, Reva has a beautifully woven origin story that appears to be trying to make up for those missteps. She was a child training to be a Jedi who witnessed Anakin Skywalker fall to the Dark Side and kill younglings like herself. So she hates Anakin, but she also hates Obi-Wan for not protecting everyone from the rage of his once star pupil. That's what makes her so compelling as she's gone rogue - it's impossible to see which side, if any, she is leaning toward.

This is the type of depth most Black characters in the "Star Wars" universe haven't been afforded in the past. Reva as a child is the first face we see on camera in "Obi-Wan Kenobi" - a hint to her relevance in a show that many thought would be just the ultimate galactic rematch between master and student. We later see her grow into a hate-filled, vengeance-hunting tool of an evil empire, and we've got one episode left to see whether she will seek redemption and return to the light side of the Force. The franchise's errors of the past sting a little less when a character like Reva is allowed to live, breathe, make mistakes and atone.

The future of "Star Wars", which now looks as bright as it has ever been, under the direction of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, is just as much about the creation of new characters as it is holding on to the past. That's how we ended up with new icons such as the Mandalorian and Grogu. And now Reva can be added to that list.

A Black woman's revenge against Darth Vader just might be my favorite Star War ever. And I've been in this fandom for decades. It's crazy how something can make you feel when you can see yourself front and center and not cast off to the side.

Reva could die the hero or the villain in the "Obi-Wan Kenobi" finale. Or she could live to see another day and show up on another series. If the latter happens, Lucasfilm will have to hope returning is something Ingram would even consider given what she's been through.

No matter Ingram's "Star Wars" future, Reva's tale mattered. And the "Star Wars" universe is better because of it.
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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Brooke Alexander turned off her breast pump at 6:04 p.m. and brought two fresh bottles of milk over to the bed, where her 3-month-old twins lay flat on their backs, red-faced and crying.

Running on four hours of sleep, the 18-year-old tried to feed both babies at once, holding Kendall in her arms while she tried to get Olivia to feed herself, her bottle propped up by a pillow. But the bottle kept slipping and the baby kept wailing. And Brooke's boyfriend, Billy High, wouldn't be home for another five hours.

"Please, fussy girl," Brooke whispered.

She peeked outside the room, just big enough for a full-size mattress, and realized she had barely seen the sun all day. The windows were covered by blankets, pinned up with thumbtacks to keep the room cool. Brooke rarely ventured into the rest of the house. Billy's dad had taken them in when her mom kicked them out, and she didn't want to get in his way.

The hours without Billy were always the hardest. She knew he had to go - they relied entirely on the $9.75 an hour he made working the line at Freebirds World Burrito - but she tortured herself imagining all the girls he might be meeting. And she wished she had somewhere to go, too.

Brooke found out she was pregnant late on the night of Aug. 29, two days before the Texas Heartbeat Act banned abortions once an ultrasound can detect cardiac activity, around six weeks of pregnancy. It was the most restrictive abortion law to take effect in the United States in nearly 50 years.

For many Texans who have needed abortions since September, the law has been a major inconvenience, forcing them to drive hundreds of miles - and pay hundreds of dollars - for a legal procedure they once could have had at home. But not everyone has been able to leave the state. Some people couldn't take time away from work or afford gas, while others, faced with a long journey, decided to stay pregnant.

Nearly 10 months into the Texas law, they have started having the babies they never planned to carry to term.

Texas offers a glimpse of what much of the country would face if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade this summer, as has been widely expected since a leaked draft opinion circulated last month. If the landmark precedent falls, roughly half the states in the country are expected to dramatically restrict abortion or ban it altogether, creating vast abortion deserts that will push many into parenthood.

Sometimes Brooke imagined her life if she hadn't gotten pregnant, if Texas hadn't banned abortion just days after she decided that she wanted one. She would have been in school, rushing from class to her shift at Texas Roadhouse, eyes on a real estate license that would finally get her out of Corpus Christi. She'd pictured an apartment in Austin and enough money for a trip to Hawaii, where she'd swim with dolphins in water so clear she could see her toes.

When both babies finally started eating, Brooke took out her phone and restarted the timer that had been running almost continuously since the day they were born.

She had 2 1/2 hours until they'd have to eat again.

- - -

Brooke and Billy first met at the downtown skatepark with a big group of friends, one clear-skied night in May of last year. They didn't talk that first day - but Brooke noticed how effortlessly Billy dropped into the quarter-pipe, the way his blond hair flipped out from underneath his red beanie. She followed him on Instagram, and her stomach did a little dance when she saw that he followed her back.

Soon, they were spending almost every day together: throwing themselves into the Gulf of Mexico waves on Padre Island and watching the sun set over the pier. At the skatepark, he'd help her do the tricks she'd been scared to try alone.

"Pinkie promise me you'll do it," he'd say, all blue eyes and dimples, as she peeked over the edge of the ramp.

Once he hooked her little finger, there was no backing down.

Billy was different from the other guys Brooke knew. He held her hand in public and introduced her to his dad. When she took him to the mall, he grinned each time she stepped out of the dressing room, telling her how good she looked in each new crop top she tried on.

He made her feel pretty. "I wasn't used to feeling like that," Brooke said.

Brooke took the pregnancy test at 11 o'clock on a hot night at the tail end of the summer. When the two pink lines appeared, she looked over at Billy, then slid onto the bathroom floor, finally connecting the signs she'd ignored for weeks.

The nausea she'd chalked up to food poisoning. The two missed periods. That moment a few weeks back, when Billy put a hand on her stomach and asked if she was sure she wasn't pregnant.

Leaving Billy in her bedroom with the pregnancy test, Brooke grabbed her keys and drove to her best friend's house, where they sat on his bed and examined her options.

She could always get an abortion, she told him.

Then he reminded her of something she vaguely remembered seeing on Twitter: A new law was scheduled to take effect Sept. 1.

Brooke had 48 hours.

The abortion clinic in South Texas - two and a half hours from Corpus Christi - had no open slots in the next two days, with patients across the state racing to get into clinics before the law came down. When Brooke called, the woman on the end of the line offered the names and addresses of clinics in New Mexico, a 13-hour drive from Corpus Christi.

In the meantime, the woman said, Brooke could get an ultrasound somewhere nearby: If she was under six weeks, they could still see her.

"We're gonna see how far along it is," Brooke texted her dad, Jeremy Alexander, later that night. "See if abortion is an option."

"What's the cut off date," he asked.

"They just passed a law today!!" she responded in the early hours of Sept. 1, referring to the ban that had just taken effect. "What are the f---ing odds I believe it's 6 weeks."

"Fingers crossed????" her dad said.

Brooke found a place that would perform an ultrasound on short notice - and scheduled an appointment for 9 a.m.

- - -

Whenever a new client walks into the Pregnancy Center of the Coastal Bend, they are asked to fill out a form. After all the usual questions - name, date of birth, marital status - comes the one that most interests the staff: "If you are pregnant, what are your intentions?"

From there, the team sorts each client into one of three groups:

If they're planning to have the baby: "LTC," likely to carry.

If they're on the fence: "AV," abortion vulnerable.

If they're planning to get an abortion: "AM," abortion minded.

The Pregnancy Center of the Coastal Bend - which advertises itself as the region's "#1 Source of Abortion Information" - is one of thousands of crisis pregnancy centers across the United States, antiabortion organizations that are often religiously affiliated.

When Brooke showed up with her mom for her appointment, she had no idea she'd walked into a facility designed to dissuade people from getting abortions. She also didn't know how much significance her form held for the staff: By signaling that she wanted an abortion, she became their first "AM" of the Texas Heartbeat Act.

Brooke heard about the pregnancy center from her mom's friend, who knew she needed an ultrasound. This place offered them free. Brooke felt a sense of calm, sitting in the waiting room, lulled by its decorative throw pillows and soft watercolors of ocean scenes.

The advocate assigned to her case, Angie Arnholt, had been counseling abortion-minded clients at the pregnancy center for a year. While many of the center's volunteers signed up only to talk to "LTCs" - happy conversations about babies their clients couldn't wait to have - Arnholt, a 61-year-old who wears a gold cross around her neck, felt called to do what she could to help women "make a good decision," she later told The Washington Post.

Back in a consultation room, Brooke told Arnholt all the reasons she wanted to get an abortion.

She'd just enrolled in real estate classes at community college, which would be her first time back in a classroom since she dropped out of high school three years earlier at 15.

She and Billy had been dating only three months.

Sitting across from Brooke and her mom, Arnholt opened "A Woman's Right to Know," an antiabortion booklet distributed by the state of Texas, flipping to a page titled "Abortion risks."

The first risk listed was "death."

As Brooke listened to Arnholt's warnings - of depression, nausea, cramping, breast cancer, infertility - she tried to stay calm, reminding herself that women get abortions all the time. Still, Brooke couldn't help fixating on some of the words Arnholt used: Vacuum suction. Heavy bleeding. Punctured uterus. (Serious complications from abortion are rare. Abortion does not increase the risk of mental illness, breast cancer or infertility, according to leading medical organizations.)

Starting to panic, Brooke looked over at her mom.

When she found out Brooke was pregnant, Terri Thomas told her daughter to get an abortion. While she was a devout Christian - going to church a few times a week, twice on Sundays - she had her own views on this particular issue. Thomas had her first kid at 20, she said, just as she was transferring out of community college with hopes of starting law school. If the timing had been different, she said, she might have been a prosecutor. Instead, she hopped from one retail job to another: Bath & Body Works to Walgreens to Home Depot.

Growing up, Brooke said, she bounced back and forth between her mom's house and her dad's, depending on who was the more stable parent at the time. Her happiest years as a kid were spent with her dad, she said, on a tree-lined street with a ping-pong table in the garage and a trampoline in the backyard. But then Brooke's dad started using cocaine.

While Alexander has been sober for a few years now, he said, back then he couldn't kick the habit. Around the time he stopped paying all the rent, and sewage started backing up in their toilets, Brooke moved back in with her mom.

With her mom, Brooke always felt like she was tiptoeing. If Brooke forgot to turn off the lights or do the dishes, Thomas would start yelling. Thomas felt she had every right to respond that way, she said: She was the "hen" in her henhouse.

Arnholt ushered Brooke into the ultrasound room, where Brooke undressed from the waist down and lay back onto an examination table, looking up at a large flat-screen TV.

As the ultrasound technician pressed the probe into her stomach, slathered with gel, Brooke willed the screen to show a fetus without a heartbeat.

The technician gasped.

It was twins. And they were 12 weeks along.

"Are you sure?" Brooke said.

"Oh, my God, oh, my God," Thomas recalled saying as she jumped up and down. "This is a miracle from the Lord. We are having these babies."

Brooke felt like she was floating above herself, watching the scene below. Her mom was calling the twins "my babies," promising Brooke she would take care of everything, as the ultrasound technician told her how much she loved being a twin.

If she really tried, Brooke thought she could make it to New Mexico. Her older brother would probably lend her the money to get there. But she couldn't stop staring at the pulsing yellow line on the ultrasound screen.

She wondered: If her babies had heartbeats, as these women said they did, was aborting them murder?

Eventually, Arnholt turned to Brooke and asked whether she'd be keeping them.

Brooke heard herself saying "yes."

- - -

Brooke walked out of the pregnancy center that day with an ultrasound photo and a handful of lollipops that Arnholt promised would help with her morning sickness.

Arnholt and the ultrasound technician each followed up with Brooke a few times over text. Brooke scheduled what the pregnancy center called a "pre-natal appointment," where she sat through another ultrasound, then dropped by for a parenting class, earning "points" she redeemed for a package of diapers.

After that, Brooke didn't go back to the pregnancy center. She said the class felt like a waste of time.

Instead, she turned to Billy.

Within a few weeks, Brooke and Billy had a plan. He would join the Air Force as soon as he graduated from high school; Brooke would wait for him to finish basic training, then follow him wherever he got assigned.

Soon they were debating baby names. Surrounded by their friends and families one afternoon in October, Brooke and Billy fired gender-reveal cannons into Thomas's backyard, unleashing two giant puffs of pink smoke.

"I'm so happy I met you billy," Brooke wrote in an Instagram post announcing her pregnancy. "Starting a family with you is gonna be one of the hardest things I'm ever gonna experience, but I'm glad I get to do it with you."

Brooke started her real estate classes in early November - and she loved everything about going to school. When she showed up the first day in her favorite crop top and jeans, the cinder-block building "felt like an opportunity," she said. Most days, she'd buy a Frappuccino from the vending machine and sit down in the chair she'd claimed as her own, opening her textbook to a page she'd already covered in yellow highlighter.

Brooke got an 83 on the final exam, the highest grade in the class.

She texted everyone she could think of who might want to hear the news: Billy, her brother, her mom, her dad, her grandpa. After three years out of school, she couldn't believe she'd done so well.

"I felt like, man, I must be really smart," she said.

Throughout the fall, Billy was her biggest worry. He'd stayed pretty quiet back when she was deciding what to do about the babies. Just once, he told her he'd prefer to get an abortion, but would support her completely in whatever she chose.

He'd thought about adoption, but Brooke wouldn't even consider it.

"I don't think I'm ready for this," he'd told her.

Billy was scared to lose what he described as "the freedom of being a teenager." After he graduated, he'd planned to keep working at Freebirds - just enough hours to get by - so he could maximize his skate time and "just chill." People respected Billy at the skate park: Whenever he geared up to film some tricks, everyone else cleared out of the bowl.

By November, Billy was paying all of Brooke's bills. She'd stopped working at Texas Roadhouse; the smell of the meat and grease had been making her sick to her stomach. To swing Brooke's $330 car payment, they applied for a WIC card and ate ramen or pancakes for dinner. When they overdrafted Brooke's credit card, Billy worked double shifts until he could pay it off.

Brooke wanted to work, but she couldn't hack a waitressing job. At seven months pregnant, she struggled to stay on her feet for too long and felt utterly exhausted by even the simplest tasks.

She started falling asleep while doing her homework. Then she missed a class. Then another.

When she decided to drop out of real estate school, she couldn't bring herself to tell her teacher. She convinced herself it wasn't that big of a deal - they'd be moving away soon anyway, and the Air Force would pay Billy enough to support them both.

Brooke wedged her real estate textbook in a line of books on her dresser, between "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and the fourth Harry Potter.

Maybe she'd come back to it one day.

Anytime Brooke went out with the babies in public, she knew that people were staring. She was 18 and she looked 18, with rosy cheeks and curly blond ringlets tied together with a ribbon.

As she struggled to maneuver her double stroller through the doors at Freebirds, she imagined everyone was judging her, writing her off as a clueless kid and a bad mom.

She was determined to prove them wrong.

Somehow, mothering came naturally to Brooke. Whenever one of the babies started crying, Brooke would tick through her mental checklist: Was her daughter hungry? Tired? Did she need to be changed? If it was none of those things, Brooke would pick up her daughter and hold her close, swaying from side to side, kissing the silky brown strands on the top of her head.

Almost always, her baby would stop crying.

"I think they can smell me," she said. "And that makes me feel so special."

Brooke knew the little things about her daughters that no one else would notice. Olivia had a higher-pitched cry. Kendall was harder to soothe. You could always tell when they were about to wake up, because they'd start to smile.

Looking at her daughters, Brooke struggled to articulate her feelings on abortion. On one hand, she said, she absolutely believed that women should have the right to choose what's best for their own lives. On the other, she knew that, without the Texas law, her babies might not be here.

"Who's to say what I would have done if the law wasn't in effect?" she said. "I don't want to think about it."

Brooke considered all that she'd lost: Long nights at the skate park, trips to the mall, dropping $30 on a crab dinner just because she felt like it.

"I can't just really be free," she said. "I guess that really sums it up. That's a big thing that I really miss."

She sat silently for a while, Olivia's hand wrapped around her finger.

"It's really scary thinking that I wouldn't have them," she said.

There was only one way she could make sense of it, she said: Losing them now - as fully formed human beings - would be different from losing them back then.

All through the pregnancy, Brooke had planned to bring the babies home to her mom's house, where they'd all live together until Billy made enough money to pay for a home.

Brooke's mom had promised to be there for them, back in the ultrasound room, and Brooke had believed her.

But after a couple of weeks, Brooke started to feel like her mom could turn on her at any moment.

Thomas would remind Brooke that she was staying in her house rent-free, running the TV and AC all night without paying for electric.

After Brooke left dirty dishes in the sink one night in mid-May, she woke up to her mom yelling at her from the kitchen.

"You don't get a prize for getting yourself knocked up and pregnant," Thomas remembered saying.

"I don't know what you think I owe you, but you don't get a prize for that."

"You treat me like some random chick off the street," Brooke said. "I'm your daughter."

Thomas said she told her to find another place to live.

Brooke packed up a few things and drove the babies to Billy's dad's house. Billy's room wasn't exactly where she'd imagined raising her daughters, with its stash of skateboard magazines and a giant Freebirds billboard behind the bed, advertising fountain drinks for 95 cents. But it was a place she was welcome.

The next morning, Brooke woke up to a text from her mother.

"I am by no means a perfect human or a perfect mom, but I love you no matter what," she wrote. "You don't have to stay over there."

Brooke would rather rely on Billy than her mom, she decided - though in her most anxious moments, she worried he might kick her out, too.

She often relived an argument they'd had one Saturday night in April, when they got a little too drunk and Billy finally talked about all the things he'd been avoiding: He didn't really like the way his life was turning out, he told her. He didn't want to join the Air Force; he just wanted to skate.

"That's not my fault," she'd told him. "I didn't get myself pregnant."

At one point, he recalled, he suggested they try living apart.

They were over that now, Brooke reminded herself as she hung up her clothes in Billy's closet. She placed a bouquet of flowers on his desk and lit a candle, filling the room with a scent called "Forever Love."

Bit by bit, she would make Billy's room a home.

- - -

Twenty minutes across town, a woman Brooke had never met would soon be sharing her story, holding up the twins as an antiabortion triumph, just two weeks after the leaked draft decision revealed a Supreme Court on the brink of overturning Roe.

The Coastal Bend Republican Coalition gathered on May 19 for its weekly meeting at a local barbecue joint. Over brisket and coleslaw, members listened to the speaker they'd invited for the evening: Jana Pinson, the executive director of the Pregnancy Center of the Coastal Bend.

To explain the center's work, Pinson told a story about a girl who showed up with her mom on the morning the Heartbeat Act took effect, asking for an abortion.

The mother and daughter "were so furious with us," Pinson said, "so angry."

But as soon as they saw the ultrasound, she said, everything changed.

"The moment we put that wand on her sweet belly and two babies popped up . . . it absolutely melted them."

Last year, Pinson said, 583 abortion-minded and abortion-vulnerable women chose to continue their pregnancies after visiting their facility.

At their banquet in March - with over 2,800 attendees from across the region - Pinson and her staff lit 583 candles.

One of those was for Brooke.

- - -

Three weeks later, the babies stayed home while Brooke and Billy drove to the courthouse. Billy was about to leave for a five-month stint in basic training and technical school. For Brooke to qualify for military benefits, they had to get married.

At 11 o'clock on a Monday morning, they walked into a courtroom with an American flag behind the bench, Brooke in a flowery sundress, Billy in jeans. She'd looked around for white dresses on Amazon but couldn't justify the $30: She was terrified she'd run out of money while Billy was away.

The loneliness scared her, too. She kept imagining the long nights alone in Billy's house, trying to calm two crying babies without him. He wouldn't have his phone at basic training; she would hear from him mostly through letters. She knew she'd have to manage that little voice in the back of her head: What if he changed his mind about their life together?

Standing with Billy in front of the justice of the peace, Brooke told herself that, one day, they would have their "love story moment." She would walk down the aisle in a wedding gown. Their friends and family would cry and cheer as she and Billy publicly declared how much they meant to each other.

"I, Brooke Alexander, take thee, Billy High, to be my wedded husband," she repeated.

If it wasn't for the Texas law, Brooke knew she might not be standing here. She'd probably be studying for her next exam, while Billy mastered some new trick on the quarter-pipe. She liked to think they'd still be together - spending their money on movie tickets and Whataburger, instead of diapers and baby wipes.

She told herself that alternate life didn't matter anymore. She had two babies she loved more than anything else in the world.

"I do," she said, tears in her eyes.

Brooke pulled out her phone once they finished the ceremony: 1 hour, 15 minutes.

Time to grab some lunch and head home; the babies would be hungry.
STOCKHOLM (AP)  At least two people were stabbed, and the one suffered life-threatening injuries, in a shopping mall's parking area west of the Swedish capital, police said Tuesday. A 16-year-old has been detained on suspicion of involvement in the assault.

Police said some kind of sharp object was used in the attack, which is believed to have been carried out by one person.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed a bill that would make doctors who perform abortions subject to prison terms of one to 10 years  a measure that would take effect when and if the 1973 Supreme Court decision establishing abortion rights is overturned.

The bill passed during the recently ended 2022 regular legislative session was described by supporters as a means of clarifying and eliminating any conflicts in anti-abortion laws already in state statutes. Edwards, a Democrat who goes against his party on the issue, has long expressed opposition to legal abortion.
Voters selected the Republican nominee for Alabama's top election official in the runoff Tuesday, and the general election race for governor was set as Democratic voters picked their gubernatorial nominee. Three other statewide nominations plus a U.S. House seat also were on the ballot. Here is a look at the results:

SECRETARY OF STATE

State Rep. Wes Allen won the Republican nomination for secretary of state in a contest that featured both candidates promoting the need to tighten election security in harmony with former President Donald Trumps false claims that he lost the 2020 presidential race because of fraud.

Allen defeated outgoing State Auditor Jim Zeigler and will face Democrat Pamela J. Laffitte, an Air Force veteran and corrections supervisor in Mobile County, in the general election to become Alabamas top election official.

Zeigler received the most votes among four candidates in the primary election in May, but Allen overcame the deficit.

Allen, from Troy, previously served as probate judge in Pike County. Citing the potential for fraud, he opposed early voting and no-excuse absentee balloting and sponsored a law that barred curbside voting meant in part to make it easier for people with disabilities to cast a ballot.

During the campaign, Zeigler dubbed himself a watchman against ballot fraud, so-called ballot harvesting and voting by mail. Trump has blamed all those and more for his loss to Democratic President Joe Biden, and many GOP voters believe him despite a lack of evidence.

The current secretary of state, Republican John Merrill, couldnt run again because of term limits, and the GOP nominee will be a heavy favorite to win in November.

GOVERNOR

Yolanda Rochelle Flowers defeated state Sen. Malika Sanders Fortier in the Democratic race for governor to become the first Black person to win a major partys gubernatorial nomination in Alabama.

Flowers, a career educator from Birmingham, narrowly led a six-person field in the May primary. In what will be the states first all-female gubernatorial race, she will be a decided underdog against Gov. Kay Ivey, who vanquished eight challengers to win the GOP primary without a runoff.

Almost four times as many people voted in the Republican primary as the Democratic primary in May, and Republicans hold every statewide office.

Flowers ran on a platform of reconstructing Alabama by rebuilding its economy and systems for education, health care and criminal justice, Among other things, she advocated for a state lottery and a state minimum wage of $15.

Fortier, a state lawmaker from Selma, campaigned on the theme of building the biblical beloved community promoted by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. by improving the states economy, schools and health care. She is the daughter of former state Sen. Hank Sanders and attorney Faya Rose Toure.

STATE AUDITOR

Andrew Sorrell claimed the GOP nomination for state auditor by defeating Stan Cooke, a win that was tantamount to election since theres no Democratic contender.

Sorrell, a state representative from Colbert County who led balloting in the May primary, tried to make election security a prime issue, saying a strong auditor is needed to appoint county registrars who will keep voter rolls clean.

Cooke, a pastor from the Jefferson County town of Kimberly, claimed Alabama is at a crossroads where it could remain a conservative state or come under the control of liberal Democrats. Echoing Trumps false claims of election theft, he highlighted the auditors role in appointing county election officials who can prevent Democrats from stealing elections.

The current auditor, Republican Jim Zeigler, was barred from seeking another term.

U.S. HOUSE

Madison County Commission chair Dale Strong won the only runoff among the states seven U.S. House seats, claiming the Republican nomination for an open position in north Alabamas 5th District.

Strong defeated Casey Wardynski, a former Huntsville school superintendent. Strong handily led a six-candidate field with about 45% of the primary vote in May but couldnt avoid a runoff.

Strong will face Democrat Kathy Warner-Stanton of Decatur in the mostly Republican Tennessee Valley district in November.

The seat was given up by U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, who lost a runoff race with former business lobby leader Katie Britt for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby.

ALABAMA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Two Republican incumbents on the Alabama Public Service Commission dispatched challengers to keep their jobs on the three-member utility-regulating board.

Jeremy Oden, a former state legislator from Cullman seeking his third term, defeated attorney Brent Woodall, a PSC staffer and Republican activist, for the Place 1 nomination. Oden cast himself as a conservative bulwark against liberal environmental policies.

Chip Beeker, a former Greene County commissioner first elected to the PSC in 2014, defeated Robert L. McCollum to win the GOP nomination for Place 2. Beeker portrayed himself as an opponent of Democratic environmental policies, while McCollum, a small business owner from Tallapoosa County, argued the commission is too close to Alabama Power Co.

No Democrat qualified for either position, making a victory in the Republican runoff tantamount to election.
PHOENIX (AP)  Maricopa County prosecutors announced Tuesday they plan to seek the death penalty for a couple if theyre convicted of killing an 11-year-old boy in Scottsdale five months ago.

A grand jury indicted 52-year-old Stephanie Marie Davis and her 33-year-old husband, Thomas James Desharnais, in February on 11 felony counts that included first-degree murder, child abuse and tampering with evidence.

Scottsdale police said the child died at a hospital the month before.

According to police, Davis told dispatchers she found her grandson unresponsive in the bathtub of an Scottsdale hotel on Jan. 30.

First responders said they removed a half liter of water from the boys body during life-saving efforts and notes numerous other injuries that were at various healing stages.

Prosecutors said Davis and Desharnais allegedly inflicted bodily harm in an especially heinous or depraved manner on the boy since January 2019.

Davis also is accused of striking the child in the head with a ratchet and failing to seek medical treatment for his injuries, according to prosecutors.

Both Davis and Desharnais pleaded not guilty to the charges Feb. 17. They remain held on multimillion-dollar bonds as they await April 2024 trials.

Calls and emails to the public defenders who represent the couple werent immediately returned Tuesday.
NEWAYGO, Mich. (AP)  A homemade bomb has been found along the side of a road in western Michigan.

The device was put in a bucket and taken Monday to the Newaygo Police Department by the person who found it, according to the Newaygo County sheriffs office.
WASHINGTON - The Biden administration will ban the use of land mines by the United States across most of the globe, in a decision that reverses Trump-era rules allowing greater employment of the weapons that are blamed for killing thousands of civilians a year - the majority of them children.

The move, which the White House is expected to announce Tuesday, caps an extended internal review of a policy enacted in early 2020 that empowered military commanders to use the mines globally in certain situations. It allows the United States to use the weapons along ally South Korea's border with North Korea, though mines are not currently placed there.

A State Department official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe actions that had not yet been made public, said the new policy was a reflection of the Biden administration's belief that human rights must be a significant factor when considering when to use weapons or provide them to other countries.

U.S. officials say anti-personnel mines used by various nations kill about 7,000 people a year, the vast majority of whom are civilians. At least half of the victims are believed to be children. In places such as Afghanistan and Yemen, land mines have remained a hidden peril following conflicts, sowing farmlands or mountain paths with invisible and long-lasting danger.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, an advocacy group, welcomed the new policy but said the United States must take the steps needed to join the Ottawa Convention, a 1997 treaty that prohibits participating nations from using, transferring or stockpiling weapons categorized as anti-personnel mines.

"We are still out of step with most of the world," Kimball said. "The administration needs to move more quickly to bring us in line."

While the United States remains ineligible to join the Ottawa treaty because of its refusal to forswear land mine use entirely, U.S. officials say they hope to do so if alternate weapons can be developed to safeguard South Korea's border with North Korea.

The new policy will bring the United States into compliance with most aspects of the treaty, prohibiting the production and purchase of the mines, and banning their export and transfer except when necessary for their destruction. The regulations also commit the United States to destroying existing U.S. mines that are not deemed necessary in South Korea.

The U.S. stockpile includes some 3 million anti-personnel mines, all of which have self-destruction or self-deactivation features. The United States has employed anti-personnel mines once since the Ottawa treaty came into effect, in Afghanistan.

As a presidential candidate, Biden promised to roll back what he characterized as President Donald Trump's "reckless" stance on mines. Officials have framed the policy, which is identical to the Obama administration's rules, as further proof of the Biden administration's commitment to civilians' welfare and to human rights. The United States is also the largest supporter of efforts to destroy conventional weapons including land mines and other unexplored munitions.

Critics say the Biden administration's actions have failed to match its rhetoric in other areas related to human rights, including its support for leaders who have overseen widespread abuses. The new policy comes ahead of Biden's expected meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., urged the Defense Department, where senior officials have voiced support for land mine use, to quickly implement the new policy.

"This is long overdue recognition that the grave humanitarian and political costs of using these weapons far exceed their limited military utility," said Leahy, who has long advocated for an end to land mine use, in a statement.

Annie Shiel, an official at the Centers for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), said the task ahead was now a full ban of the weapons "without exception." "Land mines are indiscriminate weapons that cause devastating harm to civilians for decades after they are used," she said.

The new rules strip the Pentagon of authority over the issue, giving control to the White House.

When the 2020 regulations were unveiled, the Pentagon characterized land mines as valuable in protecting troops from being overrun or channeling enemy forces into areas where they can be attacked. That policy permitted military commanders to order the use of some land mines in combat as long as they had a self-destruct or self-deactivation feature.

"The United States will not sacrifice American servicemembers' safety," a senior Pentagon official said at the time.

Military leaders have also supported the use of mines since Biden took office. In April, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, characterized the mines as an important wartime tool.

"Antitank or antipersonnel mines are a very effective use in combat," he said, noting the necessity of ensuring the weapons do not remain active after conflicts.

The State Department official said Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during the review process "had the opportunity to raise the need that they feel that they had for land mines with the White House and talk about their operational effectiveness, but this was the decision."

The Biden administration has highlighted the toll that land mines are taking in the war in Ukraine, where officials say Russia has planted mines indiscriminately. While Russia is not party to the Ottawa convention, Ukraine is a signatory.

Karen Chandler, an acting deputy assistant secretary of state, said there was "no credible evidence of Ukraine using [anti-personnel mines], currently or during Russia's initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014."
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Celia regained tropical storm force off southern Mexico's Pacific coast on Tuesday and forecasters said it was likely to eventually become a hurricane, though it appears to be headed out to sea, away from land.

Celia first hit tropical storm force on Friday while off of Central America, but soon faded back into a tropical depression.
CHICAGO (AP)  Chicago police officers will no longer be allowed to chase people on foot simply because they run away or they've committed minor offenses, the department said Tuesday, more than a year after two foot pursuits ended with officers fatally shooting a 13-year-old boy and 22-year-old man.

The new policy adheres closely to a draft policy put in place after those shootings and gives the department something it has never had: permanent rules about when officers can and can't engage in an activity that can endanger themselves, those they're chasing and bystanders.

Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said he expects the new policy will make the officers and the public safer, as has happened in other cities with similar policies.

The impact on crime has been studied (and) we can look back at what has made officers safer, has made communities safer for over a decade, he told reporters at a press briefing on the policy, which he expects to be in place by the end of the summer after all officers receive training.

Under the policy, officers may give chase if they believe a person is committing or is about to commit a felony, a Class A misdemeanor such as domestic battery, or a serious traffic offense that could risk injuring others, such as drunken driving or street racing.

Officers won't be allowed to chase people on foot if they suspect them of minor offenses such as parking violations, driving on suspended licenses or drinking alcohol in public. But they will still have discretion to chase people who they've determined are committing or about to commit crimes that post an obvious threat to any person."

Perhaps most significantly, the policy makes clear that the days of officers giving chase just because someone tries to avoid them are over.

People may avoid contact with a member for many reasons other than involvement in criminal activity, the policy states.

The names of 13-year-old Adam Toledo and 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez, who were armed when they ran from police in separate March 2021 pursuits, are not mentioned in the news release announcing the policy or the policy itself. But those pursuits  particularly that of Alvarez  cast a shadow over the policy.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot demanded that the department create an interim policy after the shootings and the countys top prosecutor harshly criticized police over the Alvarez pursuit. It also appears that the police department took pains to prohibit just that kind of foot chase.

Under the policy, the chase of Alvarez would apparently not have been allowed for two key reasons. First, when police chased him for a traffic violation they knew who he was and where he lived, Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx told reporters in March when she announced that the officers involved in the two shootings wouldn't be charged. Second, officers are no longer allowed to chase on foot people who are suspected of the kind of minor offense that led to the chase.

The policy includes a number of circumstances in which an officer must call off a chase, including a requirement that the pursuit must end if a third party is injured and needs immediate medical attention that cant be provided by anyone else. If officers realize they do not know exactly where they are, which is possible in a chaotic situation in which they are running through alleys and between houses, they must stop. And if they find themselves unable to communicate with other officers, because they drop their radios or for another reason, they must stop.

The policy also makes a point of reminding officers that they or their supervisors will not be criticized or disciplined for deciding against a foot pursuit or calling one off  the significance of which a law professor who has studied the department and was part of a legal team that successfully fought the city over its refusal to release video of a police shooting said can't be overstated.

How do you change the culture that you have to chase those bad guys no matter what, no matter how dangerous to everyone who is around you?" University of Chicago Law Professor Craig Futterman said. You create polices that make it so you can't be disciplined, chewed out, criticized for following a policy and not engaging in an inherently dangerous act."

Officers are also prohibited from provoking chases, such as by employing a tactic in which they speed in their squad cars toward a group of people, stop suddenly and jump out with the intention of stopping anyone in the group who flees.

The city has been waiting for a policy since long before the shootings of Toledo and Alvarez.

Five years ago, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a scathing report saying that too many police chases in the city were unnecessary or ended with officers shooting people they did not have to shoot. And three years ago, a judge signed off on a consent decree that included a requirement to adopt a foot pursuit policy.

The city also had plenty of evidence about the dangers of foot pursuits, including a Chicago Tribune investigation that found that a third of the citys police shootings from 2010 through 2015 involved someone being wounded or killed during a foot pursuit.

Police officials have denied any suggestion they have been dragging their feet, pointing out that the department has met the established deadlines.

But Chicago has not taken the lead on the issue, with other major cities such as Baltimore, Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon, already having implemented foot pursuit policies and Futterman said the department has resisted following suit for years despite knowing how dangerous foot pursuits can be.

Still, he praised the department.

Lives have been lost and having one (foot pursuit policy) and having one that has some teeth ... will save lives, he said.
As the national maternal mortality rate continues to rise, the state is ramping up its Medicaid program to protect and care for its pregnant patients.

In one program that will debut next summer, pregnant individuals under HUSKY, Connecticuts Medicaid program, will be able to get covered help from doulas and breast feeding specialists, according to the state Department of Social Services.

Coverage has already opened up some for pregnant patients. In April, those who are pregnant and meet the income requirements began to qualify for prenatal care regardless of their immigration status, opening up care for an estimated 1,400 patients a year. Nearly 600 people have already enrolled, Commissioner Deidre Gifford said in a press conference earlier this month.

As an obstetrician gynecologist, I know firsthand the critical importance of early and regular prenatal care to a healthy pregnancy outcome, Gifford said.

Eligible HUSKY members also started to get more postpartum coverage. Originally just two months, the program extended to 12 months starting in April.

Officials are adding these services to help new mothers and try to prevent pregnancy-associated deaths. Though rare, these deaths do happen, and disproportionately to Black patients or patients with Medicaid, according to data from the Connecticut Maternal Mortality Review Committee.

This is a situation that urgently needs to be addressed, Gifford said.

Of the roughly 35,000 births Connecticut sees a year, HUSKY Health covers about 14,000 each year, according to DSS spokesperson David Dearborn.

The Connecticut Maternal Mortality Review Committee reported 62 pregnancy-associated deaths from 2015 to 2019, or deaths which occurred during a pregnancy or within a year of the end of the pregnancy, regardless of the cause. This could mean complications during pregnancy, or an unrelated car crash.

The state Department of Public Health said data on maternity deaths in 2020 and 2021 is not ready for release yet.

Black patients and patients who had Medicaid for insurance were over represented in these deaths. Despite only making up 13.1 percent of live births, Black patients made up 27 percent of the pregnancy-associated deaths, according to the report. Medicaid patients made up 37 percent of live births but accounted for 68 percent of the deaths.

Of those 62 deaths, 25, or about 40 percent, were directly related to pregnancy, or causally related to pregnancy or its management, the committee said in a report. This means the deaths were caused either from complications, postpartum depression ending in a suicide, unrelated conditions aggravated by pregnancy such as cancer or other related conditions.

Some 33 of those were not pregnancy-related, but occurred either during pregnancy or within a year after the end of the pregnancy, and four were undetermined.

The committee determined that 45 of the 62 deaths were preventable  22 of which were related to the pregnancy.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 2,200 maternal deaths from 2018 to 2020. And Black, American Indian and Alaska Native people are two to three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related causes than white people.

The maternal mortality rate has also gone up nationally in recent years; going from 17.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 births to 23.8 per 100,000 in 2020. It rose from 658 in 2018, to 754 in 2019 to 861 in 2020.

Almost two-thirds of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, according to the CDC.

By the summer of 2023, the Department of Social Services is introducing a maternity bundle which will integrate doulas and breastfeeding support. With the bundle, Gifford hopes to address disparities and birth outcomes, particularly focusing on women of color and those with substance use disorders.

Cynthia Hayes, a practicing doula and breastfeeding consultant, said doulas are birthing professionals. Though not medical professionals, we are there simply to support the birthing parent before birth, during birth and also postpartum, she said during a press conference.

Doulas will be able to help lower the C-section rate, and help new mothers breastfeed and support families in whatever way they need, Hayes added.

The maternity bundle will be similar to what state employees receive, but with doulas, according to Dearborn.

The Department of Public Health is also working toward getting doulas certified as independent providers in the state. However, DSS does not need the certification to use doulas in the bundle, Dearborn said.

To further support patients postpartum, starting this fall, the agency is piloting a program to further support patients after birth. Gifford called this a universal home visiting and community health worker program, and it will start in Bridgeport.

This means that each family will have access to a home visit from a trained registered nurse to help mothers and babies postpartum. These nurses will screen for intimate partner violence, substance use disorder and depression, as well as check on the babys health and development and provide education and support to the families. This program can also refer patients who need extra support to other programs.

To get more information on these programs, or if you have questions or concerns about your pregnancy or childs development, call 211 or visit CDI.211CT.org.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  Senate bargainers reached agreement Tuesday on a bipartisan gun violence bill, potentially teeing up final passage by week's end on an incremental but landmark package that would stand as Congress response to mass shootings in Texas and New York that shook the nation.

Lawmakers released the 80-page bill nine days after agreeing to a framework for the plan and 29 years after Congress last enacted major firearms curbs. It cleared an initial procedural hurdle by 64-34, with 14 Republicans joining all 48 Democrats and two allied independents in voting yes. That strongly supported a prediction by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., of approval later this week. Passage by the Democratic-led House could follow quickly.

Though Republicans blocked tougher restrictions sought by Democrats, the accord marks an election-year breakthrough on an issue that pits the GOP's staunch gun-owning and rural voters against Democrats' urban-centered backers of firearms curbs. That makes it one of the most incendiary culture war battlefields in politics and a sensitive vote for some lawmakers, particularly Republicans who might alienate Second Amendment stalwarts.

The legislation would toughen background checks for the youngest firearms buyers, require more sellers to conduct background checks and beef up penalties on gun traffickers. It also would disburse money to states and communities to improve school safety and mental health initiatives.

Aides estimated the measure would cost around $15 billion, which Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the lead Democratic bargainer, said would be fully paid for.

Resolving one final hurdle that delayed the accord, the bill would prohibit romantic partners convicted of domestic violence and not married to their victims from getting firearms. Convicted abusers who are married to, live with or had children with their victims are already barred from having guns.

The compromise prohibits guns for a person who has a current or recent former dating relationship with the victim. That is defined in part as one between people who have or have recently had a continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature." An offenders ability to own a gun could be restored after five years if theyve not committed another serious crime.

On another late dispute, the bill would provide $750 million to the 19 states and the District of Columbia that have red flag" laws making it easier to temporarily take firearms from people adjudged dangerous, and to other states with violence prevention programs. States with red flag laws that receive the funds would have to have legal processes for the gun owner to fight the firearm's removal.

Momentum in Congress for gun legislation has a history of waning quickly after mass shootings. Lawmakers are scheduled to begin a two-week July 4th recess by this weekend.

The legislation lacks far more potent proposals that President Joe Biden supports and Democrats have pushed unsuccessfully for years, derailed by GOP opposition. These include banning assault-type weapons or raising the minimum age for buying them, prohibiting high-capacity magazines and requiring background checks for virtually all gun sales.

Yet after 10 Black shoppers were killed last month in Buffalo, New York, and 19 children and two teachers died days later in Uvalde, Texas, Democrats and some Republicans decided that this time, measured steps were preferable to Congress usual reaction to such horrors  gridlock.

Murphy said that after Buffalo and Uvalde, I saw a level of fear on the faces of the parents and the children that I spoke to that Ive never seen before. He said his colleagues also encountered anxiety among voters not just for the safety of their children, but also a fear about the ability of government to rise to this moment and do something, and do something meaningful."

This bill, Murphy said, would save thousands of lives." Before entering the Senate, his House district included Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and six staff members perished in a 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Top GOP bargainer Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said of the pact, Some think it goes too far, others think it doesnt go far enough. And I get it. Its the nature of compromise."

But he added, I believe that the same people who are telling us to do something are sending us a clear message, to do what we can to keep our children and communities safe. Im confident this legislation moves us in a positive direction."

In a positive sign about its fate, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., voiced his support, calling it a commonsense package of popular steps that will help make these horrifying incidents less likely while fully upholding the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

The National Rifle Association, which has spent decades derailing gun control legislation, expressed opposition. It falls short at every level. It does little to truly address violent crime while opening the door to unnecessary burdens on the exercise of Second Amendment freedom by law-abiding gun owners," the gun lobby group said.

It seemed likely a majority of Republicans  especially in the House  would oppose the legislation.

Underscoring the backlash GOP lawmakers supporting the pact would face from the most hard-right voters, delegates booed Cornyn at his states Republican convention in Houston Saturday as he described the proposal.

In another measure of conservative sentiment, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, tweeted that the bill ignores the national crime wave & chips away instead at the fundamental rights of law abiding citizens. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., a possible White House contender, said it would restrict the freedoms of law-abiding Americans and put too much power in the hands of politicians and political officials.

The measure will need at least 10 GOP votes to reach the 60-vote threshold major bills often need in the 50-50 Senate. Cornyn told reporters that he expected at least 10 GOP votes for the measure.

Whats uncertain is whether passage would mark the beginning of slow but gradual action to curb gun violence, or the high water mark on the issue. Until Buffalo and Uvalde, a numbing parade of mass slayings  at sites including elementary and high schools, houses of worship, military facilities, bars and the Las Vegas Strip  have yielded only stalemate in Washington.

Thirty years, murder after murder, suicide after suicide, mass shooting after mass shooting, Congress did nothing," Murphy said. This week we have a chance to break this 30-year period of silence with a bill that changes our laws in a way that will save thousands of lives.

The bill would require that federal background checks for gun buyers age 18 to 20 include examination of the purchaser's juvenile record. That could add up to seven more days to the current three-day limit on background checks.

The suspects in the Buffalo and Uvalde shootings were both 18 years old, a profile that matches many recent mass shooters.

There would be hundreds of millions of dollars to expand community behavioral health centers, telemedicine visits for mental specialists and train first responders to handle people with mental health issues. More than $2 billion would be provided to hire and train staff for school mental health services, including $300 million to improve school safety.

Congress prohibited assault-type firearms in 1993 in a ban that expired after a decade, lawmakers last sweeping legislation addressing gun violence.

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Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report.
Republican former U.S. Sen. John Danforth and others are urging a former federal prosecutor who is an attorney for the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection to make an independent run for Missouri's open Senate seat.

A committee on Monday launched a website encouraging John F. Wood to run for retiring GOP Sen. Roy Blunt's seat. The website said Missourians deserve an alternative," and called Wood a principled leader who has put country over party when the stakes are highest, and is committed to serving the people of our state with integrity.

The launch came the same day a leading Republican candidate for the seat, former Gov. Eric Greitens, released a campaign video showing him brandishing a shotgun and declaring that hes hunting RINOs, which stands for Republicans in Name Only. The ad drew strong criticism, including from some conservatives.

Steve Crim, a spokesman for johnwoodformo.org, said Tuesday that Wood considers himself a Republican whose beliefs align philosophically with the majority of Missourians. He expects Wood to decide soon if he'll run. A message left with Wood's office wasn't returned.

Danforth, 85, said in an interview that he had nothing to do with the website but also wants Wood to run. Wood once worked on Danforth's Senate staff.

He is exceptionally able and qualified and experienced, and also has the temperament and really the heart for the job, Danforth said.

To get on the November ballot as an independent, Wood would need to submit petitions signed by 10,000 registered voters by Aug. 1. Wood also would have to quit his job; federal employees are prohibited from seeking federal political office.

Wood, 52, served as U.S. attorney for Missouri's Western District from 2007 to 2009 and prior to that held key roles in the George W. Bush administration. He was working as general counsel for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce when he stepped down in September to become senior investigative counsel for the Jan. 6 committee.

Blunt's announcement last year that he would not seek a third term set off a frenzy to replace him. The field of candidates includes 21 Republicans.

In addition to Greitens, who resigned as governor in 2018 in the midst of an investigation into whether he used a compromising photo to blackmail a woman from speaking about their extramarital affair, GOP contenders include Attorney General Eric Schmitt, U.S. Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long, Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz and St. Louis attorney Mark McCloskey.

Polls have consistently shown Greitens at or near the top, raising concerns among many leading Republicans that he could win the nomination in August but lose to a Democrat in November, ceding what should be a safe Republican Senate seat.

Leading Democratic contenders include former Marine Lucas Kunce and Trudy Busch Valentine, who is part of the Busch brewery family.

Danforth, of suburban St. Louis, first expressed his displeasure with the GOP field in February. He reiterated Tuesday that the Senate needs right-leaning centrists like Wood who can find a way around the partisan divide so prevalent in Washington.

The problem of polarization is not confined to our state," Danforth said. "But here we are right in the middle of the country, and we have an opportunity to send a message to America that there is an alternative to political extremism.
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Katie Britt won the Republican nomination for Senate in Alabama Tuesday, defeating six-term Rep. Mo Brooks in a primary runoff after former President Donald Trump took the unusual step of rescinding his initial Brooks endorsement.

The loss ends a turbulent campaign that pit Brooks, a conservative firebrand who has spent more than a decade in Congress, against someone who has never held elected office. Brooks ran under the banner MAGA Mo" and fully embraced Trumps election lies. But that wasnt enough for the former president, who initially backed Brooks in the race to replace Britt's former boss, retiring Sen. Richard Shelby, but then pulled his support as Brooks languished in the polls.

The race was among a handful of contests held Tuesday at the midpoint of a primary season that has been shaped by Trumps effort to influence the GOP.

By the time Trump backed her earlier this month, Britt was already considered the favorite in the race. She emerged as the top vote-getter in the state's May 24 primary, but just missed the threshold that triggered a runoff. Still, Tuesday's result gives Trump a win at a time when his influence over the GOP has come under scrutiny.

The former president has had a mixed record of success in backing candidates this election season, helping lift Senate contenders in Pennsylvania and Ohio while floundering elsewhere, particularly in Georgia. Voters in the onetime Republican stronghold rejected his efforts to unseat the states GOP governor and secretary of state, both of whom rebuffed his extraordinary pressure to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. And his trouble in the crucial swing state deepened Tuesday as two of his endorsed congressional candidates faltered in their GOP run-off elections.

In the 6th District in Atlantas northern suburbs, emergency room physician Rich McCormick beat Trump-backed lawyer Jake Evans. And in the 10th District east of Atlanta, trucking company owner Mike Collins bested Democrat-turned-Republican Vernon Jones.

Trump persuaded Jones to run for the seat and drop his long-shot bid for governor to clear the field for his chosen candidate, former Sen. David Perdue. Perdue lost to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who endorsed Collins. The seat is being vacated by Republican Rep. Jody Hice, who also lost his bid to unseat Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, another top Trump target.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser won the Democratic nomination to serve another term, fending off a pair of challengers amid concerns over rising crime and homelessness.

But the Alabama Senate runoff had drawn particular attention because of the drama surrounding Trump's endorsement and because the winner, who will face Democrat Will Boyd in November, is considered the overwhelmingly favorite in the Republican state.

Britt, 40, cast herself as part of a new generation of conservative leaders while disparaging Brooks, 68, as a career politician. If victorious in November, Britt will be the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama and one of its youngest members. The states previous female senators had been appointed.

Alabama has spoken. We want new blood. We want fresh blood, she said at her victory party. We want someone who will fight for Christian conservative values, who will fight for the freedoms and liberties this nation was founded on and will fight for the American dream for the next generation and the next generation.

That argument seemed to resonate with some voters Tuesday.

Shes young. Shes smart, said 86-year-old Carolyn Bowman. Thats what we need in Congress.

Brooks, who is known for his bombastic oratory style, described the race as a battle for the soul of Republican Party, pitting the true conservative wing against establishment members of the GOP. He disparaged Britt, 40, as a RINO  the GOP pejorative meaning Republican in name only  and maintained he was the only one with a proven conservative record.

The founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, Brooks has a history of bucking party leadership and made his opposition to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell a pillar of his campaign, embarking on a Fire McConnell Tour of town halls.

In his concession speech Tuesday night, Brooks told supporters he respected the races outcome. But in a sign of the contentious race, he accused voters of having been seduced by false advertising and congratulated high-dollar donors and special interest groups for funding Britts campaign.

We are sending to Washington, D.C., the exact opposite of what we need in the United States Senate. But the voters have spoken. They might not have spoken wisely, he groused.

Brooks was initially considered the frontrunner when he announced his Senate candidacy, and Trump quickly offered his support, rewarding an ally who had been an ardent supporter of Trumps false claims of election fraud. Brooks voted against certifying Democrat Joe Bidens presidential election victory and delivered a fiery speech at the Stop the Steal rally that proceeded the U.S. Capitol insurrection, telling the crowd, Today is the day that American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.

But their relationship soured as Brooks struggled to gain traction. Trump eventually pulled his support in March, accusing Brooks  one of the most conservative members in Congress  of going woke for saying at a rally that it was time to move on from litigating the 2020 presidential election.

Brooks clawed his way into a second-place finish in the May primary and tried once again to get Trump to back him. But Trump instead threw his support to Britt 11 days before the runoff she was widely expected to win.

Elsewhere, in Virginia, Republicans chose a pair of Trump-aligned congressional candidates to take on two of the most vulnerable Democrats in the fall.

In the coastal 2nd District, state Sen. Jen Kiggans won the Republican race to try to unseat Democrat Elaine Luria, a retired Naval commander and member of the Jan. 6 committee, in the general election. And in central Virginias 7th District, Yesli Vega emerged from a competitive six-candidate field to face Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger.

At the polls Tuesday in Virginia Beach, Nanci Eves, 70, said she voted for Kiggans in part because she believes the candidate is best positioned to win in November.

We need someone who can beat Elaine Luria, said Eves, a retired nurse who lives in Virginia Beach and who thinks Democrats have made a mess of the country while in power.

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Colvin reported from Washington. Ben Finley in Virginia Beach, Va., contributed to this report.

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Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ap_politics.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  State House Republicans blocked a proposal to prevent those ages 18 to 21 from possessing assault-style rifles on Tuesday by completely changing the bill into a constitutional amendment to allow anyone to carry concealed guns.

It was the second week in a row that Republicans in the Judiciary Committee used their majority to defeat Democratic proposals to address the countrys gun violence plague.

The bill would have prevented those under age 21 from purchasing, possessing or transporting the types of weapons that have often been used to kill and wound people in the mass shootings that have become an epidemic in the United States.

So-called constitutional carry has wide support among the Legislature's Republicans, but a bill to allow it was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in December.

Rep. Joe Hohenstein, D-Philadelphia, called the unfettered right to bear arms a myth that leads to the type of violence seen in the Wild West.

We can say all we want about how guns will make certain people safer, they also make a whole lot of other people less safe, he said during the brief hearing in the Capitol. Violence is occurring with legally purchased guns, he noted. It's legal purchases of firearms that are turning into the mass shootings that we see.

The vote was nearly on party lines, with only one Republican  from the Philadelphia suburbs  crossing lines to vote against it.

Democrats have turned to discharge resolutions, a parliamentary maneuver, in an effort to get gun violence bills out of Judiciary, where Chairman Rob Kauffman, R-Franklin, has prevented them from advancing.

Last week, the committee voted to ask the speaker to send four other gun bills to another committee, effectively stopping action on proposals regarding safe gun storage, an assault weapons ban, a red flag bill and a measure to give local governments power to enact their own protections.

This isn't the way to legislate, Rep. Tim Briggs of Montgomery County, the ranking Democrat on Judiciary, said Tuesday. We shouldn't have to do discharge resolutions on bills that are 70, 80% popular across the commonwealth.

All Republicans but one on the committee also voted for a proposal to amend the state constitution to give the General Assembly the power to decide the rules about where civil lawsuits can be filed.

Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, said lawmakers should not be controlling the judiciary through constitutional amendment when it comes to them setting their own rules about how cases proceed.

An effort by Briggs to require a public hearing on the measure was also defeated by committee Republicans, who had virtually nothing to say about either bill.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  Iowa hunters will be able to use semi-automatic weapons including AR-15 rifles to kill deer in more parts of the state during a newly created antlerless season in January under a bill signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Iowa lawmakers passed the bill in May and it was signed by Reynolds on Friday.

Advocates including Republican Sen. Ken Rozenboom, an Oskaloosa farmer, said the new law is designed to help control the deer population and respond to complaints that excess deer eat corn and are hazardous to motorists.

Iowa has had January deer hunting seasons using semi-automatic rifles in the past but they were limited to a few sparsely populated counties where deer were more of a problem. The bill is expected to expand the January hunt counties from five to as many as 15, depending on rules from the Department of Natural Resources.

The bill also will allow hunters during the new season to use smaller .223 caliber bullets, which could make it more challenging for a hunter to kill a larger animal like a deer.

Charles City Democratic Rep. Todd Prichard, a former active-duty U.S. Army soldier and now a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, expressed concern when the bill was debated that the smaller caliber ammunition authorized in the bill could travel far enough to reach populated communities near hunting areas.

Deer hunting with AR-15 rifles is allowed in other states. Many states have restrictions for when they can be used and regulate the type of ammunition allowed.
RANDALIA, Iowa (AP)  A northeast Iowa farmer has pleaded not guilty to neglect charges after more than 3,000 feeder hogs died on his property.

Derek David Smith, 41, of Randalia, waived an arraignment and filed a written not guilty plea to one count of livestock neglect on Monday, the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reported.
ROME (AP)  Premier Mario Draghi secured Senate backing Tuesday to continue supporting Ukraine against Russia, following calls from the 5-Star Movement leadership for Italy to stop sending weapons and focus more on diplomacy.

Draghi outlined Italys Ukraine policy, and briefed senators on his recent visit to Kyiv alongside the French and German leaders, ahead of the European Council later this week. While providing no new information on the weaponry Italy had sent, Draghi thanked senators for their united support for the government line.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  An Ohio man who has admitted to killing five members from a single family will be allowed to testify at the death penalty trial of his brother, who is charged in the same crime, according to a judge's ruling Tuesday.

George Wagner IV, his parents and his brother, Jake Wagner, were charged in the 2016 fatal shootings of the Rhoden family near Piketon in southern Ohio. Authorities say the shootings of seven adults and a teenage boy stemmed from a dispute over custody of a child that Jake Wagner had with one of the victims.
HOUSTON (AP)  A Texas judge on Tuesday denied a request by a district attorney who called capital punishment unethical to withdraw the execution date of a death row inmate whose case had raised legal questions about the role of spiritual advisers in the death chamber.

On April 12, an order was signed setting John Henry Ramirezs execution for Oct. 5. Ramirezs execution had been put on hold several times, most recently after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review his challenge of state rules that would have prevented his pastor from touching him and praying aloud during his execution.

But two days after a death warrant was issued, Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez asked for the order to be withdrawn, saying his office mistakenly requested an execution date. In a court motion, Gonzalez said he has the firm belief that the death penalty is unethical and should not be imposed on Mr. Ramirez or any other person while (Gonzalez) occupies (his) office.

But during a court hearing over Zoom Tuesday, state District Judge Bobby Galvan in Corpus Christi, who signed the death warrant scheduling the execution, said he believed Ramirezs case has reached a point at which the setting of an execution date is warranted.

So, Mr. Gonzalez, I respectfully disagree with you. Im not sure that I have the power to do so and for that reason Im not going to withdraw the warrant, Galvan said.

Ramirez is on death row for killing a Corpus Christi convenience store worker during a 2004 robbery. Ramirez stabbed Pablo Castro 29 times and robbed him of $1.25.

After the hearing, Ramirezs attorney, Seth Kretzer, said he and Gonzalez planned to file a joint motion appealing Galvans decision to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the states highest criminal court.

It is unprecedented for an unopposed/joint motion to withdraw a death warrant to be denied, Kretzer said.

Gonzalez said he holds Galvan in the highest regard" and that he'll follow the judge's advice to appeal.

We are in unchartered waters and even judges sometimes welcome guidance or answers from higher courts," Gonzalez said in a statement.

During a nearly 20-minute Facebook live video in April, Gonzalez said he believed the death penalty is one of the many things wrong with our justice system.

I dont feel that the government should have that power to put people to death because historically, those individuals that have been put to death have been of color, of low economic status or even low intellect, Gonzalez said.

Four of Castros children filed a motion asking Ramirezs execution order to be left in place, ending an ordeal that has denied peace and closure to Pablo Castros children for nearly twenty years.

In a letter, the Texas Attorney Generals Office said Gonzalezs shifting ethical position was not a legitimate reason to withdraw the order.

Ramirez, 37, had been set for execution on Sept. 8, 2021, but the U.S. Supreme Court blocked his execution and agreed to take up his case to address the role of spiritual advisers in the death chamber.

In March, the court said states must accommodate the wishes of death row inmates who want to have their faith leaders pray and touch them during their executions. Following the high courts ruling, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said it would work to grant requests regarding spiritual advisers unless they present a substantial security risk or are outrageous.

During Tuesdays hearing, Galvan wondered what would happen if he refused a prosecution request to set an execution date.

I could refuse but I dont think I would have the authority to stop the execution, Galvan said.

Such a scenario is currently before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Prosecutors in Harris County, where Houston is located, are appealing a judges refusal to set an execution date for death row inmate Arthur Brown.

Last month, Houston judge Natalia Cornelio declined to approve a request by prosecutors to set an Aug. 31 execution date for Brown. Cornelio instead granted a request by Brown to find a new attorney who can investigate if he is intellectually disabled and thus ineligible for execution.

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
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JERUSALEM (AP)  In a 10-year political career, Israel's Yair Lapid has transformed himself from an upstart political novice to a feisty opposition leader to the savvy operator who toppled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Next week, he is expected to assume his biggest role yet  as the new prime minister.

Following the governments decision to dissolve parliament, Lapid, now foreign minister, is set to take office as caretaker prime minister until elections in the fall. It will be a critical test for Lapid, 58, who will try to convince Israelis he is worthy of the top office as he takes on a resurgent Netanyahu.

A year ago, we started the process of rebuilding, and now: were carrying it on, and carrying it on together, Lapid declared late Monday as he stood alongside his main coalition partner, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Officially, the two men were announcing the end of their year-old government  an alliance of eight diverse parties that was severely weakened by months of infighting and rebellion. But in many ways, Lapid sounded like he was beginning his next campaign.

Even if we are going to elections in a few months, the challenges we face will not wait, he said, pointing to Israels high cost of living and security challenges in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.

In a swipe at Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, he vowed to stand against the forces threatening to turn Israel into a nondemocratic country. Netanyahu, believing he is the victim of a political witch hunt, has made clear he intends to take on the countrys legal and law-enforcement establishment if he returns to power.

A former author, columnist, news anchor, bank pitchman and amateur boxer, Lapid left a successful career as a media personality to enter politics in 2012 as head of a new centrist party popular with middle-class Israelis.

He promised economic relief, an end to controversial draft exemptions for seminary students and a more moderate approach to the Palestinians.

Unlike the right-wing parties that dominate Israels political system, Lapid favors peace talks leading to an eventual two-state solution with the Palestinians, although its unclear if he will ever have the kind of mandate needed to engage in such a process.

In 2013, he led his new Yesh Atid party to a surprisingly strong showing in parliamentary elections. Yesh Atid finished as the second-largest party, with 19 seats in the 120-member parliament.

Lapid became finance minister, a difficult and often thankless task. While marking some successes, his key promises of lowering the cost of living and bringing down housing prices failed to materialize. Netanyahu eventually fired him for insubordination.

Yesh Atid dropped to 11 seats in the 2015 elections. Lapid found himself in the opposition and appeared to be on the way to becoming the latest in a long line of centrist politicians to flame out after early success.

But Lapid managed to reinvent himself. He formed an alliance with former military chief Benny Gantz that came close to toppling Likud in three consecutive elections.

Those elections, focused on Netanyahus divisive personality and fitness to rule, all ended inconclusively. Moving to end the deadlock, Gantz briefly joined forces with Netanyahu in 2020  leaving Lapid as opposition leader and a vocal government critic.

When the country went back to the polls in early 2021, Yesh Atid once again surged and emerged as the second-largest party in parliament. In a stroke of creative diplomacy and political savvy, Lapid cobbled together a new coalition that pushed Netanyahu into the opposition for the first time in 12 years.

Although Lapid was the mastermind of the alliance, he cemented the deal by agreeing to rotate the job of prime minister with Bennett  a move that was seen by many as selfless and statesmanlike. Lapid took on the post of foreign minister.

The coalition members spanned the Israeli political spectrum, with little binding them together beyond opposition to Netanyahu. The government made history by being the first to include an Arab party.

The coalition got off to a strong start  passing the first national budget in several years, navigating a pair of coronavirus waves and improving relations with the U.S. and Arab allies.

Ultimately, ideological differences caused it to unravel. Parliament is expected to dissolve itself in a series of votes over the coming days. Once that happens, Lapid takes over as caretaker prime minister until elections in October or November.

The coming months present great risk  and great opportunity. Once again, Netanyahus Likud party appears to be the front-runner. And once again, Netanyahus leadership style and legal woes are likely to be high on voters minds.

While Lapid is sure to face relentless attacks from Netanyahu, who has tried to portray him as a lightweight who betrayed Israel's security by allying with an Arab faction, he will do so from the perch of the prime ministers office.

After serving as foreign minister for the past year, he will have even more opportunities to strengthen his international standing. He is set to host President Joe Biden on a visit next month and will have the opportunity to speak at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Lapid spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday to prepare for Biden's visit, the Foreign Ministry said.

The visit will have significant implications for the region and the fight against Iran, as well as immense potential to significantly improve regional stability and security, it said.

As caretaker prime minister, he is unlikely to launch any major military operations or bold peace initiatives with the Palestinians. If Lapid can keep things quiet and avoid controversy, he could be well-positioned for the next election.

Lapid has to work now at looking prime ministerial, wrote Anshel Pfeffer, a columnist at the Haaretz daily. His new post, from next week on, as interim prime minister is his greatest asset going into the election.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  The biological mother of two small California boys who died while in the state foster care system has filed a federal lawsuit alleging her sons were unlawfully taken from her and placed with foster parents who are now charged with killing them.

Four-year-old Classic Pettus and 3-year-old Cinsere Pettus were reported missing from their foster familys backyard in the desert town of California City on Dec. 21, 2020. The boys, who were Black, have not been found and Kern County prosecutors said in March that an investigation determined they are deceased.

The foster parents, Trezell West and Jacqueline West, have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including two counts of second-degree murder. Their criminal trial is scheduled to begin next month.

The civil rights and wrongful-death lawsuit filed June 17 by the boys' birth mother, Ryan Dean, and grandmother, Dana Moorer, names the Wests as defendants along with Kern County Human Services and the California Department of Social Services.

It alleges the foster home was a state-created danger that led to the eventual disappearance and deaths of the two boys. The lawsuit seeks $40 million in monetary damages.

I just feel like I didn't deserve this, an emotional Dean said at a San Francisco press conference on Tuesday. I'm not a criminal. I don't have a bad record."

Plaintiffs attorney Waukeen Q. McCoy said that Congress intended with the Family First Act of 2018 to try to preserve family units, reversing the presumption that foster care is better for children.

Cinsere and Classic Pettus were murdered after being unlawfully taken from their mother as a result of an outdated foster care model that Congress described as having a perverse incentive to tear African American families apart, McCoy said.

McCoy said that prior to the 2018 law the foster care system disproportionately subjected African American families to trauma-ridden child abuse investigations.

Kern County Human Services information officer Jana Slagle said the department was unable to comment on the lawsuit because of a court's gag order. The state agency said in an email that it is unable to comment on litigation.

The older child was taken from his biological parents after he was hospitalized in 2016, according to the suit. Dean had returned from work to find the 3-month-old boy crying uncontrollably and when she brought him to the emergency room it was determined he had two broken legs, the court filing said. The biological father, Charles Pettus, said he gave his son two baths that day and nothing else happened, according to the lawsuit.

A hospital staff member informed Dean that Kern County Human Services would be taking the child because they believed he had been abused, the lawsuit alleges. Dean had no criminal record and no allegations of abuse against her when the child was removed from her care, according to the filing.

After Dean gave birth to another son in June 2017, a sheriffs deputy took him away because Human Services officials said they like to keep siblings together, the lawsuit said.

After spending months with one foster family, the boys were placed with the Wests in late 2018. At this point, Dean said she started noticing that her children were losing weight and that the younger boy had scratches on his face, the claim states.

In November 2018, Ms. Dean wrote a letter expressing her concerns about the lack of proper care her children were receiving while in the foster care of the Wests. No one ever provided a response to the letter, the lawsuit states. Deans mother, Moorer, also filed requests to have the children placed in her care, which were ignored, the filing said.

McCoy said Moorer also completed parenting classes and a psychological review in an attempt to get her grandsons but was denied.

State and county officials negligently placed the brothers in the Wests' care, so as to directly and proximately cause the subsequent death of the minor children, the lawsuit states. Officials denied the biological mother and grandmothers requests to reunify with the children before they were killed, the filing said.

The Wests renamed the boys Orrin West and Orson West but the lawsuit refers to them by their birth names, Classic Pettus and Cinsere Pettus.

Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer announced in March that a combination of direct and circumstantial evidence was presented by investigators, and a grand jury determined that the boys had died three months before the foster family reported them missing.

The grand jury heard testimony from 50 witnesses over three months, she said.

Zimmer said that a week after the boys were reported missing crucial information came to light that brought in the involvement of police in Bakersfield, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) west of California City.

Police and FBI agents searched a field in Bakersfield in March 2021, but the results of that effort have not been revealed. The district attorney has said she is not permitted to reveal any facts of the case until the trial.

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Weber reported from Los Angeles. AP reporter John Antczak contributed from LA.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser won the Democratic primary on Tuesday, overcoming a progressive rival and virtually guaranteeing that she will win a third consecutive term to lead a city confronting inequality, crime and public safety concerns.

Bowser defeated At-large Councilmember Robert White, who harshly criticized her response to spiraling violent crime rates, and Councilmember Trayon White, who represents Ward 8, the poorest and most crime-ridden area in the district.

The winner of the Democratic primary is the prohibitive favorite in the November general election in the heavily Democratic city. That would make Bowser the second mayor to win three consecutive terms, tying with Marion Barry, who presided over the city continuously from 1979 to 1991.

The primary in Washington unfolded as many cities that are Democratic strongholds debate how to contend with crime. In Washington, homicides have risen for four years straight, and the 2021 murder count of 227 was the highest mark since 2003. In January, a candidate for the D.C. Council, Nate Fleming, was carjacked at gunpoint. On Sunday night, gunfire erupted at a street concert 2 miles from the White House, killing a 15-year-old boy and wounding three others, including a police officer.

Under pressure from activists calling to defund the police, Bowser largely stood by her police department, fighting public battles with the D.C. Council over the police budget. She quietly replaced an older white police chief with a younger Black successor and has pushed for funding to build Metropolitan Police Department staffing, currently at 3,500, up to 4,000 officers over the next decade.

In April, the D.C. Councils judiciary committee cut $6 million from Bowsers $30 million budget proposal to hire more officers, targeting incentives Bowser claimed were vital to attract good candidates. The committee, on which neither of her challengers serves, did approve a $20,000 hiring bonus to help recruit more police officers, something Bowser announced a few days before the primary.

Ive never been to a community where they said they didnt want the police. Never, Bowser said in a radio debate last month. We need the police that we need.

In the summer of 2020, following mass protests over the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, Bowser publicly feuded with then-President Donald Trump after racial justice protesters were forcibly cleared from an area near the White House. Bowser responded by renaming the protest epicenter Black Lives Matter Plaza and commissioning a mural with Black Lives Matter painted on a stretch of 16th Street, one block from the White House, in giant yellow letters.

Bowser, 49, campaigned on her experience and leadership and her history as one of the faces of Washingtons ongoing quest for statehood. She also received good marks for her handling of the pandemic, generally operating in coordination with the D.C. Council.

Robert White, 40, had a history of successful insurgent campaigns, having unseated an entrenched incumbent for an at-large Council seat in 2016. He proposed tackling crime through a massive public and private youth jobs program that Bowser derided as unsustainable.

Trayon White, 38, invoked the spirit of Barry, the late mayor and council member who remains a controversial but beloved figure among many Washingtonians. A former grassroots community activist, White was a protege of Barrys and opposed Bowsers bids to hire more police officers. He favors community violence intervention programs, something he says Bowser was slow to embrace.
RAVENNA, Ohio (AP)  A woman has been sentenced in the death of a newborn whose body was found inside a trash bag at college dormitory outside Cleveland.

Breyona Reddick, 21, of Cleveland, was sentenced Tuesday to a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 15 years, based on good behavior. She pleaded guilty in April to involuntary manslaughter as part of a deal with Portage County prosecutors, who dismissed several other counts including aggravated murder, child endangerment and tampering with evidence,
WASHINGTON - Go-go music blared and thousands of people danced along the D.C. corridor where Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington used to perform. To concertgoers on U Street in downtown Washington, it seemed like there was no better place to celebrate Juneteenth than "Moechella," a festival billed as a peaceful demonstration to elevate Black culture and protest gentrification of the area once known as "Black Broadway."

But hours into the Sunday event, officials said, violence began to overshadow the joy.

Before the sun set, a fight broke out among youths, and a loud noise sent people running for cover, fearing, prematurely, a shooting. Around 8:30 p.m., as police were attempting to shut down the event, someone did open fire. A bullet lodged in a police officer's leg, two other adults were struck and injured, and Chase Poole, a 15-year-old in the seventh grade, was killed.

The chaos and bloodshed came at the end of a weekend in the Washington, D.C., region marked by gunshots and fear. A person fired a gun inside Virginia's Tysons Corner Center on Saturday, terrifying shoppers and shutting down the mall in one of the most populous Washington suburbs. That same day, four men in the region were killed by gunfire, one in Fairfax County, another in Prince George's County and two in D.C. On Sunday, while Moechella was in full swing, a 16-year-old girl was fatally shot in Southeast Washington in what police think was an accident. Later that night, another man was killed in Prince George's.

"There's a theme here," said D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee. "Illegal firearms in the hands of people who should not have them, and making events like this unsafe for people who just want to enjoy the beautiful weather, enjoy Father's Day and just want to enjoy our city."

Even before this weekend, the city's homicide rate was up 13% compared with 2021, a year when D.C. surpassed 200 homicides for the first time in nearly two decades. Robberies and carjackings have also increased across the city. Chase was the fourth teen to die by gun violence in D.C. in seven days, including three who officials think were killed in criminal homicides.

Police said Monday that they were still trying to determine what motivated the shooting that left Chase dead, and still trying to identify suspects and find the weapon that was used. Three D.C. officials familiar with the case, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said that police found a firearm on Chase but that investigators do not know whether he or others with him were targeted. The officials said Chase had been shot twice in the past, including as recently as February.

Two of Chase's closest family members said they did not want to talk Monday. But others who knew him said in interviews that he was a beautiful child who became instantly popular among his classmates but battled negative influences.

His mother enrolled him at Brookland Middle School in Northeast Washington shortly after he was shot in the leg in February and had been arrested on a gun charge in March, hoping to find him a different environment, according to the school's attendance and truancy counselor. Three D.C. officials said the gun charge was either dropped or he was put in a diversion program. The D.C. Attorney General's Office declined to comment.

The school counselor, Wendy Hamilton, said officials at Brookland were aware of Chase's past troubles, but they were hopeful that he could improve because they knew his mother was trying to get her son into a more stable school environment.

At first, Hamilton said Chase came to class and kept up attendance, and she described him as respectful. But in later weeks, Hamilton said his attendance lagged, "and there was concern that maybe some of his past influences were working their way back in."

The shooting Sunday night came ahead of the last week of school before summer vacation.

"Before you judge him, that he had a gun - he was a baby who was loved, cared about, who had a mother who was trying her best to try a combination of things to put her son on the right track," Hamilton said. "It may have been too late, but it wasn't for a lack of trying."

Since Chase's death, police and city officials have criticized Moechella organizers for not having a permit - though they conceded that they were aware of the well-publicized event beforehand and had officers on the scene. A deputy mayor promoted the event during a television interview, and at least two members of the D.C. Council attended. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D, was among those to criticize the event for not having "any proper planning for the number of people" who attended.

Moechella, which grew out of a movement that started when noise complaints silenced go-go music along the U Street corridor, has put on events across Washington for several years. Concert organizers did not respond to requests for comment but wrote a statement on Instagram denouncing the violence.

"As we continue to cultivate a platform to uplift the culture of Washington DC, we don't condone violence of any sort," the organizers said Sunday night. "Moechella is a symbol of black culture in dc and is built on the foundation of peace."

Police decided to shut down the event after the loud noise startled the crowd and people got hurt while attempting to flee the area. As medics moved in to help the injured and officers worked to clear the area - recovering two firearms in the process - the fatal shooting occurred.

Contee on Monday released a statement asking for the community's help in identifying the person who killed Chase and wounded the others. The officer was released from the hospital but a bullet remains lodged in his leg, Contee said. The other two adults suffered injuries not considered life-threatening.

D.C. Council member Robert White Jr., D-At Large, who is running for mayor, was one of the elected officials who attended the event but left before the shooting.

"Moechella is a celebration of DC culture that has brought so many people joy since the original demonstration in 2019," he said in a statement. "It is devastating to see an event like this end in tragedy."

- - -

The Washington Post's Perry Stein and Martin Weil contributed to this report.
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  NASA fueled its huge moon rocket for the first time Monday and went ahead with a critical countdown test despite a fuel line leak.

This was NASAs fourth crack at the all-important dress rehearsal, the last major milestone before the moon rockets long-awaited launch debut.

The previous attempts in April were thwarted by a fuel leak, as well as stuck valves and other technical issues.

Another leak  this time in an external fuel line  almost curtailed Monday's test at Kennedy Space Center. But NASA managers decided to do the countdown test anyway.

Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said they pushed ahead to see how the team performed, how the hardware performed, and they both performed very well."

Engineers wanted to get all the way down to the 9-second mark  just short of engine firing  to validate all the systems and procedures. But it cut off at 29 seconds. NASA spokesman Derrol Nail said it wasn't immediately known why the countdown stopped.

Earlier, nearly 1 million gallons of super-cold liquid hydrogen and oxygen were loaded into the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket known as the Space Launch System, or SLS.

The testing delays have pushed the actual launch  with an empty Orion capsule flying around the moon and back  to the end of August at the earliest. This test flight is crucial before astronauts climb aboard.

Blackwell-Thompson said it was too early to say what NASA's next step might be.

The second SLS flight, planned for 2024, would send a crew around the moon and back. The third mission  no earlier than 2025  would have astronauts actually landing on the moon.

Astronauts last walked on the moon in 1972 during NASAs Apollo program. The new program is named Artemis, Apollos twin sister in Greek mythology.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  New Hampshire students with disabilities will get help registering to vote under a new law that will take effect in August.

The new law requires school officials, parents, and students with disabilities who are 17 or older to discuss voter registration as part of their special education planning for life after graduation.
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The headlines on the newsstands in Seoul blared fresh warnings of a possible nuclear test by North Korea.

Out on the sidewalks, 28-year-old office worker Lee Jae Sang already had an opinion about how to respond to North Korea's fast-growing capacity to lob nuclear bombs across borders and oceans.

Our country should also develop a nuclear program. And prepare for a possible nuclear war," said Lee, voicing a desire that a February poll showed was shared by 3 out of 4 South Koreans.

Its a point that people and politicians of non-nuclear powers globally are raising more often, at what has become a destabilizing moment in more than a half-century of global nuclear nonproliferation efforts, one aggravated by the daily example of nuclear Russia tearing apart non-nuclear Ukraine.

That reconsideration by non-nuclear states is playing out in Asia. The region is home to an ever-more assertive North Korea, China, Russia and Iran  three nuclear powers and one near-nuclear power  but is unprotected by the kind of nuclear umbrella and broad defense alliance that for decades has shielded NATO countries.

Vulnerable countries will look to the lessons from Ukraine  especially whether Russia succeeds in swallowing big pieces of Ukraine while brandishing its nuclear arsenal to hold other nations at bay  as they consider keeping or pursuing nuclear weapons, security experts say.

As important, they say, is how well the U.S. and its allies are persuading other partners in Europe, the Persian Gulf and Asia to trust in the shield of U.S.-led nuclear and conventional arsenals and not pursue their own nuclear bombs.

For leaders worried about unfriendly, nuclear-armed neighbors, they will say to their domestic audiences, Please support our nuclear armament because look what happened to Ukraine, right? said Mariana Budjeryn, a researcher with the Project on Managing the Atom at Harvards Kennedy School of Government.

As a schoolgirl in 1980s Soviet-era Ukraine, Budjeryn drilled on how to dress radiation burns and other potential injuries of nuclear war, at a time that country housed some 5,000 of the Soviet Union's nuclear weapons. Her country renounced nuclear weapons development after the Soviet Union shattered, opting for economic assistance and integration with the West and security assurances.

Ultimately, I think a lot is riding on the outcome of this war in terms of how we understand the value of nuclear weapons," Budjeryn said.

Around the world, the U.S. military is reassuring strategic partners who are facing nuclear-backed rivals.

Near the North Korea border this month, white-hot ballistic missiles arched through the night sky as the U.S. joined South Korea in their first joint ballistic test launches in five years. It was a pointed response to North Korea's launch of at least 18 ballistic missiles this year.

In Europe and in the Persian Gulf, President Joe Biden and U.S. generals, diplomats and troops are shuttling to countries neighboring Russia and to oil-producing countries neighboring Iran. Biden and his top lieutenants pledge the U.S. is committed to blocking nuclear threats from Iran, North Korea and others. In China, President Xi Jinping is matching an aggressive foreign policy with one of his country's biggest pushes on nuclear arms.

Some top former Asian officials have cited Ukraine in saying it's time for more non-nuclear countries to think about getting nuclear weapons, or hosting U.S. ones.

I dont think either Japan or South Korea are eager to become nuclear weapon states. It will be immensely politically painful and internally divisive. But what are the alternatives? ex-Singapore Foreign Minister Bilahari Kausikan told the audience at a March defense forum.

For those hoping North Korea would give up its nuclear weapons, the example provided by Russia's invasion of Ukraine is another nail in that coffin," Terence Roehrig, a professor of national security at the U.S. Naval War College, said at another defense forum in April.

Ukraine is going to be another example to North Korea of states like Iraq and like Libya, that gave up their nuclear capability  and look at what happened to them, Roehrig said.

Ukraine never had detonation-ready nuclear bombs  at least, none it could fire on its own.

The Soviet Union's collapse left Ukraine with the worlds third-largest nuclear arsenal. But Ukraine didnt have operational control. That left it with a weak hand in the 1990s when it negotiated with the U.S., Russia and others on its place in the post-Soviet world, and the fate of the Soviet arsenal. Ukraine got assurances but no guarantees regarding its security, Budjeryn said.

A piece of paper, is how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy referred to one such assurance, signed in 1994.

The U.S. itself has given nuclear and nuclear-curious countries plenty of reasons to worry about forgoing the world's deadliest weapons.

The West compelled Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to give up his country's rudimentary nuclear weapons program in 2003. A couple of years later, Gadhafi's son Saif al-Islam shared with researcher Malfrid Braut-Hegghammer his father's biggest worry about that  that Western nations would support an uprising against him.

And lo and behold, a few years later, get to 2011, you saw what happened," said Braut-Hegghammer, now a University of Oslo nuclear and security strategy professor.

What happened was NATO, at U.S. urging, intervened in a 2011 internal uprising against Gadhafi. A NATO warplane bombed his convoy. Rebels captured the Libyan leader, tortured him and killed him.

In Iraq, the U.S. played a central role in forcing Saddam Hussein to give up his nuclear development program. Then the U.S. overthrew Saddam in 2003 on a spurious claim he was reassembling a nuclear weapons effort. Three years later, with Iraq still under U.S. occupation, Saddam plunged through a gallows.

The Middle East leaders fall and brutal deaths have clouded denuclearization efforts with North Korea. Rare U.S.-North Korea talks in 2018 collapsed after the Trump administration repeatedly raised the Libya model and Vice President Mike Pence threatened Kim Jong-un with Gadhafis fate. Ignorant and stupid, North Koreas government responded.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine now only highlights to some countries, at least, that if you have a nuclear weapons program, and youre sort of far along with that, giving it up is a terrible idea, Braut-Hegghammer said.

The world's nine nuclear powers  the United States, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea  hold some 13,000 nuclear weapons. Israel does not acknowledge its nuclear program.

The biggest nuclear powers historically have sought to control which countries can licitly join the club. Countries that proceed regardless, including Iran and North Korea, are isolated and sanctioned.

Nuclear experts mention South Korea and Saudi Arabia as among the countries mostly likely to consider nuclear weapons. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2018 pledged to immediately acquire nuclear bombs if Iran did.

It's surprising that more countries haven't acquired a bomb, Jessica Cox, head of NATOs nuclear directorate, said at the April forum.

If you look at it from a historical perspective, it is not at all clear in the 1950s and 1960s that there would be less than 10 nations armed with nuclear weapons in the world ... 70 years later.

What made the difference in Europe was NATO's nuclear deterrence  30 nations sharing responsibility and decision-making for a nuclear arsenal that deters attacks on them all, Cox said.

Many feel Ukraine made the right decision when it avoided possible isolation by waiving a nuclear-armed future. That gave Ukraine three decades to integrate with the world's economy and build alliances with powerful nations now aiding its defense against Russia.

As a young woman in Ukraine, Budjeryn realized at one point after the 1990s accords that her own job, then in business-development, was funded by the Clinton administration, as part of the West's rewards to Ukraine for the nuclear deal.

If Ukraine prevails," she said, " then it will communicate that nuclear weapons are useless.

But if Ukraine falls, the story will look very different, she said.

___

Chang reported from Seoul.
MIAMI (AP)  A jetliner carrying 126 people caught fire after landing Tuesday at Miami International Airport when the front landing gear collapsed, but no serious injuries were reported, authorities said.

The fire followed the collapse of that landing gear on a Red Air flight arriving from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Miami-Dade Aviation Department spokesman Greg Chin said in an email to The Associated Press.
A state panel found probable cause Tuesday to revoke the law enforcement accreditation of a South Florida sheriff appointed after the Parkland school shooting, after investigators found he lied repeatedly about killing another teenager almost 30 years ago.

The decision by the three-member Criminal Justice & Standards Training Commission means an administrative complaint will be filed against Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony. It would be unusual for a sitting sheriff to have accreditation revoked, but the accreditation is not necessary for the elected, administrative position.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  A man wanted on several felony warrants was fatally shot by police in Norfolk, Virginia, when he opened fire on officers trying to arrest him Tuesday, authorities said.

Officers arrived around 5:15 a.m. at a Norfolk location seeking to arrest the man, police said in a news release. When officers found the man and identified themselves to him, he began shooting at them, according to police.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Jozef Walaszczyk, a member of the Polish resistance who rescued dozens of Jews during the Nazi German occupation of Poland during World War II, has died aged 102.

Walaszczyk died on Monday, according to the Institute of National Remembrance, a Polish state historical body.

Walaszczyk fell in love during the war with a Jewish woman, Irena Front, only learning that she was Jewish when German Gestapo forces searched a hotel where he was staying with her.

He helped her hide and tried to distract the Gestapo men by pretending to be sick. He later arranged for Front to get false documents, even entering into a fictitious marriage with her.

Soon after that, Front and 20 other Jews were arrested by the Gestapo.

If something was to be done, it had to be done for them all. I had to arrange for a kilogram of gold by 5:00 pm  and it was already noon. Only then would the Germans forget about the incident and release the Jews," Walaszczyk recalled in an interview, according to the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw.

Walaszczyk managed to collect and pay the required ransom, thereby saving the lives of 21 people.

He also employed 30 Jews in a potato flour factory that he had been tasked with managing due to his knowledge of the German language. He kept them alive by bribing a German official. Most of those he employed survived the war, according to the Polish state historical body and the museum.

In all, he said that he rescued 53 Jews.

He was also involved in the Polish underground that resisted the German occupation of Poland throughout the war.

Walaszczyk was almost killed by a three-man German execution squad for being caught carrying parcels to the Home Army, Polands anti-German resistance movement. He recalled that the Germans had him against a wall with their guns pointed at him. In that moment he felt to the urge to shout, Long live Poland! But he refrained, fearing the Germans would only arrest and inflict suffering on another Pole in revenge.

At the last moment a Gestapo office intervened, saying the death would have been too easy for him and that he should instead be sent to Auschwitz. Ultimately his life was spared after his mother intervened with a higher-ranking German officer, who valued his work at the factory.

Walaszczyk also took part in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, a revolt against the German occupiers that was brutally crushed.

After the war he and Front split up. He worked in commerce until he was 94.

Thanks to Front's efforts, Walaszczyk was honored in 2002 as a Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial and museum. The honor recognizes the gentiles who saved Jews across German-occupied Europe during World War II.

It was extremely dangerous to help Jews during Germany's occupation of Poland, with the Germans executing not only those caught helping Jews but also their entire families.
"Post Reports" is the daily podcast from The Washington Post. Unparalleled reporting. Expert insight. Clear analysis. Everything you've come to expect from the newsroom of The Post - for your ears.

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In this episode:

What does it mean to identify as "pro-life" in 2022?

When Karen Swallow Prior, a longtime antiabortion activist, first heard about the Supreme Court's leaked draft opinion suggesting that Roe v. Wade would be overturned, she was thrilled. But she quickly realized her feelings on the "pro-life" movement had become a lot more complicated over the decades.

Religion reporter Michelle Boorstein and Post Reports producer Rennie Svirnovskiy visited with Prior as she grappled with what it means to be "pro-life."
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has run into a roadblock in trying to deliver relief for Louisville-area motorists forced to pay more at the pump for reformulated gas.

Federal regulators denied his request for a waiver to temporarily remove the requirement that costlier but cleaner-burning reformulated fuel be sold in Metro Louisville, the Democratic governor said Tuesday.

Reformulated fuel costs 20-30 cents more per gallon than other kinds of gas, according to Beshear. During a time of skyrocketing gas prices, that has added to the financial strain for motorists in Kentucky's largest city and some of its suburbs.

Beshear asked federal regulators to allow conventional, less costly gas to be sold in Jefferson County  which includes Louisville  and parts of neighboring Oldham and Bullitt counties.

The governor cant unilaterally suspend the reformulated gas requirement, but instead had to petition the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for such a suspension.

The answer weve gotten is a no, but a no for now, Beshear told reporters Tuesday.

The EPA in the 1990s started requiring cities with high smog levels to sell reformulated gasoline  known as RFG  which is blended to burn cleaner than regular gasoline and reduce smog-forming pollutants.

I get why it is in place, but our families are suffering in paying for gas, Beshear said.

The EPA has verbally denied the request but will continue monitoring the situation, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet said in a statement Tuesday.

EPA officials did not immediately provide comments when reached by email Tuesday.

Several Republican lawmakers from the Louisville area also called for the suspension of the reformulated fuel requirement. GOP state Rep. Kevin Bratcher has referred to the requirement as a tax that people in my district and most districts around here are tired of paying.

Meanwhile, Beshear said Tuesday hes among governors urging President Joe Biden to suspend the federal gas tax. Biden has said he will decide by the end of the week whether he would support a federal gasoline tax holiday, possibly saving U.S. consumers as much as 18.4 cents a gallon.

That would make, we believe, a significant, immediate impact on the price of gas," Beshear said.

The governor, who has touted the state's economic development gains during his term, has taken other steps to try to help Kentuckians battered by rising prices for consumer goods. He doesn't face reelection until next year, but the campaign has already gotten underway, and politicians from both parties have moved forcefully to respond to voters' anger about what they're being forced to pay at the pump.

Beshear recently took action to freeze Kentucky's gas tax, an emergency step to prevent a 2-cent-per-gallon increase that would have taken effect July 1. The action is expected to save Kentuckians an estimated $35.4 million. In February, the governor took executive action to grant relief to Kentucky taxpayers hit with pandemic-related increases in their vehicle property tax bills.
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Two months after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to help President Donald Trump stay in office, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, attended a gathering of right-wing activists where a speaker declared to roaring applause that Trump was still the "legitimate president," a video recording of the event shows.

"There is a robbery that is going on in this country right now," pastor and conservative radio personality C.L. Bryant told the crowd, according to video posted to Facebook by an attendee. "In fact, I say it to you and I'll say it loud and clear, and I'm not ashamed to say it. I won't bite my tongue. I do believe that Donald John Trump is the only legitimate president."

The event on March 6, 2021, was a meeting of Frontliners for Liberty. The group vaulted from obscurity to national attention last week with the disclosure that Thomas had invited pro-Trump lawyer John Eastman to speak to its members in December 2020.

The revelation, originating from emails that a judge ordered Eastman to turn over to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, showed that Thomas was in contact with Eastman, a key legal architect of the attempt to subvert the election. The judge, David O. Carter of the Central District of California, wrote in a June 7 opinion that the emails, including two in which the group's "high-profile leader" invited Eastman to speak - were relevant to the committee's work.

While text messages and emails unearthed in recent weeks have shown that Thomas was involved in those efforts before Jan. 6, her attendance at the Orlando gathering indicates that her alliance with election deniers continued even after Joe Biden was inaugurated. Frontliners has hosted hard-right lawmakers, insisted on strict secrecy and proclaimed that the nation's top enemy is the "radical fascist left," according to social media posts, court filings and interviews with several people involved in the group.

One photograph from the Orlando event shows Bryant posing with Thomas. Others show Thomas wearing a name tag decorated with a yellow ribbon she and others wore saying "Trouble Maker."

Thomas did not respond to messages seeking comment. Bryant also did not respond to a request for comment.

Thomas's role in Frontliners was confirmed Thursday, when Eastman published an email in which she invited him to speak to the group on Dec. 8, 2020. The email was one of many Eastman had sought to shield related to the group, which was not identified in court filings. Eastman argued that releasing them to the committee would violate participants' First Amendment rights.

The group said it operated in what was understood to be a "cone of silence," Eastman wrote in a May filing. He quoted an email he had received from the group as saying, "We are careful about who is on the phone and who is in the room and we do not leak what happens, what is said or who is in the meeting - ever!"

Eastman on Thursday downplayed the significance of the invitation, writing that Thomas had asked him to give an "update about election litigation to a group she met with periodically." He wrote that he did not discuss "any matters pending or likely to come before the court" with Thomas or her husband.

The committee has not released any Frontliners emails. It has requested an interview with Thomas and asked her to turn over communications with a range of people, including pro-Trump lawyers, members of Congress and Justice Department employees. Thomas told the conservative Daily Caller last week that she looks forward to meeting with the committee and "can't wait to clear up misconceptions."

Revelations about Thomas's activities have highlighted potential conflicts of interest that her husband faces in deciding cases about the 2020 election and attempts to subvert it. Clarence Thomas has not recused himself from any of those cases - including one in January in which he was the lone justice to back a request from Trump to block the release of White House documents related to Jan. 6.

A spokeswoman for the Supreme Court did not respond to questions for Clarence Thomas.

Ginni Thomas has said she keeps her work separate from her husband's.

Members described Frontliners for Liberty as a loose-knit coalition of conservative activists. The conservative advocacy group FreedomWorks provides significant institutional support, including briefing the group's members and hosting "fly-ins," when members convene in person, according to former New Mexico lawmaker Janice Arnold-Jones and a second person familiar with Frontliners' operations who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on behalf of the group.

FreedomWorks "partners with" Frontliners, but the two are separate entities, FreedomWorks spokesman Peter Vicenzi wrote in emails to The Washington Post.

"Ginni Thomas, for years, has been an invaluable ally to our activist community when it comes to engaging on shared issues," Vicenzi wrote. "Thomas herself has been a steadfast conservative activist and FreedomWorks is proud to work with her."

In her email invitation to Eastman, Thomas copied another recipient and said that person - whose name was redacted - was assisting with meeting arrangements because "I am on sabbatical until this election stuff is resolved." It is not clear how her role on sabbatical differed from what it had been previously.

Arnold-Jones told the The Post that Thomas was not the group's sole leader. "It is more spread out than that," she said in an interview. "She's part of it. Occasionally, we see Ginni."

Arnold-Jones said the group maintains strict confidentiality, "so people can say what they need to say." She said the group serves a critical networking function, connecting activists across states to lawmakers and other decision-makers. But such details are shared discreetly, she said. "When the information is shared, they don't send out a big old letter that says, 'Here's their phone number.'"

Frontliners for Liberty does not have a web presence except for a private Facebook group of about 50 people that was established in August 2020 and administered by Ginni Thomas and Stephanie Miller Coleman, the widow of one of Clarence Thomas's former clerks. Coleman did not respond to a request seeking comment.

The Post viewed the public-facing description of the Facebook group last week. It has since been removed from public view. The group was described as "a new collaborative, liberty-focused, action-oriented group of state leaders representing grassroots armies to CONNECT, INFORM and ACTIVATE each other weekly to preserve constitutional governance."

The banner at the top of the page read: "The enemy of America . . . is the radical fascist left."

Coleman's personal Facebook page featured pictures of herself with Ginni and Clarence Thomas and other high-profile Washington figures, including Trump's former White House strategist, Steve Bannon. In a 2015 photo, Coleman poses with Ginni Thomas, who is wearing a pin that says "I [heart] my husband" and a name tag identifying the event they were attending as "Thomas Clerk World Retreat."

Clarence Thomas's former clerks communicate on an email list known as Thomas Clerk World, The Post has previously reported. In the weeks after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Ginni Thomas apologized to those on the email list for a rift that developed among them after her pro-Trump advocacy and endorsement of his Jan. 6 rally. Eastman is a former Thomas clerk.

Since The Post viewed Coleman's photographs last week, she made most of her Facebook page private.

During his speech at the March gathering in Orlando, Bryant said the nation is embroiled in "spiritual warfare" and urged attendees to "stand and defend this republic." He decried changing definitions of marriage, family and gender, and he returned repeatedly to the notion that the presidency had been stolen.

"It was a theft, I tell you. It was the greatest theft that America has ever experienced. But yet here we sit, with a person in the White House who is fraudulently there," Bryant said. "My friends, you must not be afraid to say it. You must not be afraid to speak it."

Bryant, urging the crowd to action, asked: "What are you prepared to do?" He added: "I believe Ginni asked this question. Are we just going to leave here with the rah rah, go on about our business? . . . When you leave here tonight, what are you prepared to do?"

It is not clear whether he was referring to Ginni Thomas. Photographs from the event show her speaking with a microphone at an outdoor gathering.

The video was posted on the Facebook account belonging to John Di Lemme, a podcast host and founder of the Conservative Business Journal.

Di Lemme told The Post that he is not associated with Frontliners but heard Bryant's speech after he and his wife dropped by to have lunch and dinner with a friend who was attending the meeting.

Attendees at the Orlando gathering included a wide range of FreedomWorks staff, from a grass-roots organizer who later pleaded guilty to unlawfully demonstrating in the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot to senior economist Stephen Moore, who was tapped by Trump for a seat on the Federal Reserve Board but withdrew from consideration following bipartisan criticism of his comments about women.

Other attendees included former state lawmakers, political candidates and conservative activists such as Ron Armstrong, a Michigan businessman who rose to national prominence for leading protests against coronavirus restrictions, and Brian Camenker, president of MassResistance, which has been designated as an anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Moore said he delivers remarks at many such events and didn't remember details about the group.

Armstrong told The Post he recalled Thomas giving welcome remarks in Orlando because she's "obviously someone people care about and would want to say hello or welcome." He said Frontliners brings together activists on a range of issues and has no central organizational structure. The Post located no corporate records for the group.

"Frontliners isn't anything," he said. "All that is is a group of people that coalesce around messages and causes and make sure we're working together."

Camenker did not respond to a request for comment.

Susan Voyles, a longtime conservative activist in Georgia, said she attended the March conference in her capacity as president of the Georgia chapter of the conservative Eagle Forum and saw Thomas there. Voyles said the meeting was focused primarily on education issues highlighted by the pandemic.

In August, several months after the Orlando gathering, Armstrong posted to Facebook a letter from the Michigan Frontliners for Freedom Group to state legislators demanding a "forensic audit" of the 2020 election. Armstrong said the state group is distinct from the national collective.

A Frontliners event in October featured an appearance by Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., one of the leading election deniers in Congress, according to a photograph he posted to Twitter. Merissa Hamilton, identified as a FreedomWorks grass-roots director on LinkedIn, tweeted another photo on the same day, apparently from the same event. It included an image of three other Republican members of Congress who played key roles in pushing falsehoods about the 2020 election: Louie Gohmert (Texas), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia) and Lauren Boebert (Colorado).

"Congressman @replouiegohmert, Congresswoman @mtgreenee, and Congresswoman @laurenboebert at @FreedomWorks Frontliners for Liberty," the tweet read, according to a version preserved by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.

Hamilton did not respond to a request for comment, and neither did spokespeople for Gosar, Gohmert, Greene and Boebert.

- - -

The Washington Post's Alice Crites, Amy Gardner and Carol Leonnig contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court on Tuesday limited the reach of a federal statute that requires stiff penalties for crimes involving a gun.

The 7-2 decision united both conservative and liberal justices, though one dissenting justice compared the result to "Alice in Wonderland." The justices said the law cant be used to lengthen the sentences of criminals convicted of a specific attempted robbery offense.

The case before the justices involved Justin Taylor, who in the early 2000s was a marijuana dealer in the area of Richmond, Virginia. The government has said he sold large quantities of marijuana to other dealers who distributed it. In 2003 he and another man planned to steal money from a buyer, and during the robbery the accomplice fatally shot the man.

Taylor was charged with attempted Hobbs Act robbery, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He was also charged under a federal statute that outlines mandatory minimum sentences for using a firearm in connection with a crime of violence. Taylor pleaded guilty to both and was given a 30-year sentence, 10 years longer than he could have received for just the robbery charge.

A majority of the court, however, ruled that attempted Hobbs Act robbery does not qualify as a crime of violence and therefore that Taylor was not eligible for the longer sentence.

Simply put, no element of attempted Hobbs Act robbery requires proof that the defendant used, attempted to use, or threatened to use force, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for a majority of the court.

The justices upheld a federal appeals court ruling that Taylor should be re-sentenced just on the attempted Hobbs Act robbery charge.

In a dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas cited Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. He said the decision is an example of how the court's approach to deciding these kinds of cases has led lower courts on a journey Through the Looking Glass during which the justices have found many strange things. He said that like Alice, the court has strayed far down the rabbit hole.

"I would hold Taylor accountable for what he actually did and uphold his conviction," he wrote.

Justice Samuel Alito also dissented, agreeing that the court's cases in this area of the law have veered off into fantasy land.

Frances Pratt, one of Taylor's attorneys, said in an email that his attorneys are gratified to know that the Supreme Court ruled for our client and hope the decision will also help others. Taylor's prosecution came at a time when officials in Virginia were attempting to reduce Richmond's high homicide rate in part by taking a hard line on gun crimes, bringing those cases in federal as opposed to state court. The effort was called Project Exile.

___

The case is United States v. Taylor, 20-1459.
NEWARK, N.J. (AP)  It could be another year before the dispute between New York and New Jersey over the future of their joint port watchdog commission is resolved.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday released a schedule for the two states to file legal arguments. The last deadline is in late November, indicating the high court wouldnt hear the case until early 2023, and then rule months later.
WASHINGTON - The play goes something like this: Keibert Ruiz and Josh Bell subtly signal each other. Whether they use their eyes, hands, feet or telepathy, they won't tell. Once the pitch is thrown, Bell, the Washington Nationals' first baseman, darts behind an unsuspecting runner. Ruiz, the club's 23-year-old catcher, rises quickly and throws to Bell, leading him to the bag. Bell then finishes with a reaching tag or a lunging tag, depending on where the ball meets him and the runner's retreat.

Three times this month, that sequence has led to an out for the Nationals. Just ask Nick Senzel, Rowdy Tellez and Rhys Hoskins. Ruiz, in turn, leads all catchers with three successful pickoffs. Sean Murphy, the Oakland Athletics' catcher and winner of the American League's Gold Glove in 2021, is the only other catcher with more than one.

In Cincinnati on June 5, Ruiz and Bell threw out the Reds' Senzel to end a 5-4 win. Against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 10, they caught Tellez sleeping way off the base. And Friday, the Philadelphia Phillies' Hoskins was their latest victim, with manager Dave Martinez suggesting the Nationals use scouting to target certain players.

Bell, though, described it as "mostly feel" and "what Keibert is seeing in the moment." On all three pickoffs, Ruiz set up well outside, allowing him to fire down the first base line; there was a right-handed batter in the box, giving him a clear throwing lane; and there was a runner on second, perhaps creating a false sense of security for the man on first. The benefiting pitchers - Steve Cishek, Erick Fedde and Paolo Espino - claimed to not know it was coming, even though Fedde threw a perfectly high pitch before Ruiz nailed Tellez. But neither Bell nor Ruiz would divulge much more.

"I don't want to give away any secrets," Ruiz said through a big grin. "I just get JB's attention, and he's ready when we think we have a chance."

"It just comes from paying attention and always watching, and it comes from lack thereof on the other end for the opponents," Bell explained. ". . . I don't want it to become a thing. I don't want you to write about it."

Bell was then asked why he's able to break toward the base before the pitch crosses the plate. All three times, he vacated his position before the batter decided whether to swing. That was especially the case when they used the play on Senzel and Tellez. So what if the hitter stuck his bat out for a grounder Bell wasn't there to field?

"That's where we stop this conversation," Bell replied in the Nationals' clubhouse in early June, smiling a bit.

Fedde told reporters he didn't know the play on Tellez was coming. That means he wouldn't know to throw an unhittable pitch.

"He doesn't know," Bell said. "He doesn't."

If he grooves a strike, the hitter can slap the ball where Bell just vacated.

"Uh . . . the pitcher doesn't know," Bell repeated. "It has nothing to do with him."

Then how are you so sure you can move pre-pitch?

"No comment. This is where I walk away."

Bell took a seat at his locker, the opposite of walking away.

"I'm putting my shoes on to actually go do something else and not talk to you about this," Bell offered. "It's a good question, but I'm not going to talk about it, and I don't think that Keibert should, either."

He didn't.

"He didn't?" Bell asked. "Good. Of course not. Taught him well.

"I [just] can't talk about it. It's too revealing. It's like . . . no. I can't! It's just a no. A flat no. Maybe after I retire or something we can sit down, have a drink and talk about pickoff plays."

Because Bell and Ruiz were so tight-lipped, it seemed prudent to ask Riley Adams, Ruiz's backup, about their ability to surprise runners. After twice calling the play "really sick," Adams foreshadowed one of its pitfalls. With a tight window to throw in and with Bell serving as a moving target, Adams noted, "Keibert has to be willing to take a risk." In the first leg of Friday's doubleheader against the Phillies, Adams tried to pick off a runner at first, his throw whizzed past Bell, and a run scored. On Sunday, in a 9-3 win over the Phillies, Ruiz chucked a throw by Bell and into right field, bringing a runner in from second.

In the bigger picture, Ruiz's improving defense is a good sign for the Nationals, who view him as their catcher of the present and the future. When they traded for him last summer, he profiled as a strong hitter with work to do behind the plate. His average pop time of 2.02 seconds - how long it takes him to catch the ball and throw to a projected receiving point at the center of second base - is slightly below average, according to Statcast. It was 2.08 in 2021, among the worst for catchers with a minimum of five chances to throw out a runner.

To better control the base paths, Ruiz has shortened his throwing motion and widened his stance with runners on base. That has helped him handle 12 runners on 38 steal attempts this season. Yet it's clear his intuition is above everything else.

"It's a constant focus for me," Ruiz said. "I am happy with the results so far."
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkeys parliament on Tuesday extended for another 18 months a mandate that allows the deployment of Turkish troops to Libya.

The mandate was renewed with the votes of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling party and its nationalist allies which hold a majority in parliament. An opposition party also voted in favor of the extension.
LONDON (AP)  British health officials will start offering vaccines to some men who have sex with men and are at the highest risk of catching monkeypox, in an effort to curb the biggest outbreak of the disease beyond Africa.

Doctors can consider vaccination for some men at the highest risk of exposure, Britains Health Security agency said in a statement Tuesday. The agency identified those at highest risk as men who have sex with men and who have multiple partners, participate in group sex or attend venues where sex occurs on the premises.

By expanding the vaccine offer to those at higher risk, we hope to break chains of transmission and help contain the outbreak, said the Health Security Agency's head of immunization, Dr. Mary Ramsay.

Last month, a leading adviser to the World Health Organization said that the monkeypox outbreak beyond Africa was likely spread by sexual activity by men at raves in Spain and Belgium.

Vaccines have previously been available only for health workers taking care of monkeypox patients or for cleaners disinfecting areas contaminated by the virus. The vaccine was originally developed for smallpox, a related disease, but is thought to be about 85% effective against monkeypox.

To date, more than 99% of monkeypox cases in Britain are among men, and the majority of those are in men who are gay, bisexual or who have sex with men. Scientists warn that anyone who is in close, physical contact with someone infected with monkeypox or their clothing or bedsheets is at risk of the disease, regardless of their sexual orientation.

There are currently 793 monkeypox cases in the U.K., out of more than 2,100 cases in 42 countries globally. No deaths beyond Africa have been reported.

Until last month, monkeypox had only caused sizeable outbreaks in central and west Africa; the continent has so far reported more than 1,500 cases and 72 suspected deaths in a separate epidemic. Vaccines have never been used in Africa to control monkeypox.

Last week, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the continued spread of monkeypox in countries that havent previously seen the disease as unusual and concerning.

Tedros is convening an expert meeting Thursday to decide if the expanding monkeypox outbreak warrants being declared a global emergency. That would give it the same designation as the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing effort to eradicate polio.
John Minchillo/AP

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP)  Federal prosecutors say they expect to drop additional charges against incarcerated lawyer Michael Avenatti after he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of wire fraud for swindling his clients out of settlement funds they were due.

In a court filing Tuesday, the U.S. attorneys office said it expects to move to dismiss the remaining counts of the Indictment after sentence is imposed.
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  Virginia voters picked two women, a state senator and a Hispanic law enforcement official, on Tuesday as the Republican nominees for what could be two of the countrys most competitive U.S. House races.

Jen Kiggans defeated three challengers to win the nomination in Virginias coastal 2nd District and will take on U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria. And Yesli Vega, an auxiliary deputy and county-level elected official, prevailed in a crowded field in the central Virginia 7th District. Vega will face Rep. Abigail Spanberger in the general election, where Republicans are bullish about their chances of flipping the seats currently held by the two centrist Democrats.

Joe Bidens disastrous policies are on the ballot this November, and in the 2nd District, these policies go by the name of Elaine Luria, Kiggans told an energetic crowd of supporters who gathered at a tavern in Virginia Beach.

Kiggans, who had been seen as the frontrunner leading into Tuesday, handily defeated three opponents, including far-right Jarome Bell, who called himself the MAGA candidate and had called for executing anyone involved in what he claimed was widespread voter fraud.

A former Navy helicopter pilot and a geriatric nurse practitioner, Kiggans has represented parts of Virginia Beach and Norfolk in the state Senate since 2020. Several voters said they were backing her because they thought she was the strongest general election candidate.

Marianne Winn, 83, said Kiggans came to her home while campaigning and showed concern for senior citizens. Winn said shes particularly concerned about what she called Bidens failure to deal with rising inflation.

I dont think Biden is dealing with it, she said. He talks a good game. But hes not doing it.

Like Kiggans, Luria is also a Navy veteran. Shes currently on the Jan. 6 committee investigating the 2021 attack on the Capitol and has cultivated a congressional identity as a centrist since flipping the district blue under its previous lines in 2018. Shes expected to face a tough challenge under the new lines.

The 2nd District covers much of Virginias coast, including Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore.

Lurias campaign manager, Kate Fegley, said in a statement that Kiggans was a political opportunist and election denier. In recent interviews, Kiggans has declined to say whether Biden was legitimately elected.

The people of Virginias Second Congressional District trust Elaine Luria and know that she will continue to deliver and do whats right regardless of the political implications, Fegley said in a statement.

Former President Donald Trump didnt endorse in the 2nd District or in the 7th, which was entirely reshaped thanks to redistricting, which shifted it away from the Richmond suburbs. It now covers a stretch of cities and counties between Charlottesville and the Washington suburbs. The GOP nomination fight was seen as more unsettled ahead of Tuesdays vote, with several contenders including Vega claiming momentum.

Vega, who currently serves on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, defeated five other candidates, including long-serving state Sen. Bryce Reeves and former Green Beret Derrick Anderson, to secure the nomination.

Born in Texas to immigrant parents from El Salvador, Vega helped run Gov. Glenn Youngkins Latino voter coalition during his campaign last year. Shes worked as a police officer and sheriffs deputy and currently serves as an auxiliary deputy in the Prince William County Sheriffs Office.

She locked up endorsements from an array of right-wing officials, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz  who joined her for campaign events Monday  former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, U.S. Rep. Bob Good, and Ginni Thomas, the conservative activist and wife of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

In a statement, Vega thanked her supporters, saying her win was a historic moment for Hispanics across Virginia and our nation.

Now it is time to bring everyone, Republican and Democrat, together because inflation doesnt discriminate, she said in a statement.

The Democratic Party of Virginia has previously criticized Vega for her characterization of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. During a candidate forum, Vega described the violence at the Capitol as a group of Americans exercising their 1st Amendment rights.

The difference in this election could not be more clear, Virginia Democratic Party Chairwoman Susan Swecker said in a statement. Republicans in VA-02 and VA-07 nominated far-right extremists and conspiracy theorists who have no place in Congress.

Spanberger expressed confidence in a statement issued before polls closed: Virginians will have a clear choice this fall. I look forward to debating the issues with my opponent and winning reelection.

Neither she nor Luria faced primary challengers and reported several million in cash on hand earlier this month.

Several other districts featured far less competitive contests Tuesday. In northern Virginias 8th District, four-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Don Beyer defeated progressive first-time candidate Victoria Virasingh.

Beyer, who was the only Democratic incumbent to face a primary challenger, said in a statement that he was humbled to have earned the voters trust and thanked Virasingh for her spirited challenge.

In the deep red Shenandoah Valley-based 6th District, GOP Rep. Ben Cline defeated challenger Merritt Hale. And voters in the overwhelmingly blue-leaning 3rd District tapped Republican Air Force veteran Terry Namkung to take on incumbent Rep. Bobby Scott.

Several of Virginias other crowded GOP nomination contests were settled earlier during party-run processes.

___

Associated Press reporter Ben Finley and photographer Steve Helber contributed to this report from Virginia Beach.
Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw condemned the response of Uvalde police to the Robb Elementary School shooting, calling it an "abject failure and antithetical to everything we have learned over the past two decades since the Columbine massacre." Police officers with rifles stood and waited in a school hallway for nearly an hour while the gunman used an AR-15-style rifle to kill 19 children and two teachers inside a pair of connected classrooms on May 24.

"Three minutes after the subject entered the West building, there was a sufficient number of armed officers wearing body armor to isolate, distract and neutralize the subject," McCraw said. "The only thing stopping the hallway of dedicated officers from entering [classrooms] 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children."

Before fielding questions as he testified at a special Texas Senate committee hearing in Austin on Tuesday, McCraw also said that teachers, not law enforcement, should be praised for their actions in quickly implementing active shooter protocols before the shooter entered the campus. McCraw said teachers worked faster than law enforcementwho were actually armed with enough firepower and protection to take down the gunmanto shut down the school.

"One hour, 14 minutes and eight seconds, that's how long the children waited and the teachers waited... to be rescued," McCraw said. "The officers had weapons. The children had none. The officers had body armor. The children had none. The officers had training. The subject had none."

McCraw's statements follow the revelation of new footage from the day of the shooting, showing officers arrived at the campus with rifles and ballistic shields. However, they waited 58 minutes to breach the classroom and kill the gunman.

"The post-Columbine doctrine is clear and compelling and unambiguous," McCraw said. "Stop the killing. Stop the dying. You can't do the latter unless you do the former."

McCraw also provided his own timeline of the events the day of the shooting based on video and transcript of police communications, explaining that nine officers entered the school with rifles within three minutes of the shooter entering the school. He also said that eight minutes after the shooter went into the building, an officer reported that police had a "halligan" crowbar-style tool that they could use to break down the classroom door.

As McCraw outlined failures on behalf of law enforcement, he told the Senate committee that Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde school district police chief and highest-ranking officer at the scene, waited for radios, rifles, shields, and SWAT teams to arrive as well as "keys that were never needed" before he directed officers to finally breach the classroom. "It has been reported that he didnt have a radio with him. Thats true. He did not," McCraw said about Arredondo.

Arredondo has previously stated that he did not consider himself in charge. "If youre going to issue commands, if youre going to direct action, you're the ranking official from the agency that has jurisdiction  youre the on-scene commander," McCraw said.

A transcript of a call between Arredondo and a police dispatcher McCraw displayed also showed the commander was concerned the gunman was armed with a rifle and that his officers were only armed with handguns. McCraw criticized Arredondo's hesitation saying "if you have even one officer that's enough" and adding that officers have an obligation to confront the shooter and that waiting as long as he did was "intolerable."

"He [Arredondo] was rightofficers are likely to get hurt and some may die," McCraw said. "But it's less likely that they would than children without armor, without weapons, without the training, left alone with someone ... who ultimately killed 21 people."

McCraw also told the committee that the classroom door could not be locked from inside, adding that the door was closed but unsecured. The door can be locked from the outside, by using a key and turning the lock into the lock position.

In response to a question from a state senator about the locks on the classroom doors, McCraw explained that there had been previous requests from a teacher about fixing the classroom door locks, believing the locks were broken.

However, McCraw also admitted that a key may not have been needed to open the door, saying the officers inside never tried the door handle leading to the classroom where the shooter was. He also said there were other potential methods officers could have used to breach the classroom, like entering through an exterior window.

In addition, McCraw said police and sheriffs radios did not work within the school, adding that only the radios of Border Patrol agents on the scene worked inside the school, and even those didn't always work. McCraw also admitted that shields were not needed for an active shooter situation because "you don't have time for a shield."

During his testimony, McCraw also pointed fingers at members of the public for not notifying authorities about disturbing behavior from the 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos, who he said "took on the persona of 'school shooter' in dress and demeanor" and "was moving toward a pathway of violence" in the months prior to the shooting.

"When you go back and look after the fact there's always things that could have been done if we would have known," McCraw said. "That's why it's so important that the public reports this."

McCraw also said he learned through interviews that Ramos engaged in animal cruelty, saying "he walked around with a bag of dead cats." However, he also noted police found nothing that raised any red flags in Ramos's school disciplinary files.

Asked if he could just make one recommendation in light of the shooting response, McCraw said it would be more training. He also suggested a "go bag" be placed in law enforcement vehicles that would include a shield and door-breaching tools. "I want every trooper to know how to breach and have the tools to do it," he said.

The Senate committee hearings will continue on Wednesday.
Getty

A major group of Texas mayors, including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, are this week urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to enact several key laws aimed at curbing gun violence and mass shootings.

The open letter was published by Texas' Big City Mayors coalition hours before a committee of Texas senators heard damning testimony from the state's top cop about the abysmal police response in confronting an active shooter at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde last month. The letter, signed by Turner and a dozen other mayors across the state, said their proposed restrictions on gun ownershipsimilar to those being pushed at the federal levelwould have prevented the Uvalde shooter from purchasing the gun he used to kill 19 children and two teachers.
Newly obtained surveillance video shows multiple Uvalde, Texas police officers stood in a hallway at Robb Elementary School, armed with rifles and at least one ballistic shield, and waited 58 minutes to confront the gunman as he went on a shooting rampage inside two classrooms.

The footage, recently obtained by the Austin American-Statesman, shows officers were inside the hallway at 11:52 a.m. on May 24, just 19 minutes after the gunman entered two classrooms. Eleven officers had first entered the school within three minutes of the gunman, the Statesman reports.

However, the new video shows officers did not breach the door of the classroom until 12:50 p.m. The 18-year-old gunman used an AR-15-style rifle to kill 19 students and two teachers before he was eventually shot and killed by police. Video shows he entered a rear door, walked into a classroom and immediately started shooting before barricading himself, according to the Statesman.

Pete Arredondo, chief of the Uvalde school district police force, called a landline at the Uvalde Police Department at 11:40 a.m. for help, according to the Statesman. "It's an emergency right now," he said. "We have him in the room. He's got an AR-15. He's shot a lot... They need to be outside the building prepared because we don't have firepower right now. It's all pistols." He also said: "I don't have a radio. I need you to bring a radio for me."

Body camera footage obtained by the Statesman shows four minutes after the call, at 11:44 a.m., more shots were detected from the gunman. At 11:52 a.m., an officer with a shield entered the school. Other officers seemingly grew impatient, one saying: "If there's kids in there, we need to go in there." Another responded, "Whoever is in charge will determine that."

A transcript of officer body camera footage showed Arredondo stood in the hallway trying to find keys to open the classroom door, the Statesman reports. However, officials say they do not believe officers tried to open the door. Arredondo apparently also tried to ask the gunman whether he could hear him.

Arredondo questioned out loud if officers would consider "popping him through the window? Get two shooters on either side of the window?" approximately 30 minutes before officers breached the classroom, according to the Statesman. "I say we breach those windows and shoot his [expletive] head off through the windows."

However, it wasn't until 12:46 p.m. that Arredondo told SWAT team officers who had arrived to breach the classroom. By then, medical units had arrived, and footage shows they were treating children in the hallway after the gunman was killed, according to the Statesman.

The video footage comes as Uvalde law enforcement continues to face intense scrutiny for their delay in response to the massacre, raising questions about whether more lives could have been saved if officers confronted the gunman sooner. The new information is expected to be presented at Texas Senate hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Inside Hook

Presidential libraries vary dramatically, depending on the president in question. Over the course of researching a book about political signs, I had reason to interact with the staff of several. (The Eisenhower Presidential Library was especially helpful.) Some libraries focus on the legacies of their namesake; others abound with historical items that offer insight into their lives and times.



What, then, can we expect from the presidential library for the nations 44th head of state? The website for the Barack Obama Presidential Library currently houses abundant archives from Obamas time in office. As for the forthcoming physical space, it will be included as part of a larger project  the Obama Presidential Center, which broke ground in Chicago last year.



In a recent interview with ARTnews, Louise Bernard, the director of the museum set to open there, offered an update on what to expect. Bernard confirmed that the Center is now scheduled to open in 2025.



The 19-acre campus consists of the Museum building, which is a vertical structure; the Forum building, which is where all the multipurpose programming spaces will be; and a branch of the Chicago Public Library, Bernard told ARTnews. The construction will take place holistically at once.



From what Bernard said in the interview, the museum will house a host of historical items from the Obama administration, as well as a replica of the Oval Office. The institution also plans to house temporary exhibits in what Bernard described as a special exhibits gallery on the lowest level of the museum building.



It will be an opportunity to either take an exhibition that has been on view somewhere else or just continue borrowing objects from various institutions over time, she added. Its a destination years in the making.
Country singer Dallas Smith returned to the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Thursday night, for a night of high energy entertainment. The Canadian performer had a banner year in 2021 winning the Country Music Awards entertainer of the year, as well as the single of the year. The band is cu
Ontario is home to Canadas largest number of immigrants. There are nine streams under the Ontario PNP for those seeking to increase their chance of immigrating to Canada.

Understanding the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Ontario is home to Canadas largest number of immigrants. There are nine streams under the Ontario PNP for those seeking to increase their chance of immigrating to Canada.

Understanding the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Ontario is home to Canadas largest number of immigrants. There are nine streams under the Ontario PNP for those seeking to increase their chance of immigrating to Canada.

Understanding the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Ontario is home to Canadas largest number of immigrants. There are nine streams under the Ontario PNP for those seeking to increase their chance of immigrating to Canada. Edana Robitaille Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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In 2021, Ontario welcomed 198,000 new permanent residents, or nearly 49% of all new permanent residents in Canada.



This is not surprising as Ontario boasts Canadas largest population as well as its largest city. Many newcomers chose to settle in Ontario due to its strong economy, well-developed support systems, and already-established immigrant communities.

Those who wish to settle in Ontario have nine pathways to choose from through Ontarios Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

What is a provincial nomination?

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is designed to help provinces attract immigrants who can support local labour force needs.

If a candidate meets pathway specific criteria and is nominated by a province, they can add this to their permanent residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Why does Ontario need a Provincial Nominee Program?

Due to its already large immigrant population, Ontario was the last province to introduce a PNP in 2007. The introduction of the system created more opportunities for newcomers to Canada to economically establish themselves within the province and gave Ontario the ability to select individuals who would be a good fit and fill gaps in the workforce. Each Canadian province and territory (except for Quebec and Nunavut) operate their own PNPs.

What categories does Ontario offer?

Ontario has four streams of provincial nomination and within each category there are sub-streams, adding up to a total of nine provincial immigration pathways in Ontario.

Human Capital Priority Steams

Human Capital Priority Streams operate in alignment with the Express Entry application system.

Those who are eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC), are also eligible for provincial nomination in Ontario through the same streams at a provincial level if they demonstrate an intention to settle within the province.

French Speaking Skilled Worker Class

For those who are highly skilled in both official languages, Ontario offers the French Speaking Skilled Worker Class. This operates identically to FSWP in terms of work experience, education, and proof of funds but candidates must also have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 in French and a 6 in English.

Skilled Trades Stream

Candidates who are eligible for Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) are eligible for provincial nomination through the Skilled Trades stream. This means candidates must have a minimum of one years work experience within their trade, and it must fall into National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes Minor Group 633 or Major Groups 72, 73 or 82.

Employer Job Offer Category

If you are not eligible for Express Entry, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province through nomination in other categories. An Expression of Interest is applicable only when applying directly to the provincial government for nomination.

An EOI tells the government of Ontario that you wish to be invited to apply. If choosing these pathways, you may only apply to OINP if you have received an invitation to do so.

To submit an EOI, you must complete an attestation form the same day that states you meet the criteria for your chosen program and everything in your EOI is true. From here, you must wait for the province to invite you to apply for nomination.

Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

This is a pathway designed for foreign workers who are abroad and have a job offer from an Ontario employer.

The job must fall under NOC codes 0, A or B and you must be able to demonstrate an appropriate license (where needed) or a cumulation of two years work experience in the same occupation.

Employer Job Offer: International Graduates

This stream is for candidates who are graduating from colleges or universities in foreign countries that have received job offers from an employer in Ontario.

The job must fall under NOCs 0, A or B. Educational requirements are as follows:

a degree or diploma that takes at least two years to complete if you study on a full-time basis, or

a degree, diploma or certificate that takes at least one year to complete if you study on a full-time basis and that requires a completed degree as an admission requirement

Employer Job Offer: In-demand occupations

Skilled workers either in Canada or abroad with experience that falls under NOC C or D can apply for nomination if they have sufficient experience in occupations that urgently need more workers in Ontario. The occupations differ slightly depending on if the offer of employment is inside or outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The following occupations are applicable anywhere in Ontario including the GTA:

NOC 3413  nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates

NOC 4412  home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers

NOC 7441  residential and commercial installers and servicers

NOC 7511  transport truck drivers

NOC 7521  heavy equipment operators (except crane)

NOC 7611  construction trades helpers and labourers

NOC 8431  general farm workers

NOC 8432  nursery and greenhouse workers

NOC 8611  harvesting labourers

NOC 9462  industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

These occupations are only applicable to candidates with job offers outside of the GTA

NOC 9411  machine operators, mineral and metal processing

NOC 9416  metalworking and forging machine operators

NOC 9417  machining tool operators

NOC 9418  other metal products machine operators

NOC 9421  chemical plant machine operators

NOC 9422  plastics processing machine operators

NOC 9437  woodworking machine operators

NOC 9446  industrial sewing machine operators

NOC 9461  process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing

NOC 9523  electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers

NOC 9526  mechanical assemblers and inspectors

NOC 9536  industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators

NOC 9537  other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors

Master and PhD Categories

The remaining two programs are designed specifically for masters students and PhD students who graduate from Ontario universities and plan to stay in the province. The Masters Graduate Stream requires at least one year of study at an eligible Ontario university and graduation from the program. PhD students must complete at least two years of their PhD in Ontario. For both streams, candidates must have lived in Ontario for at least one year over the past two years.

Entrepreneur Category

The Entrepreneur Category works somewhat differently. Candidates for this category must also submit an EOI, but if they are invited to apply, they are required to attend a mandatory interview and sign a performance agreement. If they are successful, they will be issued a temporary work permit to move to Canada and then 20 months upon arrival to implement a business plan and submit a final review. If the candidate has met business requirements, they will be asked for documentation that proves they are eligible for permanent residence.

Conclusion

Ontarios immigrant retention rate is over 93%. This is because PNPs such as OINP are very successful in promoting the economic establishment of newcomers as well as benefiting the province. In 2021, Ontario issued nearly 9,000 invitations to apply for provincial nomination and is on track to meet or exceed that number in 2022.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

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Storage can no longer be an afterthought for CIOs. The massive cybersecurity threats that daily beset enterprise organizations have completely recalibrated how enterprise storage needs to be calculated into the corporate overall cybersecurity strategy.

Keeping storage separate, as if in a silo, from your companys comprehensive cybersecurity strategy is not only a lost opportunity, but, more importantly, it is also a trigger for increasing the risk of a cyber attack infiltrating, disrupting, costing, and making your companys data a target for ransomware or malware.

The reality of storage has changed dramatically over the past 18+ months and, because it hasnt gotten nearly enough play in the media that it deserves, its understandable if CIOs and their IT teams have missed grasping the full extent and all the details of this shift. With the stakes so high amid an ever-increasing cyber threat landscape, the time has come for a storage reality-check in the context of cybersecurity.

Top priority

CIOs and CISOs arent the only leaders who are concerned about cyber threats. The threat of cyberattacks has become so prevalent that in a Fortune 500 survey of CEOs in mid-2021, 66% of Fortune 500 CEOs said their No. 1 concern in the next three years is cybersecurity. Similarly, in a KPMG CEO survey in March 2021, CEOs also said cybersecurity is a top priority.

According to IDCs Board of Directors survey, cybersecurity tops the list of most challenging issues for which boards of directors provide oversight. Most board members are more concerned about a data breach than any other crisis. Its no wonder why the World Economic Forum named cybersecurity as one of their top five priorities over the past couple of years.

No enterprise wants to be hit by cyberattacks, which have costly impacts on the business. The security decision-makers in companies often equate security with firewalls, network, and edge protection and how to track the bad guys down when they breach the firewall. What they do not realize is that cyber criminals are altering, destroying, or stealing data.

The average number of days to identify and contain a data breach, according to security analysts, is 287 days. Enormous damage can be inflicted within 287 days. Too many enterprises are not truly equipped and prepared to deal with it. The stakes continue to rise amid daunting threats.

Nonetheless, companies need to ensure that data, which is the lifeblood of their business, is always available. The drive to modernize the data protection and cyber resilence capabilities of an enterprises storage infrastructure needs to accelerate. Every possession in a companys storage estate needs to be cyber resilient, designed to thwart ransomware, malware, internal cyber threats, and other potential attacks.

This surge in awareness and prioritization around protecting a companys data is so significant that even the U.S. government has changed laws and created new legislation to help combat cyberattacks.

New U.S. law for cybersecurity

In March 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act of 2022 into law. It requires certain types of companies to report cybersecurity incidents to a federal agency within 72 hours and any ransomware payment within 24 hours. It tightens up organizations obligations around cyber incident reporting.

In a statement after the House approved the measures, bipartisan leaders from the House Homeland Security Committee said: The new rules will mean greater visibility for the federal government, earlier disruption of malicious cyber campaigns, and better information and threat intelligence going back out to the private sector, so they can defend against future attacks.

On March 9, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission proposed a rule that publicly traded companies disclose data breaches and other significant cybersecurity incidents within four days. This is not necessarily new for multinational companies. In Europe, the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has required any organization handling the data of European citizens to notify authorities within 72 hours of becoming aware of a breach.

What to do about it?

CIOs need to think of storage as part of their overall enterprise cyber security strategy. It is critical to increase your organizations storage cyber resilience as a safeguard against cyberattacks that could cripple your business.

Cyberattacks have become increasingly sophisticated, pervasive, and aggressive, targeting both primary storage and secondary storage. So, changing the paradigm from an overall corporate security perspective is imperative. A cyber resilience solution is deemed effective when it provides guaranteed availability and a fully scaled data restoration for business continuity.

You need to take an end-to-end approach to stay ahead of cybersecurity threats. This entails evaluating the relationship between cybersecurity, storage, and cyber resilience. Primary storage and secondary storage need to be protected, ranging from logical air gapping to real-time data encryption to immutable copies of your data to instantaneous recovery.

On the primary storage front, it is essential to conduct a detailed analysis of the data, determine what data needs to be encrypted and what doesnt, what needs cyber resilience and what doesnt, and figure out how the protection needs keep your company in compliance  especially if your company is in a regulated market, such as financial services, pharmaceuticals or healthcare, or if your company is publicly traded.

On the secondary storage front, you need to decide what to do for modern data protection (a term that was previously known as back up in the past) and how to make that cyber resilient. Additionally, you need to create a storage plan for data replication/snapshots to meet your requirements for disaster recovery and business continuity.

The bottom line is that cybersecurity must go hand-in-hand with storage cyber resilience.

For more information, visit Infinidat here.
Everybody makes mistakes, but when a CIO messes up, the consequences can be devastating to the instigator, as well as the entire IT department and enterprise.

IT governance should be well-defined, clearly understood, and led by principles that reflect your organizations mission, vision, and strategy, advises Donna Bales, principal research director at Info-Tech Research Group. Good governance should delegate and empower individuals to deliver to defined outcomes that support organizational direction.

Still, despite CIOs best efforts, there are an almost endless number of IT governance pitfalls. Its particularly important to keep an eye peeled for the following seven common mistakes that can bite even that most careful IT leader.

1. Not keeping pace with evolving business priorities

Business practices and priorities shift frequently to accommodate emerging technologies, customer expectations, and product and service delivery demands. Its critical that governance changes in tandem to stay aligned and effective, Bales warns. Organizations often fail to recognize this [need] and rarely want to change governance once its in place.

Governance should be designed with adaptability in mind to ensure IT remains in alignment with business objectives, continually providing value while effectively safeguarding the organization against potential risks, Bales says. Effective governance ensures that the right technology investments are made at the right time to support organizational change and enable successful business outcomes, she adds.

Governance should be part of your organizations DNA  central to its being yet unique to your organization, Bales says. Your governance structure should be dynamic and [designed to] identify triggers that may evoke a revision, and its effectiveness should be constantly measured so that it remains relevant.

2. Poor risk planning

CIOs frequently launch strategic initiatives without fully considering all the risks involved. This leads to adding governance as an afterthought instead of using a governance methodology as an integral part of a risk management program, says Scott Perry, principal for crypto and digital trust services at Schellman, a global cybersecurity assessor. By that time, governance structures are rushed and risk mitigation measures lose their effectiveness.

All too often, critical initiatives are pushed through by CIOs without fully understanding whether the system will be able to meet its strategic objectives. This can create risks, such as technical vulnerabilities, uptime constraints, improper continuity, and customer rejection, Perry cautions. Properly identifying these risks early in the process, and addressing them with an organized risk mitigation process as part of an overall governance program, is essential for strategic initiative success.

Perry suggests instituting an oversight program that includes risk assessment, governance requirements established to mitigate controllable risks, and internal and external audit programs to measure the effectiveness of governance requirement conformance. He also recommends conducting a residual risk evaluation to determine any remaining risk exposures, as well as a program feedback loop.

3. Insufficient operational visibility

While most CIOs have already created a complete and detailed governance plan, many IT leaders lack the operational visibility necessary to assess their organizations acceptance and practice of specific governance policies and mandates. Although many CIOs believe that all enterprise leaders have easy access to and understand IT governance policies, they really dont, says Azadeh Dardras, Edge Center of Excellence director for business and IT consulting firm Capgemini Americas.

In many cases, the IT organization works in isolation, Dardras says. If you dont understand the context and results of your governance decisions, then your policy can have a negative effect on the business, she warns. If IT governance doesnt reach and involve all essential stakeholders, particularly team members working within the enterprises business segments, key decisions might be made without full and proper consideration. This can seriously impact the affected teams work and, ultimately, the business as a whole, Dardras notes.

4. Failing to fully align IT governance with enterprise governance

IT leaders frequently strive to complete projects as quickly as possible to meet a particular business need. In doing so, they may not properly involve their companys governance teams, such as legal, compliance, and information risk management, cautions Brian Mannion, chief legal and data protection officer at insights and data management platform provider Aware.

To prevent a potential governance misalignment, CIOs should encourage their IT representatives to routinely partner with their enterprise governance counterparts. At a tactical level, IT and enterprise governance teams should regularly educate each other on new tools, as well as new and enhanced features designed for existing tools. The teams should also propose and coordinate potential solutions to identified risks.

A standard set of minimum controls should be identified and agreed on, Mannion suggests. Finally, [enterprise] governance teams must have sufficient and technology-focused staffing to support IT, he says.

5. Using past methods to measure future progress

Many enterprises continue to base their IT governance on cost and performance service level agreement (SLA) metrics. Unfortunately, these metrics tend to be lagging indicators.

IT governance should focus on leading indicators and reflect the investments and spends of tomorrow, suggests Prashant Kelker, partner for digital strategy and solutions with global technology research and advisory firm ISG. A leading indicator is a predictive measurement. Leading indicators include revenue growth, revenue per client, profit margin, client retention rate, and customer satisfaction.

6. Treating data like a waste product

Its no secret that data has become a highly prized asset. For many information-driven enterprises, data is their most valuable asset. Still, a surprising number of organizations continue to treat data as if it were nothing more than a waste product, alleges Chethan Laxman, digital transformation executive at Apexon, a Silicon Valley digital engineering professional services firm.

As data increasingly guides decision-making, and digital innovations automate more business processes, data value and integrity become more important. All organizations, regardless of size or sector, need to shift from viewing data as an inconvenient cost center to an asset thats reliable, accessible, secure, and usable, Laxman says. Having invested in data and analytics, business and IT leaders now urgently need to ensure good governance in order to meet their goals of operational efficiency, increased growth, and improved customer experience.

7. Overlooking insider threats

The remote/hybrid work environment  combined with record-high employee turnover  has made insider threats a huge risk to organizations of all types and sizes.

While all types of insider threats are potentially harmful, malicious workers and inside agents partnering with external attackers can be particularly damaging. In fact, companies spend an average of $644,852 on each insider incident, notes Kris Lahiri, CSO at content security and governance platform provider Egnyte.

Lahiri suggests taking a holistic approach to IT governance that includes prioritizing data security, implementing network security best practices, and maximizing user cyber-education. He says that its also important to have deep visibility into both structured and unstructured data in order to build an effective content governance program. If you cant see the data, then you cant properly govern it, Lahiri says.

Lahiri also recommends centralizing data views to understand what content is being accessed, and by whom. This will enable the organization to detect malicious activity by recognizing commonplace user behavior and patterns.
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CNTM selecteaza un grup de traineri pentru instruirea voluntarilor in lucru cu refugiatii si coordonarea activitatilor la taberele de vara
The charities minister has said that civil society should be embedded in every single part of the government.

Speaking at an all-party parliamentary group in the Houses of Parliament yesterday, Nigel Huddleston described himself as the lead minister for civil society, arguing that all government departments should be focused on the sector.

At the event, Huddleston said the government was looking at simplifying the safeguarding process for volunteers.

He said: Everybody needs to take safeguarding seriously because Im afraid there are just too many incidents where, if we dont keep an eye on it, bad things happen.

I know there are a lot of complaints about it and I understand that. We are trying to simplify it as much as possible, but it is part of the required process.

Also at the event, representatives of the Vision for Volunteering initiative said it would not be prescriptive in measuring the programmes impact.

Minister: Civil society should be embedded across government

Huddleston said that although he is the minister for civil society, all government departments should be focused on the sector.

He said: Volunteering gets talked about a lot in parliament, and our Fridays in the constituency are all around civil society.

Im very pleased to be the lead minister for civil society, and I always say that by the way, because it should be and is pervasive across all government departments.

Im happy to encourage and cajole but it needs to be embedded in every single part of the government.

He felt this extended to his work as lead minister for loneliness. He said: I label myself as the lead minister on loneliness because I dont want to be the lead minister and then let other departments and other ministers off the hook from realising its their responsibility as well.

Volunteering programme will not prescriptively measure impact

The Vision for Volunteering programme aims to make volunteering something we all do across the different settings and stages of our lives by 2032 and is headed by NCVO, NAVCA, Volunteering Matters, the Association of Volunteers Managers and Sport England.

It published its key themes earlier this year, which are: awareness and appreciation, power, equity and inclusion, collaboration and experimentation.

Emma-Jane Hampsheir-Gill, an ambassador for youth social action programme #iwill who helped to launch Vision for Volunteering, said the programme would not be prescriptive in measuring how successful it has been.

In response to a question about impact measurement from an audience member, she said: The Vision is deliberately not prescriptive because if we sit in a room and try to measure success its going to be the wrong shape for just about everybody apart from us.

So, when we did the launch, we gave everyone one of these postcards and said imagine its 2032, we want you to write here what you want to be seeing in 10 years time because nobody knows your organisation as well as you.

Vision for Volunteering postcard.

Huddleston thanked senior charity professionals for asking the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to be part of the initiative and said: Ill make sure Ill keep a close eye on this and be as involved as I can be.

Encouraging young people into volunteering

Co-chair of the APPG, Robin Hodgson, asked the panel how organisations could strive to get people from varied age groups involved in volunteering.

Hampsheir-Gill said simple practical things like ensuring meetings do not clash with school hours would enable more young people to volunteer.

Huddleston acknowledged that many volunteers are older people. He said: Theres a certain type of people that actually do a great deal of the work. Often, but not always, theyre retired or semi-retired and were highly reliant on them.

One thing we saw during the pandemic was quite how reliant we were because all of a sudden swathes of those who were not able to do what they wanted to do [anymore]. Now, luckily, we have this huge swathe of new people coming in.

Improving volunteer diversity

Hampsheir-Gill suggested that the definition of volunteering could be broadened as part of the initiative to improve equity and inclusion.

Volunteering is called by many names, she said, but mostly has one face, and I think thats where we need to look very hard at ourselves indeed.

She said: Can you tell me that everyone in your community thinks volunteering is something for them? And that is where the Vision asks us where to go and where to be in 2032.

She suggested that the stereotypes around volunteering are problematic, and quoted Professor Patricia Hill Collins: 'A white, private college student who goes to a poor neighbourhood for four hours a week is considered exemplary. Whereas a poor kid who lives in that community and takes care of all of the kids in it for four hours a day is not seen as a volunteer.

Hampsheir-Gill asked the room: Arent they both volunteers?

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Payment-by-results contracts have generated 10 in social, economic and fiscal value for every 1 the government has spent on them since 2011, a report by Big Society Capital has claimed.

The Outcomes For All report found that in the past decade 139m invested in 72 social outcomes contracts (SOCs) has generated 1.4bn of fiscal, social or economic value, of which 397m are direct savings to or costs avoided by the public sector.

Previously branded as social impact bonds, SOCs are a type of outcomes-based contract in which government investments are subsidised by social investors and delivered by charities or social organisations. Payments are only made once the specified social outcomes have been achieved by the delivering organisation.

These projects have focused on areas where public sector interventions have often been less effective, such as tackling homelessness, preventing former prisoners from reoffending and helping families stay together during a crisis.

A global leader

The report said that the UK has established itself as a world leader in the SOCs market, with 71m invested into projects over the past ten years.

To date, there have been 90 SOCs in the country which have supported more than 220 social enterprises and charities to deliver personalised care to over 55,000 people.

In comparison, the US, which was ranked second in the report, has delivered 27 SOCs. It is followed by Japan, with 17 contracts.

Potential for SOCs to grow further

Aman Johal, investment director at BSC, said: With public budgets tightening, it will be critical for the government to consider alternative funding solutions to challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis and levelling up.

We are thrilled to have new data which for the first time demonstrates how SOCs can empower local authorities and communities to implement local solutions, bringing together genuine collaboration across stakeholders and much stronger accountability for results compared to traditional contracting mechanisms.

She added: While the approach is not without challenges, the evidence shows that there is potential for social outcomes contracting to grow and continue to add value to improving public service delivery in the UK. We hope this report will open up meaningful discussions amongst policymakers around the potential and future of SOCs as an approach to enable effective delivery of public services for people.

Nigel Huddleston, the charities minister, said: The government is proud to have played a key role in this journey by championing innovative outcomes funds, such as the Life Chances Fund, which move the emphasis away from delivering activities and outputs towards delivering the real-world impact we want to achieve.

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DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  Authorities in India and Bangladesh struggled Monday to deliver food and drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people evacuated from their homes in days of flooding that have submerged wide swaths of the countries.

The floods triggered by monsoon rains have killed more than a dozen people, marooned millions and flooded millions of houses.

In Sylhet in eastern Bangladesh along the Surma River, villagers waded through streets flooded up to their knees. One man stood in the doorway of his flooded shop, where the top shelves were crammed with items in an effort to keep them above water. Local TV said millions remained without electricity.

Enamur Rahman, junior minister for disaster and relief, said up to 100,000 people have been evacuated in the worst-hit districts, including Sylhet. About 4 million are marooned, the United News of Bangladesh said.

Flooding also ravaged Indias northeastern Assam state, where two policemen involved in rescue operations were washed away by floodwaters on Sunday, state officials said. They said about 200,000 people were taking shelter in 700 relief camps. Water in all major rivers in the state was above danger levels.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Monday his administration is using military helicopters to airlift food and fuel to badly affected parts of the state.

Assam has already been reeling from massive floods after torrential rains over the past few weeks caused the Brahmaputra River to break its banks, leaving millions of homes underwater and severing transport links.

The Brahmaputra flows from Tibet through India and into Bangladesh, with a nearly 800-kilometer (500-mile) journey through Assam.

Major roads in affected regions of Bangladesh were submerged, leaving people stranded. In a country with a history of climate change-induced disasters, many expressed frustration that authorities havent done more locally.

There isnt much to say about the situation. You can see the water with your own eyes. The water level inside the room has dropped a bit. It used to be up to my waist, said Muhit Ahmed, owner of a grocery shop in Sylhet.

Bangladesh called in soldiers on Friday to help evacuate people, but Ahmed said he hasnt seen any yet.

We are in a great disaster. Neither the Sylhet City Corporation nor anyone else came here to inquire about us, he said. I am trying to save my belongings as much as I can. We dont have the ability to do any more now.

The national Flood Forecasting and Warning Center said on Sunday that flooding in the northeastern districts of Sunamganj and Sylhet could worsen. It said the Teesta, a major river in northern Bangladesh, may rise above danger levels. The situation could also deteriorate in other northern districts, it said.

Officials said floodwaters have started receding in the northeast but are posing a threat to the central region, where water flows south to the Bay of Bengal.

Media reports said villagers in remote areas are struggling to obtain drinking water and food.

BRAC, a private nonprofit group, opened a center Monday to prepare food as part of plans to feed 5,000 families in one affected district, but the arrangements were inadequate, senior director Arinjoy Dhar said. In a video posted online, Dhar asked for help in providing food for flood-affected people.

Last month, a pre-monsoon flash flood triggered by water from upstream in Indias northeastern states hit Bangladeshs northern and northeastern regions, destroying crops and damaging homes and roads.

Bangladesh is mostly flat and low-lying, so short-term floods during the monsoon season are common and are often beneficial to agriculture. But devastating floods hit the country every few years, damaging its infrastructure and economy. Almost 28% of the nations 160 million people live in coastal regions, according to the World Bank.

One of the worst floods took place in 1988, when much of the country was under water. In 1998, another devastating flood inundated almost 75% of the country. In 2004, more prolonged flooding occurred.

Scientists say flooding in Bangladesh has been worsened by climate change. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, about 17% of the population will need to be relocated over the next decade or so if global warming persists at the present rate.

Hussain reported from Gauhati, India. Associated Press writer Al-Emrun Garjon in Sylhet, Bangladesh, contributed to this report.

About the photo: A man stands at the doorway of his flooded shop in Sylhet, Bangladesh, Monday, June 20, 2022. Floods in Bangladesh continued to wreak havoc Monday with authorities struggling to ferry drinking water and dry food to flood shelters across the countrys vast northern and northeastern regions. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
SEATTLE (AP)  A federal jury on Friday convicted a former Seattle tech worker of several charges related to a massive hack of Capital One bank and other companies in 2019.

Paige Thompson, 36, a former Amazon software engineer who used the online handle erratic, obtained the personal information of more than 100 million people  a data breach that prompted Capital One to reach a tentative $190 million settlement with affected customers. The Treasury Department also fined the company $80 million for failing to protect the data.

Following a seven-day trial, the Seattle jury found her guilty of wire fraud, unauthorized access to a protected computer and damaging a protected computer. The jury acquitted her of other charges, including access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Thompsons attorneys argued that she struggled with mental health issues, never intended to profit from the data she obtained, and said in court papers there is no credible or direct evidence that a single persons identity was misused.

Federal prosecutors said she didnt just steal the data, but also planted software on servers she unlawfully accessed to steal computing power to mine cryptocurrency.

Far from being an ethical hacker trying to help companies with their computer security, she exploited mistakes to steal valuable data and sought to enrich herself, Seattle U.S. Attorney Nick Brown said in a news release.

Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while the other charges can bring a five-year maximum. U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik is scheduled to sentence Thompson in September.

In interviews with The Associated Press following her arrest, friends and associates described Thompson as a skilled programmer and software architect whose career and behavior  oversharing in chat groups, frequent profanity, expressions of gender-identity distress and emotional ups and downs  mirrored her online handle.

At one point, two former roommates obtained a protection order against her, saying she had been stalking and harassing them.

Thompson joined Amazon in 2015 to work at Amazon Web Services, a division that hosted the Capital One data she accessed. She left that job the next year.

Some friends said they believed the unemployed Thompson  destitute and, by her own account, grappling with serious depression  believed the hack could bring her attention, respect and a new job.

She wanted data, she wanted money and she wanted to brag, assistant U.S. attorney Andrew Friedman told the jury, according to the news release.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
An elderly couple who survived a home invasion robbery plotted by an employee of a home health care business that theyd hired to care for them is entitled to the $750,000 that a jury awarded to them because of the companys negligent hiring, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled.

In a 5-0 decision Friday, the high court reversed a panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals that had ruled  also in a split decision  that Thomas and Teresa Keith had not met the heightened burden of proving a negligent hiring claim.

The Supreme Court said that the appellate panel had misinterpreted prior case law and set the bar too high.

In an opinion written by Justice Tamara Barranger, the court said a person of ordinary prudence could have reasonably foreseen that as a result of Health-Pros negligent hiring, the home invasion and robbery of the Keiths home or some similar injurious result was probably and that the trauma from such event would injure the Keiths.

Wilmington, North Carolina attorney Jeremy M. Wilson, who represented the Keiths, said the courts opinion does not significantly expand North Carolina law on negligent hiring, it simply clarifies the evidence that needs to be presented to prove a negligent hiring claim.

The Keiths hired Health-Pro in 2012 to provide in-home care for them after Thomas underwent heart surgery. Both he and Teresa are elderly and have mobility issues, according to the opinion.

Health-Pros owner, Sylvester Bailey III, told the Keiths and their son, Fred, that all employees undergo criminal background checks. The companys website said it carefully screened all employees.

North Carolina law also requires employees of home-care companies that enter clients homes to undergo a background check by the state Bureau of Investigation or other approved entity.

The company later admitted that it did not compete the required background check when it hired Deitra Ann Clark in September 2015. A thorough check would have revealed that she had been found guilty of driving with a revoked drivers license in 2008, charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in 2009 and in 2010, charged with communicating threats in 2010 and 2011 and convicted of criminal contempt in 2010.

Clark said on her job application that she had never been convicted or pleaded guilty to any crimes. She also lied about having a valid drivers license.

And as it turned out, she was also a criminal.

In 2016, family members discovered that $900 in rolled coins and $1,260 in cash was missing from the Keiths house. Health-Pro promised not to assign Clark to the home in the future, but it did send her back just a few weeks later.

On Sept. 28, 2016, Clark drove two accomplices to the Keiths home. The accomplices used a hidden spare key to enter the house and walked into the den, where Mr. Keith was watching a movie. They disconnected the telephone and took a .32 caliber gun from Mr. Keiths nightstand. They also took his ATM card from a desk drawer and stole two boxes of rolled coins totaling $500.

The two criminals forced Mr. Keith at gunpoint to drive them to an automatic teller and forced him to withdraw $1,000. They told Mr. Keith to drive them to a nearby elementary school, got out of the car and ran away with the stolen cash, coins and gun.

Health-Pro fired Clark after police identified her in a photograph taken at a Coinstar machine nearby, where she was converting the rolls of coins into cash.

The Keiths filed a lawsuit in Pitt County Superior Court. A jury found Health-Pro was negligent by hiring Clark without a thorough background check and awarded $500,000 to Mr. Keith and $250,000 to his wife.

Health-Pro appealed and persuaded a Court of Appeals panel to reverse the jury verdict. The appellate courts ruling said that a 2005 decision in Little v. Omega Meats I Inc. held that a plaintiff must prove each of three elements to support a negligent hiring claim against an employer for actions that took place outside the scope of employment:

The employee and the plaintiff must have been in places where each had a right to be when the wrongful act occurred. The plaintiff must have met the employee, when the wrongful act occurred, as a direct result of the employment. The employer must have received some benefit, even if only potential or indirect, from the meeting of the employee and the plaintiff that resulted in the plaintiffs injury.

The Supreme Court said that the appellate panel erred by insisting on proof of such rigid requirements. The court said the factors stated in the Little case are relevant when determining whether an employer had a duty of care to a plaintiff, which must be proven to support a negligent hiring claim, but the decision did not require each of the three elements to be proven.

Justice Philip Berger Jr. dissented to the majority opinion and Chief Justice Paul Newby dissented in part. Berger said in a dissenting opinion that nothing in the available information about Clark would have made Health-Pro aware that she was a violent person who would engage in a home invasion and armed robbery.

Moreover, at the time of the robbery, defendant had no ability or authority exercise supervision or control over Clarks actions, Berger wrote.

North Carolina Department of Corrections records show that Clark was convicted of first degree burglary and second degree kidnapping. She is currently serving a 10 year, 11 month sentence at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women in Raleigh.
South Africa: Resolving challenges in the trucking industry

While some operators in the trucking industry have asserted that South Africa lacks skilled truck drivers, government has found that truck driving was an abundant skill and not a scarce skill.

This is according to Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, who on Monday briefed the media in Pretoria on matters around the recruitment of foreign truck drivers.

Both the Department of Employment and Labour and the Department of Home Affairs have reported that while some operators have asserted that South Africa lacks skilled truck drivers, the inspections and law enforcement operations have found that truck driving was an abundant skill in South Africa and therefore not a scarce skill as purported by some operators, Nxesi said.

The protests have been a response by truck drivers based on their perceptions that the industry was employing foreign truck drivers at the exclusion of South African drivers on a pretext of a scarcity of skilled truck drivers in South Africa.

To mitigate this, and restoring peace and stability, the Road and Freight Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been engaging with disgruntled truck drivers to find an amicable solution.

To this effect the IMC met with employees and employers of the industry on Sunday, 19 June 2022, to report on progress made since January 2022 to resolve these challenges affecting the industry, Nxesi said.

The Department of Home Affairs reported they have conducted over 21 joint multi-disciplinary law enforcement operations and inspections to assess the extent of use of foreign and at times illegal truck drivers.

These multi-disciplinary and joint enforcement operations conducted across the country saw 213 arrests of foreign truck drivers found to be in contravention of immigration laws with 19 of those in possession of fraudulent documentations.

The Department of Transport also reported on its responsibilities on the matter and the report details elements of an Action Plan drafted to tackle the challenges from the transport departments point of view, the Minister said.

The Action Plan derives from a culmination of a series of meetings held with the industry and will form part of a blue print to be announced once approved by all parties.

The Implementation Plan consists of the following actions:

Facilitate the appointment of the task team;

Enforcement of the VISA requirements;

Need for consideration of all foreign driving licenses;

Registration and compliance with labour laws;

Registration of operators in term of Section 45 of the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA);

Review of the Traffic Register Number;

Review of the Cross-Border Road Transport Legislation;

Amendment of the National Road Traffic Regulation;

Integrated joint multi-disciplinary law enforcement operations;

Implement Driver Training Programme; and

Consideration of the introduction of Operating Licenses for the industry.

The parties in attendance at the meeting agreed unanimously with the elements of the Implementation Plan except for the Road Freight Associations misgivings with the introduction of Operating Licenses (action 11).

Each organization participating in the process will be represented by two delegates and monthly report meetings will be held by the IMC to review progress on actions being implemented, Nxesi said.

The IMC was formed with the Ministries of Employment and Labour, Transport, Home Affairs and Police to deal with escalating road blockages and protests by disgruntled South African truck drivers.

The Minister said the IMC felt that these protests and blockages have adverse impacts on mobility, scares foreign investors and most importantly very negative impacts on the economy and essential supply chains using affected corridors.

The IMC has formed a task team constituting Directors-General from the four Departments that make up the IMC. The task team is charged with conducting research work and plot a plan of action for the resolution of the challenges affecting the industry and report to the IMC, Nxesi said.

Also present during the media briefing were the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, as well as the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele.

Mbalula expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for the drafting of the Implementation Plan.

Today marks a milestone in a road we have travelled in finding consensus around issues that were raised with government by the trucking industry. We have responded because our economy has been battered by these activities, the Minister said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-06-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
100 mln people in U.S. saddled with health care debt: report

Xinhua) 09:03, June 21, 2022

NEW YORK, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Over 100 million people in America, including 41 percent of adults, are beset by a health care system that is systematically pushing patients into debt on a mass scale, a daily newspaper in Rome, in the U.S. state of Georgia, reported on Saturday.

Despite new attention from the White House and Congress, the problem is "far more pervasive than previously reported," the Rome News-Tribune newspaper reported, citing an investigation by Kaiser Health News (KHN) and National Public Radio (NPR).

"That is because much of the debt that patients accrue is hidden as credit card balances, loans from family, or payment plans to hospitals and other medical providers," it said.

"The picture is bleak. In the past five years, more than half of U.S. adults report they've gone into debt because of medical or dental bills," said the report. A quarter of adults with health care debt owe more than 5,000 U.S. dollars, and about one in five with any amount of debt said they don't expect to ever pay it off.

"Debt is no longer just a bug in our system. It is one of the main products," said Rishi Manchanda, who has worked with low-income patients in California for more than a decade and served on the board of the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt. "We have a health care system almost perfectly designed to create debt."

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun)
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Learning to echolocate like bats and whales can be done by humans, as shown in an experiment to explore this idea.

It only took ten weeks for a group of people to learn this unusual way of navigation using reflected sound, just like some species. Using clicks to determine distance and if the way is blocked; took ten weeks to learn for those involved in the study.

Bats, Whale Use Echolocation

The study included 12 participants diagnosed as legally blind from childhood and 14 sighted people, based on the results published in 2021.

Using reflecting sound is what winged mammals and marine mammals use a lot in the day to day lives, but some blind people learn to use the same principle with clicks to see obstacles and shapes, reported Science Alert.

Other ways to generate echoes are with cane tapping, finger snaps, or just making clicking sounds to navigate.

Despite how helpful to echolocate as bats and whales can be, it is presently instructed to very few blind people. For years, specialist echolocators have been trying to spread the message, and this data confirms that a simple training regime is all that is needed, noted Smithsonian Magazine.

Read Also: New Study Suggests Ancient Pterosaurs Had Feathers That Change Colors at a Cellular Level

Psychologist Lore Thaler from UK's Durham University state there is no other study that got good feedback from blind participants. The results were published in June last year.

Study of Echolocation on Humans

It took 20 training sessions that lasted 2 to 3 hours longer per session. Later the authors of the study saw that blind and sighted people from old to young learned how to gauge returned clicks to judge distance and shape.

For several weeks the subjects were taught how to navigate a virtual maze with corridors in several T-sections, U-bends, and zigzags to see how big and the relative position of designated objects by mouth click.

The final two sessions put participants' new navigation skills to work in a virtual maze they've only experienced now.

These trained echolocators could manage the maze acceptably compared to the seven expert echolocators doing this skill for many years.

Study subjects performed fairly well as experts in supplemental tests to confirm the shape and direction of certain surfaces.

Navigating Through Sound

Previously research done show non-blind people can use clicking sounds to locate their position in several sessions.

However, this was the first-ever study to see whether the findings applied to blind people as well as people of various ages. Somehow the parts of the brain let the individual visualize what they hear around them, but whether those blinded could use the same neural paths the same is questioned.

Older people with weaker vision and hearing will not translate the information as effectively as younger individuals. In the study, age was not a problem, with 79-year-old people learning the skill.

The results have analyzed the results of the small experiment that concluded age is a factor in hitting obstacles in the maze task. Three months after the study, the blind participants used the skill well.

Based on a small study, humans can learn to echolocate as bats and whales do, so the conclusions that need verification are limited.

Related Article: Scientists Devise Largest Family Tree for Primates That Shows How Living, Extinct Animals Are Accounted For

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
So, you finally got around to installing a Windows update from Microsoft, and theres a problem. Where do you go for support and assistance?

Short answer: it depends.

If you are an Enterprise customer and have an issue with your work computer  whether in the office or remote  there should be a designated IT administrator or help desk for you. You either call the help desk or open a trouble ticket and someone gets back to you. Often, they have tools to remotely connect to your computer and see whats going on. If the issue is so serious your machine cant be fixed, theyll deploy a new computer or reimage your PC using tools such as Autopilot to deploy a fresh copy of Windows for you.

If you are an IT administrator working for a large company with a Premier support contract with Microsoft, you likely have an established process for opening a support ticket with the company. You might even have a dedicated contact for your issues.

But for those of us without such dedicated resources, what are your options? That depends on what version of Windows you are running.

Recently Microsoft Program Manager Aria Carley tweeted the following:

#FunFact Commercial customers in the Release Preview Channel get **FREE SUPPORT**

(whether deploying via #WUfB, #WSUS, #AzureMarketplace, etc.)

Windows has several releases. If you are a Windows Insider, you participate in a public beta process. This release preview channel is specifically what she is talking about that gets special treatment.

As Carley defined it, commercial customers refers to any organization with an IT admin managing devices via Microsoft Endpoint Manager or another management solution or any premium license (Pro+).

She noted that any issue with Windows 11 22H2 which is now considered to be the release preview can open a support case. (Note: even though these are considered betas, they still receive security updates; so while I dont recommend running your entire firm on preview releases, its a good idea to have some of your computers trialing beta versions.) Ive also seen some Managed Service Providers run all their machines on these insider versions in order to stay one step ahead of the releases.

When running these preview versions, its a good idea to go into the Windows feedback app and look for  and upvote  a bug you find in there. This will ensure that Microsoft obtains more information about the number of customers impacted.

If you want to watch an excellent primer on managing Windows updates using WSUS or cloud update management, I highly recommend this recorded session by Carley: Managing Windows updates in the cloud.

What if you are simply running the official, released versions of Windows 10 or 11? First off I would skip using the feedback app to report any bug you find after a security update that causes problems. This application is geared toward beta testing, not issues with released versions of Windows. Rather, youll want to either open an official support case, or check online to see whether others are reporting issues. Its important to remember forget to review areas where Microsoft officially acknowledges issues.

For Windows, that location is both in the Windows Health release dashboard as well as the Microsoft 365 version of the dashboard. For Office, youll want to check the resources at the known issues site on Office. And to review whether others are experiencing the same issues you are having, I recommend several locations.

First, Ill admit to having a preference for the following two resources: PatchManagement listserve, which is hosted in a Google group listserve and includes many IT administrators from companies ranging from small to large (Im a volunteer moderator) and Askwoody.com, where many individual users post about patch issues. Another resource that Microsoft monitors for reports of side effects is in the rWindows 10 forum on Reddit. Every month there is a thread posted where users and IT administrators report in on issues they see. (You can also post in Microsofts own answer forums for Windows and Office, or try other support options, including wizards and chat.)

If you can open a support case with Microsoft, be aware that if a bug is due to a security patch  and Microsoft later fixes the issue youll have to provide a credit card to open the case; Microsoft will refund the cost, once it acknowledges the issue.

Finally, if a trusted colleague or friend can remotely access your computer to assist you, there are several tools they can use. One of the easiest ways is to use Microsofts built-in Quick Assist for Windows 10. It now requires that you update it via the Microsoft store, so you must have a Microsoft account now, but its still an easy way to get and receive help from others you trust.

Bottom line: help and assistance with Microsoft issues is available whether you are a business customer or individual user. Review your options before you need help, so when trouble arises, youll know where to go first.
As the number of unfilled tech jobs rises, and younger tech workers head out the door quicker than ever, companies are being forced to turn to non-traditional methods of finding new talent.

Organizations are developing in-house training to upskill and reskill employees, some of them from non-technology business units. Companies are also bypassing academic requirements to focus on skills-based hiring and seeking talent in regions not traditionally sourced for new hires.

While unemployment is at historic lows in many sectors, the tech industry has been hit hard by the pandemic and the Great Resignation, leaving companies facing a dearth of qualified job candidates to fill more than one million openings.

As many as 37.4 million people are expected to quit their jobs in 2022, according to Gartner; the majority of those workers are Millennials and Gen Zers. And by 2030, a projected global human talent shortage of 85 million people could result in about $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual revenues, according to a study by Korn Ferry, a Los Angeles-based management consulting firm.

Yannick Binvel, president of Korn Ferrys Global Industrial Markets practice, summed things up in an earlier Korn Ferry report: Governments and organizations must make talent strategy a key priority and take steps now to educate, train, and upskill their existing workforces."

Low-code to the rescue?

With skilled developers scarce, more organizations are turning to low-code software development so that enterprise users with little formal coding experience can build business apps.

In 2021, the global market for low-code development technology hit $13.8 billion in revenue. And the adoption of low-code software development platforms is growing by more than 20% a year, according to Gartner. By 2023, low-code development is expected to be adopted by more than half of all medium- to large-sized companies.

Low-code development tools abstract away the more commonly used codebase and replace it with a graphical user interface or visual what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) interface to build an application. No-code tools simply refers to the abstraction of all codebase into GUIs, according to Gartner.

Low- and no-code tools are designed to help business users such as analysts or project managers with little formal coding experience develop apps. That helps alleviate the need for traditional app developers.

Appian, a McClean, Virginia-based platform-as-a-service (PaaS) vendor for building enterprise software applications using low-code development tools, typically trains or hires about 4,000 low-coders a year. That number grew by almost 70% from Q1 2021 to Q1 2022. This year alone, Appian expects to give away 1,000 scholarships toward training low-code skills for low-income and under-skilled workers and veterans.

Appians basic low-code developer program is two weeks (80 hours) long. To become certified for a specific application, training takes a bit longer  three-and-a-half weeks, according to Adam Glaser, senior vice president of engineering Appian.

You wont be a project lead after it, but youll know the capabilities of our platform, workflows, interfaces, and business rules, Glaser said. Of course, theres someone who will have architected the project and led it, but youd be a contributing member.

Glaser said his company is part of an ecosystem scouting for tech prospects that includes every big name in consulting  the KPMGs and PwCs and Deloittes of the world.

Like Appian, they all have a strong history of going to these colleges and universities and they make appealing a career in a technical field without the technical degree, Glaser said. So, theyre going to the systems engineers and the management information system people  even liberal arts and English majors  and theyre saying, Look, this is a path for you if you want. And its a portable skill.

It's really creating this new wave of low-code and no-code, he said.

Like other low-code development platforms, Appians course work is mostly offered online and self-paced. The company does have physical facilities for tutoring and virtual instructor feedback.

Unlike apps built at a single point in time through a coding language that might only be updated once or twice a year, low-code applications can evolve quickly because they can be customized by every user, according to Glaser.

And low-code apps are being adopted by every market vertical, including retail, life sciences, government, and financial services.

...Even how low-code apps get used within different major financial services organizations varies widely, Glaser said. One uses it to power a call center. Another uses it for their credit card registration system. Another uses it for fraud detection. And another uses it for know-your-customer applications.

Competitive pay with less training time

The starting salary for low-code developers is around $100,000, according to Glassdoor, a job search and recruiting site best known for its salary database. In fact, more low-code users report base salaries of $100,000 or more compared to high code-only developers, according to a survey of 400 developers conducted by Appian.

Finding workers with low-code skills, or training them in-house, is becoming common, according to John Bratincevic, a senior analyst at Forrester.

Gartner Gartner sees a large and growing number of non-IT "developers."

While often conflated with citizen development (which low-code can enable), a lot of professional developers use it, too, because it speeds the time to market for business apps of all kinds. According to Forrester Research, 30% of the professional developer community uses low-code in some form.

And those developers were also ahead of the non-low code developers in adopting cloud-native technology and advanced use cases. So they werent the dummies, Bratincevic said. They were doing the cool stuff. So, even among professional developers, its not a niche thing.

In my opinion, low-code development will [eventually] just be table stakes for the business worker  just like personal productivity tools, Bratincevic added.

The pandemic and rise of hybrid work changed the perception of low-code business application development, because many organizations needed to bring applications to market faster. For example, in March 2021, every US bank suddenly had to deal with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from students when the Biden Administration moved to help struggling student loan borrowers who had previously qualified for the PPP, according to Bratincevic.

All of a sudden, a lot of PPP loan applications apps were being developed using low-code techniques, Bratincevic said.

Along with Appian, top low-code development platforms include SalesForce, ServiceNow, Mendix, OutSystems, and Microsoft PowerPlatform.

Skills shortage remains CEOs greatest concern



In a fall 2021 survey by Fortune and Deloitte, 71% of CEOs anticipated a skills and labor shortage would be 2022s biggest business disrupter, creating an urgent need for organizations to bring training and skills development in house.

The savviest organizations are taking on the onus of training talent themselves, increasingly hiring people straight out of school, according to Jean-Marc Laouchez, president of the Korn Ferry Institute. These firms are also trying to instill a culture of continuous learning and training.

Constant learning  driven by both workers and organizations  will be central to the future of work, extending far beyond the traditional definition of learning and development, Laouchez wrote.

In that light, coding bootcamps have become talent pools for organizations looking for skills-based applicants over more traditional college graduates.

Graduates from coding boot camps reported a quick ROI, higher salaries, and STEM career opportunities, according to recent survey of 3,800 US graduates of university coding bootcamps by US education company 2U and Gallup.

All graduates reported they saw their salaries increase by a median of $11,000 one year after graduation, with those who moved from non-STEM to STEM jobs after graduation seeing the highest income growth.

Zoho bucks traditional hiring and retainment practices

Cloud software provider Zoho Corp. has had an internal training program for employees and young tech apprentices since 2014. The Chennai, India-based company has more than 11,000 workers in India and 22,000 globally between its two main divisions, Zoho and ManageEngine, a provider of IT management software.

With its Zoho University, the company expanded the number of 12- to 18-month courses it offered from software development and engineering to include softer skills such as communications, problem solving, and customer relations. It then renamed the effort Zoho Schools of Learning.

Vijay Sundaram, chief strategy officer at Zoho Corp. and ManageEngine said the training program seeks talent not only from within but from underserved socio-economic areas and recent high school graduates.

We realized the futility of looking for so-called pre-qualified talent. First, there was a lot of competition for it and second, college degrees really didnt amount to much in our business, Sundaram said. It all came down to what knowledge people had about technologies, as opposed to what they learned in an academic institution; how much they had worked with customers and related problems. And that translated into measures of success.

Sundaram, who rarely looks at resumes when hiring  focusing instead on skills and experience  said Zoho also had a social purpose in mind for its internal training program: it wanted to provide opportunities to people living in smaller towns and cities, rural regions and areas with underprivileged populations.

A lot of this was started in India, but many of the same principles and philosophies are moving into other countries, such as the UK and the US, Sundaram said. If you look at the hiring strategies in technology  and Ive been in this business 30 years  you see the same issues. Everybody follows the same playbook, especially if youre in the Bay Area like I am.

It doesnt create geographical distribution. It impeded diversity, because you start looking at all the same kinds of people, and you also start imposing certain hiring restrictions  imposing college degrees and [hiring] only from specific institution. So, in essence, you start self-selecting. And that contributes to social inequalities weve been seeing across the strata of society.

The traditional hiring playbook also dilutes talent pools in more remote regions because talented people seeking work move to metropolitan areas where they know most jobs are located.

The strategy behind the Zohos program wasn't completely altruistic. Zoho found that regions underserved by academia and professional opportunity were rife with potential talent.

This was more than just a hiring strategy. This is about creating a sustainable company, Sundaram said. And that includes moving offices into rural areas. Were doing that now in Europe and here in the US.

In the US, Zoho was originally headquartered in Pleasanton, California. About a decade ago, it decided to move to Austin, Texas, which it considered more rural at the time. But Austin became a technology hub like the Bay Area, so the company opened offices in various towns around Austin. Three months ago, it opened an office in McAllen, Texas, on the Mexico border.

I was astounded to see the infrastructure there. There we have fantastic facilities, good academic infrastructure, but no tech company competitors because its off the beaten path, Sundaram said.

When employees graduate from the Zoho Schools of Learning, a company policy requires that after five years their salary has to be commensurate with that of a college graduate who didnt attend the program but has the same job.

Thats so we dont create a tiered system or a caste system of sorts. They may take a little longer to grow into the job because they didnt come in with a college degree and theyre younger, but pay scales have to eventually be equalized, Sundaram said.

To date, Zoho has graduated 1,200 students from its training program.

We have people who joined this program who now lead teams of 150 people. And many of the people on their teams have advanced training and PhDs in engineering, Sundaram said. Thats whats happened in the short period of time weve been running this program.
06/21/2022

Photo (c) JasonDoiy - Getty Images Former Tesla employees have filed a lawsuit against the automaker over claims that the company's decision to execute a "mass layoff" disregarded a federal law that requires companies to provide sufficient, advance written notice to affected employees.

John Lynch and Daxton Hartsfield are the lead plaintiffs in the suit, but they both filed individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated. They said they were terminated from Tesla's Gigafactory plant in Sparks, Nevada, earlier this month. According to the lawsuit, Tesla terminated more than 500 employees alone at that Gigafactory plant in Sparks.

Where Tesla crossed the line

Lynch and Hartsfield claim that if Tesla had abided by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), they should have had at least 60 days advance notice.

Instead, the suits claim that Tesla "simply notified the employees that their terminations would be effective immediately." They also claim that the company "failed to provide a statement of the basis for reducing the notification period to zero days advance notice.

WARN isnt likely something someone thinks about when they lose their job, but it's designed to give workers and their families sufficient time to adjust to the possible loss of employment, to seek and obtain other jobs, and, if necessary, to enter skill training or retraining that will allow these workers to compete successfully in the job market.

The law requires employers who have 100 or more employees (not counting those who have worked less than six months in the last 12 months and those who work less than 20 hours a week) to provide at least two months of advance written notice of a plant closing and mass layoff that impacts 50 or more employees at a single site.

Theres a slight silver lining in WARN for employers, however, and it's something that Tesla might try to use to sway the court. The law allows for exceptions to be made when layoffs occur due to unforeseeable business circumstances or the company faltering.

ConsumerAffairs contacted Tesla, but the company did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
A fisherman in northern Cambodia caught a giant freshwater stingray, which scientists consider the world's largest freshwater fish, but they have little information about it.

The 42-year-old fisherman, Moul Thun, hooked the 661-pound, 13-foot-long fish on a remote island on the Mekong River in the Stung Treng district.

He caught the giant stingray with a hook and line on the evening of June 13 and then contacted researchers the next morning, per NBC News.

Before the stingray was put back into the river, a team of scientists from the Wonders of Mekong research project helped tag, measure, and weigh it. The researchers said it was healthy when released and expected it to survive.

A decades-long quest has culminated in the discovery of a 661-pound stingray in the Mekong River https://t.co/0YlMiV0To9  National Geographic (@NatGeo) June 20, 2022

The tag, which produces an acoustic signal attached to the creature, will help researchers trace the giant fish's movement and discover its species habits in the Mekong river.

The research team has been in contact with local fishermen for several months, encouraging them to notify them if they catch a large fish. In recent months, the group has assisted with the release of two other enormous giant freshwater stingrays. The fisherman who caught the giant stingray was compensated at market value.

Need For Further Studies

According to Zeb Hogan, a fish biologist at the University of Nevada, the catch emphasizes the relatively little information about such giant freshwater fish.

"You have a fish that's now the record holder for the world's largest freshwater fish, and we know little about it," he said.

Hogan, who is also the host of National Geographic's "Monster Fish" television series, said that the group started focusing on the Mekong area "as a stretch of river that's particularly important for biodiversity and fisheries, and as the last refuge for these big species."

Read Also: Mysterious 'Blue Swirl' in New Zealand Explained: Where Did Stunning Light Come From

The expert said the giant freshwater stingray has a mouth the same size as a banana, per a report from National Geographic. They have no teeth, but they are equipped with "gripping pads" for crushing prey.

"They're on the bottom finding shrimps, mollusks, and small fish. They can suck them up with this banana-shaped mouth and crush them," Hogan disclosed.

Giant Fish At Risk Of Extinction

Hogan's search for enormous fish, called the Megafishes Project and backed by the National Geographic Society, began in 2005 when a fisherman in northern Thailand caught a giant catfish in the Mekong River, which previously held the record for a freshwater fish was a 293-kilogram (646-pound).

The Megafishes Project's original goal was to locate, research, and protect the world's largest freshwater fishes. The initiative focused on freshwater-only creatures that could grow to the size of a human-at least six feet long and weighing more than 200 pounds.

Hogan said that many giant fishes are migratory that need large areas to survive, per South China Morning Post.

"They're impacted by things like habitat fragmentation from dams, obviously impacted by overfishing. So about 70% of giant freshwater fish globally are threatened with extinction, and all of the Mekong species," the expert said.

Although fishing for stingrays is allowed in Cambodia, it is rarely performed because they are not considered good food. The rays, though, sometimes can get caught unintentionally.

Related Article: Scientists Find Ancient Crocodile Species Speculated To Devour Human Ancestors in Africa Millions of Years Ago

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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This CoolSocial report was updated on 2022-06-21, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.
According to authorities, Russian aircraft cannot achieve complete air superiority, must operate in a risk-averse manner, and seldom reach deep inside Ukrainian lines.

Russia's air force has so far underperformed in Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, helping to equalize the battlefield for ground troops as the action turns to the east four months into the war, the British defense minister said this week.

UK Reiterates Support for Ukraine

At the start of the invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeatedly called for a no-fly zone to be implemented by the US and NATO partners, but he has since abandoned those requests. Over the last four months, the United States and NATO partners have given Ukraine billions of dollars in military aid.

More than 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, as well as Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, anti-armor weaponry, helicopters, tactical vehicles, and other munitions, were included in the new $700 million weapons package. Aside from Western support, the UK blamed Russia's poor performance on heavily scripted air combat training focused on impressing senior officials rather than encouraging dynamic initiative among air soldiers.

Last week, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Kyiv for the second time since the war began, promising to back the Ukrainian army against Russia. In a statement to his troops last month, British Army Chief General Sir Patrick Sanders again emphasized the UK's support for Ukraine, according to Fox News.

Ukrainian forces assaulted Chornomorneftegaz drilling rigs at about 8 am on Monday, Crimea's leader, Sergei Aksyonov, claimed in a video message on Telegram. In a frantic attempt to save the employees, Aksyonov stated he was in contact with the Russian Ministry of Defense and the FSB.

When the platform was hit, there were 12 people on it; five were rescued, three were injured, and the search for the others continues. The rescue mission is being led by the Ministry of Defence, with patrol boats and planes taking part.

Read Also: Kabul Gurdwara Attack: ISIS Claims Responsibility for Incident That Killed Afghan Sikh National, Taliban Militant Member

Russia Renews Efforts To Advance Military in Ukraine

According to video evidence, Russia lost its sixth ammo storage in a fortnight when Ukrainian forces blew up a warehouse in the Kharkiv region. A Russian facility is recorded from many perspectives in a video released on social media, erupting into a blaze as Ukrainian troops successfully strike their objective.

The Ukrainian 40th Separate Artillery Brigade in Kharkiv Oblast carried out the strike. Several more explosions in the last two weeks have rendered thousands of weapons systems, and ammo rounds inoperable for Vladimir Putin's army as Russia seeks to resume its drive-in Ukraine's east.

The Kremlin has issued terrifying warnings to ex-Soviet neighbors Lithuania and Kazakhstan, threatening them with military action as a result of their recent actions toward Russia. On Saturday, NATO member Lithuania became the focal point of tensions between Russia and the military alliance by prohibiting the transit of EU-approved products across its territory to and from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

The Kremlin characterized the measure as "openly unfriendly" and warned that if the ban is not withdrawn shortly, it will take action. To protest the ban, Russia's foreign ministry summoned Lithuania's senior ambassador to Moscow, Express reported.

Russia is likely to have intensified its efforts to move south of the eastern city of Izyum in the previous 48 hours, according to the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD). Its objective is to advance farther into the Donetsk area and encircle the besieged city of Severodonetsk from the north.

It goes on to say that Ukrainian citizens stuck in the city are likely to be wary of using humanitarian corridors recommended by rebels and Russian authorities because Russia has a history of exploiting these corridors to enforce involuntary population transfers.

According to the MoD, if stranded Ukrainian civilians do not accept an offer to leave via a corridor, Russia will likely claim justification for drawing less distinction between them and any Ukrainian military objectives in the region, as per BBC.

Related Article: Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Russian Billionaire Predicts War With NATO, 'Demise' of Vladimir Putin

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Cybersecurity researchers work hard to keep the digital world safe, but every once in a while their own physical security is at risk. Anyone who has been in this field long enough has stumbled upon stories of infosec professionals receiving threats or has experienced incidents themselves.

A security expert who wanted to remain anonymous to protect his family says that "several people focusing on cybercrime have received death threats" in the past few years, and some of them even decided to fly under the radar or move to do other things. They don't want to put their loved ones at risk "because dad is a security researcher and attracts bad guys," he says.

On infosec Twitter and at conferences, researchers share incidents and talk about ways of protecting themselves in these situations. They say calling the police or the FBI hardly helps. "I want to tell you to go contact federal law enforcement, I want to tell you to go contact a local police department, but from what I've seen, it does nothing," says security expert Matt Smith of Citadel Lock Tools. "It can take months to get an arrest in for a single incident, let alone that person being at large for a rather long time."

While a few researchers wear these threats as a badge of honor, most of them do everything in their power to stay safe. They minimize their digital footprint, run background checks on every unknown person who approaches them through social media, use post office boxes instead of addresses, and refrain from posting anything online that might link them to their families.

With the recent rise in ransomware and the escalation of geopolitical tensions between Russia, China, North Korea and NATO, the job of at least some infosec professionals tends to become dangerous. "I don't know if it's gotten worse, but I can say it has not gotten better at all," says Ronnie Tokazowski, principal threat advisor at Cofense.

Increasing threat to researchers from ransomware groups

Cybercriminal groups are having a terrific year so far. The number of ransomware attacks is at an all-time high, and the average payment has exceeded $900,000. Moreover, the timid cooperation between the U.S. and Russia to curb the phenomenon appears to have stopped after Russia invaded Ukraine and the West responded with sanctions. A few weeks ago, the case against alleged members of the REvil hacker group "reached a dead end," according to Russian newspaper Kommersant.

"A lot of these ransomware groups live with a sense of impunity," says Allan Liska, intelligence analyst at Recorded Future. "As long as they don't leave Russia, there are literally no consequences for all the bad stuff they do. So, they can be bolder and brasher and have the cover of the Kremlin to protect them."

As Liska put it, this kind of protection has allowed gangs to do "some pretty vicious things" to security experts over the years. While he personally hasn't received any direct threats, he's heard about such incidents, particularly when infosec professionals engaged on a personal level with criminals. "I know that in at least one case, the ransomware group threatened a researcher's child," he says.

There were situations in which cybercriminals learned where security experts lived and gathered information about every family member. Then, they posted that information on underground forums, inviting other people within their community to target them.

Liska notes that gangs tend to work together and share information more than they did a few years ago. "They have extortion sites; they have the ability not only to post information about victims but also spout off whatever's on their mind," he adds.

In recent months, cybercriminals have also become more aggressive, with potential effects on the safety of the researchers. One example is the Conti group, which targeted dozens of organizations in Costa Rica and prompted president Rodrigo Chaves to declare a national state of emergency. The hackers announced they aimed to overthrow the government, an unusual goal for a ransomware gang.

This unprecedented attack "marks a new escalation in ransomware activities," says Lauren Zabierek, executive director of the cyber project at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center. "If they see they can hold an entire country hostage and extort a ransom with impunity, that's going to make the environment more permissible."

To Liska, incidents like these prove that the lines between ransomware groups and nation-state actors are becoming more blurry. Still, nation-state actors are a lot more resourceful, including when targeting security researchers, and their threats can be more subtle. For example, there have been instances where experts who traveled to conferences had their rooms checked or received small presents suggesting they stop their investigations.

Individuals working for nation-state actors also target infosec professionals on LinkedIn, Twitter, Telegram, Keybase, Discord, email, or other channels, sometimes claiming they want to offer consulting jobs or collaborate with them on vulnerability research.

In January 2021, Google's Threat Analysis Group found that North Korean hackers pretended to be cybersecurity bloggers and sent a Visual Studio Project to security experts. "Within the Visual Studio Project would be an additional DLL that would be executed through Visual Studio Build Events," Adam Weidemann wrote on Google's blog. "The DLL is custom malware that would immediately begin communicating with actor-controlled C2 domains." Weidemann and his colleagues also discovered that a few researchers had been compromised after visiting a link sent by these North Korean hackers.

"If you are concerned that you are being targeted, we recommend that you compartmentalize your research activities using separate physical or virtual machines for general web browsing, interacting with others in the research community, accepting files from third parties and your own security research," Weidemann wrote.

The story did not end there. In November 2021, Google announced that North Korean hackers also claimed to be recruiters at Samsung, sending PDFs detailing job opportunities with the actual purpose of installing a backdoor Trojan on researchers' computers.

Hunting bugs and receiving legal threats

Threats are not limited to infosec professionals investigating state-sponsored groups or ransomware gangs. Bug hunters and experts in physical security can also be targeted, sometimes by the same organizations they try to help. It happened to lockpicker Matt Smith on a couple of occasions. "The first time I was working on a lock independently, and the company learned about it," he says. "They went to great lengths to try and find me and sue me, including threatening a subpoena to an online forum to give up my IP address."

The second time, though, it was much worse. Smith received a physical threat. "I was working on Abloy Protec II, and one of their American dealers got very angry that his most secure lock could possibly be vulnerable," he recalls. "So, he started sending me abusive emails demanding that I tell him what I was doing. When I didn't reply with the answers he wanted, he threatened to 'have me sorted out' and 'didn't care how much money it cost.'"

Some of the emails Smith received were particularly brutal. "He was sending me screen grabs of my face from online talks and photos from Google Earth of the street where he thought I lived. It wasn't right, but it was close enough to be a worry," he says. Smith never replied to that person and changed his email address.

Bug hunters also must learn to navigate threats. "Although the reactions you get are usually unpleasant, the longer you work in this industry, the more you get used to those," says Tom Van de Wiele, principal technology and threat researcher at WithSecure. Working in this field has made him "more cautious," and it has also taught him "to be better prepared to hunt down and discover even bigger issues, what language to use considering the target group," and how to align his expectations depending on the company he deals with.

Often, bug hunters are intimidated by organizations that threaten to sue them. One way to bypass that is to build detailed reports. When writing about the impact of the vulnerability, researchers should start with the technical risk, then translate that to business risk, and add who might be impacted. Van de Wiele says that researchers should also show that no laws have been broken in the process.

"Above all: make sure you can offer different mitigation paths and recommendations to rectify what it is you discovered," Van de Wiele adds. "It is easy to end a whitepaper or report with 'fix it' and to resort to outrage-as-a-service on social media. It is better to think along with the company that is affected on how they can soften the blow right now short-term while thinking about more long-term solutions on how to bring down the risk to a non-issue."

Protecting the security research team

Working in cybersecurity often means taking some risks. "It's the nature of the beast or the nature of labor," as Cofense's Tokazowski puts it. Some security experts have to walk a fine line between protecting their families and publishing research under their name. It is why companies doing sensitive work, such as tracking terrorist organizations, may decide not to include the researchers' names in the reports they publish.

Security researchers try to learn from each other and constantly upgrade their defense. Realistically, though, there's not much they can do. "It's tough because, for individuals, it doesn't seem like there is much recourse, other than going to the police or FBI to report the crime," says Harvard Kennedy School's Zabierek. "There are groups like the Cybercrime Support Network geared toward helping individual victims of cybercrime, and it would be great if they could receive institutional support to scale their activities to help people across the U.S."

Companies that want to do that to protect their employees should constantly make sure that their internal security practices are up to date. They should also plan for worst-case scenarios, having procedures in place for situations in which one of their employees is targeted.

These should be based on multiple threat models, taking into account the work each internal team does. Teams can receive checklists for these kinds of situations, which list things to do and not to do, and people to call. Of course, these procedures must be revised from time to time and tested whenever possible.

Securing homes and offices

Infosec professionals are well versed when it comes to digital security and their equipment. Some walk the extra mile and avoid sharing any personal information online. Others, like Smith, only post fake information on their social media profiles. "You need to make sure that you're taking whatever the proper precautions are to protect your house, your family," Liska says.

In addition to online security, infosec professionals also must pay attention to physical security. Smith suggests having several rings of security: fences, walls, strong doors, and even internally lockable doors. "I use locks I can't force/pick, doors I can't bypass, and keys that are hard to copy," he says. "Even if someone can access my keys, the blanks are restricted, so they are harder to copy." Among the locks he recommends are ASSA Twin, EVVA MCS, and Abloy Protec II, which he considers to be the most secure. Still, even these can be beaten. "But if your adversary is capable of opening these without the key, then you are in a lot of trouble," he says.

The door itself needs to be solid, too. It has to have a sturdy frame without gaps at the bottom or round edges to prevent things from getting inside the home. "The hinges on a door are a weak point, so it is best to have them on the inside," Smith adds. The researcher also recommends using an external letterbox instead of a slot for mail embedded in the door because it could give an attacker access to the rear of the door.

In addition to a solid multipoint locking door, homes and offices should also use CCTV. "Make sure it is wired, not wireless, because jamming or just throwing deauth packets at devices can stop them working," Smith says. "The same with alarm systems. Wired, always. Alarm sensors need to be properly installed because many alarm companies leave blind spots."

According to the researcher, the wiring for CCTV and alarms needs to be inaccessible from the outside, and the CCTV recording box should backup everything to the cloud. "If possible, give CCTV access to more than one person, so that there is redundancy in case of an incident," Smith says. The best systems check communications periodically and issue an alarm if comms go down.

A few other things to consider: Pay attention to security lighting, which should be sensor-driven. Use a post-office box so that your address is harder to trace, vary when you leave the house to make your movements less predictable, and be nice to your neighbors so that they will alert you if someone is entering your house.

How far a researcher should go to protect their home depends on their work and the risk levels they are comfortable with. "Everybody has to measure their own risk and take the appropriate precautions," Liska says.

Still, more should be done to support infosec professionals and allow them to carry on with their work. They "need to have confidence that the government can help protect them or help them recover from these threats," Zabierek says.
One of the most significant cybersecurity incidents related to Russia's war on Ukraine was a "multi-faceted" attack against satellite provider Viasat's KA-SAT network on February 24, one hour before Russia's invasion began. The assault, which both Ukraine and Western intelligence authorities attribute to Russia, was intended to degrade the Ukrainian national command and control.

However, the attack, which was localized to a single consumer KA-SAT network operated on Viasat's behalf by another satellite company, a Eutelsat subsidiary called Skylogic, disrupted broadband service to several thousand Ukrainian customers and tens of thousands of other fixed broadband customers across Europe. It also highlighted how space-based assets, such as satellites are as vulnerable to malicious exploitation as any other piece of critical infrastructure.

Against this backdrop, the timing was perfect for the Space Cybersecurity Symposium III hosted by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) last week. "The multi-faceted and deliberate cyberattacks which took place during the invasion highlight the need for the United States Government to work with our international partners as well as the private sector to strengthen cyber resilience of existing and future space systems," said Richard DalBello, director, U.S. Office of Space Commerce, National Oceanic, and Atmospheric Administration, said in kicking off the summit.

"Although the intelligence community and government are focused on the issue, its contribution to an average person's daily life remains largely invisible in a way that other national security issues such as terrorism, extreme weather events, or even transnational organized crime are not," Holly Shorrock, intelligence analyst at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said.

Space systems face cyber threats

Shorrock explained that any space system consists of three components: ground, space and link segments. "Each of these three segments is vulnerable to cyberattack," she said. "It may surprise some of you because previous assumptions were that space [systems] are generally isolated from cyber threats. Another assumption was that commercial systems were also somewhat isolated. However, the landscape of space has changed significantly, and now governments and militaries rely on commercial systems, so our understanding of the cyber threat picture has also changed significantly."

Even though all three components are vulnerable to cyberattacks, the ground and link segments are the most attractive and easiest attack vectors, as they proved to be in the Viasat attack. Launching a cyberattack on assets in space is the attack of last resort, Shorrock said.

Spillover effects are a critical issue

Shorrock told the symposium attendees that if they pay attention to any one thing when it comes to satellite cyberattacks, it's that they can have damaging spillover effects. "Regardless of which segments are attacked, an attack on a space system located inside of a conflict zone can have spillover effects outside of that zone, away from the area of conflict, impacting businesses and other consumers of space-based services well beyond the conflict's borders," she said.

These spillover effects can persist for several weeks or even months after the attack, potentially causing reputational damage to the service provider and raising questions about the reliability of space services. In addition, "The company targeted almost certainly will incur the financial burdens of restoring service, fixing hardware, and otherwise mitigating the attack."

The spillover from the Viasat attack reportedly stretched to Morocco, with some of the effects lasting for over a month. Shorrock offered the example of a German energy firm that lost remote monitoring and control of 5,800 wind turbines. "More than one month following the cyberattack, 193 wind farms remained disrupted," she said. "According to the energy firm, this disruption reportedly caused the wind farm data monitoring to be taken offline, rendering the wind-energy converter vulnerable to further attack by cybercriminals or other malicious actors."

Russia has also launched separate spoofing and jamming attacks against Ukraine

Moscow has resorted to other kinds of satellite attacks, including spoofing and the jamming of signals, since it invaded Ukraine, Shorrock said. "The spoofing of global navigation satellite systems [NSS], of which GPS is one type, is both easy and inexpensive, making it an attractive tactic for criminal organizations and militaries. Russia, in particular, has been publicly associated with this tactic since 2017 and has employed it in the current conflict with Ukraine with documented spillover effects impacting infrastructure and business activities outside of the conflict zone."

As was true of the Viasat attack, Russia's spoofing of NSS also created damaging spillover effects. "According to reports in the European Union aviation safety industry, signals such as GPS near the borders of the conflict zone, and in other areas stretching as far as Israel, have been jammed and spoofed throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The spillover effects from this jamming and spoofing have impacted the aviation sector, causing some flights to be grounded for up to one week, Shorrock said. "Some aircraft had to reverse course midflight, and in at least one other instance, these spillover effects caused the plane to be unable to safely perform landing maneuvers."

Russia's signal jamming has likewise caused damage in Ukraine. "A second company that provides satellite communications in Ukraine reportedly fell victim to Russian jamming of its signals. In that instance, the head of the company publicly stated that the company's other projects may be delayed due to the company having to divert its resources to counter the electronic attacks," Shorrock said.

Viasat's learning experience

Phil Mar, vice president and CTO for government systems at Viasat, said that when NIST last year invited him to speak at the summit, "I was thinking that I would actually use a hypothetical cyber event to set the stage as I have done many times when I speak at a conference like this. I'm always uncomfortable speaking on behalf of what happened to other people. But, as the quote from the musical Hamilton said, I was in the room when this happened. So, I will actually use a real event this time."

Mar said that early on February 24, Skylogic started experiencing degradations, and, "We observed really high volumes of malicious traffic hitting the networks from several customer's modems and the associated customer premise equipment." Viasat and Skylogic personnel worked to push malicious traffic off the network but then began to observe modems dropping off the network.

Ultimately thousands of modems were dropped off the network during the attack with no observed efforts to get them back online. Later network analysis identified ground-based network intrusions exploring various configurations to gain access to the satellite provider's management segment of the network.

The attack moved unilaterally through the trusted network and to a specific network session the company uses to manage and operate the network. The attack executed targeted commands on a large number of residential modems to override critical data in the flash memory to render the modems unable to access the network.

Viasat's forensic teams were able to reverse engineer the attack in approximately 24 hours and start the restoration of the networks. "In this particular case, we learned a lot. We learned [what technique would work and what] made us able to restore the network so quickly, and in retrospect, what we can do better.
Republican Adam Kinzinger of Illinois revealed on Sunday a death threat that was sent to his family over his participation in the House Select Committee's investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riot.

The GOP member took to Twitter to share the letter that was mailed to his home and addressed to his wife, Sofia Boza-Holman. The sender threatened harm to the Illinois Republican, including his wife and child.

Death Threats

Kinzinger warned the United States of more "violence in the future" but said he was not worried about the threats to himself. "I'm not worried personally. It threatens to execute me as well as my wife and five-month-old," he said.

The Republican noted that he had never seen or experienced something like the threat, noting that it was sent from the local area. He said he did not worry about himself but argued that it was different for his wife and kids. He said there would be violence in the future unless authorities could get a grip on telling people the truth, as per The Hill.

Kinzinger joins Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney as the only Republicans who serve on the Jan. 6 committee. He also alluded to his belief that the Republican National Committee is encouraging threats against lawmakers.

Read Also: POLL: Americans Who Don't Believe in God Increase, More People Think USA Has Poor Moral Values

The Illinois Republican, who is not running for reelection, also said he was very concerned about the 2024 elections. He urged Americans to wake up, including Republicans, noting that it would not be good for them if the country continued down its path.

According to the Washington Post, the letter addressed to Kinzinger's wife said that her husband "broke his oath" and "sold his soul." It said that the senator's activities had hurt not only the country but also the lives of countless patriotic and God-fearing families.

Capitol Hill Insurrection

In recent months, public officials have been inundated with threats, many spurred by former President Donald Trump's continued obsession with the baseless claim that his 2020 loss resulted from a vast conspiracy of fraud.

Last year, election administrators in at least 17 states received threats of violence in the months following the Jan. 6 insurrection, often sparked directly by comments from Trump. The violence during that day was a logical conclusion given the lies spread by Trump and his allies, said Kinzinger.

The Illinois Republican warned that the lies have not ended and could result in degrading the country's democratic system, pointing to a county in New Mexico where Republican commissioners last week refused to certify the results of a primary election because they did not trust their voting machines.

The situation comes as Kinzinger said on Sunday that he believes that Trump's actions surrounding the deadly riot at the Capitol amount to "seditious conspiracy" and "criminal involvement by a president."

His remarks came after three hearings held by the House Select Committee presented searing testimony and mounting evidence about the former president's central role in a complex plot to overturn the presidential elections in 2020 that he lost to Joe Biden, The Guardian reported.

Related Article: US Capitol Riot Poll: More Americans Think Donald Trump Should Be Punished for Jan. 6 Attack

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Matias Woloski is co-founder of Auth0, a leading innovator in identity and access management (IAM). He currently acts as its CTO, a role to which brings a forward-looking dynamism.

Auth0 is a cloud identity platform that helps developers deal with authentication and authorization. It was founded in 2013 by Woloski (CTO) and Eugenio Pace (CEO) via remote partnership while Woloski lived in Argentina and Pace in the US. It was acquired by Okta in May of 2021 for $6.5B.

The Okta-Auth0 partnership brought together the enterprise mastery of Okta with the developer-first services of Auth0, making for a cybersecurity juggernaut. As part of Okta, Auth0 has continued to improve core features for developers and at the same time throw a spotlight onto coming innovations in the space including web3 technology.

I had a chance to talk with Woloski about Auth0s ongoing research into areas like fine-grained authorization, the impact of web3, major cybersecurity threats, and nurturing innovation in a large organization.

Matthew Tyson: Auth0 has been remarkably successful in helping developers deal with authentication and authorization. From my perspective as a developer, Auth0 is compelling because it gives me three things: a remote API to integrate with, in-code tools to make the integration more painless, and a web dashboard for management of the IAM data.

How would you describe Auth0 in the broadest sense? Where does it fit into the developers landscape?

Matias Woloski: Think about Auth0 like an authentication and authorization microservice, built by a team of hundreds of developers, with all the features you would normally have to build yourself. Auth0 provides fast, easy logins with advanced security features as an identity layer across your applications, so you can spend time implementing your core business.

We spend a lot of time on the developer experience, from providing everything through APIs, to implementing integrations and docs for whatever framework youre using. One of our most popular features is extensibility, which makes it simple to customize the user experience with serverless code, or extend authentication with easy-to-use integrations, what we call Auth0 Actions. You will never feel like you are constrained as a developer.

Tyson: You and Auth0 Labs recently posted this eye opening Tweet. When I read it, I sat up in my seat. Its a really bold vision of what might be as web3 and identity come together. (Its early days, but its already possible to use a wallet for authentication in Auth0.)

What are the potential benefits of blockchain for auth? How big do you think this is going to turn out to be for the industry?

Woloski: Crypto wallets and other blockchain technology are yielding fertile ground for conversations around decentralized identity.

Crypto wallets hold private keys, which are used as an authentication mechanism by which you (your wallet, specifically) assures ownership of the corresponding account and its assets. An application can issue a request to your wallet address (public key) that is digitally signed in the wallet itself and returned to the application to prove that this wallet is indeed legitimate. This is a form of authentication.

Using a crypto wallet, people can pseudo-anonymously authenticate themselves as the owners of the account on the blockchain. Could this form of authentication be used for traditional web application scenarios? Absolutely. Will decentralized login catch on in the coming years? We dont know.

There are more questions than answers with respect to how web3 authentication will impact mainstream applications and businesses, but we certainly aspire to facilitate emerging opportunities.

Tyson: It's really fascinating to think about the convergence of web3 and IAM. I think token gating may have an impact on authorization also.

Are there any other areas of R&D that youd like to highlight?

Woloski: The charter of the Auth0 Lab team is to focus on long-term innovation, working 18-24 months ahead of engineering, doing prototypes, research, and strategic corporate development. Our modus operandi is incubation. We are connecting with customer problems and planting the seeds for what we think is going to be the future of identity.

Our main focus for R&D is on potential adjacencies (new products), selling to existing markets (developers). So, for example, fine-grained authorization (FGA) and privacy are areas were looking into, which are adjacent to authentication. Similarly, we think about how the product could change to go after a new market, like government.

Right now were doing some research around digital credentials and wallets, which is upcoming, but not a mature technology in the industry. In the future, we believe companies will need to support the concept of a credential issued by another party, and the consumer owning their own data. They will have multiple digital credentials issued by different organizations. But they will also need a hub that centralizes their own policies and user data store to solve their use cases (centralized).

We are also exploring web3 technologies and our role in that context. We think we can help bridge the gap between web2 and web3especially when you think about the account layer, beyond the wallet. We are partnering with multiple web3 companies and adding integrations into our marketplace.

Tyson: In an interview with CTO Craft , you talk about engineering and mistakes, saying this is just the nature of building things, kind of pointing out that mistakes are critical to innovation. Any advice on how to maintain this mindset in the daily work of building when pressures can tend to drive out the willingness to be risky?

Woloski: Its important to give your team room for experimentation. We do three hackathons per yeareach one lasts three days, and 30-plus teams sign up. You get to see all sorts of innovation coming straight from the trenches. Some of the ideas get discarded, but others are implemented or marked for further research, so we can better understand them. The bottom line is, we aim to foster a learning culture.

Tyson: As a person heavily involved in cyber security, what keeps you up at night? What do you see as the biggest threats now and on the horizon?

Woloski: The fact that we secure billions of login transactions every month globally means that we have a unique perspective into whats happening with identity-based attacks. What we typically see are breached passwords, credential stuffing, synthetic account creation (also called fraudulent registration), and MFA [multi-factor authentication] bypass as the biggest attacksall of which we detect and prevent.

Every year we release a report called The State of Secure Identity that analyzes threats using real-world data from the Auth0 platform. Last years found that credential stuffing accounted for 16.5% of attempted login traffic on our platform. Credential stuffing attacks have been around for a long time; whats changing is how cheap and easy they are to do. You can download a list of breached passwords or IP addresses for free. You can run a botnet for an hour for a dollar. This is why weve invested in fully-featured attack protection on the security side.

Our goal is that users feel like they almost never have to enter credentials to access their apps. But at the same time make them feel that their applications are trustworthy. For that you need adaptive security that challenges the users only when theres an anomaly.

Tyson: That is a very interesting high-level look at threats. Also somewhat chilling how sophisticated and inexpensive crimeware has become. The idea of adaptive security is enticing as a way to harmonize convenience and security.

Can I ask about the acquisition with Okta? Do you have advice for startup folks? Help them navigate those waters?

Woloski: Merging two organizations of our size is complex. Leadership is key for aligning on a few decisions right away and moving forward decisively. People will come along, but these processes take time. You have to give room and outlets for people to internalize these processes and deal with the change in a way that works for them.

Tyson: You and Vercel founder Guillermo Rauch are both from Argentina. I was struck by how similar Guillermos experience in Buenos Aires was to mine in the US. Do you mind talking about the tech scene there and your experience?

Woloski: Buenos Aires has always been a great hub of entrepreneurship and tech. The first Latin American unicorns were created there (MercadoLibre, Despegar, etc) in the 2000s. These days, you see a lot of web3/crypto stuff happeningOpenZeppelin, Decentraland, and other projects were started by Argentinians. There is a combination of talent, resourcefulness, passion, and resilience created by the environment we live in. The effect of that is people who are creative, passionate, and willing to take risks.
NORWALK  In 1995, Michelle Waites was hired as a patent attorney at workplace-technology provider Xerox Holdings after graduating from law school at the University of California-Berkeley. Her discovery that Xerox had an employee resource group called GALAXe for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer professionals figured prominently in her decision to join the company.

Today, Waites ranks as one of the Norwalk headquartered Fortune 500 companys longest-serving executives, now holding the titles of vice president, legal counsel and corporate secretary for CareAR, the software startup launched last year by Xerox. At the same time, she serves as co-president of GALAXe.

Each June, Waites and her colleagues in the approximately 600-member GALAXe organize programs to celebrate Pride Month. Beyond this months events, networks such as GALAXe play a leading year-round role in fostering more equal and inclusive workplaces for LGBTQ professionals across corporate America  advocacy that has carried on amid the rise of remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The world has changed  and fortunately its changed for the better for us. LGBTQ people arent ostracized in the way we were before, Waites said in an interview. Members who come into GALAXe now really do expect to be treated fairly. Now, people dont feel like they have to join GALAXe to be activists, whereas earlier on I think that was a bigger part of it. Xerox is very responsive, so you dont have to fight for much.

Widespread support for LGBTQ professionals

Pride Month events have been fixtures on corporate calendars for years.

The pandemic-sparked upheaval of the past two years has moved much of that programming online, with many of those engagements featuring guest speakers discussing key issues facing the LGBTQ community. But executives said the digital format has not diminished Pride Months significance.

During Pride month, Xerox encourages all of our employees to learn about Pride, as well as how to get involved with various events GALAXe hosts. We also change our logos internally and externally to show our support for the LGBTQ+ community, Suzan Morno-Wade, Xeroxs chief human resources officer, said in a statement. Diversity, inclusion and belonging is an essential part of the Xerox culture. We have a team that works tirelessly day in and day out to create a workplace that allows all of our employees to thrive and to bring their true, whole selves to their work.

For 20 consecutive years, Xerox has earned a 100 percent score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundations Corporate Equality Index. The CEI focuses on four areas: non-discrimination policies across businesses; equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families; support of an inclusive culture; and corporate social responsibility.

We wanted to maintain our 100 percent score, Waites said. Its great to be honored, and its also a good way for companies to benchmark against each other  to see what everybody else is doing for LGBTQ people.

In addition to Xerox, 14 other Connecticut-based companies also earned 100 scores in the 2022 Corporate Equality Index: AQR Capital Management, BlueTriton Brands, Boehringer Ingelheim USA, Bridgewater Associates, Cigna, Diageo North America, FactSet, Gartner, The Hartford, Otis Worldwide, Pitney Bowes, Stanley Black & Decker, Synchrony and Thomson Reuters.

This year, a record 842 businesses, employing a total of more than 14 million workers, earned 100 scores and the designation of being a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality up from 13 in the CEIs first edition 20 years ago.

Companies with strong track records in supporting LGBTQ professionals are often based in cities with local governments with similar values. Last year, Norwalk and Stamford were among the cities that earned 100 percent scores on HRCs Municipal Equality Index scorecard.

Xeroxs 100 percent score on the Human Rights Campaigns Corporate Equality Index makes me proud to have them here in Norwalk, Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said in a statement. We know that the LGBTQ+ communitys presence here in Norwalk brings an unparalleled strength that directly contributes to what makes our city so special. We hope that more companies that fully embrace and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community continue to come to Norwalk.

But not all large companies scored highly on this years CEI. Among the Fortune 500 firms headquartered in Connecticut, Amphenol, Emcor Group and Frontier Communications received unofficial scores of 20 and W.R. Berkley was given an unofficial score of 10 because the HRC Foundation said that they were among the companies that have not responded to repeated invitations to the CEI survey. These ratings are based on publicly available information as well as information submitted to HRC from unofficial LGBTQ employee groups or individual employees.

When this years index was released, Frontier officials said the company received an unofficial score because the HRC Foundation had been contacting an employee who no longer works at the company. They said the company had reached out to HRC to update its score.

Messages left this week for Amphenol, Emcor and W.R. Berkley were not returned.

Longstanding work

Groups such as GALAXe have played a vital role in efforts to secure greater rights and create more inclusive workplaces for LGBTQ professionals. In response to a GALAXe recommendation, Xerox last year rolled out a self-identification option in its systems in the U.S., Canada and United Kingdom that allows employees and external candidates to disclose information including gender identity and sexual orientation in their personal profiles.

We want to ensure that everyone can bring their whole self to work and be comfortable doing so, which is an important step in our journey to becoming a more diverse and inclusive workplace, Morno-Wade said. We also encourage all employees to share their preferred pronouns in their email signature, which is a concrete, impactful way to show advocacy for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Among earlier initiatives, Waites said that she was proud of Xerox becoming in the late 1990s one of the first companies to offer domestic-partner benefits to same-sex partners of employees.

It wasnt a common thing to have back then, said Waites, who lives with her wife in Westchester County, N.Y.

Looking ahead, HR experts see the rise of remote working since the beginning of the pandemic as a foundation for companies to recruit more LGBTQ employees and professionals from other underrepresented groups because they can consider candidates beyond the areas within a daily commute of their offices.

Thats created a huge opportunity for companies that in the past struggled on diversity for the simple fact that they were locked in on local candidate pools, said David Lewis, founder and CEO of the Norwalk-based HR services firm Operations Inc. Employers used to say that local candidate pools had nothing to offer in terms of a good, solid and diverse population from which to hire. Now that excuse is out the window because you can hire a diverse population from anywhere in the U.S.

Waites said that GALAXe welcomes newcomers, regardless of whether they are members of the LGBTQ community or straight allies.

We get a lot more allies joining now, Waites said. Every fight for equality gets stronger when people outside the marginalized group join them in the fight and demand change.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  Al Gross, an independent running for Alaska's only U.S. House seat, said late Monday that he is ending his campaign after a top finish in this month's special primary.

Gross in a statement said it was with great hope for Alaskas future that he has decided to end his campaign. He said there are two outstanding Alaska Native women in this race who would both serve our state well, and I encourage my supporters to stay engaged and consider giving their first-place vote to whichever of them best matches their own values.

His campaign said he was referring to Democrat Mary Peltola, a former state lawmaker from Bethel, and Republican Tara Sweeney, who was assistant secretary of Indian Affairs in the U.S. Interior Department during the Trump administration.

Peltola was in fourth place in the June 11 special primary and Sweeney was in fifth. The top four vote-getters in the special primary are to advance to a special election in August in which ranked choice voting will be used.

State elections officials plan to finish counting ballots from the special primary on Tuesday and to certify the race results by Saturday. Gross was in third, behind former Gov. Sarah Palin and businessman Nick Begich, both Republicans.

Gross campaign said he is not doing interviews at this time.

Gross' announcement comes days after his campaign touted the endorsement of an electrical workers union and posted fundraising appeals on social media that took swipes at Palin. One such video post featured the word quitter over Palin's face. Palin resigned as governor in 2009, partway through her term.

Hours before the announcement, Gross' campaign posted a picture of him at a brewing company in Anchorage over the weekend.

The Monday evening statement said Gross is withdrawing from the special election and from the regular election. Peltola and Sweeney have both filed to run for the August regular primary.

Just last week, Sweeney issued a statement saying her goal was to finish in the top four and that it appeared she would fall just short. She said she had planned to meet with advisers and supporters to determine next steps.

Messages seeking comment on Gross' announcement were sent to the campaigns of Peltola and Sweeney.

The deadline to withdraw as a candidate for the regular primary is Saturday. The deadline to withdraw as a candidate for the special election is noon on Sunday.

Tiffany Montemayor, a spokesperson with the Alaska Division of Elections, was asked if the fifth place finisher in the special primary would be moved to fourth if Gross withdraws by the deadline. She said the division was looking into this and she did not have an immediate answer.

The House seat became vacant in March, when Republican Rep. Don Young died. Young had held the seat for 49 years.

Forty-eight candidates ran in the special primary, which was the first election under a system approved by voters that ends party primaries and implements ranked choice voting in general elections.

Most of those running in the special primary reported no fundraising to the Federal Election Commission. But Gross reported receiving about $545,000 between March 23 and May 22, about $86,000 less than Palin over roughly the same period.

The person who wins the special election will fill the remainder of Young's term, ending in January. The August regular primary and November general election will decide who serves a regular two-year term, starting in January.

Gross, an orthopedic surgeon, unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 2020 with the endorsement of state Democrats.

But in the House special primary, Alaska Democratic party leaders urged voters to pick from among the six Democrats running.

The party, in a social media post, had referred to Gross as pandering after Gross in a newspaper interview did not commit to caucusing with Democrats if elected. Gross later said he would.
FAIRFIELD  Police said Tuesday the victim of a shooting at a busy sushi bar over the weekend is not cooperating with their investigation.

The shooting just after midnight Sunday at Wafu Asian Bistro on Post Road left one person injured with a gunshot wound to the arm, according to police.

The restaurant has not reopened since the incident, and the state Department of Consumer Protection suspended its liquor permit indefinitely on Tuesday after citing several instances of dangerous and unlawful conduct.

Fairfield Police Lt. Michael Paris said Tuesday the victim was released from the hospital within hours of being admitted, and is not cooperating with investigators.

No suspects in the shooting have been apprehended, Paris said, and its unknown if the man who was shot knows the assailant.

Around 12:15 a.m. Sunday, Fairfield authorities began receiving several 911 calls for shots fired at the restaurant, according to police.

As police from Fairfield and Westport arrived, several vehicles and patrons were fleeing the area, Fairfield Police Chief Robert Kalamaras wrote in a letter to the state Department of Consumer Protection.

Police learned that the bistro was hosting a large party called Sin City. While investigating the incident, police looked at the restaurants Instagram account, which shows flyers for several DJ events and videos showing what appears to be the restaurant converted into a gentlemens club, Kalamaras said in the letter.

A dispute and physical altercation started in the restaurant, resulting in gunfire. One man was struck, as well as the tile backsplash at the end of the bar at head level where patrons were said to have been seated at the time, Kalamaras wrote.

Video surveillance showed that once the shots were fired, many patrons fled. At least two people could be seen exchanging gunfire  about 10 shots  in the parking lot, Kalamaras wrote in the report. He said a nearby business and a parked vehicle were also struck by bullets.

Employees told police they heard shots fired following an altercation, but police said no gunshot victims were found at the scene.

It wasnt until minutes later that police were notified by Bridgeport Hospital that they were treating a man who claimed to have been shot in Southport, police said.

The victim suffered a bullet wound, which traveled through his left arm and into his left side, Kalamaras wrote. The mans injury was not life-threatening.

Police said several items of evidentiary value were found at the scene  including shell casings. Police found that several surveillance cameras inside the restaurant did not work, according to Kalamaras.

Authorities are asking anyone who may have cellphone footage of the encounter to contact police.

The restaurant has not reopened since the incident, a manager with Wafu Asian Bistro told Hearst Connecticut Media Tuesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull suspended the restaurants liquor permit. Wafu Asian Bistro cannot serve alcohol until further notice.

Wafu was the scene of a large party, brawl, and shooting during which approximately 10 rounds were fired and at least one person was shot, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection said in a press release. This incident closely follows several instances of dangerous and unlawful conduct requiring police and DCP involvement.

The agency noted a handful of incidents this year. On June 18, just the day before the shooting, police were called to the bistro for a report of an assaulted patron.

The restaurant also hosts regular college night events, which draws underage students, according to Kalamaras.

In late March, liquor control agents found the restaurant serving alcohol to 11 minors. Earlier that month, the fire marshal had to shut down the bistro due to it being over capacity, according to the Department of Consumer Protection and the letter from Kalamaras.

In February, the Department of Consumer Protection said a bouncer unlawfully pepper-sprayed six patrons without cause.

Additionally, Numerous local colleges and residents have complained to police about the general conduct of the premise, the agency added.

It is clear from these repeated events, that this establishment currently poses a significant public health and safety risk to the surrounding community, Seagull said in a statement Tuesday. We expect our permittees to be good neighbors in their communities and to take the health and safety of their customers and neighbors seriously.

Anyone with information can call the Fairfield Police Detective Bureau at 203-254-4840, or submit an anonymous tip through the Fairfield police mobile app, or through texting the keyword FPDCT, followed by the tip to 847411 (Tip411).
PIERRE, S.D. (AP)  The South Dakota Senate on Tuesday convicted Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg of two impeachment charges stemming from a 2020 fatal crash, removing and barring him from future office in a stinging rebuke that showed most senators didnt believe his account of the crash.

Ravnsborg, a first-term Republican who only recently announced he wouldn't seek reelection, showed little emotion as senators convicted him first of committing a crime that caused someone's death. They then delivered another guilty verdict on a malfeasance charge that alleged he misled investigators and misused his office.

Ravnsborg told a 911 dispatcher the night of the crash that he might have struck a deer or other large animal and has said he didnt know he struck a man  55-year-old Joseph Boever  until he returned to the scene the next morning. Criminal investigators said they didnt believe some of Ravnsborgs statements, and several senators made clear they didn't either.

There's no question that was a lie, said Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, the chamber's top-ranking Republican. This person ran down an innocent South Dakotan.

Schoenbeck also criticized Ravnsborg for declining to testify in his own defense, saying Ravnsborg should have shared what the hell he was doing the night of the crash.

There's a mic right there, and that's a damn short walk," Schoenbeck said.

The convictions required a two-thirds majority in the Senate, controlled 32-3 by Republicans. Senators mustered the bare minimum 24 votes to convict Ravnsborg on the first charge, with some senators saying the two misdemeanors he pleaded guilty to weren't serious enough crimes to warrant impeachment. The malfeasance charge  Ravnsborg also asked investigators what data could be found on his cellphone, among other things  sailed through with 31 votes.

Votes to bar Ravnsborg from future office, taken on both counts, were unanimous.

Ravnsborgs face showed little emotion throughout the votes, holding his hand over his mouth as he had for much of the trial, then writing on a notepad in his lap. He did not answer questions from reporters as he exited the Capitol.

Ravnsborg in September agreed to an undisclosed settlement with Boevers widow.

Nick Nemec, Boevers cousin who has been a constant advocate for a severe punishment for Ravnsborg, said the votes were vindication.

Its just a relief. Its been nearly two years that this has drug on and it just feels like a weight off my shoulders, he said.

Ravnsborg is the first official to be impeached and convicted in South Dakota history.

Gov. Kristi Noem, who will pick Ravnsborg's replacement until the candidate elected to replace him in November is sworn in, called for her fellow Republican to resign soon after the crash and later pressed lawmakers to pursue impeachment. As the saga dragged on, Noem publicly endorsed Ravnsborgs predecessor, Republican Marty Jackley, for election as his replacement.

The governor celebrated the impeachment conviction on Twitter, saying it had lifted the dark cloud over the Attorney General's office.

It is now time to move on and begin to restore confidence in the office, she said, but gave no indication as to who she will pick for the interim position.

Ravnsborg has argued that the governor, who has positioned herself for a possible 2024 White House bid, pushed for his removal in part because he had investigated ethics complaints against Noem.

As the impeachment trial opened Tuesday, prosecutors drove at a question that has hung over developments since the September 2020 collision: Did Ravnsborg know he killed a man the night of the crash?

He absolutely saw the man that he struck in the moments after, said Alexis Tracy, the Clay County states attorney who led the prosecution.

Prosecutors also told senators that Ravnsborg had used his title to set the tone and gain influence in the aftermath of the crash, even as he allegedly made misstatements and outright lies to the crash investigators. The prosecution played a montage of audio clips of Ravnsborg referring to himself as the attorney general.

Prosecuting attorneys probed Ravnsborg's alleged misstatements during the aftermath of the crash, including that he never drove excessively over the speed limit, that he had reached out to Boevers family to offer his condolence, and that he had not been browsing his phone during his drive home.

The prosecution played a series of video clips during their closing arguments that showed Ravnsborg's shifting account of his phone use during interviews with criminal investigators. The attorney general at first outright denied he had been using his phone while driving, but then acknowledged he had been looking at his phone minutes before the crash. When it was time for senators to speak, several noted an accident reconstruction that found Ravnsborg's car had veered entirely out of its lane, in contrast to his initial statement that he was in the middle of the road at the time of impact.

Ravnsborg resolved the criminal case last year by pleading no contest to a pair of traffic misdemeanors, including making an illegal lane change and using a phone while driving, and was fined by a judge.

The attorney generals defense asked senators to consider the implications of impeachment on the function of state government. Ross Garber, a legal analyst and law professor at Tulane University who specializes in impeachment proceedings, told senators to impeach would be undoing the will of the voters.

Ravnsborg was driving home from a political fundraiser after dark on Sept. 12, 2020, on a state highway in central South Dakota when his car struck something, according to a transcript of his 911 call afterward. He told the dispatcher it might have been a deer or other animal.

Investigators identified what they thought were slips in Ravnsborgs statements, such as when he said he turned around at the accident scene and saw him before quickly correcting himself and saying: I didnt see him. And they contended that Boevers face had come through Ravnsborgs windshield because his glasses were found in the car.

Weve heard better lies from 5-year-olds, Pennington County State's Attorney Mark Vargo, acting as an impeachment prosecutor, said of Ravnsborg's statement.

Investigators had determined the attorney general walked right past Boevers body and the flashlight Boever had been carrying  still illuminated the next morning  as he looked around the scene the night of the crash.

Ravnsborg said neither he nor the county sheriff who came to the scene knew that Boever's body was lying just feet from the pavement on the highway shoulder.

There isnt any way you can go by without seeing that, Arnie Rummel, an agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation who led the criminal probe, said in testimony Tuesday.

Prosecutors also raised an exchange that Ravnsborg had with one of his staff members three days following the crash, after he had submitted his phones to crash investigators. Ravnsborg questioned an agent in the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation about what would turn up during forensic exams of his cellphones, even though the agency was supposed to have no part in the investigation to avoid conflicts of interest.

We were not supposed to be involved, the now-retired agent, Brent Gromer, said as he described why the exchange made him uncomfortable.

Ravnsborg's defense attorney contended that the attorney general had done nothing nefarious. His defense attorney, Mike Butler, described any discrepancies in Ravnsborg's memory of that night as owing to human error, and disparaged testimony from Rummel, the crash investigator, as opinion that would not hold up in a court of law.

During closing arguments, Butler stated that the criminal prosecution found no criminal culpability for Boever's death and urged senators to refrain from rehashing that case.

No amount of fire and brimstone changes that given fact, he said.

Sen. Arthur Rusch, a retired judge who said he had gotten to know Ravnsborg when he was a young attorney practicing in Ruschs court, was among senators who didnt support impeachment on the first charge, but did on the second. He said he was bothered by Ravnsborgs actions in questioning Division of Criminal Investigation agents on aspects of the case and for issuing a press release on attorney general stationery.
On a Wednesday night in early May, officials from the Fairfield school district appeared before the State Board of Education to explain why McKinley Elementary School was out of compliance with the states racial balance law for the 15th time in 16 years, with a student body that was 56 percent minority in a district that was nearly three-quarters white.

They blamed the pandemic for distracting them from the issue. They protested that they couldnt control where families chose to live. They acknowledged redistricting as an option to better balance the district but described that as a last step that would tear apart the community.

Eventually, as a Fairfield official argued students and families are happy with McKinley the way it is, despite lagging academic performance at the school, State Board chair Karen Dubois-Walton seemed to have had enough.

Im sitting here almost needing to check what date were in because I feel like Im hearing an argument for separate but equal being made in front of me, Dubois-Walton said. And I remember that being struck down quite solidly.

By the end of the meeting, Fairfield officials had agreed to submit a revised racial balance plan within the next three months, while Dubois-Walton had seen up close why integration has proven persistently elusive for certain Connecticut school districts.

It was a pretty frustrating conversation on several levels, Dubois-Walton said later. This was not the kind of partnership or collaborative planning process I would have hoped to have heard from them given that this is not their first time, that this is actually many, many years of not providing diverse student settings for their white students or for their students of color.

Despite Connecticuts liberal self-conception, its schools remain some of the most segregated in the country, with 84 percent of Black students in the state attending schools that are at least 50 percent minority, according to one 2020 report. And while much of that segregation exists between municipalities  with students of color concentrated in a handful of districts  state data shows it also occurs within individual towns, which often have dramatic demographic disparities from one school to the next.

The states racial balance law, which requires that each public school in a given district fall within 25 percentage points of the districts overall racial makeup, is designed to address that issue, to prevent towns and cities from confining students of color to one or two schools while leaving others overwhelmingly white. But decades after its initial passage, the law has failed to curb imbalance in some of Connecticuts most segregated school districts, several of which have violated the law for decades without consequence.

As of 2022, three Connecticut schools  one in Fairfield, plus two in Greenwich  remain out of compliance with the racial balance provision, while 19 others across eight districts stand in impending imbalance meaning they dont meet the legal definition of imbalance but are not far off. In West Hartford, where until this year at least one school had been out of compliance each year since 1999, five different elementary schools are in impending imbalance.

The racial balance law has numerous detractors, from parents and school district figures who consider it unfair or outdated, to officials who see it as well-intended but toothless, to advocates who worry that it addresses inequality on far too narrow a basis. Its enforcement often leads to complex questions about the value of integration, the sacrifices necessary to achieve it and the relationship between where people live and how their children are educated.

But for those who see classroom diversity as a worthy goal in Connecticut and beyond, the law raises one question above all others: Why, even with a statute on the books, is integration so hard to come by?

Sort of a guessing game

The logic behind Connecticuts racial balance law is simple and backed by research: Students benefit both socially and academically when they attend racially and socioeconomically diverse schools. Not only does integration improve test scores and shrink achievement gaps, studies have shown, it also reduces racial bias in white students.

If you have a district where most of the minority students are in one school, the students in the other schools are also suffering, said Laura Anastasio, a Department of Education attorney who coordinates the racial balance process. They dont have the opportunity to be educated among students of different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different cultures.

The framework for the law dates to 1969, the tail end of the Civil Rights era, when the state legislature first barred districts from substantial imbalance in their schools. The law was updated in 1980 with specific definitions of balance and imbalance, then tweaked over the following decades until crystallizing into the system in place today.

Under the current law, the State Department of Education annually collects the racial demographics of all public schools in the state and sorts each into one of three categories:

- Balanced schools are those whose share of nonwhite students falls within 15 percentage points of the district average.

- Schools in impending imbalance are those whose share of nonwhite students falls anywhere from 15 to 25 percentage points above or below the district average.

- Imbalanced schools are those whose share of nonwhite students falls 25 or more percentage points above or below the district average.

In Fairfield, for example, the school district overall is 26.2 percent minority, as defined by the state, whereas McKinley School is 55.6 percent minority, resulting in an imbalance of nearly 30 percentage points. Other districts have schools with the opposite issue, with white populations that far exceed the district average.

After tabulating the data, the Department of Education sends out notifications to school districts with at least one imbalanced school, asking them to submit a plan to achieve better balance. Such plans may include direct solutions such as redistricting but more often feature indirect ones, such as designating certain schools as magnets or renovating school buildings to make them more appealing to families from other parts of town.

The State Board of Education can then either approve a districts plan or, if theyre dissatisfied with the proposed solutions, ask officials to amend it.

In theory, a racial balance plan executed properly should result in a balanced district, with no schools out of compliance. In practice, districts often return year after year with nearly identical numbers, amending their plans again and again but never achieving the required balance.

Its sort of a guessing game, Anastasio said. [State Board members] are looking at a plan, and its like, Well, we think this might do something to help the imbalance, well give them a shot at doing it, and then if it doesnt have any effect, well have them amend the plan. Weve been doing that for quite a few years with a couple of the districts.

Some of the problem, Dubois-Walton says, is that there is rarely a consequence for a district that has been out of compliance for years or even decades. Under Connecticut statute, the State Board of Ed may initiate a complaint against a district that fails to submit or implement its racial balance plan, a process that can end in legal action, but that has happened only twice on record, most recently in 2011.

Part of the challenge of why its taken so long to get these schools [balanced] is that theres no real consequence to not making progress, Dubois-Walton said.

Chronically noncompliant

While numerous districts statewide have been out of compliance with the states racial balance law at one time or other, several have been particularly chronic offenders lately.

In addition to Fairfield, Greenwich has had two unbalanced schools for more than a decade, including one that has been unbalanced since at least 1999. In West Hartford, Charter Oak International Academy met the compliance standard this year for the first time in more than two decades but is still one of five elementary schools in town categorized as having impending imbalance.

Hamdens Church Street School has also been unbalanced in the past and only narrowly avoided that distinction this year, with a 92.2 percent nonwhite student body in a district that is 68.8 percent nonwhite.

As part of the procedure for districts not in compliance, representatives from both Greenwich and Fairfield have met with the State Board of Education in recent weeks. During a presentation to the Boards Legislation and Policy Development Committee on June 1, Greenwich officials noted that their two unbalanced schools, Hamilton Avenue School and New Lebanon School, had inched closer to compliance in recent years, with the latter benefiting from a new building opened in 2019.

But while both schools, and particularly New Lebanon, are closer to balance as defined in Connecticuts law than they were previously, state numbers suggest that may have less to do with changing demographics at the schools and more to do with changing demographics in the town as a whole. As Greenwich has become more diverse, the baseline its schools are judged against has changed as well.

In addition to its two unbalanced elementary schools, Greenwich still has five schools in impending imbalance. Even after years of racial balance plans, the town is home to five of the top nine most unbalanced schools in the state and seven of the top 20.

Fairfields May 4 appearance in front of the State Board of Ed grew tense at several points, as school district officials questioned the logic of the racial balance law and argued that complying could hurt students in the district, including at McKinley.

Its just inherently wrong to me that if a student is thriving or has supports in place, which students at McKinley do, to potentially take them from a school and put them in another school that maybe doesnt have those supports in place, Fairfield Board of Ed chair Christine Vitale said. It just seems somewhat counterintuitive to what is best for them from an educational, social, emotional standpoint, and that is the priority.

While redistricting often meets resistance from white families who balk at the idea of sending their kids long distances to attend schools they find less desirable, Vitale suggested that Black and Latino parents would be just as unhappy with major changes to the district.

Sure enough, after the meeting several parents emailed the State Board of Ed to oppose any redistricting, not because they wanted to preserve segregated schools but because they valued McKinleys diversity.

It is not McKinley that needs to fix the problem, one parent wrote. It is the other schools that should find ways to attract more diverse populations in order to be more like McKinley.

Another email came from McKinleys school social worker, who wrote that only McKinley had the resources to support students from a variety of backgrounds, who speak 25 different languages.

Our staff are all well-trained and equipped to deal with all of the cultural diversity of our students, she wrote. Dividing them and placing them in other schools who do not have this critical mass of supports, both within the school and community, is just cruel.

According to state data, McKinley is the only of Fairfields 11 elementary schools where fewer than 60 percent of students are white. At five of those schools, white students account for more than 80 percent of the total enrollment.

Officials in both Fairfield and Greenwich declined to be interviewed for this story.

Robert Cotto Jr., a Trinity College researcher who studies education policy, said concerns from Black and Latino families at schools like McKinley deserve to be taken seriously. As he sees it, integration shouldnt come at the cost of those students comfort.

Lets center and talk to families there and then go from there and see what might be the most logical next step, Cotto said. Look at the folks that would probably be the most impacted in whichever direction you go, start with them first. Talk to them first.

Whereas integration efforts often involve moving children of color from one school to another, Cotto argued that a more fair process would go the other way as well, with some white students jumping to more diverse schools.

Dubois-Walton said she understands the concerns of parents who value multiracial schools like McKinley but that the state has to consider the district more broadly. When parents and officials say only one school is suitable for Black and Latino students, she wonders what that suggests about the other schools in town.

Its very painful to hear parents feel like their public school district is not providing them opportunity to look at all the options and that really theres this one safe place in the entire district, she said. Thats not acceptable.

Tentative progress in West Hartford

From one perspective or other, West Hartford can be seen as one of Connecticuts worst offenders when it comes to racial imbalance in schools  or as a happy success story of a district gradually integrating after years of false starts.

The towns history with the racial balance law stretches back to at least the mid-1990s, when the local Board of Ed sought to balance the district through an aggressive redistricting plan, sparking backlash from parents in wealthier neighborhoods. The debate lasted years and at one point grew so heated that local spiritual leaders took out a half-page newspaper ad pleading for calm.

In the end, not only was West Hartfords redistricting plan defeated, but several Town Council members who supported it were voted out of office, leaving the school district just as racially segregated as it had been previously. From 2000 through 2015, West Hartford had two imbalanced elementary schools, Smith and Charter Oak, every single year, along with various other schools in impending imbalance. In 2006, Charter Oaks student body was more than 80% minority at a time when the district around it was only 33% minority, marking the largest disparity the State Department of Education has on record.

Even when Smith finally achieved compliance in 2016, Charter Oak remained in violation, as district officials submitted plan after plan but failed to clear the legal threshold for racial balance.

That changed this year, when Charter Oak dipped just slightly below the imbalanced category, with a 68.2 percent minority population in a 44.4 percent minority district. Tom Moore, who is leaving the district this month after nearly a decade as West Hartfords superintendent, credits Charter Oaks status as a magnet school offering International Baccalaureate programs, as well as the opening in 2016 of a gleaming new building, which has helped attract families from outside the adjacent neighborhood.

Thats been incredibly powerful to have, instead of what was the oldest or second-oldest building in the district to have the newest building in the district, state-of-the-art, Moore said. That has made not just the offerings there attractive but the physical space attractive.

Moore said the district has aggressively marketed both Charter Oak and Smith (a STEM magnet school) to parents from other parts of town, with events at libraries and preschools.

West Hartford has made a lot of progress, Anastasio, from the State Department of Education, said. With that renovation to Charter Oak, they were able to create a lot of seats in that school  and theyve had a lot of success with that.

Still, its not clear that West Hartfords problems are solved. During a recent presentation in front of the State Board of Educations Legislation and Policy Development Committee, board members congratulated West Hartford officials on their success in bringing Charter Oak into compliance but questioned why so many schools in town remained in impending imbalance.

One board member suggested that West Hartfords apparent progress, like that of Greenwich, owed largely to the towns changing demographics, not to action taken by town leaders.

Anastasio said she can easily imagine Smith and Charter Oak running into racial balance issues again in the future. In a town as residentially segregated as West Hartford, some degree of school segregation can become almost inevitable.

Its always a challenge trying to really encourage people to use the magnet system when its a partial magnet, Anastasio said, because a lot of people still dont want to leave their neighborhood.

A broader issue

Even those who support the objectives of Connecticuts racial balance law see it as a small solution to a problem extending far beyond the three or four districts that struggle to comply.

We could get those districts into balance and we would still have students in Connecticut experiencing a very racially segregated educational experience, said Dubois-Walton, who is currently running as a Democrat for state treasurer. As long as were looking at this district by district, I think were going to continue to push up against this [segregation].

To promote integration at a broader level, Dubois-Walton proposes expanding Connecticuts Open Choice program, which allows students, often from the states largest cities, to attend school in neighboring towns, thereby reducing segregation not only within individual school districts but also between neighboring ones.

Martha Stone, executive director of the Center for Childrens Advocacy and lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the Sheff v. O'Neill desegregation case, also suggests a more regional solution.

The ultimate remedy for all of this are regional school systems, Stone said. If you had regional school systems the way most other places around the country do, youd be able to get racial balance a different way.

Inevitably, any conversation about school segregation overlaps with one about housing segregation. Moore, the West Hartford superintendent, says he doesnt want to send his kids across town or even across town borders to attend school  and neither do most parents of Black and Latino students, who might prefer integrated schools but not want to leave their neighborhoods to find them.

That brings up the question, is it an education issue or is a housing stock issue? Moore said.

According to The Diversity and Disparities Project from Brown University, the Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford metropolitan areas all have very high levels of residential segregation, with most white people unlikely to share a census tract with large numbers of Black and Latino people. While towns like Fairfield, Greenwich and West Hartford are somewhat diverse overall, at least relative to other suburbs, they tend to be segregated within town borders.

Naturally, school segregation follows from there.

Zoning laws and housing discrimination are unavoidably linked to educational outcomes and educational segregation, said Peter Harrison, executive director of the housing advocacy group Desegregate Connecticut. Where you allow homes to be built or not dictates a lot of downstream outcomes.

One antidote for racial imbalance in schools, Harrison said, could be to permit and promote more affordable housing in all parts of these towns, not just in certain corners.

The idea of busing across town, let alone across different towns, hasnt, as a structural solution, solved anything, Harrison said. Youve got to put housing in different parts of the towns.

Cotto recommends another route. While some advocates see integration as the only way for Black and Latino students to access a public education equal to that of white students, he argues the state could accomplish that by simply funding schools equally from one municipality to the next.

That way, Cotto notes, Black and Latino people in Connecticut can live in integrated suburbs if they want  but can also choose to live in major cities without worrying about subpar public schools.

There are Black and Latino students who are in public schools who are not getting the support that they need in terms of just funding for the schools, he said. I would side more on arguing that [equal funding] may be a way to support schools as they exist now, to make them better.

We are all responsible

Despite resistance in Fairfield, Greenwich and elsewhere in Connecticut, theres reason to believe the racial balance law has made a difference in integrating schools within Connecticut suburbs.

Fewer schools are imbalanced or in impending imbalance than at most points in the recent past, with formerly imbalanced districts like West Hartford and Hamden in compliance at least for now. Compared to a decade ago  when seven schools were imbalanced and 27 more were in impending imbalance  the current numbers dont look so bad.

Meanwhile, as part of their efforts to comply with the law, often by seeking to attract white students to magnet programs, many districts have invested in schools with large Black and Latino populations, giving students there access to shiny new buildings and enhanced services.

And yet year after year, the State Board of Education watches the same districts appear to present variations on the same plans, with results that come slowly if they come at all.

It speaks to the fact that some of the hardest things for policymakers or elected [officials] to change are things that impact peoples schools and impact peoples neighborhoods, Dubois-Walton said. Its why we see real pushback around zoning, we see real pushback on discussions about school districting.

For Dubois-Walton, who was herself once a Black student in a series of majority white schools, the racial balance law is a small piece of a large conversation about how Americans relate to each other. While it cant solve segregation in Connecticut on its own, it can offer a glimpse into what communities and their leaders value  for better or for worse.

We have to get to a place of valuing each others humanity and contributions and seeing beyond the stereotypes and racialized lens, Dubois-Walton said. None of the people that are coming in front of us representing these Board of Eds, theyre not responsible for that [racist] history in this country, but we are all responsible for how we continue to carry forth these things that are so deeply ingrained.

alex.putterman@hearstmediact.com
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PARIS (AP)  President Emmanuel Macron held talks Tuesday with Frances main party leaders in a bid to show he is open to dialogue after his centrist alliance failed to win an absolute majority in parliamentary elections.

The meetings at the Elysee presidential palace come after Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne formally offered her resignation Tuesday, in line with the tradition after parliamentary elections. Macron immediately rejected the offer and maintained the current government.

Macrons Together! alliance won 245 seats in Sunday's parliamentary elections  44 seats short of a majority in the National Assembly, Frances most powerful house of parliament.

The leftist Nupes coalition won 131 seats to become the main opposition force. The far-right National Rally got 89 seats in the 577-member chamber, up from its previous eight.

Macron held successive meetings with opposition members, including the president of The Republicans, Christian Jacob, the head of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, and far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Macron also met with representatives of his own party and allied movements. Other meetings were scheduled Wednesday.

Talks were aiming at finding potential constructive solutions to the situation, according to Macrons office.

Macron has not publicly commented on the elections results yet.

Instead, in his first public appearance since the elections, he appeared Tuesday evening on a stage set up in the Elysee courtyard for Frances Music Day, for a show in front of about 2,000 guests. Macron said that while being busy all day with politics, it was now time for entertainment. Be happy! he told the crowd.

With the most seats at the National Assembly, his government still has the ability to rule, but only by bargaining with legislators. To prevent potential deadlock, Macron's party and allies may try to negotiate on a case-by-case basis with lawmakers from the center-left and from the conservative party.

Macron was reelected in April on an agenda including measures to boost purchasing power, tax cuts and raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65.

After her meeting with Macron, Le Pen said that he listens, but does he hear? Well see.

She said she told him her partys MPs will be part of the opposition but dont want to do systematic obstruction.

If measures are being proposed that go in the right direction ... we will vote for them. If they go in the wrong direction, we will amend them. If they are not amended as we want, then we will oppose them, she said.

On his way out of the Elysee, Jacob said The Republicans, who hold 61 seats, wont enter into any pact or coalition with Macrons centrists. However, he opened the door to voting in favor of some measures if they are in line with his partys platform.

He notably mentioned pension changes, since the conservatives are, like Macron, in favor of raising the retirement age.

The Socialist leader, Olivier Faure, told reporters its possible to move forward but we wont approve policies which would be contrary to commitments we made to the French.

Faure advocated for a measure proposed by the leftist coalition to bring the monthly minimum salary from about 1,300 euros to 1,500 euros.

Macron will also soon need to handle another issue : a government reshuffle. Three ministers  out of the 15 who were running for reelection  have lost their seats and won't be able to stay in the government under the rules he set.

While keeping him busy at home, the situation at parliament is not expected to destabilize Macron's international agenda. The French president holds substantial powers over foreign policy, European affairs and defense.

Macron is to travel to Brussels for a European summit scheduled on Thursday and Friday. He will then head to a G-7 meeting in Germany next week, followed by a NATO summit in Spain and a brief visit to Portugal.
MILFORD  A New Haven man is facing DUI and other charges after state police say he got on Interstate 95 going the wrong way Sunday evening, hitting another car head-on.

The crash resulted in minor injuries, according to state police.

Geovanny Guallo, 25, was charged with driving the wrong way on a divided highway and driving under the influence, state police said. He was also charged with driving without insurance and operating a motor vehicle without a license.

Around 10:10 p.m., Guallo was driving a 2006 Scion TC south in the northbound lanes of I-95 near the Exit 35 on-ramp in Milford, when he collided with a 2017 Kia Sportage Lx, according to state police.

The driver of the Kia and the three passengers were taken to Yale New Haven Hospital, with suspected minor injuries, state police said. Guallo complained of a sore ankle following the crash, but refused medial treatment.

State police said an odor of alcohol was observed on Guallos breath and he failed a field sobriety test. He was subsequently arrested.

Police said his bond was set at $5,000 and that he was due to appear in Milford court on Monday.

This year has seen a sharp uptick fatal wrong-way crashes along highways. State police say wrong way incidents often involve impaired drivers and occur at night when drivers may not see signs at highway ramps advising them that theyre getting on the wrong way. Often, wrong-way drivers will get on the highway in the left lane believing theyre driving in the right lane of travel.

Over the past two years, more than 75 percent of drivers involved in fatal wrong-way crashes had blood-alcohol content at least two times the legal limit, or had used marijuana; a review of state data published by Hearst Connecticut Media earlier this month found.
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BRANFORD  Thomas George still remembers the day he was ordered to fly over to a military base on the island of Okinawa for training. He was an aviation operations specialist stationed on a Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, Japan. It was the mid-1980s.

I was supposed to go by helicopter, the North Branford resident told a packed house at Willoughby Wallace Library during a Flag Day ceremony hosted by Jane Dougherty of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

The foundation has as its mission to cover service members and veterans touched by war, as its website reads.

The training on Okinawa got cancelled. The flight did not. It took off as scheduled and it went down and it killed all the servicemen aboard, he said, his voice cracking.

While George, who would go on to a career at Sikorsky Aircraft, was in charge of assigning bombing ranges to squadrons and keeping planes flying, this was peacetime, he told the audience of his service, which ran from 1983 to 1990.

It doesnt matter if you served in peacetime or at war, stateside or overseas, whether you were on active or reserve duty, Dougherty said, as she and Georges mother-in-law Denise Daly wrapped him in a quilt patterned with stars bearing images of fighter jets and pilot badges.

You signed on the dotted line to do whatever your country asked of you.

That was true of the three other veterans honored, including Branfords Maurice Wilkinson, a Maine native, who served in the Navy from 1955 to 1958.

Wilkinson said he went through boot camp, then enrolled in Corpsman School; a corpsman fills a role equivalent to an Army medic, he said. After working at a hospital, he was told he would be among the select few to become a Fleet Marine Corpsman at Camp Lejeune, NC.

The Marine Corps doesnt have its own medical department, so the Navy provides the medical support, he recalled. When I drove up to the gate, the guard came out and said hi doc.

The only rub: I ended up doing another bootcamp for the Marines, he said.

That didnt faze him, it seems. I didnt see any tremendous action except for a bar in Norfolk, he joked, before accepting a quilt patterned with Nordic triangles in vibrant colors.

Theodore Ted Manzo shared his experience as a chaplains assistant in the Army while stationed in South Korea in 1965.

A Protestant by faith, half the time I worked for the Catholic priests because they didnt have any Catholics to do it, the North Haven resident said.

He detailed the only time he found himself in danger. It was pitch black and the sergeant major was sick, so I drove him back to our post, and he said you better move over, and there was this huge, mechanized tow truck barreling toward us, he said.

He passed the time writing letters to his college sweetheart.

We wrote to one another, six days out of seven, and we also exchanged these little Panasonic tapes, he said. We never stopped communicating.

We kept them all, his wife, Joyce, chimed in, before Manzo accepted a red, white, and blue American flag quilt. The two have been married 55 years.

William Ramsburgh Carlson joined the Armys train operations unit of the transportation corps and was sent off for basic training in Fort Dix, New Jersey.

At a class one night on train operations, a sergeant came bursting in. He asked for Carlson.

He asked how I got into this unit, Carlson recalled. I said why. He told me, youre color blind, you cant tell reds and greens apart, so you cant have anything to do with the operations of the trains.

He was reassigned to clerk-typist school where he worked as a senior crew dispatcher, making up crews for the daily train runs and otherwise ensuring the trains ran on time.

My time in the service was good, good friends, good camaraderie, said Carlson, who was wrapped in a giving quilt festooned with overlapping diamonds. And I got to serve my country. I wouldnt trade that for anything.

George, the aviation specialist, agreed. This means that the time I spent in the military was worth it, had a meaning to it, he said, patting his quilt.

If you know a veteran youd like to honor, visit www.qovf.org, find the take action tab, and click request a quilt.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will meet other Middle Eastern leaders before US President Joe Biden's visit.

Biden brazenly tagged the prince as a pariah over the slaying of a Saudi-born WaPo journalist in 2018. Now he is under intense scrutiny from a report if he will be snubbed by bin Salman who did not respond to his calls to increase oil production.

Will MBS Ignore Biden Again?

Kicking off his tour last Monday, Mohammed bin Salman is going to Egypt first to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi about the effect of the US proxy war in Ukraine, cited the Saudi Gazette.

Included preparations for the US state visit next month is the US president's itinerary, including going to Israel, the West Bank, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Individually, Saudi officials, quoted by an outlet, said the prince would meet with al-Sisi, then on Tuesday, with Jordan's King Abdullah in Amman, reported Sputnik News.

Last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed a meeting with the Saudi Prince in Ankara on Wednesday.

Before Joe Biden's trip, Saudi officials have not released comments about the crown price tour to visit Middle Eastern leaders in the region. On his list of states to visit are Greece, Cyprus, and Algeria, most likely in the latter part of July.

MBS' First Visit to Ankara Since the Khashoggi Slaying

This is the first visit of the Saudi Crown Prince to Turkey after the slaying and dismemberment of Saudi-born journalist Jamal Khashoggi, allegedly done in the Saudi Consulate of Istanbul in October 2018, noted Middle East Eye.

Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Children: Does the Ukraine President Have Kids?

Turkish officials and US intelligence pointed the blame at Prince bin Salman, who started a row between Riyadh and Ankara, with disagreements causing a chill in relations. It was Erdogan who never accused the Saudi crown prince.

Later he took the blame for the death of the US journalist because it was his fault under his watch, which was later revealed to be a rogue plan that saw 7 to 8 people imprisoned for murders. Five officials connected to the murder were pardoned or given the death sentence.

President Biden in 2019 promised to make Saudi Arabia pay and called them pariahs, leading to the Saudi Prince's dismissive gestures toward the US leader.

The US leader is facing blowback from media asking what he'll do if the meeting with bin Salman happens next month.

In a White House presser last Friday, he said there would be no meeting with Mohammed bin Salman, but he'll be there with other people.

It seems the president avoided anything related to the meeting with the prince. Later the Saudi Embassy told Washington and the White House press secretary, Karine-Jean Pierre, that Biden's KSA visit would include a one-on-one meeting with MBS.

The US leader will arrive on July 15, scheduled for a two-day visit with participation in the Cooperation Council+3 summit of Arab Gulf states, including Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq.

Washington wanted to mediate a deal between KSA and Egypt about several islands in the Tiran Strait for fixing Saudi-Israeli relations. Riyadh will talk to Tel Aviv if the Palestine issue is resolved.

Related Article: KSA Prince, Ambassador Says World Oil Price Crunch Is Caused by the Biden Administration, Its Repressive Energy Policies

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
OLD SAYBROOK  Joe Harveys gift of gab has served him well as an owner of Mad Coffee Roasters.

I just want to enjoy people, said Joe Harvey. I talk to everyone when they come in.

Sarah Kyrcz / For Hearst Connecticut Media Sarah Kyrcz Sarah Kyrcz / for Hearst Connecticut Media Left, the owners of Mad Coffee Roasters, Joe and Denise Harvey. Top right: Coffee beans. Bottom right: pupusas.(Sarah Kyrcz / For Hearst Connecticut Media

This was the perfect job for him, chimed in Denise Harvey, his wife and business partner. It really is because he can talk to anybody about anything.

Mothers Day weekend the Harveys opened the 1,800-square-foot Mad Coffee Roasters in the former Dunkin Donuts at 744 Boston Post Road, on the corner of Elm Street.

There are plans to open a 10-by-20 crushed stone patio, with picnic tables and umbrellas, for outdoor seating.

The distinctive logo, made specifically for the stores coffee roasting business, beckons customers into the shop.

It was created to be edgy, said Joe Harvey.

It actually makes people question what it is as they drive by, said Denise Harvey.

Weve had people think it was a monkey, people think its a monster, she said, laughing.

Kelly Goddard

But if you look up close, its a coffee bean in a beaker and the mad scientist, with the goggles, she added.

Brandon Fazzino, perusing the menu, said it was the signage that brought him into the shop this Sunday morning.

Its unique, said the Essex resident. Its very, very unique.

Joe and Denise Harvey have worked to create an easy atmosphere at the coffee shop that is inviting.

This is the couples fourth coffee shop, offering freshly prepared food, pastries, bagels and the best coffee, according to Joe Harvey.

We want people to relax, go on their laptop, have a meeting, be with their friends and hang out, said Joe Harvey. A relaxed atmosphere. Thats what were all about. Were about friends and people coming in and enjoying themselves.

While the coffeehouse vibe is very familiar, the food may make customers sit up and take notice as the selections go beyond the typical fare of muffins, eggs sandwiches and scones.

Kelly Goddard / For Hearst Connecticut Media

Unique to this shop, is the Latin menu that includes El Tipico with scrambled eggs with pepper jack cheese mixed with chorizo, caramelized onions, tomato and chipotle sauce on white wrap served with home fries. Other signature Latin dishes include the Salad Bowl, with lettuce, yellow rice, beans, cheese, avocado and Pico de Gallo with choice of grilled chicken, shredded chicken or pork; and the popular gluten-free Pupusas, homemade thick corn flour tortilla filled with choice of cheese, refried beans and pork or cheese served with vinaigrette coleslaw and salsa.

Our staff is from El Salvador, said Denise Harvey. A pupusa, you dont get at a typical Mexican restaurant. Theyre handmade, she (the chef) makes them here.

Adriana Valle, working on her computer on this Sunday morning, enjoyed a tall latte while waiting for her food. She comes to the shop specifically for the pupusas, a very traditional Salvadorian dish, which are really rare to find around here, she said.

As the owner of Shoreline Happy Paws, she likes to frequent the coffee shop to just work here. I like it because of the pupusas, thats an added bonus.

When shes not sitting in the shop enjoying her favorite treat, she is bringing them home to her family.

Sometimes I just order them to come pick like 20 up and take them to my family, she said.

The pupusas, just like all the menu items, are made to order.

So, everything you order off of our menu, its made from scratch, Joe Harvey said. It somebody comes in and says, Hey, can I get bacon, egg and cheese, avocado on a hard roll? we can make it over easy, we can make it any way you want us to make the sandwich.

If you order a salad, salads are just made, he said. We dont have salads in the refrigerator or freezer, ready to go. Its all fresh.

The pastries arrive at each location first thing every morning from New York City and the bagels are from Madisons Cohens Bagel Company.

Some of the most popular menu items include the Mad Boom Wrap, with scrambled eggs, bacon, avocado, home fries, cheddar, sweet chili sauce in a white wrap; Rainbow Kale & Shaven Brussels Salad, with rainbow kale, shaved brussels sprouts, Napa cabbage, avocado, slow roasted and marinated tomatoes, crumbled goat cheese and sunflower seeds.

Then there is the coffee, which the Harveys began roasting in Madison in 2019 under the name Mad Coffee Roasters.

We roast three days a week, so all the coffee people drink is no more than two days old, said Joe Harvey, adding that this is done by master roasters. Thats what makes it so good.

We do whats called single origin coffees, Joe Harvey said. If youre getting Guatemalan, its 100 percent Guatemalan. If youre drinking our dark, thats Sumatran, youre drinking 100 percent Sumatran beans, or Brazil, 100 percent Brazilian beans.

In Old Saybrook, offerings include Sumatra dark roast, Guatemalan medium roast, Brazilian decaf and Brazilian light roast, in addition to specialty drinks including cappuccino, cafe latte, Creme brulee latte with caramel and vanilla; Linzer Tart Latte with raspberry, hazelnut and white mocha and Mayan Mocha Latte, with mocha and cinnamon.

Each cup of coffee comes with a free refill.

Joe and Denise Harvey appreciate their staff, bustling behind the counter, with the blender going, milk steamed, orders taken and customers served.

They are the ones that make it happen, said Joe Harvey. I couldnt do it without them.

Most of our kitchen (staff) has been with us from day one, said Denise Harvey.

I help them, they help us, said Joe Harvey.

Its like a big family.

Blair Timme who has worked in the Madison Coffee House for two years, is now the assistant manager in Old Saybrook.

Here Im starting to recognize faces and names, said the 21-year-old Madison resident.

It makes me feel good about myself and what weve been doing here, she said. It means were doing a good enough job for people to continue to come, which is nice. Thats what we want to see.

In addition to Mad Coffee Roasters in Old Saybrook and The Village at Stratton Mountain in Vermont, the Harveys own the Madison Coffee House.

Their first foray into the coffee business was in 2017, in Westbrook. That lasted six months and it was onto opening the Guilford Coffee House the same year and Madison Coffee House in 2019.

In March the Harveys closed the Guilford location; their new landlords insurance company would not allow cooking on the premise.

It was sad what happened with Guilford, but at the same time, everything happens for a reason, said Denise Harvey, sitting in the bustling Old Saybrook location on a recent Sunday morning. Here we are.

Denise Harvey said it was a relatively easy renovation since the location used to be a Dunkin Donuts.

All the electrical, the plumbing, everything was already done, she said, surveying the shop from a corner table.

All the outlets, you need special outlets for certain ovens and refrigerators and freezers, and everything was there.

So, really it was all cosmetic, she said.

Joe Harvey is a painting contractor and Denise Harvey was with the Madison Public School System for 14 years before leaving this past April to devote her time to the coffee shop business.

I love it, said Denise Harvey. I know a lot of people because of being in the school system and living in Madison 26 years and the kids.

Its nice to see everybody, I like to be able to socialize and help out and do whatever I can to help at the shops, too, she said.

The couple raised four children in Madison - Nicole, 24, Caitlyn, 22, Ryan, 20 and David, 13.

Ryan Harvey, home for the summer from University of Rhode Island, is working as a barista in the Old Saybrook location. He is following in his older sisters footsteps.

Its kind of a family thing, Denise Harvey said. All of my kids have worked at the shops.

My youngest one, hes 13 and hes finishing up seventh grade at Polson right now, he wants to start working soon because he wants to start making money, she said.

The Harveys want people to come back to their coffee shops for the atmosphere, the food, the coffee and the comradery.

I want them coming here because this is their store, Joe Harvey said.

Theyre comfortable, they know the names of the baristas, he said. The cook knows how they like their food. Thats whats important to me. When youre comfortable going to a place, youre always going to want to come back.

Mad Coffee Roasters, 744 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook; 860-339-3735; madcoffeeroaster.com; Facebook Mad Coffee Roasters CT; Instagram madcoffeeroastersct

Contact Sarah Page Kyrcz at suzipage1@aol.com
TOWSON, Md. (AP)  Apple store employees in a Baltimore suburb voted to unionize by a nearly 2-to-1 margin Saturday, a union said, joining a growing push across U.S. retail, service and tech industries to organize for greater workplace protections.

The Apple retail workers in Towson, Maryland, voted 65-33 to seek entry into the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the union's announcement said. The vote could not immediately be confirmed with the National Labor Relations Board, which would have to certify the outcome. An NLRB spokesperson referred initial queries about the vote to the board's regional office, which was closed late Saturday.

Apple declined to comment on Saturdays development, company spokesperson Josh Lipton told The Associated Press by phone.

Union organizing in a variety of fields has gained momentum recently after decades of decline in U.S. union membership. Organizers have worked to establish unions at companies including Amazon, Starbucks, outdoors retailer REI and Google parent company Alphabet.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Apple employees who wanted to join said they had sent Apple CEO Tim Cook notice last month that they were seeking to organize a union. The statement said their driving motivation was to seek rights we do not currently have. It added that the workers had recently organized in the Coalition of Organized Retail Employees, or CORE.

I applaud the courage displayed by CORE members at the Apple store in Towson for achieving this historic victory, said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. in the statement. They made a huge sacrifice for thousands of Apple employees across the nation who had all eyes on this election."

Martinez called on Apple to respect the election results and to let the unionizing employees fast-track efforts to secure a contract at the Towson location.

It remained unclear what steps would follow the vote in Towson. Labor experts say its common for employers to drag out the bargaining process in an effort to take the wind out of union campaigns.

The IAM bills itself as one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.

The Apple store unionization comes against a backdrop of other labor organizing nationwide  some of them rebuffed.

Amazon workers at a warehouse in New York City voted to unionize in April, the first successful U.S. organizing effort in the retail giants history. However, workers at another Amazon warehouse on Staten Island overwhelmingly rejected a union bid last month. Meanwhile, Starbucks workers at dozens of U.S. stores have voted to unionize in recent months, after two of the coffee chain's stores in Buffalo, New York, voted to unionize late last year.

Many unionization efforts have been led by young workers in their 20s and even in their teens. A group of Google engineers and other workers formed the Alphabet Workers Union last year, which represents around 800 Google employees and is run by five people who are under 35.
EAST HARTFORD  Two teenagers killed in a confrontation that police say followed a home invasion died of gunshot wounds and their deaths have been ruled homicides, the Chief State Medical Examiners office said Tuesday.

Isaiah Jose Lopez, 16, of Hartford, died of gunshot wounds to his torso, and Isaiah Miguel Nevarez, 15, of Meriden, died of gunshot wounds to his torso and upper left extremity, the medical examiner found.

The teens were former students of Hartford Public Schools, the district said in a statement Tuesday.

This is an unfortunate and tragic incident, and we are deeply saddened by the loss of members of our Hartford Public Schools community, the statement said. We are prepared to provide proper support and resources for students and staff affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with our former students families, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.

Police said the teens attacked the lone resident of the Graham Road duplex early on June 16. Armed with a handgun, the resident shot both intruders in what police have labeled a targeted home invasion.

East Hartford Fire Department paramedics rendered aid and rushed the teens to area hospitals, where they were pronounced dead. The resident suffered minor injuries in the attack and has been cooperating with investigators, police said.

Police have not filed any charges against the resident. Connecticut law on a civilians use of deadly force follows the castle doctrine.

In defense of themselves, the law says a person is justified in using deadly force if another person is using or about to use deadly physical force or is inflicting great bodily harm. In defense of premises, the law says a person may use deadly force when he reasonably believes such to be necessary to prevent an attempt by the trespasser to commit arson or any crime of violence and to prevent or terminate unlawful entry by force into his dwelling.

Unlike other states with broad stand your ground laws, Connecticut law distinguishes between use of deadly force in self defense inside and outside a dwelling or place of work. Deadly force is not justified if the person being attacked can retreat safely  except that the actor shall not be required to retreat inside a home or place of work.

A stand your ground bill before the state legislature this year that did not make it to a vote would have strengthened justification for civilians use of deadly force and extended the circumstances in which deadly force could be used to crimes involving motor vehicles.

Intended or not, as written, state prosecutors wrote in opposition, this portion of the bill will effectively permit one person, absent any perceived threat of personal or third party harm, to kill another person merely because the person employing deadly physical force reasonably believes that the other person is attempting, or has succeeded, with force, to enter their unoccupied motor vehicle.

Prosecutors also warned that gunfire used to prevent a motor vehicle theft would create more hazards.

Ask yourself: Is your neighbors motor vehicle worth an errant bullet through your childs bedroom window or wall at 3 a.m.? the prosecutors wrote. Moreover, human life, even one engaging in criminal activity, is more valuable than a motor vehicle.

Anyone with information about the East Hartford case can call Detective Dan Ortiz at 860-291-7669, or the departments anonymous tip line at 860-289-9134.

Jesse.leavenworth@hearstmediact.com
Waterbury Police Department / Contributed Photo /

WATERBURY  Police are investigating after they said a toddler was shot and brought to the hospital Tuesday afternoon.

Waterbury hospital staff notified officers of the gunshot victim around 1:35 p.m. Officers said the 2-year-old boy was wounded by gunfire in the abdomen area and was taken to the emergency room.
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BRIDGEPORT  The city is accepting applications for a new police chief and, critics fear, repeating what a federal investigation identified as one of the decisions that tainted the 2018 search to benefit former top cop Armando Perez  not requiring candidates have a college degree.

But Mayor Joe Ganims administration insisted Friday the current circumstances are much different from those of four years ago.

Rather, preference will be given to those candidates who have a commitment to continuing education, the mayors office said in a statement, arguing such was not the case in 2018.

The preferred qualifications are cited as qualities that will be given priority value during the initial screening process, agreed the citys consultant, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

This week the IACP, engaged to help the personnel department recruit chief candidates and forward three finalists to Mayor Joe Ganim, released a lengthy job description with qualifications. It was compiled based on law enforcement standards, 659 responses to an online survey, three public hearings and meetings/consultations with community groups, unions, local elected leaders and other Fairfield County public safety professionals.

And while the IACP included several requirements residents deemed necessary to reform and modernize a department involved in multiple controversies and scandals over the last few years, the advertisement states a college degree is preferred but not a minimum requirement.

Thats a mistake, Councilman Scott Burns, who co-chairs a mayoral policing reform task force established in late 2020, said Friday. Especially after what we went through.

When Ganims administration last held a national search for a police chief four years ago, Perez, a close Ganim associate who was then acting chief, ultimately got the five-year contract as many expected given his experience on the force and his political ties.

Critics who felt Perez was unqualified at the time complained that a college degree was not mandated and alleged it was because Perez lacked one.

Ultimately a federal investigation concluded that Perez and then-Acting Personnel Director David Dunn had rigged the process to ensure the former was one of the three finalists whose names were forwarded Ganim. The pair were arrested in September 2020, pleaded guilty, sentenced to prison and have since been released.

The federal complaint from September 2020 detailing the case against Perez and Dunn specified how part of the plot involved the latter giving unusual instructions to the consultant used in 2018 that would only benefit Perez, like that there should be no requirement that a candidate possess a bachelors degree, or any penalty for candidates who did not have one.

In Consultant-1s experience, it is unusual for a police chief not to have a bachelors degree, continued the complaint. Armando Perez ... does not have a bachelors degree and was the only applicant without one.

Callie Heilmann, who runs Bridgeport Generation Now, a civic group that had opposed Ganims choice of Perez and whose leadership met recently with IACP representatives, said Friday the situation seems like a repeat of 2018.

The first thing we think is, Okay, who do they have in mind whos unqualified for the job? Heilmann said. Its a very simple thing. Just make a bachelors degree a requirement.

Heilmann, who said she otherwise was pleased with much of the job description, added it seems that anyone who meets those standards would also have a higher education.

The requirements themselves point to somebody who has a high level of expertise, training and education, she said. We would love to know what the justification for it (not requiring a college degree) is beyond just increasing the pool of applications, which isnt sufficient because we dont need unqualified people to apply.

And Kate Rivera, a local activist and director of operations for Women Against Mass Incarceration, said in a written statement Friday, The community has again lost complete trust in the search process.

This is so disheartening! The chiefs of New Haven and Hartford are educated, Rivera wrote. Bridgeport deserves and will settle for nothing but the absolute best!

She was referring to Hartford Police Chief Jason Thodys online biography, and New Haven Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson, who New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker recently selected as that citys next top cop.

In statements provided by Ganims communications office, both the IACP and the administration defended Bridgeports job description and requirements.

The IACP said the details were arrived at based on the data from surveys, interviews, forums, (the city) charter/ordinances and profession-effective practices.

Addressing comparisons to the 2018 Perez scandal, the city said, Please remember that the controversy arose from the former personnel director (Dunn) directing the consultant not to award preference points to candidates who had continued education or advanced degrees.

That is not the case in this current process, continued the citys statement.

Also preferred, according to the job description, is candidates commitment to continued professional development through the FBI and other law enforcement entities.

During the first of the three public hearings the IACP and city scheduled this month, a few in attendance downplayed the need for a higher education.

Dr. Jessie Lee, a senior consultant for IACP, at the time responded, If you have the passion and drive to take that education and apply it the way it needs to be applied, it makes a big difference.

Just having a degree is not enough, he added later. You have to have the passion to do your job.
John J. Russotto, Connecticuts deputy chief states attorney, has been reappointed to another four-year term, the Criminal Justice Commission announced Monday.

Russotto was first appointed to the role in 2004, after joining the states division of criminal justice in 1997. He worked on cases that included public corruption and homicide cold cases after becoming a prosecutor, the commission said in a news release.

Attorney Russotto has served the Division of Criminal Justice very well as both a prosecutor, and for years, as an administrator, Justice Andrew McDonald said in a statement. The division counts on his knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice system as well as his years of experience in handling the divisions administration.

The commission also announced the appointments of Christian Watson, who will serve as states attorney for the Judicial District of New Britain, and John P. Doyle Jr. as states attorney for the Judicial District of New Haven.

Watson succeeds Brian Preleski, who was appointed a state judge earlier this year. Watson will serve a full eight-year-term, since Preleskis term was set to expire at the end of June, the commission said. Doyle fills a seat left vacant by former States Attorney Patrick J. Griffin, who was appointed the new chief states attorney. Doyle will serve the remainder of Griffins term, which expires in 2025, the commission said.

Watson previously worked for the Bronx District Attorneys Office in New York and served as a prosecutor in Connecticut for six years before a stint in private practice. He joined the New Britain States Attorneys Office in 2010, the commission said.

Doyle worked as a prosecutor in the New Haven judicial district for 22 years. He also served in the Office of the Chief States Attorney.

The commission congratulates attorneys Doyle and Watson on their appointments as states attorneys, Justice McDonald said in a statement. We are confident they will serve in the great tradition of the former states attorneys in the New Haven and New Britain judicial districts. On behalf of the commission, I wish them the very best as the division moves forward to address important issues facing the criminal justice system today.
H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

BROOKFIELD  State authorities have released the name of a man who died at Candlewood Lake in a suspected drowning late last month.

He was identified Tuesday as Larry Kwokpo Chan, 24, of Bristol, by a spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Airlines seemed to cancel fewer flights Monday after a turbulent travel weekend, but there were still more than 140 area flights called off by the afternoon, according to flight data.

As of 4 p.m. Monday, the tristate area had 145 cancellations. These cancellations included 41 incoming and 42 outgoing flights at Newark Liberty International Airport; 10 incoming and 13 outgoing flights at LaGuardia Airport; and 13 incoming and 20 outgoing flights at John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to data from FlightAware, a flight tracking website.

Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks had four canceled flights on Monday  two incoming and two outgoing  and we are not aware of any stranded passengers, according to Alisa Sisic, a spokesperson with the Connecticut Airport Authority and Bradley International Airport.

Westchester County Airport in New York and Tweed New Haven Airport had no reported cancellations as of Monday afternoon.

Our airline partners have been adjusting their flight schedules nationwide since last Thursday, when weather conditions deteriorated in certain parts of the country, Sisic said. Passengers are advised to confirm their flight status with their airline before coming to the airport and to review any rebooking options if necessary.

Just on Friday, airlines canceled hundreds of flights in the area. LaGuardia, Newark and John F. Kennedy airports had 250 outgoing flights and 275 incoming flights called off. The next day, these three major airports had 81 incoming flights and 90 outgoing flights scrapped.

Bradley International, Tweed New Haven and Westchester County reported about 18 cancellations on Friday, according to data from FlightAware.

Bradley also had six cancellations on Saturday. Tweed and Westchester County airports flight data for Saturday was not immediately available.

On Sunday, LaGuardia, Newark and John F. Kennedy had a combined 133 incoming flights and 127 outgoing flights canceled, according to data from FlightAware.

Both Bradley and Westchester County each had two cancellations Sunday.

Hundreds of thousands of travelers passed through security checkpoints this weekend. On Friday, when more than 1,400 flights were tabled, the Transportation Security Administration recorded more than 2.43 million passengers. Saturday saw 2.17 million, while Sunday had 2.38 million.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg met with airline leaders on Thursday to inquire about widespread flight disruptions. The next day, his own flight was canceled, and he had to drive from Washington to New York, he told the Associated Press.

Buttigieg said that he wants to push airlines to make sure they can operate all their planned flights with the employees they have, the Associated Press reported Saturday.

The department could also take enforcement actions like fines against airlines that fail to live up to consumer-protection standards. First, though, he wants to see whether the July Fourth holiday weekend  and the rest of the summer  will see major issues, according to the Associated Press.

Just at the start of the summer holiday, airlines canceled about 2,800 flights on Memorial Day weekend. Airline executives told Buttigieg Thursday about the steps they are taking to avoid a repeat of the tumultuous travel weekend, the Associated Press reported.

Staff writer Lisa Backus contributed to this story.
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UNITED NATIONS (AP)  A Google executive warned the U.N. Security Council Tuesday that cyberattacks, disinformation and other forms of information warfare being waged in Ukraine are a crystal ball" for future problems elsewhere.

States must find a way to turn the volume down and settle on some kind of deterrence doctrine for the cyber domain, Jared Cohen said at a council meeting on hate speech, incitement and atrocities in Ukraine.

He argued that while tech companies have needed expertise, there is no magical algorithm or single fix for this," and finding a solution will take a lot of experimentation.

Cohen heads Jigsaw, a part of Google that aims to build technology to combat disinformation, censorship and extremism online.

He said Ukraine has been disproportionately targeted by advanced cyberattacks since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, adding: It is essentially our crystal ball for what is likely to come.

The war in Ukraine upped pressure on tech companies to work harder to combat hate speech, disinformation and other harmful content online. The European Union is working on sweeping new rules that would require Google, Facebook parent Meta and other tech giants to police their platforms more strictly.

Western powers on the Security Council have accused Russia of a campaign of propaganda, disinformation and hate directed at undermining Ukraine. A recent report from Mandiant, a cyber security firm, found that Russia used disinformation, fear and propaganda to demoralize Ukraine and divide its allies.

Hate speech can also be a war crime, British deputy U.N. Ambassador James Kariuki said Tuesday, calling on Russia to stop making such statements.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia repeated his country's counterclaims that Ukrainian authorities' rhetoric has poisoned citizens against Russia and Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine, with Western encouragement.

We see, from our side, a real incitement to violence and Russophobia in Ukraine, he said.

Albania, which currently holds the council's rotating presidency, called for Tuesday's meeting.
Berlin and Moscow are having problems with natural gas supplies pumped via the Nord Stream pipeline blamed on more than supply problems.

The German Economy Minister Robert Habeck asked why the gas exports have been reduced by 40%, which will impact a lot more.

Russian Gas as Economic Weapon

Habeck said in an interview last Sunday that Russia's Gazprom has lessened gas exports to Germany and several European nations affected by technical problems due to a German firm, reported RT.

He spoke on TV and made remarks about the situation; he added measures taken to solve the gas problem that relates to the poor energy security experienced late.

It is understood that Germany is very dependent on energy exports from Russia; the latter cannot do without these energy supplies, cited News E-Servicis.

Last Tuesday, Gazprom, Russia's state-owned gas company, publicly stated a 40% reduction in shipments to Germany through the Nord Stream pipeline.

According to the energy firm, the German company Siemens, which had been commissioned to fix several compressor units, did not return the equipment on time, exacerbating the pipeline to function below capacity, noted Mass News.

Many nations like Germany asserted how Russia had weaponized its gas imports because of the support for Ukraine; also, many bloc states have supported sanctions.

Berlin and Moscow, after the Gazprom announcement, are at odds. The press asked the German energy minister if the public should ready itself for a harsh winter regarding fewer natural gas supplies via the Nord Stream 1. He told the media it's still under speculation, even if a grim lack of heating is faced.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth?

Germany Anticipated Latest Gas Supply Reduction

German officials have been alert that it cannot be avoided that Nord Stream 1 could have fewer natural gas deliveries cut by 60%. To prepare for this emergency, the government has contingencies for low gas supplies like from Nord Stream 1.

Habeck remarked that government efforts to keep gas reserves at a reasonable level for the time of the year, which is 57%. He added they would watch the situation.

One of the most crucial factors is for the gas supply to be adequate by winter, which should be at 90% as dictated by law.He said that Germany would need to buy more gas on the market while conserving energy to compensate for the loss. The German official remarked that Vladimir Putin has the gas supply, so European countries will pay more.

Habeck emerged less optimistic about the winter season in a five-page outline of Germany's energy policy cited by DPA on Sunday, asserting it could be difficult unless the country and its enterprises start trying to conserve energy.

Many European nations are paying for a record price hike of Russian energy that's getting higher. The special operation in the Donbas, Ukraine, which started in February, was fatal to the market, leading to rising costs caused by economic sanctions that boomeranged on bloc states and the US.

The EU has blocked or lessened imports of Russian coal and oil but left Russian gas untouched by the sanctions. Many bloc countries like Germany cannot survive without it.

Germany and its business representatives said cutting off Russian gas will kill the economy and is tantamount to economic suicide. Later, Vladimir Putin decreed all payments are in rubles or no supply, but a few agreed compared to others.

Berlin and Moscow are at odds over reduced natural gas supplies pumped via Nord Stream 1, which has problems attributed to Germany; like many bloc countries helping the US and supporting Ukraine, they fear it's a reprisal meant to wreak havoc with the EU economy especially.

Related Article: Chancellor Olaf Scholz Reluctant To Shutdown Nord Stream 1 as It Would Affect Germany's Natural Gas Reservoirs

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The leak of the draft Supreme Court opinion overturning the landmark abortion rights case, Roe v. Wade, sparked a flurry of protests around the country. The news raised concerns that other federal protections will be rolled back, including the right to birth control. In response to this federal volatility, a number of states have acted to protect access to abortion, and to reproductive health care more generally. Laudably, Gov. Ned Lamont led the nation in signing legislation protecting and expanding access to abortion in Connecticut, but the state should go further, by taking urgent action to expand access to contraception.

As health care professionals, we believe it is imperative that Connecticut allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal birth control directly to patients. Connecticut lags behind many peer states in its failure to take this step. To date, 17 states and the District of Columbia allow pharmacist-prescribed contraception, and 29 similar state bills have been introduced this year. Both neighboring Rhode Island and Massachusetts are considering similar proposals this legislative cycle, with significant support from community advocates.

Even though birth control pills have been legal for decades, many women face problems obtaining them. This issue is particularly acute in Connecticut. According to data released by Power to Decide, an advocacy organization, an estimated 180,000 lower-income women in our state live in contraceptive deserts, facing significant barriers to contraceptive access. Nationally, 30 percent of surveyed women who tried to obtain a prescription for birth control reported difficulties. Two of the most frequently cited barriers were not having a doctor and trouble getting an appointment. One of us, a gynecology resident, recently saw a patient who became pregnant while waiting months for a birth control appointment. Allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control would dramatically decrease these delays in care and promote equitable access.

Over half of women who did not want to become pregnant reported it would be a big personal advantage to have pharmacist-prescribed birth control, and 41 percent of those not using contraceptives said they would start if available from pharmacists. Physicians, too, are broadly supportive of increasing access to contraceptives at the pharmacy level, with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Academy of Family Physicians releasing opinions going a step further, supporting over-the-counter access even without a pharmacists prescription.

This broad support is due, in part, to evidence demonstrating the safety of over-the-counter and pharmacist-prescribed contraception. Evidence of the general safety of oral contraceptives is overwhelming, and they are taken by 14 percent of women aged 15-49. However, hormonal contraception, like any drug, carries risks. Of particular concern for combined birth control pills  those with both estrogen and progestin  is the risk for blood clots, a rare complication that is more likely in women with identifiable underlying health conditions.

In Oregon, where pharmacist-prescribed birth control is already legal, a study showed that pharmacists are comparable to physicians in their ability to identify these health problems. Several additional studies demonstrate that patients themselves are capable of self-screening their eligibility for hormonal contraceptives, leading to ACOGs recommendation that hormonal contraception ultimately be available over-the-counter and without age restrictions. Connecticut now has a pressing opportunity to adopt the intermediate step in ACOGs recommendation  allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraception.

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade imminent, and the threat of further reduced federal protections, legislators must act swiftly to protect reproductive freedom in Connecticut. This not only includes ensuring continued access to abortion, but expanding access to contraception, as well. Allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives is a key step in such an expansion, by reducing the significant delays and costs involved in seeing a physician, in addition to reducing the current strain on the health care system. Existing protections must also be shorn up, and support given to federal reform where possible. Connecticut is a national leader in protecting access to health care, and should continue to lead by urgently expanding access to contraception for all who need it.

Dr. Blake Shultz is a fellow at the Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy at Yale Law School and an incoming emergency medicine resident at MGH/Brigham Hospitals. He is a recent graduate of Yale School of Medicine and Yale Law School, as well as Cornell University. Dr. Sara Tannenbaum is a senior resident OBGYN physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital. She is a graduate of Harvard University and Yale School of Medicine.
As tensions over regional security rise, China has issued a scary message to Joe Biden by claiming the Taiwan Straits are not international seas.

The announcement comes as China's rhetoric on the disputed island heats up, with Defense Minister Wei Fenghe declaring that Beijing is willing to go to war for its claimed sovereign territory. During discussions in Singapore, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin advised China not to engage in any more destabilizing acts in the area. According to one defense analyst, China has now increased tensions in the region by sending a warning over extremely important waterways.

China Warns US About Taiwan

Warnings have been conveyed at numerous meetings between US and Chinese officials, causing the Biden administration some anxiety. The United States and its main allies claim that much of the strait is international water, and they frequently send Navy boats through it as part of freedom of passage drills.

The United States has rejected China's assertions over the choke point waterway. Officials in the Biden administration have opted to reject China's ambiguous new argument that the Taiwan Strait is not international waters, and are increasingly afraid that the attitude would result in more regular maritime battles, Express reported.

Analysts predict that as Washington pulls closer to Taipei, Beijing will put even more pressure on the self-ruled island to fulfill its aim of seizing control. The judgment comes after two US senators filed legislation on Thursday to increase support for the island through billions of dollars in security aid and modifications to the statute that underpins Washington's unofficial relations with Taiwan.

It came after Chinese Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe said on Sunday that Beijing would fight at all costs any attempt to declare Taiwan independent and that it was working hard to peacefully reunify the island with the mainland.

Tensions are high across the Taiwan Strait, with the People's Liberation Army increasing its activity near the island in recent years, while the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom have all deployed warships through the strait on freedom of navigation patrols. China's foreign ministry stated on Monday that Beijing has sovereign powers over the Taiwan Strait, dismissing US allegations that it is international seas.

According to Ridzwan Rahmat, a lead defense analyst at Janes, the likelihood of an armed clash between Beijing and Taiwan is much higher now than it was five years ago.

China launched a new aircraft carrier, the Fujian, on Friday, bringing the fleet to three and marking the country's first domestically manufactured carrier. According to David Silbey, a military historian at Cornell University in Washington, Beijing is also anticipated to pursue reunification through a variety of non-military means, as per South China Morning Post.

Read Also: Emmanuel Macron Willing To Meet Vladimir Putin in Russia Under Certain Conditions

China Plans To Start War Against Taiwan

Meanwhile, a leaked video from a Chinese invasion planning conference purportedly reveals officials pledging they will not hesitate to launch a war and destroy Taiwan. The video is said to be of a high-level strategy talk concerning invasion preparations involving 140,000 men among some of the country's leading soldiers and authorities.

The audio and a covertly shot image were released by top members of the military, according to a Chinese expatriate living in the United States. It is stated that they were concerned that China's increasing hostility against Taiwan was a threat to peace and risked their lives to make the recording public.

The video purports to be of a meeting of the Military-Civilian Joint Command in the southern city of Guangzhou to discuss mobilization plans for an invasion of Taiwan. Wang Dinggang, a Chinese-born exile living in the United States, formed Lude Media, which made the recording public. He has sparked controversy because of his relationship with Li-Meng Yan, who says that Covid was purposefully developed in a lab by the Chinese.

The recording has not been confirmed independently. However, the tone appears to be consistent with what Chinese leaders have stated publicly subsequently, with Beijing pledging to destroy Taiwan and warning it won't hesitate to launch a war following a meeting with the US, according to The Sun.

Related Article: China: New Advanced Aircraft Carrier on Par With United States', Can Launch Fighter Jets With More Ammo

@YouTube

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China encourages renminbi settlement in new models of foreign trade

Xinhua) 09:07, June 21, 2022

BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China's central bank has ramped up support for renminbi settlement in new forms and models of foreign trade to better serve the real economy and facilitate trade and investment.

In a recent circular, the People's Bank of China improved policies for cross-border renminbi business in e-commerce and other new models of foreign trade. The business scope of payment institutions will be expanded from goods and services trade to current accounts, and risk prevention and control will be strengthened with clear requirements for authenticity verification and anti-money laundering work, among other issues.

Effective July 21, the new policies will provide better financial services for trade companies, guide the healthy development of new trade models, and help stabilize the economy, according to the central bank.

Apart from e-commerce, new forms and models of foreign trade also include market procurement, offshore trade, and overseas warehouses. China has stepped up efforts to boost the growth of these new forms and models of foreign trade to push forward the upgrade of foreign trade and foster new competitive strengths.

(Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun)
Following a power outage, food purchased with SNAP benefits can be replaced for free. The benefit is not new, but the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reminds food assistance recipients that food that spoils during a power outage can be replaced.

The power outage must last at least four hours. Reimbursement for food loss cannot exceed monthly benefits and, once authorized, will be credited to the Ohio Direction Card. People affected must submit a claim form to their county's Department of Job and Family Services within 10 days of a power outage (CDJFS).

Before replenishing benefits, the CDJFS will need to verify the lengthy power loss; thus, we request families to produce proof of the extended power outage. This includes images of news articles, SMS or email notifications, or outage maps indicating that their specific location was without power for four hours or longer, according to WKBN Youngstown via MSN.

How To Apply For SNAP Benefits in Ohio?

If you lost power during the storms last week in Ohio, you may be eligible for replacement SNAP payments. According to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks' Facebook page, if you get SNAP and lose power for four consecutive hours or more, you have 10 days to obtain replacement benefits. The following are the processes to obtain replacement SNAP benefits:

1. Complete and return this form to your county's Department of Job and Family Services.: https://www.mcohio.org/SNAP%20Replacement%20Application...

2. Include proof if possible.

3. More information about who qualifies: https://jfs.ohio.gov/.../FoodAssistanceReplacementBenefit.

Your perishable foods are unlikely to be safe to ingest after four hours in a closed refrigerator without power. Your frozen foods are unlikely to be safe to ingest after 24 to 48 hours in a closed freezer, as per WTRF.

Read Also: Omicron Variant Found Less Likely To Cause Long COVID Than Delta Variant

SNAP Benefits July Payment Schedule

SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, is the largest government aid program, providing low-income households with food-purchasing assistance. SNAP is managed at the state level, although being governed by the US Department of Agriculture.

Payments are put into SNAP accounts, which are connected to EBT cards, every month. EBT cards are known by different names in different states, so yours may be different.

Cards can be swiped at POS machines in grocery shops, big merchants, and farmer's markets that participate. To complete the transaction, you must enter your PIN. Don't forget to bring your sales receipt, which shows how much money is still in your SNAP account. You may also be able to purchase SNAP-eligible items online at participating merchants depending on your state. Benefits can be used to buy qualified foods such as

Fruits and vegetables

Meat, fish and poultry

Dairy products

Bread and cereals

Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages

Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat

Benefits from SNAP cannot be used to buy alcoholic drinks, tobacco products, vitamins, prescriptions, supplements, other nonfood goods. Your state determines your SNAP deposit schedule.

Payments are often allocated based on the last four digits of your state identity number. Some governments, however, may deliver rewards on a specific date each month. States also have varying standards when it comes to payment days that fall on weekends or holidays. Check with your state's program for the SNAP deposit schedule, Go Banking Rates reported.

Related Article: Stimulus Checks 2022: Missouri, Ohio To Provide Up to $500 as New Payments

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Ten royals attended Ascot's opening day but none were free to mark the concurrent 40th anniversary of Falklands Liberation Day at Staffordshire's National Memorial Arboretum.

The memorial lists the names of those killed on both sides during the conflict. As a mark of respect all holders of the South Atlantic Medal  issued to mark the 1982 conflict  have now been awarded the Freedom of the Falkland Islands, including Prince Andrew.

Perhaps Air Commodore Nigel Phillips, current governor of the remote outpost, might take early retirement giving Freeman Andrew an opportunity to return to the South Atlantic in an official role far from public view.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) lays a wreath at the Drumhead before addressing veterans and family members during a memorial event to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War at The National Memorial Arboretum on June 14, 2022

Widely condemned for endorsing Putin's war, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill seems to have one friend in the Archbishop of Canterbury. Justin Welby appears to have condemned the sanctions against the patriarch, suggesting that they support the narrative that the Ukraine war is a defensive fight for the survival of Russia.

In a letter to The Times, the Rev Canon Malcolm Rogers  the archbishop's diplomatic representative to Kirill  writes: 'Unfortunately this is being portrayed here in Moscow as a UK attack on Russian culture and people, and another reason to justify sending soldiers to Ukraine.'

Rachel Johnson, pictured, asked 'adoring' Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries what she sees in Boris Johnson when she gazes at him in the chamber.

Dorries said: 'I don't fancy your brother  not a bit... I think he knows.'

Rachel replied: 'He'll be gutted.'

Rachel Johnson poses for a photograph at the Cheltenham Literature Festival

BBC defector Jon Sopel, confirming that he was offered Laura Kuenssberg's political editor job, tells the Media Society: 'I was really flattered to be asked and appreciated the trust the big cheeses at the BBC had in me to do the job after Laura.'

Describing himself and fellow Global recruit Emily Maitlis as two small BBC sandcastles swept away by the tide and soon forgotten, he adds: 'I spoke to one or two people who I confided in and they said to me, 'I would not wish that job on my worst enemy.' Didn't anyone bother to tell Laura's replacement Chris Mason?

After welcoming talks with Greece to share the Elgin Marbles, might British Museum chairman George Osborne now consider handing back other antiquities?

For the museum also possesses precious treasures from the Tomb of Menekrates which were removed in Victorian times from Corfu  where Osborne vehemently denies accusations of soliciting donations to the Tory party from the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

Superannuated weatherman Bill Giles predicts a rain-free summer, telling Radio Times: 'I'm supremely optimistic that the forecast for the coming summer  not to mention the next fortnight in SW19  will be one to remember.'

A word in your shell-like, Bill: In 1987 your colleague Michael Fish reassured a viewer the weather was set fair. A hurricane quickly followed.
A recent college graduate who launched a lucrative career as a 'theme park nanny' gets paid to go to Disney World after turning her unique babysitting service into a full-fledged company.

Cyan Nardiello, 23, from New Jersey, was a senior at the University of Central Florida in 2020 when she founded Once Upon a Nanny, which offers in-theme park childcare for families visiting top attractions in Florida and California, including Disney and Universal Studios.

The CEO and her 'fairy god nannies' charge $40 an hour for their services, which range from helping parents with their children inside the parks to hotel babysitting for couples looking for a date night.

'If the family I'm working for wants an extra set of hands, I'll stay with them through the park,' she told Insider. 'I can also take the children to do age-appropriate activities while parents go on bigger rides or drink around the world at Epcot.'

Cyan Nardiello, 23, from New Jersey, has launched a career as a 'theme park nanny'

She was a senior at the University of Central Florida in 2020 when she founded Once Upon a Nanny, which offers in-theme park childcare for families

When hired for in-hotel caregiving, Nardiello and her crew will take children to the pool or play board games with them inside their room while their parents enjoy some alone time.

'These vacations are expensive, and I believe parents should be able to have just as much fun as their children,' she explained.

Nardiello visited Disney World with her family for the first time when she was 13 and fell in love with it. She was so enamored that she chose to attend the University of Central Florida simply because it was close to the theme park.

She was working as a nanny for a seven-year-old when she offered to take her to Disney World to celebrate her last day of school, which turned into a tradition for them.

Nardiello would post about their adventures on the Walt Disney World Annual Passholder page on Facebook, according to Fox Business.

Nardiello documents her life as a theme park nanny on TikTok and Instagram, where she shares whimsical photos and videos of herself with her charges

Nardiello was working as a nanny for a seven-year-old when she offered to take her to Disney World to celebrate her last day of school, and the outings became a tradition for them

When families started reaching out to her about watching their children at the theme park, she realized there was an untapped market for her services.

'I decided to make a business out of it before someone stole my idea,' she told Insider. 'I wasn't really planning on making Once Upon a Nanny what it is, but I realized that there's a demand for it.'

However, just when business was booming, the COVID-19 pandemic struck and Disney announced in March 2020 that its theme parks would be temporarily closed.

Nardiello was able to restart her business with new safety measures, including masks, once the parks started phasing reopening that July.

She shares videos of her theme park nanny outings on TikTok, where she has nearly 50,000 followers. She also posts whimsical photos of herself and their staffers with their charges on Instagram.

Nardiello posted about their adventures on the Walt Disney World Annual Passholder page on Facebook, which led to other parents asking her to watch their children at the theme park

The nanny realized she had stumbled upon a business venture with an untapped market and launched Once Upon a Nanny

The business owner detailed what her company offers in a TikTok video in December.

'You're probably thinking, "What is a Disney nanny?" We help families in the theme parks with literally whatever they need,' she explained. 'This could look like a family with a large number of kids who need a pair of extra eyes and hands.

'This could look like some parents who just want a couple of hours by themselves. This could also look like parents who want to ride the bigger rides that their little ones can't go on,' she continued. 'We can do anything. We meet the families in the parks, we have fun, and then we leave.'

Nardiello now has 26 caregivers who have CPR and first aid certifications, knowledge of the theme parks, and at least three years of childcare experience with a range of ages, according to the Once Upon a Nanny website.

They also have their own admissions passes to the parks, which is one less thing for parents to have to worry about.

The CEO and her 'fairy god nannies' charge $40 an hour for their services, which range from helping parents inside the parks to hotel babysitting

Nardiello now has 26 caregivers on staff who have knowledge of all the theme parks

Once Upon a Nanny offers three different services for both local and visiting families.

The 'helping hands' option is for parents who want a nanny with them as they tour the parks with their children.

'Parent play' allows adults to enjoy older activities while their caregiver takes their little ones on age-appropriate activities.

And those who book a 'hotel hangout' can enjoy some time to themselves while a nanny babysits their children at their resort accommodations.

Nardiello told Insider that the service is a hit with both parents and their children.

'Parents will reach out and say: "Our kids can't stop talking about the time they got to go to Disney with a fairy god nanny,"' she said.
Primark famously doesn't offer online shopping, despite demand from customers but now fans of the budget retailer will be able to order some clothing from the brand's website.

The fast fashion giant is making its budget-friendly kidswear available to buy online, much to the delight of parents.

Trialing a click-and-collect service in 25 stores in the north of England, Primark will be launching 2,000 products across children's clothes and accessories on its website later this year.

It comes after the brand relaunched its website in April to allow customers to browse thousands of items and check availability before heading to stores.

The Irish multinational has always resisted calls to offer online shopping, claiming the cost of the service and processing a high number of returns would mean raising prices.

Primark has announced that it is launching a Click & Collect trial across 25 of its stores in Northern England, for its kidswear and accessories

The budget friendly retailer will be launching 2,000 products online this year, spanning everything from clothes and accessories, to nursery products & toys

The Click & Collect range will feature the latest childrenswear collections, new exclusive styles, expanded ranges from Primarks license partners, and larger items such as nursery products and multipacks of kids clothes.

In addition, it offers the opportunity to have seasonal product such as rainwear and beach and holiday wear, available throughout the year.

Paul Marchant, Primark Chief Executive said: 'The Click & Collect trial is a milestone for our business and builds on the investments weve made over the last two years in new technology and people to make this possible.

'This trial will give customers so much more of what they love and a new way to shop with us. It brings together more choice and greater convenience and complements the great instore experience that is at the heart of our business. We think it will also give us an opportunity to reach new customers by highlighting the fantastic collection that we have for kids of all ages.

The Click & Collect range will focus on latest trends, brand new exclusive styles, expanded ranges from Primarks license partners, larger items such as nursery products and multipacks of kids clothes

Primark's children's collection are playful yet practical, currently offering a range of wedding guest outfits to swimsuits and holiday essentials

'Weve chosen to trial the new service in a region where we have a wide range of stores of different sizes and formats and we cant wait to see the customer response.'

More details, including the stores taking part, will be confirmed in the coming months.

In April this year, Primark launched a new-look website allowing customers to browse thousands of items and check availability before heading to stores.

Primark has chosen to trial its new service in a region where it has a wide range of stores of different sizes and formats

Primark's new service will enhance the customer experience following on from the launch of its new UK website in April

The value fashion retailer promised online shoppers its biggest ever range to browse from home, with products including clothes, homeware and beauty items.

The store previously showcased a very limited range of stock online and there was no way of checking store availability.

Its updated website features a resource allowing customers to check whether a certain garment is available in their size at their nearest store, to 'better connect the journey between searching online and then shopping in store'.

The website initially launched in the UK and will be rolled out to Primark's 13 other markets in the coming months.

In a statement, the retailer said the move marks a shift in the role of digital within the business as it recognises the critical role online can play to support sales in-store.

Primark said the site's product pages will house more information and better imagery, while shoppers will also have access to improved search functionality and product filtering, such as by size and colour.
An Irish hospital trust has suspended home births following the death of a woman who died after developing life threatening complications while giving birth to her first child.

Laura Liston, a probation officer from Co Sligo in her 30s, who was described as 'gentle and caring' by a former schoolmate, was giving birth to her son Shay, at home in Croom on June 5.

According to reports, Laura was rushed to University Hospital Limerick after developing complications during labour, where she was pronounced dead.

The UL Hospitals Group, which released a statement on Friday, said home births have been temporarily suspended, pending an HSE review of the tragedy.

Laura Liston (pictured) died after developing life-threatening complications while giving birth to her first child, a son called Shay, earlier this month

During Laura's funeral on June 10, her husband Fergal thanked all attendees for their support, sharing a message on the funeral service booklet, which also featured an image of baby Shay.

The message said: 'Fergal and Shay together with the Liston and Mannion families wish to thank everyone who attended Mass today and for all the kind expressions of sympathy and support received at this very sad time.'

Speaking a week later, Father Richard Davern, who officiated the funeral mass, described Laura's death as 'the most tragic case [he has] ever witnessed in [his] ministry or ever dealt with'.

He added: 'I just hope to God that the family will find strength.

Laura, pictured here with her husband Fergal, was described as 'gentle, kind and caring to all' by a former schoolmate

'They have great hope with the little boy, indeed he has given them great hope and something to focus on at this awful time.

'I suppose it is ironic that the weakest one, a little baby, is actually going to be the strongest bind that keeps the family together and keep them motivated, its sad beyond words, God love them.'

An online condolences book was signed by a number of Laura's friends.

Former classmate Jillian Halpin, who attended Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick, wrote: 'I am shocked and so saddened to hear of Laura's passing. I have such lovely memories with Laura during our time in secondary school. She was gentle, kind and caring to all. My sympathies to both the Liston and Mannion families. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam.

Laura's husband Fergal thanked everyone who attended Laura's funeral mass earlier this month in the funeral service booklet, in which he shared an image of baby Shay

Meanwhile former colleague Breffni Coffey wrote: 'I worked with Laura in Tusla. She was an amazing colleague, hard working, always had your back and always such great fun to be around.'

Is it safe to give birth at home? Expectant mothers can choose whether to give birth in hospital or at home. The vast majority of mothers opt to have their babies on maternity wards, but an increasing number are choosing home births. Stillbirth charity Tommy's says that if a mother has had a child before and the pregnancy is low risk, then giving birth at home is 'generally a safe and suitable option'. They said this was because a mother was less likely to need interventions. And the chance of having a baby with serious medical problems are not affected by where you plan to give birth. They added there were also practical advantages to giving birth at home, such as more comfortable surroundings. Mothers should not have a home birth, they said, if they have medical conditions, have had previous problems with pregnancy, developed complications during pregnancy, or are expecting more than one baby. Source: Tommy's Advertisement

UL Hospitals Group's statement, which did not name Laura, said: 'We can confirm that we have temporarily suspended the home birth service in the Mid-West following a recent maternal death.

'The staff of UL Hospitals Group and of the home birth service would like to extend profound sympathies to the family involved on their devastating loss.

'We have commissioned an external review of the home birth service in the Mid-West.

'A group of external experts, including those with midwifery and obstetrics expertise, is being assembled to conduct the review; looking at patient safety, clinical governance and any other issues arising.'

According to a hospital spokesperson, it has contacted women who were due to have a home birth in the coming months to discuss their care.

They added that there were 4,294 births at the hospital last year.

Meanwhile, there were around 650 home births nationally in the same time period.

Laura is survived by her son Shay, as well as husband Fergal, her siblings Jenifer, Sarah, John-Robert, and her parents Fiona and John.
According to reports, Prince William is attempting to guarantee that Prince Andrew steps down fully from his function as a royal in the aftermath of his continuing sex scandal.

The Duke of York resigned from royal responsibilities when the Queen stripped him of his military titles and HRH status in January following a sex scandal. Prince Andrew disputed the charges and later reached an out-of-court settlement with his accuser. The settlement does not constitute an admission of guilt.

Source: Prince William Wants Prince Andrew to Vanish

Prince William looks to be taking a more active part in keeping Prince Andrew behind closed doors. According to Daily Mail, Prince William has strong feelings about the Duke of York and feels that his determination on clinging to a public position is very perilous for the institution.

Another person, a friend, claimed that Prince William would have cut Prince Andrew lose a long time ago if it had been up to him. This comes after Prince Andrew was allegedly enraged when he was denied access to the ornate Garter Day parade at Windsor Castle earlier this month.

The Duke of York was not visible in public at the event as Prince Charles and Prince William reportedly persuaded the Queen to keep Prince Andrew hidden. After anticipating to be a part of the celebration, Prince Andrew was claimed to be saddened and perplexed by the decision; it was presumably a last-minute decision from the Queen as Andrew had allegedly been placed on the Order of Service.

Prince Andrew has previously missed the Queen's Platinum Jubilee festivities due to a positive COVID-19 test. When it comes to Andrew's future as a royal, sources indicate that William and Charles agree on his public position.

They also have similar perspectives on the family's future vision, according to another insider, who added that William is "totally on the same page as his father, always has been, always will be."

It comes as Prince William and Kate Middleton prepare to relocate from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage near Windsor Castle in the coming weeks, easing William into taking on additional responsibilities from the Queen as she struggles with mobility concerns. The Cambridges are supposed to spend time with the monarch as a family, and Prince William is said to call his grandmother many times a week, as per Mirror.

Read Also: WWE: Former Referees Dave Hebner, Tim White Pass Away in Sad Week for Wrestling Fans

Prince Andrew's New Legal Battle

Prince Andrew is facing new legal challenges after attorneys representing an alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein threatened to serve him with court documents yesterday. Caroline Kaufman, 28, alleges Jeffrey Epstein raped her when she was 17 in December 2010.

Her agents claim that Prince Andrew paid a visit to the pedophile financier in his New York house on the same night, and they are demanding a response from the Duke. During the visit, he was photographed inside the Upper East Side home, and Kaufman's supporters think he may testify.

The court lawsuit makes no charge of misconduct against Duke, nor does it assert that he was aware of an assault on Kaufman. Her lawyer, Spencer Kuvin, said he would consider presenting Andrew with legal paperwork to extract a statement.

Kaufman said in her lawsuit against Epstein's $630 million inheritance, filed in Manhattan Federal Court, that she was invited to his home for a modeling interview. She claims she was then escorted to a massage parlor, where the billionaire reportedly raped her, Express reported.

Related Article: Meghan Markle Bullying Claims: Why The Royal Palace Seals Probe Into Allegations Despite Leads to Raft of Changes

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Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has been seen visiting the Royal Academy of Arts donning a gorgeous black frock paired with yellow heels and a clutch, before changing into a far more casual outfit.

On Tuesday June 20 the 50-year-old royal attended the Dutch-Danish business conference event in The Hague, Netherlands alongside her husband, Crown Prince Fredrick.

Shortly after, the princess changed into a coordinated tailored Scanlan Theodore blazer and wide-leg trousers with sneakers for a comfortable look.

She paired the suit with a Chanel tote bag which costs roughly $3,830.

On Tuesday June 20, Crown Princess Mary (right) and Crown Prince Fredrick (left) attended the Royal Academy of Arts The Hague, Netherlands

The princess donned a stunning black frock paired with elegant jewellery, a clutch and heels

Shortly after, the 50-year-old Danish royal changed into a coordinated tailored Scanlan Theodore blazer and wide-leg trousers with sneakers for a comfortable look (pictured)

To match the elegant look of the black dress, the princess' hair was neatly tied back in a low bun and her makeup looked flawless with a soft pink lip.

Sigrid Kaag and her partner Anis al-Qaq also attended the Grand Dinner at the Grote Kerk in The Hague alongside Princess Mary and Prince Fredrick.

The royal couple were seen smiling and holding hands as they interacted with other guests.

Sigrid Kaag (middle left) and her partner Anis al-Qaq (left) also attended the Grand Dinner at the Grote Kerk in The Hague alongside the royal couple

After changing into the tailored suit, the princess opted to have her hair and flowing in the breeze and wore small hoop earrings and a gold pendant.

Princess Mary gave a speech at the Seminar on Smart Hospitals and Future Health Care.

Undoubtedly the princess would've felt far more comfortable wearing the sneakers and blazer rather than the heels and dress.

The Australian-born Royal, 50, accentuated her trim figure in an orange top which she tucked into a tailored Scanlan Theodore blazer and wide-leg trousers, as she arrived in The Hague

Frederik wore a navy coloured suit with a red and blue coloured tie.

Afterwards, Crown Princess Mary visited Provinciehuis Zuid-Holland and The Royal Academy of Art, The Hague.

During the visit, the Crown Princess met with Danish students who study sustainable textiles.

She paired the suit with a Chanel tote bag which costs roughly $3,830

Mary styled her hair in a bouncy blow-dry and wore natural-looking foundation

Princess Mary gave a speech at the Seminar on Smart Hospitals and Future Health Care

Also in attendance was her husband Prince Frederik who wore a navy coloured suit with a red and blue coloured tie

Princess Mary famously met her husband, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, by chance at Sydney pub the Slip Inn during the 2000 Olympics.

After their encounter, Frederik - who was in Australia to support Denmark's Olympic sailing team - asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed.

'The first time we met we shook hands. I didn't know he was the Prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, "Do you know who these people are?"' Mary revealed in an interview about meeting the heir to the Danish throne.

They maintained a long-distance relationship for a year, with Frederik making secret trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark to study Danish language at Copenhagen's Studieskolen in 2001.

Princess Mary and her husband, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, are pictured attending a ballet gala honouring the Queen's 50th jubilee

In early 2003, Frederik's mother Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged the relationship and the couple announced their engagement at Amalienborg Castle later that year on October 8.

Frederik and Mary married on May 14, 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral, with the newly minted Crown Princess opting for a beautiful gown by Danish designer Uffer Frank and a veil first used by Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden in 1905.

Their first child, Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John, was born October 15, 2005; Princess Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe followed on April 21, 2007.

Almost four years later Mary and Frederik welcomed twins, Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda and Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen on January 8, 2011.
Shoppers are rushing to get their hands on a new $11 facial cleaning brush from Kmart that promises to remove dirt and oil from the skin - but some suggest it could be used for an entirely different purpose.

The budget product gained instant attraction overnight after Australian TikToker Emily shared a now-viral video, which has since exceeded more than 1.3million views.

'I went to Kmart and saw this facial cleaning brush. Well. I mean it might work,' she said before turning the device on and placing it on the bathroom counter.

To her surprise, the gadget violently vibrated and can be seen moving around on the bench.

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The 2-in-1 Electronic Facial Cleansing Brush from Kmart (pictured) has caught the attention of thousands on TikTok overnight

Australian TikToker Emily shared a now-viral video showing how the device works, which has since exceeded more than 1.3million views. To her surprise, the gadget violently vibrated and can be seen moving around on the bench

In the comments hundreds of other women seemed to have similar X-rated thoughts regarding the use of the battery-operated gadget, suggesting it could be used for female pleasure.

One woman wrote: 'Whoever designed this knew what they were doing.'

The official account of skincare brand Frank Body also left a comment and wrote: 'Is it still in stock? (Asking for a friend).'

An employee from Vush, an Aussie brand that sells adult pleasure toys, wrote: 'Now I'm panicking.. because I'm going to lose my job.'

Another woman added: 'I have a sudden interest in skincare.'

A third TikTok user joking dubbed the Kmart item as an '11/10 must-buy.'

According to the online product description, the produce is designed to remove dirt and oil from pores to leave your skin looking fresh and smooth

According to the online product description, the produce is designed to remove dirt and oil from pores to leave your skin looking fresh and smooth.

It's claimed the product doesn't provide any irritation to the skin after applying the interchangeable brush to your face.

The device should be used after applying a facial cleanser.
Sophie Wessex showed her prowess at diplomatic dressing today as she donned the colours of the Cypriot flag to kick off her official visit.

Looking summery, the mother-of-two sported a white dress with orange and pink polka dots as she joined Prince Edward at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia.

The couple were welcomed by President Anastasiades and the First Lady at the start of their three-day visit to the country and the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia.

Prince Edward inspected the Guard of Honour at the Presidential Palace and the couple looked engaged as they laughed with

Their trip is designed to 'celebrate the ties of friendship' between the UK and the fellow Commonwealth state, and show support for the British Armed Forces based overseas.

Sophie Wessex showed her prowess at diplomatic dressing today as she donned the colours of the Cypriot flag to kick off her official visit

Sophie wore her hair swpet back in a low chignon for the occasion and accessorised with a gold pendant necklace and matching earrings

She teamed her outfit with a woven clutch bag and sported three bracelets on her right wrist. The couple looked engaged as they chatted to President Anastasiades and the First Lady of Cyprus

Sophie wore her hair swept back in a low chignon for the occasion and accessorised with a gold pendant necklace and matching earrings.

She teamed her outfit with a woven clutch bag and sported three bracelets on her right wrist, including a white beaded one and two gold chain link accessories.

Meanwhile, Prince Edward looked smart in a pinstriped suit, which he paired with a red tie with white polka dots.

During the visit, the couple will also continue celebrations for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee at a reception hosted by the British High Commissioner to Cyprus.

Recognising the UKs contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) is also on the agenda, with a visit planned to the UN Buffer Zone to hear more about the wider UN mission in Cyprus.

Welcome to Cyprus! The couple were seen laughing with the President and First Lady during their official welcome

Sophie elevated her look by styling her blonde locks into a low chignon, and accessories with an orange leather clutch

As a champion of the UNs Women, Peace and Security agenda, The Countess will meet women and young people from across the island, including the Cypriot members of the Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth network.

Prince Edward will also meet students from across the island who are working towards their Duke of Edinburghs Award.

Honouring the role of the British Armed Forces overseas will also form part of the visit when the couple meet service personnel and their families to hear more about their roles in current operations.

The couple sat down with President Nicos Anastasiades and his wife Andri at the start of their visit

Prince Edward looked smart in a grey suit he paired with a red tie with white polka dots and a red pocket square

Sophie was the picture of poise during her first Cyprus engagement today. Prince Edward drank her every word

The couple looked relaxed and enthusiastic about learning more about Cyprus throughout their visit
As Prince William turns 40 today, royal experts have debated whether the Duke of Cambridge is really doing anything to shake up the monarchy in the 21st century.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, historian Tessa Dunlop, said 'he is simply working out how to make the royal family relevant', and challenged the notion that he's a moderniser.

She said that royalty has always been involvedin philanthropy, and said there's nothing radical in William's approach.

It comes after William marked his birthday by appearing on the cover of The Big Issue after he spoke of his desire to end homelessness in the UK and he took to the streets of London to sell copies of the magazine.

However, royal expert Emily Andrews challenged this, saying that William's speech supporting Commonwealth countries who want to become independent is a sign he's doing things differently.

As Prince William turns 40 today, his vision reportedly comprises to shake up and modernise the monarchy a Royal Commentator claimed in a Good Morning Britain debate

Royal Commentator Emily Andrews appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday to debate wether Prince William can modernise the monarchy

Tessa pointed out that 'we've had a philanthropic monarchy for well over 100 years' and this isn't something new.

She said: 'One of the ways of binding the monarch, the future King, The Prince Of Wales to the hearts and minds of the people was to do good things.'

She argued that the monarchy recognises the 'big cause of the moment' and focus on that.

The historian argued 'It is traditional rather than radical' however she agrees it is not 'necessarily bad thing.'

Historian Tessa Dunlop said 'he is simply working out how to make the royal family relevant' and argued 'It is traditional rather than radical'

Tessa argued that the monarchy recognise the 'big cause of the moment' and they focus on that

Emily said she disagreed with Tessa because she believes William has already made a difference and he is already changing the way things are done by the monarchy.

She pointed out that he reacted 'really well' and made a 'landmark speech' after the colonial images from his Caribbean tour.

The royal commentator said: 'At the end of that tour he made a landmark speech in my opinion, effectively saying countries that wanted their independence that didn't want to be part of the British monarchy absolutely should be a part of their own future, and the British monarchy would support whatever they wanted to do.'

She went on: 'Here is William saying, "You know what, we should be doing things differently. We are in the 21st century. Countries should be able to rule themselves and decide who they have as heads of state".

The debate comes after William revealed he hopes to show his three children the 'fantastic' homelessness organisations he works with - 'just as my mother did for me.'

The Duke of Cambridge wrote for the magazine to explain why he wanted to shine a light on the issue for his milestone, which he celebrates tomorrow, after going undercover as a Big Issue seller on the streets of London earlier this month.

He also recalled how his interest in the issue of homelessness started aged 11, when he first visited a homeless shelter with his mother, the Princess of Wales. He added that Diana, 'in her own inimitable style, was determined to shine a light on an overlooked, misunderstood problem'.

The magazine, sold by people in order to lift themselves out of poverty, also includes an interview between William and Dave Martin, 60, the Big Issue vendor he joined to sell the magazine

The magazine, sold by people in order to lift themselves out of poverty, also includes an interview between William and Dave Martin, 60, the Big Issue vendor he joined to sell the magazine. Together that afternoon they sold 32 copies.

William, who is father to, Prince George eight, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, wrote: 'I was 11 when I first visited a homeless shelter with my mother, who in her own inimitable style was determined to shine a light on an overlooked, misunderstood problem.

'In the 30-odd years since, I've seen countless projects in this space grow from strength to strength, including charities of which I have had the honour of being Patron.

Dr Neil said William (pictured) 'was a key member of the team, and he worked 12 hour shifts with four men'

He continued: 'I wanted to experience the other side and see what it was like to be a Big Issue vendor. My time was truly eye opening.

On ITV's Lorraine on Tuesday royal reporter Jennie Bond, who followed and reported on Williams life, said his late mother Diana Princess of Wales 'influenced his life hugely' as she used to take him to homeless shelters as a young man.

Air Ambulance doctor Dr Neil Berry, who previously worked beside the Prince, also revealed William 'truly cares about people.'

Dr Neil said: He was a key member of the team, and he worked 12 hour shifts with four men so we were all very close.'

Williams former colleague admitted: 'He is an amazing pilot, he truly cared about the pilots, team and the patience.

He was such a genuine guy, such a nice guy, after the first meeting he was just one of the pilots.

Neil said he will be a 'fantastic King when he gets there.'
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Prince William will celebrate his 40th birthday quietly at home today - with plans for a bigger joint party with Kate, who missed celebrating her big day because of lockdown, said to be on the horizon for the royal couple in the summer.

As the Duke of Cambridge marks this milestone birthday, William at 40 appears to be relishing his role as future king, evolving into a global statesman comfortable on any stage - and remaining a figure of composure in spite of his very public recent estrangement from Prince Harry.

At the Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this month, Prince William confidently addressed the nation on his grandmother's behalf, delivering an impassioned speech at the gates of Buckingham Palace.

A doting father to George, eight, Charlotte, six, and Louis, four, his evolution from party prince to future king is now surely complete, with his once famous nights on the town increasingly rare.

Wind back the decades though to the Prince's teenage years and William cut a very different character, with the young royal regularly photographed enjoying London's high society nightclubs including Mahiki and the now-closed Boujis in South Kensington.

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Senior royal, statesman...and Dad: As the Duke of Cambridge celebrates a milestone birthday on Tuesday - turning 40 - the future king appears to be embracing a more serious role within the royal family (Pictured: William, centre, is pictured beaming with George, right, Charlotte, left, and Prince Louis, on his shoulders, in Jordan - the photo was released to mark Father's Day on Sunday)

From party prince to global statesman: (Pictured left: Prince William leaving Boujis nightclub in 2007, right: The Duke of Cambridge addressing the nation at Party on the Park during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations)

Right royal night out: William fully embraced his student years at St Andrew's University and periods of leave from the army in his early twenties; the royal was regularly seen spilling out of London's glitziest nightclubs (Pictured at now-closed Boujis in 2007)

Mayfair to BoMo: Prince William pictured posing with Brazilian student Ana Ferreira, left, at Elements in Bournemouth in 2007 while he was completing his army training nearby in Dorset

And Kate came too! The Cambridges pictured during their courtship, leaving Boujis nightclub in South Kensington in 2007. Right: Kate and William have embraced their roles as senior royals in recent years (Pictured right, earlier this year during their royal visit to the Caribbean)

Curse of the dad dancing: Prince William hasn't quite hung up his drinking boots; in 2017, he admitted he got 'in trouble' after he was pictured on a wild night out at a nightclub in Verbier

At Eton, William was promoted to prefect and cut a dashing figure in the school's uniform of a black tailcoat and waistcoat with a starched white collar.

But it was at the country's most exclusive boarding school that William's penchant for partying first emerged and by the time he'd enrolled at St Andrew's University to study geography, the prince was regularly papped enjoying student life.

Famously, Prince William met Kate Middleton while both were in the same year at the university.

The couple became friends in their first year before romance blossomed after William saw 'hot' Kate strut down a charity fashion show catwalk in a sheer dress. They graduated in 2005 and William proposed five years later.

Their romance wasn't without one serious wobble though.

In the spring of 2007, the second in line to the throne's life in the Army appeared to see him struggling to commit to the now Duchess of Cambridge, as he enjoyed nights out with his fellow soldiers, and reportedly partied with other women at his barracks.

The future of the British monarchy: The Cambridges played a key role in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations joining the Queen and Prince Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

Respect: A teenage William pictured with his grandmother; despite his penchant for partying, the Prince has never wavered in his commitment to public life

Prince William pictured at Eton in 2000, after growing up in public, the Prince now appears to be more confident in his role as future king

An education at exclusive Eton set the tone for William's love of c arousing with friends; something that continued into his twenties. Pictured: William during his time as an A-level student at Eton College

Action Prince: William's early twenties were dedicated to his life in the army and having fun when he wasn't serving - which saw his relationship with Kate Middleton falter as he struggled to juggle life in the military with a long-term girlfriend (Pictured in 2006)

Shortly after his graduation, William joined the Army, stating at the time that he didn't want to marry until he was '28 or 30'

After briefly splitting in 2007, the St Andrew's sweethearts were reunited - and William's commitment issues apparently resolved - and the couple announced their engagement in November 2010

Doting Dad: Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge leaving the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London, with their newborn son, Prince George of Cambridge in 2013

United front: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in March

Stateman: The couple, pictured at a dinner hosted by the Governor General of Jamaica at King's House in Kingston, Jamaica in March, have continued to take on the international duties that the Queen can no longer do - often dealing with difficult questions over the future of the Commonwealth

A blonde student who enjoyed a night out with the Prince and his friends while he was training to be an armoured troop commander in Camp Bovington in Dorset described the then 24-year-old royal as the 'perfect gentleman'; William was also pictured with his arm around an 18-year-old Brazilian student.

The pair announced their dramatic split in 2007. At the time, a 'close friend' of the Prince and Miss Middleton told The Sun newspaper: 'As far as Kate is concerned, William simply hasn't been paying her enough attention. Kate feels hugely frustrated that their relationship just seems to be going backwards at a rate of knots.'

Just a few months later, William's fears over committing to Kate appeared to have eased and the couple were reconciled, with the Prince proposing while on holiday in 2010.

At the height of his courtship with Kate in 2008, after his return from a secondment with HMS Iron Duke in the Caribbean, William let his hair down at Raffles in Sloane Square - with the couple spilling out of the club at 3:45am.

Heirs: Prince Charles and Prince William have maintained a close relationship - after revelations from Prince Harry have seen the once-close brothers estranged

While fatherhood has clearly seen Prince William embracing responsibility and middle age, the Duke showed he still loves a night out in 2017, when a then 34-year-old William, already Dad to Prince George, was filmed dancing with fellow skiers in the Farinet nightclub in Verbier.

Prince William skipped a major Commonwealth ceremony with the Queen to party with friends in the Swiss Alps where he was seen enjoying a boozy lunch with a glamorous Australian model.

Hours before other royals attended a service at Westminster Abbey to mark Commonwealth Day, an occasion with deep personal resonance for the monarch, the then 34-year-old future king was drinking and dancing in a club in the upmarket resort of Verbier.

In a series of video clips that emerged, he was seen putting his hands on the waist of a mystery blonde and gyrating with another glamorous clubgoer. William later commented to the BBC that his dad dancing had 'got me into trouble'.

As Prince William approaches his fifth decade though, the Cambridge family unit has never appeared more united, Kate and William frequently carry out public duties together - including for the raft of mental heath charities they support - and regularly share glimpses into their family life.

On Sunday, the family shared a charming picture  released to coincide with Fathers Day  of William sharing a joke with his three children.

Taken during a family holiday to Jordan, it shows William sitting between Prince George, eight, and Princess Charlotte, now seven, with his youngest, Prince Louis, now four, perched on his shoulders. He beams contentedly as his children roar with laughter.

Ahead of his birthday, friends spoke of the importance of his family. One told the Daily Mail: He just loves being a dad and having a settled family around him. Having children always puts things into perspective... Whatever happens at work, he has to go home and be a normal person for the sake of his kids, which has made him more at peace with the reality of his other life.

George, Charlotte and Louis each played a central role in the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this month, with Louis stealing the show with his animated reactions on the Buckingham Palace balcony to an RAF flypast, and in the stands at the Party at the Palace concert.

While today is likely to be a quiet affair for William, he could rediscover his 'party prince' later this summer.

Royal sources have revealed that the Duke and Duchess could 'celebrate their landmark birthdays in style', in a historic tradition for the family which sees multiple members collaborate their big bashes.
A British mother who has never met the fiance she agreed to marry two months after first reading his 'beautiful' letters and poetry is planning their wedding next year 3,560 miles away in a US prison where he is serving between 20 and 40 years for his part in a brutal murder.

Laura OSullivan, 32, has known Terrell Ravon Reese, 31, since last October, when she used the JPay app for prisoners to find a pen pal - leading to a whirlwind romance.

Terrell was convicted for his part in the murder of Justin Solomon, 19, in Detroit, Michigan, on August 1, 2009.

The couple fell in love within weeks 'meeting' and are looking forward to their wedding, which is due to take place next year.

Meanwhile, they keep the flame alive with letters, presents and phone sex, Laura revealed.

Laura OSullivan, 32, has known Terrell Ravon Reese, 31, since last October, when she used the JPay app for prisoners to find a pen pal - leading to a whirlwind romance

Terrell, who has served 12 out of his 20 to 40-year sentence, proposed to Laura with her mother and her sister's blessing

Terrell sends letters to Laura from prisoners and she sends him care packages from Bristol when she can

Laura at home with a picture of Terrell taken in prison. The mother-of-four said the prisoner is all she's 'ever wanted'

Thrilled when he proposed last December by phone from a Michigan jail, Laura, a single mum-of-four, of Bristol, said: 'I thought it was friggin nuts, friggin crazy, but I couldnt control my feelings and stop my heart.

'Hes all I have ever wanted.'

Convicted for his part in the murder of Justin Solomon, 19, in Detroit, Michigan, on August 1, 2009, Terrell told the deceased he would sell him a car, but instead planned to rob him with another unidentified male.

Moments after Justin arrived with a friend, the other man appeared holding an AK-47, saying Dont nobody move, and repeatedly shot and killed him.

Terrell was convicted for his part in the murder of Justin Solomon, 19, in Detroit, Michigan, on August 1, 2009 and is serving 20 to 40 years behind barres

Left: Laura's Pandora engagement ring. Right: A passionate letter Terrell penned to Laura for Valentine's Day

At home in Bristol, lovestruck Laura had printed Terrell's face on her pillow and on a t-shirt she sleeps in

Terrell crafts beautiful cards he sends to Laura. The pair fell in love with each other within 17 days of meeting

Terrell, then 18, was caught after fleeing the scene and jailed, aged 19, for homicide, murder  second degree. The man who pulled the trigger was never convicted.

Laura, who is starting a baking business, was impressed by Terrells 'honesty' when he volunteered information about his crime.

She said: 'My initial thought was like, "Sh**," because it sounds so bad.

'But he didn't pull the trigger. He was young and stupid, in the wrong place at the wrong time and it got him imprisoned for most of his life.'

More than a decade on from the incident, Laura says Terrell is a very different man to the teenager he was on that day.

In spite of being thousands miles apart, Laura has baked cookies reading 'Love you T' for her fiance

To make their Valentine's Day special, Laura decorated her room with rose petals and a Terrell pillow, as well as a balloon reading 'love'

She said: 'Terrell was caught up in a lot of stuff,

'He does regret that he didn't have more of a voice and went along with stuff. He wishes he'd made better choices.

'But he's taken a lot of classes in prison. He goes to church, he has learnt sign language - he has taught himself a lot for someone thrown in prison as a teenager.'

Despite the gravity of his crime, Laura says Terrell is incredibly honest.

She said: 'He told me what he had done straight away and I was so attracted to his honesty and openness.

'Physically, looking at photos, the first thing I noticed was his beautiful eyes and dark, beautiful eyelashes, and his tattoos.'

A part-time carer for her eldest autistic son, Laura is awaiting background checks to be completed so she can go to the US for the first time to meet Terrell.

Passionate Terrell and Laura have each other's name tattooed on their hand in the ultimate show of love

Laura enlisted the help of her friends around the globe to send Terrell tokens of her affection, pictured

Meanwhile, they have JPay conversations and daily 15 minute $2.50 (2.07) phone calls  financed by his earnings as a prison shower porter.

She said: 'We would call once or twice a day at first and then it would be 12 times a day.

'He reads poetry he has written to me over the phone and I can hear the inmates laughing in the background, but he doesn't care - he shouts back, "I'm reading to my wife"!'

After 17 days of speaking every day, Laura and Terrell said they loved each other and became officially boyfriend and girlfriend.

The couple have not met yet, but are waiting for Laura to complete her background check so she can come to the US

Laura has tried to edit pictures of her and Terrell together using editing apps to make their love ever realer

She said: 'It's been a crazy whirlwind.

'I said I love you first but he said he wanted to say he loved me the week before.

'I used to be one of those people who would read these stories and think, "There is no way you can love someone when you haven't even met them."

'But now, it has happened to me and I get it.'

After losing her dad to Covid in January 2021 and getting over a bad break up, Laura said finding Terrell meant everything to her.

She said: 'I was in such a bad place before. My emotions were all over the place.

'But the way he comforted me, I just knew that this man was going to be with me for the rest of my life.'

Yet, she says meeting Terrell, who is not set for release until 2030 at the earliest, was pure chance, although he quickly won her heart with his "beautiful" words.

She said: 'I was just scrolling on TikTok in October and spotted a video with the details of these men in prison to contact.

'I didn't want to know what they were in for, because I didn't want to judge them, so I just dropped them a message with a picture of myself.

'I had a gut instinct I wanted to talk to Terrell.'

As she has not had much luck in love before, Laura did not expect to make such an instant connection with anyone - especially not with someone in prison.

But, she was touched by his hand-written love letters and treasures the Valentines card he sent, saying: 'My wife, damn you just got me so in love.I won't let go like a bird trying not to drop its fish.'

While the couple can't have real date nights, Laura has found other ways for them to enjoy each other's company.

She said: 'I set up my bedroom for Valentine's and made his favourite drink, 1800s Tequila.

'It tasted awful but I drank it for him and we listened to songs and sang together.

'He likes a lot of R&B and love songs - our favourite is Stokley's song SHE.

'We sang Usher's U Got It Bad too.'

She also enjoys 'phone sex' with Terrell, which leaves her 'more satisfied than being physical before with a whole man.'

She said: 'We have phone sex which I was worried about at first, wondering who was listening, but now I don't even think about it anymore.'

Laura showing off her ring, left. The mother also wears a necklace with a 'T' pendant for 'Terrell'

Confined to his cell for 20 hours a day, he sent Laura a necklace for Christmas, with T for Terrell on it and an October Opal birth stone for the month they met.

Unable to send anything herself - other than a secure pack filled with $100 (81) worth of food twice a year - Laura has recruited help from friends across the globe to show her love.

She said: 'They write my message on a piece of paper for me and hold it up wherever they are to show how far my love has gone for him.'

And the couple have had each other's names tattooed onto the side of their hands.

In April, Terrell made his marriage proposal 'official' by phoning when she was dining out with her mum and sister  who both support her relationship.

She said: 'Terrell asked me to do him the honour of marrying him.

'He asked me to turn around and I saw my sister with a box and a Pandora ring inside it.

'It was so crazy.'

And two weeks after their official engagement, Terrell sent across some of his earnings for Laura and her friends to enjoy celebratory drinks in the pub.

While Laura feels sadness for his victims family, she believes Terrell is paying for his crime.

But she admits not everyone supports their love, adding: 'I get people on TikTok telling me Im stupid, but theyre uneducated.

'I was scared to tell my mum and sister about Terrell at first.

'My mum was a bit worried, but now she is just happy that whoever this person is, they are making me happy, so she's been quite supportive, as has my sister.'

Laura has also taken a lot of comfort from some members of the TikTok community, where she has found a number of #prisonwives sharing their experiences.

Once the court grants her a licence, Laura plans to marry Terrell in Michigan's Ernest Brooks Correctional Facility common room next year, where their wedding breakfast will be limited to vending machine food.

She said: 'I've read up a little about the wedding and I think you can wear a dress but it can't be too revealing.

'He isn't allowed to dress up, so I will probably just go nice but casual with a nice top.

'They do the ceremony in the day room in front of the other prisoners.

We're only allowed to have me, Terrell, the vicar and one other guest he can choose.

'We get a two hour visit but that's it.

'There is a vending machine in the room so we can get some hot food, like a burger or something, but that sounds awful so I don't think we will do that.'

Mother-of-four Laura lounging in her Terrell t-shirt. She's admitted the couple have had phone sex and that Terrell has read poetry to her over the phone

Another home-made photo montage Laura has created using a picture of Terrell and a picture of herself

They will have a more intimate ceremony on his release - although that may be decades away.

In the meantime, Terrell spends 20 hours a day in his cell - with two hours given for exercise and two hours spent doing his prison job.

Laura said: 'I have given up my whole life for a man I have never met.

'I thought Id be walking down an aisle, not marrying in a prison.

'But my feelings are so strong, there is no option.

'He is my best friend, my greatest supporter and I couldnt ask for more.'

Speaking from prison, Terrell described Laura as 'a beautiful woman.'

He said: 'I will always respect her as the mother she is to four beautiful boys and she gives everything a man can ever ask for in life.

'She is a beautiful human being and a beautiful soul.'
Comedian Joe Lycett has revealed that a fan who attended one of his recent gigs called the police - because found one of his jokes 'too offensive'.

The Birmingham funnyman, 33, revealed he'd been questioned by police after they received the complaint about a joke that involved the phrase 'giant donkey d***'.

On social media, Lycett shared the notice from police showing that the case was now closed and revealed his dismay at being reported in the first place.

He wrote: 'So someone came to my tour show a few weeks back and was offended by one of the jokes. And their perfectly understandable response to this was to call the f***ing police.

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No joke! Joe Lycett revealed his frustration at being investigated by police over a joke in his current UK More, More, More! set (Pictured at the Palladium in 2015)

He added that 'the fuzz' were 'very nice about it all' but had a duty to investigate the complaint further, saying: 'This involved me writing a statement explaining the context of the joke for them; I particularly enjoyed putting the words giant donkey d*** into a message to a police detective.

Lycett said he had no intention of taking the joke out of his current set as he tours the UK with his More, More, More! show.

He explained: 'Youll be pleased to know that the joke - which I consider to be one of the best Ive ever written - remains firmly and proudly in the show.

'The tour continues until September, unless I am jailed.'

After reading Joe's posts about the investigation, many expressed surprise that the police would investigate.

@NurulStratford wrote: 'What have I just read? Calling police over a joke at a show?'

@GiggleLyndsey added: 'Haha omg, sorry this happened but this has cracked me up. But also calling the police about a joke ffs wth?!'

One person who's seen the show, said: 'The donkey d*** joke was hilarious and inoffensive.'

Another suggested the gag was: 'both hilarious and horrifying in equal measures the best type of joke.'

The police note shared by Joe that showed the investigation into his joke had been closed

The Birmingham comic, 33, revealed he faced police questioning over a joke about a 'giant donkey d***' in his current show (Pictured on The Graham Norton show in 2018)

Earlier this year, Lycett reportedly sparked 'panic' among ministers at Westminster after creating a spoof version of the Sue Gray report - which was then mistaken for a 'serious leak'.

Ministers were left 'running around panicking' after the comedian took to social media to share his own version of Ms Gray's report to the nation, according to a source.

The comic shared a mock summary of the seven main findings found by Ms Gray which highlighted a 'culture of Covid-19 regulation rule breaking' at Downing Street.

He included the bullet points: 'Games were played which were known as 'Slow Dance' and 'Pass the A***hole.' and 'A number of WhatsApp groups were established to organise gatherings, with titles including 'Definitely a meeting' and 'Down It Street.
Whilst the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge have called for his removal, the Queen is still vouching for Prince Andrew, an expert has claimed.

The Monarch is keen to keep Andrew, 62, around, because he is 'intensely loyal,' royal biographer Andrew Morton told The Mirror's royal podcast, Pod Save the Queen.

The writer, who penned Diana: Her True Story in 1992, said The Queen deeply 'appreciates' Andrew's loyalty to his mother, as well as his actions during the Falklands War and the 1992 Fire at Windsor Castle.

'He will never hear a word said against her, he has always been intensely loyal,' Morton said.

The Monarch is keen to keep Andrew, 62, around, because he is 'intensely loyal,' royal biographer Andrew Morton told The Mirror's royal podcast, Pod Save the Queen. (pictured together at the memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh on March 29)

He added that Andrew's military action also impressed his mother.

'She has admired the fact that during the Falklands War in 1982, he was an Exocet decoy which means his job was to protect HMS Invincible (the aircraft carrier) as the Argentines wanted to sink that,' the expert went on.

Morton said the Duke of York was instrumental on making sure the enemy forces weren't hitting their targets.

He added Andrew, who was a prime target for the Argentines during the conflict, showed a lot of bravery.

The Queen, pictured during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, is appreciative of Andrew's loyalty and has admired how he behaved during the Falklands War in 1982 and the Fire of Windsor Castle in 1992

The writer added that doing so had taken a lot of courage from Andrew and the Queen had appreciated his actions.

And the writer added that the Queen was equally impressed when Andrew 'organised the retrieval of works of art during the famous fire at Windsor Castle in 1992.'

The writer said these actions demonstrated a loyalty to the Queen that the monarch was not likely to forget.

The UK looked as the the Duke of York was tasked with walking his mother to her seat during the emotional memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey in March.

At that point in time, it had not been two months since Andrew and his accuser Virginia Giuffre had reached an out-of-court settlement in their civil sex claim filed in New York.

The Queen picked Andrew to walk her to her seat during the memorial service for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey

Andrew, who denied all charges, is believed to have agreed to pay Giuffre 12million.

Reflecting on the memorial service, Morton said the Queen had used this family occasion, which was not an official state engagement, to show her support for her son.

While he may benefit from his mother's good graces, Prince Andrew is furious with the heirs to the throne Prince Charles and Prince William for preventing his return to public life at the Order of the Garter ceremony earlier this month, it has been claimed.

The Duke of York had reportedly intended to participate in the full service, presided over by his mother the Queen at Windsor castle, but was restricted from some parts of the Knights of the Garter ceremony after Princes Charles and William voiced their displeasure.

Meanwhile, disgraced Prince Andrew, pictured during the Falklands War, is reportedly furious at his brother Prince Charles and his nephew Prince William for keeping him out of the Royal Garter ceremony last week

Andrew helped to save works of art from the flame during the Windsor Castle Fire of 1992, pictured

The disgraced Royal was then prevented from attending the festivities at Ascot this weekend and is said to be enraged at the meddling of The Queen's heirs.

There are fears the friction between the trio could trigger a fallout among the Royal Family during their upcoming summer retreat at Balmoral.

'Andrew is desperate to rebuild his life and wants his titles back,' a source told The Sun.

'But he is fuming with Charles and William for stopping his plans.'

The Queen decided to strip Andrew of his royal titles and right to use his HRH status amid the controversy brought about by his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

Buckingham Palace said that the Duke of York's absence from the Windsor Castle procession and Order of the Garter service was a 'family decision', but it is believed it came about after the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge lobbied the Queen about his participation.

Andrew was still allowed to join the Queen at the formal investiture of new members of the Order of the Garter - including the Duchess of Cornwall and ex PM Tony Blair - and as well as the lunch afterwards.

It came amid reports that Andrew had been pushing for a return to royal duties but his older brother Prince Charles and nephew Prince William had asked the Queen not to give in to the disgraced royal.
Prince George organised a cake sale during lockdown to raise money for endangered animals in Africa.

The third-in-line to the throne, who turns nine next month, organised the sale to raise funds for the charity Tusk, according to the Chief Executive Officer of Tusk, Charlie Mayhew.

Prince William is the patron of the conservation charity and has traveled to Africa to visit projects it supports in the past.

Revealing Prince George's sweet gesture, Charlie told GB News: 'Prince George very sweetly did a little cake sale to raise money for Tusk during lockdown and wrote a very sweet card about it, clearly demonstrating his concern for Africa's wildlife.'

Prince George organised a cake sale during lockdown to raise money for endangered animals in Africa (pictured with his sister Princess Charlotte)

For 30 years, Tusk has supported under-resourced local organisations to help them protect animals and their habitats.

Before the charity existed, up to 100,000 elephants a year were killed by poachers in the illegal ivory trade.

In 2020, George shared his passion for animals with Sir David Attenborough alongside his siblings, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four.

The veteran broadcaster gave George a fossilised giant shark's tooth when they met at Kensington Palace and the young royal asked him which animal he thinks would become extinct next.

The third-in-line to the throne, who turns nine next month, organised the sale to raise funds for the charity Tusk

Sir David told him: 'Well let's hope there won't be any, because there are a lot of things we can do when animals are in danger of extinction. We can protect them.'

George is the fourth generation of the Royal Family to champion environmental causes.

His dad William, who turns 40 today, frequently sends WhatsApp messages to Tusk's CEO 'to discuss an issue that has occurred to him', according to reports.

Mr Mayhew said the Duke's Patronage has led to more money for the charity and more publicity to promote the wider conservation movement.

Prince William is the patron of the conservation charity and has traveled abroad to visit projects it supports in the past (pictured in 2019)

William with the Chief Executive Officer of Tusk, Charlie Mayhew while filming television programme, Prince William's Africa in 2010

He said William uses 'his patronage of Tusk as a means to get some very powerful messages across'.

In 1970 William's dad, Prince Charles, gave his first major speech on the environment and believes that 'economic and social development will best succeed when it works in harmony, rather than in conflict, with Nature'.

Charles will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda this week and is expected to spend a day focusing on Climate, Health, and the Private Sector.

The Prince will meet business owners from across the Commonwealth and discuss his Sustainable Markets Initiative, which aims to boost economies by harnessing the power of nature combined with the innovation and resources of private companies.

Charles' late father, Prince Philip, had a lifelong commitment to wildlife conservation and became President of the World Wildlife Fund's UK Branch in 1961.

Tusk's CEO hopes William will take his children, George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis to Africa one day, so they can experience first-hand the work being done to protect wildlife for future generations.
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Prince William has spent some of his 40th birthday visiting the veteran Big Issue vendor who helped him go undercover to sell the magazine on the streets of London earlier this month.

The Duke of Cambridge was spotted visiting Dave Martin, 60, at a Tesco supermarket in Hammersmith in the British capital today.

Casually-dressed in a green shirt and navy trousers, father-of-three William could be seen shaking hands with The Big Issue vendor, who was at the store to sell copies of the magazine, which both the Duke and Dave appear on the cover of for this month's edition.

William - who sold 32 copies of the magazine when working alongside Dave - posed for a special edition of the publication to mark his milestone birthday - and wrote a candid essay explaining why he wanted to shine a light on the issue of homelessness for his 40th.

He revealed he hopes to show his three children, Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, the 'fantastic' homelessness organisations he works with - 'just as my mother did for me' - and recalled how his interest in the problem started aged 11, when he first visited a homeless shelter the Princess of Wales.

The Duke - who reportedly plans to hold a joint 40th party with Kate Middleton at Windsor Castle or Sandringham this summer after the Duchess' own celebration plans were cancelled due to coronavirus - added that Diana, 'in her own inimitable style, was determined to shine a light on an overlooked, misunderstood problem'.

Prince William has spent some of his 40th birthday visiting the veteran Big Issue vendor who helped him go undercover to sell the magazine on the streets of London earlier this month

The Duke of Cambridge (pictured left) was spotted visiting Dave Martin, 60, at a Tesco supermarket in Hammersmith in the British capital today

William (left) - who sold 32 copies of the magazine when working alongside Dave (right) - posed for a special edition of the publication to mark his milestone birthday - and wrote a candid essay explaining why he wanted to shine a light on the issue of homelessness for his 40th

The magazine, sold by people in order to lift themselves out of poverty, also includes an interview between William and Dave.

William wrote: 'I was 11 when I first visited a homeless shelter with my mother, who in her own inimitable style was determined to shine a light on an overlooked, misunderstood problem.

'In the 30-odd years since, I've seen countless projects in this space grow from strength to strength, including charities of which I have had the honour of being Patron.

'New initiatives have been launched up and down the country  some have worked, some have not. But The Big Issue, perhaps now the most immediately recognisable of these organisations, has undeniably had an impact.

He continued: 'I wanted to experience the other side and see what it was like to be a Big Issue vendor. My time was truly eye opening. I was lucky to join Dave on a warm, sunny day in June.

'People recognised a familiar face and were happy to give me the time of day. But that isnt the case for the vast majority of Big Issue vendors...

The magazine, sold by people in order to lift themselves out of poverty, also includes an interview between William and Dave (pictured together)

The Duke of Cambridge (pictured) appeared low-key for his birthday outing, wearing a green shirt and navy trousers

Only a few days after the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, the Duke of Cambridge sold the magazine on Rochester Row, close to Victoria in London with Dave Martin, Big Issue vendor (pictured with William)

Together that afternoon they sold 32 copies. They then visited The Passage, a homelessness charity nearby that supports people who are street homeless or at risk of homelessness, of which the Duke became a Patron in 2019. Pictured, William visiting Dave

'And while I may seem like one of the most unlikely advocates for this cause, I have always believed in using my platform to help tell those stories and to bring attention and action to those who are struggling. I plan to do that now I'm turning 40, even more than I have in the past.

'So, for my part, I commit to continue doing what I can to shine a spotlight on this solvable issue not just today, but in the months and years to come.

'And in the years ahead, I hope to bring George, Charlotte and Louis to see the fantastic organisations doing inspiring work to support those most in need  just as my mother did for me.'

Only a few days after the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, the Duke of Cambridge sold the magazine on Rochester Row, close to Victoria in London with Dave Martin, Big Issue vendor.

Together that afternoon they sold 32 copies. They then visited The Passage, a homelessness charity nearby that supports people who are street homeless or at risk of homelessness, of which the Duke became a Patron in 2019.

Prince William, pictured on the cover of the magazine, posed for the special edition of The Big Issue to mark his 40th birthday

The Duke of Cambridge wrote exclusively for the magazine to explain why he wanted to talk about the problem of homelessness around his milestone after going undercover as a Big Issue seller on the streets of London earlier this month (pictured right)

The Duke of Cambridge (right) speaking to Big Issue vendor Dave Martin. Only a few days after the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Prince William sold the Big Issue magazine on Rochester Row

It was to The Passage that Princess Diana brought her young sons to give them an insight into the challenges faced by people on the margins.

The Duke and Dave then interviewed each other about their Big Issue selling experience, homelessness, how the Jubilee brought the country together and much more. The conversation is available to read in The Big Issue magazine and website.

When William asked Dave what The Big Issue had done for him, he said: 'It got me off the street. Gave me respect. I was begging at the time. Another vendor said I could be doing something a lot better and took me along to the Big Issue office.'

The Duke added: 'People who are homeless can't rebuild their life without a number of things. And one of those things is respect and self-respect. And that's what The Big Issue gives you, along with a means to earn an income.'

The Duke of Cambridge (pictured right) selling the Big Issue in London with Big Issue vendor Dave Martin (pictured centre)

Prince William (pictured selling the Big Issue) wrote: 'I was 11 when I first visited a homeless shelter with my mother, who in her own inimitable style was determined to shine a light on an overlooked, misunderstood problem'

Lord John Bird, founder of The Big Issue, said: 'I met with Prince William and told him how I myself had been homeless and got out of grief by being imprisoned and then went on to start The Big Issue.

'We need to do everything we can to get the millions of people in the UK out of poverty for good. We need more emphasis on prevention and cure, not just all the support and effort going into emergency relief.

'The scale of interest in William selling The Big Issue has been enormous. And it puts our vendors and their sterling work in the public eye again. Anyone can sell The Big Issue, even a Prince!'

Mick Clarke, CEO of The Passage, said: 'We were delighted to host our Royal Patron, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, for this special interview with Dave and The Big Issue.

December 2009: Then aged 27, William spent a night sleeping rough to understand the plight of the homeless at Christmas

Prince William on his first visit to the homeless shelter The Passage with his mother Diana and brother Harry in 1993

William, father to Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis (pictured together), four, said that 'in the years ahead' he hopes to bring his children to 'see the fantastic organisations doing inspiring work to support those most in need  just as my mother did for me'

'The Duke has visited The Passage on many occasions over the years to meet our clients and raise awareness and support for people affected by homelessness. We were especially pleased to welcome Dave as a former Passage client and very proud to see how he has moved on in life.

'As The Duke mentions in the interview, the "Everyone In" programme showed that when society works together, we can truly make progress towards ending street homelessness  which simply should not exist in 21st century Britain. The Passage stands alongside The Duke, The Big Issue and many others who are working hard in the fight to end homelessness.'

This special edition of The Big Issue magazine is available to buy from vendors like Dave across the UK. Vendors buy magazines for 1.50 and sell them for 3, keeping the proceeds.

There are around 1,300 men and women working their way out of poverty by selling The Big Issue.

Visit www.bigissue.com to find your local Big Issue seller. If you can't get to a local vendor, subscriptions are available at www.bigissue.com/subscribe to help continue the work of the organisation.

'Wishing The Duke of Cambridge a very happy 40th birthday!': Prince Charles leads the family tributes as he marks his eldest son's milestone with a sweet collection of throwback pictures

The Prince of Wales has led the royal family tributes to his eldest son the Duke of Cambridge with a sweet collection of throwback photographs to mark his 40th birthday today.

Prince Charles, 73, sent Prince William birthday congratulations on his Instagram account this morning by sharing a number of images showing the duo together.

'Wishing The Duke of Cambridge a very happy 40th birthday!', the post read, along with a snap of Charles holding a baby William, and another photo showing the father and son pair on a skiing trip.

Meanwhile, the Queens Royal Family Instagram account also shared snaps to mark Williams milestone, with the caption reading: Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Cambridge!

The Prince of Wales has led the royal family tributes to his eldest son the Duke of Cambridge with a sweet collection of throwback photographs to mark his 40th birthday today

The Queen and Prince William on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour parade in 2003. This was one of the images shared in the Royal Family Instagram account's post marking William's birthday

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis is the elder son of The Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales. He was born at 9.03pm on 21 June 1982, at St Marys Hospital, Paddington, London,' read the caption on the Royal Family's Instagram account

The Clarence House Instagram account shared the post with the above caption this morning

Meanwhile, the Queens Royal Family Instagram account also shared snaps to mark Williams milestone, with the caption reading: Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Cambridge!

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis is the elder son of The Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales. He was born at 9.03pm on 21 June 1982, at St Marys Hospital, Paddington, London. A bulletin, placed on the gates of Buckingham Palace announced that he weighed 7lb 1 1/2 oz.

The post included a snap of William as a toddler and then multiple images of Her Majesty pictured alongside her grandson.

Elsewhere, a third image shared by the Prince of Wales captured Charles, William, Camilla and a young Prince George at a Trooping the Colour appearance on Buckingham Palace's balcony in London.

There was also two images of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge dressed in their country clothing while posing with one another.

Prince Charles, 73, sent Prince William birthday congratulations on his Instagram account this morning by sharing a number of images showing the duo together

'Wishing The Duke of Cambridge a very happy 40th birthday!', the post read, along with a snap of Charles holding a baby William, and another photo showing the father and son pair on a skiing trip

Elsewhere, a third image shared by the Prince of Wales captured Charles, William, Camilla and a young Prince George at a Trooping the Colour appearance on Buckingham Palace's balcony in London

There was also two images of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge dressed in their country clothing while posing with one another

Royal fans were quick to comment on Clarence House's post, with one writing: 'Last picture is so adorable. Happy Birthday Prince William.' Another person said: 'Such a sweet collection of pictures - 40 already, gosh, time flies...'

The post comes following reports that Prince William is to hold a joint 40th birthday party with Kate Middleton at Windsor Castle or Sandringham this summer after the Duchess' own celebrations were cancelled.

Royal sources have revealed that the Duke and Duchess should 'celebrate their landmark birthdays in style', in a tradition for the family which sees multiple members collaborate their big bashes.

However the Queen, 96, will not confirm her attendance until the day of the party, according to the Mirror, because of her mobility issues which have seen her reluctantly pull out of many royal appearances in recent months.

Prince William couldn't help but break into a smirk as the Queen inspected graduates of the Sandhurst military academy in 2006 in this throwback image shared by the Royal Family's Instagram account

Her Majesty and her grandson, William, during a Patron's Lunch celebration at Buckingham Palace in 2016

Prince William shows his grandmother the hanger where the Sea King Helicopter he flies during his training as a Search and Rescue pilot is kept during a visit to RAF Valley in Anglesey in 2011

A sweet photograph of Prince William and the Queen during their 2021 Scotland visit

The Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed her 40th in the Norfolk countryside in January, in a more intimate affair with just friends and family at the Cambridges' home, Amner Hall, due to the coronavirus.

At the time, a source said: 'There are likely to be low-key celebrations for the Duchess. She didn't want anything flashy anyway  that's not exactly her thing  but particularly given the current climate anything is likely to be scaled down.'

A similar royal knees-up to what is expected this summer was held at Windsor Castle back in June 2000, which saw the family get together for Prince William's 18th birthday, Princess Anne's 50th, Princess Margaret's 70th and Andrew's 40th.

And for the first time, the Duke will not be having his birthday marked by the flying of the Union flags.

The Queen and Prince Charles will be the only royals honoured with the Union Flag flying over government buildings on their birthdays.

The post comes following reports that Prince William is to hold a joint 40th birthday party with Kate Middleton at Windsor Castle or Sandringham this summer after the Duchess' own celebrations were cancelled

Royal sources have revealed that the Duke and Duchess should 'celebrate their landmark birthdays in style', in a historic tradition for the family which sees multiple members collaborate their big bashes. Pictured is Sandringham Estate, where the royal couple could celebrate their 40th birthdays this summer

However the Queen, 96, will not confirm her attendance until the day of the party, according to the Mirror, because of her mobility issues which have seen her reluctantly pull out of many royal appearances in recent months (pictured is Windsor Castle)

It is reportedly a bid to save Prince Andrew from embarrassment. The honour was stripped from the Duke of York as well as William, Kate, Anne, Edward, Camilla and Sophie.

The government decision is believed to have been agreed upon by the 96-year-old monarch, the Sun reported.

A number of councils allegedly said they would not obey a rule to fly it for Andrew on his birthday earlier this year because of the disgraced Duke of York's association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his lawsuit with Virginia Roberts.

The Queen's second son was stripped of his official duties this year after he paid a settlement worth 12million to Virginia Roberts, who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was 17. An allegation he denies.

The Government publishes a list each year of designated days for the flag to fly over governmental buildings.

Yet the guidance on flags changed in 2022 according to archives of its code on flying the Union Flag, with the alteration meaning the Duke of York's February 19 birthday is no longer a designated day.

Only Her Majesty and her successor, the Prince of Wales, will have their birthdays marked. The government said: 'Since 2021, the default position is the flag flies all year unless another flag is being flown.'
United States Vice President Kamala Harris surprised schoolchildren visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture by discussing the significance of celebrating Juneteenth, a new federal holiday observed by the whole country on Monday.

The Vice President was accompanied by the second gentleman Douglas Emhoff at the museum in Washington, according to a report from ABC News.

As Harris entered the room, children and their families greeted her with cheers. She is the first Black woman to serve as the nation's second-highest executive.

Juneteenth commemorates the historical event of June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were the last to learn that President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier releasing them from slavery.

President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law last June, calling it "one of the greatest honors" of his term.

A Day To Celebrate Freedom

Speaking to children ages 4 to 10, Harris said: "Today is a day to celebrate the principle of freedom and think about it in terms of the context of history, knowing that Black people in America were not free for 400 years of slavery, but then at the end of slavery -- right? ... when the Emancipation Proclamation happened, that America had to really think about defining freedom ..."

The vice president added that having freedom is "our God-given right."

"It is your birthright to have freedom, and then during slavery freedom was taken. And so we're not going to celebrate being given back what God gave us anyway."

As the audience agreed with her statements, one person said, "Amen," as per a report from UPI.

Read Also: Mike Pence Bemoans President Joe Biden's Economic Agenda, Navigates a Possible White House Run

She continued, "let this be a day that is a day to celebrate the principle of freedom but to speak about it honestly and accurately, both in the context of history and current application. That's what I'm thinking about today."

When Vice President Kamala Harris finished her message, the second couple mingled with the children as they worked on their coloring books.

Celebrating Juneteenth With the Community

The surprise appearance at the National Museum of African American History and Culture happened after Harris and Emhoff hosted the first-ever Juneteenth celebration at the vice president's residence on Sunday.

I can think of no better way to celebrate Juneteenth than by spending time with community. The @SecondGentleman and I were proud to welcome families to our home for the first-ever Juneteenth celebration at the Vice Presidents Residence. pic.twitter.com/hiF7plH71H  Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) June 20, 2022

Harris posted on Twitter: "I can think of no better way to celebrate Juneteenth than by spending time with the community. The @SecondGentleman and I were proud to welcome families to our home for the first-ever Juneteenth celebration at the Vice President's Residence."

The National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in 2016, when it became "the 19th museum of the Smithsonian Institution," as per the information posted on its website.

Meanwhile, The New York Post pointed out in a report that Vice Pres. Harris was mistaken about the length of the period of slavery she mentioned during her discussion with the children at the Washington museum.

In 1619, the first African slaves landed in the American colonies in Virginia. Slavery was abolished by the 13th Amendment, which was ratified in 1865, ending the system after 246 years, not 400, the publication noted, which a White House official acknowledged.

"The vice president was referring to 400 years since slavery began," a White House official told the news outlet.

Related Article: Food Stamps 2022: Ohio To Provide More SNAP Benefits to Citizens That Experience Power Outage

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A family have gone back in time to experience life as South Asian immigrants in Birmingham in the '50s and '60s for a TV experiment.

BBC Two's Back In Time For Birmingham, which started last night and will continue tonight, features the Sharma family, from Solihull, who are fast forwarding through five decades of rapid change, exploring every facet of British Asian family life.

Father Vishal, mother Manisha, both of whom work in healthcare, and their children Alisha and Akash, both students, started their experience in the 1950s in episode one.

It saw Vishal and Akash move into a property in Sparkbrook, where they were expected to share a bed between week-long factory shifts, only bathe once a week and share a kitchen with other people in the house.

BBC Two's Back In Time For Birmingham, which started last night and will continue tonight, features the Sharma family, from Solihull, who are fast forwarding through five decades of rapid change, exploring every facet of British Asian family life

Father Vishal, mother Manisha, both of whom work in healthcare, and their children Alisha and Akash, both students, started their experience in the 1950s in episode one

It saw Vishal and Akash move into a property in Sparkbrook, where they were expected to share a bed between week-long factory shifts, only bathe once a week and share a kitchen with other people in the house

Vishal was also informed that most of his wages would be sent home to India to support his relatives, while Akash was left to prepare their evening meal of baked beans.

He mixed the British staple with Branston pickle and curry powder, serving it alongside some bread.

Vishal bought guests home for dinner, who explained what it was like to move to Britain from South Asia in the 1950s.

The two men lived in shared housing and worked to send money back home to their families at the time.

Dinner guest Pravin was just 16-years-old when he moved to Sparkbrook. He started working within a week of his move, after his parents saved money to send him to the second city in hopes of a better life for their son.

He said: 'I'd come from work and I used to cry every day that I want to go back. The thing that made me stay in this country was my father, he sent me here, he borrowed money off people.

'I used to remember my mother every day, it still brings tears,' an emotional Pravin added.

Vishal and Akash Sharma moved into a property in Sparkbrook (pictured) on BBC Two's Back In Time For Birmingham

Father Vishal, mother Manisha (pictured), both of whom work in healthcare, and their children Alisha and Akash, both students, started their experience in the 1950s in episode one

He continued: 'I said "no I'm going to put up with this, I'm going to make life better". Whatever I am today is thanks to the hard work and faith that my father and mother had in me.'

Eventually, Vishal and Akash are joined at their property by Manisha and Alisha, who as women, were expected to cook, and work from home by sewing items for companies looking for a cheaper workforce.

The family's fortunes soon improve when entering the '60s and they are seen listening to music records and are even given a TV.

They take trips to the cinema to watch Bollywood movies and to the Bullring to sell at the markets.

Alisha is also confronted with the idea that in the '50s and '60s a woman her age would be expected to have an arrange marriage with a suitable man picked by her family.

The household (pictured) are fast forwarding through five decades of rapid change, exploring every facet of British Asian family life

She said of the notion: 'I love my parents. But you know when it comes to making a decision about what happens to me for the rest of my life, this will affect my whole future. I don't know whether I would put that trust in [them].'

But she added: 'I can admit, I think a lot of the long living marriages of my grandparents generation are around because of arranged marriage.'

Meanwhile, recalling his experience, Akash said: 'I don't think many people nowadays will share a bed with 10 other people and to think that was their norm and what they've lived through what they had to survive on. It's just blows my mind.'

Manisha added: 'I feel very proud of our ancestors, and they have worked extremely hard, harder than we could even begin to imagine. And what I've learned through this process is their resilience.'

The series is presented by BBC Asian Networks Noreen Khan, alongside social historian Dr Yasmin Khan.

It looks at the impact of arrivals from South Asia over the last 75 years. Today nearly 250,000 Birmingham residents, more than a quarter of the citys population, have Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan heritage.

The series continues on BBC Two each day at 8.00pm until Thursday 23 June.
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Six Nebraska residents who were wrongly convicted of the brutal rape and murder of a local widow are having their heartbreaking stories brought to light in a new HBO docuseries that explores the twisted tale of how they ended up confessing to the horrific crime - despite insisting that they had no memory of it whatsoever.

The so-called killers, who were known as the Beatrice Six, take center stage in the new Nanfu Wang-directed documentary, entitled Mind Over Murder, which lifts the lid on the heinous crime - and details how six innocent men and women were ultimately found guilty of it.

In the first episode of the documentary, which debuted on Monday, the gruesome killing of 68-year-old grandma Helen Wilson is laid bare, detailing how she was found strangled in her Beatrice, Nebraska, apartment in 1985.

After a three-year-long investigation, police arrested six people - Joseph White, Thomas Winslow, Ada 'JoAnn' Taylor, Debra Shelden, James Dean, and Kathy Gonzalez - for the horrific crime, after someone in the town claimed that JoAnn had told her that she and her friends had murdered Wilson.

All six of them ultimately confessed to killing Helen - but only after police allegedly threatened them and told them they would be given the death penalty if they didn't - despite law enforcement officials having already discovered that none of them were a DNA match for the blood or semen found at the crime scene.

An HBO doc is uncovering the baffling case of the Beatrice Six (pictured) - a group who wrongly confessed to raping and murdering an elderly woman

The brand new documentary, entitled Mind Over Murder, dropped its first episode on Monday, which breaks down the gruesome killing of 68-year-old grandmother Helen Wilson (pictured)

Helen (pictured before her death) was found strangled in her Beatrice, Nebraska, apartment in 1985

Police later arrested Joseph White (left), Thomas Winslow, Ada 'JoAnn' Taylor, Debra Shelden (right), James Dean, and Kathy Gonzalez for the horrific crime

It was also later claimed that the group had been brain washed to believe they killed Helen by police psychologist Wayne Price, who is said to have told them that they were in fact guilty, but had no memories of the crime, because they had blocked out all recollection of it.

The group served 20 years in prison before getting exonerated in 2009, after DNA evidence linked another man - named Bruce Allen Smith - to the horrendous slaying.

Now, the HBO documentary is lifting the lid on the Beatrice Six's shocking but true story - revealing how local police put the wrong killers behind bars for two decades.

In the first episode of the documentary, which is made up of six episodes, Helen's family described her as the 'glue that held them all together.'

'She was a kind woman, she did everything for everybody,' her grandson, Shane Wilson, said, while another one of her grandchildren, Bob Houseman, added, 'From the start you knew she loved you because you could just feel it. It radiated from her.'

Shane - who was 15 years old when Helen died - recalled getting a call from a relative who told them she had passed away, but because she was sick with pneumonia at the time, it didn't occur to them that she had been murdered.

'We all kind of assumed it was from the pneumonia, until we were driving and my dad heard the radio on and we were listening to the radio,' he said.

'Nobody said a word. I was trying to act tough in front of my brothers and we had a [blanket] in the back that my grandma had made for my mom. I remember hiding under it so my brothers couldn't see that I was crying.'

All of them confessed to killing Helen, after police told them they would be given the death penalty if they didn't admit to it. James (left) and Thomas (right) are pictured

It was revealed they had been persuaded by police psychologist Wayne Price (pictured), who told them that they couldn't remember the crimes because they had blocked them out

The group served 20 years in prison before getting exonerated in 2009, after DNA evidence linked another man to the horrendous slaying. Four of them are pictured after the release

Now, a new HBO documentary has told the Beatrice Six's shocking but true story - and how the local police put the wrong killers behind bars for two whole decades. JoAnne is pictured

His uncle had found Helen on the ground of her apartment and notified the police. Gary Wiebe and Bill Fitzgerald were the two lieutenants who worked on the case.

'The door was open, I just kind of walked in. I looked around the corner and saw what appeared to be an elderly lady laying in the middle of the living room with her head to the west and her feet back to the east,' Gary recalled in the doc. 'It was pretty quick to tell that the person in there was deceased.'

He discovered a knife on the ground in the bedroom, as well as blood on the corner of her bed and on the wall.

'There was a struggle, definitely. She was laying on her back, nightgown was pulled up - the face was all wrapped and the hands were tied,' he continued.

'I can tell you about it but seeing that lady on the floor, brutally murdered, and seeing the pain... it's a whole different ball game.'

Gary said her body was 'mutilated' and that her nose was 'pressed flat.' She also had 'numerous' cuts on her hands, and multiple broken ribs, as well as fresh semen in her vagina.

'I can't imagine what was going through her head when she passed away, how scared she must have been. Nobody should have to pass away that way,' Helen's granddaughter, Jan Wener, said as she broke down in tears during the doc.

In the doc, which is set to have six episodes which will come out every Monday, Helen's family described her as the 'glue that held them all together'

'She was a kind woman, she did everything for everybody,' her grandson, Shane Wilson (seen with Helen before her death), said

A family member found Helen on the ground of her apartment and notified the police. Gary Wiebe (left) and Bill Fitzgerald (right) were the two lieutenants who worked on the case

Gary said Helen's body was tied up and 'mutilated.' She had 'numerous' cuts on her hands, and multiple broken ribs, as well as fresh semen in her vagina

Gary recalled discovering a knife on the ground in the bedroom, as well as blood on the corner of her bed and on the wall

Shane added, 'We know she fought for her life. She had battle wounds, skin underneath her nails. She fought until she couldn't fight anymore.

'The family was obviously destroyed. The one person who brought us together is now gone and in such a horrific way...'

The police soon started their investigation - but continued to hit dead ends.

'The longer you work on it the more frustrated you get,' Bill explained. 'You go from one person to another to another and you don't appear to be getting anywhere. It was frustrating.'

'We didn't have any answers, we felt like the Beatrice police department had no clue what happened,' Shane shared.

'Everyone was coming to grips with the fact that we were never gonna know what happened to grandma.'

Eventually, the family turned to a private investigator - a local former cop named Burt Searcy.

Burt got in contact with a woman named Lisa Podendorf - after a source told him that she knew something about the homicide.

Lisa told Burt that the morning after Helen had been killed, she saw JoAnn, Joseph, and Thomas congregating outside the crime scene.

The police soon started their investigation - but continued to hit dead ends. Eventually, the family turned to a private investigator - a local former cop named Burt Searcy (pictured)

Burt got in contact with a woman named Lisa Podendorf (pictured) - after a source told him that she knew something about the homicide

Lisa (pictured talking to Burt) told him that the morning after Helen had been killed, she saw JoAnn, Joseph, and Thomas congregating outside the crime scene

And when she asked them if they knew what happened, she claimed JoAnn said a woman had been killed and that they 'did it' - alleging that she even described the body in detail.

'Lisa didn't know what to do because she was scared of JoAnn Taylor. I understood that because I knew JoAnne Taylor,' Burt said in the doc.

When Lisa asked them if they knew what happened, she claimed JoAnn (pictured) said a woman had been killed and that they 'did it' - alleging that she even described the body in detail

'She was on the street a lot, known to steal, did drugs. I knew if she threatened you, it might very well happen.

'So Lisa didn't tell the police. I had no reason but to believe she was telling me the truth. So I started digging and researching.'

Burt said he brought his findings to the police, but they told him they had already interviewed them and ruled them out as suspects.

'I was told, "They weren't involved don't worry about it." I felt like my information fell on deaf ears, it went cold,' Burt revealed.

Years went by, but in 1988, Burt rejoined the police force and told his new boss about his past findings regarding Helen's murder. He then brought Lisa in to question her further about her accusations.

He explained: 'If you tell a lie, you can't remember what you said. If it's a truthful, factual thing you're telling me, you'll never forget it. She told me the same story she told me in 1985.

'As I furthered the investigation, I realized, I think I solved this. I'm going to go after what I need to go after, and I will get it done.'

JoAnn, Joseph, and Thomas, as well as three more of their friends, were later arrested and found guilty for the murder.

JoAnn, Joseph, and Thomas, as well as three more of their friends, were later arrested and found guilty for Helen's murder. Helen is pictured before her death

However, after two decades behind bars, they were all exonerated after DNA evidence revealed that a man named Bruce Allen Smith (pictured) had actually committed the crime

According to the doc, Bruce was at a nearby bar (pictured) the night of Helen's death. He was dropped off a block and a half away from Helen's apartment before he broke in and killed her

According to the Washington Post, by the end of the investigation, all of the Beatrice Six 'wholeheartedly believed in their guilt.'

'Long after the group went to prison, some still cried to family and friends about their deep remorse, never shaking the gnawing feeling of shame,' the outlet reported.

However, after two decades behind bars, they were all exonerated when DNA evidence revealed that a man named Bruce had actually committed the crime.

According to the doc, Bruce was at a nearby bar the night of Helen's death with some friends. After partying most of the night, he attempted to have sex with a woman but was ultimately kicked out of her trailer at around 4 A.M.

One of his friends recalled him saying 'he was going to get a piece of a** one way or another,' before he dropped him off a block and a half south of Helen's apartment.

Bruce died in 1992, before he was ever tried for the crime. The Beatrice Six were later awarded $28 million in a civil suit for their wrongful conviction.
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Michelle Pfeiffer will go down as one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. And even now, at age 64, she's continuing to inspire us with her graceful aging. In London at the Paramount+ UK event, she is also influencing us enormously with her sartorial choices.

For the event, Michelle chose a black cotton puff sleeve pencil dress by Oscar de la Renta and it just may be the perfect LBD (little black dress). We love the height of the sleeves, the sweetheart neckline, the wrap-like draping through the bodice and the perfect below-the-knee midi length.

There's nothing better than scoring an exquisite LBD and the good news is that Michelle's dress is available at Saks Fifth Avenue. So shop it now while it's still in stock.

The perfect LBD! Michelle Pfeiffer attended the Paramount+ UK event in London on Monday and chose this dreamy dress by Oscar de la Renta

Oscar de la Renta is a favorite among luminaries: From Oscar red carpets to Zoom call videos, we've seen this label on Meghan Markle, First Lady Jill Biden, Sarah Jessica Parker and even Amy Adams. So if you choose to spend the dough to acquire Michelle's dress, you'll be in good company.

A short puff-sleeve LBD is just perfect for the summer months. Kick it up a notch for formal occasions with mesh pumps, like Michelle, or keep it more casual for a lunch out on the town with a pair of black thong sandals. An LBD will carry you through the cooler fall months as well; just add a black cardigan or blazer for added warmth.

If you love Michelle's look like we do but would like to see more options, we've assembled some lookalikes that will do the trick, no matter your budget.
An internet-famous Italian Nonna has dished out her harsh criticism of the fashion at this year's Logie Awards.

Sydney TikTokker Maddie asked her Nonna, who is adored by thousands on the platform, to rate each outfit out of ten - and she didn't hold back with her opinions.

Sarah Harris from Channel Ten and former Bachelor stars Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich earned top marks from Nonna while TV and radio personality Abbie Chatfield did not impress.

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Sydney TikTokker Maddie asked her Nonna who is adored by thousands online to rate each Logies outfit out of ten - and she didn't hold back giving Abbie Chatfield a six out of ten

Natalie Bassingthwaighte (left) and former Miss Universe (right) beared the brunt of Nonna's harsh critique scoring a four out of ten

Abbie looked spectacular in a sparkling silver Con Ilio gown with a sheer white feathered cape however Nonna rated the look a six out of ten.

'The dress is nice but the feathers ruin everything, sorry I don't like it,' she said.

The Italian grandma likened Natalie Bassingthwaighte's hot pink smock dress with gold details to a 'nightie'.

'This one looks like a nightie, does she have to go to bed? No, I don't like it - that's a 4,' she said.

'I like this dress, I like the colour I like the style, I like everything - ten,' Nonna said of Bachelor star Anna Heinrich's (left) pink gown

Studio Ten host Sarah Harris (left) scored a ten out of ten from Nonna while Sonia Kruger (right) received a seven because Nonna didn't like the feathered skirt

MAFS stars Ella Ding and Domenica Calarco failed to impress with the two of them receiving a brutal four out of ten.

Also copping criticism was Former Miss Universe Maria Thattil in her crystal-adorned 'naked' gown.

'No this one looks like it's see through, no no, I don't like it, I'll give a four this one,' Nonna said.

The Studio 10 host topped many best dressed list for this year's Logie red carpet in her strapless gold Valani dress and Nonna agreed giving her a ten out of ten.

MAFS stars Domenica Calarco (left) and Ella Ding (right) failed to impress with the two of them receiving a brutal four out of ten

Nonna was unsure about reporter Angela Bishop's navy dress and thought Studio Ten co-host Tristan MacManus' suit was a 'bit boring' but still awarded them both a rating of eight

Another ten was given to Anna Heinrich's pink old Hollywood-esque Steven Khalil gown.

'I like this dress, I like the colour I like the style, I like everything - ten,' asserted Nonna who scored Tim Robard's dapper suit a generous nine.

'The top is beautiful but I don't like the bottom - seven, ' Nonna said of Sonia Kruger who wore an embellished top and feather skirt by Albina Dyla.

Nonna was unsure about reporter Angela Bishop's navy dress with a thigh-high split and thought Studio Ten co-host Tristan MacManus' suit was a 'bit boring' but still awarded them both a rating of eight.

The clip has racked up more than 205,500 views and attracted hundreds of comments including one from one of the red carpet goers.

'DEAD love u Nonna I'm sorry,' Maria Thattil laughed.

'The only red carpet review I'm interested in,' a fan said.

'Look out Vogue, here comes Nonna,' another wrote while a third commented: 'Nonna should be on the red carpet giving reviews next time'.
Fitness influencer Ashy Bines has revealed she has given birth to her second child but is keeping the baby's name and gender under wraps.

On Instagram, the 32-year-old announced the arrival of 'Baby Evans' born on June 19th at 1pm weighing 4.11kg and measuring 53cm alongside a gallery of photos from the hospital with her husband Steve and their son Taj.

'24 hours with you. We couldn't be more in love if we tried,' the Queensland mum-of-two captioned the post on Monday adding that the baby's gender and name is 'coming soon'.

Fitness influencer Ashy Bines, from Queensland has gave birth to her second child on Sunday, June 19 but has not yet revealed the name or gender

Ashy announced the arrival of 'Baby Evans' born on at 1pm on Sunday at 4.11kg and 53cm long alongside a gallery of photos from the hospital with her husband Steve and their son Taj (pictured right)

'24 hours with you. We couldn't be more in love if we tried,' the Queensland mum-of-two captioned the post on Monday adding the baby's gender and name is 'coming soon'

Eight months into her pregnancy with baby number two, Ashy took to social media to question a common comment she would get about her growing baby bump.

'When people say 'wow you've really popped'... I've never really understood this comment especially to a woman in her third trimester or someone who is 36 weeks and ready to birth a fully grown baby,' she wrote in an Instagram post weeks before her due date.

'Isn't it expected our bellies will grow? Big or small at whatever stage in pregnancy I just think belly's are beautiful and I don't think to say that comment so I don't know what to say when someone says it to me.'

Eight months into her pregnancy with baby number two, Ashy took to social media to questions a common comment she would get - and doesn't understand why it needs to be said

The other comments she questions are when she's told her bump is 'carrying small' - or the complete opposite of 'wow you're huge'.

'I think just no. I don't know any women pregnant or not being told they are huge is something we want to hear,' she said.

Earlier on in her second pregnant Ashy voiced her concern that fellow mothers on social media were 'shaming' her for having a small bump.

The other comments she questions are when she's told her bump is 'carrying small' - or the complete opposite of 'wow you're huge'

'I thought mum shaming was a thing of the past': Pregnant fitness influencer Ashy Bines has revealed she is being cruelly 'mum shamed' over her small baby bump

While Ashy looked radiant in the poolside snap she posted, she took a serious tone in the caption to highlight her experience on Instagram since sharing her baby news.

'It's 2021, I thought mum shaming was a thing of the past, something I experienced when I was pregnant seven years ago with Taj, but nope,' she wrote, referring to her eldest child.

'Already having mum hate come at me because of the size of my belly? Like there is a 'right' or 'normal' size to be?'

'Is a 'right' or 'normal' size to be?' The 32-year-old showed off her pregnancy figure in a black bikini as she relaxed by the pool. While she looked radiant in the poolside snap, she took a serious tone in the caption to highlight her experience on Instagram

Happy and expecting: The 32-year-old wrote, 'For me there is a little belly and there is a REAL HUMAN BEING growing inside and it's something I'll never get sick of feeling proud to show'

She said all expectant mums had different bodies and that they will each show and carry their baby differently to one another.

'I think EVERY pregnant belly is beautiful no matter what, and something we should all be uplifting and embracing with each other, [being] pregnant is literally a miracle and so special,' the influencer wrote.

She noted that she's received countless comments and messages from trolls who have called her 'stupid, silly, dramatic' and for 'holding my belly when I don't have one.'

Support: The blonde beauty thanked her followers for their continued love and support for her.

'For me there is a little belly and there is a REAL HUMAN BEING growing inside and it's something I'll never get sick of feeling proud to show,' she said.

The blonde beauty thanked her followers for their continued love and support for her.

She also revealed that she only began to show in her first pregnancy at 22 weeks and added: 'this one is definitely earlier especially at the end of the day!'

Baby joy! Ashy announced her baby news in a video back in November when she surprised her husband during family photo shoot with their son. She whipped out a positive pregnancy test to show her partner Steve for the first time who looked shocked and surprised

Ashy announced her baby news in a video back in November 2021 when she surprised her husband Steve during a family photo shoot with their son.

During the shoot, she whipped out a positive pregnancy test to show her husband for the first time who looked shocked and surprised.

Ashy is known for sharing her health and fitness tips with thousands on social media.
An Aussie mum-of-three has impressed hundreds online after after renovating her outdated kitchen and transforming it into a stunning new version.

Rhiannon and her family, from Sydney, moved into their home three years ago but she and her husband started the huge renovation in January.

Sharing before and after images on Facebook, the kitchen was originally rundown and almost 'unusable'.

It was transformed into a stylish modern version featuring black cabinetry, a white island bench and floorboards.

Before: The kitchen was originally rundown and almost 'unusable' (pictured)

After: It was transformed into a stylish modern version featuring black cabinetry, a white island bench and floorboards (pictured)

The space was in dire need of an upgrade and the pair opted for a chic black and white style.

During the build the laundry was used as a makeshift kitchen for eight weeks while the original kitchen was demolished.

'We connected the dishwasher to the (cold) laundry tap with a y-piece from Bunnings,' Rhiannon wrote on Facebook.

'Whatever I didn't think I'd use, I boxed up. The fridge unfortunately had to stay outside.'

This was the couple's first large renovation and they were conscious about cost, layout and services used to bring their vision to life.

For food, Rhiannon would usually bulk cook dishes at her mum's house then pop them in the freezer, or use microwavable meals.

Rhiannon and her family, from Sydney, moved into their family home three years ago but she and her husband started the huge renovation in January. The space was in dire need of an upgrade and the pair opted for a chic black and white style

During the build the laundry was used as a makeshift kitchen for eight weeks while the original kitchen was demolished. 'We connected the dishwasher to the (cold) laundry tap with a y-piece from Bunnings,' Rhiannon wrote on Facebook

Local professional tradesmen were hired to assist with the renovation and the cabinets and tiles were removed

'We were being price conscious, so we kept a very similar layout to keep services in the same spot,' Rhiannon wrote online.

'We reduced the stone to 20mm and chose a design from the "basics" range. Price matched appliances and bought in on transaction to get cheaper.'

Local professional tradesmen were hired to assist with the renovation and the cabinets and tiles were removed.

While the kitchen looked incredible, it came at a hefty cost of $40,000 with new appliances, such as a fridge and $2500 oven

The images shared on Facebook caught the attention of hundreds online who deemed the update as 'incredible' and 'beautiful'

While the kitchen looked incredible, it came at a hefty cost of $40,000 with new appliances, such as a fridge and $2500 oven.

The images shared on Facebook caught the attention of hundreds online who deemed the update as 'incredible' and 'beautiful'.

'This looks amazing!!! Great job...well worth the wait, I bet!' one person wrote.

'I dont usually like black kitchens but I think youve changed my mind! This is stunning!' another added.
A 'game-changer' cancer drug could one day be used to treat heart attack patients, research suggests.

Tests on mice revealed the daily injection prevents irreversible damage that occurs after a heart attack.

The drug, known as an MEK inhibitor, works by stimulating the growth of healthy new blood vessels.

Patients who have a heart attack, usually caused by clots, often go on to suffer heart failure because the lack of blood flow damages parts of the organ.

It is hoped that injecting the drug shortly after an attack can maintain healthy blood flow and keep the heart healthy.

Ninety per cent of mice given the drug after a heart attack survived after two weeks, compared to 70 per cent of the control group.

Experts said the findings are 'extremely exciting'. Researchers want to start clinical trials in human patients next year.

A 'game-changer' cancer drug could be used to treat heart attack patients in the future, a study by University of Bristol researchers suggests

Around 100,000 Britons are hospitalised with a heart attack each year and 800,000 Americans are admitted.

A quarter of patients die from heart failure a year after suffering one and the majority don't live beyond eight years.

The body is unable to regenerate damaged parts of the heart naturally, which leads to cells dying and the organ losing its ability to pump properly.

Currently there are few treatments available to prevent this from happening, with most victims giving a stent to hold their arteries open to keep blood flowing.

WHAT IS A HEART ATTACK? Figures suggest there are 100,000 hospital visits because of heart attacks in the UK each year, while there are around 800,000 annually in the US. A heart attack, known medically as a myocardial infarction, occurs when the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and feeling weak and anxious. Heart attacks are commonly caused by coronary heart disease, which can be brought on by smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes. Treatment is usually medication to dissolve blots clots or surgery to remove the blockage. Reduce your risk by not smoking, exercising regularly and drinking in moderation. Heart attacks are different to a cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body, usually due to a problem with electrical signals in the organ. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, sought to find a way of regenerating blood vessels around the heart after a heart attack.

Twelve mice were split into two groups and given either the drug or a control three days after suffering a heart attack.

MEK inhibitors work by reprogramming pericytes  stem cells that wrap around veins  to turn into a new type of cell that can cause the growth of healthy new blood vessels.

The mice were given the drug daily for two weeks and scientists measured how well the main chamber of the heart was functioning.

If the chamber was not working properly, this would indicate heart failure.

This was done by measuring the proportion of blood being pumped out the chamber, as well as the total volume being pumped out.

They also tracked whether the mice survived or not.

The total volume increased by 7.7ml in mice taking the drug and fell around 16ml in those in the control group.

The probability of surviving the heart attack was around 90 per cent in mice taking the drug, compared to just less than 70 per cent in the control group after 15 days.

Professor Paolo Madeddu, a cardiovascular medicine expert leading the British Heart Foundation-funded research, told The Times: 'Its extremely exciting.

'This could be the long-awaited game-changer for the treatment of heart attack.

'Heart muscle cells die because they do not have blood supply, which means the heart loses the ability to pump properly and people develop heart failure.

'If we can grow new blood vessels in a critical time after a heart attack, it would improve blood flow to the heart and save heart cells that would otherwise die.'

Separate results from the current study on human cells show the drug acts similarly on them, suggesting it may be as effective as it was on mice.

The team expect the drug to be approved quickly if results are promising because it is already available to cancer patients.

MEK inhibitors, such as trametinib and dabrafenib, are already approved for the treatment of solid tumours on the NHS, including melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

Trials have shown they are effective against several other types of cancer  including ovarian, pancreatic and leukemia.

The drugs work against cancer by stopping tumours from releasing the hormones they need to grow.
Russia appears to have faked trial results of its flagship Covid vaccine, according to an analysis.

A team of researchers in Australia and Singapore, who pored over the original study, have uncovered what they believe is proof the Kremlin fabricated efficacy data.

Russian scientists claimed the jab produced nearly identical results across five different age groups when the trial was published last year.

It sparked claims among some experts the results were 'too good to be true', given the tiny numbers of infections that occurred in each cohort.

Now researchers have run the trial through a simulation model 50,000 times to test the likelihood of the results being genuine.

They found the chance of replicating the same efficacy across all five age groups again was just 0.02 per cent.

The Sputnik V jab has been mired in controversy since Russia announced its approval in 2020, before the trial had even wrapped up.

Dr Kyle Sheldrick, from the University of New South Wales, who led the new analysis, told MailOnline: 'If you think about it, this trial didn't really have the option of failing.

'There are signs, and lots of reasons to think, that someone might have manipulated this data after the study finished.'

Hundreds of millions of people are thought to have been vaccinated with Sputnik worldwide. Around 70 countries had placed orders worth up to 7billion before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia appears to have faked trial results of its flagship Covid vaccine Sputnik V, according to an analysis (stock image)

Researchers took the trial data and ran it through a simulation model 1,000 times to see how often each study could produce the same combination of results. They were unable to replicate the findings in 1,000 attempts

The team were able to reproduce the Western vaccine results within two to four repetitions. For example, out of 1,000 tries, Moderna's results were replicated 511 times

Sputnik - which is based on the same adenovirus technology as AstraZeneca - was held up as being 92 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic Covid infection following the phase three trial.

That was comparable with the Moderna (94 per cent) and Pfizer (95 per cent) vaccines and significantly higher than the AZ jab (79 per cent).

Dr Sheldrick and his team analysed the phase 3 clinical trials of all of Australia's approved Covid vaccines  Pfizer, Moderna, AZ, Johnson and Johnson and Sputnik.

In all five trials, people were split into two similarly-sized groups with one receiving a vaccine and the other being a placebo.

Vaccine efficacy was based on the rates of symptomatic Covid in the jab group compared to the control group.

The Russian vaccine had the fewest participants, with roughly 21,000, compared to the Western jabs which recruited as many as 45,000.

This is important, Dr Sheldrick told MailOnline, because fewer volunteers means efficacy rates can be skewed more easily.

Russian scientists also split the participants into five age groups, whereas the other vaccine studies kept cohorts limited to two or three.

'Lots of people looked at the Sputnik trial at the time and thought it was very ballsy the way they designed it,' Dr Sheldrick said.

'Let's say you have one infection in the 18 to 30 age group and an efficacy of 90 per cent, and then just one more person gets infected, now your efficacy can suddenly drop to 75 per cent, for example.

'The numbers are so incredibly small that if one person gets a different outcome you can get massively different results.'

Yet all of the subgroups in Sputnik's trial had an efficacy of more than 90 per cent, which Dr Sheldrick said was 'too identical to be possible'.

Russian scientists from the Gamaleya Research Institute said it highlighted just how consistent the vaccine was, which Dr Sheldrick described as 'ridiculous'.

How did Sputnik's trial results compare to other jabs? Sputnik - which is based on the same adenovirus technology as AstraZeneca - was held up as being 92 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic Covid infection following the phase three trial. That was comparable with the Moderna (94 per cent) and Pfizer (95 per cent) vaccines and much higher than the AZ jab (79 per cent)

As part of the new analysis, researchers gleaned vaccine efficacy figures and infection rates taken from every cohort across all five studies.

They then plugged them into a simulation model and ran the trials 1,000 times to see how often each study could produce the same combination of results.

The team were able to reproduce the Western vaccine results within two to four repetitions.

Covid lockdowns have caused a 'global mental health crisis' in children Covid lockdowns have created a 'global crisis for mental health', the World Health Organization has admitted. An international report by the UN agency found two years of restrictions have led to 'significant mental health consequences', especially for young people. The WHO now estimates more than a billion people around the world are living with a mental health disorder as a result, a quarter more than pre-Covid. It said there had been an even bigger rise among children, 'potentially reflecting the deep impact of school closures'. Curbs imposed to control Covid led to feelings of 'social isolation, disconnectedness and uncertainty about the future', the report added. The admission comes despite the WHO hailing China's lockdowns at the start of the pandemic and warning that lifting measures too early in Britain may cause a 'deadly resurgence' in 2020. Schools were closed nationally at least twice over the course of the pandemic, with students also forced to learn from home because of individual closures. More than 100 countries also shut down schools during the peak of the first wave. The WHO World Mental Health Report was published on June 16 by the WHO's mental health and substance division. It was designed to improve mental health across the world, looking at all the latest data available with case studies from people living with conditions. It said more than one billion people are now living with a mental health condition, after increasing by more than 25 per cent dung the first year of the pandemic. The most common types include anxiety, depression and developmental disorders like autism. But children were worst affected by restrictions, officials said, with rates of bullying and abuse at home increasing and a lack of social interaction causing isolation during school closures. Advertisement

But they were not able to replicate Sputnik's results in 1,000 attempts.

They then ran the Russian trial 50,000 times and found it took 3,846 attempts to achieve the same results.

Writing in the paper, the team said: 'The distribution of alleged vaccine efficacies of the Sputnik vaccine by age in the phase-III trial is very unlikely to occur in genuine experimental data, even if the number of patients recruited, vaccine efficacy, and overall infection rate are true and there is no underlying difference in vaccine efficacy by age.'

Dr Sheldrick first raised concerns about the veracity of the trial results a year ago to The Lancet, the prestigious medical journal which published a peer-reviewed version of the original Sputnik study.

While The Lancet described the claims as 'interesting', it said there was not enough evidence to show the results had been faked.

In a rejection email seen by MailOnline, a reviewer at The Lancet said: 'I'd agree with the author that it would be good to see the data, but I don't see the failure to provide these data (yet) as strong evidence of the original authors being up to no good.'

They added that it was 'important to uncover bad trials' but claimed the analysis was too 'blunt'.

The email concluded: 'That doesn't sit well if one is then in effect accusing researchers of fraud.'

Their analysis has only now been published in the American Journal of Therapeutics.

MailOnline has approached The Lancet for comment.

Dr Sheldrick said his analysis 'doesn't necessarily mean the vaccine doesn't work' but admitted he would not take Sputnik himself.

'I think the vaccine probably does work, I don't think the whole thing was made up but I think it was done in a massive rush,' he told MailOnline.

'I just dont think you can trust these trial results. When you take those things together, I wouldnt have it.'

Around 80million Russians have been vaccinated with Sputnik and billions of doses were ordered by 70 countries  mostly in the developing world, the Middle East and parts of eastern Europe.

Vaccination data in Russia is hard to come by so it is unclear how effective the jab is in the real world or if there have been any adverse reactions.

Vladimir Putin's invasion in Ukraine has led to several countries axing vaccine deals with the authoritarian regime.

Mr Putin was accused of trying to elevate the country's international standing by being the first to have a vaccine for the disease in late 2020  and it was given its name as a nod to the world's first space satellite, Sputnik.

It uses the same technology as AstraZeneca's vaccines that involves teaching the body how to fight off Covid by using a weakened common cold virus.

Russia was accused of attempting to steal proprietary information about the UK jab from labs in Oxford in 2020.

The UK's cyber security watchdog said it was '95 per cent' confident 'Russian intelligence agencies' were responsible for the attacks on drug companies and research groups. Similar attacks were carried out in the US and Canada, it said.

It was never revealed if the Kremlin managed to access sensitive medical information.

But numerous investigations and reports have found evidence of Russia attempting to interfere and undermine vaccine rollouts around the world.

A probe by the US State Department in April 2021 said Russia was behind a vast campaign 'to spread propaganda and lies' about the American-made Pfizer and Moderna jabs.

The following month the EU External Action Service (EEAS)  the EU's defence ministry  warned that Russia was using state-controlled media as well as social media, 'including official diplomatic social media accounts', to spread its propaganda.

The EEAS described Russia's efforts as a 'whole-of-government approach' involving state authorities, state companies and state mass media.

The ministry took specific aim at the official Sputnik Twitter account, which it said 'sought to undermine public trust' in medical regulators.

The Sputnik account has also been used by the Kremlin to undermine Western jabs and attack its critics.

On April 23 2021, it published unfounded claims that vaccines made by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson were killing more people than countries were officially disclosing.

Professor Carl Bergstrom, a biologist at the University of Washington, said at the time they were 'completely nonsense statistics', adding that 'no one with an iota of quantitative understanding would do this, unless trying to deceive'.

The claims, made in a 'Sputnik V study', looked at anyone who died from any cause and had received at least one Western vaccine in an attempt to question their safety profiles.

Sputnik's account claimed the study showed 'there are significantly more deaths following vaccination with Pfizer than with AstraZeneca vaccine per 1million administered doses.'

Follow-up tweets on April 26 took an even more aggressive tone, accusing vaccine makers of 'pressuring media not to report' the figures.
Abortions reached another all-time high last year in England and Wales, official data revealed today.

Nearly 215,000 terminations were carried out during 2021, up 2 per cent on the year before.

More than half were carried out at home, according to the report from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

It highlights the popularity of the 'pills by post' service, which was set up at the start of the pandemic so that women who were unable to see doctors in person could still access early medical abortions.

Ministers wanted to axe the scheme this summer but their plans were defeated.

Clare Murphy, head of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), suggested the policy may have had a role in last year's record abortion numbers.

She said: 'The pandemic, and the policies adopted by the Government in response, have had a clear impact on women's pregnancy choices.

'Faced with economic uncertainty and job insecurity, women and their partners have been making sometimes tough decisions around continuing or ending a pregnancy.'

Office for Health Improvement and Disparities data shows 214,869 women had abortions in England and Wale in 2021, up 2 per cent on the more than 210,000 recorded in 2020

Temporary measures were introduced to allow the use of at-home pills for early medical abortion at home in March 2020 (file photo)

WHAT HAS CHANGED IN ABORTION RULES THIS YEAR? Home abortions were approved at the end of March 2020 by then Health Secretary Matt Hancock. The new rules allowed women within the first ten weeks of pregnancy to take the first pill at home following a teleconsultation with a clinician. This was applied in England, Scotland and Wales, but not in Northern Ireland which only started permitting abortions from 2020. But in February, the Government announced the rule would be ending in August, with women again required to go to clinics to get their first abortion pill. Health minister Maggie Throup said the move would ensure the 'wellbeing and safety' of women. However, rebel MPs voted down the plan to scrap the scheme in March. After an emotional debate, 215 MPs voted to amend the Health and Care Bill to keep the service in place. These included 72 Conservatives such as Cabinet ministers Grant Shapps and Brandon Lewis and former PM Theresa May. Conservative MP Laura Trott said that keeping the service was 'a matter for human dignity, for women's dignity'. Advertisement

Medical abortion, which can be carried out up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, involves taking two mifepristone and misoprostol.

The two medications are different to the 'morning after' pill.

Under pre-pandemic rules, women took the first pill to terminate a pregnancy at an abortion clinic or hospital under supervision from a clinician.

They were then able to take the second at home up to 48 hours later.

When the virus struck, however, ministers shifted to allowing both pills to be taken at home following a teleconsultation to ensure women still had access to the service.

The move to continue at home abortions was criticised by some MPs and campaigners for putting 'thousands more women at risk from DIY home abortions' back in March.

But pro-choice advocates heralded the continuation of the service.

Aside from the pills, women can also get surgical abortions if their pregnancy is too far along. These made up 13 per cent of terminations last year.

The number of abortions carried out in over-35s has been rising over the past decade. In 2011, 27,199 had a termination, compared to 40,789 in 2021.

It has been linked to pressures to maintain their careers and lifestyles at a time when many are in unstable relationships.

At the same time, rates in teenagers have been falling. In 2021, 6,273 under-18s had a procedure, down from 14,599 in 2011.

Overall, there were 19.2 abortions carried out for every 1,000 women in 2021.

This was up from 18.9 the year before and 12 per cent more than the 17.2 per 1,000 in 2011.

Rates were highest for women aged 22 (at 31.0 per 1,000 women).

The data also showed 43 per cent of women undergoing abortions had had one or more previous abortions, up from 36 per cent a decade ago.

Meanwhile, there were 3,370 abortions performed because of a risk the baby would have been born with disabilities. This is a slight increase on 2020 (3,083).
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The White House's chief covid coordinator is recommending that young children who have already been infected with the virus still get vaccinated - even as data shows they suffer limited risk of hospitalization and death and that natural immunity is effective at preventing the worst outcomes.

The shots' rollout began on Tuesday, marking the youngest and final age group to be made eligible for the vaccines after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both did green-lighted the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots for children six months to five years old last week.

Dr Ashish Jha, the White House's COVID-19 response coordinator, told CBS Tuesday morning that he recommends parents to get their children vaccinated, even if the child has natural immunity from a previous Covid infection - for which CDC data shows around 70 percent of U.S. minors have.

Jha's guidance comes even as official data continues to show the limited risk children face from the virus, and that there was limited demand for the shots when they became available to children between the ages of five and 11 earlier this year.

Covid cases are starting to drop once again in America, falling below the 100,000 mark for the first time since May on Tuesday - though delayed reporting from the Juneteenth holiday may be causing the shift.

A 3-year-old receives the Moderna vaccine. A nationwide role out began today to get children under five vaccinated, even though state-level reports show that 0.00 - 0.02 per cent of all child COVID-19 cases resulted in death

'Covid has been quite common in children actually we think almost 70 percent of kids have ended up getting infected with Covid,' Jha told CBS mornings.

Dr Ashish Jha (pictured), the White House's Covid response coordinator, said Tuesday that even children with natural immunity through previous infection should get vaccinated for Covid

'Still worth getting the vaccine, it really offers an extra layer of protection and what vaccines do is they keep kids out of the hospital and that's why they are so effective.

'And everybody deserves that level of protection. Even if your child has been previously infected the strong recommendation is to get your child protected.'

It comes as the shots first become available around the U.S. Uptake for the shots may be limited, though, especially during the early stages of their rollout.

Polling for the Kaiser Family Foundation found that only about one in five parents of children under age five (18 percent) are eager to get their child vaccinated right away, while a larger share (38 percent) say they plan to wait a while to see how the vaccine is working for others.

About four in ten parents of children under five are more reluctant to get their child vaccinated, with 27 percent saying they will 'definitely not' get their child vaccinated and 11 percent saying they will only do so if they are required.

There was also limited demand for the shots last time the FDA made them eligible for a younger age group, children aged five to 11.

According to official CDC data, only 30 percent of Americans in the age group are fully vaccinated, half of the 60 percent between ages 12 to 17. Minors in general have low vaccination rates, with the youngest adults having vaccine uptake of around 80 percent.

Former FDA Chief Scott Gottlieb, who now serves as a board member at Pfizer, said over the weekend that he predicts demand for the jabs to be low at first.

'I think it's going to be a little bit more of a slow rollout relative to what we've seen in past rollouts with the other age groups,' he told CBS' Face the Nation.

'There are going to be pharmacies that are vaccinating children. CVS is going to move it into their pharmacies, but they're only moving in to the pharmacies with advanced care providers with their MinuteClinics.

'Maybe around children's hospitals, you'll see some clinics stood up, but most people are probably going to get vaccinated in their pediatricians' offices, and it's going to take a little bit more time to get the vaccine into those local settings because it's more difficult to vaccinate a child who is very young.'

Jha agrees that it will be slow at first, but hopes that uptake will eventually grow as parents are informed by their doctor.

'We expect confidence in these vaccines to build over time in these populations,' he said.

'What we have encouraged parents to do is talk to their family physician talk to their pediatrician, you know the people who take care of their kid and have that conversation. I think over time we are going to see a majority of parents ending up getting their children protected with these vaccines.

There are still some concerns about the shots, though, and the small sample sizes used in their clinical trials. Especially as children make up around 0.1 percent of U.S. Covid deaths despite a vast majority having been infected at this point.

Pfizer revealed preliminary data last month showing the vaccine was 80 percent effective at preventing infection from Omicron, though the efficacy rate may change as more trial participants need to be infected before the figures can be finalized.

The Pfizer jab will come in three doses, unlike the two dose standard set for older age groups. It will also be only three micrograms, a tenth of the size of the standard adult dose, and a third of dosage for children five through 12.

The switch was made towards the end of last year when early data showed that only two doses of the jab provided little protection against the virus.

'We know many parents in the U.S. have been eagerly awaiting an authorized vaccine for their children under 5 and we are proud to now offer them a vaccine option with a favorable safety profile,' Albert Bourla, CEO of New York City-based Pfizer, said in a statement.

Moderna will use a two-dose jab for young children, with each shot being 25 micrograms - a fourth the size of its adult sized shots.

In clinical trials, the Moderna shot was 50 percent effective at preventing mild infection from the virus.

The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company recruited 260 children aged two to five years old for their trial.

Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fever and swelling of the groin and underarm were the most common reported side-effects of the shots.

'We are thrilled that the FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorization of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for children and adolescents, particularly for our vulnerable, youngest children,' Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, said in a statement.

Both of the shot's were deemed safe and effective by both the FDA and by a panel of outside advisors, known as the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC).

'In addition to making certain the data for these vaccines met FDA's rigorous standards, the agency's convening of an advisory committee was part of a transparent process to help the public have a clear understanding of the safety and effectiveness data supporting the authorization of these two vaccines for pediatric populations,' Dr Peter Marks, the FDA's top regulator, said in a statement.

The most concerning, and most publicized, side-effects of the COVID-19 vaccines are the heart inflammation conditions myocarditis and pericarditis.

The FDA reports that the risk of these conditions is low in this age group, though, instead striking 12 to 17 year olds the most with the Pfizer shot, and 18 to 24 year olds with the Moderna jab.
The discovery of a hidden population of polar bears has scientists sharing hope for the future of the species that faces extinction in the wake of worsening climate change.

Experts discovered an unexpected population of polar bears in the southeast corner of Greenland. This particular group of animals has developed distinct habits to survive in its odd, as far as polar bears are concerned, habitat.

Hidden Polar Bear Population

The bears' genomes are quite different from many other animals of their species, and beyond the novelty that these animals represent, they could also help inform scientists about how more traditional bears will fare in a warming Arctic region.

Scientists discovered several things that set the hidden population apart from others of its species. For the majority of the year, they survive by hunting from ice that falls into the ocean after breaking off a Greenland glacier, and the ice floats in the fjords that these bears call home.

This situation is unlike most other populations of polar bears, which require sea ice for hunting. The World Wildlife Fund said that between 22,000 and 31,000 polar bears are all that remains of the animals worldwide, as per Ars Technica.

The research team analyzed seven years of data that was collected within the region, along with 30 years of historical data. For the most recent data, the team cooperated with local hunters' kills to sequence the bears' genomes. The experts also used fieldwork, satellite data that allowed them to study the region's geographical and sea ice conditions, and tracking collars to get a sense of the animals' movements.

Read Also: Study Reveals That Humans Can Learn To Echolocate Similarly to Bats, Whales

A co-author of the paper, Twila Moon, who is also the deputy lead scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, said that there was a really "large collection" of data in the region. They added that it required a lot of time in the field, adding that it was a very remote area that required difficult, time-consuming, challenging conditions for fieldwork.

According to CNN, lead author Kristin Laidre, a polar research scientist at the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory, said in a statement that the team wanted to survey the region because they did not know much about the polar bears in Southeast Greenland.

Sea Ice vs. Glacier Ice

However, they never expected to find a new population already living there and thriving unusually. Laidre added that they knew there were some polar bears in the area based on historical records and Indigenous knowledge but were unaware of how special they were.

Traveling far, scientists know of 19 polar bear populations that rely heavily on sea ice to hunt their prey, such as ringed seals. They sit near breathing holes to capture their prey, and the calories they get can help them store enough energy to last for months when food and sea ice is more scarce.

Laidre noted that glacier ice could help small numbers of polar bears survive for more extended periods under worsening climate warming conditions. However, they noted that it was not available for the vast majority of polar bear populations worldwide, Live Science reported.

Related Article: World's Largest Freshwater Fish Hooked in Cambodia, But Scientists Know Little About It

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Martin Gilbert's AssetCo has struck a deal to buy Edinburgh-based asset manager SVM for 10.7million.

The move is the latest in AssetCo's strategy to create the next major UK player in wealth and asset management.

It follows the acquisition of asset manager Revera for 2.8million in February and equity stakes in four businesses over the past year, namely Rise ETF, Parmenion, Saracen Fund Managers and River and Mercantile.

Edinburgh-based SVM is an independent fund management business founded in 1990

SVM is an independent fund management business that was founded in 1990 by Colin McLean and Margaret Lawson, who are significant majority owners, along with a family trust.

SVM currently has around 586million of assets under management, including five open-end funds: UK Growth, UK Opportunities, Continental Europe, All Europe SRI and World Equity.

The firm also manages SVM UK Emerging Fund, a 6.8million investment trust listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Last year, the business made a turnover of 4.3million and pre-tax profit of 2million, with net assets of 14 million at year end.

Gilbert said the deal was a key plank in building a 'significant asset management hub in Edinburgh'.

McLean, the current managing director and CIO of SVM will become a director of AssetCo's Scottish business.

Lawson, who is UK investment director at SVM, will continue in her role managing equity portfolios.

Neil Veitch, global and UK investment director, and Hugh Cuthbert, European investment manager, will also continue with their role.

SVM's existing 21 employees will continue to be employed by the group.

City veteran Gilbert said: 'We are immensely proud to be building an asset management hub in Edinburgh that, over time, will broaden its client base across the UK and beyond.

'SVM is a well-regarded fund management firm, with a recognised investment style and a very strong investment track record. Its business model, people and product offering are its key assets, and it is core to AssetCo's ambitions.

'I have known Colin and Margaret for over 30 years, and I am delighted that both have agreed to remain with SVM.

'Both have built phenomenal reputations as investment managers over many decades in the industry.'

Following the acquisition, AssetCo will have approximately 3.5billion of AuM in listed equity fund strategies across its various businesses.
Workers should save at least 12 per cent of their salary towards a pension and employers should stump up half of that, according to a 10-year plan from a top industry body.

The current auto-enrolment minimum is 8 per cent of salary - with individuals contributing the biggest share - but some finance experts warn that falls short of what is needed for a comfortable retirement.

A new 12 per cent minimum should be phased in between 2025 and 2032, and the split should see employers put in 6 per cent, while workers and tax relief from the Government make up the rest, says the Association of British Insurers.

Retirement plan: Should we save 12% of salary towards a pension?

Under auto enrolment, employers are required to put a minimum of 3 per cent of earnings between 6,240 and 50,270 into staff pensions. Tax relief from the Government provides another 1 per cent.

Workers must put in at least 4 per cent on their own behalf, and if they opt out all the above is lost.

Who pays what: Auto enrolment breakdown of minimum pension contributions for basic rate taxpayers at present

To avoid an 'all or nothing' situation which might prompt some workers to opt out of pension savings, the ABI suggests two ways to soften the impact of increased contributions on people's take home pay.

'One option is to raise the total rate to 12 per cent with the built-in flexibility to opt-down if this rate is unaffordable for people, allowing more savers to stay automatically enrolled,' says the industry body

'Another option is to increase the rate to 10 per cent with an increased incentive to opt-up to 12 per cent on a matching basis with employers.'

Poll Should workers save 12% of salary into a pension, with employers stumping up half of it? Yes No Should workers save 12% of salary into a pension, with employers stumping up half of it? Yes 273 votes

No 59 votes Now share your opinion





The ABI suggests the Government and finance industry should conduct behavioural research to determine which approach is most likely to be affordable and deter people from opting out of pension saving completely.

The present auto enrolment minimum savings rate has been in place since April 2019, and no further increase is currently timetabled.

Under the ABI's plan, for basic rate taxpayers the contribution breakdown would change to 4.8 per cent from individuals, 1.2 per cent in tax relief and 6 per cent from employers by 2032.

Some experts have recommended a more ambitious pension savings target in the past, with one influential report suggesting the goal should be encouraging people to put aside 15 per cent of salary to build a pot for retirement.

The ABI hailed the success of the first decade of auto enrolment, which saw the Government force all employers to set up pension schemes for their workers and help contribute to them, and led to 10million more people starting to save for old age.

It urged the Government to bring forward two further changes which it has already promised but not scheduled for action yet - lowering the age threshold for auto enrolment from 22 to 18, and reducing the earnings threshold from 10,000 so that contributions are made from the first pound earned.

The ABI has also suggested the Governement investigate giving people early access to their pension pots in cases of significant financial hardship.

But it warned against introducing automatic pension contribution increases when people get pay rises.

Proposals would see employer contributions rise from 3% to 6% by 2032

'The huge success of automatic enrolment reflects a long-term plan based on consensus between political parties, industry and employers,' says Dr Yvonne Braun, director of policy for long term savings and protection at the ABI, which is bankrolled by pension firms and insurers.

'We need the same approach now to determine the future of the policy, ensuring more people are included and are saving enough, with the right level of flexibility.'

A government spokesperson says: 'Automatic enrolment has succeeded in transforming pension saving, with more than 10.6million workers enrolled into a workplace pension to date and an additional 28billion saved in 2020 compared to 2012.

'The Governments ambition for the future of automatic enrolment will enable people to save more and to start saving earlier by abolishing the lower earnings limit for contributions and reducing the age for being automatically enrolled to 18 in the mid-2020s, benefiting younger people, low-paid and part-time workers as they will receive contributions from their employer from the first pound earned.

'We want to make sure that these changes are made in a way and at a time that is affordable, balancing the needs of savers, employers and taxpayers.'

Tom Selby, head of retirement policy at AJ Bell, says of the ABI proposals: 'Setting in train a plan to gradually raise minimum contribution rates and ensuring a fair balance between employers and employees is a sensible approach.

'Baking flexibility into the increases so employees arent left with an "all or nothing" choice between retirement saving or not in the workplace should help reduce the risk of opt-outs spiking.

'Before that happens, the Government needs to implement the recommendations of the 2017 auto-enrolment review, including removing "qualifying earnings" bands so every pound earned qualifies for a matched contribution and reducing the minimum age from 22 to 18.

'Clearly this is hugely challenging against a backdrop of spiralling living costs, but every year of delay will exacerbate the risk of a future retirement crisis.'

Selby also called for action to help self-employed people save for retirement.

Helen Morrissey, senior pensions and retirement analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, says: 'Boosting savings levels is a tricky balancing act.

'We need people to save more for tomorrow but not at the cost of harming them today and the pandemic and ongoing cost of living crisis has had a significant impact on the populations financial resilience.'

She points out that in Australia employers contribute 10 per cent of workers' salaries to their pensions, much higher than the current 3 per cent in the UK.

'An initial increase in their contribution to 5 per cent from 2028 would do much to boost peoples retirement incomes - keeping them contributing to a pension without putting further pressure on their daily finances.

'A further increase in both employer and employee contributions to 6 per cent each from 2031 would see people saving significantly more without having to make a huge financial sacrifice  the ability to opt up or down would mean people were not under pressure to make contributions they couldnt afford.'

Michael Ambery, partner at Hymans Robertson, says: 'Auto enrolment has been an undoubted success and the increase of those contributing to a workplace pensions scheme is testament to that.

'But work needs to be done to increase participation further, especially in those ages that fall below the eligibility criteria and for those, especially women, in part time jobs where participation levels are much lower.'

He adds: 'There is a danger that auto enrolment could be creating a false sense of security for people that they will have an adequate income in retirement, when the levels they are contributing may not be enough.

'While it is still vital to encourage everyone to contribute at the current level of contribution of 8 per cent, it could still be below the level required to achieve an adequate pension.

'Our analysis shows that well over half are not saving adequately for retirement. We continue to call for this to be increased to 12 per cent.'
The 96-year-old, who has cut back on public engagements due to mobility issues, is in Edinburgh and was all smiles as she took part in the historic Ceremony of the Keys - the traditional opener to Holyrood week for the Royals. She has been joined by her youngest son, Edward, and his wife, Sophie, known as the Earl and Countess of Forfar while they are in Scotland, for the event, which is taking place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The ceremony sees the monarch handed the keys of the city and welcomed to her 'ancient and hereditary kingdom of Scotland'. Her Majesty 'hopes' to carry a out several engagements - and will meet Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during her stay. The trip comes after the recent Platinum Jubilee celebrations for the Queen, in which she pledged to continue to do her job 'to the best of my ability supported by my family'.
Jurors hearing a civil sex abuse case against Bill Cosby must begin deliberations again from scratch despite reaching eight of nine verdicts.

They had reached verdicts on eight out of nine counts brought by Judy Huth, who claims Cosby molested her at the Playboy Mansion in 1975, when she was 16.

The LA County jury will begin deliberations again from June 24 after their foreman left Friday, with the permission of the judge to attend a prior arrangement.

At the start of the trial, that juror said they could only deliberate until June 17, and the judge agreed they could leave if discussions ran past that date.

There were also reports of heated clashes in the jury room, although these have since been resolved.

An alternate juror has now taken the foreperson's place, and will get stuck into the deliberations next week.

Judy Huth, left, sued Cosby over claims he sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 1975, but a jury must now begin deliberations again from scratch

The Los Angeles County jury was nearly ready to determine if 'The Cosby Show' actor had sexually assaulted plaintiff Judy Huth at the Playboy Mansion in 1975 when she was 16 - but the jury ran out of time to answer all nine questions on their verdict form - including if Cosby's action should require punitive damages.

The jury begun deliberations on Thursday and was expected to reveal eight out of nine of their concluded verdicts until Santa Monica Courthouse deputies entered the courthouse during Friday's trial to clear the room for 4.30 p.m. closure.

A tight budget didn't allow for deputies to stay overtime for the verdicts to be heard following the two-week trial.

The Hollywood star has been under fire recently as many woman have come forward accusing him of sexual abuse

Cosby is said to have molested Huth at the property, pictured, 47 years ago

Aside from the early closure, one juror received prior permission from Judge Craig Karlan to be excused from the trial after Friday due to a prior obligation.

Rather than reconvening on Monday and resuming the reading of the verdicts, the jury will have to begin the process from scratch since one juror departed.

Karlan insisted he would keep his word and not make the excused juror return.

'I won't go back on my word,' he said.

The jury will resume on June 24 with a replacement for the vacant spot.

Prior to the courtroom chaos on Friday afternoon, Karlan received notice two that clashing jurors were making it difficult to get work done.

However, the jury was able to move forward after they all agreed to listen to one another.

The havoc proceeded after lunch when Cosby lawyer Jennifer Bonjean claimed a juror was standing too close to another Cosby sexual assault accuser - showing photo proof.

Karlan claimed the photo with the juror, and Los Angeles artist Lily Bernard didn't conclude the pair were talking and proceeded with the trial.

'I never spoke to any juror, ever,' Bernard said out loud in the courtroom. 'I would never do anything to jeopardize this case. I don't even look at them.'

Cosby has been undergoing multiple sexual assault allegations in past few years. The former actor was released from prison in 2021 after being convicted of another sexual assault case.
The United States Army is teaching critical race theory to cadets at its prestigious West Point Academy, newly obtained training materials reveal.

The documents, obtained by Fox News Digital from the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, show that the Army's future leadership is being taught to acknowledge its 'whiteness' and 'privilege,' and to answer training questions through the lens of critical race theory.

Judicial Watch had to sue the US military under the Freedom of Information Act twice before the training slides were released, according to Fox News.

Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, characterized the racial training materials as 'anti-American' and 'propaganda.'

'Our military is under attack - from within,' Fitton said in a release. 'These documents show racist, anti-American CRT propaganda is being used to try to radicalize our rising generation of Army leadership at West Point.'

A slide from the lessons taught to West Point cadets. The slide gives the cadets a definition of 'whiteness' and describes how it helps some but not others

A slide from the training materials providing a definition of critical race theory to West Point cadets

The main campus of West Point Military Academy, in West Point, New York. West Point is the US Army's most elite officer training academy

The documents consist of over 600 pages of training materials, including presentation slides, and accompanying questions.

While some focus on matters as commonplace as bullying, others zero in in on the experience of blacks in America, and directly apply critical race theory to the issue.

One slide titled 'Whiteness' is followed by a definition of the term, describing it as 'a location of structural advantage, of race privilege,' 'A standpoint or place from which white people look at themselves and the rest of society,' and 'Refers to a set of cultural practices that are usually unmarked and unnamed.'

A slide from the training in which cadets are asked to consider what W.E.B. Du Bois would think of the movie Barbershop

A slide from the West Point training materials describing an unspoken barrier between blacks and whites in America

A page from the training materials showing the difference between black and white opportunities in America

In other sections, cadets are asked to apply critical race theory to scenarios:

'Do you think Affirmative Action creates an environment for 'reverse discrimination?' Use CRT to support your answer,' one reads.

Another says, 'What is the difference between desegregation versus integration? How would you apply a tenant of CRT to this idea?'

The materials inform cadets that white people 'have primarily benefited from civil rights legislation,' and talk about 'Modern Day Slavery in the USA.'

In another section, cadets are asked the questions 'What would W.E.B. Du Bois think of Barbershop?' referring to the Ice Cube movie about a black owned barbershop in southern Chicago.

One section even evokes Communist Manifesto author Karl Marx to explain that capitalism creates social structures in which the less-fortunate people are exploited.

'Our military is under attack - from within,' said Tom Fitton, president of the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Neither he nor the Department of Defense have commented on the release of the West Point training materials

The Department of Defense has not commented on the materials, nor has the office of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Critical race theory - the idea that racism is so baked into the foundational systems of American equality that they end up benefiting whites at the expense of blacks - has been an increasingly controversial issue as its role in the American education system is debated.

Progressives have argued that it should be taught to all Americans and taught early, while conservatives have vehemently argued that it is anti-American and should be banned.

Some have argued that it has no place in the American military, as it teaches soldiers that the constitution they are sworn to defend is inherently racist.

President Trump founded a commission seeking to ban critical race theory from schools in January, 2021, but it was revoked by President Biden just two days later on his first day in office.

A page from the training material that references Karl Marx in arguing that capitalism exploits people
Former Green Beret sniper and MMA fighter Tim Kennedy believes that the 'defund the police' movement carries some of the blame for the Robb Elementary School shooting.

Kennedy, 42, shared his insight on the shooting deaths of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde in May during an appearance on 'The Joe Rogan Experience' on June 16.

Kennedy cited 'defund the police,' a movement born out of nationwide protests following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, as playing a role in the Uvalde shooting because officers are being trained 'with broken systems' and as a result 'are not ready to do the right thing.'

The former MMA star predicted that there will be more incidents like Uvalde.

Kennedy said: 'We have been weakening them and we have been making them ill-equipped to respond to that. And then I think Uvalde is a great example of not properly trained with broken systems that are not ready to do the right thing.

He continued: 'We will have more of that unless we get them the right training and we get our schools to become hard targets. And then we go upstream to the origin, the Genesis of these problems, which is mental health with the individual.'

He added: 'Only then, can we go upstream to the origin, the Genesis of these problems, which is mental healthy with individual.'

Former sniper Tim Kennedy told Joe Rogan that he expects more incidents like Uvalde until officers get better training

Kennedy told Rogan that only after we invest more in police officers can we look at other issues that cause mass shootings

Kennedy also said that due to the 'defund the police' movement 'nearly every large city has seen a crazy rise in crime'

Kennedy said at one point of the conversation: 'How does it make any sense that Im going to provide this group that I want to protect us with less training and less funding, but than still want them to be a better product to be able to protect us?'

The city of Uvalde invests 40% of its yearly budget into its police force, the department has a SWAT team and there is a police department for the Uvalde School District.

Uvalde, a city with a population of 16,000, spends $4 million on the police force. It will be the largest expense in the city's budget for 2022, reports Bloomberg.

The network says that in 2020 the school district police force received more than $500,000 in local and state funding for 'security and monitoring' for schools.

In 2004, Kennedy joined the military, completing various Special Forces training programs. He told Fox News in June 2022 that he was motivated to enlist following the attacks of September 11. Kennedy said that the attack 'infuriated' him.

While in 2018, Kennedy told DailyMail.com that the FBI was investigating threats made against him by ISIS.

In addition to his military career, Kennedy has participated in mixed martial arts since 1996 and continued to fight even while serving in the military. During his entire career, which ended in 2017, Kennedy fought 24 times professionally, winning 18 of them.

He is also the owner of Ranger Up, a military-based clothing company, and of Sheepdog Rescue, a self-defense training company.

Kennedy lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and four children. On his Instagram page, he refers to himself as 'unapologetically American.'

Kennedy pictured with one of his children on Father's Day 2022

During his entire MMA career, which ended in 2017, Kennedy fought 24 times professionally and won 18 of them

Kennedy began training in MMA in 1996

Kennedy was on Rogan's show to promote his bestselling book, 'Scars and Stripes.' In one section of his book, Kennedy discusses his plan to build an elementary school in Texas.

Earlier in the conversation, Kennedy accused 'society' of 'demonizing military training for law enforcement.'

Kennedy also said: 'Then obviously we just experienced defund the police. And nearly every large city has seen a crazy rise in crime. And the ones that these large cities that defunded their police to include Austin, you know, weve never seen homicides like this.'

According to a January 2022 Time Magazine feature, 11 major cities had historically high homicide rates in 2021.

The article goes on to say that between 2014 and 2021, there was an 80% rise in fatal gun deaths.

Kennedy also accused society's culture of 'emasculating' law enforcement.

He conceded: 'You know, we want a kinder, softer, gentler  I get, theyre dealing with mental health and we can have specialists that can come in and deal with somebody having a mental health crisis, but we still need men and women that will run towards the sound of gunfire and know what to do.'

Kennedy said in conclusion of the subject: 'If we don't do those things, then it's never gonna be fixed.'

The former green beret made similar remarks in an appearance on The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show earlier in June.

Kennedy said that if he was one of the parents who showed up at the scene while Uvalde officers procrastinated: 'If I my children were in there, Id be kicking in door. If there was a police officer standing in my way, Id be kicking his teeth in.'

He added that he felt 'political correctness' was to blame for officers staging outside the scene of the shooting rather than engaging.

Kennedy went on: 'We need to make our schools hard targets. We need give authority back to our police officers. We have been emasculating them figuratively for a decade now where there is so much fear about taking action.'

School hardening for security against active shooters has long been a controversial issue.

In 2019, school safety expert Kenneth Trump told the National Education Associations' website: 'A skewed focus on target hardening neglects the time and resources needed to spend on professional development training, planning, behavioral and mental health intervention supports for students, and other best practices.'

Jagdish Khubchandani, a public health professor at New Mexico State University, told The Texas Tribune in the wake of Uvalde: 'This concept of hardening, the more it has been done, it's not shown the results.'
A fluffy crab that wears a sponge hat to camouflage itself has been discovered off the coast of Western Australia.

The new species, dubbed Lamarckdromia beagle, trim down sea sponges with their claws and then use them as a hat for protection against fish and octopi.

The crustacean use their hind legs to hold up their unusual hats, which are used as protection in the same way hermit crabs use their shells.

The sponge hats can also produce noxious chemicals to ward off predators.

The new species, dubbed Lamarckdromia beagle, trim down sea sponges with their claws and then use them as a hat for protection against fish and octopi

Dr Andrew Hosie, a curator of crustacean and worms at the Western Australian Museum, said the sponge hat will keep growing and mold to the shape of the crab's back.

'It will never attach  it forms a nice cap that fits quite snugly to the top of the crab,' he told The Guardian.

The peculiar crab was spotted by a family at a beach in Denmark, in Western Australia's south coast.

The crustacean use their hind legs to hold up their unusual hats, which are used as protection in the same way hermit crabs use their shells

They sent the crustacean to the Western Australian Museum to be identified.

Dr Hosie said the reason behind the critter's fluffy legs wasn't obvious, but suggested it may be to help it hide even more from prey.

'The sponge or the ascidian that these things carry should offer it all the camouflage it needs,' he said.

The crab was named after the HMS Beagle - the ship that carried Charles Darwin around the world and to Albany, Western Australia in 1836.

They are found in the shallows but can live in water a few hundred metres deep.

Dr Hosie said it was highly likely there were many other unknown species lurking in Australian waters.
Boris Johnson is set for an awkward dinner date with Theresa May and David Cameron after an evening with the trio of Tory leaders was auctioned off at a party fundraiser.

At a swanky bash at London's V&A museum last night, the grand prize at the auction - a meal with the Prime Minister together with his two predecessors - is said to have gone for around 120,000.

It could prove to be an uncomfortable night for all three, as Mr Johnson played a leading role in ousting Mrs May from Downing Street over her Brexit deal.

He also famously clashed with Mr Cameron during the 2016 EU referendum campaign, that led to his fellow Old Etonian's downfall.

The fundraising event on Monday night saw the PM and top members of his Cabinet head to the London museum to woo Tory donors.

Also in attendance were billionaire Nick Candy and his Australian actress wife Holly Valance, political strategist Lynton Crosby and former investment banker Lubov Chernukhin - the wife of a former Russian minister.

According to Politico, prizes were auctioned off as guests enjoyed a meal of salmon tartare, beef with asparagus mash, and passionfruity meringues.

Boris Johnson joined top Tories and guests for a Conservative summer party held at London's V&A museum

The main auction prize - which went for around 120,000 - was a meal with the PM and his two predecessors; Theresa May and David Cameron

Mr Johnson played a leading role in ousting Mrs May from Downing Street over her Brexit deal. He also famously clashed with Mr Cameron during the 2016 EU referendum campaign

As well as the main auction prize, an African safari trip is said to have gone for 65,000, a shooting weekend for 37,000, wine tasting for 30,000, and Chelsea versus Arsenal tickets for 5,000.

The evening also reportedly saw a band perform ABBA songs, while Levelling Up Secretary Michael Howard gave a speech.

But doubt was cast over whether the dinner between Mr Johnson, Mrs May and Mr Cameron would ever actually take place.

One guest was quoted as saying: 'I suspect its the kind of thing CCHQ auctions off but never actually happens.'

The event came hours after the Mr Johnson retook the reins of Government yesterday afternoon, after undergoing surgery on a sinus problem.

He was admitted to hospital at 6am for the scheduled procedure, and returned to Downing Street around 10am.

It was the first time the PM had visited hospital since he suffered from Covid in the spring of 2020, and his spokesman said the two were not related.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak joined other Cabinet ministers at the London museum to woo Tory donors

Also in attendance were billionaire Nick Candy and his Australian actress wife Holly Valance, pictured, who were escorted in by police through crowds of protesters

Businessman Nick Candy is pictured with wife, Australian actress Holly Valance, arriving hand-in-hand for the Conservative Summer Party at V&A on Monday evening

Former investment banker and Conservative Party donor, Lubov Chernukhin, who has donated more than 2million to the Tories, is pictured

As they arrived at Monday night's party, guests were jeered and booed by members of the PCS union, which represents civil servants, who had gathered outside.

The PM is aiming to slash 91,000 jobs across the civil service and bring Whitehall back to the size it was before the EU referendum uin 2016.

Gusets at the event included Conservative Party chair Oliver Dowden Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

In April, the PM hosted a luxurious champagne and canapes do at Mayfair hotel Claridge's and joked about Partygate.

Mr Johnson and fellow Cabinet ministers 'schmoozed' Tory donors on 2nd April, ahead of the life-changing rise in costs for bills and council tax for Britons.

It is understood that the event on Monday evening was similar in that Tories were 'schmoozing' their regular donors.

Conservative party Chairman Oliver Dowden (pictured left) arrived at the museum for the do

Also in attendance was Welsh Secretary Simon Hart, pictured on Monday evening outside the V&A museum

Guests were jeered and booed by a group of members of the PCS union who gathered outside to campaign

The following day after the April do saw millions of ordinary Britons face an assault on their budgets because council tax, car tax, national insurance, water bills and the cost of broadband, phones and TV all went up.

Earlier on Monday, the PM retook the reins of government hours after undergoing surgery on a sinus problem this morning.

Mr Johnson was 'feeling well' and held meetings on Monday afternoon, after the minor operation under general anaesthetic at an unspecified London NHS hospital, his spokesman said.

Businessman and notable Tory donor Nick Candy (pictured) and his Australian actress wife Holly Valance also went to the event on Monday

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was also in attendance for the dinner and auction event

Mr Johnson was admitted to hospital at 6am for the scheduled procedure, and returned to Downing Street around 10am.

It was the first time the PM had visited hospital since he suffered from Covid in the spring of 2020, and his spokesman said they two were not related.

It is understood Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab was on hand to assist with any major decisions, in line with the general advice to the public on not making significant choices for the first 24 hours after undergoing general anaesthesia.

However, Boris Johnson remains Prime Minister and will continue acting as such, No 10 said.
A man accused of killing six people and injuring dozens more when he allegedly drove his SUV through a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee last year has decided to mount an insanity defense, his attorneys said Monday.

Darrell Brooks Jr. appeared in court on June 20, facing more than 80 charges, including six homicide counts, in connection with the November 21 incident in Waukesha.

He pleaded not guilty in February. During a hearing Monday one of his attorneys, Jeremy Perri, told Judge Jennifer Dorow that Brooks is changing his plea to not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.

Perri did not elaborate. The judge ordered a mental evaluation for him.

When a defendant enters such a plea under Wisconsin law a judge or jury must determine whether he's guilty or innocent of the alleged crime.

Darrell Brooks Jr, 40, is pictured appearing in court on Monday. During the hearing on June 20, one of his attorneys said that Brooks is changing his plea to not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect

FILE: Darrell Brooks is pictured in court on March 29, 2022. He is accused of killing six people and injuring dozens more when he allegedly drove his SUV through a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee in 2021

FILE: Darrell Brooks Jr. appeared in court on June 20, facing more than 80 charges, including six homicide counts

If the defendant is found guilty, a judge or jury must determine whether the defendant was mentally responsible for his conduct at the time of the offense.

Such a determination could result in the defendant being committed to a mental health facility rather than prison.

Perri announced the change after Dorow refused a defense request to move the trial out of Waukesha County or bring in jurors from outside the county.

Perri has argued that the publicity around the incident has been so intense and so overwhelmingly negative that Brooks can't get a fair trial in the county.

Dorow said that she has found media coverage has been prolific but objective and jurors aren't required to be ignorant of a case.

She went on to say that internet analytics show interest in articles about the parade has waned since the first few weeks immediately following the incident and she was confident the court could assembly a pool of about 150 prospective jurors who could decide the case fairly.

Brooks Jr is accused of killing six people and injuring dozens more when he allegedly drove his SUV through a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee in 2021

Brooks' lengthy rap sheet includes felonies for bail jumping, battery, drugs offenses, weapons offenses and domestic abuse but he has never spent a significant amount of time in prison

The criminal complaint detailing the charges against Brooks describes how he allegedly drove into crowds of onlookers during the parade.

People bounced off his vehicle as police ordered him to stop. Police arrested Brooks later that night.

Brooks is being held on a $5million cash bond. He appeared at Monday's hearing in a surgical mask and an an orange jail T-shirt. He said nothing throughout the proceeding.

His trial had been scheduled to begin October 3 and last all month. It wasn't immediately clear if that date will stand given Brooks' new plea.

On November 21, a man was filmed speeding in a red SUV as he slammed into Waukesha Christmas parade spectators and participants, killing Virginia Sorenson, 79, LeAnna Owen, 71, Tamara Durand, 52, Jane Kulich, 52, Wilhelm Hospel, 81, and Jackson Sparks, 8.

Amy Mack lights candles at a memorial at Veterans Park for the victims of a deadly crash

Four of the six people who were killed in the parade were with the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies float, including Sorenson, Owen, Durand and Wilhelm Hospel, the husband of one of the Grannies.

Brooks had been out on bail just before the hit-and-run, which had been set at $1,000, despite the fact that he'd been bailed twice in 2021 and has a lengthy criminal history stretching back to 1999 that includes a laundry list of offenses.

On November 5, weeks before the parade, Brook was charged with endangerment for allegedly running over the mother of his child with his SUV.

Brooks was assessed as a high risk to reoffend, but the prosecutor who handled his initial appearance still sought the $1,000 cash bail. He posted it on November 19.

The alleged killer said he has felt 'demonized' and 'dehumanized' by the court proceedings, but the mother of one of his children offered no sympathy.

The Christmas parade began on November 21 at 4pm, with participants starting at Main Street and Whiterock Avenue. At 4.39pm, the red SUV was filmed speeding down Main Street. It then smashed into the crowd and sent bodies flying before speeding on towards the end of the parade, where the car broke through barriers

'It was a monstrous act and it's completely irredeemable,' the woman, who chose to remain anonymous, told Fox News in December. 'I'm mortified and devastated and have lost sleep for days over this. Obviously, I wish it did not happen.'

The woman said her teenage son, who has not seen his father in more than a year, also felt heartbroken by the senseless attack.

She claimed that Brooks had a history of mental health issues and was on medication, and that her son only had irregular contact with him for the last decade.

According to court papers filed in Waukesha, Brooks owes his former partner $41,000 in back child support, but the woman says the $151 monthly payment Brooks is supposed to pay 'isn't going to make or break us.'

The SUV was found around five blocks from where the parade carnage took place
A brazen white supremacist group has put on a racist event in one of Sydney's richest suburbs, leaving local families shocked and angry.

The far-right group European Australian Movement held up their flag in front of parents and their young children at Hunter Park, Mosman, on Sydney's north shore just after noon on Saturday.

A local father told The Mosman Collective he watched on in horror as the group, linked to the neo-Nazi Nationalist Socialist Network, openly made Hitler salutes.

Pictured: Members of far right group European Australian Movement meeting up at a Sydney park

'To have this occur in a local park has made me shake with anger,' he said.

'I feel unsafe knowing that people with the capability of extreme violence have been  or are  in our community.

'To violate little kids who were at the park this way is vile, horrendous and absolutely unforgiveable.'

2GB radio host Ben Fordham weighed in on Tuesday, describing the group as 'fruitcakes and weirdos'.

The Mosman local also said there was a 'weird dynamic' between five black-clad men and one woman.

The group were walking around a portable BBQ and looked completely out of place and like they didn't know each other well, he said.

At one point a man who appeared to be the group leader said, 'Ok, we have to do this, let's get this done.'

What happened next left onlookers stunned. The group pulled out a neo-Nazi flag holding it up as the single woman of the group took photos.

The five men all in black were pictured with a neo-Nazi flag giving the Nazi salute at Mosman's Hunter Park. 2GB radio host Ben Fordham called the group 'fruitcakes and weirdos'

The local man then recalls at least two men giving the Sieg Heil salute at the camera.

A short time later the group walked off and had their individual pictures taken.

A spokesperson from North Shore Police Area Command confirmed the flag pictured is used by the European Australian Movement (EAM).

The EAM is led by Thomas Sewell, and is a neo-Nazi extreme far right group.

Sewell is a self-confessed white supremacist and member of National Socialist Network.

Most recently in April he duped a Bavarian beer haul in Docklands into holding a birthday party for Adolf Hitler.

In that incident he held up a photo of Hitler while other members at the table performed Nazi salutes.
After halting crypto mining actions in 2021, Iran will be banning the said activity once more to ease the country's power supply tensions.

Iran's power industry will cut off 18 licensed crypto mining companies' electricity despite what it could help the country after the decades of international sanctions Iran is suffering.

Other countries are resistant to crypto regulations.

Iran Outlaws Crypto Mining Again to Aid Power Supply Crisis

The Iranian government is again prohibiting crypto mining activities in its country to lessen the tension on Iran's power supply. The country's government reportedly did the same back in 2021 after Bitcoin miners' computer hardware caused Iran's crippling energy infrastructures.

In an interview with their state TV, the spokesman of the country's power industry, Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi, said that they would cut off the electricity to all 18 government-authorized mining operations in their country, as per a Bloomberg report.

Bitcoin has long been considered a way for countries to circumvent trade embargoes. Iran has been under sanctions by the US since 1979 after the diplomats in US Embassy in Tehran were held hostage by Iranian students. Such sanction has effectively banned the country from accessing the international financial system. Under the US sanctions, Iranian imports were blocked, and $12 Billion of their assets were frozen.

Iran officially recognized the crypto mining industry in 2019. In the same year, they also began giving licenses to miners, but Crypto miners' had to come to terms that they are required to pay higher electricity rates and sell their mined bitcoins to Iran's central bank.

Before the outlaws, the crypto mining industry was booming in Iran. In May 2022, the blockchain analytics firm Elliptic estimated that 4.5% of all Bitcoin mining took place in the country. However, according to the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), the ratio went down to 0.12% in January.

Read Also: Amazon Acknowledges, Comixology Has Gotten Worse, Promises to Address Issues

China Knows No Constraints

Other countries, like China, have shown resistance to government warnings. The crypto hash rate that measures computational power used by proof-of-work cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin in the said country descended to zero between last July and August after the country's most drastic crackdown on crypto mining.

However, its crypto industry arose quickly in September, and China accounted for 30% of the world's crypto hash rate. In January, the country grew second to the United States after going nearly 40%, according to the Cambridge Centre of Alternative Finance.

The CCAF also thinks that underground mining might be happening in China. In a statement, CCAF shared that they analyzed that small-scale operations could be among the effective means underground miners utilize to operate behind controls and crypto trading bans.

Moreover, CCAF said that with China's hash rate, its miners could have secretly been performing by rerouting their data via proxy services. However, they might have become less wary about hiding their locations once the regulations are set.

Related Article: 3 Reasons the Cryptocurrency Market Has Dipped and How to Take Advantage with Bitcoin (BTC) and Seesaw Protocol (SSW)
Bombshell texts sent by a bikie's ex-lover has revealed the pair may have broken up just a few months before he died suddenly at the age of 32, as his mother fights for her son's remains.

Ricky Chapman, 32, died on April 20 after suffering a medical episode while working at Rio Tinto's port in Cape Lambert, 1500km north of Perth.

Since his death, his long-term girlfriend Stacey Schoppe and his mother Suzy Britt have been locked in a legal battle over the right to his remains and his funeral.

Ms Britt's lawyer cast doubt on the validity of Mr Chapman and Ms Schoppe's relationship during a hearing at Western Australia's Court of Appeal on Monday.

Barrister Stuart Shepherd said text messages sent from Ms Schoppe to a friend pointed to a gap in the couple's relationship.

'Me and Ricky are not together anymore,' one text, sent in November 2021, read.

'Ricky doesn't want to work on himself, but he wants me to love him,' another text, sent two weeks later, read.

Former Bandidos bikie enforcer Ricky Chapman (above) died on April 20 after suffering a medical episode while working at Rio Tinto's port in Cape Lambert, 1500km north of Perth

Ms Schoppe (right) and Chapman (left) began dating in late 2019 and moved in together in January 2020 but his mother claims they had been broken up for five months when he died

The couple started dating in late 2019 before moving in together in January 2020.

They remained in each other's lives until Chapman's sudden death in April, 2022, the West Australian reports.

During a previous court hearing, Ms Schoppe stated in a sworn affidavit that she had been in a de-facto relationship with Chapman and he was 'excited' to be a father, before she lost their child in a miscarriage.

Ms Britt's barrister said text messages sent from Ms Schoppe to a friend pointed to a gap in the couple's relationship (pictured, a mock-up of the texts)

Chapman's girlfriend Stacey Schoppe (above) initially started a GoFundMe campaign to pay for his funeral before Chapman's mother, Suzanne Britt, filed to take custody of his remains

Mr Shepherd told the court the pregnancy or the fact they had lived together was not evidence the pair had been in a committed de-facto relationship.

The barrister said loved-up social media posts and financial support that Chapman had received from Ms Schoppe while he was in prison was also not proof of they were de-facto.

During a hearing last week, Ms Britt said the couple had broken up five months before her son died and claimed he was staying in a hotel without Ms Schoppe.

In an emotional statement, Ms Schoppe told the court Chapman had never moved out of her home and that their fights had only ever lasted a few days.

'He had his whole in life in WA with me. We didn't give up on each other,' Ms Schoppe said, adding some of his personal items still remained in her home.

He noted the couple may have broken up between November and December of last year but that didn't mean the relationship completely ended.

Ms Schoppe said it was Chapman's wish that she arranged his funeral and she was granted custody of his remains by the Supreme Court last week before Ms Britt's appeal

She said that she had already pre-paid for Chapman's funeral and that she would be 'more than happy' to share his remains with his mother, who lives in South Australia.

In a previous hearing, Ms Schoppe told the court she would be honouring Chapman's wish by arranging the service.

Last week, she was granted permission to organise the funeral, however Ms Britt lodged an appeal the following day to release Chapman's body into her custody and give her the authority over the service.

On Monday, Ms Schoppe shared details of his epilepsy and said Chapman had suffered a head injury during a seizure while he was at work in November, 2021.

He had subsequent fits on the plane to his rigging job and at her home, she said.

Suzanne Britt (above) said there was no proof Ms Schoppe and Chapman were in a 'marriage-like' de-facto relationship and is seeking permission to organise Chapman's funeral

Ms Schoppe told the court she believed it was another fit that had led to Chapman's death at Rio Tintos Cape Lambert iron ore port in April.

His death came 16 months after he survived being hit by an assassin's bullet that killed Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin.

Martin was at the Perth Motorplex, surrounded by his Rebels comrades, when he was hit and killed by a sniper in December 2020 with Chapman also grazed by the bullet in the chaos.

The Court of Appeal is expected to hand down its findings within the week.
The Duchess of Cambridge has praised children's hospices for bringing 'joy, fun and play' to seriously ill children.

Kate, in a message to mark Children's Hospice Week, said that, as well as providing vital expert care, the UK's 54 children's hospices help families 'make the most of their lives together, no matter how short'.

The duchess, who has been royal patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) for 10 years, thanked the hospices for their 'incredible work' and for guiding people through the 'toughest of times'.

Children's Hospice Week, from June 20-26, is organised by Together for Short Lives, the UK charity for seriously ill children and families, and is the only week dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the services across the country.

The Duchess of Cambridge talks with Sonny Saunders (seated left), his father, Jordan, and sister Star (right), during a 2020 visit to The Nook in Framlingham Earl, Norfolk, which is one of the three East Anglia Children's Hospices

The Duchess of Cambridge meets patients and their families during a 2019 visit to the East Anglia's Children's Hospices' new hospice The Nook in Framingham Earl, Norfolk

Kate said: 'For any parent, coming to terms with the news your child has a life-threatening condition and may die young is heart-breaking and incredibly frightening.

'Families can often feel isolated, but having the support of a children's hospice means they don't have to face that future alone.

'Every day, the UK's 54 children's hospices are a vital lifeline for families caring for a seriously ill child, and over the last 10 years I have been privileged to see first-hand the incredible work they do.'

The Duchess of Cambridge pictured on June 16 as she hosted a round-table discussion on the importance of early childhood development and its links to mental health with senior government ministers

The Duchess listened attentively as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid spoke during the roundtable last week

She added: 'This year, the theme for Children's Hospice Week is 'For the Children', reminding us all that as well as providing expert care, children's hospices bring joy, fun and play to brighten each day and help families make the most of their lives together, no matter how short.

'This Children's Hospice Week, I hope you'll join me in celebrating the extraordinary work they do and thank them for the life-changing care and support they provide to children and families going through the toughest of times.'

Andy Fletcher, chief executive of Together for Short Lives, said: 'As the duchess says, hearing the news that your child will die young is heart-breaking, and families often tell us they feel isolated and alone, and just don't know where to turn to for support.

'That's why children's hospices are so vital. Everything they do is 'For The Children', helping families make the most of every moment, whether that's for years, months or only days.'
Priti Patel will bid to quash the decision by European judges which led to the first Rwanda asylum flight being axed at the last moment, it emerged last night.

The Home Secretary is poised to make a formal challenge to the European Court of Human Rights, opening up the prospect of another attempt at sending Channel migrants on a one-way trip to Africa.

Her lawyers told judges at the High Court yesterday that official submissions will be made to Strasbourg 'imminently'. Miss Patel will also 'resist' any further attempts by Strasbourg to block future removals, the court heard.

Last Tuesday the inaugural flight had to be called off within half an hour of take-off after lawyers for three migrants obtained injunctions from the human rights court, called 'Rule 39 indications'.

Jack Anderson, for the Home Secretary, told the High Court in written submissions: 'The defendant will resist any further application for a Rule 39 indication and the UK will be applying to the European Court of Human Rights to reconsider the Rule 39 indication on an urgent basis.

The grounded Rwanda deportation flight EC-LZO Boeing 767 at Boscombe Down Air Base, on June 14, 2022 in Boscombe Down near Amesbury, Wiltshire

'The UK has informed the ECHR that it intends to submit representations imminently, and the ECHR has informed the UK that such representations will be considered as a matter of urgency and a response will be received within a few days.'

A Home Office source said: 'We are going to ask the Strasbourg judges to think again. We will present comprehensive evidence based on what was heard in the British courts. This is important because the Home Office did not have a chance to make full arguments on the night of last week's flight.

'We remain unsure of the chances of success, but we are trying our hardest.'

The developments open up the prospect of the Home Office resuming charter flights to Rwanda, potentially within days.

It was previously thought the flights were unlikely to resume until British judges had considered a full judicial review of the Rwanda policy, which was not expected to finish until the end of July.

Mr Anderson disclosed that separate injunctions granted by the UK Court of Appeal last Tuesday night, which blocked the removal of a further two migrants, are also being challenged.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab had already confirmed that measures in the new Bill of Rights, due to be published this week, will make it clear that injunctions granted by the Strasbourg court have no legal force.

Priti Patel will bid to quash the decision by European judges which led to the first Rwanda asylum flight being axed at the last moment, it emerged last night

The Home Office's legal challenges emerged as part of a separate High Court claim brought by other migrants at risk of being sent to Rwanda.

Mr Justice Swift denied bail to three asylum-seekers and paused other aspects of the claims until after the judicial review. An initial case management hearing for the judicial review of the policy is due to be held tomorrow.

In the Commons, Home Office minister Tom Pursglove refused to rule out trying to send another flight to Rwanda before the outcome of the judicial review after being challenged by the SNP.

The number of Channel migrants to reach the UK this year has reached 11,643, after more than 300 arrivals on Saturday. At the same point last year, the figure was 5,249.
Australia's first home buyers are set to benefit from a range of new schemes designed to help them onto the property ladder in 2022.

NSW premier Dominic Perrottet will allow first-time buyers to pay an annual land tax consisting of a $400 fee, plus 0.3 per cent of the land value, instead of charging them a crippling up-front sum.

These changes could save first home buyers up to $50,000 at the time of purchase - which is often the difference between buying a home or continuing to rent for years.

The state government will also trial a shared equity scheme for teachers, nurses, police, single parents and older singles.

First home buyers will no longer have to pay thousands of dollars in stamp duty and will instead be able to pay an annual land tax

It will mirror a policy announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the election campaign which will see the government take a 40 per cent stake in homes.

In Sydney - Australia's hottest housing market - prices are still 22.7 per cent above pre-2020 levels, making home ownership an impossible dream for many low and average income earners.

But CBA has predicted they will drop by 18 per cent over the next two years as interest rates rise.

Mr Perrottet, who faces an election in March, wants to help renters get into the property market to give them a stake in society and the chance to 'grow wealth'.

Here Daily Mail Australia takes a look at how these ambitious housing policies will work.

Stamp duty overhaul

First home buyers in NSW will no longer have to pay thousands of dollars in stamp duty and will instead be able to pay an annual land tax.

The hated stamp duty - which is about $50,000 on average, is paid to the state government by a buyer purchasing a home.

But first time buyers of properties worth up to $1.5 million will be able to opt for an annual land duty instead worth $400 plus 0.3 per cent of the land value.

Dominic Perrottet (pictured) will help first home buyers to get on the property ladder with two new schemes announced in his state Budget today

A property in Rosehill costing about $1million would attract stamp duty of $42,000 or an annual tax of $1,900 a year.

However, that $1,900 figure would increase as the value of the land goes up.

If the buyers hold the house for several years they could be paying more over time than if they had simply paid the $42,000 up front.

But the Government believes it's good to offer the choice so first home buyers can get into a property sooner.

What are Australian governments doing with housing policies? NSW: Dominic Perrottet will allow first-time buyers to pay an annual land tax consisting of a $400 fee, plus 0.3 per cent of the land value, instead of charging them a crippling up-front sum. The state government will also trial a shared equity scheme for teachers, nurses, police, single parents and older singles. VIC: If you have a 5% deposit, the Victorian Government will contribute up to 25% of the purchase price, in exchange for an equivalent share in the property, which can reduce your mortgage. Plus, no Lenders Mortgage Insurance. QLD: The Queensland First Home Owners Grant is a state government initiative to help first home owners to get their new first home sooner. If your contract is dated 1 July 2018 or later, you can get the Queensland grant of $15,000 towards buying or building your new house, unit or townhouse (valued at less than $750,000). The grant is paid per new home; not to each of the applicants for the same home. WA: The Department of Communities offers a range of home ownership products through its lending provider, Keystart. They include a shared equity scheme. SA: If you are a first home buyer you may be eligible for the first home owner grant of up to $15,000, if you are buying or building a new home (including a house, flat, unit, townhouse or apartment) in South Australia; and that home will be your principal place of residence. TAS: The state government has extended the $30,000 first home owners grant to June 2023 and increased the stamp duty threshold to $600,000 to reflect property prices. It has also doubled the amount of funding available for the residential land rebate to $30 million. Federal: A policy announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the election campaign will see the government take a 40 per cent stake in homes. Advertisement

Treasurer Matt Kean said: 'We know that first home buyers are being forced to enter the property market later in life and this reform will make the property market more accessible for them.

'It will mean more NSW residents will get into their first home at an earlier age and achieve the great Australian dream of home ownership.'

The scheme is due to be available from January 16, 2023 and is estimated to help 55,000 households a year.

First home buyers will continue to be eligible to apply for full stamp duty exemption for properties up to $650,000.

Stamp duty concessions remain in place for properties between $650,000 and $800,000.

Instead of paying the stamp duty fee up front buyers could chose to pay an annual land tax to the state government instead. Pictured: A home auction in Sydney

Stamp duty explained Stamp duty is a tax paid to the state government by the buyer when purchasing a home The figure depends on the value of the home but the median average stamp duty in Sydney is $49,934 First home buyers can qualify for a stamp duty exemption for homes they buy for less than $650,000 while a concessional rate is available for properties worth up to $800,000 The rule applies whether the home is brand new or existing Advertisement

The median average stamp duty in Sydney is $49,934.

Ken Morrison, chief executive of The Property Council of Australia, described stamp duty tax as 'the worst thing in Australia' because it 'distorts behaviour, cripples job creation, lowers growth, and locks people into housing that might not be appropriate for their needs'.

Premier Perrottet, who has called stamp duty an 'inherently terrible tax', floated axing it completely when he was treasurer.

He wanted 80 per cent of buyers across the state to have the option of paying an annual land tax regardless of whether they were purchasing their first home.

However, he conceded such large-scale reform couldn't be achieved without the help of the Commonwealth which was not forthcoming.

The NSW government rakes in 32 per cent of its revenue from stamp duty which was worth $12.2 billion in the 10 months to April 2022, according to Revenue NSW.

This has soared from 18.3 per cent 10 years ago as house prices skyrocketed.

NSW Treasury predicted switching to a land tax would collect about 20 per cent less revenue than the current system.

In the 2020-2021 financial year, $9.6 billion of stamp duty was collected.

Labor opposes the move to a land tax model.

Shared equity scheme

On Sunday the NSW premier announced that frontline workers and singles over 50 will receive 'a leg up' into the NSW property market, with the state government to introduce a shared equity housing scheme in the budget.

The $780.4 million trial scheme will be open to 3,000 frontline workers and single parents or singles over 50.

It will be open to singles earning up to $90,000 a year, or couples earning up to $120,000.

Key worker first home buyers who are nurses, teachers or police  as well as older singles over 50 and single parents with a child or children under 18 years old can apply for shared equity

The government will contribute up to 40 per cent of the equity of a new home and up to 30 per cent on an existing home, and will require a two per cent deposit.

The scheme will mirror the new Labor federal government's shared equity scheme which was opposed by Scott Morrison.

Mr Kean said the policy was about helping people reach their goals and live their dreams.

'One of the particular cohorts that we're focused on is that cohort that is too often fallen through the cracks and that's older singles, particularly women who are divorced,' Mr Kean said.

'What we want to do is make it as easy as possible for that cohort to get back on their feet safely.'

Eligible properties will be capped at $950,000 in metropolitan Sydney and $600,000 in other parts of the state.
Masks will no longer be required on several major international Qantas flights, a leaked company memo to airline staff has revealed.

Inflight mask rules have been lifted in aircraft for non-stop flights destined for countries where masks are not required by their authorities, the memo said.

Flights taking off from NSW, Queensland, Western Australia which are bound for the UK, US and Europe (Rome) will no longer require passengers to don masks.

The letter said services out of Victoria have not been given the go ahead to ditch the mask rule but the airline will confirm once it has.

The leaked Qantas memo said: 'The change to inflight mask requirements on some international flights is an important step in our transition to living with Covid, and we welcome this change.'

The news comes after mask mandates in airports (pictured travellers checking in to Melbourne Airport earlier this month) were scrapped from last Friday

The news brought to light by 2GB on Tuesday comes after the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) recommended the lifting of mask mandates across Aussie airports last week.

The Qantas memo said: 'The change to inflight mask requirements on some international flights is an important step in our transition to living with Covid, and we welcome this change.'

The airline added that studies revealed the risk of transmission within flight cabins was 'very low'.

The flying kangaroo said they 'respect and understand' some crew and passengers prefer to continue wearing masks and these will be available for use onboard, at boarding gates, lounges and crew rooms.

Wearing masks inbound and domestically on their aircraft will remain unchanged, the memo said.

But a Virgin Australia spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the AHPPC has not changed its position on mask wearing during flights.

'For now, mask wearing will still be required by passengers and team members on all Virgin Australia aircraft,' the statement said.

'Masks are still required at the international airports into which we fly (Denpasar and Nadi), therefore passengers are still required to wear masks onboard these short haul international services.'

'We are working with the relevant authorities on the requirements for masks on board and continue to provide updates as it is appropriate.'

The airline said masks will be available on board, at boarding gates, lounges and crew facilities for those wishing to keep wearing them

The airline added that studies had revealed the risk of transmission within flight cabins was 'very low'

The European Union stopped enforcing mask wearing on flights last month, though application of the rule change was down to individual member states.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it hoped ditching masks would mark 'a big step forward in the normalisation of air travel'.

The step was taken after considering vaccination levels and naturally acquired immunity, as well as the lifting of restrictions in a growing number of European countries.

EASA executive director Patrick Ky cautioned that passengers should still behave responsibly.

'A passenger who is coughing and sneezing should strongly consider wearing a face mask, for the reassurance of those seated nearby,' he said.

Wearing masks inbound and domestically on Qantas aircraft will remain unchanged

Last April the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention canceled compulsory mask wearing orders after a court order struck down the rule on mass transportation.

Virgin Australia boss Jayne Hrdlicka told 2GB last month seeing the back of mask mandates in flight cabins and elsewhere was just 'a matter of time'.

Ms Hrdlicka said being on a plane was one of the safest places because of the quality air filtration system.

'You're safer in an aeroplane than you are in a supermarket,' Ms Hrdlicka said last month.

Qantas was contacted by Daily Mail Australia for comment.
Australians will have access to a single vaccine for COVID-19 and influenza by 2024 as clinical trials are set to begin.

The combined shot for flu, COVID-19 and respiratory virus RSV is in early testing stages with trials to start later this year, Moderna chief medical officer Paul Burton says.

Dr Burton expects combined vaccines will be key to fighting respiratory diseases in the aftermath of the pandemic, and to adapt to multiple strains within one season.

A single jab for COVID-19 and influenza has reached clinical trials with the site of Moderna's new vaccine manufacturing hub to be announced in a few weeks

The combined shot for flu, COVID-19 and respiratory virus RSV is in early testing stages with trials to start later this year

'We still have to be cautious, this fight is not over and we can't let our guard down,' he told Sky News on Monday.

Mr Burton said bringing vaccines together and adapting will be the future, as we think about diseases other than COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Australia's multi-billion dollar mRNA manufacturing hub will be bigger than initially expected.

The first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, the facility was announced in March by the Morrison government as part of an agreement with Moderna.

Finding a location has reached its final stages and a site will be announced in a few weeks, Moderna general manager Michael Azrak said.

'It's taken a little bit longer than we anticipated because we're actually going to be building a larger facility than we anticipated,' he told Sky News.

The pharmaceutical giant aims to break ground on the Victorian site before the end of the year, Mr Azrak said.

It will be operating by the end of 2024, subject to approval by the medicines regulator.
Britain risks being a 'rule-taker' from Brussels as it tries to rein in tech giants due to the stalled rollout of the UK's digital regulator, the head of the competition watchdog has warned.

The Digital Markets Unit was launched in shadow form over a year ago and was set to lead the world in tackling the dominance of online firms such as Google.

But campaigners were frustrated when legislation needed to empower it was only announced in draft form in the Queen's Speech last month, meaning it is likely to remain toothless until at least 2023.

Meanwhile, the EU has revealed its own rules that will ban anti-competitive behaviour by the world's biggest search engines  set to come into force by autumn.

Andrea Coscelli, outgoing chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority, within which the DMU is set up, said tech firms were already investing to adapt to the new laws set by Brussels.

Mr Coscelli  who is leaving the post next month  said the 70 staff already employed by the DMU would focus on existing probes into Google, Apple and Meta

He told the Financial Times: 'As a country we are in a great place to set up smart, pro-business, pro-competitive rules of the road in a number of these areas... If we don't, then in practice we become a rule-taker because of the cost of divergence.

'The... frustration is that we were [initially] ahead of the European legislation [in drafting the rules]... we're now behind.'

Mr Coscelli  who is leaving the post next month  said the 70 staff already employed by the DMU would focus on existing probes into Google, Apple and Meta.

The Digital Markets Unit was launched in shadow form over a year ago and was set to lead the world in tackling the dominance of online firms such as Google and Apple

The draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill will bring in tough new laws to stop tech giants exploiting consumers and rivals.

It is understood the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is aiming to publish the Bill this autumn but it will need to go through Parliament later.

The EU's Digital Markets Act was first proposed in December 2020  four months before the DMU was launched  and was agreed last month.

It will now have to be approved by the European Council and the European Parliament.
Brexit has allowed Britain to play a more powerful role in Nato, according to a former White House adviser.

John Bolton will today say that the UK has taken a stronger stance on the invasion of Ukraine than the United States.

And he believes Britain now has an appropriate part in the Western military alliance, having ditched the smoothie-making, decision-making process of the EU.

Mr Bolton, who was national security adviser to Donald Trump, is to make the remarks at the launch of a report on Britains role in the world after Brexit.

On the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he will say: Britain has taken a leading role in the Wests efforts to defeat this aggression and to make the point to would-be aggressors around the world.

In many respects, I say with some envy, taking a stronger and more effective view than the USA.

The report, from the Centre for Brexit Policy think-tank, calls for a big increase in defence spending to sustain and strengthen the UKs special relationship with the US.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has also called for a rise in defence spending thanks to the dangerous world that now exists

Mr Bolton was sacked by Mr Trump after spending much of his 17-month tenure trying to restrain the president on the foreign stage.

He will say closer ties between the UK and US are a high priority. I am particularly glad that one consequence of Brexit is that the UK can have an appropriate, fully independent role in Nato  not constrained by the smoothie-making, decision-making process of the European Union, he will say.

We can see today all too graphically how important Nato is, with Finland and Sweden breaking decades of neutrality to apply. We need a strong Britain working closely with the USA and Nato.

The report, compiled by about 20 politicians, foreign policy experts and academics, says Britains military capability is one of the key pillars underpinning the formal and informal ties that bind the two countries together.

But it says the UKs ability to do things no other allied government can do  which is of value to the US  is being strained by the planned cuts to the size of its armed forces.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has also called for a rise in defence spending thanks to the dangerous world that now exists. And he has described the Armys land fleet as woefully behind its peers.

Mr Bolton, who was national security adviser to Donald Trump, is to make the remarks at the launch of a report from the Centre for Brexit Policy think-tank on Britains role in the world after Brexit

Away from the battlefield, the report warns of active anti-American sentiment in the UK, predominantly on the Left, but also on the Right of the political spectrum.

There is no doubt that today, anti-Americanism is more powerful in the UK than Anglophobia is in the USA, it says.

We should aim for a mature UK-USA special relationship, one that recognises the indispensability of our alliance, and in which both sides work to refute the lies that seek to poison the alliance.

But also one which recognises that both partners have other friends and interests in the world, and that fostering those partnerships actually serves the health of the special relationship by preventing it from trying to be the be all and end all of policy.

It says Britain needs to push back far more effectively than it has done to date against misunderstandings of the Good Friday peace agreement, which it claims have caused much harm to Left-wing views of the UK in the US.
Only two of 3,000 applications for refuge by Afghans who worked for Britain have been processed since April.

There is now a backlog of 23,000 applications under the Afghan relocations and assistance policy (ARAP), the Ministry of Defence confirmed.

It was set up to help people who had worked for UK military or government, and whose lives were in danger after last summer's Taliban takeover.

Only 23 per cent of applications have been processed, figures uncovered by the Labour Party revealed.

And staff working on the scheme have been slashed by a quarter since December, The Times reported.

Only two of 3,000 applications for refuge by Afghans who worked for Britain have been processed since April, new figures show. (Pictured: Evacuees walk to be processed at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, August 25, 2021)

Armed Forces minister James Heappey (pictured) said more resources would be put into ARAP in the coming weeks

Armed Forces minister James Heappey said more resources would be put into ARAP in the coming weeks.

He said: 'The pace of decision-making has started to slow down as we've increasingly received legal challenges.'

But John Healey, Labour's shadow defence secretary, said: 'Ministers are failing Afghans who supported our armed forces.

'The backlog of applications stalled in the system is ballooning.

'The Government is simply not dealing with ARAP applications fast enough, while Afghans who worked alongside UK personnel are at grave risk from the Taliban.'
Prince William has told how he had to quit studying art history at university  as he kept falling asleep during lectures.

The Duke of Cambridge, who turns 40 today, has admitted he was terrible for dozing off at the University of St Andrews.

William made the comments to The Big Issue seller Dave Martin, 60, after secretly joining him on his patch in Westminster.

The pair sold 32 copies in an hour, which Mr Martin said would typically take him a week to shift.

Afterwards Mr Martin handed William a set of abstract postcards he had produced.

William said he had enjoyed learning about Renaissance art but started to get a bit dozy with modern art. He changed to study geography, graduating with a 2:1 in 2005.

To mark his birthday the duke is on the cover of The Big Issue, released yesterday. He said his 40th was a good opportunity... to make sure we were highlighting something that matters to me.

Prince William, pictured here studying in the main university library at St Andrews in 2004, said he was 'terrible' for dozing off during lectures

William told Mr Martin: I studied a bit of art history at university.

I had to give it up  I kept falling asleep in lectures terrible. We did a lot of Renaissance, which was amazing. But then once we got into modern art, I started to get a bit dozy.

William enrolled at St Andrews in 2001. It was there that he met his future wife, Katherine Middleton, who also studied history of art.

During the interview, the Prince also encouraged people to take their wireless earphones out of their ears and interact with one another more.

He added: Im lucky because I am who I am. Often, people are happy to talk to me. Weve got to push back on the normality that is popping in your wireless earphones and wandering down the street, listening to music or on a phone.

In a city, you walk past hundreds of people every day and you dont even look at them. Wouldnt it be nice to find out a bit more about the people either side of you?

To mark his birthday, he is pictured on the cover of the latest edition of the Big Issue. It comes after the Daily Mail told yesterday in our landmark William at 40 series how he would be focusing on homelessness and housing in the coming year.

The prince said that his birthday was a good opportunity to make sure we were highlighting something that matters to me.

During his time on the streets, he chatted to a number of people who fled the war in Ukraine as well as other supporters and he urged more people to buy the magazine.

He said: I wanted to experience the other side and see what it was like to be a Big Issue vendor. My time was truly eye opening. I was lucky to join Dave on a warm, sunny day in June.

People recognised a familiar face and were happy to give me the time of day. But that isnt the case for the vast majority of Big Issue vendors, who sell year round  including through the bleak winter months.

There are around 1,300 Big Issue sellers. They buy magazines for 1.50 and sell them for 3, keeping the proceeds. The special edition is available across the UK.
iPhone users that can run iOS 16 will no longer have to verify that they're human.

iOS 16 will allegedly solve all Completely Automated Public Turing tests (CAPTCHAs), including those that require you to tap on specific images or decipher squiggly texts, in supported apps and websites, according to MacRumors.

The upcoming iOS update was also previously reported to have SMS filtering and a LiDAR scanner to create 3D floor plans.

iOS 16 CAPTCHA Solving Algorithm Details

iOS 16's new CAPTCHA solving feature is a new option for automatic verification, wherein iCloud will handle CAPTCHA verifications on your behalf if switched on, per XDA Developers.

The operating system can do CAPTCHAs for you thanks to private access tokens (PAT) that help you prove that an HTTP authentication request is coming from a human being - you - instead of a bot.

Apple Insider explains that when the client needs a token, it contacts Apple through iCloud to perform the process of skipping the CAPTCHA using certificates stored in the device's Secure Enclave to get one.

Alternatively, Apple can also perform something called "rate-limiting," which can recognize if the client device (in this case, your phone) follows typical user patterns or is part of an iPhone click farm.

Regardless if Apple uses either of the two methods, a signed token is sent to the server in a multi-step process. During the previously mentioned process, the server won't know about the token coming from or the person accessing it. However, as the server trusts Apple, it will validate the token, allowing you to go to your destination web page without answering a single CAPTCHA test.

Read More: Samsung Launched a High-End Monitor for Content Creators and Professionals - Here's What You Need To Know

The tokens the device produces are single-way to limit replay attacks, when a client attempts to present one token multiple times.

Apple mentioned that the tokens require a device running iOS 16 or macOS Ventura or later with an Apple ID signed in, which is only used for attestation and isn't shared for privacy purposes.

Cloudflare, another cloud technology provider, stated that when PATs are used, device data is not shared between the parties involved in the process, providing you the privacy you need to access the webpage of your choosing.

However, it seems that iOS users running iOS 6 will need to use Safari and WebKit to skip CAPTCHA tests completely.

Additionally, Apple warns app developers to guarantee user authentication doesn't block the main web page and to present the option of skipping CAPTCHA tests as optional.

iOS 16 Other Details

Aside from skipping CAPTCHA tests, Apple's upcoming iOS update could also have improved APIs that allow third-party apps to identify and notify you about spam calls and texts.

It could also have improved ARKit and related technologies alongside "RoomPlan," a new API that uses LiDAR scanning to create 3D floor layouts quickly. However, RoomPlan isn't a default feature for iOS 16, so app developers need to create apps that bring the API's full features to you.

Lastly, iOS 16 could come with Always On Display, allowing you to view the time, date, notifications, missed calls, and more information even when the screen is turned off.

Related Article: iOS 16 Updates: SMS Filtering and LiDAR SCanning To Create 3D Floor Plans
Australians would be banned from installing natural gas cooktop and heaters in their homes if the Greens had their way.

The hard-left party - which Australians voted for in record numbers at the federal election - has put forward a bill to stop new homes in Victoria from having gas connected.

Tim Read, the Greens member Brunswick in Melbourne's inner north, wants his state to be gas free.

'It's ridiculous that Victorian laws are forcing new homes to connect to gas when we know how expensive, polluting and unhealthy it is,' Dr Read said.

'Cities and countries around the world are going gas free, yet Victoria is a laggard, forcing homes to be hooked up to gas.'

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Tim Read (centre), the Greens member Brunswick in Melbourne's gentrified inner north, wants his state to be gas free

The Planning and Environment Amendment Bill is being introduced to Victoria's upper house on Tuesday, which would remove the existing planning requirement for homes to connect to the gas network.

It will also completely ban new gas connections from 2025, with the bill coinciding with the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.

The push is occurring despite a doubling of wholesale electricity prices and pain for consumers this winter with coal-fired power stations faltering and larger-scale renewable energy yet to be properly connected to the national electricity grid.

The Greens are far from the only climate activists campaigning to phase out natural gas in the home.

Engineer and author Saul Griffith told the ABC's Q&A program on Thursday night gas was toxic for children.

'Let's prove to Australia that we can lead the world by a mile on this transition,' Dr Griffith said.

'We can lower energy bills, improve quality of life, improve the air quality inside your home because the natural gas you're burning in your home is poisoning your children.'

A Climate Council report released last year linked gas cooktops to higher rates of asthma in children.

Dr Kate Charlesworth, a co-author of that report, said cooking with gas was responsible for up to 12 per cent of childhood asthma cases.

Australians would be banned from installing natural gas cooktop and heaters in their homes if the Greens had their way (pictured is a protest sign in Melbourne)

Climate Council calls for ban on home gas Climate Council wants state governments to phase out natural gas connections in new housing developments and allow local councils to ban it at these sites Kicking the Gas Habit: How Gas Is Harming Our Health report compared gas in homes to children being exposed to cigarette smoke Advertisement

'A child living with gas cooking in the home faces a comparable risk of asthma to a child living with household cigarette smoke,' she said.

The Kicking the Gas Habit: How Gas Is Harming Our Health report recommended state governments phase out gas connections in new residential developments and give local councils the power to ban it at these sites.

'Remove any planning rules that require new residential developments to be connected to gas,' it said.

The Climate Council also said natural gas in the home was a problem even when the windows were open.

'Better ventilation, including modern extraction fans over stoves, flues for gas heaters and other safety measures like ensuring appliances are properly serviced or opening windows can reduce  but not eliminate  these risks,' it said.

A recent Victorian parliamentary inquiry found gas used for cooking, heating and industrial processes is a major source of carbon emissions in the state.

The inquiry's report, tabled in parliament last month, suggested the government consider reviewing and removing regulations that require gas connections for new buildings, and potentially enact a moratorium on residential gas connections.
The BBC licence fee is discriminatory and could in future be linked to council tax bands to make the system fairer, Nadine Dorries has said.

The Culture Secretary said she was looking at a system in Germany where the amount people are charged is linked to how much property tax they pay.

She said it is unfair that everyone pays the same amount no matter what they earn, and it discriminates against women as they are most likely to be convicted for non-payment.

Mrs Dorries is about to launch a consultation as part of a year-long review into the future of the 159-a-year TV licence fee.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries is pictured leaving Number Ten last week after Cabinet

The licence fee is set for a year-long consultation (pictured, BBC HQ New Broadcasting House)

She has signalled she intends to axe it when the current charter expires at the end of 2027.

Other alternatives are a voluntary subscription model like Netflix uses, allowing advertising, or through a general broadband levy. Mrs Dorries told LBC Radio: Were looking at a number of options. Germany doesnt have a licence fee any more. I think if Im [not] very much mistaken that its added on to peoples council tax, so those who are wealthier with higher council tax pay more.

Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby has suggested tying the licence fee to the council tax rate, suggesting that would make it fairer

She added that 76 per cent of all criminal convictions for non-payment of the licence fee are women. Thats because women take responsibility, its their name on the rent book, its their name on the mortgage, theyre the ones who take responsibility for the kids.

David Dimbleby suggested earlier this year that the licence fee could be linked to council tax to make it fairer.

The veteran TV presenter said the licence fee should not be paid flat-rate by everybody, but the richest should pay more and the poorest less.

He added: And the simple way of doing it would be to attach an element of the licence fee to the council tax band.
The number of children on NHS waiting lists has passed 350,000 for the first time  after rising by 100,000 in just a year, figures show.

Experts warn that long waits are particularly harmful for youngsters as it can impair their mental and physical development at a critical time of life. But only 65.4 per cent of under-18s are being treated within the 18-week target and 12,000 have been waiting for more than a year.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said it was dismayed by the figures as it called for youngsters to be prioritised for care.

There were 350,969 waiting to start treatment with a consultant at the end of April, NHS England data reveals.

The overall NHS waiting list, including adults, is also at a record high of 6.5 million

This is up 100,000 in a year to the highest level since records began. The overall NHS waiting list, including adults, is also at a record high of 6.5 million.

The surge in demand, following a slow-down in routine care during the pandemic, means the average child is now waiting three months to start treatment.

Dr Camilla Kingdon, of the RCPCH, said: Lengthy waits are unacceptable for any patient but for children and young people waits can be catastrophic as many treatments need to be given by a specific age or developmental stage.

The Government said it was working to tackle the Covid backlog with record investment in the NHS.

Dr Kingdon added: It is very disturbing that in the past 12 months, more than 100,000 more children have been added to the NHS waiting list.

With more than 350,000 children and young people waiting for care, we have to find a way of addressing this immense need for them and their families, and we need to start prioritising them so that they can have the prospect of a healthy childhood.

Experts warn that long waits are particularly harmful for youngsters as it can impair their mental and physical development at a critical time of life

Its important to bear in mind that these are just the number on the list who are recorded and counted.

There are a series of hidden waiting times for community care.

Paediatricians are working extremely hard to see as many children and young people as possible but the pandemic has carried in its wake a burden of young need that we cannot address.

Ministers must now take urgent steps to prioritise their care and capitalise on every opportunity to innovate and transform care.

Dr Kingdon continued: If the government is serious about levelling up Britain and giving every child the best start in life, we need a proper response including a child health action plan, combined with a clear plan to ensure we have a strong child health workforce to provide the right care for those at the start of their lives.

This is the mark of any decent society.

Many children and young people have suffered a great deal as a result of the impact of successive lockdowns and should not be expected to wait for months and years to receive treatments which could have a lasting impact on their lives.

The College warned the consequences of delaying treatment can be stark for young patients and their families.

It revealed one child with vulnerable breathing and spinal scoliosis deteriorated through the pandemic to the point she could no longer sit down or go to school.

She required major surgery but this was cancelled four times, setting back her education and forcing her parents to take time off work.
The NSW government received a quote that was a staggering $24.3 million cheaper than the one it eventually accepted to permanently add the Aboriginal flag to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

It was revealed on Sunday the new addition to the bridge, as well as replacing the two existing flagpoles, would take $25 million from the pockets of taxpayers - something Premier Dominic Perrottet admitted was 'ridiculous'.

But the $25 million price tag came as a shock to Poseidon Poles and Flags, on Sydney's northern beaches, which said each pole would only cost up to $200,000 to erect.

Lauren Mace, from the pole company, said she guessed there were safety concerns behind the mammoth price.

'It is a lot (of money)  I think there's quite a lot of work that needs to go into it, for a flag to stand on the harbour bridge securely,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

The traffic control needed to close the bridge, one of Sydney's busiest thoroughfares, could also be to blame for the massive price.

NSW Government set aside $25million to permanently fly the Aboriginal flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Mr Perrottet on Sunday laughed when he was quizzed by a reporter why putting up a third flag was so expensive.

'I don't know. But it does (cost that much), apparently,' he said.

'I'm even surprised it takes this long. I mean I made the announcement a while ago and the first brief that came back was that it takes two years to do.

'I'll go to Bunnings myself and climb up there and put the pole up.'

The premier later confirmed he would look at other quotes to try bring the price down, telling 2GB's Ben Fordham it 'doesn't pass the pub test'.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said he 'didn't know' why putting up a third flag would cost taxpayers so much

'The advice that I have received has been that it's complex, that there are heritage concerns, obviously all the poles will need to be replaced and all three of them are the equivalent size of a six-storey building, so I accept that it's not a simple process and it's not a simple construction,' he told the radio station on Monday.

'But like your listeners and most fair-minded people across the state it seems to be a pretty ridiculous and outrageous cost.'

He insisted he didn't find see the matter as a joke, and said his comments about going to Bunnings were 'lighthearted' but that he found it 'incredibly frustrating'.

He added he would sit down with NSW Transport and go through the cost 'line by line' to ensure the 'taxpayers get value for money'.

Mr Perrottet also ruled out replacing the NSW flag with the Aboriginal one, saying he wanted all three to fly together.

The premier wouldn't disclose what price he thought would be reasonable.

'$25 million dollars is incredibly excessive for what would appear to be, despite its challenging, a pretty simple task,' he said.

Cheree Toka (pictured) organised a successful petition and raised more than $300,000 towards the cost

Treasurer Matt Kean said Mr Perrottet had instructed the transport department to review the cost.

A Transport NSW spokesperson said the project required 'sophisticated engineering' in a complex place.

'Transport must also ensure safe installation conditions at the peak of the bridge while minimising the disruption to one of the busiest transport corridors in Sydney,' they said.

'The $25 million figure is a budget for Transport to work within to install these three new flag poles, and the department has been working to refine the design and methodology to maximise value for money.'

The Aboriginal flag will be permanently flown atop the bridge by the end of the year following a five-year-long grassroots campaign.

Kamilaroi woman Cheree Toka led the push to give the flag a prime position on Sydney Harbour for 365 days a year by organising successful petitions and fundraising $300,000 towards the cost.
The three children of a highly educated engineer who was allegedly hacked to death with an axe by her father-in-law are 'traumatised' by what they saw - as one friend reveals she was 'treated like a slave'.

Sajida Tasneem, 38, was coaxed into leaving her home in Perth by her husband, Ayub Ahmad, to move to Pakistan in 2017.

The engineer was allegedly gagged and killed at the home she shared with her in-laws near the city of Sargodha in the country's north on June 11.

A local police report seen by Daily Mail Australia revealed the accused, Mukthar Ahmad, 'threatened Ms Tasneem's father' when he tried to intervene in the attack.

'He threatened if anyone came near he would kill them,' the police report - translated to English - stated.

'I feared for our lives and did not move.'

Ms Tasneem's father saw his daughter gagged with cloth as Ahmad allegedly repeatedly threw garbage on her head in a final act of humiliation as he swung the axe around the room.

Sajida Tasneem, 38, was coaxed into leaving her home in Perth by her husband, Ayub Ahmad, to move to Pakistan in 2017

He watched as Ms Tasneem was allegedly struck over the head with the axe, killing her at the scene.

The accused 'violated all decrees' by 'unjustly killing his daughter', the man said in his statement to police.

He has taken on responsibility of Ms Tasneem's three young children in his home in Faisalabad, west of Lahore, but still hasn't decided 'what to do long term'.

'They are still grieving and adjusting,' he said. 'The children are traumatised.'

Ms Tasneem told her in-laws she had plans to take her children back to Australia for a better life.

One friend said she was a dedicated mother who did everything for her children, putting up with 'slave-like conditions' and poor treatment from her in-laws for the sake of her family.

'Sajida lived for her kids - she didn't want to complain to police because she was scared that they'd be taken from her,' South Asian women's advocate Yasmin Khan said.

'She was threatened, treated like a slave, had no privacy or freedom, abused, she didnt have money or clothes for her or her kids. She was a highly educated and skilled woman who gave her life for her children.'

Footage shows locals gathered outside the family home after learning of the alleged axe killing

Sajida Tasneem, 38, (pictured) was allegedly axed to death by her father-in-law in Pakistan on June 11

Ms Tasneem felt pressured to return to Pakistan for the sake of her marriage in 2017 but considered Australia her home after moving to Perth in 2013.

Her father-in-law allegedly confiscated her passport, along with those of her children, and forbade them from attempting to return to Australia.

The argument between the pair escalated until, on June 11, the accused allegedly attacked Ms Tasneem with an axe.

Her husband, who is also an engineer, has been working out of Bahrain and it's understood he was not home when the attack began.

Local police confirmed an arrest has been made and Mukthar Ahmad has been charged. They reportedly found the alleged weapon at the scene.

Ms Tasneem's grieving father Sher Muhammad Khan told BBC Urdu his family had been 'wronged'.

Her father entered the home (pictured) to find Ms Tasneem bound, gagged and having rubbish dumped on her

'My daughter's only fault was that she came to Pakistan after being seduced by her husband. This was disliked by the in-laws and husband Ayub,' he said.

'She wanted her children to get a higher education in Australia and not see the deprivations of life that are with us.'

Ms Khan runs a volunteer agency out of Australia supporting women like Ms Tasneem and said it's far more common than people like to believe.

'I have clients who have said the things to me that Sajida complained of... I have clients who want to come home. Let Sajida's death be a wake up call that just because Australian women have left the country, they are still our responsibility.

'We should protect them wherever they may be.'

Ms Khan says culturally appropriate and targeted funding is needed to help teach women about the signs of domestic abuse and inform them of the support systems available in Australia.

Local authorities found the alleged weapon and arrested her father-in-law, charging him over her death

'Our community needs a different approach to get the message out - they don't see the mainstream messaging and they don't relate to it... We talk of intimate partner violence and some of our women are being abused by their in-laws and extended family which is a foreign concept here.

'Sometimes the perpetrator isn't even in the country - they could be overseas and abusing the victims from a distance.'

Tributes started pouring in overnight for the beloved mother, who leaves behind a son and two daughters - the youngest of whom is just three years old.

'I don't know how to comprehend my pain,' friend Nazia Mesia said.

'Sajida is someone who was always ready to help, positive and a beautiful soul.'

Ms Tasneem was reportedly forced to move back to Pakistan by her husband. Pictured are buses in Sargodha, in the country's north

Almost a year to the day before her death, Ms Tasneem penned an introspective piece on the 'graveyard of blacks' - a place where women are dumped after an honour killing.

'God knows how long this law of horror and ignorance will continue here, not the jungle,' she wrote.

'Why is it that a woman is killed every time in the name of honour?'

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it had made contact with the family to offer their condolences.

'The family is being provided consular assistance,' the spokesperson said.
A terminally ill lawyer who claims he was sacked after he revealed he was dying has vowed to spend his final months fighting the company in court.

Chris Mahoney, 33, had his world turned upside down in October when he was told he had 18 months to live after doctors diagnosed him with inoperable bowel cancer, with tumours spreading to his liver and lungs.

Instead of enjoying his final months alive and ticking off his bucket wish list, Mr Mahoney instead launched an unfair dismissal claim with the the Fair Work Commission against Craveable Brands, dubbed a David versus Goliath battle.

He claimed the multinational company, which runs fast food brands Oporto and Red Rooster, was originally '100 per cent' supportive when he informed them of his devastating diagnosis and offered to resign.

But he says the company rejected his resignation and came to a mutual agreement for him to work from home permanently on a casual basis, a claim Craveable Brands refutes.

Mr Mahoney said his plans to stay with Craveable Brands fell apart earlier this year when he claimed his boss 'demanded' his resignation before the company ceased all contact.

Chris Mahoney (pictured with his parents Colleen and Vincent) has months to live after being diagnosed with terminal cancer

It was a kick in the guts for the employment consultant, who had been with the company for two years.

'I texted, I called, no one answered,' Mr Mahoney told A Current Affair.

'They were my support network for my terminal diagnosis.

'It was an entire part of my life that was just ripped away in the most cruel fashion. All I can assume is as soon as I was no longer valuable to them, they tossed me aside.

'I'm already dead as far as they're concerned.'

Cravaeble Brands has strenuously denied Mr Mahoney's claims he was dismissed due to his illness and says that he voluntarily resigned, which he refutes.

'They lied to me. They cheated from me,' Mr Mahoney told 2GB's Ben Fordham.

'They did it at a time when I was the most vulnerable I've ever been in my life and at a time when they knew that I believed wholeheartedly in them.'

Chris Mahoney (pictured) is taking his former employer to the Fair Work Commission

Mr Mahoney acknowledge the big battle against him and vowed to use his final months to fight.

But in a tragic twist, it was revealed Mr Mahoney needs to stay alive to have any chance of winning as any employment law claim does not continue if the applicant dies.

'I'm not going to give up until I die or win,' he said.

'All I know is if I don't survive, at least I'll have tried.'

Mr Mahoney briefly considered backing down to focus on enjoying the time he has left but eventually decided against it to send a message to workplaces.

'If they're willing to treat a dying bloke the way they have, what else are they willing to do,' he said.

'There have been times when I thought, you know, I can just end this and just accept the breadcrumbs Craveable have thrown at me and I can move on with what's left of my life.

'But at the end of the day, it's not about me, it's really about sending a message to Australian employers should never treat the way I have been treated.'

Craveable Brands (Sydney headquarters pictured) refuted Mr Mahoney's claims that he was dismissed because of his diagnosis, claiming he voluntarily quit

Chris' parents Colleen and Vincent Mahoney backed their son's commitment to fight the company.

'He's always stood up for other people,' Ms Mahoney said, while fighting back tears.

'He's extremely ethical and we are so proud of what he's doing.

'It's very difficult but we love him with all out hearts.'

Craveable Brands issued a lengthy statement denying Mr Mahoney was dismissed because of his diagnosis.

The company claimed he voluntarily quit late last year, which he confirmed in writing in late January.

It claimed it had made a number of attempts to resolve the dispute and was open to settling the case.

Chris Mahoney worked for multinational giant Craveable Brands (website pictured) for two years

'It was with great sadness and surprise that Craveable Brands later learned that Chris had commenced a general protections dispute with the Fair Work Commission, where the matter continues to remain unresolved,' the statement read.

'We reject any suggestion that Chris was dismissed or coerced into resigning, and we dispute the other claims submitted to the FWC.

'We know this is a tough time for Chris and for his family. That is why, in recent months, we have made a number of offers of settlement to resolve this dispute.

'We remain open to hearing from Chris and resolving this matter in a timely fashion.'

A Current Affair claimed Mr Mahoney was willing to settle the case if Craveable Brands made a donation to Cancer Council, which the company allegedly rejected.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Craveable Brands for comment on those claims.

Chris Mahoney (pictured right with reporter Ben Fordham) has vowed to fight until the end
Australian children aged five and under could be in line to receive a COVID-19 vaccination within a matter of weeks, the federal government has confirmed.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler says the Therapeutic Goods Administration is considering an application from drug maker Moderna to allow its vaccines to be given to children aged from six months to five years old.

'If it is approved by the TGA that will then go to our advisory group on vaccines to consider the way in which this should be rolled out to the community, so I'd expect it to be a matter of some weeks,' Mr Butler told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

Young babies (pictured) can get access to the Moderna Covid vaccine in weeks

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler (pictured) said the TGA is pondering over an application for the jab to be made available to these young children

Earlier, Mr Butler told ABC radio, it would be 'unthinkable' not to hold a royal commission into the nation's pandemic response.

'The amount of money spent, the death, the dislocation. We know a very long tail of mental and physical distress will be coming our way over the next couple of years,' he said.

'It would be unthinkable not to have a very deep look at how we responded to that and learn the lessons.'

He said any inquiry needed to be carried out over the next three years.

Meanwhile, Australians will have access to a single vaccine for COVID-19 and influenza by 2024 as clinical trials are set to begin.

The combined shot for flu, COVID-19 and respiratory virus RSV was in the early testing stages, with trials to start later this year, Moderna chief medical officer Paul Burton said.

A shot combined specifically for the flue and Covid will be available in 2024 with clinical trials underway

Dr Burton expects combined vaccines will be key to fighting respiratory diseases in the aftermath of the pandemic, and to adapting to multiple strains within one season.

He said bringing vaccines together and adapting would be the future as the world considered diseases other than COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Australia's multibillion-dollar mRNA manufacturing hub will be bigger than initially expected.

The first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, the facility was announced in March by the Morrison government as part of an agreement with Moderna.

Finding a location had reached its final stages and a site would be announced in a few weeks, Moderna Australia general manager Michael Azrak said.

'It's taken a little bit longer than we anticipated because we're actually going to be building a larger facility than we anticipated,' he told Sky News.

The pharmaceutical giant aimed to break ground on the Victorian site before the end of the year, Mr Azrak said.

It will be operating by the end of 2024, subject to approval by the medicines regulator.
A Russian journalist has auctioned his Nobel Peace Prize for a staggering 84.5million to raise funds for children displaced by the war in Ukraine.

Dmitry Muratov, the Russian editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, sold the gold medal to an unidentified phone bidder, shattering the previous record for a Nobel auction.

The New York sale organised by Heritage Auctions was spirited, with lots of applause and bidders egging one another on to increase the total.

The winning bid was made by proxy and the 84.5million sale translates to $100million Swiss francs, hinting that the buyer is from overseas.

Muratov was seen recording videos of the bidding screen and those in the room.

Dmitry Muratov (pictured yesterday) has auctioned his Nobel Peace Prize for a staggering 84.5million to raise funds for children displaced by the war in Ukraine

Melted down, the 175 grams of 23-carat gold contained in Muratov's medal would be worth about 8,000

When the final bid came in, at tens of millions more than the previous offer, many in the room expressed shock, including Muratov himself.

'I was hoping that there was going to be an enormous amount of solidarity, but I was not expecting this to be such a huge amount,' Muratov said in an interview after bidding in the nearly three-week auction ended on World Refugee Day.

It was Muratov's idea to auction off his prize, having already announced he was donating the accompanying 400,000 cash award to charity.

Melted down, the 175 grams of 23-carat gold contained in Muratov's medal would be worth about 8,000.

Previously, the most ever paid for a Nobel Prize medal was 3.9million in 2014, when James Watson, whose co-discovery of the structure of DNA earned him a Nobel Prize in 1962, sold his.

Three years later, the family of his co-recipient, Francis Crick, received 1.85million in bidding also run by Heritage Auctions.

Muratov reacts after a person makes a final offer of 84.5million to buy his 2021 Nobel Peace Prize medal

Muratov won the prize in 2021 alongside journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines, with the committee honouring the pair 'for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.'

He was among a group of journalists who founded Novaya Gazeta in 1993 after the fall of the Soviet Union.

This year, it became the only major newspaper left voicing criticism of President Vladimir Putin and his tactics inside and outside the country.

In March, more than a month into Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Novaya Gazeta suspended operations in Russia, after Moscow adopted legislation providing for tough jail terms against anyone criticising the Kremlin's bloody military campaign.

In April, Muratov was assaulted on a train when a person threw oil-based paint mixed with acetone on him, causing his eyes to burn.

It was Muratov's idea to auction off his prize, having already announced he was donating the accompanying 400,000 cash award to charity

Muratov's medal was available to bidders both in person and online, with all proceeds going to UNICEF's Humanitarian Response for Ukrainian Children Displaced by War.

When asked why he chose UNICEF as the recipient of the funds, Muratov said: 'It's critical to us that that organisation does not belong to any government. It can work above government. There are no borders for it.'

Just minutes after bidding ended, UNICEF told the auction house it had already received the funds.

Since 2000, six of Novaya Gazeta's journalists and collaborators have been killed in connection with their work, including investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya.

Muratov dedicated his Nobel prize to their memory.

On Monday, he hailed the persistence of journalists as an important check on governments, and one way that war can be prevented.

On Monday, he hailed the persistence of journalists as an important check on governments, and one way that war can be prevented

'So no matter how many times each one of us wants to turn in our notice and quit, we must stay in our jobs,' he told AFP.

Speaking in a video released by Heritage in connection with the sale, the prominent journalist said that winning the Nobel 'gives you an opportunity to be heard.'

'The most important message today is for people to understand that there's a war going on and we need to help people who are suffering the most,' he said.

Online bids had begun June 1 to coincide with the International Children's Day observance.

Many bids came by telephone or online. The winning bid, tendered by telephone, catapulted the bidding from the low millions to astronomical levels.

Muratov had left Russia on Thursday to begin his trip to New York City, where live bidding began Monday evening.

Early Monday, the high bid was only 450,000.

'I can't believe it. I'm awestruck. Personally, I'm flabbergasted. I'm stunned. I don't really know what happened in there,' said Joshua Benesh, the chief strategy officer for Heritage Auctions.

'We knew that there was a tremendous groundswell of interest in the last couple of days by people who were moved by Dimitry's story, by Dimitry's act of generosity, that the global audience was listening tonight,' he said.
While criticising the Morrison Government she did not make major commitments

Ms Plibersek repeated she was 'delighted' to be environment and water minister

She has been touted as a Labor leader but was not prominent in campaign

Tanya Plibersek said her ministry, widely viewed as a demotion, was a 'surprise'

Tanya Plibersek has admitted she was 'surprised' to be saddled with the environment ministry instead of her expected education post.

The former Labor deputy leader has been touted as a leadership rival to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese since he took over the party in 2019.

The environment and water portfolio was seen as a demotion after she was shadow education minister for six years until the May 21 election.

Former Labor deputy leader Tania Plibersek said her appointment as environment minister, widely seen as a demotion, was a surprise but continued to insist she is delighted with the job

That department went to Jason Clare, who was seen as being rewarded for a strong election campaign where Ms Plibersek did not feature prominently.

Ms Plibersek argued for the importance of her new job in one of her first interviews since being assigned the portfolio, The Australian reported.

'We saw at the last election that the environment is a huge issue for a lot of Australian voters and (we need to) make sure that we tackle the big outstanding issues, the things that have gotten worse over the last decade, not better,' she said.

Ms Plibersek admitted she did not expect to be moved to environment, which in opposition was covered by Terri Butler, who lost her Brisbane seat to the Greens.

Ms Plibersek, here seen shaking hands with Australian Governor-General David Hurley after being sworn in as environment minister, has outlined a series of priorities in a major interview

Environmental issues proved a strong vote winner in the election with six 'teal' independents claiming previously blue ribbon Liberal seats and the Greens doing well in both the lower and upper houses.

Those successful campaigns focused strongly on climate change.

There is a more senior ministry than the environment and water portfolio that takes primary responsibility for climate change, which is held by Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

Ms Plibersek said a priority for her department would be reviewing the environmental approval processes.

Ms Plibersek makes a rare campaign appearance standing behind Anthony Albanese (centre). The education portfolio she was a long-time spokesperson for in opposition was given to Jason Clare (right) who was regarded as a strong campaign presence

The Morrison Government in March pledged $128 million to speed up environmental approvals but Ms Plibersek did not commit to continuing that but looking at an independent review of the process.

Ms Plibersek accused the Morrison Government of failing to release a 'damning' report on the state of Australia's environment in the leadup to the election and said she would do so in July.

Labor promised on the day before the federal election to institute a new watchdog, the Environment Protection Agency, to enforce federal environmental laws, which some critics said was not being done.

The agency is still in embryo phase, Ms Plibersek told the Australian Financial Review.

'I'm not going to start making announcements without extensive consultation. I'll talk to people about a model, we'll design a model, we'll consult on a model,' she said.

Ms Plibersek said she would continue the previous government's fight against the UN declaring the Great Barrier Reef as endangered, arguing Labor would do a better job protecting it

'This is not something I'm going to come up with in a few weeks in my office. It's a big important change.

'We want better protection for the environment, and we want to do it in a way that makes approvals processes faster and cheaper and less complex.'

Despite wanting greater protection for the Great Barrier Reef, Ms Plibersek said she would continue the Morrison's Government's fight against seeing the natural wonder designated as endangered by the UN.

'I absolutely would say to the UN [that] listing the reef as in danger is the wrong thing to do,' she said.

She said it would be 'unfair' of the UN to ignore her government's new efforts to protect the reef through stronger climate change action and more money being directed to protect, rehabilitate, and restore it.

Ms Plibersek said the previous government hid a damning report on Australia's environment and vowed to increase efforts to protect endangered species, such as this Eastern quoll

Ms Plibersek said she also wanted greater protections to safeguard endangered native species and for natural environments under threat from imported animals, although she made no funding commitments.

'We need to make sure we are explaining to Australia that we can have both  we can actually have a strong, growing economy and better protect our environment,' she said.

She also promised to release a report in July on the buying back of water from Murray-Darling Basin from farmers for environmental reasons, a program stopped by the Morrison Government.

During the election campaign, Ms Plibersek rarely appeared with Mr Albanese and did not attend Labor's campaign launch in Perth, leading pundits to speculate she had been 'sidelined'.

Ms Plibersek brushed off those suggestions, insisting she was campaigning all over the country and regularly appearing on radio and TV.

The 52-year-old member for Sydney was deputy Labor leader for six years under Bill Shorten and is the longest serving women in the House of Representatives.

When it was announced that Ms Plibersek was to become environment and water minister she posted on Facebook that she was delighted to have been given the portfolio and 'looked forward' to the challenge.

Ms Plibersek is the longest-serving woman sitting in the House of Representatives and said that she should remain in parliament for the 'long haul'

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles denied it was a demotion.

'That's the last thing I would see it as,' he said.

'I mean that might be how the former government viewed that area of policy, but for us, the environment is front and centre - and it always has been in Labor governments.

'And for Tanya it's been a source of enduring passion, and water as well.

Following Bill Shorten's loss in the 2019 election, Ms Plibersek said she was considering running for leadership but eventually came to the conclusion that 'it was not her time'.

While intending to stay in parliament for the 'long haul' Ms Plibersek said she wasn't contemplating any leadership ambitions.
Australia's most populated state is spending more than $630million on its electric car strategy even though just 0.6 per cent of Aussies own one, NSW budget figures reveal.

State Treasurer Matt Kean - known for climate change campaigning - announced on Tuesday that his government will spend an extra $38million on its electric car strategy, taking total investment to more than half a billion dollars.

The cash will be spent on rolling out more charging points in streets, apartment buildings and designated charging stations.

Australia lags the rest of the world when it comes to the take-up of electric vehicles, which account for less than one per cent of the million new cars sold every year.

NSW will spend an extra $38million on its electric car strategy this year, taking total investment to $633million in a bid to boost Australia's slow take-up of electric cars

Software billionaire and clean energy investor Mike Cannon-Brookes (pictured with wife Annie) is among those who support electric car take-up

Across Australia, fully electric vehicles have a minuscule 0.6 per cent market share.

The NSW government wants to drive that figure to more than 50 per cent by 2030-31 under its Electric Vehicle Strategy.

Critics say the policies only help the rich because electric cars - which start at $44,000 - are too expensive for average income earners.

But supporters insist investment needs to be made now in preparation for when electric cars are cheaper and more popular.

Software billionaire and clean energy investor Mike Cannon-Brookes is among those who support electric car take-up.

Earlier this month he shared his surprise that the Moss Services Club in the southern highlands had a charging point.

'Kudos to the Moss Vale Services Club for having an @NRMA double EV charger in the car park,' he wrote.

'Charging my car while getting a schnitzel at the RSL with the kids felt like a new future for Australia one that was nicely connected with our past.'

Earlier this month the billionaire shared his surprise that the Moss Services Club in the southern highlands had a charging point

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said rolling out more charges will 'allow more EV drivers to benefit from their cheaper running costs and a cleaner, quieter and more sustainable road network.'

He added: 'You'll never be far from a charger on our major highways, in regional destinations, apartment buildings and on kerbsides in metropolitan areas with limited off-street parking.'

The NSW government's strategy involves offering stamp duty exemptions for new and used electric vehicles worth up to $78,000.

Buyers are also spared paying up to $3,000 in charges that buyers of petrol and diesel cars still have to pay.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet congratulates Treasurer Matt Kean after handing down the 2022-2023 NSW State Budget

With a stamp duty exemption of $2,537.50 and that $3,000 rebate, they are getting back up to $5,540 from the taxpayers.

One Nation's NSW leader Mark Latham noted there was a a larger uptake for the subsidy in wealthier areas of Sydney's north shore and north-west.

'This shows how delusional NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has become in thinking he can save the planet with schemes like this,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Even from these early numbers, the inequity of the scheme is clear.

'This was always going to be a cross-subsidy from the poorer parts of NSW to the wealthier suburbs.'

As more people use electric cars, less fuel will be bought and governments will lose fuel duty revenue.

To make up for this the NSW government will introduce a road user charge of 2.5 cents per km (indexed to CPI) to electric cars from 1 July 2027 or when EVs make up 30 per cent of all new vehicle sales, whichever comes first.
Windows rolls out emergency updates for users with ARM devices to fix some issues exclusive to them after installing the recent Microsoft June 2022 Patch Tuesdays update.

The June 2022 Patch Tuesday update should have removed several bugs as it focuses on security issues.

But apart from resolving a couple of critical vulnerabilities; it also brought a few annoying issues.

Windows Emergency Update for ARM Devices

This time, Windows had to urgently fix the issues that its latest Patch Tuesday release had left behind.

According to a recent report by Bleeping Computer, Windows users on ARM devices began to have trouble signing in to their Microsoft 365 and Azure Active Directory after the June Patch Tuesday update.

As such, Microsoft went on to release an out-of-band (OOB) Windows update, which should ditch a few annoying issues right away.

Bleeping Computer reports that the all-new OOB update is supposed to be installed on the users of ARM devices automatically.

But if you are keen on having it as soon as possible, there is also a manual route, which is not rocket science to go through.

The emergency update for Windows 10 and Windows 11 users is available through the Microsoft Update Catalog. The latest OOB update carries the name KB5016138 for Windows 11. For folks clinging to Windows 10, it is KB5016139.

Microsoft 365 Sign-In Bug: How Bad is It?

Bleeping Computer notes that Microsoft took time to explain the new emergency update, giving a few details on the issues it addresses.

Microsoft said the new update fixes an issue that "only affects Windows Arm-based devices."

The tech giant told users of Microsoft 365 about the issue at hand, saying that there is a wide range of sign-in problems, affecting a couple of apps.

To be more precise, the bug might prevent Windows users from logging in to apps using the Azure Active Directory.

On top of that, users of OneDrive for Business, Outlook Desktop client, and Microsoft Teams might also have trouble signing in to their accounts, all due to the Patch Tuesday update.

But the latest emergency update is here to fix all of these issues.

Read Also: New Windows 11 Feature Lets Users View Which Apps Accessed Their Camera, Phone, and Contacts

Do You Need to Install June 2022 Patch Tuesday First?

Microsoft further notes that "if you are using updates released before June 14, 2022, we recommend that you install this OOB update instead of the June 14, 2022 security update."

Essentially, the new emergency fix no longer requires Windows users who missed out on the Patch Tuesday to get their hands on that.

Related Article: How To Change Your Microsoft Windows 11 Default Browser
Police investigating the attempted abduction of a woman walking in a park have released a computer-generated image of the alleged attacker.

A 36-year-old woman was out for a stroll in Melbourne's Churchill National Park on Saturday when she was approached from behind by a man at around 4.15pm.

The woman had parked her car and was walking along a track when the man grabbed her around the waist.

The assailant also put his hand over her mouth and attempted to drag her to the ground.

Police have issued a computer-generated image (pictured) of the alleged attacker of a woman who was walking in a park

The woman from Dandenong North managed to break free and run from the area, after which she call the police.

She was not physically injured during the attempted abduction.

Detectives have released an image of a man they want to speak to about the assault.

A woman was walking in Churchill National Park on Saturday when she was approached from behind by a man at around 4.15pm, in an alleged abduction attempt

He is said to be African in appearance, about 183cm tall, aged between 20-40 years old and was wearing a grey beanie and grey jumper.

Anyone who saw the incident, has dashcam footage or any other information that could help the police's enquiries is can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or do so confidentially here.
A Logies speech by Lisa Wilkinson has backfired spectacularly with a judge delaying a rape trial that was due to start next week in the wake of it.

Brittany Higgins' accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann was granted a temporary stay in the ACT Supreme Court on Monday, after his lawyer said a jury trial would be 'untenable' following the reporting of The Project host's winning speech.

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum told the ACT Supreme Court that recent media publicity had prejudged Lehrmann's right to a fair trial.

'The case has accordingly attracted a level of attention in the media  that while not unprecedented, is certainly extreme,' she said on Tuesday.

'Extensive media reporting of alleged criminal conduct is not mischievous in itself.

'What is a potential mischief is media reporting of such issues in such a way  it impacts the criminal case.'

TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson (left) is pictured with former political staffer Brittany Higgins (right)

Justice McCallum says while jurors can be given directions to mitigate prejudice, this case was different with Wilkinson being a key witness.

No date has been set for the trial, but the judge said she wants the trial to be held this year, with an October listing probably providing enough time for publicity to dissipate.

Earlier, Justice McCallum slammed Ms Wilkinson's speech, saying the line between an allegation and the finding of guilt was 'completely obliterated' by her Logies speech.

Wilkinson won a Logie for her reporting on Ms Higgins' claim that she was raped in Parliament House.

Bruce Lehrmann, charged with sexual intercourse without consent, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Ms Higgins.

'Your honour, this speech did not need to be made,' Lehrmann's barrister Steve Whybrow said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Whybrow launched the stay application following Wilkinson's speech.

Mr Whybrow said a temporary stay - essentially, a delay - was the only recourse to allow for a fair trial so 'adverse publicity can dissipate'.

'It's untenable in my submission for a trial to be held under these circumstances at this time,' he said.

Justice McCallum slammed the media over its reporting of Wilkinson's speech.

'What concerns me most about this recent round is that the distinction between an allegation and a finding of guilt has been completely obliterated ... on Sunday and Monday,' she said.

'The implicit premise of (Wilkinson's speech) is to celebrate the truthfulness of the story she exposed.'

She added that Ms Higgins' allegation had been bundled together in the minds of the public with the work of former Australian of the Year Grace Tame, despite a man having been convicted in Ms Tame's case.

'Grace Tame was talking about her experience after the man had been convicted and served a sentence of imprisonment,' Justice McCallum said.

Bruce Lehrmann (pictured), is charged with sexual intercourse without consent. He has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Brittany Higgins at Parliament House in Canberra

'(Ms Tame's) important contribution to the legal landscape was to say "the jury knows what he did, the public knows what he did, but I can't talk about it because of the law that prohibits me outing myself".

'Miss Higgins is treated as being in the same category. And she's not,' the judge said.

'At the moment, she is not in that category. That's what really troubles me about the last round.'

The Crown had opposed the temporary stay, arguing the application did not outline a significant enough risk to the jury that couldn't be overcome by orders made by the judge.

Former political staffer Brittany Higgins (pictured front) speaks to the media as she leaves the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices after meeting with then prime minister Scott Morrison in Sydney on Friday, April 30, 2021

'The test most apt ... is a real and substantial risk that despite endeavours by the trial judge there will be members of the jury that would have prejudged guilt perhaps unaware and that cannot be remedied,' ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold told the court.

'We accept there is a significant change but the application limited to what it is limited to does not give rise to a temporary stay.'

The Supreme Court was told Wilkinson would be called as a witness at the trial.

On Monday, Mr Drumgold said the Logies speech was a 'regurgitation' of emotion, making the point that Ms Wilkinson had said similar things previously.

Justice McCallum said, in summary, Ms Wilkinson's speech amounted to saying: 'Not only do I believe her, but she's brave and extraordinary and she's the most important thing that's ever happened to me and I'm proud of bringing forward her allegation ...

Justice Lucy McCallum said the public has conflated the case of Brittany Higgins (right) with the work of former Australian of the Year Grace Tame (left), despite a man having been convicted in Ms Tame's case

'We know that the accused has given a recorded interview in which he denies any sexual activity took place,' she said.

A previous stay application was dismissed by Justice McCallum in April, when she said she wasn't persuaded directions given to the jury couldn't alleviate concerns of prejudice against Lehrmann.

Mr Drumgold argued the second application constituted 'a re-agitation of that order'.

The case was initially due to begin on June 6 but was delayed until June 27 after Lehrmann's barrister pulled out days before the trial.
Republican donors who have opened their wallets for Donald Trump are now backing Ron DeSantis as he bids to win a second term as governor of Florida, it has emerged.

New campaign filings obtained by Politico show that DeSantis, 43, has received $3.4 million from 10 donors who collectively spent $24 million on Trump's reelection bid.

Many of those who donated had never contributed to state-level Florida elections before, and include Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus, 93, who gave DeSantis $500,000. In 2016, he was one of Donald Trump's most generous donors, contributing $7 million.

The cash donations for a relatively small-fry election show just how seriously many big-hitting Republicans are taking DeSantis as a potential presidential candidate.

The analysis comes as Trump, 76, faces increasing questions about whether he could beat DeSantis in 2024, if the ambitious governor decides to challenge him.

Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are seen in November 2019. Many Republican megadonors are now backing DeSantis in his November re-election bid

Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus has given DeSantis's campaign $500,000

Uihlein and his wife Elizabeth have contributed in excess of $30 million combined over two decades

Who's backing DeSantis? TRUMP SUPPORTERS William Buckley, a retired venture capitalist with a home in Lost Tree Village, Florida, has given $1m. Richard Uihlein, an Illinois-based businessman who has given more than any other Republican so far to the 2022 campaigns, and is known as one of Trump's biggest backers. He has given $1.2m to DeSantis. Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus, 93, who gave DeSantis $500,000. In 2016, he was one of Donald Trump's most generous donors, contributing $7m. Steven Witkoff, real estate investor, gave $100,000 - his first time contributing to a Florida state campaign. Willis Johnson, a Tennessee billionaire who founded a vehicle auction and salvage company, gave $100,000. Las Vegas casino mogul and Trump friend Phil Ruffin, who has known Trump for 20 years, gave DeSantis $100,000. Texas oil baron Kelcy Warren, who spent $10 million backing Trump in 2020, has also given DeSantis $50,000. Larry Garatoni, an Indiana businessman, has given DeSantis $35,000. Geoffrey Palmer, a Los Angeles developer, spent $6 million to help Trump's 2020 campaign, and has given DeSantis $20,000. NEVER TRUMPERS Ken Griffin, billionaire hedge fund manager, has given DeSantis $5 million for 2022 - making him one of his biggest backers. Jeff Yass, a Pennsylvania billionaire, has also given DeSantis $100,000. Advertisement

On Monday Trump told The New Yorker, in an article entitled: 'Can Ron DeSantis displace Donald Trump as the G.O.P.'s combatant in chief?', that he was responsible for DeSantis's political career thanks to a 2018 endorsement credited with landing the Florida man the governor's post.

'If I didn't endorse him, he wouldn't have won,' Trump said.

The article said that DeSantis was sometimes described as 'Trump with a brain'.

On Monday night, asked again whether he would beat DeSantis in 2024, Trump told Newsmax: 'I was very responsible for him getting elected.'

Big money is following DeSantis, however.

His backers include Richard Uihlein, a midwestern shipping magnate, who with his wife Elizabeth has contributed in excess of $30 million combined over two decades.

He has given more than any other Republican so far to the 2022 campaigns, and is known as one of Trump's biggest backers.

Uihlein was also one of the biggest financial backers of the January 6 pro-Trump 'March to Save America' rally, held before the Capitol riot.

Uihlein has given $1.2 million to DeSantis, Politico reported.

Another major donor is William Buckley, a retired venture capitalist with a home in the Palm Beach enclave of Lost Tree Village. Buckley has given $1 million to the governor's campaign.

Those dipping their toes into Florida campaigns for the first time include Steven Witkoff, real estate investor, and Willis Johnson, a Tennessee billionaire who founded a vehicle auction and salvage company. Both gave DeSantis $100,000.

One of Trump's closest friends, casino magnate Phil Ruffin, 82, is also now donating to DeSantis's campaign.

Ruffin gave Trump $2.5 million for his 2016 election; this year, he has given DeSantis $100,000.

Other Trump donors now backing his younger potential rival include Texas oil baron Kelcy Warren, who spent $10 million backing Trump in 2020, has also given DeSantis $50,000.

Larry Garatoni, an Indiana businessman, gave Trump $500,000, and has given DeSantis $35,000.

Geoffrey Palmer, a Los Angeles developer, has given DeSantis $20,000 this cycle, having spent $6 million in 2020 to help Trump's reelection.

DeSantis, pictured on June 16 in Miami, insists he is focused on the 2022 race and not thinking about 2024

Trump is seen with casino owner Phil Ruffin in Las Vegas in July 2005. Ruffin is now donating to DeSantis's campaign

DeSantis has amassed a campaign war chest of $100 million, setting new records, and leaving him well positioned to turn those funds to 2024.

One of his biggest backers is Ken Griffin, the billionaire founder of Chicago-based Citadel, who backed Trump in 2016 but not in 2020.

The 53-year-old has spent $40 million on the 2022 elections, and is the top-ranking donor to Republican causes, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Griffin has given DeSantis $5 million for 2022, and has said he will not support Trump if he runs again.

Willis Johnson, a Tennessee billionaire, has given DeSantis $100,000

Whether DeSantis would run against Trump remains unclear.

Earlier this month, a straw poll held during the Western Conservative Summit in Aurora, Colorado - a gathering of 2,000 people in person and thousands more over the internet - approved DeSantis over Trump.

Among the respondees, 71 percent said they approved of DeSantis, compared to 67.7 percent who approved of Trump.

Neither Trump nor DeSantis has yet officially declared for 2024.

'The interesting thing about me is people will always inject my name into it, just based off what I'm doing in Florida,' DeSantis told Fox News on June 13.

'It's a little bit different for me. I think there's obviously people that, the minute 2020 ended, have been basically running, and they're going around doing all that stuff.

'That's just not what I've been doing. I've just been focusing on the task at hand.'

DeSantis is not being challenged internally.

His main Democrat rivals are former Governor Charlie Crist and Agricultural Commissioner Nikki Fried, with the primary on August 23.
The unbreakable bond between former Comanchero boss Mark Buddle and notorious enforcer Tarek Zahed has been uncovered in a picture showing Zahed at his mother's funeral.

The exiled bikie commander's mother Les died in 2018, and Buddle asked trusted ally Tarek Zahed, nicknamed the 'Balenciaga bikie' for his love of designer clothing, to carry her casket.

Buddle left Australia in 2010 for Dubai after a security guard was fatally shot, and paid $45,000 for his mother to be buried in the gold-plated coffin at her funeral in Botany, south-east Sydney.

Tarek Zahed, wearing Comanchero colours (centre) pictured carrying ex bikie boss Mark Buddle's mother's coffin at her funeral in south-east Sydney in 2018

The exiled bikie boss Buddle did not return to Australia for her burial instead asking his close mate Zahed to be a pallbearer, fully kitted out in the gangs famous black and yellow colours, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Members of the gang shared pictures at the funeral to to Instagram, where they were dressed in full colours.

One of the captions reading: 'Brothers through the good times and the bad #loyalty #respect #support #comos'.

During the funeral, Strike Force Raptor forced bikie members to take off their shoes in order to search for drugs and weapons.

In May, Zahed miraculously survived an assassination attempt at Bodyfit Gym in Auburn when he was shot multiple times as more than 20 bullets were fired.

He was rushed to hospital fighting for life and was taken into surgery with ten bullet wounds to his head and body, with one bullet piercing straight through his eyeball.

His brother Omar, 39, was killed during the shooting.

Zahed has been running the Comancheros with the gang's leader Buddle in hiding overseas.

Former Comanchero boss Mark Buddle (pictured) left Australia in 2010 for Dubai after a security guard was fatally shot

Former Comanchero bikie boss Mark Buddle paid $45,000 to bury his mother in a gold casket, but didn't attend the funeral
A fearless pub owner who fought off a rampaging crocodile by banging it over the head with a frying pan, said the animal needed a 'good lesson'.

The wild moment was captured on camera at the Goat Island lodge in the Northern Territory with Kai Hansen refusing to back down from the charging 2.5m reptile.

Two strikes on the nose was enough for the trouble-making croc to turn around and race back to the water.

'I wouldn't say it's an everyday event, but I've got to stay safe and do what I can,' Mr Hansen told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.

'No one got hurt and the croc got a good lesson.'

A fearless pub owner Kai Hansen (pictured) fought off a rampaging crocodile by banging it over the head with a frying pan

The rugged outdoorsman said the confrontation began when the beast wandered too close to the iconic venue and became aggressive.

He ventured down to the river to make sure the path was safe for visitors, arming himself with a heavy-bottom saucepan.

It's not the first run-in Mr Hansen has had with a charging saltie.

Back in 2018 his pet dog, Dumb Blonde, was eating by a three-meter monster on the Adelaide River.

Despite the heartbreak and ongoing dangers posed by the animals, Hansen said he's not scared.

The rugged outdoorsman said the confrontation began when the beast wandered too close to the iconic venue and became aggressive (pictured)

'When you're driving along in a car and all of a sudden a dog is right in front of you, are you scared, no, you just do what you have to do,' he said.

'You just work by instinct.'

Reaction from commenters on social media was divided with some cheering on the bravery of Mr Hansen and others claiming he was taking a severe and unnecessary risk.

'That Gator understood the assignment. He was gonna be in that frying pan and that's why he went back to that water,' one American joked.

The wild moment was captured on camera at the Goat Island lodge in the Northern Territory (pictured)

Another was skeptical of the choice of weapon, warning: 'I have seen the teeth marks on oars that have been used to deter cranky crocs.'

A third called Mr Hansen 'out of control' and a 'very different unit'.

Others said they felt sorry for the croc.

'If you're dumb enough to hang by croc infested lands and something happens... I can hardly blame the croc,' one person commented.
Schools will teach kids about the 'significant trauma' of white colonisation, commemorate 'Sorry Day' and fly the Aboriginal flag under new laws in Victoria.

Premier Dan Andrews said he expected every school to adopt the reconciliation initiatives and that every year level would take part.

'Being reconciled is just that. You can't be reconciled if you're not prepared to acknowledge some pretty awful stuff that happened in the past,' Mr Andrews said on Tuesday.

'It's about making sure that everybody feels equal, everybody feels included and everybody feels safe.'

'I think it might be the whole school and I don't see anything wrong with that.'

Under new Victorian laws backed by Dan Andrews (pictured) schoolchildren of all year levels would take part in reconciliation activities such as commemorating 'Sorry Day'

Victorian Opposition leader Matthew Guy said it was important for kids to learn about history but it must be done carefully not to create division in children.

'It is important that they do learn lessons of fact from the past, but that is done respectfully,' he said.

'When it involves kids, we've got to make sure that we're not pitting one against the other.'

The new legal standards require that from next term all educational facilities including universities and high schools but also primary schools, kindergartens and childcare centres provide a 'culturally inclusive' environment.

This includes a recognition that will affect teaching frameworks that 'Australia's colonial history has caused significant trauma and hurt that individuals, families and communities still feel'.

Days marking significant reconciliation steps will also be commemorated including Close the Gap Day on March 18, Mabo Day on June 3, and Sorry Day on May 26.

Mr Andrews said he expected all schools and all year levels to take part in reconciliation activities (file image)

National Close the Gap day, held annually since 2009, is part of a social justice campaign advocating for equality and the health of First Nations people.

Mabo Day marks the concept of 'terra nullius' or land belonging to noone being overturned in a legal case which gave Indigenous Australians land rights.

While Sorry Day notes the apology issued by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to the 'stolen generations' who were removed from their families and communities and raised in colonial settings.

In addition to the national days, schools will be encouraged to display plaques noting traditional ownership and take steps to respect Indigenous culture and stamp out racism.

The standards will also apply to government departments, hospitals, councils and also to businesses where children attend such as play gyms and party venues.

The new laws are part of revised Child Safe Standards overseen by the Victorian Commission for Children and Young People.

Principal commissioner Liana Buchanan said compliance would be achieved by working with and supporting educational facilities as well as sanctions for those lagging behind.

First Nations flags already become a prominent fixture at newly elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's press conferences (pictured: staffers set up the flag backdrop)

New laws to create an independent authority to oversee Victoria's treaty negotiations are also set to pass with bipartisan support.

The Victorian coalition initially reserved backing the Treaty Authority Bill after the Andrews government introduced it in state parliament a fortnight ago.

But Opposition Leader Matthew Guy confirmed the Liberals and Nationals would vote for the bill without amendment after a joint partyroom meeting on Tuesday morning.

'We'll be supporting the legislation when it comes to parliament tomorrow,' he told reporters.

'Reconciliation is a topic that should be around uniting Australians ... that's why this is an important step.'

The Victorian coalition announced its support for treaty negotiations in May after Mr Guy suggested a federal process would 'make more sense' before the 2018 state election.

The new legal standards in Victoria are aimed at creating a respectful environment for reconciliation but some have warned division should not be 'taught' to children

Liberal MP Tim Smith, who will not recontest his seat in November after a drink-driving crash, said he does not support 'illiberal and divisive tokenism' and will vote against the legislation.

'I will be crossing the floor,' he tweeted.

Shadow Aboriginal affairs minister Peter Walsh would not say if Mr Smith or others spoke out against the bill in the partyroom.

'Tim, as an individual, is entitled to his opinions,' he said.

If the legislation passes, as expected, the treaty authority will have legal powers to oversee treaty talks and resolve any disputes between the state government and the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria.

It will be led by Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people elected by an independent panel and be grounded in culture, lore and law.
Calls to legalise cannabis in Western Australia are growing - despite the premier repeatedly pouring cold water on the proposal.

Legalise Cannabis WA proposed a bill that would allow West Australians over the age of 18 to possess 50 grams of dried marijuana.

Households would also be be permitted to grow up to four plants under the proposed bill.

Upper house MPs Brian Walker and Sophia Moermond hoped to introduce bold legislation that would enable the changes to parliament next year.

But their hopes were dashed when Premier Mark McGowan said his Labor government would use its powers in both houses to block the bill.

'Having freely available cannabis is not our policy,' he told ABC radio on Tuesday.

Legalise Cannabis WA has proposed legislation allowing West Australians to possess 50 grams of marijuana and grow up to four plants per household (pictured, woman smoking cannabis)

'They're just proposing everyone can grow it wherever they want. That's not what we're doing. It's just not an issue I want to deal with at this point in time.

'We do allow for medicinal cannabis for people with arthritis or cancer or those sorts of things. That's the policy at this point in time.'

The ACT legalised the personal use of cannabis in 2019.

The territory's Labor government also indicated it would support a bill to decriminalise possession of small amounts of cocaine, heroin and MDMA.

Incoming WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch previously expressed concerns about similar laws being adopted in the west.

'Often, many times that police enter houses where there is an issue, whether it is family domestic violence or a mental health episode, there is more often than not a methamphetamine or cannabis issue within that house and within that family that causes police officers to put themselves at risk, to put that family at risk,' Mr Blanch told a parliamentary inquiry in March.

'So, I think our answer to that is: we want to make sure our police officers are safe, the community is safe and police officers can make the right decision on what is presented before them.'

WA Premier Mark McGowan (pictured with wife Sarah) said his government will use it powers to shut down the proposal in both the upper and lower house

The premier's comments haven't deterred Legalise Cannabis WA, which vowed to consult the community about its proposal later this year, once a working draft was finalised.

Its bold proposal also allowed for the licensing of dispensaries to sell cannabis products.

'Cannabis is becoming a serious topic that Mark McGowan needs to address. This natural plant will only make WA better - socially, financially and medically,' MP Brian Walker tweeted on Tuesday.

Ms Moermond, the second MP behind the bill, said the party hoped to see cannabis legalised soon.

'I am looking forward to hearing your feedback on what will be a historic bill to come before our parliament,' she said.

Ms Moermond and Dr Walker were elected to parliament at last year's election on the back of complex preference deals.

Dr Walker believed the proposal would put the state at the forefront of cannabis development in Australia and could result in other states following their lead.

Legalise Cannabis WA will continue public consultation of its planned bill.

'Legalisation over the world is gaining momentum and we want to see Australia benefit from the proven health and financial bonanza that result,' Dr Walker told The West Australian.

'We want to speak with health experts, with community leaders, with other political parties, those in the cannabis industry, and members of the general public  as many people as we can in the time available to us.'

Their victory came at the expense of the Greens, who only had one MP elected despite having a primary vote three times bigger than that of Legalise Cannabis.

The McGowan government has since passed legislation to abolish group voting tickets, which allow parties to dictate the preference distribution when electors vote above the line.
One of Australia's most notorious paedophiles is set to be released from jail on Tuesday.

Bradley Pen Dragon, 62, who has spent half of his life in jail, will walk out of a Western Australia prison despite believing his sexual interest in children is 'natural'.

Dragon had been kept in custody on an interim detention order under the High Risk Serious Offenders Act until Supreme Court Justice Larissa Strk ruled on Tuesday that he could be released.

'Having weighed all the evidence, I am satisfied that the risk that is presented by releasing the respondent on a supervision order can be reduced or guarded against to a level that is reasonably acceptable and will ensure the adequate protection of the community,' she said.

Dragon, who spent 13 years in jail in Thailand for the 'prolonged and depraved' abuse of young girls, will be subject to a 10-year supervision order and will have to follow 62 strict conditions.

One of Australia's most notorious paedophiles, Bradley Pen Dragon (pictured) has spent more than half his life in jail

The conditions include anti-libidinal and psychological treatment, verbal or written accounts of all of his movements and no unauthorised contact with anyone aged under 18.

The high-risk serious offender has a 'long-held strong belief that sexual contact with children is a positive experience for the child'.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said he shared in the public's concern 'with a recidivist child sex offender being released into the community' but that police would watch Dragon from the moment he stepped out of prison.

'We will have to make sure that we monitor and we will, very very closely,' he said earlier this month.

'I can assure you ... we are highly vigilant in our work with the high-risk serious offender groups; there are very strict conditions and we'll be doing everything we can to protect the community.'

WA Premier Mark McGowan said if Dragon 'breaches them (conditions), he'll go back into custody ... He'll be watched like a hawk'.

State Liberal Leader David Honey said Dragon's imminent release was 'extremely disturbing'.

'It is very clear that he is a long term child offender ... it's hard to see why his behaviour would change given his enormous long history in this area,' he said.

As well as 13 years in a Thai prison for sexually assaulting girls, Dragon also committed a string of other crimes including holding a knife to a woman while she was putting her child in their car.

Most recently he has been serving time for looking up child abuse material on the internet.

The WA District Court heard Dragon spent almost five hours on a public computer at a backpacker hostel in August of 2017.

Bradley Pendragon, 58, (pictured left) served 13 years in a Thai jail for sexually assaulting girls

Among the terms he searched online were 'pre-teen porn' and 'child incest'. When questioned by police, Dragon denied searching the sickening material.

'These things just keep popping up when I use the internet,' he told officers at the time.

Judge Hylton Quail didn't accept Dragon's explanation for his depraved behaviour, before going onto describe the offending as 'brazen.'

'Some of the material, albeit animated, ... is horrifying,' he said.

The paedophile was sentenced to five years behind bars for holding a knife to a mother, before he was locked up again for looking up the child abuse material just two days after being released.

Dragon has been diagnosed with 'paedophilic disorder' of the non-exclusive type - meaning he is attracted to both girls and boys.

Dragon used a computer at a Northbridge backpacker hostel to access the twisted imagery

He previously told a psychiatrist that 'much of the society doesn't agree with laws relating to the restriction of access to pornographic material about children or sexual contact with children, and much like homosexual relationships, this may be something which is legalised in the future'.

The 62-year-old had been waiting for a Supreme Court decision on his release date since completing his time in December, 2021.

The authorities were deciding whether Dragon is still considered 'high risk and serious offender', with Justice Strk saying he could be released under a strict set of conditions.

Dragon's 10-year supervision order will also include him being electronically monitored, having to live at a specified address and being subject to a curfew.

The paedophile told the court he would be willing to undergo physical castration, but a psychiatrist said there no clinic in Australia offered such an operation.

Notorious paedophile Bradley Dragon (pictured) is set to be released from a Western Australia jail today

WA's Shadow Treasurer Steve Thomas said releasing Dragon was 'absolutely worrying' and the state government should be taking a harder stance on repeat offenders.

'I think we've developed to a stage where we're quite soft on law and order issues these days, and it's time for a far bigger focus on holding people responsible for their behaviour,' he said.

'I absolutely believe that a tougher on crime approach and going back to making the punishment fit the crime is where we want to see this government and this society go.'

Dragon has been provided with a private rental through a non-for-profit organisation that isn't linked to the State Government.
Dave Chappelle will not be naming the theater at his old high school after himself and has instead chosen a politically-charged name that makes fun of cancel culture.

The comedian revealed during a naming ceremony Monday that the theater at Duke Ellington High School in Washington DC would now be called the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression.

Chappelle, 48, faced worldwide criticism after he made jokes about the transgender community during his Netflix special, The Closer, last fall.

The fury fire had also sparked at his alma mater. During a visit last November several Duke Ellington students told Chappelle his remarks were offensive and 'childish.'

Referencing his encounter with the students, Chapelle said during Monday's ceremony that he 'didn't want any students to see his name on the theater' and feel badly about it.

'The idea that my name will be turned into an instrument of someone else's perceived oppression is untenable to me,' he told the crowd, adding how the chosen name instead emphasizes 'the nuance of art' and 'freedom of artistic expression.'

Dave Chappelle will not be naming the theater at his old high school after himself and has instead chosen a politically-charged name that makes fun of woke cancel culture

Duke Ellington had planned to name the theater after Chappelle, its most notable alumni, due to his 'ongoing commitment and service to the school.'

Chappelle had been a generous donor to the school over the years, reportedly donating $100,000 and one of his Emmy awards in 2017.

However, in wake of his heated visit last November, Chappelle issued a challenge on Instagram for those who opposed the school's plans for a building named after him.

'If you object to my receiving this honor, I urge you to donate to the school noting your objection,' he posted. 'If you are in favor of the theater being named 'Chappelle,' I urge you to donate to the school, noting your approval.'

Supporters of the comedian ultimately contributed more funds to the challenge, leaving many to believe the facility would be called the Dave Chappelle Theatre.

But, in a surprise move Monday, Chappelle revealed he opted to 'defer' renaming of the building to the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression.

Chappelle cited November's visit, when the renaming ceremony was initially supposed to take place, alleging the outcry from Duke Ellington students 'sincerely hurt me.'

'I took a lot of cold shots in business but that day, they hurt me,' Chappelle told the crowd, according to USA Today and Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin.

He recalled how 'a line formed' of students slamming his behaviors after he questioned what he had done wrong.

'[While the kids] said everything about gender they didn't say anything about art,' he explained.

The comedian revealed during a naming ceremony Monday that the theater at Duke Ellington High School in Washington DC would now be called the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression

Many believed the facility would be called the Dave Chappelle Theatre

The comedian then hit back at the students' criticisms of The Closer, saying they didn't know him and were just perpetrating the woke mob's agenda.

'These kids didn't understand that they were instruments of oppression,' he said.

He also defended the piece, calling it a 'masterpiece' that was unfairly portrayed in the media.

'You cannot report on an artist's work and remove artistic nuance,' he said of the press before making an odd comparison to a popular Loony Tunes character.

He argued the way the press discussed his piece would be similar to reporting that a large rabbit shot a man in the face without disclosing the gunman was Bugs Bunny.

'The more you say I can't say something, the more urgent it is for me to say it. It has nothing to do with what you are saying I can't say. It has everything to do with my freedom of artistic expression,' Chapelle added.

'I saw in the newspaper that a man who was dressed in women's clothing threw a pie at the Mona Lisa and tried to deface it. And it made me laugh and I thought, it's like The Closer.'

He also noted that 'no matter what they say about The Closer' it is still one of the 'most watched specials on Netflix.'

But, in a shocking move Monday, Chappelle revealed he opted to 'defer' renaming of the building to the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression. Attendees are pictured going through security at the naming ceremony on Monday

Chapelle said during the naming ceremony that he 'didn't want any students to see his name on the theater' and feel badly about it. Attendees are pictured walking into Duke Ellington High School on Monday night

The controversial Netflix special was released last October and prompted hundreds of Netflix employees to walk out of work in protest, as well as public outrage from the LGBTQ+ community.



During the special, Chappelle declared 'gender is a fact' and aligned himself with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who has taken issue with the push for some transgender rights, including the right to self-identify, and calls for trans women to be sent to women's prisons, or allowed into domestic abuse shelters.

He also joked about the anatomy of transwomen in the Netflix special, saying that they lacked real female reproductive organs and that they did not have menstrual blood but 'beet juice' instead.

He argued women today view trans women 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.

Chappelle faced criticism from Duke Ellington students after he made jokes about the transgender community during his Netflix special, The Closer, last fall. He is pictured at the school in September 2017

Daphne Dorman, a trans comedian and friend of Chappelle, died in 2019 and is spoken about in Chappelle's Netflix special 'The Closer'

Chappelle also spoke about his friend and transwoman Daphne Dorman, who killed herself in 2019 at the age of 44 after defending Chappelle over earlier jokes he'd made.

'When she did that, the trans community dragged that b**** through Twitter,' Chappelle said in 'The Closer.'

'It's a true story; my heart was broken,' he continued. 'I don't know what was going on, but I'll bet dragging her didn't help.'

The jokes he made resulted in a fiery backlash against the Ohio comedian, who says his documentary was pulled from film festivals and dropped by film distributors.

Organizations like National Black Justice Coalition and GLAAD condemned the jokes told in Chappelle's special.

Chappelle's jokes about the transgender community were backed by Netflix, with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos defending the comedian in an internal email, saying 'we dont allow titles on Netflix that are designed to incite hate or violence, and we dont believe crosses that line.'

Chappelle thanked the co-CEO at a later comedy show, telling the audience 'thank God for Ted Sarandos at Netflix, he's the only one that didn't cancel me yet.'

Dave Chappelle and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos are seen speaking backstage at the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio

Netflix faced backlash for the defense, including employee resignations and an organized employee walkout last October.

But Sarandos later backtracked on his initial stance, saying 'I screwed up the internal communication  and I don't mean just mechanically.'

Sarandos continued: 'I feel I should've made sure to recognize that a group of our employees was hurting very badly from the decision made, and I should've recognized upfront before going into a rationalization of anything the pain they were going through.

'I say that because I respect them deeply, and I love the contribution they have at Netflix. They were hurting, and I should've recognized that first.'

Many transgender activists felt Chappelle's comedy was an example of 'punching down' on a community with little power.

In a video posted to his Instagram after the special, Chappelle said he would meet with the transgender community but will not be 'bending to anybody's demands.'
A US Marine veteran detained in Venezuela on terrorism charges since 2020 has attempted suicide, according to his family.

Matthew Heath, 40, was reportedly left hospitalized and in grave condition after the attempt, months after he detailed being tortured with electric shocks and threatened with rape during questioning by officials.

Heath 'was rushed to a military hospital after attempting suicide and is now fighting for his life,' according to his aunt, Trudy Rutherford.

Rutherford said that her family learned of Heath's condition on Monday 'through private channels - not from our government.'

'Just last week on a conference call with three senior Administration officials, we warned them of our concerns about Matthew's mental health and physical well-being after nearly 22 months of wrongful detention,' said Rutherford.

A spokesperson for the US State Department acknowledged that US citizen was in the hospital, but declined to comment or specify that it was Heath.

Gov. Bill Richardson - who has helped secure the release of numerous Americans detained overseas throughout his career - said he would work with Venezuela to negotiate Health's release.

Matthew Heath, 40, was reportedly left hospitalized and in grave condition after the suicide attempt

Heath pictured in his mug shot after being arrested in Venezuela in 2020. The Maduro government accused him of being a terrorist and spy

Heath was arrested at a roadblock in Venezuela on September 10, 2020, and charged in an alleged terrorist plot to sabotage oil refineries and electrical service in order to stir unrest in the socialist country.

During a court appearance in February, Heath gave a harrowing account of being tortured during his detainment. He said he had been stripped naked, electrocuted, and threatened with rape.

Despite ample signs that Heath was not safe, Rutherford said that the White House has not prioritized securing his freedom.

'Matthew's life is in imminent danger, and we don't detect any urgency at all from the White House,' she said.

'We are frustrated with the pattern of 'deciding not to decide' at the White House, endless policy reviews, and empty platitudes about his case being a priority.'

Rutherford added that she is 'wondering how I will explain to his 13-year-old-son that his father isn't coming home because the White House didn't think saving him was important enough.'

A machine gun, explosives, and grenade launcher that Venezuelan authorities accused Heath of using to sabotage local infrastructure

Cell phones and stacks of cash that Venezuelan authorities cited as evidence against Health. Heath's family and attorney say that the evidence was falsified

Following the news of Heath's hospitalization, his family made a plea to Governor Bill Richardson - who has been instrumental in the release of numerous US citizens detained overseas, including University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier from North Korea in 2017.

'Let me be clear - this is a life and death situation that should be taken with the utmost seriousness by everyone involved,' Richardson said in a statement to CNN.

'It is my intention to press the Maduro Government to allow an emergency medical evacuation so that Matthew can return to the United States and get the critical care he needs. What is important now is for the Biden Administration to act decisively and quickly.'

'Saving Matthew's life is in the interest of both governments. Failing to act could well cost Matthew's life,' he said.

Gov. Bill Richardson - who has helped secure the release of numerous Americans detained overseas throughout his career - said he would work with Venezuela to negotiate Health's release

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's (above) government accused Heath of being involved in coup, of being a spy and of terrorism

Heath's lawyer, Guillermo Heredia, has argued Venezuelan security services fabricated the case against him, citing discrepancies in the initial arrest documents and those presented in court.

The former marine's family have claimed he was arrested mistakenly while visiting friends in Aruba, a Caribbean island 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela.

It is thought Heath has been held in Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas - a prison perversely dubbed 'the House of Dreams' that is being investigated by the United Nations.

Heath's family have claimed he was arrested mistakenly while visiting friends in Aruba, a Caribbean island 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela

Heath served in the US Marines. When he was arrested in Venezuela and accused of terrorism authorities claimed they found images of targets on his cellphone

Heath was arrested four months after a botched coup attempt in May 2020. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government accused Heath of being involved in the coup, of being a spy, and of terrorism.

When Heath was arrested authorities claimed they found images of targets on his cellphone.

They released pictures taken of a grenade launcher, plastic explosives, and a bag of US dollars they said was being transported by Heath. But many, including Heath's lawyer, suspect the evidence was planted.

'All they are doing here is to compile a criminal file based on false evidence and fake procedures to accuse an American citizen,' a member of Heath's legal team, Tamara Suju said, 'That is all they are doing.'

A former US Marine, Trevor Reed, 30, said he was kept in a Russian jail cell with blood and feces alongside seven mentally-ill prisoners. 'The psychiatric treatment facility, I was in there with seven other prisoners in a cell. They all had severe, psychological health issues. Over 50 percent of them in that cell were in there for murder. Or, like, multiple murders, sexual assault and murder - just really disturbed individuals,' he said

This is the moment former US Marine Trevor Reed was exchanged for convicted Russian drug dealer Konstantin Yaroshenko during a prisoner swap that took place at a Turkish airport in April

News of Heath's suicide attempt comes just weeks after another Marine Veteran, Trevor Reed, was released after being detained by Russia for three years.

He had been at a party with his Russian girlfriend of three years, Alina Tsybulnik, a lawyer, in August 2019 when he was arrested for intoxication.

Russian authorities took the former Marine to jail to sober up and he was later sentenced to nine years for assaulting and endangering two police officers' lives - despite, he insisted, never attacking the officers.

Reed was released in a prisoner-swap agreement on April 27.

Reed (pictured in 2020) was jailed in 2019 while on a trip to Russia with his girlfriend. He said he thought he was being sent to the psychiatric facility as a punishment for his continued push to appeal his conviction and he didn't sleep for a 'couple days'

In May, he told CNN's Jake Tapper about the horrific conditions in the prison where he was held.

'You have this view - kind of like I did when I went there - that Russia, yeah, they have a bad government, but it's like, you know, maybe Putin is evil but like the whole government isn't,' he said.

'And from being there inside, and seeing that government from the inside, how that works, you realize that the problem is actually much bigger than that.

'They have absolutely no value of human life, and that apathy permeates every level of the Russian government and that trickles down from the very top to the lowest level prison guard inside of their government and all of their police officers, all of their FSB, everyone who works for that government has absolutely no empathy for other humans. They are completely desensitized to that.

'That government is really sincerely evil at all levels from the top to the bottom, and there is absolutely no reason why any Americans should travel to Russia for anything, everything.'
Google TV Profiles finally makes it to Chromecast users, which received the full Android TV skin back in late 2020, bringing in features like the dashboard.

Before Chromecast got Google TV, it did not have the dashboard and user-interface experience like most Smart TVs.

Instead, the Google streaming device, in its early iteration, only allowed its users to cast videos straight from their smartphones. Not to mention that its users have to use their smartphones to do all the navigation.

Google TV on Chromecast

But Google made a massive change before 2020 ended, introducing the Chromecast with Google TV, which somewhat brings the Android TV experience to its users.

As per a news story by The Verge, the Chromecast with Google TV brought features like personalization and smart recommendations. These functions were missing from the older version of Chromecast.

That said, Google TV made the overall viewing experience of Chromecast users a bit more enjoyable, thanks to seeing more content that might suit their liking. And it feels more like a smart TV.

Google TV Profiles: Chromecast with Multiple Users?

While Google goes full-blown on making its Chromecast more personable with smart recommendations, it lacks one intricate feature for households: multiple profiles.

So the whole Google TV software suited folks with the remote all to themselves. If not, the personalized content suggestion would be mixed up with random videos from other users at home.

Was Google too late to realize that multiple profiles support is necessary? Not really.

In fact, the tech giant has previously promised to release support for additional profiles on Google TV. But, The Verge notes that it faced multiple delays and false starts. So, it took several months before the features made it.

But this time, support for more profiles finally arrives on Google TV.

How to Get Google TV Profiles

The new Profiles feature on Google TV is supposed to automatically roll out to its users.

The Verge reports that it is all thanks to server updates, which should be live by now. So, if the support for multiple user profiles is still missing on your Google TV, a mere reboot should apply the changes right away.

Once the new update is there, a welcome screen reads: "Introducing profiles on Google TV."

Read Also: Cheaper Google Chromecast? New FCC Filing Suggests it's in the Works

Chromecast with Multiple Profile Support?

Meanwhile, according to a recent report by Android Police, Google TV users should be getting the new Profiles feature. But it should not be limited to Chromecast users.

However, the news outlet reports that Chromecast users are getting their hands on it first, noting that Smart TVs with Google TV has yet to get support for more profiles.

Related Article: YouTube TV's 5.1 Surround Sound Update Releases to Android TV, Google TV, Roku
'The Late Show' host Stephen Colbert wisecracked about his staffers being detained on suspicion of unlawful entry to the US Capitol, and insisted they did nothing wrong.

The host dismissed the comparisons between his staff's arrest and the January 6 riot as a 'non-surrection' and joked that Triumph the Insult Comic Dog should be charged with 'first degree puppetry.'

Colbert began his monologue by saying: 'How was your weekend? I certainly had an interesting one, because some of my staff had a memorable one.'

He continued: 'Triumph offered to go down to DC to interview some Congress people to highlight some January 6 hearings.'

Colbert joked: 'I said, 'Sure, if you can get anyone to talk to you. Because, and please don't take this as an insult, you're a puppet.'

The funnyman insisted his team had scheduled chats with both Democrat and Republican lawmakers, and that everything had been organized and cleared with the appropriate officials.

On January 16, at least seven people associated with Colbert's CBS talk show were arrested in the nation's capital. Among those arrested was the comedian behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Robert Smigel.

They were caught close to the offices of GOP Reps Lauren Boebert and Kevin McCarthy, although its unclear if either politician had agreed to a sit-down.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, the US Capitol Police said: 'The building was closed to visitors and these individuals were determined to be a part of a group that had been directed by the USCP to leave the building earlier in the day. They were charged with Unlawful Entry.'

The statement concluded: 'This is an active criminal investigation, and may result in additional criminal charges after consultation with the US Attorney.'

The US Attorney in question is Matthew Graves, of the District of Colombia.

During the opening of his show, Colbert said: 'After they finished their interviews, they were doing some last-minute puppetry and jokey make-em-ups in a hallway, when Triumph and my folks were approached and detained by the Capitol police  which actually isnt that surprising.'

The comedian noted: 'The Capitol police are much more cautious than they were, say, 18 months ago, and for a very good reason. If you dont know what that reason is, I know what news network you watch.'

Robert Smigel pictured the day before his arrest filming at the US Capitol

According to the capitol police: 'This is an active criminal investigation, and may result in additional criminal charges after consultation with the US Attorney'

Colbert described the incident as: 'The Capitol police were just doing their job, my staff was just doing their job, everyone was very professional, everyone was very calm. My staffers were detained, processed and released. A very unpleasant experience for my staff.'

He went on to say that the entire incident was a 'fairly simple story' until TV news 'started claiming that my puppet squad had committed insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building.'

Colbert joked: 'First of all: what? Second of all: huh? Third of all, they werent in the Capitol building. Fourth of all and Im shocked I have to explain the diference, but an insurrection involves interrupting the lawful action of Congress and howling for the blood of elected leaders, all to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. This was first-degree puppetry.'

The group was arrested inside of the Longworth House Office Building.

Those detained in addition to Smigel have been named as Jake Plunkett, Allison Martinez, Tyrone Dean, Stephen Romond, Nicoletta Green, Brendan Hurley, Josh Comers and David Feldman.

Prop coordinator Brendan Hurley has been with Colbert since the host's Comedy Central show, 'The Colbert Report'

Colbert pictured with senior producer Jake Plunkett

Colbert staffer Nicoletta Green was among those arrested. She has worked on the show since September 2020

Despite not naming anybody in particular, Colbert condemned those who have compared the arrest of his staff to the January 6 riot.

He said: 'Its predictable why these TV talkers are talking like this. They want to talk about something other than the January 6 hearings, the actual seditionist insurrection that led to the deaths of multiple people and the injury of over 140 police officers.'

The comedian continued: 'Drawing any equivalence between rioters storming our Capitol to prevent the counting of electoral ballots and a cigar-chomping toy dog is a shameful and grotesque insult to the memory of everyone who died.'

Colbert concluded by saying that the comparison 'obscenely trivializes the service and the courage the Capitol police showed on that terrible day. But who knows? Maybe there was a vast conspiracy to overthrow the government of the U.S. with a rubber Rottweiler.'

In a brief statement on the arrests, a CBS spokesperson told DailyMail.com on Friday that Colbert's staff were detained following their final interview after they stayed behind to film 'comedy elements in the halls.'

The spokesperson said that the interviews were authorized and pre-arranged through congressional aides.

The team were filming at the Capitol on June 15 and 16, the spokesperson said.

The June 21 episode featured New Jersey Senator Cory Booker as a guest as well as indie band The Lumineers.

Rep. Jim Jordan sent a letter to Capitol police asking for more details on the arrests of Colbert's staff

Also on Monday, Republican Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Rodney Davis of Illinois sent a letter to Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger demanding details about the arrests.

The letter read in part: 'Much has been made lately about unauthorized access to House office buildings, including debunked Democrat allegations that Republican members led so-called reconnaissance tours of the Capitol Complex in advance of January 6.'

It continued: 'Unlike the Democrat allegations of reconnaissance tours, however, the events on June 16 actually resulted in arrests for unlawful entry.'

The congressmen added: 'These individuals were arrested and charged with unlawful entry after causing disturbances at the offices of several Republican members, including banging on their office doors.'

'The individuals were originally in the Capitol Complex in connection with the activities of the January 6th Select Committee, but it is unclear whether the Select Committee had any involvement in or awareness of these individuals planned harassment of Republican offices,' the congressmen wrote.

Fox News' Chad Pergram, who broke the news of the arrests, wrote on FoxNews.com that it would have been impossible for the crew to be in a congressional building without a minder.

Pergram said that after the group were originally ejected from the grounds by Capitol police, they were let back in by an aide for Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss.

According to Pergram's report, the group told the aide that they had more interviews to conduct.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson took a mocking tone when he brought the arrests in the opening segment of his show.

Carlson said that most Americans 'are still shaking as we think about how close this country came to losing our democracy last Thursday.'

He added: 'Where were you on 6/16? You'll never forget and neither will we. At the time, we were preparing a show on Tony Fauci and his push for a new Corona shot for kids. It seemed important then. It seems so trivial now.'

Carlson joked: 'The group in the Capitol was under the direct control of an extremist called Stephen Colbert, who as a White man, is, by definition a White extremist.'

The former CNN and MSNBC star went on to say that Colbert's staff were 'domestic terrorists.'

In an appearance on 'Hannity' on June 20, former Rep. Jason Chaffetz said that Colbert's staffers should face the exact same consequences as those convicted of taking part in the January 6 riot.

Hannity said in the opening of his show: 'Wheres the outrage from the Democrats? Arent they concerned about trespassing and securing the Capitol? Or is that only when they can use it to attack Donald Trump?'

When Chaffetz appeared he told the host: 'All you asked for is equal application of the law'

He continued: 'If somebody breaks the law, they should be charged. On the one hand, Im glad that the Capitol Police had the political guts to actually arrest these people, there is I think a question as to, how is it that they got back into the Capitol?'

The former congressman added: 'I want to see these people prosecuted to the same degree and the same outrage that the left pretends on January 6 people,' according to Mediaite.
Mohammed Bashir Zaheer (pictured) was stabbed to death on the morning of July 16, 2020. He is pictured six months earlier at a family wedding

A security guard who stabbed his best friend of 25 years was not 'criminally responsible' for the crime due to substantial mental health issues, a court has found.

Within hours of the bloody attack on Mohammed Bashir Zaheer on July 16 2020, Jawid Jawid, 43, told doctors of his intention to plead under the mental health laws.

The pair had known each other for 25 years after meeting in India in their early 20s before moving to Australia. Their families had both fled Afghanistan.

They were working together at the Mirage apartment block in Pyrmont, where Mr Zaheer worked as a building manager and employed Jawid as his assistant.

But the relationship slowly deteriorated as Jawid became increasingly paranoid that Mr Zaheer was 'out to get him', culminating in a confrontation in the foyer of the building on July 16.

Witnesses saw Jawid stab Mr Zaheer several times over before walking away from his friend, who was bleeding out with multiple wounds to his neck, head and torso.

Jawid was later found drunk and passed out in a parking garage in Parramatta. He was taken to hospital where he made several unsolicited admissions about the incident.

While he was being assessed by a doctor, Jawid asked the doctor to 'help him out' by diagnosing him with a mental health condition.

'Come on Doc. Mental health, what do you think? Sign some papers and say it's mental health,' the court heard.

Jawid Jawid, 41, (pictured) admitted to stabbing his friend of 25 years but pleaded not guilty to murder by way of a mental health impairment

Jawid went on to explain he'd 'done it in the past' and 'beaten this sort of thing six times'.

'I have a good lawyer he will get me off no problems, mental health is easy... what you think?'

In spite of bragging about using mental health as a defence in court, Jawid was indeed found not criminally responsible for his actions on the day of his friend's death.

The court determined he was suffering from a psychotic disorder and an anxiety disorder which impaired his judgement at the time of the assault.

'He did not know that the act of stabbing the deceased was wrong, in that he could not reason with a moderate degree of sense and composure about whether the act as perceived by reasonable people was wrong. This was because of his systematised persecutory delusional belief relating to the deceased,' the court heard.

Two psychiatrists determined he 'understood the nature and quality of his act but did not know that the act was wrong'.

Mr Zaheer (pictured) on a trip to the Blue Mountains about seven years ago as he was working his way up the security industry ladder. Mr Zaheer had been friends with Jawid for 25 years and gave him a job in Australia after they both moved from India

Jawid told police Mr Zaheer had 'tortured him' in the months leading to the attack and had 'taken everything from him'.

He believed Mr Zaheer had naked pictures of him, had drugged him and alleged he was 'sodomised with a bottle'.

Later conversations between Jawid and investigating officers revealed he believed a gang was after him and 'they were playing with his head', adding the 'deceased just wanted to get him drunk so he could kill him'.

The court heard Jawid had been admitted to hospital eight times over mental health issues, and two weeks earlier had tried to take his own life.

Jawid's lawyer also argued in court his client suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after fleeing war-torn Afghanistan.

Jawid told police Mr Zaheer had 'tortured him' in the months leading to the attack and had 'taken everything from him'

A woman (pictured) was seen being helped by loved ones as she rushed to the scene of the crime

Mr Zaheer moved to Australia in 1998 and Jawid followed a couple of years later, and was eventually given a job at his old friend's security company.

Ex-brother-in-law Jamil 'AJ' Hefan previously told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Zaheer saved Jawid's life when he was stabbed in the stomach in India.

'Bashir helped him to the hospital and gave him money to help him recover,' he said.

Mr Hefan said Mr Zaheer was a devout Muslim who prayed five times a day, and never drank alcohol, smoked, or 'even looked at another man's woman'.

'His two sisters relied on him. What a guy... I just can't believe he's gone, he didn't deserve this,' he said.
The 1973 Roe v Wade ruling that guarantees the federal right to an abortion could be scrapped as early as today as the Supreme Court hands down multiple new opinions.

The Court does not announce in advance which decisions will be made public, and instead only says that decisions will be declared. This week, the opinions are being released on Tuesday and Thursday.

There are 18 cases that need final rulings before the justices depart for their traditional summer break, which usually happens by the end of June or early July.

The case in question that the Supreme Court will rule on is listed as Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization.

On May 2, Politico published a leaked draft of the decision, in an unprecedented breach of the traditional secrecy surrounding their verdicts. The draft document, which Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed was authentic, would see the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling overturned.

The Justices could have changed their minds in the intervening weeks, but most expect their verdict to be the same - striking down federal guarantees that abortion be available in every state.

Protesters gather, chant and hold signs outside the Supreme Court in Washington on May 2 - the night the draft opinion was leaked

Abortion rights activists protest outside the Supreme Court on June 15

There are 18 states that have near-total bans on their books, while four more have time-limit band and four others are likely to pass new bans if Roe is overturned

THE 26 STATES POISED TO OUTLAW ABORTION IF ROE V. WADE IS FORMALLY OVERTURNED Alabama Arizona Arkansas Idaho Kentucky Louisiana Michigan Mississippi Missouri North Dakota South Dakota Oklahoma Tennessee Texas Utah West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Georgia, Iowa Ohio South Carolina Advertisement

Pro-reproductive rights group The Guttmacher Institute say that at least 22 states have laws on the books that would come into effect once the decision is officially adopted.

The organization also identified four more states that it expects to pass new abortion bans in the near future, marking a total of 26 states that appear set to ban the procedures

The 18 states that have near-total bans on abortion already on the books are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

In addition, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, and South Carolina all have laws that ban abortions after the six-week mark.

At the time of writing, those six-week bans have been ruled unconstitutional.

On the other side of the spectrum, 16 states and the District of Columbia have laws that protect a person's right to an abortion.

Pro-Life and pro-choice activists gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court on May 2

The Guttmacher report notes that there are over 40 million women who live in states with laws considered hostile to those seeking abortions.

On the other side of the spectrum, 16 states and the District of Columbia have laws that protect a person's right to an abortion.

Guttmacher notes that there are over 40 million women who live in states with laws considered hostile to those seeking abortions.

Law enforcement agencies around the country are on high alert, amid the impending announcement.

A 26-year-old was recently charged federally with the attempted murder of Justice Brett Kavanaugh - one of the justices in favor of the repealing of Roe v. Wade.

Republican appointed-Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett (circled) all voted to strike down Roe along with Samuel Alito, Politico reported

President Joe Biden recently signed into law enhanced security upgrades for the court, including new protections for the family members of the justices.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned last month of the rising risk of violence - on both sides of the political spectrum - ahead of the expected decision.

'Threat actors have recently mobilized to violence due to factors such as personal grievances, reactions to current events, and adherence to violent extremist ideologies, including racially or ethnically motivated or anti-government/antiauthority violent extremism,' said a National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin, issued on June 7.

'Given a high-profile U.S. Supreme Court case about abortion rights, individuals who advocate both for and against abortion have, on public forums, encouraged violence, including against government, religious, and reproductive healthcare personnel and facilities, as well as those with opposing ideologies,' the DHS alert said.

A senior official, in the threat alert, warned that 'going forward, we're concerned that grievances related to restricting abortion access in general could fuel a broader response.'

Earlier this month, in Buffalo, New York, attackers spray painted the slogan 'Jane Was Here' on the side of the building - a calling card of the activists from pro-choice group Jane's Revenge.

Similar attacks were carried out in Washington DC on June 3, and in Madison, Wisconsin, on May 8.

There have also been multiple attacks in Texas and Oregon - the first was on May 3 in Austin, Texas. At least 10 states have been affected.

The draft decision was written by Justice Samuel Alito, appointed by George W. Bush.

Alito wrote, in part: 'Roe was egregiously wrong from the start.'

He argues that the issue of abortion should be returned to the 'people's elected representatives' to decide.
Greens leader Adam Bandt 'recoiled' when he was offered a miniature flag at an Australia Day citizenship ceremony, a Labor MP has revealed.

Bandt was criticised on Monday after he refused to stand alongside the Australian national flag at a press conference, with a member of his staff removing it before he spoke. He later told Daily Mail Australia that the flag represents colonisation and dispossession.

Now, Peter Khalil, Labor MP for Wills, has revealed how Bandt refused to take a miniature flag when the two appeared at a ceremony together.

'I was at a citizenship ceremony and Adam Bandt was there. All the people there who were new Australian citizens were waving those little Australian flags and I was waving one,' Khalil told Sky News.

'He was sitting next to me and I was like 'here you go mate, why don't you have one of these', and he completely stonewalled me. I thought it was very odd.'

Khalil's comments come as Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe blasted the Australian flag as an 'obscenity'.

Adam Bandt and wife Claudia Perkins. He has come under fire after he removed the Australian flag before a press conference on Monday

One journalist said she saw a Greens staffer remove the Australian flag from behind the podium before Adam Bandt spoke on Monday - leaving the Torres Strait Island and Aboriginal flags in place

Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe, a close ally of Bandt, blasted the Australian flag as an 'obscenity'

'The Australian flag represents a colonial invasion, which massacred and murdered thousands of Aboriginal women, men and children,' the indigenous senator told 3AW.

'For First Nations people that flag is absurd. It's an obscenity. The Australian flag does not represent me. It does not represent my family and it does not represent many clans and nations around this country.'

Senator Thorpe's comments appeared to be in support of Bandt, who has come under fire for his removal of the flag at Monday's press conference.

'It's becoming a little bit childish for leaders to be virtue-signalling about who loves Aboriginal people more,' Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Price said.

'Adam Bandt is a man desperately trying to grab attention,' added former Labor senator Stephen Conroy.

'Here's a bloke that in his heart believed he would be a minister after the election he truly did believe he would have his hands on the reigns of power and he is just deeply, deeply bitter about it.

'Frankly we should just ignore him because he is going to keep having to do these cheap pathetic stunts to try and draw attention to himself.'

The flag, first flown after federation in 1901, has the Union Jack in the upper left corner to acknowledge the history of British settlement.

Peter Khalil, Labor MP for Wills, has revealed how Bandt refused to take a miniature flag when the two appeared at a ceremony together

Mr Bandt does not have an Australian flag in his office in parliament (pictured during a live cross with Sky News)

'For many Australians, this flag represents dispossession and the lingering pains of colonisation,' Bandt said on Monday.

'Through Treaty with First Nations' Peoples and by moving to a Republic, we can have a flag that represents all of us.'

A review of Bandt's previous TV interviews shows he always has the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags in the background, but never the nation's flag.

Bandt added later that the Union Jack symbol is hurtful to Indigenous Australians.

He also used the press conference on Monday to urge Labor to 'have a discussion' with his party about its 43 per cent emissions reduction target.

The Greens - who have blocking power in the Senate with a record 12 seats - want more ambitious targets but Anthony Albanese has said the figure is not negotiable.

Bandt did not commit to supporting enshrining the targets in legislation, meaning he could block them, just like former leader Bob Brown blocked Labor's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in 2009.

'Labor is bringing a weak target to Parliament that means the end of the Great Barrier Reef,' he said.

'Labor is now an obstacle to greater climate action and they are refusing to listen to the will of the people who have just delivered a big mandate for climate mandates at the election.'

The new government has already told the UN about its updated target and says it does not matter if the target is not supported by the Parliament.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has ruled out coalition support for legislating the 2030 target after taking a 26-28 per cent reductions target to the last election.Bandt says the Greens would not follow the coalition's lead and be obstructive.

'We're prepared to be constructive,' he said.

'But really the first question, the fork in the road, is is the government prepared to talk and to consider sensible amendments.'

Labor ruled out any deals with the minor party after the coalition ran attacks against the ALP during the campaign, saying it would be pulled to the left by the Greens.

Bandt also said the Energy Security Board was wrong to recommend gas and coal-fired generators as an ongoing part of the energy mix, while renewable energy and storage gradually takes over the national electricity grid.

The board's chair said underwriting coal and gas companies by including them in a proposed capacity mechanism will not impact the country's transition to renewable energy.

Bandt instead wants to move to renewables as quickly as possible.
Airports will stay swamped for weeks as holidaymakers swarm check-in counters and waiting areas during the upcoming school break.

Transport hubs expect lengthy queues and congested common waiting areas, leading to hours of waiting to get on to flights.

Sydney Airport forecasted 2.1 million passengers would pass through its gates during the June 27 to July 17 school holidays.

That figure is up from the 1.8 million visitors in the previous April busy period, where airports were at a standstill across the country - putting the squeeze on busy staff.

Last kids' holiday season Sydney Airport (pictured is a bag drop queue) brought 1.8 million through, and expects more for the up-and-coming June-July season

Majority of travellers flying domestically will be 1.5 million in the coming holiday period, with additional international numbers of 560,000 scheduled to use the facility

Most travellers flying domestically will be 1.5 million, with additional international numbers of 560,000 expected to use the facility.

Those domestic and international numbers are up from last April holidays, which were 1.39 million and 376,000 respectively.

Sydney Airport chief executive Geoff Culbert told 9 News it was great to see ongoing demand for air travel, but delays would occur.

'We won't sugar coat the fact that the terminals will be busy during the school holidays, and there will be queues,' he said.

'We are doing everything we can to get people on their way, including bringing an additional 60 customer service staff into the terminals every day to help manage queues and bring passengers forward in order of flight priority.'

Punters going on holiday are advised to turn up close to the recommended timeframe, two hours for domestic and three hours for international travellers

Transport Workers Union National Secretary Michael Kaine blamed the delays staff shortages after so many were laid off during the pandemic.

'Flights are full, but passengers are stuck waiting because there aren't enough workers to load their bags into the hold  [and] almost half of outsourced workers are still searching for a permanent job,' he said.

Qantas said the waiting issue was not confined to one airline or airport, and the extended waiting time was caused by 'Covid absenteeism and a competitive labour market'.

Travellers were advised to get to the airport wee before the recommended check-in times for domestic and international flights, unless advised otherwise.

Those flying domestic should instead show up close to two hours before a flight and three hours for international travellers.

Passengers were also cautioned to not arrive too early for check-in as some carriers don't open until two hours before flight time.
China has branded US and UK hypocrites on press freedom over the looming extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to face espionage charges that could land the Australian in jail for life.

Assange's extradition to the US to face charges over the leaking of thousands of official secrets has been approved by British Home Secretary Priti Patel after a protracted legal battle.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin accused the US of pursuing 'trumped up' charges against Assange for exposing secrets about the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and about the CIA's cyber attacks against other countries.

China has labelled the US and the UK as hypocrites when it comes to press freedom as the two countries prepare to see Australian Julian Assange extradited to face espionage charges

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that the US and UK were conspiring against Assange using 'trumped up' charges to punish him for exposing US wrongdoing

'The US and Britain are cooperating in cross-border crackdowns on certain individuals,' he said.

'The case of Assange is a mirror that shows how hypocritical the US and Britain's claim to uphold press freedom is.

'People enjoy fully freedoms to expose other countries and will be regarded as heroes if they do so, but they will be severely punished and considered to be criminals if they expose their own country or its allies and partners.'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in May called China the biggest worldwide threat to press freedom, citing how many journalists were detained, and accusing the communist regime of increasing surveillance, harassment, and intimidation.

Mr Wenbin accused the US of trumping up charges of sexual assault, espionage, and computer misuse against Assange and of also pursuing the activist through secret surveillance, backstage deals 'and other means'.

Assange was accused of raping two women in Sweden but fled to the Ecuadorian embassy in London before he could be arrested and extradited.

The rape charges were eventually dropped due Assange's protracted asylum in the embassy, but the US never gave up on the espionage accusations.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange here seen at Westminster Magistrates Court being escorted by police in 2019 during his long fight to avoid an extradition warrant to the US

Mr Wenbin said all eyes would be on Mr Assange's human rights and expressed the hope that 'justice' would prevail over 'abuse and hegemony'.



Assange faces up to 175 years in prison on 18 charges in the US under the Espionage Act for leaking classified documents in 2010 and 2011.

He is in London's Belmarsh jail serving time for breaching bail after his long attempt to gain asylum in Ecuador unravelled and he was arrested after leaving the embassy where he had holed up for about seven years.

The US Government said his leaking of thousands of classified diplomatic cables put the lives of US soldiers and those working secretly for the Americans at risk.

His defenders argue he exposed US war crimes and human rights abuses in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as revealing the CIA's covert activities against its own citizens.

The US Justice Department also accuses Assange of illegal hacking in helping Chelsea Manning, a former intelligence analyst, get the classified information.

Manning was convicted of 17 charges for her role in leaking the documents in 2013 and convicted to spend 35 years in a maximum security prison.

However, she was released in 2017 when outgoing US President Barack Obama commuted her sentence to the years she had already served in confinement since her arrest in 2010.

Assange's accomplice in leaking the US documents, Chelsea Manning, spent seven years in prison but was released in 2017 when her 35-year sentence was commuted by Barack Obama

There have been calls for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to make a public plea on behalf of Assange, which so far he has resisted.

Employment Minister Tony Burke said the government was making quiet 'behind-the-scenes' representations to the US over the case.

'We're not going to conduct diplomacy by megaphone,' Mr Burke told Sky News on Sunday.

'This case has gone on for far too long. We said that in opposition, we've repeated that in government.

'The issue needs to be brought to a close. Australia is not a party to the prosecution that's happening here [and] each country has its own legal system.'
Lisa Wilkinson was warned her Logies speech could jeopardise a rape trial but went ahead with it anyway before her decision backfired spectacularly and the judge delayed the case.

Brittany Higgins' accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann was granted a temporary stay in the ACT Supreme Court on Tuesday after his lawyer said a jury trial would be 'untenable' following the reporting of The Project host's winning speech.

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum told the court the journalist had previously sought advice on whether the speech was appropriate.

Ms Wilkinson met with the Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold on June 15 to discuss the evidence that she would give at the trial.

At the end of the meeting, Ms Wilkinson was asked if she had any questions and mentioned she had been nominated for a Logie award, according to a note of the meeting taken by the DPP.

Ms Wilkinson expressed that she did not think she would win because it was organised by a rival network but proceeded to read the speech she intended to give if victorious.

TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson (right) is pictured with former political staffer Brittany Higgins (left)

However, the DPP stopped her and advised that he had no power to approve or provide advice on the speech.

'We are not speech editors,' Mr Drumgold told Ms Wikinson.

Justice McCallum said Ms Wilkinson went ahead with her plans in spite of the warning.

'Notwithstanding that clear and appropriate warning, upon receiving the award, Ms Wilkinson gave a speech in which she openly referred to and praised the complainant in the present trial,' she said.

Justice Mc Callum said recent media publicity had prejudged Lehrmann's right to a fair trial.

'The case has accordingly attracted a level of attention in the media  that while not unprecedented, is certainly extreme,' she said.

'Extensive media reporting of alleged criminal conduct is not mischievous in itself.

'What is a potential mischief is media reporting of such issues in such a way  it impacts the criminal case.'

Bruce Lehrmann (pictured), is charged with sexual intercourse without consent. He has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Brittany Higgins at Parliament House in Canberra

Justice McCallum says while jurors can be given directions to mitigate prejudice, this case was different with Wilkinson being a key witness.

No date has been set for the trial, but the judge said she wants the trial to be held this year, with an October listing probably providing enough time for publicity to dissipate.

Earlier, Justice McCallum slammed Ms Wilkinson's speech, saying the line between an allegation and the finding of guilt was 'completely obliterated' by her Logies speech.

Ms Wilkinson won a Logie for her reporting on Ms Higgins' claim that she was raped in Parliament House.

Lehrmann, charged with sexual intercourse without consent, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Ms Higgins.

'Your honour, this speech did not need to be made,' Lehrmann's barrister Steve Whybrow said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Whybrow launched the stay application following Wilkinson's speech.

Mr Whybrow said a temporary stay - essentially, a delay - was the only recourse to allow for a fair trial so 'adverse publicity can dissipate'.

TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson (left) is pictured with former political staffer Brittany Higgins (right)

'It's untenable in my submission for a trial to be held under these circumstances at this time,' he said.

Justice McCallum slammed the media over its reporting of Ms Wilkinson's speech.

'What concerns me most about this recent round is that the distinction between an allegation and a finding of guilt has been completely obliterated ... on Sunday and Monday,' she said.

'The implicit premise of (Ms Wilkinson's speech) is to celebrate the truthfulness of the story she exposed.'

She added that Ms Higgins' allegation had been bundled together in the minds of the public with the work of former Australian of the Year Grace Tame, despite a man having been convicted in Ms Tame's case.

'Grace Tame was talking about her experience after the man had been convicted and served a sentence of imprisonment,' Justice McCallum said.

'(Ms Tame's) important contribution to the legal landscape was to say 'the jury knows what he did, the public knows what he did, but I can't talk about it because of the law that prohibits me outing myself'.

Former political staffer Brittany Higgins (pictured front) speaks to the media as she leaves the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices after meeting with then prime minister Scott Morrison in Sydney on Friday, April 30, 2021

'Miss Higgins is treated as being in the same category. And she's not,' the judge said.

'At the moment, she is not in that category. That's what really troubles me about the last round.'

The Crown had opposed the temporary stay, arguing the application did not outline a significant enough risk to the jury that couldn't be overcome by orders made by the judge.

'The test most apt ... is a real and substantial risk that despite endeavours by the trial judge there will be members of the jury that would have prejudged guilt perhaps unaware and that cannot be remedied,' ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold told the court.

'We accept there is a significant change but the application limited to what it is limited to does not give rise to a temporary stay.'

The Supreme Court was told Wilkinson would be called as a witness at the trial.

Justice Lucy McCallum said the public has conflated the case of Brittany Higgins (right) with the work of former Australian of the Year Grace Tame (left), despite a man having been convicted in Ms Tame's case

On Monday, Mr Drumgold said the Logies speech was a 'regurgitation' of emotion, making the point that Ms Wilkinson had said similar things previously.

Justice McCallum said, in summary, Ms Wilkinson's speech amounted to saying: 'Not only do I believe her, but she's brave and extraordinary and she's the most important thing that's ever happened to me and I'm proud of bringing forward her allegation ...

'We know that the accused has given a recorded interview in which he denies any sexual activity took place,' she said.

A previous stay application was dismissed by Justice McCallum in April, when she said she wasn't persuaded directions given to the jury couldn't alleviate concerns of prejudice against Lehrmann.

Mr Drumgold argued the second application constituted 'a re-agitation of that order'.

The case was initially due to begin on June 6 but was delayed until June 27 after Lehrmann's barrister pulled out days before the trial.
Mark McGowan will stop providing Covid case updates for Western Australia on Facebook.

The premier will share the last update on Friday before he begins posting weekly snapshots of the virus in the state instead.

Mr McGowan announced the change in a post to his Facebook page on Monday night but reassured followers that daily updates would continue to be provided by WA Health.

Mark McGowan (pictured) is putting an end to daily Covid updates for Western Australia and will change to a weekly update instead

The premier delivered his first Covid update on the 5 March 2020 - 27 months ago, which he said was 'an incredibly uncertain time,' with a 'great deal of concern in the community about the future'.

'We wanted to provide a single place where Western Australians could find out the latest information on the virus, whether that was the daily case numbers or advice on what to do.'

Mr McGowan shared his hopes that the updates gave West Australians 'some confidence and reassurance' during a 'difficult and stressful time'.

'COVID-19 wreaked an incredible amount of havoc around the world,' he continued.

'But here in WA we banded together, and looked after each other through difficult times.'

'Together, we saved a remarkable number of lives, saved our economy, our businesses and local WA jobs, and allowed life to continue as normally as possible, achieving some remarkable results along the way.'

The premier wrote that he hopes the change to a weekly update 'continues to be a useful tool as the pandemic continues'.

The first weekly update will be shared on Friday, 1 July.

There were 4885 infections recorded in the state on Tuesday. There were also six deaths in WA dating back to 11 June. (Pictured: Masked passengers arriving in Perth airport in March)

Mr McGowan was the last premier in Australia to continue providing daily Covid updates on Facebook.

Western Australia recorded 4885 new Covid cases on Tuesday. This is up from the 4097 infections reported on Monday.

There were six deaths in WA dating back to 11 June. They included a woman and man in their 90s, two women in their 80s, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s.

There are 259 West Australians in hospital with eight in intensive care.

WA has 29,277 active cases.
The Queensland government announced it will crackdown on e-scooter riders in a new 'blitz' targeting speeding, helmet use and mobile phone distraction.

Speed limits for e-scooter riders travelling on footpaths were introduced in February but the government has warned more regulations will be enforced before the end of the year.

The warning comes as a Reddit user shared a video of police using a speed radar to fine an e-scooter rider on Victoria Bridge, in Brisbane, on Tuesday.

E-scooter riders in Brisbane (above) will soon be required to wear a helmet and stay off their phones while travelling on public footpaths

E-scooter riders are limited to 12km/h on footpaths and 25km/h on 'shared' pedestrian and cyclist paths. Riders caught exceeding the speed limit face fines of $130.

The speeding fine is set to be increased from November 1 alongside the introduction of mandated helmet and bell use for e-scooter riders.

The government said it will also outlaw using a mobile phone while riding on an e-scooter later this year.

'We'll be increasing the penalties for high-risk offences to ensure e-scooter riders are aware of the consequences of unsafe riding,' Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said.

'This will include speeding, using a mobile phone while riding and riding on prohibited roads.'

Mr Bailey said the new rules were an important step in ensuring e-scooter are a safe method of transport in Queensland.

'E-scooters aren't going anywhere  if anything, their use continues to gain popularity with those who want to leave the car a home or connect with public transport,' Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said.

The Queensland Government introduced speed limits on footpaths in February but said it will 'crackdown' on e-scooter riders further later this year

'That's why it's important we have a plan on how we improve safety for e-scooter riders, and for those who use our cycleways, footpaths and roads.'

Mr Bailey said the government is also working on creating e-scooter parking in high traffic areas and posting speed limit signage.

The crackdown on e-scooter riders is supported by Queensland Police.

'Earlier this year we announced that speeds would be halved to 12 kilometres per hour on footpaths which was a really important step in reducing dangerous, high-speed interactions between pedestrians and riders,' he said.

A Redditor shared a video of police using speed radars to fine e-scooter riders on Victoria Bridge, in Brisbane, on Tuesday (above)

'This was a quick win and pushes us in the right direction to support our transition to larger regulatory reform.

'The blitzes aim to crack down on people riding in a dangerous manner, which might mean speeding, using a mobile phone, carrying passengers or not wearing a helmet.

'They will be focusing on the urban areas of Brisbane where e-scooter use is particularly high, so I ask everyone do the right thing  not just when Police are around, but every time you get behind the handlebars.'
Russia has vowed to retaliate against Lithuania with measures that 'will have a serious negative impact on the Lithuanian population' after the country blocked EU-sanctioned goods from reaching the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said Moscow will respond shortly to Lithuania's move to block deliveries of coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad.

'Russia will certainly respond to such hostile actions. Relevant measures are being worked out in the interdepartmental format and will be taken in the near future,' Interfax cited Patrushev, a former KGB spy, as saying.

'Their consequences will have a serious negative impact on the population of Lithuania,' he added.

Patrushev's warning comes as retired Russian general Evgeny Buzhinsky urged Putin to send nuclear weapons to Kaliningrad.

The President's spokesman also weighed in, warning Moscow will never trust the West again following the move.

Lt-Gen Evgeny Buzhinsky told Russian state TV that the West is playing with fire after deliveries of coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology were stopped from entering the Russian territory via NATO state Lithuania

Vladimir Putin 's allies have threatened Lithuania after the NATO country blocked EU-sanctioned goods from reaching the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad

Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said Moscow will respond shortly to Lithuania's move to block deliveries of coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad

History of Kaliningrad The latest diplomatic crisis between Moscow and the West is over the Russian territory of Kaliningrad, a port on the Baltic Sea that is home to nearly a million Russians and connected to the rest of Russia by a rail link through EU- and NATO-member Lithuania.

Kaliningrad was formerly the German port city of Koenigsberg, capital of East Prussia, after being founded in 1255. For centuries, it remained a German city and eventually came under the control of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. But the city was captured from the Nazis by the Red Army in April 1945 and ceded to the Soviet Union after the Second World War. The Soviet Union renamed the city Kaliningrad in 1946. The city was rebuilt and became a major industrial and commercial centre. The German population of Kaliningrad was evicted from the city in 1947 and settled in what was then East and West Germany. Thousands of people from Russia and Belarus moved to the city, which was designated as a 'closed military zone' by the communist authorities. This meant that the city was closed to foreigners until 1991. In order to increase investment in Kaliningrad, the Soviet Union created a special economic zone that exempts most imported and exported goods from customs duties. It meant that trade could easily be moved from Kaliningrad to Russia via Lithuania and Belarus. Advertisement

Lt-Gen Evgeny Buzhinsky told Russian state TV that the West is playing with fire after deliveries of coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology were stopped from entering the Russian territory via NATO state Lithuania.

Buzhinsky said Lithuania's decision to ban the delivery of sanctioned goods to Kaliningrad, a Russian outpost on the Baltic Sea surrounded by EU territory, was a 'threat' to Russia's national security.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov meanwhile warned that all trust has now evaporated between the West and Moscow.

'Relations between Russia and the West will not be back to the previous level, because Moscow will never again trust such 'partners',' he told MSNBC. 'It will be a lengthy crisis, but we will never trust the West again.'

The threats come after the Kremlin warned of 'very tough actions' against Lithuania if it did not reverse its 'openly hostile move'.

Patrushev, one of Putin's top allies, arrived in Kaliningrad on Tuesday to discuss national security amid the row with NATO member Lithuania.

He will chair a meeting about security in Russia's northwest in Kaliningrad, the state RIA news agency said.

RIA said the trip, which included a discussion about transport, was planned before Vilnius banned the transit of goods sanctioned by the European Union through Lithuanian territory to and from the exclave, citing EU sanction rules.

Russia's foreign ministry on Tuesday also summoned the European Union ambassador to Moscow, Markus Ederer, over the 'anti-Russian restrictions' on the transit of sanctioned goods to Kaliningrad.

'The inadmissibility of such actions, which violate the relevant legal and political obligations of the European Union and lead to an escalation of tensions, was pointed out,' the ministry said in a statement.

In response, Ederer urged Russia on Tuesday to refrain from 'escalatory steps and rhetoric' over what Moscow calls 'anti-Russian restrictions', an EU spokesperson said.

'He conveyed our position on Russia's aggression against Ukraine and explained that Lithuania is implementing EU sanctions and there is no blockade, and asked them to refrain from escalatory steps and rhetoric,' spokesperson Peter Stano said.

The Lithuanian government stressed in a written statement Tuesday that 'the transit of passengers and non-sanctioned goods to and from the Kaliningrad region through Lithuania continues uninterrupted,' and that the ban on transit of sanctioned goods was merely part the fourth package of EU sanctions against Russia.

Top Lithuanian officials decried Russia's reaction to the measure as an attempt by the Kremlin to wind up a propaganda campaign trying to create an image of a 'blockade' mainly for internal consumption.

'It's ironic to hear rhetoric about alleged violations of international treaties from a country which has violated possibly every single international treaty,' Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte told reporters.

'There is no Kaliningrad blockade,' Simonyte said. 'Lithuania is implementing EU sanctions.'

The retired Russian general urged Vladimir Putin to send nuclear weapons to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad after EU-sanctioned goods were blocked from reaching the territory. Pictured: Russia launches the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile in testing on April 20

Meanwhile, Buzhinsky said 'Russia won't stop' defending its territory, 'otherwise they'll deprive us of Kaliningrad'.

He also threatened Britain will 'physically cease to exist' if the new standoff in Lithuania triggers a nuclear Third World War.

The Lithuanian charge d'affaires in Moscow was told that unless cargo transit was resumed to Kaliningrad in the near future, Russia reserves the right to act to protect its national interests.

The Russian foreign ministry said: 'We consider provocative measures of the Lithuanian side which violate Lithuania's international legal obligations, primarily the 2002 Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the European Union on transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the Russian Federation, to be openly hostile.'

Loyalist senator Andrey Klimov warned it was 'direct aggression against Russia, literally forcing us to immediately resort to proper self-defence'.

Any direct Russian attack on alliance member state Lithuania would be seen as an act of war against NATO and could spark a world war.

Buzhinsky, speaking on the state-owned Russian television channel Russia 1, said the situation is 'deeply serious', and claimed the West had ulterior motives.

'This is a long game to push us out from the Baltic Sea, an attempt to block and cut Kaliningrad off, and finally take it away from us,' he claimed.

The West intended to 'block Kaliningrad economically, completely, until our people howl from destitution', Buzinsky added.

Pro-Putin TV anchor Yevgeny Popov then asked: 'In other words, this is a war with NATO?' Buzhinsky responded: 'Yes - what else do we do? Otherwise they'll simply strangle us. We can't stop, otherwise they'll deprive us of Kaliningrad'

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov meanwhile warned that all trust has now evaporated between the West and Moscow

Buzhinsky, who served in senior positions in the Russian defence ministry, said: 'We have to take very decisive steps, starting with diplomatic steps'.

These included nullifying the Soviet recognition of Lithuania's independence.

Putin should 'disavow the 1991 recognition of Lithuania, disavow the agreement with the EU on Lithuania, including on their borders, then switch Lithuania off from energy,' Buzhinsky said.

'And then finally we must take military measures,' he said. He urged the Kremlin to take control of the so-called Suvalkovsky corridor - the supply route across Lithuania from Russian ally Belarus.

'We need to demonstratively move nuclear weapons to Kaliningrad... We've got to do something. We've got to strengthen our military presence at the border with Lithuania as we did in December last year, and January this year at the border with Ukraine.

'Tell the Americans, first via confidential channels, that they are playing with fire.

'You guys will actually play to the point that Russia won't stop, because this is a threat to our national security, an attempt on our sovereign territory. The world will feel it. Ukrainian grain will feel like a joke compared to our decisive steps.'

Pro-Putin TV anchor Yevgeny Popov then asked: 'In other words, this is a war with NATO?'

Buzhinsky responded: 'Yes - what else do we do? Otherwise they'll simply strangle us. We can't stop, otherwise they'll deprive us of Kaliningrad.'

Meanwhile, Gen. Buzhinksy also lashed out at British general Sir Patrick Sanders, who took command of the UK's land forces this week with a rallying call to troops to prepare to fight and beat Russian forces in a Third World War.

'He doesn't understand that as a result of the Third World War Britain will physically cease to exist,' said Buzhinsky.

'The island will vanish, so I've no idea where he or his descendants will live.'

A Russian customs officer works at a commercial port in the Baltic Sea town of Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region (file image)

In his message to troops, Gen. Sanders had said: 'I am the first Chief of the General Staff since 1941 to take command of the Army in the shadow of a land war in Europe involving a continental power.

'The scale of the enduring threat from Russia shows we've entered a new era of insecurity.

'It is my singular duty to make our Army as lethal and effective as it can be. The time is now and the opportunity is ours to seize.'

On Tuesday, the UK's foreign minister Liz Truss said the British government is determined to impose further sanctions on Russia, as she promised more support for Ukraine.

'We are determined to provide more weapons, impose more sanctions and back Ukraine in pushing Russia out of their territory,' Truss told parliament.

Truss said she would be travelling to Turkey on Wednesday to discuss options to help get grain out of Odesa, saying that there was only a matter of weeks to find a solution.

Britain, the United States and the European Union have coordinated in imposing massive sanctions on Moscow for what they call an invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has termed it a military operation.

'We will continue to impose sanctions, we will continue to stop importing goods from Russia until we see Russia fully withdraw from Ukraine,' Truss said.

Britain has targeted Russian businessmen, politicians, religious leaders and businesses as part of its wide-ranging sanctions on Moscow.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the West's action against Kaliningrad 'openly hostile'.

'Lithuania must understand that the characterisation of Vilnius's actions on Kaliningrad transit as 'hostile' means the time for talks has gone,' she told pro-Kremlin TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov.

'It is them [the Lithuanian authorities] who behave aggressively.

'They have crossed the line of international law and towards unfriendly, rough actions.

'It is them who behave provocatively, aggressively - hostile.'

Smoke and flame rise after a military strike on a compound of Severodonetsk's Azot Chemical Plant in Ukraine

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said his country was simply implementing sanctions imposed by the EU.

He said the measures implemented were taken after 'consultation with the European Commission and under its guidelines.'

'Sanctioned goods (will) no longer be allowed to transit Lithuanian territory,' Landsbergis added.

The country's prime minister, Ingrida Simonyte, also said that any claims about the blockade of Kaliningrad is a product of Kremlin propaganda.

'It's just that EU sanctions have come into force on some of the goods included in the package, namely steel and ferrous metals. The transportation of all other goods that are either unsanctioned or not yet subject to sanctions is continuing, as is the transit of passengers' she said, noting the great irony behind Russia's references to international treaties.

'I don't know if there's any international treaty left that Russia hasn't violated yet,' Simonyte said.

Lithuania had informed Kaliningrad's railways that from June 18 the transit of some goods from Russia was limited due to EU sanctions.

The foreign ministry emphasised it has not imposed 'unilateral, individual or additional' restrictions.

But Russia disagrees, with Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying: 'This decision is really unprecedented. It's a violation of everything.'

He warned: 'We consider this illegal. The situation is more than serious... we need a serious in-depth analysis in order to work out our response.'

The Kaliningrad governor Anton Alikhanov said the move was illegal and violated the agreements that the country committed to when joining the EU.

Konstantin Kosachyov, senate deputy speaker, claimed Lithuania was flouting international law in banning goods reaching Lithuania from Russia via Belarus.

The Kaliningrad exclave, home to some 430,000 people, is surrounded by Lithuania and Poland, another EU country, to the south and isolated from the rest of Russia. Trains with goods for Kaliningrad travel via Belarus and Lithuania.

There's no transit through Poland. Russia can still supply the exclave by sea, without falling foul of EU sanctions.

Russian state TV reporter Grigory Yemelyanov, from Channel 1, warned over footage of blocked trains: 'The attempt to isolate the region is - from the point of view of international law - in fact a casus belli, a term meaning a formal reason to declare war.'

Loyalist senator Andrey Klimov (left) warned it was 'direct aggression against Russia, literally forcing us to immediately resort to proper self-defence', while Konstantin Kosachyov (right), senate deputy speaker, claimed Lithuania was flouting international law

A couple walk past a building destroyed by attacks in Chernihiv, Ukraine, yesterday amid fears of an escalation of the conflict

Another senator Andrey Klishas stated: 'Lithuania's attempt to establish a virtual blockade of the Kaliningrad region is a violation of Russia's sovereignty over this region and may be the basis for very tough and absolutely legal actions on the part of Russia.'

Putin foe Mikhail Khodorkovsky warned in The Financial Times that the Kremlin leader's 'next step' would be an 'air blockade' of Lithuania.

'It will allow Russian aviation to fly right through between Russia and Kaliningrad. Then Nato will face a question of what to do.'

Former Russian presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak - a TV presenter - warned: 'After Lithuania banned the transit of sanctioned goods to the Kaliningrad region through its territory, Russian politicians and the media have started talking the basis for declaring war.'

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted: 'Russia has no right to threaten Lithuania. Moscow has only itself to blame for the consequences of its unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.'

Kremlin henchmen were also warning of the threat of war in Kazakhstan after Putin was 'humiliated' by Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev when they shared a platform together on Friday at Russia's major economic summit in St Petersburg.

Tokayev snubbed Putin by refusing to recognise as independent states the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics.

Kremlin henchmen were also warning of the threat of war in Kazakhstan after Putin was 'humiliated' by Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, they claim (pictured together)

One account said Putin was 'literally furious' and felt humiliated. He was ready for 'revenge'.

Pro-Putin MP Konstantin Zatulin warned of 'Ukraine-like measures' from Russia in Kazakhstan.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov warned Kazakhstan: 'You've got to stand with Russia and show your position, and not be scared of US and EU sanctions.'

Kazakhstan and other ex-Soviet states were 'all silent, fearing the sanctions of America or Europe'.

An oil exporting terminal in Kazakhstan had been disrupted by Russia, according to reports.

In another report General SVR channel claimed Putin has not ruled out a major mobilisation of half a million men in five regions of western Russia close to Ukraine.

This could happen if Ukraine hit civilian and military facilities on a continued basis.

The regions mentioned were Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh and Rostov.

Ukrainian reports said that Putin is seeking to pressure Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko into opening a second front by invading Volyn, Rivne and Kyiv regions.

Firefighters work at the site of fire after Russian shelling in Mykolaiv in Ukraine this weekend after the latest bombardment

Elsewhere today, new footage shows Ukrainian troops obliterating a Russian tank and two infantry fighting vehicles using British M777 howitzers.

Aerial video purports to show the 81st Airmobile Brigade using the long-range weapons to target the vehicles.

The Command of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said: 'Gunners of the 81st Brigade of the DShV [Ukrainian Air Assault Forces] destroyed one tank and two infantry fighting vehicles of the Russian invaders.

'The video shows the successful work of artillery soldiers of the 81st Airmobile Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who, using British M777 155-mm field howitzers, destroyed equipment and manpower of the racists.

'In particular, one tank and two infantry fighting vehicles of the Russian occupiers - along with their crews - were turned into scrap metal. Death to the Russian occupiers! DShV - Always First! Glory to Ukraine!'

It is the latest blow to Russian forces who have suffered heavy losses to personnel and military hardware in their costly four-month invasion.

Ukraine claims Russia has lost 33,800 personnel, 1,477 tanks, 3,588 armoured combat vehicles, 749 artillery units, 235 multiple launch rocket systems, 98 air defence systems, 216 warplanes, 181 helicopters, 601 drones, 130 cruise missiles, 14 warships, 2,527 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 55 units of special equipment.

On the battlefield, Russian forces are trying to take complete control of the eastern Donbas region, parts of which were already held by Russian-backed separatists before the February 24 invasion.

It comes as Ukraine is nervously awaiting a historic decision from the EU on its bid to become a member state, with Volodymyr Zelesnky fearing it could lead to an increase in Russian 'hostile activity' this week.

Ukrainian troops have shelled a Russian tank and two infantry fighting vehicles using British M777 howitzers which blew up the Kremlin machinery into a huge fireball

Aerial footage purports to show members of Ukraine's 81st Airmobile Brigade using the long-range weapons to target the vehicles

The Command of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Kyiv's forces had reduced Russian armoured vehicles to 'scrap metal' following the attack

The destruction is the latest blow to Russian forces who have suffered heavy losses to personnel and military hardware in their costly four-month invasion

Footage purporting to show Russian tanks being destroyed appeared as Ukraine is nervously awaiting a historic decision from the EU on its bid to become a member state, with Volodymyr Zelesnky fearing it could lead to an increase in Russian 'hostile activity' this week

Separate footage also purports to show the moment Ukrainian troops shelled a Russian tank and two infantry fighting vehicles using British M777 howitzers which blew up the Kremlin machinery into a huge fireball

Russia becomes China's biggest oil supplier after Beijing increased imports by 55 per cent to capitalise on low prices Russia has become China's largest oil supplier after slashing its prices due to Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine. It displaced Saudi Arabia as China's biggest provider after a 55 per cent increase over the past year allowed the Chinese state to capitalise on low prices brought about by western countries refusing to buy oil from Russia. Russian oil exports to China totalled nearly 8.42million tonnes in the month of May, nudging out Saudi Arabia which exported 7.82million tonnes to China. Chinese state giants Sinopec and Zhenhua Oil have increased their purchases of Russian crude in recent months, refining the oil and selling it on. Discounts of up to 30 per cent have undermined western sanctions and sparked fears that Russia will continue to find funding for its war in Ukraine. Last week, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air think tank said Russia earned almost $100bn in revenue from fossil fuel exports in the first 100 days of the country's invasion of Ukraine. The European Union made up 61 per cent of these imports, worth approximately $59bn. Oil prices have risen by more than 60 per cent over the past 12 months, topping $112 a barrel for international benchmark crude as of Monday. Advertisement

A prime target of Moscow's eastern assault is the industrial city of Sievierodonetsk.

Russia said on Sunday it had seized Metyolkine, a village on the outskirts, and Russian state news agency TASS reported that many Ukrainian fighters had surrendered there.

Ukraine's military said Russia had 'partial success' in the area.

Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai told Ukrainian TV that a Russian attack on Toshkivka, 20 miles south of Sievierodonetsk, also 'had a degree of success.'

In Sievierodonetsk itself, a city of 100,000 before the war, Gaidai said Russia controlled 'the main part' but not the entire town after intense fighting. Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield accounts.

Both Russia and Ukraine have continued heavy bombardment around Sievierodonetsk 'with little change to the front line', Britain's Ministry of Defence said on Sunday.

In Sievierodonetsk's twin city of Lysychansk, residential buildings and private houses had been destroyed by Russian shelling, Gaidai said. 'People are dying on the streets and in bomb shelters,' he added.

He later said 19 people had been evacuated on Sunday. 'We are managing to bring in humanitarian aid and evacuate people as best we can,' Gaidai said.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, wrote in a note that 'Russian forces will likely be able to seize Sievierodonetsk in the coming weeks, but at the cost of concentrating most of their available forces in this small area.'

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the Ukraine conflict could last for years and urged Western governments to continue sending state-of-the-art weaponry to Ukrainian troops, Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper reported.

'We must prepare for the fact that it could take years. We must not let up in supporting Ukraine,' Stoltenberg was quoted as saying.

Russia has said it launched what it calls a 'special military operation' to disarm its neighbour and protect Russian speakers there from dangerous nationalists. Kyiv and its allies dismiss that as a baseless pretext for a war of aggression.

The British military assessment said morale for Ukrainian and Russian combat units in the Donbas was likely 'variable.'

'Ukrainian forces have likely suffered desertions in recent weeks, however, Russian morale highly likely remains especially troubled. Cases of whole Russian units refusing orders and armed stand-offs between officers and their troops continue to occur,' the British Ministry of Defence said on Twitter.

Ukrainian soldiers travel down a road near Druzhkivka as Russian forces continue to concentrate their firepower on the Donbas

A family takes a Sunday walk through a neighborhood that was recently damaged by a Russian missile strike

A man removes debris at a local market following recent shelling in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in Donetsk

Smoke rises after Russian shelling in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, on Saturday in another round of bombardment

In Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkiv, northwest of Luhansk, Russia's defence ministry said its Iskander missiles had destroyed weaponry recently supplied by Western countries.

Russian forces were trying to approach Kharkiv, which experienced intense shelling earlier in the war, and turn it into a 'frontline city', a Ukrainian interior ministry official said.

In southern Ukraine, Western weaponry had helped Ukrainian forces advance six miles towards Russian-occupied Melitopol, its mayor said in a video posted on Telegram from outside the city.

An EU decision in favor of Kyiv's ultimate membership would put Ukraine on track to realise an aspiration that would have been out of reach for the former Soviet republic before the Russian invasion.

'Whole generations fought for a chance to escape from the prison of the Soviet Union and, like a free bird, to fly to European civilisation,' the speaker of Ukraine's parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, said in a statement.

President Zelensky said there had been 'few such fateful decisions for Ukraine' as the one it expects from the EU this week.

'Only a positive decision is in the interests of the whole of Europe,' he said in his evening address Sunday.

'Obviously, we expect Russia to intensify hostile activity this week... We are preparing. We are ready,' he continued.

On Friday, Brussels backed Kyiv's bid for EU candidate status after the heads of the bloc's biggest members - France, Germany and Italy - paid a visit to the Ukrainian capital.

Ukraine could join the list of countries vying for membership as early as this week, when member state leaders meet at a Brussels summit.

But officials and leaders in the bloc caution that, even with candidacy status, membership could take years.
Flagstar Bank reveals a massive data breach in its banking system, a cyberattack from last year.

During a cyberattack in December, malicious hackers gained access to the personal information of more than a million Flagstar Bank customers. The bank is now informing its pool of customers regarding the breach.

According to BleepingComputer, the information that was provided to the Office of the Attorney General of Maine, the data breach affected 1,547,169 people throughout the United States.

Malicious threat actors broke into the corporate network of Flagstar Bank in December 2021, as indicated by the data breach notifications that were sent to customers whose information had been compromised, causing the bank to suffer a data breach.

Flagstar Banks's Data Breach

Flagstar Bank informed its customers through an email about the breach. The bank admitted that they had been a victim of a cyber attack that involved unauthorized access to their network. According to Flagstar Bank, they immediately took steps to protect its systems and looked into what happened with the help of forensic experts from outside the company.

The bank said that as soon as they found out about the incident, they immediately put their response plan into action, hired outside cybersecurity experts who had dealt with similar situations before, and notified federal law enforcement.

The bank found out about the data breach on June 2, 2022, after conducting a thorough forensic investigation and manually reviewing all of the bank's customer files, that between December 3, 2021 and December 4, 2021, certain impacted files were accessed and/or acquired from the bank's system.

These files contained personal information about the bank's customers. The financial institution has stated that they do not have any evidence at this time to suggest that any of the information has been misused.

Flagstar's Customer Mitigation

To compensate for the breach, the bank provided a tailored response and assistance to its affected customers. Flagstar Bank will provide security services to its customers for two years at no cost to them from the mitigation company Kroll.

Kroll is the industry leader in risk mitigation and response, and the team at this company has vast experience assisting individuals who have suffered unintended exposures of personal data.

Some of the services that are freely offered in compensation are identity monitoring, credit monitoring, fraud consultation, and restoring your identity after it has been stolen.

Read Also: 46,000 Americans Have Reported Lost More Than $1 Billion to Crypto Scams

The services will provide numerous security protections to Flagstar Bank customers. Users will be able to receive notifications whenever there are changes made to their credit data and will have unrestricted access to consultations with Kroll fraud specialists as a result of this feature.

Also, if one of their customers is a victim of identity theft, a licensed and experienced investigator from Kroll will work on your behalf to solve any problems that come up as a result.

Flagstar Bank's Previous Cyberattack

Within the past year, this is the second significant security breach that has affected Flagstar and its clients. According to a previous report by BleepingComputer, the Clop ransomware gang got into the bank's systems in January 2021 by taking advantage of a zero-day vulnerability in Accellion FTA servers.

As a direct result of this data breach, Flagstar Bank was blackmailed by Clop, the personal information of its customers was made available to cybercriminals, and the financial institution terminated its partnership with the Accellion platform.

In the end, the stolen data, which included people's names, Social Security numbers, residences, tax information, and phone numbers, were posted on Clop's data leak website.

Related Article: QNAP Issues a New Update Following Another DeadBolt Ransomware Campaign
BBC bosses allowed reporter Lewis Goodall to leave Newsnight to solve the corporation's 'problem of left-wing bias', reports claim.

The flagship programme's policy editor is ditching the broadcaster to join Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel as co-host on their LBC news podcast, after apparently becoming tired of the BBC's drive for impartiality.

However, corporation chiefs are said to have let the 32-year-old - a former Labour activist who previously worked for a Left-wing think tank - walk away without a counter-offer, viewing his departure as a chance to reset the show.

One insider told the Telegraph: 'This is an important programme and one that it is vital we get right.

'We are determined to do that, and when people move on it creates opportunities.'

A BBC spokesperson declined to comment on these claims.

Lewis Goodall announced he is ditching the broadcaster to join Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel as a co-host on their LBC news podcast

Emily Maitlis, former BBC Newsnight journalist, said she is 'utterly delighted' that Goodall was moving over to Global

Goodall announced his career move on social media, saying that he is 'delighted' about the new adventure

But Mr Goodall is the latest talent to have become frustrated with the way the BBC management was interpreting director general Tim Davie's drive for impartiality, the Guardian reports.

Journalists have reported struggling to interpret exactly what that looks like, though - amid claims of increased pressure from the government on certain stories and management second-guessing potential objections from Downing Street.

Mr Goodall's exit follows that of Dan Walker, who earlier this year left BBC Breakfast to join Channel 5's nightly news gig for a reported 1.5million and Ms Maitlis and Mr Sopel themselves.

One LBC insider previously told MailOnline that Ms Maitlis will now be on 'at least' 400,000-a-year, with Mr Sopel likely to be through the 300,000-a-year barrier, but it 'could be more' because of the number of projects they will work on together.

Ms Maitlis joined the BBC in 2001 and has presented Newsnight since 2006, winning a Royal Television Society award for her interview with the Duke of York in 2019, while Mr Sopel joined the broadcaster in 1983 and was formerly its North America editor.

However, BBC insiders said they believed Ms Maitlis, 51, quit in part because she was 'frustrated' at being repeatedly 'ticked-off' by bosses over impartiality issues, following tweets and on-air comments about the pandemic, the Tory Government and Boris Johnson's former chief aide Dominic Cummings.

In a tweet yesterday, Mr Goodall wrote: 'My brief will be to supercharge the organisation's video output. 'What does that look like? Much more to come but we have big plans. I'll be reporting on and breaking stories in the UK and beyond.

'Global has reinvented radio - its ambitions for podcasting and quality video journalism (and how all three work together) are just as big.

Ms Maitlis and Mr Sopel announced in February that they would be leaving the BBC for their new venture at Global

'This of course sadly means I'll be leaving wonderful Newsnight. This programme is in my bloodstream. I'm so passionate about it. It is utterly indispensable. I love the team.

'It's been a privilege to work there under two great editors and it runs through me like a stick of rock. I was a young producer there. I came back as policy editor and I couldn't have been happier.

'To the sad, politics-obsessed Brummie teenager inside me who used to watch the show in his bedroom as a kid night after night, to hear ''and here's our policy editor, Lewis Goodall'... is thrilling to me - every single time.

'But it's so important to keep yourself challenged and that's what I'm doing here. The chance to create entirely new things was tantalising - especially with such a fantastic team.'

A BBC spokesperson said: 'Lewis has been a fantastic colleague and has brought many brilliant stories, analysis and insight to the Newsnight audiences over the years. We wish him all the best in his new role.'
A senior French politician says France faces 'chaos and disorder' after Emmanuel Macron suffered a stunning setback in parliamentary elections which lost him his absolute majority.

The lame duck leader, who only two months ago secured reelection, lost more than 100 seats in the National Assembly after voters rejected his 'arrogance' and opted instead for far-right and left parties.

Now Macron will struggle to push through his centrist agenda and will need to rely on the support of rival parties to avoid parliamentary gridlock.

To add to the 'chaos', prime minister Elisabeth Borne, who was only appointed by Macron in May, offered her resignation but the head of state turned it down.

One of those to have won gains was the French Communist Party, who now have 12 seats in the lower chamber, thanks to the left alliance spearheaded by anti-capitalist Jean-Luc Melenchon.

The Communist's leader Fabien Roussel stuck the knife into Macron today, pointing out that it is the first time since Jacques Chirac in 1997 that a sitting French president has lost their majority.

Emmanuel Macron suffered a stunning setback in parliamentary elections which lost him his his absolute majority

The Communist's leader Fabien Roussel (pictured) stuck the knife into Macron today saying France faces 'chaos and disorder'

Macron's centrist alliance took a pounding in the latest election, losing 105 seats from 2017. The centre-right Republicans also lost seats, while Le Pen's National Rally gained a huge 81 seats. In 2017, Melenchon only led his own party, winning 17 seats, but this team he gathered together a left-wing alliance which won 131 seats, making them the largest opposition group

He told RTL radio today: 'If the government does not take the measure of the anger  the President of the Republic did not have the majority, it is the first time that this has happened for twenty-five years, that a President has been so disavowed during the legislative elections  if he does not hear this anger which means that he does not have a majority, then yes, he is the one who will cause chaos and disorder in the country.'

He added: 'It's been two months since anything happened in this country. I hear a lot of anger, including against the President of the Republic, who is waiting, waiting and waiting. We don't want to wait any longer.'

Macron has summoned the major players in the new parliament for talks today and tomorrow at the Elysee Palace.

The aim is to 'build solutions to serve the French' at a time when there is no 'alternative majority' to that of Macron's ruling alliance, the official added.

Representatives of the parliamentary parties will be received at the Elysee separately and successively, but the official did not specify who had been invited.

This does however suggest that invitations have been extended to the parties of hard-left leader Melenchon and far-right chief Marine Le Pen, who both made big gains in the polls.

Macron has summoned the major players in the new parliament for talks today after Marine Le Pen made huge gains

Macron's at-risk manifesto pledges Cost of living: Remove all tax on inheritance valued less than 150,000, abolish TV licence fee Immigration: Reform the asylum system to make it more efficient, long-stay permit is only given to people who pass a French language exam and are professionally successful Europe: Strengthen the EU and its armies, increase the continent's energy autonomy, fill the gap left by Angela Merkel as de facto EU leader Pensions: Raise the pension age from 62 to 65 to keep the pension system afloat. Minimum pensions raised to 1,100 a month Climate: Subsidies for environmental home improvements, access to affordable electric vehicles, building more nuclear reactors Advertisement

The result of the parliamentary elections was a huge blow for the president and his reform agenda, leaving his camp facing the prospect of a political deadlock.

While Macron's Ensemble (Together) coalition remains the largest party after Sunday's National Assembly elections, it fell dozens of seats short of keeping the absolute majority it has enjoyed for the last five years.

The left-leaning Liberation daily called the results a 'slap in the face' for Macron, while the conservative Figaro said he was now 'faced with an ungovernable France'.

Macron's Together alliance won 244 seats, well short of the 289 needed for an overall majority, in a low-turnout vote that resulted in an abstention rate of 53.77 percent.

Macron met Monday with his embattled Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and two top allies, former premier Edouard Philippe and centrist leader Francois Bayrou.

The election saw the new left-wing alliance NUPES become the main opposition force along with its allies on 137 seats, according to interior ministry figures.

But it appears unlikely the coalition of Socialists, Communists, Greens and the hard-left France Unbowed will be able to retain common cause in the legislature.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, the France Unbowed chief who orchestrated the alliance, called its results 'fairly disappointing' and proposed Monday to make NUPES a permanent left-wing bloc.

He said it would not be a full-on merger but simply an effective 'alternative' force in parliament, though the offer was immediately rejected by the three other NUPES parties.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, the France Unbowed chief who orchestrated the alliance, leads the biggest opposition bloc in parliament

Meanwhile the far-right under Marine Le Pen posted the best legislative performance in its history, becoming the strongest single opposition party with 89 seats, up from eight in the outgoing chamber.

A confident Le Pen said her party would demand to chair the National Assembly's powerful finance commission, as is tradition for the biggest opposition party.

'The country is not ungovernable, but it's not going to be governed the way Emmanuel Macron wanted,' Le Pen told reporters Monday.

Melenchon said he would bring a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Borne in early July, when she is to lay out her policy priorities for the next five years.

Borne, who was elected to parliament in her first-ever political race, could now be vulnerable as Macron faces a new cabinet shake-up after several of his top allies lost their seats.

His health and environment ministers were beaten and by tradition will have to resign, as did the parliament speaker and the head of Macron's parliament group.

'For now, the prime minister remains the prime minister,' government spokeswoman Olivia Gregoire defiantly told France Inter radio Monday.

'My fear is that the country is paralysed.'

The outcome tarnished Macron's April presidential election victory when he defeated Le Pen, becoming the first French president to win a second term in over two decades.

The options available to Macron range from seeking to form a new coalition alliance, passing legislation based on ad hoc agreements, or even calling new elections.

One option would be an alliance with the Republicans, the traditional party of the French right, which has 61 MPs.

But LR president Christian Jacob insisted his party intended to 'stay in opposition'.

Macron had hoped to mark his second term with an ambitious programme of tax cuts, welfare reform and raising the retirement age. All that is now in question.

In a rare bit of good news for the president, Europe Minister Clement Beaune and Public Service Minister Stanislas Guerini - both young pillars of his party - won tight battles for their seats.
A paedophile babysitter has confessed to committing 141 sex crimes against kids entrusted into his care after he successfully advertised his child minding services online.

Jareth Thomas Harries-Markham, 24, fronted Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with 221 child sex offences relating to more than a dozen children he babysat between July 2020 and August last year.

Appearing via video link with a black left eye, Harries-Markham pleaded guilty to 141 of the offences, which included raping a baby and molesting several other children.

The remaining charges were dropped and Harries Markham will face a sentencing hearing in the Supreme Court in September, The West Australian reports.

Jareth Thomas Harries-Markham, 24, (pictured) pleaded guilty to 141 child sex offences on Tuesday

The court heard Harries-Markham used two websites to spruik his babysitting services, claiming on one that he loved 'helping bring up kids to be the best that they can be'.

After gaining the trust of parents, he took jobs across Perth and the state's North West where he committed the crimes - which included 10 counts of sexually penetrating a child under 13.

On website WeNeedANanny.com, he claimed he had more than four years of experience, a Working With Children card, police checks, and a first aid certificate.

'I'm a pretty easy going guy who is open to care for any age any hrs. Open to handling things anyway the family wants,' he wrote.

The court heard Harries-Markham advertised his babysitting services on two websites, claiming on one that he loved 'helping bring up kids to be the best that they can be'

In an ad on another site, he offered to babysit for $20 to $25 an hour and said his babysitting experience spanned more than five years.

Harries-Markham was arrested after police raided his Bennett Springs home on August 22 and found child exploitation material.

Child abuse detectives also seized several gel blasters and 'edged weapons' they found at the premises.

He was initially charged with 14 child sex offences, including sexual assault of a child under 12 months and producing child abuse material, as well as possession of prohibited weapons.

As the investigation progressed, further charges were laid after detectives discovered more victims.
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More than 6,000 people gathered at Stonehenge in Wiltshire this morning to celebrate the summer solstice.

Those who observed the spectacle at the neolithic Wilshire monument would have had to get up early to see the sun glint over the horizon at 4.49am.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, today marks the first time in three years that people have officially been allowed back to the World Heritage Site to mark the longest day.

Last year, crowds defied coronavirus restrictions by turning up for the summer solstice. They had to be dispersed by police.

The revellers gathered as Britain is set to enjoy 77F heat today that will climb to 84F by Thursday.

According to the Met Office, the highest temperatures will be in the South-East, although Wales and Scotland will also see fine weather, with the mercury rising to around 73.4F.

Light, gentle winds are expected across England and Wales, although it will turn cloudy in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with showers a possibility.

Although the country is again getting warmer, temperatures this week will not match those seen last week and on Saturday, when the mercury rose to a blistering 91F.

More than 6,000 people gathered at Stonehenge in Wiltshire this morning to celebrate the summer solstice

Those who observed the spectacle at the neolithic Wilshire monument would have had to get up early to see the sun glint over the horizon at 4.49am. Above: A woman with floral headgear and tattoos attends the solstice in a green dress

People touch one of the stones during the summer solstice at Stonehenge in Wiltshire this morning. They were among around 6,000 attendees

Wiltshire Police said today's event passed off peacefully with around 6,000 people attending and just two arrests made.

What is the summer solstice? For hundreds of years, people have held festivals, bonfires, picnics, Maypole dancing and other celebrations on the summer solstice. The solstice marks the first official day of summer and the longest day of the year. It occurs when the planet's geographical police in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere is most greatly inclined towards the sun. The solstice always takes place from June 20 to June 22 in the Northern Hemisphere. For many cultures around the world, a number of unique traditions - some of which date back millennia - are held on the summer solstice. This is particularly prevalent in many European countries since it marks the midway point between the traditional planting and harvesting seasons. In the UK, the summer solstice was famously marked on Stonehenge by pagans thousands of years ago, as the rising sun only reaches the center of the stone circle on one day of the year. Elsewhere in the UK, the day is still often marked by Maypole dancing, picnics and bonfires. Advertisement

Footage filmed this morning showed a huge crowd of people gathered near the stones to watch the sun rise above the horizon.

Stunning photos showed some revellers in floral headgear and bright clothes, as others showed attendees filming the scenes with their phones.

English Heritage, which runs the site, livestreamed the event for people to watch remotely.

They said 170,000 people from around the world watched event.

Nichola Tasker, English Heritage's director of Stonehenge, said: 'Celebrating summer solstice is one of the highlights of the year at Stonehenge and we're so delighted to have been able to welcome people back this year and also to livestream the occasion to thousands of people right around the world.

'Wherever you are, it's a great opportunity for friends and families to come together to mark the longest day of the year, as people have done for thousands of years.

'There was a warm, friendly atmosphere throughout, and everybody enjoyed a beautiful sunset and dawn.

'Summer solstice at Stonehenge is a major operation and we couldn't do it without the support of our partners, especially Wiltshire Police and Wiltshire Council.

'We look forward to welcoming people to the summer solstice again next year.'

Drivers travelling past the site were told to expect disruption on the nearby A303 as people leave.

Stonehenge is a monument built on the alignment of the midsummer sunrise and the midwinter sunset. On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone, the ancient entrance to the Stone Circle.

Rays of sunlight are then channelled into the centre of the monument. It is believed that solstices have been celebrated at Stonehenge for thousands of years.

The word solstice is derived from the Latin words sol - 'sun' - and sistere - 'stand still'.

Attendee Chris Park, a bagpipe-playing druid, told The Guardian that his return after two years away due to Covid was 'very exciting'.

'For the last two years we haven't been able to get to the stones for the summer solstice,' he said.

'It's so lovely to be back and feel part of this amazing landscape again.'

Jennifer Davies, the head of historic properties at Stonehenge, said: 'We've been planning for this moment for two years.

'Some people have been desperate to get back, while others may still not be ready to be in a crowd on Salisbury Plain.'

Wiltshire Police tweeted this morning to say that 'everything is peaceful' at the monument and there had been 'no incidents'. It contrasts with the scenes last year.

The return of the solstice is also good news for towns and villages near to Stonehenge that had relied on tourism in previous years.

The sun is seen rising above Stonehenge this morning, as thousands gathered to witness the beautiful site

People gather for sunrise at Stonehenge, on June 21, 2022 in Wiltshire, England. The summer solstice occurs this year on June 21st, it is the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere

A woman beams as she soaks up the morning sun today whilst wearing a purple floral headpiece at Stonehenge

A woman sings during sunrise at Stonehenge this morning. The site has special significance for pagans and druids

Scores of people are seen watching as the sun rises this morning at Stonehenge. The monument is built on the alignment of the midsummer sunrise and the midwinter sunset

People play music at sunrise at Stonehenge this morning. English Heritage, which runs the site, livestreamed the event for people to watch remotely

People gather among the stones of Stonehenge this morning after watching the sun rise on what is the longest day of the year

Druids are seen wearing traditional costumes and wielding staffs as they celebrate the solstice at Stonehenge this morning

A pretty sight: Thousands are seen standing among the stones at Stonehenge to watch the moment the sun rises above the horizon

This year marks the first time in three years that people have been able to go to Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice

Superintendent Phil Staynings, of Wiltshire Police, said: 'This year's summer solstice - the first one celebrated as a public gathering at Stonehenge in three years - has been a success on many levels.

'Inevitably, there were some traffic delays approaching Stonehenge due to the sheer number of vehicles wanting to visit the site, but overall the whole event has passed off with no major incidents and the atmosphere remained convivial throughout - no doubt helped by the weather, which has been incredible this year.

'It's good news that only two arrests were made, showing that the good relationship we have with our partners, including English Heritage at Stonehenge and the National Trust at Avebury, does work to make large-scale events like this run smoothly.'

Police said a 49-year-old man from the London area was arrested on suspicion of common assault.

And a 41-year-old man from Trowbridge was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs.

They remain in police custody.

The first place to see the summer solstice in the UK was Ness Point in Lowestoft. Scores of people set their alarms and even drove through the night to see it in person.

The sun is seen rising over London this morning. Temperatures are expected to reach 75F (23) in the capital today

Hay fever sufferers will need to take note of very high pollen levels today. Above: The London skyline this morning

Precious moment: People are seen resting with their eyes closed against the stones at Stonehenge as they mark the summer solstice this morning

Thousands are seen among the stones as the sun rises above the horizon at Stonehenge in Wiltshire this morning

A smiling man wields a wooden staff as he stands beneath one of the stones at Stonehenge whilst wearing a hat topped with plant sprigs

Holy moment: Some of the revellers at Stonehenge are seen with their hands clasped together in prayer after watching the sun rise

Devout: A woman wielding an image of the sun is seen wearing a plant-covered headpiece and clothes displaying colourful flowers as she talks to others dressed in similar outfits

Attendees are seen pressing their faces to stones at Stonehenge, as others press their backs against the ancient stones

Scores of revellers are seen gathered among the stones at Stonehenge this morning, with many wearing multi-coloured clothes and wielding flags

People gather at the Heel Stone for sunrise at Stonehenge. The summer solstice always occurs between June 20 and June 22 in the Northern Hemisphere

People are seen gathered among the stones at Stonehenge as the sun rises early this morning. Thousands enjoyed the spectacle for the first time in three years

A woman is seen with her face pressed to one of the stones at Stonehenge in Wiltshire after sunrise early this morning

A woman does a headstand in front of Stonehenge as others stand and sit nearby after watching the sun rise this morning

Many turned out in brightly coloured clothes as they came for varying reasons, with some attaching religious significance to the occasion

Speaking of the weather today and this week, Met Office forecaster Aiden McGivern said: 'The real warmth is building across southern parts of the UK. London 25 [77F], Hull 25 as well, low twenties elsewhere.

'But it is going to turn even warmer on Wednesday and into Thursday.

'So cloudy skies at times for northern parts of the country. But across northern England, southern and eastern Scotland, the clouds break up during Tuesday night.

'So that by the start of Wednesday, sunny spells here. Cloudier and more damp for the far north and north-west of Scotland, with a bit more of a breeze.

'And a mild night, a warm night even as we go into Wednesday.

'Wednesday then starts off with plenty of sunshine across England and Wales and increasingly eastern Scotland seeing a sunnier day to Tuesday.

'Even western Scotland will see some cloud breaks at times, northern Ireland brightening up by the afternoon.

'But a keen breeze for the far north-west of Scotland, and thicker cloud for the northern Isles will lead to some more wet weather arriving here by the afternoon.

'Feeling cool, 13 (55F( or 14 (57F) celsius in the far north and north-west, 25 (77F) for Aberdeen by this stage and 28 (82F) for the south-east.

'So those temperatures rising day by day. And we will see even warmer air arrive by Thursday.

'With the ridge of high pressure across southern areas day by day insulation from sunshine, of course high or very high UV levels at the moment, and we will see some warmer air arrive from the Atlantic.'

Around 400 people took part in the annual summer solstice swim this morning at Ilkley Lido in West Yorkshire

A swimmer is seen at the Ilkley Lido in West Yorkshire this morning as 400 people went for a dip in the chilly water to mark the summer solstice
Police are investigating the sudden death of a female soldier as her comrades paid tribute to her 'resilience and professionalism.'

Soldier Sophie Madden, 23, died suddenly on June 10 in a Ministry of Defence building in Folkestone, Kent.

The 23-year-old was a gunner in the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, based in Albemarle Barracks, Northumberland.

Her death is currently being investigated by Kent Police.

Sophie, 23, was a gunner in the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, located at Albermarle Barracks. She was pronounced dead on June 10 in a Ministry of Defence building in Folkestone, Kent

Ms Madden, 23, pictured just four days before her sudden death. Her comrades have paid tribute to her 'resilience and professionalism'. Police confirmed that they are investigating her death

Sophie was pronounced dead at the scene 11 days ago, but her death is being treated as non-suspicious, police confirmed.

In a tribute to her, 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery said: 'It is with great sadness that the Regiment must announce the death of Gunner Sophie Madden on 10 June 2022, aged 23. Gunner Madden was a highly valued member of D Battery RHA.

'Her resilience and professionalism were an example to us all, and will live on as her legacy here and across the Gunner family. Our thoughts are with her family and ask that they are given space at this difficult time.'

An Army spokesperson added: 'It is with sadness that we confirm the death of Gunner Sophie Madden, 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, on 10th June 2022 in Folkestone.

'Her death is being investigated and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further. Our thoughts are with Gunner Madden's family and friends at this difficult time and we ask that their privacy is respected.'

A Kent Police spokesperson said: 'Kent Police were called to a Ministry of Defence building in Folkestone at 9.35am on Friday 10 June 2022 after the body of a woman was found.

'Officers attended along with South East Coast Ambulance Service and the woman was pronounced deceased at the scene.

'The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.'
Police have arrested nine Sydney men who allegedly fleeced victims of $2.5 million by cold calling them and pretending to be representing a government agency.

Strike Force Beswick allege the men were part of a criminal syndicate that transferred more than $2.4 million through about 475 electronic money transfers.

Police will allege in court the men targeted people through cold-call phone scams, before transferring the funds overseas via fraudulent bank accounts.

Financial Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett, warned the public to be vigilant when receiving cold calls from an unknown number.

Police have arrested and charged nine scam artists across western Sydney who allegedly fleeced victims of $2.5 million

'These scam artists cold-call landlines and mobiles claiming to be from a well-known business or government agencies and then demand some type of payment, often requesting it through money transfer or gift card,' she said.

'There is not one government agency  nor legitimate business  in Australia that would request payment via these methods.

'The most important advice we provide is to simply hang up'.

Detectives established Strike Force Beswick in October 2021 to investigate the syndicate allegedly laundering the money they fleeced overseas.

The men, all on student visas and ranging in ages from 22 to 27, were arrested across western Sydney.

A 24-year-old Wiley Park man arrested at Sydney International Airport on Monday and taken to Mascot Police Station.

Following further inquiries, detectives executed two search warrants at properties at Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday at 6am.

A 26-year-old man was arrested and taken to Burwood Police Station, while three other men aged 22, 23 and 27 were arrested by officers and taken to Auburn Police Station.

The four men arrested at the premises at Sydney Olympic Park had their bail refused and appeared at Burwood Local Court on Tuesday.

Strike Force Beswick, which was established to investigate the activities of the men, believe they were part of a wider criminal syndicate

Three 24-year-old men were arrested at a property in Punchbowl around midday and taken to Campsie police station.

Another man, 23, was arrested and transferred to Burwood Police Station. He is assisting detectives with their inquiries.

The charges levelled against the men include knowingly/recklessly direct a criminal group assist crime, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal, deal with identity information to commit indictable offence, and deal with property proceeds of crime more than $100,000.

The visa status of all the men arrested has been referred to the Department of Home Affairs, with police expected to make further arrests.

Strike Force Berwick are still investigating.

It's expected more people will be arrested.
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Ryanair's boss today warned that chaos at Britain's big airports will continue 'right throughout the summer' amid scenes of mayhem at Manchester and Heathrow.

Michael O'Leary has claimed that the Government's Covid lockdowns and general 'mismanagement' forced airport chiefs to impose mass layoffs which caused the staffing shortages now plaguing air traffic control, baggage handling and security.

'This problem is going to continue particularly at airports like Gatwick and Heathrow right throughout the summer. It will be worse at weekends and better during the week,' he told Sky News.

***Are you being caught up in airport chaos in Britain or elsewhere? Please email: tips@dailymail.com*** Advertisement

Warning that passengers should brace for a 'less than satisfactory experience' in the coming months, Mr O'Leary said that 25% of Ryanair flights last weekend were delayed by air traffic control issues, and a further 15% by airports handling delays.

He added that Brexit was compounding the disruption caused as demand ramps up after pandemic restrictions were lifted, with airports unable to hire workers from abroad to fill posts.

Scores of holidaymakers were pictured battling massive queues at Manchester this morning, while flyers at Heathrow complained about the 'evident luggage chaos' gripping the west London hub.

Heathrow and Gatwick have urged airlines to cancel thousands of flights this summer as they fight to regain control, while easyJet started axing 10,000 flights to European holiday hotspots including Greece, Italy and Spain from July through to September.

It comes after the former boss of British Airways said Heathrow is 'not capable of delivering the basic product they are due to deliver'.

At the annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association in Doha, its director-general Willie Walsh said of Heathrow, Schiphol in Amsterdam and Dublin: 'It is interesting that the three airports I mention in terms of significant charging increases are also the three that have experienced the most disruption in recent weeks.

'It really does lead you to question the management executives of these airports that are not even capable of delivering the basic product they produce. I will continue to call on these airports to get their acts in order.'

EasyJet's chief executive Johan Lundgren saying he was 'disappointed' that Gatwick was unable to offer its full schedule of slots.

He added: 'We are supportive that some airports are coming out and proactively capping the numbers because they have something we don't have: visibility across the whole operation.

'They are better equipped to judge the difficulties around air traffic control, ground handlers and so on. Of course it is disappointing but we'd still rather they are realistic about what they can deliver so we can adjust ourselves to that.'

Scores of holidaymakers battle massive queues at Manchester airport this morning

Passengers queue at a very busy Heathrow Terminal 2 today as airport chaos continues

Twitter users complained about the 'evident luggage chaos' at Heathrow airport today

Hundreds of passengers snaked through Manchester's Terminal 2 at baggage drop-off today

Flyers form big queues at Heathrow Terminal 2 this morning amid general airport chaos

Travellers queue with their luggage at a busy Heathrow Terminal 2 this morning

Travellers tweeted pictures of further baggage mayhem at Heathrow airport today

More travellers are pictured queueing at Manchester today as chaos grips Britain's big airports

Former BA boss Willie Walsh giving an interview to Reuters in Doha, Qatar on June 19, 2022

Passengers 'left without food or water for 11 hours' after Jet2 flight back from Palma was scrapped Two women say they were left without food or water for 11 hours while stranded in Palma after their Jet2 flight back to Manchester was scrapped. Nyomi Loftus, of Sale, and her friend Megan Sainsbury were due to fly home from Palma Airport on Saturday  and arrived early for their Jet2 flight at 11.25pm. However the flight was delayed and they eventually got an update at 3.50am which revealed a mix-up with baggage led to Jet2 'missing their slot to fly'. Ms Loftus, 36, said 70 bottles of water were then shared around 380 passengers before arrangements for hotels were made. She told the Manchester Evening News: 'The worst part was that they called out the names of 30 or 40 passengers and told them to go to a special spot so we could go to an adult-only hotel. We had to pay for the hotel; families with babies were lying on the floor. 'The hotel ended up being a family hotel anyway  they could have gone. We were told there was a mix-up with the baggage and they had miscounted. They had to unload it off one plane before moving it and then they lost the slot to fly as the staff needed a rest. No one could get any detail from anyone.' She added: 'There was a little girl sat near us in the airport who was being sick because she was crying so much. People were just walking around trying to find out what was going on. It was left it absolute uproar  it was a bit of a disaster.' Miss Loftus and Miss Sainsbury had to pay for a taxi to their hotel 40 minutes away from the airport, costing 65. The pair were eventually flown home nearly 24 hours later and said the first food and drink was given at the hotel at 7.30am - eight hours after the flight was due to depart and 11 hours after they arrived at the airport. A Jet2 spokesman said: 'We would like to apologise once again to customers affected by this delay. Our teams have worked tirelessly to look after everyone, however unfortunately there was a shortage of accommodation in Majorca yesterday evening. We advised customers immediately via text that we would reimburse anyone that needed to book hotels separately and we have done everything we can to look after everyone. All remaining customers are being flown home this evening.' Advertisement

The budget airline had planned to operate around 160,000 flights during the period. In May the carrier expected to operate at around 97 per cent of 2019 levels over the three-month period.

But the cull means this has been reduced to around 90 per cent, suggesting more than 10,000 flights will be axed. It means as many as 1.5million passengers will be affected by the cull. Those hit by it will be re-booked onto alternative flights on the same day, with a rival carrier if necessary. Fliers from Gatwick Airport will be the worst affected.

EasyJet, TUI and Wizz Air have already cancelled hundreds of flights during and after the half-term holidays.

Thousands of passengers were stranded abroad over half-term as a result, often waiting several days before being given another flight home.

It meant workers missed the start of work following the busy holiday period and students missed lessons.

With fewer seats available this summer, holidaymakers could see a rise in fares if they haven't already booked tickets.

Announcing the flight cull yesterday, easyJet boss Mr Lundgren said: 'Delivering a safe and reliable operation for our customers in this challenging environment is EasyJet's highest priority and we are sorry that for some customers we have not been able to deliver the service they have come to expect from us.

'Coupled with airport caps, we are taking pre-emptive actions to increase resilience over the balance of summer, including a range of further flight consolidations in the affected airports.

'We believe this is the right action for us to take so we can deliver for all of our customers over the peak summer period in this challenging environment.'

When asked, he said he could not put a figure on the proportion of flights to be axed, adding: 'It would be misleading for me to give any numbers today because we simply don't know.'

He insisted that 'the overwhelming vast majority' of customers will not be affected and said the cull was also in response to caps introduced on flights by Gatwick and Amsterdam Schiphol airports.

An easyJet trading update issued yestrday stated that 'there will be a cost impact from disruption, coupled with the enhanced resilience easyJet is putting in place this summer, from additional wet leased aircraft, crew costs and airport charges. We will therefore exceed the previously provided operating CASK [Cost for Available Seat Kilometres] ex fuel guidance. We believe that these capacity/cost impacts are a one-off this summer as we would expect all parties to build greater resilience in time for 2023 peak periods'.

'Wet leasing' agreements are between air carriers where the aircraft is operated under the party from which it is leased. For example, British Airways have wet leased four FinnAir planes with crew to run BA flights.

It came as Heathrow urged airlines to cut 10 per cent of flights out of Terminals 2 and 3 yesterday following a problem with its baggage handling systems.

Over the weekend passengers posted images on social media of a baggage mountain after the handling system at Terminal 2 suffered a major malfunction.

The problem was fixed by Sunday night but it may be several days before passengers are reunited with their luggage.

The plea to airlines to reschedule flights was only advisory but would have affected up to 15,000 if implemented. According to data from FlightAware, 26 departures and 13 arrivals at the airport were cancelled yesterday.

A Heathrow spokesman said it apologised 'unreservedly'.

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: 'EasyJet has caused chaos and distress for passengers over several weeks with a constant stream of last minute cancellations.

HEATHROW AIRPORT: Heaps of luggage were pictured mounting up outside Terminal 2 on Sunday

STANSTED AIRPORT: Chaos continues at Stansted Airport in Essex yesterday with passengers sleeping on the floors

Pregnant woman left stranded in Lanzarote for 17 hours after TUI 'told her there was no space left on flight home' A woman seven months pregnant was left stranded in Lanzarote for more than 17 hours after TUI allegedly told her there was no space left on her flight home. Ceri Burns waited through six hours of delays on her flight home to Birmingham on Sunday, June 12 before she was denied boarding. Ceri Burns and Chris Goulding were caught up in airline delays Ms Burns, 37, and partner Chris Goulding were allegedly told by the holiday agents that 'those who needed assistance and those with children' had priority boarding. However, Mr Goulding, 38, claims that TUI kept himself and Ceri inside a pen by the gate, where he and other travelers weren't allowed to board the flight. Having spent the night in a hotel, the couple finally boarded a Ryanair flight home the following afternoon, more than 17 hours after their original flight departure time. However, having finally touched back down in Birmingham, the pair were met with another blow when TUI revealed they had lost track of their luggage. Passengers in Lanzarote waiting for information on a TUI flight Still without their suitcases, the couple have still not received a refund from TUI. Mr Goulding said: 'I went for a week in Lanzarote with my partner Ceri for our babymoon. TUI told us that we were flying home but then we kept getting delayed, by 2:10am I had gotten a text to say the reason for this was an unwell passenger in Birmingham. This meant that the crew had used up their maximum legally permitted flying hours. 'We were put in a pen and as Ceri is pregnant I told her to sit down as we all had seats booked. It became clear when passengers started arguing that something was not right. They were scanning boarding passes and holding people in the room on the right of the gate if their bags had been removed due to there not being enough space on the flight. They randomly selected who wasn't flying. 'When the commotion started they stopped scanning boarding passes to deal with people and then told us the plane had already gone before we had our passes scanned. We were delayed three hours coming here which made us miss our first evening as well. 'There has been no refund from TUI, it is ridiculously hard to get hold of someone and they are saying they cannot find our flight. We've not received any contact for the next steps from TUI and are struggling to actually speak to someone.' TUI declined to comment when contacted last Friday. Advertisement

'While reducing the number of flights it operates may be the most sensible option in delivering a more reliable service over the summer, it yet again leaves passengers panicking about whether their flight or holiday will be cancelled or delayed.

'The summer holidays are just around the corner, so EasyJet must immediately provide clarity on which flights are being cut.

'Crucially, it needs to start playing by the rules and rerouting its customers, including on flights with other carriers - that's the legal requirement and the very least the airline can do for customers it has left in a mess.'

The aviation sector across Europe says it is experiencing 'operational issues', including air traffic control delays, staff shortages in ground handling and check-in and increased times for identity checks of new recruits.

Simon Clarke, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, yesterday said it's 'sensible' that airports are 'revising their schedules' because it will prevent a repeat of the 'terrible scenes' passengers have been experiencing.

He told Sky News: 'What we're seeing here is a result of the airline industry having massively contracted during the pandemic and now it's facing this surge of pent-up demand as things stand back up.

'It isn't resourced and manned for that challenge and that's why I think it is sensible that we're starting to see some of the airports revising their schedules for the summer season ahead.

'Frankly, we can't have a repeat of the scenes we've had in some of our airports in recent weeks.

'The transport secretary and ministers have been working very closely with the airline industry to try and get it into a more sensible place because they are offering flights they simply can't honour and that is simply terrible for passengers.'

Mr Clarke also addressed the baggage crisis happening at Heathrow and said the ongoing issues are due to the Covid pandemic which led to the airline industry 'slimming down' their staff and operations.

He added: 'This is not a result of Brexit, what I would say is it's an industry that massively slimmed down and understandably so - at a time when flying was impossible for a year and a half.

'It's now massively expanded its operations and the pressure is enormous and it hasn't managed to align the two.

'We will do our part as government to try and make sure our side of things is right from issues like passports to border control.

'We're pouring resources into this and making sure the process is as robust as it can be. The airlines need to do their part and make sure the flights they're offering can indeed be honoured.'

Meanwhile, scores of BA passengers, including a frail 81-year-old woman, were forced to spend the night on the floor of Rome airport when their flight was cancelled.

Holidaymakers endured a gruelling 14-hour delay on Saturday night after their 9.30pm flight was scrapped.

One traveller, Samantha Booth, fumed online: '@British_Airways you are a disgrace my 81 year old frail mother and my family have been left stranded over night in Rome airport. What are you doing about this.'

Other pensioners on the same cancelled flight to Heathrow told MailOnline they were treated 'appallingly.'

Retired mechanic Tony Fairhead, 62 and his wife Sandra, 63 from Weybridge, Surrey, spent most of the night outside the check-in area before Tony borrowed an Emirates business class check-in mat to try and sleep on.

The couple, along with Tony's sister Maureen, were being treated by big sister Jean, 74, to a week-long Greek island cruise with business class flights to and from Rome.

But the dream holiday was beset with cancelled flights, downgraded tickets and unwelcome surcharges which Jean is now addressing with BA and the cruise company.

The flightmare began as the four of them checked in, recalled Tony.

'Our other sister back in the UK used to work for BA and she told us as early as 8pm that there was no flight showing from Rome to Heathrow that night, which obviously worried us.

'Then we were told we had to leave the business lounge as it was closing, but it wasn't until hours later that we were told the flight was cancelled.

'We had to get our luggage back and were told we could spend 200 per hotel room for two people, but when we looked online there were absolutely no hotel rooms at that price and we'd have to spend about 50 for a taxi each way as well.

'We were shunted back to the check-in area as everything else was closed, but there were hardly any seats there and we spent much of the night outside on the pavement. There was an old lady with dementia and a young baby who needed formula milk, but there wasn't anywhere to make it.

'It was the worst night I've ever spent. About 4am we moved inside and I rolled up the mat from the Emirates check in, but it wasn't much better.

'It was just horrendous.'

The flight was finally scheduled for 11.30am the next morning, but the unlucky planeload found their problems were still not over.

Added Tony: 'We checked in again and were sent over to security with the same boarding passes from the night before, and of course were not allowed through.

'There was a young Dutch lady who went back and forward across the terminal three times, being assured by the check-in staff that the problem had been sorted, only to be refused entry by security.

'In the end, she shouted and swore at them, and the security people let us all through!'
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Russia is causing 'catastrophic destruction' in the Donbas after bombarding an eastern city with heavy shelling.

Lysychansk has suffered from constant Russian strikes which have demolished ten residential blocks and a police station.

The Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday said: 'Fighting in the Severodonetsk industrial zone and catastrophic destruction in Lysychansk.'

Gaiday said that one person had been confirmed killed in the 'heavy shelling' that had persisted all day Monday.

'We are determining the final number of victims, because yesterday it was almost impossible to move inside the city safely,' he said.

Lysychansk, which had a pre-war population of around 100,000 people is just adjacent to Severodonetsk where Russian and Ukrainian troops have been fighting intensely for control of the city.

Flames rise from a structure after it was hit by a projectile in Druzhkivka in Ukraine as Russia concentrates its firepower on the Donbas region

An administrative building in Lyubotyn in Kharkiv region is reduced to rubble after it was exploded by a Russian rocket

Russia is continuing to focus on the east of Ukraine, with air strikes and shelling hitting Severodonetsk. Odesa and Crimea are also continuing to see attacks

Rescuers try to extinguish a fire after a shelling in one of industrial areas in the region of Kharkiv

A woman reacts while speaking on the phone outside a damaged residential building located in Vannikova in Donetsk

Russian forces are also suffering heavy losses, with Ukraine estimating the Kremlin death toll has now reached 34,100

Conditions are grim for civilians left in Lysychansk, who have no mobile phone connections, running water or power. They cook on campfires and shelter in cellars.

Gaiday said that 'fierce fighting' was ongoing at the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk where hundreds of civilians are believed to be sheltering.

He added, without elaborating, that Russian forces had been tasked with capturing the entire Lugansk region by June 26, claiming that, 'they won't make it in five days'.

But Russian forces are also suffering heavy losses, with Ukraine estimating the Kremlin death toll has now reached 34,100.

Elsewhere, Ukraine said it had lost control of the village of Metyolkine.

The settlement is adjacent to Severodonetsk, which has been the focus of fighting for weeks and is now largely under Russian control.

The frontline village of Toshkivka near the twin cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk has also been captured.

'As of today, according to our information, Toshkivka is controlled entirely by the Russians,' Roman Vlasenko, the head of the Severodonetsk district told Ukrainian television, adding that the battle for Donbas is 'now in full swing'.

Toshkivka, with a pre-war population of around 5,000 people, is approximately 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of Severodonetsk, where Russian troops and have been battling for weeks against Kyiv's army.

'The entirety of the Lugansk region is now the epicentre of fighting between Ukraine and the Russian army,' he said.

Onlookers watch as firefighters attempt to put out a fire allegedly caused by shelling in the Nemyshlianski district

A local resident removes debris from a courtyard of an apartment building located in Vannikova street following recent shelling

Ukrainian soldiers ride on a tank as it is hauled down the highway near Bakhmut as Russia continues to bombard the Donbas

A man stands outside a damaged residential building located in Panfilova street following recent shelling

A Russian missile in found in the Donbas, eastern Ukraine, where Putin is focusing his forces after he was forced to retreat from major cities

Locals clean debris after rockets hit the professional lyceum of railway transport in the small city of Lyubotyn in Kharkiv

A chemical plant in Severodonetsk where hundreds of civilians are said to be sheltering was being shelled 'constantly', Ukraine said.

Three people were injured and seven more missing after Ukrainian forces attacked oil drilling platforms in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, Moscow-backed Crimea leader Sergey Aksyonov said.

It was the first reported strike against offshore energy infrastructure in Crimea since Russia launched its invasion.

In the southern Kherson region - which borders Crimea, and was occupied by Russian forces in the early days of the Kremlin's offensive - Russian television was now broadcasting, the Russian army said.

Moscow has already introduced the ruble and begun distributing Russian passports in the territory, and a pro-Moscow official said Tuesday it could join Russia 'before the end of the year'.

The city of Kramatorsk, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Severodonetsk, is yet to experience the intense battles seen closer to the frontline but residents are worried the conflict will reach them.

Russia's blockade of Ukrainian grain exports sparked fresh tensions with Europe as fears grow of a global food crisis

Three people were injured and seven more missing after Ukrainian forces attacked oil drilling platforms in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was engaged in 'complex negotiations' to unblock grain exports, although he cautioned that there was no progress as yet

A chemical plant in Severodonetsk where hundreds of civilians are said to be sheltering was being shelled 'constantly'

'People worry a lot about the war, everyone is stressed,' Valentina, a 57-year-old food vendor at a market, told AFP.

Another food seller, Sofiya, 16, said it was 'frightening' being so close to the frontline.

'But we are trying to hold on,' she said.

Meanwhile, Russia's blockade of Ukrainian grain exports sparked fresh tensions with Europe as fears grow of a global food crisis.

Its navy is blockading ports, which Ukraine says is preventing millions of tonnes of grain from being shipped to world markets, contributing to soaring food prices.

Prior to the war, Ukraine was a major exporter of wheat, corn and sunflower oil.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the Russian blockade 'a real war crime', which was happening 'while in the rest of the world people are suffering hunger'.

Moscow denies responsibility for the disruption to deliveries and, following Borrell's comments, took aim at the 'destructive' stance of the West for surging grain prices.

Growing concerns about a food crisis are 'the fault of Western regimes, which act as provokers and destroyers', said foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was engaged in 'complex negotiations' to unblock grain exports, although he cautioned that there was no progress as yet.

In an address to the African Union, he also warned that the continent was a 'hostage' of the conflict, and rising food prices 'have already brought (the war) to the homes of millions of African families'.

With the European Union set to decide at a summit this week on whether to grant Ukraine candidate status - allowing it to vie for membership - Kyiv has warned that attacks are escalating.
Labour will seek to put pressure on Boris Johnson today over his ethics problem by trying to give MPs the power to govern ministerial behaviour.

Sir Keir Starmer's party will attempt to introduce a new mechanism that would give a Commons committee the power to step in if the PM fails to replace his outgoing adviser, Lord Geidt.

The peer stepped down last week saying the Prime Minister had put him in an 'impossible and odious position' when he asked for his advice on maintaining tariffs on Chinese steel in a deliberate breach of the UK's obligations in international law.

He had previously made clear his 'frustration' at Boris Johnson's response to being fined by police for a breach of Covid rules when he attended a gathering in No 10 to mark his 56th birthday.

And the PM has so far not committed to keeping his role in its current form, amid suggestions the role is a poisoned chalice under the current administration.

Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, warned of an 'ethical vacuum in Downing Street'.

Sir Keir Starmer's party will attempt to introduce a new mechanism that would give a Commons committee the power to step in if the PM fails to replace his outgoing adviser, Lord Geidt.

The PM has so far not committed to keeping his role in its current form, amid suggestions the role is a poisoned chalice under the current administration.

Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, warned of an 'ethical vacuum in Downing Street'.

'Labour will put No 10 in special measures to prevent this Prime Minister running roughshod over the rules, dodging accountability and degrading standards in public life,' she said.

'While this sleaze-ridden Prime Minister is propped up in office by Conservative MPs, the Government is totally unable to tackle the cost-of-living crisis facing the British people.'

She said the ethics chief's vacancy 'must not only be filled, but the role urgently reformed'.

'It's time for Conservative MPs to stop propping up this disgraced Prime Minister and back Labour's plan to clean up politics,' she added.

Labour's proposals would give powers to the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee (PACAC) to appoint an independent adviser on possible breaches of the code and initiate its own investigations, if the role remained unfilled for two months or more.

The new 'adviser on ministers' interests' would advise the committee on the effectiveness of the ministerial code and on any potential violations, the party said.

They would need to consider any possible breaches referred to them by the PACAC, and may also initiate their own investigations.

The motion comes as Labour takes control of the Commons for one of the regular Opposition Days. The motion is not legally binding on the Government but it would be embarrassing if a large number of Tories supported it.

Downing Street last week refused to commit to replacing the peer after he gave a damning assessment of the PM's actions in a resignation letter

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the function of the role is 'vitally important'.

But asked whether a new adviser is being sought - potentially the third in just 18 months - the spokesman said Mr Johnson wants to 'carefully consider those and reflect on them before taking a decision on how best to fulfil that commitment about ensuring rigorous oversight and scrutiny of ministerial interests'.

Pressed if Lord Geidt will necessarily be replaced, the spokesman said: 'We haven't made a final decision on how best to carry out that function, whether it relates to a specific individual or not. He will carefully consider that before setting out the next steps.'
A nationwide role out began this week to get children under five vaccinated, with kids as young as three having the Covid vaccine injected into their arms.

The Center for Disease Control authorized the Covid vaccine for children under five years old Saturday and recommended it for babies of just 6 months, even though state-level reports show that 0.00 - 0.02 per cent of all child Covid-19 cases resulted in death.

Yesterday parents were queueing up to bring their kids to doctors in Pennsylvania who were holding a clinic to get them vaccinated with the Moderna jab, which a panel of advisors to the CDC voted unanimously to authorize 12-0 on Saturday.

The US joins China, Bahrain, Cuba, and Venezuela on a list of nations that vaccinate their under-fives.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized Moderna Inc's shot for children aged six months to five years, and Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for children aged six months to four years. Pfizer's vaccine is already authorized for children over the age of five.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky couldn't keep the smile from her face as she officially signed off on the Covid-19 vaccines for babies as young as six months old.

Jade O'Brien, 4, receives the Moderna coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at Skippack Pharmacy in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, yesterday

A 3-year-old receives the Moderna vaccine. A nationwide role out began today to get children under five vaccinated, even though state-level reports show that 0.00 - 0.02 per cent of all child COVID-19 cases resulted in death

Parents were queueing up to bring their kids to doctors in Pennsylvania who were holding a clinic to get them vaccinated with the Moderna jab, which a panel of advisors to the CDC voted unanimously to authorize 12-0 on Saturday

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized Moderna Inc's shot for children aged six months to five years, and Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for children aged six months to four years. Pfizer's vaccine is already authorized for children over the age of five

Following the approval, Walensky posted a clip on Twitter where she said: 'Nearly 20 million children are now able to get vaccinated against Covid-19. I know many parents with very young children have been anticipating this day.'

Walensky continued: 'We now know, based on rigorous scientific review, that the vaccines available here in the United States can be used can be used safely and effectively in children under five. Vaccinating children is a critical opportunity to protect them against hospitalization and death from Covid-19.'

Just over half of parents of children in this age range say they do not have enough information about the vaccines' safety and effectiveness for children under age 5.

Polling for KFF found that only about one in five parents of children under age 5 (18%) are eager to get their child vaccinated right away, while a larger share (38%) say they plan to wait a while to see how the vaccine is working for others.

About four in ten parents of children under 5 are more reluctant to get their child vaccinated, with 27% saying they will 'definitely not' get their child vaccinated and 11% saying they will only do so if they are required.

For children ages one through four years old, Covid-19 is the fifth leading cause of death.

The same data says that hospitalizations of that age group spiked during December 2021 at the height of the Omicron wave.

But for the vast majority of children infected by COVID, the symptoms are exceptionally mild.

Nina Jayawickreme, 4, seems to squirm as she receives her injection from Dr. Mayank Amin

Conversely, young children are at risk of a rare but potentially serious - and even deadly - inflammation of the heart linked to COVID vaccines called myocarditis.

Millions of American children have already been infected with COVID and recovered, further complicating the issue, as an infection is believed to leave people with at least a few months of immunity.

That has left many parents weighing up whether to vaccinate their child, although experts have urged them to do so.

The shot will also be welcomed by parents of under-fives with underlying conditions that leave the vulnerable to potentially-serious side effects from COVID.

And the virus itself is also found to have caused a rare but serious inflammatory disorder dubbed MIS-C, meaning some parents may opt to get their children the shot to try and protect them from that condition.

In a statement, Walensky said: 'Together, with science leading the charge, we have taken another important step forward in our nation's fight against COVID-19.'

The director added: 'We know millions of parents and caregivers are eager to get their young children vaccinated, and with today's decision, they can.'

'I encourage parents and caregivers with questions to talk to their doctor, nurse, or local pharmacist to learn more about the benefits of vaccinations and the importance of protecting their children by getting them vaccinated.'

'This infection kills children and we have an opportunity to prevent that,' Beth Bell, one of the doctors on the CDC panel, said following the vote. 'Here is an opportunity to prevent a known risk.'

President Joe Biden's administration rolling out the vaccines to the under five age groups this following the Juneteenth holiday weekend.

According to the CDC's own statistics, 442 children ages four and under have died in the US from Covid-19

'We will begin shipping millions of vaccine doses for kids to thousands of locations parents know and trust - including pediatricians' offices, children's hospitals, and pharmacies,' Biden said in a statement on Friday

'We will begin shipping millions of vaccine doses for kids to thousands of locations parents know and trust - including pediatricians' offices, children's hospitals, and pharmacies,' Biden said in a statement on Friday.

'As doses are delivered, parents will be able to start scheduling vaccinations for their youngest kids as early as next week, with appointments ramping up over the coming days and weeks.'

Biden's Covid tsar, Dr. Ashish Jha, has said that there will be ten million doses available for babies and children.

According to the census bureau, there are 20 million children aged between six months and five years old in the United States.

Dr. Matthew Daley, a senior clinician investigator at Kaiser Permanente's Institute of Health Research, said on Friday that those over the age of five who are not vaccinated were ten times more likely for die from Covid-19.

Dr. Daley did not say what the fatality rates were for unvaccinated children under the age of five.

While many parents in the United States are eager to vaccinate their children, it is unclear how strong demand will be for the shots.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was authorized for children aged five to 11 in October, but only about 29% of that group is so far fully vaccinated, federal data shows.

CVS Health Corp plans to provide vaccines to children aged 18 months and older while Rite Aid Corp and Walmart Inc plan to offer these shots for kids who are at least three years old. Infants are traditionally vaccinated at a doctor's office.

Public health officials have been pushing for childhood vaccinations ahead of the new school year as they hope shots for the age group will help prevent hospitalizations and deaths if COVID-19 cases rise again.

The CDC advisers will meet again next week to consider whether to back use of the Moderna vaccine for children and adolescents aged six-17.

There has been some concern about the rate of rare cases of heart inflammation in teenage boys and young men from the Moderna vaccine, and the advisers are expected to consider that data.
A once famous landmark in Hong Kong bids goodbye amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Floating Restaurant

A once-famous but now-defunct Hong Kong tourist attraction and landmark has sunk just days after being towed away from the port where it had functioned for nearly 50 years, as per a report by BBC.

The Jumbo restaurant capsized in the South China Sea while en route to an unspecified site, according to its parent company, Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises.

"Until Saturday afternoon, when passing Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, the vessel encountered adverse conditions which water soon entered before it began to tip," CNA reported, citing the company.

"Despite the efforts of the towing company responsible for the trip to rescue the vessel, unfortunately it capsized on Sunday."

Fortunately, the company noted that there were no crew members wounded.

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Jumbo, Hong Kong's Iconic Floating Restaurant, Sinks

The ship was supposed to stay in a secret place while looking for a new operator.

However, it sank in the Paracel Islands on Sunday after adverse weather caused it to take on water, according to Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises.

The water depth at the area is almost 1,000 meters, making salvage operations exceedingly challenging, it continued.

Before the voyage, marine engineers were engaged to evaluate the floating restaurant, and "all necessary approvals" were secured, said the owners.

Legacy of Jumbo Restaurant

BBC noted that over the years, it is estimated that more than 3 million people have dined in this iconic floating restaurant, including the Queen, Tom Cruise, and Richard Branson.

It had been featured in various films, including one starring James Bond, but the pandemic killed the business as diners turned away.

The Pandemic Has Affected the Business

As the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in March 2020, the restaurant has closed. It is worth noting that the pandemic was the final straw for the restaurant, which had been struggling financially for years.

Melco International Development, the company's operator, stated last month that it had not been profitable since 2013 and was losing a lot of money, as per BBC report.

Aljazeera mentioned that it had lost more than 100 million Hong Kong dollars ($12.7 million) in total. It was still costing millions of dollars in annual maintenance expenses, and a dozen businesses had turned down an opportunity to take it over for free.

Lawmakers Asked the Government To Save the Floating Restaurant

On Wednesday, seven lawmakers, including Reverend Peter Koon, Yiu Pak-leung of the tourism sector, and Kenneth Fok of the cultural sector, launched a petition demanding the government to develop a revitalization plan for the iconic landmark, according to the report of Hong Kong Free Press.

On Monday, the Democratic Party released a statement urging the government to take action. Maintenance costs are likely to be the biggest concern for a potential new operator, said the party's chairman Lo Kin-hei. He believes that government subsidies could encourage additional organizations or groups to contribute to the preservation of the historic landmark.

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Fuming festivalgoers have lost hundreds of dollars after a rush to buy tickets for the Good Things festival caused the hosting website to crash.

Good Things is a rock, punk and emo music festival that will take place in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in early December.

Tickets for the event became available on hosting website Oztix on Tuesday at 10am.

But fans who purchased their tickets early during the rush claim they didn't receive a ticket as the site crashed but their money was still taken.

Festivalgoers have lost money after purchasing tickets for the Good Things festival because the hosting site crashed

Those who had lost money took to social media to express their anger and frustration.

'Oztix is the worst. Tried ordering Good Things festival tickets and got told over 8 times that the transaction timed out and failed. So I kept trying,' wrote one woman.

'Just checked my account and all the money is coming out, but still no confirmation or tickets. So do I have 0 tickets or 16?'

One festivalgoer claimed they had lost $1,400 and showed a picture of the transaction in her bank account for tickets.

'@goodthingsfest / @oztix have put a HOLD on my account for all the failed ticket buying attempts!' she said.

'That's $1400 & I've not even got a ticket! WTF!?'

Another tweeted they had lost $1,200 after he tried to buy tickets three times.

A fourth shared a picture of the amount deducted from her bank account for Good Things tickets and an error message on the Oztix website.

'Hey @oztix, I attempted to buy two tickets to Good Things Festival 2022 in Melbourne this morning,' she wrote.

'I got this message saying that the purchase had failed but the money has been taken from my bank account. Help!'

Those who had purchased tickets but didn't receive any took to social media to express their frustration

One woman uploaded a picture of her bank statements which show purchases for Good Things tickets. She claimed she had lost $1400

One woman claimed on Facebook that she had lost $2,800 after trying to buy tickets.

'Seems to be standard practice with Oztix. My credit card has been charged seven times, I am yet to receive any confirmation or tickets. I have no idea if I have 0 tickets or 14 tickets now,' she stated.

'Oztix have turned their phones off and aren't replying to emails and I'm $2,800 out of pocket.'

Another wrote: 'Seems like this is happening to a lot of us. Buying tickets to Good Things Festival it times out but still takes our money. I'm assuming that means we will get tickets emailed or posted at some point. F***ing annoying.'

'I tried for two hours to get through for tickets and it kept timing out. Little did I know, it took money out of our bank account seven times which I'm now trying madly to get back somehow  and still no tickets,' added a festivalgoer.

Another woman shared a picture of the amount deducted from her bank account for Good Things tickets and an error message on the Oztix website

Good Things later issued a statement on social media to address the pre-sale ticket issues.

'Good Things Festival would like to acknowledge the issues surrounding our Presale this morning. Oztix our ticketing partner apologise unreservedly to all fans affected,' the statement read.

'We are absolutely blown away by the demand for our festival and cant wait to see you all in the pit in December.'

They then included a separate statement from Oztix who blamed 'unprecedented demand for tickets' for the purchase problems.

Oztiz said the massive demand for Good Things tickets led to 'technical difficulties'.

'The ticketing system functioned as expected, however the processing of payments saw major delays in response time between the system, payment gateway, banks and back again.'

'This delay in receiving a confirmation from the bank meant that some customers had multiple attempts at buying tickets and were charged multiple times.'

Oztix reassured those who had bought tickets that order receipts would be sent to them and those who made multiple purchases would receive a refund and a refund receipt Tuesday afternoon.

'If you have been charged you have tickets. If you have been charged more than once, you will be refunded.'

'We will advice once this process is complete and if you have any further queries at that time, then please contact us and we will assist you,' the statement concluded.

The 2022 Good Things Festival will take place in the first weekend of December and be headlined by Bring Me the Horizon and Deftones

The 2022 Good Things festival will be headlined by Bring Me the Horizon and Deftones.

Other bands playing include The Amity Affliction, Gojira, NOFX and TISM.

The festival is being held during the first weekend of December in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Good Things had its inaugural festival in Australia in 2018.

It was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic.
A British couple have both fractured bones in their backs in a horror moped crash while on a dream holiday in Bali.

Joella Senior, 27, and her boyfriend Alex Hoyle, 28, have undergone extensive surgery and remain in critical condition in intensive care on the Indonesian island.

Both were both riding a Honda Vario scooter when they, another moped and a car crashed in Kerobokan, North Kuta in Bali earlier this month.

Alex, who also suffered head injuries, a fractured jaw and cheekbone, still has not woken up from his coma.

While Joella, who works in social media, who also broke both her arms, a collarbone and a cheekbone, has been able to communicate with her friends and family in Loughborough.

Desperate friends and family have launched a 100,000 fundraiser to help pay for medical treatment and the bring the pair home.

Both (the couple pictured) were both riding the Honda Vario scooter when two mopeds and a car crashed in Kerobokan, North Kuta earlier this month

A close friend said: 'It is the worst shock ever. I am in utter disbelief. Me and my partner chatted to them that day and they were both have the best time on a holiday of a lifetime.

'They'd gone out for two weeks in Bali on their first proper getaway together and this happened on their third day.'

Joella is 'showing real bravery and keeping as positive as she can,' the friend added.

The friend went on to say: 'There is still a long way to go to get them back to the health of where they need to be. This is where we still need a massive push and rely on everyone's love, support and if able donations.'

The friend, writing on a Just Giving page which has so far raised nearly 76,000, said: 'The response has been so overwhelming. The generosity and kindness of others has been amazing, especially as we're in a new cost of living pandemic.'

A post on the page, updated on June 19, also said that while Alex remains in the coma but he did squeeze his hand after his mother said his name multiple times.

'Alex's family can't speak highly enough of the care he is receiving in hospital and what a great job the surgeons are doing. Whilst we have this positive [thing to say], he is still in critical condition in ICU and is requiring [a lot more] operations including repairs to serious injuries in his jaw, cheek bone and temporal bones,' it said.

'The family are also waiting on results from a CT scan where a head injury has been identified however the impact of these head injuries are still under investigation which is understandably causing huge anxiety for everyone.'

All of Joella's operations to repair the fractures in both her lower arms, stabilise fractures to her vertebrae and plate her collarbone and cheekbone have gone 'really well'.

The post added: 'Joella's road to recovery is still very long and she finds herself in a tremendous amount of pain post-surgery as her body tries to recover from the stress that the operations have put her under.'

A post on the Just Giving page, updated on June 19, also said that while Alex remains in the coma he did squeeze his hand after his mother said his name multiple times. Pictured: The couple

Alex's family said in a statement: 'All family and friends are deeply touched by the generosity, love and best wishes they are receiving from friends, family and even complete strangers.

'It is amazing to the family just how caring and generous people can be in these difficult economic times for us all.'

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirmed it was helping both families after the crash on the evening of June 12.

They said: 'We are providing support to the families of two British nationals involved in a road accident in Bali and are in touch with the local authorities.'
An Australian heiress is set to inherit a whopping $12million fortune if she can fulfil a simple task: get a job.

But Clare Brown says her father's final request is unrealistic.

The broke former private school girl is now contesting her father's will in court after her trust blocked her from accessing the funds because she did not meet the requirements.

'Give me what is rightfully mine. I am suffering,' she pleaded with her family on A Current Affair on Tuesday.

'Can you please stop with the whole ''me getting a job''. It's not happening.

'I am broke constantly and can't do anything about it.'

Clare Brown is contesting her father's will which states she cannot access her $12million inheritance

Clare is living hand to mouth off welfare payments with her wife Lauren and their one-year-old daughter in Mount Druitt in Sydney's western suburbs.

Her life is a far cry from her upbringing in the city's east with her successful stock broker father Chris, who sent her to one of Sydney's most prestigious schools.

Over the past few years, she was receiving a $500-a-week allowance from him while gaining government benefits - but says she was forced to hit up Centrelink because her father 'kept cutting her off' and she was being 'financially abused'.

When Chris died in January, Clare was left the millions he won on the stock market so long as she meet two clauses: get a job and contribute something to society.

But the mother-of-one says she is unable to work because she has Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

'I understand why these people want me to be a functioning member of society, however, you have to look at my diagnosis and realise that is not going to happen,' she said.

She was left millions of dollars when her stock broker father Chris (pictured together) died in January

'I am not going to learn how to drive because I have ADHD. I have the attention span of a gnat.'

Lauren said Clare - who has also been diagnosed as having high-functioning autism - struggles to complete everyday tasks and to get things done the family requires a daily check list, which includes reminders for Ms Brown to eat.

'She doesn't have an executive function in the head,' Lauren said.

'Our cats would not get fed, they would starve - because she would not remember that they need to eat.'

But Clare's family allege the conditions are an excuse.

Clare lives pay cheque to pay cheque with her partner Lauren (pictured) in Sydney's west

Lauren said Clare needs a daily check list to function otherwise she would forget every day tasks

'We'd like her to get a job and contribute to society. Instead of her agreeing to her dead dad's wishes, she turned around and sued her trust.'

Clare and Lauren had been living in her father's townhouse in the eastern suburbs before moving to Mount Druitt, with her family.

Jimmy's twin brother then moved into the property for four years rent free under an agreement he forged with Chris in exchange for him carrying out renovations.

'We are at our wits end.

'We have done nothing but love Clare.'

Her cousin Jimmy (pictured) said it was 'embarrassing' as Clare could be working and gaining access to her trust

Clare's single entry on her resume is previous part time work for Autism Australia. She also had a brief stint as a barista - which lasted less than an hour.

Asked whether she wants to work, Clare said 'yes and no', citing the implications of her conditions.

Clare, who has an National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) carer, said recent cuts to the sector have made efforts to gain work more difficult as employers are less willing to 'give people a chance'.

However, she said if her NDIS funding increases she may one day be able to get a job.

'I just want what is rightfully mine. And I want these people to get out of their heads that I am ever going to get a job,' she said.
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Tributes have flooded in for the man and teenager who died after a helicopter crashed into a field on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

Ian MacDonald, 66, tried to land his 2016 Guimbal Cabri G2 near his home when the tragedy occurred, killing him and his passenger, a 16-year-old German national named locally today as Admarsu.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed the deaths after emergency services scrambled to Burton-in-Lonsdale, a village of around 600 people. No one else is believed to have been on board the aircraft.

Video of the aftermath showed at least four fire trucks and an air ambulance at the scene, close to Bentham Road. The helicopter is understood to have come down at around midday.

Locals from the nearby Rivers Edge Holiday Home & Lodge Park caravan site, in Ingleton, said they were left in 'shock' following the crash on Monday.

Mr MacDonald's heartbroken partner Julia Smith posted a photograph of him on social media, The Sun reports.

Her mother Audrey wrote: 'With great sadness my daughter Julia's partner Ian has been killed in a helicopter accident on Monday June 20 - love from all of us xx.'

Meanwhile, Admarsu Birhan - believed to have been from Berlin - was staying with a local family as part of a farming exchange programme.

Cllr Peter Thompson, chairman of Burton in Lonsdale Parish Council, said the youngster had been living and working as a volunteer on a local organic farm and had been close to completing his three-month exchange trip when he tragically died.

66-year-old Ian MacDonald (pictured with his partner Julia Smith) tried to land his 2016 Guimbal Cabri G2 near his home on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales when the tragedy occurred, killing both him and a passenger, believed to be of German nationality

Pilot Ian MacDonald, 66, and his passenger died after their helicopter crashed into a field on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales today. Pictured: Emergency services were scrambled to Burton-in-Lonsdale in North Yorkshire today following the helicopter crash (circled)

Emergency services were scrambled to Burton-in-Lonsdale in North Yorkshire shortly before midday on Monday. Video of the aftermath showed at least four fire trucks and an air ambulance at the scene, close to Bentham Road

Police confirmed the two deaths and said there was believed to be no one else onboard. Pictured: The cause of the crash today is not yet known

There was a huge emergency services response with ambulance, fire and police all at the scene of the helicopter crash near Burton in Lonsdale, North Yorkshire

The scorched tree (centre) is said to be where the helicopter crashed

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service attended the incident which happened shortly before midday on Monday June 20

Emergency workers at the scene of the tragic helicopter crash in the North Yorkshire Dales on Monday June 20

He said: 'The young man was called Admarsu, we didn't know his surname. He had been here three months.

'He was on a 'WWOOF' exchange, which is the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.

'He was staying for three months with a family in the village, and he was coming to the end of the three months. He had settled in the village extremely well.

'He was very popular. He had been involved in the village Jubilee celebrations. He had taken part in quizzes and he was just a really nice lad.

He added: 'The pilot was Ian Macdonald. It was his own helicopter. He was hugely experienced, and he did leisure trips for local people.

'Ian was closely involved with the management of the village shop for many years, and he was very popular.'

Peter said the crash had come as a huge shock to the local community, which numbers around 600 people.

He said: 'We knew who had a helicopter on the outskirts of the village, but we didn't want to assume it was Ian and that he had a passenger with him.

'Just 600 people live in the village. A lot of people have lived here for a number of years and know each other very well, so it's quite a close community.'

A neighbour said: 'He crashed whilst landing it. It's a manoeuvre he has done many, many times.

'He is a lovely man. He is currently housing a Ukrainian family. I don't know what they will do now.'

North Yorkshire Police added: 'A full investigation is under way into the cause of a helicopter crash near Ingleton.

'The incident happened shortly before midday in a field off Bentham Road near Burton in Lonsdale.

'Two people were sadly killed as a result of the crash. Their families are being supported by specially trained officers.

'There was not believed to be anyone else on board the helicopter.

'There is a full road closure at the A65 and at the junction of Bentham Moor Road. People are urged to continue to avoid the area. We thank local residents for their patience and co-operation.'

Burton in Lonsdale is a farming area close to the border with Lancashire and Cumbria.

One of the Rivers Edge Holiday Home & Lodge Park staff members confirmed that people from the site had 'assisted' with the incident but would not give any further details.

She said: 'There was a crash. People from the site went over and assisted. The manager is a bit in shock.'

Witness Bez Beresford, who took photographs and recorded video of the scene today, said there were 'dozens of emergency vehicles' present in Burton-in-Lonsdale, which is near the border with Lancashire and Cumbria.

Ben Slinger, 35, the manager of a local fabrications business said: 'The fire crew were searching up and down the fields, and there was a police helicopter with a thermal imaging camera.

'It certainly looked like they were looking for somebody. We could see the fire brigade searching the fields.'

An overhead view shows emergency services at the scene of the helicopter crash near Burton-in-Lonsdale

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has also been informed about the crash. Pictured: The scene with firefighters and police walking around the area in the green fields as a fire truck is parked by a fence

North Yorkshire Police said that two people have died after a helicopter crashed in a field near Burton in Lonsdale. Pictured: The scene of the fatal helicopter crash near Burton

The small town of Burton-in-Lonsdale (pictured) has an estimated population of around 600

Mr Slinger said his attention was only drawn to the crash when an air ambulance arrived on scene after mid-day.

He said: 'I didn't hear anything. The first I heard was the ambulance. I then had a look round to see what was happening.

'We don't get many helicopters landing round us. I sort of know the person who farms the field. My first concern was something happening to him.

'Then I found out it was a helicopter crash, which was a shock.'

One mother, who wished not to be named, said she went to pick her daughter up from nursery and saw the emergency services, but did not see or hear anything unusual at the time of the crash.

She said: 'There was police and fire engines everywhere and I saw the air ambulance. I thought there might have been a car crash, I didn't realise it was a helicopter. It's shocking.'

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said earlier today: 'Emergency services are at the scene of an incident off Bentham Road near Burton-in-Lonsdale, where a helicopter has crashed into a field. The incident happened shortly before midday. People are strongly urged to avoid the area.'

A Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'Yorkshire Ambulance Service dispatched a number of resources to the scene.'

It also confirmed this included an air ambulance but would not say the number of casualties.

A team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch been informed about the crash and are on-route to the site.

A spokesperson for the AAIB said: 'We have been notified of an accident near Burton in Lonsdale, North Yorkshire involving a light helicopter.

'An investigation has been launched and a team of inspectors are travelling to the accident site to begin making enquiries.'
Parents are fuming after secondary school pupils were banned from hugging, high-fiving or shaking hands with each other with a strict 'no contact' rule.

Pupils at Mossley Hollins High School in Greater Manchester have also been barred from sitting on overcrowded benches, playfighting and even holding a place for friends in the lunch queue.

'No student should ever be touching another student,' the school headed by Mrs Andrea Din in Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne announced in its latest newsletter.

A current pupil slammed the the rules as 'ridiculous' and 'unfair' after she had to ask a teacher for permission for a friend to hug her after she hurt herself.

SCHOOL KEEP CLEAR... of each other: Pupils at Mossley Hollins High School in Greater Manchester have been banned from hugging, high-fiving, and holding hands after they implemented a strict no contact policy. Parents and pupils have slammed the policy with some saying it turns pupils into 'robots'

'No student should ever be touching another student.': The school announced the no contact rule in their latest 'newsflash' saying it will 'further improve our positive school culture', by making pupils 'good citizens' and encouraging them to have 'mutual respect for each other'. However a former pupil said it was 'not going down well' with pupils. Pictured: Head teacher Andrea Din

She commented publicly on Facebook saying: 'I'm a current student at this school and I was in a lesson and I hurt my fingers.

'My friend sat next to me had to ask my teacher for permission to hug me?

'I just personally think that it's just unfair, having to ask too hug your friend is ridiculous?!'

Parents have also reacted with anger, accusing the 854 pupil co-educational school of turning its children into 'robots.'

The school said in their 'newsflash' that the rule will 'further improve our positive school culture', by making pupils 'good citizens' and encouraging them to have 'mutual respect for each other'.

However, a former student said the rules were 'not going down very well' with pupils and left them feeling 'pressured', the Manchester Evening News reports.

Emma Halpin, who left the school in 2019, said: 'I used to go to the school, and I still know people there. Nobody seems to be in favour of it, from what I have seen.

'It does not seem to be going down very well. A lot of students feel pressured with the rules so far.'

The school has faced a barrage of criticism on social media for the strict rule, with one commenter saying: 'This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen in my life! Wow!

'Teaching children not to show affection to their friends is a sure fire way to give them problems down the line.

'If my child went to this school I would be absolutely fuming.'

Katie Teasdale posted on Facebook: 'Physical contact is such a big part of peer relationships like hugs when upset or celebrating, holding hands with best friends, high five as a greeting and shaking of hands in a formal setting.

'This may have been put in place as part of a safeguarding measure to stop unwanted physical contact but that should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, not a blanket rule across the school.'

Bill Williams said: 'So all pupils should be... robots with zero human touch. That is extremely freakish controlling behaviour from a warped-minded school.'

Matthew Nicholls said: 'Complete failure to understand human needs and behaviour. It's like these people aren't really human and they don't understand social interaction.'

David Mayor said: 'Under these rules children will grow up with a distinct lack of drive and a lack of interaction and confrontational skills.

'The school yard is usually better for this sort of thing than going to karate classes. I just wonder what the punishments are for disobeying these rules.'

A Mossley Hollins High School spokesperson said: 'This trial no contact policy builds on over 25 years of our no contact practice. It is not new but just clearer.

'It aims to ensure all students can enjoy their own personal space and comes at a time when so many young students have missed out on this great practice at primary school and are learning again to socialise well together.

'We have used our years of good practice to create this easy-to-follow policy to help our younger students. Behaviour has always been excellent at the school but students and staff say the atmosphere is even calmer, friendlier and kinder than before.

'We will be monitoring the policy's impact on healthy play and dialogue at break and lunchtime, outside, and we always listen to good ideas when communicated to us using the proper channels.'

Parents have accused bosses at Mossley Hollins High School in Greater Manchester of a 'complete failure to understand human needs and behaviour.' One pupil said that the rules were 'unfair' and 'ridiculous' after she had to ask a teacher for permission to hug a friend when she hurt herself

In its announcement, the school said: 'To further improve out school culture, there is now a no contact rule in place. This means that no student should ever be touching another student.

'No carrying of other students, cuddling, or play fighting will be tolerated. Students must treat others with respect. All students should show good school citizenship at all times (including breaktime and lunchtime).

'Respect, helping others and following all school rules are necessary qualities for success.'

It added: 'This new rule has been introduced to ensure that everyone feels safe in school, has a supportive environment in and outside of lessons, demonstrates mutual respect and are kind to each other, has a positive attitude towards each other and has healthy relationships with their peers.'

Under the heading: 'What does 'no contact' actually mean for our students?' the school warned pupils to 'always be safe by being careful and showing courtesy.' It said there should 'no toy fighting or rough play' adding: 'Never push or pull others.

'Keep your hands and feet to yourself. Physical contact and verbal abuse to others are not permitted. No jumping on each other, cuddling and no carrying of each other. No throwing of any objects. No holding places or jumping in line when queuing for lunch. Sit properly on benches and do not overcrowd.'

It concluded: 'This new rule has been made very clear to all of our students so that they all understand. Teaching and support staff have led presentations this week explaining our expectations so that every student understands why we are implementing this rule.

The school whose Latin motto: Floret Qui Laborat means: 'He or she who labours, prospers' was rated as outstanding following its last Oftsed inspection in November 2014.
A 62-year-old hunter has been killed in a revenge attack by the bear he mortally wounded in Russia.

Graphic pictures show the discovery of the man's body, in the Tulun district of Irkutsk region, Siberia, with the beast's carcass found 54 yards away.

The unnamed hunter is believed to have shot and wounded the predator from a platform in a tree.

Perhaps believing the brown bear was dead, he descended from the tree only to be attacked and killed by the beast in its final act.

This was when the animal is thought to have struck, with its fangs and claws, crushing the man's skull in the furious woodland attack.

A 62-year-old hunter (pictured) has been killed in a revenge attack by the bear he mortally wounded in Russia

Perhaps believing the brown bear was dead, the hunter is thought to have descended from the tree only to be attacked and killed by the beast in its final act

When the 62-year-old man climbed down, the mortally wounded bear (left) killed the hunter (on right)

The hunter, who had been reported missing, was located after a search party had been organised in the Siberian region.

'When a 62-year-old man climbed down, the mortally wounded bear attacked and killed him,' reported Interfax.

'The carcass of the animal was found 50 metres [54 yards] from the place where the man died.'

The skull of the hunter was 'crushed' and he suffered claw and fang wounds in the furious attack, the report also said.

The regional office of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs said: 'The mortally wounded predator managed to inflict an injury from which the hunter died.'

The unnamed hunter is believed to have shot and wounded the predator from a platform in a tree in the Tulun district of Irkutsk region

Bear attacks can be quite common in Russia, paticularly in the country's national parks.

In June 2021, a brown bear ate and killed a 16-year-old boy at a Russian national park before it was stabbed in the neck with a penknife by a tourist who was also attacked by the predator.

The beast half ate the teenager, floored the tourist and lunged at another when they went in search of the missing boy at Ergaki National Park in the Sayan Mountains.

The next month on from that attack, tourist Yevgeny Starkov, 42, was with a group starting to pack away their tents when the bear pounced.

Three fellow campers watched in horror as their friend was torn and gnawed by the drooling beast.

They then fled, walking seven hours with no shoes in the Yergaki Nature Park, in the Krasnoyarsk region of Siberia to raise the alarm.
An Irish seven-year-old is fighting for her life in hospital after being rescued from a near-drowning in her Majorcan hotel pool today.

The youngster was rushed to an intensive care unit 'in a critical condition' with police clearing a path for her ambulance so she could get there as quickly as possible.

This morning sources at Son Espases Hospital in the Majorcan capital Palma confirmed she remained 'critical' in its paediatric intensive care unit.

Some local reports initially described the child as British but well-placed hospital sources said today she is Irish.

The hotel she was rushed to hospital from has been named as the four star HYB Eurocalas Hotel in the east coast resort of Calas de Mallorca.

A seven-year-old Irish girl has been rushed to hospital (Son Espases Hospital pictured) after nearly drowning in a hotel pool in Majorca

The youngster was swimming at the four star HYB Eurocalas Hotel in the east coast resort of Calas de Mallorca

The girl is in the paediatric intensive care unit of the hospital after she was seen lying motionless on the bottom of the pool at the hotel (pictured)

It describes itself online as an all-inclusive family-friendly aparthotel a ten-minute stroll from the beach.

The alarm was raised just after 3.30pm yesterday/on Monday.

A spokeswoman for a regional government-run emergency coordination centre said: 'We took a call around 3.40pm yesterday to say lifeguards had spotted a young girl lying motionless on the bottom of the pool and dived in to rescue her.

'They performed CPR on her after pulling her out of the water because she had gone into cardiac arrest.

'Paramedics continued to try to revive her after reaching the scene and got her breathing again in the back of the ambulance.

'She was taken to Son Espases Hospital.'

No-one from the HYB Eurocalas Hotel, an hour's drive from Palma and near to the Caves of Drach which is one of Majorca's top tourist attractions, was available for comment this morning.

The child is said to be 'in a critical condition' at the hospital, after she was resuscitated by paramedics at the pool

On June 5 six-year-old Corey Aughey from north Belfast died in hospital after falling into the swimming pool of the hotel where he was staying with his family in the Majorcan resort of Sa Coma near the Love Island villa.

Last month a British toddler drowned in a swimming pool accident on the Costa Blanca.

Freddie Joseph Briggs died in the pool at his parents' home in the village of Aigues near Benidorm on May 25, leading the local council to declare three days of mourning.

Tributes were paid to the 19-month-old boy at his funeral service at a church in Belfast where he was christened before he was buried at a nearby cemetery.

Father Thomas McGlynn told mourners at the service the youngster brought happiness to those around him and enjoyed his short life 'to the very full.'

The child's dad Marc Briggs, known to pals as Briggsy and thought to be from Mansfield, Notts, and Belfast-born mum Jane Mohan had moved to the Costa Blanca shortly before the tragedy.

On May 9 a British man drowned in a nearby river which had claimed the lives of three other people in the past month as he tried to save his dog.

Former Royal Navy sailor Paul Lebihan, originally from Gateshead, died after getting into difficulties in the river at a beauty spot a short drive from the Costa Blanca resort of Benidorm.

Friends and loved ones later paid tribute to the 24-year-old keen amateur boxer and set up a GoFundMe appeal which has already raised around half its 15,000 goal to help his family bring Paul's body home and assist with funeral costs.

In the early hours of June 7 a British holidaymaker died after falling onto rocks in Sitges south of Barcelona.

The 23-year-old man died instantly after losing his balance in an accident which police said at the time happened when he fell from a replica cannon in front of a church by the sea.
A five-year-old boy died in a Texas suburb Monday after his mom left him in a hot car outside their house for hours while preparing for her other child's birthday party.

Cops said the mom had been out running errands for the party with the two kids when they arrived back at the Harris County home, and that the mom and other child, an eight-year-old girl, left the vehicle and entered the home.

However, the boy remained in the back, still strapped to his seat.

It wasn't for thee hours, cops said, that the mom noticed the boy had been left behind - but by then it been too late.

The tragic incident was reported to police at 2 pm. The car was parked outside the family home just outside Houston, on a day where temperatures hit 101 degrees.

The mom, who cops said left the child behind accidentally, has yet to be identified or hit with a charge.

Scroll down for video:

Cops said the mom had been out running errands for the party with the two kids when they arrived back at the Harris County home, and that the mom and other child left the vehicle and entered the house, leaving the boy behind in triple degree temperatures for three hours

The tragic incident was reported to police at 2 pm. The car was parked outside the family home in a cul-de-sac just outside Houston, on a day where temperatures hit 100 degrees

'Between maybe two to three hours, the mom noticed that the other 5-year-old wasnt nowhere to be found,' Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Monday of the incident, which is currently being investigated by his police force.

'She began calling for him, but no answer. She frantically ran outside and discovered the 5-year-old still buckled in his car seat.'

The sheriff went on to reveal that the mom told investigators that boy knew how to unbuckle himself and get out of a car, and likely assumed that the child did exactly that.

However, Gonzalez said that investigators say the black SUV was a rental, and that the child's unfamiliarity with vehicle's safety locks may have played a part into the incident.

'It appears that the child routinely knows how to unbuckle himself from the toddlers seat and open the door, but on this occasion, it didnt happen,' Gonzalez told press gathered in the normally quiet cul-de-sac Monday evening.

He added that 'the door did not have any kind of child safety lock enacted or anything like that.'

Harris County Sheriff said that investigators believe unfamiliarity with the rental vehicle's door safety lock may have confused the young child, and played a part into the incident

The mom, who cops said left the child behind accidentally, has yet to be identified or charged

Medical examiners have yet to release a cause of death, but Gonzalez said, given the circumstances, the child likely died due to heat stroke.

That afternoon, temperatures in the Texas town surpassed 100 degrees, with the heat inside the closed vehicle likely exceeding 120 degrees.

It takes only 10 minutes in for temperatures to climb to 113 degrees in a closed car.

Police said the mom called 911 immediately after discovering the child, who was unresponsive. Emergency personnel who arrived on the scene pronounced the child dead.

Amber Rollins, the director of non-profit Kids and Car Safety, reiterated how quickly cars can heat up from the inside in high temperatures.

The normally quiet Harris County cul-de-sac, situated just outside Houston, was overrun with police Monday after the boy's body was discovered. He was pronounced dead at the scene

'Most people dont realize that the majority of the increase in temperature inside of a car happens within the first 10 minutes,' Rollins said. 'Their little bodies heat up 3 to 5 times faster than an adult.'

Texas, meanwhile, has the highest number of hot car deaths in the country.

Nationwide, the Lone Star State accounts for 56 percent of accidental hot car in the country, and 26 percent of incidents when a child gets in themselves and cant get out.

On average, 38 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a car by their parents, statistics from the National Safety Council show.

The majority of child hot car deaths occur after the kid is forgotten by a caregiver.

Its unclear whether the mother will face charges of neglect or manslaughter for the incident. An investigation is currently ongoing.
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Gay and bisexual men who are at a 'high risk' of catching monkeypox are set to be offered a vaccine to protect against the infection, health chiefs announced today.

Nearly 800 cases of the virus, which is usually only spotted in Africa, have been reported in the UK. Almost all infections so far have been spotted in men who have sex with men.

In a bid to stem case numbers, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today confirmed some gay and bisexual men would be offered the Imvanex vaccine  which is 85 per cent effective  to control the outbreak.

Under the plans, which come from the same experts who advised on the Covid vaccine rollout, medics will offer the jab to men who have multiple partners, participates in group sex or attends 'sex on premises' venues.

Until now, the jab was only offered to confirmed cases and their close contacts under a strategy called ring vaccination, which has been proven to work in other outbreaks.

Experts told MailOnline a fortnight ago the next sensible step if infections continued to spiral would be to widen the vaccination programme in a targeted rollout to more men who have sex with men, anyone visiting a sexual health clinic and NHS staff.

It comes as Covid-weary Britons were today warned that the monkeypox outbreak could get 10 times bigger by experts behind gloomy models used to justify lockdown restrictions. The modelling suggested, however, that any surge in cases among groups other than gay and bisexual men was 'unlikely'.

Meanwhile, British health bosses reported another 219 infections today  the highest daily toll  bringing the UK total to 793. London is the country's virus hotspot.

Dozens of countries, including the US, Spain and Germany, have been struck by the outbreak  the biggest ever detected outside of Africa to date. Almost all of infections so far have been spotted in the men who have sex with other men community.

In a bid to stem case numbers, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today confirmed some gay and bisexual men would be offered the Imvanex vaccine  which is 85 per cent effective  to control the outbreak. Under the plans, which come from the same experts who advised on the Covid vaccine rollout, medics will offer the jab to men who have multiple partners, participates in group sex or attends 'sex on premises' venues. Until now, the jab was only offered to confirmed cases and their close contacts under a strategy called ring vaccination, which has been proven to work in other outbreaks

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. Experts have suggested the virus was spreading in the UK for months before this case was spotted. 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 UKHSA first confirms that the spate of cases, described as 'unusual' and 'surprising', are mainly among gay and bisexual men and advises them 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 23-26, 2022: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland log their first ever monkeypox cases. MAY 29, 2022: World Health Organization (WHO) says risk of monkeypox is 'moderate', citing concerns about virus infecting children and immunosuppressed people if it becomes more widespread. JUNE 7, 2022: The UKHSA declares monkeypox a notifiable disease. It means all medics must alert local health authorities to suspected cases. The tropical virus now carries the same legal status as the plague, rabies and measles. Advertisement

The UKHSA today published a strategy which set out that some gay and bisexual men at 'higher risk' of exposure to monkeypox should be offered a vaccine to control the outbreak.

Officials have not put a number on how many men will be included in the rollout.

Anyone can catch the virus, which is spread by close contact with an infected person. But most cases in the ongoing surge are among the 'sexual networks' of men who have sex with men.

Monkeypox, which will be renamed because of claims that it is discriminatory towards Africa, is not normally a sexually-transmitted infection.

But it is thought to be the main mode of transmission in the ongoing outbreak.

The virus, first discovered in lab monkeys in the 1950s, can also be spread through touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone who is infected.

Under the plans, endorsed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), those eligible for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)  a pill that protects against HIV  will also be eligible for the vaccine.

This includes people who do not always use condoms during sex and are likely to continue not using them, as well as sex workers or their clients who report having unprotected sex.

NHS England is due to set out details on how eligible people can get vaccinated. People are advised not to come forward for the vaccine until contacted.

As well as gay and bisexual men, the list of NHS staff eligible for the jab is also being expanded.

Healthcare workers caring for monkeypox patients in specialist high consequence infectious disease (HICD) wards are already offered the jab. But now staff in other hospitals designed to care for monkeypox patients will also be offered the jab, as well as workers in laboratories that test for the virus.

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at UKHSA, said: 'Our extensive contact tracing work has helped to limit the spread of the monkeypox virus, but we are continuing to see a notable proportion of cases in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

'By expanding the vaccine offer to those at higher risk, we hope to break chains of transmission and help contain the outbreak.

'Although most cases are mild, severe illness can occur in some people, so it is important we use the available vaccine to target groups where spread is ongoing. The NHS will soon set out details on how this will be delivered  so do not come forward for the vaccine yet.'

The UKHSA is urging all Britons to be alert to any new spots, ulcers or blisters on any part of their body, particularly if they have had close contact with a new partner. Those with symptoms are told to avoid close contact with others and call NHS 111 or your local sexual health centre.

Alex Sparrowhawk, health promotion specialist at HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust, said: 'This targeted vaccination programme is a positive move forward while the data still shows monkeypox is disproportionately affecting gay and bisexual men in the UK.'

Robbie de Santos, director of communications and external affairs at LGBT charity Stonewall said it welcomed the vaccine being offered to those who are most at risk of catching the virus.

He said: 'It is important that gay and bi men get the vaccine when offered to protect themselves and others. Let's help get the outbreak under control so we can all have a safe and happy pride season.'

It comes as the UKHSA today confirmed Britain's outbreak has grown by 38 per cent since Friday to 793.

Among the 766 cases with confirmed addresses, 498 are in London, 37 are in the South East and 26 are in the North West. All other regions have logged 20 cases or fewer.

Public Health Scotland on Sunday said that all cases appear to be 'generally mild and not life-threatening' with no reported deaths in the UK to date.

Monkeypox cases have been aged 37, on average, health bosses said.

Meanwhile, scientists behind the monkeypox modelling that warned of another 10,000 cases include Professor John Edmunds, an LSHTM epidemiologist who was among the most outspoken SAGE members during the Covid outbreak.

Two other study authors are also Government advisers, sitting on the notorious SPI-M modelling committee. It warned of up to 6,000 deaths per day in the run-up to the Christmas just gone, despite the actual peak being 20 times lower.

Without tough interventions, they also warned Omicron could potentially cause daily hospitalisations to breach 10,000  quadruple the figure that happened in reality.

In their latest modelling, Professor Edmunds and other LSHTM scientists looked at how monkeypox could keep spreading.

Their estimates were based on sexual partnership data in the UK, gathered from a survey of 45,000 people that is conducted every decade.

At the time of the modelling on May 31, 728 confirmed and suspected cases had been reported worldwide in more than 25 countries. Since then, almost 3,000 infections have been logged worldwide.

Officials are urging gay and bisexual men to be aware of new lesions, rashes or scabs and get in contact with a sexual health clinic

The infection often starts with small bumps that scab over and are contagious

The results, published on pre-print website medRxiv, show that without interventions or changes in sexual behaviour, it is 'highly likely' that a 'major outbreak' would be seen among men who have sex with men.

A major outbreak was defined as being at least another 10,000 cases, on top of the ones already detected.

The modellers said their findings, which have not been peer-reviewed, show that a 'small fraction' of individuals with a 'disproportionately large' number of sexual partners could explain the 'sustained growth' of monkeypox among men who have sex with men.

Monkeypox likely always had the risk of 'substantial transmission potential' among this community, their paper states.

But it has not been able to take off because too few cases have been logged outside of Africa over the past few decades, they said.

However, the team said sustained transmission in other groups is 'unlikely'.

But they noted that between 10 and 10,000 extra cases could be spotted outside of the men who have sex with men community if lots of this group become infected.

The monkeypox R rate  a term made famous during the pandemic, which reflects the number of people an infected person passes the virus onto  may be 'substantially greater than one' which could make it challenging to contain the outbreak, their paper states.

Contact tracing and vaccinating close contacts of infected people  the approaches used in the UK  only work if almost all contacts of an infected person are identified, they warned.

They said experts should identify 'acceptable and effective' ways of preventing transmission among men with the highest number of sexual partners who could have a 'disproportionate effect on transmission overall'.

Monkeypox is usually mild and has an incubation period of up to 21 days, meaning it can take three weeks for the tell-tale 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.

It can, however, kill up to 10 per cent of people it infects. But the milder strain causing the current outbreak has a case-fatality rate of around one in 100  similar to when Covid first hit.

No deaths linked with the ongoing outbreak have yet been reported.

Outside of the UK, Spain (497), Germany (421) and Portugal (297) have logged the most infections.

Experts have warned monkeypox could become endemic among animals in Europe, as it is in parts of Nigeria, if the virus spreads to pets and wildlife. This would make animals a permanent reservoir of the virus that could infect humans, triggering sporadic outbreaks.
The January 6 select committee will focus its Tuesday hearing on Donald Trump's 'plot' to pressure states to individually recount or overturn their election results  including Georgia and Arizona specifically.

The fourth public and televised proceedings will feature live testimony from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, his office's Chief Operating Officer Gabriel Sterling, Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers and former Georgia election worker Wandrea ArShaye 'Shaye' Moss.

Raffensperger will take center stage in the hearing Tuesday as he was one of the GOP targets of the Trump team's efforts to get red states to name 'fake electors' to derail Biden's Electoral College victory. The goal was for Vice President Mike Pence to accept these alternative electors on January 6, 2021 so Trump could declare victory.

Trump also infamously called Raffensperger on January 2, 2021  just days before the Capitol riot and election certification  to pressure him to 'find 11,780 votes' to help him overcome Biden's lead in the Peach State.

The former president sought to retaliate against Raffensperger by backing Georgia Republican Representative Jody Hice in the primary race against him for secretary of state this year  but Raffensperger easily overcame the challenge.

Bowers also received a call in late November 2020 from Trump and his attorney at the time Rudy Giuliani where they informed him that Arizona had a new law that would allow its legislature to pick which presidential electors it wanted to send to Congress for certification, according to the Arizona Republic.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (pictured May 24, 2022) will take center stage at the January 6 select committee's fourth public hearing on Tuesday afternoon to prove the pressure Donald Trump put on GOP state officials in his 'plot' to overturn the 2020 election

The panel's Tuesday hearing will focus on Trump's attempts to get contested states to appoint their own electors and to have Vice President Mike Pence accept those votes over the Electoral College results

The GOP Arizona lawmaker, who is a Trump supporter, told the paper that he asked for proof of this law he never heard of, but never received it.

Bowers was also pressured by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' wife Ginni Thomas, who is a conservative activist, to decertify Biden's victory in the state.

Panel member Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, will lead Thursday's proceedings.

Excerpts from his opening statement show that the panel will seek to prove that 'anyone who got in the way of Donald Trump's continued hold on power after he lost the election was the subject of a dangerous and escalating campaign of pressure.'

'This pressure campaign brought angry phone calls and texts, armed protests, intimidation, and, all too often, threats of violence and death,' he will say. 'State legislators were singled out. So too were statewide elections officials. Even local elections workers, diligently doing their jobs, were accused of being criminals, and had their lives turned upside down.'

'As we will show, the president's supporters heard the former president's claims of fraud, and the false allegations he made against state and local officials, as a call to action.'

The hearing Tuesday will also feature live testimony from Arizona House Speaker Russell 'Rusty' Bowers (left), Georgia Secretary of State's Chief Operating Officer Gabriel Sterling (center) and former Georgia election worker Wandrea "Shaye" Moss (right), who Trump accused of of 'rigging' the count by brining in 'suitcases' full of ballots for Biden

Both Arizona and Georgia are swing states that flipped from red for Trump in 2016 to blue for Joe Biden in 2020. Biden, however, only won those states by extremely slim margins  0.4 percent in Arizona and 0.3 percent in Georgia.

The small victory margins led Trump, in part, to claim that the election was rigged and stolen by a Democratic plot to deploy thousands of fake mail-in ballots to get Biden to win the swing states that launched him to the presidency in 2016.

Tuesday's witness Moss, along with her mother Ruby Freeman, were accused by Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani of 'rigging' the presidential election count in Georgia. The two, according to Trump and his allies, allegedly brought in 'suitcases' full of ballots for Biden.

Trump (pictured June 17, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee) infamously called Raffensperger on January 2, 2021 to pressure him to 'find 11,780 votes' to help him overcome Biden's lead in Georgia

The former Georgia election official and her mother are now suing Giuliani in federal court after receiving death threats when Trump publicly named them and following an investigation in the state that found no wrongdoing by the pair.

The Democratic-led panel's focus on Tuesday follows three other hearings this month that centered on proving Trump was aware that he lost the 2020 presidential election but still pushed the 'Big Lie' that he was the victor, as well as the pressure campaign on Pence to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College results.

Pence's refusal to give into Trump's plot for him to deny the results from Congress and accept the alternative electors on January 6, 2021 stopped the former president from declaring victory in an election he lost.

After Tuesday's hearing there could be as many as four more as the select committee aims to quickly finish its case against Trump before the 2022 midterm elections, which is likely to see the House flip red.
News Analysis: France's political class being reshaped by fractured vote

Xinhua) 13:55, June 21, 2022

PARIS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The 2022 French legislative elections are redefining France's political class, enabling candidates of different political parties to become deputies in the National Assembly.

The French legislative elections were held on June 12 and 19, when voters elected, out of 6,293 candidates, the National Assembly's 577 members representing the constituencies of the country.

Up to this year, there has always been one political party winning the absolute majority of at least 289 seats at the National Assembly after two rounds of legislative elections.

However, of more than six major parties, none has managed to secure the absolute majority this year.

The outcome of the legislative elections will also have a bearing on the appointment of a prime minister. According to the French Constitution, the prime minister is appointed by the acting president, and the nomination of a prime minister must reflect the political party in absolute majority in the National Assembly.

The French Interior Ministry published early Monday morning the results of the legislative elections, and French President Emmanuel Macron's alliance Ensemble did not have the absolute majority, as they only won 245 seats.

With no political party achieving the absolute majority, Macron's Ensemble will have to negotiate power-sharing with other political parties sitting in the National Assembly.

"Slap" "Hard blow" "Snub" "History Setback" and "Seismic Event" are the terms used by both French and foreign media to refer to the results of Macron's Ensemble not winning the absolute majority.

"This situation constitutes a risk for our country in the view of the challenges we have to face, both on a national and international scale. But we must respect this vote," Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said following the publication of the first results on Sunday evening. She has been in office since May 16.

For Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the left-wing alliance NUPES, winning 131 seats is not what he wanted for NUPES. He needed to have the absolute majority, as he planned during the campaign, to become the next prime minister.

For political scientist Philippe Braud, alliances of political parties play a key role in mitigating or even reversing inequalities.

On Monday, the president of right-wing party Les Republicains, Christian Jacob, warned against having a "coalition or pacte" with the government.

Macron's Ensemble comprises three political parties: La Republique en Marche, renamed Renaissance, led by Macron, MoDem and Horizons, led respectively by Francois Bayrou and Edouard Philippe who were under Macron's first term presidency.

The alliance NUPES was formed after the second round of the presidential election in April. It unifies the left-wing parties in order to, according to Melenchon, counter the far-right parties.

On Monday, Melenchon asked NUPES to become a single left-wing political group in the National Assembly in order to tackle the far-right, but the other parties of NUPES refused this proposal.

Even if candidates stood for elections under the various alliances of NUPES or of Ensemble, each deputy represents their own political party at the National Assembly.

NUPES announced on Monday that they will file a motion of no confidence against the government on July 5 regarding the results of the legislative elections.

For Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally, the result of her party acquiring a historic increase of 89 seats in the National Assembly is significant.

During the legislative elections in 2017, the National Rally, previously named the National Front, already led by Marine Le Pen, only had eight seats in the National Assembly.

After the results of this year's legislative elections, Le Pen celebrated her party's achievement and proclaimed, "Will Emmanuel Macron be able to do what he wants? Absolutely not and it is better this way!"

She announced on Monday that she will resign from the presidency of the National Rally in order to focus on her party's seats at the National Assembly.

Macron won the runoff presidential election in April this year with 58.55 percent of the vote, saying during his victory speech that he noted the political differences in the country and thanked those who have voted for him to fight against the far-right party of Marine Le Pen that gained 41.45 percent of the vote during the second round.

But the results of this year's legislative elections bring forward the political differences of the voters who did not give the absolute majority to President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron, however, had the absolute majority in the National Assembly during his first term.

For political scientist Philippe Braud, the left and right labels given to political parties allow voters to identify the different ideologies and political classes.

The new president of the National Assembly will be elected on June 28 as the sitting president Richard Ferrand, member of Macron's Ensemble, lost the legislative elections on Sunday to a NUPES candidate.

The president of the National Assembly will be elected by secret ballot among the deputies in the National Assembly.

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji)
Caricature artist and actor Jung Eun-hye, right, poses with her mother Jang Cha Hyun-sil, center, and stepfather Seo Dong-il. Courtesy of Jin Jin Pictures



'Our Blues' actor to hold caricature exhibition



By Kwak Yeon-soo



Jung Eun-hye, a caricature artist who got her big break as an actor playing a character with Down's syndrome who has a talent for drawing, said she was excited to star alongside Han Ji-min and Kim Woo-bin in the recent tvN drama "Our Blues."



"Young-hee (Jung's character) was like a real projection of myself. Screenwriter Noh Hee-kyung and I met up a few times, and she took inspiration from me when creating the character," she said during a recent interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul.



Following her appearance in the TV series, Jung has been receiving a lot of attention. Her YouTube channel has more than 50,000 subscribers who enjoy her artwork and outgoing personality.



Because her role was kept a secret during the filming of "Our Blues," a documentary film that shows how Jung goes about her daily routine and connects to society through art had to delay its theatrical release for about a year.



"We were planning to release 'Please Make Me Look Pretty' in theaters last year, but it got delayed until the TV series ended because the drama production team asked Eun-hye to keep things 'low key,'" said Seo Dong-il, Jung's stepfather and the film's director.



The film centers on how Jung learns to interact with people by drawing caricature sketches of visitors to the Munhori River Market in Yangpyeong County, Gyeonggi Province.



It was Jang Cha Hyun-sil, Jung's mother and the film's producer, who discovered Jung's artistic talent and suggested that she draw portraits at the market as a way of having more social interaction.



"I remember the exact date: Feb. 23, 2013. I saw Eun-hye's portrait of a woman holding perfume and thought to myself, 'She has natural talent.' Eun-hye never learned to draw, but she often stuck around my studio when I was teaching art classes to young kids," she said.





Caricature artist and actor Jung Eun-hye in a scene from the documentary film "Please Make Me Look Pretty" / Courtesy of Jin Jin Pictures
The Russian government will not guarantee the lives of two American fighters who were captured by state-backed forces in Ukraine earlier this month in a sinister forecast of their fate.

Alex Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, were captured in a battle for Kharkiv on June 11. They are both believed to still be alive and recently appeared in videos released online.

However Russian officials say they will not guarantee that the men will make it out of the region alive.

In an interview on Monday night, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the pair were not protected by the Geneva Convention - which outlaws taking prisoners of war - because they were not part of the official Ukrainian army.

'It depends on the investigation,' Peskov told NBC News when asked if the two US citizens would be given the same death-by-firing-squad sentence that was handed down to British fighters Shaun Pinner, 48, and Aiden Aslin, 28.

'Those guys on the battlefield were firing at our military guys. They were endangering their lives. There will be a court, and there will be a court decision.

'They should be punished,' he said.

Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, told NBC News when asked if the two US citizens would be given the same death-by-firing-squad sentence that was handed down to British fighters Shaun Pinner, 48, and Aiden Aslin, 28

Alexander Drueke, 39, left, and Andy Huynh, 27, appeared terrified in footage released by Russian forces where they identified themselves and denounced war. They men went missing last week after their platoon in Ukraine was ambushed by Russian soldiers

It comes as a second US citizen was killed in combat in the region.

New York grandfather Stephen Zabielski, 52, was killed on May 15 while fighting in the region.

He was a husband, father and grandfather whose death was reported by a local newspaper in his hometown in upstate New York.

Stephen Zabielski, 52, was killed in Ukraine in May

The obituary said he was killed fighting in the village of Dorozhniank, Ukraine.

A friend on Facebook said he had experience in the US Army which appealed to young Ukrainian fighters.

'He feared he wouldn't be accepted given our age - but his experience got him the exception. Despite our age, we both knew we had a duty given our beliefs.

'Steve remained in Ukraine and gave his life for Ukraine's freedom. He was killed by a landmine. He was the child of Polish-Americans so he knew and understood sacrifice.'

His death comes after that of U.S. Marine Corps veteran Willy Joseph Cancel, 22, who was killed in April.

The Pentagon continues to insist that it will do 'everything' possible to bring Drueke and Huynh home safely.

Yesterday, one of the men's comrades in Ukraine spoke out anonymously to CBS to say he felt guilty for bringing them to the war zone.

'They sort of followed me out here.

Zabielski, 52, with his wife. He previously served in the US Army

An undated photo of the two veterans, Drueke, (left) and Huynh (right), was uploaded on the Telegram messaging app on Thursday, a day before the video went up

'We all agreed there was no leader in the group but I definitely feel a bit guilty, without a doubt.

'We should have taken a closer look at more humanitarian options or training options.

'If we did, then they wouldn't be in the situation they're in,' he said.

The anonymous group-leader who was with them told CBS that he and they knew execution was a possibility.

Willy Joseph Cancel (above), 22, of Orange County New York, was killed while fighting alongside Ukrainian forces after the private security firm he worked for sent him to war

'They wound up out here a bit by accident. They wanted to do good and this is sort of, I suppose, the unfortunate result of that.

'We were warned that execution could be a possibility. I'm very happy that they did not know follow through with that,' he said.

Drueke served in the US Army in Iraq but Huynh has never been in active combat before.

His fiancee in Alabama said he traveled to the region to help after watching the war unfold from afar.

In the video issued by Russian state media, the men appear beaten and tired.

'My name is Alexander Drueke, I am against war,' Drueke said. He then reiterates in Russian, 'Ya protiv voyny,' meaning I am against war.

'Ya protiv voyny,' Huynh repeats after a quick cut.

Another video shows Drueke addressing his mother, Bunny, as he promises her that he will be back home.

'Mom, I just wanted to let you know that I'm alive, and I hope to be back home as soon as I can,' Drueke said. 'Love you.'
EasyJet's Spain-based cabin crew will go on strike for nine days in July if their demands for higher pay from the budget airline are not met.

Workers will walk out on July 1-3, 15-17, and 29-31, potentially adding to travel woes as the sector struggles to cope with rebounding demand.

The airline's flight attendants in Spain are demanding a 40 per cent increase in their basic salaries, according to union USO.

The announcement comes as passengers continue to face chaos at UK airports, as understaffed airports struggle to cope.

Yesterday easyJet announced it would be cutting an estimated 11,000 flights from its summer schedules, which analysts think will cost the company between 100 million and 200 million this year.

Hundreds of easyJet cabin crew based in Barcelona, Malaga and Palma, will hold nine days of strike action next month unless they receive a 40 per cent pay rise

Holiday makers have been experiencing chaos in short-staffed airports, with huge lines, delays and cancellations becoming commonplace

The basic salary, which excludes bonuses and extra pay, stands at 950 euros (817) for easyJet's Spanish staff, which is much lower than in countries such as France and Germany.

'The company underestimated the outlook, was more pessimistic and conservative and is not ready for the demand... this generates a domino effect on us,' Miguel Galan, general secretary of USO's easyJet section said.

The union, which says it represents 80 per cent of the 450 staff based in Spain, still hopes an agreement can be reached to avoid the strike during a meeting with management on Tuesday, Galan said.

An easyJet spokesperson said: 'We are extremely disappointed with this action as we have made considerable progress towards a new collective labour agreement and so would like to continue a constructive dialogue with them.

'Should the industrial action go ahead there could be some disruption to our flying programme to and from Malaga, Palma and Barcelona during the strike period but at this stage, easyJet plans to operate its full schedule and we would like to reassure customers that we will do everything possible to minimise any disruption.'

London Heathrow airport is seen to be chaotic with long queues at the departure counters and heaps of luggage piled up pending collection

It comes as passengers continue to face chaos at UK airports, including at Heathrow, where hundreds of bags are mounting up outside Terminal 2

Other Twitter users have also encountered long delays to get to security, with one saying they have never seen the airport as busy as yesterday

Pent-up travel demand after two years of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic is stretching airlines and airport operators, causing staff shortages and long queues in terminals all over Europe.

Rising consumer prices and tough working conditions are pushing staff at many airlines in the region to protest and walk out.

Cabin staff at easyJet's larger rival Ryanair plan to go on strike this month and in July in Spain and several other countries.

The Ryanair chief executive, Michael O'Leary, said passengers should expect wider disruption throughout peak season, due to of shortages of airport staff across air traffic control, baggage handling and security.

He told Sky News: 'This problem is going to continue particularly at airports like Gatwick and Heathrow right throughout the summer. It will be worse at weekends and better during the week.'

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary (pictured at a press conference) warned the long delays are likely to continue all summer

Thousands of workers in the aviation industry were laid-off during the pandemic as flights around the world stopped.

John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow, warned it will take 12 to 18 months before the industry can get its capacity back to pre-pandemic levels.

Airports have been urged to cancel more flights over the summer to avoid chaotic scenes - and Gatwick is cutting daily flights in August from 900 to 825 and 850.

This amounts to 4,000 flights being axed throughout the month - with airlines and other airports expected to make cancellations too.

Now a huge spike in demand this year combined with high staff absences due to Covid and other sickness means airports are battling to recruit new staff as quickly as possible.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps put pressure on airports to increase the pay of workers such as baggage handlers as a means of ending the flights chaos.

After weeks of disruption to holiday-makers and huge queues at airports, the Cabinet minister promised more Government action to come in a bid to end the carnage.

But he insisted solving the problems, which have seen many flights cancelled at the last-minute to bring misery to many, was 'fundamentally' down to airlines and airports.
A Florida child was medevacked to a Tampa hospital after being impaled in the chest by a catfish barb during a family fishing trip on Sunday, authorities said.

Shortly before 1 p.m., the unidentified youngest, whose age and gender have not been released, was fishing in New Port Richey, on the Gulf coast north of Tampa.

The child was stabbed by the fish's stinger, according to Corey Dierdorff, spokesman for Pasco County Fire Rescue.

The child's mother gathered the kid into the family car and sped down highway U.S. 19 to the hospital, but on the way the child complained of shortness of breath.

The worried mother pulled over and called 911.

Pasco County first responders arrived, evaluated the boy and determined that the risk was severe enough that they airlifted the child to St. John's Hospital in Tampa.

A child under 10 was airlifted to a Tampa trauma center after being speared in the chest by a catfish barb

The child is currently in stable condition.

'I've been in emergency services for 20 years and I've never heard of a report like this before,' Dierdorff said.

He said that the helicopter was called in because of the unique circumstances and the unknown factors in the emergency.

The mother and child were fishing in New Port Richey when the kid was impaled by a potentially lethal catfish barb

'Because of the child's age, we didn't know if it was a venomous catfish, the child was suffering shortness of breath, they didn't [initially] know how deep the puncture wound was,' Dierdorff said.

'Out of an abundance of caution they ordered a trauma alert so that doctors were prepared when the child got there.'

Though rarely lethal, injuries from catfish barbs are well known to anglers.

FILE PHOTO: Pectoral barb of a catfish can be seen hear piercing the flesh of a person

FILE PHOTO: Anglers recommend holding the catfish under the pectoral fins to avoid getting stuck by the fish's barbs

Of the 1,600 catfish species in the world, more that 1,200 are venomous and their poison can be extremely toxic, according research by the University of Michigan

Of the 1,600 catfish species in the world, more that 1,200 are venomous and their poison can be extremely toxic, according research by the University of Michigan.

Venom glands are located near the bony, serrated barbs found on the pectoral and dorsal fins that will lock in place when the fish feels threatened, according to the report.

'Catfish venoms poison nerves and break down red blood cells, producing such effects as severe pain, reduced blood flow, muscle spasms and respiratory distress,' researcher Jeremy Wright wrote in his paper.

He warns in his paper that those stung by the fish could suffer for months from bacterial and fungal infections that are carried into the blood stream by the barb.

'In such cases, complications associated with these infections and foreign bodies can last several months,' Wright found.
Elon Musk says he's 'undecided' on whether or not he would support former President Donald Trump in a 2024 presidential bid after he previously indicated that he would back Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

The Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder was pressed on the issue when he was interviewed virtually on Tuesday by Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait at Bloomberg's Qatar Economic Forum in Doha.

Musk initially dodged the question but when asked again directly if he would support Trump, he responded: 'I think I'm undecided at this point on that election.'

The billionaire has described himself as a moderate in recent years but has shown a shift to conservatism in recent months. His political allegiance was became more clear in a barrage of tweets last week where he indicated his support for DeSantis.

However, in the Bloomberg interview Tuesday, Musk was asked to elaborate on his tweet about potentially creating a 'Super Moderate Super PAC' that supports political candidates with centrist views.

Musk at first said he would invest 'non-trivial amount' and when pressed for a specific amount, he said would be willing to spend '$20 million or $25 million' if he decides to move forward with the idea.

Elon Musk says he's 'undecided' on whether he would support Trump in a 2024 presidential bid after he previously indicated that he would back Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

Speaking at a conference in Madeira Beach last week, Ron DeSantis commented on news of Musk's potential support with a joke that lampooned the billionaire's South African heritage

Musk last Tuesday revealed that he had voted Republican for the first time, casting a ballot for new Texas Congresswoman Maya Flores.

The world's richest man went on to tout the win as a victory, while predicting a massive red wave in the upcoming November midterm elections.

'I voted for Mayra Flores  first time I ever voted Republican,' Musk wrote.

The mogul added: 'Massive red wave in 2022.'

Then, when asked who he is leaning toward supporting in 2024, the tech billionaire responded simply: 'DeSantis.'

Musk was also asked what he thought of Andrew Yang, who ran in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries. He said: 'I supported Yang last time, but DeSantis has a better chance of winning.'

Musk began his social media spiel by revealing he voted red for the first time ever last Tuesday, celebrating the win of new Texas Congresswoman Maya Flores (pictured)

Musk announced last week that he was leaning toward DeSantis as a potential president, after being asked about his preferences concerning the next head of state

Speaking at a conference in Madeira Beach Wednesday, DeSantis commented on news of Musk's potential support with a joke that played off the billionaire's South African heritage.

'I'm focused on 2022, but I welcome support from African Americans,' the conservative quipped to a reporter.

The well-timed remark drew laughs from the crowd, and added fuel to the fervor surrounding DeSantis' rumored presidential aspirations.

Musk, who has described himself as a moderate in recent years but has showed a shift to conservatism in recent months, made his political allegiance clear in a barrage of tweets last week, where he revealed he had voted Republican for the first time on Tuesday

Musk was also asked what he thought of Andrew Yang, who ran in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries. He said: 'I supported Yang last time, but DeSantis has a better chance of winning'

The unexpected endorsement came as DeSantis has continued to emerge as a central figure in the ongoing culture wars between the woke Left and those with other political ideologies.

A conservative known for his anti-woke political policies, DeSantis has yet to announce a White House bid for 2024, but is widely believed to be mulling one over.

He came under fire earlier this year for signing parental rights bill into law that barred public schools from teaching topics pertaining to gender identity and sexual orientation to kids under 10 - which the Left dubbed the 'Don't Say Gay Bill.'

Meanwhile, Musk, a staunch libertarian and businessman who has saw his wealth swell during the pandemic, has demonstrated a shift towards the political right, after previously being heralded by progressives as a new, more hip breed of businessman.

Former President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis at a campaign rally in 2018. Musk indicated he would back DeSantis if the Florida governor ran in 2024 and said he was 'undecided' about support of Trump

Musk's changing political views were thrust into the limelight in April, after he announced his intention to purchase a majority stake in Twitter for an astounding $44 billion.

His offer to buy Twitter for $54.20 per share was made public on April 14.

On Tuesday, Twitter's board has recommended unanimously that shareholders approve the proposed $44 billion sale of the company, according to a regulatory filing.

Musk reiterated his desire to move forward with the acquisition last week during a virtual meeting with Twitter employees, though shares of Twitter remain far below his offering price, signaling considerable doubt that it will happen.

Shares rose about 3% to $38.98 before the opening bell Tuesday, far short of the $54.20 per-share that Musk has offered for each share. The company's stock last reached that level on April 5 when it offered Musk a seat on the board before he had offered to buy all of Twitter.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission detailing on Tuesday detailing a litter to investors, Twitter's board of directors said that it 'unanimously recommends that you vote (for) the adoption of the merger agreement.'

If the deal were to close now, investors in the company would pocket a profit of $15.22 for each share they own.

Musk reiterated his desire to move forward with the acquisition last week during a virtual meeting with Twitter employees, though shares of Twitter remain far below his offering price

Many Democrats and liberals are concerned that Musk's vision for Twitter will allow for the spread of more misinformation on the platform.

Meanwhile, GOP politicians and those that are more right-leaning have hailed his potential takeover as a victory for free speech.

Some Republican figures are hopeful that they may see GOP accounts reinstated on the platform, having been previously banned - particularly that of President Donald Trump.

However, those hopes were stifled when Musk announced that his takeover had been put on hold week later, citing concerns over fake accounts on Twitter.

Musk then shocked the world further when he announced would be switching political allegiances and vote for the Republican party in the next election due to liberal bias at the San Francisco company.

Speaking via video link at a tech summit in Miami, Florida in May, hosted by the All-In podcast, Musk confirmed he would be changing his vote.

'The reality is that Twitter at this point, you know, has a very far left bias,' Musk told attendees. 'I would classify myself as a moderate, neither Republican nor Democrat.'

Musk went on to assert that he has 'overwhelmingly' voted for Democrats in the past.

'I have voted overwhelmingly for Democrats, historically. Like I'm not sure, I might never have voted for a Republican, just to be clear,' Musk said. He then declared: 'Now this election I will.'

Speaking via video link at a tech summit in Miami in May (pictured), hosted by the All-In podcast, Musk confirmed he would be changing his vote from Democrat to Republican

Insider reported that he did not clarify whether he meant he would vote for the eventual Republican candidate during the 2024 presidential election, or for a GOP candidate in the up-coming November mid-terms.

Musk, the top executive at Tesla and founder of SpaceX, has a net worth of more nearly $209billion - $86billion than the world's next richest man, Jeff Bezos.

For a man so wealthy, Musk's history of political donations in DeSantis' Florida is somewhat sparse - not to mention bipartisan.

In 2014, he donated identical $2,500 sums to each of the men running for governor that year: Democrat Charlie Crist and then-GOP Gov. Rick Scott.

In 2010, he gave Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz $1,000 in 2010.

In 2006, Musk donated at least $5,000 to Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson, also of Florida.

He's also given Republican Senator Marco Rubio at least $15,200 through the years.
The parents of a four-month-old baby boy were fatally shot and a woman was critically injured after a dispute over a dog escalated into violence in Hartford, Connecticut on Father's Day.

New parents Chase Garrett, 39, Christina Dang, 27, and an unidentified woman in her 20s were shot during a confrontation at 67 Franklin Avenue, authorities said.

Hartford Police responded to reports of shots being fired just after 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Garrett and Dang were pronounced dead at the scene, while the third victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

At a press conference Monday, police chief Jason Thody said the shooting happened after a minor neighbor dispute over a dog quickly escalated.

Police have identified a person of interest, who they believe sped off in a vehicle after shooting the victims.

The vehicle was later found by police and is now being processed. An investigation has been launched to find the individual, whose name has not been released.

It is unclear who owned the dog, but police said those involved in the shooting had not made previous reports or complaints about the pet.

The third victim, who lived in the same residence with Garrett and Dang, is fighting for her life.

New parents Chase Garrett, 39, Christina Dang, 27, were fatally shot during a neighbor confrontation in Hartford, authorities said. An unidentified woman in her 20s was critically injured

Just hours before the tragic shooting Sunday that left his child an orphan, Garrett posted a picture of him lovingly carrying his son with the caption 'My first father's day'

Harford Police responded to reports of shots being fired just after 9 p.m. on Sunday. Garrett and Dang were pronounced dead at the scene, while the third victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition

Just hours before the tragic shooting Sunday that left his child an orphan, Garrett posted a picture of him lovingly carrying his son with the caption 'My first father's day.'

Garrett and Dang were seemingly enjoying their life as new parents, often posting pictures of their child.

'Never thought I would be a Father...but I'll try and be the best dad I can be...taught me and teaching me so much! My lil Angel...literally,' Garrett also wrote on Facebook on Father's Day.

Dang's cousin, Olivia Anderson, told NBC that the young family of three had recently moved to Hartford, where they planned to raise their child, to be closer to Garrett's family.

'She just had him in February and she was trying to do better for herself and for her family,' Anderson told the outlet.

Julie Dang remembered her sister as a great mother, and said she regrets her nephew has lost both her parents over a senseless dispute.

'Christina was my baby sister. She was a beautiful soul full of life. She was a mother to a four-month-old Chosen and she lost her life over a senseless argument,' Dang told NBC.

'It's hard for a child to lose two parents on the same night and on Father's Day, a day that should be loved and, you know.'

The baby is now in the custody of DCF, police said.

Julie Dang remembered her sister as a great mother, and said she regrets her nephew has lost both her parents over a senseless dispute

The shooting took place just after 9 p.m. on Sunday in the driveway of the apartment complex on 67 Franklin Avenue

The shooting took place just after 9 p.m. on Sunday in the driveway of the apartment complex on 67 Franklin Avenue.

Police have not disclosed the identity of the person of interest, but said they are actively looking for the individual. DailyMail.com has reached out for comment.

A vehicle that was driven away from the scene by the individual has been recovered and is being processed for evidence.

In a press conference Monday, police pleaded with the public to alert authorities when they witness arguments so it is possible to de-escalate the situation before a tragedy.

'Very personal disputes, minor personal disputes, escalating with incredible speed into violence, and the presence of guns turns those disputes fatal,' Chief Bronin said.

'I can't say it enough, we have to find better ways to resolve our conflicts in non-violent ways. It is frustrating for the officers because these are difficult to predict and difficult to prevent.'

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Hartford Police Department.
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At least 70 percent of Americans are set to experience a severe heatwave that will see temperatures rise above 90F and even reach triple-digits across parts of the Gulf Coast, the Great Lakes and the Mid West on the official first day of summer.

Chicago, Minneapolis, Nashville, Memphis, Dallas, New Orleans and Atlanta are among several cities under excessive heat warnings, with temperatures forecasted to reach higher than 100F, affecting 20 percent of the US population  67.9million people.

Minneapolis and St. Louis in Minnesota saw local weather reach about 101F Monday (38C), accompanied by high humidity that made conditions feel close to 110F (43C).

The Twin Cities are seeing its roads cave in under the heat and two areas on I-35 in the Minneapolis area are now closed as of a result, according to Kare11.

'MSP has just reached 99[F], which is a new daily record (surpassing the old record of 98 set in 1933)! Let's see if we can hit 100,' the National Weather Service Twin Cities tweeted on Monday. The heat index in the area reached a high of 105F that day.

As of Monday at 5 p.m., when temperatures are at their highest, weather in Minneapolis will be 89F, while Chicago will bear the brunt of 93F weather. Weather in Nashville and Phoenix will respectively reach 101F and 108F, while temperatures in Memphis, New Orleans, Atlanta and Dallas will range between 90F-100F.

When temperatures are at their highest at 5p.m. on Monday, weather in Minneapolis will be 89F, while Chicago will bear the brunt of 93F weather. Nashville and Phoenix will respectively reach 101F and 108F, while temperatures in Memphis, New Orleans, Atlanta and Dallas will range between 90F-100F

The National Weather Services in St Louis and Minneapolis tweeted on Monday that the heat index in the area was up to 105F with temperatures around 101F

Roads in Minnesota's capital are starting to crumple under the excessive heat, creating dangerous hazards for drivers

The Minnesota Department of Transportation shared several pictures of parts of I-35 caving in (pictured). The Interstate travels all the way up to Minnesota from border town Laredo, Texas

People flocked to pools, beaches and cooling centers across the Midwest and South spanning from northern Florida to the Great Lakes last week as a heat wave pushed temperatures into the 90s and beyond and may have caused the deaths of at least two people.

Certain parts of the country, including New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, reached record-breaking highs over the week-end, surpassing 97F and 100F respectively on Saturday  breaking the 1913 record of 100F in Mobile.

The National Weather Service urged caution for more than nine million people in eight states that were listed under heat alerts on Monday morning, mostly in the northern and western part of the country, such as Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Kansas.

Temperatures reached 108F (42C) in northwest Kansas last Monday. Western parts of the state and the Texas panhandle nearly reached 110 degrees over the week-end.

Last week, The Kansas Department of Health and Environment knew of at least 2,000 cattle deaths due to high temperatures and humidity. The deaths represent a huge economic loss because the animals, which typically weigh around 1,500 pounds, are worth around $2,000 per head, spokeswoman for the Kansas Livestock Association Scarlett Hagins said.

Federal disaster programs will help some producers who incurred a loss, she added.

Last weeks, temperature readings reported for Kansas began to exceed the 100-degree mark, killing thousands of cattle in the area

Electric companies in the Southeast said they were ready to tackle the second heat wave this week in affected areas as more people are expected to stay indoors and blast their air conditioners.

'This is our 'Super Bowl' that we prepare all year for. We are ready to go!' Tennessee Valley Authority Spokesman Scott Fiedler told CNN in a statement.

Entergy, a power supplier mostly present in states bordering the Gulf of Mexico, said it expects in increase in power in areas across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Orleans, and Texas, and expects to reach unprecedented energy levels.

Preparing for extreme heat is a process that goes on year-round at Oncor  the largest electric utility company in Texas and the fifth in the entire country. It serves more than 10million Texans.

'Our maintenance strategy department starts looking at data analytics and analyzing areas of vulnerability that we could really be focusing on for summer prep,' said Senior Design Manager and former Assistant District Manager Elizabeth Barrett on the company's website.

'We're looking at any areas that could be overloaded,' she added. 'Overloaded transformers. We're using meter data consistently to look at how those transformers could be affected by the increased load and whether or not those transformers need to be possibly changed out.'

Wildfires have also recently emerged in the southwest, mostly in Arizona throughout the last two weeks. Pictured: A wildfire moving through grass, brush and pine trees on the northern outskirts of Flagstaff, Arizona on June 15

A volunteer gives out cold water bottles to a homeless community during a heatwave with expected temperatures of 102 F (39 C) in Dallas, Texas, last week

People cooling off in the water during a heat wave in Lake Havasu, Arizona, last week as temperatures there are well above triple-digits

And the worst may be yet to come. Nighttime temperatures have been hotter than previous years as conditions are expected to be around 100F, not providing much of a relief for a good night's sleep.

The heatwave succeeds wide-ranging weather conditions across the counties last week, which saw millions of people struck by triple-digit temperatures and historic flooding in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming and Montana.

Wildfires have also taken place in Arizona and New Mexico, where conditions in the Phoenix are closer to 110F than 100F. A mixture of severe heat, rain and storms in Ohio also saw many residents lose power last week.

About a 250,000 AEP Ohio customers, a local power company, were without power last Tuesday, according to company data.

Around 169,000 affected customers lived in the Columbus area.
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Ukraine has thanked its Hollywood A-list visitors Ben Stiller, Sean Penn, Liev Schreiber and Angelina Jolie for visiting the war-torn country during Russia's savage invasion.

The Ministry of Defence said in a tweet that the country is 'grateful to Hollywood stars who, despite the danger, have visited us.'

The account named the actors in a tweet and said: 'You are more than just an inspiration to all of us. Millions around the world have heard the truth from you about the struggle of the Ukrainian people.'

Jolie is a special envoy with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and visited Ukraine in April where she met with volunteers and refugees.

Meanwhile Penn was in the country when war broke out and has been making a documentary about Putin's barbaric invasion.

The actor also held a benefit concert, raising 2million for the war victims.

Spotlight star Liev Schreiber helped found a network to support and verify grassroots organisations helping Ukraine.

Stiller is the most recent celebrity to pay a visit in which he met with President Volodymr Zelensky yesterday.

Ukraine has thanked its Hollywood A-list visitors Ben Stiller, Sean Penn, Liev Schreiber and Angelina Jolie for visiting the war-torn country during Russia 's savage invasion

Hollywood star Ben Stiller has said 'seeking safety is a right and it needs to be upheld for every person' during a visit to Ukraine where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday. Stiller, who is a long-term Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)  the UN refugee agency  visited Ukraine on World Refugee Day. As he met with Zelensky, the actor told him: 'You're my hero'

Sean Penn is seen in Krakov, Poland, signing a deal with authorities to help Ukrainian refugees as he helps the victims of the war

UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie poses for a picture with children in Lviv as she made a visit to the country in April

Actor Liev Schreiber looks on during an interview at Ukraine House in Davos after co-founding an organisation to help war charities

The actor, 56, arrived in Poland on Saturday and was pictured in the large south-eastern city of Rzeszow, close to the border, speaking to aid workers in a storage facility.

On Monday morning, Stiller, who is a long-term Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)  the UN refugee agency  visited Ukraine on World Refugee Day.

The actor was seen walking among bombed out buildings in the city of Irpin where Russian forces have bombed residential buildings.

In a video posted to his Instagram account, Stiller said: 'Hey, I'm Ben Stiller, and I'm here in Ukraine. I'm meeting people who've been impacted by the war and hearing how it's changed their lives.

'War and violence are devastating people all over the world. Nobody chooses to flee their home. Seeking safety is a right, and it needs to be upheld for every person.'

He later met with President Zelensky where the pair discussed the importance of the world remembering the on-going conflict with Russia.

'Sir, really nice to meet you. Thanks for taking the time. You're my hero,' Stiller told Zelensky as he approached him and shook his hand.

The Hollywood star then complimented the President on his 'great acting career', to which Zelensky laughed, and replied: 'Not as great as you'.

Stiller then told him that he was inspired by Zelensky, 'for what you've done in this country and for the world'.

Stiller met with Zelensky after walking through a bombed-out neighborhood in Ukraine. At their meeting, Stiller told Zelenskey that he was inspired by him, 'for what you've done in this country and for the world'

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met alongside Stiller to discuss the importance of the world remembering the on-going conflict

Earlier on Monday, to mark World Refugee Day, Stiller walked through the rubble of a neighborhood in Lypki, Irpin

Footage emerged on Sunday of Hollywood actor in Ukraine after recently visiting refugees fleeing the war in Poland.

The Night At The Museum actor met with Ukrainian families afflicted by Russia's war, according to the UN's refugee agency.

Earlier on Sunday Stiller, said he was at the Medyka border between Poland and Ukraine where he 'met families who fled the war in Ukraine, leaving loved ones behind, with no idea when they will be able to return home.'

The footage showed him speaking on the phone and then with what appeared to be resident's in Ukraine's western capital, in an unannounced visit.

'It's nice that people make this public and come to help on their own,' said a Ukrainian TikToker who spotted the celerity.

The Hollywood actor shared on social media his journey through Ukraine while urging the right to safety in video

Footage reportedly taken in Lviv shows actor Ben Stiller speaking on the phone next to people wearing UN insignia

Lviv is a 2.5 hour drive from Rzeszow, where Stiller was visiting on behalf of the UN refugee agency. Stiller said on Sunday he had arrived at the Polish-Ukrainian border, only an hour and a half away from Lviv

A Ukrainian resident uploaded the footage to TikTok, with locals reacting with enthusiasm to the actor's impromptu visit.

'Super, why do your heroes in peacetime during the war also turn out to be wonderful people?' said one TikTok commenter.

'I adore this actor,' said another, in Ukrainian.

On Saturday, Stiller stopped over in the large south-eastern Polish city of Rzeszow, close to the border, where he spoke to aid workers in a storage facility.

More than 3.5 million people are thought to have crossed over into Poland since the war began in February.

Stiller's trip is aimed at helping share 'stories of the human impact of war' and to 'amplify calls for solidarity'.

Actor Ben Stiller, 56, has arrived in Poland to meet refugees forced to flee the war in Ukraine

The actor took to Twitter to announce his arrival in Poland to meet with Ukrainian refugees

Stiller embraces children at a UNHCR Protection Hub providing psycho-social support, SGBV prevention and response and child protection and legal aid services in Medyka, Poland on June 18

Stiller visits a UNHCR Protection Hub providing psycho-social support, SGBV prevention and response and child protection and legal aid services in Medyka, Poland

Stiller meets children at the UNHCR Protection Hub in Medyka, Poland, on June 18

Stiller took to Twitter and posting a photograph of himself speaking with two aid workers, said: 'I've just arrived in Poland with UNHCR, to meet families whose lives have been torn apart by war and violence in Ukraine.

'Millions have been forced to flee their homes with over 90% being women and children.

'I'm here to learn, to share stories that illustrate the human impact of war and to amplify calls for solidarity.

'I hope you'll follow along and share your own messages of support, for people who have fled their homes in Ukraine and for people who have been forced to flee all over the world.

'Everyone has the right to seek safety. Whoever, wherever, whenever.'

Stiller and Silva Alkebeh, Chief of Supply Logistics, talk at Rzeszow UNHCR warehouse, in Rzeszow, Poland, on June 18

Goodwill Ambassador actor Ben Stiller visits a UNHCR Protection Hub providing psycho-social support, SGBV prevention and response and child protection and legal aid services in Medyka, Poland on June 18

Stiller started working with the UNHCR in 2016 and has travelled with the body to meet refugees in Germany, Jordan, Guatemala and Lebanon.

In 2019, he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the humanitarian crisis in Syria, where he pleaded with lawmakers.

He said: 'We must not look away, we cannot let Syrian families go deeper into destitution and we cannot let their children be part of a lost generation.'

Stiller is not the first celebrity to involve themselves in humanitarian work for Ukraine, with Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher raising $35 million for the country and David Beckham handing over his Instagram page to a Ukrainian doctor in Kharkiv for the day.

More than 3.5 million refugees are thought to have crossed over into Poland from Ukraine since the conflict began in February (file pic from March 2022)

The news comes as the grinding battle over Severodonetsk continues, with Russia making marginal gains but finding its forces whittled down to the bone due to the near four-month campaign.

The Institute said Russia will likely take control of Severodonetsk, but at the cost of concentrating its forces, making it vulnerable to attack in other areas.

If successful in Severodonetsk, the Russians will likely advance into Metolkine further into the country.

Just over an hour's drive away from Severodonetsk, Ukrainian artillery has been bombing railway lines used to supply Russian offensive operations toward Slovyansk.

Russia is trying to push the Ukrainian forces back, hoping to force the enemy artillery out of range of their supply lines.

But so far, Russia is struggling to capture Slovyansk and advance east of Bakhmut in the east of Ukraine.

Some of Russia's battalion tactical groups, initially made up of approximately 600800 officers and soldiers, now have as few as 10 to 15 troops remaining.

The Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate said it intercepted phone calls on June 17 and 18 and overheard Russian soldiers complaining about frontline conditions, suggesting a worsening Russian moral.

They complained of poor equipment and an overall lack of personnel.

The cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, which are separated by a river, have been targeted for weeks as the last areas still under Ukrainian control in the eastern Lugansk region
A judge in Brazil has banned an 11-year-old girl who became pregnant after being raped from having an abortion, prompting widespread outrage.

Joana Ribeiro Zimmer is now being investigated after it came to light yesterday that she refused to help the unnamed girl who was raped in her family home in southern Brazil's Santa Catarina state.

The girl was raped earlier this year, and was accompanied by her mother to a doctor in Florianopolis when she was 22 week pregnant.

A medic refused to perform the abortion, saying they could only perform an abortion on someone up to 20 weeks, and that they needed a court order.

It was then that the case reached Judge Zimmer who reportedly told the court if the mother wanted to protect her daughter she would not 'submit her to homicide'.

There are no other details regarding the rape of the girl who is now in her 29th week of pregnancy or the attacker.

Abortion is illegal in Brazil and can mean jail time except in cases when the victim is raped and there is a risk to the life of the mother.

Judge Joana Ribeiro Zimmer (pictured), holder of the District of Tijucas, , is now being investigated, after it came to light yesterday that she refused to help the unnamed girl who was raped in her family home in southern Brazil's Santa Catarina state

The girl, accompanied by her mother, was seen by a doctor on May 4 at the Polydoro Ernani de Sao Thiago University Hospital, the Intercept reported.

They then told a psychologist at the hospital that they did not want to keep the pregnancy.

Two days later, prosecutor Mirela Dutra Alberton, from the Santa Catarina Public Ministry, petitioned the court to take her into a shelter.

The prosecutor in court documents said that pregnancy is a high risk, explaining: 'Obviously, a child at a young age does not have a biological structure in the formative stage suitable for a pregnancy'.

Then when the case reached the Santa Catarina court, Judge Zimmer sent the girl to a shelter for women, to protect her from her aggressor.

Her mother, unnamed, reportedly said that if she had not been taken to the shelter, she would have performed the abortion on her daughter herself.

The judge also told the mother if she had granted the girl an abortion that she would not be 'protecting her daughter' and would instead have been 'subjecting her to a homicide'.

After a medic refused to perform the abortion, it was taken to Judge Zimmer who said if the mother want to protect her daughter she would not 'submit her to homicide'

The girl, accompanied by her mother, was seen by a doctor on May 4 at the Polydoro Ernani de Sao Thiago University Hospital

The Court of Justice of Santa Catarina has since said that its Internal Affairs Office is now looking into Judge Zimmer's ruling.

The case has attracted widespread criticism in the largely Catholic country, with experts quoted in local media as saying that there is no legal basis for the situation, neither regarding the stance that the hospital adopted, nor for the judge's decision.

The Court said in a statement that they had 'initiated a request for measures in the administrative sphere for the proper investigation of the facts'.

The IPAS organisation, which campaigns for abortion rights in Brazil, says: 'Because Brazilian law only permits abortion in cases of rape, foetal anencephaly, or risk to life, in 2012 the country's Ministry of Health reported only 1,626 legal abortions in a nation with 203 million people.

'However, an estimated one million Brazilian women have abortions every year. Many of those women, particularly those without the financial or social resources to see a well-trained, willing provider, run a huge legal risk when they decide to end an unwanted pregnancy.

'The physical consequences can also be devastating.'

The case is ongoing.

Last week, the premature baby of a 12-year-old Bolivian girl who was allegedly raped by her grandfather died after the girl from Chimore, Cochabamba (pictured) was denied an abortion

Under Bolivian law, abortion is legal for rape and incest victims, but the procedure can only be undertaken up to the 22nd week of pregnancy

Last week, the premature baby of a 12-year-old Bolivian girl who was allegedly raped by her grandfather died after the girl was denied an abortion.

Under Bolivian law, abortion is legal for rape and incest victims, but the procedure can only be undertaken up to the 22nd week of pregnancy.

The pregnant girl had begged to be allowed to terminate the shocking pregnancy, but she had been told she was too late.

Medics at the German Urquidi Maternal and Child Hospital in Cochabamba had denied her pleas because she was six months pregnant at the time.

The hospital's refusal to terminate the young girl's pregnancy shocked Bolivia, with many calling for reform of the country's abortion laws.

The infant was delivered by C-section in the 29th week of the pregnancy. The premature newborn's health was delicate and it was placed in an incubator but died.

The girl was reportedly raped by her grandfather in Senda F, in the municipality of Chimore.

It transpired that the elderly man, a farmer, had allegedly raped his granddaughter many times before she fell pregnant.

He is now being held in pre-trial custody at San Pedro de Sacaba prison.

The names of both the victim and the alleged perpetrator were not given in local reports.
Tories believe they are closing the gap on the Lib Dems in Tiverton and Labour in Wakefield - but still face defeat in both by-elections on Thursday.

Senior Conservatives who have been campaigning in the seats told MailOnline that the mood has been improving steadily since the revolt against Boris Johnson subsided.

They said the party was still on track to lose the contests, putting the PM on course for what would be a humbling double-setback.

However, ministers have already been rehearsing arguments about how difficult it is for governments to hold by-elections in mid-term - and limiting the scale of the defeats is considered critical for Mr Johnson.

Labour and Lib Dems said they were also detecting a narrowing of the battles, although they are still expecting to come out on top.

Conservative candidate Nadeem Ahmed campaigning at the weekend ahead of the Wakefield by-election

Boris Johnson (left) has not visited Wakefield during the campaign, although Keir Starmer was there at the weekend

Wakefield was a prize 'Red Wall' scalp when taken by Imran Ahmad Khan in 2019 with a majority of 3,358. It was the first time since 1931 that the Tories had won there.

But Mr Ahmed Khan is now in prison, having been jailed for a sex assault on a teenage boy.

A poll by Survation for the 38 Degrees website two weeks ago - around the time of the vote of no confidence against Mr Johnson - put Labour on 56 per cent in the West Yorkshire seat, with the Tories on 33 per cent.

Mr Johnson has not visited the constituency during the campaign, although Keir Starmer was there at the weekend.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has urged Tiverton & Honiton voters to 'speak for Britain' and overturn a 24,000 Tory majority - which is up for grabs after being vacated by 'tractor porn' MP Neil Parish.

A Labour source who has been campaigning in Wakefield over recent days told MailOnline: 'It's not going to be a 20-point victory. But they have done the work, it is definitely a win.

'A 3,000 to 4,000 majority is what I would anticipate.'

'The Lib Dems haven't done anything. The Greens have sent out a leaflet.

'There were some people I spoke to who said they would be voting Green... nobody mentioned Brexit, which is a good sign. But two people mentioned Corbyn.'

The senior activist said that although the rail strikes were not causing any backlash for Labour in the seat, there were concerns it could disrupt logistics for getting out the vote on Thursday.

'The rail strike could send it off track... that might stop us bringing in people to get out the vote.'

A senior Tory who has been campaigning in both Wakefield and Tiverton agreed that 'Labour will win in Wakefield'.

'There is no question about that. The Boris factor is playing,' they told MailOnline.

'Having said that, the Tories have got the message across about the Labour candidate being an outsider and there is no love of Labour.

'They will win because enough people are disaffected in a constituency that has never been Conservative since before the Second World War.'

The Tiverton & Honiton by-election is one part of a critical by-election double-header this week

Mr Johnson joined candidate Helen Hurford at on the campaign trail in Tiverton earlier in the month

A poll by Survation for the 38 Degrees website two weeks ago - around the time of the vote of no confidence against Mr Johnson - put Labour on 56 per cent in the West Yorkshire seat, with the Tories on 33 per cent

'It is going to be a clear Labour victory on a low turnout, but not the huge margin that it might have been two weeks ago.

'The further you get away from the vote of confidence the less antipathy there is towards the Tories and Boris, particularly because in both cases the Tories have got reasonably good candidates.'

The senior Tory said they had been encouraged by the number of volunteers coming to Tiverton and the organisation of the campaign.

'In Tiverton I still expect the Lib Dems to win but not by the walk-away margins it would have been,' they said.

'The passivity of the Tory MPs, the act they are not rowing among themselves, people are saying to me that as each that has gone by the response in Tiverton is less bad. It's not got good, just less bad.'

The Conservative grandee said the contest was extremely difficult to read because it was unclear 'how much of the Labour vote collapses and goes Lib Dem'.

'If you go beyond 2,000-3,000 in Tiverton on what will be a low turnout that will rattle the Tory party,' they added.

A CCHQ source sounded a more downbeat tone, saying the situation was 'very f***ing difficult'.

'The demographics are similar to North Shropshire, and see what happened there,' they said. 'It has stopped getting worse. This is from a very low base.'

A Lib Dem source played down previous suggestions that they expected to win by 5,000 votes in Tiverton.

'It is really neck and neck. If anything they are just ahead,' they said, pointing to internal canvassing returns.

The source said questions over Mr Johnson's integrity were part of the campaign, but local issues such as the state of the school and NHS pressures had been huge factors.

'There is a huge majority to overcome. Even slashing that majority would be a massive result for us.'
A 13-year-old boy has died after a stolen car he was in crashed in south east Queensland.

The boy was part of a group of four teenagers aged 13 and 14 inside the Holden Commodore in Kingsthorpe before crashing it on Warrego Highway on Monday morning.

He was airlifted to Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane after the accident but died from his injuries on Tuesday.

Another boy, 14, is in a critical condition at the same hospital.

Four teen boys were found inside a crashed Holden Commodore on Warrego Highway (pictured) in Queensland on Monday. The car had been stolen

It's alleged by police that one of the two boys transferred to Queensland Children's Hospital was driving the car before the accident.

One boy, 14, had serious neck, back, shoulder and chest injuries and was taken to Toowoomba Hospital.

A fourth boy, also 14, was transported under police guard to the same hospital with minor injuries.

He was later released from hospital and taken into custody by police.

He's been charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count each of attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle, burglary and commit indictable offence, receiving tainted property and assault occasioning bodily harm.

The boy was held in custody on Monday night and will front Toowoomba Childrens Court on Wednesday.

The group of teens had stolen the Commodore at a property in Kingsthorpe on Sunday night before they drove it on Warrego Highway the next morning, according to police.

They were driving west when they veered to the side of the road, went over an embankment and rolled the car.

Police claim the teens were all from the Toowoomba area.

Two of the boys were taken to Queensland Children's Hospital (pictured) in Brisbane with critical injuries following the crash. One of the boys died from his injuries on Tuesday

A Queensland detective has cautioned young offenders to consider their actions as they could result in serious injuries or death.

'Incidents like this are very traumatic, not only for the parents of the children but also for members of the public,' said Detective Acting Superintendent Garry Watts.

'We have four people that were involved in the crash, two quite severely injured.'

'We strongly urge children and anyone behaving like this to really think about what they are doing, because tragedy is right around the corner,' he added.

It comes as the region sees a significant rise in car thefts by young teenagers.

KSouljah Kahukura-Campbell claimed ownership of the stolen Holden Commordore and said the theft had 'really put me out' as his tools were gone and he couldn't get to work.

Mr Kahukura-Campbell believes he had left the car unlocked when it was taken on Sunday night.

He didn't have much sympathy for the teens, telling The Courier Mail: 'If you are going to be dumb you are going to pay the consequences.'
Korea Development Bank (KDB) Chairman Kang Seog-hoon speaks during his inauguration ceremony held at the headquarters of the state-run bank on Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of KDB



By Anna J. Park



Two weeks after being appointed to head state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), Chairman Kang Seog-hoon finally held a delayed inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, vowing to communicate closely with the bank's workers regarding a government-led relocation plan to Busan.



Unionized workers of the bank had been blocking the new chairman from entering the bank headquarters since his appointment, urging the Yoon administration to scrap the previously devised relocation plan for the bank's headquarters to the southeastern city.

Due to the strong protest, the new chief had so far been working at a separate office outside of the bank headquarters. Tuesday was the first day that he entered the bank headquarters, despite the ongoing protests by the unionized workers.





Korea Development Bank (KDB) Chairman Kang Seog-hoon, center, enters the headquarters of the state-run bank located on Yeouido, Seoul, as unionized workers of the bank lie down on the floor in protest, Tuesday. Courtesy of KDB Labor Union
Uber is set to bring back shared rides in some major U.S. cities after pausing the service in March 2020 - the start of the pandemic.

The shared rides service, also known as the UberX Share option, is now available in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, San Diego, Portland, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh, the company announced on Tuesday. More cities will be added in the summer.

Lyft also suspended shared rides in March 2020, but it restarted the option for riders in Miami and Philadelphia last year.

Uber said it understands the importance of affordability 'in the current economic climate' as the average gas price across the US stood at just under $5 per gallon.

The ride-share company said it was attempting to 'chip away' at car ownership - while offering new savings for customers.

'Offering more affordable products isnt just good for customers, it helps build out an ecosystem of affordable, multi-modal transportation,' Uber Senior Vice President of Mobility and Business Operations Andrew Macdonald said in the announcement.

UberX Share riders can anticipate an upfront discount for choosing the service and a 20% discount off their ride if their driver picks up a co-worker along the route, the company said.

To avoid delays, the ride service will only pick up or drop off customers along the same route and will guarantee only an eight minutes later than a regular Uber drive.

Uber will resume its ride share service in some major U.S. cities after halting the service in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic

The company will give drivers the option to opt out of the ride-share service. Masks for passengers remain optional.

Uber is proceeding with caution and limits one person per share ride request.

The announcement comes months after Uber enforced an additional charge of $0.45 cents or $0.55 cents per Uber trip to offset soaring gasoline costs for drivers in March.

The company announced the launch of shared rides on Twitter, but received backlash from commenters

Some commenters claimed that ride-share wasn't missed by drivers

Other commenters said they will not be using the feature if masks are not required

But while some riders may welcome the deal, many took to social media to hit back at the company.

'Drivers never wanted this garbage,' one Twitter user responded to Uber's announcement on the social media platform.

Another added, 'If masks are not required... it's a NO for me.'
A group of Republican and Democrat senators are nearing a deal on gun legislation and are expected to drop it on Tuesday after spending the long weekend working out kinks between the two sides.

The group of negotiators - Sens. Chris Murphy, Conn., and Kyrsten Sinema, Ariz., on the Democratic side and Sens. John Cornyn, Texas, and Thom Tillis, N.C., on the Republican side, had hoped to have the text of the legislation out by Monday but nothing came through.

A GOP source told Politico that negotiators ran into a hiccup over the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funds to pay for abortions. Republicans have fought to keep the amendment in place while Democrats have tried to undo it.

Cornyn told ABC Tuesday morning that he thought there could be bill text released today, 'hopefully shortly,' but the bill is hung up over 'details.'

If the Senate moves forward procedurally on Tuesday the chamber could vote on the bill by the end of the week. If not, there is little hope that any bill will make it through before the two-week July 4 recess that begins at the end of this week.

Lawmakers have scrambled to cobble together a deal after a recent spate of mass shootings, most notably Uvalde, Texas where an 18-year-old gunman mowed down 19 children and two teachers.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has been heading negotiations for Republicans

Sen. Chris Murphy, Conn., has been heading negotiations for Democrats

Another provision that caused trouble last week was the so-called 'boyfriend loophole.' Last week Cornyn told CNN that the loophole 'continues to be a challenge' and one option is to 'drop it' from the package.

Democrats pushed to include the provision in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women act earlier this year, but it was stripped out under intense lobbying by gun rights groups before Biden signed the law earlier this year.

Current law prohibits people convicted of domestic violence from owning a firearm if the violence is against a spouse, a partner who they live with or a partner who they share children with. Democratic lawmakers have pushed the provision to include dating partners, convicted stalkers or anyone under a protective order.

The Washington Post reports that language closing the boyfriend loophole has been worked out and is a part of the legislation.

Pieces of the framework also include expanded background checks for those aged 18-21, funding to encourage states to implement red flag laws, funding for mental health and school safety and penalties for 'straw purchases,' or third party gun purchases.

Though the bill leaves out many Democratic priorities for gun control, Cornyn was still booed over the weekend at the Texas GOP convention in his hometown of Houston.

'Democrats pushed for an assault weapons ban, I said no,' Cornyn said. 'They tried to get a new three-week mandatory waiting period for all gun purchases, I said no. Universal background checks, magazine bans, licensing requirements, the list goes on and on and on. And I said no, no, 1,000 times no,' he told the hostile crowd.

Onlookers were chanting 'no red flags' and 'say no to Cornyn,' according to Houston Public Media.

'We reject the so called 'bipartisan gun agreement,' and we rebuke Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lindsey Graham 1601 (R-S.C.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.),' one resolution voted on by the delegates at the Texas GOP convention reads.

Cornyn, asked about the booing on Tuesday, said he is 'all for people exercising their First Amendment right' and it did not sway him in the negotiations.
A 13-year-old student at Isaac J. Gourdine Middle School in Fort Washington, Maryland was taken into custody after bringing a loaded handgun to the school on Tuesday morning, according to Prince George's County Police Department.

PGPD reports that officers received a call about the student at 8.15am before the school was locked down.

By approximately 8.50am, PGPD officers had the student in custody and the gun was recovered.

The student was found in a classroom with a loaded P80 semi-automatic handgun in his waistband that held 16 rounds including one in the chamber, law enforcement told ABC7.

P80's are often called ghost guns, as they can be constructed at home and oftentimes do not have serial numbers, making them hard to trace.

Police said the student showed the gun to other students, who then reported it to school security staff according to ABC7's Brad Bell.

Previously, NBC Washington's Prince George's County bureau chief Tracee Wilkins reported that the gun was an automatic weapon, but that report has been contradicted by subsequent reporting.

A student was taken into custody after bringing a gun to Isaac J. Gourdine Middle School in Fort Washington, Maryland

A Glock P80 semi automatic handgun. The 13-year-old student was found with the gun in his waistband, holding 16 rounds with one in the chamber

Prince George's County Police Department tweet after recovering the weapon and taking a student into custody

There are no initial reports of a struggle involved when taking the student into custody, and no injuries were reported.

There is an ongoing investigation on the incident, but currently there are no plans for a press conference.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Prince George's County Police Department for more details. At this time, they are not releasing information regarding the student's age or identity.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates
Aldi has closed a store in a crime-ridden neighborhood of Chicago without notice after 13 years and blamed 'repeated burglaries'.

The supermarket chain closed the store in South Side neighborhood Auburn Gresham on June 12 leaving only a sign that said the shop is 'permanently closed' and that the nearest store is three miles away.

Aldi said the store had closed for a number of reasons including 'repeated burglaries' and 'declining sales' but declined to say why residents were not notified of the decision.

It is not the first time Aldi has abruptly shuttered a store in the city after closing an outlet in Chicago's West Garfield Park last year.

Chicago has become the latest city to be hit by rampant shoplifting and its Magnificent Mile, the once highly-populated retail destination, is now dotted with empty storefronts as businesses are being driven away by the brazen thieves.

Crime rates across the board in Chicago are already above what they were at this time last year, data from the Chicago Police Department's data up until June 19 shows.

Burglaries in the Windy City have risen 31 per cent year on year, rising from 2468 to 3235 up until June 19 while thefts have increased 65 per cent from 4712 to 7770 for the year to date.

Observers have pinned some of the blame on Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who backed calls to defund the police in the wake of BLM protests in 2020 before u-turning after a Chicago policewoman was shot dead.

Others have pinned blame on District Attorney Kim Foxx, who was widely accused of meddling in the Jussie Smollett case, after she stopped pursuing shoplifters who steal less than $1,000.

Aldi closed the store in South Side neighborhood Auburn Gresham on June 12 leaving only a sign that said the shop is 'permanently closed'

A spokesperson for Aldi said in a statement: 'We've made the difficult decision to permanently close our store located at 7627 S. Ashland Avenue in Chicago.

'The store's final day of operation was Sunday, June 12.

'We do not take the closing of this location lightly. Our decision was based on several factors, including repeated burglaries and declining sales.

'Out of concern for our employees and customers, keeping this store open was no longer a sustainable option.

'All of our employees have been given the option to continue working at one of our other ALDI locations in the immediate area.'

A series of violent crimes have rocked the city in recent months including a series of repeated burglary attempts on the Bottega Veneta store on Chicago's Magnificent Mile, which was robbed twice in two weeks.

One robber was seen letting his pal into the Italian designer store, scaring a terrified shop assistant in the process, before they began clearing its shelves of luxury leather goods, which retail for up to $6,200.

The thieves had left the scene with luxury merchandise that cost tens of thousands of dollars, exactly 21 days after a prior robbery saw 35 bags lifted on September 20.

Both suspects were seen leaving the store with tens of thousands of dollars worth of purses in hand

The city has been plagued by a string of robberies and a wave of crime in the past few months, as some say that the city's 'soft-on-crime' policies embolden the thieves.

Shoplifting cases grew more common following a December 2016 motion from State's Attorney Kim Foxx that mandated Chicago prosecutors only issue felony charges for theft of property over $1,000.

Her officer said at the time that the move was meant to shift focus to the driving factors of the crimes instead of low-level offenses. In turn, however, thieves know they can grab armfuls of merchandise without being stopped by store security.

There have been 268 murders in the Windy City so far this year, down by seven per cent compared to last year when there were 289 murder in the same time period.

Sexual assaults are also also down by two per cent from last year, as 895 incidents have been reported this year compared to 912 last year.

Motor vehicle thefts are also up 39 per cent compared to the same time last year, with 5,586 reported in 2022 and 4,033 reported in the same period in 2021.

Shooting incidents, meanwhile, are down 17 per cent from last year - but there have already been a string of deadly shootings, with seven people at an intersection in the city's South Side in March and three minors killed in January.

The Chicago mayor has come under fire for the way she has dealt with rising crime after she publicly backed the 'defund the police' movement and proposed slashing $59million from the CPD budget, or 3.3 per cent, and 600 vacant positions from the department, amid Black Lives Matter protests throughout the summer of 2020.

Lighfoot backtracked in August after police officer Ella French was shot dead while policing a traffic stop.

Her death was the first fatal shooting of a Chicago officer in the line of duty since Lightfoot took office and the first female officer fatally shot on the job there in 33 years.

Following the August killing, Lightfoot unveiled a new plan to 'refund the police' which lifted the Chicago Police Department's annual budget from $1.7billion to $1.9billion.

But about two weeks after the tragedy, over Labor Day weekend, Chicago was swept by another wave of violent crime that saw a four year-old boy die after he was shot twice in the head through a window of his dad's home while he slept.

Foxx gained notoriety in 2019 when she dropped felony charges against Jussie Smollett, the Empire actor accused of staging a racist, homophobic attack on himself in January 2019.

Despite publicly supporting calls to 'defund the police', Chicago Mayor Lightfoot backtracked in August after the death of officer Ella French and proposed a new plan to 'refund the police'
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Sunbathers were spotted soaking up the rays this afternoon as temperatures hit 24 Degrees Celsius (75.2F) in London and the south east.

The RMT's national strike may have left train stations empty, but Britain's beaches were heaving on the first official day of summer, as beachgoers enjoyed the clear blue skies and sunshine on the longest day of the year.

In Bournemouth, scores of swimmers took a plunge in the sea to cool down as the south enjoyed another heatwave.

Temperatures are set to rise tomorrow to 28 Degrees Celsius (82.4F) in the south east and 27 degrees (80.6F) on Thursday.

But by Friday, things will noticeably start to cool down with the possibility of some showers.

Sunbathers were spotted soaking up the rays this afternoon as temperatures hit 24 Degrees Celsius (75.2F) in London and the south east (Pictured: Sunbathers in Bournemouth)

Women pose for a photo in the sea at the Hot Walls in Old Portsmouth. The hot weather returned to Hampshire this week as the South sees another heatwave on the horizon

Four hundred people took part in the annual summer solstice swim at Ilkley Lido, West Yorkshire. This year's event was sold out and is the highest achieved attendance in its history

Sunbathers enjoyed the baking weather in Bournemouth today

A couple enjoyed soaking up the rays on Bournemouth beach today as the country basked in 24 degree heat

Families also arrived to out up tents and windbreakers as millions across the country enjoyed the baking hot weather

Bournemouth looked like a picture postcard today as dozens of families and schoolchildren took to the beach

The enjoyable hot climes occurred as many parts of the country lost their rail services due to strike action, with millions working from home

Two women made the most of the pleasant afternoon heat by sunbathing at Bournemouth beach today

Top up the suncream! Another pair of sunbathers lathered on their sun protection in Bournemouth today

According to the Met Office, Wales and Scotland will also see fine weather, with the mercury rising to around 73.4F.

Light, gentle winds are expected across England and Wales, although it will turn cloudy in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with showers a possibility.

Although the country is again getting warmer, temperatures this week will not match those seen last week and on Saturday, when the mercury rose to a blistering 91F.

Four hundred people took part in the annual summer solstice swim at Ilkley Lido, West Yorkshire. This year's event was sold out and is the highest achieved attendance in the event's history.

This morning, thousands of druids, pagans and New Age revelers greeted the summer solstice at Stonehenge for the longest day of the northern hemisphere year.

Wiltshire Police said around 6,000 people gathered at the ancient stone circle in southern England to watch the sun rise at 4:49 a.m. (0349GMT) on a clear, crisp morning.

Police said the atmosphere was 'convivial' and there were only two arrests - one for assault and one for drug possession.

It was the first time revellers have been permitted to gather for the solstice since 2019. The sunrise was streamed online in 2020 and 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Stonehenge was built between 5,000 and 3,500 years ago on a windswept plain in southwest England by a sun-worshipping Neolithic culture. Experts still debate its purpose, but it is aligned so that on summer solstice the sun rises behind the Heel Stone and rays of sunlight are channeled into the centre of the circle.
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The terrified owner of the 12th floor flat which erupted into flames after an e-bike set alight has told how he thought he was 'going to die' when he saw the blaze.

Liiban Shakat, 38, said his friend who had been staying for a few days was charging the electric vehicle in a back bedroom before the fire broke out in Shepherds Bush, West London, this morning.

He said that his friend found smoke coming from the charger and when he unplugged it the entire thing exploded, with the burning hot plastic setting fire to the carpet and curtains in the bathroom.

He said the smoke alarm in his flat in Stebbing House failed to sound and claimed the sprinkler system he said was put in earlier this year failed to activate.

Dramatic photos from the scene showed smoke billowing into the sky close to the burned out shell of Grenfell as the blaze took hold inside the home in Shepherds Bush, West London.

Later firefighters battled a second tower block fire, with a blaze engulfing flat in Grantham Road, Newham. Around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines tackled the fire on the 13th floor of the 15-storey block and around 60 people escaped the building, before it was brought under control at 4.45pm.

Today's blaze comes days after the five year anniversary of the devastating Grenfell tragedy, when a total of 72 people were killed and another 74 injured.

Mr Shakat, who has lived in the for more than 20-years, told MailOnline: 'I remember watching the Grenfell Tower burn down five years ago. I remember seeing the flames lighting up the sky.

'Today, it brought all that horror back and I thought I was going to die.

Liiban Shakat, pictured, was terrified that he was going to die after spotting the fire when he woke up in his flat. His two friends had been staying in the property and tried to put the fire out which was caused by the e-bike

Inside of the 12th floor flat where an e-bike set on fire earlier this morning, leaving the residents inside terrified and suffering from smoke inhalation

Mr Shakat claims that the sprinklers inside of his flat did not go off despite the blaze, and the fire alarms also failed to work. But the council claim that refurbishment had taken place at the property recently, and they believe the systems were functioning

A second flat fire at a high rise has broken out today in Newham, with a flat on the 13th and 14th floors becoming englufed in flames. Around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines have rushed to the scene in Newham where 60 people fled the scene

'My friend woke me just after 9am and because I was still tired I couldn't tell what he was saying but he made me follow him to the back bedroom and when we got there, the entire room was alright.

'I ran and got a bucket and filled it with water and threw it on the flames but all that did was make it worse.

'At this point I started to panic and knocked on the neighbours doors to warn them and tried to get down in the lift but because of the fire it had automatically stopped working.

'I ran down the twelve flights of stairs to summon help.

'I remember looking at my friend when he woke me up and his lips and tongue were black. I couldn't understand it at the time but I realise now it must have been I caused by him inhaling the smoke.

'He is now in hospital, I haven't had chance to speak to him yet. I hope he is ok. He isn't seriously hurt, it's mainly shock.'

A Hammersmith and Fulham council spokesman confirm that the 1960s tower block 'does not have Grenfell-style cladding' meaning that it is 'non-flammable'.

They also denied that the systems did not work, adding: 'The fire alarm in the affected property worked. The automatic smoke control system for the building worked.

'The wet risers to feed water up the building worked  which was used by the London Fire Brigade to put out the fire.'

Jonathan Stone, building safety manager at the council, said fire safety measures taken by the local authorities had 'prevented another Grenfell'.

Both Mr Stone and Labour council leader Stephen Cowan, who were on the scene in the aftermath, told the PA news agency they had been advised that the fire alarms had gone off as expected.

The council has a system called Fire Safety Plus, they said, which has taken steps including installing fire safety doors to help residents stay protected.

The fire was brought under control by around 10.55am, which Mr Cowan said was partly made possible by the lack of flammable product on the building - a crucial difference from the Grenfell Tower.

He told the PA news agency that residents may understandably be 'in shock' after the ordeal and that reports of fire alarms failing to sound were understood to be inaccurate.

Labour MP for Hammersmith Andy Slaughter told PA at the scene that work he understood the fire would be 'of great concern' and said a full report would be completed to formally establish the cause.

'Any fire, particularly in high rise buildings, is going to be of great concern to residents and they will need reassurance that all safety measures are in place,' he said.

London Fire Brigade confirmed that the fire was under control as of 10.55am and three people had left the flat before firefighters arrived.

The blaze caused damage to three floors of the building, and residents from the 10th, 11th and 12th floors have not been allowed back into their homes.

Firefighters are now battling a second fire after a tower block Grantham Road, Newham became engulfed in flames. THe blaze started just hours after crews had put out the one just 15 minutes from Grenfell

Thirty residents were evacuated and one person was treated for smoke inhalation after the blaze broke out at the high rise building less than a mile from Grenfell Tower, just days after the fifth anniversary of the tragedy

A fire broke out this morning on the 12th floor of a high-rise flat close to Grenfell Tower in West London. Around 60 firefighters tackled the blaze on Queensdale Crescent which is now under control

The fire in Newham, pictured, was under control by 4.45pm. Fire crews from Ilford, Stratford, Leytonstone, Plaistow, Dagenham and surrounding fire stations were at the scene

The fire at Grenfell in June 2017 killed 72 people and injured another 74. The blaze took more than 250 firefighters and 70 fire engines to bring under control

Scorch marks can be seen on the side of the high-rise building after the 12th floor flat set alight. The cause of the fire is thought to have been from an 'electric bike charger' and the residents of the property had fled the flat before firefighters attended

Mr Shakat added: 'I remember looking at my friend when he woke me up and his lips and tongue were black. I couldn't understand it at the time but I realise now it must have been caused by him inhaling the smoke.

'He told me that he had been charging his e-bike overnight and he woke up this morning because smoke was coming out of the charger in the wall.

'As he went to take the charger out, it exploded and showered the floor and wall with hot pieces of plastic which set fire to the carpet and the curtains.

'The fire took hold within minutes - but the smoke alarms in the flat did not go off and neither did the sprinklers that were only put in earlier this year.'

'I'm still in shock but I'm happy and relieved that everyone got out ok and nobody was seriously hurt.'

A Hammersmith and Fulham council spokesman confirmed that the fire 'was under control very quickly' and that there was 'no need to evacuate as the fire was contained to a single flat'.

Firefighters also had to battle a second fire after a tower block Grantham Road, Newham became engulfed in flames, which is now under control.

Around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines are currently fighting the fire on the 13th floor of a 15-storey block is alight and around 60 people escaped the building before firefighters arrived.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: 'Half of a flat on the 13th floor and the whole of a flat on the 14th floor is alight. Around 60 people left the building before the Brigade arrived.

'The Brigade was called at 1447. Fire crews from Ilford, Stratford, Leytonstone, Plaistow, Dagenham and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.

'The Brigade's 999 Control Officers have taken more than 50 calls to the blaze. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.'

Alongside the 60 firefighters a 32mm aerial appliance was sent to the scene, with a 64mm fire engine also called to assist. Emergency services helped up to 30 residents leave the building, with those from the 10th, 11th and 12th floors still unable to access their homes

His friend found smoke coming from the charger and when he unplugged it the entire thing exploded, with the burning hot plastic setting fire to the carpet and curtains in the bathroom.

Black smoke and ash could be seen billowing out of the windows of the high rise property, burning the exterior of the building

Eight fire engines rushed to the scene of the fire to tackle the blaze, with London Ambulance Service treating a 'number of patients' at the scene

London Fire Brigade confirmed that they had taken over thirty 999 about the fire in West London after smoke was seen billowing from the building

Fire risk assessment documents published by the authority last year for Stebbing House state that the 'risk to life from fire in these premises is 'moderate' but certain concerns were highlighted including the need for 'additional smoke ventilation to corridors'.

The building has 25 floors and was refurbished in about 2011 and can house a maximum of 450 residents, according to council documents.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman added: 'We were called at 9.45am to reports of a fire at a block of flats on Queensdale Crescent.

'We sent resources to the scene, including two ambulances and our Hazardous Area Response Team.

'Two patients were assessed at the scene and another was treated and taken to hospital.'

Black smoke could be seen billowing in the sky less than a mile away from Grenfell Tower which caught fire in June 2017.

Armani Paczkowski, who lives on the sixth floor with his mother, said: 'The first we heard that something was happening was when neighbours started knocking on our front door this morning about 9.30am.

'They were telling us there was a fire and that we had to get out.

'I couldn't see anything until I got out of the block and went round to the back and saw thick black smoke pouring out of a window on the 12th floor.'

Prince William and Kate laid a wreath with white flowers at the base of Grenfell Tower to mark the five-year anniversary of the deadly fire in an unannounced visit last week

Theresa May and community volunteer Claire Walker spoke before the Grenfell fire memorial service at Westminster Abbey

Grenfell Tower Memorial Wall was created to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the devastating blaze in 2017

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan attended the memorial service for Grenfell Tower in Westminster Abbey last week

Another resident, on the second floor, said: 'I could smell smoke but couldn't see it. The fire happened at the back of the block, upstairs from me so I didn't see it.

'It was quite frightening to begin with because Grenfell Tower is nearby and thoughts of that disaster went through my mind at first but thankfully on this occasion, the fire was under control fairly quickly with no loss of life.'

A total of 72 people were killed and another 74 injured in the blaze, which took more than 250 firefighters and 70 fire engines to bring under control.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined bereaved families and survivors of the tragedy at the event last week.

The 72 victims who lost their lives in the deadly Grenfell Tower blaze Mohammad al-Haj Ali, 23

Sakina, 65, and Fatema Afrasehabi, 59

Fathia Ahmed, 71, Abufars Ibrahim, 39, and daughter Isra Ibrahim, 35

Raymond Bernard, 63

Kamru Miah, 79, Rabeya Begum, 64, Mohammed Hamid, 27, Mohammed Hanif, 26 and Husna Begum, 22

Maria del Pilar Burton, 72

Ali Yawar Jafari, 81

Amna Mahmud Idris, 27

Victoria King, 71, and Alexandra Atala, 40

Tony Disson, 65

Rania Ibrahim, and her young children Fethia and Hania

Vincent Chiejina, 60

Joseph Daniels, 69

Mariem, 27, and Eslah Elgwahry, 64

Hesham Rahman, 57

Gary Maunders, 57

Hashim Kedir, 44, Nura Jemal, 35, Firdows Hashim, 12, Yahya Hashim, 13, and Yaqub Hashim, six

Gloria Trevisan, 26, and Marco Gottardi, 27

Khadija Saye, 24

Mary Mendy, 54

Hamid Kani, 60

Deborah Lamprell, 45

Abdulaziz El-Wahabi, 52, Faouzia, 41, Yasin, 20, daughter Nur Huda, 16, and son Mehdi, eight

Ligaya Moore, 78

Dennis Murphy, 56

Mohamed Neda, 57

Mohamednur Tuccu, 44, his wife Amaya Tuccu-Ahmedin and Amal Ahmedin, three

Omar Belkadi, 32, Farah Hamdan, 31, and daughters Malak, seven, and six-month-old Leena

Berkti, 29, and Biruk Haftom, 12

Khadija Khalloufi, 52

Steve Power, 63

Jessica Urbano Ramirez, 12

Zainab Deen, 32, and her son Jeremiah, 2

Logan Gomes

Abdeslam Sebbar, 67

Sheila Smith, 84

Marjorie, 68, and Ernie Vital, 50

Isaac Paulos, 5

Nadia, Bassem, Sirria, Mierna, Fatima and Zeinab Choucair Advertisement

Kate and Wills had held a private meeting before the memorial event, between the royal couple and those directly affected by the disaster.

NHS communications director Mike Waddington has encouraged residents whose memories of the Grenfell fire had been triggered by today's latest blaze to approach local mental health services.

He tweeted: 'If you find this incident in Shepherds Bush upsetting so close to the Grenfell Anniversary, please contact the Grenfell Health & Wellbeing Service 0208 637 6279 up to 8pm; then call the CNWL Support line on 0800 0234 650.'

Resident Ellis Hunt, 64, said lessons should be learnt from the Grenfell Tower tragedy in order to ensure people can be rescued from building on fire as safely as possible.

He added: 'I was concerned about my neighbour realising that there's nobody coming up. Who was there to look about the elderly people that can't walk or can't move? Everybody's frightened but they don't know what to do.'

The West London blaze comes days after the five year anniversary of the devastating Grenfell tragedy, which was marked with a service at Westminster Abbey.

Multi-faith leaders read out the names of the victims of the tragedy at the memorial, which was attended by MPs including Theresa May, who was prime minister at the time.

After each group of names was read out, the congregation said in unison 'Forever in our hearts'  the phrase emblazoned across the top of the covered-up tower in north Kensington - as Mrs May and others bowed their heads in prayer.

After the service the abbey's bells rang out 72 times and white roses were laid at the entrance of the church just off Parliament Square.

The accidental fire five years ago - the worst in Britain for more than a generation - was accelerated by deadly combustible cladding and many of those who died had been told to stay in their flats.

Five years on from the Grenfell Tower disaster, more than 50 high-rise buildings have the same highly-flammable cladding that caused the fire that killed 72 people.

Despite a Government target that all dangerous cladding materials should be removed by June 2020, their latest figures show they are still not there.

In total, 486 buildings over 18 metres tall were found to contain the aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding identified by the Grenfell Inquiry as the leading cause of the 2017 tragedy.

Work is still to be completed on 111 of them while it has not even begun on 31 buildings and 58 still have the cladding intact.

The Grenfell Fire, which began with a malfunctioning fridge-freezer on the fourth floor of the block in Kensington and Chelsea, ended up claiming more lives than any other residential fire since the World War II.

Eighteen months later, the Government banned the type of combustible cladding used on Grenfell and vowed to remove what remained.

But plans hit a roadblock as leaseholders in some of the affected buildings were required to pay for the repairs themselves.

This left many of them stuck in a Catch 22  unable to afford the repairs and unable to sell their properties because of the work required.

Now a deal has been done with Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, for 45 homebuilders to pay 2 billion to fix the unsafe cladding.
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Retail giant Marks & Spencer have hit back after Michael Gove blocked its plan for a new Oxford Street store saying he must prefer American Candy stores 'hawking counterfeit goods' instead.

M&S's proposal to flatten its flagship 1929 Art Deco store on Oxford Street and replace it with a much larger 10-storey retail and office block was supported last November by Westminster City Council, the Greater London Authority and Sadiq Khan.

The high street firm has said it was 'bewildered and disappointed' with the Communities Secretary's 'baseless' decision - and claimed he prefers the 'proliferation of stores hawking counterfeit goods' over its plans to invest in the store.

Sacha Berendji, group property, store development and technology director at M&S, said: 'After two years of working with Westminster City Council, the GLA and the local business and resident community which has supported the development at every stage, we are bewildered and disappointed at Michael Gove's baseless decision to call in the proposed redevelopment of our Marble Arch site.

 Slide me  Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud and comedian Griff Rhys Jones have joined leading figures in calling for a public inquiry into proposals to demolish Marks and Spencer 's largest and most prestigious store on London 's Oxford Street. The 1930s Art Deco-style Orchard House is set to be demolished along with two other buildings that house M&S's iconic flagship store (pictured above in 2020 compared with its planned replacement)

Michael Gove (pictured) has been accused of 'preferring stores hawking counterfeit goods' over the plans to redesign Marks & Spencer's on Oxford Street

'The Secretary of State has blocked the only retail-led regeneration in the whole of Oxford Street in a building which was refused listed status due to its low design quality and, while safe, cannot be modernised through refitting as it's three separate buildings containing asbestos.

'Twenty percent of units on Oxford Street lay vacant and the Secretary of State appears to prefer a proliferation of stores hawking counterfeit goods to a gold-standard retail-led regeneration of the nation's favourite high street.'

But a spokesman for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: 'This is a disappointing and misleading statement from M&S. Call-in decisions are made in line with established policy. It is right that a project of such significance should be considered by the independent planning inspectorate and ministers.'

M&S wants to replace its 91-year-old landmark store with a 10-storey building, and it was given the green light to the plans before Mr Gove's intervention.

The 1930s Art Deco-style Orchard House was set to be demolished along with two other buildings that house M&S's iconic flagship store.

In its place would have been a modern 10-storey mixed-use building containing a new M&S store, along with cafe and restaurant areas, as well as prime office gym space and a new pedestrian arcade.

The comments come at a time when US sweet shops lacing the iconic London street have come under fire for selling counterfeit products.

Earlier this month, Westminster City Council seized a haul of counterfeit products totalling 100,000 from three unnamed stores on London's Oxford Street.

Trading standards officers from Westminster Council have raided some of the deluge of tacky, overpriced US-themed sweet and souvenir shops that have been taking over high streets.

There are now at least ten candy stores between Marble Arch and Tottenham Court Road stations alone - equating to roughly one every 200 yards - with some offering other services like foreign currency exchange.

A spokesman for the New West End Company added that 'high levels of investment and development' are needed in order for Oxford Street to prosper.

Dee Corsi, chief operating officer at New West End Company, said: 'Securing a bright and prosperous future for Oxford Street requires high levels of investment and development.

'It is vital that the council and businesses redouble efforts to work together to deliver the long-awaited public realm investment, and ensure progressive planning and licencing policies are in place to enable businesses to respond to changing customer trends, by delivering innovative and future proof buildings that are fit for purpose for a revived, dynamic high street.'

Earlier this year, Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud and comedian Griff Rhys Jones joined leading figures in calling for a public inquiry into proposals to demolish Oxford Street's Marks and Spencer.

Marks and Spencer's plan would have seen Orchard House and two other buildings - which have been home to the retailer since its construction in 1930 - completely demolished to make way for one new 10-storey building. Pictured: The Marks and Spencer building in Oxford Street in 1964

M&S chiefs say 90 per cent of materials from the old building will be recycled to develop the new building and that once complete the new site will be carbon positive - meaning it will actually take away carbon dioxide rather than produce it

The high-profile public figures are among 27 people from the worlds of heritage, architecture and sustainability who have signed an open letter to Communities Secretary Michael Gove.

In the two-page letter, which was organised by campaigning group Save Britain's Heritage, they call for Mr Gove to launch a probe into plans that they claim would 'pump nearly 40,000 tonnes of C02 into the atmosphere'.

They call the proposals 'wrong' and 'environmentally wasteful' and say they would destroy and 'elegant and important interwar building'.

In April, Mr Gove intervened by ordering a pause to the proposed development so that the plans could be scrutinised further.

But while M&S bosses said the multi-million redevelopment would help maintain - and improve - its offering on Oxford Street despite the rapidly changing face of retail, critics reacted with fury at the loss of one of the famous location's most iconic buildings.
Attorney General Merrick Garland made an unannounced visit to the Ukraine on Wednesday where he met with the nation's top prosecutor to discuss Russian war crimes.

Garland sat down Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova 'to discuss U.S. and international efforts to help Ukraine identify, apprehend, and prosecute those individuals involved in war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine,' the Justice Department said in a statement.

Garland made the stop as part of a previously scheduled trip to Paris and Warsaw.

'I'm here to express the unwavering support to the United States for the people of Ukraine, in the midst of the unprovoked and unjust Russian invasion,' he told reporters upon his arrival.

'I'm here to continue our discussions between myself and the prosecutor general about the actions that the United States is taking to assist the Ukrainian authorities and holding accountable those responsible for the atrocities for the war crimes that the entire world has seen.

'The United States is sending an unmistakable message, there is no place to hide. We and our partners will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable,' he noted.

During the trip, Garland announced the launch of a War Crimes Accountability Team to hold accountable those who have committed war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

One role the team will play is looking into potential war crimes over which the U.S. possesses jurisdiction, such as the killing and wounding of U.S. journalists covering the war in Ukraine.

He and Venediktova met in Washington D.C. in May. Garland and FBI director Christopher Wray have said they are working with Ukraine to prosecute war crimes.

Attorney General Merrick Garland made an unannounced visit to the Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova to discuss Russian war crimes

US Attorney General Merrick Garland, third right, and Ukrainian Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova, second left, meet in Krakovets, at the Ukraine border with Poland

The two top prosecutors met for about an hour in Krakovets, on the Ukraine border with Poland.

They discussed technical, forensic and legal support that Garland's Justice Department might be able to provide prosecutors in Ukraine, department officials told The New York Times.

Garland is the latest Biden administration official to visit the wartorn country since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion in February.

First lady Jill Biden, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have all made secret visits.

In April, Biden called Putin a 'war criminal' and said he should be held accountable for his actions in the Ukraine.

'He is a war criminal,' Biden said of Putin after reports of the mass murder of civilians by Russian-controlled troops in the town of Bucha, Ukraine.

Buchas mayor has said about 300 residents of the town had been killed at the time that Russian fighters controlled the area.

'This guy is brutal, and what's happening in Bucha is outrageous and everyone's seen it,' Biden said.

'I think it is a war crime. ... He should be held accountable,' the president said.

Biden has yet to make a trip to Ukraine.

He said on Monday he won't be making a stop there during his upcoming trip to Europe but he said he talks to President Volodymyr Zelensky three or four times a week.

Biden leaves on Saturday for a G7 meeting in Germany and then heads to a NATO summit in Spain.

'On this trip, not likely,' he said when asked if he'll travel to the Ukraine.

He said a visit to Kyiv depends on 'whether or not it causes more difficulty for the Ukrainians, whether it distracts from what's going on.'

'I have been meeting with Zelensky  I talk to him three, four times a week,' he told reporters during a walk on the beach in Rehoboth, where he is spending Father's Day weekend with his family.

Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Katsura Taro are the only two G7 leaders who haven't visited Zelensky in Kyiv.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited the Ukraine last week for a second time since the Russian invasion began in February.

The leaders of France, Germany and Italy made a joint trip there last week to meet with Zelensky as Ukraine has submitted its application to join the EU. The three head the European Union's three largest economies and said they backed Ukraine's candidacy to join the 27-member bloc.

President Joe Biden said he won't visit the Ukraine during his upcoming trip to Europe but he said he talks to President Volodymyr Zelensky three or four times a week

The EU will debate the matter at its summit next week. Ukraine needs approval from all 27 member nations in order to be approved.

Biden said he expected Ukraine's application to join the EU to be approved.

'I think that's very likely to happen,' he said.
A police deputy director has been fired over the response to a savage attack by a group of men on four women who were eating at a late night barbecue restaurant in China.

The shocking assault, which took place on June 10 in the north-eastern city of Tangshan some 100 miles from Beijing, prompted outrage on Chinese social media and an investigation into why police were so slow to respond.

The report released today into the handling of the case by five public officials, including a deputy district head and a public security bureau director, found that it had been 'slow and improper'.

The investigation probed the polices untimely dispatch of police, irregular law enforcement and suspected serious violations of discipline and law, according to local reports.

Policeman Chen Zhiwei had told investigators that he had arrived at the scene of the crime around five minutes after receiving the call at 2.41am.

But the report made clear that police did not arrive until 3.09am, a full 28 minutes later, by which time all the suspects had long since disappeared.

The report also revealed that one of the main suspects, Chen Jizhi, 41, was suspected to be involved in a litany of other crimes, including illegal gambling, illegal detainment of others and affray.

Two women treated at hospital following the incident were 'in stable conditions and not in mortal danger', while two others sustained minor injuries, authorities said Friday (the woman who received the brunt of the attack, pictured in hospital)

The violence started in a late night restaurant when the women sitting at the table to the left rejected the advances of the man in the green jacket

Two of the girls are dragged outside the restaurant where the beating continued as the gang casually and wantonly inflict savage injuries on them

Police added they were escalating their investigations to look into whether the suspects had ties to criminal gangs, given the extensive criminal record of mob-like behaviour which extended to loan sharking and debt collecting.

Nine suspects - seven men and two women - were tracked down and arrested two days later on June 12.

Of the four women attacked, Yuan Mou, 24, and Li Mou, 29, were lightly injured, but Wang Moumou, 31, and Liu Moumou, 29, were sent to intensive care and are still in hospital eleven days later.

CCTV footage shows a man walking into a barbecue restaurant in Tangshan in the early hours of June 10 in northern China's Hebei province, when he suddenly sets his focus on a woman sat sharing a meal with two companions at a table by the doorway.

He places his hand on her back, and she quickly grabs him by the wrist to push him away. A few seconds pass and the woman can be heard talking at him, he goes to put his arm around her once more before she pushes him back again - and he responds by striking her in the face.

A scuffle between the two begins - the woman tries to get him away from her by throwing a glass bottle, of what looks like beer, at his head. Her friend gets up and does the same by smashing another bottle at the side of the attacker's head.

Eight people were arrested on June 12 following a vicious attack by a group of men on three women who were eating in a restaurant after one of them denied their unwanted attention. Five perpetrators have been identified as the above on social media

Nine suspects - seven men and two women - were paraded by authorities in in Hebei province, China

Of the four women attacked, Yuan Mou, 24, and Li Mou, 29, were lightly injured, but Wang Moumou, 31, and Liu Moumou, 29, were sent to intensive care and are still in hospital eleven days later

He then turns his attention to the friend, pushing her by the neck. She falls to the ground, only to be kicked, hit and smashed with crockery in the head by the initial perpetrator's friend, who joins in on the brutal beatings.

The only time someone comes to the womens' defence inside the restaurant is when the friend is being kicked at on the floor, when another of the three companions who watched the initial interaction between the man touching the woman's back.

She protects her friend by using her body as a shield to stand over her, even withstanding when a chair is chucked over her back.

But the woman initially attacked is targeted again by the perpetrator in the green jacket, who notices her stood up beside him, and quickly grabs her by the hair to punch her in the face and launch another onslaught of violence.

CCTV footage shows a man walking into a barbeque restaurant in Tangshan at 2.40am on 6 June, in northern China's Hebei province, when he suddenly sets his focus on a woman sat sharing a meal with two companions at a table by the doorway

He then turns his attention to the friend, pictured pushing her by the neck. She falls to the ground, only to be kicked, hit and smashed with crockery in the head by the initial perpetrator's friend, who joins in on the brutal beatings

He places his hand on her back, and she quickly grabs him by the wrist to push him away. A few seconds pass and the woman can be heard talking at him, he goes to put his arm around her once more before she pushes him back again - and he responds by striking her in the face

The footage shows the woman being dragged out of the restaurant as four men continue to savagely assault her.

Once outside, the violence continues, and when another woman steps in only to be punched in the face, knocking her to the floor where she smashes her head on the concrete floor.

Chillingly, one of the men is heard on the video shouting 'beat her to death' before joining in with the savage attack.

The woman who has now faced three minutes of constant blows to the head and body is seen on outside CCTV footage getting kicked in the head, dragged by her hair and pushed into broken glass on the concrete pavement.

A minute later, the men wander away from the scene down a side street behind the restaurant. The woman gets up and runs in a similar direction.

The alarming video clips have been widely shared online and has sparked outrage over the consequences of facing predatory sexual behaviour.

The footage shows the woman being dragged out of the restaurant as four men continue to savagely assault her. The woman has now faced three minutes of constant blows to the head and body, and when outside, she is smashed into the concrete pavement and pushed into the broken grass

When another woman steps in, she is punched in the face by the perpetrator, knocking her to the floor where she smashes her head on the concrete (pictured in the white t-shirt on the floor, closest to the door)

It has also renewed an online debate about sexual harassment and gender-based violence in China, where the conversation around women's rights has grown in recent years despite pressure from a patriarchal society, internet censorship and patchy legal support.

Campaigners say domestic abuse remains pervasive and under-reported while prominent feminists also face regular police harassment and detention.

Web censors in China blocked keywords linked to the #MeToo movement after a wave of women accused university professors of sexual harassment in 2018.

China is ranked 39th out of 189 countries in the United Nations' Gender Equality Index.

One of the women who witnessed the horrific assault told local media: 'These men feel they can just freely attack a woman in such a public place. Because so many men in the past have done the same. So the man felt he could do the same without any consequences.'

Locals branded them 'animals'.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday handed down a series of rulings including one that allows education vouchers to go to religious schools in Maine  without yet acting on a key abortion case that could result in Roe v. Wade being struck down.

The court's actions came as the nation braced for a potential shockwaves from an abortion ruling, following the leak of a draft opinion by Justice Samuel Alito on the abortion case.

Protesters had gathered around the Supreme Court in anticipation of a ruling. The building is already surrounded by a tall fence that went up after the draft leaked last month.

If judges haven't switched their positions since Alito authored the draft, it would result in the overturning of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision which provides for abortion rights.

An abortion rights supporter is arrested outside the United States Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., June 21, 2022. The Supreme Court is surrounded by high metal fencing. It issued five rulings Tuesday, but none dealing with abortion

The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, is among the most closely watched cases on the court's docket.

Among the rulings the court issued was one that allowed more public funding of religious entities in ruling in favor of two Christian families who challenged a Maine tuition assistance program that excluded private schools that promote religion.'Aa neutral benefit program in which public funds flow to religious organizations through the independent choices of private benefit recipients does not offend the Establishment Clause

'A neutral benefit program in which public funds flow to religious organizations through the independent choices of private benefit recipients does not offend the Establishment Clause' of the Constitution, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority 6-3 opinion.

Retiring Justice Stephen Breyer authored a blistering dissent. He said the court has 'never previously held what the Court holds today, namely, that a State must (not may) use state funds to pay for religious education as part of a tuition program designed to ensure the provision of free statewide public education.'

Protesters are anticipating a major decision that could strike down Roe v. Wade

Instead, the court issued cases dealing with a legal standard for gun convictions and use of state funds for religious schools

The rulings come amid tensions on the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority

Chief Justice John Roberts ordered a leak probe after the stunning leak of a draft abortion opinion

Justice Sonia Sotomayor offered her own dissent. 'What a difference five years makes. In 2017, I feared that the Court was 'lead[ing] us . . . to a place where separation of church and state is a constitutional slogan, not a constitutional commitment.' Today, the Court leads us to a place where separation of church and state becomes a constitutional violation. '

The decision builds upon the Supreme Court's 2020 ruling in a case from Montana that paved the way for more taxpayer dollars to flow to religious schools.

Maine provides public funds to pay for tuition at private high schools of a family's choice in some sparsely populated areas of the northeastern state that lack public secondary schools. The schools receiving this tuition assistance under the program must be 'nonsectarian' and are excluded if they promote a particular religion and present material 'through the lens of that faith.'

THE 26 STATES POISED TO OUTLAW ABORTION IF ROE V. WADE IS FORMALLY OVERTURNED Alabama Arizona Arkansas Idaho Kentucky Louisiana Michigan Mississippi Missouri North Dakota South Dakota Oklahoma Tennessee Texas Utah West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Georgia, Iowa Ohio South Carolina Advertisement

There are 18 states that have near-total bans on their books, while four more have time-limit band and four others are likely to pass new bans if Roe is overturned

Protesters gather, chant and hold signs outside the Supreme Court in Washington on May 2 - the night the draft opinion was leaked

Roberts faulted the state's program, which he said 'operates to identify and exclude otherwise eligible schools on the basis of their religious exercise.'

The ruling offered the latest example of the Supreme Court, with its increasingly assertive conservative majority, making the expansion of expanding religious liberty a high priority in recent years. The justices have been receptive to claims made by plaintiffs - often conservative Christians - of government hostility toward religion including in the educational context.

The families in the Maine case sought taxpayer dollars to send their children to two Christian schools that integrate religion into their classrooms and have policies against gay and transgender students and staff. The First Amendment also prohibits government endorsement of any particular religion.

The court also ruled in U.S. v. Taylor in favor of a defendant who had his sentence expanded by an additional 10 years under a conviction under the Hobbs Act for participation in a crime of violence.

The court found in its 7-2 ruling that that portion of a conviction associated with attempted robbery didn't meet the standard under the Hobbs Act, which deals with robbery affecting interstate commerce, since the standard used by the courts doesn't require a showing of use of force or attempted use of force.

The case dealt with a 2003 robbery by defendant Justin Taylor, whose accomplice shot a marijuana buyer.
Youn Hye-jun, a designer and researcher at the Harvard Graduate School of Design who was on this year's Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. Youn's research involves using material science to create interactive designs of soft robotics and other structures with user-friendly interfaces. Courtesy of Youn Hye-jun



26-year-old designer listed on this year's Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list



By Park Han-sol



Soft robotics, as the name indicates, involves the design and construction of robots with non-rigid, highly compliant materials that can resemble the flexible movements of living organisms  as they are able to bend, curl, fold and inflate, for example.



While the technology is still in its infancy, the elastically soft, adaptable and self-morphing robots made with materials like silicone elastomers have tremendous potential.



They can, in theory, be deployed for invasive surgery, as their shape-changing properties allow them to navigate along different structures within the human body more safely. The technology can also be used to build flexible exosuits, or robotic wearables that do not restrict a person's natural movements. And how about self-folding packages that could be used in everyday life?



But to non-engineers who are interested in exploring the field  interactive designers, for example  emerging technology like soft robotics still poses high barriers to entry.



The lack of user-friendly interfaces, tools and easy-to-understand documentation of their functionality hinders users of other disciplinary backgrounds from creatively engaging with these new mediums, Youn Hye-jun argues.



As a designer and researcher with a background in psychology and digital media, the 26-year-old noted that to pursue her long-standing interest in user experience design, it was crucial to do the legwork to seek interdisciplinary collaboration with engineers and scientists from other institutions.



"My experience with emerging technologies has highlighted their relative inaccessibility to non-experts. I continued to witness many promising innovations from others going ultimately unrealized because of this," she told The Korea Times in a recent Zoom interview.



Currently studying at the Harvard Graduate School of Design with a concentration in robotics and digital fabrication, Youn focuses on using material science, the branch concerned with the development and application of new materials, to create interactive designs of robotics and other structures with user-friendly interfaces.



Last month, she was listed on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list in the industry, manufacturing and energy category.



Her recent projects include building air-powered, or "pneumatically actuated," soft robots and their related devices that can help lower the barrier for non-engineers like herself to explore the field of soft robotics.





Inflatable modules for PneuBots, a soft robot-building educational kit for amateurs / Courtesy of Youn Hye-jun





PneuBots' modules can be assembled into basic forms of shape-changing and interactive soft robots. Courtesy of Youn Hye-jun



One such example is PneuBots, which is also the name of a startup Youn co-founded last year. The project has been backed by Harvard Innovation Lab's student startup support program.



PneuBots is a soft robot-building educational kit for amateurs. When injected with compressed air, each of its inflatable modules can perform different actions: bending, folding and twisting.



"These modules can be assembled into basic forms of shape-changing and interactive soft robots," the designer said. The kit can serve as a first step for creators without engineering backgrounds to learn about the world of soft robotics and its actuation mechanisms.



Another project that Youn took part in, FlowIO, earned her team two awards at the world-renowned design competitions last year: the iF Design Award and the International Design Excellence Award (IDEA).





FlowIO, a miniature pneumatic platform and a device that can be connected to soft robots and power them to behave in a desired way / Courtesy of Youn Hye-jun
Anni Dewani's family have slammed the decision to free one of her 'lowlife' killers on parole from a jail in South Africa, despite having served barely half of his 18-year sentence.

Zola Tongo, now 42, was convicted for his part in the murder after he pleaded guilty to hiring two men to kill Anni, 28, in Gugulethu township, near Cape Town on November 13, 2010.

The family of the honeymoon bride said they were disappointed that her killer was now a free man and believe he is hiding the truth about how her murder was planned.

Speaking from Mariestad, Sweden, Annis uncle Ashok said: 'Freeing Tongo without him completing his full sentence sends out a very dangerous message.

'It tells the criminals in South Africa that if you do the crime, you dont have to do the time.

My beautiful nieces life has been taken and this creature Tongo is now free to walk the streets.

We are disappointed at this. We believe that he has more information about what happened to Anni than he has told the police.

My brother Vinod (Annis father) and I went to see him in his Cape Town jail last year and we stopped his parole.

Zola Tongo, now 42, was alleged to have hired two men to kill Anni, 28, on the orders of her new husband in Gugulethu township, near Cape Town on November 13, 2010. He is now set to be released from prison on June 21 after successful pleading for parole

We gave him the opportunity to tell us what he has been hiding and who he has been protecting, but he refused.

The South Africans were considering releasing him last year. So at least he has served another 12 months. But it is not enough.

Of course nothing will bring Anni back, but this lowlife character drove her to her death.

We truly believe he has more information about how the whole murder was arranged and carried out.

Swedish-born Anni had been married for only a few weeks to British millionaire nursing home boss Shrien Dewani, now 41

I heard that Tongo hasnt been keeping in good health while in prison. I dont wish him well.

Annis father Vinod added: We cannot rest until we know the full story about what happened to my daughter.

We were only allowed half a trial in Cape Town, so that means only half the story is out there.

We will not rest until all the facts have been revealed about how she was murdered and why.

Tongo claimed Anni's new husband Shrien Dewani had ordered the hit whilst the couple were on their honeymoon.

The taxi driver pleaded guilty to his part in the murder, and was sentenced to 18 years. Her husband Dewani was cleared of all charges in 2014.

Tongo was due to be released from Malmesbury prison on parole in 2020, but was kept behind bars after opposition from Anni's family.

But he was released on parole on Tuesday after his lawyers were successful in arguing for his release.

Tongo's parole was granted on a number of conditions, including house detention, a community service order and a ban of drinking alcohol and taking drugs.

Rynold Sedeman , chairperson of the parole board, said Tongo must undergo treatment from a psychologist and be assessed by social workers while on parole.

Dewani (pictured above), 42, was pictured leaving his 3.5m flat in an exclusive London area in 2020

Tongo's house arrest will be in place for the first year of his six-year parole, after which he will be a completely free man - providing he doesn't breach the conditions.

He must also submit to High Risk subversion monitoring for 12 months, and has been ordered not to intimidate or threaten anyone, commit a crime or contact the victims.

South African law states that a convicted criminal who is serving 25 years or less in prison is eligibly for parole after serving half their sentence.

Swedish-born Anni had been married for only a few weeks to British millionaire nursing home boss Shrien Dewani, now 42.

He said his life was spared as the two gunmen forced him out of the vehicle at gunpoint, before murdering his new bride.

Dewani was accused of organising the hit on his engineer wife with the taxi driver and paying him and two accomplices.

Tongo was said to have been paid R15,000 (700) by Dewani to organise two hitmen to kill.

Anni Dewani was killed in the back of Tongo's taxi, suffering a single gunshot to her neck after her husband fled the taxi which was later found abandoned with her body in it

Prosecutors said Dewani  a successful British businessman also of Indian origin  was so desperate to get out of an unwanted marriage that he recruited a cabbie to kill his wife during a staged carjacking.

Dewani was arrested in Britain, but resisted extradition to South Africa to answer charges of suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

That set in motion a long extradition battle  delayed by Shrien's confinement to a psychiatric hospital in Britain.

Dewani was eventually extradited to South Africa in 2014 to stand trial.

During his trial, he admitted he had been leading a secret double life and that he had seen male prostitutes.

One of these men was known as 'The German Master' who flew to Cape Town to give evidence of his meetings with Dewani.

But the judge Jeanette Traverso refused to allow the prosecution permission to present him to the court as a witness.

The German Master, whose real name was Leopold Leisser, was found hanged in his Birmingham home in November 2016.

Dewani was declared innocent by the court in Cape Town in December 2014.

The judge threw out the case, saying she was not prepared to rely on the evidence of three convicted men and that the case against Dewani was riddled with lies.

Dewani was only brought to South Africa from Britain for trial four years after his wife died after experiencing trauma and mental health issues as a result of the murder.

On returning to Britain after being cleared, Dewani found new love with Brazilian photographer Gledison Lopez Martins and has travelled to Mumbai, where he married Anni, with his boyfriend.

Mr Dewani (right) was cleared of involvement in Anni's murder during a trial in South Africa. Following the court case, Mr Dewani, who is bisexual, has found new love with Brazilian photographer Gledison Lopez Martins (seen together left)

But Tongo was sentenced to 18 years in prison whilst hitman Mziwamadoda Qwabe also pleaded guilty to murder and is serving a 25-year sentence. The man who fired the shot that killed Anni, Xolile Mngeni, died from cancer in prison while serving his sentence.

Tongo was first set to be released in August 2020 on parole.

However, after the parole board decided to release him, an appeal by Anni's father and her uncle led to a rethink.

Tongo was visited in his cell and was grilled face-to-face to reveal the truth of what happened but he gave nothing away and Anni's family demanded South African authorities revoked his parole.

Tongo had packed his bags and said goodbye to his cellmates and his family had driven up to Malmesbury Prison 40 miles outside of Cape Town to pick him up.

But with less than 24 hours before he was due to be released, Tongo's freedom was taken away again.

Anni was killed in the back of a taxi on honeymoon with her new husband in a Cape Town township on November 13 2010. She suffered a single gunshot to her neck after her husband fled the taxi which was later found abandoned with her body in it

Dewani has spoken only once about her death publicly since he was cleared.

In a letter to a London coroner in November 2016, he referred to the three convicted men as 'liars', stating that there had been an attempt to frame him.

He wrote: 'I would like to make clear that I have a significant number of questions which remain unanswered about the night that my wife and I were kidnapped and Anni was tragically shot after being taken away from me.

'Each of the gang members did a deal with the authorities to gain either full immunity or vastly reduced sentences in return for providing evidence against me.

'It is the evidence of these proven liars that led to a witch hunt against me and the resulting failure to pursue the truth of what happened that night.

'It is clear that none of the evidence provided by these persons was corroborated in any meaningful way.

'This has allowed the individuals concerned to literally get away with murder. I understand and share the Hindocha (Anni) family's frustrations.

'However the extent of my knowledge of the events leading up to Anni's murder has already been set out in a detailed publicly available plea. This document was read out in court at the start of my trial.'
A Japanese manufacturer of 'glamorous' lacy boxer shorts which are designed for men was surprised to sell out of its stock.

Underwear company Wacoal which sells the briefs for 3,960 (24) said the garment is 'designed to comfortably wrap around the male part'.

It was worked on by the company's underwear scientists for six months before they shared the news of the new lacy boxers.

Wacoal was at first unsure about the idea so it crowdfunded for an initial target of 300,000-worth of orders (1,800).

But ended up hitting, 1,000% more than that, at 3.2 million-worth of orders (19,000).

The sales craze then reached fever pitch yet again at Japanese department store Isetan in Tokyo.

Its glamorous menswear section sold out of three months-worth of stock in just 10 days due to the boxer's popularity with men in their 30s and 40s, The Times reported.

Looking at Wacoal's website today, it was also not possible to purchase the boxers in any of the seven colours including red, black, pink, yellow and pale blue or in either of the sizes, medium and large.

A Japanese manufacturer of 'glamorous' lacy boxer shorts (a model wearing the it) which are designed for men was surprised to sell out of its stock

Underwear company Wacoal which sells the 3,960 (24) briefs in seven colours including pink, yellow and pale blue said they are 'designed to comfortably wrap around the male part'

Akira Mizoguchi, a Wacoal spokesman, told the Asahi newspaper: 'I never expected lacy boxer briefs would become a hit like this.

'The boundaries between men and women have disappeared in the world more than I thought.'

Explaining the boxer's design the lingerie store writes on its website: 'The design comfortably wraps the male part and attracts glamor.'

And the company adds: 'It is the boxer that pursues "beauty" and "comfort".'

'The motif of the lace is a mixture of flowers, leaves and geometric shapes so that it doesn't look too sickly,' it says.

'Because there is more of a burden on the front part, we have chosen strong thread with high stretch qualities.'

It was at first unsure about the idea so it crowdfunded for an initial of 300,000 (1,800) target for boxer orders. But ended up hitting, 1,000% more than that, at 3.2 million-worth of orders (19,000)

The sales craze then reached fever pitch yet again at Japanese department store, Isetan in Tokyo. Its glamorous menswear section sold out of three months-worth of stock in just 10 days due to the boxer's popularity with men in their 30s and 40s

It was worked on by Wacoals underwear scientists for six months before they shared the news

A buyer in their 30s wrote on the website: 'It was more fashionable than I had imagined. I hope it will be made into a series in the future.

'I would be happy if lace underwear that can be used across genders is also sold.'

Another also in their 30s, said: 'The color and design were cute, and there was a proper sharpness in the transparent and non-transparent areas. It's no wonder it's out of stock, but I'd be happy if I could buy it again.'

One customer in their 40s joined in the delight, saying: 'It's very comfortable to wear and the front fits perfectly and I like the breathability.

'Just wearing it will brighten your feelings. I bought it before it appeared on TV, so I was surprised to see it by chance.

'I bought navy blue, but when I think about it now, I regret not having taken the courage to buy pink. If you resell pink, I will definitely buy it. Now, all the underwear in my chest of drawers will become Wacoal's underwear.'
Netflix is preparing for yet another wave of layoffs as the streaming platform continues to grapple with plummeting stock values and tanking subscriber numbers.

The Los Gatos, California-based streaming giant, which employs 11,000 staffers, is expected to notify those impacted by layoffs at the end of the week, Variety first reported.

It comes on the heels of a previous downsizing at the company prompted by the company losing 70 percent of its stock value since the spring.

Last month, Netflix laid off a total of 150 full-time employees and another 70 workers at it's animation studios.

Another 60 or 70 contactors were also let go.

Many of those losing their jobs worked on series and initiatives aligned with social justice causes.

The streaming platform shed 200,000 subscribers in the first three months of the year and lost $54 billion in stock market value in a single day in April.

This is a sharp turnaround for Netflix, which saw bug gains in its valuation at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Netflix is currently trading around $172 per share, as opposed to $348 per share in April.

Executives have said that they expect to lose two million more subscribers in the second quarter.

Reed Hastings, Netflix's co-chief executive, said the company was considering introducing advertisements to programming viewed through its cheaper subscription package, and would 'figure it out over the next year or two.'

Netflix is preparing for yet another wave of layoffs at the end of the week

Netflix is currently trading at $172.10 per share, as opposed to $348 per share in April. Last month, a massive layover at the company was prompted by the company's 70percent loss in value this spring

Netflix's subscriber loss in April is the first time in a decade that the numbers have fallen, and a dramatic reversal of their aim of adding 2.5 million users.

Last month, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos told The New York Times that the company's 70 percent stock drop was 'horrifying, disappointing and embarrassing.'

'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.'

Sarandos, during his Times interview, spoke about 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 and evaluate how it got to the place it is in now, it is not beneficial to spend too long reviewing the failures.

'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.'

Earlier this year, Netflix also announced several shows in development, including projects by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, would be dropped.

The CEO explained that Netflix, which has signed up several celebrities with no filmmaking experience including former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, tries to take a chance on new talent, but it doesn't always pan out.

Last month, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos (above) told The New York Times that the company's 70 percent stock drop was 'horrifying, disappointing and embarrassing'

Earlier this year, Netflix also announced several shows in development, including projects by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (above), would be dropped

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 US 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 Meghan Markle's animated series as part of a wave of cutbacks prompted by the streaming service's drop in subscribers.

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.'
A white Miami police officer was assigned to desk duty after pulling over a black driver for not wearing his seatbelt and telling him 'This is how you guys get killed out here, man.'

The driver, Gerardson Nicholas, recorded the tense exchange in North Miami Beach on June 15, before later sharing it through his TikTok account.

He said he was on his way to work when the officer ordered him to stop his vehicle. Nicholas admitted to not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the traffic stop.

'You're not going to work,' the unidentified Miami-Dade police officer tells Nicholas, who adamantly responds: 'I'm going to work!'

'You're going to give me your driver's license, registration and insurance,' the cop then orders. 'If not you will not be going to work today.'

'Listen closely,' an automated voice on TikTok can be heard saying before the cop adds: 'Simple thing man. This is how you guys get killed out here man.'

Gerardson Nicholas (left) was pulled over in North Miami Beach last Wednesday for not wearing his seatbelt

The police officer spat out the racially-charged comment while Nicholas was following his orders and looking for his driver's license in his wallet

'What? Say that again? Say what you just said,' Nicholas counters in the video, before the police officer sighs: 'My God. Registration and insurance.'

The pair then get into a heated argument, in which Nicholas can be heard shouting: 'What do we get killed for?' before the cop slams his car door shut and walks away.

'Make sure you stay over there,' the police officer later tells Nicholas, who was by his car at the time, while checking his information on a police mobile data terminal  the type of computing equipment traditionally found in patrol cars.

'Threaten to kill me, yeah,' Nicholas answers while filming himself and the cop. 'What you got on me? What you got on me?'

'You're going to be famous. You're going to be famous though,' he adds later in the video. 'Look at him. Got nothing on me, pulls me over and threatens to shoot me. Threatening to kill me. We're going to court man.'

'What? Say that again? Say what you just said,' Nicholas tells the officer after the triggering comment. The police officer sighs: 'My God. Registration and insurance' and slams the door shut on Nicholas before going back to his police motorcycle

Nicholas (pictured) reported the incident in-person on Monday after cops saw his TikTok video

After the incident, Nicholas later told NBC Miami that he filmed the escalation due to being fearful for his life.

'I was scared, I was scared. I didn't think my life was going to make it,' he told the local outlet on Monday.

'When he asked me for my license, open the door, I started recording. I was looking for my stuff, my license because I didn't see my wallet. I was looking for my wallet and that wasn't my car, that was my mom's car and I didn't know where the registration was, I was looking, looking. He got mad.'

In response, Miami-Dade Police Interim Director George A. Perez released a statement saying that he launched an internal affairs investigation after being notified of Nicholas' TikTok video by cyber detectives.

'It's exactly what the inference is that bothers me,' Perez said, adding that he had also seen 31 minutes of the unidentified police officer's body cam footage.

President of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association Steadman Stahl told the Miami Herald that he first wants to watch the entire police body cam footage of the escalation before making judgement.

He also refuses to assume that the cop's comment had a racial connotation to it.

Instead, he thinks the officer was trying to convey that not wearing a seat belt could potentially kill Nicholas.

'People die from not wearing seat belts every day,' Stahl said.

'You're going to be famous. You're going to be famous though,' later taunts the officer, who is checking his information in the local police's system. The officer was later assigned to desk duty after footage of the incident was reviewed by other Miami-Dade Police staff

Nicolas ended up with a ticket for not wearing his seat bed, as well as not being in possession of a proper license tag and insurance. At the time of the traffic stop, he was also driving with a suspended license.

The officer did not arrest Nicholas, nor was his car towed. A family relative came to later retrieve Nicholas' car.

Nicolas notified police of the incident on Monday and interacted with officers before filing an official complaint. He claims that police body cam footage will eventually show that he was respectful' to the police officer throughout the entirety of the traffic stop.

As of Tuesday, Miami-Dade Police has still not released any footage of the incident.
Tunisian President Kais Saied confirmed Tuesday that a draft constitution to be put to a referendum on July 25 will not enshrine Islam as the 'religion of the state'.

The move is part of his efforts to reform the political system in Tunisia which has been accused of being corrupt and chaotic, but it is also seen as a manoeuvre to sideline rival Islamist parties.

'The next constitution of Tunisia won't mention a state with Islam as its religion, but of belonging to an umma (community) which has Islam as its religion,' he told journalists at Tunis airport.

'The umma and the state are two different things.'

Saied took delivery of the draft text on Monday, a key step in his drive to overhaul the Tunisian state after he sacked the government and seized far-reaching powers to rule by decree last July in moves opponents called a coup.

Sadeq Belaid, the legal expert who headed the drafting committee, had told AFP in an interview this month that he would remove all reference to Islam from the new document in a challenge to Islamist parties.

Tunisian President Kais Saied confirmed Tuesday that a draft constitution to be put to a referendum on July 25 will not enshrine Islam as the 'religion of the state'

Saied was speaking to the press at Tunis-Carthage International Airport as he bidded farewell to the prospective Hajj pilgrims before their departure to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage

Constitutional lawyer Sadeq Belaid handing Saied a draft copy of the new constitution. Belaid said he would remove all reference to Islam from the new document in a challenge to Islamist parties

His comments, partly referring to Saied's nemesis Ennahdha, an Islamist-inspired party which has dominated Tunisian politics since 2011, sparked a heated national debate.

The first article of Tunisia's 2014 constitution - and its 1959 predecessor - defined the North African country as 'a free, independent and sovereign state. Islam is its religion and Arabic is its language'.

The 2014 document was the product of a hard-won compromise between Ennahdha and its secular rivals three years after the revolt that overthrew dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The new text, produced through a 'national dialogue' excluding opposition forces and boycotted by the powerful UGTT trades union confederation, is meant to be approved by Saied by the end of June before being put to voters on July 25.

That is a year after the former constitutional law professor sacked the government, later consolidating his power grab by dissolving parliament and seizing control of the judiciary.

Thousands of Tunisians protested against the referendum in the capital over the weekend.

His moves have been welcomed by some Tunisians tired of the corrupt and often chaotic post-revolutionary system, but others have warned he is returning the country to autocracy.

Thousands of Tunisians protested against the referendum in the capital over the weekend.

Tunisian protesters chant slogans against President Kais Saied and the upcoming constitutional referendum to be held on July 25

Many are supporters of the Islamist party Ennahda, which dominates Tunisian politics but is at risk of being sidelined by the new constitution. Others simply protested Saied's abrogation of powers which were reminiscent of deposed dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali

Saied has long called for a presidential system that avoids the frequent deadlock seen under the mixed parliamentary-presidential system.

Asked about that issue on Tuesday, he said: 'Whether the system is presidential or parliamentary is not the question.

'What counts is that the people have sovereignty. There's the legislative function, the executive function and the judicial function, and separation between them.'

The powerful UGTT union also refused to participate in talks for the new constitution, saying the outcome had already been decided. Only some experts and small parties took part in talks.

Sources told Reuters the draft includes some chapters of the 2014 constitution, especially on freedoms, while the main focus will be on economic aspects.

They added that the draft proposes a system with a powerful president who appoints the prime minister.

Under the 2014 constitution, which enjoyed broad support, parliament had a big role and could withdraw confidence from the government. The winning party in parliamentary elections named a prime minister who formed the government.
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The Queen was pictured smiling and standing without her walking stick today as she was awarded a special 'Canterbury Cross' by Justin Welby after he was forced to miss her thanksgiving service due to Covid.

The Archbishop of Canterbury had been due to take the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral as part of the Platinum Jubilee weekend, but had to pull out when he was struck down with the disease.

Today he finally got the chance to congratulate Her Majesty face-to-face, as part of a meeting with Her Majesty at Windsor Castle, in which he praised her 'unstinting' service to the Church of England.

Her Majesty, who has recently faced mobility issues at the age of 96, was pictured smiling at he gave her a special citation to mark her Platinum Jubilee.

In the audience the Most Rev Welby gave the Queen the small silver cross, inspired by a 9th century Saxon brooch and incorporating a triquetra pattern, as a 'heartfelt symbol' of the church's 'love, loyalty and affection'.

The Queen was gifted a special 'Canterbury Cross' by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at Windsor Castle earlier today

The monarch shook hands with the archbishop, who wore purple clerical robes, as he entered the Oak Room sitting room in the Berkshire castle

The Queen, who has recently dealt with mobility issues, was pictured standing without her walking stick during the meeting at Windsor Castle today

The Canterbury Cross was specially crafted for its royal recipient with platinum inserts in recognition of her milestone 70 years on the throne

Her Majesty was also given a citation by the Archbishop of Canterbury in which he praised her 'unstinting service' to the Church of England

What is the Canterbury Cross? The Canterbury Cross is presented each year as part of the annual Lambeth Awards to a small number of recipients who have shown outstanding service to the church. Previous winners of the cross include former judge's Sir Mark Hedley and Sir John Mummery, former MP Peter Bruinvels, journalist Sir Andreas Smith and retired political scientist and academic Philip Giddings. The cross's design is inspired by a Saxon brooch which was found in Canterbury in 1867 and dates from around 850AD. It incorporates the motif of a triquetra pattern: a three-cornered knot, symbolising the Christian Trinity, on each of its four curved arms. The tips of the arms suggest arcs of a single circle, giving the overall effect of a round wheel. The calligraphic citation was produced by Margot Riordan-Eva, Lambeth Palace's calligrapher, who was taught calligraphy by Benedictine nuns at school. Advertisement

The Queen, wearing her glasses and dressed in a cream dress decorated with a pattern of large pink flowers, was photographed standing as she was shown the cross.

The monarch shook hands with the archbishop, who wore purple clerical robes, as he entered the Oak Room sitting room in the Berkshire castle.

Presented in a vivid red box and attached to a blue ribbon, the cross was specially crafted for its royal recipient with platinum inserts in recognition of her milestone 70 years on the throne.

The Queen, who has a deep Christian faith, is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith.

In the citation for the cross, which was also given to the Queen as a framed piece of calligraphy, the archbishop praised the monarch and hailed 'her care for the unity of her people and the welfare of the least fortunate' as a 'constant inspiration to the whole church'.

The Queen's life was 'an example of a Christian life well led,' he said.

The citation read: 'Throughout her reign, Her Majesty has duly upheld both the Christian religion and the Church of England in her roles as Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

'Whether in the formality of opening sessions of General Synod or the more intimate context of her personal addresses to the nation and Commonwealth at Christmas, Her Majesty has made manifest her own deep faith and its relevance to all that she undertakes.

'Her subtle understanding of the changing position of the Established Church in England has sustained and encouraged laity and clergy alike.

'Her care for the unity of her people and the welfare of the least fortunate have been a constant inspiration to the whole Church. Hers is an example of the Christian life well led.

'This presentation of the Canterbury Cross is a heartfelt symbol of the love, loyalty and affection in which the Church of England holds Her Majesty and it represents the recognition and gratitude of her whole Church for her seventy years of unstinting service. God Save The Queen!'

The Queen, who has recently dealt with mobility issues, was pictured standing without her walking stick during the meeting at Windsor Castle today

Archbishop Welby presented Her Majesty with the 'Canterbury Cross' to commemorate her Platinum Jubilee and 70 years of service to the church

The Queen had a busy start to June as the nation celebrated her jubilee during a four-day weekend of festivities.

These included a special Trooping the Colour with hundreds of soldiers marching from Horse Guard Parade to Buckingham Palace, a special flyover by the Red Arrows and other military planes, as well as a special concert in honour of Her Majesty.

Among these was a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in London, which saw members of the Royal Family and others congregate to express their thanks for the Queen's 70-year reign.

However, Her Majesty herself did not attend after experiencing 'some discomfort' during the previous days festivities. She would also miss the Epsom Derby the next day, before making an appearance at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on the final day of celebrations.

The Service of Thanksgiving was supposed to be taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury, but a combination of Covid and pneumonia left him unable to do so.

Instead the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, took it in his place and praised Her Majesty for her 'staunch constancy and a steadfast consistency; a faithfulness to God, an obedience to a vocation that is a bedrock of her life'.

The Queen was last seen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 5 at the conclusion of the long Platinum Jubilee weekend

Her Majesty had missed a number of events over the weekend after experiencing 'some discomfort', and was seen holding a walking stick

Both the Queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury missed the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral earlier this month. Pictured is Prime Minister Boris Johnson giving a reading at the service
Border Force officers today seized a record haul of cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of 17.5 million at the Channel Tunnel border.

A 68-year-old Belgian man and a 60-year-old Dutch man were arrested on June 10 in Coquelles, on the French side of the undersea rail link, as they tried to enter Britain, the interior ministry said.

The border police found 200 kilograms of cocaine and heroin hidden within a van's wall panels, the Home Office said in a statement.

It was one of the largest ever seizures of drugs at the Channel Tunnel border and the biggest at the crossing of Class A drugs - those classified as most likely to cause harm.

Officers made the discovery after intercepting the van during routine border controls.

The two men have been formally charged with the importation of Class A drugs.

It comes as drug trafficking and use across the European Union are returning to pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest report published by the bloc's drug agency on Tuesday.

British border police today seized a record haul of cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of 17.5 million at the Channel Tunnel border (Eurostar train is pictured heading for Paris)

Stacks of cocaine are pictured after they were discovered by British border police in Dover in 2014

As Covid restrictions and increased border controls have been relaxed on the continent, the EMCDDA said drugs are available in large quantities in the region, and in some cases above pre-pandemic levels.

Hundreds of drug production laboratories are being dismantled, and new psychoactive substances are appearing in the bloc every week. In 2021, 52 new drugs were reported for the first time, the agency said.

'For me, the take-home message that stands out from our analysis of drug trends in 2022 can be summarized as ''Everywhere. Everything. Everyone'',' said the agency director, Alexis Goosdeel.

About 83.4 million people aged 15-64 in the EU, or 29 per cent of that population, are estimated to have used illicit drugs, with more men than women reporting use.

The agency said cannabis remains the most popular substance, with over 22 million people reporting its use in 2021, though the stance towards the popular drug is beginning to soften.

Cocaine, MDMA and amphetamines were some of the other most popular substances, while some 1 million Europeans used heroin or another illicit opioid.

An estimated 5,800 overdose deaths occurred in the EU in 2020, the most recent year for which that figure was provided.

The report pointed to an increased use of social media applications and encrypted messaging services to get access to products during the pandemic, a model that is likely to persist.

As Covid restrictions and increased border controls have been relaxed on the continent, the EMCDDA said drugs are available in large quantities across Europe, and in some cases above pre-pandemic levels (A masked policeman carries packs of cocaine, at the organised crime prosecutor' office in Bucharest, Romania)

Bales of cocaine weighing some 5,2 tons and a seized yacht are displayed for the media at a Portuguese Navy base in Almada, south of Lisbon, on Oct. 18, 2021. Records amounts of cocaine are being seized in Europe while manufacturing of the banned stimulant drug is now taking place inside the European Union

The agency said last month that record amounts of cocaine are being seized in Europe while manufacturing of the drug is now taking place inside the EU.

While the agency said it's too early to assess the impact on heroin trafficking of the return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the agency noted it could lead to an increase. According to the report, poppy cultivation continues in the country despite a ban on production and sale.

'The countrys current financial problems might make drug revenues a more important source of income,' the report said.

The report also looked at the war in Ukraine, noting that the conflict could have consequences for smuggling routes.
Police body camera footage shows a one-armed rookie officer chasing down and arresting a car thief in Texas on June 18.

Officer Samuel Brown from the White Settlement Police Department - who doesn't have a forearm or hand due to a birth defect - was quick to act when a traffic stop turned into a foot chase.

'I live for this kind of stuff,' Brown told NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. 'This is why young people decide to go and become police officers. Because they want to get into foot pursuits and chase the bad guys.'

Brown and his partner Corporal J. Porter spotted the stolen red Ford Fusion outside of an auto service shop located, according to police.

Once officers pulled over, the suspect fled from the car and ran towards a residential neighborhood.

Brown was able to keep up with the suspect while Porter accepted a short ride from a Good Samaritan

Joshua Taylor Brown, 31, was arrested for stealing the red sedan and charged on four counts

Brown joined the White Settlement police force after not being eligible in California due to having one arm

Quickly the officers chased the suspect on foot - but Porter struggled to keep up.

While Brown kept on the suspect's tail, Porter accepted a ride from a Good Samaritan nearby.

The footage shows Porter arriving at the scene while Brown handcuffs the thief.

'Had to get a taxi,' Porter joked.

When Porter caught up with Brown, the suspect was on the floor and nearly in handcuffs

Officers first spotted the red sedan outside of an auto repair shop

Brown moved to Texas and joined the force in February after being ineligible for service in California due to state physical requirements, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported.

However, Texas has no restrictions that would prohibit the one-armed officer from serving - as long as a person can perform normal duties, they can be hired, White Settlement police Chief Christopher Cook told the Daily Mail.

The suspect, 31-year-old Joshua Taylor Brown, was charged on four counts.

The stolen car has been returned to its rightful owner.
Two women were critically injured during a skydiving accident in Yorkville, Wisconsin.

Racine County Sheriff's Office said the victims were a 28-year-old woman from Racine and a 49-year-old woman from Chicago.

The women were tandem skydiving at the Skydive Midwest facility in Yorkville when the tragedy took place.

Authorities said their parachute was deployed, but they lost control approximately 20 to 30 feet from the ground and crashed.

Both sustained life-threatening injuries and were airlifted to trauma centers in the area.

The shocking accident was captured in a neighbor doorbell-cam video, obtained by local news station WDJT-TV.

A 28-year-old woman from Racine and a 49-year-old woman from Chicago were critically injured in a skydiving incident

Authorities said their parachute was deployed, but they lost control approximately 20 to 30 feet from the ground and crashed

BREAKING: Two people have life-threatening injuries after a tandem skydiving accident at Skydive Midwest near Sylvania airport. A neighbor gave @CBS58 doorbell cam video of the crash. Tune into @WMLWTheM at 5:30 for the latest. pic.twitter.com/V48DanDfBC  Jenna Wells (@JennaWellsNEWS) June 19, 2022

Around 1.43 p.m. on Sunday, units from Grove-Yorkville, South Shore, and Racine responded to the site of the crash.

Two women who witnessed the horrific accident told WDJT-TV they heard the victim's bodies fall to the ground.

'The wind took them, it took the parachute and turned it over, and their bodies just came down,' Dawn Osinski told the outlet. 'When they hit the ground, it was a thud.'

The women were tandem skydiving at the Skydive Midwest facility in Yorkville when the tragedy took place

Around 1.43 p.m. on Sunday, units from Grove-Yorkville, South Shore, and Racine responded to the site of the crash

'When they came down, it was straight from the sky. Very scary,' Deb Webster also told WDJT-TV.

Co-owner of Skydive Midwest Megan George told The Journal Times that the cause of the accident is being investigated by authorities.

In tandem skydiving an inexperienced skydiver is attached to an instructor and they leap from a plane together.

They can reach speeds of at least 120 mph as they approach the earth, according to Skydive Midwest's website.

'We cannot speculate anything at this time since the investigation is still ongoing,' George said. 'We cannot say anything further.'
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Germany's economy minister has accused Russian energy giant Gazprom of mounting an 'attack' on his nation after it slashed its supply of gas to Europe.

'The reduction of gas deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is an attack on us, an economic attack on us,' Robert Habeck said in a speech to a German industry conference earlier today.

Gazprom said last week it would reduce supplies of the fuel to Germany via the pipeline due to delayed repairs, but the German government has called the decision 'political' amid the widespread European support for Ukraine following Putin's invasion.

As a result of the cut, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands decided to reactivate mothballed coal power plants to reduce their gas consumption.

Germany has also mandated the filling of gas reserves to 90 per cent ahead of the European winter, to hedge against a further reduction in supply.

'When we go into the winter with half full gas stores and the taps are turned off then we are talking about a difficult economic crisis in Germany,' Habeck said.

Currently, Germany's gas storage capacity is just under 60 percent full.

'We have seen this pattern multiple times now,' Habeck said at the conference.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to 'create chaos' in European gas markets by cutting off supply to Poland and Bulgaria among other European countries, the minister said.

Habeck called for the 'diversification' of suppliers of raw materials and energy to achieve 'a bit of independence from the malign intentions of the world's dictators'.

Germany had a 'system rivalry' with Russia and China, the minister said.

China was a 'big market', Habeck said, but urged industry to use trade to promote 'our values'.

Accusations of a fuel attack on Europe come as Russia vowed to retaliate against Lithuania with measures that 'will have a serious negative impact on the Lithuanian population' after the country blocked EU-sanctioned goods from reaching the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Germany's economy minister has accused Russian energy giant Gazprom of mounting an 'attack' on his nation after it slashed its supply of gas to Europe. 'The reduction of gas deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is an attack on us, an economic attack on us,' Robert Habeck said in a speech to a German industry conference earlier today

Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured) has sought to 'create chaos' in European gas markets by cutting off supply to Poland and Bulgaria among other European countries, the minister said

The logo of 'Gazprom Germania' is pictured at the company's headquarters in Berlin, April 6, 2022

Pipes at the landfall facilities of the 'Nord Stream 1' gas pipeline are pictured in Lubmin, Germany, March 8, 2022

Lt-Gen Evgeny Buzhinsky told Russian state TV that the West is playing with fire after deliveries of coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology were stopped from entering the Russian territory via NATO state Lithuania

Vladimir Putin 's allies have threatened Lithuania after the NATO country blocked EU-sanctioned goods from reaching the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad

Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said Moscow will respond shortly to Lithuania's move to block deliveries of coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad

Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said Moscow will respond shortly to Lithuania's move to block deliveries of coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad.

'Russia will certainly respond to such hostile actions. Relevant measures are being worked out in the interdepartmental format and will be taken in the near future,' Interfax cited Patrushev, a former KGB spy, as saying.

'Their consequences will have a serious negative impact on the population of Lithuania,' he added.

Patrushev's warning comes as retired Russian general Evgeny Buzhinsky urged Putin to send nuclear weapons to Kaliningrad.

The President's spokesman also weighed in, warning Moscow will never trust the West again following the move.

History of Kaliningrad The latest diplomatic crisis between Moscow and the West is over the Russian territory of Kaliningrad, a port on the Baltic Sea that is home to nearly a million Russians and connected to the rest of Russia by a rail link through EU- and NATO-member Lithuania.

Kaliningrad was formerly the German port city of Koenigsberg, capital of East Prussia, after being founded in 1255. For centuries, it remained a German city and eventually came under the control of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. But the city was captured from the Nazis by the Red Army in April 1945 and ceded to the Soviet Union after the Second World War. The Soviet Union renamed the city Kaliningrad in 1946. The city was rebuilt and became a major industrial and commercial centre. The German population of Kaliningrad was evicted from the city in 1947 and settled in what was then East and West Germany. Thousands of people from Russia and Belarus moved to the city, which was designated as a 'closed military zone' by the communist authorities. This meant that the city was closed to foreigners until 1991. In order to increase investment in Kaliningrad, the Soviet Union created a special economic zone that exempts most imported and exported goods from customs duties. It meant that trade could easily be moved from Kaliningrad to Russia via Lithuania and Belarus. Advertisement

Lt-Gen Evgeny Buzhinsky told Russian state TV that the West is playing with fire after deliveries of coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology were stopped from entering the Russian territory via NATO state Lithuania.

Buzhinsky said Lithuania's decision to ban the delivery of sanctioned goods to Kaliningrad, a Russian outpost on the Baltic Sea surrounded by EU territory, was a 'threat' to Russia's national security.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov meanwhile warned that all trust has now evaporated between the West and Moscow.

'Relations between Russia and the West will not be back to the previous level, because Moscow will never again trust such 'partners',' he told MSNBC. 'It will be a lengthy crisis, but we will never trust the West again.'

The threats come after the Kremlin warned of 'very tough actions' against Lithuania if it did not reverse its 'openly hostile move'.

Patrushev, one of Putin's top allies, arrived in Kaliningrad on Tuesday to discuss national security amid the row with NATO member Lithuania.

He will chair a meeting about security in Russia's northwest in Kaliningrad, the state RIA news agency said.

RIA said the trip, which included a discussion about transport, was planned before Vilnius banned the transit of goods sanctioned by the European Union through Lithuanian territory to and from the exclave, citing EU sanction rules.

Russia's foreign ministry on Tuesday also summoned the European Union ambassador to Moscow, Markus Ederer, over the 'anti-Russian restrictions' on the transit of sanctioned goods to Kaliningrad.

'The inadmissibility of such actions, which violate the relevant legal and political obligations of the European Union and lead to an escalation of tensions, was pointed out,' the ministry said in a statement.

In response, Ederer urged Russia on Tuesday to refrain from 'escalatory steps and rhetoric' over what Moscow calls 'anti-Russian restrictions', an EU spokesperson said.

'He conveyed our position on Russia's aggression against Ukraine and explained that Lithuania is implementing EU sanctions and there is no blockade, and asked them to refrain from escalatory steps and rhetoric,' spokesperson Peter Stano said.

The Lithuanian government stressed in a written statement Tuesday that 'the transit of passengers and non-sanctioned goods to and from the Kaliningrad region through Lithuania continues uninterrupted,' and that the ban on transit of sanctioned goods was merely part the fourth package of EU sanctions against Russia.

Top Lithuanian officials decried Russia's reaction to the measure as an attempt by the Kremlin to wind up a propaganda campaign trying to create an image of a 'blockade' mainly for internal consumption.

'It's ironic to hear rhetoric about alleged violations of international treaties from a country which has violated possibly every single international treaty,' Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte told reporters.

'There is no Kaliningrad blockade,' Simonyte said. 'Lithuania is implementing EU sanctions.'

The retired Russian general urged Vladimir Putin to send nuclear weapons to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad after EU-sanctioned goods were blocked from reaching the territory. Pictured: Russia launches the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile in testing on April 20

Pro-Putin TV anchor Yevgeny Popov then asked: 'In other words, this is a war with NATO?' Buzhinsky responded: 'Yes - what else do we do? Otherwise they'll simply strangle us. We can't stop, otherwise they'll deprive us of Kaliningrad'

Meanwhile, Buzhinsky said 'Russia won't stop' defending its territory, 'otherwise they'll deprive us of Kaliningrad'.

He also threatened Britain will 'physically cease to exist' if the new standoff in Lithuania triggers a nuclear Third World War.

The Lithuanian charge d'affaires in Moscow was told that unless cargo transit was resumed to Kaliningrad in the near future, Russia reserves the right to act to protect its national interests.

The Russian foreign ministry said: 'We consider provocative measures of the Lithuanian side which violate Lithuania's international legal obligations, primarily the 2002 Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the European Union on transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the Russian Federation, to be openly hostile.'

Loyalist senator Andrey Klimov warned it was 'direct aggression against Russia, literally forcing us to immediately resort to proper self-defence'.

Any direct Russian attack on alliance member state Lithuania would be seen as an act of war against NATO and could spark a world war.

Buzhinsky, speaking on the state-owned Russian television channel Russia 1, said the situation is 'deeply serious', and claimed the West had ulterior motives.

'This is a long game to push us out from the Baltic Sea, an attempt to block and cut Kaliningrad off, and finally take it away from us,' he claimed.

The West intended to 'block Kaliningrad economically, completely, until our people howl from destitution', Buzinsky added.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov meanwhile warned that all trust has now evaporated between the West and Moscow

Buzhinsky, who served in senior positions in the Russian defence ministry, said: 'We have to take very decisive steps, starting with diplomatic steps'.

These included nullifying the Soviet recognition of Lithuania's independence.

Putin should 'disavow the 1991 recognition of Lithuania, disavow the agreement with the EU on Lithuania, including on their borders, then switch Lithuania off from energy,' Buzhinsky said.

'And then finally we must take military measures,' he said. He urged the Kremlin to take control of the so-called Suvalkovsky corridor - the supply route across Lithuania from Russian ally Belarus.

'We need to demonstratively move nuclear weapons to Kaliningrad... We've got to do something. We've got to strengthen our military presence at the border with Lithuania as we did in December last year, and January this year at the border with Ukraine.

'Tell the Americans, first via confidential channels, that they are playing with fire.

'You guys will actually play to the point that Russia won't stop, because this is a threat to our national security, an attempt on our sovereign territory. The world will feel it. Ukrainian grain will feel like a joke compared to our decisive steps.'

Pro-Putin TV anchor Yevgeny Popov then asked: 'In other words, this is a war with NATO?'

Buzhinsky responded: 'Yes - what else do we do? Otherwise they'll simply strangle us. We can't stop, otherwise they'll deprive us of Kaliningrad.'

Meanwhile, Gen. Buzhinksy also lashed out at British general Sir Patrick Sanders, who took command of the UK's land forces this week with a rallying call to troops to prepare to fight and beat Russian forces in a Third World War.

'He doesn't understand that as a result of the Third World War Britain will physically cease to exist,' said Buzhinsky.

'The island will vanish, so I've no idea where he or his descendants will live.'

A Russian customs officer works at a commercial port in the Baltic Sea town of Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region (file image)

Smoke and flame rise after a military strike on a compound of Severodonetsk's Azot Chemical Plant in Ukraine

In his message to troops, Gen. Sanders had said: 'I am the first Chief of the General Staff since 1941 to take command of the Army in the shadow of a land war in Europe involving a continental power.

'The scale of the enduring threat from Russia shows we've entered a new era of insecurity.

'It is my singular duty to make our Army as lethal and effective as it can be. The time is now and the opportunity is ours to seize.'

On Tuesday, the UK's foreign minister Liz Truss said the British government is determined to impose further sanctions on Russia, as she promised more support for Ukraine.

'We are determined to provide more weapons, impose more sanctions and back Ukraine in pushing Russia out of their territory,' Truss told parliament.

Truss said she would be travelling to Turkey on Wednesday to discuss options to help get grain out of Odesa, saying that there was only a matter of weeks to find a solution.

Britain, the United States and the European Union have coordinated in imposing massive sanctions on Moscow for what they call an invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has termed it a military operation.

'We will continue to impose sanctions, we will continue to stop importing goods from Russia until we see Russia fully withdraw from Ukraine,' Truss said.

Britain has targeted Russian businessmen, politicians, religious leaders and businesses as part of its wide-ranging sanctions on Moscow.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the West's action against Kaliningrad 'openly hostile'.

'Lithuania must understand that the characterisation of Vilnius's actions on Kaliningrad transit as 'hostile' means the time for talks has gone,' she told pro-Kremlin TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov.

'It is them [the Lithuanian authorities] who behave aggressively.

'They have crossed the line of international law and towards unfriendly, rough actions.

'It is them who behave provocatively, aggressively - hostile.'

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said his country was simply implementing sanctions imposed by the EU.

He said the measures implemented were taken after 'consultation with the European Commission and under its guidelines.'

'Sanctioned goods (will) no longer be allowed to transit Lithuanian territory,' Landsbergis added.

The country's prime minister, Ingrida Simonyte, also said that any claims about the blockade of Kaliningrad is a product of Kremlin propaganda.

'It's just that EU sanctions have come into force on some of the goods included in the package, namely steel and ferrous metals. The transportation of all other goods that are either unsanctioned or not yet subject to sanctions is continuing, as is the transit of passengers' she said, noting the great irony behind Russia's references to international treaties.

'I don't know if there's any international treaty left that Russia hasn't violated yet,' Simonyte said.

Lithuania had informed Kaliningrad's railways that from June 18 the transit of some goods from Russia was limited due to EU sanctions.

The foreign ministry emphasised it has not imposed 'unilateral, individual or additional' restrictions.

But Russia disagrees, with Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying: 'This decision is really unprecedented. It's a violation of everything.'

He warned: 'We consider this illegal. The situation is more than serious... we need a serious in-depth analysis in order to work out our response.'

The Kaliningrad governor Anton Alikhanov said the move was illegal and violated the agreements that the country committed to when joining the EU.

Loyalist senator Andrey Klimov (left) warned it was 'direct aggression against Russia, literally forcing us to immediately resort to proper self-defence', while Konstantin Kosachyov (right), senate deputy speaker, claimed Lithuania was flouting international law

A couple walk past a building destroyed by attacks in Chernihiv, Ukraine, yesterday amid fears of an escalation of the conflict

Konstantin Kosachyov, senate deputy speaker, claimed Lithuania was flouting international law in banning goods reaching Lithuania from Russia via Belarus.

The Kaliningrad exclave, home to some 430,000 people, is surrounded by Lithuania and Poland, another EU country, to the south and isolated from the rest of Russia. Trains with goods for Kaliningrad travel via Belarus and Lithuania.

There's no transit through Poland. Russia can still supply the exclave by sea, without falling foul of EU sanctions.

Russian state TV reporter Grigory Yemelyanov, from Channel 1, warned over footage of blocked trains: 'The attempt to isolate the region is - from the point of view of international law - in fact a casus belli, a term meaning a formal reason to declare war.'

Another senator Andrey Klishas stated: 'Lithuania's attempt to establish a virtual blockade of the Kaliningrad region is a violation of Russia's sovereignty over this region and may be the basis for very tough and absolutely legal actions on the part of Russia.'

Putin foe Mikhail Khodorkovsky warned in The Financial Times that the Kremlin leader's 'next step' would be an 'air blockade' of Lithuania.

'It will allow Russian aviation to fly right through between Russia and Kaliningrad. Then Nato will face a question of what to do.'

Former Russian presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak - a TV presenter - warned: 'After Lithuania banned the transit of sanctioned goods to the Kaliningrad region through its territory, Russian politicians and the media have started talking the basis for declaring war.'

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted: 'Russia has no right to threaten Lithuania. Moscow has only itself to blame for the consequences of its unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.'

Kremlin henchmen were also warning of the threat of war in Kazakhstan after Putin was 'humiliated' by Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev when they shared a platform together on Friday at Russia's major economic summit in St Petersburg.

Tokayev snubbed Putin by refusing to recognise as independent states the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics.

Kremlin henchmen were also warning of the threat of war in Kazakhstan after Putin was 'humiliated' by Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, they claim (pictured together)

Firefighters work at the site of fire after Russian shelling in Mykolaiv in Ukraine this weekend after the latest bombardment

One account said Putin was 'literally furious' and felt humiliated. He was ready for 'revenge'.

Pro-Putin MP Konstantin Zatulin warned of 'Ukraine-like measures' from Russia in Kazakhstan.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov warned Kazakhstan: 'You've got to stand with Russia and show your position, and not be scared of US and EU sanctions.'

Kazakhstan and other ex-Soviet states were 'all silent, fearing the sanctions of America or Europe'.

An oil exporting terminal in Kazakhstan had been disrupted by Russia, according to reports.

In another report General SVR channel claimed Putin has not ruled out a major mobilisation of half a million men in five regions of western Russia close to Ukraine.

This could happen if Ukraine hit civilian and military facilities on a continued basis.

The regions mentioned were Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh and Rostov.

Ukrainian reports said that Putin is seeking to pressure Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko into opening a second front by invading Volyn, Rivne and Kyiv regions.

Elsewhere today, new footage shows Ukrainian troops obliterating a Russian tank and two infantry fighting vehicles using British M777 howitzers.

Aerial video purports to show the 81st Airmobile Brigade using the long-range weapons to target the vehicles.

The Command of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said: 'Gunners of the 81st Brigade of the DShV [Ukrainian Air Assault Forces] destroyed one tank and two infantry fighting vehicles of the Russian invaders.

'The video shows the successful work of artillery soldiers of the 81st Airmobile Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who, using British M777 155-mm field howitzers, destroyed equipment and manpower of the racists.

'In particular, one tank and two infantry fighting vehicles of the Russian occupiers - along with their crews - were turned into scrap metal. Death to the Russian occupiers! DShV - Always First! Glory to Ukraine!'

It is the latest blow to Russian forces who have suffered heavy losses to personnel and military hardware in their costly four-month invasion.

Ukraine claims Russia has lost 33,800 personnel, 1,477 tanks, 3,588 armoured combat vehicles, 749 artillery units, 235 multiple launch rocket systems, 98 air defence systems, 216 warplanes, 181 helicopters, 601 drones, 130 cruise missiles, 14 warships, 2,527 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 55 units of special equipment.

On the battlefield, Russian forces are trying to take complete control of the eastern Donbas region, parts of which were already held by Russian-backed separatists before the February 24 invasion.

It comes as Ukraine is nervously awaiting a historic decision from the EU on its bid to become a member state, with Volodymyr Zelesnky fearing it could lead to an increase in Russian 'hostile activity' this week.

Ukrainian troops have shelled a Russian tank and two infantry fighting vehicles using British M777 howitzers which blew up the Kremlin machinery into a huge fireball

Aerial footage purports to show members of Ukraine's 81st Airmobile Brigade using the long-range weapons to target the vehicles

The Command of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Kyiv's forces had reduced Russian armoured vehicles to 'scrap metal' following the attack

The destruction is the latest blow to Russian forces who have suffered heavy losses to personnel and military hardware in their costly four-month invasion

Footage purporting to show Russian tanks being destroyed appeared as Ukraine is nervously awaiting a historic decision from the EU on its bid to become a member state, with Volodymyr Zelesnky fearing it could lead to an increase in Russian 'hostile activity' this week

Separate footage also purports to show the moment Ukrainian troops shelled a Russian tank and two infantry fighting vehicles using British M777 howitzers which blew up the Kremlin machinery into a huge fireball

Russia becomes China's biggest oil supplier after Beijing increased imports by 55 per cent to capitalise on low prices Russia has become China's largest oil supplier after slashing its prices due to Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine. It displaced Saudi Arabia as China's biggest provider after a 55 per cent increase over the past year allowed the Chinese state to capitalise on low prices brought about by western countries refusing to buy oil from Russia. Russian oil exports to China totalled nearly 8.42million tonnes in the month of May, nudging out Saudi Arabia which exported 7.82million tonnes to China. Chinese state giants Sinopec and Zhenhua Oil have increased their purchases of Russian crude in recent months, refining the oil and selling it on. Discounts of up to 30 per cent have undermined western sanctions and sparked fears that Russia will continue to find funding for its war in Ukraine. Last week, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air think tank said Russia earned almost $100bn in revenue from fossil fuel exports in the first 100 days of the country's invasion of Ukraine. The European Union made up 61 per cent of these imports, worth approximately $59bn. Oil prices have risen by more than 60 per cent over the past 12 months, topping $112 a barrel for international benchmark crude as of Monday. Advertisement

A prime target of Moscow's eastern assault is the industrial city of Sievierodonetsk.

Russia said on Sunday it had seized Metyolkine, a village on the outskirts, and Russian state news agency TASS reported that many Ukrainian fighters had surrendered there.

Ukraine's military said Russia had 'partial success' in the area.

Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai told Ukrainian TV that a Russian attack on Toshkivka, 20 miles south of Sievierodonetsk, also 'had a degree of success.'

In Sievierodonetsk itself, a city of 100,000 before the war, Gaidai said Russia controlled 'the main part' but not the entire town after intense fighting. Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield accounts.

Both Russia and Ukraine have continued heavy bombardment around Sievierodonetsk 'with little change to the front line', Britain's Ministry of Defence said on Sunday.

In Sievierodonetsk's twin city of Lysychansk, residential buildings and private houses had been destroyed by Russian shelling, Gaidai said. 'People are dying on the streets and in bomb shelters,' he added.

He later said 19 people had been evacuated on Sunday. 'We are managing to bring in humanitarian aid and evacuate people as best we can,' Gaidai said.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, wrote in a note that 'Russian forces will likely be able to seize Sievierodonetsk in the coming weeks, but at the cost of concentrating most of their available forces in this small area.'

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the Ukraine conflict could last for years and urged Western governments to continue sending state-of-the-art weaponry to Ukrainian troops, Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper reported.

'We must prepare for the fact that it could take years. We must not let up in supporting Ukraine,' Stoltenberg was quoted as saying.

Russia has said it launched what it calls a 'special military operation' to disarm its neighbour and protect Russian speakers there from dangerous nationalists. Kyiv and its allies dismiss that as a baseless pretext for a war of aggression.

The British military assessment said morale for Ukrainian and Russian combat units in the Donbas was likely 'variable.'

'Ukrainian forces have likely suffered desertions in recent weeks, however, Russian morale highly likely remains especially troubled. Cases of whole Russian units refusing orders and armed stand-offs between officers and their troops continue to occur,' the British Ministry of Defence said on Twitter.

Ukrainian soldiers travel down a road near Druzhkivka as Russian forces continue to concentrate their firepower on the Donbas

A family takes a Sunday walk through a neighborhood that was recently damaged by a Russian missile strike

A man removes debris at a local market following recent shelling in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in Donetsk

Smoke rises after Russian shelling in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, on Saturday in another round of bombardment

In Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkiv, northwest of Luhansk, Russia's defence ministry said its Iskander missiles had destroyed weaponry recently supplied by Western countries.

Russian forces were trying to approach Kharkiv, which experienced intense shelling earlier in the war, and turn it into a 'frontline city', a Ukrainian interior ministry official said.

In southern Ukraine, Western weaponry had helped Ukrainian forces advance six miles towards Russian-occupied Melitopol, its mayor said in a video posted on Telegram from outside the city.

An EU decision in favor of Kyiv's ultimate membership would put Ukraine on track to realise an aspiration that would have been out of reach for the former Soviet republic before the Russian invasion.

'Whole generations fought for a chance to escape from the prison of the Soviet Union and, like a free bird, to fly to European civilisation,' the speaker of Ukraine's parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, said in a statement.

President Zelensky said there had been 'few such fateful decisions for Ukraine' as the one it expects from the EU this week.

'Only a positive decision is in the interests of the whole of Europe,' he said in his evening address Sunday.

'Obviously, we expect Russia to intensify hostile activity this week... We are preparing. We are ready,' he continued.

On Friday, Brussels backed Kyiv's bid for EU candidate status after the heads of the bloc's biggest members - France, Germany and Italy - paid a visit to the Ukrainian capital.

Ukraine could join the list of countries vying for membership as early as this week, when member state leaders meet at a Brussels summit.

But officials and leaders in the bloc caution that, even with candidacy status, membership could take years.
Unification Minister Kwon Young-se speaks during a press conference at the Office of the Inter-Korean Dialogue in Seoul, Tuesday. Newsis



By Jung Min-ho



Establishing a foundation for human rights in North Korea will be one of the three key projects in 2022 after six years of delay, Unification Minister Kwon Young-se confirmed Tuesday.



The statement comes as the Yoon Suk-yeol administration is moving away from the stance of the previous Moon Jae-in government, which was extremely cautious about touching on issues that could anger the North.



"I will personally ask lawmakers from both the right and the left for the foundation launch," Kwon said during a press conference at the Office of the Inter-Korean Dialogue in Seoul. "As soon as it opens, under the North Korean Human Rights Act, our ministry will step up efforts to improve the lives of ordinary North Koreans through research and new policies."



The law was enacted in March 2016, but has since remained in name only, after then President Park Geun-hye was impeached and ousted from office in 2017 following a major scandal, paving the way for her successor, Moon, to pursue a more conciliatory approach to the North.



Kwon, however, made it clear that the Yoon administration will not use the foundation as a propaganda tool against the North.



"Some people say human rights should be used a means of pressing North Korea to change. I disagree. Human rights are among the universal values," he said. "Our ministry will not use them as a means of embarrassing the North or promoting the South  It is also essential for the harmonious reunification of the two sides."



Last week, North Korea named Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon, regarded as a hardline official, to lead the United Front Department of the ruling Workers' Party to handle issues with the South.



Kwon offered him to have talks, saying he is open for a meeting "wherever and whenever without any preconditions."



When North Korea reported its first official COVID-19 case on May 12, Kwon thought it was a sign for its willingness to receive support from other countries. Yet he said Pyongyang has not responded to Seoul's offer to help so far.



According to a senior ministry official, the North has received support only from China, its key ally.



Kwon also said Pyongyang seems to have completed preparations for its first nuclear test since 2017.



"Judging from what has happened at the Punggye-ri nuclear test facility, we believe it is now ready," he said. "It is difficult to tell when it will conduct the test. It seems that North Korea is assessing the best timing.



"What's important is how we respond, if the North carries it out. Given its nuclear weapons are an international issue, we will work with other nations, including the United States, to sanction the North. We may roll out our own sanctions  North Korea should know that such tests may advance its technology but they will result in weakening its security and economy."


A couple in Omaha, Nebraska were only trying to do good when they planted 'bee-friendly' plants outside their home. But soon they discovered that the pollinators that they had hoped to attract had made their home in the walls of their 100-year-old house.

Thomas and Marylu Gouttierre first discovered something was wrong when they noticed clusters of the insects outside their kitchen and bedroom windows. Then the bees started appearing inside the house as well.

The Gouttierre's home is made from clinker bricks, which is form of construction material that can make it hard to spot when repairs are needed.

The bees were able to find a hole in the mortar and crawl inside.

'If you put your ears to the wall you could hear the buzzing,' said Gouttierre told Omaha World-Herald.

'Our first thought was should we call an exterminator,' he continued. 'But we've been reading and there are a lot of great shows on PBS "Nature'" about how important bees are to pollinating the world in which we live.'

Thomas and Marylu Gouttiere found over 6,000 bees in the walls of their home after planting 'bee-friendly' plants outside

Instead of exterminating the bees, the Gouttiere's called upon two services that would transfer the bees to a safer location instead

The Gouttiere's called Ryan Gilligan of Gilly's Gold and Larry Cotter of Countryside Acres Aviary, both of whom belong to the Omaha Bee Club, to move the bees safely.

Gilligan has experience in moving bees, and said that while the Gouttiere's home had 6,000 bees living in it, he recently removed about 15,000 bees from a different home.

The two men worked together to ensure the safety of the bees found in the Gouttiere's home.

'Larry sawed the square off. He's really good with the multi-tool to perform the cuts,' Gilligan said. 'I go in and do the removal of the bees.'

The Omaha couple were lucky enough to try some of the bees honey, which the bees produced right inside the walls of their home

'Lo and behold, there were three perfectly shaped combs maybe about 2 inches thick and maybe about 9 inches in diameter,' Gouttierre said.

'If you have ever seen those, it's remarkable. Each little space in the comb are perfectly engineered hexagonal shapes.'

The bees were transferred to Cottle's acreage, where the bees can safely make their honey.

The Gouttiere's situation with the bees had a sweet ending, as the couple got to taste some of the honey that the bees produced in their home.

'I think in the long run, it's made us appreciate all the more the value of bees,' he said, 'and the importance of them to the process of pollination and all the things insects may do to help us eat.'
Tributes were paid at the funeral in Belfast for Irish TV journalist and mother-of-two Aideen Kennedy, who died last week, describing her as an 'inspiration' who lit up every room she entered.

The 43-year-old, who was best known from her time as a reporter with UTV, the ITV region covering Northern Ireland, died in hospital last week, hours after revealing on Twitter that she was receiving palliative care for a terminal illness.

Ms Kennedy, from Belfast, was the last surviving sibling of four children.

She, her sister Fiona and brothers Rory and Dara have all now died before their parents, Maura and Noel.

Retired cleric Father Sean McCartney, who also presided at the funerals of Fiona and Dara, told the congregation for a Requiem Mass at the Good Shepherd Church in Belfast that he was not aware of another couple who had suffered so much loss.

'I've officiated at three of Maura and Noel's children, of Dara and Fiona and now Aideen - it's very difficult for me but so much more difficult for Maura and Noel,' he said.

'And I'm just delighted to be of some comfort and some support to them at this very difficult time.

'I know of no other couple who have suffered the loss of all of their children at any particular time.'

Fr McCartney spoke of the outpouring of 'warm tributes' to Ms Kennedy since her death, which characterised her as someone who 'lit up every room she went into'.

Tributes were paid at the funeral in Belfast for Irish TV journalist and mother-of-two Aideen Kennedy (pictured), who died aged 43 last week, describing her as an 'inspiration' who lit up every room she entered

The 43-year-old, who was best known from her time as a reporter with UTV, the ITV region covering Northern Ireland, died in hospital last week, hours after revealing on Twitter that she was receiving palliative care for a terminal illness

Ms Kennedy, from Belfast, was the last surviving sibling of four children. Pictured is her casket at the Good Shepherd Church in Belfast on Tuesday

Retired cleric Father Sean McCartney, who also presided at the funerals of Fiona and Dara, told the congregation at the Good Shepherd Church in Belfast (pictured are mourners following a Requiem Mass for Kennedy) that he was not aware of another couple who had suffered so much loss

He said he was particularly impressed by the words of her long-time friend, DUP MLA Emma Little Pengelly, who described her as 'beautiful, funny and kind'.

Former UTV colleagues were among those who joined Ms Kennedy's friends and family at Tuesday morning's funeral to say a final farewell, including news presenter Paul Clarke.

Also in attendance of Aideen's service on Tuesday was Councillor Seamas de Faoite, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Justice, Northern Ireland Richard Pengelly, Emma Little-Pengelly, and former SDLP MP Dr Joe Hendron.

British politician and former broadcaster, Michael Nesbitt, who was the Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party was also seen leaving the Good Shepherd Church in Belfast, as well as Jayne Brady, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

A photo of the journalist, with her children, Jacob and Eva, was placed at the front of the church, close to her wicker coffin.

During his homily, Fr McCartney referred to an interview Ms Kennedy gave to a Belfast newspaper several years ago.

The coffin of Aideen Kennedy leaves Good Shepherd Church in Belfast on Tuesday following a Reqiuem Mass

A photo of the journalist, with her children, Jacob and Eva, was placed at the front of the church, close to her wicker coffin

Aideen, her sister Fiona and brothers Rory and Dara have all now died before their parents, Maura (right) and Noel (left), pictured at the Requiem Mass at the Good Shepherd Church in Belfast

In the article she described herself as someone who loved friends and family, who hated inequality and prejudice, and whose main regret in life was being unable to go back in time to say sorry to anyone she had hurt.

'What an inspiration,' said the cleric.

He added: 'Her answer to those three questions just sums up the sort of person she was.

'When Noel rang me on Friday to say that Aideen had died, to say the least I was shocked, I was without words.

'I couldn't believe that Maura and Noel... that they would suffer the death of their fourth [child], all their children.

Former SDLP MP Dr Joe Hendron is pictured for the Requiem Mass for Aideen Kennedy, who died age 43 last week of an unknown terminal illness

Also in attendance of Aideen's service on Tuesday was Councillor Seamas de Faoite (right), Permanent Secretary of the Department of Justice, Northern Ireland Richard Pengelly and Emma Little-Pengelly

British politician and former broadcaster, Michael Nesbitt, who was the Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party was also seen leaving the Good Shepherd Church in Belfast, as well as Jayne Brady, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (pictured)

Former UTV colleagues were among those who joined Ms Kennedy's friends and family at Tuesday morning's funeral to say a final farewell, including news presenter Paul Clarke (pictured)

'Noel said to me 'It's God's will'.

'Well, I'm not happy about that phrase 'It's God's will'. It's used very often, but I struggle to know how it's God's will, how a mother of two young children in her early 40s... that that's God's will that she should be taken from us at this particular time.

'But it just shows you there are some questions that there are not really satisfactory answers to on this side of the grave.

'I certainly struggle. I always struggle with the death of a young mother particularly, (but also) any parent.'

Writing on Twitter on Friday about receiving palliative care, Ms Kennedy asked her followers to 'keep an eye out' for her children, whom she described as the 'kindest, sweetest most thoughtful kiddies'.

Her passing comes after she asked fans to 'say prayers' for her in a Tuesday Twitter post, where she told her 16,600 followers she had been in hospital

Irish TV presenter Aideen Kennedy, known for her career at UTV, has died aged 43 following a terminal illness

The reporter's older sister, Fiona, died from cancer in 2016 at the age of 44, less than a year after their brother Dara died from a brain tumour aged 35.

Their older brother Rory was killed in a road accident when he was just a year old.

At the weekend, Ms Kennedy's former employer said the UTV family was 'deeply saddened' at the death of their friend.

'A truly gifted reporter, she spent many years at UTV bringing viewers stories from all over Northern Ireland,' the broadcaster said in a statement.

Aideen Kennedy, who died aged 43 last week, poses for a selfie alongside her children Jacob And Eva
On Tuesday, Elon Musk confirmed rumors that he's going to slash 10 percent of Tesla's salaried staff over the next three months, triggering a class action lawsuit from workers, who accuse the company of violating labor laws.

Though the electric car company chief said that his overall workforce would only be slimmed by 3.5 percent because he's going to bring in more hourly workers.

'We grew very fast on the salaried side,' Musk said at the Qatar Economic Forum, sponsored by Bloomberg.

'A year from now, I think our headcount will be higher' in salaried and hourly workers, but for now the reduction will be 3% to 3.5%, he said.

Tesla plant in Fremont, California. Elon Musk has promised to trim 10 percent of the company's salaried workers

Talk had been swirling of companywide layoffs since the beginning of the month when Reuters reported Musk was looking to downsize the company.

The Texas-based car manufacturer has swelled to about 100,000 workers worldwide, with most of the hiring being done in Austin, Texas and Berlin.

On Sunday, workers filed a class action claim in Texas federal court, charging that the company violated the WARN Act (Worker Adjusted and Retraining Notification Act) that requires 60-day notice for mass layoffs.

Musk, 50, pictured here at the opening of a Telsa plant in Gruenheide, Germany in March 2022

Telsa factory workers in German pose for a photo after the manufacture of the plant's 1000 vehicle on June 17

According to the suit, 600 employees were canned in the Sparks, Nevada plant in June.

'It's pretty shocking that Tesla would just blatantly violate federal labor law by laying off so many workers without providing the required notice,' Shannon Liss-Riordan, an attorney representing the workers, told Reuters.

The lawyer wants to block Tesla from having workers sign a release in exchange for one week's severance pay.

Musk brushed off the litigation as overhyped.

'Let's not read too much into a pre-emptive lawsuit that has no standing,' he said at the Bloomberg event.

'That is a small lawsuit of minor consequence. Anything related to Tesla gets big headlines, whether it is, you know, a bicycle accident or something much more serious. It seems like anything related to Tesla gets a lot of clicks, whether it is trivial or significant. I would put that lawsuit you're referring to in the trivial category.'

Musk touched on a number of labor related issues during the event, including his controversial stance against working from home.

The Telsa Technoking, as Musk calls himself, has drawn a line in the sand with employees, warning them to come back to the office or quit.

'Everyone at Tesla is required to spend a minimum of 40 hours in the office per week,' according to a Musk email obtained by Bloomberg with the subject line: 'To be super clear.'

'Moreover, the office must be where your actual colleagues are located, not some remote pseudo office. If you don't show up, we will assume you have resigned,' the billionaire businessman told employees.

He reminded workers that he had once set up residence inside a Tesla factory.

'If I had not done that, Tesla would long ago have gone bankrupt,' he wrote.

He tipped his hat to Chinese workers, some of who also lived at Tesla's Shanghai factory during Covid lockdown, according to Bloomberg.

'I am very impressed with the car companies in China, just in general companies in China,' Musk at the Tuesday event. 'I think they're extremely competitive, hard-working and smart.'
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Estonian authorities said Tuesday that a Russian border guard helicopter violated the nation's airspace over the weekend and simulated missile attacks, triggering a summons for the NATO state's Russian ambassador.

Estonia's military said in a statement that the Russian MI-8 helicopter entered the country's airspace in southeastern Estonia in the Koidula area - not far from the Russian city of Pskov - without permission on Saturday evening.

The helicopter was in Estonia's airspace for almost two minutes, Estonia's military said, adding that it hadn't presented a flight plan, had its transponder switched off and failed to maintain radio contact with Estonian Air Navigation Services.

The alleged intrusion was one of multiple violations of Estonia's airspace this year and comes less than a week before a scheduled NATO summit in Madrid.

The MI-8 has been one of Russia's foremost aerial vehicles deployed in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to transport small contingents of troops and to provide close air support with missiles and machine gun fire.

Estonia's military said in a statement that the Russian MI-8 helicopter (pictured flying over St Petersburg) entered the country's airspace in southeastern Estonia

The MI-8 has been one of Russia's foremost aerial vehicles deployed in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to transport small contingents of troops and to provide close air support with missiles and machine gun fire

Kusti Salm, permanent secretary at Estonia's defence ministry, told journalists: 'This week there have been multiple border violations by helicopters... and also a lot of provocative behaviour along the border. Apparently they are trying to create some sort of context head of the summit.

'During the ongoing exercises, Russia is simulating missile attacks against Estonia. This is something that has become daily... This is the picture of the threat. It has never been as serious as it is now,' he added.

Last year, Russian aircraft - military and civilian - violated Estonia's airspace five times, the military said.

On Friday, Russia's ambassador to Denmark was summoned to the Danish foreign ministry after a Russian military vessel twice violated the country's territorial waters off the Baltic Sea island of Bornholm.

The incident happened while many Danish lawmakers were on the island for an annual gathering of politicians and lobbyists.

It comes as Germany's economy minister accused Russian energy giant Gazprom of mounting an 'attack' on his nation after it slashed its supply of gas to Europe.

'The reduction of gas deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is an attack on us, an economic attack on us,' Robert Habeck said in a speech to a German industry conference earlier today.

Gazprom said last week it would reduce supplies of the fuel to Germany via the pipeline due to delayed repairs, but the German government has called the decision 'political' amid the widespread European support for Ukraine following Putin's invasion.

As a result of the cut, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands decided to reactivate mothballed coal power plants to reduce their gas consumption.

Germany has also mandated the filling of gas reserves to 90 per cent ahead of the European winter, to hedge against a further reduction in supply.

'When we go into the winter with half full gas stores and the taps are turned off then we are talking about a difficult economic crisis in Germany,' Habeck said.

Germany's economy minister has accused Russian energy giant Gazprom of mounting an 'attack' on his nation after it slashed its supply of gas to Europe. 'The reduction of gas deliveries via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is an attack on us, an economic attack on us,' Robert Habeck said in a speech to a German industry conference earlier today

Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured) has sought to 'create chaos' in European gas markets by cutting off supply to Poland and Bulgaria among other European countries, the minister said

Pipes at the landfall facilities of the 'Nord Stream 1' gas pipeline are pictured in Lubmin, Germany, March 8, 2022

Russia meanwhile has vowed to retaliate against Lithuania with measures that 'will have a serious negative impact on the Lithuanian population' after the country blocked EU-sanctioned goods from reaching the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said Moscow will respond shortly to Lithuania's move to block deliveries of coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad.

'Russia will certainly respond to such hostile actions. Relevant measures are being worked out in the interdepartmental format and will be taken in the near future,' Interfax cited Patrushev, a former KGB spy, as saying.

'Their consequences will have a serious negative impact on the population of Lithuania,' he added.

Patrushev's warning comes as retired Russian general Evgeny Buzhinsky urged Putin to send nuclear weapons to Kaliningrad.

Lt-Gen Buzhinsky told Russian state TV that the West is playing with fire after deliveries of coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology were stopped from entering the Russian territory via NATO state Lithuania.

Lt-Gen Evgeny Buzhinsky told Russian state TV that the West is playing with fire after deliveries of coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology were stopped from entering the Russian territory via NATO state Lithuania

Vladimir Putin's allies have threatened Lithuania after the NATO country blocked EU-sanctioned goods from reaching the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad

Russia's Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said Moscow will respond shortly to Lithuania's move to block deliveries of coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad

Buzhinsky said Lithuania's decision to ban the delivery of sanctioned goods to Kaliningrad, a Russian outpost on the Baltic Sea surrounded by EU territory, was a 'threat' to Russia's national security.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov meanwhile warned that all trust has now evaporated between the West and Moscow.

'Relations between Russia and the West will not be back to the previous level, because Moscow will never again trust such 'partners',' he told MSNBC. 'It will be a lengthy crisis, but we will never trust the West again.'

The threats come after the Kremlin warned of 'very tough actions' against Lithuania if it did not reverse its 'openly hostile move'.

Patrushev, one of Putin's top allies, arrived in Kaliningrad on Tuesday to discuss national security amid the row with NATO member Lithuania.

He will chair a meeting about security in Russia's northwest in Kaliningrad, the state RIA news agency said.

RIA said the trip, which included a discussion about transport, was planned before Vilnius banned the transit of goods sanctioned by the European Union through Lithuanian territory to and from the exclave, citing EU sanction rules.

Russia's foreign ministry on Tuesday also summoned the European Union ambassador to Moscow, Markus Ederer, over the 'anti-Russian restrictions' on the transit of sanctioned goods to Kaliningrad.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov meanwhile warned that all trust has now evaporated between the West and Moscow

Pro-Putin TV anchor Yevgeny Popov asked Buzhinsky: 'In other words, this is a war with NATO?' Buzhinsky responded: 'Yes - what else do we do? Otherwise they'll simply strangle us. We can't stop, otherwise they'll deprive us of Kaliningrad'

'The inadmissibility of such actions, which violate the relevant legal and political obligations of the European Union and lead to an escalation of tensions, was pointed out,' the ministry said in a statement.

In response, Ederer urged Russia on Tuesday to refrain from 'escalatory steps and rhetoric' over what Moscow calls 'anti-Russian restrictions', an EU spokesperson said.

'He conveyed our position on Russia's aggression against Ukraine and explained that Lithuania is implementing EU sanctions and there is no blockade, and asked them to refrain from escalatory steps and rhetoric,' spokesperson Peter Stano said.

The Lithuanian government stressed in a written statement Tuesday that 'the transit of passengers and non-sanctioned goods to and from the Kaliningrad region through Lithuania continues uninterrupted,' and that the ban on transit of sanctioned goods was merely part the fourth package of EU sanctions against Russia.

Top Lithuanian officials decried Russia's reaction to the measure as an attempt by the Kremlin to wind up a propaganda campaign trying to create an image of a 'blockade' mainly for internal consumption.

'It's ironic to hear rhetoric about alleged violations of international treaties from a country which has violated possibly every single international treaty,' Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte told reporters.

'There is no Kaliningrad blockade,' Simonyte said. 'Lithuania is implementing EU sanctions.'
The bodies of two Canadians were discovered inside a posh resort apartment in Mexico, local police and prosecutors have announced.

The pair, a man and a woman, were found at a condominium frequented by tourists in Playa del Carmen Monday, with both of their throats cut.

A third victim, a man, was also injured at the Oasis 12 apartment complex, the state prosecutor's office said Tuesday.

Prosecutors say the third victim was security guard at the complex, but did not reveal if that incident was tied to the other deaths - which are being treated as homicides. The building is located near the center of the city.

The identities of the victims have yet to be released - but cops say that one of the deceased, the man, was wanted by Interpol for fraud.

Police did not specify if the pair had been on the run, but said that the male victim was not a tourist.

The complex is typically attended by travelers, and can be rented by the night.

The incident serves as the latest in a rash of violent incidents at the state's beach resorts, which are key to the country's tourism industry.

The pair, a man and a woman, were found at luxury condominium Oasis 12 in Playa del Carmen Monday, with both of their throats cut

A senior state official said Monday that the male victim was a fugitive who had been hiding out in the country for four years.

'He was a not a tourist,' the official told Reuters, without releasing the man or his female companion's identities or ages. He did not detail how the pair were related.

Upon searching the apartment where the victims' bodies were found, multiple identifications for the male victim were uncovered by police, local lawmen said.

The identification cards all pictured the male victim, but listed three different names.

The couple were discovered at an apartment at the luxury complex, which offers high-end accommodations for tourists. The identities of the victims have yet to be released - but cops say that one of the deceased, the man, was wanted by Interpol for fraud

The pair had reportedly had stayed in the resort town, situated near Cancun and Cozumel, for months - suggesting the pair may have been on the lam. A senior state official said Monday the man was a fugitive who had been hiding out in the country for four years and not a tourist

The pair had reportedly had stayed in the resort town, situated near Cancun and Cozumel, for months - suggesting the pair may have been on the lam.

Canada's embassy in Mexico confirmed the deceased were Canadian citizens, and said it was in contact with local authorities.

The discovery comes amid a recent rash of attacks on tourists in the area - a known hotspot for drug cartel activity - related to drug dealing or extortion.

In March, a British man was shot in his convertible while traveling with his daughter on a highway near Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo state.

The man had been permanent resident of Mexico since 2013, and was threatened by a local gang prior to the roadside ambush, police said at the time.

That same month, police in Playa del Carmen found the bodies of four men dumped near a local housing development. The fact the bodies were dumped in brush beside an access road suggested a gangland-style killing.

In January, two Canadians were killed after being caught in the crossfire of a gun battle that broke out between suspected gang members at the Hotel Xcaret Mexico, also in Playa del Carmen.

Last October, tourists from both Germany and India died under similar circumstances.

A third victim, a man, was also injured at the Oasis 12 apartment complex, the state prosecutor's office said Tuesday. It was not immediately clear why the three were targeted

Local police did not name the two deceased, but said that the male victim was not a tourist

Many believe the brazen acts along Mexico's resort-crowded Mayan Riviera coast, which serves as the center of the country's all-important tourism industry, are a result of a more than 15-year-long offensive against the notorious Mexican cartel.

The country has seen a stark rise in murders and disappearance since launching a controversial military campaign to quell organized crime in 2006.

The country has since registered more than 340,000 murders and tens of thousands of disappearances.

So far this year, there have been a reported 617 homicides in Quintana Roo alone.

Police are probing the deaths of the Canadian couple as murders.

The investigation is currently ongoing.
Mining giant Glencore Energy has admitted seven charges of corruption after its employees paid more than 20million in bribes for preferential access to its oil.

Glencore pleaded guilty to five counts of bribery and two counts of failure of a commercial organisation to prevent bribery at Southwark Crown Court in London today.

The company, based in Switzerland, paid a total of 23million for increased cargoes, valuable grades of oil and preferable dates of delivery between March 2012 and April 2016.

But an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) exposed bribery and corruption across the companys oil operations in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and South Sudan.

The SFO said the offences were an attempt to secure access to oil and, in doing so, to generate an illicit profit.

Glencore was said to have gained a 'financial advantage' worth millions of dollars with the intention it would 'induce officials' from different companies.

The aim was for the officials to 'perform their functions improperly, or reward them for so doing, by unduly favouring Glencore Energy UK Limited in the allocation of crude oil cargoes, the dates crude oil would be lifted and the grades of crude oil allocated'.

The company, based in Switzerland, paid a total of 23million for increased cargoes, valuable grades of oil and preferable dates of delivery

Glencore was said to have gained a 'financial advantage' worth millions of dollars through bribery

The five bribery charges the firm has admitted to include a statement that Glencore paid out 4,586,143 US dollars (3,733,381) to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

A 335,920 US dollars (273,245) payment was made to officials of the Nigerian company so that their work would result in 'unduly favouring' Petroleos De Geneve SA Limited in the allocation of crude oil cargoes, the dates crude oil would be lifted and the grades of crude oil allocated, the charges said.

Glencore also tried to improve its position by paying 2,047,004 US dollars (1,665,099), to induce officials of Ontario Trading SA Limited.

The firm has also admitted giving 4,737,381 euros (4,068,944) to induce officials of Societe Nationale dOperations Petrolieres de la Cote DIvoire, Petroci Holding and Societe Ivoirienne de Raffinage in an effort to help with its oil transactions in Ivory Coast.

The two counts of bribery concern having failed to prevent people associated with the company from bribing officials concerned in the award of crude oil cargoes between July and December 2011.

The first failure-to-prevent offence, which relates to its practices in Equatorial Guinea, states that the 'bribery was intended to obtain or retain business or an advantage in the conduct of business for Glencore Energy UK Limited'.

A worker smelts copper at a Glencore site. The company admitted seven charges of bribery at Southwark Crown Court today

Glencore's Goedgevonden coal mine in South Africa. The company was said to have gained a 'financial advantage' worth millions of dollars with the intention it would 'induce officials' from different companies

Glencore also made a guilty plea with regard to a similar charge about its operations in South Sudan.

SFO director Lisa Osofsky earlier said: 'This significant investigation, which the Serious Fraud Office has brought to court in less than three years, is the result of our expertise, our tenacity and the strength of our partnership with the US and other jurisdictions.

'We wont stop fighting serious fraud, bribery and corruption, and we look forward to the next steps in this major prosecution.'

Judge Deborah Taylor said the mining company will return to the same court for a two-day sentencing hearing on November 2 later this year.
A teacher who allegedly 'groped and kissed' a pupil at a nightclub had also told two other pupils at the venue to 'f*** off', a hearing has been told.

Pupils reported 34-year-old Ashley McConnell to other members of staff at Thurso High School in Caithness, Scotland, after being left feeling 'indignant' by her alleged behaviour.

The physics teacher, also known as Ashley Swanson, is alleged to have danced in a sexualised manner with a sixth year pupil at local Skinandi's nightclub in March 2018.

She has also been accused of kissing the 17-year-old, touching his bottom and groin and holding hands with him during the night in question.

Miss McConnell, who was 30 at the time and married, admits holding hands with the teen but denies kissing him.

Earlier this month her friend and former colleague Emilie Charton, who was with her on the night, said McConnell was drunk and acting flirtatious at the nightclub.

On Monday, the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) heard evidence from Thurso High School headteacher Kathryn MacKay who investigated the claims.

Miss McConnell faces being struck off the teaching register by the General Council for Scotland (GTCS) following an investigation over her alleged behaviour.

Physics teacher Ashley McConnell, 34 (pictured), who has been accused of groping and kissing a teenage pupil at a local nightclub in Caithness, Scotland, told school bosses she 'couldn't remember' the incident

Anonymising the identity of the pupils involved, she said: 'Pupils B, C, D and E came to my office with a guidance teacher and told me that they had been at a nightclub and Miss McConnell had kissed Pupil A.

'There also appeared to have been an argument between Ashley and one of the girls.

'Yes, the guidance teacher took them down to my office, they were just sat there and told me.

'They did say that they had saw Pupil A kiss the teacher.

'I was shown video footage on Tuesday 27 March - I could see Pupil B dancing and Pupil A and Ashley McConnell were standing talking, that's all they were doing.

'From what they said, I didn't think that Miss McConnell should have been behaving that way, I don't think she should have been at the nightclub amongst her pupils.

'That [the kiss] shouldn't happen, we are teachers, we shouldn't be having any type of relationship like that at all.

The physics teacher, also known as Ashley Swanson, works at Thurso High School in Caithness (pictured). She has also been accused of kissing the 17-year-old, touching his bottom and groin and holding hands with him during the night in question

'My personal opinion I believe we should behave in a manner that doesn't put the profession in disrepute.'

'Ashley came to me and said she couldn't remember the incident, I was advised to immediately suspend her which I did, she began to cry.'

A former male pupil who was privately tutored at McConnell's home for a year and was also there on the night gave evidence in McConnell's defence.

He said: 'It would negatively impact the community and the school [if she was struck off], she is a great teacher and it would be detrimental to the pupils.

'I would describe her as a good teacher, she was a bit more down to earth than some of the older teachers, I think she was well liked by pupils and staff.'

The pupil claimed that although he had been in Skinandi's nightclub on the night in question he did not remember seeing Miss McConnell act inappropriately.

He said: 'It was subjective to say they were drunk but no I'm not an expert but in my personal opinion I would not say she was excessively drunk.

'I did not see those events on that night.

'I did not see that event occur.'

Dr Fiona Grant, a former head teacher from the school, revealed to the GTCS panel earlier this month how she launched an investigation into the allegations.

Miss McConnell was suspended after concerned pupils approached school bosses with a video of the alleged incident.

Describing a still image taken from the video Dr Grant said that 'Miss McConnell's hand is flat towards pupil A's groin.'

Students who were at the nightclub said the teacher was dancing in a 'sexualised' and 'dirty' manner.

Miss McDonnell is alleged to have danced in a sexualised manner with a sixth year pupil at local Skinandi's nightclub in March 2018

The Thurso High School pupil that Miss McConnell has been accused of acting inappropriately with told school bosses he kissed the mum-of-two 'three or four times'.

Miss McConnell has also been accused of telling two pupils at the club to 'f**k off' before gesturing two fingers at them.

She then also allegedly said she would 'fight the b***h' in reference to one of the female pupils.

Giving evidence at the hearing, Ms Charton, who recently left Thurso High School, said: 'I met Ashley and had known her for about six months when we went out.

'I know our professional boundaries with pupils and that we should not be socialising on a personal level with pupils.

'Ashley was drinking Jack Daniels and coke while also ordering Budweiser and she did this maybe two or three times.

'I do not believe that she was in full control of her actions, she was more than tipsy and I do not remember her making any advances.

'If she was sober it would never have happened as when people are drunk they do things they normally wouldn't.

'Ashley was feeling like she wanted to party, I was the one who had to push her away.

'[She] was drunk, more aggressive and sensitive to the comments when she gave the girl the finger.

'I had not seen her act in a flirtatious manner before and all of this makes me think she was not in control.'

The hearing continues.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday held talks with opposition leaders on ending the deadlock sparked by his failure to secure a majority in parliamentary elections.

Macron met right-wing, Socialist and Communist party chiefs at the Elysee, including rare talks with far-right leader Marine Le Pen - whom he beat in an April presidential run-off - as he seeks solutions to a tricky situation that risks plunging his second term into crisis two months after it began.

The spectre of political paralysis and the breakthrough performance by the far-right under Le Pen has also raised questions over Macron's leadership in Europe as he seeks to keep a prime role in dealing with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Elysee said French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, blamed by some analysts for heading a lacklustre campaign, had offered her resignation to Macron but the head of state turned it down.

Macron believes the government needs to 'stay on task and act' and the president will now seek 'constructive solutions' to the political deadlock in talks with opposition parties, said a presidential official.

Macron started Tuesday's flurry of discussions by talking with Christian Jacob, head of the traditional right-wing the Republicans (LR), a party on the decline in recent months but which now may be courted by the president to give him a majority.

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, meets French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) leader and Member of Parliament Marine Le Pen at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Macron (right, with French Communist leader Fabien Roussel left) hosted political party chiefs in a bid to break the impasse created by the failure of his coalition to win a majority in parliamentary elections

French centrist party MoDem (Mouvement Democrate) leader Francois Bayrou (L) and La Republique En Marche (LREM) ruling party leader Stanislas Guerini (R) also met with Macron at the Elysee palace

The options available to Macron range from seeking to form a new coalition alliance, passing legislation based on ad hoc agreements, or even calling new elections.

One option would be an alliance with the Republicans, which have 61 MPs.

But Jacob after the talks appeared to close the door on such a solution. 'I told the president there was no question of entering into what could be seen as betrayal of our voters'.

'We will stay in opposition,' he added, while vowing his party would not block the work of institutions.

Macron had hoped to mark his second term as president with an ambitious programme of tax cuts, welfare reform and raising the retirement age. All that is now in question.

'What can he (Macron) do now?' said the headline in the Le Parisien daily. 'Macron in an impasse,' was Le Figaro's line.

Despite vowing a new method of politics after his April presidential election victory, Macron has remained characteristically remote and has made no public comment on the outcome of the parliamentary polls.

Le Monde called it Macron's 'great hesitation', saying that the president was in no hurry to work out his post-election strategy.

While Macron's Ensemble (Together) coalition remains the largest party in parliament after Sunday's National Assembly elections, it fell dozens of seats short of keeping the absolute majority it has enjoyed for the last five years.

The NUPES left-wing alliance became the main opposition force but the coalition of Socialists, Communists, Greens and the hard-left France Unbowed faces an uphill struggle to retain unity.

French prime minister Elisabeth Borne , center right, surrounded by ministers, chairs a cabinet meeting at the Matignon Hotel in Paris, France, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Borne formally offered her resignation Tuesday, in line with the tradition after parliamentary elections. Macron immediately rejected the offer and maintained the current government

French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) leader and Member of Parliament Marine Le Pen (R) arrives for a meeting with French President Macron at Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 21 June 2022

Jean-Luc Melenchon, the France Unbowed chief who orchestrated the NUPES alliance, proposed Monday to make it a permanent left-wing bloc but the offer was immediately rejected by the three other NUPES parties.

In a snub to the president, Melenchon is believed to be sending representatives to Elysee talks with Macron on Wednesday rather than going himself.

'I am neither hot nor cold' on Borne staying in power, said Melenchon, whose party has vowed to submit a no confidence motion against the premier at the beginning of July.

'All I have to do now is wait for the fruit to fall from the tree. This woman has no legitimacy. Zero. This is a democracy not a monarchy,' he added.

Socialist leader Olivier Faure, whose party is part of NUPES, adopted a more conciliatory stance after his meeting with Macron, saying his party is prepared to move forwards with the government if it takes measures on the key issue of purchasing power.

The far-right under Le Pen posted the best legislative performance in its history, becoming the strongest single opposition party with 89 seats, up from eight in the outgoing chamber.

Le Pen said changing the prime minister 'would not change much', urging Macron to 'listen to what the French voters said'.

Even if Borne is to stay in her post for now, a cabinet shake-up is on the horizon after the health, environment and maritime ministers failed to win seats in the election and will now resign.
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President Joe Biden on Tuesday took selfies with toddlers getting their first covid shot and comforted a crying little boy named Joseph when he and Jill visited a vaccine center in Washington D.C.

The first couple's visit came as nearly all Americans can now get vaccinated after the FDA and CDC approved shots for those six months and above.

'We're the only country in the world doing this right now,' Biden said. 'This is a great day for you all. Thanks for the example you are setting.'

He also spoke of his youngest grandson, Beau, aged two, being newly eligible for vaccination.

'We got to get the two year old vaccinated,' he said.

And he joked about how he was having a good time during his visit: 'Everybody knows I like kids better than people.'

The president dispensed hugs as he was surrounded by toddlers. He carried a few of them around as he and the first lady chatted with parents and kids alike. One little boy kept pulling at the president's face mask as Biden toted him throughout the room.

'Look it's the president,' one child said upon Biden's arrival.

President Joe Biden visited a covid clinic that his giving vaccnes to those six months to five years old

Jill Biden joined President Biden for the visit the Church of the Holy Communion

President Biden comforted a toddler named Joseph, who was upset after his covid vaccine

President Biden and Jill Biden arrive at the clinic

President Biden posed for selfies with parents and kids

President Biden noted his grandson Baby Beau - who is two - can now get his covid vaccine; above, President Biden is seen with his son Hunter and grandson Baby Beau last year

The president also posed for selfies with parents and kids.

'Got it,' he asked one mom after a pic was snapped.

And he comforted another little boy who was curled up in his mom's arms crying after his shot.

'Joseph - that's my name too,' the president told the boy, adding that 'Joey' was a great nickname for them.

The Bidens visited the COVID Center at the Church of the Holy Communion in Washington D.C. as the U.S. has begun distributing COVID vaccines for children as young as six months around the country.

The scene was quite chaotic with children running around, some crying, as they waited to get the first shot in their arms. Parents and toddlers alike mingled with the Bidens.

The first couple handed out giant blue vaccine stickers - some of which were almost too big for the kids to wear. D.C Mayor Muriel Bowser joined them for the visit.

'The United States is now the first country in the world offers safe and effective COVID 19 Vaccines for Children as young as six months old, ' Biden said later at the White House.

He joked he had so much fun at the clinic he hadn't wanted to leave the kids.

President Biden carried around a few toddlers during the clinic visit

Biden was visiting the clinic shortly after shots were approved for kids six months to five years

President Biden gave hugs and took selfies with the kids

President Joe Biden fist bumps District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser during the visit

Federal agencies authorized Moderna's two-dose vaccine for children aged six months to five years and the Pfizer-BioNTech three-shot regimen for children aged six months to four years late last week.

It's unclear how many parents around the country will get their kids vaccinated.

Polling for the Kaiser Family Foundation found that only about one in five parents of children under age five (18 percent) are eager to get their child vaccinated right away, while a larger share (38 percent) say they plan to wait a while to see how the vaccine is working for others.

About four in ten parents of children under five are more reluctant to get their child vaccinated, with 27 percent saying they will 'definitely not' get their child vaccinated and 11 percent saying they will only do so if they are required.

There was also limited demand for the shots last time the FDA made them eligible for a younger age group, children aged five to 11.

According to official CDC data, only 30 percent of Americans in the age group are fully vaccinated, half of the 60 percent between ages 12 to 17. Minors in general have low vaccination rates, with the youngest adults having vaccine uptake of around 80 percent.
Britain's biggest al-Qaeda terror boss has won a parole bid - and could be walking free in months.

Rangzieb Ahmed - who planned carnage in the UK - has been told he will face a Parole Board next month.

If successful, the convicted terror chief, once said to be Osama bin Ladens top European operative, will be free to roam the streets again.

Ahmed, 47, got a minimum of ten years in 2008 for heading a three man al-Qaeda cell planning mass attacks.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'We can confirm the parole review of Rangzieb Ahmed has been referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice and is following standard processes. A hearing is expected to take place in late July.

'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

Rangzieb Ahmed - who planned carnage in the UK - has been told he will face a Parole Board next month. Pictured arriving at Heathrow Airport from Islamabad

'A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

'Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.

'Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing.

'The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.'

The Rochdale-born Muslim was jailed for life with minimum of ten years after a court heard he was behind the terror cell.

Counter-terrorism chiefs were not sure where Ahmed was planning to strike, but were convinced an attack was imminent.

If successful, the convicted terror chief, once said to be Osama bin Ladens top European operative, will be free to roam the streets again

His scheme was revealed with the discovery of three diaries, which were found to contain details and phone numbers of key al Qaeda operatives written in invisible ink.

Ahmed later sued MI5 and MI6 for alleged collusion in his torture by Pakistani intelligence, but in 2020 had his damages claim thrown out by the High Court.

Ahmed had claimed he was tortured at the hands of Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency while detained between 2006 and 2007, before being deported to the UK and charged with terrorism offences.

Ahmed, 47, got a minimum of ten years in 2008 for heading a three man al-Qaeda cell planning mass attacks

He was referred to the Parole Board last year, but complex security checks delayed the hearing.

The intelligence service MI5, police and jail counter terrorism units were all asked for reports.

The authorities fear releasing a terrorist who maybe a violent threat in the wake of the London Bridge terror attack.

Usman Khan was out of jail on licence in November 2019 when he killed two people and injured three others.

He had been convicted of plotting a terrorist attack in 2012.

Khan, 28, killed prison rehabilitation workers Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, at an event at Fishmongers' Hall.

Last year, it was revealed in a newspaper that Ahmed had been thrown into solitary after lying that a guard had been racist.

Officials found there was no evidence of racism after he had been told to obey social distancing rules.

The terrorist is currently held at HMP Buckley Hall, Greater Manchester.




New COVID-19 cases stayed below 10,000 for the 12th day, Monday, marking a steady decline in the virus curve amid the slowdown in the spread of the Omicron variant.







The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said there were 9,310 new infections, including 76 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 18,289,373.







The latest tally is more than double the previous day's 3,538, but the daily counts tend to fall sharply Sunday due to fewer tests before climbing back Monday.







The public health agency reported 12 more deaths, putting the toll at 24,463 for a fatality rate of 0.13 percent.







The number of critically ill patients came to 68, down from 72 the previous day.







South Korea has managed to bring down the daily infection numbers at a steady pace, after the country suffered its worst wave of the coronavirus that infected more than 620,000 people in one day, in March.







However, the government is remaining cautious about relaxing more virus curbs over prevailing risks of another virus resurgence. It decided to maintain the seven-day self-isolation mandate for COVID-19 patients until July 17, a second extension after putting off the plan once in late May.







South Korea removed most social distancing restrictions, except an outdoor mask mandate, in mid-April amid efforts to restore pre-pandemic normalcy.







Health officials say weekly deaths should stay under 100 and the fatality rate needs to fall below 0.1 percent for the isolation rule to be lifted. (Yonhap)






The United States on Tuesday called it 'appalling' for the Kremlin to suggest that two US citizens captured while fighting for Ukraine against the Russian invasion could face execution.

'It's appalling that a public official in Russia would even suggest the death penalty for two American citizens that were in Ukraine,' John Kirby, a White House spokesman, told reporters after the Kremlin spokesman said the two men are not protected by the Geneva Conventions on prisoners of war.

Kirby, spokesman for foreign policy at the White House, said the Kremlin was being at minimum reckless with the comments.

'Whether they actually mean what they're saying here, and that this could be an outcome, that they could levy a death penalty against two Americans that were fighting in Ukraine, or that they just feel that it's a responsible thing for a major power to do, to talk about doing this..., either one of them is equally alarming,' he said.

An unknown number of foreigners, including Americans, have flocked to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February, joining the Ukrainian armed forces.

'It's appalling that a public official in Russia would even suggest the death penalty for two American citizens that were in Ukraine,' said White House security spokesman John Kirby

Ukraine has established an international legion for volunteers with varying degrees of previous military training. With many sent to the frontlines, there's been a steady trickle of reports of individuals killed, captured or missing.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden described the war in Ukraine as a 'waiting game' that was in part a test of wills over U.S. allies in Europe and the Russians.

Fighters of Ukraine's territorial defense unit that supports the regular army take part in an exercise near the town of Bucha on June 17, 2022

'I do think there at some point this is going to be a bit of a waiting game, what the Russians can sustain and what Europe is going to be prepared to sustain,' President Joe Biden said Tuesday

'I do think there at some point this is going to be a bit of a waiting game, what the Russians can sustain and what Europe is going to be prepared to sustain,' he said.

The U.S. and allies have found unity on sanctions and providing successive arms packages, but many European nations remain highly dependent on Russian energy. with natural gas needs set to spike in winter.

The State Department on Tuesday confirmed that a second American had been killed, identifying the man as 52-year-old Stephen Zabielski, and again issuing the now almost daily plea for US citizens to keep away.

'We once again reiterate US citizens should not travel to Ukraine due to the active armed conflict and the singling out of US citizens in Ukraine by Russian government security officials,' a State Department spokesperson said.

'If you want to help the people of Ukraine, there's a whole lot of other better options to do that than to go in and put yourself in harm's way,' Kirby said.

- Mercenaries claim -

The two captured Americans are both former servicemen and were taken prisoner in the east of Ukraine earlier this month.

Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh, previously living in Alabama, have appeared in videos and pictures aired by Russian state media and social media, but President Joe Biden said last week he does not know exactly where they are being held.

The State Department says Russia is required to treat volunteers humanely as they would other prisoners of war in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit execution and torture or other mistreatment of war detainees.

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in an interview with NBC News released on Monday, said the Americans were mercenaries and should be 'held responsible for those crimes that they have committed' -- without the Geneva Conventions applying.

Biden has discouraged Americans from joining the fight alongside Ukrainian servicemen (pictured), although the U.S. has been providing billions in aid

A 22-year-old former Marine, Willy Joseph Cancel, was confirmed as the first American killed fighting for Ukraine in late April.

A third missing American, identified as a former US Marines captain with 20 years experience, was last heard from in late April, CNN quoted his wife as saying.

Two British men and a Moroccan captured in fighting have been sentenced to death by the Russian proxy authorities in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, a Moscow-controlled swath of eastern Ukraine.
Australia will provide money as part of a new global fund to help protect countries against future pandemics.

Speaking at a G20 virtual meeting, Health Minister Mark Butler and Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the federal government would contribute to the new financial intermediary fund.

The fund, established through the World Bank and World Health Organisation, will bring together key institutions to help tackle the risks of future pandemics in the wake of COVID-19.

The Albanese government will provide money for a new global fund designed to help prevent future pandemics

'Few events have had greater impact than the pandemic on our way of life," Mr Butler told the joint meeting of health and finance ministers.

'We have an opportunity to strengthen our collective ability to better prepare for future pandemics.'

Australia's final contribution to the fund will be determined as part of existing federal funding for overseas development assistance.

The new fund is aimed at addressing key gaps in the prevention, preparedness and response to future pandemics.

Dr Chalmers said Australia was pleased to be able to play its part in the new fund.

'While it has often been said that COVID-19 doesn't discriminate, we all know our most vulnerable citizens were impacted most by both the health and economic damage of this awful virus,' he told the summit.

The fund, established through the World Bank and World Health Organisation, will bring together key institutions to help tackle the risks of future pandemics in the wake of COVID-19. Pictured is Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General

'The G20's collective action is important, and I urge all members and guests here today to continue to support Indonesia's leadership in addressing systemic financing gaps for pandemic preparedness and response."

The treasurer also confirmed he would attend the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in Bali next month.

Indonesia is presiding over the G20 this year, with world leaders also meeting in Bali for talks during November.

During the meeting, finance and health ministers discussed coordination arrangements to address gaps in preventing pandemics, along with reviewing progress made by the WHO and World Bank in setting up the fund.
A grieving mother has recalled the heartbreaking moment she learned her son had died in his partner's arms after he was stabbed in a frenzied attack.

The manhunt continues for four young males who allegedly ambushed Jamie Barlow, 48, and stabbed him up to 18 times at his home in Laidley, west of Brisbane, on Monday night in what police describe as a targeted attack.

The armed suspects, believed to aged in their late teens or early 20s, allegedly attacked Mr Barlow near the rear stairs of his home and set the property alight before fleeing.

Mr Barlow was still alive when emergency services arrived but died in his partner's arms at the scene.

Debra Barlow last spoke to her son a day earlier on Sunday.

There's been an outpouring of tributes for Jamie Barlow (pictured) after he was allegedly stabbed to death at home on Monday night

'I am in shock. I can't believe it's happened, I can't believe the way it's happened,' she told Nine News.

She recalled the devastating phone call from her son's partner to say he had died.

'She said his body is lying on the lawn, there's a sheet on it, there's no one around,' Ms Barlow said.

'That got me, I have just been sitting here all night.'

Mr Barlow's home was gutted in the blaze, which killed several pet snakes.

Police spent Tuesday examining the property and cordoned off surrounding streets for much of the day.

Homicide detectives are investigating if drugs or a drug debt may have been a motive and believe more than one weapon was involved.

'We don't believe it was a random attack, we believe it was a targeted attack on the victim,' Queensland Detective Gary Watts said.

Debra Barlow (left) received the devastating news about her son from his partner

Police say the suspects confronted Mr Barlow's partner before fleeing in a car headed towards the Warrego Highway.

'She was confronted by the four persons and they have then left,' Det Watts said.

'She has witnessed what can only be described as a horrific incident and she is assisting us with our inquiries.'

Mr Barlow's tragic death has sparked an outpouring of tributes.

'I was there when this all happened,' his shattered partner wrote online

'I loved Jamie, and I'm going to miss him.

'I'm hurting so much.'

Police spent much of Tuesday examining Mr Barlow's gutted home

Friends remembered Mr Barlow as a great mate.

'Jamie was a great bloke (who) had a heart of gold and would give the shirt off his back for someone else if they needed it more,' Kel Maree Gilmour told the Chronicle.

'He would always take time to stop for a yarn or a smile and wave.

'His smile will be missed  He had a kind nature and a good heart.

Mr Barlow's shattered family are determined to get justice and had a message for his alleged killers.

'When they catch them and take them to court, we will be there every day,' his mother said.
Hundreds of soldiers and civilians have been killed in the Donbas region of Ukraine in recent days. This is what some of those dead will have seen in their last moments of life.

These remarkable images, taken by the Daily Mail's veteran war photographer Jamie Wiseman, show a heavily armed ground-attack aircraft swooping over the windscreen of the car in which he is travelling.

It is framed by the blue smear of the vehicle's sun visor. Head on, its as yet un-dropped bombs and rockets are clearly visible under the wings.

The jet was one of a pair flying at extreme low level, along a country road. The leader is little more than 50ft above the sun-blasted highway that the Mail's team are driving down  therefore less than 50ft above the car roof. In other words, at point-blank range. A direct hit will mean certain death.

Artillery remains the 'queen of the battlefield' in what is the most dangerous European war since 1945. But airstrikes are also taking a heavy toll.

Both aircraft were examples of the Sukhoi SU-25, known to Nato as 'Frogfoot' and used by Ukraine and Russia alike. They are slow  subsonic  but very heavily armoured, have a potent 30mm cannon for strafing and usually work in pairs.

These remarkable images, taken by the Daily Mail's veteran war photographer Jamie Wiseman, show a heavily armed ground-attack aircraft swooping over the windscreen of the car in which he is travelling in the Donbas region of Ukraine

A Ukrainian Su-25 plane swoops along the highway outside the Donbass town of Pokrovsk in Ukraine, where families are fleeing Russian advances from along the nearby front lines

Given the dangers imposed by modern radar and missiles, the SU-25s also have to operate at almost treetop level in order to survive. And so it was that they came upon Jamie's car. It is still unclear which side they belonged to.

Jamie has form for taking pictures of hostile aircraft at low level. In a village in southern Lebanon in 2006 he captured a remarkably sharp image of two Israeli F-15 jets passing at rooftop height while most of his colleagues  including me  were scrambling for cover.

I wasn't there in Donbas this week. He was. Let him tell how it happened.

'We were ten miles past the village of Petropavlivka on the E50, a single carriage road, about 30 miles from Pokrovsk which is the last stop on the train line being used to evacuate civilians from the front lines.

'Pokrovsk is at the opening of the Russian 'jaw' closing in on Lysychansk, Kramatorsk and the now inaccessible town of Severodonetsk, and itself no more than 20 or 30 miles from the nearest hostilities.

'Indeed, it was hit by three missiles the evening before we arrived, damaging a freight train carriage and leaving a 20ft crater by a road on the outskirts of town, with a dozen houses damaged. The first of the two aircraft came hurtling down the road towards us. I said out loud, as calmly as I could in the seconds it approached, that I hoped it was a Ukrainian plane.

The pictures were taken by the Daily Mail's veteran war photographer Jamie Wiseman (pictured)

'But even before I'd finish speaking I realised there was absolutely nothing we could do about it if it wasn't. It came in so low, we could see the bombs attached to the underside of the wings.

'I grabbed a camera as we saw the second in the distance, and snapped it as it passed overhead, slightly to our left. They continued straight down the road behind us, before flaring up and banking to the left.

'We still don't know if they were Ukrainian or Russian, but our fixer Oleks (whose head is in the picture) reassuringly, although without much confidence, pronounced them Ukrainian.

'Their speed was breathtaking, and I don't remember hearing them at all until they were almost overhead. I turned to look back after the first passed to see if they were going to double back. We'd passed a Ukrainian checkpoint only a few minutes earlier. Perhaps that was their target instead?

'But they climbed and banked and as quickly as they appeared they were there no longer.'

Jamie added: 'It's something that used to happen quite frequently on patrol in Afghanistan, 'a show of strength or support', the soldiers used to say.

'But in that battlefield the only people flying were friendly. Here in Ukraine, how can you possibly tell?'

There is nothing 'friendly' in Ukraine's skies these days.
European-style privacy laws and bogus human rights claims will be stamped out under a major package of measures today.

Dominic Raab will unveil a long-awaited Bill of Rights to replace Labour's Human Rights Act.

The Justice Secretary wants to change the way the European Convention on Human Rights is interpreted in UK law, putting free speech above all other rights.

He said the package would be a 'strong enhancement of free speech', stopping the courts from introducing Continental-style privacy laws by the back door.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the move would 'empower people to express their views freely' in the face of online 'cancel culture'.

The Bill will set out that rulings by the European Court of Human Rights do not always have to be followed by UK courts, including the measures which blocked the first Rwanda removals flight last week.

Mr Raab said the Bill would 'sift out spurious claims' made by foreign criminals and others under article 8 of the convention, the right to private and family life.

Article 8 has been used by thousands of foreign offenders to avoid being deported.

Dominic Raab (pictured) will unveil a long-awaited Bill of Rights to replace Labour's Human Rights Act

The Bill will set out that rulings by the European Court of Human Rights do not always have to be followed by UK courts, including the measures which blocked the first Rwanda removals flight last week. (Pictured: Migrants arriving to Britain on Tuesday)

The Bill of Rights will say that decisions by British courts outweigh those by the European court in Strasbourg, and that Parliament  not judges  have the final say on UK laws.

Mr Raab said: 'First of all in the weighing-up of rights we will be clear that free speech has a higher pecking order, if you like, than the other rights. That's particularly important when you're balancing free speech versus privacy.

'The Continental approaches tended to be more that you have stronger privacy laws.

'Our approach and that of other common law countries is to have a stronger tradition of openness, transparency, free speech and the accountability that goes with that. You'll see that written very clearly into the Bill of Rights.

'You'll see a strong enhancement of free speech. We haven't abolished article 8  but we've curtailed the scope for abuse.

'Our approach is to sift out the spurious claims that we've seen, and allow us to adopt the most robust immigration controls possible.'

It will introduce a 'permissions stage' in the courts requiring people who want to bring a human rights case to show they have suffered 'significant disadvantage' before it can go ahead.

The move is designed to save court time and taxpayers' money.

Dominic Raab wants to avoid a repeat of the Rwanda asylum plan's flights fiasco (Pictured: The first failed flight to Rwanda)

In a further boost to Press freedom, the Bill will introduce a higher bar when courts are asked to order journalists to disclose their sources.

It will prevent human rights laws from being used as a way to bring claims over overseas military operations.

The curtailment of article 8 is one of the key dimensions of the new package.

On Saturday the Daily Mail revealed how a series of killers, robbers and sex offenders remained in the UK by arguing their right to a private or family life in immigration courts.

Under Mr Raab's proposals, offenders seeking to dodge deportation would have to prove that a child or another dependent would come to 'overwhelming, unavoidable harm' if they were separated  a higher test than under current law.

The Conservatives first pledged a Bill of Rights under leader David Cameron in 2007.
Ex-Fulton County election worker Wandrea ArShaye 'Shaye' Moss told the Jan. 6 committee that she has received a barrage of harassment and threats after Rudy Giuliani accused her of passing along a USB connected to fake votes that turned out to be a ginger mint.

'It's turned my life upside down,' Moss said, adding that she hardly leaves the house, gained 60 lbs and oftentimes wouldn't even introduce herself using her real name.

Schiff asked the election worker: 'Mr. Giuliani accused you and your mother of passing some sort of USB drive to each other. What was your mom actually handing you in that video?'

'A ginger mint,' Moss said.

'As a result, I have been threatened and harassed. One stranger told me: 'Be glad [it's] 2020 and not 1920.' Others told me I should hang alongside my mom for committing treason. My son received some of those threats.'

Ex-Fulton County election worker Wandrea ArShaye 'Shaye' Moss told the Jan. 6 committee that she has received a barrage of harassment and threats after Rudy Giuliani accused her of passing along a USB connected to fake votes that turned out to be a ginger mint

'It's turned my life upside down,' Moss said, adding that she hardly leaves the house, gained 60 lbs and oftentimes wouldn't even introduce herself using her real name

Moss, along with her mother Ruby Freeman, were accused by Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani of 'rigging' the presidential election count in Georgia. The two, according to Trump and his allies, allegedly brought in 'suitcases' full of ballots for Biden.

The former Georgia election official and her mother are now suing Giuliani in federal court after receiving death threats when Trump publicly named them and following an investigation in the state that found no wrongdoing by the pair.

'I no longer give out my business card, I don't transfer calls, I don't want anyone knowing my name. I don't want to go anywhere with my mom because she might yell my name out over the grocery aisle or something. I don't go to the grocery store at all. I don't go anywhere at all. I gained about 60 pounds, I just don't do nothing anymore. I don't want to go anywhere. I second guess everything I do,' Moss told the committee as she choked back sobs.

'It's affected my life in a major way  in every way.'

Moss, along with her mother Ruby Freeman, were accused by Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani of 'rigging' the presidential election count in Georgia

Moss, in black, is pictured embracing her mother Ruby Freeman after her testimony

Jan. 6 panel chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., hugs Freeman after the hearing

Schiff asked the black former election worker if the attacks were racist in nature.

'A lot of threats. Wishing death upon me...A lot of them were racist. A lot of them were just hateful.'

Freeman, Moss' mother, also said in recorded testimony played at the hearing Tuesday that she doesn't feel safe anywhere.

Following the near-three-hour hearing on Tuesday, the lawmakers got up to hug Moss and her grandmother at the witness stand.

Moss told the committee that she had gone into election administration because her grandmother impressed upon her that black people had not always had the right. She said she'd been forced to leave the job due to the threats and harassment she received.

The woman even said that a mob of protesters had broken into her grandmother's home with the intent of performing a 'citizen's arrest.'

Moss and her mother's defamation lawsuit was filed in December in federal court in Washington, D.C.

Freeman said that because of the accusations a mob surrounded her home on January 6, she received hundreds of threatening emails, texts and calls, including a Christmas card that said, 'You deserve to go to jail, you worthless piece of s**t whore.'

Freeman and Moss worked in heavily Democratic Fulton County, which includes Atlanta, where a strong showing by Biden helped give the Democrat a narrow Georgia victory.

Trump, a Republican, and his surrogates used surveillance video of the vote count at State Farm Arena to falsely accuse Freeman and Moss of processing 'suitcases' full of fake ballots for Biden late at night on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020, after most poll workers and election observers left.

According to the complaint, Giuliani then 'amplified the video by posting about it on social media,' while 'OAN, its hosts, and its staff' took Giuliani's assertions and 'published them to millions of its viewers and readers.'

Moss scans mail-in paper ballots at the Georgia World Congress Center during the Georgia primary elections in Atlanta on Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Rudy Giuliani points to a map as he speaks to the press about various lawsuits related to the 2020 election

State officials including Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger quickly and forcefully denied the allegations, explaining that the 'suitcases' were standard ballot containers and the votes were properly counted under the watch of an independent monitor and a state investigator.

Giuliani has falsely claimed that the video footage showed the two women engaging in 'surreptitious illegal activity' and acting suspiciously, like drug dealers 'passing out dope.'

In early January, Trump himself singled out Freeman, by name, 18 times in a telephone call in which he pressed Georgia officials to alter the state's results. He described Freeman as a 'known political operative' who 'stuffed the ballot boxes.'

Both Trump's attorney general Bill Barr and Georgia Sec. of State's chief operating officer Gabe Sterling debunked the 'suitcase' theory during Jan. 6 committee testimony.

Barr said in a clip played at the hearing Tuesday 'Based on our review of it, including interviews of the key witnesses, the Fulton County allegations had no merit.'

'The ballots under the table were legitimate ballots, they weren't in a suitcase, they had been pre-opened for eventually feeding into the machine,' Barr added.

Sterling then said that claims from the Trump team that election workers were pulling and scanning 'thousands of ballots' from suitcases, proving fraud, were untrue. Trump had fixated on the 'suitcase' theory at the time.

Video was played which Sterling said showed that the workers were engaged in 'normal ballot processing.'

'What you saw...the 'secret suitcases' with 'magic ballots,' were actually ballots that had been packed into those absentee ballot carriers by the workers in plain view of the monitors and the press.'

'They knew it was untrue,' Sterling said of Trump's legal team.

'The problem you have is it gets to people's hearts,' Sterling said. 'Once you get to the heart, facts don't matter as much.'

In addition to Giuliani, Moss's and Freeman's suit targets San Diego-based Herring Networks, which owns and operates One America News Network, as well as the channel's chief executive Robert Herring, president Charles Herring, and reporter Chanel Rion.

Giuliani frequently appeared on OAN's programs to promote Trump's false claims that voter fraud cost him the 2020 election.

The complaint alleges that OAN broadcast stories in which Moss and Freeman were falsely accused of conspiring to produce secret batches of illegal ballots and running them through voting machines to help then-candidate Joe Biden defeat Trump.

The defamation lawsuit is the second filed this month by Moss and Freeman, who also sued the Gateway Pundit, alleging the far-right website's unfounded reports incited months of death threats and harassment against them.

In addition to removing the reports about Freeman and Moss from OAN's websites and other media channels, the lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

The OAN and Gateway Pundit lawsuits both revolve around false allegations first raised by a volunteer Trump campaign attorney at a Dec. 3 hearing of Georgia state legislators.
A single deck of playing cards handed out to Aussie inmates could help solve some of the country's longest-running cold cases.

Police will hand out the cards to inmates in prisons across NSW to encourage those with 'crucial information' to come forward.

Each card features a photo of a cold case victim and information about one of 52 of the state's unsolved murders or suspicious disappearances.

A single deck of playing cards handed out to Aussie inmates could help solve some of the country's longest-running cold cases (pictured, the playing cards)

Police will hand out the decks of cards to inmates in prisons across NSW in hopes it will encourage those with 'crucial information' to come forward (pictured, NSW inmates)

Police said the families of cold case victims pictured on the cards had been consulted about the initiative, which is the result of over two years of planning.

Authorities hope inmates sharing their knowledge of crimes committed against cold case victims on the cards will generate new leads.

Some cases have remained unsolved for decades, with police noting inmates share details of their crimes or those committed by associates with others.

The project was launched after a similar program received success in the United States and other jurisdictions in Australia.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Police, Paul Toole, said the cards could help families of cold case victims finally receive justice after decades of silence.

Police said the families of cold case victims pictured on the cards had been consulted about the initiative which is the result of over two years of planning

Each card features a photo of a cold case victim and information about one of 52 of the state's unsolved murders or suspicious disappearances

'Today is about honouring the memories of victims, supporting their families in their search for justice, and encouraging inmates with crucial information to come forward,' Mr Toole said.

'The police investigations into these cases are well and truly active, but they are reliant on information that has been held tightly for too long.'

Minister for Corrections, Geoff Lee, said the project would provide another avenue for inmates to come forward with valuable information.

'Both victims and their families deserve to have their questions answered  these cards could provide closure and end the torment suffered by so many,' he said.

Pictured on one of the playing cards is Roslyn Reah, 55, who was found murdered in her home in Cooks Hill in Newcastle in March, 2005

The cards were manufactured with the help of inmates in workshops at the Geoffrey Pearce Correctional Centre in Berkshire Park in the state's northwest

Families of the victims have been pushing for the project for at least five years, Martha Jabour, Homicide Victims' Support Group Executive Director, said.

'The families of those represented were personally involved in the production process because for them, these cards represent the potential for both truth and justice,' Ms Jabour said.

Pictured on one of the playing cards is Roslyn Reah, 55, who was found murdered in her home in Cooks Hill in Newcastle in March, 2005.

Also featured is Paula Brown, who vanished during a night out in Sydney in May, 1996, with her body found eight days later in bushland south of the city.

The cards were manufactured with the help of inmates in workshops at the Geoffrey Pearce Correctional Centre in Berkshire Park in the state's northwest.
At 84 years of age, he is of course older and frailer than in his firebrand, government-toppling, pomp. But Arthur Scargill is still militant  and still on the picket line.

As Britains railway network was paralysed yesterday by the RMTs national strike, the most famous and feared hard-Left union leader in living memory emerged from a reclusive retirement.

Rather like an old war horse that has heard a bugle.

The former president of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) was wearing the same cap  or an identical replacement  to the one he wore when he was arrested almost 40 years ago at the infamous First Battle of Orgreave.

That was a violent melee between thousands of police and pickets that took place at the height of the 1984-85 Miners Strike, which the NUM ultimately lost.

During yesterdays appearance at Wakefield railway station  where a by-election takes place tomorrow  he was holding the hand of three-year-old Jennifer Finn, the daughter of a local RMT official, and appeared rather less confrontational than most will remember him.

But the circumstances were still frustrating to the millions who could not travel because of the industrial action.

Former president of the National Union of Mineworkers Arthur Scargill joined members of the RMT union on the picket line outside Wakefield Railway Station today

Hours earlier, in his capacity as leader of the Socialist Labour Party (SLP), Scargill had issued a personal statement in which he called for what amounted to a general strike.

I call on all Trade Unions to take Industrial Action in support of the RMT in its strikes for an increase in pay and in its defence of its members who are threatened will [sic] the loss of hundreds of jobs as Rail Operators and the Tory Government plan to reject not only RMTs legitimate claim for a wage increase but plan to outlaw strike action in those sectors it deems necessary.

A one time Young Communist, Scargill, as the leader of the Yorkshire NUM, had instigated the miners strike that led to the electoral defeat of Edward Heaths Tory government in 1974. He became president of the NUM in 1982 and a collision course with the then-Conservative administration of Margaret Thatcher was inevitable.

When in 1984 the government announced the impending closure of 20 pits deemed to be uneconomic, Scargill acted. But he made two important errors, according to his many critics.

The first was to fail to ballot the NUMs membership to see if there was a democratic majority in favour of industrial action.

From 1982 to 2002 Scargill was president of the NUM. Here he is pictured being arrested on the picket line at Orgreave during the miner's strike

This led to splits within the movement and bitter recrimination. The strike was seen as Scargills rather than the miners.

The second was his decision to begin action in the summer, when demand for coal was at its lowest.

His use of so-called flying pickets  bussing in miners to picket workplaces other than their own  saw a number of huge and violent confrontations with massed police at pitheads. Among the most famous were those that took place at Orgreave coking plant near Sheffield in May and June 1984.

It was there that Scargill was photographed being led away by police wearing the cap he appeared to be sporting yesterday. It bore the logo of the UMWA  the United Mine Workers of America and the slogan safety first.

At Orgreave Scargill said: There have been scenes of almost unbelievable brutality  reminiscent of a Latin American police state.

But the following year the strike ended in failure  when the members were allowed to ballot and voted to return to work  but with everlasting bitterness and division in mining communities.

During the course of the strike, three men were killed  two on the picket lines and a taxi-driver who was driving a coal miner, who had crossed the picket lines, to work.

Scargill continued as NUM leader until 2002. Thereafter his relationship with the union soured, as he was accused by members of living a luxury lifestyle on NUM funds.

He founded the tiny SLP in 1996 after leaving the Labour Party and has remained its figurehead ever since.

A fierce and long-time Brexiteer, Scargill attacked his old friend and ally Jeremy Corbyn, then Labour leader, for suggesting that the UK became part of an EU customs union.

He has said that Brexit would allow the UK to reopen coal mines and cotton mills. In the 2019 general election, the SLP fielded only one candidate who gained less than 500 votes.

Scargill was divorced from his activist wife Anne in 2001. In 2016 it was reported that the grandfather of two was living in a three-bedroom detached country house in Yorkshire owned by his daughter, Margaret.

But he also owned a 2million three-bedroom flat in Londons Barbican development that he had bought for half its value in 2014 under the right to buy scheme introduced by his arch nemesis Mrs Thatcher.

Chris Kitchen, national secretary of the NUM, said at the time that Mr Scargills purchase was deeply hypocritical.

There is his public image as a socialist and a trade unionist that Arthur likes to portray, but the reality is he is a capitalist, he said. If the man hated Thatcher that much, you would think that he would refuse to take the flat on principle.

An increasingly marginal figure, Scargills legacy has in recent years been revisited in television dramas. In the 2019 series three of The Crown he was played by Irish actor David Wilmot.

The current BBC crime drama hit Sherwood also draws on the fallout from Scargills strike.

He remains a man from what now seems like another age. But with continuing strike action and threats of walkouts in other sectors now looming, is that age about to return?
A BBC presenter has admitted he interviewed a transgender athlete not knowing she had boasted about seriously injuring women.

Justin Webb said he and the producers of Radio 4's Today programme had 'no idea' about the disturbing comments made previously by Fallon Fox.

He spoke to the American ex-martial arts fighter about the contentious issue of biological males competing in elite female sport  but was unaware she had once claimed to have 'enjoyed' knocking out two women.

Challenged on social media about why Miss Fox (pictured) was on Monday's show without her background being made clear to him, he said: 'I think you're right. I had no idea (and frankly I am one of the better informed) and the producers didn't either.

'We need to tackle these issues fairly but not from the ''everyone calm down'' perspective that fails to note who is violent and who is not.'

Transgender mixed martial artist Fallon Fox attends the 2013 Emery Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on November 13, 2013 in New York City

Justin Webb said he and the producers of Radio 4's Today programme had 'no idea' about the disturbing comments made previously by Fallon Fox

His admission came after women's rights campaigners argued that 'asking Fallon Fox's opinion on fairness in women's sport is like asking what Jack the Ripper thinks about street safety'.

Miss Fox, 46, became the first openly transgender mixed martial arts fighter in 2013. She won five bouts and lost one against women between 2012 and 2014.

Her final opponent, reportedly left with concussion and a broken eye socket after three minutes, said later it was unfair for biological males to be allowed to fight women.

'I've fought a lot of women and have never felt the strength that I felt in a fight as I did that night,' said Tamikka Brents.

Fallon Fox (right) clinches up with Ericka Newsome during their fight in March 2013. Fox ended the fight with a brutal knee to the chin

Miss Fox has since claimed to enjoy beating up women who oppose transgender rights, known derogatively as 'Terfs'.

'For the record, I knocked two out,' she wrote on Twitter in 2020, in a post since deleted.

'One woman's skull was fractured, the other not. And just so you know, I enjoyed it. See, I love smacking up Terfs in the cage who talk transphobic nonsense. It's bliss!'

Challenged earlier this year, she said: 'I misspoke. I didn't fracture anyone's whole damn skull. It was an orbital fracture, which is highly common.'
Donna Langan, born Peter, (pictured) was convicted in 1997 to life in prison for robbing two banks. She demanded the government help provide her gender confirmation surgeries

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has fast-tracked 'gender confirmation surgeries' for a transgeder ex-neo-Nazi serving life in prison for two violent robberies after she filed a lawsuit against them for delaying her request.

Donna Langan, born Peter, 63, was part of the Aryan Republican Army (ARA), a neo-Nazi group, and was convicted in 1997 to life in prison with an additional 35 years for two bank robberies where she used firearms and explosives, Fox News reported.

Langan, who identifies as female, spent two decades in a male prison before being transferred to the Carswell Federal Medical Center women's prison, in Fort Worth, Texas.

In September 2021, Langan filed a complaint against the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), claiming she 'experiences debilitating anguish as a result of severe and inadequately treated gender dysphoria.'

The BOP said in a joint report on Friday that Langan's request will finally be fulfilled 'quickly,' without the need to settle things in court.

'Plaintiffs concur that the actions of the government appear to show that the surgery is on track, and will not be postponed excessively, or artificially delayed,' the report states.

'In light of the steps [BOP has] taken towards providing surgeries to Plaintiff, the parties believe there is a possibility that all claims in this case might be resolved without the need for further litigation.'

The Republican Aryan Army carried out 22 robberies between 1994 and 1996, with Langan as the co-founder. Pictured: (top row L-R) Scott Stedeford, Donna Langan, and Mark Thomas; (bottom row L-R) Michael Brescia, Richard Guthrie Jr., and Kevin McCarthy

After serving about 20 years in prison, Langan was transfered to the Carswell Federal Medical Center women's prison (pictured), in Fort Worth, Texas, where she claimed to suffer discrimination and gender dysphoria as she pleaded last year to be allowed surgery

Langan, who had a surgery consultation on June 10, has said she knew 'she had been misidentified as a boy' by the time she was four, and that her 'entire life has been shaped by the agonizing tension between the immutability of her gender identity and the often life-or-death danger of publicly living her truth,' according to the 2021 complaint.

'To alleviate this suffering, and the other harms and risks of harm she faces as a result of sex-based discrimination, she has for decades sought, and now seeks via this complaint, gender confirming surgeries (hereinafter 'GCS'), most urgently vaginoplasty,' the filing stated.

Langan has also claimed that she has changed since her conviction in the late 90s and no longer holds her racist beliefs.

She was the co-founder of the Aryan Republican Army, which conducted 22 bank robberies across America reminiscent of the 1991 film, Point Break, where the gang donned masks of former presidents during their raids, Dallas Morning News reported.

Langan, known as Commander Pedro, gained infamy not only for the brazen heists, but also for spreading white supremacist propoganda calling for an ethnic cleansing.

The neo-Nazi group was also suspected of conspiring with terrorist Timothy McVeighn, the infamous Oklahoma City bomber.

In her trial, it was revealed that Langan led a double-life, going by Peter the white supremacist during the day, and by night, a redhead named Donna sporting pink, manicured nails.

Langan and her gang donned the masks of former presidents during their daring bank robberies, taking cues from the 1991 film, Point Break (above)

By 2017, Langan was one of a few transgender inmates who successfully transferred to the Carswell women's prison, sparking contraversy as three inmates called on the BOP to remove Langan and the other transgender women.

'My bodily rights are being violated by the Defendants housing men in the prison,' Rhonda Fleming wrote in her January 2017 complaint. 'I am being humiliated and degraded every day so that men that identify as women can be comfortable.

The BOP had initially expanded the rights of transgender inmates in the final two days of the Obama administration, allowing transgender women to be transferred to women's prisons, before it backtracked on the changes under the Trump administration.

Since then, there have been several lawsuits calling on the government to remove these inmates, as well as suit to allow the inmates to go through gender confirmation surgeries.

Last week, Christina Lusk, 56, a trangender woman, filed a lawsuit against the Minnesota State Corrections Department seeking $50,000 in financial compensation because she was assigned to the men's prison and denied gender-affirming surgery.

Christina Lusk, 56, has filed a lawsuit against the state corrections department seeking $50,000 in financial compensation because she was assigned to the men's prison and denied gender-affirming surgery

Lusk, who is legally recognized as a female, has asked to be moved from the men's facility in Moose Lake to the women's prison in Skakopee.

Lusk, of Minneapolis, came out as transgender 14 years ago, started human therapy, and legally changed her name in 2018. The following year she pleaded guilty to a felony drug possession charge.

Jess Braverman, an attorney for the group Gender Justice, which is representing Lusk along with the Minneapolis law firm of Robins Kaplan, said her client is unsafe in Moose Lake.

'She's a woman, and suddenly she's placed in a men's facility. She's in a locked cell with a number of men, and she's really exposed to harassment and violence in that setting,' Braverman said.

While in prison, Lusk has also been denied gender-affirming surgery by corrections officials - despite doctors approving the procedure before she was incarcerated, the lawsuit says. She is set to be released in 2024.

Lusk, who is legally recognized as a female, has asked to be moved from the men's facility in Moose Lake (pictured) to the women's prison in Skakopee

Lusk has been seeking a vaginoplasty since her incarceration but DOC Medical Director James Amsterdam has determined that she should not be allowed the genital surgery whilst in prison, but 'could pursue that after release', according to the lawsuit.

Lusk wrote in the complaint: 'I have been diagnosed with severe Gender Dysphoria. I have attempted suicide four times due to my severe distress caused by my GD as well as self mutilation. My mental capacity is under control, and I am able to make good decisions as far as surgery.

'I have letters of support from my primary physician, my gender specialist, my therapist, as well as my psychiatrist, only two letters are required for surgery but I go up and beyond what is required.'

The move by the corrections department to hold Lusk in a men's prison and deny her the surgery is unconstitutional and a violation of her human rights, according to the lawsuit.




A district prosecutors' office will make a decision next week on whether to recommend the suspension of jailed former President Lee Myung-bak's 17-year prison term handed down for corruption, sources said Tuesday.







The Suwon District Prosecutors Office will hold a deliberation committee meeting next Tuesday to determine whether to recommend the release of Lee from the Anyang Correctional Institution, according to the judicial source.







Lee, 81, filed the petition earlier this month, citing health issues.







Lee, who was president from 2008 to 2013, has been serving the sentence since the Supreme Court finalized the 17-year prison term in October 2020.







Lee has been in and out of the hospital during his imprisonment for chronic diseases, including diabetes.







He was first imprisoned in March 2018 during a prosecution investigation, before being released on bail in March 2019.







Lee then was re-incarcerated in February 2020 following a higher court's ruling but was released again six days later, after he challenged the cancellation of his bail and the court decided to suspend the execution of the prison sentence until the highest court's ruling on the appeal was made.







Lee was excluded from presidential pardons granted by former President Moon Jae-in, under which jailed ex-President Park Geun-hye was set free. (Yonhap)






The leader of a drug ring that flooded a city with heroin and cocaine has fought a four-year human rights battle against deportation to Somalia.

The Home Office made an order to remove Yahya Hashi four years ago after serving his eight-year sentence for conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin.

Investigating officers said the group he led had been responsible for a large proportion of class A drug supply in Exeter and further afield for some time.

Leader of a drug ring, Yahya Hashi, 33, fought a four-year human rights battle against deportation to Somalia. The deportation order was made after serving his eight-year sentence for conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin

Hashi, 33, and other dealers travelled from London to Devon up to five times a week, staying at addresses in the city by intimidating vulnerable adults or drug users.

Despite the gravity of his crime, for which he was convicted in 2015, he remained in the UK at the start of this year.

His first appeal was allowed on the basis he would be at risk of harm from terror group Al Shabaab in Somalia, given he was a member of a minority clan.

He also claimed his deportation would breach his right to his family life in the UK, as he had lived here for 17 years, and his mother, grandmother, wife and children were living in Britain.

But this decision was overturned by an upper tribunal judge, who ruled the lower tribunal had made a mistake in law.

A fresh hearing was ordered, which was further delayed last December.

The Home Office made an order to deport Hashi to Somalia, but his appeal was allowed on the basis he would be at risk of harm from terror group Al Shabaab in Somalia, given he was a member of a minority clan

Other convicted foreign criminals who have been allowed to stay in Britain after arguing they had a right to a private or family life in this country include:
Scientists are urging that major dam projects in NSW and Queensland be abandoned, warning of significant environmental and agricultural consequences.

ANU Professor Jamie Pittock, a member of the Wentworth group of concerned scientists, will tell a conference on Wednesday the dam proposals are a waste of taxpayers money.

They include NSW government plans to expand Wyangala near Cowra and build Dungowan dam near Tamworth. While a plan for a dam at Hells Gates in Northern Queensland remains under consideration.

'The proposal to raise Wyangala Dam is an exemplar of why these dam building projects are crazy, it was proposed without a business case,' Professor Pittock told AAP.

Scientists are urging that major dam projects in NSW and Queensland be abandoned, warning of significant environmental and agricultural consequences

Professor Pittock, who has studied water policy for two decades, says the proposals are 'unjustified and ill conceived water management interventions', and has called on the federal government to abandon them.

'There are better ways at reducing flood risk and better ways for securing water for agriculture.'

Farmers, traditional owners, scientists and politicians have told a two-day Listening To The Lachlan conference about the impact expanding dam will have on the river.

Internationally renowned expert on Australia's water resources Richard Kingsford also wants the projects abandoned.

The UNSW professor will tell the conference the NSW dam proposals will devastate the wetlands downstream on the Lachlan River.

'People don't know how magnificent places like Lake Cowal, the Great Cumbung Swamp and the Booligal wetlands are, but I've been surveying them for more than a decade,' he told AAP.

'Native fish, waterbirds, frogs, river red gums will decline in numbers across the river catchment with flow on effects across the Murray-Darling Basin.'

The professor also warns there will be major impacts on bird life like the straw-necked ibis which eats locusts.

Mal Carnegie from the Lachlan Environmental Water Advisory Group said the Wyangala proposal has not adequately considered downstream water users or the environment

Mal Carnegie from the Lachlan Environmental Water Advisory Group told AAP the Wyangala proposal has not adequately considered downstream water users or the environment.

'You have to consider the bigger picture because it's such a big impact on the whole system ... It's potentially disastrous.'

On Tuesday the head of the Lachlan Valley water group - which has advocated for the dam wall to be increased for flood mitigation and water storage - also spoke at the conference.

Mary Ewing told the gathering that crop losses from the 2016 floods were estimated at $500million and any business case needs to be thorough.

'We know the business case must be done, the environmental impact assessment must be done,'; she said on Tuesday.

Chair of the Lachlan Valley water group, Forbes farmer Tom Green, told AAP early studies show raising the wall is beneficial.

The Wyangala Dam is seen spilling after reaching over capacity in November last year

'We believe the project has shown it will be highly effective for both flood management and water security,' he said.

Mayors along the river, from the Forbes, Cowra and Lachlan shires, remain committed to raising the wall.

Forbes mayor Phyllis Miller told AAP the dam needs to go ahead.

'To those people that raising the wall and inundating some land up in the dam catchment is an environmental problem, let them come see what a flood does,' she said.

The NSW government said money for dams is contingent on a co-funding agreement with the federal government.

'I look forward to continuing discussions with the new federal government and receiving a commitment to funding these crucial water infrastructure projects,' NSW Water Minister Kevin Anderson told AAP.

'Water security is critical to the survival and the future of regional communities.'

An environmental impact statement is expected after August for the Wyangala project while work has begun on stage one of the new Dungowan Dam pipeline.

A spokesperson for the Queensland government said a detailed business case for the Hells Gates dam is due to be sent to the federal government in June.

Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek was unavailable for comment.
The woman who accused Bill Cosby of sexually abusing her when she was 16 years old at the Playboy Mansion in 1975 celebrated his guilty verdict alongside her attorneys, including famed Roe v. Wade lawyer Gloria Allred.

A Los Angeles County jury delivered the verdict in favor of Judy Huth, who is now 64, and awarded her $500,000 on Tuesday.

Jurors determined Cosby intentionally caused harmful sexual contact with Huth, that he reasonably believed she was under 18, and that his conduct was driven by unnatural or abnormal sexual interest in a minor.

'It's been torture,' Huth said of the seven-year legal fight. 'To be ripped apart, you know, thrown under the bus and backed over. This, to me, is such a big victory.'

In her breif post-trial appearance celebrating with Huth, Allred, who represented Jane Roe in the landmark 1973 abortion case, said her client 'won real change.'

The famed lawyer said that while it was not a criminal ruling, the civil case 'shows there is another avenue of justice.'

The jurors' decision is a major legal defeat for the 84-year-old entertainer once hailed as America's dad. It comes nearly a year after his Pennsylvania criminal conviction for sexual assault was thrown out and he was freed from prison.

Attorneys John West (left), Gloria Allred (second from left) and Nathan Goldberg (right) join hands with Judy Huth (second from right) on Tuesday after the jury reached a verdict in Huth's favor in a civil trial involving Bill Cosby (not pictured)

Bill Cosby was found guilty of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl at the Playboy Mansion in 1975. The Los Angeles County jury delivered the verdict in favor of Judy Huth, who is now 64, and awarded her $500,000 on Tuesday

Allred (left) speaks as Judy Huth looks on following the jury's verdict on Tuesday

Huth's lawsuit was one of the last remaining legal claims against him after his insurer settled many others against his will.

Cosby did not attend the trial or testify in person, but short clips from 2015 video deposition were played for jurors, in which he denied any sexual contact with Huth. He continues to deny the allegation through his attorney and publicist.

Cosby met Huth and her high school friend on a Southern California film set in April of 1975, then took them to the Playboy Mansion a few days later.

Huth's friend Donna Samuelson, a key witness, took photos at the mansion of Huth and Cosby, which loomed large at the trial.

Huth testified that in a bedroom adjacent to a game room where the three had been hanging out, Cosby attempted to put his hand down her pants, then exposed himself and forced her to perform a sex act.

Jurors had already reached conclusions on nearly every question on their verdict form, including whether Cosby abused Huth and whether she deserved damages, after two days of deliberations on Friday.

But the jury foreperson could not serve further because of a personal commitment, and the panel had to start deliberating from scratch with an alternate juror on Monday.

Huth filed her lawsuit in 2014, saying that her son turning 15 - the age she initially remembered being when she went to the mansion - and a wave of other women accusing Cosby of similar acts brought fresh trauma over what she had been through as a teenager.

Cosby met Huth and her high school friend on a Southern California film set in April of 1975, then took them to the Playboy Mansion a few days later. The mansion is pictured in 2004

Cosby's lawyers did acknowledge that he took Huth (right in 1974) to the Playboy Mansion, as a photo from the visit shows, but said he did not know she was a minor when it happened

Huth's attorney Nathan Goldberg told the jury of nine women and three men during closing arguments Wednesday that 'my client deserves to have Mr. Cosby held accountable for what he did.'

'Each of you knows in your heart that Mr. Cosby sexually assaulted Miss Huth,' Goldberg said.

A majority of jurors apparently agreed, giving Huth a victory in a suit that took eight years and overcame many hurdles just to get to trial.

During their testimony, Cosby attorney Jennifer Bonjean consistently challenged Huth and Samuelson over errors in detail in their stories, and a similarity in the accounts that the lawyer said represented coordination between the two women.

This included the women saying in pre-trial depositions and police interviews that Samuelson had played Donkey Kong that day, a game not released until six years later.

Bonjean made much of this, in what both sides came to call the 'Donkey Kong defense.'

Goldberg asked jurors to look past the small errors in detail that he said were inevitable in stories that were 45 years old, and focus on the major issues behind the allegations. He pointed out to jurors that Samuelson said 'games like Donkey Kong' when she first mentioned it in her deposition.

The Cosby lawyer began her closing arguments by saying, 'It's on like Donkey Kong,' and finished by declaring, 'game over.'

Huth's attorney reacted with outrage during his rebuttal.

'This is about justice!' he shouted, pounding on the podium. 'We don't need game over! We need justice!'

Jurors determined Cosby intentionally caused harmful sexual contact with Huth, that he reasonably believed she was under 18, and that his conduct was driven by unnatural or abnormal sexual interest in a minor

During her testimony, Huth told the court that Cosby tried to put his hand down her tight pants, exposed himself, and then forced her to touch him sexually on a bed in a 'blue room,' which she says was adjacent to the game room.

'He forced himself on me,' recalled Huth. 'I was shocked to say the least,' she said. Cosby denies her allegations.

She said the incident happened after she and Samuelson accompanied Cosby on a visit to the Playboy Mansion.

She said he gave them a tour of the mansion and game room before they played some games including Donkey Kong, and she went to the restroom. The now-64-year-old then said Cosby then forced her to perform a sex act in the bedroom.

Huth also alleged that Cosby kept pursuing her after she told him that she was '15 or 16' years old.

She claimed to have told Cosby that she was on her menstrual cycle - even though she was not - in hopes that he would stop.

'I was trying to deflect,' she said. 'But he didn't stop. I just closed my eyes... It was so fast. Maybe five minutes. Quick.'

Afterwards, Huth said Cosby walked out the room before she ultimately followed him to the grotto area of the mansion, where both took a photo which was shown in court. As Huth looked at the photo, she said felt 'mad, duped and foolish.'

'I felt let down. I was hurt,' she said.

The photo, which was shown to jurors several times, has Cosby wearing a red beanie and smiling next to the teenage Huth.

Huth told the court that Cosby tried to put his hand down her tight pants, exposed himself, and then forced her to touch him sexually on a bed. She is pictured at Santa Monica Courthouse on June 1, 2022

During cross examination, Cosby's attorney Jennifer Bonjean accused Huth of being a liar several times for delivering two versions of her story

During cross examination, Cosby's attorney Bonjean accused Huth of being a liar several times for delivering two versions of her story.

The initial lawsuit filed in 2014 alleged that the incident took place in late 1973 or 1974, when Huth was 15 and Samuelson 16.

A few weeks before the trial began, Huth and her attorneys said that further investigation of the evidence allowed them to determine that it actually happened in the spring of 1975, when Huth was 16 and Samuelson 17.

Bonjean accused Huth of comparing stories with Samuelson before she spoke with the Los Angeles Police Department in 2016. Huth refuted Bonjean's claim.

'You lied about the date, the year this happened and your age,' Bonjean said.

Huth said she wanted to leave the mansion. However, she said she elected to stay because there was no other transportation out of Samuelson, who drove and wasn't ready to leave.

She added that the incident with Cosby was still on her mind. But since Cosby left for an event and both stayed, they changed into their swimsuits and took a swim before playing backgammon with a couple women.

She says one of the women wearing a purple robe was accompanied by actor Peter Lawford. Bonjean said that's when Huth lied about her age to the women, telling them she was 19.

'You misrepresented your age,' Cosby's attorney said. Bonjean said Huth is now telling her side of the story because of monetary reasons.

But Huth refuted that theory, saying she didn't tell anyone - including her father - about the alleged sexual abuse for years until she saw other women step forward with their story and her son's 15th birthday, which she says 'triggered' her.

'I went back to being irritable,' she said. 'I went back to blaming myself. I became a loner.'

Cosby, who did not attend the trial due to his ongoing battle with glaucoma, has denied sexually assaulting Huth. He is pictured in September 2018

Cosby, who did not attend the trial due to his ongoing battle with glaucoma, has denied sexually assaulting Huth. The jury was presented parts of a video deposition he gave shortly after the 2014 lawsuit.

The video revealed that when asked whether he had tried to put his hand down Huth's pants, Cosby quickly and clearly answered 'no'.

When asked if he exposed himself and forced her to touch him sexually, Cosby answered 'no' in the same way.

He also answered 'no' when asked if it was possible that the assault happened by Cosby did not remember it.

The former actor also stated in the video that he did not remember meeting Huth or Samuelson, who each testified they met him on a film set, then days later met up with him at a tennis club and briefly visited a house he was staying at then went with him to the mansion.

Asked whether being shown pictures of himself with Huth at the mansion would change his answers about whether he knew them, Cosby replied that it would mean little.

'Why would that not be possible?' Huth's lawyer Nathan Goldberg asked.

'Because,' Cosby replied, 'the fact that this young lady is saying that she told me she was 15.'

In another clip shown in court, Goldberg asked Cosby if he would knowingly have relationships with girls who were under 18 in the mid-1970s.

He answered: 'No.' But also said 'no' when asked whether he would make sure those he sought sexual relationships with were 18.

Cosby has been undergoing multiple sexual assault allegations in past few years. The former actor was released from prison last year after being convicted of another sexual assault case. He is pictured at his home on June 30, 2021 after being released from prison

'What is the word 'know', that I 'know' somebody?' Cosby said in one of his few long replies in the video. 'Or that I met someone? Or that, while at Disneyland I met a hundred people and took pictures with them?

'Or that, while I'm at the airport [where] I'm sitting, waiting to catch a plane and people come up and sit next to me, sit on me, put your arm around me, say hello and take a picture that later might show up somewhere somehow and that I know this person? No, sir.'

He added: 'It doesn't mean that they were with me or that I was even with them.'

Two pictures that Samuelson took of Cosby with Huth at the mansion were shown several times during the trial.

Cosby's lawyer Bonjean acknowledged that he took the girls there but repeatedly denied that any sexual interaction took place.

Huth's lawsuit states she suffered psychological damage from Cosby's abuse from 2014 when she began having anxiety over it and flashbacks to it, until 2018 when he was sent to prison in the Pennsylvania criminal case.

Goldberg asked her during the proceedings: 'Did you know when you were 16 that what Cosby did caused you psychological injury?'

'No,' Huth answered. 'I was just a kid.'

Cosby has been undergoing multiple sexual assault allegations in past few years. The former actor was released from prison in 2021 after being convicted of another sexual assault case.

Social media users have taken to Twitter to respond to the verdict, with several alleging it was unsurprising.

'Of course, he did. He's a disgusting perv,' one wrote.

'Bill Cosby has stank energy,' echoed another.

Social media users have taken to Twitter to respond to the verdict, with several alleging it was unsurprising

'I hope Bill Cosby ends up returning to prison. Where he rightfully belongs,' Tristan Michels added.

'Bill Cosby gotta' go back to jail bro,' one Twitter user mocked.

However, others questioned the outcome of the trial.

'The question is, what was a 16 year old doing at the Playboy Mansion and where were her parents?' one user penned. 'Lastly, if Bill Cosby was messing with her, probably more were actively doing the same.'

'So let me get this straight... you go after R. Kelly and Bill Cosby but Donald Trump had you same chicken heads in the Playboy Mansion and you're scared to say anything or just refuse to make that prick out to be the monster he is,' wrote Nicole Cameron.
A group of Republicans and Democrats said Tuesday they had finally reached a deal on gun legislation after spending the long weekend working out kinks between the two sides and wrestling with a divisive abortion issue.

More than a week after a bipartisan group announcement agreement on a 'framework' agreement' Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., the lead Democratic negotiator, said the final agreement was 'in good shape.'

Top Republican negotiator Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who got booed at the party convention in his home state over the weekend, said he, Murphy and the other two top Senate bargainers had reached agreement.

The group of negotiators - which included Murphy, Kyrsten Sinema, Ariz., on the Democratic side and Sens. Cornyn and Thom Tillis, N.C., on the Republican side, had hoped to have the text of the legislation out by Monday - but nothing came through.

It lacks the stronger gun control restrictions that President Joe Biden pushed for, and came together on a day when new details emerged of the failures of law enforcement to confront a mass shooter in Uvalde, Texas.

'This bipartisan gun-safety legislation is progress and will save lives. While it is not everything we want, this legislation is urgently needed,' said Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer.

'I support the bill text that Senator Cornyn and our colleagues have produced,' said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

He attacked the 'far left' for having 'falsely claimed that Congress could only address the terrible issue of mass murders by trampling on law-abiding Americans' constitutional rights.'

'This bill proves that false. Our colleagues have put together a commonsense package of popular steps that will help make these horrifying incidents less likely while fully upholding the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,' McConnell added.

A GOP source told Politico that negotiators ran into a hiccup over the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funds to pay for abortions. Republicans have fought to keep the amendment in place while Democrats have tried to undo it.

Cornyn told ABC Tuesday morning that he thought there could be bill text released today, 'hopefully shortly,' but the bill is hung up over 'details.'

If the Senate moves forward procedurally on Tuesday the chamber could vote on the bill by the end of the week. If not, there is little hope that any bill will make it through before the two-week July 4 recess that begins at the end of this week.

Lawmakers have scrambled to cobble together a deal after a recent spate of mass shootings, most notably Uvalde, Texas where an 18-year-old gunman mowed down 19 children and two teachers.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has been heading negotiations for Republicans

Sen. Chris Murphy, Conn., has been heading negotiations for Democrats

Another provision that caused trouble last week was the so-called 'boyfriend loophole.' Last week Cornyn told CNN that the loophole 'continues to be a challenge' and one option is to 'drop it' from the package.

Democrats pushed to include the provision in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women act earlier this year, but it was stripped out under intense lobbying by gun rights groups before Biden signed the law earlier this year.

Current law prohibits people convicted of domestic violence from owning a firearm if the violence is against a spouse, a partner who they live with or a partner who they share children with. Democratic lawmakers have pushed the provision to include dating partners, convicted stalkers or anyone under a protective order.

The Washington Post reports that language closing the boyfriend loophole has been worked out and is a part of the legislation.

Pieces of the framework also include expanded background checks for those aged 18-21, funding to encourage states to implement red flag laws, funding for mental health and school safety and penalties for 'straw purchases,' or third party gun purchases.

Though the bill leaves out many Democratic priorities for gun control, Cornyn was still booed over the weekend at the Texas GOP convention in his hometown of Houston.

'Democrats pushed for an assault weapons ban, I said no,' Cornyn said. 'They tried to get a new three-week mandatory waiting period for all gun purchases, I said no. Universal background checks, magazine bans, licensing requirements, the list goes on and on and on. And I said no, no, 1,000 times no,' he told the hostile crowd.

Onlookers were chanting 'no red flags' and 'say no to Cornyn,' according to Houston Public Media.

'We reject the so called 'bipartisan gun agreement,' and we rebuke Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lindsey Graham 1601 (R-S.C.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.),' one resolution voted on by the delegates at the Texas GOP convention reads.

Cornyn, asked about the booing on Tuesday, said he is 'all for people exercising their First Amendment right' and it did not sway him in the negotiations.
A major outage at content delivery network Cloudflare caused hundreds of websites across the internet to stop working and return a '500 Internal Server error' message this morning.

A content delivery network (CDN) is a distributed group of severs around the world that work in unison. Websites use these CDNs to deliver content from the cloud safely and as quickly as possible.

Cloudflare is the most popular content delivery network by some margin, with around 10 per cent of all requests on the internet running through its servers.

Websites affected by the outage from around 07:34 BST (02:34 EDT) this morning included Discord, Shopify, Fitbit, Peloton, Grindr, Ring, bet365, Google, NordVPN, JustEat and Ladbrokes, according to Downdetector, which monitors website outages.

The National Rail Enquiries website also briefly went offline and may have been affected by the issue, but it was also facing a surge in demand for journey information on the first day of rail strikes across Britain.

Cloudflare acknowledged the issue in an update on its official Twitter account.

'The Cloudflare team is aware of the current service issues and is working to resolve as quickly as possible,' it stated.

The company implemented a fix at 08.20 BST (03:20 EDT) and posted an update on its service status page at 09:06 BST (04:06 EDT) claiming to have resolved the issue.

Cloudflare acknowledged the issue in an update on its official Twitter account

Websites affected include Discord, Shopify, Fitbit, Peloton, Grindr, Ring, bet365, Google, NordVPN, JustEat and Ladbrokes, according to Downdetector.

The outage prompted many internet users to express their distress about 'large chunks of the internet' returning a 500 Internal Server Error message on social media.

'Did the internet just go down? Getting a 500 internal server error across several websites,' wrote one Twitter user.

'Downdetector is down, Discord is down, League of Legends Servers are down, Valorant is down. Huge internet outage happening,' wrote another.

'Half the internet is down because of some cloudflare issue giving a 500 server internal nginx error. Pingu is taking over the world as we speak. Twitter is next. It's over folks. Noot noot,' wrote another.

'And you thought the train strike was bad' said cybersecurity expert Graham Cluley.

'When many websites are reliant on a single technology, theres always the risk it may be a single point of failure.'

Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor at ESET Internet Security told MailOnline: 'There seems to be a problem with Cloudflare and a fix is being implemented but in the meantime users may be frustrated with the amount of services offline.

'It just goes to show how the majority of the internet still funnels through a small series of lines which puts major pressure on these platforms which are designed to offer protection and reliability.

'When problems occur, havoc can erupt in cyberspace. Unfortunately, these are becoming more commonplace.'

Internet users took to Twitter to express their distress about 'large chunks of the internet' returning a 505 Internal Server Error

Moore explained: 'Each request from a browser responds with a status. When you visit a website and are met with a 500 Internal Server error message, it means there is a problem with the website.

'Usually no information is offered as to why but in more and more cases these days the problem lies with the content delivery network.

'CDNs are battling increasing traffic which is often the cause of outages.'

Cloudflare was quick to identify the issue and implement a fix.

John Graham-Cumming, CTO of Cloudflare, said on a Hacker News thread that it was not a worldwide outage, but 'a lot of places' were impacted.

'Problem with our backbone. We know what. Rollbacks etc. happening,' he said.

The company has now published a post-mortem of the incident on its blog, stating that the outage affected traffic in 19 of its data centres, which together handle a significant proportion of its global traffic.

These data centres are located in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Ashburn, Chicago, Frankfurt, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Manchester, Miami, Milan, Mumbai, Newark, Osaka, Sao Paulo, San Jose, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo.

In a statement sent to MailOnline this afternoon, Cloudflare confirmed that the outage 'was not the result of an attack'.

'A network change in some of our data centres caused a portion of our network to be unavailable,' a Cloudflare spokesperson said.

'Due to the nature of the incident, customers may have had difficulty reaching websites and services that rely on Cloudflare from approximately 0628-0720 UTC.

'Cloudflare was working on a fix within minutes, and the network is running normally now.'
One of Elon Musk's rockets gave New Zealanders a spectacular sight at the weekend  when it dumped its fuel and created a glowing blue swirl in the night sky.

The exhaust plume came from a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster which had just blasted a satellite into space, despite some thinking it might have an extraterrestrial link.

As the rocket spun to vent its fuel, it created a vapour trail that reflected the sunlight and produced a visible blue swirl that eyewitnesses said moved 'serenely' across the night sky.

One observer said it 'looked like an enormous spiral galaxy, just hanging there in the sky, and slowly just drifting across'.

The plume lit up the sky over Nelson, a city at the tip of New Zealand's south island, and travelled 466 miles (750km) south to Stewart Island by about 7.30pm on Sunday.

'Fascinating': One of Elon Musk's rockets gave New Zealanders a spectacular sight at the weekend - when it dumped its fuel and created a glowing blue swirl in the night sky (pictured)

South Island stargazers discovered the glowing swirl (pictured) was caused by a SpaceX rocket which had dumped its fuel

Stewart Island stargazer Alasdair Burns said the spiral was by far the strangest thing he had ever seen.

'It was absolutely bizarre. It was like a massive spiral. And it very, very slowly, serenely moving north across the night sky and then just sort of dissipating as it went,' he told Stuff.

'We quickly banged on the doors of all our neighbours to get them out as well.

'And so there were about five of us, all out on our shared veranda looking up and just kind of, well, freaking out just a little bit.'

Mapua local Augustine Matthews said she ran outside to watch the spiral with her husband.

'It looked like a planet or star. It was just a white dot with a tiny spiral. And within 10 minutes it had traversed half the sky and the spiral had grown three times in size,' she said.

'It wasn't blinking or twinkling, and it was moving fairly fast... so fascinating.'

It was the company's third launch in just 36 hours, after the blasting off of 53 of its Starlink internet satellites on Friday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and a radar satellite for the German military from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Saturday

SpaceX hauled a Globalstar communications satellite into orbit early Sunday from Cape Canaveral, pulling off the third Falcon 9 rocket flight in 36 hours, the fastest sequence of three missions by any commercial launch company in history.



: @mdcainjr https://t.co/0Y5ArwZPuf pic.twitter.com/mmPSRx0pue  Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) June 19, 2022

'The spiral that was seen in the sky tonight around 7:30pm was most likely a fuel dump or exhaust plume from a SpaceX rocket launch,' the New Plymouth Astronomical Society wrote in a Facebook post.

'Similar effects have been seen before, and SpaceX's Globalstar 2 FM15 was likely to have passed New Zealand around that time.'

The two-stage rocket had been launched on Sunday morning from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

It was carrying a communications satellite for the Louisiana-based company Globalstar, which SpaceX said was deployed about 1 hour and 50 minutes after launch as planned.

After dispatching its payload, the Falcon 9 began venting its fuel, while the rocket's first stage returned to Earth for a vertical landing on SpaceX's droneship.

It was the company's third launch in just 36 hours, after the blasting off of 53 of its Starlink internet satellites on Friday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the launch of a radar satellite for the German military from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Saturday.

Elon Musk's SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Globalstar DM15 satellite on Sunday
It may not be what you'd expect to find on the menu in a top restaurant, but a new type of fish-free seafood could soon be delighting diners at the Alchemist in Copenhagen.

The two Michelin-starred restaurant has joined forces with researchers from the Technical University of Denmark to create a gourmet product they plan to add to the menu.

It is made from a special fungi, currently used in meat grown from animal cells, which is fermented with seaweed to produce foods with fish-like texture and taste.

The team hope their sustainable seafood substitute will not only tingle the taste buds of fine diners, but also reduce pressure on ocean ecosystems.

Nearly half of EU marine habitats have already been assessed as either endangered or near threatened, mainly due to pollution, fishing and aquaculture.

Finding sustainable alternatives to fish and other seafood could help to satisfy growing demand without further harming the oceans, the researchers argue.

Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark are joining forces with a two Michelin-starred restaurant to create a gourmet, fish-free product they plan to add to the menu

Filamentous fungi, currently used in meat grown from animal cells, will be fermented with seaweed to produce foods with fish-like texture and taste (stock images)

HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM EXISTING FISH ALTERNATIVES? The majority of current 'fishless' or plant-based seafood on the market are made from soy protein. Often this is combined with other beans or vegetables, like carrots, chickpeas or potatoes, to optimise the flavour. The new products produced at Alchemist and the Technical University of Denmark will use filamentous fungi to create a new vegan seafood range. The researchers will ferment the fungi with seaweed, and alter the fermentation conditions to optimise the food's texture. They will then work with the restaurant chefs to recreate the flavour of seafood in their fungi-seaweed fusion product. Advertisement

Filamentous fungi are microorganisms found in soil and other environments which form a mass of intertwining strands.

They have been used for centuries in everything from cheese to penicillin, and more recently have been used to develop animal-free meat products.

The texture of the long-strand fungi can be altered by changing the conditions it grows in.

It can form strong 'scaffold' structures that can be utilised with animal cells to create cultivated meat grown from animal cells, or animal-free foods that look and taste like meat by themselves.

Dr Leonie Jahn from the Technical University of Denmark wants to make a 'whole-cut' product, like a steak or chop, with the texture and flavour of seafood.

To achieve this, his team will be using the fungi to ferment seaweed and altering the fermentation conditions to optimise the food's texture.

This is a process similar to the production of tempeh - a vegan protein made from the fermentation of soybeans with a mould.

Fermentation can be used to produce sustainable protein that looks, cooks and tastes like meat, through a process similar to the way foods like beer and yoghurt are made.

The researchers will then work with chefs at fine dining restaurant Alchemist to recreate the flavour of seafood in their fungi-seaweed fusion product.

Diego Prago, the head of research at Alchemist, hopes to add the products to his menu if successful, and claims they could also go on to be sold more widely.

'Our main goal with the project is to attempt to create a unique and delicious product that is good enough to be served at a fine dining restaurant, using natural ingredients with seaweed providing flavours of the sea and the mycelium adding to an attractive texture,' he said.

After developing the product, the researchers will then work with chefs at fine dining restaurant Alchemist to recreate the flavour of seafood in their fungi-seaweed fusion product

Dr Leonie Jahn from the Technical University of Denmark wants to make a 'whole-cut' product, like a steak or chop, with the texture and flavour of seafood. Diego Prago, the head of research at Alchemist, hopes to add the products to his menu if successful

The texture of long-strand filamenous fungi can be altered by changing the conditions it grows in. It can form strong 'scaffold' structures that can be utilised with animal cells to create cultivated meat grown from animal cells, or animal-free foods that look and taste like meat by themselves. Mycelium (pictured) is made of a mass of branched, tubular filaments of fungi that gives it a meaty flesh texture. It will be used to make the fish-less seafood range

Most of the prior research into filamentous fungi has been around assessing and enhancing its nutritional value, rather than utilising its texture in food production.

Dr Jahn said: 'I think there's huge potential here  there aren't a lot of seafood alternatives on the market but there's certainly a need for them.

'This is also an area that hasn't really been explored before.'

The project is funded by the Good Food Institute to help advance plant-based and cultivated meat innovation.

Seren Kell, science and technology manager at the Good Food Institute Europe, said: 'This is an incredibly exciting project which will explore innovative ways of using fungi to deliver the distinctive flavours and textures of seafood  using it to create whole-cut seafood, scaffolds to give structure to cultivated meat products, and finally developing its texture and fermenting seaweed to create an entirely new seafood product.

'I will be fascinated to see the outcome of Dr Jahn's research.

'Seafood is an area where we urgently need to see innovation, and there are huge opportunities for companies and governments to invest in further research to develop plant-based and cultivated seafood that can help meet growing demand in a sustainable way.'

Alchemist offers a dining experience with a set menu of 50 uniquely developed courses or 'impressions', to be eaten while surrounded by art, theatre, sound and light

Alchemist offers a dish called 'Mycelium' named in honour of the fungus they will be utilising in their fish-free seafood. It is made of mushroom soup and gel and and is served in a petri dish

Europe already imports three times more seafood than it produces, and global demand for seafood is expected to double by 2050.

Overfishing began in the mid-20th century when countries around the world worked to started to build their fishing capacities due to increasing demand.

This saw a rapid rise of big industrial fishing operations, which quickly replaced local fishers as the world's main source of seafood.

These operations involved using aggressive methods and sophisticated technology to search and extract fish species, making them more affordable to buy and devastating marine ecosystems.

A report published last year stated that overfishing has put 60 per cent of the UK's fish stocks at risk of collapse  with North Sea cod, crab and herring among those in a critical state.
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They have spent the best part of half a century travelling farther from Earth than any other man-made objects.

But the two Voyager spacecraft are now entering their final phase, with NASA eyeing a potential timeline for their powering-down.

Voyager 1 is currently 14.5 billion miles (23.3bn km) from Earth, a distance which takes 20 light hours and 33 minutes to travel, while Voyager 2 is 12 billion miles and 18 hours' light distance from us.

It means it takes two days for engineers to send a message to the spacecraft and get a response.

Both Voyagers launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida in 1977  with Voyager 2 departing a month earlier than 1  and were designed to last five years to study Jupiter and Saturn.

They have far exceeded that, however, having been travelling for 44 years, but NASA is now planning to begin turning off some of the Voyagers' systems in the hope of eking out the spacecrafts' remaining power to extend their journeys to about 2030.

Speaking to the magazine Scientific American about powering down the Voyagers, NASA physicist Ralph McNutt said: 'We're at 44 and a half years, so we've done 10 times the warranty on the darn things.'

End of an era: They have spent the best part of half a century travelling farther from Earth than any other man-made objects. But it appears the two Voyager spacecraft are entering their final phase, with NASA eyeing a potential timeline for their powering-down. Voyager 1 (pictured) is currently 14.5 billion miles (23.3bn km) from Earth

Voyager 1 crossed into interstellar space in August 2012 - and is continuing to collect data. No manmade object has travelled further than NASA's iconic spacecraft

Speaking to the magazine Scientific American about powering down the spacecraft, NASA physicist Ralph McNutt said: 'We're at 44 and a half years, so we've done 10 times the warranty on the darn things.' Voyager 2 (pictured) is 12 billion miles and 18 hours' light distance from us

Uranus' icy moon Miranda is seen in this image from Voyager 2 on January 24, 1986. Unfortunately, Nasa predicts that it will have to turn off the last science instrument by 2030. But even after the spacecraft go silent, they will continue their journey, completing an orbit within the Milky Way every 225 million years

Neptune's blue-green atmosphere is shown in greater detail than ever before by the Voyager 2 spacecraft as it rapidly approaches its encounter with the giant planet

THE BACKGROUND TO NASA'S HISTORIC VOYAGER MISSION The Voyager spacecraft were built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, which continues to operate both. NASA launched the Voyager 1 spacecraft on September 5 1977, and the Voyager 2 on August 20 1977. Each spacecraft carries a golden record on board  a record that includes sounds, pictures and messages of Earth. Continuing on their more-than-37-year journey since their 1977 launches, they each are much farther away from Earth and the sun than Pluto. In August 2012, Voyager 1 made the historic entry into interstellar space, the region between stars, filled with material ejected by the death of nearby stars millions of years ago. Humanity's farthest and longest-live spacecraft, Voyager 1 and 2, have been travelling through space for more than 44 years. NASA launched the Voyager 1 spacecraft on September 5 1977, and the Voyager 2 on August 20 1977 This archival photo shows engineers working on the Voyager 2 spacecraft on March 23, 1977. Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have flown by all four outer planets  Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune Voyager 2 entered interstellar space on November 5, 2018. Both spacecraft are still sending scientific information about their surroundings through the Deep Space Network, or DSN. The primary mission was the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn. After making a string of discoveries there  such as active volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io and intricacies of Saturn's rings  the mission was extended. Voyager 2 went on to explore Uranus and Neptune, and is still the only spacecraft to have visited those outer planets. The adventurers' current mission, the Voyager Interstellar Mission (VIM), will explore the outermost edge of the sun's domain. And beyond. Source: NASA Advertisement

The two probes are powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs)  which are powered by the heat from decaying spheres of plutonium.

However, the output of these RTGs is decreasing by about four watts every year, which means the instruments on both Voyagers are being turned off one by one.

Voyager 1 now has just four functioning instruments left, while Voyager 2 has five.

Some estimate that they could come to the end of their life as early as 2025, with the plutonium powering the spacecraft decaying beyond what is necessary to keep them going.

However, others are more optimistic and think the Voyagers could yet continue into the next decade.

Having just passed Uranus on February 14, 1990, Voyager 1 captured our planet as a tiny dot (pictured). Four years later the astronomer Carl Sagan reflected on the significance of the photograph to an audience at Cornell University, famously coining its name as the 'Pale Blue Dot'

An image of Saturn taken in Voyager's blue and violet filters and processed to recreate an approximately natural colour and contrast

The spacecraft, currently further away from the Earth than any human-made object before it, launched 44 years ago to study the gas giants of the outer solar system

Thirteen days into its mission, after reaching a distance of 7.25 million miles, Voyager 1 turned its camera back toward Earth and snapped the first ever photograph of the Earth-moon system in a single frame (pictured)

RECORDS SET BY THE VOYAGERS - In 2012, Voyager 1 became the only spacecraft to have entered interstellar space - Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to have flown by all four outer planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune - Their numerous planetary encounters include discovering the first active volcanoes beyond Earth, on Jupiter's moon Io, and hints of a subsurface ocean on Jupiter's moon Europa - They also discovered the most Earth-like atmosphere in the solar system, on Saturn's moon Titan; the jumbled-up, icy moon Miranda at Uranus; and icy-cold geysers on Neptune's moon Triton Advertisement

They have certainly surprised NASA engineers before. Two years ago scientists expected to have to start switched off instruments on the probes, but as yet nothing has been turned off since 2008.

Planetary scientist Linda Spilker, who started working on the Voyager missions before they launched, told Scientific American: 'If everything goes really well, maybe we can get the missions extended into the 2030s. It just depends on the power. That's the limiting point.'

The probes were launched almost half a century ago after engineers took advantage of a rare alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, which happens once every 176 years.

This allowed them to fire the two Voyagers into orbit and use gravity assists at each planet to send them on to the next.

They explored all the giant planets of our outer solar system: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune; 48 of their moons; and the unique system of rings and magnetic fields those planets possess.

The Voyagers gave mankind its closest look at the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, while their string of discoveries also included active volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io and a study of the intricacies of Saturn's rings.

Voyager 2 is still the only spacecraft to have visited Uranus and Neptune.

Thirteen days into its mission, after reaching a distance of 7.25 million miles, Voyager 1 turned its camera back toward Earth and snapped the first ever photograph of the Earth-moon system in a single frame.

It would also later capture our planet as a tiny dot, having just passed Uranus on February 14, 1990.

Four years later the astronomer Carl Sagan reflected on the significance of the photograph to an audience at Cornell University, famously coining its name as the 'Pale Blue Dot', and giving one of the most widely published speeches of all time.

These two pictures of Uranus - one in true colour (left) and the other in false colour - were compiled from images returned January 17, 1986, by the narrow-angle camera of Voyager 2

The Voyagers gave mankind its closest look at the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, while their string of discoveries also included active volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io and a study of the intricacies of Saturn's rings. Voyager 1 took this stunning image of Io showing an active plume of Loki on limb

Both Voyagers launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida in 1977  with Voyager 2 (pictured) departing a month earlier than 1  and were designed to last five years to study Jupiter and Saturn

WHERE ARE THE VOYAGERS NOW? Voyager 1 is currently 14.5 billion miles away from Earth, travelling northward through space. The probe sent back data to NASA once it reached interstellar space that cosmic rays are as much as four times more abundant in that region, beyond the sun's direct influence, than in the vicinity of Earth. This suggests that the heliosphere, the region of space that contains our solar system's planets, may act as a radiation shield. Meanwhile, Voyager 2 is now 12 billion miles from Earth, travelling south towards the interstellar region. The contrasting locations of the two spacecraft allow scientists to compare two regions of space where the heliosphere interacts with the interstellar medium. Voyager 2 crossing into the interstellar medium allows scientists to sample the medium from two different locations at the same time. Advertisement

'Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives,' he said.

'The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilisation, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar", every "supreme leader", every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there  on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.'

The twin spacecraft are now exploring where nothing from Earth has flown before, having escaped beyond the hot plasma bubble known as the heliopause that defines the beginning of the edge of our solar system.

Voyager 1 made this historic entry into interstellar space  the region between stars, filled with material ejected by the death of nearby stars millions of years ago  in August 2012.

Voyager 2 entered interstellar space on November 5, 2018.

However, neither of the probes are currently considered to be outside of the solar system.

Scientists see the final boundary as the Oort Cloud, a collection of small objects still under the influence of the sun's gravity.

NASA has said it would take about 300 years for Voyager 2 to reach the inner edge of the Oort Cloud, and possibly 30,000 years to fly beyond it.

Both spacecraft carry a greeting to any form of life, should that be encountered.

The message is carried by a phonograph record  a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk containing sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth.

The Voyager spacecraft are the third and fourth human spacecraft to fly beyond all the planets in our solar system.

Pioneers 10 and 11 preceded Voyager in outstripping the gravitational attraction of the sun but on February 17, 1998, Voyager 1 passed Pioneer 10 to become the most distant human-made object in space.
A complete and relatively intact ancient Roman temple has been discovered in the Netherlands.

Archaeologists from the RAAP Archaeological Consultancy uncovered this and the ruins of another smaller temple at a site in Gelderland.

Among the artefacts they found the remains of statues of deities, reliefs and painted plaster and 'votive stones' used by soldiers to worship the gods.

This is the first Roman sanctuary to be found on the northern boundary of the Roman Empire, known as the Limes.

It is also most complete complex ever to be found in the country, including a temple building, a stone well and fire pits with the remains of sacrifices.

Archaeologists from the RAAP Archaeological Consultancy uncovered two temples at the site

A Roman vestige is seen on a site where Dutch archaeologists discovered a Roman temple

Additionally, among the recently discovered artefacts were several 'votive stones' (pictured), or small stone altars. The stones are dedicated to gods and goddesses by Roman soldiers

An archaeologist uncovers an altar stone at most complete Roman complex ever to be found in the Netherlands. This is the first Roman temple to be found on the Roman Limes site

Among the artefacts they found the remains of statues of deities, reliefs and painted plaster

HOW DO WE KNOW THE TEMPLE WAS USED BY ROMAN SOLDIERS? The archaeologists say that the temple was used mainly by soldiers due to the distinctive stamped roof tiles found that would have been made by the military. Fragments of horse harnesses, armour and the tips of spears and lances have also been found at the site. Additionally, among the recently discovered artefacts were several complete 'votive stones', or small stone altars. They would have been used by high-ranking Roman officers to give thanks to a god or goddess for fulfilling their wishes, or keeping them alive in battle. Advertisement

A statement released by the the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands on Monday said: 'This is a highly unusual find in the Netherlands, but also in internationally.

'The site must have been in use for centuries and such a long period of use is exceptional.'

The site is situated near the Roman Limes in Zevenaar, which represents the 3,100-mile-long border line of the Roman empire at its greatest extent in the 2nd century A.D.

Roman soldiers would have worshipped their gods at the temples between the first and fourth centuries A.D, according to the archaeologists.

They are located at a clay mine located near the village of HerwenHemeling on the top of a small hill.

The location is thought to have been specially chosen by the Romans, as it had been artificially elevated and is near where the Rhine and Waal rivers split.

In 1985, the province of Gelderland granted an excavation permit for clay extraction that did not include archaeological finds.

Last year, volunteers from the Association of Volunteer Archaeologists made their first discovery and alerted the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands.

Clay extraction was then halted while the agency inspected the site, after which RAAP took over its full excavation in early 2022 on behalf of the Province of Gelderland.

A fragment of a building inscription discovered at the HerwenHemeling archaeological site

The site is situated near the Roman Limes in Zevenaar, which represents the 3,100-mile-long border line of the Roman empire at its greatest extent in the 2nd century A.D.

An ancient Roman cloakpin discovered at the HerwenHemeling archaeological site

The archaeologists have so far identified two temples at the site, but there could have been more. Pictured is an ancient Roman coin found at the HerwenHemeling site

Archaeologists have drawn what they believe is the outline of the Roman temple. They have so far identified two temples at the site, but there could have been more

The archaeologists have so far identified two temples at the site, but there could have been more.

One of these was a Gallo-Roman temple with colourfully painted walls and a tiled roof, and the other smaller painted temple stood a few metres away.

They also discovered a large stone well with a staircase leading down to the water, so is thought to have fulfilled a special function.

Ancient sacrificial fire pits and an 'unprecedented' number of fragments from limestone sculptures were also found.

Ancient sacrificial fire pits and an 'unprecedented' number of fragments from limestone sculptures were also found during excavation work at the archaeological site

The archaeologists say that the temple was used mainly by soldiers due to the distinctive stamped roof tiles found that would have been made by the military

A roman vestige is excavated at the site of the Roman temple in Gelderland

The archaeologists say that the temple was used mainly by soldiers due to the distinctive stamped roof tiles found that would have been made by the military.

Fragments of horse harnesses, armour and the tips of spears and lances have also been found at the site.

Additionally, among the recently discovered artefacts were several complete 'votive stones', or small stone altars.

The stones are dedicated to the Romano-Germanic deities Hercules Magusanus, Jupiter-Serapis and Mercury.

The statement from the Cultural Heritage Agency said: 'High-ranking Roman officers erected dozens of votive stones to give thanks to a god or goddess for fulfilling their wishes.

'These did not always relate to winning battles - simply surviving a stay in these northern regions, sometimes far from home, was often reason enough to give thanks.'

Various pieces from the site will be displayed at the Valkhof Museum in Nijmegen, the largest city in Gelderland

The Commissioner responsible for heritage, Peter Drenth, said: Quite unexpectedly, Gelderland now has another very special Roman site.

'This is a valuable addition to our story about the Roman Limes.

'We are now going to investigate and explore this beautiful site as thoroughly as we can, and show it to the people of Gelderland.
Microsoft's Outlook email platform has been hit by service issues making it inaccessible to some users.

The company has confirmed the problem and said it is working to fix it, with no other services currently appearing to be impacted.

According to Microsoft's own service status website, some Outlook users 'may be unable to access their mailboxes via any connection method' and may encounter 'delays sending, receiving or accessing email messages'.

The outage comes as millions of Brits have been forced to work from home amid the national rail strikes.

Microsoft's Outlook email platform has been hit by service issues making it inaccessible to some users

According to the website monitoring service Down Detector, affected users are seeing messages telling them they have been unable to connect to a server, and are struggling to connect to the service from across a range of devices

What is a content delivery network? A content delivery network (CDN) is a platform of servers that helps minimize delays in loading web page content. Jake Moore, a cybersecurity specialist at ESET, explains: 'Web pages are located all over the world so content delivery networks are placed to distribute the data evenly by reducing the physical distance between where it's actually held and the end user. This helps users around the world view the same high quality information and content without any lag or slow loading times.' More than half of the internet's traffic is served by a CDN, according to internet services company Akamai. Advertisement

In a statement on the site, Microsoft said: 'We're continuing to analyse service monitoring telemetry to identify the next troubleshooting steps to mitigate the impact.'

The company added that the issue was specific to some users in Europe.

In an update, Microsoft said: 'We've identified that our traffic management infrastructure is not working as expected.

'We've successfully routed traffic to an alternate traffic management method, and we're seeing an improvement in service availability since this process completed.

'We're continuing to monitor the service availability as it improves, while we determine the root cause.'

According to Down Detector, affected users are seeing messages telling them they have been unable to connect to a server, and are struggling to connect to the service from across a range of devices.

The monitoring service showed it began receiving reports of problems at around 9am on Tuesday.

Many frustrated Outlook users have also taken to Twitter to discuss the outage.

One user wrote: 'Nearly throwing my laptop out the window before realising that Outlook emails are down.'

Another tweeted: 'Service has been down for more than three hours and almost all our mailboxes. This is incredibly bad.'

And one vented: 'Come on Microsoft. This should not be allowed to happen. Our whole company is crippled without the use of email and it's been down for hours. Where the back up plan!?!? #Ridiculous.'

The outage appears to be unrelated to an issue at web infrastructure firm Cloudflare.

Many frustrated Outlook users have also taken to Twitter to discuss the outage today

A major outage at Cloudflare caused hundreds of websites across the internet to stop working and return a '500 Internal Server error' message this morning.

A content delivery network (CDN) is a distributed group of severs around the world that work in unison. Websites use these CDNs to deliver content from the cloud safely and as quickly as possible.

Cloudflare is the most popular content delivery network by some margin.

A major outage at Cloudflare caused hundreds of websites across the internet to stop working and return a '500 Internal Server error' message this morning

Websites affected by the outage from around 07:34 BST this morning included Discord, Shopify, Fitbit, Peloton, Grindr, Ring, bet365, Google, NordVPN, JustEat and Ladbrokes, according to Downdetector, which monitors website outages.

Cloudflare acknowledged the issue in an update on its official Twitter account.

'The Cloudflare team is aware of the current service issues and is working to resolve as quickly as possible,' it stated.

The company implemented a fix at 08.20 BST and posted an update on its service status page at 09:06 BST claiming to have resolved the issue.




A stalking murder suspect was given a life sentence by a local court Tuesday for killing his former girlfriend's mother and seriously injuring her younger brother.







The Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced the suspect named Lee Seok-joon, 26, to life in prison after finding him guilty of multiple charges, including "revenge murder."







Lee was indicted on charges of stabbing his former girlfriend's 49-year-old mother to death and inflicting serious injuries on her 14-year-old brother at their home in southern Seoul, Dec. 10.







At that time, Lee was under police investigation for detaining and raping his former girlfriend four days earlier. Lee reportedly bore a grudge against his former girlfriend and her family after she filed a request for emergency police protection from him.







Lee allegedly committed the murder by impersonating a parcel delivery man after finding out where she lived through an illegal detective agency.







In the previous court hearing last month, prosecutors demanded the death penalty for Lee, saying he committed a premeditated revenge murder. (Yonhap)






Imagine a world where wars are fought by AI-powered tanks, allowing soldiers to stay at a safe distance from the battlefield and yet, still demolish their enemies.

Although this sounds like something out of a sci-fi film, the scenario is exactly what Milrem Robotics and Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace have shown in a first live fire of the PROTECTOR Remote Turret from the Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV).

The unmanned tank, dubbed Type-X, features navigation and obstacle detection systems powered by AI and a range of weapons including 50 mm cannons, anti-tank missiles, and even a tethered drone.

Milrem plans to sell its killer robotic tank to Nordic and Western European countries, but the US has also showed interest in the technology.

And at least 10 countries have already placed orders for the Type-X platform, including seven NATO members.

Scroll down for videos

The unmanned tank, dubbed Type-X, features navigation and obstacle detection systems powered by AI and a range of weapons including 50 mm cannons, anti-tank missiles, and even a tethered drone

Milrem shared a video of the robotic tank in action, showing it travelling around an open field, taking aim at cars and firing at the target  resulting in the vehicle being blown to bits.

Gert Hankewitz, director of market and export control at Milrem, told National Defense earlier this week: You want to send them to take the most dangerous positions because there [are] no men inside it.

If it gets blown up, everybody in the manned vehicles behind it will stay safe.

The tank-like chassis is a unique design by Milrem, which allowed the company to make vehicle lighter and lower - this makes the tank to make it harder to see on the battlefield.

Milrem shared a video of the robotic tank in action, showing it travelling around an open field, taking aim at cars and firing at the target  resulting in the vehicle being blown to bits

The AI can control the tanks navigation and movement, pick targets and get ready to fire, but the system is only semi-autonomous - this means a human must pull the trigger to fire the cannon

Hankewitz notes that the AI can control the tanks navigation and movement, pick targets and get ready to fire, but the system is only semi-autonomous - this means a human must pull the trigger to fire the cannon.

The US army is working on its own fleet of war robots, which seem to pull inspiration from the James Cameron film 'Terminator.

The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is working on a series of 'biohybrid robotics' that integrates living organisms into mechanical systems that 'produces never-seen-before agility and versatile.'

The team envisions growing muscle tissue in a lab that would be added to robotic joints in place of traditional actuators  components responsible for moving and controlling mechanisms.

Milrem plans to sell its killer robotic tank to Nordic and Western European countries, but the US has also showed interest in the technology. And at least 10 countries have already placed orders for the Type-X platform, including seven NATO members

The project aims to give robots the same agility and precision that muscles offer biological systems, allowing these futuristic machines to venture into spaces too risky for human soldiers.

China is already using robots on the battlefield. Last December, the country deployed machinegun-carrying robots to its western desert regions amid a standoff with India because troops are struggling with the high-altitude conditions

Although using machines instead of soldiers does put men and women at less risk during war, many experts fear such technologies may do more harm than good.

China is already using robots on the battlefield. Last December, the country deployed machinegun-carrying robots to its western desert regions amid a standoff with India because troops are struggling with the high-altitude conditions

Dozens of unmanned vehicles capable of carrying both weapons and supplies were sent to Tibet, Indian media reports, with the majority deployed in border regions where Chinese troops are locked into a standoff with Indian soldiers.

Vehicles include the Sharp Claw, which is mounted with a light machinegun and can be operated wirelessly, and the Mule-200, which is designed as an unmanned supply vehicle but can also be fitted with weapons.

Stuart Russell, professor of computer science at University of California, Berkeley: said in a statement: 'We are not talking about drones, where a human pilot is controlling the drone.

'We are talking about autonomous weapons, which means that there is no one behind it.

'Very precisely, weapons that can locate and attack targets without human intervention.'
The outage comes as millions of Brits have been forced to work from home amid the national rail strikes

Thousands of users in the UK and US claim they are unable to join conferences

Video-calling service Zoom appears to be experiencing a major global outage, leaving thousands of users around the world unable to join conferences.

Problems started at around 15:17 BST (10.17 EDT) and are ongoing, according to the website Downdetector, which monitors website outages.

Users in the US and the UK were both reporting being unable to join or start conferences via the website or the app.

The company's service status page is reporting 'degraded performance' for users of its Web Portal.

'We have received reports of a subset of users being unable to access to Zoom Web Portal. We are currently investigating and will provide updates as we have them,' a note on the site posted at 15:38 BST (10:38 EDT) reads.

A further update posted at 15.59 BST states: 'We have resolved the issue causing a subset of users to be unable to access to Zoom Web Portal.We will continue to monitor and provide updates as we have them.'

The outage comes as millions of Brits have been forced to work from home due to the national rail strikes.

Video-calling service Zoom appears to be experiencing a major global outage, leaving thousands of users around the world unable to join conferences

Downdetector UK tweeted the news that Zoom was experiencing problems via its official Twitter account

Problems started at around 15:17 BST and are ongoing, according to the website Downdetector, which monitors website outages

Thousands in the UK claim they are unable to join or start conferences via the website or the app.

The US also appears to be experiencing problems, with New York, Chicago, Washington and Boston highlighted as hotspots on Downdetector's map

Numbers are much higher in the US, with over 13,500 reports of issues

Zoom users in both the UK and the US took to Twitter to express their frustration (and in some cases delight) at the outage.

'Zoom is down and honestly we should just take the day off,' one user wrote.

'What a great way to start my morning at work, zoom being down,' wrote a US-based user, with an image of an upside down smiley face.

'Zoom being down just in time for everyone's 9:00AM staff meetings is a mood,' wrote another.

However, the glee was evident in some of the messages posted on the social network.

'Zoom being down on a day you have a meeting is the closest thing an adult will get to a snow day ever again,' one user wrote.

Zoom users in both the UK and the US took to Twitter to express their frustration (and in some cases delight) at the outage

It is unclear what is causing the issue, and whether it is related to other widespread internet outages affecting websites and services including Outlook and Cloudflare - a content delivery network upon which much of the internet relies.

Microsoft's Outlook email platform was hit by service issue this afternoon making it inaccessible to some users.

The company confirmed the problem and said it was working to fix it, with no other services currently appearing to be impacted.

According to Microsoft's own service status website, some Outlook users 'may be unable to access their mailboxes via any connection method' and may encounter 'delays sending, receiving or accessing email messages'.

Microsoft's Outlook email platform has been hit by service issues making it inaccessible to some users

According to the website monitoring service Down Detector, affected users are seeing messages telling them they have been unable to connect to a server, and are struggling to connect to the service from across a range of devices

What is a content delivery network? A content delivery network (CDN) is a platform of servers that helps minimize delays in loading web page content. Jake Moore, a cybersecurity specialist at ESET, explains: 'Web pages are located all over the world so content delivery networks are placed to distribute the data evenly by reducing the physical distance between where it's actually held and the end user. This helps users around the world view the same high quality information and content without any lag or slow loading times.' More than half of the internet's traffic is served by a CDN, according to internet services company Akamai. Advertisement

In a statement on the site, Microsoft said: 'We're continuing to analyse service monitoring telemetry to identify the next troubleshooting steps to mitigate the impact.'

The company added that the issue was specific to some users in Europe.

In an update, Microsoft said: 'We've identified that our traffic management infrastructure is not working as expected.

'We've successfully routed traffic to an alternate traffic management method, and we're seeing an improvement in service availability since this process completed.

'We're continuing to monitor the service availability as it improves, while we determine the root cause.'

According to Down Detector, affected users are seeing messages telling them they have been unable to connect to a server, and are struggling to connect to the service from across a range of devices.

The monitoring service showed it began receiving reports of problems at around 9am on Tuesday.

Many frustrated Outlook users have also taken to Twitter to discuss the outage.

One user wrote: 'Nearly throwing my laptop out the window before realising that Outlook emails are down.'

Another tweeted: 'Service has been down for more than three hours and almost all our mailboxes. This is incredibly bad.'

And one vented: 'Come on Microsoft. This should not be allowed to happen. Our whole company is crippled without the use of email and it's been down for hours. Where the back up plan!?!? #Ridiculous.'

These outages appear to be unrelated to an issue at web infrastructure firm Cloudflare.

Many frustrated Outlook users have also taken to Twitter to discuss the outage today

A major outage at Cloudflare caused hundreds of websites across the internet to stop working and return a '500 Internal Server error' message this morning.

A content delivery network (CDN) is a distributed group of severs around the world that work in unison. Websites use these CDNs to deliver content from the cloud safely and as quickly as possible.

Cloudflare is the most popular content delivery network by some margin.

A major outage at Cloudflare caused hundreds of websites across the internet to stop working and return a '500 Internal Server error' message this morning

Websites affected by the outage from around 07:34 BST this morning included Discord, Shopify, Fitbit, Peloton, Grindr, Ring, bet365, Google, NordVPN, JustEat and Ladbrokes, according to Downdetector, which monitors website outages.

Cloudflare acknowledged the issue in an update on its official Twitter account.

'The Cloudflare team is aware of the current service issues and is working to resolve as quickly as possible,' it stated.

The company implemented a fix at 08.20 BST and posted an update on its service status page at 09:06 BST claiming to have resolved the issue.
Skywatchers in Spain were given a fright this morning after witnessing a series of slow-moving fireballs across the dawn sky.

Many people took to social media to share photos and video, speculating that the bright lights could have been a meteor shower.

But experts said the more likely explanation was debris from a Chinese rocket that launched into space at the beginning of June.

Jose Maria Madiedo, of the Andalusian Institute of Astrophysics, said the upper stage of the Long March-2F rocket, which was blasted into orbit as part of a mission to China's new Tiangong space station, had re-entered the Earth's atmosphere.

It then broke into multiple fragments which became incandescent, he added, sparking a row of fireballs that were seen above Malaga, Seville, Huelva and Granada.

One eyewitness, John Rodgers, filmed the debris lighting up the night sky above Fuengirola shortly after midnight this morning (Tuesday).

Surprise: Skywatchers in Spain were given a fright this morning after witnessing a series of slow-moving fireballs across the dawn sky

Many people took to social media to share photos and video, speculating that the bright lights could have been a meteor shower

TIANHE IS THE CORE MODULE IN THE NEW TIANGONG SPACE STATION China launched the first module in its modular space station in April 2021. Designed in a similar way, but much smaller than the International Space Station, allowing for upgrades. Known as Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace, the first module - Tianhe - was launched on April 29, 2021. The 59ft long living quarters will include a solar array and docking ports for spaceships and future modules. The final two parts of the space station are expected to launch in 2022. It will house up to three astronauts at a time for six months once operational. Orbit: 210 to 280 miles Mass: 180,000 to 220,000 lb Length: 65ft Diameter: 10ft Lifespan: 15 years Modules Tianhe - core (2021)

Wentian - lab (2022)

Mengtian - lab (2022)

Xuntian - space telescope (2023) Advertisement

Astronomers said the fireballs would also have been visible much further north, in places such as Toledo, Madrid and Valladolid.

They added that the re-entry took place over the Atlantic, off the coast of Morocco.

Madiedo said the debris from the rocket then moved north-east, over Tetuan in northern Morocco, before continuing over the Mediterranean.

There, about 60 miles (100 km) off the coast of Algeria and Murcia, the fireballs fizzled out.

The Long March-2F was launched by the Chinese Space Agency on June 5 as part of the Shenzhou 14 mission, which delivered three astronauts to the Tiangong.

While there, the trio have been tasked with 'completing in-orbit assembly and construction of the space station', as well as 'commissioning of equipment' and conducting scientific experiments onboard.

The Tiangong station, which means 'heavenly palace', was launched in April 2021 with the Tianhe habitation unit, and will have its own power, propulsion, life support systems and living quarters for astronauts.

It is expected to become fully operational by the end of the year.

China is only the third country in history to have both put astronauts into space and built a space station, after the US and Soviet Union.

When completed, Tiangong will be similar to the Soviet Mir station that orbited Earth from the 1980s until 2001, and the hope is that it will last for at least a decade.

It sits about 340 miles above the Earth's surface, about 100 miles higher than the International Space Station (ISS), and is about a fifth the mass of the ISS.

However, experts said the more likely explanation was debris from a Chinese rocket that launched into space at the beginning of June

China's Long March-2F rocket from the Shenzhou 14 mission blasted into space on June 5

Filming of the rocket debris fireballs comes just days after one of Elon Musk's boosters gave New Zealanders a spectacular sight at the weekend  when it dumped its fuel and created a glowing blue swirl in the night sky.

The exhaust plume came from a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster which had just blasted a satellite into space, despite some thinking it might have an extraterrestrial link.

As the rocket spun to vent its fuel, it created a vapour trail that reflected the sunlight and produced a visible blue swirl that eyewitnesses said moved 'serenely' across the night sky.

The plume lit up the sky over Nelson, a city at the tip of New Zealand's south island, and travelled 466 miles (750km) south to Stewart Island by about 7.30pm on Sunday.

The two-stage rocket had been launched on Sunday morning from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

'Fascinating': One of Elon Musk's rockets gave New Zealanders a spectacular sight at the weekend - when it dumped its fuel and created a glowing blue swirl in the night sky (pictured)
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Deep in the swamps of Florida's Picayune Strand State Forest lived a Burmese python so large that it took three men to carry it out of the Everglades.

Researchers at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida captured this massive female python that turned out to weigh 215 pounds and measure 17.7 feet long  deeming it the largest python ever recorded in Floridaor anywhere outside its native range.

Douglas Main, senior writer and editor at National Geographic, told DailyMail.com in an interview: 'It is incredible because of the scale involved. It is almost heavier than most people.

'It is also cool because it shows the success of this technique using scout snakes, which are male pythons with GPS transmitters. The males are released and the snakes lead them to large reproductive females.'

Scroll down for video

Deep in the swamps of Florida's Picayune Strand State Forest lived a Burmese python so large that it took three men to carry it out of the Everglades

The giant snake was caught in December, euthanized and put on ice in a freezer until April. National Geographic's Rebecca Dzombak traveled to a lab in Naples to watch the researchers perform a necropsy.

It took about 48 hours for the carcass to thaw and Dzombak said in her feature that 'the smell does not improve with time.'

The researchers began by slicing along the center of the python's belly and then they pealed open its ribs to access the underneath fat layer, which allowed them to uncover a few other interesting things.

Hidden in the body were 122 proto-eggs  the most ever found inside a python.

The giant snake was caught in December, euthanized and put on ice in a freezer until National Geographic's Rebecca Dzombak traveled to a lab Naples in April to watch the researchers perform a necropsy. Hidden in the body were 122 proto-eggs (pictured)  the most ever found inside a python

Researchers also took several measurements of the snake, noting its head measured nearly six inches from the tip of her snout to the back of her skull

However, the eggs had not been fertilized yet.

The python had hoof cores and bits of fur in her digestive tract, which researchers say indicates her last meal was an adult white-tailed deer.

'White tailed-deer is the main prey for endangered Florida panthers,' Main said.

'So this is concerning.'

Main told DailyMail.com that he is working on a story about the endangered panthers, noting that there are just about 200 in all of Florida.

Researchers also took several measurements of the snake, noting its head measured nearly six inches from the tip of her snout to the back of her skull. The widest part of her body measured 25 inches.

The scout pythons are key to tracking down females in the wild. These males typically make their way to reproductive females during breeding season and sometimes even groups of females and males.

And a male scout named Dion led researchers to the prized female python.

The Conservancy team has removed more than 1,000 pythons weighing a combined 25,000lbs since 2013 using this technique.

Since 2000, Florida Fish & Wildlife has killed or removed over 15,000 pythons, with over 1,000 removed every year beginning in 2017. Pictured is another Burmese python that measured 17ft long

'Since 2000, Florida Fish & Wildlife has killed or removed over 15,000 pythons, with over 1,000 removed every year beginning in 2017. But scientists have no idea how many thousands more there might be,' Main shared.

Pythons are native to Southeast Asia, but have been wreaking havoc in the Florida since the 1970s.

The snakes came to Florida as pets, but owners discarded them into the wild where they began to multiply and grow to massive lengths.

The female python's death was not in vain, as it will help researchers learn more about these creatures that have eluded scientists since arriving in the US.

'Because they are so hard to find we don't know much about their biology, which is ironic because they are huge snakes running around,' Main said.

He continued to explain that pythons feast on 73 different species found in Florida.

'24 mammals, 47 birds and two types of lizards,' Main said.

'All have been found in snakes throughout Florida and are taking a huge toll.'

'Knowing what they eat is very important. Seeing how many eggs there are tells you how many offspring they could have and how that varies between different individuals and models potential output and how quickly population could grow.'

Florida authorities are unsure about the number of pythons living in the state, but the going estimate is at least 30,000 to 300,000.

'Pythons are found all over the place, neighborhoods and suburbs,' said Main.

'Researchers said people would be alarmed to know how widespread they are.'
Rio Ferdinand expects Manchester United to trim the squad of centre-halves this summer, which could land captain Harry Maguire or last summer's star signing Raphael Varane on the chopping block.

Having conceded a club-record high of 57 goals last campaign, the Red Devils are eager to sign a few defensive reinforcements to plug the leak ahead of Erik ten Hag's debut season in Manchester.

Top transfer target Jurrien Timber, who developed a fruitful relationship with Ten Hag during his time at Ajax, has been heavily linked with a summer move to Old Trafford.

Rio Ferdinand feels 'one or two' Manchester United defenders will leave the club this summer

Dutch international and Ajax centre-half Jurrien Timber has been heavily linked with the club

His arrival could spell the end for 'one or two' of Maguire, Varane, Victor Lindelof or Eric Bailly, according to former Manchester United legend Ferdinand.

'I'll be interested to see what Ten Hag does in that area,' the 43-year-old told Vibe with Five.

'We're talking about the young lad, Timber, at Ajax, a small centre-half.

'I'll be interested to see what happens with Varane, Lindelof and Maguire, Bailly as well, I think one or two of those will go.'

Red Devils captain Harry Maguire could be set to leave Old Trafford, according to Ferdinand

France star Raphael Varane was blighted by injury during his debut season in Manchester

The defensive quartet cost the club a combined total of 182million, but Manchester United have yet to find a consistent defensive pairing at centre-half.

Due to hamstring tears and muscular problems, Varane only managed 20 starts in the Premier League last season, whilst Maguire started just 28 despite owning the captain's armband.

Bailly, having averaged eight matches per year over the last four seasons, is most likely to exit the club this summer.
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The sun slides down the horizon and the Ionian Sea glistens with the last of its rays when we look up from our table at the Parga Beach Resorts Alselea restaurant and catch a moment of drama.

A man and a woman are dining at a table on the sand. We have kept a vague eye on them all evening, wondering if a marriage proposal is imminent.

Sure enough, as we finish our starters, they are standing by the waters edge having an intense moment. We hold our breath. Then they kiss: its clearly a yes  and diners erupt in applause.

Annabel Venning visits the pretty town of Parga (pictured), which is in the region of Epirus on the north-west coast of mainland Greece

We get quite a few proposals here, says Roi Ioannou, who manages Parga Beach Resort with her brother, Christos.

Its easy to see why, with the backdrop of boats bobbing and the romantic ruins of Parga Castle looking down from the headland.

Parga is in the region of Epirus, on the north-west coast of mainland Greece. Its position across the Ionian Sea from Corfu, Paxos and Antipaxos gave it strategic importance and it was frequently attacked by Ottomans, Venetians and French.

Annabel stays at Parga Beach Resort (above), where her fellow guests are a 'mixture of families and couples from Britain and Scandinavia, as well as Greek holidaymakers'

Parga Beach Resort has more than 100 rooms - such as the guest room pictured - in stone cottages with verandas and balconies

Above is Parga Beach Resorts Alselea restaurant, where Annabel 'catches a moment of drama' as she witnesses a couple get engaged

Now a small town of colourful houses topped with terracotta tiles, tucked between the forested hills above and the sea below, Parga feels almost like an island.

It is seldom overcrowded and locals navigate the narrow streets by moped. From the beach below the town, you can easily swim across to a little two-humped islet, Panagia, in the bay, with its own small, whitewashed church.

Actually, there is a little church on almost every corner of Parga. When local fishermen were caught in storms, they would promise God that theyd build a church if He got them safely back to land.

Annabel describes Parga as 'a small town of colourful houses topped with terracotta tiles, tucked between the forested hills above and the sea below' that 'feels almost like an island'

Parga is 'seldom overcrowded and locals navigate the narrow streets by moped', Annabel reveals

From the beach below the town, you can easily swim to a little two-humped islet, Panagia (above), in the bay, which is home to a small, whitewashed church

Parga's position across the Ionian Sea from Corfu, Paxos and Antipaxos gave it strategic importance and it was frequently attacked by Ottomans, Venetians and French

Near Parga is Necromanteion, which Ancient Greeks believed was the entrance to the Underworld and where they consulted the oracle of death. The river Acheron was said to flow into the Underworld. Today, you can swim or kayak its chilly waters.

Another nearby archaeological site is the ruined city of Cassope, complete with the remains of a temple to Aphrodite, goddess of love.

But it is the dazzling sea and safe, sandy beaches that are the star attractions of Parga.

Pictured is a bird's eye view of the archaeological site of Necromanteion, which Ancient Greeks believed was the entrance to the Underworld

Annabel reveals that the river Acheron, pictured, was said to flow into the Underworld. 'Today, you can swim or kayak its chilly waters,' she notes

A nearby archaeological site is the ruined city of Cassope (above), complete with the remains of a temple to Aphrodite, goddess of love

Below the town is Kryoneri beach. To the west, Valtos beach is considered the best beach in western Greece, sheltered and peaceful with a handful of hotels, none high-rise, including Parga Beach Resort.

There are more than 100 rooms in stone cottages with verandas and balconies. Some have private pools, but there are four other pools around the resort, plus a yoga platform.

There is also a wellness centre  I fall asleep during my massage, the ultimate compliment to the masseur, I think  and a gym, games room and playground.

Beaches are the star attraction in Parga, Annabel reveals. Above is Kryoneri beach, which lies below the town

The sheltered and peaceful Valtos beach (pictured) adjacent to Parga to the west is considered the best beach in western Greece

Our fellow guests are a mixture of families and couples from Britain and Scandinavia, as well as Greek holidaymakers.

If you fancy a spot of island-hopping you can take a boat to Corfu, Paxos and Antipaxos.

Or  with the money you have saved by not actually staying on an island  you can hire your own for the day.

If you fancy a spot of island-hopping you can take a boat to Antipaxos, pictured above

On a boat tour, Annabel stops for lunch in the port of Gaios (pictured above), the capital of the isle of Paxos

Our boat, chartered from Orca Yachting through the resort (orcayachting.com), takes us cruising around Paxos and Antipaxos, stopping for lunch in Gaios, anchoring up in coves beneath limestone cliffs that tower above a glittering turquoise sea.

We snorkel through caves and swim to deserted bays, before returning to Parga Beach Resort for another feast.

The Ottomans and Venetians were right about the attractions of Parga and its surroundings. Theyre well worth fighting for.
Michelle Keegan will star in new BBC drama Ten Pound Poms, created by Bafta-award winner Danny Brocklehurst.

The actress, 35, will lead the original six-part series, set in Australia, alongside Games Of Thrones star Faye Marsay and Luther actor Warren Brown.

The drama will follow a group who have been promised a better quality of life in Australia for only 10, leaving behind post-war Britain.

New role: Michelle Keegan, 35, will star in new BBC drama Ten Pound Poms, created by Bafta-award winner Danny Brocklehurst

Creator Danny said: 'Ten Pounds Poms demands an ensemble cast that we are always rooting for - actors we love and want to succeed.

'I am thrilled to have found those actors. It is a delight to welcome so much exciting Australian talent as well as working with the brilliant Faye and Warren for the first time.

'This is my third outing with the wonderful Michelle Keegan and I'm positive we will make another winner together.'

Screenplay: The actress, will lead the original six-part series, set in Australia, alongside Games Of Thrones star Faye Marsay (Faye pictured in 2019)

Michelle will play young nurse Kate, who arrives in Australia without her fiance and will do whatever it takes to 'rewrite her devastating past', the BBC said.

At the heart of the drama is Annie and Terry Roberts, played by Marsay and Brown, who are trying to do the best for their family despite the poor living conditions of the migrant hostel and local attitudes towards immigrants.

They will star alongside Leon Ford's character Bill, who has lost his family business and wants to prove he is living the Australian dream.

All stars: Luther actor Warren Brown will also appear, with creator Danny saying it was a 'delight' to welcome them on set (Warren pictured in 2020)

Declan Coyle will appear as teenager Stevie, who comes from a troubled background and wants to escape his oppressive father, alongside Rob Collins, who plays indigenous Australian war veteran Ron, who is struggling with feeling like an outsider in his own country.

The cast, which includes David Field, Stephen Curry, Hattie Hook, Finn Treacy and Emma Hamilton, is filming in Australia.

The show will follow the triumphs and pitfalls of a group adapting to a new life and struggling with their new identity as immigrants, the BBC added.

Struggles: Michelle's husband Mark Wright recently revealed his long distance relationship with his wife Michelle is 'hard' after she jetted off to Australia for her dream role

It is produced by Eleven, the team behind Netflix's Sex Education, and directed by Jamie Stone and Ana Kokkinos.

Michelle's news comes after her husband Mark Wright admitted his long distance relationship with Michelle is 'hard' after she jetted off to Australia for the dream role.

The television presenter, 35, appeared on Loose Woman earlier this month, where he joined Ruth Langsford, Frankie Bridge and Steven Bartlett.

Tough: He told ITV viewers that he was recently given some advice from Piers Morgan that he should see his partner every three weeks, no matter the distance

He told ITV viewers that he was recently given some advice from Piers Morgan that he should see his partner every three weeks, no matter the distance, but said 'the longer you go, the more pressure there is'.

When Ruth asked what it's like seeing your partner after long periods of time, Mark replied: If youre in love and in a happy relationship you will be happy to see each other.

'You have to learn that youve been together for a long time and not seen each other in three weeks so its exciting at first but then it goes back to being a 10 year relationship.

The longer you go, the more pressure there is because the longer its been. But I was in LA and had a dinner with Piers Morgan and I told him it was hard. He said, "I had this with my wife and we have a 3 weeks rule so dont let it go past 3 weeks."'

When Frankie asked about their current situation Mark said: Its tough though with Australia, its a lot of flying.

Ten Pound Poms is coming to Stan only in Australia.
Matthew Fox isn't going to be lost from the film industry for much longer.

The 55-year-old actor opened up about returning to acting after more than five years away from film and television and more than a decade after his hit show Lost ended.

'I kind of had a bucket list in my mind of things that I wanted to accomplish in the business, and after I did Bone Tomahawk in 2014 that had kind of completed the bucket list,' he told Variety. 'I wanted to do a Western. It's a very odd Western, but it's a Western. And so that sort of completed the bucket list.'

Coming soon: Matthew Fox isn't going to be lost from the film industry for much longer (pictured June 2022)

'At that time in my life, our kids were at an age where I felt like I needed to really reengage,' he continued. 'I had been focused on work for some time, and Margherita [Ronchi] had been running the family so beautifully, but I felt like it was time to be home, and I really felt like I was retiring from the business, and working on other creative elements that are really personal to me  some music and writing.'

While he said he was enjoying retirement, Fox admitted that he realized he still had more he wanted to do on his professional 'bucket list.'

'I kind of got to a point where I thought that maybe the bucket list included executive producing,' the Party of Five actor said. 'I'd never done that before. The opportunity to be involved in Last Light came along, and so I wanted to give it a shot. And it felt like the right time.'

Years of inactivity: The 55-year-old actor opened up about returning to acting after more than five years away from the film and television industry (pictured June 2022 with Joanne Froggatt)

New role: 'I kind of got to a point where I thought that maybe the bucket list included executive producing,' he told Variety

'So it just all kind of came together. It felt like it was the moment to jump back in, and see how it felt to be in front of a camera again, and to act again,' Fox went on to say. 'And it was surprisingly rewarding. And I felt really good doing it, and with this incredible group of people, and the collaborative aspect of it, and how well we all bonded, how much we believed in the project. And it turned out to be a fantastic experience.'

Fox last appeared as a credited actor in the 2015 film Bone Tomahawk and hasn't performed in a television show since Lost ended back in 2010.

His new series Last Light follows a petro-chemical engineer who is separated from his family after the world's oil supply runs out.

New series: His new series Last Light follows a petro-chemical engineer who is separated from his family after the world's oil supply runs out

More than a decade: Fox hasn't performed in a television show since Lost ended back in 2010 (pictured as his character from the show in 2008)

It will also star Downton Abbey actress Joanne Froggatt, Traces star Alyth Ross and Death on the Nile actor Victor Alli.

'Last Light is the perfect combination of an action-packed limited series with a compelling family drama at its heart,' said Lisa Katz, the president scripted content, NBCUniversal television and streaming.

The show premiered at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival this past weekend.
Sami Sheen set pulses racing on Monday, as she teased her latest OnlyFans content on her Instagram Stories.

The 18-year-old daughter of actor Charlie Sheen, 56, and Denise Richards, 51, captivated her rapidly growing audience with a sultry white bra selfie, as she gazed into the camera.

The rising star also celebrated hitting 100k followers on Instagram by inviting them to join her on the X-rated platform, adding a link to her seductive snap.

Sizzling: Charlie Sheen's daughter Sami Sheen, 18, set pulses racing on Monday, as she teased her latest OnlyFans content while celebrating hitting 100k followers on Instagram

The budding entrepreneur wore her platinum blonde tresses in light waves, cascading down her shoulders.

The young model also rocked picture perfect makeup for the occasion, with pitch black winged liner and a bright red lipstick on her pout.

Charlie's daughter announced that she would be joining the X-rated service earlier this month, prompting her father to initially express his disapproval.

Model: The young model announced that she would be joining the X-rated service earlier this month, prompting her father, 56, to initially express his disapproval

However, the Platoon star experienced a change of heart thanks to his ex-wife, who is supportive of their daughter's new venture.

'Denise has illuminated a variety of salient points, that in my haste, I overlooked and dismissed,' the Two and a Half Men alum told Us Weekly in a statement.

'Now more than ever, its essential that Sami have a united parental front to rely upon, as she embarks on this new adventure. From this moment forward, shell have it abundantly,' he stated.

He's come around: However, the actor now says he approves of the venture after her mother, Denise Richards, 51, 'illuminated' him on the matter; Pictured 2019 in Miami, Florida

United front: 'Now more than ever, its essential that Sami have a united parental front to rely upon, as she embarks on this new adventure. From this moment forward, shell have it abundantly,' he stated; Pictured 2019

Richards has been on board, and even defended her daughter on social media on Friday.

The actress even hinted she may join the teen on the adult content subscription service herself.

Despite Charlie's early disapproval and protests for her to stop, Sami shared a nearly naked image of herself laying on a bed to the X-rated service on Friday.

Savvy: Sami currently has around 2,800 followers on the adult site, and is charging subscribers $19.99 a month to have access to her content; (Pictured above on her Instagram)

Denise posted a lengthy Instagram post the same day, defending her daughter's right to 'monetize' her racy pictures - and said she would consider opening her own OnlyFans account.

The Wild Things actress wrote: 'Lots of negative comments on my social this past week. I have to say, I wish I had the confidence my 18 yr old daughter has. And I also can't be judgmental of her choices. I did Wild Things & Playboy, quite frankly her father shouldn't be either.'

She continued: 'And to be able to ignore the negativity at her age? It took me many years & I still sometimes struggle. I'm in awe of her ability to be able to shut out the noise. Because it can destroy you. I recently learned about @onlyfans in the last few months.'

Back with mom: The rising star - who's had a rocky relationship with Richards in the past - is reportedly making her content at her mother's home, after briefly living with her father

'The judgement because of women & men of the adult film industry are on there. I imagine they're on Instagram & Twitter as well. If there really a difference posting a picture of ourself [sic] in a bikini on Only Fans? I'm pretty sure IG & Twitter & Facebook do quite well off of all of us. Is it so bad to control it & monetize it too?'

She concluded her post: 'I'm sorry, but s***t if I can get paid and at my age? to see me in a bikini?!? God bless you. Perhaps I should open my own account.. Oh & those of you that are so judgmental ... sounds like you might already subscribe to an @onlyfans account. Have a great weekend.'

In an image shared on Friday, Sami can be seen lying on bed, covering her breasts with her hands, along with a caption that reads, 'kiss me.'

Might even join: Richards has defended her daughter on social media on Friday and even hinted she may join the teen on the adult content subscription service herself

Good idea? 'I'm sorry, but s***t if I can get paid and at my age? to see me in a bikini?!? God bless you. Perhaps I should open my own account'

Sami currently has around 2,800 followers on the adult site, and has so far uploaded just three images - she is charging subscribers $19.99 a month to follow and have access to her content.

The young beauty - who's had a rocky relationship with Richards in the past - is reportedly making her content at her mother's home, after briefly living with her father.

Richards and Sheen divorced in 2006, after four years of marriage.

The Two and a Half Men alum and the actress also share another daughter named Lola Rose, 17, together.
Vice-Minister of the Interior and Safety Han Chang-seob, right, announces the guidelines by the ministry's advisory group that recommend putting the national police force under the ministry's direct control, Tuesday, at the Government Complex in Seoul. Yonhap



By Ko Dong-hwan



An advisory group to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has released a set of guidelines that orders launching a new subdivision to control the country's police force directly, stunning law enforcement officials.



After internal discussions in four meetings from May until June 10, 10 members of the group, Tuesday, announced the guidelines. The guidelines include various new measures for the ministry to control the police directly, including ministry authorities being able to hire, fire and punish police officers.



The group was established by the interior minister, Lee Sang-min, who was appointed by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration last month. The group members include Interior Vice-Minister Han Chang-seob, two interior ministry officials, a police officer and six legal and police experts from civic circles.



The interior minister's role, according to the country's Constitution, Police Officers Act and Criminal Procedure Act, entails cooperating with the country's National Police Agency (NPA) over various police-related purposes, from proposing new police-related laws to setting the job description for the NPA chief, to making suggestions for the Korean National Police Commission. The ministry, however, so far hasn't had a subdivision dedicated to supporting such tasks, according to the group, Tuesday.



The interior minister, according to the new guidelines, should be granted the right to control the chiefs of the NPA and the National Fire Agency directly.



The interior ministry and its advisory group said Tuesday at the Government Complex in Seoul that seven out of the country's 10 ministries have sets of rules for their sub-agencies, except for the ministries of the interior and of the oceans and fisheries.





Members of an association of police officers in Seoul protest against the interior ministry's launching of a new supervisory group to control the national police force directly in front of the Government Complex in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Brittany Hockley is recovering after being struck down with Covid-19 and the 'super flu' at the same time.

The Bachelor star-turned-influencer, 34, revealed on Instagram on Sunday she had just returned home after a short stay in hospital.

She admitted it felt like she was 'dying' when she was first admitted for treatment.

Bachelor star-turned-influencer Brittany Hockley is recovering after being struck down with Covid-19 and the 'super flu' at the same time

'My whole body was shutting down, I couldn't breathe properly, I thought I was going to pass out,' Brittany said.

The podcast host said the onset of symptoms was sudden, hitting her 'like a bus'.

'I wake up and my sheets are soaked [from sweat]. I just couldn't move [out of bed] from the fevers. Every part of my body is in agony,' Brittany said.

Her symptoms included vomiting, dizziness, headaches and night sweats.

Brittany, 34, shared this 'thank you' note on Instagram after revealing her health struggle

Brittany is now back home and eating once more.

Sharing her dramatic experience with her 200,000 followers, the reality star said the last five days had been 'very emotional'.

'It's been a battle. It's been the worst week of my life for sure... I've never felt worse,' she said.

She revealed on Instagram on Sunday she had just returned home after a short stay in hospital

Brittany also shared a thank-you note for her friends and followers on Instagram.

'I can barely keep my eyes open so won't be able to get back to you, sorry,' she said.

'Today was worse than yesterday when I went to hospital. I can only hope this is the peak and I start to improve from here. I feel like it can't get worse.'

She admitted it felt like she was 'dying' when she was first admitted for treatment

She added that she hopes to be back 'in action soon'.

It comes after Brittany took to Instagram last Thursday to share a photo of herself wearing a patient identification band around her wrist.

In the image, captioned 'that escalated quickly', Brittany could be seen lying down on a hospital bed wearing a face mask.

Brittany also shared a short video featuring a close-up of her face, and revealed one of the downsides of being famous.

'When you're on your deathbed, but the doctor says, "Hey, I love your podcast,"' she said.

'I think that's supposed to make me feel better, but honestly just give me morphine.'
Chrissie Swan received a rather crude compliment from British stand-up comedian Jimmy Carr while interviewing him on The Project on Tuesday night.

The panel was speaking to the funnyman, 49, about his upcoming Australian tour when Jimmy jokingly referred to Chrissie as a 'MILF' after hearing her husky voice.

The single mother of three, 48, was still struggling to speak after a long night of partying at the TV Week Logie Awards on Sunday.

Chrissie Swan (left) received a rather crude compliment from British stand-up comedian Jimmy Carr (right) while interviewing him on The Project on Tuesday night

'Speaking of MILFs, though, what is the matter with her voice?' Jimmy said.

'MILF' is an acronym for 'Mother I'd Like to F**k'.

He continued: 'Because it sounds like The Project are doing a seance and that is a voice from the other side.'

The panel was speaking to the funnyman, 49, about his upcoming Australian tour when Jimmy jokingly referred to Chrissie as a 'MILF' after hearing her husky voice

Bursting into laughter, Chrissie admitted she did sound like she was 'possessed', adding: 'I can't believe I'm talking to you like this!'

She went on to ask Jimmy for advice on how to recover her voice, prompting the comedian to joke that she should start a 12-step program to stop drinking.

'Booze wasn't involved!' Chrissie replied.

The single mother of three, 48, was still struggling to speak after a long night of partying at the TV Week Logie Awards on Sunday (pictured on the red carpet)

'Speaking of MILFs, what is the matter with her voice?' Jimmy said, adding: 'Because it sounds like The Project are doing a seance and that is a voice from the other side'

It comes after Chrissie revealed quitting alcohol was one of the secrets to her recent 90kg weight loss.

The media personality gave up drinking over a year ago and turned to meditation and walking during Melbourne's gruelling 112-day lockdown.

In an interview with The Australian Women's Weekly in February, Chrissie explained that the lockdowns prompted her to make some 'enormous' changes to her lifestyle.

Bursting into laughter, Chrissie admitted she did sound like she was 'possessed', adding: 'I can't believe I'm talking to you like this!' (Pictured with The Project co-host Waleed Aly)

It comes after Chrissie revealed quitting alcohol was one of the secrets to her recent 90kg weight loss

The former Big Brother star is pictured prior to her 90kg weight loss at the 2012 Logies (left). She is pictured after her weight loss transformation at the 2022 Logies (right)

'We couldn't go out to dinner, we couldn't go to a friend's house, they couldn't come to us, we couldn't go outside five kilometres. All we could do was walk, and so that's what I did,' she said.

Chrissie declined, however, to share any other details about how she lost weight.

'I'm not going to talk about the size of my a**e. I'm not going to tell you what I eat in a day. Because I've read those stories and they make me feel bad about myself,' she added.
When he was accused of murder, former Tory MP Harvey Proctor resigned as private secretary to the Duke of Rutland.

With the claim proved to be false and his accuser, the fantasist Carl Beech, now serving 18 years in prison for perverting the course of justice and other offences, Proctor has won his job back at the age of 75. 'After six years, my secretary has decided to leave the post, so I thought, 'Who better than Harvey?',' the Duke tells me from Belvoir Castle, his ancestral home in Leicestershire. 'He knows the castle, he knows the security arrangements and he still knows some of the people here.'

The Duke, David Manners, adds: 'At the time he resigned, I never thought for a minute the allegations were true. I'm delighted he's agreed to return to his job.'

After being accused of murder, ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor (pictured) resigned as private secretary to the Duke of Rutland. Now 75, with the claim disproved, he's got his job back

The Duke of Rutland told the Daily Mail: ' I never thought for a minute the allegations were true'

When he quit his 40,500-a-year post, Proctor lost his home on the estate, but he was allowed to move back in after the Duke's daughter Lady Alice Manners and her boyfriend, Otis Ferry, moved out in 2020.

Carl Beech was jailed for 18 years after making false allegations of murder and child sexual abuse against high-profile individuals

'I'm back in my old house, which is a beautiful house in the Vale of Belvoir,' Proctor says. 'I don't honestly think I have a feeling or a need of vindication. Others have proved what happened in 2015 was just a nonsense and I've managed to live through it and come out the other side.'

Speaking to Iain Dale on his LBC podcast All Talk, he adds: 'I thought there wasn't a future and now I feel confident and relaxed and ready for what anyone wants to bring to me.'

Beech's lies included claims that an establishment paedophile ring was responsible for three murders.

Proctor has called on the Met Police commissioner to give him transparency 'before I die'. He said it was 'something denied' to the late Lord (Leon) Brittan, Field Marshal Lord Bramall, Sir Edward Heath and others who were also investigated.

Poignant letter shows Philip as young outsider

Prince Philip never forgot what it was like to find himself in a strange country as a little boy, according to TV presenter Floella Benjamin, who has revealed that she received a poignant letter about his experiences.

Greek-born Philip (right) wrote Floella Benjamin a poignant letter about his experiences arriving in Britain as a child

'He wrote me a letter telling me he knew what it was like to come to a foreign country as a child,' Baroness Benjamin says. 'After he came here from Greece, he went to Cheam School [aged nine], where he felt like an outsider.'

Lady Benjamin, 72, has told how her childhood was blighted by racial abuse after she moved with her family to Kent from Trinidad in the early 1960s. She confided in the Queen and Prince Philip at a royal event she attended.

'[The Queen] talked about her family, cooking and the Commonwealth and gave the impression that she wanted to hear about my life,' she tells Saga magazine.

'I could tell that she had great empathy. Prince Philip, too.'

Shoeless Jodie kicks back in the sunshine

Comer as Villanelle on hit series Killing Eve

Jodie Comer is footloose and fancy-free now she's completed her acclaimed run in the one-woman play Prima Facie.

The Killing Eve star, 29, who shot to fame as seductive assassin Villanelle in the hit BBC drama, was seen slipping off her sandals and relaxing barefoot under a tree on London's Hampstead Heath. She took her final bow in the West End on Sunday, but has not said a final goodbye to her part as lawyer Tessa, as the play heads to New York next year.

'It has been an absolute privilege to tell Tessa's story here in London and to now have the opportunity to take Prima Facie to Broadway is a dream come true', the star says.

Ms Comer was pictured relaxing under a tree with her sandals kicked off on Hampstead Heath

The night Swan Lake star danced herself off her feet

The Oscar-winning film Black Swan shows a ballerina's descent into madness after taking on the role of the Swan Queen in Swan Lake.

Now, the Royal Ballet's Francesca Hayward has pulled back the curtain on her own experience of playing the part.

She's revealed how she was so exhausted one night that she had to be carried back to her dressing room at the interval. 'I was so tired I could barely walk,' says Hayward, 29, who shared this picture, right.

Despite her weariness, she battled on to appear in the tragic finale.

Di designer lashes out at fashionistas

Bruce Oldfield was a favourite of Princess Diana and created the sumptuous gown worn by the Duchess of Cornwall in her new Vogue shoot  but don't dare call him a fashion designer.

'Fashion people scare me rigid,' declares the couturier. 'I just don't want to be anywhere near them. Those people who spend all their time in fashion houses.'

Bruce Oldfield and Princess Diana in 1988

Oldfield, 71, is even more scathing about the New York gala. 'If you look at the Met ball, it's an embarrassment,' he says. 'The women in the past who went, they were so stylish and well dressed.

'But this new lot seem like, wannabe drag queens.'

Prince William hasn't disclosed how he plans to celebrate turning 40 today, but perhaps he could follow the example of Fifty Shades Of Grey star Jamie Dornan. He held a cowboy-themed 40th bash, complete with buffalo rodeo.

'People who feel funny about turning 40, I tell them, 'Don't. It's the best',' Dornan's musician wife, Amelia Warner, tells me. She turned 40 this month. 'We had a big party together and it was the best experience. There's something about this birthday that felt so joyful and celebratory.'

Until testing positive for Covid last week, Sir Mick Jagger seemed to have been out and about as much as ever despite the pandemic, but his ex-wife Bianca has revealed she refused to leave home since Covid hit in 2020. 'Today was the first time I step out from my isolation after more than two years,' the human rights campaigner, 77, says.

'I accompanied my dearest friends Eleanora Kennedy and her daughter Anna to Royal Ascot because she had a horse running, Warrior Brave. It is wonderful to be alive again.'

Sadly, the nag finished 14th, proving you can't always get what you want.

Call The Midwife star Jenny Agutter, who became a sex symbol after her steamy scenes in films such as An American Werewolf In London, can't stand people harking back to her salad days. 'It annoys me to hear people say, 'She was so beautiful when she was young'. You think, 'What about now?' Inside, one's still the same person. There's a young person striving to get out, but they're also changed by time.'
Stana Katic's representative confirmed that she and her husband, Kris Brkljac, secretly welcomed a child into their lives this past winter.

The news about the 44-year-old performer was confirmed to Us Weekly on Monday, with the actress' rep providing a statement to the media outlet.

They expressed that the actress and her husband 'had a baby this winter and have been enjoying the time since cocooning as a family.'

New mom: Stana Katic's representative confirmed that she and her husband, Kris Brkljac, secretly welcomed a child into their lives this past winter; she is seen in 2019

The representative did not reveal the child's name or birthday in their statement.

Katic previously hinted at the child's birth in a Father's Day-related Instagram post, where she shared a trio of shots of herself spending time with her husband.

The performer also penned a short message to express her devotion to the father of her child.

'Happy Fathers Day to all the Pappys out there, but an especially Happy Pappy's Day to my love. Best decision I ever made was joining forces with you,' she wrote.

Letting everyone see: Katic previously hinted at the child's birth in a Father's Day-related Instagram post, where she shared a trio of shots of herself spending time with her husband

Katic then hinted that there was an extra individual in her family's life with her final sentence.

The actress expressed that 'we love you and are so glad we get to share this life together.'

The performer and Brkljac previously tied the knot during a wedding ceremony that was held in Croatia in 2015.

The pair had been together for several years before they decided to make their union official.

In the past: The performer and Brkljac previously tied the knot during a wedding ceremony that was held in Croatia in 2015

Katic's post marked the end of an extended period of absence from her social media outlets.

The performer's last photo was shared on October 23 of last year, and it featured a message that read: 'Gone fishin, see you in a week.'

The actress also penned a short statement to wish her fans goodbye for the time being.

It read: 'Alright, folks. It's been fun, but the work ahead is a mile-high. So, for now, adieu. See you sometime in the new year, hopefully with fun news to share!'
Nina Dobrev and Shaun White seem to be enjoying their globetrotting.

The 33-year-old actress and the 35-year-old Olympian soaked up some sun on a beach in Maldives on Monday.

White posted a number of shots from their vacation on the island chain in the Indian Ocean.

Enjoying their time off: Nina Dobrev and Shaun White seem to be enjoying their globetrotting

Tanned: The Love Hard star stood in the next photo in a skimpy bikini showing off her perfectly tanned skin

The first clip was a Boomerang video that showed a shirtless White smiling big and holding a tortilla in his hand.

The Love Hard star stood in the next photo in a skimpy bikini showing off her perfectly tanned skin.

She added a loose-fitting button-down white shirt on her shoulders that she left open revealing her ample chest.

A bit sunburnt: Another clip showed White emerging from the crystal clear ocean, his skin stained lightly pink from his day in the sun

Just keep swimming: Another video focused on a small shark that swished its tail slowly in the shallow water

Another clip showed White emerging from the crystal clear ocean, his skin stained lightly pink from his day in the sun.

Another video focused on a small shark that swished its tail slowly in the shallow water.

The next couple of clips focused on White swimming in an infinity pool and Dobrev riding a cruiser slowly down a pier.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist stood on a diving board with the sun going down under the horizon, silhouetting White's slight frame.

Going for a dip: Shaun went for a swim in a pool right on the water

Beach cruiser: Dobrev rode a cruiser down a pier on the crystal clear water

Diving board: The three-time Olympic gold medalist stood on a diving board with the sun going down under the horizon, silhouetting White's slight frame

A final clip focused on the beautiful pink and orange skyline above the dark blue waves.

The couple's appearance in Maldives came just a couple weeks after Dobrev detailed an injury she sustained during a yacht party for the Monaco Grand Prix.

The actress took to Instagram on Monday, sharing some fun snaps from her Fresh Vine Wine party she hosted on a yacht before the big race... which resulted in a bloody knee injury.

Injury: Actress Nina Dobrev (in a white ensemble from Smythe) and her snowboarder/skateboarder boyfriend Shaun White spent their Memorial Day weekend at the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, with Dobrev revealing an injury she sustained

Bloodied: The actress took to Instagram on Monday, sharing some fun snaps from her Fresh Vine Wine party she hosted on a yacht before the big race... which resulted in a bloody knee injury

'Wanna host a 3 day @freshvinewine yacht party at the Monaco Grand Prix? What could possibly go wrong? When youre me, something always does ' Dobrev said in the caption of her post.

The post included 10 photos, starting with the actress holding both a bottle and a glass of Fresh Vine Wine, donning a black-and-white striped ensemble.

She also shared a brief video of the boat, with the actress walking up in a white ensemble by Smythe, sticking out her thumb as if to 'hitch' a ride.

Wine time: The post included 10 photos, starting with the actress holding both a bottle and a glass of Fresh Vine Wine, donning a black-and-white striped ensemble

Dobrev also shared a snap of another celeb couple - actress Zoey Deutch and comedian/actor Jimmy Tatro.

She also shared a snap of her own boyfriend Shaun White, clad in a white hat, white t-shirt and black shorts while enjoying a glass of wine.

The Vampire Diaries star also shared snaps of Fresh Vine Wine bottles and her in a red and black ensemble, before she got injured.

Zoey and Jimmy: Dobrev also shared a snap of another celeb couple - actress Zoey Deutch and comedian/actor Jimmy Tatro

Shaun: She also shared a snap of her own boyfriend Shaun White, clad in a white hat, white t-shirt and black shorts while enjoying a glass of wine

Before: The Vampire Diaries star also shared snaps of Fresh Vine Wine bottles and her in a red and black ensemble, before she got injured

The third-to-last photo showed the actress in a black dress with her left leg propped up, with the second-to-last shot showed her pointing to her scraped knee as the boat's medical officer tended to her.

Her final snap showed a close-up of her bloodied knee, though she kept her sense of humor about it in the comments.

IndyCar driver Marco Andretti commented, 'Can you literally go anywhere without getting hurt '

Knee: The third-to-last photo showed the actress in a black dress with her left leg propped up, with the second-to-last shot showed her pointing to her scraped knee as the boat's medical officer tended to her

Closeup: Her final snap showed a close-up of her bloodied knee, though she kept her sense of humor about it in the comments

Comments: IndyCar driver Marco Andretti commented, 'Can you literally go anywhere without getting hurt '

Dobrev responded, 'I actually cant. Its been proven that its impossible.'

She also commented on why she took a week to post the photos in another post, stating, 'took me 7 days to recover/be able to post last weekends Grand Prix. the drivers couldnt drink, someone had to'

Her other post included snaps of her and White on the track with Deutch and Tatro, along with drivers such as Lewis Hamilton.

Recovery: She also commented on why she took a week to post the photos in another post, stating, 'took me 7 days to recover/be able to post last weekends Grand Prix. the drivers couldnt drink, someone had to'
Mikaela Testa has broken her silence on her recent split from Atis Paul.

The OnlyFans model, 21, answered questions from her Instagram followers about her break-up while on holiday in Istanbul on Monday.

First on the agenda was what she plans to do about her tattoo of the letter 'A' on her arm, which she had done as a tribute to the cryptocurrency investor.

Mikaela Testa has broken her silence on her recent split from Atis Paul

She said she won't be lasering off the tattoo or having it covered up, before revealing she never wants to be with another man again.

The Gold Coast influencer added of her split from Atis: 'We will always be in love with each other. We never stopped.

'Nothing bad happened, it's just life getting in the way and certain things we want / need in life.'

The OnlyFans model, 21, answered questions from her Instagram followers about her break-up while on holiday in Istanbul on Monday. First on the agenda was what she plans to do about her letter 'A' tattoo on her arm, which she had done as a tribute to the cryptocurrency investor

She said she won't be lasering off the tattoo or having it covered up, before revealing she never wants to be with another man again

Mikaela went on to confirm she and Atis won't ever be a couple again, but will always care for each other.

She and Atis split sometime in May, but waited until earlier this month to announce their break up on social media.

Atis was first to address the split during an Instagram Q&A on a flight to Europe.

She added of her split from Atis: 'We will always be in love with each other. We never stopped. Nothing bad happened, it's just life getting in the way and certain things we want / need in life'

'I've been getting asked so much if Mik and I are still together. We love each other so much and decided to be friends now,' he said.

'Everything is perfect between us. We both agree it's better that way.'

Mikaela was less forthcoming about the break up at the time, but said the supportive messages from fans were making her 'so emotional'.

Mikaela went on to confirm she and Atis won't ever be a couple again, but will always care for each other

'For the fifth time, Atis and I are fine....' she wrote. 'You guys are making me so emotional. I wish I could hug every single one of you.

'Everything is going to be okay... the answer [to heartbreak] is love and self-care.'

There seems to be some confusion about when exactly the pair called it quits, as Mikaela denied split rumours less than a week earlier.

Mikaela and fellow influencer Atis (pictured together in happier times) split sometime in May, but waited until earlier this month to announce their break up on social media

She had responded 'no' alongside a love heart emoji after one of her TikTok followers asked her: 'Did you guys break up?'

Mikaela previously revealed in March that her relationship with Atis began as an affair when they were both dating other people.

However, there is no suggestion a third party was involved in their recent break-up.

Atis was first to address the break up during an Instagram Q&A on a flight to Europe

Atis, who was born in Germany before moving to Australia as a child, is an influencer who made his fortune as a cryptocurrency investor.

He is the brother of Anna Paul, who has been called Australia's No. 1 OnlyFans star.

Mikaela is also an OnlyFans creator with an estimated monthly income of $162,000, as well as a model, influencer and occasional viral celebrity.

Mikaela previously revealed in March her relationship with Atis began as an affair when they were both dating other people

She made headlines in 2019 when she posted a video of herself crying hysterically after Instagram took away the 'like counter' on posts.

Her racy photos have also resulted in several bans on Instagram and TikTok.

However, she claims she is being unfairly targeted by social media giants.
Streaming giant Stan has announced that British actress Michelle Keegan will lead a top-line cast for its blockbuster Stan Original Series 'Ten Pound Poms'.

The Our Girl star, 35, will play a British immigrant in the big-budget BBC co-production, which is being filmed in New South Wales.

The six-part series dramatises the famous Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, which brought more than a million people to Australia after World War II.

Streaming giant Stan has announced that Michelle Keegan (pictured) will lead a top-line cast for its Stan Original Series 'Ten Pound Poms', a co-production with the BBC

Game of Thrones actor Faye Marsey and Warren Brown from BBC crime series Luther play a married couple who come to Australia in 1956 after paying just 10 for their passage out.

The Australian government promise the family a better house, better job prospects and a better quality of life Down Under, far away from dreary post-war England.

But the couple soon discover the grim reality of migrant life as they battle the poor living conditions in a hostel for 'New Australians', as well as prejudice.

Also in the hostel is Kate (Keegan), a young nurse desperate to rewrite her devastating past after arriving in Australia without her fiance.

Warren Brown (pictured), from BBC crime series Luther, portrays a young husband who comes to Australia in 1956 after paying only 10 for the passage out

Meanwhile, Australian actor Leon Ford will play a new arrival struggling to survive Down Under after losing his business back in England.

Declan Coyle from SBS series The Family Law also stars as a teenager trying to escape a dysfunctional family relationship.

Rob Collins of Mystery Road also appears in the drama as an Indigenous war veteran who feels like an outsider in his own country.

Game of Thrones actor Faye Marsey also stars in the British-Australian TV series

Other cast members include The Castle's Stephen Curry, rising star Hattie Hook and Emma Hamilton of The Tudors.

The limited series was created by BAFTA winner Danny Brocklehurst (Ordinary Lies) who says the show will ask questions about 'success and failure, identity, parenthood and belonging'.

The Australian government launched the so-called 'ten pound pom' scheme to bolster the country's population, which was only 7.4 million in 1947.

When the APMS ended in 1982, Australia was home to 15 million people.

The Assisted Passage Migration Scheme brought more than a million people to Australia after World War II. (Pictured: The SS Orion that brought hundreds of 'new Australians' Down Under)

Meanwhile, 25 per cent of Britons who joined the scheme returned home.

Danny Brocklehurst describes the series as a 'bold character piece'.

'Ten Pounds Poms is about what it means to start again, to be an outsider in a new land,' he said.

Keegan (pictured with her husband Mark Wright) will play a young nurse desperate to rewrite her devastating past after arriving in Australia without without her fiance

Leading the production team is Joel Wilson, Executive Producer of British company Eleven, the makers of Sex Education.

'It is a huge privilege to be working with Danny,' he said.

'We are both deeply passionate about the stories of the hundreds of thousands who took part in the assisted migration scheme.'

Australian writer Ryan Griffen, whose credits include Cleverman, will help write the series, alongside Smita Bhide (The Indian Detective) and Ava Pickett (Brassic).

Jamie Stone (Doctor Who) and Australia's Ana Kokkinos (Fires) will direct.

Ten Pound Poms will be coming to Stan.
Chris D'Elia has tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Kristin Taylor.

The disgraced comedian's wife shared the news on Sunday with an Instagram post from the ceremony, while he also posted about it on Monday.

The 42-year-old actor's nuptials come as he has kept a low profile since the summer of 2020, when multiple women  some of whom appeared to be underage  accused him of sexual harassment, which he has denied.

Wedding: Disgraced comedian Chris D'Elia, 42, married his longtime girlfriend Kristin Taylor, 30, in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Saturday following sexual misconduct allegations leveled against him; seen toghether in 2019 in Hollywood

'6.18.22. DElias forever,' Taylor captioned a post with photos from the big day.

Joining the couple at their wedding was their two-year-old son Cal.

Kristin was dressed in a shimmering white lace off-the-shoulder gown with her long blond hair falling down in thick curls, while Chris favored a classic black tux.

Later, she changed into another white dress with a long feathered skirt for the reception.

The two have stayed fairly private about their relationship over the years, but they got engaged in 2019, and they made their romance Instagram official the year before when Kristin shared a photo with Chris on her account.

Family: Joining the couple at their wedding was their two-year-old son Cal. Several comedians and Chris' costars were in attendance as well

Woman in white: Kristin was dressed in a shimmering white lace off-the-shoulder gown with her long blond hair falling down in thick curls, while Chris favored a classic black tux. Later, she changed into another white dress with a long feathered skirt for the reception

The wedding celebration, which was attended by other comedians and D'Elia's former costars, comes almost two years after he was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, including underage girls.

Three women accused D'Elia of exposing himself to them without their consent, and he was also accused of soliciting sex from underage girls on social media.

After the initial reporting, D'Elia was dropped by his talent agency CAA and a Workaholics episode he made a guest appearance in as a child molester was removed from streaming platforms.

At the time, the comic and actor had a prank series in the works at Netflix that also featured comedian Bryan Callen, but that was scrapped by the streamer.

No rush: The two have stayed fairly private about their relationship over the years, but they got engaged in 2019, and they made their romance Instagram official the year before when Kristin shared a photo with Chris on her account; seen in 2018 in LA

Just a month after the allegations against D'Elia were widely reported, his costar Callen was accused of sexual misconduct, including rape and sexual assault, by four women who spoke to the Los Angeles Times.

Following his initial denial, D'Elia was largely silent for the rest of 2020, but he reemerged in February 2021 with a nearly 10-minute video in which he claimed that he had 'a problem' and that sex 'controlled' his life.

'I know its been a really long time since youve heard from me,' he opened the video before saying he stood by his initial statement that all of his relationships have been 'consensual and legal.'

'I do know how it looks with all the stuff that's been said, and the emails that have been put out there, and what the media's trying to say,' he continued.

'I know it looks bad, and it doesn't show the full scope of what happened. I stand by the fact that all my relationships have been consensual and legal, and that's just it. That's the truth.'

Disturbing: Three women accused D'Elia of exposing himself to them without their consent, and he was also accused of soliciting sex from underage girls on social media in the summer of 2020; seen in 2019 in Hollywood

D'Elia claimed he had sought out medical advice and therapy while he was out of the public eye.

He said those consultations taught him that 'this was always about sex to me.'

'Sex controlled my life,' he continued. 'And I have a problem. And I do have a problemI need to do work on that.'

He claimed that when his career started taking off in his early thirties, 'sex got a lot easier.'

'I felt like, oh wow, I don't need to work as hard. I can just do a show and then have sex. Or roll into a city and look at my inbox and then just start writing it,' he said, referencing his messages to women for sex.
Back In Time For Birmingham

Rating:

How To Hire A Hitman

Rating:

There should have been a trigger warning before Back In Time For Birmingham (BBC2). Something like: Scenes in the following programme might make some viewers feel really, really old.

For example, there was a moment when healthcare worker Vishal Sharma introduced his son Akash, 19, to a mechanical device of great eccentricity.

Vishal opened a large wooden box to reveal a lever-like contraption hovering over a rotating platform on which, he explained, circles of vinyl would be placed.

The strange device was, of course, a record player.

Akash could not believe his eyes. I think Ill stick with Spotify, he said. Quite right. Spotify doesnt get scratched.

Back In Time For Birmingham (BBC2) sends the Sharma family back in time to sample life in 1950s Birmingham

The series takes a family and plunges them into the living conditions of the past, where they discover  to nobodys astonishment  that life was more uncomfortable and less sophisticated.

In this case, the Sharmas sampled the lifestyle of South Asian immigrants in 1950s Birmingham.

Living conditions were tough. Bed was a mattress on the floor, often shared on a rota basis.

Cooking facilities were rudimentary. Some food was still rationed.

SAUCY ROYAL OF THE WEEK In Queen Victorias Letters: A Monarch Unveiled (BBC4), A. N. Wilson read the royal diaries and discovered a charming weakness. He explained: She always fell for men who made her laugh. The flirty, fun-loving teenage Queen leaps from the pages. Whatever happened to We are not amused? Advertisement

The working day was long and hard. Men earned about 12 a week, and sent 9 back home to their families in India and Pakistan. I came home from work and I used to cry every day, said Pravin, one of the early immigrants. The thing that kept me here was I said Im going to make life better.

The Sharma family tackled the challenges with optimism and charm, although there was a sober moment when they watched Enoch Powells Rivers Of Blood speech on a black-and-white television set, stony-faced with disbelief and fury.

At one point Akash was considering a job selling spices door to door. Youre a bit of a Del Boy, said his mother, Manisha. Daal boy, replied Akash, quick as a flash. A TV comedy career beckons.

Youll be relieved to learn that How To Hire A Hitman (C4) did not actually offer instructions on how to hire a hitman.

Presenter Yinka Bokinni revealed halfway through the first of two programmes that a website to which hundreds of people have applied to hire an assassin was nothing but an ingenious scam. The site offered to arrange death by sniper ($20,000-$60,000), shoot and run ($5,000-$10,000), arson ($4,000) or kidnap ($5,000-$30,000).

Luckily, people wishing to hire hitmen are often gullible mugs. They paid in bitcoin, but the assassin always got caught in traffic or got lost. Not only did these people lose money, but they were often arrested for conspiracy to murder.

Presenter Yinka Bokinni in Channel 4's How To Hire A Hitman. Halfway through the first episode it was revealed a website to which hundreds of people have applied to hire an assassin was nothing but an ingenious scam

In one case, a customer from North Carolina who wanted her husband murdered demanded evidence that the hitman was actually in the area. She received a picture of a local petrol station, obviously taken from Google Earth and photoshopped.

Yinka interviewed the husband, who was remarkably cheery. Do you think somebody can love you and put out a hit on you? asked Yinka.

There was a slight pause. Maybe not, he admitted.

It would obviously be reckless to upset anybody who knows so much about hiring assassins. So let me say, hand on heart, that this was certainly the best programme I have seen on the subject on Channel 4 at 10pm last night.
Drew Barrymore took to Instagram on Monday to share her home improvement project with her followers.

The 47-year-old talk show host posted a video of her using a hammer to destroy her pink-tiled kitchen.

She wore protective glasses as she stood on a ladder and went to town, writing: 'Dont mind me, Im just having the time of my LIFE.'

New post: Drew Barrymore took to Instagram on Monday to share her home improvement project with her followers

The mother-of-two wore a baggy black t-shirt, loose-fitting jeans, and tan work boots.

The snippet was soundtracked by the Home Depot theme song and received more than 78,000 likes so far.

Barrymore kept the mood light-hearted as she laughed within the clip and said 'ouch!' at some points.

In other moments the entertainer stood on the countertops of her kitchen as she destructed the space.

Behind the scenes: The 47-year-old talk show host posted a video of her using a hammer to destroy her pink-tiled kitchen

Drew has completed other home renovations in the past, later documenting them on social media.

Additionally, on her daytime talk show she's extended relief to fans in her Designed by Drew segment, helping them update their homes and work spaces.

The domestic goddess has even penned a book called Rebel Homemaker, in which she discusses food, family, life.

She wore protective glasses as she stood on a ladder and went to town, writing: 'Dont mind me, Im just having the time of my LIFE'

In a November 2021 post she wrote: '@chefpilarvaldes #REBELHOMEMAKER and me in our very pink kitchen with our peachy pink book HAPPY PUB DAY link in bio to order.'

She glowed in the makeup-free bit, as she enjoyed her kitschy kitchen in a season-appropriate sweater.

The book had a pink background that she happily noted 'matches the kitchen!'

Fun! Barrymore kept the mood light-hearted as she laughed within the clip and said 'ouch!' at some points

Earlier this month Barrymore attended HSS 37th Annual Tribute Dinner at American Museum of Natural History.

She wore a long, cream-colored floral print dress with sheer sleeves as she walked the red carpet.

She matched her bright orange lipstick to the flowers on her frock, proving she's just as keen on fashion as she is on entertaining.
By Kang Hyun-kyung







Lee Jun-seok / Yonhap

The ruling People Power Party's (PPP) ethics committee will convene on Wednesday to review allegations that party Chairman Lee Jun-seok received sexual services as a bribe in return for a favor and tried to destroy the evidence.







The committee said its members will meet at 7 p.m. that day to review documents submitted by those who were informed of the start of disciplinary action against Lee, and based on a committee resolution passed at its April 21 meeting, Kim Chul-keun, Lee's assistant, would be required to be present and undergo questioning concerning the allegations.







Kim is Lee's personal assistant in charge of political affairs.







The party's ethics committee can take four different types of disciplinary measures: expulsion of the individual from the party, advising the individual to leave the party, suspension of the individual's party's membership and warnings.







If any of the allegations about Lee are confirmed to be true, his image as a politician will be tarnished and his political career will be endangered.







Depending on the findings, the ruling party might need to hold another primary to select its new leader.







Earlier this year, conservative YouTube channel Hoverlab raised the allegations that Lee had received sexual services twice in 2013 as a bribe in return for a favor, arranged by now-jailed businessman Kim Sung-jin in an effort to benefit his business. Kim, the founder and owner of startup I-KAIST, was sentenced to a nine-year prison term in 2018 and has since been behind bars.







The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency reportedly will conduct an investigation of Kim on Thursday about the allegations.







The PPP chairman has denied the allegations.







In a media interview, Lee said that none of the allegations about him are true, and thus he won't accept even the lightest disciplinary measure of a warning.







He ridiculed the ethics committee in a separate media interview. "I don't understand what kind of ethics the ethics committee is going to deal with, and I think this is what the ethics committee should think about seriously," he said during a YTN radio show.







The PPP's ethics committee issued a statement on Saturday, warning against any actions that could interrupt the committee's activities.







"The ethics committee has the right to investigate any irregularities of party members, regardless of their rank or position in the party The committee will convene in accordance with the party's rules and thus we hope that there are no inappropriate activities that can add pressure to the committee in its disciplinary activities," it read.







On Monday, Lee said he was not informed of anything about the ethics committee meeting other than the fact that it would be held as scheduled. When asked if he would attend it in person, he told reporters that he would decide what to do depending on the circumstances.






She recently revealed that she and boyfriend Tommy Fury were 'kicked out' of a beach club in Dubai after the former Love Island star was caught vlogging.

Yet Molly-Mae Hague brushed off the drama as she relaxed on her current holiday in Italy on Monday.

The influencer, 23, took to Instagram to share a slew of stunning swimwear-clad snaps as she relaxed in the sunshine.

Stunning: Molly Mae-Hague sets pulses racing with swimwear snaps in Italy on Monday after revealing she was kicked out of a Dubai beach club for vlogging

Molly-Mae looked sensational as she slipped into a low-cut patterned swimsuit with key hole cut outs across the bodice.

Relaxing on a boat trip, the vlogger also donned a cream linen shirt worn shrugged off her shoulders.

Molly-Mae completed the look with a pair of oversized shades.

Gorgeous: Molly-Mae looked sensational as she slipped into a low-cut patterned swimsuit with key hole cut outs across the bodice

The trip comes after TV personality Molly-Mae gave fans a glimpse at her recent trip to Dubai with her boxer boyfriend in her most recent YouTube video.

Speaking in the clip, which was published on Sunday, Molly-Mae said she was confronted by a security guard at Cove Beach at the Caesars Palace hotel after she was spotted with a vlogging camera, which she insisted she was not using at the time.

The reality star said she and Tommy were told to leave the club after they were questioned how they got in with the camera in the first place.

She said: 'We have now left Cove,' before Tommy chimed in warning her not to give the venue a bad review before they got their promised refund.

Fun in the sun: Molly-Mae gave her followers a glimpse at her recent trip to Dubai with her boxer boyfriend Tommy in her most recent YouTube video

Molly-Mae continued: 'That's not me, I don't throw shade, but we basically just got kicked out at the end.

'Basically, we were leaving because we want to go to this Aqua Fun because obviously we'd leave a cool, vibey beach club to go to an aqua park because that just sums us up but, as we were leaving, Tommy just signed the cheque and I had my vlogging camera in my hand.

'I wasn't even vlogging, I just had it in my hand and one of the security guards came up to me and was like, "Why have you got that camera? You need to leave. Did they not check your bag when you came in here? How did you get in here with that camera?"

'Then he tried to escort me out but because Tommy was somewhere else trying to pay the bill, I was just stood there like, "What is going on?"

'He was really shouting in my face and then fully tried to escort me out because I had the vlogging camera but no one checked out bags when we went in, no one said I wasn't allowed a camera.

'It was so weird. He said, "You need to leave, you need to leave. Who let you in here with that camera?" Then he was trying to usher me out.

'So, that was interesting. But because we left and we didn't really use any of the money that we spent for the bed because of that situation, they did give us a full refund which is good.'
Robert Irwin has paid tribute to his late dad Steve Irwin on Father's Day.

The conservationist, 18, took to Instagram on June 20 - the day after international Father's Day - to say it's 'so important to remember and cherish all the special times'.

He shared a throwback photo of himself as a young child holding onto Steve's hand as they walked on a fallen tree trunk.

Robert Irwin has paid tribute to his late dad Steve Irwin on Father's Day, sharing this throwback photo of himself as a young child holding onto Steve's hand as they walked on a fallen tree

'Happy Father's Day,' he wrote. 'I am thinking of my dad today and everyone out there who might not get to celebrate with theirs.

'It's so important to me to remember and cherish all the special times. Nothing but fun!'

His older sister Bindi, 23, commented below the post: 'Love you so much.'

Steve, known to millions around the world as 'the Crocodile Hunter', died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland.

Following his death, Steve's family, including his children Robert and Bindi, widow Terri, and son-in-law Chandler Powell, have continued his conservation work at Australia Zoo in Queensland.

The latest show of support comes just days after Robert remembered his father on World Crocodile Day last week.

'Happy Father's Day,' Robert wrote on Instagram. ' I am thinking of my dad today and everyone out there who might not get to celebrate with theirs'

His older sister Bindi, 23, commented below the post: 'Love you so much.'

The teenager took to Instagram on June 18, the day after World Crocodile Day, to reveal it's the 'greatest honour' to follow in his dad's footsteps.

Robert shared a photo of himself feeding crocodiles at Australia Zoo, which he contrasted with a throwback snap of his dad doing the same many years ago.

'It is the greatest honour of my life to get to follow in my dad's footsteps and help keep his legacy and mission alive. Especially when it comes to crocodiles,' Robert said.

Steve, known to millions around the world as 'the Crocodile Hunter', died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland. (Pictured: Steve and Terri Irwin)

Robert, 18, paid tribute to his late father on World Crocodile Day last week. He shared this side-by-side photo to Instagram of the pair both feeding crocodiles at Australia Zoo years apart

'It is the greatest honour of my life to get to follow in my dad's footsteps and help keep his legacy and mission alive. Especially when it comes to crocodiles,' Robert said

'I feel closest to him being one-on-one with the animal he loved so much - a beautiful, powerful, prehistoric, misunderstood animal that commands a huge amount of respect.'

Robert concluded by encouraging his fans to 'love, respect and coexist with these remarkable modern-day dinosaurs'.

Earlier this month, Robert unveiled Australia Zoo's latest venture that will help modernise the family business and aid conservation efforts.

Earlier this month, Robert (pictured with an NFT artist) announced on Sunrise that Australia Zoo had launched its first NFT artwork series

Robert announced the zoo had launched its first NFT artwork series.

'This is the way of the world now and for us to be part of it, we feel very cool, very hip,' he said on breakfast show Sunrise.

People can buy the NFTs, including pictures of Australia Zoo crocodiles, and collect them as part of a special series.

An NFT is a digital asset that is rare, valuable and stored on a blockchain.

Robert's sister Bindi revealed in April that Steve's dream of opening luxury accommodation at Australia Zoo had finally come true.

Robert's sister Bindi revealed in April that Steve's dream of opening luxury accommodation at Australia Zoo had finally come true

The Crocodile Hunter Lodge will be open to guests at the popular Sunshine Coast tourist attraction from June.

Bindi shared the news on Instagram, saying it had been a long-held dream of her father's to combine wildlife conservation with a five-star holiday experience.

'The Crocodile Hunter Lodge. This luxury conservation accommodation for the whole family will start taking bookings in June,' she told her 4.9 million followers.

'Enjoy wildlife, fine dining and admission to Australia Zoo all included in your stay. Dad had dreamed about this for years and opening day is almost here.'
Martin Sheen says he regrets adopting a stage name for show business.

The 81-year-old actor, born Ramon Estevez, spoke with Closer Weekly Saturday about the career decision, saying, 'That's one of my regrets.'

The Emmy-winning actor continued, 'I never changed my name officially. It's still Ramon Estevez on my birth certificate.

The latest: Martin Sheen, 81, says he regrets adopting a stage name for show business. The venerated actor was snapped in 2019 in LA

'It's on my marriage license, my passport, driver's license. Sometimes you get persuaded when you don't have enough insight or even enough courage to stand up for what you believe in, and you pay for it later. But, of course, I'm only speaking for myself.'

In the interview, the Dayton, Ohio native - who is father to stars Emilio Estevez, 60, and Charlie Sheen, 56 - said that he didn't stand in the way of his children entering show business.

'I honestly have to say I wasn't aware of it,' he told the outlet. 'I was so self-involved and trying to be a provider that I wasn't aware of their inclination to being actors.'

Sheen said he 'was doing a show one time, and Emilio showed up,' adding, 'I thought he was there to visit me, but he'd gotten a part in the same show.'

In the interview, the Dayton, Ohio native - who is father to stars Emilio Estevez, 60, and Charlie Sheen, 56 - said that he didn't stand in the way of his children entering show business

Sheen also spoke about his stint on the acclaimed series The West Wing, in which he played the role of President Josiah Bartlet from 1999-2006, saying, 'The blessings were just endless with that show, and they're still coming'

The Apocalypse Now actor said 'the only influence' he had on son Emilio 'was to keep his name,' as 'when he started out, his agent was advising him to change his name to Sheen and he wouldn't do it.

'And I thank God he didn't.'

Sheen opened up about working with his son Estevez on his 2010 dramatic comedy The Way, saying the film filled him 'with the deepest gratitude and satisfaction' of all the roles he had in his career.

'We made it in Spain about the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and dedicated it to my father, who was from Galicia,' Sheen said. 'It was written, directed and starred my son Emilio Estevez. It is the best thing I've ever done.

'Thousands of people have seen the film and been inspired to do the pilgrimage. That is a great source of satisfaction and pride.'

Sheen also spoke about his stint on the acclaimed series The West Wing, in which he played the role of President Josiah Bartlet from 1999-2006.

'It's the people - so many wonderful, wonderful people,' Sheen said, adding that he and late actor John Spencer 'were the oldest, so we were kind of like the parents.'

He continued: 'But we all treated each other with such respect, passion and, above all, joy. I still get letters from people who are just discovering it, and a lot of young people were inspired to go into public life because of it. The blessings were just endless with that show, and they're still coming.'
Sylvester Stallone has played a wide range of characters in his storied career, but he finally gets a chance to play a gangster in Paramount Plus' Tulsa King.

The 75-year-old actor was announced as the star of the new series back in December, which will premiere on Paramount Plus Sunday, November 13.

The Rocky star revealed to ET that it was a chance encounter with Tulsa King and Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan while playing polo years earlier that lead to his long-awaited gangster role.

Gangster Sly: Sylvester Stallone has played a wide range of characters in his storied career, but he finally gets a chance to play a gangster in Paramount Plus' Tulsa King

Taylor: The Rocky star revealed to ET that it was a chance encounter with Tulsa King and Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan while playing polo years earlier that lead to his long-awaited gangster role

The new series follows New York mafia capo Dwight "The General" Manfredi (Stallone), who is released from prison after 25 years.

Much to his surprise, he is unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as he realizes the mob may not be looking out for him the way he had hoped.

Manfredi starts assembling a crew to create his own criminal empire in the most unlikely of places.

Character: The new series follows New York mafia capo Dwight "The General" Manfredi (Stallone), who is released from prison after 25 years

Empire: Manfredi starts assembling a crew to create his own criminal empire in the most unlikely of places

Series creator Taylor Sheridan has become a hot commodity at Paramount Plus, but years before his big break as a writer with 2015's Sicario, he was a working actor, who met Stallone at a horse ranch.

'My daughters and I were practicing -- I play polo a lot; a long time ago people would say, how can you afford it? I played with the worst horse on the planet, but I learned and eventually after I made money, I started to go into... barrel racing,' Stallone began.

'It's very, very delicate and I brought my daughters into it and Taylor Sheridan was at the same barn and he hadnt made it yet' Stallone said.

Creator: Series creator Taylor Sheridan has become a hot commodity at Paramount Plus, but years before his big break as a writer with 2015's Sicario, he was a working actor, who met Stallone at a horse ranch

Polo: 'My daughters and I were practicing -- I play polo a lot; a long time ago people would say, how can you afford it? I played with the worst horse on the planet, but I learned and eventually after I made money, I started to go into... barrel racing,' Stallone began

Stallone added he was, 'still acting and I think he was still doing [2015's] Sicario, just on the cusp, and I thought, "You know what, Im going to do another Rambo, you want to write it?"'

Much to Stallone's surprise, Sheridan turned Stallone down, stating, 'No, Im kind of busy on my own thing,' but that got them talking.

He added Sheridan, 'ended up buying my daughters horse and then he bought a second one... but they are the earliest inception of his transition into being this megastar.'

Turned down: Much to Stallone's surprise, Sheridan turned Stallone down, stating, 'No, Im kind of busy on my own thing,' but that got them talking

After Sheridan's 2015 breakthrough hit Sicario, he then won over fans and critics with hit movies Hell or High Water and Wind River, before creating his hit series Yellowstone in 2018.

Stallone also revealed, 'Ive always wanted to play a gangster since... I basically started off my career mugging everyone... but it never happened. I have my thoughts on why but better late than never.'

'Taylor Sheridan wrote an idea, a screenplay that was really good and Terence Winter, who wrote Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire, they put it all together and what you have is East meets West,' he added at the Londoner Hotel for Paramount+'s U.K. launch event.

Gangster: Stallone also revealed, 'Ive always wanted to play a gangster since... I basically started off my career mugging everyone... but it never happened. I have my thoughts on why but better late than never'

Writer: 'Taylor Sheridan wrote an idea, a screenplay that was really good and Terence Winter, who wrote Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire, they put it all together and what you have is East meets West,' he added at the Londoner Hotel for Paramount+'s U.K. launch even

He added that his character, 'comes out of prison after 25 years, expects to be rewarded for keeping his mouth shut and he's betrayed.

When he's sent to run Tulsa, 'its a different world, different kind of people and he starts to become indoctrinated into the Western sort of life. So it's a combination of the two. Its a dark comedy but also it can get rough.'

Stallone also hinted at a possible cameo on Yellowstone, stating, 'Absolutely,' and he's known Yellowstone star Kevin Costner, 'for centuries.
Angelina Jolie celebrated World Refugee Day with some of her 'new friends' from across the globe, who fled war, violence and persecution.

In a new Instagram post, uploaded to her Instagram on Monday, the Oscar winner, 47, revealed she enjoyed dinner with pals from Egypt, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Mali, Cote dIvoire, Congo, Kurdistan, Nigeria, and Gambia.'

'Im grateful that among so much heaviness in the world, these brave people shared their time and stories with me,' she captioned a slideshow showing her interacting with families and kids.

Sweet: Angelina Jolie celebrated World Refugee Day with some of her 'new friends' from across the globe, who fled war, violence and persecution

She continued: 'Family, friends, and food bring people together and I was honored to be joined by new friends to eat, share, and learn.'

Among the sweet images, the Eternals actress can be seen giving a little girl a high five and blowing kisses to another while rocking a long black dress, red nail polish and her brown hair cascading over her shoulders.

Their outing appeared to be held at an expansive park and involved UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Save the Children Italia and Joel Nafuma Refugee Center.

Mingling: In a new Instagram post, uploaded to her Instagram on Monday, the Oscar winner, 47, revealed she enjoyed dinner with pals from Egypt, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Mali, Cote dIvoire, Congo, Kurdistan, Nigeria, and Gambia'

'Im grateful that among so much heaviness in the world, these brave people shared their time and stories with me,' she captioned a slideshow showing her interacting with families and kids

Enlightening: She continued: 'Family, friends, and food bring people together and I was honored to be joined by new friends to eat, share, and learn'

Within five hours, her post garnered more than 330,543 likes and 2,043 comments.

Last week, Jolie spoke out about how the children of Ukraine are facing the 'greatest consequences from war' over social media.

'Globally, children account for 30% of the population but represent 41% of all forcibly displaced people,' she informed her 13.2 million Instagram followers.

Important discussions: Among the sweet images, the Eternals actress can be seen giving a little girl a high five and blowing kisses to another while rocking a long black dress, red nail polish and her brown hair cascading over her shoulders

She also noted that since February 24, 'at least 277 children have been killed and 456 injured.'

In March, she also addressed the staggering number of Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes and country due to the ongoing Russian invasion.

Last year, following the release of her novel Know Your Rights And Claim Them: A Guide for Youth, Jolie wrote that she is 'so inspired by young people around the world who are on the front lines of the struggle for human rights.'

Author: Last year, following the release of her novel Know Your Rights And Claim Them: A Guide for Youth, Jolie wrote that she is 'so inspired by young people around the world who are on the front lines of the struggle for human rights'

'From protecting the environment to fighting inequality and discrimination, they are stepping in to do the work adults should but so far have failed to do,' she added on Instagram

'From protecting the environment to fighting inequality and discrimination, they are stepping in to do the work adults should but so far have failed to do,' she added on Instagram.

She went on to state that 'in refugee camps and conflict areas globally, children are bearing the burden of the consequences of those bad decisions.

'When children and young people have the agency, power and knowledge to speak up, they can change the lives of both young people and adults, helping to achieve a more equal society,' the Girl, Interrupted star concluded.

She went on to state that 'in refugee camps and conflict areas globally, children are bearing the burden of the consequences of those bad decisions

The mom-of-six's project was written in consultation with young activists around the world and human rights lawyer Geraldine Van Bueren.

Bueren is one of the original drafters of the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - aims to equip kids with the knowledge to safely challenge injustices.

During an interview with Reuters, Jolie said: 'So many children are in harm's way across the world and we're simply not doing enough.'

She continued: 'These are their rights, decided years ago based on what would make them healthy, balanced, safe and stable adults.'

'When children and young people have the agency, power and knowledge to speak up, they can change the lives of both young people and adults, helping to achieve a more equal society,' the Girl, Interrupted star concluded; seen in 2011

'These are their rights, decided years ago based on what would make them healthy, balanced, safe and stable adults.'

Jolie, special envoy for UN refugee agency UNHCR, said she hoped the book would also remind governments of their commitment to the global treaty enshrining children's civil, social, political and economic rights.

'We spent a lot of time blocking those rights, so this book is to help the kids have a tool book to say 'these are your rights, these are things you need to question to see how far you, depending on your country and circumstance, are from accessing those rights, what are your obstacles, others that came before you and fought, ways you can fight.''

During an interview with Reuters, Jolie said: 'So many children are in harm's way across the world and we're simply not doing enough' (pictured in 2022)

The Salt actress added: 'So it's a handbook to fight back.'

The mother-of-six said she put up the U.N convention in her home for her children, but was surprised to learn her own country, the United States, has not ratified it.

'That infuriated me and made me start to question what does that mean?' said the ex of Brad Pitt.

Busy bee: The star of Salt and Tom Raider has also spoken up about Afghanistan

The humanitarian said she put up the U.N convention in her home for her children, but was surprised to learn her own country, the United States, has not ratified it.

'That infuriated me and made me start to question what does that mean?' said the ex of Brad Pitt.

'So for each country, what is this idea of, you have the right to an education ... but then why is it so many children are out of school? Why is it the girls in Afghanistan are being harmed if they go?' she said.

More from her Instagram page: Jolie recently shared this image of daughter Zahara reading The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison with the caption: 'End of #summerreading. These are some of the favorites in our house. Would love to know yours'

The book addresses identity, justice, education and protection from harm, among other issues. It provides guidance on becoming an activist, being safe and a glossary of terms and organizations.

'Through the book, you have to find your own path forward, because we are very concerned about the safety of children. We don't want children just running around screaming for their rights and putting themselves in danger,' Jolie said.

The book is peppered with examples of powerful young voices from around the world, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, climate activist Greta Thunberg and 15-year-old Palestinian journalist Janna Jihad.
Netflix on Monday said it is 'deeply saddened' of the deaths of The Chosen One actors Raymundo Garduno Cruz and Juan Francisco Gonzalez Aguilar in car accident in Mexico last week that left six others injured, after their vans flipped over near the Baja California Peninsula.

'We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident that took the lives of Ray Garduno and Juan Francisco Gonzalez,' a spokesperson for the streamer said in a statement Monday, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 'Our thoughts are with their loved ones and with those injured during this unfortunate accident.'

A spokesperson for Redrum, the production company that makes the series, said in a statement that it was 'shocked' by the 'tragic accident' that took place June 16, and 'closely supporting all those affected by this unspeakable tragedy.'

The latest: Netflix on Monday said it is 'deeply saddened' of the deaths of The Chosen One actors Raymundo Garduno Cruz (L) and Juan Francisco Gonzalez Aguilar in car accident in Mexico last week that left six others injured

The company, which has temporarily suspended production on the show in the wake of the tragedy, said it 'has been cooperating with local authorities and initial reports and accounts from witnesses indicate that all safety protocols were in place and this was an unfortunate accident.'

Both actors were reported dead by the Baja California Department of Culture, according to the Independent.

The deadly accident did not happen on the set of the production, THR reported, as the van was headed to a nearby airport from Santa Rosalia at the time of the crash.

A source close to production told the outlet that the six others in the vehicle - two actors and four crew members - were in stable condition.

Garduno (pictured) and Gonzalez were there filming Netflix's The Chosen One, which focuses on a 12-year-old boy who finds out he's the second coming of Christ

They were filming The Chosen One near Santa Rosalia in Mexico

Netflix has not publicly commented on the accident and it unclear how the show will proceed moving forward (pictured: the show)

A spokesperson for SAG-AFTRA issued a statement following the tragedy, Deadline reported, saying the organization 'has been in contact with Netflix and with the Mexican actors union ANDA about this incident and we are investigating the circumstances with local production.

'On set safety is always our top priority. We will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that our members and others are safe in their workplace.'

The actors were filming a show the centered around a 12-year-old boy who finds out he is the second coming of Christ, TMZ reported. The series is based off a comic book by Mark Millar and artist Peter Gross and the crew began filming in April, according to Comicbook.

There is no release for the series and it was unclear how Netflix will proceed moving forward.

DailyMail.com has reached out the streaming service for comment.
TV presenter Larry Emdur and his wife Sylvie have made a decent profit from the sale of their New York-inspired home in The Rocks, Sydney.

The couple's realtor son Jye Emdur sold their three-bedroom Art Deco apartment for $4.3million after just a few weeks on the market, reports News.com.au.

The Emdurs had bought the property for $3.19million back in 2017.

TV presenter Larry Emdur and his wife Sylvie (pictured in August 2019) have made a decent profit from the sale of their New York-inspired home in The Rocks, Sydney

They offloaded the warehouse conversion before its scheduled auction in April, but the sale price was not disclosed until Tuesday.

Larry and Sylvie are expected to move into their new place in Darling Point.

The couple purchased the home five years ago after selling their Dover Heights clifftop property for $11.5million.

The couple's realtor son Jye Emdur sold their three-bedroom Art Deco apartment for $4.3million after just a few weeks on the market. (Pictured: one of the ensuite bathrooms)

The apartment was converted from a 1924 building that was previously used as a depot for the Cadbury confectionary company.

There is a private lift entry and two of the bedrooms boast marble ensuites.

The home also has a luxurious kitchen with a cocktail counter and a fireplace.

The Emdurs had bought the property for $3.19million back in 2017

It comes after The Chase host sold his investment apartment in Bondi Beach for $1.055million at auction in February.

That address had been collecting $850 a week in rent before changing hands.

The Emdurs also own an eco-friendly holiday home converted from an old shipping container in Kangaroo Valley.
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Emma Stone earned more than her asking price after selling off her gorgeous Malibu ranch home for an impressive $4.4 million, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The 33-year-old Oscar winner had originally put the home on the market with an asking price of $4.2 million, but the final offer came in significantly higher after five bidders reportedly pursued the property.

Stone first purchased the house in 2018, a year after she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the hit musical La La Land.

Sold! Emma Stone sold her three-bedroom Malibu home with 1,800 square feet for $4.4 million to an unnamed buyer, according to the Wall Street Journal

So far, the identity of the successful buyer hasn't been revealed.

'This is a prime example of a category that is so in demand,' Sotheby's International Realty listing agent Eric Lavey told the outlet.

He was referring to the home's prime location atop a bluff in Malibu, with incredible views of the Pacific Ocean from most of its rooms.

'Where, under $5 million, can you get an experience like this? Good luck, its not happening,' he added.

The eventual buyer was represented in the transaction by Rochelle Maize of Nourmand & Associates.

That was fast: Stone had a swift sale, as the deal closed just a month after the Malibu house went on the market. She earned about $200,000 over the original list price; seen in May in New York City

It was previously reported by the Wall Street Journal that Stone had put the oceanfront property on sale after she purchased it for $3.25 million in 2018.

The one-story home belonging to the Favourite star spans around 1,800 sq. feet over 3.2 acres of property in the luxe Southern California area.

Sotheby's International Realty listing agent Eric Lavey, who was the listing agent on the property, described the home to the paper as 'a classic 1958 California Midcentury hanging over the Pacific' and 'the Malibu beach house they would choose for a Nancy Meyers movie.'

The Scottsdale, Arizona-born beauty's home includes exquisite views of the Los Angeles cityscape, Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island, and is within walking distance of nearby hiking trails and the beach.

The Cruella star's house, which has been renovated in recent years, has a state-of-the-art kitchen with gold accents.

The living room of the abode is centered around a fireplace encased in a white brick column, as floor-to-ceiling windows in the home allow for sunlight to pour in.

Quick turnaround: It was previously reported by the Wall Street Journal that Stone had put the oceanfront property on sale after she purchased it for $3.25 million in 2018

Center of attention: The living room of the abode is centered around a fireplace encased in a white brick column

Nature: The home features a dining area outdoors which is sequestered by eucalyptus and yucca trees

Perfect view: A dining room in the home sits adjacent to an outdoor patio

A bathroom in the home has a standalone bathtub along with a rain shower.

The home features a dining area outdoors which is sequestered by eucalyptus and yucca trees, and a patio with a panoramic view of the coast.

Other amenities the home features includes a recreation room and art studio.

Sleek: The Cruella star's house, which has been renovated in recent years, has a state-of-the-art kitchen

Luxurious: The home is made of white brick and wood with gold accents and state-of-the-art appliances

Convenient: A dine-in area sits adjacent to the kitchen in the stunning beach home

In the years since she acquired the home, Stone in 2020 wed writer Dave McCary, 36, and the couple welcomed a baby daughter in March of 2021.

According to the paper, Stone also owns houses in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas; and an apartment in Manhattan.

Lavey told the paper that he expected the house to sell quickly, as there is a scarcity of homes in that price range in Malibu, and residents of other well-heeled Los Angeles locales such as Beverly Hills or Holmby Hills are partial to purchasing smaller beach homes.

Stunning: A master bedroom in the home has a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean

Let there be light: Floor-to-ceiling windows in the home allow for sunlight to pour into the home

Minimalist: A bathroom in the home includes a rain shower and standalone tub

Simple style: A shower in the bathroom has a glass door with gold fixtures
She is a hot contender to win MasterChef Australia: Fans Vs Favourites.

And Julie Goodwin was all smiles on Tuesday as she did the media rounds in Sydney accompanied by a Channel 10 publicist.

The celebrity chef, 50, looked upbeat as she left KIIS FM's studios in North Ryde after an interview on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Julie Goodwin (left) was all smiles on Tuesday as she left KIIS FM's studios in Sydney after an interview on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, accompanied by a Channel 10 publicist (right)

The bespectacled cookbook author sported a black blouse, matching cardigan and snake-print trousers.

She completed her casual look with lace-up boots and a brown leather tote bag.

During her appearance on Kyle and Jackie O, Julie took part in an X-rated quiz called 'Food or Fetish'.

The celebrity chef, 50, sported a black blouse, matching cardigan and snake-print trousers

She was tasked with identifying whether a mystery audio clip was of a person eating something, or if it was the sound of a taboo sex act.

The sounds included slurping noodles, macaroni and cheese being stirred, someone licking the inside of another person's ear, and a foreskin being rolled back.

'I feel a bit violated,' she said afterwards.

She completed her casual look with lace-up boots and a brown leather tote bag

It comes after Julie won her first immunity pin on MasterChef Australia last week.

She impressed the judges with a Middle Eastern-inspired lamb dish featuring eggplant puree, smoked tomatoes and pickled chilli and capsicum.

'I did not expect this, I didn't expect it at any stage this week, so I am over the moon,' Julie told the judges after they awarded her the immunity pin.

Julie won MasterChef Australia's first season, which aired in 2009

'I am so happy I am buzzing, I'm buzzing from my head to my toes. What a day!'

Julie won MasterChef Australia's first season, which aired in 2009.

MasterChef airs Sunday to Thursday at 7.30pm on Channel 10 and 10play
Hilary Duff was spotted while spending time with her husband Matthew Koma and their daughter Mae, aged one, in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.

The 34-year-old performer lovingly held her youngest daughter while stepping out with her spouse, 35, and making her way through a parking lot.

The actress' outing comes just a day after she gushed about her partner's role in her life in an affectionate Father's Day post.

Happy family: Hilary Duff was spotted while spending time with her husband Matthew Koma and their daughter Mae, aged one, in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon

Duff donned a sheer blue v-neck sweater while spending time with her husband and daughter.

The Lizzie McGuire star also rocked a set of distressed blue jeans and a pair of sandals during her outing.

The actress accessorized with a stylish pair of sunglasses and accessorized with a fashionable set of earrings.

Her voluminous blonde locks cascaded onto her shoulders and paired well with the dominant color of her outfit.

Comfortable clothing: Duff donned a sheer blue v-neck sweater while spending time with her husband and daughter

On the go: She was later seen out in a tank top

Duff previously spoke about Koma's parenting abilities in the caption of a post that was shared to her Instagram account on Sunday.

The actress shared several shots of the musician spending time with both of his daughters and his stepson, Luca Comrie, aged 10.

She also penned a lengthy message where she described the hitmaker as 'the most supportive/understanding/funny/willing/kind/ father and bonus dad there is.'

Duff then pointed out that she had learned to depend on Koma to help raise Luca, Mae and Banks, aged three.

Devoted wife: Duff previously spoke about Koma's parenting abilities in the caption of a post that was shared to her Instagram account on Sunday

'There's no way in hell I could do this without you. I love the way you look at our kids in amazement with every little or big thing they do,' she wrote.

The actress went on to express that she had established a solid connection with her husband over the past few years.

'You're never not trying. I have so much peace knowing we are and always will be top of mind for you. Thank you for being the calm, sensitive one. Thank you for all of your love and weirdness,' she said.

An inside look: The actress shared several shots of the musician spending time with both of his daughters and his stepson, Luca Comrie, aged 10

Happy together: The actress went on to express that she had established a solid connection with her husband over the past few years

Duff and Koma initially met while collaborating in 2015 and they went on to begin dating in 2017.

She was previously married to Mike Comrie, with whom she shares Luca, although they separated and divorced in 2016.

The actress later began dating the musician, and they welcomed their first child in 2018.

The pair went on to tie the knot the following year, and they brought Mae into their lives in March of 2021.
President Yoon Suk-yeol answers to reporters' questions as he enters the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps



Yoon hints at more info disclosure on NK-related incidents during Moon administration



By Nam Hyun-woo



President Yoon Suk-yeol is expanding his efforts to reveal undisclosed information on incidents related to North Korea during the previous liberal Moon Jae-in government, in what appears to be an attempt to reopen unresolved issues for reinvestigation.



During an impromptu meeting with reporters, Tuesday, Yoon said the presidential office is considering "finding the truth" related to the 2019 repatriation of two North Korean sailors.



"If someone enters the country, he or she is considered a South Korean national under the Constitution, and many people had questions on why the government repatriated the sailors then," Yoon said when asked his opinion on the case. "It seems like we (the presidential office) are looking into it."



In November 2019, the Moon government arrested two North Korean sailors who expressed their intention to defect to South Korea. However, they were repatriated back to the North five days after their arrest, as they were suspected to have killed 16 fellow crewmembers on a fishing boat. At the time, the government explained that it had decided to do so to prevent exposing South Koreans to potential dangers.



This incident, however, became the subject of political debate over the legality of repatriation, with some civic groups and opposition politicians raising suspicions that the administration had decided to do so in order to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the South Korea-ASEAN summit in Busan that year. Kim did not participate the summit.



Yoon's comments are interpreted that his administration may review documentation related to the sailors' defection and investigative authorities' reports on the case.





People Power Party floor leader Kweon Seong-dong, center, speaks during a fact-finding meeting of the party's investigative team related to a fisheries official killed by North Korea at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps
Bindi Irwin's husband Chandler Powell has shared an adorable new picture of their baby daughter Grace Warrior.

Chandler, 25, marked international Father's Day by posting a cute snap on Instagram of his little girl, 15 months, and said being a dad is the 'greatest title [he's] ever had'.

In the photo, the Florida-born zookeeper donned a green jacket as he gazed at his smiling daughter, who wore a cosy pink onesie.

Bindi Irwin's husband Chandler Powell has shared an adorable new picture of their baby daughter Grace Warrior

Chandler, 25, marked international Father's Day by posting a cute snap on Instagram of his little girl, 15 months, and said being a dad is the 'greatest title [he's] ever had'

'Being Graces dad is the best title Ive ever had. Thank you to my girls for making Fathers Day one of my favourite days,' wrote the former professional wakeboarder.

Bindi, 23, also posted a cute photo of the whole family, including her brother Robert, 18, and mother Terri, 57.

'A photo of Grace admiring her awesome uncle. @robertirwinphotography - a note to say thank you for being the best. Love you so much and beyond proud of you,' she wrote.

Bindi and Chandler first met in 2013 when the American athlete was touring Australia as part of a national wakeboarding competition.

Bindi and Chandler are seen here with their daughter Grace Warrior

They are raising Grace at Australia Zoo in Queensland, where they live and work alongside the rest of the Irwin family.

The young parents have been embracing parenthood with family days out on hikes and visits to the zoo.

Bindi's father Steve Irwin, known to millions around the world as 'the Crocodile Hunter', died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef.

Bindi, 23, also posted a cute photo of the whole family, including her brother Robert (left) and mother Terri (back)

'A photo of Grace admiring her awesome uncle,' she wrote

Bindi was just eight years old at the time.

Following his death, Steve's family, including his children Bindi and Robert, widow Terri, and son-in-law Chandler, have continued his wildlife conservation work at Australia Zoo.

Speaking to People magazine last month, Bindi and Chandler said the advice they received during their first year as parents taught them so much about raising their child.

Bindi and Chandler are raising Grace at Australia Zoo in Queensland, where they live and work alongside the rest of the Irwin family

'There's a lot of information, opinions and advice that you get, and as a new parent you go, "I have to follow all this," and you feel a pressure to try and be the perfect parent, come up with the perfect routine,' Chandler told the publication.

'I think the best advice I got was the fact that you can read every baby book, you can take on board everybody's advice, but at the end of the day, you know what works for your child,' Bindi added.

'And that was so freeing for me.'
The Block host Scott Cam is rumoured to be renovating his own house on the new season.

And last Monday, the 59-year-old was spotted inspecting a property on the show's construction site accompanied by his wife Ann and daughter Sarah.

Scott wore jeans, a navy jacket and a safety vest as he walked around the worksite.

Last Monday, The Block host Scott Cam was spotted inspecting a property on the show's construction site accompanied by his wife Ann and daughter Sarah

Scott wore jeans, a navy jacket and a safety vest as he walked around the worksite. He is rumoured to be renovating his own house on the new season

During the inspection, he was seen chatting to Ann and Sarah, who followed behind him next to a man in a black coat.

It comes after Scott came out swinging against two contestants who quit the new season of The Block after two days.

Fashion influencer Elle Ferguson and her footy star fiance Joel Patfull pulled out of the competition just 48 hours into filming.

During the inspection, he was seen chatting to Ann and Sarah

It comes after Scott came out swinging against two contestants who quit the new season of The Block after just two days

Fashion influencer Elle Ferguson and her footy star fiance Joel Patfull (pictured on September 4, 2019, in Sydney) pulled out of the competition just 48 hours into filming

'We had a 48-hour challenge to choose the house that you get and they scarpered after 48 hours. It's something that's never happened before,' Scott told TV Tonight.

'Forty-five thousand people applied to be on The Block and win life-changing money. These guys got on and they just couldn't handle the pace after 48 hours.

'Which to me is a bit unAustralian! Have a go! It's p**s poor.'

According to The Daily Telegraph, the couple made the difficult decision to leave after Joel's mother Trish fractured her neck during a fall at her home in Adelaide.

'We had a 48-hour challenge to choose the house that you get and they scarpered after 48 hours. It's something that's never happened before,' Scott told TV Tonight on Monday

According to The Daily Telegraph, the couple made the difficult decision to leave after Joel's mother Trish fractured her neck during a fall at her home in Adelaide

The publication reported Joel's mother potentially broke her coccyx and fractured her wrist

Joel's mother reportedly broke her coccyx and fractured her wrist.

Following their exit, Elle, 36, shared a photo to Instagram of the pair's suitcases at Melbourne Airport, and captioned it: 'Wherever you are in the world, whatever you are doing, family always comes first.'

A Channel Nine spokesperson confirmed their departure to Daily Mail Australia, saying: 'Over the weekend, we were surprised to have one of our new contestant teams depart The Block a few days into filming for the upcoming season.

'We wish them all the best for the future and we're excited to cast two new Aussies for the opportunity of a lifetime on The Block. The Block Tree Change will air as scheduled later this year.'

A Nine spokesperson confirmed Elle and Joel's exit, saying: 'Over the weekend, we were surprised to have one of our new contestant teams depart The Block a few days into filming'
Chrissy Teigen shared a picture of herself and her husband, John Legend, to her Instagram account on Sunday.

The 36-year-old media personality and the 43-year-old performer flashed wide smiles while sitting next to each other at a restaurant.

The happy couple has been married ever since 2013, and they currently share a son named Miles and a daughter named Luna, aged four and six.

Cute couple: Chrissy Teigen shared a picture of herself and her husband, John Legend, to her Instagram account on Monday

Teigen wore a stylish patterned overcoat and a low-cut black top during the outing.

The influencer added a bit of shine to her outfit with a gorgeous set of hoop earrings.

Her voluminous brunette locks were pulled back into a tight bun while she enjoyed her husband's company.

Legend donned a patterned button-up shirt as he spent time with his wife of almost a decade.

Letting everyone know: The media personality previously gushed about her husband with a Father's Day post that was shared to her Instagram account on Sunday

Teigen also penned a short message to explain her husband's choice of decoration for the table.

She wrote: 'John's most favorite flower is the onion flower. There are so many beautiful flowers in the world, I personally couldn't pick just one, but he did and it is for some reason the onion flower.

She added: 'Anyhow I love him very much. thank u for spending all your free minutes with your family.'

The media personality previously gushed about her husband with a Father's Day post that was shared to her Instagram account on Sunday.

Memories: Teigen included several images of Legend spending time with his children in her photoset

Teigen included several images of Legend spending time with his children in her photoset.

The influencer also wrote a short message to publicly express her affection for her longtime husband.

She described him as the 'best we could ever imagine. Happy Father's Day even though everyone is saying they know the best dad  this is the only true one (I know some of the ones people are posting about and they're meh).'

Teigen and Legend initially met in 2006 while working on the set of the music video for his track Stereo.

In the past: Teigen and Legend initially met in 2006 while working on the set of the music video for his track Stereo

The pair dated for five years before they became engaged during a trip to the Maldives in 2011.

The happy couple waited for two more years before they tied the knot in Lake Como, Italy.

The pair welcomed Luna into their lives in 2016, and they added Miles to their family two years later.

Teigen later announced that she was supposed to give birth to a third child, although she suffered a stillbirth in September of 2020.

Starting a family: The pair welcomed Luna into their lives in 2016, and they added Miles to their family two years later

The influencer spoke about her relationship with Legend during an interview with Well+Good, where she expressed: 'I think it's really important to be complete partners in crime.'

The media personality then expressed that she and her husband still made a point of prioritizing each other.

'I love the mentality of "us against the world." Even when you have kids, never forget your relationship as partners and loversthat's so important,' she said.
Kate Beckinsale paid tribute to EastEnders legend Dot Cotton in a pair of cheeky Instagram snaps as she posed for an impromptu at-home shoot on Tuesday.

Slipping into a revealing black crop top, the British actress offered her own homage to the chain-smoking soap icon by donning a mini skirt emblazoned with her face.

Known for her love of gossip and always having a cigarette in hand, Dot was one of EastEnders most beloved characters, but she was permenantly written out of the soap earlier this year following the death of star June Brown.

Sultry: Kate Beckinsale paid tribute to EastEnders legend Dot Cotton in a pair of cheeky Instagram snaps as she posed for an impromptu at-home shoot on Tuesday

'Oioi,' Kate captioned the two images as she struck a sultry pose in the snaps while reclining on her sofa.

Her brown wavy locks cascaded over her shoulders and she sported a stunning makeup look, consisting of a nude matte lipstick and smokey eyeshadow.

The Underworld alum credited makeup artist Katrina Klein, hair dresser Scott King and manicurist Miwa Kobayashi for helping with her glam.

Amusing: The actress offered her own homage to the chain-smoking soap icon (pictured played by June Brown) by donning a mini skirt emblazoned with her face

Looking good! Flashing her toned abs in a black bandeau, Kate oozed glamour while smoldering into the camera during an impromptu at-home photo shoot

Dot Cotton first appeared on EastEnders in 1985 as the suffering mother of her criminal son Nick, appearing on the soap untul 1993 before returning again in 1997.

Her last appearance on the soap aired in 2020, with actress June later confirming she had permenantly left the soap, when Dot relocated to Ireland.

In April June's family announced she had passed away at the age of 95, asking fans to raise a glass of sweet sherry in honour of her iconic character.

There he is: Beckinsale's cat Clive is a regular feature on her Instagram page, where she has more than 5.2 million followers

Last month, the London-born beauty recently admitted her tongue in cheek online content is typically curated for her mother Judy Loe.

'I know that when she wakes up in the morning, the first thing shell do is see what Ive been up to,' she said during an interview with Flaunt magazine.

'If I find something thats kind of fun, or funny, or cute, its largely aimed at my mum. So the fact that other people enjoy it is good, but thats what its mainly for.'

Fuming feline: Kate often shares snaps of her beloved kitty as she dresses him up in an array of zany outfits, to her mom's amusement

The performer concluded: 'So the fact that other people enjoy it is good, but thats what its mainly for.'

In March, she shared a touching video to her celebrate her mom's 75th birthday.

The star posted a video of her dancing around a kitchen with mum before a carousel of snaps to honour her.

In the caption, Kate referred to Judy as the 'most beautiful shining light of life', writing: 'Happy birthday to my most beautiful shining light of life mama  75 and youre showing us all how its done.'

'And by all I mean kindness, bravery, loyalty, grace, generosity, bloody good manners and coping elegantly with wind.

'Happy birthday actual angel woman and loon. I love you more than anything and admire that you frequently squat on goats in a skinny jean at your age xxx.'
Riverdale wraps up its sixth season next month, with their seventh and final season arriving in 2023, with star KJ Apa already making plans for his post-Riverdale life.

The 24-year-old actor was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, and starred in a New Zealand soap opera dubbed Shortland Street before landing the role of Archie Andrews on The CW's Riverdale following a global talent search.

Apa revealed to US Weekly during The CW upfronts in May that he plans on returning to New Zealand later this year... and he wants to convince partner Clara Berry to move there permanently with their eight-month son Sasha Vai Keneti Apa.

Post-Riverdale: Riverdale wraps up its sixth season next month, with their seventh and final season arriving in 2023, with star KJ Apa already making plans for his post-Riverdale life

Convince: Apa revealed to US Weekly during The CW upfronts in May that he plans on returning to New Zealand later this year... and he wants to convince partner Clara Berry to move there permanently with their eight-month son Sasha Vai Keneti Apa

'Ill go back [to New Zealand]. Yeah, 100%. Im going back this year,' Apa said, adding he wants his son with 28-year-old Berry, who he married in 2020, to see his homeland.

'I want my son to know his family over there. I gotta convince my girl to think about moving over there. Maybe,' he added.

'Its a long way from everywhere, but I want to go back for sure,' Apa clarified.

Family: 'I want my son to know his family over there. I gotta convince my girl to think about moving over there. Maybe,' he added

Go back: 'Its a long way from everywhere, but I want to go back for sure,' Apa clarified

He's been romantically involved with French model Berry since 2020, and they welcomed son Sasha Vai Keneti Apa in September 2021.

The actor hasn't been back home to New Zealand in three years, due to strict COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The CW renewed Riverdale for Season 7 back in March, but revealed in May that it would be the final season, which Apa said that he and most of the cast saw coming.

Happy couple: He's been romantically involved with French model Berry since 2020, and they welcomed son Sasha Vai Keneti Apa in September 2021

'I think a few of us, we saw it coming,' Apa said, noting that the cast had no say in the decision.

'I cant speak for anyone else, but Ill be really sad to say goodbye to Archie, to Riverdale, to our sets, to our crew,' he added.

'Its exciting and its sad, you know, cause weve created so many memories on this show. Ive got a kid now,' he said.

Saw it coming: 'I think a few of us, we saw it coming,' Apa said, noting that the cast had no say in the decision

Goodbye: 'I cant speak for anyone else, but Ill be really sad to say goodbye to Archie, to Riverdale, to our sets, to our crew,' he added

'Ive been through so much over the last six years and I know everyone else has. Yeah, a lot of growing up in the last six years,' he added.

He added that he was 'very lucky' to have a job like Riverdale, adding he has 'days off here and there' and he's, 'lucky to have time to spend with my family.'

The one thing he won't miss, though, is, 'the red hair,' adding, 'Im not gonna miss dyeing my hair every week, bleaching my hair.'

Growing up: 'Ive been through so much over the last six years and I know everyone else has. Yeah, a lot of growing up in the last six years,' he added

Lucky: He added that he was 'very lucky' to have a job like Riverdale, adding he has 'days off here and there' and he's, 'lucky to have time to spend with my family'
Harry Maguire's devoted wife gave him the ringing endorsement he's missed all season while partying into extra time at her hen do.

The beleaguered Manchester United and England defender exchanged vows with long-term partner Fern Hawkins during a low key marriage ceremony at Crewe Registry Office in Cheshire six weeks ago.

They will hold an extravagant second service for a broader circle of friends and family members in France this summer, with both recently letting their hair down at respective stag and hen parties in Portugal and Spain.

Full backing: Harry Maguire's devoted wife gave him the ringing endorsement he's missed all season while partying into extra time with his sister Daisy at her hen do

Wearing Maguire's number five shirt - the source of much frustration for many Manchester United fans over the last year - Fern, 29, appeared to give the out-of-sorts player her full backing while partying in Marbella.

In a picture posted by Maguire's younger sister Daisy, 21, the brunette poses with her back to the camera, revealing his squad number beneath the word 'bride.'

Fern completed her pitch-ready look with a captain's armband, another reference to the Manchester United skipper.

Match fit: Wearing Maguire's number five shirt, Fern appeared to give the out-of-sorts player her full backing while partying at her hen do in Marbella

Team effort: The group rounded off their stay in Marbella with a boozy pool party

The girls rounded off their stay in Marbella with a boozy pool party before returning to England, where they continued the celebrations with a more subdued dinner in Mosborough, close to Maguire's childhood home.

Sharing a handful of photos from the hen celebrations on social media, Daisy wrote: 'Had the best weekend with the most unreal group of girls.

'Thankyou to my favourite person @_fernhawkins for trusting me & thankyou to all the girls for making it so special for her. Love you all lotsss! Bring on the wedding.'

Fashion goals: Fern and Daisy dressed in a variety of outfits as they celebrated on the Spanish island

Delighted: Daisy shared a series of photos with Instagram followers alongside a lengthy caption in which she thanked her sister-in-law

The couple met when they were teenagers and have been together for the last ten years, with Maguire proposing during a trip to Paris in 2018.

They share two daughters, Lillie Saint, three, and Piper Rose, two.

Details regarding their first wedding service were kept top secret, with attendees reportedly informed of the venue in a text earlier that day.

Low key: They continued the celebrations with a more subdued dinner in Mosborough, close to Maguire's childhood home

Close: The couple met when they were teenagers and have been together for the last ten years, with Maguire proposing during a trip to Paris in 2018

A source told The Sun: 'It was a closely guarded secret to all but their closest family and friends.

'They wanted to be officially married in the UK before they head to France. That will be a fairytale wedding day for Fern.'

Harry's sister Daisy will reportedly be a bridesmaid at the more lavish ceremony, set to be held at a chateau in Burgundy.
The premiere date for the new season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under has been announced.

The Stan series, which is hosted by RuPaul, will premiere on Saturday, July 30.

The highly speculated new cast of queens competing in Season 2, along with extra special guest stars, will be announced soon.

The premiere date for the new season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under has been announced. The Stan series, which is hosted by RuPaul, will premiere on Saturday, July 30

'I am thrilled to produce and host a brand new season of RuPauls Drag Race Down Under,' RuPaul said in a statement.

'Weve only just begun to shine a worldwide spotlight on the charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent of Australasian queens.'

Cailah Scobie, Stan chief content officer, said: 'Aussie fans loved the Stan Original Series RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under and demanded a second season.

'I am thrilled to produce and host a brand new season of RuPauls Drag Race Down Under,' RuPaul said in a statement

'As the most awarded reality competition show in TV history, the decision was an easy one, and we cant wait to see the incredible talent that the show will unveil after the high bar set by season one.'

The first season aired on Stan last year and was won by Kiwi drag queen Kita Mean.

The New Zealand performer pocketed a whopping $30,000 cash prize and makeup supplies.

The first season aired on Stan earlier last year and was won by Kiwi drag queen Kita Mean

Kita, 36, whose real name is Nick Nash, snatched the crown, beating Aussies Art Simone, Karen from Finance and Scarlet Adams.

The final episode saw video appearances by Olivia Newton-John and her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, who inspired a rendition of Physical.

Kita has been the host of TVNZ's House of Drag for two seasons, and has maintained her position as resident Drag Queen at Family Bar and Club.

She was one of 10 drag queens to compete in the Australasian version of the popular competition.

Watch RuPauls' Drag Race Down Under exclusively on Stan in Australia
Laura Whitmore has hit back at trolls claiming she set out to 'humiliate' Love Island's latest dumped islander Remi Lambert, after a very awkward exit interview on Sunday evening's Aftersun.

The interview was prefaced by a brutal recoupling during Sunday's episode, which saw Indiyah Polack choose to couple up with Ikenna Ekwonna instead of Remi.

And it seemed that the ex-contestant was dealt one last blow as Laura, 37, asked him to rap live on air, awkwardly obliging before delivering a short-lived rap.

Awkward! Love Island host Laura Whitmore, 37, has hit back at claims she 'humiliated' Remi Lambert during Sunday's awkward Aftersun interview

Fumbling over his words, Remi left viewers wincing in their seats with his seemingly defeated performance.

And following a social media storm from fans claiming Laura attempted to 'humiliate' the rapper, the host has taken to Twitter to have her say - and tease a new couple.

She wrote: 'Remi is a rapper and asked in good faith in advance if hed rap and prepare something which he did.

'Live Telly is nerve wrecking, believe me, so maybe he was a bit nervous but he deserved to have his time. Also I want to make Remi & Afia happen!'

Deflated? It seemed that the ex-contestant was dealt one last blow as Laura, 37, asked him to rap live on air, awkwardly obliging before delivering a short-lived rap

Speaking out: Following a social media storm from fans claiming Laura attempted to 'humiliate' the rapper, the host has taken to Twitter to have her say - and tease a new couple

Her response quoted a tweet from a fan which told Love Island to 'Be kind', reading: 'Hope #LoveIsland supports Remi. He looked broken on #Loveislandaftersun Asking him to rap was done in bad faith and to humiliate. I thought @thewhitmore & crew were supposed to "BE KIND"'

The rap wasn't the only awkward part of the interview, with fans noticing Remi's lack of chitchat, mixed into an array of awkward silences.

Following the interview, Laura turned to the studio to share her sympathy for the evictee, detailing: 'Oh my god everything in me wanted to just give him a hug.'

Oh dear: The situation left Aftersun guests Toby Aromolaran and Chloe Burrows as well as Afia Tonkmor (L-R) feeling rather awkward

Sympathetic: Following the interview, Laura turned to the studio to share her sympathy for the evictee, detailing: 'Oh my god everything in me wanted to just give him a hug'

Remi entered the villa alongside Jay Younger during Tuesday's episode, but only made it to Sunday's episode before being dumped - after failing to make any lasting connections in the villa.

After clearing up her views on Remi's exit, Laura was quick to quip back at a few other fan complaints - following claims she's 'never in the villa'.

As one viewer wrote 'When are you actually gonna make an appearance on Love Island? I thought you were the host?'

While Laura jested back: 'Same as every year babes x'

Heading to the villa? After clearing up her views on Remi's exit, Laura was quick to quip back at a few other fan complaints - following claims she's 'never in the villa'
Davina McCall looked incredible in swimwear as she posed for a sizzling shoot in Turkey recently.

The star, 54, displayed her taut abs, ample cleavage and honed legs as she frolicked on the beach and walked in the surf.

Davina caught the eye in a blue one-piece swimsuit before wowing in a nude one-shoulder bikini top and matching bottoms.

Wow: Davina McCall looked incredible in swimwear as she posed for a sizzling shoot in Turkey recently

Her tresses were styled sleek and straight and she sported a radiant palette of make-up.

Davina visited the TUI BLUE Grand Azur in Turkey to road test the new Wellness Menu and discussed how she likes to 'find her happy' on holiday with activities and relaxation.

The fitness guru did paddleboarding, yoga and a bespoke cookery class, saying: 'When I go on holiday, I always like to try something new and challenging, as well as taking the time to unwind.

'When it comes to my own wellness, I know that what works best for me might not work for everyone else, and its also something extremely personal that will change as you get older or your lifestyle changes.

Looking good: The star, 54, displayed her taut abs, ample cleavage and honed legs as she frolicked on the beach and walked in the surf

Glow: Davina caught the eye in a blue one-piece swimsuit before wowing in a nude one-shoulder bikini top and matching bottoms

'Finding what works for your own wellbeing shouldnt be dictated by the latest trends on social media or stereotypical wellness tropes  find what makes you happy, and trust what feels good for your own mind and body.

This comes after the brunette beauty recently opened up about how her severe menopause symptoms left her feeling like she had a 'brain tumour or Alzheimer's' following a mistake on TV.

Speaking to Sophie Raworth on BBC One's Sunday Morning, she said that her menopause 'aged' her and left her feeling 'embarrassed' and 'irrelevant'.

Davina, who recently penned a book on the matter, titled Menopausing, said the brain fog she experienced during peri-menopause led her to make a mistake in her job.

Leggy: The star looked incredible as she relaxed with some paddleboarding

Sights: Davina showed off her toned frame as she relaxed in the sun

Bubbles: The star made time for a relaxing bath during her break

She revealed that during a particularly vulnerable moment, she burst into tears, thinking she was suffering from 'a brain tumour or Alzheimer's or something'.

'During peri-menopause, the hormones go up and down and up and down, so you think you're going completely mad,' Davina said.

'I felt it aged me, I felt it would make me irrelevant, I felt embarrassed because I'd always felt at the top of my game'.

Pretty: Elsewhere on Tuesday, Davina put on a very chic display in a pinl boucle top as she arrived at the ITN studios in London

Summery: She paired the pretty top with some light wash cropped skinny jeans

'I'd been in television at that point for 20 years, I really knew what I was doing, I was extremely proud of my kind of list-making and my logistical practicality and the fact that I could multitask,' she said.

But Davina revealed her skills were hindered by menopause as she recalled making a mistake on TV.

'Somebody asked me if I was okay because I messed up on a TV programme, and I said yes, and when she shut the door and went away, I just burst into tears,' she told Sophie.

Honest: This comes after the brunette beauty recently opened up about how her severe menopause symptoms left her feeling like she had a 'brain tumour or Alzheimer's'

'Because I thought "I'm not okay, I think I got a brain tumour, or I got Alzheimer's or something, help me",' the presenter added.

Writing for the Mail on Sunday today, Davina spoke more of her symptoms as she discussed the ongoing shortage of HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy - which women use to manage their menopause symptoms.

'I started with symptoms around ten years ago after suffering brain fog and anxiety to the extent I thought I was losing my mind,' she said.

'In my mid-40s, I was considered by my doctor to be too young to be menopausal, so I took the decision to consult a gynaecologist,' she added.
Selena Gomez has spoken out on being 'sexualised' during her music career.

Speaking during a roundtable for The Hollywood Reporter, which also included Amy Schumer, Tracee Ellis Ross and Quinta Bruson, the star, 29, was asked about her decision to 'reject' the image the industry projected on her.

The multi-talented star, who currently features in the smash hit comedy series Only Murders In The Building, explained she felt 'really ashamed' after posing nude for an album cover seven years ago.

Moving on: Selena Gomez has explained she felt 'really ashamed' after posing nude for an album cover in 2015, insisting 'I'm not an overly sexual person'

Amy Schumer, who stars alongside Selena in the upcoming second season of Only Murders In The Building, asked her co-star what her experience was like growing up in the spotlight.

'Someone like Selena who was sexualised at such a young age... but you really have rejected that and found your own style and presence. It takes a lot to decide to go in that direction,' Amy told her.

'I did an album cover and I was really ashamed after I did it,' Selena explained in reply, referencing her second studio album Revival released in 2015.

Her own direction: Speaking during a roundtable for The Hollywood Reporter, the star, 29, was asked about her decision to 'reject' the image the industry projected on her

'I had to work through those feelings because I realised it was attached to something deeper that was going on.'

'It was a choice that I wasn't necessarily happy that I made but I think I've done my best at least, I've tried to be myself. And myself is, I'm not an overly sexual person, sometimes I like to feel sexy but that doesn't mean it's for somebody else, it's for me.'

During the candid conversation, Selena was also asked if her 'old Disney persona factors into the decisions you make at this point in your career?'

Iconic: The roundtable conversation featured Selena alongside (L-R) Quinta Brunson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Bridget Everett, Amy Schumer and Molly Shannon

'I think Ive done a pretty good job of removing myself from that because Im pretty honest about my imperfections,' she mused.

'But I took control of the narrative of my life once I started becoming older because, growing up, I didnt really have a choice.'

'Now I understand that there are certain boundaries that I need to set for myself, and I respect and adore so many people, but Ive got to do whats best for me.'

Selena has developed a close friendship with Amy after the comedy legend was invited to guest star in the second series of Selena's show Only Murders.

Screen star: The multi-talented star, who currently features in the smash hit comedy series Only Murders In The Building explained she felt 'really ashamed' after posing nude

The series follows Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), a former TV drama series star, Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), a struggling Broadway director, and Mabel Mora (Gomez), a young woman renovating an apartment in their building, The Arconia.

The first season followed this unlikely trio, who discover they're all true crime superfans... and put their passion to the test when someone is murdered in their building.

The second season features a long line of big star names including Amy, Tina Fey and Cara Delevingne.
China's Zhengzhou-Chongqing high-speed railway enters service

CGTN) 14:50, June 21, 2022

A bullet train departed from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality bound for Beijing via central China's Henan Province on Monday, marking the start of full operation for the Zhengzhou-Chongqing high-speed railway (HSR). The G52 Fuxing bullet train carrying more than 500 passengers left from Chongqingbei Railway Station.

With a total length of 1,068 kilometers, the new HSR line links Chongqing and Zhengzhou via central China's Hubei Province. It is an important component of China's eight vertical and eight horizontal HSR network.

The line shortens travel time from around eight hours to four hours and 23 minutes at top speed. Large parts of the Three Gorges Dam region are now connected to an HSR network for the first time.

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji)
Unification Minister Kwon Young-se speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. Newsis



Unification Minister Kwon Young-se said Tuesday he is ready to meet North Korea's new point man handling inter-Korean affairs at "any time in any format" to discuss pending issues on the Korean Peninsula.



Kwon extended the overture during his first press conference since taking office last month, citing the recent appointment of Ri Son-gwon, the North's former foreign minister, as the head of the United Front Department (UFD) in charge of cross-border relations. Choe Son-hui was promoted to the post of foreign minister, replacing Ri, in a reshuffle Pyongyang announced on June 11 following a key Workers' Party meeting.



"I will try harder to shift the currently chilled inter-Korean ties into a phase of dialogue," Kwon said. "As unification minister, I am willing to meet with the head of UFD, Ri Son-gwon, any time in any format."



If realized, the two sides could discuss a broad range of issues from the nuclear issue to talks on cooperation on healthcare, a senior ministry official said later on condition of anonymity.



"Some observers say that the appointment of Ri Son-gwon and Choe Son-hui, known for their hard-line stance (on Seoul and Washington), could mean a further chill in relations. But as they have experience leading negotiations with the U.S. and South Korea, a completely different picture is also possible," he said.



The official, however, stressed that Kwon's remarks do not necessarily suggest that he is making an "official" offer of dialogue to the North.



"We're not even saying whether it's official or not," he said. "We're just saying that let's meet first to discuss any issue related to the two Koreas."



On the odds of the North carrying out another nuclear test, Kwon said Pyongyang appears to be "physically ready" and is waiting for a last-minute "political decision" to do so. He was responding to news reports that the North has completed preparations at its northeastern testing site in Punggye-ri.



The minister added that he thinks the nuclear testing could be carried out "all of a sudden" or it may go even "further past March next year."



The South Korean government is reviewing an option of imposing its own sanctions on the North in case of its nuclear testing, Kwon said. (Yonhap)


She's been basking in the Spanish sunshine with boyfriend Thom Evans.

And on Tuesday morning, Nicole Scherzinger took to Instagram where she posted a slew of sundrenched photographs of herself posing in a plunging bikini while enjoying a boat day to Formentera.

The Pussycat Dolls frontwoman, 43, showed off her sensational physique in the skimpy blue two-piece swimwear set, which she teamed with a slinky pareo.

Sizzling: On Tuesday morning, Nicole Scherzinger, 43, took to Instagram where she posted snaps of herself posing in a plunging bikini while enjoying a boat day to Formentera

Nicole paraded her ample cleavage in the pretty bikini set, which boasted a delicate pattern and lace-up detailing at the back.

Showing off her swimwear style, the pop star opted to drape a cover up around her waist and further accessorised with drop-pearl earrings and oversized shades.

As well as her thirst-trap snaps, Nicole included a selfie with ex-sports star boyfriend Thom Evans and another busty shot of herself with a female friend.

The brunette beauty also uploaded a photograph of herself petting a dog, while at Cotton Beach Club, dressed in a pretty yellow Merete dress from the Cotton Lifestyle Store.

Wow! The Pussycat Dolls frontwoman showed off her sensational physique in the skimpy blue two-piece swimwear set, which she teamed with a slinky pareo

Gorgeous: Nicole paraded her ample cleavage in the pretty bikini set, which boasted a delicate pattern and lace-up detailing at the back

Nicole has been travelling the world with her boyfriend Thom since they started dating more than two years ago.

Nicole and former international rugby player Thom made their romance red carpet official in January 2020 when they attended a Golden Globes Award after-party together in Beverly Hills, California.

The pair first met in October 2019 when Thom became a contestant on The X Factor: Celebrity while she served as a judge.

Loved-up: As well as her thirst-trap snaps, Nicole included a selfie with ex-sports star boyfriend Thom Evans

Fun times: The pop star also shared another busty shot of herself with a female friend

At the end of last year, Thom opened up about their relationship for the first time as he admitted he's 'massively punching above my weight!'

The former rugby player gushed to The Sun: 'I've hit the jackpot. Nobody is asking Nicole how she got with me because I'm massively punching (above my weight). She's so easy and fun to be around. I've hit the jackpot.'

Opening up about how he feels about his girlfriend, the sportsman, who has dated the likes of Kelly Brook and Caggie Dunlop, told how he thinks he's found the one after never having experienced that feelings before.

Thom said: 'People always say, 'When you know, you know' and I can honestly say I'd never really had that moment. But within the first couple of days with Nicole it was just awesome and it has been awesome ever since.'
Monday's episode of Love Island had fans on the edge of their seats with a cliffhanger dumping - as a public vote left three girls and three boys vulnerable.

And while viewers were dying to know more, they were also left amused by the choice of Davide Sanclimenti being the one to tell former flame Ekin-Su Culculoglu that she was at risk.

Dubbing the ITV2 producers 'savage', fans flocked to social media to share a slew of memes over the moment.

Savage: Love Island fans were left amused as Davide was chosen to tell Ekin-Su she is one of the least voted girls by the public during Monday evening's episode

The bottom six islanders were revealed via text, with another islander being texted a name to read out each time.

And as fans watched Davide read Ekin-Su's name, they branded the show 'wicked', claiming the producers 'need a raise'.

'Lol not Davide reading Ekin-Su's name lol he had to hide his smirk petty b**ch,' wrote one fan.

Chopping block: Ekin-Su was left vulnerable as she was revealed as one of the three girls with the fewest votes from the public

Got a text! And Davide was the one with the task of reading out her name, as he received the all-telling text

While another viewer quipped: 'The producers are wicked for making Davide say Ekin-Su', and one said 'they gave Davide so much pleasure'.

The decision comes after a string of explosive arguments between Ekin-Su and Davide, as the pair's relationship ended on rocky terms.

And they weren't the only exes to share an awkward moment during the firepit tension - as Indiyah Polack was the one to read out Ikenna Ekwonna's place in the least voted group.

Tweet storm: Dubbing the producers 'savage', fans flocked to social media to share a slew of memes over the moment

It came just hours after the pair decided to end their relationship and just be friends, with the text awkwardly coming as the final nail in the coffin.

Alongside Ekin-Su and Ikenna, Andrew Le Page, Tasha Ghouri, Amber Beckford, and Jay Younger all face elimination in Tuesday's episode.

The final decision is down to the public, with the boy and girl who received the least amount of votes being dumped.
Simon Pegg, Minnie Driver and Paul Kaye got into character as filming on new comedy Nandor Fodor And The Talking Mongoose continued on Monday.

The upcoming film sees Simon, 52, play para-psychologist Nandor Fodor, who is sent to investigate strange occurrences on the Isle of Man, with the star donning a black fedora and trench coat as he sat in a field in the Yorkshire Dales.

Minnie, 52, who plays his plucky assistant Anne, wore a 1920s-inspired ensemble of a red top and black slacks, with her bob worn in tight curls.

Cast: Simon Pegg (centre bottom), Minnie Driver (left) and Paul Kaye (seated right) got into character as filming on new comedy Nandor Fodor And The Talking Mongoose continued on Monday

League Gentleman star Paul, 57, who plays Maurice, wore a slate coat, flat cap and sported a bushy beard as the team chatted between takes.

The film, directed by Adam Sigal, is based on true events and follows Simon as the Hungarian-American psychoanalyst on his search to discover a talking Mongoose named Gef.

Fellow co-stars also include Gary Beadle and Tim Downie.

Group: The upcoming film sees Simon, 52, play para-psychologist Nandor Fodor, who is sent to investigate strange occurrences on the Isle of Man, with the star donning a black fedora and trench coat as he sat in a field in the Yorkshire Dales

This comes after Minnie recently spoke out about her 'complex' feelings surrounding the #MeToo movement, admitting that while it was 'satisfying' to see many female colleagues receiving justice, she also struggled watching 'disingenuous' women discuss their experience.

The movement went viral in 2017 following numerous sexual-abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein, with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lawrence and Uma Thurman leading a number of high profile stars discussing their experiences.

And the actress waded into the debate as she spoke about the movement on How To Fail with Elizabeth Day.

She recalled: 'God, it was so satisfying. It was so amazing. It was just so amazing to finally feel all these women like a lot of whose stories I already knew, because you talk in the business, everybody knew everybody knew who not to be left alone in a room with.

'Everybody knew to hear those publicly, to see them not being shouted down, to see these women going 'Oh, my goodness, we can stand together. And if we stand together, then our voices are stronger.' It was so satisfying

'And then I've got to say the other part of that was the kind of astonishment that women that I knew were being super disingenuous about their involvement, women who had been completely complicit and wanted to get ahead by doing certain things, who were then suddenly standing up saying 'yes, yes, it was awful. It was awful'.

'I realised just, in a way that was another expression of the abuse of everybody, was that wanting to co-op the idea of being a victim later on having been completely fine with doing certain things is also being a victim of those things. So it was really complex.'

Minnie did not specify who she was referring to.
Jessica Chastain looked chic as she joined her George & Tammy co-star Michael Shannon on an open-top bus in London for the latest Paramount+ promo event on Tuesday.

The acclaimed actress, 45, and her dashing leading man, 47, looked in great spirits as they rode the London bus, ahead of unveiling a Walk of Fame dedicated to stars of the streaming service launching in the UK.

Jessica wowed in a black bow detail dress with white roses on the collar, paired with black stiletto heels.

Wow: Jessica Chastain looked chic as she joined her George & Tammy co-star Michael Shannon on an open-top bus in London for the latest Paramount+ promo event on Tuesday

Her locks were worn in soft wave and she sported a radiant palette of make-up, while Michael donned a striped shirt and slacks.

George & Tammy, will tell the story of Stand By Your Man songstress Wynette's marriage to fellow country great George Jones.

George & Tammy is based off the book The Three Of Us: Growing Up With Tammy And George written by the couple's daughter Georgette Jones.

Co-stars: The acclaimed actress, 45, and her dashing leading man, 47, looked in great spirits as they also visited BAFTA headquarters

Fun: Jessica and Michael joined (L-R) Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Kevin Costner

It will follow the couple's tumultuous six year marriage, which inspired some of country music's greatest songs about heartbreak, including duets We're Gonna Hold On, Golden Ring and Near You. They were wed from 1969 to 1975.

Tammy's song Stand By Your Man is one of the best selling country singles by a female artist, cementing her title as the First Lady Of Country Music. Wynette passed away in 1998, with 20 number one songs to her name.

It is set to premiere on Spectrum Originals, Paramount Network and Paramount+.

Executive producers include series writer Abe Sylvia, Andrew Lazar, Josh Brolin, and Chastain herself.

Pose: The Hollywood stars looked incredible as they stepped out

Drama: George & Tammy, will tell the story of Stand By Your Man songstress Wynette's marriage to fellow country great George Jones

David Glasser, David Hutkin and Bob Yari are executive producers from 101 Studios along with writer and executive producer Bryan Goluboff.

Katherine Pope, head of Spectrum Originals, said: 'I first read Abe's feature script a few years ago and couldn't get it out of my head  the examination of human frailty and redemption was so unexpected, given the glitz and glamour of the subject matter.'

'We all thought we knew who Tammy Wynette was, but there is so much more to her that we never saw. Jessica brings her incredible depth of intelligence, empathy and strength to peel back all the layers of this country superstar.

'It's an honor to work with this dream team  all the producers and our partners at 101 Studios and Paramount Network  we can't wait to bring this incredible series to our viewers.'
13 Reasons Why star Tommy Dorfman shared a gallery of snaps of herself while on holiday in Italy to Instagram on Monday.

The 30-year-old wore a red bikini as she posed for a variety of snaps while enjoying an adventurous day kayaking.

Showing off a giant inking on the side of her body, she leaned back in her boat while enjoying the sunshine.

13 Reasons Why... star Tommy Dorfman wore a red bikini to go kayaking on an adventurous holiday to Italy - sharing the snaps on Instagram on Monday

Having a laugh: She appeared to be having a great time as she topped up her vitamin D levels

Another snap showed her drinking a non-alcoholic cocktail while larking around by putting two slices of orange in her mouth.

And finally, one image her balancing a half-eaten peach in between her legs before sucking on a plum.

She had a big smile on her face for her impromptu photoshoot as she sat wearing sporty sandals.

Making memories: Showing off a giant inking on the side of her body, she leaned back in her boat while enjoying the sunshine

In February, Tommy and her husband Peter Zurkuhlen officially called it quits after five years of marriage, months after the star came out as a trans woman.

In new court documents, obtained by TMZ Founder & CEO of ChipChop Holdings filed for divorce in Los Angeles.

The former couple met at a housewarming party hosted by a mutual friend, became engaged in April 2015 and wed the following year.

Feeling fruity: Another snap showed her drinking a non-alcoholic cocktail while larking around by putting two slices of orange in her mouth

Getting some vits in: She sucked on a plum while enjoying a healthy day

Posing up a storm: She was clearly feeling very confident as she showed off her body in various poses

In July, when Tommy came out as transgender, she also revealed that her relationship with Zurkuhlen had evolved into a friendship.

'I was in a nine-year relationship in which I was thought of as a more male-bodied person, with a gay man,' she explained in an interview with Time.

'I love him so much, but we've been learning that as a trans woman, what I'm interested in is not necessarily reflected in a gay man. So we've had incredible conversations to redefine our relationship as friends.'

Oar-some time: She wore sandals as she relaxed by the edge of the water

Everything is just peachy: She balanced a piece of fruit in between her legs for some light-hearted snaps
Daisy Edgar Jones earned worldwide fame, not to mentions plaudits and gongs for her first lead role as Marianne in the TV take on Sally Rooney's Normal People.

But the actress, 24, has admitted any amount of fame or award show glory won't stop her worse critic - herself.

Speaking to GQ as part of its Heroes issue, the British actress said she's plagued with self-doubt, but it won't stop her ambitions to follow in her heroes footsteps.

Fame: Daisy Edgar Jones earned worldwide fame for Normal People but the actress, 24, has admitted any amount of fame or award show glory won't stop her worse critic - herself

Daisy will be seen on screen next in another major novel adaptation - Olivia Newman's film of Delia Owens' book Where the Crawdads Sing.

She is also starring in the small screen horror Fresh opposite Stan Sebastian, currently streaming on Disney +. The high profile roles haven't eased Daisy's self-doubt as she explains to GQ:

'I'm just really self-critical, and it's boring! I'm trying not to be that way. When do you get to the stage of just being like, 'It is what it is'? When do you get to that point?''

Talented: Speaking to GQ as part of its Heroes issue, the British actress said she's plagued with self-doubt (pictured in Normal People with Paul Mescal)

'I don't know some people just seem to be able to do that. I'm a very needy actor, I think.' Her worry, she explains, is, 'letting people down. Being the reason something is bad. Or just not doing my best.'

'When you're an actor, you want to act in a really brave way, free of worry about that. The trick is not worrying  which I find so hard  if people like you or not. You're always, always looking for the bad comment. We're just wired that way.'

Even when she does get concrete evidence of her talent, in the form of an award nomination for instance, she still suffers internally.

Daisy explained she was on set for the first day of shooting for Fresh when she found out she had been nominated for a Golden Globe for Normal People.

The nomination led to an outburst of nerves, and Daisy ended up fluffing her lines during her first scene. That night she went home and wrote a diary entry, which read: 'Today was my first day on Fresh and I got nominated for a Golden Globe. What the actual f*ck?'

One to watch: She is also starring in the small screen horror thriller Fresh opposite Stan Sebastian, currently streaming on Disney +

'Filming was actually quite stressful, and I found it scary doing my accent. When I got home, there was no one to hug.'

While she forces herself to watch back her performances and admits she is particularly proud of the work she did in Normal People, Daisy admits 'I don't love watching myself at all.'

She is hopeful that she can follow in the footsteps of her heroes, and branch out into directing.

'When I see Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Greta Gerwig and Olivia Wilde  all of these brilliant actors who are able to cross over, I feel like maybe I could cross over into different sides of storytelling too, which is cool.'

Ambitions: She is hopeful that she can follow in the footsteps of her heroes, and branch out into directing. 'When I see Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Greta Gerwig and Olivia Wilde  all of these brilliant actors who are able to cross over, I feel like maybe I could cross over

Read the full interview in GQ - on sale now

In the meantime she is busy promoting her two new projects. Fresh, which is now streaming now on Disney +, sees Daisy play Noa who, frustrated with dating apps and awful dates, decides to take a chance on Steve, played by Sebastian.

Their romance is put to the test when it revealed that Noa's new man has some very particular appetites.

And then there's her lead role as Kya in the big-screen adaptation of the smash hit novel Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

The coming-of-age story set in North Carolina in the 1950s and 60s follows Kya, an abandoned 'marsh girl' who seeks solace in nature.

The July/ August issue of British GQ is available via digital download and on newsstands on 28th June.

Daisy Edgar-Jones will be speaking at the GQ Heroes conference in association with BMW, taking place at Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire from the 13th-15th July.

Daisy Edgar-Jones stars in Normal People - available to stream now only on Stan in Australia.
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark paid a special visit to a hospital on Monday.

The 50-year-old stunned in a cream dress as she toured Leiden University Medical Centre in The Netherlands.

Mary beamed as she waved to onlookers as she strode towards the venue, showcasing her classy fashion sense.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (pictured) paid a special visit to a hospital on Monday

She opted for a vintage style frock with a structured top and flared skirt, which was belted at the waist.

The royal added a pair of trendy animal print heels with a pointed design and a towering stiletto.

Mary wore a smattering of fine accessories, including gold bracelets and pearl drop earrings.

The 50-year-old stunned in a cream dress as she toured Leiden University Medical Centre in The Netherlands

Mary strode towards the venue, showcasing her classy fashion sense

She opted for a vintage style frock with a structured top and flared skirt, which was belted at the waist

She carried in her hands a bouquet of bright followers, as well as a beige purse slung over her wrist

She carried in her hands a bouquet of bright followers, as well as a beige purse slung over her wrist.

For makeup, Mary chose a clean, porcelain look with soft blush and a matte plum lipstick.

Her brunette hair was worn in a half-up do, with portions tucked behind her wears and loose tendrils around her face.

The royal added a pair of trendy animal print heels with a pointed design and a towering stiletto

Mary had on a smattering of fine accessories, including gold bracelets and pearl drop earrings

For makeup, Mary chose a clean, porcelain look with soft blush and a matte plum lipstick

Her brunette hair was worn in a half-up do, with portions tucked behind her wears and loose tendrils around her face

Once inside the hospital, Mary was shown around by officials, as well as spending time with a young boy, with the pair playing pool together.

Mary - born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson - is one of the most respected women on the international scene.

She famously met her husband Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark by chance at Sydney pub the Slip Inn during the 2000 Olympics.

Once inside the hospital she spent time with a young boy who showed her a fish tank

The new friends took in a quick game of pool together

The Princess appeared to be having a great time despite the official nature of the visit

She also met with families at the hospital in a play area

After their encounter, Fred - who was in Australia to support Denmark's Olympic sailing team - asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed.

'The first time we met we shook hands. I didn't know he was the prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, "Do you know who these people are"?' Mary revealed in an interview about meeting the heir to the Danish throne.

They maintained a long-distance relationship for a year, with Frederik making secret trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark to study Danish language at Copenhagen's Studieskolen in 2001.

Mary stopped to admire a bright decorative bird statuette in the hallway

Mary was shown around by doctors and officials but the little boy seemed to win her heart

She was charmed by a decorative display on a tree in one area of the facility

In early 2003, Frederik's mother Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged the relationship and the couple announced their engagement at Amalienborg Castle later that year on October 8.

Frederik and Mary married on May 14, 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral, with the newly minted Crown Princess opting for a beautiful gown by Danish designer Uffer Frank and a veil first used by Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden in 1905.

Their first child, Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John, was born October 15, 2005; Princess Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe followed on April 21, 2007.

Almost four years later Mary and Frederik welcomed twins, Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda and Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen on January 8, 2011.
Filming has begun on chilling Channel 5 mini-series, Maxine, documenting the Soham murders investigation through the eyes of killer Ian Huntley's fiancee Maxine Carr.

Actress Jemma Carlton looked eerily similar to former teaching assistant Carr as she filmed scenes in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland on Tuesday - 20 years after the murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both aged 10.

The disappearance of the schoolgirls after a family barbecue in August 2002 sparked Britain's biggest-ever missing persons' enquiry - but came to a tragic end when their bodies were found dumped in a remote ditch.

School caretaker Huntley - then 28 - had lured the girls to his house and murdered them before dumping their bodies and burning their clothes.

Haunting: Filming began on chilling Channel 5 mini-series, Maxine, documenting the Soham Murders investigation through the eyes of killer Ian Huntley's fiancee Maxine Carr

His then-fiancee Carr who provided him with a false alibi - but was in Grimsby visiting her mother at the time of the murders - was jailed for perverting the course of justice but released in 2004 with a new identity.

She was dubbed 'The Most Hated Woman In Britain' following the trial , which saw Huntley admit to killing the children, but claiming their deaths were accidental.

Scenes for the new drama showed Carr meeting with a journalist who has tracked her down.

Actress Jemma is seen with her bobbed hair in a scruffy updo and wearing a green jacket and jeans as she scowls at a male actor on the seafront.

Notorious: Actress Jemma Carlton looked eerily similar to former teaching assistant Carr (pictured R in 2002) as she filmed scenes in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland on Tuesday

Final photo: Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were murdered by Ian Huntley on August 4 2002 (pictured two hours before their disappearance)

Murderer: Huntley had lured the girls to his house and murdered them before dumping their bodies in a remote ditch. He was a caretaker at the local Soham Village College and was arrested after the girls' bodies were discovered 13 days later

Channel 5 said in a statement about the drama: 'Maxine will examine the investigation of school assistant Maxine Carr and her caretaker fiance Ian Huntley, who was later imprisoned for the double murder of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, the tragic case that shocked the nation

'The three-part drama will explore their tumultuous relationship through Maxine's perspective; why she lied for him and how she became public enemy No.1, as well as reflect the scale of the police investigation and subsequent media frenzy around the biggest manhunt ever seen in British history.'

Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer UK, at Paramount, said: 'The series marks a new venture into the true crime genre for Channel 5 drama and will give viewers an in depth examination of Maxine Carr and her role in one of the most notorious crimes in recent British history.'

Mike Benson, Managing Director at Clapperboard added: 'Few crimes have embedded themselves in the national psyche more than the tragic events of Soham in 2002. It was a case which was unique in recent history in terms of the sheer scale of the media coverage and how this affected and nearly derailed the investigation and subsequent trial. We will explore this within the drama alongside the role played by Maxine Carr  dubbed 'The Most Hated Woman in Britain.'

Maxine will be produced by Clapperboard, Chalkboards scripted sister company and is set to air in 2022.

Confronted: Scenes for the new drama showed Carr meeting with a journalist who has tracked her down

The series was ordered by Cardwell and Paul Testar, Commissioning Executive, Drama.

Mike Benson and Julie Ryan are executive producers on the series. Laura Way (The Holiday, Blood) joins the team as director, whilst Simon Tyrrell (The Spanish Princess) serves as the writer. Abacus Media Rights are on board as international distributor for the series.

Huntley was found guilty of killing both girls at his 2004 trial and later sentenced to two life terms, with a minimum 40-year tariff at the maximum security Frankland prison in Durham.

He was a caretaker at the local Soham Village College and was arrested after the girls' bodies were discovered 13 days after their disappearance.

During a two-week appeal to find the girls, Huntley gave TV interviews and joined in searches while his then-girlfriend Carr gave him a false alibi.

He was jailed for life in 2005.

During his trial, he said that he had 'killed the girls accidentally' but later admitted the killing in leaked tapes from prison.

Actor: A man playing the journalist was seen clutching a notepad during the dramatic scene

In a 2018 tape he said: I know the people of Soham took me into their community, they trusted me, gave me a job and a home, and I betrayed them in the worst possible way.

And I am sorry for what I have done, sorry for the pain I have caused to the families and friends of Holly and Jessica, for the pain I have caused my family and friends, and for the pain I have caused the community of Soham.

I am genuinely, genuinely sorry and it breaks my heart when it is reported I have no remorse, that I relish something. I do not.

He added: I cant change anything. I cannot remove that day from history, what I have done. I know those girls would be 26 this year with families of their own, jobs and lives. I thought about them when they were turning 21 and when they were turning 18. I know no matter what I say that people are not going to think any better of me  but I would much rather people have the truth about how I feel. I have nothing to gain by saying these things.

I know I am never getting out. I have accepted that from day one.

Huntley said he does not want to be freed from prison and insisted he will not apply for parole out of consideration for his victims families.

A recent Channel 5 documentary - Soham: The Murder of Holly & Jessica - saw Sharon Gilbert, a former Special Constable with Cambridgeshire Police, reveal how Ian approached her and asked 'how long does DNA evidence last?' before joking about killing her just days before he was arrested for the murders.

Sharon said: 'The atmosphere in Soham was very solemn, there wasn't very many people walking around, there were lots of police vehicles all over the place, lots of press parked at the end of the street

'Every window in town had a picture of the girls in the Manchester United tops - with the press rewards.

'On Wednesday afternoon we were tasked to go to Soham college, and Ian Huntley approached the vehicle and lounged over the hinge section of the door

'He was very relaxed in his talking, he wasn't nervous in any way shape or form

'Normally when you're sat in a police vehicle and someone comes up to talk to you they ask you about the equipment, the lights, anything else that's visible. He didn't want to know any of that

'Quite early in the conversation he said to me "how long said does DNA evidence last?"

'I said "indefinitely, they've used it on the Russian tsar family and woolly mammoths I believe"

'Everything about him made me feel uneasy, he had very strange eyes, like he's looking at your but through you, like your not there

'At one point he said the school was locked up, he'd locked it, but he wasn't sure if it would stay locked because the previous caretaker had left in dubious circumstances and had a second set of keys and it was a possibility he'd been in and out.

'But before he said that he told everyone "if I told you that I'd have to kill you"

'I spoke to the sergeant and he said straight away it was a missing person's enquiry and should I feel strongly about it to phone the inquiry line with my concerns.

'As soon as I got home I phoned the enquiry line, I wanted them to know that he was a person that they needed to have interest in, and it was serious.

'He'd done something that he was covering up with the way he was talking, and they needed to be interested in him.'

A few days later, Sharon woke up to the news Huntley and Carr had been arrested.

Tragedy: Police found the girls' burned Manchester United shirts in a bin at Soham College where Huntley worked

'I ran downstairs and phoned the enquiry line again. I said you need to listen to the phone call I made on Wednesday.

'I'm a member of Hampshire constabulary and I came to Soham and spoke to Ian Huntley and the conversation I had with him would be of interest to you.

'When they came and took my statement, one of the officers was sat at my table and every now and again I would say something and he'd go into the hall.

'I think they were using what was going in my statement to question him'.

The documentary also spoke to reporters who were on the story at the time - including Brian Farmer, a reporter at the Press Association who found Huntley suspicious.

'The police issued a timeline of sightings, and they said Ian Huntley had seen the girls - although they didn't say he was the last person to see the girls,' he explained.

'I went to the house and I explained I just wanted to chat and get a few details, and they were quite reluctant.

'I remember asking Maxine whether at school they'd done stranger danger and if they'd be told to not get into car and she said they had

'I asked her from your knowledge of Holly and Jessica how would they react if someone said "get in the car"

'Before she had the chance to answer, Ian answered and said "Holly would probably get in and be quiet but Jessica would fight and be mad"

'That's when I thought something wasn't right, so I started to ask him more about the girls. He said he and Maxine had been out for a walk with their dog and he had got wet - he had got a hose out with soap and that's when the girls came along.

'They asked how Miss Carr [a teaching assistant at their school] was - I asked four or five times what they said

'And what baffled me was "why didn't they mention the dog" any child would be taken by the dog.

'He was describing a conversation an adult would have - not two 10 year old girls, I was wondering, why wasn't he telling the truth?'.

Huntley had been given an alibi by his girlfriend Maxine Carr - but it was later revealed she was in Grimsby visiting her mother.

Sky News presenter Jeremy Thompson also spoke to the programme, revealing how he interviewed Carr and was struck by how she was talking about Holly and Jessica in past tense.

Sickening: Huntley was found guilty of killing both girls and later sentenced to two life terms, with a minimum 40-year tariff at the maximum security Frankland prison in Durham (pictured 2002)

Murder in Soham: the brutal 2002 killing of 10-year-old best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman that shocked a nation

By Matthew Lodge for MailOnline

The disappearance and murders of best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman shocked the nation.

The ten-year-old girls, who both lived in Soham, Cambridgeshire, had been at a family barbecue on August 4, 2002, when they left to walk to a nearby sweet shop.

When the girls, who were dressed in replica Manchester United football shirts, did not return home in time for Holly's 8.30pm curfew her parents rang the Chapman's, who were themselves concerned about their daughter's whereabouts.

After searching the streets for an hour, both girl's parents reported them missing at 9.55pm, sparking a frantic search operation.

More than 400 police officers given the task of finding the girls, helped by kind-hearted locals and some members of the US Air Force from nearby airbases.

Hundreds of police officers and kind-hearted locals tried to find Holly Wells (left) and Jessica Chapman (right) after they disappeared

Police questioned every registered sex offender in Cambridgeshire and neighbouring Lincolnshire as they grew concerned the girls had been kidnapped.

Huntley, a caretaker at a local school, told police he had spoken to the girls immediately before they disappeared, raising the suspicions of officers.

However, his girlfriend Maxine Carr provided an alibi, saying she had been with him on the night Holly and Jessica had gone missing.

On August 17, nearly two weeks after the girls disappeared, their bodies were found in irrigation ditch near to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.

As police investigated and confirmed the identity of the girls, their gaze turned back onto Huntley, who had spoken to the press and given TV interviews while Holly and Jessica were missing.

He was arrested on suspicion of their murders the same day, and while he proved evasive in police interviews, Carr quickly admitted to lying to the police when saying she was with him on August 4.

Crime: Huntley (left) had been given an alibi by his girlfriend Carr (right) - but it was later revealed she was in Grimsby visiting her mother.

He was charged with their murders but refused to plead guilty, subjecting Holly and Jessica's families to a full court hearing.

Carr pleaded guilty to a charge of perverting the course of justice, but not guilty to assisting an offender.

In the trial he claimed he had accidentally knocked Holly into the bath while trying to help her staunch a nosebleed, causing her to drown, and he had then panicked and suffocated Jessica to stop her screaming.

During the trial Carr turned on Huntley, describing him as that thing in the box as he sat in the dock at the Old Bailey.

A jury deliberated for four days before finding Huntley guilty of both murders, while clearing Carr of assisting an offender.

He was later sentenced to two life terms, with a minimum 40-year tariff at the maximum security Frankland prison in Durham.

Carr was jailed for giving a false alibi after claiming she had been at home with Huntley on the night the girls had disappeared.

She was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, and upon her release in 2004 was given a new identity and lifelong anonymity.
Jennifer Lopez let her fans see what she looks like before and after her makeup artist worked some magic.

On Monday evening the 52-year-old actress appeared in a video with no makeup on and her hair pulled back as she talked up her new JLo Beauty product called That Overnight Hustle which she coined a 'facial in a bottle.'

And the fiancee of Ben Affleck also posted several images after she had been in the makeup chair for hours.

The change: Jennifer Lopez let her fans see what she looks like before and after her makeup artist works his magic

New: On Monday evening the 52-year-old actress appeared in a video with no makeup on and her hair pulled back as she talked up her new JLo Beauty product called That Overnight Hustle which she called a 'facial in a bottle'

The difference was massive.

With no makeup on she showed off her natural beauty with her features not yet highlighted. She had on a white towel tied around her chest and was saying her new resurfacing product worked 'miracles at night.'

The star had on not a bit of makeup as she rubbed on the new cream while in a bathroom.

And in the after photos Lopez looked more made up than ever with heavy eye makeup, long lashes, deep bronzer making her look like she sunbathed in Mexico, and overlined lips that gave her a big pout.

New glam: And the fiancee of Ben Affleck also posted several images after she had been in the makeup chair for hours

Clean: The difference was massive. With no makeup on she looked pale with her features not highlighted

Lopez relies heavily on makeup and wigs to get her glam look for the stage and screen.

But she is also not afraid to strip off all the glam to show her fans what she really looks like underneath it all.

Going makeup free also helps sell her skincare line JLo Beauty which she released last year.

So fresh: She had on a towel around her chest and was saying her new resurfacing product worked miracles at night

Fearless: Lopez relies heavily on makeup and wigs to get her glam look for the stage and screen. But she is also not afraid to strip off all the glam to show her fans what she really looks like underneath it all

She wants to sell her creams: Going makeup free also helps sell her skincare line JLo Beauty which she released last year

These posts come just as the star is about to promote her two new projects.

One is The Mother, which is about helping the daughter she gave up. The Netflix synopsis reads, 'While fleeing from dangerous assailants, an assassin comes out of hiding to protect her daughter she left earlier in life.'

And she is starring in Shotgun Wedding, an action film with Josh Duhamel.

The Bronx native is also reportedly in pre production on the film The Godmother about drug lord Griselda Blanco, a real life person that Catherine Zeta-Jones already played.

Lopez will focus on her personal life too as she plans her wedding to fiance Ben Affleck, whom she got back together with last year after a 2002 engagement.
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Kim Kardashian has revealed she has lost even more weight after overhauling her lifestyle to fit into Marilyn Monroe's dress for the Met Gala.

The 41-year-old, who had lost 16 pounds to fit into the iconic frock in May, revealed she has since lost five more pounds, bringing her total weight loss to 21 pounds.

The reality star spilled on her lifestyle changes during a wide-ranging interview on the Today Show on Tuesday, where she also chatted about her boyfriend Pete Davidson and her relationship with her ex husband Kanye West.

The latest: Kim Kardashian has revealed she has lost even more weight after overhauling her lifestyle to fit into Marilyn Monroe's dress for the Met Gala

Hosts Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie brought up the Marilyn Monroe dress Kim wore to the Met Gala last month, which has since stirred up controversy after it was alleged she may have damaged the historic frock, which was custom made for the late movie star in 1962.

Hoda brought up the controversy about the dress, 'We keep seeing stuff like the dress is ruined the dress is this... all of that is not true...?'

'No. And I mean Ripley's... we worked together so well. There was handlers and gloves that put it on me...' Kim said.

Savannah added: 'Ripley's has said the dress wasn't damaged. By the way you had to lose 16 pounds to fit into the dress.'

Iconic: Kim Kardashian transformed into Marilyn Monroe for the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in May; as she arrived in the late star's $5 million gown she wore in 1962 (right) to wish President John F. Kennedy a happy birthday

Kardashian, 41, recently started to face severe backlash after she was accused of ripping the garment. The strap is pictured before (left) and after (right) she wore it

Striking: The 41-year-old, who had lost 16 pounds to fit into the iconic frock in May, revealed she has since lost five more pounds, bringing her total weight loss to 21 pounds; seen after her appearance on the Today Show

Tuesday fit: The reality star spilled on her lifestyle changes during a wide-ranging interview on the Today Show on Tuesday, where she also chatted about her boyfriend Pete Davidson and her relationship with her ex husband Kanye West

Chat: Hosts Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie brought up the Marilyn Monroe dress Kim wore to the Met Gala last month, which has since stirred up controversy after it was alleged she may have damaged the historic frock, which was custom made for the late movie star in 1962

Kim had revealed at the Met Gala she lost 16 pounds in three weeks by cutting out carbs and sugar in order to fit into the iconic dress. - something which was heavily criticized for the message it sent.

Savannah brought up the criticism of the rapid and drastic weight loss for a dress, and asked Kim what she thought of it all.

'Yeah you know I looked at it like a role. I really wanted to wear this dress. It was really important to me. It actually taught me a lot about my lifestyle and my health and since then, afterwards, I continued to eat really healthy. I am down 21 pounds now. I'm not trying to lose any more weight but I have more energy than ever. I cut out so much sugar. A lot of junk food I was eating. I didn't even realize it. A lot of fried foods. And I completely changed my lifestyle,' Kim revealed.

For her appearance on the Today Show, Kim showcased her incredible weight loss in a skintight white crop top with Balenciaga leggings and crystallized bag and boots.

The mom of four opted for a short bob; she dyed her brunette hair platinum blonde for the Met Gala and has since kept the bold look.

Kim K: For her appearance on the Today Show, Kim showcased her incredible weight loss in a skintight white crop top with Balenciaga leggings and crystallized bag and boots

'You wore this beautiful, iconic Marilyn Monroe dress,' Savannah said, adding that she was shocked some people on Tik Tok didn't know who the legendary actress was.

'That's what was so shocking to me and that's why I was so happy to at least have that opportunity and Ripley's gave me the opportunity to share this moment so people... it could live on. I respect her.'

She continued: 'I understand how much this means to American history and with the theme being American, I thought what is more American than Marilyn Monroe singing happy birthday to the president of the United States.'

'I mean it was such a process. I showed up to the red carpet in a robe and slippers and I put the dress on on the bottom of the carpet, went up the stairs. I probably had it on for three minutes... four minutes. And then I changed at the top of the stairs,' Kim said.

Kim made history by being the only person besides Marilyn to ever wear the iconic dress in the 40 years since it was created.

For weeks prior to the Met Gala, fans speculated that Kim was going to wear Marilyn Monroe's $5 million gown she wore when she sang Happy Birthday Mr. President to John F. Kennedy for his 45th birthday on May 19,1962.

The dress was based on a sketch by Bob Mackie for the costume designer Jean-Louis; the translucent gown features over 6,000 crystals.

Marilyn reportedly paid $1,440 for the custom piece and in 1999, her estate sold it at an auction for over one million dollars, per Vogue.

It changed hands again when it sold it 2016 for $4.8 million before Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum acquired it.

A moment: Kim Kardashian transformed into movie legend Marilyn Monroe for the glamourous event, as she arrived in the late star's $5 million gown she wore in 1962 to wish President John F. Kennedy a happy birthday; she arrived with boyfriend Pete Davidson; seen May 2, 2022 at the Met Gala

Per the outlet, the dress sits on a muslin covered dress form at the museum in a darkened vault at a controlled temperature of 68 degrees with 40-50% humidity.

In April, she was photographed leaving Ripley's Museum in Orlando where the dress is housed, leading fans to believe she was going to wear it.

During the premiere of the Kardashians that month, she revealed that she has to might not go because she has to fit in the dress since it cannot be altered.

Kim connected to Ripley's via the owner of Julien's Auctions, adding that she also loves auctions and owns several JFK pieces.

Before the museum allowed Kim to borrow the piece, they let her try a replica which fit; the next step was the original gown getting flown to California from Florida for her to try on.

After the dress arrived with guards, she tried it on with gloves for the first time - and it did not fit.

Her Marilyn moment: After weeks of speculation, the 41-year-old billionaire arrived wearing the iconic gown - complete with newly dyed platinum blonde hair - to the Met Gala in May

'I always thought she was extremely curvy. I imagined I might be smaller in some places where she was bigger and bigger in some places where she was smaller. So when it didn't fit me I wanted to cry because it can't be altered at all,' she said to Vogue.

Kim had to either diet or wear something else but she told the outlet 'It was this or nothing.'

She went on a strict diet of no carbs and no sugar while running on the treadmill and wearing a sauna suit twice a day, but added that she didn't starve herself but was just strict.

After one month in her regimen, she tried on the dress in Orlando and it fit: 'I wanted to cry tears of joy when it went up.'

Kim put the dress on inside a small fitting room in the museum and revealed that she changed into a replica of the gown once she walked up the stairs, in order to minimize any damage to the fragile dress.

Opinion: She continued: 'I understand how much this means to American history and with the theme being American, I thought what is more American than Marilyn Monroe singing happy birthday to the president of the United States'

Her side: Kim denied damaging the dress during her appearance on the Today Show

She was asked about her vacation with her boyfriend Pete Davidson, 28, and how it went, which she said: 'I would say the best way to describe it is really relaxing. Like to be away from four kids for just even a few days is heaven. I love my kids but you know. Any mom knows what I'm talking about.

Hoda said the fact that what she loves about Kim and Pete is that Kim pursued Pete: 'What I love about this too is... what I love about your relationship with him, you pursued him. You asked for his number.'

Kim said: 'Yeah I know. That's so not me.'

Savannah Guthrie asked what the first text she sent to Pete.

Kim revealed: 'Yeah it was just... well he gave me advice... I ran into him a little bit before the Met [Met Gala, September 2021] and he gave me good advice, knowing that I was going to be on it [Saturday Night Live].'

Candid: Kim said: 'Yeah I know. That's so not me' when she was asked about pursuing Pete instead of him pursuing her

In love: Kim recently returned back to the states after a tropical vacation with her boyfriend Pete Davidson

Adding: 'So I just reached out and said, "Hey thank you so much for that advice it was so much fun. Just something cas[ual] like leaving it open,' she said with a laugh.

On how she decides on when to introduce Pete to her kids and how much to share with her kids, Kim said: 'Luckily I have a sister that has been through it all,' referring to older sister Kourtney Kardashian, who has three kids with ex partner Scott Disick, and is now married to drummer Travis Barker.

'And we talked about it and I consulted with a few therapists and friends that have been through it, so I definitely wanted to wait six months and that was like the marker. And I think its different for everyone and different things work for different people but you just have to do what feels right and try to just be as respectful and cautious as possible.

Love: Kim revealed the first text message she sent Pete: 'So I just reached out and said, "Hey thank you so much for that advice it was so much fun. Just something cas[ual] like leaving it open,' she said with a laugh

On if the relationship took her by surprise: 'It did. Well I waited a while. I waited a good ten months before I was ready to open myself up and I think you definitely need that time to yourself and then once you're ready to get out there I just felt like I wanted new energy. Something different. And it definitely took me by surprise.'

Rumors of a possible romance with Pete were first sparked when the two kissed during an early October Saturday Night Live skit as she played Princess Jasmine and he portrayed Aladdin, and while initial reports claimed they are just friends, fans believed something more significant was brewing.

Weeks later, she was spotted at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California for the theme park's annual Halloween event with a group of friends, including Pete, her sister Kourtney and now-husband Travis Barker.

So this is love: On if the relationship took her by surprise: 'It did. Well I waited a while. I waited a good ten months before I was ready to open myself up and I think you definitely need that time to yourself and then once you're ready to get out there I just felt like I wanted new energy. Something different. And it definitely took me by surprise'

Pete and Kim reportedly enjoyed a private rooftop dinner at Campania in Staten Island in November, followed by a group outing at club Zero Bond the following night.

Kim and Pete were seen sweetly holding hands in November while celebrating his birthday in Palm Springs, California, as seen in Dailymail.com exclusive photos.

She went Instagram official with Pete in March, marking the first time she has shared him on her Instagram page; the images she posted were taken on Valentine's Day 2022.

Getting serious: Pete and Kim appeared on Saturday Night Live together in October

Where it all started: Rumors of a possible romance were first sparked when the two kissed during an early October Saturday Night Live skit as she played Princess Jasmine and he portrayed Aladdin, and while initial reports claimed they are just friends, fans believed something more significant was brewing

Cuties: She went Instagram official with Pete in March, marking the first time she has shared him on her Instagram page

Hoda brought up Kim's sweet tribute to ex husband Kanye West, whom she shares kids North, nine, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three, with.

The host asked how it was going with Kanye and the split, to which Kim said: 'You know it's going good. We had Father's Day at the house. The kids spent the day with him and then we had a big Father's Day dinner, and North cooked.'

'Of course I wanted to honor and respect the amazing people and fathers, the men in my life that have raised me and raising my children so everything is going good,' she said.

Kim filed for divorce from estranged husband Kanye, 45, in February 2021 after seven years of marriage.

In March, an LA judge ruled Kim legally single as they sort out custody; she originally filed for divorce February 2021.

Happy: On if the relationship took her by surprise: 'It did. Well I waited a while. I waited a good ten months before I was ready to open myself up and I think you definitely need that time to yourself and then once you're ready to get out there I just felt like I wanted new energy. Something different. And it definitely took me by surprise'

Tribute: Hoda brought up Kim's sweet tribute to ex husband Kanye West, whom she shares kids North, nine, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three, with; Kanye with North and Saint as well as Reign, the son of Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick

Her words: Kim posted the two images on Sunday with a heartfelt message to Kanye, the father of her four kids; she became legally single in March 2022, 13 months after filing for divorce

Kim also talked about her new skincare brand, called SKKN, which dropped on Tuesday, June 21.

The entrepreneur revealed the nine-step system is what she uses - there is a day and night oil so a person only uses eight of the products in the am and then swaps out the am oil for night oil at night.

'I think people were really wanting me to go with just a few products and launching with something. At my age there is a lot that goes into making sure that my skin is well taken care of and I wanted to share exactly what I use,' Kim said.

Savannah brought up what Kim said in the New York Times about how she joked would eat poop if it would make her look younger.

The host commended her for not just saying she 'woke up like' and that it takes work to look the way she does.

The way they were: In March, an LA judge ruled Kim legally single as they sort out custody; she originally filed for divorce February 2021

Available now: The entrepreneur revealed the nine-step system is what she uses - there is a day and night oil so a person only uses eight of the products in the am and then swaps out the am oil for night oil at night

'I think you get to a place where you're at peace with aging and I'm totally there but I will do everything I can to make sure that it is... I look and feel my best...' Kim said.

Hoda said she knows Pete uses some of her products, and then asked Kim what were his favorites.

'He really loves... I mean I have learned so much about skincare actually from him. He's really into skincare.' Kim said.

The hosts were shocked and asked her 'really,' to which she said 'Yes he is.'

'That's like our thing, we go to dermatologists and facials.. yeah.... I think our vitamin C serum. It's really amazing,' Kim added.

Hoda asked if there was an ingredient in her products that make it standout from other brands.

Morning show: Savannah brought up what Kim said in the New York Times about how she joked would eat poop if it would make her look younger

'Well I think everyone loves the description of using a hyaluronic acid serum which plumps up all your skin and it kind of allows your skin to take in all of the serums but then that's when you put your vitamin C serum on and the moisturizer kind of just tops it all off and holds it all in,' Kim said.

'Kylie has posted about our moisturizer and has already requested me to send her a truckload,' Kim joked.

The last topic of the interview was about Kim's journey to becoming a lawyer.

'I have to ask about lawyer Kim. You passed the baby bar,' Savannah said. 'Yes,' Kim answered.

'I'm proud of you,' Savannah added, which Kim then said 'Thank you. Two years to go.'

'So two years to go and then you take the California one?' Savannah asked.

'Two years in, two years to go,' Kim said.

'But you're still committed and still going forward?' Savannah, who is a journalist and attorney, asked.

'Yes. Three hours a day. Meeting with professors. I'm studying civ pro and and crim pro now and then I'm doing evidence next.'

Last question: 'I have to ask about lawyer Kim. You passed the baby bar,' Savannah said. 'Yes,' Kim answered

Looking good: Kim spotted leaving the Today Show studios on Tuesday morning after her interview
By Kim Ae-ran





There were 347 coal mining villages in 1988, but now only four remain in Korea. Among them, three villages will also be closed in the near future. The number of mining villages has declined, but some social problems that afflicted them in the past  such as poverty, casino businesses, gambling and alcoholism  still influence villagers.



When we recently visited Cheongjeondong Catholic Church in Jecheon for our mission, Fr. Barnabas Young-gin Kim introduced us to two books he wrote about briquettes: "Yeontan (Briquette) Diary," a collection of 47 pastoral essays and "Yeontan-nim (Mr. Briquette)," a collection of 61 poems written while experiencing the presence of God in coal mining villages such as Sabuk, Gohan, Jeongseon and Dogye in Gangwon Province.



"Yeontan" refers to perforated coal briquettes used for cooking and home heating. It was a popular means of fuel in Korea before switching to oil and gas boilers. Some people still use them, especially in rural areas.



Fr. Barnabas has also published, "God of 54 Liters of Flour," "God Who Became a Vending Machine," "Do You Wash Your Face Every Day," and "People in the Bible."



As the eldest of three sons and three daughters, he was born in Hoengseong in 1954. He entered the seminary at the age of 14 and was ordained as a priest in 1980. Following his military service, he served in coal mines and rural areas as well as in New York.



His mother, Teresa Myo-soon Choi, is a fifth-generation descendant of Fr. Thomas Yang-eop Choi, while his maternal uncle, Fr. Benedictus Ki-sik Choi, is the eighth priest descended from Fr. Yang-eop Choi. As a descendant of a martyr, his sister also joined the Congregation of "Sisters of the Blessed Korean Martyrs." She is currently serving as a missionary in Vietnam.



Fr. Barnabas experienced the constant presence of God in the poor environment of the coal mining villages as well as in the mountains he often hiked.



At first, he was not willing to accept a coal mining ministry, but he discovered that the mission for coal miners has become a stepping stone for him to be a humble, compassionate and benevolent priest. In the preface of "Mr. Briquette," he confesses:



"I confess, I don't know about poems. But poems knew me. I don't know about God. But God knew me. The reason I wrote poems  is because everything around me has known me since a long time ago. Everything around me has been my friend and my love. Those friends talked about themselves; they often talked about God. Let me tell you that a leaf of grass spoke of God and a piece of discarded briquettes made me feel God. So I wanted to write that story and feeling. When the person I love saw it, he called it poetry. Knowing that it was poetry, I dared to leave it in front of you."



Serving as a priest in coal mining villages, he often pondered "white briquettes" as a metaphor for a life dedicated to people:



White briquette



A briquette is black,

but a used briquette is white



When a briquette has been burned,

when all the work to be done is done,

a black briquette becomes white.



Looking at my gray hair,

a piece of white briquette comforts me,

saying, "You also worked hard like me!"



Without courage, I couldn't burn yet.

I put it out and lived only with my mouth,

pretending to be a white briquette.





The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (fsp.pauline.or.kr.), living and giving the Good News to the world by means of social communication.






Kate Moss launched boho chic in the mid noughties when she turned Glastonbury into a fashion catwalk.

And the supermodel's daughter Lila took a leaf out of her famous mother's style book as she headed out for a spot of shopping in London on Monday.

Lila, 19, looked the spitting image of Kate as she modelled a black slip dress and buckled boots for her afternoon of retail therapy in Chelsea.

Striking resemblance: Kate Moss launched boho chic in the mid noughties and the supermodel's daughter Lila took a leaf out of her famous mother's style book on Monday (Kate pictured right in 2005)

The teenager, whose father is media executive Jefferson Hack, clashed her slinky dress with her chunky leather boots, mirroring the style Kate bought to the masses nearly twenty years ago.

She teamed the ensemble with designer shades and carried a Sarah Chapman shopping bag after browsing Chelsea's designer boutiques.

Kate shares daughter Lila with Jefferson, with whom she was in a relationship in the early Noughties.

Model daughter: Lila, 19, looked the spitting image of Kate as she modelled a black slip dress and buckled boots for her afternoon of retail therapy in Chelsea

Jefferson and Kate - who dated from 2001 to 2004 with Lila being born in 2002 - have an amicable relationship and would ensure their daughter spent a regular amount of time with each of them in her childhood.

While Lila still has a good relationship with both parents, she is often seen out with mum Kate as she is signed to her modelling agency.

The mother and daughter have walked in fashion shows together and made a joint appearance at this year's Met Ball in New York.

Lila is also now the director of her own company, Grace Grove Ltd, a move that coincides with supermodel mum Kate winding down three of her firms.

The name of the company is a nod to The Grove, the family home in North London, which Kate sold recently.

Following in her footsteps: The mother and daughter have walked in fashion shows together and made a joint appearance at this year's Met Ball in New York

Speaking about growing up in the spotlight in a recent interview with Vogue, Lila confessed that she was shocked by the attention surrounding her mother, admitting that she was surprised her friends even knew who she was.

She explained: 'I went to secondary school and everyone was like, "Oh, your mums Kate Moss!" You dont really have a filter when youre that young and I was like, How do you know who she is? Shes old! Shes old and boring!"'

Adding more about her relationship with her mother, Lila told the fashion bible: 'I was quite protective over my mum.

'All my mums friends say that I was so scary as a child. I was quite serious. But also, I would always copy her. She would always have her head down and not look at the camera, so Id always put my head down and not look at the camera. I still do it.'
Rebel Wilson and her girlfriend Ramona Agruma are enjoying an idyllic European getaway.

And on Tuesday, the pair looked loved-up as they enjoyed a date night out in Paris.

Rebel, 42, couldn't wipe the smile off her face while posing alongside Ramona and a female friend.

Rebel Wilson and her girlfriend Ramona Agruma are enjoying an idyllic European getaway, and on Tuesday the couple enjoyed a loved-up dinner date

The Pitch Perfect star wore a rainbow coloured Gucci sweater worth $1810, while Ramona opted for a white printed T-shirt and black trousers.

Earlier in the day the couple had been driving around in a red Lamborghini in Paris.

Rebel shared a series of images of the pair enjoying their vacation to her Instagram on Saturday.

Earlier in the day the couple had been driving around in a red Lamborghini

The actress and her partner had moved on to Italy, and in one gorgeous photo shared to her official page, Rebel showed off her cleavage and slim waist in a yellow floral sun dress as she walked hand-in-hand with Ramona.

Her beauty look included wavy blonde tresses and glamorous makeup, and she simply couldn't wipe the smile off her face.

Meanwhile, Ramona cut a chic figure in a white crop top with a black Prada blazer and matching pants, paired with metallic sandals and a Christian Dior book tote bag.

'Ciao bellas,' Rebel simply captioned the post.

The Pitch Perfect star shared shared a series of images of the pair enjoying their vacation to her Instagram on Saturday

The actress and her partner had moved on to Italy , and in one gorgeous photo shared to her official page, Rebel showed off her cleavage and slim waist in a yellow floral sun dress as she walked hand-in-hand with Ramona

Rebel also captured fun moments to her Stories of the group dancing and drinking wine

In a near-identical snap, this time shared to her Stories, Ramona was seen gazing adoringly at the Bridesmaids star.

Rebel also captured fun moments to her Stories of the group dancing and drinking wine while celebrating their friends' birthdays at an outdoor venue.

Just a day prior, Rebel was pictured with Ramona on social media for the first time after she broke her silence about a newspaper's attempt to 'out' her.

Just a day prior, Rebel was pictured with Ramona on social media for the first time after she broke her silence about a newspaper's attempt to 'out' her. Pictured also with their friends Nic Roldan (left) and Sterling Jones (right)

In the Instagram post on Friday, Rebel donned a chic Gucci ensemble and posed for a snap alongside Ramona, Sterling and their pal Nic Roldan on board a boat.

The actress opted for glamorous hair and makeup and couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she kept close to Ramona, who cut a cool and casual figure.

'Happy birthday you legend,' Rebel captioned the snap while tagging her friend and including the hashtag 'hot to trot'.

The Bridesmaids star recently addressed huge criticism aimed at an Australian newspaper who attempted to 'out' her, before she publicly revealed her sexuality

Rebel publicly announced her romance with Ramona in an Instagram post on June 10, sharing a photo of the pair cosying up to one another.

'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince... but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess,' she wrote.

The pair have been seen together since early this year, and they even walked the red carpet together at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in March.

Rebel still hasn't shared many details about her new love, who is an LA-based fashion designer and the owner of the sustainable fashion brand Lemon Ve Limon.

Rebel publicly announced her romance with Ramona in an Instagram post on June 10, sharing this photo of the pair cosying up to one another. 'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince... but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess,' she wrote

Shortly after her Instagram post, it was revealed that Rebel went public about her relationship and her sexuality in order to get ahead of a story from the Sydney Morning Herald after the Australian paper threatened to 'out' her.

Shortly after she posted her photo, the paper's gossip columnist Andrew Hornery accused the actress of 'gazumping' his scoop by speaking out on her own terms.

'Thanks for your comments, it was a very hard situation but trying to handle it with grace,' she later wrote in a reply to a Twitter post by Channel 10's Kate Doak.

In his original piece, Hornery wrote that he gave the Bridesmaids star two days to respond to questioning, effectively forcing the actress' hand, yet became angry when the star chose to take control of the narrative herself.

The pair have been spotted together since early this year, and they even walked the red carpet at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in March together (pictured)

'It was with an abundance of caution and respect that this media outlet emailed Rebel Wilson's representatives on Thursday morning, giving her two days to comment on her new relationship with LA leisure wear designer Ramona Agruma, before publishing a single word,' he wrote.

'Big mistake. Wilson opted to gazump the story, posting about her new 'Disney Princess' on Instagram early Friday morning, the same platform she had previously used to brag about her handsome ex-boyfriend, wealthy American beer baron Jacob Busch.

'Considering how bitterly Wilson had complained about poor journalism standards... her choice ignore our discreet genuine and honest queries was underwhelming.'

Shortly after her Instagram post, it was revealed that Rebel went public about her relationship and her sexuality in order to get ahead of a story from the Sydney Morning Herald after the Australian paper threatened to 'out' her

The article prompted a major backlash on social media with users bowled over by the newspaper's insensitivity, prompting editor Bevan Shields to pen a lengthy statement denying any wrongdoing and wishing the couple well.

Hornery subsequently apologised for his 'tone' in the article, and he claimed he never meant to 'inflict pain' when he approached the star about her relationship.

'I genuinely regret that Rebel has found this hard,' Hornery said in a column that replaced Sunday's article. 'That was never my intention. But I see she has handled it all with extraordinary grace.'

He added that, 'As a gay man I'm well aware of how deeply discrimination hurts. The last thing I would ever want to do is inflict that pain on someone else.'

In his original piece, gossip columnist Andrew Hornery wrote that he gave the Bridesmaids star two days to respond to questioning, effectively forcing the actress' hand, yet became angry when the star chose to take control of the narrative herself

Rebel did reveal last month that she was dating someone, although she kept their identity under wraps, telling People that she had been set up with her partner - thought to be Ramona - 'through a friend', before spending weeks 'getting to know each other' on the phone.

'We spoke on the phone for weeks before meeting,' she revealed at the time. 'And that was a really good way to get to know each other. It was a bit old-school in that sense  very romantic.'

She also shared how 'the process of finding more self-worth' had 'elevated' her standards in terms of what she was looking for in a partner, describing her romance with her new girlfriend as 'equal' and 'healthy'.

As well as their under-the-radar public appearances together, Ramona has also been a fixture on Rebel's Instagram in recent months, though she wasn't presented as anything other than a friend.
Karen Gillan has posed for an inspiring shoot for Women's Health Self-Care issue, as she detailed how she's learned to 'invite in' her anxiety.

The actress, who is set to reprise her role as the alien Nebula in the upcoming Thor: Love And Thunder, revealed she's 'started to talk more freely' about her emotions after realising she was 'harboring resentment.'

Alongside an interview with the publication Karen also displayed her toned midriff in a red bikini top while she posed in a field for a stunning shoot.

Stunning: Karen Gillan has posed for a stunning shoot for Women's Health Self-Care issue, as she detailed how she's learned to 'invite in' her anxiety

Discussing her own battles with anxity, Karen admitted hers can vary from being non-existent to preventing her from even going to work on a film set.

She said: 'Some days I don't feel anxious at all; then others, I'm like, ''I can't do this. This is insane. This is a big, huge movie and I have to do this in front of people. There's no way.''

The Doctor Who star added that she has learned several techniques to help her manage her anxiety, saying: 'With anxiety, our instinctive response is to suppress it and tell yourself not to be scared and to stop feeling it.

'I invite all of the anxiety in. It may sound weird, but I've been researching the psychology of it.'

Candid: The actress revealed she's 'started to talk more freely' about her emotions after realising she was 'harboring resentment'

Karen also explained how she's learned to adjust her posture to take up more space.

She added: 'That's one physical affirmation I try to do with myselfjust get into a more confident body position. I roll my shoulders back, sit up tall, and stop fidgeting.

'If you don't communicate, you'll harbor resentment. I'm starting to talk more freely now. The fact that I ever had to dampen that is quite concerning.'

Karen also posed for stunning snaps in a lush green countryside for the magazine's Self-Care issue, sporting a sexy red bikini top and tight green jeans.

The star also donned an orange crop top and a matching mini skirt for another idyllic image from the shoot.

Insight: Karen also explained how she's learned to adjust her posture to take up more space

Last month Karen tied the knot with stand-up comedian Nick Kocher in a lavish ceremony at Castle Toward in Scotland.

The July/August 2022 issue of Women's Health, the Self-Care Issue, featuring Karen Gillan, hits newsstands nationwide on June 28

Throughout the afternoon, parties of family and friends - including Hollywood royalty Julia Roberts and Robert Downey Jr - came ashore at the harbour next to the castle from the Spirit of Fortitude luxury cruiser.

Guests then climbed into taxis to be ferried to the castle, which was bathed in sunshine all day.

One eyewitness told The Mail On Sunday: 'I just saw Karen Gillan getting married. I was walk- ing my dog through the grounds and saw there was a wedding on.

'I saw her walking down the road with her husband. She was wearing a white bodice-style wedding dress with a long train. She looked absolutely stunning.'

Karen had not publicly dated anyone since splitting with photographer Patrick Green almost a decade ago.

The July/August 2022 issue of Women's Health, the Self-Care Issue, featuring Karen Gillan, hits newsstands nationwide on June 28.
The Bachelorette #17 Katie Thurston and her former contestant John Hersey both confirmed they just ended their seven-month, live-in romance.

The 31-year-old aspiring talk show host - who boasts 1.8M social media followers - released a statement via Instastory on Monday night that simply read: 'No we're not together.'

The 28-year-old aspiring pilot took to Instastory on Tuesday morning with a much longer statement indicating that 'the decision was not made lightly.'

It's over: The Bachelorette #17 Katie Thurston and her former contestant John Hersey both confirmed they just ended their seven-month, live-in romance

'I love being able to share special moments with you all - the funny ones. The happy ones. The outrageous, embarrassing, and heartfelt ones. But I don't know if it will ever get easier to share the sad ones,' John - who boasts 117K Instagram/TikTok followers - wrote.

'As Katie stated earlier, we are no longer dating. The decision was not made lightly and it was obviously not an easy one to make. I appreciate every one of you that has supported us throughout this journey. We could not (and would not) be here without you.'

Thurston and Hersey were last pictured together on June 2 walking her cat Tommy and his Italian Greyhound Dexter through LA's Runyon Canyon Park.

'A year ago I'd never believe I would be right here in these moments with you,' Katie gushed on March 10 - the one-year anniversary of their meeting. 'Sorry to all the Bachelor brackets we f***ed up. We owe you one.'

The 31-year-old aspiring talk show host - who boasts 1.8M social media followers - released a statement via Instastory on Monday night that simply read: 'No we're not together'

'I appreciate every one of you that has supported us throughout this journey': The 28-year-old aspiring pilot took to Instastory on Tuesday morning with a much longer statement indicating that 'the decision was not made lightly'

All smiles! Thurston and Hersey were last pictured together on June 2 walking her cat Tommy and his Italian Greyhound Dexter through LA's Runyon Canyon Park

Katie (pictured April 25) gushed on March 10 - the one-year anniversary of their meeting: 'A year ago I'd never believe I would be right here in these moments with you'

The Washington State alum (L, pictured April 17) added: 'Sorry to all the Bachelor brackets we f***ed up. We owe you one'

The Washington State alum previously ended her engagement to the Santa Cruz-born, San Diego-based daredevil's rival contestant Blake Moynes on October 25 after six months of dating.

Katie - who previously competed on The Bachelor #25 - famously eliminated John in the second week of her season but announced they were dating November 23.

Only four winning couples remain together after 18 seasons of The Bachelorette and three winning couples are still together after 26 seasons of The Bachelor.

Bachelor in Paradise has the best track record of the Bachelor Nation franchise with 11 winning couples still together after seven seasons.

No winners: Thurston previously ended her engagement to the Santa Cruz-born, San Diego-based daredevil's rival contestant Blake Moynes (R) on October 25 after six months of dating

Rejected twice: Katie - who previously competed on The Bachelor #25 - famously eliminated John in the second week of her season but announced they were dating November 23
Netflix has revealed a list of its top ten most-watched movies across the globe - including star-studded films such as Red Notice, Don't Look Up and The Irishman.

Projects starring the likes of Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock and Leonardo DiCaprio have enjoyed the most success on the streaming service, with millions of users tuning in across the globe.

However, the success of the company's big budget films hasn't been enough to stop Netflix from experiencing highly publicized stock troubles.

Back in May, it was revealed that the California-based streaming service was cutting 150 jobs after announcing that it had lost 200,000 subscribers since the end of last year and saw the value of its shares tank by 50 per cent in one month.

Now a new report from Variety claimed another round of layoffs are on the way as the company attempts to correct its course and move back into a profitable direction.

Following recent praise the streamer has received for newer releases such as Adam Sandler fronted project Hustle and award-wining flick, The Power of the Dog, here are the most-viewed Netflix original movies to date.

From Sandra Bullock's Bird Box to Joey King's The Kissing Booth 2, here are the films that have been watched for the most hours based on their first 28 days of being released.

10. Spenser Confidential - 197,320,000 hours

Mark as Spenser: Mark Wahlberg returns to his hometown of Boston by portraying an iconic character in the first trailer for Spenser Confidential

Action packed: The movie was watched for 197,320,000 hours

Mark Wahlberg returned to his hometown of Boston by portraying an iconic character in Spenser Confidential.

The Spenser character was originally created by author Robert B. Parker, whose novels were adapted into the 1980s TV series Spenser For Hire starring Robert Urich as Spenser and Avery Brooks as Hawk.

Wahlberg took over as the Spenser character for the flick, with Black Panther star Winston Duke as Hawk, with Post Malone making his live-action feature acting debut.

The story is adapted from Wonderland, the 2013 novel by Ace Atkins who was picked by Parker's estate to continue the Spenser novel series after Parker's death in 2010.

It wasn't well liked by reviewers with a score of just 37 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audiences gave a higher score of 51 per cent.

9. 6 Underground - 205,470,000 hours

Movie star quality: Ryan Reynolds enjoyed success with his Michael Bay directed film, 6 Underground

Tune in: The film was watched for 205,470,000 hours in the first 28 days

Ryan Reynolds delighted Netflix users as he teamed up with Transformers director Michael Bay for 6 Underground.

The action film follows an assassin who fakes his own death in order to turn his talents to eliminating evil.

The film, written by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, also stars Melanie Laurent, Corey Hawkins, Adria Arjona, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Ben Hardy Lior Raz, Payman Maadi and Dave Franco.

6 Underground only managed to get a 36 per cent rating from critics but bagged a score of 60 per cent from the audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

8. The Kissing Booth 2 - 209,250,000 hours

Popular choice: Joey King's The Kissing Booth series was a popular teen romance for the streaming service

Young love: The film was watched for 209,250,000 hours

Starring Joey King and Euphoria star Jacob Elordi, The Kissing Booth trilogy was a huge hit for Netflix within the teenage demographic. To the point where the film's sequel garnered enough views to land a place in the top ten.

The movie follows Elle Evans (King) as she faces her senior year of high school while her boyfriend Noah Flynn (Elordi) is making new friends at Harvard University.

She then find herself dealing with a distraction in the form of the 'seriously luscious' Marco, played by Taylor Zakhar Perez.

The new movie also saw the return of Lee Flynn (Joel Courtney) and Mrs Flynn (played by Eighties icon Molly Ringwald).

The Kissing Booth 2 bombed with critics, getting a score of 27 per cent, while viewers gave a score of 38 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.

7. The Irishman - 214,570,000 hours

Big budget: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci star in the critically praised movie

Worth it: The film was watched for 214,570,000 hours in the first 28 days

With a cast, including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, some had expected a gangster thriller but The Irishman was a more reflective rumination on morality, violence and American power.

Based on Charles Brandt's 2004 book I Heard You Paint Houses, a collection of recollections from the real-life figure Frank 'The Irishman' Sheeran, the movie has been in development, on and off, for more than a decade.

It stars De Niro as Sheeran, a mafia hitman and high-ranking Teamster official.

Shortly before his death, the real Sheeran confessed to killing Jimmy Hoffa (played here by Pacino)  a confession that remains in dispute, with Hoffa's disappearance officially unsolved.

Pesci plays the mob boss Russell Bufalino, who takes Sheeran under his wing.

Netflix plunked down $159 million to make The Irishman after other studios passed and it paid off with the movie getting the highest critics rating on the list.

It received a 95 per cent sore from reviewers and 86 per cent from the audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

6. The Unforgivable - 214,700,000 hours

Meaty drama: Sandra Bullock's star power drew in the views for emotional film, The Unforgivable

New version: Based on a three-part British miniseries titled Unforgiven, the film was watched for 214,700,000 hours

The Unforgivable is based on a three-part British miniseries titled Unforgiven, and sees Sandra Bullock star as ex-convict Ruth Slater.

Ruth is seen struggling to adjust to life outside jail after serving time for a double-cop-killing.

As the son of one of the slain policemen tries to avenge his father, Ruth tries to find her long-lost sister Katie who was given up for adoption.

Jon Bernthal, Vincent D'Onofrio, Viola Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Richard Thomas, Linda Emond and Rob Morgan also star in the movie.

The film didn't get much love from critics with a low 30 per cent score, but viewers seemed to enjoy it as it pulled in a 74 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

5. Extraction - 231,340,000 hours

Action man: Chris Hemsworth's Extraction was a big hit when it dropped on the streaming service in 2020

Intense: The film was watched for 231,340,000 hours in the first 28 days

Chris Hemsworth makes an appearance on the list following the success of his 2020 film about a mercenary gone rogue.

Extraction follows Tyler Rake (Hemsworth), a former SASR operator-turned-mercenary who is hired by India's biggest drug lord to rescue his son who was kidnapped by Bangladesh's biggest drug lord.

The film is based on the graphic novel Ciudad by Ande Parks, Fernando Leon Gonzalez, Eric Skillman, and the Russo brothers.

It received a favorable score from critics and viewers, with 67 per cent and 70 per cent respectively.

4. The Adam Project - 233,160,000 hours

Firm favorite: Ryan Reynolds' time-travel comedy adventure movie The Adam Project is his second of three movies to make the list

Stellar cast: Reynolds was joined by Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana in the film which was watched for 233,160,000 hours

Ryan Reynolds' decision to reunite with Free Guy director Shawn Levy proved to be a sensible move due to the success of The Adam Project, a family saga revolving around time travel.

Reynoldss fighter-pilot character, Adam, travels back from 2050 to 2022 in order to save the human race  isnt it always the case?

However, his mission involves coming face-to-face with his 12-year-old self (Walker Scobell).

The pair of then travel further back to meet their late father (Mark Ruffalo), making things a real family affair.

Jennifer Garner and Zoe Saldana also star in the film which had been kicking around for ten years before being made.

Critics gave the film a 68 per cent rating, while the audience gave a more favorable Rotten Tomatoes score of 74 per cent.

3. Bird Box - 282,020,000 hours

Paving the way: Bird Box was the first smash hit for Netflix following its release in 2018

Gripping: The film was watched for 282,020,000 hours in the first 28 days

The second Sandra Bullock movie in the coveted top 10, Bird Box takes place in a future world in which demonic visions drive anyone who's unfortunate enough to see them insane.

The infected individuals then kill themselves, ensuring other do everything possible to avoid the same fate.

Bullock stars as a woman trying to survive with two small children in tow.

They have to keep blindfolds on constantly when outside to protect themselves as they attempt to survive in the nightmare world.

The dystopian thriller was the first big hit for Netflix and even received a favorable 64 per cent rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, not all viewers were as impressed with the scary movie with a audience score of 57 per cent.

2. Don't Look Up - 359,790,000 hours

Successful satire: Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence was an unmissable duo in Don't Look Up

Star power: The star-studded movie by Adam McKay caused a lot of conversation and was watched for 359,790,000 hours

Coming in second place is Don't Look Up, one of only two movies to cross the 300 million mark so far.

Oscar-winners Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence lead the long list of stars in the movie, playing astronomers Dr. Randall Mindy and Kate Dibiasky respectively.

The duo stumble upon a comet with a '100 per cent' likelihood of hitting Earth and ending life on the planet as we know it.

The President of the United States (played by Meryl Streep, 72) ignores them for fear that acting will harm her poll numbers and her son and Chief of Staff (Jonah Hill, 38) also brushes them off.

This causes the scientists to try and take matters into their own hands in order to avoid the end of the world.

Plenty of supporting stars are also seen including Cate Blanchett, Kid Cudi, Tyler Perry, Chris Evans, Timothee Chalamet and Ariana Grande in the disaster film with a twist of dark comedy.

The film from director Adam McKay certainly stirred up a spirited conversation about the dangers of climate change, Don't Look Up only managed to get a 55 per cent from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, it faired better when it came to the audience rating with 78 per cent.

1. Red Notice - 364,020,000 hours

Three is the magic number: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot proved to be the dream team for Netflix in Red Notice

Must watch: The film was watched for 364,020,000 hours in the first 28 days

Starring A-list Hollywood trio Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot, Red Notice premiered on Netflix on November 5, 2021.

It was also released in theaters for people who wish to enjoy it on the big screen, with the Rawson Marshall Thurber directed film landing Netflix's biggest opening weekend in the streaming service's history.

The action comedy film sees The Rock star as FBI agent John Hartley, who unwillingly joins forces with renowned art thief Nolan Booth (Reynolds) in a bad to catch an even more notorious criminal (Gadot).

Despite the success, Rotten Tomatoes has scored the film at 36 per cent based on 155 reviews from critics.

Among the poor reviews are a two-star write-up in The Guardian, which branded the movie an overly-complicated attempt to recreate the success of the Indiana Jones movies.

However, 92 percent of viewers beg to differ as they gave it a fresh rating on the site.
British rapper Stormzy was awarded an honorary university degree on Tuesday, and thanked his mother in a moving acceptance speech.

The star, 28 - whose real name Michael Owuo Jr - also praised the 'guts, grit and dedication' of students as he was awarded the honour at Exeter University.

The achievement was dedicated to the musician for his work to promote education and fighting racial inequality.

Achievement: British rapper Stormzy has been given an honorary university degree on Tuesday, and thanked his mother in a moving acceptance speech

As well as being an acclaimed performer, Stormzy has been an inspiring spokesman for Black empowerment and social activism.

In his speech to graduates Stormzy said he felt 'extremely blessed and grateful' to receive his honorary degree.

He also joked about how pleased he was to be known as a philanthropist - and thanked his mother who was watching on.

Proud: During his speech Mr Owuo also thanked his mother 'who is sitting there beaming with pride and joy right now

Stormzy said: 'The journey I took to get to this moment has been considerably different to yours.

'You guys have the guts and the grit and the dedication that it takes to study for years and to finish your degree whereas I got my AS results in my first year of college and said yeah, see you later.

'I didn't have the same minerals that you guys have.

'You are worthy and you are brilliant': Stormzy said: 'The journey I took to get to this moment has been considerably different to yours' as he spoke to graduates

'A year later I took another swing at my A levels at a different college until I sat down for my English exam in January and walked out after 10 minutes.

'It took a hell of a lot for you to get here today. Your journeys to get to this moment were hard fought.

'The road you took was not easy. And this is coming from someone who tried to walk that exact same road and failed.

'So from the bottom of my heart I say congratulations, well done and you should all be so proud of yourselves, what you have achieved is incredible.

'Don't let anybody downplay it and don't let anybody undermine it. If you are sat in this room today you are worthy and you are brilliant.'

During his speech Stormzy also thanked his mother 'who is sitting there beaming with pride and joy right now because her biggest dream for me was for me to go to university and graduate and then become somebody so this moment is real full circle'.

Inspiration: The achievement was dedicated to the musician for his work to promote education and fighting racial inequality (pictured in March)

He added: 'And I always say that God has a funny way of bringing you exactly where you were meant to end up'.

Professor Lisa Roberts, University of Exeter Vice Chancellor, said: 'We are proud to honour Michael for his remarkable contribution to society and extraordinary talent.

'He is an outstanding musician and wordsmith, and he inspires people to speak openly about their beliefs and fight for their rights.

'The University of Exeter has put social justice at the heart of its new ten-year strategy which includes opening doors to people from all walks of life into higher education and it was wonderful to hear Michael's powerful speech today to students and graduates.'

Stormzy's #Merky Books, an imprint within Penguin Random House UK, is dedicated to publishing the best new fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

His 'Stormzy Scholarship', an annual studentship to fund Black British students to go to the University of Cambridge, has so far supported six Black students through their Cambridge education.

Last year saw a very significant expansion, with HSBC donating 2 million to support 30 'Stormzy Scholars' over the next three years.

Stormzy's charity, #Merky Foundation, to which he has pledged 10 million over 10 years, supports organisations, charities and movements that are committed to fighting racial inequality, justice reform and Black empowerment within the UK.
Kim Kardashian has revealed she consulted with 'a few' therapists and friends on advice about how to introduce boyfriend Pete Davidson to her four kids.

The 41-year-old star appeared on the Today Show Tuesday, where she opened up about her relationship with the SNL funnyman, whom she has been dating since last fall.

Kim also got candid about how she pursued Pete, something which she never thought she would do, and the first text she sent him.

Candid: Kim Kardashian has revealed she consulted with 'a few' therapists and friends on advice about how to introduce boyfriend Pete Davidson to her four kids

The mother of four emphasized that she waited six months to introduce Pete to her kids North, nine, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three.

She shares them with ex-husband Kanye West, 45.

Kim got advice from her older sister Kourtney Kardashian, who had to navigate the same thing after she fell in love with drummer Travis Barker.

Kourtney has three children with ex partner Scott Disick.

So in love: The 41-year-old star appeared on the Today Show Tuesday, where she opened up about her relationship with the SNL funnyman, whom she has been dating since last fall

Honest: Kim also got candid about how she pursued Pete, something which she never thought she would do, and the first text she sent him

'Luckily I have a sister that has been through it all,' Kim said on the Today Show.

'And we talked about it and I consulted with a few therapists and friends that have been through it, so I definitely wanted to wait six months and that was like the marker.'

Kim continued: 'And I think its different for everyone and different things work for different people but you just have to do what feels right and try to just be as respectful and cautious as possible.

Host Hoda Kotb said the fact that what she loves about Kim and Pete is that Kim pursued Pete: 'What I love about this too is... what I love about your relationship with him, you pursued him. You asked for his number.'

Family: The mother of four emphasized that she waited six months to introduce Pete to her kids North, nine, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three; Kim, Kanye West and their kids

Family first: Kim continued: 'And I think its different for everyone and different things work for different people but you just have to do what feels right and try to just be as respectful and cautious as possible'; Kim pictured holding Psalm with her other three children Chicago, Saint and North as well in May 2022 at Psalm's third birthday party

Kim said: 'Yeah I know. That's so not me.'

Today host Savannah Guthrie asked what the first text she sent to Pete.

Kim revealed: 'Yeah it was just... well he gave me advice... I ran into him a little bit before the Met [Met Gala, September 2021] and he gave me good advice, knowing that I was going to be on it [Saturday Night Live].'

Adding: 'So I just reached out and said, "Hey thank you so much for that advice it was so much fun. Just something cas[ual] like leaving it open,' she said with a laugh.

Kim's man: Host Hoda Kotb said the fact that what she loves about Kim and Pete is that Kim pursued Pete: 'What I love about this too is... what I love about your relationship with him, you pursued him. You asked for his number'

Cheeky: Kim said: 'Yeah I know. That's so not me'

All love: Savannah Guthrie asked what the first text she sent to Pete

She previously revealed that she got his number through the SNL producers after doing SNL in October, because Pete did not attend her after party like everyone else on the show.

In a recent episode of The Kardashians, Kim detailed the start of their romance in a confessional.

'I did SNL, and then when we kissed in scene, it was just a vibe and I was like, 'Oh s**t, maybe I just need to try something different.'

'But Pete does not come to my after-party. Everyone was at my after-party. Does not give me the time of day. So a few days later, I called the producer at SNL and was like, 'Hey do you have Pete's number?' And they were like 'Yeah,' Kim explained.

'I text him. I wasn't even thinking like, 'Oh my God I'm gonna be in a relationship with him,' Kim added.

Happy Kim: Kim revealed: 'Yeah it was just... well he gave me advice... I ran into him a little bit before the Met [Met Gala, September 2021] and he gave me good advice, knowing that I was going to be on it [Saturday Night Live]'

Making it happen: 'So I just reached out and said, "Hey thank you so much for that advice it was so much fun. Just something cas[ual] like leaving it open,' she said with a laugh

'I was just thinking like, "Heard about this BDE. Need to get out there." I need to just like jumpstart my I was basically just DTF,' Kim admits with a smile.

'Pete has got to be literally the best human being I've ever met. Like the best heart. People will always say, 'Oh he's so funny,' and it has to do with how funny he is. That's like fourth on my list of why I like him,' she said.

Rumors of a possible romance with Pete were first sparked when the two kissed during an early October Saturday Night Live skit as she played Princess Jasmine and he portrayed Aladdin, and while initial reports claimed they are just friends, fans believed something more significant was brewing.

Getting serious: Pete and Kim appeared on Saturday Night Live together in October

Where it all started: Rumors of a possible romance were first sparked when the two kissed during an early October Saturday Night Live skit as she played Princess Jasmine and he portrayed Aladdin, and while initial reports claimed they are just friends, fans believed something more significant was brewing

Weeks later, she was spotted at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California for the theme park's annual Halloween event with a group of friends, including Pete, her sister Kourtney and now-husband Travis Barker.

Pete and Kim reportedly enjoyed a private rooftop dinner at Campania in Staten Island in November, followed by a group outing at club Zero Bond the following night.

Kim and Pete were seen sweetly holding hands in November while celebrating his birthday in Palm Springs, California, as seen in Dailymail.com exclusive photos.

She went Instagram official with Pete in March, marking the first time she has shared him on her Instagram page; the images she posted were taken on Valentine's Day 2022.

Cuties: She went Instagram official with Pete in March, marking the first time she has shared him on her Instagram page

The host asked how it was going with Kanye and the split, to which Kim said: 'You know it's going good. We had Father's Day at the house. The kids spent the day with him and then we had a big Father's Day dinner, and North cooked.'

'Of course I wanted to honor and respect the amazing people and fathers, the men in my life that have raised me and raising my children so everything is going good,' she said.

Kim filed for divorce from estranged husband Kanye, 45, in February 2021 after seven years of marriage.

In March, an LA judge ruled Kim legally single as they sort out custody; she originally filed for divorce February 2021.

Earlier this year, Kanye threw shade at Pete and Kim via his social media as well as through his music.

The rapper depicted Pete being buried alive in his music video for his song Easy and also had a lyric about him: 'God saved me from the crash, just so I could beat Pete Davidson's a**.'

Although now Kanye and Kim's relationship seems more cordial, he had previously alleged her of 'parental alienation.'
Victoria Silvstedt flaunted her curves in a scarlet dress with a dramatic thigh slit as she attended the closing ceremony of the 61th Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on Tuesday.

The Swedish model, 47, looked incredible in the form-fitting gown which featured mesh detailing that exposed a view of her ample cleavage.

The bright red number included glittering floral motifs along the bodice as the stunner posed up a storm.

Lady in red: Victoria Silvstedt flaunted her curves in a scarlet dress with a dramatic thigh slit at the closing ceremony of the 61th Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on Tuesday

She wore her voluminous blonde locks down in styled waves, accessorising with dangly earrings and a ring.

Victoria opted for a glam make-up look which accentuated her lashes, finishing it off with a mauve glossy lip.

Actress Allison Dunbar, 49, and her partner Ron Perlman, 72, were also snapped holding onto one another at the event.

Glam: She wore her voluminous blonde locks down in styled waves, accessorising with dangly earrings and a ring

Allison looked incredible in a floor-sweeping black gown flaunting an exposed midriff.

The black-and-white ensemble featured a cut-out bow at the bust and the star teamed the look with some black leather gloves.

She swept her blonde locks up in s stylish updo whereas Ron kept it simple with a chic black suit and matching tie.

Wow: The Swedish model, 47, looked incredible in the form-fitting gown which featured mesh detailing that exposed a view of her ample cleavage

Stunner: The bright red number included glittering floral motifs along the bodice as the stunner posed up a storm

Actress Jane Seymour was also snapped in a glamorous, feathered frock as she enjoyed the festival.

The screen star, 71, rocked a rhinestone studded periwinkle number, teamed with a matching sparkly clutch.

She looked stunning in the maxi-dress, styling the look by wearing her highlighted locks down pin-straight and channelling glam in her dramatic make-up look.

Sparkling: Actress Jane Seymour was also snapped in a glamorous, feathered frock as she enjoyed the festival

Fabulous: She looked stunning in the maxi-dress, styling the look by wearing her highlighted locks down pin-straight and channelling glam in her dramatic make-up look

Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Sue Anderson, 59, also made an appearance in a baby blue dress cinched at the waist.

The blonde star accessorised the outfit, which featured a flowy trumpet skirt, with a golden clutch and some strappy sandals.

She also wore a serpent shaped necklace to add a touch of glam to the look.

Krista Allen also showed up, looking sensational in a plunging V-neck dress which exposed her toned leg in a thigh slit.

Cute: Actress Allison Dunbar, 49, and her partner Ron Perlman, 72, were also snapped holding onto one another

Incredible: Allison looked incredible in a floor-sweeping black gown flaunting an exposed midriff

Stylish: The black-and-white ensemble featured a cut-out bow at the bust and the star teamed the look with some black leather gloves

The glittering white ensemble was teamed with strappy stiletto sandals and an ornate clutch.

The American actress, 51 - best known for her work on Days of Our Lives - wore her stunning chestnut locks in a voluminous side-part.

French actress Vahina Giocante, 40, put on a busty display in a silky crimson dress cinched at the waist with a golden belt.

Beautiful in blue: Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Sue Anderson, 59, also made an appearance in a baby blue dress cinched at the waist

Golden: The blonde star accessorised the outfit, which featured a flowy trumpet skirt, with a golden clutch and some strappy sandals

Bright: German actress Thekla Carola Wied, 78, also rocked an elegant mauve gown that showed off her svelte frame

The stunner wore her highlighted hair in styled curls, pairing the look with decorative earrings.

German actress Thekla Carola Wied, 78, also rocked an elegant mauve gown that showed off her svelte frame.

She styled her short hair in a voluminous bob, holding onto a dreamy floral print scarf and a black handbag.

Sizzling: Krista Allen showed up, looking sensational in a plunging V-neck dress which exposed her toned leg in a thigh slit
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Kim Kardashian gave fans an inside look at her SKKN by Kim office setup, as well as a behind the scenes look at her new brand, on her Instagram stories on Tuesday morning.

The 41-year-old billionaire's showed off her chic workspace decorated by Tommy Clements and Waldo Fernandez with pieces designed by Michele Lamy from Rick Owens, which included an uncomfortable looking backless wooden chair.

Kim also revealed in her behind the scenes tour that ex husband Kanye West came up with the name, packaging and font for her just released skincare brand SKKN.

Interesting: Kim Kardashian gave fans an inside look at her SKKN by Kim office setup, as well as a behind the scenes look at her new brand, on her Instagram stories on Tuesday morning. The 41-year-old billionaire's showed off her chic workspace, which included an uncomfortable looking backless wooden chair

Kim gushed about her personal office for SKKN at her brand's headquarters, and revealed there was going to be a tour of it on YouTube soon.

'And just one more time, you guys I love my office. Shout out to Tommy and Waldo for decorating it and for working with Michelle, from Rick Owens, who made all this stuff...but yeah this is just a glimpse of my daily office life and what I do.'

Adding: 'And we actually have a whole YouTube video coming out showing our entire SKKN Kim office because its pretty major and you guys got to see what's going on in here. This is just my personal office so stay tuned for the SKKN by Kim office tour.

Kim kicked off the video standing in her office; she did not show herself in her stories, she was just heard speaking as she toured the office.

Behind the scenes: Kim also revealed that ex husband Kanye West came up with the name, packaging and font for her just released skincare brand SKKN

'I'm here in my office and I just wanted to share with you guys some of the creative process of how we came up with the packaging and the name SKKN by Kim. And how we picked color tones.'

'And usually... these are some of the mood boards from our original brainstorming sessions and usually everything is like sculptures, art pieces, things from my home... this is like an Axel Vervoordt home. These are some early renderings... been trying out all different types of fonts.

Kim then gave ex-husband Kanye, 45, a special shout out.

'And of course my creative process wouldn't have been complete... and I always give credit when credit is due without Kanye... Ye. And he brought his team and introduced me to Willo [Perron] and came up with the new name. That was actually his idea and the packaging shapes were his and even the font he did, just like Skims.'

Entrepreneur life: 'And just one more time, you guys I love my office. Shout out to Tommy and Waldo for decorating it and for working with Michelle, from Rick Owens, who made all this stuff...but yeah this is just a glimpse of my daily office life and what I do'

Details: Kim showed off her office chair, which was backless and made out of wood - looking very uncomfortable to sit in

Set up: Adding: 'And we actually have a whole YouTube video coming out showing our entire SKKN Kim office because its pretty major and you guys got to see what's going on in here. This is just my personal office so stay tuned for the SKKN by Kim office tour'

Serene: Her personal office for SKKN - which is not located at her residence - had large windows and high ceilings

Tones: She opted for her signature neutral tones throughout her office, which was decorated by Tommy Clements and Waldo Fernandez

BTS: 'I'm here in my office and I just wanted to share with you guys some of the creative process of how we came up with the packaging and the name SKKN by Kim. And how we picked color tones'

Closer look: Her new brand SKKN by Kim was released on Tuesday

Inspo: 'And usually... these are some of the mood boards from our original brainstorming sessions and usually everything is like sculptures, art pieces, things from my home... this is like an Axel Vervoordt home'

Neat: 'These are some early renderings... been trying out all different types of fonts'

Kanye's influence: 'And of course my creative process wouldn't have been complete... and I always give credit when credit is due without Kanye... Ye. And he brought his team and introduced me to Willo [Perron] and came up with the new name'

Closer look: That was actually his idea and the packaging shapes were his and even the font he did, just like Skims'

Kim said: 'So you can see the outer packaging, we found all these old references and I loved that material and then you can see that that's really the material... something similar...'

'When I realized that we wanted to really merge all my KKW brands and not have the customer go to three different sites, KKW Skin, KKW Fragrance and KKW Beauty... we wanted to come up with one name, kind of like Skims [her loungewear brand].

'The team came up with the name SKKN - I think that like Kanye and Willo - and SKKN by Kim. And I just love it. And I'm so excited that you guys are on this journey with us and I just wanted to share a little behind the scenes of our creative process.'

'And then of course when we thought of the name, we thought oh how perfect, the SKKN, which is how Ye was spelling it - the KK for Kim K - was really cute to us. And I really liked it. And also hearing Skims and Skin and then SKKN by Kim is really cute... we all just really liked it,' Kim said.

In 2019, Kim revealed that Kanye was the 'ghost creative director' of Skims,' in an interview with New York Times Columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin.

She said he not only drew the logo for the brand, but also helped with the packaging, selecting models and hiring photographers.

More inspiration: So you can see the outer packaging, we found all these old references and I loved that material and then you can see that that's really the material... something similar...'

The inspo: Kim revealed that Kanye helped pick the font of the name as well as the packaging and product containers

'And then of course when we thought of the name, we thought oh how perfect, the SKKN, which is how Ye was spelling it - the KK for Kim K - was really cute to us. And I really liked it'

Candid: 'And also hearing Skims and Skin and then SKKN by Kim is really cute... we all just really liked it'

Kim continued, chatting about how the products are refillable, which will reduce waste.

'And Willo and his whole team helped develop the packaging and make it sustainable and come up with the pods that go inside and that was really important to me. And this outer packaging being recyclable was really important to me. And I love how it all just comes together and looks like our stone references,' Kim said.

Kim also had also talked about earlier mock ups they made: 'These are actually made out of stone and we had these mocked up first because we wanted to really see what we wanted it to look like and so we have all these renderings and actual mockups before the final product.'

She said that when Kanye first saw the initial packaging he did not like any of it: 'You guys should have seen the first set of packaging. And when I tell you, Kanye walked in the room and was like this is not it and he was right. Packaging is like definitely his thing.'

Adding: 'And when Willow and the team were able to really figure out the whole sustainable part and all of this packaging inside pulls out... but we really figured out a way to make it refillable and I think just for our environment and everything it wasn't really an option that was just exactly what we were going to get. It was a requirement.'

Holding another mockup, this time made of glass, she said: 'See how smooth... this was one of the first originals and this is glass and they were all glass and it got really heavy. So we through so many different stages that I'm so excited to show you guys.'

Sustainable: 'And Willo and his whole team helped develop the packaging and make it sustainable and come up with the pods that go inside and that was really important to me. And this outer packaging being recyclable was really important to me. And I love how it all just comes together and looks like our stone references,' Kim said

Dedication: Kim also had also talked about earlier mock ups they made: 'These are actually made out of stone and we had these mocked up first because we wanted to really see what we wanted it to look like and so we have all these renderings and actual mockups before the final product'

Making it work: 'We really figured out a way to make it refillable and I think just for our environment and everything it wasn't really an option that was just exactly what we were going to get. It was a requirement'

Her brand: Holding another mockup, this time made of glass, she said: 'See how smooth... this was one of the first originals and this is glass and they were all glass and it got really heavy. So we through so many different stages that I'm so excited to show you guys'

Out now: Kim released her new SKKN by Kim skincare brand on Tuesday, June 21. It consists of nine products

Proud: Kim showed off the SKKN by Kim billboards in New York City's Time Square

Massive: The ads were splashed across the buildings in honor of release day on Tuesday

Another one: She shared four snaps of the billboards in the iconic Times Square
Actress Jane Seymour looked glamorous in a flashy feathered frock as she attended the closing ceremony of the 61th Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on Tuesday.

The screen star, 71, rocked a rhinestone studded periwinkle number, teamed with a matching sparkly clutch.

She looked stunning in the maxi-dress, styling the look by wearing her highlighted locks down pin-straight and channelling her glam side with dramatic make-up.

Sparkling: Actress Jane Seymour looked glamorous in a flashy feathered frock as she attended the closing ceremony of the 61th Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco on Tuesday.

The Live and Let Die Bond girl appeared in high spirits as she posed for the cameras in the sleeveless ensemble, which featured mesh detailing.

Jane stuck to her bedazzled theme as she also donned a slinky diamond necklace and stunning gem-drop earrings.

She then slipped on a flashy ring and a flashy bangle to finish off the gorgeous look.

Wow: The screen star, 71, rocked a rhinestone studded periwinkle number, teamed with a matching sparkly clutch

Fabulous: She looked stunning in the maxi-dress, styling the look by wearing her highlighted locks down pin-straight and channelling her glam side with dramatic make-up

All smiles: The Live and Let Die Bond girl appeared in high spirits as she posed for the cameras in the sleeveless ensemble, which featured mesh detailing

Elsewhere Victoria Silvstedt flaunted her curves in a scarlet dress with a dramatic thigh slit as she also made an appearance.

The Swedish model, 47, looked incredible in the form-fitting gown which featured mesh detailing that exposed a view of her ample cleavage.

The bright red number included glittering floral motifs along the bodice as the stunner posed up a storm.

Lady in red: Victoria Silvstedt flaunted her curves in a scarlet dress with a dramatic thigh slit at the closing ceremony

She wore her voluminous blonde locks down in styled waves, accessorising with dangly earrings and a ring.

Victoria opted for a glam make-up look which accentuated her lashes, finishing it off with a mauve glossy lip.

Actress Allison Dunbar, 49, and her partner Ron Perlman, 72, were also snapped holding onto one another at the event.

Wow: The Swedish model, 47, looked incredible in the form-fitting gown which featured mesh detailing that exposed a view of her ample cleavage

Stunner: The bright red number included glittering floral motifs along the bodice as the stunner posed up a storm

Allison looked incredible in a floor-sweeping black gown flaunting an exposed midriff.

The black-and-white ensemble featured a cut-out bow at the bust and the star teamed the look with some black leather gloves.

She swept her blonde locks up in s stylish updo whereas Ron kept it simple with a chic black suit and matching tie.

Gorgeous: Victoria opted for a glam make-up look which accentuated her lashes, finishing it off with a mauve glossy lip

Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Sue Anderson, 59, also made an appearance in a baby blue dress cinched at the waist.

The blonde star accessorised the outfit, which featured a flowy trumpet skirt, with a golden clutch and some strappy sandals.

She also wore a serpent shaped necklace to add a touch of glam to the look.

Krista Allen also showed up, looking sensational in a plunging V-neck dress which exposed her toned leg in a thigh slit.

Cute: Actress Allison Dunbar, 49, and her partner Ron Perlman, 72, were also snapped holding onto one another

Incredible: Allison looked incredible in a floor-sweeping black gown flaunting an exposed midriff

Stylish: The black-and-white ensemble featured a cut-out bow at the bust and the star teamed the look with some black leather gloves

The glittering white ensemble was teamed with strappy stiletto sandals and an ornate clutch.

The American actress, 51 - best known for her work on Days of Our Lives - wore her stunning chestnut locks in a voluminous side-part.

French actress Vahina Giocante, 40, put on a busty display in a silky crimson dress cinched at the waist with a golden belt.

Beautiful in blue: Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Sue Anderson, 59, also made an appearance in a baby blue dress cinched at the waist

Golden: The blonde star accessorised the outfit, which featured a flowy trumpet skirt, with a golden clutch and some strappy sandals

Bright: German actress Thekla Carola Wied, 78, also rocked an elegant mauve gown that showed off her svelte frame

The stunner wore her highlighted hair in styled curls, pairing the look with decorative earrings.

German actress Thekla Carola Wied, 78, also rocked an elegant mauve gown that showed off her svelte frame.

She styled her short hair in a voluminous bob, holding onto a dreamy floral print scarf and a black handbag.

Sizzling: Krista Allen showed up, looking sensational in a plunging V-neck dress which exposed her toned leg in a thigh slit
Korean businesses worry about survival, not growth



"To survive, technology comes first, second, and third," Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong said last Saturday, returning from his 12-day European tour. Stressing the importance of technology, Lee also said, "Our job is to bring talented people and create a flexible corporate culture." The top manager of the world's largest memory chip maker thus reaffirmed that securing a core workforce and technological leadership is the only way to survive the global competition.



Samsung Electronics is now experiencing difficulties maintaining a technological lead over foreign rivals. As a result, the company's stock price, which it once dreamed of breaking the 100,000 won ($77.30) level, tumbled to 58,700 won Monday. In the non-memory chip sector, which accounts for 70 percent of the semiconductor market, Samsung falls far behind Taiwan's TSMC. On the other hand, latecomer Intel, jointly with a Dutch partner, is closely chasing Samsung by successfully introducing extreme ultraviolet exposure equipment essential for the ultra-fine process.



There seems to be no end to its external risks, as seen by Russia's weaponization of rare gases such as neon and argon, core materials of semiconductors. Against this backdrop, Samsung Electronics recently announced a 450 trillion won investment plan for future growth engines, including the biotech and IT sectors, over the next five years. That also came far later than the moves of its major foreign competitors, who have been showing massive M&A activities over the past few years. Nevertheless, Lee, bound by judicial risks and weekly court hearings at home, renewed his resolve, saying, "We will put our life on the line."



Still, the domestic environment appears unfavorable for Samsung and other companies. However loudly the business community complains about the shortage of technicians and regulatory traps, politicians and bureaucrats have even tightened regulations and created an uneven playing field. In the meantime, governments in foreign countries have taken the lead in helping corporations strengthen their competitiveness, secure a talented workforce and enjoy tax benefits. Unless our country gets down to business, it can quickly fall behind in this era of widening technology gaps.






Michael B. Jordan has removed all traces of ex-girlfriend Lori Harvey from his Instagram account after she did the same following their shock breakup earlier this month.

The Creed actor's social media cleanse comes exactly two weeks after model Lori, 25, also removed Michael, 35, from her social media platforms.

News of their separation first emerged on June 5th, but neither party is yet to comment on exactly what went wrong.

It certainly came as a surprise to their social media followers, as the former couple were not shy when sharing loving and gushing posts about one another on Instagram.

In much happier times: Michael B. Jordan has now removed all traces of ex Lori Harvey from his Instagram.... two weeks after she did the same following their shock breakup

At the weekend, Michael was seen showing off his muscled physique in a white vest top on a night out at a club in West Hollywood, California.

Up until a few days ago, Michael still had a video of himself and Lori from March 29 on a night out, as well as a February 16 picture of her with the caption: 'I love her.'

But now they've all been erased, showing a clear sign that the breakup is for good.

Lori's father Steve Harvey initially made light of the situation, which may suggest that the split wasn't that acrimonious.

Wiped! Up until a few days ago, Michael still had a video of himself and Lori from March 29 on a night out, as well as a February 16 picture of her with the caption: 'I love her'

Confirming the split during an episode of The Steve Harvey Morning Show, he declared: 'I'm team Lori, 1,000 percent. She's my daughter. I love her, I support her.'

Steve then joked that at least it didn't end in a costly divorce - of which Steve himself has had three - and said he was glad that they both 'got out early.'

Hinting that it has been an amicable parting of ways, he said: 'Look, as long as everybody can walk away in peace, be friends...I ain't heard nobody say they busted no windows or nothing.'

'As long as you don't put your hands on my daughter, I don't give a damn what you do. He's still a cool guy...from what I know. It's a breakup. I'm pretty sure they'll be fine. People break up all the time.'

Steve has been married himself three times, and laughed as he admitted that he wishes he could have learned from the young couple.

You won't see this anymore: Lori Harvey also deleted all pictures of her and Michael B. Jordan from her Instagram days after it was revealed they had split

He said: 'I just wish I could have broke up without the cost factor! I got to start learning from my children, get out early! I waited way too late.'

'Im gonna have to start breaking up on IG 'cause this going to court is costly,' he added laughing.

People reported the news earlier this month with a source claiming they were 'completely heartbroken' about the split and they 'still love' each other.

'Michael matured a lot over the course of their relationship and was ready to commit for the long term,' the insider added.

'He let down his guard with her, opening up emotionally in a romantic relationship for the first time.'

The end: Michael B. Jordan, 35, and Lori Harvey, 25, have ended their relationship after a year and a half together, People reported on Saturday; seen March 27 in Beverly Hills

'They had great times together and brought out the best in each other.'

The former couple made their red carpet debut when they attended the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in Beverly Hills on March 27.

Michael was noticeably absent from the influencer's side when she walked the red carpet at the Met Gala on May 2.

However, the Black Panther actor shared photos of her red carpet appearance on his Instagram Stories. He gushed over one aerial image, writing, 'Probably my fav pic. The composition says so much.

'Birds eye view of a moment you've dreamed about for so long finally manifested & you didn't disappoint! Way to shine babygirl. I love you.'

The stepdaughter of Steve Harvey once again went solo when she attended a screening of the French zombie comedy Final Cut (Coupez!) at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17.
Claudia Winkleman rocked her signature heavily smudged eyeliner as she attended a Paramount+ dinner in London on Tuesday evening.

The presenter, 50, showed off her svelte frame in a striped black and white jumper and some skinny jeans.

She boosted her height with some stiletto leather boots, and held onto a simple clutch.

Iconic: Claudia Winkleman rocked her signature heavily smudged eyeliner as she attended a Paramount+ dinner on Tuesday evening

Claudia wore her thick raven tresses down, sporting her trademark chunky fringe.

The Strictly Come Dancing host accessorised the two-toned ensemble with layered golden necklaces and added a pop of colour with a neat crimson manicure.

Letting her glam lined eyes do the talking, the TV star kept the rest of her make-up simple with a baby pink lipstick.

Claudia was snapped smiling as she posed next to her husband, film producer Kris Thykier, 50.

Loved up: The star was snapped smiling as she posed next to her husband, film producer Kris Thykier, 50

Kris looked dapper in a deep grey suit, teamed with a maroon tie, as he grinned by his wife.

It comes as in April Claudia explained her dedication to her hairstyle, quipping that her signature fringe launched both her TV career and her sex life.

Speaking on the first night of her aptly named Behind The Fringe tour in Guildford, Surrey, the Strictly Come Dancing presenter admitted she has stuck to her style rules for decades.

All about the 'do: Claudia explained her dedication to her hairstyle, quipping that her signature fringe launched both her TV career and her sex life (pictured left in 2022 and right in 1995 aged 23)

'People ask, 'Did you always have a fringe?'. And yes I did,' she told the audience, quipping: 'People ask what I am hiding with my fringe  and it's a massive forehead that is repellent.'

Claudia said she got her fringe aged 21 and that's when life shifted.

'I was born with six extra teeth like a little dinosaur. When people saw me smile they screamed,' she told the crowd. 'But when I was 21 and a virgin, I got my fringe and everything started happening.'

Throwback: Claudia said she got her fringe aged 21 and that's when life shifted. 'I was born with six extra teeth like a little dinosaur. When people saw me smile they screamed' (pictured aged 24 in 1996)

Claudia, the daughter of journalist Eve Pollard read history of art at Cambridge before entering the world of TV as a travel presenter and reporter for shows such as This Morning in the early nineties.

She moved to bigger presenting roles, fronting the likes of Fame Academy and Liquid News before getting her big break on the BBC in 2005 when she started hosting Strictly spin off show It Takes Two.

Fast forward to 2009 and she stepped in at the last minute to present Strictly alongside Tess Daly when regular host Bruce Forsyth caught the flu, leading, a year later, to the regular role as co-host of the Sunday night results show.

She also replaced Bruce on Saturday nights following his departure in 2014.

Claudia has been married to film producer Kris Thykier for 22 years after they met when she was a 24-year-old newbie in The TV world. They share three children.

As well as her fringe, the TV star is also known for her dedication to fake tan, which she said she has 'always been addicted to.'

'I like being orange, I think it is because I was born in 1972, I am an eighties kid so everything was like ultra glow,' she told the audience on her tour date.

While she has her signature style that has made her a fashion icon, the presenter added that she relies on one very influential fashion queen to guide her everyday

Signature: Speaking on the first night of her aptly named Behind The Fringe tour, the Strictly presenter admitted she has stuck to her style rules for decades

'When you leave the house just think 'What would Kate Moss do?' If she would be happy then you can be happy.

'These are the things I want you to do. Great boots, thank you Kate, skinny jeans, again thank you Kate. An oversized coat, Kate knows what she is doing,' she said.

And as for her love of eyeliner, she advised: 'When you put it on and think 'That is enough' you have not even begun.'

The night on tour also saw Claudia reveal the secrets of her Strictly wardrobe, admitting that she and the team base each theme each series' style.

'At Strictly, I have never told anybody this, we always base my outfits on a different theme,' Claudia revealed. 'It could be a person or a place. One year I was Andre Agassi when I had long bits in my hair and we put turf in my dressing room.'

Among the other names Claudia has channelled include Pam St Clement, Slash from Guns n Roses, Joan Rivers , Sharon Osbourne and Rob Kardashian.

In February, during an appearance on The One Show to promote her tour, Claudia was confronted with a photo of herself without her fringe.

Hosts Alex Jones and Ronan Keating presented Claudia with the snap taken from her modelling days,

'Is that actually me?' Claudia gasped. 'That's disgusting,' she added. 'Let's take it off.'

The presenter was then asked if she would consider going blonde. 'I only work because of the hair,' she said. 'I can't change it.'
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Nina Dobrev has been having the time of her life when on vacation in the archipelagic country the Maldives in Southern Asia this week.

The 33-year-old Vampire Diaries actress looked sensational as she modeled a teeny green bikini that made the most of her curves. 'When it's so blue outside it's impossible to feel blue on the inside,' wrote the star in her Instagram caption.

The brunette beauty has been on holiday with her boyfriend Shaun White who is a former Olympian.

Time for fun in the sun: Nina Dobrev has been having the time of her life when on vacation in the archipelagic country the Maldives in Southern Asia this week

Her latest post shared several images from the white sand beach of the Patina Maldives, Fari Islands.

In most of the shots she was in the lime green print suit that had a bandeau top and briefs that rode low on her hips.

Her hair was worn down and she had on sunglasses as she flashed her warm tan.

White was also seen on the shore as he held his girlfriend is his arms and then they walked side by side.

Earlier this year Dobrev hailed White as the 'greatest boyfriend of all time' following his retirement from competitive snowboarding.

She has that summer glow: The Vampire Diaries actress looked sensational as she modeled a teeny green bikini that made the most of her curves

Not feeling blue: 'When it's so blue outside it's impossible to feel blue on the inside,' wrote the star in her Instagram caption

A cocktail: Her latest post shared several images from the white sand beach of the Patina Maldives, Fari Islands

The actress has taken to Instagram to lavish praise on Shaun, after he ended his career with a fourth-place finish at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Alongside a series of throwback images, Nina wrote: 'I couldn't be more proud. Of everything you have accomplished over the last 20 years as a competitor and the man you have become. You are one of a kind.'

The star also claimed that the Winter Olympics mark the 'beginning' of a new chapter for Shaun.

The thrill of it all: White was also seen on the shore as he held his girlfriend is his arms as she stuck her arms in the air

It's true love for these two: And they were also seen holding hands as they smiled at each other

She added: 'Today we are celebrating you. Your hard work. Your passion. Your determination. Your talent. Your fearlessness. Your courage. Your soul. Your heart. YOUR LEGACY.'

Shaun, 35, recently announced his intention to retire, and Nina hailed him as the 'G.O.A.T. of snowboarding'.

Her Instagram post continued: 'Not to mention you are also the G.(B).O.A.T. = Greatest Boyfriend Of All Time [winking emoji] @shaunwhite.'

Pals: In most of the shots she was in the lime green print suit that had a bandeau top and briefs that rode low on her hips. Her hair was worn down and she had on sunglasses as she flashed her warm tan

Nina has been working in the US while Shaun has been competing at the Winter Olympics in China.

But over recent weeks, she's been making every effort possible to support her boyfriend from thousands of miles away.

Shaun said earlier this month: 'She knew all of my friends and family couldn't be there and she got everyone together and made this incredible video of everyone saying how much they wish they could be there and sending their love and support.

'I've been playing that video every day while I'm here to get pumped up and feel support from back home. So that was just so wonderful. It really set the tone for the rest of the trip.'
On Tuesday, Dame Anna Wintour stooped to posing for a selfie - something she swore she'd never do - with none other than The Kardashians producer-star Kim Kardashian, and she even flashed a rare smile and peace sign.

The 41-year-old SKKN/SKIMS CEO - who boasts 431.3M social media followers - captioned her Instagram/Facebook slideshow: 'BOBBSEY TWINS!'

Kim bumped into the British 72-year-old the same day she taped a TODAY interview at 30 Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, but the Vogue offices are located five miles South at One World Trade Center.

A rare smile! On Tuesday, Dame Anna Wintour stooped to posing for a selfie - something she swore she'd never do - with none other than The Kardashians producer-star Kim Kardashian

Back in 2014, Anna proudly declared, 'I've never taken a selfie and I don't plan to start now' when asked to at the end of her Vogue 73 Questions interview.

That includes taking selfies with Wintour's 37-year-old son Charles Shaffer and 34-year-old daughter Bee Carrozzini as well as her three grandchildren Caroline, Ella, and Oliver.

But the Vogue editor-in-chief had no problem playing thinly-veiled versions of herself in Niclas Larsson's two Magic Diner shorts (2018), Ocean's Eight (2018), and Zoolander 2 (2016).

Anna also serves as chair of the Met Gala (originated by her predecessor Diana Vreeland) and, in 2015, Page Six reported that 'the use of phones for photography and social media will not be permitted inside the gala.'

The 41-year-old SKKN/SKIMS CEO - who boasts 431.3M social media followers - captioned her Instagram/Facebook slideshow: 'BOBBSEY TWINS!'

Promoting her skincare line: Kim bumped into the British 72-year-old the same day she taped a TODAY interview at 30 Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, but the Vogue offices are located five miles South at One World Trade Center

Denied! Back in 2014, Anna proudly declared, 'I've never taken a selfie and I don't plan to start now' when asked to at the end of her Vogue 73 Questions interview

Perhaps this is precisely why the celebrity annual bathroom selfie became such a staple of the posh Costume Institute benefit. (2016)

Wintour didn't let Kim into the Met Gala until 2013 and she didn't land a Vogue cover until 2014 - all thanks to the star power of her then fiance and secret stylist, Kanye West.

The April 2014 cover drew outrage from readers and celebs like Sarah Michelle Gellar, and the Conde Nast global CCO defended her decision in an editor's letter.

Selfie hater: Wintour also serves as chair of the Met Gala and, in 2015, Page Six reported that 'the use of phones for photography and social media will not be permitted inside the gala' (pictured in 2016)

'Annual bathroom selfie': Perhaps this is precisely why the celebrity annual bathroom selfie became such a staple of the posh Costume Institute benefit (pictured in 2017)

The power of Ye! The Vogue editor-in-chief didn't let Kim into the Met Gala until 2013 and she didn't land a Vogue cover until 2014 - all thanks to the star power of her then fiance and secret stylist, Kanye West

'Kanye is an amazing performer and cultural provocateur, while Kim, through her strength of character, has created a place for herself in the glare of the world's spotlight, and it takes real guts to do that,' Anna wrote.

'I think we can all agree on the fact that that role is currently being played by Kim and Kanye to a T. (Or perhaps that should be to a K?). There's barely a strand of the modern media that the Kardashian Wests haven't been able to master.'

It took five more years before Kardashian scored her first solo American Vogue cover after Radar Online claimed in 2012 that Wintour 'hated Kim' and 'would allow Kim Kardashian on the cover of Vogue over her dead body.'

'I guess I'm canceling my Vogue subscription': The April 2014 cover drew outrage from readers and celebs like Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Anna defended her decision in an editor's letter

Wintour (pictured June 7) wrote: 'Kanye is an amazing performer and cultural provocateur, while Kim, through her strength of character, has created a place for herself in the glare of the world's spotlight, and it takes real guts to do that. I think we can all agree on the fact that that role is currently being played by Kim and Kanye to a T. (Or perhaps that should be to a K?). There's barely a strand of the modern media that the Kardashian Wests haven't been able to master'
By Yoo Yeon-chul





When this year started, I wrote an article in The Korea Times titled, "Climate Outlook 2022," in January. This article mentioned a wide range of significant global events for climate change and sustainable development. Indeed, 2022 is a historic milestone, as it marks the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, which resulted in the establishment of the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP). This conference was widely known as the first international meeting on the environment.



The 1972 Stockholm Conference stimulated the formation of environment ministries and agencies around the world and the establishment of World Environment Day on June 5. This conference kickstarted a host of new global agreements, in which poverty eradication and environmental protection became linked. These agreements paved the way for the Sustainable Development Goals.



In particular, World Environment Day has been the biggest international day for the environment. Led by the UNEP and held annually since 1973, the event has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach. With over 150 countries participating, this U.N. international day engages governments, businesses, civil society, schools, cities and communities, raising awareness and celebrating environmental action.



Each year, World Environment Day is hosted by a different country where the official celebration takes place. The host country for 2022 is Sweden. With "Only One Earth" as the slogan, the campaign focuses on "Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature."



"Only One Earth" was, in fact, the very first slogan of the 1972 Stockholm Conference. 2022 World Environment Day is re-engineering the slogan to emphasize that planet Earth is still the only livable planet and to push for transformative actions to reset the balance between 1) people and the natural world, and 2) economy and the environment.



The 1972 Stockholm Conference delivered a compelling vision of people living in equitable harmony with nature. Over five decades, it catalyzed the formation of international institutions and creation of landmark environmental conventions. However, many half-hearted efforts have been made to implement those ideals as well. Therefore, we need to identify clear paths to implement and follow them.



In this regard, I'd like to make the following three recommendations on the occasion of Stockholm+50 Conference and World Environment Day.



In the first place, people have to make a shift in their perspective from "greed" to "green."



For this, we need to cultivate environmental awareness from childhood through education. Children are quite curious, learn new concepts quickly, and absorb new habits more easily than adults. Schools are responsible for the future generations by teaching them about environmental awareness and formulating an ecological culture among them. Ecological culture is a culture of respect for nature. This respect for nature can be acquired through environmental education, which will lead to new habits for a better future. The shift to green thinking can lead to avoiding the destruction of nature due to our own greed, which recently caused the COVID-19 pandemic.



Secondly, businesses also have to shift their perspective from "greed" to "green."



It is critical that businesses and the financial sector should see development as a long-term business opportunity. For this, we need to bring sustainability to global value chains. In recent years, it is so pleasing to see the change in perspectives around environment, social and corporate governance (ESG) values, which indicates that the attitude of "business's only goal is profit" is well on its way to disappearing from popular discourse.



In this context, it is recommended that we need to formulate a simplified mechanism that easily informs the general public and consumers to identify which companies are building the best environmental practices and which are falling behind. A simpler indication will increase the transparency and accountability of businesses embracing sustainability.



Indeed, positive business opportunities will be available when building on environmental awareness and ecological culture. Unlike in previous decades, we now have the tools of finance and technology to advance economic and environmental health simultaneously.



Last but not least, I'd like to propose that Korea host the global event for World Environment Day together with the UNEP in the near future. This event will provide a very good chance to showcase the hard work the country has done so far and to raise awareness of environmental issues and cultivate ecological culture here.



I look forward to seeing Korea host the global World Environment Day event in the near future.





Yoo Yeon-chul (ycyoo87@gmail.com), the former ambassador for climate change at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is serving as the secretary general of the U.N. Global Compact Network Korea. He also served as Korea's ambassador to Kuwait.




Nuri, Korea's first locally-developed space rocket, lifts off from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps



Nation becomes 7th in world to put satellite into orbit



By Baek Byung-yeul



Korea reached a milestone of becoming one of the world's space powerhouses, Tuesday, as the nation succeeded in launching its first-ever locally-developed rocket into space in its second liftoff attempt, according to the science ministry.



The Nuri, also known as Korean Space Launch Vehicle II (KSLV-II), successfully placed a 1.3-ton dummy satellite and a 162.5-kilogram performance verification satellite into a low orbit of 700 kilometers above the Earth, the ministry said.







"Nuri, which was launched at 4 p.m. today, was put into target orbit and successfully separated and placed the performance verification satellite in orbit," Lee Jong-ho, minister of Science and ICT, said during a briefing at Naro Space Center in Goheung, 473 kilometers south of Seoul.



"We announce the success of Nuri, a locally-developed space launch vehicle. The skies over Korea have opened wide. The country has made great progress in science and technology," the minister added.





The Nuri space rocket, launched from Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, flies into space, Tuesday. Yonhap



The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) launched the Nuri space rocket at 4 p.m. According to the flight sequence, the first engine, second engine and the pairing separated before the rocket's third engine stopped at 4:13 p.m. to reach a target altitude of 700 kilometers.



The rocket separated from the performance verification satellite at 4:14 p.m. and the dummy satellite detached at 4:16 p.m. KARI's satellite control center then announced that Nuri successfully communicated with the King Sejong research station in Antarctica around 40 minutes after liftoff.





Researchers at Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) celebrate the successful launch of the Nuri space rocket at the institute's satellite control center in Daejeon, Tuesday. Yonhap



With the successful launch, Korea became the seventh country in the world to launch a space rocket using domestically developed technology following Russia, the United States, France, China, Japan and India to place an over 1-ton satellite into orbit.



"Korea now became the seventh country to launch our own space launch vehicle into space on our soil," the science minister said. "Our country is now able to advance into space whenever we want as we don't need to rent a launch site or space launch vehicle from other countries."









Revealing the future of the country's space development plan, the science minister said, "Nuri is scheduled for its third launch in the first half of 2023. This will be a more advanced version. Until 2027, a total of four liftoffs will be conducted."





President Yoon Suk-yeol watches the Nuri space rocket's liftoff at his office in Yongsan, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk-yeol praised the successful launch of the locally-developed space rocket, saying "The success has paved the way for the nation to open a path to space."



"This is the outcome of 30 years of efforts despite difficult challenges," Yoon told researchers involved in the Nuri project in a video conference. "As I pledged during the presidential campaign, the government will set up an aerospace agency and provide systematic support for the aerospace industry."



The locally-developed rocket had to overcome lots of hurdles before the successful launch.



Since 2010, Korea has invested around 2 trillion won ($1.54 billion) into the Nuri development project with an aim of securing Korea's own space transport capability.



About 500 KARI researchers and 300 domestic companies, including Hanwha Aerospace, made the engine of the three-stage rocket that weighs 200 tons and stands 47.2 meters tall. Hyundai Heavy Industries constructed the launch pad.



During its first liftoff attempt in October 2021, the Nuri successfully lifted off and reached its target altitude, but failed to place a dummy satellite into orbit as its engine burned out 46 seconds earlier than expected.



KARI traced the problem to a loosened device that anchors a helium tank mounted inside the oxidizer tank in the third stage of the rocket.




She is an iconoclastic actor who is in a league of her own.

Tilda Swinton is British and is known for her roles in international cinema, both independent and blockbusters.

She has received top accolades, including an Academy Award, the British Academy Film Award and nominations for three Golden Globe Awards.

The New York Times ranked her thirteenth on its list of the greatest actors of the 21st century. Her films have been regularly screened at various editions of the prestigious Cannes Festival, including this years.

After graduating in English literature from Cambridge, Tilda joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and acted in many of their productions. She also did Bertolt Brecht plays.

Tildas foray into cinema began when she met the independent director Derek Jarman and acted in many of his experimental, often bizarre, movies. He turned out to be one of the biggest influences in her life.

Since then, Tilda has acted with iconoclastic directors from around the world  Jim Jarmusch, Wes Anderson, Bela Tarr, Sally Potter and Eric Zonca. She also did mega Hollywood films  The Beach, Vanilla Sky, Chronicles of Narnia and The Avengers.

Tilda did movies with individualistic Asian directors, too  Snow Piercers, Okja with Bong Joon Ho from Korea, and last year, she acted in Memoria, directed by Thailands best-known indie director, Apichatpong Weerasethakul. The film was unique because it was shot in Colombia, boasted of an international cast from Europe, United States and Colombia, and had a Spanish/English script. The movie won a Special Jury Award at the Cannes Festival.

Memoria was recently released in Bangkok, and Tilda Swinton flew down to the Thai capital for its premiere. She also conducted a Master Class, where, true to her personality, she was wild, witty, charismatic and controversial.

Excerpts:

On coming to Thailand:

What a luxury it is to quarantine in the wonderful beach-town of Phuket, after the cold in Europe!

On her acting career:

I have never been interested in acting, an acting career, or the acting industry. The idea of being in an industry is anathema to me, and I am glad I escaped it. I know actors take their craft very seriously, but I am ignorant of it. I have not been interested in a career, but in a life. An artistes life  that is different from being an actor! I am a writer who stopped writing! My inner wiring is that of a writer.

On theatre:

When I was at university, I was extremely interested in theatre. They taught me the art of using different voices.

On Derek Jarman:

I was ready to give up acting when I met Derek Jarman. It was he who set the course of my life in cinema. We were a family, holding Super 8 cameras! Super 8 was one of the glorious inventions of cinema. It was like collating poetry! It made an artist of you, because you could create, improvise and collaborate. I did many exciting films with him.

On collaborating with independent directors:

Every one of them tried to do something different, every role was highly interpretative. That is why I enjoyed them all. The theme of de-aging in David Finchs Benjamin Button was fascinating. As for Sally Potters Orlando, I have been working with gender for a long time, and the film was at the core of my being (in the film, Orlando is a man who changes into a woman!). I learnt Russian and Italian for Luca Guadagninos I am Love. I totally enjoyed Korean director Bong Joon Hos highly individual films Snowpiercer and Okja.

On working with big stars and directors:

They may be big names, but I chose the films because the roles were unique  Michael Clayton with George Clooney (she won an Oscar for it), The Beach with Leonardo Di Caprio and The Avengers with an exciting ensemble cast.

On how she chooses her roles:

It all starts with a conversation with the director. That is the trunk of the whole tree.

On interpreting roles:

Many call it a craft, but I call it an art. It is like performing without your skin. But learning acting can be a red herring.

On other important aspects of a superior performance:

The voice is especially important for preparing a role. The framing in the film, is also important. In fact, the framing is the landscape of the performance. One needs to put them all together. However, it is not just a bag of tricks!

On Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul:

When I had a conversation with him more than a decade back at Cannes, I wanted to dive into his pool. He has a unique sense of space and rhythm.

On the film, Memoria:

There is the misconception that a film needs story, characters, etc. Memoria has none of these. It is sensational, as it deals with the senses. Jessica, who plays the lead, is like a tortoise without a shell. She has a sense of undecidedness which is like the artistes predicament, and wafts through the film like in a dance. It is so close to my experience in life!

On her nationality:

I have done many films in Hollywood. But the more time I spend in America, the more foreign I feel. Am I European? No, Im Scottish! Thats why I continue to live there. I love nothing better than seeing the highlands from my window every day. It feeds into my feeling of being in a wilderness, and my sense of solitude which I value.

On the pandemic:

It brought one closer to ones friends and family. One of the first things I did when the lockdown happened was read the autobiography of Michael Powell-it was like reading the history of cinema! The pandemic encouraged the trend of streaming films. But its a big blip and is not for cine-nuts like us. The big cinema is too robust to fade. It will always be Back to Cinema for me. My personal motto is the one of BFI (British Film Institute)  Film Forever.
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the state government to explain its stand on a complaint from jowar farmers of Adilabad district that procurement of their produce in the district is being delayed.

The farmers complained to the court that they were forced to either dump their crop or sell it at severe loss to traders.

The court directed the government, the Adilabad Collector and agriculture officers to come up with their reply in no more than two weeks.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Sharma and Justice Abhinand Shavili was dealing with a PIL filed by Rythu Swarajya Vedika activist Borranna seeking urgent procurement of the crop.

Because of the delay, farmers were being forced to sell the jowar crop under severe loss, at a low price of Rs 1,500-1-Rs1,700 per quintal while the minimum support price (MSP) was Rs 2,738.

He said the farmers had extensively harvested jowar following the Chief Minister`s request to farmers to shift to cultivation of alternatives to paddy. He said that jowar was harvested in more than 1 lakh acres in the Rabi season 2021, but procurement orders have not been issued so far for the jowar waiting in the market.

This is a violation of the rights of livelihood of jowar farmers, the petitioner said.
Hyderabad: The TRS is most likely to support the joint Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha in the Presidential election scheduled for July 18.

Although an official statement is awaited, it is understood that TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has decided to support Sinha after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar called him on Tuesday and requested his support for Sinha, who was nominated unanimously by non-NDA parties.

According to TRS sources, Pawar called Rao shortly after a consensus was achieved among 20 non-NDA parties on Sinha's candidacy. Both the leaders spoke for about 10 minutes and discussed giving a tough fight to the BJP-led NDA candidate, who was yet to be announced at that time.

Rao reportedly assured Pawar that the TRS would back Sinha. TRS, on the other hand, has made no official statement on the issue. A TRS MP told this newspaper, "Sharad Pawar spoke to CM over phone and sought his support. He explained the reasons for choosing Sinha as joint opposition candidate. The CM was convinced and assured his support."

Last week, Rao skipped a non-NDA parties meeting in New Delhi held by Trinamul Congress president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to discuss fielding a joint candidate, claiming he wouldn't share a stage with the Congress.

This triggered speculation that the TRS would abstain from the Presidential poll voting as it cannot support either the BJP-led NDA candidate or an Opposition candidate backed by the Congress. TRS claimed that it would maintain equi-distance from both BJP and Congress.

Sinha has no Congress background and also a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sinha quit the BJP in April 2018, alleging that democracy was in danger and vowed to unite non-NDA parties against Modi.

Sources said Pawar reminded Rao that since he was also fighting against BJP and Modi, it would be apt for the TRS to support Sinha.

According to party insiders, Rao met with senior leaders at Pragathi Bhavan on Tuesday to discuss the party's presidential election strategy. The meeting discussed the possibility at that time of the BJP fielding Vice-President M.Venkaiah Naidu, as well as what the TRS' position should be if the request to support a "Telugu bidda" (son of Telugu states) cames up. Rao ruled out supporting the BJP under any circumstances, and the NDA later chose Draupadi Murmu.
The female sloth bear that caused panic in Srikakulam district, killing a farmer and injuring six others, died on the way to Indira Gandhi Zoological Park. (DC file photo)

Visakhapatnam: The female sloth bear that caused panic in Srikakulam district, killing a farmer and injuring six others, died on the way to Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Vizag, after its capture by a special forest team on Tuesday.

Chief forest conservator Ramamohan Rao said the bear attacked a bull on Monday night after it attacked some people, but suffered injuries when the bull retaliated with its horns. It moved into a shed in the village and remained calm since then.

On information from the farmers, a team of forest officials rushed to the shed and used tranquillizer to bring the animal under control. They shifted the animal into a vehicle and moved it towards the Vizag zoo. On the way, they injected an antibiotic dose, but the animal died a few minutes later.

The animal was very active but got calm after its fight with the bull. It might have suffered serious injuries though we did not notice any blood stains on it due to its thick fur, the CFO said.

The locals said the bear had with it two cubs and turned ferocious after the cubs were separated.

Srikakulam SP Radhika said that among the six injured persons, four were shifted to a private hospital in Vizag where their condition remained serious.
New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday named Droupadi Murmu, former Jharkhand governor and prominent tribal community leader, as the NDAs nominee for the presidential election, to be pitted against former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, the unanimous candidate of the Opposition camp.

Born in Odishas Mayurbhanj district, Murmu, who began her career as a teacher, belongs to the Santhal community. With nearly 50 per cent of the total votes in the Electoral College for the Presidential poll stacked in favour of the NDA, the country is all set to get its first tribal woman in the highest constitutional post. Tribals are numerically significant in states like Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and the northeastern states, among others including Telangana

Ms Murmus name was finalised at a meeting of the BJP parliamentary board here on Tuesday, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and party chief J.P. Nadda, among others.

Smt Droupadi Murmu Ji has devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalised. She has rich administrative experience and had an outstanding gubernatorial tenure. I am confident she will be a great President of our nation Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Smt Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country, tweeted Modi.

Speaking to this newspaper shortly afterwards, Murmu said: I never expected my name to be announced as the NDAs presidential candidate. I thank the BJP parliamentary board for choosing me for this position. I will try to deliver up to the expectations of the people of my country. Since I have worked in the post of Governor, I dont think there will be any difficulty for me to discharge my duties as the President of India.

Murmu entered Odishas politics in 1997. After serving as vice-president of the BJP Scheduled Tribes Morcha, Murmu was elected MLA twice from Rairangpur, in 2000 and 2009. She was a minister in the BJD-BJP coalition government in Odisha, and held the commerce and transport portfolios, and then the fisheries and animal resources department. She was also Jharkhand's first woman Governor.

While the BJP is in a comfortable position of getting its nominee elected as the successor of President Ram Nath Kovind, it is also hopeful of getting the support of non-NDA, non-UPA parties like Naveen Patnaiks BJD, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddys YSRC and the AIADMK. The BJPs choice of presidential candidate is also likely to put pressure on the JMM, which runs Jharkhands government as an ally of the Congress, as the state is dominated by the tribal community.

Sources said the BJPs key ally, JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was informed about the BJPs choice before Nadda officially announced Murmus candidature at a press conference. The JD(U) has earlier sided with the non-NDA candidates on two previous occasions.

The BJP parliamentary board discussed 20 names for the presidential nominee, (and) it was decided to pick someone from east India, a tribal and a woman For the first time, preference has been given to a woman tribal candidate. We announce Droupadi Murmu as the NDAs candidate for the coming presidential elections, said Nadda while addressing the press conference after the meeting on Tuesday evening.

The BJP parliamentary board meeting was attended by Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the party headquarters here.

Speculation is rife that Murmu could file her nomination before the Prime Minister leaves for Germany to attend the G-7 Summit. Many senior BJP leaders, including Union ministers and some chief ministers, have been asked to remain in the national capital on June 24 and 25. The last date for filing the nomination is June 29, and the election is due to be held on July 18.
New Delhi/Kolkata: The Opposition parties on Tuesday fielded former Union minister Yashwant Sinha as their joint candidate for the coming presidential elections. The Opposition leaders, who gathered at the Parliament House Annexe for the meeting convened by NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, unanimously agreed on Mr Sinhas name. In the forthcoming presidential elections, we have decided to elect a common candidate and stop the Narendra Modi government from doing any further damage. At a subsequent meeting held today we have chosen Yashwant Sinha as the common candidate. We appeal to all political parties to vote for Yashwant Sinha, said Jairam Ramesh, the AICC communications chief, reading from a joint statement by the Opposition. This was the second meeting of the Opposition parties to decide on a presidential candidate. Mr Sinha has headed the key finance and external affairs ministries in the Atal Behari Vajpayee government from 1999 to 2004.

Earlier on Tuesday, before the joint Opposition meeting, Mr Sinha had resigned as Trinamul Congress vice-president and all other party posts. Announcing his resignation from the TMC, Mr Sinha tweeted: I am grateful to Mamata ji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now a time has come when for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater Opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step.

In Kolkata, West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee congratulated her party colleague for becoming the presidential candidate from the Opposition. Lauding the veteran politician after senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge announced his name, Ms Banerjee tweeted: I would like to congratulate Shri @YashwantSinha on becoming the consensus candidate, supported by all progressive Opposition parties, for the upcoming presidential election. A man of great honour and acumen, who would surely uphold the values that represent our great nation!

Trinamul MP Abhishek Banerjee, the CMs nephew, who attended the Opposition meeting representing his party, also tweeted: Heartiest congratulations to @YashwantSinha ji for being chosen as the joint Opposition candidate for the coming presidential elections. It is my firm belief that for all progressive parties who share the same vision for our nation, there could not have been a better choice!

Earlier, former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and former Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdullah had declined to run for President.

The joint statement by the Opposition parties appealed to the BJP and its allies to support the candidature of Mr Sinha so that the nation can have a worthy Rashtrapati elected unopposed. A committee has been formed to steer Mr Yashwant Sinha's campaign. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said: We regret that the Modi government made no serious effort to have a consensus on a presidential candidate.

The last date for the filing of nominations is June 29. The election, if it is necessary, will be held on July 18 and the counting will be on July 19.
Is it curtains for the Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi that has been put up for sale by the multi-national company Vedanta Ltd or will the move usher in a new beginning for the industrial growth of southern Tamil Nadu? Right from the time of its inception in 1997, the copper smelter facility has repeatedly been bogged down by controversies. It always managed to come out of them triumphantly and when it was shut down by the state government in 2018, it was reportedly manufacturing copper that fed 40 per cent of the countrys needs.

A state-of-art establishment employing 5,000 people and providing indirect jobs to another 25,000, accounting for 12 per cent of the revenue of the Thoothukudi port, helping the local community through a slew of CSR projects and even taking up environment-friendly initiatives should have been a dream company, perceived as a means of developing the economy of the region that has many educational institutions but few industries to engage those passing out.

Many people from the region, including several women, worked in the company that gave many small business contracts to the locals. Still if public resentment triggers an uprising that police felt could be quelled only by opening fire on the protesters, who should be blamed for it? In fact, the company could not shirk the blame for the death of the 13 persons in police firing in May 2018.

Earlier, too, it had been shut down for short periods for violating environmental norms. Before it set up shop in Thoothukudi, three state governments, Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra, had refused permission to the plant. In short, it had been a jinxed plant right from the start, mainly because the company management had erred too many times on several counts.

Hope the new management changes the culture, reaches out to the people and heralds a new beginning for the facility.
Abdulrazak Gurnah, the British-Tanzanian Nobel-winning writer, has spent a lifetime confronting colonialism and racial politics -- and welcomes a new generation keeping these issues alive.

The author has suddenly become a famous name in his 70s after winning last year's Nobel Prize for Literature.

Drawing on the brutal realities of colonialism in Africa and the dislocation and poverty he experienced when he came to England, novels such as "Paradise", "Desertion" and "Gravel Heart" explore racism, exile and the legacy of European domination.

Gurnah says his generation had a particularly complex relationship with colonialism.

"For people of my father's generation, colonialism was something they saw arriving, implanting itself, dominating. But they didn't lose a sense of who they were," he told AFP during a trip to Paris.

"(My generation) couldn't just brush it off. We could see that in fact much has been done -- progress in medicine, technology, engineering... we are more urgently forced to try and engage and understand that relationship."

He welcomes the recent wave of anti-colonial protests, often focused on statues and other symbols of the era.

"I don't care if they topple statues or not. But the symbolism is good," he said.

"And it provokes all these right-wingers to come out and start crying and complaining. Good. It means the issue is kept alive."

Gurnah grew up in Zanzibar, which became part of Tanzania after gaining independence from Britain in 1963.

A year later, a Communist-inspired revolution led to problems for Gurnah's Arab-origin family.

His father came from a Yemeni family and his uncle was a wealthy trader of fish, dates and spices.

They became targets when the Communists overthrew Zanzibar's sultan and his mainly Arab government.

"It was a difficult time for everybody, particularly people who the government considered to be foreigners. It was part of a racialisation process, quite unjust," Gurnah recalled.

His family supported the Zanzibar Nationalist Party, which had tried to create a shared identity rather than focus on separate ethnicities.

"We were saying: we're Zanzibaris -- we're not Indians, Arabs, Africans. We don't want to be racialised," he said.

"Of course the racial politics won, but I still want to adhere to: I'm a Zanzibari, I'm not a Yemeni, this or that, or an African."

That debate found strange echoes after his Nobel victory, with Arabs seeking to claim him as one of their own.

"The Arabs celebrated me as a Yemeni writer. I said well, fine, if you want. That's not how I feel, but... it makes everybody happy, so why not?"

Gurnah fled to Britain and spent years in poverty before managing to educate himself into a career as an academic and author.

With South Africa's Damon Galgut winning the Booker Prize and Senegal's Mohamed Mbougar Sarr becoming the first sub-Saharan African to win France's Prix Goncourt, 2021 proved to be a landmark year for African literature.

Gurnah knows the label of "African literature" is far too vague since it encompasses such a vast and diverse continent, but he takes a relaxed attitude.

"Those who use the term often already have a conception of African literature," he said. "They might exclude white South Africans, or North Africans, or Ethiopians and Somalis."

"(But) if we use it symbolically, it's OK, I can live with that... and I don't want to argue with anybody."
A powerful earthquake struck a remote border region of Afghanistan overnight killing at least 1,000 people and injuring 1,500 more, officials said Wednesday, with the toll expected to rise as desperate rescuers dig through collapsed dwellings.

The 5.9-magnitude quake struck hardest in the rugged east, where people already lead hardscrabble lives in the grip of a humanitarian crisis made worse since the Taliban takeover in August.

"People are digging grave after grave," said Mohammad Amin Huzaifa, head of the Information and Culture Department in hard-hit Paktika, adding that at least 1,000 people had died in that province alone.

He said more than 1,500 people were injured, many critically.

"People are still trapped under the rubble," he told journalists.

The death toll climbed steadily all day as news of casualties filtered in from hard-to-reach areas in the mountains, and the country's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, warned it would likely rise further.

The earthquake struck areas that were already suffering the effects of heavy rain, causing rockfalls and mudslides that hampered rescue efforts.

"It was a horrible situation," said Arup Khan, 22, recovering at a hospital in the Paktika provincial capital of Sharan.

"There were cries everywhere. The children and my family were under the mud."

He told AFP that rescuers pulled him out of the wreckage of a guesthouse, but two relatives were killed at his nearby home.

Photographs and video clips posted on social media showed scores of badly damaged houses in remote rural areas.

"We believe that nearly 2,000 homes are destroyed," the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan, Ramiz Alakbarov, told reporters.

Footage released by the Taliban showed local residents of one village digging a long slit trench to bury the dead, who by Islamic tradition should be laid to rest facing Mecca.

The disaster poses a huge challenge for the Taliban, who have largely isolated the country as a result of their hardline Islamist policies -- particularly the subjugation of women and girls.

Even before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan's emergency response teams were stretched to deal with the natural disasters that frequently strike the country.

But with only a handful of airworthy planes and helicopters left since they returned to power, any immediate response to the latest catastrophe is further limited.

"The government is working within its capabilities," tweeted Anas Haqqani, a senior Taliban official.

"We hope that the International Community & aid agencies will also help our people in this dire situation."

The United States, whose troops helped topple the initial Taliban regime and remained in Afghanistan for two decades until Washington pulled them out last year, was "deeply saddened" by the earthquake, the White House said.

"President Biden is monitoring developments and has directed USAID (US Agency for International Development) and other federal government partners to assess US response options to help those most affected," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.

The United Nations and European Union were quick to offer assistance.

"Inter-agency assessment teams have already been deployed to a number of affected areas," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Afghanistan said on Twitter.

Tomas Niklasson, EU special envoy for Afghanistan, tweeted: "The EU is monitoring the situation and stands ready to coordinate and provide EU emergency assistance to people and communities affected."

Neighbour Pakistan, where officials said one person was killed in the quake, said it would send emergency aid -- including tents -- across their border.

Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes -- especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

Scores of people were killed and injured in January when two quakes struck the western province of Badghis, damaging hundreds of buildings.

In 2015, more than 380 people were killed in Pakistan and Afghanistan when a 7.5-magnitude earthquake ripped across the two countries, with the bulk of the deaths in Pakistan.

Afghanistan's deadliest recent earthquake killed 5,000 in May 1998 in the northeastern provinces of Takhar and Badakhshan.

From the Vatican, Pope Francis offered prayers for victims of the latest quake.

"I express my closeness with the injured and those who were affected," the 85-year-old pontiff said at the end of his weekly audience.

Wednesday's quake occurred at around 1:30 am at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles), some 47 kilometers southwest of the city of Khost, according to the United States Geological Survey.

It was felt as far away as Lahore in Pakistan, 480 kilometres from the epicentre.
Mahila Congress president Netta D'Souza was seen spitting at police officers while having a scuffle with the cops during protest in Delhi against questioning of Rahul Gandhi by the ED.

A video has come up that shows D'Souza spitting at the cops just before closing the door of the vehicle she was in. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Ponnawalla shared the video on Twitter slamming the Congress leader for the act.

"Shameful & Disgusting After beating up cops in Assam, holding their collar on Hyderabad now Mahila Congress President Netta Dsouza spits at cops & women security personnel merely because Rahul is being questioned by ED for corruption Will Sonia,Priyanka & Rahul act on her? (sic)," he tweeted.

#WATCH | Mahila Congress President Netta D'Souza spits at police personnel during a protest with party workers in Delhi against ED for questioning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. pic.twitter.com/cPBIntJq1p  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2022

Meanwhile, the Congress on Tuesday staged a Satyagraha at the party headquarters alleging "misuse" of the Enforcement Directorate and "harassment" of party leader Rahul Gandhi, who is being questioned by the probe agency for the fifth day in the National Herald money laundering case.

Also read: BJP issues list of abuses against PM Modi by Congress

The protesting leaders, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, later announced a march to Jantar Mantar, but the police prevented them for lack of permission. Several Congress workers were detained.

The police said the Congress leaders were given permission to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar but they were not allowed to take out a march.

Baghel, along with supporters, sat on road outside the Congress office while Gehlot dubbed the BJP leaders "fascists" masquerading as believers of democracy to befool people.

"They (BJP leaders) are fascists and have worn the mask of democracy. They are trying to pit one community against the other and are breaking the social fabric," he said, exhorting party workers to continue with their Satyagraha against the government's "atrocities".

(With inputs from PTI)
McKinsey & Company Global Managing Partner Bob Sternfels speaks in a video address at the 2022 Korea Times Forum at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



McKinsey chief advises country to harness strength in technology



By Park Jae-hyuk



Korea should take advantage of its strength in technology to take the lead in sustainability and digital transformation, both of which are viewed by global leaders as the key topics of our time, according to Bob Sternfels, the global managing partner of McKinsey & Company.



Regarding the two topics as the key drivers and essential prerequisites for the future of business, the head of the world's top consulting firm expressed his confidence that the Korean government will help build a strong and dynamic economy as a powerful example for the rest of the world.



"It is time for Korea to be the world's lighthouse, both across sustainability and digital," he said in a pre-recorded video address during the 2022 Korea Times Forum at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) building in Seoul, Tuesday.



Sternfels acknowledged that a massive scale of costs could make it difficult for Korea's private sector to integrate environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles into their operations and develop roadmaps to reducing carbon emissions, as well as for the Korean government to fulfill its promise made last October to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 26 percent to 40 percent of 2018 levels by 2030.



He cited his company's research that showed almost $9 trillion in capital spending will be needed annually for the world to reach net-zero by 2050.






The country is witnessing unabated protests against the Agnipath scheme announced by the Narendra Modi government. The Bharat Bandh call on Monday by some groups disrupted both rail and road traffic in many states of the country.

Passengers were stranded on several railway stations as hundreds of trains were cancelled across the country in different zones. Several cities, including the national capital witnessed chaotic scenes of traffic jams due to the Bharat Bandh call.

Also Read; Agnipath will sound the death knell for armed forces: Lt Gen (retd) Vinod Bhatia

As the protests against the Agnipath scheme launched for the recruitment in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force continue, the BJP government and opposition political parties are engaged in hurling accusations at each other. The opposition is attacking the BJP government for playing with the future of youngsters by offering a job which does not have financial and social security. The BJP, in turn, is accusing the opposition of politicising the issue and misleading the youth against the scheme. The Congress party launched a satyagraha against the Agnipath scheme at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Sunday (June 19).

CVoter-IndiaTracker conducted a nationwide survey on behalf of IANS to know people's views about the events that have been unfolding since the announcement of the Agnipath scheme.

During the survey, 57 per cent of the respondents opined that the opposition political parties are trying to draw political mileage out of the issue and they are instigating the youth against the scheme. At the same time, 43 per cent of those interviewed during the survey had a different view on the issue.

Predictably, during the survey, the polarised opinion on the issue was reflected in the views of the majority of NDA and opposition supporters. As per the survey data, while 73 per cent of the NDA voters stated that opposition political parties are provoking the youngsters to protest against the scheme, 55 per cent of opposition supporters did not agree to this sentiment.

Also Read: Agniveers should be for 7 years; review scheme after 5 years: Ex-Director General of Military Ops A K Bhatt

The survey data highlighted the difference in the opinions of different social groups on the issue. During the survey, 76 per cent of the Upper Caste Hindus, 62 per cent of Other Backward Classes and a large proportion of Scheduled Castes - 55 per cent opined that opposition political parties are inciting the youngsters against the four-year-job scheme. At the same time, 66 per cent Sikhs, 66 per cent Muslims and 60 per cent of Scheduled Tribe respondents absolved opposition political parties from such accusations.

The survey further revealed that the majority of Indians were opposed to the Bharat Bandh call given by protesters against the Agnipath scheme. As per the survey data, while 53 per cent of the respondents said that they don't support such a call, 47 per cent of respondents expressed support for the Bharat Bandh call. Unsurprisingly, political polarisation between the NDA and opposition voters was evident on this issue as well. While 64 per cent NDA voters opposed the Bharat Bandh call, 55 per cent of opposition supporters spoke in favour of such a call.

Difference in opinions of different social groups was evident on this issue as well. During the survey, while 64 per cent of UCH respondents and 57 per cent of OBC respondents opposed the Bharat Bandh call, majority of Sikhs - 63 per cent, ST - 73 per cent, Muslims - 53 per cent and 53 per cent of SC respondents supported the call for strike.
In a swift search and rescue (SAR) mission, the Indian Coast Guard saved 15 mariners, of Syrian nationality, from foreign-flag ship MV Princess Miral, which ran aground on Tuesday.

The SAR mission was coordinated by Indian Coast Guard Ships (ICGS) Vikram and Amartya in rough weather conditions. MV Princess Mirals crew had abandoned ship due to hull breach and heavy ingress of water in holds. The vessel was bound for Lebanon from Malaysia, said Coast Guard Commander DIG S B Venkatesh.

The successful operation and seamless coordination of Maritime Search and Rescue in the Indian Search and Rescue region by Indian Coast Guard units reaffirm the maritime forces capabilities as a nodal agency for M-SAR in the Indian Ocean region, he said.

Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Dr Rajendra K V said that the vessel was five to six nautical miles away from Ullal shore.
Over 200 delegates from across the island will attend this years All Ireland Social Prescribing Conference in Derrys City Hotel this week.

Social Prescribing is an innovative approach to health, whereby GPs and other healthcare professionals can link up with local community healthy living centres to provide 'social prescriptions' for their patients, providing walking groups, book clubs or therapy sessions.

It can have a huge impact on those suffering from social isolation or mild depression.

The conference, which is being held on June 23 and 24, will be addressed by Frank Feighan TD and Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and Drug Strategy Frank Feighan TD and Health Minister Robin Swann MLA.

Derry City and Strabane District Council Mayor, Sandra Duffy, and MP for Foyle Colum Eastwood will also address the event.

The conference Social Prescribing: Celebrating and Sustaining Throughout the Island will aim to highlight the critical role of social prescribing projects based in community centres, healthy living centres, primary care centres and hospitals throughout the island of Ireland.

The All-Ireland Social Prescribing Conference is organised by the All-Ireland Social Prescribing Network, an island-wide steering group that is driving this innovative healthcare approach.

Tony Doherty, co-chair of the Network believes the conference will highlight the important work carried out across the island.

Mr Doherty said: Social Prescribing is a fantastic approach to improve health and wellbeing at local level, and puts health back into peoples own hands.

"Ideally every community would have this service and that is our aim. With the conference coming to the beautiful city of Derry, this will become a timely occasion for those involved to come together, take a step back and look at how best to maximise the places and people at the heart of the services.

Social Prescribing aims to support individuals to take greater control of their own health and links them to a variety of activities within their own communities following a referral from the GP or other healthcare professional.

What is offered is often a complement to medical treatment. A person is offered a social prescription rather than a medical one, and they are then linked to a social prescriber or link worker based in the community who assists the person in choosing classes or activities that will benefit them.

Social prescribing is especially effective for those who are affected by anxiety, depression, loneliness, fatigue, chronic pain, or just seeking information on the benefits of healthy eating and exercise.

Derry based GP, Dr Paul Molloy, has seen first-hand the benefits of social prescribing over the last few years, having worked closely with the SPRING Social Prescribing project which co-ordinates social prescribing for thousands of people in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Dr Molloy said: The social prescribing scheme has been a tremendous success and shows that taking a holistic approach to someones health is just as important as addressing physical illness.

The benefits to physical and mental health have been reflected in positive feedback from patients and reduced levels of attendances to health services.

For example, if someone has a low mood caused by isolation, medication is not going to help, and they may repeatedly go to their GP as they have nowhere else to turn.

"Through a Social Prescription we get them involved in community activities which they enjoy such as a walking group, stop their issues progressing, improve their wellbeing and therefore reduce the need for health services.

Thanks to GPs such as Dr. Molloy, to date, SPRING Social Prescribing has been helping over 4,000 people with social prescriptions to improve their health and well-being.

Whilst the SPRING Social Prescribing project operates across both Northern Ireland and Scotland, the core team is based in Derry and have been working diligently with the All-Ireland Network to bring this years conference to the North West for the first time.

The conference will bring project managers, strategists, social prescribers and people who have received social prescriptions together for a two-day event to discuss and further discover how this innovative approach to health can be expanded.

At a time when waiting lists and appointments are ever increasing, social prescribing can help alleviate such pressures.

For more information on Social Prescribing visit www. allirelandsocialprescribing.ie
Derry's businesses had a fantastic evening at the North West Business Awards, held at The City Hotel in Derry on Saturday June 18.

Little Acorns Bookstore took home the top prize, Overall Business of the Year Award with Ferry Clever scooping two awards, Best Retailer of the Year and Best Use of Marketing, Social Media and/or Social Media.

Hidden City Cafe continued their winning streak taking home North West Food Hero after winning Best Casual Dining Restaurant at the NI Hospitality Awards only three weeks ago.

Owner of Little Acorns Bookstore, Jenni Doherty said she is in complete shock after her well-deserved win.

"What a night, I can't believe it," Jenny said. "I'm still in total shock and it's not often that I'm speechless, I'm just totally blown away.

"We won the Overall Business/Entrepreneur of the year at the North West Business Awards, with the wonderful U105 as the wonderful sponsors.

"Such beautiful words from Lisa McGee of Derry Girls in recognition too. Just wow.

"I want to give a massive thanks to the brilliant organisers City Centre Initiative and Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, to all the generous sponsors and Derry City and Strabane District Council, all the talented and inspiring category nominees and winners.

"Also thank you to all the judges and City Hotel Derry for such a gorgeous setting.

"I want to thank my most precious family, friends and business colleagues; everyone who reads books, creates magic and visits our corner. Your loyalty, encouragement, humour, friendship and love is everything.

"There is no better industry nor city to be in. This is for you and my dear parents. Dreams can come true; follow them. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Established in 2011, Little Acorns Bookstore has an overall stock of over 40,000 books, and specialise in Irish-related subjects, authors and publishers.

Little Acorns can be found at 11 Foyle Street, Derry, BT48 6AL.

Jenni Doherty, Little Acorns Bookstore, winner of the Overall Business of the Year pictured with Jim Roddy, City Centre Initiative, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council (award sponsors), Councillor Sandra Duffy, John Kelpie, Chief Executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council and Anna Doherty, Derry Chamber of Commerce

Christopher Ferry, founder, owner and creator at Ferry Clever was also absolutely lured to take home niot one, but two major awards.

Christopher said: "What a whirlwind! To win one was amazing but to win two was unthinkable.

"I can't help but continue this post by congratulating my good friend Gemma at Independent Derry who works tirelessly to improve local businesses at every single opportunity including me since the moment I opened my doors and will continue to do so.

"What's next? Let's see. The future is bright, the future is local. Thank you, North West Business Awards."

Ferry Clever has become a major hit in Derry with their witty cards, designs and gifts with typical Derry humour as well as all the craic and special guests flooding their Instagram.

Ferry Clever can be found at 17-21 Bishop St, Derry BT48 6PR. You can also get your hands on Ferry Clever's designs online or on Moonpig.

Christopher Ferry, Ferry Clever, winner of the NW Retailer of the Year award, pictured with the award sponsor Jordan Holmes of JKC, Ceara Ferguson, City Centre Initiative and Anna Doherty Derry Chamber of Commerce

Last but not least, "hidden gem" here in the city, Hidden City Cafe, won Food Hero at the awards.

Commenting on their win, Owner and Chef Justyn McNicholl and Bronagh McNicholl, said: "We are delighted to win Food Hero at the North West Business Awards in The City Hotel. It was a bonus winning the raffle Logan Air flights too!

"Thank you to City Centre Initiative and Londonderry Chamber of Commerce for a fantastic night, well done on your hard work.

"Congrats to all winners and shortlisted finalists. Shout out to Carrick Foods, Graze2u and Toast Accountants. Thank you."

The "Hidden" cafe is a lovely local food spot within the city, serving locally sourced, fresh meals, providing a wide range of vegan and vegetarian dishes.

The local cafe also supports a "pay ahead" scheme which allows the public to support free meals for those who may need them.

Hidden City Cafe is situated at 2 London St, Derry, BT48 6RQ.

Justin and Bronagh McNicholl of Hidden City Cafe, winner of the NW Food Hero of the Year award, pictured with award sponsor, Eamon McCay of Frylite

Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Jim Roddy, Chief Executive of CCI, said: I think everyone tonight would agree that we have some of the finest examples of business in the North West here this evening.

"Our winners and nominees are very deserving of these awards. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our main sponsor, Derry City and Strabane District Council and our category sponsors for supporting local business and their achievements, without them we would not be able to host these awards.

Selecting winners from the nominations we receive is always very difficult and our panel of judges worked rigorously through the nominations to select very worthy winners for these awards.

"Not only our winners, but those shortlisted should be very proud to represent the best of the North West this year.

"To those who didnt make the shortlist, we encourage you to keep applying, 2023 could be the year for you all."

Congratulating the winners, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Sandra Duffy, said: I want to extend my congratulations to all who were shortlisted for the North West Business Awards and all who picked up accolades this evening.

"These businesses are playing a hugely important role in driving the local economy and adding to the diversity of exciting products and services available here in the North West.

"They are an inspiration to anyone setting out in the business world. This is an exciting time for Derry and Strabane, with our City Deal plans afoot and the opportunities this will bring for both local business and those who choose to invest in our skilled and talented people."
Most young girls celebrate their 21st birthday by getting dressed up for a glamorous night out but big hearted Rachel McCusker from Maghera decided to mark her milestone birthday by having her head shaved for charity.

Rachel chose to raise funds for Amyloidosis Research as it is a charity close to her and her family's heart.

Rachel's grandfather Jim Travers lost his battle with Amyloidosis in 2013.

The disease is caused by a build up of abnormal protein fibres, called amyloid, within the tissues and organs.

It's just something that I've always wanted to do, said Rachel.

I remember at the time that my Granda was ill there wasn't much research into the disease.

I suppose because I'm doing a degree in health care it's always been something that I've been interested in.

Looking into it now as a medical student I came across the Royal Free Charity in London and that really made me want to get on and do something.

Vanity wasn't an issue for the young physiotherapy student when making the decision to shave her head.

The hair needed a good cut any way so I thought why not, laughed Rachel.

Going into it I wasn't a bit worried at all.

Others around me were more stressed about me shaving my head than I was I suppose.

My friend from first year at St. Pat's Maghera, Laura McNulty is a hairdresser there and God bless her she took it on, and wouldn't take any money or anything for it  she donated her fee to the charity as well, she continued.

I think Laura was more nervous than I was to be fair, there were about 40 people watching her and I suppose that was a bit different for her. I wasn't nervous at all because I was surrounded by friends and family.

I have the most supportive family and friends anyone could ask for and I'm very lucky because they all cheered me on and it was grand, you know.

Adapting to life without a thick head of hair has taken a bit of getting used to but Rachel is upbeat.

I just find myself touching it a lot more. You know when you go to run your hand through your hair then you remember oh it's not there anymore. It's weird, you take a quick five minute shower now and then you are away  no hassle, she said.

Rachel was motivated to take on the challenge to raise funds for research into the disease when she remembered how little was known ten years ago when her grandfather Jim was suffering from the disease.

When my granda got the illness it took two years to diagnose him. It is a really rare disease and the type Granda had was hereditary and so he was diagnosed in 2007 and he passed away in 2013. There wasn't much research at the time, and there wasn't much we could do as a family really, said Rachel.

The Travers family all underwent tests for the gene related to the disease.

Rachel McCusker after her head shave

My aunt and my uncle both have the gene. That doesn't mean they are necessarily going to get the disease, but now thankfully they are monitored much better and the doctors are keeping on top of it, she said.

Rachel was humbled by the amount of money raised, and thankful for the support of those around her.

We have just under 1,800 raised now which is phenomenal and I can't thank everyone enough for donating to this great cause. Everyone around me has been so supportive and encouraging and I couldn't have done it without them, she added.

Amyloidosis can affect any part of the body and lead to life threatening organ failure. It causes the death of about one person in every thousand and there are about 6,000 cases in the UK at any time.

The Amyloidosis Research Fund within the Royal Free Charity supports the research, development and patients of the UK NHS National Amyloidosis Centre (NAC) at the Royal Free Hospital. The Centre, established in 1999, is funded directly by NHS Specialised Services to provide diagnostic and management advisory services for all UK amyloidosis patients.
More than 200 women and girls travelled to Great Britain for abortions last year, an increase compared to 2020, the latest figures show.

The figures show that 206 women and girls, with address in the Republic of Ireland, sought abortion care, with a further 161 women and girls travelling from Northern Ireland.

The data was published by the UK Department of Health and Social Care on Tuesday.

The number of pregnant women and girls seeking abortion care from Northern Ireland significantly dropped, with 371 travelling in 2020, compared to 161 last year.

The number of women who travelled from Ireland to the UK for an abortion increased last year compared to 2020. A total of 206 women travelled for abortion care in 2021, an increase of ten. The statistics were published by @ONS  Cate McCurry (@CateMcCurry) June 21, 2022

However, the number of women and girls travelling from the Republic increased by ten compared to 2020, when there were travel restrictions in place.

The vast majority of women from the Republic were over 12 weeks pregnant and ineligible for termination services in Ireland. Some 50% were foetal anomaly cases.

Ireland has the highest number of women who travelled to England for abortion care services, accounting for 33%.

The number of women who travelled from Northern Ireland accounted for 26%.

Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) chief executive Niall Behan said: Legal abortion has transformed reproductive healthcare in Ireland, but 206 women travelled to the UK for abortion care in 2021.

This tells us, unequivocally, that the law is not good enough. The 2018 Act is denying care to women and girls and forcing them to seek abortion services in the UK. This is an unacceptable injustice.

We know from our clients that exclusion from access to termination services in Ireland is traumatising.

We know also that denial of care because of the gestation limit disproportionately burdens the most vulnerable, marginalised and disadvantaged. Exclusions from essential healthcare cause harm.

No-one should have to leave Ireland for abortion care.

We know from our services that the law is also forcing some who present at under 12 weeks of pregnancy to travel outside of Ireland for abortion services.

The mandatory three-day wait means that a person who presents after 11 weeks and four days cannot be provided with abortion care in Ireland.

Irelands abortion laws, which were legalised following a referendum in 2018, are under review.

A medical abortion is available up to 12 weeks, but abortions thereafter are only allowed if there is a serious threat to the life or health of the mother or where two clinicians agree there is a fatal foetal abnormality.

The figures also show that three teenagers under the age of 16 travelled from the Republic to Great Britain for an abortion, while five teens aged 16 to 17 also travelled.

A total of 11 teenagers under the age of 18 travelled from Northern Ireland for an abortion last year.

The figures show that Dublin had the highest number of women and girls travelling to Britain, with 75 women from the capital. A total of 27 women and girls registered their address in Cork, while the third highest was in Galway, with 14 women travelling to England and Wales.

All abortions were privately funded.

Abortion legislation in Northern Ireland was liberalised in 2019 following laws passed by Westminster at a time when the powersharing government at Stormont had collapsed.

But while individual health trusts in Northern Ireland offer services on an ad-hoc basis, the Department of Health has yet to centrally commission the services due to a political impasse at Stormont on the issue.

The Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis recently enacted a law that empowered him to directly commission abortion services in the region.

Between March 2020 and January 31 2022, some 2,794 abortions took place in Northern Ireland.

Mr Lewis recently told a Westminster committee that the abortion services in Northern Ireland fall far short of what is required by law.

Women and girls are still unable to access high quality abortion and post-abortion care locally in Northern Ireland, the same way women can in the rest of the UK, Mr Lewis added.

Thats because the Northern Ireland Department of Health has failed to make progress on this issue.

The commissioning of full abortion services consistent with the conditions set out in 2020 regulations has not taken place.

Every day women and girls are taking place in vulnerable situations and I will not allow this situation to continue.
South African operator Cell C is apparently in talks with its infrastructure partners to deploy 5G on a launch date yet to be disclosed. Cell C secured 10MHz in the 3500MHz band for ZAR288 million (about US$18.2 million) in March after South Africas long-awaited broadband spectrum auction finally took place.

Cell C has now reportedly moved almost 50% of its network to a virtual radio access network (vRAN), allowing it to run its operations as software on other network operators hardware.

These upgrades will make it easier for the company to expand 5G across the country more cheaply than using its own hardware, an important consideration given its financial problems.

These are ongoing. In fact, according to ICT news website MyBroadband, a meeting this week of Cell Cs priority creditors to vote on whether they will in effect waive a large chunk of debt to aid the success of the operators recapitalisation plan has been postponed.

The site said last month that Cell C is technically insolvent and is heading for bankruptcy unless a deal is struck to recapitalise the company.

Cell C is no longer the countrys number three operator after Telkom moved into third place last year. Cell C and Telkom are the only South African mobile network operators that do not have 5G coverage, although both are planning implementation.

Vodacom and MTN were the highest bidders at the spectrum auction, which raised a little under US$1 billion. Rain launched the countrys first commercial non-standalone 5G network in February 2019 offering data-only mobile network services. It launched the first standalone 5G network in the country in July 2020.
Debt-laden Gambian operator Comium received demands for a full refund from Monty Mobile, the company that swooped in with a cash injection to prevent the operator from shuttering last year.

In a letter seen by Developing Telecoms, telecoms solutions provider Monty Mobile detailed it is terminating the supplement agreement signed in January this year.

Comium had 60 days from June 15 to terminate the agreement on its side and 180 days after contract termination to refund the money paid in the supplement, it was not specified how much in the letter.

Monty Mobile came to Comiums rescue in December stating it prevented the operator from a permanent close down and pledged to get rid of its US$1.3 million in debts, with the bulk owed to Gambian regulator PURA for licence fees.

Developing Telecoms reached out to Comium for comment.
Theres been some good news for telecoms giant Ericsson after four of its former executives were acquitted in Sweden early this week on charges of bribing high-ranking Djibouti officials.

The aim of the alleged bribery was, according to prosecutors, to win a 3G contract worth nearly US$20 million. As readers might guess, given that this was a 3G contract, the deal was said to have taken place more than ten years ago.

The District Court in Solna, near Stockholm City Centre, ruled that the prosecutors did not prove that the money was received by the three people alleged to have been bribed.

Prosecutors accused the executives of transferring nearly $2 million via a consulting firm to Djiboutis president, the chancellor of justice and the CEO of a state mobile operator. The prosecutor may appeal after reviewing the verdict.

One of the four former Ericsson executives, all of whom deny any wrongdoing, is currently being prosecuted in the US for the alleged scheme.

The AFP news service points out that Ericsson has already admitted to engaging in bribery and other misconduct in Djibouti, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Kuwait from 2000 to 2016 in a billion-dollar corruption settlement with the US Justice Department. The 2019 deferred prosecution agreement, says AFP, was one of the largest foreign corruption settlements in history.

However, its Iraq that may yet prove the most problematic territory after an internal Ericsson investigation (reported in these pages) found serious compliance breaches in that country, breaches that included corruption among salespeople and consultants, and possible payments to terrorist organisations.

Ericsson still faces a number of investigations relating to Iraq in the US and Sweden. This story, it seems, is far from over.




By Kim Jae-heun







Posco Group chairman Choi Jeong-woo visited Australia to assess strategic investment assets for the company's future business and discussed ways to cooperate with local raw material suppliers.







Choi arrived in Western Australia on June 20 and met with Gina Rinehart, executive chairwoman of Hancock Prospecting, to sign a memorandum of understanding for strategic cooperation in developing important metals such as lithium, nickel, copper, iron ore and hot briquetted iron (HBI). HBI is a compacted formed of direct reduced iron that is manufactured with well-defined, consistent chemical and physical characteristics.







They also agreed to seek opportunities for future collaboration in businesses such as mining and processing of secondary battery materials.







"Posco Group and Hancock Prospecting have been cooperating since 2010 and expanding our partnership every year. We successfully developed the Roy Hill mine development project recently and acquired Senex Energy together," Choi said. "Our two companies can create bigger synergy if they work together in the business for secondary battery materials, as Posco has the value chain to develop secondary battery materials for production of cathodes and anodes, while Hancock has excellent experience and capability in mining."







The next day, Choi met with Philip Pascall, chairman of Canadian mining and metals company First Quantum Minerals. First Quantum operates the Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation, a mine development and smelting company, and last year it divested a 30 percent stake to Posco.







In addition, the Posco chairman also met with the head of Pilbara Minerals to discuss a possible supply expansion of lithium concentrate.







Posco Group has been investing more than 4 trillion won ($3.09 billion) in Australia to develop raw materials such as iron ore, lithium and nickel. The company evaluates Australia as being an optimal location for development of clean hydrogen based on the country's vast territory, abundant solar and wind resources and advanced legal system.


Philippines-based operator PLDT stated it blocked over 23 million spam texts over the span of three days, which were attempts to access consumer personal data, reported Bloomberg.

The malicious messages were sent between June 11 to June 14, all of which contained phishing websites that appear to be from legitimate brands, to get consumers to fill in their personal details, said PLDT.

PLDT stated it blocked over 78,000 SIM cards it found were from actors attempting to access personal data illegally and invested PHP3 billion (US$55.6 million) to tackle cybersecurity attacks.

Rival operator Globe Telecom revealed it blocked over one billion malicious messages last year. The Philippines National Privacy Commission said in November 2021 that a global crime organisation was the reason for the hike in phishing messages.
123mkv is one of the free movie download websites that has a large audience. The problem is that it shares pirated content, many a time prints of movies that are still running in the theatres. You get to download the latest movies in HDcam and DVDscr formats. But the 123mkv catalog also comprises high-quality movie files in fairly small download sizes. The library of content also consists of movies in Hindi, English, Hindi Dubbed, and South Dubbed. You even get an option to sort movies by the year they were released.

So, the choices are aplenty but there are also valid concerns about using the 123mkv website. Lets find answers for them first. Here are the frequently asked questions about 123mkv.

123mkv FAQs

1. What is 123mkv?

A. 123mkv is an online website that distributes pirated movies for free.

2. What are the 123mkv features?

A. You get download links (direct or Google Drive) of the latest and most popular movies from different languages and genres. The movies are catalogued on the basis of their recency. You can also find movies categorized by the year they were released. The movie download sizes are rather small thanks to compression. We reckon the picture quality should in itself be a testament to the sites popularity.

3. What are some of the latest movies on 123mkv?

A. The latest movies available on 123mkv are:

Nikamma

Charlie 777

Sarkaru Vaari Paata

Jurassic World Dominion

Major

Vikram

Prithviraj

So, if you search for 123mkv Bollywood movie 2022 or 123mkv south movies, you are likely to find something that suits your interest.

4. Is 123mkv legal?

A. 123mkv is illegal as per the Copyright Act 1957, which forbids downloading pirated content. So, technically, websites like 123mkv are banned by the government as they upload copyrighted material without the permission of the owner/creator of the content. Still, people access 123mkv and similar sites through proxies and VPNs.

We advise you not to do the same as if caught, you could be charged with 6 months to 3 years of jail time and pay a fine between 50,000 to 200,000. If not for the fear of the law, avoid it just because its not morally right.

5. Is 123mkv safe from viruses and phishing scams?

A. Websites similar to 123mkv are notoriously infested with nefarious ads that could lead to phishing scams. With or without an adblocker, on 123mkv, you are likely to stumble on to wrong links and downloads. Be careful. There are chances of downloading malware or virus too. So, you see why its not prudent to use 123mkv.

So, if you were wondering what is 123mkv, this article must have answered that. However, the next time anyone searches for how can I watch Hindi movies downloaded? Or how can I see all Hindi movies? Or where do I download Indian movies?, we suggest you follow any of the following websites:

6. What are the better 123mkv alternatives?

A. You will find the movie or the kind of movies you want to watch on popular OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Sony Liv, Disney+ Hotstar, Zee5, etc. Take a monthly subscription to consume all the content you want from a particular streaming website or app and then move to the other. This would be safer and the legal way to go.

As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides, and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in.
Apple is known to be an advocate of internet privacy and its latest iOS 16 and macOS Ventura releases have a nifty feature that is likely to make the web browsing experience a bit smoother. Called Automatic Verification, the new iOS and macOS setting lets you automatically bypass the captchas you encounter while signing into websites. It uses a tool called Private Access Tokens that seamlessly authenticates you to the website. And unlike some Chrome extensions that bypass captchas, this thing is natively baked into the operating systems. So, the whole thing is a friction-less affair.

Heres how the iOS 16 captcha bypassing works

PC: Apple

First, lets find out what are Private Access Tokens.

Apple calls Private Access Tokens as captcha alternatives. It describes Private Access Tokens as HTTP requests from legitimate devices (like iPhones and Macs) and people (the AppleID owner) without compromising their identity or personal information.

So, when a website wants to validate you as a trusted human user and not a bot or bad actor, it usually sends you a captcha challenge. When you solve that, you are proved to be a human. The iOS Private Access Tokens do one better. They not only tell the website that you are a human but also a legitimate user. It judges this thanks to your Apple ID thats signed into the Apple device and also your previous iPhone or Macbook usage. Basically, the device you are using to access the website acts as both the judge and advocate of your legitimacy.

PC: Cloudflare

Apple has partnered with Fastly and Cloudflare, two of the leading Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to design this Private Access Tokens and Automatic Verification system.

Well, even better news is that Google is working with these CDNs to develop similar captcha bypassing solutions for the Chrome browser. So, going forward we could someday have a broader captcha-free web experience.
OnePlus Nord 2T could launch on June 27 in India as per the latest leak which gives us a hint about the pricing of the upcoming Nord phone. The Nord 2T made its global debut with the MediaTek Dimensity 1300 chip a month ago on May 19 but there was no word on its India launch back then. However, it seems like OnePlus is gearing up for the launch of the Nord 2T in India which is the successor to the infamous OnePlus Nord 2 from last year.

According to a report by RootMyGalaxy that cites Passionategeekz's Twitter handle, the OnePlus Nord 2T could launch on June 27 in India and will be offered in two colours: Jade Fog and Gray Shadow. Furthermore, the report states that the Nord 2T will be priced starting at Rs 28,999 for the base variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage and 31,999 for the 12GB+128GB storage option. OnePlus will also announce some bank offers that will bring down the pricing to around Rs 25,000 with sales commencing from the first week of July.

OnePlus Nord 2T specifications

The OnePlus Nord 2T features a 6.43-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display that offers a 90Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ playback support. It is topped with a layer of Gorilla Glass 5 for added protection and has a plastic frame that measures 8.2mm and weighs 190 grams.

It is powered by the Dimensity 1300 chipset with upto 12GB RAM and 128GB storage option and runs on OxygenOS 12.1 out-of-the-box. The Nord 2T has triple cameras on the back headlined by a 50MP camera with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, theres a 32MP selfie camera.

The Nord 2T has stereo speakers and an in-screen fingerprint sensor. It comes equipped with a 4,500mAh battery that supports 80W fast wired charging.

Also Read: OnePlus Nord 2T Launch Timeline Leaked: All You Need To Know
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Two proposals unveiled so far would each spend $220 million to update and improve a little-used track and add a casino and hotel.



By GRANT SCHULTE

Associated Press

GRAND ISLAND, Neb.  Horse races are regularly held in only two spots in Nebraska, and the tracks in Grand Island and Columbus are usually pretty quiet apart from the rumble of thoroughbreds that stomp past the half-empty grandstands.

Suddenly, though, communities throughout the state are clamoring to revive mothballed tracks and build new ones.





. . .
Safeway dropped from LMC's 759-unit plan near U Village



Real Estate Editor By BRIAN MILLER Real Estate Editor

Renderings by Encore Architects [enlarge] Looking north across 45th, the large London plane tree would anchor the central entry courtyard.





In a surprising turn of events, Safeway will not return to the large mixed-use redevelopment project on land it owns at 3020 N.E. 45th St., just east of University Village. Corporate parent Albertsons bought full control of the roughly 4-acre property, also home to Burgermaster, over a year ago. The old store dates to 1975.

Developer LMC and Encore Architects filed their early apartment plan in February. It was then assumed, wrongly, that Safeway would return and occupy the bulk of the retail.

Instead, the new plan includes 24,744 square feet of retail/commercial space (less than the old store), broken up into seven distinct bays  not the one large expanse a grocer requires.

That plan has its first design review on July 25. Other key numbers include: three midrise buildings with 759 units; 24,612 square feet of tenant amenity space; 537 parking stalls for residents; 114 stalls for shoppers (651 in total, all structured); 52,642 square feet of exterior amenity space (terraces, courtyards, etc.) and a total project size well north of 900,000 square feet.

[enlarge] The new plan includes 24,744 square feet of retail/commercial space (less than the old store), broken up into seven distinct bays  not the one large expanse a grocer requires.





The site, bounded to the north by Union Bay Place Northeast, has a kind of squished triangular shape. All three buildings would have irregular shapes. The two south buildings, on 45th, would have eight stories. The north building would have nine.

The property is zoned up to 75 feet. Two exceptional trees would be preserved in Encore's preferred plan. If the city approves, that gains LMC the extra height and floor area. On 45th, where a central courtyard would be oriented toward Union Bay and Mt. Rainier, a London plane tree would become the centerpiece of the development, and a new neighborhood landmark. To the west, close to the QFC, an Austrian black pine would also be preserved.

Tree Solutions is the arborist, and prepared a report for LMC; Weisman Design Group is the landscape architect; and McCullough Hill Leary is providing legal services.

The two south buildings would rise about 80 feet above 45th. The land slopes up some 10 feet to Union Bay Place; there, the north building would rise about 75 feet above grade. That will present more like eight stories to passersby.

[enlarge] Two exceptional trees would be preserved in Encore's preferred plan.





Underground parking would be impossible, because that whole U Village area is essentially a bog  land created by the lowering of Lake Washington in 1916 via the Montlake Cut. So for the structured parking, there would be garage entries on both 45th and Union Bay Place, with the retail bays also facing those streets.

The apartments and courtyards would start on the third floor. Individual unit sizes aren't yet determined. Among the planned amenities are several bike rooms in the garage. On the second-floor terrace overlooking 45th and the entry courtyard, tenants would also have two pools.

Encore has indicated that the unnamed project will pursue BuiltGreen and/or LEED certification. That may also gain extra floor area via the city's Living Building Pilot Program.

On the development's west end  on 45th, closest to the QFC  the west building would be partly cantilevered above a secondary truck loading entry.

Neither 45th nor Union Bay Place has ever been pedestrian friendly. But Encore will try to create nodes of activity with the retail. Along Union Bay Place, the building massing undulates  in part because it has to wrap around the inset, separately owned Ravenna Animal Hospital.

The retail bays range from about 1,574 to 5,255 square feet. There's no mention of Safeway or the Burgermaster in Encore's early plan; but future tenants only figure in build-to-suit plans.

Could Burgermaster return? The Jensen family's business now has over 6,000 square feet in its 62-year-old building. It could conceivably return to a smaller space, but only after shuttering during two-plus years of construction. (Spud Fish & Chips, for example, did so at Green Lake.) LMC has been in contact with the family, according to Puget Sound Business Journal.

As for the privately held Albertsons/Safeway, well before the pandemic  which so radically reshaped all retail, including the grocery sector  it had been taking a cold, clinical scalpel to its real estate portfolio. Some old locations have been sold for total redevelopment, like the Greenwood Safeway. Still others have been sold with lease-back agreements.

Some store locations, like the Magnolia Albertsons, Queen Anne Safeway and University District Safeway, were deemed valuable enough to hold through years-long redevelopment with apartments or condos on top. But the grocer has to forego two years of lost revenue before returning to nice new stores. And some customers will inevitably shift loyalties during the interim.

It now seems inevitable that LMC will buy the land outright from Albertsons/Safeway, which last year paid a bit over $25 million to finish assembling the site. The grocer would thus cede that area to the QFC next door, at U Village. That affluent zip code near Laurelhurst and Windermere is also served by a nearby Metropolitan Market, PCC and  over in Roosevelt  Whole Foods. And that's not even to mention Amazon's home-delivery options, Instacart, etc.

In a sense, the U Village and U District Safeway locations were completing with each other, too. And the new U District Safeway looks to be opening around September; that's the targeted opening month for the 180 apartments now dubbed HERE, at 4732 Brooklyn Ave. N.E.





Brian Miller can be reached by email at brian.miller@djc.com or by phone at (206) 219-6517.




McKinsey & Company Partner Park Joong-ho, left, moderates a panel discussion during the 2022 Korea Times Forum at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) building in Seoul, Tuesday. From left are Park, KCCI Executive Vice Chairman Woo Tae-hee, American Chamber of Commerce in Korea Chairman James Kim, Korean Academic Society of Business Administration President Han Sang-man and European Chamber of Commerce in Korea Chairperson Dirk Lukat. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Business experts view Korea-unique standards as obstacles to hub plan



By Park Jae-hyuk



President Yoon Suk-yeol should accelerate efforts to abolish regulations conflicting with international standards, in order to prevent Korea from repeating failures in its decades-long drive to become a global business hub, according to business leaders from the U.S. and Europe as well as renowned Korean experts participating in the 2022 Korea Times Forum, Tuesday.



The panelists expressed optimism overall about the possibility of Asia's fourth-largest economy becoming an attractive destination for multinational companies, thanks to the new government's deregulatory stance.



But at the same time, they pointed out that the country still has many things to do to realize its potential as a business hub.



"Our board of governors wrote a letter to President-elect Yoon when he became the president, and gave him our strong confirmation that we want to help make Korea a regional hub," American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) Chairman James Kim said. "But we did ask him to do a few things  one is taxation both at corporate and individual level, Korea-unique standards and some CEO risk that happens."





American Chamber of Commerce in Korea Chairman James Kim speaks in a panel discussion during the 2022 Korea Times Forum at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) Chairperson Dirk Lukat mentioned international standards, labor reform and transparency in regulations as the three key areas pointed out by European businesses active in Korea.



"With international standards accepted and applied in Korea, administrative processes will be simplified allowing new products to reach markets timely, reducing the cost and making it more attractive for foreign companies to invest in Korea," he said. "Lately, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw some areas where foreigners were discriminated particularly, if you look at the acceptance of overseas inoculations."





European Chamber of Commerce in Korea Chairperson Dirk Lukat speaks in a panel discussion during the 2022 Korea Times Forum at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Executive Vice Chairman Woo Tae-hee agreed that strict regulations, high corporate taxes and labor market rigidity have acted as obstacles to foreign companies doing business here, making it especially difficult for Korea to achieve its goal of becoming a global financial hub.



From that standpoint, he was skeptical about newly elected Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok's strategy to make the city a financial hub of East Asia by attracting companies, banks and financial institutions that are leaving Hong Kong due to security issues.



"To attract money from Hong Kong or elsewhere, you need to have a free flow of information and capital. To do this, he needs to establish a transparent and free financial market that is not regulated by the government," Woo said. "I don't have confidence that Incheon has a better chance than Hong Kong."





Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Executive Vice Chairman Woo Tae-hee speaks in a panel discussion during the 2022 Korea Times Forum at the KCCI building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Korean Academic Society of Business Administration President Han Sang-man, who is also a professor of Sungkyunkwan University Business School, called for increased labor market flexibility in order for Korea to become a global business hub.









"We should consider testing a flexible labor system by applying it to innovative industries or foreign companies for a short period of time, so that we can analyze how the system affects the entire job market," he said.





Korean Academic Society of Business Administration President Han Sang-man speaks in a panel discussion during the 2022 Korea Times Forum at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Page Content

Lecture by the Palestinian Historian Nazmi Al-Jubeh

On Saturday, 18 June 2022, the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies (ACRPS) and the Institute for Palestine Studies hosted Nazmi Al-Jubeh, Professor of History at Birzeit University in Palestine, and an expert in the history and heritage of Jerusalem, to provide the Annual Nakba Lecture titled Jerusalem and the Battle for Survival. Al-Jubehs lecture is the second in this series, following Azmi Bishara, the General Director of the ACRPS, who gave the inaugural lecture titled On the Contemporary Relevance of the Nakba and the Arab Dimension of the Palestine Issue, in May 2021.

The event was moderated by Arab Center researcher, Ayat Hamdan, and was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Palestine Studies, Tarek Mitri, and its General Director, Khaled Farraj.

Al-Jubeh began his lecture by addressing the political and social backgrounds of the ongoing movement in Jerusalem to resist the reality produced by Israeli policy. He stressed that current events in Jerusalem mark an exceptional case that will be reflected in the wider Arab region and the Middle East. He reviewed Israeli occupation policy and its impact on the city and its residents, stressing that the occupation weaponizes land and demography to erase the Palestinian identity of Jerusalem.

The historian noted that the Israeli occupation is anxious about the demographic factor, with the Palestinian population expected to increase to more than 50 percent of the population in all of historical Palestine. The occupation is thus attempting to limit the Palestinian population to live on only 10 percent of the citys area and Israeli policies to control the land have succeeded through the clearly growing number of settlements. He added that settlement policy not only aims to control the land, but also aims to break up the national social fabric of Palestine  but the non-political popular resistance stands in the way of these policies. Population growth works in the interest of the Palestinian population. The number of Palestinian births in all of Jerusalem exceeds the number of Jewish births, which abound only within the more religious Jewish groups.

Economically speaking, the occupation is systematically impoverishing the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem by forcing the middle class out of Jerusalem and to invest elsewhere, and directing the working class to pursue labour in low-wage jobs, such as cleaning and construction work, inside the occupied Israeli interior. Al-Jubeh made some predictions for the Jerusalemites based on current data and the occupations projects targeting the city and its Palestinian residents, especially in the Old City, which the occupation has failed to Judaize, despite many desperate and coercive attempts.

The historian concluded his lecture by addressing Israels attempts to create a false narrative, referring to it as the war of the narrative between the two broad popular Israeli narratives led by Zionist religious nationalist movements, which are challenged by the Palestinian counter-narrative based on self-awareness and identity. The young generation is now moving without the guidance of the divided Palestinian factions or the Palestinian Authority, which cannot stand up against the unorganized mass popular action, making life difficult for the occupiers.

Launch of the Jerusalem Story Website

Following the lecture, Azmi Bishara, led the launch of the Jerusalem Story website, a project initiated by the Arab Center, and in the works for the past three years. It was designed and prepared by a team of twelve researchers, collaborators, and volunteers.

This site addresses an absence of electronic platforms that showcase the city of Jerusalem, providing critical coverage of the occupations settlement and expansion projects and recording the Arab narrative to counter the spread of the Israeli narrative about the historical city. Bishara indicated that the English-language site explains almost everything about Jerusalem, telling the history of Jerusalem and its residents from the 1948 Nakba War until the present time. The website complements the Arab Centers Documentation programs on the Palestinian issue, such as the Palestinian Memory project, which was established by the Center several years ago. These efforts also parallel other projects to document Arab issues such as Syrian Memory, which the Center aims to launch next March.

In this context, Bishara indicated that the Palestinian cause requires thinking about the frameworks that unite the Palestinians (Jerusalem, the Diaspora, the Arabs of 48, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip). Hence, the Annual Palestine Forum that will be held every January by the Arab Center and the Institute for Palestine Studies, as part of efforts to reconcile academic scholarship with commitment to justice and the struggle against occupation. This was followed by an introduction to the website by manager, Kate Rouhana, who provided a detailed breakdown of the site contents.


Page Content

On 13 June 2022, the ACRPS Iranian Studies Unit (ISU) hosted a group of experts for a panel titled Representation of Iranians in the Western Media. The panel consisted of Yahya R. Kamalipour, professor of communications at North Carolina A&T State University, USA; Negar Mortazavi, Iranian-American journalist and political analyst; and Assal Rad, Research Director at the National Iranian American Council. The event was moderated by Mehran Kamrava, Director of the ISU and Professor of Government at Georgetown University Qatar.

Kamrava opened the discussion by asking the panelists if there had been a change in the Western medias coverage of Iran and Iranians. Kamalipour began by stating that prior to the 1979 revolution, Irans image in the Western media, particularly in the United States, was not as negative as it was after the revolution. He recalled that, while negative attitudes toward Iran were less severe than they are now, Iran was viewed as an exotic place. He believes that the 1979 revolution, particularly the hostage crisis, was a watershed moment in Irans image in Western media, contributing to what he refers to as a war of images. According to Kamalipour, the hostage crisis harmed not only Iran as a country, but also Iranian people both at home and abroad. Following the hostage crisis, Iran was in the national and international news, as well as popular culture, with Hollywood producing numerous films depicting Iran negatively. This negative perception of Iran was exacerbated when George W. Bush referred to Iran as an axis of evil in 2002, and Donald Trump called Iran the worlds number one terrorist state in 2016.

Rad then commented on the relationship between Irans negative portrayal in media coverage and public policy. Building on Kamalipours assessment, Rad further stated that the seizure of the American embassy in November 1979 contributed significantly to Irans negative image in the West. She further remarked that the image of Iran as constructed in political discourse and through various media has a direct impact on policies. There are times when US policies harm American national interests as well as global security. According to Rad, this happens because of an ideological bent through which it is very easy to have an anti-Iran attitude in this climate. Furthermore, the negative portrayal of Iran is then used to justify specific policies. When it comes to Iran, both Democrats and Republicans in the United States have similar viewpoints.

Mortazavi continued the discussion by addressing the impact of Irans statements and actions on the countrys negative image. Statements from Iranian officials frequently make headlines; however, comments made by American officials about Iranians do not receive the same attention. The lack of access to Iran as a result of Iranian officials policies, as well as a lack of incentives and resources, with many Western and international media outlets lacking reporters or bureaus in Iran, all contribute to this image. According to Mortazavi, few media outlets have staff who are familiar with the context and language in order to cover Iran. The media coverage has been influenced by the politics of countries that are essentially Irans foes or rivals. The medias focus on specific issues, primarily security, foreign policy, and the nuclear program, has had a dehumanizing effect.

Regarding whether Iran can respond to negative images through public diplomacy and portray a different message, Kamalipour stated that while communication channels, such as social media, are available within Iran, the issue is messaging. What happens in Iran, and what the national and international media reports on in Iran, is critical. These media outlets, including Iranian media based in the United States, frequently send the wrong message, and contribute to the distorted image of Iran. He emphasized that the negative portrayal of Iran and its people affects all Iranians, no matter where they live. Mortazavi added that the diaspora media often conflates the government with the people and the country, leading to broad generalizations about the entire population. She claimed that in the case of Iran, the counter or complementary narrative is either weak or non-existent.

In response to how Iranian women are portrayed in the Western media, Rad pointed to a savior complex, in which Muslim women, in Iran and elsewhere, are assumed to be helpless and in need of being saved. Despite their significant contribution and involvement in multiple spheres within Iranian society, women are often portrayed as weak and passive. Women are not passively waiting to be rescued; instead, they are actively participating in the political changes in their own country. Rad argued that the coverage is also selective, giving voice to those who agree with US officials political views. Mortazavi, on the other hand, claimed that the dehumanization of Muslims, which is a byproduct of post-colonial discourse, plays out differently depending on whether the US is dealing with enemies or allies.

Kamalipour commented on Iranian coverage of the US, contending that it is far from balanced and similar to that of the US, focusing on the negatives. Mortazavi agreed with Kamalipour and remarked that Iranian media is not monolithic, but the overall narrative mirrors that of US coverage of Iran. She also mentioned that Iranian journalists have limited access to the United States and must work mostly from afar. The understanding is deeper, but the countrys politics also influences and impacts the coverage.

Lastly, Kamalipour stated that educating and informing people about Iran is critical in addressing the problem of a skewed and biased image of the country. He emphasized the positive role that diaspora media outlets can play in reducing tension and division and better portraying Iran as a country and people. Rad agreed, adding that it is critical to have conversations about representation while also emphasizing the difficulty of doing so given that people are accustomed to such narratives. These are the very conversations that we need to have in order to grow as a community and as a society at large because they force us to reconsider the status quo.


PayPal must explain how jobs, which were lost in Dundalk last week, were advertised in India the day before staff in Louth were told their fate, Louth TD Ruairi O Murchu has said.

The Sinn Fein deputy says he has been made aware that some of the positions, in what PayPal calls its UK credit collections division were advertised online on Thursday, June 16, the day before more than a third of staff in the same division in Dundalk were told, by email, that they would be made redundant.

The Indian jobs, which are based in Bangalore  one of three sites operated by the American multinational in that country  are for Collection Specialists and cite that fluency in English is a required.

Another advertisement for the same site asks for applications for Collection Specialists in PPWC (PayPal Working Credit), a financial product given to small businesses and start-ups.

It is not disclosed what the wages for these positions are in India, or how many positions are available.

Deputy O Murchu said the news of the job advertisements in India came as another blow to the staff in the credit collections section, who were told on Friday afternoon on email that they were losing their jobs.

He said in the last number of weeks there had been rumours in Dundalk about these jobs going to Bangalore.

The Dundalk TD said:

I understand that 33 collection specialists, as well as a further six team leaders and senior agents in that division were told they were being made redundant on Friday afternoon.

It was an incredibly stressful day for the staff who work in this section, along with the workers in other departments, who were also told they were being made redundant.

It is my understanding that the terms of the redundancy were good  six weeks on top of the statutory two weeks for each year worked  along with a number of other small concessions around private medical insurance.

The headline figure of eight weeks pay per year should not take away from the worrying news that these jobs were advertised in India the day before the redundancies were revealed.

We had been aware that a small number of risk and analytics jobs were to be relocated to India when the company said on May 24 it was seeking redundancies.

But workers in the credit collections division have told me that they had been advised by management in Dundalk time and time again that these collection specialist jobs were not going anywhere else. This does not seem to be the case.

Deputy O Murchu said he is writing to PayPal management once more to express his concern about the Indian job advertisements.

He said he had already met with the IDA in relation to the future of PayPal in Dundalk and had received assurances that the remaining positions were strong and stable in the firm.

He said:

What a dreadful weekend for the PayPal workers affected  to wait all day, in many cases at home on your own, for the email to land in your inbox to find out that you are being let go and then to discover, less than 48 hours later, that the job you were assured was not going anywhere else is now being advertised in India  that is gut-wrenching.

PayPal did not respond to a request for comment.
Korea Times Chairman Seung Myung-ho delivers a welcoming address during the 2022 Korea Times Forum held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Lee Min-hyung



Experts shed light on how they view the new Yoon Suk-yeol administration should present its economic policy direction during the 2022 Korea Times Forum, Tuesday.



Business moguls and leaders of foreign chambers of commerce in Korea spoke out on pending issues that the Yoon administration needs to address such as environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) and digitalization.



The forum, titled "Policy Suggestions to Yoon Government," started with a welcoming address by Korea Times Chairman Seung Myung-ho who underscored the urgent need to tackle escalating business uncertainties here in the wake of the pandemic.



"Even if we are getting out of the dark tunnel of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy is still faced with big obstacles and difficulties at the same time," he said during the forum held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) building in Seoul.



"The business circumstances remain tough amid soaring prices and household debts here. The slowdown in consumer demand and the rise of labor costs also come as a pressure to the business community."



Seung went on to address the worsening business environment amid growing geopolitical risks surrounding North Korea's nuclear threat and the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.



"Coupled with the escalating sense of global geopolitical crisis, the overseas business environment is getting worse amid the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate hikes, crude oil price hikes and global supply chain disruptions," Seung said.





Korea Times Chairman Seung Myung-ho, center, talks with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, right, during the 2022 Korea Times Forum at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) building in Seoul, Tuesday. On the left is Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



The Korea Times hosted the forum to discuss the future policy direction of the Yoon administration, so Korean companies can seek a breakthrough despite such unfavorable business circumstances here and abroad.



"Korean firms are also facing a crucial task of fulfilling the ESG management," Seung said. "An ESG campaign by global companies to achieve 100-percent renewable energy transition by 2050 also comes as a big burden to local firms."



He called on the government to play a proactive role for local firms to deal with multiple business uncertainties.









"Korean companies stand at a critical juncture after the inauguration of the Yoon administration," he said. "The role of the government is more important now than ever before, so as for Korea to become a hub for global business and for local companies to take a great leap forward."



Among the distinguished guests of the forum were ranking government officials  including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who delivered a congratulatory speech, and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang, who gave an opening speech.



A keynote speech was then delivered by Global Managing Partner Bob Sternfels of McKinsey & Company, which had jointly planned the 2022 Korea Times Forum. He discussed the importance of sustainability and digital transformation.



Two McKinsey partners led the first session of the forum. Choi Seung-hyuk delivered a lecture on corporate sustainability and ESG, and Pooya Nikooyeh brought up the agenda of Korea's digital imperative.





American Chamber of Commerce in Korea Chairman James Kim speaks during the second session of the 2022 Korea Times Forum at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Summer has arrived and Marshes Shopping Centre will be embracing it with three months of festivals celebrating fashion, beauty, music and art.

For the remainder of June, there will be chic fashion fun on the Marshes Mall, where, at the Fashion Fest Corner, customers can snap a selfie at the selfie wall, strut down a catwalk and win prizes.

Beauty Fest in July will see the shopping centre host product demonstrations, jam-packed competitions and give-aways. A fun-filled beauty corner will cater for little ones with arts and crafts.

The Marshes shopping centre will also host an arts festival over the weekend of August 20-21.

There will be great sounds from talented local musicians, dazzling displays from magicians, face painting and a party-ready DJ booth.

With the arrival of summer, Marshes is happy to celebrate with three months of festivals celebrating fashion, beauty, music and art, said centre manager, Sean Farrell.

Everyone is invited to enjoy these wonderful events, which will showcase local talent, he added.

Award-winning Marshes, which opened in 2005, is continually hailed as one of the most modern, high quality shopping environments in Ireland.

It has transformed the commercial heart of Dundalk and directly employs over 900 people.

Tenants include Irish, UK, US and European chains, alongside several local traders.

For updates, please visit www.marshesshopping.com or Marshes Facebook page.
A worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) sits behind a fence in a residential area under a COVID-19 lockdown in the Xuhui District of Shanghai, June 16. AFP-Yonhap





The authorities can protect health systems from COVID-19 overload by giving basic care to non-serious patients and focusing medical resources on the most vulnerable, according to researchers in Shanghai.



In a paper published in the online journal China CDC Weekly on the weekend, the researchers said a study of Omicron variant patients who initially had mild or no symptoms during the city's two-month wave earlier this year found that they were unlikely to develop severe illness and needed only moderate primary care.



Allocating less resources to milder patients would free up more care for worse cases, reducing strain on the overall system, the researchers found.



"Once medical resources are focused precisely on vulnerable populations, and non-vulnerable populations are given moderate primary care support, the adequacy of medical resources will be greatly optimized and enhanced, and the treatment of non COVID-19 will not be strained due to COVID-19 outbreaks," researchers from Shanghai's Huashan Hospital who co-authored the study wrote in an analysis published on their department's social media account.



The conclusions come after more than 620,000 people were infected and 588 people died in Shanghai during a massive outbreak of cases earlier this year.



In the outbreak, all people who tested positive  irrespective of whether they were asymptomatic, had mild symptoms or were severely ill  were put in central isolation or hospitals, swamping the city's medical system.



The researchers, including prominent infectious diseases expert Zhang Wenhong with Huashan Hospital, said the study, the biggest of its kind in China, indicated that if COVID-19 public health strategies were refined, the risk of cases overwhelming the medical system could be minimized.



"By providing some level of primary care support to this population [of milder cases] and reducing the overall healthcare expenditure on this population, the straining of healthcare resources during the peak of the epidemic can be avoided," the researchers wrote.



The team's findings were based on a study of 33,816 Omicron patients who were initially non-severe, not in acute stage of illness or not requiring frequent adjustment of treatment.





People wearing face masks stand in line for COVID-19 tests at a coronavirus testing site in Beijing, June 16. AP-Yonhap
EBRD Managing Director Matteo Patrone visits Chisinau after Moldova EU candidacy moves forward

Patrone will underscore the EBRDs support for Moldova in the wake of the war on Ukraine

Moldovas energy security is at heart of discussions with government officials

Matteo Patrone, Managing Director for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), visits Chisinau this week. He will underscore the EBRDs support for Moldova - in the wake of the war on Ukraine and Fridays European Commission recommendation to grant Moldova candidate status to join the EU  and discuss how to enhance the countrys energy security.

Moldova has welcomed nearly half a million refugees from neighbouring Ukraine since the Russian invasion there on 24 February. Many have moved on but 90,000 have stayed in this country of 2.7 million people. The country is highly dependent on imported natural gas, currently all imported from Russia via Ukraine, which accounts for nearly 30 per cent of its energy mix.

To address the impact of the war on the region, the EBRD put together a 2 billion Resilience and Livelihoods Framework to help Ukraine and neighbouring countries withstand the challenges. This framework ranges from restructuring and emergency liquidity support for enterprises and recovery support for small and medium-sized enterprises to support for energy security.

In Moldovas case, the EBRD is working closely with the government on boosting energy security, both through diversifying supplies and a commitment to step up investments in projects that promote Moldovas green agenda.

During his three-day visit, Mr Patrone will meet Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita, cabinet ministers, officials from the National Bank of Moldova and existing and potential business partners including local banks and Danube Logistics, the operator of Giurgiulesti International Free Port.

The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Moldova and, to date, has invested more than 1.5 billion in the country through 154 projects. It has also provided advisory services to more than 1,000 Moldovan firms to help them improve performance and grow.

Its focus in Moldova is on creating an environment that supports private sector activity, promoting European standards across sectors and regional integration to bring domestic producers closer to their markets, as well as developing efficient and sustainable public utilities which have a direct impact on peoples lives.
High Court reporters

A Web Summit shareholder bringing one of several actions involving the technology events company is seeking financial information and other documents he believes will support his case.

The High Court is hearing a discovery motion brought by David Kelly and his corporate entity Graiguearidda Ltd, which holds his 12 per cent share in Web Summit.

The court heard various documents were required by Graiguearidda for its claim that Web Summit funds may have been used in a defamation payout over a tweet by the companys chief executive, Patrick Cosgrave, as well as to promote some of Mr Cosgraves personal and frequently political tweets.

Graiguearidda is also looking for specific financial records going back a number of years to conduct a valuation of the company and of Mr Kellys shares.

Among Mr Kellys contested claims is an allegation he was made an offer on behalf of Mr Cosgrave for his shareholding to be purchased for 1.25 million. Mr Kelly claims this is a gross undervaluation of his shares, his counsel, Frank Kennedy, said on Tuesday.

The claims are denied, and the court heard the respondent parties believe much of the requested documents are superfluous, overly historical and/or unconnected to the matters pleaded by him.

Profit share agreement

Graiguearidda Ltd is suing Mr Cosgrave, his entity, Proto Roto Ltd, and Web Summits holding company Manders Terrace Ltd. Graiguearidda claims oppression of shareholders rights under section 212 of the Companies Act, 2014.

Mr Kelly has also issued separate personal proceedings against Mr Cosgrave and Manders Terrace alleging a breach of a profit share agreement.

Daire Hickey, whose Lazvisax Ltd retains his 7 per cent share in the tech conference firm, also has independent personal proceedings alleging a breach of the same agreement.

Through Lazvisax he has also brought a section 212 case against Mr Cosgrave, Proto Roto and Manders Terrace claiming he was oppressed as a shareholder.

Manders Terrace has a separate action before the courts in Ireland and the United States, alleging Mr Kelly breached his duty to the company.

The claims in all the cases are denied.

On Tuesday, the court heard that several discovery motions, brought variously by the parties involved in some of the actions, had been resolved without the need of the courts assistance.

However, Mr Kennedy said there remains a clear conflict between the independent experts involved in the action taken by his clients Mr Kelly and Graigueridda over the level of documentation that should be disclosed.

Mr Kelly, counsel said, has gone to significant effort to acquire analysis from a financial adviser at Grant Thornton in support of his discovery application. It is not for the respondents, or the respondents independent expert, to limit the valuation material that Mr Kellys expert has deemed relevant and necessary to Graigueriddas claim.

The information sought is extremely focused, Mr Kennedy went on, and if it transpires that some of the materials do not exist the respondent can simply say so in a sworn statement.

The court heard the respondents contend that certain historical financial information sought is not required for the purposes of assessing the companys current value.
China continues investment support in Indonesia's electric vehicle industry

16:12, June 21, 2022 By Wang Aona, Hayati Nupus ( Xinhua

JAKARTA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- China continues to expand its investment to support the development of Indonesia's electric vehicle industry.

Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), one of the leading companies among the world's electric vehicle battery manufacturers and supplies to various automakers, including Tesla and Volkswagen, is one of the Chinese companies investing in this Southeast Asian country.

A third-tier subsidiary of CATL, Ningbo Contemporary Brunp Lygend Co., Ltd. (CBL), recently signed a 5.97-billion-U.S. dollar investment deal with Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC), a holding of state-owned companies including Mining Industry Indonesia (Mind ID), Aneka Tambang (Antam), Pertamina, and state power company PLN.

"The realization of this investment will bring the electric vehicle battery industry to Indonesia as well as position Indonesia as a global electric vehicle battery production base," President Director of IBC Toto Nugroho told Xinhua recently.

IBC, inaugurated in March last year, was established to develop an integrated electric vehicle battery industry ecosystem, from upstream to downstream, to mining and nickel extraction.

With China investors as global players in the development of electric vehicle batteries and Indonesia's rich reserve of battery-making raw materials like nickel, Nugroho believes that the cooperation between the two countries will synergize and strengthen each other.

Indonesia is estimated to have deposits of at least 72 million tons of nickel reserves in areas of domestic mining operations, accounting for 52 percent of the world's total reserves of around 139 million tons, according to data from the country's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Nugroho believes that the cooperation between the two countries will support Indonesia's serious intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable energy.

"Besides CATL, many other Chinese companies are now investing in electric battery development in Indonesia. China is one of Indonesia's significant investment partners, we hope this cooperation will continue to increase and cover wider fields, including the development of electric vehicles and renewable energy," he said.

As the country with the most consumers in Southeast Asia and supported by the world's largest nickel reserves, Indonesia has a bright opportunity to become a major player in the global electric vehicle sector, said Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (GAIKINDO) Yohannes Nangoi.

"Moreover, more people will switch to electric vehicles in the future as fossil fuels damage our environment and cannot be renewed," Nangoi added.

Currently, the use of electric vehicles is limited within cities and for short trips. In the future, with increasingly developed technology, electric vehicles will be used for longer distances and various types of vehicles, including trucks transporting commodities between provinces or islands.

The problem is that electric vehicles currently are more expensive than conventional ones, but Nugroho believes this will be solved if the batteries meet three conditions: charging quickly, storing more power, and being cheaper.

"It is just a matter of time, as to how fast the experts or mechanics can achieve these three main things," he said.

The support of leading Chinese companies in this field will help Indonesia achieve the goal. "Those Chinese companies dare to invest in large amounts in Indonesia. Cooperation between the two countries has great prospects," Nangoi added.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
In one of the largest civil settlements in U.S. history, Bayer agreed Wednesday to pay more than $10 billion to resolve around 95,000 cases claiming its glyphosate-based weedkiller Roundup causes cancer.

The deal will still allow Bayer to sell Roundup without adding any warnings, The New York Times reported. It comes after three juries in early, high-profile trials awarded more than .4 billion to plaintiffs who developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma after long term Roundup use. Even Bayers billions cant magically make glyphosates well-documented links to cancer disappear, Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) senior scientist Nathan Donley said in a statement reported by The Guardian. Bayer only settled after three multi-million-dollar verdicts over the past year from jurors who, unlike the EPA, wisely put more trust in the safety assessments of independent scientists than in Monsanto/Bayers confidential reviews of its own product.

The debate over Roundups safety is ongoing, The New York Times explained. In 2015, the World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer said that glyphosate could probably cause cancer, but other regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have ruled it safe. However, critics point out that many of these safe rulings were based on studies provided by Monsanto, the company that developed and sold Roundup before it was acquired by Bayer in 2018. Per the terms of the settlement, the question of Roundups safety will now pass to an independent Class Science Panel, U.S. Right to Know (USTK) reported. The panel will decide if Roundup use can cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma and at what levels of exposure. Both Bayer and any future plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit will be bound by its findings. Until those findings are released, a process likely to take years, plaintiffs cannot bring any claims or seek punitive damages.

In the deal, Bayer earmarked .8 billion to .6 billion to settle 75 percent of current cases and .25 billion for any future claims. The three cases already decided by juries, currently in appeal, are not included. Both plaintiff lawyers and Bayer celebrated the agreement. After years of hard fought litigation and a year of intense mediation I am glad to see our clients will now be compensated, Mike Miller of the Miller law firm told USRTK.

Bayer, meanwhile, seemed eager to escape the shadow cast on the company after it acquired both Monsanto and its legal challenges. Bayers stock price plummeted after the three juries ruled against it, The New York Times pointed out. First and foremost, the Roundup settlement is the right action at the right time for Bayer to bring a long period of uncertainty to an end, Bayer CEO Werner Baumann said in a statement.
By Brett Wilkins

After a federal judge rejected a $2 billion class-action proposal from Bayer to avert future lawsuits alleging its popular Roundup herbicide causes cancer, the pharmaceutical and chemical giant announced Thursday that it would consider ending sales of the glyphosate-based weedkiller for residential use in the United States.

In a statement, Bayer said that it will immediately engage with partners to discuss the future of glyphosate-based products in the U.S. residential market in a move aimed at mitigating future litigation risk.

None of these discussions will affect the availability of glyphosate-based products in markets for professional and agricultural users, the Germany-based company added.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco rejected Bayers $2 billion plan to settle future lawsuits as clearly unreasonable, saying that while the proposal would accomplish a lot for Monsanto  the Roundup maker acquired by Bayer for nearly $63 billion in 2018  it would accomplish far less for Roundup users.

NEW: @Bayer is rethinking the future of glyphosate products after losing a $2B cancer claims settlement  yet it still wont recall glyphosate-rich Roundup. If Bayer wont act, then stores should  @Lowes

must #RejectRoundup now! @MarvinREllison https://t.co/1JGGpQYZlQ  Friends of the Earth (Action) (@foe_us) May 27, 2021

Earlier this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco upheld a lower court ruling against Monsanto that found the chemical maker liable for the cancer afflicting users of Roundup, the worlds bestselling weedkiller. Thousands of Roundup users allege the herbicide gave them non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer of the blood.

While Bayer claims Roundup is safe, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said in 2015 that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans.

In 2018, a San Francisco Superior Court jury found Monsanto liable for damages suffered by a groundskeeper and cancer patient who alleged his ailment was directly caused by exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides including Roundup, opening the floodgate for similar lawsuits across the nation. Juries in three separate cases have found that Monsanto covered up evidence of glyphosates health risks for decades. Bayer subsequently agreed to allot $9.6 billion toward resolving the 125,000 claims against the company.

In addition to being labeled a probable carcinogen by IARC, glyphosate has also been found to contaminate soil, water, and air. It has also been linked to low birth weights.

Health and environmental campaigners were encouraged by Bayers Thursday announcement.

Removing glyphosate from residential use would be a step in the right direction, as most of the cases now pending settlement involved serious exposure from non-farm uses, Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group (EWG), said in a statement.

Another clear step would be for Bayer to withdraw the pesticide from end-of-season use on food crops, which gave rise to the contamination EWG has found on oat products, in hummus, and other food, Cook continued.

But unless this cancer-causing weedkiller is banned by the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] or Bayer cuts its losses and stops making it, people will continue to be exposed and risk serious illness, he added. And the legal and financial disaster stemming from one of the worst business decisions ever made will remain.

Financial Times reports U.S. glyphosate sales account for around $365 million of Bayers annual revenue, or less than 2% of sales by its agriculture science division.

Earlier this month, the EPA drew fire from environmental groups for arguing that Roundup should remain on U.S. shelves indefinitely, even after admitting that the review of glyphosate conducted during the previous administration was flawed and needs to be redone.

Reposted with permission from Common Dreams.
Bayers $10 billion settlement to put an end to roughly 125,000 lawsuits against its popular weed killer Roundup, which contains glyphosate, hit a snag this week when a federal judge in San Francisco expressed skepticism over what rights future plaintiffs would have, as the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The billion settlement does not actually need judicial review and is set to move forward. The issue is that .25 billion from the settlement does need a court order to be approved. That part deals with future lawsuits by cancer patients who have not yet gone to court and by others who have not yet been diagnosed. The U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria said in an order Monday that he had questions about the legality and fairness of the agreement and was tentatively inclined to reject it, as the San Francisco Chronicle reported. In a court filing on Monday, the judge described a plan to create a class action for future litigants as problematic, and he set a July 24 hearing date to address the matter, as Bloomberg reported.

We appreciate the judges order raising his preliminary concerns with the proposed class settlement, which we take seriously and will address at the hearing, Chris Loder, a U.S.-based spokesman for the Germany-based chemical and pharmaceutical giant Bayer, said in an interview. Chhabria said he is skeptical of the propriety and fairness of the proposed settlement. He raised concerns about the creation of a scientific panel to decide whether the key ingredient, glyphosate, causes cancer and whether the agreement unfairly limits potential plaintiffs from suing, according to The New York Times. Right now about 30,000 claims contending Roundup caused non-Hodgkins lymphoma are left unsettled. Some lawyers in the U.S. have vowed to file another wave of new suits that could add tens of thousands to the logjam of existing cases, according to Bloomberg.

Thankfully, Judge Chhabria has seen the ruthless plan as an outrageous attempt to deprive every future victim of Monsantos killer Roundup of their right to fair and full compensation and to a jury trial, Tom Kline and Jason Itkin, plaintiffs attorneys for users of the weedkiller who havent settled their suits, said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg on Tuesday. Bayer has lost a series of high-profile multi-million dollar cases for Roundups role in causing non-Hodgkins lymphoma in people who used the Monsanto brand herbicide. That series of losses has seen investors flee from Bayer since it acquired Monsanto for billion in 2018. To stem the tide of suits, Bayer insisted that the protection against future suits is a linchpin of the current settlement. Without it, the bulk of the billion deal has the potential to fall apart, according to The New York Times.

In addition to the .8 billion to .6 billion to cover about 95,000 cases, .25 billion was set aside to finance the scientific panel and assist impoverished Roundup users with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. As The New York Times described, that panel would then decide whether glyphosate caused cancer and, if so, what exposure level was dangerous. Both Bayer and claimants would be bound to accept the findings in future litigation. New York-based lawyer Hunter Shkolnik opposed the novel class-action idea from the onset. He described it as nothing more than a legally infirm, backroom deal to protect Monsanto rather than compensating Roundup cancer victims, in an emailed statement to Bloomberg.
Wildfires that ignited in Greece Monday have killed at least 60 people in the area around Athens, prompting Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to declare three days of national mourning, BBC News reported.

The fires, which have injured at least 150, are the worst Greece has seen in more than a decade.

Today Greece is mourning, and in memory of those who were lost, we are declaring a three-day period of mourning, Tsipras said, as ABC News reported. But we mustnt let mourning overwhelm us, because these hours are hours of battle, unity, courage and above all solidarity.

The Spanish government sent two planes to help fight the blazes, ABC News reported. France, Italy, Germany and Poland also answered Greeces request for help with equipment and firefighters, BBC News reported. The firefighters need to work quickly, since temperatures in the area are expected to rise later this week.

Greece is prone to wildfires in the hot, dry summer months, according to BBC News, but this years are the worst since 2007 blazes killed dozens. There is some speculation among officials that the fires could have been sparked by arsonists looting old homes.

A dry winter also helped create the conditions that allowed the current blazes to spread, Al Jazeera reported.

A 2009 World Wildlife Fund and National Observatory of Athens assessment on the near-future impacts of climate change in Greece projected increased temperatures and drier winters would augment fire risk.

One fire that started Monday especially devastated the village of Mati in the Rafina region, which is a popular holiday destination, according to BBC News.

It subsided with lower winds on Tuesday, but was not entirely under control, Al Jazeera reported.

Villagers ran towards the sea for relief from the flames, but some did not make it, according to BBC News.

In one tragic incident, the bodies of 26 adults and children were found hugging each other feet from the sea.

Those that did make it to the waters edge, where they were rescued by both government and private boats.

Were talking about a biblical catastrophe in this wonderful area of Mati, fire survivor George Vokas told BBC News. Vokas and his family survived, but the flames destroyed their car and home. Two women he had tried to help had died, Vokas told BBC News.

Vokas wasnt the only one to lose his possessions. The streets of Mati were lined with burned out cars, Al Jazeera reported.

Mati doesnt even exist as a settlement anymore, Al Jazeera reported that a woman told Greeces Skai TV. I saw corpses, burned-out cars. I feel lucky to be alive.
In the latest attempt to use the courts to address the climate crisis, five young people are suing 12 EU countries over membership in a treaty that they argue puts the needs of fossil fuel companies above climate action.

The young people brought their case before the European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday, as Euractiv reported. The lawsuit targets the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), which gives energy companies the right to sue governments for compensation when their policies threaten profits.

Governments are still putting profits of the fossil fuel industry over human rights. But climate change is escalating and demanding more and more lives every day, a plaintiff named Julia, who is 17, said in a statement reported by Reuters.

Julia, like all of the plaintiffs, sees herself as a victim of climate-fueled extreme weather events, The Guardian reported. Last summer, she and her family survived devastating floods that killed 222 people in Germany and Belgium. With her family, she was forced to flee her German home as water rose around her.

It was really scary and going through the water felt like losing the ground underneath my feet, she said, as The Guardian reported.

Fellow plaintiff Damien, who is 23, experienced the floods in Belgium.

I saw entire parts of my life vanish by the floods last year, neighbourhoods have been destroyed, and four people lost their lives, he said, as Euractiv reported.

Another plaintiff, 21-year-old Alexandros, survived wildfires in Greece.

In 2018, a fire happened 18 km from my home (in Mati) and killed 103 people, he said, as Euractiv reported. We are under constant threat and uncertainty about our future. I feel stressed. Whenever I see pine trees under the sun, I get scared of a fire.

The young people are taking action by targeting the ECT. The treaty was first signed in 1994 and entered into force in 1998, according to its website. It was drawn up in response to the collapse of the Soviet Union to protect energy investments in former Soviet countries, Reuters explained. However, campaigners argue that the treaty has had serious consequences when it comes to climate action. Thats because it allows investors in energy projects to sue if national policies harm their investments. For example, the Germany company RWE used it to sue the Dutch government in 2021 over its decision to stop using coal for power by 2030. The company argued that this would negatively affect its Eemshaven power plant.

The lawsuit targets 12 EU nations that are ECT members: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The plaintiffs argue that membership in the treaty violates the rights to life and respect for private and family life, as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, according to The Guardian.

The lawsuit is not the only pushback the treaty has received in recent years. The 52 member states are negotiating reforms, according to Euractiv, but no agreement has been reached as of yet. The European Commission has proposed ending the protection of fossil fuel investments by 2040, but campaigners say this is too late, according to The Guardian.

The options that are being discussed are too weak to make the ECT compatible with the Paris agreement or with EU law, Climate Action Network senior trade and investment policy coordinator Cornelia Maarfield said, as The Guardian reported.

France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain have all expressed willingness to leave the treaty if membership makes it impossible for them to fulfill their obligations under the Paris agreement, according to Euractiv.




Bulgaria projects good wheat crop this year and increased exports



Petar Kirovski, a senior official in Bulgaria's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, said the country is projecting a good wheat crop this year close to last year's record harvest, which would allow for increased exports, Reuters reported.

Kirovskis said this year's crop could reach 6.5 million or 6.7 million tonnes depending on the state of sowings in different parts of the country.

Bulgaria is one of Europe's biggest wheat exporters, with a crop of 7.1 million tonnes last year, up from 4.7 million tonnes in 2020, which was a very bad year, and 6.1 million tonnes in 2019.

Bulgaria has so far sold up to 5 million tonnes of its 2021 wheat harvest, despite an annual local consumption of roughly 1.5 million tonnes, according to Kirovski.

He said given this year's predicted strong crop, there will be enough of excess grains over 4 million tonnes that can be exported.

- Reuters




Norway proposes new regulations for offshore salmon farming



The Norwegian government is proposing new regulations for offshore salmon farming, which differs from those imposed by Norway's "traffic light" scheme for coastal aquaculture, Fish Information & Services reported.

Bjrnar Skjran, Norway's Fisheries Minister, said the goal is to be at the forefront of developing the world's most productive and environmentally friendly offshore aquaculture industry while also feeding a growing global market.

The minister said they create a separate aquaculture licencing regime with stringent sustainability and coexistence requirements for different maritime industries.

This report is the foundation for the consultation note. The proposal includes a broader framework for identifying and facilitating offshore aquaculture zones, as well as the establishment of a separate licencing regime at sea.

The minister said experience shows that it is possible to establish farming further at sea, but the authorities must facilitate this.

He also said it is critical to figure out how to effectively deal with the challenges that such an operation may bring, as well as to establish a clear framework.

On the advice of Norway's Institute of Marine Research, he said the decision to exclude offshore aquaculture from the traffic light scheme was made.

Several producers, including SalMar, are already working on engineering solutions that will allow farms to be built in offshore locations.

- Fish Information & Services
Canada is banning companies from producing and importing a handful of single-use plastics by the end of the year, Reuters reports. Among the items the country wont allow the production of include plastic shopping bags, takeout containers and six-pack rings for holding cans and bottles together.

We promised to ban harmful single-use plastics, and were keeping that promise. The ban on the making and importing of plastic bags, cutlery, straws and other items comes into effect in December 2022  and selling these items is prohibited as of December 2023.  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 20, 2022

The federal government will subsequently prohibit the sale of those same items in 2023, with an export ban to follow in 2025. The one-year gap between the initial ban and the one that follows is designed to give businesses in Canada enough time to transition their stock of the listed items. Over the next ten years, the federal government estimates the new regulation will eliminate approximately 1.3 million tonnes of plastic waste, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter .

Not targeted by Canadas new regulations are plastic fishing nets and lines, which can be far more problematic than single-use plastics like straws and shopping bags. Discarded fishing gear leads to ghost fishing, a phenomenon where those tools continue to trap and kill marine life. With more than 640,000 tons worth of fishing nets discarded every year, its a problem thats only getting worse and one Canadas plastics ban doesnt address.

"It's a drop in the bucket," Sarah King, the head of Greenpeace Canada's oceans and plastics campaign, told the CBC. "Until the government gets serious about overall reductions of plastic production, we're not going to see the impact we need to see in the environment or in our waste streams."
Facebook has long taken action against fake reviews, but now it's formalizing that stance. As The Verge notes, Facebook parent company Meta has updated its Community Feedback Policy in the US to explicitly ban fake and paid reviews on its platforms. Users can't post a bogus review for a restaurant in hopes of getting a free meal, or take kickbacks to leave glowing opinions about a product.

The revised policy also forbids "irrelevant" and spam reviews, not to mention those that include graphic or otherwise offensive content. Meta will pull reviews that violate policies, and reserves the right to suspend access to some or all of its products. Habitual violators could face suspensions or permanent bans for their Facebook accounts, and businesses could lose access to product listings and tags.

You might not see a dramatic increase in crackdowns when the new policy mainly continues an existing strategy. It's also uncertain how well this commitment will hold. Facebook removed 16,000 fake review groups last year in response to a UK watchdog's concerns, but there's no guarantee it will catch every offender. An official policy indicates commitment to tackling the problem, though, and could help Meta justify bans when perpetrators complain.
Microsoft is keenly aware of the mounting backlash toward facial recognition, and it's shuttering a significant project in response. The company has revealed it will "retire" facial recognition technology that it said could infer emotions as well as characteristics like age, gender and hair. The AI raised privacy questions, Microsoft said, and offering a framework created the potential for discrimination and other abuses. There was also no clear consensus on the definition of emotions, and no way to create a generalized link between expressions and emotions.

New users of Microsoft's Face programming framework no longer have access to these attribute detection features. Current customers can use them until June 30th, 2023. Microsoft will still fold the tech into "controlled" accessibility tools, such as its Seeing AI for people with vision issues.

The exit comes as Microsoft has shared its Responsible AI Standard framework with the public for the first time. The guidelines illustrate the tech firm's decision-making process, including a focus on principles like inclusion, privacy and transparency. This also represents the first big update to the standard since it was introduced in late 2019, and promises more fairness in speech-to-text tech, stricter controls for neural voice and "fit for purpose" requirements that rule out the emotion-detecting system.

Microsoft isn't the first company to have second thoughts about facial recognition. IBM stopped work in that field over worries its projects could be used for human rights abuses. With that said, this is still a major change of heart. One of the world's largest cloud and computing companies is backing away from AI that could have a substantial impact.
South Korea just took an important step toward becoming a spacefaring nation. The New York Times reports the country successfully launched a satellite payload into orbit using a domestically-made rocket for the first time. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute's 200-ton Nuri vehicle (aka Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II) ferried both a working satellite (for performance verification) and a dummy into orbit at an altitude of 435 miles.

The accomplishment was a long time in coming. South Korea first launched a satellite into orbit in 2013, but it co-developed the mission's Naro rocket with Russia. Nuri also didn't have the smoothest path. An initial test launch in October 2021 lifted a dummy satellite into space, but an oxidizer tank failure led to a premature burnout that prevented the satellite from staying in orbit.

The successful flight is just the first step in a major expansion of South Korea's spaceflight efforts. Officials plan four more Nuri test launches between 2023 and 2027, and the verification payload will help test components for more satellite missions, including surveillance satellites to monitor North Korea. Long-term plans include a more powerful rocket as well as an uncrewed Moon lander that would arrive by the early 2030s.

The flight helps South Korea join just a handful of countries with similar spaceflight capabilities, including the US, Russia, China, France, India and Japan. There's also large degree of national pride involved. This helps South Korea reduce its dependence on American satellites and rockets, including SpaceX's Falcon 9  it won't have to worry as much about differing priorities and launch schedules.
Kelly Clarkson reportedly struggles even after her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, moved out of her Montana ranch.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon ruled that Blackstock could only stay on the property until June 1. Clarkson's ex-husband, however, did not quietly move out.

An insider recently told Us Weekly that Blackstock still milks Clarkson and acts as a "constant thorn" in her side despite finally being hammered out.

"[Blackstock] wanted to fight the order but was ultimately talked out of it," a source said.

The court ordered him to pay $12,500 per month to cover his rent, but the songstress still pays him more monthly by giving him $115,000 in spousal support until January 2024.

On top of that, the "Kelly Clarkson Show" host also pays him $45,601 in child support though she has the primary custody of their children. Blackstock, meanwhile, has one weekend with them each month while he still lives in Montana.



A custody agreement will be needed if he transfers to another state.

Kelly Clarkson, Brandon Blackstock Still Have More Issues To Be Solved

Amid the new issue, Clarkson and Blackstock will reportedly face each other for another month despite finalizing their divorce in March.

As reported by Daily Mail, the private judge who was appointed to resolve their dispute was expected to step down this month. However, the judge will now continue to serve the estranged couple for another month.

On Friday, Clarkson and Blackstock's attorneys asked the Los Angeles Superior Court to extend Justice Scott Gordon's duty until July 31.

The news came months after Clarkson changed her name to Kelly Brianne.

ET confirmed that Clarkson legally changed her name to Kelly Briane through the Superior Court of California.

"The Decree is signed and filed. The Petitioner's name is changed from KELLY BRIANNE CLARKSON to KELLY BRIANNE," it says.

READ ALSO: Amber Heard Cannot Move On After Losing Trial? Johnny Depp's Lawyers Call Her Out

Her fans initially expressed their concerns that the name change could affect her talk show in any way. Fortunately, "The Kelly Clarkson Show" kept its name.

A publicist for the singer's talk show recently told Vulture (via People) that "The Kelly Clarkson Show" would retain its name. It means that the show refused to use Kelly Brianne's name and change it to "The Kelly Brianne Show."

The "Breakaway" hitmaker, however, clarified that her name change was just a formality of her divorce and that she is still Kelly Clarkson.

READ MORE: Ray Garduno Cruz, Juan Francisco Gonzalez Aguilar Dead: Netflix Issues Statement After Tragedy
The popular Grammy Award winning country music group The Chicks didn't quite put on the show fans were expecting on Sunday.

They unexpectedly ended their performance at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indianapolis, after only 30-minutes, as reported on by WTHR.

The trio were unfortunately forced to abandon the concert after only five songs. They later released a statement on Twitter, saying the concert had to end due to "vocal issues."

"Indianapolis, we are so sorry we could not give you the show you deserved OR the show we wanted to give you. We will be back Indianapolis!! Hold onto your tickets. Ticket holders will be contacted by the official point of purchase with further information. We love you Indianapolis."

A fan was quick to post footage of the show as it came to an abrupt close. In this clip you can see band member Natalie Maines rubbing her throat before apologizing, saying,

"I just can't pull it off."

Chicks cancel show after a few songs. New experience for me.

11,000 fans. #thechicks @thechicks pic.twitter.com/IWh1VuGJKr  Dr. Rob Bell (@drrobbell) June 20, 2022

Concert goers seemed pretty understanding of the situation, sending well wishes to Maines,

@thechicks Indiana still loves you! Thank you for pushing through what you did. I got chills. Hope Natalie feels better. See you soon   Lucas Anthony (@lucasanthony90) June 20, 2022

Hey #thechicks we appreciate you trying. 5 songs and done. Well see you next time in Indy!  Jeff Adell (@seeking6) June 20, 2022

On Monday, The Chicks explained the situation further, saying they had to cancel even more shows "as a result of strict doctor's orders for vocal rest." Whatever is going on with Maines' voice, it seems to be more serious then she initially expected.

The tweet also included a list of postponements and reschedules for future shows. It has also been announced that all tickets for the canceled show will be accepted at the rescheduled times.

We would like to wish Natalie Maines a speedy recovery and all the best. Get well soon.
Palo Alto, CAJotham Stein, author of Negotiate Like a CEO: How to Get Ahead with Lesson Learned from Top Entrepreneurs and Executives, was featured on the Hire & Empower podcast with Molly McGrath.

One of Stein's interesting points was advising employees of all levels to negotiate for the end game, when something unforeseen takes place which ends one's tenure at a company or institution. This is why he says to "think like a CEO and C-Suite execs."they all have extensive, carefully worded and binding employment separation agreements, referred to by Stein as employment prenups.



What does it mean to negotiate like a CEO? How important are employment agreements? How can you learn to protect yourself and your family if the worst does happen? These are all questions that Jotham S. Stein addresses in his book Negotiate Like a CEO, with the goal of equipping individuals with the tools they need to safeguard themselves in business and employment.

Listen to the entire interview at https://soundcloud.com/expertclickradio/jotham-stein-author-of-negotiate-like-a-ceo-interviewed-on-hire-empower-podcast

Expert Click Radio  Jotham Stein, Author of 'Negotiate Like a CEO,' Interviewed on Hire & Empower Podcast

Negotiate Like a CEO isn't afraid to get into the weeds about what you need to do to help your career. Stein peppers each chapter with captivating stories of employees who have found themselves in tight situations with their employerstories that many readers will find familiar. He follows each example with insider insights on how to navigate the situation and save yourself from heartache.

A graduate of Stanford Law School and Princeton University, Stein has more than two decades of experience in executive law, representing individuals from all walks of life, including entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, and less senior employees of all size companies. In his career he has negotiated robust employment agreements, separation agreements, M & A agreements, change in control agreements, stock option agreements, restricted stock agreements, management carve out agreements, non-compete agreements, and much more.

"It's the concept to protect yourself, to read everything or get a good adviser to read everything, to negotiate with leverage, just like a CEO would negotiate with leverage. I wrote this book to help the people out there who have no idea how to help themselves in their employment relationships," says Stein. "Too many just don't know how or are too afraid to ask." Jotham Stein

"Jotham has helped me throughout my career, from setting up strong employment agreements to securing stock compensation to protecting the management team during the sale of my company. Jotham is a guy you want in your corner. His book should be required reading for anyone who thinks 'this could never happen to me'." Andy Cohen, founder and former CEO, Caring.com

As a hi-tech Silicon Valley attorney Stein is brutally honest in assessing a situation and advising his clients. In Negotiate Like a CEO you'll learn to be aware, to recognize potential employment pitfalls, and how to protect yourself. You'll also learn that you may have more leverage than you might think, either now or as you advance in your career. Grady Harp, Amazon Top 100 Hall of Fame Reviewer

"As a CEO and multi-time Silicon Valley executive, I was very fortunate to learn from Jotham early in my career the great importance of the protective employment offer letter. Employment law is very complex and with this book you can learn from the best." Bonnie Crater, co-founder and CEO, Full Circle Insights; former SVP salesforce.com; former SVP Genesys; former VP Oracle; former VP Netscape

Watch the book trailer here: https://bit.ly/NegotiateLikeaCEOtrailer





About: Jotham S. Stein is the principal of the Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C. He has more than two decades of experience representing entrepreneurs and C-Suite executives, board members, venture capitalists, private equity principals, and investment bankers as well as less senior employees of all size companies.

admitted to practice in California, Illinois, New York, Colorado, and the District of Columbia as well as the United States Supreme Court, and several United States Courts of Appeals and United States District Courts. He is also a member of multiple bar associations, including the American Bar Association.

Stein is the author of Executive Employment Law: Protecting Executives, Entrepreneurs and Employees, a how-to guide for practitioners.

Stein's new book, Negotiate Like a CEO, is an enthralling look at how top entrepreneurs and executives protect themselves and how you can too. You can find out more about Jotham Stein at NegotiateLikeaCEO.netASIN: B09TG125BQ, Published by Political Animal Press, Feb. 24, 2022, 294 pages, available on Kindle and paperback on Amazon.

Media Contact: For a review copy of Negotiate Like a CEO or to arrange an interview with Jotham S. Stein, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 248-705-2214. Reach Lorenz on twitter @abookpublicist
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The Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk recently completed a $38 million makeover, one of at least three downtown hotels getting facelifts as the citys tourism industry continues to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.

The renovations come as occupancy rates edge nearer pre-pandemic levels, hospitality employment matches them and some downtown attractions get a brushing up.

We made this investment in our hotel and community to complement the revitalization of the downtown area, from the renovation of Alamo Plaza to the numerous updates that have been made to our nearby museums and attractions, Philip Stamm, area vice president and general manager of the Hyatt, said in a statement.

Renovations to the hotels 602 rooms include open floor plans, new hardwood flooring, rugs, furniture and 75-inch flat-screen televisions.

The Hyatts 28 suites were also updated and can be used for lodging or to host social gatherings and small events, the hotel said. Bathrooms were redesigned with high-end finishes and hotel corridors and elevator waiting areas also were spruced up.

The Hyatt, at 123 Losoya St., opened in 1982. It includes three eateries, two ballrooms, 21 meeting rooms and a heated rooftop swimming pool.

We are ecstatic to celebrate the momentous milestone anniversary of 40 years in the San Antonio community with a new and vibrant chapter for our iconic River Walk hotel, Stamm said.

The Hyatts renovations come as San Antonios hospitality industry inches closer to recovery from the pandemic, which delivered a big blow to downtown hotels reliant on leisure travelers and convention business.

Occupancy at hotels in San Antonio averaged 62.2 percent in May. That was up about 2.3 percent from last year but down 3.1 percent from the same month in 2019 prior to the pandemic, according to data firm STR.

Revenue per available room  a key measure of hotels performance  was $80.58 last month, up 22.8 percent from a year ago and 13.3 percent from May 2019.

In San Antonios central business district specifically, occupancy was about 62.6 percent last month, still well shy of May 2019s rate of 68.9 percent. But revenue per available room was $108.31, up from $98.24.

Through May, Visit San Antonio, which markets the city to convention planners, booked 203 events with 229,608 attendees  nearly matching the total for the entirety of 2021 and on pace to match 2019.

The organization scheduled 231 events with 242,979 attendees in 2021, 160 events with 183,971 attendees in 2020 and 526 events with 578,542 attendees in 2019.

As they prepare for vacationers and conventioneers, hoteliers are ramping up hiring.

S.A. VOTES Voter Guide: What to know for the Texas runoff election A breakdown of key state and local races and candidates in the May 24 primary runoff.

The industry added 6,000 jobs in May, a gain that came after two months of losses in March and April. Overall leisure and hospitality employment rose to 140,500 last month, the same as in May 2019, before the pandemic.

Other hotels in the downtown area are also being spruced up.

White Lodging is renovating the Marriott Plaza hotel across from Hemisfair and will reopen it as The Otis Hotel San Antonio. A group of investors plan to transform the Wyndham San Antonio River Walk into a luxury InterContinental hotel.

East of downtown, a group aiming to turn St. Paul Square into a nightlife destination plans to refurbish the Staybridge Suites hotel.

Winston Hotels is turning the Riverview Towers building at 111 Soledad St. into an AC Hotel by Marriott and an Element Hotel by Westin. Aztec Family Group LLC and Shreem Capital plan to convert several floors at the Aztec Theatre into a boutique hotel.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) and the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative of the African Development Bank Group have joined forces to drive increased access to finance and markets for women-owned and women-led small and medium enterprises (WSMEs) across Southern, East and West Africa.

The new AfDB funded AWIEF programme Solutions Catalysing Increased Access to Capital for the Success of Women Entrepreneurs aims to accelerate efforts to address gender inequality and drive inclusive economic transformation.

More than 500 growth-oriented WSMEs will be supported for scale, access to markets and investment readiness across 8 African countries: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

The two-year programme will create a profitable pipeline of investable businesses ready to access finance.

Programme Components The programme is organized under 4 components: AWIEF Growth Accelerator (in partnership with Nedbank)  to enhance investment readiness and increase access to finance. eCommerce Capacity Development (in partnership with UNIDO)  for building knowledge, capacity and skills in digital channels to increase participation and success in online business. Digital Skills (in partnership with Amazon Web Services)  to strengthen WSMEs capacity to embrace technology innovation. Mentorship and Advisory  enhancing the visibility and access to role models for WSMEs through a mentorship platform.

Call for Applications for 2022 Cohort

Applications are invited from WSMEs for participation in any one of these programme components: 1) AWIEF Growth Accelerator; 2) eCommerce Capacity Development; 3) Digital Skills.

Selection Criteria

WSMEs registered and operating in: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Priority sectors include: Technology, Agriculture & Agribusiness, Creative Industry, eCommerce, Renewable Energy, Manufacturing, Retail, Construction, Logistics.

To submit your application, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3zOvzW0

The deadline for submission is Monday, 18 July 2022 at 11:59pm Central Africa Time (CAT). Applications will only be accepted through the link above.

Programme Timeline for 2022 Cohort

Applications open: 20 June 2022

Applications close: 18 July 2022

Recruitment of participants: July  August 2022

Training: September  December 2022

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San Antonio businessman Michael Angelo Padron is not a service-disabled veteran. He never even served in the military.

Yet he managed to obtain millions of dollars in federal government contracts intended for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday during opening statements in Padrons criminal trial in San Antonio federal court.

The evidence in this case will prove that the defendant and his business partners, for their own personal greed, used disabled veterans as figureheads  as props and puppets  so their front company could win tens of millions of dollars in government contracts  contracts that should have gone to companies actually run by disabled veterans, Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Brown said.

Padron, who owns a general contracting company called Mapco Inc., was indicted last year on one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and eight counts of wire fraud. His alleged co-conspirators have cut plea deals with prosecutors and will testify against him.

On ExpressNews.com: Lackland denies president of San Antonio contracting company access to base after fraud indictment

Santosh Aravind, one of Padrons lawyers, told jurors his client is innocent.

This is a case about betrayal, Aravind said. Mr. Padron is a successful businessman. He built a business from nothing. As that business grew, he hired three men to help him run that business. One betrayed him by stealing money. Another betrayed him by lying.

All three men have now betrayed Mr. Padron again by turning against him and falsely claiming that Mr. Padron is part of some sprawling conspiracy to defraud the government, Aravind added.

The alleged conspiracy stretched from 2004 through at least 2017 and resulted in San Antonio construction company Blackhawk Ventures receiving contracts intended for service-disabled vets, according to the March 2021 grand jury indictment. The contracts were valued at $250 million.

Blackhawk won more than 1,300 set-aside contracts from various government agencies over the years, a federal database shows. They included a $21.2 million contract to build a parking garage at the Dallas VA Medical Center and a $13.7 million contract for a battle command training center at Fort Sam Houston.

Blackhawk was formed in 2004 by Padron and partners Michael Wibracht and Brian Dudley.

More recently, Wibracht was known in San Antonio for adapting old, neglected buildings for apartments in parts of the city that lacked affordable housing.

Through his 210 Development Group, he converted a century-old peanut factory on South Frio Street on the near West Side into about 100 apartment units  some that later were occupied by University of Texas at San Antonio students.

On the South Side, 210 Development turned some old military barracks and a dining facility at Brooks City Base into the 280-unit Aviator Apartments. The trailblazing developments attracted the attention of former Mayor Henry Cisneros, who invested with partner Victor Miramontes in a project to remake a former seminary school near Mission Concepcion into apartments.

In February 2021, Wibracht pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government. Aravind said Wibracht, who served as Mapcos CFO, had stolen money from the company.

On ExpressNews.com: The rise and fall of a San Antonio apartment developer

Wibracht and Dudley were childhood pals. Dudley served 23 years in the Coast Guard and suffered a broken wrist that was originally misdiagnosed, qualifying him as a service-disabled vet.

Wibracht had called Dudley to tell him about the Small Business Administrations Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business program.

Dudley was made Blackhawks majority owner with a 51 percent stake, he said during testimony as the government's first witness. Wibracht owned 30 percent and Padron owned the other 19 percent.

Dudley, however, said he didnt have any say or involvement in how the business was run. Instead, he was told during monthly calls what the business was doing.

S.A. VOTES Voter Guide: What to know for the Texas runoff election A breakdown of key state and local races and candidates in the May 24 primary runoff.

In 2007, Dudley moved from California to San Antonio to join Blackhawk.

That first phone call, Mike Wibracht had told me, Mike Padron does not want you to run this company. He doesnt want you to be in charge of anything, Dudley testified.

He called that the beginning of the end, explaining he wasnt going to remain as majority owner on paper and put myself at risk for committing fraud.

When Dudley left, Padron and Wibracht told Ruben Villarreal  a Floresville disabled veteran who served in the Navy for 20 years  that he would be taking over as Blackhawks majority owner, Brown said.

When Ruben Villarreal took over Brian Dudleys ownership interest in Blackhawk, he didnt pay any money  not $1  to become a majority owner of an existing company, Brown said.

Villarreal had worked at Mapco before Blackhawk. He was the first charged in the alleged conspiracy, pleading guilty in 2020 to the same charge as Wibracht. They are both scheduled to be sentenced in October.

Aravind countered that Padron had given up his ownership in Blackhawk in 2007.

We will show you evidence that contradicts the governments story that Ruben was just a rubber stamp for Mr. Padron, Aravind told jurors.

U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez is presiding over the trial, which is expected to run through the end of next week.

pdanner@express-news.net
Two months ago, Rosemary Catacalos published what ended up being the last poem she would send out into the world.

Mr. Chairman Takes His Leave was posted to poets.org in April. It is about the end of a life, though not her own. It is a tribute to William Rashall Sinkin, the father of her ex-husband, Lanny Sinkin. In it, the narrator references reading Walt Whitman to him as he was dying, a yellow dog nearby.

Catacalos, who was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer more than seven years ago, died Friday. She was 78.

She was an intensely private person, but her poetry touched on the most intimate aspects of being, jazz artist Bett Butler, a close friend, wrote in an email. Her poems tell of individual characters in specific locations but still manage to be universal. We know those characters. We've been to those places.

Catacalos was the first Hispanic person to serve as the Texas Poet Laureate, a post to which she was named in 2013. Again for the First Time, the first full-length collection of her work, received the Texas Institute of Letters poetry prize in 1985. Her work also was included in two Best American Poetry anthologies and in literary magazines and high school and college textbooks.

Fellow poet Naomi Shihab Nye, who knew her for 51 years and last saw her on Mothers Day, said Catacalos was at peace that she was nearing the end of her journey.

One of her many contributions to the city was as an arts advocate, Nye said. Among other things, she expanded programs that bring artists into schools during her 10 years as executive director of the literary nonprofit Gemini Ink.

I think she was the soul of our city, Nye said. Shes the most astonishing poet and did so much work for community, and I think thats something she would really want to have emphasized. She was devoted to community, and letting art belong to everyone, and believing in the voices of little kids, even when we had to convince their school districts to give us more time with them.

Anthony The Poet Flores said that Catacalos was always kind and supportive of him and other slam poets.

Rosemary Catacalos was the first major literary figure in San Antonio to open the institutional doors and help create opportunities for slam poets and spoken-word artists, and so she was instrumental in bridging the way for the new poetry in our city, Flores said.

On ExpressNews.com: The late Robert Bonazzi was known for encouraging young writers

Catacalos was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, and moved to San Antonios East Side with her parents when she was 3. Her fathers parents were Greek and Mexican, and her mother was from Mexico, and her poetry reflected her heritage.

After a stint in newspapers, which included time as an arts columnist for the now-defunct San Antonio Light, she spent much of her career in arts administration. She ran the literature program at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center from 1986 to 1989, was executive director of the poetry center at San Francisco State University from 1991 to 1996 and served as the executive director of Gemini Ink for almost a decade starting in 2003.

Alexandra van de Kamp, the current executive director of Gemini Ink and also a poet, said Catacalos impact still is felt.

I am forever grateful to Rosemary for her dedication to our mission, and her belief in the power of the writing arts to change lives, van de Kamp said. I inherit and still benefit from today, in a myriad of ways, her transformative work with youth and her eye for smart and cutting-edge public programming.

Jon Hinojosa, who was executive director of the youth arts program SAY Si when Catacalos headed Gemini Ink, said they became friends as they commiserated over the challenges of running arts nonprofits.

While we spent time sharing and being a sounding board, we also spent time doing chisme and talking about folks and having a good time and laughing, Hinojosa said. She was just so wickedly funny and prickly and she called things as she saw them. And for someone who works with people, that takes a lot of courage and a lot of gumption, and that was who she was.

Because of her focus on arts administration, she was happily surprised to learn she had been named the states poet laureate, she said in an interview with the Express-News in 2013.

On ExpressNews.com: SA writer Gregg Barrios dies at 80

I was shocked, actually, because Ive been a very hard-working arts administrator, she said. At the time I started doing arts administration, there werent that many people of color doing that kind of work, so it was very important for me to open doors.  my own work was not quite as important to me as opening those doors.

She kept writing after her cancer diagnosis and was working on a new collection when she died. A few weeks ago, she learned that the cancer had spread to her brain. As her health began to decline and she was no longer able to talk on the phone, Butler and Betsy Schultz, another close friend, set up a page for her on CaringBridge, a site designed to provide updates and coordinate help for people who are ill.

Butler and Schultz also invited people to write notes to her there. Some posted memories, and some quoted from her work. Schultz, who helped care for Catacalos, read the posts to her daily right up to the end.

She was able to smile, wave her finger and enjoy what people said, Schultz said. She enjoyed hearing that people knew her work, and that they were able to include their own story of how she was able to impact them. She was very well-warmed by all of that.

Butler said she learned a lot from the poet.

She always spoke of literature as a safe space to explore the hard questions, she said. She insisted that we tell the story clearly and succinctly because no one has time to read words that just take up space. She insisted that we tell the truth, shun hyperbole, not make claims we couldn't back up. She insisted that it's about the story -- not the storyteller. And she said, most importantly, Pay attention. Always pay attention.

Plans for a memorial service are pending.

dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN
Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw lambasted the law enforcement response to the mass shooting in Uvalde as he testified before a Texas Senate special committee on Tuesday, while releasing to the public the most comprehensive official timeline to date.

The timeline, based on security footage, phone recordings and police body cameras, places Pete Arredondo, the chief of police for Uvalde school districts, at the scene at 11:36 a.m. on May 24, just three minutes after the teenage gunman walked unimpeded into the school building.

McCraw squarely blamed Arredondo, who was the on-scene commander during the shooting and leading the response, for the delay before confronting the shooter, saying he decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children.

Tuesdays hearing was the Legislatures first public hearing on the massacre. The Texas Houses new three-member committee investigating the shooting has been collecting testimony in private over the past two weeks, and Arredondo and a Houston SWAT officer were both scheduled to speak to them on Tuesday.

The following comes from the timeline presented by McCraw, which notes that it has been condensed and that the time stamps are approximations.

The information comes from video footage captured by a neighboring business, school surveillance footage, 911 call recordings and other phone recordings as well as law enforcement body camera footage.

The timeline shows that officers breached the classroom where the shooter was located 1 hour, 14 minutes and 8 seconds after they first entered the school.

The text has been edited for clarity and to remove expletives.

11:28:25 Suspect crashes vehicle into ditch

11:29:02 Two males from funeral home move toward crash

11:29:20 Teacher calls 911 and reports and man with a gun

11:31:36 Suspect shooting in between vehicle at school

11:31:43 Patrol car accelerates into school parking lot, drives by shooter

11:32:08 Multiple shots fired by suspect while outside the school

11:33:00 Suspect enters the school through the west door

11:33:24 Suspect begins shooting into classroom 111/112 from hallway (At least 100 rounds are fired over the next three minutes)

11:33:32 Suspect enters, exits, and re-enters room 111/112

11:35:55 Three Uvalde PD Officers enter west door (including two rifles)

11:36:00 Two UCISD officers (these are Uvalde school district police, including Chief Arredondo) and two Uvalde PD officers enter through the south door

11:36:03 Three Uvalde PD officers and one UCISD officer enter through west door

11:37:00 Suspect gunfire injuring officers approaching classroom doors (11 rounds fired)

11:38:37 Unknown officer: Hes contained in this office.

11:40:23 Arredondo calls Uvalde PD landline

11:40:58 Suspect Gunfire (One round)

11:41:08 Uvalde PD officer: We believe that he is barricaded in one of the offices, theres still shooting.

11:41:30 Dispatch asks if door is locked, to which a Uvalde PD officer replies, I am not sure but we have a hooligan to break it.

11:41:55 Four first responders enter from the east hallway: Two constables, Fire Marshal, Uvalde PD Officer

11:42:24 One DPS Trooper and two Uvalde PD Officers enter from east hallway

11:44:00 Suspect gunfire (One round)

11:44:28 UCISD PD Officer: Have some officers that are available get everybody back.

11:48:18 UCISD PD Officer Ruben Ruiz, husband of one of the teachers in the classroom, enters the west door and is heard telling officers, She says she is shot.

11:50:53 Unknown officer says, They need to get out of the hallway, to which Uvalde PD Officer responds, Chief is in there, Chief is in charge right now hold on.

11:51:13 Seven Border Patrol Agents enter the west door

11:52:08 First ballistic shield arrives from the west door

11:52:49 UPD Officer: Units just showing up can you help with crowd control.

11:53:10 Unknown officer informs a DPS Special Agent that all they need right now is perimeter.

Someone comments about whether there are still kids inside to which the DPS Special Agent responds: If there is, then they just need to go in.

11:54:14 DPS Special Agent enters the west building and is directed on where the suspect focus is. He asks an unknown officer, Are kids still in there? The unknown officer responds: It is unknown at this time.

11:54:15 Uvalde PD Officer: Hes in classroom 111 or 112. But chief is making contact with him. No one has made contact with him.

11:56:49 Unknown Officer: Yall dont know if theres kids in there?

DPS Special Agent: If theres kids in there, we need to go in there. Unknown Officer: Whats that? DPS SA: If theres kids in there, we need to go in there.

Unknown Officer: Whoever is in charge will determine that.

11:56:52 PD Channel Recording: Again it is critical for everybody to let PD take point on this.

11:58:12 After an unknown officer asks where the shooter is, another unknown officer advises, The school chief of police is in there with him.

11:58:24 DPS Special Agent says, It sounds like a hostage rescue situation. Sounds like a (undercover) rescue, they should probably go in.

12:01:13 DPS Special Agent indicates he wants to go clear more rooms. An unknown Officer replies, Dont you think we should have a supervisor approve that? to which DPS Special Agent replies,

Hes not my supervisor.

12:03:50 A 911 call from student inside the classroom begins

12:03:51 Second ballistic shield arrives from west door

12:04:16 Third ballistic shield arrives from west door

12:09:24 Uvalde PD Officer: Go around and get the master key to the rooms.

12:10:21 Elements of BORTAC (Border Patrol Tactical Unit) begin arriving at elementary school

12:11:00 Arredondo requests master key

12:14:45 Arredondo gives instructions to officers to have a sniper on the east roof

12:15:27 BORTAC (Border Patrol Tactical Unit) Member arrives in west building

12:16:24 Arredondo: I just need a key.

12:17:22 Tell them to (expletive) wait. No one comes in.

12:20:46 Fourth ballistic shield arrives from west door

12:21:08 Suspect gunfire (four rounds)

12:21:30 Arredondo: Can you go get a breaching tool? Like for a trailer house?

12:23:21 Arredondo: Weve lost two kids. These walls are thin. If he starts shooting, were going to lose more kids. I hate to say we have to put those to the side right now.

12:24:00 Arredondo attempts to communicate with the suspect in English and Spanish.

12:26:14 Unknown officer: Theres a teacher shot in there, to which a Uvalde PD Officer replies, I know.

12:27:08 Arredondo: People are going to ask why were taking so long. Were trying to preserve the rest of the life.

12:27:29 Arredondo: Do we have a team ready to go? Do we have a team ready to go? Have at it.

12:28:21 Arredondo: There is a window over there obviously. The door is probably going to be locked. That is the nature of this place. I am going to get some more keys to test.

12:28:53 Arredondo: These master keys arent working here, bro. We have master keys and theyre not working.

12:30:00 Arredondo: OK. Weve cleared out everything except for that room. We still have people down there just past the flag to the right. But, uh, were ready to breach but that door is locked.

12:33:44 Arredondo: I say we breach through those windows and shoot his (expletive) head off through the windows.

12:35:39 Hooligan breaching tool enters west door

12:38:20 Arredondo attempts to communicate with the suspect in English and Spanish.

12:41:58 Arredondo: Just so you understand, we think there are some injuries in there. And so you know what we did, we cleared off the rest of the building so we wouldnt have anymore besides whats already in there, obviously.

12:42:11 Arredondo: Were having a (expletive) problem getting into the room because it is locked. Hes got an AR-15 and hes shooting everywhere like crazy. So, hes stopped.

12:43:20 Arredondo: They gotta get that (expletive) door open, bro. They cant get that door open. We need more keys or something.

12:46:18 Arredondo: If yall are ready to do it, you do it but you should distract him out that window.

12:47:57 Sledge hammer arrives from east hallway

12:50:03 Breach and termination gunfire
Law enforcement officers had enough resources to stop the teenage gunman who attacked a Uvalde elementary school just three minutes after he entered the building, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw testified on Tuesday.

McCraw squarely blamed Pete Arredondo, the chief of police for Uvalde schools who was the on-scene commander during the shooting, for failing to confront the gunman sooner. First responders arrived at Robb Elementary School just as the shooter began his rampage  and had acquired bulletproof shields and assault-style weapons shortly thereafter  but still waited more than an hour to enter the connected classrooms where the gunman was still a threat to students and teachers.

Police efforts that day were an abject failure and antithetical to everything we have learned over the past two decades, McCraw, the states top law enforcement official, told a state Senate committee. He added that DPS officers on site did not have the authority by law to take command from local authorities.

William Luther, Staff Photographer / Staff photographer

One hour, 14 minutes and 8 seconds, said McCraw. That's how long the children waited and the teachers waited in room 111 to be rescued. And while they waited, the on-scene commander waited for radio and rifles. And he waited for shields, and he waited for SWAT. Lastly, he waited for a key that was never needed.

WATCH LIVE: Special Texas Senate hearing on Uvalde school shooting

Twenty-one people, including 19 children, died on May 24. Another 17 were injured.

The only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander, who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children, McCraw said.

He was testifying before the state Senates new committee evaluating school safety and gun violence. The group met for the first time on Tuesday, the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy process as lawmakers decide how to respond to the shooting when they reconvene in Austin next year.

Arredondo has faced scathing criticism for his handling of the shooting. He said in an interview with the Texas Tribune that he never considered himself the incident commander but did everything he could to save lives, mostly hindered by a door he didnt have the key to unlock.

But security footage shows that police never tried to open the doors to the classrooms, according to a law enforcement source close to the investigation. Plus, McCraw said officers never needed a key in the first place  and its likely that the door wasnt even locked, since it could only be secured from the outside.

I don't believe, based on the information that we have right now, that that door was ever secured, McCraw said. And he didnt have a key, and he certainly couldnt lock it from the inside. So, the door was unsecured.

McCraw told the Senate committee it could be argued that Arredondo turned over on-scene commander duties when he asked for and received help from other law enforcement agencies.

State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, the San Antonio Democrat who represents Uvalde, went a step further, questioning the assertion that Arredondo was definitively in charge: This narrative of being the incident commander was thrust upon this guy by DPS in the aftermath, he said in an interview Tuesday afternoon.

Gutierrez said he found it odd that McCraw said DPS, which had 91 officers on site, couldnt take command of the response.

Ill have to talk to a lawyer to figure out the rest of it, but if you ask me, they should have jurisdiction, he said.

The testimony is a reminder that everybody failed here, Gutierrez said, and there are still a lot of questions to be answered.

More detailed timeline released

McCraw also presented the most comprehensive official timeline of the massacre to date. Based on security footage, phone recordings and police body cameras, officials place Arredondo at the scene at 11:36 a.m., just three minutes after the gunman walked unimpeded into the school building.

In the four-minute span between 11:33 a.m. and 11:37 a.m., the shooter fired more than 100 rounds, likely killing many of the victims immediately and injuring officers who had initially approached the classroom door. He was wielding an AR-15-style rifle purchased just days after his 18th birthday.

At 11:48 a.m., school police officer Ruben Ruiz told first responders that his wife, teacher Eva Mireles, had called him to say she had been shot. She died later that day.

At 11:53 a.m., someone asked whether children were still inside the classroom. If there is, then they just need to go in, a DPS special agent responded.

By 11:58 a.m., officers were debating whether the shooting had turned into a hostage situation. At 12:03 p.m., a student inside the classroom called 911.

Arredondo requested the master key to the classroom at 12:11 p.m., minutes later declaring: Tell them to (expletive) wait. No one comes in.

At 12:27 p.m.: People are going to ask why were taking so long, Arredondo said. Were trying to preserve the rest of the life. He again lamented his inability to open the door, even with a master key.

Police finally breached the classroom 23 minutes later, at 12:50 p.m., killing the shooter.

Tuesdays hearing was the Legislatures first public hearing on the massacre. The Texas Houses new three-member committee investigating the shooting has been collecting testimony in private over the past two weeks, and Arredondo and a Houston SWAT officer spoke to them on Tuesday.

Escorted by state troopers, Arredondo left the Capitol shortly before 2 p.m. after testifying for five hours. He did not respond to reporters questions as he was hustled to an elevator down the hall.

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said Arredondo should also appear before the Senate committee to answer questions in an open meeting.

I challenge this chief to come testify in public as to what happened here, Bettencourt said. Don't go hide in the House and talk privately. Come to the Senate, where the public and Texas can ask these questions.

Gov. Greg Abbott had asked both the House and the Senate to form new committees after the shooting, declining to call legislators back to Austin for a special session. He tasked them with evaluating five subject areas: school safety, police training, social media, mental health and firearm safety.

The Senate committee discussed the first three topics on Tuesday and will cover the last two on Wednesday.

Democrats have been pushing for new gun safety laws, such as raising the age to purchase assault-style weapons, but the states GOP majority has rejected any efforts to restrict firearm access.

Instead, Texas top Republicans have focused their response on boosting mental health services and school safety measures, such as limiting access points and placing more armed officials at schools.

Edward McKinley contributed reporting.

edward.mckinley@chron.com

jasper.scherer@chron.com

cayla.harris@express-news.net
A state court has denied the appeal of a Tyler man accused of killing a Trinity University student in 2017, paving the way for his retrial.

Mark P. Howertons first murder trial ended with the jury deadlocked.

Howerton was 22 when he was arrested and charged with the slaying of Cayley Mandadi of League City. She was a 19-year-old sophomore majoring in communications and a member of Trinitys cheer team and Chi Beta Epsilon sorority.

On ExpressNews.com: Murder suspect accuses prosecutors of misconduct after hung jury; asks judge to bar new trial

Howerton went to trial in 2019. Prosecutors alleged he killed Mandadi in a jealous rage after she tried to break up with him at the Mala Luna Music Festival in San Antonio on Oct. 29, 2017. They had been dating for six months.

HO, San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer

Howerton has maintained his innocence. At trial, his attorney, John Hunter, alleged that Mandadi agreed to go to Houston with Howerton after the festival, and that they stopped at a gas station and had rough make-up sex.

Testimony in his trial established that, at some point, Mandadi stopped breathing, so Howerton drove her to a hospital in Luling. She was covered in bruises and was not wearing pants when they arrived at the hospital. She later died and Howerton was charged with murder, sexual assault and kidnapping.

On ExpressNews.com: Testimony: Slain Trinity University student had plans to break up with boyfriend to go back to her ex

A Bexar County jury was deadlocked and a mistrial was declared Dec. 12, 2019.

Before his second trial was to resume, Howertons attorney, John Hunter, filed a writ of habeas corpus, seeking to dismiss the indictment. In an August 2021 interview with the Express-News, Hunter accused assistant district attorneys trying the case of prosecutorial overreach when they seated a witness whom they knew had lied in two police reports and in prior sworn testimony before a grand jury.

Josie Norris, San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer

Hunter also stated in the writ that trying his client again would be double jeopardy.

A three-judge panel of the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio denied Hunters appeal on June 15.

Howertons case will be put back on the docket to await a trial setting.

ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863
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UVALDE  Lyliana Analise Garcia  a teenager who lost her mother in the May 24 school shooting and her father a couple of days later from an apparent heart attack  stood in front of the Uvalde Consolidated School Districts board on Monday night begging for change.

I need you to know that the horrifying manner in which my mother was murdered and taken from us completely shattered our hearts, but made my dads stop, said Garcia, 16. The pain of losing the love of his life, his high school sweetheart, was too much for him to bear.

Her mother was Irma Garcia, one of two fourth-grade teachers killed in the gunmans rampage. Her father, Jose Joe Garcia, died two days later. They were buried together June 1.

Students of Garcia were among the 19 children gunned down in the massacre.

Garcia, relatives of other victims and community members addressed the districts eight board members and the superintendent, who sat on stage in front of maroon curtains facing a crowd of about 150 people in the John H. Harrell Auditorium.

The speakers, eight in all, called on the officials to make the districts schools more secure  and to fire district Police Chief Pedro Pete Arredondo.

State officials have identified Arredondo as the on-scene commander who decided during the mass shooting to wait more than an hour before confronting and killing gunman Salvador Ramos, 18, a high school dropout from Uvalde.

We were failed by Pete Arredondo. He failed our kids, teachers, parents, the city. By keeping him on your staff yall are continuing to fail us, said Brett Cross, whose 10-year-old nephew died in the shooting. Having him still employed, knowing he is incapable of decision-making that saves lives is terrifying.

And not cooperating with the investigations that are ongoing is also quite disheartening, he said. Innocence doesnt hide. Innocence doesnt change its story. But innocence did die on May 24 at Robb Elementary.

Angeli Gomez, a leader of a parent group called Fierce Madres and a mother who ran into Robb Elementary during the shooting to save her two sons, asked the district to work with the city to create safer schools.

More fencing around school grounds, metal detectors, indoor gyms for kids to play in instead of outside and more city police patrolling schools were all solutions offered up by public speakers.

I find it shameful that we had almost a 100 officers on the scene, and I had to leave work and save my kids, Gomez said.

Several parents before the meeting pointed out how open and accessible campuses in the district are.

Look at these schools  they are basically outside. Kids could be coming out from the gym and people can just come up and shoot at any moment, said Kimberly De Hoyos, the mother of a daughter who had to jump out of a Robb Elementary window to get to safety. Most of our schools are built like this.

A parent can walk on campus and be on campus for 30 minutes to an hour before somebody asks, Who are you? What are you doing? That needs to change, said Rosemary Ruiz, whose cousins lost children in the shooting. Theres no reason for people to walk onto our campus like that.

But much of the outrage centered on Arredondo

How is Mr. Arredondo still with the program? How is he still employed? one man asked the school board members. It is an insult to injury. These people are in pain if you allow this to happen.

As the board went into close session, audience members who were walking out of the auditorium shouted:

Do the right thing.

Yall hired him. You should fire him.

Dont worry about them lawsuits. Yall are already guilty.

The board unanimously approved redirecting $75,000 to guidance and counseling related to the school shooting.

They dont want to talk. They said today we can talk, Gomez said before the meeting when asked if shed discussed school safety with school board members before Monday night.

We are hoping that changes will come, Gomez said. We are keeping faith.

claire.bryan@express-news.net
Bexar County officials approved $5.6 million in overtime staffing for the jail Tuesday and authorized a ban on aerial fireworks that will be enforced this Fourth of July.

The fireworks ban prohibits the sale and use of skyrockets with sticks and missiles with fins in any of the countys unincorporated areas, where they typically are allowed outside city limits. Extreme heat and dry conditions have intensified severe brush fire conditions throughout Bexar County, according to a county memo.

A violation of the order, which is in effect through July 18, constitutes a Class C misdemeanor.

On ExpressNews.com: Dual consultants hired to fix problems at the jail

County leaders also approved 140,000 hours of jail overtime from April 30 through Sept. 30, putting the county on track to end fiscal 2022 at more than $13 million on overtime  more than $5 million beyond what was budgeted, as it did last year. Sheriff Javier Salazar said the jail, with a capacity of 5,108 inmates, has nearly 800 who belong elsewhere  in prison, drug and alcohol addiction treatment or mental health residential facilities.

Nearly 300 inmates have mental health issues, and more than 250 are paper ready for transfers to state prison facilities, the sheriff told commissioners. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice recently transferred about 100 inmates and has committed to accelerating future transfers, he said.

Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

Commissioners urged county staff to speed up contract bidding and construction to provide more beds for psychiatric care and addiction treatment and to provide recommendations next month from a Florida consultant hired by commissioners last year to study problems at the jail. Salazar expects to see a draft report any day now from another jail consultant based in Texas that the sheriff hired using private funds.

On ExpressNews.com: Tinder box conditions force county to restrict fireworks

Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores said the state has put pressure on counties, forcing them to house prison inmates at the expense of local taxpayers.

State government has failed, and they should be held accountable, Clay-Flores said.

shuddleston@express-news.net
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Last June, nearly 156 years to the day that Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, President Joe Biden declared Juneteenth a federal holiday. Cities and towns across the country commemorated it as such for the second time Monday. In San Antonio, the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts paid tribute with a free film screening.

Some stories are so painful that we prefer to turn away, pretending they never happened. Slavery is one of those stories. But I cant turn away, Rasool Berry says in the first minutes of Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom, a new documentary chronicling the horrific realities and enduring legacy of slavery. Directed by San Antonio native YaKe Smith  a professor in the University of Texas at Austins department of radio, television and film  the documentary follows Berry, a Black pastor, as he travels through the state to develop a fuller picture of Americas original sin.

Two-and-a-half months after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee declared defeat April 9, 1865, in Appomattox, Virginia, Granger and nearly 2,000 troops arrived in Galveston Bay by boat to bring word of the end of the war and the abolition of slavery. That day  June 19, 1865  came to be known by the roughly 250,000 Black people of Texas as Juneteenth. It was first celebrated in 1866. Because June 19 fell on a Sunday this year, Juneteenth was observed as a work holiday Monday.

While the Emancipation Proclamation took effect New Years Day in 1863, nominally freeing all enslaved people in rebel states and regions, some of the Confederate territories held out for months or years afterward. Those stragglers included the Lone Star State.

Texas was two years behind them knowing that they were actually free, said Christopher Pritchard, a clothing designer and musician. Just think about that.

Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

Mondays screening, sponsored by Bexar County and hosted by Judge Nelson Wolff and Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores, drew about 150 people to the Tobin Centers H-E-B Performance Hall. Most of them were Black, and some could trace their roots in Texas back centuries.

Shaune Gross, a retired Army officer, said two of her direct ancestors were born in Leon County in 1865 and 1867.

America is supposed to be for the land of the free and the brave, but for so long, we werent recognized as a person, Gross, 65, said, citing the infamous 1787 compromise at the Constiutional Convention that decreed Black people were only three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation in the House of Representatives.

Smiths film flits from Galveston to Houston and everywhere in between as Berry meets with scholars and descendants of enslaved Texans, including writer DJ Norman-Cox, historian Carey Latimore and others. He visits former plantations and handles artifacts such as shackles and manila bracelets, coming to terms with some of the most profound inhumanity of slavery along the way.

Pastor Michael W. Waters, whom Berry interviews, refers to the widespread rape of enslaved Black women by their owners and the children born as a result of such sexual violence.

Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

That is a part of the genetic makeup of America, he says. Its in our DNA.

Historically, Juneteenth has been celebrated almost exclusively by Black Americans, particularly Black Texans. However, Pritchard, 69, said he felt Juneteenth was relevant to everyone regardless of race or ethnicity.

Looking around the half-full lobby of the Tobin Center shortly before the screening began, he said, Its sad there arent more people here. This place should be packed.

caroline.tien@hearst.com
UVALDE  Pedro Pete Arredondo was riding high on May 7, winning a seat on Uvaldes City Council in his first run for elected office.

Now, the Uvalde school district police chief is taking the brunt of the blame for law enforcements deeply flawed response to the May 24 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.

Hes reviled by many in his hometown.

And theres a chance hell lose his place on council.

Arredondo, who was sworn in in a private ceremony at City Hall a week after the massacre, recently requested a leave of absence from council. At a meeting Tuesday night, his colleagues  egged on by an angry crowd  unanimously rejectedhis request and noted state law gave them a way to potentially remove him from office.

The council could declare his seat vacancy and fill it if he misses three consecutive meetings.

Yay! Yay! Thank you! one woman cried after Councilman Ernest Chip King III made a motion to reject Arredondos leave request.

After Tuesday nights meeting, where speakers repeatedly called for Arredondos ouster, only Mayor Don McLaughlin committed to voting him off the council if he fails to show up for the next two council sessions. Still, other members appeared open to it.

I think when the crowd spoke and we heard the hurt and the anguish, I think that at that point we realized that, hey, weve got to do something here, said McLaughlin, 60, an oil and gas service company owner.

Its no reflection on Pete, but I think these people  the hurt that was in that crowd  they dont need this wound opened every time they turn around. I mean, the hurts bad enough for them, he said. I think Pete might also resign. I dont know. I havent talked to him.

Earlier Tuesday, Arredondo was lambasted in a Texas House hearing into the school shooting and the police response to it. Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw condemned the law enforcements handling of the rampage, calling police efforts an abject failure and antithetical to everything we have learned over the past two decades. He blamed Arredondo, the on-scene commander at Robb Elementary, for failing to confront the gunman sooner.

Arredondo, who was in Austin to testify at a closed-door hearing, did not respond to media as he got into an elevator.

The latest reports indicate that first responders arrived at the school minutes after the gunman began firing on students and teachers, and soon were armed with bulletproof shields and assault-style weapons. Still, they waited more than an hour to enter the connected classrooms where the shooter, Salvador Ramos, 18, had barricaded himself.

When the smoke cleared, 21 victims were dead, including 19 children and two teachers, with 17 others injured.

Late Wednesday, the day after McCraws blistering testimony, Uvalde Consolidated ISD Superintendent Hal Harrell sidelined Arredondo, placing him on administrative leave.

Today, I am still without details of the investigations being conducted by various agencies, Harrell said in a written statement. Because of the lack of clarity that remains and the unknown timing of when I will receive the results of the investigations, I have made the decision to place Chief Arredondo on administrative leave effective on this date.

Anger on display

A crowd filled many of the 80 seats in the Willie De Leon Civic Center during the council meeting.

I am so sick of this town, longtime resident Anna Torres told council members. Man, I used to love my hometown, Uvalde this and Uvalde that. Now Im so ashamed to be living in this town.

Torres said to McLaughlin that she voted for him in hopes of a change to this town, but apparently not. Telling him she hoped the council would rid itself of Arredondo, she said, because, why are you here? Why did I vote for you if youre not doing a damned thing?

A former longtime council member, Rogelio Munoz, said he was speaking because of concerns that the city attorneys office had sought to block public records requests from various media organizations to find out the truth of what happened.

People in the community, he added, were entitled to learn about what was in those records.

And as a former city councilman, I have some experience in knowing what its like to be on your side of the table, said Munoz, who told the members he served 14 years in office.

Sometimes its easy to look at it as an us-against-them mentality, he added.

A few moments later, McLaughlin told him and others in the crowd he was as frustrated as everyone else, saying, I have raised hell with the governor, the district attorney, the DPS.

And we have a district attorney  and were going to release the letter tomorrow  that threatened everybody with legal action if we released any of this information, the mayor continued. Im just like you. Im fed up with it.

We want answers, and we want truthful answers, District 4 Councilman Stephen Balke said.

In an interview Wednesday, McLaughlin decried the drip-drip-drip nature of new revelations about the shooting.

I want the truth, and what I see happening in this deal right now  its becoming political, and that aint what this is about, he said. If nothing else, those families and those children  the truth needs to come out.

Several members of victims families addressed the council, which met for about two hours. They focused much of their antipathy on Arredondo.

None of yall are looking at us like with even an Im sorry look. Yall are looking at us like, just say what you have to say and get off the podium, said Berlinda Arreola, 49, grandmother of Amerie Jo Garza, a 10-year-old girl gunned down at the school.

But what happened to us in 2022, on May 24, has made a lot of us uglier than weve ever been because we dont have Uvalde ISD or the city council to back us up, she said. Council is going to say we cant impeach him, we havent done our investigations. Thats all fine and dandy  you do what you have to do. But get him out of our faces.

sigc@express-news.net
The 18-year-old gunman who slaughtered 19 third and fourth graders and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde was moving toward a pathway to violence in the eight months leading up to the shooting, according to Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw.

In some ways, he had taken on the demeanor of a school shooter, said McCraw during a new Senate committee evaluating school safety and gun violence on Tuesday.

Related: Uvalde officers had resources to stop gunman within 3 minutes, testifies Texas DPS Director McCraw

Salvador Ramos, the gunman who stormed Robb Elementary on May 24 with an assault rifle and tactical vest, barricaded himself in adjoining classrooms of children and opened fire. Responding officers waited nearly an hour to enter the classroom. Border Patrol officers finally gained entry and fatally shot him.

The shooting spree began prior to Ramos' arrival at Robb Elementary School. Ramos first shot his grandmother at the home he shared with her and then fled the scene, McCraw said. Celia Martinez Gonzales, 66, was airlifted to University Hospital in San Antonio in serious condition. Gonzales was last listed in good condition, the hospital said Monday.

However, Gonzalez "is still unable to speak" because of her injuries, McCraw said. Gonzalez has agreed to be interviewed by investigators, as long as it is in the presence of her daughter. However, the interview has yet to take place because of her inability to speak.

The new details came as McCraw revealed additional findings about the May 24 massacre before the special Committee. In his testimony, he also revealed that officers had enough resources  including bulletproof shields and assault-style weapons  to stop the teenage gunman just three minutes after he entered Robb Elementary School.

McCraw also said that there were warning signs ahead of the shooting, including that the suspect was suicidal and showed signs of inflicting cruelty on animals. However, none of this showed up on Ramos' disciplinary record.

Based on interviews with witnesses, McCraw said that Ramos was cruel to cats in particular.

"He walked around with a plastic bag of dead cats," McCraw said.

Pete Luna /Uvalde Leader-News

However, investigators have yet to identify even one report to the school or to law enforcement, he said.

Witnesses interviewed by investigators described him as a morose, suicidal, fatalistic, loner who had sympathies and had been called a school schooter, McCraw said. He certainly took on the persona of a school shooter and dress and demeanor. And it's all over the last year and people noticed this, but yet it didn't get reported.

More on Uvalde shooting: They all failed us  grieving uncle faults police response to Uvalde school shooting, wants answers from House committee

Eight months before the May 24 shooting, Ramos asked a family member to purchase a weapon for him, McCraw said. He was 17 and had just dropped out of Uvalde High School. The family member refused.

Ramos, who worked at a Wendys, bought several rifle accessories, magazines, slights and high-end optics with a debit from a joint bank account he shared with his grandmother. In the lead up to his 18th birthday on May 16, Ramos made six purchases, McCraw said.

The day after he turned 18 years old, the age a person is legally allowed to acquire a long rifle in Texas, Ramos bought two assault-style rifles. He also bought 1,240 rounds of ammunition through an online retailer that was delivered to his home later. Several days later, he purchased 375 rounds of ammo.

In the months leading up to the shooting, Ramos posted extensively on several social media and gaming platforms, where he found an empathetic and sympathetic group of people who were supportive of school shootings, McCraw said.

It was as if it was support, as if it were a good thing, as if you could get notoriety and get points for being a school shooter, McCraw said. And its obviously disturbing.

Many of the communications, at least the ones that would have generated law enforcement action, were done in private group messages on platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat, McCraw said. These messages would have required a subpoena in order for law enforcement officials to review them, he said.

What was concerning is that while some found these messages disturbing, they blocked Ramos from communicating with them, McCraw said. It would have been better if they had alerted authorities, he said.

Related: Police never tried to open door to classrooms where Uvalde gunman had kids trapped

On May 14, Ramos placed several online messages on social media platforms: 10 more days.

When someone responded, are you going to shoot up a school, Ramos reportedly responded: Youll see.

McCraw said those words were out there, yet were unreported, 10 days before the shooting.

On May 24, the day of the attack, Ramos reportedly communicated with several friends. Some urged him to delete his messages.

Moments before he shot his grandmother in the face, stole her truck and drove it into a ditch near Robb Elementary School, Ramos messaged a 15-year-old in Germany. He told her he had shot his grandmother in the head. He also said he was going to shoot up an elementary school.

Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

Given the warning signs, McCraw questioned what law enforcement could have done to prevent the shooting.

And the answer is almost overwhelmingly yes, he said. "So, when you go back and look after the fact, theres always things that could have been done if we would have known. Thats why its so important that the public reports this. It gives us a chance.

McCraw pointed to the arrest of a 13-year-old in Uvalde in 2018. The teenager, who was planning an attack on Uvalde High School, was charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder.

Thats what right looks like because the public reported it and it was investigated, he said. Thats what right looks like.

timothy.fanning@express-news.net


Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles, two fourth grade teachers gunned down in their classroom in Uvalde last month, were among 16 educators added to the National Memorial to Fallen Educators in Emporia, Kan. on Friday.

There are 179 school workers' names etched into the granite slabs shaped like books.

During a ceremony on Friday, speakers called for safer schools so that no additional names would be added.

Their lives were cut short through accidents or intentional violence simply because they chose the profession of education, Carol Strickland, the executive director of the National Teachers Hall of Fame, which oversees the memorial, said during the ceremony.

Latest from Uvalde: Uvalde officers had resources to stop gunman within 3 minutes, testifies Texas DPS Director McCraw

They lost their lives doing what they love  working with Americas school children, Strickland said.

Garcia, 48, was a teacher for nearly 23 years and married to her husband, Joe Garcia, for 24 years. Her body was found embracing children in the class, trying to protect them during the midday massacre.

Her husband died two days later of an apparent heart attack.

Related: They all failed us  grieving uncle faults police response to Uvalde school shooting, wants answers from House committee

Mireles, 44, was a wife and mother to an adult daughter. Mireles, who was an educator for 17 years, was born in Dallas and graduated from Eagle Pass High School in 1999. She had been a co-teacher with Irma Garcia for the past six school years.

The National Memorial to Fallen Educators was initially spearheaded after six educators and 20 elementary school students were killed in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Every year since the memorial opened in 2014, there has been an annual rededication ceremony to add more names.

In 2018, President Donald Trump signed legislation to designate the site as a national memorial. That year, seven school employees were killed in school shootings. A third book was added to the memorial in 2019.

timothy.fanning@express-news.net
In a recent essay called How to Future, Kevin Kelly, one of the founding editors of Wired, writes that most futurists are really predicting the present. It turns out that the present is very hard to see. What will upend tomorrow often looks like an aberration, niche, triviality or impossibility today. He goes on to offer advice Ive been mulling: I sometimes think of seeing the present as trying on alien eyes: looking at the world as if I were an alien from another planet.

So, in the spirit of futurism, I will try looking at this moment as if I were an alien from another planet. What might draw my attention?

A place to start, perhaps, is with aliens from other planets. On May 17, the House Intelligence Committees Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence and Counterproliferation held a hearing on unidentified aerial phenomena. We now have dozens of instances of weird aerial objects that have been picked up on multiple instruments, not to mention spotted by trained pilots. In 18 of them, the phenomena seemed to move with no evident source of propulsion or seemed to be masking the way they move  their signature  in ways we do not think any country on Earth has the technology to do.

There are a number of events in which we do not have an explanation, and there are a small handful in which there are flight characteristics or signature management that we cant explain with the data that we have, Scott Bray, deputy director of naval intelligence, testified.

A theme of the hearing was the work that the government is doing to destigmatize the reporting of these sightings. That is to say: There are many, many more sightings than we know about, in part because you seem like a nut if you talk too loudly about what you saw. So the sightings that we can investigate are a small fraction of the total sightings.

I wouldnt say, watching the testimony, that the takeaway was that weve been visited by aliens. Perhaps this will all, eventually, resolve into optical illusions and malfunctioning sensors. But Id put it like this: A few years ago, I put a very low probability on there being a signal in the noise of UFO sightings; now it seems more likely to me that theres something real happening here, even if we dont know what it is.

Which brings me to another strange story in the news: the belief of Blake Lemoine, a (now suspended) Google engineer, that the companys Language Model for Dialogue Applications  LaMDA, for short  has attained sentience.

LaMDA is a machine-learning model that has been trained on mountains of text to mimic human conversation by predicting which word would, typically, come next. In this, its similar to OpenAIs famed GPT-3 bot. And the results really are eerie.

Google, for what its worth, says it has looked into Lemoines claims and does not believe that LaMDA is sentient (what a sentence!). But shortly before Lemoines allegations, Blaise Aguera y Arcas, a Google vice president, wrote that when he was talking to LaMDA, I felt the ground shift under my feet. I increasingly felt like I was talking to something intelligent. Aguera y Arcas was not claiming that LaMDA is sentient, as Lemoine is, but whats clear is that interacting with LaMDA is an unnerving experience.

I dont believe LaMDA is sentient. If you train a machine-learning algorithm to write as a human would write, you should expect it, eventually, to sound like a human when it writes. What I do believe is that LaMDA is one of many examples that artificial intelligence is getting better, faster, than society is really prepared for.

Most people I know who work in AI believe were hurtling toward a world in which machines that can learn will change everything and perhaps even know they are changing it. At first, I doubted them. But the year-on-year advance in marvels has confirmed their predictions, not mine. Perhaps we will hit a ceiling, but we havent, not yet. And our world can be transformed by AI that is far less than sentient.

To take one example: How is truth ascertained when AI models can write, draw and create videos that are better than what most humans can manage and do so at almost no cost? The question of how to know if, say, high school students are writing their own papers begins to look impossible, to say nothing of the possibilities for organized, weaponized disinformation.

Which delivers us to the Jan. 6 hearings. At the heart of our difficulty predicting the future is our assumption of stability. It is like this today, and so it will probably be like this tomorrow, too. What makes this way of thinking seductive is that it is, usually, true. And then, all at once, its not.

Much of what the Jan. 6 hearings have told us we already knew. There was an organized attempt to deny and overturn the results of the 2020 election. There was resistance by many whose acquiescence would have been needed: Attorney General William Barr, who called the theories bullshit, and Vice President Mike Pence, who tried to deploy security forces to put down the insurrection at the Capitol.

But President Donald Trump did more than acquiesce. He supported the efforts. He refused to call in security to protect the Capitol. He propagated the conspiracy theories that turned the insurrectionists into patriots in their own minds. He spoke at the Stop the Steal rally that preceded the insurrection and by his own admission wanted to lead the crowd to the steps of the Capitol. And even after the invasion of the building, a majority of House Republicans voted against certifying the election results.

And yet: The animating question behind much commentary on the Jan. 6 select committee hearings is, Will they change anything? Fox News initially refused to carry the hearings. No one believes the Republican Party will bar Trump from the 2024 primary for his actions. If anything, the Republican Party has moved more firmly in Trumps direction.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader, told other Republicans he would urge Trump to resign from office after the riot. He later denied having made those comments, only to have audio of them emerge. Republicans have nominated dozens of candidates who firmly backed both Trumps lies and his maneuvers to subvert the 2020 election. The Republicans in power in 2024 will be much friendlier to Trumps arguments than those in power in 2020.

I dont think its likely that the American political system collapses in the next few years. But how unlikely is it, exactly? As of a few years ago, two events stood out to me as signals of our political systems granite stability.

First, President Richard Nixons resignation over Watergate, which came in a bid to avoid impeachment and conviction once he realized that many in his own party would join with Democrats to vote for his removal. Second, the 2000 election, when Al Gore conceded despite genuine confusion and uncertainty over the results. Both revealed a political culture in which, at key moments, members of both parties put the stability of the system first.

Neither event would play out similarly today. Nixon would survive, backed by Fox News and a more radicalized Republican Party. A 2000-like scenario would cause chaos in the streets, and the Supreme Court wouldnt have anything like the credibility it spent to intervene in Bush v. Gore. The conditions that helped us meet past challenges no longer hold. It is hard to get people to pay sustained attention to the congressional inquiry into the attempt to steal the 2020 election, even though it revolves around one of the front-runners for the 2024 election. It is an almost Olympian refusal to confront the present.

I should admit that, in much of this, I have betrayed another of Kellys futurist dictums. Trying to see beyond the immediate cycles of news is a challenge, he writes. But then, I am not a futurist; Im a journalist. All of these stories have led the news in recent months. To take any one of them seriously  to believe that the direction they point is the direction we will go  is to believe we stand on the cusp of a future far different from our past. In this, George Orwell had it right: To see what is in front of ones nose needs a constant struggle.
After the rampage at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde in which a gunman murdered 19 children and two teachers, many Republicans quickly blamed mental illness and a lack of mental health care resources.

On this front, Gov. Greg Abbott said, We need to do a better job with mental health, and, Anybody who shoots someone else has a mental health challenge, period.

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican who represents Uvalde, has been vocal about improving mental health care. He recently addressed Congress about a mental health crisis he described as very deep and very sad and something the Legislature needs to act on. And in a recent guest column in our pages, he wrote, We must get to the root of the cause, and it starts with mental health, communication, and securing our schools and communities.

Beside boosting mental health care, Republican politicians have called for better school security, more armed teachers, armored shields, reinforced doors and single points of entry to protect kids.

Everything, they say, is on the table  except new gun safety laws, such as age limits, universal background checks, and red flag or storage laws.

In some ways, this is reflected in the tentative bipartisan agreement on gun safety in the U.S. Senate. That agreement includes reviews of juvenile and mental health records for potential gun buyers younger than 21; incentives for states to adopt red flag laws; increased funding for mental health services and school security; and closure of the boyfriend loophole to prevent violent dating partners from owning guns.

It would be the most substantive federal legislation in decades, and yet it is incredibly modest. It does not address easy access to guns, ban assault weapons, raise the purchase age for firearms or mandate red flags.

Still, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who led bipartisan negotiations, was recently booed at the Texas GOP convention for his efforts.

How strange to argue mass shootings are a product of a mental health crisis but then do nothing to limit access to guns. And how strange for that argument to be made in Texas, where its easier to get a gun than mental health support. Ranked 51st in the nation for access to care by Mental Health America, the state has a history of slashing mental health care budgets.

In April, Abbott diverted $211 million from Texas Health and Human Services to support the states border security mission, Operation Lone Star.

In 2021, the Texas Legislature refused to expand Medicaid, which would have helped 1.4 million residents get health care.

The Houston Chronicle reported that as of March 2021, the states 10 public psychiatric hospitals had a waitlist of nearly 1,500 people, with some waiting up to a year.

Advocates say states should have 50 public beds per 100,000 people, the Chronicle reported. Texas has fewer than eight.

By contrast, Bexar County commissioners recently agreed to spend $37 million on gun violence prevention efforts, focusing heavily on on mental health crisis management.

So, yes, improving mental health care is necessary, but it is necessary regardless of mass shootings, and its not a complete solution to gun violence. In an article titled Mental illness and reduction of gun violence and suicide: bringing epidemiologic research to policy, researchers say that violence is a complex societal problem that is caused, more often than not, by other things besides mental illness.

According to a Rand study, less than 10 percent of violent crimes and 20 percent of mass violence is committed by a person with a mental health disorder.

Focusing solely on mental illness further stigmatizes those battling these conditions, and, studies show that people with mental illness are much more likely than those in the general population to be victims of interpersonal violence, according to Rand.

Also consider laws around compelling people older than 18 to get treatment. If someone is not deemed a threat to themselves or others, theres little mental health providers or law enforcement can do to force that person to get help.

Are politicians willing to lower the thresholds for involuntary treatment and restrict peoples freedom in favor of preserving the right for nearly anyone to own a gun?

Until the state and federal governments adequately fund mental health care needs, let alone the overhaul politicians are calling for, we should remain skeptical of this mental health argument. It rings hollow in the aftermath of tragedy.
The Clark family of Billings, Montana. The family will be featured in an upcoming documentary series about mental illness made by Ken Burns. Mary, Maclayn and Joe Clark sit on a couch in their Billings home. (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan)

Mary Clark stepped up to the desk at the Emergency Room in a Billings hospital. The receptionist asked what brought her there.

She could barely choke out the words. She was shaking and tearful.

She recalls having to tell them, she brought her elementary-age son, Maclayn, in because he wanted to kill himself.

Like most people there, the Clark family had not begun the day expecting a trip to the emergency room. But now, looking back, the moment was probably inevitable  a combination of agonizing nighttime conversations and school staff who had been persuaded that Maclayn seemed normal, happy and surrounded by friends.

That changed when a school staff member heard Maclayn say that he wanted to kill himself.

That was several years ago, and Maclayns mental health has improved, but his story, his mental illness and his experiences are about to be shared with the entire world  literally. He is one of two Montana people profiled in Ken Burns latest documentary, Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness. The Clark family will be featured, along with counselor and advocate Kee Dunning of Billings. Gabe Peaslee of Miles City is also a part of the documentary.

The two-part series will air worldwide at 7 p.m., on PBS, on June 27 and June 28.

In addition to airing on PBS, the Billings community is holding a screening at the Alberta Bair Theatre on June 27 and 28. The event is free, but tickets must be reserved. More information can be found here.

At first, sharing Maclayns journey through mental illness and finding help was the farthest thing the Clark family had in mind. But it was Maclayn himself who insisted if his story could help just one person like him, then he needed to tell it.

We live in Montana and that means we didnt want to air our dirty laundry and what we were going through, Joe, Maclayns father, said.

Mary and Joe worried about Maclayn being bullied, teased or ostracized for sharing.

If my story can help one person, then I wanted to do it, Maclayn said.

When the darkness came

Mary and Joe Clark remember those long, sleepless nights.

They began before bedtime, usually around 7 p.m., and lasted sometimes into the early hours of the morning. As Maclayn would wind down, his young yet old soul would start wondering and worrying. Whats my purpose? Why am I here? I dont want to die, but I dont want to live.

Maclayn also said the hardest words any parent would hear: That God had made a mistake by putting him on earth.

These werent the kind of thoughts Joe and Mary had expected from a third-grader, even one who seemed more sensitive and philosophical than most.

Mary, who works at the same school, asked counselors, staff and teachers, but they all reported a normally happy kid with lots of friends and good social interaction. The child in school didnt seem to square up with the child at home.

The nights would become longer and more severe. Sometimes Maclayn would sleep in Mary and Joes room so they could keep an eye on him. Sometimes, one of them would sleep in his room. The entire family seemed to ebb and flow with how Maclayn was doing.

And no one really seemed to have answers.

At first, Joe and Mary had resisted the idea that their son could be struggling with suicide. After all, he was only eight.

I dont remember getting to the ER, Maclayn said. I remember when I did get there, they swarmed me, put me in a gown and an isolation room.

After getting to the emergency room, Mary felt a little relief that theyd get to see a psychiatrist and it would expedite the problem.

He saw the fear in my eyes, Mary said. I dont think he realized that if he said that he was thinking about suicide that hed be in the hospital As parents, we should have been more proactive about asking the question, but we kind of thought that if you asked it, youd be putting the idea into their head.

The trip to the ER started a new crisis of its own. Psychiatrists in a place like Montana, even in the largest city in the state, have huge waiting lists and so do many counselors. The soonest they could schedule an appointment was four months out.

That triggered the mama bear instinct for Mary, and she called every psychiatrist she could find, getting on the cancellation list.

They looked for counselors, too. At first, the medications didnt seem to work, or they tried different medicines to help Maclayn.

They met with five or six therapists, never finding a fit until, in a moment of desperation, Mary called their pediatrician.

Have you tried Kee Dunning? the doctor asked.

The Kee to success

Kee Dunning also plays large in Burns new documentary. A licensed therapist in Billings, Dunning worked for years as a therapist with Tumbleweed, an organization that helps at-risk and homeless youth.

Mary called Dunning to set up an appointment. The call to schedule an appointment lasted an hour-and-a-half.

I was bawling my eyes and she instantly got us, Mary said. It was life-changing.

She saved my life, Maclayn said.

And thats something the family is absolutely certain of: Dunning saved Maclayns life and brought the family closer. During an hour-and-a-half interview with the Daily Montanan, Mary, Maclayn and Joe sat on the couch, talking about the struggles of mental illness. And Maclayn, now 14, said he tells his parents everything. Everything.

She gave us methods and homework to try outside of counseling, Mary said. Most of the other counselors didnt have any methods to use outside of counseling, it was all about the work in those moments.

They learned to talk directly about what Maclayn was feeling  to alert friends and family if thoughts of self harm start taking root. Maclayn has a safety tree  a network of family and friends he can call, visit or talk to, day or night, even if his parents are not immediately available.

I think my mindset if something goes wrong is that nothing good can come of not saying something. Its good to talk about the day, Maclayn said.

That has led to an uncommonly deep relationship between a teenager and his parents, but also the entire family has grown closer.

Weve been through so much and he knows we will fight for him, Mary said. Were on his team.

That has helped them talk more openly with family and friends, as well as becoming advocates for speaking openly about mental health.

We really want people to know there doesnt have to be trauma to have mental illness, Mary said.

She said they were a two-parent household, went to church and lived comfortably. They have two other children.

Its opened a dialogue with people. We probably should have shared our journey before, Mary said.

And thats what it is, a journey. There are good days and bad days. Joe said most people want to know: Is he alright now, without understanding that mental illness isnt something that necessarily vanishes with medication or counseling.

Its really important to show kids going through this because it happens in every community and every walk of life, Maclayn said. You cant walk alone. You need a therapist. I need medication.

Dunning is a dynamic mix of extreme compassion and extremely straight talk. She doesnt mince words. And you dont sense her sincerity, you feel it in her hug.

I just love them. And I am going to hold their feet to the fire, she said. I see them. And, I feel them.

Dunning had been contacted about doing the documentary and she thought about which, if any of her clients, could be a good example.

I did worry, but I also knew that he was ready to do this. And this was years of work, not just with him, but with the parents, too, Dunning said. This didnt just happen over night.

She said that dealing with mental illness and mental health is not about reaching a definite point, like being free of a disease.

Thats really what I want people to get. Were not done. Weve only just begun, Dunning said. We can say our truth and have fears. We dont have to live in such hurt. Why should we be ashamed if were depressed or raped?

She said the most common misperception often begins with parents.

They say, Fix my kid, and I always ask, How do you know theyre broken? Theyre little mirrors, Dunning said.

She also believes that a documentary like Burns can help others understand the depths of pain, and also the critical need of having more resources.

This is a good reminder that theyre coming forward, when there is not enough resources, Dunning said. Kids are asking other kids to come forward now. The people in this film are telling people that its OK to come forward, to tell your story, to ask for help. Now, wed better be ready.

Maclayns purpose

It took just one meeting with the producers and staff of the documentary to convince Joe and Mary that participating in a documentary about youth and mental illness was right for them.

They are remarkable individuals. They didnt want to hurt any one of the participants even to help the whole society. That made us feel good, Joe said. They werent willing to tolerate a sacrificial lamb, instead they wanted us to be part of something bigger, though.

For a bit even Mary and Joe couldnt help but wondering if bringing up years of counseling and some still raw memories would traumatize Maclayn or cause more anxiety. However, its appeared to have actually made him stronger.

Depression, anxiety and feelings of isolation havent just evaporated, but the family has learned together how to manage them.

Thats still an everyday occurrence, Joe said. But now we have the tools and equipment. It doesnt eliminate the heartache, but you know youre going through this everyday and there are a lot of people just like you.

In my everyday life, I feel a lot better, Maclayn said. Im growing. It felt powerful to know that other people are going through the exact same thing, and I want others to know there are people going through this, too. When youre in it, you think, This is going to be the rest of my life, but its good for them to see me living my life.

Throughout this process, Maclayn has learned plenty about himself. Strangely, hes discovered that those big questions for an 8-year-old, for example, what is purpose in life, may just have its answer in being an advocate  a literal poster child  for helping others to seek help.

Hes also found an answer to one of those other questions.

God doesnt make mistakes, he said.

The post Montanans featured in upcoming Ken Burns documentary about mental illness appeared first on Daily Montanan.
The government has provided 'little commitment' in post-Brexit free trade agreements to ensure there is a level playing field for British farmers, the sheep sector says.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is adding its support to EFRA's new recommendation to the government to formally commit to upholding the UK's farming standards in all trade deals.

The government must stand by the UK's core animal welfare and environmental standards or risk "exporting cruelty and carbon emissions abroad", MPs who sit on the parliamentary committee said.

Official estimates show that the Australia FTA  which removes tariffs on a wide range of imports including sheep meat - will boost the UK economy by 2.3bn (or 0.08%) by 2035, but that the UK sheep sector will lose out.

Sheep farmers provided evidence to EFRA, highlighting the cheaper costs of production on Australias much larger farms which would allow exporters to undercut them.

Responding to the committee's report, NSA chief executive Phil Stocker warned that the UK's post-Brexit free trade deals threatened the sheep industry.

"As NSA highlighted in an evidence session on the Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) earlier this month the terms of the FTA have damaging consequences.

"[It] present risks for the UK sheep industry due to the proposed volumes of meat and the clear non-equivalence of animal welfare and environmental standards of Australian lamb, compared to the extremely high standards demanded of UK producers.

"UK sheep farmers are already producing to these high standards, and we are also experiencing a rapid raising of environmental and welfare related standards, all of which bring an element of cost.

EFRA's report calls on the government to aid farmers in making up 278m estimated loss the sector will experience as a result of the FTA by allocating additional support for exports.

Chair of the committee, Sir Robert Goodwill MP said: "The government must commit to helping the food and farming sector win back the 278m worth of lost growth it will experience because of this deal.

"We want our high UK animal welfare and environmental standards baked into every trade deal we do from now on.

"Having core standards in all deals would strengthen our hand when negotiating with other countries."

While Mr Stocker welcomed the recommendations in EFRA's report, he warned there was 'little commitment' from the government on provisions to create a level playing field for UK producers.

"It is equally disappointing the deal did not include more far-reaching provisions on animal welfare, an area that UK producers lead on," he added.

"As seen with the more recent New Zealand FTA it is difficult to see whether the government is taking industry concerns seriously and whether perhaps, we risk exporting our emissions and losing our high welfare standards overseas.
Frozen food giant Birds Eye has donated a significant area at one of its pea farms in North Yorkshire to attract and boost pollinators.

A butterfly sculpture has been crafted from raked soil seeded with native wildflowers to provide a food source for pollinators.

The butterfly, which was also made to symbolise the importance of soil, sits on a significant area within one of the firm's active pea fields in North Yorkshire.

The company says the native wildflowers will encourage pollinating insects and other wildlife to thrive in the area.

It is part of the Peas For Bees campaign, launched to drive awareness of the importance of biodiversity.

The frozen food brand says it wants to use the campaign to inspire the UK public to sow their own wildflower seeds.

The native wildflowers will encourage pollinating insects and other wildlife to thrive in the area

James Hopwood, head of agriculture at Birds Eye, said the company was committed to playing its part in helping solve the biodiversity crisis.

"By continuing to work alongside the farming community who we source these from, we can actually bring back diversity, replenish soil and landscapes and help recover biodiversity loss.

"Through the Peas For Bees campaign we aim to educate shoppers on the link between biodiversity and the food chain."

The firm has also pledged to plant 75 acres of wildflowers across the UK in the next three years, in celebration of the 75 years that it has been growing peas in Yorkshire.
New research published by the House of Commons has revealed the scale of the mental health crisis currently impacting rural areas.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) is conducting an inquiry into rural mental health and has published evidence submitted by the Countryside Alliance based on a survey conducted over Christmas.

The survey uncovered a broad spectrum of experiences of mental health and healthcare, and suggested that a key driver of ill-health was a lack of appreciation and respect for the rural way of life, from policymakers to individuals.

Attracting a total of 717 responses and over 1,700 individual comments, the survey was designed to elicit information that would be useful in addressing those questions being considered by EFRA that respondents would be well placed to comment on.

The inquiry is considering questions relating to the specific mental health challenges faced by rural communities, as well as mental health services and how well they meet the needs of rural populations.

The EFRA Committee will also look at suicide rates among agricultural workers and related occupations, and the effectiveness of prevention services.

The survey responses framed six key recommendations. Chief among these was that mental health support must be tailored to the needs of rural communities, not the convenience of the providers.

And while there is a role for remote provision by telephone or computers, more than 67% said that they would prefer to access mental healthcare in person.

The Countryside Alliance says that funding for services should be apportioned across the UK in a manner that recognises the inherently lower population density of rural areas.

Services should become more visible, the rural group argues, to encourage people who need help to seek it at an earlier stage.

The UK as a whole must eschew ideological hostility towards rural occupations and pursuits, including farming, by developing a greater appreciation for the realities of life in the countryside.

Additionally, victims of online abuse should routinely be offered mental health support and the government should recognise gamekeeping as a profession at elevated risk of crisis.

David Bean, the Countryside Alliances government relations manager said: Rural Britain must not be left behind as awareness of mental health rightly grows, so this inquiry by the EFRA Committee is both timely and critical.

"We wanted to use our response to give a voice to those in our rural communities who have experienced challenges to their and their loved ones mental health.

"We are extremely grateful to over 700 supporters who gave such thoughtful responses to our survey. Thanks to them, the Committee has heard directly from those who are most affected.
A parliamentary committee has launched an inquiry into the mental health challenges faced by farmers and others who work in rural areas.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) will today (21 June) discuss suicide prevention and the NHS in rural areas at a public evidence session.

Charities, public health professionals and NHS representatives will provide evidence at the session, which forms part of EFRA's wider Rural Mental Health Inquiry.

The inquiry was set up to explore the specific mental health challenges faced by people living and working in rural communities.

Today's first panel, with representatives from the voluntary and public health sectors, will look at suicide amongst farm workers, practical approaches to suicide prevention, as well as national and local policy.

The second panel will explore how the local NHS plans and delivers mental health services for rural communities, as well as any challenges around funding and the provision of access to appropriate services.

Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and the Border, and member of EFRA, said mental health in rural areas was 'such as an important subject area'.

"Rural areas face immense and often unique pressures and it is hoped that our inquiry will shine a light on these issues and allow us to make recommendations to government to support our rural communities.
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Malaysia Airlines latest promotion encourages travellers to explore its fascinating domestic destinations



As we all start travelling again, countries across the world are working out innovative and inviting ways to encourage us to visit again. Malaysia, for instance, recently announced a campaign under which flyers transiting through the country can take the opportunity to explore seven domestic destinations at minimal extra cost.



Malaysia Airlines new campaign, Bonus Side Trip, allows travellers to add an extra leg to their journey from India and explore a little-known gem of the country.







Malaysia Airlines passengers must book a long-haul flight departing from India to destinations such as Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Bangkok, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea or the United Kingdom, to be eligible for the promotion. They then have an opportunity to explore one of seven domestic getaway destinations in Malaysia  Penang (above), Langkawi, Johor Bahru, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu, Alor Setar and Kuantan. As part of the promotion, one free domestic return ticket (airfare only) is provided; the passenger must pay the taxes and surcharges. Other terms and conditions apply and can be found on the airlines website.



You can book the offer until December 31, 2022, and travel must be completed before March 31, 2023.



Amit Mehta, Country Manager  South Asia, Malaysia Airlines India, is quoted to have said: For long-haul passengers, stopovers provide an opportunity to break up a potentially gruelling flight schedule and sample another destination along the way. From sandy beaches to highland rainforests  Malaysia offers it all. Our Bonus Side Trip campaign encourages passengers to stop over to experience Malaysias local culture, explore hidden gems, and fly Malaysia to one of the seven destinations on offer: at almost no extra cost.



Malaysia reopened its borders on April 1 this year.



How To Choose Your Side Trip

Consider Penang if you love food; the city is known as Malaysias food capital, known for its bustling food streets and its char kway teow and laksa. Langkawi is world renowned as a beach destination with resorts for every budget. Located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, Johor Bahru is great if youre travelling with kids  they will love Legoland Malaysia (above) and the Angry Birds Theme Park. Kuala Terengganu is a stunning gateway to tropical islands, Kota Bharu is known for its traditional Malay heritage and traditions, while Alor Setar, home to the longest royal family line, is an idyllic town against an emerald backdrop of paddy plantations. One of the few seaside towns in Malaysia, Kuantan hosts hidden gems such as the modern Sultan Ahmad Shah State Mosque and the Sungai Pandan Waterfalls.





Images: Shutterstock



Also see: Avengers Fans! Your Heroes Await At Disneyland Paris
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Laurence Simons Search (LSS) has today announced that former SSQ co-founder and chief executive Nick Shilton has re-entered the legal industry and joined its executive team as a specialist growth advisor.

The award-winning legal search firm has welcomed Shilton on a retained basis to advise and lead the executive team through the next phase of its specialist legal sector support.

He brings with him over 20 years of experience in legal search and a lot of industry respect given his successful contribution to the growth of SSQ, which became an internationally recognised, credible search firm.

Laurence Simons Search (LSS) is an award-winning specialist legal, compliance, legal operations and IP search firm which was founded in 1988.

Over the last few years, they've grown significantly reporting a revenue growth of 63% in 2021, and supported a range of blue-chip clients, FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 firms.

Shilton joining the firm's executive team at such a crucial time for the legal sector demonstrates the potential of LSS, given he had no plans to re-enter the legal search sector after exiting SSQ in 2018.

Shilton commented: "I have been familiar with LSS since commencing my recruitment career 25 years ago. Having exited SSQ in 2018 to focus on business interests outside the legal search sector, I had not planned to return to it. However, having spoken with Clare and LSS's Chief Commercial Officer Angela Floydd, I became impressed by their vision and drive to support legal firms, and knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.

"I am looking forward to advising the company's executive team as they seek to pivot, innovate and significantly grow LSS."

With many law firms being under pressure to build their teams rapidly, often having no choice but to quickly hire and on the spot to avoid missing out on major mandates, specialist candidate matching like that of LSS has never been more vital.

Clare Beresford, CEO of LSS, commented: "Right now, the legal sector needs support they can trust and that's something we pride ourselves on here at LSS and why we constantly adapt.

"In 1988 when our business first started, it was wholly focussed on private practice recruitment. However, we've adapted and evolved alongside the needs and demands of the legal industry, which has bolstered our position in the market.

"Having witnessed such great success from disrupting and changing private practice search, we are ramping up our plans and bringing Nick in to help guide and steer us, with his extraordinary lived experience of building and growing a highly successful business, made sense."

Written by Aurora on behalf of Laurence Simons Search. For more information, please email gemma@auroraagency.uk

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Solar and Basecamp will further extend the support offered by LocalGlobe and Latitude funds to founders building global tech businesses

Phoenix Court Works Foundation sits at the heart of building a new vision for innovation with impact

Phoenix Court Group, the early stage European venture capital investor, today introduces $500m in new funds to help founders and their teams in the world's third largest innovation ecosystem build world-class tech businesses, from seed stage to the public markets. This marks the transition of Phoenix Court Group into a lifestage tech investor, having established a global reputation for investing in startups at seed stage that go on to become unicorns through LocalGlobe and Latitude. 1

Phoenix Court Group now comprises four distinct funds, each aimed at a particular stage of the market: LocalGlobe focused on the pre-seed and seed stage, Latitude focused at the breakout and early growth stage and the new funds, Solar and Basecamp which were previously internally funded and will now begin to be institutionalised. Solar is Phoenix Court Group's scale-up fund focussed on supporting tech businesses on their journey from the private to the public markets, and beyond. Basecamp is a diverse community of 50+ emerging early stage funds, angels and solo GPs across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, India, Israel and the US.

The new funds mean that a further $500m will be invested in the opportunity in New Palo Alto an area within a four-hour train journey of central London which has moved in the last 5-10 years from being seen as a frontier market for the world's best investors, to the most successful innovation ecosystem globally after the Bay Area and Beijing, producing world-class science and technology companies. Solar expands Phoenix Court's commitment to addressing the underinvestment in funding at the breakout and scale-up stages, while Basecamp continues to demonstrate, alongside the Newton Venture Program, Phoenix Court's mission to support the next generation of great investment businesses, while seeking to increase the diversity of the venture capital investment sector.

Saul Klein, co-founder of Phoenix Court Group: "Despite being the third best producer of high growth private companies globally, this geography is still underserved by investors, especially at the breakout and scale-up stages. Not only is there an acute funding gap at the scale-up stage here, less than 20% of the capital invested at that stage is domestic, so when companies in our region are acquired or move to the public markets, UK pensioners and savers miss out, while their Canadian, Australian and Singaporean equivalents benefit."

"We have a 10 year view on investing and given the access, insight and engagement that we have through our LocalGlobe, Latitude, Solar and Basecamp funds, we continue to think that this is a great place to build innovative companies and also pioneer a new era of ethical innovation. We're not building the next Palo Alto, it's a differentone

In expanding the fund family, Phoenix Court Group is also sharing more details around Phoenix Court Works, its foundation which supports organisations in the London neighbourhood of Somers Town, as well as more broadly in Camden, and New Palo Alto. Phoenix Court Works is funded through the allocation of 10% of profits from Phoenix Court Group's management company and 2% of carry from all the funds. Phoenix Court Works has supported 23 organisations to date, focused on three core themes of health and wellbeing, education and inclusion, climate and the environment.

ends

1Dealroom data

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220620005322/en/

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BEIJING, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Laiye, a global Intelligent Automation (IA) provider, is proud and honored to announce that it has successfully achieved the Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type 1 compliance certification following an audit conducted by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP.

The SOC 2 report has been awarded to Laiye's entire end-to-end IA platform, which includes Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Conversational AI, and Intelligent Document Processing (IDP).

The SOC 2 certification is globally recognized as the most authoritative and stringent data security audit standard and affirms Laiye's standing as a pioneer in IA security. It validates that Laiye's information security practices, policies, procedures, and operations meet the SOC 2 standards for security, availability, and confidentiality. "Obtaining the SOC 2 Type 1 certification is a significant achievement for us as it conveys Laiye's ongoing commitment to building a safe, secure, and reliable Intelligent Automation platform that will help our customers do better, and be better," said Guanchun Wang, Chairman and CEO of Laiye.

To achieve this certification, Laiye demonstrated that its product, service, data, and information security adhere to the leading data protection and protection regulations and laws. This independent validation provides Laiye's customers with the assurance that their data is properly protected by the company during the use of product and services accompanied with the issuance of the SOC 2 Type 1 certification.

"Customer success and security have always been important goals and commitments of ours. Besides user data security, Laiye also ensures that data protection policies and measures are well-communicated to its users via multiple channels. And, Laiye uses encryption data technology to protect essential business data and customers' confidential information in the process of business operation," said Mr. Wang, Chairman and CEO of Laiye.

Laiye ranks #1 globally for the highest number of RPA-related patents in the RPA+AI category, and obtaining the SOC 2 Type 1 certification ensures that its cutting-edge practices maintain the strictest data protection standards.

About Laiye

Laiye is a visionary leader in Intelligent Automation with an international presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. We provide organizations of all shapes and sizes the most advanced, complete, unified, and transformative AI-powered Intelligent Automation platform and product set, including AI-powered RPA, Intelligent Document Processing, and Chatbot solutions. We help our clients operate at new levels of productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency. And achieve new levels of success.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Mondelez International Inc. (MDLZ) said Monday that it agreed to acquire Clif Bar & Company, U.S. maker of nutritious energy bars with organic ingredients, for $2.9 billion with additional contingent earnout consideration. The transaction is expected to be top-line accretive in year two and create cost synergies by using Mondelez International's global and North American scale to expand Clif's sales distribution and gain further penetration in existing and new customers and channels in the U.S. Mondelez noted that it will continue to operate the Clif Bar & Company business from its headquarters in Emeryville, CA, nurturing its entrepreneurial spirit and maintaining the brand's purpose and authenticity. The company will also continue to manufacture its products in its facilities in Twin Falls, ID, and Indianapolis, IN. The transaction is expected to close in third-quarter following customary regulatory review. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2022 Tang Prize in Sinology is awarded to Professor Dame Jessica Rawson, "for her gift and mastery of the craft of the visible to read the art and artifacts of Chinese civilization. By giving voice to the ancient world of objects, she has taught generations how to see when they look at things, and her acuity and vast visual learning have given new insight into the world of the lineages, transformations, and migrations of mute things."

Her contributions show that, besides the written word, there is another talent, another craft, which, by reading the art and artifacts of the world, allows us to interpret and understand distant and ancient societies, with their beliefs and interactions. Professor Rawson has taken this approach in her study of Chinese bronzes and jades, and most especially in the exchanges between the peoples of the central China and their neighbors, for example in horse harness, revealing the role of horse-trading with the steppe and along the Silk Road. She has shown that the many regions of Eurasia had their own traditions, their own visual systems, in which artifacts, their materials, their forms, and their multiple ornaments were combined in set ways. In reading these combinations, she has, for example, been able to follow and illuminate the transmission of Western classical architectural ornament to Western Asia and then along the Silk Roads to China, where it was adapted for the great Buddhist caves. This exchange was the foundation of a whole new repertory of design in China. In due course this new repertory was taken westwards again by the Mongols. As such visual systems are taken over in new contexts, they leave behind their former messages and gain thereby new associations.

Professor Rawson has also made extensive studies of ancient Chinese tombs which provided a complete afterlife world for the dead. Shang and Zhou period vertical shaft tombs were accompanied by bronze and jade artifacts, which not only gave the dead objects for ritual and status, but also weapons and carriages for war. Many major changes occurred with the Qin. The elaborate burial of the First Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, not only contained an army of terracotta warriors, but also stables, carriages, court officials, wrestlers, concubines, and images of the heavenly bodies, making the tomb not an image of a universe, but actually creating this universe for the afterlife of its occupant. In this research, Professor Rawson has drawn our attention to the very different approach in ancient China to the notion of images, where the terracotta warriors were in the Emperor's eyes a complete army for warfare in the afterlife.

Professor Rawson's contributions to the field of Sinology extend beyond original and trailblazing scholarly contributions. Her tireless efforts to develop and promote exchange in the field of Sinology as well as help the public better understand Chinese civilization are equally laudable. Starting out as a museum curator, she has long been both a practitioner and an academic, and the impact of her curated exhibitions has long been evident to all. Even after moving to the University of Oxford after 28 years of service at the British Museum, she continued to present the diversity of Chinese culture to the public through enlightening exhibitions including China: The Three Emperors, 1662-1795. Held at the Royal Academy of Arts from 2005 to 2006, this exhibition took us back to imperial China, to the reigns of three of the most powerful Qing emperors, to explore the artistic and cultural riches of this period and their vivid connotations.

About the Tang Prize

Since the advent of globalization, mankind has been able to enjoy the convenience brought forth by the advancement of human civilization and science. Yet a multitude of challenges, such as climate change, the emergence of new infectious diseases, wealth gap, and moral degradation, have surfaced along the way. Against this backdrop, Dr. Samuel Yin established the Tang Prize in December 2012. It consists of four award categories, namely Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceutical Science, Sinology, and Rule of Law. Every other year, four independent and professional selection committees, comprising many internationally renowned experts, scholars, and Nobel winners, choose as Tang Prize laureates people who have influenced and made substantive contributions to the world, regardless of ethnicity, nationality or gender. A cash prize of NT$50 million (approx. US$1.7 million) is allocated to each category, with NT$10 million (approx. US$ 0.35 million) of it being a research grant intended to encourage professionals in every field to examine mankind's most urgent needs in the 21st century, and become leading forces in the development of human society through their outstanding research outcomes and active civic engagement.

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NAVER Cloud hosts Korea's first cloud-based hardware security module (HSM) as-a-service to simplify meeting strict demands of major regulatory and industry mandates

New solution supports easy security management and convenience, providing independent key management and configuration and management services

Thales today announced it is helping NAVER Cloud launch the first Korean sovereign cloud HSM as-a-service powered by Thales' industry-leading Luna Network Hardware Security Module. The new service helps businesses meet the strict regulatory and industry mandates for control of their data and encryption as they transition from on-premises environments to a cloud or hybrid environments.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220620005225/en/

Thales

The new NAVER Cloud HSM-as-a-service allows customers to maintain independent ownership of their encryption keys, thus improving security management, control and convenience. NAVER Cloud performs all the required configuration and management so customers can focus on the services they provide.

"Luna Network HSM is a highly certified and proven solution in the market for over two decades. Through the partnership with NAVER Cloud, Korean customers can leverage Luna Network HSM to enhance their data security by HSM as a service. We are excited to support the security needs of domestic industry through collaboration with more Korean companies, and to help Korean customers to ensure data sovereignty," said Raymond Yeung, Senior Director, Greater China Korea, Data Protection products at Thales

Thales' Luna Network HSM enables encryption and decryption functions, fast and powerful performance as well as flexibility across environments including hybrid and multi-cloud. It supports business continuity by complying with various international regulations and standards for cloud environments as well as cryptographic algorithms specific to Korea. The solution has been certified for its versatility and security and is deployed in many public cloud environments.

NAVER Cloud is the first Korean cloud operator to provide cloud-based HSM services. It has built a robust portfolio of security solutions and plans to gradually expand its offer of cloud-based HSM services to financial, public, and private sectors across the globe as well as meeting the needs of its domestic market and the growing demand for data sovereignty.

"We are very pleased to have collaborated with Thales on developing the first cloud-based HSM service in Korea. We were able to develop the service smoothly and provide a service that supports clients to ensure compliance without any upfront expense," said Tak-Kyun Koh, Development Team Leader of NAVER Cloud

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies, investing in digital and "deep tech" innovations connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum technologies to build a confident future crucial for the development of our societies. The Group provides its customers businesses, organizations and governments in the defense, aeronautics, space, transport, and digital identity and security domains with solutions, services and products that help them fulfil their critical role, consideration for the individual being the driving force behind all decisions.

Thales has 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2021, the Group generated sales of 16.2 billion.

PLEASE VISIT

Thales Group

Security

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220620005225/en/

Contacts:

PRESS CONTACT

Thales, Media Relations

Security

Marion Bonnet

marion.bonnet@thalesgroup.com

+33607859616
HELSINKI (dpa-AFX) - Finland's jobless rate declined notably and the employment rate increased in May, figures from Statistics Finland showed on Tuesday. The unemployment rate trend for the 15 to 74 age group dropped to 6.1 percent in May from 8.0 percent in the same month last year. In April, the unemployment rate was 6.2 percent. The number of unemployed persons decreased to 172,000 in May from 221,000 in the previous year. Meanwhile, the overall jobless rate rose to 7.9 percent in May from 6.9 percent in April. The employment rate trend rose to 73.9 percent in May from 71.9 percent in the same month last year. The number of employed persons rose by 61,000 from a year ago to 2.623 million Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
This event provides participants insights, tools, and connections to help improve customer satisfaction rates, reduce customer churn, and increase revenue

SAN ANTONIO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan will host a three-day, eye-opening experience for customer service executives at its Customer Experience Ecosystem: A Frost & Sullivan Executive MindXchange | Generating Customer Lifetime Value, July 18-20, 2022 at Hilton Minneapolis, Minneapolis MN.

This interactive event will help attendees gain clarity on strategic direction, examine how to optimize their customer experience, and understand the impact of emerging technologies, while also being able to connect, support, and be inspired by industry peers.

We are all competing on customer experience and the pandemic has raised the bar on the end-to-end journey to a whole new level. The voice of your customer and the voice of your employees has never been more critical to achieving CX excellence. Top industry experts will meet in Minneapolis to discuss these topics and more, including:

What Makes a Leader or Laggard in Customer Experience?

Delivering the Kind of Customer Experience that Drives Financial Performance

Data-enabled (AI, ML and NLP) Customization and Personalization

Integrating Design Thinking in Your Long-Term Customer Experience Strategy

Transformational Stories from Customer Experience Superstars

The panel includes top industry firms and features the following thought leaders:

David Weisman , Ph.D., CPXP, Chief Experience Officer, NYC Health and Hospitals

, Ph.D., CPXP, Chief Experience Officer, and Hospitals Katherine Shin , Vice President of Customer Experience, Trane Technologies

, Vice President of Customer Experience, Cal Austin , Innovative Customer Experience Lead - Emerging Markets, Pfizer

, Innovative Customer Experience Lead - Emerging Markets, Erin McMillan , Associate Vice President Client Operations, Cox Automotive

"We are all competing on customer experience and the pandemic has raised the bar on the end-to-end journey to a whole new level. It's so important for CX professionals to benchmark with peers on a regular basis for a clear strategic direction." - Caryn Brown, Vice President of Production, Frost & Sullivan Events.

To learn more about our Executive MindXchange and register for the event, please click here.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Nicole Ryder

Corporate Communications

E:nicole.ryder@frost.com

https://www.frost.com
Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., is pleased to announce that Kikuhiko Okura has been appointed President and Representative Director.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005536/en/

Kikuhiko Okura, President and Representative Director (Photo: Business Wire)

Mr. Okura brings to his new role more than 25 years' experience in the financial services sector in both the United States and Japan. In 2019, he was appointed Corporate Advisor of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., as well as President of Hotel Okura Amsterdam, the home of the Hotel Okura brand in Europe for the past 50 years. He has since served in various executive positions in the Hotel Okura Group. He holds a bachelor's degree in law from Keio University in Tokyo and a master's degree in business administration from Cornell University in New York.

His extensive experience in the financial sector across borders will further strengthen the management and evolution of the Group's business, which will continue to expand globally.

Mr. Okura commented, "It is an absolute honor to accept this appointment as President and Representative Director of Okura Nikko Hotel Management. The hospitality industry is undergoing a period of great change due to the massive and prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I feel boundless gratitude to all our partners and patrons for their support as well as an immense amount of responsibility in taking on this position. In navigating through this time of great challenge, I will strive to continue to focus on our core value-omotenashi; the Japanese spirit of hospitality-with emphasis on our empathy and on a genuine and anticipatory approach to serving our guests. This spirit has underpinned the company's operations since it commenced business almost 60 years ago, and will continue to be our guiding light as we further develop the company as a global operator to serve our guests around the world. I also hope to follow in the remarkable footsteps of my predecessors and industry leaders in contributing to the hospitality industry."

In line with this appointment, Toshihiro Ogita will assume the position of Chairman and Representative Director of the company and will continue to serve as President and Representative Director of Hotel Okura Co., Ltd.

Kikuhiko Okura Profile

Kikuhiko Okura joined Hotel Okura Group in November 2019 as Executive Advisor to Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., and was appointed President of Hotel Okura Amsterdam the following month. Prior to joining Hotel Okura Group, he worked in senior executive roles in the financial services sector in Tokyo and New York, including positions at Brown Brothers Harriman Co., where he served as Managing Director in the company's global markets and asset management divisions. Prior to Brown Brothers Harriman Co., he worked at MUFG Bank, Ltd. in their Global Corporate Investment Banking and Global Markets business units.

About Hotel Okura Co., Ltd. and Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., founded in 1958, opened its flagship Hotel Okura Tokyo in 1962 as a first-class hotel that quickly became renowned worldwide for its blending of traditional Japanese beauty with the very best in accommodation, cuisine and service. It closed its doors in August 2015, and after four years of rebuilding work reopened as The Okura Tokyo in September 2019.

Hotel Okura has extensive expertise in the hospitality world, including asset ownership and hotel development, as well as hotel management, the restaurant business and chain operations through its subsidiaries and other group companies. The brand unites member hotels under its "Best Accommodation, Cuisine and Service" philosophy to ensure that all guests enjoy Okura's signature hospitality, which combines Japanese attention to detail and Western functionality. Please visit www.okura.com.

Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Hotel Okura, operates 81 properties (54 in Japan and 27 overseas) encompassing some 24,745 guest rooms (as of June 1, 2022) under three hotel groups: Okura Hotels Resorts, Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City. Please visit www.okura-nikko.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005536/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts

Ms. Ikuko Arai, Mr. Ryutaro Suzuki

Public Relations

Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

Phone: +81-(0)3-6685-8995

E-mail: pr@okura-nikko.co.jp
Company acquires exclusive audio rights to Lightlark series

LANDOVER, Md., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RBmedia, the largest audiobook publisher in the world, today announced that it has acquired the exclusive audio rights for "Lightlark," the debut young adult fantasy novel from author and TikTok sensation Alex Aster. "Lightlark" will be published in the UK and Commonwealth by the company's international publishing brand and UK's leading audiobook publisher, W. F. Howes Ltd, and throughout the rest of the world by Recorded Books-the company's flagship imprint and audiobook home for the author's award-winning Emblem Island series.

"Lightlark," the first audiobook in the series, follows the story of six rulers competing in a grand high-stakes game set on a lush magical island, with 100 days to break the deadly curses that have plagued their realms for centuries.

Alex Aster said, "I am thrilled to continue working with RBmedia on the 'Lightlark' audiobooks. Audio is such an important part of TikTok, and RBmedia's innovative marketing, as well as incredible narrator casting, make it the perfect home for 'Lightlark.' In fact, their first suggestion for narrator casting was so spot-on, I enthusiastically agreed within seconds of listening to the sample. I couldn't be more excited for my audience to see (or hear!) everything that we're working on."

The Emblem Island series author, whose first middle-grade novel "Curse of the Night Witch" was chosen as one of Amazon's Best Children's Books of 2020, has become one of the most successful young writers on TikTok with over 800,000 followers.

Her first "Lightlark" trailer post on TikTok garnered 1.6m views and 350k likes, followed by a Times Square cover reveal for the book with a combined 3m views and 400k likes.

Director of Children's and Young Adult Publishing at RBmedia Andrea Wollitz commented, "Alex is a rare and unique talent. Not only is she an incredibly gifted writer, whose captivating and imaginative novels are attracting both rave reviews and reader plaudits alike, but she is also somebody who has clearly demonstrated the indisputable power of BookTok. She has a deep-rooted understanding of her audience, readers, and fanbase and takes them with her on every step of her writing journey in a natural and engaging way. We are delighted to continue working with Alex to bring her fantasy worlds to life for audio fans around the world."

Publishing Director at W. F. Howes Dominic White added, "'Lightlark' is pitch perfect for audio, a dazzling fantasy world filled with romance and dark twists-we can't wait to introduce Alex Aster to audio fans internationally."

"Lightlark" will be available everywhere audiobooks are sold in fall 2022, with the sequel to follow. Following a multiple publisher auction, the company secured the audio rights for "Lightlark" from Talia Behrend-Wilcox, Subsidiary Rights Senior Manager at Abrams Books.

About RBmedia

RBmedia is the largest audiobook publisher in the world. With nearly 60,000 exclusive titles, our audiobooks continually dominate key literary awards and bestseller lists. The company's powerful digital retail and library distribution network reaches millions of listeners around the globe-at home, in the car, and everywhere their mobile devices go. Our titles are available on leading audio platforms, including Audible, iTunes, Google Play, Audiobooks.com, OverDrive, Hoopla, and many more. RBmedia is owned by KKR, a leading global investment firm. Find out more at rbmediaglobal.com.

About W. F. Howes

W. F. Howes Ltd is the UK's leading audiobook and large-print publisher, distributing its content through all leading consumer and library vendors. The company is known for publishing bestselling authors such as Danielle Steel, Val McDermid, Dan Jones, and V. E. Schwab. W. F. Howes is the UK subsidiary of RBmedia. For more information visit www.wfhowes.co.uk or email info@wfhowes.co.uk.

About Recorded Books

Recorded Books is RBmedia's flagship audio brand for bestselling authors and content spanning all high-demand fiction and nonfiction genres. Our exclusive catalog of premium titles, narrated by award-winning actors, includes works by Brandon Sanderson, J.R.R. Tolkien, Diana Gabaldon, Sarah J. Maas, Jenny Han, Jeff Kinney, and many other leading authors. Since our founding in 1979, we have been a pioneer in the industry and, as part of RBmedia, have achieved thousands of industry honors, including the National Book Award, Audiobook of the Year, Booker Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Hugo Award, and many more.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1841939/RBmedia_LIGHTLARK.jpg

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MUNICH, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Techman Robot, the second largest collaborative robot brand in the world, will showcase the newly upgraded TM Robot S and smart manufacturing solutions at Automatica. The upgraded TM Robot S will have comprehensive hardware and software enhancements; smarter integration with vision and peripheral software, more intuitive human-machine interface, and safer human-machine collaboration, suitable for a variety of industrial applications, and fully realizing smart manufacturing.

Techman Robot will be launching the newly upgraded TM Robot S series. This series has enhanced the safety of human-machine collaboration over the current models. It has passed European and American safety certifications and has the industry's most advanced collaborative arm with 31 safety certifications, the highest in the industry. In response to various industrial applications, Techman Robot has upgraded the dust and water resistance level of the S series and launched a newly developed robot teach pendent to make teaching and deploying robots easier and faster. In addition to hardware upgrades, Techman Robot's innovative human-machine interface- TMflow has been completely revised and upgraded to version 2.0, providing a more intuitive operating experience. In addition, more powerful offline programming software can be used for application path simulation and cycle time calculation. TM Robot S series have both new software and hardware upgrades to quickly assist customers in creating collaborative robot solutions for various needs.

In addition to upgrade collaborative robot series, Techman Robot said, "We keep developing solutions to help enterprises and closing the gap for every business such as welding application, we're going to have more welding related functions such as easy tuning, weaving, multilayer, vision-based application and etc. in the near future." It helps users to meet the welding needs of different shaped workpieces, and is compatible with common welders on the market. It can be controlled directly through the robot interface and is no longer limited by the traditional way of using welding robots.

Techman Robot's European office is located in the Netherlands, which allows them to respond effectively to the growing needs of their partners and customers in Europe, and also supports local businesses that are interested in implementing robotic solutions. Looking upon 2022, Techman Robot is optimistic on the development of automation and will continue to build up distributors on semiconductor, electronics, welding, food & beverage and Automotive fields to jointly explore Europe market. More information, please visit https://www.tm-robot.com/de/
Security industry leaders join NetSPI's EMEA team to fuel growth and meet increased demand for pentesting services in EMEA

MINNEAPOLIS, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NetSPI , the leader in enterprise penetration testing and attack surface management, today announced the expansion of its global footprint in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) to meet growing international demand for its offensive security solutions.

"NetSPI's technology-powered services and customer-first focus has solidified the company's leading position within the North American offensive security industry," said KKR's Paul Harragan, a London-based investor in NetSPI. "The team's specialised skill set, tech acumen and white glove delivery model will resonate with the European market and should drive continued growth and expansion as the team develops and delivers critical offensive security solutions."

"We've experienced a record volume of demand from EMEA organisations needing to improve their security posture through a proven, holistic approach to pentesting, and now, we're well positioned to deliver this in the region," said Aaron Shilts, CEO, NetSPI. "We've hired a team of extremely talented, energising security leaders who align with our customer-first approach to business. Establishing our EMEA beachhead with this incredible group will ensure NetSPI is destined for accelerated growth and continued success in the region."

The company has appointed security industry veterans Steve Bakewell , Steve Armstrong , and Eric Graves to strategically lead NetSPI's EMEA team and drive further growth in the region. Bakewell joins NetSPI as Managing Director of EMEA and brings over 23 years of experience in cybersecurity and risk management across organisations including Central Government & Defence and Royal Bank of Scotland, as well as with security vendors such as CipherCloud, RiskIQ and Citrix.

"The pentesting space is highly competitive in the UK, but vendors in the region simply do not have the pedigree that NetSPI has," Bakewell said. "NetSPI already provides its penetration testing services to nine out of the top 10 U.S. banks and many of the Fortune 500 - I'm looking forward to the opportunity to serve end users in EMEA during a time when security is high on the business agenda."

Bakewell will work closely with Armstrong, who has been appointed Regional Vice President for EMEA. Armstrong has two decades of experience in sales and security, spanning companies including Bitglass, CyCognito and Avira. Graves will work alongside Armstrong as NetSPI's Regional Sales Director for EMEA, leveraging his extensive experience in cybersecurity sales for organisations such as Pentera, TrendMicro and Spok, to meet global demand and provide NetSPI's award-winning pentesting solutions to EMEA customers. The three leaders will work closely alongside Shilts and oversee NetSPI's growing team in EMEA.

NetSPI will be at InfoSecurity Europe from June 21-23, 2022 at ExCel London. Participate in a live demo and meet the company's security experts at Stand M-12. For more information or to schedule a meeting with NetSPI at InfoSecurity Europe, please click here .

About NetSPI

NetSPI is the leader in enterprise security testing and attack surface management, partnering with nine of the top 10 U.S. banks, three of the world's five largest healthcare companies, the largest global cloud providers, and many of the Fortune 500. NetSPI offers Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) through its Resolve penetration testing and vulnerability management platform. Its experts perform deep dive manual penetration testing of application, network, and cloud attack surfaces, historically testing over 1 million assets to find 4 million unique vulnerabilities. NetSPI is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN and is a portfolio company of private equity firms Sunstone Partners, KKR, and Ten Eleven Ventures. Follow us on?Facebook,?Twitter, and?LinkedIn.

Media Contacts

Tori Norris,?NetSPI?

victoria.norris@netspi.com ?

(630) 258-0277?
The company's cloud-based bidding and cost-estimating platform digitizes and simplifies construction tender management

TEL AVIV, Israel, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ConWize, the construction tendering software company, today announced it had raised $2.8 million in a seed round led by Ariel Maislos. Other investors include Pi Labs, Europe's first and most active Proptech VC, and angel investors Liad Agmon and Meir Gabay.

Today, most construction companies, subcontractors, and suppliers in the construction industry still manage tenders manually, making the bidding process time-consuming, expensive, and prone to mistakes. With 15 years of experience in the construction industry, ConWize bootstrap founders Dima Haikin, Ran Levi Sody and Denis Umnov identified the acute need for innovation in the current tender practices. They decided to make a change and introduce digitalization into the tender management process. Their new builders' estimating software helps contractors prevent critical mistakes, win more tenders, and carry out projects more profitably.

The seed round follows successful product releases and sales after the company's contractors estimating software earned the trust of some of the largest construction companies in Israel.

"Construction technology presents unique growth opportunities," said Ariel Maislos, the lead investor of the seed funding round. "ConWize's SaaS platform solves a critical pain point in the construction process, as tenders directly impact construction companies' growth and success. I am thrilled to partner with this outstanding team as they expand their activities into the European market."

Faisal Butt, Founder and CEO of Pi Labs, said: "It has been incredibly exciting having ConWize as a member of the Pi Labs family ever since they were selected to be a part of our 2021 accelerator program. By automating the construction cost estimation and bidding process, the technology helps minimize development costs and make the overall process more efficient to benefit all stakeholders, including developers, contractors, subcontractors and end-users. We are proud to be backing Dima, Denis and Ran, and our investment team is confident that their entrepreneurial and technological skills will see ConWize make major inroads across the European construction sector in the coming years."

"We have developed the most advanced cloud-based construction estimating program available for construction companies today. Our platform gives a true end-to-end solution for tender departments of general contractors and subcontractors. This construction estimating tool enables to save time and eliminate estimation errors," said Dima Haikin, ConWize CEO. "This new funding will help us scale up our success in the Israeli market and present the most advanced construction estimation software to Europe, starting in the UK."

The platform is already in use by the largest and most innovative general contractors in Israel, as well as thousands of subcontractors and suppliers. The platform's cloud-based architecture will facilitate the fast global growth ConWize expects.

About ConWize

ConWize is transforming the construction industry's tendering process, including bidding and cost estimation. With ConWize's SaaS platform, contractors can estimate projects more accurately, answer more tenders, and win more projects. The platform also offers advanced analytical capabilities, enabling companies to make data-driven decisions and improve their bidding from project to project. Please visit conwize.io to learn more.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1843395/ConWize.jpg

For further information, please contact:

Dima Haikin

CEO

dima@conwize.io
14,959 new hires projected this year

Nearly 2 million tech workers account for 6.3% of the total U.K. workforce

82.6 billion industry contribution to economy

LONDON, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Kingdom is expected to add nearly 15,000 technology-related jobs this year, according to a new report released today by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the nonprofit association for the information technology (IT) industry and workforce.

CompTIA's "State of the Tech Workforce U.K." reports that organisations employed approximately 1.98 million tech workers1 in 2021. Job growth was slower than expected as the U.K. continued to navigate through the widespread economic impact of the pandemic, but the tech industry avoided the job losses that affected many other industry sectors in the region.

The tech industry accounts for 5.5% of the U.K. economy, or 82.6 billion.

Since 2016, tech employment increased by an estimated 62,140 new jobs or about 10,356 new jobs each year. "The tech sector in the U.K. is strong and growing stronger each year," said Graham Hunter, executive vice president at CompTIA. "The evidence is clear: A well-trained and certified tech workforce makes a significant impact on the nation's economy. And businesses of all sorts will need more skilled workers if we are going to maintain the growth resulting from the ongoing digital transformation efforts that accelerated during the pandemic."

Nearly 20% of all employer tech job postings in 2021 were for positions in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, blockchain and internet of things, or jobs requiring skills in those areas.

Most tech workers (591,335 employees) are tied to employers in IT consultancy and services, such as managed services providers (MSPs). Other industry sectors that are well represented include telecom, data processing and web portals (269,336); software and custom development (232,965); and tech manufacturing (109,868).

"Over the last few years, the technology industry and technology professionals have proven how vital they are to the entire nation," said Estelle Johannes, senior director of global communities at CompTIA. "The drastic changes and ongoing uncertainty highlighted how important a robust technology ecosystem is to the success of the economy."

There are 188,812 tech firms with payrolls across the UK with 44,831 tech business establishments in London. Other markets with strong tech sectors include Manchester (6,408 tech companies), Bristol (3,847) and Birmingham (3,129).

Northern Ireland is projected to see the largest percentage increase in net tech employment this year, with Scotland and England following and with tech employment expected to remain steady in Wales.

Other data points in the report illustrate the strength of the UK tech sector. For example:

The top four metropolitan areas ( London , Manchester , Bristol and Glasgow ) are home to more than 572,500 tech industry and tech occupation workers, or about 1 in 3 tech workers in the region.





, , and ) are home to more than 572,500 tech industry and tech occupation workers, or about 1 in 3 tech workers in the region. Birmingham saw the highest increase in net tech employment year over year.





saw the highest increase in net tech employment year over year. Six metropolitan areas ( Edinburgh , London , Bristol , Leeds , Glasgow and Nottingham ) have a higher concentration of tech workers than the national benchmark of 6.3%.

CompTIA's "State of the Tech Workforce UK" report provides data and analysis on tech employment, economic impact, technology trends, salaries, hiring activity and other measures for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and 13 metropolitan regions across the U.K. The complete report is available at here.

About CompTIA

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the estimated 75 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world's economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for unlocking the potential of the tech industry and its workforce. Visit https://www.comptia.org/ .

Media Contact

Roger Hughlett

rhughlett@comptia.org

+1 202-503-3644

[1] Employment estimates include technology professionals working in all industries; business professionals in non-technical roles employed by technology companies; and full-time, self-employed technology workers.

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HOHHOT, China, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- From June 14-16, the 15th Global Dairy Congress was hosted in Laval, France. Dr. Zhanyou Yun, Assistant President of Yili Group, attended the "Innovation for the Future" session, delivering a keynote speech with the theme "Create Value through Innovation". Dr. Gerrit Smit, Managing Director of Yili Innovation Center Europe, attended the roundtable discussion.

The World Dairy Innovation Awards was held simultaneously with the Congress. Leveraging strategic synergies and resource integration, Yili Group and its subsidiary Ausnutria topped the tally with six awards, covering segments of packaging design, infant nutrition, intolerance-friendly dairy products, ice cream, cheese and dairy snacks.

One of the judges commented, "Yili have their finger on the pulse when it comes to identifying gaps in the market and creating brilliant innovative products that both taste and look great while simultaneously serving a purpose."

Dr. Yun explained how Yili has focused on building a globally integrated innovation network, which helped the company win worldwide recognition. "Integrating talent and intelligence resources, we have currently set up a total of 15 innovation centers scattered around the world, and a 'global intelligence chain' has now been established."

Developing health products through consumer-centric innovation

"Guided by our New Vision for Value Creation, Yili pursues development as an innovation-driven company. We are dedicated to launching health products to meet the full life-cycle, all-scenario needs among all types of consumers," said Dr. Yun.

For consumers to freely enjoy cheese without storage limitations, Yili developed the "Best Cheese" winner -- the ambient cheese lollipop, which is rich in nutrition and can be safely stored at room temperature. Revisiting traditional Chinese aesthetics, the Xujinhuan 3D Fresh Milk Ice Cream has been designed into the elegant shape of a Chinese fan, featuring traditional painting carved on the surface. Developed with global high-quality milk and ingredients, the beautiful look is also accompanied by good flavor and nutrition. For middle-aged and the elderly men, a group more focused on bone health and physical fitness, the Shuhua Lactose -- Free Milk for Dad includes 50% more natural calcium, vitamin D and taurine. Applying Yili's patented technology of LHT lactose hydrolysis, the product also addresses the problem of lactose intolerance that is common among Asian consumers.

At the Congress, Dr. Yun also shared the company's progress in building a "Dairy Silicon Valley". In June, four key projects of Yili's Future Intelligence and Healthy Valley will be put into operation in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, including a liquid milk production base, a milk powder production base, the Chilechuan Ecological Smart Farm, and the Yili Intelligent Manufacturing Experience Center.

Commitment to building a net-zero carbon future

Talking about dairy's role in addressing climate change, Dr. Yun said, "Embracing the tide of sustainable development across the globe, Yili has rolled out net-zero carbon products and factories, issued the Roadmap to a Net-Zero Carbon Future, and joined hands with our partners throughout the industrial chain to build a net-zero carbon future."

In April, Yili took the lead in China's food industry to launch time-bound targets on carbon reduction, aiming to realize industrial chain-wide carbon neutrality before 2050.

On June 5, Yili also introduced the packaging featuring "no printing, less ink". Applying the technology of ink reduction printing, the packaging is able to save ink consumption by 60%. The outer carton is 80% made up of recycled paper. By upgrading into paper handles, every 100,000 outer cartons will reduce plastic usage equating to 260 kg.

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LONDON, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SeeTrue and IDSS are announcing today their successful integration of IDSS's Open Architecture DETECT 1000 Checkpoint Computed Tomography (CT) scanner, coupled with SeeTrue's state-of-the-art innovative AI solution, which brings full automation screening to Aviation Security and other industries.

Almost two years ago, Heathrow Airport and Avinor, endorsed by a wide range of regulators and airport stakeholders, published a paper on open architecture in airport security systems to provide a path forward for new innovative software developers to help defeat terrorism. Now, this vision is coming to life as IDSS and SeeTrue leveraged the IDSS Open Architecture DICOS interface to quickly develop and integrate technologies to provide superior solutions for airports and passengers. First implementations are planned this summer.

Bringing together CT with AI, enables full automation of the screening process, increasing security detection capabilities, while reducing false reject rates. This innovation provides better business operations and economics for airports and much more satisfied passengers. While the long awaited post-Covid flight rates are growing fast and projected to grow even faster in the future, and as airports struggle to hire back security personnel, it is time for automation.

Assaf Frenkel, CEO and Co-Founder of SeeTrue: "We are proud of this first-of-its-kind integration of SeeTrue's AI with IDSS. Open Architecture is not just a vision but is now a reality, and soon to be the standard in security screening. This integration brings airports the option to choose the best of breed algorithms for making the screening process faster, more secure and bring passengers a better service."

Jeffrey Hamel, CEO and President of IDSS: "The IDSS/SeeTrue integration demonstrates the power of Open Architecture and validates IDSS's long term investment in this strategy. Our ability to quickly and easily incorporate best of breed technologies which extend the capabilities of our detection platform ensures a higher Return on Investment for our customers and long term viability of the screening technology."

About SeeTrue: SeeTrue is a global leader in Screening Solutions, leveraging its state of the art Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for safe, fast and secure threat detection.

SeeTrue operates from Tel Aviv, New York and London with solutions implemented in airports and other venues around the world.

For more information visit www.seetrue.ai

About IDSS

Integrated Defense and Security Solutions is a small business security technology manufacturer based in Boxborough, Massachusetts. The company was founded in 2012 by a team of security experts with the goal of developing security solutions to address current and future threats to aviation. The DETECT 1000 has received certification by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) for explosives detection. While designed initially for explosives detection, the Open Architecture DETECT 1000 superior image quality and x-ray information can also be leveraged for the Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) of mail and parcels containing food and similar sized items.

For more information visit www.idsscorp.net
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Movable Ink , the leading global software content personalization provider, announces it has been selected by Celonis, the global leader in execution management, to power personalization across its marketing program. Celonis is one of the world's few 'decacorns', and helps companies reveal and fix inefficiencies they can't see, enabling them to perform at levels they never thought possible.

Movable Ink will play an important role in expanding Celonis's customer engagement strategy, helping drive its own production efficiencies by streamlining and automating dynamic content creation. Celonis will combine data-activated, customer-centric experiences via Movable Ink with the real-time process optimization capabilities of the Celonis Execution Management System (EMS) to optimize marketing processes and ensure its customers receive real value.

" Celonis ' main objective is to help businesses reveal and fix process inefficiencies, by connecting and understanding data to then recommend and trigger actions that remove silent killers of performance. By delivering more tailored content that demonstrates how we do this, and how we address individual needs of each business, we'll be better able to underscore how customers can accelerate business transformation, drive value and achieve higher levels of performance," said Paula Ojeda Bautista, Head of Marketing Database and Nurture Campaigns at Celonis.

"End customers expect real 1:1 personalization, something that is top of mind for business leaders in Germany and across the globe. It's no longer an optional part of brands' marketing programs. That's exactly what we want to help our customers deliver on," said Jeremy Seltzer, Movable Ink's Chief Revenue Officer. "Celonis empowers businesses to effectively utilize all of their data, and we're thrilled they selected us to help effectively shape these successful data use cases into customized content that more clearly tells the Celonis story to its customers."

The news follows a year of record growth for Movable Ink, marked by strong momentum in EMEA. The company recently announced it raised $55M in Series D funding, crossed $100M in annual recurring revenue, and acquired Coherent Path, an AI content personalization engine. Movable Ink plans to grow the company to more than 700 employees worldwide by the end of 2022.

With trailblazing tech and marketing expertise, Movable Ink powers revenue-boosting campaigns for some of the world's largest and most innovative companies.

Movable Ink currently has more than 550 employees with 80 across EMEA. The company has operations in the UK, the Nordics, and Benelux, and recently opened its DACH headquarters in Munich to better support the fast-growing customer base in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. To learn more about open roles, visit movableink.com/careers .

About Movable Ink

Customers don't experience data, they experience content. Movable Ink activates any data into personalized content in any customer engagement. The world's most innovative brands rely on Movable Ink to accelerate their marketing performance. With more than 500 employees, the company is headquartered in New York City with operations throughout North America, Central America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. Learn more at movableink.com .

About Celonis

Celonis reveals and fixes inefficiencies businesses can't see, enabling them to perform at levels they never thought possible. Powered by its market-leading process mining core, the Celonis Execution Management System provides a full set of platform capabilities for business executives and users to eliminate billions in corporate inefficiencies, provide better customer experience and reduce carbon emissions. Celonis has thousands of implementations with global customers and is headquartered in Munich, Germany and New York City, USA with more than 20 offices worldwide.

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Quectel Wireless Solutions has launched the new BG773A-GL ultra-compact LTE Cat M1, NB1 and NB2 module which offers integrated SIM (iSIM) support. The iSIM capability of this new module provides huge flexibility and simplicity for integrators and IoT service providers because, in essence, it enables a device with a single stock-keeping unit (SKU) number to have the right connectivity to support its needs globally. Ultimately, this provides a simpler way for integrators to adopt cellular connectivity, removing the needs for country-specific SIM cards and simplifying the logistics of traditional, plastic SIM deployments by eradicating the need for on-site or in-country adaptations.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005267/en/

Quectel's BG773A-GL ultra-compact LTE Cat M1, NB1 and NB2 module which offers integrated SIM (iSIM) support (Photo: Business Wire)

Quectel has been at the forefront of making the promise of iSIM a reality and has been working to tightly align module performance with the new wave of embedded and integrated SIM features that are revolutionizing what is possible in IoT connectivity.

The BG773A-GL module also features ultra-low power consumption implemented by the MIPS 5150 processor and integrated RAM and flash, which help reduce current consumption to low levels in various modes, including power saving mode (PSM) and extended discontinuous reception (eDRX). Importantly, the BG773A-GL boasts a comprehensive hardware-based security feature Integrated Security Elements (ISE). This is essential because iSIM relies on having a robust secure element to enable it to connect to the best available connectivity at the point of deployment. The module will be commercially available from mid July 2022.

"We're delighted to have launched the Quectel BG773A-GL module which brings iSIM-enabled connectivity to the global marketplace," says Richard Hart, Director of Global Connectivity, Quectel Connectivity Solutions. "By enabling integrators to create a single global product with one SKU, logistics and supply chain issues are eliminated and IoT organizations can simply deploy their products anywhere safe in the knowledge that they will be able to access secure, high-quality connectivity with no need for localization and different variants to be manufactured for different markets. This is a giant leap forward for simplifying IoT and one of the key steps needed to build a smarter world."

The module offers an ultra-compact SMT form factor of 14.9 mm 12.9 mm 1.9 mm and enables integrators and developers to design applications easily taking advantage of its low power consumption and compact design structure. The BG773A-GL's industry-standard interfaces and abundant functionalities extend the suitability of the module to a wide range of IoT applications, such as wireless POS, smart metering, tracking, wearable devices, and many others.

Quectel has collaborated with Kigen, the iSIM pioneer and global security leader to enable the iSIM functionality on BG773A-GL. Kigen's industry-leading iSIM OS and key insertion services bring a wide selection of networks that augment Quectel connectivity for OEMs to meet their market needs.

"Quectel's adoption of Kigen iSIM as a pre-packaged solution in the BG773A-GL is a testimony to the maturity of iSIM technology and our ecosystem," said Vincent Korstanje, CEO of Kigen. "Quectel is a market leader in high-volume manufacturing, and this collaboration will enable OEMs who want to move quickly from pure embedded play to offering full IoT solutions for global markets."

For a live demonstration of the Quectel iSIM, visit Quectel on Booth No 171, Hall 5 at Embedded World Nuremberg, June 21- 23 2022.

About Quectel

Quectel's passion for a smarter world drives us to accelerate IoT innovation. A highly customer-centric organization, we are a global IoT solutions provider backed by outstanding support and services. Our growing global team of over 4,000 professionals sets the pace for innovation in cellular, GNSS and WiFi/BT modules, antennas and IoT connectivity. Listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (603236.SS),our international leadership is devoted to advancing IoT across the globe.

For more information: www.quectel.com, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005267/en/

Contacts:

Ashley Liu, 86-551-6586 9386 x 8016, media@quectel.com
Janus Henderson Group plc (NYSE/ASX: JHG) ("JHG" or the "Company") announced that Ali Dibadj has joined the Company as Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"). Additionally, Mr. Dibadj has been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors. He succeeds Roger Thompson, Chief Financial Officer, who had served as Interim Chief Executive Officer from 1 April 2022 to 20 June 2022. Mr. Thompson will continue in his role as Chief Financial Officer.

Ali Dibadj, 47, was Chief Financial Officer and Head of Strategy at AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. ("AB"), where he also has served as a Portfolio Manager for AB Equities, working with portfolio companies to improve their operational, ESG, and capital allocation performance. Prior to that, as senior research analyst with Bernstein Research Services, he was ranked as the number one analyst twelve times by Institutional Investor. Before joining AB, he spent almost a decade in management consulting, including at McKinsey Company. Mr. Dibadj holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering sciences from Harvard College and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.

Richard Gillingwater, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, "We are excited to welcome Ali to Janus Henderson as our new CEO. His track record, experiences, accomplishments, and vision are all invaluable assets that will benefit clients as we support their goals. We look forward to his contributions and leadership as Janus Henderson pursues its next stage of growth in a rapidly evolving marketplace."

Ali Dibadj, Chief Executive Officer, said"I am humbled and proud to have been asked by the Board to join the talented Janus Henderson team and have long admired Janus Henderson's intellectual honesty, depth of research, and client-focus. Janus Henderson is a resilient and forward-thinking firm, and I am confident that our employees, the current executive team, the Board, and I will be able to identify and capture growth and innovation that creates value for our clients, employees, shareholders, communities, and all stakeholders."

Notes to editors

About Ali Dibadj

Ali Dibadj was appointed Chief Financial Officer Head of Strategy for Alliance Bernstein (AB) in 2021 and, previously, Head of Finance and Strategy in 2020, responsible for overseeing the Financial Planning Analysis, Tax, Treasury, Controller, Investor Relations, Strategy, and Corporate Development teams. He is a member of the firm's Operating Committee. As Portfolio Manager for AB Equities since 2017, specializing in engagement, he has worked with portfolio companies to improve their operational, ESG, and capital allocation performance. As senior analyst for AB Bernstein Research Services from 2006 to 2020, he was ranked the number one analyst 12 times by Institutional Investor. Prior to joining AB, Ali Dibadj spent almost a decade in management consulting, including at McKinsey Company and Mercer. He also worked at the law firm Skadden, Arps. He is on the Boards of Sysco Corporation and the Young People's Chorus. Throughout his career, Ali has been focused on fostering a culture of openness, diversity, and inclusion.

Ali holds an SB in engineering sciences, with a specialization in electrical engineering, from Harvard College and a JD, with a focus on law and business, from Harvard Law School. He has 16 years of experience in the asset management industry and 25 years of financial industry experience.

About Roger Thompson

Roger Thompson is Chief Financial Officer at Janus Henderson Investors, a position he has held since 2013. He is also a member of the Executive Committee. Roger joined Henderson from J.P. Morgan Asset Management, where most recently he was global chief operating officer; previously, he was head of UK and prior to that was international CFO. Roger had a broad range of roles at J.P. Morgan and worked in Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong. He trained as an accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Roger graduated with a BA degree (Hons) in accountancy and economics from Exeter University. He is a chartered accountant and has 30 years of financial industry experience.

About Janus Henderson

Janus Henderson Group is a leading global active asset manager dedicated to helping investors achieve long-term financial goals through a broad range of investment solutions, including equities, fixed income, multi-asset and alternative asset class strategies.

At 31 March 2022, Janus Henderson had approximately US$361 billion in assets under management, more than 2,000 employees, and offices in 23 cities worldwide. Headquartered in London, the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release not based on historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those discussed. These include statements as to our future expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, events, conditions, financial performance, prospects or future events. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would" and similar words and phrases. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management, are inherently uncertain. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made and are not guarantees of future performance. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements.

Various risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors that could cause our future results to differ materially from those expressed by the forward-looking statements included in this press release include, but are not limited to, risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in other filings or furnishings made by the Company with the SEC from time to time.

This press release is solely for the use of members of the media and should not be relied upon by personal investors, financial advisers or institutional investors. We may record telephone calls for our mutual protection, to improve customer service and for regulatory record keeping purposes.

Issued by Janus Henderson Investors. Janus Henderson Investors is the name under which investment products and services are provided by Janus Henderson Investors International Limited (reg no. 3594615), Janus Henderson Investors UK Limited (reg. no. 906355), Janus Henderson Fund Management UK Limited (reg. no. 2678531), Henderson Equity Partners Limited (reg. no.2606646), (each registered in England and Wales at 201 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3AE and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) and Henderson Management S.A. (reg no. B22848 at 2 Rue de Bitbourg, L-1273, Luxembourg and regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). Henderson Secretarial Services Limited (incorporated and registered in England and Wales, registered no. 1471624, registered office 201 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3AE) is the name under which company secretarial services are provided. All these companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of Janus Henderson Group plc. (incorporated and registered in Jersey, registered no. 101484, with registered office at 13 Castle Street, St Helier, Jersey, JE1 1ES).

Janus Henderson, Knowledge Shared and Knowledge Labs are trademarks of Janus Henderson Group plc or one of its subsidiaries. Janus Henderson Group plc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005303/en/

Contacts:

Investor Inquiries:

Jim Kurtz

Co-Head Investor Relations (US)

+1 (303) 336 4529

jim.kurtz@janushenderson.com

Melanie Horton

Co-Head Investor Relations (non-US)

+44 (0) 20 7818 2905

melanie.horton@janushenderson.com

Media Inquiries:

Sarah de Lagarde

Global Head of Communications

+44 (0) 20 7818 2626

sarah.delagarde@janushenderson.com
Ground-breaking technology enables airspace optimisation to ease congestion, accommodate future growth, while reducing delays, fuel usage, emissions for airlines

easyJet has today been announced as the first airline partner of the ground-breaking Iris programme by Inmarsat and the European Space Agency (ESA), which utilises the latest generation of satellite technology to modernise air traffic management (ATM).

One of Europe's leading airlines will play a central role in the Iris programme, which enables real-time collaboration between pilots, air traffic controllers and airline operation centres using secure, high-bandwidth data links. This minimises delays, saves fuel and reduces environmental impact for airlines, while also improving airspace usage to ease congestion and accommodate future growth.

Powered by Inmarsat's award-winning SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) connectivity platform, Iris enables new ATM functionalities such as trajectory-based operations that pinpoint aircraft in four dimensions (latitude, longitude, altitude and time), which will allow the airline to avoid holding patterns, calculate the shortest available routes and optimum altitudes, and benefit from continuous climb and descent pathways. The additional datalink capacity provided by SB-S will power a host of powerful onboard digital applications, such as AI flight profile optimisers and real-time weather applications.

With the support of leading Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), easyJet will evaluate Iris' transformative capabilities on up to 11 Airbus A320neos, set to begin flying from November 2022.

This partnership is the culmination of years of work and over 50 million investment by ESA, Inmarsat and more than 30 partners to develop the Iris programme. It also supports easyJet's commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 as part of the UN-backed 'Race to Zero' campaign, with an interim target of a 35% carbon emissions intensity improvement by 2035.

Philippe Carette, President of Inmarsat Aviation, said, "The Iris programme from Inmarsat and ESA is a game-changer and we are delighted to have easyJet as our first airline partner. This is not only because of its pioneering commitment to innovation and reducing aviation's environmental impact, but also because this kick-starts an exciting new era that will help make aviation greener and reduce congestion delays for passengers."

Hugh McConnellogue, easyJet's Director of Airport Operations and Navigation, said, "Iris is paving the way for more efficient air traffic management, which is a crucial step forward for the aviation industry. The programme brings multiple benefits, from helping us to achieve our environmental goals by further reducing our carbon emissions, to providing a better experience for our passengers. We're excited to be leading in this space, setting the standard for the industry and hope to see more airlines follow suit."

Elodie Viau, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at ESA, said: "This innovation has been an enormous undertaking by ESA, Inmarsat and more than 30 other companies within the space and aviation industry, so to see it finally 'take to the skies' in a live operational environment is very exciting. European airspace is crying out for a solution to its capacity issues, and advanced satellite technology is the only way to set the industry up for a better and greener future."

The easyJet Airbus A320neo aircraft have been linefitted with a Light Cockpit Satcom (LCS) solution powered by terminal manufacturer Cobham, which is integrated fully with the Flight Operations Maintenance Exchanger (FOMAX) developed by Collins and Airbus.

Iris will enter commercial and operational service fully in Europe next year, supporting the Single European Sky's ATM Research (SESAR) masterplan. It will be the first communication service to benefit from a Pan-European certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Earlier this month, Inmarsat and ESA signed a new contract to globalise the programme. Iris Global will focus on the technologies and certification required to share the fuel, CO2 and congestion-saving benefits of Iris with regions beyond Europe. To accelerate further ATM modernisation, it will also adopt System Wide Information Management (SWIM) applications to facilitate greater sharing of information such as airport operational status, weather information, flight data and airspace restrictions status. Research on future capabilities for the integration of uncrewed aviation into European airspace will also be supported.

ENDS

ABOUT INMARSAT

Inmarsat delivers world leading, innovative, advanced and exceptionally reliable global, mobile communications across the world in the air, at sea and on land that are enabling a new generation of commercial, government and mission-critical services. Inmarsat is powering the digitalisation of the maritime industry, making operations more efficient and safer than ever before. It is driving a new era of inflight passenger services for aviation, while ensuring that aircraft can fly with maximum efficiency and safety. Furthermore, Inmarsat is enabling the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) and enabling the next wave of world-changing technologies that will underpin the connected society and help build a sustainable future. And now Inmarsat is developing the first-of-its-kind, multi-dimensional communications network of the future, ORCHESTRA.

In November 2021, Inmarsat and Viasat announced the planned combination of the two companies, to create a new leader in global communications. The deal is scheduled to close in the second half of 2022.

For further information, follow us: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook YouTube Instagram.

ABOUT EASYJET

easyJet is Europe's leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe's primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service. easyJet flies on more of Europe's most popular routes than any other airline and carried more than 96 million passengers in 2019 more than 16 million travelling for business. The airline has over 300 aircraft on nearly 1000 routes to more than 150 airports across 35 countries. Over 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in eight countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports several local charities and has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over 14m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

The airline takes sustainability seriously and is committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions flying by 2050. Together with its partners, including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and Wright Electric, easyJet is working to accelerate the development of zero-emission aircraft technology. In the meantime, the airline is offsetting the carbon emissions from the fuel used for all its flights, at no additional cost to its customers, and only supports projects that are certified by Gold Standard or the Verified Carbon Standard, internationally recognised certification schemes. In addition, easyJet continues to renew its fleet, operate efficiently, and aims to fill most of its seats.

Innovation is in easyJet's DNA since launching over 25 years ago, easyJet changed the way people fly to the present day where the airline leads the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for its passengers. The airline was named as Britain's Most Admired Company of 2020 in the transport sector, retaining the leading position for a second year running. Britain's Most Admired Companies study is the longest-running annual survey of corporate reputation in the UK.

ABOUT ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe's gateway to space. ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. For more information see esa.int.

The Telecommunications and Integrated Applications Directorate (TIA) supports innovation to boost the competitiveness of European industry in the global space market. This involves a wide range of activities, from space-based technology, systems, products for telecommunications development to the down-to-Earth application of space-based services. It also calls for engagement with a wide range of industrial, academic, and institutional partners.

For more information, please visit our website: https://artes.esa.int/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005312/en/

Contacts:

Jonathan Sinnatt/Matthew Knowles

Corporate Communications

Tel: +44 (0) 7889 605 272 +44 (0) 7725 475 507

press@inmarsat.com

Alex Holt

Marketing Business Partner, Inmarsat Aviation

Tel: +44 (0) 7716089372

alex.holt@inmarsat.com
CAIRO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- J&T Express ("J&T"), an international express logistics company, announced today that it has officially launched its network in Egypt. This is another major step in J&T's expansion in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, following the Company's launch of the network in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and announcement of establishing a smart logistics park in Riyadh. This latest expansion brings J&T Express' global network coverage to a total of thirteen countries, expanding its global delivery network to Africa markets beyond Asia and Latin America.

E-commerce in the MENA region is fast catching up with global powerhouses. Egypt, as the most populous Arabic country, represents one of the most diversified economies in the MENA region. The total revenue of ecommerce in Egypt reportedly reached $5 billion in 2021. In line with the National e-Commerce Strategy, Egypt aspires to harness the power of e-commerce to help catalyze innovation, growth, and social prosperity in the digital economy. The rapidly growing e-commerce market presents significant opportunities for the express logistics industry. J&T Express has established one sorting center and 10 distribution centers, with its distribution network covering the full country except the North Sinai military command area. Following the company's entry into Latin America earlier this year, it is an important step for the company to continue to further cultivate emerging markets and expand its strategic global footprint.

Charles Hou, Group Vice President of J&T Express, said, "J&T is an independent e-commerce enabler, offering express delivery solutions to leading e-commerce platforms. By leveraging our expertise of providing efficient and convenient services through our growing global operation network, J&T Express is set to contribute to the faster development of e-commerce in the MENA market and the launch in Egypt bears testament to our commitment to the region."

Patrick Chen, Head of J&T Express Egypt, said, "In view of rapidly increasing internet penetration, the Egyptian market is well-positioned to tap on existing opportunities to further e-commerce development. J&T Express is excited to establish a refined service network in Egypt and offer an efficient, convenient and quality logistics experience to local retailers and customers."

With its network launch in Egypt, J&T Express' network now spans thirteen countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Mexico, Brazil and Egypt, and serves over 2.5 billion people.

About J&T Express

J&T Express is a global logistics service provider with leading express delivery businesses in Southeast Asia and China, the largest and fastest-growing market in the world. Founded in 2015, J&T Express' network spans thirteen countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Mexico, Brazil and Egypt. Adhering to its "customer-oriented and efficiency-based" mission, J&T Express is committed to providing customers with integrated logistics solutions through intelligent infrastructure and digital logistics network, as part of its global strategy to connect the world with greater efficiency and bring logistical benefits to all.

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Brings distinguished litigation and arbitration skills

BRUSSELS, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Crowell & Moring is strengthening its International Dispute Resolution practice with the addition of partner Werner Eyskens in the Brussels office. Eyskens brings nearly three decades of experience handling multinational arbitrations and international commercial litigation.

"We are thrilled to welcome Werner. He is an extremely effective advocate and cross-examiner, and a go-to lawyer for complex national and cross-border disputes," said Kristof Roox, co-managing partner of Crowell & Moring's Brussels office. "Werner has substantial experience assisting clients in multinational arbitrations, including contractual disputes, post-M&A proceedings, aviation, and construction projects."

Eyskens focuses on the contentious international and Belgian aspects of commercial transactions, including arbitration proceedings. He also advises on non-contentious contractual issues, specifically on distribution matters, asset leasing, and construction contracts. Eyskens has wide experience in acting for major players in the aviation industry. He regularly sits as an arbitrator and has conducted arbitrations under the Belgian Center for Arbitration and Mediation (CEPANI), ICC, Singapore International Arbitration Center, the London Court of International Arbitration, and the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes rules.

"Werner brings a rare skillset in both arbitration and court proceedings, which is highly complementary to both our Brussels office and wider international disputes practice," said Laurence Winston, co-chair of Crowell & Moring's International Dispute Resolution Group. "I envision him working closely with the London office on arbitration disputes subject to English law."

Eyskens represents Belgian-based multinational companies and non-Belgian corporations that have matters in Belgium. His focus areas include disputes involving infrastructure, aviation, construction, and contractors. For example, he advised a wind farm operator in ICC arbitration proceedings on an offshore seafloor dispute involving field electricity cable defects, and he has extensive experience in acting for marine contractors on offshore construction projects across the world. In one recent high-profile case, he successfully defended the sellers of the pharma multinational Omega Pharma against a publicly reported EUR 2.5 billion claim by leading global health care supplier Perrigo.

"A strategic priority of our firm is to expand our infrastructure and construction disputes practice," said Ian Laird, co-chair of Crowell & Moring's International Dispute Resolution Group. "Werner's experience across a wide range of sectors complements our existing work in London and Doha and deepens the international reach of the IDR practice."

Eyskens earned his bachelor's degree from the Facultes Universitaires Notre Dame de la Paix, Namur, a master's degree from KU Leuven, an LL.M from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, and a graduate degree in air and space law from the Universite Libre de Bruxelles.

"Crowell's infrastructure and construction disputes practice aligns particularly well with my practice," said Eyskens. "I was attracted to the firm because of its international depth, fully integrated arbitration team of lawyers around the world, and reputed Brussels office with strong litigation practices."

Eyskens is also experienced in aviation and space law. He worked on a series of insolvencies that ran through the Belgian aviation industry, including the bankruptcy of SABENA, the flag carrier, on which he acted (and continues to do so) for SAirGroup and later its liquidator to defend the EUR 3 billion claims pursued by the Belgian State and the bankruptcy trustee.

Over the past decade, Eyskens has consistently been recommended by Legal 500 and Chambers for litigation and arbitration. He serves as a board member with CEPANI and is also co-chair of its diversity and inclusion working group. Eyskens is committed to pro bono work and has handled significant matters for the Jane Goodall Institute. He is fluent in French, English, and Dutch.

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia. Drawing on significant government, business, industry, and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and corporate and transactional issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service and its programs and initiatives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Media Contact:

An Pham

Senior Communications Manager

+1 202.508.8740

Email: prteam@crowell.com

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Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The MICHELIN Guide marked its debut in the Middle East with a full selection of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2022.

with a full selection of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2022. This very first selection highlights 69 restaurants, covering 21 cuisine types; 14 restaurants get a Bib Gourmand, 9 receive a MICHELIN Star and 2 Two MICHELIN Stars.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Michelin has unveiled the 2022 selection of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai - the first-ever edition in the United Arab Emirates - celebrating Dubai's spectacular culinary map, that is as vibrant and diverse as it is energetic. A total of 69 restaurants, which covers 21 cuisine types, have been selected and recommended by the anonymous MICHELIN Guide inspectors.

In its inaugural edition, the MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2022 recognizes two 2 MICHELIN Stars restaurants, nine 1 MICHELIN Star restaurants and 14 Bib Gourmand restaurants.

"This very first Dubai selection of restaurants marks a historical moment for the MICHELIN Guide and the Middle East," says Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide. "What makes Dubai's culinary landscape so distinctive is its reflection of the more than 200 nationalities that call the city home, delivering an epicurean kaleidoscope. One thing all the restaurants in this fast paced dynamic and elegant city have in common is they are brimming with passion and enthusiasm. Today, Dubai is settled as an inspiring gastronomic destination and we have no doubts that gourmets from all over the world will be seduced by its very unique energy."

Two Restaurants awarded Two MICHELIN Stars

Il Ristorante - Niko Romito receives Two MICHELIN Stars for its modern Italian fare, which comes with balance, purity and clarity. Top quality ingredients are flown in from Italy, with highlights including fish and pasta dishes.

Set in a colonial-style property at The Palm, STAY by Yannick Alleno impresses with its less-is-more approach, which results in precise, sophisticated dishes that are skillfully crafted with French cooking as the base.

9 Restaurants awarded One MICHELIN Star

Showcasing the excellence, talent and creativity of Dubai's culinary landscape, 9 restaurants serving a diverse array of cuisines, from Portuguese to Indian, Japanese and Chinese, receive One MICHELIN Star. 11 Woodfire by chef-owner Akmal Anuar, who is of Malay origin, offers a global variety of vegetables, seafood and meats grilled to perfection over oak, hickory or hay.

Led by Saverio Sbaragli, who had honed his craft at Three MICHELIN Starred Arpege, Al Muntaha sits atop the architectural masterpiece of Burj al Arab and offers sophisticated and refined French cuisine with Mediterranean influences.

Armani Ristorante presents precise, modern Italian cooking at the Burj Khalifa, where beautifully decorated dishes are met with attentive, enthusiastic service. Italian favorites such as agnolotti del plin, filetto di scorfano and agnello al mirto showcase the chefs' mastery.

First opened in London in 2001, the Dubai outpost of Hakkasan at the Atlantis Hotel offers reimagined Chinese dishes that are exclusive to Dubai, including the lychee lobster with yuzu pearl.

Hoseki is a nine-seat omakase restaurant helmed by a sixth-generation sushi master, Masahiro Sugiyama. Set on the fourth floor of the Bulgari Hotel, it offers a bespoke omakase experience using fresh ingredients imported daily from Japan.

Located in the basement of the Atlantis Hotel next to the aquarium, Ossiano is a world for creative fare, and its "Metanoia" menus gain inspiration from chef Gregoire Berger's childhood memories, featuring dishes that come with fine texture contrasts and impressive clarity of flavour.

The first international outpost of world-renowned Portuguese chef Jose Avillez, Tasca by Jose Avillez in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is set around an open kitchen, where the talented kitchen team combines fresh, great quality produce with Portuguese dishes that are vibrant, innovative, and great for sharing.

Owned by internationally acclaimed chef Massimo Bottura, Torno Subito set within the striking W Hotel on the Palm offers Italian classics, pasta dishes and desserts with a twist.

Tresind Studio is the brainchild of Himanshu Saini, which offers original and precisely executed multi-course tasting menus featuring herbs and flowers grown on its rooftop terrace setting, with highlights such as the ghee-roasted crab, tandoori chicken dumpling and morel pulao with Assam tea dashi.

14 restaurants receive a Bib Gourmand

The 2022 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai also spotlights 14 Bib Gourmand restaurants that offer a value-for-money gourmet experience for an average price of 250 AED for a 3-course meal.

Part-restaurant, part-museum, Al Khayma focuses on simple rustic Emirati cooking, slow cooked meats, Arabic spices and fresh bread cooked in the courtyard. Named after chef patronne Salam Dakkak's mother Maryam, Bait Maryam serves up delicious, home-style Levantine dishes cooked with love. Brasserie Boulud provides a little piece of France in a classically styled brasserie, offering everything from escargots and canard roti to tarte Tatin and ile flottante. Helmed by the 25-year-old chef Sara Aqel and run by a near all-female kitchen team, Fi'Lia celebrates the culinary knowledge passed down through generations of women with a menu of artisan pizzas to contemporary twists on traditional Italian dishes.

Folly offers an ingredient-driven menu that focuses on precise, modern dishes cooked from a kitchen counter where diners can watch the chefs in action. Goldfish is a funky, buzzing sushi and yakitori concept by chef Akmal Anuar, and sharing plates and wagyu steak are the order of the day. With great views of the beach from the beautiful terrace, Ibn Albahr is home to a fresh fish counter where diners can choose what to eat and enjoy ingredient-driven fare.

Indya by Vineet is the destination where street food meets sharing plates, with colourful dishes from the earth (vegetarian), land (meat) and sea. At Kinoya, five ramen dishes underpin the menu, while Japanese classics including sushi, sashimi, robata and tempura are on offer. The design at Ninive reflects a bedouin tent with low tables and cosy sofas, which sets the tone for the tasty, well-priced dishes from all over the Middle East and North Africa. Owned and run by three Syrian brothers, Orfali Bros is set in a striking, two-storey open kitchen, where playful Mediterranean small plates with global influences, such as the imam bayildi alongside burgers, caviar and wagyu beef, are served.

Helmed by Singaporean chef-owner Reif Othman, REIF Japanese Kushiyaki focuses on robata-cooked, street food-style snacks along with a wide range of well-priced sushi, ramen and creative desserts. The oldest Persian restaurant in Dubai, Shabestan has been around since 1984 and offers traditional Persian dishes, marinated meats, freshly baked breads and mezze. Teible is the cool, minimalist bakery-cum-restaurant that showcases seasonal, local and occasionally fermented ingredients in great value dishes.

One restaurant awarded a MICHELIN Green Star for sustainable gastronomy

The MICHELIN Guide is delighted to highlight establishments that are at the forefront of sustainable gastronomy. This year, one Dubai restaurant is recognized for its outstanding efforts and remarkable commitment to sustainability. Lowe, a MICHELIN-recommended restaurant by culinary duo Kate Christou and Jesse Blake, is the first and only restaurant in Dubai to receive a MICHELIN Green Star. The kitchen team cook on fire, practice nose-to-tail cooking and procure ingredients as locally as possible. As part of their efforts towards zero food waste, the restaurant's "Waste NOT" dinners offer eight to ten courses of would-be waste products, saved over the previous months.

MICHELIN Special Awards

As MICHELIN Guide inspectors dine at and observe restaurants, they keep an eye on service professionals to unearth talents that are worthy of the MICHELIN special awards.

This year, the Young Chef Award goes to Solemann Haddad of MICHELIN-selected restaurant Moonrise. Born and bred in Dubai with a French mother and Syrian father, Solemann's fascination with food and Japan began at a very early age. Mostly self-taught, this eloquent, passionate and thoughtful chef is only too happy to explain his dishes, their origins, and even divulge the secrets of how he executes them. Taking the best, mostly local, ingredients and fusing them with his heritage, he delivers an exciting omakase menu that is a blend of Japanese Kaiseki with Middle Eastern ingredients.

Danijela Tesic of Ossiano takes home the Sommelier Award for her passion and enthusiasm for wine pairing, demonstrating knowledge of the wines in a very relaxed, unpretentious style. Her choices showcase an interesting range of wines from the classic regions with a thought-provoking mix of varietals. With a delightfully friendly approach, she engages with the diners and makes the wine an integral and stimulating part of the dining experience.

The Welcome and Service Award is given to the team at Bait Maryam. Our inspectors were immediately taken by the warmth of the welcome they received when they dined here. Salam and her family showed genuine hospitality to everybody. Service is relaxed and cheerful with all the team working perfectly together to ensure diners really enjoyed their experience. From helpful recommendations of dishes to prompt and efficient service, Bait Maryam is offering some of the most charming service in the city in a restaurant that wants everybody to feel very much at home.

The MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2022 at a glance:

2 restaurants with Two MICHELIN Stars

9 restaurants with One MICHELIN Star

1 restaurant with a MICHELIN Green Star

14 Bib Gourmand restaurants

44 MICHELIN-selected restaurants

The replay of the MICHELIN Star Revelation Ceremony and other highlights are available on the official MICHELIN Guide Dubai Facebook page and the MICHELIN Guide Global YouTube channel.

The full selection of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2022 is available on the MICHELIN Guide website https://guide.michelin.com/en and on the MICHELIN Guide app, available free of charge on iOS and Android.

About Michelin

Michelin, the leading mobility company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients' mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients' needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve a variety of industries. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 177 countries, has 124,760 employees and operates 68 tire production facilities which together produced around 173 million tires in 2021. (www.michelin.com)

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BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks were sharply higher on Tuesday as investors waited for U.S. markets to resume trading after a holiday the previous day. U.S. stock futures pointed to a sharply higher open later in the day, helping underpin sentiment ahead of Fed Chair Jerome Powell's testimony before Congress over two days. The pan-European Stoxx 600 rallied 1.1 percent to 411.48 after rising 1 percent in the previous session. The German DAX climbed 1.2 percent, France's CAC 40 index jumped 1.8 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 0.7 percent. Dublin-headquartered building materials group Kingspan rallied 3 percent after saying it expects to report record trading profits for the first half of 2022. Italian defense company Leonardo soared 5.5 percent after it agreed to merge its U.S. unit with Israel's RADA Electronic Industries. BP Plc advanced 1.3 percent and Shell added 1.4 percent in London as WTI crude futures rose more than 2 percent amid tight supplies of crude and fuel products. Online supermarket Ocado slumped 4.4 percent after raising 575m in a share placing to fund its expansion. Packaging group DS Smith added 1.2 percent after it reported strong growth in profits and sales for the year to the end of April. French industrial gas company Air Liquide jumped 3.3 percent. The company has signed its largest power purchase deal with Swedish utility Vattenfall. Airbus shares rose over 1 percent after British airline EasyJet said it has exercised options to purchase 56 fuel-efficient single-aisle A320neo aircraft from the European aerospace giant. Nordex AG, a wind turbine maker, plunged 5 percent after its first-quarter consolidated net loss stood at 150.5 million euros, wider than prior year's loss of 54.7 million euros. Mercedes-Benz Group AG gained 2.1 percent after it appointed Paul Gao to the newly created position of Chief Strategy Officer, effective July 1, 2022. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The nanosatellite will support the European Space Agency's Hera Mission

Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP), a global leader in satellite solutions, primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries, today announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tyvak International SRL, has together with its partners, achieved full Critical Design Review of the Milani spacecraft. A critical component of the Hera planetary defense mission, Milani will be the European Space Agency's (ESA) first deep-space nanosatellite. Milani will also be the first nanosatellite ever to orbit an asteroid. Tyvak International is responsible for Milani's design, build, and mission operations. In this exploration, Tyvak International is joined by an excellent consortium of European industries and research centers from Finland, Czech Republic, and Italy.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005408/en/

Milani scans Didymos (Credit: ESA Science Office)

The world's first test of asteroid deflection, Hera, will perform a detailed post-impact survey of the target asteroid, Dimorphos the orbiting Moonlet in a binary asteroid system known as Didymos. NASA's DART mission will first impact the moonlet. Following the DART impact, Hera will turn the experiment into a well-understood and repeatable planetary defense technique, utilizing new technologies from autonomous navigation around an asteroid to low gravity proximity operations. Hera will be humankind's first probe to rendezvous with a binary asteroid system and Europe's flagship Planetary Defender.

Milani, named after Andrea Milani, the pioneer of asteroid risk analysis who came up with the original double-spacecraft DART-Hera concept, is a companion nanosatellite of HERA, carried by the mothercraft along the journey to the asteroid, and ultimately released in its proximity. Milani's main instrument will be the ASPECT hyperspectral imager (by VTT, Finland), combining visible and near-infrared wavelengths to survey the surface down to a maximum spatial resolution of one meter. ASPECT will sift through sunlight reflected from Dimorphos as well as its bigger companion Didymos, looking for distinctive mineral absorptions of individual asteroid boulders. Along with ASPECT, Milani's secondary payload is called VISTA (Volatile In-Situ Thermogravimetre AnalyserThe instrument (by INAF, Italy) can detect the presence of dust particles smaller than 5-10 micrometers in water and will monitor molecular contamination surrounding the satellite. Finally, laser reflectors (by INFN, Italy) will enable unprecedented gravity field measurements of the asteroid coupled with Hera's laser range finder.

"Terran Orbital is honored to be selected once again for a contract that will yield unprecedented scientific returns for the global community while propelling Europe's ambitions in Planetary Defense capabilities," said Terran Orbital Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer Marc Bell. "Tyvak International's design and construction of the Milani spacecraft will enable the acquisition of extremely valuable information for future asteroid deflection missions. We are thrilled ESA trusted us with this privilege, and we look forward to continuing to design, build, deliver, and operate cutting-edge satellite solutions that make our planet a safer place to live."

"We are absolutely thrilled by the maturity reached by the Milani spacecraft in such a short time," said ESA Hera Project Manager Ian Carnelli. "The capability of Tyvak International, not only to meet this important milestone but to do so while developing new advanced technologies with its partners, is unprecedented. We look forward to continuing this adventure and giving Milani a beautiful ride to Didymos."

About Tyvak International

Tyvak International, a Terran Orbital Corporation, is a leading European nano and microsatellite provider, based in Torino, Italy. A front runner in miniaturization and specialized in execution and delivery, Tyvak International is contract Prime of European Space Agency for the Milani mission, coordinating a team of 12 entities, universities, research centers, and enterprises in Italy and across all Europe. Learn more at www.tyvak.eu.

About Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of small satellites primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com.

Disclaimer: Please note that the view expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency.

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Contacts:

Virginia Norder

pr@terranorbital.com

949-508-6404
BEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / (TSXV:SSE) - Silver Spruce Resources Inc. ("Silver Spruce" or the "Company") (TSXV:SSE)(FRA:S6Q1), with its partner Colibri Resources Corp. ("Colibri"), announces that the Company has mobilized its Hermosillo-based team of geologists and support personnel to the Diamante project, and collared the first hole of its 2,000 metre R/C program at the Pillado Au-Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu target (Figure 1).

"We are pleased to begin our maiden exploration drilling program on several highly prospective areas of Diamante. Our first two targets, Pillado and La Prieta, exhibit multiple vein, breccia, disseminated and manto-style mineralization, locally with fault controls parallel to and intersecting high grade polymetallic, silver-gold and base metal-bearing occurrences with historical artisanal mining. Importantly, despite the number and quality of known mineralization targets, there is no recorded historical drilling on Diamante to date," stated Greg Davison, Silver Spruce Vice-President Exploration and Director.

Figure 1. Reverse circulation drill rig collared on pad #40 north of artisanal underground workings at the Pillado drill target, first DDH on the Diamante 1 concession.

Mr. Davison added, "TRAX equipment and personnel have conducted activities for two weeks on the Pillado and La Prieta targets, under the direction of our exploration point team, to clear access routes and prepare the requisite drill pads. Minera Drilling mobilized from Hermosillo to site on June 15th and currently are collared on Pillado pad #40 located north of the portal. The initial three holes at this location will target the E-W trending, northerly-dipping mineralization. Six additional holes are proposed at Pillado and another eight holes at La Prieta, all of which are oriented to intersect depth projections of known surface and shallow underground mineralization. The program is anticipated to continue for four to five weeks through mid-July 2022. Samples will be screened using pXRF analyses during the on-site logging to provide rapid qualitative data for dynamic decision-making on drill hole planning and depth targeting. Sample shipments to ALS Global in Hermosillo will be delivered on a weekly basis."

The drill-ready Diamante gold-silver (Au-Ag) property ("Diamante" or the Property") is located 5 km northwest of the town of Tepoca, and 165 km southeast of the capital city of Hermosillo, eastern Sonora, Mexico.

Constructora Trax ("TRAX") and Minera Drilling, both from Hermosillo, Mexico, respectively, were contracted for the preparation of access trails and pads, and drilling 2,000 metres of reverse circulation drill holes on the principal drilling target areas of the Diamante 1 and 2 concessions, specifically on the first-priority targets at Pillado (see Figures 1, 2 and 3) and La Prieta (Figure 4) with Calton, Aguaje, El Chon-El Chon Oeste and Mezquite Raizudo next in line.

Figure 2. Orthophoto of Pillado showing pads #40 - #46 with trace projections for initial group of drill holes. Adit located on north-facing exposure south of pad #40 at center. N-NE and E-W-trending targets exhibit polymetallic Au-Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn mineralization with intense alteration, and intersect 25 metres west of the portal. Anomalous multi-element geochemical values shown in graduated symbols. 1:1,000 scale.

Our recent geological mapping programs conducted over multiple targets reported Au values to 51.5 g/t from silicified breccias in the Calton target (see Press Release of April 27, 2022), the highest Au grade yet reported from Diamante, and Ag values >1,000 g/t were recorded from base metal sulphide-bearing veins at Pillado, El Chon and El Cumbro accompanied by high-grade primary and supergene Pb+Zn+Cu up to a combined grade of 50.9 wt.% from grab and channel sampling at surface and within historical trenches and artisanal workings.

Specifically, geochemical results from surface and underground sampling of eight target areas reported precious metals (Au to 51.5 g/t, Ag to 2,270 g/t), base metals (Pb to 42.3 wt.%, Zn to 22.9 wt.% and Cu to 3.2 wt.%) and pathfinders each exhibited weak to highly anomalous values commonly with high Ag;Au and low to high Pb:Zn. Elevated Cu, Cd, Sb, Hg, As and Bi are linked commonly to Pb and/or Zn.

Figure 3. Intense wallrock alteration and primary sulphide to secondary oxide mineralization exposed 20 metres south of pad #40 at the entry to workings at the Pillado drill target.

Figure 4. TRAX preparing pad #8 to the north above portal to workings at the La Prieta drill target.

Our recent target mapping program reported assays consistent with historical surface and U/G channel samples reported up to 39.8 g/t Au, 3,460 g/t Ag, 18.2% Pb, 33.5% Zn and 1.47% Cu (see Press Releases of April 12, 2021, and January 24, 2022). Most drill targets are polymetallic vein style with precious metal-dominant targets also identified at Calton, El Chon and Aguaje. Metal zoning or pulses of mineralization may be indicated at each of these three locations.

Project Geology

The Property is located within the west-central portion of the Sierra Madre Occidental Volcanic Complex within the northwest-trending "Sonora Gold Belt" of northern Mexico. Diamante offers strong precious metal tenor with a polymetallic endowment, multiple quality targets, styles of mineralization, of particular significance for our exploration moving forward, no records of drilling. Historical exploration and artisanal activities are indicated by surface trenches and subsurface workings parallel to and cutting the vein mineralization were measured up to 100 metres in length, with the latter showing shafts and short lateral drifts.

Geological features of epithermal Au, low to intermediate sulphidation Ag-Au (Pb-Zn), high sulphidation Au-Cu, and potential porphyry style Au-Cu occur as disseminated, stockwork and vein styles. Silicification with sericitic, argillic and propylitic alteration were accompanied by drusy to vuggy quartz, black tourmaline, multiple disseminated to vein sulphides with incipient to pervasive oxidation to carbonates, sulphates such as jarosite, hematite and iron hydroxide. Recent exploration verified pathfinder elements including As, Sb, Hg, Cd and Bi.

Mineralization is reported visually as pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, argentiferous galena, argentite, hematite and probable metal oxides, carbonates and sulphates, including copper carbonate (malachite), copper sulphates and plumbojarosite.

Structural lineaments show intersecting and splaying vein patterns with steep to moderately dipping northwest, northeast and north-striking orientations were confirmed and spatially coincident with parallel to oblique faults and shears which control and locally offset the mineralization.

Project Background

Silver Spruce can acquire up to 50% interest in four Diamante concessions with a cumulative land position of 1,057 hectares (see Press Release of April 29, 2021).

The Property is well situated in terms of logistics for exploration and is easily accessible from Mexican Highway #16 which transects Diamante 1 and along several trails and dry river beds southward to Diamante 2.

Mining and exploration in the surrounding area is very active with adjacent and nearby properties held by Alamos Gold, Argonaut, Agnico Eagle, Evrim, Newmont, Garibaldi, Kootenay Silver and Penoles among others.

Geochemical Analysis, Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Drilling samples ( splits) will be delivered by the Project Geologist from the Property to the ALS sample preparation facility in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The remaining  and  splits will be stored at Colibri's facilities in Suaqui Grande, south of Tecoripa, Sonora.

ALS Global in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is a facility certified as ISO 9001:2008 and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 from the Standards Council of Canada. Local chain of custody will be monitored and maintained by the Project Geologist under the direction of the QP.

The samples will be crushed to 70% passing 2mm (PREP-31) and a split of up to 250 grams pulverized to 85% passing 75 micrometres (-200 mesh). The sample pulps and crushed splits will be transferred internally to ALS Global's North Vancouver, Canada or Lima, Peru analytical facility for gold and multi-element analysis.

Pulps (50gram split) will be submitted for Au analysis by Fire Assay with Atomic Absorption finish (Au-AA24). The retained pulps also will be analysed by Four Acid Digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) multi-element analyses (ME-ICP61m) with Hg by Aqua Regia and ICP-MS (Hg-MS42).

Over-limit Au and Ag samples will be analyzed by Fire Assay with Gravimetric Finish Ore Grade (Au-GRA21 or Au-GRA22, Ag-GRA21). Overlimit base metals will analyzed by Four Acid Digestion followed by Ore Grade Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) for Cu, Pb and Zn (Cu-OG62, Pb-OG62, Zn-OG62). High grade samples above the range of the Ore Grade OG62 analysis will be digested, as above, and analyzed using Titration (e.g., Pb-Vol70).

In-house quality control samples will be inserted into the sample set by the Project Geologist. ALS Global conducts its own internal QA/QC program of blanks, standards and duplicates, and the results are provided with the Company sample certificates. The results of the internal and ALS control samples will be reviewed by the Company's QP and evaluated for acceptable tolerances prior to disclosure.

All sample and pulp rejects will be stored at ALS Global pending full review of the analytical data, and future selection of pulps for independent third-party check analyses, as requisite.

All metal values disclosed herein by Silver Spruce are reported from grab and channel samples which may not be representative of the metal grades.

The Company's Qualified Person believes that the sampling documentation, analytical protocols and quantitative data will withstand scrutiny for inclusion.

About Minera Drilling

Minera Drilling, offering reverse circulation and diamond drilling, has its drilling equipment and technical team based in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

About Constructora Trax

TRAX offers a comprehensive, high-level response for civil engineering, construction and development in the states of Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Zacatecas, Guerrero among others. TRAX has extensive project experience since 1990 specializing in earthworks, demolition, explosives, drilling and blasting, mineral exploitation in both underground and open pit mines, feasibility analysis of mining projects and a wide range of infrastructure projects.

Qualified Person

Greg Davison, PGeo, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director, is the Company's internal Qualified Person for the Diamante Project and is responsible for approval of the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), under TSX guidelines.

About Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior exploration company which has signed Definitive Agreements to acquire 100% of the Melchett Lake Zn-Au-Ag project in northern Ontario, and with Colibri Resource Corp. in Sonora, Mexico, to acquire 50% interest in Yaque Minerales S.A de C.V. holding the El Mezquite Au project, and up to 50% interest in Colibri's Diamante Au-Ag project. Silver Spruce recently signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement with Colibri on the Jackie Au project. Silver Spruce signed a Definitive Agreement to acquire 100% interest in the Mystery Au project in the Exploits Subzone Gold Belt, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Company signed an Agreement to earn 100% interest in the Pino de Plata Ag project in western Chihuahua, Mexico. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. continues to investigate opportunities that Management has identified or that have been presented to the Company for consideration.

Contact:

Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Greg Davison, PGeo, Vice-President Exploration and Director

(250) 521-0444

gdavison@silverspruceresources.com

Michael Kinley, CEO

(902) 402-0388

mkinley@silverspruceresources.com

info@silverspruceresources.com

www.silverspruceresources.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements," Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, statements regarding the private placement.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate.

SOURCE: Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices rose sharply on Tuesday as the focus returned to tight supplies and the prospect of increased fuel demand from the United States and China. Benchmark Brent crude futures jumped 1.6 percent to $115.98 a barrel, while U.S. crude futures traded 2.4 percent higher at $110.55 after having lost more than 9 percent last week. Both benchmarks posted their first weekly decline since April last week on concerns about slowing global growth and fuel demand destruction. The United States is in talks with Canada and other allies to further restrict Russia's oil revenues by capping the price it would get for its crude, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Monday. Russia's production is likely to drop following the European Union's agreement to ban most of its oil imports, but demand will remain high due to the post-pandemic recovery. On the demand side, China is trying to revive its economy through a raft of stimulus measures and eased regulations on the tech sector. Oil production has been rising in the United States, but refineries are struggling to keep up with higher summer demand. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
CD-139 and Trench 20 are part of a significant new precious metal system

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / Meridian Mining UK S (TSX:MNO)(Frankfurt:2MM)(OTCQB:MRRDF) ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that drilling has discovered a significant new gold-silver system at the C4-A prospect, 2km southeast of the Cabacal Mine. This system's surface expression was initially defined by Trench 201. The Company is also reporting further assay results from the ECZ, CCZ, SCZ & CNWE zones2 from its ongoing drill program at the Cabacal copper-gold VMS project ("Cabacal") located in Mato Grosso Brazil.

Three surface drill rigs and four drill crews are currently confirming, infilling, and expanding the extensive near-surface copper-gold mineralization of the Cabacal Mine. Referenced images are presented at the end of this release as well as on the Company's website. Further results are pending.

Highlights Reported Today:

Meridian announces discovery of major new gold-silver system at C4-A, only 2km southeast of the Cabacal Mine, opening a new resource development prospect for the Cabacal project;

26.4m @ 0.6g/t Au & 25.2g/t Ag from 56.2m (CD-139) - C4-A Discovery Hole ; Discovery follow up CD-142 a 50m step-out to the northwest of CD-139 has intersected a 150m alteration zone with assays pending; Discovery hole is down dip from Trench 20's 44.0m @ 1.5g/t Au;

from 56.2m (CD-139) - ; Infill-drilling reported today from Cabacal, confirms, and extends thick layers of strong copper-gold mineralization and into areas sparsely covered by historical drilling;

50.6m @ 0.9% CuEq * (0.5% Cu, 0.5g/t Au & 2.8g/t Ag) from 49.0m (CD-115) - CCZ; Including 11.0m @ 1.7% CuEq (1.3% Cu, 0.5g/t Au & 8.3g/t Ag) from 88.1m;

(0.5% Cu, 0.5g/t Au & 2.8g/t Ag) from 49.0m (CD-115) - CCZ; 31.0m @ 0.7% CuEq (0.4% Cu, 0.2g/t Au, 2.5g/t Ag & 0.4% Zn) from 55m (CD-117) - ECZ; Including 16.8m @ 1.0% CuEq (0.6% Cu, 0.4g/t Au, 3.1g/t Ag & 0.5% Zn) from 59.0m;

(0.4% Cu, 0.2g/t Au, 2.5g/t Ag & 0.4% Zn) from 55m (CD-117) - ECZ; 67.5m @ 0.5% CuEq (0.4% Cu, 0.1g/t Au & 1.3g/t Ag) from 3.1m (CD-119) - ECZ; and 17.6m @ 1.3% CuEq (0.8% Cu, 0.7g/t Au, 3.3g/t Ag & 0.4% Zn) from 81.4m;

(0.4% Cu, 0.1g/t Au & 1.3g/t Ag) from 3.1m (CD-119) - ECZ; 24.5m @ 0.6% CuEq (0.4% Cu, 0.2g/t Au & 1.1g/t Ag) from 39m (CD-125) - ECZ; and

(0.4% Cu, 0.2g/t Au & 1.1g/t Ag) from 39m (CD-125) - ECZ; and Soil sampling program extends CNWE's surface footprint by 300m to 1,250m, remains open.

Dr Adrian McArthur, CEO and President comments : "I congratulate the geology team on their discovery of a new bedrock precious metal system at C4-A, 2km to the southeast of Cabacal, and ongoing positive results from the Cabacal drill program. This discovery highlights Cabacal's incredible potential to continue to build, not only via historical targets but from new discoveries in this under-explored greenstone belt."

Drilling Confirms C4-A as a Significant New Gold-Silver Discovery, 2Km Southeast of the Cabacal Mine

Diamond drill holes CD-139 and CD-142 were collared down dip and along strike from Trench 20's 44.0m @ 1.5g/t Au, CD-142's assays are pending (Figure 1). Multiple zones of gold and silver mineralization have been defined within CD-139, with very strong silver grades in excess of 250 g/t encountered (Table 1). The gold-silver mineralization intersected is coincident with a 200m long chargeability anomaly, and lies along strike from a further 700m long chargeability anomaly. CD-142 intersected two strong alteration zones, 50m along strike from CD-139, with the larger zone extending from 99m to 250m down hole; field portable XRF data indicates they are auriferous. This gold-silver discovery is part of a larger 3.5km trend that hosts multiple gold in-soil anomalies with coincident IP anomalies. Meridian is evaluating the possibility that this new system within the Mine Corridor trend is precious metal dominant. This discovery opens an entirely new resource development prospect for the Cabacal project and is only 2km southeast of the Cabacal Mine, reflecting the Project's upside and scalability.

Cabacal Drilling Continues to Intersect Broad Widths, Hosting Robust Grades of Copper-Gold-Silver

Infill-drilling reported today, within the ECZ, confirms and extends thick layers of strong copper-gold mineralization into an area sparsely covered by historical drilling. The ECZ is the shallowest part of the Cabacal Mine area with its northeastern limb extending to surface.

Drilling within the CCZ has returned further wide layers of copper-gold mineralization with CD-115's 50.6m @ 0.9% CuEq, including an open northwesterly trending extension of the gold overprint assaying 41.3 g/t Au (ID CBDS15175) over 0.35m.

Drilling along the CNWE's southwestern limb is confirming an open zone of strong copper-gold-silver-zinc mineralization with a gold overprint. Recent drilling activity by CD-141 and CD-143 (assays pending) has intersected strong zones of sulphides, with CD-143 coring a steep vein with visible gold, 325m northwest of the limit of mine development, continuing to highlight the potential for higher grade mineralization that was missed with the vertical drilling. Assays are pending. The southwest side of the CNWE is considered open. The results of a recent soil program has extended the CNWE prospective area a further 300m and now stands at 1250m; the trend is open and is limited by a landowners boundary.

Figure 1: Location of drill holes reported in today

About Cabacal

In November 2020, Meridian signed a Purchase Agreement3 to acquire 100% ownership certain tenements covering the historical Cabacal and Santa Helena lines and the along strike tenements from two, private, Brazilian companies ("Vendors"). Subsequently, Meridian expanded its land tenure to today's 55km of strike length. Cabacal had two historical, shallow, high-grade selectively mined underground mines that cumulatively produced ~34 million pounds of copper, ~170,108 ounces of gold, ~1,033,532 ounces of silver and ~103 million pounds of zinc via conventional flotation and gravity metallurgical processes.

Meridian has defined an open 2,000m trend of shallow copper-gold mineralization centred on the Cabacal Mine. This mineralization trends northwest-southeast, sub-crops along its northeast limits and dips to the southwest at 26 and is up 90m thick; presenting excellent open-pit geometry and mineral endowment. Meridian is currently focused on infilling this 2,000m zone.

Cabacal's base and precious metal-rich mineralization is hosted by volcanogenic type, massive, semi-massive, stringer, and disseminated sulphides within units of deformed metavolcanic-sedimentary rocks ("VMS"). A later stage sub-vertical gold overprint event has emplaced high-grade gold mineralization truncating the dipping VMS layers. It was explored and developed by BP Minerals/Rio-Tinto from 1983 to 1991 and then by the Vendors in the mid 2000's. This historical exploration database includes over 83,000 metres of drilling, extensive regional mapping, soil surveys, metallurgy from production reports and both surface and airborne geophysics. The majority of Cabacal's prosects remain to be tested.

Cabacal has excellent infrastructure with access by all-weather road, industrial electricity provided by the adjacent hydroelectric power station supplying this clean energy grid, and local communities provide a large population to draw employees from. Cabacal consists of 1 mining license, 1 mining lease application and 4 exploration claims which total 28,324 hectares. A further three licences totalling 15,941 Ha are awaiting formal transfer from the ANM following the licence auction system.

About Meridian

Meridian Mining UK S is focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development activities in Brazil. The Company is currently focused on resource development of the Cabacal VMS copper-gold project, exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts located in the state of Mato Grosso; exploring the Espigao polymetallic project and the Mirante da Serra manganese project in the State of Rondonia Brazil.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S

Dr. Adrian McArthur

CEO, President and Director

Executive Chairman

Meridian Mining UK S

Email: info@meridianmining.net.br

Ph: +1 (778) 715-6410 (PST)

Qualified Person

Dr Adrian McArthur, B.Sc. Hons, PhD. FAusIMM., CEO and President of Meridian as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/subscribe/

Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining

Further information can be found at www.meridianmining.co

Table 1: Cabacal Assays reported today.

Hole Id Zone* Intercept Grade From CuEq Cu Au Ag Zn Pb (m) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (m) CD-108 CNWE 22.9 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 8.5 27.0 0.4 0.2 0.3 1.3 0.1 0.0 36.0 CD-111 SCZ 15.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.0 52.4 2.0 0.4 0.3 0.1 1.0 0.0 0.0 78.0 15.5 0.5 0.4 0.2 1.2 0.2 0.0 85.0 CD-112 CCZ 8.4 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 42.6 35.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.0 60.0 CD-115 CCZ 9.8 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.0 11.0 8.6 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.0 0.0 27.0 51.6 0.8 0.5 0.5 2.7 0.0 0.0 48.0 Including 11.0 1.7 1.3 0.5 8.3 0.0 0.0 88.1 CD-116 SCZ 76.0 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.0 0.0 8.0 Including 1.2 1.9 1.6 0.4 3.0 0.1 0.0 25.2 And 2.3 2.4 1.1 2.1 3.6 0.1 0.0 44.2 And 1.7 1.0 0.3 1.1 1.0 0.1 0.0 72.0 And 3.0 1.4 1.1 0.2 10.9 0.1 0.0 81.0 CD-117 ECZ 33.0 0.5 0.4 0.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 7.0 31.0 0.7 0.4 0.2 2.5 0.4 0.0 55.0 Including 16.8 1.0 0.6 0.4 3.1 0.5 0.0 59.0 CD-118 CNWE 8.6 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 2.8 28.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 17.9 2.7 0.5 0.2 0.1 2.4 0.6 0.1 52.3 CD-119 ECZ 67.5 0.5 0.5 0.1 1.3 0.0 0.0 3.1 17.6 1.3 0.8 0.7 3.3 0.4 0.0 81.4 Including 7.1 1.9 1.2 1.0 5.1 0.1 0.0 82.8 CD-120 CNWE 55.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.7 0.0 0.0 30.0 CD-139 C4-A 17.3 NA 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.0 13.0 Including 3.0 NA 0.0 1.7 0.5 0.0 0.0 17.2 26.4 NA 0.0 0.6 25.2 0.0 0.0 56.2 Including 4.9 NA 0.0 2.3 87.8 0.1 0.0 77.7

NA: Not applicable

Drill Details Hole Id Dip Azimuth EOH CD-108 -48 61 86.9 CD-111 -53 46 170.9 CD-112 -50 60 124.5 CD-115 -46 63 124.1 CD-116 -44 62 109.1 CD-117 -58 46 106.7 CD-118 -50 60 83.2 CD-119 -48 47 121.4 CD-120 -50 62.2 109.2 CD-139 -45 45 126.9

Technical Notes

True widths are approximately 80% of downhole lengths and assay figures and intervals rounded to 1 decimal place. General exploratory holes have been drilled CD-101 was drilled HQ from surface to end-of-hole. Other holes are drilled HQ through the saprolite and upper bedrock and then reduced to NQ - mineralized intervals represent half HQ or NQ drill core. Samples have been analysed at the accredited ALS laboratory in Lima. Gold analyses have been conducted by Au-AA23 (fire assay of a 30g charge with AAS finish). High-grade samples are repeated with a gravimetric finish (Au-GRA21). Base metal analysis is by methods four-acid digestion and ICP-AES finish (ME-ICP61a; Cu-OG62 for over-range samples). Samples are held in the Company's secure facilities until dispatched and delivered by staff and commercial couriers to the laboratory. The Company submits a range of quality control samples, including blanks and gold and polymetallic standards supplied by ITAK and OREAS, supplementing laboratory quality control procedures. True widths are approximately 90% of downhole lengths and assay figures and intervals rounded to 1 decimal place.

* Copper Equivalents ("CuEq") have been calculated using the formula CuEq = ((Cu%*Cu price 1% per tonne) + (Au ppm*Au price per g/t) + (Ag ppm*Ag price per g/t) + (Zn%*Zn price 1% per tonne)) / (Cu price 1 % per tonne). Commodity Prices: Copper and Zinc ("Zn") prices from LME Official Settlement Price dated April 23, 2021 USD per Tonne: Cu = USD 9,545.50 and Zn = USD 2,802.50. Gold & Silver prices from LBMA Precious Metal Prices USD per Troy ounce: Au = USD 1781.80 (PM) and Ag = USD 26.125 (Daily). The CuEq values are for exploration purposes only and include no assumptions for metallurgical recovery

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

1 Meridian news release April 5, 2022

2 ECZ: Eastern Copper Zone, CCZ: Central Copper Zone, SCZ: Southern Copper Zone, and CNWE: Cabacal Northwest Extension.

3 Meridian news release November 9, 2020

SOURCE: Meridian Mining UK S

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NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tuya Smart (NYSE: TUYA), a leading global IoT development platform service provider, and Denver A/S, a leading European consumer electronics distributor, today announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop and promote smart home products in Europe.

The partnership aims to provide consumers with more comprehensive and targeted smart home solutions and to meet the increasing trends of connected homes in Europe. The two companies will work together to promote a wide range of smart home products, including smart home & security products and various other electronics. All of these products can be linked and controlled by one single mobile app developed by the Tuya platform.

Denver is a prominent European consumer electronics distributor with over 400 products in its portfolio. Founded in 1990, Denver has worked with top retailers across Europe and sold almost three million products in 2021. Noticing the trend of increasing interest and demand for intelligent solutions, the company is now turning its focus to digitalization and smartization, and Tuya is the perfect partner for this journey.

Tuya has been instrumental in helping Denver expanding its smart home segment. Most of Denver's suppliers were offering Powered by Tuya products, and Denver already had a wide range of Tuya products in stock before the collaboration. For Denver, Tuya opens doors to a vast variety of quality products and suppliers. With registered developers from over 200 countries and regions and over 2,200 product categories on the Tuya platform, collaborating with Tuya means joining an ecosystem of abundant resources. Currently, Denver has over 40 products powered by Tuya and is expecting to increase the number to over 100 in the near future.

"Denver A/S comes with its smart home portfolio at the right time. Increasingly user-friendly technology, interoperability and improved connectivity will accelerate the adoption of such devices in Denmark. The launch of the Denver Smart Home portfolio is the initial phase of proof of our sincerity and commitment to deliver relevant IoT products, with the latest technology. All of these could only come to fruition due to Tuya's support. Connected with the IT Smart application, developed in collaboration with Tuya Smart, all Denver Smart Home devices become a suite of products that can be controlled easily through one application, making it an integrated product ecosystem," said Torben Balmer, CEO of Denver A/S.

"We are excited with the progress we have made with our partnership with Denver," said Eva Na, Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Cooperation and CMO of Tuya Smart. "This strategic alliance provides Tuya with a vast European market reach through Denver's established channels and customer base. Denver's focus on smart home appliances and consumer electronics is a perfect match with Tuya's IoT platform capabilities. Together we will provide European users with an easy-to-use, one-stop solution for all of their smart home needs."

The partnership between Tuya and Denver is a strategic move that will not only benefit both companies and their customers but also boost IoT adoption in the EU markets. Tuya's leading position in the IoT market, combined with Denver's vast experience in consumer electronics, makes for a strong partnership to meet the increasing market demand and bring IoT solutions to millions of homes across Europe.

About Tuya Smart

Tuya Smart (NYSE: TUYA) is a leading technology company focused on making our lives smarter. Tuya does this through offering a cloud platform that connects a range of devices via the IoT. By building interconnectivity standards, Tuya bridges the intelligent needs of brands, OEMs, developers, and retail chains across a broad range of smart devices and industries. Tuya solutions empower partners and customers by improving the value of their products while making consumers' lives more convenient through the application of technology. Through its growing commercial SaaS business, Tuya offers intelligent business solutions for a wide range of verticals. The Company's platform is backed by industry-leading technology complete with rigorous data protection and security. Tuya partners with leading Fortune 500 companies from around the world to make things smarter, including Philips, Schneider Electric, Lenovo and many others.

About Denver

Denver A/S buys and sells consumer electronics and has worked with top European retailers since 1990. We offer one of the world's largest single mass-market consumer electronics product portfolio with over 400 products. In 2021 Denver sold almost three million products and had a turnover of 70 million Euros.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1843971/image.jpg
Key milestone to allow permitting activities to proceed

Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2022) - Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV: MAI) (the "Company" or "Minera Alamos") is pleased to announce that it is in receipt of surface rights agreements for its Cerro De Oro gold project in northern Zacatecas, Mexico. The agreements, finalized at meetings held last week will allow the Company to finish remaining activities necessary for the Permit Application submission for the project. This will incorporate all the engineering, geological and other geotechnical work completed to date that collectively represent the plan to develop the Cerro de Oro gold project into the Company's second operating gold mine.

The surface rights for the development of the Cerro de Oro project cover adjacent areas located in the Melchor Ocampo municipality (Zacatecas) and the Ejido San Pedro de Ocampo, ("ejido" - Coahuila) and allow for all activities necessary for the construction and subsequent operation of the Cerro de Oro gold mine.

Total surface area of 816 Ha (656Ha in municipality and 160Ha in Ejido area), which is in excess of that required for the initial project development activities and allows for future growth should the current resources be expanded;

Use of Area Agreement for a period of up to 25 years with annual rental payments;

Commitments from the Company for limited social works in both the municipality and ejido areas. The Company has also agreed that qualified residents from both the ejido and the municipality areas will have preference for employment once the mine is operational.

"We are delighted to have concluded the process of securing these surface rights. Due to the presence of both municipal and ejido areas the overall process was longer than originally anticipated and we appreciate everyone's patience. While the surface discussions were ongoing the Company was able to complete the bulk of the engineering work required for the project development and can now move quickly to pull together the final submission of our permit applications for a new gold mine to be constructed at Cerro de Oro," stated Darren Koningen, CEO. "We look forward to the development of an exciting new gold mining area that will provide future economic benefits to all our local, regional and government stakeholders. With these surface rights negotiations complete we can now also turn our attention to other planned work programs for the project in the second half of 2022 including metallurgical optimisations, expansion and infill drilling, and regional discovery-led exploration."





Map: Cerro de Oro Project Surface Rights Boundaries (red) acquired from local municipality and ejido

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4183/128412_74a5320c841b0af0_002full.jpg

Work activities planned at the Cerro de Oro project area for the remainder of 2022, in addition to those related to the project development permit submission:

Additional metallurgical testwork aimed at optimizing operating parameters including crush size versus gold recovery relationships;

In-fill and local resource expansion drilling around the vicinity of the known Cerro de Oro resources;

Ongoing regional exploration within the larger concession area surrounding the Cerro de Oro resource aimed at defining other areas of exposed gold mineralization for follow-up drilling;

Identification and securing of long-lead equipment items necessary for the mine development;

Further mine schedule development optimizations in conjunction with mine contractor discussions; and

Project financing discussions with lenders who have expressed interest in funding options for the development of a gold mine at Cerro de Oro.

Mr. Darren Koningen, P. Eng., Minera Alamos' CEO, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this press release under National Instrument 43-101.

For Further Information Please Contact:

Minera Alamos Inc.

Doug Ramshaw, President

Tel: 604-600-4423

Email: dramshaw@mineraalamos.com

Victoria Vargas de Szarzynski, VP Investor Relations

Tel: 289-242-3599

Email: vvargas@mineraalamos.com

Website: www.mineraalamos.com

About Minera Alamos Inc.

Minera Alamos is a gold production and development Company undergoing the operational startup of its first gold mine that produced its first gold in October 2021. The Company has a portfolio of high-quality Mexican assets, including the 100%-owned Santana open-pit, heap-leach mine in Sonora that is currently going through its operational ramp up. The 100%-owned Cerro de Oro oxide gold project in northern Zacatecas that has considerable past drilling and metallurgical work completed and could enter the permitting process rapidly. The La Fortuna open pit gold project in Durango (100%-owned) has an extremely robust and positive preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed and the main Federal permits in hand. Minera Alamos is built around its operating team that together brought 3 mines into successful production in Mexico over the last 13 years.

The Company's strategy is to develop very low capex assets while expanding the projects' resources and continuing to pursue complementary strategic acquisitions.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information and Minera Alamos cautions readers that forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of Minera Alamos included in this news release. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements", which often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". These statements are based on information currently available to Minera Alamos and Minera Alamos provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements with respect to Minera Alamos' future plans with respect to the Projects, objectives or goals, to the effect that Minera Alamos or management expects a stated condition or result to occur and the expected timing for release of a resource and reserve estimate on the projects. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, the economics of processing methods, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Minera Alamos' mineral properties, the ability to complete a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons. Minera Alamos' financial condition and prospects could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: an inability to finance and/or complete an updated resource and reserve estimate and a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Minera Alamos' activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. Minera Alamos does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by Minera Alamos or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Company does not have a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability for the Santana project, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. Failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/128412
WHITE ROCK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / TDG Gold Corp - (TSXV:TDG) (the "Company" or "TDG") is pleased to announce the commencement of its fully funded 2022 field program. Initial fieldwork will involve the completion of analysis of the 2021 oriented core, relogging of historical core, and finalisation of drill collar locations for the Phase Two diamond drilling at Shasta which directly targets mineral resource growth (see Figures 1 and 2).

Management believes TDG represents a compelling investment opportunity for six key reasons:

Low valuation with a strong cash position of over C$8,000,000 and significant institutional ownership. Direct pathway to resource growth at Shasta from the proposed Phase Two diamond drilling. Leadership, management and technical teams with proven track records of exploration success. Infrastructure including road accessible projects, camp, mill, tailings and Mines Act permit. An award-winning approach to ESG. Exploration upside including four newly identified targets within the Baker-Shasta Mine complex.

2022 Shasta Field Program

As per 2021, TDG will be diamond drilling HQ diameter, oriented core at Shasta with the following key aims (see Figure 1):

step systematically north from the higher-grade gold-silver ("Au-Ag") discovered in 2021 (see TDG news release February 7, 2022) within the Cayley-Rainier Zone located ~500 metres ("m") south of the historically mined JM Pit; test the down plunge extension of the Shasta Fault with known mineralization (see TDG news release March 29, 2022) left in situ from historical small scale mining efforts; systematically drill south past the extent of the 2021 drilling on the Shasta Fault side, in an area where historical assaying was <25% of the total hole length; and, drill test north at the edge of the 2022 initial National Instrument 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate area in an area of low drill density and downhole geological information.

TDG expects the initial stage of the Phase Two drilling to commence in early July and take until mid-August with the first preliminary assays expected in September 2022.

In parallel, TDG will undertake further prospecting work, soil sampling and ground geophysics to finalise additional targets for drill testing of potential extensions to the current mineral resource footprint at Shasta (see Figure 2).

Similar ground survey work including geological mapping, sampling and ground based geophysics will take place at the four newly identified targets located between Shasta and Baker (see TDG news release June 13, 2022) along with our other existing exploration targets.

TDG's VP Sustainability Wins Trailblazer Award

TDG would like to congratulate Christy Smith, TDG's Vice President Sustainability, for receiving the Women in Mining Canada 2022 Indigenous Trailblazer Award presented at the Prospect & Developer's Association Of Canada convention in Toronto on June 14, 2022. TDG is proud to have the opportunity to implement Christy's vision for working in allyship with First Nations and the local communities within whose traditional territories TDG's projects are located.

Figure 1. Shasta Phase 2 Drilling Part A - Areas Of Interest

Figure 2. Shasta Phase 2 Exploration Part B - Areas Of Interest

TDG would also like to thank its local community partners including Chu Cho Industries for maintaining the Baker Camp in good standing over the winter and for continuing to support TDG's 2022 field program. All work and services undertaken and provided to TDG in the Toodoggone this field season will be commissioned through locally owned and operated businesses with the exception of geological and specialist geological/engineering services and studies.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Steven Kramar, MSc., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

This news release includes historical information that has been reviewed by the Company's geological team and qualified person. The Company's review of the historical records and information reasonably substantiate the validity of the information presented in this news release; however, the Company cannot directly verify the accuracy of the historical data, including the procedures used for sample collection and analysis. There is insufficient exploration on these prospects to define a mineral resource. It is uncertain if after additional exploration a mineral resource will be delineated. Therefore, the Company encourages investors to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating these results.

About TDG Gold Corp.

TDG is a major mineral claim holder in the historical Toodoggone Production Corridor of north-central British Columbia, Canada, with over 23,000 hectares of brownfield and greenfield exploration opportunities under direct ownership or earn-in agreement. TDG's flagship projects are the former producing, high grade gold-silver Shasta, Baker and Mets mines, which are all road accessible, produced intermittently between 1981-2012, with over 74,000 m of historical and modern drilling, and an existing mill with dry stack tailings. In May 2022, TDG published an initial Inferred NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for Shasta. In summer 2022, TDG will prioritize drilling the known mineralization at Shasta which extends south for ~500 metres from the historical JM Pit. TDG shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "TDG". Further information about TDG and its projects can be found at www.tdggold.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Fletcher Morgan

Chief Executive Officer

For further information contact:

TDG Gold Corp.,

Telephone: +1.604.536.2711

Email: info@tdggold.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans to continue to be refined; possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; and fluctuations in metal prices. There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

SOURCE: TDG Gold Corp.

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / Grid Metals Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV:GRDM)(OTCQB:MSMGF) is pleased to report additional drilling results from the Phase 1 drill program at its Donner Lake lithium property (the "Property") in southeastern Manitoba. In addition, the Company has started field work at the Property that will initially focus on sampling of several previously mapped pegmatite dykes. The project is located in the Winnipeg River pegmatite field, which hosts the world-class Tanco pegmatite and the associated Tanco lithium-cesium-tantalum mine and concentrator. The project is a 75%/25% joint venture between Grid Metals Corp and Lithium Royalty Corp., a leading player in global lithium finance.

Drilling Highlights:

New drill intersections of the Northwest Dyke include the following length-weighted average grades: 8.2 metres averaging 1.53% Li2O in GDL22-07 (from 103.5 metres) including 5.5 metres averaging 1.96% Li2O 14.6 metres averaging 1.25% Li2O in GDL22-11 (from 141.7 metres) including 5.8 metres averaging 1.74% Li2O 3.26 metres averaging 1.88% Li2O in GDL22-14 (from 178.8 metres)

Anomalous cesium and tantalum values were also encountered in the new holes including maximum individual sample grades of 2850 ppm Cs2O (GDL22-11) and 509 ppm Ta2O5 (GDL22-10).

The Northwest Dyke has been traced by drilling for ~600 metres along strike and to a vertical depth of ~250 metres. It is the second drill-defined LCT type pegmatite with significant strike length on the Donner Lake property. Similar lithium grades were previously reported for the Company's 2018 drill holes targeting the Main Dyke, which is located ~1.5 km to the east of the Northwest Dyke. Note that the Northwest Dyke intersection lengths reported above do not represent the true thickness of the dyke, which is estimated to typically range from 4 to 8 metres, representing 50-70% of the reported intersection lengths. Complete analytical results for hoes GDL22-07, -10, -11 and -14, together with drill hole specifications for these and previously reported holes, are provided in the Appendices accompanying this release. Hole locations are shown on the accompanying plan view map and longitudinal section. Core photos from the newly reported holes are included below.

Field Program Underway

The Company has mobilized geological crews to the property to sample the known pegmatite dykes on the property. Known pegmatite dykes include the West Dyke swarm, the South Dykes and several other pegmatites on the east part of the property that were mapped by Grid in 2012. A map showing the location of the target dykes is attached. Follow up work will include a lithogeochemical survey to vector to unexposed LCT type pegmatites.

The property is viewed by Grid as very prospective for other lithium bearing LCT type pegmatite dykes. The focus is on identifying new drill targets to complement the Northwest and Main Dykes which have been the target of drilling to date.

Above: Map showing location of mapped pegmatites on Grid's Mayville - Donner Lake claim block.

Mr. Carey Galeschuk, Grid's Vice President, Lithium Exploration, stated, "We continue to see consistently good widths of high-grade lithium from the recent Northwest Dyke drilling. In addition to our drilling we look to rapidly progress the Donner Lake discovery process with the identification of new drill targets in the field. With the combination of results to date, geological prospectivity and access to infrastructure we view the project as having great potential."

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Grid Metals applies best practice quality assurance and quality control ("QAQC") protocols on all of its exploration programs. For the Donner Lake drilling program, core was logged and sampled at the Company's core facility located on the Makwa Property. Generally, 1.0 metre sample lengths were used. Samples were bagged and tagged and then transported by secure carrier to the Actlabs (Thunder Bay) laboratory for sample preparation and analysis for lithium, cesium, tantalum and selected major and trace element abundances using a sodium peroxide fusion total digestion method followed by ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis. The Company is using two lithium + rare metal certified reference materials ("CRMs") and two analytical blanks for the Donner Lake program to monitor analytical accuracy and check for cross contamination between samples.

Dave Peck, P.Geo., has reviewed the contents of this press release and is the qualified person for purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

About the Donner Lake Lithium Property

The Property is owned 75% by Grid Metals Corp. and 25% by Lithium Royalty Corp. (LRC), which is funding 25% of the current exploration program. LRC holds an overriding 2% royalty on the property.

The Property was acquired by Grid from Tantalum Mining Corporation of Canada Limited (Tanco) which has the first right to acquire products produced from the property at commercial terms and holds a 2% royalty on certain claims.

Sinomine Canada is currently operating a lithium spodumene circuit at its Tanco Mine facility, located approximately 35 km to the southwest of the Donner Lake Property.

Donner Lake is only 180 km from the provincial capital of Winnipeg and accessible by all season roads and logging trails and there is nearby access to Canada's major east-west railway line.

Grid Metals has an exploration agreement in place with the Sagkeeng First Nation, whose Traditional Lands include the Donner Lake and Mayville properties.

The Property has nearby access low-cost renewable power from Manitoba's extensive hydro-electric grid.

There are multiple LCT-type pegmatite dykes on the Property including the Main Dyke that, in 2018, was drill tested by Grid over a ~1 km strike length. The dykes are located along a ~9 km long prospective geological contact between the Bird River greenstone belt and the Makwa Lake batholith and occupy obvious structural trends.

The Main Dyke and Northwest Dyke together supported a non-compliant historical resource estimate of 3.8 million tons at a grade of 1.28% Li2O (Manitoba Mines Branch Assessment file 91769A). This resource estimate cannot be independently verified by the Company. The Company is looking to complete resume drilling later this year to establish a maiden NI 43-101 lithium resource and continue exploration for other LCT-type pegmatites on the Property.

The Property is significantly underexplored with a large portion of the prospective geology having seen no prior lithium exploration.

About Grid Metals Corp.

Grid Metals Corp. maintains an attractive portfolio of exploration and development stage properties focused on battery metals (nickel, lithium, copper, cobalt, platinum group metals cobalt) and emission reduction technologies (palladium, platinum, rhodium) in the Provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, Canada. The Company is currently focused on advancing both its Donner Lake lithium and its PEA stage Makwa-Mayville Cu-Ni-PGM-Co assets in southeastern Manitoba.

To find out more about Grid Metals Corp., please visit www.gridmetalscorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Grid Metals Corp.

Robin Dunbar - President, CEO & Director

Telephone: 647 201 6844 Email: rd@gridmetalscorp.com

David Black - Investor Relations Email: info@gridmetalscorp.com 416 955-4773

Above: 2022 drill hole locations from the Northwest Dyke exploration program at the Donner Lake Lithium Property showing the current surface projection of the main pegmatite body (thick pink line) and the Li2O grades obtained for previously and newly reported (larger font) holes.

Above: Longitudinal section, looking west, showing relative 3D position of the February-April 2022 drill hole pierce points into the Northwest Dyke, Donner Lake Lithium Property.

Above: White spodumene blades in GDL-22-07 at 106.6 meters downhole.

Above: Spodumene-quartz intergrowths (SQUI) from GDL-22-14 at 182.5 meters downhole.

Appendix 1: Analytical Results, Drill Hole GDL22-07, Northwest Pegmatite Dyke, Donner Lake Lithium Property, Southeastern Manitoba.

Sample# From (m) To (m) Length (m) Li2O (%) Ta2O5 (ppm) Cs2O (ppm) Rb2O (%) AM753408 103.45 104.27 0.82 1.03 126 193 0.22 AM753409 104.27 104.37 0.10 0.69 0.9 356 0.17 AM753411 104.37 104.60 0.23 0.67 133 75.3 0.10 AM753412 104.60 105.52 0.92 0.76 125 194 0.31 AM753413 105.52 106.50 0.98 2.14 54.0 118 0.22 AM753415 106.50 107.50 1.00 1.52 60.9 159 0.28 AM753416 107.50 108.50 1.00 1.68 67.1 159 0.26 AM753418 108.50 109.50 1.00 2.11 33.2 82.7 0.17 AM753419 109.50 110.50 1.00 2.12 43.3 104 0.26 AM753421 110.50 110.98 0.48 2.39 42.5 92.2 0.16 AM753422 110.98 111.65 0.67 0.16 61.3 164 0.34 Interval Averages 103.5 111.7 8.2 1.53 69.2 142 0.24 inc. 105.5 111.0 5.5 1.96 50.9 122 0.23

Appendix 2: Analytical Results, Drill Hole GDL22-10, Northwest Pegmatite Dyke, Donner Lake Lithium Property, Southeastern Manitoba. Note in this hole there were multiple narrow intercepts of mineralogically distinctive pegmatite dykes separated by inclusions of basalt. A narrow intersection of the Northwest Dyke was encountered between 155.4m and 156.65m.

Sample# From (m) To (m) Length (m) Li2O (%) Ta2O5 (ppm) Cs2O (ppm) Rb2O (%) 856486 148.30 148.66 0.36 0.04 370 97.5 0.13 856487 148.66 148.68 0.02 0.20 279 366 0.28 856488 148.68 149.95 1.27 0.02 206 97.5 0.14 856491 153.38 153.48 0.10 0.04 509 92.2 0.02 856494 154.56 154.75 0.19 0.62 178 201 0.28 856497 155.40 156.00 0.60 1.35 114 141 0.22 856498 156.00 156.65 0.65 1.28 105 191 0.29 856500 157.15 157.35 0.20 0.12 157 368 0.14 AM753309 173.90 174.07 0.17 0.06 118 94.4 0.10 AM753311 175.12 175.34 0.22 0.03 70.8 44.5 0.02 AM753318 179.15 179.52 0.37 0.02 164 90.1 0.07 AM753324 184.90 185.30 0.40 0.47 75.8 148 0.24 AM753325 185.30 185.60 0.30 0.28 88.0 157 0.26 AM753327 186.67 187.10 0.43 0.03 76.8 125 0.23 AM753332 201.35 201.90 0.55 0.04 61.7 476 0.43 Interval Averages Granitic Dyke 148.30 149.95 1.65 0.03 243 101 0.14 NW Dyke 155.40 156.65 1.25 1.31 109 167 0.26

Appendix 3: Analytical Results, Drill Hole GDL22-11, Northwest Pegmatite Dyke, Donner Lake Lithium Property, Southeastern Manitoba.

Sample# From (m) To (m) Length (m) Li2O (%) Ta205 (ppm) Cs20 (ppm) Rb2O (%) AM752704 141.70 142.42 0.72 1.29 215 264 0.40 AM752706 142.42 142.80 0.38 0.13 1.70 109 0.05 AM752707 142.80 143.10 0.30 1.39 203 290 0.28 AM752708 143.10 143.25 0.15 0.81 75.0 2851 0.55 AM752709 143.25 144.00 0.75 1.80 230 480 0.40 AM752711 144.00 144.40 0.40 0.24 222 740 0.43 AM752712 144.40 145.00 0.60 1.62 233 392 0.37 AM752713 145.00 145.65 0.65 1.63 177 390 0.40 AM752714 145.65 146.25 0.60 0.29 3.85 342 0.11 AM752716 146.25 147.05 0.80 1.41 173 200 0.25 AM752717 147.05 147.65 0.60 0.56 155 335 0.27 AM752718 147.65 147.95 0.30 1.44 148 251 0.28 AM752719 147.95 148.80 0.85 0.22 89.6 145 0.23 AM752721 148.80 149.80 1.00 1.91 48.8 110 0.21 AM752722 149.80 150.85 1.05 1.35 79.9 142 0.28 AM752723 150.85 151.85 1.00 1.67 63.5 155 0.28 AM752724 151.85 152.85 1.00 1.71 74.2 174 0.29 AM752726 152.85 153.85 1.00 1.81 50.9 135 0.32 AM752727 153.85 154.65 0.80 2.10 51.0 119 0.24 AM752728 154.65 155.18 0.53 0.85 40.7 158 0.39 AM752729 155.18 156.31 1.13 0.29 84.3 144 0.31 Interval Averages 141.70 156.31 14.61 1.25 108 255 0.29 inc. 142.80 145.65 2.85 1.41 206 582 0.39 and 146.25 156.31 10.06 1.30 82.6 161 0.28 with 148.80 154.65 5.85 1.74 61.9 140 0.27

Appendix 4: Analytical Results, Drill Hole GDL22-14, Northwest Pegmatite Dyke, Donner Lake Lithium Property, Southeastern Manitoba.

Sample# From (m) To (m) Length (m) Li2O (%) Ta (ppm) Cs (ppm) Rb2O (%) AM752876 178.41 178.86 0.45 0.15 114 270 0.40 AM752877 178.86 179.86 1.00 0.21 76.5 241 0.26 AM752878 179.86 180.86 1.00 2.28 66.3 128 0.18 AM752879 180.86 181.90 1.04 1.87 51.4 119 0.21 AM752881 181.90 182.64 0.74 1.62 48.5 184 0.42 AM752883 182.64 183.12 0.48 1.47 43.3 116 0.19 AM752885 183.12 183.22 0.10 0.04 50.1 70.0 0.06 Interval Averages 178.86 183.22 4.36 1.46 59.1 159 0.25 inc. 179.86 183.12 3.26 1.88 54.1 136 0.25

Appendix 5: Specifications for the drill holes reported to date from the winter 2022 Northwest Pegmatite Dyke drill program, Donner Lake Lithium Property, Southeastern Manitoba. Easting and northing coordinates are based on a NAD83 UTM Zone 15 projection. Depth values represent end of hole depths. Length values are core intervals for the main Northwest Dyke pegmatite. From values are the upper contact downhole depth of the Northwest Dyke. The true thickness of the dyke is estimated to range from 40 to 70% of the reported core lengths.

Hole ID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip Depth (m) Length (m) From (m) GDL-22-01 315954 5610632 290 135 -60 131 15.8 86.0 GDL-22-02 315954 5610632 290 135 -45 215 9.4 55.9 GDL-22-03 315960 5610735 299 135 -45 179 5.5 160.4 GDL-22-04 315960 5610735 299 135 -60 248 10.3 234.1 GDL-22-07 315881 5610581 288 135 -45 104 8.1 103.6 GDL-22-08 315879 5610585 288 135 -60 260 15.6 163.1 GDL-22-09 315842 5610520 290 135 -45 143 9.5 104.9 GDL-22-10 315754 5610459 297 135 -45 224 1.3 155.4 GDL-22-11 315842 5610520 290 135 -60 185 14.6 141.7 GDL-22-12 315754 5610459 297 100 -60 250 10.1 218.8 GDL-22-13 316175 5610670 295 315 -45 179 5.4 138.4 GDL-22-14 316175 5610670 295 315 -60 203 4.4 178.9

SOURCE: Grid Metals Corp.

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SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / Ainos, Inc. (OTC PINK:AIMD) ("Ainos", or the "Company"), a diversified medtech company focused on the development of novel point-of-care testing, low-dose interferon therapeutics, and synthetic RNA-driven preventative medicine, today announced that the Company has begun marketing the Ainos SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Self-Test ("COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test Kit" or "the Test") under an Emergency Use Authorization ("EUA") issued by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration ("TFDA") on June 13, 2022 to Taiwan Carbon Nano Technology Corporation ("TCNT"), the manufacturer and product co-developer of the Test in conjunction with Ainos. Ainos is the exclusive master sales and marketing agent for the COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test Kit.

The Company has been marketing the Ainos COVID-19 Rapid Test Kit for use by healthcare professionals in Taiwan under an EUA issued by the TFDA to TCNT since June 2021. Building on the diagnostics technology of its professional-use test kits, the Ainos COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test Kit is for at-home use and intended for the qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus from direct nasal swab specimens collected by individual users. The Test is designed to detect whether SARS-CoV-2, including the Omicron variant, is present in a sample and deliver results in as little as 15 minutes.

Chun-Hsien Tsai, Ainos' Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The growth in COVID-19 cases from the Omicron variant has significantly increased demand for at-home testing in Taiwan. Making accurate and rapid diagnostic tools such as the Ainos COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test Kit available for use by both individuals and healthcare professionals is vital for the detection and control of COVID-19."

About Ainos, Inc.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, Ainos, Inc. (f/k/a Amarillo Biosciences, Inc.) is a diversified medtech company engaged in developing innovative medical technologies for point-of-care testing and safe and novel medical treatment for a broad range of disease indications. In addition to its proprietary therapeutics using low-dose non-injectable interferon, Ainos is committed to developing a comprehensive healthcare business portfolio encompassing medical devices and consumer healthcare products. While prioritizing the commercialization of medical devices as part of its diversification strategy, Ainos has also expanded its product portfolio to include Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and COVID-19 POCTs. Leveraging its patents related to VOC technologies and COVID-19 POCT products, the Company seeks to expedite the commercialization of its medical device pipeline, beginning with Ainos-branded COVID-19 POCT product candidates.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" about Ainos within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "predict," "project," "target," "future," "likely," "strategy," "foresee," "may," "guidance," "potential," "outlook," "forecast," "should," "will" or other similar words or phrases. Similarly, statements that describe the Company's objectives, plans or goals are, or may be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based only on the Company's current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company's control. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

Important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations discussed in this press release include, among others, the cost of production and sales potential of the planned drug treatments announced in this press release; the Company's dependence on revenues from the sale of COVID-19 test kits; the Company's limited cash and history of losses; the Company's ability to achieve profitability; the Company's ability to raise additional capital to continue the Company's product development; the ability to accurately predict the future operating results of the Company; the ability to advance Ainos' current or future product candidates through clinical trials, obtain marketing approval and ultimately commercialize any product candidates the Company develops; the ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of Ainos product candidates; delays in completing the development and commercialization of the Company's current and future product candidates, which could result in increased costs to the Company, delay or limit the ability to generate revenue and adversely affect the business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of the Company; intense competition and rapidly advancing technology in the Company's industry that may outpace its technology; customer demand for the products and services the Company develops; the impact of competitive or alternative products, technologies and pricing; disruption in research and development facilities; lawsuits and other claims by third parties or investigations by various regulatory agencies governing the Company's operations; potential cybersecurity attacks; increased requirements and costs related to cybersecurity; the Company's ability to realize the benefits of third party licensing agreements; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for Ainos product candidates; compliance with applicable laws, regulations and tariffs; and the Company's success in managing the growth. A more complete description of these risk factors and others is included in the "Risk Factors" section of Ainos' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K/A and other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, many of which risks are beyond the Company's control. In addition to the risks described above and in the Company's Form 10-K/A, other unknown or unpredictable factors also could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations discussed in this press release.

The forward-looking statements made in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. Ainos undertakes no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or changes to the future results over time or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investor Relations Contact

ICR, LLC

Robin Yang

Tel: +1 646-224-6971

Email: Ainos.IR@icrinc.com

SOURCE: Ainos, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/705717/Ainos-COVID-19-Antigen-Self-Test-Receives-Approval-for-Sale-in-Taiwan
EUREKA, NV / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / Timberline Resources Corporation (OTCQB:TLRS)(TSX-V:TBR) ("Timberline" or the "Company") has commenced the 2022 drill program at its 100%-controlled Eureka Project in Nevada. The 70km2 Eureka Project occupies a substantial portion of the Eureka Gold Belt, a northwest trending corridor of Carlin-type gold deposits hosted in Cambrian-Ordovician aged rocks. The northern end of the belt includes the giant gold deposits (7.7M oz of resources) at the Ruby Hill Archimedes complex, controlled by i80 Gold Corp (Figure 1).

Timberline has one reverse circulation (RC) and one core rig operating at the Water Well Zone (WWZ) target. The primary objective of this drill program is to follow-up the high-grade intercepts reported earlier this year and includes step-out and in-fill drilling. The fully-funded drill program will include at least 5,500 meters before the end of October. Of this, approximately 4,000m (13,000ft) of diamond core drilling will be by Big Sky Exploration, LLC and 1,500m (5,000ft) of RC drilling will be by HD Drilling, LLC.

In addition to the drilling, Timberline will continue its ongoing program of geologic mapping, and structural and 3D modeling of target zones. The Company recently completed a property-wide integration and interpretation of its huge soil geochemistry database.

Patrick Highsmith, Timberline's President and CEO commented, "This is the most exciting drill program in recent memory for Timberline. We are following up on the excellent results from the Water Well Zone, where we have drilled thick intercepts of strong Carlin-type gold mineralization. We expanded the footprint of the zone to more than 400 meters from south to north - and it remains open in both those directions, as well as down dip to the east. We shall also test the extent of the recently-reported gold in drilling at the Oswego prospect. It is gratifying to see the Eureka Gold Belt taking shape as both i80 Gold Corp and Timberline drill significant new gold intercepts in the Cambrian and Ordovician rocks of the district."

The 2020 and 2021 drilling programs included several drill intercepts that have boosted the potential of the newly discovered WWZ mineralization, which is downdip from and adjacent to the Lookout Mountain gold resource (See Company news releases dated March 9, March 24, and May 18, 2022). The basal contact of the Cambrian-aged Dunderberg Shale is consistently enriched in gold over a large area. Recent core drilling highlights include:

BHSE-212C: 41.1m at 5.03 g/t Au, including 19.8m at 9.49 g/t Au;

BHSE-220C: 44.2m at 4.10 g/t Au, including 12.2m at 9.18 g/t Au; and

BHSE-192C: 24.4m at 3.85 g/t Au, including 4.6m at 8.35 g/t Au.

Drill Targeting

The strong gold intercepts in BHSE-220C and -212C are separated by approximately 400m, and the WWZ remains open to the north and south. There is also room to grow the zone to the east and west. The WWZ is likely to draw approximately 65% of the 2022 drill funding. A substantial portion of the 2022 drill program will be directed at offsets around these high-grade holes, but the plan also includes numerous holes within the footprint that is loosely defined by previous drilling (Figure 2). A few of the previously reported RC drill holes in the area will be twinned with diamond core.

Timberline reported comparative results from RC and core drilling in the WWZ on February 24 and March 24, 2022. In this instance, BHSE-205 (an RC hole) had indicated a significant zone of gold mineralization, but the visual indications from the drill chips suggested that the gold grades may be higher. Since the RC drilling had encountered relatively high rates of groundwater inflow, there was concern that higher-grade fine material may have been lost from the RC samples. The Company drilled a duplicate core hole immediately adjacent to the RC hole. The results from the core hole were markedly higher in gold than the RC results.

Table 1 - Comparison of Average Mineralized Intervals in Twinned* Drill Holes

Hole Type Inclination () From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Gold (g/t) BHSE-205 RC -90 138.7 175.3 36.6 1.06 BHSE-220C Core -90 140.8 185.0 44.2 4.10 * - Drill holes collared approximately 2 meters apart from same drill pad

Several other RC drill holes returned significant zones of gold mineralization at the base of the Dunderberg Shale. These include the intercepts shown below in Table 2. While these RC results indicate a consistently mineralized zone at the base of the Dunderberg Shale in the WWZ, all of these results are from the same drill rig operating below the water table. The Company intends to twin some of these previously reported RC drill holes with core so that grades and thickness of the mineralization can be compared between the two drilling methods. The 2022 drill program will provide significant new data that will help address questions about the RC sampling.

Table 2 - Selected RC Drillhole Intercepts in the WWZ

Hole Azimuth () Inclination () Depth (m) From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Gold (g/t) BHSE-187 0 -90 338.33 266.7 292.6 25.9 2.18 including 7.6 4.49 BHSE-195 0 -90 281.90 257.6 272.8 15.2 1.87 including 3.0 4.56 BHSE-209 0 -90 379.5 324.6 333.8 9.1 1.21 including 4.6 2.07 * Drill Thickness: True Thickness undetermined.

The deeper portions of the WWZ will be tested with core drilling, but substantial savings can be achieved by using less expensive RC drilling for the upper portions of the hole (above the water table). There are also numerous targets that are relatively shallow and in areas where the geology is well understood. RC drilling is a suitable drilling method for such targets.

Targets north and south of the WWZ offer significant growth potential into areas where structures and host rocks are known to be favorable. The Relay Zone shown in Figure 2 is a northwest trending structural corridor that juxtaposes the Cambrian rocks in the WWZ against the Ordovician rocks to the north. Ordovician rocks, such as the Goodwin and Ninemile formations are important hosts of gold at i80 Gold Corp's Ruby Hill Mine in the northern part of the district. This northern target is undrilled in the vicinity of the WWZ, but there is significant drill indicated gold farther northwest at the Rocky Canyon Target. This year's drilling will test the big fault zone and the adjoining rocks to the north.

The favorable Cambrian rocks continue for some distance to the south from the WWZ. Along trend from BHSE-212C, there are no historic drill holes for more than 500m. The Lookout Mountain resource continues south for more than a kilometer from the southern limits of the WWZ. The favorable basal contact of the Dunderberg Shale with the Hamburg Dolomite is believed to dip east from the resource area into this target corridor, but the depth and degree of mineralization are not known. This year's program will include numerous step-out drill holes to the south, some of which may test as far south as 700m from BHSE-212C.

The Oswego Target lies approximately one kilometer east of the WWZ. Timberline recently announced the results of the first systematic exploration at the prospect in more than 30 years. Surface sampling during late 2021 returned high grade gold in channel samples along the fault zone, 25.9m averaging 14.42 g/t and 27.4m averaging 12.02 g/t (see Company news release dated December 6, 2021). On May 11, 2022, Timberline reported significant oxide gold mineralization from drilling, including 35.1m at 2.32 g/t Au, including 19.8m at 2.93 g/t gold in drill hole BHSE-213. The plan for 2022 is to follow-up the recently reported drilling with RC holes along the structure and downdip to the west. Very important targets at Oswego are the prospective Goodwin and Ninemile formations, where they are intersected by the large fault zone that hosts the high-grade surface gold at Oswego. Drilling in the Oswego area may constitute up to 20% of the total 2022 drilling.

The balance of the drilling (~15%) will be contingent on results from WWZ and Oswego, but Timberline geologists are also developing new drill targets at the Windfall Trend, which may get tested during this program. The prolific Dunderberg and Hamburg formations hosted historic gold production from the Windfall Mine. Timberline drilling from 2014 - 2015 intercepted significant gold from this contact zone between the historic Windfall and Rustler pits. The best of those intercepts are shown below in Table 3 (See Company news release dated April 20, 2015). These historic drill intercepts are open down dip and may be related to geophysical indications of alteration and chargeable rocks at depth. Golden Lake Exploration has also recently announced strong gold mineralization from the Dunderberg - Hamburg contact immediately north of Timberline's property. Timberline expects to bring a drill back to Windfall later in 2022 or 2023.

Table 3 - Selected Drill Intercepts along the Windfall Trend

Hole Type From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Gold (g/t) BHWF - 037 RC 56.4 83.8 27.4 2.20 BHWF - 040 RC 88.4 112.8 24.4 3.04

Qualified Person

Steven Osterberg, Ph.D., P.G., Timberline's Vice President Exploration, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this release. Dr. Osterberg is not independent of the Company as he is an officer.

About Timberline Resources

Timberline Resources Corporation is focused on delivering high-grade Carlin-Type gold discoveries at its district-scale Eureka Project in Nevada. The Eureka Property includes the historic Lookout Mountain and Windfall mines in a total property position of approximately 27 square miles (70 square kilometers). The Lookout Mountain Resource was reported in compliance with Canadian NI 43-101 in an Updated Technical Report on the Lookout Mountain Project by Mine Development Associates, Effective March 1, 2013, filed on SEDAR April 12, 2013 (see Cautionary Note to US Investors below).

Resource Category Tonnage (million short tons) Grade (oz/ton) Grade (grams/tonne) Contained Au (troy oz) Measured 3.04 0.035 1.2 106,000 Indicated 25.90 0.016 0.6 402,000 Inferred 11.71 0.012 0.41 141,000

The Company is also operator of the Paiute Joint Venture Project with Nevada Gold Mines in the Battle Mountain District. These properties lie on the prolific Battle Mountain-Eureka gold trend. Timberline also controls the Seven Troughs Project in northern Nevada, which is one of the state's highest-grade former gold producers. Timberline controls over 43 square miles (111 square kilometers) of mineral rights in Nevada. Detailed maps and mineral resources estimates for the Eureka Project and NI 43-101 technical reports for its projects may be viewed at http://timberlineresources.co/.

Timberline is listed on the OTCQB where it trades under the symbol "TLRS" and on the TSX Venture Exchange where it trades under the symbol "TBR".

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Patrick Highsmith"

President and CEO

Tel: 208-664-4859

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors: The terms "mineral resource," "measured mineral resource," "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource," as used on Timberline's website and in its news releases are Canadian mining terms that are defined in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). These Canadian terms are not defined terms under United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC by U.S. registered companies. The SEC permits U.S. companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. Accordingly, note that information describing the Company's "mineral resources" is not directly comparable to information made public by U.S. companies subject to reporting requirements under U.S. securities laws. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in the Company's Form 10-K which may be secured from the Company, or online at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

Forward-looking Statements: Statements contained herein that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations about its future operating results, performance and opportunities that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the advancement of projects, the footprint and continuity of mineralization, the growth of resources, and exploration potential. When used herein, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "upcoming," "plan," "target," "intend," "growth opportunity," and "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to Timberline Resources Corporation, its subsidiaries, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to risks involving forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in the Company's business and other factors, including risk factors discussed in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2021. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Timberline Resources Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/705885/Timberline-Commences-Drilling-at-the-Eureka-Gold-Project-Nevada
FLORHAM PARK, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / Hisamitsu America, a subsidiary of Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc., and the manufacturers of the Salonpas line of pain relief products, announce the availability of the Salonpas Pain Relieving FLEX Patch Lidocaine 4% featuring thin, flexible, and highly adhesive patch technology.

"Our commitment to continuous improvement has resulted in the exciting combination of an innovative patch fabric infused with the active ingredient lidocaine. The new FLEX patches provide flexibility, ease-of-use, and dependable pain relief," said John Incledon, President & CEO, Hisamitsu America.

"The Salonpas Pain Relieving FLEX Patch Lidocaine 4% uses advanced patch technology with the maximum strength lidocaine available without a prescription. The FLEX patch has thin, flexible, highly adhesive fabric that contours to the body, so patches adhere through movement, bending, twisting and flexing," adds Incledon.

The launch of the FLEX patch is the latest initiative putting Salonpas at the forefront of topical pain relief. Exclusively focused on topical pain relief, Salonpas is the #1 doctor-recommended brand of OTC pain relief patches in the United States (source: IQVIA ProVoice 2021).

Hisamitsu America will support the launch of the Salonpas Pain Relieving FLEX Patch with a nationwide television advertising campaign this fall and social media campaign on the company's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels featuring videos from Bob Arnot, M.D., internal medicine. Dr. Arnot is a journalist, author, former host of the Dr. Danger reality TV series, and served as medical and foreign correspondent for NBC and CBS.

"Topical pain treatment is generally the best first choice because of its incredible safety profile and high effectiveness," says Dr. Bob Arnot. "This new FLEX patch has the maximum OTC strength 4% lidocaine and outstanding flex patch technology that allows you to move, bend, twist and flex while enjoying hours of continuous pain relief."

The new Salonpas Pain Relieving FLEX Patch Lidocaine 4% is available now at select retailers and will be available at retailers nationwide this fall.

About Hisamitsu America:

Hisamitsu America is the US division of Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc., founded in 1847, which has specialized in transdermal drug delivery system technology since the introduction of its Salonpas line of patches in 1934. The Salonpas product line, which gained early acceptance in Asia and is now available in over 30 countries, has pioneered the development of transdermal patches to relieve pain. Since 2010, Salonpas has become one of the fastest growing OTC brands in the USA. Salonpas became the most popular pain relief brand on Facebook in 2020. For more information, please visit https://us.hisamitsu/.

# # #

Media Contact: Nancy Thompson, Vorticom, Inc. 212.532.2208 (o), 917.371.4053 (m); nancyt@vorticom.com

SOURCE: Hisamitsu America

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/705654/Hisamitsu-America-Marketers-of-the-SalonpasR-Line-of-Pain-Relief-Products-Announce-Launch-of-SalonpasR-Pain-Relieving-Flex-Patch-Lidocaine-4
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2022) - Xplore Resources Corp. (TSXV: XPLR) ("Xplore or the "Company"), is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement offering of a minimum of 62,500,000 Units (the "Units") at $0.08 per Unit for gross proceeds of a minimum of $5,000,000, (the "Offering").

Each Unit will consist of one common share of Xplore (a "Common Share" ) and one-half of one non-transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant" ).

) and one-half of one non-transferable common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a ). Each whole Warrant will be exercisable to purchase one common share of Xplore at the price of $0.12 per share until the second anniversary of the closing date of the Offering (the "Closing Date").

Completion of the Offering is subject to receipt of gross proceeds of $5,000,000 (the "Minimum Offering"). Xplore intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for the technical advancement of the Diamond Mountain Phosphate Project ("Diamond Mountain"), the acquisition of which (the "Acquisition") was announced on June 7, 2022, general working capital, and to enable the Company to pursue further battery metal assets. Completion of the Offering is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). Completion of the Acquisition is subject to completion of the Minimum Offering.

All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period commencing on the Closing Date. Insiders of Xplore intend on subscribing for a portion of the Offering, subject to regulatory approval. Finder's fees payable in cash equal to 7% of the gross proceeds raised may be paid to eligible finders or other third parties, in connection with this Offering. Finder's warrants entitling the holders to acquire up to 7% of the Units under the Offering may also be paid to eligible finders or other third parties. Xplore has hired Stifel Nicolas Canada Inc. to provide advisory services on the Acquisition.

Wes Hanson, President, and CEO of Xplore, notes: "We are excited with our potential acquisition of the Diamond Mountain phosphate project in Utah. This acquisition advances our strategy of creating stakeholder value through acquiring and exploring a portfolio of high-quality battery metal assets in low-risk jurisdictions. We believe that Diamond Mountain is a high-grade phosphate opportunity located in Utah, USA, ranked as the eleventh best mining jurisdiction in the world by the Fraser Institute. With an existing, high-grade phosphate resource, exploration upside, existing infrastructure, and low permitting, environmental and social risks, management believes that Diamond Mountain offers a compelling value acquisition. Strong phosphate market fundamentals from agriculture and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery production offer both short and long-term phosphate demand growth. We plan to apply for exploration permits immediately on closing of the financing with the objective of drilling by late Q3, 2022. Drilling shall focus on converting the current inferred mineral resource to the measured and indicated classification as quickly as possible and phosphate ore collected shall be used to evaluate the metallurgical characteristics of the phosphate. The world needs phosphate for food production, bio-fuel production and electric vehicle battery production. World events continue to demonstrate the need for home grown solutions to global supply chain disruptions. We offer the project, the team and the partners to advance Diamond Mountain to meet the anticipated demand growth in Canada and the US."

Market Making

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has entered into a market-making agreement (the "Agreement") with Independent Trading Group ("ITG"), pursuant to which ITG has agreed to provide market-making services to the Company in accordance with the policies of the Exchange and applicable laws.

ITG will trade shares of the Company on the Exchange and other available trading venues with the objective of maintaining a reasonable market and improving liquidity for the Company's common shares.

The Agreement is effective June 19th, 2022, and will automatically extend for successive one-month terms unless terminated by either party on 30 days' prior notice. In consideration of the services provided by ITG pursuant to the Agreement, ITG will receive compensation of $5,000 per month, payable monthly in advance, and will be paid by the Company from its working capital resources. There are no performance factors contained in the Agreement and ITG will not receive shares, options or other securities as compensation. The capital used for market-making will be provided by ITG, and no third party will be providing funds or securities for the market-making activities.

ITG is an independent, privately held broker-dealer based in Toronto, Ontario, that provides a wide range of financial and investment services. ITG is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada ("IIROC") and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) and can access all Canadian stock exchanges and alternative trading systems. ITG and the Company are unrelated and unaffiliated entities and, at the time of the Agreement, neither ITG nor its principals have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of the Company or any right or intent to acquire such an interest. The Agreement is subject to Exchange approval.

About Diamond Mountain

Diamond Mountain is an advanced stage phosphate exploration project located in Uintah County, Utah. The property is a 547-hectare State Mining Lease ("State Lease") that offers an existing measured and indicated resource estimated to be 26.8 million tonnes ("Mt") averaging 19.67% P2O5 in addition to an inferred resource estimated at 23.1 Mt averaging 19.67% P2O5. The mineral resource estimate is supported by the Technical Report titled "Technical Report, Diamond Mountain Phosphate Project, Uintah County, Utah" authored by L.D. Henchel, P.Geo, P.G., with an effective date of September 11, 2014. The Project is adjoined to the west by Simplot Corporation's Vernal Phosphate Mine and Beneficiation Complex, which has been operating since the 1960's. Prior work on the property was completed by US Steel Corp and Revival Gold Inc. Diamond Mountain is in management's view, considered one of the top ten, undeveloped, P2O5 deposits not currently owned by a major fertilizer producer, with an upper quartile P2O5 in-situ grade opportunity.

About Xplore Resources (TSXV: XPLR)

Xplore Resources is a Toronto based mining exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under symbol XPLR and is focused on the acquisition and development of mineral projects in the Americas. The Company is led by a highly experienced management team and is comprised of industry experts with executive and senior management experience in geology, banking, private equity, investor relations and law.

Qualified Persons

Mr. Wes Hanson, P. Geo., President & CEO of Xplore and registered in the Province of Ontario is the "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is responsible for the technical contents of this news release and has approved the disclosure of the technical information contained herein.

Additional disclosure of the Company's financial statements, technical reports, material change reports, news releases and other information can be obtained on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Wesley C. Hanson"

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Phone: +1 647-202-7686

Email: whanson@xploreresources.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Notice on forward-looking statements:

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. Xplore cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Xplore's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Xplore's ability to complete the proposed Transaction; and other risks and uncertainties, including those to be described in the Filing Statement to be filed by Xplore on SEDAR.com. Accordingly, actual, and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Xplore undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

###

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/128385
Australian biotech Skin2Neuron Pty Ltd. (S2N) has what no one has to date - reversal of a dementia-like syndrome in a natural animal form of Alzheimer's disease.

SYDNEY, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the once dominant amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease suffering yet another crushing blow this week, the field is desperate for a ray of hope. Enter S2N, a new Australian biotech pioneering an all-new neurorestorative approach, aiming to rebuild and replace the lost brain cells in Alzheimer's that underlies clinical symptoms.

In a world first, a veterinary trialled by S2N suggests the audacious concept may work. S2N's new form of cell therapy reversed the dementia-like syndrome that strikes down many older pet dogs with Alzheimer's.

Co-founder Professor Michael Valenzuela explains, "Because of deep parallels between the canine brain and human brain, and canine Alzheimer's and human Alzheimer's, I started this trial 10 years ago with the assumption that if it's going to work in humans, then it needs to work in dogs first. And the results exceeded my wildest expectations."

Dementia was reversed in more than half of the canine patients, with a clinically meaningful improvement in 80%. For many of the carers, it was a life-changing turnaround, some at the point of considering euthanasia before treatment.

Fiona Gibbs, carer of Leo, a 12-yo Pomeranian in the trial, describes the impact: "Before treatment, Leo was really bad, forgetting who we were, getting lost, and having these unpredictable episodes where he would growl and snap - it was really scary and we just couldn't go on. A few months after treatment, he started getting better, and then he was back to his normal self, and we look back at the movies and think, 'Wow, was he really that bad?'"

Leo's life-changing improvement lasted almost two years, typical of clinical recovery in the trial.

And when Valenzuela looked in the brain, the findings were remarkable, "The hippocampus, the memory centre of the brain, was packed with baby neurons and new synapses, precisely where we delivered the cells. Compared to untreated dogs, it was like night and day".

Importantly, microscopic analysis confirmed the dogs had classic Alzheimer pathology. In other words, the cell therapy worked in the setting of natural disease, a first of its kind.

"Given our doggie patients also had many of the same health issues that older people face, it gives me even greater confidence," says Valenzuela.

Stem cell pioneer Professor Brent Reynolds of the University of Florida, not connected to the study, considers it a landmark in the quest to treat brain degeneration. "Alzheimer's is an area of medicine that needs new thinking. What stands out are clinically meaningful outcomes in a natural canine model of this devastating disease. Also, the company's approach to generating cells from the same patient could solve many of the problems facing cell therapies."

The study helps pave the way for S2N to launch a world-first human trial in 2024.

Contact

Professor Michael Valenzuela

Co-founder & CEO, Skin2Neuron Pty Ltd.

mvalenzuela@skin2neuron.org

+61 413 603 784 (AEST)

Related Images











Image 1: Figure 1/2





Hippocampus (memory centre) of an older dog with dementia-like syndrome successfully treated with S2N's cells. It is packed with green cells that are new neurons (brain cells) and yellow dots, new synapses (connections between brain cells).

















Image 2: Figure 2/2





Same brain area in an aged untreated dog. There are no new neurons (no green cells), a few red dots (old synapses), but no new synapses (no yellow dots).









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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VANCOUVER, BC, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lithium South Development Corporation (the "Company") (TSX-V: LIS) (OTCQB: LISMF) (Frankfurt: OGPQ) is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced at the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project (HMN Li Project), Salta Province, Argentina. Servicios Gelogicos of Salta, Argentina began to turn the first hole on June 12th. The drilling method is diamond drill hole with double packer sampling at select intervals. The 2,000 meter drill program is expected to continue for the next several months, with results reported as obtained. The program is being supervised by Dr. Mark King, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, and Principal Hydrogeologist and President of Groundwater Insight, Inc. Dr. King has an extensive background in lithium brine resource and reserve estimation.

The objective of the program is to potentially expand the current Lithium Carbonate Resource which is defined as 756 parts per million lithium within 571,000 tonnes in the Measured and Indicated Categories with a low magnesium to lithium ration of 2.6 to 1.0.( see news release December 4, 2018 , and NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report titled "Initial Measured and Indicated Lithium and Potassium Resource Estimate, Hombre Muerto North Project, Salta and Catamarca Provinces, Argentina", prepared by independent consultants Montgomery and Associates of Santiago, Chile). The resource is contained solely on the Tramo Claim Block, which is 383 hectares in size, and is one of five salar-located, noncontiguous claim blocks that comprise the total project area of 3,287 hectares. The drill program will focus exploration on the Alba Sabrina Claim Block, which is 2,089 hectares in size.

A recent TEM Study at the Alba Sabrina Claim Block (See October 4, 2021, press release) provides potential indication of a surficial halite aquifer of approximately 75 meters of depth, with potential indication of clastic brine aquifer immediately below. The TEM Study was limited to a depth of approximately 350 meters, with the basement rock not confirmed. The drill program will attempt to drill to basement, limited to approximately 700 meters by the depth potential of the drill rig.

Company President, Adrian F. C. Hobkirk quoted, "We are excited to begin the potential expansion of the high-quality lithium brine resource at the HMN Li Project. In particular, to confirm our expectations that deeper drilling will return significant results."

About Lithium South

The Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project ( HMN Li Project ) is at an advanced stage of evaluation, with a Preliminary Economic Assessment having been completed in April, 2019. Lithium South is the 100% owner and intends to potentially expand the known resource with its current drill program. Additional project work including permitting, environmental studies and process test work is ongoing

The HMN Li Project is adjacent to a US$840 million lithium mine under development by the Korean multinational corporation POSCO, which acquired their area from Galaxy Resources Ltd. for US$280 million. Livent Corporation is producing lithium south of the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project, and has been in operation there for over twenty five years.

The Company is evaluating conventional evaporation as a process method, and Direct Lithium Extraction (D.L.E.) as an alternative method. D.L.E. test work on 2,000 liter brine samples is currently underway by Chemphys Chengdu, in China, and Eon Minerals in Salta, Argentina.

The technical and scientific information in this press release was reviewed by Dr. Mark King, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Dr. King participated in the production of this news release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Adrian F. C. Hobkirk

President and Chief Executive Officer

Investors / Shareholders call 855-415-8100 / website: www.lithiumsouth.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed the content of this news release and therefore does not accept responsibility or liability for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. We seek safe harbor.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1815015/Lithium_South_Development_Corporation_Logo_Logo.jpg
Clinical Pilots Underway with Leading Healthcare System Mass General Brigham, Sponsored by The Brigham iHub and Funded by MassTech

BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / Modelo Health, the world's first pregnancy app for Inclusive Care , launched in the U. S. The preventive care platform provides risk mitigation to lower maternal mortality and morbidity rates, and works to improve outcomes by elevating health literacy and guiding risk-appropriate and culturally-concordant care. Built on the concept of Inclusive Care , the platform utilizes principles of precision medicine to provide an unprecedented, holistic 360 view of a mother's risk factors across the five most important health determinants (Clinical, Hereditary, Environmental, Socioeconomic, and Behavioral) throughout her pregnancy journey. Modelo Health's patent-pending technology uses an exclusive blend of evidence-based predictive algorithms and scientific data from the most trusted sources. The platform empowers clinicians and moms with personalized, critical, and previously inaccessible information that can affect health outcomes, both in-clinic and at-home. Championed by Mass General Brigham, pilots are set to commence at three of Boston's award-winning hospitals, soon followed by renown health systems across the nation.

Central to Modelo Health's mission is to eliminate health disparities and reduce preventable harm for all pregnant women. "Modelo Health, as a bilingual and culturally-concordant app would be an amazing tool for our patients," said Natalie Adsuar, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Women's Health Institute. The app is available today in both English and Spanish, with more languages in development.

Modelo Health, the world's first pregnancy app for Inclusive Care, is now available in the U.S.

Established by Latino co-founders Nicolas Encina and Trish Encina, Modelo Health is a passion venture, built by an experienced team of 80% mothers, 75% minorities, and 50% clinicians and researchers. The company was recently awarded a MassTech Digital Health Grant to fund the Mass General Brigham pilots across the prestigious Brigham & Women's, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Work with these top hospitals will build on initial reports showing that:

Modelo Health increases patient confidence and health literacy rates by 2x in 90% of users (for both English and Spanish native speakers).

9/10 users would recommend Modelo Health to a friend.

Users rated 80%-100% satisfaction rates with the relevance of Modelo Health's clinical evidence-based tools.

"Using evidence-based predictive algorithms to detect the risk for severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is the first step in trying to prevent avoidable cases," said Dr Sarah Rae Easter, MD, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital. "That gives clinicians the time to triage and anticipate a difficult situation, and hopefully avoid it altogether."

Modelo Health is for moms that want an empowered pregnancy.

What Does the Modelo Health App Solve For?

Severe maternal morbidity in the U.S. is skyrocketing, increasing by 200% since the early 1990's ( CDC ). Pregnant women today are more than 2 times as likely to die during pregnancy as their mothers were 30 years ago, and women of color are 2 to 3 times more at risk ( CDC ). The U.S. has the highest morbidity rates of all developed countries, with 3 of 5 cases being preventable . Modelo Health's mission is to use Inclusive Careto address the disparities and health inequities in this country by educating and empowering mothers and their care teams to look broadly for signs of risk and to apply interventions early before they cause harm.

"What is exceptional about Modelo Health is its ability to bring together evidence-based, real-time algorithms in a platform that is useful for the clinician and engaging for the patient," added Dr. Adsuar. "At the Clinic we're committed to bridging the gap of healthcare inequities in our communities."

Pregnancy health is personalized with Modelo Health, gain a 360 scientific and holistic view of your pregnancy journey.

What is Inclusive Care?

A groundbreaking approach that takes a broad view of the most pertinent elements that impact health outcomes, Inclusive Care provides a multi-dimensional, real-time and holistic blueprint of the patient. Backed by data and evidence-based predictive algorithms, this creates a far more precise risk assessment of a patient. Moving beyond the traditional standards of care, Inclusive Care informs and guides users through prediction, participation, and prevention to encourage a more dynamic, better informed and collaborative doctor/patient relationship.

Modelo Health's Inclusive Care platform encapsulates:

5 Health Determinants: Includes the most important - Clinical, Hereditary, Environmental, Socioeconomic, and Behavioral

Includes the most important - Clinical, Hereditary, Environmental, Socioeconomic, and Behavioral Data: Draws on the scientific data from the most trusted sources (Harvard Medical School, EPA, CDC, USDA, etc.)

Draws on the scientific data from the most trusted sources (Harvard Medical School, EPA, CDC, USDA, etc.) Advanced Statistical Models: Makes sense of the complex data which updates in real time

Makes sense of the complex data which updates in real time Clinicians: Provides the care team with sophisticated risk stratification and alerts on best practices

Provides the care team with sophisticated risk stratification and alerts on best practices Patients: Empowers pregnant moms with increased health literacy, dignity and agency over their care

Empowers pregnant moms with increased health literacy, dignity and agency over their care Access: Ensures all patients across all demographics, equal access to this enlightened, state-of-the-art form of care

"We're on track to prove that with Inclusive Care we can improve health outcomes and better align patient-clinician expectations and trust," said Nic Encina, co-founder, Modelo Health. "Our work with Mass General Brigham will show how this can be done at scale across the most prestigious hospitals in the country."

Reduce risk by understanding all health factors through education with Modelo Health.

What Does the Modelo Health App Do?

Based on patent-pending technology, the Modelo Health app:

Empowers moms through their pregnancy journey to be informed, take action and have more engaged conversations with their doctors.

moms through their pregnancy journey to be informed, take action and have more engaged conversations with their doctors. Provides users with a unique combination of information about their personal health journey that cannot be found anywhere else.

users with a unique combination of information about their personal health journey that cannot be found anywhere else. Identifies risk factors, by looking at all the five determinants of health, specific to the pregnant mother and proactively shares suggestions for steps to address them.

risk factors, by looking at all the five determinants of health, specific to the pregnant mother and proactively shares suggestions for steps to address them. Educates moms via access to a library of resources and information from some of the world's top doctors.

moms via access to a library of resources and information from some of the world's top doctors. Helps to close the communication gap between patient and health care providers by working in real time to constantly update with the newest available health data.

Use real-time insights from trusted sources and clinical screens to make informed health decisions with Modelo Health.

What are the Modelo Health App's Key Features?

Personalized Health Determinants: Based on information provided, Modelo Health breaks down the risks in each of the 5 determinants and offers actionable recommendations to reduce them.

Based on information provided, Modelo Health breaks down the risks in each of the 5 determinants and offers actionable recommendations to reduce them. Checklists: Simple and actionable recommendations are easily converted to tasks on checklists that provide effective instructions and management of pregnancy.

Resource Library & Glossary: Loaded with expert articles, Modelo Health provides exclusive answers to the most important pregnancy questions and critical pregnancy-related topics.

Community: A team of world-renown clinicians answer Modelo Moms' questions. Modelo Moms can submit a question or learn from the questions of fellow Modelo Moms.

Health Trackers: Tracks and monitors metrics, such as emotional wellbeing, nutrition, and weight.

Tracks and monitors metrics, such as emotional wellbeing, nutrition, and weight. Interactive Calendar: Schedules suggested action items and tracks appointments. Provides weekly updates on baby's development and health.

Schedules suggested action items and tracks appointments. Provides weekly updates on baby's development and health. Baby's Growth: Provides a life-size and scaled view of the baby throughout pregnancy and keeps track of the pregnancy timeline.

Provides a life-size and scaled view of the baby throughout pregnancy and keeps track of the pregnancy timeline. Pregnancy Passport: Captures the most critical health information in preparation for delivery; a vital feature for Modelo Mom's traveling away from their home clinic.

Captures the most critical health information in preparation for delivery; a vital feature for Modelo Mom's traveling away from their home clinic. Language: Full English and Spanish support.

Visualize your baby in life-size as it grows throughout pregnancy with Modelo Health.

When and where is the Modelo Health App available?

Available now in the Apple app store .

Every purchase of a Modelo Health subscription grants a minimum of one FREE subscription to a mom in need. Modelo Health stands by the belief that an informed pregnancy is a safer pregnancy, and every mother deserves access to healthcare and resources.

Media Contact:

Karyn Martin

617.462.0108

karyn@goldenthreadagency.com

About Modelo Health

Modelo Healthis a big data company that provides the world's only mobile app based on Inclusive Care.The platform monitors across all health determinants and applies evidence-based risk stratification algorithms to deliver a holistic view of the mother. Serving both expectant moms and clinicians, Modelo Health's mission is to eliminate health disparities by empowering pregnant women and their care teams through education and access. Modelo Health Co-Founder Nic Encina hails from the genomics and precision medicine world, having started in the Human Genome Project. He helped start multiple biotechnology companies, and most recently founded a Precision Population Health research program at Ariadne Labs and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Co-Founder Trish Encina has a background in science, psychology and interpersonal relations. The minority-led company was established in 2021 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. https://www.modelohealth.com

SOURCE: Modelo Health Inc

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/705878/Modelo-HealthTM-Launches-Worlds-First-Pregnancy-App-for-Inclusive-CareTM-in-English-Spanish
The EU-funded DECAGONE project is launched

DECAGONE will develop a cutting-edge industrial waste heat recovery demonstrator based on Organic Rankine Cycle technology for electricity production

Courbevoie, 20 June 2022

The "DECAGONE" project - DEmonstrator of industrial CArbon-free power Generation from ORC-based waste-heat-to-Energy systems - started officially on 1st June 2022. The project is funded by the European Union's Research and Innovation Framework Programme Horizon Europe (G.A. 101069740), with a grant amount of 14 million and a duration of 4 years (June 2022 to May 2026).

The ambition of DECAGONE is to develop beyond state-of-the-art technological solutions to increase energy efficiency in industry and to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant emissions from industry by recovering excess industrial (waste) heat and converting it into electricity.

The technical solution, developed by a consortium of 16 partners from 10 European countries, is based on Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology. It will achieve scalability to higher power levels, improve cost effectiveness, increase the input temperature ranges and a significant improvement in compactness, allowing wider application and more effective heat recovery from a wide range of industrial processes. The solution will be demonstrated in the T?INECKE ?ELEZARNY steel Mill in Czech Republic with a 2 MW installation.

The ORC-based system will use enhanced heat recovery designs and disruptive turbomachinery developments. The proposed break-through architecture of the turbine is tailored for increased compactness, higher availability and safety, as well as cost reduction with near-zero maintenance. The project ensures an efficient and smart integration of advanced monitoring using innovative instrumentation and measuring devices, machine learning algorithms for real-time efficiency improvement. The potential of self-consumption in industrial plants at a large industrial scale will be assessed.

Within the scope of the project, the potential of this technology will be evaluated in six other energy-intensive industrial sectors. Market potential and Europe-wide transposability for potential use cases (aluminum, glass, gas-energy, oil & gas and refineries, LNG terminals, and cement) will be evaluated. New financing and business models will also be explored, to support long-term operations of the erected assets, coping with long-lasting and resilient industrial processes. The use of the ESCO model to contract, finance and operate energy efficiency facilities will be part of the assessment, preparing for the future operation of the facility by a specialized company. Lastly, the dissemination of best practice across Europe by relying on the consortium's European partners in coordination with regional energy agencies.

The 16 consortium partners, from 10 different European countries involved in DECAGONE are: Enertime - Project Coordinator (FR),

Energie Circulaire (FR),

Energetika T?inec, a.s (CZ),

National Technical University of Athens (GR),

SINTEF Energi AS (NO),

Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (FR),

Universite de Liege (BE),

Technische Universitat Munchen (DE),

SpinDrive Oy (FI),

Societe Tunisienne d'Electricite et de Gaz (TN),

Motor Oil Hellas AE (GR),

Euronovia (FR),

EMCC energy sro (SK),

Polenergie (FR),

Arttic Innovation GmbH (DE),

Haute Ecole Specialisee de Suisse Occidentale (CH).

Project details

Project Grant Agreement: 101069740

Start Date: 1 June 2022

Project Duration: 48 months

Grant amount: 13 986 960

Project Coordinator: Enertime, email: contact@enertime.com

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under GA n. 101069740

DECAGONE: DEmonstrator of industrial CArbon-free power Generation from ORC-based waste-heat-to Energy systems - EU's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme grant agreement No. 101069740

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Brings 25 years of global operations and supply chain experience to Piramal

Experience working with CDMOs and innovator/generic pharmaceutical companies

Multi-country track record of operational leadership and performance

MUMBAI, India, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Piramal Pharma Limited's Pharma Solutions business, a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), today announced the appointment of Herve Berdou as Chief Operating Officer, Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS).

Mr. Berdou joins Piramal Pharma Solutions from Lonza, where he was the Global Head of Operations, Cell and Gene Technologies. He has more than two decades of experience across global supply chain, procurement, and operations, including manufacturing and site head positions at both small and large facilities. At Lonza, Mr. Berdou led a network of contract services sites across the globe. Prior to that, he worked with a number of well-respected pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca & MedImmune and Novartis. With a legacy of experience in both the CDMO and pharma innovator/generic sides of drug development and manufacturing, Mr. Berdou brings an understanding of both perspectives to PPS. His passion lies in building customer-centric strategies, creating lean organizations, engaging with employees through a robust and inclusive culture, and forming a strong quality mindset across the organization. For his new role, Mr. Berdou will be based in the Northeastern United States.

Peter DeYoung, Chief Executive Officer, Piramal Pharma Solutions, said, "I welcome Herve to PPS and wish him all the success in the new role. His broad, in-depth industry and functional expertise will help us create value for all our stakeholders as we continue our journey of profitable growth. His blend of CDMO and innovative pharmaceutical company experience positions him to understand and meet the needs of our customers and their patients. His multi-country operating track record will bring the best of our team and site network to our clients as we deliver integrated projects and support their clinical progression and commercial success. Herve's management style is aligned to our values and our cultural priorities."

Mr. Berdou holds a Master's (DESS) in Procurement and Supply Chain from IAE in Grenoble, France - Ecoles Universitaires de Management, and a degree in Economics and Politics from Universite Pierre Mendes-France.

About Piramal Pharma Solutions:

Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS) is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) offering end-to-end development and manufacturing solutions across the drug life cycle. We serve our customers through a globally integrated network of facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia. This enables us to offer a comprehensive range of services including drug discovery solutions, process & pharmaceutical development services, clinical trial supplies, commercial supply of APIs, and finished dosage forms. We also offer specialized services such as the development and manufacture of highly potent APIs, antibody-drug conjugations, sterile fill/finish, peptide products & services, and potent solid oral drug product. PPS also offers development and manufacturing services for biologics including vaccines, gene therapies, and monoclonal antibodies, made possible through Piramal Pharma Limited's investment in Yapan Bio Private Limited. Our track record as a trusted service provider with experience across varied technologies makes us a partner of choice for innovator and generic companies worldwide.

For more information please visit: www.piramalpharmasolutions.com | Twitter | LinkedIn

About Piramal Pharma Ltd.

Piramal Pharma Limited (PPL) offers a portfolio of differentiated products and services through end-to-end manufacturing capabilities across 15 global facilities and a global distribution network of over 100 countries. PPL includes: Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), an integrated Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization; Piramal Critical Care (PCC), a Complex Hospital Generics business, and the India Consumer Healthcare business, selling over-the counter products. PPS offers end-to-end development and manufacturing solutions through a globally integrated network of facilities across the drug life cycle to innovator and generic companies. PCC's complex hospital product portfolio includes inhalation anaesthetics, intrathecal therapies for spasticity and pain management, injectable pain and anaesthetics, injectable anti-infectives, and other therapies. The Indian Consumer Healthcare business is among the leading players in India in the self-care space, with established brands in the Indian consumer healthcare market. In addition, PPL has a joint venture with Allergan, a leader in ophthalmology in the Indian formulations market. In October 2020, the company received growth equity investment from the Carlyle Group.

For more information visit: www.piramal.com | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

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SAN FRANCISCO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global LED lighting market size is anticipated to reach USD 132.96 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2022 to 2030, according to a new study by Grand View Research Inc. Increasing consumer demand for energy-efficient lighting solutions is expected to increase demand for LED lighting products such as A-lamps and T-lamps.

Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

The flourishing hospitality sector globally is resulting in a demand for an advanced lighting solution that would enhance the aesthetic of hotels and resorts and also save energy consumption. This factor contributes to the market growth

The LED luminaires segment dominated the global market with more than 55.7% share in 2021 and is expected to continue its dominance due to increasing demand from the commercial & industrial sectors

The Asia Pacific accounts for a major revenue share of 42.8% in the global market in 2021. This can be attributed to the rapid increase in infrastructure development projects in developing countries, coupled with rising awareness among consumers related to the benefits of LED such as energy-saving, bright light, and low cost

Get more Insights from 140-page full market research report, "LED Lighting Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Lamps, Luminaires), By Application (Indoor, Outdoor), By End Use (Commercial, Residential, Industrial), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

LED Lighting Market Growth & Trends

LED lighting offers advantages such as less heat emission, more bright light, energy-saving, and low cost which is attracting consumers. These mentioned benefits of LED lighting compared to other lighting solutions and high demand from the construction sector for residential & commercial applications are factors expected to drive market.

In addition, auto manufacturers are focused on introducing vehicles with an unmistakable modern look to attract customers. LED lighting solutions provide players the flexibility to manufacture products with complex shapes, compact sizes with aesthetic design, resulting in high adoption of LED lighting solutions from automotive manufacturers. This high adoption of LEDs from auto manufacturers in headlight, fog light, and interior lighting applications is expected to support the target market growth.

Moreover, rapid advancements in semiconductor technology, coupled with favorable government policies and initiatives to encourage the adoption of LED lighting technology are aspects driving the market growth. Major players approach towards introduction of advanced products with long service life, Wi-Fi enabled, nanosecond switching, and are flicker-free which is expected to support the target market growth. For instance, in August 2021, Signify N.V., a lighting solution provider announced the launch of smart LED downlighter, T-Bulb, T-Beamer, and Batten under Wiz smart bulb brand portfolio. The newly launched products operate on Wi-Fi and are expected to attract new customers to support company growth.

A noticeable increase in construction activities in the industrial sector, coupled with rising demand for energy-efficient lighting solutions is expected to positively impact the target market growth. However, the global outbreak of COVID-19 had slowdown the construction and infrastructure development activities resulting in low demand for LED lighting. Also, low awareness among consumers related to installation costs are factors challenging the market growth.

COVID-19 negatively impacted the industry. With strict lockdown imposed by government at workplaces including manufacturing facilities, resulting in halt at production plants disrupted the supply chain, further stopping the production of lights. However, post-second-quarter 2021 the market started to witness growth as the government took off the imposed regulation.

LED Lighting Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global LED lighting market on the basis of product, application, end use, and region:

Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Lamps

A-Lamps



T-Lamps



Others

Luminaires

Streetlights



Downlights



Troffers



Others

Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Indoor

Outdoor

End Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

Commercial

Residential

Industrial

Others

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

U.K.



Germany



France



Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China



India



Japan



Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

List of key players in the LED Lighting Market

Acuity Brands Lighting Inc.

Cree Lighting

Dialight

Digital Lumens Inc.

Hubbell

LSI Industries Inc.

LumiGrow

Panasonic Corporation

Siteco GmbH

Signify Holding

Semiconductor Co. Ltd.

Zumtobel Group Ag

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Smart LED Lighting Market - The global smart LED lighting market size is expected to reach USD 34.18 million by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is projected to expand at a CAGR of 24.6% during the forecast period. High demand for smart home appliances as a result of improved standard of living of working class professionals is expected to drive the market.

The global smart LED lighting market size is expected to reach by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is projected to expand at a CAGR of 24.6% during the forecast period. High demand for smart home appliances as a result of improved standard of living of working class professionals is expected to drive the market. Outdoor Solar LED Market - The global outdoor solar LED market size is expected to reach USD 24.75 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 24.6% from 2021 to 2028, according to the new study conducted by Grand View Research, Inc. The use of solar PV cells in urban spaces for outdoor lighting applications has substantially increased over the last couple of years. The increased demand for these products can be attributed to their benefits on the fronts of energy efficiency, maintenance cost, and power cost over traditional lighting.

- The global outdoor solar LED market size is expected to reach by 2028, registering a CAGR of 24.6% from 2021 to 2028, according to the new study conducted by Grand View Research, Inc. The use of solar PV cells in urban spaces for outdoor lighting applications has substantially increased over the last couple of years. The increased demand for these products can be attributed to their benefits on the fronts of energy efficiency, maintenance cost, and power cost over traditional lighting. Mini LED Market - The global mini LED market size is expected to reach USD 5.9 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 86.6% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Amidst rapid development of Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs), mini LEDs have gradually forayed into the industry to bridge the application and technology gap between micro LEDs, which have not been able to overcome their inherent technical hurdles, and traditional LEDs.

Browse through Grand View Research's Electronic Devices Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

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NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insight Partners published latest research study on " eVTOL Aircraft Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Lift Technology (Multirotor, Lift Plus Cruise, Vectored Thrust, and Others), Propulsion Type (Hybrid, Fully Electric, and Electric Hydrogen), Application (Air Taxi; Cargo Transport; Last Mile Delivery; Critical Missions; Inspection, Surveying, and Mapping; and Others), and Operation Mode (Piloted, Optionally Piloted, and Autonomous)", the global eVTOL aircraft market size is expected to grow from $519.81 million in 2024 to $1.75 billion by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 35.6% from 2024 to 2028.

Get Exclusive Access to Sample Pages of eVTOL Aircraft Market Size - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Insights at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00007568/

eVTOL Aircraft Market Strategic Insights:

Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in US$ 519.81 Million in 2024 Market Size Value by US$ 1,756.28 Million by 2028 Growth rate CAGR of 35.6% from 2024 to 2028 Forecast Period 2024-2028 Base Year 2024 No. of Pages 182 No. Tables 78 No. of Charts & Figures 77 Historical data available Yes Segments covered Lift Technology, Propulsion Type, Application, and Operation Mode Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA Country scope US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

eVTOL Aircraft Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

Airbus (The Netherlands), Bell Textron Inc. (US), Boeing (US), Eve Air Mobility (Brazil), Lilium GmbH (Germany), Opener (US), EHang (China), BETA Technologies (US), Pipistrel Group (Slovenia), Volocopter GmbH (Germany), Joby Aviation Inc. (US), Heart Aerospace (Sweden), and Archer Aviation Inc. (US) are among the key players profiled in the eVTOL aircraft market report. Several other market players were studied to get a holistic view of the eVTOL aircraft market and its ecosystem. The market report provides detailed market insights, which helps the key players strategize their growth.

Place Your Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPRE00007568/

In 2022, Lilium GmBH disclosed a purchase agreement with fractional aircraft operator NetJets. The agreement includes purchase rights for up to 150 of the six-passenger eVTOL model being developed by Lilium. The agreement includes related aftermarket services for Lilium aircraft.

In 2020, Bell revealed an evolved Nexus 4EX air taxi design using fewer ducted fans and longer wings. The 7,000-pound (3,175-kilogram) Nexus 4EX can carry four to five passengers up to 60 miles (95 kilometers) at a cruise speed of ~150 mph (240 km/h). While intended to be an electric aircraft, it has been designed to be propulsion agnostic, and a hybrid version would extend that range beyond 150 miles.

eVTOL Aircraft Market: Key Insights

The eVTOL aircraft market growth driven by the adoption of air taxis due to development of urban air mobility development of electric propulsion-based eVTOL aircraft, emerging need for green energy-based mode of transportation.

Connect with Our Research Analyst On: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/speak-to-analyst/TIPRE00007568

The eVTOL aircraft market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of World. According to the market analysis, Europe is expected to lead the eVTOL aircraft market in 2024 and continue its dominance during the forecast period. The unprecedented hurdles and shifting consumer demands have led European countries to invest in new services such as Pick Up Drop Off (PUDO), last mile delivery, and new innovations, including real-time delivery changes. The increased importance of last-mile delivery has become evident in eVTOL-based transportation activities. The long-standing freight shippers are incorporating or updating technology to improve the last-mile delivery support. The primary focus is on improving reliability, enhancing customer experience, and increasing the competitiveness of the transport ecosystem. Thus, the eVTOL aircraft market growth is expected to witness a significant rise in the coming years.

North America is expected to account for the second-largest market share in the global eVTOL aircraft market by 2024, owing to the increasing investments in North American eVTOL infrastructure development from various sources. For instance, in May 2022, Airbus selected MAGicALL to supply the motors of its eVTOL aircraft named CityAirbus NextGen. MAGicALL provides a tailored version of the MAGiDRIVE, the newest generation of electric motors. In January 2022, Wisk, an eVTOL developer & advanced air mobility (AAM) company, received funding worth US$ 450 million from The Boeing Company. In addition to supporting the development of Wisk's 6th-generation eVTOL aircraft, the investment from Boeing will accelerate production and achieve market growth. Further, in April 2022, Beta Technologies, a Vermont-based eVTOL startup, secured US$ 375 million in its latest Series B funding round. Such developments are expected to boost the growth of the eVTOL aircraft market in the region.

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Asia Pacific is expected to hold the third-largest share in the global eVTOL aircraft market during the forecast period. The rising urbanization and growing congestion in traffic are pushing ground transportation to maximum limits in Asia Pacific countries. Urban air mobility can develop a transportation system that is faster, cleaner, and interconnected within Asia Pacific countries. In April 2021, Volocopter, a German eVTOL developer, and China's Geely Technology Group announced that they are laying the groundwork for future urban air mobility (UAM) services in China with a joint presence at Auto Shanghai 2021. Further, in June 2020, Terrafugia, a subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, introduced its full-scale TF-2A eVTOL aircraft. The growing initiatives from leading players to provide the urban air mobility solution are augmenting the development of air taxis. In October 2021, Vertical Aerospace announced that its VA-X4 is expected to be a part of plans for eVTOL air taxi services in Japan based on a lease-purchase agreement between Japan Airlines and Avolon.

The Rest of World is expected to witness a healthy and strong growth in the eVTOL aircraft market during the forecast period. The region is an important market for eVTOL manufacturing due to the presence of companies such as Eve (an Embraer company). Till 2021, the company had already gained a contract opportunity of ~US$ 5.2 billion, providing ~1,735 eVTOL aircraft to 17 different customers worldwide whose manufacturing will be in South America region. However, the company is expected to start the production of eVTOL aircraft by 2026 which is expected to catalyze the eVTOL market size in the region during the forecast period.

Buy Premium Copy of eVTOL Aircraft Market Size, Share, Revenue, Strategic Insights and Forecasts 2022-2028 Research Report at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00007568/

eVTOL Aircraft Market: Operation Mode Overview

The operation mode segment is further categorized into piloted, optionally piloted, and autonomous. The piloted segment is expected to account for the largest market share in 2024 in the global eVTOL aircraft market. However, the optionally piloted segment is expected to register the highest CAGR from 2027 to 2028 in the global eVTOL aircraft market. This is due to the expected commercialization of optionally piloted aircraft model being developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) in South Korea, which will generate huge opportunities for market vendors in the South Korean eVTOL aircraft market.

Browse Adjoining Reports:

Tilt Rotor Aircraft Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Type (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Manned Aerial Vehicle) and End User (Civil and Military)

Maritime Patrol Aircraft Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Engine Type (Jet Engine, Turboprop Engine); Component (Radar, Camera, Sensors); Platform (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing) and Geography

Special Mission Aircraft Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Platform (Military Aviation, Commercial Aviation, UAV); Application (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, Command and Control, Combat Support, Emergency Services, Transportation, Air-Launch/Rocket Launch, Scientific Research and Geological Surveys, Other); End-User (Defence, Commercial and Civil, Space) and Geography

Amphibious Aircraft Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by End User (Military, Civilian); Application (Tourism, Surveillance, Search and Rescue Operations, Fire-fighting) and Geography

Hydrogen Aircraft Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Passenger Capacity (Less than 100, 100-200, More than 200); Range (Short Haul, Medium Haul, Long Haul); Application (Passenger Aircraft, Cargo Aircraft) and Geography

Military Trainer Aircraft Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Type (Basic Jet Trainers, Intermidiate Jet Trainers, Advanced Jet Trainers); Seat (Single Seat, Twin-Seat) and Geography

Glider Aircraft Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Type (Sailplane, Hang Glider); Propulsion (Powered, Non-powered) and Geography

Connected Aircraft Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis -- by Systems (Data Management Systems and Satellite Communication Systems); Solutions (Fuel Monitoring, Flight Management, Aircraft Communication, Crew & Passenger Connectivity, and Others); Connectivity (Aircraft to Aircraft Connectivity, Air to Ground Connectivity and In-flight Connectivity); Aircraft Types (Fixed Wing Aircraft and Rotary Wing Aircraft) End Users (Commercial and Military); and Geography

Military Transport Aircraft Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Transport Category (Personnel, Cargo); Aircraft Type (Turbofan Engine Aircraft, Turboprop Engine Aircraft); Helicopter Type (Lightweight Helicopter, Heavyweight Helicopter) and Geography

Biomimetic Aircraft Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Product Type (FMAV, Fixed Wing Aircraft, Others); Application (Aircraft Manufacturing, Military, Agriculture, Biology Research, Others) and Geography

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DUBLIN, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FlowForma aims to maintain its position as a leader in the fast-growing 'no code' software market with a funding round that raised 4m from new and existing investors, and a next-generation product scheduled for end-of-year release. To support the strategy, Colm Heffernan, previously Chief Operating Officer at Fenergo, has been appointed as Chairman, bringing a decade's experience in growing global businesses to the company.

The Irish firm will increase employee numbers from 30 to 100, with new roles across all areas of the business - sales, development, marketing, customer service - to meet growing demand in overseas markets. It will open an incubator space in Enterprise Ireland's New York office as the software company makes the US a priority.

Olivia Bushe, Chief Executive Officer, FlowForma, said, "Our growth trajectory reflects how digital process automation has gone from the fringes to the mainstream, and how FlowForma Process Automation is now recognized as a fix for process pain points, delivering cost savings, efficiencies, and a great end-user experience for every type of organization in challenging economic times."

New Chairman, Colm Heffernan, commented, "I'm delighted to be able to play a role in an Irish success story that is primed for accelerated growth. Back in 2018, when FlowForma was a start-up, the idea of no code software was not always understood; now it's a given. Cloud-based subscription software like FlowForma's is now part of the new normal."

Olivia Bushe attributes the 26% growth in FlowForma's last financial year (March 2021-March 2022) to fallout from the pandemic, which prompted organizations to accelerate digital transformation projects. Sectors like construction, healthcare, and financial services are all now embracing FlowForma's approach to process change. "When paper-based processes were broken during Covid lockdowns, we were able to help them transform quickly and do more digitally," explained Bushe.

The change reflects a wider industry shift to 'no code' and 'low code' products. With IT skill shortages exacerbating the time it takes to develop software, FlowForma's self-service approach - where business units get to design and build their own workflows - is not just getting the job done, it's empowering non-technical people to take charge of their own processes.

The next version of FlowForma Process Automation will be Microsoft 365/SharePoint independent. While it will still integrate with the best-selling productivity suite, the company is using the new investment funds to enrich the no code offering and open it up to work with even more databases. Original investors who are involved in the new round and supporting the strategy include Marc Murphy, CEO and founder of Fenergo, John Purdy, co-founder of Ergo, and Padraig Canavan, founder of Singularity.

About FlowForma

One of the fastest growing cloud companies in the new world of no code Business Process Management, FlowForma is dedicated to making intuitive, affordable process automation tools that empower business users to work smarter and quicker. The company's product has over 200,000 users across more than 20 countries, with customers including Aon, Grant Thornton, Bouygues Group, NHS Trusts, and Trinity College Dublin. Headquartered in Dublin, FlowForma is motivated by its values to innovate, evolve, and achieve with employees, customers, and partners.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1844150/FlowForma_CEO_Olivia_Bushe.jpg

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FreeFoam is a new family of photopolymer resins containing heat-activated foaming agents that are 3D printed with Digital Light Processing (DLP). After printing, FreeFoam parts are briefly put into an oven where the foaming agent creates closed cells inside the material in a tightly controlled process

This innovative material can be programmed to expand a specific amount between 2 to 7 times its original printed size allowing FreeFoam parts to be shipped in a compact form and expanded on-demand in an oven close to the final point of use or assembly, saving shipping and inventory expenses

While 3D printers today can process photopolymers into lattice designs that simulate foams, FreeFoam is a true foam containing closed cells that can be printed in a lattice up to a fully dense design delivering benefits for the automotive, furnishing, footwear, sporting goods, health care and other industries

In addition to eliminating expensive tooling and the waste associated with standard foam production, FreeFoam enables new design freedom and delivers a high strength-to-weight ratio that produces light, high-performing parts that can reduce shipping costs and improve efficiency in cars and other products

FreeFoam resin will be offered in a wide range of Shore hardness values and will initially be 3D printable exclusively on the ETEC Xtreme 8K top-down DLP system from Desktop Metal's polymer 3D printing brand

Desktop Metal (NYSE: DM), a global leader in additive manufacturing technologies for mass production, today unveiled FreeFoam, a new family of photopolymer resins that produces durable and dimensionally accurate closed cell foam parts without tooling delivering all-new benefits for the automotive, furnishing, footwear, sporting goods, health care and other industries.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005363/en/

These automotive seats were 3D printed in an innovative new FreeFoam photopolymer resin that can be expanded in an oven after printing. The seat on the left showcases the material after 3D printing but before expansion, while the seat on the right shows the fully expanded seat after a quick trip through an oven. The seats were 3D printed on the ETEC Xtreme 8K top-down DLP printer shown in the background. (Photo: Business Wire)

FreeFoam will be on display June 28-30 at Foam Expo North America in Novi, Michigan. Automotive seating 3D printed in FreeFoam, developed in partnership with Camaco, an engineered seating solutions supplier, will be on display in Booth 2336.

Parts made with FreeFoam are already being manufactured with leaders in the automotive and furnishing markets, with broad commercial availability of FreeFoam material slated for 2023. A new video showing the process for 3D printed parts production using this innovative new material is now available at https://learn.desktopmetal.com/freefoam.

"FreeFoam is one of the most exciting and commercially significant photopolymer solutions to come to market in the industrial printing space in years," said Ric Fulop, Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal. "The market for conventionally manufactured foam has many challenges from expensive molds that limit designs, to dense and heavy foams that absorb water and are expensive to ship and drive, to the inability to easily dial in strength and Shore hardness values in specific foam designs.

"We're especially excited to reveal our FreeFoam innovation in Metro Detroit, where our new foam material can help lightweight cars and trucks while preserving the performance and comfort expected in foam seating. With FreeFoam, Desktop Metal is ready to liberate the foam market from its many challenges."

Several Grades of FreeFoam Resins Planned

FreeFoam was invented and developed by Texas-based Adaptive3D, a subsidiary of Desktop Metal that was acquired in 2021 and is a leader in premium photopolymer and elastomer development.

FreeFoam resins are 3D printed similar to other photopolymer resins using DLP. After 3D printing, FreeFoam parts can be expanded on-demand during a brief heating cycle in an oven at approximately 160-170C (320-340F). The printed parts contain dispersed heat-activated foaming agents that create closed cell pores inside the material. This highly controllable process causes FreeFoam resins to consistently expand 2 to 7 times their as-printed sizes depending on the grade of resin, achieving final parts within desired tolerances.

This all-new process allows 3D printers to produce much larger final foam parts than the printers' original build areas and will enable foam products to be shipped at compact sizes and expanded at the final point of assembly or commercial use.

While preliminary specifications for FreeFoam are now available, Desktop Metal plans to offer several grades of FreeFoam resins enabling different Shore hardness values and other specific materials properties such as water resistance for the outdoor furnishing market.

FreeFoam is part of the recently launched DuraChain category of one-part, one-pot photopolymers that delivers breakthrough elastic and tough material properties through a Photo Polymerization-Induced Phase Separation process. When illuminated during DLP printing, these materials phase separate at the nano level into a material that cures into a resilient, high-performance polymer network. DuraChain enables FreeFoam parts to be foamed with control in an oven without a mold.

FreeFoam will initially be 3D printable exclusively on the ETEC Xtreme 8K top-down DLP system from Desktop Metal's polymer 3D printing brand. Companies interested in this new material and process are encouraged to visit https://learn.desktopmetal.com/freefoam.

About Desktop Metal

Desktop Metal, Inc., based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is accelerating the transformation of manufacturing with an expansive portfolio of 3D printing solutions, from rapid prototyping to mass production. Founded in 2015 by leaders in advanced manufacturing, metallurgy, and robotics, the company is addressing the unmet challenges of speed, cost, and quality to make additive manufacturing an essential tool for engineers and manufacturers around the world. Desktop Metal was selected as one of the world's 30 most promising Technology Pioneers by the World Economic Forum, named to MIT Technology Review's list of 50 Smartest Companies, and the 2021 winner of Fast Company's Innovation by Design Award in materials and Fast Company's Next Big Things in Tech Award for sustainability.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties set forth in Desktop Metal, Inc.'s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Desktop Metal, Inc. assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005363/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Sarah Webster

sarahwebster@desktopmetal.com

(724) 516-2336

Investor Relations:

Jay Gentzkow

jaygentzkow@desktopmetal.com

(781) 730-2110
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Walgreens Health, a division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (WBA), announced Tuesday a new collaboration with Buckeye Health Plan to bring innovative health and wellness services to Medicaid members in five northeast Ohio neighborhood locations this summer. Buckeye Health Plan, an Ohio managed care company, is the third payer to partner with Walgreens Health to launch Walgreens Health Corner locations. With additional partners in California and New Jersey across commercial and Medicare plan patient populations respectively, Walgreens Health is now contracted to serve more than 2.27 million patients. By the end of 2022, the number of current Walgreens Health Corners will expand from 55 to approximately 100 locations, which include the additional five in Ohio. Walgreens Health Corner locations will offer eligible Ohio Medicaid members access to an integrated healthcare experience led by Health Advisors, who are pharmacists or registered nurses. Health Advisors will provide a range of health and clinical services that supplement care received from primary care physicians and specialists. Patient care services and associated outcomes will be shared with Buckeye Health Plan and additional patient care providers to support individualized, holistic care. The collaboration between Walgreens Health and Buckeye Health Plan highlights Walgreens Boots Alliance's new vision to be the leading partner in reimagining local healthcare and wellbeing for all. This new collaboration follows a successful Walgreens Pharmacy pilot program launched with Buckeye Health Plan in 2021 to support asthma and COPD patients as part of a multi-phased approach to support comprehensive expanded clinical services. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Surge in number of young populations, change in taste preference of consumers that boosted the demand for online food delivery services, and increase in disposable income have boosted the growth of the global cloud kitchen market.

PORTLAND, Ore., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Cloud Kitchen Market by Type (Independent Cloud Kitchen, Commissary/Shared Kitchen, KitchenPods), by Product Type (Burger/Sandwich, Pizza, Pasta, Chicken, Seafood, Mexican/Asian Food, Others), by Nature (Franchised, Standalone): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030". As per the report, the global cloud kitchen industry was accounted for $29.4 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach $112.7 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.12% from 2021 to 2030.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities

Surge in number of young populations, change in taste preference of consumers that boosted the demand for online food delivery services, and increase in disposable income have boosted the growth of the global cloud kitchen market. However, health concerns regarding regular consumption of fast foods hinders the market. On the contrary, rise in demand for international cuisines such as pizzas and burgers would open new opportunities in the future.

Request Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/6773

Covid-19 scenario:

Due to Covid-19 pandemic, all brick-and-mortar restaurants suffered losses. Moreover, the strict lockdown regulation prevented consumers from dining at restaurants.

However, many conventional restaurants became cloud kitchen due to lockdown restrictions and increase in demand for online food delivery.

The franchised segment held the largest share

By nature, the franchised segment held the largest share in 2020, accounting for nearly three-fourths of the global cloud kitchen market, due to increase in trend of franchising among stakeholders as it helps in expansion of businesses and requires less capital. However, the standalone segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 13.84% during the forecast period, as standalones specialize in preparation of one or two main types of fast-food products that gain higher level of traction among consumers.

The independent cloud kitchen segment dominated the market

By type, the independent cloud kitchen segment held the lion's share in 2020, contributing to around two-thirds of the global cloud kitchen market, due to increase in demand for international cuisines such as Thai food and Chinese food globally. However, the kitchenPods segment is estimated to manifest the highest CAGR of 14.62% from 2021 to 2030, due to its low operational cost and its eco-friendly offerings to reduce waste.

North America dominated the market

By region, the global cloud kitchen market across North America held the largest share in 2020, holding around two-fifths of the market, owing to well established and advanced technologies adopted by the food providers in the region. However, market across Asia-Pacific is expected to register the highest CAGR of 15.07% during the forecast period, due to rise in number of young populations in Asia-Pacific, along with change in taste preference of consumers.

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Major market players

Dahmakan

DoorDash

Ghost Kitchen Orlando

Keatz

Kitchen United

Kitopi Catering Services LLC

Rebel Foods

Starbucks Corporation

Swiggy

Zomato

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Upcoming Reports:

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About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.
Phishing Scheme Attempted to Leverage Legitimate Government Site for Solicitation of Fake Philanthropic Donations

CAMBRIDGE, England, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Darktrace, a global leader in cyber security AI, today announced that its Antigena Email product has added an early warning system, allowing members of the Darktrace community to contribute and benefit from insights gleaned from across the fleet. This new capability is now available to Antigena Email users and includes the extension of anonymized, learned domain behavioral profiles across Darktrace's expansive and diverse group of global customers.

"Darktrace stops all kinds of cyber-attacks against organizations in every sector in over 110 countries globally. That represents a huge bank of knowledge about how malicious payloads behave in the very earliest stage of a cyber-attack," commented Jack Stockdale, OBE, Darktrace CTO. "Antigena Email has now realized the vision of leveraging collaborative, anonymized insights to leave attackers with nowhere to hide."

Ninety-four percent of cyber-attacks begin in the inbox. As organizations continue to rely on email as a primary workplace collaboration tool and attacks become increasingly novel and sophisticated, email security technologies that rely on behavior rather than threat intelligence become more imperative.

Darktrace's Self-Learning AI observes emails to build bespoke behavioral profiles for each customer and leverages these behavioral profiles, rather than a ledger of binary 'good' or 'bad,' to accurately determine whether each email belongs in a recipient's inbox. Antigena Email uniquely analyzes domains within email addresses and links in email bodies and attachments to evaluate their popularity and typical presence in the inbox.

Now, when Antigena detects unusual domain behavior in a customer environment, a supplementary interpretation can be made by comparison with this new fleet-wide version of the behavioral profiles. This new functionality can lead to increased suspicion, for example, of a potential account compromise when a fleet-wide popular domain suddenly strays from its usual behavioral patterns - even in a trusted supplier or vendor.

This update recently allowed Darktrace to stop a phishing campaign sent from a compromised government account in South America that was soliciting fake philanthropic donations. Although the government domain was legitimate, the attacker had inserted their own "reply-to" address into the email headers. This address had zero domain precedent locally or globally and, in combination with other indicators, led Antigena Email to flag this email as suspicious.

About Darktrace

Darktrace (DARK:L), a global leader in cyber security AI, delivers world-class technology that protects over 6,800 customers worldwide from advanced threats, including ransomware and cloud and SaaS attacks. Darktrace's fundamentally different approach applies Self-Learning AI to enable machines to understand the business in order to autonomously defend it. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, the Group has more than 2,000 employees worldwide. Darktrace was named one of TIME magazine's 'Most Influential Companies' for 2021.

Media Contacts

Tom Bermingham

Brands2Life (UK)

+44 (0) 7983 857952

darktrace@brands2life.com

Jessica Cheney

CommStrat (US)

+1 419 350 4614

darktrace@commstrat.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2022) - Lobe Sciences Ltd. (CSE: LOBE) (OTCQB: LOBED) ("Lobe" or the "Company"), a Canadian Biopsychedelics company committed to discovering and developing psychedelic inspired medicines for the improvement of neurologic, brain and mental health disorders, today announced an exclusive agreement with Clearway Global LLC ("Clearway").

Philip Young, CEO of Lobe stated, "We are pleased to have the opportunity to team up with the Clearway network and in particular with Dr. Fred Sancilio, a global expert in drug development and strategic planning. Dr. Sancilio brings over 40 years of pharmaceutical experience to our program and has a track record of success that is unmatched".

Dr. Fred D. Sancilio, Founder and CEO of Clearway commented "We are excited to be part of this evolving new area of pharmaceutical research that is demonstrating incredible potential to treat brain disorders that were previously believed to be untreatable. Biopsychedelics, such as those being developed at Lobe, present entirely new mechanisms of action that may change the way we treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other neurologic diseases. Mental illness is a wide-open field of research, and I am optimistic that Lobe is on the right path toward helping patients who suffer from these diseases".

In recent preclinical studies, treatment with Lobe's unique platform technology combining N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) with the bio psychedelic psilocybin, showed statistically significant positive results in a model of PTSD when compared to either moiety alone. In association with Clearway the Company plans to develop proprietary new chemical entities (NCEs) that improve upon naturally derived psychedelic molecules which can be unstable as pharmaceutical drugs. These NCEs are being studied as potentially low dose therapeutics without the psychedelic effect to allow patients to be treated at home or by their family physician.

About Lobe Sciences Ltd.

Lobe Sciences is a life sciences company focused on psychedelic medicines. The Company, through collaborations with industry-leading partners, is engaged in drug research and development using psychedelic compounds and the development of innovative devices and delivery mechanisms to improve mental health and wellness.

About Clearway Global LLC

Clearway Global, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sancilio & Company, provides early and mid-stage biopharmaceutical companies a world class network of development partners including international experts in regulatory affairs, business development, pre-clinical & clinical development, formulations, analytical chemistry, manufacturing, and controls. Clearway's founder, Dr. Fred Sancilio, MS, PHD is a recognized leader in drug development, analytical chemistry, corporate strategy and regulatory affairs. He is a serial entrepreneur and has contributed to dozens of successful start-ups that are now industry leaders.

For further information please contact:

Lobe Sciences Ltd.

Philip J Young, CEO

info@lobesciences.com

Tel: (949) 505-5623

NEITHER THE CSE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any securities.

Disclaimer for Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company, research and development using psychedelic compounds, and the development of innovative devices and delivery mechanisms to improve mental health and wellness, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of the forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including changes to the regulatory environment;, that the Company's drug research and development activities may be unsuccessful; that drugs and medical devices produced by, or on behalf of, the Company, may not work in the manner intended or at all, and may subject the Company to product liability or other liability claims; that the Company may not be able to attain the Company's corporate goals and objectives; and other risk factors detailed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings from time to time, as available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release and the Company does not intend to update any of the included forward-looking statements except as expressly required by applicable Canadian securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/128433
The agreement expands on the existing collaboration between the two parties to reinforce the position of Abu Dhabi as a life sciences and innovation hub

G42 Healthcare and AstraZeneca aim to strengthen local research, oncology diagnostics and innovation in the Emirate

SAN DIEGO, Calif., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- G42 Healthcare, an Abu Dhabi-based leading health tech company and subsidiary of G42, an artificial intelligence and cloud computing company located in Abu Dhabi has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with global biopharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca, in presence of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate of Abu Dhabi aiming to expand their collaboration into the domains of diagnostics and clinical research, providing access to innovative solutions and treatments for patients in the United Arab Emirates and beyond.

Witnessed by Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director, Research and Innovation Centre at DoH, Hicham Mirghani, Corporate Affairs Director GCC at AstraZeneca and Dr. Fahed Al Marzooqi, Chief Operating Officer at G42 Healthcare, the agreement was signed by Ghaleb Al Ahdab Government Affairs, Associate Director Gulf at AstraZeneca, and Francesco Redivo Senior Director at G42 Healthcare during the BIO International Convention held in San Diego, California.

G42 Healthcare and AstraZeneca initially signed a Declaration of Collaboration in December 2021. This agreement further expands on their partnership to build local research capabilities, conduct RWE / clinical trials in UAE and localize Oncology biomarkers testing in UAE.

Ashish Koshy, CEO of G42 Healthcare, said, "We value collaboration and believe the strategic partnership with AstraZeneca will yield incredible growth for the healthcare ecosystem. We are proud to align ourselves with these organizations to generate new treatments and technologies to solidify the UAE's place as a global hub for life sciences, medical tourism and innovation."

Hicham Mirghani, Corporate Affairs Director GCC, AstraZeneca said, "We are excited about expanding our existing partnership with G42 Healthcare to further advance the healthcare sector in the country and region. There is no doubt that innovation is key to healthcare advancements, and we are eagerly looking forward to collaboratively exploring greater possibilities in clinical research and diagnostics, enabling us to together create a more patient-centric healthcare offering in the UAE."

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1844180/BIO_Int_Convention.jpg
Joint Led by IDG Capital and Sequoia Capital China, the footwear company's Series A funding represents VC giants' confidence in the prospect and potential of this company.

LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MIRACLE MILES GROUP INC., a footwear technology enterprise that owns the popular brand Dream Pairs, officially announces today that it has closed a $100M Series A funding. The financing jointly led by IDG Capital and Sequoia Capital China will further boost the company's aggressive expansion into the global market.

"This round of funding has been closed despite a particularly challenging and turbulent capital market, which shows the confidence of world-class investors in the strength of our business," says Brian Cao, founder of MIRACLE MILES GROUP INC. "To prepare for global expansion, the company is developing an intelligent cloud platform to analyze the industry's big data. Establishing highly-efficient digital management systems enhances the entire product life cycle from product design and development to end-consumer business."

The company owns three key brands: Dream Pairs, which leads Amazon.com in women fashion footwear sales, the business-casual menswear brand Bruno Marc, and Nortiv8, an outdoor recreation line. All three are among the Top 100 footwear brands on Amazon.com, with more than 20 million pairs of shoes sold. Most notably, Dream Pairs has ranked as the #1 seller in many categories, including heel sandals, flats, and pumps.

"We are very impressed by their diligence and perseverance while improving the customer experience journey," said Jiajia Zou, Partner of Sequoia Capital China. IDG's Partner Meng Lian also spoke very highly of the supply chain efficiency: "Miracle Miles Group has an impressive market share and keeps growing despite a global pandemic. We are amazed by their dedication to quickly launch and improving future variations. We look forward to growing together with them," Meng said.

With the ammunition from this round of financing, the company will reach even more customers in the US and proceed to create a larger customer base in America, Europe, and Asia in 2 to 3 years.

About MIRACLE MILES GROUP INC.

MIRACLE MILES GROUP INC. is a tech-driven footwear enterprise with three well-established brands: Dream Pairs, Bruno Marc, and Nortiv8, covering various categories: women's shoes, kids' shoes, men's shoes, outdoor shoes, and work shoes. With over two thousand shoe styles and twenty million users, MMT's mission is to create value for and make quality fashion accessible to consumers by providing stylish, functional, comfortable footwear with reasonable pricing.

For more information, please contact:

pr@mirmiles.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1843963/Press_Release_Image.jpg


BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - A new law that gives U.S. authorities increased powers to block the import of goods linked to forced labor by Uyghurs and other persecuted groups in China came into force Tuesday.



Under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), entities both inside and outside the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) who seek to import to the U.S. must show that no part of their product was manufactured using slave labor.



Since 2017, Chinese authorities have committed crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in the northwest Xinjiang region, detaining as many as one million people and subjecting detainees and others to forced labor inside and outside Xinjiang.



'Today is an important day in the fight to stand up against the Chinese Communist Party's genocide and forced labor of Uyghurs and predominantly Muslim ethnic groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR),' four members of the Congress who drafted the Bill said.



'The United States is sending a clear message that we will no longer remain complicit in the Chinese Communist Party's use of slave labor and egregious crimes against humanity,' said U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), as well as U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ).



All four lawmakers are leading members of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China.



The new law creates a presumption that goods made in whole or in part in Xinjiang, or produced by entities in China linked to forced labor, are not eligible to be imported into the United States.



The US Customs and Border Protection Agency has already issued guidance to importers on the law's implementation. The guidance states that importers are expected to map their supply chains down to the raw material level to identify whether their products are made wholly or in part in Xinjiang or by entities linked to forced labor.



The guidance also clarifies that companies importing products from outside China should still investigate their full supply chain given the risk that goods were produced with forced labor in China before being transferred to third countries.



The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force issued additional guidance on implementing the law.



Credible research has linked a wide range of products imported into the US to forced labor in China, and Xinjiang specifically, such as the cotton in major clothing brands and the polysilicon in solar panels, according to Human Rights Watch.



Several imports from the resource-rich region, including cotton and tomatoes, have already been banned in the United States.







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NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per Zion Market Research study, The global hematology analyzers and reagents market was worth around USD 8.1 billion in 2021 and is estimated to grow to about USD 19.5 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7.1 percent over the forecast period.

Key Industry Insights & Finding of the Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market Reports:

As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market is expected to grow annually at a CAGR of around 7.1 % (2022-2028).

(2022-2028). Through the primary research, it was established that the Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market was valued approximately USD 8.1 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach to roughly USD 19.5 Billion by 2028.

Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach to roughly Billion by 2028. North America is expected to dominate the global hematology analyzers and reagents market owing to the strong presence of key companies and rising investment to create innovative and more accurate result-generating medical equipment.

is expected to dominate the global hematology analyzers and reagents market owing to the strong presence of key companies and rising investment to create innovative and more accurate result-generating medical equipment. Europe is expected to take the lead due to a rise in the number of diagnostic clinics and increased awareness of hematological illnesses in the region.

is expected to take the lead due to a rise in the number of diagnostic clinics and increased awareness of hematological illnesses in the region. Rising frequency of hematological illnesses among the patient population, the worldwide hematology analyzers and reagent market opportunity is expected to be greatest in the undeveloped areas of Asia Pacific and Latin America .

Zion Market Research published the latest report titled as "Hematology Analyzers And Reagents Market By Product Type (Instruments And Reagents), By Application (Hemorrhagic Conditions, Blood Cancers, Anemias Immune System-Related Conditions, Infection-Related Conditions, And Others) By End User (Diagnostic Laboratories, Hospitals & Clinics, Research Institutes, And Others), And By Region - Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022 - 2028." into their research database.

Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market: Overview

Hematology is a field of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, research, treatment, and prevention of blood diseases. Hematology analyzers are equipment that performs tests on blood samples. They're used to do tests like a full blood count, which includes platelet, white, red, and hemoglobin counts, as well as to characterize blood cells to detect a medical condition.

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Industry Dynamics:

Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market: Growth Drivers

Growing incidence of blood disorders is predicted to drive the market growth.

Red blood cell disorders including anemia, bleeding (platelet) disorders, and white blood cell disorders are all characterized by benign blood diseases. Other blood disorders, such as lymphoma, leukemia, and sickle cell anemia can cause chronic sickness or even death. Sickle cell disease, the most prevalent form of a hereditary blood ailment, affects between 70,000 to 100,000 people in the United States. Further, annually, approximately 1.24 million instances of blood cancer are diagnosed globally, accounting for around 6% of all cases of cancer. Owing to such a huge burden of the disease, the need for blood tests is rising, thereby leading to an increase in demand for hematology analyzers and reagents. In addition to this, advantageous reimbursement policies, rise in spending on health, and developing healthcare infrastructure in developing countries are some of the major factors that are fostering the growth of the global hematology analyzers and reagents market. Furthermore, an increase in blood donation & blood transfusion rate is also booming the market.

Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market: Restraints

High costs associated with the hematology analyzers may hinder the market growth.

Hematology analyzers and reagents are medical products and commodities that are used to identify and count individual blood cells in a time-efficient manner. This equipment has replaced the traditional methods of counting blood cells one by one under a magnification, which was formerly provided by research laboratory professionals. Hematology analyzer reagents are scientific, automatic, rapid, and provide greater accuracy in analysis. Flow cytometry is the most advanced and costly approach currently available. All such factors are likely to impede the growth of the market. In addition to this, hematology analyzers require high maintenance costs which may also hinder the market growth. Moreover, less developed healthcare infrastructure and a dearth of skilled professionals to operate the hematology analyzer are also some of the restraining factors of the market.

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Global Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market: Opportunities

Advanced technology in the field of medical equipment may generate numerous opportunities for the market growth.

Some of the important factors are increasing usage of automated hematology equipment, growing technical breakthroughs, and integration of fundamental flow-cytometry techniques in advanced hematology analyzers may lead to beneficial opportunities for the growth of the global hematology analyzer & reagent market during the forecast period. Further, the advent of digital imaging systems in hematological laboratories and the use of microfluidics technology in hematology analyzers might offer up new potential for new market players. Furthermore, heavy investments by the big players for new product launches and the presence of strong distribution chains may also drive market growth in the forecast period.

Global Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market: Challenges

Quality of the hematology analyzers might be a challenge for the market growth.

The phenomenon of a cell count that is too high or too few can also be caused by an automatic blood cell analyzer. Some analyzers, particularly impedance type counters, may not be able to discriminate between nucleated red blood cells and microscopic platelet aggregation since they only assess the size and quantity of particles. Platelet aggregation can be mistaken for red blood cells or white blood cells, and nucleated red blood cells can be mistaken for white blood cells as well. Lymphocytes are particularly sensitive. Atypical cells that are big or unreadable, immature neutrophils, and toxic reactive lymphocytes are also prone to be misclassified. The major threats include incorrect findings, which might lead to therapy delays or improper treatment. Thus, the quality issues of the hematology analyzers may act as a major challenge for the market growth.

Global Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market: Segmentation

The global hematology analyzers and reagents market is classified into product type, application, end-user, and region.

Based on the product type, the global market is split into reagents and instruments. The application segment consists of hemorrhagic conditions, blood cancers, anemias immune system-related conditions, infection-related conditions, and others. By end-user, the market is bifurcated into research institutes, hospitals & clinics, diagnostic laboratories, and others.

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List of Key Players of Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market :

Abbott

Siemens

Nihon Kohden

Danaher Corporation

Sysmex Corporation

Roche

BioSystems

Bio-Rad Laboratories

HORIBA

Boule Diagnostics

Key questions answered in this report:

What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market ?

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What segments does the Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market cover?

How can I receive a free copy of the Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market sample report and company profiles?

Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 8.1 Billion Revenue forecast in 2028 USD 19.5 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 7.1 % 2022-2028 Base Year 2020 Historic Years 2016 - 2021 Forecast Years 2022 - 2028 Segments Covered By Product Type, By Application, and By End Use Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2028 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Companies Covered Abbott, Siemens, Nihon Kohden, Danaher Corporation, Sysmex Corporation, Roche, BioSystems, Bio-Rad Laboratories, HORIBA, and Boule Diagnostics among others. Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/3324

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Recent Developments

In April 2022 , Sysmex Europe, launched the XQ-320, a three-part differential automated hematology analyzer. The XQ-320 is a reliable instrument that requires little sample volume, bench space, or maintenance.

, Sysmex Europe, launched the XQ-320, a three-part differential automated hematology analyzer. The XQ-320 is a reliable instrument that requires little sample volume, bench space, or maintenance. In July 2021 , PixCell Medical, a pioneer in point-of-care diagnostics, revealed that it has entered a new distribution deal with Gamidor Diagnostics to market PixCell's hematology analyzer, HemoScreen, all over Israel .

, PixCell Medical, a pioneer in point-of-care diagnostics, revealed that it has entered a new distribution deal with Gamidor Diagnostics to market PixCell's hematology analyzer, HemoScreen, all over . In January 2021 , Roche has renewed a long-standing collaboration with Sysmex to market Sysmex hematological diagnostic products, including instruments and reagents, under a new worldwide commercial partnership agreement.

Regional Dominance:

North America is projected to dominate the market for hematology analyzers and reagents.

North America is expected to dominate the global hematology analyzers and reagents market owing to the strong presence of key companies and rising investment to create innovative and more accurate result-generating medical equipment. Europe is expected to take the lead due to a rise in the number of diagnostic clinics and increased awareness of hematological illnesses in the region. On the other hand, because of the rising frequency of hematological illnesses among the patient population, the worldwide hematology analyzers and reagent market opportunity is expected to be greatest in the undeveloped areas of Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Global Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market is segmented as follows:

Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market: By Product Type Outlook (2022-2028)

Instruments

Reagents

Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market: By Application Outlook (2022-2028)

Hemorrhagic Conditions

Blood Cancers

Anemias

Immune System Related Conditions

Infection Related Conditions

Others

Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market: By End Use Outlook (2022-2028)

Diagnostic laboratories

Hospitals & Clinics

Research institutes

Others

Hematology Analyzers and Reagents Market: By Region Outlook (2022-2028)

North America

The U.S.

Canada

Europe

France

The UK

Spain

Germany

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

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BANGALORE, India, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial Internet of Things Market is segmented by Type- Wired Technology, Wireless Technology, Field Technology, by Application - Manufacturing, Energy, Oil & Gas, Metal & Mining, Healthcare, Retail, Transportation, Medical, Other. Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2028. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Consumer Resources Category.

The global Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) market size is projected to reach USD 102460 million by 2028, from USD 71160 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 5.3% during 2022-2028.

Major Factors Driving The Growth of the Industrial Internet of Things Market are:

The growth of the IIoT industry is driven by the increasing adoption of Industry 4.0. Furthermore, the need to increase efficiency, the need for predictive maintenance and to develop insights about the process flow in various industries, including manufacturing, Energy, Oil & Gas, Metal & Mining, Healthcare, Retail, Transportation, and Medical is expected to drive the growth of IIoT market.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF INDUSTRIAL IOT (IIOT) MARKET

The increasing use of IIoT in the manufacturing sector is expected to drive the growth of the industrial internet of things market. Data from remote assets in a manufacturing unit can be accessed from a central location thanks to connected IoT devices. These assets can be remotely monitored and controlled, providing a greater degree of control. They can also boost machine utilization by emphasizing the importance of preventive maintenance. In addition, real-time data from industrial internet of things connected equipment can aid in the prediction of machine problems. This enables manufacturers to take proactive actions to address issues before they arise, resulting in increased machine uptime and overall productivity.

The industrial internet of things energy movement focuses on integrating connections into equipment and devices, connecting those devices to intelligent networks, and extracting meaningful and actionable insights from that data using data analytics. Energy generation businesses, for example, will implant industrial internet of things sensors inside wind turbine vanes to manage their velocity, rotation, and functioning in real-time in response to changing wind conditions. The main value of smart grid and IIoT solutions is that they assist in realizing the potential of existing data and harvesting it for automation, better decision making, and ultimately increased efficiency. Thus the growing use of IIoT in the energy sector is expected to fuel the industrial internet of things market growth.

Oil and gas is a large industry with a lot of variables to manage at the same time. The IIoT benefits oil and gas firms by allowing them to design an integrated deployment plan. This in turn is expected to drive the growth of the industrial internet of things market. The industrial internet of things enables Oil and gas businesses to monitor various operations and optimize, automate, or digitize them as needed. Through sensor technologies and enhanced telemetry, IIoT installation streamlines the process of monitoring these variables.

The rising adoption of IIoT in Mining is expected to further propel the industrial internet of things market. With numerous sets of exploration data and modeling to help target subsequent drilling, IIOT can give mining operators a better understanding of the resource base, decreasing uncertainty. Machines that are IIoT-enabled can help optimize material and equipment flow for better efficiency and production, as well as predict equipment breakdowns. The IIoT market is predicted to increase as a result of these factors.

Furthermore, in healthcare, organizations will be able to record, transmit, aggregate, and analyze data in real-time using IIoT systems that connect medical equipment, allowing them to practice evidence-based treatment. In this way, the industrial internet of things can improve people's health, safety, and productivity all across the world.

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INDUSTRIAL IOT (IIOT) MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

Based on application, manufacturing is expected to be the most lucrative segment. Manufacturing companies are rapidly adopting digital manufacturing technologies, and the Internet of Things (IIoT) plays a critical role in these cutting-edge technologies. The market is expected to develop significantly in the near future, owing to the strategic partnerships and alliances that stakeholders are forming, as well as the growing demand for a linked supply chain to provide flexibility, operational efficacy, and regulatory compliance.

Based on region, North America and the Asia Pacific is expected to be the most lucrative region. Several well-established market participants can be found in North America. The region was also an early adopter of IIoT and has evolved into an innovation hotspot.

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Market By Region

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

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Key players

ARM Holding (UK)

Cisco (US)

GE (US)

Intel (US)

Rockwell Automation (US)

ABB ( Switzerland )

) Texas Instruments (US)

Dassault Systemes ( France )

) Honeywell (US)

Huawei Technologies ( China )

) IBM (US)

KUKA AG ( Germany )

( ) NEC Corporation ( Japan )

) Bosch ( Germany )

) Siemens AG ( Germany )

) PTC (US)

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SIMILAR REPORTS

- The global IoT Cloud Platform market size is projected to reach USD 10330 million by 2028, from USD 3108.9 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 18.2% during 2022-2028.

- The global IoT Platforms Market size is projected to reach USD 17100 million by 2027 from USD 2956.7 million in 2020 at a CAGR of 28.5% during 2021-2027.

- The global Internet of Things (IoT) Security market size is projected to reach USD 7722.1 million by 2028, from USD 2087.8 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 20.3% during 2022-2028.

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- The global IoT Fleet Management Market size is projected to reach USD 26410 million by 2027, from USD 6955.7 million in 2020 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 21.0% during 2021-2027.

- In 2018, the Global IoT market size was USD 164 Billion and it is expected to grow with a CAGR of 38.62% between 2018 and 2025.

- The global Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) market size is projected to reach USD 1225.9 million by 2027, from USD 213.1 million in 2020, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 27.8% during 2021-2027.

- IoT Solutions and Services market size (the most likely outcome), the revenue in 2021 is USD 178.3 Billion , and the global market size will reach USD 460.4 Billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 14.5%.

- Global revenue for IoT Medical Devices was valued at USD 16.25 Billion in 2020, and is expected to generate revenue of USD 58.33 Billion by end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 19.85% between 2021 and 2027.

- The global IoT Healthcare market size is projected to reach USD 222260 Million by 2028, from USD 53340 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 22.1% during 2022-2028.

- The global Agriculture IoT market size is projected to reach USD million by 2028, from USD million in 2021, at a CAGR of % during 2022-2028.

- The global Internet of Things Insurance market size is projected to reach USD 198550 million by 2028, from USD 25290 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 30.4% during 2022-2028.

- In 2020, the global IoT Chip market size was USD 39880 million and it is expected to reach USD 109140 million by the end of 2027, with a CAGR of 15.5% during 2021-2027.

- The global IoT Sensors market size is estimated to be worth USD 11500 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 31060 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 18.0% during the review period.

- The global Cellular IoT market size is projected to reach USD 2930.1 million by 2027, from USD 1818.2 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 7.0% during 2021-2027.

- The global IoT Device Management market size is projected to reach USD 7668.1 Million by 2028, from USD 1783.2 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 22.6% during 2022-2028.

- The global IIoT Platform market size is projected to reach USD 19780 million by 2028, from USD 3587 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 27.1% during 2022-2028.

- The global big data and business analytics market size was valued at USD 198.08 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach USD 684.12 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.5% from 2021 to 2030.

- Global Industrial IoT Wireless Module Market Insights and Forecast to 2028

Click Here To See Related Reports on IIoTMarket

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GURNEE, IL / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / Brightrock Gold Corp. (OTC PINK:BRGC) is excited to announce the completed filing & recording of a 1400 acre, 68 lodes claim expansion onto the recently acquired Midnight Owl Mine. In our recent press release BrightRock stressed the fact that the public will see the significant steps we are taking as a company to establish ourselves as a major contender in the lithium space. This expansion is proof to our investors and the public that BrightRock is serious. With the expansion it brings the total project size to 1425.54 acres, 69 lode claims in Yavapai County, Arizona. The company believes this is now one of the largest potential lithium deposits in the entire state of Arizona. Verification of this expansion can be located via: https://mlrs.blm.gov/s/global-search/BrightRock . Attached Map Below Shows the Areas of the Expanded Ownership of BrightRock's land in Relation to the Midnight Owl Mine.

BrightRock's goal with this expansion was to target all visible lithium trends around the existing mine location. The end result is that BrightRock now owns every inch of available lithium ground along these visible trends. The company wanted to ensure this will be the most attractive lithium project & source for the nearby under construction battery plants being constructed just 70 miles from the Midnight Owl Mine. Presently two plants are slated to be built near BrightRock's mine. The costs of this expansion have already been 100% covered by funding from Elite Automotive Group Inc. a private entity in Saskatoon, Canada, owned by Brightrock CEO Mac Shahsavar and Family.

The next step for BrightRock in the coming days will be the staking of this new expansion. Steven of Expansion for Red Beryl Mining Company, Inc. will lead this effort. During this BrightRock is expected to receive numerous media updates of both the existing mine and new expansion. Be sure to follow along via our social media channels for these media updates. Most importantly BrightRock will also receive new detailed surface readings using advanced XRF technology. Ore samples will also be collected and sent off for the appropriate 3rd party testing. These steps will set BrightRock up to move efficiently into drilling Program.

Contact:

Corporate Website: http://brightrockgold.com/

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Phone: 866-600-5444

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events, including our ability to raise capital, or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc. Our public filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the OTC Markets at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BRGC/disclosure .

SOURCE: Brightrock Gold Corp.

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Sales of industrial robots have reached a strong recovery: A new record of 486,800 units were shipped globally an increase of 27% compared to the previous year. Asia/Australia saw the largest growth in demand: installations were up 33% reaching 354,500 units. The Americas increased by 27% with 49,400 units sold. Europe saw double digit growth of 15% with 78,000 units installed. These preliminary results for 2021 have been published by the International Federation of Robotics.

"Robot installations around the world recovered strongly and make 2021 the most successful year ever for the robotics industry," says Milton Guerry, President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). "Due to the ongoing trend towards automation and continued technological innovation, demand reached high levels across industries. In 2021, even the pre-pandemic record of 422,000 installations per year in 2018 was exceeded."

Across industries

In 2021, the main growth driver was the electronics industry (132,000 installations, +21%), which surpassed the automotive industry (109,000 installations, +37%) as the largest customer of industrial robots already in 2020.

Europe

In 2021, industrial robot installations in Europe recovered after two years of decline exceeding the peak of 75,600 units in 2018. Demand from the most important adopter, the automotive industry, moved at a high level sideways (19,300 installations, +/-0%). Demand from metal and machinery rose strongly (15,500 installations, +50%), followed by plastics and chemical products (7,700 installations, +30%).

The Americas

In the Americas, the number of industrial robot installations reached the second-best result ever, only surpassed by the record year 2018 (55,200 installations). The largest American market, the United States, shipped 33,800 units this represents a market share of 68%.

Asia

Asia remains the world's largest industrial robot market: 73% of all newly deployed robots in 2021 were installed in Asia. A total of 354,500 units were shipped in 2021, up 33% compared to 2020. The electronics industry adopted by far the most units (123,800 installations, +22%), followed by a strong demand from the automotive industry (72,600 installations, +57%) and the metal and machinery industry (36,400 installations, +29%).

FULL TEXT press release:

https://ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/news/robot-sales-surge-in-europe-asia-and-the-americas

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PRESS OFFICER

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E-Mail: press@ifr.org
Combined entity will enable unparalleled market coverage, allowing growers and business partners globally to benefit from extensive product and solution offerings, including digital farming services

The merged company will be called Rivulis (In alliance with Jain International), and will be led by current Rivulis CEO Richard Klapholz , with dual headquarters in Singapore and Israel

Global investment company Temasek previously acquired a majority stake in Rivulis in December 2020 and assumed full ownership in March 2022

SINGAPORE, KFAR SABA, Israel, and JALGAON, India, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rivulis Pte. Ltd. ("Rivulis") and Jain Irrigation Systems Limited ("Jain Irrigation") are pleased to announce that they have entered into definitive transaction agreements pursuant to which Rivulis will acquire multiple overseas subsidiaries which consist of the International Irrigation Business ("IIB") of Jain Irrigation. The transaction consideration is a combination of cash and stock. Jain Irrigation will receive stock comprising 22% interest in Rivulis, the holding company of the enlarged group (the "Company"), and cash for the financing of debt issuances of the IIB and of bonds issued by Jain International Trading B.V. (the "Transaction"), to create a climate and irrigation leader globally. Temasek, a global investment company headquartered in Singapore, will become the majority shareholder of the Company with a 78% stake. The transaction is subject to required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

The Company reflects the vision of both Rivulis and Jain Irrigation in building a long-lasting, purpose-led company that will spearhead the transformation of agricultural irrigation. The Company will lead the mass adoption of modern irrigation solutions and digital farming by growers and business partners globally through its focus on accessibility, innovation, and sustainability.

With this merger, the Company will be:

Driven by Customers: The Company will have unparalleled market coverage with 25 factories and 3,300 employees across six continents and 35 countries. The Company will continue to fully support the brands that growers and business partners have come to rely upon season after season: Rivulis, Jain, NaanDanJain and Eurodrip.

The Company will have unparalleled market coverage with 25 factories and 3,300 employees across six continents and 35 countries. The Company will continue to fully support the brands that growers and business partners have come to rely upon season after season: Rivulis, Jain, NaanDanJain and Eurodrip. Driven by Innovation: Growers and business partners will benefit from an extensive product and solution offering, consisting of trusted industry brands such as D5000 PC, Amnon, T-Tape, Chapin, Ro-Drip, Top, Excel, Compact, 5035 and Mamkad. Eight decades of R&D and product engineering will be combined into a perpetual innovation engine, addressing the current and future needs of growers worldwide.

Growers and business partners will benefit from an extensive product and solution offering, consisting of trusted industry brands such as D5000 PC, Amnon, T-Tape, Chapin, Ro-Drip, Top, Excel, Compact, 5035 and Mamkad. Eight decades of R&D and product engineering will be combined into a perpetual innovation engine, addressing the current and future needs of growers worldwide. Driven by Digital: With digital farming services such as Jain Logic, Manna and ReelView, the Company is poised to become a robust ag-tech solution provider with the most extensive market coverage. Through its wide-ranging digital farming offering, growers will be able to finetune their irrigation operations in real-time, while increasing yields and reducing agri-inputs resulting in improved livelihoods and safeguarding of their land.

With digital farming services such as Jain Logic, Manna and ReelView, the Company is poised to become a robust ag-tech solution provider with the most extensive market coverage. Through its wide-ranging digital farming offering, growers will be able to finetune their irrigation operations in real-time, while increasing yields and reducing agri-inputs resulting in improved livelihoods and safeguarding of their land. Driven by Sustainability: Beyond the known micro irrigation benefits of water conservation and soil protection, the Company will continue its purpose led ESG journey. Following the completion of the transaction, the Company will commit to tangible carbon emission targets and launch its global program to help growers and business partners reduce their carbon emissions and increase their carbon sequestration. The Company aims not only to make micro irrigation accessible to growers and to feed the planet, but also to enable a more sustainable and climate resilient future for all.

The Company will be dual headquartered in Singapore and Israel and will continue to be named Rivulis Pte. Ltd. For the purposes of corporate branding, the company will be represented as "Rivulis (In alliance with Jain International)". Richard Klapholz, the current Rivulis CEO, will continue to lead the Company. Top senior associates from the IIB are expected to continue in leadership roles across the Company. Jain Irrigation will also be a supplier of irrigation products made in India to the Company for its international markets outside of India.

Anil Jain, Managing Director of Jain Irrigation, commented: "Jain Irrigation's international businesses are the amalgamation of pioneering and pathbreaking companies which were brought together over a period under Jain Irrigation's leadership - be it NaanDan, the original inventor of the sprinkler, or Chapin Watermatics that led the way for unique tape technology. We anticipate that the merger with Rivulis will create a world leading player ideally placed to serve its global customer base thanks to its geographic footprint, breadth of offering as well as from technological depth and expertise in micro irrigation. This will enable us all to address climate change and food security challenges with sustainable solutions and implement the critical knowledge transfer for water efficiency and productivity for growers. The combined entity will have a truly global presence in all relevant irrigation markets, enabling strategic growth and innovation that will further Jain Irrigation's broad vision of reaching more small and large growers by creating shared value. We look forward to this value accretive long-term relationship to create meaningful positive impact in the agri and food ecosystem."

Richard Klapholz, Rivulis CEO, added: "We are thrilled to have both companies join forces to better serve the growing needs of irrigation markets around the world. While benefitting from significant operational economies of scale and a dedicated, diverse employee base, we will ensure that all commitments to our grower community and to our combined business partners are maintained and further strengthened. Our goal is to ensure that all our customers will continue to be successful and benefit from a broader offering, leading industry brands, expanded manufacturing base and the support of leading irrigation services businesses. Rivulis, before the merger, represented the combination of four companies, and through this merger, several more companies from Jain Irrigation's portfolio will be added, cementing our role as a market consolidator and leader across the globe and creating a single company with a much stronger financial foundation. Together with all Rivulis employees, I look forward to working closely with the Jain USA, AVI, IDC and global NaanDanJain teams. I am certain that we will all benefit from the vast experience and continued commitment and dedication of the combined teams."

BofA Securities acted as lead financial advisor, Rabobank acted as a co-adviser, Latham & Watkins acted as legal advisor and PWC acted as tax and diligence advisor to Rivulis for the transaction.

About Rivulis:

Rivulis is a global micro irrigation leader focused on enabling and promoting a sustainable agri-food supply chain to not only feed our planet but also save it from the perils of climate change.

Rivulis offers the most innovative irrigation solutions for seasonal, permanent, and protected crop environments, through its three product and service portfolio brands: Rivulis, Eurodrip and Manna. Established in 1966, Rivulis has 16 large-scale manufacturing sites located across six continents, three R&D Centers (Israel, California, and Greece) and multiple Irrigation Project Design Centers around the globe.

Leading the mass adoption of micro irrigation globally, Rivulis is committed to increasing accessibility to all growers everywhere through simple, affordable, and smart technology covering the full cycle from design to harvest. To learn how Rivulis can help you GROW BEYOND your highest expectations season after season, visit www.rivulis.com.

https://www.rivulis.com/rivulis-and-jain-irrigation-international-irrigation-business-to-merge/

About Jain Irrigation:

Jain Irrigation Systems Limited ("JISL") with its motto 'Small Ideas, Big Revolutions' with more than 10,500+ associates worldwide and revenue of ~USD 1 Billion, is an Indian multinational company with manufacturing plants in 30 locations across the globe. JISL, its subsidiaries and associates are engaged in providing solutions in agriculture, water and food sector through manufacturing of Micro Irrigation Systems, PVC Pipes, HDPE Pipes, Plastic Sheets, Agro Processed Products, Renewable Energy Solutions, Tissue Culture Plants, Financial Services, and other agricultural inputs since more than 34 years. It has pioneered a silent Productivity Revolution with modern irrigation systems and innovative technologies to save precious water and has helped farmers to get significant increase in crop yields, especially for more than 6 million small farmers. It has also ushered in a new concept of large-scale Integrated Irrigation Projects ("IIP"). 'More Crop Per Drop' is the company's approach to water security and food security. JISL is an early pioneer for IOT in the agri-sector and is leading efforts to create global solutions with precision agriculture. Its food brand 'Jain FarmFresh' is well known all over the world for quality and consistency. All the products and services of JISL help create a sustainable future while fulfilling its vision to 'Leave this world better than you found it'. JISL is listed in NSE-Mumbai at JISLJALEQS and in BSE at code 500219. Please visit us at www.jains.com.

About Temasek:

Temasek is a global investment company with a net portfolio value of S$381 billion (US$283b) as at 31 March 2021. Headquartered in Singapore, it has 13 offices in 9 countries around the world.

The Temasek Charter defines Temasek's three roles as an Investor, Institution and Steward, which shape its ethos to do well, do right, and do good.

As a provider of catalytic capital, it seeks to enable solutions to key global challenges.

With sustainability at the core of all Temasek does, it actively seeks sustainable solutions to address present and future challenges, as it captures investible opportunities to bring about a sustainable future for all.

For more information on Temasek, please visit www.temasek.com.sg.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1844297/Rivulis_Jain.jpg


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The National Association of Realtors released a report on Tuesday showing another steep drop in U.S. existing home sales in the month of May.



NAR said existing home sales plunged by 3.4 percent to an annual rate of 5.41 million in May after slumping by 2.6 percent to a revised rate of 5.60 million in April. Existing home sales fell for the fourth consecutive month.



Economists had expected existing home sales to tumble by 3.7 percent to a rate of 5.40 million from the 5.61 million originally reported for the previous month.



'Home sales have essentially returned to the levels seen in 2019 - prior to the pandemic - after two years of gangbuster performance,' said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.



He added, 'Also, the market movements of single-family and condominium sales are nearly equal, possibly implying that the preference towards suburban living over city life that had been present over the past two years is fading with a return to pre-pandemic conditions.'



The report showed single-family home sales dove by 3.6 percent to an annual rate of 4.80 million, while existing condominium and co-op sales slid by 1.6 percent to a rate of 610,000.



Meanwhile, totaling housing inventory surged by 12.6 percent to 1.16 million units at the end of May from 1.03 million units at the end of April. Housing inventory is still down by 4.1 percent compared to a year ago.



The unsold inventory represents 2.6 months of supply at the current sales pace, up from 2.2 months in April and 2.5 months in May 2021.



NAR also said the median existing home price was $407,600 in May, up 3.1 percent from $395,500 in April and up 14.8 percent from $355,000 a year ago.



'Further sales declines should be expected in the upcoming months given housing affordability challenges from the sharp rise in mortgage rates this year,' Yun said.



He continued, 'Nonetheless, homes priced appropriately are selling quickly and inventory levels still need to rise substantially - almost doubling - to cool home price appreciation and provide more options for home buyers.'



On Friday, the Commerce Department is scheduled to release a separate report on new home sales in the month of May.



New home sales are expected to dip by 0.5 percent to an annual rate of 588,000 in May after plunging by 16.6 percent to a rate of 591,000 in April.







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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced additional steps to increase pay for federal firefighters, as well as expanding access to mental health support and establish a new wildland fire management job series for potential job seekers. Over the coming summer months, the Biden Administration is implementing a new set of temporary pay increases that will increase the firefighters' bi-weekly checks by up to 50 percent of their annual base salary for two years. The pay hike will have retroactive effect from October 1, 2021. The Federal agencies will begin processing these payments in the coming weeks, with additional payments to occur throughout July and into August. This will be funded by $600 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. A newly established joint DOI- U.S. Forest Service program will address mental health needs including post-traumatic stress disorder care for permanent, temporary, seasonal and year-round wildland firefighters at both agencies, along with addressing environmental hazards to minimize on-the-job exposure. The Biden Administration will work with Congress to formulate a competitive and equitable new firefighter pay structure. 'Investing in our wildland firefighting workforce is a matter of national security as there are more than 460 million acres of land at moderate to very high risk from wildfire this year, and the number of acres burned in 2021 is the highest on record,' the White House said. For decades, Federal wildland firefighters have faced the challenges of longer, more severe fire years with pay that has lagged behind their counterparts. Shifting development patterns, land and fire management decisions, and climate change have turned fire 'seasons' into fire 'years' in which increasingly destructive fires are exceeding available Federal firefighting resources. Federal firefighters also lack an official, uniform occupational series and a clear path for career advancement through the government. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / With compliance issues now resolved, Hannover House, Inc. (OTC:HHSE) has set Thursday, July 28 as the anticipated filing date for the company's Form 10-12(g) registration filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The July date was determined after conferring with Securities counsel and the auditor regarding the recommendation that the company's financials through June 30, 2022 be included in the registration.

"We have been assured that this is a realistic filing date, and one which will best position the company for limited comments from the S.E.C. regarding the registration," said Eric Parkinson, C.E.O. "Our S.E.C. registration has been a long-awaited and overly delayed process which has required the company to significantly modify our prior business model, resolve issues of concern and update our library and balance sheet items. Filing in late July will also enable us to promptly launch our MyFlix venture and deliver to our shareholders this important corporate benchmark."

Hannover House has been trading on the OTC Pinksheets Market since December, 2009. The company has a long-stated goal of moving up to the OTC: QB market for greater credibility and shareholder access. But prior efforts to file the company's registration were impeded by compliance to the many corporate rules and accounting requirements that are applicable to fully reporting companies.

"The company has delayed release of quite a bit of news this past year, primarily relating to MyFlix supplier studios, major venture partners and financing parties," said Parkinson. "We were advised that such information should be disclosed within our registration, or in the days immediately following publication as the registration filing is the catalyst to full execution of these ventures. Accordingly, the company will be unusually quiet for the next few weeks in terms of press, blogs and social media."

Recent news for Hannover House includes updates from the Cannes Film Festival and Market, news of current and upcoming productions, news of the U.S. Trademark approval for "MyFlix" and the addition of new MyFlix supplier studio partners. Current productions for the company include "WILDFIRE" and "COWBOYS OF CANNABIS" (now in final post), "LEGEND OF BELLE STARR" (now filming) and "MODERN ANTIQUITIES" (scheduled to shoot in November). These original productions provide operational funding for Hannover House, as well as enhance balance sheet asset value and titles for special MyFlix promotions.

"The Hannover House stock share price has suffered this past year," said Parkinson. "The compliance delays in filing our registration statement impeded our ability to launch MyFlix and led to some shareholders to lose patience. We are grateful and thankful for those that have persevered with Hannover House over the years as we build a better business model and complete our move to fully reporting status," he concluded.

Hannover House shares have traded in a very steady range over the past twelve-years, with pricing averaging at $.018 on an annualized basis. Share price fluctuations have ranged from slightly under a penny per share, to over six-cents per share during short term periods. Principal non-affiliate shareholders in Hannover House have publicly stated their belief that the registration of the company's shares should support an average share pricing level in the range of five-cents and that a successful launch of the company's multi-studio MyFlix streaming venture could dramatically elevate shareholder interest and pricing even higher.

"For the benefit of our many shareholders, we are hopeful that the stock predictions from these major stakeholders proves true," said Parkinson. "But as with all investments, market fluctuations and other factors can sometimes overpower logic, so it's important to note that Hannover House makes no representation, warranty or guarantee that the company's stock pricing will benefit as a result of elevating our registration stature to fully reporting status."

For more information contact: ERIC PARKINSON / Eric@HannoverHouse.com / 818-481-5277

SOURCE: Hannover House, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/705935/Hannover-House-Releases-Timeline-for-SEC-Registration-Filings
The healthcare designed infection prevention company will also be honored for its recognition as one of Premier's Technology Breakthrough Program agreement recipients

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / ActivePure Medical, an infection prevention company designed for healthcare facilities, will attend and exhibit at the 2022 Premier Annual Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition, Breakthroughs 22. The event brings together Premier healthcare professionals, Premier member hospitals and health systems, and contracted suppliers in technology, artificial intelligence and infection prevention. Breakthroughs 22 will be held June 21 to 23 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

"ActivePure Medical is excited to be a part of Breakthroughs 22 and continue celebrating our achievement with Premier's Technology Breakthroughs Program and the group purchasing agreement," said Dan Marsh, president of ActivePure Medical. "It will be great to connect with thousands of like-minded individuals in the industry and share how ActivePure Medical has been changing and simplifying air and surface disinfection in health facilities and hospitals."

ActivePure Medical was recently awarded a national group purchasing agreement for Facility Surface and Air Disinfection Technology through Premier, Inc., allowing members access to special of special pricing and terms pre-negotiated by Premier for the continuous air and surface disinfection technology. In addition, the agreement allows Premier members, at their discretion, to purchase directly from the infection prevention company or increase their diversity allocation through minority-owned ActivePure Medical distributor American Medical Xchange (AMX).

"Working with ActivePure Medical and now Premier has opened the door to a large network of peers and decision-makers in healthcare interested in how they can improve the environment of care with ActivePure's continuous disinfection technology," said Alister Barrow, CEO of AMX. "The opportunity to attend Breakthroughs 22 will allow me to continue connecting with individuals dedicated to improving their facility."

In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a high level of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), requiring additional sanitation and disinfection in the environment of care. ActivePure Medical provides a supplemental solution designed to address the gaps in our current cleaning and disinfection protocols by offering an active and continuous option. In addition, the technology takes away the demand for additional labor to operate and maintain the units, allowing staff to focus on other tasks during the healthcare worker shortage affecting the healthcare industry.

"We are looking forward to sharing outcome data from a number of different healthcare trials," notes Caitlin Stowe, MPH, CPH, CIC, CPHQ, VA-BC, vice president of clinical affairs and medical liaison at ActivePure Medical.

The conference, sponsored by Premier a leading healthcare improvement company, invites over 4,400 Premier members from its extensive network of hospitals and healthcare facilities to learn about the latest innovations in healthcare. Keynote speakers at the event include trailblazers in the healthcare and mental health space, including 23-time Gold Olympic Medal Winner and the founder of The Michael Phelps Foundation, Michael Phelps, and other industry leaders in health and wellness.

ActivePure Medical will have a 10' x 10' booth (#749) in the exhibition hall, complete with a continuously running portable an ActivePure Medical Guardian and an ActivePure Surface and Air Guardian, and a Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) installed ActivePure Induct Guardian will be on display.

The 2022 Premier Annual Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition is exclusive to Premier members. To register for the event, visit the registration page.

For more information regarding its innovative infection prevention technology that helps improve indoor air quality and reduce HAIs, visit www.ActivePureMedical.com.

ABOUT ACTIVEPURE MEDICAL, LLC:

ActivePure Medical, the exclusive healthcare provider of ActivePure Technology, was launched in 2020 after the ActivePure Medical Guardian received Class II Medical Device clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). ActivePure engineers designed these medical-grade, automated and continuous disinfection units to combat some of healthcare's most resistant pathogens that lead to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The ActivePure Medical units have been proven effective in extensive independent laboratory testing and challenging healthcare settings and are available in portable and induct HVAC configurations. All ActivePure Medical units are California Air and Resource Board (CARB) certified to meet ozone and electrical safety standards and designed for use facility-wide without interrupting the continuum of care. For more information on ActivePure Medical, please visit ActivePureMedical.com or call 800-572-6241.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Caroline Morse, TrizCom PR on behalf of ActivePure Medical, LLC

Caroline@TrizCom.com

Office: 972-247-1369

Cell/Text: 817-682-6523

Jo Trizila, TrizCom PR on behalf of ActivePure Medical, LLC

Jo@TrizCom.com

Office: 972-247-1369

Cell/Text: 214-232-0078

SOURCE: ActivePure Medical

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/705952/ActivePure-Medical-Unveils-Clinical-Study-Results-at-2022-Premier-Annual-Breakthroughs-Convention-and-Exhibition
NEW ORDER FOR A GREEN HYDROGEN REFUELING STATION

IN THE VENDEE REGION

Champ-sur-Drac, June 21, 2022 - HRS , a leading European designer and manufacturer of hydrogen refueling stations, has received a new order from SYDEV, the Vendee regional energy board, to deliver and install a green hydrogen refueling station in Sables-d'Olonne.

This region located in western France is a pioneer in the area of transport decarbonization. The SYDEV is rolling out a bold green mobility program aimed at developing a local ecosystem for the production and distribution of 100% green hydrogen that will ultimately cover the whole region.

The first multi-energies station under this program (green power, green hydrogen and bio-CNG) was successfully commissioned in La Roche-sur-Yon during the second half of 2021. HRS supplied and installed the hydrogen refueling station as part of a project coordinated by ENGIE Solutions.

The SYDEV has renewed its confidence in the ENGIE Solutions and HRS consortium for the development and technical operation of the new multi-energy station that will be commissioned in early 2023 in Sables-d'Olonne. HRS will supply a 200 kg/day dual pressure (350-700 bar) station supplying green hydrogen for all types of vehicles, including trucks, light commercial vehicles and cars. The station will be opened initially for company fleets, then later for the public.

The station's modular design will allow it to meet the growing demand for hydrogen fuel and cover expected future requirements up until 2031.

Other stations as yet unallocated will be installed at a later date under the same regional project coordinated by SYDEV.

HRS Chairman & CEO Hassen Rachedi said: "We would like to thank SYDEV for renewing its faith in us for the rollout of its green hydrogen infrastructure for mobility. We are also delighted to be working with ENGIE Solutions as joint contractors for this project, an arrangement that bodes well for the future. We are really proud to be supporting this bold structuring project in France aimed at stepping up the pace of the hydrogen mobility rollout. The Vendee is a pioneering territory in the development of decarbonized ecosystems that can be replicated in other basins, opening new growth prospects for us."

ABOUT HRS

Founded in 2004, Hydrogen-Refueling-Solutions (HRS), formerly TSM, is pioneer in hydrogen mobility. European designer and manufacturer of hydrogen refueling stations, for over ten years, the Company has been committed to reducing transport emissions.

Thanks to its unique experience and know-how, HRS has developed a complete range of hydrogen refueling stations for all types of fuel cell vehicles that is perfectly suited to the needs of a fast-growing European market. At its Champ-sur-Drac site, HRS has mass production capacities that enable it to assemble up to 60 units per year in record time, in as little as 8 weeks. A new 14,300m2 production unit, planned for the fall of 2022, in the Grenoble metropolitan area in Champagnier (Isere), will increase HRS's production capacity to 180 stations per year.

The Company posted 2020/2021 revenue of 10.5 million. As of December 31, 2021, the company had 79 employees. (ISIN code: FR0014001PM5 - ticker symbol: ALHRS).

CONTACTS

Investor Relations

ACTUS finance & communication

Gregoire SAINT-MARC

hrs@actus.fr

Tel. +33 1 53 67 36 94 Press Relations

ACTUS finance & communication

Anne Catherine BONJOUR

acbonjour@actus.fr

Tel. +33 1 53 67 36 93

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ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / A year ago, the Mastercard Foundation and Africa CDC ( www.AfricaCDC.org ) launched the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative - a now $1.5 billion partnership with four key objectives:

To purchase COVID-19 vaccines for at least 65 million people To drive millions more vaccinations by enabling the delivery and administration of vaccines. To lay the groundwork for vaccine manufacturing by focusing on human capital development. To strengthen the capacity of Africa CDC.

The historic initiative - the largest public health partnership between a global philanthropic organization and an African institution - has proven to be catalytic. The Saving Lives and Livelihoods commitment to purchase 65 million vaccine doses was instrumental in enabling the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust to negotiate and secure 510 million doses for Africa from vaccine manufacturers. The initiative also helped inform the decision of African Union Heads of State to designate the Africa CDC as an autonomous public health agency. Additionally, the initiative has delivered over 15 million vaccines across the continent since its launch while deploying rapid responders to accelerate vaccination campaigns in countries at-risk of vaccine expiration.

Speaking at the one-year commemoration, Reeta Roy, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation, highlighted that the next phase of the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative would focus on turning vaccine delivery into vaccinations.

"We must lean in and focus on vaccination uptake. It is an opportunity to work with governments to help set up vaccination centres, train and support health care workers, and engage directly with communities to understand the importance of getting vaccinated to secure the lives and livelihoods of their loved ones," she said.

Dr. Ahmed Ouma, Acting Director of the Africa CDC, affirmed that COVID-19 vaccination remains a key priority for Africa, as the continent works towards a target of ensuring 70 percent of the population is vaccinated by the end of this year. So far, two African countries have achieved a vaccination rate of 70 percent, and six African countries have vaccinated between 40 and 70 percent of their populations. Overall, less than 20 percent of the people in Africa are fully vaccinated.

"Today, we commemorate the first anniversary of the Mastercard Foundation's partnership with the Africa CDC to purchase and deliver millions of vaccines and drive long-term health security in Africa. We reiterate our commitment and drive towards the new public health order, which calls for a strengthened Africa CDC and our National Public Health Institute. To increase investment in the public health workforce and train the next generation of leaders and experts. Finally, to expand local manufacturing of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics, which will ensure quick access and reduced costs in the continent," he said.

Dr. Ahmed Ouma also emphasized the importance of focusing vaccination efforts on young people, given that 70 percent of Africa's population is under the age of 30. The African Union and Africa CDC, under the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative, recently launched an initiative called Bingwa (a Swahiliword meaning champion) to recruit young people as vaccine advocates in their communities.

Moving forward, the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative will include a strong focus on Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) to enable African citizens, particularly young people, and rural populations, to understand the safety and benefits of vaccination. RCCE will play a crucial role in creating demand for and uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations and supporting other non-pharmaceutical efforts to break the transmission chain and mitigate the pandemic's impact.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Media Contacts:

Mastercard Foundation

Nonye Mpho Omotola

Lead, Health Communications, Human Capital Development

nomotola@mastercardfdn.org

Africa CDC

Dr. Benjamin Djoudalbaye

Head, Division of Policy, Health Diplomacy, and Communication

benjamind@africa-union.org

About the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC):

Africa CDC is a specialized technical institution of the African Union that strengthens the capacity and capability of Africa's public health institutions and partnerships to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats and outbreaks based on data-driven interventions and programs. For more information, please visit: http://www.AfricaCDC.org

About the Mastercard Foundation:

The Mastercard Foundation is a Canadian foundation and one of the largest in the world, with approximately $40 billion in assets. The Foundation was created in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. Since its inception, the Foundation has operated independently of the company. The Foundation's policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by its Board. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.MastercardFDN.org

About the Saving Lives and Livelihoods Initiative:

The Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative is a?three-year, US $1.5 billion partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) designed to save the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in Africa and hasten the economic recovery of the continent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The?Saving Lives and Livelihoods?initiative is acquiring vaccines for more than 65 million people, supporting the delivery of vaccinations to millions more across the continent, laying the groundwork for vaccine manufacturing in Africa by focusing focus on human capital development, and strengthening the capacity of Africa CDC. For more information on the Saving Lives and Livelihoods?initiative, please visit: https://bit.ly/3Nh3F8s

Download images:

Image 1: https://bit.ly/3Oti6aq (Billian Music Family)

Image 2: https://bit.ly/3n3HtDR (Elizabeth Mutisya, Lab Technician)

Image 3: https://bit.ly/3tMhJj1 (Sembabule District in Uganda)

SOURCE: Africa CDC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/705963/Saving-Lives-and-Livelihoods-Initiative-Hits-One-Year-Milestone
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

For immediate release

21 June 2022

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 125,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 752.34p per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 9 February 2022.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 3,946,772; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 221,044,531.

The figure of 221,044,531 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / CMC Metals Ltd. (TSXV:CMB)(Frankfurt:ZM5P)(OTC PINK:CMCXF) ("CMC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the first field crews have been mobilized to the Silver Hart Property, Yukon, to prepare for the largest drill program on that property to date. Significant improvements are being made to the camp to support the 2022 exploration program and a camp is also being established to support exploration of the properties in British Columbia.

At our flagship Silver Hart Property the access road has been reopened after some challenging conditions related to record snow levels and high freshet runoff conditions. The drill is being mobilized to site and our geological crew will be at site later this week. Highlights of the proposed program at Silver Hart are as follows:

This will be CMC's largest drill program to date with an estimated 5,000 meters of drilling planned for this season, focussed on exploring major carbonate replacement ("CRD") targets at Silver Hart. The primary targets are T1 and T4 which have been described in previous news releases (see www.cmcmetals.ca news on February 17, 2022). These are very significant targets.

An extensive geochemical soil and rock sampling program will be conducted on all conductor targets and to expand on previously identified anomalies.

Drill core and soil/rock samples will be examined using X-ray diffraction technologies ("XRF') to guide ongoing sampling efforts in real time prior to samples being submitted for assay. This is being done to try and provide better guidance to the exploration team to deal with the ongoing problems of delays in receiving assays from testing facilities. CMC has and continues to work on identifying options for improved turnaround times from assay facilities.

Field crews will also be mobilized to the three properties in British Columbia (i.e., Silverknife, Amy and Rancheria South) this summer.

The Silverknife Property is immediately adjacent to the west of the Silvertip mining claims owned by Coeur Mining Ltd. ("Couer"). Couer have recently announced the identification of a very high-grade silver-lead-zinc zone which they have called "Camp Creek West" which is in close proximity to the boundary of our claim block with the Silvertip Mine property. On May 11, 2022, CMC also announced the identification of six geophysical anomalies on the Silverknife property. The Company will be conducting geophysical and geological exploration activities on the property this summer and filed a permit for drilling which is currently under assessment and review by the Government of British Columbia. It is hoped that a permit will be received later in this exploration season.

The Amy Property is located approximately 8km to the west of the Silverknife Property and is road accessible. The Company has recently completed an extensive compilation of a very large historical database of exploration data that was garnished from several exploration programs completed by different companies on the property from the early 1960's to the mid 1980's. The Company is reviewing the report and data prepared by SRK Consulting who completed the data compilation and have considerable experience in project work in the Rancheria Silver District. The Company will be releasing the findings of this report in the near future and from that outline expected exploration activities on the property in this season and beyond.

The Rancheria South Property is contiguous with the northwestern corner of the Amy Property and extends eastwards towards the Silvertip Mine Access road. Preliminary examination of the airborne geophysical survey has identified prospective areas of the property in the southeastern portion of the claims and the Company will be releasing information on their findings in the near future as well as summarizing expected exploration activities that will be undertaken on the property in this season and beyond.

Mr. John Bossio, Chairman noted, "Our Company is very fortunate to have identified highly prospective areas on all five of our exploration properties in the Rancheria Silver District. Our focus will remain on the very significant CRD targets on our flagship Silver Hart Property, but the level of prospectivity on our other properties is very exciting especially with the recent exploration news by Coeur Mining at their Camp Creek West zone. Our plan for this season is very ambitious as we seek to enhance shareholder value by verifying the prospectivity of these areas, especially at Silverknife and Amy, identified from our SkyTem airborne survey as due to COVID we were unable to get into these areas last season."

Mr. Kevin Brewer, President and CEO noted, "Exploration in Yukon and northern British Columbia always has its own set of unique challenges. But I am very pleased with the hard work and commitment of our exploration team and service companies. Their hard work has enabled us to commence operations at a time when many Yukon communities are suffering hardships from flooding conditions. Our Company wishes to express our sympathies and best wishes to those families that have been affected by recent flooding events."

Appointment of Senior Geologist

The Company is very pleased to announce the appointment of Sr. Jesus Costra Mora ("Jesus") to the position of Senior Geologist. Jesus has over 30 years of exploration experience with a specialization in epithermal deposits. He is near completion of a doctoral thesis on the linkage between porphyry and epithermal precious base metal systems. Jesus has been a Senior Geologist with numerous companies including CEMEX, Aurea Mining Inc, Newstrike Capital, Source Exploration Corp. Minerales Inguaran, SA de CV, and others. He has also been a Professor of metallogeny and ore deposits at the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo (UAEH) and worked for several years as an independent consultant. Jesus holds a Bachelors Degree in Geology from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) and is completing his PhD Studies with the Geophysics Institute of UNAM.

Mr. Kevin Brewer noted, "We are extremely fortunate to have Sr. Jesus Castro Mora join our team. His experience in epithermal systems and their linkage to porphyry systems will provide invaluable insights into our understanding of the mineralizing systems in the Rancheria Silver District."

Qualified Person

Qualified Person Kevin Brewer, a registered professional geoscientist, is the Company's President and CEO, and Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101). He has given his approval of the technical information pertaining reported herein. The Company is committed to meeting the highest standards of integrity, transparency and consistency in reporting technical content, including geological reporting, geophysical investigations, environmental and baseline studies, engineering studies, metallurgical testing, assaying and all other technical data.

About CMC Metals Ltd.

CMC Metals Ltd. is a growth stage exploration company focused on opportunities for high grade polymetallic deposits in Yukon, British Columbia and Newfoundland. Our polymetallic silver-lead-zinc CRD prospects include the Silver Hart Deposit and Blue Heaven claims (the "Silver Hart Project") and Rancheria South, Amy and Silverknife claims (the "Rancheria South Project"). Our polymetallic projects with potential for copper-silver-gold and other metals include Logjam (Yukon), Bridal Veil, Terra Nova and Rodney Pond (central Newfoundland).

On behalf of the Board:

"John Bossio"

John Bossio, Chairman

CMC METALS LTD.

For Further Information and Investor Inquiries:

Kevin Brewer, P. Geo., MBA, B.Sc.(Hons), Dip. Mine Eng.

President, CEO and Director

Tel: (709) 327 8013

kbrewer80@hotmail.com

Suite 1000-409 Granville St.

Vancouver, BC

V6C 1T2

To be added to CMC's news distribution list, please send an email to info@cmcmetals.ca or contact Mr. Kevin Brewer directly.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

"This news release may contain certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, statements that address the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles and exploitation activities and developments. In this release disclosure regarding the potential to undertake future exploration work comprise forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks, including the ability of the Company to raise the funds necessary to fund its projects, to carry out the work and, accordingly, may not occur as described herein or at all. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, the impact of the constantly evolving COVID-19 pandemic crisis and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are referred to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators for information on these and other risk factors, available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation."

SOURCE: CMC Metals Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/705982/CMC-Metals-Ltd-Mobilizes-Field-Crew-for-Its-Largest-Exploration-Program-in-the-Emerging-Rancheria-Silver-District-in-Yukon-and-British-Columbia-and-the-Appointment-of-a-Senior-Geologist
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2022) - Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. ("Nevada Vanadium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Zula Kropivnitski (CPA, CGA and ACCA) as its Chief Financial Officer, replacing Irina Plavutska, who provided notice of her retirement. Ms. Plavutska will remain as a consultant to the Company. The Company would like to thank Ms. Plavutska for her service.

Ms. Kropivnitski has over ten years of experience in financial reporting with public companies listed on the Canadian and US stock exchanges in the resource and technology sectors. Notable positions include CFO with Abraplata Resource Corp. from 2016 to 2019, and Financial Controller with Sacre-Coeur Minerals Ltd from 2008 to 2011. Ms. Kropivnitski received her Chartered Professional Accountant designation from the Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia, Canada and later obtained her ACCA designation from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of UK.

About Nevada Vanadium

Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. is a Canadian reporting issuer, holding a 100% interest in the Gibellini vanadium project in Nevada.

Further information on the Company can be found at www.nevadavanadium.com.

NEVADA VANADIUM MINING CORP.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Ron Espell"

Chief Executive Officer

For more information about the Company, please contact:

Email: info@nevadavanadium.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/128481
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / Silver Elephant Mining Corp. ("Silver Elephant" or "the Company") (TSX:ELEF, OTCQX:SILEF, Frankfurt:1P2N) is pleased to announce the appointment of Zula Kropivnitski (CPA, CGA and ACCA) as its Chief Financial Officer, replacing Irina Plavutska, who provided notice of her retirement. Ms. Plavutska will remain as a consultant to the Company and the Company would like to thank Ms. Plavutska for her eleven years of dedicated service.

Ms. Kropivnitski has over ten years of experience in financial reporting with public companies listed on Canadian and US stock exchanges in the resource and technology sectors. Notable positions include CFO with Abraplata Resource Corp. from 2016 to 2019, and Financial Controller with Sacre-Coeur Minerals Ltd. from 2008 to 2011. Ms. Kropivnitski received her Chartered Professional Accountant designation from the Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia, Canada and later obtained her ACCA designation from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of UK.

Silver Elephant also announces the receipt of TSX approval for its request to extend its Annual General Meeting. The Company will hold its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on August 11, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. PST.

About Silver Elephant

Silver Elephant Mining Corp. is a premier silver mining and exploration company which also owns 100% of Mega Thermal Coal Corp, and 39% of Battery Metals Royalties Corp.

Further information on Silver Elephant can be found at www.silverelef.com.

SILVER ELEPHANT MINING CORP.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"John Lee"

Executive Chairman

For more information about Silver Elephant, please contact Investor Relations:

+1.604.569.3661 ext. 101

info@silverelef.com / www.silverelef.com

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Silver Elephant Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/705980/Silver-Elephant-Announces-Appointment-of-Chief-Financial-Officer
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Swiss stock market was unable to hold on to early gains and finished slightly under water on Tuesday, one session after halting the two-day slide in which it had dropped more than 330 points or 3 percent. The market opened higher but faded as the session progressed, finally ending barely in the red - parting company with the rest of the major European markets, which all finished with modest gains. For the day, the SMI dipped 6.07 points or 0.06 percent to finish at 10,479.84 after trading between 10,479.84 and 10,578.03. Among the actives, Sika spiked 3.36 percent, Givaudan jumped 2.40 percent, Campagnie Financiere Richemont climbed 2.03 percent, Swisscom sank 1.10 percent, Swiss Re dropped 1.01 percent, Novartis declined 1.00 percent, The Swatch Group improved 0.94 percent, Swiss Life lost 0.84 percent, UBS Group collected 0.49 percent, Zurich Insurance slumped 0.48 percent, Credit Suisse fell 0.45 percent and Julius Bar rose 0.11 percent. In economic news, Switzerland's exports grew for the first time in three months in May, data from the Federal Customs Administration showed on Tuesday. Exports climbed by a real 2.4 percent month-on-month in May, reversing a 0.2 percent fall in April. Imports rose sharply by 7.1 percent from April, when they fell by 4.2 percent. Moreover, this was the fastest monthly growth in two years. The trade surplus shrank to CHF 2.028 billion in May from CHF 3.611 billion in April. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
DGAP-News: African Energy Week / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

African Energy Week: Help us Fight Back Against the Attack on African Oil and Gas



21.06.2022 / 20:30

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Help us Fight Back Against the Attack on African Oil and Gas

Despite the ongoing efforts by the African Energy Chamber to drive sustainable socioeconomic growth on the back of African oil and gas, a lawsuit has been filed against us aimed at restricting our efforts to make energy poverty history by 2030

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 21, 2022/APO Group/ - Representing the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) has become an invaluable advocate for Africa's oil and gas industry at a time when global stakeholders are calling for the immediate end to fossil fuel utilization. With over 600 million without access to electricity and 900 million people without access to clean cooking solutions, the continent desperately needs its oil and gas reserves if it is to make energy poverty history by 2030. In this regard, the AEC has remained focused and committed, calling for a well-planned, strategic approach to Africa's energy transition, one which considers the needs of Africans today, tomorrow and for future generations.

The AEC consistently and continuously asks the big questions, such as how Africa's energy transition will be funded; why western nations continue to develop their hydrocarbons while asking Africa to transition to renewables; and what steps need to be taken to alleviate energy poverty once and for all? In asking these questions and driving a real discussion about African energy, the AEC continues to be a voice for hundreds of millions of people across the continent who do not have access to electricity - Africans who will greatly benefit from oil and gas.

While Africa is only responsible for less than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the continent is still being asked to abandon its oil and gas in the name of climate change, thus, carrying the burdens of developed countries, ones which continue to develop oil and gas. After COP26 in Glasgow, the UK announced a major oil and gas bid licensing round; the US opened federal lands for drilling; England is looking at re-opening its coal mines for the first time in 30 years; Germany is building new LNG terminals; and Norway has given out 52 oil licenses. The chamber believes that Africans should have the right to explore oil and gas in the same these countries are.

Despite the ongoing work by the chamber, going as far as launching the first-ever Africa-focused and Africa-held energy event in 2021 - African Energy Week - UK-based events company, Hyve Group, responsible for launching the Green Energy Africa Summit as well as Africa Oil Week's disastrous move to Dubai in 2021 citing Africa's inability to host a large-scale event, has filed a lawsuit to blackout the AEC. The lawsuit is intended to silence both the AEC and Africa while preventing the development of the continent's oil and gas resources.

"When they lose, they get desperate, and this is what this lawsuit is: a desperate attempt to silence Africa. They are employing their bullying tactics, threatening the AEC, an organization which has only ever been committed to Africa's development. Their misrepresentations have cost us a lot of money and yet we continue to push for the continent we love and the continent we are committed to. We will fight back like never before. We will not give in to intimidation and the ruthless attempts to keep us quiet," states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC, adding that, "The stakes are too high for Africans for us to let some 'woke' British company tell us to go green. They do not represent Africa and any attempt to silence Africa by this UK based company must be put to a stop."

They have lost key sponsors, speakers, partners and 70% plus of African ministers and national oil company leaders, all of which have chosen to join the chamber and support AEW.

African business, the oil industry and everyday people are with us because they know the work the chamber does and its commitment to driving development in Africa. We have and continue to finance a lot or programs across Africa and pay taxes. Now that they are losing money by trying to tell Africa what to do and where to discuss African matters, they are coming after us. If we have to oppose the Dubai move again, we will. If they go to Dubai again, we will oppose them. As Dr Martin Luther King Jr puts it "It is part of the earth man walks on. It is not man. We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right".

The AEC proudly supports the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, Mozambique's right to develop its gas resources, Senegal and Mauritania's Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project as well as gas monetization plans in Nigeria, Ghana, the Congo, Cameroon and Angola, among others. Africa needs it oil and gas and this very narrative is what the Chamber will continue to promote.

The move by British based Hyve Group CEO Mark Shashoua is not the first time African organizations or oil and gas projects and governments have been attacked by UK activists and groups. Friends of the Earth sued to block funding for the Mozambique LNG project; Extinction Rebellion harassed African executives during an energy conference in London in May 2022; and now their eyes are set on the AEC. We need to FIGHT BACK, and we cannot do it without your help.

To join the fight against Hyve Group, AOW and Green Energy Africa Summit focused on silencing an African organization, we ask that you donate here. (https://bit.ly/3zRJI4R) Your donation will not only help us win this case but continue the work we are proud of us in Africa, and for Africa Oil and Gas. The AEC will continue to dedicate itself and its work towards making energy poverty history in Africa and your donation will go a long way in helping us make this a reality.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Week (AEW).

Download Image: https://bit.ly/3biARPu

21.06.2022 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.dgap.de


Facility Will Act as Company's European Headquarters With an Operating Sapphire Printer, Demo Center, Offices, and Other Facilities to Host Customers, Partners, and Prospects

Velo3D, Inc. (NYSE: VLD), a leading metal additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical parts, today announced the opening of its European Technology Center in Augsburg, Germany to manage the company's operations in Europe, host customers for trainings, and conduct meetings with customers and partners. Velo3D's European customer success, sales, and support teams will reside in the technology center, which will act as the hub for the company's efforts in the region and showcase an end-to-end additive manufacturing solution from the company.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005676/en/

The new Velo3D European Technical Center in Augsburg, Germany, will act as the company's regional headquarters with an operating Sapphire printer, demo center, offices, and other facilities to host customers, partners, and prospects. (Photo: Business Wire)

"Three years ago, we shipped our first Sapphire printer to our very first customer and since then, we've experienced tremendous growth across all of our key industries," said Benny Buller, Velo3D Founder and CEO. "Our new Technology Center in Augsburg will support our efforts in growing our presence in Europe in a similar manner and will feature an additive manufacturing solution capable of printing our customers' most ambitious designs."

The new technology center is more than 110 square meters (1,200 square feet) in size, with a lab area featuring a Velo3D Sapphire printer, a showcase of parts that were printed using the company's technology, offices, and conference rooms for hosting customers and events. The facility will be located at the Augsburg Innovations Park in Augsburg, Germany. Its opening was commemorated in a ribbon cutting ceremony with Velo3D executives, European customers, local government leaders, and other engineers in attendance.

Augsburg was selected for its central location to key regions in Europe, its proximity to Munich, and Velo3D's existing presence in the region.

About Velo3D:

Velo3D is a metal 3D printing technology company. 3D printing-also known as additive manufacturing (AM)-has a unique ability to improve the way high-value metal parts are built. However, legacy metal AM has been greatly limited in its capabilities since its invention almost 30 years ago. This has prevented the technology from being used to create the most valuable and impactful parts, restricting its use to specific niches where the limitations were acceptable.

Velo3D has overcome these limitations so engineers can design and print the parts they want. The company's solution unlocks a wide breadth of design freedom and enables customers in space exploration, aviation, power generation, energy and semiconductor to innovate the future in their respective industries. Using Velo3D, these customers can now build mission-critical metal parts that were previously impossible to manufacture. The end-to-end solution includes the Flow print preparation software, the Sapphire family of printers, and the Assure quality control system-all of which are powered by Velo3D's Intelligent Fusion manufacturing process. The company delivered its first Sapphire system in 2018 and has been a strategic partner to innovators such as SpaceX, Honeywell, Honda, Chromalloy, and Lam Research. Velo3D has been named to Fast Company's prestigious annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies for 2021. For more information, please visit velo3d.com, or follow the company on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996. The Company's actual results may differ from its expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect", "estimate", "project", "budget", "forecast", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "may", "will", "could", "should", "believes", "predicts", "potential", "continue", and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies for the future. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Most of these factors are outside the Company's control and are difficult to predict. The Company cautions not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, including projections, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

VELO, VELO3D, SAPPHIRE, and INTELLIGENT FUSION, are registered trademarks of Velo3D, Inc.; and WITHOUT COMPROMISE, FLOW and ASSURE are trademarks of Velo3D, Inc. All Rights Reserved Velo3D, Inc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005676/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Velo3D

Dan Sorensen

dan.sorensen@velo3d.com

Investor Relations:

Bob Okunski, VP Investor Relations

investors@velo3d.com


LEVERKUSEN (dpa-AFX) - The US Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by Bayer to shut down several lawsuits, which claimed that the usage of its Roundup weed killer led to cancer.



The justices left in place a $25 million judgment in favor of California resident, Edwin Hardeman, who claimed that he developed cancer from using Roundup for a long time to treat poison oak, overgrowth and weeds at his San Francisco Bay Area property. This lawsuit had been used as a test case for many similar legal suits.



The high court's decision follows many court battles over the weed killer and its effects, which have come to different conclusions.



Last Friday, a panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals had rejected an Environmental Protection Agency 2020 finding that glyphosate does not affect humans seriously and is 'not likely' to cause cancer. The court had asked the EPA to relook into its findings.



During the same period, Bayer won four consecutive trials in state courts against people who claimed they developed cancer from their usage of Roundup. The latest verdict was reached in the state court of Oregon.



The company said in a statement that federal regulators have always deemed its products safe, and the lawsuits based on claims, which are in trial in state courts should be discharged.



In 2021, Bayer had set aside an amount of $4.5 billion to settle claims that glyphosate, the weed-killing ingredient in Roundup, was the main cause of non-Hodgins lymphoma type of cancer. The company had earlier charged nearly $10 billion for earlier rounds of litigation.



Bayer became the owner of Roundup and the litigation when it acquired Monsanto in the year 2018.



The EPA says on its website that there is 'no evidence glyphosate causes cancer humans.' But in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization, said that glyphosate is 'probably carcinogenic to humans.' The agency clarified that it depended on 'limited' evidence of cancer in people and 'sufficient' evidence of cancer in study animals.



The Justice Department, which had taken Bayer's side in the lower courts during the Trump administration, said that the high court not get involved.



The company is sticking to its stand that its product is safe and it would replace glyphosate in Roundup for use in residential homes from 2023. Products having glyphosate will still be available for professional and farm use.







Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

BAYER-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / Gemina Laboratories Ltd. (the "Company" or "Gemina") (CSE:GLAB) (FRA:8I7) is pleased to announce that the Company has engaged Leede Jones Gable Inc., as agent, (the "Agent") to offer, on a commercially reasonable best efforts basis (the "Financing"), up to 8,334,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.60 per Unit (the "Unit Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $5,000,400 (the "Financing Proceeds"). The Company has agreed to grant the Agent an option to increase the size of the Financing by up to 15%, exercisable in whole or in part at any time for a period of 30 days after and including the closing date of the Financing.

Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of Gemina (a "Share") and one Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Share at a price equal to $0.80 for a period of 60 months, subject to acceleration in certain circumstances. The Units will be qualified for distribution by way of shelf prospectus supplement pursuant to a short form base prospectus of the Company dated January 10, 2022.

In consideration for the Agent's services with respect to the Financing, Gemina will (i) pay the Agent a cash fee of 7% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Financing (including the Over-Allotment Option), payable on the closing of the Financing (and the closing of the Over-Allotment Option, if applicable), and (ii) issue warrants (the "Agent Compensation Warrants") to purchase that number of Shares of the Company equal to 7% of the aggregate number of Units sold pursuant to the Financing, including the Over-Allotment Option. Each Agent Compensation Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one Share at the Unit Price for a period of 60 months.

It is anticipated that the net proceeds from the Financing will be used by the Company to finance product development and potential strategic acquisitions, and for research and development, working capital and general corporate purposes. The fees payable to the Agent and the Financing are subject to CSE approval.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

John Davies

CEO

Gemina Laboratories Ltd.

About Gemina Laboratories Ltd.

Gemina Labs is a biosensor and diagnostic company with a transformative, patented, proprietary chemistry that powers next-generation testing platforms for a wide range of pathogens that affect human health and wellness. Our technology drives testing platforms that are fast, affordable and accurate, and easily self-administered. Our development pipeline includes platforms for the rapid testing of COVID-19, influenza and other viruses. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.geminalabs.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the terms of the Financing and the intended use of proceeds from the Financing. Although Gemina believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "postulate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance and that such forward-looking information is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this news release including, without limitation, that the Financing will close and will do so on the proposed terms; that the Company will be able to utilize the net proceeds of the Financing in the manner intended; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; that applicable regulatory approvals will be received; and assumptions regarding political and regulatory stability and stability in financial and capital markets.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others: the risk that the Company may not complete the Financing; the risk that the Financing may not be completed on the anticipated terms; the risk that required regulatory approvals for the Financing are not obtained; the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; recent market volatility and potentially negative capital raising conditions resulting from the continued COVID-19 pandemic and risks relating to the extent and duration of such pandemic and its impact on global markets; the conflict in Eastern Europe; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements.

This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities.

For more information regarding the Company, please contact:

James Tansey

Telephone: 604-562-4546

Email: investor@geminalabs.com

SOURCE: Gemina Laboratories Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706045/Gemina-Announces-Proposed-Financing-Up-to-5-Million
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2022) - Galleon Gold Corp. (TSXV: GGO) (the "Company" or "Galleon Gold") is pleased to report that all of the resolutions put forth at the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") held on June 21, 2022, were approved. At the Meeting, shareholders elected the following directors to hold office for the ensuing year: R. David Russell, Thomas Kofman, James T. O'Neil Jr., Mario Colantonio, Gerhard Merkel, Michael Hobart and Richard F. Nanna. Shareholders also approved resolutions to re-appoint Grant Thornton LLP as independent auditors of the Company and for the continuation of the stock option plan.

About Galleon Gold

Galleon Gold is an exploration and development company focused on advancing the West Cache Gold Project in Timmins, Ontario. The project is situated approximately 7 km northeast of Pan American Silver's Timmins West Mine and 14 km southwest of Newmont's Hollinger Mine. Since acquiring the Project the Company has demonstrated significant resource growth while providing a strong valuation in its maiden Preliminary Economic Assessment. Permitting and baseline studies in support of a bulk sample are currently underway. Eric Sprott holds approximately 21% of the Company's outstanding common shares.

For further information:

Galleon Gold

R. David Russell

Chairman and CEO

T. (416) 644-0066

info@galleongold.com

www.galleongold.com

Investor Relations

Harbor Access

Graham Farrell

T. (416) 842-9003

Graham.Farrell@harbor-access.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of Galleon Gold with respect to its long-term strategy, proposed work, plans and other reports including the PEA for its projects. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which Galleon Gold operates. Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, expectations, plans, and objectives of Galleon Gold are forward-looking statements that involve various risks. The following are important factors that could cause Galleon Gold's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of mineral commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated with development, construction and mining operations, risks related to infectious diseases, including Covid-19 and the uncertainty of future exploration activities and cash flows, and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Galleon Gold undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/128491
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2022) - SLANG Worldwide Inc. (CNSX: SLNG) (OTCQB: SLGWF) ("SLANG" or the "Company"), a leading global cannabis consumer packaged goods ("CPG") company with a diversified portfolio of popular brands, has granted 4,828,676 incentive stock options (the "Options") to acquire common shares in the capital of the Company at a price of C$0.14 per share. 4,408,676 of the Options were granted to independent directors exercisable until June 20, 2032 and 420,000 to employees exercisable until June 20, 2027. The Options are subject to vesting provisions and are non-transferrable.

About SLANG Worldwide Inc.

SLANG Worldwide Inc. is a global leader in the cannabis CPG sector with a diversified portfolio of popular brands distributed across the United States. SLANG specializes in acquiring and developing market-proven regional brands as well as launching innovative new brands to seize global market opportunities. For more information, please visit www.slangww.com.

To be added to SLANG's email distribution list, please email SLNG@kcsa.com with "SLNG" in the subject.

Media and Investor Inquiries

Investors@SLANGww.com

KCSA Strategic Communications

Phil Carlson

SLANG@kcsa.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/128531
Cyberint, a Tel Aviv, Israel  based cyber threat intelligence company that pioneered attack surface reconnaissance, raised $40m in funding.

The round was led by StageOne Late Stage Arm (Backed by Clal Insurance, Menora & Bank Hapoalim), Neva SGR  part of Intesa Sanpaolo Group  Italys largest bank, and Viola Growth, together with the participation of all existing investors.

Led by Yochai Corem, CEO, Cyberint combines Threat Intelligence with Attack Surface reconnaissance, providing organizations with extensive integrated visibility into their external risk exposure. The combination of dark web data harvesting with autonomous analysis of the organizations attack surface, augmented with highly skilled threat intelligence experts, delivers information from a wide array of sources to the relevant teams, allowing for effective remediation across all sectors.

Global customers, including Fortune 500 leaders across all major market verticals, use Cyberint to prevent, detect, investigate, and remediate phishing, fraud, ransomware, brand abuse, data leaks, external vulnerabilities and more, ensuring continuous external protection from cyber threats.



The company intends to use the funds to accelerate business growth, as well as to further develop and expand its SaaS Threat Intelligence & Attack Surface reconnaissance platform known as Argos EdgeTM. In addition, Cyberint will bolster its global go-to-market efforts by expanding sales and marketing teams.

With tens of millions of dark web items, phishing attempts and leaked credentials identified monthly, Cyberints technology is becoming increasingly critical. The companys ability to provide early warning to thousands cyber-attack attempts, supporting its customers security programs and makes a real impact before harm can be done.

FinSMEs

21/06/2022
FitFighter, a New York-based assisting fitness startup, raised $2.5M in Seed funding.

The round was led by Jennus Innovation and anchored by Abraham Trust, adding a deep bench of partners to its initial investment from Daniel Lubetzky, representing Equilibra Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to build its salesforce, expand its gym programs and military training, advance product design, and accelerate production.

Led by CEO Sarah Apgar, FitFighter is focused on assisting fitness professionals and their clients, the military, first responders, and athletes develop their abilities to move strong and be a valuable tool to bond fitness communities together.

After the companys debut on ABCs Shark Tank in November 2020, it established its strength system with clients in the military and public safety markets including Fire and Police Departments from Jacksonville FL to Houston TX to Fresno CA. It attracted boutique and franchise gyms from CrossFits to Yoga Studios to F45 to big box chains including Anytime Fitness. FitFighter also signed with retailers and distributors including Dicks Sporting Goods and Perform Better.

FinSMEs

21/06/2022
Olivia Bushe, Chief Executive Officer, FlowForma

FlowForma, a Dublin, Ireland-based no code Business Process Management platform provider, raised 4m in funding.

Original investors who were involved in the new round and supporting the strategy included Marc Murphy, CEO and founder of Fenergo, John Purdy, co-founder of Ergo, and Padraig Canavan, founder of Singularity.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations and its development efforts.

Led by Olivia Bushe, Chief Executive Officer, FlowForma provides process automation tools that empower business users to work smarter and quicker. The companys product has over 200,000 users across more than 20 countries, with customers including Aon, Grant Thornton, Bouygues Group, NHS Trusts, and Trinity College Dublin.

The company intends to release its next-generation product by the end of the year. The next version of FlowForma Process Automation will be Microsoft 365/SharePoint independent. While it will still integrate with the best-selling productivity suite, the company is using the new investment funds to enrich the no code offering and open it up to work with even more databases.

To support its growth strategy, Colm Heffernan, previously Chief Operating Officer at Fenergo, has been appointed as Chairman, bringing a decades experience in growing global businesses to the company.

The firm will increase employee numbers from 30 to 100, with new roles across all areas of the business  sales, development, marketing, customer service  to meet demand in overseas markets. It will open an incubator space in Enterprise Irelands New York office as the software company makes the US a priority.

FinSMEs

21/06/2022
Magic Eden, a San Francisco, CA-based community-centric NFT marketplace, closed a $130m Series B funding round.

The round, which valued the company at $1.6 billion, was co-led by Electric Capital, Greylock, and Lightspeed Venture Partners, which joined as a new anchor investor. Other participants include previous investors Paradigm and Sequoia Capital.

The company intends to use the funds to expand the primary and secondary marketplaces, explore multi-chain opportunities, invest in the team as well as technology to enhance the user experience through improved insights, analytics, and trading tools.

Magic Edens goal is to define the future of NFTs by supporting the next generation of digital creators and introducing the next billion users to web3. Since its inception in September 2021, Magic Eden has become the leading platform for users looking to create, discover, and collect unique NFTs. The marketplace receives an average of 22 million unique sessions per month and sees over 40,000 NFTs traded daily.

Led by Jack Lu, CEO, and Zhuoxun Yin, COO, Magic Eden provides the Launchpad NFT marketplace, empowering users across thousands of digital communities to create, discover and collect NFTs. It offers customization, marketing support, and operational execution to new NFT collections coming onto the primary market. Complementing Launchpad is an active secondary NFT market, which allows creators and collectors alike to access added liquidity and gain entry to a wide breadth of NFT projects. The secondary market covers over 7,000 listed collections and sees over 92% of all NFT volume on Solana.

As the host of a community-centric marketplace, Magic Eden will invest in its relationships with top-tier collections to support their growth, including integration of their Solana Program Library (SPL) tokens for both minting and secondary sales, and the development of whitelabel marketplaces for collections and games such as Okay Bears, Mini Royale Nations, Genopets, and a marketplace partnership with Aurory. Its team will also play an active role in category development and expansion, such as gaming. Since introducing Eden Games, a games discovery portal, in March 2022, Magic Eden has launched 50+ games and metaverse projects and seen 90% of all gaming NFT volume on Solana traded on its marketplace.

FinSMEs

21/06/2022
Wilco, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based provider of an immersive upskilling platform for software developers, raised $7M in Seed funding.

The round was led by Hetz Ventures, with participation from Vertex Ventures, Flybridge Capital Partners, and Shopify VP Engineering Farhan Thawar.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth, expand operations and its business reach.

Founded in 2021 by On Freund (CEO), Shem Magnezi (CTO) and Alon Carmel (CPO), Wilco enables software engineers of all experience levels to upskill by acquiring and honing hands-on skills in an immersive experience. The platform, built to emulate the conditions at a tech startup, sends users on quests that cover everyday engineering tasks  from deploying an app to finding the root cause of a production issue  utilizing real-life tech stacks.

On the platform, developers join a fantasy tech company  a game-like experience designed to accelerate their professional growth. At their new workplace, engineers go on quests that challenge them to navigate complex life-like scenarios while utilizing real tools and technologies.

One quest, aimed at honing skills like debugging and communication, begins with the developer being notified via the workplace messaging app about a mysterious issue with the fantasy companys application. The developer must analyze data to identify the affected users, recreate the issue on their own device, find the problematic code, and push their fix to the companys code repository on Github. When needed, guidance from virtual coworkers is provided through the messaging app, simulating a modern remote work environment.

The currently available quests created by Wilcos team, who have deep expertise in software development as well as game design, cover key software engineering skills and concepts. Additionally, the platform features quests designed with content partners  including New Relic, Applitools, and JFrog  which allow developers to gain real-world experience with popular dev tools. Quests covering additional tools and technologies will be added soon, as well as support for community-authored content.

FinSMEs

21/06/2022
An Oregon State University distinguished professor is set to receive an honorary degree from the University of Oxford in England.

Jane Lubchenco, professor of marine biology at OSU, is one of nine people receiving honorary degrees on Wednesday, according to a news release from OSU.

Im delighted and honored to be recognized by this unique and historic institution, Lubchenco said in the news release. And I know that this honor reflects the exceptional partnerships that my husband, Dr. Bruce Menge, and I have built with our students and colleagues in the Department of Integrative Biology and the broader ocean science community at Oregon State  a place, like the University of Oxford, that inspires and encourages excellence.

Lubchenco is a well-known ecologist who is a former administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She also spent two years as the State Departments first ever U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean. Lubchenco also served as president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Ecological Society of America and the International Council for Science.

In March 2021, the Biden-Harris administration chose Lubchenco to serve as deputy director of climate and environment in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Lubchenco is on hiatus from OSU for the duration of her White House appointment, according to the news release.

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When asked by George Breakfast host Tammy Davis on how to celebrate and implement Matarikis teachings into our daily lives, Tipare commented that Matariki is being condensed into a day/week when in reality Matariki is celebrated over the course of a month.



...you sit in remembrance of those who have passed, but also what your dreams are for next year, your desires, your future planningSo for me I'm going to gather with family and friends on the day and have a kai, do something I never do, which is cook.

I mean every iwi celebrates it differently, each marae there's lots of traditional ways it's kind of like a Christmas time feel but without the presents, if that makes sense. You can decide what you want to do with your whanau. It's about being together, celebrating whakawhanaungatanga. So you could do a hangi I suppose, it really would be up to you to design that.

Tipare told Lee and Tammy that there are many Maori phrases specific to Matariki that are relatable to everyone. These phrases can be used by anyone to celebrate Matariki.

Matariki tapuapua - 'The pools of Matariki'

So this time of year, everyone's noticing all the rain. That is the sign of Matariki. So it's really, we have these things that are specific to this area of the world So when it starts raining, you guys can say Matariki tapuapua it's a sign of the new year.

Nga mihi o te tau hou - 'Greetings of the New Year'

Tipare says that we can use this phrase for both Matariki and in January during the new year. It is also a great beginning or sign off on emails.

Manawatia a Matariki - 'Happy Matariki'

...another one that they use, that I see is being established is Manawatia a Matariki which is kind of like Happy New Year, you know that's been designed by the experts so I think we're going to be using that one a bit on George.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ultra Lithium Inc. (TSX-V: ULT) (Ultra Lithium or the Company) announces that the Company has entered into a definitive agreement with Zangge Mining Investment (Chengdu) Co. Ltd. (Zangge), for exploration and development of its 100% owned Laguna Verde Brine Lithium Project in Catamarca Province, Argentina. Under the terms of the agreement, Zangge will, in staged payments, pay US$10 million to Ultra Lithium and invest US$40 million in the Laguna Verde Project as work expenditures for a 65% stake in Ultra Argentina S.R.L. (Ultra Argentina) which is a subsidiary of Ultra Lithium and holds the Laguna Verde Property. The investment is subject to regulatory approvals and due diligence. The Company will provide further details with respect to agreement terms in a subsequent news release.



About Zangge

Zangge Mining Investment (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. with the registered capital of 2.6 billion RMB (about $500 million) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zangge Mining Co., Ltd. (Zangge Mining), a lithium and potassium producer listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of about $8 billion. Zangge Mining is headquartered in Golmud City of Qinghai Province of China. Currently, Zangge has the mining rights of 724 km2 in Qarhan Brine Lake. It has been developing and utilizing the brine lake for 20 years and has become the biggest private potash producer in China with an annual production output of two million tons of potassium chloride.

Zangge Mining entered the lithium industry in 2017, using its proprietary, advanced and commercially proven adsorption technology to extract lithium from brine. In 2020, Zangge completed construction of its lithium processing facility at its brine project site in Golmud, Qinghai, China and is producing 10,000 tons of lithium carbonate annually. The current production line has been continuous operating for 3 years without needs for changing and/or adding the reagent at all and with almost zero pollutants leakage to the atmosphere and ground. The Company is one of only three companies in the world with industrialized adsorption lithium extraction technology.

Since as early as 2007, the core technical team of Zangge has been engaged in the technology research and development and industrialized construction for brine lithium extraction and has positioned itself as an adsorption lithium extraction technology leader in the global lithium industry.

Laguna Verde Brine Lithium Project Highlights

Laguna Verde is a new brine lithium discovery where exploratory sampling conducted by Ultra Lithium has shown lithium values in the range of 34.2 to 1,270 milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per million (ppm), magnesium values less than 1 to 7,920 ppm, potassium 804 to 15,800 ppm, and boron 65 to 2,190 ppm. The Laguna Verde area is marked by low magnesium to lithium ratios, in the range of zero to 10.2. In 2018, the Company completed a 39.2-line- kilometers of ground geophysical survey which indicates high value brine lithium exploration targets in a salar core area of 3.4 square kilometers within a potential brine basin of twenty-three square kilometres and a thickness of 100 to 150 meters. Gravity survey interpretation shows a major fault system exists to the east of the Laguna Verde Salar representing a 2.4-kilometer-thick Cenozoic basin, which requires further research.

In 2018, a bench scale evaporation test of approximately 4,000 litres of brine sample from Laguna Verde was conducted in Ultra Argentina laboratories located in Salta. The density of the original brine sample was 1156 and its lithium concentration was 391 ppm. Two types of evaporation tests were completed. The first test included evaporating 179 litres of brine sample in an external pool located outside to match the natural evaporation conditions. The results indicate that in a period of five months, the brine volume was reduced from sixteen cubic metres (m3) to three cubic meters and lithium concentration increased from 391 to 6,760 ppm. Major salts produced during this process were Halite, Felsobanyaite, Silvite, Lithium Sulfate and Potassium, Carnalite, Kainite and Gypsum. The second test was conducted inside in controlled conditions. The results indicated that the original brine volume of 2,326 m3 was reduced to 85.06 m3 and the lithium concentration went up from 391 to 7,370 ppm.

Ultra Lithium is currently carrying out exploratory drilling on the Property where the first drill hole indicates the presence of a continuous brine aquifer comprising of mainly clastic sediments from 13.9 meters to 205 m drilled depth with a marked hydrothermal presence towards the deeper section. The aquifer is still open at depth.

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Afzaal Pirzada, P.Geo., a qualified person, as defined by NI 43-101 who works as Vice President Exploration of the Company.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kiki Smith

Kiki Smith, CFO

About Ultra Lithium Inc.

Ultra Lithium Inc. is an exploration and development company with a focus on the acquisition and development of lithium, gold, and copper assets. The Company holds a brine lithium property in Argentina, hard rock spodumene type lithium properties at the Georgia Lake / Forgan Lake area in northwestern Ontario, Canada, and a brine lithium property in the Big Smoky Valley, Nevada, USA. The Company also holds other gold and base metals properties in Argentina.

For further information, please contact the Company at:

Attention: Kiki Smith

Telephone: 778 968-1176

Facsimile: 604 909-4682

Email: kiki@ultralithium.com

Website: www.ultralithium.com

or view the Companys filings at www.SEDAR.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects, intends, is expected, potential, suggests or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Companys control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/636d3262-75e2-4416-8aab-f50019aa30a9
Lenexa, June 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lenexa, Kansas -

Mighty Dog Roofing of Southwest Kansas City Metro would like to reach out to homeowners in the area who may be in search of a reliable roofing service. The company offers a variety of roofing related services that include repairs, replacement and installation along with maintenance. With a team of highly qualified contractors, Mighty Dog offers some of the best roofing assistance in the area, and they are always looking to improve the range and quality of their services.



Mighty Dogs roofers are considered by many to be some of the best roofers in all of Kansas, and they are known for excelling at all things related to roofing. They make it their job to provide their clients with a beautiful, safe and comfortable place to live by ensuring that they have a sturdy roof over their heads. The company is locally owned-and-operated, and they offer both residential and commercial roofing services. Regardless of what kind of home improvement needs a customer might have, for instance, Mighty Dog has the tools, knowledge and experience to make sure they get exactly what they need. They offer quality solutions that leave customers with peace of mind that they have a safe home. They work with the best manufacturers in the roofing industry to provide roofing solutions that will last for years.



Twenty or more years of sun, wind, rain, snow and even hail are enough to wear down any roof, no matter where you live in the Southwest Kansas City Metro Kansas area, Mighty Dog Roofing of Southwest Kansas says. And a simple repair sometimes won't do; a brand-new roof installation or roof replacement is better, both for your safety and budget. Whether we recommend repairing a small leak or replacing the entire roof on your house, a licensed residential roofing contractor will review the options available to you and provide a detailed roofing estimate as if we were the homeowners involved. It is this honesty and integrity during our detailed inspections that our homeowners love and come to expect from Mighty Dog Roofing of Southwest Kansas City Metro Kansas.

The company continues, We take pride in our quality materials and our customer service-focused Mighty Dog Team Members for their high-quality attention to detail, compassion and personal, neighborly advice when your safety is on the line. Rest easy knowing that the best residential roofing company Mighty Dog Roofing of Southwest Kansas City Metro Kansas is coming to the rescue.



The companys commercial services are just as renowned as their residential services. They offer a full range of the best commercial roofing services to businesses in and around the Southwest Kansas City Metro Kansas area. These services include roof inspection, roof repair, replacement and maintenance. Their team can handle projects of every size, and no matter how big or small the job is they always use the highest quality roofing materials on the market. Mighty Dog Roofing understands that a business represents someones livelihood, and providing anyone with subpar roofing when their livelihood potentially depends on it is something that Mighty Dog Roofing is not interested in doing.



At Mighty Dog of Southwest Kansas, they know how important trust and accuracy are when dealing with something as important as a home or business. This is why they go the extra mile when conducting roof inspections, and they make use of a drone to provide verifiable and credible inspection information. By setting the baseline health of each customers roof in this complete and thorough inspection, they develop a comprehensive set of roof service records and measurements (along with the history of repairs and replacements that may have been performed on the roof).



We understand that you have your choice of Southwest Kansas City Metro Kansas roofing contractors to hire when the need arises, the company says. We respect the need to do your research when choosing which company best fits your needs. We invite you to review our testimonials to better understand what to expect from working with Mighty Dog of Southwest Kansas City Metro Kansas as well as our commitment to your community. Have a question about whether our license is in good standing, BBB reputation and customer satisfaction track record, or maybe you want to learn more about our Mighty Dog Roofing process? Contact us! We may be Mighty Dogs, but we don't bite.



Find out more about the Southwest Kansas City Metro roofing company on their website. The team is also active on social media.

https://youtu.be/DK2jOSUEKM8

###

For more information about Mighty Dog Roofing of Southwest Kansas City Metro, contact the company here:



Mighty Dog Roofing of Southwest Kansas City Metro

Wyatt Henton

913-954-2420

whenton@mightydogroofing.com

15012 W 106th St, Lenexa, KS, 66215
SINGAPORE, June 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On June 20, 2022, Calo Metaverse will officially release the Trial NFTs in the Calo Metaverse economy. Calo is proud to be the first project in the world to offer these limited Trial versions of NFTs.



Why does Calo Metaverse release Trial NFTs?

For experienced Crypto investors, Trial NFTs will help them have in-depth assessment of the in-game economy. Moreover, investors can base on Trial NFT's average FIT Token earned to calculate ROI when joining the application, thereby making more accurate decisions about investing in Calo's Original NFTs.

In today's market, the group of non-crypto customers still dominates. With almost zero understanding of Crypto, it is very difficult to reach this group. Mr. Tuan PHAN - Founder - CEO of Calo Metaverse commented that: Trial NFTs is a breakthrough because Calo Metaverse expects it as the means of providing information and the most intuitive experience about "Make money from walking - jogging for customers who are completely new players in the Blockchain field in Vietnam and around the world.

CEO Stephen Phan presents NFT Sneakers at Vietnam NFT Summit 2022

How to own Trial NFTs of Calo Metaverse

Calo Metaverse will issue Trial NFTs in "Staking Calo Token - Earning Trial NFTs" events or give as a gift to customers in special events. Players can get NFTs and try to earn Tokens with almost no initial investment costs. Moreover, users can also participate in most of the important features on the App, except for features such as: Mining NFTs, Transfer, Sell/Buy.

As a "Moving Lifestyle" application that combines blockchain and Game-Fi, Calo's mission is to help the community develop physical activity habits and improve their own health. Trial NFTs is a breakthrough step that helps Calo quickly spread a positive message about lifestyle combined with health exercise to all consumers around the world.

Find more about Calo Run here: https://calo.run

Email contact: admin@calo.run

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9f988c5f-b29f-4897-9c54-a914fb82c9e9
English German

Deventer, June 21, 2022  RoodMicrotec N.V., a leading independent company for semiconductors supply and quality services, and EnSilica plc, a leading chip maker of mixed signal ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), today announce that they have successfully brought a mixed signal automotive ASIC to commercial production following the official launch of a new flagship vehicle by a premium automotive company. The ASIC provides key differentiating features in the chassis control of the vehicle.



As announced in 2018, RoodMicrotec was selected by EnSilica to support it in the qualification and testing of this mixed signal automotive ASIC. RoodMicrotec will undertake final testing and shipment of the ASICs for EnSilica.

EnSilica is pleased to confirm that the main production run has now commenced with the official launch of the vehicle. The production schedule for more than 2.5 million ASICs over the next 12 months has been received. The ASIC has an anticipated seven-year production life and depending on the model, there are up to 24 ASICs per vehicle.

It has been exciting to support EnSilica in bringing this project to production over the last few years. We are now looking forward to supporting production of this device in our Nordlingen facility, says Martin Sallenhag, CEO of RoodMicrotec. It again shows the demand for our unique combined capabilities, in depth experience and excellent track record in bringing automotive products to the market for our valued customers.

We are delighted to be entering the full production volume of this exciting project, having successfully collaborated with RoodMicrotec over a number of years. Our joint effort across this highly technical automotive project has now resulted in successful launch of the vehicle, says Ian Lankshear, CEO of EnSilica.

About EnSilica

EnSilica is a leading fabless design house focused on custom ASIC design and supply for OEMs and system houses, as well as IC design services for companies with their own design teams. The company has world-class expertise in supplying custom RF, mmWave, mixed signal and digital ICs to its international customers in the automotive, industrial, healthcare and communications markets. The company also offers a broad portfolio of core IP covering cryptography, radar and communications systems. EnSilica has a track record in delivering high quality solutions to demanding industry standards. The company is headquartered near Oxford, UK and has a design centres across the UK and in Bangalore, India and Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Further information on EnSilica at www.ensilica.com

About RoodMicrotec

RoodMicrotec is a leading independent company for semiconductor supply and quality services. With more than 50 years of experience in the semiconductor and electronics industry, RoodMicrotec is well-established as a highly valued partner for many companies worldwide. The Company provides full-turnkey ASIC services for complex microchips that are customized to handle specific applications for individual customers. In cooperation with strong partners, RoodMicrotec manages the entire development and production flow of ASICs in the target volume, ranging from low quantities up to multiple millions per year. The turnkey solution includes project management, wafer test, assembly, final test, qualification, failure analysis and logistics. All services comply with the industrial and quality requirements of the high reliability, aerospace, automotive, healthcare and industrial sectors. RoodMicrotecs headquarter is located in Deventer, Netherlands, with operational units in Nordlingen and Stuttgart, Germany.

Further information on RoodMicrotec at www.roodmicrotec.com

Further information

Martin Sallenhag - CEO, Arvid Ladega - CFO

Telephone: +31 570 745623 Email: investor-relations@roodmicrotec.com Web: www.roodmicrotec.com

This press release is published in English and German. In case of conflict between these versions the English version shall prevail.
Sydney, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Proactive, provider of real-time news and video interviews on growth companies listed in Australia, has covered the following companies:

Future Metals NL (ASX:FME, AIM:FME) has upgraded the JORC 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of its Panton PGM-Nickel Project in WA to 5 million ounces palladium, platinum and gold (PGM3E) and 238.8 tonnes nickel. Click here

Armada Metals Ltd (ASX:AMM) has intersected magmatic nickel-copper sulphides during phase one diamond drilling at the Nyanga Project in Gabon. Click here

Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:RCE, OTC:RECEF), which is developing a new class of synthetic anti-infectives, welcomes the news that its candidate RECCE  327 (R327) returned a good safety and tolerability profile among 10 healthy male subjects. Click here

327 (R327) returned a good safety and tolerability profile among 10 healthy male subjects. Click here Race Oncology Ltd (ASX:RAC) has seen two of its peer-reviewed abstracts published in the prestigious scientific journal Cancer Research with shares trading higher as a result. Click here

Walkabout Resources Ltd (ASX:WKT) has intersected high-grade zinc-lead mineralisation in its maiden scout drilling program at the Blackcraig Lead-Zinc-Silver Project in southwest Scotland. Click here

Moho Resources Ltd (ASX:MOH) is set to embark on the first phase of reverse circulation (RC) drilling at its 100%-owned Black Swan South nickel prospect, which is part of the regional Silver Swan North Project. Click here

GTI Energy Ltd (ASX:GTR) has brought on board as executive director James (Jim) Baughman, a highly experienced Wyoming uranium geologist and corporate executive who will help guide GTIs technical and commercial activities in the US. Click here

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) remains on track to ship its first spodumene concentrate by the end of this year from the Finniss Lithium Project near Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. Click here

Golden Rim Resources Ltd (ASX:GMR) has fielded strong assays from 36 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes across 3,691 metres in exploration and infill drilling at Kada Gold Project in Guinea. Click here

Fenix Resources Ltd (ASX:FEX) is positioning itself as a fully integrated mining, haulage and logistics company thanks to its latest acquisition. Click here

Apollo Minerals Ltd (ASX:AON) has completed the consolidation of 100% ownership of the Kroussou Zinc-Lead Project in Gabon by acquiring the remaining 20% interest held by Trek Metals Ltd (ASX:TKM). Click here

Sunstone Metals Ltd (ASX:STM) is set to quadruple its landholding in highly prospective northern Ecuador through a staged acquisition of the Verde Chico Project to the west of its El Palmar gold-copper porphyry discovery. Click here

Radiopharm Theranostics Ltd (ASX:RAD) has strengthened its advisory credentials with the appointment of Dr Susann Brady-Kalnay PhD to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Click here

Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) is warming to the potential of its Callisto discovery, which is part of the Norseman project in southern WA, returning more multiple sulphide hits during a new drilling campaign. Click here

Caspin Resources Ltd (ASX:CPN) has started drilling and geochemical soil sampling programs at the Mount Squires Project in the West Musgrave region of Western Australia. Click here

Sipa Resources Ltd (ASX:SRI) has a comprehensive reverse circulation (RC) drill program underway at the Paterson North Project joint venture with Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Limited (RTX) in Western Australias prolific Paterson Province. Click here

Aurumin Ltd (ASX:AUN) has brought a highly prospective exploration licence into the fold at its Central Sandstone Gold Project in WA. Click here

Musgrave Minerals Ltd (ASX:MGV, OTC:MGVMF) has welcomed Anthony Buckingham to the team as general manager-development. Click here

About Proactive

Proactive is a unique tech-enabled platform providing companies globally with a comprehensive investor engagement solution across their business lifecycle.

With six offices on three continents, Proactive works with innovative growth companies quoted on the worlds major stock exchanges, helping executives to engage intelligently with investors.

In 2020, Proactive featured in 809 million search results, our content was viewed over 165 million times and our readers spent over 10 million hours on our websites. Proactive has produced over 300,000 articles and 20,000 executive interviews since it was established in 2006.

For more information on how Proactive can help you make a difference, email us at action@proactiveinvestors.com
Pune, India, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global iron flow battery market size is anticipated to hit USD 15.24 million by 2028 and exhibit a CAGR of 29.3% during the forecast period. Iron flow batterys inherent advantages over conventional batteries and the rising adoption of flow batteries in utility sectors are expected to be the key trends boosting the market growth. Fortune Business InsightsTM has presented this information in its report titled, Iron Flow Battery Market, 2021-2028. The market size stood at USD 2.14 million in 2020 and USD 2.53 million in 2021.

Additionally, the increasing R&D activities for using iron flow batteries across energy storage devices are likely to fuel the market growth in the forthcoming years.







Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/iron-flow-battery-market-101324





Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2021-2028 Forecast Period 2021 TO 2028 CAGR 29.3% 2028 Value Projection USD 15.24 million Base Year 2020 Market Size in 2020 USD 2.14 million Historical Data for 2017-2019 No. of Pages 110 Segments covered Application, Geography Growth Drivers Rising Demand for Power Supply Owing from Data Centers is Anticipated to Drive the Market Growing Research & Development Activities in Iron Flow Battery Market Will Favor the Growth





Market Drivers-



Growing Application Scope in Energy Storage Solutions to Support Growth

The globally increasing research and development activities to utilize iron flow battery for energy storage devices are likely to be a key factor boosting the global iron flow battery market growth. For instance, ESS Inc., a renowned iron flow battery manufacturer, is reportedly working on flow batteries for usage in virtual power plants, commercial & industrial projects, and other such applications.

The increasing number of data centers is escalating the demand for electricity. The rising power consumption across the growing number of data centers is likely to boost the market growth.

The rising adoption of flow batteries in utility sectors owing to growing electricity demand is also projected to favor the market growth.

Lastly, the inherent advantages of these batteries and their wide application in industrial, commercial, utility sectors are anticipated to stimulate market growth.

However, the high costs of these batteries incur high capital investments, which may hinder market growth.





Click here to get the short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on this Market. Please visit: To get more information on the COVID-19 impact on this market, please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/iron-flow-battery-market-101324





COVID-19 Impact



The coronavirus pandemic has significantly impacted the market for iron flow battery. The declined installations of flow batteries in several projects have affected the market growth. The battery and other critical components supply disruptions have aggravated the situation. Furthermore, the closure of production plants due to strict curfews, lockdowns, and labor shortage, have negatively impacted the market growth. However, governments rising emphasis on modernizing the power industry is likely to amplify market growth in the coming years.





Regional Segmentation-



Presence of a Robust Manufacturing Sector to Fuel Growth in North America

North America is projected to dominate the global iron flow battery market share. The presence of a robust manufacturing sector and the developing power generation, oil & gas, and chemical industries contribute to the market growth significantly.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness substantial growth in the forthcoming years. The availability of cheap raw materials and labor is likely to be a major growth driver for the market. Additionally, the growing renewable energy projects are also anticipated to contribute to market growth.

Europe is likely to exhibit considerable growth. The increasing government focus on the reduction of greenhouse gases and renewable energy projects is anticipated to favor the market growth.

The Rest of the World is expected to register significant growth due to the increasing energy demand and new renewable energy projects.





Quick Buy - Iron Flow Battery Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/101324





Competitive Landscape

Key Players Acquire Contracts to Amplify their Growth

The major market players adopt ingenious growth strategies such as contracts, mergers, acquisitions, and others to maximize their market presence. For instance, ESS Inc. signed a contract with GRUPO SAESA Companys Edelaysen in April 2021 to provide a sustainable, safe, and clean flow battery system for renewable energy.

List of Players Operating in the Iron Flow Battery Market are as follows:

ESS Inc. (U.S.)

Electric Fuel Limited (Israel)

Australian Vanadium Limited (Australia)

Bushveld Energy (South Africa)

VRB Energy (Canada)

Primus Power (U.S.)

Redflow-Sustainable Energy Storage (Australia)

UniEnergy Technologies (U.S.)

Avalon Battery (U.S.)

ViZn Energy Systems (U.S.)





Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/iron-flow-battery-market-101324

Iron Flow Battery Market Segmentation:

Application

Utility

Commercial & Industria

lOff-grid & Microgrid





Get your Customized Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/iron-flow-battery-market-101324





About Us:

Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

Contact Us:

Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd.

US: +1 424 253 0390

UK: +44 2071 939123

APAC: +91 744 740 1245
New York, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Fresh Food Packaging Market Report 2022-2032" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06288088/?utm_source=GNW



The Fresh Food Packaging Market Report 2022-2032: This report will prove invaluable to leading firms striving for new revenue pockets if they wish to better understand the industry and its underlying dynamics. It will be useful for companies that would like to expand into different industries or to expand their existing operations in a new region.



The Market is Being Driven by a Growing Awareness of Health Concerns and the Consumption of Fresh Food Products



People are being influenced to choose fresh food packaged products with prolonged shelf life as a result of rising health consciousness and the consumption of fresh food products rather than packaged and processed food items. As a result, there is a growing demand for fresh food products with a long shelf life in countries such as the United States. These factors influence the size and growth of the fresh food packaging market.



During the Projection Period, Modern Packaging Solutions Will be Developed to Create a Lucrative Potential



Growing health concerns, customer desire for better packaging solutions, and government requirements have all contributed to the development of advanced packaging techniques and technologies. The expansion of the fresh food packaging market was aided by advancements in fresh food packaging such as water-soluble packaging, intelligent packaging, Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), active packaging, and edible packaging. Biodegradable packaging that can be recycled and reused has opened up a whole new market for the market because it complies with government requirements and is ecologically beneficial, making it simple to dispose of.



What Are These Questions You Should Ask Before Buying A Market Research Report?

 How is the fresh food packaging market evolving?

 What is driving and restraining the fresh food packaging market?

 How will each fresh food packaging submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2032?

 How will the market shares for each fresh food packaging submarket develop from 2022 to 2032?

 What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2022 to 2032?

 Will leading fresh food packaging markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others?

 How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2032 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2032?

 Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period?

 What are the fresh food packaging projects for these leading companies?

 How will the industry evolve during the period between 2020 and 2032? What are the implication of fresh food packaging projects taking place now and over the next 10 years?

 Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the fresh food packaging market?

 Where is the fresh food packaging market heading? And how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market?

 What can be the best investment options for new product and service lines?

 What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path? C-suite?



You need to discover how this will impact the fresh food packaging market today, and over the next 10 years:

 Our 311-page report provides 140 tables and 138 charts/graphs exclusively to you.

 The report highlights key lucrative areas in the industry so you can target them  NOW.

 Contains in-depth analyse of global, regional and national sales and growth

 Highlights for you the key successful trends, changes and revenue projections made by your competitors



This report tells you TODAY how the fresh food packaging market will develop in the next 10 years, and in-line with the variations in COVID-19 economic recession and bounce. This market is more critical now than at any point over the last 10 years.



Forecasts to 2032 and other analyses reveal the commercial prospects

 In addition to revenue forecasting to 2032, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares.

 You find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments.

 Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, impact of rising fresh food packaging prices and recent developments.



This report includes data analysis and invaluable insight into how COVID-19 will affect the industry and your company. Four COVID-19 recovery patterns and their impact, namely, V, L, W and U are discussed in this report.



Segments Covered in this report



Market Segment by Material

 Plastic

 Metal

 Paper and Paperboard

 Glass



Market Segment by Application

 Dairy Products

 Poultry and Meat Products

 Vegetables and Fruits

 Sea Food

 Other Applications



Market Segment by Pack Type

 Converted Roll Stock

 Gusseted Bags

 Flexible Paper

 Corrugated Box

 Boxboard

 Other Pack Type



In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for 4 regional and 20 leading national markets:



North America

 U.S.

 Canada

 Mexico



Europe

 Germany

 Spain

 United Kingdom

 France

 Italy

 Rest of Europe



Asia Pacific

 China

 Japan

 India

 Australia

 South Korea

 Rest of Asia Pacific



LAMEA

 Brazil

 Turkey

 Saudi Arabia

 South Africa

 UAE

 Rest of Latin America, Middle East and Africa



The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Fresh Food Packaging Market, 2022 to 2032, with a focus on this segment of these companies operations.



Leading companies and the potential for market growth

 Amcor plc

 Ampacet Corporation

 Anchor Packaging Inc.

 Bomarko, Inc.,

 Coveris

 DS Smith Plc (DS Smith)

 DuPont

 Graphic Packaging Holding Co.

 International Paper (IP)

 Mondi Plc (Mondi)

 PCA (Packaging Corporation of America)

 PPC Flexible Packaging LLC

 Printpack Holdings, Inc.

 Schur Flexibles

 Sealed Air Corporation

 Silgan Holdings Inc.

 Smurfit Kappa Group Plc (Smurfit)

 Sonoco Products Company

 Ultimate Packaging, Ltd.

 WestRock Company



Overall world revenue for Fresh Food Packaging Market, 2022 to 2032 in terms of value the market will surpass US$84,903 million in 2022, our work calculates. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2032. Our work identifies which organizations hold the greatest potential. Discover their capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead.



How the Fresh Food Packaging Market, 2022 to 2032 Market report helps you?



In summary, our 310+ page report provides you with the following knowledge:

 Revenue forecasts to 2032 for Fresh Food Packaging Market, 2022 to 2032 Market, with forecasts for material, application, pack type each forecasted at a global and regional level discover the industrys prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues

 Revenue forecasts to 2032 for 4 regional and 20 key national markets  See forecasts for the Fresh Food Packaging Market, 2022 to 2032 market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA. Also forecasted is the market in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, UK, Italy, China, India, Japan, and Australia among other prominent economies.

 Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market including company profiles for 20 of the major companies involved in the Fresh Food Packaging Market, 2022 to 2032 Market.



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06288088/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
June 21, 2022

Prestigious title awarded for the teams multi-disciplinary and human-centered approach to designing solutions that improve peoples lives

Celebratory event accompanied by presentation of awards for Philips three Red Dot Design Best of the Best product ratings

Amsterdam, the Netherlands  Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced that the companys Experience Design Team has been awarded the honorary title of Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2022. The Red Dot design organization awarded the title in recognition of the Philips Experience Design Teams multidisciplinary approach to creating integrated solutions that address major challenges in healthcare, such as ageing populations, the increase in chronic illnesses, the COVID-19 pandemic, and escalating healthcare costs, together with its strong focus on the user and patient experience.

On behalf of the team, Philips Chief Design Officer Sean Carney was presented the award during the Red Dot award ceremony that took place on the evening of Monday, June 20 in Essen, Germany. It is the first time in the history of the Red Dot Design Award (1988) that this award has been bestowed on a design team for the second time.

Philips Experience Design Team comprises a multidisciplinary team of designers operating out of 13 design centers across North and South America, Europe and Asia. Applying deep human insights and cutting-edge technologies, the team helps to create healthcare products and services that truly improve lives, making it a key part of Philips mission to improve the lives of 2.5 billion people a year by 2030, including 400 million in underserved communities.

Philips design team has achieved what many wish for, but few manage - holistic solutions that require the interplay of technology and design to make a lasting positive impact on the progress of their own company and the transformation of healthcare, said Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of Red Dot. "The multidisciplinary Philips Experience Design Team has been proving for years that it is a leader in the field of healthcare technology. The Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2022 award is a well-deserved recognition of their work.

For more than a decade weve recognized that integrated systems combining smart devices, systems, software, and services with real-time data and patient histories are the only way to deliver on the quadruple aim of better patient outcomes, enhanced patient and staff experiences, and lower cost of care, and do it across the entire patient journey, said Sean Carney, Chief Design Officer at Philips. I am immensely proud that my team has been awarded the prestigious title of Red Dot: Design Team of the Year in recognition of the outstanding healthcare solutions they are helping deliver.

In April, Philips received three Red Dot Design Best of the Best awards for ground-breaking design excellence, bringing the companys cumulative Best of the Best total over the years to 27, next to more than 460 Red Dot awards in total.

Selected independently

Red Dot design awards are awarded for submitted products that are judged by the Red Dot jury to be outstanding in terms of their aesthetic appeal, functionality, smartness or innovation. The Red Dot: Design Team of the Year is selected independently from design teams with a consistent track record of innovative, top-class design achievements.

Learn from Philips Experience Design team member Hyelin Lee what it means to put human-centered and sustainable circular-ready design front-and-center in the end-to-end design process .

For further information, please contact:

Joost Maltha

Philips Global Press Office

Tel: +31 6 10 55 8116

Email: joost.maltha@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum  from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter .

Attachments
ZURICH, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sparkademy, a Zurich-based ed-tech startup that offers an adaptive, effective, and scalable learning experience to the corporate world, today announces its partnership with Gulf Bank, one of the largest banks in Kuwait. The partnership will allow Sparkademy's certification learning program to assist the bank's first-moving digital transformation.

Sparkademy will train a selected group of Kuwaiti Gulf Bank employees, providing them with the necessary knowledge, innovative frameworks, tools, material, and market trends required to propel the bank's digital transformation forward. SparkAdemy's program will teach the Gulf Bank team to apply innovative frameworks, fitting seamlessly into Gulf Bank's 2025 Strategic Foundation to foster a performance-driven culture based on meritocracy and engagement.

With customers' ever-evolving expectations, digital innovation in financial services is imperative. According to VMWare, if a client's digital experience does not meet their expectations, over half would switch to a rival  only 10% would remain faithful. Financial institutions require a defined technology and innovation plan to grow beyond traditional banking.

Swiss startups are building their networks to consolidate themselves in global innovation hubs. The 2021 Global Innovation Index placed Switzerland as the world's most innovative economy for the 11th consecutive year. Therefore, Sparkademy is well-placed to expand into new markets in one of Europe's leading startup breeding grounds.

"Sparkademy is extremely excited to support Gulf Bank on its transformation journey. Successful innovation requires putting people at the center, using new technologies to serve them better, and reducing risk along the way," said Alan Cabello, co-founder and CEO of Sparkademy.

"We believe Gulf Bank's 2025 Strategic Foundation offers an ideal environment for this ambitious certification program, and we are looking forward to a fruitful collaboration," Cabello added.

"The digital transformation program will be vital in accelerating Gulf Bank's ongoing digitization plans. Gulf Bank will be upskilling a select group of the Bank's employees in all the knowledge, materials, and market trends necessary to achieve Gulf Bank's vision of consolidating its position as the leading Kuwaiti bank of the future," said Salma Al-Hajjaj, General Manager of Human Resources at Gulf Bank.

About Sparkademy

Sparkademy is an innovative learning institution aiming to bring scalable and measurable learning to the corporate world. With Sparkademy, large organizations benefit from the latest developments in neuroscience and education research to elevate their employees' skills and future-proof their business.

About Gulf Bank

Gulf Bank is one of the leading conventional banks in Kuwait, with total assets of over KD 6 billion for the year ending 31 December 2021. The Bank provides a broad offering of consumer banking, wholesale banking, treasury, and financial services through its large network of more than 50 branches and over 300 ATMs across Kuwait. The Bank was founded in 1960 and has been listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (Boursa Kuwait) since 1984.

Press Contact

Valentina Zabala

1-646-480-0356

valentina.zabala@publicize.co

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Dublin, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "South Korea Used Car Market Outlook to 2026: Relaxed Government Regulations on Big Companies Entering Used Car Market to Facilitate Increase in the Used Cars Sales and Improve the Organized Market Share" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Market is expected to increase at a five year CAGR of 1.0% (by sales volume in units) from 2021P to 2026F

South Korea Used Car Market Outlook to 2026 provides a comprehensive analysis of the used car market trends and performance in South Korea.

The used car industry in South Korea is expected to demonstrate a decent growth in the future. It is expected that the share of the organized segment in the used cars space will increase over time as more brands are planning to enter the OEM pre-owned certified space.

Certain foreign established C2B players are too considering South Korea Used Car market a growing and profitable venture. Moreover, people in South Korea are realizing the advantages of buying a pre-owned cars through authorized outlets as there has been a shift in the general consumer preferences.

South Korea Used Car Market Overview and Size:

South Korea Used Car market increased at a CAGR of 0.8% (by sales volume in units) during 2015-2021P. The market has reached its maturity phase. A combination of restrictions on public transport and a movement towards private travel have accelerated the sale of used cars. Moreover, the availability of various financing facilities offered through banks and NBFIs, high internet penetration and increased government spending have been instrumental factors in facilitating the growth of the South Korean used car market.

Snapshot on Online Used Car Landscape

The number of online used car portals and marketplaces have risen significantly along with rising internet penetration in South Korea over the last few years. Major dealers such as K-Cars, Aj SellCar, Autoplus and others are using online platforms to increase their sales. Hence, there was an inevitable expansion in the lead generation of used cars via the online means.

Social networking sites including Facebook and Instagram play a key role in expanding the used cars market in South Korea. Emergence of online auto-portals and classified platforms such as Encar and Kb Cha Cha Cha have provided increased visibility and credibility to the customer-to-customer transactions in the unorganized segment.

South Korea had one of the fastest internet networks around the world. The internet infrastructure has been a high priority in numerous governmental regulations that led to its rapid and thorough expansion, contributing positively to the growth of the industry.



Competitive Landscape of South Korea Used Car Market

Various authorized dealerships, multi-brand outlets & independent (standalone as well as clustered dealers) operating in the industry have led to increased competition in the used car market. Most multi-brand dealers are providing value added services including easy financing options, handling the paperwork and warranty, to expand their market share and to compete with authorized dealers.



South Korea Used Car Market Segmentations

By Market Structure (Organized, and Unorganized): The organized segment dominates the South Korean used car market covering about 90% of the overall market space. The removal of restrictions on big finished car makers' entry into the local used car market in 2019 and the formal entry of these players in 2022 will further contribute to increasing the organized used car market.

By Organized Market Source of Lead generation (Online, Dealership walk-ins): The lead generation for used cars is South Korea has primarily taken place via the online platforms. The Authorized Dealers showcase the available used cars for sale mainly through their own websites. While, several multi-brand dealers prefer listing their inventory on the classified platforms as well. For buying and selling used cars in South Korea, social networking sites like Kakaotalk, Facebook, and Instagram are gaining traction.

By Sales Channel (B2C and C2C):

- B2C sales in South Korea mainly occur through dealership walk-in and inventory listed on online classified platforms or through dealers' websites and Instagram pages, while C2C sales are mostly generated based on Online Classifieds & Offline References from friends & family. Social Media platforms like Kakaotalk and Facebook, are used extensively for C2C promotions and advertisements in order to reach a large set of potential customers quickly and free of cost.

By Type of Car: SUVs and Luxury Sedans are quite popular in South Korea. SUVs, Sedans and Luxury Sedans account for more than 70% of the market share.

By Brand: Hyundai is the market leader in South Korea accounting for the major share of used cars sold by volume. Korean made brands such as Hyundai, Kia Motors and Ssangyong Motor, are some of the most preferred car brands due to strong brand preference, reliability and longer life span of the pre-owned car. Amongst the continental cars, BMW and Mercedes Benz are the most preferred.

By Region: Most of the used cars market is concentrated in the Gyenonggi and Seoul region in South Korea.

By Age: Generally, any new car in South Korea is owned for 3 - 4 years before being sold to another owner. Therefore, the average age of used cars in the country also lies within the same bracket.

By Kilometers Driven: Cars with a mileage of 60,000-80,000 kilometers dominated the used cars market in South Korea in the year 2021P.

By Fuel: Petrol and diesel run cars dominate the used car market in South Korea. Electric and hybrid cars accounted for about 10% in 2021P.

Key Topics Covered in the Report

South Korea Used Car Market Overview

South Korea Used Car Market Size, 2015-2021P

South Korea Used Car Market Segmentation, 2021P

Growth Drivers in South Korea Used Car Market

Issues and Challenges in South Korea Used Car Market

Government Regulations

Ecosystem and Value Chain of Used Car Industry in South Korea

Customers Purchase Decision Making Parameters

Cross Comparison between Major Authorized Dealers and Multi-brand Dealers

Snapshot on Online used car market

Future Market Size and Segmentations, 2021P - 2026F

Covid-19 Impact on the Industry & the way forward

Analysts' Recommendations

Competitive Landscape

By Brand

Hyundai

Kia

GM Korea

Renault Samsung

Ssangyong

Benz

BMW

Genesis

Audi

Volkswagen

Others (Includes both domestic and international brands)

Authorized Dealers

Benz Hansung

BMW Deutsch Motor

BMW Bavarian Motors

KCC Auto

C2B/C2B2C/B2C

K-Cars

Aj SellCar

Autohands

Hey Dealer

U-Car

Autoplus

Online Portals - Online Auto Classified Platforms

Encar

Kb Cha Cha Cha

Auction Players

Hyundai Glovis

Lotte Rental - Auction

Aj SellCar Auction

K Car Auction

Key Segments Covered

By Market Structure

Organized

Unorganized

By Organized Channel Source of Lead generation

Online

Dealership walk-ins

By Sales Channel

B2C

C2C

By Type of Car

Luxury Sedan

Sedan

Hatchback

SUV

MPV

Others (Sports car, Station wagon)

By Engine Size

2000 CC and Below

2000 CC - 3000 CC

3000 CC - 4000 CC

4000 CC and Above

By Region

Gyeonggi

Seoul

Gyeongnam

Gyeongbuk

Incheon

Busan

Chungnam

Dae-Gu

Jeonnam

Jeonbuk

Chungbuk

Gangwon

Gwangju

Daejeon

Ulsan

Jeju

Sejong

By Age

0-2 Years

2-4 Years

4-6 Years

6-8 Years

8-10 Years

More than 10 Years

By Mileage

Less than 20,000

20,000 - 40,000 Km

40,000 - 60,00 Km

60,000 - 80,000 Km

80,000 - 100,000 Km

Over 100,00 Km

By Fuel

Petrol

Diesel

Electric

Others (Petro-Electric, Diesel-Electric, etc.)

By Transmission Type

Auto

Manual

Others (Semi-Auto, CVT)

Time Period Captured in the Report

Historical Period - 2015-2021P

Forecast Period - 2021P - 2026F

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pkb5ik
Denver, Colorado, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TextUs recently announced Keywords, its latest feature functionality that will allow users to drive higher SMS response rates through use of automated keywords.

The release of this feature has come from a growing demand from customers that want to drive efficiency and engagement at scale by automating common responses through use of specific keywords. Use cases for keyword automation are growing as companies look for ways to better engage with customers, candidates, employees, vendors and more. Keywords offer an easy way to simplify opt-ins and grow contact lists via text messaging. Additionally, users are able to create auto responses for common questions to increase team efficiency.

TextUs Keywords essential features include:

Unlimited keywords: Users can create an unlimited number of keyword triggers and paired auto responses to be used in a variety of ways across messaging accounts.

Auto responses: Users are able to craft engaging auto responses using texting templates, rich media such as images and videos, or personalized messages.

Keyword-driven contact groups: When a person texts in a keyword, they will be automatically added to a contact group that can be used for future campaigns.

Were excited to bring Keywords to market as we look to offer a more robust automation suite alongside conversational and campaign text messaging capabilities, notes Doug Render, SVP of Product at TextUs. TextUs is designed to help organizations be more efficient and Keywords is a major step in helping them accomplish that. It will help businesses streamline their operations and increase the impact of their SMS channel.

Keywords is available as a premium add-on for current TextUs customers. A launch webinar is scheduled for July 13, 2022 at 11am MT. Customers are encouraged to register to get a live demo of Keywords and ask any questions about the new feature.

More information about TextUs Keywords can be found at https://textus.com/keywords

About TextUs

TextUs is the leading conversational texting platform that enables organizations to have engaging real-time conversations with customers, candidates, leads and employees. TextUs integrates with several applicant tracking systems (ATS) and customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, making texting an easy and seamless extension of current business systems. The company serves many different verticals such as sales, staffing and recruiting, SaaS, higher education, corporate human resources, healthcare, property management, financial services, nonprofits, and more. With a 98% read rate and up to 45% response rates, TextUs delivers business-class text messaging combined with automated campaign features to connect businesses with their customers in real time. To learn more, visit www.textus.com.

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MONACO, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE:STNG) (Scorpio Tankers, or the Company) announces that the President of the Company and Scorpio Holdings Limited, a related party, have purchased common shares of the Company in the open market.



The President of the Company, Robert Bugbee, has purchased 150,000 common shares of the Company in the open market at an average price of $33.68 per share, and Scorpio Holdings Limited has purchased 150,000 common shares of the Company in the open market at an average price of $34.19 per share.

About Scorpio Tankers Inc.

Scorpio Tankers Inc. is a provider of marine transportation of petroleum products worldwide. Scorpio Tankers Inc. currently owns, finance leases or bareboat charters-in 117 product tankers (42 LR2 tankers, 61 MR tankers and 14 Handymax tankers) with an average age of 6.5 years. The Company has agreed to sell three LR2 tankers and one MR tanker. Additional information about the Company is available at the Company's website www.scorpiotankers.com, which is not a part of this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forwardlooking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forwardlooking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forwardlooking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan, target, project, likely, may, will, would, could and similar expressions identify forwardlooking statements.

The forwardlooking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Companys records and other data available from third parties. Although management believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Companys control, there can be no assurance that the Company will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. The Company undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, except as required by law, to publicly update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Companys view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forwardlooking statements include unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, the length and severity of the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including its effect on demand for petroleum products and the transportation thereof, expansion and growth of the Companys operations, risks relating to the integration of assets or operations of entities that it has or may in the future acquire and the possibility that the anticipated synergies and other benefits of such acquisitions may not be realized within expected timeframes or at all, the failure of counterparties to fully perform their contracts with the Company, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for tanker vessel capacity, changes in the Companys operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Companys vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, charter counterparty performance, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in such financing arrangements, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of offhires, and other factors. Please see the Companys filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of certain of these and other risks and uncertainties.

Contact Information

Scorpio Tankers Inc.

James Doyle  Head of Corporate Development & Investor Relations

Tel: +1 646-432-1678

Email: investor.relations@scorpiotankers.com
Dublin, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market (2022-2027) by Type, Indication, Geography, Competitive Analysis, and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market is estimated to be USD 75.35 Mn in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 133.51 Mn by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 12.12%.



Market Dynamics

Market dynamics are forces that impact the prices and behaviors of the Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market stakeholders. These forces create pricing signals which result from the changes in the supply and demand curves for a given product or service. Forces of Market Dynamics may be related to macro-economic and micro-economic factors. There are dynamic market forces other than price, demand, and supply. Human emotions can also drive decisions, influence the market, and create price signals.



As the market dynamics impact the supply and demand curves, decision-makers aim to determine the best way to use various financial tools to stem various strategies for speeding the growth and reducing the risks.



Market Segmentations

The Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market is segmented based on Technology, End-User, and Geography.

By Technology, the market is classified into Electroanatomical Mapping, Basket Catheter Mapping, and Real-Time Positional Management EP System.

By End-User, the market is classified into Hospitals & Clinics, and Diagnostics Centers.

By Geography, the market is classified into Americas, Europe, Middle-East & Africa and Asia-Pacific.

Company Profiles

The report provides a detailed analysis of the competitors in the market. It covers the financial performance analysis for the publicly listed companies in the market. The report also offers detailed information on the companies' recent development and competitive scenario. Some of the companies covered in this report are Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Microport Scientific, APN Health, Coremap, Kardium, Catheter Precision, Epmap-System, etc.



Countries Studied

America (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, United States, Rest of Americas)

Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Rest of Europe)

Middle-East and Africa (Egypt, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Rest of MEA)

Asia-Pacific (Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan, Rest of Asia-Pacific)

Competitive Quadrant

The report includes Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.



Ansoff Analysis

The report presents a detailed Ansoff matrix analysis for the Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market. Ansoff Matrix, also known as Product/Market Expansion Grid, is a strategic tool used to design strategies for the growth of the company. The matrix can be used to evaluate approaches in four strategies viz. Market Development, Market Penetration, Product Development and Diversification. The matrix is also used for risk analysis to understand the risk involved with each approach.

The report analyses the Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market using the Ansoff Matrix to provide the best approaches a company can take to improve its market position.

Based on the SWOT analysis conducted on the industry and industry players, the analyst has devised suitable strategies for market growth.

Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains the competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's Proprietary competitive positioning tool.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Market Dynamics

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Surge in Prevalence of Cardiac Arrhythmias

4.1.2 Growth in Preference for Minimally Invasive Procedures

4.1.3 Growth in the Geriatric Population

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 High Cost of 3D Cardiac Mapping Systems

4.2.2 Unfavorable Regulatory Scenario

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 Focus on Launch of Innovative Products

4.3.2 Emergence of AI and ML Technologies to Boost the 3D Content Accuracy

4.4 Challenges

4.4.1 Availability of Alternative Technologies



5 Market Analysis

5.1 Regulatory Scenario

5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Ansoff Matrix Analysis



6 Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market, By Technology

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Electroanatomical Mapping

6.3 Basket Catheter Mapping

6.4 Real-Time Positional Management (Cardiac Pathways) EP System



7 Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market, By End-User

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Hospitals &Clinics

7.3 Diagnostics Centers



8 Americas' 3D Cardiac Mapping Market

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Argentina

8.3 Brazil

8.4 Canada

8.5 Chile

8.6 Colombia

8.7 Mexico

8.8 Peru

8.9 United States

8.10 Rest of Americas



9 Europe's 3D Cardiac Mapping Market

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Austria

9.3 Belgium

9.4 Denmark

9.5 Finland

9.6 France

9.7 Germany

9.8 Italy

9.9 Netherlands

9.10 Norway

9.11 Poland

9.12 Russia

9.13 Spain

9.14 Sweden

9.15 Switzerland

9.16 United Kingdom

9.17 Rest of Europe



10 Middle East and Africa's 3D Cardiac Mapping Market

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Egypt

10.3 Israel

10.4 Qatar

10.5 Saudi Arabia

10.6 South Africa

10.7 United Arab Emirates

10.8 Rest of MEA



11 APAC's 3D Cardiac Mapping Market

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Australia

11.3 Bangladesh

11.4 China

11.5 India

11.6 Indonesia

11.7 Japan

11.8 Malaysia

11.9 Philippines

11.10 Singapore

11.11 South Korea

11.12 Sri Lanka

11.13 Thailand

11.14 Taiwan

11.15 Rest of Asia-Pacific



12 Competitive Landscape

12.1 Competitive Quadrant

12.2 Market Share Analysis

12.3 Strategic Initiatives

12.3.1 M&A and Investments

12.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations

12.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements



13 Company Profiles

13.1 Biosense Webster (A Johnson & Johnson Company)

13.2 Abbott Laboratories

13.3 Medtronic

13.4 Boston Scientific

13.5 Microport Scientific

13.6 EP Solutions

13.7 Koninklijke Philips

13.8 Lepu Medical

13.9 Biotronik

13.10 Angiodynamics

13.11 Biosig Technologies

13.12 APN Health

13.13 Coremap

13.14 Kardium

13.15 Catheter Precision

13.16 Epmap-System



14 Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/h4loqc

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Aspargo Laboratories, Inc. and Laboratorios Vanquish, S.A. to jointly launch Sildenafil Oral Spray in Mexico via exclusive License and Distribution Agreements



Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Columbia represent combined annual ED market in excess of $1 billion

Aspargos Sildenafil Oral Spray offers a convenient, discreet option for men with ED



ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. and MEXICO CITY, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aspargo Laboratories, Inc. (Aspargo), a private specialty pharmaceutical company focused on commercializing innovative formulations of leading tablet medications, announced today that it has entered into an Exclusive Patent License Agreement (the License) with LABORATORIOS VANQUISH, S.A. (Vanquish), a leading Mexican pharmaceutical company, to commercialize Sildenafil Oral Spray in Mexico. Concurrent with the grant of the License, Aspargo and Vanquish have agreed to enter into a Distribution, Collaboration, and Profit-Sharing Agreement for the joint marketing and promotion of Sildenafil Oral Spray in Mexico (the Distribution Agreement and, together with the License, the Agreements). The Agreements allow Aspargo to expand its international marketing of Sildenafil Oral Spray for the treatment of erectile dysfunction to the Latin American market.

Sildenafil Oral Spray is an oral liquid suspension of sildenafil citrate administered via a spray pump that dispenses 12.5 mg of sildenafil per push. Aspargo uses an FDA-approved, metered-dose container that delivers the precise amount of sildenafil citrate per push based on patient need. The discreet and easy-to-carry oral spray allows the user to customize dosing and avoid pill splitting or crushing attendant with the traditional tablet medication.

The expansion of our product launch to Mexico positions Aspargo to access the lucrative LATAM markets of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Columbia, which represent combined annual sales in excess of $1 billion, said Michael Demurjian, Aspargos Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. This pocket-sized oral spray suspension formulation of sildenafil citrate will now give men in Mexico a convenient and precise delivery system of a proven ED medication to manage their erectile dysfunction.

Pursuant to the Agreements, Aspargo and Vanquish will jointly market Sildenafil Oral Spray in Mexico and share in the net profit and cash flow from product sales. Farmalider, S.A. (Madrid, Spain), licensor to Aspargo of the patent rights to Sildenafil Oral Spray, will supply the commercial product for the Spanish market pursuant to a multi-year Supply Agreement. The joint venture leverages Aspargos proprietary patents, know-how, and sales expertise and Vanquishs logistics, administration, supply chain, and drug distribution services in the Mexican market to maximize product sales.

At Vanquish, we are dedicated to making safe and reliable prescription drugs accessible to members of our local communities, said Aristides Torres, Vanquishs CEO. Together with Aspargo, we will commercialize an oral spray of the proven drug sildenafil, providing men suffering from erectile dysfunction and their partners with an alternative, discreet option. Im honored to be on the forefront of bringing this drug to Mexico.

Erectile dysfunction is characterized by the persistent difficulty achieving and maintaining an erection sufficient to have sexual intercourse. While the prevalence of ED has been shown to increase with age, a recent study conducted by the Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit of the University of Florence, Italy, showed that ED in younger men is likely to be overlooked and dismissed without a proper medical assessment.

About Aspargo Laboratories, Inc.

Aspargo Laboratories, Inc., located in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, is a commercial stage, specialty pharmaceutical company. Aspargos current focus is to commercialize an oral spray formulation of sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra. Aspargo is the US and international licensee of the patent rights covering Sildenafil Oral Spray from Farmalider, S.A. of Madrid, Spain (www.farmalider.com). For additional information, please visit our website at https://aspargolabs.com/ .

About Laboratorios Vanquish

Laboratorios Vanquish is a privately held pharmaceutical company headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. The company is dedicated to the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of drugs and medical devices, mainly for the institutional market. For additional information, please visit our website at https://www.grupovanquish.com/ .
Detroit, Michigan, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc., (OTCPK:AITX), today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc. (RAD) has released details about its event scheduled for Thursday June 30 at the Westin Times Square in New York City.



Event Title: Being Proactive Against an Active Shooter Date: Thursday June 30, 2022 Location: The Westin Times Square 270 W 43rd St. New York, NY 10036 Time: 1 pm ET

The purpose of this event is to bring technology leaders, legislators, school administrators, law enforcement officials, community leaders, and victim's advocates together to discuss and review sensible and affordable solutions that can work to mitigate a possible 'active shooter' event.

Moderating the event will be Antoinette King. Ms. King holds the Physical Security Professional (PSP) and Data Privacy Protection Specialist (DPPS) certifications and SIAs Security Industry Cybersecurity Certification (SICC), as well as a M.S. in cybersecurity policy and risk analysis, a B.S. in managing security systems and an A.S. in criminal justice. King has published and presented on various security topics in several capacities, including articles, white papers, keynotes, webinars, panel discussions and corporate talks.

Participating on the panel will be Steve Surfaro, Chairman of the Public Safety Interest Group for the Security Industry Association (SIA). Steve has more than 30 years of security industry experience. He is a subject matter expert in smart cities and buildings, cybersecurity, forensic video, data science, command center design and first responder technologies

Former FBI Agent, Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force Coordinator/Supervisor, Troy McCanna will also be a discussion panelist. McCanna was a first responder to the Oxford High School mass shooting on November 30, 2021, in suburban Detroit. Lets give our teachers, children, and law enforcement time to react! said McCanna. The era of recording crime for later review is over. The new bar must be to deter, alert, prevent and help save lives. McCanna left the FBI after a distinguished 23-year career and joined RAD in early 2022.

Also on the panel will be Steve Reinharz, CEO of AITX and Founder of RAD. Steve is a champion for change, developing AI-powered solutions that perform the duties of traditional manned staff and gain higher levels of situational awareness, at dramatically lower costs. His recent safety solutions, such as RAD Light My Way and Firearm Detection are examples of Reinharz efforts to turn the once futuristic promises of AI and automation into todays realities. Reinharz regularly speaks and contributes to panels at ISC East and West, other SIA events, GSX, plus ASIS. Reinharz was recently named as Chair of SIAs AI, Drones and Robotics Interest Group. Weve come to a critical time a place, where affordable technology can, and will prevent shooting tragedies from occurring, said Reinharz. Im looking forward to demonstrating the lifesaving tools that we have developed.

The discussion will also include the participation of victims families and advocates of recent shootings to share their thoughts on available technologies that could prevent the escalation of an active shooter event. The identities of these participants will be made available the day of the event.

RADs firearm detection identifies the presence of side arms and long gun firearms. Immediately upon the detection of a firearm, RADs AI-driven analytics the system will autonomously perform a variety of actions including appropriately activating a local audible and visible alerts, locking and securing doors, notifications to remote monitoring or onsite security staff, and law enforcement authorities  ideally before any shots are fired.

Also being demonstrated at the afternoon event will be RADs safety and security solution for colleges and universities. RAD Light My Way offers campus security professionals a new and better way to address security. This breakthrough solution puts the power of personal safety in the hands of employees, faculty, and students through the combination of affordable, smart, interactive technologies, a mobile app, and live remote monitoring and response services. RAD Light My Way recently won 2 Secure Campus 2022 Awards from Campus Security & Life Safety Magazine. In October 2021 RAD Light My Way along with RAD's ROSA won CBREs 2021 Best Workplace Experience Solution Award.

RADs parent company AITX has filed for uplisting to the OTCQB. Future announcements will be made regarding the status of the OTCQB application.

Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD) is a high-tech start-up that delivers robotics and artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex security challenges, and fuel new business ideas at reduced costs. RAD developed its advanced security robot technology from the ground up including circuit board design, and base code development. This allows RAD to have complete control over all design elements, performance, quality, and the users experience of all security robots whether SCOT, ROSA, Wally, Wally HSO, AVA, ROAMEO, or RAD Light My Way. Read about how RAD is reinventing the security services industry by downloading the Autonomous Remote Services Industry Manifesto, and request a copy of the recently published Navigating the New Economy: Jobs & Automation, Challenges & Opportunities.

CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" that are based on current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the ability of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions to provide for its obligations, to provide working capital needs from operating revenues, to obtain additional financing needed for any future acquisitions, to meet competitive challenges and technological changes, to meet business and financial goals including projections and forecasts, and other risks. Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement(s) and/or to confirm the statement(s) to actual results or changes in Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions expectations.

About Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX)

AITX is an innovator in the delivery of artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex challenges and fuel new business ideas. Through its next-generation robotic product offerings, AITXs RAD, RAD-M and RAD-G companies help organizations streamline operations, increase ROI, and strengthen business. AITX technology improves the simplicity and economics of patrolling and guard services and allows experienced personnel to focus on more strategic tasks. Customers augment the capabilities of existing staffs and gain higher levels of situational awareness, all at drastically reduced cost. AITX solutions are well suited for use in multiple industries such as enterprises, government, transportation, critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare. To learn more, visit www.aitx.ai, stevereinharz.com, www.radsecurity.com and www.radlightmyway.com, or follow Steve Reinharz on Twitter @SteveReinharz.

###

Steve Reinharz

949-636-7060

@ SteveReinharz

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Pune, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Macadamia Nuts Market Research Report 2022-2028 is a factual overview and in-depth study of the current and future market of the Macadamia Nuts industry. The Macadamia Nuts Market report provides supreme data, such as development strategy, competitive landscape, environment, opportunities, risk, challenges, and barriers, value chain optimization, contact and income information, technological advancement, and product offerings of key players, and the dynamic structure of the market. The Macadamia Nuts market report provides growth rate, recent trends and an absolute study of prime players at intervals of the market by the weightlessness of their product description, business outline, and business tactic.

Get a Sample PDF of the report - https://www.marketreportsworld.com/enquiry/request-sample/20108511

Moreover, the research report gives detailed data about the major factors influencing the growth of the Macadamia Nuts market at the national and local level forecast of the market size, in terms of value, market share by region, and segment, regional market positions, segment and country opportunities for growth, Key company profiles, SWOT, product portfolio and growth strategies.

Covid-19 Impact On Macadamia Nuts Industry:

The Covid-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the Macadamia Nuts Market. With the industries. Major companies have suspended their operations in different locations due to the lockdown and social distancing norms. Post pandemic, the industry expects a lot of requirements and demand owing to the rapid urbanization and growing need for wise use of area present.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Global Market Conditions and Competitors: - In this report, analysts compile existing research on COVID-19, share key insights, and help the reader to spot new market opportunities related to the pandemic. Topics include product development pipelines, diagnostic testing approaches, vaccine development programs, regulatory approvals, and much more.

About Macadamia Nuts:

Macadamia Nuts are the fruit (edible seed) of the evergreen macadamia tree, which belongs to the genus Macadamia of the Proteaceae family. Only three of the species are of commercial importance, namely Macadamia integrifolia, Macadamia ternifolia, and Macadamia tetraphylla. Macadamias are native to Australia, but today, they are grown in many areas in the world. The largest producers of macademia Nuts are Australia and South Africa, followed by Kenya, China, USA (Hawaii), Guatemala, Malawi, Vietnam, Colombia, New Zealand and Swaziland.

Once planted, the macadamia trees need five years before being able to carry their first fruit  their maximum carrying capacity is reached after ten years. Macadamia trees require warm temperatures and good annual rainfall to yield a good crop. The biggest threats to annual production come from droughts and heavy frost.

The Nuts themselves grow encased in a hard, woody shell, which is protected by a green-brown fibrous husk that splits open as the nut matures. Macadamia Nuts are harvested mechanically or gathered from the ground in different periods throughout the entire year, depending on the country of origin. Because flowering occurs over several months, macadamia Nuts mature and drop to the ground over an extended period, so they have to be harvested regularly. Due to long-term maturity, it is possible for flowering and harvesting to overlap. In the European winter months, they are harvested in Africa and Hawaii, while during the spring and summer months, harvesting occurs in Australia and Central and South America.

Market Analysis and Insights: Global Macadamia Nuts Market

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global Macadamia Nuts market size is estimated to be worth USD 1219.5 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 1422.5 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 2.6% during the review period. Fully considering the economic change by this health crisis, Nuts without Shell accounting for the Macadamia Nuts global market in 2021, is projected to value USD million by 2028, growing at a revised CAGR in the post-COVID-19 period. While Snack Food segment is altered to a CAGR throughout this forecast period.

Global Macadamia Nuts key players include Marquis Macadamias, Golden Macadamias, Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp, Buderim Group, Kenya Nut Company, etc.Global top five manufacturers hold a share about 35%.North America is the largest market, with a share over 30%, followed by Europe, and Asia-Pacific, both have a share over 55 percent.

In terms of product, Nuts without Shell is the largest segment, with a share of over 70%. And in terms of application, the largest application is Snack Food, followed by Confectionery and Bakery, Cosmetics, etc.

Global Macadamia Nuts Scope and Segment

Macadamia Nuts market is segmented by Type and by Application. Players, stakeholders, and other participants in the global Macadamia Nuts market will be able to gain the upper hand as they use the report as a powerful resource. The segmental analysis focuses on sales, revenue and forecast by Type and by Application for the period 2017-2028.

Get a Sample Copy of the Macadamia Nuts Market Research Report 2022

This report gives a detailed description of all the factors influencing the growth of these market players as well as profiles of their companies, their product portfolios, marketing strategies, technology integrations, and more information about these market players. Some of the major players are as follows:

The Major Key Players Listed in Macadamia Nuts Market Report are:

Marquis Macadamias

Golden Macadamias

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp

Buderim Group

Kenya Nut Company

Nambucca MacNuts

Ivory Macadamias

Eastern Produce

Inquire more and share questions if any before the purchase on this report at - https://www.marketreportsworld.com/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/20108511

On the whole, the report proves to be an effective tool that players can use to gain a competitive edge over their competitors and ensure lasting success in the global Macadamia Nuts market. All of the findings, data, and information provided in the report are validated and revalidated with the help of trustworthy sources. The analysts who have authored the report took a unique and industry-best research and analysis approach for an in-depth study of the global Macadamia Nuts market.

Global Macadamia Nuts Market: Segment Analysis

The research report includes specific segments by region (country), company, Type and Application. This study provides information about the sales and revenue during the historic and forecasted period. Understanding the segments helps in identifying the importance of different factors that aid the market growth.

By Types:

Nuts without Shell

Nuts in Shell

By Application:

Snack Food

Confectionery and Bakery

Cosmetics

Other Application

Geographic Segment Covered in the Report:

The Macadamia Nuts report provides information about the market area, which is further subdivided into sub-regions and countries/regions. In addition to the market share in each country and sub-region, this chapter of this report also contains information on profit opportunities. This chapter of the report mentions the market share and growth rate of each region, country and sub-region during the estimated period.

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

South America

Middle East and Africa

The study Objectives of this report are:

To study and analyze the global Macadamia Nuts market size (value and volume) by company, key regions/countries, products and application, history data and forecast.

To understand the structure of Macadamia Nuts market by identifying its various sub-segments.

To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).

Focuses on the key global Macadamia Nuts manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years.

To analyze the Macadamia Nuts with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.

To project the value and volume of Macadamia Nuts submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries).

To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.

To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.

This Macadamia Nuts Market Research/Analysis Report Contains Answers to the following Questions

What developments are going on in that technology? Which trends are causing these developments?

Who are the global key players in this Macadamia Nuts market? What are their company profiles, their product information, and contact information?

What was the global market status of Macadamia Nuts market?

What is the current market status of Macadamia Nuts industry? Whats market competition in this industry, both company, and country-wise? Whats the market analysis of Macadamia Nuts market by taking applications and types in consideration?

What will be the estimation of cost and profit?

What is the economic impact on Macadamia Nuts industry? What are global macroeconomic environment analysis results? What are global macroeconomic environment development trends?

What are the market dynamics of Macadamia Nuts market? What are the challenges and opportunities?

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Detailed TOC of Global Macadamia Nuts Market Report 2022

1 Study Coverage

1.1 Macadamia Nuts Product Introduction

1.2 Market by Type

1.2.1 Global Macadamia Nuts Market Size Growth Rate by Type, 2017 VS 2021 VS 2028

1.2.2 Nuts without Shell

1.2.3 Nuts in Shell

1.3 Market by Application

1.3.1 Global Macadamia Nuts Market Size Growth Rate by Application, 2017 VS 2021 VS 2028

1.3.2 Snack Food

1.3.3 Confectionery and Bakery

1.3.4 Cosmetics

1.3.5 Other Application

1.4 Study Objectives

1.5 Years Considered

2 Executive Summary

2.1 Global Macadamia Nuts Sales Estimates and Forecasts 2017-2028

2.2 Global Macadamia Nuts Revenue Estimates and Forecasts 2017-2028

2.3 Global Macadamia Nuts Revenue by Region: 2017 VS 2021 VS 2028

2.4 Global Macadamia Nuts Sales by Region

2.4.1 Global Macadamia Nuts Sales by Region (2017-2022)

2.4.2 Global Sales Macadamia Nuts by Region (2023-2028)

2.5 Global Macadamia Nuts Revenue by Region

2.5.1 Global Macadamia Nuts Revenue by Region (2017-2022)

2.5.2 Global Macadamia Nuts Revenue by Region (2023-2028)

2.6 North America

2.7 Europe

2.8 Asia-Pacific

2.9 Latin America

2.10 Middle East & Africa

3 Competition by Manufacturers

4 Market Size by Type

5 Market Size by Application

6 North America

7 Europe

8 Asia Pacific

9 Latin America

10 Middle East and Africa

11 Company Profiles

12 Industry Chain and Sales Channels Analysis

13 Market Drivers, Opportunities, Challenges and Risks Factors Analysis

14 Key Findings in The Global Macadamia Nuts Study

15 Appendix

Continued.

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Market Reports World is the Credible Source for Gaining the Market Reports that will provide you with the Lead Your Business Needs. The market is changing rapidly with the ongoing expansion of the industry. Advancement in technology has provided todays businesses with multifaceted advantages resulting in daily economic shifts. Thus, it is very important for a company to comprehend the patterns of the market movements in order to strategize better. An efficient strategy offers the companies a head start in planning and an edge over the competitors.
ATLANTA, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fulcrum Partners, a OneDigital Company, announced Sam Robert as a 2022 Catalyst Leader. Sam is a company Vice President  Retirement and is based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He is the fourth member of the Fulcrum Partners team to receive recognition as a Catalyst Leader in 2022, joining company Vice Presidents  Retirement, Kenny DePaola, Christine Scott and Adam Monson.



Managing Director Mike Powers said, At Fulcrum Partners, a OneDigital company, we realize that our organizations ability to respond to and serve the needs of a changing workforce is directly aligned with the quality of young talent we bring into our company. Although Sam has not been part of the Fulcrum Partners team for long, he has quickly distinguished himself through his attentive and detail-driven client service and exceptional industry knowledge.

Its a genuine pleasure to be working with such a knowledgeable team of advisors, said Sam. Ive spent half of my career partnering with this team from the record-keeping side, so its an incredible experience to now be working with this team each day and calling them my peers.

Sam is an industry specialist, said Senior Vice President Monte Harrick, one of Sams mentors and project partners. As part of Fulcrum Partners, a OneDigital company, Sam is positioned to deliver what we believe is the most holistic, comprehensive client service available in the industry. He is seizing the opportunity and the companies he serves are benefiting because of it.

Sam added, Im passionate about helping plan sponsors create innovative nonqualified plan solutions. Providing a state-of-the-art nonqualified plan that is well-positioned within the organization can mean the difference between hiring the right employee candidate or retaining a top key contributor. I love watching the lightbulb turn on for plan committee members, or when the Chief Human Resources Officer looks across the table at you and says, I never thought about it that way or were implementing that immediately. And while its always exciting to work with new plan sponsors to create new plans, I especially enjoy developing unique education campaigns for existing plans that lead to increased plan participation.

Sam is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington and holds Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 66 and Series 7 Licenses.

Learn more about Sam Robert and all the executive benefits specialists at Fulcrum Partners, a OneDigital Company (fulcrumpartnersllc.com/team/). To find out more about how organizations and executives can benefit from the use of nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans, follow Deferred Compensation News.

About Fulcrum Partners, a OneDigital Company

Fulcrum Partners (fulcrumpartnersllc.com). With a team of experienced industry professionals who serve with diverse skillsets, targeted experience and in-depth expertise in executive compensation and benefits consulting, the financial professionals at Fulcrum Partners, a OneDigital Company, focus on an integrated approach to the design, financing and plan administration of executive benefits programs. Originally founded in 2007, today the company is part of the OneDigital advisory firm and has executive benefits advisory offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Charleston and Bluffton, South Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio; Delray Beach, Orlando and Ponte Vedra, Florida; Los Angeles and Irvine, California; Portland, Oregon; Salt Lake City, Utah; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas and Washington D.C.

About OneDigital

OneDigital delivers strategic advisory consulting and technology-forward solutions to more than 85,000 employers across the nation. As employee health care, wellness, and workplace benefits continue to converge, businesses of all sizes have relied on OneDigital's exceptional advisory teams for counsel in employee benefits, wellbeing, human resources, pharmacy consulting, property and casualty solutions, as well as the retirement and wealth management services provided through OneDigital Investment Advisors. OneDigital's commitment to technology and innovation enables its 3,000 advisors to deliver the most modern and intuitive customer experience anywhere in the industry.

OneDigital has been named as a Best Place to Work in Insurance by Business Insurance. For more information, visit OneDigital.com.

This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, accounting, legal or tax advice. Any tax advice contained herein is of a general nature. You should seek specific advice from your tax professional before pursuing any idea contemplated herein. Please consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing in Mutual Funds. The prospectus, which contains this and other information about the investment company, can be obtained directly from the Fund Company or your financial professional. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest.

Securities offered through Lion Street Financial, LLC (LSF) and Valmark Securities, Inc. (VSI), each a member of FINRA and SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Lion Street Advisors, LLC (LSA) and Valmark Advisers, Inc. (VAI), each an SEC registered investment advisor. Please refer to your investment advisory agreement and the Form ADV disclosures provided to you for more information. VAI/VSI and LSF/LSA are non-affiliated entities and separate entities from OneDigital and Fulcrum Partners.

Unless otherwise noted, VAI/VSI, LSF/LSA are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any other company, agency or government agency identified or referenced in this document.

Lion Street Advisors // Lion Street Financial

Contact:

Steve Broadbent

770.813.0750

press@fulcrumpartnersllc.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1e268bd5-0257-4712-8d72-380ff8ffaab0
China sees robust trade growth with BRICS countries

Xinhua) 17:00, June 21, 2022

BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Trade between China and other BRICS countries recorded a 12.1-percent year-on-year rise to reach 1.31 trillion yuan (about 195.96 billion U.S. dollars) in the first five months of this year, customs data showed Tuesday.

The rate is 3.8 percentage points faster than China's overall foreign trade growth in the same period, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

BRICS is the acronym for an emerging-market group that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. From January to May, China's exports to the other four BRICS members went up 18.1 percent year on year, while imports from them gained 6.6 percent, GAC data revealed.

Mechanical and electronic products, as well as labor-intensive goods, accounted for 69.7 percent of China's exports to other BRICS countries in terms of value in the five months, while 76.3 percent of China's imports from them were energy and agricultural products, as well as metal ore.

Trade between China and other BRICS countries is highly complementary and is expected to sustain growth as economic and trade cooperation among BRICS countries sees solid progress.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Toronto, Ontario, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MiniLuxe, Inc. (MiniLuxe) a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiniLuxe Holding Corp (TSXV: MNLX), today announced that on June 20, 2022, it reached and signed a definitive agreement to acquire Paintbox, a leading brand in the nail care industry that is based in New York. Founded in 2014 by beauty editor and trend expert, Eleanor Langston, Paintbox has been an inspiring leader in redefining the industry by utilizing its ties and depth of understanding of the beauty and fashion industry, artistic color theory and creative design to own the standard for modern nail art. Paintboxs proprietary look-book of modern nail art designs are instantly recognizable, iconic and represent a key growth segment of nail care.



Core to MiniLuxes strategy is to become the talent empowerment platform for ethical, clean, and trend-forward nail care. Paintbox has a team of nail art designers that are seen as some of the best in the country and MiniLuxe will look to include the Paintbox standard and look of nail art as part of its talent certification program.

The essence of MiniLuxes strategy is to create the largest certified pool of empowered nail designers that clients and businesses trust the most for self-care treatments in nails and waxing. What Paintbox brings is not just a great brand behind its beautiful nail care services and products, but a nail art standard that will be desirable by nail designers seeking career progression and recognized by clients everywhere as modern in its look and quality in its performance, said Zoe Krislock, CEO of MiniLuxe.

Today, Paintbox offers services in its Upper East Side NYC studio, where its curated offerings of seasonal looks have created what Langston calls, a female-centric, third-space environment. The Paintbox brand has garnered some 300,000 social followers, and its proprietary line of non-toxic polishes and manicure kits have led to collaborations with several prestige brands such as Carolina Herrera, Veronica Beard, and Ulla Johnson. The brand also provides advanced digital and in-person training for their nail designers, which MiniLuxe plans to integrate immediately into its certification programs and Nail Academy.

Paintbox establishes an immediate presence for MiniLuxe in New York and further extends the reach of both the MiniLuxe and Paintbox brands through the expansion of collaborations and the acceleration of product development. MiniLuxe plans on maintaining the Paintbox brand given its equity value and complementary value to MiniLuxe.

This is unquestionably a brand amplifying and strategic acquisition for our company. Paintbox brings unmatched design and creative IP that we can distribute through our MiniLuxe studio fleet and broader online and e-commerce community. We also believe that Paintbox has significant upside across its services, products, and digital education. We look forward to marrying the management and infrastructure of MiniLuxe to the creative capabilities and brand prowess of Paintbox as we continue transforming the most used beauty service industry in the world, says Tony Tjan, Executive Chairman and co-founder of MiniLuxe.

We are thrilled to join the MiniLuxe team and platform, says Eleanor Langston, Founder of Paintbox. MiniLuxe is the pioneer in clean and ethical nail services while Paintbox is an authority in nail art and creative self-expression. MiniLuxe is absolutely the best partner for Paintbox, and its scale and infrastructure will help Paintbox realize its full potential. I am so excited for our team to have this opportunity to grow the brand and craft.

Following the consummation of the transaction, Paintbox will continue to develop its curated design collections and proprietary products in-stores and online. Eleanor Langston will serve as the Brand Steward for Paintbox and the Editor-at-Large for MiniLuxes content initiatives.

The consideration for the Paintbox acquisition by MiniLuxe consists of an initial upfront consideration of 1,744,298 subordinate voting shares in MiniLuxe Holding Corp. at a price per share of USD$1.031 (CAD$1.34 at .77 CAD/USD) and additional earnout consideration subject to revenue milestones, at the companys election of either cash or stock. Key principals of Paintbox have also voluntarily committed to become purchasers of MiniLuxe stock demonstrating their belief to the long-term value creation potential of the deal and MiniLuxes overall growth strategy.

Completion of the transaction remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About MiniLuxe

MiniLuxe, a Delaware corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts is a digital-first, socially-responsible lifestyle brand and talent empowerment platform for the nail and waxing industry. For over a decade, MiniLuxe has been setting industry standards for health, hygiene, and fair labour practices in its efforts to transform the most used, but highly under-regulated nail care industry. MiniLuxe looks to become one of the largest inclusionary educators and vocational employers, with a diverse, predominantly female and BIPOC workforce on its talent empowerment platform.

Today, MiniLuxe derives its revenue streams from talent (provision of nail care and waxing services) and product (through its own proprietary clean nail care products). MiniLuxe is driven by a fully-integrated digital platform that manages all client bookings, preferences and payments and provides designers with the ability to manage scheduling and client preferences, track their performance and compensation, and access training content. Since its inception, MiniLuxe has performed nearly 3 million services. www.miniluxe.com

For further information

Anthony Tjan

Executive Chairman, MiniLuxe Holding Corp.

atjan@miniluxe.com

www.miniluxe.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") concerning MiniLuxe Holding Corp. (the Company) and its subsidiaries within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to the future financial outlook and anticipated events or results of the Company and may include information regarding the Company's financial position, business strategy, growth strategies, acquisition prospects and plans, addressable markets, budgets, operations, financial results, taxes, dividend policy, plans and objectives. Particularly, information regarding the Company's expectations of future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities or the markets in which the Company operates is forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "outlook", "forecasts", "projects", "prospects", "strategy", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will" occur. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances. The forward-looking information contained herein includes information relating to the terms of the transaction, the proposed completion of the transaction and the expected benefits to be derived by the Company from the transaction.

Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, without limitation, those listed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's filing statement dated November 9, 2021. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance, or achievements could vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Forward-looking information, by its nature, is based on the Company's opinions, estimates and assumptions in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Those factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Despite a careful process to prepare and review forward-looking information, there can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Although the Company bases its forward-looking information on assumptions that it believes were reasonable when made, which include, but are not limited to, assumptions with respect to the Company's future growth potential, results of operations, future prospects and opportunities, execution of the Company's business strategy, there being no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environments, future levels of indebtedness and current economic conditions remaining unchanged, the Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which the Company operates may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In addition, even if the Company's results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates are consistent with the forward-looking information contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made (or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made). Any forward-looking statement that is made in this press release speaks only as of the date of such statement.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
New York, US, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR),  Small Wind Power Market Analysis by Grid Connectivity (On-Grid and Off-Grid), By Axis (Horizontal Axis and Vertical Axis), by Capacity, and by Region - Global Forecast to 2030 valuation is poised to reach USD 14,920.4 Million by 2030, registering a 13.5% CAGR throughout the forecast period (20212030).

Small Wind Power Market Overview

Small wind power is made of a distinctive set of tools built within the wind energy sector. They are usually used to provide energy to a small-scale use such as an individual or small customers including advertising systems, farms, households, road signalization, and weather stations. They provide a hopeful substitute for several distant electrical uses as separate applications and in mixture with other energy conversion technologies. The global market for small wind power has recorded a massive rise in the growth rate in the last few years, propelling the global economy towards optimum growth.

Small Wind Power Market Report Scope:

Report Metric Details Market Size USD 14,920.4 Million CAGR 13.5% Base Year 2020 Forecast Period 2021-2030 Historical Data 2019 Forecast Units Value (USD Million) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Grid Connectivity, Capacity and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Vendors Shanghai Ghrepower Green Energy Co. Ltd., Ryse Energy, SD Wind Energy, Unitron Energy Systems Pvt. Ltd., Northern Power Systems Inc., ZKEnergy Science & Technology Co. Ltd, City Windmills, Xzeres Wind Corporation, Aeolos Wind Turbine, Eocycle Technologies Inc., H.Y. Energy Co. Ltd., Ennera Energy and Mobility and Bergey Windpower Key Market Opportunities Favorable government initiatives and policies Key Market Drivers Adoption of small wind energy in rural households

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Market Drivers

The global market for small wind power has recorded a tremendous growth rate in the last few years. The market's performance is credited to the implementation of small wind energy in rural households, increasing investments in the production of clean energy, and encouraging government programs and policies.

Market Restraints

On the other hand, the rising adoption and implementation of alternative solutions and high capital costs may impede the growth of the small wind power market.

Small Wind Power Market Segments

Among all the types, the vertical axis wind turbines segment led the global small wind power market in 2020 and is likely to record the highest growth rate over the assessment timeframe. The growth of the segment is credited to its high-efficiency feature.

Among all the installation types, the on-grid segment will lead the global market for small wind power in 2020. Given the growing environmental concerns and demand from off-grid applications, the segment will likely register the highest growth rate over the projected timeframe.

Out of all the application areas, the commercial segment will lead the global market for small wind power in 2020. The segment's growth is credited to the rapid expansion of infrastructure and the rise in industrialization across the globe.

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Small Wind Power Market Regional Analysis

The global small wind power market is analyzed across five major regions: the Middle East & Africa, South America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America.

As per the research reports by MRFR, the North American region is anticipated to dominate the global market for slight power wind over the assessment era. The U.S. contributes over 75% of the North American small wind power market. The country has the second-largest market across the globe. The imminent phase-out of the total value of the U.S. production tax credit (PTC) in the last quarter of 2020 mainly propelled investments in wind turbine capacity 2020. Canadian energy mix has also been influenced by small wind power. In the past decade, the Canadian energy from wind power has grown by 20 percent per year. Furthermore, in Mexico, the use of small wind turbines is becoming an alternative energy strategy with growing potential for fulfilling in situ electrical demands and is in the growing stage of promoting social penetration.

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The small wing power market for the European region is likely to record a substantial growth over the forecasted timeframe. The regional market's growth is ascribed predominantly to the fact that the regional energy market grows gradually more dependent on a renewable energy source, which is cheap to harness and carbon-emission free. Furthermore, the low feed-in tariff, high electricity prices, and growing regional investments are also projected to influence the regional market's growth. In addition, the regional market has witnessed a massive rise in the adoption of renewable energy across the rural areas, given the rising awareness regarding the environmental benefits and cost-effectiveness, which in turn is projected to boost the growth of the regional market over the coming years.

COVID-19 Impact

The global COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on the majority of the market sectors across the globe. The small wind power market was no different than others in the early stage of the pandemic. On the other hand, towards the last quarter of 2020 and beginning of 2021, the market picked up the pace with growing demand, because of which the overall economic impact was low. The implementation of social distancing norms and travel restrictions led to causing significant disruptions in the supply chain. This also caused a significant delay in project building timelines. The effect of absence of the workforce and the supply of project components may trigger unsuitable project completion and a chronological impact on project economics. Other than this are the latest policy changes that restrict the clearance of goods from countries in turbine assembly. Though, many countries such as India are concentrating on boosting manufacturing with global technology available and accelerating component manufacturing. On the other hand, the demand creation is likely to rest on the government's commitment and several procurement models for boosting small wind power market growth.

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Small Wind Power Market Competitive Analysis

Dominant Key Players on Small Wind Power Market Covered are:

Shanghai Ghrepower Green Energy Co. Ltd.

Ryse Energy

SD Wind Energy

Unitron Energy Systems Pvt. Ltd.

Northern Power Systems Inc.

ZKEnergy Science & Technology Co. Ltd

City Windmills

Xzeres Wind Corporation

Aeolos Wind Turbine

Eocycle Technologies Inc.

H.Y. Energy Co. Ltd.

Ennera Energy and Mobility

Bergey Windpower

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About Market Research Future:

Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis regarding diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.
Malvern, Pennsylvania (USA), June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rajant Corporation, the pioneer of Kinetic Mesh wireless networks headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, has promoted Diana Logue to serve as Rajants Chief Operating Officer. This appointment furthers Ms. Logues expert impact on Rajants day-to-day tasks supporting staff and the Rajant sales channel.

This promotion and increased responsibilities are in recognition of Dianas value to Rajant, says Paul Hellhake, Rajants President, CTO, and Co-founder. Diana plays a critical role in maintaining superior stability to our fixed operations and sales fulfillment process. She is an asset and a pleasure to work with.

Ms. Logue formerly served as Rajant's Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations. In her new role, Ms. Logue will maintain and direct daily business operations, including accounting, human resources, legal, strategic planning, reporting, financial analysis, project management, month-end close processes, budgeting, and inventory control. Prior to being Senior VP, Ms. Logue held several positions in the financial and accounting arena with increasing levels of responsibility, including end-of-year auditing oversight, leasing arrangements and contracts, tax reconciliation and reporting, and training of support staff.

Im honored and would like to thank both Rajant co-founders, Robert Schena and Paul Hellhake, for this exciting opportunity, shares Diana Logue. The last nine years have been very exciting to see the growth of Rajant. In my new role, I look forward to being part of many more years and hopefully much more growth.

Rajant Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder Robert Schena adds, Diana is fantastic, and this promotion is very well deserved. She works harder than anyone I know to bring her absolute best to Rajant, and I could not be prouder of her.

Ms. Logue also serves as Corporate Secretary and works closely with the company's board of directors. Before she arrived at Rajant, she was the Controller at the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Logue obtained her Bachelors degree in Accounting from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. degree from the University of Maryland.

####

About Rajant Corporation

Rajant Corporation is the broadband communications technology company that invented Kinetic Mesh networking, BreadCrumb wireless nodes, and InstaMesh networking software. With Rajant, customers can rapidly deploy a highly adaptable and scalable network that leverages the power of real-time data to deliver on-demand, mission-critical business intelligence. A low-latency, high-throughput, and secure solution for a variety of data, voice, video, and autonomous applications, Rajants Kinetic Mesh networks provide industrial customers with full mobility, allowing them to take their private network applications and data anywhere. With successful deployments in more than 70 countries for customers in military, mining, ports, rail, oil & gas, petrochemical plants, municipalities, and agriculture. Rajant is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with additional facilities and offices in Arizona and Kentucky. For more information, visit Rajant.com or follow Rajant on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Affinor Growers Inc. (Affinor or the Company) (CSE: AFI; OTCQB: RSSFF), a vertical farming technology and operations company with a commercial production facility in Abbotsford BC, is pleased to announce that it has hired Elite Agri Solutions to prepare grant applications to federal and provincial governments.



Elite Agri Solutions (www.eliteagrisolutions.ca) is a Canadian consulting company specializing in grant management within the agri-food sector. Working on a success-based fee structure, Elite Agri Solutions assists companies by creating the strongest possible grant applications to maximize the chances of receiving funding.

Affinor is in the process of permitting their new proprietary greenhouse, the Atlantis, which will accommodate growing strawberries, romaine lettuce, kale, and spinach in soil or hydroponic at 8 levels. This is double the current 4-level towers substantially decreasing costs and increasing yield.

Affinor plans to offer the most sustainable, automated, turnkey commercial solution reducing water use and using alternative energy. There are 40 solar cells currently installed with two Tesla Powerwall batteries to ensure the irrigation and air handling systems continue to function during power outages.

Affinor CEO - Nick Brusatore commented: Affinor Growers is looking forward to working with Elite Agri Solutions to access available government funding for development and commercialization of our innovative vertical cultivation technology. Elite Agri Solutions mantra is farmers helping farmers, to strengthen Canadas position as a global leader in agricultural technology.

About Affinor

Affinor is a publicly traded company listed on the CSE under the symbol AFI and on the OTCQB under the symbol RSSFF. Affinor is focused on developing vertical farming technologies and using those technologies to grow fruits and vegetables in a sustainable manner. The Company is currently growing strawberries for local markets in its 15,000 square foot greenhouse in Abbotsford, BC.

To learn more about Affinor, visit: www.affinorgrowers.com

Affinor Growers Inc.

Nick Brusatore: nick@affinorgrowers.com

Tel: (604) 356-0411

www.affinorgrowers.com

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, potential and similar expressions, or that events or conditions will, would, may, could or should occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
WESTPORT, Conn. and DAVIE, Fla., June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RFE Investment Partners (RFE), a Connecticut-based private equity firm, announced today it has completed a recapitalization investment in Max Home Inspections (Max Home), a leading provider of home inspections and ancillary post-close services in the Florida and Texas markets.



Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Davie, FL, Max Home has become one of the fastest-growing home inspection providers in the United States. In addition to the traditional inspection service offering, the company provides a suite of post-close services to support the new homeowner, including pest control, repair and renovation, and preventative maintenance services.

In connection with the investment, Scott Swayze will assume the role of CEO, while co-founder Silvia Rossbach will continue to guide the company in an advisory role as a board member. Shawn and Silvia Rossbach and Mitch Feinglas maintain a significant ownership interest in the company alongside RFE. The company headquarters will relocate to Austin, TX with Scott and the executive team as Max Home continues to strengthen its presence in Texas.

I am excited to partner with RFE given their long successful track record of growing home service companies through both organic avenues as well as the execution of an aggressive add-on acquisition campaign, Swayze said. I believe this partnership will enable Max Home to transform the home inspection landscape by becoming the employer of choice for new hires as well as the partner of choice for all inspection companies who see the value in joining the Max Home family to enjoy our tools, technology, suite of offerings, capital base, and employee-first culture.

Rossbach added: We believe this partnership is a strong strategic fit for Max Home. Our organization is excited to leverage the knowledge and expertise of RFE to help guide and support the continued growth ahead for the company.

The fragmented nature of the home inspection industry presents exciting opportunities, and Max Home has built a unique approach to the market through a diversified and scalable model, said Michael Rubel, Managing Director at RFE.

With additional growth capital from RFE, Max Home is well-positioned to capitalize on the Golden Moment of the home inspection to continue to build out its ancillary services offering while creating long-term relationships with homeowners, Sean Gillick, Principal at RFE, added.

About Max Home:

Max Home Inspections is a leading provider of home inspection and ancillary residential services currently serving the major metropolitan markets in Florida and Texas. Max Home has created an efficient, scalable model for inspections that ensures a superior outcome for the customer and greater quality control to simplify the real estate experience. Max Home has built a high-quality, customer-centric team to ease the home buying experience and support homeowners throughout the duration of their ownership. For more information, visit www.maxhomeinspections.com.

About RFE:

RFE Investment Partners is a private equity firm focused on making control investments in established small market companies located in the United States. RFE is a long-standing firm founded in 1980 with over 40 years of experience investing in the lower middle market. RFEs investment strategy is to transform its portfolio companies from the lower end of the market to fully professionalized and market-leading middle-market companies. RFE is currently investing out of Fund IX. For more information, visit www.rfeip.com.
LONDON, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Luxury tourism does not take place only in a destination where there is a six-star hotel with a presidential suite. Luxury travel experience also takes place in a mode of transport like an airlines first-class cabin or a yacht that sails with a private skipper and security. Luxury tourism may also consist of visiting or staying in the most elusive or exclusive of places, where peace, tranquility, or experiential experiences prevail. Here, individuals can enjoy the star-lit night skies or absorb the sounds of nature in remote and largely inaccessible areas.

The Luxury Travel Market Trend and Analysis report offered by GlobalData Plc provides an analysis of the luxury travel industry including insights into luxury travelers, market trends influenced by COVID-19, consumer trends, destinations, sector deals, challenges, and opportunities.

Luxury Travel Market Trends

For some luxury travelers, hyper-personalization is a necessity as some travelers have come to expect a tailormade trip and intuitive service. Given customers expectations, luxury travel retailers must respond to the demand for personalized experiences not only to differentiate themselves but also to succeed. When done right, personalization can reduce marketing and sales costs, yield higher customer satisfaction rates, generate customer engagement, and increase brand loyalty. Company leaders within the personalization theme will integrate technology and connect disparate data sources and data-driven insights to understand more about each individual and know more about its target market.

For more insights on luxury travel market trends, download a free report sample

COVID-19 Impact on Luxury Travel Market

High-net-worth travelers are increasingly turning to products and services that offer high levels of privacy to reduce the chances of virus contraction. Affluent individuals are likely to demand private buy-outs of large villas or boutique hotels, where a family bubble or group could stay without risk of running into anyone else. Furthermore, the pandemic altered travel mode preferences. Due to the infectious nature of COVID-19, people viewed shared modes of travel, such as transit and car sharing, as riskier than individual modes of travel. Within air travel, there was a noticeable increase in the use of private aviation relative to commercial air travel. Some of the demand for private flights is also reported to come from passengers who are looking to fly non-stop on routes that have been dropped by commercial airlines that reduced their networks during the pandemic.

For more insights on the impact of COVID-19 on the luxury travel market, download a free report sample

Key Destinations in the Luxury Travel Market

Mauritius

The UAE

New York City





Located in the southern Indian Ocean, Mauritius is the definitive luxury beach destination. With over 177km of untouched coastline, travelers are guaranteed to find secluded bays, sandy beaches, coral reefs, and glistening waves that create the perfect island escape. Deeper into the island nations interior, holidaymakers will discover verdant jungles, impressive mountain outcrops, and cascading waterfalls that tick all the boxes of a tropical getaway.

For more insights on key luxury travel destinations, download a free report sample

Key Players in the Luxury Travel Market

Marriott

Kempinski

Scott Dunn

Abercrombie & Kent

Emirates

Singapore Airlines

Belmond

Space X

At Marriotts St. Regis Hotel located on Fifth Avenue, NY, guests can enjoy a luxury house car service. Moreover, they can also avail the St. Regis Butler Service, where a personal butler is available to assist guests with everything from a perfectly pressed suit for an important business meeting to thoughtful last-minute gifts from a local NYC boutique.

For more insights on luxury travel companies, download a free report sample

Luxury Travel Market Overview

Key Destinations Mauritius, the UAE, and New York City Leading Companies Marriott, Kempinski, Scott Dunn, Abercrombie & Kent, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Belmond, and Space X

Reasons to Buy

Gain insight into luxury travel's leading players.

Understand how they have adapted to the threat of COVID-19.

Understand the key luxury travelers that companies can look to attract.

Gain a detailed understanding of the key trends, issues, and challenges facing luxury travel companies.

FAQs

What are the key destinations in the luxury travel market?

The key destinations in the luxury travel market are Mauritius, the UAE, and New York City.

Who are the key players in the luxury travel market?

Some of the key players in the luxury travel market are Marriott, Kempinski, Scott Dunn, Abercrombie & Kent, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Belmond, and Space X.

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GlobalData is a leading provider of data, analytics, and insights on the world's largest industries. In an increasingly fast-moving, complex, and uncertain world, it has never been harder for organizations and decision makers to predict and navigate the future. This is why GlobalData's mission is to help our clients to decode the future and profit from faster, more informed decisions. As a leading information services company, thousands of clients rely on GlobalData for trusted, timely, and actionable intelligence. Our solutions are designed to provide a daily edge to professionals within corporations, financial institutions, professional services, and government agencies.

Media Contacts

GlobalData

Mark Jephcott

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cc: pr@globaldata.com

+44 (0)207 936 6400




DEERFIELD, Ill., June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reedy Industries, a leader in commercial and industrial HVAC, plumbing, and building controls services has acquired Vorpagel Service, Inc., a leading commercial HVAC contractor in Burlington, WI. With this acquisition, Reedy Industries expands its service offerings and footprint in Wisconsin, maintaining focus on meeting the needs of customers in the commercial, industrial, health care, education, municipal, government, and senior living market segments.

Vorpagel has been providing sales, service and repair of HVAC systems and controls systems to local businesses since 1976. "This is an exciting opportunity for our employees and customers," says Eric Vorpagel, who joined the company in 1983 and assumed leadership in 1999. "We were looking for a partner that shared our values, put our employees and customers first, and provided the resources we need to help customers solve their most complex problems." Vorpagel will extend and compliment services provided in Wisconsin by Just Mechanical, which Reedy Industries acquired in 2019.

"Eric Vorpagel and his team have a proud heritage of expert, responsive and reliable service to the companies that depend on them to build, manage and maintain environments that are energy efficient, cost-effective and safe," says Joe Kirmser, Reedy Industries CEO. "We are proud to welcome the entire Vorpagel team to our family of companies. Employees will benefit from more opportunities for career growth, training and advanced technology support. Customers will continue to be supported by the same teams they have come to rely upon and benefit from access to Reedy's expert resources, best practices and supply chain."

Vorpagel Service, Inc. is the nineteenth acquisition for Reedy Industries since 2019. Reedy Industries serves critical environments in the commercial and industrial market spaces by focusing on HVAC, plumbing, and building controls services and solutions. Reedy Industries is actively expanding the services it provides within the building envelope and is doing so through both organic growth and acquisitions. Reedy Industries was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Deerfield, IL, just outside Chicago. For more information, visit www.reedyindustries.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

CJ Folden, Reedy Industries

Phone: 630-781-5542

Email: cfolden@reedyindustries.com

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Newport, Rhode Island, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the third year in a row, Audrain Automobile Museum welcomes Bentley Boston, New Englands Premier factory authorized Bentley dealer, as a proud supporter of Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week.

We have a unique mix of the most luxurious, desirable and high performance new and pre-owned vehicles in our Wayland, MA location servicing all over New England including Boston, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and parts of Connecticut says Christine Scott, Marketing Director at Bentley Boston. All of our new Bentley and pre-owned exotic inventory can be viewed at www.bentleyboston.com

On display during the Gathering at Rough Point on Friday September 30th will be the complete model range of Bentley vehicles including the Bentley Continental GT, Bentley Flying Spur and Bentley Bentayga SUV. There will also be an opportunity to test drive a Bentley on Saturday October 1st. Limited availability. Call Christine Scott at 508-650-0020 for details.

Bentley Boston supports our efforts to bring the experience of driving to the fore- and as a brand Bentley certainly expresses the core of the Concours & Motor Week- History, Luxury & Sport. In addition, the extension of our partnership with Bentley with the presence of Bentley Motors America CEO, Christophe Georges, at our inaugural Veteran Car Tour in March made it an even more memorable event. We are thrilled by their partnership. explains Donald Osborne, CEO, Audrain Automobile Museum.

This world class event will bring the best of the motoring world to our renowned East Coast city rich with automotive history dating back to the dawn of the motoring age.

The events during this week will be hosted at some of Newports most notable locations; the historic mansions of Bellevue Avenue, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the Audrain Automobile Museum, Fort Adams State Park, and other local venues.

The city of Newport has long celebrated the essence of history, luxury & sport, and we are proud to add another chapter to Newports book of automotive fascination. The sporting history of Newport dates back to before our country was formally established; the city was a major trading center with other East Coast ports like New York City and Charleston, South Carolina. Over the years, Newport turned into an epicenter for American sailing, with casuals and competitors tuned into major events like the Americas Cup that took place here throughout time.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the Vanderbilt family called Newport their home. As an heir to one of the grandest fortunes in our countrys history, William Kissam Vanderbilt  Willie K for short - had strong interests in yachting and horse racing, but automobiles gripped his attention when they became accessible at the turn of the century. In whats considered the first sanctioned oval-track race in our countrys history, Willie K. raced wealthy friends and fellow pioneering gear-heads at Newports Aquidneck Park horse track, where the Newport State Airport now resides.

Celebrity seminars and book signings will also be held at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, eminent motoring enthusiasts such as Jay Leno and others will be in attendance.

The week will bring regional and national car club shows to various locations throughout Newport, and we are excited to host again, the 30 Under 30 Concours class; designed for car owners under 30 years old who have built their car with less than $30,000.

The Audrain Concours dElegance held on Sunday, October 2 will include some of the finest judges from around the globe, headed by world renowned concours judge and motoring expert, Donald Osborne. The week will culminate by awarding the Best in Show trophy. This bespoke trophy pays homage to Willie K. Vanderbilt, his 1900 Daimler Phoenix, and the origins of Newports profound automotive history.

We hope to see you all for another exciting Motor Week in Newport, September 29 - October 2, 2022. To purcahse tickets please visit, www.audrainconcours.com.

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Graham, North Carolina, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Carolina Rental Homes, a company based in Graham, NC, has recently launched a website offering month to month rentals in North Carolina to serve families that are relocating and need a temporary place of residence, including those who require monthly home leases. The goal is to connect those who are in need of long-term rentals in North Carolina with fully-furnished homes. Mark Poteat, owner of Carolina Rental Homes, is already a superhost on Airbnb. Thus, even though Carolina Rental Homes is intended for those in need of relocation assistance, corporate housing, and other temporary housing solutions, each home is completely equipped for both families that require long-term accommodations and business travelers with short-term rental needs. They have homes for rent in various places in North Carolina, including Asheboro, Burlington, Chapel Hill, Elon, Graham.



Mark Poteat says, If youre looking for a top-notch rental home in North Carolina, youve come to the right place. At Carolina Rental Homes, we strive to provide an exceptional experience for guests with all kinds of needs. Our homes come with everything you need for a comfortable short to long-term stay. We are caring hosts who live in the area and are happy to share tips on favorite places to eat and fun things to do. We will be available throughout your stay via email, phone, and text.

Mark Poteat is a lifetime resident of Chapel Hill, and he truly loves the people and the weather of North Carolina. His mother worked at the UNC library while his father worked at the UNC Hospital. He had owned and operated a landscaping company for 30 years and then began purchasing rental houses. After providing traditional rental properties for a few years, he decided to start offering houses for rent using the Airbnb format.

There are a number of reasons why the homes for rent being offered by Carolina Rental Homes stand out among other similar offerings in the area. First of all, these are fully stocked homes that go well beyond basic furnishings, such as a computer desk, washer/dryer, smart TVs, Wi-Fi, outdoor grills, coffee makers/Kuerigs, dining table, and more. In addition, these homes are pet and baby friendly. They feature pack n play travel cribs and high chairs for kids. Many of the homes also have fenced-in backyards, which are suitable for pets.

Mark Poteat has earned hundreds of highly positive reviews as an Airbnb Superhost. For instance, in one of the most recent reviews, Sonya from Washington DC said, My family and I enjoyed our stay at this home. The home has all the essentials, very clean and closely located to everything. Communication and responsiveness was excellent!

Carolina Rental Homes is locally owned and operated by Mark Poteat, a native of North Carolina. The company has a portfolio of fully-furnished rental properties across the state of North Carolina. And while they provide vacation or short-term rental as an Airbnb Superhost, the primary function of the Carolina Rental Homes brand and website is to offer long-term rentals. They are also looking to develop partnerships with real estate agents/brokers, insurance companies, and others that help with relocation assistance. These types of companies/people often want to help their clients in finding relocation housing. Relocation housing may be required by a certain family because of house fires and other disasters or in-between moves from one place to another.

Mark Poteat says, If you only need accommodations for a few days, browse our listings on Airbnb. If youre in need of corporate or relocation housing, please contact us through this site. We offer month-to-month rentals with flexible lease terms, perfect for your temporary housing needs. No matter what youre in the market for, we have properties across North Carolina that can suit your needs. Plus, our staff speaks both English and Spanish and were always here if you need anything.





Those who are in need a rental home in North Carolina can check out the Carolina Rental Homes website at https://carolinarentalhomes.com/, or contact them on the phone or through email.

###

For more information about Carolina Rental Homes, contact the company here:



Carolina Rental Homes

Carolina Rental Homes

(919) 268-0549

305 W Harden Street

Graham NC 27253
Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses

LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd. ("First High-School Education " or the "Company") (NYSE: FHS) investors that a class action filed on behalf of investors that purchased First High-School Education Group shares and lost money are encouraged to contact the firm to discuss their legal rights.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 844-767-8529 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

According to the lawsuit, the Companys IPO Registration Statement was materially false and misleading and omitted to state: (1) the new rules, regulations, and policies to be implemented by the Chinese government following the Two Sessions parliamentary meetings were far more severe than represented to investors and posed a material adverse threat to First High-School Education Group and its business; (2) contemplated Chinese regulations and rules regarding private education were leading to a slowdown of government approval to open new educational facilities which would have a negative effect on First High-School Education Group's enrollment and growth; and (3) as a result, the Registration Statement's representations regarding First High-School Education Group's historical financial and operational metrics and purported market opportunities did not accurately reflect the actual business, operations, and financial results and trajectory of First High-School Education Group at the time of the IPO, and were materially false and misleading and lacked a factual basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

Admitted CA and NY Bar

lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FMC GlobalSat ("FMC"), a global provider of best-in-class satellite and wireless connectivity solutions, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of 100% of Santander Teleport "ST" from Erzia Group.

Founded as a joint venture of ERZIA and MTN Satellite Communications (now the Anuvu maritime division), ST has been ranked by the World Teleport Association (WTA) as one of the top 10 Teleport Operators in the world since inception 10 years ago, and in 2019 it was awarded the internationally prestigious "Independent Teleport of the Year" title.

Domiciled in Spain, ST boasts nearly 30 antennas ranging from 3 to 15 meters enabling Ku, Ka, X and C band reception and transmission within its expansive 100,000 square feet premises, including a Tier 3 (soon to be Tier 4 in Q3 2022) facility with data centers hosting capabilities with hundreds of sqm2 of rack space and with multiple fiber lines of 100GB.

FMC, with Santander Teleport's best-in-class infrastructure and facilities, including both ISO9001 and ISO27001 certifications, is well-equipped to actively provide Data Center hosting and telecommunication services to prime operators while addressing the significant growth in global data consumption and expand network convergence over 5G wireless, terrestrial fiber and GEO, MEO, LEO (Low Earth Orbit) broadband satellite networks.

This acquisition solidifies FMC's vision of implementing telecommunication hubs, data centers and hosting services and achieving network convergence between Satellite and terrestrial networks, while increasing its presence in Europe, Africa and Middle East.

Emmanuel Cotrel, Chief Executive Officer of FMC, commented: "We are proud to welcome Santander Teleport, and its talented employees, within the FMC organization. We are optimistic about the opportunity to accelerate Santander Teleport's growth, and its capability to innovate and remain at the forefront of delivering excellent service to our discerning customers, particularly in light of the LEO satellite deployment and associated growing demand for data center hosting services".

Advisors

FMC: Investment Bank - Capital Insight LLC & Legal - Clifford Chance SLP

ERZIA: Legal - Garrigues

About FMC GlobalSat

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida - USA, FMC GlobalSat is a global provider of best-in-class satellite and wireless solutions to businesses that require reliable, secure, and cost-effective Broadband and M2M connectivity solutions.

FMC GlobalSat has pioneered the delivery of converged connectivity solutions on a global scale by partnering with major wireless carriers and satellite communications providers that incorporates 5G wireless solutions across CDMA, GSM, and LTE networks and high-throughput satellite (HTS) communications. Our networks incorporate Tier 1 carriers, and satellite infrastructure that includes dozens of satellites, teleports and a 24/7 enterprise-grade global technical support organization which enable us to provide SD-Wan, direct VPN, MPLS, SCPC and other network tunnels while optimizing data traffic routes. For more information about FMC GlobalSat, please visit www.FMCGlobalSat.com.

About ERZIA Group

ERZIA was founded nearly 20 years ago engineering and building an array of unique RF and microwave amplifiers, as well as sub-system integrated assemblies. Focused on high reliability and state-of-the-art performance, ERZIA expanded over the years to become one of the world's leading suppliers in the space, electronic warfare, and telecommunications segments. ERZIA founded the Santander Teleport in 2010 and started providing satellite communications to vessels sailing around the world through ERZIA Maritime in 2012. Today, the ERZIA Group serves renowned customers around the world through its different divisions, and more recently ERZIA Maritime has been rebranded as VIDA by ERZIA. For more information about ERZIA, please visit www.erzia.com

Contact

Doug Cameron - dcameron@fmcglobalsat.com - +1-954-678-0697

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Image 1: Santander Teleport





FMC GlobalSat's teleport in Santander-Spain









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NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtual Investor Conferences, the leading proprietary investor conference series, in partnership with Zacks Small-Cap Research, today announced the agenda for the upcoming Life Sciences Investor Forum to be held on June 23rd. Individual investors, institutional investors, advisors, and analysts are invited to attend. The program begins at 9:30 AM EDT on Thursday, June 23rd.



REGISTER NOW AT: https://bit.ly/3b3hl9j

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. There is no cost to log-in, attend live presentations and schedule 1x1 meetings.

We are thrilled to be partnering with Zacks to highlight companies in the Life Science Sector, said Jason Paltrowitz, Executive Vice President of Corporate Services at OTC Markets Group. Our Life Science Investor Forum continues to provide a unique opportunity for companies in this sector to engage to a broader investor base and share their innovations in this field.

Our team of 10 research analysts have approximately 50 life sciences companies currently under coverage, stated Richard Hantke, Director of Business Development and Client Relations at Zacks Small-Cap Research. These companies recognize this quarterly Forum as best in class, owing to its organization and attendance.

June 23rd Agenda:



To facilitate investor relations scheduling and to view a complete calendar of Virtual Investor Conferences, please visit www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

About Zacks Small-Cap Research

Zacks Small-Cap Research, a Premium Research Provider for the OTC Markets Group, prepares company-sponsored, independent research and related content for distribution through a multitude of investor and media channels, both traditional and social. We deliver broad awareness among investors worldwide, create deep understanding of the company and hopefully generate significant interest in investment. Our advantages are the quality of our analysts, the depth of our research and the breadth of our distribution.

Media Contact:

OTC Markets Group Inc. +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

Virtual Investor Conferences Contact:

John M. Viglotti

SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access

OTC Markets Group

(212) 220-2221

johnv@otcmarkets.com

Zacks Contact:

Richard Hantke

Business Development/Client Relations

Zacks/SCR

312.265.9448

rhantke@zacks.com

https://scr.zacks.com
Independence, Ohio, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innovative developer and owner of single-story apartment homes, Redwood Living, Inc, announces the construction of Redwood Copley Heritage Woods Drive. Upon completion during the summer of 2022, this will be the companys second neighborhood in the Copley, Ohio area.

The success of our first Copley neighborhood has confirmed demand for a simplified and relaxed lifestyle without the stresses of homeownership, said Redwood President, Jill Silloway.

Our residents can enjoy the advantages of living in a high-quality home for as long as they would like, and our homes provide the experience they seekwhether they are looking for a short- or long-term lease, need an apartment that is furnished or one that can accommodate multiple pets, we meet the varying needs of all our residents.

Redwood Copley Heritage Woods Drive will offer residents five different floor plans that range in size from 1,294 - 1,381 square feet. Each of the 46 new apartment homes includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, ample storage options as well as an attached two-car garage.

Additional amenities include:

Spacious, eat-in kitchens with large pantries

Open floor plans

Large closets

Washer and dryer hookups

Full-size appliances

Vaulted ceilings

Upgraded finishes and features

Pet-friendly accommodations

Bonus space that can be utilized based on lifestyle needs

Dedicated street address

Monthly rent at Redwood Copley Heritage Woods Drive starts at $1,799. While the neighborhood is still under construction, interested residents can schedule a guided video tour or an in-person tour at Redwood Copley, just minutes from the new neighborhood. Redwood is currently pre-leasing for Redwood Copley Heritage Woods Drive online.

Since 1991, Redwood has been reinventing the traditional apartment rental experience. Redwood owns and manages 14,000+ apartment homes in 133+ neighborhoods throughout Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky, currently. New construction will begin in Nebraska this year, with more potential projects on the horizon in Missouri.

####

About Redwood Living, Inc.

Redwood Living, Inc. (Redwood) is an innovative development and property management company already with neighborhoods in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky, currently. The company will begin construction in Nebraska during 2022, with potential projects planned for markets in Missouri after that. Redwood believes that the growth of the rental population demands the response its neighborhoods provide. The success of this approach continues to be validated in new markets. Redwood is a company that believes in its mission, product and amazing people. It creates a simplified, relaxed lifestyle for residents, and offers a rewarding atmosphere for its employees. For more information, visit www.byredwood.com.

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Washington, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), in collaboration with the Novartis US Foundation, announced grant recipients from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) receiving faculty research grants totaling $250,000 across seven institutions.

The faculty research grant program builds off the Novartis Beacon of Hope pledge and is part of a larger mission to address health inequity and support the economic and educational positions of Black Americans and communities of color. Twenty-six HBCUs and Medical Schools are participating in this one-of-a-kind collaboration, which was introduced in 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the inequities faced by Black Americans into sharp focus. Recent data shows that higher COVID-19 rates and deaths in predominantly Black counties are linked to social conditions and structural racism, not underlying health conditions.

Novartis is deeply committed to addressing health disparities through programs such as Beacon of Hope. We are excited to see how these talented researchers will add to our understanding of both the problem and how we as a society can implement solutions, said Marion Brooks, Vice-President, Head of US D&I at Novartis.

The committee selected the following institutions and their research proposals:

Topic School Improving Health and Reducing Obesity (HeRO) in Minority Women Alabama A&M University Understanding COVID Vaccine Resistance from the Lived Experience



of African Americans in Fragile Communities Delaware State University A Pilot Study: Exploring the Intersectionality of Trauma, Sleep, and Health in



a Vulnerable Population Impacted by Health Disparities Delaware State University Building Capacity by Exploring Strategies for Black BSN Nursing Students to



Achieve NCLEX-RN Success during the COVID-19 Pandemic Florida A&M University Diabetes Care at the Intersection of Race, Ethnicity and Geographic



continuum during COVID-19: Experiences of Older People of Color Hampton University Disparities in the utilization of telehealth obstetric and gynecologic services



during COVID-19 among African American women Morgan State University A Phenomenological Inquiry: Improving Psychological Adjustment in African



American communities Tennessee State University Mitigating Effects of Racial Stress and Gendered Racism for US Black



Women Tennessee State University Hip Hop Asthma Education Disease Management Video to Improve



Knowledge and Attitudes of African American Children Tennessee State University The Role of G protein-coupled Estrogen Receptor (GPER) in African



American (AA) vs European American (EA) male gastric adenocarcinoma Tuskegee University

The faculty research grant program offers up to 10 grants of $25,000 each year to select HBCU faculty, totaling 100 grants over 10 years, and an investment of $2.25 million, focusing on actionable solutions to health equity issues that disproportionately affect communities of color.

Our collaboration with the Novartis US Foundation provides much needed support for Black researchers. It is critical that they remain at the forefront of health issues that uniquely impact the Black community, said TMCF President and CEO, Dr. Harry L. Williams.

For more information about the TMCF-Novartis US Foundation HBCU Alliance, please visit www.tmcf.org.

About the Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nations largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.

TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.

###
English French

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S.A. OR OVER U.S. WIRE SERVICES



MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KP Tissue Inc. (KPT) (TSX: KPT) held its Annual Meeting of shareholders today. All candidates proposed as directors were duly elected to the Board of Directors of KPT by a majority of the votes cast by shareholders present or represented by proxy at the Meeting, as follows:



Name

For Withheld Number % Number % Francois Vimard 2,869,026 99.45 15,839 0.55 James Hardy 2,869,343 99.46 15,522 0.54 Michel Letellier 2,870,066 99.49 14,799 0.51 Louise Denys Wendling 2,875,481 99.68 9,384 0.32

Shareholders present or represented by proxy at the Meeting also approved the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors of KPT (97.63% of votes in favour).

About KP Tissue Inc.

KPT was created to acquire, and its business is limited to holding, a limited partnership interest in KPLP, which is accounted for as an investment on the equity basis. KPT currently holds a 14.3% interest in KPLP. For more information visit www.kptissueinc.com.

About Kruger Products L.P.

KPLP is Canada's leading manufacturer of quality tissue products for household, industrial and commercial use. KPLP serves the Canadian consumer market with such well-known brands as Cashmere, Purex, SpongeTowels, Scotties, White Swan and Bonterra. In the U.S., KPLP manufactures the White Cloud brand, as well as many private label products. The Away-From-Home division manufactures and distributes high-quality, cost-effective product solutions to a wide range of commercial and public entities. KPLP has approximately 2,700 employees and operates nine FSC COC-certified (FSC C-104904) production facilities in North America. For more information visit www.krugerproducts.ca.

INFORMATION:

Francois Paroyan

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

KP Tissue Inc.

Tel.: 905.812.6936

francois.paroyan@krugerproducts.ca

INVESTORS:

Mike Baldesarra

Director of Investor Relations

KP Tissue Inc.

Tel.: 905.812.6962

IR@KPTissueinc.com
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Dallas, Texas, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From June 10-12, 2022, Parker Seminars hosted its annual live Orlando, Florida, event at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. Attendees were able to learn from and network with popular speakers and top professionals in the industry.

Keynote speakers included Dr. William E. Morgan, Heather Berlin, Daymond John, and Max Lugavere, as well as 25 other healthcare speakers. Parker Seminars also hosted a dynamic expo featuring popular industry vendors with the latest chiropractic products and technologies. This multi-day event even showcased unique parties such as the Expo Extravaganza and the Party in the Atrium.

Located near Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and many other Florida tourist destinations, this seminar served as the destination for a great summer getaway for families. Overall, Parker Seminars Orlando provided a unique experience of inspiration, learning, and networking for those in the chiropractic profession.

Upcoming Parker Seminars Events

Coming up, Parker Seminars will be hosting NeuroCon 2022 at the Westin Irving Convention Center, from July 29-30, in Las Colinas, Texas. This event is designed for attendees to earn CE hours, network, and learn from worldwide leaders on disorders of the nervous system. World-renowned speakers like Kimberly Noble, Tali Sharot, Octavio Choi, and Max Lugavere will be on the main stage throughout the event. Register today and reserve your spot for this popular local experience.

Also in 2022 will be Parker Seminars Dallas Invictus event, taking place September 30-October 2. More details will be available online soon!

All Parker Seminars events gather the biggest names in chiropractic to help provide tips and training on technique, patient communication, philosophy, health and wellness, and even personal development. For additional information about upcoming events, go to parkerseminars.com.

About Parker University

Parker University, the fourth-fastest growing college in Texas and the fastest-growing college in Dallas, was founded in 1982 by Dr. James William Parker (formerly Parker College of Chiropractic). Today, Parker University has more than 1,800 students and more than 35 academic programs, including its famed chiropractic program, as well as masters degrees in neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, strength and human performance, and functional nutrition. Currently, Parker Universitys chiropractic cohort is the second largest of any campus in the world. Parker University has been recognized as a Great College to Work For, one of the 25 Fastest-Growing Colleges in the U.S., and as a recipient of the 2021 FutureEdge 50 Awards.

Attachment
Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

CALGARY, Alberta, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northview Fund (the Fund) (TSX: NHF.UN) today announced the results of voting for trustees at its annual meeting of unitholders held earlier today (the Meeting). Each of the nominees listed in the management information circular dated May 2, 2022 was elected as a trustee of the Fund at the Meeting. On a vote conducted by ballot, the voting results were as follows.

Nominee # of Votes

For % of Votes

For # of Votes

Withheld % of Votes

Withheld Daniel Drimmer 23,940,139 99.955% 10,678 0.045% Rob Kumer 23,760,300 99.205% 190,517 0.795% Harry Rosenbaum 23,764,260 99.221% 186,557 0.779% Kelly Smith 23,892,782 99.758% 58,035 0.242% Lawrence D. Wilder 23,443,392 97.881% 507,425 2.119%

Details of the voting results on all matters considered at the Meeting are available in the Funds report of voting results, which is available under the Funds profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

ABOUT NORTHVIEW FUND

The Fund is a closed-end fund established pursuant to a declaration of trust under the laws of the Province of Ontario for the primary purpose of indirectly acquiring, owning and operating a portfolio of income producing rental properties in secondary markets within Canada.

To learn more about the Fund, visit www.northviewfund.com or contact:

Todd Cook, Chief Executive Officer

Northview Fund

Tel: (403) 531-0720

Email: tcook@northviewfund.com

Sarah Walker, Chief Financial Officer

Northview Fund

Tel: (403) 531-0720

Email: swalker@northviewfund.com
Christian Horner was amused by Toto Wolff's outburst. The Red Bull Racing team boss wonders if his rival applied for a role in a Lewis Hamilton film in this way.

Article continues under ad

Quarrel in Canada

The team bosses did not come to terms with each other in Canada. The FIA wants to introduce new guidelines to combat porpoising after a lobby was held by Mercedes in Azerbaijan. The other teams, however, have no desire to give the German stable an advantage here and that caused anger with Wolff.

In front of Netflix cameras, the Austrian is said to have railed against Mattia Binotto. Wolff would accuse the other team bosses of unsportsmanlike behaviour and was of the opinion that those teams are only concerned with their performance and not the safety of the drivers. The other teams think that Wolff is just trying to save Mercedes' bacon under the heading of 'safety'.

Actor Wolff

Horner was able to laugh about it and seems to have asked Wolff at the moment if he reacted like that because he knew the cameras were on. ''I think there was theatre in that meeting. Maybe with the film of Lewis coming up, he (Wolff) is trying to get a role in that'', Horner told The Race after the moment.

The team bosses will get a second chance before the British Grand Prix. Together with the technical director of the FIA Nikolas Tombazis, the teams will see what they can do against porpoising. The position of the FIA is clear after the 'technical directives' in Canada, but the question is whether the teams will vote for this rule change.
Shell, Accenture, and American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) are launching Avelia, one of the worlds first blockchain-powered digital sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) book-and-claim solutions for business travel. It is the largest SAF book-and-claim pilot at launch, offering around 1 million gallons of SAFenough to power almost 15,000 individual business traveler flights from London-to-New York.

Book-and-claim allows travelers to pay for SAF, and claim the benefits, even if SAF is not available at their departure airport. SAF will instead be fed into another aircraft in an airport where available.

The pilot phase of the program aims to demonstrate the credibility of the book-and-claim model, using blockchain technology to ensure secured allocation of SAFs environmental attributes to companies and airlines after the fuel has been delivered into the fuel network.

With Avelia, airlines and business customers could simultaneously reduce emissions in their respective scopes, while ensuring transparency and accountability by avoiding issues such as double-counting.

Developed by Shell and Accenture, with the support of the Energy Web Foundation (EWF), Avelia includes Amex GBTs travel management services to aggregate global business demand for SAF, which will increase SAF supply and use and help accelerate the aviation industrys pathway towards net-zero emissions.

SAF is a key enabler of decarbonization in the aviation industry, and its available today. However, its currently scarce and costs more than conventional jet fuel. Avelia will help trigger demand for SAF at scale, providing confidence to suppliers like us to further increase investment in production, and in turn helping to lower the price point for these fuels. Jan Toschka, President, Shell Aviation

Shell, Accenture, and Amex GBT are the platforms first customers, and are pleased to welcome new corporations to Avelia to purchase the environmental attributes of SAF to drive industry change. Shell has committed to purchasing the environmental attributes equivalent to 100,000 gallons of SAF over the pilot phase of the Avelia programme. Shell will increase this commitment as soon as more SAF is available, to achieve its ambition to abate 45% of Shells corporate travel emissions through SAF by 2030.

Scalable co-investment models, which allow companies to co-fund the cost of SAF, are crucial to significantly scale SAF supply and use. An industry-accepted carbon accounting mechanism, like book-and-claim, is key for such programs to credibly grow. Avelias data security and credibility are key to reaching scientific and market consensus for ways to allocate SAFs environmental attributes and help accelerate the decarbonization of aviation.
Leclanche SA has completed development of a third-generation marine battery system designed to support the needs of ship builders in producing 100% electric and hybrid marine vessels. Called the Navius MRS-3 (Marine Rack System), the new system improves upon Leclanches MRS-2 which is already powering a broad range of ferries, container ships and specialty vessels in service around the world.





The newest version features significant improvements in battery energy density, modularity and safety.

The system will begin shipping in 2023 and has already been specified in several major design wins including Scandlines 10MWh PR24 zero-emission freight ferry. The Navius MRS-3 is being formally introduced at Electric Hybrid Marine World Expo 2022 being held in Amsterdam this week.

The enhancements included in the Navius MRS-3 starts with the companys proprietary, high-energy 65 Ah G/NMC cells fitted into its latest generation M3 Energy battery modules. Both are produced in-house at the companys European cell manufacturing facilities in Germany and the companys new automated, state-of-the-art module assembly line in Switzerland.

Battery string voltages of up to 1200 VDC are available with up to 720 A string continuous discharge current. The number of cells per module has been increased to 36 from 32 allowing each module to provide 8.7kWh of energy, representing a 13% increase over those fitted in the MRS-2. The modules comply with the most stringent safety requirements for the marine, rail, and road sectors.

Safety is engineered into the Navius MRS-3 from individual cells to the complete system. For example:

Cells: Laminated ceramic separators provide protection against internal short circuits and the reduce electrolyte design minimises the potential volume of flammable gases.

Modules and enclosures: The M3 modules are each fitted with a functionally safe slave unit which measure cell voltages and temperatures and run diagnostics. The IP-rated enclosures provide protection against mechanical and electrical incidents and keep water and contaminants out in the event of a thermal runaway while keeping noxious gases/flames in and routed out via a sealed exhaust system. All parts of the system are protected against water ingress.

Battery Management Systems (BMS) and control unit: A Functionally Safe BMS consisting of master and slave units integrated inside every module. An optional remote battery-data monitoring system is available enabling continuous monitoring of the batteries condition.

Liquid-cooling: All modules are liquid-cooled with dedicated aluminum cooling plates. Furthermore, all cooling-pipe connections are external to the module enclosure preventing the risk of leaks within the module that could cause thermal incidents. Separate aluminum conductive cooling sheets between the cells dissipate heat out of the modules, eliminating hotspots and helping to further prolong the battery systems life. The liquid-cooled design increases the lifespan of the system and permits up to 50% higher energy density compared to air-cooled systems.

Active safety system: Each module enclosure contains a fail-safe automated system to prevent thermal propagation.

The Navius MRS-3 racks are available in seven different heights enabling them to fit into nearly all battery rooms. They provide 27% more energy in a comparable footprint than earlier generation systems; the reduced rack width requires a third-less front access for maintenance.

The systems revised design focuses on ease of access to key components including:

Cooling pipes which are easily accessible on the front of the racks

High voltage cables can be reached from the racks front and now feature a quick-connect system for simple and safe attaching and removal

The control panel, including BMS, slides out from the rack

Cooling system of each rack can be drained individually

Modules can be taken out individually

Single module enclosure design

Overall easier installation

A new 10-year performance warranty is available to customers purchasing a Leclanche support and maintenance contract. The system comes standard with a two-year warranty.

In addition, Leclanche is introducing three new groupings of services: Reactive services include a 24/7 hotline and remote support and access to an in-house field service engineer as well as Leclanches network of partners. Preventative services include maintenance training to instruct crews on how to provide maintenance and troubleshooting; and yearly preventative maintenance on-board to conduct visual, mechanical, and electrical routine checks.

Predictive services newly available to customers and based on a secure and reliable data monitoring of the battery systems. Users can access a user-friendly IoT platform allowing them to view a detailed analysis and reports on the condition of their battery system. They will also receive expert analysis, warning and recommendations across the lifetime of their system.

Leclanche is also offering spare parts kits to enable rapid on-site interventions and repairs.
WASHINGTON (AP)  In a pointed back and forth, the head of Chevron complained Tuesday that President Joe Biden has vilified energy firms at a time when gasoline prices are at near record levels and the president responded that the oil company CEO was being mildly sensitive.

The president in recent weeks has criticized oil producers and refiners for maximizing profits and making more money than God, rather than increasing production in response to higher prices as the economy recovers from the pandemic and feels the effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Michael Wirth, chairman and CEO of Chevron, sent Biden a letter via email on Tuesday that said the president's own words have been self-defeating in terms of encouraging companies to boost their output.

Chevron is investing in more production, Wirth wrote, but your Administration has largely sought to criticize, and at times vilify, our industry. These actions are not beneficial to meeting the challenges we face and are not what the American people deserve.

The oil company CEO said he wanted a more cooperative relationship with the government.

Let's work together, Wirth wrote. "The American people rightly expect our countrys leaders and industry to address the challenges they are facing in a serious and resolute manner."

Asked about those comments, Biden displayed no sympathy.

Hes mildly sensitive, Biden said. I didnt know theyd get their feelings hurt that quickly. Look, we need more refining capacity. This idea that they dont have oil to drill and to bring up is simply not true.

Average gas prices are nearly $5 a gallon nationwide, a strain on commuters and a political albatross for Bidens fellow Democrats going into the midterm elections. That has left the White House scrambling for solutions, including a possible suspension of the 18.4 cents a gallon federal gas tax .Biden plans to decide by the end of the week if the tax should be suspended, a move meant to relieve price pressures and that would need approval from a reluctant Congress.

The gas tax funds highways, but Biden said Tuesday any lost revenue would not have a major impact on road construction because of last years $1 trillion infrastructure law.

The clash between the Biden administration and oil producers and refiners unfolded ahead of a Thursday meeting that Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will hold with energy companies.

Both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have previously voiced skepticism about the benefits of suspending the gas tax. But Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., is sponsoring a bill that would put the gas tax on hold through the end of 2023.

Schiff said in a statement that he has been in touch with the White House to encourage the gas tax holiday, adding, But we shouldnt stop there. We should also hold Big Oil accountable for the price-gouging that is driving prices up in the first place.

The House has approved legislation to crack down on alleged price gouging by oil companies, but the bill has stalled in the Senate. Democratic proposals to impose a windfall profits tax on oil producers have generated little support in Congress.

The possibility of a gas tax holiday has drawn criticism from economists and the business community for not fixing the underlying supply challenges.

In an address Tuesday at the Economic Club of New York, a non-profit, non-partisan business group, Target CEO Brian Cornell called the gas tax holiday a temporary mini stimulus that does nothing to fundamentally change the supply and demand curve for fuel and transportation.

We have a classic supply-and-demand challenge, Cornell told the audience. In all due respect, the gas holiday is only going to fuel demand. Its doing nothing to increase the supply.

Harvard University professor Jason Furman, formerly the top economist in the Obama White House, said a gas tax suspension would not address the supply pressures.

Refineries are even more constrained now so supply is nearly fully inelastic, he wrote on Twitter. Most of the 18.4 cent reduction would be pocketed by industry -- with maybe a few cents passed on to consumers.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the administration is looking into as many ways as possible to provide consumers with some relief at the gas pump. But the administration does not plan to tell Americans to drive less during the July 4 holiday and reduce some of the supply pressures.

Americans are going to do what they feel is right for themselves and for their family, Jean-Pierre said. That's not something for us to make a judgment on.

___

AP reporters Matthew Daly in Washington and Anne D'Innocenzio in New York contributed to this report.
GREENWICH  Riverside resident Dwight Chapin served as Richard Nixons deputy assistant in the White House after years of loyal service prior to the presidency. And his new book promises to show the man beyond the Watergate scandal.

In The Presidents Man: The Memoirs of Nixons Trusted Aide, Chapin talks about his own experiences and a conviction that landed him in prison as a result of Watergate, but strenuously defends a man and a presidency that he says has not been given the full view of history.

I had been involved in the renovation of the Nixon Presidential Library and when I was doing that I realized how little people knew about Richard Nixon, Chapin told Hearst Connecticut Media on Tuesday at his home. They either knew about Nixon through Watergate or through the opening of China. And there was so much more to the man. I thought about how I was one of the few guys still left around that knew him as well as I did and could put some meat around what he was all about.

But he also had a more personal reason for writing the book, one that was hammered home by a visit to see family that lives in Kansas City.

He said his grandson asked him curiously if he had worked for a president and after Chapin said that he had, his grandson asked why he went to prison and if the president had gone to prison too.

I told my wife on the plane ride home that Ive got to take and write down what happened to me so that my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren, when the question comes along about what in the world happened to me and why did I have to go to prison, theyll know the answer, Chapin said.

Ultimately, Chapin said the book is about 15 percent about his own experiences and his family life and 85 percent of it is about his time with Nixon which began in 1962 when Nixon launched his unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in California and Chapin was a college student at the University of Southern California looking for a summer job.

As a field man on the campaign, Chapin got to know the Nixon family. And when Nixon moved to New York to work as a lawyer, Chapin moved too and volunteered to work after hours at the law firm answering mail, where be became close with Nixons wife, Pat.

Chapin settled into a life in Cos Cob with his wife and family and he believes it was Pat Nixon who recommended to the future president that he officially take him on as an aide in 1967. He began traveling with Nixon all over the country and followed him after Nixons successful presidential campaign in 1968 to the White House, where Chapin had a front row seat to history, good and bad.

Chapin stresses he was never an adviser to Nixon, just an aide who tried to be respectful of the privileges he had.

I had a role, Chapin said. I knew my role and it was to make sure everything around him worked the way it was supposed to work. ... I didnt spend my days talking about how special it was that I was here but I knew that I was in a privileged position and I had a responsibility to perform that as best I could.

Chapin said thats ultimately what led to his conviction for making false material declarations before a grand jury about the administrations dirty tricks operations. He served prison time from August 1975 to April 1976.

It was heartbreaking, Chapin said. My family suffered, I suffered. ... As I look back on it all, I had all this great privilege and it was a wonderful experience. I just wish it hadnt had a price tag called Watergate.

The times they spent together included the highest of the highs: Nixons two successful presidential campaigns, his six years in the White House and the famous diplomatic breakthroughs in China and Moscow, where Chapin was the advance man and was right at Nixons side.

But he was also there for the lowest of the lows.

In my book we try to present Nixon  kind of warts and all  just like we tried to do with the library, Chapin said. There are significant good things about him but also character traits that if he could change them, he should change them. But this idea that there is this line of demarcation and that Nixon is just evil is wrong.

Chapin said there was a side to Nixon that few people got to see.

He was a very warm and caring type of man, Chapin said. The Quaker influence from his mother and his whole family situation was more prevailing in his personality and his makeup and what he was about than hardly anyone could recognize.

One story Chapin shared was on a White House trip to the Vatican to meet Pope Paul VI and Nixon found out who among the staff on Air Force One was Catholic so he could bring them along.

We went to meet the Holy Father and he introduced the staff on Air Force One to him, Chapin said. There was this one Filipino steward who was standing there, with the president of the United States introducing him to the pope and the tears were just flowing down the side of his face. It was this poignant moment and that would never have happened if Richard Nixon had not decided he was going to do that.

Chapin will speak about his book at the Perrot Memorial Library, 90 Sound Beach Ave., Old Greenwich, at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The event will be held in person and over Zoom. For more info, visit perrotlibrary.org.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
GREENWICH  With graduation slated for this week for the Class of 2022 at Greenwich High School, the school district reported 17 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday among students and staff, according to the districts online tracker.

After a spike in May, the number of cases of COVID-19 reported in the twice-a-week updates in the district dropped into the 20s and 30s in early June. The Tuesday report of 17 is the lowest report of new cases of COVID-19 in the district since March 11.

The district has reported 151 cases of COVID-19 so far in June, compared with 686 cases in May.

The Tuesday report is down from the 26 new cases reported on June 17; the 21 cases reported May 14; the 34 cases reported June 10; the 28 cases reported June 7; and the 25 cases reported June 3, according to the tracker.

Since March 1, when the Greenwich school district moved to a mask-optional policy, the district has reported 1,455 cases of COVID-19, more than twice the number of cases reported in the entire 2020-21 school year.

Some 3,446 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the school district since classes began Sept. 1, which is nearly five times the 700 cases total reported in the 2020-21 school year.

Nine schools impacted

As of Tuesday, there were 14 active cases of COVID-19 reported in nine schools, which is down from 27 active cases last Friday and down from 20 active cases on June 14, according to the tracker.

The most active cases were at Riverside, with three. There were two active cases each at Central Middle, Greenwich High and Glenville; and one active each at Eastern Middle, New Lebanon, North Mianus, North Street and Western Middle.

No active cases were reported at Cos Cob, Hamilton Avenue, International School at Dundee, Julian Curtiss, Old Greenwich and Parkway.

Of the 14 active cases, nine were reported among students; three cases among teachers; and two cases among service providers, according to the district.

A number of families in the Greenwich Public Schools have been hit hard by COVID-19 this school year, with 511 families reporting 1,100 cases.

COVID stats

For the 2021-22 school year, the district has seen two spikes in cases of COVID-19, a large one in January and a smaller one in May, according to the district.

The monthly totals for new cases of COVID-19 reported in the Greenwich school district have varied widely, with 151 cases so far in June; 686 cases in May, 339 cases in April, 167 cases in March, 137 cases in February, 1,422 cases in January, 392 cases in December, 65 cases in November, 29 cases in October and 58 cases in September, according to the tracker.

Since students and staff returned from the Memorial Day holiday, a total of 198 cases of COVID-19 have been reported.

The district has seen 945 cases, according to the tracker, since the weeklong Spring Recess in April, which is more cases of COVID-19 than was reported in the entire 2020-21 school year.

The school district updates its online tracker twice each week to keep the community informed on the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last day of classes will be later this month for all students, on June 24 in the elementary schools and middle schools and on June 28 at Greenwich High.
Back in October Samsung unveiled the Bespoke Edition of the Galaxy Z Flip3, offering a total of 49 color combinations. This program will also be available for the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip4 and, according to rumors, will be expanded to offer even more variety and to be available in new markets.

When customizing the Z Flip3, users could pick one of two frame colors, five back and five front panel colors. Removing one color combo that overlapped with the non-Bespoke phones, this gave 49 options. For the Z Flip4 the Bespoke Studio will probably offer customizations for these same three elements, but with more options.

The Galaxy Z Flip3 Bespoke edition customization tool

Samsung offered the Bespoke customization service in the US and Canada, the UK, Germany and France, along with South Korea and Australia. The plan for this year is to expand to additional markets in Europe and Asia, according to insider info.

Samsung also offered Bespoke customization for the Galaxy Watch4 and Watch4 Classic wearables. That was a pretty basic customization  pick the watch model you want, then pick a strap. Presumably, the upcoming Galaxy Watch5 models will also be part of the Bespoke program and will be available in the new markets as well.

Customizing the Galaxy Watch4

The Galaxy Z Flip4 (and Z Fold4) and the Galaxy Watch5 are expected to be unveiled on August 10. Whether the Bespoke Studio is available from Day 1 or if it launches later remains to be seen.

Source
Sony is yet to release a 100+ megapixel sensor designed for smartphones, but one is reportedly on the way. The company will take an interesting approach  instead of going for the flagship market, its first 100MP sensor will be aimed at premium mid-rangers, according to leakster Digital Chat Station.

The sensor will allegedly be part of the Sony IMX8 series. The series recently made its debut with the IMX800, a 54MP 1/1.49 sensor that was used in the Honor 70 series. DCS does not share details about the 100MP sensor, so we can only speculate. Given that it is aimed at mid-rangers, it will not be the largest or most capable in Sonys line-up.

The company is also working on an IMX9 series, writes the leakster, which will be more capable and will go up against some impressive sensors coming from competitor Samsung. Samsung is already hyping up the 200MP HP1 sensor, which is expected to feature on phones like the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra (expected to be unveiled next month) and potentially the Galaxy S23 Ultra (coming next year). Thats not all, Samsung is also allegedly working on a sensor that is larger than even the GN2, an already massive 1/1.12 sensor.

Of course, Sony already has a massive sensor of its own, the 1.0 sensor used in the Xperia Pro-I. That sensor was originally designed for the RX100 VII camera and Sony had trouble fitting it within a thickness acceptable for a phone (more details in our review).

Source (in Chinese) | Via
When I first decided to create Ina Well Fest, Guams first holistic wellness festival, I knew I wanted to create a program that highlighted local practitioners and businesses while offering a fresh and alternative perspective on well-being.

I came across the work of Rosie Acosta through one of my favorite wellness events, Wanderlust. While her story started off as a troubled teen who suffered from depression, anxiety and overeating, Rosies titles now include yoga and meditation teacher, host of the top-rated iTunes podcast, Radically Loved, and author of You Are Radically Loved: A Healing Journey to Self-Love.

When we initially connected, we shared the same passion for making wellness accessible within our communities and empowering people regardless of where they are in their wellness journey.

A few Zoom calls and an in-person meeting later, and Rosie is now on her way from Los Angeles to Guam to share her story with 300+ guests at our first-ever Ina Well Fest.

I sat down with Rosie to hear more about her message for Guams health and wellness community.

Q&A

Livia: What drew you to participate as a speaker for Ina Well Fest?

Rosie: Wellness has always been something close to my heart. I grew up in an environment that didnt have access to healthy food, and therefore caused a lot of chronic illness in our community.

I think that education and access have always been the key to learning what will serve our minds and our bodies. The importance of community and connection is the conduit through which it comes together. I love everything that Ina Well Fest stands for, and Im so excited to be participating in what I hope will be a yearly event!

Livia: What can attendees expect from your keynote and breakout session at the event?

Rosie: My intention is always to provide insight and give people tools to explore their goals and desires. Oftentimes we get too severely overwhelmed by our current state that its much easier to just give up and do nothing.

My keynote will be addressing resilience and our own potential so that we leave feeling a new sense of confidence and sustainability. I want people to leave the event knowing that they can achieve the wellness they want and feel good about where they currently are.

Livia: Many people on Guam struggle with access to healthy food options and overall health & wellness resources. What is your message to them?

Rosie: I get it. I see you and I feel you. Access to healthy food is a major issue, and I think we need to advocate to change this. At the end of the day we need to make the best choices that are accessible.

People sometimes dont understand what its like to not have access to healthy food or even healthy options. I used to get my meals from a 7/11 a block away from school. The choice was between a hot dog and a frosted cinnamon roll. Currently there are few options in Guam, what I would say to everyone is to make sure that these restaurants/stores stay open.

Try to get produce, or food from them so they can thrive and we create a need for more healthier options. We forget the power we have with our dollars, thats our power. The choices that we make can help create a demand and hopefully filter resources to more of what is needed.
As tourism starts to ramp up on island, Tumon hotels are hoping to entice luxury travelers with premium amenities, with The Westin Resort Guam and The Tsubaki announcing the opening of modern, upscale club lounges within days of each other.

Its a beautiful space with an awesome view, resort guest Henry Hsu said at the grand opening Tuesday of the newly renovated Westin Club Lounge on the top floor of the 21-floor hotel.

The 38-year-old mechanical engineer from Eastvale, California, is on Guam for his military job and is staying at the Westin for three months.

Ive never been in a lounge thats been this high and had such a great view before, he said. Designwise, its very, very modern in line with a lot of airport lounges that Ive seen.

The newly renovated lounge is triple the size of the original space, a project that had been in the planning for years.

In Korea and Japan, upscale club lounges are very common and we felt our club lounge was not competitive enough. So even before the pandemic, we planned to upgrade it, said Nick Song, Westin president and general manager.

The challenge, though, was space. The resorts top floor also contained two exclusive VIP suites. After reviewing how limited the use of those suites were, they decided to open up the lounge space so they could expand access to more guests.

It was hard, it was very painful, but we demolished the presidential suite and governors suite to make (one of the largest capacity lounges) on Guam so we can meet the expectations of the overseas market, especially Japan and Korea, Song said.

At 6,800 square feet, the lounge can now accommodate 180 guests at one time, he said.

Open to guests staying in premium rooms on floors 16 and above, the lounge includes a family dining area, business center, and private conference room that can accommodate up to 15 people, according to a press release.

While the rest of the space is open only to resort guests, a private boardroom for eight with its own entrance on the floor can be rented for small corporate meetings and events.

For now, afternoon tea and beverages are being offered in the lounge from 2-10 p.m. daily, and happy hour features cocktails and heavy hors doeuvres from 5-7 p.m. They anticipate expanding hours to include breakfast daily in the lounge in September, Song said.

With rising hotel occupancy, the hiring of new staff, and the Korean market now returning, we felt like its the time to showcase our club lounge to all the guests, he said.

Tsubaki Tower

Less than a mile north, meanwhile, The Tsubaki Tower has opened its new LinaLa Club Lounge on the 26th floor, according to a June 17 press release.

Open to guests staying in club-level rooms and suites throughout the 27-floor resort, the lounge offers daily cocktails and appetizers in its three spaces: the Living Room, the Dining Room, and the Library.

We aim to further enhance our guests experiences with us and extend opportunities to enjoy the property to its fullest, General Manager Ken Yanagisawa said in the press release. We opened the lounge to celebrate the return of tourism to Guam and provide a new Guam experience for visitors.

The lounge is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with unlimited tea and coffee throughout the day, afternoon tea from 2-4 p.m., and sunset cocktails and appetizers from 5-8 p.m.
Recipients of the I Ninametgot Famalaoan (Making Women Stronger) High School Completion Scholarship Program pose with Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero at the Ricardo J. Bordallo Governors Complex, Adelup.
With about a week left to declare candidacy for most public offices in the 2022 primary election, candidates are hurrying to file their packets with the Guam Election Commission.

Eleven candidates have filed since last Wednesday  all of them for senator  compared to just 14 in the months prior.

More filings can be expected to flow in over the next week, with over 50 candidate packets for the Guam Legislature picked up earlier this year. Senatorial candidates typically file at the last minute, according to election commission records. For the 2020 primary, 22 out of 30 senatorial candidates waited until the last week to file their documents with the commission.

None of the three announced gubernatorial teams for election 2022 have filed their candidacies with Election Commission, either.

As of Tuesday, 20 candidates filed for the 37th Guam Legislature, split between 12 Republicans and eight Democrats.

Sam Mabini Young, former senator and former director of the Department of Labor, is among recent Republican filings.

The Legislatures Republican Minority Leader Sen. Chris Duenas has also filed for reelection, along with incumbent Democrats Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes and Sen. Sabina Perez.

Republican Mana Silva Taijeron has also filed. She was formerly a senator in the 31st Guam legislature, deputy administrator of the Guam Economic Development Authority, and a journalist.

Other nonincumbent filings include Democrat Franklin J. Meno, and Republican Vincent Borja, both coming back off unsuccessful runs in the 2020 election. Republican David W. Crisostomo has also filed.

On Tuesday, former three-term Republican senator Jesse Anderson Lujan filed with the election commission.

More needs to be done to alleviate the problems and the pain felt by so many. I am determined to help get our economy and tourism industry back on track and get our people back to work Lujan said in a release.

The deadline to file candidacy for governor and lieutenant governor, senator, delegate and attorney general is June 28.

Filing for the Guam Education Board and Consolidated Commission Utilities opens July 1.

The primary is Aug. 27, but early voting and homebound voting open July 28.

Candidates

Other senatorial candidates:

Incumbent Sen. Jose Pedo Terlaje, Democrat

Dwayne San Nicolas, Democrat

Harvey Egna, Republican

Incumbent Sen. Telo Taitague, Republican

Sandra Reyes Seau, Republican

Fred E. Bordallo Jr., Democrat

Incumbent Sen. Joe San Agustin, Democrat

Thomas J. Fisher, Republican

Ken Leon Guerrero, Republican

Jonathan Savares, Democrat

Delegate candidates:

Sen. Telena Nelson, Democrat

Judi Won Pat, Democrat

Sen. James Moylan, Republican

Attorney General Leevin Camacho has filed for reelection and is so far unopposed.
In a pilot program being launched through Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, a team of behavioral health specialists will work with fire and police personnel to respond to crises involving mental health, suicide, depression, homelessness and substance use.

The Mobile Crisis Response Team, made up of a crisis specialist, a certified peer support specialist and a crisis intervention aide, will help coordinate and deescalate mental health crisis calls. The team will work closely with the Guam Police Department and Guam Fire Department, according to a news release from the governors office.

Changing how we respond to nonviolent calls related to mental health is going to take work and time, but it is a valuable investment we are making to save lives and improve health, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said in a news release.

The pilot program will launch in phases. The first phase, which started earlier this month, focuses on responding to calls from active Behavioral Health clients who are 18 and older.

The second phase will begin Sept. 6 and will include services for adults who are not Behavioral Health clients.

Calls to Guam Fire Department dispatch relating to mental health, with no relative public safety or medical concerns, will be diverted to Guam Behavioral Healths Crisis Hotline, after which the Mobile Crisis Response Team can be activated.

Behavioral Healths goal is to be able to expand the program and launch its full scope of services by the end of the year.

This will include additional teams with a child-focused component and 24-hour support for those in need, regardless of age.

The team helps our law enforcement officers manage high-risk situations in a way that reenvisions their response and enhances public safety overall. Struggling with mental health is not a crime, and we want to ensure we are there for people in the manner they need us most, said Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio in the news release.
There will be some reduction in the price of gas coming for consumers, as Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed off today on a six-month suspension of liquid fuel taxes, effective immediately.

Prices at 76/Circle K gas stations were to change today, South Pacific Petroleum Corporation Vice President Bob Koeppen said.

It takes an hour or so to do all our paperwork here, but it should be today.

Koeppen said he could not confirm exactly how much the reduction would be, as he had to review the law.

IP&E marketing manager Camille Denight, of Shell gas stations, said that her team would need to discuss the matter before passing on more information.

I don't have any comments specifically on the effect that it will have on the prices, but I'm sure it will be passed on to the customers, she said.

Bill 295, now Public Law 36-105, suspends the excise tax of 15 cents per gallon of diesel and 14 cents per gallon of regular-grade gas. It also suspends a 4-cent automotive surcharge on liquid fuel and 4-cent mass transit automotive surcharge.

Mobil Oil Guam could not be reached immediately.

Leon Guerrero stated after the bill signing that she was informed by local gas companies that the tax moratorium would translate into savings for customers.

The rising cost of gas is not related to the pandemic. It's related to the Ukraine conflict. It's related to the geopolitical situation that's happening out there, between Russia and the United States, the governor stated as she signed the legislation. That is something that cannot be controlled by us, because this is more of a greater complicated situation. But what we can do is see how we can help in those areas that we do have control over. And one of them is, of course, local taxes.

This measure reflects our values of inafamaolek as we provide what is best for our people, said Sen. Joe San Agustin, who sponsored the original legislation.

He said that in the coming days, his committee would hold public hearings on other measures to cap gas company profits, Bill 320, as well as cut business privilege taxes collected on retail fuel sales, Bill 290.

Further relief

But with fuel taxes suspended, a bipartisan group of senators is also pushing for the governor to extend another round of stimulus payments to offset the rising costs of fuel.

Sen. Telo Taitague wrote the governor last Friday, requesting that she provide another payout of $300 through the Prugraman Salappe, and this time raise the ceiling on income eligibility to allow more residents to participate. Signed on in support of the request are Sens. Frank Blas, Joe San Agustin, Joanne Brown, Sabina Perez, Clynt Ridgell, Telena Nelson, Chris Duenas, Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes and Speaker Therese Terlaje.

Taitague in a separate release said, The governor allocated $11.7 million to the program and has a remaining $8.3 million at the end of the program on May 22. The program has not achieved its intended usefulness, and a second round of the program is proper.

Before the income ceiling could be raised or removed on the Prugraman Salappe, which is funded through federal American Rescue Plan money, there would have to be a review of the guidelines for the money, Leon Guerrero said. The stimulus program launched in March with an income limit of 300% of the poverty level, with eligibility starting at below $44,460 in annual income for a single person.

The rules say that it has to be in those households that have been really impacted by the pandemic  their employment was impacted, their income was impacted. So I have to be very careful, and not just be very blanket about it, because we do have to make reports to the federal government.

When asked whether she would sign off on a locally funded stimulus program, should the Legislature introduce one, Leon Guerrero said, We would have to look at what our finances locally are saying, we are collecting more revenues than what has been budgeted, but we can't really know the full impact of that until we close the books.

The latest revenue report from the Bureau of Budget and Management Research shows that as of the close of May, GovGuams General Fund is on track to collect about $85 million in excess tax revenue this fiscal year.
A man was charged in connection with causing a man to bleed profusely after stabbing him in the head and neck with a machete, a magistrates complaint filed in the Superior Court of Guam stated.

On Feb. 20, police officers met a man who had a substantial amount of blood running down his neck and stomach. The man told officers that Gino Tedtaotao Muareluk stabbed him, the complaint stated.

The man then told police he was jumped by three men when Muareluk pulled out a machete during the attack and struck the man a few times. Police saw the man had a surface wound to his shoulder and four lacerations to his head and neck that were bleeding profusely, according to the complaint.

Other charges

Muareluk also has been charged in connection to two other incidents reported this month.

On June 12, a woman said Muareluk had come to her house despite there being a stay-away order issued by the court. The woman, who ignored Muareluk, said that on the night of June 11, Muareluk said he would hurt (her) if she continued to ignore him, the complaint stated.

On Tuesday, police interviewed another woman who said Muareluk punched her mouth and kicked her stomach. Police then saw another man who said he also was punched by Muarelek in the face. Police however saw no injuries to the man or woman, the complaint stated.

According to the complaint, Muareluk on May 4 pleaded guilty in three cases, one of which is from a case filed this year and two were from 2021. As part of the plea agreement, Muareluk was ordered to have no contact with the women involved in the June 12 and Tuesday incident.

Muareluk was charged with:
A judge still has to make a decision on two motions before a former deputy director of Department of Corrections can go to trial.

Joey Allan Acfalle Terlaje, who is also a Superior Court of Guam marshal, was indicted in December in connection with an incident at former Yona Mayor Jesse Blas ranch in 2017.

On Tuesday morning, the judge presiding over the case, Alberto E. Tolentino, said he is still in the process of making a decision on two motions before trial can begin.

Terlaje filed a motion to have the charges of felonious restraint and official misconduct dropped on the grounds there was not enough evidence.

Terlaje is accused of assisting Blas in holding his then-girlfriend Vickilyn Teregeyo against her will for three days and not using his position as a Superior Court of Guam marshal at the time to prevent it. Terlaje also is accused of reporting Teregeyo, who was on pre-trial release in the local court, for violating her conditions of release in an attempt to keep her quiet about the incident at the ranch.

Reports

The second motion involves a prosecution request made to exclude Guam Police Department reports from evidence.

The 11 reports dated between 2001 and 2015 mention an anonymous individual, J.S., who had never been prosecuted in connection to the reports. J.S., however, is accused of being present during the felonious restraint.

Assistant Attorney General Leonardo Rapadas asked the court to exclude the reports after arguing they should have been expunged from J.S. record.

Terlajes attorney, Joaquin Jay Arriola, argued the evidence should not be excluded because it is relevant to his clients case.

Terlaje will appear in court again at 11 a.m. July 5.
A mother charged with the death of her daughter, who was drowned before being taken to Two Lovers Point, remains without an attorney.

Iehsa Nichelle Copeland appeared in the Superior Court of Guam Tuesday afternoon to enter a plea to murder charges connected with the death of her 1-year-old daughter on May 22.

Although Copeland, a Navy petty officer, made too much money to be appointed a public defender, her potential lawyer in the case, Randall Cunliffe, said she may qualify for court-appointed counsel.

Cunliffe said he spoke with Copeland and her family, as well as a military lawyer, who thought Copeland, provided the wrong income level she was earning.

Were trying to determine if Ms. Copeland is actually being paid, because I believe shes considered AWOL because she has not shown up for duty, said Cunliffe, who added he was trying to confirm further with the Navy.

With the new information, Magistrate Judge Jonathan R. Quan decided to give Copeland more time to figure out whether she could afford an attorney or needed to be appointed one.

Copeland was arrested and charged under suspicion of murder after she showed up at Two Lovers Point early on a Sunday morning with a motionless and unresponsive child strapped to her chest. She later turned the child over to authorities, who determined the girl had been drowned, according to court documents.

Copeland was threatening to jump off the cliff until crisis negotiators persuaded her to hand over her 1-year-old daughter for medical assessment.

She stated several times that she had drowned the baby in the bathtub, documents state.

Copeland later told police she tried to drown herself by placing a microwave on her body to hold herself below the water.

Copeland is being held at the Department of Corrections Womens Facility on $100,000 cash bail and was ordered to be moved to the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center annex at the prison.
Tenda Town, a three-story commercial building with a large flying proa on top, is one of the attractions to be built as part of a $50 million project to improve Ypao Beach, at the site of the Gov. Joseph Flores Memorial Park.




Haiti - Diaspora Covid-19 : Daily Bulletin #823





GLOBAL SITUATION 2019-2022:

Epidemiological situation:

Tuesday, June 21, 2022 the number of people infected worldwide with the Covid-19 coronavirus and its variants since the start of the pandemic (March 11, 2020) amounts to 544,950,391 cases (+592,796 in 24 hours ), the day before (+242.455)



Number of infected countries: 228



*Healings: 520,321,489 people have been cured of Covid-19 worldwide (+590,863 in 24 hours), the day before (+395,843)

*Deaths: 6,342,077 people have died of Covid-19 worldwide since the start of the pandemic (+1,097 in 24 hours), the day before (+493)

*Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries) in the world is currently 18,286,825 cases (+836 in 24 hours), the day before (-153,881)



World healing rate: 95.48% (+)



Death rate in the world: 1.16% (=)



World: Trend of confirmed daily cases







Vaccination: 12.03 billion doses of vaccine injected (+10 million). (Latest data available).



HAITI:

Warning: The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) did not make available daily data on the Covid-19 situation in Haiti after June 12, 2022. As a result, the data below on the situation in Haiti is the latest available.



According to the Ministry of Public Health, +61 new cases of Covid-19 and its variants have been confirmed in Haiti as of June 12, 2022 (latest partial data available ) for a total of 31,115 confirmed cases throughout the national territory (48.7% women and 51.3% men), since the first case (March 19, 2020 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html ). Previous update (+50 cases as of June 9, 2022).



Heals: 29,777 (+25)



Cure rate: 95.69% (-)



Deaths: 837 deaths (+0)



Death rate: 2.69% (=)



Screening since the start of the pandemic: 205,713 tests since March 19, 2020 (+751 in 3 days) a number of tests statistically insufficient to be representative of the health situation, which results in a < B>number of daily confirmed cases largely underestimated in the opinion of health specialists.



TOP 5 of the most affected municipalities in the West (2022):

Delmas: 816 (+15); Petion-ville 654 (+8); Port au Prince 434 (+3); Tabarre 334 (+6); Cross of Bouquets 270 (+6)



Confirmed cases by department (2022 / 2021 / 2020):

West: 2022: 2,791 (+) cases; (2021: 9.890); (2020: 6,945 cases)

North: 2022: 296 (=) cases; (2021: 664); (2020: 677 cases)

Center: 2022: 291 (=) cases; (2021: 1.001); (2020: 508 cases)

Artibonite: 2022: 194 (=) cases; (2021: 855); (2020: 593 cases)

Northeast: 2022: 176 (+) cases; (2021: 404); (2020: 314 cases)

Southeast: 2022: 321 (=) cases; (2021: 768); (2020: 274 cases)

South: 2022: 220 (=) cases; (2021: 891); (2020: 262 cases)

North West: 2022: 291 (+) cases; (2021: 383); (2020: 229 cases)

Grand'Anse: 2022: 222 (=) cases; (2021: 861); (2020: 176 cases)

Nippes: 2022: 88 (+) cases; (2021: 249) (2020: 149 cases)



Cumulative deaths by department (2022-2021):

West: 298 deaths (2020: 104 deaths)

North: 54 deaths (2020: 34 deaths)

Center: 79 deaths (2020: 13 deaths)

Artibonite: 42 deaths (2020: 39 deaths)

North East: 7 deaths (2020: 6 deaths)

South: 51 deaths (2020: 6 deaths)

Southeast: 15 deaths (2020: 9 deaths)

North West: 15 deaths (2020: 12 deaths)

Grand'Anse: 7 deaths (2020: 13 deaths)

Nippes: 27 deaths (2020: 5 deaths)



Distribution of deaths by age (since the start of the epidemic):

0-9 years: 15 deaths

10-19 years: 10 deaths

20-29 years: 31 deaths

30-39 years: 56 deaths

40-49 years: 80 deaths

50-59 years: 135 deaths

60-69 years: 188 deaths

70-79 years: 184 deaths

80 years and over: 138 deaths



Vaccination:

191,568 Haitians (1.7% of the population) +2,984 in 8 days received a 1st dose of vaccine since July 16, 2021, date of the first injection through 149 open vaccination centers and 134,525 Haitians are fully vaccinated (2 doses, 1.2% of the population) +2.348 in 8 days. Update June 15, 2022 latest information available (source MSPP).



List of the 149 Vaccination centers open in Haiti (and hours) by department: (updated October 20, 2021, latest information available)

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35051-haiti-covid-19-list-of-149-vaccination-centers-open-in-the-country.html



DIASPORA:

Epidemiological situation:



USA:

*Cases since the first case (February 29, 2020): 88,054,080 cases (+50,007 in 24 hours), the day before (+22,505)

*Healings: 83,947,576 healings (+78,060 in 24 hours), the day before (+104,394)

National Cure Rate: 95.33% (+)

Deaths: 1,038,385 (+62 in 24 hours), the day before (+34)

mortality rate : 1.17% (=)

*Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries): 3,068,119 (-28,115 in 24 hours), the day before -81,923)



USA: Number of daily confirmed cases:







Vaccination: 593.15 million doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection in the United States (140,000). (Latest data available).



DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

Confirmed cases since March 1, 2020: 595,927 cases (+963 in 24 hours), the day before (+903). First case (March 1, 2020)

Healings: 587,746 healings (+740 in 24 hours), the day before (+1,066)

National Cure Rate: 98.62% (-)

Deaths: 4,382 deaths (+0), the day before (+0)

Death rate: 0.73% (=)

Positivity rate over 4 epidemiological weeks: 9.64% (+)

Active cases: (excluding deaths and recoveries) 3,799 cases (+223 in 24 hours) the day before (-163)



Dominican Republic: Number of daily confirmed cases:







TOP 5 Provinces with the most new cases in the last 24 hours:

Distrito Nacional: +246 new cases in 24 hours (+)

Santo Domingo: +240 new cases in 24 hours (+)

Santiago: +149 new cases (+)

La Altagracia: +52 new cases (+)

Dajabon: +33 new cases ()



Vaccination: 15.74 million doses of vaccine injected since February 16, 2021, date of the first injection in the Dominican Republic (+10,000 doses). (Latest data available).



QUEBEC:

Note: Quebec health authorities inform that as of June 22, 2022, data updates on Covid-19 will be made on Wednesdays on a weekly basis. Data will not be updated on June 20 and 21.



Confirmed cases since the first case (February 27, 2020): 1,077,256 (+877 in 24 hours), the day before (+812)

Deaths: 15,462 (+5 in 24 hours) the day before (+9)

Death rate: 1.43% (=)

Healing: The Center for Expertise and Reference in Public Health no longer makes this information available.



Quebec: Trend of daily confirmed cases





(weekly average trend)



Vaccination: 19,995,530 doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection (+5,465 doses in 24 hours), latest data available - MSSS)



FRANCE:

*Confirmed cases since the first case (January 24, 2020): 30,181,415 cases (+101,957 in 48h), previous (not available)

*Healings: 29,370,147 healings (+56,188 in 48h), previous (not available)

National Cure Rate: 97.31% (-)

Deaths: 149,106 deaths (+67 in 48 hours), previous (not available)

Death rate: 0.49% (=)

Active Cases: 662,162 (+45,702 in 48h), previous (not available)



France: Number of daily confirmed cases:







Vaccination: 145.24 million doses of vaccine injected since December 27, 2020, date of the first injection in France (+50,000 doses). (Latest data available)



Previous bulletin : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36960-haiti-diaspora-covid-19-daily-bulletin-822.html



See alos :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30165-haiti-flash-first-case-of-covid-19-in-the-dominican-republic.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















CONCERTS in Caversham was just about able to maintain its Christmas concerts on a shoestring during the pandemic.

Now, after a two-year wait, a trio from the Caversham Ensemble is finally able to perform an evening of music originally scheduled for May 2020 at St Andrews Church next Saturday.

The Ensemble is a versatile and fluid group of musicians for this performance featuring Morgan Goff on viola, Max Welford on clarinet and Adrienne Black on piano.

The trio will play a wide range of music, including baroque, classical, Romantic, jazz-inspired and 20th century pieces.

The programme comprises Mozarts Kegelstatt Trio, with trios for this combination by Max Bruch, as well as Lutoslawskis Dance Preludes, Marin Marais French Dances, Schumanns Adagio and Allegro, Horowitzs Sonata and Reineckes Trio in A major. Adrienne, one of the artistic directors for Concerts in Caversham, helped set up the professional chamber-music concert series in 2011 with her husband, oboist Timothy Watts and daughter, cellist Naomi Watts, both of whom are members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

She says: Morgan is an amazing viola player. Hes an old friend and first met him when I was playing in the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. Max is a colleague of his whos a freelance clarinettist.

Both Morgan and Max are freelance musicians, playing in the West End theatre production of Les Miserables. London-based Morgan was in the Kreutzer Quartet for 10 years, touring internationally. He is a chamber musician, session musician and solo violist.

Max is a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player also based in London. Adrienne, a pianist and harpsichordist, has performed extensively in the UK and abroad playing chamber music with many musicians.

She says the concert series managed to keep going throughout the pandemic as they had built up a concert fund.

She adds: I used that as a kind of buffer to be able to put on basically loss-making concerts because we were only allowed to have 40 in the audience. Normally, the Christmas concert is 200-plus and sells out. I just thought it was important to keep it going.

There were some tense moments. Adrienne explains: It was slightly less than 24 hours before the Christmas concert in 2020 and the leader, Tamas Andras, the co-leader of the Royal Philharmonic, rang up on the Friday night to say that hed had a covid contact and thought he should withdraw.

It wasnt just him  his wife was playing, so suddenly we were two violins down the night before the concert. But because it was covid time, nobody was working, or very few people, and weve got a big network of contacts and within 10 minutes wed found a replacement in David Juritz.

He had to play a concerto and lead the orchestra but he was free  result! It worked out very well on the night.

Adrienne is looking forward to next Saturday.

It should be a nice evening, she says. Its a lovely space for chamber music, its quite a big church and theres a big performance area at the front.

All our musician friends who come and play, without exception, say, What a wonderful acoustic to play in. Theres a bar open beforehand and during the interval.

 Concerts in Cavershams summer concert featuring the Caversham Ensemble is at St Andrews Church, Caversham, on Saturday, June 25 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost 20, 18 or 15, under-16s free. For more information and tickets, visit thelittleboxoffice.com/

concertsincaversham
Students wait to take a job interview at an autumn campus job fair in Beijing Institute of Technology in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 18, 2021.(Xinhua/Ren Chao) HEFEI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Like many peers, Yu Tong, who is to graduate from the Hefei University of Technology in east China's Anhui Province this summer, has experienced a different job-hunting season. After finishing the evaluation, job interview, and contract signing, all online, the 22-year-old majoring in energy and power engineering successfully landed a job with his dream company. "Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, there aren't too many offline recruitment sessions," said Yu. "I saw the recruitment information at the online job fair held by the university. I then submitted my resume and managed to land a job at last." Online recruitment is quite mature in China, allowing students to build contacts with several enterprises and secure suitable jobs without even leaving their dormitories. Yu is one of 10.76 million new graduates from universities and colleges in the country in 2022. The number hit a record high with a year-on-year increase of 1.67 million. With employment pressure from multiple factors, including the epidemic, more new graduates this year face new choices, including online job-hunting and flexible and later employment. Yu started looking for work last September, attending job-training camps, campus recruitment, and job fairs. However, the traditional job-hunting process was disrupted by the COVID resurgence in the first half of this year. "Employers couldn't enter the campus while we couldn't go out over COVID-19 control measures, and all offline recruitment sessions stopped," said Yu. The university then guided graduates to seek jobs online, holding several online recruitment sessions. He said that practice saves a lot of time and effort. "I received six offers through online recruitment." The university offers more targeted and convenient online employment services this year, said Zhong Xiaoyao, an official with the Hefei University of Technology. "We have held 128 online recruitment sessions to help students land jobs," Zhong said. China has rolled out measures, including organizing massive online recruitment, to help new graduates secure jobs as the COVID-19 resurgence and slower economic growth brought about severe employment pressure this year. The rapid development of the sharing and platform economy has nurtured a massive variety of market players and new jobs in the country. As a group with active thinking and strong innovation capacity, some college graduates seek to achieve their value through flexible employment. Approaching graduation, Wu Lin is busy recruiting team members such as cameramen and editors for his newly-established we-media studio. Wu, 22, started to post short videos about his life on social media platforms in his first year. After four years, the radio and television major has already had a million followers and has long planned to continue with his we-media work after graduation. "I'm very interested in a job with a free and independent working environment," Wu said. "Flexible employment is not only about getting work flexibly but also features flexibility in majors and thinking." "The internet sector develops very quickly, and I need to be highly sensitive to changes and emerging industry opportunities," said Wu. Many college graduates, however, choose to enter careers later as this year's employment pressure drives them to be more cautious. They pursue higher degrees, go on study tours, or conduct entrepreneurial investigations to create more employment possibilities in the future. According to a 2022 college graduate employment survey released by the Chinese job site Zhaopin, 50.4 percent of college graduates opt to work for employers, down by six percentage points from last year. The proportion of freelancing and later employment both increased by three percentage points. Many localities across China, including Beijing, Wuhan, and Dalian, are providing government subsidies or free training sessions for those in flexible employment. "Careers require long-term planning and efforts, and there is more than one path to employment," said Xu Hua, a professor at Anhui University. "The young generation actively adjusts their employment ideas according to changes and choose career development paths more rationally, cautiously combining their interests, self-expertise, and career choices," Xu added.
Radisson Hotel Group announces the debut of its second brand in Kuwait with the signing of Park Inn by Radisson Kuwait Hotel & Apartments, bringing Radisson Hotels Group's presence in the region to 75 hotels and over 16,000 keys in operation and under development. The newly built hotel is scheduled to open at the end of 2023 and will consist of 250 rooms and serviced apartments.

Overlooking the Arabian Gulf and located 36 kilometers south of Kuwait City, the hotel is ideal for business travelers with its proximity to the main petrochemical district, and a 30 minutes' drive from Kuwait International Airport.

The debut of the (upper) midscale Park Inn by Radisson hotel brand in the country will enable guests to focus on a work/life balance and find harmony in their travel experience while enjoying the hotel's contemporary design and friendly personalized service. The hotel will consist of 250 modern superior rooms, suites and serviced apartments, many with sea-facing views, making it suitable for both short and long stays.

The hotel will have a lobby cafe, one all-day dining restaurant and one specialty restaurant with a terrace. Meetings and event venues will include a multipurpose hall, a ballroom, and three meeting rooms. The hotel will also offer a fitness center, a beauty salon, and a Spa.

Hotel website
Randy Shimabuku has been appointed General Manager of Four Seasons Resorts Bali, taking leadership of the two iconic resorts at Jimbaran Bay and Sayan at a critical time as Bali reopens to the world.

The appointment marks an exciting new chapter as the Bali resorts unveil a brand new spa, new culinary team and immersive experiences that showcase the island's vibrant culture and diverse landscapes.

Part of the "Three Continents Club" - having worked across North America, Africa and Asia at nine properties in his 34 years-and-counting with Four Seasons - Randy's credentials are impressive. His childhood dream was actually to be a commercial pilot like the cool PanAm captains he saw breezing through Honolulu Airport, and he qualified to fly small planes when he was 19. In reality, it wasn't as much fun as he'd thought it would be; he opened the escape hatch and never looked back.

His journey with Four Seasons has taken him from Toronto to Tokyo, Beverly Hills to Kuala Lumpur, and to more than his share of crises including not one but two revolutions during his eight years as General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence. Most recently, he was the host-extraordinaire as General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, where he oversaw major renovations and led the team to stellar results in guest service and employee satisfaction.

Yet the veteran hotelier approaches his new role in Bali with the same humble nature with which he landed his first job as a pot washer, at 16-years-old.

He takes over from Uday Rao, Bali's longest serving General Manager who has moved Down Under to lead the team at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.

Both foodies who love wine, Randy and his Japanese wife Atsuko are looking forward to exploring traditional markets, the Jimbaran Fish Markets, and the vibrant dining scene of South Bali and Ubud.
Replacing Mr Lim Boon Kwee, who retired from the position in May after almost nine years of service with the company, French national Mr Cretallaz brings to the role more than 30 years of experience leading luxury, renowned, and iconic hotels for the Accor group across Turkey, China, and Southeast Asia.

Alongside driving brand evolution, he has a strong track record for formulating and implementing strategies to increase market share, guide sustainable development, introduce award-winning F&B concepts, and boost guest and customer satisfaction at properties under his care.

During his illustrious career, he has overseen pre-opening, rebranding, and operations for hotels under renowned Accor brands, such as Sofitel, Fairmont, and Raffles. This includes, amongst others, serving as Regional General Manager - Accor North Vietnam, and General Manager for the iconic, award-winning Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. He also conceptualised 'So,' Accor's first playful luxury brand, and established the brand in Thailand as General Manager of the unique Sofitel So Bangkok.

Expanding his scope regionally, internationally, and across brand segments, he was appointed Director of Operations Sofitel Luxury Hotels - Thailand and Singapore, and later promoted to Vice President Operations Upscale and Luxury Segments for Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and the Maldives.

In his most recent role, he was Senior Vice President Operations - Southeast Asia, responsible for leading Accor's Bangkok Office and overseeing the operations of 150 highly-rated and prestigious hotels - including nine distinct brands - across Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

In his new role for Dusit International, Mr Cretallaz will be responsible for overseeing the financial and operational responsibilities of Dusit's hotel business unit, including all Dusit Hotels and Resorts, ASAI Hotels, Elite Havens, White Label properties, and condominiums/residences under Property Management, at both corporate and property levels.

Fluent in French and English, Mr Cretallaz holds an Advanced Certificate in Hotel Management from the Hotel Management School of Lausanne, Switzerland; a BTS Diploma from the Hotel Management School of Toulouse, France; and a Baccalaureat Technologique Diploma from the Hotel Management School of Thonon-Les-Bains, France.

During his time at Accor, Mr Cretallaz was honoured to be nominated for, and receive, numerous awards for his work. Among them: the 'Bernache Imagine' Award - the highest accolade within Accor - and the 'Asian Businessman Award,' from the ASEAN Capitals Business Forum.

View Gilles Cretallaz's LinkedIn Profile

Gilles Cretallaz is a graduate of EHL in Lausanne - Switzerland
Tel Aviv, Israel - Today, Guesty officially announced the appointment of David Aber as Chief Financial Officer, pushing forth the Travel and Hospitality tech companys continued global expansion as it enters its next phase of growth into new markets, verticals and business offerings as the PropTech industry continues to evolve and converge. Mr. Aber arrives at Guesty from his previous role as CFO of Seeking Alpha, the worlds largest investing community, and formerly served as CFO for top Israeli tech companies, including Taboola, Powermat, Finjan, and DSP Communications.

David is considered one of the leading CFOs in the Israeli tech scene and we are delighted to have him join the team said Guestys Co-Founder & CEO, Amiad Soto. With over 30 years of experience in the technology and communication industries at high-growth and publicly traded companies, Davids track record of success managing complex organizations and business models across various sectors make him a perfect fit for Guesty as we enter our next phase of growth.

Initially established in 2013, Guesty has grown to be the leading property management platform powering the short-term, vacation rental and hospitality industry, with the largest R&D team in the industry. Since the pandemic began in 2020, the company has nearly doubled its size, scaling to over 500 employees across 13 global offices as its technology continues empowering the next generation of travel and hospitality industry professionals.

Im excited to help Guesty continue its exponential growth, development and expansion into parallel verticals, says David Aber, Guestys new CFO. As the lines between traditional hospitality and short- term rentals continue to blur, Guestys software and platform offer best-in-class management tools for everyone from casual hosts, to professional property managers, independent boutique hotels and enterprise clients. Its an exciting time and I look forward to working with this world-class team to further accelerate Guestys growth and potential.

Alternative accommodation went mainstream during the Covid-19 pandemic, becoming the preferred accommodation choice of travelers for the safety, space, comfort, variety and convenience they provide. The rise of remote and hybrid-work models have made short-term hospitality brands relevant for digital nomads, business travelers, families and other personas seeking flexibility and new types of experiences that combine business and leisure.

Guestys Open API technology allows third-party integrations with more than 130 partners on the Guesty Marketplace, covering everything from dynamic pricing tools, to payment processing, contactless check-in technology, digital concierge services and customer upsells. The company launched vertical expansions into Damage Protection by Guesty and Accounting by Guesty, and relaunched Your Porter App as Guesty For Hosts, a mobile-first platform serving self-starters, smaller property managers and owners operating 1-3 rentals.

About Guesty

Guesty is the world's leading property management platform for the short-term, vacation rental and hospitality industry. Serving everyone from rom hosts to hotel brands, customers utilize Guesty's platform to centralize their reservations, guest communication, operational tasks, cleaning management and more across all the major booking OTA channels, including Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Tripadvisor, Expedia, Agoda, direct booking websites and more. With Guesty, hospitality operators save time and resources so they can focus on maximizing occupancy, ensuring a great guest experience and growing their business.

Daniel Morgan

Director of Branding & Communications
The Student Hotel (TSH), APG, Aermont Capital, Charlie MacGregor and GIC have reached an agreement as part of which GIC and APG will acquire a substantial stake in TSH and commit to invest to fuel further expansion for the hybrid hospitality leader, subject to customary regulatory approvals. The transaction values The Student Hotel, including assets currently under development, at 2.1 billion.

The deal sees APG and founder Charlie MacGregor increase their current stake in TSH. APG first invested in TSH in 2015. MacGregor and Aermont Capital entered into business in 2014 after MacGregor opened the first The Student Hotel in 2012. GIC now joins as a new investor.

TSHs distinctive hybrid hospitality model, combining student accommodation, hotel rooms, co-working and meeting spaces, bars and restaurants, has proven highly successful. During the pandemic the hybrid model proved resilient as TSH was able to substantially increase room allocation towards students when leisure and corporate travel dramatically reduced, thereby achieving strong occupancy rates and remaining cash-positive. With the hotel and travel market rebounding strongly, TSH is set to benefit from a strong summer while its student bookings for the 22/23 academic year already stand at record levels.

With APG and GICs commitments, TSH is able to accelerate its growth strategy to expand into key European cities and grow its presence to 50 hotels from 25 hotels under ownership today, of which 15 are currently operational and 3 are opening in 2022, in Madrid, Barcelona and Toulouse.

TSH is well-positioned towards Millennial and Gen-Z audiences, with its focus on community building through its well-designed, mixed-use facilities and blended spaces, offering co-working and meeting spaces that also attract local start-ups, corporates and neighbourhood communities. The connection with the local communities is especially important as TSH collaborates with local municipalities to revitalise these areas by improving the quality of hospitality services so as to attract talent to cities.

To better address guest needs and increase flexibility across its offering, TSH is investing in technology to implement the first space/time booking platform across its hotels, meaning that guests will be able to book any space in TSH buildings for a defined period of time  from meeting rooms and co-working desks to gym and pool access and ping pong tables.

Charlie Macgregor, Founder & CEO of The Student Hotel, said: We are very excited to welcome GIC on board, and together with APG, we look forward to bringing The Student Hotel experience to more cities across Europe. We have bold plans and the additional committed capital will allow us to be even more ambitious. Im very grateful for Aermont being alongside us since 2014, for what has been an amazing journey to where we are today. With our hybrid hospitality model, we have become a game-changer for the hospitality industry and have a major growth platform to welcome more guests to our hotels.

Lee Kok Sun, Chief Investment Officer of Real Estate, GIC, said: We are pleased to invest in The Student Hotel as its assets are well-located, enjoy good connectivity to city centres and transportation networks, and are in close proximity to universities and other amenities. We are confident that this investment will generate resilient long-term returns.

Tracy Stroh, Region Head of Europe, Real Estate, GIC, said, The Student Hotels hybrid hospitality model is unique. Anchored by purpose-built student accommodation that appeals to the student demographic, yet still catering to both business and leisure uses, this flexibility enables TSH to capture opportunities as demand patterns fluctuate throughout the year. We look forward to partnering with TSH and APG to generate more value-add over the long term.

Robert-Jan Foortse, Head of European Property Investments, APG, said: We are excited about the opportunity to increase our exposure to TSH, and to support the further growth of the platform. We want to thank Aermont for all of its efforts over the past years, and for being a great partner. Together with GIC, Charlie McGregor and the rest of the TSH team we are looking forward to further expand TSHs unique hybrid and exciting concept across Europe. We are convinced that TSH will provide an attractive long term, stable investment return for our pension fund client ABP, and its participants.

Vincent Rouget, Partner at Aermont Capital, said: Since 2014, we have been the proud partners of Charlie MacGregor, The Student Hotel and its management team, and APG. This great journey which started with one promising project in Amsterdam turned into an unrivalled portfolio of 25 prime assets and projects across 8 countries in Europe. The Student Hotel investment underscores well Aermont Capitals expertise and experience at supporting operational real estate platforms to fulfil their potential through real estate led strategies. Charlies vision of building a truly hybrid hospitality operating model has positioned The Student Hotel at the forefront of both hospitality and real estate trends, and TSHs future is bright under its new shareholders stewardship.

The transaction is subject to approval from the relevant regulatory authorities.

About The Student Hotel

The Student Hotel concept started with one simple observation: that students deserve better. Today, that vision has become reality and grown to encompass all guests with a "student spirit". From design-savvy travellers to next-gen entrepreneurs, TSH welcomes thousands of guests annually to its expanding portfolio of urban campus-style properties across Europe. Purpose-built or housed in historic converted buildings, TSH's industry-leading concept provides blended spaces to learn, stay, work and play for a night, a week, a month or a year. TSH guests, businesses and local communities embrace its positive impact-driven programming and inclusive culture.

First opened in 2012, TSH is headquartered in Amsterdam and employs 650 people. All TSH properties offer a mixed-use campus with accommodation, bars, restaurants, gyms, retail shops, meeting and event spaces and high-profile, co-working space. With over 10,000 rooms in Europe open and under development, TSH aims to offer a unique experience to its community of international guests. As of today, TSH is operating in 15 European locations: two hotels in Amsterdam and in Barcelona and one in Berlin, The Hague, Delft, Vienna, Groningen, Eindhoven, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Paris, Florence and Bologna. www.thestudenthotel.com
As we marked World Refugee Day, Airbnb.org is proud to work with Hosts on Airbnb and nonprofit organizations to provide temporary housing to refugees and asylum seekers around the world.

This work supporting refugees and asylum seekers began in 2017 when Airbnb committed $4 million to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to support the housing needs of people impacted by the US executive order that halted refugee admissions and temporarily barred entry to people from seven Muslim-majority countries. Since then, the work to support refugees and asylum seekers has grown and continues today under Airbnb.org.

More than 100,000 refugees and asylum seekers housed

To date, Airbnb and Airbnb.org have connected more than 107,000 refugees and asylum seekers to free temporary housing. In response to recent crises, Airbnb.org has provided free stays to more than 26,000 Afghan refugees since August 2021. In addition, in just four months, Airbnb.org has connected more than 50,000 people fleeing Ukraine to temporary accommodations half of the 100,000 goal announced in late February.

Airbnb.org is grateful to the thousands of Hosts and donors around the world who have helped make this work possible. Many of these refugees and asylum seekers have been welcomed by Hosts on Airbnb, including more than 48,0001 across 160 countries who have signed up to welcome guests at no cost or at a discount through Airbnb.org.

A growing global network of partners

In addition to Hosts, none of this would be possible without the collaboration and hard work of Airbnb.orgs partners. These organizations identify people in need, book and coordinate stays, provide day-to-day support, and help connect newcomers with needs like food, supplies, legal services and healthcare. Close coordination with nonprofit organizations, governments and other entities make Airbnb.orgs work possible  including long standing partnerships with IRC, HIAS, and Church World Service, and the more than forty organizations supporting Airbnb.orgs response to the conflict in Ukraine.

Organizations like International Organization for Migration (IOM), Nova Ukraine and Save the Children Sweden continue to connect people fleeing from Ukraine to free, short-term housing across Europe. Most recently, Catholic Relief Services, Each One Teach One, and Lets do it! Italy joined the group of dedicated organizations working with Airbnb.org to offer stays to people in more than 80 countries.

Airbnb.org is also expanding its network of partners to organizations in North America working to resettle newcomers from Ukraine. In Canada, Airbnb.org has partnered with JIAS Toronto, Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS), and the Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society to offer stays to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. As part of its coordination with the US government to serve individuals arriving in the states, Airbnb.org is working with leaders in the Ukrainian diaspora and with Community Sponsorship Hub  an organization that works to offer practical support to sponsors of newcomers, connecting them with resources and guidance. Airbnb and Airbnb.org are also supporting Welcome.US, the national initiative to help people fleeing Afghanistan and Ukraine through our membership of the Welcome.US CEO Council and as co-leads of the Initial resettlement action team.

Airbnb.org is also grateful to the companies and organizations that have stepped up to support its efforts related to Ukraine, including the Utah Jazzs funding of 32,200 nights of temporary housing, Levi Strauss & Co. which mobilized employees across Europe to share their space with refugees, and Upworks $100,000 grant to connect Airbnb.org with freelance talent.

Mariias story

Airbnb.org partner IOM recently shared the story of Mariia who was forced to flee Ukraine shortly after the start of the war. Mariia and her husband enjoyed their life in a quiet village on the outskirts of Cherkassy, but all that changed after the invasion of Ukraine. At first, they offered their home as a safe haven to families fleeing conflict in other parts of the country, and at one point had 17 guests and five pets living in their house.

As the conflict got closer to their village, Mariia made the difficult decision to leave the country. Pregnant and afraid, Mariia and her husbands family fled to the Moldovan border where she had to say goodbye to her husband who stayed behind to fight in the war. Her journey eventually led Mariia to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, where IOM helped connect her to a free, temporary two bedroom apartment through Airbnb.org.

Airbnb Host Martins apartment was perfect for Mariia  it accommodated her pet cat and was centrally located for her doctors appointments.

Today, Mariia is full of gratitude. We are so grateful to this country and all the countries that support Ukrainians  some with donations, some with food, some simply take in people. Everyone is really trying to sympathize with our situation.

Airbnbs continued support of Airbnb.org

From the start, Airbnb.org has leveraged Airbnbs technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out its mission to help people in times of need. To ensure Airbnb.org continues to benefit from Airbnbs full range of resources including the team of engineers, designers, product managers and more who help power its day to day work we are proud to share that Catherine Powell, Airbnbs Head of Hosting, will begin serving as the executive sponsor of Airbnb.org. In this role, Catherine Powell will lead the Airbnb.org teams collaboration with the rest of the company to ensure Airbnb.org has the resources it needs to scale its impact in support of people in need of emergency stays. Airbnb.org will continue to be governed by its Board of Directors which has oversight and responsibility for the organizations work and priorities.

What the Airbnb.org team has accomplished over the past year in coordination with its partners and Hosts on Airbnb is truly awe inspiring. I am honored to work with Airbnb.org to help the team continue using the full resources Airbnb has to offer to support its work on behalf of people in times of crisis around the world, said Catherine Powell.

1. As of May 31, 2022.

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals across over 220 countries and regions. Travel on Airbnb keeps more of the financial benefits of tourism with the people and places that make it happen. Airbnb has generated billions of dollars in earnings for Hosts, most of whom are individuals listing the homes in which they live. Among Hosts who report their gender, more than half are women, and one in five employed Hosts are either teachers or healthcare workers. Travel on Airbnb also has generated more than $4 billion in tax revenue around the world. Airbnb has helped advance more than 1,000 regulatory frameworks for short-term rentals, including in 80% of our top 200 geographies. In late 2020, to support our continued expansion and diversification, we launched the City Portal to provide governments with a one-stop shop that supports data sharing and compliance with local registration rules. We continue to invest in innovations and tools to support our ongoing work with governments around the world to advance travel that best serves communities.

About Airbnb.org

Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc."s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org"s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows Hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform.

Airbnb Press

Airbnb Press Office

Airbnb
London - Crave Interactive, a leading global hospitality technology company, has signed agreements with RCD hotels to provide in-room tablets to over 3,300 rooms in their hotel portfolio.

RCD Hotels will install Craves award-winning in-room tablets at four hotels: Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos, Nobu Hotel Los Cabos and UNICO 2087 Hotel Riviera Maya in Mexico; Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in Dominican Republic. Crave will be installing their latest range of tablets. The new bespoke design of the T3 uses the latest tablet technology with the added benefit of easily replaceable batteries to reduce the overall cost of ownership and extend their life.

Crave in-room tablets provide guests with easy access to in-room dining ordering, hotel information, digital compendium, spa booking, etc. The technology improves staff effectiveness, eliminates printing paper in rooms, and promotes hotel services with an advanced guest messaging platform.

Tim Butterworth, Chief Commercial Officer at Crave, said: Were delighted to add RCD hotels to our growing list of hotel clients. Our in-room tablets provide a seamless service to guests, improve communication and deliver an excellent return on investment. As the world recovers, we are experiencing significant demand for our digital guest platform in resorts. Hotels want new ways to delight their guests and improve staff efficiency.

About Crave Interactive

Crave Interactive is a leading developer of digital service solutions for the global hospitality industry. Its cloud-based platform delivers over 800 million guest interactions per year.

Crave has helped millions of hotel guests self-order food and other services from their rooms via in-room tablets and mobile phones and are experts in self-ordering and guest communication solutions.

Solutions include Crave Mobile, with QR-codes for instant guest service via mobile, and Crave in-room tablets, designed specifically for hotels.

Crave is headquartered in the UK with offices worldwide and is part of the True Corporation plc (Thailand) group of companies.

Contact: [email protected]

Web: www.craveinteractive.com

Press enquiries

Marketing Manager, Crave Interactive Ltd

+44(0)330 403 0144

[email protected]

Francesca Stepney

Marketing Manager

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In just over a week, the hospitality industry will descend upon Orlando, Florida, to partake in what has become  unequivocally  our industrys biggest annual event: The Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC). A large-scale meeting of the minds and unparalleled networking opportunity, HITEC brings together the brightest minds and hottest technologies from across the globe in one place. The conference's goal is simple but impactful  provide hospitality leaders with a chance to not only celebrate the continued progress of our industry but to exchange ideas, network with like-minded professionals, embrace technological innovation, utilize world-class resources, and benefit from essential education and panels of industry experts.

This year also happens to be the 50th anniversary of HITEC and represents a critical moment for the industry. After two years of unprecedented challenges brought on by the pandemic, we have finally traversed into the post-pandemic landscape. Collectively, we find ourselves in a period of long-awaited recovery and rejuvenation. Our industrys post-pandemic success will be largely informed by the digital innovation showcased in Orlando from July 27th to 30th. While our anticipation for the annual event grows with each passing day, here are five things you dont want to miss while attending HITEC 2022.

1. Opening Party & Fundraiser

In true Orlando fashion, the Opening Party for HITEC 2022 promises to make a splash among attendees. Presented by VENZA and CyberTek, the party will be at SeaWorld Orlando on June 27, 2022, from 6:00  11:00 p.m., with ticket proceeds directed towards hospitality scholarships.

The highly anticipated party will grant attendees access to park attractions, a private Dolphin Adventures Show, the Electric Ocean: Ignite fireworks and light show, and one-hour exclusive ride time at the end of the evening. Other sponsors of the opening party include Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), the producers of HITEC, TraknProtect, and Stayflexi.

2. Your Chance to Be Featured on the Modern Hoteliers Podcast (Live!)

The Modern Hotelier podcast, presented by Stayflexi, is a highly regarded industry podcast hosted by Stayflexis own Steve Carran and industry veteran David Millili. Each episode sees Carran and Millili discussing current industry trends and new technologies. During HITEC, The Modern Hotelier podcast will be doing live interviews with attendees and a few special guests. You can listen to the podcast on your favorite app  Dont miss this opportunity to be highlighted on a popular industry platform alongside industry peers and leaders! Come by booth #228 to sign up.

3. Ride the Epic Party Bus

HITEC is not all work and no play. To enhance the experience of attendees, the Stayflexi, Party Bus (sponsored by VENZA + CyberTek, SHR, Laasie, and The Modern Hotelier) will ensure everyone can ride in style while in Orlando. The bus will run from 6 PM to 12 AM, stopping at hotels and attractions.

4:30 PM to 7:00 PM - Allbridge HITEC Reception - Cuba Libre, 9101 International Drive, Orlando - Click here to register.

5:00 PM to 8:00 PM - Cloud5 Happy Hour - Hyatt Regency Orlando, Orchid Room - register here

Hyatt Regency Orlando, Orchid Room - register here 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Sonifi - Harrys Poolside Bar & Grill - 9840 International Dr, Orlando - Register here

5:30 PM to 8:00 PM - WAV & Ruckus HITEC Happy Hour - Mangos Tropical Cafe - Register here

7:00 PM to 10:00 PM - World Cinema - Howl at the Moon - 8815 International Dr, Orlando,

8:00 pm to 1:00 AM - Safety NetAccess Party  Mangos w/ The SPAZMATICS!! 8126 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819, United States - Register here

4. Meet the New Leaders in Innovation

Stayflexi: In the spirit of innovation, HITEC attendees can visit Stayflexi, at booth #228 to experience several exciting new features, including a flexible booking model for hotels that leverages time-based stays, early check-ins, late check-outs, and optimal inventory sales to drive additional revenues on unsold rooms and boost hotel occupancies by 30%. Stayflexi will also be launching Magic Link: a revolutionary innovation by Stayflexi to bridge the gap between guest and host by connecting guests to their hotel in real-time. The Magic Link takes care of self-check-ins, room upgrades, upsells, payments, and any guest service requests. It also loads on any mobile device without any app and can be made accessible throughout the entire booking life cycle.

The best part? As part of a HITEC-only promotion, Stayflexi will be offering $1000 worth of Stayflexi credits and a $500 Amazon gift card for any new clients that sign up for the platform during the show.

Here are some other innovators to make sure you visit at the event:

VENZA: Booth #1513. VENZA offers 360-degree visibility for proactive management of risks  so users can focus on guest service and building trust in their brand.

Whistle: Booth #1707. Whistle is the revolutionary hospitality software that brings modern, faster, contactless communication to hotels.

Sabre Hospitality: Booth #1807. Sabre Hospitality powers the worlds hoteliers with a flexible, reliable, revenue-generating ecosystem.

Shift4: Booth #1335. As the leader in commerce-enabling technology, Shift4 powers billions of transactions annually for hundreds of thousands of businesses in virtually every industry.

SHR (Sceptre Hospitality Resources): Booth # 1717. With an evolving suite of AI-driven solutions, SHR enables hotels around the world with applications ranging from distribution to revenue management to guest management.

Lassie: Independent hotels will also be interested in learning more about Laasie, a next-gen loyalty platform. Over 1200 hotels are now leveraging Laasies marketplace network of 1,000+ instant gratification partners to provide instant rewards to turn more lookers into bookers. You can see the Laasie platform in action at the Stayflexi booth #228.

5. Opening Headliner Session: Leading With Spark

To kick off HITEC 2022 on July 27th, Simon T. Bailey will take the stage from 3:30 to 5:00 PM for the Opening Headliner Session to discuss his topic Leading with SPARK. Described as a breakthrough strategist, motivational change agent, and author, Bailey comes to HITEC with more than 30 years of industry experience, including serving as sales director for Disney Institute, and has worked with more than 1,800 organizations in 50 countries. With a unique understanding of the pressure that hospitality leaders face in the midst of uncertainty  especially within the post-pandemic landscape  Bailey is the perfect expert to guide our industrys high performers towards success with easy-to-implement strategies proven to accelerate results.

Are you heading to HITEC? We cant wait to see you there. If you cant make it, follow us on LinkedIn to get all the updates in real-time!

About Stayflexi

Trusted by over 1300+ leading independent hotels, luxury resorts, multi-property groups worldwide, Stayflexi is the industry's first fully automated all-in-one hotel management and automation platform.

Reshaping a legacy hospitality technology landscape, the modern, cloud-based solution provides integrated PMS, Guest Upsells, Channel Manager, Booking Engine, and Revenue Management tools under single sign-on. Packed with powerful features to streamline and automate operations while increasing staff productivity and guest satisfaction, Stayflexi can help hotels maximize profitability. Self-service options like self check-in/check-out, touchless POS, auto room allocations, and auto inventory management can reduce operational costs by 50%, while the upsell engine can increase bookings by 30% while enhancing the guest experience.

The company was founded by computer science majors from Carnegie Mellon and Cornell to address their own problems as hosts as well as travelers and currently serves over 23,000 rooms in 100 cities across 13 countries.

Steve Carran

Sales Director

+1 844 234 2363

Stayflexi
LifeTagger is a multi-dimensional, proximity platform, capable of transforming organizations by meeting customers, guests, tenants, and employees WHERE THEY ARE and at the TIME OF YOUR CHOOSING.
Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Houston-based oil giants Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips are partnering with Qatars state owned oil and gas company on a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) expansion project off the north east coast of Qatar, according to QatarEnergy.

The project is considered one of the largest in the history of the LNG industry, according to QatarEnergy. The state owned company says the $28.75 billion project will expand Qatars LNG export capacity more than 40 percent, from 77 million tons per annum up to 110.
Two of Venture Globals planned liquefied natural gas facilities in Louisiana will provide LNG to Germany in what is the first agreement reached by a German energy company for American LNG, the Virginia-based company said Monday.

The companies signed two 20-year agreements for 1.5 million metric tons per year  .75 million metric tons per year from Plaquemines and .75 million metric tons from CP2. Plaquemines, a $13.2 billion facility under construction outside New Orleans, is expected to come online in 2024. At the same time, Venture Global is making headway on CP2, another 20 million metric tons per year facility that it aims to start building next year.

The two facilities are among several competing for attention from European buyers, which had been hesitant to commit to long-term contracts for fossil fuels but are now more interested as its supply chain from Russia slides.

RELATED: LNG companies are in a race to the Gulf Coast, where industry sees opportunity during Ukraine war

This is the first direct binding offtake agreement for long-term US LNG signed by a German company, said Venture Globals CEO Mike Sabel, an important step that manifests Germanys strategy to diversify its energy mix.

The deal between Venture Global and EnBW follows news last week that gas exports from Russia to Europe will be slashed by 167 million cubic meters per day  roughly 8 percent of Europes gas supply. German leaders said Sunday the country will limit natural gas usage to ward off shortages and will fire up coal plants to help generate electricity.

An explosion earlier this month at Freeport LNG, which had become a major exporter to Europe amid the war in Ukraine, also helped drive European demand for LNG. The company said last week it hopes to resume some of its operations in about three months, but fixes to the area nearest the blast as well as a complete reopening will likely take until late 2022.

Venture Global's contracts with EnbW are scheduled to start in 2026. EnBW joins several other European companies to sign with Venture Global, including BP, Shell, Repsol (of Spain) PGNiG (of Poland), Edison (Italy) and GALP (Portugal).

Liquefied natural gas plays a key role in the diversification of our fuels for electricity and heat generation, said Georg Stamatelopoulos, EnBWs chief operating officer. It opens up the possibility of new sources to secure Germanys gas supply in the current energy transition phase and builds a bridge to a green energy supply.

amanda.drane@chron.com
Oil and gas jobs in Houston fell for the first time in four months despite oil prices well above $100 a barrel.

The region shed 1,600 jobs in exploration and production and oil field services in May after three consecutive months of gains, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, a trade group. The region still has 7,500 more oil and gas jobs than a year ago.

Statewide, the industry cut about 1,400 jobs, not adjusted for seasonal variations.

The reason for Mays decline is unclear, said the trade groups president Ed Longanecker. It could just be a one month aberration, a statistical anomaly that might be revised later, or a symptom of the labor shortage making it difficult for oil companies to find workers.

Still, Longanecker said, his group expects oil and gas jobs to resume their upward trend. We project continued employment growth for this sector in the coming months.

Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, known as TIPRO, represents oil and gas producers as well as royalty owners.

RELATED: Gulf of Mexico natural gas production set to decline next year, oil to remain flat

Employment in the oil and gas sector is still recovering after sustaining deep losses during the pandemic, which all but shut down the global economy and cratered energy demand. Economists say its unlikely the industry will ever recover all the jobs lost in the pandemic, in large part because of advancing technology and automation that allows companies to produce more oil with fewer workers.

In Houston, for example, overall employment has surpassed its pre-pandemic peak. But the region still has 12,000 fewer oil and gas jobs than it had in February 2020, according to the Labor Department.

Oil prices were rising quickly in last year as the global economy rebounded from the pandemic, energy demand surged, and production failed to keep pace. Then, the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent oil prices soaring as markets prepared for restrictions on oil from Russia, one of the three top global producers along with the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Oil settled Friday at $109.56 a barrel in New York.

U.S. producers have moved cautiously in boosting production, opting to return profits to shareholders rather than reinvesting them in new drilling projects. Oil companies also cite labor and equipment shortages, as well as supply chain disruptions.

While prices are up more that 60 percent from a year ago, oil production has risen 7 percent, or about 800,000 barrels a day to 12 million barrels a day, according to the Energy Department. The Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico is on track to produce about half of U.S. output this year, or about 5.6 million barrels per day this year, according to Rystad.

Eventually, high oil prices are expected to help add about 108,000 U.S. oil and gas jobs this year, according to Norwegian-research firm Rystad Energy.

The prediction, Rystad said, assumes that the average price of West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, will remain above $100 per barrel through 2022. The Energy Department predicts oil will trade in the high $90s in 2023.
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Josh DeLeon makes about 400 pints of ice cream a week. His customer base is 4,000.

So when I asked him if Underground Creamery was ready to open its own store, he didnt see any reason for it: When you sell out in 20 seconds every time, why do something else?

Word of mouth

DeLeon's mom was a teacher in the Philippines. When she got a job offer from Houston ISD in 2000, she took a then 10-year-old DeLeon and the entire family over to the U.S.

"A lot of our family and friends here right now are also teachers," he said. "They're in the same batch."

DeLeon later went to the University of Houston where he got a mechanical engineering degree, and a stint in competitive weightlifting. He started his Instagram Eats Gone Wild soon after finding his vice while powerlifting: Junk food. Eventually those cravings turned toward ice cream, and he began reviewing different varieties online.

"Theres a point where you have hundreds of pints, you kind of just want to make it yourself, he said. I kind of made my own dream flavors and shared it on Eats Gone Wild.

At first, DeLeon made his ice cream at his apartment and would sell it to friends and family. Word got around, however, and friends and family became Insta groupies and ice cream enthusiasts.

Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Underground Creamery owner Josh De Leon, 31, shows the miso caramel he made for the Miso Banana Brownie Caramel ice cream Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Houston.

I had a Google doc where I would post my inventory of what I made. It would be blank throughout the week but I would update it. Once I updated it, people would hit me up on Instagram and whoever would message me first would get it.

Texas Cottage Law is pretty clear about what kinds of foods you can make and sell  and ice cream is not on the list. But DeLeon had to start somewhere, so everything was kept on the down low for a while.

He didnt realize how big his ice cream venture had gotten until he did a pop-up in Sugar Land.

When youre in your Insta bubble, you dont know how many people want to try your stuff," he said. "There was a line wrapped around the building.

Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

But the second pop-up was when the health department came knocking.

Anyone can file a complaint to the health department. I guess I pissed someone off when they did.

Soon after, DeLeon incorporated and formed Underground Creamery. Now needing a place to properly make ice cream, he scored a shared kitchen space with Tatemo at the former Black Labrador off Montrose Boulevard.

Ice cream for some  not all

Underground has now teamed with Pudgys Fine Cookies on a shared space in the Heights. Customers who are quick enough to preorder a pint when DeLeon posts on social media can pick it up from a drive-thru window.

DeLeon says his junk food vice in college has translated into ice creams that are pretty relatable to his customers. One of his popular pints was a peanut butter ice cream with chocolate-covered potato chips and marshmallow fluff. He even reinvented a Little Debbie cream pie flavor.

Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Underground Creamery owner Josh De Leon, 31, packages Miso Banana Brownie Caramel ice cream Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Houston.

DeLeon quit his job as a Southwest Airlines ramp agent in October, so Underground Creamery is his full-time gig. While he is looking forward to the companys future, hes also hesitant about the quality dropping if production increases.

The e-commerce model is sticking so why have another revenue stream while Im still selling out, DeLeon said. Owning an ice cream shop takes a lot of overhead. Until I figure out how to get more quality ice cream to people, its gonna be the way it is.

"Theres a notion that ice cream has to be for everyone. But with any other food that has real quality, it doesnt have to be for the masses either.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)  Twenty airports in South Carolina will received a share of nearly $19 million in federal grants to help pay for terminal upgrades, runway repairs and other improvement projects.

More than two-thirds of the money will go to the state's four largest airports, The Post and Courier reported.

Charleston International Airport, traditionally South Carolina's busiest airport, is getting $2.5 million to improve taxiway lighting and and its terminal building.

The money for terminal upgrades will help pay for design work on proposed changes as the airport studies expanding its ticket counter and adding a third wing with more gates, said Charleston airport spokesman Spencer Pryor.

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport will get $4.5 million for apron and taxiway rehabilitation and pavement sealing. Another $3.3 million will go to Columbia Metropolitan Airport for apron reconstruction. And Myrtle Beach International will get $2.2 million to remove a taxiway and rebuild it.

The remaining $6.3 million will get split between smaller county and regional airfields in South Carolina.

The South Carolina grants are among $518 million total the Federal Aviation Administration is awarding to airports across the U.S. for repairs, maintenance, improvements and new equipment.

The grants are the second round this year funding through the agency's Airport Improvement Program. The FAA so far has awarded $1.1 billion in total grants through the program  roughly one-third of the $3.2 billion in funding available this budget year.

In communities of all sizes, airports are vital to local economies, sustaining jobs and getting people and goods where they need to go, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. Were pleased to announce this important funding to help improve airports around the country and better serve all Americans.
A child died Monday in northeast Harris County after several hours inside a vehicle, officials said.

Deputies from the Harris County Precinct 3 Constable's Office were dispatched to the 13700 block of Blair Hill Lane where they found the child who had died after being left inside a vehicle, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Pct 3 units were dispatched to the 13700 blk of Blair Hill Ln. Upon arrival units determined a child (possibly 5 yrs) was left inside a vehicle for several hours. The child was pronounced deceased at the scene. HCSO Investigators are enroute to the scene. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/MNbhPHIHSU  Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) June 20, 2022

LATEST CRIME: HBU basketball player Darius Lee killed in Harlem, among 9 people shot in incident

The child was possibly 5 years old, according to Gonzalez. Investigators were en route to the scene.

Temperatures climbed to 100 degrees on Monday in Houston.

No more information was immediately available.

In May, a 10-month-old child died after being left in a hot vehicle outside a southwest Houston home. Galveston County officials determined the child died of hypothermia.
OnScene.Tv

A man was shot and killed Monday night outside of a southwest Houston gas station, according to police.

Officers responded to reports of a shooting around 8:30 p.m. at the Shell gas station on the 6200 block of West Airport Boulevard near Bob White Drive and found a man with multiple gunshot wounds, police said. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
For the first time in a decade, the city is asking property owners to voluntarily cut back on water usage as low rainfall and blistering temperatures push Houston closer to drought conditions.

The solstice arrived Tuesday with temperatures up to 9 degrees hotter than average, triggering phase one of Houstons drought contingency plan, adopted to stave off water shortages in times of dangerous heat and low precipitation.

Under the plan, residents are asked to voluntarily reduce water usage by watering plants after sunset, repairing dripping faucets and ensuring sprinkler heads do not spray directly into storm drains or streets. The requested moves could become mandatory if drought conditions worsen.

City officials hope the optional measures will cut water use citywide by 5 percent.

DANGEROUS TEMPERATURES: Summer officially arrives in Houston with threat of NWS heat advisory

It marked the first time the city has entered any version of its drought contingency plan since 2011.

The conservation efforts come as a spate of searing temperatures threaten to prompt a National Weather Service heat advisory amid record-breaking temperatures. Thermometers in Galveston hit 97 degrees on Sunday, the hottest on record since 1875. Inland, Houston, Conroe, Spring and Sugar Land were all forecast to see afternoon temperatures of up to 107 degrees throughout the week.

Weve been very, very dry, NWS meteorologist Jeffry Evans said Tuesday.

This month is on track to become the warmest June on record, Evans said, surpassing the regions last big drought year in 2011.

Just a tenth of an inch of rain has fallen so far this month; average June rainfall is above 4 inches. Six months into 2022, the Houston region has received less than half of its annual expected rainfall.

HURRICANE WATCH: How Houston meteorologists are preparing for storm season

Not much rain is on the horizon for the coming weeks beyond a few hit-or-miss showers, Evans cautioned.

City officials issued the following voluntary water conservation guidelines, expected to continue until the threat of drought lifts:

Limit outdoor watering to twice a week after sunset and before sunrise

Single-family homes with even-numbered street addresses are asked to water on Sundays and Thursdays; those with odd-numbered street addresses are asked to water on Saturdays and Wednesdays, with Tuesdays and Fridays reserved for apartments and businesses

Check and repair water leaks from dripping faucets and running toilets

Fix sprinkler heads to ensure sure water is not disappearing directly into the street, storm drains or gutters

nora.mishanec@chron.com
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Community activists and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee separately denounced the slated demolition of nearly 400 housing units near Minute Maid Park for the Texas Department of Transportations expansion of Interstate 45.

Standing outside the Lofts at the Ballpark  which have already been fenced off as crews prepare to tear down the three-building complex  Tuesday morning, Jackson Lee called the plans to move forward with the demolition, despite a federally mandated pause on the highway expansion, pretty tragic.

Later, the Houston Democrat met with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in Washington D.C., to discuss the legality of TxDOTs move. Jackson Lee noted that the plan to demolish 375 units is more than double the 165 units that were slated to be demolished under the environmental impact statement submitted by TxDOT.

Jackson Lee bemoaned the demolition as an example of the opacity that vulnerable communities have had to deal with in regards to the project.

There is sizable evidence that the communities (that) are Hispanic and African American ... have suffered at the hands of a design that did not present any input of these communities, Jackson Lee said.

The FHWA told Jackson Lee Tuesday afternoon it was still investigating the civil rights complaints and would take the new developments into account, she said.

In a statement, a FHWA spokesman said: As has been represented to FHWA, the Lofts at the Ballpark is a privately-owned housing complex, acquired by TxDOT using state funds, in the vicinity of Segment 3 of the planned project. TxDOT began acquisition of the property in 2018, many months before FHWA asked TxDOT to pause new right-of-way acquisition for the NHHIP while the Title VI complaint is under investigation

On Saturday, activists with Stop TxDOT I-45 gathered to photograph community members at the demolition site, and engaged with Astros fans leaving Minute Maid Park about the harmful local impact they say the expansion will have. About 25 passersby took pictures with signs reading Housing Not Highways and other slogans, said organizer Molly Cook.

The group returned to the Lofts at the Ballpark Tuesday night for a protest and march through the expansion projects footprint east of downtown, and then planned to gather for a social hour at 8th Wonder Brewery.

Houston cannot afford to lose 375 transit-connected ... housing units while housing costs and evictions soar, the group said in a statement. The group noted that only one of the complexs three buildings is within the projects footprint.

Demolition at this time is premature and wasteful, and TxDOTs undercount is a lie, the group said.

TxDOTs $9-billion plan for the freeway would rebuild and widen I-45 from downtown Houston north to Beltway 8, and reroute I-45 to follow the current path of Interstate 10 and Interstate 69 near downtown.

The transportation authority purchased the Lofts at the Ballpark before the FHWA paused the project to review allegations that the plan violated residents civil rights. Activists say officials are pushing forward with the demolition in bad faith and argue that even though it may not subject to the pause, the planned demolition nonetheless demonstrates TxDOTs disregard for community concerns.

Advocates pointed out that plans for the I-45 expansion are currently under investigation because of their potential to disproportionately harm Black and brown residents, and that demolition is unnecessary at this time since the project is in flux.

State officials say theres a danger for the community if the crews dont move forward. In a statement released Monday, TxDOT said that delaying demolition presents significant public health and safety concerns and would require resources to keep the buildings secured.

Vacant buildings such as these have attracted illicit and illegal activity which would be burdensome to the city, local communities, businesses in the vicinity and potentially exposes TxDOT to an array of liabilities, the transportation authority said.

At her press conference Tuesday, Jackson Lee argued that TxDOT was simply using public safety as an excuse to move forward with its plans.

That is what you would say for a dilapidated building. The building is without residents, that is absolutely true, but that is a response you would have for an old, deteriorated...building. This building is well secured right now, Jackson Lee said.

She said it would be just fine for officials to wait.

sam.kelly@chron.com
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune. The Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

The officers in the hallway of Robb Elementary wanted to get inside classrooms 111 and 112  immediately. One officers daughter was inside. Another officer had gotten a call from his wife, a teacher, who told him she was bleeding to death.

Two closed doors and a wall stood between them and an 18-year-old with an AR-15 who had opened fire on children and teachers inside the connected classrooms. A Halligan bar  an ax-like forcible-entry tool used by firefighters to get through locked doors  was available. Ballistic shields were arriving on the scene. So was plenty of firepower, including at least two rifles. Some officers were itching to move.

One such officer, a special agent at the Texas Department of Public Safety, had arrived around 20 minutes after the shooting started. He immediately asked: Are there still kids in the classrooms?

SENATE HEARING: Uvalde officers had resources to stop gunman within 3 minutes, testifies Texas DPS Director McCraw

If there is, then they just need to go in, the agent said.

Another officer answered, It is unknown at this time.

The agent shot back, Yall dont know if theres kids in there? He added, If theres kids in there we need to go in there.

Whoever is in charge will determine that, came the reply.

The inaction appeared too much for the special agent. He noted that there were still children in other classrooms within the school who needed to be evacuated.

Well, theres kids over here, he said. So Im getting kids out.

The exchange happened early in the excruciating 77 minutes on May 24 that started when Salvador Ramos, who had just shot his grandmother in the face, walked through an unlocked door of Robb Elementary, encountering no interference as he wielded an AR-15 he had bought eight days earlier. At the end of those 77 minutes, 19 students, including the daughter of one of the officers stationed in the hallway, and two teachers were dead or dying. Others sustained serious physical injuries; the emotional and psychological ones will last for life. It was the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.

SOURCE: Police never tried to open door to classrooms where Uvalde gunman had kids trapped

But during most of those 77 minutes, despite the urgent pleas from officers and parents amassed outside, officers stayed put outside rooms 111 and 112, stationed on either end of a wide hallway with sky blue and green walls and bulletin boards displaying childrens artwork. Ramos fired at least four sets of rounds  including the initial spray of fire that likely killed many of his victims instantaneously.

After the special agents comment, nearly another hour passed before a tactical team from the Border Patrol breached the classroom doors and killed the gunman.

In the weeks since the tragedy in Uvalde, questions have swirled around the actions of police and whether some lives could have been saved if officers confronted the barricaded gunman sooner. Authorities have shared conflicting information about who was in charge, who confronted the shooter and when. A debate over whether the locked classroom doors could be breached gave way to the discovery that they may never have been locked at all.

Revelations have trickled out in the press: The New York Times has described officers doubts about the decision to wait; breakdowns in communications and tactics; and the fact that officers held off from the confrontation even though they knew people were injured, and possibly dying, inside. The San Antonio Express-News reported that there is no evidence that officers tried the doors on rooms 111 and 112  contradicting a key assertion by the Uvalde schools police chief, Pete Arredondo, who told The Texas Tribune that officers tried the doors, found them locked and had to wait for a master key to unlock them. On Monday evening, the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV revealed that the officers, in effect, had more than enough firepower, equipment and motivation to breach the classrooms.

Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune

Meanwhile, at least three investigations  by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Texas Legislature, and the local district attorney, Christina Mitchell Busbee  are reviewing records and interviewing witnesses to evaluate the law enforcement response. Public understanding of the response to the tragedy has been marred by refusals by state and local agencies to release public records, efforts by local officials to bar journalists from public meetings, and the closed-door nature of the hearings held by state lawmakers. The secrecy has already prompted Texas Monthly to ask, Will We Ever Know the Truth About Uvalde?

For this article, the Tribune reviewed a timeline of events compiled by law enforcement, plus surveillance footage and transcripts of radio traffic and phone calls from the day of the shooting. The details were confirmed by a senior official at the Department of Public Safety. The investigation is still in the early stages, and the understanding of what happened could still change as video records are synched and enhanced. But current records and footage show a well-equipped group of local officers entered the school almost immediately that day and then pulled back once the shooter began firing from inside the classroom. Then they waited for more than an hour to reengage.

They had the tools, said Terry Nichols, a former Seguin police chief and active-shooter expert. Tactically, theres lots of different ways you could tackle this.  But it takes someone in charge, in front, making and executing decisions, and that simply did not happen.

Here are some key findings from these records and materials:

No security footage from inside the school showed police officers attempting to open the doors to classrooms 111 and 112, which were connected by an adjoining door. Arredondo told the Tribune that he tried to open one door and another group of officers tried to open another, but that the door was reinforced and impenetrable. Those attempts were not caught in the footage reviewed by the Tribune. Some law enforcement officials are skeptical that the doors were ever locked.

Within the first minutes of the law enforcement response, an officer said the Halligan (a firefighting tool that is also sometimes spelled hooligan) was on site. It wasnt brought into the school until an hour after the first officers entered the building. Authorities didnt use it and instead waited for keys.

Officers had access to four ballistic shields inside the school during the standoff with the gunman, according to a law enforcement transcript. The first arrived 58 minutes before officers stormed the classrooms. The last arrived 30 minutes before.

Multiple Department of Public Safety officers  up to eight, at one point  entered the building at various times while the shooter was holed up. Many quickly left to pursue other duties, including evacuating children, after seeing the number of officers already there. At least one of the officers expressed confusion and frustration about why the officers werent breaching the classroom, but was told that no order to do so had been given.

At least some officers on the scene seemed to believe that Arredondo was in charge inside the school, and at times Arredondo seemed to be issuing orders such as directing officers to evacuate students from other classrooms. That contradicts Arredondos assertion that he did not believe he was running the law enforcement response. Arredondos lawyer, George E. Hyde, said the chief will not elaborate on his interview with the Tribune, given the ongoing investigation.

What the camera saw

Most of the video from inside the school is captured by a wide-angle camera positioned inside the school buildings northwest entrance, the same one the gunman used. The camera looks straight south from its north ceiling perch and offers a slight view of the entrances to classrooms 111 and 112 to the left.

The Tribune also reviewed transcripts of radio traffic and body camera footage.

They show that the gunman arrived on campus at 11:28 a.m. He appears to have been planning a shooting for a while. In October, according to the law enforcement timeline, he withdrew from Uvalde High School. A month later, when he was still 17, he purchased some gun accessories online, including rifle slings and a military carrier vest. He began buying his ammunition in April and purchased his gun on his 18th birthday in May. On May 14, he posted an ominous message on Instagram: 10 more days.

At 11:33 a.m. on May 24, he walked into Robb Elementarys northwest entrance and headed south toward the two classrooms on the left side, randomly firing shots from his rifle in the hallway. He had crashed his car and fired some shots outside, so the school was already on lockdown at that point and the hallways were nearly empty. No one was hit, but a boy could be seen peeking around the corner at the northeast end of the hallway, apparently trying to return to class from a nearby bathroom. The boy heard the gunfire and ran away. (DPS confirmed that he escaped without physical injury.)

Courtesy of Pete Luna/Uvalde Leader-News

Within a minute, the shooter entered classroom 111  he didnt appear to encounter a locked door in the footage  and began shooting. He briefly walked out the classroom door and then went back in, shooting some more. For the next three minutes, he fired frequently inside a classroom filled with children.

During that burst of gunfire, the first three officers entered the school: two from the Uvalde Police Department and one from the school districts force. All were carrying handguns.

Moments later, Arredondo and seven more officers arrived. The shooter opened fire at the first three officers closest to the two classrooms, grazing two and forcing all the officers to bolt to either end of the hallway. Those officers, including Arredondo, remained in these positions for the rest of the standoff, never firing a shot.

Officers believed that the shooter was contained, and Arredondo called the Uvalde Police Departments dispatch on his cellphone. (The school police unit was created four years ago and does not report to the city police.) Seven minutes had passed since the shooter first entered the building.

Hey, hey, its Arredondo. Its Arredondo. Can you hear me? said the 50-year-old veteran of law enforcement, who leads a department of six. No, I have to tell you where were at. Its an emergency right now. Im inside the building.

Since the massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, in 1999, an evolving and increasingly detailed body of training on mass shootings instructs police to confront shooters as soon as possible  even at the risk of officers lives.

By the time Arredondo called dispatch, at least 11 officers had entered the school and at least two are seen in the video carrying rifles. But Arredondo told the dispatcher that he didnt have the firepower to confront the lone gunman, according to a transcript reviewed by The Texas Tribune.

OK, we have him in the room, he said, speaking on his cellphone. Hes got an AR-15. Hes shot a lot. Hes in the room. He hasnt come out yet. Were surrounded, but I dont have a radio.

After the dispatcher confirmed the location of a SWAT team, Arredondo continued.

Yes and they need to be outside of this building prepared, he said. Because we dont have enough firepower right now. Its all pistol and he has an AR-15. If you can get the SWAT team set up, by the funeral home, OK, we need  yes, I need some more firepower in here because we all have pistols and this guys got a rifle. So I dont have a radio. I dont have a radio. If somebody can come in 

The dispatcher asked Arredondo to stay on the line as long as he could. Arredondo agreed but said hed drop his phone when the gunman comes out that door. Then the dispatcher shared the location of the shooter over a police radio and requested that a SWAT team be amassed by a funeral home across the street.

So, so I need you to bring a radio for me, and give me my radio for me, Arredondo said. I need to get one rifle. Hold on. Im trying to set him. Im trying to set him up.

Then the call ended. Shooting started again inside the school within a minute of the start of the call. But police wouldnt breach the classroom where the gunman was barricaded for another hour and 10 minutes.

An agonizing wait

One minute after Arredondos phone call, officers on the scene reported that the suspect was barricaded in a classroom. A dispatcher asked whether the door was locked, and an officer replied that they didnt know but that they had a Halligan available. No such tool was ever used. No one even brought one into the school for another 54 minutes.

A standoff had begun. The gunman fired shots at least three more times  at 11:40 a.m., 11:44 a.m., and 12:21 p.m.  but officers held their positions. That was true even as more police filed in and four ballistic shields were carried into the building over the next 40 minutes.

The officers who entered the school at that time included DPS troopers who walked into the hallway before noon and then left after seeing how many officers were already there.

The special agent from DPS who urged officers to go into the classroom stayed for six minutes before leaving to clear other rooms, rescuing a student found hiding in a bathroom. More troopers arrived just minutes or seconds before the tactical team from the Border Patrol stormed the classroom, but did not participate in the breach.

Another officer who entered the hallway was Ruben Ruiz of the Uvalde city police. His wife, teacher Eva Mireles, had called him on his cellphone and told him she was bleeding heavily.

She says she is shot, he told the officers on the scene.

The video from inside the hallway doesnt capture what Ruiz did inside the school. But a DPS official told the Tribune that Ruiz was soon escorted away by other officers on the scene.

By 12:01 p.m., the DPS special agent had returned to the hallway and offered his urgent assessment: The situation required officers to go into the classrooms.

It sounds like a hostage rescue situation, the DPS officer said. Sounds like a UC [undercover] rescue. They should probably go in.

A police officer  its not clear whether from the city or school district  then said, Dont you think we should have a supervisor approve that?

Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

Hes not my supervisor, the DPS agent countered before leaving the hallway to clear other rooms of children.

The painful wait continued. SWAT officers from the city police arrived on the scene at around 12:10 p.m., a little more than a half-hour after the shooter first entered the school. One minute later, Arredondo asked for a master key that would allow him to unlock classroom doors, according to the transcripts. It took about six minutes for a set of keys to arrive, and the chief began testing them on a different classroom door. Soon after, more gunshots could be heard from inside the classrooms full of students.

Arredondo tried to speak with the shooter but didnt get a response. Uvaldes mayor, Don McLaughlin, told The Washington Post that a would-be negotiator, working from a nearby funeral home to which the mayor had rushed, also tried to reach the shooter, to no avail.

At 12:38 p.m., Arredondo tried to talk to the shooter. Hearing no reply, he indicated that the SWAT team could breach the classrooms if it was ready.

Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images

By then, a long-awaited working key had been found. Officers inserted it into the door of room 111, and a tactical unit from the Border Patrol stormed in. All thats audible from the video is a flurry of gunshots. The team then exited the room and indicated that the gunman was dead  77 minutes after the carnage started.

An aftermath of doubts and questions

With the shooter killed, the excruciating aftermath began. The fisheye camera in the hallway captured a single first responder standing in the center of the hallway, his surgical-gloved hands motioning to others standing behind him to remain there until all the officers exited. Once he got that signal, he directed the team to move quickly inside rooms 111 and 112. Gurneys and ambulance backboards suddenly popped into view.

The first to reach the victims inside pulled motionless, bloodied children onto the hallways linoleum flooring as they tried to assess their vital signs. None of the children appeared to make a sound. One child whose still body was placed on the floor had to be gently pushed to make room for others streaming in and and out, his blood leaving a wide swath of crimson across the hallway floor.

Almost immediately, the questions about whether police did the right thing began. State officials offered contradicting information in the immediate aftermath. DPS Director Steve McCraw told reporters days later that it was the wrong decision not to breach the classroom sooner. He is scheduled to testify before a Senate committee on Tuesday morning.

Law enforcement experts say Arredondo was the rightful incident commander, though they were baffled why he abandoned his radios, declined to take charge and lacked access to classrooms. J. Pete Blair, executive director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University, dismissed the idea that the state police, being a far larger police agency, should have wrested command from Arredondo when they arrived on scene.

The person who should be in charge is the person who has the best picture of whats happening and also the skill set to manage what needs to happen, Blair said. He added, Command exchanges are voluntary. Theyre not forced. [Someone] cant come in and say, Im taking it away from you.

Scrutiny has fallen most intensely on Arredondo. He defended his actions in an interview this month with the Tribune, but many of his claims are not supported by the records.

He said he didnt consider himself the incident commander that day and never issued orders to anyone during the shooting. Yet at 11:50 a.m., according to body-camera transcripts, an officer says, The chief is in charge.

Arredondo said he intentionally left behind his radios, which he said were cumbersome and had a habit of not working well from inside the school, but he did ask for someone to bring them to him when he called police dispatch. He also requested a SWAT team, snipers and a door-breaching tool. (Its not clear if hed heard that a Halligan was available.) By noon, officers had rifles, a Halligan and at least one ballistic shield  yet made no attempt to enter the classrooms for 50 minutes.

In a statement on Thursday, Arredondos lawyer, Hyde, told the Tribune: The chief has requested that no further comment be made until all the information is collected and evaluated to minimize misinformation, which serves no one. I must honor that request. Further, the D.A. must present the police shooting in this matter to a grand jury, so there is also a criminal investigation underway, which he must respect.

The district attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

At this point its clear that a multitude of errors in judgment combined to turn a bad situation into a catastrophe, said Katherine Schweit, a former FBI agent who co-authored the agencys foremost research on mass shootings. The law enforcement rarely thinks their response is textbook, [but] I cant think of another incident in the United States where it appears so many missed opportunities occurred to get it right.

But law enforcement officers have particularly homed in on Arredondos search for keys. It may never be known whether that insistence on obtaining a key was necessary as lives hung in the balance.

The classroom doors are supposed to lock automatically, but from the start, the shooter could be seen walking unobstructed into the room and then darting easily in and out at least three times. The footage caused some authorities who watched it to question whether the doors were ever locked.

Through his lawyer, Arredondo told the Tribune in a June 9 email that the doors were checked: My memory is that the team on the north side of the hallway tried room on their side, which would be room 112 and I tried to open room 111 within minutes of arriving on the scene. We both took the sprayed gunfire through the walls.

But authorities have seen no video so far that confirms that.

Zach Despart contributed reporting.

Disclosure: The New York Times, Texas Monthly and Texas State University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Japan has handed over to Mali, through the World Food Programme (WFP), a large quantity of food, consisting of 120 tonnes of canned fish and 667 tonnes of rice, the monetary value of which is estimated at 300 million Japanese yen, or about 1
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune. The Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

With Texas schools restarting classes in less than two months, Texas Senate Democrats renewed calls Monday for Gov. Greg Abbott to bring lawmakers back to Austin this summer to enact legislation that might prevent another mass shooting like the one at a Uvalde elementary school that killed 19 students and two teachers last month.

The senators said if lawmakers reconvene for a special session, they would support proposals like raising the age to legally own an assault weapon from 18 to 21, creating red flag laws for gun purchases, instituting a 72-hour cooling off period and regulating the private sale of firearms.

A DEAL REACHED: Senators strike bipartisan deal on new gun laws

But first there has to be a debate, and a vote, to let Texans know where their elected officials stand on how to respond to the Uvalde shooting, said state Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat who chairs the Senate Criminal Justice Committee and was unsuccessful in passing his red flag legislation last session.

The people are urging us to take action, but first we have to let them know were listening to them, he said. Weve heard the public, we want to represent them, but we have to have a session to do that.

The Texas Legislature is set to reconvene in Austin in January. Democratic lawmakers first asked in May, four days after the Uvalde massacre, for Abbott to call for a special session, saying there is a critical need for new laws to prevent more mass shootings.

On Monday, they laid more pressure on Abbott to bring lawmakers back to Austin before school starts in August.

The circumstances that brought us here are devastating, said state Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston. We are 56 days away from the school year starting. We must take action to ensure that another group of parents are not planning funerals instead of planning summer vacations or summer camp.

The governors office, several other statewide offices, half of the state Senate seats and all of the House seats are up for election in November. Abbotts press office did not respond immediately to requests for comment Monday. His opponent, Democrat Beto ORourke, has repeatedly called on him to order a special session for gun reform.

Simply doing nothing is about as evil as it comes, said state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, whose district includes Uvalde.

The Robb Elementary School shooting was the second-deadliest school shooting in the history of the United States and the deadliest in Texas, which has seen 527 children die from gun murders from 2015-20  more than any other state, lawmakers said.

GUN VIOLENCE: As Texas reels from Uvalde, these 19 Houston-area kids are a reminder gun violence happens every day

Abbott has batted away arguments that Texas lax gun laws were at fault when the Uvalde shooter legally purchased two assault rifles as soon as he turned 18.

Instead, Abbott argues that the lack of mental health services in Uvalde was the problem, even though the gunman is not believed to have ever been diagnosed with a mental illness.

EDITORIAL: Abbotts record on mental health stinks. After Uvalde, his talk must come with funding.

The measures proposed by Senate Democrats  who are in the minority in the Texas Senate  are moderately controversial. The draft bill includes the creation of red flag laws, which can result in banning people deemed by a court to be at extreme risk of violence against themselves and others from purchasing guns and confiscating their weapons.

Bills creating those protective orders were filed in both chambers last session but died when they didnt get committee hearings.

Some of the most divisive issues in the gun debate, such as a total ban on assault weapons, bans on high-capacity magazines or universal background checks, are not in the Senate Democrats proposed legislation.

Nobody here is looking to prevent law-abiding, stable adults from possessing guns, said state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin. That is a right, and we stand by it.

'GET OFF THE STAGE': John Cornyn booed at Texas GOP convention over gun deal

The Texas Republican grassroots demonstrated during their state convention last weekend that they have no patience for gun control, nearly booing off the stage Texas GOP U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the lead Republican negotiator on bipartisan talks for gun reform after the Uvalde shooting.

Days before, a group of senators announced that they had made progress on a deal, which includes requiring mental health records in background checks for gun buyers under age 21 and the creation of a federal grant program to encourage states to enact red flag laws.
As millions of Texans struggle with the economic devastation of COVID-19, the biggest corporate tax giveaway in Texas has helped businesses cut more than $10 billion from their property taxes  and there are no limits on the programs exponential growth.

The gusher of tax incentives is flowing to firms ranging from petrochemical plants on the Gulf Coast to sprawling wind farms in the Panhandle. Companies are saving billions by promising to bring their business to Texas  even if evidence suggests some never would have gone anywhere else.

Meanwhile, nothing has changed during the pandemic for Texas homeowners who must pay their property tax bills on time or face stiff penalties.

For renters, it took Texas until mid-February, nearly a year after the pandemic hit, to launch a rental and utility assistance program. It was plagued for months by long waits.

Were living paycheck to paycheck, said Dulce Cramer, who was laid off at her new job in Houston last year when the pandemic began. Cramer said she was denied state unemployment benefits while her husbands employer cut his hours, and they could barely afford the rent at their Westchase apartment.

It was hell, she said.

Its a far different story for the energy and manufacturing companies that qualify for assistance under an obscure section of the Texas Tax Code called Chapter 313.

Twenty years ago, state lawmakers created the program in response to unfounded fears that Texas was losing bidding wars with other states to attract new business.

Since then, the program has ballooned into the largest corporate tax incentive in Texas  and lawmakers are working to renew it this year.

Heres how it works: An eligible company that promises to spend, say, $200 million on a manufacturing plant can apply for a Chapter 313 incentive and lower the appraised value of its property on a school districts tax rolls, erasing millions of dollars in property taxes over the course of a decade.

With more than 500 active projects in Texas, the program has become more popular than ever. State officials predict it will cost nearly $10.8 billion in tax breaks over the life span of each project, according to a report on the program that covers all active deals through early 2020.

Since then, some projects have dropped out of the program, but records recently released by the comptroller's office show another 90 projects have since been approved that will save companies an additional $900 million.

Houston Chronicle

To make up for the taxes these companies are not forced to pay, the Legislature must allocate more general revenue  the taxes all Texans pay  to public education, leaving fewer dollars not only to increase school spending but to build roads, provide health care and fund other vital services.

In essence, Chapter 313 asks all Texas taxpayers  renters, homeowners and small business owners  to help some of the worlds largest companies get a discount on their taxes.

What were doing is building a two-tiered tax system where large industrial companies get a discounted tax rate and small businesses and homeowners pay full freight, said Dick Lavine, a senior fiscal analyst with the left-leaning research group Every Texan and a longtime critic of the program.

Supporters say Chapter 313 has lured major employers to Texas  companies such as Samsung, Toyota and Tesla. They contend the tax breaks create high-paying jobs and encourage manufacturing and energy companies to make marquee investments here.

We brag about how we dont have a personal income tax in Texas. We make up for that with very high property and high sales taxes, said Dale Craymer, president of Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, which has long supported the program. Those high property taxes not only burden homeowners, but it also creates a substantial barrier against new capital investment, so 313 helps reduce that barrier to new investment.

But a Houston Chronicle review of thousands of pages of state documents, corporate filings, reports and audits going back nearly two decades shows the program often falls short of its goals. It also functions without the guardrails lawmakers insist they have enacted to ensure the tax burden does not needlessly shift from major companies to individual taxpayers.

Among the Chronicles findings:

Chapter 313 does create jobs  but at a steep price. By even a conservative measure, Texas is paying $211,600 in tax incentives for each job created under the program. Using a different metric cited in the past by state officials, the cost per job tops $1.1 million.

At least 30 companies failed to fulfill their job-creation promises since 2019 but faced no repercussions. Their tax breaks stayed intact, and they paid no fines.

As long as companies phrase their applications the right way, records show, they are nearly guaranteed to get the subsidies. Less than 2.5 percent of all Chapter 313 applications have been denied  and nearly a dozen of those reapplied with new phrasing and got approved.

The comptrollers office declined to make its staff available for an interview, citing the ongoing legislative debate about the program. It said in written responses to the newspapers questions that its staff does not track the rate at which applications are denied and has no opinion on the proper rate of rejections.

Our office works diligently to administer this program in the manner prescribed by the Legislature, said spokesman Chris Bryan. Our office remains neutral and tries to answer questions from all parties. Similarly, we make a lot of information available to the public and media so that others have sufficient information from which to make their own informed opinions on the program.

As Chapter 313 saved billions for businesses, Gov. Greg Abbott declined to act on calls from appraisal districts and Texas lawmakers at the beginning of the pandemic to freeze property-tax values at 2019 levels to offer relief to property owners or extend the deadline to pay their tax bills.

Thats what galls me. They dont give a damn, said Steve Tallent, 71, a heavy equipment operator in Mont Belvieu who fell behind on his property taxes after falling ill in 2019 and ended up owing more than $4,800 in taxes and penalties on his house.

Tallent hoped to pay his bills with income from a bar he owns  but he was temporarily forced to close it because of the pandemic and couldnt pay that tax bill on time, either.

The governors office did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Tallent lives in the Chapter 313 capital of Texas. Trustees of the Barbers Hill Independent School District, which serves Mont Belvieu, have approved more Chapter 313 deals than any other school district in Texas.

THE FALLOUT: How skeptical Texas lawmakers put an end to a controversial tax incentive program

The total cost of incentives over the 10-year duration of each deal: nearly $900 million.

Yes, we do have the most (projects). And theyve been tremendous, said Superintendent Greg Poole, an avid supporter of the program who moonlights as a consultant to help other school districts negotiate deals under the law.

Poole and other proponents say Chapter 313 has lured businesses to Texas that would have invested in other states. The law requires the comptrollers office to scrutinize every deal, they say, ensuring that tax breaks go only to companies that truly need them.

Some even argue the program costs taxpayers nothing because without the incentives, the companies would have invested elsewhere.

The law has never required such a stringent review.

The comptrollers office is charged only with deciding whether the tax break is a determining factor in a firms decision to proceed with the project  a low hurdle for companies to clear.

The programs other gatekeepers  elected members of local school boards  usually have few reasons to turn down an application. Thats because state education funding formulas ensure that school districts dont feel the pain from the property tax breaks. And districts stand to bring in millions in extra payments from the very companies seeking the incentives.

Ive never seen a beast like 313. Its essentially free money for big business, said Nathan Jensen, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin who has long studied the program.

But in scores of cases reviewed by the Chronicle, records show some tax breaks might not even be necessary.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The shale boom

It was early 2011, and the Eagle Ford Shale boom in South Texas was helping reinvent the American energy industry.

The regions first successful horizontal fracking well had been drilled in La Salle County more than two years earlier, unlocking enormous deposits of oil and gas trapped in rock formations deep beneath the earth.

All that oil and gas had to go somewhere.

For Texas energy companies, the shale revolution has married ingenuity with good fortune  the geological reality that the state straddles some of the richest oil and gas reserves on the continent.

Yet some of the worlds largest companies have raked in tens of millions of dollars in state subsidies for doing what simply made sense  building the pipelines, processing plants and petrochemical facilities necessary to profit from this windfall of resources.

Enterprise Products Partners, like its competitors, had begun building a network of new pipelines dedicated to transporting natural gas liquids in the Eagle Ford to its processing plants in South Texas.

The Houston-based energy company said enormous demand for its services soon would overwhelm its South Texas plants. But in April 2011, the company sought taxpayers help in building a new gas processing plant in Lavaca County by applying for a Chapter 313 incentive for the project.

To prove the project qualified for the tax break, Enterprise told the comptrollers office that it had a large pipeline network and gas processing plants in four other states, allowing substantial flexibility in plant location.

But like so many of its competitors, Enterprise had told its investors a different story.

The company had discussed the plant in public statements dating back 10 months  its location, its capacity, its construction timeline, the length of pipe needed to connect it to the companys network  and described it as part of a series of projects necessary to meet the needs of producers in the Eagle Ford.

If the comptrollers office was aware of these statements, they were not mentioned in the offices letter recommending the $41 million in tax incentives be approved.

In all, at least 35 gas plants in Texas received about $380 million in Chapter 313 incentives, almost all of them in the Eagle Ford or West Texas Permian Basin.

At least 10 of them were publicly announced before the companies applied for tax breaks, either by name or with the same capacity, construction timeline and region as the plants the companies described in their applications.

Twice, another company, Energy Transfer, not only announced a gas plant before applying but even acknowledged starting construction and site work months before  with $16 million invested at one site and $20 million at the other  yet still got the subsidies.

Energy Transfer spokeswoman Alexis Daniel did not address the timing of the tax incentives but said the company is proud to be a Texas-based, Fortune 100 company with many employees in the Houston region.

In 2020 alone, we paid approximately $218 million in property taxes on our pipelines and facilities in Texas, she said. These taxes support schools, hospitals, community centers, roads and various other projects and services that are important to our state.

Enterprise Products spokesman Rick Rainey, meanwhile, said a Chapter 313 incentive is one of many factors the company considers in evaluating investments.

The economic viability of a project is analyzed, including the impact of 313, he said, and helps determine where a project will be built, or whether it will be built at all.

Energy analysts, however, said the states dozens of gas plants were certain to be built here.

The processing plants would have had to come up no matter what, said Ajay Bakshani, an oil and gas analyst with East Daley Capital Advisors. You need these plants in order to extract value out of the gas thats coming out of the ground.

And these plants, said Rusty Braziel, president of the Houston energy analytics firm RBN Energy, are typically no more than 25 miles from the cluster of wells producing the gas in need of processing. Just nine of the 35 gas plants that got Chapter 313 deals are that close to neighboring states.

The subsidies have become so ubiquitous that companies routinely remind the comptrollers office in their applications that their competitors often have received tax breaks to build comparable projects.

While Craymer, the program supporter, said the review process usually works, he acknowledged some projects destined to build in Texas likely slip through.

I do think this is an area of discomfort with many, and, quite honestly, were willing to work with folks on a better approach, Craymer said.

Hector Rivero, president of the Texas Chemical Council, agreed.

Someone that has got a project thats coming here regardless, thats an abuse, he said. We want the comptroller to be able to ferret those out.

Bryan, of the comptrollers office, said his colleagues weigh public statements as part of their review process, adding, Our determinations dont typically rely on a single document or issue. He gave the same answer when asked about projects that had started construction and still received tax breaks.

A similar pattern can be found in the renewable energy industry. Wind farms are projected to receive $2.1 billion in Chapter 313 tax breaks. Yet West Texas bountiful supply of wind and transmission lines already makes it the perfect location for such investments, according to a 2016 state Senate committee report.

In their Chapter 313 applications, both wind and solar farms often acknowledge selecting their sites based on their proximity to state-financed transmission lines but say the incentives are still needed.

Wind farms frequently start construction to secure federal tax credits but then seek Chapter 313 subsidies as well. They tell the comptrollers office that their investments do not commit them to the sites, and they routinely say they cannot compete on price with their competitors who already have received the state subsidies.

In sheer numbers, most Chapter 313 applications are filed by renewable energy companies. But most of the tax breaks  more than $7.6 billion  are going to more expensive projects in the manufacturing industry that include huge petrochemical firms.

The subsidies can be traced through the entire production process of the Texas shale boom.

When natural gas liquids leave processing plants, they flow mostly through pipelines to facilities called fractionators that split them into their separate components  chiefly ethane and propane  which are then sold, exported or refined into fuels and plastics.

In North America, the chief hub for this activity has long been Mont Belvieu, a town 25 miles east of Houston in Chambers County, which sits atop scores of salt caverns  some larger than the Empire State Building  that let companies store massive amounts of oil and gas products.

As these liquids flowed to Mont Belvieu, the tax breaks followed.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Unavoidable projects

Chapter 313 has subsidized at least 36 fractionators in Texas at a combined cost of $770 million, a figure that includes a few other projects that were submitted on the same applications as the fractionators. All of them are near the Gulf Coast; 26 of them are in Mont Belvieu.

At least 15 times, companies announced the fractionators publicly before filing their tax break applications. Ten other times, the companies did not prematurely announce the projects in detail but did indicate they soon would need to add capacity.

Enterprise Products received tax breaks for nine such units in Mont Belvieu, the most of any company. Enterprise announced two of its fractionators were under construction weeks before seeking tax breaks to build them  and still got approved.

The projects were inevitable, energy analysts said. Once the newly abundant gas liquids were gathered and processed, they would need to flow through a fractionator in order to be usable.

In theory, more gas liquids could flow to Louisiana, New Mexico or Kansas, Braziel said. But, though Mont Belvieus salt caverns put it on the map, the town is the worlds gas liquids hub for another reason: 70 percent of these compounds are exported or sold to petrochemical plants, and both industries are clustered along the Gulf Coast.

There are docks, refineries and petrochemical plants in Louisiana, too, Braziel said  but not enough. The notion that three dozen Texas fractionators would have gone to Louisiana in the absence of tax breaks, he said, is folly.

Could some? Yes. Could all of them? No, he said. The majority are going to land in Texas.

Whats more, Bakshani said, by the time a fractionator is announced, most or all of the material the unit will produce is typically already under contract with customers  often petrochemical plants planning to use it in specific units nearby.

A lot of the companies now have such a presence at Mont Belvieu that if they suddenly come out and say theyre building a fractionator in Louisiana, it would be a head-scratcher, Bakshani said. Why not take it to all the fractionators you already have that are next to all the facilities you already own?

The flurry of Chapter 313 activity didnt go unnoticed by competitors.

In early August 2017, Permico announced its Texas NGL project, an effort to pipe gas liquids from the Permian to a new fractionator in Corpus Christi.

When the company applied for a Chapter 313 subsidy, Permico CEO Jeffrey Beicker learned the comptrollers office had questions. He was furious. Why didnt his competitors face the same scrutiny?

All these other companies have multiple news releases, quarterly reports and annual reports that state their intentions, Beicker wrote in an email to his consultant. We refuse to lie to receive the tax abatement. Apparently our competitors do not share this moral dilemma.

Beickers company got the tax break. A Permico executive referred questions to Beicker, who did not respond to requests for comment.

Building and building

More than a third of gas liquids go to petrochemical plants, which pounced on the cheap fuels the shale boom produced by launching a staggering array of projects.

As the compounds flowed from Mont Belvieu and elsewhere to chemical plants along the coast, in dozens of cases the subsidies followed them.

Some of the biggest Chapter 313 subsidies have been for petrochemical units called crackers. These turn ethane  the main material flowing from all the new fractionators  into ethylene, a key building block of plastics.

Chevron Phillips Chemical announced it would build one such unit in Baytown in late 2011  months before it applied for incentives to do so  then sought tax breaks for another as part of a larger project in Orange in 2019. Combined subsidies: $491 million over 10 years.

LyondellBasell secured three Chapter 313 incentives in 2013 to increase ethylene production at its Channelview, La Porte and Corpus Christi plants despite announcing all three publicly before applying.

And ExxonMobil was already building an ethylene cracker in Baytown that had gotten Chapter 313 subsidies when it filed more tax break paperwork in 2016 as part of a joint venture with the Saudi firm SABIC.

The companies new chemical plant near Corpus Christi includes an ethylene cracker and accompanying units and will get a projected $457 million in subsidies over a decade.

Exxon spokesman Todd Spitler said the company supports a business environment that encourages capital investment and job-creating activities, but he did not comment on its Chapter 313 deals.

Chevron Phillips spokesman Bryce Hallowell said the companys announcement of its Baytown project was followed by significant" analysis. Chapter 313 tax breaks were a key component of that review before the company made a final decision to build the project, he said.

Lyondell spokesman Chevalier Gray said public policy is among the factors the company considers when considering a new project, adding, Our projects provide increased tax revenues, among other economic benefits, across the region for many years after economic incentives expire.

The windfall of natural gas not only made it a cheap raw material for petrochemical giants. The materials soon were so abundant that companies sought buyers overseas.

In a five-year span beginning in the summer of 2010, federal regulators approved more than 20 requests from companies to build facilities to load gas liquids onto ships for export.

Among them were seven sites along the Texas coast  four of which were approved for Chapter 313 tax breaks. Some touted their proximity to the Eagle Ford and the Permian as competitive advantages; all four announced their plans months before seeking subsidies.

The shale story just kept building and building over the past few years until, finally, we did the engineering and it just made sense, Freeport LNG CEO Michael Smith said in November 2010, months before his company applied for a tax break to turn its recently opened facility to import gas into a hub for exports.

The projected tax breaks for these export projects are among the programs largest: $456 million to Freeport LNG; $354 million to Sempra Energys docks near Port Arthur; $857 million to Chenieres site near Corpus Christi; $388 million to Exxon and Qatar Petroleums joint venture near Port Arthur.

Freeport LNG spokeswoman Heather Browne stressed that the company provides hundreds of jobs  and thousands more when the facility was under construction  and will pay a projected $2 billion in state and local taxes during the projects first two decades of operations.

The Chapter 313 value limitation tax subsidies, approved and entered into prior to Freeport LNG making its final investment decision to construct our facility in 2014, helped our project compete in the global marketplace for customers, and thereby assisted the company in moving forward with the project in Texas, Browne said.

The three other Texas projects were in Brownsville. One never sought a Chapter 313 deal, and two  opposed by a coalition of shrimpers, fishermen, environmentalists, Native Americans and others  had their tax-subsidy applications rejected by the Port Isabel school board.

Yet, neither spurned company stopped work when their subsidies were denied. Only last month, six years later, did Annova LNG announce it was abandoning the project, blaming market shifts. The other two companies still plan to build.

At least eight times, in fact, the Chronicle found companies said they needed the subsidies to build, had their applications rejected by a school district or the comptrollers office or withdrew them under questioning  then proceeded anyway.

Nor do all companies say they need the subsidies. The owners of dozens of gas processing plants, including some just south of the New Mexico border, built without ever filing requests for a tax break.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Nothing for homeowners

Theres simply nothing like Chapter 313 for everyday Texans and small-business owners.

We dont think this program should exist, said Carine Martinez, director of research and publications at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative research group that has been calling for the repeal of Chapter 313 for years. We favor a broad-based tax system so we can lower it for everyone instead of favoring some.

Homeowners are eligible for some protections such as the homestead exemption, which cuts appraised values by $25,000 for taxes owed to school districts. But with the median home value in Texas at $170,000, many owners are still responsible for paying taxes on a large share of their property appraisals.

Im one of those people who believe that you should do everything on your own as much as you can, but we keep handing money to these corporations and nothing to the citizens, said Mark Varnado, a Mont Belvieu homeowner who owes more than $3,200 in overdue taxes and penalties. That doesnt quite make sense to me.

Varnado acknowledges falling behind on his taxes in 2019 and says he meant to catch up last year. But business from his side gig as a disc jockey dried up during the pandemic, and he had to support a son who lost his job. Now Varnado is falling even deeper in the hole as late fees add up.

The Texas Comptrollers Office almost never penalizes Chapter 313 companies that fail to meet their job-creation targets. And unlike the homestead exemption, Chapter 313 lets many businesses pretend a large portion of their investments are invisible on tax rolls.

Why are Texas officials approving so many deals, even for projects that might have been built anyway?

The answer is simple: Thats how Chapter 313 was designed.

Coming next: The Gatekeepers

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Credits

Reporting: Mike Morris, John Tedesco and Stephanie Lamm

Visuals: Mark Mulligan, Marie D. De Jesus, Jon Shapley, Elizabeth Conley and William Luther

Design, Development & Web Production: Ken Ellis, Laura Duclos, Dan Simmons-Ritchie, Jordan Ray-Hart, Dana Burke and Tommy Hamzik

Editing: Mizanur Rahman, Jasmine Goldband and Alexandra Kanik

Executive Producer: Jennifer Chang
Texas seceding from the union. Repealing the Voting Rights Act. A veritable ban on bipartisanship. And, oh yes, continued cheerleading of the Big Lie contending that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

How many rank-and-file Texas Republicans out there  the folks who may pull the lever but dont necessarily pull the strings  really feel this list reflects their priorities? Most people want government, and those whom we elect to represent us in it, to be sensible, functional and somewhat realistic in its goals. Yet, these items were among the extreme positions approved as part of the platform of the Republican Party of Texas at its six-day convention last week. And they werent even the half of it.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a four-term incumbent and senior member of the Senate GOP, was roundly booed for having the audacity to lead bipartisan negotiations for what would be the most meaningful, if minor, step toward gun reform in more than a decade. Before uttering even a word, Cornyn was nearly shouted off the stage, derided as a R.I.N.O.  Republican In Name Only  for working on a bill that most Americans support.

U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, once seen as a rising star in the party, was physically accosted at the convention by members of the Proud Boys. One of Crenshaws assailants called him a traitor who should be hung for treason. Crenshaws apparent crime? Supporting sending military aid to Ukraine and having the gumption to call out grifters in his own party.

And Gov. Greg Abbott? He didnt even enter the building, not surprising since so far he hasnt been able to win the support of either of the primary opponents he trounced in March. His ephemeral presence for brief remarks on Thursday at a bar across the street from the convention center seemed to suggest he knew exactly the kind of reception he might have to contend with. In an earlier introductory speech, Matt Rinaldi, the Texas GOP chairman, notably praised other Republicans  including another presidential hopeful, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick  but never once mentioned Abbott.

Forget Kumbaya moments and serious policy debate. This was a full-on circus.

Just how far would the party activists take the GOP of Texas off the rails? Well, we encourage you to carefully read the mission statement drafted at the convention. It reads much like a document from a dystopian alternate reality, calling on the Texas Legislature to create a referendum on secession for November 2023. As we noted above, it wants a full repeal of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. It adopted language treating homosexuality as an abnormal lifestyle choice and rejects normalizing transgender individuals. And it endorses abolishing the Federal Reserve and for the United States to withdraw from the United Nations.

Some of these positions arent new. And state party conventions generally tend to swing to the extreme. But when those extremes threaten to take over, as they have in the GOP, its time for the rest of the party to apply some discipline, or at least to attempt a course-correction.

That doesnt seem to be happening.

Where are all the reasonable card-carrying Texas Republicans, who must be embarrassed by their partys convention? How much of this kind of nonsense are they willing to tolerate? Surely, theres room in Texas for a Republican Party that disassociates itself from threats of violence against office-holders who stray from even the strictest party lines.

How can the party of George W. Bush and his father, for that matter, have changed so much in so few years? We have to wonder whether Bush, the former governor and president who advocated for a bigger GOP tent and more moderate positions on issues such as immigration, would have made it out of the building unscathed.

There were just 8,000 people at the convention last week. They are but a tiny fraction of the nearly 6 million who cast ballots for Republican candidates in Texas in 2020. Were asking those Texas Republicans who want their party to truly reflect their views to reject the noise coming out of their partys convention. Dont just ignore it, counter it. And dont just speak out, get involved.

And to those GOP candidates who seem to have so angered the fringes, we say good on you. Keep doing what you think is right. We wish youd do it more often. Some of that work, as in the guns compromise championed by Cornyn, could truly be life-saving.
Tuesdays decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding school vouchers makes it unconstitutional for states to exclude religious schools from programs that use tax dollars to pay private tuition. Thats a matter of constitutional concern for anyone worried the line between church and state is being blurred, especially in public schools.

But regardless of those concerns, one thing the decision does not do is change the fact that vouchers are a bad idea for Texas.

That said, Tuesdays 6-3 opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts involving a voucher program in Maine will certainly add momentum to efforts by Gov. Greg Abbott to persuade the Legislature to change that come January.

The decision builds on two recent opinions involving programs that struck down laws in Missouri and Montana. The Montana law involved state grants for playground safety equipment, and the Missouri program had offered donors tax deductions for donations to a tuition assistance fund. In both cases, the programs excluded religious schools, in keeping with long-standing Supreme Court jurisprudence under the First Amendments Establishment Clause.

But in 2017 and 2020 respectively, the Supreme Court ruled that the discrimination against the religious schools was unconstitutional.

Writing for the majority, Roberts cast Tuesdays decision as in perfect keeping with each of those decisions. He noted that in defending its program, Maine had argued that the First Amendments Establishment Clause prevented it from using state money to support a religious education. Both the trial court and the First Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Maine, as did all three of the Democrat-appointed justices on the high court.

Roberts rejected that view. There is nothing neutral about Maines program, Roberts wrote. The State pays tuition for certain students at private schools  so long as the schools are not religious. That is discrimination against religion.

Maines largely rural makeup renders it difficult for the state to make good on its own constitutional guarantee of a quality taxpayer-funded education for everyone. In many of its local government districts, there are no public schools available. And when that happens, Maine covers the tuition of students enrolled in private school. They just cant be religious schools.

We understand  as anyone in Texas must  that in sparsely populated areas of a state, where public schools are often a long bus ride away, the guarantee of public education presents a difficult challenge. We understand as well that many private schools, including ones with a religious focus, provide a worthwhile alternative for some students. But when it comes to the constitutional separation of church and state, we worry that what starts as a stream will end as a river.

The prohibition against establishment has been upheld for generations  and for good reasons. As Justice Stephen Breyer notes in his dissent, the court has long balanced the seemingly contradictory religion clauses in the First Amendment. But Tuesdays opinion seems to forget about the Establishment Clause entirely.

The First Amendment begins by forbidding the government from making any law respecting an establishment of religion, he writes. It next forbids them to make any law prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The Court today pays almost no attention to the words in the first Clause while giving almost exclusive attention to the words in the second.

But now that the court has ruled, that question is largely decided. If Texas does adopt a voucher program, as Abbott is urging, it will now almost certainly have to be open to religious schools, no matter how religious they may be.

Thats just one more reason why lawmakers should oppose vouchers. The best case against them isnt based on religion, or on the Constitution. Vouchers siphon funding and support from Texas public schools  and rather than making it easier for parents to use tax dollars to send their children to private schools, Texas should keep working to make the public schools the best they can be.

In a world that is increasingly divided, the schools serve as a unifying force in our nation and in our state. Nothing that the Supreme Court said in its ruling Tuesday changes that.
Law enforcement officers had enough resources to stop the teenage gunman who attacked a Uvalde elementary school just three minutes after he entered the building, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw testified on Tuesday.

McCraw squarely blamed Pete Arredondo, the chief of police for Uvalde schools who was the on-scene commander during the shooting, for failing to confront the gunman sooner. First responders arrived at Robb Elementary School just as the shooter began his rampage  and had acquired bulletproof shields and assault-style weapons shortly thereafter  but still waited more than an hour to enter the connected classrooms where the gunman was still a threat to students and teachers.

Police efforts that day were an abject failure and antithetical to everything we have learned over the past two decades, McCraw, the states top law enforcement official, told a state Senate committee. He added that DPS officers on site did not have the authority by law to take command from local authorities.

WATCH LIVE: Special Texas Senate hearing on Uvalde school shooting

One hour, 14 minutes and 8 seconds, said McCraw. That's how long the children waited and the teachers waited in room 111 to be rescued. And while they waited, the on-scene commander waited for radio and rifles. And he waited for shields, and he waited for SWAT. Lastly, he waited for a key that was never needed.

Twenty-one people, including 19 children, died on May 24. Another 17 were injured.

The only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander, who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children, McCraw said.

HOW IT UNFOLDED: Texas releases most detailed timeline yet of Uvalde massacre

He was testifying before the state Senates new committee evaluating school safety and gun violence. The group met for the first time on Tuesday, the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy process as lawmakers decide how to respond to the shooting when they reconvene in Austin next year.

Arredondo has faced scathing criticism for his handling of the shooting. He said in an interview with the Texas Tribune that he never considered himself the incident commander but did everything he could to save lives, mostly hindered by a door he didnt have the key to unlock.

McCraw told the Senate committee it could be argued that Arredondo turned over on-scene commander duties when he asked for and received help from other law enforcement agencies.

But security footage shows that police never tried to open the doors to the classrooms, according to a law enforcement source close to the investigation. Plus, McCraw said officers never needed a key in the first place  and its likely that the door wasnt even locked, since it could only be secured from the outside.

I don't believe, based on the information that we have right now, that that door was ever secured, McCraw said. And he didnt have a key, and he certainly couldnt lock it from the inside. So, the door was unsecured.

McCraw told the Senate committee it could be argued that Arredondo turned over on-scene commander duties when he asked for and received help from other law enforcement agencies.

State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, the San Antonio Democrat who represents Uvalde, went a step further, questioning the assertion that Arredondo was definitively in charge: This narrative of being the incident commander was thrust upon this guy by DPS in the aftermath, he said in an interview Tuesday afternoon.

Gutierrez said he found it odd that McCraw said DPS, which had 91 officers on site, couldnt take command of the response.

Ill have to talk to a lawyer to figure out the rest of it, but if you ask me, they should have jurisdiction, he said.

The testimony is a reminder that everybody failed here, Gutierrez said, and there are still a lot of questions to be answered.

More detailed timeline released

McCraw also presented the most comprehensive official timeline of the massacre to date. Based on security footage, phone recordings and police body cameras, it places Arredondo at the scene at 11:36 a.m., just three minutes after the gunman walked unimpeded into the school building.

In the four-minute span between 11:33 a.m. and 11:37 a.m., the shooter fired more than 100 rounds, likely killing many of the victims immediately and injuring officers who had initially approached the classroom door. He was wielding an AR-15-style rifle purchased just days after his 18th birthday.

At 11:48 a.m., school police officer Ruben Ruiz told first responders that his wife, teacher Eva Mireles, had called him to say she had been shot. She died later that day.

At 11:53 a.m., someone asked whether children were still inside the classroom. If there is, then they just need to go in, a DPS special agent responded.

By 11:58 a.m., officers were debating whether the shooting had turned into a hostage situation. At 12:03 p.m., a student inside the classroom called 911.

Arredondo requested the master key to the classroom at 12:11 p.m., minutes later declaring: Tell them to (expletive) wait. No one comes in.

At 12:27 p.m.: People are going to ask why were taking so long, Arredondo said. Were trying to preserve the rest of the life. He again lamented his inability to open the door, even with a master key.

Police finally breached the classroom 23 minutes later, at 12:50 p.m., killing the shooter.

Tuesdays hearing was the Legislatures first public hearing on the massacre. The Texas Houses new three-member committee investigating the shooting has been collecting testimony in private over the past two weeks, and Arredondo and a Houston SWAT officer spoke to them on Tuesday.

Escorted by state troopers, Arredondo left the Capitol shortly before 2 p.m. after testifying for five hours. He did not respond to reporters questions as he was hustled to an elevator down the hall.

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said Arredondo should also appear before the Senate committee to answer questions in an open meeting.

I challenge this chief to come testify in public as to what happened here, Bettencourt said. Don't go hide in the House and talk privately. Come to the Senate, where the public and Texas can ask these questions.

Gov. Greg Abbott had asked both the House and the Senate to form new committees after the shooting, declining to call legislators back to Austin for a special session. He tasked them with evaluating five subject areas: school safety, police training, social media, mental health and firearm safety.

The Senate committee discussed the first three topics on Tuesday and will cover the last two on Wednesday.

Democrats have been pushing for new gun safety laws, such as raising the age to purchase assault-style weapons, but the states GOP majority has rejected any efforts to restrict firearm access.

Instead, Texas top Republicans have focused their response on boosting mental health services and school safety measures, such as limiting access points and placing more armed officials at schools.

Edward McKinley contributed reporting.

edward.mckinley@chron.com

jasper.scherer@chron.com

cayla.harris@express-news.net
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Move over vinyl, CDs are making a comeback

While no one is suggesting that streaming is on the way out, the multi-year surge in vinyl proved that physical goods still have a place in record stores, on merch tables, and certainly in the hearts of fans.

But while vinyl has been getting all of the attention, another physical format  the CD  has been growing in popularity as well.

Last year CD sales grew for the first time in 20 years. According to RIAA data, CD sales jumped to 46.6 million in 2021  a 47.7% increase from 2020. But the number of CDs sold is likely much larger.

It seems pretty clear to me that, with most self-released CDs being sold at concerts, there is no sales tracking for the vast majority of discs sold, said Tony van Veen of leading CD manufacturer Discmakers.

Why CDs?

The theories behind the increase are many: some say it was driven by vinyl shortages while others tout the formats premium sound quality. Another major factor is cost.

At Discmakers a limited run of 100 CDs in full-color jackets can cost around $2 each. That same run of 100 vinyl records costs $20  $25 each. While per-unit costs drop with larger orders of both formats, the savings that CDs offer the artists and labels making them as well as the fan buying them are substantial.

Music As A Souvenir

Early in the shift to digital when South Korean teens began consuming all music on their phones, the local music industry pioneered music as a souvenir selling millions of 45s with digital booklets attached to kids who had never seen a record player.

With a little creativity and care and with a very small investment, artists of every size can use CDs to deliver a similar hands-on experience for their fans.

Bruce Houghton is Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank and serves as a Senior Advisor to Bandsintown which acquired both publications in 2019. He is the Founder and President of the Skyline Artists Agency and a professor for the Berklee College Of Music.

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Student Andrew Meaney try to properly fold an American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol with some help from American Legion members. St. Pierre and Lussier give the flag-folding presentation in the school playground. Students Tim Kupiec and Andrew Meaney assist. The flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol. St. Pierre says it is important to keep the flag taut while folding. Meaney said folding the flag was difficult and wasn't sure if he committed it to memory after one fold. An officer who attended Officer William Evans' funeral gave Abbey Little the flag. The flag will be displayed in the school. PreviousNext

St. Stan's Students Shown How to Fold American Flag

Flag owner Abbey Little gives a reading during the folding.

ADAMS, Mass.  Members of the American Legion Post 125 visited St. Stanislaus School recently to show students how to properly fold a special flag that was flown over the Capitol.

"It is a special flag," student Abbey Little said at the June 10 presentation.

Abbey said she and some classmates had attended the funeral for Officer William "Billy" Evans in 2021.

Evans, a member of the U.S. Capitol Police, was killed on April 2, 2021, when a driver slammed his car into a checkpoint he was guarding at the Capitol. Evans was a Clarksburg native and attended local schools. His funeral was held at St. Stanislaus Church.

Abbey said one of the Capitol Police who attended the service approached the students.

"We were allowed to go down the street and watch," she said. "He came over to us and gave us stickers. We told him how the school was planning a trip to Washington, D.C."

Little said her parents stayed in touch with the officer, and they planned to meet up during the trip.

"He said he would find us and he did," she said. "He presented us with a flag to represent our school that flew over the Capitol."

American Legion members Dennis St. Pierre and Thomas Lussier gathered a small crowd in the school playground to show how to properly fold an American flag.

Abbey gave a reading explaining what each fold represented as St. Pierre and Lussier folded the flag.

Students Tim Kupiec and Andrew Meaney tried their hand at folding the flag, something they noted was more difficult than they anticipated.

"It was difficult," Andrew said.

"I knew how to do it before, but my mind blanked," Tim said.

St. Pierre noted it was important to hold the flag taut and said there was a specific order to the folding

He then showed the students how to present the folded flag with a proper grasp and salute.

Teacher Angela Meaney said the flag will be displayed in the school with a certificate of authenticity.

"I think it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them to witness, especially with the way they obtained the flag," she said.
Strengthen your 'three-legged stool' for retirement

For many years, Americans provided for their retirement needs through three sources: employer-sponsored pension plans, Social Security income, and savings and investments accumulated through employer plans or individual accounts  the so-called "three-legged stool." But today, that stool is shakier than it used to be. What can you do to strengthen it?

To begin with, all three legs of the stool are facing challenges. Let's consider them:

Employer pensions  A generation ago, workers employed in many companies could count on a set monthly pension income to help them through their retirement years. Today, pensions  also known as defined benefit plans  are mostly found in public sector employment, as most private-sector employers have replaced their pensions with 401(k) and similar plans. These plans can be quite effective at helping build resources for retirement, but they do place most of the responsibility for saving on the employee.

 A generation ago, workers employed in many companies could count on a set monthly pension income to help them through their retirement years. Today, pensions  also known as defined benefit plans  are mostly found in public sector employment, as most private-sector employers have replaced their pensions with 401(k) and similar plans. These plans can be quite effective at helping build resources for retirement, but they do place most of the responsibility for saving on the employee. Social Security  Social Security has come under financial pressure because the workers-to-retirees ratio has declined significantly, according to the Social Security Administration's 2021 Board of Trustees Report. A number of proposals have been brought forward on how to improve the long-term financial security of the Social Security system.

 Social Security has come under financial pressure because the workers-to-retirees ratio has declined significantly, according to the Social Security Administration's 2021 Board of Trustees Report. A number of proposals have been brought forward on how to improve the long-term financial security of the Social Security system. Personal savings and investments  In terms of building savings and investments for retirement, the picture is somewhat mixed. The national savings rate has increased in recent years, but more than half of American workers still say their retirement savings are not where they should be, according to a 2021 survey from Bankrate, a personal finance website. And the same survey found that just over half of investors with a 401(k) or IRA have taken early withdrawals  that is, they withdrew money before they retired. Furthermore, we may be waiting too long even to begin saving/investing for retirement. A survey from Age Wave and Edward Jones found that respondents began saving for retirement at an average age of 38, but the majority said they should have started saving a decade earlier.

You have options for improving some parts of your own three-legged stool. For example, no matter what happens to Social Security, you can still decide when to start taking payments. You can begin collecting benefits as early as 62, but your monthly checks will be larger if you wait until your "full" retirement age, which will likely be between 66 and 67. You can even delay taking benefits until they "max out" at age 70.

As for a pension, you can't control what's available to you through your employer, but you can create your own retirement income stream by contributing as much as you can afford to your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan and by increasing your contributions whenever your salary goes up. And you can also contribute to an IRA or other investment vehicle to further boost your retirement funds. Try to leave these accounts intact until you need them for retirement. This will be easier if you've built an emergency fund, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account, to pay for unexpected costs, such as those resulting from a major car or home repair.

The three-legged stool may not be as universal as it once was  but you can still construct a sturdy structure to support your retirement needs in the future.
Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo 2022

21.06.2022 bis 23.06.2022

Art der Veranstaltung: Seminar Ort: Stuttgart Datum: 21.06.2022 - 23.06.2022 Veranstalter: ExpoBeds URL: https://www.expobeds.com/event/autonomous-vehicle-technology-expo Voranmeldung erwunscht: ja

Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo 2022 will return as Europes most influential hub for automotive innovation, research and development. Unfortunately, the fair could not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the health risks associated with public events during the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming expo dates have been scheduled as 21  23 June 2022 and will be shared with the leading quality control show for the industry  Automotive Testing Expo.



Hall 6 of Messe Stuttgart will host a state-of-the-art showcase featuring all aspects of autonomous and ADAS application. Exhibitors will present innovative software and hardware, AI and robotics solutions, testing and validation tools, engineering and consulting services. The show offers the perfect opportunity for automotive industry professionals to connect with leading providers of autonomous technology solutions, opening new possibilities for advancement in the industry. AVT Expo 2022 participants will also be able to attend the Autonomous Vehicle Technology Conference. Its two tracks  Autonomous Vehicle Test & Development and Autonomous Vehicle AI, Software & Sensor Fusion  will offer a variety of networking opportunities and the chance to gain expert insight on the latest developments in the sector.



Book a hotel for AVT Expo 2022 near Messe Stuttgart with ExpoBeds to benefit from special offers and exclusive room rates. Your comfort and convenience during the trade fair are important, and begin with the right accommodation. The ExpoBeds team will gladly help you organise your trip by suggesting the best Autonomous Vehicle Technology Expo 2022 hotel offers. Choose your accommodation directly on our website or contact us for a personalised travel quote!




iciHaiti - Reminder : 1st Student Job and Entrepreneurship Fair in Haiti





The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF - Caraibe) and the Swiss Embassy in Haiti are organizing the 1st Student Job and Entrepreneurship Fair in Haiti, with the support of the Franco-Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CFHCI) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti, (CCIH) on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hotel Montana, Salle Franck.



This unprecedented event will bring together chambers of commerce, experts, professionals, universities and will be an opportunity for students and young graduates to meet the Human Resources team of Haitian companies who are currently recruiting.



On the program of this Fair, also discussion panels, in particular a panel on Haitian student-entrepreneurs and a cross-talk between universities and companies around their main needs and the training offers available.



In addition, this show will also be an opportunity for the AUF and its partners (BRH, FOKAL, Sogebank Foundation and the Swiss Embassy in Haiti) to present the 30 beneficiaries of the ReSACE Project ( https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36303-haiti-economy-support-for-business-creation-2nd-cohort-list-of-beneficiaries.html ) from all over the national territory, who will receive funding of 10,000.00 dollars Americans each, to start their business.



Download the program of the Fair : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Programme-Provisoire-Salon__VF-1.pdf



Download the list of students selected to participate in the Fair :

https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Invites-postulants-Salon.pdf



Download the list of companies that will be present at the Show :

https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Companies-lists.pdf



IH/ iciHaiti


















State Duma passes bill banning foreign companies from tapping mineral resources in Russia

MOSCOW, June 21 (RAPSI)  The State Duma adopted a draft law imposing a ban on the issuance of licenses for developing Russias vital mineral resources to foreign companies in the third and final reading on Tuesday.

According to the bill, foreign citizens and companies will be banned from using the national subsurface resources. To continue working they must establish a legal entity in Russia and transfer the subsoil rights to them, the document reads.

The draft law also stipulates that valid licenses belonging to the foreigners are to be delivered to Russian individuals or returned to the unallocated subsoil reserve fund.

This ban will protect Russias economic interests, the State Duma Chairman believes. The need to make such a decision became obvious in the situation of sanctions pressure, he stated.




US, Taiwan Illustration: Xia Qing/GT

The US is expected to start annual high-level military security talks, known as the "Monterey Talks", with a delegation from the Taiwan authorities on Monday (US time). According to Japanese media reports, Washington is expected to list about 20 weapons for sale to the island, with emphasis on building "asymmetric capability."

Chinese analysts commented that it is very much daydreaming for the secessionist forces on the island to even think about containing the People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s military operations no matter what kind of US arms they obtain, as the so-called asymmetric weapons are "useless" when facing the PLA's absolute advantages.

According to Nikkei, the US has prepared a military to-buy list for Taiwan authorities including anti-ship missiles, air defense and early warning systems.

Taiwan-based media said that a delegation led by the head of the island's "security council" Wellington Koo would attend the "Monterey Talks." The event is normally attended by retired or active US military officers as well as representatives from the American Institute in Taiwan and arms dealers, experts told the Global Times previously.

Some US officials and lawmakers said one lesson of the Ukraine crisis is that the US must help transform Taiwan into a "porcupine" to deter potential attacks from the Chinese mainland, meaning that the island is suggested to buy large numbers of mobile, lethal weapons that are difficult to target and counter, rather than expensive, conventional platforms like the Abrams tanks, the New York Times reported.

The HIMARS rocket system and ammunition with a range of 80 kilometers might be included in the list, which is designed to boost the island force to counter PLA landing operations, and weapons to complement the upgrade of F-16V fighter jets, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles and aerial torpedoes could be also listed for the same purpose, military expert Wei Dongxu told the Global Times on Monday.

Wei pointed out that the weapons are not the most advanced ones, and most of them are outdated US weapons gathering dust, and they will have limited help to build "asymmetric capabilities."

Relying solely on the F-16v, an upgraded F-16, would never win Taiwan control of the air in a conflict against the PLA air force, Wei noted.

The US is caught in an awkward place where it refuses to sell the more advanced F-35 stealth fighters to Taiwan, for fear the secessionist forces on the island would provoke the Chinese mainland and lead to a conflict that Washington is reluctant to be involved in, he said.

Military expert Song Zhongping said it is impossible for Taiwan to form "asymmetric capabilities," no matter what kind of weapons it purchases from the US as the gap between the military capacities of the two sides is "too huge."

For example, the purchase of anti-ship missiles, such as the Harpoon anti-ship missiles to intercept PLA warships, would turn out useless, as the missiles would be destroyed as soon as the conflict starts due to the lack of surviving capability, Song explained.

"These missiles would pose no threat to the PLA as the PLA would hold complete control of the skies before an amphibious warfare bursts out between the two sides across the Taiwan Straits," Song explained.

The US wants the island to build its own intelligence-gathering system and sells a lot of facilities to it. But no matter what system the island builds, it would be controlled by the US.

It is also unrealistic to boost the island's anti-submarine capability by simply buying a few submarines. The island has only a few of them that can be counted by a single hand, and the current Sea Dragon and Sea Leopard are too weak to form a real force for combat, Song added.

The US is only after arms deals by constantly cooking up new concepts and making a profit by selling obsolete weapons, Song said.

The US has acted faithlessly, keeps regressing from its commitments and the consensus it reached with China, and attempted to weaken and undermine the one-China principle and use Taiwan to contain China. This is a major threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, the Chinese Foreign Ministry noted in the Reality Check: Falsehoods in US Perceptions of China released on Sunday.

According to Reality Check, in the military field, the US has sold weapons at a larger scale and with enhanced capability including assault weapons such as anti-radiation missiles, heavy weight torpedoes, and F-16V fighter jets. To date, the US has sold Taiwan arms worth over $70 billion.
Russia lodges protest with EU over transit ban to Kaliningrad region

MOSCOW, June 21 (RAPSI)  Russia has lodged a strong protest with the European Union against a rail blockade imposed on the transit through Lithuanias territory of a large range of goods between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the territory of the Russian Federation, according to the Russian Foreign Ministrys statement.

The EU ambassador to Moscow Markus Ederer was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministrys headquarters on Tuesday. The diplomate was told that the measures were inadmissible, had violated the relevant legal and political obligations of the EU and led to the escalation of tensions, the statement reads.

The Ministry also demanded the immediate lifting of these restrictions warning of further possible retaliatory steps.
Journalists Navika Kumar and Saba Naqvi have been booked under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for hosting a talk show and sharing a satirical social media post respectively. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the misuse of law against journalists and urges the Indian authorities to dismiss the criminal cases against the journalists immediately.

Journalists Navika Kumar (L) and Saba Naqvi (R) have been named in FIRs for allegedly 'affecting religious sentiment' in India. Credit: Twitter

Navika Kumar, the editor-in-chief of Times Now Navbharat, was named in a First Information Report (FIR) along with Nupur Sharma, the now-suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson.

Sharma, who participated in a television debate titled The Gyanvapi Files, hosted by Kumar on May 26, allegedly made an objectionable statement regarding the Prophet Mohammad and Islam during the program.

The FIR, filed by a Muslim cleric on June 14 at Nanalpeth police station, accused Sharma and Kumar of disrespecting Islam and affecting religious sentiment in the country. The BJP have since suspended Sharma from primary membership.

Both Kumar and Sharma were charged under Section 295-A of the IPC for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.

In a separate incident, freelance journalist Saba Naqvi was accused of damaging religious sentiment by sharing a satirical meme on Twitter about a symbol of the Hindu God Shiva, which was allegedly found in a Varanasi city mosque.

An FIR, filed by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operation unit of the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, accused her of violating Sections 153, 295 and 505 of the IPC, for promoting enmity between different groups, deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class, and inducing to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquillity.

This is the second time Naqvi has been charged in connection to social media posts, with an FIR filed against her and other journalists for a separate Twitter post in 2021.

The misuse of law to harass journalists is becoming increasingly frequent in India. In another example on June 2, the State Investigation Agency of Jammu and Kashmirs police questioned the interim editor of The Kashmir Walla, Yashraj Sharma, regarding an article published by the digital paper 11 years ago.

The IFJ said: The filing of criminal cases against journalists for television broadcasts and the sharing of social media posts displays the extent of the Indian authorities efforts to silence independent reporting. The IFJ urges the Indian government to immediately drop all charges against Navika Kumar and Saba Naqvi and ensure journalists are free from persecution and harassment.
Saber al-Haidari, a former Yemeni journalist working for foreign media outlets, was killed on 15 June after a device planted on his car exploded while he was driving home in the southern city of Aden, Yemen. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its local affiliate, the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) strongly condemn this killing and call for justice in the face of widespread impunity.

According to media reports, the car blast which killed the 40-year-old Al-Haidari also injured other passengers in the car. In recent years, he collaborated with international media as a local producer in addition to his work at the ministry of information.

Assailants are still unknown as no responsibility was yet claimed for the explosion. The attack echoes a similar car bombing in November 2021 targeting two journalists and killing Rasha Abdullah al-Harazi while pregnant and leaving her husband, journalist Mahmud al-Atmi, injured. This explosion is the last of a series of attacks in the countrys second-biggest city, and the seat of Yemens internationally recognised government.

The YJS condemns these repeated attacks and murders of journalists. It also expresses its frustration at the failure of the authorities to publish the results of investigations of previous murders in Aden, including the assassination of Nabil Al Qaiti, Adib Al Janabi and Rasha Al Harazi. It emphasizes that local authorities and security forces in Aden must shoulder their legal duties in protecting journalists and investigating attacks against them.

Both the IFJ and its Yemeni affiliate YJS made an urgent call to stop the systematic attacks on Yemeni journalists working for international media. The IFJ and YJS also condemned the systematic campaign of hate and incitement to violence against media workers in Yemen.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said:IFJ strongly condemns the killing of Saber al-Haidari and calls for those responsible to be held accountable and brought to justice for this crime. This latest attack on journalists highlights the recurrence of targeting members of this profession. To tackle the global impunity surrounding these crimes, the IFJ asks for the government to carry on a serious investigation of the killings and to communicate the results to the family, the union and the public."
Not enough resumes crossing your desk? Try following the lead of CEOs across the country and getting creative with whom you consider a potential hire.

Without enough traditional applicants, companies have broadened their scope and dropped requirements that would have been considered the bare minimum before the pandemic. About a quarter of CEOs have altered their hiring criteria, according to a new report from the Conference Board. The midyear study surveyed 750 executives between May 10 and May 24.

In an effort to increase the number of candidates, CEOs had their companies rewrite standard job postings, including lowering the number of required years of experience, the survey found. Some CEOs have decided to remove degree and certification requirements. Seven percent of C-suite executives instituted second-chance hiring practices to consider individuals who have been previously incarcerated. Hiring full-time workers has proved so difficult that a quarter said their company would rely more on contract workers in the future.

This could serve as a powerful remedy for the more than half of small-business owners who cannot fill their job openings, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. Many companies trying to increase head count report receiving few or no qualified applicants for open roles, with a quarter of business owners citing labor quality as their single most important problem.

Small businesses cannot count on patience to solve the issue. With the unemployment rate near a 50-year low and job vacancies at historic levels, the labor shortage shows no signs of abating. "The current picture is plain to see," Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said during a press conference in Washington, D.C., last week. "The labor market is extremely tight."

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We explain how smart contracts are executed, how they differ from traditional and electronic contracts, and their treatment under current Indian laws.

What is a smart contract?

A smart contract is any contract that is digitally equipped and that automatically executes the terms of an agreement by itself. The term describes computer program code that can facilitate, execute, and enforce the negotiation or performance of an agreement using blockchain technology.

To explain in laymans terms, we can say that the smart contract is a tiny computer program that stores the terms and conditions of a contract inside a blockchain. This purely digital type of contract runs on blockchain nodes cannot be changed. So, basically any contract is a smart contract if they store rules, verify rules, and are self-executing and run in a decentralized manner.

The essential characteristics of a smart contract are as follows:

No physical submission of documents required for the completion of the transaction.

The details of the transactions are recorded on the decentralized ledger wherein the details are protected, and user identity is anonymous.

It is not possible for anyone to alter the terms and conditions of the contract once the transaction is complete.

Transactions under smart contracts are irreversible in nature.

The Indian context

Section 10 of the Indian Contracts Act, 1872 states that a contract must satisfy basic elements  an offer, acceptance, intention, and consideration. Thus, smart contracts can be considered proper and valid contracts under Indian law.

Do smart contracts hold up under Indian laws?

While India does not have specific laws/statutes/regulation related to smart contracts, there are provisions under the Contracts Act, Evidence Act, and the IT Act, which can be applied to smart contracts. Yet, these create limitations for the use of smart contracts, as the legislation has not been updated to reflect technological developments

Section 10 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 speaks about the essential nature of a contract  all agreements are contracts if they hold the free consent of parties willing to contract, for a lawfully accepted consideration and with an object. When the same is applied to smart contracts, we see that there is offer and acceptance, hence, it could be said that smart contracts are validated and enforceable under Indian law.

But offer and acceptance are basic in nature and can be proved easily. However, the consideration has to be a legal one  for example, are such contracts specifically recognized under the law.

The IT Act provides that digital contracts are valid contracts and enforceable in the court. However, they should have the Digital or Electronic Signature by the Certified Authority authorized by the government. Here, smart contracts contradict this clause as it is decentralized in nature and there is no involvement of a government-controlled authority.

The Evidence Act provides in section 65B, electronic contracts are admissible in a court of law. However, there is a condition that these contracts must have a valid digital signature from the certified authority to prove their authenticity, which is mentioned in section 85B of the Indian Evidence Act. This again contradicts the requisites for a smart contract.

What is the difference between a traditional contract and a smart contract?

Function Traditional contracts Smart contracts Nature Physical contracts with printed documents. Computer codes provided online. Digital in entirety. Third-party interference Needs third party representation for creation and enforcement of the contract. No intermediaries are required. Automatically executed. Mutability Can be misinterpreted by changing the originality of the contract. Safe, secure and cannot be changed after the transaction. Time Time consuming and may takes days to execute. Automatically executed within minutes depending upon the contract. Maintenance Physical storage is another task for traditional contracts. High maintenance with safekeeping of the physical copy. Physical storage is another task for traditional contracts. High maintenance with safekeeping of the physical copy. Process Manual Automatic

What is the procedure to execute a smart contract?

Smart contracts work by following a simple if/whenthen statements that are written into code on a blockchain. We can briefly divide the process into three steps as stated below:

Step 1: Coding

These contracts are mostly written in a programming language, Solidity (invented by Ethereums core contributors). It is imperative that they do precisely what the parties want them to do. The code behaves in predefined ways and doesnt have the linguistic nuances of human languages. These codes are stored, verified, and executed on a blockchain.

Step 2: Transaction

As the transaction happens, a copy of the transaction is distributed to all the participants, say A, B and C, who validates the transaction in real time.

Step 3: Execution

Here A, B, and C are a network of computers executing the actions by verifying them. The actions here could be anything related to sending notice, registering a plot, releasing funds, buying NFTs etc. This network of parties updates the blockchain after this transaction gets completed, which means that the transaction cannot be reversed or changed.

Does that mean parties to the contract cannot add their own terms and conditions?

Parties to the contract can indeed add their own terms and satisfy their conditions before the transaction gets actioned. The parties have to agree at the if, whenthen stage and explore all the possible exceptions and define a framework for resolving disputes. All of this information is written on the blocks of a blockchain making the process fool-proof and secure.

Then this smart contract can be programmed by a developer  although increasingly, organizations that use blockchain for business provide templates, web interfaces, and other online tools to simplify structuring smart contracts.

What are the benefits of smart contracts?

No interference: Unlike traditional contracts, no intermediary, no broker, no third-party, not even a lawyer is required for smart contracts to be created or enforced.

Self-executing: Due to its automated nature, smart contracts have the potential to solve problems by themself.

Trust: Because of their decentralized nature, smart contracts have the tendency to facilitates trust, for example, in an international transaction between A & B, wherein A is in London and B is in Bengaluru, such contracts would be easier to use due to their automated and digital nature and encrypted records of transaction.

Speed, efficiency, and accuracy: As the contract is executed immediately after the transaction is done, there is no paperwork to process and it is done within minutes, providing a quick solution to manually filling in the documents in a traditional contract.

Transparency: As these contracts are coded, and cannot be altered, it creates transparency among the transacting parties.

Security: Due to the decentralized chain of transaction in the blockchain, wherein the records are encrypted, it is very hard to hack the contracts or personal information in the contract. A restrictive access is given to the parties only.

Savings: Unlike the traditional contracts, smart contracts remove the need for intermediaries to handle transactions and, by extension, their associated time delays and fees.

What is the future for smart contracts in India?

According to the Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2026, the market size for smart contracts was 106.7 million in 2019 and is estimated to reach 345.4 million by 2026.

Besides contract enforcement, technology can revolutionize the way contracts are performed. It is thus becoming more important for Indian government to act and frame the statutory guidelines for the use of blockchain technology and smart contracts.

Once appropriate regulation is in place, technology solutions and innovation can develop to provide highly functional and cost-effective outcomes and/or offer maximum utility  all while being secure and trustworthy and without contracting parties having to worry about legal liabilities.

For now, regulators and bureaucratic bodies within the Indian government have made some initial efforts to understand and enable the design and application of new technologies. Some of these are reflected in the table below:

Department/Board/Authority Action Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology National Policy on Software Products (2019) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India In exercise of powers conferred by section 36 and section 11 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act 1997. Ministry of Commerce and Industry  Integrate to Innovate Programme for Energy Start-ups  Coffee Board activates blockchain based marketplace in India Department of Banking Regulation Banking Policy Division Enabling Framework for Regulatory Sandbox

(The author is an external contributor.)
Residents of unfriendly states banned from registering legal entities in DPR - decree

MOSCOW, June 21 (RAPSI)  A decree of the State Defense Committee of the self-proclaimed Republic, prohibiting the registration of legal entities, the heads, founders or beneficiaries of which are residents of unfriendly states, has come into force.

The document also provides for a ban on the registration of organizations related to residents of offshore zones, which provide a preferential tax regime and (or) not providing for transparency of information financial transactions.

According to the decree, already registered companies falling under the new provisions are to ensure that the said persons be dismissed from their respective posts or excluded from the founders of such companies.

In case of non-compliance with this requirement, such legal entities are to be considered to have ceased their activities, and the Ministry of Revenue and Duties of the Donetsk People's Republic is to remove the respective entries from the Unified State Register no later than 3 working days from the date of expiration of the legally established period.
Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. Receive information of your transactions directly from Exchanges on your mobile / email at the end of day and alerts on your registered mobile for all debits and other important transactions in your demat account directly from NSDL/ CDSL on the same day." - Issued in the interest of investors.

KYC is one time exercise while dealing in securities markets - once KYC is done through a SEBI registered intermediary (broker, DP, Mutual Fund etc.), you need not undergo the same process again when you approach another intermediary.

No need to issue cheques by investors while subscribing to IPO. Just write the bank account number and sign in the application form to authorise your bank to make payment in case of allotment. No worries for refund as the money remains in investor's account."

www.indiainfoline.com is part of the IIFL Group, a leading financial services player and a diversified NBFC. The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others.
The PHE Directorate, Jalpaiguri Division, West Bengal has appointed Rudrabhishek Enterprises Ltd. (REPL), a leading Delhi-based infrastructure consultancy firm, to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Implementation of the New Piped Water Supply Scheme for uncovered areas under Jalpaiguri District Block-Mal.REPL will develop 21 DPRs to cover 72 communities in Jalpaiguri District's Mal block.The government envisages providing a safe and appropriate drinking water supply to residents in their homes in the Jalpaiguri division through this initiative, thereby significantly improving health and living circumstances.REPL will prepare Piped Water Network Systems, which will include a route survey using a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) (DGPS). It will also create a water distribution and transmission network layout plan.According to Dr. Harish Sharma, ED-REPL, "REPL will prepare the supply network for the specified block, including the rising main. All of the components of Pipe Water Supply Schemes (PWSS), such as OHR, TW, Pump House, and so on, will be included in the plans. REPL will develop detailed engineering and design papers, as well as cost estimates and bid documents.The company is already preparing DPRs for a piped water delivery plan in West Bengal's 'Katwa subdivision of Purba Bardhhaman District' for PHED to service 98 villages."Besides water supply projects, REPL works on infrastructure and planning projects for both the state and central governments across India. Smart Cities projects, PMAY, BIM consulting, GIS-based master plans, Roads & Highways, street vending designs, and an online building plan approval system are just a few examples.At around 2.56 PM, Rudrabhishek Enterprises' counter was trading at Rs168.60, up by 7.46% against previous close of Rs156.90 on NSE. So far in the day, it touched intraday high and low of Rs170 and Rs159.95 respectively.
Abbas Mirza, senior creative director of Kinnect, a digital marketing agency, shared a real-life story of his actor friend. In a long post, Mirza praised his actor-friend Saurabh Verma, who turned down a 'problematic' commercial.



Screengrab

Mirza wrote that Verma was supposed to be a part of the infamous and problematic Layerr Shot ads.

Screengrab

The "Controversial" commercial, aired on June 4drew a massive backlash for promoting "rape culture."



In a post shared on June 16th, Abbas Mirza wrote that his actor friend, Saurabh Verma, turned down the offer after a casting agent approached him to be a part of the ads.

According to the screenshot of the Whatsapp chat shared by Mirza, the casting team confirmed that despite Saurabh's request for a script change, they'd be going ahead.

After Saurabh Verma's plea was turned down and the group decided to go ahead with the 'problematic' script, the actor rejected the ad.

Screengrab/Abbas Mirza's Linkedin Post

Mirza wrote, "And for the people who work in advertising and are aware of the production-house or actor power equation, they will understand how audacious the demand is,"



Mirza's post also throws light on the fact that despite getting a reminder to revise the script, the team went ahead without Verma and continued their plans of making and airing the ad.

Read Abbas Mirza's full post here:

Both Saurabh and Abbas are winning praises on the internet.

Linkedin Screengrab

The two ads of the perfume brand Layer Shot sparked outrage among a large section of social media users, who claimed the advertisements sought to promote sexual violence against women.

While the problematic ad was taken off the air, the brand extended an apology, again touted as an excuse rather than an apology.

Twitter

Reuters

In letters to Twitter and YouTube, the ministry had said the videos were detrimental to the portrayal of women in the interest of decency and morality and violated Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code).



The I&B ministry had also said that the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) found the videos in violation of its guidelines and asked the advertiser to suspend the advertisement immediately.

(With PTI inputs)

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Recently, Pennsylvania became the 1st fossil fuel producing country in the United States to implement a carbon pricing policy in response to climate change. It joins 11 other states in which coal, oil, and natural gas power plants must purchase carbon credits with every tonne of CO2 emitted.

What is Carbon Pricing?

A carbon price is an expense associated with carbon pollution that encourages polluting industries to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Economists regard climate change as a market failure since it enforces enormous costs and risks on future generations who will bear the effects of climate change.

As per the World Bank, carbon pricing is the monetary value assigned to a company's indirect costs of pollution.

External costs (indirect cost) are those that do not directly affect business; for example, many industries reap the full benefits of fossil fuel usage while bearing only a minor portion of the climatic cost.

Unsplash/Representational image

Instead, public systems pay a socially tragic price, including crop losses due to contaminated air/water, and health-care costs due to heat/cold waves or weather extremes caused by global warming.

Carbon pricing is a financial tool used to encourage industries, households, and governments to reduce carbon emission levels and invest in cleaner alternatives. It assists in shifting the responsibility of pollution-related damage upon those responsible for the pollution, but it does not specify how or where pollution can be reduced.

Instead, it assigns a monetary value to pollution and gives polluters the option of reducing emissions or continuing to pollute while paying the price.

A country's government controls carbon pricing, taxes, and trade. Polluters pay these taxes to the government, which is decided by the government. According to economists, these taxes, ideally, must be used to either mitigate the additional burden of carbon taxation on low-income groups or to fund remedial initiatives to minimise the impacts of pollution.





Establishing a carbon price

A carbon price can be established in two ways. First, a government can impose a carbon tax premised on the carbon content of fossil fuels when they are distributed, sold, or used. This raises the price of those fuels and the goods and services produced with them, encouraging businesses and individuals to shift to less carbon-intensive manufacturing and consumption.

File image

The second strategy is a quota system known as cap-and-trade. The total permissible emissions in a nation or area are predetermined ('capped') in this model. Pollution permits are issued for the permitted emissions budget and are either assigned or auctioned to businesses.

'Social cost' of carbon

Economists argue that the social cost of carbon and carbon pricing must align in reflecting the true societal cost of rising carbon emissions. Carbon pricing policies in the United States have changed as governments have changed. The move to develop a country wide cap and trade programme in the United States failed in 2009 since Congress continued to debate whether global warming was even occurring.

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The Obama administration (2009-2017) began including potential damage figures in cost-benefit analyses for new rules. As the Trump administration (2017-21) reversed many of Obama 's policy initiatives, the social cost was reduced from 50 dollars to 7 dollars. They only considered domestic consequences rather than global consequences.

Now, the United States Interior Department is applying the social cost of carbon to oil and gas sales under the current Biden administration. Economists predict that the social cost will more than double because a rethinking of the government's energy strategy is required to keep up with the effects of climate change.

Unsplash/Representational image

The Biden administration's social cost of carbon calculates future climate damages in order to justify industry restrictions. American leaders are divided on this issue because it could result in significant losses for businesses. Other economies, such as Canada, have begun to take steps such as imposing fuel taxes on individuals and making large polluters pay for their emissions. According to the World Bank, 27 countries have begun to implement some form of carbon pricing.

How does carbon pricing work in India?

India currently lacks explicit carbon pricing or cap-and-trade mechanisms, instead relying on a variety of schemes that impose an implicit price on carbon. The Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme sets a specific power target of reducing pollution from energy-intensive industrial sectors. Industries that exceed their targets are given Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts), each being worth one metric tonne of oil.

Unsplash/Representational image

Those businesses that are unable to meet the targets must purchase ESCerts (from units that have met their specific goals) through centralised trading systems held by the Indian Energy Exchange.

Internal carbon pricing is a method used by the Indian private sector to voluntarily reduce carbon emissions so that investments can be channelled into cleaner and more energy-efficient technology to meet corporate sustainability objectives.





For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.
Indian army is not only known for its courage, determination and valour but for also for following traditions that go way back to the time of independence. There are certain rules and norms that are followed by the Indian armed forces which come down to their uniform as well.

Why is the colour of the uniform olive green?

Before India got Independence in 1947, the army used to wear khaki uniforms which were provided by the British troops. However, after the partition of India and Pakistan post-independence, the Indian army retained olive green uniform to distinguish them from the Pakistani troops.

During the 1965 war and the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, the plain olive green uniform was the standard combat attire of the Indian army. But the Indian army felt the need to introduce camouflage patterns with the changing times. Even though the army went for a new camouflaged uniform, they retained the legendary olive greens since the colour became synonymous with the Indian military.



Wiki

Camouflage uniform

This brush-stroked camouflaged uniform was first introduced back in the 1980s'. This uniform helped the soldiers to blend in with the surroundings so that the soldiers couldn't be detected easily.

PC DPM uniform

After this attempt, there seemed to be another need for change when it came to the uniform. So, in the early 2000s', the introduction of the modern PC DPM camouflage pattern was done. DPM stands for Distributed Pattern Material. Around this time all modern militaries were innovating with camouflage patterns. This uniform still prevailed as the combat uniform. The uniform was mostly inspired by the French Woodland DPM. While this did work in areas where there is thick vegetation, it didn't work in areas like Rajasthan which requires a desert camouflage uniform.

File Photo

New combat uniform

After nearly two decades, a new combat uniform was introduced this year on January 15th during the Army Day Parade. This uniform was designed in collaboration with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). Even though students and professors of the institute have worked well on it, the specifications were provided by the Indian Army.

It is ergonomically designed. It is operationally effective. And it has now eliminated the need to have different uniforms for different terrains  earlier there were uniforms for jungle warfare and desert warfare. Not only has the disruptive pattern changed, but it also has a lighter fabric for comfort.



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UN news, June 15, 2022

The Afghanistan people are experiencing some of the darkest moments in a generation the UN human rights chief told Human Rights Council on Wednesday.In the wake of years of conflict, and since the takeover by the Taliban in August last year, the country has been plunged into a deep economic, social, humanitarian and human rights crisis, said High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet.

Systematic oppression

She admired the courage of Afghan women in demanding their inalienable rights while facing a critical situation under increasingly repressive Taliban codes of conduct.

Ms. Bachelet cited a school ban affecting 1.1 million secondary school girls as well as other decrees, such as enforcing a strict hijab rule; barriers for womens access to employment - including for female NGO workers - barring women from taking part in public and political life; and severely restricting their freedom of movement, affecting their access to health services, livelihood and humanitarian aid.

Let me be clear: what we are witnessing today in Afghanistan is the institutionalized, systematic oppression of women, the High Commissioner spelled out.

Call for compliance

Afghan women are rapidly facing the worst-case scenario many feared.

Despite having ratified international treaties, including the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the de facto authorities are far from complying with their international obligations.

I call on the de facto authorities to honour their commitment to womens rights, to urgently create a meaningful dialogue with Afghan women, and to listen to their voices, she stated.

UN Mission insights

The senior UN official raised concern over the general amnesty granted to former officials and security forces, noting that the Human Rights Service of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) continues to receive credible reports of arbitrary arrests and detention, ill-treatment and extra-judicial killings  particularly of those associated with the former democratic Government and its institutions.

UNAMA also continues to record the impact of attacks on civilians, including in schools, at markets and on public transportation networks.

Ethnic and religious minorities have also been directly attacked. I remind the de facto authorities of their responsibility to protect all Afghans subject to their control, she stated.

Rights violations

Ms. Bachelet also expressed concerned over alleged human rights violations and abuses against civilians in the northern provinces, including arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, and torture, calling on all parties to the conflict to observe restraint and to fully respect international human rights law.

And despite Taliban authorities repeated commitments to respect human rights, civic space has shrunk rapidly and dramatically since their return to Kabul.

Restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right to participate in public affairs have all had a chilling effect on individuals and communities, reminded the rights chief.

Intersecting crises

Meanwhile, humanitarian and economic crises continue to have a devastating impact on all Afghan lives.

Amidst mounting unemployment, 93 per cent of all households face a high level of food insecurity with devastating impact on female-headed homes, aged persons, people with disabilities, and children.

And access to basic services, including healthcare, is also diminishing.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some 18.1 million people are in need of health services, including 3.19 million children under five.

Compounding all of this is the glaring absence of functioning national mechanisms to monitor human rights violations, severely limiting the ability to provide basic protection for the Afghan people, said Ms. Bachelet.

And the recent dissolution of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission the key national mechanism providing support for Afghans facing human rights violations  has also prompted her concern.

I urge the establishment of an independent human rights mechanism that can receive complaints from the public, and which can bring problems and solutions to the attention of the de facto authorities, the High Commissioner said.

Remaining an ally

She assured that UNAMA will continue to work with the de facto authorities to promote and protect human rights for all the Afghan people, documenting human rights abuses, outlining rights trends, raising individual cases, and advocating for accountability.

Representation is key

The UN rights chief reiterated some points that she had made during and following her visit in March, beginning with the need to move society towards peace.

The representation of all Afghans in policy and decision-making processes will be crucial to this end and require listening to the voices of women and girls as well as heeding the calls of religious and ethnic minorities, she outlined.

She maintained the need for concerted work by the de facto authorities, renewed space for civil society and support by the international community to uphold human rights for everyone in the country.

Let us all commit  with urgency  to make this happen, the High Commissioner concluded.
An Indonesian bride claims she was conned by her "husband" of ten months. According to the woman, the person she married was a woman.

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After meeting a man on a dating app, NA met the man (referred to as AA in documents). Their sweet love story took a noticeable turn as they tied the knot.



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According to legal documents, AA claimed to be a man who was a trained surgeon in the coal business. NA left her home after marrying to be with her husband.



In the ten-month relationship as a married couple, NA claims she and her family were duped and conned out of 16,531.

Unsplash/Representational Image

NA also wrote her story on social media after the case grabbed headlines in her home country, Indonesia.

After the groom could not present his civil documents required for a state-sanctioned wedding, they married in a nikah Siri arrangement, which is recognized by religion but not by the state.

Unsplash

The newlyweds moved into NA's parents' home. During this period, NA's parents started to suspect AA of not being able to back up his claims that he was a US-trained surgeon and a coal businessman.



Local Publication Coconut further added that AA and NA moved out of their parent's homes to live in Sumatra to avoid the spotlight. Na was confined to the house for several months, the report adds.

Na also alleged that AA controlled their finances, and after their daughter went missing, NA's mother contacted the police to track the couple down.

During a police interview, AA revealed that she identified as a woman, not a man; her real name was EY.

Unsplash/Representational image

AA was asked how she could manage to bluff for so long and how she hid her gender while having an active sex life as a married couple.



NA addressed a common question on social media by stating that before sex, EY would always turn off the lights and blindfold her.

After NA's parents reported EY to the police, revelations were made that they were conned out of IDR 300 million (around 16,537-Rs 15.7 lakh). According to the report, AA made her appearance in the Jambi District Court in Indonesia on Tuesday, June 14. The trial between NA and AA is still in court.

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8am, June 17, 2022

The Talibans Administration for Promoting Virtue has installed advertising posters in most parts of Kandahar depicting women without a head-to-toe cover as animals.

The posters read: A Muslim woman who does not wear the Islamic hijab pretends to be an animal.

In these posters, it is explained that short and tight clothes are also considered un-Islamic, adding that disobeying Gods order is a sin.

Earlier, the Taliban leadership had ordered women to cover their bodies and faces completely, except for their eyes, and to use the burqa, which completely covers their faces.

Taliban officials had warned that womens male guardians would be persecuted and punished if women disobey the order.

The Taliban have so far imposed severe restrictions on women, preventing them from working, traveling, educating and socializing.
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A just-passed state law allowing immigrants in the country illegally to obtain drivers licenses in Massachusetts is now the subject of a repeal effort.

Critics, including members of the Massachusetts Republican Party, are supporting the push to put the repeal question before voters on the November ballot. Activists filed initial paperwork with the secretary of the commonwealths office on Wednesday.

They now face the task of collecting more than 40,120 certified voter signatures and submitting them to local election officials by Aug. 24 and then delivering them to the state by Sept. 7  the 90th day after lawmakers voted to override a veto of the bill by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker.

One supporter of the repeal is Geoff Diehl, a Republican candidate for governor.

Its not what the people of Massachusetts want, Diehl said in a statement after lawmakers overrode Bakers veto. I will not sit by idly and watch the consequences of this bill take away the safety and democratic rights of Massachusetts residents.

Maureen Maloney, whose son Matthew Denice was killed in 2011 after being struck and dragged by a driver in the country illegally is also part of the repeal effort.

In 2014, a judge sentenced Nicolas Dutan Guaman on charges including vehicular manslaughter in the August 2011 death. Prosecutors said Guaman was drunk and driving without a license when he hit Denices motorcycle.

Both Democratic candidates for governor  state Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz and Attorney General Maura Healey  support the law. Wrentham business owner Chris Doughty, who is also running for governor as a Republican, opposes the law.

The new law is a win for immigrant rights groups that have long pushed for the measure. They have framed the law in part as a public safety measure saying that those seeking licenses will have to show they can properly operate a car and get insurance in the event of an accident.

By bringing all Massachusetts drivers under the same licensing standards, regardless of immigration status, this legislation ensures that everyone on our roads is identifiable, insured, and well versed in the rules of the road, Democratic House Speaker Ronald Mariano said earlier this week.

Sixteen other states and the District of Columbia have similar laws.

Baker has opposed the idea of allowing those in the country illegally to obtain drivers licenses, saying it would require the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles to issue state credentials to people without the ability to verify their identity.

With the changes, Baker said, a standard Massachusetts drivers license would no longer confirm that a person is who they say they are.

Under the new law, those in the country illegally will be able to apply for a drivers license if they can provide the Registry of Motor Vehicles with a foreign passport or consular identification document.

They will also have to provide one of five additional documents: a drivers license from another U.S. state or territory; a birth certificate; a foreign national identification card; a foreign drivers license; or a marriage certificate or divorce decree from any U.S. state or territory.

Baker, in his veto letter to lawmakers last month, also said the new law would significantly increase the risk that non-citizens will be registered to vote.

The new law takes effect July 1, 2023.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Massachusetts Personal Auto
BRUSSELS  Spain on Monday won backing from Europes top court in its mutli-million euros damage claim against The London Steam-Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association for a massive oil spill on its northwestern coast two decades ago.

The 2002 sinking of the Greek oil tanker Prestige, which was sailing to Gibraltar, released an estimated 63,000 tones of foul-smelling black fuel along the Galicia coast and forced the closure of Spains richest fishing grounds.

It led to a lengthy dispute between The London Steam-Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association Limited, the insurer of the vessel, and Spain.

The latter took its case to a Spanish court which subsequently ordered the insurer to pay compensation, capped at $1 billon, for the damage.

The London Steam-Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association Ltd. in turn initiated arbitration proceedings in London, which resulted in a ruling that Spain could only seek damages claims through arbitration in London under English law.

Spain then asked a UK court to enforce the Spanish ruling and got its backing in 2019. The insurer appealed, prompting the UK High Court to seek guidance from the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

The CJEU took Madrids side.

The arbitration proceedings initiated in the United Kingdom cannot block the recognition of the Spanish judgment ordering the insurer to pay compensation for the damage caused by the oil spill, judges said.

To accept that a judgment entered in the terms of an arbitration award by which an arbitral tribunal declared itself to have jurisdiction on the basis of such an arbitration clause may prevent the recognition of a judgment given in another Member State following a direct action for damages brought by the injured party would be liable to deprive that party of effective compensation for the damage suffered, they said.

The case is C-700/20 London Steam-Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee;Editing by Alison Williams)

Topics Carriers Europe Energy Oil Gas
Miller, the London-based independent specialist re/insurance broker, announced that James Hands will succeed Greg Collins as CEO of Miller. Collins will move to become chair of the Partnership Board, succeeding Graham Clarke who will retire.

The changes will take place on Jan. 1, 2023, enabling preparations for a smooth transition of responsibilities at that time. Leading up to then Hands will become CEO designate.

Hands is currently joint head of Special Risks for Miller and a member of the Group Executive Committee. In addition, Hands is also the executive sponsor of Millers Pride Alliance, whose goal is to ensure LGBTQ+ inclusion across the company. Hands joined Miller from Aon in 2015 where he was managing director of Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Collins was appointed as CEO in 2017, having joined Miller in 2004 to lead the professional risks business. Clarke became chair of the Partnership Board in 2017 having previously held the position of CEO of Miller from 2000-2016. He joined Miller in 1982.

Miller has been fortunate to have had a truly outstanding CEO in Greg, he has successfully overseen the business return to independence while building on the culture and values that have always made this organisation special, commented Clarke. I have no doubt that James will be a great successor to Greg, and am proud to be able to retire from my role as chair of the Partnership Board with the business in such fine shape.

It is an exciting time for Miller and, as we look to accelerate our ambitious expansion plans, now is the right time for James to step into the role of CEO. In the last few years James has been responsible for overseeing some of our key growth areas and has been closely involved in a number of the strategic hires and acquisitions we have made recently, said Collins.

Collins thanked Clarke for his 40 years at Miller. He has been central in helping create the business we are today, and I know, I like many others have greatly benefited from his wisdom, direction and experience.

Source: Miller

Topics Agencies
Five additional lawsuits have been filed accusing a southwestern Missouri boarding school of abusing students.

The lawsuits alleging physical and emotional abuse at Agape Boarding School were filed last week in Vernon County. All told, 19 lawsuits have been filed against the boarding school since early 2021.

Agapes doctor, David Smock, was charged in December with child sex crimes. He pleaded not guilty in March. Meanwhile, five employees were charged in September with abusing students. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has said he thinks many more workers should have been charged.

The latest lawsuits were filed by former students who attended Agape at various times between 2014 and this year. The lawsuits also name Agape Baptist Church, which oversees the boarding school.

The lawsuits seek unspecified amounts in damages.

Phone and email messages left Saturday with an attorney for Agape were not immediately returned.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Missouri K-12
A house explosion near St. Louis early June 17 that killed a teenager and critically injured several other people might have been caused by explosives used to make fireworks, authorities said.

The explosion at around 1:20 a.m. destroyed a home near the town of Black Jack. The blast was so powerful that it shook other homes and blew out neighbors windows, sending debris more than a block away.

Christopher Jones, 17, was killed in the blast, the St. Louis County Medical Examiners office told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Four others were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. Their names and ages were not released.

The local fire chief, Ankeneth Corbin, told the Post-Dispatch that young people were in the garage making fireworks with explosives.

If you buy 50 pounds of any explosive, you have just created a bomb, Corbin said. The ATF found numerous boxes (of materials) they had ordered online. Electrostatic, anything, can cause a spark.

Neighbor Nichole Thomas described the scene as pure chaos. She said she saw flames engulfing the home and a young boy and others running frantically.

Investigators with the regional bomb and arson squad spent the morning seeking clues in the rubble. The brick homes garage was leveled and the home itself was a burned-out shell with partial walls standing.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Missouri
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The insurtech industry has been around for about a decade, and experts say that while it has succeeded in bringing new entrants into the industry, it has struggled at times with distribution and customer acquisition. This is where embedded insurance is stepping in to fill some of those gaps, according to Sebastien Bert, co-head of strategic partnerships for the Americas at Swiss Re, on the most recent episode of Strategy Sessions.

Strategy Sessions is a monthly webinar series presented by Carrier Management that explores the biggest trends in insurance.

I like to describe embedded insurance as changing how insurance is distributed, Bert said. I like to say its a second act to InsurTech.

Bert said that Swiss Re began seeing a large new wave of entrants into the insurance industry around 2015 in what he described as the first InsurTech wave. A few years later in 2019, the company decided it was time to create strategic partnerships to address these new entrants.

It wasnt only for InsurTech, but we were seeing new entrants that were in the form of corporates that were doing embedded insurance, and that was something super interesting to us and a way to access new markets, he said.

Embedded insurance is an emerging area of the insurance industry in which insurance is wrapped into the purchase of a product, such as a home or a car, bringing coverage directly to consumers at the point of sale. Bert said that while historically, the insurance industry has spent its resources and money trying to bring the customer to where insurance is sold, embedded insurance reverses that.

We bring the insurance to where people live, shop and work, he said.

Most people have typically associated embedded insurance with simple products, such as warranty or travel, Bert said.

If you think about when you go on Expedia or one of these travel sites, and you check out at the end, and it says, Oh, if you want to buy travel insurance, click here, thats been around for a number of years, he said.

Now, thats changing as insurers realize more products can become embedded.

Think about everything thats changed in the last 10 years of how we buy product and services. Theres the digitization of the purchase, the customer journey, companies like Amazon, that have changed how we shop and buy, he said. Customers are looking for bundled products and more personalization, and that applies to all services, so insurance is not excluded from that. And if you think about the pandemic, that accelerated that trend.

He said products that are increasingly becoming embedded include auto, home, small business and even workers compensation. However, one challenge for insurers as embedded insurance expands into different product lines is around building the right partnerships.

Its a different type of partnership, he said. Youre working with a company that may or may have not ever had experience in the insurance industry.

The key to approaching these partnerships is thinking long term and considering any operational challenges that may arise, Bert said.

Youre dealing with infrastructure that is non-insurance facing, he said. You want that customer journey to be seamless  and the navigation from the non-insurance side to the insurance side to be a smooth flow.

Another big challenge when working with non-insurance partners is compliance and regulation.

I think most insurance carriers and reinsurers are well aware of the regulatory needs around insurance, but when youre working in other products and services, there are other sets of regulations that you might have to be cognizant of, he said.

Theres also a consumer protection element when it comes to the use of data.

The great thing about embedded insurance is that you have information on the customer that enables more of a seamless customer journey, but you also have to be aware of what type of regulations govern the protection of that customer data privacy and also the permission to use that data when offering a product, Bert said.

With so much to consider, Bert said the most important thing for insurers when seeking to expand into embedded insurance is to develop a strategy and a shared vision with any partners that will come on board.

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We started off in 2019 with an idea of, Hey, this is a market that we want to be in, both InsurTech and embedded insurance,' he said. But I would recommend insurance companies and reinsurers develop a strategy first. [Ask] what do you want to do? Because its a pretty big space, and there are a lot of new entrants. You have to figure out what your niche is first, what you want to do to grow and the right partnerships you want to go after.

Understanding the motivations of all partners involved and making sure theyre aligned is also critical, he added. Although embedded insurance is still a small segment of the industry, Bert is optimistic that will change over the next decade. As change happens, he said its his hope that insurance will become more accessible and affordable to not only fill these distribution gaps seen in the market for insurers but also protection gaps for consumers.

It takes time for these partners to onboard insurance within their products and services, so we foresee [that] this is going to take maybe five to 10 years to be a significant portion of the industry, he said. Where I think is really exciting is the generation of new insurance where people didnt buy it before. This is what we kind of dubbed the protection gap where people are either uninsured or underinsured, and they dont even know about it or just choose not to buy it just because the products are not affordable or are hard to access. This is where embedded insurance can really help bridge the gap.

Topics InsurTech Tech
Washington Examiner, June 20, 2022

Desperation among Afghans from all walks of life is again on the rise. Prices continue to spike, donor fatigue has hit nongovernmental organizations hard, and Taliban rulings affect economic participation.

Leslie Merriman has been distributing food packages to Afghan special immigrant visa applicants since September. At her latest food drop, delivery personnel were swarmed by hordes of hungry Afghans. "This week was the worst," she said, with "kids getting into the cars, being aggressive [and trying] to take food."

Merriman attributes the unsettling incident to continued joblessness, and rising food prices. Since September, she has seen a 400% increase in the price of flour alone. Merriman has previously provided Afghans with nutritious offerings such as eggs and citrus fruits, since vitamins are too expensive to source. Lately, purchasing chicken eggs has become too costly, though she says Afghan marketplaces are filled with cheap turtle eggs from China. Fresh fruit is "beyond a luxury," she told me. "Ive had to cut my food program back significantly," she lamented.

Abdul Bari Azimi, head of the Azimi Foundation, also told me of recent increases in prices for staples such as flour, oil, and rice. The number of orders he receives for food packages, however, continues to decline. Many of Azimis customers are nongovernmental organizations assisting some of the 160,000 eligible allies awaiting departure from Afghanistan. Some NGOs are running low on donations, and hitting a breaking point.

Ben Owen, the CEO of Flanders Fields, has had to turn away all but the organizations most dire cases. They gave 68 of the families under their care a 30-day warning to find housing. To help the families that needed an additional month to seek out a safe home, Owen donated funds from his company, BlackRifle Co.

Operation 620, which was long making due with a $1,500 monthly deficit, has been out of funds for more than 45 days. Without additional fundraising, Executive Director Doug Ramsdell says the group may have to curtail operations. Volunteer Stacy Gentile reports Operation North Star is also "dangerously close" to running out of funds.

Afghans without ties to the West are also affected greatly under current conditions. The BBC has reported that many poor Afghans are surviving on scraps of stale naan bread previously used as animal feed. Even doctors are experiencing economic troubles.

Orthodontic specialist Sima, whose name has been changed for her protection, has been her familys only breadwinner since her husband was forced to resign without benefits from his job at a Kabul bank. Sima has long feared that the Taliban will retaliate against her due to her former employment as a journalist and womens rights advocate. Restrictions on her current work create new concerns. Already, Taliban rulings forbid Sima from seeing male patients, and force her to wear a veil while practicing medicine. Recently, a colleague informed her that the Taliban have banned organ transplants and cosmetic surgeries for being against Islam. There are fears that the Taliban are considering banning orthodontics for the same reason.

Sima tells me that an employment-based visa to bring her husband and two small children out of Afghanistan would cost $15,000. "We dont have that kind of money," she explained. Her family is "struggling to meet [their] needs," she added. "You can imagine how things would be for the rest of the population."
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The hard market for cyber insurance, which is expected to continue for some time, and a lack of capacity has made captive insurers an attractive risk management option for corporations, said AM Best in a recent market report.

As part of its look at the U.S. cyber market, AM Best said captives can customize policies to allow parent organizations to assess damage and react quicker, but sufficient and reliable cyber data for captive insurers does not exist. They do not file with the National Association of Insurance Commission, with the exception of most risk retention groups (RRGs).

However, many captive domiciles have shown interest in having captives provide this level of detail, which will improve future transparency, AM Best said, adding, Both pure and group captives must understand and appreciate the great complexity that cyber poses and conduct detailed underwriting and risk management on the policies that they would offer. In other words, simply a hard commercial market should not be the main reason to transfer the cyber exposure to the captives.

The rating agency said some pure captives are writing policies with multi-million dollar limits and premiums, using third-party technology and forensic cyber consultants. Based on NAIC data, RRGs wrote about $19 million in cyber premiums in 2021, with limited coverage.

The growth of the cyber market  which overall saw direct premiums written, driven in large part by rate hikes, increase 75% in 2021  includes the creation of captives or specialty insurers by managing general agents or underwriters (MGAs/MGUs).

MGAs and MGUs benefit from working closely with their policyholder and insurance brokers. As a result, they are able to recommend measures for policyholders to improve their cyber profiles and practices, while they work with brokers to create customized coverage. At-Bay, Coalition, Corvus, Cowbell, and Resilience are prominent entities in this area, AM Best noted in the report, U.S. Cyber: The Hardest of the Property/Casualty Markets.

Growth in cyber insurance is far outpacing the rest of the property/casualty industry but claims are also up, AM Best observed. Claims on standalone cyber policies are the majority, as first-party ransomware claims increase. Claims on standalone first-party policies grew an average 38% over the past five years, though the agency said definitions of standalone and packaged policies appear to be open to interpretation.

AM Best predicted Berkshire Hathaways acquisition of Alleghany will move it into the top 10 cyber underwriters, currently led by Chubb, Fairfax, XL Re, Tokio Marine and AIG. The aggregate combined ratio of the top five insurers is more than 100, led by AIGs combined ratio of 154.2  most among the top 20 cyber insurers. The total combined ratio for the top 20 was 92.6 in 2021.

Even more concerning, actual underwriting expenses may be even higher than the overall line, AM Best said. Services provided during the underwriting process  evaluating cyber defenses in place, assisting in upgrading cyber defenses, and warning clients when threats are detected  all drive up underwriting expenses.

Organized by policies-in-force, Hartford by far writes the most cyber insurance policies, eclipsing the next three insurers on the list combined.

Related:

Topics Trends Cyber Insurance Wholesale Market
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The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a challenge brought by a former Xerox Corp executive and backed by Elon Musk to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule requiring people who agree to settlements with the agency not to deny its allegations against them.

The justices declined to hear former Xerox chief financial officer Barry Romerils appeal of a lower courts decision that the rule does not violate his free speech rights under the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment. Romeril agreed under the rule not to deny accounting fraud allegations he settled with the SEC in 2003.

Musk, the Tesla Inc. CEO and worlds richest person, is seeking to end his own 2018 SEC settlement. Musk in April signed on to a legal brief in support of Romeril. Musks settlement required a Tesla lawyer to vet some of his posts on Twitter, resolving an SEC lawsuit accusing him of defrauding investors by tweeting that he had funding secured to take his electric car company private, though a buyout was not close.

Defendants can contest SEC allegations, but an agency policy dating back to 1972 states that when they settle without admitting wrongdoing they must also agree not to contradict the agencys findings. If a defendant violates their settlement, the SEC can seek to undo it and litigate the claims.

Critics have called it a gag rule. The SEC has said dumping the rule would undermine its credibility and strain its resources by prompting more trials.

Romeril was one of six executives who settled allegations of inflating Xeroxs earnings by $1.4 billion in the late 1990s. He agreed to pay more than $5 million in penalties and be permanently barred from serving as an officer of a public company.

Romeril made a bid to strike the no-deny provision from his deal in 2019, which a Manhattan-based federal judge denied. Romeril then argued to the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the judge never had the authority to approve the settlement because it unconstitutionally violated free speech protections.

The 2nd Circuit found last year that Romeril had waived his right to free speech in order to avoid litigation, rejecting his argument that the agreement violated the First Amendment.
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has extended the policy cancellation date for failed insurer Lighthouse Excalibur to June 30 following the Louisiana Department of Insurances (LDI) action to secure additional reinsurance for those policyholders through the end of this month. Lighthouse policies were originally scheduled for cancellation on June 22.

Insurance agents working to place Lighthouse Excalibur, Maison and Southern Fidelity policies now have an extra 60 days to place those policies while maintaining coverage for policyholders after cancellation. Lighthouse Excalibur and Maison policies will be canceled on June 30. Southern Fidelity policies will be canceled on July 15.

Policyholders whose insurance policy is canceled will be covered by Citizens for claims occurring between their cancellation date and the date their agent binds a new policy with Citizens if that date is no later than 60 days following the original policys cancellation. This extension does not affect policyholders who find a new policy with an insurer other than Citizens.

With this change, Citizens will effectively provide coverage for Lighthouse Excalibur and Maison policyholders from June 30 through August 28, and for Southern Fidelity policyholders from July 15 through September 13, as long as agents place policies with Citizens by the 60-day deadline and it is a risk that meets Citizens guidelines.

Source: LDI

Topics Louisiana
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The question for the Mississippi Supreme Court was whether the amount of damages due an injured employee for her attorneys negligence should include the workers compensation benefits she missed out on.

The answer, the court decided last week, is yes, even though the extent and duration of the injury was never adjudicated.

After review, we find the Court of Appeals missed the impact of the law firms neglect on Chandlers ability not only to file but also to prove her workers compensation claim, Justice James Maxwell wrote for the majority in Turner & Associates vs. Lori Chandler. When this practical reality is factored in, we find the trial courts award is sufficiently supported by the evidence and should be affirmed.

The case involved the law firm of Bennie Turner, in West Point, Mississippi. In addition to being an attorney, Turner was a well-known television broadcaster and one of only a dozen African-American state senators in the Legislature. He served in the chamber for 20 years until his death in 2012.

The Chandler case began in March 2008, when Chandler was working at Cooper Tire Co. in northern Mississippi. She was driving a forklift when another forklift collided with her, sending her to the emergency room the next day. The court opinion did not convey the extent or nature of her injuries, but said they were enough that her doctor placed her on sedentary work restrictions.

Cooper terminated the woman three days later, saying the company didnt need help with secretarial work, the court opinion explained.

Chandler began physical therapy, but discontinued it after two months when she discovered she was pregnant. In August that year, she decided she needed legal representation and sought out the Turner firm. She testified that she met with Turners daughter, attorney Angela Lairy, although Lairy later denied meeting with the injured worker.

For reasons that were not explained in the court opinion, the firm failed to file Chandlers workers compensation claim within the two-year statute of limitations, dooming any chance at benefits, the Supreme Court noted. Seeing no action on her case, Chandler in 2011 contacted Turners other daughter, a case manager at the firm named Carolyn Karriem.

Instead of informing Chandler of the mistake in not filing the claim, Karriem falsely told Chandler that the firm was negotiating a settlement with Cooper Tire.

Not only was this false, but Karriem actually conveyed a fake settlement offer of $25,000, Justice Maxwell wrote in the opinion. Chandler rejected the offer, and over the next year, Karriem continued to concoct false statements about settlement offers of increasing amounts. About this time, Turner died and Lairy took over the practice, the court said.

Shortly after that, Karriem said that Cooper Tire had agreed to a $100,000 settlement. She sent Chandler a fake settlement agreement, which she signed.

After six months passed with no check in the mail, though, Chandler began asking questions. She soon discovered that there was no settlement offer and that a claim had never been filed. She hired a new law firm and sued the Turner firm, along with Lairy and Karriem, for legal malpractice.

The trial court judge awarded Chandler $50,000 for compensatory damages, based on her lawyers calculation that she was out of work for two years and should have seen two-thirds of her wages for the temporary total disability. The judge also granted $100,000 in punitive damages against Karriem.

On appeal, the Mississippi Court of Appeal threw out the compensatory damages, noting that Chandler had failed to support her injury claims with substantial medical evidence.

The high court found that the appeals court had erred, and restored the $50,000 in compensatory damages, bringing the total award in the case back to $150,000.

Were this a straight-up workers compensation case, we might agree with the Court of Appeals, Justice Maxwell wrote. But this is not a workers compensation case. This is a legal malpractice case. And it is at least partly due to the law firms negligencewhich is not in disputethat Chandler was unable to obtain the required medical proof to be compensated by the Workers Compensation Commission, had her claim been properly filed.

The high court noted that Chandler explained that after her child was born in late 2008, she was unable to keep up with treatment for her forklift injury. Her doctor also gave her the runaround, urging her to go through a workers comp attorney to finalize the claim, she testified.

In other words, through Turner & Associates undisputed negligence, Chandler lost not only the ability to file a workers compensation claim but also the ability to prove her workers compensation claim through sufficient medical evidence, the Supreme Court said.

The court remanded one question to the trial court  whether Lairy, now Angela Turner Ford, is jointly liable for the $50,000 compensatory damages.

Associate Justice Josiah Coleman dissented in the opinion, arguing that Chandler had never proven that her comp claim had value.

Attorneys in the case could not be reached for comment Monday.

Topics Medical Professional Liability Mississippi
California would be the first state to require gun owners to buy liability insurance to cover the negligent or accidental use of their firearms, if lawmakers approve a measure.

Guns kill more people than cars. Yet gun owners are not required to carry liability insurance like car owners must, Democratic state Sen. Nancy Skinner said in a statement.

She said the costs of gun violence shouldnt be borne by taxpayers, survivors, families, employers and communities: Its time for gun owners to shoulder their fair share.

The state of New York is considering a similar requirement in the wake of numerous recent mass shootings and a rise in gun violence.

In January, the Silicon Valley city of San Jose approved whats believed to be the first such insurance requirement in the United States.

No insurance company will cover the misuse of a firearm, predicted Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California.

He said such requirements are an illegal infringement on gun owners constitutional rights.

We dont believe you can put precursors on the exercising of a constitutional right, Paredes said. By requiring somebody to get insurance in order to exercise their right to keep and bear arms, that ceases to make it a right.

Skinner is amending an existing bill on another topic to allow gun owners to be held civilly liable if their firearms are used to cause property damage, injury or death.

The bill would also require gun owners to have insurance that covers loses or damages from the negligent or accidental use of their firearm. And they would have to keep proof of insurance with their firearm and show it to police if they are stopped for some reason.

Paredes had similar objections to a second bill that also would affect gun owners costs, this one by imposing an excise tax on firearms and ammunition.

The bill would impose an excise tax equal to 10% of the sales price of a handgun and 11% of the sales price of a long gun, ammunition or parts to build firearms.

Democratic Assemblyman Marc Levine estimated his bill would bring in more than $118 million annually that would go toward gun violence prevention programs.

Because it would impose a tax, Levines bill would require approval by two-thirds majorities in the Legislature. His similar measure last year fell four votes short of the 54 it needed in the 80-member Assembly.

The bills are among numerous firearms measures being considered by California lawmakers this year, including one that would make it easier to sue gun-makers and another that would allow private citizens to sue those who traffic in illegal weapons.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions California
The parents of three New Mexico children injured in a crash involving an Albuquerque Public Schools bus four months ago have filed a lawsuit against the driver of the speeding car involved and his insurance company.

The Albuquerque Journal reported Sunday that the 2nd Judicial District Court suit was filed on behalf of parents of two girls and a boy, identified only by their initials, who were passengers on the school bus.

The Feb. 23 crash sent five people to the hospital, including several middle school students.

Two students suffered serious injuries including a broken pelvis and a broken femur that required surgery.

The 50-year-old driver of the car involved in the crash allegedly was racing another vehicle at more than 100 mph in a 40 mph zone at the time of the bus collision and facing a criminal trial.

According to the Journal, the lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for medical expenses and future physical and emotional pain and suffering.

The school bus driver has not been cited in the crash, but the suit alleges that APS breached its duties of care by failing to exercise reasonable care while operating its vehicle.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Auto Personal Auto Mexico New Mexico
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Global market trend 2022-2028 The emergence of Indonesian coal as the best energy alternative in Europe has also had an impact on the market for the amazon sell in own container by Newsintegra927

The emergence of Indonesian coal as the best energy alternative in Europe has also had an impact on the market for the amazon sell in own container

A number of European countries have recently approached Indonesia with the idea of importing coal, with Germany leading the way with an offer of 150m tonnes. In the context of rising commodity prices in the international market, this huge demand from non-traditional markets is undoubtedly a great boon for Indonesia's coal industry, but it is not so simple.

Europe has long relied on Russia for most of its energy, accounting for 50.2 percent of coal imports in 2020, followed by Colombia at 17.1 percent, the United States at 15.5 percent and Australia at 8.4 percent. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Europe has accelerated the process of energy "separation from Russia", which has also led to frequent energy crises, which are becoming more and more severe.

The European Council announced the fifth round of sanctions against Russia in April, halting the purchase, import, or transshipment of coal produced or exported from Russia from August. Europe has explored various options to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of Russian energy supplies, including coal, including alternative sources in the United States, the Middle East and Africa, as well as restarting nuclear power or developing alternative energy sources, but has yet to find a solution. That makes Coal-rich Indonesia a new target for European countries.

The US government is calling on all oil and gas producers, including Opec, to increase production so that high fuel prices can come down, Us Energy Secretary Granholm said, Sputnik, reported Tuesday. "The president of the United States is asking every supplier in the world to ramp up production," Granholm was quoted as saying in an interview with CNN. Including Opec and domestic oil and gas producers in the United States." She added that she herself planned to hold talks next week with the heads of U.S. oil and gas companies to discuss capacity shortages. She said experts expect gasoline prices to fall in the third quarter to $4.27 a gallon from $5 now, the report said. 'But it's possible that something big and unexpected happens that upsets that prediction,' she added.

Factors affecting freight forwarder amazon sell in own container Freight transportation

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In the general international trade process, the price of transport according to different modes of transport, price is also different. International freight rates are divided into sea freight, air freight and rail freight.

The specific amazon sell in own container freight rate can also be subdivided. For example, rail freight can be divided into passenger freight and freight. Shipping rates are also divided into tramp rates and liner rates. Tramp rates are also affected by market supply and demand relations at that time, while liner transport costs are relatively fixed. Airfreight can be divided into general goods, designated goods and special goods, and the specific transportation price is also determined according to the weight of transportation, at the same time, even if the volume is small, the weight is also counted by weight, but if the opposite is large, small weight, also according to the specific volume to calculate.

The choice of international logistics, the quality of logistics will affect the seller's store score, but also affect customer satisfaction rate.

Factors affecting the shipping price of amazon sell in own container

In the process of international transportation, there are many factors affecting the price of transportation, in addition to some fuel and labor costs, there are many important factors. For example, the nature of the amazon sell in own container, its own value and packaging form, as well as stowage factor and transporter's requirements for transportation, etc. There will be some fixed costs during the use of the ship, such as the ship's maintenance insurance and fuel consumption. There is also the change of supply and demand in the amazon sell in own container market. In the transport off-season, transport prices are relatively low, in the transport of the peak season, transport prices will be relatively high.

Logistics advantages of the amazon sell in own container in the destination country and region

In Eastern Europe, DHL has advantages in Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Hungary and other places while EMS has advantages in Greece, Russia, Turkey and other places. Western Europe, Northern Europe, southern Europe can use DHL international express, TNT international express, these two kinds of customs clearance capacity. TNT has a clear advantage in the Netherlands and Belgium.

For Canada, the United States and other American countries, FedEx, UPS and DHL are all suitable for their strong customs clearance capacity and fast time.

Applicable to Asia, South Korea, Japan, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries DHL, FedEx. DHL and FedEx are time-saving, but THE price of DHL is higher. Indonesia also suggests USING DHL because it has a stronger customs clearance capacity.

In Oceania, DHL and UPS aging fast, with high prices; TNT and FedEx have lower prices but relatively few outlets. Particular attention should be paid to the "Made in China" label on the packaging of Australian products.

Middle East express ARAMEX, EMS for Middle East region. Commercial express in Africa is very expensive. In remote areas, IT is suggested to send EMS international express. EMS countries have the strongest customs clearance capacity. The air express amazon sell in own container can reach many countries and regions that commercial express and postal express cannot reach, so the wide range of amazon sell in own container transportation is its advantage.

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Global superplasticizer for concrete admixture,superplasticizer used in concrete market trend 2025-2028 What does superplasticizer for concrete admixture do by Newsintegra927

Recently, the EU proclaimed new sanctions on Russia, including coal, timber, rubber, cement, and fertilizer, as well as high-end seafood superplasticizer for concrete admixture,superplasticizer used in concrete.





Superplasticizer used in concrete refers to the fact that after mixing, it can reduce the water demand of concrete under the condition of maintaining basically the same fluidity, thereby improving the strength and durability of concrete, or under the condition that the amount of cement used and the water-cement ratio remain unchanged , Add the admixture of concrete fluidity and improve concrete workability.





1. Lubrication effect: The polar hydrophilic groups in the concrete admixture superplasticizer are directionally adsorbed on the surface of the cement particles, and are easily associated with water molecules in the form of hydrogen bonds. The force of this hydrogen bond association effect far exceeds the molecular attraction between water molecules and cement particles. When the cement particles absorb sufficient water reducing agent, the surface layer of the cement particles forms a stable layer of solvated water by virtue of the association effect of R-SO3 and the hydrogen bonds in the water molecules and the hydrogen bond association between the water molecules. The film plays a three-dimensional protective effect, blocks the direct contact between the cement particles, and plays a lubricating effect between the particles.

2. Wetting effect: After the cement is mixed with water, the surface layer of the particles is wetted by water, and its wet condition has a great influence on the characteristics of freshly mixed commercial concrete. amount that can be reduced.

3. Water reduction effect:After adding a superplasticizer to the commercial concrete, the water-cement ratio can be significantly reduced under the condition of maintaining fluidity. The water reducing rate of high-efficiency water-reducing agent can reach 10% to 25%, while the water-reducing rate of ordinary water-reducing agent is 5%-15%, and high-efficiency water-reducing agent is also famous for this. The reason for the water reducing effect is mainly because of the adsorption and dispersion effect of commercial concrete on the water reducing agent.

4. Plasticizing effect:After adding the polycarboxylate based superplasticizer to the commercial concrete, the fluidity can be added without changing the water-cement ratio. The usual water-reducing agent can increase the slump of freshly mixed commercial concrete by more than 10 cm under the condition that the amount of cement used remains unchanged.





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With the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the market is increasingly worried about the potential disruption of Russia's energy supply. Geopolitical premiums have pushed up the price of crude oil and natural gas, and the energy price is expected to remain high in the short term. Affected by this, the market price of the superplasticizer for concrete admixture,superplasticizer used in concrete may continue to rise.



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Wildlife rehabilitation is a job for experts and hopefully, Ireland will soon have its own national Wildlife Rehabilitation and Teaching Hospital

In 2000, I spent a few amazing months helping zoologists from Australias National Parks service to monitor birds in the Simpson Desert  a vast beautiful desert in the centre of Australia. While we travelled around, doing bird counts, we camped overnight in the vacant quarters of old cattle stations. The bathrooms consisted of a row of galvanised toilet cubicles, covered by a rough tin roof. With such easy access, the building attracted lots of wild visitors, such as snakes, lizards, spiders and amphibians. On day one of our research trip, I found a beautiful green tree frog inside one of the toilet bowls, so I carefully caught it and carried it outside to release it back to freedom. The theme tune to Born Free was in my head as it hopped away. Feeling good about this successful rescue, I told the others about it, but was very embarrassed when my Australian colleague said why did you do that? That frog was living its best life, enjoying the only permanent water source for miles around!

Frog 'rescued' from toilet

Sometimes when we try to help a wild animal, we might actually make things worse. For instance, in the case of seal pups. Newborn grey seals cant swim straight away and over their first few weeks of life, must feed on their mothers milk and grow quickly, in order to develop the blubber and waterproof coat needed for life in cold water. This constant feeding uses up the mothers fat stores and eventually, she has to return to the sea to feed... but she will come back (unless she knows her pup is ready to enter the water itself, and her absence actually encourages him to do so). Well-meaning beachgoers see a seal pup on its own and often assume it has been abandoned or orphaned and must be rescued.

The same assumption is often made if walkers come across a young deer, which hides in long grass while the mother goes a little bit further to feed. The young deer is not in any danger and simply has the instinct to keep very still and quiet until its mother returns. Leverets (young hares) also hide in grass  often all day  before being visited again by their mother for quick feeding sessions.

At this time of year, BirdWatch Ireland gets a lot of concerned calls about small birds that cant fly. But there is usually a very good reason for this and its not a sign the baby bird is in any trouble. When a bird leaves the nest, it spends a few days on the ground, often hiding under shrubbery, where it exercises its flight muscles and practices short flights. But it is still being watched over and fed by its parents.

Blue tits in a nest

Its really important, in all of these cases, that humans dont interfere. It is very difficult to substitute the care of the natural mother and taking in orphans or young animals you assume are in trouble can actually put their survival at risk. In fact, its actually illegal to keep a wild animal in captivity  even for rehabilitation purposes  unless you have a licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Because wildlife needs such specialised care, it is always best to get advice from a local licensed rehab expert before undertaking a rescue; and, if it goes ahead, to hand the animal into their expert care as soon as possible. If you see a young animal on its own, but it looks active, alert and healthy, then it is still being looked after by its parents even if they are out of sight. Help is usually only required if an animal has obvious injuries or is cold and limp.

A pine marten is tended to by a WRI volunteer rehabber

Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland (WRI) is an umbrella organisation promoting wildlife welfare and rehabilitation, as well as supporting all the rehabilitators around the country who voluntarily give their time to wildlife rescue. The organisation encourages standardisation of care and provides professional development opportunities for rehabbers and veterinary surgeons and nurses. It is also in the process of building a much-needed hospital. Ireland is the only country in Europe not to have its own national wildlife hospital. Instead, for many decades, rehabbers have worked from their own homes or gardens to try to rehabilitate injured birds and mammals in order to be returned to the wild.

If you do need to get help from a local wildlife rehabber, it is really important to be polite and appreciative. They are almost always unpaid, and invest a huge amount of time and personal resources, alongside juggling their jobs and families. You might like to offer to help with the rescue or drive the animal to their home, or even make a donation to help cover their costs. Ive often heard of people arriving to rescue centres with kittens or dogs and expecting great praise and thanks, when really most rescuers are at the end of their tether and really dont need another animal to look after.

An otter pup

WRI is currently looking for help to build their new Wildlife Rehabilitation and Teaching Hospital in Mornington, County Meath. If youd like to contribute to their GoFundMe or volunteer your time or services, or to find out more about their important work see wri.ie

Irish Wildlife Matters is the WRIs excellent website which outlines what to do if you are worried about an animal and includes contact details for local rehabbers around the country.

Juanita Browne has written a number of wildlife books, including My First Book of Irish Animals and The Great Big Book of Irish Wildlife.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Three third-class pupils from a small Donegal school, who dreamed of creating an environmentally-friendly car for the Irish climate, have scooped a top engineering award.

Alex Murphy, nine, Georgia Green and Will Crawford, both 10, are the only students in their class at Robertson NS, Ballintra, Co Donegal, though they share a classroom with 13 others because their teacher, Wendy Patterson, also teaches first and second class.

Ms Patterson says the trio  whove been crowned national winners of Engineers Irelands STEPS Young Engineers Award  set about identifying something they wanted to improve in their community.

They looked at global warming and use of fossil fuels. They were very much inspired by current climate conditions and wanted to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.

So they decided theyd build a clean-energy car thatd be sustainable. They felt the best would be a car powered by the sun and by the rain, explains Ms Patterson.

Calling themselves the Robertson Eco-Roadsters, they created an innovative two-seater car comprising a creative roof system to collect and funnel rainwater to a hydraulic pump  and solar panels to absorb sunlight to help power the car.

To create the working prototype of this futuristic car, they used Lego and a construction kit, as well as lots of imagination and teamwork. They were inspired and motivated by local engineer Gerard McGranagahan  his visits were facilitated by STEPS Young Engineers.

He gave wonderful feedback and gave them confidence, says Ms Patterson.

Alex Murphy says the team are very happy with their creation overall, though theyd like to improve the quality of the wheels so the roadster will move more efficiently.

Will Crawford helped make the motor and gearbox and also liked making the design on the bonnet.

Georgia Green said: I enjoyed building the project, seeing our design come to life. We were very worried when our prototype didnt work on the first occasion. We had to deconstruct and rebuild it. Problem-solvings a very important part of engineering.

Ms Patterson says the big learning for the children was working as part of a team. Challenging their own thinking, delegating the roles that suited each others strengths and being flexible and inclusive to everyone were all part of it. It was interesting to watch them be very fair to each other. It really benefitted their problem-solving skills.

Alex says: I learned that sometimes we have to compromise and be flexible. Problems cropped up. We had to think of ways to solve these rather than get annoyed.

Proving that what they learned went far beyond engineering.

The next STEP

Robertson National Schools students faced stiff competition from 428 schools across Ireland.

These schools submitted almost 500 projects to this years STEPS Young Engineers Award.

The Award is coordinated by Engineers Ireland's STEPS programme, funded by the Department of Education and industry leaders.

The nationwide competition encourages third- and fourth-class pupils and their teachers to explore the world of engineering by developing a project that would help improve their local community.

Get involved in STEPS Young Engineers Award: exa.mn/Young-Engineers-Award
The HSEs annual report raises concerns about non-compliance with the HSEs own procurement rules, finding non-compliance equal to 144m last year.

In general, costs related to Covid-19 dominate the report and financial statements, published on Tuesday, including an ongoing effort to recover 42.5m spent on ventilators which were not delivered or not suitable for use.

The Irish Examiner has highlighted the problems with these ventilators, and the HSE has now recovered 12.1m which has been reflected in the 2021 financial statements, published on Tuesday.

All efforts are still being taken by the HSE to recover additional monies in this regard. The Comptroller and Auditor General team are currently working on a report on this matter, the annual report states.

The HSE was mandated by Government to source PPE with an additional sanction of up to 450m.

The cost price of PPE continued to be significantly higher due to ongoing worldwide demand, especially in the early stages of 2021 when additional purchases of PPE was made, the report says.

By December last year, the HSE held 73m of unused PPE stock, having purchased 170m worth during the year.

The statements show an estimated 12.7m worth of unused PPE can be donated overseas.

However, concerns around procurement in general are centre, with the report noting the HSE does not have a single financial and procurement system nationally.

A self-assessment review of non-competitive spend of projects costing more than 20,000 for last year indicates that excluding Covid-19 specific expenditure, the non-compliant rate is 16%, equating to 0.144bn

This review found: The estimated total expenditure on invoices over 20,000 is in the order of 2.37bn (involving approximately 36,000 invoices) which is 56% of HSE procurable spend in 2021.

The returns indicate non-competitive procurement was in the region of 19% (0.4bn) and noncompliant procurement was in the region of 9% (0.186bn) overall, including Covid-projects.

The annual report also discloses a non-cash adjustment of 71.4m for a HSE region identified only as Region A. Following a review, limited functionality of the financial system in use in there was found and that staff changes meant no one knew who was responsible for certain required actions.

During the pandemic, HSE chief executive Paul Reid was mandated to make necessary decisions are required within the all-Government and multi-agency approach of managing the crisis.

The report states the reserved functions of the board were returned to them on September 24 last year. Board chair Ciaran Devane is paid 80,000 annually.

The HSE spent 7,005,340 on salaries across medical and administrative.

The report notes spending on health across capital and revenue has increased in Ireland from 13.4bn in 2013 to over 21bn for this year.

Up to 2020, it says this translated into an increase of 40% per person compared to a 51% average increase for people in other OECD countries.

The spiralling cost of the new Childrens Hospital is highlighted in red as in the Corporate Risk Register. Cybersecurity and the costs of improving the disability services are also in this section.

Since the pandemic began, funding for health has shot up, and the report says for 2021 the HSE received revenue funding from the Department of Health of 20.6bn which was an overall increase of 1.2bn (6%) over 2020.

Breaking down the delivery of care, the report notes despite constraints, almost 20.5 million home support hours were delivered last year.
More women are coming to a company board near you.

The women on boards EU directive that was agreed last week will dictate a 40% female quota on corporate boards by 2026 and has been hailed as a landmark ruling for gender equality.

The EU also set a 33% target for women in all senior roles, including non-executive directors and directors, such as chief executive and chief operating officer. The proposal was first mooted 10 years ago, but was blocked by big member states including Britain and Germany.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: After 10 years since the European Commission proposed this directive, it is high time we break the glass ceiling.

There are plenty of women qualified for top jobs; they should be able to get them.

Today, 30.6% of board members in the EUs largest publicly-listed companies are women, with significant differences among member states from over 45% in France to just over 8% in Cyprus.

Irish publicly-listed companies have an average female representation of 32% at the board level, according to figures published by Balance for Better Business (B4BB), a Government-sponsored business-led review group set up in 2018 to ensure that women play a role at board level and in senior leadership.

Since the groups establishment four years ago, the share of women at the board level has jumped from 18% to 32%, which is striking. This has been achieved under a voluntary rather than mandatory or legislative regime.

Bias

MEPs have insisted that under the directive, merit must remain the key criterion in selection procedures  which should be transparent  as part of the agreement, which seems reasonable as, presumably, it is beneficial to nobody if less-qualified female candidates get preferred simply because they are women.

And in any case, it could inadvertently perpetuate bias because of a belief that people were not selected based on their skills and merit. Under the new measures, in cases where candidates are equally qualified for a post, priority should go to the candidate of the under-represented sex, meaning women.

Not everyone will agree with this positive discrimination. Pushing a particular agenda where candidates are equally qualified could be said to be an inverted form of discrimination, but then plenty of women could argue that they got passed over for plum positions because they werent in the 'boys club' and were the victim of bias (conscious or unconscious) in hiring positions.

Last week, Financial Times columnist Simon Kuper wrote that networks lead to the best jobs, including in government, where leaders like to recruit chums, caste-mates, and relatives.

The selection, he wrote, is chiefly for clubbability. The context for his comments was political elites, but could be said to apply within corporate circles.

New measures

Companies could be fined for failing to hire enough women on their boards and could see director appointments cancelled for non-compliance with the law. This would be done by the national courts of each of the 27 member states.

Member states will also have to publish information on companies that are reaching targets as a form of best-in-class peer pressure to encourage compliance.

The new measures may help with changing top-down structures in the workplace, as leadership inevitably sets the tone of any organisation.

Searches for female board members who may not fit the typical profile might bring more diverse experience and allow organisations to be more inclusive of different ideas, leading to improved and different company culture. Thats the theory, anyway.

Norway, which was the first country in the world to impose gender quotas on boards, scrapped its initial voluntary compliance regime in favour of a mandatory approach due to insufficient progress, threatening liquidation of non-compliant companies.

They achieved the 40% target within three years, and the percentage of female chairpersons on boards went from almost zero to 10%. However, some Norwegian companies deliberately de-listed to avoid the consequences of non-compliance, and the mandatory quotas did not translate into an increase in female executives.

Ireland leads the way

CSO figures released last year show that in 2021, one in eight chief executive officers in Ireland was female. According to research carried out by global headhunting firm Heidrick & Struggles, Ireland leads the global ranking for women in top jobs, with a higher share of top firms run by women than any other of the 24 countries surveyed, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and Singapore.

Such top CEOs include Francesa McDonagh at Bank of Ireland (soon to step down), Siobhan Talbot at Glanbia, Anne OLeary at Vodafone Ireland (soon to join Meta), Lorna Conn at recruitment company Cpl Group, and Margaret Sweeney at Irish Residential Properties.

Nonetheless, it is generally accepted that progress is too slow in increasing the number of female chairpersons (of the board) and CEOs both in Ireland and globally.

A report from European Women on Boards published earlier this year found that out of 668 companies, 50 had a female CEO, and just 9% of chairpersons were women.

Cultural shift

The National Womens Council of Ireland believes that a legislative quota of 40% is a blunt instrument, but a necessary tool if meaningful change is to be enacted.

Quotas, whether mandatory or voluntary, are not a panacea. A more general cultural shift may be needed.

Even if female gender quotas are achieved at board level, there are other obstacles to women progressing up the corporate ladder. Broader pervasive stereotypes and sexism existing in companies can be off-putting to women.

In May, Aviva chief executive Amanda Blanc spoke of her shock at being on the receiving end of misogynistic comments at the insurers AGM.

Comments from individual shareholders included that she was not the man for the job and that she should be wearing trousers.

Blanc has warned that sexism in the finance industry is increasing.

She wrote on the networking site LinkedIn: The more senior the role I have taken, the more overt the unacceptable behaviour.

Bro culture has always existed in capitalism. It can loosely be defined as a work culture dominated by arrogant, overconfident, obnoxious men, and can spill over into the sexual harassment of female co-workers. It has become synonymous with the tech industry, where women are in the minority, but it is by no means exclusive to it.

Any woman who has worked at the corporate coalface, unless she is particularly Pollyannaish, will have met a bro. In the interests of brevity, suffice to say that the male politicians who are enthusiastic about the prospect of increased women on corporate boards might like to look closer to home at the lousy rates of female political representation in Irish life and at the laddish, sexist, bro culture across political parties and in the Dail.

Of course, the new directive is aimed at highly-paid elite female executives (a tiny group) and doesnt begin to tackle the problems that ordinary working women experience daily, including the gender pay gap, lack of flexibility, and the perennial problem of childcare.

Neither does it tackle diversity and inclusion on a broader level.

Some might argue that corporate life in its current incarnation, with its savage hours, is unhealthy for anyone, irrespective of gender. And some women may not want to lean in to structures that they perceive as inherently patriarchal.

As Michelle Obama, criticising the brand of lean-in feminism famously espoused by Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook fame (also soon to step down), said: That shit doesnt work all the time.

But women should have a choice, and so the directive is to be welcomed.
Burma Five Villagers Tortured and Killed by Junta Forces in Upper Myanmar

The charred bodies of two Nyaung Pin Tal villagers who were tortured and burned by regime forces during a raid on the village in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region on June 19. Photo- Chaung-U Public News

Myanmar junta forces tortured and killed five villagers on Monday during a raid on a village in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region.

After being ambushed by local resistance groups, 80 military regime soldiers raided Nyaung Pin Tal Village around three kilometers to the west of Chaung-U Town.

The junta troops arrested eight villagers, including three women aged in their 40s and 50s, during the raid, the spokesperson for the Chaung-U Peoples Defense Force (PDF) told The Irrawaddy.

Five of the detainees: U Paw Kyi, 52, Ko Nay Wyne, 37, U Aung Min, 48, U Pyay Aye, 49 and an unidentified man were tortured and killed by the regime soldiers, according to Chaung-U PDF and Chaung-U Public News, a local media outlet.

Citing witnesses and evidence, the Chaung-U PDF spokesperson said that the five male detainees were tortured before being killed, as ropes, pliers and a hammer were found in the house where they were detained and blood was discovered on the floor.

Two of the bodies were then set alight after being dragged out of the house. Photos show two burned bodies, with one of the victims legs still tied up.

Another villager was tortured to death outside the house, but his body is still missing, said Chaung-U PDF.

The bodies of two of the other detained villagers were found in a house that was torched by regime forces before they left Nyaung Pin Tal Village on Monday.

A Chaung-U PDF fighter, Ko Toe Naing Win, was killed during a clash with the regime detachment and two other fighters were injured, said the Chaung-U PDF spokesperson.

Regime forces also looted homes during their two day deployment in the village.

The three women villagers detained by the junta soldiers were later released on Monday after being used as human shields while the troops returned to Chaung-U Town.

On June 14, a Myanmar military detachment that torched a village and killed four civilians was ambushed repeatedly by PDFs at three locations as it returned to Chaung-U Town.

They [junta forces] regard everyone opposing the military as their enemy. As the whole country is opposing military rule, all the people are their enemies. So they are treating civilians as the enemy and murdering them, said the Chaung-U PDF representative.

He urged people in Chaung-U to flee whenever they see junta forces as so many arbitrary killings of civilians are occurring.

Faced with daily attacks by PDFs and ethnic armed organizations, regime forces are responding with indiscriminate killings, torture, air and artillery strikes on residential areas, torching villages and using civilians as human shields, especially in Sagaing, Magwe and Mandalay regions and Chin, Karen, Kayah, Kachin and Shan states.

As of June 20, almost 2,000 civilians have been killed by the regime and over 14,000 detained since last years coup, according to the rights group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

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Under the National League for Democracy government, U Ye Min Oo also served as deputy Naypyitaw mayor and Yangon minister for planning and finance. He was elected to the Yangon regional parliament for Dagon Township in 2020 and was widely tipped to become the regions chief minister.

U Ye Min Oo was detained in Yangon the day after the Feb. 1 coup. He was tortured badly during interrogation and his ribs were broken. He recovered after receiving medical treatment, said a source.

He faces other corruption charges and a charge under Article 409 of the Penal Code for a criminal breach of trust with up to life imprisonment.

The regime accused U Ye Min Oo of handing out corrupt loans to businesses when he chaired the Naypyitaw Development Bank. He was given three years for each charge.

U Ye Min Oo, the former Yangon Region finance minister who was ousted in last years coup, was given 15 years in prison on five counts of corruption on Monday at a junta court in Naypyitaw Prison.

Myanmar Junta Soldiers Kill Three Civilians and Take 60 Hostage in Sagaing

NUG Acting President Calls for People to put an end to Juntas Planned Election

More than 5,000 civilians flee as Myanmar Junta Burns Villages in Sagaing

The Master of the Myanmar Juntas Skyful of Lies

AA Says Myanmar Military Gearing Up for Return to War in Rakhine

Five Civilians Killed and Burned by Myanmar Junta Troops in Magwe

We are Getting Stronger to Complete the Revolution: Karenni Resistance Leader

When Think-Tanks Get Terrorism Wrong: The IEP and Myanmar

Myanmar Regime Using Mytel SIM Cards to Track its own Soldiers

Families Worried About Safety of Villagers Detained by Junta in Western Myanmar

Myanmars Democracy Activists on Death Row Must Be Allowed to Live

Junta Watch: Regime Shrugs Off Outcry on Executions; Claims Troops Uphold Human Rights, and More

Thousands of Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh Rally to Return to Myanmar

Hell Hounds Are Loose in Myanmar; Who Can Stop Them?

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Burma France Pressured to Block Total's Payment to Myanmar Junta

Total staff at an offshore oil and gas project in Myanmar. / Total

About 459 civil society organizations have urged France to prevent the French oil and gas major Total from funding Myanmars junta through the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) on Monday.

Total and Chevron announced on January 21 that they will withdraw from the Yadana natural gas project in the Andaman Sea. Yadana is Myanmars single-largest source of foreign currency, generating more than US$1 billion per year, according to Human Rights Watch.

The European Union sanctioned MOGE in February but an exemption means Total needs French government approval to transfer money related to decommissioning oil and gas wells, environmental restoration and shares and other interests to MOGE.

By July 20 Total is due to hand over millions of dollars to MOGE, including US$250 million for Yadana and to bring in Thai-firm PTT Exploration and Production as the new operator, according to the Blood Money Campaign.

Ko Ye of the group told The Irrawaddy that France must decide if it wants to participate in crimes against humanity with the junta.

The French government will pay for the regimes weapons to kill civilians if it approves the exemptions for Total, he said.

The campaign is a civil society organization monitoring the regimes foreign income to prevent foreign businesses from working with the junta.

On June 4 the French foreign ministry and its embassy in Myanmar declared the regime illegal. The French Senate has recognized the National Unity Government as Myanmars legitimate representative.

MOGE has been a lifeline for military regimes for decades. An estimated 50 percent or $1.5 billion of foreign income came from oil and gas in 2020-21, according to pre-coup forecasts.

Since the coup in February last year, the regime has killed nearly 2,000 people and it uses airstrikes, artillery, arson, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests against civilians.

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73 Children Killed by Myanmar Junta Forces Since Coup
Burma Who is Behind Myanmar Juntas Ye-U Massacre?

Three junta soldiers were bragging about how many people they have killed and how they did it in a video found on a lost phone. / Radio Free Asia

The person most responsible for the deaths of 26 residents in Ye-U Township, Sagaing Region, recently reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA), is alleged to be the head of 4th Military Operations Command Brigadier General Kyi Thaik and Light Infantry Battalion 708 under his control.

The operations command, which is based in Phuu Gyi between Hmawbi and Taikkyi in northern Yangon Region, controls infantry units.

Light infantry divisions and military operations commands are formed for rapid response to enemy movements.

According to conversations between three Battalion 708 troops in the video obtained by RFA, the battalion commander ordered a sergeant to kill civilians.

The troops were acting on direct orders from a divisional commander, said a former captain who has abandoned the regime.

A battalion commander will seek permission from the division chief on how to treat captives. The battalion commander will follow the orders, he said.

Kyi Thaik was appointed in February last year following the coup. He has been in Sagaing since last year and returned to Phuu Gyi earlier this month.

After Brigadier General Phyo Thant was promoted to northwest commander in Monywa after the 2021 coup, Kyi Thaik succeeded him as operations commander.

Junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told RFA that the regime is investigating the case.

A similar incident happened in northern Shan State in July 2016 when a divisional commander, who ordered the death of detained villagers, was sentenced to five years in prison.

Light Infantry Battalion 362 under the 10th Military Operations Command raided Wan Tat village in Lashio Township on June 26, 2016, and detained five male villagers.

Battalion commander Major Tin Myo Zaw phoned his operations chief, Colonel Myo Aung, about the five detainees. Myo Aung ordered their death and Tin Myo Zaw kept a recording, according to the former captain.

After villagers and a lawmaker filed a complaint, seven soldiers, including Myo Aung and Tin Myo Zaw, were tried at a court martial at the northeastern command and given five years in prison.

Myo Aung spent less than one year in prison after the military chief Min Aung Hlaing granted an amnesty.

Myo Aung is a nephew of Aung Thaung, who was an industry minister under the State Law and Order Restoration Council junta. His cousin is the current naval chief, Admiral Moe Aung and one of Aung Thaungs sons.

Myo Aung has been a manager at Amata Distribution Co, an IGE Co subsidiary owned by one of Aung Thaungs other sons, since late 2017.

A striking major said the court martial should prosecute the division and battalion commanders and soldiers involved in the killings in Ye-U if someone files a complaint.

However, those with wealth and contacts will avoid any serious punishment, he said.
Guest Column Myanmars Neighbors Must Refuse to Engage With the Military Regime

Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) and Myanmar junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing pose for photos in Naypyitaw in January 2022. / AFP

Since last years coup the conflict in Myanmar has escalated dramatically, exacerbated by the collapsing economy and humanitarian crisis. This is not the first time the Myanmar military has staged a coup and then failed monumentally in its efforts to govern the country. However, the efforts of the international community to seek a peaceful resolution have not brought any tangible progress, with the military regime failing to adhere to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) peace plan, known as the Five-Point Consensus. Any well-meaning engagement with the junta only prolongs the current crisis by further emboldening the regime to act with impunity and to employ limitless brutality in its determination to hold on to power at all costs. Without concerted pressure on the Myanmar military from neighboring countries, the current conflict will only intensify.

Six decades of failed military rule

The Myanmar military had all the power and opportunities to rule the country effectively for six decades from 1962, but only managed to fail the country. Objectively, they did make an initial effort to serve the country. In the militarys golden era, after independence, the first promise it made was to end the civil war that erupted in 1948. Then, having vowed to be the guardian of the country, in 1958 the military took its first steps on the political stage by replacing the elected government for two years. After providing stability, the military honorably returned power to the civilian government in 1960. That was the first and last time the military kept its promise to return to barracks after political interventions. Since General Ne Wins coup in March 1962, it has never stepped down from the political stage.

In an effort to win the hearts and minds of the people, Ne Win cunningly adopted popular socialist principles and named his political party the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP). However, the BSSPs weak commitment to socialist ideals was exacerbated by entrenched corruption within the military, and led to the implosion of the Ne Win regime in 1988 as the Myanmar people grasped their opportunity and rallied for democratic reforms. But, sadly, the military took over again in 1989.

During the 1990s, the new junta swiftly departed from closed-door socialism and embraced the market economy. This was another attempt by the generals to adopt a popular development path, but also reflected its deep self-interest in retaining power. However, like its predecessor, the junta could not contain corruption and did not perform well. While Myanmars neighbors China and Thailand were opening their markets and lifting millions of their people out of poverty, the generals took the majority of Myanmars population into poverty. The generals blamed international sanctions for their economic failures, but still managed to accumulate immense wealth for themselves.

Politically, the generals were convinced that a Bamar Buddhist-centric ideology of ultra-nationalism would be the glue to bind the nation together and consolidate their grip on power. The once-revered nationalism that the original military had employed after independence was tarnished again by the military regime.

After all their failures, the military eventually tried to break from its notorious past and found a political exit with the political and economic reforms of the 2010s. The generals managed to convince Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters to bless their democratic reforms. Initial success led almost everyone to believe that Myanmar had finally found its own path to rejuvenate the country and rejoin the international community. But, while trying to reform, the military did not stop committing war crimes against ethnic minorities in the borderlands and failed to address entrenched institutionalized corruption.

But later on even Daw Aung San Suu Kyis image was tainted because of the militarys ongoing atrocities. The 2017 Rohingya crisis badly affected Myanmars image overseas. And by 2021, the military had presumably grown impatient and decided to consolidate its power further with another coup that led to them once again openly killing innocent people.

Over the last six decades, the military has never been able to govern the nation, no matter what widely-accepted ideologies it has employed.

Deepening public resentment of military rule

The militarys attempts at nation-building by experimenting with a spectrum of ideologies and policies only divided society and impoverished the country, while the military maintained its power and the generals enriched themselves. The misguided and exploitative use of those ideologies only made people feel closely associated with the militarys oppression. For the people, whether it was socialism, a market economy or even democracy, it was merely an apparatus used by the military to tighten their grip on power. And when the policies failed, the generals simply blamed the people for not cooperating.

Following the 2021 coup, the emergence of armed resistance to the regime did not happen overnight. Decades of living in poverty, entrenched corruption in the bureaucracy and deteriorating public services have deepened public resentment of the military. Only for a short period in the 2010s did people start to have hope that their lives were getting better and that their futures would be brighter. Since the coup, the juntas indiscriminate brutality and atrocities have reversed all those hopes. It became crystal clear for the Myanmar people that they must end the military dictatorship once and for all. The increasing brutality of the regime only makes people more determined to fight hard for their lives and their futures.

What can the international community do?

Like other countries in the region, Myanmar may also need a strong leader or a strong institution with a compelling ideology or narrative to hold its diverse peoples together. The Myanmar military tried to prove itself as such an institution and consistently failed. In the 1990s, when western governments isolated the then junta, China and ASEAN tried a different approach of letting the military regime integrate into the regional community in the hope that it would gradually change. But both China and ASEAN faced public outrage as friends of the oppressive military. This negative public sentiment eased only when the National League for Democracy government won the 2015 general election.

Currently, history seems to be circling back to this same point. It is important to note that the crimes the regime has committed since the coup already exceed its predecessors atrocities in the past decades. Consequently, any well-meaning engagement with the regime by regional governments or organizations will face much more intense public outrage and distrust than was expressed back in the 1990s.

For the international community, especially for China and ASEAN, military rule may be considered the natural or default setting in Myanmar. Neighboring governments may expect that the junta can still achieve economic development and stability, even if it does not receive popular support. This is what the current generals have been trying to convince their neighbors will happen, by employing its traditional delay and defuse strategy. However, decades of military failures on all fronts and its current brutality against its own citizens demonstrate the opposite. Without drastic institutional reforms, the generals and the military will never became worthy rulers of Myanmar.

The coup has already reversed all the progress made by the militarys much-celebrated democratic reforms of the 2010s, which could be considered the militarys only success in its history. Following the 2015 general election, with the leadership of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the people still accepted the power-sharing arrangement between the military and civilian government. That was a negotiated settlement which is what some international actors are suggesting now. But the military has already departed from that path and the political climate has changed drastically during the current crisis.

Without concerted pressure to convince the military to return to barracks, stay under full civilian control and dramatically reform itself, the military will only continue to create further chaos for the country. History has shown that it is the military that has been the source of instability and poverty for Myanmar for decades. Any international hopes of the military restoring peace will certainly fail to sway the Myanmar people suffering from fresh physical and emotional wounds inflicted by the military.

The Myanmar people have come this far in their struggle against military dictatorship without any international support. They are challenging an established army by any means they can to save their lives and to imagine a new prosperous and peaceful country. People are strongly determined to fight for a future where military dictatorship ends for good and justice is achieved for the Myanmar people. Therefore, respecting peoples aspirations, it is time for the international community to help restore stability and peace by placing concerted pressure on the Myanmar military. If the military is faced with sustained and intense pressure, both at home and abroad, it will be have no choice but make concessions. Only then will the desired peace and stability for Myanmar be restored more quickly.

Aye Chan is the pseudonym of a public policy analyst and expert on peace, development, and politics in Myanmar.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated along with thousands of people in a Mass Yoga Demonstration at the Mysore Palace ground here on the occasion of 8th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on Tuesday, and said that 'Yoga has become a way of life'.

Integrating the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' with celebrations of 8th IDY, Mass Yoga demonstrations are being organised at 75 iconic locations across the country under the leadership of 75 Union Ministers, along with the Yoga Demonstration by the Prime Minister. The Yoga demonstrations are also being held by various educational, social, political, cultural, religious, corporate and other civil society organisations and will be attended by crores of people across the country.

The Prime Minister's Yoga programme at Mysuru is also part of the novel programme

'Guardian Yoga Ring', which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga's unifying power that surpasses National boundaries.

Since 2015, the International Day of Yoga (IDY) has been celebrated worldwide on June 21 every year. The theme for this year's Yoga day is "Yoga for Humanity". The theme portrays how Yoga served humanity in alleviating suffering during the Covid Pandemic.

Governor of Karnataka Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Union Minister for Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal were among those present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the yogic energy, which has been nurtured for centuries by the spiritual centers of India like Mysuru, is today giving direction to global health.

"Today yoga is becoming a basis for global cooperation and is providing a belief of a healthy life to mankind," he added. He said, "Today we see that Yoga has come out of the households and has spread all over the world and this is a picture of spiritual realization, and that of natural and shared human consciousness, especially in the last two years of an unprecedented pandemic," PM Modi stated.

He further said, "Yoga has now become a global festival. Yoga is not only for any individual, but for the entire humanity. Therefore, this time the theme of International Day of Yoga is - Yoga for humanity." He thanked the United Nations and all the countries for taking this theme globally.

Quoting the Indian sages, the Prime Minister emphasized "Yoga brings peace for us. The peace from yoga is not merely for individuals. Yoga brings peace to our society. Yoga brings peace to our nations and the world. And, Yoga brings peace to our universe."

"This whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us. And, Yoga makes us conscious of everything within us and builds a sense of awareness," he underlined.

The Prime Minister remarked that India is celebrating Yoga Day at a time when the country is celebrating its 75th year of Independence, the Amrit Mahotsav.

This widespread acceptance of Yoga Day, the Prime Minister said, "is the acceptance of that Amrit spirit of India which gave energy to India's freedom struggle. That is why Mass Yoga demonstrations are being organised at 75 iconic locations across the country which have been witness to the glorious history of India and have been the center of cultural energy."

"The experience of collective yoga at the historical sites of India is like tying together India's past, India's diversity, and India's expansion", he elaborated.

He also informed about the novel programme 'Guardian Yoga Ring', which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga's unifying power that surpasses national boundaries.

"As the sun moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One earth'. "These practices of yoga are giving wonderful inspiration for health, balance and cooperation", he added.

Modi pointed out that Yoga is not just part of life for us, today, it has become a way of life. He said Yoga need not be limited to a particular time and location.

He said, "No matter how stressful we are, a few minutes of meditation relaxes us and increases our productivity. Therefore, we do not have to take yoga as an extra work. We also have to know yoga and we also have to live yoga. We also have to achieve yoga, we also have to adopt yoga. When we start living yoga, Yoga Day will become a medium for us not to do yoga, but to celebrate our health, happiness and peace."

The Prime Minister said that today is the time to realize the infinite possibilities associated with yoga. "Today our youth are coming in large numbers with new ideas in the field of yoga. He informed about the Startup Yoga Challenge by the Ayush Ministry. The Prime Minister congratulated the winners of 2021 winners of 'Prime Minister's Awards for outstanding contribution for Promotion and Development of Yoga'."
BEIJING, June 21 -- Days ago, a brigade under the PLA 81st Group Army conducted a full-element and whole-process live-fire shooting assessment around the clock somewhere in north China, involving multiple types of artillery.
Fresh trouble seems to be brewing for former BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal as the Thane police on Tuesday served a notice to him in connection with a new case over the controversial remarks he made against Prophet Muhammad.

Jindal has been asked to join the probe on June 25. The case has been lodged against him by Mumbra Police Station on the complaint of one Mohammed Gufran Akmal Khan. The case has been filed under sections 153(A) (B), 295 (A), 298 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.

"This is to inform you that, Mumbra Police Station Crime registered Vide CR No. 528/2022 Section 153 (A) (B), 295(A), 298, 505 of IPC against you on the reasonable Complaint of Mohd Gufran Akmal Khan. Therefore, you are directed to remain present before me on 25/06/2022 at 11.00 a.m. at Mumbra Police Station, Thane, Maharashtra, State," read the notice.

Jindal was dismissed from the BJP after controversy erupted over his remark against Prophet Muhammad which was in support of suspended party BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's statement also against the Prophet.

The dismissed leader had also alleged that a few persons had followed him few days ago when he went to meet someone.

He had informed the police about the same.


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Russia's blockade of Ukrainian grain exports sparked fresh tensions with Europe as fears grow of a global food crisis, while Kyiv accused Moscow of stepping up attacks in the east of the country.

In New York, Dmitry Muratov, the Russian editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, auctioned off his Nobel Peace Prize gold medal for $103.5 million to benefit children displaced by the war in Ukraine.

Since being repelled from Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine following their February invasion, Moscow is focusing its offensive on the eastern Donbas region.

Its navy is blockading ports, which Ukraine says is preventing millions of tonnes of grain from being shipped to world markets, contributing to soaring food prices.

Prior to the war, Ukraine was a major exporter of wheat, corn and sunflower oil.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the Russian blockade "a real war crime", which was happening "while in the rest of the world people are suffering hunger".

Moscow denies responsibility for the disruption to deliveries and, following Borrell's comments, took aim at the "destructive" stance of the West for surging grain prices.

Growing concerns about a food crisis are "the fault of Western regimes, which act as provokers and destroyers," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was engaged in "complex negotiations" to unblock grain exports, although cautioned that there was no progress as yet.

In an address to the African Union, he also warned that the continent was a "hostage" of the conflict, and rising food prices "have already brought (the war) to the homes of millions of African families".

- 'Extremely tough' -

With the European Union set to decide at a summit this week on whether to grant Ukraine candidate status -- allowing them to vie for membership -- Kyiv has warned that attacks are escalating.

Ukraine said it had lost control of the village of Metyolkine. The settlement is adjacent to Severodonetsk, which has been the focus of fighting for weeks and is now largely under Russian control.

A chemical plant in Severodonetsk where hundreds of civilians are said to be sheltering was being shelled "constantly", Ukraine said.

Sergiy Gaiday -- governor of the Lugansk region, which includes Severodonetsk -- said the situation on the frontlines was "extremely tough".

"Every town and village under Ukrainian control in the Lugansk region is under almost non-stop fire," he said on Ukrainian TV.

Three people were injured and seven more missing after Ukrainian forces attacked oil drilling platforms in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, Moscow-backed Crimea leader Sergey Aksyonov said.

It was the first reported strike against offshore energy infrastructure in Crimea since Russia launched its invasion.

The city of Kramatorsk, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Severodonetsk, is yet to experience the intense battles seen closer to the frontline but residents are worried the conflict will reach them.

"People worry a lot about the war, everyone is stressed," Valentina, a 57-year-old food vendor at a market, told AFP.

Another food seller, Sofiya, 16, said it was "frightening" being so close to the frontline.

"But we are trying to hold on," she said.

- Stiller meets Zelensky -

In the United States, Novaya Gazeta editor Muratov's Nobel medal was sold to an as yet unidentified phone bidder.

Muratov, who won the prize in 2021 alongside journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines, and others at the auction expressed shock when the final bid came in at tens of millions of dollars more than the previous offer.

With US-Russia tensions soaring, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told NBC News that two Americans captured in Ukraine while fighting with Kyiv's military were "endangering" Russian soldiers and should be "held accountable for those crimes".

The interview marks the first time the Kremlin has commented on the cases of Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh, both US military veterans, according to NBC.

Denmark meanwhile became the latest European country to warn of potential gas supply problems when its energy agency issued an early warning, as Moscow reduces supplies in response to sanctions.

In a lighter moment, Hollywood star Ben Stiller met Zelensky in Kyiv, hailing the comedian-turned-president as "my hero".

"What you've done, the way that you've rallied the country, the world, it's really inspiring," said the 56-year-old, best known for roles in "Meet the Parents" and the "Night at the Museum".

burs-sr/dhc
JUSTICE INFO IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS Joanna Kyriakakis & Mark Drumbl

Why international courts have been so impotent at prosecuting businessmen? Why international law has shielded companies from responsibility in atrocity crimes? Would prosecuting a CEO be subversive enough or would it be cosmetic change? What if international law has actually hampered national efforts to hold corporations responsible? In a bold conversation, law professors Joanna Kyriakakis and Mark Drumbl attempt to unpack the reasons why so little has been achieved in going after the money trail.

JUSTICE INFO: Joanna Kyriakakis, in your thesis you wrote: Attention to business actors has been at best marginal in international criminal practice to date, despite repeated statements of intent by prosecutors to prosecute business actors for their part in international crimes. Why so many international prosecutors have announced that they would go after the money trail and failed so clearly?

JOANNA KYRIAKAKIS: I think there could be quite a few different reasons. One is simply the nature of international criminal law principles which makes prosecution of a financial accomplice in atrocities a challenging proposition. What needs to be demonstrated to show the very high level of criminal responsibility makes the prospect of a prosecution a little bit uncertain. Thats probably a primary factor. Other factors may be simply that they're not the most visible or not considered the most responsible of participants, because their participation is more indirect, which also might make the prospect of explaining those prosecutions less straightforward to a general public. Having said that, I think there are some clear indications that some of the international court prosecutors have a view that financiers of atrocity are in fact among those who are the most responsible. My main thought would be that it is ultimately about the challenge of meeting the principles and it has been largely untested since Nuremberg, with the exception of a few domestic prosecutions. So its an uncertain terrain.

Can you be more specific about these kinds of obstacles? What makes it so difficult?

JK: I am thinking about legal principles of complicity: when can we say that someone who helps another commit a crime is guilty of it when what they have provided might be described as a neutral contribution? In other words, if I have given you money, and you have used that for both lawful and unlawful purposes, under what circumstances am I responsible for your unlawful behavior as opposed to your lawful behavior? The first few prosecutions will, in a way, be the testing ground. I think they need to happen, because we need to understand better and more clearly the bright lines around when business is becoming criminally involved and when businesses are simply doing what businesses do, which is in some peoples minds amoral.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been under a lot of criticism for the choices of prosecutions, the times that it takes for those prosecutions, the challenges of getting guilty outcomes, and it doesn't seem like a climate that would be easy to be a pioneering prosecutor.

Why something that seemed to be very clear at Nuremberg  where they did go after some business executives  would be more complicated now?

JK: There have been some domestic efforts which demonstrate that it can be done successfully, in the right circumstances. But we have not seen that internationally, why? The principles that were applied at Nuremberg were, I would say, and Mark may disagree, prototypes of the principles we have now. There is an expectation now that principles that are going to be applied to an accused person would be clearer.

There is obviously also politics at play. The prosecutions at Nuremberg were in a really unique context: it was total defeat, there was an occupation of Germany that allowed access to large amounts of documentation. The politics now of criminal prosecutions are just very different and that has implications for prosecuting private actors, as opposed to other types of actors. There is a very different political environment that is at play.

What about [the responsibility of] corporate entities as a whole for atrocity crimes? That area is completely absent at the international level in terms of any kind of a vivid discourse.

MARK DRUMBL: My first reaction is that the conversation so far has been very narrow and in a sense very small. What weve been talking about is how to hook in an individual defendant who runs a corporation to mass atrocity and that relies on theories like aiding and abetting, material support, the role of financing in this process. And those theories would apply if someone was active as a corporate agent, just as they would apply if someone was a government agent, a non-state actor agent or any other agent that supplies, lets say, resources to a direct perpetrator of human rights abuses. So this whole conversation so far about business actors is still about individual people facing individual criminal liability.

Which belies what I think is the most important issue: what about [the responsibility of] corporate entities as a whole, regulated in their own legal personality, which they all have, for atrocity crimes? And that area is completely absent at the international level in terms of any kind of a vivid discourse.

So really, when were talking about business actors were talking about a handful of people whose connections to violence may be financial and who happened to be in a corporation. But that is an easy answer to the question of how we feel about corporate criminal responsibility because it focuses on a very traditional understanding of wrongdoing. It doesn't speak at all about structural issues of wrongdoing, which leads me to a second observation. Why corporations are not being held accountable and why are we having these small conversations that tinker on the margins instead of the really difficult conversation: how should we make corporations liable, and why are they not liable? Ill tell you why: because no one really wants them to be liable who wields any kind of influence in the making of international law.

At the negotiations to set up the Rome statute [that governs the ICC] when there were conversations about corporate criminal liability, as entities themselves, that went nowhere. Everyone was so desperate for a court that everyone said: Well, well just make sure that its only individual criminal responsibility for blood and flesh people, not entities with legal personality alone. So we dont want it  thats it! Thats the simple answer: the will is not yet there among powerful actors to establish this as a norm.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announces the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on 17 July 1998 at a Diplomatic Conference in Rome.  United Nations

Were just not comfortable in international criminal law with the idea of structural wrongdoing; were much more comfortable with blaming a small number of individuals.

There is no will because we live in a world where neoliberal capitalism is largely fetishized. Any societys transition from autocracy to sunny skies and sunny days is all rooted in a move towards neoliberal market-based economics. And as a result, I think conversations about corporate criminal responsibility go nowhere because were all enamored with a model of political economy that is rooted in the limited liability of corporations, which includes very little space for corporate institutional accountability for human rights abuses. And until corporate law is no more and is replaced with communal law, or whatever you might want to call it, were going to just be in the same very limited boat where the maximal possibility of conversation is a handful of really bad individuals running corporations, who will be deemed to be too sadistic or too savage or too unworthy of retaining the limited liability benefits that still accrue to the corporation. Were just not comfortable in international criminal law with the idea of structural wrongdoing; were much more comfortable with blaming a small number of individuals.

Joanna, do you agree there is such a systemic blockage that explains the situation were in?

JK: I agree with a lot of what Mark said, in the sense that there has been, clearly, a really sustained political opposition to corporate criminal responsibility in international law. If you look at the history, going right back to the early efforts to create the ICC, there's just this constant, sustained putting off of that proposition and preference for individual responsibility. I think its true that there just isn't sufficient support from powerful actors, because of the implications it would have for their benefiting from the particular economic model we globally operate under.

We sometimes underestimate the subversiveness of the proposition of heads of major companies being the subject of individual criminal responsibility for atrocity.

I agree with Mark that corporate responsibility would move us a little more toward a form of structural responsibility. But I think that there has constantly been powerful voices in support of the proposition. Quite significant states have supported the proposition at various points in time but never enough. In some ways, we sometimes underestimate the subversiveness of the proposition of heads of major companies being the subject of individual criminal responsibility for atrocity. I think that if that were actually to happen internationally it would be quite a subversive matter because, in many respects, the way in which corporate law is meant to operate is to protect these individuals who are at the head of these structures.

Some are arguing that those of us who advocate corporate responsibility  the entity being made liable  are actually supporting this whole kind of neoliberal capitalist system, because we are saying: Yes, its the company thats acting, it's not the sort of individual wealthy elite, you know international private actors. If we were to see that kind of individual prosecutions that would be quite subversive. But would we see that or would we see the sort of lower-level company officers being more likely to be prosecuted?

So here the idea would be that if you actually had an individual being prosecuted and convicted for such crimes, the effect on every executive of any corporation would be so big and so efficient that it would actually change the situation more than what Mark says?

JK: I think its possible. There's a prosecution that is taking place in Sweden at the moment of a chairman and a former CEO of Lundin Energy for the companys behavior in Sudan. Itll be interesting to see where that goes but that must be causing CEOs, chairpersons, and heads of boards a little bit of discomfort - I mean the idea that responsibility could be taken all the way up that level of a corporate chain. Ultimately there are individuals who are, in some instances, making these decisions. So I think that would be a subversive outcome in the space of corporate and business conduct.

I think there has been a pretty sustained, increasingly sophisticated conversation happening at an international level about companies being held responsible for atrocity. If it happens, we are likely to see it happening in domestic legal settings.

Having said that, there is a lot to support the move to actually make corporations responsible also and I do agree that they have been shielded. It will often be extremely hard to find an individual who you could properly say is responsible for the behavior of a structured system. And it may not always be appropriate. So I am in some ways in agreement with what Mark is saying, but I think there has been a pretty sustained, increasingly sophisticated conversation happening at an international level about companies being held responsible for atrocity. If it happens, we are likely to see it happening in domestic legal settings.

There are at least two high-profile current cases that everybody is referring to: Lundin before a Swedish court and Lafarge before a French court where they're actually prosecuting both the corporation and individuals. Is that an ideal situation in your view?

JK: Yes, it is. As I said, it depends certainly on the circumstances of the case, but if there is evidence that can connect both an individual at a high-level sufficiently with the crime, and also the company being used as an apparatus for that, then yes, I think that is appropriate.

A truck of the French cement company Lafarge. On 18 May 2022, the Paris Court of Appeal validated its indictment for "complicity in crimes against humanity" committed in Syria in 2013 and 2014.  Franck Fife / AFP

Mark, do you take these cases seriously or do you consider them as side shows?

MD: Well, everything has relevance and every show has a side to it, right, and I also don't mean to be a cynic but I think it's important to say that just because you see a star in the sky once that doesn't mean that you see an entire constellation. And I also think we need to be mindful of something else here: I completely agree that domestic spaces are the best to move forward  I would argue that for all forms of accountability for atrocity  but we need to be mindful of what is the role of international law in domestic prosecutions. We always seem to think that international law is inherently progressive, that it moves things forward, lifts domestic systems out of some purgatory into a more heavenly space, but when it comes to corporate liability, we can sometimes see the opposite.

Take, for example, the United States, the Alien Tort statute that ascribes tort liability to customary international law crimes. For about two decades human rights activists sued large multilateral and multinational corporations for human rights abuses and obtained monetary damages against those corporate actors. Now, a couple of years ago, the United States Supreme Court ruled that corporations could not be responsible for committing international violations of customary international law, that they lack the requisite personhood and hence could never be a defendant in those cases; you could only pursue a small number of individuals. One of the reasons the U.S. Supreme Court relied on was the lack of corporate criminal responsibility under international law, pointing to all the international criminal tribunals and the ICC, saying it meant that there was no reason to extend that into domestic law. So ironically, international laws reluctance to deal with it infected a national legal space or gave a pretext to a conservative court to say: ah! we're going to reverse previous decisions and you can't have corporate responsibility for serious international crimes!

I think we need to be mindful that international law can lower as much as it lifts, and here we really see this kind of a lowering dynamic. We need to recognize that on the topic of subversiveness, there's also subversion and here, in a sense, international laws subverted a domestic legal process that had considerable expressive value.

If we look to international law to raise up domestic systems, its actually doing the opposite, it's pushing them down because of the limited scope that it has applied to atrocity.

JK: The dominance of the international criminal model in international law and dealing with atrocity has had the exact effect that Mark is speaking about. In both domestic systems and in the international system, theres always been a bit of discomfort with the idea of corporations, non-human entities, collective entities having the kind of moral agency that warrants the finding of criminal responsibility  in other words, the finding of a moral impropriety. This model being the dominant one internationally in responses to atrocity has been at least a part of the picture as to why international law has pushed to the margins or not wanted to deal with corporate accountability for atrocity. And the effect of that is, if we look to international law to raise up domestic systems, its actually doing the opposite, it's pushing them down because of the limited scope that it has applied to atrocity.

Whereas in domestic systems we have multiple accountability models  we have tort law, we have administrative law  and these are traditionally areas of accountability that we have been more comfortable with applying to the non-human entity. I absolutely agree that international law has perhaps held us back for some time in what domestic courts might have pursued.

I really don't think international law is the answer; it's too anemic, it's too territorial, its itself too compromised. I think the only response can be political revolution at a national level.

MD: The entire conversation about corporations so far has been predicated on their proclivity to be complicit in international wrongs or, structurally, to themselves organizationally inflict these wrongs. Perhaps conversations about corporate responsibility and personhood in that space might also proceed better if we looked at different personality traits that corporations themselves may have.

Another is the corporation as a tool to secure justice or to punish others. Take Russia, Ukraine, for example. The extensive divestment that's occurring in the Russian Federation, corporate decisions to relocate, to move outside, governmental use of embargoes and economic sanctions, arguably are putting both those sanctions and these entities in a different role than wrongdoer, but almost as justice makers or pursuers of justice, in a sense.

And let's be honest: there's another angle that corporations have, which can also be as indispensable to the overall running and financing of the very mechanisms of international law, that have this love-hate relationship with them. Corporations, philanthropy and capitalism can fund lots of things, including the entire industry of human rights protection. So I think current corporate liability is reflective of the very ambiguous, nuanced and complex personality traits of corporate entities.

I really don't think international law is the answer; it's too anemic, it's too territorial, its itself too compromised. I think the only response can be political revolution at a national level, in which a different political approach to political economy is established. Maybe another way is to have a domestic penal or domestic corporate law that says: if you corporations are proven to commit certain wrongs, we're just going to eliminate you  you get corporate capital punishment. And then make sure that innocent shareholders arent affected by that. But I don't see any of this conversation coming from the International Criminal Court  this is like expecting a stagehand to play Shakespeare and it's just not going to happen.

JK: I think where I differ is that sometimes it is put a little bit too absolutely that international law and particularly the International Criminal Court cannot solve the problems that we're trying to address and something far deeper has to occur. Mark uses the term of revolution; we might say a radical rethinking of corporate law principles. I think that international law still has a part to play. There are efforts going on and the revised Treaty that's currently in place for business and human rights is trying to do some of what we're talking about; its trying to actually unpack some of the systemic advantages that have been given to corporations through the international and domestic legal structures that enable companies to do what they do, to operate global businesses largely immune from accountability.

Are you referring to the resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council to develop a binding international instrument on human rights violations by multinational companies?

JK: Yes, in 2014 a number of States led by Ecuador and South Africa brought the proposition that the international community of states should be working towards a treaty on business and human rights and, actually, that has been a fascinating political space.

Yes, there is a current effort to create a treaty on business and human rights. Despite an attempt to sort of put that completely off the table a fairly significant number of states have said: No, this is actually really important to us.

The debate over whether companies should be held directly responsible for human rights under international law has been going on for about 30 years. And there has been a very big pushback against the prospect of such a treaty; some corporations are very opposed, a lot of states are very opposed. But despite an attempt to sort of put that completely off the table a fairly significant number of states have said: No, this is actually really important to us. And they've started that dialogue again. So yes, there is a current effort to create a treaty on business and human rights, it's up to its third revised draft. Very interestingly, the draft does not propose imposing direct human rights obligations on companies, but rather is looking at ways in which to incentivize, enable states to fulfill their human rights duties by ensuring that companies are regulated adequately and to ensure that companies are brought to account when they are responsible for human rights abuses. And it's trying to do some gap-filling, as it were, to sort of have systems in place where a State doesn't do that because either it's complicit or it's just not in its interest to deal with the company's abuses on its territory.

Doesnt it already sound like a very watered down treaty?

JK: I don't think that this approach is necessarily a weaker one. I think you can have models of corporate accountability that are set up through an international treaty that actually places the burden on states which could be quite robust. These treaties are going some way toward trying to create a better equality of arms between victims of corporate human rights abuses and the corporations themselves, for example through rules around shifting burdens of proof, around ensuring that forums to hear the cases are available, that third states can be appropriate forums for litigation. I don't think that the fact that it doesn't directly impose international human rights obligations on companies necessarily means it will be a weak treaty.

From the perspective of victim communities, I can see how having some material settlement is at least something of an outcome that could have material benefits to their community, and that may make it a much better proposition then continuing to fight for decades in order to get a merit hearing

We see more and more of out-of-court settlements between corporations and the communities affected by the industry. Do you see this as just buying off disempowered victims or as a valuable justice response, concrete reparations as opposed to a symbolic condemnation?

JK: I wouldn't describe settlements as outside of the law: it is a legitimate way of resolving a grievance in a civil court. From the perspective of victim communities, I can see how having some material settlement is at least something of an outcome that could have material benefits to their community, and that may make it a much better proposition then continuing to fight for decades in order to get a merit hearing that for them may have value but may not be as significant as having some material redress. So I don't see them as necessarily problematic; they are a legitimate way for a community to feel some resolution in the face of what is a very difficult proposition.

From an international community perspective it's a shame, sometimes, because I do wonder if the cases that are settled are ones where companies feel there is some real prospect of a negative or an adverse finding [in court]. And it would be helpful, for many of the rest of us, if we could hear those adverse findings, so we learn more about what has happened, about what the law permits and doesn't. In that sense, it can be unfortunate. But if they result in important material outcomes and say something, still, to the community that this company takes the view that this matter warrants a compensatory outcome, I think that does have some expressive value.

MD: A lot of this conversation on the settlements reminds me of conversations in American economic history, and the economic history of all early capitalist societies with regards to injuries, for example that workers may have suffered while working for the corporation. The greatest example is the westward expansion of the railways, which we're seeing as part of the inevitability of American expansionism and is endemic to a lot of settler societies. Canada is very, very similar in this regard.

While those railways were being built, many of the injuries that workers occasioned in building those railways were terrible  extensive death, extensive grievous bodily injury. The kinds of harms that I think when concatenated together would almost rise to a level of endemic human rights abuse. At that time, corporations were immune from lawsuits brought by the workers in court. So one response to that were these kinds of settlements that you're speaking of where the corporation would settle out ex parte on its own or through an insurance scheme, the harms that it occasioned. And here I totally agree with Joanna: we should listen more to individual victims and if individual victims want money, then whether that's through a negotiated side deal or not, who are we to judge sitting here?

Western USA, 19th century. Mark Drumbl : "While railways were being built, many of the injuries that workers occasioned in building those railways were terrible [but] at that time, corporations were immune from lawsuits."  Bridgeman Images

Should we accept that corporate activity will inevitably trigger some human rights abuse? And if we accept that, ugly as it sounds, then perhaps we could have more conversations on global liability schemes that give financial support to afflicted groups and regions.

I think this behooves the bigger question which is: should purist applications of law apply to regulate corporate activity or should political, economic, negotiated, ad hoc solutions, like those that were part of American Labor history be accepted? Should we accept that corporate activity will inevitably trigger some human rights abuse? And if we accept that, ugly as it sounds, then perhaps we could have more conversations on global liability schemes that give financial support to afflicted groups and regions. But that means accepting that corporate activity is sometimes just going to hurt workers badly, and we don't care about intentionality, we just care about remedying the harm. And I wonder if that model would have a normative value, as Joanna suggested, because something is better than nothing, and now there's a lot of nothings in terms of redress.

But again, that falls outside the scope of international criminal law and, once again, it is more of an economic or political solution. So maybe we should have conversations about global insurance schemes that are set up for corporate wrongdoing in which there is no really hideous individual actor running a corporation that can be part of an individual penal process. I don't think settlements are ipso facto bad and maybe they could generate a broader conversation of having them become more legitimate.

The conversation that we have about corporate accountability tend to focus on the most extreme forms of violence. I think that conversations outside of that particular box would cover a much broader array of the pain that is inflicted by global capital.

So far the conversation that we have about corporate accountability tend to focus on, like international criminal law does, the most extreme forms of violence that are the most sensationalized and attract the eyes and ears of journalists and the global public. I think that conversations outside of that particular box would cover a much broader array of the pain that is inflicted by global capital.

It's very important for us to also recognize another limit of the International Criminal Court or any international institution. Many critical legal theorists have written for decades that it is often the most spectacularised forms of violence that become criminalized, or rebel groups who loose against more powerful governments. What I am hopeful for is that when we talk about corporate criminal liability it's not just to put, you know, IG Farben [a German chemical conglomerate that became a major Nazi government contractor] in the dock, the most extreme genocidal corporation, but to recognize the much broader forms of human rights abuses that are occasioned in that space that will never get to the level of The Hague, because they're neither sufficiently spectacularized, nor is there jurisdiction.

I think we're all three of us in agreement that the domestic place may put the best face on any accountability conversation. One other potential solution that I would suggest is that domestic statutes that regulate corporations have a much broader extraterritorial reach to them as opposed to the current reach. In the United States, a lot of the domestic regulation through law of corporations is limited to extraterritorial limitations unless the corporation has a very active presence in this country or at a minimum is registered on a stock exchange in this country. Even for financial crimes, the jurisdiction just doesn't extend. As we domesticate responses, we also need to interlink them more and more jurisdictionally to make sure that you can't just do a corporate disappearing act.

I agree that international courts are the spectacle but that the nuts and bolts happen somewhere else.

JK: The UN Special Representative on business and human rights made one point that was very important: there are no silver bullets when it comes to addressing corporate accountability for human rights abuses, if we're talking about corporate violence more broadly. I agree that international courts are the spectacle but that the nuts and bolts happen somewhere else. But if we're going to have spectacle, this should be part of the narrative, so that we really internalize the point that businesses are integral to atrocity and that they cannot occur without business participation.

The point Mark made about the importance of jurisdiction is one of the things that the Treaty is trying to deal with. Will it get there? Will it be strong enough? I don't know but it's trying to make it much clearer that multiple courts should have the power and the authority to deal with human rights abuses, even if they're not occurring on their territory. That is absolutely crucial, because at the moment, transnationally, litigants are so commonly stopped at the door by a whole range of procedural barriers.

You eradicate the corporation, you eradicate all these people's pension plans There are huge economic ramifications. We need to recognize this.

MD: Corporations internally are also very complicated actors. Let's say the corporation face its death sentence, is being eliminated ; we need to realize that many large corporations have huge amounts of investments that are made by pension plans, mutual funds. People who have been schoolteachers for 40 years invested in these big blue chip companies because they're stable and they have a safer yield, etc. You eradicate the corporation, you eradicate all these people's pension plans There are huge economic ramifications. We need to recognize this.

Individual criminal responsibility is always so much easier and that's why we have an international criminal court. Youre going after a handful of politically burnable and expendable people. Corporations, in our current neoliberal market structure, it's too tough to make them expendable. That's why I really think the conversation has to be with an utterly different set of actors than us. Maybe revolution is too strong a word; I'm not saying I support that revolution, I'm just being descriptive. To get corporate liability, you need a new model.

JK: The system has done an excellent job of making us all complicit. Maybe the climate change movement right now is changing the narrative a bit; there is some pretty strong movement going on for corporate shareholders to divest, to pay attention to what we are a part of. These movements are very connected, I think, to what you're talking about.

MD: On climate change, just like with broader corporate violence, we are all complicit. The fossil fuel industry has done an amazing job at making us all complicit. So therapeutically, maybe the first step instead of blaming the corporation, is for us to acknowledge ourselves.

Interviewed by Thierry Cruvellier and Clementine Metenier
Russia's blockade of Ukrainian grain exports sparked fresh tensions with Europe as fears grow of a global food crisis, while Kyiv accused Moscow of stepping up attacks in the east of the country.

In New York, Dmitry Muratov, the Russian editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, auctioned off his Nobel Peace Prize gold medal for $103.5 million to benefit children displaced by the war.

Since being repelled from Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine following the February invasion, Moscow is focusing its offensive on the eastern Donbas region.

Its navy is blockading ports, which Ukraine says is preventing millions of tonnes of grain from being shipped to world markets, contributing to soaring food prices.

Prior to the war, Ukraine was a major exporter of wheat, corn and sunflower oil.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the Russian blockade "a real war crime", which was happening "while in the rest of the world people are suffering hunger".

Moscow denies responsibility for the disruption to deliveries and, following Borrell's comments, took aim at the "destructive" stance of the West for surging grain prices.

Growing concerns about a food crisis are "the fault of Western regimes, which act as provokers and destroyers", said foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was engaged in "complex negotiations" to unblock grain exports, although he cautioned that there was no progress as yet.

In an address to the African Union, he also warned that the continent was a "hostage" of the conflict, and rising food prices "have already brought (the war) to the homes of millions of African families".

- 'Extremely tough' -

With the European Union set to decide at a summit this week on whether to grant Ukraine candidate status -- allowing it to vie for membership -- Kyiv has warned that attacks are escalating.

Ukraine said it had lost control of the village of Metyolkine. The settlement is adjacent to Severodonetsk, which has been the focus of fighting for weeks and is now largely under Russian control.

A chemical plant in Severodonetsk where hundreds of civilians are said to be sheltering was being shelled "constantly", Ukraine said.

Sergiy Gaiday -- governor of the Lugansk region, which includes Severodonetsk -- said the situation on the frontlines was "extremely tough".

"Every town and village under Ukrainian control in the Lugansk region is under almost non-stop fire," he said on Ukrainian TV.

He added in a statement on social media that Russia was heavily shelling Lysychansk, which sits across a river from Severodonetsk, saying there had been "catastrophic destruction".

Three people were injured and seven more missing after Ukrainian forces attacked oil drilling platforms in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, Moscow-backed Crimea leader Sergey Aksyonov said.

It was the first reported strike against offshore energy infrastructure in Crimea since Russia launched its invasion.

In the southern Kherson region -- which borders Crimea, and was occupied by Russian forces in the early days of the Kremlin's offensive -- Russian television was now broadcasting, the Russian army said.

Moscow has already introduced the ruble and begun distributing Russian passports in the territory, and a pro-Moscow official said Tuesday it could join Russia "before the end of the year".

The city of Kramatorsk, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Severodonetsk, is yet to experience the intense battles seen closer to the frontline but residents are worried the conflict will reach them.

"People worry a lot about the war, everyone is stressed," Valentina, a 57-year-old food vendor at a market, told AFP.

Another food seller, Sofiya, 16, said it was "frightening" being so close to the frontline.

"But we are trying to hold on," she said.

- Stiller meets Zelensky -

In the United States, Novaya Gazeta editor Muratov's Nobel medal was sold to an as yet unidentified phone bidder.

Muratov, who won the prize in 2021 alongside journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines, and others at the auction expressed shock when the final bid came in at tens of millions of dollars more than the previous offer.

With US-Russia tensions soaring, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told NBC News that two Americans captured in Ukraine while fighting with Kyiv's military were "endangering" Russian soldiers and should be "held accountable for those crimes".

The interview is the first time the Kremlin has commented on the cases of Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh, both US military veterans, according to NBC.

Denmark meanwhile became the latest European country to warn of potential gas supply problems when its energy agency issued an early warning, as Moscow reduces supplies in response to sanctions.

In a lighter moment, Hollywood star Ben Stiller met Zelensky in Kyiv, hailing the comedian-turned-president as "my hero".

"What you've done, the way that you've rallied the country, the world, it's really inspiring," said the 56-year-old, best known for roles in "Meet the Parents" and "Night at the Museum".

burs-sr/axn
Moscow warned Lithuania of "serious" consequences on Tuesday over its restriction of rail traffic to Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, as Kremlin forces made gains in Ukraine's strategic Donbas region.

Kremlin troops were causing "catastrophic destruction" in Lysychansk, an industrial city at the forefront of clashes in the eastern Donbas, the region's governor said. Ukraine confirmed Russia had taken frontline village Toshkivka.

Governor Sergiy Gaiday said "every town and village" in Ukrainian hands in Lugansk region was "under almost non-stop fire".

Since being repelled from Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine following its invasion in February, Moscow is focusing its offensive on the strategic Donbas region.

In the eastern town of Sloviansk, which could become a flash point as Russian troops advance from the north, local people were preparing to withstand attack and the authorities said the community would defend itself.

"We believe they'll beat the Russian scum," resident Valentina, 63, said of local Ukrainian forces.

The stakes are high. The town was seized by Russia-backed separatists in 2014 and then retaken by Ukrainian forces after a lengthy siege.

- 'Serious' consequences -

Russia's war of words with EU member Lithuania escalated on Tuesday, vowing "serious" consequences over Vilnius' restrictions on rail traffic to the exclave of Kaliningrad.

Lithuania says it is simply adhering to EU-wide sanctions on Moscow but Russia countered, accusing Brussels of "escalation".

Moscow summoned the EU's ambassador to Russia. Its foreign ministry said Lithuania's actions "violate the relevant legal and political obligations of the European Union".

On the ground, the police chief of the Kyiv region said victims of the Russian attempt to seize the capital city continued to be found. So far, the bodies of 1,333 civilians have been discovered and 300 people still missing.

On the maritime front, Russia's navy is blockading ports, which Ukraine says is preventing millions of tonnes of grain from being shipped to world markets, contributing to soaring food prices.

Prior to the war, Ukraine was a major exporter of wheat, corn and sunflower oil.

With European officials due to gather this week at a summit expected to approve Ukraine's candidacy to join the EU, Brussels foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the Russians' port blockade "a real war crime".

He said it was happening "while in the rest of the world people are suffering hunger".

Moscow denies responsibility for the disruption to deliveries and, following Borrell's comments, blamed the West's "destructive" position for surging grain prices.

Growing concerns about a food crisis are "the fault of Western regimes, which act as provokers and destroyers", said foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was engaged in "complex negotiations" to unblock grain exports, although he cautioned that there was no progress as yet.

In an address to the African Union, he said the continent was a "hostage" of the conflict, and rising food prices had "already brought (the war) to the homes of millions of African families".

The EU has pledged an additional 600 million euros ($635 million) to help vulnerable nations weather the food security crisis.

- 'Significant losses' -

In addition to Toshkivka, Ukraine said it had lost control of the eastern village of Metyolkine, a settlement adjacent to Severodonetsk, which has been a focus of fighting for weeks and is now largely under Russian control.

A chemical plant in Severodonetsk where hundreds of civilians are said to be sheltering was being shelled constantly, Ukraine warned.

But defence ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk told Ukrainian television that Russian forces had suffered "significant losses in the area of Severodonetsk".

"They are fighting under the old statutes of the Soviet era. This is a war for territory," he said.

Three people were injured and seven more missing after Ukrainian forces attacked oil drilling platforms in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, Crimea's Moscow-backed leader Sergey Aksyonov said.

It was the first reported strike against offshore energy infrastructure in Crimea since Russia launched its invasion and Russian lawmaker Olga Kovitidi said the complex was still ablaze.

- $100 million medal -

In New York, Dmitry Muratov, the Russian editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, auctioned off his Nobel Peace Prize gold medal for $103.5 million to benefit children displaced by the war.

It was sold to an as yet unidentified phone bidder.

Muratov, who won the prize in 2021 alongside journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines, and others at the auction were stunned when the final bid came in at tens of millions of dollars more than the previous offer.

With US-Russia tensions soaring, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told NBC News that two Americans captured in Ukraine while fighting with Kyiv's military were "endangering" Russian soldiers and should be "held accountable for those crimes".

The interview is the first time the Kremlin has commented on the cases of Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh, both US military veterans, according to NBC.

Spain said one of its citizens fighting for Ukraine had been killed in the country without giving further detail.

Denmark meanwhile became the latest European country to warn of potential gas supply problems. Its energy agency issued an early warning, due to uncertainty over hydrocarbon imports from Russia.

burs-sr/gw/gil
US Attorney General Merrick Garland pledged during a surprise visit to Ukraine on Tuesday to help the Ukrainian authorities prosecute war crimes committed during the Russian invasion.

"I'm here to express the unwavering support of the United States for the people of Ukraine in the midst of the unprovoked and unjust Russian invasion," Garland told reporters after meeting Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova at Krakovets on the Polish-Ukrainian border.

Garland announced the launch of a War Crimes Accountability Team headed by Eli Rosenbaum, a 36-year veteran of the Justice Department who previously led US efforts to identify and deport Nazi war criminals.

"America -- and the world -- has seen the many horrific images and read the heart-wrenching accounts of brutality and death that have resulted from Russia's unjust invasion of Ukraine," Garland said in a statement.

"There is no hiding place for war criminals. The US Justice Department will pursue every avenue of accountability for those who commit war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine," he said.

Venediktova thanked Garland for his support, calling it "very important."

"We all understand that we have huge enemies," she said.

Garland is stopping in Ukraine on his way to a US-EU justice and home affairs ministerial meeting this week in Paris.

Nearly four months after Russia invaded Ukraine, Kyiv says it has identified thousands of suspected war crimes cases.

Most notorious have been the allegations of wanton murder of scores of civilians in Bucha, just outside the Ukrainian capital.

US President Joe Biden has denounced the killing of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha as "war crimes."

"Civilians executed in cold blood, bodies dumped into mass graves, the sense of brutality and inhumanity left for all the world to see, unapologetically," Biden said in April.

"There's nothing less happening than major war crimes," he said. "Responsible nations have to come together to hold these perpetrators accountable."

The US State Department announced the creation of a new unit in May to research, document and publicize alleged war crimes by Russia in Ukraine.
Moscow on Tuesday warned Lithuania of "serious" consequences over its restriction of rail traffic to Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, as Kremlin forces made gains in Ukraine's strategic Donbas region.

The row over Lithuania, the arrival of sophisticated German weaponry in Ukraine's arsenal, and an imminent decision on Ukraine's candidacy to join the EU threaten to further ratchet up tensions between the West and Moscow.

Kremlin troops were meanwhile gaining ground in the Donbas, causing "catastrophic destruction" in Lysychansk, an industrial city at the forefront of recent clashes, the region's governor said. Ukraine confirmed Russia had taken the frontline village of Toshkivka.

Governor Sergiy Gaiday said "every town and village" in Ukrainian hands in Lugansk region was "under almost non-stop fire".

Since being repelled from Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine following its invasion in February, Moscow is focusing its offensive on the strategic Donbas region.

In the eastern town of Sloviansk, which could become a flash point as Russian troops advance from the north, local people were preparing to withstand attacks and the authorities said the community would defend itself.

"We believe they'll beat the Russian scum," resident Valentina, 63, said of local Ukrainian forces.

The stakes are high. The town was seized by Russia-backed separatists in 2014 and then retaken by Ukrainian forces after a lengthy siege.

- 'Serious' consequences -

Russia's war of words with EU member Lithuania escalated on Tuesday, with Moscow vowing "serious" consequences over Vilnius' restrictions on rail traffic to the exclave of Kaliningrad.

Lithuania says it is simply adhering to EU-wide sanctions on Moscow but Russia countered, accusing Brussels of "escalation".

Moscow summoned the EU's ambassador to Russia. Its foreign ministry said Lithuania's actions "violate the relevant legal and political obligations of the European Union".

"Russia will certainly respond to such hostile actions," security council chief Nikolai Patrushev said at a regional security meeting in Kaliningrad, a Russian region bordering Lithuania and Poland.

Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov tweeted that powerful German-made Panzerhaubitze 2000 howizter artillery pieces had joined his country's forces.

On the ground, the police chief of the Kyiv region said victims of the Russian attempt to seize the capital city continued to be found. So far, the bodies of 1,333 civilians have been discovered and 300 people remain missing.

On the maritime front, Russia's navy is blockading ports, which Ukraine says is preventing millions of tonnes of grain from being shipped to world markets, contributing to soaring food prices.

Russia said Tuesday it had repelled a Ukrainian attempt to re-take the symbolic Snake Island, a small territory in the Black Sea captured by Russian forces on the first day of the invasion.

Prior to the war, Ukraine was a major exporter of wheat, corn and sunflower oil.

With European officials due to gather this week at a summit expected to approve Ukraine's candidacy to join the EU, Brussels foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the Russians' port blockade "a real war crime".

He said it was happening "while in the rest of the world people are suffering hunger".

Moscow denies responsibility for the disruption to deliveries and, following Borrell's comments, blamed the West's "destructive" position for surging grain prices.

Growing concerns about a food crisis are "the fault of Western regimes, which act as provokers and destroyers", said foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was engaged in "complex negotiations" to unblock grain exports, although he cautioned that there was no progress as yet.

In an address to the African Union, Zelensky said the continent was a "hostage" of the conflict, and rising food prices had "already brought (the war) to the homes of millions of African families".

The EU has pledged an additional 600 million euros ($635 million) to help vulnerable nations weather the food security crisis.

- 'Significant losses' -

In addition to Toshkivka, Ukraine said it had lost control of the eastern village of Metyolkine, a settlement adjacent to Severodonetsk, which has been a focus of fighting for weeks and is now largely under Russian control.

A chemical plant in Severodonetsk where hundreds of civilians are said to be sheltering was being shelled constantly, Ukraine warned.

But defence ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk told Ukrainian television that Russian forces had suffered "significant losses in the area of Severodonetsk".

"They are fighting under the old statutes of the Soviet era. This is a war for territory," he said.

Three people were injured and seven more missing after Ukrainian forces attacked oil drilling platforms in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, Crimea's Moscow-backed leader Sergey Aksyonov said.

It was the first reported strike against offshore energy infrastructure in Crimea since Russia launched its invasion and Russian lawmaker Olga Kovitidi said the complex was still ablaze.

- $100 million medal -

In New York, Dmitry Muratov, the Russian editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, auctioned off his Nobel Peace Prize gold medal for $103.5 million to benefit children displaced by the war.

It was sold to an as yet unidentified phone bidder.

Muratov won the prize in 2021 alongside journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines.

With US-Russia tensions soaring, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told NBC News that two Americans captured in Ukraine while fighting with Kyiv's military were "endangering" Russian soldiers and should be "held accountable for those crimes".

US Attorney General Merrick Garland visited Ukraine on Tuesday to discuss prosecution of individuals involved in war crimes.

Spain said one of its citizens fighting for Ukraine had been killed in the country without giving further detail.

Denmark and Sweden meanwhile became the latest European countries to warn of potential gas supply problems. Their energy agencies issued early warnings, due to uncertainty over hydrocarbon imports from Russia.

Ukraine has called the reasons given for Russia's reduction of gas supply to European customers "far-fetched" and "illegal".

burs-sr/gw/pvh
Moscow on Tuesday warned Lithuania of "serious" consequences over its restriction of rail traffic to Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, as Kremlin forces made gains in Ukraine's strategic Donbas region.

The row over Lithuania, the arrival of sophisticated German weaponry in Ukraine's arsenal and an imminent decision on Kyiv's candidacy to join the European Union threaten to further ratchet up tensions between the West and Moscow.

Kremlin troops were meanwhile gaining ground in the Donbas, causing "catastrophic destruction" in Lysychansk, an industrial city at the forefront of recent clashes, the region's governor said. Ukraine confirmed Russia had taken the frontline village of Toshkivka.

Governor Sergiy Gaiday said "every town and village" in Ukrainian hands in the Lugansk region was "under almost non-stop fire".

Since being repelled from Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine following its invasion in February, Moscow has been focusing its offensive on the Donbas region.

In the eastern city of Sloviansk, which could become a flashpoint as Russian troops advance from the north, local people were preparing to withstand attacks and the authorities said the community would defend itself.

"We believe they'll beat the Russian scum," resident Valentina, 63, said of local Ukrainian forces.

- 'Serious' consequences -

Russia's war of words with EU member Lithuania escalated on Tuesday, with Moscow vowing "serious" consequences over Vilnius' restrictions on rail traffic to the exclave of Kaliningrad that borders Lithuania and Poland.

Lithuania says it is simply adhering to EU-wide sanctions on Moscow but Russia countered, accusing Brussels of "escalation".

Moscow summoned the EU's ambassador to Russia. Its foreign ministry said Lithuania's actions "violate the relevant legal and political obligations of the European Union".

"Russia will certainly respond to such hostile actions," security council chief Nikolai Patrushev said at a regional security meeting in Kaliningrad.

The United States made clear its commitment to Lithuania as an ally in NATO, which considers an attack against one member an attack on all.

"We stand by our NATO allies and we stand by Lithuania," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington.

With US-Russia tensions soaring, the State Department on Tuesday confirmed a second American, 52-year-old Stephen Zabielski, was killed fighting for Ukraine.

Two other Americans were captured last week in eastern Ukraine.

A White House spokesman, John Kirby, voiced alarm at Russian statements that it would not apply the Geneva Conventions on the humane treatment of prisoners to the pair.

"It's appalling that a public official in Russia would even suggest the death penalty for two American citizens that were in Ukraine," Kirby told reporters.

Spain also said one of its citizens fighting for Ukraine had been killed, without giving further detail.

Ukraine has been seeking membership in the European Union after earlier failing to join NATO.

Ministers on Tuesday were united in granting candidate status to Ukraine as well as Moldova before a formal greenlight later this week, said France's Europe minister, Clement Beaune, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has found hero status in Europe for resisting the invasion, said that he was working the phones to drum up support for EU membership.

"I will do everything for a historic decision of the European Union to be approved. It is important for us," he said in a daily address.

- 'Significant losses' -

Western nations have been pumping billions of dollars of weapons into Ukraine, where Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov tweeted that powerful German-made Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzer artillery pieces had reached his country's forces.

Russia said Tuesday it had repelled a Ukrainian attempt to retake the symbolic Snake Island, a small territory in the Black Sea captured by Russian forces on the first day of the invasion.

In addition to Toshkivka, Ukraine said it had lost control of the eastern village of Metyolkine, a settlement adjacent to Severodonetsk, which has been a focus of fighting for weeks and is now largely under Russian control.

A chemical plant in Severodonetsk where hundreds of civilians are said to be sheltering was being shelled constantly, Ukrainian officials said.

But defence ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk told Ukrainian television that Russian forces had suffered "significant losses" in the area of Severodonetsk.

Ukraine on Tuesday said it struck a Black Sea oil drilling platform off the Crimea peninsula because Russia was using it as a military installation.

The rig had Russian garrisons and equipment for air defence, radar warfare and reconnaissance, Sergiy Bratchuk of Odessa's regional military administration told an online briefing.

Russian shelling killed 15 people including an eight-year-old in eastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region on Tuesday, its governor said.

On the sea, Russia's navy is blockading ports, which Ukraine says is preventing millions of tonnes of grain from being shipped to world markets, contributing to soaring food prices.

Prior to the war, Ukraine was a major exporter of wheat, corn and sunflower oil.

Moscow denies Western charges it is responsible for the disruption to deliveries.

Turkish media reported that Russian, Ukrainian and UN officials would meet in Istanbul next week to try to unblock Black Sea grain exports.

- Search for accountability -

Ukraine, its Western backers and the International Criminal Court have all vowed to seek accountability over the war.

A search for bodies remains underway in the Kyiv region, where the police chief said that 1,333 civilians have been discovered and 300 people remain missing.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland visited Ukraine on Tuesday to discuss prosecution of individuals involved in war crimes.

"There is no place to hide," Garland said.

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said Kyiv was looking for special equipment and expertise from the United States, including in recovering assets.

Legal support is just as needed "as the supply of arms to fight with the Russian Federation, which commits unprecedented, large-scale atrocities against the civilian population of our state," she wrote on Facebook.

Denmark and Sweden meanwhile became the latest European countries to warn of potential gas supply problems.

Ukraine has called the reasons given for Russia's reduction of gas supply to European customers "far-fetched" and "illegal".

burs-sr-sct/bfm
An eight-year-old child was among 15 people killed by Russian shelling Tuesday in the eastern Kharkiv region, governor Oleg Synegubov said.

Located in northeastern Ukraine, Kharkiv is a region that borders Russia where many residents who fled at the start of the invasion have begun to return after Russian attempts to capture Ukraine's second city were repelled.

"Fifteen people died and 16 were wounded. Such are the terrible consequences of Russian daytime shelling in the Kharkiv region," Synegubov said on Telegram.

The deaths and injuries occurred in four separate incidents, he added.

Russian forces had fired on Chuguiv, a town 30 kilometres (18 miles) southeast of Kharkiv city, killing six and wounding four, he said.

Another five people died and 11 were injured in Kharkiv city, and the eight-year-old child was killed in the suburbs in an attack that also wounded his mother.

Three more people died in Zolochiv, a small town 40 kilometres north of the city.

"This is terrorism. These are crimes against humanity that must be punished!" said Synegubov.

Kharkiv city, which lies just 50 kilometres from the Russian border, was heavily shelled by Moscow's forces at the start of the invasion but Ukrainian forces regained control after battles that left the city badly damaged.

Russian troops have since refocused their efforts on taking the eastern Donbas area, which incorporates the Donetsk and Lugansk regions southeast of Kharkiv.
Madiskarte Moms PH Bags Silver at the 2022 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards

Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH), an online community for aspiring and experienced mother entrepreneurs or mompreneurs, won a Silver Stevie Award for Innovation in Community Relations or Public Service Relations at the 2022 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.





The awarding body recognized MMPHs role as a safe space and go-to resource for moms who want to start or grow their own online home businesses. Started in the thick of the pandemic lockdowns, Madiskarte Moms PH was created by PLDT Home and a group of mompreneurs. Madiskarte is a beautiful Filipino term used to describe someone who is both creative and resourceful.





Madiskarte Moms PH Bags Silver at the 2022 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards

The Stevie Awards is widely considered to be the world's premier business awards group, conferring recognition for achievements in the workplace over the past 20 years. Judges of this years Stevie Awards recognized organizations in 22 markets across multiple categories and considered more than 900 nominations from the 29-nation Asia Pacific region, including entries from Australia, Belarus, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The virtual awards ceremony will be held on June 29.

When we launched Madiskarte Moms PH (MMPH) in September 2020, we had one goal in mind: to empower moms to succeed in their entrepreneurial journey and to help them fulfill their dreams for their families. After just 20 months, we are honored that Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards recognized the efforts and wins of our Madiskarte Moms. This award strengthens PLDT Home Bizs commitment to provide the resources, technology, skills training, and network to help them succeed and thrive, said Patrick Tang, First Vice President and Head of PLDT Home Customer Management. The submissions in the ninth edition of the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards were outstanding this year, said Stevie Awards President, Maggie Miller. The judges remarked that the innovation and perseverance demonstrated in the nominations was inspiring. We applaud all the Stevie Award winners this year and look forward to celebrating them on June 29.

A Community of Mompreneurs by Mompreneurs





With more than 105,000 members, MMPH continues to provide a safe and supportive environment so that mompreneurs can unleash their entrepreneurial potentials. The community conducts regular webinars and masterclasses and serves as a venue for networking among industry experts, other sellers, and potential buyers.





Madiskarte Mom Lou NeriaPutian who runs skincare brand SY Glow not only grew her business with the help of the MMPH community, but she also helped other Filipino moms nationwide start their own businesses by becoming distributors for her brand.





The same is true for Rosanna Dela Cruz Kabiling. Mompreneur Rosanna started small with her Something Nice Environment Corp., a proper waste disposal and management company, but by attending MMPH seminars and getting tips and support from the community members, she was able to grow her company, provide employment for communities across Laguna, and most of all, contributed to environmental protection and conservation.





Meanwhile, Madiskarte Mom Theresa Carbonel-Buenaflor came to the MMPH community for support after her beauty business, Ellana Cosmetics, struggled during the pandemic. Theresa was not only able to pivot and learn more about marketing her products online -- the community lifted her spirits and gave her the motivation to keep her business running. I joined [Madiskarte Moms PH] at a time when I was feeling the stress of doing business in a pandemic. MMPH allowed me to share my story-which was therapeutic-and I found a supportive community that inspired me to continue my journey as a mompreneur, Theresa said.




"Eve" lead stars Park Byung Eun, Yoon Sun and Lee Sang Yeob flaunted their friendship on Instagram.

The actors had a get-together as the tvN drama nears the second half of the series.

Park Byung Eun, Yoo Sun, Lee Sang Yeob's 'Eve Night'

Over the actors' social media, the trio shared the same photos featuring a chill yet fun mini-gathering.

Wearing all black, the trio capped off the day with a glass of beer at a pub showing off their unique friendship.

Interestingly, Park Byung Eun, Yoo Sun, and Lee Sang Yeob all had the same caption which says "Eve's Night."

Over the comments sections, fans pointed out the difference between their characters and the actors in real life.

One mentioned how they looked so intense in the drama and looked so chill on Instagram.

Moreover, some even mentioned how the trio portrayed their roles really well, making the viewers hooked on the drama.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Eve,' Seo Ye Ji Enter Most Buzzworthy Drama, Actor Rankings Despite Backlash

However, one thing that netizens noticed is that Seo Ye Ji, who is among the lead stars of "Eve" is not included in the photo.

Meanwhile, others joked that she might be the one taking photos of the trio.

'Eve' Highlights: From Seo Ye Ji's Kdrama to the Series' R19+ Issue

Helmed by the "Dinner Mate" director Park Bong Sub, "Eve" is tvN's newest revenge Kdrama that illustrates a chaebol family's billion-dollar divorce battle that struck South Korea as it involves the country's influential family.

It stars Seo ye Ji as the revenge-driven woman, Lee Ra El. She used her new identity, Kim Sun Bin to avenge her father's death and to find her mother who is missing.

"Eve" is Seo Ye Ji's Kdrama comeback following the controversy that almost tainted her acting career.

Now the 32-year-old star is gaining praise from viewers for her exceptional portrayal of Lee Ra El.

While Lee Ra El a.k.a Kim Sun Bin plots her revenge plan, her main target is to see the downfall of LY group, starting with CEO Kang Yoon Kyum and his wife, Han So Ra, played by Park Byung Eun and Yoon Sun respectively.

On the other hand, a familiar person returns from her past. Despite forgetting her tragic experience, the former human rights lawyer Seo Eun Pyung, portrayed by Lee Sang Yeob, is now among the country's most influential people.

He is the reason why Lee Ra El survived her past life after he helped her escape the country. After several years, he recognized the new identity of Lee Ra El and promised to join her revenge.

During the premiere of the Kdrama, "Eve" encountered criticisms despite the R19+ warning to viewers.

Netizens slammed the drama for including intense mature scenes noting that they are "unessential" to the series' plot.

Despite this, tvN continued to air the Kdrama and is now gaining positive feedback from the majority of viewers.

READ MORE: 'Eve' Kicks off With Good Start + Garners Mixed Reactions for THIS Scene



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With more than 40 years of reform and opening up, China has grown to be the second largest economy in the world. Last year, The Chinese government has declared that absolute poverty has been completely eliminated.

by Qi Zhenhong

21st Chinese Bridge Competition preliminary round in Sri Lanka successfully concluded at the University of Colombo today. Ambassador Qi Zhenhong congratulates all contestants and wish them good performance representing Sri Lanka in the World Finals and to act as envoys of China-Sri Lanka friendship.

The following is the full remark by Ambassador Qi:

It is a great pleasure to join you here today at the Awarding Ceremony of the 21st Chinese Bridge: Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students (Overseas Preliminary Round) in Sri Lanka.

First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the contestants who are from universities across Sri Lanka. You have won the opportunity to represent Sri Lanka in the World Finals in China.

I also want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the University of Colombo for your thoughtful arrangements for todays award ceremony. My heartfelt thanks also goes to the teachers and volunteers from the Confucius Institute at the University of Colombo and several other Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classroom in Sri Lanka who have over the years taught the Chinese language and brought the Chinese culture to the Sri Lankan people. Your hard work has brought closer the two peoples in particular the younger generations and consolidate the public support and social foundation for the development of China-Sri Lanka relations. I thank you very much and look forward to your continued contribution to the people-to-people exchanges between our two countries.

This years competition takes the theme is: One World, One Family, is fully in line with this overwhelming historical trend in a highly interdependent world. In todays world, the future and destiny of all countries are closely connected. The world has become a global village where our interests are intertwined and our economic and social progress interconnected. To promote common prosperity and development in todays world, we have no choice but to pursue greater connectivity and integrated development.

Under these circumstances, the call for one world, one family urges all the countries in the world to: replace the old mindsets of zero-sum game,I win you lose and the winner takes all with the new concept of win-win for all, promote exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations in the spirit of harmony without uniformity, and strive for consensus, tide over difficult times and support one another in achieving our common goals. By working together, we can build a community with a shared future for mankind. By working together, we can create a brighter future for the world.

As we all know, language is the key to the door, is the carrier of culture and tool for communication. Acquiring a new language means obtaining a key to more friends, a new world and more beautiful future. Learning Chinese is like opening the door to Chinese culture. You can gain much insight into the Chinese peoples way of life, behaviour, values, national psychology and character. As well as contributing factors for Chinas economic and social transformation in the past few decades.

Language is also a bridge of friendship between different countries and nations. Literally,  (in english is Chinese Bridge) means Chinese language is a bridge. This bridge will lead you to a colourful China. At more than 5,000 years, the Chinese civilisation is the only continuous one of the four ancient civilisations, and much of it can be attributed to the invention and wide use of the written characters in the Chinese language. Just like Samuel Johnson, the writer of A Dictionary of the English Languag, said, Language is the dress of thought; words are but signs of ideas.

With more than 40 years of reform and opening up, China has grown to be the second largest economy in the world. Last year, The Chinese government has declared that absolute poverty has been completely eliminated. That means nearly 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty in China since 1980. China has made a major contribution to global development. China is committed to peaceful coexistence, win-win cooperation, mutual learning and integration with other countries. At the same time, it feels strongly about the diversity of civilisations. We believe that the world needs to seek harmony in diversity. We need to enhance mutual understanding through greater knowledge about each others language and culture. Only in this way will the world be a more harmonious and a better place.

I am very pleased to see that there has been a growing enthusiasm for learning the Chinese language here in Sri Lanka over recent years. More and more Sri Lankan people have gained a deeper understanding of China through learning the Chinese language. I think this is what the Chinese Bridge competition is about. This year marks the 65th anniversary of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic ties and the 70th anniversary of the Ruber-Rice Pact. Over the past decades, China-Sri Lanka friendly relations have stood the test of time. China-sri Lanka friendship has grown stronger with the passage of time. The future of China-Sri Lanka relations lies in the hands of the youth. The seeds of peace and friendship are most likely to take root in the hearts of our young people. If young people in both countries can master each others languages, the future of China-Sri Lanka friendly cooperation would be promising and bright. If we all work hard and support each other, we can build bridges between hearts, we can build bridges for cultural exchanges and we can build bridges of friendship and cooperation.

The Chinese Embassy will continue to support Chinese learning here in Sri Lanka, as well as the exchanges and cooperation between our schools and universities. With the hope that you will be able to act as envoys of China-Sri Lanka friendship as well as participants and facilitators in the cooperation between our two countries.

In conclusion, I sincerely wish all the Sri Lankan contestants best of luck in the World Finals in China.
Long ago, I helped organize and mount a coup against my Swiss schools unliked student government, then led by a little leftwing worm from California.

by Eric S. Margolis

Ive seen many coups in my decades as a journalist and connoisseur of exotic, turbulent places. The most exciting coup occurred in Paris under President Charles de Gaulle as I waited at Place de la Concorde with heavily armed paramilitary police as we prepared for an attack by elite paratroopers from French Algeria. Amid crackling radios and the rasp of machine guns being loaded, armored vehicles took position for combat. De Gaulle urged civilians to block the streets running from the airports to central Paris. And so, we did.

Trump

In the end, French paras did not come from Algiers because the Air Force commander grounded all the military transport aircraft. Interestingly, an attempt by anti-Gorbachev communist rebels to fly special forces into Moscow to back their coup was similarly thwarted when Russias then air force commander grounded all military transport aircraft.

Traditionally, air forces are more liberal/left than ground forces - and sometimes sailors are farthest to the left, as witnessed when mutinous sailors of Russias Black Sea Fleet seized the battleship Potempkin at Odessa.

I remember being in the middle of attempted coups in Trinidad and Haiti, Kuwait, Italy and Peru. But none, save France, can compare to the current explosive Washington investigation into former President Donald Trumps attempt to reverse his electoral loss and re-seat himself in the White House. This was one of the most disturbing and ugly events in US history, and akin to the attempt to crush the Roman Republic, on which the US political system in based.

It's by now clear that Trump and his far-right allies tried to stage a bureaucratic coup, using some of the myriads of lawyers floating in Trumps orbit. I was considered for a senior foreign policy job by the incoming Trump administration but declined after meeting many of its key members, including Trump.

I was a lifelong conservative Republican, but the people I met at Mar-a-Lago, Trumps Florida HQ, were nothing like the old guard Republicans I had known. They were shady denizens of New York Citys real estate industry and until then obscure far right. Not my cup of tea. My Republican Party lived on Manhattans Upper East side, not darkest Queens or the remote burbs.

I watched the January coup unfold with horror and dismay. Whose idea was it to send a mob of yahoos to storm the Capitol, the heart of our democracy? What kind of half-ass attempt was this?

Long ago, I helped organize and mount a coup against my Swiss schools unliked student government, then led by a little leftwing worm from California.

We declared the student government dissolved, appointed ourselves as committee of public safety, and promised new free elections in six months. All classic coup blarney. One of our chief coup committee members was a chap named Firdaus whose father, a general, had helped overthrow the government of Indonesia. Another coup member was my Turkish pal Turgut. His father had been hanged by the US-directed military junta in Ankara.

All the parts of our coup in Geneva fell right into place. There was none of the rioting and window smashing, none of the storm of obscenities and fighting that we saw in Washington on 6 January. What transpired in Washington last January was worthy of a mob riot in some small African country. Its leaders deserved a long time in jail  for a brazen crime against US democracy, and for galloping incompetence.

Trump and his hillbilly mob should have read military strategist Edward Luttwaks fine book about how to stage coups. Instead, they swallowed Fox TV propaganda and puerile internet rubbish.

The rioters should all stand trial for sedition. Starting with Mr. Trump, who has much to explain.

Copyright Eric S. Margolis 2022
Ben Stiller has said seeking safety is a right and it needs to be upheld for every person during a visit to Poland and Ukraine, where he met those affected by the ongoing war with Russia.

The American actor, 56, arrived in Poland on Saturday and was pictured in the large south-eastern city of Rzeszow, close to the border, speaking to aid workers in a storage facility.

Stiller, who is a long-term Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)  the UN refugee agency  has since visited Ukraine on World Refugee Day.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@refugees)

In a video posted to his Instagram account, Stiller said: Hey, Im Ben Stiller, and Im here in Ukraine. Im meeting people whove been impacted by the war and hearing how its changed their lives.

War and violence are devastating people all over the world. Nobody chooses to flee their home.

Seeking safety is a right and it needs to be upheld for every person.

Since the outbreak of war in February, millions of Ukrainians have fled to Poland.

On June 18, Stiller met with Ukrainian refugee Marina, who fled the city of Kharkiv with her three children two months ago.

He started working with the UNHCR in 2016 and has travelled with the body to meet refugees in Germany, Jordan, Guatemala and Lebanon.

In a statement to mark World Refugee Day, the Zoolander and Night At The Museum actor said: Im here meeting people forced to flee their homes due to the war in Ukraine.

At the Medyka border in Poland I met families who fled the war in Ukraine, leaving loved ones behind, with no idea when they will be able to return home.Im so impressed w/@refugees representatives & how committed they are to supporting people on their journeys.#WithRefugees pic.twitter.com/buxUIIqilU  Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) June 19, 2022

People have shared stories about how the war has changed their lives  how theyve lost everything and are deeply worried about their future.

Over the years Ive had the chance to meet refugees and asylum seekers from around the world-from Syria, Central America, Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Ukraine.

In so many parts of the world, war and violence devastate people and leave lasting traumatic effects. Wherever and whenever it happens, nobody chooses to flee their home.

Seeking safety is a right and it needs to be upheld for every person.

Protecting people forced to flee is a collective global responsibility. We have to remember this could happen to anyone, anywhere.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has slammed what she calls the "downgrading by a thousand cuts" of emergency services at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan.

Speaking to a public meeting in Navan yesterday evening (Monday June 20), Ms McDonald said that its possible to change the Governments decision on the downgrading by a thousand cuts of Navan hospital.

Controversy has surrounded the future of the Co Meath hospital after the HSE announced that its intensive care unit and emergency department will be closed in favour of a 24/7 medical assessment unit and a local injuries unit.

The HSE has said Navan hospital will still see around 80% of the 25-30 patients it currently sees daily through these units, but more specialised care will be diverted to hospitals such as Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda in Co Louth.

Politicians have raised concerns about the proposal, including the Minister for Justice and Meath East TD Helen McEntee  who said that the HSE had not addressed serious questions around capacity.

Addressing the public meeting in Navan, Ms McDonald said: Stripping back access to healthcare robs you of the confidence that you are entitled to: to live a full and a secure life. And we know that access to healthcare, sometimes in a timely fashion, can be the difference between life and death. Thats a fact.

I have no doubt that people here in this meeting this evening could give countless examples of where that facility in Navan hospital was essential to you and your loved ones.

The Sinn Fein leader criticised the confusion between different arms of the State over what was due to happen at Navan hospital, after the HSE announced last week a phased change planned for the hospital.

The following day, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly released a statement saying the government had not agreed on a position regarding the HSEs proposal.

The HSE says one thing, the Minister says another, Ms McDonald said. With no one, it seems to me, taking responsibility and that is unacceptable when it comes to a decision that will have very real impacts on the lives of the people of Navan and indeed the surrounding region.

The downgrading by a thousand cuts of the emergency services at Navan hospital is madness. Particularly at a time when emergency departments across the state are under such severe pressure.

What we need now, to put it very directly, is a bit of cop on. A bit of cop on for Minister Donnelly in particular. I think its important that he hears the voices in this room.

Clinicians at Navan hospital, including the clinical director of the hospital Gerry McEntee, have said that there are serious risks to patient care in how ill-equipped the hospital is to treat ill patients.

I dont know if the public really realise, but this cohort of critically ill patients who by virtue of the fact of coming into Our Ladys Hospital, Navan, are not provided with the best opportunity of survival, he said.

Speaking to an Oireachtas committee last week, HSE chief Paul Reid said that the proposals for Navan hospital would strengthen healthcare services overall.

He said that as part of the proposal, there would be more advanced surgical care and supports from the Mater [hospital] into Navan. So thats more surgery, more theatre utilised by specialists coming from the Mater into Navan.

That is a much strengthened hospital, he said, adding that Navan hospital would be much safer for the community it serves.

The HSEs chief operations officer Anne OConnor added: The reality is in healthcare, unfortunately, its not sustainable or safe to try and provide every service everywhere.

Ms McDonald told yesterday's meeting: We cant achieve the radical improvements badly needed in our health service by taking a knife to emergency services in Navan hospital.

Thats actually a false argument. The idea that this course of action would somehow improve care, either in Navan or at another location is simply not true. And the clinicians in Drogheda bear witness to that. Because they tell us already that they struggle to cope.

What hope if services in Navan are to cease?

The example of Limerick should be really taken on board  Ennis closed, Nenagh closed, St Johns closed and when people objected to that, just as you object to the stripping of services at Navan hospital, they were told not to worry.

That in fact, the situation would improve  well my friends, it has not.

University Hospital Limerick is consistently at the top of the heap in terms of wait times, trolley counts, and so on. So it is not acceptable for the HSE or for the Minister to take a decision like this in such a confused and such a cavalier fashion. Not to listen to your voices.

Whats needed in Navan, whats needed across the system, is more capacity, not less.

Whats needed in Navan and across the system is more accessible care, not less of it.

Ms McDonald said the message to the Government from the meeting was: This needs to stop now. I think he needs to appreciate the depth of feeling here in Navan, and accept that the people here simply will not stand for the course of action he proposes.

Sinn Fein is due to table a Private Members motion in the Dail tomorrow night on the topic, Ms McDonald told the meeting.

A demonstration is also planned in Navan for July 9.

I think we can force the Government to do the right thing here, Ms McDonald said.
People in Ireland would back a ban on unhealthy food advertising to children and adults to tackle increasing rates of overweight and obesity, according to new research launched on Tuesday (June 21).

The new research by Safefood has revealed that eight in ten people in Ireland agree that so-called junk food advertising aimed at children should be banned (80.2%), while almost seven in ten (69.4%) of respondents support restrictions on marketing of unhealthy foods to adults.

In particular, the research revealed high levels of public acceptance for policies that supported healthier food environments for children.

These included educational campaigns focusing on children in school; healthier vending machines in schools; and new restrictions on developing fast-food outlets near schools.

Meanwhile, just under half (47.3%) think portion sizes in restaurants and fast-food outlets should be restricted as a measure to address obesity.

The research also reveals that 80% of people recognise that obesity poses a serious public health challenge.

Previous Safefood research had estimated that overweight and obesity was costing the islands economy approximately 1.6 billion per year in direct and indirect costs.

1 in 5 primary school children in Ireland have overweight or obesity. Among adults, 60% live with overweight (37%) or obesity (23%).

The research coincides with todays All-Island Obesity Action Forum hosted in Belfast by Safefood in partnership with the Departments of Health in both Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The event brings together leading experts from the United Kingdom and the island of Ireland to explore a range of policy approaches to address overweight and obesity, and public support for such policies.

Dr Aileen McGloin, Director of Nutrition with safefood, said: Overweight and obesity are the most serious long-term public health issues we face and tackling them poses complex challenges for policy makers, society and the Irish economy.

People are becoming more and more aware of these rising rates of overweight and obesity. Our research shows the public is ready for a range of policies for children and adults to address this and benefit them.

Theres already strong work happening at a policy level in Ireland. Of note is the establishment of nutritional standards in pre-school settings, the introduction of the sugar sweetened drinks tax and work in food reformulation.

By identifying those policies that have strong public backing, we can better support and empower people to make healthier food and lifestyle choices. This has the potential to create lifelong, sustainable changes which can benefit current and future generations, our society and the economy in Ireland.

The Safefood research demonstrated high levels of public support for government-led policies aimed at tackling childhood obesity, with over two-thirds backing the ban of vending machines with unhealthy snacks and drinks in schools (77.8%) as well as a majority backing planning restrictions on the opening of fast-food outlets close to schools (66.5%).

Nine in ten respondents also endorsed healthy school meals (91.8% for primary schools and 90.6% for secondary schools), educating children on food prep skills at all schools (91.7%), while 85.3% believe children should receive a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise in school each day.

The research also found that nine out of ten respondents (88.8%) supported policies requiring meals sold or provided at private and public sector workplaces to meet a healthy standard of nutrition.

For more information and to download the report Public acceptability of policies to address obesity, visit: www.safefood.net/news.
Eleven officers -- including Uvalde school district police chief Pete Arredondo -- were inside Robb Elementary within three minutes of a gunman entering on May 24, a law enforcement source close to the investigation tells CNN.
A wildfire in southern New Jersey more than doubled in size to at least 2,100 acres, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.
A rainy spring forced most crop farmers to plant corn and soybeans one to two months behind schedule, leaving young plants to fend off the intense heat in June.
Hong Kong: 6th foreign affairs talk held

The Civil Service College today held the sixth talk of the series on the country's foreign affairs jointly with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The talk, on the topic of China - United States Relations, was delivered via video-conferencing by Deputy Director-General of the Department of North American & Oceanian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gao Fei.

Addressing the talk, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip said Hong Kong has been leveraging support from the Mainland while engaging the world, adding that the US is one of Hong Kong's major trading partners, with close collaboration on many fronts.

Mr Nip noted that in the face of the changes in the international landscape, Hong Kong has to accurately position itself, clearly discern the situation, get itself ready at all times, and continue to perform its unique role and function in the overall national development strategy.

It is also important for Hong Kong to stand firmly on the same battle line with the country in resisting interference from other countries in the internal affairs of our country through Hong Kong affairs.

Over 300 civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks took part in today's talk online.

This story has been published on: 2022-06-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Zhang Hong

June 20 marks the 22nd World Refugee Day, and the theme this year is Whoever. Wherever. Whenever. Everyone has the right to seek safety.

According to the 2021 Global Trends Report released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on June 16, the number of people forcibly displaced by war, violence and persecution reached 89.3 million by the end of 2021 and 27.1 million are refugees.

Since the beginning of this year, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has triggered the fastest-spreading and largest forced displacement crisis since World War II. Violent incidents and protracted conflicts in Africa, Afghanistan and other places have also led to a sharp rise in the number of forced displacements. The number exceeded 100 million for the first time and children are the main victim group. According to the latest data from United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the number of children displaced by conflict, violence and other crises reached 36.5 million by the end of 2021, the highest since World War II.

The number of forcibly displaced people globally has increased nearly fivefold since 2001. Who is the biggest driver of this human tragedy? It is the US.

Statistics show that after the September 11 attacks, the US launched multiple wars in the name of anti-terrorism and caused a huge wave of refugees. The number of displaced persons was between 49 million and 60 million. The 20-year war in Afghanistan has turned 11 million Afghans into refugees and displaced 3.5 million Afghans. Nearly 23 million Afghans face extreme hunger including 3.2 million children under the age of five.

The world saw the largest increase in forcibly displaced persons between 2012 and 2015. Who is the biggest driver of this human tragedy? It is also the US.

At the beginning of the conflict in Syria in 2011, through armed intervention and building up opposition forces, the US stepped up the crisis and provided soil for the breeding of terrorism. Since then, the US has directly launched military operations to intervene in the situation in Syria, plundered Syria's oil and food resources for a long time, and increased sanctions at various levels to get Syria in trouble. According to the latest UNHCR statistics, Syria remains the world's largest source of the refugee population. More than 13 million people have fled from Syria or been homeless in Syria since 2011. 14.6 million people in Syria need humanitarian and other forms of assistance. In 2022, the number of refugees in need of resettlement in Syria is expected to account for 42 percent of the total global demand.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict leads to a new humanitarian catastrophe. Who is the biggest driver of this human tragedy? It is still the US.

Over the years, the US-led NATO has disregarded Russia's legitimate concerns about its security and has expanded eastward five times. The US has continued to fan the flames, deliberately intensified the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and caused serious humanitarian consequences. As of June 17, 7.1 million Ukrainians were displaced, and more than 4.65 million Ukrainians fled their home country.

Numerous facts have proved that the US is a refugee-making machine. From launching the Iraq War and the Afghan War to cultivating anti-government forces in many countries in West Asia and North Africa, and disrupting the regional situation, to military intervention in the Syrian war, long-term interference in Venezuela's internal affairs and continuous imposition of economic sanctions, the US has acted like a bully and left many messes around the world under the banner of "democracy" and "human rights". However, the people of related regions and countries must face displacement, poverty, backwardness, and an unknown future.

World Refugee Day only lasts one day in a year, but the hardship and helplessness of refugees occurs everyday. It is conceivable that the root cause of refugees will be difficult to eliminate as long as the US hegemony exists.

Editor's note: This article is originally published on haiwainet.cn, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.




By Jon Dunbar







There are over 62,000 Filipinos living in Korea, as of 2020 government data. Of those, only less than 1 percent are students enrolled in Korea's universities. An organization of Filipinos studying in Korea came together last Sunday to discuss how best to serve the local Filipino community, their nation and their families.







Pinoy Iskolars sa Korea (PIKO) held its general assembly on Sunday at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood, the scholastic organization's first such gathering since before the pandemic started. Twenty-six members came from across the country to attend in person, while two joined an online broadcast of the event, showing the desire of the community to meet once again.







PIKO President Joseph Vermont Bandoy, a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, gave an official introduction of the organization and its recent and upcoming activities. Founded in 2006, PIKO has three main missions: helping Filipino students settle in Korea; encouraging social and intellectual exchange, fellowship and community between and among Filipino students in Korea; and serving as an accurate source of information about Korea in general, its educational opportunities and limitations.







According to statistics he presented related to PIKO members and the more general Filipino student population in Korea, the vast majority of PIKO members are at the graduate school or doctoral level, and 56 out of 80 are in the natural sciences and engineering.







The numbers he showed demonstrated that Filipino student numbers in Korea are down as of 2021, totaling 519 that year according to Korea Educational Statistics Service data. Government restrictions on international students during the pandemic are to blame for the lull, during which the Korean government stopped issuing student visas to Filipinos, according to Bandoy. But student numbers, after peaking in 2016 at around 680, are at the lowest level seen in the data presented, which reaches back to 2013.







PIKO has been offering various services and events for its members, including seminars, game nights and a free "TOPIK Talk" to help with preparation for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). Emphasizing PIKO's desire to make contact with more communities, he also introduced the "Humans of PIKO" project, introducing individual members. "What we want this year is for us to get to know each other," he said.







These graduate students are a small but vital part of the local Filipino community, and they are helping to make the world smaller, through both their studies and other activities in Korea.







"It can't be helped, the world is getting smaller," Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, who stayed for the entire event, said in an opening speech. "Right now there's a very small international community in Korea compared to other countries, at least in the countries where I've been posted before. The numbers, we believe  and the statistics will bear this out  will increase, and therefore there has to be a commensurate advocacy in the effort to promote multiculturalism in Korean society. And the students and the scholars who are members of PIKO and members of the greater Filipino community play a huge role in making multiculturalism more mainstream in Korean society. And I hope this is something PIKO will keep in mind through all its activities."







She added that earlier that day, she'd attended the second-ever graduation ceremony for a group of 18 Filipino workers and marriage migrants who had completed the Ateneo Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship (ALSE) program of Ateneo School of Government. She said they'd been studying for eight hours every Sunday for six months, showing the importance of education, while contrasting this experience with her own academic studies three decades prior as well as the relative privilege of PIKO members. She urged the PIKO members to appreciate "the very important and critical role you play and the opportunities you've been given to pursue higher studies in Korea."







Joeffrey Calimag, an assistant professor of global business administration at Kyungsung University in Busan and an adviser to PIKO, gave a lively speech in Tagalog urging PIKO members to remember that they make up a very tiny minority of the Filipino community in Korea, which is largely made up of migrant workers and marriage migrants. He encouraged those assembled to reach out to and identify with fellow Filipinos in Korea.







"I felt like that was also a really important reminder for us students here because I've also felt that students put an invisible divide between them and the rest of the Filipino community and that should not be the case," said Melissa Eco, a 2018 Global Korea Scholarship recipient studying for a master's degree in Korean Culture & Society at the Academy of Korean Studies in Seongnam. "His point was that PIKO should be the one taking advantage in dissolving that invisible line by reaching out first."







Eco joined PIKO in 2018 during her first year in Korea spent attending a Korean language school in Busan, and became the business manager for PIKO in 2020.







"I really encourage my fellow Filipino students to join PIKO because it is such a great information network and you get to meet a lot of amazing Filipino students that are experts in their own fields," she told The Korea Times. "Also I, for one, was given a lot of opportunities due to my affiliation with PIKO."







Also present were representatives of some of the corporate sponsors supporting PIKO, including SBI Cosmoney, Speed Mobile and Hanwha Life Insurance. A representative of Cross Remittance was unable to join due to travel quarantine rules, but provided a donation for the event and gifts for attendees. All were Filipinos themselves, and most had their own experiences of study in Korea, with many of them having been members of PIKO at the time.







Maki Yuzon, a representative of the Philippine sales and marketing team at overseas cash remittance firm SBI Cosmoney, introduced herself and her Korea story. She arrived in Korea in August 2016 to study for a master's degree in bionanotechnology at Gachon University in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. She became vice president of PIKO in 2017, and graduated in 2018. But then she made the jump to the field of cash remittances to help her fellow Filipinos, who have high demand for the services to send money back home.







"I was offered a Ph.D., but money is life, guys," she said to laughter from the assembled students. Afterwards, she added, "Surviving in Korea as a scholar with just enough money to eat and pay rent, being offered a job was a really good opportunity for me to help my family back in the Philippines, and take a break from doing routine lab work."







Sherryl Sambo Ko, a financial planner at Hanwha Life, was also introduced as the president of Gwangju Filipino English Teachers (GFET), a partner group of PIKO also focusing on education.







Many of the speakers emphasized the need to support family, as well as the local community and their home country.







"I hope whenever [PIKO holds its events] there's always an element of applicability and an element of how we do impact the Philippines, our country," Ambassador Dizon-De Vega said.







"Living in a more developed country and with the resources at hand, the needs of our own country and our own society sometimes fade into the background. I hope that we put them in the foreground," she added.







The event was held on the 161st birthday of Jose Rizal, a hero of the Philippine Revolution who was executed by the Spanish colonial government in 1896. Participants stayed half an hour after the general assembly ended to pay tribute to Rizal and read excerpts of his writings.









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By Trudy Rubin





It has been almost one year since the ugly U.S. departure from Kabul. Yet tens of thousands of Afghans who were promised special immigrant visas (SIVs)  meant for those who worked for U.S. soldiers and civilians  remain trapped under terrifying Taliban rule.



Even for those eligible for SIVs, it could take years  if ever  to be issued one, given the glacial pace of the process. Hunted by name by the Taliban, many applicants may be dead or imprisoned long before their number comes up.



As the United States (rightly) rolls back bureaucratic red tape to welcome Ukrainians as temporary refugees, it is shameful to abandon those Afghans to whom we made promises.



"We left far too many behind," I was told by Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a veteran of the Iraq War, who has been at the forefront of pushing for legislation to speed up the process. "It is taking far too long to save people who are depending on us."



Contrary to popular belief, many of the roughly 120,000 Afghans evacuated from Kabul Airport during the chaotic U.S. exit were not those who were promised SIVs. Large numbers of them were people who managed to push their way into the airport or had connections with the U.S. or Afghan military inside the airport.



Other lucky Afghans were rescued by impromptu operations organized by networks of U.S. humanitarian organizations, journalists and U.S. military veterans, working to get staff or translators through Taliban and U.S. military checkpoints and into the airport.



To recall those desperate days in August, I highly recommend the forthcoming book "The Fifth Act: America's End in Afghanistan," due out Aug. 9. Its author, Elliot Ackerman, a decorated veteran of five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was drawn into one of those rescue networks. He brilliantly describes the harrowing rescue efforts, which he ties into the larger tragedy of the Afghan War.



"Everyone scrambled to get out people they knew," Ackerman told me last week, referring to operations by U.S. veterans.



"The people who got out had the right contact list on their cellphone," he added. "U.S. military veterans were being asked to play a Schindler's List game, deciding who gets help and who gets left behind."



Betraying the SIV applicants, says Ackerman, is a "betrayal of our values. We could expedite the visa process. But the administration just wants the SIVs to go away, allowing infinitesimal numbers in."



The numbers certainly support that conclusion.



The State Department estimates as many as 160,000 Afghan allies along with immediate family members are eligible for SIVs, according to a Politico report. The eligible group  including military translators, left-behind embassy staff, staff for USAID projects and techies who helped U.S. contractors  doesn't even include the many thousands more judges, prosecutors, women's rights activists, and journalists who worked on U.S.-funded projects but aren't eligible for SIVs.

Yet State Department flights  which the Taliban still allow to depart from Kabul Airport  evacuate only around 350 Afghans weekly; all evacuees must have SIV applications that are in the final stages of processing. They are flown to Doha in Qatar for final processing before admission to the U.S.



That leaves untold thousands of Afghans under severe Taliban threat because they were closely associated with Americans; their names are often on electronic employment lists that the Taliban retrieved.



One example: a family I've been trying to help who is headed by a leading Afghan judge with stellar credentials and a recommendation by a U.S. general he worked with. The general's support has not accelerated his case.



The Taliban is searching for the jurist, so he and his family are living in hiding, the children unable to go to school, and the family fearful even to go outside to shop for food. Their money is running out. Three family members are SIV-eligible, including a women's rights activist, yet they are all only at the beginning of the visa process. The family is in such danger that I cannot use their names.



Another option that should be available to the jurist's family  which is now being used to expedite the arrival of Ukrainian refugees  is humanitarian parole status, which waives normal visa requirements and allows a temporary stay in the United States. Under this option, Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion can remain in the U.S. for two years if sponsored by relatives or other U.S. citizens.



"In the Ukrainian case," I was told by Adam Bates, a lawyer with the International Refugees Assistance Program, "the administration did workarounds to let previously unknown Ukrainians enter in weeks. Why not let known Afghans in?" If sponsors were needed, many U.S. veterans could be found to host their former Afghan translators while they waited for SIV approvals.



Yet according to Moulton, of around 45,000 Afghan applications for humanitarian parole, 2,500 have been considered and denied, and only around 270 conditionally approved.



The different treatment of Ukrainians and Afghans can't be attributed simply to red tape in processing the latter.



True, there is a pressing need to simplify the overly complex SIV process, and to increase the number of processing personnel, but nothing will truly change without specific direction from the White House.



"When you look at how fast the Ukrainian situation was put in operation," said Bates, "I don't know how you can justify the Afghan situation. There is a lack of will to get this done coming from the White House."



"The Ukrainian situation shows what happens when the administration is truly committed to processing admissions," Bates said. "Where there is a will, there is a way."





Trudy Rubin (trubin@phillynews.com) is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer. This article was distributed by Tribune Content Agency.




The Indiana State Police welcomed its 82nd graduation class to the force on Thursday in Indianapolis, with 18 new troopers serving across the state. Three troopers were assigned to local districts serving Fort Wayne and the Indiana Toll Road.
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Both drivers were taken to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries following a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of S.R. 8 and C.R. 51 Tuesday morning.
Stray Kids member Han worries many fans after he was seen getting injured while at the airport.

Keep on reading to know more.

Stray Kids Han Injured After Getting Mobbed at Airport by Fans

Stray Kids recently concluded their concerts in Tokyo and Kobe in Japan for their second world tour, "MANIC." As a result, the members were spotted heading back to South Korea following their activities in Japan.

On June 20, Stray Kids were seen arriving at the Incheon International Airport. And like most artists, numerous fans surrounded them at the airport to take photos, videos, and a glimpse of each member.

However, a problem arose when fans and reporters began mobbing the members, which gave the members little to no space for movement as their security tried to contain the fans' excitement.

In particular, member Han was even seen falling on the ground and having difficulty getting up amid the fans and reporters, who continued to surround the idols.

Twitter Error

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Stray Kids Han, Changbin Confess What Makes Them Jealous of Each Other

In the various videos shared by fans and reporters online, Han suddenly disappeared from the crowd, with onlookers diverting their attention to the ground where Han was.

Not only that, but Han was seemingly in pain while holding his elbow. Stray Kids' bodyguards can also be heard saying, "Please don't push, please don't push," constantly, with fans asking Han if he was okay, while others gasped at the sight.

When Han finally got up, he could be seen caressing his elbow as if he was in pain.

After videos of Han falling at the airport spread online, many fans expressed concern over the idol. At the same time, others also expressed their anger and disappointment at the fans and reporters who continued to mob the group despite already getting injured.

Fortunately, although with trouble, Han and the rest of the members were able to leave the airport without being seriously injured.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Stray Kids Bang Chan Undergoes Surgery - Here's What Happened

Han also assured fans that he was okay. However, despite that, many fans online still expressed their anger and sadness at the situation.

What are your thoughts on the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

Stray Kids' Latest Activities

Stray Kids released their sixth mini album "ODDINARY" back in March of this year, featuring the lead single "Maniac."

The album went on to become the group's best-selling album after selling more than 1.5 million album copies and their second million-selling album after "NOEASY."

Stray Kids will also be dropping their second mini-album, "Circus," this coming June 22, which will include the Japanese version of "Maniac" and their new track "Your Eyes."

For more K-Pop news, follow and subscribe to KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Robyn Joan
One person died Tuesday afternoon in a two-vehicle motor vehicle accident involving a dump truck at Sweet Road and County Hwy. K in the Town of Darien, in rural Walworth County.

Walworth County Sheriff's Office Patrol Capt. Robert Hall said the 12:28 p.m. incident involved a crash between a dump truck and a passenger vehicle.

"The dump truck driver was uninjured," Hall said. "The driver and sole occupant of the automobile was pronounced deceased at the scene by a doctor from MD-1 Mercy Hospital. The Medical Examiner's Office was called to the scene."

The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of family.

Hall said responding agencies to the incident scene included the Walworth County Sheriff's Office, City of Delavan Police Department, Darien Fire Department, Shared Paramedics, MD-1 from Mercy Hospital, and Wisconsin State Patrol Motor Carrier Enforcement.

Hall reported that the Walworth County Highway Department set up barricades to close the accident scene to traffic. Roads reopened shortly after 3 p.m.

Hall said the cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the Walworth County Sheriff's Office Crash Investigation Team.

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Here are the Walworth Countys weekly criminal complaints from June 15-20. The cases still need to make their way through the Walworth County 
Lake Geneva area residents can now nominate people, businesses or organizations for the 2022 Impact Awards.

Conducted by Visit Lake Geneva, the tourism group recently announced the opening of nominations at the June 1 Lake Geneva Business Improvement District Board meeting.

Deanna Goodwin  vice president of marketing, communications and development for Visit Lake Geneva  announced that the organization is accepting nominations for the awards, an annual program in action since 1974.

The awards honor people who have made positive and significant impacts on the quality of life in the Lake Geneva area.

The awards are presented in four categories including:

Stu Herzog Outstanding Citizen Award, which is presented a person who has helped to make a positive difference in the community

Community Betterment Award, presented to a person, business or organization that has helped to improve the quality of life in the Lake Geneva area

Hospitality Award, presented to a person or business who has exemplified outstanding customer care and service

Rising Star Award, presented to a person, business or organization that has been in their respective field for five years or less and has made a substantial impact in their profession.

Nominations can be submitted by visiting www.visitlakegeneva.com/impact-awards and will be accepted through Aug. 5.

Then we will spend the next couple of weeks voting, Goodwin said. We will have our panel vote on that.

The awards will be presented during VISIT Lake Genevas annual membership dinner, which scheduled for Oct. 25.

VISIT Lake Geneva postponed the membership dinner last year in honor of former Walworth County Visitor Bureau Executive Director Tim Malenock, who died shortly before the event was set to be held.

The 2020 membership event was held virtually because of the coronavirus.

Were happy to be back in person for that this year, Goodwin said.

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Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretary General of the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Permanent Representatives of China, the European Union, Australia, Republic of Korea, Germany, Netherlands and Jordan in Geneva on the sidelines of the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

At the meeting with Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Minister Peiris assured the High Commissioner of Sri Lankas continued active engagement with the international system including the Human Rights Council, in a candid and transparent manner. The Foreign Minister also described in detail the results achieved on the ground by local mechanisms including the Office of Missing Persons, the Office for Reparations, the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation, the SDG Council as well as independent institutions such as the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. Foreign Minister Peiris informed the High Commissioner that the invitation to undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka extended previously, still stands. He also wished her well on her upcoming retirement, announced at the beginning of the current session.

At the meeting with Ambassador Chen Xu, Permanent Representative of China, the Foreign Minister thanked China for the continuous support extended to Sri Lanka over the years. Discussing the economic challenges facing the country, particularly issues relating to foreign reserves and their impact on food and energy security, Minister Peiris expressed appreciation for the substantial quantities of food, pharmaceutical items and COVID-19 vaccines provided by China. Reference was made to the long standing and friendly relationship between the two countries and the expectation of further strengthening the ties in the future.

Foreign Minister Peiris and Ambassador Amanda Gorely, Permanent Representative of Australia discussed the upcoming visit to Sri Lanka by Ms. Claire O Neil, Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security of Australia. While stating that the looked forward to meeting the Home Affairs Minister, the Foreign Minister assured the Permanent Representative of Sri Lankas continued commitment to combat illicit migration, which Sri Lanka views as a humanitarian calamity.

At the meeting with Jagan Chapagain, the Secretary General of the International Federation of the Red Cross, Minister Peiris requested for the delivery of medicines and healthcare equipment to Sri Lanka as a matter of priority. In his discussion with Ambassador Lotte Knudsen, the Permanent Observer of the European Union, the Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of economic diplomacy, including trade, investment and tourism.

The Foreign Minister also held discussions with Ambassador Walid Khalid Obedat, Coordinator of the Arab League and the Permanent Representative of Jordan, Ambassador Taeho Lee, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, Ambassador Natalie Olijslager, Charge d Affaires of Netherlands and Ambassador Hans-Peter Jugel, Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany.





Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

19 June, 2022





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New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI): GMR Infrastructure Limited on Tuesday said it would give high priority to 'Agniveers' in providing employment through its subsidiary RAXA Security Solutions Ltd.

Raxa Security Solutions Ltd is a premier security company of the GMR Group and provides man-guarding services, techno security solutions, fire services, and cyber security services. With an eye for detail and quality, RAXA is now one of the finest security solutions companies in India.

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The Government of India has recently introduced the innovative "Agnipath" scheme for youth willing to join the Armed forces and serve the nation. This scheme would produce trained soldiers, many of whom would be available for jobs beyond the defense services after the completion of the four-year period.

Inspired by the scheme, GMR Infrastructure Limited has decided to give high priority to Agniveers who are willing to pursue a new career in the private security domain and offer them employment in its subsidiary, RAXA Security Solutions for a variety of assignments, the company said in a statement.

Also Read | Credit Card, Debit Card Rules to Change As Card-Tokenisation Comes Into Effect from July 1; Check Details Here.

"Corporate world would offer a vast horizon to these Agniveers after they retire from active duty of the Armed Forces. There are various fulfilling job opportunities that a security company like RAXA has and we believe that with their discipline, teamwork, and training skills, Agniveers shall be a great asset for RAXA," said Ashwani Lohani, CEO of GMR Services Business.

RAXA Security Solutions provides security services to several premier clients including GMR Group in 15 states across India. RAXA Security Solutions has experts in the field of fire services and physical, electronic, and cyber security. RAXA has established many benchmarks in the private security domain and has also partnered with several companies of repute to provide appropriate security solutions, the company noted in the statement.

GMR Group is the largest private airport operator in Asia and the 2nd largest in the world with a passenger handling capacity of over 189 million annually. (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, Jun 21 (PTI) Delhi Police on Tuesday detained 197 Congress party workers, including 18 MPs, for allegedly violating prohibitory orders against gathering of people, while taking out a march against the summoning of Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), officials here said.

They also said that All India Mahila Congress president Netta D'Souza assaulted the police personnel on duty and spat on them for which she has been booked.

Also Read | I Got the News from All of You & I   Latest Tweet by ANI.

According to police, All India Congress Committee (AICC) had requested for permission to hold a Satyagraha' at the Jantar Mantar in central Delhi.

The programme was to be held against the Agnipath' scheme and the appearance of party leader Rahul Gandhi before the ED, they said.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Woman Kidnapped While on Her Way to See Doctor, Gang Raped For Months; Accused Arrested.

A permission for dharna' was granted subject to the condition that only 1,000 party workers will be allowed at the protest site, police said.

But instead of holding the dharna' at Jantar Mantar, the protestors assembled at AICC headquarters at 24 Akbar Road and marched out in the form of a procession in violation of the prohibitory orders promulgated under section 144 CrPC in force, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Sagar Preet Hooda said.

A total of 197 Congress workers, including 18 members of parliament, were detained under section 65 DP Act to maintain public order in the area, he said.

While detaining the Congress workers, one of the protesters, Netta D'Souza, president of All India Mahila Congress, obstructed and assaulted the police personnel on duty and spat on them for which a criminal case is being registered under appropriate sections of law against her, Hooda said.

A video of the incident also circulated on social media in which D'Souza is seen spitting at security personnel while standing on the steps of a bus in which the party workers were being detained.

D'Souza in a tweet later said she was only spitting out hair and some dust that had gone into her mouth while she was being heckled by police during the tussle. She said she did not mean to disrespect security personnel.

In another incident, around 10 to 12 people gathered unannounced outside the residence of BJP President J P Nadda at Moti Lal Nehru Marg in the afternoon, police said.

They were shouting slogans against the Agnipath' scheme and were carrying a long stick with some inflammable material, they said.

The demonstrators put the material on fire and put it at the entrance gate of the house, Hooda said.

The security personnel promptly came out and put out the fire, he said, adding suitable legal action is being taken against these people.

(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], June 21 (ANI): Agniveers will be eligible for gallantry awards, the Department of Military Affairs said on Tuesday in the backdrop of protests against the Agnipath scheme in different parts of the country.

"Agniveers will be eligible for gallantry awards. Patriotism or working in the army is a passion... it is not a provision for a job," Lieutenant General Anil Puri, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs said today at a presser.

Also Read | Jammu & Kashmir: 5 Houses in Srinagar Attached by Police for Harbouring Militants.

"Today, 50 to 60 people come for every vacancy to be recruited and only one is selected, so we need to take the best candidate for the country. The selection process will be transparent, fair, objective and centrally maintained," he said.

The DMA official highlighted that the department undergoes 80 to 100 bilateral exercises with many countries and from such engagements, it got the idea that the average age of soldiers is 26-27 years.

Also Read | Jharkhand Violence: Class 10 Boy Modashir Alam Killed in Ranchi Scores 66.6% in Board Examinations.

"We are in a profession which is the profession of soldiering, this is the biggest asset of the country and whatever solution we make will be for the defense of the country," he said.

Lieutenant General General Bansi Ponappa, Adjutant General, Indian Army also addressed the press conference today along with Lieutenant General Anil Puri.

Lieutenant General Bansi Ponappa said, "The entire recruitment schedule is ready and the recruitment notification for the Agnipath scheme has been uploaded on the 'Join Indian Army website'."

On June 17, the three chiefs of Indian Defence services hailed the decision of the Central government to approve the Agnipath Scheme, a recruitment process for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces.

"The Government has announced Agnipath scheme under which youth will be able to join armed forces. The age criteria will be 17.5 to 21 years. Happy to announce that for the first recruitment, the upper age limit has been revised to 23 years. It will benefit the youth. Air Force recruitment will begin on June 24," the Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said in a virtual address on Friday.

Agnipath Scheme, which was approved by the cabinet on June 14, was launched in an effort to bring a change in the recruitment process of the Armed Forces. With the new military recruitment scheme facing criticism, the Centre has decided to bring a change in the upper age limit for recruiting Agniveers.

Granting a one-time waiver, the Centre on June 16, 2022, announced that the Agniveer upper age limit for recruitments via Agnipath Scheme has been extended to 23 years from 21 years.Indian Air Force also appreciated the government for increasing the upper age limit to 23 from 21 for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme for the year 2022.

COVID-19 halted the Army's recruitment for over two years. In 2019-2020, the Army recruited jawans and there has been no entry since then. On the other hand, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force had both recruited in the last two years respectively.

The Ministry of Defence, in its statement on last Tuesday, said that the Agnipath scheme has been designed to enable a youthful profile of the Armed Forces. It will provide an opportunity to the youth who may be keen to don the uniform by attracting young talent from the society who are more in tune with contemporary technological trends and plough back skilled, disciplined and motivated manpower into the society. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Cachar (Assam) [India] June 21 (ANI): As several parts of the Cachar district of Assam including urban and rural parts of Silchar are totally submerged, the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) carried out rescue operations in flood-hit areas of the district in a massive way.

The rescue teams on Monday rescued more than 3,000 people including pregnant women, children and senior citizens from different parts of Silchar town and the Cachar district, informed the Cachar district administration.

Also Read | Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Summoned by ED in National Herald Case for 5th Time.

In view of the continuous entering of water from the Barak River into the Silchar town, the Cachar district administration has restricted vehicular movement on many roads.

Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday informed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will carry one lakh litres of diesel and petrol to Silchar on Tuesday.

Also Read | COVID-19 Cases Rising in India As People Are Not Following Appropriate Behaviour, Says Health Expert.

Speaking to media persons at Diphu in Karbi Anglong district, the Chief Minister said, "For the first time in the history of Assam, a special plane of Indian Air Force will carry 1 lakh litres of diesel and petrol to Silchar on June 21. Nothing like this ever before happened in Assam history. The Northeast Frontier Railway has also agreed to run a special relief train."

Meanwhile, the flood situation at Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve also continues.

A total of 25 anti-poaching camps have been inundated by flood water till Monday.

"In connection with this, essential rations are distributed among the anti-poaching camp staff of the Park," informed Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Mangaldoi Wildlife Division.

The Chief Minister further informed that more than 2000 villages of Nagaon and Morigaon district are still reeling under flood waters in the state.

"We are trying to help the flood-affected people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called me to enquire about the flood situation in the state. Today morning Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also called and all central government agencies Indian Air Force, Indian Railway, Indian Army are engaged in relief and rescue operations," he noted.

"There is no fund problem. All this is possible only because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's instruction," Sarma said.

Meanwhile, Assam State Disaster Management Authority on Monday informed that 11 people died in floods and landslides in the last 24 hours.

As nearly 42.28 lakh people in 33 districts in Assam have been affected, Sarma on Monday directed all the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to prioritise relief operations instead of following procedures to avoid delays in supply relief.

The flood and landslides have claimed 82 lives in Assam this year so far and 27 people are still missing.

In the current spell of flood in the state, more than 12.30 lakh people have been affected alone in lower Assam's Barpeta district followed by 4.69 lakh in Darrang, 4.40 lakh in Nagaon, 3.38 lakh in Bajali, 2.91 lakh in Dhubri, 2.82 lakh in Kamrup, 2.80 lakh in Goalpara, 2.07 lakh in Cachar, 1.84 lakh in Nalbari, 1.51 lakh in South Salmara, 1.46 lakh in Bongaigaon, 1.34 lakh in Karimganj district.

As the flood waters submerged Silchar town in the Cachar district on Monday, an order issued by the district administration stated that "The water levels at various places of the town are rapidly rising and the current of water is also very high. Considering the situation, it is very risky for vehicles(two-wheelers/three-wheelers/four-wheelers) to ply through the route starting from Bilpar to National Highway through Rangirkhari Point and from Bilpar to Link Road point through Sonai Road."

"With a view to further augment our efforts, with a view to safeguarding the lives of people, vehicular traffic to, from and within the above-mentioned area is hereby restricted for the next 24 hours by exercising the powers vested with District Disaster Management Authority under section 34, subsection (b) of the Disaster Management Act 2005 w.e.f for the next 24 hours." (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI): A Buddhist monk from Ladakh is among the four recipients of the Prime Minister's Award for Outstanding Contribution towards the Development and Promotion of Yoga for the year 2021.

According to the Ministry of Ayush, the Prime Minister's Award for Outstanding Contribution towards the Development and Promotion of Yoga, one of the most coveted honours in the field of Yoga, has been announced for the year 2021.

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The winners will be felicitated with a Trophy, Certificate and a Cash Award each. The value of each Cash Award would be Rs 25 lakh.

Bhikkhu Sanghasena from Ladakh's Leh and Marcus Vinicius Rojo from Rodrigues, Sao Paulo, Brazil are the individual recipients of the award while The Divine Life Society from Uttarakhand's Rishikesh and the British Wheel of Yoga from the United Kingdom are two organisations, who will receive the award.

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The awards for the Outstanding Contribution towards the Development and Promotion of Yoga was announced by the Prime Minister of India on the occasion of the second International Day of Yoga celebrations at Chandigarh on June 21, 2016.

The Ministry of Ayush developed the guidelines for the said awards. A two-stage selection process through a Screening Committee (for preliminary evaluation) and Evaluation Committee (Jury for final evaluation), is followed in a transparent manner for finalizing the awards.

The nominations for the awards for 2021 were invited through an open advertisement on the MyGov platform. The start date for the same was March 29, 2021, and the end date was May 11, 2021.

The Screening Committee chaired by Secretary (Ayush) drew up a shortlist from the 120 applications received as well as the Committee's own inputs.

The Jury chaired by the Cabinet Secretary examined the recommendations of the Screening Committee, and also made its own analysis of the contributions made by the institutions and individuals shortlisted.

The selection was done after considering nominations received under four different categories, namely International Individual, International Organisation, National Individual and National Organisation. (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], June 21 (ANI): Amid the row over Centre's newly-launched Agnipath recruitment scheme for defence forces, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday said there are "conflict entrepreneurs" with vested interests who are behind the protests over the scheme.

In an exclusive with ANI, Doval said while there are people who are truly concerned and "their fear of unknown" is being gradually addressed and there is another group which does "not care for the country or security of the nation" and resorts to violence and damage to public property.

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"I will say there are two kinds of opposition. There are one group of people who are truly concerned, who have served the country. They only have the fear of the unknown. It is anxiety before any big change. People are now understanding gradually that it has been a long-term due. They are now finding it a good move," he said.

"But, there is another group. They do not care for the country or the security of the nation. They are conflict entrepreneurs. They want a conflict in society. These are the people who will go for stone-throwing, demonstrations, burning trains. They are with a vested interest. Whenever they have an opportunity they think they can mislead the people," he added.

Also Read | Agnipath Recruitment Row: 'Hear Us Before Taking Any Decision', Centre to Supreme Court on Pleas Against Recruitment Scheme.

NSA Doval said the youth who are serious in joining the Armed Forces do not get misguided.

"A true Agniveer will not be influenced or misguided. They will prepare rather than do protests. The people who are doing all this, I do not think they are willing to join the Armed Forces or have a psychic mental set." he emphasised.

He said raising voice is justified but vandalism will not be tolerated.

"I think protest, raising voice is justified in a democracy. Violence and vandalism will not be tolerated. Reforms are required in various forms such as Police. Lessons should be learnt from the circumstances. Many FIRs have been lodged. People behind these will be identified," said Doval.

The "transformative" Agnipath scheme, announced by Union Minister Rajanath Singh on June 14, in the presence of the three service chiefs provides for the recruitment of into the Armed services of youths between the age bracket of 17-and-a-half-years to 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. The Centre later extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022.

After the policy was announced on June 14, protests erupted in various states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand and Assam.

As the agitation intensified in some places, protestors went on the rampage setting trains on fire, torching vehicles and damaging both private and public properties.

Protests had disrupted rail services in several parts of the country. Around 500 train services have been affected throughout the country due to the ongoing agitation, informed railway officials. (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, June 21: The BJP parliamentary board on Tuesday named Draupadi Murmu, a tribal leader of the party from Odisha, as the ruling NDA's candidate for the presidential election. BJP president J P Nadda announced her name at a press conference following a meeting of the party top brass.

Murmu (64), a former Jharkhand governor, will be the first tribal woman to occupy the top constitutional post if she is elected, a strong possibility as numbers are stacked in the favour of the BJP-led NDA. Presidential Election 2022: Yashwant Sinha Announced As Oppositions Joint Candidate.

Opposition had earlier announced Yashwant Sinha as its joint candidate for the post. The poll is slated for July 18.

(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, Jun 21 (PTI) From a junior assistant in the irrigation and power department in Odisha to the presidential candidate of the BJP-led NDA, it has been a long and arduous journey for tribal leader Droupadi Murmu.

If elected, Murmu will be India's first tribal President.

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The announcement of Murmu's candidature by BJP president J P Nadda came a day after she celebrated her 64th birthday.

Born in the Santhal community, Murmu began her political career as a councillor in Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat in 1997 and rose through the ranks to become a minister in the Odisha government in 2000 and later the Governor of Jharkhand in 2015.

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A two-term former MLA from Rairangpur, Murmu held on to her assembly seat in 2009 when the BJD had snapped ties with the BJP weeks ahead of the state elections which were swept by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Born on June 20, 1958, Murmu also holds the distinction of becoming the first woman Governor of Jharkhand. If elected, Murmu will also be the first president to be born after Independence.

Murmu took her baby steps struggling with poverty in one of the most remote and underdeveloped districts of the country.

Overcoming all odds, she earned her Bachelor's degree in Arts from Ramadevi Women's College in Bhubaneswar and served as a junior assistant in the irrigation and power department in the Odisha government.

Later, she also served as an honorary assistant teacher in the Shri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre in Rairangpur.

Murmu was awarded the Nilkanth Award for the Best MLA of the year in 2007 by the Odisha Legislative assembly.

She has diverse administrative experience having handled ministries such as transport, commerce, fisheries and animal husbandry in the Odisha government.

In the BJP, Murmu was the vice president and later president of the Scheduled Tribe Morcha in Odisha. She was elected as the district president of Mayurbhanj (West) unit of the BJP in 2010 and re-elected in 2013. She was also named as member of the BJP National Executive (ST Morcha) the same year.

She held the post of district president till April 2015 when she was appointed as the Governor of Jharkhand.

Murmu was married to Shyam Charan Murmu and they had two sons and a daughter. Her life has been marked with personal tragedies as she lost her husband and two sons.

Murmu's daughter Itishree is married to Ganesh Hembram.

(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, Jun 21 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay a four-day visit to Rwandan capital Kigali from Wednesday to attend a meeting of the Commonwealth heads of government.

Jaishankar will be representing Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Commonwealth summit on June 24-25, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

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"S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister (EAM), will be visiting Kigali from June 22 to 25 to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). EAM will be leading the Indian delegation to the CHOGM, which had earlier been postponed twice due to COVID-19 pandemic," the MEA said.

Jaishankar will also attend the pre-CHOGM foreign ministers' meeting on June 23.

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The theme of 26th CHOGM Summit is: "Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming".

The leaders of the Commonwealth member states are scheduled to deliberate on issues of contemporary relevance, including global challenges like climate change, food security, health issues, and likely to adopt a number of documents including the Kigali declaration on child care and protection reform, declaration on sustainable urbanisation and commonwealth living lands charter.

"During the visit, the EAM is expected to hold several bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Commonwealth member states and other visiting dignitaries," the MEA said in a statement.

In 2018, India announced the creation of a Commonwealth window, dedicating USD 50 million for development projects and assistance to developing countries of the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth is a diverse community of 53 nations that work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kochi, Jun 21 (PTI) The Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked the state government to ensure that the salary for the state-run KSRTC employees are given within the first five days of the month.

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Justice Devan Ramachandran said the government should consider taking over the liability of Rs 3,500 crore of the Kerala State Road transport Corporation (KSRTC).

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The court asked the government to check the possibility of setting apart revenue of the corporation every month for the purpose of giving salary to the staff.

Meanwhile, responding to a plea seeking to provide salary to staff before the fifth of every month, KSRTC said the revenue was going to the bank consortium and a minimum of Rs eight crore per day was required for KSRTC.

KSRTC has also informed that a high-level meeting, chaired by the Chief minister will be held soon.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Shahjahanpur, Jun 21 (PTI) A man on Tuesday walked off his wedding after a dispute between his and the bride's side broke out over who will pay for the brass band, police here said.

One Dharmendra had brought his baraat' from Kampil in Farrukhabad to Mirzapur here, SHO, Mirzapur Police Station, Arvind Kumar Singh told PTI .

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As the wedding rituals were being performed, the band demanded money from the groom's side, but they refused to pay saying they should be paid off by the bride's side.

This gave rise of a dispute between the two would-relatives, and the groom, apparently finding his pride hurt, walked off with his procession, breaking off the necklace' he was wearing, police said.

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The bride's side too severed relations with the groom's family after the incident, police said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ahmedabad, Jun 21 (PTI) The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday observed that steps taken by the state authorities in improving school infrastructure are not only satisfactory, but also almost on par with private institutions.

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The court of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh Shastri made the observation on the basis of a government affidavit providing details of school buildings and infrastructure facilities such as playgrounds and washrooms in a suo motu PIL.

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The court had taken suo motu cognisance of a news article about the collapse of a school building at Vagalvada village in Chhota Udepur district, and some parts of a school building collapsing at Pratappura in Mahisagar district and some students getting injured in the incident.

The bench noted that the annexure made in the affidavit revealed that infrastructure facilities such as drinking water, toilets, playgrounds have been provided at district/taluka levels, including buildings for conducting classes.

The court further said that the advocate general has assured that any shortfall in the infrastructure would be addressed if brought to the notice of Vidya Sameeksha Kendra, Samagra Siksha Kendra or Gujarat Council of School Education.

"We do not see any good ground as to why the said statement made should not be accepted, particularly in the background of the statistics placed before this court (regarding infrastructure facilities) clearly disclosing the steps taken by the state authorities, which are not only satisfactory, but also almost on par with any other private schools," the bench said.

The government informed the court that a pucca RCC building has been constructed at Vagalvada, and necessary instructions have been issued regarding the school at Pratappura.

The court observed that it is "not only satisfied with the steps taken by the state, but also places on record its appreciation for immediate steps taken on such deficiencies being pointed out".

As per the affidavit filed by the additional secretary, there are 32,319 government schools in all, with 47,07,846 students.

While almost all schools have toilets and drinking water supply, at least 6,443 do not have playgrounds, it said.

The court noted in its order that the state has put up "strenuous efforts" by virtue of which the net enrolment rate in schools (NER), which was 75.05 per cent in 2002-03, has risen to 99.25 per cent in 2012-13, and is now close to achieving 100 per cent.

The school dropout ratio from Classes 1 to 8, which was around 18.79 per cent in 2004-05, has come down to 3.07 per cent in 2021, as per the government affidavit.

The dropout ratio of girls has come down 1.29 per cent for Classes 1 to 5, and 3.46 per cent for Classes 6 to 8 by 2021, and the student-to-classroom ratio (SCR) stands at 26:1 in 2021, from 38:1 in 2001-02, with 1.37 lakh classrooms built during this period, the affidavit stated.

As per the government data, about 1.96 lakh teachers and head teachers have been recruited in the last 20 years, improving the pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) to 28:1 in 2021, from 40:1 in 2001-02.

(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, Jun 21 (PTI) Several Union ministers on Tuesday participated in the International Yoga Day celebrations at historical sites across the country.

Since 2015, the International Day of Yoga has been celebrated worldwide on June 21 every year.

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As part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', yoga demonstrations by Union Cabinet ministers took place at 75 iconic sites across India.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya joined the celebrations at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat's Kevadia and called on citizens to take a pledge to be healthy and contribute to the country's development.

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Underlining the benefits of yoga, Mandaviya, who performed asanas along with hundreds of participants, said the citizens of a country need to be healthy for it to become a developed nation, according to a health ministry statement.

In Arunachal Pradesh, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju led the Yoga Day event at Dong in Anjaw district, bordering China.

It is the eastern-most village in India, near the point where borders of India, China and Myanmar meet. Dong receives the first sunrise in India, thus earning it the nickname 'India's Land of the Rising Sun'.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan led yoga demonstrations at the east entrance of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple in Kerala and Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and Civil Aviation, V K Singh took part in an event at the Parade Ground near St Francis Church in Fort Kochi.

The event was organised in the southern state by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India (MORTH) following the Centre's decision to celebrate the International Yoga Day at 75 iconic locations across the country.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Culture took part in an event organised by the National Institute of Ayurveda at Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, Rajasthan while Union Minister of State for Finance Dr Bhagwat Karad led a crowd of nearly 7,500 people in performing yoga at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav joined the eclebrations at Ram ki Paidi on the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya and called on people to adopt a lifestyle conducive for the environment.

Addressing a gathering of more than 5,000 people on the occasion, Yadav said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created a sense of collectiveness and awareness about yoga among people.

"With the power to transform lives, yoga is India's gift to the world. It bestows upon us strength, energy and consciousness, paving the way for oneness with nature. Today, join in #YogaForHumanity, and start a journey towards LiFE, Lifestyle for Environment (sic)," Yadav tweeted.

Union Minister of State for Food Processing Prahlad Singh Patel attended a Yoga Day programme at Fort Aguada in Sinquerim village in North Goa district, while Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik participated in a function in Old Goa.

Naik said people across the globe have been commemorating this day.

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi performed yoga with a large number of people at the historic Panch Mahal in Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh's Agra, according to an official release.

Naqvi said yoga is the perfect Indian hamper of health, harmony, and happiness and termed the ancient practice as the golden key to good health.

Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore travelled to Nagaland to attend a Yoga Day event at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, some 12 km south of the state capital.

Addressing the participants there, Kishore said yoga improves the physical wellbeing, increases the mental stability while also fighting against various diseases including asthma, blood pressure, and blood sugar, he said.

Yoga is like an insurance for all of us, he said, adding that if one desires to have good health, regular yoga practice is a must.

After two years of symbolic celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, International Yoga Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country.

This year, International Yoga Day witnessed many firsts, including a 'Guardian Ring' programme which entails live streaming of people performing yoga in 16 different time zones along with the rise of the sun.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Palghar, Jun 21 (PTI) Police have seized gutka and tobacco products worth Rs 2.68 lakh here in Maharashtra and arrested one person in this connection, an official said on Tuesday.

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Following a tip-off, a police team maintained a vigil on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway and intercepted a tempo on Sunday.

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During checking of the vehicle, the police seized banned goods, which were being transported to Palghar. The tempo driver was arrested, district rural police spokesperson Sachin Nawadkar said.

A case has been registered against the tempo driver under relevant provisions, he said, adding that the police were trying to find out from where the accused got the stock and to whom he was to deliver it.

The sale and consumption of gutka, scented and flavoured tobacco has been banned in Maharashtra since 2012.

In 2018, the state government made sale of gutka a non-bailable offence and enhanced the punishment for it from six months to three years.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
MBABANE - A liSwati, who was wanted for a string of robberies in the country, was shot dead in South Africa.

The liSwati, Lucky Diamond of Eqinisweni in the Shiselweni Region, was killed on Sunday morning, having escaped from the country last Thursday after shooting a customer and further stabbing an Asian national who runs a shop at Eqinisweni. In fact, it was established that there were eight other robbery offences wherein the now deceased Diamond was involved in robberies in the Shiselweni Region. The Indian national was experiencing a second robbery last Thursday.

His cellphones, groceries and money were taken from him. There is a trending video on social media where the deceased is seen attacking the Indian national. In the video dated June 16, 2022, the now deceased Diamond is seen slapping the businessman countless times while carrying a sharp object. While at that, a customer walked into the shop oblivious to that there was a robbery going on and was shot in the process. In the video, the businessman later falls down and the robber continues to attack him until he stabs him in the back before exiting the shop with money.

Alive

The customer is still alive, narrated the source. In another incident, it was said that the now deceased man boarded a kombi with his friends and at their targeted place, they requested to be dropped off. It was said that it was at the drop-off point wherein the now deceased fired shots and demanded money from the driver and about six passengers who were on board, taking their cellphones as well. Also, it was gathered that there were other shops in town that he allegedly robbed including a car dealership, which was robbed of over E60 000 a month ago. It was established that the deceased was allegedly committing another crime in SA, at a place called Gaxa when he was shot.

A relative who did not want to disclose much, stated that they were informed by their SA-based relatives on what transpired. He said they were still coming to terms with the loss of their own and did not wish to make further comments. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that there was a man who stabbed a businessman and further shot a customer. She said the man was wanted for his crimes.
Mumbai, Jun 21 (PTI) Maharashtra minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has gone incommunicado, a party leader said on Tuesday, a day after the ruling Maha Vikas Agahdi (MVA) suffered a setback in the state Legislative Council polls by losing one out of the six seats it contested.

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The development could rattle the MVA, comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, as some Sena MLAs are believed to be in touch with Shinde.

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A party leader said Shinde may be in Gujarat along with some MLAs.

The leader did not divulge the number of MLAs who could be with Shinde and their details.

Shinde wields influence in some of the satellite cities of Mumbai.

He (Shinde) was at the Shiv Sena office in the Legislative Assembly premises on Monday when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was present there. But, no one knows about him after that. He was not present during the counting (for MLC polls), the leader said.

The opposition BJP on Monday won all five seats it contested in the state Legislative Council elections for 10 seats, while Congress candidate and Dalit leader Chandrakant Handore lost, in another setback for the MVA after the Rajya Sabha polls earlier this month.

Two candidates each of the Shiv Sena and NCP won, while the Congress managed to bag just one seat.

Ten Council seats were up for grabs and 11 candidates were in the fray for the elections, which came days after the Rajya Sabha polls, which saw the BJP handing an embarrassing defeat to the Shiv Sena-led ruling coalition.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, June 21: The Shiv Sena on Monday decided to remove its cabinet minister Eknath Shinde as its Legislative party leader and Sewri MLA Ajay Chaudhary will be the new Shiv Sena Legislative party leader, sources said. This comes after Shinde and some Shiv Sena MLAs became "unreachable" today.

According to sources, a day after suspected cross-voting in Maharashtra MLC polls, prominent Shiv Sena leader and state cabinet minister Eknath Shinde has reportedly become inaccessible with several party MLAs. Sources said the MLAs moved to a hotel in Surat in Gujarat. Maharashtra Political Crisis: No Comments Should Be Made on Such Things, Else What Is Point of Being Unreachable, Says Narayan Rane on Eknath Shinde Being Not Reachable.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also confirmed the developments and said, "Some MLAs of Shiv Sena and Eknath Shinde are currently not reachable. Efforts are being made to topple the MVA government but BJP has to remember that Maharashtra is very different from Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh."

Shinde is influential in the Shiv Sena and has been instrumental in strengthening the organisation in the Thane region. Shinde was made the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 2014 after the Shiv Sena parted ways with the BJP. He was appointed as a cabinet minister in the MVA government.

However, sources said Shinde has been feeling sidelined since the formation of the MVA government. His son Shrikant Shinde represents the Kalyan Lok Sabha seat.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders met at party leader Balasaheb Thorat's official residence, Royal Stone bungalow in Mumbai. Former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan also attended the meeting.

On the other hand, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil took a potshot at Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and said the political turmoil came up due to Raut.

Asked about Shinde's removal from the party, Patil said neither Shinde has sent any proposal to BJP for government formation, nor the BJP has sent any proposal to him.

"It's too early to say anything. We are currently waiting and keeping an eye on the situation. Neither Eknath Shinde has sent a proposal to BJP for government formation nor the BJP has sent any proposal to him," he said.

"So far, there has not been any proposal regarding government formation neither from the BJP nor from Eknath Shinde but anything can happen in politics at any time," he added.

BJP bagged five seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena won two each while Congress was able to clinch one seat out of the total 10 seats in Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) that went to polls on Monday. MVA candidate from Congress Chandrakant Handore had lost in the MLC polls.

As many as 11 candidates were in the fray for the elections to the 10 seats in the MLC. All the five candidates of the BJP -- Pravin Darekar, Ram Shinde, Shrikant Bharatiya, Uma Khapre and Prasad Lad emerged victorious. NCP candidates-- Ramraje Nimbalkar and Eknath Khadse-- and the Shiv Sena nominees- Aamshya Padavi and Sachin Ahir also secured their seats. Of the two candidates fielded by Congress, Bhai Jagtap secured the win while Chandrakant Handore lost.

BJP's winning candidate claimed that cross-voting happened among members of Shiv Sena and Congress. The BJP has 106 MLAs, Shiv Sena 56, NCP 53 and Congress has 44 MLAs. A total of 285 members cast their votes in the MLC polls.

Former Home Ministers Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik, who are in judicial custody in money-laundering cases were not allowed to vote.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhopal, Jun 21 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan celebrated the International Yoga Day with some school children and dignitaries here on Tuesday and expressed happiness that the ancient Indian practice of yoga has now spread across the world.

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He said the people's priority in life should be to stay healthy.

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Chouhan rolled out a mat and performed yoga exercises along with students and some dignitaries at his official residence in Bhopal.

The main programme was earlier scheduled at the Lal Parade Ground here in the presence of school children, but rains on Monday evening forced the organisers to cancel the event there.

Addressing the gathering at his residence, Chouhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for spreading the importance of yoga in the entire world.

The International Yoga Day is now being celebrated in 177 countries across the world, he said.

Earlier, only people in India used to practice the yoga to remain fit and healthy, but now the entire world is doing it, Chouhan said stressed that people's priority in life should be to remain healthy.

He also appealed to the children and youth to do yoga everyday to remain fit and healthy and to have a sharp mind.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar participated in a yoga programme at Bateshwar in Morena, which is also his parliamentary constituency.

Besides, various yoga events were also held at divisional, district, tehsil, block and village levels across the state. PTI MAS

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Bhopal, Jun 21 (PTI) The COVID-19 tally in Madhya Pradesh reached 10,43,687 on Tuesday with the addition of 80 cases, a health official said.

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The death toll remained unchanged at 10,740 as no fresh COVID-19 fatality was reported.

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The positivity rate stood at 1.5 per cent, he said.

The recovery count increased by 58 to reach 10,32,490, leaving the state with 457 active cases, the official added.

With 5,050 samples examined during the day, the total number of tests in MP went up to 2,94,42,778, he added.

A government release said 12,00,10,557 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the state, including 36,857 on Tuesday.

Coronavirus figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 10,43,687, new cases 80, death toll 10,740, recoveries 10,32,490, active cases 420, number of tests so far 2,94,42,778.

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New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) Three CRPF personnel were killed in a Maoist ambush at a security post in Odisha's Nuapada district on Tuesday, officials said.

The deceased include a jawan and two assistant sub-inspector rank personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

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The Naxals attacked the troops, who were involved in a road opening task, using improvised and crude barrel grenade launchers, they said quoting preliminary inputs.

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Bhubaneswar, Jun 21 (PTI) People across Odisha on Tuesday celebrated the 8th International Day of Yoga while three Union ministers held special programmes to popularise the ancient Indian physical and mental exercise among the masses.

While Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw led an event held at the Konark Sun Temple, Union Heavy Industries Minister Mahendra Pandey, along with BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra, took part in a yoga session held in the Blue Flag Beach of Puri.

Also Read | Govt Invites Applications Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana.

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Bishweswar Tudu took part in another International Day of Yoga event at Khiching in Mayurbhanj district.

Addressing 1200 odd participants in the backdrop of the Konark Sun Temple, Vaishnaw said that regular practice of yoga helps people stay energetic and get a strong immune system.

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On the occasion, renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a seven feet high sand sculpture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi doing yoga at a beach in Puri. The sculpture's theme was based on 'Surya Namaskar' asana.

Under the theme of Yoga for Humanity, Indian Army under the aegis of Head Quarter Odisha Sub Area organised yoga events at various locations in the state.

Yoga camps were also held in many educational institutions and organisations.

Meanwhile, Odisha weavers have given an unique message, Yoga is Life', in 10 languages, including Odia, Hindi, English and Urdu, along with 12 poses of Surya Namaskar intricately weaved in a Sambalpuri Bandha saree.

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Mysuru, June 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended greetings on the eighth International Day of Yoga and said that yoga brings peace to the society.

Addressing the main event of the eighth edition of the International Day of Yoga in the heritage city of Mysuru in Karnataka, PM Modi said, "I extend my greetings to all on this 8th International Yoga Day.

Today, Yoga is being practised in all parts of the world. Yoga brings peace for us. The peace from Yoga is not only for individuals, it brings peace to our nations and the world."Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Summoned by ED in National Herald Case for 5th Time.

He said that yoga is not only for any individual but for the entire humanity.

"Yoga is not only for any individual but for the entire humanity. This is the reason that the theme of International Yoga Day is 'Yoga for humanity'," said PM Modi.| COVID-19 Cases Rising in India As People Are Not Following Appropriate Behaviour, Says Health Expert.

"This whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us. And, Yoga makes us conscious of everything within us and builds a sense of awareness," he said.

See Pics and Video:

#InternationalDayofYoga | PM Modi leads mass Yoga event at the Mysore Palace Ground in Karnataka pic.twitter.com/gyGTu8BPuB  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2022

#WATCH | People perform Yoga at Mysuru Palace Ground in Karnataka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the #InternationalDayOfYoga celebrations from here. pic.twitter.com/ia4AYVTjBF  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2022

The Prime Minister said this whole universe starts from our own body and soul.

"The universe starts from us. And, Yoga makes us conscious of everything within us and builds a sense of awareness," he said.

This year the theme for the celebration is "Yoga for humanity". The theme has been selected after much deliberation/consultation and it appropriately portrays, how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the sufferings and in the emerging post-COVID-19 geo-political scenario too, it will bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over.

Prime Minister's Yoga programme at Mysuru is also part of the novel programme 'Guardian Yoga Ring' which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga's unifying power that surpasses National boundaries.

As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One earth'.K

The Digital yoga exhibition will showcase the latest technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) to project the history and wisdom of Yoga. The static exhibition consists of 146 stalls which have been taken up by yoga institutions, Ayush institutions under the ambit of the Government of Karnataka and the Government of India.

Keeping the overarching theme of the 75 years of India's independence the Ministry for Ayush also identified 75 locations for Union Ministers to participate in the Yoga Day celebration.

This year International Day of Yoga 2022 will see many firsts, the 'Guardian ring', yoga demonstration by Union cabinet ministers at 75 iconic locations in India and a special digital yoga and static exhibition in Mysuru Dussera Grounds, Mysuru.

The Digital yoga exhibition will showcase the latest technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) to project the history and wisdom of Yoga. The static exhibition consists of 146 stalls which have been taken up by yoga institutions, Ayush institutions under the ambit of the Government of Karnataka and the Government of India.

According to the Ministry of Ayush, it is expected that as many as 25 crores of people will participate in International Day of Yoga 2022 celebrations across the world.

Earlier, Yog Guru Ramdev performed yoga at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar. Many children and other people also attend the event.

It was during his speech at the UN General Assembly in September 27, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi first floated the idea of the International Yoga Day.

The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations. With universal recognition and growing popularity of Yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014.

The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. (ANI)

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Hyderabad, Jun 21 (PTI) The state government has taken up road works worth Rs 8,052 crore under Strategic Road Development Programme (SRDP) in the city in the first phase, Telangana Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development KT Rama Rao said on Tuesday.

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The minister inaugurated a Road Over Bridge constructed at an expenditure of Rs 86 crore at Kukatpally, an official release said.

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Speaking on the occasion, Rama Rao said about 30 per cent of the SRDP works are over and the rest of them are in various stages even as they are expected to be completed by next year.

"Plans for the second phase of SRDP works involving Rs 3,115 crore are ready for creating necessary infrastructure," the minister said.

Speaking about welfare schemes, he said the TRS government has been distributing various pensions to 40 lakh people- Rs 2,000 per month each whereas the previous regime gave pension to only 26 lakh people- a mere Rs 200 each.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Amritsar, Jun 21 (PTI) Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday said they will help with air tickets the Sikhs wanting to come to India from Afghanistan.

Dhami also appealed to the Union government to immediately give permission to safely bring to India the Sikhs living in Afghanistan, days after a terror attack on Gurdwara Karte Parwan near Kabul.

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"Amid this situation, the Government of India should make serious efforts for the protection of every Sikh in Afghanistan and grant them citizenship after bringing them to India," said Dhami.

Dhami said the Sikhs living in Afghanistan do not need to be frightened and the SGPC will extend all possible support to those who can't afford transportation expenses to India.

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The SGPC president said on Monday he spoke to some Afghan Sikhs in Delhi, who apprised him of the problems faced by the Sikhs living there.

Dhami had on Monday met the family of Sawinder Singh, who was killed in last week's Gurdwara attack in Kabul. Dhami expressed his condolences to the family.

"The entire Sikh community, including the Afghan Sikhs living in India, is concerned about the fear and insecurity among Sikhs in Afghanistan. The entire community sympathises with the Sikhs of Afghanistan in this time of crisis and the Sikh body SGPC also feels their pain," he said.

He said although it is very difficult for Sikhs to leave their settled businesses and homes in Afghanistan, the Sikhs living there are helpless in the face of dire circumstances.

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New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) Battling a crisis in the Maharashtra government, the Shiv Sena leaders are likely to skip the opposition parties meeting on Tuesday to finalise their joint candidate for the Presidential election.

Senior party leader Sanjay Raut was scheduled to attend the meeting convened by Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, but "he has cancelled his visit to Delhi," a party functionary said.

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The Maharashtra government is facing a crisis after senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde went incommunicado with 10 party MLAs in tow.

Shinde is learnt to be in Gujarat's Surat, apparently upset with being sidelined by the party.

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SITEKI - My underwear is missing.

This was a claim made by the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Head of International Relations Siboniso Mkhabela, who insinuated that his underwear was missing from the clothing items that were confiscated by police officers manning a roadblock at Lukhula last Friday. Mkhabela was stopped by police officers at the roadblock on his way to attend a prayer service organised by the Multi-Stakeholders Forum (MSF) in remembrance of the victims of the June/July unrest. The police officers further took his two cellphones that are currently under detention after an order sought at the Siteki Magistrates Court on the same day. He was told that his cellphones had been taken for forensic investigations to Pretoria, South Africa.

Accompanying him to the Lubombo Regional Police Headquarters to enquire on why Mkhabelas items were confiscated was MSF Chairman and Human Rights Lawyer Thulani Maseko and PUDEMO President Mlungisi Makhanya. His Lawyer, Maseko, yesterday instructed Siphofaneni-based Attorney Maxwell Nkambule to handle the matter. Mkhabela, in the company of PUDEMO Lubombo Branch Chairman Sifiso Mabuza and executive member Ncobile Mazibuko and Khetha Dlamini, held a brief meeting with Lubombo Regional Police Deputy Commander Vusi Ngqwane. Over 10 PUDEMO members accompanied Mkhabela to give him moral support. Mkhabela said Ngqwane referred them to the Siteki Police Station to get the clothing items and the copy of the detention order.

However, a senior police officer at the station informed Mkhabela that one of his colleagues had the order and it was locked in his locker. He is the one who has the order but he is away, said the senior police officer. The PUDEMO executive member was also given his bag with the clothing items that were confiscated. He claimed to have found that an underwear was missing when he was given the bag to check its contents. I am fine that the two PUDEMO T-shirts are available as they belong to the organisation. I dont mind that an underwear is missing but who can take an underwear and do what with it (sic), he said, while wondering about the disappearance of his underneath garment.

Mkhabela was advised by the senior police officer to go to the Siteki Magistrates Court and ask for a copy of the order. However, Court Clerk Gcinaphi Dlamini attended to him and made means to locate it but she was unsuccessful. Dlamini also wondered how the police officer who applied for the detention order failed to serve Mkhabela with a copy as a respondent in the matter. It appears that the copies of the order were taken by the police officer and none was left even at the court, she said. Mkhabela said the detention order granted to the police for confiscating his cellphones was part of a strategy aimed at disorganising him ahead of the June 29 planned march and the July 18 event at Lomahasha. On July 18, we have planned for a big event in remembrance of Mpostoli and Sgubhu and others who died (allegedly) in the hands of the police. The confiscation of the gadgets is part of that strategy to jeopardise our plans, he said.

He further mentioned that he would continue to soldier on and be stronger in the struggle for freedom. This is part of the ploy to disorganise the Lubombo leadership and ensure that nothing takes place on June 29 and July 18. I would like to inform members of political formations that they should remain resolute and strong in their fight, Mkhabela said. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superitendent Phindile Vilakati said Mkhabela had to engage the station about the disappearance of his underwear garment.

Meanwhile, Mkhabela was stopped by the police while driving his BMW sedan from his home place, Lomahasha. He mentioned that he was told by the contingent of police officers from the Siteki Police Station and Lubombo Regional Police Headquarters who were together with soldiers, to drive his car to the regional headquarters while being followed. He said he drove fast and went to a safe place where he contacted PUDEMO President Makhanya and MSF Chairman and Human Rights Lawyer Maseko about the matter. Close to 50 members of political formations honoured the MSF prayer service which was held on Friday at the Good Shepherd Mission Church. Also in attendance were victims of unrest in Sabelo Mathobela and Machawe Lukhuleni. Swaziland Democratic Party (SWADEPA) executive member Elliot Mkhatshwa also gave a brief political background during the event.
New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) On International Day of Yoga, Union Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his pivotal role in promoting yoga globally.

International Yoga Day celebrations were led by the prime minister along with 15,000 yoga enthusiasts at Mysuru palace in Karnataka on Tuesday.

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Sonowal on behalf of the Ministry of Ayush also expressed his deepest gratitude to his colleagues in the Union Council of Ministers, governors and members of state governments, members of armed forces, foreign missions across the world as well as volunteers whose active participation made this year's Yoga Day a grand success, an Ayush Ministry statement said.

He also thanked the Karnataka government which proactively acted and supported every step and attempt to make the Yoga Day a tremendous success, it said.

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Sonowal, who also holds the portfolio of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said yoga has brought the world together, reshaped the global values and is bringing different healthcare systems closer.

"This beautiful movement of humanity towards a healthier and happier tomorrow was only made possible due to vision and enabling role played by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji in popularising and institutionalising yoga at the global stage.

We are extremely happy and proud that as many as 25 crore people from across the world are participating in today's Yoga Day. This would not have been possible without the support and active role played by all governments across states, Union Territories, our foreign missions spread across the world, all the international organisations associated with the event and volunteers, Sonowal said.

I offer my sincere gratitude to our members of armed forces, all our staff in ministries and other organisations, PSUs, foreign dignitaries, public figures and yoga gurus for their unflinching efforts towards making today's event a great success," he said.

Sonowal said it is the vision of Modi to bring peace and harmony in the world by focusing on the health and well-being of individuals, communities and nations.

This year's theme -- Yoga for Humanity -- was adopted by the Ministry of Ayush through various initiatives to build positive conversations and engage with social communities on various aspects of yoga, the statement said.

International Day of Yoga 2022 saw many new initiatives, the 'Guardian Ring' programme, which is collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian missions abroad to illustrate yoga's unifying power that surpasses national boundaries, integrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav with celebrations of 8th IDY, mass yoga demonstrations being organised at 75 iconic locations across the country under the leadership of 75 Union ministers, it said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh), June 21 (ANI): Setting an example of Hindu-Muslim unity, thousands of people celebrated the International Yoga Festival at Panch Mahal of Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.

On the occasion of the 8th International Day of Yoga, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi performed yoga with a large number of people from all sections of the society at the historic Panch Mahal of Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh.

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Rajya Sabha MP Hardwar Dubey, Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha MP Rajkumar Chahar, MLA Babulal Choudhary and MLA Purshottam Khandelwal, Uttar Pradesh Minorities Commission Chairman Ashfaq Saifi and other public representatives and prominent people of different areas were also present on the occasion.

On this occasion, Naqvi said that "Yoga is the best gift hamper for health, happiness and harmony. With the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with the resolve of the people of India, today the whole world is celebrating yoga day. Fatehpur Sikri is a historical place where thousands of people are doing yoga. They thank PM Modi as he has given an identity to yoga all over the world."

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BJP's Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha MP Rajkumar Chahar said that the grand yoga festival was organized today at such a historic place and people of all religions practised yoga here.

Arshad Faridi, Jashn-e-Sajjadanashin Dargah Hazrat Sheikh Salim Chishti said that Yoga Day has been held in Fatehpur Sikri as a national potential.

"The government is paying attention to how to maintain the health of all through yoga, for this, we are very thankful to the government and we pray that all stay healthy, the progress of the country and the continuity of such events from the court of Sufi Saint," he added.

Presenting an example of Hindu-Muslim unity after celebrating Yoga Day, the Qawwali program was held at the Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chishti where the song "Mera Rom Rom Hari Bole Re" was sung.

On the occasion of the eighth International Day of Yoga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday performed yoga at the main event in the heritage city of Mysuru, where more than 15,000 people participated in the Yoga celebrations with him. At the event, PM Modi said that yoga is becoming a way of life and has become a source of inspiration for health, balance and cooperation.

The Prime Minister remarked that India is celebrating Yoga Day at a time when the country is celebrating its 75th year of independence, "the Amrit Mahotsav."

This widespread acceptance of Yoga Day is the acceptance of that "Amrit spirit of India which gave energy to India's freedom struggle."

Mass Yoga demonstrations are being organised at 75 iconic locations across the country which have been witness to the glorious history of India and have been the centre of cultural energy.

This year the theme for the celebration is "yoga for humanity". (ANI)

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New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) A 25-year-old gangster allegedly wanted in four armed robberies -- three at petrol pumps -- and a case of attempt to murder was arrested from southwest Delhi's Kapashera, police said on Tuesday.

Shakti Singh, a member of Vikas Dalal (died in a police encounter) and Manjeet Mahal gang, hails from Panipat district in Haryana and was presently hiding in Omaxe City, Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, they said.

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Singh had been absconding since 2019 and was wanted for robbing three petrol pumps and another elsewhere and attempting to murder someone. He was booked in the murder attempt case at Vasant Kunj Police Station, they said.

One .32 bore pistol, loaded, and four live cartridges were recovered from him at the time of arrest, they said.

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In all three petrol pump robberies and murder attempt bid, Singh and Vikas Dalal were captured on the CCTV, a senior police officer said.

After Dalal's encounter, Shakti had shifted his base from Haryana and Delhi to Rajasthan and had taken a flat on rent in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan and had been operating from there, he said.

According to police, a car robbed in 2019 from Dwarka area was used by Vikas Dalal in the Dwarka Mod shoot-out incident.

Dalal was among the top 10 wanted gangster of Delhi at the time of his killing by police.

He created a sensation in the national capital when he and his two associates killed their rival Praveen Gehlot in broad day light opening indiscriminate fire at his car on a busy main road under the Dwarka Mod Metro Station.

The sound of gunshots caught the attention of the Police Control Room staff and a constable jumped the divider from the other side of the road and challenged the shooters.

In the cross fire, the police personnel shot Dalal, who died on the spot, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) P S Kushwah said that information was received that Shakti Singh was hiding somewhere in Rajasthan and was operating on the instruction of Manjeet Mahal, who is presently lodged in Tihar Jail.

A team of Inspector Sanjay Gupta and Rajesh Kumar deployed sources to track his movement and hideouts.

"After two months of sustained work of the team, on June 18, specific information was received regarding movement of Shakti Singh in the area of Kapashera, Delhi. A trap was laid in Kapashera area and at around 10.30 pm, he was spotted and apprehended," he said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata, Jun 21 (PTI) The West Bengal University of Health Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which replaces the governor with the chief minister as the chancellor was passed in the state Assembly on Tuesday.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: 48-Years-Old Man Shot at After He Objects to Neighbour's Dog Defecating on His Sand in Muzaffarnagar; Hospitalised.

The Bill will come into effect immediately.

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The Bill was passed by 134 votes for it and 51 against. BJP opposed it.

The Bengal Assembly has 294 seats.

The Bill was introduced by the state Minister of State for Health, Chandrima Bhattacharya and was first passed by voice votes.

Taking part in the discussion on the bill, BJP chief whip in the Assembly, Manoj Tigga and other MLAs Agnimitra Paul, Makut Mani Adhikari, Shankar Ghosh and Ambika Roy opposed the bill, while ruling party Nirmal Majhi, Madhusudan Bhattacharya, Saptorshi Banerjee spoke in support of it.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, June 21: GMR Infrastructure Limited on Tuesday said it will give priority in jobs to Agniveers in its subsidiary firm RAXA Security Solutions Ltd. RAXA Security Solutions provides man-guarding services, techno security solutions, fire and cyber security services. The central government has recently launched the Agnipath scheme for youth willing to join the Armed Forces and serve the country.

Inspired by the scheme, GMR Infrastructure has decided to give high priority to Agniveers who are willing to pursue a new career in the private security domain and offer them employment in its security firm RAXA Security Solutions for a variety of assignments, the company said in a statement. Agnipath Scheme: Opposition Doing Politics on National Security Issues To Destabilise Govt, Says BJPs Sambit Patra.

The Agnipath scheme for the armed forces announced on June 14, provides for the recruitment of youth between the age bracket of 17-and-half years to 21 only four years, with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. The others would retire without gratuity and pension benefits. Later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022. Protests have erupted in several states against the scheme.

"Corporate world would offer a vast horizon to these Agniveers after they retire from active duty of the Armed Forces. There are various fulfilling job opportunities that a security company like RAXA has. We believe that with their discipline, teamwork, and training skills, Agniveers shall be a great asset for RAXA," said Ashwani Lohani, CEO of GMR Services Business.

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Mumbai, Jun 21 (PTI) City based domestic airline Go First on Tuesday announced its plans to resume scheduled direct flights between Srinagar and Sharjah by the end of this month.

The airline said it has recently received the bilateral rights to operate five flights per week on the Srinagar-Sharjah-Srinagar route and is awaiting the final approval.

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The airline had commenced the Srinagar-Sharjah flight last October, connecting Jammu and Kashmir with the UAE after 11 years.

Go First said it will also introduce five additional direct flights to and from Srinagar to Delhi and two additional flights between Leh and Delhi to cater to the additional demand from the impending Amarnath Yatra on June 30.

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"Go First is set to resume services between Srinagar and Sharjah, which will improve international connectivity. The Amarnath Yatra is commencing soon and we will make every effort to ensure a hassle-free travel experience for the pilgrims. We further reaffirm our commitment to the region and will build on our promise of our consumers' expectations," said Kaushik Khona, Chief Executive Officer at Go First.

On the daily basis, the airline currently operates nine flights between Delhi and Srinagar and five flights between Delhi and Leh.

With the enhanced connectivity, these new flights will be offering travel options to the pilgrims, it said.

Last year, the Jammu and Kashmir government signed a memorandum of understanding with Go First for the transportation of perishable horticulture and agricultural produce to various destinations across the country.

The airline had also signed a pact last year with the UAE-based Lulu Group to transport cargo from Srinagar to Sharjah.

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New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) Capital markets regulator Sebi on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs 1.62 crore on nine entities for manipulating shares of Sterling Green Woods Ltd.

In its order, the regulator levied a fine of Rs 18 lakh each on entities -- Radhe Krishna Broking, Harshad Panchal, Hemang Shah, Umesh Patel, Abhishek Soni, Sonal Patel, Dhaval Soni, Anurag Agarwal and Paksh Developers Pvt Ltd.

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The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had conducted an investigation into alleged irregularity in the trading in the scrip of Sterling Green Woods Ltd (SGWL) for the period April-July 2009.

In its order, Sebi noted that SAT vide an order date March 2, 2022, have allowed the appeals filed by the entities against the sebi order.

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The tribunal had remanded the case back to Sebi for fresh order on merits after giving an opportunity of personal hearing to the appellants.

Passing a 107-page order, the regulator found that there were nine entities along with few others, collectively called Hemang Shah Group, were connected to each other and also traded in the scrip of SGWL, Sebi said in an order.

Further, Paksh Developers and its director Anurag Agarwal had provided the money (through bank account of Paksh) as well as the shares of the company (through selling the shares by Paksh) to the Hemang Shah Group entities.

Thereafter, they rigged the price up by placing both buy and sell orders at higher price and accumulated the shares while creating artificial volume in the scrip, the regulator noted.

Further, the regulator observed that when the price of the scrip reached its highest level in July 2009, the entities sold off their shareholding in the same month.

The price was increased by the trades of Hemang Shah Group entities, Sebi said.

The nine entities made a profit of Rs 54 lakh by creating artificial volumes, rigging prices and selling shares in July 2009.

By doing so, the entities have violated the provisions of PFUTP (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices).

Meanwhile, In another order, the market regulator levied a fine of Rs 37 lakh on four individuals for indulging in misutilisation of the IPO proceeds and other disclosure lapses in the matter of Resurgere Mines and Minerals India Ltd (RMMIL).

The order came after Sebi had conducted an investigation into the IPO of RMMIL for the period September 1-8, 2009.

RMMIL had come out with its IPO during August 11-13, 2008 and had issued an ICD from PR Vyappar in the same.

It was found that RMMIL had siphoned off and not utilised the IPO proceeds for the purpose for which it was raised.

Further, they made wrong and misleading disclosures and non-disclosure with respect to ICDs (Inter-Corporate Deposit) in the offer document and has defrauded the investors at large.

Apart from the company, the directors and its compliance officer also recklessly omitted to perform their part, which resulted in the diversion of IPO proceeds, and has not exercised any due diligence to prevent the offence.

By doing so, they violated the PFUTP norms.

In another order, the regulator slapped a fine of Rs 20 lakh on Pantomath Stock Brokers Pvt Ltd (now known as Pentagon Stock Brokers Pvt Ltd) for indulging in misutilisation of clients' securities.

In a separate order, the regulator imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on two individuals for lapses in non-disclosure in the matter of Netlink Solutions (India) Ltd.

In another order, Sebi levied a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Tamarind Capital Pte Ltd for crossing the threshold limit of voting rights and not making a public announcement of open offer in the matter of Indiabulls Ventures Ltd (now known as Dhani Services Ltd).

(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], June 21 (ANI): Afghanistan and Iran have reached an agreement over the Helmand River Water Treaty, local media reported quoting a Taliban member.

Water of the Helmand River will be shared with Iran based on the Helmand Water treaty signed in 1973 between the two countries, reported Tolo News.

Also Read | Pakistan: Counter-Terrorism Department Warns of Assasination Threat Against Former PM Imran Khan.

The 1973 treaty between Afghanistan and Iran states that Kabul will share the water from Helmand River with Tehran at the rate of 26 cubic meters of water per second, or 850 million cubic meters per annum.

Taliban member Barakutullah Aryoubi stated that mutual stations and facilities will be established on both sides of the Helmand River.

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"The two sides called for the implementation of the treaty as the problem was within the area covered by the treaty," he added.

Last year after the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, Iran's foreign ministry had said that the recent political changes in Afghanistan could turn into a strategic threat to Iran's interests.

"If the Taliban with the current thought and format gets established in Afghanistan, it definitely will be a strategic threat against our country's national interests. There is no doubt about it," the General Director of the Iranian foreign ministry's west Asia department, Rasoul Mousavi had said, according to Tolo News.

Mousavi made the statement after confirming the Taliban's recognition of the 1973 Helmand River Treaty.

Former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani had repeatedly said Afghanistan would not give water free of charge to any country, especially to Iran. Ghani had said he will give water to the neighboring countries only in exchange for oil, but will not give it away for free.

Earlier, Helmand provincial council former head Attaullah Afghan also said that the water level has lowered in Helmand River and its water flow into Iran should not be allowed. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Budapest [Hungary], June 21 (ANI/Xinhua): Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban on the phone on Tuesday to discuss Kyiv's bid to join the European Union (EU).

According to the Hungarian leader's press chief Bertalan Havasi, Orban confirmed his country's support for Ukraine's EU candidate status.

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Orban reportedly said that the EU should remove the bureaucratic obstacles to Ukraine's EU accession as soon as possible and that he intends to represent this position at the upcoming EU summit on June 23-24.

Orban told Zelensky that Hungary has already welcomed close to 800,000 Ukrainian refugees and that his government is ready for continued cooperation in further energy projects, Havasi said.

Also Read | Pakistan: Counter-Terrorism Department Warns of Assasination Threat Against Former PM Imran Khan.

Hungary is also ready to help Ukraine export its grain via rail, Orban said.

On behalf of the people of Ukraine, Zelensky thanked the Hungarian people for their help.

The phone conversation was seen by observers as a sign of easing tensions between the two leaders. Previously, Zelensky criticized Orban for his apparent lack of support for the embattled country. (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)
New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI): India will sympathetically look at cases of members of the minority community in Afghanistan applying for visas, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has said and noted that New Delhi will stand by its commitment to Sikhs and Hindus in the neighbouring country.

"The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) clearly states that in case any of the minorities in our neighbouring countries are persecuted on the basis of their religion...we have given visas to large number of Sikhs," Doval said in an exclusive interview with ANI.

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"As flights are available, some of them will be coming back, others will apply, we will look at their cases very sympathetically," he added.

He was responding to a question on the CAA and if India will be giving visas to more people of minority communities in Afghanistan.

Also Read | Pakistan: Counter-Terrorism Department Warns of Assasination Threat Against Former PM Imran Khan.

Doval termed the attack on Karte Parwan Gurdwara in Kabul on Saturday last that resulted in the death of two persons as very unfortunate.

"It was a very unfortunate incident. Should not have happened. There are forces...terror and violence these are things with which we have to live in modern times. The Government of India is doing everything. It has assured the Sikhs and Hindus out there that India will stand by its commitment," he said. added.

Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) took responsibility for Karte Parwan Gurdwara attack in Kabul.

Following the attack on on the gurdwara, India decided to grant e-visas to over 100 Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan on priority.

There have been other attacks and incidents of violence against religious minorities in Afghanistan.

In October last year,15 to 20 terrorists entered a Gurdwara in the Karta-e-Parwan District of Kabul and tied up the guards.

In March 2020, a deadly attack took place at Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Gurudwara in Kabul's Short Bazaar area in which at least 27 Sikhs were killed. Islamic State terrorists claimed responsibility for the attack. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
MBABANE - Former investigator in the ministry of Education and Training Knowledge Ngwenya has written a hot-worded letter to the chairman of the PAC.

Ngwenya is of the view that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) owes him an apology as he never received any cent from the sum of E282 519 that was reportedly misappropriated at Ikhwezi High School, through payment to suppliers. The letter is in respect of the PAC recommendations on the Auditor Generals Report on the use of funds in public schools for the financial year ended May 31, 2018. Ngwenyas name appeared in the issue of Inkhwezi High School where the aforementioned amount was allegedly embezzled by the management of the school, through payment of suppliers. Ngwenya is one of the people whom the PAC recommended that he should be reported to the police by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training, Bheki Gama.

In his four-page letter, Ngwenya stated that on June 13, 2022, he received a call from the controlling officer in the ministry of Education and Training, who informed him that he was complying with the PAC recommendations and further invited him to give his side of the story. He said he did not understand why the committee could have made such a recommendation that the controlling officer should report the matter to the police for investigations, when on page 21 of its opening statement stated that: The head teacher who was the accounting officer during the audited year was fired by the ministry of Education and Training for the misappropriation of school funds.

Information

Ngwenya pointed out that appearing before the PAC was the new head teacher, who did not have much information on the questions raised by the audit. To me, this statement by the honourable committee was clear that it acted prematurely by making such recommendation of having the matter reported to the police. I feel that the PAC did not conduct its business fairly by failing to summon the former head teacher to appear before it to answer on the findings of the audit report as all things were done by him, reads part of the letter. He further wrote that the responses of the former head teacher could have assisted the PAC to at least arrive at a fair conclusion for onward justified Parliament recommendation. Therefore, I feel the PAC did not fully exercise its powers as highlighted on Page 6 of its report, especially bullet five which stipulates that the committee has a right to call and enforce the attendance of witnesses to provide information in relation to observation made by the auditor general, said Ngwenya.

He stated that whatever made the PAC to rely on the evidence of the new head teacher and one member of the school committee, who appeared before it, really puzzled him. What puzzled me further, is that the PAC is a 12 member committee, but among these members, no one saw that there was a gap that would also make the report incomplete if the person who engaged the suppliers, made verbal agreement with them, signed the cheques with the schools committee chairman and sometimes was not summoned to appear it, wrote Ngwenya.

Ngwenya continued to state that, what also mystified him more, was that the PAC worked with partners like, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Police Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit but they also as law enforcement agencies and with their investigation expertise also failed to advise the PAC that it was crucial to advise in an investigation to summon the person who engaged the suppliers, made verbal agreements with them and signed the cheques.

bewildered

He went on to highlight that what further bewildered him was that the PAC allegedly compiled its report and submitted it with recommendation to the House of Assembly wherein different MPs had an opportunity to see the report but none of them raised a concern on the need that the person who engaged the suppliers should appear before the committee to answer on the findings of the auditor general. Ngwenya said he believed that as the controlling officer, the principal secretary in the ministry of Education and Training had already complied with the PAC recommendation that the matter be reported to the police within seven days. He said he trusted that a proper investigation would be conducted by the police. I hope the police who were part of the PAC sessions will not do the same to investigate the matter, as the fact that they failed to advise the PAC on the crucial need to summon the person who made agreement with the suppliers, reads part of Ngwenyas letter.

In conclusion, Ngwenya registered his unhappiness about the recommendation that was made by the PAC in the matter. He said he felt that this was a shoddy job on the part of the PAC such that its decision had placed him as someone who illegally received payments amounting to E282 519. Ngwenya described the recommendation that was made by the committee as character assassination. He further observed in his response that the controlling officer stated: On the other hand, the school grantee said, according to his reconciliation, the officer did not instruct the school committee to pay specific debts but to them to compile a list of all legitimate schools debts and then told them to pay them as per the ministry instruction.

Ngwenya said it then puzzled him why the PAC did not consider that as a reason enough to summon the former head teacher to answer before it. He wondered whether it was deliberate or a costly mistake to tarnish his (Ngwenya) image. Anyway, honourable chairperson, after all has happened, may I make it clear that there was no black or white cent from the E282 519 paid into Knowledge Ngwenyas bank account whether by cheque, cash, mobile money, eWallet, so I hope one day I will receive an apology for such a mistake.

Power

Yes I know I have no power to change anything but I can assure you with my last breath that I shall comply with the PAC/ Parliament recommendation, in this regard, concluded Ngwenya. Reached for comment, PAC Chairman Musa Kunene said he had not received the letter. He, however, stated that if Ngwenya had a grievance, he must approach the relevant ministry as the PAC did not deal with individuals. Kunene emphasised that the PAC worked with the relevant ministries and the auditor general.
Tehran [Iran], June 21 (ANI/Xinhua): Iran's UN envoy has urged the United Nations to increase assistance to Syria amid the Western sanction pressures.

The 11-year conflict, as well as occupation and terrorism, has created enormous hardships for the Syrian people, Iranian UN Ambassador Majid Takht-Ravanchi told a meeting of the UN Security Council on Syria on Monday, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported Tuesday.

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The situation has been aggravated by the unilateral sanctions that have stymied the implementation of the Security Council's resolution 2585.

"This has impeded Syria's reconstruction efforts and hampered humanitarian aid delivery," Takht-Ravanchi was quoted by a UN press release as saying.

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These "illegal measures" undermined the Syrian government's ability to achieve economic and social stability and to improve the living condition of the Syrians, said the Iranian envoy.

"We believe that in order to support the improvement of the humanitarian situation in Syria and achieve progress in the political settlement process, the international community and the UN and its humanitarian agencies must increase their assistance to entire Syria through recovery projects, such as the restoration of basic infrastructure assets including water and power supply facilities, schools and hospitals," he was quoted by the Tasnim as saying.

The Iranian envoy condemned what he called "Israel's prolonged occupation of Syrian Golan, as well as its numerous breaches of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity" including the most recent attacks on civilians.

Takht-Ravanchi called on the UN Security Council not to remain silent about Israel's repeated aggression, adding Iran will continue to support the Syrian government and nation to restore the unity and territorial integrity of their country. (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)
Male [Maldives], June 21 (ANI): An International Yoga Day event organized by the Indian embassy in Male was disrupted after a mob stormed a stadium where over 150 people were celebrating the event, an American media outlet quoting the organizer reported on Tuesday.

The yoga session was organized on the 8th International Yoga Day.

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According to Fox 5, the crowd stormed the stadium and attacked participants and vandalized property. However, the police in the Maldives used pepper spray and tear gas to control the mob.

According to Superintendent Fathmath Nashwa, police responded by using anti-riot tactics and then used tear gas and pepper spray to manage the crowd. Nashwa reported that six persons were detained in relation to the incident, as per Fox 5.

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Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said a police investigation into the incident had begun, the media outlet said.

"An investigation has been launched by @PoliceMv into the incident that happened this morning at Galolhu stadium. This is being treated as a matter of serious concern and those responsible will be swiftly brought before the law," the President tweeted.

Maldives Police also issued a statement on the Yoga Day Attack and highlighted that an internal review will be conducted to identify the response of the police ahead of the attack,local media reported.

With universal recognition and growing popularity of Yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014.

The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015.

This year the theme for the celebration was "Yoga for humanity".

The theme has been selected after much deliberation/consultation and it appropriately portrays, how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering, and in the emerging post-COVID geo-political scenario too, it will bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over.

As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One Earth'. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Stockholm, Jun 21 (AP) At least two people were stabbed, and the one suffered life-threatening injuries, in a shopping mall's parking area west of the Swedish capital, police said Tuesday. A 16-year-old has been detained on suspicion of involvement in the assault.

Police said some kind of sharp object was used in the attack, which is believed to have been carried out by one person.

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The victim with life-threatening injuries was immediately operated on while the other was in serious but stable condition, hospital officials said. Both are middle-aged men.

Police said the suspect was being questioned and the motive for the assault was unclear. Police will investigate whether the two victims and the suspected attacker were previously acquainted. Prosecutors must decide whether to formally arrest and charge the suspect.

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Police were alerted at 8.30 am to the events in the town of Vasteras, some 90 km (56 miles) from Stockholm. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
London, Jun 21 (AP) British health officials will start offering vaccines to gay and bisexual men at the highest risk of catching monkeypox, in an effort to curb the biggest outbreak of the disease beyond Africa.

Britain's Health Security Agency said in a statement on Tuesday that doctors could consider vaccination for someone who has multiple partners, participates in group sex or attends sex on premises' venues.

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By expanding the vaccine offer to those at higher risk, we hope to break chains of transmission and help contain the outbreak, said the Health Security Agency's head of immunization, Dr. Mary Ramsay.

Vaccines have previously been available only for health workers taking care of monkeypox patients or for cleaners disinfecting areas contaminated by the virus. The vaccine was originally developed for smallpox, a related disease, but is thought to be about 85% effective against monkeypox.

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To date, more than 99% of monkeypox cases in Britain are among men, and the majority of those are in gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men. Scientists warn that anyone who is in close, physical contact with someone infected with monkeypox or their clothing or bedsheets is at risk of the disease, regardless of their sexual orientation.

There are currently 793 monkeypox cases in the UK, out of more than 2,100 cases in 42 countries globally. No deaths beyond Africa have been reported.

Until last month, monkeypox had only caused sizeable outbreaks in central and west Africa; the continent has so far reported more than 1,500 cases and 72 suspected deaths in a separate epidemic. Vaccines have never been used in Africa to control monkeypox.

Last week, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the continued spread of monkeypox in countries that haven't previously seen the disease as unusual and concerning.

Tedros is convening an expert meeting Thursday to decide if the expanding monkeypox outbreak warrants being declared a global emergency. That would give it the same designation as the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing effort to eradicate polio. (AP)

(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], June 21 (ANI): Even as border talks between India and China continue, National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval strongly addressed the question of Chinese forays into Indian territory said that India will not tolerate any transgression by China.

Speaking exclusively to ANI on Tuesday, Doval talked about external security measures taken by India after its border standoff with China. "We have a long-pending territorial dispute with China. We have made our intentions very clear to China and they are aware of the fact that we will not tolerate any transgression..."

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Two years after the 2020 Galwan clash, both countries have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks to resolve the standoff. Disengagement at some border points have taken place but by and large, there is an impasse on complete disengagement.

Responding to the question of whether China has put on hold its expansionist policy with regard to India, NSA Doval said: "There had been some unsavoury incidents in 2020. We had been able to -- through talks, negotiations, and persuasion -- have resolved some of it, few points still remain to be resolved. We will continue our efforts, at the same time; we have got to ensure that we are vigilant and are able to protect our borders totally."

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Meanwhile, India earlier said that it looked forward to the next senior commander-level meeting with China at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement on all friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

Responding to queries about the working Mechanism for the Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) meeting held on May 31, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said both sides agreed to continue discussions through diplomatic and military channels to resolve the remaining issues.

"WMCC India-China border talks happened on May 31, I don't have much to add to it. To be honest, as in our press release, we said that as instructed by our two Foreign Ministers, both sides agreed to continue discussions through diplomatic and military channels to resolve the remaining issues, so as to create conditions for the restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations. We have been saying this repeatedly," the MEA spokesperson said.

"What is important is that they agreed to hold the Senior Commander-level talks at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement on all friction points along the LAC in the Western sector in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols. I am not aware of any particular date that I can share with you at this point. I would like to emphasize that we look forward to this Commander level talk at an early date," he added.

Following the standoff due to the actions of the Chinese Army in eastern Ladakh in April-May 2020, India and China have held several rounds of diplomatic and military talks and have achieved disengagement from some areas but some friction points remain. The two countries have held 15 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Patna, June 21: A special court here on Tuesday sentenced Bahubali RJD MLA Anant Singh to 10 years imprisonment in the AK-47 recovery case.

In 2019, an AK-47 rifle, two hand grenades and 26 live cartridges were recovered from Anant Singh's house in his native village and the MP-MLA court on June 14 held him guilty of the offence.

Besides Anant Singh, the caretaker of his house Sunil Ram has also been awarded 10 years in jail. MP-MLA court judge Triloki Dubey has announced the highest quantum of punishment to the RJD MLA and his caretaker.

His conviction in the case is set to cost him his legislatorship in Bihar Assembly. Anant Singh is currently an MLA from Mokama Assembly constituency in Patna district. Bihar: RJD MLA Anant Singh Convicted in AK-47 Recovery Case by Special Court in Patna.

Sunil Singh, the lawyer of Anant Singh (Defense Lawyer) confirmed the quantum of punishment of 10 years jail term.

"We will appeal to the higher court to challenge the decision of the MP-MLA court. If we manage to get a stay from the high court against this decision, Anant Singh's legislatorship will remain," Singh said.

This morning, Anant Singh reached MP-MLA court located at Pirbahore area of Patna in a jail ambulance.

A team of Patna police headed by then City SP Lipi Singh raided the house of Anant Singh in his native village Nadwa under Barh police station on August 16, 2019.

As per the police theory, the raiding team had seized an AK-47 rifle, 26 live cartridges, and two hand grenades.

While the AK-47 rifle was hidden in a hutment behind a big box, the hand grenades were recovered from the adjoining hut.

The police said that AK-47 was evenly wrapped with a plastic bag followed by layers of carbons to avoid detection in metal detectors during transportation.

At the time of the raid, Anant Singh was not in Bihar. He fled to Delhi and surrendered before the lower court there. Bihar police took his custody and put him behind the bars of Patna Beur jail. Since then, he has been lodged in Beur jail.

During the three years trial of the case, the prosecution side produced 13 witnesses and their statements were recorded in the court. The defense side also produced 34 witnesses before the court.

The hearing of the case was completed on June 13 and he was held guilty on June 14.

The house in Nadwa village belongs to Anant Singh but he was not living in it and was being managed by a caretaker.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 21, 2022 12:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, June 21: After several Shiv Sena MLAs, including Minister Eknath Shinde became 'unreachable', Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday reached BJP chief J.P. Nadda's residence in the national capital to discuss the developing political situation in Maharashtra.

Shinde and other Shiv Sena MLAs have revolted against the party and moved to a hotel in Surat in Gujarat. Maharashtra Political Crisis: Shiv Sena in Turmoil After Eknath Shinde Along With 21 MLAs Went Missing; 'Unrest in Shiv Sena Since 1 week', Claims Congress Leader

Sources in the BJP said that Nadda and Shah were discussing the changing political situation in Maharashtra and the party's future course of action.

It is learnt that both the leaders have discussed the next move of the BJP and whether the numbers are with the party or not.

"Party likely to move a no-confidence motion against Maha Vikas Agadhi government to prove Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has lost the majority," a party insider said.

Sources also said that instead of rushing to form a government in Maharashtra, the BJP will ensure that numbers are in its favour.

At least 25 MLAs of Shiv Sena are camping in a hotel in Surat. Sources said they are dissatisfied and unhappy with the MVA government.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also left for Delhi to deliberate the political crisis with the central leadership.

Sources also said that the next month's Presidential election is also being discussed between Nadda and Shah. The BJP Parliamentary Board meeting is likely to take place this evening to discuss the party presidential nominee.

The Congress also sent its state in-charge H.K. Patil to Mumbai. The party leaders also met at Balasaheb Thorat's residence in Mumbai to discuss the political situation.

Sena MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut, however, dismissed speculation that a 'political earthquake' is in the offing in Maharashtra, but accused the Opposition BJP of hatching its biggest conspiracy to topple the MVA government.

"There is no basis for the so-called 'political earthquake' as is being touted in some circles... This is an attempt to hit at the MVA and the plot is being staged on Gujarat soil. It will prove to be futile as in the past," Raut declared.

Admitting that Minister Eknath Shinde, along with several MLAs' are "not reachable", Raut claimed that "contact has been developed with some legislators" and attempts are on to defuse the crisis.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 21, 2022 02:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
A group of 450 Sikh pilgrims on Tuesday arrived here in Pakistan from India to observe the 183rd death anniversary of the first ruler of the Sikh Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
After several Shiv Sena MLAs, including Minister Eknath Shinde became 'unreachable', Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday reached BJP chief J.P. Nadda's residence in the national capital to discuss the developing political situation in Maharashtra.
#Imports from #China's Xinjiang region are due to be banned in the #US from Tuesday as new rules come into forced.



Under the the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), firms will have to prove imports from the region are not produced using forced labour, the BBC reported. pic.twitter.com/0RlEAce4LB IANS (@ians_india) June 21, 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.)
MBABANE - Some children have begun missing classes due to the lack of food in schools.

This is according to some head teachers who were interviewed by this publication. They claimed that as the schools had run out of food, the pupils were requested to carry their own lunch boxes. One head teacher said, due to this decision, some of the children had resorted not to attending classes. In an interview with this publication, a head teacher, who requested to remain anonymous, stated that his school had an increase in the number of absentees from the time they ran out of food. He said when investigating the matter, the teachers mentioned that the pupils said they failed to concentrate in class.

We have not had food in the school for about a week now and I have been noticing a decrease in the number of pupils attending lessons. I then consulted with the teachers to find out why. They told me that the lack of food in the school had, played a major part, as most pupils came from less privileged homes in the townships, he said. Another mentioned that in his school, about 60 per cent were orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC), who were from poor backgrounds and benefited greatly from the school feeding programme. He said the lack of food in the school had affected a lot of their pupils, as while some did not attend classes, others could not concentrate because they were hungry.

Affected

The lack of food in the school has affected us greatly, as the food did not only help in feeding the children, but closed the gap between those who came from poor backgrounds and those from well-off families. This is because some do afford lunch boxes or money to buy food, he said. He mentioned that it would also affect the children and due to hunger, they would not be able to concentrate in class. He mentioned that government needed to request assistance from relevant partners to help in donating food, as the situation was bad. Ministry of Education and Training Principal Secretary Bheki Gama stated that schools experiencing the lack of food needed to consult with the ministry through the regional educations offices.
Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena on Tuesday removed Cabinet minister and party leader Eknath Shinde as its Legislative party leader after his rebellion. According to sources, Sewri MLA Ajay Chaudhary has been named as the new leader of the Legislative party group.

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Shiv Sena has decided to remove Eknath Shinde as its Legislative party leader, Sewri MLA Ajay Chaudhary to be the new Shiv Sena Legislative Party leader: Sources pic.twitter.com/9lXJyNLQc3  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2022

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Forty-nine times the Bible mentions a perfect, pure blue, a color so magnificent and transcendent that it was all but impossible to describe.

Yet, for most of the last 2,000 years, nobody has known exactly what biblical blue  called tekhelet in Hebrew  actually looked like or how it could be re-created.

At the time of the Second Temple, which towered above Jerusalem until it was destroyed by the Romans, a blue dye of the same name was used to color the fabric used in the clothing of the high priests. Jewish men are still commanded to use a tekhelet-tinted thread in the knotted fringes of their prayer shawls, though what that might look like remained unclear for years.

Tzitzit tassels with threads dyed in tekhelet ("biblical blue") produced by Murex trunculus snails. Eugene Weisberg

Maimonides, the medieval Sephardic philosopher, described tekhelet as being the color of the clear noonday sky.

Rashi, the 11th century French rabbi and scholar, said it was the color of the evening sky.

Tekhelet was the most prized color you could attain, says Amanda Weiss, director of Jerusalems Bible Lands Museum.

A possible clue to the ingredients that combined to make tekhelet came from the Talmud, the canonical body of rabbinic texts, in which a man named Abaye asked an elder this thread of tekhelet, how do you dye it? He was told that the blood of the snail and chemicals (apparently caustic soda or sodium carbonate) had to be boiled together to create the dye.

It was not much to go on.

Yet the drive to find a color so perfectly blue could not so easily be turned off.

The modern-day quest to untangle the riddle of tekhelet was launched by a rabbi, an occupational therapist, two chemists and a pair of scuba divers  one of them with a doctorate in physics. Together they hoped to rediscover the secrets of the lost pigment.

Knowing that the dunes of Dor Beach, a popular spot on Israels northern Mediterranean shore, hid ruins of ancient dyeing vats and unexplained mounds of discarded snail shells, the explorers set off in the mid-1980s to identify the species of sea snail they believed might hold the key to finally revealing what tekhelet looked like.

Dor Beachs Murex trunculus snails seemed promising, but the purplish ink produced by secretions of their glands ended up dyeing cloth yellow.

It fell to Otto Elsner, a chemist at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design near Tel Aviv, to discover that when the ink extracted from the snails was exposed to the sun, it transformed into deep sky blue.

Was it, finally, tekhelet?

With a blue similar to that of a flawless sapphire, tekhelet was an arresting hue, and everyone seemed satisfied that the mythic color had finally reappeared.

A relic depicting a deity, colored with lapis lazuli. Moshe Caine

The explorers eventually established Ptil Tekhelet, an organization that produces and promotes tekhelet and, in 2012, published a book by Baruch Sterman, the scuba-diving physicist, on the rediscovery of biblical blue  The Rarest Blue: The Remarkable Story of an Ancient Color Lost to History and Rediscovered.

The account, and their pursuit of the vanished cerulean, kindled in Weiss mind the idea for an exhibit spanning the history of blue.

Now an exhibit at the Bible Lands Museum, Out of the Blue explores the mystery of how the alluring color became associated with nobility and divinity alike, how it was lost and then found, and even offers visitors take-home kits to create blue cotton thread the way Jesus and his followers did long ago.

The show includes fragments of cloth found in Masada, the Roman-era fortress, alongside jewelry made with Afghan lapis lazuli, the azure stone prized for its intense deep blue threaded with gold.

The Masada textiles are dyed with M. trunculus secretions that were obtained at a rate of a few drops a day, according to exhibit curator Yehuda Kaplan, requiring thousands of snails to dye a single garment.

The exhibitions logo, which looks like a wreath of shining sapphires, was inspired by the remnants of the beach-side pools used to harvest and raise the snails in what may be the earliest known example of aquaculture. The museum is organizing expeditions to the site.

Yet the exhibition is not just about tekhelet and its ties to Judaism, but the significance of blue in all the ancient Near East.

From earliest human history, from the Levant to North Africa, blue has been considered a lucky color. It is still common to see shutters or rooftops painted bright blue as a protective amulet. One legend has it that as the evil eye descends toward Earth, a flash of sky-blue disorients it, sending it away.

The superstition reached Europe, and from there the New World. An 1898 compilation of British customs published in the quarterly journal Folk-Lore explains that the something old and something blue a bride wears are devices to baffle the Evil Eye, without which the malevolent forces would render her barren.

The Jerusalem exhibit includes artifacts decorated with Egyptian blue, considered the worlds oldest artificial pigment, and lapis lazuli, when not used to adorn jewelry, was ground up to make ultramarine, the most desirable and costliest Renaissance-era pigment.

Such was its luxury that European royal courts adopted the color as a representative banner.

King Louis IX of France, the 13th century saint, regularly wore a deeper, possibly more violet version of todays royal blue.

The exhibit "Out of the Blue" includes the first Israeli flag raised at the United Nations Plaza in New York City. Dudi Saad

The Jewish prayer shawl, called a tallit, inspired the blue stripes of Israels national flag. The standard that flew outside the United Nations in May 1949, when Israel was admitted as a member state, closes the exhibit  and demonstrates the universal draw of blue, as seen in the pale yet vibrant blues chosen for the flags of the United Nations and the European Union.

The fashion historian and curator Yaara Keydar says that textile dyeing was historically a Jewish occupation, and in the desolate centuries in which the art of tekhelet was lost, the dyers and brokers traded in indigo, a plant-based purplish-blue colorant.

Like tekhelet, indigo was a rare commodity and hard to obtain, and therefore became a sought-after luxury item, she says.

Both pigments, she says, form a cult of blue that lives on, including in vintage Karl Lagerfeld and Levis.

Tarnopolsky is a special correspondent.
An ex-rebel is projected to win as president in the recently concluded Colombia elections. As the vote canvassing continues, it appears that the South American country has made another milestone by electing their first black woman vice president, Francia Marquez.

Who Is Francia Marquez?

Francia Marquez, Gustavo Petro's running mate, came from a humble background. As reported by the Associated Press, she is an environmental activist from La Toma, a remote village surrounded by mountains. She has campaigned against various environmental challenges to her people, including a hydroelectric project and the mining industry.

The New York Times reports that she became pregnant at 16. To support her child, she had to work in the gold mines before working as a live-in maid.

While her story is inspiring, she still has many critics within Colombia. Many call her a leftist, while others are wary of her inexperience in the political arena, as she has never held any political office prior to winning her vice-presidential seat.

Francia Marquez Seen To Target Environmental, Gender, and Afro-Colombian Issues

Gimena Sanchez, the Andes director for the human rights group Washington Office on Latin America, has stated that Francia Marquez will be completely different from any vice president Colombia has ever had. "She comes from a rural area, she comes from the perspective of a Campesino woman and from the perspective of areas of Colombia that have been affected by armed conflict for many years," Sanchez said, adding that past Colombian presidents have not lived in the way she has.

In addition, Marquez has been receiving death threats throughout her career as an environmental activist. Because of this, she has come out as a representative for Afro-Colombians and other marginalized peoples.

With her holding the second highest seat in the land, Marquez has affirmed her stance on reducing inequality in Colombia.

Presumptive President Gustavo Petro has previously remarked that he wanted to create a Ministry of Equality, which he plans for Marquez to head. It would work across several sectors to address various issues, from gender quality to other issues facing ethnic minorities.

READ MORE: Colombia Elections: Ex-Rebel Is Now Colombia's First Leftist President

Gustavo Petro Would Have Lost Elections Without Francia Marquez, Says Expert

During the elections, Francia Marquez rallied against racism and gender inequality in Colombia. She entered the race last year for the Democratic Pole party, though she lost to her eventual running mate Gustavo Petro during an inter-party consultation last March.

Political analysts have reported that Petro choosing her as his vice president has also motivated many Afro-Colombian voters along the Pacific coast, which Petro won by huge margins.

Petro narrowly won the elections, only taking a little over 50% of the votes.

Gimena Sanchez told the AP that he would not have won had it not been for Marquez being his running mate. Colombians have had a deep distrust of the political left, and a former rebel involved in the armed conflict running for president may not have been able to swing most voters to his side.

READ NEXT: El Chapo and His Rival Cartel Leader El Mochomo of Beltran Leyva Now Together at ADX 'Supermax' Prison in Colorado

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Who is Francia Marquez, Colombia's first Black vice president?
Former President Donald Trump said that he has no idea if Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has decided to run for president in the 2024 elections.

Trump made his comments during an interview with The New Yorker published on Sunday.

"I don't know if Ron is running, and I don't ask him," Trump underscored, adding that announcing such a move is only entitled to DeSantis himself.

However, Trump reiterated in the interview that he is going to win against the Florida governor if they fight for the highest position two years from now.

The former president also pointed out that he is "very close" to deciding if he will run for president in 2024.

Meanwhile, DeSantis has not ruled out a presidential bid. However, he has insisted that he is focused on his reelection campaign this year.

"Trump World is working overtime to find ways to burn DeSantis down. They really hate him," a Republican consultant told The New Yorker.

It was not the first time that Trump stressed that he will win over Ron DeSantis when they fight for the post in 2024. In October last year, Trump voiced his confidence in beating the Florida governor if he would run for the highest position.

"If I faced him, I'd beat him like I would everyone else," Trump said.

The former president also predicted that DeSantis will be one of the GOP officials who will drop out from running as president.

READ NEXT: Donald Trump Denies Calling Mike Pence a 'Wimp,' Slams January 6 Committee

Donald Trump Says He and Ron DeSantis Are on 'Good' Terms

Despite the possible rivalry, Donald Trump revealed on Sunday that they are on good terms.

He pointed out that he and DeSantis have a "very good relationship." He also noted that he is "proud" of the Florida Governor.

DeSantis and Trump have a history of public alliance. In his interview on Sunday, Trump took credit for the Florida governor's win in 2018, saying, "If I didn't endorse him, he wouldn't have won."

DeSantis campaigned for Trump and appeared in some of his rallies, but insiders claim that the former president was not convinced.

Ron DeSantis Is 'Way Better' Than Donald Trump as Presdient - Bill Maher

"Real-Time" host Bill Maher said that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would be a better president.

Maher made his comments when he was asked by podcast host Krystal Ball asked him if Ron DeSantis is "way better" than Donald Trump, which prompted the comedian to give several reasons.

"He's not certifiably insane. That's a great one to start off with... He won't be poop-tweeting every day," Maher noted, adding that Ron DeSantis would not be having feuds with personalities like Bette Midler on Twitter.

READ NEXT: Florida: Dad of Teen Who Died From Orlando FreeFall Demands "Death Trap" to Shut Down

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Donald Trump Lashes Out at Jan. 6 Committee as He Teases 2024 Run - From CBS Miami
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is currently in the process of purchasing Twitter, asked if the popular video-sharing app TikTok is "destroying civilization." He would follow up the tweet by questioning whether social media, in general, is to blame.

Or perhaps social media in general  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 18, 2022

Elon Musk made the tweets following a response he made on Twitter regarding a report that TikTok's Chinese parent company, Bytedance, has repeatedly accessed private data from TikTok users in the United States. The company has already faced scrutiny from U.S. politicians over its Chinese ties.

Hmm   Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 18, 2022

Fox Business requested a comment from TikTok about Musk's recent tweets, but a spokesperson for the company did not respond immediately.

Elon Musk Wants Twitter To Be More Like China's WeChat

Fox Business also reports that during an all-hands meeting on Thursday, Musk told Twitter staff his thoughts on TikTok and the Chinese instant messaging and social media app, WeChat. Musk admitted he finds that TikTok "does a great job of making sure you're not bored," even if he also admitted that he finds some of the videos on the platform to be "offensive."

Musk also stated that TikTok has "honed the algorithm to be as engaging as possible," and wants Twitter to be just as engaging, albeit in a different way. He would go on to say that TikTok is indeed interesting but states that he also feels that people should be informed about serious issues as well.

In regards to WeChat, Musk believes Twitter has the opportunity to become the Western equivalent of the app, which was developed by Chinese media giant Tencent.

In his statement during the meeting, Musk said, "You basically live on WeChat in China because it's so helpful, so useful to daily life."

He added, "I think if we achieve that or come even close to that with Twitter, that would be a success."

READ NEXT: Elon Musk Reveals True Feelings for Dogecoin After Massive Crypto Crash, $258 Billion Lawsuit

U.S. Tiktok Employees Were Not Permitted Access To User Data, But Chinese Employees Were

Buzzfeed News reports that 80 internal meetings have shown that China-based employees of ByteDance have had repeated access to private data of TikTok users from the United States.

According to Buzzfeed News, which was the first to report on the leaks, the recordings contained 14 statements from nine different TikTok employees that Chinese engineers have had access to private data from the United States between September 2021 and January 2022. This is despite a Tiktok executive's sworn testimony during a Senate hearing back in October 2021 that a "world-renowned US-based security team" are the ones who decide which people have access to the private data.

The leaks also showed that while Chinese employees had access to the said data, U.S.-based employees did not. Fox News also pointed out that ByteDance is required under Chinese law to share its data with the Chinese Communist Party (CPP).

A member of TikTok's Trust and Safety department also told Buzzfeed News that "everything is seen in China."

TikTok spokesperson Maureen Shanahan released a statement in response to the various security issues, acknowledging the scrutiny the company is facing. She says that the company aims to remove any doubt about the security of U.S. data. This includes hiring experts, as well as continuing to work to validate their security standards and working with third parties to secure their defenses.

TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, has yet to issue a statement regarding the leaks.

READ NEXT: Kim Kardashian Accused of Ruining Marilyn Monroe's Iconic 'Happy Birthday Mr. President' Dress After Wearing It at Met Gala 2022

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: TikTok employee recordings expose data breaches
El Salvador shocked the world when its president, Nayib Bukele, adopted Bitcoin as the country's official currency. El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt cryptocurrency as legal tender.

However, as the price of Bitcoin fell below $20,000, Bukele has asked his people to be patient. Under the Bukele administration, El Salvador has already spent about $105 million on Bitcoin from September 2021.

They paid almost $46,000 per coin, which means that the cryptocurrency's price is now less than half of when they bought it. The Associated Press reported that the price of Bitcoin has now fallen by over 57 percent.

Bitcoin-Boosting El Salvador President Asks for Patience

Nayib Bukele, a social-media-savvy millennial, took to Twitter to address concerns regarding Bitcoin's latest crash.

Bukele acknowledged the anxiety Salvadoran citizens have but suggested that citizens just enjoy life. He assured those who invested in Bitcoin that their investments were safe.

He also guaranteed that its value would "immensely grow after the bear market." He then added that "patience is the key."

Bukele has been a devoted booster of the cryptocurrency, boasting that he has been buying it whenever the price drops back in May. However, the price of Bitcoin has been dropping since he made that boast.

Finance Minister Alejandro Zelaya also sought to calm the public, stating in an interview with a local TV station that the government has not sold any of its Bitcoin yet. Therefore the country has not yet suffered any losses. Zelaya also added that the slide in the price of Bitcoin does not matter all that much, as it does not represent 0.5 percent of the country's national budget.

READ NEXT: Colombia Elections: Colombians Elect First Black Vice President After Voting For First Leftist President

Economic Experts Raise Concerns For El Salvador's Economy With the Bitcoin Crash

While Nayib Bukele and his ministers are trying to reassure the public, critics and economic experts have voiced their concerns following the Bitcoin price crash.

Business professor Julio Sevilla recently sat down with NPR at how this might affect the country. Sevilla pointed out that the move to use Bitcoin as the country's official tender was not a very popular one, and popularizing it hasn't been successful.

According to the professor, Salvadorans were offered $30 to sign up for the app to use Bitcoin. Unfortunately, only around 20 percent of those who signed up actually use it.

Sevilla further noted that many in the government do not question Bukele about Bitcoin because he controls all government branches, with his party holding the majority of the legislative branch.

Bukele also overhauled the Supreme Court, placing allies and removing possible critics.

The NPR interview, however, assured the public that El Salvador's economy might not collapse just because of the Bitcoin crash. However, Sevilla said there might be repercussions, including potential problems in negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to get financing for El Salvador's debts.

According to the AP, the IMF has cited concerns with El Salvador adopting Bitcoin as its official currency due to its volatility.

It recommended that the country dissolve the $150 million trust fund, which was created when El Salvador adopted Bitcoin as its legal tender. Currently, El Salvador has two official currencies, Bitcoin and the U.S. dollar.

READ MORE: El Chapo and His Rival Cartel Leader El Mochomo of Beltran Leyva Now Together at ADX 'Supermax' Prison in Colorado

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Bitcoin: Will El Salvador's Big Crypto Gamble Pay Off? - From BBC News
As the January 6 committee finds more significance in Mike Pence's role in thwarting the insurrection, the panel said they might issue a subpoena for the former vice president.

The committee also said on Sunday that they were also waiting to hear from Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

According to several witness testimonies, Ginni has been active in the efforts to keep former President Donald Trump in power during the January 6 insurrection.

Committee member Rep. Adam Schiff said they were not taking anybody off the table in terms of witnesses who were yet to testify.

He noted that a subpoena for Pence is "certainly a possibility." Schiff added that they would also like to hear from several other high-profile people as well.

Lawmakers have been able to document what Trump has said in his heated phone call with Pence on the morning of January 6. However, the committee has yet to hear what Pence has said in response.

Witness testimony stated that Trump called Pence a "wimp" and the "P-word" during the phone call, and the former president pleaded with his vice president not to accept the election's results and overturn it.

However, Mike Pence chose to move forward with his constitutional duties as vice president and certified the 2020 electoral results.

READ NEXT: January 6 Hearings: Mike Pence Chose Constitution Over Trump Despite Pressure

January 6 Committee to Hear From Ginni Thomas and Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers

According to CNN, the January 6 committee has already sent a letter to Ginny Thomas to speak about her role in the effort to overturn the election results.

The wife of conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarine Thomas has indicated that she is open to speaking with the committee. She told The Daily Caller that she wanted to clear up any misconceptions.

In addition, the committee is also expected to hear from Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers. The panel will reportedly ask the Arizona state representative about the emails Ginny had sent him, urging him and other state officials to set aside President Joe Biden's win in the state during the 2020 presidential elections.

Ginny has allegedly emailed several officials, including White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, in order to help overturn the election results.

The hearings have also revealed that she was also in communications with Trump's lawyer John Eastman, who has gotten notoriety for suggesting that Mike Pence should overturn the election results. It was found during the hearings that Eastman knew that such an act was illegal but continued pushing the idea anyway.

January 6 Committee to Also Investigate 'the Big Rip-off' by the Trump Campaign

The Associated Press reported that the January 6 committee has indicated that they will also reveal more details about Donald Trump and his presidential campaign's efforts to defraud supporters.

Dubbed the "Big Rip-off," this was allegedly Trump attempting to gather money from his supporters by using the false claims of the stolen election and getting them to donate to his campaign.

In a statement to ABC's "This Week," Illinois Republican and January 6 committee member Rep. Adam Kinzinger promised that the public would have a clear picture of Trump's failure to abide by his oath as president.

He said that the committee will present evidence that shows "criminal involvement by a president." Kinzinger further noted that he and his family had received threats due to him being part of the January 6 committee.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Denies Calling Mike Pence a 'Wimp,' Slams January 6 Committee

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Jan. 6th Committee Will Subpoena Ginni Thomas, Rep. Pascrell Says - From NBC News
At least five people have died after two rival armed groups engaged in a shootout in Mexico's Chihuahua state plagued by Mexican drug cartels.

According to El Sol de Mexico, the armed confrontation happened in the municipalities of Valle de Allende and Coronado in Chihuahua on Sunday morning. Residents called 911 after hearing the gunshots.

When authorities arrived on a highway between the said municipalities, they saw four bodies with gunshot wounds. Local reports said the two bodies had been decapitated, with one of the heads placed on a white SUV's roof and the other on the hood.

Police also found shell casings, three grenades, and various firearm magazines at the scene. A few meters away, in the direction of Valle de Allende, authorities also discovered a van and a ranger-type vehicle that the gunmen left as they fled the scene.

The three vehicles reportedly had bullet holes. During the early hours, a man's body was abandoned in a funeral home in the municipality of Jimenez.

Police believed this was also related to the armed confrontation between two rival groups. The identities of the victims are currently unknown.

Authorities reportedly attributed this violence to warring Mexican drug cartels in the state.

READ NEXT: Texas Shooting: New Video Shows Armed Police Were at Robb Elementary School Premises but Waited 58 Minutes to Enter Classroom

4 Dead in Armed Attack at Restaurant in Mexico's Chihuahua State

Last week, four people died in an attack by armed men at a family restaurant in Mexico's Chihuahua state.

The shooting incident reportedly occurred at Denny's restaurant on Technological Avenue at Ciudad Suarez. Reports said an unknown armed group broke into the restaurant and sprayed bullets at people.

Among the casualties were two women and two men who died on the way to a hospital. A waiter was also wounded by a bullet that hit his back.

While details of those responsible are still unknown, everything seems to indicate that it was a settling of scores between rival Mexican drug cartels that operate in the state.

Authorities are still working to determine the motive and circumstances leading up to the shooting.

Mexican Drug Cartels in Chihuahua State in Mexico

The Chihuahua state in Mexico has reportedly been in a territorial dispute between the Sinaloa Cartel and La Linea Cartel for the last five years.

La Linea is a former group of the Juarez Cartel and is fighting the Sinaloa Cartel for smuggling routes in the U.S. La Linea is believed to be led by Jesus Salas Aguayo, alias "El Chuyin."

On the other hand, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's four sons, known as "Los Chapitos," were left in command of the Sinaloa Cartel after El Chapo was arrested and extradited to the U.S.

However, reports suggested that there was an internal dispute for total control of the powerful criminal organization. The Los Chapitos are reportedly looking to assume supreme control of the Sinaloa Cartel, and their father's former right-hand man, El Mayo, appears to be their internal enemy number one.

The Sinaloa Cartel is considered one of the world's most powerful drug-trafficking syndicates. The Mexican drug cartel has been known for carrying out assassinations, murders, and torture to protect its turf.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Unsure if Ron DeSantis Will Run for President in 2024; Ex-Pres. Reiterates Winning Against Florida Governor

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Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Mexican Army: War Against Powerful Drug Cartels | The Insider: Reggie Yates - From Free Documentary
Recently, American and Western public opinion has paid increasing attention to Japans recent moves on defense. More and more analysts believed that Japan seems to be undergoing the largest-ever military transformation in recent decades. Some American media have raised questions like whether Japans military is strong enough to subvert the military pattern in the Asia-Pacific region? And some other American media even reported that Japan intends to abandon its postwar pacifism. Regardless of the true intention of these reports, they do raise an important issue that deserves the vigilance of regional countries.

Although Japan has generally left a low-key, restrained impression on the international community in defense in the past few decades, some American media said that the well-trained and well-equipped Japanese Self-Defense Forces have now been among the most powerful armed forces in the world. According to the assessment by the Global Firepower, a military ranking agency, Japans overall defense strength ranked fifth in the world. In the global military strength rankings published by Japanese media, Japan ranked fourth.

The outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has triggered the remilitarization ambition of the Japanese right-wing forces. On June 19, leaders of Japans ruling and opposition parties including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed on TV whether Japan should consider acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine. Not long ago, Japans ruling Liberal Democratic Party proposed to increase the proportion of GDP for defense spending from 1 percent to 2 percent within five years. Japan has been propagating and emphasizing its unease. This, in turn, also makes Japans neighboring countries feel puzzled and uneasy. Japan, which has gradually shifted its national focus from economic development to military expansion, is becoming the biggest hidden danger to peace and stability in East Asia.

In the process, Washingtons indulgence has offered the Japanese right-wing politicians unrealistic fantasies. In the face of Japans move to seek a fundamental change in defense, Kurt Campbell, the US White Houses Indo-Pacific policy coordinator, did not express any concern. He described Japan as a responsible country pursuing modern democracy, and said that memories of a distant period do not animate modern concerns. What people see from this is that Washington is leaning over to untie the ropes that it once bundled up on Japanese militarism. The utilitarian mentality of using Japan to build a containment circle against China has overwhelmed deserved US concerns on regional risks and consequences.

Given the overall operations conducted by Washington, the real dangers of Japanese right-wing forces have been obscured. Japan is the only country in the world that dares to openly deny the history of its aggression in World War II, but the US has kept endorsing Japans ambitions out of its own geopolitical self-interest. It hopes that Japan could keep the ability to bark at China frequently, even bite when necessary, while it takes Japan under its own control confidently. In other words, the US does not care if Japan is smashed to pieces in the geopolitical collision, while Japan wants to use the US selfishness to achieve its purpose of completely unleashing its military and political restrictions, which has become a dangerous scheme of theirs.

Currently, the entire Japanese political arena tends to be not clear-headed. There are voices in almost every political party advocating the need to increase Japans defense capabilities, as well as striking bases in enemy territory. In particular, Washington is putting out the fire for Japans remilitarization that threatens the worlds public opinion, while at the same time giving Japan the initiative to stand at the forefront of US geopolitical competition. The scars of history remain vivid in peoples minds, and the real danger is quietly approaching. Whether it is to prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism or to avoid the upspiral of regional security dilemmas, it is necessary for the international community to throw cold water on Japans foolhardiness.

Editor's Note: This article is originally published on huanqiu.com, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
MBABANE  Some head teachers have resorted to releasing pupils earlier than the usual time due to the ongoing food crisis in schools.

Many schools have made it known that they do not have food under the schools feeding scheme, known as Zondle. Most claimed they last received food supplies in the last academic year. Others schools claimed that they were now surviving on sour porridge. The head teachers in the schools, more especially in primary schools, complained that government had taken too long to deliver food to the schools. The head teachers said they reported the issue to the Ministry of Education and Training. Some of the head teachers said they submitted their enrolment in March, so as to give government an idea as to how much food they would need, but none had been delivered since. The head teachers said they were surviving on food from last year.

Busisiwe Msibi, Chibidze Primary School Head teacher, said they last had food for the pupils some weeks ago. She said in her school, there was only mealie-meal, which could not be eaten alone. She said even if they decided to cook sour porridge, it would require sugar. Msibi said the situation was dire, such that pupils were often ill as they came to school on empty stomachs. She said sometimes, as teachers, they had to provide food for some pupils who were taking medication. She said some pupils were from less privileged homes, such that they would come to school and tell her that they only had fermented mealie-meal drink (emahewu) at home.

Situation

Msibi said the situation would get worse if the proposed rationing of food in schools would be effected. She said already, the food they were receiving was not enough. Mkhondvo Primary School Head teacher Gladys Mkhonta said in her school, they last had food last Thursday. She said yesterday marked the second day without food. Mkhonta said this brought challenges to the pupils, more especially those who had no money to buy snacks around the school. She said currently, she had no idea as to where the next meal for the learners would come from. She said the only hope was government.

Mkhonta said they had not yet decided to release the pupils earlier than usual but it was inevitable should they notice that the pupils were not coping with the situation. She said they were looking up to government to deliver food to the school. Cyprian Simelane, Ngozi Primary School Head teacher said so far, the school was sustaining the pupils with sour porridge. He said the school only had mealie-meal but no beans, so it would not be possible to cook a full meal except the sour porridge. Simelane added that even for that sour porridge, the school sometimes asked the parents to provide sugar. Nsalitje Primary School Head teacher David Mkhweli said currently his school was left with only one bag of rice and beans. He said the situation was not looking good at all, because there was no certainty as to when government would provide food to the schools.

Muziwethu Simelane, Kwaluseni Primary School Head teacher, said in his school, they were also surviving on sour porridge. He said there were beans as well hence they opted for the sour porridge. He said sometimes he would urge parents to assist by giving the pupils some sugar to mitigate the situation. Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training Bhekithemba Gama, said they were advising the head teachers to liaise with their regional education officers (REO), who may assist them on how to mitigate the situation until government delivered food to their respective schools. He added that for the teachers to take such decisions as releasing pupils earlier, they would need to consult with the REOs or inspectors.
A Laois Offaly TD has welcomed moves to increase the student holiday earning threshold.

Deputy Carol Nolan welcomed reports that Minister for Higher and Further Education Simon Harris is to seek Government approval for proposals to increase the holiday earnings income disregard that third level students can earn under the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) scheme.

If approved, the proposals would allow students to earn 6,552 without any negative impact on their grant rates or eligibility. The current cap is 4,500.

Deputy Nolan said she has consistently called for a rise in the student earnings cap, having mostly recently raised the issue with Taoiseach Micheal Martin in May during Leaders Questions.

In response to Deputy Nolans calls, Taoiseach Micheal Martin committed the Government to examining a possible raising of the cap on holiday earnings, she claimed.

I am delighted that Minister Harris will bring a memo to Cabinet today to increase the student earnings cap. It must be supported and implemented without delay, said Deputy Nolan.

This is an issue that I have been engaging constructively and intensively on with the Department and the Minister for some time. Indeed, I made the need to radically increase the student earnings cap a central part of my submission to the Steering Group Review on Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) in March of 2021, she commented.

Deputy Nolan said: The facts were always clear to me, given that the last time the holiday earnings cap was increased was back in 2016 when it rose from 3,809 to 4,500. Since that time students have faced, along with the majority of people, massive and unsustainable levels of rent hikes, travel expenses and food price increases.

In May I also put it to the Taoiseach, that it is precisely the rigid inflexibility around student earnings that is creating difficulties around retention and the ability of students to successfully complete their courses. I also informed him that the cap has led to massive difficulties in our tourism and hospitality sectors in terms of being able to source student workers, because the students know that they can only work a certain number of hours and earn so much before they are effectively penalised through grant reductions or refusals, she stated.

In conclusion, Deputy Noaln said: I will await to see the final details of the proposed changes, but if what is reported is given the green light by Government then I will warmly welcome that as the first step toward further incremental increases over time.
A decision to scale back or stop some army operations in support of gardai and at prisons such as Portlaoise will be taken shortly.

Minister for Defence Simon Coveney has revealed he is going to make a decision following interdepartmental consultation before the Dails summer recess.

Defence Forces personnel acting in an armed Aid to the Civil Power(ATCP) role, deploy troops on the direction of the Government, in order to assist the Prison Service and An Garda Siochana. They provide 24/7, 365 days a year, security at Portlaoise Prison and for security reasons it would not be appropriate to disclose the details regarding the number of personnel assigned to each deployment, Minister Coveney explained in response to a Parliamentary Question by Aontu leader Peadar Toibin.

Deputy Toibin had asked the Minister to outline the role played by the Defence Forces in guarding prisoners, how much they are paid and how many hours are spent on the task.

Minister Coveney said: With regards to the number of prisoners in Portlaoise Prison, this is a matter for the Irish Prison Service and the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice has advised that prison officers pay is a matter of public record and that allowances are also paid for Additional Hours (AH) and for working anti-social hours and times such as night shifts, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holiday shifts.

Minister Coveney said: The Commission on the Defence Forces, which was published on the 9 February 2022, included a recommendation That an immediate focus be given to standing down a number of current Defence Forces ATCP taskings which no longer seem justified in the current security situation.

These recommendations are currently under consideration by my Department along with in-depth discussion and inter-departmental consultation. The intent is that following relevant consultation, and before the summer recess, I will revert to Government with a proposed response to the Commission's recommendations and a high-level action plan, he revealed. The Dails summer recess traditionally begins in July.

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However, the Defence Forces presence at Portlaoise Prison looks set to continue as the tender for the redevelopment of the Laois Offaly Garda Headquarters in Portlaoise includes provision for a new army facilities at the prison.

Minister of State Sean Fleming told a recent meeting of Laois Joint Policing Committee that: The army are based in the property beside the garda station and I think a byproduct of this(tender) will be that that army surveillance unit and soldiers that come from the Curragh for their duty up there on a 24/7 basis will now have a base up at the prison which will probably be better, closer to the prison and free up space here.
Groups in County Kildare have been encouraged to join the recently launched Trans Equality Together (TET).

TET was launched at a special event at the Mansion House in Dublin, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland.

Led by TENI (the Transgender Equality Network Ireland), Belong-To and LGBT Ireland, TET says its objective is to create an Ireland where trans people are 'equal, safe and valued'.

The new initiative also seeks to: "promote positive attitudes towards trans and non-binary people in Kildare and around the country, advocate for policy and legislative changes that will improve the lives of trans people and make Kildare and the rest of Ireland a more equal society for all, and counter the negative and false messages about trans people that have been circulating in recent years."

Speaking at the launch, Sara Phillips, Chair of TENI and Co-Director of Trans Equality Together, said: "The aim of TET is to bring together the diverse array of organisations that work with the trans community directly and those that are our allies  to demonstrate to politicians, policymakers and the wider public the breadth of support that exists for trans rights and the challenges that we, as a community, are facing right now."

Moninne Griffith, CEO of Belong-To and Co-Director of Trans Equality Together, added: "Trans people in Ireland are a tiny minority of the population whose voices have rarely been heard in national discourse: they have been marginalised, denied access to healthcare, and demonised in the press.

"TET will work to create an Ireland where trans people are equal, safe and valued.

"We want to promote positive attitudes towards trans people, counter the negative and false messages that have been circulating in recent years, and work to achieve policy and legal changes  particularly in relation to gender recognition and healthcare  that will really improve the lives of trans people.

She added that the group 'does not want to see the sort of divisive rhetoric and villainisation of trans people taking hold in Ireland that we have witnessed in other countries.'

CHANGES

TET outlined its legislative and policy priorities at the launch.

It is seeking the explicit inclusion of gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics as protected grounds in the Equality Acts, which are currently being reviewed by government.

The group also wants to see the gender recognition process opened up to include under-18s, and streamlined to remove the current requirements for 16 and 17-year-olds to attend court and present certificates from medical professionals in order to have their gender legally recognised.

In relation to healthcare, the coalition said the waiting list for adults seeking care through the National Gender Service is currently in the region of five years, and must be reduced as a priority.

There has been no active health service for trans children and adolescents in Ireland since December 2020 and this must be re-instated with immediate effect, according to TET.

Paula Fagan, Co-Director of TET, explained: "In Ireland, we have demonstrated strong leadership on trans rights in the past.

"In 2015, we enacted the Gender Recognition Act, ensuring people over 18 can have their true gender recognised in law, based on self-declaration; this law was supported  without controversy  by a strong majority of Oireachtas members, and was greeted with widespread approval when it was introduced."

She continued: "Now, we need to acknowledge and address the gaps that exist in relation to gender recognition for under-18s; and gender-affirming healthcare for people of all ages.

"Over the coming months and years, TET will be working closely with Oireachtas members and policymakers to highlight these gaps and ensure properly resourced services and supports are in place for Irelands trans community."

MEMBERS

Alongside the three lead organisations  TENI, Belong To and LGBT Ireland  members of the new venture include: AMACH! LGBT Galway, Amnesty International Ireland, BI+ Ireland, Brod West Cork, FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres), GCN, Intersex Ireland, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Irish Network Against Racism, Irish SecondLevel Students' Union (ISSU), National LGBT Federation (NXF), the National Womens Council, the Open Doors Initiative, Outhouse, ShoutOut, and Trans Limerick Community, with additional groups in the process of joining.

Further information about TET, including about how groups in Kildare can get involved, is available at www.transequalitytogether.com.
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An Post has said that access to everyday personal and business banking 'just went to a whole new level' in Kildare.

The organisation has made its nationwide network of post offices available to deliver financial services to local communities.

An Post said that it 'has been leading the way in delivering local everyday banking across the country with its own suite of online and across the counter financial services.'

These services include An Post Money Current Account, Credit Card, Loans and Foreign Exchange transactions.

Now, AIB and Bank of Ireland customers can lodge and withdraw money at any of their local branches in Kildare.

Commenting on the announcement, An Posts local Regional Operations Manager, Hugh OConnor, said: "At An Post we are committed to building and supporting sustainable communities.

"We are providing everyone easy access to everyday banking services no matter where they live through the post offices.

"We believe in an Ireland where managing your money is simple and convenient," he added.

Further information is available from your local post office or online at anpost.com/everydaybanking.
A barrister told Naas District Court that a woman would drop charges against her ex-partner if he agreed to go on a holiday with her.

The comments were heard on Thursday, June 16, during a case involving alleged domestic violence.

Barrister Aisling Murphy told Judge Desmond Zaidan that the woman had accused of her client, the woman's ex-partner, of breaching a protection order by messaging her over social media.

She said that the woman allegedly told her client that she would drop the charges against him if he agreed to go on a holiday with her.

This prompted a brief outburst from the woman, who denied the allegations.

Ms Murphy also told Judge Zaidan that her client is able to prove that she had been in 'constant, full contact' with him over social media, and said that he was willing to hand over his phone to gardai to show them the alleged messages.

"There have also been requests for money made by this woman too," she said: "The allegations (by the woman) are a waste of court time, gardai time and even this lady's time.

"It is an abuse of the court process," Ms Murphy added.

The ex-partner then told the judge that the only reason he had contacted her was to discuss their children.

Judge Zaidan agreed to grant bail for the ex-partner and adjourned the case to a date in September.

He added that any discussions involving their children until this date must be done between the woman and the ex-partner's respective legal representatives.

The gardai took the man's phone after the case was heard.
MBABANE - All the three hotels which were under the management of Sun International Limited have been sold to an overseas buyer.

The sale of the hotels, SwaziSpa Hotel and Casino, Lugogo Sun and the Ezulwini Sun, was disclosed by Assistant Attorney General (AG) Mbuso Simelane in court yesterday. Simelane further informed the court that a deed of sale has been signed by both liquidators, Marisa Boxshall Smith and Paul Mulindwa. The purchase price will be paid anytime, submitted the assistant AG. He also brought it to the attention of the court that the deed of sale has been approved by the creditors. In his submissions, the assistant AG did not disclose the name of the purchaser and the purchase price. Simelane made these submissions yesterday after Judge Khontaphi Manzini had dismissed the points of law raised by the master of the High Court in the matter where Sun International and other creditors want Mulindwa to be removed as co- liquidator in the liquidation of the three hotels.

Remove

The assistant AG argued that the application to remove Mulindwa as co-liquidator was now academic or overtaken by events as the liquidation process was also complete and the deed of sale had been signed. He then requested to file a full-blown application to demonstrate to the court why the Master of the High Court was of the view that the application for the removal of Mulindawa as co-liquidator was now academic. The latest development will bring a glimmer of hope to the over 200 emaSwati who were rendered jobless after the closure of the hotels, as they would be paid their terminal benefits.

It was previously reported that Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) was among the companies which had made offers to purchase the hotels. The list of the companies which had shown an interest in purchasing the hotels under SwaziSpa Holdings, which is currently under liquidation, was provided to the master of the High Court by lawyers representing the liquidator of the companies under Sun International Management Limited. In total, there were four companies which had made offers to purchase the hotels situated in Ezulwini. However, the amounts put forth by each bidder had not been included in the court documents. Some of the companies which had reportedly made offers as per the list were; Africa Orbit Holding (PTY) Limited, Africa Harvest (PTY) Limited and VZN Investment Limited.

In June 2021; the High Court of Eswatini issued a final order for the liquidation of five companies under Sun International Management Limited. The affected companies include SwaziSpa Holdings, which was operating SwaziSpa Hotel and Casino, Lugogo Sun and the Ezulwini Sun. It was recently disclosed that there was a bid of E1 billion which was, however, being doubted by the master of the High Court. Sun International Management Limited, would, on the other hand, informed the court that the identity of the bidder for the amount of E1 billion was currently confidential. In her answering papers, Deputy Master of the High Court, Lindelwa Magagula, averred that the story of the E1 billion in bids for the purchase of SwaziSpa Holdings, was one that was colourful without any meat. The contention by the deputy master is contained in an affidavit she deposed to, in the matter where the appointment of Mulindwa as co-liquidator was being challenged. Mulindwa, who is the second respondent in the matter, was appointed by the master to work together with Smith, the third respondent.

Appointment

The Sun International Management Limited, which is the first applicant in the matter, is challenging the appointment, together with four other applicants which are Nedbank Swaziland Limited, former Employees of Swazi Spa, Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) and Chick-Fil-A Swaziland (Pty) Limited. In the affidavit, Magagula submitted that the liquidator had claimed that she had received financing for E1 billion, and the same was deposited into a bank account and that the deposit was to be verified by the creditors committee. The deputy master said upon further investigation and enquiry, the story changed to the effect that the interested bidders only showed their bank statement, but had either refused and or failed to file bank guarantees.

Meanwhile, the High Court has dismissed the points of law raised by the master of the High Court in the matter where she has been taken to court by Sun International Management Limited and three creditors. Sun International Management Limited and the other applicants (Nedbank Swaziland Limited, Eswatini National Provident Fund) want Mulindwa to be removed as co-liquidator.

Dismissed

In the dismissed points of law, the master had submitted that the applicants who also doubled as members of the creditors committee, were estoppel from moving the application for the removal of Mulindwa, as they embraced him and were working with him. They further contended that the matter was now academic. Estoppel is the principle which precludes a person from asserting something contrary to what is implied by a previous action or statement of that person or by a pertinent judicial determination. In her judgment, Judge Manzini said it was the finding of the court that estoppel was in the matter at hand, and could not be raised in a successful manner by the attorney of the respondents (master of the High Court and three others).

The court highlighted that the applicants in the matter were applying to have the decision of the master of the High Court set aside and also decried the manner in which the decision was made. Their cause of complaint was based on the constitutional right that they had in Section 33. It would, in my view, be folly to deem their action of seeing to it that the bidding process and the securing of purchasers for the disposal of the assets of the company continued, despite their application to court, to amount to a waiver of this constitutionally protected right, said Judge Manzini. It was further the courts observation that the applicants were seeking to challenge the manner in which the master of the High Court appointed Mulindwa as co- liquidator.

They are not in my opinion, abandoning their right to fair administrative justice by so doing, reads part of the judgment. The court also noted that there had been no application to have the liquidation process put on hold, pending the finalisation of the matter hence the process was still in progress and the meeting on March 25, 2022 was well in order. Judge Manzini said, had the applicants sought such an order and yet still continued to hold meetings with Mulindwa, then a call to declare their action as signifying pre-emption.

Peremption

The point of law relating to peremption is also dismissed in light of these findings. In the present case, it cannot be said that the conduct of the applicant is unequivocal, said the court.

The court further mentioned that there was another conclusion that could be drawn from the act of the applicant in working with the second respondent (Mulindwa). Judge Manzini said the conclusion was that the applicants did not want to or wished to stop the liquidation process because if they lost out on securing buyers for the company assets, this would ultimately cost them.

It would be tantamount to shooting themselves in the foot. The points of law are hereby dismissed and the application will proceed to be heard on the merits, said the court. The applicants were represented by Advocate Van Zyl, who had been instructed by Senior Lawyer Zweli Jele of Robinson Bertram. The master of the High Court and the other respondents were represented by Assistant Attorney General Mbuso Simelane. Applicants in the matter were Sun International Management Limited, Nedbank Swaziland Limited, Eswatini National Provident Fund and Chick- Fil- A Swaziland PTY Limited.
Groups across Ireland are being encouraged to join a new coalition, Trans Equality Together, which launched recently.

Led by TENI (Transgender Equality Network Ireland), Belong To and LGBT Ireland, Trans Equality Together says its objective is to create an Ireland where trans people are equal, safe and valued as well as to:

Promote positive attitudes towards trans and non-binary people in Carlow and around the country

Advocate for policy and legislative changes that will improve the lives of trans people and make Carlow and the rest of Ireland a more equal society for all

Counter the negative and false messages about trans people that have been circulating in recent years.

Speaking at the launch, Sara Phillips, Chair of TENI and Co-Director of Trans Equality Together, said:

The aim of Trans Equality Together is to bring together the diverse array of organisations that work with the trans community directly and those that are our allies  to demonstrate to politicians, policymakers and the wider public the breadth of support that exists for trans rights and the challenges that we, as a community, are facing right now.

Moninne Griffith, CEO of Belong To and Co-Director of Trans Equality Together, said: Trans people in Ireland are a tiny minority of the population whose voices have rarely been heard in national discourse. They have been marginalised, denied access to healthcare, and demonised in the press.

Trans Equality Together will work to create an Ireland where trans people are equal, safe and valued. We want to promote positive attitudes towards trans people, counter the negative and false messages that have been circulating in recent years, and work to achieve policy and legal changes  particularly in relation to gender recognition and healthcare  that will really improve the lives of trans people.

We do not want to see the sort of divisive rhetoric and villainisation of trans people taking hold in Ireland that we have witnessed in other countries.

Seeking Legislative and Policy Change

Trans Equality Together outlined its legislative and policy priorities at the launch. The coalition is seeking the explicit inclusion of gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics as protected grounds in the Equality Acts, which are currently being reviewed by government.

Trans Equality Together also wants to see the gender recognition process opened up to include under-18s, and streamlined to remove the current requirements for 16 and 17-year-olds to attend court and present certificates from medical professionals in order to have their gender legally recognised.

In relation to healthcare, the coalition said the waiting list for adults seeking care through the National Gender Service is currently in the region of five years, and must be reduced as a priority. There has been no active health service for trans children and adolescents in Ireland since December 2020 and this must be re-instated with immediate effect, according to Trans Equality Together.

In Ireland, we have demonstrated strong leadership on trans rights in the past. In 2015, we enacted the Gender Recognition Act, ensuring people over 18 can have their true gender recognised in law, based on self-declaration.

This law was supported  without controversy  by a strong majority of Oireachtas members, and was greeted with widespread approval when it was introduced, said Paula Fagan, Co-Director of Trans Equality Together.

Now, we need to acknowledge and address the gaps that exist in relation to gender recognition for under-18s; and gender-affirming healthcare for people of all ages. Over the coming months and years, Trans Equality Together will be working closely with Oireachtas members and policymakers to highlight these gaps and ensure properly resourced services and supports are in place for Irelands trans community.

Further information about Trans Equality Together, including about how groups in Carlow can get involved, is available at www.transequalitytogether.com.
The Taoiseach has said the agriculture sector has a crucial and inescapable role to play in helping Ireland reach its climate change targets.

Micheal Martin made the comments as he announced details of a 1.5 billion euro agri-environment package, which encourages farmers to use more environmentally friendly methods, including less fertiliser.

Known as the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (Acres), it will run from 2023 until 2027 and will target some 50,000 farmers across Ireland.



Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, left to right, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Minister of State for Biodiversity Pippa Hackett

Mr Martin said it would create resilient farms for generations.

On Monday, it was confirmed that proposals on new targets for cutting carbon emissions in key sectors of Irelands economy were likely to be put to Government in the coming weeks.

It was hoped ministers would be able to agree so-called sectoral emissions ceilings ahead of the summer recess.

Agricultural activities from land are responsible for 40% of Irelands greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr Martin said the 1.5 billion budget was the single biggest investment by an Irish government in an agri-environment measure.

Today, along with Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD and my colleagues @pippa_hackett and @martinheydonfg, I announced details of our new 1.5bn flagship agri environ scheme #ACRES This is a really exciting scheme that will support farm families to drive more biodiversity improvements. pic.twitter.com/ZAEDfquLYO  Charlie McConalogue (@McConalogue) June 21, 2022

It is a key Programme for Government commitment and will be partly funded by the countrys carbon tax receipts, Mr Martin said on Tuesday.

The climate, environment and biodiversity challenges that we face are immense and the simple truth is that we need to use all and every means available to address these challenges.

Climate change is a threat to all of us and to our way of life.

Globally, we need to dramatically reduce the amount of greenhouse gases were putting into the atmosphere to have any realistic hope of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, keep our ecosystems functioning and ensure that our planet is safe and liveable for generations to come.

The agriculture sector has a crucial and inescapable role in meeting the challenge of climate change and biodiversity loss by creating resilient farms for generations.

Delighted to join @McConalogue to announce new 1.5bn #ACRES scheme which will support 50,000 farm families. Single biggest agri-environment investment ever will help deliver important climate, biodiversity and water quality gains.@pippa_hackett @martinheydonfg pic.twitter.com/7Vigi1iAB0  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 21, 2022

Biodiversity has been moving in the wrong direction for many years, but our farmers are uniquely positioned to help arrest and reverse climate change.

Acres and the initiative we are launching today will deliver on that ambition.

Speaking at Dublin Castle following Government approval of the scheme, Mr Martin said that farmers played an essential and central role in the health of Irelands biodiversity and its water quality.

If, as a nation, we are to achieve our climate ambitions, farmers must be central to our efforts, he added.

Common Agricultural Policy is a key instrument through which we can seek to support farmers by helping them to meet the twin challenges of achieving a viable income while producing food in an environmentally sustainable manner.

That is why were investing 2.3 billion in Exchequer funding for the programme over the seven-year period 2021 to 2027, which increases the next cap by 30% or 1.2 billion compared to the 2014 to 2020 period.

When combined with European Union funds, this brings overall spending to 9.8 billion in the 2023 to 2027 period.

This is a real, very tangible commitment for farmers in recognition of the important role of our agricultural sector in underpinning our whole economy.

Some 50,000 farmers will be supported directly under this scheme to be more environmentally ambitious for the next five years and deliver measurable climate, biodiversity and water quality gains.

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said: The new Acres scheme represents a one-and-a-half-billion euro investment over five years running from 2023 to 2027.

Acres will be a really exciting and farmer friendly scheme that will help address biodiversity decline by delivering an important income support for up to 50,000 farm families and its the highest amount of funding ever committed by a government to a single agri-environmental scheme.

Its real money for real farm families and represents the clear commitment from this government to back farm families.
LIMERICK gardai say roads on both sides of Ballyneety village have been closed following a fire that broke out this Tuesday afternoon around 4.30pm at a garage beside a petrol station.

"Gardai and emergency services are currently attending the scene of a fire at a premises in Ballyneety.

"Roads on both sides of the village have been closed. Diversions are in place. There are no reports of injuries at this time. There is no more information available regarding this incident at this time," said the garda spokesperson.

There have been long traffic delays since the incident. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and the R512 going through Ballyneety.

It is not known how long the roads will be closed for. Firefighters are expected to be at the scene for a lengthy period of time due to the obvious dangers of the location.
Tributes have been paid today to Liam Cahill, former RTE journalist and historian who penned the famous Limerick history book "Forgotten Revolution: The Limerick Soviet 1919" which was first published in 1990.

The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins led the tributes by saying People throughout Irish media, politics and beyond will have been saddened to hear of the death of Liam Cahill. The contribution Liam made to Irish society was a wide and varied one. It included his work, his research, and his writing as a journalist, historian, and as an adviser across political and public affairs.

"To all of this he brought a well-informed, humorous and passionate spirit. To all of his many endeavours he brought, and has left, a particular personal legacy. His work in seeking to bring greater attention to the Limerick Soviet of 1919 reflected a particular interest in the cosmuintir, and the excluded or neglected. He presented a copy of his book on this to me in Aras an Uachtarain.

"I had the privilege of engaging with Liam many times over the years. Indeed, he was due to visit the Aras again in the coming weeks to present me with a copy of his most recent book, From Suir to Jarama, which shed light on the story of his cousin Mossie Quinlan, a volunteer in Spain with the British battalion of the International Brigade. It is a great sadness that we will not get the opportunity to have that meeting.

"May I express my deepest sympathies to his daughter Susan, his son Eoin, to all of his wider family, and his many friends across the political spectrum.

Irelands Ambassador to the United States Daniel Mulhall said he was very sad to learn of the death of Liam Cahill.

He was a few years ahead of me at school..I later knew him as an RTE journalist, a political adviser, media professional, historian and Gaelic games enthusiast, Mr Mulhall said of the Waterford native.

Mr Cahill was a former industry reporter, economics correspondent and political correspondent with RTE, while he also worked as an adviser to politicians, the private sector and campaign groups, while finding time, somehow to found the GAA website An Fear Rua. May he rest in peace.
Former US President Donald Trump took a jibe at Joe Biden who recently fell off his bicycle near his vacation home in the US state of Delaware.

"I hope [Biden] has recovered because as you know, he fell off his bicycle. No, I'm serious. I hope he's okay. Fell off a bicycle. I make this pledge to you today - I will never, ever ride a bicycle," Trump said during one of his rallies on the America Freedom Tour.

He was quoted as saying by The Hill.

Trump has repeatedly teased a US presidential bid in 2024 since leaving the White House last year. Recently, in an interview, he said that he was "very close to making a decision" on another campaign.

Earlier on Saturday, US President Joe Biden fell when he was trying to get off his bike after coming to a stop to meet with a group of onlookers at Cape Henlopen State Park near his beach home in Delaware.

His security crowded the 79-year-old US President and helped him get upright.

He was, however, unhurt. I'm good," he told reporters after US Secret Service agents quickly helped him up. I got my foot caught" in the toe cages.

Following this, a White House official also confirmed that the president was fine, didnt require medical attention and looked forward to spending the rest of the day with his family.

The Bidens are spending a long weekend at their Rehoboth Beach home. They marked their 45th wedding anniversary on Friday.

As the oldest US president, Biden's health is the subject of constant attention, particularly as speculation rises on whether he will seek a second term in 2024.

Last month, Biden nearly fell walking up the stairs of Air Force One.

A similar incident took place last year in Atlanta when Biden stumbled on the plane's steps three times. He then blamed the widely seen spills on gusts of wind.

Biden was in Delaware with his wife to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The US President is spending the weekend in Rehoboth Beach.

In recent days, the former US President Trump increased attacks on the House select committee investigating the January 6 riots at the Capitol, calling it a "theatrical production of partisan political fiction."

Dismissing the hearings as a "witch hunt", Trump has increased focus on the hearings, highlighting how the potential threat the committee's findings could pose to a re-election bid in 2024.

According to The Hill, even Biden, who has seen his approval rating plummet to record lows in recent months, is shown to be competitive when pitted against Trump in a re-rematch.

(With inputs from ANI)
President Biden and parents who recently buried their children are again pleading for a federal assault-weapons ban, after AR-15-style rifles again were a weapon of choice in mass shootings.
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Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter film franchise, faced a shrieking Mandrake plant as he unveiled Professor Sprouts Greenhouse, a fan-favorite set from the films, where students were taught their Herbology lessons with Professor Pomona Sprout. Built by the original Harry Potter filmmakers, the greenhouse is home to many exotic and magical plants. The new expansion opens at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London  The Making of Harry Potter on July 1, and is part of a new feature titled Mandrakes and Magical Creatures, which will run through Sept. 12. Visitors to the Studio Tour will be able to step into the greenhouse and stop to pull out a potted Mandrake as part of an interactive display.

The greenhouse is a permanent addition to the Studio Tour. In addition, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London will be expanding the exterior sets in their backlot with the fountain from the Hogwarts courtyard and a 1:3 scale-version of the Weasleys Burrow.

FESTIVALS

Kogonadas critically acclaimed After Yang will close the 75th edition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Aug 20. Kogonada is expected to be in attendance. The film tells the story of a family who lose their A.I helper, and the profound feelings that the experience induces. When his young daughters beloved companion  an android named Yang (Justin H. Min)  malfunctions, Jake (Colin Farrell) searches for a way to repair him. In the process, Jake discovers the life that has been passing in front of him, reconnecting with his wife (Jodie Turner-Smith) and daughter (Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja) across a distance he didnt know was there.

After Yang had its world premiere at Cannes in 2021 and went on to win the Alfred P. Sloan Prize at Sundance earlier this year. The film is based on the short story by Alexander Weinstein and produced by Theresa Park, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan and Paul Mezey. The Edinburgh International Film Festival runs Aug. 12  20.

Meanwhile, the world premiere of The Other Fellow, a British documentary by Australian director Matthew Bauer, which explores the challenge of living with the name James Bond, will open the 17th annual Doc Edge Festival  Life Unscripted on June 22. In 1952, when author Ian Fleming needed a name for his suave, sophisticated secret agent, he borrowed one from an ornithologist and created a pop-culture phenomenon. In 2022, the year of 007s 60th anniversary onscreen, Bauer uncovers the tales of a diverse band of men from around the world who happen to be called James Bond, chronicling their shared experience of life in the shadow of the 007 phenomenon. They include a Swedish 007 super-fan with a WWII past, a gay New York theater director, an African American Bond accused of murder, and two resilient women caught up in it all. The Other Fellow is co-written by Bauer and Rene van Pannevis (Jacked). The producer is Michelle Brndum (Requiem) for The Other Fellow Ltd.

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Backbase, a key engagement banking platform provider, has announced a new partnership with Bahrain FinTech Bay (BFB) as part of BFB's Venture Acceleration Platform, to accelerate digital banking adoption in Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region and offer new opportunities for key players in the regional financial sector.

Backbase brings a rich portfolio of partners, including National Bank of Bahrain, ila Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Kuwait International Bank, and Societe Generale, while Bahrain FinTech Bay incubates impactful and scalable financial technology initiatives through innovation labs, acceleration programs, and curated activities.

A leading regional fintech hub, BBF said this partnership will provide aspiring and leading financial organizations across Mena region with the opportunity to leverage a solidified engagement banking offering and benefit from an all-encompassing FinTech ecosystem that would boost their operations, performance, and reach.

On the tieup, Mehmet Cakal, the Head of Partners at Backbase Middle East, said: "We are honoured to be partnering with one of the regions top leading FinTech Hubs."

"This new collaboration with Bahrain FinTech Bay aligns with our continuous efforts to help banks in the region with a long-term digital strategy and support them with a holistic approach towards digital transformation, to be able to meet the demands and expectations of their customers in todays age," stated Cakal.

Bader Sater, CEO of Bahrain FinTech Bay, said: "Our new partnership with Backbase will strengthen our mandate to bring cutting-edge technology offerings to banks and financial institutions in Mena."

"Bahrain FinTech Bay is committed to providing curated opportunities for enterprises and supporting startups in the sector to accelerate their growth and expansion efforts across the region," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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Kidoodle, the childrens streaming service that bills itself as a safe environment for young viewers as well as advertisers, has received an equity investment from Canadas TriWest Capital Partners.

The deal values the 10-year-old digital media firm based in Calgary at $465 million and brings its fundraising total to date to $62 million. Kidoodle offers a bundle of subscription streaming channels that feature content hand-selected to be appropriate for impressionable young minds. It also has ad-supported tiers that promise to offer a carefully controlled environment for age-appropriate advertising.

Kidoodle, owned by A Parent Media Co., saw rapid growth during the pandemic and has been looking to capitalize on both ends of the streaming video growth curve: subscription and ad-supported. Kidoodle has ad-filtering technology that is also being licensed out to other users as concerns grow among mainstream digital publishers about thespread of objectionable content online.

As part of the investment, TriWest Capitals Jon Spencer has joined Kidoodles board of directors.

Managements vision has allowed APMC to build industry leading ad-technology to provide solutions to open media platform problems, all while prioritizing the protection of children in a rapidly growing and changing industry, Spencer said. TriWest is excited to be part of the Companys next phase of growth and is proud to partner with a team committed to the family values APMC represents.

The Canadian private equity firms interest in Kidoodle is validating for the entrepreneurs who pursued their vision for a kid-safe streaming platform long before the streaming wars erupted. Kidoodle is available in about 160 markets around the world. The company has mostly licensed content but is stepping up its output of originals.

We feel that this alignment validates the achievements we have made to date and our commitment to families globally in a time when protections for children are needed the most, said Kidoodle founder Michael Lowe, who lists his title as CEO and Dad. Neil Gruninger is also listed as as founder and president as well as Uncle.

As we face a period of time where child safety should be the most important conversation, we are committed to shifting the narrative, said Gruninger. We are thrilled to have TriWest join the Kidoodle.TV family and worked hard to align with a finance partner that understands not only the opportunity, but that families should come first. Thats part of our DNA.

The pact between A Public Media Co. and Kidoodle came together with the help of Fred Mannix Jr., a successful Canadian polo player turned investment banking executive.

This is a business for positive impact. As a father, it was important to me to stand behind the strong work ethic and commitment to safety for children that this company represents, Mannix said.

Correction: A Parent Media Co. has raised a total of $62 million to date. An earlier version of this story stated TriWest Capital Partners had invested $62 million in this round.

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Numerous armed police officers managed to enter the Texas elementary school where 21 people were killed during a mass shooting last month just minutes after the gunman stormed the building  but it took authorities nearly an hour to stop the shooter, the Austin Statesman reports.

Documents and bodycam footage reviewed by the publication revealed Monday that local police entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde armed with rifles and a ballistic shield nine minutes after the shooting began, but failed to confront and fatally shoot the gunman until almost an hour later. Two teachers and 19 children were killed during the incident.

A local news reporter shared a screenshot of the camera footage in question on Twitter, depicting officers with rifles entering the school hallway at 11:52 a.m. The gunman could be heard firing his weapon almost 30 minutes after their arrival.

If theres kids in there, we need to go in there, one officer said in the video, according to the report. A second officer added, Whoever is in charge will determine that.

Investigators believe this is significant because it indicates they had more than enough firepower and protection to enter the classroom before they did. Officers were growing impatient far sooner: If theres kids in there we need to go in there, one said on body camera video.  Tony Plohetski (@tplohetski) June 20, 2022

The Statesman report reveals 11 officers were on the scene at Robb Elementary within three minutes of the gunman  including Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (UCISD) Chief of Police Pete Arredondo, though they were armed with only pistols. Arredondo previously said he was one of the first to arrive on the scene and became the de facto commander onscene, despite not having radios nor keys for the classrooms.

Its an emergency right now, he said, per the Statesman. We have him in the room. Hes got an AR-15. Hes shot a lot . . . They need to be outside the building prepared because we dont have firepower right now Its all pistols.

Arredondo previously told the Texas Tribune that he didnt issue any orders and called for assistance and asked for an extraction tool to open the door.

The Statesman report also found that Arredondo attempted to speak to the gunman, asking if he could hear him.

Investigators are set to present the information at a Texas Senate hearing Tuesday, according to the Statesman. The hearing will serve as the first time that state lawmakers will be able to hear from members of the community about gun violence.

Last week, Christopher Salazar, the uncle of shooting victim Jose Flores, Jr., 10, told Rolling Stone that he urged police officers to enter the school building while the gunman shot at children.

I was looking for my nephew and I even told [authorities] Ill go in there myself, he said, adding that they urged police officers to enter the school and save their children: Hey look, our children are getting shot. They cant defend themselves. Go in there! Go in there! They really didnt do anything, although they were there standing outside  Instead of reacting and saying, Hey, look, hes already shooting. Lets go in.

The new Statesman report comes as officials have refused requests for comments and denied records requests from numerous news organizations. It also comes as the public has been given conflicting information from official sources.

Texas Department of Public Safetys (DPS) Director Steven McCraw has said that the incident commander made the wrong decision when failing to enter the classroom sooner. T

The Justice Department launched an investigation into the incident response, but U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said last week that the federal inquiry is to assess what happened and we can make recommendations for the future not to bring forward criminal charges. Texas DPS is also conducting an investigation, as is the local district attorney.

A former prosecutor for Uvalde who previously worked with Uvalde police on cases told Rolling Stone last week that she believes the seemingly bungled police response is unsurprising.

It may be shocking to the rest of the world, but the ineptitude, its not shocking, criminal attorney Sara Spector told Rolling Stone, later adding, I think thats what the world needs to know: Its not safe for a lot of kids in rural Texas. Theyre just sitting ducks in these schoolhouses.
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In his monologue on Mondays broadcast of The Late Show, host Stephen Colbert addressed recent news that a field production team for his late-night program was detained at the Capitol while filming a comedy segment involving the foulmouthed puppet Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

How was your weekend? Colbert joked at the top of his opening monologue. I certainly had an interesting one, because some of my staff had a memorable one.

Triumph offered to go down to D.C. to interview some Congress people to highlight some January 6 hearings, Colbert continued. I said, Sure, if you can get anyone to agree to talk to you. Because, and please dont take this as an insult, youre a puppet.

On June 16, seven people working for The Late With Stephen Colbert were arrested due to an unauthorized location shoot in Congress. Among the seven people arrested was Robert Smigel, the writer and comedian behind the canine character of Triumph.

The Capitol Police released a statement about the incident, saying, The building was closed to visitors and these individuals were determined to be a part of a group that had been directed by the USCP to leave the building earlier in the day. They were charged with Unlawful Entry. This is an active criminal investigation, and may result in additional criminal charges after consultation with the U.S. Attorney.

After they finished their interviews, they were doing some last-minute puppetry and jokey make-em-ups in a hallway, when Triumph and my folks were approached and detained by the Capitol police  which actually isnt that surprising, Colbert continued, before alluding to the ongoing congressional hearings regarding the events of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection. The Capitol police are much more cautious than they were, say, 18 months ago, and for a very good reason. If you dont know what that reason is, I know what news network you watch.

Colbert continued by affirming that things were resolved as professionally as possible, while acknowledging that the experience was not pleasant for his staff. The late-night host also dismissed comparisons between his production teams detainment and the arrest of individuals during the insurrection.

Drawing any equivalence between rioters storming our Capitol to prevent the counting of electoral ballots and a cigar-chomping toy dog is a shameful and grotesque insult to the memory of everyone who died, Colbert said.

CBS had previously offered a statement on the incident, explaining that the interviews conducted were authorized and pre-arranged through Congressional aides of the members interviewed.

As hearings surrounding the Jan. 6 riot on the Capitol remain underway, the incident came at a time of heightened security and tension within the halls of Congress.

Mondays broadcast of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert featured senator Cory Booker as a guest, as well as a music performance by the Lumineers.

Watch Colberts monologue below:

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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP)  The European Union says Ethiopias government must reconnect its northern Tigray region to the world as a yearlong partial blockade has left food aid for almost 1 million hungry people stuck in warehouses without the fuel to deliver it.

Janez Lenarcic, the EU commissioner for crisis management, told reporters on Tuesday that the recent increase in aid convoys arriving in Tigray was a positive development but added that more needs to be done before the EU normalizes relations with Africas second-most populous country with 115 million people.

I do not see the rationale for keeping the blockade of banking services, electricity and telecommunications in place, Lenarcic said, adding that the partial blockade of the Tigray region is hampering humanitarian efforts while 5.2 million people need aid after 19 months of conflict.

Tigray has been mostly cut off from the rest of Ethiopia after Tigray forces re-captured the regional capital a year ago and federal forces withdrew. A truce declared by the government in March has led to a significant increase in aid reaching Tigray by road after months of deprivation.

Lenarcic called on Ethiopias government to lift restrictions on fuel and cash entering Tigray and said monitoring mechanisms could be put in place to allay government fears that Tigray forces might divert fuel for military purposes.

The United Nations this month said enough food to feed 950,000 people is currently stuck in warehouses in the regional capital, Mekele, because there is not enough fuel to distribute it within Tigray after several fuel tankers were refused access to the region.

We have a situation where the warehouses are full, but the aid cannot get out into the countryside where needs are highest, Lenarcic said, and noted that many people in Tigray depend entirely on such aid because they cannot access money in their bank accounts.

Last year, amid reports of human rights abuses in the conflict, the EU suspended budgetary support for Ethiopia worth 88 million euros ($107 million).

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed this month announced the formation of a committee to handle negotiations with the Tigray forces, who were declared a terrorist group by the government last year.

I do believe it should be possible for both sides to come to an agreement soon, Lenarcic said. It is urgent this happens.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russian attacks laid down a curtain of fire Tuesday across areas of eastern Ukraine where pockets of resistance are denying Moscow full military control of the region, almost four months after the Kremlin unleashed its invasion.

Today everything that can burn is on fire, Serhiy Haidai, the governor of Ukraines eastern Luhansk region, told The Associated Press.

Russia's war has caused alarm over food supplies from Ukraine to the rest of the world and gas supplies from Russia, as well as raising questions about security in Western Europe.

The Russian military currently controls about 95% of the Luhansk region. But Moscow has struggled for weeks to overrun it completely, despite deploying additional troops and possessing a massive advantage in military assets.

With the help of tactical movements, the Ukrainian army is strengthening defenses in the Luhansk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. That really is where the toughest situation is now.

In the city of Sievierodonetsk, the hot spot of the fighting, Ukrainian defenders held on to the Azot chemical plant in the industrial outskirts. About 500 civilians are sheltering at the plant, and Haidai said the Russian forces are turning the area into ruins.

It is a sheer catastrophe, Haidai told the AP in written comments about the plant. Our positions are being fired at from howitzers, multiple rocket launchers, large-caliber artillery, missile strikes.

The defense of the chemical plant recalled the besieged Azovstal steel mill in the brutalized city of Mariupol, where Ukrainian troops were pinned down for weeks.

Neighboring Lysychansk, the only city in the Luhansk region that is still fully under Ukrainian control, also was targeted by multiple airstrikes.

The airstrikes on Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk ruined more than 10 residential buildings and a police station. In the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, a school burned down as the result of the shelling, the presidents office said. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions make up the Donbas.

Separately, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland met for about an hour at a Ukrainian-Polish border post with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. They discussed how the U.S. can help identify, apprehend and prosecute anyone involved in war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

We and our partners will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable, Garland said in a statement.

Garland also tapped Eli Rosenbaum  a 36-year Justice Department veteran who headed efforts to identify and deport Nazi war criminals  as counselor for war crimes accountability. He will coordinate efforts to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, also came under heavy Russian shelling on Tuesday. Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said 15 civilians were killed and 16 wounded in Kharkiv and elsewhere in the region.

Zelenskyy said the attacks in the Kharkiv region were especially cruel and cynical because they brought no clear benefit to the Russian forces. The Russian army is deaf to any rationality. It simply destroys, simply kills, and in this way it shows its command that it is not really standing in place," he said in his video address.

Speaking Tuesday to graduates of Russian military academies at a lavish Kremlin reception, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the Russian armed forces as heirs to the countrys legendary military traditions. The country is now going through another series of trials, he said, expressing confidence that Russia will overcome all the challenges.

There is no doubt that we will become even stronger, he added.

International support for Ukraine was demonstrated once more when a Nobel Peace Prize medal auctioned off by Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov sold Monday night for $103.5 million, shattering the old record for a Nobel. The auction aimed to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees.

Geopolitical tensions stemming from Russias invasion returned to Lithuania. Due to European Union sanctions on Moscow, the Baltic country earlier this month banned rail traffic from crossing its territory from Russia to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Kaliningrad, with a population of around 430,000 people, is wedged between Lithuania and Poland, both EU countries, and is isolated from the rest of Russia.

Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of the Kremlins Security Council and a hard-liner, visited Kaliningrad on Tuesday and vowed to respond to the ban.

The relevant measures are being drawn up in an interagency format and will be adopted shortly, Patrushev said, without elaborating. He added: Their consequences will have a significant negative impact on the population of Lithuania.

In other developments Tuesday:

 Zelenskyy said he spoke with leaders from nine European Union members  Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain  in anticipation of Fridays meeting of EU leaders to decide whether to grant Ukraine candidate status. He said his agenda for Wednesday is just as full. We are expanding the circle of those who support Ukraines candidacy and making it more likely that Fridays decision will be positive, he said.

 John Kirby, a national security spokesman for the White House, said it was appalling that the Kremlin suggested two Americans captured by Russian forces in Ukraine could be sentenced to death. Kirby declined to say what steps the U.S. would take if Russia does not treat Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh, both from Alabama, as prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it depends on the investigation, when asked during an NBC interview whether the Americans could be sentenced to death like two Britons and a Moroccan captured while fighting for Ukraine.

 The U.S. State Department confirmed the death of a U.S. citizen in Ukraine who is believed to be only the second American to have been killed while fighting in the conflict.

 Britains Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence report that Ukraines coastal defenses have largely neutralized Russias ability to project maritime force in the northwestern Black Sea. This has undermined the viability of Russias original operational design for the invasion, which involved holding the Odesa region at risk from the sea, the report said.

 Russian authorities blocked the website of British newspaper The Telegraph over an article it published, the internet rights group Roskomsvoboda reported Tuesday. It said Russias media and internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, blocked Russian access to a story that alleged that Russian forces had prepared a mobile crematorium for use in its war with Ukraine, possibly to hide its military casualties. The move made the entire Telegraph website inaccessible for some Russians.

___

Karmanau reported from Lviv. Francesca Ebel contributed from the Krakovets border crossing in Ukraine.

___

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  A top Alaska elections official said Tuesday that the fifth-place finisher in the special primary for Alaska's U.S. House seat will not advance to an August special election following the withdrawal of independent Al Gross, who was in third place.

Gail Fenumiai, director of the Division of Elections, said that's because the withdrawal occurred less than 64 days before the scheduled Aug. 16 special election. In a letter to an attorney for Republican Nick Begich's campaign, she pointed to a provision of law laying out the timeline.

Fenumiai said Gross withdrew on Tuesday and that the division would remove his name from the special election ballot. She said an upcoming Sunday withdrawal deadline for the special election was to give candidates a chance to remove their names from the ballot after the Division certifies the election but before it begins printing ballots.

She said anyone who disagrees with the decisions outlined by the division should file suit immediately, citing the timeline to print ballots to meet deadlines and keep the special election on track.

Elections officials said they completed their final ballot counts on Tuesday. Officials are aiming to certify the special primary by Saturday.

Gross, an orthopedic surgeon, was in third place in the June 11 special primary, behind two Republicans  former Gov. Sarah Palin and Begich, a businessman  and ahead of Democrat Mary Peltola, a former state lawmaker.

Gross was positioned to advance to the August special election as one of the top four vote-getters under a new open primary system. But on Monday evening, he suddenly announced plans to end his campaign.

"Trust that I am making the right decision," Gross said in a statement to supporters Tuesday.

He said he and his wife have decided it is just too hard to run as a nonpartisan candidate in this race. I still believe that when people with differing opinions listen to each other and work together, problems get solved. Maybe we can reach that place sometime in the future. I hope we do.

The candidate in fifth place is Republican Tara Sweeney, who was an assistant secretary for Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior during the Trump administration.

Her campaign on social media said Sweeney is currently visiting an area of the state inaccessible by phone or email. When she returns, well make a campaign update. Thank you for your patience and support!

Sweeney's campaign manager did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the ballot decision outlined by Fenumiai.

This was the first election under a system approved by voters that ends party primaries and institutes ranked choice voting for general elections. A whopping 48 candidates ran in the special primary.

Gross had given no public indication that a shakeup was coming.

On social media Friday, Gross said he was thrilled to earn the endorsement of an electrical workers union.

Working men and women can trust that they can always count on me to fight for them and stand up to powerful corporate and special interests on their behalf, he said in a fundraising appeal that also featured the words Stop Sarah Palin!

Chip in today to help us bring independent leadership to Alaska, the post says.

On Monday, his campaign posted a photo of him at a brewery, with a description stating that he and his wife had enjoyed a beer there over the weekend.

But Monday evening, his campaign released a statement saying he would withdraw from the special and regular elections for the seat left vacant by the death in March of Republican Rep. Don Young. Young had held the seat for 49 years.

Palin, Begich, Peltola and Sweeney are among the candidates who have filed to run in the regular primary.

Gross, who sought to cast Palin as a quitter for resigning partway through her term as governor in 2009, did not make himself available to reporters after announcing plans to drop his campaign.

His campaign did not respond to emails seeking comment Tuesday. A woman who answered the door at the Gross home in Anchorage told a reporter who asked to speak to Al Gross that they were not taking any press and asked the reporter to leave the property.

Gross, in the statement Monday, said there are two outstanding Alaska Native women in this race who would both serve our state well, and I encourage my supporters to stay engaged and consider giving their first-place vote to whichever of them best matches their own values."

The campaign confirmed he was speaking about Peltola and Sweeney.

The August special election will feature ranked choice voting and determine who will serve the remainder of Youngs term. The August regular primary and November general election will determine who will serve a new two-year term starting in January.

Gross ran for U.S. Senate in 2020 with the endorsement of state Democrats.

But during the House race, he got crosswise with some Democrats when in a newspaper interview he did not commit to caucusing with Democrats if elected. He later said he would.

___

Associated Press reporter Mark Thiessen contributed from Anchorage.
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PIERRE, S.D. (AP)  The South Dakota Senate on Tuesday convicted Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg of two impeachment charges stemming from a 2020 fatal crash, removing and barring him from future office in a stinging rebuke that showed most senators didnt believe his account of the crash.

Ravnsborg, a first-term Republican who only recently announced he wouldn't seek reelection, showed little emotion as senators convicted him first of committing a crime that caused someone's death. They then delivered another guilty verdict on a malfeasance charge that alleged he misled investigators and misused his office.

Ravnsborg told a 911 dispatcher the night of the crash that he might have struck a deer or other large animal and has said he didnt know he struck a man  55-year-old Joseph Boever  until he returned to the scene the next morning. Criminal investigators said they didnt believe some of Ravnsborgs statements, and several senators made clear they didn't either.

There's no question that was a lie, said Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, the chamber's top-ranking Republican. This person ran down an innocent South Dakotan.

Schoenbeck also criticized Ravnsborg for declining to testify in his own defense, saying Ravnsborg should have shared what the hell he was doing the night of the crash.

There's a mic right there, and that's a damn short walk," Schoenbeck said.

The convictions required a two-thirds majority in the Senate, controlled 32-3 by Republicans. Senators mustered the bare minimum 24 votes to convict Ravnsborg on the first charge, with some senators saying the two misdemeanors he pleaded guilty to weren't serious enough crimes to warrant impeachment. The malfeasance charge  Ravnsborg also asked investigators what data could be found on his cellphone, among other things  sailed through with 31 votes.

Votes to bar Ravnsborg from future office, taken on both counts, were unanimous.

Ravnsborgs face showed little emotion throughout the votes, holding his hand over his mouth as he had for much of the trial, then writing on a notepad in his lap. He did not answer questions from reporters as he exited the Capitol.

Ravnsborg in September agreed to an undisclosed settlement with Boevers widow.

Nick Nemec, Boevers cousin who has been a constant advocate for a severe punishment for Ravnsborg, said the votes were vindication.

Its just a relief. Its been nearly two years that this has drug on and it just feels like a weight off my shoulders, he said.

Ravnsborg is the first official to be impeached and convicted in South Dakota history.

Gov. Kristi Noem, who will pick Ravnsborg's replacement until the candidate elected to replace him in November is sworn in, called for her fellow Republican to resign soon after the crash and later pressed lawmakers to pursue impeachment. As the saga dragged on, Noem publicly endorsed Ravnsborgs predecessor, Republican Marty Jackley, for election as his replacement.

The governor celebrated the impeachment conviction on Twitter, saying it had lifted the dark cloud over the Attorney General's office.

It is now time to move on and begin to restore confidence in the office, she said, but gave no indication as to who she will pick for the interim position.

Ravnsborg has argued that the governor, who has positioned herself for a possible 2024 White House bid, pushed for his removal in part because he had investigated ethics complaints against Noem.

As the impeachment trial opened Tuesday, prosecutors drove at a question that has hung over developments since the September 2020 collision: Did Ravnsborg know he killed a man the night of the crash?

He absolutely saw the man that he struck in the moments after, said Alexis Tracy, the Clay County states attorney who led the prosecution.

Prosecutors also told senators that Ravnsborg had used his title to set the tone and gain influence in the aftermath of the crash, even as he allegedly made misstatements and outright lies to the crash investigators. The prosecution played a montage of audio clips of Ravnsborg referring to himself as the attorney general.

Prosecuting attorneys probed Ravnsborg's alleged misstatements during the aftermath of the crash, including that he never drove excessively over the speed limit, that he had reached out to Boevers family to offer his condolence, and that he had not been browsing his phone during his drive home.

The prosecution played a series of video clips during their closing arguments that showed Ravnsborg's shifting account of his phone use during interviews with criminal investigators. The attorney general at first outright denied he had been using his phone while driving, but then acknowledged he had been looking at his phone minutes before the crash. When it was time for senators to speak, several noted an accident reconstruction that found Ravnsborg's car had veered entirely out of its lane, in contrast to his initial statement that he was in the middle of the road at the time of impact.

Ravnsborg resolved the criminal case last year by pleading no contest to a pair of traffic misdemeanors, including making an illegal lane change and using a phone while driving, and was fined by a judge.

The attorney generals defense asked senators to consider the implications of impeachment on the function of state government. Ross Garber, a legal analyst and law professor at Tulane University who specializes in impeachment proceedings, told senators to impeach would be undoing the will of the voters.

Ravnsborg was driving home from a political fundraiser after dark on Sept. 12, 2020, on a state highway in central South Dakota when his car struck something, according to a transcript of his 911 call afterward. He told the dispatcher it might have been a deer or other animal.

Investigators identified what they thought were slips in Ravnsborgs statements, such as when he said he turned around at the accident scene and saw him before quickly correcting himself and saying: I didnt see him. And they contended that Boevers face had come through Ravnsborgs windshield because his glasses were found in the car.

Weve heard better lies from 5-year-olds, Pennington County State's Attorney Mark Vargo, acting as an impeachment prosecutor, said of Ravnsborg's statement.

Investigators had determined the attorney general walked right past Boevers body and the flashlight Boever had been carrying  still illuminated the next morning  as he looked around the scene the night of the crash.

Ravnsborg said neither he nor the county sheriff who came to the scene knew that Boever's body was lying just feet from the pavement on the highway shoulder.

There isnt any way you can go by without seeing that, Arnie Rummel, an agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation who led the criminal probe, said in testimony Tuesday.

Prosecutors also raised an exchange that Ravnsborg had with one of his staff members three days following the crash, after he had submitted his phones to crash investigators. Ravnsborg questioned an agent in the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation about what would turn up during forensic exams of his cellphones, even though the agency was supposed to have no part in the investigation to avoid conflicts of interest.

We were not supposed to be involved, the now-retired agent, Brent Gromer, said as he described why the exchange made him uncomfortable.

Ravnsborg's defense attorney contended that the attorney general had done nothing nefarious. His defense attorney, Mike Butler, described any discrepancies in Ravnsborg's memory of that night as owing to human error, and disparaged testimony from Rummel, the crash investigator, as opinion that would not hold up in a court of law.

During closing arguments, Butler stated that the criminal prosecution found no criminal culpability for Boever's death and urged senators to refrain from rehashing that case.

No amount of fire and brimstone changes that given fact, he said.

Sen. Arthur Rusch, a retired judge who said he had gotten to know Ravnsborg when he was a young attorney practicing in Ruschs court, was among senators who didnt support impeachment on the first charge, but did on the second. He said he was bothered by Ravnsborgs actions in questioning Division of Criminal Investigation agents on aspects of the case and for issuing a press release on attorney general stationery.
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  A U.S. Navy warship fired a warning flare to wave off an Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboat coming straight at it during a tense encounter in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, officials said Tuesday.

The incident on Monday involving the Guard and the Navy comes as tensions remain high over stalled negotiations over Iran's tattered nuclear deal with world powers and as Tehran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels under decreasing international oversight.

Meanwhile, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said Iran now plans to enrich uranium through a second set of advanced centrifuges at its underground Fordo facility amid the standoff.

The Cyclone-class patrol ship USS Sirocco and Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport USNS Choctaw County found themselves in the close encounter with three Iranian fast boats while coming through the Strait of Hormuz to enter the Persian Gulf, the Navy said.

In a video released by the Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, a high-speed Guard Boghammar is seen turning head-on toward the Sirocco. The Sirocco repeatedly blows its horn at the Boghammar, which turns away as it closes in. The flare shot can be heard, but not seen, as the Boghammar passes the Sirocco with the Iranian flag flying above it.

The Navy said the Boghammar came within 50 yards (45 meters) of the Sirocco, raising the risk of the vessels running into each other. The overall encounter lasted about an hour, the Navy said.

The Guard's "actions did not meet international standards of professional or safe maritime behavior, increasing the risk of miscalculation and collision," the Navy said.

Iran did not immediately acknowledge the incident in the strategic waterway  a fifth of all traded oil passes through the strait.

The Navy separately told The Associated Press that this marked the second so-called unsafe and unprofessional incident it had with Iran in recent months.

On March 4, three Guard ships had a tense encounter for over two hours with Navy and U.S. Coast Guard vessels as they traveled out of the Persian Gulf through the strait, the Navy said. In that incident, the Guard's catamaran Shahid Nazeri came within 25 yards (22 meters) of the USCGC Robert Goldman, the Navy said.

The two U.S. Coast Guard cutters issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio and deployed warning flares, the Navy said.

The Navy did not elaborate on why it did not announce the previous incident, particularly since a larger vessel came even closer to an American warship. However, that was just as a deal in Vienna between Iran and world powers on restoring the nuclear deal looked possible, before the talks broke down.

Iran and world powers agreed in 2015 to the nuclear deal, which saw Tehran drastically limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. In 2018, then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord, raising tensions across the wider Middle East and sparking a series of attacks and incidents.

Talks in Vienna about reviving the deal have been on a pause since March. Since the deals collapse, Iran has been running advanced centrifuges and rapidly growing stockpile of enriched uranium. Earlier this month as well, Iran removed 27 surveillance cameras of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency. The agency's head warned it could deal a fatal blow to the nuclear deal.

On Tuesday, the IAEA said its inspectors verified Iran was preparing to enrich uranium through a new cascade of 166 advanced IR-6 centrifuges at its underground Fordo facility. Already, Iran has one cascade of IR-6s operating at Fordo, near the holy Shiite city of Qom, some 90 kilometers (55 miles) southwest of Tehran. They enrich up to 20% purity.

The IAEA said Iran has not told it yet the level at which the second cascade will be enriching. Iran has yet to publicly acknowledge the new cascade.

The 2015 nuclear deal prohibited all enrichment at Fordo. Shielded by mountains, the facility is ringed by anti-aircraft guns and other fortifications. It is about the size of a football field, large enough to house 3,000 centrifuges, but small and hardened enough to lead U.S. officials to suspect it had a military purpose when they exposed the site publicly in 2009.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said America remained concerned that Iran continues to deploy advanced centrifuges well beyond the limits of whats prescribed in the" nuclear deal.

Its fissile material breakout time has been dramatically reduced from about a year to what can now be measured in weeks or even less. We are deeply concerned by the current state of Irans nuclear program, he said. "Its precisely why we want to see those strict limits that verification and monitoring regime re-imposed on Iran.

Amid the tensions, Israel is suspected of carrying out a series of attacks in and outside of Iran targeting the country, including the killing of the architect of its one-time military nuclear program with a remote-controlled machine gun.

On Tuesday, the state-run IRNA news agency quoted the prosecutor of Iran's southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province as alleging three people arrested in April there on suspicion of working with Israel's Mossad intelligence agency wanted to kill Iranian nuclear scientists.

It's unclear why the three would have been in Sistan and Baluchistan, which has no nuclear sites. The restive province that borders Afghanistan and Pakistan faces sporadic attacks from armed insurgent groups.

Meanwhile, a Guard brigadier general acknowledged that a fatal May explosion at a weapons development facility in Parchin, east of Tehran, came from industrial sabotage. Mohammadreza Hassani Ahangar, the head of the Guard's Imam Hossein University, said in comments quoted Monday night by a state TV affiliate that an unnamed enemy launched the sabotage that killed an engineer and wounded another worker amid the suspected Israeli assaults.

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Associated Press writers Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
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Mehmet T Nane, Vice-Chairperson of the Board (Managing Director) of Pegasus Airlines, has assumed his duties as Chair of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors.



Succeeding Robin Hayes at the 78th General Assembly of IATA held in Doha, Nane will serve until June 2023.



Mehmet T Nane said: Im honoured to take on this position at a time when the industry is emerging from our worst downturn, and to be the first Turkish Chair of IATA. A huge part of this honour is that it represents how far Turkish civil aviation has come.



The aviation industry has been going through one of the toughest tests in its history over the last few years and is being directly affected by different political and economic factors as well as the Covid-19 pandemic. This means that our already demanding industry now has even more challenges. Despite all the challenges, every one of the stakeholders in our industry are working with maximum effort. We all share great responsibilities for the sustainable growth of the aviation sector, Nane added.



Commenting on the current state of the aviation industry, Mehmet T Nane said: "As the aviation industry continues its post-pandemic recovery efforts, it is also taking solid and decisive steps in areas such as gender equality and sustainability. We all share great responsibilities for the sustainable growth of the aviation sector, which supports not only tourism but also many other sectors.



As IATA, in addition to maintaining momentum toward re-opening the world to travel and commerce we have a very full agenda over the next 12 months including supporting CORSIA at the upcoming ICAO Assembly, refining the pathway to Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050, and broadening participation in the 25by2025 gender diversity initiative, an initiative for IATA member airlines to improve female representation in the industry by 25% or up to a minimum of 25% by 2025. Together with all our members, we will work hard to realise our main objectives and propel our industry forward, he added.



Stating that the 78th IATA General Assembly has decided to hold the 79th IATA General Assembly and World Air Transport Summit in Istanbul, Turkiye, on June 4-6, 2023, Mehmet T Nane said: We will be delighted to welcome global aviation professionals in our beautiful country, hosted by Pegasus Airlines.  TradeArabia News Service
Two Americans fighting alongside Ukrainian forces north of Kharkiv have been missing and there are fears that they may have been captured by Russian forces, according to their families and a fellow fighter. CNN's Anderson Cooper speaks to families of the two missing Americans.
The Supreme Court said on June 21 that Maine cannot exclude religious schools from a tuition assistance program that allows parents to use vouchers to send their children to public or private schools.
A man accused of brutally attacking another man during a violent early morning street assault is likely to spend the next four months behind bars ahead of his expected trial in October.

Calum Meade (24), Apartment 3, Market Street, Granard, Co Longford was denied bail at a sitting of Longford District Court last week following an incident during the early hours of April 3, 2022.

State solicitor Mark Connellan said a book of evidence had been served on Mr Meade with the States application being to return the accused for trial on October 4, 2022.

Defence solicitor John Quinn, in formally applying for bail, handed in a handwritten letter from Mr Meade to the court.

Sgt Mark Mahon said the State would be objecting to bail on a number of grounds.

Detective Garda Brendan Lynn, in giving evidence, said the alleged incident took place shortly before 2am.

It would be the States case, he added, that the accused struck his alleged victim in excess of 20 times in the head.

That alleged incident resulted in the male victim requiring treatment in hospital for a fractured orbital bone among other injuries.

He said the States objection to bail was predicated on the possible interference of witnesses.

In defence, solicitor John Quinn said Mr Meades partner had come to court with 2,000 in cash with a view to lodging it with the court as part of his bail terms.

After rising to consider her verdict for a number of minutes, Judge Bernadette Owens said she was refusing bail and remanded Mr Meade in custody.

In doing so, she gave the accused the alibi warning, meaning that he intended to rely on the use of an alibi during the course of his trial, he had 14 days to notify Mr Connellans office of that defence.

He was remanded in custody to a sitting of Longford Circuit Criminal Court on October 4.

An application for a junior and senior counsel was likewise certified for.
PM Modi holds bilateral with Canadian PM Trudeau, after four years 28 Jun 2022 | 12:42 AM Munich/New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held fruitful bilateral talks with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau, a meeting taking place after over four years, and marking an uptick in relations that had turned cold. see more..

Use Indian agricultural talent to increase food production: PM Modi at G7 28 Jun 2022 | 12:26 AM Munich/New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday suggested that to tackle the subject of global food security, the G7 could cooperate with Indias effort to increase fertiliser production, create a system for the widespread use of Indian agricultural talent in the member nations and also help run a campaign to promote millets as a nutritious alternative. see more..

PM Modi, EU President discuss ways to deepen investment linkages, boost digital cooperation 27 Jun 2022 | 11:29 PM Munich/New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held bilateral talks with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the G7 during which the two sides discussed ways to deepen investment linkages, efforts to combat climate change, boost digital cooperation and food security. see more..

MCD employee held on graft charges 27 Jun 2022 | 11:23 PM New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested an employee of Municipal Corporation of Delhi posted at Najafgarh zone in an alleged bribery case. see more..
Gunsynd PLC - London-based investment company focused on the natural resources, life sciences & alcohol sector - Provides GBP1 million to battery metals mining investor Metals One PLC. Investment is for Metals One's Black Schist project close to the Talvivaara mine in Finland. Metals One's project is a nickel-zinc-copper-cobalt deposit.

Following the investment, Gunsynd gains 25% of voting rights in Finnaust Mining Northern Oy, which holds the Black Schist projects. Gunsynd also will receive warrants to subscribe for ordinary shares in Metals One valued at GBP75,000.

"The projects are located in the Kainuu Schist Belt of eastern Finland and contain existing inferred resources of 28.1 million tonnes of nickel-zinc-copper-cobalt. The deposit is analogous to the nearby Talvivaara nickel-zinc-copper-cobalt deposit, one of the largest nickel mines in Europe, which has a supply agreement with Renault SA," explains Gunsynd.

While the projects have an 18-month exploration programme ahead, Gunsynd Chair Hamish Harris sees "market dynamics pointing to a continued upward trend in the prices of battery metals."

Current stock price: 0.56 pence, unchanged on Tuesday

12-month change: down 64%

By Tom Budszus; tombudszus@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - easyJet PLC on Tuesday said it is buying 56 A320 neo family aircraft from Leiden, Netherlands-based aerospace firm Airbus SE.

The delivery is expected between easyJet's financial years 2026 and 2029. The Luton Airport-based firm said the purchase is boosted by 2013 agreement between itself and Airbus. This enables easyJet to "continue to benefit from the highly competitive pricing and the flexibility rights in this agreement," it explained.

"At 2018 average list prices for the Airbus aircraft (the latest year for which Airbus has published list prices for the relevant aircraft), the aggregate purchase price for the proposed purchase would be approximately USD6.5 billion. The aggregate actual price for the aircraft will be very substantially lower because of certain price concessions granted in connection with the 2013 Airbus agreement," easyJet explained.

Meanwhile, Airbus will convert 18 A320neo family aircraft to A321neo aircraft for easyJet. The main difference is seat capacity. A320neos generally have 186 seats while A321neos have a capacity of 235 seats. EasyJet expects the converted aircraft to be delivered between its financial years 2024 and 2027.

"The new aircraft will continue the modernisation of the easyJet fleet. The new aircraft will deliver between a 15% and 25% unit cost fuel efficiency improvement (depending on which aircraft they replace). This will significantly reduce easyJet's fuel costs and therefore improve our overall cost base," the firm said.

Tuesday's announcement by the budget airline came one day after it warned about rising costs and the need to lease additional aircraft, due to the recent disruption of flights at two of its biggest airports.

The low-cost carrier on Monday said it expects the extra costs this summer to be a one-off occurrence, with more system resilience built in time for the 2023 peak season.

easyJet shares were 0.4% higher at 445.30 pence each in London on Tuesday morning, while Airbus shares traded 1.6% higher at EUR98.57 each in Paris.

By Tom Budszus; tombudszus@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - easyJet PLC will be hit by strike action next month, with over 400 of its crew members in Spain calling for industrial action, a Spanish union said on Tuesday.

The USO union in Spain said 450 crew members at the El Prat, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca airports will strike for nine days in July.

easyJet and USO have been in talks since February over pay, though the duo are in "deadlock" now, the union said.

"The company has no interest in negotiating the improvement of the working conditions of the crew in Spain, so that we have the same working conditions as those who operate in other European bases such as France and Germany," USO said.

USO said easyJet crew members in Spain have a base salary of EUR950, EUR850 less than French and German counterparts.

"Our bases are in very expensive cities and with the base salary we barely cover the rent or the mortgage. Spain has the lowest base salary for its crew of all easyJet bases in Europe. If you fly many hours, you pay the bills, but at the cost of reducing rest time and flying more hours," the union added.

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - Miner and commodities trader Glencore PLC has pleaded guilty to seven bribery offences.

Clare Montgomery QC, appearing for Glencore Energy UK Ltd, admitted five counts of bribery and two of a failure of a commercial organisation to prevent bribery on behalf of the company at a hearing at London's Southwark Crown Court.

The UK Serious Fraud Office has said the charges came after it launched an investigation which found that Glencore had, via its employees and agents, paid bribes of more than USD28 million for preferential access to oil, including increased cargoes, valuable grades of oil and preferable dates of delivery.

The SFO said the offences were an attempt to secure access to oil and generate illicit profit.

The court heard that these actions were approved by the company across its oil operations in Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan.

The bribery charges date from March 2012 to April 2016.

The bribery charges state that Glencore "gave a financial advantage" worth millions of dollars with the intention it would "induce officials" from different companies.

The aim was for the officials to "perform their functions improperly, or reward them for so doing, by unduly favouring Glencore Energy UK Ltd in the allocation of crude oil cargoes, the dates crude oil would be lifted and the grades of crude oil allocated".

The five bribery charges include a statement that Glencore paid out USD4.6 million to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp.

Glencore also tried to improve its position by paying USD2.0 million to induce officials of Ontario Trading SA Ltd.

Another USD335,920 payment was made to officials of Nigerian National Petroleum so that their work would result in "unduly favouring" Petroleos De Geneve SA Ltd in the allocation of crude oil cargoes, the dates crude oil would be lifted and the grades of crude oil allocated.

The court heard that Glencore gave EUR10.5 million to officials of Societe Nationale des Hydrocarbures and the Societe Nationale de Raffinage to help it with its oil transactions in Cameroon.

Glencore gave EUR4.7 million to induce officials of Societe Nationale d'Operations Petrolieres de la Cote D'Ivoire, Petroci Holding and Societe Ivoirienne de Raffinage in an effort to help with its oil transactions in Ivory Coast.

Glencore admitted two counts of having failed to prevent people associated with the company from bribing officials concerned in the award of crude oil cargoes between July and December 2011.

The first failure-to-prevent count, which relates to its practices in Equatorial Guinea, states the "bribery was intended to obtain or retain business or an advantage in the conduct of business for Glencore Energy UK Ltd".

Glencore also made a guilty plea with regard to a similar charge about its operations in South Sudan.

Glencore is to be sentenced in a two-day hearing at the same court starting on November 2.

By Helen William, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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Lycoming Colleges Detwiler Planetarium recently welcomed third grade students from Donald E. Schick Elementary School for their end-of-the-year educational field trip. Led by Lycoming Colleges Planetarium director, Lauren Balliet, the class learned how to navigate the night sky, phases of the moon, planets that can be seen in the early morning sky, and the scale of the solar system and universe.

Having the opportunity to educate younger members in the greater Williamsport community is a rewarding experience, said Balliet. Many times, it is their first visit to a planetarium, and they fill the dome with bursts of joyful exuberance during the show.

Nearly 130 students visited the planetarium. In addition to a planetarium show, the field trip consisted of a hands-on activity, a Pocket Solar System, led by the Society of Physics Students president Amber Elinsky 23. Each student was given a long piece of receipt paper for them to draw the solar system on as Elinsky discussed each planet and celestial object. The kids loved it, said Elinsky. I was peppered with questions about the various planets and how we study them.

Many students shared their exciting thoughts about their visit to the planetarium. Read what some of the students had to say:

I liked the dome because it felt like I was on a spaceship. It felt like the moon and sun were getting closer.  Arabella

I think it was amazing. Ive never seen a constellation in my life. Then they showed me tons of constellations and planets. I loved it!  Nathan

It was so fun because I loved looking at the ceiling and to look at the planets. It is really worth it, you will have a blast.  Drew

The planetarium is amazing. I recommend going. It is clean fun and the pictures are amazing.  Nora

Drawn to scale, the activity gives students an understanding of the immensity of the solar system. Balliets plan and inspiration for the activity came from Emily Wilson, a recently hired professor, who originally performed a similar activity during her mock lecture at the College.

My hope for them after their visit is that they stay curious to the many answered, and unanswered, questions about our universe, Balliet said. I truly enjoy answering all their inquisitive questions.

In addition to serving faculty and students, Detwiler Planetarium is available to the greater Williamsport community as an aid in astronomical studies in the classroom and for multimedia presentations. More information on the planetarium can be found here: https://www.lycoming.edu/astronomy/detwiler-planetarium.aspx.
On Saturday, Spain's foreign affairs ministry was informed of the death in Ukraine of Angel Adrover Martinez, a 31-year-old from Portocolom. The ministry is investigating the circumstances and is in close contact with the Spanish Embassy in Kyiv and with the Ukrainian government. It is not known how long it will be before his body can be repatriated.

The Spanish government had not known that Angel was in Ukraine. According to relatives, he lacked military training and was trained to fight once in Ukraine. He had originally gone to the country in March to carry out humanitarian work and to assist with telecommunications; he was a graduate in telecommunications engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.

He enlisted with the Ukraine military at some point after arriving in the country. His mother, Dolores Martinez, says that "he didn't tell me why he was going to Ukraine, because he knew I would be angry".

A Ukrainian Army colonel has been in contact with Dolores via Whatsapp. He explains that Angel worked for a short time with his telecommunications team in Lviv, but later decided that he had to help out on the front line. "He was a very honest person, extremely intelligent and with very clear principles. He was a brave person. I admire his courage."

After graduating, he remained in Barcelona for some eighteen months before returning to Mallorca to work as a computer scientist at Son Espases Hospital. Around two years ago, he moved to the Netherlands, his last place of residence before going to Ukraine.
Spain-based easyJet's cabin staff will go on strike nine days in July, local USO union said this morning.

The workers will walk out July 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 17, 29, 30 and 31 to protest against low wages, Miguel Galan, the general secretary of USO's easyJet section, told reporters today.

The airline' flight attendants in Spain are demanding a 40% increase in their basic salaries, he said.

The basic salary, which excludes bonuses and extra pay, stands at 950 euros ($1,005) for easyJet's Spanish staff, which is much lower than in countries such as France and Germany, Galan said.

"The company underestimated the outlook, was more pessimistic and conservative and is not ready for the demand this generates a domino effect on us," Galan said.

Still, the union, which says it represents 80% of the 450 staff based in Spain, still hopes an agreement can be reached to avoid the strike during a meeting with management on Tuesday, Galan said.

Pent-up travel demand after two years of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic is stretching airlines and airport operators, causing staff shortages and long queues in terminals all over Europe.

Rising consumer prices and tough working conditions are pushing staff at many airlines in the region to protest and walk out.

Cabin staff at easyJet's larger rival Ryanair plan to go on strike this month and in July in Spain and several other countries.
Members of the Manistee Veterans Council announced that they will be unable to hold the dedication ceremony for the renovated Veterans Memorial at the corner of First and Maple streets over the Manistee National Forest Festival. The delay is due to a delay with the plaques which will not be shipped until mid-July. It is hoped that a dedication will take place in August.

40 YEARS AGO

Welcoming summer

Summer, which officially begins today, was welcomed this past weekend by music lovers attending the fifth annual Spirit of the Woods music festival at the Onekama Fairgrounds. Saturday previewed things to come with blue sky and sunshine performing overhead.

Jaycette officers

The newly elected Manistee Jaycette officers are: Julia Foltz, president; Lena Becker, director; Pat Sagala, director; Elaine Brooks, treasurer; Liz Yaeger, director; Candace Bureau; vice president and Jusi Riemersma, past president.

60 YEARS AGO

Cited for safety

For the seventh straight year, the city of Manistee has been awarded the Pedestrian Safety Citation. Mayor Ray Wissner has been informed of the award by the Board of Judges of the Automobile Club of Michigan for the 1961 AAA National Pedestrian Program Appraisal. Twenty-two Michigan cities will receive this special award.

Now playing

Now playing at the Vogue Theatre is Last of the Vikings showing at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightly. Showing at the Chippewa Drive-In is The George Raft Story followed by Spy in the Sky.
Moscow, June 21 (UNI/Sputnik) Since March 2, Russia has delivered over 34,000 tonnes of humanitarian cargoes to Ukraine, head of the Russian National Defense Control Center, Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev, who also leads Russia's humanitarian response coordination headquarters, said.

"Starting from March 2, 2022, the Russian Federation has already delivered 34,004.2 tonnes of essentials, food, medicines and medical supplies to Ukraine," Col. Gen. Mizintsev said at a briefing.

Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24 in response to calls by the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics for protection from Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the goal of the operation, which targets Ukrainian military infrastructure, is to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, and to completely liberate Donbas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the operation aims to "protect people subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." As of March 25, the Russian Armed Forces completed the main tasks of the first stage, significantly reducing the combat potential of Ukraine. Western nations have imposed numerous sanctions on Russia and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine.

UNI/SPUTNIK GNK
New Delhi, June 20 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and inquired about the flood situation in the state.

"Home Minister Amit Shah ji called twice since morning to inquire about the flood situation in Assam," Sarma said in a tweet.

The CM said the Home Minister informed that a team of officials from his Ministry shall soon be sent to Assam to assess the damages caused by the natural calamity.

Sarma expressed his gratitude to the Home Minister for his help.

Shah also spoke to his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad K Sangma and took stock of the situation in the state which also is battling insistent rainfall and floods.

Meanwhile, the Home Minister in a series of tweets wrote, "Spoke to Assam Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangam to discuss the situation in parts of both states in the wake of heavy rainfall and flooding. Modi government stands firmly with the people of Assam and Meghalaya in this hour of need."

"An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) will visit the flood-affected areas of Assam and Meghalaya to assess the damages. After the earlier spell of floods, an IMCT visited the affected areas of Assam from 26 May to 29 May, 2022", he wrote.

The flood situation in Assam worsened further with the fury claiming nine more lives on Sunday, including three children, taking the overall toll to 71.

Floods triggered by incessant rain continued to ravage Assam and around 5,137 villages are under flood waters.

Barpeta is the worst-hit district with over 12.76 lakh people affected, followed by Darrang with nearly 3.94 lakh people affected and Nagaon with more than 3.64

lakh people hit by the deluge.

The 33 affected districts are Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Dima-Hasao, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Hojai, Jorhat, Kamrup, Kamrup (M), Karbi Anglong West, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, South Salmara, Tamulpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri.

UNI DS RKM
The new Disney Cruise Line ship Disney Wish arrives in Port Canaveral, Fla., on Monday.
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"Our polymer surfaces offer a new way of separating proteins by using electrical signals to control how they are bound to and released from a surface, while not affecting the structure of the protein," said lead author Gustav Ferrand-Drake del Castillo.As per some experts, around 50 percent of people fail to take the medications they are prescribed correctly - risking their health because they are unwilling or unable to follow the dosage schedule, Daily Mail reported.Researchers say"You can imagine a doctor, or a computer programme, measuring the need for a new dose of medicine in a patient, and a remote-controlled signal activating the release of the drug from the implant located in the very tissue or organ where it's needed," del Castillo said.The implant only requires a small amount of power, as the polymer on the surface of the electrode is very thin, so it can react to a tiny electrochemical pulse.The researchers also noted that the material can cope with changes in acidity, such as those found in the digestive system, if it were used there."Being able to control the release and uptake of proteins in the body, with minimal surgical interventions and injections is a unique and useful property," del Castillo said.Source: IANS
LONDON (AP)  Extravagantly feathered, gravity-defying, or just plain wacky: There are hats, and then there are Royal Ascot hats.

Every June, Britains royals, aristocrats and thousands of stylish guests don their finest headgear for Royal Ascot, a glamorous annual horse racing event that dates back to 1711, when Queen Anne founded Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, southern England.

The weeklong bonanza is Britains most popular race meeting, with some 300,000 visitors attending over five days. Its the place to see and be seen, and photographers are spoilt for choice each year with a parade of show-stopping hats and frocks for the women and formal top hats and tails for the men.

Queen Elizabeth II, an avid horse lover and owner and breeder of many horses, did not attend the event this year  reportedly the first time the 96-year-old monarch has missed Ascot in 70 years. Instead, Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate and other royals took their places in the traditional carriage procession.

This years Ascot coincided with a mini heatwave that bathed Britain and parts of Europe in blistering sunshine, with temperatures hitting almost 33 degrees Celsius on Friday, the hottest day of the year so far in the U.K. The horses got cooling fans and buckets of ice water poured over them, while the guests were told Ascots famously strict dress code was relaxed for heat safety.

Men were allowed to remove their jackets, ties and top hats  but only in the afternoon, once the traditional carriage procession by members of the royal family had ended.

The long days of sun, betting and flowing alcohol proved too much for some guests, who were pictured kicking off their stilettos and lying on the lawn, next to empty jugs of Pimms and Champagne bottles.
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BANGKOK (AP)  The worlds largest recorded freshwater fish, a giant stingray, has been caught in the Mekong River in Cambodia, according to scientists from the Southeast Asian nation and the United States.

The stingray, captured on June 13, measured almost 4 meters (13 feet) from snout to tail and weighed slightly under 300 kilograms (660 pounds), according to a statement Monday by Wonders of the Mekong, a joint Cambodian-U.S. research project.

The previous record for a freshwater fish was a 293-kilogram (646-pound) Mekong giant catfish, discovered in Thailand in 2005, the group said.

The stingray was snagged by a local fisherman south of Stung Treng in northeastern Cambodia. The fisherman alerted a nearby team of scientists from the Wonders of the Mekong project, which has publicized its conservation work in communities along the river.

The scientists arrived within hours of getting a post-midnight call with the news, and were amazed at what they saw.

Yeah, when you see a fish this size, especially in freshwater, it is hard to comprehend, so I think all of our team was stunned, Wonders of the Mekong leader Zeb Hogan said in an online interview from the University of Nevada in Reno. The university is partnering with the Cambodian Fisheries Administration and USAID, the U.S. governments international development agency.

Freshwater fish are defined as those that spend their entire lives in freshwater, as opposed to giant marine species such as bluefin tuna and marlin, or fish that migrate between fresh and saltwater like the huge beluga sturgeon.

The stingray's catch was not just about setting a new record, he said.

The fact that the fish can still get this big is a hopeful sign for the Mekong River,  Hogan said, noting that the waterway faces many environmental challenges.

The Mekong River runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is home to several species of giant freshwater fish but environmental pressures are rising. In particular, scientists fear a major program of dam building in recent years may be seriously disrupting spawning grounds.

Big fish globally are endangered. Theyre high-value species. They take a long time to mature. So if theyre fished before they mature, they dont have a chance to reproduce, Hogan said. A lot of these big fish are migratory, so they need large areas to survive. Theyre impacted by things like habitat fragmentation from dams, obviously impacted by overfishing. So about 70% of giant freshwater fish globally are threatened with extinction, and all of the Mekong species.

The team that rushed to the site inserted a tagging device near the tail of the mighty fish before releasing it. The device will send tracking information for the next year, providing unprecedented data on giant stingray behavior in Cambodia.

The giant stingray is a very poorly understood fish. Its name, even its scientific name, has changed several times in the last 20 years, Hogan said. Its found throughout Southeast Asia, but we have almost no information about it. We dont know about its life history. We dont know about its ecology, about its migration patters.

Researchers say its the fourth giant stingray reported in the same area in the past two months, all of them females. They think this may be a spawning hotspot for the species.

Local residents nicknamed the stingray "Boramy, or full moon, because of its round shape and because the moon was on the horizon when it was freed on June 14. In addition to the honor of having caught the record-breaker, the lucky fisherman was compensated at market rate, meaning he received a payment of around $600.
NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Kellogg Company announced Tuesday they are breaking up into Global Snacking Co., North American Cereal Co., and Plant Co. The latter two will remain in Battle Creek, Michigan, where the Kellogg began in 1906. Global Snacking Co. will be headquartered in Chicago.

"These businesses all have significant standalone potential, and an enhanced focus will enable them to better direct their resources toward their distinct strategic priorities," Steve Cahillane, Kellogg's chairman and CEO, said. "In turn, each business is expected to create more value for all stakeholders, and each is well-positioned to build a new era of innovation and growth."
File photo

A 34-year-old Lee Township man is in jail after police arrested him for attempting to strangle a 32-year-old woman Thursday night.

Leslie Simpson was arraigned in 75th District Court before Judge Michael Carpenter on charges of second offense domestic violence and assault with intent to do great bodily harm, less than murder. He was previously charged with domestic violence in July 2021. He is on a $500,000 cash/surety bond.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Kansas' top court declared Tuesday that the state constitution doesn't prohibit partisan gerrymandering, prompting one dissenting justice to accuse the majority of ignoring a full-scale assault on democracy" from a Republican congressional redistricting law.

The state Supreme Court issued the opinion explaining its 4-3 decision last month to approve the new congressional map. It previously issued only a brief opinion that did not explain the majority's reasons.

The new map makes it harder for the only Democrat in the Kansas congressional delegation, two-term Rep. Sharice Davids, to win reelection in her Kansas City-area district. Davids is the states first openly lesbian and Native American woman in Congress.

Dissenting Justice Eric Rosen argued that the decision moves Kansas toward a one-party system of government," aids a power grab and authorizes political chicanery.

In turning a blind eye to this full-scale assault on democracy in Kansas, the majority blithely ignores the plain language of this state's Constitution, Rosen wrote.

Lawsuits over new congressional maps proliferated this year across the U.S., with Republicans looking to recapture a U.S. House majority in Novembers midterm elections. Maps in at least 18 states inspired lawsuits, according to the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice.

In the Kansas Supreme Court's majority opinion Tuesday, Justice Caleb Stegall said the state constitutions guarantee of equal legal protection for all citizens does not prohibit the Legislature from considering partisan factors when redrawing lines each decade to make districts as equal in population as possible. The Legislature has Republican supermajorities and traditionally has been controlled by the GOP.

Stegall also argued that unless the state Supreme Court set a zero tolerance standard on partisan gerrymandering, it has no clear standards for when it should be prohibited.

Are there any manageable and neutral judicial standards by which judges can decide that question without resort to our own partisan biases? Stegall wrote.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican running for governor, praised the court's majority, saying it declined invitations to substitute its redistricting preferences for those of the peoples elected representatives.

Kansas courts previously had not been asked to consider whether the state constitution bars political gerrymandering. Federal judges  not the Kansas courts  have typically reviewed the states congressional boundaries, but the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in 2019 that complaints about partisan gerrymandering are political issues and not for the federal courts to resolve.

Stegall is widely seen as the seven-member court's most conservative justice, having been appointed by conservative GOP Gov. Sam Brownback in 2014. But he was joined in the majority by a justice appointed by a moderate Republican governor and two who were appointed by Democrats. All of the dissenters were appointed by Democratic governors.

The majority also rejected critics' claims that the new congressional map represented racial gerrymandering because it split the Black and Hispanic populations in the Kansas City areas between two districts. Stegall wrote that the aggrieved voters did not show that race was the predominant factor in how the lines were drawn.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, which represented 11 voters, said in a statement that the decision was especially harmful to minority voters who were targeted and silenced.

Democrats accused Republicans of planning to hurt Davids politically. Although Republicans said that was not the case, a now-retired state Senate leader said publicly in 2020 that fellow Republicans could draw all four congressional districts to favor the GOP and guarantee a plan that "takes out Davids.

Republican lawmakers noted repeatedly that the Kansas side of the Kansas City area has too many people to fit into a single congressional district, requiring some sort of split. And they argued that Davids still would win her new district based on 2020 election results.

The new congressional map moved the northern part of Kansas City, Kansas, out of the 3rd District represented by Davids and into the larger 2nd District of eastern Kansas represented by Republican Rep. Jake LaTurner. Kansas City, Kansas, is among the state's few Democratic strongholds.

The map also moved the liberal city of Lawrence  a Democratic stronghold only about 40 miles west (64 kilometers) of Kansas City and home to the main University of Kansas campus out of the 2nd District. Instead, the city of 95,000 has been added to the already sprawling 1st District, which is dominated by small conservative communities in central and western Kansas.

___

Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna
Linda Schocken / Contributed photo

MIDDLETOWN  The Middletown Rotary Club will host a speaker June 28, talking about the dangers of anti-coagulant based rat poison, and the secondary impact to other wildlife, often owl and raptors who rely on rats as a primary food source.

The speaker is Cathy Branch Stebbins, a Rotarian who organized a community-wide response to stop the use of harmful rodenticides after the deaths of a beloved family of Great horned owls, according to a press release.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape (R) meets with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, June 3, 2022. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei)

Both sides expressed willingness to deepen bilateral relations and expand pragmatic cooperation. Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape said China will always be a reliable friend and good partner of the country.

PORT MORESBY, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi here Friday, with both sides expressing willingness to deepen bilateral relations and expand pragmatic cooperation.

Marape said his country thinks highly of China for making remarkable achievements in its development, realizing poverty alleviation goals as scheduled, and improving its people's livelihood, noting that PNG fully agrees that developing countries also have the legitimate right to develop.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative has extensively benefited developing countries including PNG, the prime minister said, while thanking China for its tremendous support in helping his country to accelerate development, particularly in infrastructure.

Important consensuses are being implemented by the two sides, and the two countries have established strong political ties and close economic and trade links, Marape said. He reaffirmed his country's adherence to the one-China policy, saying that a friendly relationship with China has become a consensus among all sectors in PNG.

PNG has learned from China to establish special economic zones, and has yielded positive results, Marape said, noting that his country will continue to deepen bilateral pragmatic cooperation, expedite a free trade agreement with China, and provide convenience to Chinese investment in PNG.

Praising PNG as a frontrunner in regional development as well as an engine for China-Pacific island countries cooperation, Wang said during the meeting that bilateral relations have withstood the test of international vicissitudes, with solid mutual trust established between the two countries.

The Chinese side appreciates PNG for fully understanding and staunchly supporting China in safeguarding its core interests. China will firmly stand with PNG on the regional and international arenas, and backs the Pacific island country seeking a development path suited to its national conditions, Wang said.

China will always be a reliable friend and good partner of PNG, he added.

The China-PNG cooperation has shown great vitality, which features development of all dimensions, in various fields and at different levels, Wang said.

China is ready to further synergize the respective development strategies with the PNG, and support the Pacific island country in establishing special economic zones, developing processing industries and expediting its industrialization, so as to strengthen self-development, he said.

China is willing to share development opportunities with PNG and welcome the export of more quality PNG products to the Chinese market, Wang said.

Both sides agreed to increase cultural exchanges and form stronger bond between the two peoples. Noting that China is a member of the "Pacific family", Marape said the Pacific Ocean binds the PNG and Chinese people together and PNG will continue pursuing a friendly policy toward China.

Wang encouraged more youths from the two countries to contribute to bilateral relations and friendship, and pass on their friendship from generation to generation.

PNG is the seventh leg of Wang's current tour to Pacific island countries starting from May 26, with Timor Leste as the last stop. Before arriving in Port Moresby, he visited the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.
The active pursuit of knowledge through systematic inquiry, objective analysis, empirical evidence, and consideration of local conditions greatly benefits policymaking. With this in mind, the WCO Research Unit (RU) produces research and policy analysis on Customs and international trade matters. The RU also organizes research conferences where academics and practitioners present their work.
Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  Two Florida deputies have each been suspended for about two weeks for leaking news about actor and comedian Bob Sagets death before his family was alerted, officials said.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office confirmed Monday that the two deputies were each suspended for 81 hours without pay.
Federal lawmakers championing gun reform in the wake of numerous deaths said they reached an agreement Tuesday on a bipartisan gun violence bill.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, if passed, will strengthen background checks for people under 21 seeking to buy firearms, require more sellers to conduct background checks and intensify penalties for gun traffickers. The bill would also protect victims of domestic violence, invest in mental health services and provide funding to community-based violence prevention initiatives.

Legislators were pushing for the bill after 19 children and two teachers were killed in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24. Days before, 10 Black shoppers were killed in a supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said the bipartisan bill with Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas; Thom Tillis, R-N.C.; and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., will, if passed, end a three decades long logjam on gun safety in a statement Tuesday.

For decades, the anti-gun violence movement has been met with obstacles and frustrations, and yet theyve been tireless in their pursuit of change, Murphy said. Their advocacy has made this moment possible.

This legislation will strengthen background checks and keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, he continued. It also makes a historic investment in mental health and much-needed support services for students.

The bill does not include all of the wish list items from President Joe Biden and some Democrats. These included banning assault-type weapons or raising the minimum age for buying them, prohibiting high-capacity magazines and requiring background checks for virtually all gun sales, according to the Associated Press.

Murphy acknowledged that the bill wont completely eradicate gun violence, but its a step in the right direction.

This bill doesnt include everything I want, but it will save countless lives and finally break a 30 year political logjam, he said. I look forward to earning bipartisan support for this historic legislation among my Senate colleagues this week.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., also said the bill marks meaningful progress.

After 30 years, hundreds of thousands of gun deaths and dozens of failed pieces of gun safety legislation, we have finally taken one small step forward, he said in a statement Tuesday. In Congress, if you wait for everything, youll get nothing. This deal is a significant, positive step forward that will save lives. It is not the measure I fought for or would have written if I were acting alone, but it marks meaningful progress.

For the first time ever, Congress will authorize significant resources to support Connecticut and other states that have red flag laws  addressing a real barrier to implementing them that I have heard from officials and advocates, Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal, along with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has been working to bring federal funding for red flag laws for about four years. Connecticut has its own red flag laws, which make it easier for law enforcement to temporarily take away a persons firearms if they are deemed dangerous. The state instituted its red flag laws 1999 after a state lottery employee killed five-coworkers in Newington.

The bill also adds convicted domestic violence abusers in dating relationships to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

We have substantially shrunk the boyfriend loophole  even if not closing it completely  separating guns from convicted abusers who are dating partners, not just spouses, he added.

The bill will also funnel millions of dollars into Connecticuts community violence intervention programs. Blumenthal said he spoke to local gun violence prevention leaders in Hartford Monday and heard directly about how the funding will make a difference.

As a former federal prosecutor, I know how important the anti-trafficking and straw purchasing prohibitions will be to addressing the scourge of gun violence in Connecticut communities, he said. Finally, a multibillion dollar investment in health care resources is valuable on its own merits and necessary to combat the rising mental health crisis.

After three decades of Republican intransigence and near complete inaction on gun violence, this bipartisan negotiation is a positive breakthrough that builds a foundation for further progress in protecting the American people from deadly firearms, he concluded.

Lawmakers released the 80-page bill Tuesday evening. Aides estimated the measure would cost around $15 billion, which Murphy would be fully paid for.

If enacted, the election-year agreement would spotlight a modest but telling shift on an issue that has defied compromise since Bill Clinton was president.

The National Rifle Association, which has spent decades derailing gun control legislation, said it opposed the measure. It falls short at every level. It does little to truly address violent crime while opening the door to unnecessary burdens on the exercise of Second Amendment freedom by law-abiding gun owners, the gun lobby group said.

It seemed likely a majority of Republicans  especially in the House  would oppose the legislation. Underscoring the backlash GOP lawmakers supporting the pact would face from the most conservative voters, delegates booed Cornyn at his states Republican convention in Houston Saturday as he described the measure.

The measure will need at least 10 GOP votes to reach the 60-vote threshold major bills often need in the 50-50 Senate. Ten Republican senators had joined with 10 Democrats in backing the framework, and Cornyn told reporters that I think there will be at least 10 GOP votes for the measure.

Whats uncertain is whether the agreement and its passage would mark the beginning of slow but gradual congressional action to curb gun violence, or the high water mark on the issue. Until Buffalo and Uvalde, a numbing parade of mass slayings  at sites including elementary and high schools, houses of worship, military facilities, bars and the Las Vegas Strip  have yielded only stalemate in Washington.

Thirty years, murder after murder, suicide after suicide, mass shooting after mass shooting, Congress did nothing, Murphy said. This week we have a chance to break this 30-year period of silence with a bill that changes our laws in a way that will save thousands of lives.

Congress prohibited assault-type firearms in 1993 in a ban that expired after a decade, lawmakers last sweeping legislation addressing gun violence.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
NEWINGTON  Local and state officials are looking into an incident that injured six firefighter trainees and an instructor for the Middlesex County Fire School run by Middletown Fire Chief John Jay Woron II during a live burn training session Saturday.

The students and the instructor, who were studying fire behavior evolution, had entered the live burn room in the towns firefighter training tower Saturday morning when they realized the heat from the training fire was getting to high levels, said Newington Fire Marshal DJ Zordan.

They retreated and several were burned, Zordan said. Two of the seven received moderate burn injuries, while the other five had minor injuries, Zordan said. All were treated and released, he said.

Zordon was gathering information and evidence Monday to determine why the fire became so intense, he said. The amount of heat usually depends on how much fuel is used, Zordan said. In this case there was a minimal amount of fuel so there was not an expectation that there would be this level of heat.

Zordan will turn his findings and data over to the Connecticut Occupational Safety and Health division of the state Department of Labor, which is investigating what led up to the injuries, he said. Members of the OSHA team will come out to the training center Tuesday to do a review of what happened, Zordan said.

The students were from a firefighter II class from the Middlesex County Fire School, one of nine schools in the state that provides firefighter training, officials said. The fire school has no physical location and often uses other facilities to provide training.

The live burn and training tower located on Milk Lane is used by local firefighters but is also used by other agencies that dont have their own facilities, Zordan said.

Woron did not respond Monday to a request for comment. Officials with the Commission on Fire Prevention and Control and the Connecticut Fire Academy said Woron was not at the training session Saturday. The academy does not oversee the other training schools which are independently run with financial support from the state, said Jeffrey Morrissette, state fire administrator.

But the state Fire Academy could provide help in figuring out how to prevent similar incidents, Morrissette said.

We can serve as subject matter experts and provide an outside review, Morrissette said.
An Army officer was found negligent and sentenced to four months in prison for failing to follow safety procedures at a Fort Campbell, Kentucky, firing range where a junior soldier died.

Capt. Christopher Peeples, an aviation officer, was found guilty of dereliction of duty by a court-martial on April 13, according to legal records released by the Army. The court found Peeples failed to follow Army safety precautions while he was in charge of firearms training at the base in 2018.

An Army private died at the range on Aug. 1, 2018. An attorney for Peeples did not immediately provide a comment when reached Tuesday.

Read Next: Videos Show Missing US Veterans Who May Have Been Captured by Russian-Backed Forces in Ukraine

The court documents show that the Army officer didn't ensure proper medical care was available at the Fort Campbell range during training, and that his conduct was "likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm."

Peeples "failed to rehearse [medical evacuation] routes and procedures, and negligently failed to ensure the overall safe conduct of training and proper use of the installation training complex," according to the documents.

The name of the private who died on the range was redacted in the court documents, and the cause of death was unclear. Pvt. Jeremy J. Wells, 19, died at Fort Campbell on a small-arms training range on the same date as the incident noted in court records. Wells was also part of the same unit as Peeples.

At the time, Peeples served in B Company, 96th Aviation Support Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division.

Army doctrine mandates that medics must be present whenever weapons are being fired. Range personnel are typically supposed to rehearse treating wounds and evacuating soldiers to a hospital in the event of an injury.

In addition to not rehearsing proper medical responses, Peeples also did not have enough noncommissioned officers to oversee safety on the range, according to the court. Rules required one soldier for every four shooters to observe and catch any unsafe actions.

Weapons also were not inspected to ensure they were clear and not loaded between firing iterations, another mandated practice during firearms training.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Soldiers Keep Dying in Vehicle Accidents. The Army Blames Not Wearing Seat Belts and Complacency.
WASHINGTON -- A U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee said it will not move forward in closing a military facility in Savannah that has been the subject of an intense lobbying effort by Georgia's congressional delegation.

Closure of the Combat Readiness Training Center in Savannah was part of the proposed budget President Joe Biden put forward in March. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, the Republican whose district includes the facility, said Monday that the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense has issued a report saying it has denied that request.

"This is a major win for the First District, our military service members, and national security," Carter said in a press release announcing the subcommittee report. "The fight is not over, but this proves what Georgians already knew: the Savannah CRTC is an indispensable piece of the Air Force's fighter pilot training."

The Air National Guard's Combat Readiness Training Center helps prepare units tied to the National Guard, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps for upcoming missions. There are similar facilities in Michigan, Mississippi and Wisconsin.

The White House recommended closing the one in Savannah, which would reduce the Air National Guard's 165th Airlift Wing's presence there by about 5%, or 121 people. The administration said closure would allow the Defense Department to save money by eliminating what was perceived as a redundant operation without any unique capabilities compared with the three others.

But the president merely makes recommendations. It is up to Congress to pass annual appropriations legislation that determines how the government spends its money. While Carter praised the report, he said he would keep working to ensure nothing changes as the appropriations process continues.

The Pooler Republican was joined by others in the effort to save the training center, including U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Savannah native; U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff; U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, who serves on the Armed Services Committee; and U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, the only Georgia lawmaker on the Appropriations Committee.

Warnock already had plans to visit the training center on Friday to speak about a decision he believes is "bad for Savannah and bad for our national security." Calling the Biden proposal "misguided," he said he will continue to work to ensure no cuts move forward.

(c) 2022 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Washington Attorney General's office has declined to appeal a judge's ruling that bans Navy SEAL or other military training in Washington state parks.

This appears to mark the demise of a high-profile, controversial permitting process that would have expanded to possibly 17 or more parks under a motion approved by the State Parks and Recreation Commission in January 2021.

"This should be the end of the road to the Navy's using the state parks," said Zachary Griefen, an attorney representing Whidbey Environmental Action Network, which filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court challenging the commission's action.

The state had 30 days to file an appeal to the ruling, which was issued May 13. Judge James Dixon found that the commission lacked the statutory authority to permit the training and also failed to adequately consider the impacts of such training in violation of a state environmental law.

Brionna Aho, a spokesperson for the state Attorney General, deferred to the Parks and Recreation Commission to comment on the decision not to file an appeal. A commission representative could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

Navy SEALs, elite special-operations forces, began training at state parks in the early 1980s. But they have not been able to use them since 2020, when permits to use five parks expired.

A new review process got underway after the January 2021 commission vote but had yet to result in any new permits being issued, according to an April statement from Becki Ellison, executive assistant to the state Parks and Recreation Commission.

The SEAL training involves submersible vessels that navigate through offshore waters and unarmed SEAL team trainees in groups of six to eight who then make their way to shore, typically under cover of darkness. Once on land, they conceal themselves for 24 to 48 hours to conduct surveillance, then depart by water.

"With the Washington State Parks unavailable, the military members who need this critical training, which takes place only a few months each year, will have fewer options to hone their unique skills," said a statement released by Joe Overton, a deputy public affairs officer for Navy Region Northwest. "They will continue to train in the other areas in Washington state through rights-of-entry agreements."

(c) 2022 The Seattle Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A Navy veteran is sharing never-before-published photographs of the historic attack on the USS Liberty by Israel in 1967, images provided exclusively to Military.com that show the half-sunk Navy ship as other vessels arrive to provide aid.

Greg Knowles, who snapped the photos, was an electronics technician on the USS Little Rock on June 8, 1967, when he heard that the Liberty had been attacked. The Little Rock, a guided-missile cruiser, was ported in Gaeta, Italy, at the time and was launched to assist in the incident that killed 34 Americans, injured 170, and nearly sank the Liberty.

"The first and only actual general quarters we had was called, and we steamed all night to arrive at the side of the shot-up Liberty on the morning of June 9," Knowles told Military.com. "When the captain announced the 'all clear,' I grabbed my Agfa 35mm camera and headed onto the deck."

Read Next: Army Officer Overseeing Safety Gets Prison Sentence After Private's Death on Firing Range

Earlier this month, Military.com published a story about the 55th anniversary of Israel's attack on the USS Liberty, a Navy "spy" ship attacked in the Mediterranean during the Six-Day War between Israel and a coalition of Arab countries. The survivors are still looking for acknowledgment from the U.S. government that Israeli forces may have known the ship was American prior to its partial sinking.

"Some years ago, I wanted to view shots I had taken in various ports of call in the Mediterranean," Knowles said, "and I was a bit surprised when these popped up."

Photo of the USS Liberty from June 9, 1967, joined by the USS America and other destroyers in its carrier group. (Courtesy: Greg Knowles/U.S. Navy)

Navy helicopter begins landing on the USS Little Rock near where the USS Liberty was nearly sunk, June 9, 1967. (Courtesy: Greg Knowles/U.S. Navy)

The USS Liberty showing the now-infamous and identifying "GTR-5," June 9, 1967. (Courtesy: Greg Knowles/U.S. Navy)

"We were told the deadly attack was simply a matter of mistaken identity," said Knowles. "I hope the survivors get the truth one day."

-- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence.

Related: 'We're Fed Up With It': Survivors of the USS Liberty Look for Answers 55 Years Later
SEOUL, South Korea  South Korea successfully launched its first homegrown space rocket on Tuesday, officials said, a triumph that boosted the countrys growing space ambitions but also proved it has key technologies to build a space-based surveillance system and bigger missiles amid animosities with rival North Korea.

The three-stage Nuri rocket succeeded in releasing and placing its functioning performance verification satellite at an altitude of 700 kilometers (435 miles) after its liftoff from South Koreas space launch center at 4 p.m., the Science Ministry said.

Dear fellow citizens, the space of Republic of Korea is fully open. The science and technology of Republic of Korea has made a great advance, Science Minister Lee Jong-Ho told a televised news conference. The government will continue its audacious march toward a space power with the people.

Earlier live TV footage showed the 47-meter (154-foot) rocket, adorned with a national flag and its official name in Korean, rising into the air amid bright flames and thick white smoke.

The launch has made South Korea the worlds 10th nation to place a satellite into space with its own technology.

It was South Koreas second launch of the Nuri rocket. In the first attempt last October, the rocket's dummy payload reached its desired altitude of 700 kilometers (435 miles) but didn't enter orbit because the engine of the rockets third stage burned out earlier than planned.

South Korea, the worlds 10th-largest economy, is a main supplier of semiconductors, automobiles and smartphones on world markets. But its space development program lags behind that of its Asian neighbors China, India and Japan.

North Korea placed its first and second Earth observation satellites into orbit in 2012 and 2016, though there is no proof that either one has ever transmitted spaced-based imagery and data back home. Those North Korean launches invited U.N. economic sanctions because they were viewed as covers for testing the countrys banned long-range missile technology.

Since the early 1990s, South Korea has sent a slew of satellites into space, but all from overseas launch sites or aboard a rocket built with the help of foreign technology. In 2013, South Korea successfully launched a satellite for the first time from its soil, but the first stage of its launch vehicle was manufactured by the Russians.

After South Koreas 2013 satellite launch, North Koreas Foreign Ministry accused the United States of revealing double standards and brigandish nature because it supported the South Korean launch but spearheaded U.N. sanctions on the Norths 2012 satellite launch. North Korea didnt immediately respond to Tuesdays Nuri launch.

South Korea plans to conduct four more Nuri rocket launches in coming years. It also hopes to send a probe to the moon, build next-generation space launch vehicles and send large-scale satellites into orbit.

South Korean officials said the Nuri rocket has no military purposes.

The transfer of space launch technology is strictly restricted under a multilateral export control regime because it has military applications. Experts say ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles share similar bodies, engines and other components, though missiles require a reentry vehicle and other technologies.

If you put a satellite on the top of a rocket, it would become a space launch vehicle. But if you mount a warhead on it, it becomes a weapon, said Kwon Yong Soo, a former professor at Korea National Defense University in South Korea. If we succeed in Nuris launch, its really meaningful because we also succeed in the test of a long-range rocket that can be used to build a long-range missile.

Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Koreas Science and Technology Policy Institute, said its difficult to directly use Nuri as a missile because it uses liquid fuels that must be kept at an extremely low temperature and requires much longer fueling time than solid fuels. He said North Korean long-range missiles also use liquid fuels, but extremely toxic ones that are maintained at ordinary temperatures and require less fueling time than Nuris.

This year, North Korea has test-launched about 30 missiles with potential ranges that place the U.S. mainland and its regional allies like South Korea and Japan within striking distance.

Kwon said Nuri's successful Nuri launch would prove that South Korea also has the capability to send a spy satellite into orbit.

South Korea currently has no military reconnaissance satellites of its own and depends on U.S. spy satellites to monitor strategic facilities in North Korea. South Korea has said it would launch its own surveillance satellites soon.
(The Center Square)  President Joe Biden said Monday he would decide on a potential gas tax holiday by the end of the week.

Bidens comments come after U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made similar remarks during an interview with CNNs State of the Union on Sunday.

Thats an idea thats certainly worth considering, Yellen said, referring to the gas tax holiday.

Biden was asked about the holiday Monday when he told reporters about his coming decision. The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon.

The presidents pledge comes after a string of record-breaking gas price benchmarks earlier this month with regular unleaded gas surpassing $5 per gallon nationwide. Regular gas took a slight dip to a national average of $4.98 per gallon Monday, according to AAA.

Diesel is at a national average of $5.82 per gallon after hitting a record high again over the weekend.

Some states have suspended their respective gas taxes because of the high prices, but those decisions raise additional problems since the levies are a key source of funding for infrastructure improvements.

Critics have said the holiday will not address the root causes of the gas price hike, which they say is largely attributable to Bidens restrictions on pipeline development and drilling.

Gasoline has more than doubled since Day 1 of the Biden presidency  from under $2.40 a gallon to more than $5 per gallon, said Joel Griffith, an economic expert at the Heritage Foundation. The presidents war on fossil fuels  including killing the Keystone XL oil pipeline, placing millions of acres of federal land off limits to exploration, and regulatory hurdles blocking new pipelines and refineries  promises to suppress supply of abundant, affordable fuels for decades to come.

Griffith said the move would allay just 1/10th of the surge in gas prices.

Instead of borrowing $52 billion to mask a small fraction of this pain, the president should halt his war on energy and expand supply by unleashing American energy producers, he said. The massive federal spending financed by money printing at the federal reserve is causing prices in other sectors to soar as well, costing the typical American family more than $2,500 annually. Its time for Biden to acknowledge the pain his policies are causing. A gas tax holiday does nothing to address this reality.

Other critics called it a short-term fix.

While policymakers seem to recognize the impact of rising energy costs on American families, some continue to turn to short-term fixes that arent likely to provide lasting relief for consumers," said Frank Macchiarola, senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs at the American Petroleum Institute. "The best way to ensure Americans have access to the affordable and reliable energy they need is to promote policies that incentivize U.S. production and send a clear message that America is open for energy investment.
21.06.2022 LISTEN

Kwaku Manu, an actor, musician and radio presenter has heaped praises on Kumawood star Alex Kofi Adu, better known in movies as Agyakoo.

Kwaku Manu stated that Agya Koo was an inspiration to him long before he began his acting career.

He stated that he used to watch Agyakoo on television and decided to emulate him to become a celebrity like Agyakoo.

Kwaku Manu stated in an exclusive interview with Ghanaian blogger Poleeno on Monday, June 20, 20222, which was monitored by this portal, that Ghana should commemorate Agyakoo by erecting a statue of him in Kumasi or Accra.

He noted that Agya Koo was once the saviour of the Ghanaian film industry, even going so far as to assist the local industry to secure the huge sums of money that we were being lost to other countries in terms of movie patronage.

Agya Koo is the reason we are where we are today, he has been an inspiration to many of us in the industry including myself. I think we need to build a statue in his honour whether in Kumasi or Accra.

President Kuffour even awarded him because he helped us to retain the amount of money we were losing to Nigeria in terms of patronizing their movies. I used to watch him on television and through that, I was influenced to act, all thanks to him and I am not going to change my statement because that is the truth of the matter, he stated.

Prior to this interview, Kwaku Manu told another Ghanaian blogger, Zion Felix, in a similar interview that he did everything he could to ensure the popular actor (Agya Koo) returned to acting after a long break.

Agya Koo is back and appeared in "Away Bus," a Ghanaian film that also starred Kalybos, Fela Makafui, Yaw Dabo, Toosweet Anan, and others.
Joyce Blessing, Gospel musician

21.06.2022 LISTEN

Joyce Blessing has been in the news after her alleged drunk video in which she was crying and confessing love to a man she claims to be her lover surfaced on the internet.

Despite the reaction from the gospel musicians management, the uproar keeps getting hotter after her "former" husband, who described himself as Dave Joy, denied the fact that he was the one Miss Joyce Blessing was referring to, as the management stated.

In response to this, a psychologist named Dr. Samuel Yawson believes Joy Blessings attitude has something to do with both emotional and psychological well-being.

The symptoms shes showing, like crying, drunkenness and she saying she is broken-hearted, means things are not well in her head and her emotions.

She needs social support and also from us, I mean psychological support. So we can help her, she needs it because this situation can destroy her music career, he stated.

During a phone interview on the "Anigye Mmere" Show on the Accra-based Onua FM, monitored by this portal, Mr. Yawson explained that human beings are prone to psychological problems.

Number two, every human gets sick, youll go through medical conditions. And also, youll go through psychological conditions and thats what my sister is going through. She may be in emotional distress and the outcome is the psychological symptoms shes displaying now, he elaborated

The psychologist advised those closer to Joyce Blessing to encourage her and show her maximum support so she can recover from her problems.

People boose because they want to forget their problems, but after the alcohol diminishes, your problems are still intact. Joyce needs what we call social support, those around her should encourage her. They should show her their unflinching friendship because we are human and we fault. Whether Christians or Muslims, the important thing is rising from the fall, Dr. advised.
The founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Strategic Communications Africa (STRATCOMM AFRICA), Mrs. Esther Amba Numbra Cobbah, has compiled the gumptious stories of six amazing Ghanaian ladies in a book titled "Dare To Be".

The book was officially launched on Sunday, June 19, 2022, at the Sealine View, 5th Avenue, McCarthy Hill, a suburb of Accra.

The book features the entrepreneurial journey of Miss Vera Hameeno-Kpeda, better known as Mzvee, a musician; Kafui Danku, an actress and a movie producer; Aisha Ayensu, fashion designer and CEO of Christy-brown fashion; Freda Obeng-Ampofo, CEO of KAEME cosmetics; Emi-beth Aku Quantson, CEO of Kawa Moka Coffee company limited; and Ewura Abena Agyeman, a fashion designer and CEO for Wear Ghana company limited.

These ladies work in a various creative arts industries, including music, movies, fashion, cosmetics, and coffee production. They are contributing significantly to the nation's development while also bridging the gap of male dominance in Ghana. They are portraying the image of Africa to the Western world.

Mrs. Cobbah, the host and the author, said in her opening speech that she loves to celebrate women who, despite challenges, strive to make a success story out of their God-given talents.

I love to celebrate women. Knowing the odds we face, often in male-dominated environments, we cannot but DARE TO BE! In celebrating the stories of these amazing young women, I hope others will be encouraged to step forward in their own authentic selves and be the best they can be, she said.

Mrs. Cobbah said she hopes the compelling stories of these six ladies collected in the DARE TO BE book will inspire every lady out there, especially the young ones, to challenge themselves and dare to be their own authentic selves.

I hope other women can also be encouraged by these stories to follow their dreams, overcome adversity and give expression to the enormous talents God has endowed them with, she said.

DARING TO BE, against the odds - is the authentic expression of who we are as women! she added.

Each of these ladies recounted the stories told in the book and thanked the CEO of StratComm for finding them wealthy, among other distinguished Ghanaian ladies, to tell their stories to the entire world.

In reverence, they presented Mrs. Cobbah with a citation that comes with heartfelt messages from each of them thanking her for her support of their innovative abilities.

Etornam Sey, a broadcast journalist, anchored the event.

Dignitaries in attendance included Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata, a private legal practitioner; Mr. Tonyi Senayah, CEO of Horseman Shoes Limited; Rev. Enoch Thompson; Mrs. Mawuena Trebah; Mrs. Maidie Arkutu; and several other dignitaries as well as media personalities.
The Accra-Tema motorway will be re-engineered into a 10-lane highway, Roads and Highways Minister Kwasi Amoako-Attah has disclosed.

The Atiwa West MP told parliament on Friday, 17 June 2022 that plans are underway to totally transform and overhaul the 19-kilometre road.

The motorway was fully reopened to traffic on Friday after a temporary closure to allow for reinforcement works on some bridges along the stretch.

It created a lot of inconvenience to commenters, who had to endure unbearable traffic jams on some diversions.

Mr Amoako-Atta told parliament that as part of plans to reduce traffic jams on the highway, the future programme is to expand the existing motorway to a 10-lane stretch.

It will comprise of free-way, access control, three urban highways and a number of footbridges for pedestrian crossing.

In August 2021, there were claims by the Minority in parliament that the expansion project had no parliamentary approval.

Debunking that claim which was made by Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, who called for the immediate abrogation of the contract awarded to Mota-Engil Engenharia E Construcao Africa S.A. and also alleged that Mota-Engil is not qualified to undertake the project on design and build basis, the ministry, in a statement, stated without the slightest equivocation that the assertions and conclusions made by the MP were inaccurate and misleading.

We wish to state that the minister and ministry have not, in any way, breached the requirement for parliamentary approval for the Accra-Tema Motorway Extension Project and, therefore, the full content of the Hon. Members press conference should be totally disregarded and ignored by the good people of Ghana.

The ministry explained that it signed a commercial contract with Mota-Engil in December 2020.

This commercial contract, as a standalone, cannot be sent to parliament without the complement of a financial agreement. As of now, the financing arrangements are yet to be concluded. It is, therefore, premature for anybody to claim or suggest that we have breached the law, when the documents to be submitted to parliament have not been finalised, the ministry explained at the time.

The signing of a commercial contract for internationally funded projects with conditions precedent before its submission to parliament is not unusual.

On the La Beach Road Completion project, the commercial contract was signed in September 2012 with similar conditions precedent. The cabinet and parliamentary approvals were secured in November and December 2018 respectively and the Contract became effective in 2019.

Again, on the Accra Intelligent Traffic Management Systems Project, the commercial contract was also signed in September 2012 with similar conditions precedent. The cabinet and parliamentary approvals were secured in November and December 2018 respectively and the contract became effective in 2019.

The Ministry of Roads and Highways is an active promoter of local content. Indeed, for the Accra Tema Motorway Extension Project, 40% of all works have been reserved for local contractors. However, we state for the avoidance of doubt that when the competitive bidding process was launched in December 2018, 23 companies expressed interest. None was Ghanaian. It is therefore not accurate to give the impression that Ghanaian companies were excluded.

It is simplistic and ignorant for anybody to do a simple calculation of cost over kilometres and conclude that the cost of the Accra Tema Motorway Extension Project is over bloated without recourse to the actual scope and works involved in the Project.

The scope of work of the project is as follows: 10-lane 19.5km motorway (4 lanes of reinforced concrete freeway, 6 lanes of Urban Highway), Reconstruction of Tetteh Quarshie to Apenkwa (5.7 km), Remodeling of Tetteh Quarshie, Apenkwa and Achimota Interchanges, Construction of 5 new Interchanges (Lashibi, Abattoir, Teshie Link, Fiesta Royale and Neoplan junction), 14No. Pedestrian Footbridges, Toll Plazas and Streetlights.

Source: Classfmonline.com
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Fresh into a new mandate but without a parliamentary majority since legislative elections on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron will now have to hammer out an energy policy caught between the gas crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and an increasingly vocal green movement. Germany faces similar problems.

France's EDF currently operates 56 nuclear reactors, generating 80 percent of its electricity. But only 50 percent of the service is fully operational as a result of maintenance issues, corrosion and lack of investment.

There's a whole series of problems that have led to an absolutely unprecedented level of difficulties and shutdowns in France's nuclear industry, Yves Marignac, a nuclear energy specialist at think-tank negaWatt was quoted as saying by the Financial Times.

France's nuclear sector already faced problems before the outbreak of the Russian invasion into Ukraine.

The government, facing a crucial election year, ordered EDF in January to boost production of cheaper nuclear energy in an attempt to decrease consumer prices - a decree that would require EDF to invest over 8 billion as a result of which shares took a 20 percent hit.

Threat of shortages

In the same month, Paris decided to allow its last two operational coal-fired power plants to step up production to stave off the threat of electricity shortages resulting from the closure of some of the nuclear plants.

The war in Ukraine accelerated the pressure on France's energy sector. The decision, earlier this month, by Russian gas provider Gazprom to halt gas deliveries to Europe means that France, that imports some 17 percent of its gas from Russia, has to look for alternatives.

Gazprom said the supply reductions via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline are due to "repair work", saying equipment being refurbished in Canada was stuck there because of Western sanctions.

Paris has criticised Gazprom's move as "political".

Coal burning

Meanwhile in Germany, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said Sunday that the country will limit the use of natural gas for electricity production amid concerns about possible shortages caused by a cut in supplies from Russia.

Habeck said that Germany will try to compensate for the move by increasing the burning of coal, a more polluting fossil fuel.

That's bitter, but it's simply necessary in this situation to lower gas usage, said Habeck, a member of the environmentalist Bundnis 90/Die Grunen.

Germany, which has relied heavily on energy imports from Russia, began significantly scaling back its imports because of the war in Ukraine.

Initially, EU policy makers observers designated the war in Ukraine as a watershed in energy consumption.

Analysts have said European countries can quickly reduce gas dependence with energy efficiency measures and ramping up renewable energy investments, which are already in line with Europe's ambition to stop pumping additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by midcentury," according to the New York Times, writing in March, optimistically suggesting that "the conflict in Ukraine could fast-track some of that."

Russia's war of aggression constitutes a tectonic shift in European history," the EU Versailles Declaration stated on 15 March, 2022.

Therefore, it wrote, the EU has "decided to take more responsibility for our security and take further decisive steps towards building our European sovereignty, reducing our dependencies and designing a new growth and investment model for 2030.

However, dealing with the EU's short term energy needs may not be in line with the longer-term EU plans to drastically reduce CO2 emissions, as promoted in the landmark European Green Deal, which is still largely on the drawing board. Plans to re-lapse into coal production will come as a massive blow to the green movement.

(With agencies)
Gunmen from a criminal gang have kidnapped 36 people after attacking several villages and two churches in northwest Nigeria, a local government official said Monday.

Local security commissioner Samuel Aruwan told AFP that gunmen had snatched three dozen people on Sunday, the latest in a series of mass abductions to hit the region.

Armed groups known locally as bandits are ravaging parts of northwest Nigeria with raids and kidnappings. This latest incident came two weeks after gunmen killed 40 people at a church in the usually safer southwest.

In Sunday's attack, Aruwan said the gunmen had ransacked villages before storming the Maranatha Baptist Church and St Moses Catholic Church in Rubu in the Kajuru area of Kaduna state.

Three people were also killed in the raid, he said.

"We have established 36 people were kidnapped by the bandits, who attacked the villages in Kajuru local government on Sunday," Aruwan said.

"Yesterday, they released two of the hostages, including a community chief. Thirty four people are now in the custody of the bandits."

In an earlier statement his office said gunmen had stormed the villages on motorbikes and also looted shops.

A wave of violence

No group has so far claimed the June 5 massacre at a church in southwest Ondo State, but the government said it suspected the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group was behind the violence.

ISWAP operates mostly in the northeast of the country, where it is part of a 12-year long jihadist insurgency that has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced 2.2 million more.

Security will be a major issue in next year's presidential election to replace President Muahammadu Buhari who steps down after two terms in office.

The federal government has officially characterised bandit gangs as terrorists to allow the military more flexibility. But the challenge is massive, especially in vast rural areas with scarce state presence.

Attacks have also become more brazen. Earlier this year, gunmen blew up the railway tracks to stop a train travelling from the capital Abuja to Kaduna, kidnapping dozens of passengers for ransom.

Schools have also been targeted, with around 1,500 pupils seized last year in 20 mass kidnappings for ransom, according to UNICEF earlier this year.

Although most of those hostages were released after negotiations, some are still being held in the bandits' forest hideouts, which stretch across the northwest.

A week ago, gunmen kidnapped 30 wedding guests in northwest Sokoto state after one of their buses broke down on the way home to another neighbouring state.

While kidnap gangs are motivated by financial gain and have no known ideological affiliation, security sources and experts are worried about increasing cooperation between bandits and jihadists groups.
East African leaders agreed Monday to establish a regional force to try to end conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and called for an immediate ceasefire.

The move was announced by the Kenyan presidency after a meeting in Nairobi of the seven-member East African Community to discuss an upsurge of violence in the volatile region that has ensnared neighbouring countries.

"The heads of state instructed that the regional force should, in cooperation with the military and administrative forces of the DRC, seek to stabilise and secure the peace in the DRC," it said in a statement.

"The heads of state directed that an immediate ceasefire should be enforced and cessation of hostilities should commence immediately," it added.

The vast mineral-rich DRC is struggling to contain dozens of armed groups in the east, many of which are a legacy of two regional wars a quarter of a century ago.

A recent flare-up of heavy fighting in the east has revived decades-old animosities between Kinshasa and Kigali, with the DRC blaming neighbouring Rwanda for a resurgence of the M23 militia.

Rwanda has repeatedly denied backing the rebels, while both countries have accused each other of carrying out cross-border shelling.

'Collective approach' needed

A primarily Congolese Tutsi militia, the M23 leapt to global prominence in 2012 when it captured the main eastern DRC city of Goma.

It was forced out shortly afterwards in a joint offensive by UN troops and the Congolese army.

But the militia has recently made a comeback, clashing with Congolese troops in violence that has inflamed tensions in central Africa and sent thousands of people have fleeing to neighbouring Uganda.

Those attending Monday's Nairobi meeting were DRC president Felix Tshisekedi, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta along with the leaders of Burundi, South Sudan and Uganda and Tanzania's ambassador to Nairobi.

"The problems affecting the region like the crisis in Congo need a collective approach from all regional members of the East African Community," Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said on Twitter as the meeting got under way.

"We must insist on working together because these people have suffered a lot."

Call for pressure on Rwanda

Museveni's government has sent in troops to help Congolese forces fight the Allied Democratic Forces, a militia group blamed for thousands of deaths in eastern Congo and a string of bombings in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

After M23 rebels captured the border town of Bunagana a week ago, Kenyatta called for the deployment of a regional EAC force to restore peace, although Kinshasa said it would not accept Rwanda's participation.

It was not immediately clear if Rwanda would play a role in the regional force and no information was given in the Kenyan statement about the size or timing of any deployment.

Meanwhile, the M23 announced that it was reopening the Bunagana border post, a busy trading and transit centre for goods that lies not far from the front line.

Tshisekedi has accused Rwanda of seeking to "occupy our land," which is rich in minerals such as gold, coltan and cobalt "for their own exploitation and profit".

He has called on the international community, and Britain in particular, to "pressure Rwanda to withdraw its troops", noting London's controversial agreement to send asylum seekers to Kigali.

"Given the UK's recent $150 million immigration deal struck with Rwanda, we hope that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be able to leverage his influence," Tshisekedi said.

Rwanda is due to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this week.

Relations between Kinshasa and Kigali have been strained since the mass arrival in the DRC of Rwandan Hutus accused of slaughtering Tutsis during the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
Suspected jihadists massacred more than 130 civilians over the weekend in neighbouring central Mali towns, the latest mass killings in the troubled Sahel region.

Local officials reported scenes of systematic killings by armed men in Diallassagou and two surrounding towns in the Bankass circle, a longtime hotbed of Sahelian violence.

"They have also been burning huts, houses, and stealing cattle -- it's really a free-for-all," said a local official who for security reasons spoke on the condition of anonymity.

He and another official, who like him had fled his village, said the death toll was still being counted on Monday.

Nouhoum Togo, head of a party in Bankass, the main town in the area, said the toll was even higher than the 132 announced by the government, which has blamed Al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadists for the killings.

The national authorities broke their silence on Monday afternoon after alarming reports proliferated on social networks over the weekend.

Togo told AFP that army operations in the area two weeks ago had led to clashes with jihadists. On Friday, the jihadists returned on several dozen motorbikes to take revenge on the population, he added.

"They arrived and told the people, 'You are not Muslims' in Fulani, then took the men away, and a hundred people went with them," he said.

"Some two kilometres (1.2 miles) away, they systematically shot people."

He said the bodies continued to be collected in the areas around Diallassagou on Monday.

Blaming the Macina Katiba

The government blamed the attack on the Fulani preacher Amadou Koufa's organisation the Macina Katiba.

Central Mali has been plagued by violence since the Al-Qaeda-affiliated organisation emerged in 2015.

A large part of the area is beyond state control and is prone to violence carried out by self-defence militias and inter-community reprisals.

Mali has since 2012 been rocked by an insurgency by groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State group, plunging the country into crisis.

Violence that began in the north has since spread to the centre and to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

Civilians are often subjected to reprisals by jihadists who accuse them of collaborating with the enemy.

Some areas of the country, especially in the centre, have fallen under the control of the jihadists, who vigorously enforce their worldviews.

Civilians also often find themselves caught in the crossfire in clashes between rival armed groups, including those affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

The number of civilians killed in attacks attributed to extremist groups has almost doubled since 2020 in the central Sahel, a coalition of West African NGOs said in a report released Thursday.

A UN document published in March said nearly 600 civilians had been killed in Mali in 2021 in violence blamed mainly on jihadist groups, but also on self-defence militias and armed forces.

The UN has expressed alarm in Security Council documents at the deteriorating security situation in central Mali, as well as in the north and in the area on the borders of Burkina Faso and Niger.

Some 20 civilians were killed on Saturday in the northern region of Gao.

Last Wednesday, an armed group reported the death of 22 people in the Menaka region.

In northern Burkina Faso, 86 people were killed in June in Seytenga.

Mali's junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita decreed three days of national mourning for the latest killings.
China's envoy to Bangladesh has applauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership for building Padma bridge with the country's own finance and described the Awami League-led government's achievements in Bangladesh during the last decade as "extraordinary.

Li Jiming, the Chinese ambassador in Dhaka, has lauded Prime Minister Shekh Hasina's decision to proceed with the Padma Bridge project using local money despite the failure of outside funding, expressing doubts that an average leader of any country could have done so.

He emphasized Bangladesh's progress and development during Hasina's 12 years as Prime Minister, including economic growth, infrastructure development such as the Padma Bridge.

'I wonder, I truly doubt, if any typical leader of any country could have made such a difficult decision as she did,' he told a small gathering of journalists at the Chinese consulate in Dhaka on June 19.

Without mentioning names, the ambassador stated that several international development partners did not believe the Bangladesh government could ever build such a megastructure with its own funds.

"Despite all the uncertainties, pressures, and claims," he continued, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opted to build the bridge using Bangladesh's "own money, 100 percent Bangladesh's own money." The decision, according to the ambassador, needed "extreme courage and a great sense of political responsibility" on the part of any government leader.

The ambassador stated that under the leadership of Bangladesh's prime minister, the bridge became a solid reality arising from a vision, and that "nobody will ever question that Bangladesh can achieve it."

Chinese ambassador has uttered and unveiled the truth. Thank you, China, for showering praise on a reality. On July 4, 2001, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lay the foundation stone for the Padma Bridge, which will benefit more than 30 million people in 21 districts throughout southern Bangladesh. The 6.15-kilometer bridge, which includes a four-lane highway and a one-lane railway, is now a reality.

PM Sheikh Hasina made it a reality today in the face of hundreds of difficulties, obstructions, bogus claims, and World Bank machinations.

On July 8, 2012, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stated unequivocally in this great National Assembly that the Padma Bridge would be built at Bangladesh's own money. Leadership is critical in all areas of life where human resources are utilized, including organizations, entrepreneurship, corporations, politics, societies, and states. Leaders perform the most important function at the state level in setting directions, encouraging people, boosting morale, allocating responsibilities, and improving satisfaction in order to steer a nation forward. The people of Bangladesh are fortunate to have a leader who has nearly all of these characteristics and has been guiding the country in the path of realizing her father's dream of becoming the country 'Sonar Bangla' (Golden Bengal). Sheikh Hasina's imaginative, daring, indomitable, and cautious leadership is exemplified by the construction of the Padma Bridge.

Everyone is familiar with the bridge's history. Because of the prime minister's unwavering determination to achieve her objectives, the bridge is now visible. She did not limit herself to giving commands during the entire era, from the planning of the bridge to the present day; rather, she became involved in the megaproject and provided vital counsel when needed, as well as boosting the morale of the project's workers. Now, with the bridge ready to open to the public in a few months, the prime minister has paid a personal visit to the bridge and walked for two hours across it.

Her choice to build the bridge on the country's own funds gives the Bangladeshi people the much-needed motivation to overcome obstacles and grows themselves without relying on outside assistance. It has and will continue to assist the country in becoming self-sufficient in all areas. She has successfully instilled in the general public the concept that we can do anything if we have a strong will and resolve to do so, which is undoubtedly a significant victory for her as a leader. At the same time, having a dreamer as a leader is a question of pure luck for a country.

"We know that if Bangladesh claims they'll do it with your money, they'll be able to do it... "Do we believe that and that we are correct?" he stated "Not everyone is thrilled, but Chinese people are," the envoy said, adding that some people may not like seeing Bangladesh's historic achievement over the bridge.

The envoy expressed his pride at the bridge, not only because it was built by a Chinese company, but also because it will serve as a watershed moment in China-Bangladesh cooperation and serve as an everlasting connection of brotherhood between China and Bangladesh and two peoples by heart, guiding the route to common prosperity and a shared future.

No one can deny it, and everyone recognizes that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's heroic action has transformed the Padma Bridge from a dream to a reality. Sheikh Hasina's bravery has undoubtedly resulted in the construction of the Padma Bridge. The Padma Bridge is the most significant gift commemorating the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, the Father of the Nation. It is not simply the bridge across the Padma; it has raised the Bengali nation's confidence to such a level that they can achieve anything. And it was their bold Prime Minister who reawakened this confidence. The father provided independence for the country, while the daughter provided prosperity.

China praised the Premier for successfully completing the much-needed bridge despite all the intrigues. China knows to evaluate the right person.

PM Sheikh Hasina announced the construction of the Padma Bridge during the country's acute image crisis following the World Bank's loan cancellation due to corruption allegations.

Bangladesh has proven to the world its capacity under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership by building a 6.15km bridge over the country's second-toughest river using its own money. Bangladesh's finance ministry gave Bangladesh Bridge Authority with a credit of 3 billion USD.

The construction of the bridge is viewed as the most significant achievement of the Awami League government, which has had to deal with "conspiracies" that led to the World Bank canceling a pledged fund in 2012 due to a corruption charge that was eventually proven untrue.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on the other hand, has been able to clear up all of the ambiguity while also overcoming all of the financial and technical obstacles.

The Padma Bridge is made of more than just concrete. It combines People's love and pride. It was built with its own money by Sheikh Hasina. She has bravely put it into action for the love of people.

Bangladesh's dignity in the world has improved as a result of the bridge's building using its own funds. The bridge has brought the Bengali nation's dignity and respect to the world's attention.

True happiness comes from the satisfaction of well-done deeds and the excitement of creating something new... well done, Bangladesh, under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's capable and vibrant leadership. Congrats! She's put in the finest effort... China's praise on Bangladesh PM for building Padma bridge is recognition of Bangladesh success story.

Author Bio: The author, Fumiko Yamada specializes in Bangladesh Affairs'. She is a research fellow in Bangladesh Studies at the University of Melbourne', Australia. She is a graduate of South Asian Studies, University of Toronto, Canada. She can be contacted at [email protected]
The Central Regional Deputy Youth Organizer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Bright Botchway has advised the party's delegates to vote for competency in the forthcoming internal elections of the party and not the highest bidder.

Mr. Botchway indicated that vote buying in the electoral process provides fertile grounds for bad leaders to find themselves in governance which makes it difficult for a party to secure victory.

He added that the NDC should refrain from such practices and vote for leaders who can do the job and bring back power to the party since election 2024 is non-negotiable.

"We should remember is not about money but someone who can work and execute our agenda going into 2024 Polls to recapture power from this substandard NPP government," he stated.

He stressed that in the most blatant and imprudent manner in some parties which strive on "Cash for Vote" the future of NDC ought to be paramount to every member. For this reason, the party must avoid "moneycracy" and elect seasoned leaders for smooth victory.

"In this regard, the future of the party leaders will give birth to a disdain image of brigands which flashed and etched in the minds of the hapless masses," part of the statement reads.

Read full statement below:

I salute all the NDC youth of the great umbrella family.

I believe that the youth forms an integral part of nation-building. So do we the youth of the great Akatamansonian family, form an integral part of the party's development.

As a youth in this great NDC party, I will advise my colleague youth to be cautious and circumspect in whatever we do or utter in our bid to bring the great NDC party back into government come 2025. We should be mindful in most decisions we will take in electing people to lead the party, Vote buying is something I wont encourage in our body politics NDC, If care is not taken we will end up electing Lazy and bad who cant faction and give us Power .very soon the electoral process will commence electing new executives at the branch, ward, constituency, region, and national level to run the affairs of the party from now to 2024 and beyond before their mandate expired. We must remember that a little mistake in our decision this year will cost the party fortunes and will take years to correct the wrong.

Moreover, let us try as much as possible to upgrade our educational status in our capacity to achieve the best we aim at because NDC as a party always gives opportunities to youth, and surely your hard work wont be in vain, I also call on my colleague's youth to improve their businesses, though most comrades find it hard to sustain in even their small business because the bad economy but still lets try to get involve in something profitable in your small way and upgrade in trades because we have more time now than when we were in power.

It's necessary for improving the goodness of the party should be the watchword. Links in the area of trade, education, and employment.

When we do these, then we can help support the future of our party because we are young in opposition enough to wait for the time when we will rather schedule ourselves for party work and other important assignments.

We as youth must learn to build and protect our integrity because we are the future leaders of this great party where presidents, Ministers, Parliamentarians, District Chief Executives, and the like will emerge. How we hold ourselves today will probably reflect on our integrity when we become leaders.

To my colleague TEIN -NDC members and executives; work hard, protect your integrity, work in unity, be accountable to your people, and above all, study hard and you shall be vindicated by the perceptions of your colleagues from the other fraternity.

I end here by wishing all my colleagues youth, fruitful moments worth appreciating and calling on you to reflect on these opinions for the sake of the future of our country and the party

Long live the Youth wing.

Long live NDC,

Long live Ghana
This portal has sighted a memo indicating that the Member of Parliament for Pru West, Stephen Jalulah has returned to the state double salaries paid him after his tenure as a District Chief Executive.

Stephen Jalulah and two other Members of Parliament have been accused of receiving double salaries as former CEO and DCEs, respectively, in addition to their current salaries as MPs.

The memo said a total amount of GH119,004.45 had been paid back to the government.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Jalulah confirmed that he had indeed returned the monies as stated in the memo.

We thought we were doing a civic responsibility by voluntarily refunding these monies without anybody asking us to do it because we think we are honourable members, and we should not wait for anybody to prompt us.

The Member of Parliament for Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfrom, Sylvester Tetteh has also denied the Auditor General's allegations of receiving double salaries.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Tetteh clarified that he was never paid as Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority until he resigned  a situation he believes might have created the misconception of receiving a double salary.

Sylvester Tetteh explained that the Controller and Accountant General only started processing his salary after he was sworn in as a Member of Parliament.

It is unfortunate, that is not the case, and I am highly disappointed. I have never drawn a double salary, and I am a man of integrity. The day I was appointed CEO of the National Youth Authority, I worked for over 26 months for the Authority, but I was never paid a salary until I resigned.

The processes were still ongoing. When I was sworn in as a Member of Parliament on the 7th of January, in February, I wrote to the Authority to process my salary as CEO for the NYA. They started the process, until March, and they asked me to go to the Comptroller and Accountant General to do my verification to be paid.

citinewsroom
21.06.2022 LISTEN

Women and Feminist Scholars have been encouraged to turn their research into advocacy tools to influence public policy to advance efforts toward achieving inclusion and gender equality in Ghana.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion on the theme: "Academia Meets Policy  The Role of Feminist Scholars," Professor Jarpa Dawuni, a Fulbright Specialist under the U.S. Embassy-administered Fulbright

Program and a Democracy and Development (D&D) Fellow at the Ghana Center for Democratic

Development (CDD-Ghana), emphasized the urgent need for academia and civil society organizations (CSOs) to work collaboratively to expand research into untapped areas within the gender and human rights space to awaken interest and shape public policy.

The event brought together gender activists, women/feminist scholars, and media practitioners to explore opportunities and avenues for collaboration to achieve the mutually beneficial goal of gender equality. Specifically, the roundtable discussion was an opportunity for CDD-Ghana to build partnerships with women scholars who can become consultants for future collaborative work in research, policy, and advocacy. It also sought to provide feminist scholars with opportunities and a platform to engage in public scholarship and advocacy through their research.

Professor Nana Akua Anyidoho, Director of the Centre for Social Policy Studies (CSPS) at the University of Ghana, attributed the inability of scholars to be activists to existing prejudices.

We have different pressures and motivations because as much as feminist researchers would want our research to have an impact and to make real-life differences, we also have the pressures of responding to what our academic environment requires of us, she said. Ive had colleagues who have almost been penalized for the fact that they were activists as well as scholars and researchers. Somehow, there is this notion that you being an activist compromises your objectivity in some way so there is this prejudice that we have to deal with.

On her part, Dr. Wunpini Fatimata Mohammed, Assistant Professor at the College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia, highlighted the importance of sharing research findings with the media. She noted that although social media is a widely used medium, women/feminist scholars should consider using all forms of media  both traditional and social media  to reach those who may be disadvantaged due to the digital divide.

Speaking on opportunities for turning research into policy and advocacy tools, Dr. Kojo Asante, Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at CDD-Ghana, noted there is a lot of data that have not yet been mined, analyzed, or utilized. He maintained that it is essential for advocacy to be backed by research and stressed the importance of making research findings accessible to all.

Ms. Regina Amanfo-Tetteh, Lead for CDD-Ghana's Human Rights Desk, listed womens involvement in inter and intra-party politics and their influence on policy decisions; the future value of work for women postpandemic recovery; sustainability of womens agenda in the face of dwindling funding for CSOs and the shrinking of civic spaces as some research areas CDD-Ghana, the Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) at the University of Ghana and the CSPS can collaborate on to inform advocacy.

Dr. Deborah Atoborah, Director for CEGENSA said the Centres core mandate is to ensure gender equity features in policy and democratic governance and permeates many aspects of Ghanaian life. She thus pledged their commitment to bridging the gap between academia and civil society; while broadening the scope of gender research.

We seem to be experiencing gender fatigue because we have focused our work around certain issues to the neglect of other key issues. When we broaden the scope, the element of fatigue will begin to reduce and we will then have a whole lot of issues to work with, she said.
North Tongu lawmaker, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said: Incorporation documents I have obtained from the Registrar General exposes another false claim contained in the 7-page June 17, 2022 press release by the National Cathedral Secretariat and signed by Executive Director, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah.

The opposition lawmaker said: Contrary to the information provided in the said press statement (see page 5) and on the Nicodemusly updated national cathedral website (after we exposed the Pastor Otabil deception), to the effect that all the Board of Trustees have been registered as Directors of the National Cathedral of Ghana; we note, surprisingly, that the venerable Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, Presiding Bishop of the Lighthouse Group of Churches; and the esteemed Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, were not registered as directors on the incorporation date of 18th July, 2019.

The two revered clergymen, Mr Okudzeto noted, have, at all material times, been clearly left out, and substituted with the following names: Samuel Antwi and Kingsley Ofosu Ntiamoah.

Why then is the National Cathedral Secretariat misleading the Ghanaian public and the world that all the published trustees are registered as directors? he asked.

One wonders if Bishop Dag Heward-Mills and Rev. Prof. Cephas Omenyo are aware that despite the public misrepresentations, their names have been patently omitted from the list of eminent registered directors?

Mr Ablakwa, who has made a lot of exposes on the national cathedral project, said, in a Facebook post: Another troubling falsehood we have detected is that even though the June 17 press release claims that the National Cathedral of Ghana is a state-owned company and, thus, a public and not a private entity, the incorporation documents in our possession reveals rather curiously that the National Cathedral of Ghana is registered as private [entity].

The list of falsehoods, misrepresentations, opacity, lawlessness and blatant corruption associated with this cathedral project is now a bottomless pit, he noted.

Christians in Ghana may have to declare a 40-day intense fasting and prayer to purge and rescue Akufo-Addos drowning cathedral of lies, Mr Ablakwa proposed.

About a week ago, Prophet Dr Kofi Oduro of the Alabaster International Ministry said President Nana Akufo-Addo is redeeming his personal national cathedral pledge to God through lies and deception.

According to Prophet Oduro, the President and the government said no national funds would be used for the cathedral but that has turned out not to be the case now.

Prophet Oduro, who says he supports the idea of a national cathedral, however, told OB Nartey on the maiden edition of No.1 FMs mid-morning show on Monday, 13 June 2022 that the way the president and the government are going about it is wrong.

Anybody who will say there is no need for a national cathedral has missed the point because we have a national mosque. The essence and the need for a national cathedral is 100 per cent perfect but the way we are going about it, if we are not careful, even Christians will say it offends God, he said.

The way government is going about this whole thing; let me use the national mosque for example: not a cedi of this nation was used for the construction of the national mosque. It was built by the Turkish government and the Muslim community in Ghana. Why cant we do the same with the national cathedral? Why are we going to tax this on the nation?

There are certain things that are not right. The president made a personal vow to God. That vow must be redeemed but not this strategy, not this method.

The purpose is perfect. We need a national cathedral [but] your methodology is wrong, he told the president, insisting: Absolutely wrong.

You told us that state fund would not be used. Now state funds are required. Thats deception. Thats a lie. You are building something for God, he said.

In his view, President Akufo-Addo could have just invited businessmen and women to the Jubilee House and put his funding request before them and would be surprised that just one person would have given $100,000,000 toward the construction of the national cathedral.

But the way we are going about it, we are going to drag the names of all these men of integrity on the board of the national cathedral into the mud.

Well destroy their reputation with this national cathedral, he warned.

Prior to his Prophet Oduros comments, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta had wondered if using state funds to build the national cathedral that President Nana Akufo-Addo promised to put up for God, if he won the presidency, was too much.

At any point in time when these buildings were built in Europe, was it ever the right time? How do we fund it will become the question, he asked in an interview on state-owned GTV on Sunday, 12 June 2022.

Is the executive mindful of the current situation? We shouldnt snuff out our religiousness or spirituality because we are poor, he noted.

The Lord will understand if we put our widows mite in there, Mr Ofori-Atta noted.

That question being asked is that: Are we spending money from state coffers? Is that too much to do because we are politicising it? Do we really want to stop it? That is going to be my question.

He said: As a minister of finance, we are looking at resources and how much we put in there at every point in time that is sensible and, so, as we speak, we have spent less than one-thousandth of our expenditure on that.

I am very confident of raising revenue to be able to fund this and then, more importantly, if I want to look into the economics of it, I truly see an overwhelming capacity that this will pay off.

Typically, I am looking at an internal rate of return, so, we should put this in mind, the presidents cousin noted.

Mr Ablakwa had alleged that on the 29th of October 2020, a few weeks before the national elections, Mr Ofori-Atta, acting on a request by President Akufo-Addos Chief of Staff, authorised the release of GHS142,762,500.00 for national cathedral planned activities.

According to Mr Ablakwa, contrary to legal requirements, the government concealed this ginormous GHS142.7 million from Parliament as they deliberately failed to disclose this item as part of their expenditure returns of 2020 during the 2021 budget consideration in Parliament.

This 2020 cathedral expenditure, the opposition MP noted, was also kept away from the Auditor-General in his 2020 audit.

In a separate Facebook post, the lawmaker said so far, adding this latest expose to his previous leaks, the Akufo-Addo government has spent GHS199,832,603.00 of taxpayer funds on a cathedral which was originally presented to Ghanaians as a personal pledge to God that will not be executed with taxpayer funds.

Digging into the tonnes of documents, Mr Ablakwa stated that many more millions have been paid illegally which we shall continue to put out to the glory of God and in the overall national interest. On a further scarier note, the figures we are currently reviewing do not look like anything near a seed capital.

He said this GHS200 million cathedral gate has turned out to be the biggest presidential scandal in Ghanas entire history.

He described as terribly shocking, how President Akufo-Addo and his men could engage in such ungodly, illegal and insensitive conduct.

In the name of a cathedral project, Mr Ablakwa again alleged that a corrupt slush fund has been created to siphon taxpayer funds from the suffering masses on the blind side of Parliament, the Auditor-General, CSOs and other accountability systems.

Instructively, these illegal diversions took place when the government was engaged in massive vote-buying to win the 2020 elections; it was also the period COVID-19 had peaked and placed enormous pressure on our health delivery as many Ghanaians died, and yet President Akufo-Addo claimed he couldnt find the resources to fulfill his Agenda 111 pledge of building new hospitals, he stated.

Source: Classfmonline.com
Chinese demand for traditional medicines has sent poachers hunting for African animals from rhinos to pangolins. Now a humbler creature is threatened: donkeys.

Once prized by emperors, a gelatin called ejiao -- made from donkey skins -- is increasingly sought after by China's middle class.

The health benefits are believed similar to products derived from rhino horns, from working as a blood thinner to acting as an aphrodisiac, which could ease pressure on endangered rhinos.

But as in countries from Burkina Faso to Kenya, South Africa is now seeing its donkey population plunge, threatening other businesses that make soaps and creams from donkey milk.

"In South Africa we have seen a rapid decline of the donkey population due to illegal slaughter to supply the Chinese skin trade," said Jesse Christelis, co-founder of the Donkey Dairy.

A recent study by researchers from the University of South Africa showed the donkey population shrank from 210,000 in 1996 to about 146,000 in 2019.

The shrinking supply has sent prices soaring. According to Christelis, a donkey would fetch about $30 at auction five years ago. Now they cost about $125 each.

That is still a relative bargain in China where donkey hides that sold for $473 in 2018 now sell for $1,160.

The ejiao produced from them can sell for up to $360 per kilogram.

Theft of donkeys also hits small farmers who need the animals to transport their produce. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP)

South Africa legally exports about 10,500 donkey hides to China every year, but the real quantity is believed much higher as smugglers have tapped into the trade.

"This year, we intercepted two loads of donkeys that were going to Lesotho," said Grace De Lange of the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Donkey rustlers

"On our farm there has been a big focus to go look for donkeys that have been placed in places of misery and we actually buy them out," he told AFP.

"We sit often on most of the auctions whether it is online or a physical auction to out bid the kill-buyers who supply the trade with donkey skins."

Theft of donkeys also hits small farmers who need the animals to transport their produce.

"Stock theft units need to be more proactive," said Ashley Ness, an inspector at the Highveld Horse Care Unit, an equine welfare agency situated on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

Donkey farmers like Christelis have limited options to protect their herd from thieves. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP)

"Instead of taking action after the cause, they should take leads from villages that get approached by suspicious agents."

The top agriculture official in the North West province, Manketsi Tlhape, said they are "investigating all the reported incidents".

However, donkey farmers like Christelis have limited options to protect their herd from thieves.

"We have electric fences, alarms and our donkeys are also micro chipped in case they get stolen," he said.

Donkey Dairy

There is scant information on the size of the ejiao market, but the Britain-based animal welfare group Donkey Sanctuary estimated that in 2019 China needed five million skins to supply to the trade.

In contrast, the market for products using donkey milk is still in its infancy. The size of the global donkey milk market is projected to reach just $16 million by 2026.

There is scant information on the size of the ejiao market. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP)

South Africa has two donkey dairies, but they may not be viable if prices for the animals keep rising.

Kenya banned donkey slaughter in 2020, after the populations there plunged due to the skin trade.

Donkey milk is believed to contain antioxidant, antimicrobial and antidiabetic properties.

"I think the donkey skin trade is definitely a threat to donkey dairies in South Africa and across Africa," said Christelis, who owns 116 donkeys at his farm.

"The increased demand for donkey milk is mainly from people suffering from eczema, psoriasis," he said. "Seeing the donkey population being depleted, we don't know if the demand for donkey milk will be met."
21.06.2022 LISTEN

A 13-year old boy is currently in the custody of the Police at Akyem-Bunso in the Fanteakwa North District of the Eastern Region for an attempt to seek money rituals at a shrine.

According to reports, the teenager (name withheld) traveled from Kade in the Kwaebibirim Municipality to visit Indian Power, a spiritualist at Akyem Nsutam for the money rituals that he was ready to comply with all the demands.

The boy reportedly told the spiritualist that he is an orphan who is a dropout from Kade Roman Catholic Basic School in class 5 and currently needs money to learn a trade.

He said he got the number of the Indian Power man on Television and hence decided to come to him for money rituals.

The spiritualist subsequently informed the Police who came to arrest him.

The case has since been referred to Abuakwa South DOVVSU for investigation and appropriate advice.

DGN online
The Minister of Information, Hon. Koji Oppong Nkrumah has called on Judges to see to it that quick punitive action is taken against people who attack journalists in their line of duty.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a training workshop for judges on the need to protect freedom of expression and safety of journalists in Ho on Monday, June 20, 2022, the Ofoase-Ayirebi Member of Parliament said stiffer punishment for such people will send a strong message to ensure the media is protected.

The wheels of justice may grind slowly, but My Lord Chief Justice, the feedback I have from my media colleagues is that we believe some quick punitive action targeted at the perpetrators of infringements against media practitioners will be appreciated.

It will be the strongest message to the next batch of state and non-state actors that it is not acceptable to attack journalists no matter how much you disagree with what they say, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said.

The Information Minister continued, It will be a message stronger than any admonition that anybody can give. If we want these acts which frankly, are a disgrace and an embarrassment to our democracy to stop, please punish these acts with speed regardless of who commits them.

Over the years, several members of the media have been assaulted. In several instances, some journalists have been manhandled and beaten by security personnel while executing their work.

Oppong Nkrumah believes if such attackers are made to face the full force of the law, the attacks on the media will cease.
Engineers at the Asokwa Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region have recommended the demolition of parts of the building within the Kumasi Shoe factory that was recently gutted by fire following a gas explosion on Friday.

Officers from the National Disaster Management Organisation joined officials from the Asokwa Municipal Assembly to do a critical assessment of the building on Monday.

Speaking to Citi News after assessing the building, Mercy Sarquah who is with the works department at the Asokwa Municipal Assembly, noted that parts of the building should be demolished and renovated in order not to put the lives of people at risk.

The best we can do right now is to demolish parts and rework on it and I think from there, they can start reusing it, she said.

For now, they should not get close to the building until we are done with all the renovation work, she also cautioned.

The engineer noted that parts of the roof, beams and columns were destroyed by the fire.

The explosion took place at a poly tank producing company located within the Kumasi Shoe factory enclave.

It has been directed to halt its operations until it meets fire safety requirements.

The factory has rented out space to the Poly tank producing company.

The fire led to the destruction of a number of poly tanks, vehicles and other equipment belonging to the company.

By Citi Newsroom
21.06.2022 LISTEN

The National Chief Imam, Dr. Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu is confident in the ability of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to address the issue of anti-Muslim comments passed by some police officers relating to the recent chaos at the Islamic Senior High School in the Ashanti Region.

According to the Chief Imam's spokesperson, Aremeyaw Shaibu, they believe that the police administration will be able to thoroughly investigate the issue and apply the necessary sanctions if anyone is found guilty.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, Aremeyaw Shaibu said the public, especially those who have been affected by the comments, should exercise restraint and give the IGP the needed support to properly probe the issue without hurting social cohesion in the country.

We should handle matters of this nature with caution so that we don't give chance to some other elements to further divide us. The IGP had informed the National Chief Imam that certain comments had been made, and those police officers associated with those comments had been interdicted. We believe in the capacity and ability of the IGP to handle this matter, and we want to assure everybody that let's give him the chance to do a proper investigation, he added.

Four police officers working in the police control room monitoring CCTV cameras in the Ashanti Region have been interdicted after they were captured on a viral tape passing anti-Muslim comments while running commentary on the recent Islamic Senior High School incident.

The officers in the tape are heard describing the students as troublemakers, among other unsavoury comments.

The IGP has already sent the Director General of Police Operations, DCOP Mohammed Suraji to apologize to the Muslim leadership in the Ashanti Region over the comments.

According to Aremeyaw Shaibu, the IGP has also spoken to the National Chief Imam and expressed his regret about the development and promised to take action on it.

He said that gesture by the IGP gives them confidence that he will take firm action on the matter.

Let's wait and see what the IGP will do with respect to those who have been found culpable in making any derogatory statement or comments Whenever incidents like this happen, one of the things I find wise to do is quickly touch base with the leadership of the affected communities, update them and assure them of steps to address the issue so that we don't allow the whole situation to degenerate.

He further urged the public to be circumspect in commenting on the issue, adding that the country must strive to maintain its harmonious living in the country.

Let's all contribute to ensuring that in Ghana, religious diversity is respected, and we are able to build on our shared values to build a foundation of a harmonious society in Ghana, he noted.

Citinewsroom
Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante says any attempts by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, to let his guard down will be a betrayal of the church which is in full support of his work.

The Minister, upon assumption of office, has embarked on a series of activities aimed at clamping down indiscipline in the city under the Lets Make Accra Work, agenda.

We have followed the Regional Minister keenly, and he is paraded as the most courageous Minister in the country, and he must be applauded. There are honest people in this country praying for people like him.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the Minister, the Moderator, who led a delegation from the Presbyterian Church, urged Henry Quartey to discharge his duties without fear or favour.

You must be commended for your works, but we will feel betrayed if you let your guards down. Please continue to be strong because this country will never go forward without people like you and I hope and pray that you keep it up, he told the Minister.

Henry Quartey since assuming office under his ' Let's Make Accra Work Agenda ' campaign, has undertaken several initiatives to provide lasting solutions to everyday challenges in the region, with the view to transform the national capital.

He has supervised the removal of unauthorized traders along some major streets, the pulling down of unauthorized structures, and carried out decongestion exercises and other sanitation drives aimed at ridding the capital of fifth.

These initiatives have won him the admiration of some Ghanaians, although some view them differently.

By Citi Newsroom
A communication team member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Allen Ama Daaku, has justified the national cathedral as public project.

She further asserted that though the national cathedral is President Akufo-Addos promise to God, as the name implies, it is still a national property and there is no cause for alarm when state money is being used to build it.

She made these assertions while speaking on Accra-based Metro TV's "Good Morning Ghana" programme on June 20 monitored by Modernghana news.

Madam Daaku, who is also aspiring to be a national women's organizer of the NPP, indicated that the free senior high school education, which was introduced by the current administration, was also the President's personal pledge to Ghanaians. However, the program which is being implemented using state funds upon his assumption of office has benefitted Ghanaians.

For this reason, she said she does not see why a personal pledge that will become a national asset should not be financed with state funds.

"Apart from that he also said a lot of things that he wanted to do including the National Cathedral. So you cannot tell me the National Cathedral is a private promise of the president to God. Yes, he said it was but it is a National Cathedral.

"It is for all of us just like Free SHS was a private promise that he made to Ghanaian children and he has fulfilled it. So what is this business with private promises?" she questioned.

The National Cathedral project has come under intense public criticism that the project was President Akufo-Addo's personal promise to God which must not be funded with state funds at the time economy is facing challenges.

The project has already received nearly GH200 million from the state as seed money, according to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu.
Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Savannah Region, Alhaji Iddrisu Sulemana popularly called Professor Kalamonia over the weekend, joined the Member of Parliament for Damongo constituency Abu Jinapor in gracing social events in the constituency.

The team first made a stop at Attributo, a suburb of Damongo where they graced the three-day funeral rites of the late Abubakari Fitter, a former polling station executive who was reportedly electrocuted to death on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 during a downpour.

An unspecified amount of money was donated by the team to the bereaved family and the wife of the deceased.

The team later attended naming ceremonies of other party members in the Damongo township and proceeded to Laribanga for an Islamic ceremony.

Prof. Kalamonia and his entourage later proceeded to the Daboya-Mankarigu constituency where they joined the Member of Parliament for the area, Alhaji Mahama Asei Seini in commiserating with the Electoral Area Coordinator for Mankarigu following the death of his father.

After commiserating with the family, the maverick politician and his team graced a marriage ceremony of one Iliasu, a party member also in the Mankarigu community.

The team together with the MP who doubles as the Deputy Minister for Health moved to Yagbon where party faithfuls were addressed on current happenings regarding development by the lawmaker and the government at both the constituency, regional and national level.

Prof. Kalamonia in his address encouraged the chiefs and people of the area to continue to pray for the government.

According to him, the NPP led government has done a lot to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians from employment, free SHS, roads construction, rural electrification amongst others.

He called on them to exercise patience and also ensure unity to help the party retain political power in 2024.
The Art of Leadership

21.06.2022 LISTEN

We must fight to defend ourselves from aggressors who surprise us by launching attacks and wars against us. There is a thief readying himself to steal, to kill and to destroy all that God has given you. An enemy has come up against us to destroy all that we are and all that we have. We must fight because evil aggressors will come against us without any good cause. There are always aggressive people who attack good people for no good reason.

The thief cometh not, but for TO STEAL, and TO KILL, and TO DESTROY

John 10:10

When Adolf Hitler decided to invade Europe, many countries simply succumbed to his wishes, but there were some who refused to allow Hitler to have his way. Winston Churchill was one of those people.

Winston Churchill Vows To Defend His Island

He said, We shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary, alone. That is the resolve of his majesty's government  every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never surrender. And even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British fleet, would carry on the struggle until, in God's good time, the new world, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

Defend The Church

We, as ministers of the gospel, must defend the churches we are building. The enemy will rise up to destroy what God has used you to do. If you sit down calmly thinking that nothing bad can happen to the good work you have done, you are but a child. You will be attacked! The church will be attacked! Satan will fight to destroy all your fruits! He will come against the church using distinguished men in suits! Satan has no gentle plans for God's church. He is a wicked, merciless, heartless being!

Once you build the church, you must rise up and defend it against those who leave you, those who forget, those who pretend, those who are disloyal, those who are dangerous sons, those who are ignorant and those who accuse you.

It is time to mature and understand that Christians do have to fight to defend God's church. Today, homosexuality is invading the church. A strong stand is necessary to reject the perversion and destruction of the entire body of Christ. Today, a new attitude of prosperity, instead of salvation and soul winning, is invading the church and weakening it. It is time to rise and defend the church against secularism and unspiritual teachings. It is time to defend the church from turning into an unspiritual centre for motivational speeches.

The main mission of the Holy Spirit is to inspire us for soul winning. But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). That is why the Holy Spirit has been given! The main mission of the church is to win souls under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Today, the main mission of the church is to be happy, to be prosperous, to be excited and to stay in the safest, nicest cities of the world. Churches do not care much about the lost and dying people in this world. There needs to be an invasion of the evil secular spirit. The church is under attack. It is time to defend the church against the spirit of the world. The spirit of the world is intent on destroying the mission of the Holy Spirit. It is time to rebuke the false, lukewarm spirit of the world that is destroying the church.

@ymail.com

Culled from A Good General

BY Dag Heward-Mills
Last Sunday, many motorists were inconvenienced at Accra Newtown by the now common unauthorised blocking of roads in some parts of the nation's capital.

Some areas are noted for such acts of indiscipline and to think that these are hardly stopped by law enforcement personnel beats imagination.

If there are parts of Accra's road network which should be spared the incessant blocking of such accesses, it is the main Kotobabi Police Station stretch as it heads towards the Kokomlemle traffic intersection.

Last Sunday, this road was blocked because of a family or group celebrating a wedding activity. It commenced from after 3pm and proceeded into the night. None of those inconvenienced by the act of indiscipline even bothered to call in the Police perhaps, they found it unproductive.

We wonder how the Kotobabi Police Station or the Nima Divisional headquarters would have reacted had a report been made to them.

We can risk vouching it that nobody reported the road closure to the law enforcement personnel. We can also say that the Police unit in whose jurisdiction the breach took place noticed the closure.

We appreciate the enormity of the work of the Police but hasten to add that this fact notwithstanding, law enforcement personnel should be able to intervene in such acts of indiscipline which has become commonplace in some parts of Accra.

One of the dangers posed by the recklessness on the part of community residents is that in the case of emergencies as in fire outbreaks or patients requiring immediate transportation to a medical facility, such nuisances constitute avoidable stumbling blocks.

While some organisers would erect flimsy structures such as broken tables or concrete blocks to warn oncoming traffic, others simply ignore such protocols.

The Sunday under review also witnessed the road linking the Caprice areas as the road meanders towards the main Newtown road mentioned earlier around the GCB Bank Limited, blocked for a funeral.

The situation, we must state, was chaotic. Motorists and even pedestrians would continue to encounter such breaches until the public support the Police to restore decency in the manner we abuse our road networks with closures.

It is time we appreciated the importance of some roads and therefore avoid closing them with the level of impunity as being exhibited.

We cannot continue living like this; it is as though there are no laws to guide our activities.

We bet that when the law enforcement personnel descend upon those who unilaterally block roads, confrontational scenes would erupt. But the law must be applicable. Period.

---Daily Guide
The timely intervention of some police officers saved Mutalla Inusah, a GHone Court Correspondent, from being physical attacked by Kyekyeku.

Kyekyeku who was in handcuff threw his hands towards the journalist saying, "you are stupid, who asked you to take pictures."

Suddenly, some relatives of the accused also joined the verbal assault, shouting and asking, "who gave you the permission to take pictures.''

The police officers managed to put the situation under control and escorted the accused back to custody.

Meanwhile, the District Court at the police headquarters has declined Oppong Kyekyeku, who is also a machine operator, bail and remanded him into lawful custody to reappear on July 4.

The court presided over by Ms Ama Adomako Kwakye held that the court had no jurisdiction to grant bail and also said there had not been an unreasonable delay in the trial.

The court's ruling came after the defence counsel Mr Ralph Agyapong had prayed the court to grant the accused, a father of 12, bail as the family depended on him.

Mr Agyapong contended that his client had spent about 14 days in custody, and he had been assisting the Police in their investigations, arguing that the district court had jurisdiction to grant bail.

He said the accused was a businessperson and had a fixed place of abode.

Prosecution led by Detective Chief Inspector Richard Amoah told the court that the Police were yet to conclude investigations.

Chief Inspector Amoah prayed the court not to take the plea of the accused.

The prosecution drew the attention of the court to the fact that the charge constituted a first-degree felony (serious offence) and that the Police needed to build a duplicate docket to be forwarded to the Attorney General's office for advice.

The fact of the prosecution is that Kyekyeku is the father of the victim aged, 11.

He has been living in Holland for many years and relocated to Ghana a year ago.

In May this year, Oppong Kyekyeku allegedly told a friend he was facing financial challenges and consulted a spiritualist, agreeing to present his daughter for money ritual.

He was, however, picked up after he had allegedly managed to send the daughter for the ritual at Oyibi Kom in Accra.

The accused has been charged with preparation to commit crime to wit murder.

His plea has been preserved by the court.

GNA
21.06.2022 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has expressed his desire to see the men of God who form the board of trustees for the National Cathedral, speak up on the current brouhaha surrounding the project.

He said it was his belief that the men of God were misled.

In an interview on Accra based TV3 today, he stated that per his checks the men of God were oblivious of the fact that the National Cathedral is being funded with state funds.

I really would love them to speak. I believe that the government has been most unfair to them. If you recall last week I put out a statement when I realized that based on the work we are doing, the exposes that some Ghanaians were launching blistering attacks at these eminent men of God, I issued a statement saying they should back off, they should not do that. Thats not my intention or objective. I believe strongly that they were misled by government like all of us, he intimated.

He noted that the Board of trustees for the National Cathedral who are revered men of God in the country had previously stood on the notion that the Cathedral would be put up by the contribution of individual churches and not burdened the taxpayers.

It can be recounted that the Presiding Archbishop and General Overseer of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams who is also a member of the Board of Trustees once asked Ghanaians what their worry was since the cathedral was not going to be funded with taxpayers money.

The Board of Trustees is chaired by Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah, Chairman of the Church of Pentecost. He is assisted by Archbishop Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop, Cape Coast, who is the Vice Chairperson.

Other members include Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, Rev. Eastwood Anaba, Bishop Dag Heward Mills and others.

However, from revelations by the North Tongu MP, the representation of the National Cathedral on paper as a private entity and in practice a public one is news to these men of God who have now asked the President to come clean.
21.06.2022 LISTEN

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency has alleged that the secretary to the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral is the Attorney General, Godfred Dame.

He said the Attorney General (AG) assumed this role while he was the Deputy Attorney General.

In an exclusive interview on Accra-based TV3 today, Mr. Ablakwa said the National Cathedral was registered as a private entity.

He indicated that information he sourced from the Registrar General's Department reveals that the AGs name not his position was indicated as the secretary.

This is the explosive bit. This is the first time I am putting this out. We will be exploring this in further detail in the coming hours. Would you believe that this private entity, the secretary to the board, the secretary to the company on page 3 of this incorporation document is Godfred Dame, the Attorney General? Remember this incorporation was done on the 18th of January 2019 at the time Godfred Dame was Deputy Attorney General so you cannot say this is a position for Deputy Attorney General. In any case, this is registered as a private entity and not a state-owned entity and it is his name, not the position, not the office. 2019, when he was deputy, he exposed.

He adds that, in the same year, the AG who was part of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) board took part in the award of contracts which made his then new position as secretary to the registered National Cathedral Company a conflict of interest.

Guess what, in 2019, Godfred Dame was a member of the PPA board and our further digging reveals that he did not recuse himself when Sir David Adjaye was being awarded colossal sums of money in the name of sole sourced contracts, he revealed.

Mr. Ablakwa has since the beginning of this month, become a sole investigator on the National Cathedral making revelations of large sums of state money being pumped into a project that was supposed to be a personal pledge President Akufo-Addo made to God in 2016.
An outspoken Ghanaian has waded into the controversial National Cathedral project asking why a personal pledge by the President should be the burden of all Ghanaians after winning power.

Dr. Solomon Owusu, a US based Ghanaian mining consultant, is asking why President Akufo-Addo is using state funds to honour a personal pledge despite the current economic hardship of the country.

He has also questioned if the National Cathedral is a state monument as leaked documents suggest it is a private entity.

Speaking on Accra-based Radio Gold on Tuesday morning, he insisted there is no need for the President to waste Ghana's little resources on National Cathedral when God is comfortably living in Heaven.

Dr. Solomon Owusu stressed that it is illegal to use state funds for such a project without the President consulting Parliament or capturing it in a budget statement subjected to parliamentary debate and approval.

"If the President think he cannot single-handedly construct the Cathedral as promised earlier, then he must resort to Parliament to seek approval before using state funds. Have you seen the Finance Minister capturing funds for the National Cathedral in the budgets presented to Parliament before?" he rhetorically asked the host.

"I have all the budgets presented to Parliament since 2017 and there is no place that talks about allocation to the National Cathedral. So why must the President go ahead and use state funds? This means the President is riding over the powers of the Legislature," Dr. Owusu added.

He expressed worry Ghana is seeking a $24.9m from India for Agric mechanisation plant while a whooping amount of $22 million has been paid to Sir David Adjaye and Associates Limited for the design of the facility.

"We live in a country with many challenges such as; high rate of unemployment, poor roads, health problems, educational challenges and low standard of living yet still the President thought it wise to use the little money we have anyhow. Do our leaders really think of us the citizens," Dr. Solomon Owusu stressed.

Meanwhile, Dr. Solomon Owusu hinted the "Vatican to receive a grievance on Rt. Rev Palmer Buckles involvement in the illegalities surrounding the National Cathedral, if he continues to be a board member".

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has alleged that Government has already spent over GHC200 million on the National Cathedral.
Fathers Day celebration is all about honouring the joys of fatherhood and the bond shared.

Fathers Day is celebrated every year on the third Sunday of June in most parts of the world.

This year Fathers Day was observed on 19th June 2021.

The day is observed annually to recognise the contribution of fathers and their importance in the family.

The Member of Parliament for Oforikrom constituency in the Ashanti Region, Dr Emmanuel Kwabena Marfo has donated items to the All Nations Children's Home and King Children's Home.

The kind gesture was part of Dr Marfos illusion to bring joy to the faces of the inmates of the orphanage homes as the world celebrates fathers.

He donated food items such as bags of maize, beans, rice, gari, sugar, and millet, as well as 6 gallons of palm oil, 6 gallons of oil and bottles of water to All Nations Charity Home at Ayigya Zongo, King Jesus Childrens Home and Deduako Special School.

The Oforikrom MP proceeded to dine with the inmates at the orphanage homes.

In an interview with the media, Dr Marfo emphasized that on this special Fathers day, I saw it essential to donate the food items to the homes as well as dine with the orphans, drink with them and dance with them, because they have no parents. I realized that the move could put smiles on their faces."

He commended the owner of the Orphanage for the great vision to take care of the orphans in the Oforikrom District.

He prayed for continuous divine protection for the owner and the children's health.

Dr Marfo took the opportunity to urge other companies and individuals to support the orphanage to take care of the children.

Receiving the items on behalf of the owner of the centre, the Executive Director of All Nations Charity Home, Rev Philip Kwasi Nyamekye thanked the lawmaker for the kind gesture.

Rev Philip Nyamekye said, We appreciate Dr Marfos effort. He has been our backbone. Hes donated a lot of things to us. We thank you so much. We pray to God for longevity for him."

According to Rev Philip, about 12 of the inmates he raised are in various tertiary institutions while others have completed SHS.

He took the opportunity to appeal to NGOs, government and other companies to come to their aid.
On Saturday 18th June 2022, H.E Mrs. Ann Marie Davis, the first lady of Bahamas led a high-powered government delegation from the Bahamas to Ahanta to witness the coronation of Christopher Davies as Gyan Kwaw II.

This was occasioned after Christopher Davis, a young historian and a researcher from the Bahamas traced the origins of the popular Junkanoo festival in the Bahamas and Caribbean to Princes Town, a town in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region of Ghana.

Since 2019, Christopher Davis and his wife Tamara Davis have made several trips to Princess Town to connect the missing links of Junkanoo in the Caribbean. Christopher Davis and his wife Tamara Davis have led several Bahamians to Princess Town, where the whole Junkanoo festival originated as a result of the heroic exploits of Gyan Kwaw, an Ahanta chieftain who seized Fort Fredericksburg in Princess Town in 1720s in his bid to stop the slave trade in the then Gold Coast, now Ghana.

The delegation included Mr. Andrew Wilson, Bahamas ambassador designate to Ghana, Mr. Jamal Rolle, Culture Affairs Ambassador in the Bahamas and Mr. Kenneth Wallace, a senior Foreign Affairs officer in the Bahamas. Also in the delegation were Dr. Michael Peter Pateman, an archaeologist, Angelique McKay, leader of Junkanoo Commandos in the Bahamas and Tamara Davis, wife of Christopher Davis.

ARRIVAL AT KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ACCRA

Setting off with JetBlue Airways at Nassau on Wednesday 15th June 2022 at 4.30pm, the first lady and her entourage made a transit at JFK Airport in Washington, USA and arrived at Kotoka International Airport in Accra on board Delta Airline BOEING No. 767-300 on 16th June 2022 at 2.30pm.

Upon arrival, the first lady and her entourage were ushered to the VIP Section under the arrangements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Security where she and her entourage were met by the Western Regional Minister Hon. Kobby Okyere Darko, some government officials, chiefs and queen mothers from Ahanta Traditional Area led by Nana Eziaku IV, Tufohene to Badu Bonso XV.

After brief interactions with the Western Regional Minister and Ahanta chiefs and queen mothers, she was escorted to Kempiski Hotel under tight security arrangements by the national security and State Protocol Department where she passed the night.

A TOUR OF ACCRA CITY

After a night at Kempiski Hotel, the first lady and her entourage led by the Western Regional Minister, chiefs and queen mothers from Ahanta toured some historical places in Accra on 17th June, 2022. This is to make the first lady and her entourage familiarize themselves with the capital city of Ghana and also to have a good historical impression of it.

The first lady and her entourage first visited the Independence Square at Osu where they were told by the guides about the importance of Independence Square to the national life of Ghanaians. From the Independence Square, together with the Western Regional Minister and Ahanta chiefs and queen mothers of Ahanta, they visited the newly refurbished National Museum where tour guides took her and her entourage through historical antecedents of pre-colonial Gold Coast, colonial Gold Coast and Ghana after independence.

After a brief interaction with the director of the National Museum and the staff, she and her entourage proceeded to Artistic Center at Osu where she was shown various artworks by prominent Ghanaian artists and other artists from Africa. She and her entourage then proceeded to the Precious Mineral Marketing Company where she met with the management of the company and also interacted with the staff. She and her entourage were taken to the showroom where various gold and diamond jewelries were at display to their admiration.

She ended her Accra tour at Kotoka International Airport where she boarded African World Airline to Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana.

ARRIVAL AT TAKORADI AIRPORT

The first lady and her entourage arrived at Takoradi Airport at exactly 5.00pm. At Takoradi Airport, they were given a rousing welcome amidst singing, drumming, dancing and rich cultural display by the chiefs and people of Ahanta.

The first lady and her entourage were welcomed to Ahanta by Egya Kwamina XI, the chief Apremdo and Sanaahene to Badu Bonso XV. He expressed his happiness for the safe arrival of the first lady and her entourage all the way from the Bahamas to Ahanta. He wished the first lady and her entourage a pleasant stay in Ahanta and also expressed hopes that the visit of the first lady will inspire others to also come to Ahanta in search of their roots. "Your Excellency, we are glad to have you in Ahanta and I am very confident that your coming will inspire others to come", said Egya Kwamina XI while exchanging pleasantries with the first lady.

Nana Kojo Adansi II poured libation and thanked the gods of Ahanta for the safe arrival of the first lady and her entourage to Ahanta. "Oh gods of our land, we thank you for bringing the first lady of Bahamas to us without any hitch", he said it in a local Nzema language while pouring gin on the ground per the custom of Ahanta people.

Nana Kojo Adansi II further prayed that the gods guide the descendants of all those who were forcefully taken into slavery to find their way home just as the first lady and others have done. "As the first lady of Bahamas and others have come, we know that you the gods of Ahanta will lead the descendants of all who were taken away through slavery to safely return home," he said while still pouring the gin on the ground at Takoradi Airport.

Also at the Takoradi Airport to welcome the first lady and her entourage were DCOP/Mr. Adusa, the Western Regional Police Commander, ACP/Mr. Yao Tettegah, the Takoradi Divisional Police Commander and Supt/Mr. Ayepah, the Staff Officer to the Western Regional Police Commander.

From Takoradi Airport, the first lady and her entourage were escorted to Busua Beach Hotel at Busua under very tight security arrangements headed by ACP/Mr. Yao Tettegah. The convoy of the first lady to Busua had a lot of police and military detachment in combat positions guarding her all the way to Busua Beach Hotel in Busua, the capital of Ahanta Kingdom.

At Busua Beach Hotel, a bouquet of flowers was presented to the first lady by the management of Busua Beach Hotel as a symbol of hospitality. The management of Busua Beach Hotel pledged to give the first lady and her entourage the best of their hospitality services for the period of her stay at the hotel. "Your Excellency, welcome to Busua Beach Hotel here on the Atlantic coast and one of the best hospitality centers in Ghana. We are glad to have you and we will do everything to make your stay enjoyable and memorable," said the manager of Busua Beach Hotel.

For starting, the first lady and her entourage were served coconut juice mixed with ginger and then given a fresh coconut to their thirst after long hours of traveling all the way from Bahamas to Busua in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region of Ghana. The first lady and her entourage then had dinner and passed the night at Busua Beach Hotel.

CORONATION OF CHRISTOPHER DAVIS AS GYAN KWAW II

On Saturday 18th June 2022, Christopher Davis was coronated as Gyan Kwaw II at the palace of Badu Bonso in the presence of a cheering crowd amidst singing drumming and dancing. The ceremony attracted dignitaries and people from all walks of life amidst a rich display of Ahanta culture and traditions at the forecourt of Badu Bonso's palace.

The ceremony which started at exactly 1.00pm, saw Ahanta chiefs and queen mothers adorned in their colourful Kente cloths and golden jewelries processed to the forecourt of Badu Bonso's palace after the arrival of the first lady and her entourage and other dignitaries.

Nana Kojo Adansi II led the prayer by thanking the gods of Ahanta while he pours the libation. "Gods of our ancestors and forefathers, it is your wish that we come here today for this beautiful occasion. As we before you, we pray that you guide that in everything that we are doing", he said it while pouring gin on the ground at the forecourt of Badu Bonso's palace.

In his welcome address as read by Nana Etsin Kofi II of Aboadi, HRM Badu Bonso XV, the overlord of Ahanta expressed his happiness to have H.E Ann Marie Davis, leaving all her busy schedules and responsibilities as the first lady of Bahamas to have travelled all the to Ahanta. " On my own behalf and on behalf of the good people of Ahanta, I welcome you Mrs. Ann Marie Davis and your entourage to Ahanta," said HRM Badu Bonso XV.

He also called on Christopher Davis who has been coronated as Gyan Kwaw to serve selflessly. " This is not a funfare but rather we bestowing on you responsibility of serving and protecting not only Ahanta people but descendants of all others who were taken away as a result of the slave trade just as Gyan Kwaw himself", he said. HRM Badu Bonso XV was optimistic that the visit of the first lady and coronation of Christopher Davis as Gyan Kwaw II will strengthen the diplomatic relations between Ghana and the Bahamas.

In his Speech, the Western Regional Minister Hon. Kobby Okyere Darko once again welcomed the first lady and her entourage to the Western Region of Ghana. According to the Western Regional Minister, the diplomatic relations between Ghana and Bahamas date back to 1957 when Ghana attained its independence and since then Ghana and Bahamas have had very smooth diplomatic relations. " Your Excellency, the diplomatic relations between Ghana and Bahamas have always been that of mutual respect," said Hon. Kobby Okyere Darko.

The Western Regional Minister further noted that the visit of the first lady and coronation of Christopher Davies as Gyan Kwaw II will open more doors to tourism and cultural exchange in Ghana in general and Ahanta in particular. "I am very confident that the visit of the first lady of the Bahamas and the Coronation of Mr Christopher Davis will open more opportunities in the area of cultural exchange and tourism," he said.

In her speech, the first lady of Bahamas, Mrs Ann Marie Davis expressed her gratitude to the government of Ghana and the people of Ahanta for giving her a rousing welcome. " I must say that this is beyond my expectation and I thank you for all this beautiful ceremony," she said. "You have a beautiful country and beautiful people with very rich culture. I must say that I felt the spirit of Junkanoo more than ever here and here the drumming is very pulsating." The first lady also expressed hopes that her coming to Ghana will boost tourism between the two countries and deepen diplomatic ties as well.

After all the speeches, Christopher Davis, adorned in traditional war regalia with a sword in his right hand, ushered him and his wife Tamara Davis to the forecourt of Badu Bonso's palace where a large crowd had gathered. Nana Etsin Kofi II led him to take his oath of office where he pledge his loyalty to Badu Bonso XV. After taking the oath of office, he was placed on a traditional stool three times signifying that he is new commander of Badu Bonso's army just as Gyan Kwaw did.

In his acceptance speech, the newly coronated Gyan Kwaw II thanked the chiefs and people of Ahanta for honour done to him and for also trusting him with the position of such high office. "I appreciate the chiefs and people of Ahanta for this honour done to me and I pledge to live by the oath of my office as Gyan Kwaw II," he said while holding the traditional sword in his right hand upright.

The chiefs and queen mothers of Ahanta also took the opportunity to initiate the first lady and her entourage into Ahanta. The first lady was adorned in traditional kente cloth and then the "Nyanya" herb. The number one Ahanta healing herb was placed around the neck of the first lady and her entourage signifying that they have been initiated into Ahanta and do not need permission of anyone to come to Ahanta henceforth.

CROWNING THE CORONATION WITH A TRIP TO PRINCESS TOWN

After the coronation of Christopher Davis as Gyan Kwaw II, custom demands that he is taken to Princes Town and shown to the people of Princes Town.

The chiefs of Ahanta per customs and traditions escorted Christopher Davis together with the first lady and her entourage to Princess Town At Princess Town. The town folks came out in their numbers to wave at the newly coronated Christopher Davis as Gyan Kwaw II, the first lady and her entourage.

The families of Gyan Kwaw welcomed Christopher Davis as newly coronated Gyan Kwaw II, the first lady and her entourage as part of the family and opened their doors to them.

To crown the whole ceremony, the first lady and her entourage together with Christopher Davis now coronated as Gyan Kwaw II made a memorial walk to Fort Fredericksburg where Gyan Kwaw lived after seizing it from the Europeans and using it as his military base to launch several attacks on the European slave traders.

After a long day full of activities, the first lady and her entourage returned to Busua Beach Hotel, where had dinner with Ahanta chiefs, queen mothers and other dignitaries.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO THE CORONATION

Princess Town formerly known as Pokesu was one important town during the years of the slave trade in the Gold Coast, now Ghana.

It all started when the Brandenburg - Prussian government built Fort Fredericksburg at Princess Town in 1683 and in the ensuing years, they trained one Ahanta chieftain called Gyan Kwaw as a middle man to facilitate the trade between them and the natives. He was variedly referred to as John Canoe, John Conny and other similar pronunciations depending on how the Europeans found it suitable to pronounce his name based on their ascent.

Initially, everything was alright between him and the Germans untill he was made chief of Princess Town and then he realized the woes and atrocities of the slave trade and then he made every effort to stop it by wagging constant wars with Europeans who were involved in slave trade.

Gyan Kwaw seized Fort Fredericksburg and started to raise an army from raiding various slave camps and Forts along the coast. Soon his army grew to 20,000 and more and in 1720, he went to war against the combined forces of the Dutch and English at Princess Town where he was last seen in Ahanta. Most of his soldiers were captured and sent to the Caribbean as prisoners of war.

In memory of Gyan Kwaw, his soldiers who were taken to the Caribbean refused to celebrate Christmas and instead instituted the Junkanoo festival to remember his heroic exploits and the efforts he made to end the slave trade in Gold Coast. They considered him as a saviour who sacrificed everything to save them from the atrocities of the slave trade and as such could not allow his memory to fade away.

As years passed by, the story of Junkanoo became distorted and its origins heavily disputed until recent times when Christopher Davis through his research works traced its origins to Princess Town in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region of Ghana. To crown his efforts, the overlord of Ahanta HRM Badu Bonso XV installed him as Gyan Kwaw II and charged him to continue with his good works to bring Ahanta to the limelight.

DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST LADY

On Sunday 19th June 2022, at exactly 8.00am, the first lady and her entourage set off from Busua Beach Hotel at Busua under very tight security arrangements to Takoradi Airport. At 10.00am, the first lady and her entourage departed from Takoradi on board Passion Air en route to Kotoka International Airport to Rwanda for another government assignment.
Leading ICT infrastructure, and systems integrator in Sub-Saharan Africa, Inlaks, has completed the NetGuardian (NG)-Enterprise Fraud Management Solutions for Dashen Bank.

The NG Enterprise Fraud Management is an innovative solution that prevents systems from fraud and evaluates transaction behaviours in identifying suspicious transfers.

The project implementation which lasted for one year, saw Inlaks deploy various approaches to improve the Fraud Management Solution at the Bank. These include the deployment of over 80 million transactions aggregated to create profiles, the deployment of 11 Behavioral AI Models enabling customers to hit near real-time fraud, and the deployment of 24 advanced pattern-based models.

Additionally, the Bank can now manage and get the report for both internal and external fraud.

Commenting on the project, Olufemi Muraino, Executive Director, Inlaks said: Inlaks is proud to have executed the NG Fraud Management Solutions for Dashen Bank. This utilization will enhance system ownership in protecting valuable assets for customers. The high point of our delivery is good customer service with quality handling, and we are glad to live up to that during implementation.

Inlaks was also involved in the training of over 20 employees from the bank on the Net Guardians system Utilization and the deployment of over 20 Forensic investigations and Management dashboards.

While appreciating the efforts of Inlaks on the project, Chief Executive Officer, Dashen Bank said: We appreciate the outstanding contribution of Inlaks in the successful implementation of the Enterprise Fraud Management System Project. The extended effort, teamwork, proficiency, and diligence exhibited were invaluable.

The Net Guardian uses artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities in understanding transaction patterns enabling it to monitor internal and external fraud thereby preventing it before it happens.
Moscow (Russia), June 21, CDA Consult  Russians have to consider seriously the mutual benefits while taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which was signed in March 2018, and came into force on January 1, 2021.

The AfCFTA provides a unique and valuable platform for businesses to access an integrated African market of over 1.3 billion people. The growing middle class, among other factors, constitutes a huge market potential in Africa.

In order to have an in-depth understanding of these, Russians must at least invest in initial market research and development (R&D) collaborations, as the basis for designing entry strategies, with their African partners.

The call was made at the Russia-Africa Business Dialogue held on June 16 at the 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) with the participation of both top-level Russian and African officials, as captured by Kester Kenn Klomegah, Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) Special Correspondent in Moscow, Russia.

The Russia-Africa Business Dialogue was initiated in 2016 as a special platform to examine, review and discuss important topical issues especially those relating to trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Africa.

The forum which was on the theme: New Opportunities in a New World, was also used to reflect on the changing global situations. Over the last 24 years, the forum has become a leading global platform for members of the business community to meet and discuss the key economic issues facing Russia, emerging markets, and the world as a whole. Since 2006, it has been held under the auspices of the President of the Russian Federation.

The African delegates to the forum noted that by considering and accepting the opinions given by African speakers, Russians could be making the first practical step into the real business landscape there in Africa.

It is also important to take a comprehensive and broad-based look at emerging opportunities on the continent, study other foreign competitors who are already established in Africa.

According to the African Delegates, Russians need to rethink how better to engage with African policymakers, businesses, civil society, and the African diaspora in order to strengthen its strategic entrepreneurial relationships with Africa.

On the other hand, as Africa gets to the idea of building a new world order, it becomes also important for African leaders, their governments, and the public to ensure specific steps and approaches toward supporting the 1.3 billion people with needed public infrastructure and the economy, look forward to becoming continental self-dependent and develop the future for the next generation.

Alexander Pankin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, speaking on behalf of Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, said despite the unprecedented sanctions and information warfare launched by the United States and its satellites, Russia manages to maintain the entire bilateral cooperation in working order and to saturate it with a relevant substantive agenda.

Lavrov reaffirmed that "in these difficult and crucial times the strategic partnership with Africa has become a priority of Russia's foreign policy. Russia highly appreciates the readiness of Africans to further step up economic cooperation."

Lavrov said: "It is in the interests of our peoples to work together to preserve and expand mutually beneficial trade and investment ties under these new conditions.

It is important to facilitate the mutual access of Russian and African economic operators to each other's markets and encourage their participation in large-scale infrastructure projects. The signed agreements and the results will be consolidated at the forthcoming second Russia-Africa summit."

With the current changing geopolitical situation in the world, the consistent calls for new world order (multipolar system) and geopolitical rivalry, the top-level speakers gave an insight into economic opportunities, challenges and threats to both Russia and Africa. The speakers highlighted the prospects and possibilities of really transforming economic relationships between Russia and Africa.

Beyond that, the speakers and discussants noted the mutual interest in developing trade and economic ties between Russia and Africa, and identified food and energy security, new methods of financial settlements, cooperation in innovation and technology, health, education and culture, as well as cooperation within the integration alliances as priority areas.

Most of the discussions focused on the same questions that have been raised down the years, and in other different platforms. The key features here are that Russian officials reiterated their dreamy roadmap for cooperating with Africa, while African officials vividly narrated the existing nature and competitive conditions for investment in Africa.

In terms of investment African speakers attempt to lay out the potential sectors that are most in need of foreign corporate partners.

In terms of trade and industry, African speakers have loudly made it clear in their speeches the primary and long-term objectives, and several initiatives aimed at driving economic growth, industrialization, and development across Africa.

Professor Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences moderated the forum. It brought together representatives of government and business communities from both Russian and African sides.

Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, President of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) participated. Delegations arrived from African countries such as Algeria, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Mali, the Central African Republic, and Zimbabwe. There were also African diplomatic representatives.

Source: CDA Consult
Farmers and land owners affected by Newmont Mining Company Ltd in the Akyem area have threatened to stage a demonstration against the Environmental Protection Agency if steps are not taken to restore a support programme by Newmont.

In a statement signed by Mr. Ntiamoan Denkyira, Chairman of the Newmont Akyem Affected Farmers Association, the farmers and landowners threatened to take action if, within a week of this notice, nothing is done about their situation.

Mr. Denkyira explained that the presence of Newmont in the area has brought poverty to our door steps. It was this situation that compelled the company to engage stakeholders concerned.

He indicated that, during the engagements, which took about three years, it was agreed that Newmont should help farmers affected by their mining activities to establish new farms. Newmont also agreed to pay for the establishment and maintenance of the farms for three (3) years. Others who were sick or were not interested in farming were to be supported to establish businesses.

He narrated that, the support for the farming programme started during last years farming season when a group headed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the support was not enough to sustain a successful implementation, therefore the programme must be halted for them to take over, promising to increase the amount for the farming and demanding for every farmer to increase the acreage from two to five acres.

To our disappointment, the EPA Group have rather sabotaged the programme because until now we have not received any money from them and have not heard any information from them in Accra, Mr. Ntiamoah Denkyira said.

We dont understand why they want to give instructions from Accra more so when they have not taken any land from us but rather Newmont, he wondered, adding that the programme was targeted at only those directly affected by Newmonts mining activities.

He declared that they wouldnt agree with anybody that is not directly affected, benefiting from the programme.

The intervention of the EPA Group is becoming a nuisance. We therefore advise that if they have any financial support they should give this support to Newmont and direct them on how to manage the programme, he averred.

They are warning that if by a week of this notice there is no positive response from the EPA Group, they will advise themselves.

Sources close to the affected farmers and land owners intimated that a demonstration within the area is the main option on the table.
21.06.2022 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament for the North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has alleged that the Attorney General was made secretary to the private company that owns the National Cathedral.

He said while serving on the board of the Public Procurement Authority Godfred Dame awarded contracts to Sir David Adjaye.

In an interview on TV3's New Day he noted that the entire process was a conflict of interest as the AG was part of a board that approved the sole sourcing contract on the National Cathedral architectural plan to Sir David Adjaye.

Guess what, in 2019, Godfred Dame was a member of the PPA board and our further digging reveals that he did not recuse himself when Sir David Adjaye was being awarded all of these colossal sums of money in the name of sole sourced contracts. When you read the PPA letter that we revealed yesterday signed by the disgraced AB Adjei who is being prosecuted now by the Special Prosecutor you realize that in that letter, they make the most outrageous, outlandish justification for granting Sir David Adjare this sole source contract, he intimated.

He added They are saying that they are granting Sir David Adjare the sole source contract by virtue of the Public Procurement Act 2003 Act 663 section 72 5b. Section 72 5(b) says that the procurement entity may select consultant by inviting proposals from a single consultant where there is, b says an emergency as certified in section 40 1(b) and (c). Section 40 1 (b) and (c) provides 1. A procurement agency may engage in single sole procurement under section 41 under the approval of the board. B says where there is an urgent need for the goods, works or services and engaging in tender proceedings or any other method of procurement is impractical due to unforeseeable circumstances giving rise to the urgency, which is not the result of directory conduct on the part of the procurement entity. c where owing to a catastrophic event there is an urgent need for the goods, works or technical services making it impractical to use other methods of procurement because of the time involved in using these methods.

He continued flagrant contravention, this doesnt apply. There was no emergency, there was no catastrophe when they were awarding this contract in 2018, 2019, no emergency, no pandemic, Covid had come later, 2020. He wasnt coming to design some hospital for us, it was the National Cathedral so it cannot apply. This was the Deputy Attorney General in a clear conflict of interest he is here as secretary to this private entity called the National Cathedral then he is positioned on the PPA board to be granting these illegal approvals, approvals that sin against the law.
Dozens of Malians demonstrated Tuesday in the central town of Bankass to demand protection from the state after suspected jihadists massacred more than 130 civilians in nearby neighbouring villages.

The mass killing -- the latest in a series of attacks across the Sahel -- resulted in one of Mali's highest civilian death tolls.

Villagers continued to search for the missing Tuesday, raising fears of an even greater toll.

The government says fighters from the Fulani religious leader Amadou Koufa's armed group, the Macina Katiba, killed 132 civilians in Diallassagou and two surrounding villages, a few dozen kilometres (miles) from Bankass.

Junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita has declared three days of mourning and a government delegation was sent to the scene Tuesday.

Political leaders expressed compassion with the victims' families, while rallying around the armed forces.

But a group of political parties named the "Cadre d'echange", or Exchange Framework, demanded Goita make an in-person visit and said the authorities had a responsibility to take "the necessary measures so that such tragedies are not replicated".

Residents of Bankass, the main town in the region, held a demonstration on Tuesday.

Photos sent by a Dogon community association show several dozen people gathered in the street.

"We have gathered despite the rain to call for security, and to condemn the crimes," Oumar Togo, a member of the Bankass youth association, told AFP by telephone.

"The government must ensure our security."

'Absolute priority'

Local officials said dozens of jihadists appeared on motorcycles, then rounded up and massacred dozens of men over the weekend.

They also said the armed men burned down shops, looted villages and stole cattle.

The bloodbath is believed to have culminated on Saturday night, with many people fleeing their homes.

Central Mali has been plagued by violence since the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Katiba Macina emerged in 2015.

Much of the area is beyond state control and is prone to violence by self-defence militias and inter-community reprisals.

On March 23, 2019, more than 160 Fulani civilians were massacred in the village of Ogossagou.

Since 2012, Mali has been rocked by an insurgency by groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State group.

Violence that began in the north has since spread to the centre and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

Thousands of civilians and combatants have died and hundreds of thousands have been displaced in one of the world's poorest regions.

The military seized power in 2020 after months of protests against the civilian government's failure to stop the deadly spiral.

Junta leaders on Monday said the safety of Mali's citizens remained their "absolute priority".

They have recently turned away from Mali's former military allies, including France, and towards the Russians.

Local agreements

But Mali has seen a series of mass killings in recent months, including in the so-called three-border area on the border with Niger and Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso experienced one of the worst massacres in its history earlier this month, with 86 civilians killed in Seytenga, in the north.

Civilians are often subjected to reprisals by jihadists who accuse them of collaborating with the enemy.

Some areas of Mali, especially in the centre, have fallen under the jihadists' control.

Civilians are also frequently caught in the crossfire between armed groups, including those affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

No one has claimed responsibility for the Diallassagou massacre.

Such mass killings are typically attributed to Islamic State-affiliated groups rather than Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups.

However, it is normally the Katiba Macina that operate in the Bankass area.

Nouhoum Togo, a local elected official in Bankass, told AFP the attack was a reprisal against locals after the Malian army on June 10 carried out an operation there, in which it said it had "neutralised" six jihadists.

Two thirds of Mali remains beyond state control.
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godred Dame, has sworn in the second Board of the Office of Special Prosecutor.

The nine-member Board is charged with advising the Special Prosecutor on policy issues and aiding the office in the fight against corruption and corruption-related offenses.

Notwithstanding its crucial role in the operations of the Special Prosecutor, the Office has been without a Board since the expiration of the Linda Ofori-Kwarfo Chaired Board for over one year now.

This has raised concerns within the anti-corruption space in the country.

Board Members

Members of the 2nd Board include; Kissi Agyabeng, the Special Prosecutor, Vivian Lamptey, Deputy Special Prosecutor, Lawrence Ndaago Ayagiba, Audit Service Representative, DCOP Wilfred Boahen Frimpong, Ghana Police Service Representative, Aba Jacqueline Opoku, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) Representative, Kofi Boahen A. Boakye, Financial Intelligence Center (FIC) Representative, Stephen Azantilow, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Representative, COP George Tuffour (Rtd), National Security Representative and Linda Ofori-Kwafo, Representative of Anti-Corruption Civil Society.

The National Security Representative was, however, absent at Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony.

He would, according to the Attorney General, be sworn in at a later date by the Board Chairperson.

Give mechanisms of success

Speaking at the inauguration, the Attorney General urged the Special Prosecutor, to utilise five legal mechanisms in his establishing law in investigating, prosecuting and recovering proceeds of corruption:

(i) Search and seizure powers of the Office laid out from sections 32 to 37of Act 959,

(ii) The power to confiscate property pursuant to a court order provided for by section 50,

(iii) The power to apply to the court to compel the payment of a pecuniary penalty in respect of properties that cannot be the subject of an order for confiscation under section 60,

(iv) The power to apply to the Court to lift the veil to unravel the identities of persons and entities holding illicitly acquired property on behalf of others under section 62 of Act 959; and,

(v) The power to trace properties spelt out in section 70.

A proper exercise of these powers, according to the Attorney General, will ensure that the Office becomes a potent instrument of the State in its effort to root out corruption. The phenomenon of the creation of shell companies for the laundering and concealment of the proceeds of crime will be drastically reduced by the exercise of your powers under Act 959 just alluded to.

Stop unconstructive and defeatist criticism against OSP

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice took a swipe at media houses for what he said were some malicious, ill-motivated and often ill-researched comments about the Office and resources at its disposal. Such reportage, the Attorney-General contended, hardly serve the public interest.

Mr. Dame said there was a shared duty to contribute to the success of Special Prosecutor's Office. And the media particularly, he insisted, owe a duty not to sensationalise reports affecting the Office of the Special Prosecutor in order not to create an impression of deliberate starvation of resources by the State, especially where same is unjustified.

He called for real support of the public for the Special Prosecutor and his Office, not unconstructive and defeatist criticism.

The Special Prosecutor, in a brief remark after the inauguration, acknowledged the difficulty he and his Deputy had working without a Board since assuming office.

He however promised, with the aid of the Board, to work assiduously and in a harmonious fashion to attain the objects of the office.

He assured that they would give in their full professional best to ensure that this Office becomes the foremost anti-corruption body in Africa.

The 2nd Board of the Office of Special Prosecutor, will elect its Chairperson at its first meeting.

This meeting will be held at a later date.

---citinewsroom
Lithuania on Monday defended its decision to bar rail transit from Russia to a Russian Baltic Sea exclave of goods hit by EU sanctions, in a move that drew Moscow's ire as tensions continue to rise in the region. Meanwhile, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is pushing former USSR republics of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine itself to apply for EU membership.

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the country is simply implementing sanctions imposed by the EU, of which it is a member.

Foreign Minister Gabrilius Landsbergis said that the measures implemented Saturday were taken after consultation with the European Commission and under its guidelines.

Sanctioned goods (will) no longer be allowed to transit Lithuanian territory, Landsbergis added.

Goods on the list include steel, but are set to be broadly expanded to cover items that range from coal to alcoholic drinks.

The Kaliningrad exclave, home to Russia's Baltic Fleet and housing some 430,000 people, is surrounded by Lithuania and Poland, another EU country, to the south and is isolated from the rest of Russia.

Kaliningrad was the stronghold of the Teutonic Knights in the Middle ages, and through the centuries has been ruled by Poles, Germans and Russians.

As Konigsberg it was most important city of Prussia, and home to the philosopher Immanuel Kant.

After WW2 the area was taken over by the Soviet army and the name was changed into "Kaliningrad" after Bolshevik revolutionary Mikhail Kalinin.

'Unlawful sanctions'

Today, the enclave still has a predominantly Russian population. Trains with goods for Kaliningrad travel via Belarus and Lithuania. There's no transit through Poland. Russia can still supply the exclave by sea, without falling foul of EU sanctions.

Russia has demanded that Lithuania immediately lifts the ban, with the Foreign Ministry in Moscow saying that if transport links are not restored in full Russia reserves the right to take action in defense of its national interests.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov strongly denounced the unlawful ban.

This decision, indeed unprecedented, is a violation of everything and then some. We understand that it is connected to the relevant decision of the European Union to extend the sanctions to transit (of goods). This we also consider unlawful, Peskov told reporters on Monday.

The foreign ministry summoned Lithuania's chief diplomatic representative in Moscow for a formal protest and alleged that the Baltic nation was acting in breach of international agreements.

Lithuania has not had an ambassador in Moscow since April, when it downgraded diplomatic ties in protest at the killing of civilians in Ukraine by Russian troops after the invasion on 24 February.

Lithuania later summoned the Russian envoy in Vilnius to tell him the ban was in line with EU sanctions, and that there was no blockade of Kaliningrad.

The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said Lithuania's move should not be compared to the situation in Ukraine.

The rest of the world will not be affected by what is happening in Kaliningrad, but the rest of the world is very much affected by what is happening in Ukraine, he said.

EU expansion?

Meanwhile, EU officials said Tuesday that there was "no opposition" within the 27-nation bloc to granting Ukraine "candidate status", ahead of the EU Council summit on 23-24 June. The summit is expected to green light the move.

The bloc's executive arm last week proposed taking the symbolic first step to put Ukraine on the years-long path towards EU membership in a strong sign of support as Kyiv battles Russia's military onslaught.

A two-day summit from Thursday looks set to approve the move to formally name Ukraine and neighbouring Moldova "candidates" to start negotiations on joining.

"There is not a single country which makes problems with the proposal," said Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn at a meeting with EU counterparts in his country's capital.

(With agencies)
East African leaders agreed Monday to send in a regional force to try to end fighting in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and called for an immediate ceasefire.

The move was announced by the Kenyan presidency after the seven-member East African Community held talks in Nairobi on an upsurge of violence in the volatile region that has ensnared neighbouring countries.

"The heads of state instructed that the regional force should, in cooperation with the military and administrative forces of the DRC, seek to stabilise and secure the peace in the DRC," President Uhuru Kenyatta's office said in a statement.

"The heads of state directed that an immediate ceasefire should be enforced and cessation of hostilities should commence immediately."

The vast mineral-rich DRC is struggling to contain dozens of armed groups in the east, many of which are a legacy of two regional wars a quarter of a century ago.

Operational in coming weeks

A recent flare-up of heavy fighting in the east has revived decades-old animosities between Kinshasa and Kigali, with the DRC blaming neighbouring Rwanda for a resurgence of the M23 militia.

Rwanda has repeatedly denied backing the rebels, while both countries have accused each other of carrying out cross-border shelling.

The Kenyan statement did not say whether Rwandan troops would be involved in the regional force -- but the government in Kinshasa insisted it would not accept their presence.

"Placed under the military command of Kenya, this force should be operational in the coming weeks and should not include within it elements of the Rwandan army," the DRC presidency said on Twitter.

Both DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's Paul Kagame were at the meeting hosted by Kenyatta, along with the leaders of Burundi, South Sudan and Uganda, and Tanzania's ambassador to Nairobi.

Kagame was in attendance even though Rwanda is hosting dozens of leaders from across the globe at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) later this week.

M23 comeback

African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat welcomed the outcome of the talks in a statement posted on Twitter.

"I urge the immediate implementation of their decisions in order to restore peace in Eastern DRC," he added.

A primarily Congolese Tutsi militia, the M23 came to prominence in 2012 when it captured the main eastern DRC city of Goma.

It was forced out shortly afterwards in a joint offensive by UN troops and the Congolese army.

But the militia has recently made a comeback, clashing with Congolese troops in violence that has inflamed tensions in central Africa and forced thousands of people to flee to neighbouring Uganda.

"The problems affecting the region like the crisis in Congo need a collective approach from all regional members of the East African Community," Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said on Twitter as the meeting got under way.

"We must insist on working together because these people have suffered a lot."

Museveni's government has sent in troops to help Congolese forces fight the Allied Democratic Forces, a militia group blamed for thousands of deaths in eastern Congo and a string of bombings in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

UK Migrant deal for leverage

After M23 rebels captured the border town of Bunagana a week ago, Kenyatta called for the deployment of an EAC force to restore peace, and military chiefs from the bloc's seven member states met on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the M23 said it was reopening the Bunagana border post, a busy trading and transit centre for goods that lies not far from the front line.

Tshisekedi has accused Rwanda of seeking to "occupy our land," which is rich in minerals such as gold, coltan and cobalt "for their own exploitation and profit".

He has called on the international community, and Britain in particular, to "pressure Rwanda to withdraw its troops", noting London's controversial agreement to send asylum seekers to Kigali.

"Given the UK's recent $150 million immigration deal struck with Rwanda, we hope that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be able to leverage his influence," Tshisekedi said.

Relations between Kinshasa and Kigali have been strained since the mass arrival in the DRC of Rwandan Hutus accused of slaughtering Tutsis during the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

(with newswires)
21.06.2022 LISTEN

Some aggrieved customers of Nana Appiah Mensahs defunct Menzgold company are agitating for the prosecution of NAM1 to be halted by the state.

In their view, minus the criminal prosecution of the former Menzgold CEO, they would have got their locked-up funds by now.

We are really disappointed in how the government is handling the matter. To us, the government is not committed to resolving this because for three years the government is still investigating the matter, although its not a murder case, the Convener of the aggrieved Menzgold customers group, Mr Fred Forson recently said in an interview.

This is a straightforward matter, so, for us Menzgold customers, we believe that this is just a charade and the Attorney General cannot be telling us they are doing the investigation. This doesnt have to happen, he said on Accra-based Joy News on Tuesday, 21 June 2022.

Thats why we have suggested they should take advantage of the current private motion, lay it before Parliament and ensure that Parliament assists the government in finding a lasting solution to this, he added.

To him, the outcome of this criminal case is 80% to 90%; either hes found guilty, he goes to jail and nothing is said about our money or when he is innocent, hell come back, then we still use the civil route to get our monies and thats what we are suggesting to the government.

NAM1 was earlier slapped with 13 charges in 2019 but later September of the same year, some 48 additional charges were added.

Two months prior, he had been facing charges of defrauding by false pretence and two counts of abetment to carry out banking business without a licence contrary to Section 6 (1) of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930).

His Brew Marketing Consult and Menzgold Ghana Limited were also slapped with charges of defrauding by false pretence contrary to sections 20 (1) and 13 (1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

NAM1 arrived in Accra via an Emirates Airlines flight in July 2019 but was immediately arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.

He was interrogated in connection with fraud allegations levelled against him.

The young Ghanaian businessman had been in the custody of Dubai authorities since December 2018.

He was arrested during his sojourn to the Emirates to collect some hefty amount owed his company by a businessman there.

NAM1, who is being sought after by both his thousands of aggrieved clients whose investments have been locked up with the company since August 2018; as well as the government of Ghana, won two court cases against his rival businessman while in Dubai.

An Interpol red alert was on NAM1s head for several months during his detention in Dubai.

The Supreme Court of Dubai upheld a victory of the businessman in a lower court which ordered his Emirati business rival to pay the Ghanaian some $39 million and compensation.

Source: Classfmonline.com
Atul Gupta (pictured) and his brother Rajesh are the alleged masterminds behind state capture in South Africa. - Source: Kevin Sutherland/Sunday Times via Getty Images

21.06.2022 LISTEN

Now that Rajesh and Atul Gupta have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), there is a great deal of speculation as to when the brothers may ultimately set foot on South African soil to face charges of money laundering and other financial crimes.

The brothers are the alleged kingpins behind state capture in South Africa  the massive corruption and repurposing of state organs for private gain during the ruinous reign of their friend, former president Jacob Zuma . They fled South Africa for Dubai in April 2016 .

The judicial commission into state capture and corruption  Zondo Commission  found that the Gupta family had considerable access to Zuma, influencing political decisions, such as ministerial appointments and staffing at the various state-owned enterprises, and rearrangement of the revenue service to advance their financial interests.

The evidence outlined in the Zondo Commission reports offers substantive, chronological and narrative detail. That'll assist prosecutors in building cases of fraud, money-laundering and a host of other financial crimes against named individuals, including Rajesh and Aptul Gupta.

This means that South Africans are now aware , having been provided with considerable information and in great detail, about the financial malfeasance that had been carried out for over a decade or more.

Despite this, there have only been a few arrests, and even a smaller number of prosecutions . Having the Guptas in court will send a strong signal that the days of impunity are over.

The likelihood of the brothers ultimately being forced to face their alleged crimes depends on how strong the case against them is, and how adroit the prosecutors are. So far, it's clear that there is a very strong case against the brothers. But the jury is still out on the ability of the country's prosecutors to do a good job.

Nevertheless, it's important to understand bringing the Guptas to account might take a while.

A drawn out process

Arresting a suspect in pursuance of an extradition order usually signals a preliminary legal victory for the requesting country. Once the fugitive is in police custody, formal proceedings may start to have the suspect brought to trial.

But the victory is usually short-lived. This is because the process of extradition is lengthy, often proceeding in fits and starts. It may in fact take years to bring the suspect to justice.

A recent international example is the case of Julian Assange's extradition from the United Kingdom to the United States to face espionage charges, which has been in the works for over a decade . Assange has used court challenges and extra-legal measures ( refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London ) to halt his extradition.

One closer to home is the case of Mozambique's former finance minister Manuel Chang, who is wanted in both Mozambique and the United States for corruption involving $2 billion. The High Court in Johannesburg has ruled that Chang, who has been in jail in South Africa since 2018, be extradited to the US for trial .

It is probable that the Guptas will use the court systems in both the UAE and South Africa to delay their day of legal reckoning. They are also likely to seek political or diplomatic alternatives to facing trial in South Africa.

These could include, for example, seeking intervention from the Indian or UAE governments to pursue a legal settlement that might involve returning their allegedly ill-gained revenue in exchange for withdrawing the charges.

Strong case

The first precondition for securing the brothers' presence in court would be a bulletproof case by South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority . This must withstand both South African and UAE judicial scrutiny. Such a case would have to be built on an incontrovertible body of evidence including sworn documents, financial records, witness testimony, and an irreproachable timeline of misdeeds.

Such a bulletproof case is mapped out in voluminous detail in the reports of the Zondo Commission . The reports outlined how Zuma's friends and associates diverted billions of rand from parastatals to offshore accounts, mostly at the behest of the Gupta family.

A searing example is the purchase by Transnet , the transport parastatal, of unsuitable locomotives, in violation of state procurement laws and policies, and with allegedly huge kickbacks to the Guptas. Another example is the slew of criminal activities at Eskom , the power utility, that were allegedly devised entirely to profit the Gupta family and their enablers in the governing party.

These financial crimes have had several deleterious effects on South Africa. They robbed South Africans of basic social and economic resources (electricity, transport) they need to live a decent life. Even with prosecutions, it may take years (if at all) to recoup the stolen money.

In short, the Gupta footprint is all over the thousands of pages of the Zondo Commission Report . The task is now up to the NPA to develop an unimpeachable case against Rajesh and Aptul Gupta.

Prosecutors

The second precondition to ensuring the Guptas return to South Africa to face charges is the adroit handling and ultimate success of the prosecutors in prevailing over the many legal challenges that are certain to be raised by the Gupta brothers.

It helps that the brothers have lost their enormous influence and access to South Africa's presidency, and other senior ANC politicians with the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as party leader in 2017 , and national president in 2018 .

The jury is still out as to whether the National Prosecuting Authority, which was hollowed out as part of the state capture project, has the capability to successfully prosecute those implicated in the Zondo Commission reports.

Despite the appointment of new leadership three years ago, and formal support from President Ramaphosa, the agency continues to be underfunded. The record so far does not inspire confidence.

The prosecution of those named in the Zondo Commission reports remain lacklustre. This is so despite the public commitment made by the prosecutors in the wake of the Zondo Commission reports.

Yet the expectations of South Africans that the state will succeed in prosecuting those who have committed atrocious financial crimes remain high. Despite its disappointing record, the prosecuting authority has been giving a vital legal lifeline by the Zondo Commission reports, with their detailed listing and description of the crimes committed.

The prosecuting authority has also enlisted some of the country's leading legal minds from the private sector in efforts to extradite the Guptas , and to prosecute state capture cases. This bodes well for ensuring that the Gupta brothers will face charges in a South African court.

Conclusion

South Africa's prosecutors should seize the lifeline provided by the Zondo Commission, and the addition of capable legal talent, to reinvigorate a distressed institution.

Successful prosecution of the Guptas and others implicated in state capture will be good for the prosecutors' reputation. It'll also be good for the country  in economic and political terms. Their success will be appreciated not just locally, but could serve as a model for prosecuting corruption in Africa  and globally.

Penelope Andrews does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Penelope Andrews, Professor of Law, New York Law School
21.06.2022 LISTEN

Gomoa Central District Chief Executive, Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo has commended President Akufo Addo for improved infrastructure development in his district.

He has therefore urged the Ghanaians to rally behind President Akufo-Addo led NPP Government to lift the image of the country to a higher height.

According to the Gomoa Central DCE, his District has seen unprecedented infrastructure development in every sector of the economy thus gradually eradicating poverty-related hardships among the people.

"His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led NPP government is a blessing to those of us in the Gomoa Central District.

"We are seeing a tremendous amount of infrastructure development at every Community ranging from Health Facilities, School infrastructure, Improved methods of farming, Provision of social amenities like an extension of electricity supply, Livelihood support for Persons With Disability and bursary tertiary students among others.

"Our Member of Parliament, Hon. Naana Eyiah is a development-oriented personality who is also doing everything within her power to ensure total development in Gomoa Central. But my major headache is poor road network which is seriously affecting the local economy in Gomoa Central.

"Our major roads that could boost the local economy are in a deplorable state, even though drivers ply on them, they do so at a high cost to commuters," he stated.

Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo said this when he visited the ongoing construction of the Agenda 111 hospital at Gomoa Afransi recently.

Works were progressing steadily and had created job opportunities for a sizeable number of the youth in the District and beyond.

Site workers and their officers were seen working assiduously on various assigned duties to ensure the early completion of the project on time.

Three Companies made up of China State Hauling Construction, Top International Construction and Macdon Construction Limited have been tasked to complete the project in an estimated 18 months duration.

"All these development projects are being provided to make lives meaningful to the people, yet the road network is becoming a minus one, to the numerous effort being put in place to cushion our people economically.

Gomoa Ayensuadze to Gomoa Abaasa, Gomoa Nsuem to Awumbrew, Gomoa Achiase to Gomoa Dahom and Gomoa Lome to Nduem is becoming an eyesore to the District.

Through the instrumentality of Hon. Naana Eyiah, these roads have been awarded to contractors but unfortunately, they have been abandoned making it extremely difficult for farmers and commuters to transport their produce and products.

Other trunk roads that could support smooth transportation of goods and services are also in the same situation.

From Gomoa Afransi to Apam, Gomoa Jukwa to Winneba Junction, especially Jukwa to Gomoa Brofoyedur, Gomoa Afransi through Agona Bobikuma to Mankessim and Gomoa Afransi to Agona Swedru.

"I want to appeal to our Regional Minister, Hon. Mrs. Justina Marygold Assan, Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Amoako Atta and the Central Government to as a matter of urgency come to 'Mecedonia' and help us. Even though we are doing our best to reshape them, our best is not enough," the DCE noted.

Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo further disclosed that the Assembly was sensitizing people on how they could access the YouStart programme that has been introduced to assist people financially to expand their businesses.

He said over 60 people made up of entrepreneurs, National Service Personnel, NABCO personnel and other businesses have been sensitized with others to benefit from the sensitization outreach before the programme takes off.

" Am leading the facilitators to sensitize them on how to access the Youstart fund on the internet. Because it is a new programme, they need to understand the procedure to access it," Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo stated.
President Akufo-Addo with Charles Michel, President of the European Council

21.06.2022 LISTEN

President Nana Akufo-Addo has said the long-standing relationship between Africa and Europe, founded on ties of blood, culture, geography and history, should serve as a platform for enhanced co-operation between the two continents.

He noted that no one needs to tell us that the issues of peace, progress and prosperity in Africa and Europe are deeply intertwined, which pre-suppose that ensuring the development of Africa should be in our common interest.

Delivering his keynote address at the 15th edition of the European Development Days in Brussels, Belgium, today, Tuesday, 21st June 2022, he indicated that now more than ever, strong partnership between Europe and Africa, reinforced political dialogue, and expanded co-operation in the fields of economic growth and international security, are required.

We have to work together to achieve our goals, including a fair, equitable process of energy transition, which recognizes that the entire African continent is responsible for less than four percent (4%) of global emissions, and which safeguards the prospects of Africas development, he added.
Minister for Justice and Attorney-General (AG), Godfred Yeboah Dame has urged the newly-sworn-in members of the board of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to declare their assets.

The AG was speaking at the swearing-in of the board of the OSP on Tuesday, 21 June 2022, in Accra.

He called on members of the board to declare their assets in accordance with Article 286 of the 1992 constitution, which requires that public office holders declare their assets.

The AG also stressed the dire consequences of the failure of the board to declare their assets.

I entreat you to be mindful of the duties and liabilities of a member of the board under section 7 of Act 959.

A violation of this provision will result in cessation of your membership on the board, the AG said.

He added: May I also remind you of your very important obligation to declare your assets in accordance with article 286 of the Constitution as well as the disclosure of interest obligation under section 10 of Act 959, whenever a member of the board has an interest in any matter coming up for consideration. Faithful adherence to these simple duties holds far-reaching implications for your record in public life.

Source: classfmonline.com
There is no need to panic about fuel shortage in the country, Mr Senyo Hosi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, has said.

He said the country had one month fuel cover and urged the public not to engage in panic buying.

Yes, we are having challenges accessing dollars and if that continues, we will not be able to buy fuel. That has been anticipated and we are working with the respective institutions to keep the situation stable, he said in reaction to concerns of imminent fuel shortage.

Mr Hosi said though the Bank of Ghana (BoG) through a special dispensation was providing Bulk Oil Distributing Companies (BDCs) dollars, it was not enough.

The BoG started with giving BDCs 50 per cent of our required dollars. This has been scaled down to about 25 per cent. We had to go to the open market to buy additional forex to supplement it, he said.

A Bloomberg report, today Tuesday, June 21, 2022, said the country faced a looming fuel shortage as the central bank rationed dollars after oil prices surged following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It said the monthly fuel import bill for the country increased to $450 million in May, from $250 million in January.

The report said the central bank was only offering about $100 million a month at its foreign exchange auctions, and that licensed bulk distributors could no longer plug the shortfall in the black market.

Mr Abdul Kudus, the Public Relations Officer of the National Petroleum Authority said there was enough stock to meet domestic demand contrary to speculations in the media.

He said the NPA was continuously monitoring the weekly schedule of fuel imports to ensure that there was constant supply.

GNA
The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana, (CLOGSAG) has sued the Trade Unions Congress (TUC), the Ministry of Employment and Labour and the Attorney General over the reference to TUC as the umbrella union for all labour unions recognised by law.

CLOGSAG in a suit filed at the High Court in Accra on Tuesday, has the Ministry of Labour and Employment as first defendant, the Attorney General as second defendant and the TUC as third defendant.

In its statement of claim, CLOGSAC, a worker union for Civil and Local Government workers, said the Trades Union Congress had been wrongly held out by officials of the State as an umbrella union for all Labour Unions recognized by law.

It referred to a suit titled INDL 8/14 - Ghana Federation of Labour V the Attorney General & Kofi Asamoah, where the Ministry of Employment and Labour and the TUC were sued, adding that in the said suit, a consent judgement was entered.

The suit required that parties within six months of the execution of the settlement prepared a working document for adoption by all labour unions.

The working document, the statement of claim said, provided for a working definition of the term 'Organized Labour', an organogram for decision making within Organised Labour and a timetable for the adoption by all Labour Unions of the working document and operationalising the same.

CLOGSAG said it noted that an attempt was made to comply with the judgment but till date, the judgment had not been complied with as the third defendant (TUC) was the beneficiary of the status quo and had failed to comply with said judgment.

Also, CLOSAG said: The law imposes representation in some statutory bodies by labour unions described in some of the laws as 'Organised Labour' whose representation was often not equitably and fairly determined.

It said the third defendant was often the beneficiary to the exclusion of other labour unions, stressing that, unless ordered by the High Court, the consent judgment would not be executed as entered.

The Association, therefore, asked the Court for an order requiring the defendants to ensure compliance with the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction within a period to be specified by it.

Alternatively, it called on the High Court to declare that the TUC was not an umbrella labour union for all workers' unions in the country and should not be recognised as such.

CLOSAG also asked for a declaration that the phrase 'Organized Labour' used in the law applies to every worker union recognised by law in the country.

Further or in the alternative, an order requiring the 1st and 2nd Defendants to ensure that the labour unions in the country are organised to ensure equal opportunity to each worker union for the purpose of meeting the requirement of representation to statutory bodies, including the Labour Commission by 'organized labour' in the law or otherwise.

GNA
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that the next National Democratic Congress (NDC) will seek the views of Ghanaians on the National Project for the necessary action to be taken.

The Minority MP is responsible for the many revelations in the public domain concerning the National Cathedral Project.

It is through his posts on his Facebook page that it came to light that the government has allegedly unconstitutionally spent some GHS200 million on the project on the blind side of Parliament.

Speaking to TV3 on the New Day programme on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that the NDC party plans to do a scientific survey on the National Cathedral Project to know the views of the citizenry.

The National Democratic Congress, as our name implies, is a national party. We are democrats. We will go to the people and ask for their position. There will be a scientific way of hearing from the people and doing what pleases the people. Fortunately for our country, the majority are Christians, more than 70 per cent. We will go to them and ask them what should be our marching orders, the North Tongu MP stressed.

According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, it is a shame a project being undertaken in the name of God has been characterised by lies and against the laws of the country.

Remember that this pledge was not even in the NPP manifesto. The president has sprung this huge surprise on us and it has become such a major financial burden. What it has destroyed in its wake, all of these demolitions, now we are looking for loans and we are all over the place. What the NDC will do is to go back to the people for the people to decide on what is to be done.

We are unravelling a lot of mysteries. Its been a shame that a project [National cathedral] that is done in the name of the Holy Lord has been immersed in all these deception and blatant disregard of our laws, Okudzeto Ablakwa added.

Although it was previously thought that the National Cathedral Project will be privately funded with the government contributing seed money, the secretariat of the National Cathedral has clarified that it is a public-private partnership instead.
The District Chief Executive for Akrofuom District Hon Maurice Jonas Woode is asking Michael Owusu Afriyie aka Teacher Kwadwo, a Ghanaian YouTuber, comedian and a former teacher to render an unqualified apology for what he describes as lies peddled about him and some officers of the District Education Directorate by the Comedian.

In a press briefing organized by the Assembly on Tuesday, 21st June, 2022 the DCE debunked the assertion by Teacher Kwadwo that his termination of appointment from the Ghana Education Service in December 2021 was orchestrated by the DCE and some staff of GES including the District Education Director George Sarfo Kantanka, as a result of a video published by Teacher Kwadwo on social media about Kofi Gyaame Basic school.

In a video footage which has since gone viral, the former professional teacher revealed how classrooms in Kofi Gyama were allegedly being used by some staff of the forestry commission with the approval of school authorities.

According to him, the pupils of the school have been kicked out of their classrooms and made to study in a dilapidated structure.

This alleged illegal action, he stressed, formed part of the main reasons for his dismissal in December 2021.

In a response, Hon Maurice Jonas Woode said Teacher Kwadwo's dismissal came about as a result of professional misconduct on his part and has nothing to do with what he alleged in the viral video.

KOFI GYAME SCHOOL IS BEING USED BY THE SCHOOL SINCE ITS COMMISSIONING

Contrary to the allegations made by Michael Owusu Afriyie that the pupils of the school have been kicked out of their classrooms since its completion, Hon Maurice Woode noted that the school building was handed over to the Akrofuom District by the contractor in August 2021 at a time when the school was about to vacate, with the Assembly making preparations to procure classroom furniture as a policy by the Assembly.

He added that the Assembly in the interim released the building to some workers of the Forestry Commission who were at Kofi Gyaame for a three week special reforestation exercise in the Nkrabea forest. He stressed that the block was yet to be furnished with tables.

The DCE intimated that the said 3-unit classroom block has since been furnished with 75 pieces of Dual Desks (25 for each class) with Teachers' tables and chairs commissioned on September 2021.

"As I am speaking with you now, the classroom block is being used by the school and therefore it is palpable falsehood for anyone to allege that the building has been locked since it was handed over by the contractor," he stated.

RESPONSE FROM GES ON WRONGFUL DISMISSAL

In a statement read on behalf of the District Education Director George Sarfo Kantanka, the PRO of the Education Directorate, Braimah Seidu said Teacher Kwadwo's removal from GES had nothing to do with his social media advocacy as he is trying hard to portray. His removal from the service he stated, was purely based on professional misconducts: absenteeism, his perpetual refusal to prepare lesson plan and insubordination.

"Mr. Michael Owusu Afriyie was not regular to school and the records are there to show. The records also show that he was queried (given several warnings) by the District Directorate, his SISO (Circuit Supervisor) and headmaster. He refused to respond to the queries and the invitations to him from the Directorate to come for discussion on same", he added.

The statement further established that the Ghana Education Service (GES) cannot dismiss its staff in a manner as purported by Teacher Kwadwo. He said due processes were followed during the hearings.

"During the disciplinary committee hearing of his case, he brought a lawyer throughout the period and at the end, they asked for clemency when the facts were made available. His case has absolutely nothing to do with victimization," he emphasised.

He pointed out that, it is clear from the narrative that, Mr. Michael Owusu Afriyie was not victimized by the Ghana Education Service nor was he intimidated by any officer or headteacher. He rather intimidated officers and his headteacher for self-aggrandizement.
The MTN Ghana Foundation on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, marked the Global Y'ello Care Day with a capacity-building event in Accra to equip student leaders from various public tertiary institutions with entrepreneurial skills.

The Global Y'ello Care Day is a competition for staff of MTN who volunteer to go out and impact their communities.

The annual event sees competition from staff in all the 22 MTN operating countries on the continent.

For this year, the MTN Ghana Foundation partnered with the Africa Network for Entrepreneurs to deliver training [both in-person and online] for student leaders from public tertiary institutions.

Delivering a welcome speech at the training, Mr. Robert Kuzoe who is Executive Secretary for the MTN Ghana Foundation stressed that empowering communities to drive economic development is very important to his outfit.

He explained that the staff of MTN is dedicating this years Yello Care Programme to encouraging people, especially students in tertiary institutions to strive to do more.

According to Mr. Kuzoe, giving entrepreneurial skills to student leaders is strategic as they will in turn go and also shed the knowledge acquired to students from the tertiary institutions they come from.

Engaging the media on the sidelines of the training, Ebenezer Terkpeh who is an Education portfolio adviser at MTN Ghana Foundation said; "We are asking people, the youth especially, to create jobs for themselves and all. At MTN Ghana what we have decided to do is to gather student leadership in public tertiary institutions across the country and the idea is that we think that as leaders we want to embed the right behaviour in terms of entrepreneurship in them. So once they get it right it is easier for them to affect their peers. So that is the idea for this training.

He further indicated that after the Covid pandemic, it is important that young people get something to do instead of constantly moving around looking for jobs they may not find.

In post-Covid, we believe that everybody needs to do something so it is not all the time that we have to take CVs and be walking from block to block looking for jobs. We need to create things for ourselves and so that is the main idea of todays training, Ebenezer Terkpeh stressed.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Africa Network of Entrepreneurs, Ekow Mensah who led the training for the student leadership from public tertiary institutions said there is a need for young people to realise that they have the resources that they need to leverage on to become successful and at the same time help advance the country.

Among other things, he urged young people to use their time wisely, be creative, submit to service, and inspire with whatever they set out their minds to do.

Time is one of the relevant resources that they need to maximize to build their capacities and also to build the value they need to give them the opportunities they need in the market circle.

These student leaders are key and its important to conscientise their minds on what happens to this country in the near future. So the whole objective is to impact their mindset to be able to know that they already have what they need to build on those things to solve the problems and challenges that we have, Ekow Mensah shared.

Students leadership from public tertiary institutions in Ghana were drawn from the Accra Technical University (ATU), the University of Ghana, Legon (UG), University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), University of Development Studies (UDS), University of Cape Coast (UCC), and the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).

On Wednesday, June 21, 2022, the staff volunteers of MTN will visit various markets to interact with traders to help them enhance their knowledge to become better at what they do.

During that exercise, MTN staff will offer financial literacy and book-keeping training to help traders increase their profits.
21.06.2022 LISTEN

The Chief Executive for Akrofuom District and District Education Director have jointly clarified that Michael Owusu Afriyie aka Teacher Kwadwo, a Ghanaian YouTuber, comedian and former teacher was dismissed for professional misconduct.

They said Teacher Kwadwo was sacked after he was found guilty of absenteeism, perpetual refusal to prepare lesson plan and insubordination.

The Chief Executive for Akrofuom District Hon Maurice Jonas Woode is asking Michael Owusu Afriyie aka Teacher Kwadwo to render an unqualified apology for what he describes as lies peddled about him and personnel of the District Education Directorate by the comedian.

In a press briefing organized by the Assembly on Tuesday, 21st June, 2022 the DCE debunked the assertion by Teacher Kwadwo that his termination of appointment from the Ghana Education Service in December 2021 was orchestrated by him (the DCE) and some staff of GES including the District Education Director George Sarfo Kantanka, as a result of a video published by Teacher Kwadwo on social media about Kofi Gyaame Basic school.

In a video footage which has since gone viral, the former professional teacher revealed how classrooms in Kofi Gyama were allegedly being used by some staff of the forestry commission with the approval of school authorities.

According to him, the pupils of the school have been kicked out of their classrooms and made to study in a dilapidated structure.

This alleged illegal action, he stressed, formed part of the main reasons for his dismissal in December 2021.

Speaking to the press, Hon Maurice Jonas Woode said Teacher Kwadwo's dismissal came about as a result of professional misconduct on his part which has nothing to do with what he alleged in the viral video.

KOFI GYAME SCHOOL IS BEING USED BY THE SCHOOL SINCE COMMISSIONING

Contrary to the allegations made by Michael Owusu Afriyie that the pupils of the school have been kicked out of their classrooms since its completion, Hon Maurice Woode said the school building was handed over to the Akrofuom District by the contractor in August 2021 at a time when the school was about to vacate, with the Assembly making preparations to procure classroom furniture as a policy by the Assembly.

He said the Assembly in the interim released the building to some workers of the Forestry Commission who were at Kofi Gyaame for a three week special reforestation exercise in the Nkrabea forest. He added that the block was yet to be furnished with tables.

The DCE stressed that the said 3-unit classroom block has since been furnished with 75 pieces of Dual Desks (25 for each class) with teachers' tables and chairs commissioned on September 2021.

"As I am speaking with you now,the classroom block is being used by the school and therefore it is palpable falsehood for anyone to allege that the building has been locked since it was handed over by the contractor".

RESPONSE FROM GES ON WRONGFUL DISMISSAL

In a statement read on behalf of the District Education Director George Sarfo Kantanka, the PRO of the Education Directorate, Braimah Seidu said Teacher Kwadwo's removal from GES had nothing to do with his social media advocacy as he is trying hard to portray. His removal from the service he stated, was purely based on professional misconducts: absenteeism, his perpetual refusal to prepare lesson plan and insubordination.

"Mr. Michael Owusu Afriyie was not regular to school and the records are there to show. The records also show that he was queried (given several warnings) by the District Directorate, his SISO (Circuit Supervisor) and headmaster. He refused to respond to the queries and the invitations to him from the Directorate to come for discussion on same", he added.

The statement further established that the Ghana Education Service (GES) cannot dismiss its staff in a manner as purported by Teacher Kwadwo. He said due processes were followed during the hearings.

"During the disciplinary committee hearing of his case, he brought a lawyer throughout the period and at the end, they asked for clemency when the facts were made available. His case has absolutely nothing to do with victimization," he emphasised.

He intimated that, it is clear from the narrative that, Mr. Michael Owusu Afriyie was not victimized by the Ghana Education Service nor was he intimidated by any officer or headteacher. He rather intimidated officers and his headteacher for self-aggrandizement.
A former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Public Administration (GIMPA) Professor Stephen Adei has commended the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, for refunding the ex-gratia paid him for serving on the Council of State between 2017 and 2020.

Speaking in an interview with TV3s Paa Kwesi Asare on this issue, Prof Adei said the revered traditional ruler did the right thing.

Togbe, congratulations, he is one of my best loved people so therefore, I must be very careful not to sing your praises too much. I think that he has done right. He didnt say he is not entitled to it, he says that he feels, for what he has done, he doesnt need it he said.

Togbe Afede XIV had served on the Council in his capacity as the President of the National House of Chiefs .

He insisted that the payment was not to trap him, contrary to speculations after he made a refund to the Controller and Accountant General.

I did not think the payment was made to trap me, as is being speculated, he stated in a press release on Monday, June 6.

I believe it was it was paid to everybody who served on the Council of State.

However, I thought that extra payment was inappropriate for a short, effectively part-time work, for which I received a monthly salary and was entitled to other privileges. So, I was very uncomfortable with it.

He stressed that he had written to the Council of State to state his reasons for rejecting the ex-gratia.

His action attracted flak from a section of the Ghanaian public including Board Chair of the Ghana Airport Company Limited Paul Adom Otchere who is also a broadcaster.

Reacting to Pauls criticism of Togbe Afede, Prof Adei said "What is wrong with Adom Otchere? Will he go and do that for all the other people when they are getting other things?

By his position he shouldnt be on to talk about this. He is the Board chair of the Airport Company. In which capacity was he talking? There are certain ethics of a certain position , once you are in that position, if I were him I will shut up, he said.

---3news.com
June 21, 2022 Ukraine Open Thread 2022-91 Only news & views related to the Ukraine conflict ... The open thread for other issues is here. Posted by b on June 21, 2022 at 17:11 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
I've known this for a few years now and always buy the kids boots. 1 because they are cooler and 2 they are normally a little bit cheaper too

People were loving the tip on Facebook, commenting; "I did not know this, thank you for the tip, am going to use this new information wisely," and "Does this mean I can buy light up and glitter shoes!!".

There were even a few out there who use the tip on the regular!

"This is awesome! Especially when it comes to sneakers - depending on the style I can wear a kids size 5 or 6. Much more fun designs & much cheaper!!"

"I've known this for more than half my life hahaha... wanted a pair of sneakers over $200 adult, same shoe slight design change in pattern kids $80, uh yeh kids for sure!"

"I do this with Nike shoes. I wear a youth size 5 and they are around $99 a pair. Women's size I wear a size 6 or sometimes smaller and they start at $179. Nike have most of the same colours and styles for kids and adults,"

Source
M Swiet Productions/Getty Images

For those looking for summer vacation plans, the Caribbean offers many opportunities for unique getaways with beautiful beaches, secluded islands and adventurous hiking. From Cancun, Mexico to San Juan, Puerto Rico, Texans can fly nonstop to multiple Caribbean locations from the Lone Star State.

Most flights originate in either Houston International Airport or Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport with a few options for those flying out of San Antonio International Airport or Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. International airports in El Paso, Laredo, Midland and Lubbock do not have direct, nonstop flights to locations in the Caribbean, but they do offer many options for flights with connections.
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Lawrence Holley, 72, who was arrested Thursday for calling in a report of kidnapping and fired shots Thursday, remained in the Midland County Jail on Tuesday.

Midland County Sheriff's Office deputies responded at about 9:57 a.m. Thursday in reference to a shots fired call near County Road 320 and State Highway 349.

Dispatch advised that the caller  identified as Holley  stated someone was kidnapped and someone was also shot. Dispatch also advised that Holley mentioned a trooper during the call. He also stated that the person responsible was inside a trailer house.

Based on the information dispatched received from Holley, it was believed at that time that a Texas Department of Safety trooper had been shot, according to the arrest affidavit.

Dispatch told deputies the Midland Fire Department and Rankin EMS along with Carestar were en route to the scene, according to the affidavit.

When MCSO deputies arrived to the scene, they checked the property for gunshot victims but did not locate anyone, according to the affidavit. They then proceeded to evacuate residents who were to the west of the property.

Investigators made contact with Holley, who stated he called 911 after a black male had pulled a gun on him while riding his mule. He also stated the male ran to the east and shot a DPS trooper and his family, according to the affidavit. Holley called 911 a second time to report EMS was on the scene and performing first aid on the trooper. Holley told investigator that the male ran into an RV north of the property and was still inside, according to the affidavit.

The Midland County SWAT team then searched the RV and found it empty, according to the affidavit. It was later discovered that Holley owned and lived in the RV.

Holley was evaluated by the Midland County Mental Health Unit, which determined he did not meet the criteria.

Holley was charged with a false report inducing an emergency response, a Class A misdemeanor. Bond is set at $2,500.

The following agencies responded to the call: Midland County Sheriffs Office (criminal investigation division, Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, mental health unit, SWAT, and patrol division); Texas Department of Safety troopers from Midland, Odessa, Rankin, Crane, and Big Lake; Texas Department of Safety criminal investigation division Ranger division; Upton County Sheriffs Office; Midland County Justice of the Peace death investigator; and Midland County warrant services.
Ken Leon-Guerrero shows paperwork for voter initiatives he intends to file with the Guam Election Commission in Tamuning.
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  The Earl and Countess of Wessex met Tuesday with the president of Cyprus as part of a three-day visit to the former British colony to underscore close bilateral ties and to meet soldiers serving with a U.N. peacekeeping force and those stationed at two U.K. military bases.

The Earl  the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth and her late husband Prince Philip  and his wife were received by Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and his wife Andri at the Presidential Palace in the capital, Nicosia.
June 17 marked the 50th anniversary of the night when D.C. police arrested five men breaking into the Watergate hotel/office/apartment complex. The burglars were operatives of President Richard Nixons re-election campaign. Their mission: to tap phones and steal documents from the Democratic National Committee, which had its headquarters in the Watergate.

The operation was planned and supervised by G. Gordon Liddy, a former FBI agent who was the general counsel of the presidents campaign. He financed the caper with campaign funds. Liddy and the burglars were criminally charged and convicted. Others who participated in the subsequent cover-up orchestrated by the White House, including John Ehrlichman, Nixons adviser for domestic affairs.

The investigation of the attempted Watergate break-in by a select committee chaired by Sen. Sam Ervin of North Carolina eventually led to the White House audiotapes, the infamous 18-minute gap, and House Judiciary Committee approval of three articles of impeachment. Nixon resigned Aug. 8, 1974, to avoid a vote by the House and a potential impeachment trial in the Senate.

A month later, President Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon, saying his action was intended to end a long national nightmare and a disruptive scandal that had polarized the public. He feared that potential litigation against the former president would arouse ugly passions and challenge the credibility of our free institutions of government  at home and abroad.

So, have things gotten better since then? Liddy and his fellow co-conspirators were driven by political objectives  to find out everything they could about what the Democratic Party was doing and to get information that they could use to sabotage George McGoverns presidential campaign. But they got caught because of their ineptness.

Compare that to what we now know happened in the 2016 presidential campaign. The Hillary Clinton presidential campaign  using campaign lawyers, an opposition research firm and allies in the press  orchestrated a smear campaign against Donald Trump. The concocted hoax about his supposed collusion with the Russian government continued well into his presidency.

The Clinton campaign didnt have to engage bumbling burglars for a risky wiretapping scheme. Instead, as the special counsel, the Justice Departments inspector general, and the John Durham investigation have revealed, they created a salacious dossier rife with phony claims. They also enlisted the help of a technology executive and university researchers with government cybersecurity contracts to secretly scoop up internet communications data from Trump both during the campaign and from the White House itself after he became president. The sophistication of this conspiracy makes Gordon Liddy look like an amateur.

In 1972, Nixons dirty trick failed, and Liddy and his co-conspirators all went to prison. The Clinton campaigns dirty trick failed to win the election. Still, it succeeded in hobbling the Trump presidency and corrupting the Justice Department. Yet no one has gone to prison as a result of what happened in 2016. The cover-up was so successful that we didnt even know about the illegal spying and politicization of Justice until well after it occurred and the dirty deed was done.

So, what have we learned in the 50 years since Watergate? Dirty tricksters in politics have become more adept at hiding what they are doing, abusing advances in technology to further their dishonest ends, weaponizing federal law enforcement agencies against their political opponents, and using their friends in the media to ensure they are successful.

Americans deserve better. And unfortunately, the dirty tricks in the last presidential campaign have done precisely what Gerald Ford feared: raised ugly passions, polarized the electorate, and damaged the credibility of our free institutions of government  at home and abroad.
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He was a tough-as-nails-prosecutor who rose to become a two-term Illinois attorney general.

But despite his success at the ballot box, he was not a natural politician. He hated the glad-handing part of retail politics. When reporters interviewed him, he was often stiff and uncomfortable.

But more significantly, Jim Ryan suffered from the hubris of not wanting to admit a mistake.

His life was filled with so much woe that shortly after his June 12 death his own family issued a press release comparing him to the Biblical character Job.

He lost a 12-year-old daughter, Anne, to an undiagnosed brain tumor in 1997. His 24-year-old son Patrick killed himself in 2007. His wife suffered from heart disease. And Ryan himself battled multiple bouts of Type 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"From the time I met him until his death, Jimmy always was striving to do the right thing and to help people," his wife of 54 years, Marie, said in a prepared statement. "That was who he was and he was very successful at it."

When I read those words, I just cringed. He didnt always strive to do the right thing.

The Jim Ryan I knew sent two innocent men to death row. And even when evidence began piling up that a mistake had been made, he just ignored it. The mens names were Rolando Cruz and Alejandro Hernandez. They were convicted in the 1983 abduction and killing of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico.

The two men initially were convicted and sentenced to death, but after several appeals and two retrials each, both were exonerated and another man ultimately was convicted of the girl's slaying.

John Hanlon, a Springfield lawyer who represented Cruz and Hernandez, recalls traveling to Wheaton to meet with Ryan in 1995.

I thought there was evidence that the two were wrongly convicted. I suggested that we try to do this new thing called DNA testing to see if it would match them to the crime. But he wasnt interested and he refused to go along with it. If he had agreed to it, this case would have been resolved years earlier than it ultimately was.

That wasnt the action of someone driven by a desire for truth  or justice. Nor was it as his widow claims a desire to do the right thing. He was blinded by the arrogance of power.

It was the biggest case of his career and he protected that conviction and used it as a foundation to build a political career. As he sought higher office, two innocent men languished on death row for a crime they had nothing to do with.

I last spoke to Ryan in 2002 when he dropped by my office to chat and discuss his run for governor. Even then, he was unwilling to admit he made a mistake. And after more than a dozen men on Illinois death row had been found to have been factually innocent, he still clung to the idea that society should be able to kill its own citizens.

That arrogance of not admitting a mistake may well have cost him a chance to be governor. In 2002, he was the Republican nominee for governor facing Rod Blagojevich. The Chicago Tribune relentlessly criticized his handling of the Nicarico case.

They said being governor is all about judgment, lawyer Hanlon said. And if his judgment was this poor in the biggest case of his career, how good would it be as governor?

Ultimately, Blagojevich won the race. But his judgment didnt prove too great either.

Suffering is the mother of empathy.

In the years following his return to the political wilderness, I often wondered about Ryan. Did he reflect on his mistakes and rethink his own political positions in the wake of his sons death and his own declining health?

There is reason to think so.

In 2010, he again made an unsuccessful bid for governor. But he failed to capture the Republican nomination. For the first time he apologized for his role in the wrongful prosecutions. He said he acted in good faith and still came up with the wrong result. He added, The system and I failed to achieve a just outcome.

I doubt those words provided much solace to either Cruz or Hernandez after spending years on death row. But at least he said them.

His spirited defense of capital punishment dimmed over the years as well. Ultimately, he said he had grave concerns about the institution.

If even a hard-as-nails prosecutor can change his mind, perhaps there is hope for us all.
South Korea launches first satellite with homegrown rocket View Photo

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korea conducted its first successful satellite launch using a domestically developed rocket on Tuesday, officials said, boosting its growing aerospace ambitions and demonstrating it has key technologies needed to launch spy satellites and build larger missiles amid tensions with rival North Korea.

The three-stage Nuri rocket placed a functioning performance verification satellite at a target altitude of 700 kilometers (435 miles) after its 4 p.m. liftoff from South Koreas space launch center on a southern island, the Science Ministry said.

The satellite transmitted signals about its status to an unmanned South Korean station in Antarctica. It is carrying four smaller satellites that will be released in coming days for Earth observation and other missions, ministry officials said.

The science and technology of the Republic of Korea have made a great advance, Science Minister Lee Jong-Ho said in a televised news conference at the launch center. The government will continue its audacious march toward becoming a space power together with the people.

In a video conference with scientists and others involved in the launch, President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated them for their achievement and vowed to keep his campaign promise to establish a state aerospace agency, according to his office.

Live TV video showed the 47-meter (154-foot) rocket rising into the air amid bright flames and thick white smoke.

The launch made South Korea the worlds 10th nation to place a satellite into space with its own technology.

It was South Koreas second launch of a Nuri rocket. In the first attempt last October, the rockets dummy payload reached the desired altitude but didnt enter orbit because the engine of the rockets third stage burned out earlier than planned.

South Korea, which has the worlds 10th largest economy, is a major producer of semiconductors, automobiles and smartphones. But its space development program lags behind that of Asian neighbors China, India and Japan.

North Korea placed Earth observation satellites into orbit in 2012 and 2016, though there is no proof that either one has ever transmitted spaced-based imagery and data back home. The North Korean launches resulted in U.N. economic sanctions because they were viewed as covers for testing the countrys banned long-range missile technology.

Since the early 1990s, South Korea has sent a slew of satellites into space, but all used foreign rocket technology or launch sites. In 2013, South Korea successfully launched a satellite for the first time from its soil, but the first stage of the rocket was Russian-made.

After that satellite launch, North Koreas Foreign Ministry accused the United States of having double standards and brigandish nature, arguing that Washington supported the South Korean launch but led the U.N. sanctions over the Norths satellite launch the previous year. North Korea didnt immediately comment on Tuesdays Nuri launch.

South Korea plans four more Nuri launches in coming years. It also hopes to send a probe to the moon, build next-generation space launch vehicles and send large-scale satellites into orbit.

South Korean officials said the Nuri rocket has no military purposes.

The transfer of space launch technology is strictly restricted under a multilateral export control regime because it has military applications. Ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles often share similar bodies, engines and other components, though missiles require a reentry capability and other technologies.

If you put a satellite on the top of a rocket, it would become a space launch vehicle. But if you mount a warhead on it, it becomes a weapon, said Kwon Yong Soo, a former professor at Korea National Defense University in South Korea. (A successful launch) is really meaningful because we also succeed in the test of a long-range rocket that can be used to build a long-range missile.

Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Koreas Science and Technology Policy Institute, said it would be difficult to directly use Nuri as a missile because it employs liquid fuels that must be kept at extremely low temperatures and requires much longer fueling time than solid fuels. He said North Korean long-range missiles also use liquid fuels, but extremely toxic ones that are maintained at ordinary temperatures and require less fueling time than Nuri.

This year, North Korea has test-launched about 30 missiles with ranges that potentially place the U.S. mainland and regional allies South Korea and Japan within striking distance.

South Korea already has missiles that can hit all of North Korea, but some experts say it also needs longer-range missiles because its surrounded by regional military powers and potential adversaries.

If we only think about North Korea, a long-range missile doesnt mean much for us. But its very unfortunate that military powers like China and Russia are near us, Kwon said.

He said Nuris successful launch proves South Korea has the capability to send a spy satellite into orbit. Lee said Nuri can be used to launch a spy satellite, but it would be better for South Korea to have many small spy satellites that could be sent up with less powerful solid-fueled rockets.

South Korea currently has no military reconnaissance satellites of its own and depends on U.S. spy satellites to monitor strategic facilities in North Korea. South Korea has said it plans to launch its own surveillance satellites soon.

By HYUNG-JIN KIM

Associated Press
Africa taken hostage by Russias invasion, Zelenskyy says View Photo

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  Africa is actually taken hostage in Russias invasion of Ukraine amid catastrophically rising food prices, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the African Union continental body during a closed-door address on Monday.

It took weeks of requests for Zelenskyy to address African nations, many of whom retain close ties to Russia and failed to support a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning the invasion earlier this year.

Ukraine and the West hope to weaken those ties by emphasizing that Russias actions are to blame for dramatic shortages of wheat and edible oils and skyrocketing food and fuel prices across the African continent of 1.3 billion people. Russias blockade of Ukrainian exports is a war crime, the European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Monday.

They are trying to use you and the suffering of the people to put pressure on the democracies that have imposed sanctions on Russia, Zelenskyy told the AU, whose leaders recently met in Russia with President Vladimir Putin and echoed Moscows assertion that Western sanctions are in part to blame for the food security crisis. They appealed to other countries to ensure grain and fertilizer exports from Russia and Ukraine arent blocked.

Millions of people in the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia and Somalia, are now struggling to find food or even humanitarian food aid amid a historic drought. The Associated Press was the first to report hundreds of deaths this year in Somalia alone.

We know for a fact there will be increased deaths  well into 2023, USAID Ethiopia mission director Sean Jones told the AP last week.

Official reaction to Zelenskyys speech was muted. African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat, one of those who met with Putin, tweeted that African nations reiterated the AU position of the urgent need for dialogue to end the conflict. Current AU chair and Senegalese President Macky Sall tweeted that Africa respects the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the freedom of commerce.

Russia is the largest weapons exporter to sub-Saharan Africa, and Moscow emphasizes its long ties with African nations dating to the Soviet Union. Some African leaders, meanwhile, are exasperated by global powers efforts to choose one side or another.

Ukraine will press its case again later this week when its foreign minister speaks to Africa-based reporters in a briefing organized by the United States government on how Russian Federations full-scale invasion of Ukraine affects food security on the African continent.

The EUs top diplomat said he has written to all African foreign ministers to explain that the blocs sanctions on Russia are not responsible for the looming global food crisis, and pledged to work out ways for exports of food and fertilizers to reach their continent.

By CARA ANNA

Associated Press
Everything is on fire: Ukraine region weathers bombardment View Photo

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russian attacks laid down a curtain of fire Tuesday across areas of eastern Ukraine where pockets of resistance are denying Moscow full military control of the region, almost four months after the Kremlin unleashed its invasion.

Today everything that can burn is on fire, Serhiy Haidai, the governor of Ukraines eastern Luhansk region, told The Associated Press.

Russias war has caused alarm over food supplies from Ukraine to the rest of the world and gas supplies from Russia, as well as raising questions about security in Western Europe.

The Russian military currently controls about 95% of the Luhansk region. But Moscow has struggled for weeks to overrun it completely, despite deploying additional troops and possessing a massive advantage in military assets.

With the help of tactical movements, the Ukrainian army is strengthening defenses in the Luhansk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. That really is where the toughest situation is now.

In the city of Sievierodonetsk, the hot spot of the fighting, Ukrainian defenders held on to the Azot chemical plant in the industrial outskirts. About 500 civilians are sheltering at the plant, and Haidai said the Russian forces are turning the area into ruins.

It is a sheer catastrophe, Haidai told the AP in written comments about the plant. Our positions are being fired at from howitzers, multiple rocket launchers, large-caliber artillery, missile strikes.

The defense of the chemical plant recalled the besieged Azovstal steel mill in the brutalized city of Mariupol, where Ukrainian troops were pinned down for weeks.

Neighboring Lysychansk, the only city in the Luhansk region that is still fully under Ukrainian control, also was targeted by multiple airstrikes.

The airstrikes on Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk ruined more than 10 residential buildings and a police station. In the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, a school burned down as the result of the shelling, the presidents office said. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions make up the Donbas.

Separately, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland met for about an hour at a Ukrainian-Polish border post with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. They discussed how the U.S. can help identify, apprehend and prosecute anyone involved in war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

We and our partners will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable, Garland said in a statement.

Garland also tapped Eli Rosenbaum  a 36-year Justice Department veteran who headed efforts to identify and deport Nazi war criminals  as counselor for war crimes accountability. He will coordinate efforts to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, also came under heavy Russian shelling on Tuesday. Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said 15 civilians were killed and 16 wounded in Kharkiv and elsewhere in the region.

Zelenskyy said the attacks in the Kharkiv region were especially cruel and cynical because they brought no clear benefit to the Russian forces. The Russian army is deaf to any rationality. It simply destroys, simply kills, and in this way it shows its command that it is not really standing in place, he said in his video address.

Speaking Tuesday to graduates of Russian military academies at a lavish Kremlin reception, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the Russian armed forces as heirs to the countrys legendary military traditions. The country is now going through another series of trials, he said, expressing confidence that Russia will overcome all the challenges.

There is no doubt that we will become even stronger, he added.

International support for Ukraine was demonstrated once more when a Nobel Peace Prize medal auctioned off by Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov sold Monday night for $103.5 million, shattering the old record for a Nobel. The auction aimed to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees.

Geopolitical tensions stemming from Russias invasion returned to Lithuania. Due to European Union sanctions on Moscow, the Baltic country earlier this month banned rail traffic from crossing its territory from Russia to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Kaliningrad, with a population of around 430,000 people, is wedged between Lithuania and Poland, both EU countries, and is isolated from the rest of Russia.

Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of the Kremlins Security Council and a hard-liner, visited Kaliningrad on Tuesday and vowed to respond to the ban.

The relevant measures are being drawn up in an interagency format and will be adopted shortly, Patrushev said, without elaborating. He added: Their consequences will have a significant negative impact on the population of Lithuania.

In other developments Tuesday:

 Zelenskyy said he spoke with leaders from nine European Union members  Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain  in anticipation of Fridays meeting of EU leaders to decide whether to grant Ukraine candidate status. He said his agenda for Wednesday is just as full. We are expanding the circle of those who support Ukraines candidacy and making it more likely that Fridays decision will be positive, he said.

 John Kirby, a national security spokesman for the White House, said it was appalling that the Kremlin suggested two Americans captured by Russian forces in Ukraine could be sentenced to death. Kirby declined to say what steps the U.S. would take if Russia does not treat Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh, both from Alabama, as prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it depends on the investigation, when asked during an NBC interview whether the Americans could be sentenced to death like two Britons and a Moroccan captured while fighting for Ukraine.

 The U.S. State Department confirmed the death of a U.S. citizen in Ukraine who is believed to be only the second American to have been killed while fighting in the conflict.

 Britains Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence report that Ukraines coastal defenses have largely neutralized Russias ability to project maritime force in the northwestern Black Sea. This has undermined the viability of Russias original operational design for the invasion, which involved holding the Odesa region at risk from the sea, the report said.

 Russian authorities blocked the website of British newspaper The Telegraph over an article it published, the internet rights group Roskomsvoboda reported Tuesday. It said Russias media and internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, blocked Russian access to a story that alleged that Russian forces had prepared a mobile crematorium for use in its war with Ukraine, possibly to hide its military casualties. The move made the entire Telegraph website inaccessible for some Russians.

___

Karmanau reported from Lviv. Francesca Ebel contributed from the Krakovets border crossing in Ukraine.

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Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

By YURAS KARMANAU, JOHN LEICESTER and DAVID KEYTON

Associated Press
Macron holds postelection talks with French party leaders View Photo

PARIS (AP)  President Emmanuel Macron held talks Tuesday with Frances main party leaders in a bid to show he is open to dialogue after his centrist alliance failed to win an absolute majority in parliamentary elections.

The meetings at the Elysee presidential palace come after Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne formally offered her resignation Tuesday, in line with the tradition after parliamentary elections. Macron immediately rejected the offer and maintained the current government.

Macrons Together! alliance won 245 seats in Sundays parliamentary elections  44 seats short of a majority in the National Assembly, Frances most powerful house of parliament.

The leftist Nupes coalition won 131 seats to become the main opposition force. The far-right National Rally got 89 seats in the 577-member chamber, up from its previous eight.

Macron held successive meetings with opposition members, including the president of The Republicans, Christian Jacob, the head of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, and far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Macron also met with representatives of his own party and allied movements. Other meetings were scheduled Wednesday.

Talks were aiming at finding potential constructive solutions to the situation, according to Macrons office.

Macron has not publicly commented on the elections results yet.

Instead, in his first public appearance since the elections, he appeared Tuesday evening on a stage set up in the Elysee courtyard for Frances Music Day, for a show in front of about 2,000 guests. Macron said that while being busy all day with politics, it was now time for entertainment. Be happy! he told the crowd.

With the most seats at the National Assembly, his government still has the ability to rule, but only by bargaining with legislators. To prevent potential deadlock, Macrons party and allies may try to negotiate on a case-by-case basis with lawmakers from the center-left and from the conservative party.

Macron was reelected in April on an agenda including measures to boost purchasing power, tax cuts and raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65.

After her meeting with Macron, Le Pen said that he listens, but does he hear? Well see.

She said she told him her partys MPs will be part of the opposition but dont want to do systematic obstruction.

If measures are being proposed that go in the right direction  we will vote for them. If they go in the wrong direction, we will amend them. If they are not amended as we want, then we will oppose them, she said.

On his way out of the Elysee, Jacob said The Republicans, who hold 61 seats, wont enter into any pact or coalition with Macrons centrists. However, he opened the door to voting in favor of some measures if they are in line with his partys platform.

He notably mentioned pension changes, since the conservatives are, like Macron, in favor of raising the retirement age.

The Socialist leader, Olivier Faure, told reporters its possible to move forward but we wont approve policies which would be contrary to commitments we made to the French.

Faure advocated for a measure proposed by the leftist coalition to bring the monthly minimum salary from about 1,300 euros to 1,500 euros.

Macron will also soon need to handle another issue : a government reshuffle. Three ministers  out of the 15 who were running for reelection  have lost their seats and wont be able to stay in the government under the rules he set.

While keeping him busy at home, the situation at parliament is not expected to destabilize Macrons international agenda. The French president holds substantial powers over foreign policy, European affairs and defense.

Macron is to travel to Brussels for a European summit scheduled on Thursday and Friday. He will then head to a G-7 meeting in Germany next week, followed by a NATO summit in Spain and a brief visit to Portugal.

By SYLVIE CORBET

The Associated Press
Man who coordinated Honduras activists murder sentenced View Photo

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP)  The man convicted last year of coordinating the killing of Honduran environmental activist Berta Caceres was sentenced Monday to more than 22 years in prison, upsetting the victims family because the penalty was significantly below the maximum.

A judge sentenced Roberto David Castillo Mejia to 22 years and six months in prison for the murder of Caceres, a member of the Lenca Indigenous group who led opposition to a dam project in which Castillo Mejia was involved. He will be able to appeal.

Olivia Zuniga Caceres, daughter of the activist who protested with others outside the court, said she would make every effort to seek a more severe sentence.

It is extremely outrageous that the maximum penalty was not applied, Zuniga Caceres said, noting that the convicted gunmen received longer sentences.

In December 2019, seven men were sentenced to prison for Caceres murder. Four men were sentenced to 34 years for the murder and 16 years for attempted murder. Three others received sentences of 30 years for their roles.

This is the result of a justice system that has nothing to do with justice, that promotes impunity, Zuniga Caceres said, also saying she still awaited the capture of others involved in ordering her mothers killing.

At the time, prosecutors said the killers acted on behalf of a company, Desa, that was building a dam being opposed by the activist. Castillo Mejia, who heads the project, was arrested in 2018.

Castillo Mejia allegedly paid the hitmen, gave logistical support and provided resources to those already convicted, according to prosecutors.

Caceres was a co-founder of the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras. She helped organize opposition to the Agua Zarca dam, which was to be built on the Galcarque River. The river holds spiritual importance for the Lenca people as well as being a critical source of water. The dam project remains frozen.

Caceres won the prestigious Goldman Prize for her environmental activism in 2015. She was slain at her home in La Esperanza on March 3, 2016. A Mexican activist who was there with her also was shot, but survived.
Georgias Raffensperger among witnesses for next 1/6 hearing View Photo

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is set to testify Tuesday at the House Jan. 6 committee about the extraordinary pressure he faced from former President Donald Trump to find 11,780 votes that could flip the state to prevent Joe Bidens election victory

Raffensperger, along with his deputy Gabe Sterling and Arizonas state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, are scheduled to be the key witnesses when the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection resumes on Tuesday.

The focus will be on how the former president and his allies vigorously pressured officials in key battleground states with schemes to reject ballots or entire state tallies to upend the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Additionally, the panel will underscore how Trump knew his unrelenting pressure campaign could potentially cause violence against state and local officials and their families but pursued it anyway, according to a select committee aide.

We will show courageous state officials who stood up and said they wouldnt go along with this plan to either call legislatures back into session or decertify the results for Joe Biden, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., one of the Democratic members of the committee, told CNN on Sunday.

The hearing, the fourth by the panel this month, is the latest effort to delve into Trumps unprecedented attempt to remain in power, a sprawling scheme that the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee has likened to an attempted coup. The committee will review how Trump leaned on Raffensperger to invalidate ballots that voters had cast for Biden. And then he tapped state legislators in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and other disputed states to reject the election results from their own voters.

While the committee cannot charge Trump with any crimes, the Justice Department is watching the panels work closely. Trumps actions in Georgia are also the subject of a grand jury investigation, with the district attorney expected to announce findings this year.

Raffensperger, Georgias top election official, rebuffed Trumps request that he find enough votes to overturn Bidens win in the state  a request caught on tape during a phone call days before the Jan. 6 attack.

During the call, Trump repeatedly cited disproven claims of fraud and raised the prospect of a criminal offense if Georgia officials did not change the vote count. The state had counted its votes three times before certifying Bidens win by a 11,779 margin.

Sterling, Raffenspergers chief operating officer, became a notable figure in Georgias long post-election counting, and recounting, of the presidential ballots, with his regular updates often broadcast live to a divided nation. At one point, the mild-spoken Republican implored Americans to tone down the heated rhetoric.

Death threats, physical threats, intimidation  its too much, its not right, said Sterling, a Republican.

Bowers is expected to discuss the pressure he faced to overturn Arizonas results  requests from Trump advisers the Republican state leader on Monday called juvenile.

In an interview with The Associated Press after arriving in Washington ahead of the hearing, Bowers said he is expected to be asked about a call with Trump during which lawyer Rudy Giuliani floated an idea to replace Arizonas electors with those who would vote for Trump.

Bowers also revealed a second phone call with Trump in December 2020 that he said was mainly small talk, although Trump also referenced their first conversation.

Also testifying Tuesday is Wandrea Shay Moss, one of two Georgia election workers who filed a defamation lawsuit in December 2020 against a conservative website. Moss claimed One America News Network falsely spread allegations that she and her mother engaged in ballot fraud during the election.

The lawsuit, which was settled in April, also names Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani as a vocal proponent of the baseless claim, which the mother and daughter say led to intense harassment, both in-person and online.

The select committee also plans Tuesday to untangle the elaborate fake electors scheme that was aimed at halting Bidens election win. The plan saw fake electors in seven battlegrounds  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada and New Mexico  sign certificates falsely stating that Trump, not Biden, had won their states.

Conservative law professor John Eastman, a lawyer for Trump, pushed the fake electors in the weeks after the election. Trump and Eastman convened hundreds of electors on a call on Jan. 2, 2021, encouraging them to send alternative electors from their states where Trumps team was claiming fraud.

The fake electoral certificates were produced and mailed to the National Archives and Congress. But the effort failed in the end, as Vice President Mike Pence refused Trumps repeated demands that he halt the certification of Bidens win on Jan. 6, 2021  a power he did not possess in his purely ceremonial role.

The committee says it will also show Tuesday that it has gathered enough evidence through its more than 1,000 interviews and tens of thousands of documents to connect the varying efforts to overturn the election directly to Trump.

At least 20 people in connection with the fake electors scheme were subpoenaed by the House panel, including former Trump campaign members, state party officials and state lawmakers.

We will show during a hearing what the presidents role was in trying to get states to name alternate slates of electors, how that scheme depended initially on hopes that the legislatures would reconvene and bless it, Schiff said.

Schiff told the Los Angeles Times on Monday that the hearing will also dig into the intimate role former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows had in the plot to pressure Georgia state legislators and elections officials.

The public testimony from Raffensperger comes weeks after he appeared before a special grand jury in Georgia, which is investigating whether Trump and others illegally tried to meddle in the states 2020 election.

In retaliation for Raffenspergers refusal to support his election lies, Trump recruited a primary challenger in an effort to remove him from office. But Raffensperger narrowly held back the threat in last months primary, leaving him positioned to compete against a Democrat in the general election.

By FARNOUSH AMIRI

Associated Press
Supreme Court limits reach of federal gun crime law View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court on Tuesday limited the reach of a federal statute that requires stiff penalties for crimes involving a gun.

The 7-2 decision united both conservative and liberal justices, though one dissenting justice compared the result to Alice in Wonderland. The justices said the law cant be used to lengthen the sentences of criminals convicted of a specific attempted robbery offense.

The case before the justices involved Justin Taylor, who in the early 2000s was a marijuana dealer in the area of Richmond, Virginia. The government has said he sold large quantities of marijuana to other dealers who distributed it. In 2003 he and another man planned to steal money from a buyer, and during the robbery the accomplice fatally shot the man.

Taylor was charged with attempted Hobbs Act robbery, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He was also charged under a federal statute that outlines mandatory minimum sentences for using a firearm in connection with a crime of violence. Taylor pleaded guilty to both and was given a 30-year sentence, 10 years longer than he could have received for just the robbery charge.

A majority of the court, however, ruled that attempted Hobbs Act robbery does not qualify as a crime of violence and therefore that Taylor was not eligible for the longer sentence.

Simply put, no element of attempted Hobbs Act robbery requires proof that the defendant used, attempted to use, or threatened to use force, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for a majority of the court.

The justices upheld a federal appeals court ruling that Taylor should be re-sentenced just on the attempted Hobbs Act robbery charge.

In a dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas cited Lewis Carrolls Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. He said the decision is an example of how the courts approach to deciding these kinds of cases has led lower courts on a journey Through the Looking Glass during which the justices have found many strange things. He said that like Alice, the court has strayed far down the rabbit hole.

I would hold Taylor accountable for what he actually did and uphold his conviction, he wrote.

Justice Samuel Alito also dissented, agreeing that the courts cases in this area of the law have veered off into fantasy land.

Frances Pratt, one of Taylors attorneys, said in an email that his attorneys are gratified to know that the Supreme Court ruled for our client and hope the decision will also help others. Taylors prosecution came at a time when officials in Virginia were attempting to reduce Richmonds high homicide rate in part by taking a hard line on gun crimes, bringing those cases in federal as opposed to state court. The effort was called Project Exile.

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The case is United States v. Taylor, 20-1459.

By JESSICA GRESKO

Associated Press
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Two elderly Jesuit priests were killed inside a church where a man pursued by gunmen apparently sought refuge in a remote mountainous area of northern Mexico, the religious orders Mexican branch announced Tuesday.

Javier Campos Morales, 79, and Joaquin Cesar Mora Salazar, 80, were slain Monday inside the church in Cerocahui in Chihuahua state.

They were apparently killed after a man fleeing a drug gang took refuge in the church, authorities said. The gang apparently pursued and caught him, and killed all three.

Chihuahua Gov. Maria Eugenia Campos confirmed a third man was killed, without identifying him. But President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said during his daily news conference that the man fleeing the gunmen was also killed.

The state government later identified the third man as a tourist guide, and said he had been kidnapped and taken to the church, apparently by the gunmen.

The governor said the killings caused deep anger, indignation and pain and shook us to our deepest depths."

Lopez Obrador said authorities had information about possible suspects in the killings and noted the area has a strong organized crime presence.

Violence has plagued the Tarahumara mountains for years. The rugged, pine-clad region is home to the Indigenous group of the same name. Cerocahui is near a point where Chihuahua state meets Sonora and Sinaloa, a major drug-producing region.

A statement from the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus in Mexico demanded justice and the return of the mens bodies. It said gunmen had taken both of their bodies from the church.

Acts like these are not isolated, the statement said. The Tarahumara mountains, like many other regions of the country, face conditions of violence and abandonment that have not been reversed. Every day men and women are arbitrarily deprived of life, as our murdered brothers were today.

For some reason, the gunmen did not kill a third priest who was at the church, but refused his pleas for them to leave the bodies of his two colleagues, said Narce Santibanez, the press director for the Jesuits in Mexico.

The surviving priest said his two colleagues had been killed with gunshots at close range.

The Tarahumara Diocese said in a statement that the killers, not content with murdering them, have taken their bodies ... leaving a wake of pain, sadness and indigation among all of us who want to mourn them.

The killing of priests has been a persistent tragedy in Mexico, at least since the start of the drug war in 2006.

The Rev. Gilberto Guevara serves in the parish of Aguililla in the western state of Michoacan, a town which has been on the front lines of cartel turf wars for years. Three priests have been killed in the area over the last decade.

The danger is always there, Guevara said about working in the cartel-dominated region. As long as we don't get in the way, they respect us, just as the government respects as as long as we are useful to them.

The churchs Catholic Multimedia Center said seven priests have been murdered under the current administration, which took office in December 2018, and at least two dozen under the former president, who took office in 2012.

The center said that on May 15, a priest who ran a migrant shelter in the northern border city of Tecate was found dead on a ranch.

In 2021, a Franciscan priest died when he was caught in the crossfire of a drug gang shootout in the north-central state of Zacatecas as he drove to Mass. Another priest was killed in the central state of Morelos and another in the violence-plagued state of Guanajuato that year.

In 2019, a priest was stabbed to death in the northern border city of Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas.

Chihuahua's governor wrote in her Twitter account that she laments and condemns the killings and said security arrangements had been discussed for priests in the area.

Campos Morales was ordained as a priest in 1972 and spent almost a half-century working in parishes in the Tarahumara region, known for its grinding poverty and scenic beauty.

Mora Salazar was ordained in 1971 and worked off and on in the Tarahumara in the 1970s and 80s before returning full time in 2000.

The Tarahumara people, who prefer the name Raramuri, suffered centuries of poverty, exclusion and exploitation, with loggers plundering their forests and drug gangs cultivating marijuana and opium poppies in the mountains.

The Jesuits started missions among the Raramuri in the 1600s but were expelled by Spain in 1767. They returned around 1900.

The Indigenous community has gained worldwide fame for their skill at running dozens of miles through their mountainous territory, often in leather sandals or barefoot, and have inspired and competed in ultra-long-distance foot races.
PARIS (AP)  President Emmanuel Macron held talks Tuesday with Frances main party leaders in a bid to show he is open to dialogue after his centrist alliance failed to win an absolute majority in parliamentary elections.

The meetings at the Elysee presidential palace come after Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne formally offered her resignation Tuesday, in line with the tradition after parliamentary elections. Macron immediately rejected the offer and maintained the current government.

Macrons Together! alliance won 245 seats in Sunday's parliamentary elections  44 seats short of a majority in the National Assembly, Frances most powerful house of parliament.

The leftist Nupes coalition won 131 seats to become the main opposition force. The far-right National Rally got 89 seats in the 577-member chamber, up from its previous eight.

Macron held successive meetings with opposition members, including the president of The Republicans, Christian Jacob, the head of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, and far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Macron also met with representatives of his own party and allied movements. Other meetings were scheduled Wednesday.

Talks were aiming at finding potential constructive solutions to the situation, according to Macrons office.

Macron has not publicly commented on the elections results yet.

Instead, in his first public appearance since the elections, he appeared Tuesday evening on a stage set up in the Elysee courtyard for Frances Music Day, for a show in front of about 2,000 guests. Macron said that while being busy all day with politics, it was now time for entertainment. Be happy! he told the crowd.

With the most seats at the National Assembly, his government still has the ability to rule, but only by bargaining with legislators. To prevent potential deadlock, Macron's party and allies may try to negotiate on a case-by-case basis with lawmakers from the center-left and from the conservative party.

Macron was reelected in April on an agenda including measures to boost purchasing power, tax cuts and raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65.

After her meeting with Macron, Le Pen said that he listens, but does he hear? Well see.

She said she told him her partys MPs will be part of the opposition but dont want to do systematic obstruction.

If measures are being proposed that go in the right direction ... we will vote for them. If they go in the wrong direction, we will amend them. If they are not amended as we want, then we will oppose them, she said.

On his way out of the Elysee, Jacob said The Republicans, who hold 61 seats, wont enter into any pact or coalition with Macrons centrists. However, he opened the door to voting in favor of some measures if they are in line with his partys platform.

He notably mentioned pension changes, since the conservatives are, like Macron, in favor of raising the retirement age.

The Socialist leader, Olivier Faure, told reporters its possible to move forward but we wont approve policies which would be contrary to commitments we made to the French.

Faure advocated for a measure proposed by the leftist coalition to bring the monthly minimum salary from about 1,300 euros to 1,500 euros.

Macron will also soon need to handle another issue : a government reshuffle. Three ministers  out of the 15 who were running for reelection  have lost their seats and won't be able to stay in the government under the rules he set.

While keeping him busy at home, the situation at parliament is not expected to destabilize Macron's international agenda. The French president holds substantial powers over foreign policy, European affairs and defense.

Macron is to travel to Brussels for a European summit scheduled on Thursday and Friday. He will then head to a G-7 meeting in Germany next week, followed by a NATO summit in Spain and a brief visit to Portugal.
FRIDAY: David Patterson flew locally in his Beech V-35B Bonanza. A customer flew up from Lubbock for touch and goes, fuel, and later back to Lubbock in his Piper Cherokee 140. A customer flew in from Lubbock on business, and later back to Lubbock in his Cessna Turbo 210 Centurion. Trey Weathers, pilot for Barr Air Patrol, flew in from Bartlesville, Oklahoma for fuel, then flew back to Bartlesville in their Cessna 182 Skylane. Rod Billingsley flew in from Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Edmonson for fuel, then flew back to Las Vegas in his Bellanca Viking. A customer flew in Van Nuys, California for a quick turn on fuel, then headed for Fort Lauderdale, Florida in his Embraer Phenom 300 jet. Med-Trans flew to Lockney, Lubbock and back in their Bell 407 jet helicopter.

SATURDAY: Med-Trans flew to North of Turkey to pick up a patient, then flew to Lubbock and back in their Bell 407 jet helicopter. A customer flew to Dayton, Ohio in his Socata TBM 850 prop jet. Ron Lowe flew locally in his Ercoupe. A customer flew down from Amarillo for a touch and go, then back to Amarillo in his Cessna 182 Skylane.

SUNDAY: Two customers flew in from Amarillo to pick up a passenger, then flew to Austin and Huntsville in their Beech 200 King Air prop jet. A customer flew in from Lago Vista for fuel, then flew to Montrose, Colorado in his Cirrus SR-22 Turbo. A customer flew in from Midland and Lufkin to pick up a passenger, then to Midland in his Beech 350 King Air prop jet. A customer flew in from Temple for fuel, pick up a passenger, then back to Temple in his Grumman Tiger. A customer flew in from Alamosa, Colorado for fuel, drop off a passenger, then back to Alamosa in his Piper Comanche.

MONDAY: A customer flew in from Lake Havasu City, Arizona for fuel, then headed for in his Piper Meridian prop jet.

TUESDAY: A customer flew to Clovis, New Mexico, Durango, Colorado and back in a Cessna Turbo 210 Centurion. A customer flew in from Georgetown and Abilene in his AMT-200 Super Ximango powered glider. A customer flew in from Fort Collins/Loveland, Colorado for fuel, then flew to Georgetown in his Cirrus SR-22. A customer flew in from Pueblo, Colorado for fuel, then flew to Del Rio in his Cessna 182 Skylane.

WEDNESDAY: AeroCare flew in from Lubbock to pick up a patient, then flew back to Lubbock in their Beech 200 King Air prop jet. AeroCare flew up from Lubbock for pilot training practicing the GPS approaches, and later back to Lubbock in their Beech 200 King Air prop jet. A customer flew in from El Paso for fuel, then back to El Paso in a Pilatus PC-12 prop jet. A customer flew in from Amarillo for a touch and go, then back to Amarillo in his Piper Cherokee 180. A customer flew in from Dalhart in his Cirrus SR-22 for fuel, and to spend the night.

THURSDAY: A customer flew up from Seminole on business, and later back to Seminole in his Cessna 210 Centurion. Two customers flew in from Huntsville for fuel, business, and later back to Huntsville in their Beech 200 King Air prop jet. A customer flew in from Graham for fuel, then flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico in his Piper Super Cub. Whitney Boggs flew in from Shreveport, Louisiana for fuel, then flew to Santa Fe, New Mexico in his Cessna 501 Citation 1 jet. Trey Weathers, pilot for Barr Air Patrol, flew in from Bartlesville, Oklahoma for fuel, then headed to Libby, New Mexico to pick up the pipeline to patrol, then later back to Bartlesville in their Cessna 182 Skylane. A customer flew in from Lubbock for some touch and goes, then back to Lubbock in his Cessna 182 Skylane. AeroCare flew in from Lubbock to pick up a patient, then flew to Fort Worth in their Beech 200 King Air prop jet. A customer flew in from Hereford to pick up a passenger, then flew to Montezuma, Kansas in his Beech C-90 King Air prop jet. A customer flew in from Lubbock for a touch and go, then back to Lubbock in a Eurocopter AS-350 jet helicopter. A customer departed for Rice Lake, Wisconsin in his Cirrus SR-22. A customer flew down from Amarillo for a touch and go, then back to Amarillo in his Piper Cherokee 180. Med-Trans flew to Clovis, New Mexico, Friona and back in their Bell 407 jet helicopter.
This article, Summer Solstice: What to Know About the Longest Day of the Year, originally appeared on CNET.com.

Here it is, the day many of us longed for during those short, dark, cold winter days. Tuesday, June 21, is the longest day of the year, celebrated as the summer solstice. If you want to get up early to savor it, technically, the solstice occurs at 5:14 a.m. ET in the US. Here are some basic solstice facts.

What is the summer solstice?

As the Farmer's Almanac explains, the solstice occurs "when Earth arrives at the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt" toward the sun, or about 23.5 degrees, which translates to "the longest day and shortest night" of the year. (By longest "day," we mean the longest period of sunlight hours.) On the day of the June solstice, the Northern Hemisphere receives sunlight at the most direct angle of the year."

The solstice isn't always on the same date. In 2023, it'll be on June 21 again, but in 2024 and 2025, it'll be on June 22.

The June solstice means something different to people living in the southern hemisphere, where it's the shortest day of the year, and marks the beginning of winter.

How much sun will we see?

The amount of sun you'll get depends on where you live.

You can figure it out for your city by going to TimeAndDate.com, entering in your city, and clicking on Sun & Moon. The further north you are, the more sun. Minneapolis and Seattle, you get 15 hours, 59 minutes of sun. Boston, 15 hours, 17 minutes. San Francisco, 14 hours, 47 minutes. Los Angeles, 14 hours, 26 minutes. Dallas, you get 14 hours, 19 minutes. Miami, 13 hours 45 minutes.

And let's talk about the Land of the Midnight Sun. Anchorage, Alaska, gets 19 hours, 21 minutes. But Fairbanks gets a whopping 21 hours, 49 minutes. And at the very top of the state, in Utqiagvik, Alaska, the sun is up for 24 hours. It's worth going to their Farmer's Almanac page just to marvel at that.

Celebrating the solstice

Some countries and cultures really get into celebrating the solstice. Sweden calls it Midsummer, and always celebrates on a June Friday, so will mark the solstice on June 24 instead of June 21. Traditional festivities there include folk dancing, wreath making, and maypole raising. (And you may have seen the 2019 horror movie Midsommar, which depicts a fictional and very scary midsummer celebration.)

In Seattle, home of that luxurious 16 hours of sun, the traditional Solstice Parade and Fair returned to the city's Fremont neighborhood after taking two years off during the pandemic. That celebration occurred on June 18, and featured the event's traditional naked bicyclist ride (cyclists wear elaborate body paint).

And at England's iconic Stonehenge, festivities also returned after two years of no celebrations. People gather at the famed stone structures as their predecessors did thousands of years ago. The huge stones of the monument were set up in 2500 BC to frame the sunrise at summer solstice, and the sunset at the winter solstice, the British Museum notes.
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Actor Ben Stiller met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, during World Refugee Day.

Stiller is currently visiting Ukraine in the role of a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Since Saturday, Stiller has traveled through Poland and Ukraine, where he has met with people forced to flee their homes due to the current Russian invasion of Ukraine. On Monday, he visited occupied settlements in the Kyiv Region, including the residential areas of Kyiv.

According to a press release from the official website for Zelenskyy, Stiller and Ukraines UNHCR representative Karolina Lindholm Billing visited Zelenskyy on Monday after their visit to Irpin to discuss their meetings with refugees.

Its one thing to see this destruction on TV or on social networks. Another thing is to see it all with your own eyes, Stiller said during the meeting. Thats a lot more shocking.

What you saw in Irpin is definitely dreadful, Zelenskyy said, according to the press release. But it is even worse to just imagine what is happening in the settlements that are still under temporary occupation in the east.

Steller and Zelenskyy spent the meeting discussing the needs of those in the Ukraine and Poland who have been displaced by the Russias invasion of the country, as well as how the UNHCR and the Ukrainian government can work together to solve the refugee crisis. Since Russia began its invasion of the neighboring Ukraine in late February, a reported 7.7 million people have been displaced from their homes, with women and children constituting 90% of those forced to flee. Additionally, according to Ukrainian authorities, roughly 400,000 Ukrainian citizens have been forcibly deported to Russia since the invasion began.

Stiller and UNHCR also posted a video statement on Instagram regarding World Refugee Day, featuring Stiller speaking from Kyiv.

Im meeting people who have been impacted by the war, and hearing how its changed their lives. War and violence are devastating people all over the world, Stiller said in the video. Nobody chooses to flee their homes. Seeking safety is a right and it needs to be upheld for every person.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@refugees)

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Hollywood heavyweight Zac Efron has been tapped to star in A24's newest film charting the notorious Texas wrestling family, the Von Erichs. Deadline reported the news that Efron would star in the production company's new drama, The Iron Claw, helmed by writer-director Sean Durkin.

The film sets out to tell the true story of the Von Erich family dynasty of professional wrestlers that left their mark on the sport beginning in the 1960's to the present day. In 2009, The Von Erich family was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a group.
Associated Press file photo

A world-known burger chain is going local with its plans to give back to a Texas community forever changed by a school shooting, one of the deadliest of its kind across the nation.

More than a thousand McDonalds restaurants across the state of Texas will join forces to support Uvalde, a small town now known across the nation after a May 24 school shooting at Robb Elementary left 19 students and two teachers dead.
The officers in the hallway of Robb Elementary wanted to get inside classrooms 111 and 112  immediately. One officers daughter was inside. Another officer had gotten a call from his wife, a teacher, who told him she was bleeding to death.

Two closed doors and a wall stood between them and an 18-year-old with an AR-15 who had opened fire on children and teachers inside the connected classrooms. A Halligan bar  an ax-like forcible-entry tool used by firefighters to get through locked doors  was available. Ballistic shields were arriving on the scene. So was plenty of firepower, including at least two rifles. Some officers were itching to move.

One such officer, a special agent at the Texas Department of Public Safety, had arrived around 20 minutes after the shooting started. He immediately asked: Are there still kids in the classrooms?

If there is, then they just need to go in, the agent said.

Another officer answered, It is unknown at this time.

The agent shot back, Yall dont know if theres kids in there? He added, If theres kids in there we need to go in there.

Whoever is in charge will determine that, came the reply.

The inaction appeared too much for the special agent. He noted that there were still children in other classrooms within the school who needed to be evacuated.

Well, theres kids over here, he said. So Im getting kids out.

The exchange happened early in the excruciating 77 minutes on May 24 that started when Salvador Ramos, who had just shot his grandmother in the face, walked through an unlocked door of Robb Elementary, encountering no interference as he wielded an AR-15 he had bought eight days earlier. At the end of those 77 minutes, 19 students, including the daughter of one of the officers stationed in the hallway, and two teachers were dead or dying. Others sustained serious physical injuries; the emotional and psychological ones will last for life. It was the deadliest school shooting in Texas history.

But during most of those 77 minutes, despite the urgent pleas from officers and parents amassed outside, officers stayed put outside rooms 111 and 112, stationed on either end of a wide hallway with sky blue and green walls and bulletin boards displaying childrens artwork. Ramos fired at least four sets of rounds  including the initial spray of fire that likely killed many of his victims instantaneously.

After the special agents comment, nearly another hour passed before a tactical team from the Border Patrol breached the classroom doors and killed the gunman.

In the weeks since the tragedy in Uvalde, questions have swirled around the actions of police and whether some lives could have been saved if officers confronted the barricaded gunman sooner. Authorities have shared conflicting information about who was in charge, who confronted the shooter and when. A debate over whether the locked classroom doors could be breached gave way to the discovery that they may never have been locked at all.

Revelations have trickled out in the press: The New York Times has described officers doubts about the decision to wait; breakdowns in communications and tactics; and the fact that officers held off from the confrontation even though they knew people were injured, and possibly dying, inside. The San Antonio Express-News reported that there is no evidence that officers tried the doors on rooms 111 and 112  contradicting a key assertion by the Uvalde schools police chief, Pete Arredondo, who told The Texas Tribune that officers tried the doors, found them locked and had to wait for a master key to unlock them. On Monday evening, the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV revealed that the officers, in effect, had more than enough firepower, equipment and motivation to breach the classrooms.

Meanwhile, at least three investigations  by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Texas Legislature, and the local district attorney, Christina Mitchell Busbee  are reviewing records and interviewing witnesses to evaluate the law enforcement response. Public understanding of the response to the tragedy has been marred by refusals by state and local agencies to release public records, efforts by local officials to bar journalists from public meetings, and the closed-door nature of the hearings held by state lawmakers. The secrecy has already prompted Texas Monthly to ask, Will We Ever Know the Truth About Uvalde?

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

For this article, the Tribune reviewed a timeline of events compiled by law enforcement, plus surveillance footage and transcripts of radio traffic and phone calls from the day of the shooting. The details were confirmed by a senior official at the Department of Public Safety. The investigation is still in the early stages, and the understanding of what happened could still change as video records are synched and enhanced. But current records and footage show a well-equipped group of local officers entered the school almost immediately that day and then pulled back once the shooter began firing from inside the classroom. Then they waited for more than an hour to reengage.

They had the tools, said Terry Nichols, a former Seguin police chief and active-shooter expert. Tactically, theres lots of different ways you could tackle this.  But it takes someone in charge, in front, making and executing decisions, and that simply did not happen.

Here are some key findings from these records and materials:

No security footage from inside the school showed police officers attempting to open the doors to classrooms 111 and 112, which were connected by an adjoining door. Arredondo told the Tribune that he tried to open one door and another group of officers tried to open another, but that the door was reinforced and impenetrable. Those attempts were not caught in the footage reviewed by the Tribune. Some law enforcement officials are skeptical that the doors were ever locked.

Within the first minutes of the law enforcement response, an officer said the Halligan (a firefighting tool that is also sometimes spelled hooligan) was on site. It wasnt brought into the school until an hour after the first officers entered the building. Authorities didnt use it and instead waited for keys.

Officers had access to four ballistic shields inside the school during the standoff with the gunman, according to a law enforcement transcript. The first arrived 58 minutes before officers stormed the classrooms. The last arrived 30 minutes before.

Multiple Department of Public Safety officers  up to eight, at one point  entered the building at various times while the shooter was holed up. Many quickly left to pursue other duties, including evacuating children, after seeing the number of officers already there. At least one of the officers expressed confusion and frustration about why the officers werent breaching the classroom, but was told that no order to do so had been given.

At least some officers on the scene seemed to believe that Arredondo was in charge inside the school, and at times Arredondo seemed to be issuing orders such as directing officers to evacuate students from other classrooms. That contradicts Arredondos assertion that he did not believe he was running the law enforcement response. Arredondos lawyer, George E. Hyde, said the chief will not elaborate on his interview with the Tribune, given the ongoing investigation.

What the camera saw

Most of the video from inside the school is captured by a wide-angle camera positioned inside the school buildings northwest entrance, the same one the gunman used. The camera looks straight south from its north ceiling perch and offers a slight view of the entrances to classrooms 111 and 112 to the left.

The Tribune also reviewed transcripts of radio traffic and body camera footage.

They show that the gunman arrived on campus at 11:28 a.m. He appears to have been planning a shooting for a while. In October, according to the law enforcement timeline, he withdrew from Uvalde High School. A month later, when he was still 17, he purchased some gun accessories online, including rifle slings and a military carrier vest. He began buying his ammunition in April and purchased his gun on his 18th birthday in May. On May 14, he posted an ominous message on Instagram: 10 more days.

At 11:33 a.m. on May 24, he walked into Robb Elementarys northwest entrance and headed south toward the two classrooms on the left side, randomly firing shots from his rifle in the hallway. He had crashed his car and fired some shots outside, so the school was already on lockdown at that point and the hallways were nearly empty. No one was hit, but a boy could be seen peeking around the corner at the northeast end of the hallway, apparently trying to return to class from a nearby bathroom. The boy heard the gunfire and ran away. (DPS confirmed that he escaped without physical injury.)

Within a minute, the shooter entered classroom 111  he didnt appear to encounter a locked door in the footage  and began shooting. He briefly walked out the classroom door and then went back in, shooting some more. For the next three minutes, he fired frequently inside a classroom filled with children.

During that burst of gunfire, the first three officers entered the school: two from the Uvalde Police Department and one from the school districts force. All were carrying handguns.

Moments later, Arredondo and seven more officers arrived. The shooter opened fire at the first three officers closest to the two classrooms, grazing two and forcing all the officers to bolt to either end of the hallway. Those officers, including Arredondo, remained in these positions for the rest of the standoff, never firing a shot.

Officers believed that the shooter was contained, and Arredondo called the Uvalde Police Departments dispatch on his cellphone. (The school police unit was created four years ago and does not report to the city police.) Seven minutes had passed since the shooter first entered the building.

Hey, hey, its Arredondo. Its Arredondo. Can you hear me? said the 50-year-old veteran of law enforcement, who leads a department of six. No, I have to tell you where were at. Its an emergency right now. Im inside the building.

Since the massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, in 1999, an evolving and increasingly detailed body of training on mass shootings instructs police to confront shooters as soon as possible  even at the risk of officers lives.

By the time Arredondo called dispatch, at least 11 officers had entered the school and at least two are seen in the video carrying rifles. But Arredondo told the dispatcher that he didnt have the firepower to confront the lone gunman, according to a transcript reviewed by The Texas Tribune.

OK, we have him in the room, he said, speaking on his cellphone. Hes got an AR-15. Hes shot a lot. Hes in the room. He hasnt come out yet. Were surrounded, but I dont have a radio.

After the dispatcher confirmed the location of a SWAT team, Arredondo continued.

Yes and they need to be outside of this building prepared, he said. Because we dont have enough firepower right now. Its all pistol and he has an AR-15. If you can get the SWAT team set up, by the funeral home, OK, we need  yes, I need some more firepower in here because we all have pistols and this guys got a rifle. So I dont have a radio. I dont have a radio. If somebody can come in 

The dispatcher asked Arredondo to stay on the line as long as he could. Arredondo agreed but said hed drop his phone when the gunman comes out that door. Then the dispatcher shared the location of the shooter over a police radio and requested that a SWAT team be amassed by a funeral home across the street.

So, so I need you to bring a radio for me, and give me my radio for me, Arredondo said. I need to get one rifle. Hold on. Im trying to set him. Im trying to set him up.

Then the call ended. Shooting started again inside the school within a minute of the start of the call. But police wouldnt breach the classroom where the gunman was barricaded for another hour and 10 minutes.

An agonizing wait

One minute after Arredondos phone call, officers on the scene reported that the suspect was barricaded in a classroom. A dispatcher asked whether the door was locked, and an officer replied that they didnt know but that they had a Halligan available. No such tool was ever used. No one even brought one into the school for another 54 minutes.

A standoff had begun. The gunman fired shots at least three more times  at 11:40 a.m., 11:44 a.m., and 12:21 p.m.  but officers held their positions. That was true even as more police filed in and four ballistic shields were carried into the building over the next 40 minutes.

The officers who entered the school at that time included DPS troopers who walked into the hallway before noon and then left after seeing how many officers were already there.

The special agent from DPS who urged officers to go into the classroom stayed for six minutes before leaving to clear other rooms, rescuing a student found hiding in a bathroom. More troopers arrived just minutes or seconds before the tactical team from the Border Patrol stormed the classroom, but did not participate in the breach.

Another officer who entered the hallway was Ruben Ruiz of the Uvalde city police. His wife, teacher Eva Mireles, had called him on his cellphone and told him she was bleeding heavily.

She says she is shot, he told the officers on the scene.

The video from inside the hallway doesnt capture what Ruiz did inside the school. But a DPS official told the Tribune that Ruiz was soon escorted away by other officers on the scene.

By 12:01 p.m., the DPS special agent had returned to the hallway and offered his urgent assessment: The situation required officers to go into the classrooms.

It sounds like a hostage rescue situation, the DPS officer said. Sounds like a UC [undercover] rescue. They should probably go in.

A police officer  its not clear whether from the city or school district  then said, Dont you think we should have a supervisor approve that?

Hes not my supervisor, the DPS agent countered before leaving the hallway to clear other rooms of children.

Courtesy, Girl Scouts

The painful wait continued. SWAT officers from the city police arrived on the scene at around 12:10 p.m., a little more than a half-hour after the shooter first entered the school. One minute later, Arredondo asked for a master key that would allow him to unlock classroom doors, according to the transcripts. It took about six minutes for a set of keys to arrive, and the chief began testing them on a different classroom door. Soon after, more gunshots could be heard from inside the classrooms full of students.

Arredondo tried to speak with the shooter but didnt get a response. Uvaldes mayor, Don McLaughlin, told The Washington Post that a would-be negotiator, working from a nearby funeral home to which the mayor had rushed, also tried to reach the shooter, to no avail.

At 12:38 p.m., Arredondo tried to talk to the shooter. Hearing no reply, he indicated that the SWAT team could breach the classrooms if it was ready.

By then, a long-awaited working key had been found. Officers inserted it into the door of room 111, and a tactical unit from the Border Patrol stormed in. All thats audible from the video is a flurry of gunshots. The team then exited the room and indicated that the gunman was dead  77 minutes after the carnage started.

An aftermath of doubts and questions

With the shooter killed, the excruciating aftermath began. The fisheye camera in the hallway captured a single first responder standing in the center of the hallway, his surgical-gloved hands motioning to others standing behind him to remain there until all the officers exited. Once he got that signal, he directed the team to move quickly inside rooms 111 and 112. Gurneys and ambulance backboards suddenly popped into view.

The first to reach the victims inside pulled motionless, bloodied children onto the hallways linoleum flooring as they tried to assess their vital signs. None of the children appeared to make a sound. One child whose still body was placed on the floor had to be gently pushed to make room for others streaming in and and out, his blood leaving a wide swath of crimson across the hallway floor.

Almost immediately, the questions about whether police did the right thing began. State officials offered contradicting information in the immediate aftermath. DPS Director Steve McCraw told reporters days later that it was the wrong decision not to breach the classroom sooner. He is scheduled to testify before a Senate committee on Tuesday morning.

Law enforcement experts say Arredondo was the rightful incident commander, though they were baffled why he abandoned his radios, declined to take charge and lacked access to classrooms. J. Pete Blair, executive director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University, dismissed the idea that the state police, being a far larger police agency, should have wrested command from Arredondo when they arrived on scene.

The person who should be in charge is the person who has the best picture of whats happening and also the skill set to manage what needs to happen, Blair said. He added, Command exchanges are voluntary. Theyre not forced. [Someone] cant come in and say, Im taking it away from you.

Scrutiny has fallen most intensely on Arredondo. He defended his actions in an interview this month with the Tribune, but many of his claims are not supported by the records.

He said he didnt consider himself the incident commander that day and never issued orders to anyone during the shooting. Yet at 11:50 a.m., according to body-camera transcripts, an officer says, The chief is in charge.

Dario Lopez-Mills/AP

Arredondo said he intentionally left behind his radios, which he said were cumbersome and had a habit of not working well from inside the school, but he did ask for someone to bring them to him when he called police dispatch. He also requested a SWAT team, snipers and a door-breaching tool. (Its not clear if hed heard that a Halligan was available.) By noon, officers had rifles, a Halligan and at least one ballistic shield  yet made no attempt to enter the classrooms for 50 minutes.

In a statement on Thursday, Arredondos lawyer, Hyde, told the Tribune: The chief has requested that no further comment be made until all the information is collected and evaluated to minimize misinformation, which serves no one. I must honor that request. Further, the D.A. must present the police shooting in this matter to a grand jury, so there is also a criminal investigation underway, which he must respect.

The district attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

At this point its clear that a multitude of errors in judgment combined to turn a bad situation into a catastrophe, said Katherine Schweit, a former FBI agent who co-authored the agencys foremost research on mass shootings. The law enforcement rarely thinks their response is textbook, [but] I cant think of another incident in the United States where it appears so many missed opportunities occurred to get it right.

But law enforcement officers have particularly homed in on Arredondos search for keys. It may never be known whether that insistence on obtaining a key was necessary as lives hung in the balance.

The classroom doors are supposed to lock automatically, but from the start, the shooter could be seen walking unobstructed into the room and then darting easily in and out at least three times. The footage caused some authorities who watched it to question whether the doors were ever locked.

Through his lawyer, Arredondo told the Tribune in a June 9 email that the doors were checked: My memory is that the team on the north side of the hallway tried room on their side, which would be room 112 and I tried to open room 111 within minutes of arriving on the scene. We both took the sprayed gunfire through the walls.

But authorities have seen no video so far that confirms that.

Zach Despart contributed reporting.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Yves here. Anis Shivani, who as you will see investigated the alt-right and white supremacists early in the Trump administration, then and even more so now in his post below, was concerned that their rising visibility and presumed influence would be used to justify curbs on free speech. He describes how censorship is often seen, particularly by the young, as commendable, even thought it more often than not backfires.

On top of that, curbs on free speech have been used mainly to shore up the position of liberal elites. Accordingly, the campaign against dissenters has gone well beyond trying to shut down the voice of groups that promote violence to ones that merely engage in wrong-think, like Covid vaccine refusniks. Just yesterday, IM Doc wrote:

You may have heard that the American Board of Internal Medicine ( ABIM from now on ) has decided to go after Drs [Peter] McCollough and [Pierre] Kory  2 of the more famous dissenters from the COVID narrative. As a medical historian and teacher of history for decades, I would suggest to the AMA and I have already personally relayed to the 2 members of the ABIM that I know personally that medicine has a very long history of exactly the kind of behavior they are planning. I am very hard pressed to come up with a single instance where it has worked out well for those going on the witch hunt Medicine is science. And unfortunately, for these people who have decided science is their new God, it is never settled. Just in my career, I have seen aspirin, statins, hormone replecement therapy, and opioids used for years because it was settled science only to have that overturned with lots of experience and lots of very good research. I have also sat and listened to countless presentations and debates about these issues that were often very vehemently violentBut the verbal and public debate was critical for our understanding and how to proceed going forward. Those who have their finger on the scales thinking they know the way are often proved very very wrong. So censoring or punishing these COVID dissenters in a very public way like this is exactly the wrong thing to be doing.A much more appropriate way to handle this is to get McCollough and Kory on one side and experts of your choice on the other  and let them have it out online or on national TV.Dr. Hotez and Dr Offitt and Dr. Wen, there will not be a better way to make these two look like boobs.WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF?

Indeed, trying to silence critics makes the defenders of the mainstream look as if they are at best unwilling and at worst unable to defend their position. And it feeds suspicions that skeptics are being shut down precisely because they are on to something nefarious.

However, we also must point out that the ratcheting up of the war against free speech started before 2017. On November 23, 2016, the Washington Post ran a story that showcased a McCarthyite blacklist from a sketchy, faceless group with ties to Ukrainian neo-Nazis called PropOrNot. It was widely decried by journalists. For instance, Patrick Maines, president of The Media Institute, at The Hill called it .perhaps the shoddiest piece of feature writing since Rolling Stone published its blatantly false story about a campus rape at the University of Virginia.

Yet the Post refused to retract or correct the story and instead put a bizarre disclaimer at the top, well after it ran, of the We dont necessarily stand by our work sort, which elicited more ridicule from those who were still paying attention.

But it still did damage. For instance, we were attacked by CBS News Denver and only an outcry by our readers got the outlet to issue a correction. A developer included us unfavorably in a fake news browser extension; we went after him in a post and had to threaten to sue to get him to back down. And even earlier, Melissa Zimdars, a communication and media professor from Merrimack College in Massachusetts, had started compiling a list of fake news sites, as first reported by New York Magazine on November 16. It appears we got added to it thanks to PropOrNot. We were labeled political which seemed to be her lowest grade of dishonor.

As we wrote back then:

But as much as Naked Capitalism has been caught in the crosshairs of an unwarranted attack, it is critical to recognize what is really at stake. Since the first net neutrality fights of the early 2000s, major media enterprises and pipeline providers schemed to restrict the freedom of the Internet and re-assert the position of traditional brands and the few newer players who have managed to attain the scale and brand recognition to make them Too Big To Squash. Because smaller web publishers have had enough natural allies in these fights, these legislative threats to an open Internet have been successfully beaten back. But the multi-fronted censorship efforts, particularly using Facebook bans and software tools to silence or discourage readership of sites that successfully challenge mainstream narratives, is a new, private sector-led initiative which is far more challenging to contest by virtue of lacking a clear focus for joint action. We hope that other publishers as well as users of information recognize how serious this threat is and take forceful countermeasures. This is not the time to be complacent.

Unfortunately, as this article shows, the bad guys are winning.

By Anis Shivani, whose recent political books include Why Did Trump Win?, Confronting American Fascism, and A Radical Human Rights Solution to the Immigration Problem. He is the author of many critically-acclaimed books of fiction, poetry, and criticism, including Karachi Raj: A Novel, Soraya: Sonnets, Anatolia and Other Stories, A History of the Cat in Nine Chapters or Less: A Novel, and Literary Writing in the 21st Century: Conversations. His work appears in many leading literary journals, newspapers, and magazines. He is a Pushcart Prize winner and a graduate of Harvard College. Originally published at Salon. Reproduced with author permission

I researched and wrote a lot about white supremacy, particularly in its alt-right manifestation, throughout the course of 2017, namely Donald Trumps first year in office. I hazarded a number of guesses as to where the movement, and more importantly the reaction to it, was headed. Keeping company with this unsavory crowd over an extended period of time, I came to have a deep appreciation for how characteristically American this movement was, and how right it felt to experience it as a natural growth of individualistic capitalism run amok. But by the end of that year the alt-right panic was being subsumed by the #MeToo panic, and honest discussion about the nature of the white supremacist resurgence became more and more difficult in liberal forums.

Around that time I wrote a long essay (published only recently in three parts) analyzing the fate of the leading figures of the alt-right, and focusing on the various methods proposed to deal with the alleged existential threat, including all sorts of power applied by the state and its legal apparatus. I took an absolutist free-speech position with respect to the neo-Nazis  a stance that seems almost ridiculously outdated in these self-righteous times  and argued in favor of the old-line ACLU position rather than the speech compromises endorsed by critical race theory. I raised the question of watchdog biases, and the dangers of permitting such groups, which are de facto instruments of ever-shifting state policy, such great authority in deciding who gets to speak and who doesnt.

As I reviewed the essay recently, it struck me how extensively the reaction to white supremacy has proceeded along highly undemocratic lines, and how it continues to be a harbinger of worse developments yet to come in the polity, to a far greater extent than even I expected.

1. Censorship Is Virtuous

Violent reaction against speech is now far more pervasive and legitimate than it was at the beginning of the Trump administration. Among millennials and post-millennials, freedom of speech was already viewed as highly questionable. Demonizing Trumpism allowed powerful media companies to assume total control over what speech would be allowed and not allowed. It has become a truly expansive definition, and depends on the whim of the moment. The apparatus of domination and control I described with respect to the alt-right was transposed in its entirety to a thought category called disinformation (itself a term of disinformation) and applied to vaccine skeptics or generally anyone who disagreed with official pronouncements about any aspect of COVID-19, even those that were subject to change thanks to new information or scientific reinterpretation.

It has become commonplace for media companies to deny platforms or visibility not just to the most extreme neo-Nazi rabble-rousers like Andrew Anglin and Richard Spencer but to anyone who falls afoul of any aspect of the established liberal worldview on issues of elections, racism, schooling, historical interpretation, science, war, violence, sexuality or indeed anything and everything that doesnt sit well with the narrow spectrum of reality endorsed by the propaganda arms of the American national security state, fed on illusive notions of meritocratic wokeness.

Was this a price worth paying for making the alt-right invisible? To have such an unprecedented level of institutional (albeit non-governmental) censorship in this country? It starts with Alex Jones, and ends up going after Palestinian activists. It always does. I knew it, and anyone with an eye on history should have known it too.

2. The Enemies Mutate

Every form of domination requires an unacceptable other in order to privilege its own power. In the circa-2017 phase of alt-right ascendance, the antagonists were all those who deployed a racist perspective to question the liberal dogma of perpetual progress by slow degrees. The alt-right enemies of immigration, racial equality and even of interracial relationships or the recognition and celebration of minority cultures were demonized as uncouth savages who had no business seeking a political platform in American democracy.

If liberals believe they triumphed over the alt-right, consider Glenn Youngkin, the Biden administrations Trumpist immigration policies and ever-increasing police violence against people of color.

Yet consider this: Despite the liberal triumphalism associated with banning controversial speakers on campus and shutting down the social media accounts of alt-right influencers, Glenn Youngkin was recently elected governor of Virginia, in large part driven by antipathy toward the (mostly imaginary) teaching of critical race theory in schools. Consider that the Biden administration has to a large extent kept in place Trumps exclusionary policies on the southern border. Consider that police violence against unarmed black men and other people of color has only accelerated.

But who supports those things? Large numbers of conservative white voters, of course, not just in the devastated Rust Belt but all over the country. But also, going by the shift of Latino voters toward Trump in 2020, a growing number of some of the liberals most cherished constituencies as well.

It is not coincidental that once the neo-Nazis were banned, an entire liberal industry arose to teach white people to search out their most minute expressions of racism (by authors like Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DiAngelo), and to turn that into a beneficent self-improvement project, such as one might approach an addiction or an unhealthy diet. Now the enemy is not the alt-right, but everyone who thinks in unpredictable directions about the current state of our political economy.

To be fair, America faces legitimate social and political quandaries: In the current climate we cannot permit more immigration, although we desperately need it from an economic point of view. We certainly cant ban it, which would be economically devastating as well as giving in to the nationalists. So the almost comical answer we have settled upon is to maintain a repressive regime toward immigration and construct as enemies everyone who wants either more or less of it.

The urge to suppress the alt-right was not about democracy or some other hazy, high-minded ideal. It was about maintaining the status quo, and the recent expansion of the list of enemies is part of a more ambitious campaign to maintain the status quo as it faces even greater threat, especially during the pandemic.

3. White Supremacy Has Been Mainstreamed

If censorship and legal targeting of the alt-right were supposed to banish the scourge of white supremacy, let us ask the obvious question: Did it succeed? Obviously it did not, and it arguably made white supremacy, in both its overt and covert manifestations, stronger than ever.

Imagine a situation where a confident liberalism, true at least to its principles of allowing fair market exchange and removing unnecessary obstacles to personal economic advancement, not only permitted the free play of alt-right ideas (or more extreme manifestations) but even encouraged them  in order to draw clear distinctions between right and wrong, trusting the democratic public to make its own decisions. Instead, an authoritarian attitude drove the construction of an illiberal liberalism as the only viable political option. At certain points the mythology of that ideology has bordered on the absurd, as in the depiction of Jan. 6, 2021, as an unprecedented existential calamity, or the various travesties of imagination surrounding the Russiagate scandal. This happened to such an extent that white supremacy started sounding reasonable to some people by comparison.

Liberals present themselves as occupying the reasonable center of political discourse today, but in some ways they are more extreme than the most delusional and paranoid Republicans. They have reduced all of human life and its activities to strict monetary calculation, and have destroyed art, imagination and creativity in the process. Their imaginary visions of democracy, human rights and meritocracy are entirely in the service of justifying the current form of capitalism, which is trending toward eradicating life on the planet.

Despite liberals endless self-scrutiny in search of microscopic evidence of racism, I would suggest they are the most effective carriers of the white supremacy virus.

If I havent yet alienated all liberal readers, I would go further, to suggest that despite their relentless search for rooting out micro-racism in their minute words and deeds, liberals are in fact the most effective carriers of the white supremacy virus. Emboldening Israel at the cost of any recognition of the rights of Palestinians is white supremacy. Instigating a massively expensive and apparently endless proxy war against Russia, as a first step in checking or confronting the inevitable hegemony of China (those creepy Asians whove become too big for their boots), is white supremacy. Converting the George Floyd protests of 2020 into ultimate advocacy for more money for more police  as nearly all Democrats in positions of power now advocate  is white supremacy. Wanting to save Afghan women and children by lamenting the end of the 20-year invasion and then imposing sanctions and stealing their money is white supremacy. Which party, I ask you, is more associated with these policies today?

No one has to believe that liberals steal elections or that vaccines are more dangerous than COVID or that school shootings are false-flag events or that theres a Jewish conspiracy to replace white people. But censoring these thoughts only gives them more durability, as we ought to have learned from repeated examples over the last few years.

Heres how it works: An illegitimate thought is censored, which gives it a certain resilience as the wrong way to think, opposed to which is the correct thought. Censorship becomes the force by which the liberal-bourgeois state codifies various elements of power such as to propel them beyond the critique of power. In this dynamic, the unfairness of a two-party electoral democracy representing only narrow bourgeois interests, the unequal and even unscientific foundations of American public health, the interdependence of imperial violence with chaotic domestic outbursts, and the bipartisan consensus over the punitive treatment of immigrants become untouchable issues, precisely because quasi-state censorship has elevated them to the status of sacred truths threatened by extremists and therefore not subject to rational critique. Censorship is the process by which the illegitimate is made legitimate.

In these last days of empire, when liberalism is on the defensive and fighting for propositions that are ecologically and even economically unsustainable, we will not see an end to the violent repression of nonconformism, only its reinforcement. Thus it is that so-called wokeness  which is entirely compatible with corporate globalization, and in many cases strongly aligned with it  becomes the darkest force in the land. It feeds denialism, denies that denialism is real and then denies the humanity of those who arent woke enough to accept the boundaries of correct thought, whether they are nominally on the left or the right.
Day 4 of Bonnaroo typically has a fair bit of push and pull. Theres the lure of many more concerts balanced against being tired and knowing youve got to pack up camp. There's the thrill of discovery, which could get trumped by going with what you know you'll like. Theres that desire for one last funnel cake competing with the knowledge that youll have to walk over there to get it. Thankfully, there werent too many tradeoffs to weigh regarding shows to catch as we headed into the homestretch of the festival.

We began our Sunday with back-to-back acts from Nashville at That Tent. Sierra Ferrell was up first with a truly stunning set that showcased her wide-ranging sound, which pulls influence from country, European and calypso stylings. The crowd adored Ferrell from the start and gave her lots of energy to work with as she played songs from her 2021 debut album Long Time Coming. They applauded as soon as she appeared onstage and kicked off the set with the folky In Dreams; they slow-danced when she honored her roots with West Virginia Waltz; and when she asked, they waved their hands in unison during At the End of the Rainbow. Ferrells music ranged from playful to haunting, and though her outstanding vocals were a big part of these mood shifts, they were made stronger and more pronounced by her band, featuring Josie Toney on fiddle, Joshua Rilko on mandolin and Geoff Saunders on bass.

In a complete 180-degree turn from Ferrells sweet and charming tunes, All Them Witches followed with the heavy, droning, drawn-out jams theyre well-known for. Black Sabbaths War Pigs played over the P.A. right before the band took the stage, perfectly teeing up the groups barrage of heavy, psychedelic, face-melting soundscapes. The groups signature trippy graphics were projected behind them as they reeled off catalog classics like When God Comes Back, from 2013s Lightning at the Door, as well as newer material from Nothing as the Ideal, the 2020 LP they recorded at the iconic Abbey Road studio. It was everything youd hope for and expect from an ATW set.

A bit later, Puscifer, a project of Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, took over Which Stage. Tool comes across as a somewhat solemn undertaking that doesnt have a lot of room for the bands sense of humor. To keep something like that going, you almost have to have an outlet like Puscifer  in which, even if present conditions suggest the outlook for humanity aint great, sometimes you just have to laugh.

The whole ensemble dressed in conservative suits, with Keenan slathered in garish makeup and co-frontperson Carina Round sporting a cartoonish pompadour. While they played their warped semi-industrial funk-pop tunes, a troupe of actors in subtly grotesque near-featureless human masks  the kind of thing you might expect to emerge from a lab that makes synthetic human drones if you let the algorithm do the driving for too long  ominously stalked the stage and scanned the crowd. Two perspectives came to mind on the overall effect. First, it was a little like a music video directed by Tim Burton for The B-52s, in which the band has had some kind of industrial accident thats being hastily covered up by management. Also, Puscifer might be what you get if you take some of the King Crimson influence out of Tool and replace it with little bit of Devo, Oingo Boingo and Weird Al.

With pink hair and nails, a rainbow sequined shirt and a carefree swagger, Machine Gun Kelly strutted his way to What Stage to a recording of My Chemical Romances Welcome to the Black Parade. Between songs from his two most recent LPs, 2020s Tickets to My Downfall and this years Mainstream Sellout, the 32-year-old rap-schooled pop punker explained to the crowd that his pals were counting on him to perform a drunk show. He did as much as he could to make good on the promise  or at least to engage the crowd in lively and unpredictable ways, from running through the crowd, to climbing the camera scaffolding, to asking a fan to bring a cardboard cutout of Lil Wayne onstage.

As twilight fell over the Farm, Herbie Hancock took a seat amid a nest of keyboards far to the audiences left at This Tent. Throughout his six-decade-plus career, Hancock has consistently been in tune with the ethereal essence of jazz while pushing its traditions to evolve. Hes one of the people you can thank for the umbrella of jazz covering such a wide variety of forms of expression. Hancocks embrace of electronic instruments as well as funk  along with different African musical traditions funk is related to  also makes much of his music a whole lot of fun in the bargain.

Hancock and his touring band  revered trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard, guitarist Lionel Louecke (a protege of both Hancock and Blanchard), veteran bassist James Genus and rising star drummer Justin Tyson  took the performance seriously, but also seemed to be having plenty of fun. Louecke has a collection of effects that rivals a shoegaze guitarist, and he used them to tweak his tone so that he could play lead parts Hancock might have played on a synth, leaving Hancock free to focus on the piano. Blanchard similarly had an effect that altered the sound of his lone horn to sound something like a full horn section.

They settled in with an extended medley, followed by Blanchards arrangement of sax great Wayne Shorters mellow and melodious Footprints. To the delight of one dancer in the crowd, next came Actual Proof, which Hancock wrote for his 1970s band The Head Hunters; the piece moved as if the players were running from something but couldnt help stopping periodically to break into a funky strut. The fluid and kinetic set felt like it could have kept going indefinitely, but it closed with an exclamation point in the form of Hancocks best-known piece, Chameleon, with the fearless leader hauling his keytar around the stage to duel with his bandmates.

Nearby, Roddy Ricch made his Bonnaroo debut for a sizable crowd at Which Stage. The 23-year-old MC brought a bit of rock flair to fan favorites like Real Talk. Between songs, Compton-raised Ricch made poignant statements. Ahead of Die Young, he remarked on his concern about living life to the fullest. I just want people to appreciate life, Ricch said. Take every opportunity  a lot of people die young. He also paid tribute to greats gone too soon like Nipsey Hussle and Mac Miller, and made a call to free Atlanta rappers Young Thug and Gunna, who were jailed as part of a group charged with racketeering.

There are many reasons why it became a tradition to close out Bonnaroo with a legacy act. Not least among them: When youve been coated in dust and sunscreen and roasted in the sun for four days, it feels good to sing along to songs you know, which may have been part of your life for a long time. When Bonnaroovians shuffled over to What Stage to end this years fest with rock n roll fairy godmother Stevie Nicks  the first woman solo artist to play a headline slot since the festival launched in 2002  we certainly got that.

Nicks and her band, led by guitar hero Waddy Wachtel, played Dreams, Landslide, Gold Dust Woman and Rhiannon  bar-setting songs that she added to the Fleetwood Mac canon in the 1970s  as well as the hard-rocking Edge of Seventeen from her 1981 solo debut Bella Donna. The lush, many-layered presentation felt like watching your (or your parents) album collection come to life in vivid detail, and the songs elicited ecstatic tears from more than a few in the crowd. There were also plenty of deeper cuts, like the poignant Destiny from Nicks 1984 LP Street Angel, that stood tall next to the hits.

That wouldve been plenty, but as seems to be her style, Nicks brought even more to the table. In one of many asides, Nicks noted that she was wearing a bespoke dress from the photo shoot for the Bella Donna album cover  and how her mom had pooh-poohed her decision to invest the equivalent of a house payment in the piece, which has since paid off. There were nods to her camaraderie with Tom Petty, from performing a gentle cover of the late rock heros Free Fallin  to introducing the Petty-penned Stop Draggin My Heart Around with a story that mentioned how shed wanted to be in The Heartbreakers. The anecdote also mentioned how condescending producer and then-boyfriend Jimmy Iovine had been at the time, one of many instances when Nicks was subject to the misogyny that seems to have always been endemic in the music business.

The oldest song in the main set was the nuanced and rollicking gem Crying in the Night, which Nicks wrote for Buckingham Nicks  the lone eponymous album from her band with guitarist and then-partner Lindsey Buckingham, before the two joined the already-established Fleetwood Mac. The record has since become a cult favorite, but poor performance when it was released, coupled with unfulfilled promises that Crying in the Night would be released as a single, convinced her that her fledgling music career was finished. To borrow a phrase from late, great Scene editor Jim Ridley, here was one of the heads on Mount Rushmore, taking a pause from rocking out to open up about the pain of rejection and what kind of perspective five decades has afforded her.

Not only was it not a single, the whole record actually tanked, Nicks recalled. Down the road, everybody thought [Buckingham Nicks] was this great record, but who knew? We certainly didnt know. If you think your dreams are just trashing out and youre never gonna make it to where you want to go, thats not true.  It might take a while to get to your dreamy place, but you will get there, I promise you.

Later, at the conclusion of an encore that seemed to be finished twice before it actually ended, Nicks & Co. fired off a ripping rendition of Led Zeppelins Rock and Roll. It made Robert Plant and Alison Krauss thoughtful reworking from a few days prior seem sleepy by comparison, and it was the friendly push we needed to get moving back to the non-Bonnaroo world.
(Natural News) Thousands of left-wing protesters gathered in London on Saturday to march against the rising costs of living, and among those in attendance included members of Antifa who chanted the names of communist leaders and dictators that they idolize.

(Article by Katie Daviscourt republished from ThePostMillenial.com)

Members of the radical group paid homage to notable communist leaders including Joseph Stalin, Che Guevara, and Ho Chi Minh, all of which whose policies have killed millions of people.

Following a sea of red flags, Antifa militants dressed in black chanted, Ho, ho, Ho Chi Minh! Che Guevara! Stalin!, as they shielded their identities behind red masks, symbolizing their support for communism.

Ho, ho, Ho Chi Minh! Che Guevara! Stalin! At a London left-wing protest today against rising costs, protesters shouted the names of communist leaders and dictators they idolize. #Antifa Video by @IncMonocle: pic.twitter.com/fa5yTHJdm1  Andy Ngo ???? (@MrAndyNgo) June 18, 2022

The Guardian reports that protesters marched from Portland Place to Parliament Square for a rally against the governments lack of action in tackling the rising costs of living, calling it a crisis.

Other demonstrators carried banners that read cut war not welfare and end fuel poverty, insulate homes now, the outlet reports.

Frances OGrady, general secretary of the British Trades Union Congress (TUC), organized the event and expressed that increasing workers wages is the only way to combat the cost of living crisis. She said that wages have remained at a standstill for more than a decade.

Prices are skyrocketing, yet boardroom bonuses are back to bumper levels, OGrady said. Everyone who works for a living deserves to earn a decent living, but UK workers are suffering the longest and harshest squeeze on their earnings in modern history.

If we dont get pay rising across the economy, we will just keep lurching from crisis to crisis. This cost of living emergency has not come out of the blue. It is the result of more than a decade of standstill wages, she told PA Media.

OGrady accused the conservative party of being the party of pay cuts, and accused the government of turning its back on those who continued to work throughout the entirety of the COVID pandemic, also blaming Boris Johnson.

OGrady alleged that Boris Johnson was cynically abandoning his commitment to a high-wage economy.

He and other ministers are treating workers like Oliver Twist by telling them not to dare ask for a decent pay rise, she said. The last thing we need right now is for wages to be held down. We cannot be a country where nurses have to use food banks to get by.

Read more at: ThePostMillenial.com
(Natural News) Reports gathered by Our World in Data (OWID) website revealed that Australia is experiencing a big wave of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths despite having nearly 90 percent of its population fully vaccinated.

News outlet the Expose analyzed data from OWID, a scientific online publication that focuses on global problems such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and concluded that Australia has provided the world with unequivocal evidence that COVID-19 injections are actually making recipients more vulnerable to infections.

Researchers from the site found a chart with the number of cases reported per day across Australia since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 to the present day. Before August 2021, the number of cases recorded was struggling to hit double figures, with triple figures only being reached back in August 2020. From August onwards, the number of cases being recorded has been hitting four figures.

But then towards the end of December 2021, the number of cases was out of control, climbing to a peak of 128,85 cases in a single day on January 13. The problem is the wave hasnt subsided and Australia is still riding it as of June, the report stated.

Meanwhile, the chart that showed the number of people considered vaccinated indicated that on the same day Australia recorded its highest number of cases in a single day, 81 percent of the population already received at least one dose and 78 percent were considered fully vaccinated.

The website also exposed that the public is wrong when they say: Well, at least the vaccine protects me against death. Thus far this year, Australia has recorded the highest number of deaths in over two years and is still counting.

The chart showed that in the March-April 2020 wave, the seven-day average number of deaths equated to between one and four. In September 2020, the average is between nine and 20. The average is also between nine and 20 deaths in October 2021, when 60 percent of the country was considered fully vaccinated.

By February 1, the seven-day average number of deaths is 87, and as of June 14, they equate to 41 deaths, the report indicated. (Related: Almost all of Australia is fully jabbed for covid but deaths are spiking.)

And yet back in February, business tycoon Bill Gates said at the annual Munich Security Conference: If every country does what Australia did, the world could prevent the next pandemic.

To which Twitter account @Mel_bekind reacted with: Gates is out of touch with reality. Australia destroyed small businesses, destroyed childrens education and childhood, suffered huge job losses in health, education, etc. due to mandates, demonized the unvaxxed, destroyed voluntary work (fabric of society here). It was great.

Australians reportedly have to face up to a year in prison or a $50,000 fine for behaving in an offensive manner toward a business that asks for proof of vaccination. Businesses that dont comply face up to $250,000 in fines.

NSW stopped posting weekly statistical reports to conceal the truth

Alex Berenson posted on his blogsite that Australians eagerly accepted the vaccinations and they were vaccinated at rates significantly higher than Americans.

Ninety-five percent of people 16 and above in New South Wales (NSW), the countrys largest state, have been vaccinated. Sixty-four percent of them have been boosted, he said.

The NSW government used to produce a weekly COVID-19 statistical report, but suddenly decided to stop publishing it.

The charts found by the Expose would show the reasons why. Figures between November 26, 2021 and February 5 of this year show that the fully vaccinated population in NSW accounted for four in every five COVID-19 deaths.

For the whole month of March, the state government claimed 195 people died from COVID-19. Out of those, only 31 were not vaccinated. But even that may not be true as NSW still considers a person unvaccinated within 21 days of actually being injected with a jab.

The highest number of COVID deaths was recorded among the double vaccinated population with 92 deaths, but the triple vaccinated population was not far behind with 67 deaths. Even the quadruple vaccinated population has gotten in on the action with one death being recorded, the researchers noted.

They concluded that the vaccinated population as a whole accounted for 84.2 percent of all NSW COVID-19 deaths in March.

Visit Pandemic.news for more news related to COVID-19 deaths all over the world.

Watch the below video that talks about the sad state of affairs in Australia regarding COVID-19.

This video is from the Health Medicine channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Australia recorded 1,700% increase in COVID-19 deaths as vaccine was rolled out.

Australias COVID Medical Network: Aussie regulators, health officials LIED about COVID vaccines.

Australia launches $1 billion program to vaccinate BABIES and young children for covid.

Australias draconian COVID lockdowns never followed the science. Heres proof.

Australia and New Zealand are targets of COVID psychological experimentation.

Sources include:

Expose-News.com

OurWorldInData.org 1

OurWorldInData.org 2

BizpacReview.com 1

Twitter.com

BizpacReview.com 2

AlexBerenson.substack.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) During a recent Skype call from Oldenburg Prison, Germany, which took weeks to set up, and was cancelled and rescheduled multiple times, CDMedia spoke with Ukrainian oligarch Aleksander Onyshchenko from his jail cell.

(Article by Sundance republished from CreativeDestructionMedia.com)

Onyshchenko famously fled Ukraine in the summer of 2016 after publishing corruption information on former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The Ukrainian General Prosecutor then put out an international warrant for Mr. Onyshchenkos arrest, also on corruption charges.

Onyshchenko was arrested in November of 2019 while planning to travel to the United States to testify in the media during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in favor of the president, and to outline to the American public the corruption of the Biden family, and the U.S. State Department in Ukraine.

The arrest took place in Germany as Onyshchenko showed up for a subpoena in an unrelated court case. He remains in jail to this day, and according to his representatives, the German justice system has made no movement in his case.

During the Skype call, Mr. Onyshchenko outlined multiple incidences of corruption committed by the Biden family while Vice President Biden was in office, and his son was working for the natural gas conglomerate Burisma in Ukraine.

We have written multiple times regarding these cases as shown below, and we will release as series of articles on further disclosures, of which this is the first.

During the call, Onyshchenko told about one incident during the Obama administration involving Ukrainian natural gas company Kub Gas (??? ???). The entity at the time was owned by polish investor: Jan Kulczyk, who died on 29.07.2015.

Mr. Onyshchenko declared that during Hunter Bidens time on the board of Burisma, where he was paid at one point millions of dollars for being the son of Vice President Biden, Burisma owner Mykola Zlochevsky wanted to acquire Kub Gas, for a much lower price than it was actually worth. The market value was approximately $70mm said Onyshchenko; however, Burisma sent Hunter Biden to Poland to shake down Kulczyk to sell the company for $30mm. Hunter Biden allegedly told Kulszyk that is he didnt sell, Kub Gas would be destroyed in Ukraine, with the help of his father, Vice President Biden, and President Poroshenko.

Burisma acquired the company.

Onyshchenkos representatives also provided information on his arrest, and the circumstances behind it. He believes he was arrested due to a Ukrainian request for his capture, to prevent him from testifying in the United States. Onyshchenko declared the Deep State Soros-controlled machine in Ukraine organized this effort.

Read more at: CreativeDestructionMedia.com
(Natural News) Between March and June 1, according to Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) spent about $700,000 purchasing ammunition for some unknown reason.

While IRS agents working in the Criminal Investigation (CI) department do carry weapons and ammo, the unconstitutional entity has never before  at least that we know of  purchased this much ammo at one time.

A quick search of USAspending.gov shows that over the past several years, the IRS has made ammo purchases of anywhere from around $3,201 to as high as $92,263. According to a 2019 report from Forbes, the IRS has been making such purchases for quite some time.

At the time when that report was published, the IRS had 4,487 guns and 5,062,006 rounds of ammunition in its weapons inventory, which we now know includes fully automatic  machine guns.

Even as Americas civilian population is being told by anti-gun extremists that the Second Amendment should be abolished and that nobody needs high-power assault rifles, the IRS has built quite the cache for itself, which is somehow justified.

The IRS website reveals that CI is comprised of nearly 3,500 employees worldwide. And Forbes says that these agents rarely, if ever, discharge their weapons. (Related: Remember back in 2012 when the Department of Homeland Security scooped up hundreds of millions of rounds of ammo?)

Why, then, does the IRS suddenly need nearly $1 million worth of ammo all at once? According to Gaetz, the answer is that the powers that be want to deprive the American public of access to that ammo.

There is concern that this is part of a broader effort to have any entity in the federal government buy up ammo to reduce the amount of ammunition that is in supply, while at the same time, making it harder to produce ammo, Gaetz is quoted as saying.

Biden just crushed production of civilian ammunition in Lake City

In other words, it may not even be necessary to formally stamp out the Second Amendment. All the Biden regime has to do is eliminate access to ammo by buying up the available supply and crushing ammo factories, creating shortages.

In case you missed it, the Biden regime recently cut off the United States Armys Lake City ammunition plant, which is no longer allowed to sell M855 and SS109 ammo produced in excess of the militarys needs on the civilian market.

How would that affect the civilian supply of .223 and 5.56 ammunition? We understand that as much as 30% of the commercial markets sales volume of .223/5.56 is produced by Lake City, reports The Truth About Guns.

The motivation here is obvious. The Biden administration is attempting to further spike the price of ammunition, squeezing the owners of Americas favorite rifles  the scary black ones that the president assures us are only good for killing people and taking down Kevlar vest-wearing deer.

The irony here is that actions like those now being taken by the Biden regime are precisely why the Second Amendment was ratified in the first place. That popular saying from Thomas Jefferson about how the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants cuts to the heart of the Second Amendment and everything for which it stands.

We need to start by eliminating the IRS and the central banks / Federal Reserve, and after that the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms), wrote someone at The Western Journal.

The real question is, why do pencil pushers need weapons at all? asked another about the large IRS purchase.

The latest news about the Biden regimes anti-gun rights agenda can be found at Tyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

WesternJournal.com

NaturalNews.com

TheTruthAboutGuns.com
(Natural News) A man who habitually donates blood has had his donation refused after he failed to indicate on a transgender ideology-inspired official form whether or not he was pregnant.

(Article by Peter Caddle republished from Breitbart.com)

Britains socialised healthcare service is reported as refusing a blood donation over the fact that the potential donor  a male in his sixties  refused to say whether or not he was pregnant.

Reportedly arising out of a transgenderism-inspired push to promote inclusiveness, the rejection is only the latest incident related to militant trans ideology to hit the media in the UK and Ireland.

According to a report by the Daily Mail, Leslie Sinclair was turned away by staff at a clinic in Scotland after failing to indicate whether he was either pregnant, or had been pregnant within the last six months.

I pointed out to the staff that it was impossible for me to be in that position but I was told that I would need to answer, otherwise I couldnt give blood, the 66-year-old told the publication.

It is nonsensical and it makes me angry because there are vulnerable people waiting for blood, including children, and in desperate need of help, he continued.  But theyve been denied my blood because of the obligation to answer a question that cant possibly be answered.

In response to the incident, the head of Scotlands blood donation service  which exists as part of the UKs larger socialised National Health Service  emphasised that the decision was made out of inclusiveness, saying that it is not always clear whether someone is or is not pregnant.

As a public body we take cognisance of changes in society around how such questions may be asked without discrimination and have a duty to promote inclusiveness  therefore all donors are now asked the same question, organisation director Marc Turner said.

Rights of Transgender Rapists Being Prioritised Over Women and Victims  Report https://t.co/Pwq6SqVBbM  Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) May 31, 2022

Sinclairs bizarre experience with Scotlands blood service is only the most recent example of trans-ideology causing chaos within the UK and Ireland, with major stories emerging in both countries in recent weeks in relation to militants pushing to have their way on the matter.

For example, a report that examined the effect transgenderism is having on the UKs justice system recently found that the rights and safety of transgender rapists are being put ahead of victims of sexual assault.

According to the document, the countrys prison service in particular is putting women in danger by recognising biological males as women  even if and when they still have male genitalia  even forcing the fellow female inmates to use said males preferred pronouns under the threat of having their prison sentences extended.

The safety of female prisoners is being put at risk, and their dignity and privacy undermined, by being incarcerated with biological males, some of whom are known sex offenders, the report read.

The Ministry of Justice acknowledges that this is causing high levels of fear and anxiety to women who are often already traumatised by their experiences of sexual assault and domestic abuse, yet the wish of trans-identifying males to be placed in the womens estate is given priority, it continued.

Meanwhile, in Ireland, pro-transgenderism militants have been attacking the countrys state-owned broadcaster, after a radio show broadcast by the company enabled open discussion of transgender ideology.

Critics of the open discussion  which included a father phoning into the show to describe how his lesbian daughter was labelled transphobic for not dating a male who identified as a woman  was slammed as triggering by state-sponsored parade organiser Dublin Pride.

Dublin Pride is both angered and disappointed by the recent unacceptable, triggering and extremely harmful anti-trans discussions that have been given a platform on Joe Duffys Liveline on RTE Radio 1, a statement from the organisation previously read.

The public debate was also criticised by the countrys Minister for Children, who made the statement that transgender ideology shouldnt be debated quite so vigorously.

Read more at: Breitbart.com
(Natural News) Finally someone in authority has admitted what many people have long suspected  and its official  Disney is run by a massive pedophile ring and its under active investigation.

(Article by Baxter Dmitry republished from NewsPunch.com)

Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk Country, Florida warned parents that Walt Disney World is run by pedophiles and predators during an interview with WKMG-TV on Sunday, while announcing the results of Operation Child Predator II, which was conducted by the Polk County Sheriffs Office in conjunction with the Auburndale Police Department and Winter Haven Police Department.

What would an operation be  either a pornography investigation or predator operation or human trafficking operation  without a Disney employee? We always have a Disney employee, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told WKMG-TV while announcing that Walt Disney World is an active crime scene and arrests are being made.

Zachary Hudson, 30, a Walt Disney World employee who was caught telling children age is just a number before telling an underage girl he would risk prison to take her virginity is among a group of 12 pedophiles arrested in Florida in a massive undercover operation, the Polk County Sheriffs Office announced Sunday.

During the two-week sting operation, detectives posed as children on various social media platforms, mobile apps, and online dating sites to investigate those who prey upon and travel to meet children for unlawful sexual activity.

As Fox News reported:

The individuals arrested range in age from 20-years-old to 67-years-old, and a total of 12 people face a total of 49 felony charges. Four suspects allegedly showed up to an undercover location multiple times in Polk County to meet with whom they believed to be children to sexually batter them.

One of the individuals arrested is Zachary Hudson, a bus driver at Walt Disney World.

Officials allege that Hudson engaged in sexual conversations with the undercover detective while he was on the clock at Walt Disney World.

According to the Polk County Sheriffs Office, Hudson engaged in online conversations with a detective who posed as a 15-year-old girl.

When the undercover detective posing as a 15-year-old girl asked Hudson if her age was okay, he allegedly asked my being older doesnt bother you and later said age is just a number, according to officials.

When the conversation moved to texting, Hudson allegedly described what he wanted to do to the 15-year-old girl sexually, adding that hed be honored to take her virginity, according to the sheriffs office.

He also allegedly sent a nude picture of himself, according to officials.

Hudson told the undercover detective posing as a 15-year-old girl that he was employed as a bus driver at Walt Disney World.

During a press conference, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that Hudson told the undercover detective that what we said could get us all in trouble.

Specifically, during conversations with the undercover detective, he said how he desired to wrap his hands around the girls small tiny body, according to Judd.

The Walt Disney World employee also allegedly told the girl multiple times how she had to stay quiet about their relationship, stating how it has to be our secret, according to Judd.

You know, I could go to jail. But Id risk it for spending some time with you. Id risk going to jail, Judd said, paraphrasing what Hudson allegedly told the undercover detective.

He was arrested in Orlando and booked into the Orange County Jail, and now faces one count of use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony and one count of transmission of material harmful to a minor.

Judd said that Hudson was texting the undercover detective posing as a 15-year-old girl while he was on the clock at Walt Disney World.

So if your bus was running late at Disney, he was busy taking pictures of himself and talking trash to what he thought was a little girl, Judd said.

Last year, Several Walt Disney employees were arrested as part of a major pedophile ring bust in Polk County, Florida.

Polk County Sheriffs Office detectives led a police task force to conduct an undercover operation from July 27th through August 1st, 2021.

During the operation, law enforcement posed as children online to investigate pedophiles who prey on minors to groom before traveling to rape them.

Read more at: NewsPunch.com
(Natural News) The Biden regime continues to weaken America with a lot of help from Congress as they rush to provide all of the military assistance they can to Ukraine, even to the point of draining U.S. military war stocks down to dangerously low levels.

This, at a time when China has built the worlds largest navy, has just launched its third and most advanced aircraft carrier and is threatening Taiwan more than ever.

Also, its not as if Russia doesnt know whats going on, as reported by the Kremlin-aligned Russia Today website:

A new weaponry wish list, claimed to be sufficient to throw Russia out of Ukraine, was unveiled on Monday by Mikhail Podolyak, a top adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The new call has effectively pushed Ukraines demand for Western-made weapons to the limit, with even the US at risk of running out, multiple media outlets have suggested.

The demand includes 1,000 NATO-standard 155mm howitzers, 300 multiple-launch rocket systems, 500 tanks, 2,000 armored vehicles, and 1,000 drones. It is unclear what types of drones and armored vehicles Kiev needs to repel the ongoing Russian offensive that began in late February.

Its clear that most European NATO members have nowhere near that kind of weaponry just sitting around collecting dust. So naturally, in order to fulfill even a scaled-back version of the wish list, the bulk of it will have to come from the military-industrial complex within the United States. And already, American taxpayers are the principal suppliers of gear and money to Ukraine.

Fulfilling the demands would effectively require the US  the top supplier of weapons to Ukrainian troops over the course of the conflict  to disarm its own military, multiple Western media outlets pointed out, RT.com reported.

For instance, the number of MLRS systems that Ukraine is demanding would consist of half of the Pentagons existing supply of such weapons, according to The Guardian, which cited publicly available figures assembled by the Institute for Strategic Studies. The report said that the U.S. Army has around 363 HIMARS towed rocket artillery pieces and another 225 M270 MLRS tracked launchers; the U.S. Marines have another 47 such systems.

The demand for 155mm artillery would effectively empty the US of active stock altogether, as it would require the Pentagon to surrender nearly all of its M777 howitzers, according to the article, RT.com reported. That said, the Pentagon also has thousands of older, towed artillery pieces that are held in reserve and could potentially send many of those to Ukraine  which still is not advisable.

The only demand that the U.S. and NATO could reasonably fulfill without putting too much strain on their respective militaries is Ukraines request for tanks. The Marine Corps is in the process of ditching all of its heavy M1A1 Abrams tanks, but the Army has an inventory fleet of around 6,000 of them in storage and currently on active duty, though its clear that Ukrainian crews would need to be trained on them, which would take weeks. And thats only after the tanks arrived in theater and Russia did not immediately target them (it would be better to fly Ukrainian crews to the U.S. and train them on American soil).

The Financial Times, meanwhile, looked at the Ukrainian request as its sum total of military equipment needed in the fight against Russia, some of which has already been delivered  not a completely new list.

But even if that were the case, the wish list could only be covered partially with some 270 tanks delivered or pledged during the conflict, RT.com reported.

The fact is, NATO countries have very little spare capacity and much of what they have in storage is antiquated and no match for Russias frontline equipment. The wish list will have to be fulfilled by the U.S. and if Biden does it, he is intentionally putting America at risk.

Sources include:

RT.com

FT.com
(Natural News) Colorado River reservoirs are now at very low levels, to the point that major water cutbacks are necessary to reduce the risk of supplies reaching perilously low levels.

During a Senate hearing in Washington, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said federal officials believe that protecting critical levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell  the countrys two largest reservoirs  will require larger reductions in water deliveries.

Touton told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that they are seeing a warmer, drier West unlike anything that people have seen in history.

The necessary cuts will amount to between two million and four million acre-feet next year. To put this into perspective, the entire state of California is entitled to 4.4 million acre-feet of Colorado River water per year, while Arizona is allotted 2.8 million.

The push for a new emergency deal to cope with the shrinking of the Colorado River came just seven months after officials from California, Arizona and Nevada signed an agreement to take significantly less water out of Lake Mead. This came six weeks after the federal government announced that it is holding back a large quantity of water in Lake Powell to reduce risks of the reservoir dropping to a point where Glen Canyon Dam could no longer generate electricity. (Related: With water running out, California faces grim summer of dangerous heat, extreme drought.)

Despite the states efforts and a previous deal to share shortages, the reservoirs stand at or near record-low levels. Lake Mead, near Las Vegas, has dropped to only 28 percent of its full capacity, while Lake Powell, on the Utah-Arizona border, is at 27 percent.

According to Touton, it is critical to get more cutbacks, and her agency is now in talks with seven other states that depend on the river to develop a plan for reductions in the next 60 days. She also warned that the Bureau of Reclamation has the authority to act unilaterally to protect the system and will do so if necessary.

Touton did not explain in detail what such protections would entail. The Department of the Interior could impose cuts if the states fail to reach an agreement. She said that her agency is now working with states and tribes in having the discussion, adding that they need to see the work and see action and that they have to stay at the table until the job is done.

Meanwhile, local governments and water utilities are now imposing restrictions on water usage, with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California instituting limits on outdoor watering..

Over-allocation of the Colorado River

The river has been over-allocated, and the reservoirs have declined dramatically since 2000 when a severe drought struck, which some scientists described as the long-term aridification of the southwest.

John Entsminger, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, which supplies the Las Vegas area, pointed out that Lake Meads water level, which is now 1,045 feet above sea level, has continued to decline to critically low levels. Hoover Dam could still release water down to a level of 895 feet, but any lower, and water could no longer pass through the dam to supply California, Arizona and Mexico.

We are 150 feet from 25 million Americans losing access to the Colorado River, and the rate of decline is accelerating, he told senators. He also said that avoiding potentially catastrophic conditions will require reductions that water managers previously considered to be unattainable.

While talking with representatives of other states, Entsminger said they all recognize the urgency of the situation and are working toward increasing conservation efforts. However, he noted that there is no way around the crisis, and cities alone cannot address the issue. (Related: Drought-stricken Texas finally gets some rain, but it may not be enough to save crops and cattle.)

Entsminger further noted that roughly 80 percent of the rivers flow is used for agriculture  toward thirsty crops like the alfalfa, which is mainly grown for cattle both in the U.S. and overseas. Entsminger said farmers should carefully consider crop selection and make the investments necessary to optimize irrigation efficiency.

By reducing their use of Colorado River water, agricultural entities are protecting their own interests, he said.

The federal government already declared a shortage on the Colorado River for the first time last year, triggering substantial cutbacks in water deliveries to Arizona, Nevada and Mexico. Farmers in parts of Arizona also left some fields dry and unplanted, turning instead to more groundwater pumping.

Follow WaterWars.news for more information about water shortages in the United States.

Watch the video below for information about the water reservoirs, food shortages and more.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

California regulators nix water desalination plant that would provide clean drinking water to citizens are they TRYING to destroy the state?

California water use jumped dramatically despite Governor Newsoms pleas for conservation.

Collapsifornia: California Gov. Gavin Newsom to mandate rationing of water, food and energy.

Scott Kesterson: World finance system will collapse and dollar will crumble in Great Reset  Brighteon.TV.

Biden administration to spend BILLIONS for Ukraine, but only MILLIONS to boost food production in America.

Sources include:

StrangeSounds.org

News.Yahoo.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Sean Ragan, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent, warned that fraudsters are exploiting the professional networking website LinkedIn to deceive unsuspecting users and lure them into cryptocurrency investment schemes.

The fraudsters, who usually pose as professionals, create fake profiles and reach out to LinkedIn users. They initiate small talk over the platforms chatbox until eventually, they offer to help the victims make money through crypto investment.

LinkedIn is supposedly a trusted platform for business networking, so people tend to believe that the investments are legitimate. The fraudsters direct the users to legitimate investment platforms for crypto, but after several months, they ask them to move the investments to sites controlled by the fraudster and funds are drained from their accounts.

Ragan said that this is how the criminals make money, and it is how they direct their time and attention to. And they are always thinking about different ways to victimize people, victimize companies. And they spend their time doing their homework, defining their goals and strategies, and the tools and tactics that they use, he said. (Related: BitConnect shuts down after accusations it was running a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme.)

The FBI has seen an increase in this type of investment fraud, which is different from long-running scams that involve a more romantic approach. The FBI also confirmed that there are ongoing investigations, but the bureau cannot disclose open cases.

LinkedIn acknowledged that there had been a recent uptick of fraud on its platform, and vowed to do better in enforcing its policies.

Fraudulent activity, including financial scams, are not allowed on LinkedIn. We work every day to keep our members safe, and this includes investing in automated and manual defenses to detect and address fake accounts, false information and suspected fraud, the platform said in a statement.

We work with peer companies and government agencies from across the world with the goal of keeping LinkedIn members safe from bad actors. If a member encounters or is the victim of a scam we ask that they report it to us and to local law enforcement.

Oscar Rodriguez, who serves as LinkedIns senior director of trust, privacy and equity, said that trying to identify which accounts are real and fake is very difficult.

One of the things that I would really love for us to do more is get into proactive education for members. Letting members know or basically allowing them to understand the risks that they might face, he said.

Nearly 32 million fake accounts detected on LinkedIn since 2021

LinkedIn, which has around 830 million members in more than 200 countries, admitted to removing over 32 million fake accounts from the platform in 2021, as per its annual fraud report.

From July to December 2021, its automated defenses also stopped 96 percent of all fake accounts, with a total of around 11.9 million stopped at registration, while 4.4 million were proactively restricted. Users also reported around 127,000 fake profiles, which were also removed.

However, LinkedIn said it does not provide estimates on how much money was stolen from members of the platform. A report by the Federal Trade Commission mentioned that over 46,000 people reported losing over $1 billion in cryptocurrency scams since the beginning of 2021. Nearly half the people who reported losing digital currencies in the scam said it started with an ad, post or message on the platform.

Several victims that have been defrauded on the platform said their losses ranged from $200,000 to $1.6 million. One victim said these fraudsters hide behind successful companies. That is one of the biggest reasons the victims accepted invites. (Related: South Koreas third-largest cryptocurrency exchange seized due to allegations of extreme fraud.)

Weve lost a lot of money, and its not just all of our savings. People have lost their houses and their car loans. Its life-destroying and soul-crushing, another victim who claimed to have lost $700,000 said.

Ragan said he understands the victims pains and told them that they should not blame themselves. Its not their fault that they were victimized, its the perpetrators fault. Its the criminals fault. They spend their nights and days thinking about ways to victimize and defraud people. Thats how they make their money through illicit gains. And the people that fall victim to it, theyre victims.

Visit CryptoCult.news for more news related to cryptocurrency.

Watch the video below to know more about cryptocurrency and how it works.

This video is from the I am channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Cryptocurrency scam hits hundreds of small investors.

Cryptocurrency blockchains being sabotaged in 51 percent attacks to steal virtual coins.

A Google-funded fact check team appears to be a handful of potentially non-existent Indians in an impoverished town near Bangladesh.

Bitcoin investors continue to take a bath as leading cryptocurrency tanks.

Democratic Senate passes provision in infrastructure bill that expands government surveillance on cryptocurrency.

Sources include:

CNBC.com

IndianExpress.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The Biden regimes Department of Justice (DoJ) is perhaps better described as the Department of Injustice, based on the selective way in which political cases are investigated and prosecuted.

Attorney General Merrick Garland just threw the book at the Proud Boys, a conservative movement, charging them with sedition for protesting in the capital on Jan. 6, 2021. Black Lives Matter (BLM) terrorists, meanwhile, were just let off easy with a plea agreement.

According to reports, two lawyers who took part in BLM domestic terrorism faced the possibility of 30 years in prison for their crimes. Instead, the Biden regime basically lets them off scot-free with a maximum of just a couple of years of jail time.

These two defendants were participating in an effort that could have burned (police) officers alive as a form of protest, tweeted Jonathan Turley about the two BLM domestic terrorists.

They will now be given sentences closer to tax fraud than terrorism.

Right as this all happened, the DoJ went for maximum blood against the Proud Boys, calling them rioters who deserve to be charged on any level for their involvement in the events of January 6.

The illegitimate Biden regime is an authoritarian dictatorship

The two BLM domestic terrorists threw a Molotov cocktail into a police vehicle in New York and ended up with only one count of possessing and making an explosive device, which in itself carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Now, however, they will be allowed to withdraw the earlier plea and instead plead guilty to conspiring to assemble the Molotov cocktail and damage the New York Police Department patrol car, Turley explains.

That is a nosebleed of a drop in the severity and punishment for this violent attack.

Beyond that, one of the two attorneys was caught on video throwing a firebomb before fleeing the scene. The other supposedly had a store of firebombs in his vehicle that he was handing out to other rioters to maximize the violent impact.

The one who threw the firebomb later stated unapologetically that the only way they hear us is through violence, suggesting that if given the chance he would do the same thing all over again.

That does not seem the type of the suspects who would ordinarily garner deep sympathy from prosecutors, Turley further writes.

Yet, the Biden Administration walked back the charges, unraveled the earlier plea to a lesser offense, and told that court that the earlier charges would have resulted in excessive sentencing for the attorneys. Instead, they are supporting a maximum sentence of five years with a recommendation of between 18 to 24 months imprisonment.

Conversely, the Proud Boys have been charged with seditious conspiracy, which carries with it a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. One of them was not even in Washington, D.C., on the day of the insurrection, and yet he, too, is being pursued for maximum punishment (Related: This so-called insurrection was actually just an FBI false flag plot).

One Proud Boys member committed suicide after pleading guilty to a host of charges because he believed that he would not be given a fair trial by the Biden regime. Others were tortured in prison or locked in solitary confinement.

This is naked political persecution, writes Chris Menahan for Information Liberation. It cant get any more transparent.

The GOP establishment should be screaming bloody murder about this vindictive political persecution, but instead theyre busy working with Democrats on new gun control proposals to disarm their own constituents.

More related news about the Biden regime can be found at Corruption.news.

Sources include:

InformationLiberation.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The United States government takes in so much money, is so massive, and so bloated that there literally is hardly any effort at all to make employees accountable.

That fact was laid bare again recently by a report in the Washington Free Beacon pertaining to federal worker behaviors during the years-long COVID-19 pandemic which, for hundreds of thousands of them turned out to be a massive paid vacation.

In the first months of the coronavirus pandemic, a quarter of employees at the federal governments top health agency failed to even check their emails as they worked remotely, according to internal documents obtained by the outlet.

And if this occurred at one federal agency, you can be sure it occurred at nearly all of them (of which there are currently 432).

The outlet continued:

An estimated 25 percent of Department of Health and Human Services employees neglected to log on to the agencys software suite, which includes their email, work files, video conference calls, and other applications needed to perform remote work, according to the internal documents. The report, commissioned by then-HHS chief of staff Brian Harrison, measured employees inactivity on a day-to-day basis between March 2020 and December 2020.

The documents, portions of which were leaked by a whistleblower to the Functional Government Initiative and reviewed by the Free Beacon, state that all HHS employees had secure access to these accounts to work remotely.

Federal employees started returning to their offices only in recent months, well after most private sector businesses required their workers to return to their jobs. However, the Biden regime is looking at ways to make as many federal positions remote as possible.

Congressional majority Democrats advanced legislation last week on a measure that requires agencies to provide advance notice to both Congress and the Office of Personnel Management if they want to require workers to return to their offices.

Harrison, who is now a GOP congressman from Texas, told the Free Beacon that he began to become concerned in the earliest months of the pandemic that lax, remote work policies would lead to inefficiency among federal workers (and he appears to have been right). He also noted that he began to track in-office attendance and discovered that fewer than 10 percent of federal workers showed up to work in person at certain points during the first year of the pandemic, 2020. That led him to conduct a more thorough review of remote work to see how many federal employees were not in offices and what kind of work product they were turning out.

Almost everyone was home at the federal health agency responding to a pandemicI found that problematic and worked to safely increase those numbers, Harrison told the Free Beacon. Biden sent everyone back home, and you cant run HHS like that effectively.

Peter McGinnis, the communications director for the Functional Government Initiative, told the outlet that the Biden regimes push for unnecessary telework has really harmed American taxpayers who foot the bill for salaries.

Work from home? Perhaps not working at all, McGinnis told the Free Beacon. Sadly, this dysfunction now threatens the health of mothers and children.

The problem is so serious that House Republicans, who are looking to regain congressional majorities in the fall midterm elections amid Bidens horrible term, introduced legislation last month that reestablishes pre-pandemic telework policies for federal employees and would require federal agencies to submit a report on how telework has impacted their policies and productivity since 2020.

Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.), the bills sponsor, said the regime must be made to justify the need for keeping federal workers at home.

Extending pandemic-era telework for no good reason hurts Americans who need in-person attention and care, Herrell told the Free Beacon. The first priority of public employees should be to serve their employers, the American people.

Sources include:

FreeBeacon.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) While installed President Joe Biden lectured Americans about gun laws and gun rights not being absolute, he was ignoring the fact that his own corrupt, drug-abusing, problematic son, Hunter Biden, broke a major gun law himself.

Worse, Bidens politicized FBI and Justice Department are also ignoring it.

Previous reports noted that shortly before it was decided to install his dad in the White House, Hunter bought a handgun in Delaware. When he did, he checked a box on the federal background check form indicating that he did not use any drugs  a blatant lie, given that he had (at the time) a huge crack cocaine problem. Worse, later on, the gun was tossed into a trash bin behind a small grocery outlet (near a school) by his former sister-in-law (with whom he had an affair after his brother, Beau, died of cancer)  and that crime hasnt been addressed by the FBI, either.

Constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley notes:

Hunter Biden acquired a .38 caliber handgun despite his long-standing drug and alcohol abuse as well as a history of depression. In 2018, the gun was tossed into a trash bin in Wilmington by Hallie Biden, widow of the deceased brother of Hunter. After the death of his brother Beau, Hunter began a sexual relationship with Hallie and she apparently became concerned about what he might do with the gun. That is precisely the concern for Red Flag laws. In many ways, her action reflected the need for such laws. In desperation, she threw the gun away but unfortunately chose a garbage bin not far from a school.

According to the Washington Examiner, Hunter was irate with Hallie throwing out the gun to protect him and making him look like an abusive pedophile with homicidal tendencies. In the long exchanges on Oct. 23, 2018, Hunter asked Hallie if you want me dead ?and said I wont ever recover from this.

Turley further explained that Hunter then made comparisons to the rest of his family including his deceased brother: There are 5 guns in dads [sic] house. There are f**king more weapons in your sons [sic] room then [sic] in an armory. Whats my f**k up? Owning a gun? Beau owned a handgun issued by the state and i[t] was in the front glove compartment of his car. So f**k you.

His former sis-in-law then tried to explain she feared that he would use the handgun.

Hunter responded, They think youre scared i wold shoot you, before calling her a f**king a**hole, adding: You now have me as an abusive pedophile with homicidal tendencies. And thats now in the hands of the FBI.

In addition, the Secret Service got involved as well, showing up at the gun store where Hunter made his purchase and asked to see the paperwork, though Turley says it is still not clear why.

It has never been explained and most media have shown little interest, he added.

But a few years later, Hunter did a media tour for his new book, Beautiful Things, and those interviews were mostly fawning and praiseworthy, avoiding all of the past scandals. But in one interview, CBS News Anthony Mason asked Hunter during a CBS This Morning segment about the gun incident and why Hallie tossed it in the trash.

I think she  yes. Yeah, I think she was just concerned about me and went on to say that my life was difficult.  Hallies intent was to, to make certain that I didnt do anything to hurt myself.

This family is messed up, there is no doubt about it. The fact that the mainstream media doesnt care (and is still largely focused on Trump, Trump, Trump) tells you everything you need to know about their objective: Protect a vulnerable, corrupt Democrat at any cost.

Sources include:

JonathanTurley.org

WashingtonExaminer.com
(Natural News) I start by stating again, no healthy child in the U.S., or Germany, Sweden, etc., has died of COVID after a COVID infection. Not one!

(Article by Dr. Paul Alexander republished from PAlexander.Substack.com)

I warn again, these injections will kill normal healthy children. They are not properly safety tested. I warn again. Moving to inject our 6 month to 4 years children with a gene delivery platform is very very dangerous. Reckless. There is no sound justification for this.

There is no one in the US government, globally even, or in public health, who can talk on the COVID lockdowns and this COVID vaccine (mRNA) like myself, for I worked there, worked with them. I was hammering from on the inside and high level scientists FDA, CDC, NIH, Moderna etc. and officials sought me out secretly and confidentially to tell me how much they agreed with me and Atlas etc. and feared for their careers and safety if they spoke out at the garbage Fauci and Francis Collins et al. were saying and doing with the lockdown lunacy and the very vaccine they were working on. They feared massive deaths in some years to come and auto-immune devastating diseases due to the COVID vaccines (mRNA) and feared that children, healthy children will die, not may, but will, and that they were not candidates for the COVID vaccine and they told me shockingly that they never and do not study the vaccine safety and that the short duration they were using was purposeful (as well as under sizing) to NOT detect any safety signals.

See here (point 8), CDC plans to rush tomorrow Friday and Saturday to vote to approve these failed and harmful injections in kids, with potential harms to accrue as seen in adults.

Why you must push hard now and say NO, where no parent must allow these shots in their healthy kids? It is because your child has zero liability protection courtesy of Azar. You have no tort recourse. None. Your child can be harmed and die from the injections and you can do nothing about it.

1)This LANCET study shows you that

SOURCE: Variation in the COVID-19 infectionfatality ratio by age, time, and geography during the pre-vaccine era: a systematic analysis

Age-specific IFR estimates form a J shape, with the lowest IFR occurring at age 7 years (00023%, 95% uncertainty interval [UI] 0001500039)

Look at the infection fatality rates (IFR):

2)This German study showed

SOURCE: Risk of Hospitalization, severe disease, and mortality due to COVID-19 and PIMS-TS in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Germany

Children without comorbidities were found to be significantly less likely to suffer from a severe or fatal disease course. The lowest risk was observed in children aged 5-11 without comorbidities. In this group, the ICU admission rate was 0.2 per 10,000 and case fatality could not be calculated, due to an absence of cases.

3)This Swedish seminal study found

SOURCE: Open Schools, Covid-19, and Child and Teacher Morbidity in Sweden

From March through June 2020, a total of 15 children with Covid-19 (including those with MIS-C) were admitted to an ICU (0.77 per 100,000 children in this age group) (Table 1), 4 of whom were 1 to 6 years of age (0.54 per 100,000) and 11 of whom were 7 to 16 years of age (0.90 per 100,000). Four of the children had an underlying chronic coexisting condition (cancer in 2, chronic kidney disease in 1, and hematologic disease in 1). No child with Covid-19 died.

4)This study by Dr. Marty Makary and Johns Hopkins found (see graph)

SOURCE: A FAIR Health White Paper in Collaboration with the West Health Institute and Marty Makary, MD, MPH, from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, November 11, 2020

5) This study by Dorabawila et al. showed

SOURCE: Effectiveness of the BNT162b2 vaccine among children 5-11 and 12-17 years in New York after the Emergence of the Omicron Variant

In the Omicron era, the effectiveness against cases of BNT162b2 declined rapidly for children, particularly those 5-11 yearsFrom December 13, 2021 to January 30, 2022, among 852,384 fully-vaccinated children 12-17 years and 365,502 children 5-11 years, VE against cases declined from 66% (95% CI: 64%, 67%) to 51% (95% CI: 48%, 54%) for those 12-17 years and from 68% (95% CI: 63%, 72%) to 12% (95% CI: 6%, 16%) for those 5-11 years.

6)This WSJ report shows that Nordic nations suspended Modernas vaccines in children

SOURCE: Some European Countries Are Limiting the Use of Modernas Covid-19 Vaccine in Younger Ages; Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway take precautionary measures amid concerns over rare cardiovascular side effects

Finland on Thursday joined Sweden, Denmark and Norway in recommending against use of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine in younger age groups, citing risks of rare cardiovascular side effects they said warranted the precautionary steps.

7)The FDAs June 15th report is a very frightening report, see page 39, Tables 19 and 20 as to the negative efficacy post Dose 1 to before Dose 2

SOURCE:

Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting June 15, 2022

8)CDC planned meetings to authorize the fraud injections

SOURCE:

CDC agenda June 17th and 18th, note that they plan to vote for the COVID injection for our young children

Read more at: PAlexander.Substack.com
(Natural News) The German government is planning to reopen several coal-fired power plants as the countrys energy supply continues to be strangled by Russia.

Germanys energy troubles began when the country followed the United States and most of the West in passing economic sanctions against Russia and providing military support for Ukraine. Russia retaliated by cutting gas supplies to Europe. (Related: EUs embargo on Russian oil will cause oil prices to skyrocket  but Russia will be largely unharmed.)

Moscow has been gradually cutting the continent off of its much-needed supply of natural gas, raising the possibility of severe fuel shortage if Europe goes into winter with its fuel storage facilities less than full.

Berlin announced the measure to restart some coal-fired power plants following another cut to the countrys Russian-supplied gas. The steps are part of a broader strategy the countrys left-wing coalition government initiated following the invasion of Ukraine.

Part of the strategy is to incentivize companies to curb their consumption of natural gas, believing that reducing gas consumption can reduce the countrys reliance on Russian natural gas. Most subsequent gas deliveries will be diverted to storage facilities to ensure that the country has enough reserves to get through the winter.

The legislation promoting the use of coal and incentivizing the curbing of gas consumption is expected to be approved on July 8 in the Bundesrat, the upper house of the German parliament. The measure will only last until March 31, 2024. By this time, Berlin hopes to have found a sustainable alternative to relying on Russian natural gas.

German Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck warned that if the country cannot divert enough natural gas to the countrys storage facilities, German gas supplies could get tight in winter.

Habeck added that gas storage facilities in Germany were around 57 percent full at the moment. The government is hoping to fill the storage facilities up to 90 percent of their capacity by December.

The government has made other proposals to reduce gas consumption, including putting a temporary cap on domestic heating and setting up a gas auction model to incentivize the saving of gas.

Under this scheme, industrial corporations that reduce their gas consumption will be rewarded with financial compensation. The gas saved will then be put into storage.

The left-wing government is also planning to create an additional credit line worth 15 billion euros ($15.77 billion) through state-owned bank KfW. This will enable the German gas market manager to buy gas from other sources to fill the countrys storage facilities

Coal expansion supported by German Green Party

Habeck, a leading member of the German Green Party, said the country must burn more coal instead of using natural gas for a transitional period. He justified the sudden shift in the partys pledge to reduce fossil fuel use while in government by claiming that the country needs to rely on coal to defend itself against Russian aggression.

The Green Party is a member of the current left-wing coalition government. One of its goals is to phase out German energy production using coal by 2030.

Habeck said the government would empower utility companies to extend their use of coal-fired power plants, thus ensuring that Germany has a reliable alternative source of energy, but delaying the countrys efforts to slash its carbon emissions.

It is obviously [Russian President Vladimir] Putins strategy to rattle us, drive up prices and divide us. We wont allow that. We will defend ourselves resolutely, precisely and thoughtfully, said Habeck. He also compared the countrys energy battle with Russia to a sort of arm-wrestling, in which Putin has the longer arm for now. But that doesnt mean that we cant attain a stronger arm with effort.

This is bitter, he added. But its necessary in this situation to reduce gas consumption. We must do everything we can to store as much gas as possible in summer and fall. Gas stores must be full by winter. That is the highest priority.

Learn more about fuel shortages worldwide at FuelSupply.news.

Watch this clip from the Daily Dispatch by InfoWars as host Harrison Smith talks about Germany turning to coal due to Russia throttling Europes gas supplies.

This video can be found in the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

Russias Gazprom has cut natural gas flows to Germany by 60%  Western Europe is about to get the green energy nightmare it always wanted.

INSANELY VULNERABLE: If Russia cuts off supply of enriched uranium to US power companies, Americas nuclear energy reactors will close within a year.

European Union caves to Putin: Green nations starving for energy now buying Russian gas in rubles, euros.

Germany signals massive drop in Russian gas as European sanctions regime begins to unravel.

Gas storage in Germany hits record lows as Russia halts fertilizer shipments and European continent reels from high heating costs.

Sources include:

WSJ.com



DW.com

CNBC.com

Bloomberg.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Leaked communications between Pfizer and European Medicines Agency revealed that 50 percent of the contents of the pharmaceutical giants Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine were left undeclared before the fast-tracked approval of the rollout went out.

Canadian physician and molecular biologist Dr. Daniel Nagase said during his recent appearance on the Dr. Jane Ruby Show that Pfizer admitted to declaring that only half of the mRNA injections are actually spike proteins. This protein will throw in a very indirect means to develop antibodies in human bodies.

The shows host, Dr. Jane Ruby, said: Pfizer was able to negotiate this and Im sure the other companies probably did too. So everything that went out in these vials, a percentage up to 50 percent, were allowed to be undeclared.

Of course, the biggest takeaway there is that governments around the world allowed Pfizer to inject their people with an unknown substance.

Every researcher, geneticist, and molecular biologist that worked on this project would have known that any mRNAs that are injected have reverse transcriptase, which has the potential to turn into deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA). Then, it will change the genes of whoever took that injection, Nagase said.

He further warned that a whole bunch of people might start getting unusual cancers because their DNA had been changed. But thats only part of the problem.

Nagase said: The really big problem is what happens in the next generation, our childrens generation and our grandchildrens generation.

The scientist explained that genes can get spliced into introns, which are the DNA parts that are kept for reference and not used. A child, even though the mother was injected, might grow up to be a perfectly healthy and beautiful adult.

But theres something hidden inside an intron, which is like the references of their DNA. And if spike protein gene is there hiding and that the beautiful adult goes on and has kids, the genes from two, three generations ago may reawaken, Nagase explained. (Related: Could mRNA vaccines permanently alter DNA? Recent science suggests they might.)

He added that technology and science might not be able to stop passing the poisoned DNA to the next or future generations. It might be possible, but could entail a very tedious process.

A segment of every DNA needs to be pulled out of every cell of someones body. Thats too much a scale of technology. And the thing is, if that spike protein gene is hiding in an unexpressed segment of DNA, that person will look act and feel entirely normal, he said.

Undeclared half of mRNA vaccines may be causing miscarriages and stillbirths

Elsewhere in the show, Nagase said Big Pharma companies that manufacture mRNA vaccines probably know that the undeclared half are proteins that cause women to be infertile.

A Moderna production engineer claimed that there were two separate ovarian proteins associated with ovarian failure added to the mRNA cocktail thats been given in these injections, Nagase told Ruby.

He said that about five billion people on this planet have taken the COVID vaccines and half of those are women.

Statistically, half of two and a half billion women are capable of becoming mothers and we know from Pfizer post-marketing survey latest releases that the miscarriage and stillbirth rates were up to 90 percent.

The sad part, Nagase said, is that obstetricians and doctors console mothers who lost their babies and tell them that its just bad luck and miscarriages happen all the time. Its nothing unusual.

The medical community has been a big part of normalizing the rate of miscarriages that if theres all of a sudden, a sudden increase in miscarriages, the health workers would just think this is usual. But if you took it on a community scale, it is no longer usual and theres been a lot, Nagase pointed out.

Visit GeneticLunacy.com for more news related to genetic modifications and alterations.

Watch the full June 17 episode of the Dr. Jane Ruby Show below.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Study: mRNA vaccines increase risk of death from other causes.

Putin does NOT inoculate his troops with deadly mRNA vaccines, they use vector vaccines only.

Fauci and the CDC lied: mRNA vaccines do convert to DNA, altering the human bodys genome.

Pfizer knew its mRNA vaccine for covid leaked into ovaries but covered it all up.

Sources include:

HowBad.info

Brighteon.com

RedVoiceMedia.com

ForbiddenKnowledgeTV.net
(Natural News) The railway blockade of Kaliningrad is obviously a setup to try to provoke Russia into attacking a NATO member (Lithuania) so that NATO and the USA can justify a full-scale military assault on Russia. Once again, the neocons are scheming to plunge the world into global thermonuclear war in order to destroy the United States of America while attempting to maintain dictatorial control over the worlds natural resources and monetary systems.

To understand the full dynamic of whats happening, you need to first learn about the geography of Kaliningrad. This Russian territory sits on the Baltic Sea, providing Russia its only year-round ocean access that isnt frozen over for part of the year. Kaliningrad is land-locked, however, and not physically connected to the Russian mainland. A railway runs through Lithuania, connecting Kaliningrad to Russia proper. This railway passage has been in place for decades and has always been respected by Lithuania as Russias right-of-way to supply Kaliningrad.

See this map from Encyclopedia Britannica. Kaliningrad is shown roughly in the center of this map, to the west of Lithuania:

Lithuanias railroad blockade

Under pressure from NATO and the USA, Lithuania (a NATO member nation) has now blockaded about half the cargo on that railroad, essentially declaring an illegal wartime blockade of Kaliningrad. This is an act of war against Russia, and it violates EU rules allowing open access across borders.

Russia has demanded an immediate reversal of the blockade, with the Russian Foreign Ministry saying, If in the near future cargo transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the territory of the Russian Federation through Lithuania is not restored in full, then Russia reserves the right to take actions to protect its national interests. (SOURCE)

Kaliningrad hosts short-range nuclear missiles that can reach Poland and Germany

Kaliningrad is advantageously positioned to allow Russia to achieve denial-of-area military power projection over most of the Baltic republics, encompassing much of Germany and Poland, even using short-range missiles. Russia has the most advanced and modernized missile systems in the world, including the Iskander missile with a range of 500 km. Iskander missiles are launched from road-ready vehicles and are therefore mobile.

The Iskander missile system can carry nuclear warheads. It can also carry conventional warheads and even fuel-air explosives (thermobaric explosives) which can penetrate bunkers. Via WorldCrunch.com:

Vladimir Putin has put his nuclear forces on alert  a shock for many, but even more so for those just across the Polish border from Kaliningrad where Russian nuclear missiles are stationed, and aimed at European capitals from Warsaw to Berlin. The region, which is geographically separated from Russia and located by the Baltic Sea, is of vital importance to Moscow when it comes to threatening Europe  with nuclear weapons in particular.

NationalInterest.org also writes about the Iskander missile systems and why they matter. In an article entitled, Why Russias Iskander SRBM in Kaliningrad Is Such a Big Deal, the website explains:

From Kaliningrad, the Iskander can hit targets in Poland, parts of eastern Germany, southern Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, Belarus, and a great part of the Baltic Sea. From the exclave, Russia can hit targets in most of the Baltic Sea, threatening an important shipping route, and hit NATO targets.

Short-range nuclear missiles have been spotted in Kaliningrad going all the way back to 2011. Via NonProliferation.org:

Ten years ago, almost to a day, The Washington Times reported that Russia had possibly moved warheads for short-range Tochka-U (SS-23) short-range ground-launched missiles into Kaliningrad The SS-23s in Kaliningrad that were a concern in 2001 are still there, but recent reports add a new wrinkle: the additional presence of new Iskander ground-launched missiles with the range close to 500 km.

The bottom line? Anyone messing with Kaliningrad is risking retaliation via Russias highly-capable missiles.

Meet Russias RS-24 YARS ICBMs

Familiarize yourself with the following chart showing Russias missile capabilities. The chart is sourced from the Center for Strategic International Studies:

This chart shows that Iskander missiles can reach Poland, Germany and several other Baltic nations. It also shows, more importantly, that Russias RS-24 YARS ICBMs (noted as SS-29 YARS in the graphic, which uses NATO designations) can reach all of the continental United States, plus all of Europe. (The USA is pale white in the image above, a bit difficult to see but youll see it if you look for it.)

In effect, Russias ICBMs can reach any target in the Northern hemisphere of planet Earth.

What you need to know about the RS-24 YARS system is that:

It travels at Mach 20

It cannot be stopped by any known anti-missile defense system deployed by the USA or NATO

It can carry out evasive maneuvers during its flight, helping it avoid interception

It can deploy multiple MIRVs (nuclear re-rentry vehicles), each of which strikes a different target

Russia is rumored to have dozens or even hundreds of these missiles at the ready

In other words, the minute Russia decides it wants to wipe Western Europe and the USA off the map of history, it can easily do so with the RS-24 YARS missiles. And that doesnt even require use of the SARMAT ICBMs which are even larger and can deploy Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) upon reentry.

NATO and the USA are grossly miscalculating the outcome of a world war with Russia

The point of all this is that while the USA and NATO  both run by insane, power-hungry neocons who respect no rule of law, no international treaties and no national sovereignty  think they can beat Russia in a global thermonuclear war, they are just as delusional as theyve been when trying to harm Russia with economic sanctions that have only devastated western nations.

If Biden forces Putin into a nuclear defense of Kaliningrad and Russia, the United States and NATO will be utterly destroyed by Russias nuclear arsenal, even if it means Russia has to absorb a retaliatory strike (which it can survive due to anti-ICBM defense systems and a network of fallout shelters).

By trying to force Russia into a war with NATO, the USAs illegitimate, criminal cartel leaders (Biden, Obama, Clinton, Nuland, etc.) are thrusting the entire world into the very real potential for a nuclear apocalypse and the end of life as we know it on planet Earth. Importantly, the USA will lose such a world war badly, and the whole world will finally see how weak, pathetic and woke the US Pentagon has become. The US military is utterly incapable of winning even a single front war with Russia, not to mention a two-front war with Russia and China combined. And the Pentagon is far more concerned about paying for transgender surgeries for woke soldiers than actually teaching men how to fight.

Thats why we must right now arrest the criminals who stole the 2020 election. Remove them from power. Prosecute them. Pull us back from the brink of nuclear war with Russia and reaffirm Russias right to exist as a sovereign nation with its own interests and sphere of influence.

Yet we dont see any evidence whatsoever that the neocon lunatics running the Biden regime have any willingness to recognize Russias right to exist. Thus, the entire world stands on the brink of disaster.

Elections have consequences, and stolen elections have catastrophic consequences.

Learn more details in todays two-part Situation Update podcast:

Brighteon.com/1e2c9ac2-6287-4e74-a6eb-50ca027d2708

And heres part two, which also covers Germanys green fail as they resort to running coal power plants to avoid being plunged into permanent power blackouts:

Brighteon.com/9dab5a40-dd65-4c9b-8a43-8b1e5a508c7a

Discover more information-packaged podcasts each day, along with special reports, interviews and emergency updates, at:

https://www.brighteon.com/channels/HRreport

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(Natural News) In todays society, one of the early indicators that someone feels they may be legally responsible for something is that they obtain legal counsel.

And the police officers in Uvalde, Texas, who waited more than 75 minutes to enter Robb Elementary School while an 18-year-old shooter murdered 19 children and two adults have just lawyered up.

Whats more, according to reports, their lawyers are now pushing back on requests for information and records regarding police actions on that fateful day late last month, further indicating that the officers either have extremely guilty consciences (they should) or they believe they could be held legally liable for their cowardice, according to a report from Vice/Motherboard:

The City of Uvalde and its police department are working with a private law firm to prevent the release of nearly any record related to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in which 19 children and two teachers died, according to a letter obtained by Motherboard in response to a series of public information requests we made. The public records Uvalde is trying to suppress include body camera footage, photos, 911 calls, emails, text messages, criminal records, and more.

The City has not voluntarily released any information to a member of the public, city attorney Cynthia Trevino, who is employed by the private law firm Denton Navarro Rocha Bernal & Zech, said in a letter addressed to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The city wrote the AG to ask him for a determination about what information officials are required to release to the public, a standard practice in the Lone Star State. Eventually, Paxtons office will issue rulings regarding which of the citys arguments have some merit and then which public records, if any, the city is summarily required to release, Vice/Motherboard added.

Still, the letter clearly conveys the citys desire for it and the police department to be exempted from releasing a range of records in part because they face lawsuits already, in part because some records likely contain highly embarrassing information, because some info is not of legitimate concern to the public, other information may reveal methods, techniques, and strategies for preventing and predicting crime, partly because some of it could cause or may regard  emotional/mental distress, and because the response to the shooting is currently under investigation by the the FBI, the Texas Rangers, and the Uvalde County District Attorney.

The report went on to note that Uvalde city officials and the police department have both received more than 148 requests for information combined, and that it seeks to lump all of them into a single legal response, including several from Vice/Motherboard.

The outlet also reported last week on a letter sent to Paxton by the Texas Department of Public Safety asking him to allow for the suppression of body cam footage because making it public could expose weaknesses in police responses to criminal actions that could be exploited.

But frankly, it just sounds like the city and its police department simply want to cover their backsides.

The Uvalde Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety have been pilloried by the press and the public for standing in the hallway while a gunman killed childrenagainst standard protocoland for preventing parents from entering the building to save their children, Vice/Motherboard reported.

And experts are not buying the excuses.

They claim that the compilation of individuals criminal history is highly embarrassing information, which is a strange cover. The embarrassing information is the inept police response, Christopher Schneider, a professor of sociology at Brandon University who studies police body cam footage, told the outlet.

Its rather ripe to say any of this is not of legitimate public concern, he added. The whole country is trying to figure out how to not allow this to happen again.

The officers who responded to this horrific crime and did nothing for more than an hour should be relieved of their badges and never allowed to serve as police officers again  at a minimum.

Sources include:

Vice.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A federal government-run database has recognized that over 50,000 children have been injured by the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines. Around 1,1000 have been disabled and another 125 have been killed by the vaccines.

This is according to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a database co-managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). VAERS is a passive reporting system that, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is especially useful for detecting unusual or unexpected patterns of adverse event reporting that might indicate a possible safety problem with a vaccine. (Related: Overwhelming evidence suggests giving children COVID-19 vaccines will only harm them.)

Nearly 8,000 of these injured children required hospitalizations or emergency room visits.

The vast majority of the injury reports  40,639  were associated with Pfizers mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Another 9,170 injury reports were caused by Modernas mRNA vaccine. Johnson & Johnsons viral vector vaccine was associated with 1,326 reported injuries. Another 77 injury reports were caused by unknown vaccines.

Of the injured children who required emergency room visits or hospitalizations, 7,495 were caused by the Pfizer vaccine. The Moderna vaccine caused 380, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine caused 18. Another 18 hospital visits were caused by unknown vaccines.

Over 1,100 kids disabled, 125 dead due to COVID-19 vaccines

According to the FDA and the CDCs database, 1,112 children have either suffered a life-threatening event or have been left permanently disabled due to the COVID-19 vaccines.

Of these children, 1,001 were permanently disabled by the Pfizer vaccine. One hundred were disabled by the Moderna vaccine, five were disabled by Johnson & Johnsons vaccine and another six were permanently injured by unknown vaccines.

More tragically, the VAERS database has recognized that 125 children have died due to complications brought about by their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Of the children killed by the vaccine and recognized by the FDA and the CDC, 109 of them were killed by the Pfizer vaccine and the other 16 children were killed by the Moderna vaccine.

It should be noted that the number of children who have been killed by the experimental and deadly vaccinations is likely much higher than the number in VAERS.

The CDC itself estimates that VAERS only receives around 10 percent of vaccine-related adverse events that actually occur in the United States. HHS believes the number is much lower, and that only around one percent of all vaccine-related injuries and deaths are reported.

Furthermore, this data reflects whats happening in the United States only. Who knows  and will we ever know?  how many more children across the globe are suffering? wrote Sara Middleton, staff writer for Natural Health 365. It is truly sobering and chilling to think of the pain and fear in families and communities worldwide right now.

COVID-19 vaccines soon to be given to children as young as six months

The situation is about to get worse. On Saturday, June 18, an independent 12-member panel of advisers to the CDC voted unanimously to recommend vaccinating all children ages six months to five years with one dose of either Pfizers or Modernas vaccine.

Dr. Grace Lee, chair of the panel and a pediatrician at Stanford University, claimed that vaccinating children in this age group can prevent hospitalizations, deaths and long-term complications from infection that we dont yet understand well.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky followed up the CDC panels recommendation with her endorsement. This is the final step before the COVID-19 vaccines for children in this age group are rolled out.

I encourage parents and caregivers with questions to talk to their doctor, nurse or local pharmacist to learn more about the benefits of vaccinations and the importance of protecting their children by getting vaccinated, said Walensky in a statement.

The administration of President Joe Biden already has an operational plan in place to ensure as many children in this age group get vaccinated.

This plan will procure over 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses specifically for this age group. These vaccines will be made available in convenient places parents and families know and trust, such as pediatricians and other doctors offices, childrens hospitals, local pharmacies, all kinds of clinics and health centers and other community-based health organizations.

Different taxpayer-funded federal programs will also be leveraged to reach parents and force them to get their children vaccinated. These include the Women, Infants and Children Program, the Head Start Program, the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, the Medicaid and Childrens Health Insurance Program and different Department of Housing and Urban Development programs.

Learn more about people dying from COVID-19 vaccines at VaccineDeaths.com.

Watch this episode of the Health Ranger Report podcast as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how the mRNA vaccines like Pfizers and Modernas are causing permanent infertility in children.

This video can be found in the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

GENOCIDE: FDA officially authorizes covid vaccines for children as young as 6 months.

Study: COVID vaccination causes vaccine-associated enhanced disease in children.

All-cause death rate 52 times higher among vaccinated children than unvaccinated children.

President Biden claims GUNS are the #1 killer of children, but actually its VACCINES and ABORTIONS.

Republicans demand explanation from FDA regarding necessity of injecting children with COVID-19 vaccines.

Sources include:

NaturalHealth365.com

Expose-News.com

NPR.org

WhiteHouse.gov

Brighteon.com
The Sun is necessary for the life of plants and humans on Earth; however, this massive energy source has the potential to destroy all forms of technology on the planet, including the world's greatest communication system.

Major solar flare

Solar flares, which are quite massive explosions of radiation from the Sun's surface released rushing into space at tremendous speeds, present a threat from the Sun, as per HI TECH.

Except rare radio blackouts, humanity is mostly unaffected by the Sun's rays due to the Geomagnetic field and atmosphere, that act as a protective barrier from them regularly.

Communication implication

A powerful solar flare might cause a large geomagnetic storm, which can damage the Online services, mobiles, satellites, electrical grids, and other electronic devices.

Not only may power, Internet, and GPS systems be disrupted, but they can also impair daily communication. Everything is affected, including phone calls and Internet access.

And it could be down for months because repairing the destroyed and damaged infrastructure will require a lot of time.

Auroras

These solar storms, on the other hand, do produce something beautiful: auroras. The northern lights, often known as auroras, can create a stunning display in the sky.

Auroras are formed when charged particles from the Sun are trapped in Earth's magnetic field and transferred to the Earth's upper atmosphere which is the Ionosphere, NASA explains how those intriguing lights in the sky are generated on the poles.

Read More: Solar Storm Alert: Sun Releases Powerful Solar Flare from Sunspot, Causes Radio Blackout over the Atlantic Ocean and Europe

Geomagnetic Storm

The disturbance of Earth's upper atmosphere caused by coronal mass ejection from the Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona is referred to as a geomagnetic storm, as per Britannica.

Charged particles with energies of a few thousand electron volts make up the majority of the material involved with these eruptions.

This material, known as plasma, travels across the interplanetary medium at rates ranging from less athan10 km (6 miles) per second to far more than 2,000 km (1,200 miles) per second, taking around 21 hours to reach Earth.

The entering plasma's pressure is communicated to the Earth's magnetosphere's outer edge, causing a rise in the observable earth's magnetic field at the ground, possibly via hydromagnetic waves.

The horizontal component of the earth's magnetic field grows quickly over the entire globe during the storm's sudden-commencement phase, which lasts only a few minutes.

The spike lasts two to six hours and therefore is defined as the storm's early phase. The freshly generated magnetic lines in the core of the tail compress fast in reaction to this unstable condition, propelling plasma from the neutral sheet of the geomagnetic toward the night side of Earth.

The contractions in the polar regions cause intense auroral displays, while the contractions on Earth cause a severe magnetic disturbance known as a polar substorm.

This is continued by the storm's main phase, which lasts 12 to 48 hours and is characterized by the horizontal component.

Carrington storm

The 1859 geomagnetic storm, commonly known as the Carrington storm, was the largest solar storm ever recorded. The storm, which hit on September 2, 1859, resulted in spectacular auroral displays far as south as that of the tropics.

The increased electric current running via telegraph lines ignited recording tapes at telegraph stations, causing fires. The first discoveries a bright spot of a white-light solar flare instantly appearing on the Sun, were made the day before by Richard Carrington, a British astronomer of the Royal Greenwich Observatory.

He recognized the coincidence (but not a direct connection) between the geomagnetic storm and the discovered solar flare, thus predicting the field of space weather study.

The active area of the Sun that created the white-light flare is now understood that it creates a fast coronal mass ejection (CME), a huge outburst of magnetized plasma that caused the geomagnetic storm.

Although CMEs are commonly associated with solar flares, they can happen both individually.

Related Article: Gigantic Solar Flares 19 Times Bigger Than Earth Captured in Video
The University of Queensland discovered that venom gel derived from Australia's saw-scaled and eastern brown vipers could help control uncontrolled bleeding that would otherwise lead to the death of a patient.

The researchers explained that this is possible because the venom of reptiles has the proteins that are essential in blood clotting.

Venom Gel

After receiving positive feedback in its peer reviews, a type of "venom gel" is now being developed by the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN).

When stored at cooler temperatures, the "potent" venom gel remains in a liquid state but solidifies at body temperature. This property makes it possible for the gel to seal the wound.

Once the development of the venom gel is complete, it could eventually be sold in pharmacies and included in first-aid kits. More importantly, it can be used to stop bleeding by paramedics or even by military personnel in combat zones.

Amanda Kijas, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow from the university, pointed out that about 40% of trauma-related deaths are due to uncontrolled bleeding.

Kijas added that when it comes to military personnel with severe bleeding in combat zones, the figure could be much higher.

Her team hopes that the venom gel they created will aid in speeding up wound-healing processes such as clotting and blood flow reduction, allowing the human body to heal large wounds faster.

Kijas also explained that when venom gel is applied, there will be three times faster clot formation and have five times less blood loss than when the body's natural process is used.

She added that this scope includes those who take blood thinners and even those with hemophilia.

The team is also looking into possibilities for the technology, venom gel, which could be used to treat trauma injuries and burns.

Kijas continues to say that nature has created the most sophisticated and elegant mechanisms, which can be repurposed to save people from death.

The venom gel is currently undergoing its pre-clinical testing phase and will eventually be scaled up for commercial use, Nine News reports.

Read also: Fascinating Images Reveal 'Alien-Like' Eggs Containing World's Most Venomous Animal

Second- Deadliest

Eastern brown snakes can be found in a variety of habitats, except in alpine areas and rainforests. The species, on the other hand, appear to prefer open environments such as scrublands, woodlands, and savannah grasslands.

The abundance of rodents has boosted the number of eastern brown snakes in Australia. Even though brown snakes provide free pest control to farmers and landowners, the species is still widely regarded as dangerous pests.

Brown snakes hunt by seeking prey and lurking in hiding spots. They have excellent vision, and once they detect prey, they will pursue it and subdue it with venom and constriction. Eastern Browns primarily hunt during the day. In extremely hot weather, they may postpone foraging until late afternoon or early evening.

Australia's eastern brown snake is the world's second-deadliest land snake. When a bite goes untreated, it can kill in less than half an hour.

Related article: Heroic Snake That Saved Critters from Queensland Flash Floods Goes Viral on Tiktok
A picture taken on April 5, 2019 shows the "Ponte delle barche" over the Ticino river, the most important perennial left-bank tributary of the river Po, between Bereguardo and Zerbolo. - The Po Valley is suffering from a lack of water, due to prolonged drought and the absence of rainfall in northern Italy through November 2018 and early April 2019. (Photo : Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)

Alessio Bonin, an aspiring cinematographer, agreed to visit a wilderness area in Gualtieri, an Italian borough on the depositors of the Po River in Emilia-Romagna.

The recession that had plagued the nation's largest river throughout one of its harshest seasons showed no signs of abating.

Italy's River Suffering from Intense Drought





The Po River comes from the Mountains in the northwestern Alps, feeding numerous Italian areas until joining the Adriatic. However, exceptionally low water may have altered it, influencing all from tomato and watermelon agriculture to hydropower, water sources, merchant vessels, including fisheries, Science Alert reported.

According to the Business Insider, the Zibello, a 160-foot raft that hauled timber during WWII and drowned in 1943, is normally concealed under the Po's waterways. The river's lakes were so minimal that passersby can see the devastation.

In recreational cyclist Raffaele Vezzali interview with the AP from a neighborhood park Gualtieri, he said that it was is the first occasion they have seen the said ship. Alessio Bonin used his spy plane to photograph the devastation. It was a shocking scene; he tells The Guardian.

As per folks one can see the stern of the sailboat in former times, so the officials recognized it was there, yet to observe the ship so open in March, when it was practically still wintertime, was quite striking.

"I've not experienced quite a shortage at about this period of season - the major concern were once the stream overflowing, suddenly it's vanishing", Vezzali claimed.

Global warming is causing a multitude of causes that are leading to the dryness. According to the Associated Press, Northern Italy have not witnessed precipitation in far more nearly 110 days, precipitation has fallen 70% this season, and above-average conditions are dissolving frost and glaciers on the neighboring Mountains, depriving the Po valley of its summertime freshwater supplies.

While to Meuccio Berselli, the executive secretary of the Po River Basin Authority, stream discharge in one riverfront community termed Boretto averages 476,000 gallons per second. It is now just 80,000 gallons per second.

Also read: China's 'Sky Eye' Telescope Picks Up Signals from Aliens, Chinese Scientists Claim





Water Crisis in Italy's River

The Po Valley is an economically significant location for Italy, allowing industrial centers such as Turin, Milan, and Brescia to grow, as well as a wide variation of industries, and is among the Europe's greatest productive agrarian regions.

Gualtieri is a good illustration of how little towns on the water's banks rely on it. The conservation area where the sunken cargo vessel, constructed in Venice and utilized to transmit wheat between the Atlantic and Cremona in Lombardy, has been discovered was also where Italian army personnel who had persisted German torture chambers boosts the economy in wood upon their return back, hence the name Isola Degli Internati (Island for Prisoners).

Therefore, officials are concerned over a scarcity of freshwater, which not merely serves producers for cultivation but also conversion efficiency as well as nutritional characteristics - in this territory, experts collect potable water from Alp's reservoirs, although in some parts, it's also taken and filtered from the Po.

More importantly the drought affects drinking water resources, agricultural cultivation in Italy's oldest heavily cultivated territory, and hydroelectricity facilities for electricity generation.

Related article: Animals Can Suffer Long-term Health Damage from Extreme Heatwaves, Study Finds




Researchers from Hebrew University and Tel Aviv University collaborated in search of the earliest evidence of a fruit tree's domestication. The researchers determined that the charcoal remnants found at the Chalcolithic site of Tel Zaf in the Jordan Valley came from olive trees. Because the olive tree does not grow naturally in the Jordan Valley, the researchers conclude that it was planted by the inhabitants about 7,000 years ago.

Dr. Dafna Langgut from Jacob M. Alkow Department of Archaeology & Ancient Near Eastern Cultures and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History at Tel Aviv University led the groundbreaking research.

Charred Evidence

The charcoal shards were discovered during an archaeological dig led by Prof. Yosef Garfinkel from the Hebrew University's Institute of Archaeology.

Langgut is the head of the Laboratory of Archaeobotany & Ancient Environments, a department that focuses on microscopic plant identification. She explains that even when trees are reduced to charcoal, their anatomic structure can be used to identify them.

She cited that wood was the ancient world's plastic. It was used for making tools and furniture, building, and providing energy. This is why the team chose to identify tree remnants found at archaeological sites, such as charcoal from hearths. The team describes this step as a crucial method for determining what kinds of trees grew naturally at the time and when humans began to domesticate fruit trees.

Langgut identified the charcoal from Tel Zaf as coming from fig and olive trees. She explains that olive trees can be found growing wild in Israel, but not in the Jordan Valley. This indicates that the olive tree was brought there on purpose and that someone took the knowledge and the plant itself outside of its natural habitat.

According to Langgut, this is considered indisputable proof of domestication in archaeobotany, which means they have revealed the earliest evidence of the olive's domestication on the planet. She also found a lot of young fig branch remnants. Although the fig tree grew wild in the Jordan Valley, its branches were of little use as raw materials for tools or furniture and firewood, giving the people no reason to gather large quantities just to transport them to the village. Pruning, which is still used today to increase the yield of fruit trees, produced the fig branches that Langgut analyzed in her lab.

Prof. Yosef Garfinkel of the Hebrew University, who led the dig at Tel Zaf, collected the tree remnants examined by Langgut for the study.

Ancient High Society

Garfinkel explained, that Tel Zaf was a large prehistoric village south of Beit She'an in the Jordan Valley, inhabited between 7,200 and 6,700 years ago. The site revealed large houses with courtyards, each with several granaries for storing crops. These caches had storage capacities up to 20 times greater than any single family's calorie consumption, indicating that they were used to store vast sums of goods. The village's wealth was manifested in the creation of intricate pottery that was painted with remarkable skill. In addition, the team discovered articles brought from afar, including Mesopotamian Ubaid pottery, Anatolian obsidian, a copper awl from the Caucasus, and more.

Langgut and Garfinkel were not surprised to learn that the people of Tel Zaf were the first in the world to plant figs and olive groves on purpose, because fruit trees are a sign of wealth, and this location is known to have been extremely wealthy.

Read also: Ancient Frieze Discovered by Archaeologist Showing 'Time Without Time'

More than just Fruit Trees

According to Langgut, fruit tree domestication is a lengthy process that belongs in a prosperous society rather than one that is struggling to survive. Only 3-4 years after planting, trees bear fruit. Fruit tree groves have great social and economic significance in terms of owning land and endowing it to future generations. These procedures suggest the beginnings of a complex society because they require significant initial investment and maintenance to live on for a long time.

She went on to say that Tel Zaf residents can have traded in long-lasting fruit tree products like olive oil, olives, and dried figs. Long-distance trade, which led to the accumulation of material wealth and possibly taxation, may have been enabled by such products. These are the first steps toward transforming the community into a society with an administrative system and a socioeconomic hierarchy.

Langgut concludes that the Tel Zaf archaeological site yielded the world's first evidence of fruit tree domestication, as well as some of the earliest stamps. This could indicate the start of administrative procedures. Overall, the findings point to wealth and the beginnings of a complex multilevel society, with classes of clerks and merchants supplementing the class of farmers.

Related article: Ancient Flowers Found Preserved in Amber at Dinosaurs' Feet 99 Million Years Ago
New Mexico is expected to receive a heavy downpour with flash floods due to a "monsoonal rain" this week, according to a warning by the National Weather Service (NWS).

Thunderstorms could also cause flooding across the state, particularly in areas affected by ongoing wildfires, including the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.

The inclement weather is reportedly caused by a so-called "monsoonal moisture," which could affect not only New Mexico but also eastern Arizona and southern Colorado.

Strong winds can also bring down trees and power lines, causing potential power outages.

Extreme weather is common in New Mexico and other states across the Southwest, which is dominantly marked by the occurrence of wildland fires due to intense heat and prolonged drought.

As a result, the forecasted heavy rain the Land of Enchantment could help dose out the ongoing fires.

Monsoon Rain and Flash Flooding

The NWS' Weather Prediction Center (WPC) in College Park, Maryland, on Monday, June 20, issued the inclement weather warning for New Mexico, which will be valid from Tuesday to Thursday, June 21 to June 23.

This is the US weather advisory of the NWS as of Monday evening but further updates are still possible in the coming hours.

The short-term outlook serve as a weather forecast update of the extreme heat wave, also called "dangerous heat" or "heat dome," over the Central US and its surrounding areas this week.

In the new advisory, the said monsoon moisture will fuel the large-scale showers and thunderstorms across the Southwest and southern Rockies.

The US weather agency predicted that this adverse weather can result in the rapid rise of floodwaters.

The monsoonal rain forecast comes more than a week after a combination of torrential rain and snowmelt led to flash floods at the Yellowstone National Park.

The flood was due to the rise of river levels in the region, according to The Washington Post.

Also Read: Pouring Thunderstorms, Flooding Predicted for Texas

New Mexico Flooding Threat

The WPC said localized rainfall amount will range between two and three inches from Tuesday evening until Wednesday, June 22.

It also gave a "Slight Risk" out of a three-tier scale level of excessive rainfall for most parts of New Mexico.

In addition, dry lands across Mexico could be inundated by running floodwaters as part of the state's heavy rainfall potential, including in areas with "burn scars."

The looming monsoon has been considered to bring "beneficial rain" in the Southwest, as well as in the Western US, according to AccuWeather forecasters, as cited by the United Press International.

The earliest forecast of the monsoon was back on Saturday, June 18.

However, the AccuWeather forecast reminds that localized heavy thunderstorms, increased mountain snowmelt, rapid creek and river overflow, and mudflows are still the greatest risk in the coming days.

For a number of years, the aforementioned US regions have recorded abnormally hot temperatures and dry conditions due to drought.

With this, the various weather forecasts suggested that the region could take a break from extreme heat after all.

Related Article: Tropical Rainstorm Nora Brings Threat of Flash Floods to Southwestern US
Sunspots are known for their presence on the Sun's surface as circular or planet-size regions. Their size varies depending on the region, with some smaller or larger than the others.

In the latest space developments, a giant sunspot facing Earth has been detected.

The sunspot is known as AR3038 and is reportedly being monitored by the Solar Dynamics Observatory of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

AR3038 has doubled its size in the past 24 hours as of Monday evening, June 20.

Colossal Sunspot

The growing sunspot is yet to hit Earth but reports suggested that there is a chance for it to occur. This is due to the trajectory between AR3038 and Earth, as cited by msn.com.

The size of the solar spot is only the tip of the iceberg as its potential to release a solar flare at any time is what matters.

Also Read: Huge Sunspot Detected on the Sun's Surface Soon to Face Earth

What is a Sunspot?

Sunspots are regions of the Sun which are relatively darker and cooler than other areas on the Sun's surface, according to the NASA.

These so-called "dark spots" have been considered as a gateway for solar storms, such as solar flares.

The US space agency added that sunspots can reach temperatures by up to 6,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

While this temperature is extremely hot , it is nothing compared to other parts of the Sun that can reach nearly 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

NASA explained that sunspots are relatively cool since they form in areas where magnetic field in our solar system's only star are stronger than normal.

The intensity of the magnetic force is enough to prevent heat within the Sun from reaching the surface.

In the past, sunspots have released solar flares; wherein some face toward the Earth while some do not.

On April 30, an active yet departing sunspot called AR2994, or Active Region 2994, released an X-class solar flare.

The said class is the most powerful explosion in the Sun, according to space.com.

Solar Flare

The Sun is a hot ball of gas and its underlying layers consist magnetic field lines, which often come across with one another similar to the entanglement of strings.

NASA underlined that an abrupt explosion of energy transpires called a solar flare.

Solar flares are only one of the two main types of solar storms, with the other being coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

While different in the manner of explosion, both space storms release an intense solar radiation or high-energy particles into space.

Space Weather Events

These particles may take the form of one or some of the following space weather event types laid out by the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC):

Geomagnetic storms

Solar radiation storms

Radio blackouts

In general, these events cause disruption to Earth's magnetosphere, a layer in our planet's atmosphere, which is responsible for protecting us from solar storms, solar radiation, and cosmic particle radiation, as well as solar winds.

A direct strike of magnetic storms and radio blackouts to the magnetosphere disrupts satellite and radio technology, mainly affecting signal and communication.

Meanwhile, solar radiation storms affect mainly biological organisms, including animals and humans.

Sunburn is one of the many effects of a solar radiation damage to humans.

Related Article: Solar Storm Warning: Sun Releases Plasma from 'Dead Sunspot' Towards Earth, Geomagnetic Storm Impact Expected
Film Critic

Chuck Koplinski is The News-Gazette's film critic. His email is chuckkoplinski@gmail.com and you can follow him on Twitter (@ckoplinski).
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Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
'ALPRs are the most valuable tool for law enforcement to date. No one has ever complained about reading their license plates when passing the I-Pass locations on our tollways.'
AP

Despite the heavy influx of weapons from the West, Ukrainian forces are outgunned by the Russians in the battle for the eastern Donbas region, where the fighting is largely being carried out by way of artillery exchanges
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers assessed the epidemiological characteristics of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant outbreak in Shanghai, China.

Strict containment measures enabled China to reduce the impact of the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections. However, early March 2022 saw a widespread outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spread across Shanghai in China.

About the study

In the present study, researchers described the epidemiological characteristics and transmission dynamics related to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

The team summarized the non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) that were implemented in Shanghai prior to and during the Omicron outbreak. Before the initial surge in Omicron infections, Shanghai exhibited a baseline level of NPIs against potential outbreaks, such as stringent border control, surveillance based on symptoms, case isolation, contact tracing, occupation-based screening, and travel restrictions.

The team also collected the total number of local as well as imported COVID-19 infections based on the symptomatic status reported in Shanghai from December 2019 recorded by the Shanghai municipal health commission. Lists of SARS-CoV-2 infections were retrieved from publicly available data sources, followed by integration with supplementary information.

The non-high-risk areas were further divided into two categories according to their spatial proximity to high-risk regions: (1) moderate-risk areas: areas that were adjacent to high-risk regions but were not high risk themselves, and (2) low-risk areas: areas that were neither adjacent to high-risk areas nor were classified as high-risk themselves.

Results

The study results showed that the number of imported COVID-19 infections reached the maximum of 81 cases per day on 24 February 2021, which was over 19 times more than the daily average noted between 2020 and 2021. A total of 1,112 imported cases were observed between 15 February and 15 March 2021. The team found that among the inbound travelers, the test positivity rate was the highest in February 2022, with a maximum of 96.3 infections observed per 1000 travelers.

The sudden increase in the number of infected travelers resulted in a breach of the entry control program. This breach was most probably responsible for the high transmission on Omicron during early March. A total of 14 COVID-19-positive persons were detected on 1 March 2021 among attendees of a dance event. This eventually led to 6,26,000 COVID-19 infections by 31 May 2022 due to the high transmissibility of Omicron and the delayed discovery of the infection outbreak.

Almost 96% of the total infections were detected among quarantined persons. The proportion of infected individuals identified due to community screening decreased to 13.6% in phase 2, which further declined to 2.7% in phase 3. On the other hand, the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections exhibiting symptoms ranged from 15.5% in phase 1 to 9.8% in phase 3.

Approximately 99.5% of the sub-districts throughout Shanghai reported SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, the team observed a highly heterogeneous distribution of infections, with 40% of the city area reporting 80% of all the infections, including the Pudong New area reporting 35.5% of the total infections. Moreover, the total incidence of reported COVID-19 infections was 0.02 infections per 1,000 persons during phase 1, which increased to 2.0 per 1000 in phase 2, and 21.9 per 1000 in phase 3.

The speed of the spread of COVID-19 consistently slowed down from an average of 544 meters per day reported in the first week of the outbreak from 27 February to 5 March 2021 to 325 meters per day from 25 March to 31 March 2021.

Between 16 March and 29 March 2021, the total number of COVID-19 infections reported per 1000 individuals was 2.2 in high-risk areas, 1.51 in moderate-risk areas, and 0.53 in low-risk areas. The team noted that implementing intervention strategies before the citywide lockdown was enforced did not sufficiently curb the increase of infections. Altogether, the growth rate of the COVID-19 transmission in phase 2 was 0.26 per day, while the number of infections doubled every 3.21 days.

Conclusion

Overall, the study findings highlighted the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks in China, while the implementation of strict NPIs along with a citywide lockdown could effectively control the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron outbreak. The researchers believe that studying the impact of each performed intervention could help understand key public health priorities better.

*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.
The gelatin in the skin of Pacific whiting, an abundant fish on the Pacific Coast of North America, may help prevent skin wrinkling caused by ultraviolet radiation, a new Oregon State University study found.

Pacific whiting is caught in large volumes in the United States but consumers have little familiarity with the mild, white meat fish also known as hake. It is popular in Europe, though, where it is the eighth most consumed species. In the U.S., the 10 most-consumed species account for 77% of total per capita seafood consumption and Pacific whiting is not among the top 10.

By studying Pacific whiting. Jung Kwon, an assistant professor at Oregon State's Seafood Research & Education Center in Astoria, Oregon, is looking to change that and alleviate pressure on stocks of those 10 species, which include salmon and tuna.

She studies marine organisms and their potential to improve human health and is particularly interested in the benefits from parts of marine organisms such as fish skin, which many U.S. consumers choose to discard rather than eat.

Fish skins are an abundant resource that we already know have valuable nutritional properties. But we wanted to find out what additional potential value might be found in something traditionally considered a byproduct." Jung Kwon, Assistant Professor, Oregon State's Seafood Research & Education Center

In a paper recently published in the journal Marine Drugs, Kwon and a team of researchers looked at molecular pathways that contribute on a cellular level to the wrinkling of skin. That wrinkling is promoted by chronic exposure to ultraviolet light, which breaks down collagen in the skin.

The researchers extracted gelatin from Pacific whiting fish and then looked at what impact it had on anti-oxidant and inflammatory responses and pathways known to degrade collagen and promote synthesis of collagen.

They found that the Pacific whiting skin:

Reactivated to a certain level the collagen synthesis pathway that had been suppressed by UV radiation.

Prevented activation to a certain level of the collagen degradation pathway that had been accelerated by UV radiation.

Promoted additional anti-oxidant activity. Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow damage to cells.

Promoted additional anti-inflammatory effects.

Kwon cautioned that these are initial results obtained in her lab through a human cell model system. Further research is needed using animal models.

"We saw some potential with a positive response in the cell model system," she said. "This gives us good evidence to take those next steps."

Co-authors of the paper are Elaine Ballinger of Oregon State and Seok Hee Han and Se-Young Choung of Kyung Hee University in South Korea.

The research was funded by Pacific Seafood, a harvester, processer, and distributor of seafood.
In a recent research paper published as an accepted manuscript in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal, scientists analyzed the population immunity against pre-Omicron and Omicron severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV2) variants in U.S. counties and states up until December 1, 2021.

Study: Population immunity to pre-Omicron and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants in US states and counties through December 1, 2021. Image Credit: NIAID

Background

In the United States (US), nearly 48 million SARS-CoV-2 cases and 780,000 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related deaths had been documented by December 1, 2021. In addition, an extra 26 million infections and 100,000 mortalities were reported in the US between December 1, 2021, and February 1, 2022.

Furthermore, the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant highlights the necessity to identify areas of greatest vulnerability and how continuous viral evolution may diminish effective immunity. Achieving high levels of community immunity is critical for minimizing COVID-19 mortality and morbidity. COVID-19 and its vaccination both contribute to community-level SARS-CoV-2 immunity.

Estimates of community immunity at the local level are crucial for determining the risks of continuing COVID-19 transmission. Based on blood donation information, state-level estimates of vaccine- and infection-induced SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence have been published, with estimates varying from 63.7% in Mississippi to 91.7% in Connecticut for May 7 2021. While these estimates offer a direct seroprevalence measure across the study groups, systemic variations among blood donors and the common public may influence them. Furthermore, these datasets do not provide estimates at the county level or reflect the fading of protection.

About the study

The current study assessed the immunological exposure and effective immunity toward future SARS-CoV-2 infection for each US county and state from 2020 to 2021 and how this has altered after the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant emerged. The researchers used modeled estimates of cumulative SARS-CoV-2 infections at the county and state levels and documented coverage for initial and booster COVID-19 vaccination. Further, they calculated the joint distribution of past SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination using the survey data.

Daily SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination data estimates were synthesized utilizing a Bayesian model. In addition, the estimates of comparative vaccination rates conditional on the status of infection were used to determine the proportion of the community with 1) SARS-CoV-2 immunological exposure (SARS-CoV-2-infected or vaccinated), 2) effective immunity against COVID-19, and 3) effective immunity against severe illness, for each US county and state from January 1, 2020, to December 1, 2021, using the Bayesian framework.

Furthermore, the authors estimated effective community immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 with time and effective immunity against the Omicron variant while accounting for immunological escape, using data on the time-course of vaccine- and natural infection-induced immunity.

Results

The study results demonstrated that the estimated proportion of the US population with a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination or infection history as of December 1, 2021, was 88.2%.

In US states, effective immunity against COVID-19 from pre-Omicron variants was between 27.6% and 40.4%, lower than the proportion immunologically exposed, adjusting for the waning of community immunity. Moreover, effective immunity toward the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain infection on December 1, 2021, was 21.8% nationwide, ranging from 14.4% in West Virginia to 26.4% in Colorado, after controlling for immune evasion and waning. The Omicron variant's introduction and takeover lowered effective immunity toward SARS-CoV-2 infection by about 26.2% to 37% among all US states. Effective immunity against severe COVID-19 associated with Omicron was 61.2% across the US, ranging from 53% in Vermont to 65.8% in Colorado.

The researchers stated that by December 1, 2021, more than three-quarters of the US population had prior SARS-CoV-2 immunological exposure by either infection or vaccination. Besides, 50% of the population exhibited effective immunity against infection from previously circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, whereas just a fifth had effective immunity against Omicron variant infection.

Conclusions

Overall, the present study evaluated the shared distribution of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 vaccination in each county and state of the US since the start of the epidemic and the evolution of immunity over time.

The study findings depicted that on December 1, 2021, over 80% of the US population had previous immune exposure to SARS-CoV-2 via infection or vaccination. Yet, just 20% of the population had effective immunity against infection with the immune-evading Omicron variant. The team noted that the estimations of effective immunity against COVID-19 and severe illness across the population reported in this research provide beneficial information for evaluating the local SARS-CoV-2 threat in states and counties in the US.

Additionally, the authors mentioned that existing and novel SARS-CoV-2 variants probably continue to circulate because neither natural infection nor vaccination confers lasting immunity against COVID-19. Hospitalizations per capita were the focus of recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for local COVID-19 surveillance. Nevertheless, community outbreaks must be monitored using signals like testing volume and wastewater data tracking.
In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers assessed the impact of epistatic interactions on the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) affinity in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant.

Background

Various studies have investigated the effects of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant on ACE2 affinity as well as antibody binding. These studies focus on the impact of single mutations on only particular genetic backgrounds. However, extensive research is required to understand the interactions between combinations of mutations found in Omicron and their impact on immune evasion and ACE2 affinity.

About the study

In the present study, researchers mapped the epistatic interactions incident between mutations present in the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 sublineage compared to those in the Wuhan strain.

The team employed a combinatorial assembly approach to develop a plasmid library comprising all probable combinations of the 15 mutations observed in the BA.1 RBD. This library included all the evolutionary intermediates possible between the BA.1 and the Wuhan RBDs. The team used a method based on sequencing and high-throughput flow cytometry called Tite-Seq to estimate the binding affinities (K D,app ) of all the possible viral RBD variants to the human ACE2. Furthermore, a standard biochemical model of epistasis was fit for the study data.

Results

The study results showed that all the 32,768 SARS-CoV-2 RBD intermediates possible between the Wuhan strain and the Omicron BA.1 variant had a detectable affinity toward ACE2 with a K D,app between 0.1 M and 0.1 nM. The BA.1 RND had a three-fold increase in binding affinity compared to that of the Wuhan strain.

However, almost 60% of the intermediate RBD sequences displayed weaker ACE2-binding affinity than that observed for the Wuhan strain. This was because most of the BA.1 mutations had either a neutral or a deleterious effect on the affinity of ACE2 in most of the genetic backgrounds. This was especially true for mutations such as G446S, K417N, Q493R, Y505H, and G496S, among which four were involved in the immune evasion from several classes of monoclonal antibodies.

While many of the BA.1 mutations decrease ACE2 affinity, the interactions observed between these mutations result in the increase of BA.1 affinity to ACE2. These mutations were found to be more deleterious for ACE2 affinity in the presence of a few other mutations; however, these mutations prove to be either neutral or beneficial when several other mutations are present.

The team also observed that although most of the 15 RBD mutations decrease affinity to ACE2 in the Wuhan strain background, these mutations tend to be less deleterious and more advantageous in the Omicron background. This showed that the Omicron BA.1 RBD displayed a more robust ACE2 affinity despite comprising mutations that individually decrease ACE2 affinity due to the deleterious effects of the mutations mitigated by epistatic interactions between the mutations.

The team found that the linear effects of the individual mutations were associated with the contact surface area of ACE2 to the corresponding residue. The higher-order coefficients inferred from the biochemical method showed strong compensatory interactions that mitigated the affinity-reducing effects of the individual mutations. The extent of these interactions was similar to that observed for the linear effects, while the epistatic interactions noted were highly positive. This indicated that mutations that reduced ACE2 affinity had become less deleterious with respect to backgrounds with other compensatory mutations.

The epistatic interactions also eliminated the strong deleterious impact of the mutations involved in antibody escape. The team also found that the G446S, K417N, Q493R, Y505H, and G496S mutations had a negative linear effect on viral affinity to ACE2; however, this effect was found to be very rare across the SARS-CoV-2 phylogeny. This suggested that maintaining ACE2 affinity is probably an important characteristic of viral fitness; hence, these mutations were most likely selected against.

The team also found that mutations having negative effects on ACE2 affinity mitigated by epistatic interactions with N501Y were enriched among all SARS-CoV-2 strains that also have N501Y. This further suggested that at least a few pairwise epistatic interactions were present among other viral backgrounds.

Conclusion

To summarize, the study findings showed that the evolution of antibody escape in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 sublineage was possible without reducing ACE2 binding due to the compensatory epistatic interactions occurring with other mutations. The study showed that high-order patterns of epistasis were essential for viral evolution involving adaptive events such as immune evasion. The researchers believe that the generation of specific combinatorial landscapes may help understand the general patterns of epistasis responsible for viral evolution.

*Important notice

bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
(Newser)  Hong Kong's iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant is no longer floating. The 46-year-old floating restaurant, which closed in 2020 after a massive drop in business during the pandemic, was being towed away from Hong Kong for refurbishing when it sank in the South China Sea amid rough weather conditions Sunday, the Hong Kong Free Press reports. "Despite the efforts of the towing company responsible for the trip to rescue the vessel, unfortunately it capsized," the company that owns the restaurant said.

The company said that since the Jumbo sank in waters deeper than 1,000 meters0.62 milesit would be "extremely difficult to carry out salvage works." The 250-foot restaurant, designed to resemble an imperial Chinese palace, was towed out of Hong Kong last Tuesday, bound for an undisclosed location. In the decades after it was opened by casino magnate Stanley Ho in 1976, it attracted more than 3 million visitors, including Queen Elizabeth II, and appeared in numerous movies, the AP reports. The company says it was thoroughly inspected by marine engineers before the towing operation began. (Read more Hong Kong stories.)
(Newser)  Israel's weakened coalition government announced Monday that it would dissolve parliament and call new elections, setting the stage for the possible return to power of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or another period of prolonged political gridlock. The election will be Israel's fifth in three years, and it will put the polarizing Netanyahu, who has been the opposition leader for the past year, back at the center of the political universe, the AP reports. "I think the winds have changed. I feel it," Netanyahu declared. The previous four elections, focused on Netanyahus fitness to rule while facing a corruption investigation, ended in deadlock.

While opinion polls project Netanyahu, who is now on trial, as the front-runner, it is far from certain that his Likud party can secure the required parliamentary majority to form a new government. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a former ally and aide of Netanyahu, formed his government a year ago with the aim of halting the never-ending cycle of elections. But the fragile coalition government, which includes parties from across the political spectrum, lost its majority earlier this year and has faced rebellions from various lawmakers in recent weeks. Announcing his plan to disband the government during a nationally televised news conference, Bennett said he had made "the right decision" in difficult circumstances.

"Together, we got Israel out of the pit," Bennett said in listing his accomplishments. "We shifted to a culture of 'we,' together,'" he added. Under the coalition deal, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who heads the large centrist party Yesh Atid, becomes the interim prime minister until the election, in which he is expected to be the main rival to Netanyahu. Bennett's coalition included a diverse array of parties, including dovish factions that support an end to Israels occupation of lands captured in 1967 and claimed by the Palestinians as well as hard-line parties that oppose Palestinian statehood. Many of the parties had little in common beyond a shared animosity to Netanyahu.

(Read more Israeli election stories.)
(Newser)  A Kremlin spokesman on Monday would not rule out the death penalty for two Americans captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine. "It depends on the investigation," Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, told NBC News in an interview. Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh were participating in illegal activities, Peskov said, by shooting at Russian troops in Ukraine. The Americans "were endangering their lives," he said. The two US military veterans were reported missing last week.

A Russian-controlled court in eastern Ukraine gave the death penalty to a Moroccan and two British citizens who had fought Russian forces earlier this month. Ukraine said in March that 20,000 people from 52 countries had offered to join the fight on its side. Peskov wouldn't say where the Americans, whom he called "soldiers of fortune," were being held but said they probably aren't protected by the Geneva Conventions because they weren't in Ukraine's regular army. "There will be a court, and there will be a court decision," Peskov said, per NBC. "They should be punished." (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  A man accused of killing six people and injuring dozens more when he allegedly drove his SUV through a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee last year has decided to mount an insanity defense, his attorneys said Monday. Darrell Brooks Jr. faces more than 80 charges, including six homicide counts, in connection with the Nov. 21 incident in Waukesha. He pleaded not guilty in February. During a hearing Monday, one of his attorneys, Jeremy Perri, told Judge Jennifer Dorow that Brooks is changing his plea to not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, the AP reports. Perri did not elaborate. The judge ordered a mental evaluation for Brooks.

When a defendant enters such a plea under Wisconsin law, a judge or jury must determine whether he's guilty of the alleged crime or not. If the defendant is found guilty, a judge or jury must determine whether the defendant was mentally responsible for his conduct at the time of the offense. Such a determination could result in the defendant being committed to a mental health facility rather than prison. Perri announced the change after Dorow refused a defense request to move the trial out of Waukesha County or bring in jurors from outside the county. Perri has argued that publicity has been so intense and so overwhelmingly negative that Brooks can't get a fair trial in the county.

Dorow said that she has found media coverage has been prolific but objective and that jurors aren't required to be ignorant of a case. The criminal complaint detailing the charges against Brooks describes how he allegedly drove into crowds of onlookers during the parade. People bounced off his vehicle as police ordered him to stop. Police arrested Brooks later that night. Brooks is being held on a $5 million cash bond. He said nothing throughout the proceeding Monday. His trial had been scheduled to begin Oct. 3 and last all month. It wasn't immediately clear if that date will stand, given Brooks' new plea. (Read more Darrell Brooks stories.)
(Newser)  In protest over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejecting two of them, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy withdrew all his picks from the panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, leaving only anti-Trump Republicans as the GOP members of the committee. How does Donald Trump feel about that decision? Not great. "This committee, it was a bad decision not to have representation on that committee, Trump told Wayne Allyn Root in a recent interview cited by Mediaite and CNN. That was a very, very foolish decision because they try to pretend like theyre legit, and only when you get into the inner workings you say what kind of a thing is this? Just a one-sided witch hunt.

At one point, Root said Trump endorsed McCarthy for speaker of the House should the Republicans take the majority, and Trump interrupted, "No, I havent. No, I havent. No, I endorsed him in his race, but I havent endorsed anyone for speaker." Trump has been railing against the Jan. 6 panel quite a bit (he also released a 12-page statement on the matter). It holds its next hearing Tuesday, CBS News reports, and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is expected to appear as the committee focuses on Trump's alleged attempts to pressure various state election officials in the wake of the 2020 presidential election. (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
(Newser)  Comedian and actor Ben Stiller on Monday met the man he says is his hero: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Stiller is visiting Europe in his role as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations, and had just visited the ruins of Irpin before his sit-down with Zelensky, who himself was a comedian before getting into politics. "You're my hero, you know," Stiller said. "You quit a great acting career for this?" "No, not so great as you," Zelensky joked. Stiller told him it was "inspiring" the way Zelensky rallied the Ukrainian people and most of the rest of the world amid Russia's invasion of the country.

"It's one thing to see this destruction on TV or on social networks. Another thing is to see it all with your own eyes. That's a lot more shocking," Stiller said of his visit to the ruins, per People and the Hollywood Reporter. "What you saw in Irpin is definitely dreadful. But it is even worse to just imagine what is happening in the settlements that are still under temporary occupation in the east," Zelensky replied. He and Stiller discussed what refugees and displaced Ukrainians need, among other things. Stiller's visit marked World Refugee Day, and he also visited refugees in Poland during his trip. (Read more Volodymyr Zelensky stories.)
(Newser)  One of Elon Musk's five children with his first wife is transgender, and wants to make a clean break from her famous father. Born Xavier Musk, the newly 18-year-old has filed documents to change her name to Vivian Jenna Wilson. The reason given, per TMZ: "Gender Identity and the fact that I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form." The last name Wilson comes from her mother, Justine Wilson, with whom Elon Musk had a set of twins and a set of triplets. Musk and Wilson were married from 2000 to 2008. In the documents, the teen also said she wishes to be legally recognized as female.

While Musk has claimed to support transgender people, he has also criticized the use of preferred pronouns, the Los Angeles Times reports. The news came as Tesla laid off both the president of its LGBTQ+ community and a lead involved in the company's diversity and inclusivity programs. Electrek reports the terminations came during a larger wave of layoffs, but that "many" employees involved in Tesla's diversity and inclusivity programs were among those let go. Meanwhile, Musk recently tweeted that "the woke mind virus will destroy civilization" if left unchecked. (Read more Elon Musk stories.)
(Newser)  Researchers say they've encountered the largest freshwater fish ever documenteda giant stingray stretching 13 feet long, more than 7 feet wide, and weighing some 661 pounds. "In 20 years of researching giant fish in rivers and lakes on six continents, this is the largest freshwater fish that we've encountered or that's been documented anywhere worldwide," says biologist Zeb Hogan of the Wonders of the Mekong conservation project, who is also a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, per the BBC. Pulled from the Mekong River in Cambodia, the stingray bests the previous record holder, a 646-pound giant catfish, caught in the same river in northern Thailand in 2005.

The conservation project, aligned with the Cambodian Fisheries Administration, encourages fishers to report catches of giant or endangered fish. On June 13, researchers got a call from 42-year-old Moul Thun, who claimed to have accidentally caught an extra large giant stingray, which is also an endangered species, on Koh Preah island, per the BBC and National Geographic. CNN reports it took "around a dozen men" to bring the apparently healthy female giant stingray to shore. She was studied, implanted with an acoustic tag that will notify researchers about her movements, behavior, and whether she gives birth, then released back into the river.

She's been given the name "Boramy," or "full moon" in the Khmer language "because the round-looking fish was released during a full moon," per NatGeo. The name is often applied to a beautiful female, per the outlet. "Finding and documenting this fish is remarkable, and a rare positive sign of hope, even more so because it occurred in the Mekong, a river that's currently facing many challenges," including overfishing and pollution, says Hogan. "When record fish are found, it means the aquatic environment is still relatively healthy." It was the second giant freshwater stingray researchers had analyzed since May. The first was about 400 pounds, per the BBC. (Read more world record stories.)
(Newser)  The world of fine wine and whiskey continues to be a magnet for thieves and frauds. The Washington Post reports on allegations that three England-based companies claiming huge returns on investments in rare booze actually stole more than $13 million from at least 150 Americansmany of them elderly. Representatives of Windsor Jones, Charles Winn, and Vintage Whisky Casks would cold-call people, often using fake British accents and the name "Elliot Stewart," then deploy "aggressive and deceptive tactics" to get them to invest as part of a five-year international scheme, federal investigators allege.

They promised investments would be doubled in three years and teased invites to a luxurious party in Scotland for top-level investors, per Cleveland.com. An 89-year-old from Ohio, who believed his $300,000 was being spent on rare dessert wine and a storage locker in France, eventually went to police. The FBI soon connected the case to others, including that of a 73-year-old from Michigan who'd wired $85,000. Some investors said they'd tried to pull out but were given excuses or were ignored. No one received any returns, though a source within the companies helped authorities identify people who'd sent a combined $466,000 in checks in time for them to be canceled.

Starting in March, after the companies ignored dozens of cease-and-desist letters from state security agencies, an FBI informant began posing as a potential investor and arranged a meeting with Casey Alexander of England, tied to all three companies. Alexander allegedly claimed employees "would only get paid 10% of the profit after the whiskey matured and was sold to third parties," per the Post. However, the FBI found all of the money in Vintage Whisky Casks' UK bank account had come from US investors. Casey, the company's officer, "had received $33,000 from that account," the paper notes. He was arrested after flying into Cleveland on June 14 on a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was released after posting a $50,000 bond. (Read more wire fraud stories.)
(Newser)  "In trouble can't move  will die." So read the last texts from a father of three who succumbed to severe hypothermia while hiking on New Hampshire's Mount Washington over Father's Day weekend. Xi Chen, 53, of Andover, Mass., was attempting the 23-mile Presidential Traverse, a crossing of various White Mountains peaks named after former presidents, and he had taken the Gulfside Trail hoping to reach a lodge just below the summit of 6,288-foot Mount Washington on Saturday, per Boston 25 and NBC Boston. But "the conditions in the high peaks were treacherous: freezing temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and winds gusting over 80mph," New Hampshire Fish and Game said, per CNN.

Early on, Chen had texted wife Lian Liu saying he was "a bit concerned [about] hyperthermia," per Boston 25. "Keep an eye on my location," he wrote. Sometime after 4:30pm, he added, "If I stop moving then in trouble." Then he wrote: "can't move." Asked if he needed a rescue, Chen replied, "Yes, could die," per NBC Boston. "Must call  will die," he added after being told the call had been placed. It was then 6:30pm, per CNN. There was no further response from Chen. And unfortunately, rescuers were busy. "At least half a dozen other rescues took place due to the weather," reports Boston 25. NHFG said several people continued on through dangerous conditions "instead of turning back ... to safer elevations."

Liu told NBC that Chen was "not a quitter, (and) that probably actually got him into trouble this time." A rescue team finally arrived at the summit of Mount Washington around 9:30pm but it took more than an hour to find Chen, per CNN. He was "unresponsive and in a highly hypothermic state" more than a mile from the summit, NHFG said. After warming him up, rescuers carried him to the summit and then transported him to the hospital. There, doctors were unable to revive him. Had he hiked to the summit, he would have conquered his 20th of the state's 4,000-foot mountain peaks, NBC reports. (Read more hiker death stories.)
(Newser)  Just before Dave Chappelle's most recent Netflix special dropped, his alma mater, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, announced its theater would be named for the comedian, who pledged to donate $100,000 to teachers' wages. It's "the most significant honor of my life," Chappelle said in October, per the Washington Post. And he's just given it up. At Monday's dedication ceremonydelayed from November after Ellington students and others argued The Closer special, in which Chappelle expresses rigid views on gender and compares trans genitals to plant-based meat substitutes, is transphobicChappelle surprised the audience by announcing that the theater would instead be named the Theatre for Artistic Freedom and Expression in response to the criticism.

Those students "sincerely hurt me," Chappelle told the audience, per USA Today. While they "said everything about gender ... they didn't say anything about art." He added that the media ignored "the nuance of art" in labeling The Closer as transphobica move he compared to reporting that a rabbit had shot a man in the face while leaving out that this happened in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, per Deadline. As Evan Gerstmann writes at Forbes, The Closer also included "a rich portrait" of trans comedian Daphne Dorman, who once opened Chappelle's act in San Francisco. "The more you say I can't say something, the more urgent it is for me to say it," which "has everything to do with my freedom of artistic expression," he said. He received a standing ovation, USA Today reports. (Read more Dave Chappelle stories.)
(Newser)  With the price of food and other necessities soaring, a hospital has found it necessary to remind desperate Kenyans that they shouldn't try to raise money by selling an organ. "How much for my kidney?" is now the question most often posted to Kenyatta National Hospital, a Facebook post said, per CNN. "Please note that organ sale is strictly prohibited and illegal," the hospital answered. "You can only donate out of free will." More directly, the hospital posted that it doesn't buy kidneys.

The nation's cost of living crisis has been exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Wheat shipments haven't been allowed out of Ukraine, causing shortages and driving prices up. The response among African nations to the war has been divided, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the African Union on Monday to ask for more support. "This war may seem very distant to you and your countries," he said, per the BBC. "But the food prices that are catastrophically rising have already brought [the war] to the homes of millions of African families." Zelensky said his government is negotiating to free up the grain and fertilizer shipments stopped by a Russian blockade. (Read more Kenya stories.)
(Newser)  The boos at the Texas Republican convention weren't the end of it for Sen. John Cornyn. After jeering him as he defended his role in gun control negotiations in Washington in a speech Friday, a pro-gun access group said it felt disrespected, the Dallas Morning News reports. The senator should apologize, the National Association for Gun Rights said, "for mocking his law-abiding constituents." After he left the stage, Cornyn was reported to have said, "I've never given in to mobs and I'm not starting today." The quote was tweeted by a reporter and retweeted by Cornyn.

The group's president called Cornyn two-faced. "He claims to support the Second Amendment, but is actually working to eviscerate our gun rights by cutting deals with anti-gun Democratsand when his constituents publicly held him accountable, he called them a mob," said Dudley Brown. The senator has not responded publicly to the group's criticism or apologized for his offstage comment. Among the points of disagreement is the group's desire to eliminate "gun-free" school zones.

The convention as a whole made its differences with Cornyn clear Saturday by adopting a resolution rejecting the Senate's work on gun legislation, per CNN, though negotiations are ongoing. The platform also denounces by name the senators working on the deal, including Cornyn. All planks are not yet certified, per the Texas Tribune, which reported that the reception given Cornyn illustrates how adamant the state party's most vocal delegates are to compromising on social issuesthough Republicans have been losing a bit of ground in state elections. (Read more John Cornyn stories.)
(Newser)  As the nation awaits the Roe v. Wade decision, the Supreme Court continues to release other high-profile rulings from this year's termincluding one on Tuesday that opens the door to lawsuits over the herbicide Roundup. Another on Tuesday has to do with the specific issue of education in rural Maine but the larger issue of the separation of church and state. Maine offers an unusual deal to parents in remote areas: If no public secondary schools exist where they live, the state will pay to send their children to a private schoolbut only if those schools are secular, per the Wall Street Journal. Two families who wanted to send their children to Christian private schools sued, and the court agreed with them that the restriction is illegal. The vote was 6-3, falling along the court's conservative-liberal split.

Majority: There is nothing neutral about Maines program, wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the majority, per the Washington Post. The State pays tuition for certain students at private schoolsso long as the schools are not religious. That is discrimination against religion. Another point he made: A state need not subsidize private education, Roberts wrote. But once a state decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious.

There is nothing neutral about Maines program, wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the majority, per the Washington Post. The State pays tuition for certain students at private schoolsso long as the schools are not religious. That is discrimination against religion. Another point he made: A state need not subsidize private education, Roberts wrote. But once a state decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious. Dissent: This Court continues to dismantle the wall of separation between church and state that the Framers fought to build," wrote Justice Sonia Sotomayor in dissent.

This Court continues to dismantle the wall of separation between church and state that the Framers fought to build," wrote Justice Sonia Sotomayor in dissent. Assessment: In its coverage, the New York Times calls the ruling in keeping with the Supreme Court's recent shift. "The decision, from a court that has grown exceptionally receptive to claims from religious people and groups in a variety of settings, was the latest in a series of rulings requiring the government to aid religious institutions on the same terms as other private organizations."

(Read more US Supreme Court stories.)
(Newser)  The focus of Tuesday's Jan. 6 hearing is on the pressure applied by the White House on various state officials to reject the 2020 election results. But in her opening statements, vice chair Liz Cheney made clear the panel places much of the blame for that pressure on the former president himself. "Donald Trump had a direct and personal role in this effort as did Rudy Giuliani, as did John Eastman," Cheney said, per CNN. "In other words, the same people who were attempting to pressure vice president Mike Pence to reject electoral votes illegally were also simultaneously working to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election at the state level."

Cheney also played clips of interviews with former attorney general William Barr and former acting deputy attorney general Richard Donoghue, both of whom said they told Trump his claims of a stolen election were bogus. As the Washington Post notes, Cheney was making the point that Trump ignored these assessments and pressed on with his claims. "Each of these efforts to overturn the election is independently serious," she said. "Each deserves attention both by Congress and by our Department of Justice." Referring to the election pressure, she added that "all of this was done in preparation for Jan. 6."

Trump pre-emptively got in a shot at the panel's work by criticizing one of the people who will be testifying, Arizona state House Speaker Rusty Bowers. He "is the latest RINO [Republican in Name Only] to play along with the Unselect Committee, Trump said in a statement through his Save America PAC, per the Hill. Trump added that Bowers once told him "the election was rigged," per Axios. However, Bowers resisted entreaties from Trump and Giuliani to void Arizona's results. I voted for President Trump and worked hard to reelect him," Axios quotes him as saying. "But I cannot and will not entertain a suggestion that we violate current law to change the outcome of a certified election. (Read more Jan. 6 hearings stories.)
(Newser)  The police official in charge at Robb Elementary School while a gunman was killing students and teachers inside "decided to put the lives of officers ahead of the lives of children," the head of the Texas State Police said Tuesday. In testimony before a special state Senate committee in Austin, Steven McCraw delivered a forceful, scathing denunciation of the decisions by local police during the mass shooting in Uvaldeincluding waiting to storm the classrooms where the gunman was despite having ample weapons and equipment. School district Police Chief Pete Arredondo has said he was waiting for a key to the classroom door, but McCraw said Tuesday the door wasn't locked, the New York Times reports. In his appearance, McCraw addressed:

The locked-out explanation : "Theres no way for the subject to lock the door from the inside," McCraw said. In addition, a teacher had reported the locks broken before the May 24 shooting. The commander held up rushing the gunman, McCraw said, while "he waited for a key that was never needed."

: "Theres no way for the subject to lock the door from the inside," McCraw said. In addition, a teacher had reported the locks broken before the May 24 shooting. The commander held up rushing the gunman, McCraw said, while "he waited for a key that was never needed." Who's in charge : Arredondo has said he didn't consider himself in charge at the school. McCraw said Arredondo was the incident commander by virtue of being the most senior first responder with immediate jurisdiction over school campuses, per the Texas Tribune. He could have handed over command to state troopers or others as they arrived, the director said, but he didn't do that. "If you're going to issue commands, if you're going to direct action," McCraw said, "you're the on-scene commander." A lawyer for Arredondo did not answer the Times' request for comment.

: Arredondo has said he didn't consider himself in charge at the school. McCraw said Arredondo was the incident commander by virtue of being the most senior first responder with immediate jurisdiction over school campuses, per the Texas Tribune. He could have handed over command to state troopers or others as they arrived, the director said, but he didn't do that. "If you're going to issue commands, if you're going to direct action," McCraw said, "you're the on-scene commander." A lawyer for Arredondo did not answer the Times' request for comment. The timeline : Officials have released conflicting information on the timing of events. McCraw said the gunman entered Robb Elementary and opened fire at 11:33am. Arredondo went into the building three minutes later. A Texas Ranger was inside by 11:54. It was 12:50 before officers who'd been assembled in a hallway stormed the classrooms and killed the gunman. "One hour, 14 minutes and 8 seconds," McCraw said. "That's how long children waited, and the teachers waited, in Room 111 to be rescued."

: Officials have released conflicting information on the timing of events. McCraw said the gunman entered Robb Elementary and opened fire at 11:33am. Arredondo went into the building three minutes later. A Texas Ranger was inside by 11:54. It was 12:50 before officers who'd been assembled in a hallway stormed the classrooms and killed the gunman. "One hour, 14 minutes and 8 seconds," McCraw said. "That's how long children waited, and the teachers waited, in Room 111 to be rescued." Responsibility: "I don't mean to be hypercritical of the on-scene commander," McCraw said. "But those are the facts." And anyway, the failure of one police agency means all law enforcement officials failed, he said. The decisions made were in opposition to decades of training and widely accepted police policy for stopping a mass shooting. "The officers had weapons; the children had none," McCraw said. "The officers had body armor; the children had none. The officers had training; the subject had none." He added, "This set our profession back a decade."

(Read more Uvalde mass shooting stories.)
(Newser)  Tuesday's Jan. 6 panel hearing focused on former President Donald Trump's pressure on state officials to overturn his election lossespecially in Georgia, where he urged Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" 11,780 votes that could reverse President Biden's win. "There were not the votes to find," Raffensperger testified, per the AP. He said officials investigated almost 300 allegations of voter fraud and found nothing to back up Trump's claims. "The numbers are the numbers. The numbers dont lie," Raffensperger, a Republican, said.

"Every single allegation we checked, we ran down the rabbit trail to make sure that our numbers were accurate," but Trump didn't seem interested in hearing the truth, Raffensperger said. He said Trump clamed there were 66,000 underage voters, but "we found that there was actually zero," the Washington Post reports. He testified that 28,000 Georgia voters skipped the presidential race but voted for other Republicans down the ballot. "The Republican congressmen ended up getting 33,000 more votes than President Trump," he said. "And thats why President Trump came up short."

Raffensperger and other officials also told the hearing about threats they had received, especially after Trump falsely alleged that their behavior had been criminal. Raffensperger said his daughter-in-law's home was broken into and his wife received "disgusting" and "sexualized" threats. Former election worker Shaye Freeman Moss said her life had been "turned upside down" by a harassment campaign after Trump and Rudy Giuliani targeted her with a conspiracy theory, claiming video showed her mother had passed her a USB drive while they were counting votes, the Hill reports. "I dont want to go anywhere. I second guess everything I do," she said. "Its affected my life in a major way. In every way. All because of lies." She said her mother had actually passed her a "ginger mint." (Read more Jan. 6 hearings stories.)
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Cabinet has commended the tripartite summit held in Sharm El-Sheikh for its contribution to strengthening Arab national security, collective Arab action, and efforts to combat terrorism as well as maintain regional security and stability.

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein of Jordan, and Egypt President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi were the participants in the summit.

The Cabinet extended its gratitude to Their Highnesses, Excellencies, Deputy Prime Ministers, and previous ministers for their contributions to Bahrains achievements. This came as the Deputy King, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, yesterday chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting at Gudaibiya Palace.

The Cabinet emphasised the importance of the meeting held between HM King Hamad and President Al-Sisi. The Cabinet noted the two countries desire to improve cooperation across areas of common interests.

Welcome

HRH the Deputy King welcomed the new Cabinet members and directed them to double efforts to further develop government workstreams and enhance the quality of government services provided to citizens.

He said that efforts should be focused on development initiatives and projects that will provide Bahraini citizens with promising opportunities, and the Economic Recovery Plans progress should take priority.

His Royal Highness noted that Bahrain is home to an open environment that values safety, security, and ambition, factors that will encourage new Cabinet members to achieve development goals.

On behalf of the Cabinet, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, expressed his gratitude to HM King Hamad for forming the new Cabinet.

Shaikh Khalid conveyed his appreciation for HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Ministers investment in the Kingdoms workforce by appointing them to executive positions across the public sector.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The High Appeals Court has upheld the sentences issued against a man and two women who were convicted of forging a PCR test to travel to Saudi Arabia. The trio were sentenced to six months behind bars.

According to court files, the trio decided to travel to Saudi Arabia through the King Fahad Causeway, and it was compulsory to show PCR test certificates in order to be allowed in.

They presented their tests, and the results were negatives, but when police officers scanned their bar codes it turned out that they were conducted on different dates other than the ones mentioned in them.

The trio claimed that they came to Bahrain and they went to a hospital to conduct the tests, and an Asian man attended them, claiming that he was working at the hospital. He requested their details and collected money from them before doing the tests for them.

He requested us to come back to the same place to get the results. We went and we got our results. Then we headed to the Causeway, the male suspect said.
The team paid a visit to Bahrains Animal Rescue Centre, formerly known as Tony the Dogfather to shine light on this non-profit organisation, dedicated to caring for rescued dogs and cats.

As Hilton Bahrain gears up for the opening, the property expresses its continuous commitment to drive positive impact on the environment and its local community.

This organisation, which has been rescuing animals for over 10 years, solely relies on donations and volunteers to keep the shelter running. Its main goal is to care, rehabilitate and ultimately find loving homes through pet adoption  both locally and abroad.

As we begin to approach the countdown of our opening, I am very pleased to announce that Hilton Bahrain is a pet-friendly hotel. We continue to improve and redefine travel experiences and we understand the need for pet lovers, such as I, to have a trusted destination that will provide fantastic experiences not just for guests but for their pets too, Tamer Farouk, General Manager of Hilton Bahrain, said.

Caring for our furry friends is an integral part of our identity and so is caring for our environment and local community. This recent activity with Bahrain Animal Rescue Centre is just the beginning of many lined-up projects to support local organisations dedicated to sheltering these rescued animals. We salute their efforts and we will definitely continue our support to this worthy cause."
Staff at a hospital in Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan, are unable to access electronic medical records after the hospital became the target of a ransomware attack.

The server at Naruto Yamakami Hospital in Naruto City became infected with ransomware on Sunday afternoon. The cyberattack disrupted the connection to its electronic records and its online networks.

The hospital disconnected its PCs from outside networks and reported the incident to the police and administrative authorities including the health ministry.

On Monday, the hospital stopped accepting new outpatients. It is checking whether private data of their patients have leaked or not.

Hospital officials are looking into what the hackers are demanding, while working to restore the systems.

According to the hospital's homepage, it mainly provides rehab, nursing and other services to elderly patients. It has 90 beds and nine departments, which include internal medicine and surgery.

Last year, another hospital in Tokushima Prefecture came under a ransomware attack. It took the hospital more than two months to restore its functions.
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RIDGEFIELD  Maureen Tyra, who teaches social studies at East Ridge Middle School in town, said her parents taught her and her seven siblings to give to others.

My parents were great role models and would tell us whenever somebody's in need and if youre able to help them  do so, said Tyra, 56, a Bethel resident, mother of five and grandmother of three.

Tyra has followed her parents advice  shes been donating blood since she was 17 and has been a foster parent for the past eight years.

Recently, when her sister came down with an autoimmune illness that impacted her liver, Tyra was all set to donate a portion of her own liver to her sibling. When she learned her sisters condition was able to be cured medically, she still donated her liver  to a man she had never met before. In doing so, she saved his life.

The path to donate

When Tyra learned her sister didnt need her liver, she said she thought, well, if she didn't need it, I'm sure somebody else does.

Around that time, Tyra saw the News-Times article from 2020 about New Fairfield resident Caitlin Balint who was seeking a liver donor.

Tyra contacted Yale New Haven Hospital and inquired about donating.

She started the screening process to see if she was eligible. She took many tests, such as CT scans, blood tests, a liver biopsy, stress tests, and an MRI.

I went through all those kinds of things just to make sure not only that my liver was healthy, but that I was healthy and I would be able to recover well, she said.

When Tyra learned that Balint found a donor, Tyra decided to continue on with the screening process, with the hope she could eventually find someone she could help.

The entire process to determine if she was a match took about eight months.

In April, she learned her liver was a match, and her surgery was scheduled for May 18, 2021.

On the day of the surgery, Tyra was in one room and 26-year-old Bridgeport resident Stephen Farrell was in the next room.

At the age of 21, Farrell had been diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a rare liver disease that damages the bile ducts inside and outside the liver.

During the surgery, physicians took 60 percent of Tyras liver, which she learned is the maximum they can take.

They first took it out from me and then ran it over and put it in him, she said, recalling the procedure which took about seven hours.

Tyra was in the hospital for a week. The recovery took about three months.

They didn't want me to lift anything more than eight pounds, I couldnt get the stitches wet, and just had to pretty much lay low and take it easy, she said.

She said the timing worked out perfectly with her work schedule since she was scheduled to be off for five weeks. She missed about two dozen days of teaching, but was able to plan for her students in advance.

One year anniversary

Tyra is now fully recovered from her surgery. The only outside mark she has is a 12-inch long scar from her sternum to her belly button.

On the inside, though, she said shell always feel a strong connection to Farrell, who she finally got to meet on May 18  the one-year anniversary of her liver donation.

We met at Yale in a conference room with our social workers and surgeons, she said.

When she first met Farrell, she said it was like "meeting one of my own children, because he's one of my own children's age.

In a recent phone conversation, Farrell told Hearst Connecticut Media the surgery changed his life.

I have more energy now, Farrell said. Im thankful for the opportunity at a new life.

Tyra advises those who are able to consider donating a portion of their liver. She was told by her physicians that the liver takes six months to a year to fully grow back.

If you're searching how you can make a difference in the world, this is a way. It doesn't take much out of your life, Tyra said. It's a little bit of recovery but the reward is tremendous. You save a life. It gives someone an opportunity, a chance, and how often do we get that opportunity to do something of such magnitude  and if we can, why wouldn't we?

sandra.fox@hearstmediact.com 203-948-9802
Dollars raised fund critical treatments and healthcare services delivered at local children's hospitals across Canada

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 21, 2022 /CNW/ - Children's Miracle Network is pleased to announce Walmart Canada's spring fundraising campaign contributed over $8.2 million, including a $1 million corporate donation from Walmart Canada, in support of children, families, and their local children's hospitals across Canada. Last year, Canadian children's hospitals had nearly 3 million visits.

The Children's Miracle Network campaign took place from May 12 to June 13. Customers were invited to donate in-store, online and via numerous in-store fundraising events. This year's top fundraising store was the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec Walmart .

"What extraordinary generosity demonstrated in Walmart Canada's recent campaign," said Mark Hierlihy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations. "Walmart associates and customers continue to show their steadfast commitment for children's hospital foundations across Canada through their Children's Miracle Network campaign. This unwavering support for children's health is making a big difference to kids and for that, we are grateful," added Hierlihy.

Walmart Canada has been partnering with Children's Miracle Network for more than 27 years and has raised and donated more than $190 million to date in support of 12 children's hospital foundations across Canada, making Walmart the largest corporate, private sector contributor to children's hospital foundations in Canada.

"We're on a mission to be a regenerative company  a business that supports communities and society," said Rob Nicol, Vice President, Communications and Corporate Affairs, Walmart Canada. "Our associates and customers are the driving force behind our community giving and we're so proud to support Children's Miracle Network and the incredible work they do to help children and their families."

Dollars raised in-store fund local critical treatments and healthcare services with each hospital directing dollars where they need them most:

Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation  more than $465 ,000

,000 BC Children's Hospital Foundation  more than $1,040 ,000

,000 CHEO Foundation  more than $520 ,000

,000 Children's Health Foundation  more than $410 ,000

,000 Children's Hospital of Manitoba Foundation  more than $340 ,000

,000 IWK Foundation  more than $690 ,000

,000 Janeway Children's Hospital Foundation  more than $210 ,000

,000 Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation  more than $250 ,000

,000 McMaster Children's Hospital Foundation  more than $300 ,000

,000 Operation Enfant Soleil  more than $2,100 ,000

 more than ,000 SickKids Foundation  more than $1,230 ,000

,000 Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation  more than $585 ,000

About Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's flagship online store, Walmart.ca , is visited by more than 1.5 million customers daily. With more than 100,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada was recently recognized as a LinkedIn Top Company of 2021 and was also named one of Canada's most popular brands (based on Google searches). Walmart Canada has made a commitment to regeneration  focusing on equitable opportunity, sustainability, community, ethics and integrity. Since 1994, Walmart Canada has raised over $500 million to support communities across Canada. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca and on Walmart Canada's social media pages  Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

About Children's Miracle Network

Children's Miracle Network raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals, 14 of which are in Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, purchase pediatric medical equipment, and support research. Its various fundraising partners and programs support its mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Visit the Children's Miracle Network website to learn more about its cause. In Canada, Children's Miracle Network is managed and operated by Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations.

SOURCE Children''s Miracle Network

For further information: Felicia Fefer, Corporate Affairs, Walmart Canada, [email protected]; Angel Massey-Singh, Director of Marketing & Communications, Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations, [email protected]
OTTAWA, ON, June 20, 2022 /CNW/ - The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, the Minister of Health, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, the Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Marco Mendicino, and the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, issued this statement today to provide an update on progress being made by the Government of Canada and industry partners to reduce wait times at Canadian airports.

Minister Alghabra will also be meeting with the CEOs of the six largest airports and airlines, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), NAV CANADA, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) this week to ensure ongoing collaboration.

"The Government of Canada recognizes the impact that significant wait times at some Canadian airports are having on travellers. This is a global phenomenon due to the increase in air traffic across the world. Transport Canada, PHAC, CBSA, CATSA, NAV CANADA, airports and airlines continue to meet regularly to find solutions to address bottlenecks affecting travel, including at pre-board security screening and pre-clearance departure checkpoints, in customs halls, and for air traffic control, airport and airline operations.

"This week marks the beginning of the busiest travel season of the year, and we will begin seeing higher numbers of travellers through our airports. Our Government is working to maintain the progress we have made and improve in the weeks to come.

"Our efforts continue to have a positive impact. Wait times at security lines continue to go down at Toronto Pearson International Airport, with about 91 percent of passengers now being screened within 15 minutes. Calgary International Airport also saw a slight overall improvement, with about 86 percent of passengers now screened within 15 minutes. About 84 percent of passengers were screened within 15 minutes at Vancouver International Airport, which is fewer than the previous week, but still a significant improvement since mid-May. About 85 percent of passengers were screened within 15 minutes at Montreal Trudeau International Airport, similar to the previous week.

"Actions currently underway by the Government of Canada and the air industry include:

Since April, nearly 1,000 CATSA screening officers have been hired across Canada. With this, the number of screening officers at Toronto Pearson International Airport and Vancouver International Airport is now over 100 percent of the targeted requirements for this summer based on projected traffic.

International Airport is now over 100 percent of the targeted requirements for this summer based on projected traffic. CBSA is maximizing officer availability and additional Student Border Services Officers are now at work.

CBSA and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority are making available additional kiosks at Toronto Pearson International Airport customs hall areas.

CBSA and PHAC streamlined the process to identify travellers who are required to undergo testing at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

As of June 11 , mandatory randomized COVID-19 testing has been temporarily suspended at all airports until June 30 . As of July 1 , all test swabbing, including for unvaccinated travellers, will be performed off-site.

, mandatory randomized COVID-19 testing has been temporarily suspended at all airports until . As of , all test swabbing, including for unvaccinated travellers, will be performed off-site. PHAC is adding additional staff on select days to verify that travellers have completed their ArriveCAN submissions on arrival and further inform air travellers about the importance of the mandatory requirements. ArriveCAN is mandatory for all travellers to Canada and is available for free as an app or through the website.

"We recognize that there is still work to be done; and we will continue to work with partners to reduce the delays in the travel system and to report back to Canadians."

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.

SOURCE Transport Canada

For further information: Laurel Lennox, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, [email protected]; Media Relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, [email protected], 613-993-0055
Internet service was disrupted in 15 districts from Friday to Sunday and then in 20 districts on Monday in view of the violent protests and uproar over the Agneepath scheme.

Internet service was disrupted in 15 districts from Friday to Sunday and then in 20 districts on Monday in view of the violent protests and uproar over the Agneepath scheme. But on Tuesday, internet service has been restored in all the districts.

Internet service returned to normal in the entire state on Tuesday. Internet service was disrupted in 15 districts from Friday to Sunday and then in 20 districts on Monday in view of the violent protests and uproar over the Agneepath scheme. The effective ban has not been carried forward after the situation was found to be normal in all the districts.

ADG of Police Headquarters Jitendra Singh Gangwar said that the situation is now peaceful everywhere in the state. Proposals come from the districts to block internet service. So far no such proposal has come forward. The current ban was in effect till midnight on Monday. The situation will return to normal from Tuesday. If needed further, the ban can be imposed again at the district level.

Here, a review meeting was held at the Police Headquarters on Monday in all the districts of the state regarding law and order. The situation was found normal everywhere. All the districts have been asked to be on alert mode for the next few days. Along with the police force, the deployment of paramilitary forces has also been continued.

Internet service was disrupted in these districts

Kaimur, Bhojpur, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Buxar, Nawada, West Champaran, East Champaran, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Begusarai, Vaishali, Saran, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Madhubani, Jehanabad, Khagadia, Sheikhpura.
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PHOENIX (AP)  Calls from top advisers to former President Donald Trump to help overturn Trump's 2020 election loss were an unsupported, unwise and "juvenile effort that attacked a bedrock principal of American democracy, Arizona's House speaker said Monday.

Republican Speaker Rusty Bowers is among a series of state election officials set to testify Tuesday before the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection where Trump backers tried to stop the certification of President Joe Biden's victory.

Bowers spoke to The Associated Press after he arrived in Washington on Monday afternoon. He will be questioned about a phone call he got from Trump and attorney Rudy Giuliani in the weeks after the November 2020 election where Giuliani floated a proposal to replace Arizona's Biden electors by having the state's Legislature instead choose those committed to voting for Trump.

Bowers refused, saying the scheme was illegal and unconstitutional. In an interview last year, he said he told the president he would not break the law to help him gain the presidency.

He revealed a second call from Trump on Monday, saying the president phoned again on Dec. 4, 2020, but did not pressure him. He said Trump mainly made small talk, asking about his family and the upcoming holidays.

But then he said, I want to call you to tell you that I remember what you said the first time. Bowers said. And Im presuming it was about when I told him I wouldnt. That I supported him, I walked for him, I campaigned with him. But I wouldnt do anything illegal for him.

Bowers said efforts by Trump's backers have harmed the nation, undercut trust in elections and the right of people to vote their conscience.

I just think it is horrendous. Its terrible, Bowers said. The result of throwing the pebble in the pond, the reverberations across the pond, have, I think, been very destructive.

Bowers said he has not watched the committee's hearings, but did see some of the video clips showing the rampage at the Capitol. He said it sickened him watching people who supported Trump attacking police, including a man who had protested at the Arizona Capitol.

"Im appalled at what I saw," Bowers said, I dont mind their having these hearings. I dont mind. I think it illuminates something we need to see big time, and take stock of ourselves. And I hope it would sober us.

Bowers was one of five recipients of this year's John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award for his refusal to consider overturning the 2020 election results despite pressure from Trump and his supporters.

But while Bowers said the efforts by Giuliani and other Trump backers have been hurtful, he does not levy any criticism on Trump directly and would support him if he were on the ballot.

If he is the nominee, if he was up against Biden, Id vote for him again, Bowers said. Simply because what he did the first time, before COVID, was so good for the county. In my view it was great.
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Washington (AP)  When a GOP Missouri U.S. Senate candidate released a video Monday in which he cocked a gun after calling for a hunt of fellow Republicans who he believes are RINOs, or Republicans in Name Only, Facebook scraped it off its platform within a few hours.

But its still live on YouTube, where its been watched thousands of times, and on Twitter, which deliberately left it up after disabling retweets, likes and replies.

Its a striking example of the different ways various social platforms can treat posts that violate their policies. The result: a post banned on Facebook might stay live on Twitter, depending on who has said what in which context.

That helps explain the varied ways platform responded to an ad calling for a gun hunt of politicians, just as Americans are reeling from a spike in mass shootings and elected officials around the country are grappling with an increase in violent threats.

WHY IS THE VIDEO CONTROVERSIAL?

The fundraising video released Monday across Facebook, Twitter and YouTube by Republican Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Eric Greitens shows him cocking a shotgun after declaring that he's hunting RINOs.

Greitens, who in 2018 resigned in disgrace after 17 months as Missouri governor, then appears in the video flanked by an armed tactical unit that smashes through the front door of a home.

Get a RINO hunting permit, Greitens says in the video. The permit Greitens refers to is sent to people who donate to his campaign.

Greitens uploaded the video across his social media accounts following a spate of mass shootings across the U.S. that left dozens dead. And it comes on the heels of increased threats against elected officials. On Sunday, Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who is serving on the committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, revealed a letter sent to his home threatened to execute him, his wife and his 5-month-old child.

Earlier in June, authorities arrested a man carrying a gun, knife and zip ties near Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house. Just days before, a gunman killed a retired county judge in Wisconsin.

WHERE WAS THE VIDEO POSTED?

Greitens posted the video on his Twitter, YouTube and Facebook accounts on Monday. Facebook removed the video. YouTube has not, saying it doesn't violate its policies. Twitter placed a warning over the video and disabled other users from sharing it.

WHY CAN I SEE THIS VIDEO ON SOME PLATFORMS, BUT NOT OTHERS?

The major social media companies are constantly refining their rules and policies. They've settled on different approaches to posts that share misinformation or violent threats over the years. A video, meme or statement that might be deleted on Facebook might not violate any rules on Twitter, depending on what it says, who says it and how the company interprets the post in question.

YouTube said in an email Tuesday that Greiten's video did not violate its policies.

But Twitter covered the video with a warning label, saying it violated the platform's rules on harassment and intimidation.

Twitter didn't remove the tweet entirely. That's because the company developed a policy in 2019 that leaves up rule-breaking posts sent from the accounts of government officials or candidates for office. Twitter's reasoning behind that policy is that the public should be able to take a look at the view points, thoughts and statements that public leaders send out.

Instead, the company limits the spread of an offending tweet via retweets and comments. Twitter enacted this policy several times while President Donald Trump was in office, first applying a warning label to a 2020 tweet in which he threatened that shooting might start in Minneapolis amid ongoing Black Lives Matter protests.

HOW IS FACEBOOK DIFFERENT?

Facebook left that same post from Trump untouched. But it will sometimes delete posts that violate its rules from public leaders, as it did in Greitens case Monday.

Back in 2020, the company became more aggressive at deleting posts with misinformation around COVID-19. The platform deleted posts by Trump, for example, that claimed COVID-19 was similar to the flu. Twitter, however, covered a similar tweet with a warning. Facebook also deleted a post from Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro in which he shared a live broadcast on his account falsely claiming that COVID-19 vaccines cause AIDS.
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A judge on Tuesday rescheduled the state trial for two former Minneapolis police officers in George Floyds killing to Oct. 24 to resolve dueling requests for a new trial date after the state sought to start it as soon as this summer while a defense lawyer asked to delay it to next spring.

Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng are charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the May 2020 killing of Floyd. Their trial was supposed to start this month, but Judge Peter Cahill earlier this month postponed it until Jan. 5, saying that would improve prospects for a fair trial. He settled on the October date during a brief hearing Tuesday.

The killing of Floyd, who was Black, sparked immediate protests in Minneapolis that spread around the U.S. and beyond in a reckoning over police brutality and discrimination involving people of color. Derek Chauvin, a white police officer who pinned Floyd's neck to the pavement with his knee for more than 9 minutes as Floyd said he couldn't breathe and eventually grew still, was convicted last year of murder.

Thao held back onlookers at the scene. Kueng helped restrain Floyd.

State prosecutor Matthew Frank on Friday had requested a speedy trial on behalf of Floyds family, which under Minnesota law could have meant mid-August. Kuengs defense attorney, Tom Plunkett, followed with a request Sunday for a longer delay  until April  because of a scheduling conflict.

Attorneys for all sides told Cahill they agreed to the Oct. 24 start date for jury selection. The judge also scheduled a hearing on pretrial motions for Sept. 26-27.

Frank told the court that it would have been traumatic for the Floyd family to push the trial date out farther. Not only was their loved one killed by police officers, he said, they've had to watch the video of his dying minutes time and time again in the media and throughout the trial process.

Thao and Kueng have already been convicted of federal counts of violating Floyds rights. Their former colleague, Thomas Lane, was also convicted on a federal count and pleaded guilty in May to a state charge of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. All three are free pending their federal sentencing hearings, which have not been set.

Cahill also presided over last year's trial of Chauvin, who was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 22 1/2 years. Chauvin has been in prison since that conviction. He also pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge.

__

Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
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NEW HAVEN  Videos released Tuesday by New Haven police showed Richard Cox being pulled out of a police van by his feet, after he apparently was paralyzed during the ride to the police station.

The incident on Sunday has resulted in Officer Oscar Diaz and Sgt. Betsy Segui, who shouted at Cox, 36, to cooperate and get up, being put on paid administrative leave during the investigation, which has been taken over by state police.

Cox was arrested on Lilac Street, with what Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson called a bottle of booze and a pistol in his waistband. Cox appeared intoxicated, Jacobson said.

Cox was handcuffed and put in the rear of the van, which had straps for Cox to hold onto but no other restraints. On the way to the police lockup, the driver hit the brakes in order to avoid an accident, after which Cox can be heard yelling help.

Once the van arrives at the lockup, officers are seen in the videos opening the back door to find Cox on the floor, wedged between an interior wall and bench. Officers are seen urging Cox to sit up. They then pull him out of the van and place him into a wheelchair. He is processed and then pulled out of the wheelchair and into a cell, where he is left lying on the floor.

Mayor Justin Elicker on Tuesday said after watching the videos, As mayor of the city and resident of the city, I find several of the actions taken and several of the actions not taken by the officers to be quite concerning.

He said Coxs mother had visited him Tuesday and said that he remained paralyzed. Hearst Connecticut Media was unable to independently confirm Coxs condition on Wednesday.

Elicker said the police were traveling 36 mph in a 25 mph zone.

Once a suspect is handcuffed, Elicker said, they are in the care of the New Haven Police Department.

While in custody police have an obligation to treat every individual in a manner than ensures their safety and well-being, he said. Some of the actions taken by the officers in my personal judgment fall short of that.

Jacobson said Diaz called for a rescue vehicle and told officers in the detention area he thought Cox had hurt his head.

He tries to get back as quick as possible to render aid, he said adding that there was definitely some policy stuff that happened that shouldnt have happened. And theres other stuff that, like the mayor said, Im not going to sugarcoat it. It looks disturbing.

Jacobson said the officers appeared to violate protocol for transporting an injured suspect.

We have a policy that says, if someones in distress in a wagon, you pull over. You call for medical assistance, and you wait. He didnt do that, and so thats one thing, he said. Hes processed in a wheelchair and brought to a cell. That shouldnt happen.

Jacobson said Cox should have been left in the van until medical units arrived.

There were seat belts in one of the three vans used to transport suspects, acting Chief Regina Rush-Kittle said. She said one of the other two had seat belts installed Tuesday. The third, she said, would not go back into service until it had seat belts installed too.

Both Diaz and Segui have been members of the New Haven police force since 2008.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
NEW HAVEN  A city man may be paralyzed after he was injured while in police custody Sunday evening, according to the New Haven Police Department.

Richard Cox, 36, of New Haven, suffered an injury to his spine and/or neck, Mayor Justin Elicker said in a news conference Monday evening. The injury stems from an abrupt stop an officer made to avoid causing a crash while on the way to the police station, according to Acting Chief Regina Rush-Kittle.

Cox told the officer he was injured and could not move. Officers processed Cox and physically put him in custody. An ambulance then took Cox to Yale New Haven Hospital where he underwent surgery, Rush-Kittle said.

Cox suffered a serious injury and may suffer paralysis, Rush-Kittle told reporters Monday evening.

Police were called to Lilac Street just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday for a weapons complaint. An officer found Cox with a handgun. Since Cox has been convicted of a felony in the past, it is illegal for him to possess a firearm, according to Rush-Kittle.

The officer charged Cox with possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, first-degree threatening, second-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace, Rush-Kittle said.

Cox was uncooperative while being taken into custody, Rush-Kittle said, which involved him sitting, standing and kicking while his hands were handcuffed behind his back in a police van.

While driving to the detention center on Union Avenue, the officer driving the vehicle had to make an evasive maneuver to avoid a motor vehicle accident, according to Rush-Kittle. Mr. Cox suffered a serious injury while in transport in the back of the van.

Cox told the officer about his injury and said he could not move, Rush-Kittle said.

The officers involved proceeded to put Mr. Cox in detention, first attempting to do so by wheelchair and then physically moving him to detention, Rush-Kittle said.

Paramedics came and took Cox to the hospital. Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson said Monday that the officer had called for emergency medical personnel prior to the two arriving at the detention center.

Rush-Kittle said that, based on information from the hospital and Coxs family, he may suffer from paralysis as a result of the injury.

In terms of Coxs recovery, Jacobson said that Cox is moving in the right direction.

Rush-Kittle ordered an immediate and thorough internal affairs investigation into the incident.

We have also reached out to the States Attorneys Office and the State Office of the Inspector General to alert them of this incident so that they can immediately begin reviewing the facts and circumstances and take any and all action they deem appropriate and thats necessary, she said.

The police department is investigating whether the involved officers breached protocol and if so, what further actions may be appropriate, Ruhs-Kittle said.

Regardless of whatever the findings of the investigation are, we are committed to doing everything in our power to make sure an incident of this nature never happens again, she added.

Police will also release video footage related to the incident in the coming days, the acting chief said.

In the New Haven Police Departments policies and procedures, police who are transporting someone are supposed to get medical attention immediately, Jacobson said.

I think it was in the officers mind to get to detention because he was close to meet the responding medical people there, he said.

The van Cox was in did not have seat belts; it had loops so someone who is handcuffed can grab on. Police have ordered that, in the wake of Coxs injuries, the two vans without seat belts be taken off the road until we can figure out the best means of transporting someone, according to Jacobson.

We dont want this to happen again, Jacobson said.
Doyin Okupe, Director-General of the Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, has denied reports that the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, endor...





Doyin Okupe, Director-General of the Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, has denied reports that the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, endorsed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.





He also debunked reports that a $20 million investment by Obi, while he was Anambra State Governor, is now worth $100 million.





The viral post had Sanusi blasting the All Progressives Congress presidential candidates (APC), Bola Tinubu, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar and endorsing Peter Obi





Writing on his Twitter page on Tuesday, Okupe appealed to Peter Obi supporters to desist from creating falsehood on social media.





Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to HE Gov Soludo concerning quadrupling of investment made by Peter Obi as Gov of Anambra. This statement is not from him or the campaign organisation. Peter Obi only talks about verifiable claims & what hell do when in office.





We also dissociate ourselves from the purported endorsements of his candidacy by HRH Lamido Sanusi and His Eminence The Sultan of Sokoto.





We plead with all our supporters to please desist from creating falsehood on social media. Let us focus on claims that are verifiable & true.
Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Central Senator has called on the founder of Household of God Church, Reverend Chris Okotie to revive his Fresh ...





Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Central Senator has called on the founder of Household of God Church, Reverend Chris Okotie to revive his Fresh Democratic Party.





Sani was reacting to Okoties call that all 2023 presidential aspirants should step down and allow him emerge as interim president.





The popular gospel preacher decried the imbalance in the government of Nigeria.





Reverend Okotie, a former presidential aspirant spoke to journalists in Lagos while celebrating his 63rd birthday.





His appeal was specifically addressed to Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Peter Obi, the flagbearer of the Labour Party (LP).





Reacting, Sani faulted Okotie for asking that presidential candidates should step down for him.





In a tweet, the former lawmaker wrote: Pastor Chris Okotie shouldnt be telling the Presidential candidates to step down for him. He should just revive his Fresh Democratic Party and enter the ring.
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos State, on Monday, ordered one of Macmillans book publishers, Fasasi Bola...

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos State, on Monday, ordered one of Macmillans book publishers, Fasasi Bola, to be remanded in a custodial centre over alleged fraud.

The defendant, alongside Macmillan Nigerian Publishers Limited, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on an amended six counts bordering on obtaining goods by false pretences.

The charge read, Macmillan Nigerian publishers, Professor Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan, who is now at large, and Fasasi Bola, sometime in 2018, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to obtain goods by false pretences, property of BHS Printing SDN BHD of Selangor Malaysia.

That Macmillan Nigerian Publishers, Professor Adesanya Iyiola Adelekan (now at large) and Fasasi Bola, sometime in 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, obtained books for sale worth $156,711.87 by false pretences from BHS Book Printing SDN BHD of Selangor, Malaysia, under the pretences that you would sell the books and remit the money from the sales within two weeks of receiving the bill of lading, which pretence you knew or ought to know is false.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The EFCC prosecution counsel, Ayanfeoluwa Ogunsina, however, prayed the court for a trial date and that the defendant be remanded.

Justice Dada adjourned the matter till July 8, 2022, for further hearing.




Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward Neymars private jet was forced into an emergency landing after leaving Barbados, according to The Sun. ...

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward Neymars private jet was forced into an emergency landing after leaving Barbados, according to The Sun.

The aircraft was said to be returning to Brazil, Neymars homeland, from Barbados when it was forced to declare an emergency.

It remains unclear whether the former Barcelona star was onboard at the time of the incident.

The aircraft landed safely in the northeast of Brazil following the scare.

Neymar had earlier shared a photo on his Instagram story last night of himself and his sister Rafaella posing on a runway next to a plane.

The 30-year-old also shared a photo taken from inside a plane overlooking Miami as they jetted back from holiday in the United States.

Neymar, his sister and his girlfriend Bruna Biancardi were seen on the beach in Miami, soaking up the sun earlier this week.
Liverpool forward, Sadio Mane is expected to arrive at Munich airport around 10 am UK time this morning to undergo a medical with Bayern Mun...





Liverpool forward, Sadio Mane is expected to arrive at Munich airport around 10 am UK time this morning to undergo a medical with Bayern Munich.





According to Sky Sports, he will then proceed to a hospital to undergo medical tests before checking into a hotel and visiting Bayerns facilities.





The German champions have agreed a 35m deal with Liverpool to sign Mane, who was their top summer transfer target.





The Senegal superstar will then put pen to paper on a three-year deal that will see him remain at the Allianz Arena until 2025.





Mane joined the Reds from Southampton in the summer of 2016 and established himself in the first team, and has been a mainstay of Jurgen Klopps recent success.
President Muhammadu Buhari says around $386 million was recovered in 2021 through the whistleblowing policy enacted by his administration ...

President Muhammadu Buhari says around $386 million was recovered in 2021 through the whistleblowing policy enacted by his administration in attempts to repatriate looted funds back into the country, and curb corruption.

Buhari said this on Tuesday in an interview with Bloomberg.

Buhari spoke on the performance of his administration in the area of economic growth, security, and corruption since 2015 when he was elected president.

He said through the whistleblowing policy, established in the first year of his government, hundreds of millions in stolen funds have been returned to Nigeria.





He said the recovered funds were reinvested in infrastructure development and social welfare.

As an illustration, monetary recoveries (January-December) 2021 show that more [than] N152 billion has been recovered. Dollar recoveries for the year amount to over USD 386 million; GBP, more than 1.1 million; Euro, about 157,000; Saudi Riyals about 1.7 million some more in Digital and other currencies, Buhari said.

Working with our international partners, hundreds of millions of various currencies have been returned from abroad  primarily from the UK, US, and Switzerland  and used as social and welfare funds distributed directly to the poorest during the Covid pandemic and the provision of long-delayed infrastructure  roads, bridges, rail, and power.

Those partners refused to return these monies held for decades to previous Nigerian administrations in the certainty they would simply be re-stolen. They changed their approach with us because they knew my administration could be trusted.

Responding to questions on food security, and inflation, which currently stands at 17 percent, Buhari said despite programmes to boost domestic production, Nigeria still does not grow enough.

He, however, said initiatives such as the Nigeria anchor borrowers programme has boosted rice production to 9 million metric tonnes in 2021 from around 5.4 million metric tonnes in 2015; adding that production outstripped pre-2015 levels, even in the years of drought.

Imports have fallen to near zero. We are making progress, Buhari said.

Against these advances, international trade remains rigged against food security in Africa. The EUs policies in particular are all rhetoric of open trade  yet their common agricultural policy subsidy programmes and export of those subsidized goods create dependence, undermine Africas self-sufficiency, and cause food poverty and starvation.

If only out of enlightened self-interest the West  and particularly Europe  must step up. The moral if not economic case for doing so is unarguable. Do nothing, and more migrants from across the Sahel will attempt dangerous journeys to reach Europe.

On controlling the incessant borrowing of his administration, he argued that a narrow focus on debt misses the point.

According to Buhari, what it fills is Nigerias longstanding infrastructure deficit by constructing a foundation for sustainable growth  spreading opportunity to ensure no part of the country is left behind.

Buhari, who described infrastructure developments under his leadership as most ambitious since Nigerias independence, he said over 800 federal roads are being constructed or undergoing rehabilitation and 650km of rail line have been laid, helping alleviate food inflation pressures, given most food is produced in the north.

Had the infrastructure gap not been filled, it will only grow, become more costly to repair what little we have while lacking more on infrastructure on which to build growth, negatively impacting progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goals, he said.

Further speaking on boosting tax collection, Buhari, whose tenure will end next year, said while Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, translating that wealth into revenue generation is challenging.

We raised VAT in 2020, and the IMF wanted us to raise it further, but this is a complex issue that cannot be addressed by tax hikes alone. Around 80 percent of Nigerians work in the so-called informal economy  a situation exacerbated by the pandemic. It is difficult to tax the informally employed, and no country has yet found an adequate solution, he said.

Still, we are striving to find one, including the roll-out of a national ID card which has grown from 7 million in 2015 to between 90-100 million today  including a tax code and, at the same time, combined with access to various government services.
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A biologist with the Bureau of Land Management holds a bat carcass she discovered in New Mexico in 2011 while searching for signs of the deadly white-nose syndrome. Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times
The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended its support for religious schools, ruling that parents who send their children to such institutions have a right to tuition aid if the state provides it to other similar private schools.

You voted:
Artist Marcus Browns Slavery Trails sculptures dont exist in the real world. But if you stand beneath the oaks on Esplanade Avenue on the edge of the French Quarter and activate your iPhone with a special QR code, a dozen eerie, digital ghosts will appear on your screen, hovering a few feet above the dusty neutral ground.

Brown's ghosts mark the spot of a former market where men, women and children were bought and sold. Like the ghosts, the long-ago slave market is invisible now. But Brown wants people to know that, sociologically anyway, its still there.

What makes Browns digital ghosts especially weird is that theyre a startling pink color, like radioactive azalea blossoms. Brown uses mostly glowing fluorescent paint in his artworks. DayGlo pink is the closest thing to blood red, he said.

Theres a dual meaning, he said, of the audacious color. The pink could be something very celebratory. But, he said, it could also be something that signifies all the people who bled to make this place. The whole city was essentially built by enslaved people.

The technology Brown employed is called augmented reality. On the steamy afternoon of June 20, passersby studied the instructional marker that Brown has placed on the ground beneath an official historic marker describing the slave trade, and coaxed their phones to summon the ghosts. They discovered you can see them from all directions, and disconcertingly  you can walk right through them. More disconcerting still is the fact that, from certain angles, the pink figures seem to be hanging from the trees, with the unintentional but unavoidable suggestion of lynching.

Browns digital installation marks a horrible period of American history that has repercussions that can be felt to this day. But technically, its a lot like Pokemon Go, the augmented reality game based on pocket monster playing cards, that was beyond-popular back in 2016.

Brown said that his Slavery Trails installation isnt a light-hearted game, of course, but he welcomes the comparison with Pokemon Go. As he pointed out, when we play Pokemon Go, we find out that invisible cartoon monsters are scattered everywhere across the landscape. Same could be said about the legacy of slavery.

Slave hands touched everything, everywhere, he said, especially in New Orleans.

If those Esplanade Avenue ghosts look a little familiar, its because they are self-portraits of Brown. He hopes to sell three-dimensional versions of the ghosts on his website in order to fund further ghostly Slavery Trails locations in the city and maybe even across the country.

He said hell sell the self-portrait sculptures at the same price that would have been paid to purchase him in the 1840s. Considering that he is skilled, he said, he would have gone for between $14,000 and $180,000 in todays dollars.

Brown, an instructor at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, is, indeed, skilled. On Juneteenth evening he presented a performance titled Machine Noire at the Marigny Opera House.

In the course of the show, which was dedicated to the holiday that marks the end of slavery in the United States, he created a glowing, abstract, blacklight painting with digital paintbrushes that translate his strokes into sound. One of his brushes was anchored to an iron collar that he wore around his neck. Bravo, Mr. Brown.

Slavery Trails is located at the corner of Esplanade Avenue and Chartres Street. It will remain in place for three months.

+7 Black Power Afro pick sculpture is about as good as public art gets: Doug MacCash's review The gigantic steel sculpture of an Afro hair pick that appeared on St. Charles Avenue in the CBD last weekend is everything a public artwork o

+3 Race, paternity, identity and $704,000  the story of Louisianas most intriguing painting The trouble with this story is you cant really be sure of anything. A famous 19th-century artist was long thought to be a free Black man, con
St. Stephen, the Catholic church whose six-sided spire has towered over Uptown since the late 1800s, has been named a basilica, joining a small and prestigious club.

The Basilica of St. Stephen becomes only the third basilica in Louisiana  New Orleans' St. Louis Cathedral and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches are the others. There are about 90 more across the U.S.

Its a big deal, said Monsignor Christopher Nalty, pastor of Good Shepherd Parish which includes St. Stephen Catholic Church on Napoleon Avenue. Its a great honor for the parish.

Churches can petition the Holy See to be named a basilica, making a case that their architecture, historical significance, liturgical celebrations and other factors set them apart. Many basilicas enjoy a certain renown in the diocese, according to the U.S. Conference for Catholic Bishops.

The decree naming St. Stephen a basilica was signed on May 12, Nalty said.

"It's reassuring that someone else recognizes the jewel that St. Stephen is," said Liz Bostick, whose family has been attending St. Stephen for about 15 years. "To see it recognized as a basilica is everything."

Rare honor

It is rare that a regular parish earns the distinction of basilica, Nalty said. More often the honor goes to shrines or cathedrals.

Nalty said St. Stephen will be linked to a trail of significant Catholic sites in New Orleans, including the shrine at Our Lady of Prompt Succor, St. Louis Cathedral, the Ursuline Convent and the Seelos Center. He hopes renewed attention will generate enough revenue to pay for around the clock security that will allow the church to remain open 24/7 so passerby can visit and pray at any time.

When a church is designated as a basilica, Catholics can visit to obtain a plenary indulgence  the removal of punishment for sins committed  if they visit the basilica on certain days, participate in sacraments and say certain prayers, according to the U.S. Conference for Catholic Bishops.

The basilica designation also strengthens a churchs bond to the pope. If the pope were to visit New Orleans, it is expected that he would visit St. Stephen Basilica. In preparation for that occasion, the basilica will have a special umbrella and bell, Nalty said.

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Additionally, once a church is a basilica, it can display the papal symbol of crossed keys on banners, decorations and on the seal of the basilica. The seal, which is currently being designed by Nalty, will incorporate a pelican, palm branches, an ode to the Vincentians and a modified Fleur de Lis, he said.

'Like a gumbo'

St. Stephen was founded in 1849 by priests from the Congregation for Mission, also known as the Vincentians, to serve a mostly German Catholic community in the area. Construction on the church, which boasted a 200-foot spire and stained glass windows designed in Germany, was finished in 1887. The Vincentians ran the parish until 2005 and four years later sold the property to the Archdiocese of New Orleans for $1.6 million.

In 2008, amid shrinking congregations, then Archbishop Alfred Hughes formed Good Shepherd Parish, merging St. Stephen with nearby St. Henry and Our Lady of Good Counsel parishes.

Since then, the congregation has grown in size and diversity, Nalty said.

We kind of get a little bit of everyone, he said. Were like a gumbo of New Orleans  rich, poor, Black, White, Hispanic, Vietnamese.

'Great source of pride'

The church, which is the second largest in New Orleans, underwent a $7 million renovation about three years ago.

Parishioner Christine Cooper, who grew up in New Orleans, said the basilica distinction is a "well deserved" honor for Nalty and the church and that she was looking forward to one day having the church open all the time. "It's just a wonderful blessing for our archdiocese," she said.

Michael Riess, who lives in Old Metairie but drives to St. Stephen, said he and his wife have been parishioners for about 12 years.

"It's a wonderful distinction and a great source of pride," Riess said. "St. Stephen pulls so many people from all parts of the city."
25 years ago

The St. Tammany Parish Library System has announced a new service that provides access to the internet at the Covington, Mandeville and Slidell branches. Two workstations will be available at each location. The service is free with the exception of a $0.10 per page printing charge. Patrons under the age of 10 must be supervised at all times by a parent or legal guardian, while using the workstations. Downloading is not permitted at the workstations where there is no limited access to the website. No email accounts are available through the library system. Library patrons may request use of the internet in advance, by phone or in person. Usage is limited to one hour.

50 years ago

The Louisiana Department of Highways will take bids June 21 on two projects in St. Tammany Parish, one to construct a 4.5-mile segment of Interstate 12 and another to build a rest area at the Tchefuncte River crossing, director W. T. Taylor announced.

Taylor said the I-12 project begins about eight-tenths of a mile east of the intersection with State Route 1077 (Bootlegger Road), southwest of Covington, then proceeds easterly for about 4.5 miles to the west end of the state route to U.S. 190 at the proposed interchange south of Claiborne Hill. Included in the interstate project are grading, drainage structures, base course, asphaltic concrete, precast prestressed concrete girder spans and composite steel span bridges.

Taylor said the rest area project will include a scenic overlook and boat launch ramp located on the west side of the river. The bridges on I-12 across the Tchefuncte will be immediately below the juncture with Bogue Falaya River near Three Rivers. The rest area and boat launching site was opposed by the St. Tammany Sportsmens League at a police jury meeting some time ago on the basis it would pose a driving hazard and would put too many boats into the river at that point.

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75 years ago

Non-residential construction is still limited, and still requires government authorization, Roy H. Odom, Covington, representative for the Office of Housing Expediter, said recently. Only permits for building houses have been discontinued, along with other recent actions by the National Housing Expediter, he stated. The other actions included raising the maximum allowable for space from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet of habitable rooms and removing the limitation on the number of completed bathrooms in a house.

100 years ago

Miss Mildred Levy took charge of the court records at the sitting of the Court this week. Miss Levy succeeds Miss Josie Dossat, who recently left for Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Blossman, clerk of court, speaks very highly of her work and predicts that her work will be highly satisfactory. Miss Levy has been in the clerks office for some time. She is pleasant, accommodating and efficient. Her friends of the bar, as well as her friends outside of the law, have very best wishes for her success in her new position.

125 years ago

A liberal poultice of fresh cow manure may not seem nice to tie onto a tree that has accidentally been peeled with a single-tree or otherwise, but there is nothing better to cause the wound to heal over quickly and soundly.
A Belle Chasse woman accused of fatally shooting another woman in Algiers in April has been booked with second-degree murder, according to documents filed with the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office.

Jodi Sonnier, 47, was arrested June 16 in connection with the shooting death of Alicia Bozeman, 41, in the 2200 block of Cobblestone Lane, police wrote in documents.

New Orleans police officers responded to a call for a shooting at an apartment complex in Algiers around 1 p.m. on April 8 and found a woman suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, according to documents. Paramedics pronounced the woman, later identified as Bozeman, dead at the scene, documents said. Police found one spent 9 mm shell casing from the bedroom where the victim was, they wrote in court records.

A witness told detectives that a woman named Jodi shot and killed Bozeman, according to documents. The witness added that Jodi came to the scene with a black and chrome gun, argued with the victim, and drove away after shooting her, police wrote in documents.

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The witness left Jodis phone number with detectives and through their investigation, they found it to be associated with Sonnier, documents said.

Four days after the shooting, detectives showed the witness a photographic lineup of six women. The witness identified Sonnier, according to documents.

Sonnier had drug charges dating back to 2005 in Orleans Parish and a prostitution charge out of Jefferson Parish in the last 10 years. Orleans Parish Magistrate Commissioner Jonathan Friedman set Sonniers bail to $500,000 Saturday.
Less than a week after New Orleans police swarmed the blighted naval base in Bywater following rounds of gunfire, another shooting was reported in the area on Monday, this time with injury. Within the last two months, four people have been shot at the site, one of them fatally.

Police responded to an aggravated battery by shooting in the 4400 block of Dauphine Street at around 2:49 a.m. Emergency Medical Services took a man with a gunshot wound to the hospital. His condition is unknown.

It's the latest in a series of violent crimes to plague the area in and around what was once Naval Support Activity New Orleans, which passed from the U.S. Department of the Navy's hands to the city in 2013. Since then, the beleaguered campus has continued to decline.

"From an aesthetic perspective, the building has completely deteriorated," said Emmett Luty, who since March 2020 has lived a few blocks from the site. "It used to have a midcentury metal caging outside, and that has all fallen off. All the windows have been broken or... graffitied over."

It has also become a hub for fires and violent crime, including armed robberies and homicides. In addition to the shooting on Monday, the NOPD reported that a man pushed a woman down, punched her in the face and took her phone on Thursday at around 8 p.m.

On May 9 at around 5:49 p.m., a 28-year-old man was shot there.

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And on April 30 at around 8:16 p.m., a woman was killed and a man was wounded in a double shooting.

"It's a horrible situation and something we are hope were at the end of," said John Guarnieri, president of the Bywater Neighborhood Association.

The building is slated for redevelopment by Joe Jaeger, who plans to convert it into 295 "luxury affordable" units anchored by retail on the ground floor. But that plan has been on hold as Jaeger waits for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to release $130 million. Meanwhile, residents are becoming more and more fed up.

"This whole process has created a lot of mistrust," Guarnieri said. "People say they should demolish it  that's not going to happen. It's a $120 million development that qualifies for historic tax credits in the ballpark of $30 to $40 million. The building is solid. ... It has 12-inch thick concrete walls."

Jaeger could not immediately be reached for comment. But Guarnieri expects residents' questions to be heard at the next neighborhood association meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. July 12 at Bywater Brew Pub, 3000 Royal St. Jaeger, developer Brian Gibbs, the city's economic development director Jeff Schwartz, and members of the MCC Real Estate Group are slated to discuss the latest with the project, he said.

"I'm hoping it will lay down more of a plan of action," Guarnieri said. "Once they start moving and there's demolition work during daylight hours, I think it'll help a lot. But it has just been insane."
Houston-based Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. LLC, the nation's largest dredging company, has been ordered by a federal judge to pay a $1 million fine after pleading guilty a year ago to criminal charges of causing the spill of 160 barrels of oil in Bay Long in 2016 while rebuilding Louisiana's Chenier Ronquille barrier island east of Grand Isle.

The charges stem from an incident where the driver of a marsh buggy equipped with a small dredge cut an oil pipeline while clearing a canal used by Great Lakes workers to access the Plaquemines Parish island they were rebuilding under a $36 million contract with NOAA. But neither Great Lakes nor the worker were authorized by NOAA to be working in that canal, according to federal officials.

Great Lakes pleaded guilty in June 2021 to misdemeanor charges of violating two federal laws, the Clean Water Act and the Pipeline Safety Act, and failing to make use of Louisiana's "One Call" program to alert pipeline operators when work was planned near their pipelines. The sentence was handed down last week.

The defendant in this case recklessly violated regulations designed to protect the environment and then tried to hide their actions, said Kimberly Bahney of EPAs criminal enforcement program in Louisiana, in a news release announcing the sentencing. This sentencing demonstrates that we will hold violators responsible for breaking our environmental laws.

James Tassin of Houma, a marsh buggy driver with Shallow Water Equipment LLC, pleaded guilty in March 2021 to a misdemeanor charge of violating the Clean Water Act for his role in the spill, after agreeing to cooperate with federal officials in their investigation of Great Lakes. He is scheduled for sentencing on that charge on Aug. 16.

According to a U.S. Justice Department news release, court documents in Tassin's case showed a Great Lakes supervisor instructed Tassin to use the marsh buggy to dig near pipelines, even though the digging was not part of plans approved by NOAA for the restoration project, and without Great Lakes getting approval from companies operating pipelines in the area that the dredging would be safe.

On Sept. 5, 2016, Tassin hit a pipeline jointly owned by Harvest Pipeline Co. and Arrowhead Gulf Coast Pipeline, LLC, that was in the canal he wasn't supposed to be working in, according to a summary filed in March 2021 by federal prosecutors along with Tassin's guilty verdict.

Tassin reported to Gulf Coast's site manager that a sheen had begun to form in the canal, and the manager told him to remove evidence that he was working in the wrong place  a berm he was building with sediment removed from the canal  and not tell anyone what had happened, according to the summary.

The ensuing oil spill resulted in a cleanup overseen by the Coast Guard that included more than 140 workers, 36 boats, 11 skimmers and 12,000 feet of boom. At least 200 birds were oiled, according to the Coast Guard.

Ironically, the barrier island restoration was paid for with money set aside for natural resource recovery from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

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The pipeline spill cleanup was originally paid for by Harvest and Arrowhead, who then filed a civil damages lawsuit against Great Lakes and Shallow Water, which was settled late last year. That settlement required Great Lakes to pay $3,166,667 and Shallow Water to pay $1,666,667 to the pipeline companies.

U.S. District Judge Greg Guidry, who oversaw the sentencing, last week also turned down a request by Justice Department attorneys to require Great Lakes to pay a total of at least $6 million in restitution for the spill, ruling that a complex investigation into the costs associated with the spill would be too unwieldy, "while unnecessarily stalling an end to the Chenier Ronquille incident."

"In any event, the restitution amount ultimately determined by this court would likely not vary significantly from the number Harvest and Great Lakes fairly agreed upon" in their civil suit settlement, said Guidry, a former Louisiana Supreme Court justice who was appointed to the federal court in 2019 by President Donald Trump.

Great Lakes officials did not respond to requests for comment on the company's sentence and fine. However, in a March report to the Securities & Exchange Commission, the company warned that if federal officials decided to file debarment proceedings prohibiting the company from doing business with federal agencies following its sentencing, it "might prohibit the company from bidding for, entering into or completing certain government projects."

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's office in New Orleans said its restitution request was aimed at determining how costs were repaid in the aftermath of the spill. "Our office has no information about how the victim company used the civil settlement funds, and neither the civil case nor the criminal case tied the civil settlement funds to specific costs that the victim incurred as a result of the incident," said spokesperson Shane Jones in an email response to questions.

Jones also said the Justice Department is not involved in decisions on whether other federal agencies will try to debar Great Lakes from future work.

Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said existing contracts with Great Lakes worth millions of dollars for dredging the Mississippi and other rivers and harbors would not be affected unless a debarment order is issued. Officials with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority said existing contracts with Great Lakes for dredging involving other coastal restoration projects also would not be affected unless a debarment order is issued.

Harvest Pipeline, which as owner of the damaged pipeline is considered the responsible party for the spill under the federal Oil Pollution Act, will also be responsible for paying for any natural resource recovery projects that could be required following completion of a natural resource damage assessment, said Karolien Debusschere, deputy Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator.

This story was updated on June 21 with information from the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Orleans.

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Gov. John Bel Edwards signed an offshore wind energy bill Tuesday that has received mixed reviews from proponents of the Gulf of Mexicos nascent wind industry.

Edwards, who strongly backs offshore wind development in the Gulf, signed House Bill 165, which creates a framework that would allow offshore wind leasing for the first time in Louisiana waters.

Some members of the offshore wind industry objected to a provision that lets the state take a cut of wind farm revenues while also charging for leases.

Rep. Jerome Zee Zeringue, a Republican from Houma and the bills sponsor, patterned the provision after ones that require the oil and gas industry to pay for lease areas and share revenues with the government.

But paying royalties is almost unheard of for the offshore wind industry, according to the Southeastern Wind Coalition. Because offshore wind is still in the development phase in the U.S., with construction costs high and profits relatively low, companies arent required to pay royalties for wind farms in federal waters, where much of the industrys growth is focused.

Unlike oil, which is a finite resource that can be stored and shipped to markets across the world, electricity from offshore wind is a limitless resource but it must be used immediately, typically by nearby power utilities.

Louisianas state waters, which extend about three miles from the coast, have slower wind speeds than the deeper parts of the Gulf managed by the federal government, which isnt proposing to take a share of offshore wind energy earnings.

A few companies looking to build small-scale wind farms or pilot projects that test new technologies have expressed interest in Louisianas state waters. Charging royalties could steer some companies to other states like Texas, which has stronger winds than Louisiana, the coalition warned.

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Zeringue has called such concerns ridiculous. He believes the states large and skilled offshore oil and gas workforce will be a big draw for wind developers. Several Louisiana oil and gas service companies are already switching all or part of the focus to offshore wind.

The new law sets the maximum size for wind leases at 25,000 acres. Thats a good fit for the wind industry, which typically needs about 1,000 acres per turbine, according to the coalition.

The law also requires wind farm proposals to have plans for decommissioning turbines once theyre no longer used.

The state Department of Natural Resources must set the states offshore wind rules, including criteria for lease and royalty amounts, by Jan. 1.

Some state leaders and the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority also want Louisiana to receive a share of revenues from wind energy generated in federal waters. The CPRA pays for its massive restoration projects mostly with money from the BP oil disaster settlement and revenue from the oil and gas industry. With both sources shrinking, the CPRA is looking to offshore wind to help cover its project costs.

Edwards has highlighted the need to rapidly develop offshore wind in the Gulf to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions and meet his goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. His Climate Initiatives Task Force is crafting a plan that proposes enacting an offshore wind energy goal of 5,000 megawatts by 2035.

+16 Trouble in the wind: Offshore turbine farms complicate fishing, shrimping Shrimpers see obstacles that will make their jobs tougher, more dangerous; regulators vow to listen
A new report found climate change could cause more flooding and industrial pollution along Lake Michigan's shoreline in Northwest Indiana.

The Environmental Law & Policy Center identified U.S. Steel's Gary Works steel mill and the former State Line Generating Plant site in Hammond as potential hot spots where increased flooding could spread pollutants like coal ash, heavy metals and steel byproducts in the water and soil.

"With the Northwest Indiana area, we're generally concerned with flooding in the industrial areas, which is concerning given the history of contaminants in the area," staff attorney Kiana Courtney said. "We are concerned about what might get into the lake."

ELPCs "Rising Waters: Climate Change Impacts and Toxic Risks to Lake Michigans Shoreline Communities" study informs about how rising water levels that have caused widespread erosion along Lake Michigan in recent years could potentially pose risks to residential areas, drinking water and the environment.

The study created detailed visualization maps of Lake Michigan's entire shoreline with the help of federal data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It forecasts where more flooding could take place and makes recommendations on how to mitigate future risks of industrial pollution and infrastructure damage.

The Great Lakes are our freshwater treasure, but climate change is increasingly causing more extreme lake levels whipped up by storm winds leading to destructive waves, said Howard Learner, ELPCs executive director. Its time for us to rethink the Great Lakes shorelines built environment to reassess the risks from industrial facilities with hazardous materials, as well as to our homes. Policymakers and public officials should step up to deploy all of the water management tools in the toolbox to strengthen shoreline resilience.

Data gathered at Purdue University showed Indiana gets 5.6 more inches of precipitation a year than it did in the 1890s, mostly from extreme storms, Hoosier Environmental Council Environmental Health Director Indra Frank said.

The climate models project the rainfall will only continue to increase in the future.

"As the ELPC report illustrates, the increasing precipitation is putting more facilities at risk for flooding along the Lake Michigan shore. The same is true along Indiana's rivers and smaller lakes. Flooding can cause all sorts of damage, including washing toxic materials from industrial sites into our waterways," Frank said. "As a society, we need to urgently take two important steps: cut our use of fossil fuels and prepare ourselves and our properties for this new climate."

The study's projections are based on both modeling of potential flooding and the history of contamination from toxic pollutants, such as the release of cyanide that killed thousands of fish outside the Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor Works steel mill, Courtney said.

"We encourage policy-makers to look at what is in these spaces and what can potentially leech into Lake Michigan," she said. "This is the start of a conversation. The modeling shows that, even from a conservative point of view, the shoreline is being threatened. Policy-makers need to look into better methods of protecting the shoreline from contaminants and pollutants."

Drew Gronewold, an associate professor at the University of Michigans School for Environment and Sustainability, said the Great Lakes are getting wetter and warmer as a result of climate change.

The biggest risk is that these changes in the climate, in hydrology, or the water levels could exceed the capacity of coastlines, infrastructure and homes to handle those changes," he said.

The study pointed to the erosion that has eaten away at beaches in the Indiana Dunes National Park and threatened stairs, ramps, roads and homes in the Duneland area. Communities like Beverly Shores have had to truck in boulders to protect their coastlines. Fierce storms also have caused damage, including to the 300-foot-long pier at the Whiting Lakefront Park when it first opened in 2014.

Recent studies paint a stark picture of the climate-related changes in store for the Great Lakes, including the likelihood of higher lake levels, said Donald Wuebbles, emeritus atmospheric sciences professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and lead author of a previous study of climate change's impact on the Great Lakes. We have already started to see the harmful effects of extreme storms and fluctuating water levels in the past few decades. It is vitally important that we take action now to protect the lakes and our shorelines from further damage.

The report raised concerns that higher water levels, stronger waves and more flooding could cause Gary Works to contaminate Lake Michigan with pollutants like PCBs and volatile organic compounds. It said the steel mill was "responsible for much of the extensive water, air, and soil pollution in Gary during the last 100 years."

U.S. Steel did not immediately return requestions for comment.

It also determined the State Line Generating Plant site at the border of Hammond and Chicago, which is now partly occupied by the Digital Crossroad data center, was vulnerable to more flooding. Researchers expressed concerns about the coal ash that was generated by the coal-fired electricity plant for more than a century.

It was historically used as fill and could potentially leech into Lake Michigan and raise the levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and other pollutants in the water and soil, the study says.

Hammond Chief of Staff Phil Taillon said the previous owner, Beemsterboer Slag Co., did remediation work on the site, which it had been looking to potentially redevelop into a marina and lakefront homes before ultimately selling it to the data center.

Data Crossroad developer Tom Dakich said the site was not in a floodplain.

"When we first looked at this site, our first consideration was Lake Michigan. It is such a great resource for cooling of air, however, it is also an extremely powerful force of nature. Great amounts of time and expense were spent on making certain that we understood the site and that we knew how to improve the site," he said. "We recognized very early that this site is not in a floodplain. This was an important factor that made our entire process markedly easier to understand as we knew that the site was sufficiently above the minimum level."

The developer also elevated the site before building the data center there and tested the break walls to ensure that would protect against the lake.

"Given the volatility of Lake Michigan, we also raised the entire site by placing fill at the construction site. The Beemsterboer Companies are amongst the best in Chicago at creating fill and our immediate project was to create a higher surface," Dakich said. "At the time we undertook the construction of the actual data center, we understood the impact of Lake Michigan and we had made changes to the site in order to guard against additional variables. The break walls at the site have been tested and are a part of the defense against Lake Michigan."

Other industrial sites along the lakeshore, such as refineries and steel mills, also are causes for concern, but the report was seeking to narrow it down to focus on just the most worrisome hot spots, Courtney said.

"We're already seen erosion and flooding and the modeling shows how bad it's going to get," she said. "One thing that needs to be done is ensuring infrastructure prevents additional harm to these communities. It's the start of a conversation about policy-makers and the public coming together to protect communities along the Lake Michigan shoreline."

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ST. JOHN  Lake Central School Corp. Superintendent Larry Veracco was chosen by members of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents as the 2022 District I Superintendent of the Year. This is not his first time receiving the achievement, as he was also selected in 2018.

Veracco has been superintendent since 2010 and was involved with Lake Central for several years before that.

Winners are selected by other superintendents in their district who consider the qualifications and accomplishments of area colleagues and their instructional leadership.

One of the nine district winners will be named Indiana Superintendent of the Year for 2022 and will represent Indiana in the American Association of School Administrators National Superintendent of the Year program. According to the Lake Central School Board, statewide awards will be announced in the fall.

In other news, the district is continuing progress on several construction projects, including the Bibich Elementary School expansion. Bidding is ongoing and will be occurring throughout the summer.

Director of Facilities Bill Ledyard said the market remains hot and competitive at this time, but the corporation is still attempting to complete projects to the best of its ability.

During the Monday night board meeting, Veracco discussed Indiana School Boards Associations legal seminar and provided insights to the board about how they will proceed moving forward.

One key note he mentioned was that school boards will be required to allow time for public comment going forward, something the board already does.

In addition, Veracco noted there was a case where a transgender male wanted to use the boys restroom and the school prohibited it. He said the court ruled in favor of the transgender student, so Lake Central will follow suit and allow trans students to use the bathroom of their choosing.

Veracco also discussed employee rights to political speech. He said it is normally acceptable to an extent, as long as it does not interfere with their performance in the role. He said it is a gray area.

Also during the meeting, Kahler Middle School was recognized for winning Best Buddies Chapter of the Year in Indiana. Best Buddies is an organization that aims to eliminate social isolation that may occur among those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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LAPORTE  A Michigan City man recently pleaded guilty to causing another man's death in March 2021 while driving drunk, court records show.

Eric A. Adair, 25, admitted to one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, a level 4 felony, according to his plea agreement.

Nathan Blount, 32, died after Adair crashed head-on into his vehicle March 12, 2021, on U.S. 35 at Nicomas Path, southeast of Michigan City.

Blount was a father of four children, all of whom survive him, according to court records.

If LaPorte Circuit Judge Thomas Alevizos accepts Adair's plea agreement, Adair could face two to 10 years in prison.

LaPorte County Prosecutor John Lake and defense attorneys Andrew Bennett and Nicholas Catsadimas were scheduled to argue the length of Adair's sentence at a hearing set for July 27.

Adair admitted in his plea agreement that he consumed alcoholic beverages at two establishments before crashing into Blount's 2007 Toyota Camry.

Adair was driving a 2003 Honda Accord about 70 mph immediately before crossing the center line and hitting Blount's vehicle, court records state.

Blount was flown to a South Bend hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Adair also was taken to a South Bend hospital for medical treatment. A blood draw was conducted, and he was found to have a blood alcohol content of about 0.175, according to court records.

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CROWN POINT  A judge granted a motion by the defense Tuesday to reschedule a jury trial for a Cedar Lake woman charged with neglect in connection with her infant daughter's death three years ago.

Brittany C. Chambers, 23, had been scheduled to face a jury in August, but defense attorney Kerry Connor requested additional time to prepare.

Lake Criminal Court Judge Natalie Bokota granted Connor's motion after Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Arturo Balcazar said the state did not object to a delay.

Bokota rescheduled Chambers' trial for the week of Dec. 5.

Chambers is accused of violating a safety plan she signed with the Indiana Department of Child Services by leaving her 6-month-old daughter Elliana Orgon in her then-boyfriend's care June 20, 2019.

Chambers told Crown Point police she noticed Elliana did not look right when she returned, but she did not check on the infant and traveled with her boyfriend to Gary to buy drugs, according to court records.

Elliana died June 21, 2019, from various injuries, including four broken ribs, two dislocated shoulders, a fractured cervical vertebrae and multiple head injuries.

The injuries likely were caused by blunt force trauma to the rear of her body, according to court records.

Chambers has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of neglect of a dependent.

Her boyfriend at the time has not been charged in connection with Elliana's death.

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LAPORTE COUNTY  A man was airlifted after a tractor pulling a lawnmower and a van collided on Interstate 94.

Westbound I-94 reopened Tuesday afternoon east of U.S. 421 in LaPorte County following a crash that had shut down the busy stretch of highway for four hours, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.

At 7 a.m. Indiana State Trooper Brandon Lankford was called to a crash where a tractor pulling a lawnmower had been struck by a vehicle on westbound I-94 at the 26.6 mile marker. Preliminary investigations showed that the tractor driver, a 68-year-old Winamac man, was heading east along the north ditch of the interstate, Indiana State Police said.

The tractor could not mow farther because of the bridge at the 26.6 mile marker, causing the man to drive into the westbound lanes to attempt a U-turn to go back west along the same shoulder.

The tractor driver failed to yield to a white 2004 Ford van that was in the left lane, and the vehicle collided, with the van unable to avoid the tractor, police said.

The driver of the mower was flown out from the scene for medical care at South Bend Memorial Hospital.

The driver of the van, a 27-year-old Michigan City man, was in good condition, police said.

ISP said drugs or alcohol are not believed to be a factor in the crash.

All westbound lanes of the highway were closed for four hours Tuesday morning and traffic was being diverted onto U.S. 421 while the crash investigation was underway, officials said.

The crash remains under investigation.

Times staff writer Anna Ortiz contributed to this story.

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Indiana will have a new secretary of state overseeing voting for the next presidential election in 2024.

Delegates to the Republican Party State Convention declined Saturday to nominate GOP Secretary of State Holli Sullivan for a full term in her own right after Gov. Eric Holcomb last year selected the former Evansville state representative to succeed the retired Connie Lawson as Indianas chief elections officer.

Instead, the Indiana Republican Party selected Diego Morales, of Indianapolis, as its candidate for secretary of state.

Morales, a Guatemalan immigrant and self-proclaimed America First Republican, has described as a scam the 2020 election results that saw Republican President Donald Trump turned out of office after Trump failed to win either the popular or electoral vote, according to the Associated Press.

If hes elected, Morales hopes to reduce Indianas 28-day early voting period to just 14 days to save money, require Hoosiers to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and create an election task force to investigate shenanigans.

As the next Indiana chief election officer, I will stand firm in support of protecting the right to vote. I will be vigilant in defending the sanctity of each ballot and election integrity, Morales said.

Morales previously worked in the secretary of states office under Republicans Todd Rokita and Charlie White. The latter was removed from office in 2012 after being convicted of voter fraud.

Both of Morales' stints in the secretary of state's office ended shortly after they began when Morales was accused of failing to complete his work and lack of focus, the AP reported.

Rokita, now Indiana attorney general, nevertheless applauded Republican convention delegates for nominating Morales and Morgan County Republican Chairman Daniel Elliott, of Martinsville, for state treasurer.

This convention proved that Hoosiers are fed up with the establishment, woke corporations, and leftist media who run the Indianapolis swamp, Rokita said. Morales and Elliott will be partners of mine to drain it, and save our Hoosier values for generations to come.

Elliott prevailed in a four-candidate race for the GOP state treasurer nomination. The final round of voting saw Elliott top Elise Nieshalla, a member of the Boone County Council, by just three votes to claim the party's nod.

Schererville-native Pete Seat received the fewest votes in the first round of state treasurer balloting and was eliminated from subsequent consideration.

The convention also nominated State Auditor Tera Klutz, of Fort Wayne, for a second full term.

Indiana GOP Chairman Kyle Hupfer said hes excited to campaign with the dynamic team of Morales, Elliott and Klutz leading up to the Nov. 8 general election.

Under Republican leadership, Hoosiers have come to expect great government service from these offices, and with our slate of candidates, this legacy of leadership will undoubtedly continue, Hupfer said.

The Democratic candidates for each statewide office were nominated without opposition Saturday.

They are Destiny Wells, of Indianapolis, for secretary of state; Monroe County Treasurer Jessica McClellan, of Bloomington, for state treasurer; and ZeNai Brooks, of Indianapolis, for state auditor.

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Another hot day was expected Tuesday across the Region.

High temperatures Monday were in the low 90s and were expected to rise Tuesday into the upper 90s, said Matt Holiner, Times Media Co. chief meteorologist.

Valparaiso could see a high of 98 degrees Tuesday, which would smash the current high temperature record of 93 degrees set in 2002, he said.

Wind gusts of up to 25 mph were expected Tuesday, but breezy conditions likely will provide only minimal relief from the heat, Holiner said.

The heat index, or "feels like" temperature, could reach the low 100s in many areas by mid to late afternoon, he said.

Heat indexes could top 100 degrees in much of Lake and Newton counties and northern parts of Porter and LaPorte counties, according to the National Weather Service. Southern areas of Porter and LaPorte counties and Jasper County could see heat index values of 95 to 100 degrees.

Heat index values would have to reach 105 degrees for the weather service to issue a heat advisory, but Tuesday will still be an exceptionally hot day, Holiner said.

Those planning to spend time outside should wear lightweight, light-colored clothing, drink plenty of water and take breaks from the heat in the shade or air-conditioned environment, he said.

Residents should check on relatives and neighbors and never leave young children and pets unattended in vehicles, the weather service said.

A cold front was expected to arrive Tuesday night and could result in isolated showers and storms through Wednesday morning, Holiner said.

Wednesday's high temperatures were expected to rise into the mid-80s, which is normal for this time of year, he said.

Those in need of cooling centers Tuesday have several options.

In Hobart, cooling centers are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Lake County Public Library, 100 Main St., and the PCC Meeting Room, 705 E. Fourth St. Residents age 55 and older can go to the Maria Reiner Center, 705 E. Fourth St.

In Merrillville, residents can visit Town Hall at 7820 Broadway and the Community Center at 6600 Broadway to cool off.

In Gary, three cooling centers open when temperatures reach 88 degrees or higher. The Ambridge Mann Pavilion at 2822 W. Fourth Ave. is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Calumet Township office at 1900 W. 41st Ave. is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Brother's Keeper is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In Hammond, the Jean Shepherd Community Center, 3031 J.F. Mahoney Drive; Lost Marsh clubhouse, 1001 129th St.; and Hammond Civic Center, 5825 Sohl Ave., are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Whiting Public Library, 1735 Oliver St., and the Whiting YMCA, 1938 Clark St., are serving as cooling centers.

In Valparaiso, the Valparaiso Family YMCA at 1201 Cumberland Crossing Drive, the Banta Senior Center at 605 Beech St. and the Porter County Public Library at 103 Jefferson St. serve as cooling centers.

Michigan City is offering cooling centers from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. at the Michigan Fire and Training Center, 2510 E. Michigan Blvd., and Michigan City Police Department, 1201 E. Michigan Blvd.

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GARY  Gary officials have confirmed the first case of monkeypox in the city.

An individual was tested in an outpatient lab of Methodist Hospitals Northlake on June 18. The patient was confirmed to have monkeypox June 19, Gary Health Commissioner Dr. Roland Walker said.

The case is one of just two confirmed positive cases in the state.

The disease was confirmed in Chicago at the start of June. It was identified in a man who had recently traveled to Europe.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are currently 15 cases in Illinois and one in Ohio. As of June 12, the City of Chicago had identified seven cases.

We have confirmation that the city of Gary has one of the first reported cases of monkeypox in the state of Indiana. Considering our proximity to Chicago, it shouldnt come as a surprise to anyone that this virus has spread to the city of Gary, Mayor Jerome Prince said during a Tuesday morning news conference.

The individual who tested positive at Methodist Northlake is currently isolating. Walker said the Gary Health Department believes they have traced everyone the individual came in contact with.

Monkeypox symptoms include a blistering rash, fatigue, fevers, chills, headaches, muscle aches, backaches and swollen lymph nodes. It is spread through person-to-person contact with body fluids, sores or contaminated items like clothing and bed sheets. Individuals are considered infectious until all of the rash scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has grown.

Walker said the disease often spreads through close, direct contact such as kissing, cuddling or sexual intercourse. Pregnant women can spread the disease to their unborn child, and humans can contract monkeypox from animals through direct contact or by eating meat from an infected animal, Walker said.

There are currently 113 cases of monkeypox in the U.S. and 2,525 globally.

According to the CDC, monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when there were two outbreaks of a "pox-like" disease among research monkeys. It has largely been identified in African countries; however in 2022 monkeypox was reported in several countries not usually linked to the disease.

Monkeypox is not a pandemic. It is endemic in Africa," Walker said. "Monkeypox is a rare disease similar to smallpox, and it is caused by the monkeypox virus.

So far in 2022, monkeypox has been identified in 37 countries.

Walker said that because of privacy concerns, he could not disclose if the patient tested at Methodist Northlake has recently traveled internationally.

The strain of monkeypox identified in the 2022 outbreak is the West African strain, which is "rarely fatal," according to the CDC. The disease has a greater impact on young children, people with a history of eczema, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding and individuals with a weakened immune system.

There is no reason to be alarmed, and there is absolutely no reason to panic," Prince said. "We do not believe that monkeypox is as easily transmitted as COVID-19."

Walker urged individuals displaying monkeypox symptoms to contact their primary care provider and remain isolated.

There are currently no treatments specifically for the monkeypox disease; however antiviral drugs and vaccines used to protect against smallpox, such as tecovirimat, may be used to treat monkeypox infections, according to the CDC.

During the news conference, Walker also gave an update on the city's current COVID-19 status. He said that Gary has a seven-day average of eight cases and that Lake County has a seven-day average of 101.

On Monday, "we had one of our better days" with only three positive COVID-19 cases reported in Gary, Walker said.

However, with the rise of at-home tests, Walker said, some of the data could be inaccurate because individuals are not reporting positive tests. He urged residents to report all positive tests, get vaccinated and boosted, and continue to mask during large, indoor gatherings.

Positive cases can be reported at coronavirus.in.gov or by calling the Indiana Department of Health at 866-211-9966.

Last week, the CDC declared that all children over six months of age are eligible for the vaccine. Walker said the Gary Health Department got a shipment of vaccines over the weekend.

While things are improving, the pandemic has not ended, Walker said.

Prince said the city will continue to provide updates on both the COVID-19 pandemic and the monkeypox outbreak.

I know that we have been through a lot together, and I remind you, as I did in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, that we will continue to make progress ... as long as we all stay calm and watch out for each other, Prince said.

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HAMMOND  Lake County's tourism agency is looking to unload its John Dillinger memorabilia, potentially for a new museum downstate.

The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority maintained a collection of artifacts for a John Dillinger Museum that was originally located in the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond and later in the Crown Point Courthouse before it abruptly closed in 2017. It displayed artifacts like Dillinger's lucky rabbit foot, a Tommy Gun, a Public Enemy No. 1 wanted poster and a neon marquee sign of the Biograph Theater that Dillinger was gunned down outside of by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents.

The SSCVA is looking to sell artifacts tied to the Depression-era bank robber. It's been in talks with Dillinger's great-nephew Jeff Scalf, who approached the Mooresville Town Council about establishing a new Dillinger museum there.

Dillinger grew up in Mooresville but has deep ties to the Region. He served time in the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, was charged with murdering Patrolman William O'Malley during a robbery of the First National Bank of East Chicago and escaped from the Lake County Jail in Crown Point, where much of the Johnny Depp movie "Public Enemies" was filmed.

Scalf has put in an offer to buy the SSCVA's Dillinger artifacts, such as a death mask, vintage newspapers and a casket used to transport Dillinger's remains. He asked the Mooreseville Town Council to supply a venue for a museum and $2,000 a month to cover operating expenses.

He may bring one or two other partners in on the project and expressed interest in coming up with a visual inspection of the items, such as bloodstained clothes Dillinger wore when he died and the wooden gun he whittled to escape the "inescapable" Lake County Jail, which was modern at the time.

The Old Sheriffs House Foundation, which operates the Old Sheriffs House and Jail that Dillinger famously escaped from in downtown Crown Point, had inquired about taking over the collection. It just drew massive crowds and was featured on national television after Sheriff Lillian Holley's car was returned there last year.

But the issue for a nonprofit is the licensing fee that has to be paid to Scalf as a living relative, SSCVA Board President Andy Qunell said.

The SSCVA had been paying $18,000 a year in licensing fees for the Dillinger artifacts, which is part of the reason why it decided to get out of the museum business.

"We have to pay $1,500 to him a month until 2033," Qunell said. "We've been paying him since the early 2000s, and we gave him a lump sum back then. We paid $400,000 for the collection and have to pay them a licensing agreement."

The licensing fees make it costly to display the artifacts in a museum, which narrows the market of prospective buyers, he said.

"Whoever takes the collection has to pay this guy," he said. "Not a lot of people want to go see the thing. I don't think it's truly a draw."

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The Nobel Peace Prize put up for auction by the Russian journalist Dmitri A. Muratov to help Ukrainian refugees sold Monday night for $103.5 million to an anonymous buyer, obliterating the record for a Nobel medal.

The proceeds from the auction will go to UNICEF to aid Ukrainian children and their families displaced by Russias invasion of their country.

Mr. Muratov is the editor in chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which suspended publication in March in response to the Kremlins increasingly draconian press laws. In an interview with The New York Times last month, he said he was inspired to auction the award he won last year by the Danish physicist Niels Bohr, who sold his medal to help civilian relief in Finland following the Soviet invasion of that country in 1939.
Today, many of the worlds top physicists are embarking on this cosmic quest, whose far-reaching reverberations span our understanding of reality and the meaning of existence. It would be the crowning achievement of thousands of years of scientific investigation, since ancient civilizations also wondered how the universe was created and what it is made of. The ultimate goal of the theory of everything is to combine Einsteins theory of relativity with the bizarre world of quantum theory.

In essence, the theory of relativity delves into the cosmoss most massive phenomena: things like black holes and the birth of the universe. The domain of relativity is nothing less than the entire cosmos. Quantum theory, on the other hand, explores the behavior of matter on the most minuscule level. Its domain encompasses the tiniest particles of nature, those hidden deep inside the atom.

Unifying these two spheres of thought into a single and coherent theory is an ambitious undertaking, one that builds on and adds to the work that Einstein began. But to do this, scientists must first determine a crucial truth: where the universe came from.

This is where our two spheres of thought pointedly diverge.

If we subscribe to Einsteins relativity theory, the universe is a bubble of some sort that is expanding. We live on the skin of this bubble, and it exploded 13.8 billion years ago, giving us the Big Bang. This birthed the singular cosmos as we know it.
The idea came to Harry James Hanson and Devin Antheus while both were attending church  their word to describe a drag show.

This particular performance took place in December 2017, on the evening of the winter solstice, at Aunt Charlies Lounge, a beloved queer dive bar in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. The two, both now 32, were struck that night by the performers ages, which they guessed averaged about 60.

Wisconsin natives and friends since they met on Myspace when both were 14, Mr. Antheus and Mx. Hanson, who uses a gender-neutral courtesy title and pronouns, had a lack of queer elders growing up, Mx. Hanson said.
Ukraine has struck three Russian drilling rigs in the northwestern Black Sea, a Russian official said on Monday.

The Russian state news agency Tass reported that the leader of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, said the strikes had hit natural gas rigs belonging to Chernomorneftegaz, the breakaway Crimean arm of Ukraines national gas company. He later said that gas supplies were not affected by the strike.

So far, gas is being supplied as usual, Mr. Aksyonov told Rossiya-24 TV channel, according to Tass. There are no risks whatsoever to Crimeas gas supply.
He will pay for this, in part, he says, by raising taxes on the 4,000 wealthiest families, removing some corporate tax benefits, raising some import tariffs and targeting tax evaders.

A core part of his platform is a plan to shift from what he calls Colombias old extractive economy, based on oil and coal, to one focused on other industries, in part to fight climate change.

Some of Mr. Petros policies could cause tension with the United States, which has poured billions of dollars into Colombia in the last two decades to help its governments halt the production and export of cocaine, to little effect. Mr. Petro has promised to remake the countrys strategy on drugs, shifting away from the eradication of the coca crop, the base product in cocaine, to emphasizing rural development.

Washington has already begun moving in the direction of prioritizing development, but Mr. Petro could clash with U.S. officials on precisely what this looks like.

Mr. Petro has also pledged to fully implement the 2016 peace deal with the countrys largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and to slow the destruction of the Colombian Amazon, where deforestation has risen to new highs in recent years.
We de-occupied this region, he said in an address to a conference of international policy experts in Italy. And they want to do it again.

Last month, the Ukrainian army appeared to have pushed Russian forces back as far as to the border in some parts of the region. But the area around Kharkiv is crucial to Russias efforts elsewhere in Ukraine.

The Russian military is using railway lines around Kharkiv to supply troops that appear to be preparing for an assault on the city of Sloviansk, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a research group based in Washington. Military analysts have also said that Russian forces are trying to keep the Ukrainian army occupied along the long front line so that it does not focus all of its energy on the battle for the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk or its counteroffensive in Kherson.

Last week, Amnesty International issued a report accusing Russian forces of launching a relentless campaign of indiscriminate bombardments against Kharkiv. In May, the United Nations International Organization for Migration estimated that 23 percent of the more than eight million Ukrainians who have had to flee to other parts of the country were from the Kharkiv region.
Of Love and Rage, Alexei Ratmanskys story ballet based on a romance novel from Greek antiquity, is having a Sleeping Beauty moment. The works premiere took place in California in March 2020, just before the pandemic shutdown, when much of the world was forced into a stillness that felt, in some ways, like a deep, lingering sleep.

But on Monday it was as if the spell had been lifted when this ballet, ambitious and bold with luscious, full-bodied dancing, had its New York premiere with American Ballet Theater. In doing so, it woke the company up, too. Last week  Ballet Theaters first performances in residence at the Metropolitan Opera House since 2019  the dancers were stuck in a musty production of Don Quixote. With Of Love and Rage, they were transformed with a renewed sense of purpose and promise.

Though the ballet is inspired by Callirhoe, an early Greek prose work by Chariton of Aphrodisias (written between the first century B.C. and the second century A.D.), this two-act production emits a grandeur that is fresh, sweeping along with airy, big dancing that doesnt overlook delicacy of position, whether a relaxed wrist in a raised arm or the low lunge of a sprinter just about to take off. Theres a lot of story, perhaps too much  this is not the moment to skip the programs synopsis  but Ratmansky relies on dancing to carry it along, not phony, overly choreographed acting.
In January, a protest group called the Alliance Against Antisemitism Kassel accused ruangrupa of supporting the Israel boycott, and also queried the inclusion in the exhibition of a Palestinian art collective called The Question of Funding, who the alliance said were also boycott sympathizers. Soon, German newspaper columnists and politicians picked up those concerns.

In May, Felix Klein, the official in Germanys government in charge of combating antisemitism, criticized a lack of Israeli artists in the Documenta lineup. The same month, intruders sprayed graffiti in the exhibition space that was scheduled to host The Question of Fundings work.

By the exhibitions preview days last week, when journalists and art-world insiders take a look at the show, the debate about antisemitism seemed to have receded. But the issue raised its head again at the events opening ceremony on Saturday, when President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany mentioned it repeatedly in a speech. I want to be frank: I wasnt sure in the past few weeks whether I would be here with you today, he said. Artistic freedom was at the heart of Germanys constitution, he added, and criticism of Israels government was allowed. But, he added, it was striking that no Jewish artists from Israel are represented at this important exhibition of contemporary art.

Steinmeier did not mention Peoples Justice, which had only been installed on Friday, the final day of the Documenta preview. Yet just two days later it was at the center of the debate.

The pressure on Documentas organizers is unlikely to end with the works removal. Charlotte Knobloch, a former president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday that antisemitism was not taken seriously as a problem in the run-up to the event, and more action was also needed at the exhibition. Sabine Schormann, Documentas director general, should resign, Knobloch said, and the wider organization should undertake some soul searching.
Rodgers created the playlists for the performances, which happen throughout the night, interspersed with live D.J.s (the daytime is for more relaxed skating). A longtime New Yorker, Rodgers coined his skate style as a 12- or 13-year-old on a brief sojourn in Los Angeles, when he tore up the town with other kids, performing little routines. I had this wobbly leg way of skating, he said. He still does, even though Im going to be 70. And it looks cool.

His crew stood out even then: We used to skate to jazz, he said, recalling their grooves to the guitarist Wes Montgomerys 1965 classic Bumpin on Sunset.

Fast forward 30 years, and Rodgers had largely hung up his skates. But he has been so energized by his association with the DiscOasis, which approached him for the Los Angeles event, that it reignited his devotion. Now on tour in Europe, he has been conjuring minirinks wherever he goes, one hotel ballroom at a time.

They lift up the rugs for me and create a big dance floor, he said. I can skate in a little square. Theres nobody in there, because I skate at such weird hours  4 or 5 in the morning. (He doesnt sleep much. As befits a disco-era fashion legend, he also has personalized skates  orange, green, iridescent  which got stuck in customs on their way to Europe. His favorite are a classic pair of black Riedells.)

Even for someone well-versed in skate culture, the Los Angeles version of the DiscOasis offered some lessons. Most skaters only stick to the rink for about 45 minutes, Rodgers said. The space around Wollman has a nonskate dance floor and a few Instagram-ready installations inspired by his music. The giant half-disco ball stuffed with oversize wedding bouquets, pearls and askew mannequin legs, for example, is supposed to symbolize Madonnas Like a Virgin, which he produced.
Dingley and Reids English translations, moreover, are gorgeous, bountiful: Its those sourish, mind-bending little berries that are to blame, those tiny wee spheres, those tablets that flood your head with all kinds of nonsense, that give you that tight feeling in your chest. Bilberries, bletherberries that befuddle the mind, babbleberries that give you a kick. A passage like this is clearly Scottish without any sacrifice of intelligibility. One alternative might have been for Dingley and Reid to use their vibrant, Scottish-tinged English for Belarusian and a more formal standard English for Russian.

Sia and Avi are the sister and brother at the center of the novel. Avi is short for Aviator, while Sia gets her name from the Egyptian god who personified perception and was associated with writing and papyrus. Their father, known simply as Faither (the Scots word), revels in being the author-god of his children. He brings them into existence, he chooses their language, he assigns the names of everything in the world. He is Adam and Pygmalion and Prospero rolled into one, intoxicated by power: A little girl that he at first imagined and then created. A language that sprouted from his seed.  He too was the Faither of a language, and that gave him the desire to carry on living.

He goes to great lengths to have the foreign name Sia written in his daughters passport, though it is not in the book of standard names at the registration office. The clerk there protests that the outlandish name will be with the girl until shes dead. Like people, Faither says, languages die  and ah feel mair vext fur langages. Sia is to be the keeper o the message.

Image

At the camp, Sia and Avi are treated by the Doctor, a self-hating Belarusian who has developed a regime of medication, speech therapy and even surgery to cure the children of their native language. He denies the distinctive aura of a mother tongue, so charged with early childhood memories: Substitute one word for another, clear one word away or scrap it entirely. Thats exactly what he does sometimes, and nothing changes. The office becomes no bigger, the white walls do not acquire a red tinge, that random fly does not start reciting poems. He is an anti-poet.

Above all, he is obsessed with pronunciation. His great discovery is a throat bone that makes Belarusians speak Russian as a primeval, animal growl. In real life, being betrayed by ones accent cuts both ways: During the current Russian invasion, Ukrainians have reportedly rooted out Russian covert operatives by having them pronounce the word palianytsia, which refers to a type of bread.
His model, then, is not Jean Valjean, the virtuous and slightly dull reformee, but the relentless Inspector Javert, who pursues him. It is the false bad guys, Melchor has decided, on the cusp of adulthood, who must be the real good guys.

From this point forward, Even the Darkest Night alternates past and present in novella-size chunks, taking us deeper inside the detective even as our aperture on Terra Alta widens. For a while, an imbalance between the movements threatens to topple the novel. The plot that carries Melchor from the jailhouse to his first laurels as a cop (and thence to abrupt, barren, inhospitable, wild and isolated Terra Alta) is irresistible, a wonderful commingling of scrupulous realism and scandalous invention. As Melchors wife, the Camus-loving librarian Olga, says of Hugos sentimental, melodramatic, moralistic novel: I couldnt stop reading it. Thats the strange thing. It seemed, more than the novels I do like, to resemble reality. A sweet relief haunts Olga and Melchors courtship given the harrowing path leading up to it; her laugh lines and well-worn jeans are the realest thing here.

Its not easy to write hard-boiled, though, and for a while, the present-tense murder case feels like a way of marking time. Melchor may write elegant reports, but he is observant more in the way of a novelist than of a detective: foothills, windmills, the rounded tips of shoes. And so the investigation runs out of steam, proceeding from motive rather than clue. Maybe the killers were looking for something that wasnt in the house, we just dont know what that might have been. Maybe they found it, because the old couple told them where it was, or maybe they didnt, because the couple withstood the torture or because there was nothing to find.

The strictures of genre become a resource, though, once Melchor decides to take the law into his own hands. As questions of retribution draw ever closer to those of truth and reconciliation, the two halves of the novel, past and present, begin to strike sparks. Is Melchor, with his taste for vengeance, in fact a false good guy? At the very least, the villains he unearths seem discomfitingly sympathetic, riven by their own past and their countrys. By the time the final plot twist comes down, in a bravura confession scene, the very point of the unraveling has become a mystery. Maybe its fair that I should pay for what Ive done, the villain concedes. I dont know. You decide.

In ways that echo and amplify Cercass more formally unified efforts, Even the Darkest Night is a journey to the end of justice, the messy and contingent place where there can be two contradictory truths, two equally fair reasons. And in cracking the moral certainties that hold him aloof from his fellow perpetrators or victims of history, Melchor emerges a palpably different detective than when he went in. Its hard not to want to see where life, and Terra Alta, will take him next.

Garth Risk Hallbergs novel City on Fire will premiere as an Apple TV+ series in 2023.
10. And finally, a 661-pound stingray may be the worlds largest freshwater fish.

Found in the Mekong River in Cambodia, a 13-foot-long stingray marks a win for conservation efforts in the area. It weighed in at 15 pounds heavier than a giant catfish discovered in Thailand in 2005.

Zeb Hogan, the biologist who found the giant stingray, called its discovery in Mekong remarkable, as the region is heavily populated and the river faces a ton of challenges, including lots of fishing. But the existence of the ray is an indicator of the ecosystems health and, Dr. Hogan hopes, will serve as a reminder of how special the river is.

Have a massive evening.

Allison Zaucha and Eve Edelheit compiled photos for this briefing.

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Asia buys up Russian oil

A surge in demand from Asia for discounted Russian oil is making up for the significantly lower number of barrels being sold to Europe, dulling the effects of the Wests sanctions.

Most of the additional oil has gone to two countries: China and India. Chinas imports of Russian oil rose 28 percent in May from the previous month, while India has gone from taking in almost no Russian oil to buying more than 760,000 barrels a day.

The oil is being sold at a steep discount because of the risks associated with sanctions imposed to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Still, soaring energy prices have led to an uptick in oil revenue for Russia, which took in $1.7 billion more last month than it did in April.
Eastern town becomes flash point in Ukraine

As Russia has seized control of much of the Donbas region, a small town has become a focus point where Ukraines leaders say the fate of the countrys Donbas region could be decided.

The town, Toshkivka, was claimed by Russian forces over the weekend  a troubling development for Ukrainian forces defending a swath of territory roughly 30 miles wide that has come to be known as the Sievierodonetsk pocket. The pocket is about three-quarters encircled by Russian forces, leaving only a small gap where Ukrainian forces can shuttle supplies and troops into their remaining population areas of the Donbas.

Ukraines battle to hold the Sievierodonetsk pocket centers on a strategy of drawing Russian forces into close urban combat to reduce the impact of their overwhelming firepower. If Russia severs the supply lines into Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk, it could claim complete control over the Luhansk region, which forms roughly half of the Donbas.
Did Biden drop the ball on TikTok and China?

An explosive report from BuzzFeed raises more questions about whether TikTok, the Chinese-owned video app, exposes the personal information of Americans to Beijing. It also puts President Bidens China policy under a new spotlight as Chinas economic power continues to grow  and the Biden administration continues to take a decidedly softer approach than its predecessor. (The New York Times has not independently verified BuzzFeeds reporting.)

Heres a quick TikTok recap. During Donald Trumps presidency, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., which reviews outside investments with national security in mind, opened an investigation into TikTok. Trump used its results to issue an executive order forcing ByteDance, TikToks Chinese parent, to divest the company. That is what led TikTok to strike a deal to sell to Oracle and Walmart. But when Biden took office, he did not enforce the divestment order  and ByteDance didnt sell. Concerns about Chinas access to personal information stored by TikTok, though, remained. Earlier this year, TikTok was working on a deal to store its data on Oracle servers to please regulators, and the BuzzFeed article says such a deal is still in the works.

Chinese engineers had access to data on Americans as recently as this year, BuzzFeed reports. Everything is seen in China, a member of TikToks trust and safety department reportedly said in a meeting last September, and U.S. employees had to ask their Chinese colleagues to explain how data from U.S. users was flowing. The article also cites concerns by experts that, whatever measures ByteDance puts in place, China could still force it to hand over data. It hasnt hesitated to push tech companies around in recent years.
In 2019, many auto experts said Tesla was making a big mistake by deciding to sell cars only online, arguing that whatever bad feelings people had about dealerships they were essential to the car business.

But the strategy, which was adopted by Elon Musk, Teslas chief executive, and combines direct sales with a limited number of stores and service centers, appears to be proving the naysayers wrong. The company dominates the fast-growing electric car market even as other manufacturers struggle to sell cars because of a shortage of computer chips.

Teslas approach, which has been copied by other young electric carmakers like Rivian and Lucid Motors, could eventually have major ramifications for the auto industry. Most carmakers and auto dealers are earning rich profits right now because the shortage of new cars has pushed up prices for both new and used cars. Still, car companies and dealers may have to eventually adopt some of the changes Tesla has introduced to win over buyers who have grown used to buying cars online.
La Pirana survived, though. In part out of gratitude for this fact, Ive chosen it as the subject of the review in which I resume the longstanding New York Times practice of rating restaurants on a four-star scale. We suspended the stars back in March 2020, and although the pandemic hasnt ended, people are going to restaurants.

La Pirana, which is open only on Saturdays and Sundays, packs more joy into two days than most restaurants do into a week. Unless you have arrived before noon, you will probably have to wait before you can go inside, where the food is. While you are still outside, you will not be alone. Some experienced customers bring lawn chairs. Others sit on the curb. There is a near constant flow of foot traffic between the trailer and two nearby bodegas, and a great deal of general milling about in the street.

There will be people whove driven to La Pirana from Westchester County, or Connecticut, or New Jersey. They will be clustered in and around their minivans and S.U.V.s, passing pulpo, mofongo and lechon asado back and forth through open windows.

When your turn inside comes, you will climb a short, rickety staircase and enter La Piranas world.
Chris, Dean and I would say, But thats real, Spencer said. This is a moment when Nani is feeling pressure, when Lilo is feeling out of place and trying to figure out who she is.

The filmmakers also prioritized realism in another area: A more realistic depiction of female bodies. Lilo is short and chubby, and Nani has thick thighs and what Sanders called a real pelvis.

Roberts, the scholar, said the film was a notable departure from typical Disney fare. The decade before, the princesses had fully developed adult womens bodies, she said. But we allow Lilo to still be childlike. Her face is very innocent. We have a body thats not a size 0  we have girlhood fully embodied in our dimensions.

Lilo is allowed to be a child personality-wise, too: One of the tropes in these movies is that kids are always smarter, better, more tuned in than the adults, who are played as buffoons, Sanders said. But we didnt do that. Lilo bites a little girl, she throws a fit and she says things that are just nonsensical. Shes acting like an actual kid.

Lilo, Roberts said, was the rare female Disney animated lead without a love interest (unless you count her passion for Elvis). In choosing to focus instead on Lilo and Nanis sisterhood, the studio finally accomplished the reversal of an archetype that had been established as far back as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, she added.
Feeding the planet already accounts for roughly one-quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. Animal protein, in particular beef and dairy cattle production, has a more consequential carbon footprint than vegetable farming. Nevertheless, in a rapidly warming world, should we be increasing agricultures contribution by moving some of it indoors?

We have little choice, say proponents. With the global population expected to grow by 25 percent to nearly 10 billion people by 2050, food production will need to increase by 60 percent to 100 percent. With freshwater supplies and arable land dwindling and droughts exacerbated by climate change threatening to turn Californias fertile heartland into barren desert, where will this additional food come from?

For the first time in the 10,000-year history of agriculture, societies dont need to be blessed with fertile soil and favorable weather to farm. Already, greenhouses have helped turn the tiny, soggy Netherlands, a country with a land mass just two-thirds the size of West Virginia, into the worlds second-largest agricultural exporter by value, sending $10.7 billion in tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers annually to its neighbors, including Germany, Belgium and Britain. Arid Egypt has dedicated thousands of acres to new greenhouses to grow a variety of vegetables.

Just how rapidly this growth is happening in the United States is hard to quantify, because the U.S. Department of Agriculture does not track controlled environment production. But controlled environment agriculture investments in 2021 were up 77 percent over the previous year, and they have more than tripled since 2019.

Jonathan Webb, the 37-year-old chief executive of AppHarvest, a start-up that recently built a 60-acre controlled environment greenhouse in the heart of Appalachian Kentucky, told Yahoo Finance last month that 20, 30 years from now, youre going to be growing most fruits and vegetables at scale globally in a controlled environment. AppHarvest raised $475 million from venture capitalists and other investors before going public last year with an initial valuation of $1 billion. This, mind you, is a company that sells tomatoes.

Neil Mattson, who leads Cornell Universitys controlled environment agriculture research group, believes that, at least when it comes to the most perishable produce, such as tomatoes and greens, greenhouses are the future, even with their climate problem.
No elected Israeli prime minister ever had a shorter tenure than Naftali Bennett. On Monday, after a string of parliamentary defections, he announced that he would dissolve Parliament and call new elections, Israels fifth since 2019, after serving barely a year in office. On Tuesday, he WhatsApp-ed me from Tel Aviv for a phone call about his record.

Length, he suggests, should not be mistaken for quality.

In a world where domestic polarization is becoming almost the single biggest challenge, the experiment succeeded, he says of his government. By the experiment, he means the most ideologically, ethnically and religiously diverse government in Israels history, encompassing Orthodox Jews and conservative Islamists, hip Tel Avivians and former generals, the nationalist right and the peace-camp left  an example of true diversity and inclusion that Israels critics rarely recognize.

That itself was a triumph, even if short-lived, and even if chiefly united by a shared loathing of Benjamin Netanyahu. Does Bennett consider the former prime minister a danger to democracy? In the past year we restored decency, honesty and even meeting commitments, Bennett says, only somewhat sidestepping the question. A sober-minded Israeli journalist I know gives Netanyahu five-to-one odds of returning to power.
As the days of summer pass, the antlers get longer on moose, elk and other animals in the cervid, or deer, family. The animals spend most of the summer grazing, their head weaponry sheathed in fuzzy velvet. But by the end of September, the antlers will be ready for action as male suitors gather to posture, preen and butt heads  a behavior that some people may have in mind when they use the phrase locking horns.

It is not always just a figure of speech. Every now and then, grisly photographs appear on the internet: A buck walking around with the head of another male tangled in its antlers. Three white-tailed deer dead in a stream, antlers twisted in a complicated tangle. Two moose, locked together in death, blocking a ditch.

Beyond the shock value, these stories provide an insight into an odd quirk of evolution: Fierce-looking antlers exist primarily for display. When animals try to use them as weapons, the consequences can be dire.
Image President Biden spoke about Covid-19 vaccines for children younger than 5 on Tuesday from the White House. Credit... Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

President Biden on Tuesday marked what White House officials have cast as the unofficial beginning of the U.S. vaccination campaign for children younger than 5, visiting a site in Washington, D.C., to meet with families and children as some shots were administered.

Finally, some peace of mind, Mr. Biden said at the White House after the event in remarks celebrating the availability of shots, calling it a monumental step forward in the nations pandemic response.

Federal health officials, eager to showcase the progress the United States has made in fending off deadly cases of the coronavirus, have worked for weeks to prepare parents and doctors for immunizing the youngest children, a population of around 20 million that has waited 18 months after adults first became eligible for the shots.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late last week cleared the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech shots for young children following votes from independent expert committees.

Mr. Biden said that he met with around 17 families at the Washington vaccination site with children who had already received a shot or were about to. A federal website, vaccines.gov, had updated on Tuesday to show locations where vaccines could be found, he said.

Arsema Desta, a registered nurse in Washington helping with local pediatric vaccination efforts, appeared with the president at the White House and said that shots for young children were important because it allows multigenerational households to ensure everyone in the household is vaccinated.

The Biden administration has already made at least 10 million doses available to states and health providers and expects to lean heavily on pediatricians and primary care offices to administer them, as is typical in pediatric vaccination campaigns. Pharmacies and community health centers, among other providers, will also vaccinate the youngest children.

But as of a deadline last week, only 2.5 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTechs vaccine had been ordered, around half of what the federal government offered, as well as about 1.3 million Moderna doses, about a quarter of what was offered.

Dr. Deborah M. Greenhouse, a pediatrician in Columbia, S.C., said that as of Tuesday afternoon, her practice had still been waiting on about 1,000 doses to arrive. She said parents she had encountered so far fell into three categories: those knocking down the doors to get the vaccine; those interested but needing some consultation; and families completely resistant.

She said that lower uptake among 5- to 11-year-olds was a real concern she and colleagues had, but were hoping to overcome with younger children. Only around 37 percent of kids in the age group have received at least one dose.

Pediatricians are especially important for families in making the choice, she said.

Once its rolling out and you have a lot of the early adopter groups, once their kids have gotten the vaccine and theres more data and bigger numbers, thats whats going to attract families waiting to decide, she said.

Speaking at the White House Tuesday, Mr. Biden again warned of a lack of funding for the federal pandemic response, something he suggested could hinder future attempts to quash possible surges. Federal health officials have pleaded for months with lawmakers to provide more money for vaccines and treatments. But negotiations have stalled, even turning publicly hostile at a Senate hearing last week.

Mr. Biden also appeared to take a swipe at Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. Health providers in the state were allowed to belatedly order shots for young children last week after Florida became the only state to decline preordering, White House officials have said. State officials denied that they had reversed their position and said that they had maintained a policy to allow orders after F.D.A. authorization.

Lets be clear: Elected officials shouldnt get in the way and make it more difficult for parents who want their children to be vaccinated and want to protect them and those around them, Mr. Biden said. This is no time for politics. Its about parents being able to do everything they can to keep their children safe.
In a brief visit to New Mexico this month, President Biden sought to ease some of the concerns. He said the Federal Emergency Management Agency would cover 100 percent of the cost of temporary housing and cleanup in the first 90 days after damage from the wildfire, up from the standard 75 percent. FEMA has distributed about $3.4 million to about 1,000 families, the agency said.

Mr. Biden also expressed support for a bill to create a fund to cover losses from the fire, money considered crucial in a place where much of the destroyed property was uninsured. But he warned that such a measure would probably need help from Republicans in the Senate. The office of the minority leader, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, did not respond to a request for comment.

Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez, a Democrat who represents the fire-plagued region of northern New Mexico in Congress, said she welcomed the administrations moves to increase federal aid, and to take steps to mitigate potential flooding in national forests, which is critical as the Southwests monsoon season starts, bringing the danger of flooding and mudslides to the fire-scarred landscape.

But like many of her constituents, Ms. Leger Fernandez said she was furious to learn that the Forest Service had started both blazes. How could you make the same mistake twice in the same neighborhood? she asked.

Tanya Kwan Simmons, whose home in the village of Cleveland was destroyed, said insurance was expected to cover a small fraction of her familys losses, related to mortgage payments and other liabilities. The bank will get its money, then were left with a piece of useless dirt, said Ms. Kwan Simmons, 53.
The committee showed evidence that Mr. Trump was directly involved behind the scenes in trying to put forward the alternate slates of Trump electors that he hoped could replace the electors awarded to Mr. Biden through his victories in swing states like Arizona and Georgia.

Mr. Trump called Ronna McDaniel, the Republican National Committee chairwoman, to ask her to talk to one of his outside lawyers, John Eastman, who was on the line, about the plan, Ms. McDaniel said in a video clip of her deposition to the committee. Mr. Trump wanted Ms. McDaniel, she said, to talk to Mr. Eastman about the importance of the R.N.C. helping the campaign gather these contingent electors if Mr. Trumps legal challenges were successful.

As Mr. Trump and Mr. Eastman were undertaking the scheme, the White House Counsels Office held a meeting with Mr. Trumps personal lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani; the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows; and other aides, where they were told that the plan was not legally sound, according to recorded testimony from a West Wing aide, Cassidy Hutchinson.

The committee did not say whether Mr. Trump was told about the meeting with the White House Counsels Office. Last week, the panel revealed that Mr. Trump had been told by Mr. Eastman that the broader effort they were pursuing to convince Vice President Mike Pence to block or delay certification of the Electoral College count in Mr. Bidens favor had no legal basis  a fact that legal experts say could help prosecutors build a criminal case against Mr. Trump.
Democrats are quietly hoping a Bell victory on Tuesday will make a Luria win more likely in November.

There are echoes of Youngkin in a contest to take on Spanberger.

In another year, the new boundaries of Representative Abigail Spanbergers Seventh District would be seen as shoring up her standing as the incumbent Democrat, shifting her from a Republican-leaning map to a slightly Democratic one. But this isnt another year, and six Republicans are lined up to take advantage of the conditions favoring their party nationally and take a crack at her.

Bryce Reeves, a state senator and former narcotics officer and Army veteran, calls himself the front-runner, but he has plenty of competition. Crystal Vanuch, chairwoman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, has latched onto the winning social themes of Gov. Glenn Youngkins race in 2021: parental control of education and barring critical race theory from schools. Derrick Anderson is a combat veteran and former Green Beret, and Yesli Vega, a sheriffs deputy, headed Latinos for Youngkin last year.

Two Black Republicans aim for House seats in Georgia.

Runoffs in Georgia for Republican nominees for House seats feature two Black candidates with different prospects and different stories.

In Southwest Georgias new Second District, Republican leaders would very much like Jeremy Hunt, a moderate-sounding political newcomer, to take on the endangered, longtime incumbent Black Democrat, Sanford Bishop.

But first, Mr. Hunt, a West Point graduate and former Army captain who served at Fort Benning, must get past Chris West, an Air National Guard officer who is white and running on photos showing him with Mr. Trump.
While other countries have centralized public health authorities, public health in the United States is largely managed at the state and local level. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the federal public health agency, does not have the authority to compel states to act  it cannot, for example, investigate outbreaks of infectious disease in a particular state unless it has an invitation from state officials to do so.

State health agencies and the C.D.C. have a long history of working collaboratively, but throughout the pandemic, elected state officials  particularly those in red states  have been reluctant to cede control. When the C.D.C. asked states to sign agreements to share vaccination data with the federal government, for example, a number of states balked.

In its report, the panel cited archaic approaches to aggregating data as one reason so many Americans have died. It called on Congress to give the Department of Health and Human Services authority to establish and enforce standards for data collection.

Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, a member of the panel, who served as C.D.C. director in President George W. Bushs administration, said the pandemic had taught us that we have to have a coordinated, integrated public health network that functions  and the only way that we can bring that together is by having a national approach.
Several military analysts say Russia is at peak combat effectiveness in the east, as long-range artillery systems promised to Ukraine from NATO countries are still trickling in. Ukraine is hugely outgunned, they say, a stark fact that President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged last week.

The price of this battle for us is very high, he said in a nightly address. Its just scary. And we draw the attention of our partners on a daily basis to the fact that only a sufficient number of modern artillery for Ukraine will ensure our advantage and finally the end of Russian torture of the Ukrainian Donbas.

President Biden on Wednesday announced an additional $1 billion in weapons and aid for Ukraine, in a package that includes more long-range artillery, anti-ship missile launchers, and rounds for howitzers and for the new American rocket system. Overall, the United States has committed about $5.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24.

Mr. Zelensky and his aides have appealed to the West to supply more of the sophisticated armaments it has already sent. They have questioned their allies commitment to the Ukrainian cause and insisted that nothing else can stop Russias advance, which even by conservative estimates has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers.
Proponents hoped to win final Senate approval for the legislation before a scheduled Fourth of July recess, with the House expected to follow suit quickly. The National Rifle Association almost immediately announced its opposition, and the vast majority of Republican officeholders fell in line behind it.

But both Senate leaders swiftly issued statements of public support, suggesting that public sentiment in favor of toughening gun laws, particularly in the wake of recent mass shootings, had finally broken through in Congress. Mr. McConnell called the bill a common sense package of popular steps that will help make these horrifying incidents less likely while fully upholding the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, said he expected the legislation to pass by the end of the week.

This bipartisan gun safety legislation is progress and will save lives, he said ahead of the vote. While it is not everything we want, this legislation is urgently needed.

The flurry of negotiations was spurred by two mass shootings in the last two months: a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, which left 19 children and two teachers dead, and a racist attack that killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket. The human devastation brought the issue of gun violence back to the forefront on Capitol Hill, where years of efforts to enact gun restrictions in the wake of such assaults have fallen short amid Republican opposition.

Since 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats announced their agreement on a bipartisan outline less than two weeks ago, lead negotiators  Senators Christopher S. Murphy of Connecticut and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, both Democrats, and John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, both Republicans  have spent hours hammering out the details and toiling to keep their fragile coalition together.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Maine may not exclude religious schools from a state tuition program, the latest decision by a conservative majority that has increasingly favored the role of religion in public life.

The vote was 6 to 3, with the courts three liberal justices in dissent.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., writing for the majority, said the ruling did not require states to support religious education. But states that choose to subsidize private schools, he added, may not discriminate against religious ones.

In separate dissents, Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Stephen G. Breyer expressed dismay at the direction of the court in taking up matters of religion in the public sphere. Justice Sotomayor said the decision was another step in dismantling the wall of separation between church and state that the framers fought to build.
WASHINGTON  The Air Force has detained a U.S. service member in connection with an attack in April at a small American military base in northeastern Syria that wounded four U.S. troops, the service said on Tuesday.

An airman was taken into custody at an undisclosed location in the United States on Thursday in relation to the attack on the Green Village base in Syria, Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokeswoman, said in a statement. The airman, having completed a tour of duty in Syria, had returned home, she said.

After reviewing the information in the investigation, the airmans commander made the decision to place him in pretrial confinement, Ms. Stefanek said in the statement.
The committee showed evidence that President Donald J. Trump was directly involved in trying to put forward the alternate slates of Trump electors that he hoped would replace legitimate electors awarded to Joseph R. Biden Jr.

The fourth hearing held by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol focused on the elaborate efforts by President Donald J. Trump and his allies to hijack one of the foundations of democracy: the process behind the peaceful transfer of power.

The committee laid out evidence showing how Mr. Trump led a campaign that played out in two related ways: applying direct pressure on Republican officials in swing states to reverse his loss, and pursuing a plan to name alternate slates of electors intended to tilt the Electoral College result in Mr. Trumps favor.

The hearing demonstrated the human costs of the waves of threats and intimidation set off by Mr. Trump and his supporters as they pressured state officials and election workers to find a way to deprive Joseph R. Biden Jr. of his victory.

Here are four takeaways.

Trump was directly involved in the fake electors plan.

Image A slate of fake electors shown during Tuesdays hearing. The House committee put forth evidence of President Donald J. Trumps personal involvement in the fake elector scheme. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times

The committee showed evidence that Mr. Trump was directly involved behind the scenes in trying to put forward the alternate slates of Trump electors that he hoped could replace the electors awarded to Mr. Biden through his victories in swing states like Arizona and Georgia.

Mr. Trump called Ronna McDaniel, the Republican National Committee chairwoman, to ask her to talk to one of his outside lawyers, John Eastman, who was on the line, about the plan, Ms. McDaniel said in a video clip of her deposition to the committee. Mr. Trump wanted Ms. McDaniel, she said, to talk to Mr. Eastman about the importance of the R.N.C. helping the campaign gather these contingent electors if Mr. Trumps legal challenges were successful.

As Mr. Trump and Mr. Eastman were undertaking the scheme, the White House Counsels Office held a meeting with Mr. Trumps personal lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani; the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows; and other aides, where they were told that the plan was not legally sound, according to recorded testimony from a West Wing aide, Cassidy Hutchinson.

The committee did not say whether Mr. Trump was told about the meeting with the White House Counsels Office. Last week, the panel revealed that Mr. Trump had been told by Mr. Eastman that the broader effort they were pursuing to convince Vice President Mike Pence to block or delay certification of the Electoral College count in Mr. Bidens favor had no legal basis  a fact that legal experts say could help prosecutors build a criminal case against Mr. Trump.

G.O.P. elected officials pushed the electors scheme.

Image An aide to Senator Ron Johnson tried to arrange for the senator to provide fake electors from Michigan and Wisconsin to Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 6, 2021. Credit... Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times

The committee showed that Republicans in Congress were pushing the alternate electors plan even on Jan. 6, hours before the days violence, which had the effect of stopping the certification of the electoral count as Mr. Pence was whisked away from the mob.

According to text messages obtained by the committee, an aide to Senator Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin, told an aide for Mr. Pence on Jan. 6 that Mr. Johnson wanted to give Mr. Pence a list of Trump electors from Michigan and Wisconsin, two states won by Mr. Biden.

Johnson needs to hand something to VPOTUS please advise, Sean Riley, an aide to Mr. Johnson, texted an aide to Mr. Pence, according to messages released by the committee.

What is it? Chris Hodgson, the aide to Mr. Pence, replied.

Alternate slate of electors for MI and WI because archivist didnt receive them, Mr. Riley said.

Do not give that to him, Mr. Hodgson texted back.

A spokeswoman for Mr. Johnson, Alexa Henning, said on Twitter that he had no involvement in the creation of an alternate slate of electors and had no foreknowledge that it was going to be delivered to our office.

The communications with the vice presidents office, she said, were staff to staff and the documents were never sent to Mr. Pence.

On the morning of Jan. 6, another Trump ally on Capitol Hill, Representative Andy Biggs, Republican of Arizona, reached out to Rusty Bowers, the speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives and a Republican, to see if he would support the decertification of Arizonas electors for Mr. Biden.

I said I would not, Mr. Bowers recounted telling Mr. Biggs.

Trumps allies could not produce evidence of election fraud.

Image From left, Rusty Bowers, the speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives; Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state; and Gabriel Sterling, another Georgia election official, at the hearing on Tuesday. Credit... Kenny Holston for The New York Times

The committee showed examples of how Mr. Trump and his allies knew that there was no evidence that the election had been stolen.

Mr. Bowers recounted how Mr. Giuliani acknowledged to him at one point in a phone call that they could not find the evidence of fraud that they needed.

He said, Weve got lots of theories, we just dont have the evidence, Mr. Bowers recalled Mr. Giuliani telling him. And I dont know if that was a gaffe or maybe he didnt think through what he said, but both myself and others in my group, the three in my group and my counsel, both remembered that specifically, and afterwards, we kind of laughed about it.

At another point, Mr. Eastman was pressing Mr. Bowers to embrace the plan to push a slate of Trump electors from Arizona despite the states certification of Mr. Bidens victory there. Mr. Bowers said that he questioned how he could legally participate in the scheme and that Mr. Eastman responded by saying, Just do it and let the courts sort it out.

Threats and intimidation started well before Jan. 6.

Image Shaye Moss, an election worker in Georgia, faced a torrent of harassment after she became the target of a right-wing smear campaign. Credit... Shuran Huang for The New York Times

The public pressure that Mr. Trump and his allies put on state election officials resulted in the officials being targeted in frightening and intimidating ways by Trump supporters.

Shaye Moss, an elections worker in Fulton County, Ga., who, along with her mother, had been falsely accused by Mr. Giuliani of committing election fraud, provided a dramatic portrait of the harassment that Mr. Giulianis false claims had spawned. She described the racist messages she received on Facebook.

A lot of threats, wishing death upon me, telling me that, you know, Ill be in jail with my mother and saying things like, Be glad its 2020 and not 1920, Ms. Moss said.

She said that the entire episode, and the attention that came with it, had turned my life upside down.

I dont want anyone knowing my name, she said. I dont want to go anywhere with my mom because she might yell my name out over the grocery aisle or something. I dont go to the grocery store at all. I havent been anywhere at all. Ive gained about 60 pounds. I just dont do nothing anymore. I dont want to go anywhere.

She said she loved her job as an election worker but ultimately quit.

Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state, recounted how the home of his sons widow had been broken into.

Mr. Bowers was the target of protests and threats as his daughter was dying. And he described how his office had received over 20,000 emails and tens of thousands of voice mail messages and texts that made it impossible for him and his staff to communicate.

It is the new pattern or a pattern in our lives to worry what will happen on Saturdays because we have various groups come by and they have had video panel trucks with videos of me proclaiming me to be a pedophile and a pervert and a corrupt politician and blaring loudspeakers in my neighborhood, Mr. Bowers said.

Chris Cameron contributed reporting.
Over nearly an hour, Rusty Bowers, a Republican who is the speaker of the House of Representatives in Arizona, testified on Tuesday in painstaking and emotional detail about the pressure campaign he faced over several weeks after the Nov. 3, 2020, election, in which President Donald J. Trump lost the state.

Mr. Bowers, speaking slowly, also told the House select committee about the harassment he experienced outside his home from Trump supporters in the weeks before Jan. 6, 2021, in which he was called a pedophile and other epithets.

Mr. Bowers, who spoke about the Constitution in reverential and spiritual terms, had tears in his eyes as he described his gravely ill daughter enduring some of the harassment outside their house. (She died in late January.)
While she is not a household name, Shaye Moss, who is scheduled to appear as a witness at the Jan. 6 committees hearing on Tuesday, did have an unfortunate brush with prominence in the weeks after the 2020 election.

With her mother, Ruby Freeman, Ms. Moss worked on Election Day processing ballots in Atlanta for the Fulton County elections board  in a hotly disputed swing state  and found herself ensnared in one of the many conspiracy theories that surrounded the presidential race.

In early December 2020, a lawyer for President Donald J. Trump played a segment of surveillance footage from their vote-counting station for a Georgia Senate committee. The lawyer falsely claimed that the spliced clip showed Ms. Moss and Ms. Freeman pulling 18,000 fraudulent ballots from a suitcase and illegally feeding them through voting machines.
The president also addressed, albeit obliquely, a controversy in Florida, where the state declined to preorder vaccine doses for young children. Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican with presidential ambitions, said last week, We are affirmatively against the Covid vaccine for young kids.

On Tuesday, Mr. Biden said that elected officials shouldnt get in the way and make it more difficult for parents.

Florida has since allowed health care providers to order the shots, but in many places  including Florida and New York  the vaccines did not yet appear to be widely available. Some pediatricians offices reported that they had not yet received the shots or that they planned to deliver the vaccine mostly at regularly scheduled well visits.

Yet clamoring from families is limited. The reasons for parental vaccine hesitation are varied. Two years into the pandemic, many families have become resigned to living with the virus, and a majority of American children have already been infected, mostly experiencing mild symptoms.

While the vaccines remain highly effective at protecting against severe illness and death, they have become less effective at preventing infection as the virus has mutated, leading to disappointment and some cynicism from the public toward the injections. Some parents have encountered widespread misinformation about risks, while others are concerned about rare side effects, or simply do not want their children to be among the first to get a newly accessible vaccine.
Russian oil is being sold at a steep discount because of the risks associated with sanctions imposed to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Even so, soaring energy prices have led to an uptick in oil revenue for Russia, which took in $1.7 billion more last month than it did in April, according to the International Energy Agency.

Although it remains to be seen how much Asia will continue buying the oil as Europe weans itself off Russian energy, the shift has allowed Moscow to maintain its production levels and defy analysts expectations that its output would plunge. And it has offered another indication of the support Russia enjoys from China, whose top leader, Xi Jinping, has offered to deepen cooperation with Moscow despite its invasion of Ukraine.

Russian crude sales dropped by 554,000 barrels a day to Europe from March to May, while Asia refiners increased their take by 503,000 barrels a day  nearly a replacement of one for one. Of those, 165,000 barrels are going to China from eastern Russian ports instead of the Baltic and Black Sea ports that traditionally supply Europe. Russian sales to India reached a record 841,000 barrels a day in May, eight times the annual average from last year.

J.P. Morgan commodities experts estimate that China can buy an additional million barrels of Russian crude a day as China recovers from Covid and attempts to add to its strategic crude stockpiles on the cheap. Russian Urals crude is selling for a $30 discount to Brent.
When tugboats towed Jumbo Floating Restaurant away from Hong Kong last week, the giant vessels owner sent the public its best wishes for a brighter future.

That future now lies at the bottom of the South China Sea.

The 260-foot, three-story eatery capsized and sank as it was being towed through deep water over the weekend, its owner, Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises, said on Monday. No one was injured, it said.

Jumbos loss reverberated across Hong Kong, a Chinese territory where the neon-lit colossus  built in the style of an imperial palace  had sat in the same harbor for nearly half a century. Generations of Hong Kongers celebrated weddings and cut business deals there over Cantonese fare like crispy pork belly and wok-baked mud crab. For many people in the former British colony, the restaurant symbolized a period of local history more optimistic than the present.
South Koreas science and technology took a great step forward today, said Lee Jong-ho, the governments science and technology minister, announcing the missions success during a nationally televised news conference. We have laid the foundation for launching our own satellites when we want to, no longer having to depend on other countries rockets and launch stations.

For decades, South Korea has nurtured an ambition to join the elite club of nations capable of launching communications and other satellites in orbit using domestic rockets. It also wanted to send its own surveillance satellites into space to better monitor a growing nuclear and missile threat from North Korea.

After multiple delays and failures, South Korea put a satellite into orbit for research and development purposes for the first time in 2013. But the two-stage rocket used for that mission  Naro  was built jointly with Russia. South Korea has spent nearly 1.9 trillion won ($1.5 billion) to develop the 200-ton Nuri, also known as the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-II, with its own technology.

In the first test launch of Nuri last October, the rocket pushed a 1.5-ton dummy satellite to space 434 miles above the Earth. But it developed a problem in its oxidizer tank and burned out sooner than planned, failing to give the dummy satellite enough speed to stabilize and stay in orbit. 
LYSYCHANSK, Ukraine  The womans mission was simple: she was going shopping, and she would not be deterred. Svitlana Zhyvaga just needed to cross a bridge.

But this was not just any bridge. The residents who lived nearby said it was mined. Ukrainian soldiers warned others that the bridge had been shelled and would likely be shelled again. But last Friday morning Ms. Zhyvaga, 54, woke up just before sunrise, climbed a ladder and walked across what is currently one of the most dangerous river crossings in the world.

I am actually a thrill-seeker, Ms. Zhyvaga said.

The bridge spans a roughly 250-foot-wide portion of the Siversky Donets River, which separates the eastern Ukrainian cities of Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk. It would be completely impassable if not for several ladders connecting a collapsed section to the road above.
MELBOURNE, Australia  The high-profile criminal trial of a man charged with sexually assaulting a government employee inside Australias Parliament House has been delayed after a judge ruled that a journalists public comments could prejudice jurors.

The government employee, Brittany Higgins, 27, shook the political establishment last year when she said in a televised prime-time interview that a colleague had assaulted her in the defense ministers office while she was sleeping after a night of drinking. Her allegations prompted protests across Australia by women demanding changes in a male-dominated political culture in which sexual misconduct had long been tolerated  a reckoning which experts say contributed to the conservative governments ousting in a federal election last month.

In August, the police charged Bruce Lehrmann, then 26, with one count of sexual intercourse without consent in the Higgins case. Mr. Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty and has maintained that no sexual activity took place during his encounter in 2019 with Ms. Higgins, who resigned from her government job before going public with her allegations.
Rioting erupted in Belfasts Catholic neighborhoods last week when rumors spread that Mr. McKee had died. He is halfway through a three-year sentence for illegal possession of arms.

Martin McGuinness, Provisional I.R.A. commander in Londonderry, hailed the outcome of the hunger strike as a victory, especially for Mr. McKee.

A fusillade of gunfire struck the Armagh police headquarters today, and bombs ripped the Town Council building in Strabane, on the Irish Republic border, and a tire firm in Dungannon, 40 miles southwest of Belfast.

The Dungannon bomb, planted by two gunmen, caused no injuries, but two persons were hospitalized after the Strabane explosion, police said.
In the departments criminal division, Mr. Rosenbaum has also been instrumental in the prosecution and deportation of Nazis living in the United States and Jews who committed atrocities against their own people in concentration camps. In recent years, his portfolio has taken on a broader mission, as former Nazis die off, and now includes a wider array of human rights cases, at home and abroad.

The new team will include Justice Department staff members and outside experts. In addition to offering assistance to Ukrainian officials, the department said in a statement that Mr. Rosenbaum would investigate potential war crimes over which the U.S. possesses jurisdiction, such as the killing and wounding of U.S. journalists covering the unprovoked Russian aggression in Ukraine.

This line of work is, in a sense, part of Mr. Rosenbaums family business. His father, Irving, escaped Dresden in 1938, the year of the Kristallnacht attacks against Germanys Jewish population, joined the U.S. Army, eventually served in an intelligence unit that interrogated German soldiers  and collected information at the Dachau concentration camp.

Mr. Rosenbaum was set to retire before Mr. Garland asked him about a week ago to lead the new unit. He agreed immediately, according to a senior Justice Department official with knowledge of the exchange.

The department is also assigning additional personnel to expand its work with Ukraine and other partners to counter Russian use of illicit financial methods to evade international sanctions  detailing a Justice Department expert to advise Ukraine on fighting kleptocracy, corruption and money laundering, officials said.

We will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable, added Mr. Garland, whose own family immigrated to the United States after fleeing antisemitic pogroms in Eastern Europe in the early 1900s.
To his supporters, that would herald the return of strong right-wing governance to Israel, after a turbulent year in which the country has been run by a fragile coalition of eight ideologically incompatible parties  including both Jewish and Arab lawmakers  who were united only by their opposition to Mr. Netanyahu himself.

To his detractors, however, the prospect of his return is worrying. A new Netanyahu government would most likely hinge on the support of a far-right party that could demand control of the ministry overseeing the police force in exchange for its loyalty.

Mr. Netanyahus own party has spent the past year undermining the concept of Jewish-Arab partnership, hinting at radical changes to the judicial system, and even at times promising revenge on its political opponents.

Mr. Netanyahu himself has denied that he would use a return to government to disrupt his prosecution, implying that he would be happy to stand trial  a process that is expected to last for several more years  while running the country.

But one Likud lawmaker and Netanyahu loyalist, Shlomo Karhi, said earlier this year that he would work to replace the attorney general, the senior government official who oversees Mr. Netanyahus prosecution. And another Likud lawmaker and former minister, David Amsalem, said earlier this month that anyone who does not intend to change, first and foremost, our sick and biased judicial system, has nothing to look for in the Likud.
JERUSALEM  Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of Israel is moving in the coming days to dissolve Parliament and bring down his own government a year after taking office, a process that will automatically trigger new elections within a few months. The dissolution bill has been scheduled for a preliminary vote on Wednesday, with a final vote coming most likely on Monday.

Mr. Bennetts coalition had started out with a razor thin majority, and recently lost it, making it impossible to govern.

A new election will give Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels longest-serving prime minister and now the leader of the opposition, the chance for a comeback even as he is battling corruption charges. Still, his path back to power is far from assured.
U.S. House 2nd District

Jeremy Hunt is facing Chris West in a runoff election. The winner will advance to the general election to challenge Representative Sanford Bishop Jr., a moderate Black Democrat whose district map was tweaked to the benefit of Republicans this year.
State Senator Jen Kiggans faces Jarome Bell, a Navy veteran who has called for the execution of people convicted of voter fraud. The winner will advance to what is expected to be one of the nation's most competitive House races in November against Representative Elaine Luria, a two-term Democrat.
The Inuden (Dog Den), a $150,000 architectural wonder built exclusively by hand by a Japanese palace carpenter, is probably the ultimate dog house money can buy.

Cultural Property Structural Plan Co., Ltd. is an Osaka-based company that specializes in the preservation and repair of cultural property buildings and seismic reinforcement design. It employs experts in traditional architecture who use centuries-old shrine and temple-building techniques. Recently, the Japanese company announced a new project, codename Inuden, which involves building an exclusive dog house out of high-quality natural materials, using the same traditional techniques used on Japanese shrines, temples and castles.

The Inuden Project aims to create and sell the ultimate dog house using the beauty and technology of Japanese shrines and temples by experts in traditional architecture, the company writes in a press release. The Inuden is made using genuine techniques by carpenters and sheet metal craftsmen involved in the construction of shrines and temples.

Based on the Zenshu-sama style, one of the several styles used in Japanese shrine and temple architecture, the Inuden is made of hand-carved Japanese cypress, has a beautiful curved roof covered with stretched copper plates and features a granite base.

In terms of amenities, well, there really arent any that blow you away. Its just the minimalistic style and the idea that a team of restoration experts that justifies the absurd price tag. $150,000 is more than most people for a home, even in these troubled times, but its not the price that makes the Inuden so exclusive.

Because this very special dog house is built by hand by a team of specialists who are also busy with restoring various architectural wonders, like palaces and temples, only one unit per year is going to be produced and sold. It is this rarity that drives its exclusivity through the roof.

Cultural Property Structural Plan Co., Ltd. will start taking orders for the Inuden dog house on September 1st, and, as far as we understand, if they get more than one confirmed order, a lottery will be held to determine who gets the one and only house being built this year.



In the past, we wrote about literal dog mansions featuring all sorts of luxurious amenities that cost up to $200,000, but none of them were as rare as the Inuden, so in terms of availability, I can definitely see why the Japanese canine palace is being hailed as the ultimate dog house.
Chris Rosello

Chris Rosello, who was executive VP & head of public affairs for Londons HSBC, will join MetLife on July 5 as VP and leader of its federal government relations unit.

Based in Washington, he will report to Susan Greenwell, senior VP and head of global government relations.

At HSBC since 2017, Rosello led the planning, coordination and execution of the banks federal, state and regulatory strategy.

Earlier, he did a seven-year stint at Wells Fargo as senior VP-federal government relations, where he helped the bank implement Dodd-Frank provisions.

Rosello also handled legislative affairs at the US Treasury Dept. and was a staffer on the House Financial Services Committee.

New York Stock Exchange-listed MetLife reported a four percent spurt in first-quarter premiums/fees to $12.8B. Net income soared to $606M from $290M a year ago.
AFTER a successful return in March of this year, the FAILE Vintage Club made their presentation of cheques recently in The Hazel, Rahugh.

This years beneficiaries were Offaly Hospice Building Foundation and the Irish Wheelchair Association Ballinagar.

Roger Scally, FAILE chairperson, welcomed the recipients and thanked them for their fundraising efforts. He also thanked the many participants who took part and helped out on the day.

It was great to see everyone out and about after the last two difficult years due to Covid, said Mr Scally.

Dr Humphrey OConnor, Offaly Hospice, thanked everyone and also commended the FAILE group, who as volunteers, do so much good work to help and support the charities involved.

The Offaly Hospice Building Fund committee appreciate the work that goes into fundraising and sincerely thank them, said Dr O'Connor.

Josephine Kenny, Irish Wheelchair Association, also thanked the group and wished them well in the future.
RAHAN man Tom O'Hanlon is in the running to scoop another top astrophotography award.

The former Tullamore and Midland Tribune staff photographer has been chosen for the next stage of the prestigious Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition, run by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS).

Two photographs taken by Mr OHanlon have been shortlisted in the Back on Earth category in the competition, which aims to find the best astro-photographs taken in Ireland over the past year.

While a high-profile judging panel will select the overall winning entries in the coming weeks, an online vote was launched today (June 21), so members of the public can also have their say.

All shortlisted images  including Tom OHanlons photographs  can now be viewed on the Reach for the Stars website, www.reachforthestars.ie where the public can also cast their vote for their favourite image.

Mr O'Hanlon chose Croghan Hill for one of his entries, entitled 'The Pilgrim's Path'. He explained: Every year on St Patrick's Day there is a pilgrimage to the hill where locals climb the hill and drink from the holy well. I knew that there would be still be people climbing it well into the evening and thought that they would give a great contrast to the moon.

He was concerned about cloud cover but luckily the moon emerged just in time for him to capture his image.

He ventured outside the county for the second photograph, 'Copper Coast Starlight' (see below). He was inspired by the Copper Coast of Waterford when he visited family in the county.

I was blown away by its beauty but also by how harsh and rugged this coastline can be. I visited various beaches and coves but Ballydwan was one of my favourites and really made me want to capture a mesmerising milky way above this natural beauty.

In March he booked accommodation in Annestown and spent the weekend shooting his astophotography.

Over 160 images were submitted to the competition in total this year, with 40 selected for the shortlist and public vote.

There are two categories in the competition: Out of this World and Back on Earth. The Out of this World category features images depicting elements of astronomical interest. The Back on Earth category features astro-landscape images that depict an element of astronomical interest and elements such as nature, cityscapes, land or water.

The winning images selected by the judging panel and the public vote will be announced in July, and an outdoor exhibition will be staged by DIAS in August to showcase the best images.

Alongside the Public Choice Award for the winner of the online public vote, an overall winner and runners-up will be chosen by the judging panel for Reach for the Stars, which includes: Professor Peter Gallagher, Head of Astrophysics at DIAS; Brenda Fitzsimons, Picture Editor of The Irish Times; John Flannery, Vice-President of the Irish Astronomical Society; and Niamh Breathnach, Director, Alice PR & Events.

This year will also see the inclusion of a special prize to mark the 75th anniversary of the School of Cosmic Physics. One photograph that depicts the work of one or more of the research areas carried out at the School will be selected for the prize.

Last year Mr O'Hanlon was runner-up in in the inaugural Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition run.

His image, North Star Jesuit House, was a series of tacked images, taking in The North Star, which demonstrates the Earths rotation, captured at Tullybeg House  the former Jesuit boarding school in Rahan.

The image was selected as a runner-up by an expert judging panel following a rigorous judging process of over 180 entries.

In addition to his success with this image, one of the Rahan man's other entries Skytrain Lough Boora was also selected to feature in an exhibition of the judges 20 top-rated images.

Commenting today Professor Peter Gallagher of DIAS said: Im delighted to return for a second year of judging for the Reach for the Stars competition. The standard of entries has been excellent again this year. Its amazing what the photographers have been able to capture, from stars and galaxies that are millions of light years away to stunning scenery back on earth.

Im particularly excited to be involved in selecting this years special prize to mark the 75th anniversary of DIASs School of Cosmic Physics. Ill be looking for an image that depicts the work of one or more of the research areas carried out at the School. This includes research on everything from solar and stellar physics and space weather to planetary science, geological formations and star formations.

We hope the people of Offaly will get involved again this year in the public vote and cast their vote for their favourite image.

Also commenting today, Dr Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: The online public vote to select the winner of the Public Choice Award is a great way to introduce people to the world of astrophotography. Some of the entries capture very complex astronomical features, while others depict stunning Irish landscapes to showcase different aspects of astronomy.

It will be a difficult task for people to choose a favourite in the online public vote  and for the judging panel to select an overall winner. Im so impressed by the level of creativity and skill we have amongst photographers in Offaly and right across the country.

Votes for the Public Choice Award are restricted to one vote per person, and voting will close at midnight on Sunday, July 3 next.

DIASs Reach for the Stars competition is being run in partnership with The Irish Times and is sponsored byAlice PR & Events. The Irish Astronomical Society are initiative supporters.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said it is not true to claim that taking a knife to emergency services at Our Ladys Hospital, Navan will improve healthcare services.

Speaking to a public meeting in Navan on Monday evening, Ms McDonald said that its possible to change the Governments decision on the downgrading by a thousand cuts of Navan hospital.

Controversy has surrounded the future of the Co Meath hospital after the HSE announced that Navan hospitals intensive care unit and emergency department will be closed in favour of a 24/7 medical assessment unit and a local injuries unit.

The HSE has said Navan hospital will still see around 80% of the 25-30 patients it currently sees daily through these units, but more specialised care will be diverted to hospitals such as Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda in Co Louth.

Politicians have raised concerns about the proposal, including the Minister for Justice and Meath East TD Helen McEntee  who said that the HSE had not addressed serious questions around capacity.

Addressing the public meeting in Navan, Ms McDonald said: Stripping back access to healthcare robs you of the confidence that you are entitled to: to live a full and a secure life. And we know that access to healthcare, sometimes in a timely fashion, can be the difference between life and death. Thats a fact.

I have no doubt that people here in this meeting this evening could give countless examples of where that facility in Navan hospital was essential to you and your loved ones.

The Sinn Fein leader criticised the confusion between different arms of the State over what was due to happen at Navan hospital, after the HSE announced last week a phased change planned for the hospital.

The following day, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly released a statement saying the government had not agreed on a position regarding the HSEs proposal.

The HSE says one thing, the Minister says another, Ms McDonald said. With no one, it seems to me, taking responsibility and that is unacceptable when it comes to a decision that will have very real impacts on the lives of the people of Navan and indeed the surrounding region.

The downgrading by a thousand cuts of the emergency services at Navan hospital is madness. Particularly at a time when emergency departments across the state are under such severe pressure.

What we need now, to put it very directly, is a bit of cop on. A bit of cop on for Minister Donnelly in particular. I think its important that he hears the voices in this room.

Clinicians at Navan hospital, including the clinical director of the hospital Gerry McEntee, have said that there are serious risks to patient care in how ill-equipped the hospital is to treat ill patients.

I dont know if the public really realise, but this cohort of critically ill patients who by virtue of the fact of coming into Our Ladys Hospital, Navan, are not provided with the best opportunity of survival, he said.

Speaking to an Oireachtas committee last week, HSE chief Paul Reid said that the proposals for Navan hospital would strengthen healthcare services overall.

He said that as part of the proposal, there would be more advanced surgical care and supports from the Mater [hospital] into Navan. So thats more surgery, more theatre utilised by specialists coming from the Mater into Navan.

That is a much strengthened hospital, he said, adding that Navan hospital would be much safer for the community it serves.

The HSEs chief operations officer Anne OConnor added: The reality is in healthcare, unfortunately, its not sustainable or safe to try and provide every service everywhere.

Ms McDonald told Mondays meeting: We cant achieve the radical improvements badly needed in our health service by taking a knife to emergency services in Navan hospital.

Thats actually a false argument. The idea that this course of action would somehow improve care, either in Navan or at another location is simply not true. And the clinicians in Drogheda bear witness to that. Because they tell us already that they struggle to cope.

What hope if services in Navan are to cease?

The example of Limerick should be really taken on board  Ennis closed, Nenagh closed, St Johns closed and when people objected to that, just as you object to the stripping of services at Navan hospital, they were told not to worry.

That in fact, the situation would improve  well my friends, it has not.

University Hospital Limerick is consistently at the top of the heap in terms of wait times, trolley counts, and so on. So it is not acceptable for the HSE or for the Minister to take a decision like this in such a confused and such a cavalier fashion. Not to listen to your voices.

Whats needed in Navan, whats needed across the system, is more capacity, not less.

Whats needed in Navan and across the system is more accessible care, not less of it.

Ms McDonald said the message to the Government from the meeting was: This needs to stop now. I think he needs to appreciate the depth of feeling here in Navan, and accept that the people here simply will not stand for the course of action he proposes.

Sinn Fein is due to table a Private Members motion in the Dail tomorrow night on the topic, Ms McDonald told the meeting.

A demonstration is also planned in Navan for July 9.

I think we can force the Government to do the right thing here, Ms McDonald said.
More than 200 women and girls travelled to Great Britain for abortions last year, an increase compared to 2020, the latest figures show.

The figures show that 206 women and girls, with address in the Republic of Ireland, sought abortion care, with a further 161 women and girls travelling from Northern Ireland.

The data was published by the UK Department of Health and Social Care on Tuesday.

The number of pregnant women and girls seeking abortion care from Northern Ireland significantly dropped, with 371 travelling in 2020, compared to 161 last year.

The number of women who travelled from Ireland to the UK for an abortion increased last year compared to 2020. A total of 206 women travelled for abortion care in 2021, an increase of ten. The statistics were published by @ONS  Cate McCurry (@CateMcCurry) June 21, 2022

However, the number of women and girls travelling from the Republic increased by ten compared to 2020, when there were travel restrictions in place.

The vast majority of women from the Republic were over 12 weeks pregnant and ineligible for termination services in Ireland. Some 50% were foetal anomaly cases.

Ireland has the highest number of women who travelled to England for abortion care services, accounting for 33%.

The number of women who travelled from Northern Ireland accounted for 26%.

Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) chief executive Niall Behan said: Legal abortion has transformed reproductive healthcare in Ireland, but 206 women travelled to the UK for abortion care in 2021.

This tells us, unequivocally, that the law is not good enough. The 2018 Act is denying care to women and girls and forcing them to seek abortion services in the UK. This is an unacceptable injustice.

We know from our clients that exclusion from access to termination services in Ireland is traumatising.

We know also that denial of care because of the gestation limit disproportionately burdens the most vulnerable, marginalised and disadvantaged. Exclusions from essential healthcare cause harm.

No-one should have to leave Ireland for abortion care.

We know from our services that the law is also forcing some who present at under 12 weeks of pregnancy to travel outside of Ireland for abortion services.

The mandatory three-day wait means that a person who presents after 11 weeks and four days cannot be provided with abortion care in Ireland.

Irelands abortion laws, which were legalised following a referendum in 2018, are under review.

A medical abortion is available up to 12 weeks, but abortions thereafter are only allowed if there is a serious threat to the life or health of the mother or where two clinicians agree there is a fatal foetal abnormality.

The figures also show that three teenagers under the age of 16 travelled from the Republic to Great Britain for an abortion, while five teens aged 16 to 17 also travelled.

A total of 11 teenagers under the age of 18 travelled from Northern Ireland for an abortion last year.

The figures show that Dublin had the highest number of women and girls travelling to Britain, with 75 women from the capital. A total of 27 women and girls registered their address in Cork, while the third highest was in Galway, with 14 women travelling to England and Wales.

All abortions were privately funded.

Grainne Teggart, deputy programme director in Northern Ireland for Amnesty International UK, said: The numbers published today are not just statistics, they represent journeys no one should be forced to make.

Abortion healthcare should be accessible to all who need it, close to home. Today is a timely reminder of the urgent need for commissioned services.

We call on the Secretary of State to move swiftly to bring to an end the denial of this essential healthcare.

Choice must be respected and protected  the only way to do this is by urgently establishing fully-resourced, commissioned services.

Abortion legislation in Northern Ireland was liberalised in 2019 following laws passed by Westminster at a time when the powersharing government at Stormont had collapsed.

But while individual health trusts in Northern Ireland offer services on an ad-hoc basis, the Department of Health has yet to centrally commission the services due to a political impasse at Stormont on the issue.

The Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis recently enacted a law that empowered him to directly commission abortion services in the region.

Between March 2020 and January 31 2022, some 2,794 abortions took place in Northern Ireland.

Mr Lewis recently told a Westminster committee that the abortion services in Northern Ireland fall far short of what is required by law.

Women and girls are still unable to access high quality abortion and post-abortion care locally in Northern Ireland, the same way women can in the rest of the UK, Mr Lewis added.

Thats because the Northern Ireland Department of Health has failed to make progress on this issue.

The commissioning of full abortion services consistent with the conditions set out in 2020 regulations has not taken place.

Every day women and girls are taking place in vulnerable situations and I will not allow this situation to continue.

Eilis Mulroy, from the pro-life campaign group, said: The introduction of abortion on request in Ireland following the 2018 referendum is undoubtedly the reason for the dramatic 93% decline in the number of Irish abortions taking place in England.

Sadly, however, the number of abortions now happening in Ireland is significantly higher than the numbers of women who travelled to England in the past for abortions year on year.

There was a 70% increase in abortions in the first two years of the law taking effect.

Nonetheless, abortion campaigners continue to try and shift the focus away from this reality by arguing that the fact that some women still travel to England for abortion is a justification for widening the grounds for abortion here even more.
Irelands leader, deputy leader and opposition party leaders have paid tribute in Parliament to the late Austin Currie  civil rights leader, SDLP co-founder and Irelands first minister for children.

During the tributes given in Dail Eireann on Tuesday, Mr Currie was commended for his patriotism, his courage, and his contribution to Ireland as an influential Irish public figure.

Mr Currie, who died in November 2021, was also described as the spark for the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland, and for spearheading policies around protecting children as the Irish States first minister for children.

In the Dail gallery to hear the tributes were Mr Curries wife Annita, his children, including his daughter, Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie, and his grandchildren.

Former taoiseach Enda Kenny was also in the Dail chamber.

In 1970 Mr Currie and John Hume were among a group that founded the SDLP. Mr Currie then served in the powersharing Northern Ireland Executive in 1974 as minister for housing, local government and planning.

In 1989 he was elected TD for Fine Gael in the Dublin West constituency, and served as a junior minister for childrens rights from 1994 to 1997 as part of the Rainbow coalition  a role that spanned the departments of health, education and justice.

#OireachtasTV  Watch LIVE coverage from the #Dail as Expressions of sympathy for the late Austin Currie are delivered  view on Twitter, Facebook & on the Oireachtas TV channel #seeforyourselfhttps://t.co/nvmIPSvgwV https://t.co/5bXgwJEtit  Houses of the Oireachtas  Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) June 21, 2022

Taoiseach Micheal Martin told the Dail that Mr Currie served the state with honour and integrity as childrens minister.

Austin Currie was a major figure among that singular generation of Northern leaders.

He was one of a group of extraordinary individuals from ordinary backgrounds, who were forced by the degradations of the Northern state, at that time, to confront this appalling injustice.

They recognised the power of peaceful protest and they understood that social and economic justice and progress would only be secured through the force of argument.

Alongside Austin Curries intellectual capacity, he was also a man of real and significant physical courage.

More than 30 times, his family home was attacked by Loyalists and so-called Republicans.

And yet, with his colleagues, he persisted.

As I said at the time of his death, and I repeat today, our country owes him a great debt for this persistence.

Many people are alive today and raising families of their own because of this persistence, and we have peace in our country because of this persistence.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar told the Irish Parliament that Mr Currie showed the same courage and moral clarity in fighting for the rights of children as he showed in fighting for the rights of Catholics in Northern Ireland.

Appointed by John Bruton, he was the very first minister with specific responsibility for children in the history of the state.

He was the first minister to call for the creation of a childrens ombudsman, and that was built on by the next government when that office was established in 2002.

I believe he showed real bravery in tackling the issue of child abuse and in trying to find real solutions.

For example, he wanted to introduce mandatory reporting of child abuse, and started a debate about how the policy might work.

It took 20 years  but it happened and was achieved under Enda Kennys first government.

He was driven by ideas, his belief in people, and thanks to his courage and determination we live in a better Ireland today.

Minister for Children and Equality and Green Party TD Roderic OGorman said that very few people will equal the positive impact in one lifetime that Austin Currie had on politics on this island.

As minister for equality, I have always been inspired by Austins lifelong dedication to achieving equal civil rights for those so profoundly discriminated against in Northern Ireland.

Social Democrat joint leader Catherine Murphy spoke about how Mr Currie lit a spark for the beginning of the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland.

Austin Currie is a really good example of how a seemingly small action can likely spark something that is much bigger.

By smashing a window in a council house in Caledon estate in Co Tyrone in June 1968, and occupying that house for just a short few hours, a 28-year-old Austin Currie changed history in that it became a very tangible understanding of the discrimination against Catholics.

He built on that momentum to lead the first non-sectarian civil rights marches in Northern Ireland, taking direct inspiration from the American civil rights movement.

She said that he became well known for speaking truth to power at a time when it was not only unpopular, it was dangerous.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said Mr Currie was an influential Irish public figure and the first person to be elected to Parliament in Belfast and Dublin and to serve as a minister in both.

Whether as a representative of the SDLP or Fine Gael, Austin was often a spirited and determined opponent of my party, and we of his politics.

However today, as we reflect on his very considerable life and political career, we pay tribute to his service to his constituents and to his country.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik, the Rural Independent Groups Mattie McGrath and Government Chief Whip Jack Chambers also paid tribute to Mr Currie in the Dail chamber.

A minutes silence was held in the Dail at the end of the tributes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Irish premier Micheal Martin to visit Ukraine.

The two leaders spoke ahead of a European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday where EU leaders are due to discuss the European Commissions recommendation to grant Ukraine EU candidacy status.

Mr Martin said he was delighted to speak with Mr Zelensky and confirm Irelands support for Ukraines EU membership.

We are, and will be, with Ukraine every step of the way, he said.

Mr Martin has been a vocal advocate for Ukraines fast-tracked membership of the EU, and has used Ireland as an example of how a country can develop through EU membership.

Mr Zelensky said that he spoke to Mr Martin on the eve of the historic European Council meeting.

He thanked Ireland for its active support of Ukraines European aspirations and the status of a candidate for EU membership.

Mr Zelensky added that he invited Mr Martin to make the first visit to Ukraine in the history of bilateral relations.

Mr Zelensky has spoken to several EU leaders on Tuesday ahead of the summit  including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who he also invited to visit Ukraine.

Delighted to talk to President @ZelenskyyUa and confirm Ireland's support for Ukraine's EU Membership at this week's European Council. We are, and will be, with #Ukraine every step of the way. pic.twitter.com/kIdsA6bsGg  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 21, 2022

Ukraine is in the early stages of applying to join the EU, after requesting to apply for membership a week after Russia invaded the country.

The European Commission delivered its proposal to award Ukraine candidate status after a fast-tracked analysis of answers to an EU-membership questionnaire.

Despite the European Commissions endorsement, it is likely to take years or even decades to lead to EU membership for Ukraine.

Mr Martin said previously that the process to apply to join the EU is complex and challenging.

It requires considerable work on the part of the country looking to join.

Ireland is ready to walk every step of that journey with Ukraine, providing whatever support and encouragement we can along the way.
A Queensland man has been stabbed multiple times in an ambush style attack with police searching for the perpetrators.
The European Commission has recommended EU member candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova, but said Georgia still falls short. In Tbilisi, tens of thousands came out to defend their dream of a future in Europe.
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BRUSSELS (AP)  Belgium's judicial authorities said on Tuesday they have repatriated six women of Belgian citizenship who were held in a Syrian detention camp for foreigners affiliated with Islamic State group extremists, along with 16 children.

The federal prosecutor's office said it's the second repatriation operation of this kind after the one that took place in July 2021, when Belgian authorities took back six mothers and 10 children.

Federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw told a news conference that the children were born between 2010 and 2019 and were immediately separated from their mothers upon arrival at the Melsbroek Air Base.

Among them is an orphan of a Belgian father," he said. These children were immediately taken into care by the competent youth services and prosecutors."

The transfer from Syria was made possible by a decision last year by the Belgian governement to allow the return of mothers who clearly expressed the wish to return, and who have clearly distanced themselves from extremist ideology.

Van Leeuw said DNA tests were carried out to properly identify the link between the mothers and the children who returned Tuesday.

All the women on the latest flight have been given sentences in Belgium of up to five years in jail and were arrested upon arrival. Their children will remain under medical observation for a while.

Then, an appropriate framework will be put in place on a case-by-case basis," Van Leeuw said. Everyone will understand that it is important to respect the privacy of children and those around them, so that ... their integration can take place in all serenity.

Federal police commissioner Marc De Mesmaeker said the children were escorted to Belgium in the best possible way." He said they were accompanied by people speaking their language throughout the stressful journey and were given food, clothes and toys.

Van Leeuw said the repatriation operation, which was carried out in cooperation with local authorities, took place in the Roj Camp in northeast Syria. It is home to some 2,500 women and children.

Van Leeuw said there are a few Belgian women left in Syria, but not in the Roj camp. He estimated that between 10 and 15 Belgian men are in prison in the country. Belgium is not trying to bring them back home.

Under the Belgian doctrine, returning children home is being done for humanitarian reasons. But repatriation operations of women are also as a matter of national security since it's easier to monitor people who have spent time in Syria when they are on home soil.

Since the war in Syria began in 2011, several hundred Belgians have traveled to conflict zones in Iraq and Syria to join terror groups, Belgium has also been hit by several terror attacks in the past decade, including suicide bombings in 2016 that killed 32 people and wounded hundreds more in the Brussels subway and airport.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Tereasa Nims.

Monday, June 20

10:18 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township location regarding a woman who was intoxicated and arguing with neighbors. Prior to the Deputies arrival, the woman had left the scene on foot and was unable to be located.

9:38 p.m. - A Deputy spoke with a 32-year-old Lee Township woman who requested information regarding installing a security camera at her residence. The deputy assisted the woman with her questions.

8:49 p.m. - A 24-year-old Lee Township woman reported that her mother-in-law did not return their child for their court order parenting time. The woman advised that she knew she had to contact the probate court but her attorney advised her to also get a police report.

9:15 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Greendale Township. residence for a dispute between a 29-year-old woman tenant and her 63-year-old female landlord. The tenant left the residence for the night and the landlord was explained the eviction process.

8:39 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lincoln Township residence regarding a 43-year-old woman who was intoxicated and being disorderly. The woman received a ride home from a friend.

7:59 p.m.  Police were called to the 5900 block of Woodpark Drive for a civil complaint.

3:45 p.m.- A 37-year-old Midland man called 911 and reported that he was yelled at by a neighbor while cutting grass at his work in Lee Township. Deputies spoke to both parties, and they agreed to leave each other alone, and will no longer cut each others grass.

2:37 p.m.  A deputy spoke with a subject who was having issues with her deceased fathers estate. The woman was advised to contact probate court and to handle the matter in court.

2:35 p.m.  A 68-year-old Edenville Township woman advised that her ex-boyfriend, a 65-year old man returned to the house and was yelling. The man left prior to arrival. The woman was advised of the eviction process and personal protection order process.

11:23 a.m. - A Deputy returned a license plate to a 53-year-old Hope Township man that was found near his residence in Hope Township.

9:21 a.m. - Deputies responded to a construction site in Mount Haley Township, for report of stolen power tools and equipment. Approximately $52,440 worth of items were stolen. No suspects at this time.

8:41 a.m.  Police were called to the 100 block of N. Saginaw for a private property crash.

6:20 a.m.  A 40-year-old Coleman woman reported that her 42-year-old ex-roommate violated a served personal protection order and damaged two windows on her trailer. A report was forwarded to the prosecutor.

3:52 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence for a domestic. Deputies contacted a 27-year-old Lee Township man who advised his wife, a 28-year-old Lee Township woman was drinking and they were arguing. Upon further investigation, the 28-year-old woman was arrested for domestic violence and transported to the Midland County Jail report was sent to the prosecutor for review.

1:48 a.m.  Police were called to the 200 block of Harold Street for a domestic violence complaint.

12:56 a.m. - A deputy was dispatched to a Jerome Township residence reference a verbal argument between a 48-year-old Lincoln Township man and his 41-year-old Jerome Township sister. Both parties were intoxicated, and the man was provided with a ride to his residence. The deputy provided advice on how to prevent future issues.

Sunday, June 19

11:27 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Coleman business reference a suspicious man in the parking lot with a flashlight. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with a 33 year-old Coleman man who had permission from the business to remove scrap metal from their Dumpsters.

10:02 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township. residence reference a 31-year-old Lee Township man complaining about texts he was receiving from his 33-year-old sister. Deputies advised the man to block her number and explained the PPO process. Subsequently, the man was arrested on an out-of-county warrant.

1:48 p.m. - A deputy responded to a Porter Township residence for an unwanted 20-year-old man at his 44-year-old father's house. The 20-year-old man was given a ride to Mount Pleasant by a Michigan State Police trooper.

Saturday, June 18

11:32 p.m.  Police responded to the 1400 blk of Haley Street for a loud party.

11:14 p.m.  Police were called to the West US-10 and Eastman Avenue off ramp for a hit and run crash.

10:34 p.m. - Deputies were sent to a Jerome Township campground regarding campers refusing to leave. Contact was made with the man and woman campers who agreed to leave for the night and return the next day to retrieve their camper.

4:33 p.m. - A deputy stopped a vehicle for speeding on Coleman Road near Short Road. The driver did not have a license and was cited for driving while license suspended. The vehicle was reported stolen in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but the driver did not appear to be the suspect in that matter at this time. The vehicle was impounded for the agency out of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

12:34 p.m. - A 65-year-old Midland Township woman called reference a vehicle that had been parked near her residence for a couple days. A deputy checked on the vehicle which came back to a dealership down state. The vehicle had a note in it advising they were visiting and would have it removed in a couple of days. The woman was going to call back to have it tagged as abandoned if it was not removed.

5:09 a.m.  Police were called to the 500 block of Buchanan Drive for aggravated/felonious assault.

3:42 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to Jerome Township in reference to a report of a suspicious situation involving a man sleeping in a vehicle. Deputies spoke with the 52-year-old male occupant of the vehicle and determined there were no signs of suspicious activity or foul play involved.

1:16 a.m. - Deputies were sent to Warren Township for a report of a loud party and a wellbeing check of a 10-year-old. Contact was made with the homeowner who agreed to turn the music down and the 10-year-old was checked on and was all set.

Friday, June 17

11:53 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to an Edenville Township residence in reference to a report of a 31-year-old man that overdosed. Deputies arrived on scene and assisted with medical treatment. The man was transported to the hospital via ambulance for further treatment.

10:42 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Warren Township residence regarding a 39-year-old woman reporting that she was assaulted by a 76-year-old man. The woman didn't sustain any injuries, and just wished for the incident to be documented. The woman didn't want to press charges.

9:53 p.m. - Deputies spoke to a 37-year-old woman regarding her 14-year-old daughter being sexually assaulted 10 years ago. Ultimately it was discovered the incident did not take place in Midland County. Report to be sent to the correct jurisdiction.

8:21 p.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Midland Township residence reference an assault between a 33-year-old woman and her 27-year-old live-in boyfriend. Both parties suffered minor injuries. The parties were separated for the night. A report is being sent to the prosecutor.

7:53 p.m. - Deputies spoke to a 43-year-old woman regarding suspicious activity at her residence. Deputies suggested setting up security cameras and calling if anything further happened.

6:44 p.m.  Police responded to Meadowbrook Drive and Jefferson Avenue for a property damage crash.

5:02 p.m.  A 41-year-old Lee Township man contacted the Sheriff's Office with questions regarding his wife. The man advised he had been arrested for domestic assault the previous night. When he bonded out it was discovered that his wife had taken numerous items belonging to him from the residence where he stays. The man was advised that due to them being married that it was a civil matter. The man just requested that the Sheriff's Office document that he reported the incident.

4:14 p.m. - A deputy, EMS and Coleman Fire were dispatched to M-18 near Baker Rd regarding an injury crash involving a motorcycle striking a deer. The driver and passenger were transported to the hospital for treatment. A crash report was completed.

2:35 p.m. - Police were called to W. St Andrews and Jefferson Avenue for a property damage accident.

11:54 a.m. - A deputy responded to a Lee Township residence for a verbal argument between a 28-year-old man and his 57-year-old mother. The woman didn't agree with the woman the man was dating and they had an argument. There was no assault and the parties had already moved onto a different topic when the deputy arrived. They advised they would separate next time they started to argue.

9:43 a.m. - A 52-year-old Lincoln Township man reported a larceny from his residence. The stolen rifle is valued at approximately $500. There are no suspects currently.

4:43 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to Homer Township regarding a third-party caller reporting a vehicle being pulled out of a ditch by a tow truck. The caller reported that the vehicle appeared to have struck a tree. The vehicles were gone prior to Deputies arrival and no further reports were made to the Sheriff's Office.

12:26 a.m. - A 39-year-old woman reported she was assaulted by her 41-year-old husband at one of their Lee Township. properties. After the assault the man fled the property. The man was later located and arrested for the assault. The man was transported to the Midland County Jail, where he was lodged without incident. A Report has been forwarded to the prosecutor for review.
MANISTEE  June is LGBTQ+ pride month and there are several events such as Saturday's Pride in the Park where issues related to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer are being highlighted locally.

According to the LGBTQ+ rights organization, Human Rights Campaign, there have been "more than 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced this year, more than 130 of which specifically target transgender people..."

The impact of the proposed legislation has a ripple effect to Manistee and other locations.

Linda Karle-Nelson, co-president of PFLAG Manistee, said she has seen an uptick in calls from counselors and people who run health care organizations about resources for transgender people  with calls coming from all across the region.

This is because a report from the Williams Insitute at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, shows that "...more than 58,000 transgender youth and young adults across 15 states are in jeopardy of losing access to gender-affirming care."

"In total, more than a third of the 150,000 transgender youth ages, 13-17 in the U.S. live in the 15 states that have restricted access to gender-affirming care or are currently considering laws that would do so," the report states. "More than 4,000 young adults ages 18 to 20 would also be at risk of losing access to gender-affirming care under the three proposed bills that would apply to young people over the age of 18."

Yet, while it has not been easy, there has been some progress  and growing support and awareness of LGBTQ+ people in Manistee according to Karle-Nelson.

PFLAG stands for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and it is a national organization with chapters around the country.

According to the national PFLAG website, the organization was founded in 1973.

"PFLAG is the first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families. PFLAGs network of hundreds of chapters and more than 250,000 members and supporters works to create a caring, just and affirming world for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them," the website says in its "About PFLAG" section.

Karle-Nelson and her husband, Tom Nelson, founded the chapter in Manistee in 2010. The main reason was to support parents and families who had LGBTQ+ children, Karle-Nelson said. She said in the beginning it was difficult, as many parents in the area were uncomfortable talking about the topic, but over time they've been able to reach people.

Personal experience

It was not easy for Karle-Nelson when her son first came out to her at 23. According to Karle-Nelson, after her son graduated from the University of Michigan, he told her he had to leave. At the time she did not understand why he felt he had to leave. He went to New York to "establish himself," she said.

That initial difficulty was "a main motivation for making PFLAG" work.

Karle-Nelson's husband, Tom, also has a son who came out as gay.

Toms son did not come out until he was 18 or 19, Karle-Nelson said.

Karle-Nelson describes her family as "a blended family," noting that both she and her husband have children from previous marriages, and both had previous spouses who died.

Difficulties

Karle-Nelson said she heard comments like "we don't have any LGBTQ" people in Manistee when she and her husband first started the local PFLAG chapter.

She said their meetings  which occur every third Sunday at the Church of the Holy Trinity  are still somewhat sparsely attended, but over time they have had more people join.

She notes that "religion is big here" and that "many churches lean conservative" and although she has reached out to try to facilitate discussions she has not gotten much response back.

However, she also understands that "people are private and just want to live their lives." She said she does hope to see more parents at the meetings.

Karle-Nelson, and Tom Nelson are also past co-presidents at the PFLAG chapter in Detroit, and noted a big difference here  a more rural, conservative and religious area like Manistee and much of northwest lower Michigan  can make it harder for some people to be as open as they may be in more urban areas.

Successes

Over the years, Karle-Nelson has noted steady progress, as more people over time have begun to accept LGBTQ+ people in recent years compared to several decades ago.

A Gallup poll that was released in February showed that 20.8% of Gen Z, which includes people born after 1996, has nearly double the 10.5% of millennials who self-identify as LGBTQ+.

Screenshot/Gallup

Karl-Nelson also noted that in Manistee  with groups like the Manistee Area Racial Justice and Diversity Initiative and events such as the Pride in the Park event there has been somewhat more willingness among some parents to talk. PFLAG is partnering with MARJDI and with Jess Stallings for the Pride in the Park event.

For more information about other activities that PFLAG is involved in, visit pflagmanistee.org.
A new RV resort is planned to come to Port Austin, though not without concerns from village residents.

The new RV area is reportedly under development by Perry Heleski of Ubly and would be located to the south of PAKs Garage along Bridge Street, at the site of the former Salvo Tool and Engineering location, which closed in 2007. It would be seasonal, have enough room for 74 campers and fire pits, and be surrounded by a six-foot fence.

The main entrance for the property would be on M-25 next to a car wash.

Village President Todd Murawski said that the water and sewer authority is working to bring water and sewer services to the site. Council member Dianne Maschke said it remains to be seen when the project would be finished.

During the Port Austin Village Councils monthly meeting, a number of residents expressed concerns about the proposed campground, claiming it would bring more traffic to the area and saying the proposed site has arsenic, which is toxic in its inorganic form, in the ground from its former life as a factory. One resident asking about it said she was in Florida when she heard the news.

The council members said that since the villages planning commission had already approved these plans at their last meeting by a 4-1 vote, there is nothing for them to approve for this.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is responsible for issuing campground licenses in the state and for testing groundwater for arsenic.

Also regarding Bridge Street, since the road is technically on the property owned by the new campsite developers, the section between Arthur and Madison streets will be closed for a time as the surveying and deeding process is sorted out, along with fixing potholes.

Bridge Street is on its current location since the former Salvo Factory used it for its vehicles entering and leaving.

Heleski and Port Austin Zoning Administrator Mark Gembarski could not immediately be reached for comment.
MOSCOW (AP)  Lithuanias decision to bar Moscow from shipping certain goods by rail to Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad will result in a response that will have a significant negative impact on the Lithuanian people, a top Russian security official said Tuesday.

The ban on goods subject to European Union sanctions was announced by Lithuanian authorities earlier this month and prompted a flurry of angry retorts from Moscow, with the Kremlin denouncing the move as unprecedented and unlawful.

Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of the Kremlins Security Council, visited the Kaliningrad region on Tuesday and vowed during a national security meeting to take action over the ban.

Russia will definitely respond to such hostile actions, Patrushev said. "The relevant measures are being drawn up in an interagency format and will be adopted shortly. Their consequences will have a significant negative impact on the population of Lithuania."

He didnt elaborate on what action Russia might take. Patrushev will report on results of his trip to Kaliningrad to President Vladimir Putin, his office said.

Separately, the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned the European Union ambassador to Russia, Markus Ederer, and expressed a resolute protest over the transit ban. The ministry said in a statement that it demanded an immediate resumption of the normal operation of the transit, otherwise retaliatory measures will follow."

Kaliningrad, home to some 430,000 people, is isolated from the rest of Russia and borders EU members Lithuania and Poland. Trains with goods for Kaliningrad travel via Belarus and Lithuania; theres no transit through Poland. Russia can still supply the exclave by sea without falling foul of EU sanctions.

The Lithuanian government stressed in a written statement Tuesday that the transit of passengers and non-sanctioned goods to and from the Kaliningrad region through Lithuania continues uninterrupted, and that the ban on transit of sanctioned goods was merely part the fourth package of EU sanctions against Russia.

Top Lithuanian officials decried Russia's reaction to the measure as an attempt by the Kremlin to wind up a propaganda campaign trying to create an image of a blockade mainly for internal consumption.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas tweeted Monday that European countries may continue to be intimidated by Russia  but lets not lose the ability to separate disinformation and propaganda from real possibilities.

The country's prime minister, Ingrida Simonyte, rejected claims about the blockade of Kaliningrad is a product of Kremlin propaganda.

It's just that EU sanctions have come into force on some of the goods included in the package, namely steel and ferrous metals. The transportation of all other goods that are either unsanctioned or not yet subject to sanctions is continuing, as is the transit of passengers she said, noting the great irony behind Russias references to international treaties.

I dont know if theres any international treaty left that Russia hasnt violated yet, Simonyte said.
BAMAKO, Mali (AP)  Recent attacks by jihadi rebels in central Mali have killed 132 civilians, the government announced Monday.

The killings happened when several villages in the Bankass area were attacked on Saturday and Sunday, the government said in a statement Monday.

Three days of national mourning starting Tuesday have been declared by the head of the ruling junta, Col. Assimi Goita.

The government said the attacks were carried out by jihadi rebels of the Katiba group.

The attacks had earlier been reported by Moulaye Guindo, the mayor of Bankass, the biggest town near the attacked villages.

The attacks show that Islamic extremist violence is spreading from Mali's north to more central areas like Bankass.

For several weeks extremist rebels in central Mali have been blocking the road between the northern city of Gao and Mopti in central Mali.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali issued a statement about the attacks on Twitter saying it is concerned by attacks against civilians in the Bandiagara region (the area of central Mali) perpetrated by extremist groups. These attacks have reportedly caused casualties and displacement of populations."

In a separate incident, a U.N. peacekeeper died on Sunday from injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device, the U.N. mission to Mali said in a statement.

The head of the U.N. Mission to Mali, El-Ghassim Wane, said that since the beginning of 2022, several attacks have killed U.N. uniformed peacekeepers.

He said that attacks on peacekeepers can constitute war crimes under international law and reaffirmed the mission's commitment to supporting peace and security in Mali.

Since the beginning of the year, several hundred civilians have died in attacks in central and northern Mali. The attacks are blamed on jihadi rebels as well as the Malian army, according to a report by the human rights division of the U.N. mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali began in 2013, after France led a military intervention to oust extremist rebels who had taken over cities and major towns in northern Mali the year before. The mission now has about roughly 12,000 troops in Mali and an additional 2,000 police and other officers. More than 270 peacekeepers have died in Mali, making it the U.N.'s deadliest peacekeeping mission, say officials.
Several pieces of legislation passed through the Michigan Legislature and were signed into law by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer during the week of June 13.

Bills covered everything from allowing 17-year-old wait staff to sell and serve alcohol (House Bill 4232) to updating Michigan's high school curriculum to include a financial literacy course as a first for the state (House Bill 5190).

"Since I took office, I am proud to have signed over 849 bipartisan bills, and today we are adding to that total with a bill to help small businesses across the state," Whitmer said in a press release issued June 14 by her office.

Here's what to know about the pieces of legislation.

House bills:

HB 4232 allows 17-year-old wait staff to sell and serve alcohol at restaurants and other businesses to expand the eligible workforce to fill labor shortages.

"Bars and restaurants throughout Michigan that have been struggling with employment issues applaud the governor for signing this bill into law," Michigan Licensed Beverage Association Executive Director Scott Ellis said in a statement. "I know our businesses in northern Michigan and other tourist areas will benefit tremendously from the signing of this bill."

To serve booze as a 17-year-old, the person must complete a server training program as required by the Liquor Control Commission. And, during the person's shift, the "on-premises licensee" is required to have supervisory personnel that is at least 18 years old and has also completed a server training program, according to the state.

HB 4232 was introduced by Rep. Michele Hoitenga R  Manton.

HB 4527 increases safety requirements on owners or operators of carnival or amusement rides. For instance, the bill requires operators of carnival rides to receive an annual inspection in the spring before they can allow any riders. It also establishes sanctions for people who violate safety provisions within the Carnival Amusement Act.

HB 4527 was introduced by Rep. Thomas Albert, R  Lowell.

HB 5258 amends the Michigan Election Law to change the timetable for filing, processing and distributing proof ballots for elections.

"HB 5258 saves taxpayer dollars while easing communication between clerks and candidates," Rep. Matt Koleszar, D  Plymouth said in a statement. "Its a common-sense solution that is a win for everyone."

HB 5258 was introduced by Rep. Matt Koleszar, D  Plymouth.

HB 5287 gives county political party committees the authority to appoint to fill a local township office vacancy for the remainder of a term or select a candidate to run for the position in an upcoming special election.

Any appointed candidate must be confirmed by the local township board and any nominated candidate must still be elected by voters in the special election to take office, according to the state. The authority was expanded from township to county political party committees.

HB 5287 was introduced by Rep. David Martin R  Davison.

HB 5386 allows the option for township boards to allocate costs of private road improvements equally among the property owners benefiting from the maintenance or improvement of the road.

HB 5386 was introduced by Rep. Sue Allor, R  Wolverine.

HB 5555 helps ease the up-front unemployment insurance tax burden of seasonal small businesses of 100 or fewer employees by allowing first-quarter payments to be spread out throughout the year, according to the state.

HB 5555 was introduced by Rep. Sue Allor, R  Wolverine.

HB 5875 extends the sunset date of a provision that limits a countys maintenance of effort rate for Medicaid-funded long-term care services. This will streamline Medicaid operations to save counties money, according to the state.

HB 5875 was introduced by Rep. Bronna Kahle, R  Adrian.

HB 5983 and HB 5984 allow the consumption of food and beverages in public swimming pools, and the service of alcohol in public swimming pools under certain circumstances. The bills cut restrictions and create entrepreneurial opportunities that allow public pool operators to maximize business heading into a "Pure Michigan summer," according to the state.



"The Bavarian Inn Zehnder Family applauds Governor Whitmer and the Legislators for approving the swim-up bar legislation," Michael Keller Zehnder, general manager for Bavarian Inn Lodge said in a statement. "This will enable hospitality business operators the opportunity to provide a new experience for their guests which will boost the Michigan Tourism Industry"



HB 5983 was introduced by Rep. Rodney Wakeman, R  Frankenmuth.



HB 5984 was introduced by Rep. John Cherry, D  Flint.

HB 5190 updates Michigans high school curriculum to include a financial literacy course for the first time in state history. The bill will prepare young Michiganders for the future and empower them to take control of their finances, according to the state.

"Adding a financial literacy requirement to Michigan's education curriculum makes sense if our goal is to prepare students for success, in both careers and life," Rick Baker, president and CEO of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce said in a statement. "Too many young adults are unprepared when it comes to making major financial decisions."

The legislation adds a half-credit personal finance course as a high school graduation requirement, starting with ninth-graders in 2024.

The course requirement could fulfill a half credit of the four-credit mathematics requirement, the two-credit language other than the English requirement or the one-credit visual, performing or applied arts requirement. The course could also be completed as part of an approved career and technical education program.

HB 5190 was introduced by Rep. Diana Farrington R  Utica.

Senate bills:

SB 821 allows emergency authorities to purchase real or personal property under an installment purchase agreement and allows emergency authorities to issue bonds or notes.



"This legislation opens the door to offer a new and more cost-efficient option for cities, townships and villages to equip their EMS authorities and provide care to area residents," Senator Wayne Schmidt, R  Traverse City said in a statement. "Installment purchase agreements have been available for other local entities to purchase real or personal property, and now emergency services will be able to take advantage of this more effective financing option."



SB 821 was introduced by Sen. Wayne Schmidt, R  Traverse City.
Director of Content and Operations

Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run. He's on a mission to summit all 58 of Colorado's fourteeners and has already climbed more than half.
Another menswear season in Milan wraps up, with JW Anderson making its runway debut there, Jeremy Scott holding his first all-men's Moschino show (no female models interspersed this time) and celebrities like Jake Gyllenhaal and Jeff Goldblum making cameos all over the Italian fashion capital. Below, the biggest highlights from Milan Men's Fashion Week Spring 2023.

PRADA MEN'S SPRING 2023

The Set Once again held at the Fondazione Prada, the brand's contemporary art center designed by Rem Koolhaas, the set resembled a blown-up suburban house interior. The white walls, browns floors and gingham curtains were all made of raw-edged paper  the invitation also came with a paper gingham coat  while cardboard cube seats lined the perimeter.

Photos courtesy of Prada

The Collection Rather than one recurring motif, the collection was broken up into several groups, from picnic-ready gingham checks to light-wash denim. A range of sweaters came in graphic, bold stripes in neon and primary colors, while the collection finished off with a set of beige mac coats with black turtlenecks and leather shorts with double zippers. According to the show notes, Spring 2023 is about "archetypal" and "recognizable" garments that appear simple but are reinvented through things like unusual combinations and complex reference points.

Photos via Getty

The Celebs The most stylish duo was hands down Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, both of whom showed up in a version of a Prada tank top or dress (he paired his with black parachute pants and she went the fringe dress route) before switching to chill separates for the Prada post-show dinner at Ristorante Torre. Jeff Goldblum, the breakout runway star at the last men's show, was seated in the audience this time around next to wife Emilie Livingston. He was in the front row with fellow Prada Men's Fall 2022 campaign star Rami Malek, as well as Elite's Manu Rios, NCT's Jaehyun and the face of Prada's Luna Rossa Ocean fragrance Jake Gyllenhaal  all of whom joined Prada for the dinner after.

Jaehyun, Jeff Goldblum, Emilie Livingston (Photos via Getty)

FENDI MEN'S SPRING 2023

The Set The brand's Via Solari showroom was once again the setting for the runway show, which featured sculptures of the brand's signature double-F logo hanging from the ceiling and projected in spotlights against the walls.

Courtesy of Fendi

The Collection After last season's outing of classic occasion-wear for the polished gentleman (remember that dandy finale look?), Spring is much more relaxed and carefree, with words like "freedom" and "ease" punctuating the shownotes. Silvia Venturini Fendi's idea of a destination wardrobe includes things like cowhide prints, casual Trompe-l'il looks, experimental denim and painterly prints on coats and loose-fitting shirts.

Courtesy of Fendi

The Celebs From Hollywood veterans like Edgar Ramirez to next-gen actors like Stranger Things' Noah Schnapp, the front row was lined with a mix of familiar faces and young upstarts across Italy, the US, UK and South Korea  like the rapper and Fendi brand ambassador Zico. Other VIPs included Brazilian actor Andre Lamoglia, British actor Anson Boon and Mick Jagger's son Lucas.

Silvia Venturini Fendi, Edgar Ramirez (Courtesy of Fendi)

VERSACE MEN'S SPRING 2023

The Golden Locks Gold is the color most synonymous with Versace's baroque universe, but it was still striking to see the models' hair covered in a layer of shimmery gold foil courtesy of iconic makeup and hair duo Pat McGrath and Guido Palau.

The Sons of Versace Models The sons of some of the Versace's biggest models of the '90s  Mark Vanderloo, Helena Christensen, Carla Bruni, Angela Lindvall  made their modeling debut at the Spring show (What I love about this new generation is that they like to dare. You can see they are curious," Donatella told WWD.)

Aurelien Enthoven, Carla Bruni's son (Courtesy of Versace)

The Home Goods Speaking of Versace universe, the brand casually emphasized its other category  a home collection  thanks to a series of vases and urns that models carried in lieu of bags, all rendered in their signature baroque and Medusa prints. (Perhaps not coincidentally, the Salone di Mobile furniture fair, where tons of fashion brands were represented, just ran in Milan this month.)

JW ANDERSON MEN'S SPRING 2023

Broken skateboards, BMX handlebars, double jean waistbands, shattered CDs, barcodes, door hinges and safety gloves  all seemingly random items embedded into otherwise "normal" items like pullovers, distressed denim and baggy t-shirts in JW Anderson's bonkers menswear lineup (the women's Resort pieces were equally eclectic, particularly the Trompe-l'il dresses/denimskirt hybrids). In Anderson's words: "Taking norms of everyday clothing and kind of mechanically putting them back together, he tells WWD.

Photos via Getty

MOSCHINO MEN'S SPRING 2023

The VIPs Mainly Italian influencers plus TikTok stars like Blake Gray (who's certainly been making the rounds this season  he was also at Prada, Etro and Fendi), Olympic champion Tom Daley and actor Ross Butler, who most know from 13 Reasons Why. Meanwhile, guests were fanning themselves incessantly. The Italian summer heat is no joke.

Tom Daley (Photos via Getty)

The Inspo Plain and simple: Tony Viramontes. Jeremy Scott cited the late illustrator and his works as the focal point of the collection. He paid homage by collaborating with the artist's estate to produce the pieces featuring the motifs, faces and figures from Viramontes' pop-art colors and abstract squiggles. (The Buffalo styling movement of the '80s was another reference.)

Backstage (Photography: Marco Ovando)

The Quote I wanted to shine a light on this brilliant creator, said Scott. He may not be a household name, but Tony Viramontes is a force.

ETRO MEN'S SPRING 2023

Changing of the Guard It was Kean Etro's last solo collection for Etro, where he's been designing the men's line since 1990. The baton is being passed to Marco de Vincenzo, an Italian design veteran, who will present his first Etro collection as creative director in September during the women's shows.

Backstage (Courtesy of Etro)

The Theme Poetry! For the invites, guests received a phone call from an actor reciting one of Kean's favorite poems. The collection's ode to poetry translated into things like delicate broderie anglaise, billowy silk caftans, sensual knits and botanical prints.

The Quote Poetry and utopia go hand in hand, he told Vogue Runway. In its etymology, poetry simply means making, composing. I wanted to give value to the idea of creating, which shouldnt be separated from utopia.
Photo: (Photo : Getty images )

A recent study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that in 2020, 861 women were identified as having died of maternal causes in the United States. An increase from the 754 in 2019. The agency also said that the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women is 55.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.3 times the rate of their non-Hispanic women counterparts.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Black women were four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts. They also had greater odds of receiving less pain medication and medical attention. Compared to white women, Black women were also likely to develop preeclampsia. Although studies find no single cause for these disparities, research show that institutional racism and unconscious bias among doctors contribute to the disparity.

Dangers of giving birth

Lakeisha Faulkner Jenkins was in labor for hours. She was exhausted and had a pounding headache. The doula warned the nearest nurse for the third time that Jenkins had a headache.

A persistent headache during labor or pregnancy can signify preeclampsia, a deadly high blood pressure condition. The hospital said that the pain was normal, so Jenkins pushed through.

Hours later, while resting with her newborn, Jenkins said she was not feeling well. Her vision was blurred, and her ankles were swollen. Still, the nurses assured them it was normal and discharged Jenkins.

After 24 hours of settling at her Drexel Hill Home, the new mom's legs were so swollen that she was out of breath and felt like her head was about to explode.

That evening, her husband, Kevin Jenkins, rushed her to the doctor with their baby. The doctor said she had postpartum preeclampsia. Fortunately, Jenkins survived the ordeal.

But not all moms are so lucky. American women, regardless of color, die from preeclampsia, heart problems, and massive hemorrhage days or weeks after giving birth, NPR reports.

Read Also: Millions of American Families Struggling to Pay Substantial Medical Debts

In recent years, lawmakers and health administrators initiated efforts to reduce maternal deaths due to preventable medical conditions. Policies and programs were developed to make childbirth safer by early detection of medical conditions.

Among these initiatives are evaluating the patient's risk for hemorrhage and retraining staff to detect signs of preeclampsia. CDC also launched a "birth-friendly" designation for hospitals that meet maternity care quality standards.

Support for moms after birth

However, despite the efforts, the CDC data says it is insufficient. As per local data, hospital improvements may have lowered maternal deaths in the hospital, but like Jenkins, many deaths happen in the weeks or months after giving birth when medical attention has shifted to the newborn.

Health experts say that maternal mortality is a complex issue, and it is challenging to point to a single problem. Public health experts advise that addressing family concerns such as poverty, racial inequity, and lack of access to healthcare when they leave the hospital should keep more mothers from maternal death.

Related Article: 2-year-old Showed Signs of Puberty After Exposure to Dad's Testosterone Gel
Photo: (Photo : Rick Kern/Getty Images for Marisol Deluna)

Police in Texas said two people were killed and five others injured during a drive-by mass shooting at a family barbeque in San Antonio, the New York Post reported.

During a press conference, San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus told reporters that the seven people were shot at about 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, as a family was barbecuing outside a house.

McManus said that an unspecified number of people drove by the San Antonio home and unloaded between 20 and 30 rounds of ammunition. He added that two of the victims in the shooting were women, and the other five were men, with their ages ranging between 20 and mid-forties.

Six children were fortunately not injured in the shooting

The police chief also revealed that six kids were inside the house as the shots were fired but that they were uninjured, according to NBC News. He said that, fortunately, the children were not out front at the time of the shooting.

McManus said cops did not have a description of the suspects. He acknowledged that they have a couple of theories regarding the motive of the shooting while cautioning that the investigation is still in its early stages.

Authorities are still searching for the suspects who drove by a home in the 2500 block of Patron Drive and opened fire from a dark-colored SUV. Neighbors who did not want to be identified because the shooting still shook them up said they initially thought the sounds they heard were from fireworks.

Read Also: Baby Formula Makers Still Have to Wait Longer to Get FDA Approval Despite Nationwide Formula Shortage

Two men killed were in their mid-40s

One woman who lives down the street told news station KSAT, "I told my husband, was that fireworks? He goes, 'no, that was a gun.' There was some gunshots." A young man added that it sounded like fireworks because none of that ever happened here.

The two men who were killed were ages 45 and 46. The other five victims were transported to the hospital with wounds from gunfire, according to police. The injured victims ranged in age from 19 to 44, three of which were men and two women.

McManus summed up the police's findings thus far, saying, "For now, seven people shot out in front of the house barbecuing, a drive-by, multiple rounds fired, two dead, five injured. Two females, five males. Two males deceased."

Victims were treated at the crime scene and transported to the hospital. The home is near Interstate 35 South and Palo Alto Road, just inside Loop 410. When asked about gun violence, the young man said it is always around, but it is never in their neighborhood. He added that it is a big shock having it on his street, too.

The woman interviewed echoed that sentiment, saying, "You're, you're not safe anywhere, you know, not even at church. Not even at school. So it's getting bad. It's getting worse."

Related Article: Many Baby Formula Plants Not Inspected in the US Because of COVID Pandemic
Photo: (Photo : ZINYANGE AUNTONY/AFP via Getty Images)

A Pennsylvania mom received more than $70,000 in medical and food benefits between 2016 to 2021 and hid the truth from the authorities that her daughters starved to death.

Marie Sue Snyder has been detained without bail for months for homicide charges following the discovery of the bodies of her daughters, Jasmine Jean Snyder, 4, and Nicole Elizabeth, 6. New charges of theft and deception were brought upon the mother during her preliminary hearing this week after investigators learned that she illegally got $48,703 in public funds for medical assistance and $21,163 from the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), per Penn Live.

For both these benefits, Snyder declared that her household had two daughters and a son, Jesse, 8. However, Nicole has been dead since May 2016, and Jasmine died in August 2017.

Read Also: Louisiana Mom Loses Full Custody of Daughter to Man Who Raped Her at 16

Jesse Now with Children and Youth Custody

In September 2021, Lycoming County Children and Youth Services (CYS) workers investigated the mother, her girlfriend, Echo Butler, and Butler's parents, Ronald and Michelle Butler, after Jesse failed to attend school regularly. According to North Central PA, the family was reported for neglect of a minor.

Jesse was not yet toilet trained and had a speech problem for his age. An assessment from a medical provider brought forward more concerns about the boy with the CYS.

Income Maintenance Caseworkers have been interviewing Snyder either by phone or in person at least twice a year in the years she filed the false claims for the benefits. She repeatedly told them that there were three kids in her household.

Whenever the staff asked about her daughters, Snyder would tell them that Nicole and Jasmine were staying with a friend who was helping with their homeschooling. Attempts to contact the friend were constantly rebuked by Snyder and Echo.

However, following the discovery of the truth and the detention of the mother and Butlers, Snyder admitted in court that her daughters starved to death as this was her intention and her girlfriend. The pair also physically hit the girls. Nicole died weighing just 10 pounds, while her young sister was five pounds. Snyder and Echo buried their bodies in the backyard.

The Butler parents were also charged in court because they knew what was going on with the children but did not report the parents to the authorities. They have entered a plea of not guilty and were allowed to post bail but have yet to come up with a bond.

Snyder Wrote Letters to Echo Over Her Resentment With Daughters

The investigators also uncovered letters that Snyder wrote to Echo about resenting her daughters. According to Oxygen, she told her girlfriend that she was sick of the girls and wished that she only had Jesse, the family's baby.

However, after Nicole's death, Snyder wrote another letter stating she was in the wrong. While talking to the investigators, Snyder said she treated the girls "horribly."

Ryan Gardner, the Lycoming County district attorney, vowed justice for Nicole and Jasmine. He said this was the "most graphic case of protracted child abuse and starvation" in their community.

Related Article: Arizona Girl Dies of Severe Lice Infestation; Child Abuse Charges for Mom and Grandmother Upped to Murder
Photo: (Photo : Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Protect Their Future))

On Saturday, June 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine for under 5 years old. Immediately after the FDA gave the green light, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky confirmed that Pfizer and Moderna jabs are now eligible for children from 6 months to 5 years of age.

The first shots for the youngest age group have been administered across various U.S. sites, including Walgreens and other pediatrician clinics, since Monday, June 20, with health officials saying this will finally give the kids their normal childhood back. However, a survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation showed that 38 percent of the parents would not rush to book an appointment for their children because of the potential side effects.

But what side effects can parents expect from the COVID-19 vaccine for under 5 years old, and what can they do to alleviate these symptoms?

Read Also: Third COVID-19 Booster Shot for Eligible People May Be Rolled Out By Fall, According to CDC

Most Common Side Effects: Drowsiness, Fatigue, Irritability, and Arm Pain

Virginia pediatrician Dr. Krupa Playforth reviewed the FDA data for the vaccines and told Huffington Post that both Pfizer and Moderna for the youngest age group are generally well-tolerated. However, many kids who participated in the trials for months under the FDA scrutiny reported drowsiness and irritability as the most common side effects.

The experts said that parents might notice that babies will likely want to sleep longer or have more episodes of crankiness. These symptoms are expected to last for at least a day.

Data showed that 45 percent of kids from 2 to 4 years old, who got the Pfizer jab during the trials, developed fatigue after their first jab. Likewise, 62 percent of kids injected with Moderna also felt fatigued.

Many kids also reported pain in their arms. Doctors recommended giving the children Tylenol (acetaminophen), especially if the pain affects their activities. However, the experts do not recommend giving the children pain medication before getting vaccinated.

CDC accepted the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation that children ages 6 months and older should be vaccinated against #COVID19.



More: https://t.co/Uj84iHZLx9 pic.twitter.com/iR98pkTG98  CDC (@CDCgov) June 18, 2022

Dr. Grant Paulsen, the principal investigator of the COVID-19 vaccine for under 5 years old, told CNN that the side effects are "very similar" to what the older kids and adults have experienced with Pfizer and Moderna jabs. However, the mild and moderate side effects were fewer in this youngest age group than in other ages.

"My big picture for parents is really [that] the side effects should not be alarming," the doctor said.

COVID-19 Vaccine and Fever

Based on the trial's outcome, younger children are 10 percent less likely to develop a fever with a Pfizer vaccine than with the Moderna vaccine. Even then, the fever didn't reach beyond 104 degrees, and only one percent of the trial participants had it.

Paulsen also assured parents that they could continuously give their kids acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever. Generally, however, most children will be better a day after their jabs.

The experts closely watched the symptoms of myocarditis, or the inflammation of the heart muscles, among children during the trials because this was common in adults and teenagers. However, this was not a problem for the youngest age group.

FDA vaccine czar, Dr. Peter Marks, told NBC News Chicago that whatever vaccine is available from the pediatrician or the health care provider is the one parents should have for their kids. Pfizer will be administered in three doses and spaced out over three months, while Moderna will be given in two doses within one month.

Related Article: First Shots of COVID-19 Vaccine for Under 5-Year-Old Kids Expected by June
Photo: (Photo : Hannah McKay - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Prince William wrote a powerful essay highlighting his advocacy for the homeless, which he learned from his mother, Princess Diana, at such a tender age. The Duke of Cambridge said he plans to teach this advocacy to his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

In his piece on The Big Issue, William said he would continue to bring attention to the problems of homelessness. He said this is actually "solvable" but often overlooked and misunderstood.

William also said that for his 40th birthday on June 21, he's hoping George, Charlotte, and Louis will pick up on the same interest and become advocates for the homeless. The Duke of Cambridge hinted that more of his work would focus on the homeless, and he wants his kids to be part of the organizations that support their needs.

Read Also: Debate Sparks Over Kate Middleton's Parenting After Prince Louis Behaved Like a Brat in Public

Prince William Will Use His Mother's Guiding Principles

The Duke of Cambridge also stated that his mother "instinctively knew" the steps to fix the problems of homelessness. He was 11 years old when Princess Diana brought him along for a visit to The Passage, a homeless shelter. Over the years, even after his mother's sudden passing, William frequented The Passage to talk to the homeless and know what they needed.

The grandson of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in the history of the world, also acknowledged that there had been initiatives aimed at homelessness that worked and didn't work. However, he also recognized The Big Issue for the organization's efforts to raise awareness for this advocacy.

William said that the organization was launched just two years ago, at the height of the pandemic, but it provided a solution for people in the streets to "earn a legitimate income" by selling copies of the magazine. The royal tried his hand on the streets and managed to sell about 32 copies during his short stint, according to People.

The crowd who saw William also stopped for a chat and discussed homelessness issues, including the refugees from Ukraine. The prince said they were nice to him but hopes this will inspire others to support The Big Issue and help its street vendors.

I have always believed in using my platform to help bring attention and action to those who are struggling and I commit to doing what I can to shine a spotlight on this solvable issue not just today, but in the months and years to come. pic.twitter.com/03L0GjphXS  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 20, 2022

George and Charlotte Already Curious About Helping the Homeless

In 2019, William shared during a guest stint for a Christmas special that his two older kids, George and Charlotte, have asked about the homeless. They were 6 and 4 years old then and have seen some people sleeping in the streets on their way to school, per Good to Know.

William said that his kids wondered why they couldn't go home, and the father tried his best to explain the problem of homelessness in a way that their young minds could grasp. The royal also thanked his mother for immersing him and his brother, Prince Harry, with the issues of homelessness that they would, otherwise, not know about because of their privileged life.

The Duke of Cambridge said that it was important for his mother to have her sons grow up knowing the real struggles of people beyond the walls of the palace. So, he is immersing his kids in the same lessons he learned from the Princess of Wales.

Related Article: Feuding Brothers William and Harry Reconcile for Princess Diana Statue Unveiling
Photo: (Photo : Getty images )

The Government of Canada website announced a recall warning for several powdered infant formula products due to possible microbial contamination.

Shopper's Drug Mart, a retail pharmacy chain in Canada, is recalling the Abbott brand powdered infant formula products from the marketplace due to possible Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella contamination. The store placed the recall warning on February 17, 2022, but Shopper's Drug Mart erroneously sold some units online, CTV News reports.

The recalled products include 964-gram containers of Similac Advance Step 1 Milk-Based Iron-Fortified Infant Formula Powder, 964-gram containers of Similac Advance Step 2 Milk-Based Iron-Fortified and Calcium-Enriched Infant Formula Powder, 400-gram containers of Similac Alimentum Step 1 Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder and 658-gram containers of Similac Advance Step 2 Milk-Based Iron-Fortified and Calcium-Enriched Infant Formula Powder.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is investigating the matter, which could also lead to the recall of other products.

Advice from Health Canada

Global News reports that the shortage is linked to the safety-related closure of the Abbott manufacturing plant in the U.S., which is affecting global supplies.

Health Canada, the institution responsible for helping Canadians maintain and ensure that its citizens get quality and accessible health services and reduce health risks, clarified on June 6 that there is no current shortage of regular infant formula in Canada. However, the agency acknowledged a shortage of formula for infants with food allergies and certain medical conditions. The deficit includes extensively hydrolyzed formulas and amino-acid-based formulas.

Brands with extensively hydrolyzed formulas include:

NutramigenA+

NutramigenA+ LGG

PregestimilA+

Similac Alimentum

These formulas are for mild to moderately severe allergies.

Doctors recommend amino-acid-based formulas for severe, life-threatening allergies that are usually available by prescription. Its common brands are:

NeocateInfant DHA & ARA

PuraminoA+

The agency advised parents not to buy formula milk more than they need, especially the hypoallergenic formula. It also warned parents not to dilute or water down infant formula to extend its use as it affects the nutritional content, compromising the baby's health.

It also warned parents not to make homemade infant formula or substitute it for other beverages like cow's milk, goat's milk, evaporated milk, or fortified or unfortified plant-based beverages like soy, oat, rice, almond, coconut, cashew).

Health Canada recommended that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) allow the importation and sale of products approved by foreign regulatory authorities until June 30.

Read Also: Mom Raging Mad After Learning MIL Has Been Wasting Bottles of Milk Formula Amid Shortage

Flooded manufacturing facility

The Abbott plant in Michigan was reopened on June 4 but had to be closed again as severe thunderstorms, and heavy rains flooded manufacturing plant areas.

In Abbott's statement dated June 15, the company had to stop producing Elecare Specialty Formula to assess the damage caused by the storm and re-sanitize the plant.

Abbott also announced that it would import milk from its Abbott plant in Spain to help ease the shortage.

Related Article: Abbott to Import Formula from Spain this Summer, More Milk Coming in through Operation Fly Formula
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. . . . .To The Promotion Of Intra-African Trade - BoG Governor



The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison has firmly asserted the banks conviction that payments systems will be key to the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).



Speaking on the final day of the prestigious Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) 2022 Public Forum, the Governor delivered a masterclass in the role of payment systems for the success of AfCTA.



In the Governors view, a supportive payment and settlement system can be used as a strategic tool to enhance and facilitate the African regional integration drive, increase competitiveness, and improve Africas position in the international financial system.



A strong and well-regulated African financial infrastructure could deepen the benefits of intra-regional trade, eliminate use of third currency for settlement, improve liquidity management of firms, and reduce transaction costs.



The forum, an annual event by the GAAS, is part of efforts to bridge the gap between Academia, Practice and the General Public.



This years sessions, scheduled from the 6th of June to the 8th of June is sponsored by UMB, a leading indigenous Ghanaian bank, as part of its 50th-anniversary celebrations. Speakers through-out the forum including leading lights and experts on AfCTA included Prof. Ernest Kofi Abotsi, Prof. Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, Mr. David Ofosu-Dorte and Ms. Beatrice Chaytor, Head, Trade in Services Division, AfCFTA, Mr. John Apea, CEO of Etranzact Nana Benneh was speaking on the final day, on a panel with The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison.



The Forum was well patronized with leading luminaries including Prof. Peter Quartey, Prof Fiadzoe, Nana Dr. SKB Asante and Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr  both former President of GAAS and Mr. Herbert Krampah, Deputy Minister of Trade , and other senior executives from the Bank of Ghana.



The Governors presentation was preceded by a lecture by Professor Ebo Turkson of the Dept. of Economics at the University of Ghana. The thrust of Prof. Turksons report focused on the need for heavy investments in hard and soft infrastructure to cut down the cost of intra-African trade.



With the aid of tables and graphs, Prof. Turkson illustrated how it was cheaper for a Ghanaian business to trade with Europe. In summary , He argued that without infrastructure African Trade would not work.

In response to a question posed to a panel of the speakers during the event, the Chief Executive Officer of UMB , Nana Dwemoh Beneh argued that syndication was critical for Ghanaian Banks to partake in the financing deals critical to build the soft and hard infrastructure needed to facilitate intra-African trade.



He further stated that Ghana had an advantage, as structures like the Development Bank and the EXIM Bank allowed the banking sector provided the needed muscle for such syndications.



Speaking to this reporter, Prof. Opoku- Nti; vice -president of the Academy expressed GAAS profound appreciation to UMB for sponsoring the forum. He indicated that this was the kind of collaboration that was critical for innovation in Ghana.



The proceeding of the forum can be accessed online on the website of the Academy.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, former Minister of Finance under the erstwhile NDC government of President John Evans Atta Mills, has intervened to support the renovation of a dilapidated basic school in the Anloga district of the Volta region in line with his Ghanaian dream of seeing every child in Ghana go to school under the best learning and teaching conditions.



His intervention comes through the support of the Duffuor Foundation, a charity he founded, in partnering with the Livingstone Foundation as part of a private partnership to renovate the dilapidated school in fulfilment of their shared belief in supporting childrens education in the basic level.



The business mogul went on a road trip to the school last Friday where he expressed shock at the deplorable state of the schools facilities and pledged to immediately contribute to give the school a face-lift to enhance teaching and learning.



The dilapidated Trekume basic school which serves about seven different communities including Tregui, Trekume, Dosukope, Blemezado, Azanu among others, hasnt been renovated since its establishment more than 30 years ago.



The school has a growing population of about 350 pupils but with the existing

deplorable structures, the students now share the compound with wild birds and other rodents because parts of the floors and walls have developed deep cracks and the partly ripped-off windows and roofs cannot allow teaching and learning during the rains.



Dr. Duffuors timely intervention came in response to appeals from the Headmaster of the school, Mr. Isaac Boni who rang the alarm bells that the schools infrastructural situation is a looming disaster even as it negatively affects the current academic performance of the pupils.



We are not happy with what we have seen here. Our children should have a more decent environment to stay in and learn and I think we can change this situation  it must be done Dr. Duffuor told the community at a groundbreaking ceremony to start renovations and repair work on the school.



The former governor of the Bank of Ghana said the initiative falls in line with his Ghanaian Dream vision which aims at giving equal opportunities to the Ghanaian people in every aspect of our lives including the right to quality education.



We are reminding ourselves that the situation we have seen today is deplorable and something must be done about it. The Ghanaian Dream means that everyone must be given equal opportunities; we have children staying in air-conditioned classrooms somewhere in Ghana here and we have our children in dilapidated classrooms here (Trekume basic school) but they will be taking the same exams. How will these children here achieve the same results as those in the nice environments, Dr. Duffour questioned rhetorically.



Repair work on the 6-unit primary classroom block, another 3-unit JHS block will be completed within one year from now. In addition to the repair works, new ancillary facilities will also be added to the school to make it a state-of-the-art facility.



Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), rumoured to be lacing his boot for the NDC 2024 flag bearer contest, also recently came up with another private initiative dubbed the Ahoto business project which is meant to financially empower and bring relief to NDC party executives in all 275 constituencies across the country as part of his bigger vision of a Ghanaian Dream.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has called on the judges to punish with speed and severely perpetrators of attacks against journalists irrespective of their social status and political affiliations.



According to the Minister who also doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase Ayirebi Constituency in the Eastern Region, this is urgently required to stem the tide of attacks against journalists in the country.



He was speaking at the opening ceremony of a training workshop for judges on the need to protect the freedom of expression and the safety of journalists in Ho on Monday, June 20, 2022.



The wheels of justice may grind slowly, but My Lord Chief Justice, the feedback I have from my media colleagues is that we believe some quick punitive action targeted at the perpetrators of infringements against media practitioners will be appreciated.



It will be the strongest message to the next batch of state and non-state actors that it is not acceptable to attack journalists no matter how much you disagree with that they say, the Minister said.



The programme is designed to deepen the capacity of judges in dealing with matters of freedom of expression and safety of journalists and reinforce their expertise in fighting abuses against journalists by ensuring the prosecution and trial of those responsible for these attacks. The training comprises 25 judges from both the High and Appeal Courts.



Also present at the event was the UNESCO Country Representative, Mr Abdourahmane Diallo, Representative of the Chief Justice, Professor Dominic Dennis Adjei who is also a Justice of the Court of Appeal as well as other well-known dignitaries.



Mr Diallo on his part said the issue of freedom of expression and the safety of journalists is a very delicate area which demands the attention of duty-bearers, arbitration authorities, and the security services.



This he explained is because freedom of expression and the safety of journalists are fundamental freedoms and indices determining how compliant or negligent a country is relative to its constitutional provisions on these fundamental freedoms.



Prof. Justice Adjei underscored the need for a collaboration between stakeholders within the media space to build a more robust ecosystem that ensures that infringements on the safety of journalists are reduced to the barest minimum if not eradicated entirely.



The Ministry of Information in addressing the issue of attacks on journalists has set in motion a number of programmes with the objective of supporting the Ghanaian media. The engagements since 2019, have led to the development of some key interventions aimed at supporting the media industry to confront the key issues it is faced with.



First is the inauguration of the office of the Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists (CMSJ) under the National Media Commission (NMC). Key to the operation of this office is the development of a framework for use by all stakeholders to create a safe and conducive environment for the practice of journalism; prevent violence against journalists; protect journalists in danger; prosecute perpetrators of violence against journalists.



The Ministry through its Media Capacity Enhancement Programme (MCEP) is also providing training for some 250 journalists on emerging issues in journalism. This forms part of collaborative efforts to support the sector which has been challenged in recent times.



The Right to Information (RTI) has also been rolled out in full. This included the training and deployment or designation of RTI officers in the almost 600 government offices nationwide. It also includes the set-up of the RTI commission which is today making impressive strides in ensuring compliance by public offices to the RTI Act.



Also, the Ministry facilitated a broad-based consultation on a new broadcasting bill which will assist state institutions in better regulating the broadcasting sector.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Mr Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh, the Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), says Accra is depleted of open spaces, which are most needed to erect temporal tents and other structures as shelters in times of earthquake.



He said that notwithstanding most playgrounds in Accra, especially for public schools, have been converted to Astro turfs and in some cases with buildings.



Speaking at a media briefing ahead of a four-day Earthquake Simulation Exercise in the Volta and the Greater-Accra regions to test the countrys preparedness during a damaging earthquake, Mr Agyemang-Prempeh said open spaces served as places where people run to or converge in times of emergencies and appealed to the Ministry of Education to stem the practice that makes such grounds inaccessible for public use.



I wish to also appeal to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to take a critical look at protecting the few open spaces left and try to create new ones not only in Accra but all over the country, he said and urged the Land Use and Special Planning Authority (LUSPA) to support MMDAs in that effort.



He said the vulnerability of Accra, Tema and adjoining districts to damaging earthquakes could not be emphasized and called on the two bodies to impress on Traditional Authorities to reserve spaces for the public good when demarcating land for human settlements.



The simulation exercise is being done in collaboration with sister security agencies and the North Dakota National Guard from the United States of America with funding from the Government of the United States of America, acting through its Embassy in Accra.



In 2018, emergency response agencies and other stakeholder institutions in disaster management successfully conducted a full-scale simulated damaging earthquake event in Accra.



The exercise tested the national response readiness, capabilities, and capabilities.



The outcome, the NADMO Boss, said revealed a good coordination system, warm cooperation among agencies and an appreciably high level of professionalism.



He, however, said gaps identified were noted and efforts were made to address them.

Source: GNA









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A senior political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo says political interference should partly be blamed for bad policing in the country.



According to him, the majority of junior officers are political party members who have no idea and no interest in policing.



They are forced into the service because there is no job, he said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show, Ghana Montie.



Professor Ransford Gyampo, however, wants inflexible structures that allow only serious persons into the service.



The protocols are too many in the service so officers are not committed to the work, he lamented.



The lecturer was discussing the role of the police in the Islamic Senior High School chaos which happened on Monday, June 13, 2022, that left some students hospitalized.



Interdicted Over Anti-Islamic Comments



Four more police officers have been interdicted for their roles in the the Islamic SHS protest and how the police handled the protesters.



This brings to a total of seven, police officers who have been interdicted in connection with the issue by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.



The four new officers, consisting of a Chief Inspector, an Inspector, and two Corporals, are part of the team that were said to have video-recorded the clash. They were heard passing derogatory comments against adherents of the Mohammedan faith over the Islamic SHS students protest in the police control room while watching the incident on the close circuit television (CCTV) screen.



The police, are however, tight-lipped on the identities of the personnel.



Unprofessional



Professor Gyampo believes the police were unprofessional on that day - but said more can be done to prevent future occurrences.



We have some serious officers out there who carry out duties professionally, he said.



Adding that, If their police service is allowed to recruit genuine person, these incidents will stop.















Commendation

In a related development, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCSALW) and the National Peace Council (NPC) have commended the Ghana Police Service for their swift action in the recent Islamic Senior High School (SHS) incident.



Their commendation comes off the back of the sanctioning of senior police officers for breach of Police procedures and instituting further investigations into the Islamic SHS demonstration against the frequent knockdown of students and staff at the entrance of the school.



This was cited in a joint press release issued by the NCSALW and the NPC.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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There was drama at the District Court in Accra (Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit) hearing the case involving a 47-year-old businessman, who allegedly attempted to use his daughter for rituals to get rich.

After the proceedings Monday (June 20), the suspect, Evans Oppong Kyekyeku, pounced on journalists who were taking videos outside the courtroom.



Why are you taking pictures of me, are you ?, the suspect said amid rants and insults on journalists.



The timely intervention of the prosecutor and some police officers, prevented the suspect who was in handcuffs, from physically attacking a court reporter from EIB network, Murtala Inusah.



One of Oppongs sympathisers also fumed, You cant do this in Germany.



Proceedings



Meanwhile, at Mondays proceedings, the court presided over by Ama Adomako Kwakye declined to admit the suspect to bail.



The accused, who has been provisionally charged with preparation to commit crime to wit murder, was remanded to re-appear on July 4, 2022.



According to the court, it does not have jurisdiction to grant bail to the accused person.







Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh, the Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has said none of the flood disasters that ravaged many communities in several districts of the Central Region Saturday was manmade.



He attributed the situation to climate change, describing it as a downright natural disaster.



He warned that the country was going to experience more rains in the coming days and, therefore, citizens should desist from building in waterways and improve their sanitation systems.



Mr Prempeh made the observation when together with Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, the Central Regional Minister, Nana Dr Ato Arthur, Head of Local Government Service, officials from the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality and other government officials, visited some affected areas to assess the extent of damage caused by the floods.



The visit was also to offer some support to victims of the disaster.



However, many victims of the floods have debunked his claims and told the GNA that an unannounced spill-over from the Brimsu dam by the Ghana Water Company Limited was the cause of the disaster and called for compensation.



Mr Hugh Hanson, a businessman, who resides at Elmina, said he lost everything and called for support.



Madam Naomi Kakraba, a trader, who was in tears, told the GNA how the water destroyed their belongings and they had to be evacuated by boat to a safer place.



The GNA observed that rivers around the Brimsu dam catchment area and main drains were all chocked with sand and weeds while some people had built on waterways and buffer lands meant for the expansion of roads.



Many homes were flooded, scores of buildings were flattened, hundreds of families have been displaced with one person confirmed dead as a result of the floods and many people were seen trying to salvage their little belongings left.



In addition, some critical roads have been rendered unmotorable by the floods, which destroyed bridges and covered some portions of the road.



Affected communities include Abina, Simiw, Nkontrodo, Atonkwa and Ankaful, Abakam, Kwaprow, Amamoma, CP and Berease and some residents lost everything to the floods.



The team also visited Jukwa, where repair works were ongoing on the bridge linking Cape Coast and Twifo Praso, which was broken into two by the floods.



Mr Prempeh urged citizens to be on guard against imminent disasters.



It is raining heavily in West Africa., it is expected that flood waters from Burkina Faso will descend to Ghana and so we should all be careful, he noted.



For her part, Mrs Assan described the scenes as worrying and heartbreaking and entreated everyone to be very cautious and put immediate measures in place to safeguard their lives and property.



It is so pathetic, a lot of people have been displaced and we had to rush in quickly. We called on NADMO and the swiftness with which they attended to our distress call is so amazing and so we are very grateful to them.



But the most critical issue is that one person has lost his life. This is so huge a loss to the whole country, she said and expressed the governments commitment to salvage the situation as soon as possible.





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.

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Four more police officers have been interdicted in connection with the Islamic Senior High School protest and how the police handled the protesters.

This brings to a total of seven police officers who have been interdicted in connection with the issue.



The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare interdicted the four more officers for their roles in the issue which happened on Monday, June 13, 2022.



The four new officers are part of the team that were said to have video-recorded the clash.



They consist of a Chief Inspector, an Inspector, and two Corporals.



However, the police, are tight-lipped on the identities of the personnel.



4 Cops interdicted over anti-Islamic comments



From Kumasi Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor, reports that the four police officers have been interdicted over anti-Islamic comments following the clash between the police and students of the Islamic Senior High School at Abrepo.



The four cops were said to have been captured on camera while monitoring the close circuit television (CCTV) screen overlooking the Abrepo Highway passing derogatory comments against adherents of the Mohammedan faith over the Islamic SHS students protest.



A video of the anti-Islamic sentiments has been shared on social media.



The police and the students clashed while the students embarked on a protest in front of the school, with the hospitalisation of about 35 people as a direct result.



The four, who have not been named, were running commentary on the incident in the police control room while watching the incident on the CCTV camera.



Confirmation



The Operations Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mohammed Suraji, led a delegation to the Kumasi Zongo Chief, Alhaji Umar Sulta Farouk, last Friday, and confirmed that the four police officers were facing service inquiry for their comments.



Accompanied by the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Afful Boakye Yiadom; the Manhyia Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Frank Abrokwah, and the Regional Commander in charge of Prosecution, Chief Superintendent Kofi Blagodze, DCOP Suraji said the comments didnt represent the Ghana police, so we are here to apologise. As I speak, the officers, including a Chief Inspector, have been interdicted. They are under service inquiry for exhibiting such unprofessional conduct, and we support this decision. We should treat this with the contempt it deserves.



This brings to seven the number of police officers interdicted since the June 13, 2022, clash between the police and the students.



The first casualties were the Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kwasi Akomeah-Apraku, who was acting as the Regional Commander at the time, the Regional Operations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police George Ankomah, and the Suame Divisional Commander, ACP Alex Cudjoe Acquah.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong, has commended the Social Security and National Insurance Trust for engaging with the Christian community to find ways of expanding and deepening coverage of the Basic National Social Security Scheme for self-employed workers.



He said the exercise was positive since it will extend coverage to informal sector workers.



He was optimistic that the move would not only increase the scheme's active membership and contributor base but also ensure that every worker in Ghana enjoys social protection.



He charged reverend ministers to use their pulpits to preach about SSNIT and the benefits to help reduce poverty.



He urged every Ghanaian worker to register with SSNIT so they would have insurance for the future.



He noted retiring without any social protection will be dangerous since such an individual will be a burden to family and friends.



He said, "it would be unwise and dangerous not to register with SSNIT. Registering with SSNIT, whether you are in the formal or informal sector, gives you some level of insurance after you retire from active work. As a church, we have a duty to use our pulpits to encourage our members to register with SSNIT. This will help reduce poverty and over-dependence on family relations and friends during old age."



He was speaking at a stakeholder's engagement organized by SSNIT recently.

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Morocco and UNESCO have partnered to preserve its prehistoric heritage which makes the country a renowned cradle of humankind.



The North African country has been driven by a deep desire to ensure that it highlights the various categories of its multi-millennial heritage and to make an effective intellectual contribution to the concept of the heritage of humanity.



The Kingdom of Morocco launched of the exhibition and symposium on June 17 at the UNESCO headquarters of in Paris, placed under the patronage of King Mohammed VI.



The participation of researchers and specialists in prehistoric sciences from various Moroccan and international academic institutions added to the fanfare of the launch.



Moroccos Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication -



Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid - and the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, were joined at the launch by the advisor to HM the King, Andre Azoulay, the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN organization, Samir Addahre, Morocco ambassador to Paris, Mohamed Benchaaboune, and the President of the National Foundation of Museums of Morocco, Mehdi Qotbi.



The opening of the exhibition and symposium intended to present the richness and diversity of the Kingdom's prehistoric heritage and highlight recent archaeological discoveries. It was also attended by ambassadors of several countries to UNESCO, personalities from the arts and culture and a host of researchers and specialists in prehistoric sciences.







UNESCO Director-General Azoulay stressed the importance of the international event of prehistory that continues to "question what we are, what we have in common, our place in the scale of time and in the scale of life.



Congratulating Morocco for this initiative, Azoulay said she was "very pleased that this high-level scientific dialogue is being held at UNESCO in a field of study and research that is booming and needs international perspectives.



This field also needs to cross disciplines to advance knowledge, because prehistory, which is a heritage of humanity, is far from being a frozen and mythical moment" added the top UN official. She welcomed the Kingdoms support for UNESCOs efforts in the various areas of its competence, including hosting several forums and conferences, including the 7th International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VII), recently held in Marrakech.



The Director-General further announced the upcoming annual conference on the intangible heritage of UNESCO, at the invitation of the Kingdom.



For his part, Mr Bensaid noted that throughout the day, researchers, experts and scientists discussed the heritage treasure that makes Morocco a cradle of humanity.



"In Morocco, if we are proud of the archaeological discoveries that we present today, we are also aware of the scientific challenges they represent and the problems posed by their preservation (...) and the stake they symbolize, allowing us to read entire chapters of the history of humanity and the world", he said.



These are, according to the minister, "priceless" findings, which leave to posterity unique messages, left hundreds of thousands of years ago by the societies of Homo Sapiens the oldest known to date.



He added that the past is disintegrating, and its materiality often gives way to oblivion or destruction and leaves only disparate prints, hence the importance of such symposiums and this exhibition that offer a counter-plunge into the heart of this very distant past.



"It remains necessary to understand how a species, Homo Sapiens, has managed to rise and build a civilization by writing its own history, ours, said the minister.



According to the Minister, for the Kingdom, it is a priority "to ensure that this flame illuminates the paths that lead to our collective memory, without ever losing sight of the permanence of things."



He noted it is up to current generations to transmit, to preserve intact this prehistoric heritage, which has crossed the time for future generations.



It is against this background that the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, under the enlightened leadership of King Mohammed VI, ''makes every effort to advance research, to act in support of researchers and to protect our heritage assets," said the minister.



At a time when certain forces are attacking history, destroying the common human heritage, excommunicating its defenders, taking hostage the world's heritage, our action is necessary, essential: this is the humanity that resists barbarism, the lights to obscurantism, ", he insisted.



And to add that it is "an indelible commitment that we take, in favour of peace, tolerance, diversity, and through them, in the service of the values of progress, for the future and for posterity.



On the same occasion, Morocco donated to UNESCO replicas of the skull of the oldest Homo Sapiens in the world that is 350 thousand years ago. It was discovered in Jebel Ochoud in Youssoufia.



It further donated the oldest pieces of jewellery in the world dating back 142 to 150 thousand years, discovered in the Bizmoune cave in Essaouira.

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.

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National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, has criticized the Akufo-Addo-led administration for "dragging" some revered men of God into the national cathedral brouhaha.



The construction of the cathedral has been backed by the church with some pastors forming the board and list of trustees.



However, the facility has created lots of controversies in the country with some wondering why the state should fund it.



Sammy Gyamfi reacting to this on Peace FM's "The Platform" program said: "I'm a staunch Christian and growing up we had men of God we really cherished and adored like Archbishop Duncan Williams, Apostle Onyinah, Agyin Asare, Dag Heward-Mills; they're our heroes and they're revered worldwide...I'm pained that Akufo-Addo wants to tarnish their image by dragging them into this whole mess."



"Please don't tarnish their image... leave them out of your chaos...it looks like govt wants to use this national cathedral as a ruse to steal. Christians must not allow govt to smear these men of God otherwise it'll be a dent on Christianity," he added.





Listen to him in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dr. Smart Sarpong, a Senior Research Fellow of the Kumasi Technical University, has appealed to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to make it explicit when the fuel prices will stop increasing.



Contributing to Friday edition of Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Dr. Smart Sarpong sounded fed up with the government blaming Ukraine and Russia conflict for the recurrent increases in petroleum products.



Fuel prices have currently increased to over 10 cedis per litre following previous increases that resulted in transport fares shooting up by 20 percent.



Dr. Sarpong wondered till when should Ghanaians keep enduring these hardships and when they should expect an end.



"Yes, you didn't cause the Ukraine/Russia war, we agree. COVID is an act of God, we agree. So? So, are we going this way forever? Because it looks like it keeps going on and nobody is telling us anything. The solutions or what we hear when we ask these questions are that there is hardship in every country. That is true...but you are the government, so what is in it for us? Must we continue to weep?", he questioned.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A former Minister of Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko, has said he currently don't have a relationship with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo following the circumstances under which he was relieved of his position in August 2018 in relation to the Ameri power deal.



Explaining why he had to take the fall for a Cabinet decision which he was implementing as the sector Minister, Mr Agyarko said there was 'hoax to get Boakye Agyarko out'.



"Look, this whole thing was a hoax, get Boakye Agyarko out. I will say it today," he stated. [Watch attached video below]



He was speaking on Accra based Asempa FM's Ekosii Sen radio talk programme on Monday afternoon (June 20, 2022).



Mr Boakye Agyarko was relieved of his position in August 2018, following the controversy surrounding the review of the Ameri power deal.



He has not publicly discussed the details of why he was removed as Energy Minister but on Monday, he said it is time for him to speak about it.



Asked if President Akufo-Addo did not trust him, his answer was, "he [President] has to answer that. I trusted him."



When the host of the programme asked if Mr Agyarko trust the President, he said: "well I don't have a relationship [with President Akufo-Addo] now."



"People get married for 30 years and get divorced, don't they" he stated when the host referred him to the Campaign Manager role he played for President Akufo-Addo.



"I have known the President since 1976, but I have learnt to move on and go my separate way because at the end of the day, that is what life is. Me, I will never let anybody bring me so low as to hate him. I don't hate anybody but there comes a time when circumstances make it that you go your way, you have to move on."



Mr Agyarko said the last time he spoke to the President face to face was about a year ago.



Touching on the moments before his dismissal was communicated to him, Mr Agyarko said it was the Chief of Staff who called him first to move to the Presidency [Jubilee House].



The copy of the letter dated August 6, 2018 from the President, which communicated his removal to him was read on the programme.



The letter indicated that the President had wanted to personally, face to face inform Agyarko of the decision he had taken on the Ameri matter but that was not possible than to go public given the state of events.



Asked if he will accept an appointment to serve in President Akufo-Addo's government, Mr Agyarko said he was currently focused on his presidential ambition.



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
When it comes to mountain bike geometry, the pace of change seems to have slowed down slightly this season. Yes, there are plenty of new bikes being released that are longer and slacker than before, but rather than seeing two degrees slashed off a bike's head angle and 10  20mm added to the reach, the revisions are more subtle, refinements rather than drastic transformations.



All of that holds true for the new Santa Cruz Hightower, which has undergone a slight geometry update and received a few new frame features, including a snack storage compartment, for 2023. It retains its 29 wheels and 145mm of rear travel paired with a 150mm fork, and it still slots into that do-it-all category, that sort of nebulous zone between shorter travel trail bikes and longer travel enduro machines.



Hightower 3 Details



 Wheel size: 29"

 Travel: 145 mm, 150 mm fork

 C & CC carbon frames, aluminum option on the way

 64.5 or 64.8 head angle

 76.4 seat tube angle (size L, low)

 438mm chainstays (size L, low)

 Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL

 Weight: 31.5 lb / 14.3 kg (size L, Hightower C GX AXS RSV)

 Price: $5,499 - $10,699USD

 santacruzbicycles.com  Wheel size: 29" Travel: 145 mm, 150 mm fork C & CC carbon frames, aluminum option on the way 64.5 or 64.8 head angle 76.4 seat tube angle (size L, low) 438mm chainstays (size L, low) Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL Weight: 31.5 lb / 14.3 kg (size L, Hightower C GX AXS RSV) Price: $5,499 - $10,699USD

Photo: Grant Robinson

Frame Details



There's plenty of room for tools and snacks inside the downtube.

A cutout on the shock tunnel makes it easier to check sag.

Geometry

Suspension Layout

Hightower C GX AXS RSV

Spec Check

Photo: Sterling Lorence

Ride Impressions

According to Santa Cruz, It's a mountain bike.The mid-length travel and confidence-inspiring geometry means anywhere tires will roll, then so will this bike. No fussing, no nonsense, no silly category names.There are two different carbon frame options  CC and C  and there's an aluminum version in the works. As for colors, riders can choose from translucent purple or a matte evergreen option. That purple option is one of the best-looking paint jobs I've seen in recent memory  the red / purple blend looks absolutely amazing in person.The Hightower's overall frame shape remains the same as the previous version, with a lower link-driven VPP suspension layout and a 210 x 55mm shock. Grease ports on the lower linkage simplify service, and once the bearings are too far gone for fresh grease to salvage Santa Cruz will replace them for free.The in-frame storage first showed up on the Megatower, a panel that sits under the bottle cage with a small latch that allows access to the inside of the frame. The storage capacity is quite generous  there's plenty of room for a small pump, a tube, and tools with space to spare. Santa Cruz includes two padded sleeves (a tool wallet and a tube purse) to keep the Glovebox's contents from rattling around.Another feature that adds convenience to the frame is the cutout on the non-driveside portion of the shock tunnel. That port makes it easier to check sag  with the previous design it was tricky to get a straight-on view of the shocks o-ring. One feature that hasn't been added to the Hightower is coil shock or Float X2 compatibility - by keeping the shock tunnel just big enough to fit an air shock like the RockShox Super Deluxe, Santa Cruz was able to gain an extra centimeter of room for dropper post insertion.The slight geometry updates mentioned earlier come in the form of a .5-degree slacker head angle and size-specific chainstay lengths. On a size large, that equates to a 64.5-degree head angle and 438mm chainstays, which are paired with a 472mm reach (that's a scant 2mm longer than before). The seat angles remain roughly the same, hovering between 76.4 and 77-degrees depending on the frame size and flip chip position.Speaking of flip chips, that little thing hasn't gone anywhere. Changing its position results in a head angle that's a whole .3-degree different and a 4mm alteration in bottom bracket height. I feel like Santa Cruz could scrap the whole flip chip thing and most riders wouldn't complain at all, but it's there if you feel like tinkering in tiny increments.The new Hightower has slightly lower anti-squat values for the first 40% of its travel compared to the previous version, a change that was implemented to improve suspension sensitivity. The values are still on the higher side, sitting in the neighborhood of 135% at sag, and then dropping off further into the travel.The leverage ratio was adjusted as well, and it's now a little higher at the beginning of the travel and a little lower at the end in order to maintain consistent damping and bump up the bottom-out resistance a little.The bike that I have in for review is the Hightower C GX AXS Reserve model, which retails for $9,799 USD. That's a whole bunch of money, and this isn't even the top-of-the-line model. Bike prices have increased across the board over the last couple of years, but to me it seems like Santa Cruz's prices have gone up more than others  this isn't the place to look if you're on the hunt for a killer value.This particular model has a parts kit that won't hold anyone back, but there are a few items that don't seem to align with that hefty price tag. The shock is a RockShox Select Plus, which has a stubby lockout lever instead of any low speed compression adjust. Not the end of the world, but at this price point some more adjustability would be nice. The brakes are Code RS, with 180mm rotors front and rear. Once again, they work well, but lack the pad contact adjust of the RSC version, a feature I find very useful, and I'd prefer 200mm rotors front and rear, or at least up front.While I'm nitpicking, EXO+ tires would have been a more appropriate choice rather than the EXO casing versions that are spec'd. At least the front uses Maxxis' MaxxGrip rubber  I'm a big fan of that softer compound. And finally, the size large comes with a 175mm RockShox Reverb dropper. There are lots of adjustable cable actuated dropper posts on the market these days that work great  I'd much rather have a 200mm cable actuate post over the Reverb with its hydraulic remote.Product managers don't have it easy these days, and I'm sure that supply chain issues and delays played a part in some of the parts selected for this build. Still, for a bike that's nearly $10,000 I'd expect to see higher end parts, even if this one does have carbon wheels and a GX AXS wireless drivetrain.I've only managed to squeeze two rides so far, so I won't be digging in too deep just yet  that'll have to wait until I rack up more miles on a wider variety of terrain. That said, my initial outings did allow me to get a decent handle on the Hightower's character.The trait that stood out the most was just how well this bike jumps and corners. My local trails are littered jumps and berms, and I instantly felt at home on the Hightower. It has a lively, poppy feel to it, and its slightly shorter dimensions compared to some of the longer enduro machines out there make it extremely easy to maneuver in the air and on the ground.I really enjoyed the previous Hightower's handling, and so far that remains the case with the new version. The wheelbase has grown, but it's still an easygoing ride, one that doesn't take much effort to get to the top of a techy climb. There's enough travel to take the edge off bigger hits, but not so much that it feels like overkill on mellower trails.Of course, part of me does wonder what a 160mm fork, some bigger rotors, and some beefier tires will do to its manners. There's a chance it could dull some of the liveliness that I like so much, or it could turn it into a really fun not-quite-an-enduro bike, one that feels even more at home just about everywhere. I'll start playing around with different setup configurations and report my findings in a longer term review later this year.
Volkmann Leads Host of Stars in the GGPoker Super MILLION$

June 21, 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor

PokerNews writes an article every year about the best poker players who are yet to win a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet. The latest GGPoker Super MILLION$ final table lends itself to an article about the best poker players not heading to Las Vegas for the 2022 WSOP because it is crammed full of elite professionals.

Nine top-tier poker pros take to the GGPoker virtual felt from 7:00 p.m. BST on June 21, and fight it out for a $245,554 top prize. Victory will not be easy because those nine stars have won more than hundreds of millions of dollars between them from the biggest live and online tournaments and cash games.

GGPoker Super MILLION$ Final Table Chip Counts

Place Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Bruno Volkmann Brazil 2,894,414 96.5 2 Simon Mattsson Norway 2,156,774 71.9 3 Artur Martirosian Russia 1,493,390 49.8 4 Isaac Haxton Canada 1,337,984 44.6 5 Niklas Astedt Norway 1,043,324 34.8 6 Mark Radoja Mexico 786,038 26.2 7 Chunlei Zhou Hong Kong 663,248 22.1 8 Wiktor Malinowski Macau 561,816 18.7 9 Marco Steda Liechtenstein 363,012 12.1

Watch All The Final Table Action Here Click here!

The ball is in Bruno Volkmann's court when play resumes because the Brazilian is the chip leader with a stack of 2,894,414 chips (96.5 big blinds). Volkmann has been on fire at GGPoker of late, and even managed to win the compact $25,500 Sunday Super HR on June 19 for $325,000.

Simon Mattsson is the player nearest Volkmann in terms of chips courtesy of a 2,156,774 stack (71.9 big blinds). Mattsson already has a victory in the Super MILLION$ this season, which is one of the reasons why he is fourth in Season 2's money listing with $2,149,573 in earnings from this event alone.

Artur Martirosian is the biggest winner at GGPoker.

The man at the top of those money listings is none other than Artur Martirosian, who triumphed in the Super MILLION$ four times during Season 2 and five times overall. The Russian returns to the action in third place with 1,493,390 chips (49.8 big blinds), and a realistic chance of winning his sixth Super MILLION$ title, which will be a new record. Martirosian is in form, having won the $1,050 Sunday High Rollers Main Event for $91,419 a couple of nights ago.

GGPoker Super MILLION$ Final Table Payouts

1st - $245,554

2nd - $191,767

3rd - $149,762

4th - $116,958

5th - $91,339

6th - $71,332

7th - $55,707

8th - $43,505

9th - $33,975

Niklas Astedt is hunting for his sixth Super MILLION$ title

Just below Martirosian is where you find the legendary figures of Isaac Haxton and Niklas Astedt. Haxton, a three-time Super MILLION$ champion, has a 1,337,984 stack (44.6 big blinds), while the five-time Super MILLION$ champion Astedt sits down armed with 1,043,324 chips (34.8).

Everyone below Astedt has fewer than one millions chips, but there are far from down and out thanks to GGPoker rolling back the blind levels to ensure the players have plenty of wiggle room at the final table.

Mark Radoja hopes this is the day he finally wins the Super MILLION$. If he is to win, he needs to improve his 786,038 stack (26.2 big blinds), which is not past a player of his obvious talents.

Chunlei Zhou, Wiktor Malinowski, and Marco Streda are the three shortest stack when the cards are back in the air. The latter has a war chest of only 363,012 betting token (12.1 big blinds), whch are enough to cause a dent in several of his opponents' stacks.
Day 3 of Event #39 $3,000 Pot Limit Omaha 6-Handed at the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) has come to an end which saw the field reduced from 16 players down to the final table of six players. Israel's Leonid Yanovski is still the chip leader with 8,700,000 chips which will be good for 145 big blinds. Yanovski gained most of the chips when he eliminated Amirhossein Shayesteh in seventh for a huge pot to keep him on course to win the top prize of $371,358 and the gold bracelet.

Close on Yanovski's heels is Fabian Brandes, who finished second in Event #19 $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed for $907,132. Brandes will look to better his recent result and take down his first WSOP bracelet.

Event #39: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed Final Table Counts

Place Name Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Leonid Yanovski Israel 8,700,000 145 2 Fabian Brandes Austria 6,560,000 109 3 Sean Winter USA 4,275,000 71 4 Grzegorz Derkowski Poland 3,685,000 61 5 Ferenc Deak Hungary 3,110,000 52 6 Thomas Morrison USA 2,435,000 41

Notable players who did not make the final table included bracelet winners Andriy Lyubovetskiy, who busted in ninth; Jan-Peter Jachtmann in 14th place; and Jason DeWitt in 15th place.

The six players left in the tournament will return to Bally's Event Center at 4:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, June 21, where they will play down to a winner. Blinds will resume at 30,000/60,000 with a 60,000 big blind ante for 27 minutes and 46 seconds. The event will be streamed on PokerGO on a 30-minute delay.

Final Table Seat Draw

Casino Table Seat Player Country Chips Big Blinds Bally's 1 1 Grzegorz Derkowski Germany 3,685,000 61 Bally's 1 2 Ferenc Deak Hungary 3,110,000 52 Bally's 1 3 Leonid Yanovski Israel 8,700,000 145 Bally's 1 4 Thomas Morrison United States 2,435,000 41 Bally's 1 5 Fabian Brandes United States 6,560,000 109 Bally's 1 6 Sean Winter United States 4,275,000 71

Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for all the updates on the final table of Event #39: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed and all the other events at the 2022 World Series of Poker at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Cloudy in the morning with scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 84F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low 69F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
WASHINGTON  The House 1/6 committee outlined on Tuesday Donald Trump's relentless pressure to overturn the 2020 presidential election, aiming to show it led to widespread personal threats on the stewards of American democracy  election workers and local officials who fended off the defeated president's efforts.

The panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol resumed with a focus on Trump's efforts to undo Joe Biden's victory in the most local way  by leaning on officials in key battleground states to reject ballots outright or to submit alternative electors for the final tally in Congress. The pressure was fueled by the defeated president's false claims of voter fraud which, the panel says, led directly to the riot at the Capitol.

Chairman Bennie Thompson declared, "A handful of election officials in several key states stood between Donald Trump and the upending of American democracy."

The hearing opened with chilling accounts of the barrage of verbal attacks facing state and local elected officials, including Arizona's Republican House speaker Rusty Bowers who said he was subject to a "disturbing" smear campaign online, bull-horn protests at his home and a pistol-wielding man taunting his family and neighbors.

Bowers walked through an account of being called by Trump on a Sunday after returning from church when the defeated president laid out his proposal to have the state replace its electors for Joe Biden with those favoring Trump.

"I said, Look, you're asking me to do something that is counter to my oath," Bowers testified before the committee.

Bowers insisted on seeing Trump's evidence of voter fraud, which he said Trump's team never produced beyond vague allegations. He recalled Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani at one point told him, "'We've got lots of theories, we just don't have the evidence.'"

Trump wanted Bowers to hold a hearing at the state Capitol, but the Republican leader said there was already a "circus" atmosphere over the election. The panel showed video footage of protesters at the Arizona state house including a key figure, the horned-hat wearing Jacob Chansley, who was later arrested at the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

Trump nevertheless pressed the Arizona official, including in a follow-up call, suggesting he expected a better response from a fellow Republican.

But Bowers testified under oath that because of his faith, including a belief the U.S. Constitution is divinely inspired, what the president was asking him to do was "foreign to my very being."

Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, the panel's vice chair, embraced Bowers during a break in the hearing.

She implored Americans to pay attention to the evidence being presented, declaring, "Donald Trump didn't care about the threats of violence. He did not condemn them, he made no effort to stop them."

"We cannot let America become a nation of conspiracy theories and thug violence."

The public hearing, the fourth by the panel this month, stemmed from its yearlong investigation into Trump's unprecedented attempt to remain in power, a sprawling scheme that the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee has likened to an "attempted coup."

Thompson, D-Miss., pointed to recent election disputes in New Mexico and said, "The danger hasn't gone away. It's corrupting our democratic institutions."

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger testified about Trump's phone call asking him to "find 11,780" votes that could flip his state to prevent Biden's election victory.

Raffensperger and his deputy Gabe Sterling were key witnesses, along with Wandrea "Shay" Moss, a former Georgia election worker who, with her mother, has said they faced such severe public harassment from Trump allies they felt unable to live normal lives.

While the committee cannot charge Trump with any crimes, the Justice Department is watching the panel's work closely. Trump's actions in Georgia are also the subject of a grand jury investigation, with the district attorney expected to announce findings this year.

Trump defended himself on social media, describing his phone call to Raffensperger as "perfect," similar to the way he described his 2020 call with Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskyy that resulted in his first impeachment.

During the call, days before the Jan. 6 attack, Trump repeatedly cited disproven claims of fraud and raised the prospect of a "criminal offense" if Georgia officials did not change the state's count. The state had counted its votes three times before certifying Biden's win by a margin of 11,779.

The public testimony from Raffensperger came weeks after he appeared before a special grand jury in Georgia investigating whether Trump and others illegally tried to intervene in the state's 2020 election, and after Raffensperger beat a Trump-backed challenger in last month's primary election.

Sterling, Raffensperger's chief operating officer, became a notable figure in Georgia's long post-election counting, and recounting, of the presidential ballots, with his regular updates often broadcast live to a divided nation. At one point, the soft-spoken Republican implored Americans to tone down the heated rhetoric.

"Death threats, physical threats, intimidation  it's too much, it's not right," he said.

Bowers also revealed a second phone call with Trump in December 2020 that he said was mainly small talk, although Trump also referenced their first conversation.

Moss, who had worked for the Fulton County elections department since 2012, and her mother, Ruby Freeman, a temporary election worker, filed a defamation lawsuit in December 2021. Moss claimed conservative outlet One America News Network and Giuliani falsely spread allegations that she and her mother engaged in ballot fraud during the election. The case against OAN has since been dismissed with a settlement.

The select committee also worked to untangle the elaborate "fake electors" scheme that sought to have representatives in as many as seven battlegrounds  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada and New Mexico  sign certificates falsely stating that Trump, not Biden, had won their states.

Conservative law professor John Eastman, a lawyer for Trump, pushed the fake electors in the weeks after the election. Trump and Eastman convened hundreds of electors on a call on Jan. 2, 2021, encouraging them to send alternative slates from their states where Trump's team was claiming fraud.

The fake electors idea was designed to set up a challenge on Jan. 6, 2021, when Congress met in joint session, with Vice President Mike Pence presiding over what is typically a ceremonial role to accept the states' vote tallies. But the effort collapsed, as Pence refused Trump's repeated demands that he simply halt the certification of Biden's win  a power he believed he did not possess in his purely ceremonial role.

At least 20 people in connection with the fake electors scheme were subpoenaed by the House panel. The committee says it will also show that it has gathered enough evidence through its more than 1,000 interviews and tens of thousands of documents to connect the varying efforts to overturn the election directly to Trump.

__

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Bob Christie in Phoenix contributed to this report.
Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. High 84F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
MONCKS CORNER  Berkeley County elected officials have given early approval to an ordinance that would place a moratorium on larger residential developments in unincorporated areas, reacting in part to a recent high-profile zoning dispute.

The proposed changes, in effect, would reverse the approval process for certain projects while requiring developers to show how their projects would affect public services and neighboring communities.

Berkeley County Council's land use committee voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance last week.

While few details were disclosed publicly at the June 13 meeting, Phillip Obie, the committee's chairman, said the plan would most likely target future developments of 100 acres or 75 homes. The ordinance is expected to be drafted by the next meeting on July 13, he said.

It would require larger projects in unincorporated areas to be reviewed by County Council as the first step, not the last. Councilmembers would then determine whether to lift the moratorium on a case-by-case basis.

We want developers to come to the council first before they go to the countys planning staff, Obie said. We want to make sure the developers are considering how the neighborhoods that they plan to build will affect services like schools, EMS, fire and water and sewer, and the other communities around them before anythings approved or construction begins.

It would not affect incorporated cities, such as Goose Creek, Hanahan and Moncks Corner, or developments the county has already approved.

A final vote could come as early as August.

A recent dispute that pitted landowners in the Cordesville area against elected officials and former U.S. Congressman Henry Brown was one of the catalysts for the change, several council members said.

What happened with Henry Brown is what kind of brought everything to the forefront, said Councilman Tommy Newell. I think everyone on council realized that something needed to be done.

Brown asked to reclassify about 200 acres along S.C. Highway 402 near Cordesville from a designation that allowed one home for every 15 acres. The former lawmaker wanted to have the land placed under a less-restrictive zoning category that would allow up to 400 homes in total, which some neighbors opposed.

County Council approved Browns request by a 6-1 vote on April 29.

Because of the change, about 65 parcels along S.C. Highway 402 and S.C. Highway 41 near the east branch of the Cooper River could potentially be rezoned and bring denser residential development to the rural area.

The new ordinance would help streamline the sometimes-cumbersome process that builders must go through, county supervisor Johnny Cribb said.

Normally, a developer has to go to our planning department and then go to our planning commission, hold community meetings before it lands with the council, Cribb said. With this ordinance, the council gets to decide upfront if the project goes forward."

I cant think of a single stakeholder in this process that this isnt better for," he added. "If you are a developer, why go out and invest time and money in engineering and permitting and then have council turn it down. This way they are dealing with the ultimate decision makers in the beginning.

Berkeley County is one of the fastest growing counties in nation, adding an average of 17 residents each day.

The public wants us to slow down growth, Councilman Josh Whitley said. Growth is good, and we need growth, but its these large development agreements that have put so much stress on our infrastructure.

If approved, Whitley said, developers will have to demonstrate their projects are in the best interest of the community.

Were going to set a very high hurdle, Whitley said.

Developers, he added, "wont get consideration for the moratorium to be lifted unless they are making a compelling case that they are addressing all of the impacts" on public infrastructure, such as schools and roads.

The developer will have to address the impact on growth. Otherwise, the moratorium will be in place and the developer will not be able to use any staff time or proceed in any way toward a development agreement. They will have to show some cards up front.

Whitley, an attorney, said he's not concerned about any legal challenges to the ordinance because "we are not restricting entitled rights."

The Charleston Home Builders Association said it did not know the specifics of the county's plan but it's opposed to any moratorium.

"In general, the ... association does not support the use of moratoriums as a means to control growth because it simply encourages sprawl, making our infrastructure problems worse without collecting the necessary tax revenue to address the problem," said Patrick Arnold, the group's executive director.
MOUNT PLEASANT  The start of fiscal 2023 will bring a new chief executive and higher salaries to the State Ports Authority, an expected return to normal for cargo moving through the Port of Charleston and wild swings in the agency's budget figures, according to a presentation Tuesday.

Barbara Melvin  who has spent nearly a quarter-century with the SPA, most recently as chief operating officer  will succeed Jim Newsome as the CEO when the new fiscal year begins on July 1. She takes over a port that's set cargo records for 15 consecutive months as consumers and retailers spent unprecedented amounts on imported goods during the pandemic.

But now that consumers are traveling, going out to eat and spending more on recreation and hotel stays, the amount of cargo moving through the port's terminals is projected to drop over the coming 12 months to 1.58 million containers  a roughly 2 percent decline from the current fiscal year's projections.

"It's really just a flattening of volumes across the board," said Phil Padgett, the SPA's chief financial officer. Padgett told the agency's board that the budget forecast for the coming 12 months "might be our most difficult plan to date, even counting the pandemic, just because of some of the uncertainty" in the global economy.

The SPA expects revenues of $453.1 million  about 2.3 percent above current-year projections  against a nearly 26 percent increase in expenses of $323.4 million in fiscal 2023. Much of the increase is start-up costs for a new truck chassis pool the SPA will operate to make the equipment more accessible to drivers.

"I guess if you had to pin me to it, we're going to be very good through October, the normal peak season, and then we'll get back to more normal volumes," Newsome said. "But I don't think it will get back to where it was before" the pandemic.

Operating earnings are expected to fall to $43.9 million in fiscal 2023, less than half the $109.8 million projection for this year. That's largely because of a predicted $32 million decline in fees the SPA will collect from shipping lines that don't move their cargo off the terminals on time.

The higher expenses also represent about 18 percent more in administrative costs, including raises the board approved totaling $368,000 for the SPA's top 11 executives.

The board also approved a $302.7 million capital spending plan that includes $112 million for the chassis pool, $54.9 million for further development of the year-old Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston and nearly $50 million for equipment and upgrades at other terminals. That doesn't include another $350 million that's in the state budget for a new rail yard in North Charleston and a barge system to move cargo between Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant and the Leatherman site.

Melvin, who joined the SPA in 1998, led the SPA's efforts to deepen Charleston Harbor to 52 feet and was an executive vice president in charge of the port's terminals before moving into the chief operating officer role in 2019. Like Newsome, she has a master's degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee.

"I always say our best years are ahead, and I believe that now more than ever," Newsome said of Melvin's leadership.

Melvin's salary during the coming fiscal year will reflect her new duties, with the board approving a 32.5 percent pay raise to $530,000. She will also be eligible for a bonus totaling half that amount if the SPA meets its cargo and financial goals during the coming fiscal year.

Newsome, who joined the SPA in 2009, will be an executive adviser to the maritime agency over the next 12 months. He will be paid $585,000 in that role  the same amount he made during his final year as president and CEO.

"We had very high expectations of Jim in very difficult circumstances in the state of South Carolina at the time," Bill Stern, the SPA's chairman, said, referring to efforts to privatize the port and the near-loss of its biggest customer  the Maersk shipping line  as Newsome was being recruited. "Even with those high expectations, and I sit here 13 years later, I'm proud to say you've exceeded all of our expectations."
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

A few clouds with an isolated thunderstorm possible after midnight. Low near 75F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

A few clouds with an isolated thunderstorm possible after midnight. Low near 75F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
WEST COLUMBIA  Accreditation status hangs in the balance at Lexington County School District Two after an audit of high school graduate transcripts showed evidence of grading policy violations.

The State Department of Education found over 30 possible grading policy violations at Brookland-Cayce and Airport high schools in an audit of 2021 graduate transcripts. The audit cited 28 violations at Brookland-Cayce and six at Airport.

The downgrade to what's known as "Accredited/Advised" is the first of four that a district can receive before not being able to hand out high school diplomas.

"Some students are taking a course 5 times before passing it," read documents from the state education department audit to Lexington Two. "What types of interventions/content recovery are being used to help these students?"

The 8,600-student Cayce and West Columbia school district can restore its accreditation status back to normal, though, with staff training and perform an audit of transcripts.

The department's audit of Lexington Two found: students appeared to have taken courses more than once, or received credits for courses they had dropped; some students received diplomas despite not having enough credits; and entered incorrect course codes into the schools' online grading system.

"If findings are corrected and no other accreditation issues occur during the 202223 school year, the accreditation status will be returned to 'Accredited/All Clear' for the 202223 school year," the state department wrote in a letter to acting Lexington Two Superintendent Barry Bolen. "If not, the status will be lowered to Accredited/Warned," the second of four downgrades before state accreditation is denied.

Efforts to reach Lexington Two district officials were unsuccessful on June 20, when Bolen visited both Brookland-Cayce and Airport high schools to speak with administrators about the state education department's findings and their corrective action plans, said Andrea White, an attorney representing the school district.

"The district is already looking into the violations and already starting to plan for the corrective action," White said.

Lexington Two has to put the district's middle and high school administrators through training on handling student records. Counselors and registrars from the high schools attended training in March, according to the state department's letter, but they're now requiring an additional training session this summer. District academic counseling directors also have to attend this training.

The middle and high school administrators then have to choose committees to audit their end-of-the-year transcripts and submit report to the state. The district also must submit all of the past year's 9th-through-12th grade student transcripts, including summer school, to the state Education Department before ordering graduate diplomas in 2023.

"This training will provide assistance in correcting errors and assisting with achieving an Accredited/All Clear rating," the department's letter reads.

A schedule for the training is not yet available.

The audit was prompted after a high school student appeared on paper to have taken four recovery classes, which are taken after student fail courses, in a span of nine days.

A further check found Brookland-Cayce looked to be in violation of credit-recovery policy with that student's request for a diploma, leading to the state department reviewing a random sample of all transcripts from that academic year. Students are allowed to re-take classes they failed if they get a grade of at least 51. The state found students retaking classes after scoring below 51 or having withdrawn from the class all together.

The state education department sent an initial letter announcing its audit in October 2021 to former superintendent Nicolas Wade.

Wade unexpectedly resigned in May and is receiving a $240,000 payout as part of a settlement agreement. No reason for his departure has been released.

Bolen, who was superintendent from 2001 to 2008, has served as acting superintendent in the interim.

Lexington Two will receive word on its accreditation status no later than Aug. 31, according to the state Education Department.
Sean Brocks innovative chefs table at McCradys was for years one of Charlestons most coveted seats, as the celebrity chef and his team dazzled diners with course after course of gastronomical excellence.

During this time, other local chefs found success serving the prix fixe meal  Vinson Petrillo at Zero Restaurant + Bar and Michelle Weaver at the Charleston Grill among them. Then the COVID-19 pandemic sent the dining format that shows up at most of the countrys Michelin star restaurants into a tailspin.

Charleston chefs with an eye toward the future started taking a less traditional approach to the prix fixe meal, debuting new experiences that use food as a vehicle to explore history, the nuance that goes into crafting each dish and the intricacies of oysters.

Food steeped in history

Mike Hebbs undergraduate and graduate studies centered around history, but he chose to work in the hospitality industry, spending more than 25 years in hotels, country clubs and restaurants.

In 2015, Hebb had the idea to launch a business specializing in multicourse dinners steeped in history, a venture he planned to launch once he mastered Charlestons tour industry. After leading more than 5,000 carriage tours, Hebb, a certified sommelier, decided he was ready to debut the Historic Charleston Supper Club on March 1, 2020.

But Hebb did not host a Historic Charleston Supper Club dinner until July 2020 amid the pandemic.

As Charleston tourism recovered, the new business began to grow, with 700 people reserving a seat at the citys newest dinner club in 2021.

My two biggest passions are food and history, and those are Charlestons biggest passions, Hebb said. I kind of want it to be like a tour where you dont get up from your seat.

The events took place at a State Street venue in downtown Charleston before Hebb secured a new home for the supper club in March. The chef and culinary historian is now hosting dinners Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at the Governors House Inn.

Former South Carolina Gov. Edward Rutledge, known as the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence, hosted the likes of George Washington while living at the 117 Broad St. property. Born in the present-day Governors House Inn, Rutledges daughter Sarah wrote Charlestons first published cookbook, called The Carolina Housewife, in 1847.

Hebb, who calls himself a one man show, dresses the part as he takes diners through Colonial, Antebellum and Reconstruction Charleston, serving food thats representative of each era throughout the night. When he develops each menu, Hebb draws on years of research that has exposed him to thousands of recipes that predate 1860.

The three- to five-course family-style meal is heavily influenced by European technique and traditions, according to Hebb.

You can see it develop into Southern food, Hebb said.

Each dinner ($125) starts at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. A glass of Madeira is served at the start of the evening, and Hebb invites guests to bring their own wine and beer to enjoy with their dinner.

Hebb will send his receipts, the word used for recipes in the 18th and 19th century, to diners after the event. He admits that it has been difficult to get the word out locally, but he is encouraged by the fact that his business straddles the tour and restaurant industries.

'Deceptively Italian'

Prior to opening The Pass, a downtown Charleston artisan market and sandwich shop, owner Anthony Marini had a more traditional restaurant in mind. The Philadelphia native is, after all, a Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park alum who has owned restaurants in Birmingham, Ala., and Philadelphia. He also won season two of CNBCs Restaurant Startup.

But at 650 square feet, The Pass, previously occupied by a counter-serve sushi spot, appeared to be too small for a full-service restaurant. Still, Marini recalls feeling a wave of depression rush through him the first time he walked by The Pass when it was closed at night.

Aware that other small downtown Charleston restaurants have found success  Chez Nous, Estadio, Malagon, Pink Cactus and Chubby Fish, just to name a few  Marini realized he could open The Pass doors at night, but his dinner offering would be different.

Marini decided he would open for private multicourse dinners.

He was confident in his ability to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience, but the chef wasnt sure how Charleston would take to the idea.

They ended up loving it.

Within two weeks after the September 2021 launch, Marini had every date booked up in 2021, and he had a 45-table waitlist. With just a convection oven, sous vide machine and a couple of induction burners, Marini hosted 52 chefs tables from October through December, when he paused the service as the omicron variant of COVID-19 surged in South Carolina.

These are people that like to eat, Marini said, adding that the majority of attendees were local residents. Theres an openness here that I dont know that other restaurants can do simply because of the size.

Marini restarted the service in March, but this time he started accepting reservations from multiple parties, meaning guests would set up at a communal table or chefs counter next to people they might not have met before.

Marini realized the idea could work after hosting two events at The Pass during the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, and since, he has hosted about 12. Reservations are currently on hold, but Marini said he will restart the service in July.

In terms of the five course $75 meal itself, Marini calls it deceptively Italian. Courses include anything from antipasto and crudos to risotto, pasta and other Italian-inspired mains.

The people that we bring in here, we want to make them happy, Marini said. I like taking care of people. Thats my goal.

A new kind of omakase

Kevin Joseph arrived in Charleston with grand plans to open what he says is the worlds only omakase style raw bar in a section of the Port of Call Food + Brew Hall that used to house Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.s apparel shop. Joseph once operated a stall inside the food hall called Empire Oyster, but he has since doubled down on the chefs table experience he calls Raw Lab.

According to Joseph, Raw Lab takes the raw bar out of the restaurant, offering 12 guests eight to nine courses for $199 per person.

Raw Lab's price point exceeds many of Charlestons more traditional tasting menu experiences, including Petrillos tasting menu at Zero Restaurant + Bar ($120, $200 with wine pairing), Sushi-Was 14-course sushi omakase ($80) and Wild Commons tasting menu by James Beard Award nominee Orlando Pagan ($105, $160 with wine pairing).

Its not cheap, which Joseph plainly states on his website. He believes Raw Lab is worth the price of admission due to the quality of his products and the theatrical flair that accompanies most, if not all, of the courses. Diners will find Joseph grating fresh wasabi one minute and giving out caviar bumps the next.

If you pull out your phone to take a video, you probably wont be the only one documenting the action.

Each evening starts with a glass of champagne before the action begins. Oysters, caviar, uni, lobster Caesar salad and scallops are among the courses served by Joseph, who runs the meals alongside one assistant. Most courses come with beverage pairings, so come ready to eat and drink.

The control in the lab is the oyster and the experiment is the different accoutrement, Joseph said. The style of service is entirely different.

Joseph calls the food served at Raw Lab marine cuisine, meaning you wont find overfished species at Raw Lab. The Colorado native hopes to teach diners about sustainably sourced seafood while entertaining them throughout the evening.

Theyre coming to me clearly to learn, and thats really gratifying, Joseph said.

Can tasting menus work in Charleston?

Charlestons classic tasting menus continue to lure diners out for dinners in the triple digits.

A recent visit to a crowded Zero Restaurant + Bar for Petrillos multicourse meal featuring crab doughnuts, yellowfin tuna with Regiis Ova caviar, salmon with grilled peas and Hunter Cattle Farm beef demonstrated Charleston diners are again warming to the idea of spending money on chefs choice tasting menus.

Whether or not experiences like the ones offered at The Pass, Historic Charleston Supper Club and Raw Lab help or hinder this dining format's future in the Holy City remains to be seen.

This year for the first time, several Florida restaurants received the prestigious culinary honor of being Michelin-star rated. Michelin star ratings are taken with a grain of salt by most experts (some have called the star system exclusive and elitist), but if these "stars" are ever going to land in Charleston, local diners will have to buy in to the tasting menu format.

For those looking to test the waters, there are a couple of modestly priced venues. James Beard Award finalist Butcher & Bee serves a family-style chefs choice menu for $45 per person, and Sorghum & Salt serves its four-course tasting for $59.
New Orleans restaurant Turkey and the Wolf isnt your average sandwich shop.

Once referred to as The Radical Sandwich Kings of New Orleans, the restaurants chefs are known for crafting inventive handhelds like the collard green melt, which Charleston residents will have the opportunity to sample at a July 6 event celebrating the launch of Turkey and the Wolf owner Mason Herefords new cookbook, titled "Turkey and the Wolf: Flavor Trippin' in New Orleans."

Flavor Trippin' in New Orleans hit bookstands on June 21.

Turkey and the Wolf earned immediate praise when it opened in the city's Irish Channel neighborhood in 2017, turning heads with not only its sandwiches, but its funky, fun-loving atmosphere. Hereford has an easy going, light-hearted persona, so when a shipping snafu caused his cookbooks to plummet to the bottom of the ocean  delaying the release by four months  he reacted like those who knew him likely assumed he would.

By posting a few memes.

I have some wild and unfortunate cookbook news so bizarre that it warrants using lowercase text. Im sorry to say the Turkey and the Wolf cookbook wont be shipping out in February as planned, Hereford wrote at the time in an Instagram post next to a collection of memes, one of which featured Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland in Cast Away staring at a long lost Turkey and the Wolf cookbook adorned with Wilson the Volleyballs face.

There was a container collapse on the cargo ship that contained the Turkey and the Wolf books. The good news is that there were no critical injuries, as can happen in these situations. But the bad news is the books might be in a cargo container at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

In January, The Post and Courier reported that the containership carrying the books, called The Madrid Bridge, originated in China and was sailing from Europe.

Damage to the vessel occurred Jan. 7 when it was hit with a large swell and 22-knot winds, causing the ship to roll while it was idling south of the Azores, a chain of islands west of Portugal.

The Madrid limped into the Port of Charleston on Jan. 25 for several days of work and inspections after its approximately 90 cargo boxes collapsed aboard the vessel. The ships operator decided to do the repair work at the Leatherman Terminal because of Charlestons deep harbor and the need for a 49-foot draft.

While this Charleston connection isnt the reason the Holy City is Herefords first stop on his cookbook tour, it certainly adds another layer to the strange story that started in 2019, when he first conceived the book.

Not only did the book allow him to work with his brother William Hereford, a successful photographer who is working on a project with celebrity chef Francis Mallmann, it allowed Hereford to find his voice alongside accomplished writer JJ Goode, co-author of New York Times bestseller Pok Pok: Food and Stories from the Streets, Homes, and Roadside Restaurants of Thailand, among others.

Flavor Trippin' in New Orleans features nearly 100 recipes alongside commentary from Hereford.

I decided I do have something to say, Hereford told The Post and Courier. It is the exact same reason we opened a restaurant which was to figure out a way to all have jobs, put something out in the world but sort of minimize stress and maximize good times with your buddies.

With the cookbooks finally in tow, Hereford is preparing to start his book tour in Charleston before visiting Porchlight in New York City, Crispy Gai in Portland, Maine, Tail Up Goat in Washington, D.C., and Pizzeria Locale in Denver, with other cities to be announced at a later date.

The Butcher & Bee book signing will be more than just that  the event will be a dinner party (emphasis on the party, as Hereford puts it) that will feature some of Charlestons top chefs.

Vivian Howard (Lenoir and Handy + Hot), Morgan McQueen (Jackrabbit Filly), James London (Chubby Fish), Maryam Ghaznavi (Malika), Chase Barton (Martins Bar-B-Que Joint), Alec Gropman (Uptown Hospitality Group) and Jessica Olin (Butcher & Bee) are among the participants, with Nayda Friere (Renzo) providing the beverages.

Talk about a star-studded cast.

Everyone is going to do one bite-sized dish. They check out the book and maybe do something thats inspired by it, Hereford said. Its just crazy wild to think that all these amazing chefs are willing to read something I made.

Gropman leads the kitchen at Uptown Hospitality Groups three downtown Charleston establishments: Uptown Social, Share House and Bodega, which specializes in cheffy sandwiches made with house-baked bread.

Naturally, cooking at an event celebrating a chef serving inventive sandwiches like the PB&J Deluxe (peanut butter and tahini on beef fat griddled bread with pepper jelly, jalapenos, red onion and Thai basil) was a no-brainer. While Gropman hasnt quite nailed down what hell be making just yet, he did say it will feature house-made bread.

Its an honor to get to work with him as well as some of my favorite chefs in Charleston, Gropman said. The sense of comradery in Charleston is so unique. Getting to collaborate with other fellow chefs again, its a blast.

The event will take place from 5:30-8 p.m. on July 6. Those who purchase an $85 ticket will receive bites from each chef, a welcome cocktail and a signed copy of "Turkey and The Wolf: Flavor Trippin in New Orleans."

Before sampling Herefords collard green melt and snagging a cookbook at Butcher & Bee, Charleston diners can watch the chef on the upcoming reboot of Iron Chef, which debuted on Netflix June 15.
Maverick Bily took his COVID-19 shot like a champ and high-fived his doctor afterward.

Maverick, 22 months old, was the first child under age 5 to get a COVID-19 shot at Medical University of South Carolina. The clinics in Charleston on June 21 received the first 5,000 Pfizer doses intended for children ages 6 months to 4 years.

His parents had been wanting to protect him against the virus so they could expand his world a little more, said his mother, Natalie Bily.

"Weve been waiting for him to get the opportunity to have it as well so we could travel and see friends and family and introduce him to some people he hasnt met yet out of state and get him on a plane," she said. "And show him all of the fun things Charleston has to offer, which we havent really been able to do yet."

But they also didn't want the vaccine to be rushed out, Bily said.

"To be perfectly honest, I was happy for them to take all of the time they needed so that we knew that it was safe and well-tested and ready to go for him," she said.

Some of the testing in that age group was done at MUSC beginning a year ago, said Dr. Andy Atz, chair of pediatrics at MUSC, who helped oversee the clinical trials there.

MUSC worked with Moderna to do testing in a number of children in ages ranging from 6 months to just under 12 years old, first looking at what dose would be optimal in the different age ranges and then testing those doses against a placebo to look at effectiveness.

The Moderna dose in the youngest age range was half the dose for the older children, Atz said.

In data reported to the Food and Drug Administration that led its expert panel to recommend younger children be eligible for the vaccines, the Moderna two-dose regimen was 50.6 percent effective in preventing symptoms in children ages 6-23 months old and 36.8 percent effective in those ages 2 to 5.

The three-dose Pfizer regimen in ages 6-23 months was 75.6 percent effective and 82.4 percent in those ages 2-4.

Maverick's parents may be in the minority starting vaccination right away. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found 18 percent of parents with children under age 5 planned to get them vaccinated right away, compared with 38 percent who would take a "wait and see" approach.

for the rest, 11 percent said they would do so only if it were required and 27 percent who would "definitely not" get their kids the shots.

In South Carolina, only 21.2 percent of children ages 5-11, and who have been eligible for months, have received at least one dose, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

At the same Lockwood Boulevard clinic as Maverick, Penny Sammons, 6, was getting her COVID-19 booster and emerged with a bright-yellow bandage on her right arm. She is the oldest of four and the family has been making decisions together on vaccination, said her father, Blake Sammons.

Based on past experience, it is likely the younger siblings would follow in Penny's footsteps when appropriate, he said.

"Will you be there to help them be tough?" he asked Penny.

"Yes," she said confidently.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 82F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
The former owner of a Pawleys Island bar is charged with assaulting two men with fishing equipment while sailing in international waters off the South Carolina coast.

Matthew Donald Kelly was arraigned in the U.S. District Court in Charleston on charges of assault with intent to commit murder and assault with a dangerous weapon.

He faces up to 30 years in prison, if convicted.

Kelly, 49, is accused of attacking two men June 17 on a fishing boat sailing 50 miles from Charleston Harbor, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

The alleged crime took place in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, which made it a federal crime under maritime law, the affidavit states.

The Coast Guard located the Grouper Snooper and detained Kelly.

The boat captain had a cut on his arm and a shipmate had a puncture wound to his back, the affidavit states.

The shipmate was taken to Medical University Hospital, where he told investigators Kelly struck him with a "fish bat," a piece of wood with a nail in it used to spear fish.

He said Kelly brought two large bottles of liquor on the boat, which he consumed in about five days, the affidavit states. He began to act strangely after the alcohol ran out on June 16. He asked to return to shore, but the captain refused.

On the morning of June 17, the shipmate said Kelly struck him with the bat so forcefully he was sent sprawling into the ship's cabin, the affidavit states.

The captain told investigators Kelly had attacked him with a fish bat in each hand, leading to a scuffle and cut to his right shoulder.

Kelly said he acted in self-defense as he was transported to Charleston County jail, where he remained June 21.

He said he used the sticks to "slap the (expletive) out of the boys that was beating the (expletive) out of me," according to the affidavit.

An investigator noted Kelly had bruises on his lower legs but no other injuries.

The attack left the crewmate with a punctured lung, the affidavit states.

Kelly previously owned Lumpy's Bar and Grill on Pawleys Island. In 2013, he was charged with arson and burglary in connection to a fire that destroyed the law office of Toni Pennington on the island, according to The Post and Courier archives.

The burglary charge was dismissed in October 2013, according to a State Law Enforcement Division check. The disposition of the arson offense was unclear from court records.

A jail booking sheet for Kelly identified him as a fisherman. He is a resident of Andrews in Georgetown County.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allessandra Stewart told Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker at Kelly's arraignment June 21 that the crewmate remained hospitalized.

The victims were requesting Kelly remain in jail until trial, Stewart said.

Preliminary and detention hearings are scheduled for June 23.
COLUMBIA  The S.C. highway department is using roughly $600 million approved by legislators to speed up the widening of rural stretches of interstates 26 and 95 that are critical to South Carolina's economy.

Drivers who travel between Charleston and Columbia will be the biggest beneficiaries with the entire corridor widened to three lanes  each way  six years ahead of schedule.

Traffic frequently slows to a crawl, even without a wreck, along the 70 miles where the interstate remains four lanes total from Gaston in Lexington County to the Jedburg exit in Berkeley County.

"Every day, we have a problem on 26," state Department of Transportation Secretary Christy Hall told The Post and Courier.

Under an accelerated timeline approved June 21 by a legislative oversight panel, the I-26 widening will be finished by 2034, while the first 33 miles of Interstate 95 coming into South Carolina should be six total lanes by 2030, at least two years sooner than previously expected.

The money is a combination of $453.5 million in federal COVID aid the Legislature designated to roadwork in a law signed by Gov. Henry McMaster last month, plus $133.6 million legislators allotted to rural interstates in the state budget that takes effect July 1.

McMaster is expected to issue his line-item vetoes of the Legislature's nearly $14 billion spending package for 2022-23 later this week. Highway funding won't be among them.

Sen. Nikki Setzler, D-West Columbia, thanked Hall's team for their planning.

"We are making a difference in infrastructure in South Carolina," said Setzler, a member of the joint House-Senate panel approving DOT's use of the federal aid. "Ten years from now, youre not going to recognize the infrastructure in this state with the improvements being made."

It is possible I-26 widening could be finished even faster if the DOT can win a federal grant for the project. The $1 trillion spending package Congress passed in November for infrastructure set some money aside that states can win for specific projects through an application process. DOT officials said they will seek as much of that as they can.

Under the accelerated plan, widening on the final 20-mile segment of I-26, all in Orangeburg County, will begin in 2029, instead of 2035.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said that still leaves people traveling in and through her county in a bottleneck for too long.

"Were still in that doughnut hole in Orangeburg County," she said, adding the stretch of I-26 is essentially a "parking lot" depending on the time of day.

She encouraged DOT to put more federal money toward unclogging traffic that's moving to and from the Lowcountry on a route vital for both the state's tourism and the shipping industry at the ports.

"Im just trying to figure out how much longer those of us in the middle will have to suffer with that horrendous traffic on I-26," said Cobb-Hunter, who is also a member of the Joint Bond Review Committee.

In all, the Legislature put about $1 billion additional toward roadwork when combining the state budget and the separate law spending federal aid. The 2022-23 budget includes $250 million in one-time money sent to counties for local roadwork and $120 million additional the DOT will get yearly going forward. That is money the DOT needs to apply for federal grants and to draw down the additional $250 million annually the federal law provides in direct federal aid through 2026.
Weve heard a lot in the Republican race for S.C. superintendent of education about shaking up the education status quo. And thats certainly needed, although as weve seen with earlier efforts, theres not much the superintendent can do as long as the Legislature refuses to treat public education like the state responsibility it is rather than merely complaining when local officials arent getting the job done.

But unless your idea of shaking up the system is to shut down the public schools and hand vouchers to all 780,000 public school students  which isnt realistic since private schools have neither the capacity nor the desire to educate all those kids  all the shaking in the world wont do a bit of good if you cant convince enough teachers to come to work in our schools.

The runner-up in the first round of voting, Ellen Weaver, promises to support our teachers in the classroom, but she says little unless asked about convincing more teachers to remain in the classroom and attracting more people into the profession  which has become our most pressing education problem as the national teacher shortage deepens in our state. Her main focus seems to be on addressing the fault lines that the pandemic opened in our schools and providing more school choices for parents  by which she means primarily throwing tax dollars at private schools. The ideological extremists underwriting postcard campaign mailings in her support underscore her focus on culture war issues.

By contrast, combatting the teacher shortage is the top priority for top vote-getter Kathy Maness  not just since she started running to replace retiring Superintendent Molly Spearman, but throughout her career as a classroom teacher and teacher advocate.

What sets Ms. Maness apart is not any particular plan for recruiting and retaining enough teachers so we dont have to double up classrooms and rely on long-term substitutes and international teachers (who often have a hard time connecting with struggling students) but the fact that she recognizes the problem, has a lifelong commitment to the profession, understands how to motivate teachers and has a track record of working across political lines to support pragmatic solutions to our schools' problems.

Contrary to the impression youd get from her opponents, Ms. Maness doesnt support teacher unions, which arent even legal in South Carolina. To the contrary, the Palmetto State Teachers Association that she runs was founded for the explicit purpose of giving teachers an alternative to unions. Shes someone who has spent a career as a teacher and a voice for teachers. And rather than focusing exclusively on teachers, she has worked for policies to ensure those teachers better serve the students and parents of our state. And it shows.

As Lynda Leventis-Wells, who received 28,000 votes in last weeks primary, said when she endorsed Ms. Maness: It is essential that we have a State Superintendent that has classroom experience and understands what our students, parents, and teachers go through on a daily basis. It is also critical that we elect someone who meets the state qualifications for this office.

It's also important, she noted, that the nominee be qualified for the job. While we can debate professional qualifications, there's no debating that Ms. Maness has the master's degree required by state law and that Ms. Weaver didn't start working on a degree until filing closed in mid-March. If she's nominated, we'll find out in November whether she earns that degree in eight months  and whether all of her votes get thrown out and the office gets handed to Democrat Lisa Ellis if she fails.

Its encouraging that Ms. Maness led the field last Tuesday, winning 38 of 46 counties, given all the money that pro-voucher groups in Washington and Columbia have spent on independent campaigns to try to convince us to support Ms. Weaver. Although Weaver supporters have suggested that Ms. Maness support came primarily from Democrats voting in the GOP primary  something that is completely legal, and appropriate as long as they aren't trying to sabotage a primary  the reality is that participation in the GOP primary was almost identical to four years ago.

The problem isnt that too many Democrats voted in this year's Republican primary. Its that too few Democrats, Republicans and independents  just 17% of registered voters  participated in either party's primary. Although the winner of the runoff still faces Ms. Ellis in November, South Carolina hasnt elected a Democrat to statewide office since 2006, and theres little to suggest that will change this year.

That means next week's runoff is the only realistic chance you have to decide who will run the agency that handles nearly half the state budget and who will serve as our state's chief advocate for public education.

Early voting is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and regular voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28.

The approximately 180,000 people who voted in the Democratic primary are the only registered voters who are barred from voting in the Republican runoff. That leaves more than 3.1 million registered voters who can vote in the runoff between Ms. Maness and Ms. Weaver. And the only ones of those 3.1 million who shouldnt vote are those who dont know anything about Ms. Maness and Ms. Weaver beyond the slick postcards that have arrived in their mail.
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If Donald Trump is not the Republican nominee in 2024, Ron DeSantis likely will be. So the Democratic Party knives are out.

This longjust about endless, in factanti-DeSantis rant in the New Yorker suggests how the Democrats will attack Floridas wildly popular governor. It goes on at length about covid, and through the first 100 pages or so you would think people were dropping like flies in Florida due to DeSantiss lack of enthusiasm for shutdowns and masks.

But if you slog through to near the end of the pieceit must be somewhere after page 300you find the grudging admission that Florida has performed better than most states with regard to covid mortality. So DeSantis was right all along, although author Dexter Filkins never quite admits it.

Much of what the New Yorker does is misleading or worse. Thus, Filkins notes that early in the covid epidemic, DeSantis personally studied the medical literature in great detail, and communicated with Stanford epidemiologist Jay Bhattacharya. Filkins describes Bhattacharya as an outlier and writes that he was one of three scientists who drafted the Great Barrington Declaration, which argued that many governments were doing more harm than good by shutting down economies and schools. Filkins doesnt choose to note that more than 900,000 doctors and other professionals ultimately signed the Declaration, and, more important, they proved to be right.

The piece devotes a lot of space to DeSantiss personality, as Filkins sought out various Democrats who have had run-ins with the governor, along with a few old friends and associates. Must amusingly, Filkins rang the doorbell of DeSantiss father, who was ingenuous enough to have a long talk with the would-be hatchet man, in which he said nothing helpful to the Democrats cause.

As happens so often in pieces of this sort, the reporters informants are wrongly or incompletely described, when they are identified at all. (As usual, many are anonymous Democratic Party operatives.) Thus, Filkins got an anti-DeSantis, anti-Republican quote from Mac Stipanovich, the chief of staff to Governor Bob Martinez, a moderate Republican. But that role ended in 1991, more than 30 years ago. Stipanovich has for years been a registered Democrat.

Likewise, Filkins gets violently anti-Republican and anti-DeSantis quotes from Stuart Stevens, an adviser to Mitt Romneys Presidential campaign in 2012. He doesnt mention that Stevens is part of the anti-Republican Lincoln Project, the worst assemblage of grifters for hire in modern political history.

And yet, the picture of DeSantis painted by his political enemies is flattering. All agree that he is very smart, extraordinarily hard-working, focused and single-minded. Which draws quite a contrast with our current, sadly floundering president. Whats not to like?

Filkins also struggles to explain Floridas obvious success during DeSantiss administration. If Florida is a covid death trap overseen by a racist and unlikable governor, why are so many flocking to move there? This is the best he can do:

DeSantis argued that Democratic-leaning states were run by oppressive governments eager to strip citizens of their rights. He boasted that Florida had received a stream of new arrivals, many of them fleeing states like California. (This was true, but misleading. In the course of the pandemic, Californias population decreased by roughly three hundred thousand, and Floridas grew by about the same figure. But Florida had gained citizens at a similar rate nearly every year since the late nineteen-sixties.)

That last is simply false. City Journal reviewed the numbers in 2012:

Floridas domestic-migration numbers were sagging. For years, Florida had led the nation in that department: from 2001 to 2006, 140,000 more people moved to Florida than departed for other states.

Nowhere near 300,000 a year, obviously.

But by 2007, annual domestic migration to Florida had dropped to 17,000. In 2008, Florida lost a net 19,000 residents to other states; in 2009, it lost 31,000. This huge reversal of Floridas fortunes became the subject of much analysis.   Florida looks remarkably vibrant these days. Indeed, the states reversal in domestic migration has been spectacular: it gained a net 55,000 domestic migrants in 2010 and 119,000 in 2011.

Back in the black, but again, nowhere near 300,000. But no one expects a New Yorker reporter to understand, or truthfully report on, numbers.

More broadly, DeSantis is hugely popular in Florida and is cruising toward an easy re-election. That is, obviously, why the Left is now commissioning hit pieces on him. But if his policies have been outliers and failures, and he is personally aloof, angry and unlikable, how to explain his success? It is a puzzle the Democrats have yet to solve.
At a school board meeting this evening, the board that governs one of Minnesotas largest school districts will vote on a resolution that would institutionalize the promotion of LGBTQ doctrine in that districts schools. Here it is:

LGBTQIA+ History and Culture Resolution

June 21, 2022 A RESOLUTION of the Osseo Area School District Board of Education to acknowledge the value of the lives of our trans, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, queer, intersex, two-spirit, asexual, nonbinary, and gender-expansive scholars and staff

So I guess its now TLGBQITANG-E.

WHEREAS, by recognizing Pride Month, the District supports, models, and advocates for policies, practices, and curricula that honor and respect LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and their families; and WHEREAS we are committed to creating environments for our transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive youth to not experience trauma and harm and to show up as their full authentic selves as stated in our district vision to unleash and enhance the brilliance of our scholars to thrive and change the world; and WHEREAS ISD 279-Osseo Area Schools is the fifth-largest school district in the state and serves a self-reporting population of 2.7% (1) of students who are transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive, and 20% (2) of students who identify as LGBTQIA+; and

Those numbers are, I think, unprecedented through human history. Why are a large percentage of our young people suddenly identifying as LGBTQetc? Could it be that there is positive encouragement in that direction?

WHEREAS the month of June has become a symbolic month in which lesbians, gay, bisexual people, transgender, and supporters come together in various celebrations of Pride; and WHEREAS School Board Policy 508 states that all school district students, including transgender and gender diverse students, deserve respectful and inclusive learning environments that value students gender identity and gender expression. The school district strives to provide programming and facilities where all students feel safe and supported; and WHEREAS School Board Policy 102 prohibits discrimination and harassment based on a persons protected status which includes the following: race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation, including gender identity or expression, age, family care leave status, or veteran status. The school district also makes reasonable accommodations for disabled persons; and WHEREAS sexual orientation and gender expression-biased bullying are among the most common forms of harassment in schools, and scholars who are gender-expansive are more likely to be targets of harassment, bullying, and violence; as The majority of LGBTQ youth (52%) who were enrolled in middle or high school reported being bullied either in person or electronically in the past year. (3) and WHEREAS Osseo Area Schools seeks to eliminate transphobia and homophobia in any form and is committed to examining our own practices, procedures, and policies to identify structural barriers that are embedded and perpetuated in the educational system; and WHEREAS the problems of society are mirrored in schools, and these problems can only be fully addressed with a united effort of community and school coming together for the betterment of our students future; and WHEREAS, in 1993, Minnesota amended its Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on ones sexual orientation and/or gender identity in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations; and WHEREAS Osseo School Boards Strategic Directions include the expressed goals to create safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environments that foster global curiosity, belonging, innovation and engagement; and address, acknowledge, and reduce systemic disparities, barriers, and inequities as we lead, develop and align our district toward continuous improvement; and

Some of us remember when a school districts goals revolved around teaching students to read and write, do mathematics, and master the basics of science and history. It would be interesting to know how this school district is doing on those metrics.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Independent School District 279 School Board supports the following district and department operational plans that value and support the lives of our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Nonbinary, and Gender-expansive scholars. 1. Declaration of June as Pride Month. Osseo Area School Board declares June as Pride Month and directs the Superintendent and all District staff to support policies, practices, and curricula that respect LGBTQIA+ students and their families in June and throughout the school year. 2. We re-commit to practices within the Osseo School District that protect and affirm our transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive scholars. This includes the full implementation of our Gender Inclusion Policy, support for Gender Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) and Queer Straight Alliances (QSAs) in our schools, professional development for all school staff, and gender-affirming curriculum and pedagogical practices. 3. Elevate the voices of LGBTQIA+ scholars and staff to help dismantle systemic barriers in our school district by establishing an LGBTQIA+ employee affinity group and establishing an LGBTQIA+ scholar/parent/caregiver/ally advisory group. This committee will advise our district administration and school board on structural barriers, inequities, and the lived experience of LGBTQIA+ scholars and their families. 4. Ensure there is adequate initial and ongoing support for the Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Achievement, and the Equity Department to implement an intersectional approach to systemic barriers to equity of all forms.

I suppose most public schools nowadays have an Equity Department and subscribe to the shibboleths of intersectionality.

5. Require system leaders to measure disparities and track district performance to inform progress LGBTQIA+ disparities through policy, practice, and pedagogy.

Apparently no one noticed that that sentence doesnt make sense. Educational standards are not high.

6. Ensure that all facility design standards include increased privacy and greater student choice in restrooms and locker rooms. 7. Establish a full month before June during each academic year to observe LGBTQIA+ History and Culture Month because it is essential for our education system to teach the experiences, honor the history, and highlight the contributions of transgender, gender expansive and non-binary people; and 8. Provide resources for families/caregivers in the district to understand and talk with their scholars about LGBTQIA+ identities. 9. In recognition of LGBTQIA+ in June each calendar, the Osseo School Board invites the community to join in the celebration by raising the LGBTQIA+ Progress Pride flag on June 1st at all district buildings and in the school board room as a symbol of support to our LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and their families. 10. Report the progress of this resolution annually to the Osseo School Board during the month of June. (1) 2016 State Grade 11 demographics

https://public.education.mn.gov/MDEAnalytics/DataTopic.jsp?TOPICID=242

(2) 2019 State Grade 11 Demographics

https://public.education.mn.gov/MDEAnalytics/DataTopic.jsp?TOPICID=242

(3) https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/bullying-and-suicide-risk-among-lgbtq-youth

This kind of thing isnt the only reason that millions of Americans are fleeing the public schools, but it is high on the list. I understand that this resolution is expected to pass.

UPDATE: The resolution passed last night on a 4-2 vote. This is one of many school districts where it is up to parents to take control back from the crackpot leftists of the teachers union.
Kyle Hooten recently rode along with the Minneapolis police during its Operation Safe Summer operation. Kyle briefly covered his ride-along in the Alpha News story here. The video is below.

Minneapolis has fallen into a deep, deep hole with an undermanned and demoralized police department, an empowered criminal class, and an ineffectual judicial system. Over the past two years, the Minneapolis Police Department has lost almost 300 officers. Any sentient fool can see why, although the local press does not pass that test. Kyles story quotes Sergeant Andrew Schroeder, the officer with whom he rode. Theres days where north Minneapolis [high crime precinct] has four cops, he said, explaining how this staffing crisis has caused specialized units to be cut.

The Minneapolis city charter actually imposes a minimum staffing requirement for the department, but the city would rather fight than comply. Today the city lost the case in the Minnesota Supreme Court, which has ruled that the city has a clear legal duty under the Minneapolis City Charter to employ at least 731 sworn police officers. The Star Tribune appends Chief Justice Gildeas order to its story. Woo hoo!
Todays Tablet Scroll draws attention to the recent Daily Mail story on the origins of the Coronavirus plague. I have slightly edited Tablets summary and commentary below, but it makes the points I would want to make:

World Health Organization director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus privately told a senior European official that he believes the COVID-19 virus was accidentally released by the Wuhan virology laboratory in China, according to a report in the Daily Mail. Read it here.

The WHO has not officially endorsed the lab-leak theory and still considers the origins of the pandemic to be undetermined. What makes Dr. Tedross alleged confession all the more notable is that under Adhanoms leadership, the WHO praised Chinas COVID-19 response in the early days of the pandemic and declared in February of 2021 that it was extremely unlikely the virus leaked from a Chinese laboratory before later changing its tune.

Of course, the WHO was far from alone in burnishing the Chinese governments public relations efforts by dismissing the lab-leak hypothesis. Experts debunk fringe theory linking Chinas coronavirus to weapons research, declared The Washington Post in a January 2020 article that set the tone for subsequent coverage. Someday we will stop talking about the lab-leak theory and maybe even admit its racist roots, tweeted New York Times science writer Apoorva Mandavilli in the summer of 2021 before subsequently deleting the post.
The Executive Chairman, Duke of Shomolu Productions, Joseph Edgar, has decried the sharp disconnect between Nigerias youth and the countrys past.

Mr Edgar, whose firm specialises in producing and staging historically-backed plays, particularly lamented that most youths had no idea what happened even a few years ago.

We have interacted with youths and found their knowledge of the past either totally non-existent or abysmally low. This is scary and unacceptable, he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

We must know where we are coming from to have a slight chance of getting it right as a nation.

There is a lack of history. There is a detour. The youths are too busy with the Internet and have no idea where we are coming from. If we dont know where we are coming from, we cant know where we are going because we have no history or precedence to learn from.

He regretted that most Lagos youth knew nothing about Lateef Jakande, the state governor, between 1979 and 1983.

Some of these youths live in Lateef Jakande Estate. Some live on Lateef Jakande Road and even attend schools named after the governor, but you ask them who he is and why schools, Estates and edifices are named after him. They dont know, he fumed.

Mr Edgar said that such ignorance of history was why his outfit was focused on staging plays on historical events that seek to recreate and refresh Nigerias past to connect the same with the present to help the youths envision a future.

He said that the outfit had staged plays on Obafemi Awolowo (Awo), Olusegun Obasanjo (Aremu), and Emotan, among others, while a Play on Emir Sanusi I and 11 would be staged in Lagos and Abuja in August, to be followed by one on Ladi Kwali.

Emir Sanusi Play

Shedding more light on the Emir Sanusi Play titled: Emir Sanusi  Truth in Clay, he said it focuses on the unseen hands in the tide of humans.

It is a scary story about fate. When he was being installed, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi 11 declared that his wish was to die on the throne. That suggests an element of destiny  that he may not see it to the end.

It is very intriguing. The grandchildren of those that played a role in the dethronement of his grandfather (Emir Sanusi I) were those that dethroned the grandson (Emir Sanusi II).

The two traditional rulers were both misunderstood, and their dethronements created a lot of misunderstanding inside and outside Kano. Naturally, a lot happened that people dont know.

The dethronements and the circumstances around them had far-reaching consequences in and around that powerful Fulani family with a massive effect on the relationship between the family and the Fulani race on the one hand, and between the Fulani and other groups in northern Nigeria.

The Play is exciting, and everyone is anxious to watch it on stage. Everyone is curious.

He explained that the Play would depict the lives, drama and intrigues surrounding the dethronement, leaning heavily on the eyewitness account of the Dogarai (place guards), who served both Emirs.

The Play will excitedly work assiduously through the colourful traditions and culture of the Fulani and other people of Northern Nigeria to foster an equivocal retelling of a compelling story.

Through some of the most enigmatic storytelling, the Play will explosively carry audiences through a voyage of rediscovery, taking them through the sacrifices made by both subjects as they waltzed through a market of misunderstanding leading up to what seemed like a predestined and epochal climax, he said.

He said that the National Troupe of Nigeria had already endorsed the production and would be partnering in its execution.

READ ALSO: Former Emir Sanusi appointed leader of Tijjaniyya Islamic movement in Nigeria

According to Mr Edgar, Emir Sanusi 11 has confirmed his readiness to attend the play performances that would be directed by Prof. Ahmed Yerima, generally regarded as an institutional pillar of Nigerian theatre.

He said the Play had more than 26 sponsors, including First Bank, UBA, Sterling Bank and Purple, a significant estate conglomerate.

NAN quotes Mofoluwake Edgar, Managing Director of the firm, stating recently in Lagos that the outfit had emerged as the most prominent purveyors of historically-backed stage productions in Nigeria.

With over 12 productions, including Ufok Ibaan, Isale Eko and Emotan, to mention a few, our firm continues to push its vision of retelling our national historical stories to a new generation in a firm bid to foster national reawakening using the arts as a potent vehicle of delivery.

As part of the vision, the firm has pulled in respected directors like Makinde Adeniran, William Benson and Segun Adefila as it pursues its vision of excellence, she added.

She was further quoted as saying that more than 100,000 Nigerians had physically seen the productions that had thrown up one of the continents most extensive collections of theatrical images.

(NAN)
The Federal Government says it disbursed N86 billion from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHPF) as of June.

The Secretary of the Oversight Committee of the Federal Ministry of Health, Chris Isokpunwu, made this known on Monday in Abuja at a ministerial media conference on the developments in the health sector.

According to him, about N56 billion has so far been disbursed to the states out of the amount stated.

He said that the fund, inaugurated in 2019, was meant to strengthen public health facilities.

With those releases, more than 7,000 Primary Health Care (PHC) centres get operational funds on a quarterly basis to provide for essential medicines, transportation for vaccines and other medical consumables in the health sector.

It also provided for human resource for health and more than 1,500 midwives have been engaged with the fund.

It is also used to maintain the building and infrastructure and equipment in the PHCs, he said, indicating that the goal was to ensure that there was at least one functional PHC in each of the 8,809 political wards in the country.

He also said that about 83 per cent of the target had been reached as over 7,500 PHCs had already been reached.

Mr Isokpunwu said that the fund was established to strengthen the PHC system, provide a basic minimum package of health services for all Nigerians, especially the poor and indigents, and provide emergency medical treatment.

According to him, the basic minimum package of health services is a comprehensive package of preventive, curative, and rehabilitative provision including education for the prevention of illnesses and the promotion of health of Nigerians.

As at today, 1.040 million poor and indigent Nigerians have been enrolled to have access to basic minimum package of health services.

This means that these people that have been enrolled in 35 out of the 36 states and the FCT now have access to free medical treatment for common ailments and even surgeries, taking care of a broad spectrum of health conditions that Nigerians may and will be exposed to.

He, however, said because the fund was not sufficient, the target currently are the poor and indigent Nigerians who could not afford medical treatment.

He said that the goal is also to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses they incurred.

This, he said, would pull them out of poverty and contribute to the federal governments objective of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.

He said: 750,000 of them are currently accessing the services and more than 6,500 facilities are receiving funds for the treatment of these people.

He said that it would ensure the provision of guaranteed emergency medical treatment for all Nigerians, adding that arrangements were at an advanced stage to inaugurate it soon.

Upon its inauguration, all Nigerians will be guaranteed in the event of emergency that they will receive treatment at urgent care centres and for those poor and indigent ones who cannot pay, the BHPF will guarantee their payment.

Any Nigerian that has an emergency will be treated without the question of who will pay.

He also said that under the fund, sickle cell anaemia was covered and patients with the disease would be able to access care free of charge.

On reproductive health, the Director, Family Health, Salma Kolo, said that more than 3,700 girls were saved from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as a result of the awareness campaign that took place in five states  Ebonyi, Imo, Oyo, Ekiti and Osun.

According to her, there are more than 200 million people, women and girls affected and living with FGM globally and out of these, more than two million are at risk in Nigeria.

She, however, said that to reverse the trend, more than 730,000 men and religious leaders and traditional leaders have been trained on the negative impact of FGM.

The boys were also not left behind. Over 800 boys were sensitised and trained so that they could work together as partners to protect their sisters from such criminal practices that happen in our respective communities.

So the project will also be scaled up to other parts of Nigeria, especially in the northern part.

Jigawa and Kaduna states have been identified for this and awareness will continue to be created until we are able to totally eliminate female genital mutilation.

She said that Nigeria remains committed to the provision of quality access to family planning commodities and services to women of reproductive age group, adolescents and girls, including men to ensure that the nation has the right size for its families.

So part of what was launched by the Minister of Health was the FP 2030 commitment. This is a global commitment, of which Nigeria is part.

The minister, in collaboration with commissioners from all the 36 states of the federation and all relevant partners, including the civil society organisations, developed a national commitment that is all-encompassing, adopting the bottom-up approach.

So this was signed, and we are now working on a strategy for implementation.

We have adopted the balanced scorecard approach to develop that strategy and we have already started engaging with all the key partners to ensure that it is rolled out at all levels, especially at community level.

Ms Kolo said that the benefit of the federal governments commitment to the programme was that there would be provision of quality family planning commodities and services to Nigerians of reproductive age, both men and women.

She added that the nation would leverage domestic resources so that there would be sustainable financing for family planning commodities in Nigeria without overreliance on donors.

She believes that Nigeria would gradually be self-sufficient in the provision of family planning services.

(NAN)
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad, has responded to a protest letter sent to him by 14 Justices of the Supreme Court complaining of poor welfare conditions and the deplorable state of the court.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the leaked memo chronicling the operational challenges that have almost crippled the efficient adjudication of cases at the court was the first of its kind in the 58-year history of the court.

Mr Muhammad responded to the leaked memo in a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Ahuraka Isah.

He addressed the wide-ranging issues, including non-provision of diesel allowances for Justices, non-provision of equipped offices, accommodation, and the complete set of vehicles for new Justices appointed two years ago, among others.

He also addressed the issue of the non-holding of regular meetings with the justices.

The internet services have been restored to Justices residences and chambers, just as some allowances have been paid to them. The CJN held a meeting with his brother Justices last Thursday and another one is due to hold this week, the statement read in part.

He allayed the fear of the general public assuring that theres no hostility or adverse feelings amongst the Justices of the Supreme Court, as everyone is going about his normal duty.

READ CJNs FULL STATEMENT

PRESS STATEMENT 20/6/2022

Re: State Of Affairs In The Supreme Court And Demand By Justices Of The Supreme Court

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad would wish to confirm receipt of letter written and addressed to him by his brother Justices of the Supreme Court Bench.

Judges in all climes are to be seen and not heard, and that informed why the CJN refrained from joining issues until a letter, said to be personal, is spreading across the length and breadth of the society. This was akin to dancing naked at the market square by us with the ripple effect of the said letter

The Supreme Court definitely does not exist outside its environment, it is also affected by the economic and socio-political climate prevailing in the country. Besides that, the Apex Court has to a larger extent, been living to its constitutional responsibility.

When a budget is made, it contains two sides, thats the recurrent and the capital, yet all the two are broken down into items. The Federal Government releases the budget based on the budget components. And its an offence to spend the money meant for one item for another.

Take for instance, the Supreme Court budgeted this year to re-roof and rehabilitate its complex built over 30 years ago and that is being done. The work on the extension of the complex is near completion, the esthetic lawns and cleanness of the perimeters are being well kept, and security and water supply are adequately provided for his brother Justices in their offices and residences. During the period of pandemic, a profound and extra-care was maintained to avoid causalities among them as well as the staff generally. It would have amounted to an act of irresponsibility to divert money meant for the above for otherwise.

The accusation so far, in summary is that more or all ought to have been done and not that nothing has been done; which is utopian in the contemporary condition of our country.

Before eight new Justices were appointed in 2020 onto the Apex Court bench, there was no additional budget to provide new chambers with equipped library, legal assistance, residential accommodations and logistics for them. The Apex Court has to make do with the resources at its disposal to meet their needs over time. All the Justices of this Court has at least a legal assistance, except some may opt for more. One of the CJNs legal assistance (now Justice Aina) was appointed to Abuja FCT High Court last month, while another (Barr Ramatu) died three months back. Generally the Judiciary is looking up to recruitment of more legal assistance and other supporting staff this year.

Besides, two Supreme Court Justices died within the period under consideration. Both the four retirees and the two departed cost the court some funds in the forms of gratuities and allowances.

Two weeks ago, eight Supreme Court Justices were nominated for a workshop in London as the court cannot take all of them there at once otherwise the job would suffer. They would be going in batches. Accommodations are being gradually provided for the few that are yet to get. There is none of the Apex Court Justices without SUV and back up cars. If any of them were purchased but refurbished, the external and internal auditors are here in the court to take those that bought them up over it.

The high cost of electricity tariff and diesel are national problem. The Chief Registrar might have budgeted for N300 per litre but diesel is now selling for over N700 per litre and therefore has to find a way around it without even bringing it to the attention of the CJN. But there is no way the generator would be put off if the Court is sitting.

The amendment of court rules is on the process, it has to be critically reviewed to avoid conflict with the constitution and other extant laws. Not all the CJN has reviewed the rules in the past. Within the three years his brother Justices mentioned came the pandemic and the judiciary workers strike.

The internet services have been restored to Justices residences and chambers, just as some allowances have been paid to them. The CJN held a meeting with his brother Justices last Thursday and another one is due to hold this week.

The general public should be rest assured that theres no hostility or adverse feelings amongst the Justices of the Supreme Court, as everyone is going about his normal duty.

Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, Senior Special Assistant (on Media} to the CJN
Bandits attacked a convoy of buses conveying intending pilgrims from Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State Monday evening.

The Isa pilgrims are among the hundreds of Muslim pilgrims billed to travel from Sokoto to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.

A source from Isa, who resides in Sokoto metropolis, Salihu Mustapha, said the convoy was ambushed by the gunmen.

You know its only one mobile network that has served in the area, so the information weve so far is still sketchy but I was told by neighbours, whose father is among the intending pilgrims that the bandits opened fire on the vehicle conveying the pilgrims.

He, however, told me that the mobile policemen escorting the convoy fought back and repelled the attack, he said.

You know there is a very thick forest around Gundumi area which gives the bandits cover anytime they want to strike. The pilgrims were attacked around that axis, he said.

In a statement signed by the governors spokesperson, Muhammad Bello, the state government confirmed the attack.

He said the intending pilgrims were attacked on their way to the state capital for take-off to this years pilgrimage.

Mr Bello, in the statement seen by PREMIUM TIMES, said, the intending pilgrims were rescued unscathed.

Quoting the state Commissioner for Information, Isah Bajini-Galadanchi, Mr Bello said,all of the intending pilgrims, their relatives who were accompanying them to Sokoto Hajj camp and the security men escorting them, were momentarily held up by suspected bandits operating on the corridor linking the eastern part of the state, arrived safely in Sokoto, the capital city.

Already the contingents have been received by Government officials and are being processed for their onward journey to the Holy Land, he added.

The Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Shehu Dange, also confirmed the attack to journalists in Sokoto but refused to give details of the attack.

The Sokoto police spokesperson, Sanusi Abubakar, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the attack.

Sokoto State, like many states in Nigerias North-west region, is bedevilled by incessant attacks on rural communities and travellers by gunmen locally called bandits.

Apart from killing some of their victims, the criminals also kidnap others for ransom. They also indulge in the rustling of cattle. They have killed hundreds of people in the region and many more have been kidnapped.

The insecurity in the region has also led to the displacement of millions of people.

Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Wurno, Rabah, are among the areas worst hit by the bandits crisis in the state.
President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed seven new ministers.

They are Henry Ikechukwu  Abia State, Umana Umana  Akwa Ibom State, Ekuma Joseph  Ebonyi State and Goodluck Obia  Imo State.

Others are Umar Yakub  Kano state, Ademola Adegorioye  Ondo State and Odo Udi  Rivers State.

The president wrote to the Senate seeking confirmation of the nominated ministers.

His letter was read out by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, at the start of the plenary on Tuesday.

The newly appointed ministers are to replace ministers on Mr Buharis cabinet who had resigned to contest for other offices.

Some ministers who resigned are Rotimi Amaechi, Godswill Akpabio, Ogbonnaya Onu and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba who contested for the presidential primary.

Others are Uche Ogar who contested and won the fractional Abia State governorship primary and Tayo Alasoadura who contested and lost the APC senatorial primary.

They had resigned in accordance with the provisions of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act which states that No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.

Although the appeal court had declared the section unconstitutional, the case was moved to the Supreme court for a final decision.

The new ministers will be screened on another legislative day.
Ahmad Lawan, Nigerias Senate President, has announced the defection of three more senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to other parties.

The lawmakers are Francis Alimekhena (Edo North) and Babba Kaita (APC, Katsina North) who defected from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Lawal Gumau (Bauchi South) who left the APC for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Although the lawmakers had defected weeks ago, their letters were read out at the start of the plenary on Tuesday.

My decision is anchored on the continuing and multifaceted crisis bedevilling the APC, especially my senatorial district, Mr Alimekhena said in his letter.

Already, former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has secured the Edo North senatorial ticket  a major reason for Mr Alimekhenas exit from the party.

Like Mr Alimekhena, Messrs Kaita and Gumau also cited internal party crisis  especially at the state level  as their reasons for leaving.

My resignation from the APC was borne out of the marginalisation of critical stakeholders by the state government and leadership of the party in Katsina State, where small people like me do not have a chance.

I have since been joyful and graciously accepted into the fold of the PDP in Katsina State, Mr Kaita said.

Already, Mr Gumau has clinched the ticket for Bauchi South senatorial district under the NNPP.

Their letters come about a week after Mr Lawan read out similar defection letters from the former Senate leader, Yahaya Abdullahi and Adamu Aliero  both from Kebbi State.

The duo, like their colleagues, not only cited crisis in the party as their reasons for leaving but also accused the state governor, Atiku Bagudu, of frustrating the efforts of party members in the state.

There has been a wave of defections in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. These movements are majorly premised on internal party crises and the search for return tickets.
President Muhammadu Buhari has given reasons for not sacking the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, over his partisan activities.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Mr Buhari said the Governing Board of the CBN has the power to determine if the governor erred or not.

Mr Emefiele came under fire in May after a group procured the N100 million presidential expression of interest and nomination form of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The CBN governor later rejected the presidential forms, noting that should he heed the call to run for the presidency, he would use his own hard-earned savings from over 35 years of banking leadership to buy my own Nomination Forms.

Despite the outcry against his partisanship, Mr Emefiele also sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice over his eligibility.

He asked the court to stop INEC from disqualifying him from participating in the primary election of his preferred political party.

Amidst all these, Mr Buhari refused to call the CBN boss to order or relieve him of his position.

PREMIUM TIMES, in an editorial, called on Mr Emefiele to resign and pursue his political ambition, if he had any, or publicly distance himself from groups clamouring for him to contest.

Also, the governors of Ondo and Sokoto State, Rotimi Akeredolu and Aminu Tambuwal, had called for the resignation of the CBN boss.

Interview

In the interview, Mr Buhari said Emefiele faced allegations of partisanship because of his unorthodox approach to the economy.

The CBN governor is appointed by the President. But this appointment is subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. Ultimately, it will be for the CBNs board of directors to determine whether a CBN governors actions have fallen foul of the laws in place to ensure he can most effectively carry out his duties.

But there is a subtext to the accusations. Because the governor follows a model outside of the economic orthodoxy, he is labelled political. But the orthodoxy has proved wrong time and again.

Instead, the governor is following an alternative economic model that puts people at the heart of policy. Nigeria should be free to choose its development model and how to construct our economy, so it functions for Nigerians.

Mr Emefiele supported the policy of shutting down land borders to protect the local rice farmers in the country.

The bank also invested billions in the agro sector through the Anchor Borrowers Programme.
Nigeria will not accept medical and dental degrees from Ukrainian universities obtained from 2022, the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (MDCN) has said.

We wish to inform the General Public that Medical and Dental Degree Certificates issued by Medical Schools from Ukraine from 2022 will NOT be honoured by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria until when normal academic activities resume, the council which regulates the medical profession in Nigeria said in a statement published on its official Twitter handle.

The decision is because of the ongoing war in Ukraine that has seen many of its higher institutions closed for physical classes. Many of them are still, however, holding online classes, something the MDCN is against for medical and dental programmes.

For the avoidance of doubt, Council categorically states that online medical training done in any part of the world is short of acceptable standard and is not recognised by the MDCN, it said.

The council advised students currently studying medicine or dentistry in Ukrainian medical schools to seek transfer to other accredited institutions in other countries for the completion of their programmes.

Nigerian evacuees from Ukraine lament

PREMIUM TIMES reported how hundreds of Nigerian students were evacuated from Ukraine when the Russian invasion started.

Some of the returnees, who are affected by the stance of MDCN, have condemned it.

Esther Ebiru, who in June graduated from Dnipro Medical state Ukraine in an online graduation ceremony, called the MDCNs policy inhumane.

This policy is inhumane. It is devastating because we did not study online for six years, it is only a few months in 2020 due to Covid which happened all over the world and the remaining three months, she told PREMIUM TIMES.

I am clearly devastated and tired. I cannot imagine waiting for this war to be over or restarting again.

I finished high school quite early, I joined the RSSDA scholarship two years after high school. Wrote every necessary exam. I was promised to start medicine in Germany.

My parents even went ahead to pay for German classes. The scholarship was later cancelled due to the political instability in Rivers State at the time. My parents had to struggle to make my medical dreams come true and send me to Ukraine, Ms Ebiru narrated.

According to her, she left high school over 10 years ago only for me to come back to the same limiting policy. It seems like the Nigerian govt and environment dont want me to move further.

Ms Ebiru said that unlike in Nigeria, her colleagues from Ghana and UK are moving on with their dreams just fine.

She told PREMIUM TIMES that in a bid to familiarise herself with the medical atmosphere in Nigeria, when she returned to the country in March, she paid for a clinical attachment which commenced in April.

I did one month of gynaecology and one month of paediatrics. I am now on internal medicine which I opted for two weeks because I decided that by July 11th, Ill register for the MDCN exam tutorials before this news broke out last Friday, she said.

Another returnee medical student who sought anonymity asked this reporter rhetorically how a six-year programme can be cancelled because of three months of elective courses taken online.

I was astonished and in reading the insensitive MDCN advertorial discrediting our medical degrees from Ukraine, China and other unspecified countries and thereby denying us the opportunity to practice in our country, he said.

MDCN reaffirms position

When contacted, Tajudeen Sanusi, MDCNs registrar, said the councils position was to protect Nigerians.

Tell me anywhere in the world where they are studying medicine online. When you have your lectures in the classroom, you move to the hospital which is the most important, he said.

When this reporter reminded him that the online classes were as a result of the war in Ukraine, he asked again, was there no war in Sierra Leone and Liberia before? Why did they not study online there?

We have made provision for whoever wants to transfer to Nigerian university medical college, so why are they doing online? You want to put the health of Nigerians and other people living in this country in jeopardy? I wont do that, Mr Sanusi said.

When this reporter asked him to shed more light on the provision to enrol the returnees in medical schools in Nigeria, he said, I am not the one who will call them, they are the ones to apply.

He noted that the students should apply to the medical schools and if the institutions have spaces, they can be enrolled.

When the students were going, did they tell anybody? Did they tell me they were going anywhere? Do I have their record that they are anywhere? Mr Sanusi asked rhetorically.
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has led a team comprising officials of the ministry, agencies and organized labour in the aviation industry on an inspection tour of two successfully concessioned airports.

This is contained in a statement signed on Tuesday by James Odaudu, Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Affairs.

According to Mr Sirika, the tour is part of efforts to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, and sincerity in the airport concession programme to choose the right model.

Mr Sirika stated the essence of the visit was to dispel all doubts and suspicion regarding the sincerity of the Federal Government in respect to the concession programme and to reassure labour of the inherent benefits of the programme.

The minister said that the choice of the two airports was based on their popularity, size and their success stories on concession.

Mr Sirika further said that the achievement by the two airports being visited would serve as a guide on the concession model and contribute to the successful delivery of the programme in Nigeria.

He maintained that the federal government is determined to sustain principles of transparency and accountability which had been the hallmark of the process from inception till the final delivery of the project in the country.

According to him, the two airports presented his team with visual stories of their transition and positive impact of their concessions.

The team that visited the Istanbul Airport in Turkey and the Brasilia Airport in Brazil with the Minister included the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Captain Alkali Modibbo, the Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Matthew Pwajok, the Transaction Adviser on Airport Concession, Dr Abba Ibrahim, and the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Michael Ohiani.

The Senior Technical Assistant to the Minister, Yusuf Anas, Special Assistant to Minister on Administration, Ahmed Sanusi, Secretary-General of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Saidu Abdulrazak, Secretary-General of NUATE, Ocheme Abah, and Adenike Adesola (Cabin Service Supervisor).

(NAN)
The publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Tunji Moronfoye, has apologised to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Garba Madami, over his allegation that the governor bribed the election body in the state.

In a statement he personally signed, Mr Moronfoye said he regretted his action.

Back story

The opposition party spokesperson apologised after Mr Madami issued him an ultimatum to do so on Monday.

Mr Madami had in a statement asked Mr Moronfiye to apologise within 48 hours or face legal action.

He said the allegation that Governor AbdulRazaq gave him money was defamation and assassination of his character and integrity.

The head of INEC in the state said his integrity had been put to test by the unfounded and baseless accusation.

Mr Moronfoye had accused Mr Madami of promising to sell victory to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state out of alleged hatred for a former senate president, Bukola Saraki, who is the leader of the opposition party in the state.

He alleged that N300 million changed hands during a meeting between the governor and the electoral commissioner.

Mr Moronfoye also alleged that the REC brought voter registration machines from Niger State to assist Mr Abdurrazaq and the APC to load the voters roll.

Apology

But in a statement on Tuesday, Mr Moronfoye said his earlier statement that the APC administration had bought victory from INEC in the state was misleading and unsubstantiated

The statement was in fact misleading and unsubstantiated. Especially, where I stated that the sum of N300m, changed hands. This gross error was discovered after intense scrutiny of the information released.

I hereby apologise to Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq the executive governor of Kwara state and Mal. Garba Attairu Madami the Kwara state resident Electoral Commissioner on the above issue.

I am also apologising for any embarrassment, inconveniences and unpleasantness caused by my thoughtless purported statement, he said in the statement.

The PDP governed Kwara for 16 years until its defeat in the 2019 general elections by the APC through the Oto ge (Enough is enough) revolt that removed the Saraki family from the control of the state for the first time in the Fourth Republic.
The House of Representatives has summoned the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Babatunde Irukera.

The officials are to appear before the House Committee on Commerce to justify the presence of harpic and hypo, and other non-effective cleaning disinfectants in the market or otherwise.

This resolution was a sequel to a motion moved by Sergius Ogun (PDP, Edo) during plenary on Tuesday.

Moving his motion, Mr Ogun accused manufacturers of toilet disinfectants of misleading customers with advertisements.

He described most of the top brands like Hypo and Harpic as ineffective and poor quality, adding that they leave much to be desired.

READ ALSO: Reps summon minister over refusal to defend 2022 amended Appropriation Act

Despite the poor quality of these toilet cleaning disinfectants, there are several television sponsored advertisements that are misleading unsuspecting members of the public who rely on such adverts product information to make purchases.

Nigerians utilise these disinfectants in cleaning their homes, offices, hospitals, churches and mosques without getting the value for money spent in purchasing such products, he said.

Consequently, the House mandated its committee on Commerce to carry out the investigation and report to the House in four weeks.
The National Committee Against Torture (NCAT), a governmental body which leads the governments efforts to eradicate torture in Nigeria, is poorly funded, its chairman, Sanni Ameh, said Tuesday.

Mr Ameh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said his committees activities are being hampered by a lack of funding.

The committee cannot meet, investigate properly and even send periodic reports to the United Nations because of lack of funding, the senior lawyer said at a technical consultation on achieving zero tolerance for torture held in Abuja.

The event was organised by Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) and Lawyers without Borders France as a build-up to the 2022 International Day of support for victims of torture.

Mr Ameh said his committee rarely receives complaints from Nigerians because they would rather not be interrogated than make a complaint.

He said, however, that torture had been abolished in the countrys correctional facilities, as a result of his committees efforts.

He also stated that victims of torture should be compensated, as victims frequently complained about not receiving compensation for their reports and accusations against torture.

Reform on the way

The Director of Public Prosecution, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, who represented the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), said the AGF office was working on restructuring the anti-torture committee for optimal performance.

According to him, the reform would make the committee independent and also releases funds for its publicity.

Technical consultation to achieve zero tolerance for torture

Lawyers Without Borders France and RoLAC convened a two-day meeting of local experts and chiefs of security agencies with the goal of putting the 2017 Anti-Torture Act into effect. They also aimed to evaluate the NCATs mandate, identify funding sources, and develop a work plan to reinforce anti-torture measures.

Participants at the event discussed the Anti-Torture Acts implementation, as well as the efforts that had been made to implement it and the challenges that have arisen.

The keynote speaker, Chidi Odinkalu, a former chairman of the governing council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said in his presentation that Nigeria as a country condones torture and is doing nothing to curb it.

Torture was not a crime in Nigeria until 2017, but it was a criminal to torture animals, and even after 5 years, there has been no application of the Anti-torture law, he stated.

Torture, according to Mr Odinkalu, is a resilient atrocity that must be addressed constructively and accepted as a problem to be solved.

He described Nigeria as a country that condones torture.

But the representatives of the Nigerian Police Force and the Attorney-General of the Federation rejected the claim.

Ohiozoba Ehiede, a representative of the Commissioner of Police Legal, said the police frown at torture and are doing everything to prevent it.

The police do not look on as torture is carried out. True, that is happening, but we are doing everything we can to stop it because there are regulations in place , he explained.

Judge speaks

Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, a judge of the High Court of Kogi State, Lokoja, argued that many individuals, including adjudicators, are unaware of the Anti-Torture Act.

Mr Omolaye-Ajileye, said from his experiences and inquiry, those who are aware of the law do not use it in criminal cases.

According to him, he conducted a survey of 15 Magistrates Courts in Kogi State and found that none of the judges had ever invoked the legal provision in a criminal case.

He added that 13 of the judges said they had never heard of the Act.

He stated that adjudicators in the country had not been fully educated about the Act and that they needed to be sufficiently sensitised.

Other participants at the event include representatives of Access to Justice, Amnesty International, British Council, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre and The Prisoners Rehabilitation & Welfare Action.
As part of its 10th year anniversary celebration, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) will on Wednesday, June 22, hold a media event on Media Sustainability at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The issue of financial viability and sustainability is one that media organisations around the world grapple with daily.

This challenge is exacerbated by the erosion of advertising revenues through the rise of technology platforms such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, and several others, leaving the media business in a fragile condition.

In the last two years, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the misfortunes of global media enterprise in ways never imagined before.

But while the Western Media to a large extent seems to have found winning formulae to do business profitably, the media in the Global South, particularly countries in Africa, is still struggling to stay afloat.

It is in view of these multiple challenges that the ICIR is inviting media practitioners and other stakeholders to a conference on media sustainability in Nigeria.

Speaking on the planned conference, the Executive Director and Founder of the ICIR, Dayo Aiyetan observed that the time is now to have a conversation on the future of the media in Africa, particularly its viability and profitability.

Many news organisation are not profitable because of dwindling sales and ad revenue, many media companies cannot pay salaries and are laying off staff. The media in Nigeria is hemorrhaging, he said, adding that industry leaders must discuss how to find profitable ways of running media businesses.

A keynote address on Sustainability Imperatives for African Media would be delivered by Tshepo Mahloele, Chairperson of Arena Holdings, one of Africas largest English newspaper publishers in South Africa.

Mr Mahloele is also an entrepreneur who holds major investments in many projects in South Africa and other countries.

A panel discussion that follows would have as discussants Nduka Obaigbena, chairman, Thisday Newspapers; Chris Anyanwu, CEO, Hot Fm; Kabir Yusuf, CEO, Daily Trust Newspapers; and Kadaria Ahmed, CEO, RadioNow and Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, a professor at the University of Lagos, UNILAG.

Martins Oloja, the Managing Director of Guardian Newspaper Limited, will moderate the conversation while Euginia Abu, a respected TV personality, would compere the event.

The ICIR is an independent, non-profit news agency that promotes transparency and accountability through robust and objective investigative reporting.

Its mission is to use excellent, investigative journalism to promote good governance by building g a culture of critical reporting in the media.

Signed:

Ajibola Hamzat

Managing Editor
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, on Tuesday, asked a member of the House to step down a motion to override President Muhammadu Buhari on an amendment to the Electoral Act to allow statutory delegates to vote at party conventions and congresses.

Ben Igbakpa (PDP, Delta) had last week moved a motion for the House to invoke Section 58(5) of the Constitution to override the president on Section 84(8) of the electoral act.

The lawmaker raised a constitutional point of order that the House should commence the process of overriding the president on the bill.

However, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila directed Mr Igbakpa to bring a substantive motion on another legislative day.

Upon moving the motion on Tuesday, Mr Wase, who presided over the session, said the Delta lawmaker erred on procedure. He said the lawmaker could not override the president through a motion.

You dont come with a motion to override a bill. What you are supposed to do is to ask the rules. if you are interested write to the speaker seeking for that to happen, then we go through the normal procedure as enshrined in our standing order.

We wish to kindly beg you to step down your motion because that is not the right procedure and liaise with Chairman of House Rules to do the needful, Mr Wase said.

Responding, Mr Igbakpa reminded the House that it was the Speaker that directed him to come through a motion.

On Thursday I came under a constitutional order and the Speaker directed what I am doing. It means there is a miscommunication somewhere.

 I am not doing it because it is against anybody. It is a constitutional order. It is a rule of law and I think it is why we are here. If you say so I would step it down right away so we can follow up, he said.

Despite the explanation, the deputy speaker remained adamant. He asked the mover of the motion to step it down.

My guide is that the procedure followed is not the right procedure.

For you to override on any bill, you need two-thirds of members, not members sitting but two-thirds of members of the National Assembly. This is why I am guiding you and guiding the House. Motion is stepped down by the leave of the House, the deputy speaker ruled.

Consequently, the motion was stepped down by the leave of the House.

Background

The National Assembly amended the Electoral Act. However, the amendments excluded statutory delegates from voting at party conventions and congresses. The Act only allows the ad hoc delegates to do so.

On May 12, an amendment to allow the statutory delegates was passed and transmitted to the president for assent but he has yet to transmit a response to the National Assembly.

Statutory delegates include ward councillors, local government chairmen and their deputies, governors and their deputies, and president and vice president.

Others are senators and members of the House of Representatives and state assemblies, and chairmen of the parties in the 774 local government areas.
A retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, has spoken about his desire to become the next Alaafin of Oyo, amidst criticisms over his age and Christian background.

Mr Ladigbolu, 84, said he joined the race for the throne following countless appeals and pleas from far and near.

Especially those who are knowledgeable about my devotion to, and undying commitments to the greater progress and prosperity of Oyo Town, and my undeniable records of current contributions to uplifting the Yoruba culture as well as the honour, glory and splendour of the Alaafin both here at home and in the global community.

On June 10, the Agunloye ruling house submitted the names of 48 princes to the Baba Iyaji of Oyo land. The Baba Iyaji, according to the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration, will forward the names to the Oyo Mesi, the kingmakers.

Mr Ladigbolus name is among those sent to the kingmakers. At 84, his inclusion drew criticisms from both within the ruling house and the community.

The immediate past Alaafin, Lamidi Adeyemi III, died aged 83.

But Mr Ladigbolu said his age is the greatest asset which has helped his current contributions to the development of the community.

Most importantly, age has never been a negative factor in the selection of an Alaafin, he said.

All previous Alaafins in New Oyo except one have had the advantage of age and maturity from which both Oyo and Yoruba Nation have benefited. The only odd single circumstance came about due to exigencies known to historians and most adult members of the public in the 1970s.

Alaafin Adeyemi was crowned in 1970 at the age of 32.

According to Oyo historians, the oldest Alaafin to ascend the throne was Lawani Agogoija, who was crowned in 1905. He died in 1911, his five-year reign recorded as the shortest of any Alaafin in the present-day Oyo.

There are also claims that the Alowolodu ruling house is sponsoring Mr Ladigbolu so that the throne would immediately return to their family.

My first reaction is a total denial of that false assumption, said Mr Ladigbolu.

Nobody is sponsoring me to seek an opportunity to better serve a community which I have served and helped for about 40 years as a responsible citizen and community leader.

The people are actually urging me and appealing to me to join the race. The pressure is not limited to well-meaning adults but also includes a lot of the common people who have been touched one way or another by my patriotic enthusiasm for the growth and development of Oyo Town and the Oyo Metropolitan Community.

While I dont have any sponsor, I can claim the support of many admirers who crave continuity and smooth transition. Thank you for raising these questions.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Lagos chapter, on Monday announced it would no longer be able to sell petrol below N180.

The marketers disclosed this in a statement by its secretary, Akeem Balogun.

They said the decision was taken because its members could no longer operate at a loss.

They said while the government had fixed N165 per litre as the pump price of petrol, the current realities in the market showed that the minimum the product should be retailed at the stations should be N180.

The group advised its members to sell petrol at a sustainable price within their environment.

In recent months, fuel scarcity has worsened in Abuja and several other cities across the country.

Last week, long queues returned to filling stations in Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti as most of them remained shut due to scarcity of petrol.

On Monday, fuel queues resurfaced in most parts of Lagos.

The marketers listed the high cost of buying petrol at the depots, the high cost of diesel for running their stations, and the increased cost of freight as the major factors responsible for the recent queue.

The statement by the IPMAN reads: Distinguished marketers, the Chairman and executives in conjunction with some senior members of our unit, organized a press conference today 20th June 2022, at IPMAN HOUSE Ejigbo Lagos, where we explained our predicament with the current price of PMS at the private depot.

We explained that with the current price, there is no way we can sell less than N180 per litre.

On this note, members are hereby advised to sell at a sustainable price within their environment.

Just make sure that the price is on your pump. Kindly contact the Secretariat should you have any authority challenging your operations, it said.
A federal lawmaker, Shina Peller, has formally dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Mr Peller, who announced his resignation from the APC on the floor of the House of Representatives Tuesday during plenary, said he was moving to the Accord Party.

Mr Peller recently lost the APC primaries for Oyo North Senatorial District to Fatai Buhari who is from the Ogbomoso axis of the district.

Some local political observers believe his exit from the APC is a result of his loss in the primary election.

After my exit from the APC, we engaged other political parties, we had numerous options, but we opted for Accord for very peculiar reasons, Mr Peller, who owns Club Quilox, an upscale club in Lagos State, said.

Mr Peller said Accord Party happens to be the first party in Oyo State to zone Oyo North Senatorial ticket to Oke Ogun considering that Ogbomosho Zone had done two terms.

The party has shown an unwavering commitment to the yearnings of the people of Oke-Ogun. It has given us hope and a sense of belonging, he said.

Mr Peller also said the Accord Party in Oyo State is a force to reckon with, saying its internal democracy mechanism is intact, a component lacking in other parties.

According to him, Accord Party is also strategic as it concerns balloting. On the ballot paper, Accord comes first before the two major parties. With Accord as our party, voting sensitization becomes easier for us to do.

READ ALSO: Rep Shina Peller dumps APC after losing primary election

Today, I would like to inform the general public that I am now with Accord party. The logo of the Accord constantly reminds me and other well-meaning Nigerians of their civic responsibility  to vote for credible leaders.

In Oke-Ogun, Oyo North Senatorial District and Oyo State at large, Accord Party is our strength, its logo is our thumb  its our power and we shall make it count, he said.

Mr Peller currently represents Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency.

After the primary elections, the APC had set up a reconciliation committee to reconcile all the warring tendencies within the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The mother of Tijjani Ibrahim, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Jigawa South-west Senatorial District has been kidnapped.

The police identified the mother as Hajiya Jaja, 70-year-old.

The police spokesperson, Lawan Adam, said she was abducted Monday at her home in Tsangayawa area, Kiyawa town.

Residents said the kidnappers, wielding sophisticated weapons, attacked the town in vehicles and motorcycles and went straight to the residence of the mother of the politician.

The police spokesperson said the police and other sister security agencies are trailing the criminals and hopefully will rescue the victim unhurt.

Unlike other states in the countrys North-west region, kidnapping for ransom in Jigawa is not common. Armed banditry is also infrequent.
President Muhammadu Buhari has finally reacted to calls for the removal of the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, over his apparent partisanship.

Mr Emefiele in May disclosed his interest to be the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), even when he had not resigned.

Amid calls for his removal, Mr Emefiele asked a court to declare him fit to seek the countrys top job without leaving office. The lawsuit failed.

Mr Emefiele only backed down after the president subsequently directed all government appointees seeking elective offices to resign first.

In a written response to questions by Bloomberg, Mr Buhari said the removal of the CBN Governor does not rest solely on him.

The CBN governor is appointed by the President. But this appointment is subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, he said.

Ultimately, it will be for the CBNs board of directors to determine whether a CBN governors actions have fallen foul of the laws in place to ensure he can most effectively carry out his duties.

But there is a subtext to the accusations. Because the governor follows a model outside of the economic orthodoxy, he is labeled political. But the orthodoxy has proved wrong time and again.

Instead, the governor is following an alternative economic model that puts people at the heart of policy. Nigeria should be free to choose its development model and how to construct our economy, so it functions for Nigerians he said.

A fallout of Mr Emefieles apparent partisanship has been an announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that it would no longer keep sensitive election materials at the CBN.
The Association of Resident Doctors at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTHC) Ile-Ife, Tuesday, has embarked on a two-day warning strike over an alleged assault involving a female doctor.

The union announced the strike in a circular obtained by PREMIUM TIMES and jointly signed by the associations president, Nana Fayowole; General Secretary, Anuforo Anthony; and the Public Relations Officer, Adelaja Olasubomi.

Members are to embark on a total 48-hour warning strike starting from 8 am on Tuesday, 21st June 2022 to 7.59 am on Thursday, 23rd June 2022, the union stated.

The union also threatened to reexamine the situation should the hospital management fail to meet its demand.

Alleged assault

According to the circular, on June 16, a female doctor identified as Oluwatosin Bello was forcefully held hostage, confined, and verbally assaulted while discharging her duty, by a senior nurse in the Female Adult Orthopaedic Ward (FAOW)

The female house officer had gone to the said ward with her team which comprised different cadres of doctors, to carry out a procedure on the only patient in the ward at that time.

The team on arrival at 4:30 p.m. informed the nurse on duty.

After obtaining the patients consent, they requested a trolley from the nurse who pointed the trolley to them and told them to get it.

In order not to waste time because the team already got a call from children emergency to see a patient, the house officer willingly brought the trolley.

After the procedure, the team discarded all sharps used. They wrapped the empty kit with the drape used and kept it on the lowest shelf of the trolley and wiped the topmost part of the trolley clean and moved the trolley away from the patients bedside.

They were leaving the ward when the house officer was accosted that she should go and discard the waste. The house officer was the last to leave so the nurse went to block her way asking her to go and discard the waste and when she didnt answer, the matron locked the gate with the padlock.

As if that was not enough, she started shouting and rained a lot of insults on her to the extent that nurses from other wards came to plead with her to stop and open the gate but she declined.

Despite several pleas, the nurse vowed never to let the doctor out no matter who comes from Abuja. We have the video evidence of this incident. It took the effort of many people to persuade the nurse to release the doctor.

The union further described the incident as an unfortunate and unacceptable occurrence, adding that an emergency general meeting was called on June 17 and decided to embark on a 48-hour warning strike.

Demands

The union attributed workplace assault on doctors within the hospital to the lack of a proper job description for clinical staff. It, however, gave the hospital management four weeks to look into the incident and come up with a document to that effect.

The hospital management should come up with a document detailing the job description of all clinical staff within the next four weeks, failure of which the house will re-examine the situation at the July 2022 OGM. We believe this is in line with best global practices.

The hospital management to institute a fact-finding committee to look into the incident at FAOW and appropriate disciplinary measures be meted against whoever is found culpable, failure of which the house will re-examine the situation at the July 2022 OGM, they requested.

Confirming their demands to The Punch, the associations president said: We have given them (the management) ample time to do the needful. We stated our demands in our communique and they have constituted a fact-finding committee to look at what happened and make recommendations.

They have between now and four weeks to tick all the boxes of our request before the next congress.

Impact of the strike

Speaking on the strike, a consultant and an Oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Ayodele Komolafe, told PREMIUM TIMES that the ongoing resident doctors strike will affect the operations of other staff under the Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria (MDCAN).

The resident doctors constitute the bulk of the doctors working in the hospital, so even though consultants are not on strike, it will in a way affect our operation as medical consultants because we work together as a team, he said.

In a situation where three people are working to see a patient in the clinic and you are the only one there as the consultant, it will affect you in a way unless there are resident doctors available that you can work with.

He also urged the hospital management to look into the incident and the demands of the resident doctors.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his government will not scrap fuel subsidy soon as current realities make it impossible to do so.

The president also mocked calls by western institutions for Nigeria to end the expensive payments, saying such calls had become hypocritical as western countries are now paying subsidies.

The president said this in written answers he sent to Bloomberg in response to the organisations questions. The interview was published Tuesday.

Most western countries are today implementing fuel subsidies. Why would we remove ours now? What is good for the goose is good for the gander? he asked.

What our western allies are learning the hard way is what looks good on paper and the human consequences are two different things. My government set in motion plans to remove the subsidy late last year. After further consultation with stakeholders, and as events unfolded this year, such a move became increasingly untenable. Boosting internal production for refined products shall also help.

Mr Buhari said Nigerias capacity to produce refined fuel is due to step up markedly later this year and next, as private players and modular refineries (Dangote Refinery, BUA Group Refinery, Waltersmith Refinery) come on board.

He also spoke about his governments inability to ensure Nigeria increases production in the face of rising oil prices, saying Nigeria continued to miss OPEC quota as as result of criminality and terrorism in oil-producing regions.

Four years ago, we unveiled plans for a new gas pipeline connecting Nigeria to Europe. Last week (2nd June) in record time the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) entered into an agreement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for its construction, he said.

Concurrently on 1st July the NNPC will become a Limited Liability Company and be subject to more robust auditing and commercial disclosure obligations. It will help stimulate investment and boost transparency, where corruption has deterred the former and stymied the latter.

My administration is the first to pass this landmark reform in our oil and gas sector, after two decades of predecessors failure to do so  no doubt due to vested interests.

Criminality and terrorism in oil-producing regions hamper production, and it would help if our western allies designated IPOB as a terrorist group, given their complicity in damage to pipelines and infrastructure.

We have invested in our security forces, including the $1 billion military deal with the U.S. for the acquisition of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.

These efforts are making an impact: wells that had to be closed due to criminality have now reopened. With these efforts, OPEC has raised our quota for next month, he said.
The Commissioner for Education in Anambra State, Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, has lashed out on a job-seeking teacher who reportedly sought clarification about the recently concluded teachers recruitment exercise in the state.

The teacher was said to have called the commissioner on phone for enquiries regarding the exercise which was held across three centres in the state on Saturday.

But Mrs Chuma-Udeh, a professor of English, shouted at the applicant accusing her of being indisciplined and disobeying the instructions of the recruitment exercise.

The recorded phone conversation has gone viral on social media.

Madam, youre an idiot. You mean the computers are doing what? I received a report by 12 noon that you people refused to stand in line. You refused to be identified, and you mobbed.

You people were trying to get into the hall at the same time, you refused to be disciplined up till this moment, and you have the effrontery, you stupid woman, to call me on phone and talk rubbish? Mrs Chuma-Udeh was heard yelling at the applicant.

She continued, Get out of my phone you filthy thing. You really want to be a teacher? How will you tell your students to conform to instructions, when you cannot stand in line and move into the hall?

Please, I have no pity for you and I have nothing to say to you. We have already examined up to 1, 400 candidates and. You are all hooligans.

The commissioners outburst was said to be a reaction to a reported stampede that occurred at Nnewi Examination Centre, one of the centres where the recruitment examination was held.

In the centre where the applicant reportedly sat the examination, the stampede began when some applicants surged to enter the hall before others.

Soludo reacts

Meanwhile, the state governor, Charles Soludo, has reacted to the controversy.

He said the job-seeking teacher resorted to raining curses and abuses on him and the commissioner after she failed the examination which prompted the response by the commissioner.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Christian Aburime, Monday night, the governor accused the applicant of editing the viral phone conversation out of frustration to blackmail the commissioner.

Mr Soludo stressed that his administration was committed to the conduct of a seamless and transparent ongoing recruitment exercise for teachers in the state.

He explained that the commissioners comments were as a result of the uncouth language and other unprintable words hurled at the commissioner by the applicant.

As public officers operating in public space, the commissioner has apologised for her inappropriate choice of words in the said voice note, Mr Soludo said.

The governor vowed not to be distracted in giving qualified teachers the opportunity to serve the state and contribute in shaping the future of school children.
What rings in my head, and is beginning to give me headache, is their threat to the CJN: It is either you quickly and swiftly take responsibility and address these burning issues or we will be compelled to (take) further steps immediately. May this day never come. What further steps? Would the Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria stop sitting? That indeed would be the day!

Wahala be like bicycle is an expression that most people familiar with Nigerian street lingo would easily identify with. It refers to the unusual, the dramatic, a shocking development in the course of normal business. Wahala is actually a Hausa word, in terms of its linguistic origin, which has since been incorporated into the normal run of Nigerian expressions. The phrase has also since been turned into music by UZBOI featuring TEESWAG (January 2021). It would one day get into the Oxford Dictionary of Modern English.

This is, of course, not the same thing as that recent event of 79-year-old U.S. President Joe Biden getting his feet hooked in the pedal of his bicycle in Delaware, and falling down. Biden stood up and did some small jumping up and down to show that all was well, and his doctors confirmed this to be true. The wahala that this piece discusses is of a problematic kind: Enormous walaha and crisis in the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Supreme Court, here or elsewhere, is the apex court of the land. It is, in defining its character, not an infallible court, but it is final because its decisions are final; per Oputa JSC in Adegoke Motors vs Adesanya (1989).

The only recourse beyond the Supreme Court is God; not even the West African Court of Appeal can overturn this apex court. Only the Supreme Court can rehearse its own decisions and reverse itself. Its word, so to speak, is law. It is indeed for this reason that the Justices of the Supreme Court and the entire judiciary, deriving their locus and powers under Section 6 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, and the doctrine of the separation of powers as articulated for eternal relevance and coherence by Baron de Montesquieu in 1748, constitute a major pillar of the balance of powers in society and the protection of the rule of law. It is not for nothing that the Supreme Court has been celebrated as the last hope of the common man, that final temple of justice where the law lords define the law, give the law and interpret the law to modulate and to ensure social justice. Years ago, I had the great pleasure of writing a long Man-of-the-Year-Essay in The Guardian newspaper of Nigeria, in which the Editorial Board of the newspaper chose the Nigerian judiciary as the most impactful defender of the peoples rights and the rule of law. It was my job to write the essay. I waxed lyrical.

It is therefore sad that the same Nigerian judiciary is now being spoken about by the same Nigerians and the same country that once looked up to it, as a victim of the proverbial Nigerian factor, a shadow of its former self, and at best a parody. The condition of the Supreme Court today is particularly pathetic. The kind of abuse, humiliation and ridicule that the Nigerian courts have been subjected to, especially the Supreme Court of Nigeria and its justices, has very few precedents elsewhere, except may be notably, India and Pakistan. A compromised judicial system and a divided, disoriented Supreme Court is of no use to the advancement of the rule of law or the democratic process. The judex are expected to be above board and impartial unto death. Their code of conduct forbids them from jumping into the arena of partisan politics. They are required to be independent, utterly without bias and guided strictly by the law, and their oaths of office to interpret the law and deliver justice without fear or favour.

They even suggest corruption: We demand to know what has become of our training funds, have they been diverted, or is it a plain denial? Your Lordship may also remember that the National Assembly has increased the budgetary allocation of the Judiciary. We find it strange that in spite of the upward review of our budgetary allocation, the Court cannot cater for our legitimate entitlements. This is unacceptable!

With regard to these principles and their value in Nigeria, there is cause for worry. And it is indicated in the following shape. Yesterday, 14 justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria wrote a letter now in circulation, and addressed it to their boss, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Abdullahi (CJN), titled: The State of Affairs in the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Demand by Justices of the Court. It is a blistering, sucker-punch, indictment of the sitting CJN. It is important to reproduce some of the stated concerns. Their Lordships, 14 of them, wrote as follows: My Lord The Honourable Justice of Nigeria, we, the Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, carefully reviewed the state of affairs in this Court, and unanimously resolved to write formally and draw the attention of Your Lordship to our demands. As a Preamble, let it be clearly understood that the resolution to write Your Lordship was reached with sense of responsibility. We are serving this country diligently and to the best of our ability. We resolve disputes between the Executive and the Legislature, including all manner of disagreements, between governments and individuals. We are responsible citizens of this country. It would be a tragedy if the Nigerian public were to know that we are unable to resolve our problems internally without going public. The decision to write you formally must be seen by Your Lordship as an effort on our part to preserve the dignity of the Judiciary and the respect accorded to us by Governments and the people of Nigeria. God forbid the day that our internal issues become a matter of National discourse.

My take: Sorry, MiLords, that day has passed. The rot in the Nigerian judiciary has since been a matter of enduring concern. The harassment of judges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the abuse of ex parte applications by judges and lawyers, the blatant violation of rules of procedure and practice directions, and the utter disrespect for the Bench by both lawyers and litigants, with spoken and unspoken allegations of corruption, compromise and sheer abuse had served the signal that all has not been well with the Nigerian judiciary. Now that there is turmoil even at the level of the Apex Court, the countrys court of last resort, there is cause for anxiety, if not outrage. Their Lordships talk about not going public, again sorry, the matter is now public and it is a proper subject for national discourse. Whoever leaked the letter to the CJN for public consumption and attention did so intentionally. It is, however, good that we are allowed to know that the Supreme Court of the land has internal problems. Really? The CJN has completely ignored the report to that effect since March 24? Justices of the Supreme Court claim further that they have no access to the internet. They also do not have enough complement of vehicles, and even the ones that they have are either refurbished or substandard. Justices cannot go for trainings either but the CJN travels with his own spouse, children and personal staff. They even suggest corruption: We demand to know what has become of our training funds, have they been diverted, or is it a plain denial? Your Lordship may also remember that the National Assembly has increased the budgetary allocation of the Judiciary. We find it strange that in spite of the upward review of our budgetary allocation, the Court cannot cater for our legitimate entitlements. This is unacceptable!

I cringed reading the foregoing lines. But the letter is even far more damning with serious additional complaints about the lack of medical care for judges, decadence of the courts, and the implication that this arm of Government is potentially shut down. The other day, magistrates in Cross Rivers State carried placards and went to the streets in protest. The emerging Supreme Court debacle is very much after the same fashion. What exactly is left of the rule of law and the justice administration system if justices of the lands apex court begin to carry placards about their conditions of service? I have searched in vain so far for a denial of the contents of the letter in question, to protect myself, from the error of contempt ex facie curiae involving the apex court of the land, but I have not seen any statement by any of learned Justices disowning the damning statement that has been in the public domain so far. What rings in my head, and is beginning to give me headache, is their threat to the CJN: It is either you quickly and swiftly take responsibility and address these burning issues or we will be compelled to (take) further steps immediately. May this day never come. What further steps? Would the Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria stop sitting? That indeed would be the day!

The fact that a statement such as the one above, which I have quoted in extenso regarding the Supreme Court in Nigeria, is in circulation is an indication of the rot within the Nigerian system. It simply means that no section of Nigeria is immune from violation. Nigeria, it is commonly said, happens to people, as a classic euphemism for failure and collapse. If Nigeria happens to the common mans last bastion of hope, routinely identified as the Supreme Court, then everything is lost. A deprived Supreme Court and judiciary, as described, can, of course, be easily compromised. In an election season, that would be a prescription for anarchy. Those who condemn the Nigerian judiciary already observe, for example, that basic civil cases are piling up at the Supreme Court, while political cases are treated with the speed of light! This is, all things considered, a sad development. There are critics of the Nigerian judiciary who consistently posit that the golden days of the Nigerian Supreme Court are long gone. Shockingly, it has been more than 30 years since the Supreme Court of Nigeria was considered golden.

Once upon a time in this same country, and notably under military rule, this was the same Court on whose Bench sat legends of the law like Kayode Eso, Chukwudifu Oputa, Andrews Otutu Obaseki, Ayo Irikefe, Chukwuenike Idigbe, Augustine Nnamani, Mohammed Bello, Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, Ephraim Akpata, Bola Babalakin, Anthony Aniagolu and others. In both the Supreme and Appellate Courts, these justices gave Nigeria an image of the role of the law as an instrument for nation-building.

Once upon a time in this same country, and notably under military rule, this was the same Court on whose Bench sat legends of the law like Kayode Eso, Chukwudifu Oputa, Andrews Otutu Obaseki, Ayo Irikefe, Chukwuenike Idigbe, Augustine Nnamani, Mohammed Bello, Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, Ephraim Akpata, Bola Babalakin, Anthony Aniagolu and others. In both the Supreme and Appellate Courts, these justices gave Nigeria an image of the role of the law as an instrument for nation-building. For more than a decade they spoke the law to power. They were fearless, independent, firm and robustly intelligent. They were leaders of an incorruptible court, dramatised for posterity in D. Olu Adegokes play, The Incorruptible Judge (Evans Publishers, 1962). The men we remember were first class jurists, with background in law and the Humanities  Classics, Philosophy, Literature. Some of them could speak Latin, they could quote Shakespeare, and deploy wit, depth and wisdom in an effortless manner. They used the law as an instrument of value and as a social modulator, for the benefit of humanity. They were judicial activists whose heroism could be seen in the manner in which they stood for the rule of law and against military and civilian potentates who sought to violate the peoples rights, as seen in such cases as Federal Civil Service Commission vs. Laoye; Ojukwu vs. FG; AG Bendel vs AG Federation; AG Ogun State vs. Federation; Garba vs. University of Maiduguri; Gani Fawehinmi vs. NBA. Their story has been told in a more nuanced manner in Professor Itse Sagays book, A Legacy for Posterity: The Works of the Supreme Court, 1980  1988.

I had a more personal and direct intimation of the heroism of this class of justices during a recent conversation with Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), son of the legendary Justice Bola Babalakin. I was waiting at an elite lounge of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport for a private jet to take me to Abuja, when Babalakin walked in and asked me if I would join him, since he was leaving immediately. Dont ask me what a journalist was doing in a private jet lounge. Na today? Nigerians like to abuse and insult journalists, wrongly and stupidly. Some useless people, in fact, just recently attacked my colleagues who had gone to cover the arrival of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the ruling party, the APC, from Abuja to Lagos, and I hope those guys will be identified and punished. The whole drama was pointless anyway. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party went all the way to the Land of the Pharaohs, in far-away Egypt, and came back, there was peace; nobodys skull was cracked. Asiwaju Tinubu went to common Abuja that everyone goes to, and Lagos would not rest. He was the one, not Peter Obi, that brought back a pyramid of chaos. My friend, Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos State commissioner for Information and Strategy says it is all lies. But let me go back: Here was an opportunity, the other day, for me to get to Abuja early, and Babalakin is a good guy, so off I went with him.

In the course of our hour-long trip to Abuja, we ended up discussing this and that, and the state of the nations judiciary was our main topic, not knowing that there would be a bombshell coming from that direction in a matter of days. He was restrained. He did not want to make comments about serving Justices. But he was ready to talk about his Dad  what he learnt from Justice Bola Babalakin and also from Chief Rotimi Williams, the first Nigerian to become an SAN, the legendary Timi the Law  who for more than five decades dominated the Nigerian litigation landscape like a colossus, and who took him under his wings. It was not yet Fathers Day, which was celebrated only a few days ago, but Babalakin could well have been singing Luther Vandrosss classic song, Dance with My Father (2003) before Fathers Day. Justice Bolarinwa Oyegoke Babalakin, JSC, CON, CFR, certainly made a great impression on his son. He spoke about him from Lagos to Abuja. It was a story of responsible leadership at home, in the community, and the country, a man who held his own on all fronts at home and in the outside community, a jurist who remained a shining light and reference point till the end of his life. I could feel the chemistry between father and son, even if one was dead and the other is the inheritor of a distinguished legacy. I thought Wale Babalakin (SAN) sounded like he would love to be like his Dad but the times are different. His Dad, from his own account, was a simple, modest man, who shunned the glitter and just wanted to serve humanity. Generations of jurists trooped to Gbongan, a quiet, rural community to drink from the fountain of Justice Babalakins wisdom.

It is sad that the same supreme Court that he and his contemporaries and immediate successors helped to build into a great institution is now the same place where, if care is not taken, would be dragged ridiculously on social media and trashed unapologetically by politicians who would not allow any cheap opportunity to pass. We need to rescue the Nigerian judiciary from the pedals of wahala.

Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, writes from Lagos.
A former Minister of Internal Affairs, General Abdulkadir Dambazaus recent advice to the Federal Government, to take decisive steps to mop up arms and drugs from Fulani herdsmen strikes the right chord amidst the senseless killings going on across the country. Nigeria has become a huge graveyard for more than a decade because of the spread of brazen killings, with both state and non-state actors displaying brazen contempt for the sanctity of human life in Nigeria. Today, the people are gripped by fear and mass hysteria, knowing that anybody could be the next target.

Despair and grief, as witnessed in the aftermath of the killing of about 40 worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, when gunmen stormed the place of worship, also reign supreme at this point. The sermons of the clerics at the requiem mass dripped with implacable rage and invectives over the collapse of the Nigerian state and its inability to protect the lives and property of citizens. A government, which cannot guarantee these, needless to say, has lost its legitimacy.

Dambazau, who is also a former Chief of Army Staff, at a security lecture in Abuja, which explored the contemporary challenges facing the Fulbe pastoralist, noted that while in the past he was easily identified by his stick, with which he controlled the movement of his cattle, today he is identified with AK-47 and other light weapons he uses to attack rural communities and also ambush to kidnap passengers and motorists travelling on highways. They also rape women and children. Given Dambazaus wealth of experience in the army and position in public service, his wise counsel should be taken seriously by the relevant authorities.

Undoubtedly, many former herders have abandoned their vocation for banditry and kidnapping, and part of their motivation is the lucrative nature of these newer activities. These actors are believed to be at the centre of the orchestrated banditry, killings and mass atrocities in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, Sokoto, Benue and Plateau States. In its response, the Federal Government has deployed troops in these areas to restore law and order but they have had limited success. A recent security report presented to the Kaduna State government stated that at least 360 persons were killed in the first quarter of this year. In 2021, a total of 1,192 persons were untimely dispatched to their graves, while 3,348 others were kidnapped. The Abuja-Kaduna highway has become notorious for these attacks. It is highly distressing that many of the 62 Abuja-Kaduna train passengers kidnapped in March by gunmen are still in captivity. These criminals have also been implicated in killings and kidnappings in the South-West and in Enugu and Ebonyi States in the South-East, with their perennial encroachment on the farmland of rural communities.

The herders are not alone in striking fear in the heart of Nigerians. The circulation of small arms and light weapons has become an equal opportunity activity by youth groups in virtually all parts of the country. The South-East is becoming ungovernable due to the activities of unknown gunmen often associated with secessionist militants. In 2014, the trial of three suspected kidnappers in Anambra State produced a huge display of sophisticated weapons in court as exhibits, such as AK47 rifles, GPMG rifles, rockets, rocket propellers/launchers, 5,830 AK47 ammunition and 1,135 rounds of ammunition for GPMG rifles. Cult groups and criminal gangs have been procuring weapons all over the country. In the North-East, the Boko Haram insurgency has been raging for the past twelve years and the activities of the insurgents have been spreading, as splinter groups such as Ansaru and the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) seek out new territories for their terrorist activities.

The real problem has been the uncontrolled inflow of arms and ammunition into Nigeria from its northern borders with the Sahel through Niger and Chad; with Central Africa through Cameroon; and even with coastal West Africa through Benin Republic. Regular reports of interceptions of arms by security agencies also clearly indicate the significant increase in smuggling through Nigerias ports. Troubled by the level of arms in the hands of non-state actors, a former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, directed Police Commands in the states and Abuja, to simultaneously mop up illegal weapons to give effect to the Firearms Act 2004, which prohibits certain categories of arms and ammunition in the hands of individuals and the unlawful possession of lethal weapons. Almost every Inspector-General issues such a directive with no result seen.

In March 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered that anybody bearing an AK-47, other than security agents, should be shot on sight in response to calls to arrest the brazen use of such weapons. What we have seen, however, is that often it is the agents of our security services that are shot on sight. The Nigerian state has allowed non-state actors to build such vast arsenals that the Presidents directives are increasingly seen as laughable wishes that are not backed by the building of the strength and capacity of the security agencies.

The alarm bell has been ringing since a 2016 United Nations Office on Drug and Crime report indicated that 350 million (70 per cent) of the 500 million illicit small and light weapons (SALW) circulating in West Africa, are in Nigeria. Equally petrifying is the countrys abysmally porous land borders. An official tally unfurled by a former Minister of Internal Affairs, Abba Moro, indicated that 1,497 illicit routes exist through which contrabands flow into Nigeria, which, of course, include arms and ammunition. Officials of the Nigerian Customs Service had intercepted 13 containers laden with illegal arms at a Lagos port in 2013, a scenario that strongly suggests that an incredible quantum of illegal arms routinely enter the country with the connivance of corrupt security personnel.

Therefore, a country faced with the nightmarish challenge of violent armed attacks virtually from every corner, ought to have responded decisively with a granite-like mechanism to buck the trend. PREMIUM TIMES believes that the constant mopping up of arms and their destruction in full public glare is the best starting point in the countrys bid to overturn this blood-curdling national narrative.

President Buharis approval in 2021 of the establishment of a Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons came rather too late. However, immediate results are urgently required; otherwise, the agency would become just an avenue for governmental waste.

Consequently, President Buhari, who is in the twilight of his administration, should vigorously pursue a pragmatic programme of recovering arms that have fallen into wrong hands to prevent further bloodshed and sorrow in families. His recent June 12 broadcast in which he stated that he was living daily with grief and worry for all those victims and prisoners of terrorism and kidnapping created more concern than reassurance. In his over seven years in power, the insecurity of Nigerians has only deepened considerably, clearly indicating that he is not doing his work.
Premium smartphone brand TECNO (www.TECNO-Mobile.com) has announced the renewal of its partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to support its Refugee Scholarships Programme DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative). The partnership aims to provide higher education and possible job opportunities to refugee scholars in Africa, unlocking their full potential to thrive as adults, and ultimately contributing to equal access to education for all.

As of now, more than one per cent of the worlds population is forcibly displaced. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict continued to drive new displacement in 2022, pushing the number of those forced to flee cross the staggering milestone of 100 million for the first time on record.

In times of displacement, higher education is crucial. Education empowers by giving refugees the knowledge and skills to live productive, fulfilling and independent lives. It improves mental wellbeing and offers a stable and safe

environment for those who need it most. It also helps young people to carry on building futures for themselves, their families and their communities.

However, at tertiary level, refugee enrolment stands at only five per cent, compared with 68 per cent at primary level and 34 per cent at secondary level. Too many refugees are denied the opportunity to explore their potential through higher education, where they can advance their own skills, knowledge and professional careers as well as innovation and research that can improve lives.

Since 2020, TECNO has joined UNHCR to provide quality primary education to more than twenty thousand of refugee children in Africa through their financial contribution to the Educate A Child (EAC) programme in Kenya and Uganda. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic devastated learning conditions for refugee children, TECNO helped close the gap with an emergency donation of tablets to support learning for refugee children during school closure. In addition, TECNO donated 50,000 medical face masks to UNHCR Kenyas COVID-19 response.

As we continue to provide education opportunities in Africa, barriers to higher education need to be addressed and refugee access to the labour market needs to be expanded. In 2022, TECNO expanded the partnership with UNHCR to tertiary education, supporting refugee scholars in Africa to complete four-year higher education. In addition, TECNO will provide internship opportunities at its branches or subsidiaries in Africa for refugee students if the national policy allows and their qualifications match the positions.

Vanno Noupech, UNHCR Representative in China, expressed appreciation for TECNOs continued support. UNHCR welcomes this renewed and expanded partnership, he said. TECNOs contribution will continue to enable UNHCRs efforts to support refugee scholars to continue their education in difficult times, and potentially supporting their transition into the labour market. Increasingly, we see Chinese private sector and individuals showing solidarity and support to address gaps in refugee education globally, and we believe the private sector

could play a greater role in addition to financial contribution, such as leveraging their expertise and networks to co-create innovative solutions.

Stephen Ha, General Manager of TECNO said, With the renewed partnership with UNHCR, we hope to expand our support for refugee students from primary education to higher education. As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility endeavours, TECNO is committed to giving back to the community where we are present. We see DAFI programme as a chance to help those displaced young refugees with higher aim and big potential to continue their education, and provide them with more opportunities to change their lives and give back to the

community in future. 

Expanding access to quality higher education for refugees is part of UNHCRs Education Strategy 2030. In order to ensure that more refugees have the opportunity to accrue social, economic and cultural benefits through higher education, and to promote the ability of refugees to participate in and contribute fully to the communities and countries they live in, UNHCR and partners set the target that 15 per cent of young refugee women and men are enrolled in higher education by the year 2030.

The DAFI refugee scholarship programme was launched in 1992. It supports refugee students around the world through full scholarships for undergraduate studies in the country of asylum. The aim of the programme is to help promote refugee self-reliance through increased access to opportunities to earn academic qualifications, develop knowledge and skills to improve preparedness for employment and entrepreneurship, and to empower students to contribute leadership to host communities during displacement and upon return.

To date, DAFI has supported over 18,500 young refugee women and men to obtain a higher education qualification. The DAFI programme was implemented in 53 countries in 2020 covering 7,343 students. Africa is DAFIs largest programme region with 34 countries.

About the UNHCR:

UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency, a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. UNHCR leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. It delivers life-saving assistance like shelter, food and water, helps safeguard fundamental human rights, and develops solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future.

UNHCR also works to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. For 70 years, the organisation has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives in partnership with governments, non-governmental organisations, civil society and the private sector. In recognition of its work, UNHCR was awarded the Nobel

Peace Prize in 1954 and 1981. For more information, please visit: www.UNHCR.org

About TECNO:

TECNO is a premium smartphone and AIoT devices brand operating in over 70 markets globally. With Stop At Nothing as its brand essence, TECNO is committed to unlocking the best contemporary technologies for progressive individuals across global emerging markets, giving them stylishly designed intelligent products that inspires consumers to uncover a world of possibilities.

TECNO understands the needs of consumers from different markets and provides them with localized innovations and design breakthroughs demonstrated through their mastery of serving consumers who are young at heart and never stops pursuing excellence. TECNOs portfolio spans across smartphones, smart wearables and AIoT devices. For more information, please visit: www.tecno-mobile.com..
The Nigerian government has reiterated its commitment to addressing the plight of out-of-school children and other vulnerable young people in Nigeria.

The Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, Maryam Uwais, said this on Thursday during the closing ceremony of a 3-week capacity-building training programme for 649 ARC-P youth facilitators in Kaduna State.

She said the youth facilitators are chosen from the 23 Local Government Areas in the state.

The details of the event were sent in a press statement issued by her media aide, Justice Bibiye, on Sunday.

Mrs Uwais, who is the facilitator of the At-Risk-Children Programme ARC-P, a Federal Government initiative under the auspices of the Office of the Vice President, said the programme was critical for a secured and sustainable future for underserved children and vulnerable youth in Nigeria.

She explained that the programme is in line with ARC-Ps implementation strategy designed to empower the youth facilitators with the necessary knowledge, skills and wherewithal that they need to effectively engage, empower and nurture the primary beneficiaries of the scheme.

Nigeria currently has the largest number of out-of-school children in the world with an estimated number of 13.2 million, a 2018 survey conducted by the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) indicates.

Most of these children are in Nigerias northern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, where Boko Haram hasndisrupted academic activities.

Earlier this month, PREMIUM TIMES published an investigation on how school children, bear the brunt of the ongoing insecurity crises in Benue State, Nigerias middle belt region.

The report unearthed how attacks by terror armed groups, particularly in the communities of Tior-Tyu in Tarkar, Logo Kwande, Gwer-West, Agatu and other local government areas of the state as a result of the endless bloodletting, have forced thousands of young people and vulnerable youth and children in the communities across the states to seek refuge at internally displaced person camps.

Facilitators should be mentors

According to the presidential aide, having completed the 3-week intensive capacity building Programme, the facilitators will be assigned a minimum of 50 vulnerable children whom they are expected to groom and mentor using the knowledge gained during the capacity building programme.

She noted that the facilitators are expected to conduct basic monitoring and evaluation of activities with the assigned wards and give periodic reports to the implementation team.

Mrs Uwais also reminded the facilitators that they were expected to obtain parental and guardian consent for each of the primary beneficiaries, before proceeding with the training, mentoring and nurturing that they have been prepared for.

The aide who underscored the importance of ARC-P as a critical human capital development programme of the Federal Government tasked the graduands to stay focused on the objectives of ARC-P as they proceed to the field to carry out their primary assignments.

With the conclusion of the 3-week exercise for Youth Facilitators, Kaduna has become the second state, after Gombe, to commence the implementation of the At-Risk Children Programme.

The past couple of weeks saw the youth facilitators trained and equipped by resource persons from various Federal and State governments, as well as developmental partners including UNICEF, UNODC, UBEC, Legal Aid Council, NPHCDA, National Eye Centre, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Office of the SDGs, Resource and Support Hub, and more, who conducted numerous training sessions, including ICT, Renewable Energy, Photography and Videography, Health and Nutrition, Leatherworks, Catering, and Building.

Others include PoP, Tiling & Interlocks, Welding and Fabrication, Agriculture, as well as automobile maintenance training facilitated by PAN Nigeria, Mrs Uwais said.

Meanwhile, the deputy governor of Kaduna State, Hadiza Balarabe, commended the Federal Government for embracing the ARC-P, saying the initiative is in line with the poverty reduction strategy of the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai administration in Kaduna State.

Kaduna State under Mallam Nasir El-Rufai believes that only vibrant, skilled and knowledgeable cooperation can move Kaduna and, indeed, Nigeria forward.

This is why this government has paid a lot of attention to human capital development. We are pursuing policies and programmes that will make Kaduna State residents physically and mentally healthier and focus on providing free and compulsory basic education to all children.

We are providing skills through technical and vocational education, especially to our young ones, the deputy governor added.
Gunmen on Monday, bombed the popular Izombe Market in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigerias South-east.

The gunmen were said to be members of outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) enforcing the suspended sit-at-home order.

They were said to have stormed the market earlier to warn the traders not to violate the order by opening for business on Monday, according to a report by Sun Newspaper.

But the traders defied the warning and opened the market for business, prompting the gunmen to attack them.

The gunmen set two vehicles ablaze in the market before bombing the place, the newspaper reported.

The frightened traders scampered for safety during the attack.

Some of the traders sustained injuries in the incident.

They came and threw a local bomb inside the market and everybody started running for safety. They (also) poured fuel on two vehicles and everywhere went up in flames, the newspaper quoted a witness as saying.

Background

IPOB, an outlawed group leading the agitation for creation of an independent state of Biafra from the South-east and some parts of the South-south Nigeria, had suspended its earlier Mondays sit-at-home order, in preference for the order to be implemented only on the days its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, appear in court.

Despite its suspension, residents of the five South-east states  Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra  have been observing the Monday sit-at-home order, mostly out of fear.

Some residents and motorists, including commuters, have been attacked lately in the region by gunmen for stepping out of their homes on Monday and other declared sit-at-home days.

There has been growing insecurity in the South-east, with frequent attacks by armed persons.

IPOB has been accused of being responsible for the deadly attacks, but the secessionist group has repeatedly denied their involvement in the attacks.

Leader of the outlawed group, Mr Kanu, is being detained in Abuja where he is facing trial for terrorism.
The police in Edo State on Tuesday arraigned Johnson Atseleghe, the head of Ikaye community in the oil-rich Ologbo community and the Iyasere of Warri at an Edo Sate High Court.

Mr Atseleghe, 54, was arraigned before Justice Efe Ikponnwonba on a seven-count charge of assault and malicious destruction of property in Ologbo dukedom, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area in Edo.

Police prosecutor, Orobosa Okunbor, told the court that the accused person committed the offence on the February 2 at Ologbo in the Benin judicial Division.

According to him, the accused conspired to carry on warlike undertaking, malicious damage, punishable under section 517 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 48.Vol.11 Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria, 1976 as applicable in Edo state.

Mr Okunbor, a deputy superintendent of police, urged the court not to grant Mr Atseleghe bail, saying he was likely going to create trouble if he is released.

He cited previous criminal cases against the accused.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His counsel, Eghedosa Imhandegbelo (SAN), in his oral bail application, urged the court to grant him bail.

Justice Ikponmwonba adjourned the case to June 27, for hearing of application for bail.

(NAN)
One of the two ruling houses in Oyo, the Agunloye family, has submitted a list of 48 princes to be considered for selection for the next Alaafin of Oyo, the ancient town that is regarded as the bastion of Yoruba culture and traditional religious system.

But the inclusion of Ayo Ladigbolu, an 84-year-old former Methodist archbishop, has triggered criticism because of the possibility of the octogenarian emerging as the Alaafin.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt the Agunloye ruling house sent the list to Mukaila Afonja, the Baba Iyaji of Oyo land, on June 10. The Baba Iyaji, according to the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration, will forward the names to the Oyo Mesi, the kingmakers.

They submitted the names less than two months after the death of Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi III, who died in April at the age of 83.

Alaafin Adeyemi, who reigned from 1970 to 2022, was from the Alowolodu House, the other ruling house.

Both houses descended from Alaafin Abiodun Atiba, who founded the present Oyo, following the collapse of Oyo Ile, the capital of the old Oyo Empire in the 1830s.

Although the names of the potential successors to the Alaafin throne have not been made public, PREMIUM TIMES learnt Mr Ladigbolu and Lukman Gbadegesin, an Abuja-based civil contractor, are among those listed.

Mr Ladigbolu confirmed his intention to ascend to the throne to PREMIUM TIMES.

He said contrary to peoples worries, his age is his greatest asset.

Most importantly, age has never been a negative factor in the selection of an Alaafin, he said.

All previous Alaafins in New Oyo except one have had the advantage of age and maturity from which both Oyo and Yoruba Nation have benefited.

The only odd single circumstance came about due to exigencies known to historians and most adult members of the public in the 1970s.

Closeness to Alaafin

Goke Eesuola, a lawyer and activist, said Mr Ladigbolus aspiration is fueled by his closeness to the late monarch, but fears over his age and position in the Christian faith, which may limit his commitment to traditional ritual practices.

He was the closest to the late Adeyemi, who died leaving many unresolved issues relating to land and the proliferation of chieftaincy titles among others, Mr Eesuola told PREMIUM TIMES.

Archbishop Ladigbolu is 84 and we see no reason baba should be on that list.

Firstly, if there is any confidante the late monarch has, it is Baba Ladigbolu. Nobody is closer to him than the archbishop. And there are so many issues on the ground, such as the proliferation of titles, and land issues among others, which we feel whoever that is coming in, will not inherit. We want a clean brick for whosoever is coming in.

A prince from the Agunloye House who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES requested not to be named.

The family is concerned that we are at a risk of quickly losing our reign and returning it to the Alowolodu, who just enjoyed it for more than 50 years, he said.

Long list of potential successors

Mr Eesuola said the reason for the high number of aspiring princes was because the seat had not been vacant for a long period, thereby creating a wide pool of candidates across generations.

The current number of 48 applicants is not too much because a certain number of Oyo youths, ranging from 1 to 53 years only know one king in their lifetime, which is Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. While the other ruling house was kept in the cooler.

As we speak, the other family has grown, they now have a number of successful children, so you should expect such a number of applicants. Although, that number will still be trimmed down.

Even the Ladigbolu in the Agunloye family has now been subdivided into two because we now have a group that calls themselves Ladigbolu and another group calls themselves Gbadegesin. So, all these expansions will form factors for us to have a high number.

Honestly, it is expected because everybody wants to be part of the history.

Many of them just want to put it in history that our branch of the ruling house actually contested and that we are bonafide children of the Alaafin.

Baba Iyaji and the Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration are expected to forward the names of the princes to the Oyo Mesi in the coming days for a final selection.
Manassas, VA (20110)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 80F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low around 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lithium South Development Corporation (the "Company") (TSX-V: LIS) (OTCQB: LISMF) (Frankfurt: OGPQ) is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced at the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project (HMN Li Project), Salta Province, Argentina. Servicios Gelogicos of Salta, Argentina began to turn the first hole on June 12th. The drilling method is diamond drill hole with double packer sampling at select intervals. The 2,000 meter drill program is expected to continue for the next several months, with results reported as obtained. The program is being supervised by Dr. Mark King, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, and Principal Hydrogeologist and President of Groundwater Insight, Inc. Dr. King has an extensive background in lithium brine resource and reserve estimation.

The objective of the program is to potentially expand the current Lithium Carbonate Resource which is defined as 756 parts per million lithium within 571,000 tonnes in the Measured and Indicated Categories with a low magnesium to lithium ration of 2.6 to 1.0.( see news release December 4, 2018 , and NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report titled "Initial Measured and Indicated Lithium and Potassium Resource Estimate, Hombre Muerto North Project, Salta and Catamarca Provinces, Argentina", prepared by independent consultants Montgomery and Associates of Santiago, Chile). The resource is contained solely on the Tramo Claim Block, which is 383 hectares in size, and is one of five salar-located, noncontiguous claim blocks that comprise the total project area of 3,287 hectares. The drill program will focus exploration on the Alba Sabrina Claim Block, which is 2,089 hectares in size.

A recent TEM Study at the Alba Sabrina Claim Block (See October 4, 2021, press release) provides potential indication of a surficial halite aquifer of approximately 75 meters of depth, with potential indication of clastic brine aquifer immediately below. The TEM Study was limited to a depth of approximately 350 meters, with the basement rock not confirmed. The drill program will attempt to drill to basement, limited to approximately 700 meters by the depth potential of the drill rig.

Company President, Adrian F. C. Hobkirk quoted, "We are excited to begin the potential expansion of the high-quality lithium brine resource at the HMN Li Project. In particular, to confirm our expectations that deeper drilling will return significant results."

About Lithium South

The Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project ( HMN Li Project ) is at an advanced stage of evaluation, with a Preliminary Economic Assessment having been completed in April, 2019. Lithium South is the 100% owner and intends to potentially expand the known resource with its current drill program. Additional project work including permitting, environmental studies and process test work is ongoing

The HMN Li Project is adjacent to a US$840 million lithium mine under development by the Korean multinational corporation POSCO, which acquired their area from Galaxy Resources Ltd. for US$280 million. Livent Corporation is producing lithium south of the Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project, and has been in operation there for over twenty five years.

The Company is evaluating conventional evaporation as a process method, and Direct Lithium Extraction (D.L.E.) as an alternative method. D.L.E. test work on 2,000 liter brine samples is currently underway by Chemphys Chengdu, in China, and Eon Minerals in Salta, Argentina.

The technical and scientific information in this press release was reviewed by Dr. Mark King, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Dr. King participated in the production of this news release.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Adrian F. C. Hobkirk

President and Chief Executive Officer

Investors / Shareholders call 855-415-8100 / website: www.lithiumsouth.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed the content of this news release and therefore does not accept responsibility or liability for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. We seek safe harbor.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1815015/Lithium_South_Development_Corporation_Logo_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Lithium South Development Corporation
NEW DELHI, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Applauding his pioneering vision of giving a whole new dimension to hospitality education and training, Dr Suborno Bose, Founder Chairman and Chief Mentor of the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) was awarded the Times Men of the Year as Times Visionary Leader. This prestigious award added to his long list of pathbreaking achievements, most of which have been pioneering initiatives in the field of hospitality education. His latest accomplishment includes his unique initiative to closely connect academia with industry experts.

Dr Suborno Bose, Chairman and CEO, IIHM Hotel School

Prof David Foskett, MBE, hospitality educator and Chairman of International Hospitality Council (IHC), London, said on the occasion, "The award has come at a very important juncture when the historic marriage between the largest and prestigious hotel group in the world, Marriott Group and IIHM, a universally respected leader of hospitality management education has just taken place. This initiative will create wider and better opportunities for IIHM students across the world. The award presented to Dr Suborno Bose is well deserving as he is a true visionary in the field of hospitality education, who has changed the relationship between hospitality academia and the industry."

The MoU was signed by Dr Suborno Bose and Gaurav Singh, Market Vice President, East India and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. On the occasion Singh said, "Marriott and IIHM have done many things together and this MoU will further celebrate this partnership and bridge the gap between academia and industry and create future talent in the hospitality industry. IIHM has been leading in the education platform of the hospitality industry and for us to partner and try to further enhance the education levels, ensure that we can have internships and eventually create job opportunities in our portfolio of hotels."

IIHM, in association with the British Council, organised Bilateral Education Engagement by signing an agreement with five leading universities from the UK. A top-notch UK delegation arrived at the IIHM Global Campus to sign an agreement to identify education, research and innovation as the important pillars of bilateral engagement.

The British delegation included representatives of leading UK universities, including Tracy Ann Bhamra, Senior Vice Principal, Royal Holloway, University of London, Sarah Louise Brown, Associate Dean, Internationalisation, University of Bath, Paul Marshall, Pro- Vice Chancellor (Careers and Enterprise), University of East London, Dr Anthony Manning, Director and Dean for Global and Lifelong Learning, University of Kent, Piruthivi Sukumar, Pro Dean International, University of Leeds, Eduardo Ramos, Head of Transnational Education UUKi.

About IIHM

IIHM (International Institute of Hotel Management) is one of the largest chain of premier hospitality and hotel management schools across India that started its journey in 1994 at Kolkata. IIHM is a part of Indismart Group, the conglomerate that operates the Indismart Hotels. IIHM campuses are located across eleven National and International cities with the associate institute IAM-IHM located in Kolkata, and Guwahati. Students passing out of IIHM are armed with an international degree from the University of West London and equipped with global hospitality skills that enable easy placements in any hospitality brand across the world. IIHM is dedicated to its pursuit of excellence in teaching and placements. Real time experience is the key to success in hospitality and that makes the institute popular. In recent years, IIHM has been instrumental in organizing the Worlds biggest Culinary Olympiad Young Chef Olympiad, with participation of over 50 countries, a unique idea and initiative inviting young culinary talents across the world. It has MoU's with over 50 countries for student and faculty exchange bringing the best of education for its students from around the World.

The institute has bagged several prestigious awards in the past 24 years. The list includes the Best Education Brand Award from Economic Times consecutively in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. It was also featured in Forbes Magazine as Great Indian Institute and Great Place to Study consecutively in the year 2018 - 2019 and 2019 - 2020. IIHM was also awarded as one among the World's Greatest Brands & Leaders 2015-16 by URS International (IMEA - Process Reviewer PriceWaterhouseCoopers PL) and also received the Best Institute in Hospitality Education 2017 Award by Assocham from Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon'ble Minister of State for HRD (Higher Education), Govt. of India.

Please visit for more information: www.iihm.ac.in

Media Contact:

Abdullah Ahmed

Chief Operating Officer

International Institute of Hotel Management

[email protected]

+91-(0)11-43204700

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1843797/Dr_Bose_IIHM_award.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1572818/IIHM_Logo.jpg

SOURCE International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM)
Recipients, who otherwise could not afford this opportunity, will receive access to a training course and industry-recognized certification

AUSTIN, Texas, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OPEN SOURCE SUMMIT -- The Linux Foundation , the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, has announced the recipients of the 2022 Shubhra Kar Linux Foundation Training (LiFT) Scholarships . LiFT aims to increase diversity in open source technology by providing access to online and in-person training and certification exams for underserved demographics at no cost to the recipient. Since 2010, The Linux Foundation has awarded over 1,600 scholarships for millions of dollars worth of specialized, technical training to those who may not have the ability to afford this opportunity otherwise. The program has been renamed in honor of Shubhra Kar, the longtime CTO of The Linux Foundation who was tragically lost earlier this year.

For 2022, The Linux Foundation is awarding scholarships to 500 of the over 3,100 applicants  a record amount of applications  who vied to be selected in one of twelve categories.

This year's scholarship applicants reflect the diversity of open source, with ages of applicants ranging from 13 to 66 with the average age being 27 years old. Applications were received from 133 different countries. The open source novices and seasoned tech professionals selected to receive this year's scholarships serve as a reminder that interest in open source and technology generally crosses all demographics.

"Time and again we have seen so many promising individuals around the world benefit from professional open source training, which is why I am proud that we are able to once again offer this opportunity to 500 deserving individuals around the world," said Linux Foundation Executive Director Jim Zemlin. "This group shows the promise that open source and collaborative development brings by opening doors to new careers, and also by bringing in new perspectives and worldviews that lead to better technology outcomes. We hope these recipients are also inspired by the memory of our friend and colleague Shubhra, who was an incredible technologist and human being, reflecting the best traits of the open source community."

Highlighted scholarship recipients for 2022 in each category are:

Blockchain Blockbusters

Aminat Atanda, 25, Nigeria

Aminat is a PhD student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where she studies computer science. She developed a Hyperledger Fabric application that records birth registration in Nigeria with verification from a hospital official, custodian of the child, and a registration official). She hopes further training in blockchain from the Linux Foundation will help her build and deploy this type of application commercially.

Kommireddy Hiranmai Sai Supriya, 19, India

Kommireddy is a computer science student and part of ETHWMN Fellowship of Devfolio, where she is learning about Web 3.0 and working on a basic NFT Minter Project. She is also building a game that utilizes NFTs for additional gaming perks. She previously explored Hyperledger and even helped create a project using it in the American Express Makeathon, but was never fully successful at implementing it. She hopes studying Hyperledger through this scholarship will improve her blockchain skills even further.

Cloud Captains

Josue Aquino, 25, El Salvador

Josue is completing his computer science degree at the University of El Salvador while also interning for a remote sensor company. He has been using Docker and Kubernetes in remote sensing research and helped build cloud native applications to maximize operations. He hopes to share what he learns from this scholarship to encourage more organizations in El Salvador to adopt cloud technologies.

Abdalla Elfateh Abdalla Bukhari, 22, Sudan

Abdalla volunteers as a sysadmin for the Sudanese Society of Neurosciences, where he is working to form a computational neuroscience research group. His goal is to utilize applied hybrid cloud to further studies and diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases which will support the healthcare system in Sudan. He hopes this scholarship will help him further improve his DevOps and container orchestration skills to accomplish this.

Cybersecurity Champions

Mukhtar Salim, 21, Kenya

Mukhtar helped start the Bsidesmombasa event, an independent, community-driven inclusive information security conference. He helps bring together women and youth in the community to learn about technology and how to safeguard themselves online, including how to avoid becoming spoofed or falling victim to phishing scams. He plans to share what he learns from this scholarship to improve what he is already teaching to the community.

Vicky Sy, 28, Philippines

Vicky is a Java developer who recently moved to the DevSecOps role. When she switched to a cybersecurity career, she saw the impact of open source and realized the necessity of gaining Linux expertise, which she hopes this scholarship will help with. She has already designed and implemented secure CI/CD pipelines that ensure that the deployment and maintenance of applications apply the principle of least privilege, hence preventing unauthorized access to pipelines and critical services.

Developer Do-Gooders

Dmytro Doroshenko, 31, Ukraine

Dmytro is a software developer who tries to give back in ways like updating documentation or contributing improvements to open source projects like the .NET Kafka Client. While like many in his country he is currently distracted by the ongoing war, he hopes to be able to use this scholarship to learn more about blockchain with the goal of becoming a Hyperledger developer.

Marsalis Weatherspoon, 33, United States

Marsalis is a public school music teacher in Arkansas who has become an open source evangelist since starting to use Linux a few years ago. He leverages Linux and open source software to champion community development in the areas of Black entrepreneurship and social justice work by steering organizations to programs like CiviCRM, LibreOffice Suite, Bitwarden and other open source technologies.

Hardware Heroes

Sarah Ouerghemmi, 27, Germany

Sarah is a PhD student studying wireless sensor networks at the Laboratory of Smart Diagnostics and Online Monitoring of The University of Applied Sciences Leipzig (HTWK). She is working on designing Low Noise Amplifiers that operate in different frequency ranges from simulation to hardware PCB implementation. She hopes this scholarship will help her pursue a career in embedded systems engineering.

Akhilesh Thorat, 27, India

Akhilesh works in the green energy sector, where he is involved in developing low cost energy efficient open source Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. These include the use of open source components such as Arduino based frameworks for use in water and energy management solutions. He hopes this scholarship will help him learn more about how Web 3.0 can help in the decentralization of data for IoT and big data with a focus on creating an open, connected, and intelligent website with improved user experience.

Linux Kernel Gurus

Kalyan Bhetwal, 27, United States

Kalyan is pursuing a masters degree in computer science and working as a graduate research assistant in the field of high performance computing. His research involves the use of low level kernel programming to get optimized performance in machines. This includes developing open source software, called Hydroframe, for hydrologists to simulate water flow models in the continental United States.

Marcelo Schmitt, 30, Brazil

Marcelo is a graduate student in computer science who started working with the Linux kernel community in 2018 by helping refactor staging IIO device drivers so that they could get added to the mainline tree. He conducts research into Linux kernel device driver testing and has helped improve the Kernel Testing Guide documentation page. He hopes this training will help improve his driver work and provide better mentoring to fellow kernel newbies.

Networking Notables

Jorge Miguel Campos Pelcastre, 31, Mexico

Jorge works in the telecommunications field, and helped create a system called NAS (Network Administrator System) with 100% open source technologies. The system supports different applications that configure, manage and operate one of the largest telecommunications networks in Latin America. It was built with microservices and is implemented with containers. He hopes this scholarship will help him learn technologies like Kubernetes to be able to implement it in the system and make it more stable and scalable.

Abderrahmen Errached Tlili, 22, France

Abderrahmen is a computer science student originally from Algeria. He is interested in learning more about RANs, which led to an internship at EURECOM where we works with OpenAirInterface, a platform to support mobile telecommunication systems like 4G and 5G based on open source. He hopes this scholarship will lead to more exposure to the ONF (Open Networking Foundation), so he can learn more about technologies like Kubernetes, gRPC, SDN, NFV, and protobuf.

Open Source Newbies

Hadiqa Khan, 21, Pakistan

Hadiqa is a computer science student with a passion for cybersecurity. She has been learning technologies like Linux, Node.js, React and others, even configuring her own kernel. She believes that Linux is a must-know technology to be effective in the cybersecurity field, so hopes this scholarship will give her the skills to start learning about and fixing actual bugs to reduce vulnerabilities.

Alexandra Shagzhina, 41, Hong Kong

Alexandra recently relocated from Russia to Hong Kong. She is hoping to transition from a career in recruitment to technology. She has already worked on a project at the Wikimedia Foundation, where she received a practical introduction to open source and the principles and tools of collaborative development. She hopes the training she receives from this scholarship will help her transition into a job in technology project management.

SysAdmin Super Stars

Maraiza Adami, 33, Brazil

Maraiza works with a feminist hackerspace called marialab, which serves several civil society organizations in Brazil. Some of the system administration tasks she engages in for marialab include Shell commands and text editors, as well as managing packages, processes, networks, users, NTP servers, and logs. She hopes the knowledge gained from this scholarship will help her break down more barriers to increase the representation of women in the Brazilian technology industry.

Patience Cheptoo, 29, Kenya

Patience holds a computer science degree and hopes to move into a sysadmin role from her current IT assistant position. She has used Linux and even managed to diagnose and troubleshoot the system with the help of internet forums. She hopes the training from this scholarship will help her to advance her sysadmin skills and be more marketable for a continuing IT career.

Teens-in-Training

Navtej Bhatti, 13, United States

Navtej is an 8th grader with big dreams of becoming an embedded developer, and is already off to a great start, having created a project that that allows you to boot Linux on the Depthcharge Coreboot payload used on Chromebooks (github.com/cb-linux/breath). Navtej hopes to learn more about the Linux kernel, specifically the embedded stack, through this scholarship.

Nikita Shrivastava, 18, India

Nikita has just begun studying computer science at university and is especially interested in artificial intelligence, deep learning, and machine learning. She is contributing to a natural language processing project with a professor, and also is actively involved in the GirlScript Summer of Code bootcamps. She hopes this scholarship will teach her more about Linux and git so she is able to contribute more to projects in the future.

Web Development Wiz

Ali Amer, 22, Iraq

Ali was studying information technology at a university in Russia but was forced to return home due to the current geopolitical situation. He has previously learned Java, and also completed an edX software development course but is now focused on website development, including front-end development such as HTML, JavaScript, and React, as well as diving into the backend with Node.js and MongoDB. His hope is that by pursuing the OpenJS Node.js Application Developer (JSNAD) through this scholarship he will be able to become a professional full-stack developer.

Orim Dominic, 27, Nigeria

Orim studied biochemistry in university but has since decided to pursue a career in web development. He has studied general programming and Node.js and even built @PickAtRandom, a Twitter bot that automates random winners for giveaways, which he has open sourced. He has been frustrated by documentation that is sometimes lacking, so hopes to use the knowledge gained through this scholarship to give back to the community by contributing new documentation and updating existing ones.

Women in Open Source

Ruth Charlotte, 22, Kenya

Ruth is at university studying telecommunications and information engineering, and also works on a community development project for school-age girls in remote areas of Kenya to reduce the spike in unwanted pregnancies by increasing awareness and providing skills training. She hopes to disseminate the knowledge she gains from this scholarship to these girls starting at a foundational level, and gradually building their abilities in Linux as a community.

Ernitia Paramasari, 41, Indonesia

Ernitia has a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering and a master's degree in sustainable energy systems. After years working in environmental science and a break to care for family, she recently began working as an entry-level data scientist. She spends her free time working with organizations like Women Who Code, Women in Tech, and AI Wonder Girls. She hopes to use the knowledge gained from this scholarship to find solutions to climate change and environmental issues through data science, while also continuing to share with other women.

Additional Resources

The full list of 2022 LiFT Scholarship recipients can be viewed here

Photographs of 2022 LiFT Scholarship recipients can be downloaded here

About the Linux Foundation

Founded in 2000, the Linux Foundation is supported by more than 1,000 members and is the world's leading home for collaboration on open source software, open standards, open data, and open hardware. Linux Foundation's projects are critical to the world's infrastructure including Linux, Kubernetes, Node.js, and more. The Linux Foundation's methodology focuses on leveraging best practices and addressing the needs of contributors, users and solution providers to create sustainable models for open collaboration. For more information, please visit us at linuxfoundation.org .

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see its trademark usage page: www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage . Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Dan Brown

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

415-420-7880

SOURCE The Linux Foundation
The dynamics of acute kidney injury market is anticipated to change in the coming years owing to the improvement in the diagnosis methodologies, raising awareness of the disease, incremental healthcare spending across the world and the expected launch of the emerging therapies during the forecast period.

LAS VEGAS, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Acute Kidney Injury Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, Acute Kidney Injury emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2019 to 2032, segmented into 7MM (the United States, the EU5 (the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany), and Japan.

Key Takeaways from the Acute Kidney Injury Market Report

As per DelveInsight analysis, the Acute Kidney Injury market size in the 7MM was approximately USD 5.4 billion in 2020.

in 2020. As per DelveInsight analysis, the total Acute Kidney Injury incident cases in the 7MM were approximately 10.9 million in 2020.

in 2020. The United States contributed to the largest incident-patient share (mortality adjusted), acquiring ~ 34.09% of the 7MM in 2020

contributed to the largest incident-patient share (mortality adjusted), acquiring of the 7MM in 2020 Rising incidence of AKI will provide a larger window of opportunity for new treatment and prevention options

The pipeline of AKI is quite robust with diverse products strengthening targeting prophylaxis of AKI in several complications such as Sepsis and post-cardiac-surgery mainlyLeading acute kidney injury companies such as Cerenis Therapeutics, Alloksys, Vifor Pharma, Exponential Biotherapies, Atox Bio, AM Pharma Holding, Quark-Pharmaceuticals, Nephraegis Therapeutics, Vasomune, Unicycive, LG Chem, Pharming Group, Angion Biomedica, Elysium Health, Sentien Biotechnologies, Pharmazz, Arch Biopartners, Guard Therapeutics, RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharma, Amniotics, Mission Therapeutics, Bessor pharma, Kantum Pharma, ABIONYX, and others are developing novel drug candidates to improve the Acute Kidney Injury treatment landscape.

and others are developing novel drug candidates to improve the Acute Kidney Injury treatment landscape. The Acute Kidney Injury therapies in the pipeline include bRESCAP, ANG-3777, EA-230, Ilofotase alfa, ASP1128, Ruconest (Conestat alfa) , and others.

and others. The key driver for the surge in acute kidney injury market size is the rise in the number of incident cases of acute kidney injury.

Discover more about therapies set to grab major acute kidney injury market share @ Acute Kidney Injury Market Landscape

Acute Kidney Injury Overview

Acute kidney injury (AKI), also known as acute renal failure (ARF), is a disorder that causes progressive azotemia with or without oliguria over a period of hours or days. Acute kidney injury is defined as a sudden loss of renal function, clinically expressed as an acute reversible surge in nitrogen waste products as measured by blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels over hours to weeks. Acute kidney injury causes an abrupt loss in renal function, which results in waste product retention, electrolyte abnormalities, and changes in volume status. Acute kidney injury is classified into prerenal, postrenal, and intrinsic renal.

Many people with acute kidney injury are asymptomatic, while others experience generalized non-specific acute kidney injury symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, lower back pain, passing less urine than usual, unexplained loss of appetite, feeling sick or vomiting, shortness of breath, and swelling of the legs or other body parts. An increase in serum creatinine and a reduction in urine output are commonly used for acute kidney injury diagnosis.

Acute Kidney Injury Epidemiology Segmentation

As per DelveInsight, there were approx 10.9 million acute kidney injury incident cases in the 7MM in 2020.

Among the EU5 countries, Germany had the highest acute kidney injury incident population in 2020.

The Acute Kidney Injury market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 20192032 in the 7MM segmented into

Total Incident Population of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in Hospitalized Patients

Mortality Adjusted Incident Population of AKI in Hospitalized Patients

Stage-specific Incident Population of AKI

Age-specific Incident Population of AKI

Download the report to understand which factors are driving acute kidney injury epidemiology trends @ Acute Kidney Injury Epidemiological Insights

Acute Kidney Injury Treatment Market

For the past several years; it has been observed that the current acute kidney injury treatment is primarily supportive in character, with no therapeutic approaches demonstrating benefit in treating the condition. Off-label acute kidney injury medications used to treat AKI include ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II-receptor blockers (ARBs), diuretics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and renal replacement therapy (RRT). Monitoring urine output and, at first, serum creatinine levels (SCr) numerous times each day is a cornerstone of the therapy for all patients with acute kidney injury. It is also indicated to correct electrolyte imbalances, quit or adjust nephrotoxic medicines, and dose-adjust pharmaceuticals with renal elimination.

To know more about Acute Kidney Injury treatment, visit @ Acute Kidney Injury Guidelines

Acute Kidney Injury Pipeline Therapies and Key Companies

bRESCAP: Alloksys

ANG-3777 (BB3): Angion Biomedica/ Vifor Pharma

EA-230: Exponential Biotherapies

Ilofotase alfa: AM Pharma

ASP1128: Astellas Pharma

Ruconest (Conestat alfa): Pharming Technologies

Learn more about the acute kidney injury medications @ Drugs for Acute Kidney Injury

Acute Kidney Injury Market Dynamics

Treatment-related adverse effects are quite rare, resulting in successful acute kidney injury treatment choices. Moreover, patients have easy access to reimbursements since their ailment necessitates long-term management, such as dialysis. In addition, several government activities are being undertaken by adopting various programs concerning acute kidney injury, which is expected to improve the global AKI prospect and thus bolster the actue kidney injury market.

Furthermore, several biomarkers, including NGAL, Cystatin-C, and others, are being investigated for use in acute kidney injury diagnosis. The validation of these new biomarkers could provide new methods for detecting the start and severity of kidney injury. Future research in the acute kidney injury market is underway with the goal of better understanding of the underlying processes and, as a result, improve outcomes for AKI patients.

Moreover, a robust pipeline with a novel mechanism of action and increasing incidence are major market drivers of the acute kidney injury market. Additionally, the acute kidney injury pipeline is also expected to change the current dynamics of the acute kidney injury market, which presently comprises biologics and molecules with new mechanisms of action like ANG-3777 (BB3), ASP1128, Ilofotase alfa, Ruconest (Conestat alfa), bRESCAP, EA230, and others.

However, there are several barriers to the acute kidney injury market growth. One such factor is the lack of awareness. If the patients have cardiac issues, the situation becomes even more complex. Moreover, long-term health repercussions, as well as longer hospital stays and high health-care expenses, highlight AKI's enormous societal impact. In addition, several risk factors, such as diabetes and heart failure, have substantial implications for patients' quality of life, making it challenging to develop promising future interventions and thus hindering the acute kidney injury market growth.

Scope of the Acute Kidney Injury Market Report

Study Period: 20192032

20192032 Coverage: 7MM [ The United States , EU5 ( Germany , France , Italy , Spain , and the United Kingdom ), and Japan ]

7MM [ , EU5 ( , , , , and the ), and ] Key Acute Kidney Injury Companies: Cerenis Therapeutics Alloksys, Vifor Pharma, Exponential Biotherapies, Atox Bio, AM Pharma Holding, Quark-Pharmaceuticals, Nephraegis Therapeutics, Vasomune, Unicycive, LG Chem, Pharming Group, Angion Biomedica, Elysium Health, Sentien Biotechnologies, Pharmazz, Arch Biopartners, Guard Therapeutics, RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharma, Amniotics, Mission Therapeutics, Bessor pharma, Kantum Pharma, ABIONYX, and others

Cerenis Therapeutics Alloksys, Vifor Pharma, Exponential Biotherapies, Atox Bio, AM Pharma Holding, Quark-Pharmaceuticals, Nephraegis Therapeutics, Vasomune, Unicycive, LG Chem, Pharming Group, Angion Biomedica, Elysium Health, Sentien Biotechnologies, Pharmazz, Arch Biopartners, Guard Therapeutics, RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharma, Amniotics, Mission Therapeutics, Bessor pharma, Kantum Pharma, ABIONYX, and others Key Acute Kidney Injury Therapies : bRESCAP, ANG-3777, EA-230, Ilofotase alfa, ASP1128, Ruconest (Conestat alfa), and others

: bRESCAP, ANG-3777, EA-230, Ilofotase alfa, ASP1128, Ruconest (Conestat alfa), and others Therapeutic Assessment: Acute kidney injury current marketed and emerging therapies

Acute kidney injury current marketed and emerging therapies Acute Kidney Injury Market Dynamics: Acute kidney injury market drivers and barriers

Acute kidney injury market drivers and barriers Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, Porter's five forces, BCG Matrix, Market entry strategies

SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, Porter's five forces, BCG Matrix, Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, Acute Kidney Injury Market Access and Reimbursement

Discover more about acute kidney injury drugs in development @ Acute Kidney Injury Clinical Trials

Table of Contents

1 Key Insights 2 Report Introduction 3 Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Market Overview at a Glance 3.1 Market Share by Therapies (%) Distribution of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in 2019 3.2 Market Share by Therapies (%) Distribution of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in 2032 4 Executive Summary of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) 5 Key Events 6 SWOT Analysis 7 Disease Background and Overview 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Symptoms 7.3 Types of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) 7.4 Stages Classification 7.5 Risk Factors 7.6 Etiology 7.7 Pathophysiology 7.8 Biomarkers 7.9 Diagnosis 7.9.1 RIFLE Criteria 7.9.2 AKIN Criteria 7.9.3 KDIGO criteria 8 Treatment and Prevention 8.1 Acute Renal Failure or Acute Kidney Injury: United States based Treatment Guidelines 8.2 European Renal Best Practice (ERBP) position statement on the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Clinical Practice Guidelines on Acute Kidney Injury 8.3 The Japanese Clinical Practice Guideline for acute kidney injury (2016) 8.4 NICE Guidelines on AKI: Prevention, Detection, and Management (2019) 8.4.1 Assessing Risk of AKI 8.4.2 Preventing AKI 8.4.3 Detecting AKI 8.4.4 Identifying the Cause of AKI 8.4.5 Managing AKI 8.4.6 Information and Support for Patients and Carers 9 Epidemiology and Patient Population 9.1 Key Findings 9.2 Epidemiology Methodology 9.3 Total Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in Hospitalized Patients in the 7MM 9.4 Total Mortality Adjusted Incident Population of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in Hospitalized Patients in the 7MM 9.5 Epidemiology of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) 9.5.1 United States 9.5.2 Europe 9.5.3 Japan 9.6 The United States 9.6.1 Total Incident Population of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in Hospitalized Patients in the United States 9.6.2 Mortality Adjusted Incident Population of AKI in Hospitalized Patients in the United States 9.6.3 Stage-specific Incident Population of AKI in the United States 9.6.4 Age-specific Incident Population of AKI in the United States 9.7 EU5 9.7.1 Total Incident Population of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in Hospitalized Patients in EU5 9.7.2 Mortality Adjusted Incident Population of AKI in Hospitalized Patients in EU5 9.7.3 Stage-specific Incident Population of AKI in EU5 9.7.4 Age-specific Incident Population of AKI in EU5 9.8 Japan 9.8.1 Total Incident Population of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in Hospitalized Patients in Japan 9.8.2 Mortality Adjusted Incidence of AKI in Hospitalized Patients in Japan 9.8.3 Stage-specific Incident Population of AKI in Japan 9.8.4 Age-specific Incidence of AKI in Japan 10 Organizations contributing towards Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) 11 Patient Journey 12 Emerging Therapies 12.1 Key Cross 12.2 bRESCAP: Alloksys 12.2.1 Product Description 12.2.2 Clinical Development 12.2.2.1 Clinical Trials Information 12.3 ANG-3777 (BB3): Angion Biomedica 12.3.1 Product Description 12.3.2 Clinical Development 12.3.2.1 Clinical Trials Information 12.3.3 Safety and Efficacy 12.4 Teprasiran (QPI-1002): Quark Pharmaceuticals 12.4.1 Product Description 12.4.2 Clinical Development 12.4.2.1 Clinical Trials Information 12.4.3 Safety and Efficacy 12.5 recAP: AM Pharma 12.5.1 Product Description 12.5.2 Clinical Development 12.5.2.1 Clinical Trials Information 12.5.3 Safety and Efficacy 12.6 ASP1128: Astellas Pharma 12.6.1 Product Description 12.6.2 Clinical Development 12.6.2.1 Clinical Trials Information 12.7 Ruconest (Conestat alfa): Pharming Technologies 12.7.1 Product Description 12.7.2 Clinical Development 12.7.2.1 Clinical Trials Information 12.7.3 Safety and Efficacy 12.8 EA-230: Exponential Biotherapies 12.8.1 Product Description 12.8.2 Clinical Development 12.8.2.1 Clinical Trials Information 12.8.3 Safety and Efficacy 12.9 Reltecimod: Atox Bio 12.9.1 Product Description 12.9.2 Clinical Development 12.9.2.1 Clinical Trials Information 13 Potential of Current Therapies and Emerging Therapies 14 Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): Seven Major Market Analysis 14.1 Key Findings 14.2 Market Methodology 14.3 Total Market Size of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in the 7MM 14.4 Total Market Size of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) by Therapies in the 7MM 14.5 Market Outlook 14.6 Key Market Forecast Assumptions 14.7 United States Market Size 14.7.1 Total Market Size of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in the United States 14.7.2 Market Size of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) by Therapies in the United States 14.8 EU-5 Market Size 14.8.1 Total Market size of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in Europe 14.8.2 Market Size of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) by Therapies in Europe 14.9 Japan 14.9.1 Total Market size of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in Japan 14.9.2 Market Size of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) by Therapies in Japan 15 KOL Views 16 Market Drivers 17 Market Barriers 18 Unmet Needs 19 Reimbursement and Market Access 19.1 Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (US) 19.2 American Kidney Fund (AKF) 19.3 Reimbursement and Cost of Acute Kidney Injury in Europe 19.3.1 United Kingdom (England) 19.3.2 France 19.3.3 Germany 19.3.4 Italy 20 Appendix 20.1 Bibliography 20.2 Report Methodology 21 DelveInsight Capabilities 22 Disclaimer 23 About DelveInsight

Get in touch with our Business executive @ Healthcare Due Diligence Services

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SWING STATE GEORGIA PROVIDES NEWS, ANALYSIS ON STATE'S ELECTIONS AND VOTING

ATLANTA, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution launches Swing State Georgia, a new premium subscriber newsletter, plus text alerts and online events, for readers who need up-to-the-minute insights and analysis about Georgia's political landscape.

Intended for a national audience, Swing State Georgia provides a reliable source for reporting on Georgia politics from journalists who live in the state and know what's really going on. The AJC's experienced team delivers the most important stories of the day with a focus on elections, voting and candidates. It is a complete source of credible information as the nation watches perhaps the most pivotal state in this midterm election year and many years to come.

Swing State Georgia offers:

The best Georgia politics reporting team in the business: Greg Bluestein , Tia Mitchell , Patricia Murphy and other award-winning journalists

politics reporting team in the business: , , and other award-winning journalists A concise newsletter delivered to your inbox each weekday

Politically Georgia , a twice-weekly podcast, hosted by Bluestein

, a twice-weekly podcast, hosted by Bluestein Subscriber-only events, including private video briefings and live Q&As with the reporting team

Text alerts from the team sent from the campaign trail (and the ability to text questions back to them)

"There's simply no better vehicle than Swing State Georgia for hearing from  and interacting with  the smartest, most trusted and best-sourced journalists covering politicians and elections in Georgia," said Kevin Riley, editor in chief of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A team of veteran journalists, powered by the largest newsroom in Georgia, make up the Swing State Georgia staff. More on the contributors:

Greg Bluestein political journalist and author who covers the governor's office and Georgia politics for the AJC. He also hosts the Politically Georgia podcast and is a frequent guest on local and national TV and radio programs. He's an MSNBC and NBC News contributor and the author of "Flipped," a book on Georgia's epic 2020 election. He's a graduate of the University of Georgia with degrees in journalism and political science.





political journalist and author who covers the governor's office and politics for the AJC. He also hosts the Politically Georgia podcast and is a frequent guest on local and national TV and radio programs. He's an MSNBC and NBC News contributor and the author of "Flipped," a book on epic 2020 election. He's a graduate of the with degrees in journalism and political science. Tia Mitchell is The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Washington correspondent. She writes about Georgia's congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on Georgia residents. Prior to joining the paper in 2017, Tia covered local and state government for publications like the Tampa Bay Times and The Florida Times -Union. Tia is a graduate of Florida A&M University and serves as chair of the Political Task Force for the National Association of Black Journalists.





is The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's correspondent. She writes about congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents. Prior to joining the paper in 2017, Tia covered local and state government for publications like the and The -Union. Tia is a graduate of and serves as chair of the Political Task Force for the National Association of Black Journalists. Patricia Murphy joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's politics team in 2020 from CQ Roll Call, where she was a nationally syndicated political columnist. Previously, she was the Capitol Hill Bureau Chief for Politics Daily, founder and editor of Citizen Jane Politics and a contributor to The Washington Post's She the People blog. Before working in journalism, Patricia was a staffer for three senators. She graduated from Vanderbilt University and holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University .

"It is a hugely important time in U.S. politics  and Georgia is right in the middle of it all," Murphy said. "While The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's incredible politics team pushes out the 'what' of Georgia politics, I try to use my columns and Swing State Georgia to offer the 'who,' the 'why' and the 'what's next.'"

Get the story as it develops, from the Georgia State Capitol to Capitol Hill to the campaign trail. Swing State Georgia is available to subscribers for $29.99 a month through Substack.

About The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is dedicated to uncovering the truth, protecting the public's right to know and pressing on to help build a better metro Atlanta and Georgia. We are the leading source of news, information and advertising for metropolitan Atlanta. We reach more than 7 million unique online visitors each month and more than 125,000 subscribers support our mission to produce real, local journalism. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises Inc.

SOURCE Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Behrman Capital, a private equity investment firm based in New York, today announced the sale of its portfolio company Emmes (the "Company") to affiliates of New Mountain Capital. The transaction is expected to close in early July and financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Emmes is a leading specialty CRO that provides its clients with the technologies and dedicated service required to manage clinical research studies with the highest standards of quality. The company sits at the intersection of the public and private healthcare sectors with clients including biopharmaceutical companies, government agencies, foundations, academic institutions and other non-profit organizations. Emmes is proud to support the research efforts of agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

Grant G. Behrman, Managing Partner of Behrman Capital, said: "We are very proud of our role in driving Emmes' growth and establishing industry leadership during our partnership. Under our ownership, the Company has completed numerous transformative acquisitions, successfully built its commercial platform, and grown into a leading specialized CRO. We commend Christine and her team for their excellent work building Emmes into the strong company it is today, and we are confident that they are well positioned for continued success."

"Behrman Capital has been a great partner," said Dr. Christine Dingivan, Emmes' Chief Executive Officer. "Their counsel was invaluable as we implemented our growth strategy and conducted our due diligence on acquisition candidates that would add strategic value and expand our offering to a broader set of clients."

Sal Guccione, Executive Chairman of Emmes said, "It has been my absolute pleasure teaming up with Behrman Capital, once again, to help identify and execute upon this opportunity and, ultimately, create significant value in the CRO space. I am extremely proud of the effort put forth by Christine and the entire Emmes team and wish them much continued success with Emmes' next phase of growth with New Mountain Capital."

For Emmes, Rothschild & Co and Baird served as financial advisors and Goodwin Procter served as legal advisor. For New Mountain Capital, Ropes & Gray served as legal advisor.

About Behrman Capital

Based in New York City, Behrman Capital was founded in 1991 by Grant G. and Darryl G. Behrman. The firm invests in management buyouts, leveraged buildups and recapitalizations of established growth businesses. The company's investments are focused in three industries: defense and aerospace, healthcare services, and specialty manufacturing and distribution. The firm has raised $4.0 billion since inception and is currently investing out of its sixth fund.

For more information, please visit http://www.behrmancap.com.

About Emmes

Founded in 1977, Emmes is a global, full-service clinical research organization dedicated to excellence in supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation. The company's clients include numerous agencies and institutes of the U.S. federal government and a wide range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies throughout the world. To learn more about how our research is making a positive impact on human health, go to the Emmes website at www.emmes.com.

Contact

Ross Lovern / Teagan Chapman

Kekst CNC

[email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE Behrman Capital
Alio CEO and former US Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services announce webinar on innovation and the future of kidney health

BROOMFIELD, Colo., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alio and The Hargan Group are pleased to announce they will host a webinar "Bending the Cost Curve in End-Stage Kidney Disease." The webinar will take place on Tuesday, July 12th at 2pm EDT, and feature both Alio Co-founder and CEO, David Kuraguntla, and former US Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, Eric Hargan.

The webinar will discuss a number of timely topics, including:

The scope and scale of the challenges facing the End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) population

The evolving reimbursement landscape - expanding on how to pay for remote patient monitoring and AI technologies

The new role for private payors in the kidney sector and what to expect

Innovation in the medical technology sector that address the current challenges in the health care system  to prevent hospitalizations and improve patients' lives

Progress on eliminating barriers and creating the momentum necessary for scalable systemic change, building on the successes of the CURES Act and KidneyX

As the number of people living with ESKD increases across the U.S. this conversation is all the more important in how innovation can benefit these patient populations in a sustainable and scalable way. With approximately 800,000 patients in the U.S. living with ESKD, and almost 150,000 new patients diagnosed per year, these dialogues help increase awareness while offering actionable clinical insights to help patients and lower costs.

ESKD patients make up 1% of the Medicare population but account for 7.2% of Medicare spending, or $37 Billion. The conversation between startup CEO, David Kuraguntla, and former Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan, represents the type of public-private partnership that will not only move the needle from a public policy perspective, but also attract significant investment from the start-up and venture capital community.

If you're interested in joining the Alio payer webinar, "Bending the Cost Curve in End-Stage Kidney Disease," you may register here . We look forward to your participation and an engaging conversation on the future of innovation in kidney health and how we can provide better peace of mind to those managing chronic conditions like ESKD.

Speaker Profiles:

Eric D. Hargan, Founder and CEO, The Hargan Group; Mr. Hargan has 30 years of experience working for the public and private sectors and unique insight and experience working for the U.S. Government. He served as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 2017 to 2021, as well as Acting Secretary in 2017-2018. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Hargan also served at HHS in a variety of capacities, including holding the position of Acting Deputy Secretary. In addition to serving on the Board of Operation Warp Speed, Eric oversaw the set-up and launch of the Provider Relief Fund, KidneyX and the HHS Kidney Health Initiative. Since leaving his post at HHS, Hargan has joined the boards of Alio, University Hospitals in Cleveland, Tomorrow Health, and HealthTrackRx.

David Kuraguntla, CEO and Co-Founder of Alio: Dave is the Co-Founder and CEO of Alio, a noninvasive remote monitoring company dedicated to improving the lives of those living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other chronic conditions. Dave received his master's degree from Boston University and was a researcher at the National Institutes of Health. He then went to medical school on an Air Force scholarship. He was preparing for a surgical residency when he experienced firsthand the need for better technological solutions for those with chronic conditions. Drawing on his experience, he began to explore the potential of noninvasive wearables for conditions like End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) and started Alio. Since then, Alio has secured $35 million in funding to-date and formed key strategic partnerships with organizations including the NHS in the UK, Intermountain, Lifeline and US Renal Care.

About Alio

Alio, Inc. (Broomfield, CO), is a medical technology company bringing peace of mind to people with chronic conditions through noninvasive, wireless remote patient monitoring. Currently, Alio uses its SmartPatchTM technology to monitor individuals with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) undergoing dialysis. Alio's platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze data and create actionable insights. These insights enable targeted interventions with the potential for improved health outcomes and reduced hospitalizations. Alio has built a team of seasoned leaders with diverse backgrounds spanning across industries and segments such as medical technology, medical devices, wearable technology, government relations, commercialization, and reimbursement. Visit our website for more information: https://alio.ai/

Media Contact

(855) 979-1600

[email protected]

SOURCE Alio
The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Archer Daniels Midland Co., Arkema SA, BASF SE, Braskem SA, Danimer Scientific, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Evonik Industries AG, Galatea Bio Tech Srl, NatureWorks LLC, and Toray Industries Inc. are some of the major market participants.

The volatility in crude oil prices will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, biopolymers market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Biopolymers Market Segmentation

End-user

Packaging And Food Services Sector



Agriculture And Horticulture Sector



Consumer Goods Sector



Automotive Sector



Others

Type

PLA



Bio-PE



Bio-PET



PHA



Others

Geography

Europe



North America



APAC



MEA



South America

Learn more about the future trends impacting bioplastics and biopolymers market size. Get the latest sample report here.

Geographical Market Analysis

Europe will account for 32% of market growth. Europe's two largest markets for biopolymers are Germany and the United Kingdom. The market in this region will increase more quickly than the markets in all other regions combined. Over the projection period, the European biopolymers market will increase thanks to the rising demand from the healthcare sector.

Know more about this market's geographical distribution along with a detailed analysis of the top regions. Request Detailed Sample Report.

Parent Market Analysis

Technavio categorizes the global biopolymers market as part of the global commodity chemicals market within the global materials market.

The evaluation of business strategies and the optimization of profit margins both depend on a complete grasp of the value chain. During the forecast period, vendors can reduce costs and improve customer services by using the data from our value chain analysis section. The value chain of global commodity chemicals market includes the following core components:

Inputs

Inbound logistics

Operations

Outbound logistics

Marketing and sales

Service

Support activities

Innovation

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Biopolymers Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.04% Market growth 2021-2025 1294.13 thousand tons Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.70 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution Europe at 32% Key consumer countries US, Germany, UK, China, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Archer Daniels Midland Co., Arkema SA, BASF SE, Braskem SA, Danimer Scientific, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Evonik Industries AG, Galatea Bio Tech Srl, NatureWorks LLC, and Toray Industries Inc. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for 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: Commodity chemicals

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 (thousand tons)



Exhibit 07: Global market: Year-over-year growth 2020 - 2025 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces analysis 2020 & 2025

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 End-user

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 15: End-user - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

5.2 Comparison by End-user

Exhibit 16: Comparison by End-user

5.3 Packaging and food services sector - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 17: Packaging and food services sector - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)



Exhibit 18: Packaging and food services sector - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.4 Agriculture and horticulture sector - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 19: Agriculture and horticulture sector - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)



Exhibit 20: Agriculture and horticulture sector - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.5 Consumer goods sector - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 21: Consumer goods sector - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)



Exhibit 22: Consumer goods sector - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.6 Automotive sector - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 23: Automotive sector - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)



Exhibit 24: Automotive sector - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 25: Others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)



Exhibit 26: Others - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.8 Market opportunity by End-user

Exhibit 27: Market opportunity by End-user

6 Market Segmentation by Type

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 28: Type - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 29: Comparison by Type

6.3 PLA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 30: PLA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)



Exhibit 31: PLA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.4 Bio-PE - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 32: Bio-PE - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)



Exhibit 33: Bio-PE - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.5 Bio-PET - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 34: Bio-PET - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)



Exhibit 35: Bio-PET - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.6 PHA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 36: PHA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)



Exhibit 37: PHA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

6.8 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 40: Market opportunity by Type

7 Customer landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

8.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 42: Market share by geography 2020-2025 (%)

8.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 43: Geographic comparison

8.3 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 44: Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)

Exhibit 45: Europe - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 46: North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)

Exhibit 47: North America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 48: APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)



Exhibit 49: APAC - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.6 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 50: MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)



Exhibit 51: MEA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 52: South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (thousand tons)

Exhibit 53: South America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.8 Key leading countries

8.9 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 55: Market opportunity by geography

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

9.1 Market drivers

9.2 Market challenges

Exhibit 56: Impact of drivers and challenges

9.3 Market trends

10 Vendor Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 57: Vendor landscape

10.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 58: Landscape disruption



Exhibit 59: Industry risks

11 Vendor Analysis

11.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 60: Vendors covered

11.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 61: Market positioning of vendors

11.3 Archer Daniels Midland Co.

Exhibit 62: Archer Daniels Midland Co. - Overview



Exhibit 63: Archer Daniels Midland Co. - Business segments



Exhibit 64: Archer Daniels Midland Co. - Key offerings



Exhibit 65: Archer Daniels Midland Co. - Segment focus

11.4 Arkema SA

Exhibit 66: Arkema SA - Overview



Exhibit 67: Arkema SA - Business segments



Exhibit 68: Arkema SA - Key offerings



Exhibit 69: Arkema SA - Segment focus

11.5 BASF SE

Exhibit 70: BASF SE - Overview



Exhibit 71: BASF SE - Business segments



Exhibit 72: BASF SE - Key offerings



Exhibit 73: BASF SE - Segment focus

11.6 Braskem SA

Exhibit 74: Braskem SA - Overview



Exhibit 75: Braskem SA - Business segments



Exhibit 76: Braskem SA - Key offerings



Exhibit 77: Braskem SA - Segment focus

11.7 Danimer Scientific

Exhibit 78: Danimer Scientific - Overview



Exhibit 79: Danimer Scientific - Business segments



Exhibit 80: Danimer Scientific - Key offerings



Exhibit 81: Danimer Scientific - Segment focus

11.8 DuPont de Nemours Inc.

Exhibit 82: DuPont de Nemours Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 83: DuPont de Nemours Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 84: DuPont de Nemours Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 85: DuPont de Nemours Inc. - Segment focus

11.9 Evonik Industries AG

Exhibit 86: Evonik Industries AG - Overview



Exhibit 87: Evonik Industries AG - Business segments



Exhibit 88: Evonik Industries AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 89: Evonik Industries AG - Segment focus

11.10 Galatea Bio Tech Srl

Exhibit 90: Galatea Bio Tech Srl - Overview



Exhibit 91: Galatea Bio Tech Srl - Product and service



Exhibit 92: Galatea Bio Tech Srl - Key offerings

11.11 NatureWorks LLC

Exhibit 93: NatureWorks LLC - Overview



Exhibit 94: NatureWorks LLC - Product and service



Exhibit 95: NatureWorks LLC - Key offerings

11.12 Toray Industries Inc.

Exhibit 96: Toray Industries Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 97: Toray Industries Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 98: Toray Industries Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 99: Toray Industries Inc. - Segment focus

12 Appendix

12.1 Scope of the report

12.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 100: Currency conversion rates for US$

12.3 Research methodology

Exhibit 101: Research Methodology



Exhibit 102: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 103: Information sources

12.4 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 104: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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SOURCE Technavio
"As the interest in the series grows, we are hearing from more people who want to get involved and share stories from their stomping grounds. There are so many untapped stories in the boating community, so we want our audience to share what makes their neck of the woods special for boating," said Ryan McVinney, Director of Content at Boats Group. "Boaters are a passionate group of people. We hope this campaign and the series inspire the next generation of enthusiasts."

The campaign launch comes on the heels of the recent TV debut of Stomping Grounds. It aims to unite new and existing boaters while continuing to engage, entertain and educate through the show's exploration of boating culture. In addition to the opportunity for an episode feature in their neck of the woods, participants will also have the chance to win Stomping Grounds gear and a boat rental charter courtesy of Click&Boat.

Social media users can join the campaign by sharing a photo or video on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok using the #MyStompingGrounds hashtag and tagging Boat Trader (@boattrader) while showing the area that they call their stomping grounds.

Watch Stomping Grounds by Boat Trader for free anywhere, anytime, on any device. The series is available on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung TV, LG TV, YouTube, iOS, Android and waypointtv.com

About Boat Trader

Boat Trader is the largest online boating marketplace in the United States, creating simple solutions for anyone looking to buy or sell a boat. Founded in 1991, Boat Trader expanded from a weekly classifieds publication found in local markets nationwide to an online marketplace in 1996 and now offers boat dealers and private party sellers comprehensive options for selling their boats online with ease. Boat Trader reaches more than 9 million online boat shoppers and delivers over 170,000 leads each month to its sellers. Boat Trader is based in Miami, FL, and is owned and operated by Boats Group. For more information and to experience the marine industry's leading classifieds marketplace, visit www.boattrader.com or download the Boat Trader app on the iOS App Store and Google Play.

Media Contact:

Rachael Lobeck | Boats Group | [email protected]

This release contains disclosures that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts and can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "expect," "project," "estimate," "anticipate," "plan," "believe," "potential," "should," "continue" or the negative versions of those words or other comparable words. These forward-looking statements are based upon Boats Group's current plans or expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and Boats Group has no specific intention to update these statements. As a consequence, current plans, and anticipated actions may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by Boats Group or on Boats Group's behalf.

SOURCE Boat Trader
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Movable Ink , the leading global software content personalization provider, announces it has been selected by Celonis, the global leader in execution management, to power personalization across its marketing program. Celonis is one of the world's few 'decacorns', and helps companies reveal and fix inefficiencies they can't see, enabling them to perform at levels they never thought possible.

Movable Ink will play an important role in expanding Celonis's customer engagement strategy, helping drive its own production efficiencies by streamlining and automating dynamic content creation. Celonis will combine data-activated, customer-centric experiences via Movable Ink with the real-time process optimization capabilities of the Celonis Execution Management System (EMS) to optimize marketing processes and ensure its customers receive real value.

" Celonis ' main objective is to help businesses reveal and fix process inefficiencies, by connecting and understanding data to then recommend and trigger actions that remove silent killers of performance. By delivering more tailored content that demonstrates how we do this, and how we address individual needs of each business, we'll be better able to underscore how customers can accelerate business transformation, drive value and achieve higher levels of performance," said Paula Ojeda Bautista, Head of Marketing Database and Nurture Campaigns at Celonis.

"End customers expect real 1:1 personalization, something that is top of mind for business leaders in Germany and across the globe. It's no longer an optional part of brands' marketing programs. That's exactly what we want to help our customers deliver on," said Jeremy Seltzer, Movable Ink's Chief Revenue Officer. "Celonis empowers businesses to effectively utilize all of their data, and we're thrilled they selected us to help effectively shape these successful data use cases into customized content that more clearly tells the Celonis story to its customers."

The news follows a year of record growth for Movable Ink, marked by strong momentum in EMEA. The company recently announced it raised $55M in Series D funding, crossed $100M in annual recurring revenue, and acquired Coherent Path, an AI content personalization engine. Movable Ink plans to grow the company to more than 700 employees worldwide by the end of 2022.

With trailblazing tech and marketing expertise, Movable Ink powers revenue-boosting campaigns for some of the world's largest and most innovative companies.

Movable Ink currently has more than 550 employees with 80 across EMEA. The company has operations in the UK, the Nordics, and Benelux, and recently opened its DACH headquarters in Munich to better support the fast-growing customer base in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. To learn more about open roles, visit movableink.com/careers .

About Movable Ink

Customers don't experience data, they experience content. Movable Ink activates any data into personalized content in any customer engagement. The world's most innovative brands rely on Movable Ink to accelerate their marketing performance. With more than 500 employees, the company is headquartered in New York City with operations throughout North America, Central America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. Learn more at movableink.com .

About Celonis

Celonis reveals and fixes inefficiencies businesses can't see, enabling them to perform at levels they never thought possible. Powered by its market-leading process mining core, the Celonis Execution Management System provides a full set of platform capabilities for business executives and users to eliminate billions in corporate inefficiencies, provide better customer experience and reduce carbon emissions. Celonis has thousands of implementations with global customers and is headquartered in Munich, Germany and New York City, USA with more than 20 offices worldwide.

SOURCE Movable Ink
The partnership will leverage each organization's strengths and areas of expertise to offer expanded mental health care.

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's Minnesota and PrairieCare are pleased to announce a new partnership that will deliver high-quality psychiatric care to kids as young as six years old. As Children's Minnesota prepares to open its first inpatient mental health unit this fall, PrairieCare will provide programmatic guidance and joint clinical leadership for the new unit.

Dr. Ryan Williams, PrairieCare's physician executive, has been appointed as the medical director of inpatient psychiatry at Children's Minnesota for the new unit.

"We're excited to partner with PrairieCare to deliver the highest quality mental health services to kids in our community," said Dr. Gigi Chawla, vice president and chief of general pediatrics at Children's Minnesota. "Children's Minnesota is committed to providing the full continuum of mental health services tailored for kids in the region to improve access, equitable care and treatment throughout a child's mental health journey."

"This partnership is a testament to the dedication of both PrairieCare and Children's Minnesota to address the unmet mental health needs of our children," said Dr. Williams. "Kids and young adults need access to mental health resources designed for their specific, age-appropriate and medical needs, and we look forward to providing this personalized care to our community soon."

The new Children's Minnesota inpatient mental health unit will care for approximately 1,000 children and adolescents each year and will provide a healing environment, which includes:

22 dedicated inpatient psychiatric beds at the system's St. Paul hospital that will allow parents to stay overnight with their child.

hospital that will allow parents to stay overnight with their child. The first inpatient unit in the east metro to treat kids under 12 years old. It will also be able to serve children with more complex medical needs, meeting the urgent mental health needs of the most vulnerable kids in Minnesota and the region.

and the region. A dedicated, multi-disciplinary care team of psychiatrists, psychologists, program therapists, nurses, occupational therapists, child life and music therapists to provide individualized treatment tailored to meet each child's needs.

About Children's Minnesota

Children's Minnesota is one of the largest pediatric health systems in the United States and the only health system in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. An independent and not-for-profit system since 1924, Children's Minnesota is one system serving kids throughout the Upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, nine primary care clinics, multiple specialty clinics and seven rehabilitation sites. As The Kids ExpertsTM in our region, Children's Minnesota is regularly ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top children's hospital.

Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Twitter and Instagram @childrensmn. Please visit childrensMN.org.

About PrairieCare

PrairieCare is one of the nation's most innovative, fastest-growing psychiatric health systems, offering psychiatric services for all ages, including free mental health assessments, clinic services, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), partial hospital programs (PHP) and residential services. PrairieCare is based in Minnesota, with 10 locations across the Twin Cities metro, Mankato and Rochester. For more information about services offered, visit prairie-care.com.

Media contact:

Dina Elrashidy

[email protected]

763-478-7102

SOURCE PrairieCare; Childrens Minnesota
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per Zion Market Research study, The global cognitive security market is expected to expand from USD 6.85 billion in 2021 to about USD 79.94 billion by 2028 at a 36.4 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The progress of the market is studied by its key elements such as drivers, restraints, and challenges.

Key Industry Insights & Finding of the Cognitive Security Market Reports:

As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the Cognitive Security Market is expected to grow annually at a CAGR of around 36.4 % (2022-2028).

(2022-2028). Through the primary research, it was established that the Cognitive Security Market was valued approximately USD 6.85 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach to roughly USD 79.94 Billion by 2028.

Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach to roughly Billion by 2028. North America accounted for the largest share in the global cognitive security market in 2021 with a market share of 35.5 percent, followed by Asia Pacific and Europe .

accounted for the largest share in the global cognitive security market in 2021 with a market share of 35.5 percent, followed by and . Increased expenditures in cognitive process automation are expected to boost demand for cognitive security, propelling the market in the United States and Canada .

and . The growing use of BYOD and Internet of Things (IoT) trends, as well as the rising incidence of cyber-attacks and security breaches, are driving up demand for the global cognitive security market.

Zion Market Research published the latest report titled as "Cognitive Security Market By Component (Solution And Service), Deployment Mode (On-Premise And Cloud), Organization Size (Large Size Organization And Small & Medium Size Organization), By Application (Threat Intelligence, Anomaly Detection & Risk Mitigation, Automated Compliance Management, And Others), By Industry Vertical (BFSI, Retail & Agriculture, IT & Telecom, Education, Healthcare, And Others), And By Region  Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022  2028." into their research database.

Cognitive Security Market : Overview

Cognitive security is an AI program that detects risks to physical and digital systems based on human thought patterns. It features self-learning security systems that replicate the human brain using pattern recognition, data mining, and natural language processing. These computerized security systems are intended to solve problems without the intervention of individuals. It aids in the prevention of cyberattacks aimed at manipulating human perception. Cognitive hacking is a type of attack that aims to influence people's behavior in such a way that the attacker's goal is achieved. It includes non-technical methods for reducing people's vulnerability to manipulation. These tools are intended to detect and prevent the spread of false data and misinformation.

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Our Free Sample Report Includes:

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Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis

Zion Market Research methodology

Industry Dynamics:

Cognitive Security Market : Growth Drivers

Increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to boost market growth.

The cognitive security industry has been growing due to an increase in demand for artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. With the goal of increasing data accessibility across all segments of the business streams, expenditures on AI and machine learning have expanded significantly. As cognitive security is based on AI program to detect risks and protects physical and digital systems, its adoption in different business streams is increasing rapidly. These AI-based automated security systems are meant to tackle problems without the involvement of people, which is expected to fuel the global cognitive security market expansion.

Cognitive Security Market : Restraints

The difficulty of putting cognitive security into practice may hinder market growth.

The major hurdles to the market growth are due to complexities related to the implementation of connective securities in small and middle-scale industries. This is might be due to budget constraints or a lack of a skilled workforce. Furthermore, the additional cost associated with the training of personnel to adopt newer systems and low awareness also impedes market growth.

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Global Cognitive Security Market : Opportunities

Increasing trend of IoT and Bring Your Own Device is likely to offer better growth opportunities for the market growth.

The growing use of BYOD and Internet of Things (IoT) trends, as well as the rising incidence of cyber-attacks and security breaches, are driving up demand for the global cognitive security market. Operators and manufacturers now have more scope and prospects thanks to rising demand and expanded worldwide market penetration. New users want to be mobile when they join the workforce, and part of that mobility includes utilizing their own devices rather than company-owned devices. BYOD allows employees to work and collaborate more freely in terms of how, where, and when they do so. Furthermore, the cognitive security market players' ongoing efforts are expanding the global market's potential.

Global Cognitive Security Market : Challenges

Lack of skilled professionals may pose a major challenge to the market growth.

A major problem that stymies industry expansion is a scarcity of experienced personnel and the rise of insider cyber threats. These variables enhance an organization's risk of failure, demanding the use of effective cognitive security solutions. In addition, the market's growth is hampered by a lack of understanding and significant investments in stringent security solutions.

Global Cognitive Security Market : Segmentation

The global cognitive security market is categorized based on component, organization size, deployment mode, industry vertical, application, and region.

Based on components, the market is segregated into solutions and services. The deployment mode is split into cloud and on-premise. By organization size, the market is segmented into large enterprises and small & medium enterprises. Application of the market is divided into anomaly detection & risk mitigation, threat intelligence, automated compliance management, and others. By industry vertical, it is classified into IT & telecom, BFSI, healthcare, retail & agriculture, education, and others.

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List of Key Players of Cognitive Security Market :

Cisco System Inc.

IBM Corporation

Symantec Corporation

CA Technologies Inc.

DXC Technology Company

Securonix Inc.

Google (Alphabet Inc.)

Amazon Web Services Inc.

Acalvio Technologies Inc.

Fortinet Inc.

Key questions answered in this report:

What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Cognitive Security Market ?

What are the key driving factors propelling the Cognitive Security Market forward?

What are the most important companies in the Cognitive Security Market Industry?

What segments does the Cognitive Security Market cover?

How can I receive a free copy of the Cognitive Security Market sample report and company profiles?

Report Scope:

Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 6.85 Billion Revenue forecast in 2028 USD 79.94 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 36.4 % 2022-2028 Base Year 2020 Historic Years 2016 - 2021 Forecast Years 2022 - 2028 Segments Covered By Product Type, By Application, and By End Use Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2028 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Companies Covered Cisco System Inc., IBM Corporation, Symantec Corporation, CA Technologies Inc., DXC Technology Company, Securonix, Inc., Google (Alphabet Inc.), Amazon Web Services Inc., Acalvio Technologies Inc., and Fortinet, Inc. Report Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis. Customization Scope Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/3376

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Recent Developments

In June 2019 , Cisco unveiled software enhancements aimed at simplifying network management and security. The company also announced enhancements to better manage users and applications across the whole enterprise network as part of its expanded services offering. The company's market share has significantly increased in cognitive security as a result of this.

Regional Dominance:

North America to dominate the global market over the forecast period.

North America accounted for the largest share in the global cognitive security market in 2021 with a market share of 35.5 percent, followed by Asia Pacific and Europe. In addition, emerging technologies including big data analytics are widely used in businesses, fueling market expansion in the region. Big data analytics provides instruments for improving security, which propels the market forward. Furthermore, increased expenditures in cognitive process automation are expected to boost demand for cognitive security, propelling the market in the United States and Canada.

Global Cognitive Security Market is segmented as follows:

Cognitive Security Market : By Component Outlook (2022-2028)

Solution

Services

Cognitive Security Market : By Deployment Mode Outlook (2022-2028)

On-premise

Cloud

Cognitive Security Market : By Organization Size Outlook (2022-2028)

Large Size Organization

Small and Medium Size Organization

Cognitive Security Market : By Application Outlook (2022-2028)

Threat Intelligence

Anomaly Detection and Risk Mitigation

Automated Compliance Management

Others

Cognitive Security Market : By Industry Vertical Outlook (2022-2028)

BFSI

Retail & Agriculture

IT and Telecom

Education

Healthcare

Others

Cognitive Security Market : By Region Outlook (2022-2028)

North America

The U.S.

Canada

Europe

France

The UK

Spain

Germany

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Southeast Asia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

Press Release For Cognitive Security Market : https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/news/global-cognitive-security-market

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SOURCE Zion Market Research
CHICAGO , June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a research report "Cybersecurity Insurance Market by Component (Solutions and Services), Type (Standalone & Packaged), Coverage (Data Breach & Cyber Liability), Organization Size, End User (Technology & Insurance) and Region - Global Forecast to 2027", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Cybersecurity Insurance Market size in the post-COVID-19 scenario is projected to grow from USD 11.9 billion in 2022 to USD 29.2 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Cybersecurity Insurance Market"

441  Tables

64  Figures

313  Pages

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=47709373

By organization size, the small and medium enterprise segment to have the highest growth rate during the forecast period

SMEs are majorly adopting cybersecurity insurance solutions and services to secure from cyberattacks and due to the growing instances of fraud. The insurance enterprise, Beazley, has revealed that 60% of ransomware attacks were targeted toward SMEs. Emsisoft, an anti-virus software firm, stated that businesses paid a ransom of USD 1.3 billion to cyberattackers in 2019. SMEs are more vulnerable to cyberattacks as it is easier to gain access to their servers than larger networks. SMEs are expected to earmark more budgets for cybersecurity insurance in the coming years due to the soaring cases of cyber-induced attacks and the increasing mandatory legislation during the pandemic.

Asia Pacific is expected to have the highest growth rate during the forecast period

Asia Pacific countries are highly concerned about the increase in security spending due to the ever-growing threat landscape. The region comprises emerging economies, such as China, Japan, ANZ, and Singapore. With effective government regulations and technological advancements, cybersecurity insurance is witnessing high growth opportunities in this region. Various developments are taking place in Asia Pacific, concerning the adoption of technologies, such as BI tools, cloud, analytics, and rapid infrastructure development. The increase in regulatory developments, with surge in fines and penalties from non-compliance, is expected to uptake the demand for the Cybersecurity Insurance Market in Asia Pacific in the future. Zurich Insurance stated that the Cybersecurity Insurance Market is set to grow significantly in Asia Pacific. AIG, Allianz, Chubb, and Zurich are among the prominent players for cybersecurity insurance in Asia Pacific.

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Market Players

The technology vendors covered in the Cybersecurity Insurance Market report include BitSight (US), Prevalent (US), RedSeal (US), SecurityScorecard (US), Cyber Indemnity Solutions (Australia), Cisco (US), UpGuard (US), Microsoft (US), Check Point (US), AttackIQ (US), SentinelOne (US), Broadcom (US), Accenture (Ireland), Cylance (US), FireEye (US), CyberArk (US), CYE (Israel), SecurIT360 (US), and Founder Shield (US). The insurance vendors covered in the Cybersecurity Insurance Market are Allianz (Germany), AIG (US), Aon (UK), Arthur J. Gallagher & Co (US), Travelers Insurance (US), AXA XL (US), AXIS Capital (Bermuda), Beazley (UK), Chubb (Switzerland), CNA Financial (US), Fairfax Financial (Canada), Liberty Mutual (US), Lloyd's of London (UK), Lockton (US), Munich Re Group (Germany), and Sompo International (Bermuda). The startup vendors covered in the Cybersecurity Insurance Market are At-Bay (US), Cybernance (US), CyberCube (US), Coalition (US), Arceo.ai (US), Kovrr (Israel), Sayata Labs (Israel), Zeguro (US), RiskSense (US), Cyence (US), SafeBreach (US), and Cronus Cyber Technologies (Israel). These players have adopted various growth strategies, such as partnerships, agreements and collaborations, new product launches and product enhancements, and acquisitions to expand their footprint in the Cybersecurity Insurance Market.

Browse Adjacent Markets: Information Security Market Research Reports & Consulting

Cybersecurity Market by Component (Software, Hardware, and Services), Software (IAM, Encryption, APT, Firewall), Security Type, Deployment Mode, Organization Size, Vertical, and Region (2022 - 2026)

Insurance Analytics Market by Component (Tools and Services), Application (Claims Management, Risk Management, Customer Management and Personalization, Process Optimization), Deployment Mode, Organization Size, End User, and Region (2022 - 2026)

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
BRENTWOOD, Tenn., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Delek US Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DK) ("Delek US") today announced that the board of directors declared a special dividend of $0.20 per share. The dividend is payable on July 20, 2022 to shareholders of record on July 12, 2022.

This special dividend is indicative of a robust macro environment for refining and complements the $64 million share repurchase, at $18.30 per share, from the Icahn Group on March 7, 2022, which represented approximately 5% of the shares outstanding at that time. Return of cash to shareholders remains a priority for the company along with maintaining a strong and flexible balance sheet. The board will assess the potential for instituting a sustained dividend payment in connection with the second quarter earnings results which are scheduled to be announced in early August.

About Delek US Holdings, Inc.

Delek US Holdings, Inc. is a diversified downstream energy company with assets in petroleum refining, logistics, asphalt, renewable fuels and convenience store retailing. The refining assets consist of refineries operated in Tyler and Big Spring, Texas, El Dorado, Arkansas and Krotz Springs, Louisiana with a combined nameplate crude throughput capacity of 302,000 barrels per day.

The logistics operations consist of Delek Logistics. Delek US and its affiliates also own the general partner and an approximate 80 percent limited partner interest in Delek Logistics. Delek Logistics is a growth-oriented master limited partnership focused on owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets.

The convenience store retail business operates approximately 250 convenience stores in central and west Texas and New Mexico.

SOURCE Delek US Holdings, Inc.
Dial  , a trusted brand of almost 75 years, continues to evolve and look for ways to better the lives of consumers through its long-standing history of supporting healthy hygiene habits. Dial  is proud to announce that all its products are officially Leaping Bunny approved by Cruelty Free International. For Dial  , receiving this gold standard approval is another milestone in providing a clean that consumers can count on.

Martina Spinatsch, Vice President, Research and Development at Henkel, said: "At Dial, we continue to strive to make a meaningful difference in our consumers' lives by providing them with trusted products. We know that choosing beauty and personal care products with high cruelty free standards has become increasingly important to consumers. We are thrilled to be recognized by Cruelty Free International and gain the Leaping Bunny approval for all Dial products."

The Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny is the globally recognizable gold standard for cruelty free cosmetics, personal care, household and cleaning products with requirements that go above and beyond laws restricting animal testing. Approval must be given to all of a brand's finished products - individual products or items cannot be approved in isolation. For Dial to be approved, it had to forensically investigate its entire supply chain, including all raw materials and individual ingredients. Cruelty Free International's Leaping Bunny is the only cruelty free approval that requires a supplier monitoring system to be implemented by the brand, supply chain verification to ingredient manufacturer level, adherence to a fixed cut-off date policy, and acceptance of ongoing independent audits to ensure compliance.

Michelle Thew, Cruelty Free International CEO said, "Dial has been a much-loved household name in the US for more than 70 years. We're delighted to grant Dial personal and beauty care products Leaping Bunny approval, showing that being cruelty free really is for everyone. Leaping Bunny approval is rigorous and can take many months. Congratulations to Dial and welcome to the Leaping Bunny family."

Dial will be enlisting the support of its recently announced Count on Clean Crew to help share the message of its Leaping Bunny approval. The Count on Clean Crew consists of experts in their fields who will continue to communicate the Dial brand mission and initiatives to promote healthy hygiene habits. Dial is thrilled to enlist the support of Count on Clean Crew members Jhanneu (Sustainability Content Creator), Danielle Maltby (Registered Nurse) and Rosie Acosta (Wellness Content Creator and Author) to spread the word about the wide selection of Dial Leaping Bunny approved cruelty free hand and body wash products.

For more information on Dial, visit DialSoap.com and @Dial across social media channels.

About Dial

America's trusted brand for almost 75 years, Dial delivers clean, healthy-looking skin for you and your family with products for women, men, and kids. From bar soap, body wash, and liquid hand soap, our products provide a variety of benefits, including products that offer moisturization, exfoliation or replenishment. Count on Clean. www.dialsoap.com.

About Henkel in North America

In North America, Henkel operates across its three business units: Adhesive Technologies, Beauty Care, and Laundry & Home Care. Its portfolio of well-known consumer and industrial brands includes Schwarzkopf hair care, Dial soaps, Persil, Purex, and all laundry detergents, Snuggle fabric softeners as well as Loctite, Technomelt and Bonderite adhesives. With sales close to 6 billion US dollars (5 billion euros) in 2021, North America accounts for 25 percent of the company's global sales. Henkel employs over 8,000 people across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.henkel-northamerica.com , and on Twitter @Henkel_NA .

About Cruelty Free International

Cruelty Free International is the leading organization working to create a world where nobody wants or believes we need to experiment on animals. Our dedicated team are experts in their fields, combining award-winning campaigning, political lobbying, scientific and legal expertise and corporate responsibility. Educating, challenging, and inspiring others across the globe to respect and protect animals, we investigate and expose the reality of life for animals in laboratories, challenge decision-makers to make a positive difference for animals, and champion better science and cruelty free living.

Photo material is available at www.henkel-northamerica.com/press

SOURCE Dial
Shoppers Can Save Big on Top-Rated Mattresses and Cooling Sleep Accessories this July

HOUSTON, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mattress Firm, the nation's largest mattress specialty retailer, is celebrating Fourth of July this year by offering customers the chance to get the best 'summer snooze' ever with big savings on the most popular mattresses and bedding accessories.

Starting June 15, consumers can shop Mattress Firm's annual July 4th Sale and save up to $500 on select mattresses from top brands, as well as receive a king mattress for the price of a queen, or a queen mattress for the price of a twin. Shoppers can also receive a FREE adjustable base with qualifying purchase. Eat, swim, SLEEP, repeat  all summer long.

College students looking to head into the new semester well-rested should look no further than Mattress Firm's Back to School Sale, which also begins June 15. Save up to 50% on select mattress-in-a-box options from Sleepy's and tulo and start the school year with the rest needed to excel.

Don't sleep on Mattress Firm's July 4th Sale (June 15 - July 5) with these can't miss deals:

In-Store and Online:

Get a king bed for the price of a queen; get a queen bed for the price of a twin 1

Save up to $500 on select mattresses from top brands, PLUS a FREE adjustable base 2 up to $499 value with qualifying purchase

on select mattresses from top brands, PLUS a FREE adjustable base up to value with qualifying purchase Hot Buys 3  Up to 60% off + queen mattresses starting at $149.99 (free and fast delivery!)

 Up to 60% off + queen mattresses starting at Bundle & Save Bedding Essentials 4

Buy 2, Save 20%; Buy 3, Save 30%; Buy 4, Save 40%

0% interest for 60 months on purchases of $1999 , or 0% interest for 72 months on purchases of $2999+ 5 with your Mattress Firm credit card. Equal monthly payments required.

, or 0% interest for 72 months on purchases of $2999+ with your Mattress Firm credit card. Equal monthly payments required. Get a head start on better sleep for as little as $1 per month6 for 3 months with a special financing offer. No money down.

Online Exclusives:

Big Holiday Flash Sale 8 with promo code HOLIDAY (7/1  7/5 beginning at 9PM and ending at 9AM each day)

with promo code HOLIDAY (7/1  7/5 beginning at and ending at each day) Extra 20% off mattresses, bedding & more, exclusions apply



tulo 6-piece Bedding Bundle just $99.99 (*in select stores, includes topper, comforter, sheet set, laundry bag)

(*in select stores, includes topper, comforter, sheet set, laundry bag)

Free & Fast Delivery

Special Offers:

Back to School 7 (6/15  7/13)

(6/15  7/13) Up to 50% off Sleepy's & tulo mattresses-in-a-box, exclusively at Mattress Firm

Military, teachers, students, nurses, doctors and first responders

Extra 10-20% off select mattresses9, bedding and more

To get the best mattress for individual sleep needs, shoppers can get guidance from Mattress Firm's Sleep Experts by visiting a local neighborhood store or by using the MattressMatcher on MattressFirm.com. For more information on how to get the best mattress at the best price, visit http://www.mattressfirm.com/sale.

Disclaimers:

1 King Bed for Queen Price, Queen Bed for Twin Price

Offer valid 6/15/22  7/5/22. Get select king-sized mattresses for the regular price of a queen-sized mattress of the same model. Or get select queen-sized mattresses for the regular price of a twin-sized mattress of the same model. Savings applied to our everyday low price. Savings vary by mattress and model. Product selection may vary by store. Offer not valid on previous purchases, floor models, clearance items, final markdowns, Purple, Serta iComfort, Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, Sealy Hybrid, Beautyrest Black, Nectar, Tuft & Needle, and Brentwood Home. Other exclusions may apply. Visit a store or see mattressfirm.com for complete details.

2 Free Adjustable Base

Offer valid 6/15/22  7/5/22. Receive a free Head Up 50 adjustable base (up to a $499.99 value) with select mattress purchases (free queen adjustable base with minimum $999 purchase, or free king adjustable base with minimum $1299 purchase). Free adjustable base offer valid on same size mattress purchased. Split king or split California king base purchases consist of 2 bases. For split king or split California king purchases, consumer will receive one free adjustable base with promotion, with second base at regular price. Free adjustable base offer valid to complete mattress set; has no cash value; and cannot be used as credit. Offer not valid on previous purchases, floor models, clearance items, final markdowns, Purple, Serta iComfort, Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, Sealy Hybrid, Beautyrest Black, Nectar, Tuft & Needle or Lull. Other exclusions may apply. Adjustable bases not eligible for returns: Price of adjustable base (up to $499.99) will be deducted from refund if mattress is returned. Adjustable base may be pictured with furniture; bed frame and headboard not included with offer. Offer valid while supplies last. Visit a store or see mattressfirm.com for complete details.

3 Hot Buys

Offer valid 6/15/22  7/5/22. Savings applied to our low price. Offer valid only on models indicated and while supplies last. Not valid on previous purchases. Delivery restrictions apply. Visit a store or see mattressfirm.com for complete details.

4 Bundle & Save on Bedding Essentials

Offer valid from 6/15/22 to 7/5/22. Save 20% when you buy 2 qualifying bedding essential items; save 30% when you buy 3 qualifying bedding essential items; or save 40% when you buy 4 or more qualifying bedding essential items. Savings applied to listed price. Offer not valid on previous purchases. Visit a store or see mattressfirm.com for complete details.

5 0% Interest for 60 Months with minimum purchases of $1999; 0% Interest for 72 Months with minimum purchase of $2999

No interest will be charged, and equal monthly payments are required on promo purchase until it is paid in full. The payments equal the initial total promo purchase amount divided by the number of months in the promo period, rounded up to the next whole dollar. These payments may be higher than the payments that would be required if this purchase was a non-promo purchase. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases. For new accounts: Purchase APR is 29.99%. Minimum Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval. Visit mattressfirm.com or see a Sleep Expert in-store for complete details.

6 Pay $1 Per Month for the First 3 Months with Mattress Firm Credit Card

*0% APR: 3 years with a minimum purchase of $999 on your Mattress Firm or any Synchrony HOME credit card. 36 monthly payments required. Offer valid 6/15/22  9/27/22. Qualifying purchase amount must be on one receipt. No interest will be charged, and 36 monthly payments will be required on promo purchase until it is paid in full. For the first 3 months, the monthly payment will be equal to $1. For the next 33 months, a higher monthly payment will be required equal to any remaining promo purchase balance divided by the number of months remaining in the applicable promo period, rounded up to the next whole dollar. Except for the first 3 months, these payments may be higher than the payments that would be required if this purchase was a non-promo purchase. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases. For new accounts: Purchase APR is 29.99%. Minimum interest charge is $2. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval. Offer not valid on previous purchases. Visit a store or see mattressfirm.com for complete details.

7 Back to School

Sale valid 6/15/22 to 7/13/22. Offer valid only on models indicated. Not valid on previous purchases. Visit a store or see mattressfirm.com for complete details.

8Big Holiday Flash Sale (Online Only)

Offer valid online only from 7/1/22  7/5/22 from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. each day. Get an extra 20% off select purchases. Extra savings apply to online exclusive models only. Savings applied to listed sale prices. Offer not valid on previous purchases, floor models, clearance items, final markdowns, Purple, Serta iComfort, Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, Sealy Hybrid, Beautyrest Black, Nectar, Tuft & Needle, Brentwood Home, and adjustable bases. Other exclusions may apply. See mattressfirm.com for complete details.

9 Military, Students, Teachers, Nurses, Doctors, First Responders

Save an additional 20% on select purchases or additional 10% on Purple with offer code. Savings applied to listed sale prices. Offer not valid on previous purchases. Additional exclusions apply. Visit mattressfirm.com or see a Sleep Expert in-store for complete details.

About Mattress Firm

Mattress Firm, the nation's largest omni-channel mattress specialty retailer, has been helping solve America's sleep problems for more than 90 years through our family of brands. Every one of our more than 6,500 passionate Sleep Experts are driven by a common purpose: to change people's lives through better sleep. Whether browsing online or in one of our 2,300+ stores, our highly trained team provides personalized service and advice to help customers choose the right mattress and bedding products based on their unique needs. Our expertly curated selection of products include leading brands such as Beautyrest, Nectar, Sealy, Serta, Simmons, Sleepy's Stearns & Foster, Tempur-Pedic, Tuft & Needle, tulo, and Purple. Mattress Firm supports local and national charities through product and monetary donations and offers employee volunteering opportunities to serve their communities. No matter the time of night, Mattress Firm wants to help people get the sleep they deserve. Our Sleep.com website provides expert advice and helps people explore the health benefits of quality sleep, and the Sleep.com app provides free sleep tracking and personalized insights to improve sleep.

Achieve your best sleep by visiting MattressFirm.com, and learn more on the Mattress Firm Newsroom and by following @MattressFirm on Twitter, Instagram and

Mattress Firm Public Relations

Media Contacts:

G'Nai Blakemore

[email protected]

Amanda Yodice

[email protected]

SOURCE Mattress Firm
MIAMI, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Plastic Surgery today announced Dr. S. Alexander Earle, MD, FACS, is named president of the World Association of Gluteal Surgeons (WAGS) effective immediately. Dr. Earle is an Ivy League-educated plastic surgeon, double board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is a pioneer in safe Ultrasound Guided Brazilian Butt Lift Surgery (BBL) and has been an active member of WAGS since 2019.

"We chose Dr. Earle as the new president of WAGS because of his innovative practice, commitment to excellence and focus on safety," says Dr. Gabriel H. Patino, chief executive officer of WAGS. "We look forward to his leadership as we continue our commitment to education and performing safe gluteal procedures across the globe."

Dr. Earle is recognized for his skills and the additional safety measures he has in place for patients  from the use of technology to his operating room and staff. He has vast experience in both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery specializing in procedures of the body, including breast surgery, abdominoplasty, gluteal augmentation (BBL) with fat transfer and liposuction. He is the creator of Smart Aesthetics and the SoBeBL.

"It is an honor to be the new president of WAGS and to build on the tremendous strides of the association in advancing the safety of all gluteal procedures, especially the Brazilian Butt Lift," says Dr. Earle. "Many believe the Brazilian Butt Lift is dangerous, and we know with the proper education, experience, safety measures and technology, it doesn't have to be unsafe."

Dr. Earle has a B.A. from Princeton University, a Doctor of Medicine from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and completed his general residency at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital where he also completed two years of research funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH). His plastic and reconstructive surgery residency was completed at Duke University.

He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Learn more about the Ultrasound Guided Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL):

https://www.pureplasticsurgery.com/blog/ultrasound-guided-brazilian-butt-lift-the-new-standard-for-safe-bbl-surgeries-in-florida/

About Pure Plastic Surgery

Pure Plastic Surgery is an innovative plastic surgery practice in Miami dedicated to reaching patient goals with a focus on safety. The dedicated surgeons are skilled in both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery of the face and body, and they are pioneers in Ultrasound Guided Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedure. Pure is the home of Smart Aesthetics and the SoBeBL.

It is a family-run business, owned by Dr. S. Alexander Earle, MD, FACS and operated by his wife, Mikele Aboitiz. www.pureplasticsurgery.com

About the World Association of Gluteal Surgeons (WAGS)

The World Association of Gluteal Surgeons (WAGS) was founded by a group of top-rated plastic and cosmetic surgeons who are committed to performing gluteal procedures in the safest manner possible. www.glutealsurgeons.org

SOURCE Pure Plastic Surgery
Argano further expands offerings with SAP-focused expertise and application managed services

DALLAS, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Argano announced today that Echelon Solutions Group, LLC (Echelon) has joined the company. With the addition of Echelon, Argano further expands its SAP capabilities and consulting services.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Echelon is a leading SAP S/4HANA and SAP Cloud applications partner offering comprehensive solutions in innovation, business transformation, implementation, and application managed services (AMS). The company has been recognized as a premier SAP Cloud Application Services Strategic Partner and has earned SAP Recognized Expertise within multiple industries for its client excellence and delivery capability. Echelon has 300+ employees across North America, Latin America, and Asia Pacific.

"Over the last several years, we have made significant investments in our services offerings to help our clients reimagine how they do business, which aligns well with Argano's strategy," said Aditya Bahl, Echelon CEO. "We are thrilled to join Argano and look forward to bringing our expertise and contributing to the company's ongoing success."

"Echelon's experience brings tremendous depth to our SAP team, enabling Argano to further expand our offerings and helping clients transform their businesses," said Chip Register, Argano CEO. "We're excited to welcome the Echelon team as we continue to drive value for our clients."

Echelon will be aligned within the Argano 4 SAP team to offer a unified set of business and technology solutions that are core to building a strong digital foundation, enabling clients to:

Reimagine products, services and experiences that align with client expectations

Rearchitect to move beyond legacy systems and technology debt

Realize speed and agility to build an intelligent cloud-based foundation

Realign challenges and obstacles with a clear path for continued innovation

About Argano

Argano is a next-generation business and technology services provider that builds the Digital Foundations that make businesses run better. Argano is purpose built for the Digital Renaissance, leveraging insight and innovation to help leaders design and implement the complex solutions necessary to not just survive but thrive and improve financial and operational performance. Argano believes a firm's core operating technologies should be enablers of commercial innovation, not a constant source of limitation, and is committed to helping clients think differently about how they deploy and manage people, processes, and technology. For more information visit argano.com

About Echelon Solutions Group, LLC

Echelon Solutions Group is an end-to-end SAP Cloud based solutions provider including Strategy, Implementation and Support for Two-Tier ERP, SAP S/4HANA Cloud. SAP SuccessFactors, SAP Integrated Business Planning and Hybris solutions. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Chicago, Echelon's service model includes delivery and support from U.S., Canada, Mexico, France and India.

Media Contact:

Chris Gale

[email protected]

SOURCE Argano
-- Issues New Investor Presentation Correcting Warren Lichtenstein's Latest False Statements and Mischaracterizations

-- Encourages Lichtenstein to End His Scorched-Earth Campaign for Control of the Company

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eileen Drake (the CEO of Aerojet Rocketdyne (NYSE: AJRD)) today issued a statement regarding Institutional Shareholder Services' ("ISS") recommendation that shareholders vote for the entire Independent Slate on the WHITE proxy card. She also issued a new investor presentation, and encouraged Warren Lichtenstein to end his continued scorched-earth campaign seeking to take control of Aerojet Rocketdyne.

Ms. Drake commented: "We are extremely pleased with ISS's thorough and careful analysis of the proxy contest. The report offers a clear indictment of Mr. Lichtenstein's troubling conduct, lack of independence and independent support, and continued mischaracterization of the public record. We look forward to the special meeting of shareholders on June 30th. At this time, we encourage Mr. Lichtenstein and his supporters to end the scorched-earth campaign they have unleashed on the Company. They have increasingly acted in a manner that displays their reckless willingness to harm shareholders' and other stakeholders' interests in a desperate last-ditch effort to take control of the Company."

Ms. Drake also issued a new investor presentation that outlines Mr. Lichtenstein's latest false statements and mischaracterizations. The presentation is available by clicking here.

In supporting Ms. Drake and her Independent Slate, ISS made the following observations:

Lichtenstein's Troubling Actions

"Lichtenstein sought to keep the board in the dark during the initial phase of the [Lockheed Martin] sale process (as he concurrently mulled alternatives), and his framing of the investigation into his conduct evidences a comfort with apparent factual mischaracterizations. These factors compromise the confidence that shareholders can have in him as a director and as a leader on the board."

"Lichtenstein is responsible for the organizational rot that enabled this contest. His reinterpretation of the historical record is not at all believable, and has only damaged his case  although individual elements of performance and specific developments are challenging to parse, he cannot disclaim accountability for AJRD's overall state of affairs at any point in the recent past."

"[Lichtenstein] has mischaracterized the outcome [of the internal investigation into his conduct] by framing it as a decisive vindication of his position."

Lichtenstein's Lack of Independence and Independent Support

"It is also worth noting that Lichtenstein's internal bastion of support in this contest has come from directors with whom he has business or personal relationships, suggesting that independent minds are not attracted to his message."

"[I]t is telling that not a single incumbent director without a business or personal link came to his support."

"The fracturing of the board along lines of independence should be a signal to shareholders. In light of these factors, support is warranted for the Drake Slate."

Lichtenstein's Lack of Transparency

"Indeed, it is challenging for Lichtenstein to even corroborate his key arguments about operational performance due in part to his own disclosure mandates established over the past several years."

"Issues with confidence and trust are particularly concerning in this case, seeing that Lichtenstein has historically been averse to providing shareholders with information."

"it is challenging for Lichtenstein to even corroborate his key arguments due in part to his own disclosure mandates over the past several years. Incidentally, this illustrates how influential Lichtenstein has been, and undermines the assertion that Drake bears responsibility for perceived operational deterioration."

"Lichtenstein has historically been averse to providing shareholders with information."

Conclusion

ISS concludes that while "[t]here may be a role for Lichtenstein at AJRD  that role is just not as a board member at this point in time."

Shareholders with questions can contact our solicitor: D.F. King & Co., (212) 269-5550 (collect) or via e-mail at [email protected].

Important Information

This communication is being made in the participants' individual capacity, and not by or on behalf of the Company. No Company resources were used in connection with these materials. We have neither sought nor obtained consent from any third party to use any statements or information indicated herein. On June 1, 2022, Eileen P. Drake, General Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.), General Lance Lord, USAF (Ret.) and Thomas Corcoran (the "Incumbent Directors") filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the solicitation of proxies for a special meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held on June 30, 2022.

Contact :

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

Edward T. McCarthy / Tom Germinario

[email protected]

Committee's Website :

https://maximizeajrdvalue.com

SOURCE Committee for Aerojet Rocketdyne Shareholders and Value Maximization
"A new island to call home within our sweet Caribbean, along with a next-generation resort reflective of its unique hues and diverse landscapes, is a celebration in and of itself during this landmark year," said Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts, Adam Stewart. "As we commemorate this special moment in time, we are honoring the Team Members at the heart of our operation with a modern collection that is as chic and sharp as it is comfortable for the Caribbean. Most importantly, we want them to feel as much pride in representing Sandals as we do to have them along for the journey. From the moment we met with Stan, introduced him to the team and watched the magic of his ability to turn their ideas into tangible designs, we knew we had found a cherished partner."

An Approach Curated in the Caribbean , for the Caribbean

With uniforms curated for a wide range of categories and venues  from the guest facing team at the front of house, including bell service and Sandals' iconic butlers, to the all-inclusive resorts' culinary outlets to the heart of house team behind the scenes  Herman spent many hours in destination and in conversation with Sandals Team Members to authentically capture a sense of place while prioritizing comfort and ease of care. Updated fibers and recycled materials are also incorporated throughout several pieces, upholding Sandals' commitment to sustainability in the Caribbean.

"The ensembles are designed to tell a story. From day to evening, from check-in to the beach, they are pieces that guests might even envision in their own personal wardrobes," said Herman, former president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and a three-time Coty award winner at the helm of fashion for many of the world's leading travel brands. "We sought to evolve beyond traditional hospitality looks to reflect today's luxury travel aesthetic, just as Sandals has done in their approach to the brand's own evolution and ingenuity."

Destination Curacao

The flagship for Herman's first designs for the brand, Sandals Royal Curacao is nestled within the protected Santa Barbara private estate, seamlessly intertwining the natural wonders of the desert, ocean, mountains, and beaches with the Luxury Included resort experience that Sandals is known for. The 351-room resort offers more all-inclusive luxury options than ever before, including two new signature suite categories, the Awa Seaside Butler Bungalows and Kurason Island Poolside Butler Bungalows, and amenities like the Dos Awa Pool, a bi-level infinity pool flanked by views of the Spanish Water.

"When you arrive on the island you are driven through an incredible oasis, so we have dressed the bellmen, greeters and front of house staff in light blues, aquas, turquoise, and sand shades, to mirror the magnificent sea setting and to reflect the contemporary, elegant tone of the property," said Herman. "Building on this, the styles will transition across the board at nighttime with rich navys and earth tones to add warmth and elegance. There will be an immediate sense of calm and welcoming upon arrival, regardless of what time of day."

The Anniversary Collection

Fabric colors selected for Sandals Royal Curacao are meant to feel sun-washed with a soft fade that reflects the natural and weathered appeal of island style. More modern touches are scattered throughout the collection, such as bespoke silver "S" pins, representative of Sandals, that butlers will wear centered on their shirts in lieu of the tie, and paired with a signature printed pocket square with Curacao's iconic colors and stunning Dutch architecture.

The many world-class restaurants on site each have their own fashion identity, such as Island Crimson, the prominent color of Butch's Island Chop House, the namesake restaurant of founder Gordon "Butch" Stewart. Additional nods include small ruffles featured on the shirts at Latin-themed restaurant Zuka; traditional tunics with navy piping at Greek staple Aolos; and rich aqua jackets at the Japanese-inspired Gatsu Gatsu.

"While each staff member is in a different uniform depending on their location and position, there is a larger sense of inclusion and cohesiveness among the team at Sandals Royal Curacao with our wearable, contemporary looks," says Herman.

Stewart adds, "The unique way in which Stan has immersed himself into the soul and essence of Sandals to create world-class, stylish designs for our new uniforms  and for the future of our brands  is a work of art in and of itself. They are a thing of beauty."

The Sandals Resorts collection, seen first at Sandals Royal Curacao, will be unveiled across all SRI hotels through a phased approach over the next two years. Plans are already underway for entirely new designs to be featured at the new Sandals Dunn's River opening in Ocho Rios, Jamaica in 2023. Uniform collections are also coming to the company's family-friendly Beaches  Resorts brand, with unique touches inspired by each respective destination.

About Stan Herman

Acknowledged as the "father of Fashion Week," Stan Herman is a three-time Coty American Fashion Critics' Awards winner and former president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), as well as a recipient of the CFDA's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Herman popularized the designer uniform, creating looks for many of the world's leading brands such as JetBlue, United Airlines, and TWA. His uniforms arguably cover more bodies than any other single designer.

About Sandals  Resorts

Sandals Resorts offers two people in love the most romantic, Luxury Included vacation experience in the Caribbean. With 16 stunning beachfront settings in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, and Curacao, Sandals Resorts offers more quality inclusions than any other resort company on the planet. Signature Love Nest Butler Suites for the ultimate in privacy and service; butlers trained by the Guild of Professional English Butlers; the Red Lane Spa; 5-Star Global Gourmet dining, ensuring top-shelf liquor, premium wines, and gourmet specialty restaurants; Aqua Centers with expert PADI certification and training; fast Wi-Fi from beach to bedroom and Sandals Customizable Weddings are all Sandals Resorts exclusives. Sandals Resorts is part of family-owned Sandals Resorts International (SRI), founded by the late Gordon "Butch" Stewart, which includes Beaches Resorts and is the Caribbean's leading all-inclusive resort company. For more information about the Sandals Resorts Luxury Included difference, visit www.sandals.com .

About Sandals Resorts International

Founded in 1981 by the late Jamaican entrepreneur Gordon "Butch" Stewart, Sandals Resorts International (SRI) is the parent company of some of travel's most recognizable vacation brands. The company operates 24 properties throughout the Caribbean under four separate brands including: Sandals Resorts, the Luxury Included brand for adult couples with locations in Jamaica, Antigua, the Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia and Curacao; Beaches Resorts, the Luxury Included concept designed for everyone but especially families, with properties in Turks & Caicos and Jamaica, and another opening in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; private island Fowl Cay Resort; and the private homes of Your Jamaican Villas. The company's importance in the Caribbean basin, where tourism is the number one earner of foreign capital, cannot be underestimated. Family-owned and operated, Sandals Resorts International is the largest private employer in the region.

For more information about the Sandals Resorts Luxury Included difference, visit www.sandals.com .

CONTACT: The Decker/Royal Agency, [email protected]

SOURCE Sandals Resorts International
DUBLIN, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Bridge Construction Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global bridge construction market reached a value of US$ 870.4 Million in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 1193.3 Million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.10% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, we are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.



Bridge construction refers to the process of building solid structures that span between supports and are designed to carry the loads. Some of the commonly used bridge construction methods include cast-in-situ, precast, balanced cantilever, span by span casting, incremental launching, arch, cable-stayed, and advanced shoring methods.

The construction method employed depends on numerous factors, such as the scale of the bridge, the time allowed for construction, site accessibility, material costs, regularity of the span lengths, environmental factors, and engineering constraints. Nowadays, the demand for bridge construction is rapidly escalating across the globe since bridges are widely utilized for transportation purposes.



The rising road traffic and the increasing number of vehicles represent the primary factors driving the market growth. Besides this, the growing need for railway bridges due to the expansion of railway networks and the improving focus on public-private partnerships for transport infrastructure development are catalyzing the demand for bridge construction. Additionally, several favorable initiatives undertaken by the governing and non-governing agencies of various nations are positively influencing the market growth.

For instance, the Global Infrastructure Hub initiative launched by G20 aims to enhance the delivery of resilient, sustainable, and inclusive infrastructure by collaborating with the public and private sectors. Furthermore, with recent technological advancements, the leading players are focusing on the development of innovative equipment and systems to facilitate faster and cost-efficient bridge construction.

Along with this, the introduction of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil-Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS) technology to minimize the bridge construction time and costs is propelling the market growth. Moreover, the expanding construction industry, rapid urbanization, strong economic growth, increasing investments in infrastructure development projects, and growing usage of precast concrete panels are some of the other factors creating a favorable market outlook.

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being ACS Group (Grupo ACS), AECOM, Balfour Beatty plc, Bouygues S.A., China Communications Construction Company Limited, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Fluor Corporation, Kiewit Corporation, Samsung C&T Corporation, Strabag SE and Vinci SA.



Key Questions Answered in this Report:

How has the global bridge construction market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global bridge construction market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the material?

What is the breakup of the market based on the application?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?

What is the structure of the global bridge construction market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Preface



2 Scope and Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends



5 Global Bridge Construction Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast



6 Market Breakup by Type

6.1 Beam Bridge

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Truss Bridge

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Arch Bridge

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast

6.4 Suspension Bridge

6.4.1 Market Trends

6.4.2 Market Forecast

6.5 Cable-stayed Bridge

6.5.1 Market Trends

6.5.2 Market Forecast

6.6 Others

6.6.1 Market Trends

6.6.2 Market Forecast



7 Market Breakup by Material

7.1 Steel

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 Concrete

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast

7.3 Composite Materials

7.3.1 Market Trends

7.3.2 Market Forecast



8 Market Breakup by Application

8.1 Road and Highway

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Railway

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast



9 Market Breakup by Region



10 SWOT Analysis



11 Value Chain Analysis



12 Porters Five Forces Analysis

13 Price Analysis



14 Competitive Landscape

14.1 Market Structure

14.2 Key Players

14.3 Profiles of Key Players

14.3.1 ACS Group (Grupo ACS)

14.3.1.1 Company Overview

14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.2 AECOM

14.3.2.1 Company Overview

14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.2.3 Financials

14.3.2.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.3 Balfour Beatty plc

14.3.3.1 Company Overview

14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.3.3 Financials

14.3.3.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.4 Bouygues S.A.

14.3.4.1 Company Overview

14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.4.3 Financials

14.3.4.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.5 China Communications Construction Company Limited

14.3.5.1 Company Overview

14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.5.3 Financials

14.3.5.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.6 China State Construction Engineering Corporation

14.3.6.1 Company Overview

14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.6.3 Financials

14.3.6.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.7 Fluor Corporation

14.3.7.1 Company Overview

14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.7.3 Financials

14.3.7.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.8 Kiewit Corporation

14.3.8.1 Company Overview

14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9 Samsung C&T Corporation

14.3.9.1 Company Overview

14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.9.3 Financials

14.3.10 Strabag SE

14.3.10.1 Company Overview

14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.10.3 Financials

14.3.10.4 SWOT Analysis

14.3.11 Vinci SA

14.3.11.1 Company Overview

14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

14.3.11.3 Financials

14.3.11.4 SWOT Analysis



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ks9ztz

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) will hold a conference call on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its second quarter 2022 financial results, which will be released at approximately 6:00 a.m. ET that day.

Webcast link:

https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=E6B5RbBA

Participant dial-in numbers:

Domestic callers: (877) 402-8037 International callers: 201) 378-4913

The conference call will be accompanied by presentation slides that will be accessible via the webcast link and Huntsman's investor relations website, www.huntsman.com/investors. Upon conclusion of the call, the webcast replay will be accessible via Huntsman's website.

About Huntsman:

Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals with 2021 revenues of approximately $8 billion. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 70 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 30 countries and employ approximately 9,000 associates within our four distinct business divisions. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at www.huntsman.comhttps://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2729073-1&h=708906847&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huntsman.com%2F&a=www.huntsman.com.

Social Media:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Huntsman_Corp

Facebook: www.facebook.com/huntsmancorp

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/huntsman

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain information in this release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Huntsman companies' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, volatile global economic conditions, cyclical and volatile product markets, disruptions in production at manufacturing facilities, reorganization or restructuring of Huntsman's operations, including any delay of, or other negative developments affecting the ability to implement cost reductions, timing of proposed transactions, and manufacturing optimization improvements in Huntsman businesses and realize anticipated cost savings, and other financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Huntsman Corporation
PITTSBURGH, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to help people who wanted to decrease the size of their mid section and feel better about themselves so we created this." said inventors from New York "My design offers a comfortable and practical approach to shapewear."

The patent-pending invention provides a slim look to the midsection for wearers to look better and feel more confident. As a result helps flatten stomach making it easier for clothes to fit. New design improves the silhouette and body shape while still being comfortable and breathable.

The original design was submitted to the Long Island sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-LJD-159, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp
Created and distributed by Cardless and issued through First Electronic Bank, both cards are available to U.S. consumers, and offer the ability to earn award travel worldwide, Qualifying Points toward LATAM Pass Elite status, no foreign transaction fees , and other perks, including LATAM lounge access and seat upgrades. Miles can be redeemed to take advantage of LATAM group's global connectivity and extensive coverage of South America, with over 133 routes to 20 countries, as well as with LATAM's partner Delta and partner airlines around the world.

LATAM Airlines Mastercard

Annual Fee: $0

Sign-up Bonus: 15,000 miles after $1,000 spent in first three months

spent in first three months LATAM Purchases: 3x

Restaurants, Ground Transportation: 2x

Everything Else: 1x

Qualifying Points: Issued at a rate of 10% of miles earned from card purchases*

Foreign Transaction Fee: None

LATAM Airlines World Elite Mastercard

Annual Fee: $99

Sign-up Bonus: 40,000 miles after $2,500 spent in first three months

spent in first three months LATAM Purchases: 4x

Restaurants, Ground Transportation: 3x

Everything Else: 1x

Qualifying Points: Issued at a rate of 20% of miles earned from card purchases*

Upgrade Coupons: 3**

LATAM Lounge Access: 2 passes per account year

Foreign Transaction Fee: None

*Sign-up bonus miles and promotional miles are not eligible for Qualifying Points accrual. **Customers with LATAM Pass Gold Plus elite status and above will not receive additional Upgrade Coupons.

"We're seeing record high numbers for travel this year and it's no surprise people want generous travel benefits with their credit cards," said Michael Spelfogel, President and

Co-Founder of Cardless. "Through our collaboration with LATAM Airlines, we're excited to launch two separate credit card products, giving travelers access to the perks and rewards most relevant to their travel lifestyle."

"As the largest airline group in South America, LATAM is the logical solution for travel anywhere on our beautiful continent. Whether you are visiting the beaches of Brazil, the wonders of Machu Picchu, or the natural beauty of Patagonia, LATAM is your best choice. And with the new LATAM credit card, customers can earn miles towards award flights and more." said Marty St. George, Chief Commercial Officer of LATAM Airlines Group.

In addition to bespoke benefits, Cardless cards offer a number of features designed for digital native consumers, both in terms of security and easy access. New users will easily be able to apply for a Cardless card using their smartphone and, if approved, the virtual card can be delivered to their mobile wallet in seconds. The physical card will carry no card number in order to protect the user from fraud  should the digital-only number become compromised, users will be able to request a new account number through the Cardless mobile app immediately.

LATAM group currently offers travelers the opportunity to earn miles and valuable benefits through LATAM Pass, one of the largest airline loyalty programs in the world, with over 40 million members. In addition, customers will be able to redeem LATAM Pass Miles earned with LATAM Airlines credit cards on all LATAM's partner airlines, including Delta Air Lines.

For more information about LATAM Airlines Credit Cards, go to

https://www.cardless.com/latam . Terms and conditions apply.

The LATAM Airlines branded Credit Cards by Cardless are issued by First Electronic Bank, Member FDIC. Account opening offers, earning rates and referral bonuses are subject to change and to credit approval. Mastercard, World Elite and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

About LATAM Airlines Group S.A.

LATAM Airlines Group and its affiliates are the main group of airlines in South America, present in five domestic markets: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, with international operations within Latin America, and between Latin America and Europe, Oceania, United States, and the Caribbean. The group has a fleet of Boeing 767, 777, 787, Airbus A321, A320, A320neo and A319 aircraft.

About Cardless, Inc.

Cardless, Inc. is a credit card company based in San Francisco, CA. Founded in 2019 by Stanford graduates Michael Spelfogel and Scott Kazmierowicz, Cardless is on the cutting edge of co-brand credit card product development. Cardless has raised $50M in equity funding from investors including Activant Capital, Greycroft, Accomplice, Pear VC, the ownership of Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns, and the Founders of Plaid, Bonobos, Flatiron Health, and 100 Thieves.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Cardless
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - REX Shares, LLC ("REX") today announced the launch of two new MicroSectors Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs) issued by Bank of Montreal (BMO) linked to the MerQube MicroSectors U.S. Travel Index (ticker: MQUSTRAV). MicroSectors Travel 3x Leveraged ETNs (ticker: FLYU) and MicroSectors Travel -3x Inverse Leveraged ETNs (ticker: FLYD) will start trading tomorrow on NYSE Arca.

The MerQube MicroSectors U.S. Travel Index, launched in November 2021, tracks the performance of large U.S. domiciled and listed companies operating in specified segments of the travel and tourism industry. As of the date of this release, Walt Disney Company, Uber Technologies, Inc., Airbnb, Inc., Booking Holdings Inc., and Carnival Corporation were the five largest common stocks in the Index.

REX, a provider of alternative investment products, continues to see strong demand for hedging and trading tools based on specific segments of the market, such as equity securities of companies in the travel industry.

"We are excited to partner with BMO and MerQube on the launch of the travel equity-focused pair of exchange-traded notes," said Scott Acheychek, President of REX. "The MerQube MicroSectors U.S. Travel Index offers sophisticated investors access to many of the largest companies operating in travel and tourism, which has become a popular industry to trade due COVID-19 and the volatility in travel and tourism stocks," Acheychek added. "Since our founding, MicroSectors has focused on innovating the ETP landscape by providing unique exposures to popular investable market segments. We are pleased to build on this objective by adding U.S. Travel to our product lineup."

About REX Shares

Founded in 2015, REX Shares ("REX") is an independent provider of ETPs based in Miami, Florida. As ETP architects, the REX team creates investment vehicles that solve for a range of specific challenges in investor portfolios. The firm is rooted in decades of structuring and building inventive exchange-traded product solutions.

For more information, please visit www.rexshares.com or www.microsectors.com.

Twitter: @REXShares and @MSectors

About BMO Financial Group

Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $1.04 trillion as of April 30, 2022, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

The ETNs are senior, unsecured obligations of BMO.

Investment suitability must be determined individually for each investor, and the ETNs may not be suitable for all investors. This information is not intended to provide and should not be relied upon as providing accounting, legal, regulatory or tax advice. Investors should consult with their own financial advisors as to these matters.

The ETNs are intended to be daily trading tools for sophisticated investors to manage daily trading risks as part of an overall diversified portfolio. They are designed to achieve their stated investment objectives on a daily basis. The returns on the ETNs over longer periods of time can, and most likely will, differ significantly from the return on a direct long or short investment in the index.

BMO, the issuer of the ETNs, has filed a registration statement (including a pricing supplement, a product supplement, a prospectus supplement and a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") about each of the offerings to which this press release relates. Please read those documents and the other documents relating to these offerings BMO has filed with the SEC for more complete information about BMO and these offerings. These documents may be obtained without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Bank of Montreal, any agent or any dealer participating in these offerings will arrange to send the applicable pricing supplement, product supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus if you so request by calling toll-free at 1-877-369-5412.

MerQube does not sponsor, endorse, sell, promote or manage any securities that are offered by third parties and that seek to provide an investment return based on the performance of the Index. MerQube makes no assurance that the notes or any other investment products based on the Index will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. MerQube is not an investment advisor, and MerQube makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in any such securities.

MerQube and its third-party data providers and licensors (collectively the "MerQube Parties") do not-guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or availability of the any data relating to the Index (the "Content"). The MerQube Parties are not responsible for any errors or omissions, regardless of the cause, for the results obtained from the use of the Content. THE CONTENT IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS, AND THE MERQUBE PARTIES DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE, FREEDOM FROM BUGS, SOFTWARE ERRORS OR DEFECTS, OR THAT THE CONTENT'S FUNCTIONING WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED. In no event shall the MerQube Parties be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of the Content, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

MicroSectors and REX are registered trademarks of REX. The trademarks have been licensed for use for certain purposes by Bank of Montreal. The ETNs are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by REX or any of its affiliates or third-party licensors (collectively, "REX Index Parties"). REX Index Parties make no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the ETNs or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the ETNs particularly or the ability of the Index to track general market performance. REX Index Parties' only relationship to Bank of Montreal with respect to the Index is the licensing of the Index and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of REX Index Parties. REX Index Parties are not responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the prices, and amount of the ETNs or the timing of the issuance or sale of the ETNs or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the ETNs are to be converted into cash. REX Index Parties have no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the ETNs. Inclusion of a security within an index is not a recommendation by REX Index Parties to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor is it considered to be investment advice.

SOURCE BMO Financial Group
Expands Milestone's offering to include Empress 1908 Gin, the fastest-growing super premium gin in North America

Transaction financed through strategic partnership with BDT Capital Partners

AUSTIN, Texas, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Milestone Brands LLC, the premium spirits company based in Austin, Texas, today announced that it has acquired Victoria Distillers Inc ("VDI"), one of the oldest artisan distilleries in Canada and the producer of Empress 1908 Gin, and Azzurre Spirits Corporation, the U.S. importer of Empress 1908 Gin.

Under the leadership of VDI founder and President Peter Hunt, Empress 1908 Gin has achieved significant success and today leads the growth in super premium gin in North America. Since its launch in 2017, Empress 1908 Gin has grown to more than 200,000 cases globally while achieving +100% growth in calendar year 2021. Empress 1908 Gin is the #1 super premium gin in Canada and the #2 super premium gin in the United States.

As part of the transaction, Milestone Brands has acquired the distillery for Empress 1908 Gin in Victoria, Canada as well as the new packaging facility recently opened in February 2022 in Vancouver, Canada.

"We are excited to add Empress 1908 Gin to our Milestone Brands family of brands," stated Eric Dopkins, CEO and Founder of Milestone Brands LLC, "The Victoria Distillers team as well as the Azzurre Spirits team in the U.S. have truly built a world class brand in Empress 1908 Ginfrom the liquid, packaging, name, quality and overall marketing of such a differentiated innovation in the super spirits category".

Milestone Brands, LLC will retain the entire Victoria Distillers Team as well as the U.S- based team from Azzurre Spirits. Peter Hunt will continue to lead VDI as President. "I am excited to see the next chapter of growth for Empress 1908 Gin as well as Victoria Distillers with the stewardship and support of our new parent Milestone Brands, LLC," commented Peter Hunt, President of VDI.

Milestone Brands LLC is having a record-breaking year with Dulce Vida Tequila leading the company's growth headed to 125,000 nine-liter cases in 2022. Milestone is slated to surpass 400,000 nine-liter cases in 2022 with the VDI acquisition.

Concurrent with the acquisition, Milestone Brands entered into a strategic partnership with BDT Capital Partners, LLC ("BDT") to fund the acquisitions and the company's next stage of growth. As part of this, BDT now owns a significant minority stake in Milestone Brands through its affiliated funds. Additional terms were not disclosed. BDT is affiliated with BDT & Company, LLC, a merchant bank that works with family- and founder-led businesses to pursue their strategic and financial objectives.

ABOUT MILESTONE BRANDS LLC

Milestone Brands LLC, premium spirits company based in Austin, Texas, was founded in February 2016 by two local entrepreneurs and veterans of the beverage and spirits industry, Eric Dopkins, former CEO of Deep Eddy Vodka and Chad Auler, creator of Savvy Vodka and co-founder of Deep Eddy Vodka. As a national spirits supplier, acquirer, innovator and marketer of alcohol beverage brands, Milestone's portfolio includes Dulce Vida Spirits , Campo Bravo Tequila , Naranja Orange Liqueur and American Born Whiskey .

ABOUT VICTORIA DISTILLERS & EMPRESS 1908 GIN

A pioneer in Canadian distilling, Victoria Distillers has been producing award-winning spirits since 2008. Our unique waterfront location in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, houses the copper pot stills that produce our range of spirits - most notably, Empress 1908 Gin. Empress 1908 Gin was created by Victoria Distillers and inspired by the legendary Fairmont Empress Hotel. Empress 1908 appeals to one's sense of creative delight through its balanced citrus and spice palette, brilliant colour, light floral fragrance and soft texture. Empress 1908 is now available for purchase in liquor stores across Canada, the USA and a growing number of international countries.

ABOUT BDT CAPITAL PARTNERS

Established in 2009, BDT Capital Partners provides family- and founder-led businesses with long-term, differentiated capital through its investment funds. The firm has deployed $29 billion in capital, including co-investments by its global investor base. The firm's affiliate, BDT & Company, is a merchant bank that works with family- and founder-led businesses to pursue their strategic and financial objectives, providing solutions-based advice as well as access to a world-class network of business owners and leaders. For more information, visit www.bdtcapital.com .

SOURCE Milestone Brands
"Ray's experience in trading consumer and esoteric asset-backed securities and establishing core relationships with top-tier asset managers, insurance companies, and hedge funds, will help support our ambitious FY 2022 business goals," said Michael McCarthy, Head of Macro Trading.

Ray brings nearly two decades of financial services experience to MUFG. Prior to joining the bank, Ray was a Vice President in ABS Secondary Trading at Barclays. Ray started his career in the Global Technology Services unit at Lehman, giving him a unique understanding of the front- and back-office relationship.

Press contact:

Oksana Poltavets

(646) 767-1326

[email protected]

About Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.'s U.S. Operations including MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation

The U.S. operations of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG), one of the world's leading financial groups, has total assets of $332.4 billion at March 31, 2022. As part of that total, MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation (MUAH), a financial holding company, bank holding company, and intermediate holding company, has total assets of $159.2 billion at March 31, 2022. MUAH's main subsidiaries are MUFG Union Bank, N.A. and MUFG Securities Americas Inc. MUFG Union Bank, N.A. provides a wide range of financial services to consumers, small businesses, middle-market companies, and major corporations. As of March 31, 2022, MUFG Union Bank, N.A. operated 297 branches, consisting primarily of retail banking branches in the West Coast states. MUFG Securities Americas Inc. is a registered securities broker-dealer which engages in capital markets origination transactions, domestic and foreign debt and equities securities transactions, private placements, collateralized financings, and securities borrowing and lending transactions. MUAH is owned by MUFG Bank, Ltd. and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. MUFG Bank, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., has offices in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, and Canada. Visit www.unionbank.com or www.mufgamericas.com for more information.

About MUFG

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is one of the world's leading financial groups. Headquartered in Tokyo and with over 360 years of history, MUFG has a global network with approximately 2,500 locations in more than 50 countries. The Group has about 170,000 employees and offers services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing. The Group aims to "be the world's most trusted financial group" through close collaboration among our operating companies and flexibly respond to all of the financial needs of our customers, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. MUFG's shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York stock exchanges. For more information, visit https://www.mufg.jp/english.

SOURCE MUFG
One-of-a-kind interactive CLE program adds to PLI's expanding roster of DEI resources for the legal community. Tweet this

Unlike any other DEI program on the market, the program uses the production of a new television legal drama as the setting, asking participants to cast roles, alter scripts, and make story suggestions to improve diversity and inclusion in the show's fictional firm. Participants are challenged to take the perspectives of attorneys to experience how microaggressions and implicit bias occur in day-to-day workplace scenarios.

"Law firms are well aware of the need to improve diversity and inclusion and interrupt harmful patterns of bias within their organizations. But tackling this topic requires more than just another training program  it means asking difficult questions around hiring, promotion, work assignments, and so much more," says Silverthorn. PLI's interactive program "invites participants to experience and make decisions around situations they might encounter in the workplace," she continues. "More than a training program, it can also be a tool to help foster authentic discussions that can make a real difference in how organizations approach diversity, and how individuals relate to one another."

Offering fresh perspectives on the beliefs, policies, and organizational procedures that may contribute to implicit bias and create barriers to true diversity and inclusion, the program will be useful to practitioners at all levels, from law students to experienced partners and in-house counsel.

"Data shows that the most effective DEI training requires learners to take the perspectives of others and to set goals to achieve diversity and inclusion. With that in mind, our experts designed a program that incorporates these methodologies, featuring scenarios that put learners in others' shoes, and guidance on creating an action plan for their own DEI goals," says PLI President Sharon L. Crane. "We are proud to add this one-of-a-kind program to PLI's growing roster of DEI resources for the legal community." In addition to producing DEI content for lawyers, she notes, PLI is pursuing opportunities to foster and promote diversity in the legal profession, including developing resources to serve DEI professionals within firms.

Given its interactive and goal-setting components, the program is a good fit for PLI Member organizations wishing to offer Groupcasts to facilitate discussions among colleagues. In addition, program participants may earn up to two hours of Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias credits. California-licensed attorneys may fulfill all of California's new two-hour Elimination of Bias requirement, including the required one hour of Implicit Bias training, with successful completion of the program.

Silverthorn comments: "With its Interactive Learning Center, PLI has the knowledge and the resources to create something truly unique in the space of DEI education. When I learned that they were interested in developing an interactive program using real-world scenarios, I was intrigued. And when I saw that the program emphasizes the perspectives of those impacted by bias, I was excited to get involved. The program teaches essential lessons  but just as important, it teaches them in an accessible and effective way."

Register to stream the program on-demand.

About PLI

Practising Law Institute is a nonprofit learning organization dedicated to keeping attorneys and other professionals at the forefront of knowledge and expertise. PLI is chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, and was founded in 1933 by Harold P. Seligson. PLI provides the highest quality, accredited, continuing legal and professional education programs in a variety of formats. This content is delivered by more than 4,000 volunteer faculty, including prominent lawyers, judges, investment bankers, accountants, corporate counsel, and U.S. and international government regulators. PLI publishes a comprehensive library of treatises, course handbooks, answer books, and journals, also available through the PLI PLUS online platform. The essence of PLI's mission is its commitment to the pro bono community.

SOURCE Practising Law Institute
Hosted by Founder and Chief Numismatist Charles Jonath, the "Coin It" Podcast Breathes New Life into the Traditional Asset Class

LAS VEGAS, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2022 it is safe to say that anything can happen and anything can be unpredictable. From the market to the economy, social issues, world health, and everything in between; certainty is no longer a guarantee. However, no matter how crazy the world may seem, some things simply stand the test of time. "Traditional" assets like rare coins and rare bars are on the rise and Vegas Coin Dealer is at the forefront of this trend, now auctioning rare coins and bars and keeping the public informed with the Coin It Podcast.

Featuring some of the industry's top minds, the Coin It Podcast, hosted by Vegas Coin Dealer Founder and Chief Numismatist Charles Jonath, dives into tangible assets, the new normal, strategic coin collecting, paper money, bullion, art, and much much more. Guests include Tommy Haines of Stacking NYC, Greg Cohen of Legend Auctions, Roxana Uskali of Heritage Auctions, Michael "Miles" Standish and many more who offer up their unparalleled expertise in various areas to help listeners understand the industry, and how they can leverage rare coins to tern their hobby into sound investments.

Charles Jonath helps listeners understand the psychology of a collector, what to look for, how to understand different types of tangible assets, and how to become a master of the craft.

"The network that I have developed over the years, both due to my professional life and my personal and family relationships, is extensive, and it is a key driving factor in the consistency with which I come into rare coins. Bringing me immense joy every day, coin collecting is a pursuit unlike any other, connecting us with the past and affording us a glimpse into those who came before us  people who used money of their own and lived lives of their own. In every coin, there is a story, and that is what I love about them."  Charles Jonath

Vegas Coin Dealer, Las Vegas' premier coin dealer is also proud to announce that it will be holding new upcoming auctions of rare coins, vintage coins, and rare bars coming September 30th 2022 to be run in conjunction with the long beach coin expo. Coins will include high-end coins at small lot sizes, featuring Early Proofs, Pioneer Gold, Classic American Type Coins & Rare Vintage Bars from small silver refiners and producers etc.

To learn more about Vegas Coin Dealer, upcoming auctions, or the Coin It Podcast, please visit: https://www.vegascoindealer.com/

Coin It Podcast Instagram

YouTube

About Vegas Coin Dealer

Vegas Coin Dealer, LLC is Las Vegas' premier coin dealer, focusing on expensive rare coins and collector's items. Founded in 2019 by third-generation coin collector Charles Jonath, Vegas Coin Dealer seeks to redefine the coin collecting industry to create a new niche of investments. As the modern world shifts further and further into digital assets, Vegas Coin Dealer believes there is a hidden blue-chip strategy that resides in our past, specifically rare coins. Rare and expensive coins are true treasures when found, with values increasing in exponential amounts with each passing day. Vegas Coin Dealer's team of experts is well-versed in these rare coins, guiding customers through the entire process. From research to investment strategy, to buying and selling; Vegas Coin Dealer is spearheading this shift in modern investing one coin at a time.

PRESS CONTACT

NAME

Charles Jonath

PHONE

702-949-7515

WEBSITE

https://www.vegascoindealer.com/

SOURCE Vegas Coin Dealer
East Coast Clinics to Offer Walk-In Appointments, Preventative Care Services to Pet Owners

PEABODY, Mass., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PetWellClinic, an emerging pet-wellness franchise, has signed a three-unit franchise agreement to open locations in Massachusetts, specifically in the Northeastern part of the state. The clinics will provide convenient preventative care for pets including general check-ups, vaccinations and treatment of minor ailments and chronic conditions in a walk-in environment. PetWellClinic's unique clinic model offers an affordable, easily accessible healthcare experience for pets and pet owners versus traditional veterinary clinics or pet hospitals.

The multi-unit agreement has been signed by Jeff Bezer, a first-time franchisor with an extensive background in business management. After his experience in various management roles, most recently at a medical device company, Bezer realized his passion for helping others. With a dedication to serving his community and making a difference in people's lives, Bezer felt drawn to PetWellClinic as a potential business owner. The brand's vital pet care model, affordability and convenience were the main catalysts for Bezer to begin his first entrepreneurial venture.

"I always knew I wanted to own a business, but I also wanted to help people and make a difference in my community," said Jeff. "I know that PetWellClinic can alleviate the stress and high costs of pet ownership. The walk-in veterinary model is just as innovative as it is traditional. PetWellClinic is bringing back the joy in veterinary care for animal owners seeking an affordable, convenient and community-oriented clinic for their furry family members."

Not only does the PetWellClinic model provide an incredible quality of life for pets and their owners, but it's also a practical option for veterinarians and veterinary technicians looking for a new career with a sustainable workload. Since the clinic purely focuses on preventable care with simplified services, veterinarians are only needed during daytime hours. Each clinic offers 8-hour work days, meaning no more overnight or double-shifts and no more emergency surgeries.

"PetWellClinic prides itself on much more than the quality services we provide for our pets," says Dr. Sam Meisler, DVM, founder and CEO of PetWellClinic. "We also create an environment focused on work-life balance for our highly-ranked veterinarians. With the ability to grant our staff daytime working hours, our pet care model stays consistent with everyone involved. PetWellClinic ensures an environment of care and kindness and that starts with our own staff."

Each PetWellClinic location also utilizes a proprietary veterinary software program designed by Dr. Meisler for seamless clinic processes and to maximize efficiency throughout the day. The locations are designed for complete transparency and openness, so clients can see everything that is happening, from the front of the clinic to the back.

For more information about PetWellClinic franchise opportunities, please visit www.petwellfranchise.com or contact Joe Sexton at [email protected]. PetWellClinic has partnered with Oakscale, to lead franchise development efforts for the brand. For more information about Oakscale, please visit www.oakscale.com.

ABOUT PETWELLCLINIC

PetWellClinic is a walk-in veterinary clinic, providing excellent preventative, wellness and sick care for dogs and cats on an on-demand basis. There is no need for an appointment because PetWellClinic's technology, design, and operational systems provide customers with a modern-day experience in an antiquated industry. PetWellClinic recently began franchising after the success of its company-owned operations in Knoxville, Tennessee, and currently has over 100 units in development.

SOURCE PetWellClinic
Mr. Berdou joins Piramal Pharma Solutions from Lonza, where he was the Global Head of Operations, Cell and Gene Technologies. He has more than two decades of experience across global supply chain, procurement, and operations, including manufacturing and site head positions at both small and large facilities. At Lonza, Mr. Berdou led a network of contract services sites across the globe. Prior to that, he worked with a number of well-respected pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca & MedImmune and Novartis. With a legacy of experience in both the CDMO and pharma innovator/generic sides of drug development and manufacturing, Mr. Berdou brings an understanding of both perspectives to PPS. His passion lies in building customer-centric strategies, creating lean organizations, engaging with employees through a robust and inclusive culture, and forming a strong quality mindset across the organization. For his new role, Mr. Berdou will be based in the Northeastern United States.

Peter DeYoung, Chief Executive Officer, Piramal Pharma Solutions, said, "I welcome Herve to PPS and wish him all the success in the new role. His broad, in-depth industry and functional expertise will help us create value for all our stakeholders as we continue our journey of profitable growth. His blend of CDMO and innovative pharmaceutical company experience positions him to understand and meet the needs of our customers and their patients. His multi-country operating track record will bring the best of our team and site network to our clients as we deliver integrated projects and support their clinical progression and commercial success. Herve's management style is aligned to our values and our cultural priorities."

Mr. Berdou holds a Master's (DESS) in Procurement and Supply Chain from IAE in Grenoble, France - Ecoles Universitaires de Management, and a degree in Economics and Politics from Universite Pierre Mendes-France.

About Piramal Pharma Solutions:

Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS) is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) offering end-to-end development and manufacturing solutions across the drug life cycle. We serve our customers through a globally integrated network of facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia. This enables us to offer a comprehensive range of services including drug discovery solutions, process & pharmaceutical development services, clinical trial supplies, commercial supply of APIs, and finished dosage forms. We also offer specialized services such as the development and manufacture of highly potent APIs, antibody-drug conjugations, sterile fill/finish, peptide products & services, and potent solid oral drug product. PPS also offers development and manufacturing services for biologics including vaccines, gene therapies, and monoclonal antibodies, made possible through Piramal Pharma Limited's investment in Yapan Bio Private Limited. Our track record as a trusted service provider with experience across varied technologies makes us a partner of choice for innovator and generic companies worldwide.

For more information please visit: www.piramalpharmasolutions.com | Twitter | LinkedIn

About Piramal Pharma Ltd.

Piramal Pharma Limited (PPL) offers a portfolio of differentiated products and services through end-to-end manufacturing capabilities across 15 global facilities and a global distribution network of over 100 countries. PPL includes: Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), an integrated Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization; Piramal Critical Care (PCC), a Complex Hospital Generics business, and the India Consumer Healthcare business, selling over-the counter products. PPS offers end-to-end development and manufacturing solutions through a globally integrated network of facilities across the drug life cycle to innovator and generic companies. PCC's complex hospital product portfolio includes inhalation anaesthetics, intrathecal therapies for spasticity and pain management, injectable pain and anaesthetics, injectable anti-infectives, and other therapies. The Indian Consumer Healthcare business is among the leading players in India in the self-care space, with established brands in the Indian consumer healthcare market. In addition, PPL has a joint venture with Allergan, a leader in ophthalmology in the Indian formulations market. In October 2020, the company received growth equity investment from the Carlyle Group.

For more information visit: www.piramal.com | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1844077/Herve_Berdou__Chief_Operating_Officer__Piramal.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1844078/Peter_DeYoung__CEO__Piramal.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1726186/Piramal_Pharma_Solutions_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Piramal Pharma Solutions
Prices for the 2023/2024 Delivery Year were lower than in the previous auction for the 2022/2023 Delivery Year. As a result, sufficient resources plus robust reserve levels were procured at a cost of $2.2 billion, compared with approximately $4 billion for the current 2022/2023 Delivery Year.

Those resources clearing the auction include more than 5,300 additional megawatts of nuclear generation than cleared in the prior auction.

"PJM's capacity market continues to support the reliability of the electric grid in a competitive manner," said President and CEO Manu Asthana. "In combination with our other markets, the capacity market remains a central component in attracting a diverse, reliable and competitive resource mix to meet forecasted system demand."

The PJM capacity auction, called the Base Residual Auction, procures power supply resources in advance of the delivery year to meet electricity needs in the PJM service area, which includes all or part of 13 states and the District of Columbia.

Auctions are usually held three years in advance of the delivery year. The 2023/2024 auction was originally scheduled to be held in May 2020, but auctions had been suspended while FERC considered approval of new capacity market rules.

"PJM's capacity market is designed to reflect where supply and demand meet, and these auction results show that," said Stu Bresler, Senior Vice President  Market Services. "We look forward to working with our stakeholders and the states we serve to continue refining our markets to meet the needs of an evolving grid and ensure the reliable flow of power well into the future."

This year's auction procured 144,871 MW of resources for the period of June 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024. The total Fixed Resource Requirement (FRR) obligation is an additional 31,346 MW.

The auction produced a price of $34.13/MW-day for much of the PJM footprint, compared to $50/MW-day for the 2022/2023 auction in June 2021. Prices are higher in some regions due to constraints on the transmission system.

Potential factors contributing to the clearing price results include:

The first application of the less restrictive Minimum Offer Price Rule, applied to only seven resources representing 76 MW

A revised, lower unit-specific Market Seller Offer Cap

Less lead time to the delivery year (one year instead of three)

The use of a historical rather than a forward-looking Energy and Ancillary Services Revenue Offset

The first application of the Effective Load Carrying Capability (ELCC) method for determining the capacity value of wind, solar and storage resources

Carbon-Free Resources Increase

PJM's auction saw a growth of more than 5,000 cleared megawatts of carbon-free resources, led by an increase of 5,315 MW from existing nuclear units that did not clear in the previous auction. Solar resources increased 25%, from 1,512 MW to 1,868 MW, while the number of wind resources clearing was down 434 MW to 1,294 MW. The decrease in wind resources clearing the auction reflected a decrease of wind resources offering into the auction.

Natural gas resources clearing the auction increased by 1,685 MW, with more efficient combined-cycle units clearing 3,627 more megawatts than the last auction and combustion-turbine units down 1,012 MW. Combined-cycle units cleared a total of 48,030 MW in the auction and combustion-turbine units 19,080 MW.

Cleared capacity of steam units (primarily coal) was down 7,186 MW to 27,682 MW, tracking with a decrease of 7,813 MW offered into the auction as a result of coal retirements.

A 660 MW increase in Energy Efficiency resources, to 5,471 MW, was offset by a 716 MW decrease in Demand Response to 8,096 MW.

Hydro decreased slightly, from 4,157 MW to 3,677 MW.

The total procured capacity in the auction represents a 20.3% reserve margin, compared to a 14.8% required reserve for the 2023/2024 Delivery Year. This accounts for load and resource commitments under FRR.

In three areas, prices were higher than the overall PJM price:

In the MAAC region, the price was $49.49 /MW-day. MAAC consists of Atlantic City Electric, BGE, Delmarva Power, Jersey Central Power & Light, Met-Ed, PECO, Penelec, Pepco, PPL, PSE&G, PPL and Rockland Electric.

/MW-day. MAAC consists of Atlantic City Electric, BGE, Delmarva Power, Jersey Central Power & Light, Met-Ed, PECO, Penelec, Pepco, PPL, PSE&G, PPL and Rockland Electric. Two transmission zones within MAAC broke out with higher prices than the rest of the MAAC area.

The auction price was $69.95 in both the Baltimore Gas & Electric ( BGE ) transmission zone and the Delmarva Power South ( DPL-South ) transmission zone, which is Delmarva Power south of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal.

PJM has compressed its auction calendar to return to a three-year-forward basis. The next annual Base Residual Auction, for the 2024/2025 Delivery Year, will be held in December.

A detailed report of the results is available on PJM's capacity market web page.

2023/2024 Capacity Prices

Delivery Area Capacity Price Transmission Zone Affected RTO $34.13

MAAC $49.49 Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power North (north of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal), Jersey Central Power & Light, Met-Ed, PECO, Penelec, Pepco, PPL, PSE&G and Rockland Electric BGE $69.95 Baltimore Gas & Electric DPL-South $69.95 Delmarva Power South (south of Chesapeake & Delaware Canal)

PJM Interconnection, founded in 1927, ensures the reliability of the high-voltage electric power system serving 65 million people in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. PJM coordinates and directs the operation of the region's transmission grid, which includes over 85,103 miles of transmission lines; administers a competitive wholesale electricity market; and plans regional transmission expansion improvements to maintain grid reliability and relieve congestion. PJM's regional grid and market operations produce annual savings of $3.2 billion to $4 billion. For the latest news about PJM, visit PJM Inside Lines at insidelines.pjm.com.

SOURCE PJM Interconnection
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One of the main factors fueling the expansion of the portable printer market is the rising demand for solutions that combine mobility and document management. The major trend in the portable printer industry that is fostering market expansion is the integration of cutting-edge security solutions. However, one of the reasons impeding the growth of the portable printer market is the increasing focus of businesses on paperless work.

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Major Five Portable Printer Companies:

BIXOLON Co. Ltd.- The company offers ATI NiTiFe alloy that is used in shape memory nickel titanium alloy coupling devices.

The company offers ATI NiTiFe alloy that is used in shape memory nickel titanium alloy coupling devices. Brother Industries Ltd.- The company offers rich memory shape texture that supports body care segment.

The company offers rich memory shape texture that supports body care segment. Citizen Systems Japan Co. Ltd.- The company offers products such as titanium bar, titanium alloy rod, titanium tube, memory alloy bar.

The company offers products such as titanium bar, titanium alloy rod, titanium tube, memory alloy bar. Fujitsu Ltd.- The company offers shape memory plastics that have a wide-ranging potential for use in artificial muscles, hinges, solar sails, self-opening and -closing packaging, reprintable braille signs, or textiles that iron out their own wrinkles.

The company offers shape memory plastics that have a wide-ranging potential for use in artificial muscles, hinges, solar sails, self-opening and -closing packaging, reprintable braille signs, or textiles that iron out their own wrinkles. HP Inc.- The company offers nitinol alloys that are typically made of 55 to 56 percent nickel and 44 to 45 percent titanium.

To know about all major vendor offerings  Click here for a sample now!

Portable Printer Market Application Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2021-2026)

Transportation and logistics - size and forecast 2021-2026

Retail - size and forecast 2021-2026

Manufacturing - size and forecast 2021-2026

Healthcare - size and forecast 2021-2026

Others - size and forecast 2021-2026

Portable Printer Market Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2021-2026)

Thermal - size and forecast 2021-2026

Inkjet - size and forecast 2021-2026

Impact - size and forecast 2021-2026

Portable Printer Market Geography Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2021-2026)

APAC - size and forecast 2021-2026

North America - size and forecast 2021-2026

- size and forecast 2021-2026 Europe - size and forecast 2021-2026

- size and forecast 2021-2026 South America - size and forecast 2021-2026

- size and forecast 2021-2026 Middle East and Africa - size and forecast 2021-2026

To know about the contribution of each segment -Grab Latest Sample Report

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Portable Printer Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 18.11% Market growth 2022-2026 $ 8.15 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 16.88 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 34% Key consumer countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled BIXOLON Co. Ltd., Brother Industries Ltd., Canon Inc., Citizen Systems Japan Co. Ltd., CognitiveTPG, Fujitsu Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., HP Inc., Lexmark International Inc., Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd., Polaroid Film B.V., Printek L.L.C., SATO Holdings Corp., Seiko Epson Corp., Star Micronics Co. Ltd., Toshiba Tec Corp., and Zebra Technologies Corp. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Application



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Technology



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 09: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 10: Parent market



Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 13: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 18: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 20: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 21: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 22: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 23: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 24: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Application

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 25: Chart on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 26: Data Table on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Application

Exhibit 27: Chart on Comparison by Application



Exhibit 28: Data Table on Comparison by Application

5.3 Transportation and logistics - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 29: Chart on Transportation and logistics - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Data Table on Transportation and logistics - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 31: Chart on Transportation and logistics - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 32: Data Table on Transportation and logistics - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Retail - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 33: Chart on Retail - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Data Table on Retail - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 35: Chart on Retail - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 36: Data Table on Retail - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Manufacturing - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 37: Chart on Manufacturing - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 38: Data Table on Manufacturing - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 39: Chart on Manufacturing - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 40: Data Table on Manufacturing - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 41: Chart on Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 42: Data Table on Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 43: Chart on Healthcare - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 44: Data Table on Healthcare - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 45: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 46: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 47: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 48: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.8 Market opportunity by Application

Exhibit 49: Market opportunity by Application ($ million)

6 Market Segmentation by Technology

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 50: Chart on Technology - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on Technology - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Technology

Exhibit 52: Chart on Comparison by Technology



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Comparison by Technology

6.3 Thermal - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 54: Chart on Thermal - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on Thermal - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 56: Chart on Thermal - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on Thermal - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.4 Inkjet - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 58: Chart on Inkjet - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 59: Data Table on Inkjet - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 60: Chart on Inkjet - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 61: Data Table on Inkjet - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.5 Impact - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 62: Chart on Impact - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 63: Data Table on Impact - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 64: Chart on Impact - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on Impact - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.6 Market opportunity by Technology

Exhibit 66: Market opportunity by Technology ($ million)

7 Customer Landscape

7.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 67: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

8 Geographic Landscape

8.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 68: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 69: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

8.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 70: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 71: Data Table on Geographic comparison

8.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 72: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 73: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 74: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 75: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 76: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 78: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 80: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 82: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 83: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 84: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 85: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 86: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 87: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 88: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 89: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 90: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 91: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 92: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 93: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 94: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 95: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 96: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 97: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 98: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 99: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.10 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 100: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 101: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 102: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 103: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 104: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 105: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 106: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 107: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.12 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 108: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 109: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 110: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 111: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 112: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

9.1 Market drivers

9.2 Market challenges

9.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 113: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

9.4 Market trends

10 Vendor Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 114: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

10.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 115: Overview on factors of disruption

10.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 116: Impact of key risks on business

11 Vendor Analysis

11.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 117: Vendors covered

11.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 118: Matrix on vendor position and classification

11.3 BIXOLON Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 119: BIXOLON Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 120: BIXOLON Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 121: BIXOLON Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

11.4 Brother Industries Ltd.

Exhibit 122: Brother Industries Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 123: Brother Industries Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 124: Brother Industries Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 125: Brother Industries Ltd. - Segment focus

11.5 Canon Inc.

Exhibit 126: Canon Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 127: Canon Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 128: Canon Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 129: Canon Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 130: Canon Inc. - Segment focus

11.6 Fujitsu Ltd.

Exhibit 131: Fujitsu Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 132: Fujitsu Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 133: Fujitsu Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 134: Fujitsu Ltd. - Segment focus

11.7 Honeywell International Inc.

Exhibit 135: Honeywell International Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 136: Honeywell International Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 137: Honeywell International Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 138: Honeywell International Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 139: Honeywell International Inc. - Segment focus

11.8 HP Inc.

Exhibit 140: HP Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 141: HP Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 142: HP Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 143: HP Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 144: HP Inc. - Segment focus

11.9 Seiko Epson Corp.

Exhibit 145: Seiko Epson Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 146: Seiko Epson Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 147: Seiko Epson Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 148: Seiko Epson Corp. - Segment focus

11.10 Star Micronics Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 149: Star Micronics Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 150: Star Micronics Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 151: Star Micronics Co. Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 152: Star Micronics Co. Ltd. - Segment focus

11.11 Toshiba Tec Corp.

Exhibit 153: Toshiba Tec Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 154: Toshiba Tec Corp. - Product / Service



Exhibit 155: Toshiba Tec Corp. - Key offerings

11.12 Zebra Technologies Corp.

Exhibit 156: Zebra Technologies Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 157: Zebra Technologies Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 158: Zebra Technologies Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 159: Zebra Technologies Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 160: Zebra Technologies Corp. - Segment focus

12 Appendix

12.1 Scope of the report

12.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 161: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 162: Exclusions checklist

12.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 163: Currency conversion rates for US$

12.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 164: Research methodology



Exhibit 165: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 166: Information sources

12.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 167: List of abbreviations

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

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
Procurement Phosphate Procurement report explains key category management objectives that should form the base for sourcing strategy, including:

Top-line growth

Scalability of inputs

Green initiatives

Category innovations

Supply base rationalization

Demand forecasting and governance

Minimalization of ad hoc purchases

Adherence to regulatory nuances

Cost savings

Customer retention

Reduction of TCO

Supply assurance

Sign Up for a Sample Procurement Phosphate Procurement Market Report: www.spendedge.com/report/phosphate--sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report

Price Strategies and Benchmark

To optimize the value of the purchase, it is crucial to keep a track of current and future price trends. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects an incremental spend of USD 12.95 billion due to various market drivers prevalent across multiple regions. Also, the report speaks about various cost-saving factors through analysis of the below factors:

Identify favorable opportunities in Procurement Phosphate TCO (total cost of ownership)

Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes

Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities.

Key Selling Reports:

Mobile Device Management - Forecast and Analysis: The mobile device management procurement category is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.22%. International Business Machines Corp., BlackBerry Ltd., and Microsoft Corp. are among the prominent suppliers in mobile device management market. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report. Corporate Training Sourcing and Procurement Report: Corporate Training Procurement, prices will increase by 8.93% - 9.40% during the forecast period and suppliers will have a Moderate bargaining power in this market.. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report. Temporary Corporate Housing - Sourcing and Procurement Intelligence Report: This report offers detailed insights and analysis of the major cost drivers, volume drivers, and innovations of the temporary corporate housing procurement and sourcing market, which the global suppliers have been leveraging to gain a competitive edge across regions. Click the above link to download the free sample of this report.

Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

Contact

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge
MONTREAL, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Vention, the cloud-based manufacturing automation platform (MAP), is pleased to announce the launch of MachineLogic V4.0. This is one of its biggest releases since the initial product launch in 2018. Offered on a freemium and subscription basis, new users can leverage the full feature set of MachineLogic in its cloud version, with subscriptions required for those seeking to deploy equipment on the factory floor.

MachineLogic is one of several core products of Vention's manufacturing automation platform (MAP). Focusing on code-free programming, the cloud and edge software provides a unified programming interface across robot brands (Universal Robots, Fanuc, and Doosan), actuators (linear axis, conveyors, and pneumatics) and I/Os (digital and analog). Expert and emerging automation practitioners can easily program robot cells and automated equipment using simple visual sequences from their web browser, or directly on a teach pendant connected to the equipment. The technology saves practitioners from having to learn several proprietary programming languages specific to each robot, PLC, and motor-drive manufacturer.

MachineLogic provides a plug-and-play software and hardware user experience with intuitive component detection and configuration, easy programming, and software-assisted deployment. It works in unison with Vention's motion controller, MachineMotion, and the full library of Vention modular components. MachineLogic V4.0 also has several new features, raising the ceiling of equipment that can be programmed code-free, including multi-MachineMotion compatibility, simultaneous robot and actuator programming, and JavaScript lambda functions. The subscription offering also includes team onboarding training and access to Vention's customer success team for ongoing support.

"MachineLogic is key to our mission of democratizing industrial automation, and subscribers can expect a series of additional features in Q3 and Q4 of 2022," said Etienne Lacroix, CEO and founder of Vention. "We are only scratching the surface of the user experiences that are possible when you combine industrial automation hardware and engineering software."

MachineLogic V4.0 will be available as of July 25th, with online training and education webinar starting the same week. For more information, including various subscription options and pricing, visit Vention at vention.io/programming.

Code-free and advanced programming

Code-free application programming using visual sequences

Support for robot path planning, actuators/conveyors and I/Os

Tech mode for robot arms and actuators

Support for variables, conditions and loops

Advances programming through Lambda functions

Software-assisted machine configuration from digital twins

Automatic configuration checkers

Simulation and User Interface

Browser-based simulation of equipment

Virtual e-Stop and press button simulation

Drag-and-drop HMI building with library of UI components

MachineApps Integration

Path following

Cartesian palletizing

Cobot palletizing

Cobot machine tending

Hardware compatibility

Compatible with full library of Vention plug and play automation components

Robot arm agnostic for Universal Robots, Doosan and Fanuc Cobots

Multi-controller support for MachineMotion

External devices control through digital and analog I/Os

Machine Deployment

Simple "Cloud-to-factory floor" program download/upload

Automatic application checker

Manual jogger for robot arm and actuators

Operator-mode to run program in read-only

About Vention

Vention helps some of the most innovative manufacturers automate their production floors in just a few days through a democratized user experience. Vention's online-first manufacturing automation platform allows clients to design, automate, order, and deploy automated equipment directly from their web browsers. Vention is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with new offices in Berlin and Boston. The 320-person company serves 3,000+ customers on five continents and across 25 manufacturing industries. To learn more, visit vention.io or follow us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Vention
SALT has opened registration for its second New York event, taking place in September 2022

SALT Asia will return to Singapore, partnering with iConnections to offer investor network introductions at the event

NEW YORK and SINGAPORE, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SALT, a premier global thought leadership forum, today announced initial details of its flagship events in New York and Singapore.

SALT New York 2022 is taking place September 12-14 at the Javits Center Expansion in New York City. Registration is now open, as are sponsor and speaker applications. In addition, SALT is relaunching its flagship Asia eventin partnership with iConnections, the largest capital introduction platform and appNovember 14-16 at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Details can be found at www.salt.org.

SALT New York

SALT New York 2022 will focus on themes including alternative investments, fintech, digital assets, healthcare, infrastructure and sustainability. The event will bring together over 2,500 investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers and industry leaders. A preliminary agenda will be released in July, and registration can be accessed here. For the second consecutive year, SALT New York will use the proprietary iConnections platform to connect asset allocators, investment managers and entrepreneurs, both at the live event and virtually.

"During the pandemic, many people said New York would never be the same. We brought SALT back home in 2021 to be part of its comeback," said John Darsie, Managing Director of SALT. "We love this city and can't wait to host thousands of business leaders for great conversations, networking and experiences in September."

SALT New York 2021, an evolution of the legacy SALT Conference held in Las Vegas for a decade, drew 2,500 attendees and nearly 1,000 asset allocators. Keynote speakers included New York City Mayor Eric Adams, White House chief of staff Ron Klain and leading investors including Ray Dalio, Steve Cohen, Daniel Loeb and Mike Novogratz. It was the first event ever held at the new Javits Center Expansion after its $1.5 billion buildout that added 200,000 square feet of new meeting room and pre-function space, including a 54,000 square-foot special event space.

As with last year's event, the venue is equipped with advanced safety protocols, including sanitation stations, new high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA-grade) filters and CO2 sensors to adjust ventilation rates based on occupancy.

SALT iConnections Asia

SALT is also reviving its annual Asia event, returning to Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands, this time in partnership with iConnections. iConnections' capital introductions platform and app will make the event the largest investor networking conference of the region. SALT Asia was last hosted in 2012 and 2013. Sponsorship and speaker submissions can be made here. Those interested in attending can sign up to receive more information here; more details about registration and the agenda will be released later this summer.

"SALT convenes the brightest mindsfrom young founders to legacy financial institutionsworking on innovative ideas that are shaping the world," said Darsie. "We continue to expand our event and content offerings every single year, and couldn't be more excited to get back to Singapore."

"iConnections and SALT bring together the most important investors, decision-makers and entrepreneurs," said iConnections CEO Ron Biscardi. "Our platform and app are already the technology of choice for leading brands in the industry, and we look forward to further expanding our partnership with SALT.

The SALT Ecosystem

SALT produces industry-leading events and content throughout the year. In April, SALT hosted a sold-out inaugural Crypto Bahamas, in partnership with leading crypto exchange FTX, to focus on bringing the worlds of traditional and decentralized finance together. The second annual event will return in April 2023.

SALT also continues to produce its digital media series SALT Talks, which features thought-provoking, educational conversations with industry and community leaders about topics ranging from finance and entrepreneurship to policy and science. A full library is available on YouTube.

Additional details about SALT New York, SALT Asia and other SALT content and forums will be shared in the coming months. Follow SALT on LinkedIn and Twitter to stay up to date.

About SALT

SALT is a global thought leadership forum focused on innovation and investing founded in 2009 by Anthony Scaramucci and SkyBridge Capital. Its mission is to empower big ideas by connecting people and capital. SALT's flagship events bring together the world's foremost investors, creators and thinkers for high-level collaboration and networking. First airing in May 2021, SALT Talks is a digital media series featuring conversations with leading entrepreneurs. For more information please visit https://www.salt.org/ and follow SALT's Twitter and LinkedIn for content and updates.

About iConnections

iConnections is a software-powered community connecting the investment management industry. iConnections' platform and app allows managers to securely share company information with allocators, who can seamlessly evaluate and engage with relevant managers. The scalable technology powering iConnections can be used for all types of bespoke investor events. In an increasingly digital world, iConnections has reimagined how the investment industry connects. Visit https://iconnections.io to learn more.

Media Contacts

Prosek Partners, on behalf of SALT

[email protected]

Diana Arakelyan

Chief Marketing Officer

[email protected]

SOURCE SALT
MILWAUKEE, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Convey (NYSE: CNVY) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with TPG Capital.

Click here to learn how to join the action: https://www.ademilaw.com/case/convey-health-solutions-holdings-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.

Ademi LLP alleges Convey's financial outlook and prospects are excellent and yet Convey holders will receive only $10.50 per share in cash, representing an enterprise value of approximately $1.1 billion. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for Convey by imposing a significant penalty if Convey accepts a superior bid. Convey insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.

We are investigating the conduct of Convey's board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for Convey.

If you own Convey common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/convey-health-solutions-holdings-inc.

We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts

Ademi LLP

Guri Ademi

Toll Free: (866) 264-3995

Fax: (414) 482-8001

SOURCE Ademi LLP
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the market research study published by P&S Intelligence, the size of SOC as a service market was $4.4 billion in 2021, and it will advance at a growth rate of 11.6% in the forecast period, to touch the $11.8 billion mark by 2030. The main factor responsible for the market growth is the surge in the count of cyberattacks and cyber breaches. For example, there was a yearly growth of 50% in cyberattacks, worldwide. Likewise, the work-from-home and BYOD trends have improved the industry's growth potential.

The detection service category holds the largest share in the SOC as a service market, of about 37%, because of the growing acceptance of digital know-how. Moreover, targeted attacks have become more prevalent as the reliance of people on digital data and sharing a lot of data has increased. To lessen this, the need for detection services in companies is surging rapidly.

Get the sample pages of this report at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/soc-as-a-service-market/report-sample

Within the end user segment of the SOC as a service market, the BFSI industry held the largest revenue share, of over 45%, in 2021, as this industry is extensively targeted by cybercriminals. For instance, around 70% of the cyber breaches are aimed at BFSI organizations, and over 30 billion bank accounts are projected to be hacked in 2030. Moreover, each data breach can cost a BFSI company over $6 million.

The SOC as a service market in North America holds about 40% share, as the highest number of SOC as service vendors are present in the region. The number is on the rise, as the continent witnesses the most cyberattacks and data breaches. Furthermore, the growing use of cloud-based applications, platforms, and technologies requires tougher security. This is because these applications and platforms hold the private information of clients and businesses, along with information related to payment. In addition, governments offer specific budget provisions for encouraging the adoption of these solutions.

The U.S. is the market leader in North America, credited to the increasing acceptance of SOCaaS solutions because of the growing number of cybercrimes, including identity thefts. The insurance sector is the most-widely targeted sector, followed by consumer goods and services and telecommunications.

Browse detailed report on Global SOC as a Service Market Size, Share, Growth Drivers and Demand Forecast Report 2030

The APAC SOC as a service market will grow at the highest CAGR in the coming years, which can be ascribed to the fact that companies are rapidly accepting SOCaaS solutions to fight cyberattacks. Furthermore, a surge in cybercrime cases, growth in cybersecurity consciousness, increase in legislation and training, and fast digitization of processes are helping the market row in the region. For example, regional companies are attacked over 50 times every week by cybercriminals on average. Similarly, there is a yearly growth of around 160% in cyberattacks.

SOC as a Service Market Segmentation Analysis

By Component

Solutions

Professional Services

By Type

Detection Service

Prevention Service

Incident Response Service

By Type

Fully Managed

Co-Managed

By Enterprise Size

Large Enterprises

SMEs

By Application

Network Security

Application Security

Endpoint Security

Cloud Security

By Industry Vertical

BFSI

Government and Public Sector

IT and Telecom

Healthcare

Retail

Manufacturing

Energy and Utilities

By Region

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

Germany



France



U.K.



Italy



Spain

Asia-Pacific

China



India



Japan



Australia



South Korea

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico

Middle East and Africa

and Saudi Arabia



South Africa

Browse More Related Reports

Security as a Service Market Analysis, Emerging Trends, Key Players and Forecast Report 2030

KMaaS Market Analysis, Emerging Trends, Key Players and Forecast Report 2030

BFSI Security Market Analysis, Emerging Trends, Key Players and Forecast Report 2030

About P&S Intelligence

P&S Intelligence provides market research and consulting services to a vast array of industries across the world. As an enterprising research and consulting company, P&S believes in providing thorough insights on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness. P&S keeps the interest of its clients at heart, which is why the insights we provide are both honest and accurate. Our long list of satisfied clients includes entry-level firms as well as multi-million-dollar businesses and government agencies.

Contact:

Prajneesh Kumar

P&S Intelligence

Phone: +1-347-960-6455

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com

Follow Us: LinkedIn Twitter

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1224988/P_and_S_Intelligence_Logo.jpg

SOURCE P&S Intelligence
"Combating hunger through food recovery is a longstanding endeavor for our organization," said Jennifer Carney, Director, Tradeshow Operations, for the SFA. "City Harvest is a longtime partner that highlights the importance of community involvement for the specialty food industry."

"The Summer Fancy Food Show is one of the biggest and most important food rescues City Harvest undertakes each year," said Jenna Harris, Associate Director of Donor Relations & Supply Chain for City Harvest. "This year, we were able to rescue more than 112,000 pounds of incredible gourmet food and immediately deliver it -- free of charge -- to food pantries and soup kitchens across New York City. From artisan meats and cheeses to delectable desserts and gourmet beverages, the food we rescued from the Summer Fancy Food Show helped feed thousands of our New York neighbors in need. We are so grateful for the continued partnership with the Specialty Food Association."

The Summer Fancy Food Show was a trade-only event; the next Show, the Winter Fancy Food Show, will take place January 15-17 in Las Vegas. To learn more, click here .

About the Specialty Food Association

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) has been the leading trade association and source of information about the $175 billion specialty food industry for 70 years. Founded in 1952 in New York City, the SFA represents manufacturers, importers, retailers, distributors, brokers, and others in the trade. The SFA is known for its Fancy Food Shows ; the sofi Awards , which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage for 50 years; the Trendspotter Panel Show reports and annual predictions; the State of the Specialty Food Industry Report and Today's Specialty Food Consumer research; the ecommerce enabled SFA Product Marketplace , where members showcase products and sell directly to qualified buyers; SFA Feed , the daily source for industry news, trends and new product information, and Spill & Dish: A Specialty Food Association Podcast .

ABOUT CITY HARVEST

City Harvest is New York's first and largest food rescue organization, helping to feed millions of New Yorkers who struggle to put meals on their tables. As the city emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, we will rescue more than 100 million pounds of fresh, nutritious food and deliver itfree of chargeto nearly 400 food pantries, soup kitchens, community partners, and our own Mobile Markets across the five boroughs. We work alongside our community partners to boost community capacity, expand nutrition education, and strengthen local food systems. For more than 35 years, City Harvest has always been there to feed our cityone day, one meal, one New Yorker at a time. To learn more, please visit cityharvest.org .

Facebook: Specialty Food Association

LinkedIn: Specialty Food Association

TikTok: specialtyfoodassociation

Twitter: @Specialty_Food

Instagram: @specialtyfoodassociation

Hashtags: #FancyFoodShow #FancyFoodNYC #SpecialtyFood

SOURCE Specialty Food Association
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 30 institutional holders of the 11 outstanding series of international bonds (the "Bonds") issued by the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ("Sri Lanka") have organized a bondholder group (the "Group") to represent the interests of international investors in the expected restructuring of Sri Lanka's debt.

The Group is prepared to engage constructively and collaboratively with the Sri Lankan authorities and other important domestic and international stakeholders as part of a comprehensive debt restructuring process aimed at securing an outcome that is both equitable to creditors and responsive to the economic and social challenges facing Sri Lanka.

The Group is broadly representative of Sri Lanka's bondholder base, both by type of institution and by geography, and holds Bonds across each outstanding series. The aggregate outstanding Bonds, totalling US$12.6 billion, constitute approximately 50% of Sri Lanka's total foreign currency denominated central government debt.

A steering committee of the Group has been established which comprises funds and accounts managed or advised by a variety of institutions based in the US, Europe and Asia, including, among others, Amundi Asset Management, BlackRock and its subsidiaries, Eaton Vance Management, Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC, HBK Capital Management, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Neuberger Berman, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., and Wellington Management.

The Group welcomes the authorities' ongoing engagement with the International Monetary Fund (the "IMF"), and encourages the authorities to formulate and implement a package of meaningful reforms and fiscal adjustments to restore the conditions for sustainable and inclusive growth and support the long term prosperity of Sri Lanka.

The Group is ready to interact swiftly with the authorities and the IMF to help achieve a timely resolution of Sri Lanka's debt related challenges. To this end the Group expects that the forthcoming process will be conducted in a manner consistent with the G20-endorsed Principles for Stable Capital Flows and Fair Debt Restructuring, which emphasise transparency, good faith negotiations and fair treatment among creditor classes.

The Group has retained White & Case LLC and Rothschild & Co as legal and financial advisors respectively for this process.

Holders of Sri Lanka's international Bonds who wish to learn more about the Group and its objectives are encouraged to reach out to [email protected] and/or [email protected]

SOURCE White & Case LLP
Newly published research shows that Cardiologs' deep learning model can predict the short-term risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) based on 24-hour Holter recordings that show normal sinus rhythm.



PARIS and BOSTON, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardiologs, a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) cardiology diagnostics, announced today that its latest study, "Short-term prediction of atrial fibrillation from ambulatory monitoring ECG using a deep neural network," has been published in the European Heart Journal - Digital Health.

The study, led by Dr. Jagmeet Singh, Cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, consisted of training Cardiologs' deep neural network to predict the near-term presence or absence of AFib by only using the first 24 hours of an extended Holter recording. Results showed that the network was able to predict whether AFib would occur in the near future with an area under the receiver operating curve, sensitivity, and specificity of 79.4%, 76%, and 69%, respectively, and outperformed ECG features previously shown to be predictive of AFib. These results showed a ten-point improvement compared to a baseline model using age and sex.

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) affects millions of people each year. However, the condition is often unrecognized and untreated. Nowadays, patients are subject to 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograms (ECGs) to receive a diagnosis, but this short-duration recording is known to have a low diagnostic yield and misses many patients with infrequent AFib episodes.

The Cardiologs' study is the first of its kind to demonstrate the capability of artificial intelligence in predicting AFib in the short-term using 24-hour Holter compared to resting 12-lead ECGs. While 12-lead ECG gives access to a larger view of the hearts' activity for a short period, 24-hour Holter provides longer-duration signals, therefore, offering additional inputs for predicting models.

"Cardiologs' study shows that 24-hour Holter data can be used to enhance current monitoring capabilities, bringing hope to high-risk patients who would benefit from proactive treatment and AFib mitigation strategies. By getting patients the care they need sooner and potentially preventing more severe outcomes, we could help save many lives," said Dr. Jagmeet P. Singh.

"The extension of AI capabilities towards predictions and digital biomarkers has the potential to bring improved health outcomes leading to new diagnostic paradigms. Predictive biomarkers may lead to early detection, optimized patient monitoring, and improved patient management in general. At Cardiologs, we are excited to be at the forefront of innovations that help set a new standard of patient care," said Cardiologs CEO and co-founder Yann Fleureau.

Read the full study here: https://cardiologs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Short-term-prediction-of-atrial-fibrillation-from-ambulatory-monitoring-ECG-using-a-deep-neural-network.pdf.

About Cardiologs

Cardiologs is a medical technology company committed to transforming cardiac diagnostics using medical-grade artificial intelligence and cloud technology. Developed in partnership with leading physicians, the Cardiologs Holter Platform empowers clinicians worldwide to deliver expert cardiac care faster and more efficiently. CE-Marked and FDA cleared for detection of 14 cardiac arrhythmias, the Cardiologs Holter Platform is built on a growing database of more than 20 million ECG recordings and is supported by a number of clinical publications. In November 2021, Cardiologs announced that they were being acquired by Philips to expand their cardiac portfolio.

Media Contact:

Andrea LePain

[email protected]

617-894-1153

SOURCE Cardiologs
Through a community partnership with Drexel University. Drexel's Early Childhood Education Scholarship for teacher preparation will work with Easterseals to provide scholarships funded by Public Health Management Corporation. Easterseals will use funds from the Foundation for Delaware County to cover the cost of application and book fees. Additionally, the funds will be used to cover the fees necessary for the TA's to earn the Childhood Development Associate (CDA) credential, an Easterseals requirement for teaching positions. The funds will also allow Easterseals to provide a stipend for Easterseals teachers or therapists to support the TA's as mentors. This mentoring support will allow for greater success in the completion of their education by having a co-worker who is also investing their time, energy, and expertise into their efforts.

Though several internal candidates have been identified for the Teacher's Assistant to Teacher Program, Easterseals is still looking for more candidates. This exciting program allows professional growth and education while simultaneously working to meet the educational needs of local children with disabilities.

Locally, Easterseals of Southeastern Pennsylvania serves Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties in an effort to maximize the independence of children and adults with disabilities. Program and services include, but are not limited to, Approved Private School, Early Intervention, physical, occupational and speech therapies and assistive technology. Last year Easterseals served over 8,000 local individuals by providing direct quality services for individuals with disabilities. For more information visit www.easterseals-sepa.org.

Contact: Melanie O'Brien

Director of Communications

484.234.8009

[email protected]

SOURCE Easter Seals of Pennsylvania
CHICAGO, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rainbow PUSH Coalition and the Transformative Justice Coalition will assemble an All-Star panel of the nation's most prominent voting rights advocates for a special discussion to be held on the national holiday of Juneteenth. The goal of this panel is to educate, inspire and ignite our national audience to fight the assault on voting rights and to lift up the best practices for protecting all Voters, particularly, African American, Latino, Native American, Asian American, Youth Voters, and Voters with Disabilities.

The panel will equip our "free d vote" fighters with the information and resources to battle for the soul of our democracy! This panel will present Top voting rights activists and lawyers sharing major insights and replicable strategies on how to both transcend the pressing threat to voting rights and protect access to voting in America. The panel will be capped with a "Voting Rights Champion Reception" honoring Marcus Arbery & Family, Crystal Mason, and Pamela P. Moses.

What: "Combatting the Vicious Attack On Voting Rights!" Who: Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, President & Founder, Rainbow Push Coalition

Barbara R. Arnwine, Esq., President & Founder, Transformative Justice Coalition

Daryl D. Jones, Esq, Board Chair/Co-Leader, Transformative Justice Coalition

LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder, Black Voters Matter

Desmond Meade, President & Executive Director, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition

Virginia Kase Solomon, CEO, League of Women Voters

Rev. Todd Yeary, Esq., CEO, Rainbow Push Coalition

Helen Butler, Executive Director, Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda

Joshua Price, Former Pulaski County Commissioner

Darrius Ballinger, President & CEO, Chasing23

Ahmaud Arbery Family (Marcus Arbery, Ahmaud's Father and other family members)

Crystal Mason, Activist

Pamela Moses (P. Moses), Activist When: June 20, 2022 - 1:30pm (CST)  Panel

6:00pm (CST)  Champion Reception Where: South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 South Shore Drive, Chicago, IL

Founded in 2015 by Barbara Arnwine, president emeritus of the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights, the Transformative Justice Coalition seeks to be a catalyst for transformative institutional changes that bring about justice and equality in the United States and abroad. Learn more at tjcoalition.org.

Contact:

Dorean Seaborn

[email protected]

(202) 880-6114

SOURCE Transformative Justice Coalition
DUBLIN, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market (2022-2027) by Type, Indication, Geography, Competitive Analysis, and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market is estimated to be USD 75.35 Mn in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 133.51 Mn by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 12.12%.



Market dynamics are forces that impact the prices and behaviors of the Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market stakeholders. These forces create pricing signals which result from the changes in the supply and demand curves for a given product or service. Forces of Market Dynamics may be related to macro-economic and micro-economic factors. There are dynamic market forces other than price, demand, and supply. Human emotions can also drive decisions, influence the market, and create price signals.



As the market dynamics impact the supply and demand curves, decision-makers aim to determine the best way to use various financial tools to stem various strategies for speeding the growth and reducing the risks.



Market Segmentations

The Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market is segmented based on Technology, End-User, and Geography.

By Technology, the market is classified into Electroanatomical Mapping, Basket Catheter Mapping, and Real-Time Positional Management EP System.

By End-User, the market is classified into Hospitals & Clinics, and Diagnostics Centers.

By Geography, the market is classified into Americas, Europe , Middle-East & Africa and Asia-Pacific .

Company Profiles

The report provides a detailed analysis of the competitors in the market. It covers the financial performance analysis for the publicly listed companies in the market. The report also offers detailed information on the companies' recent development and competitive scenario. Some of the companies covered in this report are Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Microport Scientific, APN Health, Coremap, Kardium, Catheter Precision, Epmap-System, etc.



Countries Studied

America ( Argentina , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Colombia , Mexico , Peru , United States , Rest of Americas)

, , , , , , , , Rest of Americas) Europe ( Austria , Belgium , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Italy , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Russia , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , United Kingdom , Rest of Europe )

( , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Rest of ) Middle-East and Africa ( Egypt , Israel , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , United Arab Emirates , Rest of MEA)

and ( , , , , , , Rest of MEA) Asia-Pacific ( Australia , Bangladesh , China , India , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Philippines , Singapore , South Korea , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Taiwan , Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Competitive Quadrant

The report includes Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.



Ansoff Analysis

The report presents a detailed Ansoff matrix analysis for the Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market. Ansoff Matrix, also known as Product/Market Expansion Grid, is a strategic tool used to design strategies for the growth of the company. The matrix can be used to evaluate approaches in four strategies viz. Market Development, Market Penetration, Product Development and Diversification. The matrix is also used for risk analysis to understand the risk involved with each approach.

The report analyses the Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market using the Ansoff Matrix to provide the best approaches a company can take to improve its market position.

Based on the SWOT analysis conducted on the industry and industry players, the analyst has devised suitable strategies for market growth.

Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains the competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's Proprietary competitive positioning tool.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Market Dynamics

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Surge in Prevalence of Cardiac Arrhythmias

4.1.2 Growth in Preference for Minimally Invasive Procedures

4.1.3 Growth in the Geriatric Population

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 High Cost of 3D Cardiac Mapping Systems

4.2.2 Unfavorable Regulatory Scenario

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 Focus on Launch of Innovative Products

4.3.2 Emergence of AI and ML Technologies to Boost the 3D Content Accuracy

4.4 Challenges

4.4.1 Availability of Alternative Technologies



5 Market Analysis

5.1 Regulatory Scenario

5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Ansoff Matrix Analysis



6 Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market, By Technology

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Electroanatomical Mapping

6.3 Basket Catheter Mapping

6.4 Real-Time Positional Management (Cardiac Pathways) EP System



7 Global 3D Cardiac Mapping Market, By End-User

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Hospitals &Clinics

7.3 Diagnostics Centers



8 Americas' 3D Cardiac Mapping Market

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Argentina

8.3 Brazil

8.4 Canada

8.5 Chile

8.6 Colombia

8.7 Mexico

8.8 Peru

8.9 United States

8.10 Rest of Americas



9 Europe's 3D Cardiac Mapping Market

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Austria

9.3 Belgium

9.4 Denmark

9.5 Finland

9.6 France

9.7 Germany

9.8 Italy

9.9 Netherlands

9.10 Norway

9.11 Poland

9.12 Russia

9.13 Spain

9.14 Sweden

9.15 Switzerland

9.16 United Kingdom

9.17 Rest of Europe



10 Middle East and Africa's 3D Cardiac Mapping Market

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Egypt

10.3 Israel

10.4 Qatar

10.5 Saudi Arabia

10.6 South Africa

10.7 United Arab Emirates

10.8 Rest of MEA



11 APAC's 3D Cardiac Mapping Market

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Australia

11.3 Bangladesh

11.4 China

11.5 India

11.6 Indonesia

11.7 Japan

11.8 Malaysia

11.9 Philippines

11.10 Singapore

11.11 South Korea

11.12 Sri Lanka

11.13 Thailand

11.14 Taiwan

11.15 Rest of Asia-Pacific



12 Competitive Landscape

12.1 Competitive Quadrant

12.2 Market Share Analysis

12.3 Strategic Initiatives

12.3.1 M&A and Investments

12.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations

12.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements



13 Company Profiles

13.1 Biosense Webster (A Johnson & Johnson Company)

13.2 Abbott Laboratories

13.3 Medtronic

13.4 Boston Scientific

13.5 Microport Scientific

13.6 EP Solutions

13.7 Koninklijke Philips

13.8 Lepu Medical

13.9 Biotronik

13.10 Angiodynamics

13.11 Biosig Technologies

13.12 APN Health

13.13 Coremap

13.14 Kardium

13.15 Catheter Precision

13.16 Epmap-System



14 Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/y37ia0

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets
"We're thrilled to have our products and technology recognized by the SIIA," said Chelsea Valentine, Chief Technology Officer at Cengage Group. "Across our different markets, our customers need solutions that can support in-person and remote learning, help prepare students for college and career, and deliver the best reference experience. It's validating to know we're meeting that need head-on."

Cengage 2022 CODiE Award winners include:

Best Higher Education Remote Learning Partner: MindTap - Cengage Group's flagship online learning platform, is used to power teaching and learning in in-person, online or hybrid course formats. MindTap enables instructors to create personalized learning experiences to engage students and boost performance, while delivering access to their eTextbook, study tools, assessments, multimedia and performance analytics. The platform was recognized for new functionalities including the personal study plan and performance reporting, side-by-side activities for students, and the ability for instructors to edit existing assessment content and use a new workflow to create completely new, custom assignments.

Cengage Group's flagship online learning platform, is used to power teaching and learning in in-person, online or hybrid course formats. MindTap enables instructors to create personalized learning experiences to engage students and boost performance, while delivering access to their eTextbook, study tools, assessments, multimedia and performance analytics. The platform was recognized for new functionalities including the personal study plan and performance reporting, side-by-side activities for students, and the ability for instructors to edit existing assessment content and use a new workflow to create completely new, custom assignments. Best College & Career Readiness Solution: DHO Health Science (National Geographic Learning) - This resource reflects the latest research, up-to-date content, diverse artwork, and access to primary sources. This National Geographic Learning winner is hosted on MindTap, National Geographic Learning's transformational portal for teaching and learning. Interactivity, a variety of assessments, and the ability to customize courses offer teachers and students a rich learning experience.

(National Geographic Learning) - This resource reflects the latest research, up-to-date content, diverse artwork, and access to primary sources. This National Geographic Learning winner is hosted on MindTap, National Geographic Learning's transformational portal for teaching and learning. Interactivity, a variety of assessments, and the ability to customize courses offer teachers and students a rich learning experience. Best Library Reference or Educational Database: Political Extremism and Radicalism (Gale) - This digital archive series provides insight on unorthodox political groups and movements from both the far right and left of the political spectrum through providing digital access to rare, hard to find primary sources supporting the study of extremism, racism, activism, cultural studies, political science, policy studies, gender studies, sexuality, race, religion, civil rights and many other related areas of research. The archive was recognized for its curriculum support of researching/teaching extremism and activism. This marks the second consecutive year that a Gale Primary Sources archive has won a CODiE award in the best Library Reference or Educational Database category.

"The 2022 EdTech CODiE Award winners exemplify the outstanding products, services and overall innovation that enables learners of all types to connect with educators and educational materials," said SIIA President Jeff Joseph. "We are so proud to recognize this year's honorees  the best of the best  that provide solutions to many of the critical challenges facing learners today  from access and equity, to personalized and tailored learning and beyond. Congratulations to all of this year's CODiE Award winners!"

The full list of winning products can be found at: https://www.siia.net/2022-codie-ed-tech-winners/

About Cengage Group

With more than 100 years serving learners, Cengage Group is a global edtech company that enables student choice. No matter how, where, when or why someone wants to learn, our portfolio of education businesses supports all students, from middle school through graduate school and skills education, with quality content and technology. Collectively, our three business units -- Cengage Academic, Cengage Work and Cengage Select -- help millions of students each year in more than 125 countries achieve their education and career goals and lead choice-filled lives Visit us at cengagegroup.com or find us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

About the CODiE Awards

The SIIA CODiE Awards is the only peer-reviewed program to showcase business and education technology's finest products and services. Since 1986, thousands of products, services and solutions have been recognized for achieving excellence. For more information, visit siia.net/CODiE .

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Cengage Group
The Vancouver International Financial Summit (VIFS) 2022, hosted by FX168 Financial Group, is scheduled for September 2-3 at the JW Marriot Parq Hotel in Vancouver city. The summit aims to create an open and influential platform to share a wealth of cutting-edge investment information by selecting qualified international financial institutions that focus on advanced trading, technology, and information services in the financial sector globally. In addition, VIFS 2022 is a valuable opportunity for exploring trading and investment opportunities for high-net-worth investors and institutions, providing a valuable interacting platform for industry practitioners. With an exhibition area of over 20,000 square feet, the event is highly valued by financial industry professionals, investors, and local and international exhibitors.

Event Highlights

Policy analysis by economists from various vertical sectors, exploring current financial affairs and investment hotspots.

Highlighted professional advice and service from financial analysts and investment advisors

The interaction of capital from the East and the West will promote the prosperous development of the Canadian economy and financial industry.

As the most critical part of the summit, several outstanding financial awards will be selected based on the voting results of the public, experts and media, providing reference guidelines for investors.

FX168 Financial Group, the organizer of this event, is a well-known provider of 24H professional financial information, financial data, investment education and training, financial exhibitions, branding, and other comprehensive services with a "global perspective" based in Greater China, Southeast Asia, as well as North America and Europe. The company's business covers 35 major investment markets worldwide, with thousands of institutional partners serving 200 million investors in China and more than 50 million Chinese globally. In addition, the group has long been a leader in providing global financial media services, professional research reports and supporting system development services based on the financial industry and market data, market monitoring and industry intelligence services, and systematic investor education and training services using the O2O concept, leading Chinese-language investors to achieve the "optimal allocation of wealth in time and space" on a global scale with a global perspective.

The company's Asia Trading Summit has been held in Asia for many years and has received many positive comments from exhibitors, practitioners, and investors. In the post-pandemic era, the company selects the world's best financial institutions for Vancouver, bringing a unique investment feast to North American investors.

For more information, check www.vifs2022.com, or scan the QR code. Register the event before August 1st for free tickets.

Exhibitors, sponsors, or speakers are welcome to inquire at [email protected] , or call (1)604-249-2146. For media cooperation, please email [email protected].

SOURCE FX168
Kluwer Arbitration provides access to exclusive arbitration resources and a streamlined research experience that supports legal professionals throughout the arbitration process end-to-end, from selecting the right arbitrator for a case to building a winning strategy. The solution offers practical guidance, a rich collection of awards, and superior deep domain expertise content that together save time, make information easily accessible, and drive efficiency in the arbitration research process. The newly added 7,000+ data-driven profiles and relationships of 14,600+ arbitration professionals empower legal professionals to find, compare, or challenge arbitrators while minimizing involved risks and increasing predictability and efficacy of arbitrator appointments for the parties.

"By providing legal professionals with key industry information and Al-enabled analytics, Kluwer Arbitration empowers customers' workflow to help drive efficiency and make informed decisions," said David Bartolone, Vice President and General Manager for the International Group within Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. "We are honored to be recognized by this prestigious industry award in the Best Legal Solution category, and look forward to advancing our solution while continuing to meet and exceed our customers' needs every day."

Acknowledged as the premier awards program for the software and information industries for over 35 years, the SIIA CODiE Awards are produced by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the software, education, media and digital content industries. Kluwer Arbitration was honored as one of 46 winners across the 45 business technology categories, including seven leadership categories recognizing outstanding companies, individuals and teams.

Details about the winners are listed at https://siia.net/codie/business-technology-winners/.

About Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk, and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2021 annual revenues of 4.8 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,800 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY).

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com , follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook , and YouTube .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Linda Gharib

Director, Brand & Communications

Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

Tel: +1 (646) 887-7962

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.
With wireless charging, USB-C 20W PD, and one USB-A port, SuperMini GO can charge 3 devices at the same time. SuperMini GO's LCD screen intuitively displays battery and charging status.

Like many of Zendure's previous offerings, SuperMini GO is available in black or silver. The company has added a third option for their new wireless charger: Cyan Sunset. The colorful ombre finish strikes a balance of sophistication and playfulness.

In addition to the multi-faceted safety measures commonly seen in Zendure products, SuperMini GO has foreign object detection. This prevents SuperMini GO from overheating and wasting energy if a foreign object is detected within the wireless charging zone.

Zendure's SuperMini Go Wireless charger is now available on Indiegogo, with shipping planned for September. Limited-time discounts are available for early backers.

Zendure is an outdoor consumer electronics company located in Silicon Valley in the United States and the Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Greater Bay Area in China. Zendure has continuously launched innovative products, made rapid breakthroughs in the core technologies of outdoor energy storage and power supplies, and continues to bring pleasant surprises to the user experience. The company recently received a multi-million dollar series-A round of funding through a joint investment from Shanghai GP Capital and YOTRIO group.

SOURCE Zendure
Launched in 2020, the Campaign has established itself as a valuable brand that allows people both in Korea and abroad to rediscover the value of Korean culture and heritage. The Campaign is committed to spreading the Hallyu, or Korean Wave, across the globe.

This year's Campaign will feature ten unique themes under which 75 different destinations are centered on the World Heritages and Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in Korea and a wide variety of related content.

Despite the limitations due to COVID-19 over the past two years, the Campaign has made remarkable achievements in promoting Korea's culture, heritage, and the Hallyu movement to people worldwide. They include the implementation of overseas advertisements on large billboards in major cities around the world, including New York and London, participation in the Dubai Expo, and the production of 677 pieces of online content.

Meanwhile, actress Kim Min-ha, who emerged as a worldwide phenomenon with her role in the hit drama television series "Pachinko," serves as the official celebrity ambassador for this year's Campaign. She appeared in a video project promoting the Campaign. As the ambassador, Kim visited the Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon as part of her trip through the "Mountain Temple Route" to reflect on the ancestors' legacy through the Tripitaka Koreana, the complete collection of Buddhist scriptures carved on over eighty thousand woodblocks. Her trip to the Haeinsa Temple will be included in the "2022 Visit Korean Heritage Campaign Brand Video" (to be released in the year's second half). It will be aired on one of the massive billboards in Times Square, New York City.

For this year's "Korea In Fashion," one of the Campaign's popular programs, the CHA and the CHF will collaborate with the fashion brand "Rieul" by designer Kim Ri-eul. "Korea In Fashion" gained massive attention by working with designer Tchai Kim for the past two years. Its video clips recorded 650,000 views on YouTube and 700,000 clicks for the photos, effectively suggesting Hanbok as a fashion choice among younger generations. This year, it plans to showcase new and intriguing aspects of Hanbok again with designer Kim Ri-eul, known for his suits made with Hanbok fabric worn by BTS and Zico.

More details on the "Visit Korean Heritage Campaign" are available on the Campaign's official website (chf.or.kr/visit), YouTube (www.youtube.com/koreanheritage), and the Instagram page (@visitkoreanheritage).

SOURCE Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation
WorldViz presents its 2023 update to cost considerations for VR hardware, software and application development for scientists looking to start or upgrade their Virtual Reality research lab.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WorldViz is pleased to present its "2023 Budgeting Guidelines for Scientific VR Labs". Designed for scientists interested in conducting VR research, this updated guide not only discusses the latest VR headsets such as the HP Reverb G2 Omnicept, HTC VIVE Pro 2, Oculus Quest 2 and Varjo VR-3, but also covers 3D projection, rendering computers, motion tracking and other sensors, VR software, facilities, personnel, installation, training and support.

Read the full article at https://www.worldviz.com/virtual-reality-blog .

The WorldViz VR budgeting guide includes detailed sections on VR equipment from VR headsets to 3D projection systems, motion tracking, controllers and biofeedback. WorldViz 3D projection immersive simulation room in action.

This guide provides an overview and also shows typical examples of total VR system costs at different levels. Whether you are just starting out and looking for the most cost effective way to get up and running or preparing to make a large investment to build a state of the art VR facility, this information is for scientists to get a successful start. For specific pricing information, or to discuss your project with our experts, please email us at [email protected] or request a quote .

What goes into a VR project budget?

When you pencil out what is needed for a proper VR project, there are important building blocks to consider. First, will a VR headset or a VR projection system be used, or both? Second is a rendering computer with ample graphics capabilities, and possible wide-area motion tracking and other sensor systems such as eye tracking or biofeedback. Third, users will need VR software for creating and rendering their applications. Last but not least, users will want to think about their facilities, personnel, installation, training and support.

The WorldViz VR budgeting guidelines further discusses VR application development considerations such as 3D graphics, VR programming, and custom development.

Lastly, the 2023 budgeting guidelines give readers an idea of typical VR project budgeting examples, from low-cost barebone DIY systems starting at $1,500 to commercial integrated mid-tier systems starting at $8,000, and fully integrated VR projection and specialty VR systems starting at $50,000.

For specific pricing information please email WorldViz at [email protected] or request a quote HERE .

About WorldViz

Based in Santa Barbara, CA, WorldViz is an industry-leading provider of virtual reality solutions for the enterprise and public sectors. Its patented VR products and solutions are deployed across 1500+ Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions and government agencies. WorldViz products and services help businesses solve real-world challenges in sales, product design, education, training, marketing, consumer research and many others. For more information, visit www.worldviz.com .

Media Contact:

Sado Rabaudi

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SOURCE WorldViz VR
- Submission is based on pivotal Phase 3 PROGRESS chronic migraine study evaluating atogepant (QULIPTATM) in adult patients that met primary endpoint of statistically significant reduction from baseline in mean monthly migraine days compared to placebo

- If approved, atogepant (QULIPTA) would be the first gepant (oral calcitonin gene-related peptide [CGRP] receptor antagonist) with a broad preventive treatment of migraine indication that expands treatment to patients with chronic migraine

- Label expansion would make AbbVie the only company to offer two preventive treatments for those with chronic migraine, atogepant (QULIPTA) and onabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX)

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced that it has submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for atogepant (QULIPTATM) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support the preventive treatment of chronic migraine in adults. If approved, atogepant (QULIPTA) would be the first gepant (oral calcitonin gene-related peptide [CGRP] receptor antagonist) approved for the broad indication of the preventive treatment of migraine, including episodic and chronic. The sNDA submission includes data from the pivotal Phase 3 PROGRESS trial in patients with chronic migraine, which supplements the existing data in episodic migraine. People living with chronic migraine experience headaches for 15 or more days per month, which, on at least eight of those days per month, have the features of migraine.1

"Having one oral medication to treat both episodic and chronic migraine would be an important advancement for health care providers and patients," said Michael Gold, M.D., therapeutic area head, neuroscience development, AbbVie. "This sNDA approval would also diversify AbbVie's migraine portfolio and make it the only company to offer two approved preventive treatments for those living with chronic migraine. No two migraine patients are alike, so having multiple treatment options with unique mechanisms of action is critical."

The pivotal Phase 3 PROGRESS trial met its primary endpoint of statistically significant reduction from baseline in mean monthly migraine days compared to placebo across the 12-week treatment period in adults with chronic migraine. The trial also demonstrated that treatment with atogepant 60 mg once daily (QD) and 30 mg daily (BID) resulted in statistically significant improvements in all six secondary endpoints. This includes a key secondary endpoint that measured the proportion of patients that achieved at least a 50 percent reduction in mean monthly migraine days across the 12-week treatment period.

The overall safety profile of the Phase 3 PROGRESS study was consistent with safety findings observed in previous studies in an episodic migraine population. The most common adverse events were constipation and nausea.

Atogepant is marketed as QULIPTATM in the United States and is FDA-approved to treat adults with episodic migraine. Use of atogepant for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine in the United States is not approved, and its safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by regulatory authorities.

About the Phase 3 PROGRESS Clinical Trial

The Phase 3 PROGRESS clinical trial evaluated the safety, tolerability and efficacy of oral atogepant for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine.2 The patient population for the study included patients with a diagnosis of chronic migraine for at least one year, and greater than or equal to 15 headache days with greater than or equal to eight migraine days in the 28 days prior to randomization.2 The primary endpoint measured the reduction from baseline in mean monthly migraine days compared to placebo, for both doses, including 60 mg once daily (QD) and 30 mg twice daily (BID), across a 12-week treatment period.2

Key secondary endpoints for all regions included: Change from baseline in mean monthly headache days across the 12-week of treatment period (baseline is defined as the number of migraine days during the last 28 days prior to the randomization date); Change from baseline in mean monthly acute medication use days across the 12-week treatment period (baseline is defined as the number of migraine days during the last 28 days prior to the randomization date); Proportion of participants with at least a 50% reduction in mean monthly migraine days across the 12-week treatment period; and change from baseline in MSQ v2.1 Role Function-Restrictive domain score at Week 12. The MSQ v2.1 is a questionnaire designed to measure health-related quality of life impairments attributed to migraine in the past four weeks. It is divided into three domains, assessing how a patient's daily, social, and work activities are limited by migraine; how migraine prevents these activities; and assesses the emotional function related with migraine.

For a full listing of secondary endpoints across all regions, please go to www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03855137).

About QULIPTA (atogepant)

QULIPTA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults in September 2021. It is available in the United States as the first and only gepant (oral calcitonin gene-related peptide [CGRP] receptor antagonist) developed specifically for the preventive treatment of migraine and is now under review by the FDA to expand the episodic indication to also treat patients with chronic migraine. CGRP and its receptors are expressed in regions of the nervous system associated with migraine pathophysiology, and studies have shown that CGRP levels are elevated during migraine attacks. QULIPTA blocks CGRP through a once-daily dose and is available in three strengths  10 mg, 30 mg and 60 mg.

QULIPTA USE AND U.S. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

QULIPTA is a prescription medicine used for the preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults.

Before taking QULIPTA, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

Have kidney problems or are on dialysis

Have liver problems

Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if QULIPTA will harm your unborn baby

Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if QULIPTA passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking QULIPTA

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. QULIPTA may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how QULIPTA works. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of QULIPTA when taken with certain other medicines.

The most common side effects of QULIPTA are nausea, constipation, and fatigue. These are not all the possible side effects of QULIPTA.

Please see full Prescribing Information .

Globally, prescribing information varies; refer to the individual country product label for complete information.

About BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxinA)

BOTOX was first approved by the FDA in 1989 for two rare eye muscle disorders  blepharospasm and strabismus in adults. Today, BOTOX is FDA-approved for 12 therapeutic indications, including chronic migraine, overactive bladder, leakage of urine (incontinence) due to overactive bladder caused by a neurologic condition in adults and in pediatric patients five years of age and older, cervical dystonia, adult and pediatric spasticity, and severe underarm sweating (axillary hyperhidrosis).

BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxinA) U.S. Important Information

Indications

BOTOX is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used:

To treat overactive bladder symptoms such as a strong need to urinate with leaking or wetting accidents (urge urinary incontinence), a strong need to urinate right away (urgency), and urinating often (frequency) in adults 18 years and older when another type of medicine (anticholinergic) does not work well enough or cannot be taken

To treat leakage of urine (incontinence) in adults 18 years and older with overactive bladder caused by a neurologic disease who still have leakage or cannot tolerate the side effects after trying an anticholinergic medication

To treat overactive bladder due to a neurologic disease in children 5 years of age and older when another type of medicine (anticholinergic) does not work well enough or cannot be taken

To prevent headaches in adults with chronic migraine who have 15 or more days each month with headache lasting 4 or more hours each day in people 18 years or older

To treat increased muscle stiffness in people 2 years of age and older with spasticity

To treat the abnormal head position and neck pain that happens with cervical dystonia (CD) in people 16 years and older

To treat certain types of eye muscle problems (strabismus) or abnormal spasm of the eyelids (blepharospasm) in people 12 years of age and older

BOTOX is also injected into the skin to treat the symptoms of severe underarm sweating (severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis) when medicines used on the skin (topical) do not work well enough in people 18 years and older.

It is not known whether BOTOX is safe and effective to prevent headaches in patients with migraine who have 14 or fewer headache days each month (episodic migraine).

BOTOX has not been shown to help people perform task-specific functions with their upper limbs or increase movement in joints that are permanently fixed in position by stiff muscles.

It is not known whether BOTOX is safe and effective for severe sweating anywhere other than your armpits.

U.S. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

BOTOX may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening. Get medical help right away if you have any of these problems any time (hours to weeks) after injection of BOTOX:

Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months

due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice, trouble saying words clearly, loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, and trouble swallowing

There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect away from the injection site when BOTOX has been used at the recommended dose to treat chronic migraine, severe underarm sweating, blepharospasm, or strabismus.

BOTOX may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, vision problems, or dizziness within hours to weeks of taking BOTOX. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.

Do not receive BOTOX if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site.

Do not receive BOTOX for the treatment of urinary incontinence if you: have a urinary tract infection (UTI) or cannot empty your bladder on your own and are not routinely catheterizing. Due to the risk of urinary retention (not being able to empty the bladder), only patients who are willing and able to initiate catheterization post treatment, if required, should be considered for treatment.

Patients treated for overactive bladder:

In clinical trials, 36 of the 552 patients had to self-catheterize for urinary retention following treatment with BOTOX compared to 2 of the 542 treated with placebo. The median duration of post-injection catheterization for these patients treated with BOTOX 100 Units (n = 36) was 63 days (minimum 1 day to maximum 214 days) as compared to a median duration of 11 days (minimum 3 days to maximum 18 days) for patients receiving placebo (n = 2). Patients with diabetes mellitus treated with BOTOX were more likely to develop urinary retention than nondiabetics.

Adult Patients treated for overactive bladder due to neurologic disease:

In clinical trials, 30.6% of patients (33/108) who were not using clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) prior to injection, required catheterization for urinary retention following treatment with BOTOX 200 Units as compared to 6.7% of patients (7/104) treated with placebo. The median duration of post-injection catheterization for these patients treated with BOTOX 200 Units (n = 33) was 289 days (minimum 1 day to maximum 530 days) as compared to a median duration of 358 days (minimum 2 days to maximum 379 days) for patients receiving placebo (n = 7). Among patients not using CIC at baseline, those with MS were more likely to require CIC post injection than those with SCI.

The dose of BOTOX is not the same as, or comparable to, another botulinum toxin product.

Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported, including itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, dizziness, or feeling faint. Get medical help right away if you experience symptoms; further injection of BOTOX should be discontinued.

Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions, such as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects, including difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing from typical doses of BOTOX.

Tell your doctor if you have any breathing-related problems. Your doctor may monitor you for breathing problems during treatment with BOTOX for spasticity or for detrusor overactivity associated with a neurologic condition. The risk of developing lung disease in patients with reduced lung function is increased in patients receiving BOTOX.

Cornea problems have been reported. Cornea (surface of the eye) problems have been reported in some people receiving BOTOX for their blepharospasm, especially in people with certain nerve disorders. BOTOX may cause the eyelids to blink less, which could lead to the surface of the eye being exposed to air more than is usual. Tell your doctor if you experience any problems with your eyes while receiving BOTOX. Your doctor may treat your eyes with drops, ointments, contact lenses, or with an eye patch.

Bleeding behind the eye has been reported. Bleeding behind the eyeball has been reported in some people receiving BOTOX for their strabismus. Tell your doctor if you notice any new visual problems while receiving BOTOX.

Bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections (common colds) have been reported. Bronchitis was reported more frequently in adults receiving BOTOX for upper limb spasticity. Upper respiratory infections were also reported more frequently in adults with prior breathing-related problems with spasticity. In pediatric patients treated with BOTOX for upper limb spasticity, upper respiratory tract infections were reported more frequently. In pediatric patients treated with BOTOX for lower limb spasticity, upper respiratory tract infections were not reported more frequently than placebo.

Autonomic dysreflexia in patients treated for overactive bladder due to neurologic disease. Autonomic dysreflexia associated with intradetrusor injections of BOTOX could occur in patients treated for detrusor overactivity associated with a neurologic condition and may require prompt medical therapy. In clinical trials, the incidence of autonomic dysreflexia was greater in adult patients treated with BOTOX 200 Units compared with placebo (1.5% versus 0.4%, respectively).

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you: have or have had bleeding problems; have plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; weakness of forehead muscles; trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; have symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) and are being treated for urinary incontinence (symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include pain or burning with urination, frequent urination, or fever); have problems emptying your bladder on your own and are being treated for urinary incontinence; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if BOTOX can harm your unborn baby); are breastfeeding or plan to (it is not known if BOTOX passes into breast milk).

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using BOTOX with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX in the past.

Tell your doctor if you received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin such as Myobloc, Dysport, or Xeomin in the past (tell your doctor exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; take a sleep medicine; take aspirin-like products or blood thinners.

Other side effects of BOTOX include: dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, dry eyes; drooping eyebrows; and upper respiratory tract infection. In adults being treated for urinary incontinence, other side effects include urinary tract infection and painful urination. In children being treated for urinary incontinence, other side effects include urinary tract infection and bacteria in the urine. If you have difficulty fully emptying your bladder on your own after receiving BOTOX, you may need to use disposable self-catheters to empty your bladder up to a few times each day until your bladder is able to start emptying again.

For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see BOTOX full Product Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide.

Globally, prescribing information varies; refer to the individual country product label for complete information.

If you are having difficulty paying for your medicine, AbbVie may be able to help.

Visit AbbVie.com/myAbbVieAssist to learn more.

About Migraine and Chronic Migraine

Migraine is a complex neurological disease with recurrent attacks that are often incapacitating and characterized by severe, throbbing headache pain as well as compounding associated symptoms like extreme sensitivity to light, sound or nausea.1 It is highly prevalent, affecting more than 1 billion people worldwide, including 39 million people in the United States alone, and is the highest cause of disability worldwide for people under 50 years of age.3-5

People living with chronic migraine experience headaches or migraine for 15 or more days per month, with at least eight of those days associated with migraine.1 Chronic migraine impacts 1%-2% of the global population.6 It is differentiated from episodic migraine by its more debilitating disease profile including greater prevalence of comorbid conditions as well as higher frequency of headache and migraine days.7-9 Individuals with chronic migraine experience frequent disabling migraine attacks, preventing them from performing daily activities and significantly affecting their quality of life. This results in substantial societal and familial burden.10-14 Significant direct and indirect costs are also associated with chronic migraine, leading to economic burden for patients and healthcare systems.15-17

About AbbVie in Migraine

At AbbVie, we are committed to empowering people living with migraine disease. We advance science that enables health care providers to care for people impacted across the spectrum of migraine. Through education and partnerships with the migraine community, we strive to help those with migraine navigate barriers to care, access effective treatments and reduce the impact of migraine on their lives.

About AbbVie in Neuroscience

At AbbVie, our commitment to preserve the personhood of those living with neurological and psychiatric disorders is unwavering. Every challenge in this uncharted territory makes us more determined and drives us harder to discover and deliver solutions for patients, care partners and clinicians. AbbVie's Neuroscience portfolio consists of approved therapies in neurological and psychiatric disorders, including bipolar I disorder, cervical dystonia, major depressive disorder, migraine, Parkinson's disease, post-stroke spasticity, schizophrenia and others along with a robust pipeline.

We have a strong investment in neuroscience research, with our Foundational Neuroscience Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and our Neuroscience Discovery site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, where our research and resilience in these challenging therapeutic areas is yielding a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of neurological and psychiatric disorders, and identifying targets for potential disease-modifying therapeutics aimed at making a difference in people's lives.

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements in this news release are, or may be considered, forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, failure to realize the expected benefits from AbbVie's acquisition of Allergan plc ("Allergan"), failure to promptly and effectively integrate Allergan's businesses, competition from other products, challenges to intellectual property, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry and the impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as COVID-19. Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of AbbVie's 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as updated by its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.

1 Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018;38:1-211.

2 Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability, of Atogepant for the Prevention of Chronic Migraine. ClinicalTrials.gov. Available at: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03855137?term=NCT03855137&draw=2&rank=1. Accessed on June 14, 2022.

3 The Facts About Migraine. American Migraine Foundation. Available at: https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/migraine-facts/. Accessed on February 23, 2022.

4 Navigating Life with Migraine. American Migraine Foundation. Available at: https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/living-with-migraine/migraine-essentials/. Accessed on: February 23, 2022.

5 Steiner, T. J., Stovner, L. J., Vos, T., Jensen, R., & Katsarava, Z. Migraine is first cause of disability in under 50s: Will health politicians now take notice? J Headache Pain. 2018;19:17.

6 Natoli JL, Manack A, Dean B, et al. Global prevalence of chronic migraine: a systematic review. Cephalalgia. 2010;30:599-609.

7 Katsarava Z, Buse DC, Manack AN, Lipton RB. Defining the differences between episodic migraine and chronic migraine. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2012;16:86-92.

8 Buse DC, Manack A, Serrano DC, et al. Sociodemographic and comorbidity profiles of chronic migraine and episodic migraine sufferers. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2010;81:428-432.

9 Adams AM, Serrano D, Buse DC, et al. The impact of chronic migraine: The Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) Study methods and baseline results. Cephalalgia. 2015;35(7) 563-578.

10 Blumenfeld A, Varon S, Wilcox TK, et al. Disability, HRQoL and resource use among chronic and episodic migraineurs: results from the International Burden of Migraine Study (IBMS). Cephalalgia. 2011;31:301-315.

11 Lanteri-Minet M, Duru G, Mudge M, Cottrell S. Quality of life impairment, disability and economic burden associated with chronic daily headache, focusing on chronic migraine with or without medication overuse: a systematic review. Cephalalgia. 2011;31:837-850.

12 Buse DC, Scher AI, Dodick DW, et al. Impact of migraine on the family: perspectives of people with migraine and their spouse/domestic partner in the CaMEO Study. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016;91:596-611.

13 Buse DC, Powers SW, Gelfand AA, et al. Adolescent perspectives on the burden of a parent's migraine: results from the CaMEO study. Headache. 2018;58:512-524.

14 Buse DC, Murray S, Dumas PK, et al. Life with migraine, effect on relationships, career and finances, and overall health and well-being results of the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology and Outcomes (CaMEO) Study. Cephalalgia. 2018;38(Suppl 1):9-10.

15 Messali A, Sanderson JC, Blumenfeld AM, et al. Direct and indirect costs of chronic and episodic migraine in the United States: a web-based survey. Headache. 2016;56:306-322.

16 Sanderson JC, Devine EB, Lipton RB, et al. Headache-related health resource utilization in chronic and episodic migraine across six countries. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2013;84:1309-1317.

17 Blumenfeld AM, Varon SF, Wilcox TK, et al. Disability, HRQoL and resource use among chronic and episodic migraineurs: Results from the International Burden of Migraine Study (IBMS). Cephalalgia. 2011;31:301-315.

SOURCE AbbVie
New subscription offering provides expert resources for local government IT system teams to maximize the value of their Accela solutions, remove tedious application administration duties, and increase their ability to focus on strategic projects and better business and resident outcomes.

SAN RAMON, Calif., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Accela , the trusted provider of cloud solutions for government, today announced a new offering, Managed Application Services . These services provide government agencies with day-to-day system administration and proactive optimization of Accela solutions. With Accela Managed Application Services, Accela technology experts ensure government agencies improve how they deliver essential community services and achieve maximum value on tech investments with less effort and reduced resources.

Between IT talent shortages and a majority of public sector employees considering leaving their jobs , government technology teams are being challenged like never before. But with more residents preferring online, "consumer-like" services, agencies do not have the option to pause or cut back on critical IT efforts. Increased resident demand for digital services is driving agencies to seek outside expertise, enabling them to align available agency resources with strategic priorities and reduce the time staff spends on redundant or tedious administration duties and system maintenance.

"Hiring, training and retaining IT staff is one of the biggest challenges facing local government," said Brenda DeGregory, vice president of service delivery at Accela. "Our new Managed Application Services provides an extension to in-house IT teams  freeing up agency leaders from basic administration and optimization, so they can focus on the transformative initiatives that will deliver the best services and experiences for residents."

Accela Managed Application Services helps government agencies experience increased flexibility and reliability when it comes to managing their IT staffing needs. The subscription-based offering empowers agencies to tap Accela's experts and realize the full benefits of Accela's flexible, unified platform  now, and with any future growth or functionality requirements.

"Accela Managed Application Services is the logical complement to our IT team," said Anthony McPherson, CIO of DuPage County, Illinois. "With this service, our team is freed up from monotonous administration and instead freed up for more strategic projects. By tapping in the expertise of Accela experts, we are able to ensure our solutions are delivering the best results  for our county and our residents."

By extending agency IT staff with Accela experts, Accela Managed Application Services assists customers with day-to-day system administration, proactive continuous service improvement, periodic production releases of configuration enhancements, and rapid response times.

Accela Managed Application Services can take on many administrative tasks and ongoing functions critical to agency IT operations, including:

Testing new major releases, service packs, and fixes

User account administration and permissions management

Forms modification and deployment

Report creation and testing

Functionality augmentation and scripting

Troubleshooting conditions

Configuring new features.

Government agencies have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use federal funds available through the American Rescue Plan to accelerate their digital transformation, including associated staff augmentation like Accela Managed Application Services. To learn more about Accela's solutions, please visit https://www.accela.com/solutions/ .

About Accela

Accela provides a unified suite of cloud solutions trusted by governments across the globe to accelerate their digital transformation, deliver vital services, and build stronger communities. More than 275 million citizens worldwide benefit from Accela's government software solutions. The company offers agile, purpose-built solutions and the power of a platform that provides users with a consumer-like experience, shares data across departments, and ensures world-class security.

With Accela, government agencies experience rapid and effective digital transformation. Accela's government software meets agencies wherever they are on their modernization journey, while also helping them prepare for whatever comes next. The company is a 2021 Microsoft US Partner Award winner for its innovative SaaS solutions to help governments respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and was selected by Fast Company for its World Changing Ideas Award in 2022. Accela is headquartered in San Ramon, California, with offices around the world. For more information, visit www.accela.com .

Contact: Holly Langbein, (916) 769-2199, [email protected]

SOURCE Accela
BEIJING and TEL AVIV, Israel, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ADAMA Ltd., a leading global crop protection company, announced that it has begun the in-house production of Indoxacarb, a key insecticide active ingredient (AI), with its new proprietary synthesis process providing a building block for ADAMA's differentiated formulations. Producing this complex molecule with an innovative, cost-effective process is expected to improve ADAMA's supply chain performance while opening access to a global market of approximately $200 million of Indoxacarb sales as of 2021[1]. ADAMA has launched a number of unique mixtures and formulations based on Indoxacarb, which deliver significant pest control in a variety of affected crops and countries.

"With its vast global market potential, we identified Indoxacarb as a key building block for ADAMA's future differentiated product pipeline," said Elad Shabtai, EVP Global Operations at ADAMA. "This new in-house production capability of Indoxacarb is expected to improve the Company's control over the availability, quality and cost of this important active ingredient. Moreover, our Indoxacarb formulations deliver powerful solutions, thus combining our AI cost position with superior product features on the formulation side"

ADAMA is targeting more than 15 countries with its self-produced Indoxacarb, including leading markets Brazil, India and the USA. It is a key active ingredient for various insecticides, including ADAMA's products Plethora (India, Brazil), Plemax (Australia, South Africa) and DOXEM (USA). The main crops that benefit from Indoxacarb protection are Soybeans, Pulse crops, Cotton, Vegetables, while it also has uses in the Consumer and Professional market.

In addition to the potential sales of Indoxacarb, ADAMA expects to expand the production and sales of its proprietary active ingredient, Novaluron, due to increased demand, given that these two active ingredients are paired together in formulations to provide a highly effective solution against chewing pests in their early stages of development.

ADAMA's Indoxacarb is now being manufactured in-house at its production facilities in Neot Hovav, Israel, and in India, requiring a dedicated production line with state-of-the art equipment. The adopted process is based on ADAMA patent protected chemistry affording higher purity and improved process yields. This results in a safer environmental profile process with less byproducts and effluents being treated at-source for increased sustainability.

ADAMA

ADAMA Ltd. is a global leader in crop protection, providing solutions to farmers across the world to combat weeds, insects and disease. ADAMA has one of the widest and most diverse portfolios of active ingredients in the world, as well as state-of-the-art R&D, manufacturing and formulation facilities. With a culture that empowers our people to listen to farmers and ideate from the field, ADAMA is uniquely positioned to offer a vast array of distinctive mixtures, formulations and high-quality differentiated products, delivering solutions that meet local farmer and customer needs in over 100 countries globally. For more information, visit us at www.ADAMA.com and follow us on Twitter at @ADAMAAgri.

[1] Source: Agrivision

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/799829/Adama_Agricultural_Solutions_Logo.jpg

ADAMA Contact: Tal Moise, Public Relations, Email: [email protected]

SOURCE ADAMA Ltd.
Amber Group Now Insures Digital Assets Held On Behalf of Clients to Ensure Additional Layers of Protection. Tweet this

Amber Group's move to secure comprehensive insurance coverage represents a significant milestone amid surging digital asset adoption, with digital assets value totaling to a record high of US$3 trillion last year . As security and privacy become increasingly prioritized as cornerstones for user confidence in digital assets, the company's move to expand its insurance coverage underlines its commitment to elevating users' security experience by adopting industry best practices in risk management, platform security and digital asset safekeeping. During a robust and comprehensive underwriting process by OneDegree and reinsurance process by Munich Re, Amber Group achieved a proficiently high score on OneDegree's Cymetrics cyber security assessments.

Bolstering its position as the preferred and trusted platform for global digital asset management and wealth building, Amber Group has also implemented a proactive measure against fraud, loss and theft via Coincover's insurance-backed Theft Protection, a cutting-edge technology insured by certain Underwriters at Lloyd's of London. The technology provides an added layer of protection to secure Amber Group's digital assets as it monitors for and prevents transaction anomalies from unauthorized access, facilitating peace of mind and ease for existing and new users to enter the world of crypto finance.

"The global crypto market is expanding exponentially, but the rise of cybercrime incidents in the crypto space is still a major concern for many investors. As we continue to drive the adoption of digital assets worldwide, Amber Group is extremely committed to upholding the highest standards in security for our customers. Security, reliability and privacy are the core tenets of our industry and these are the very same factors that will determine overall industry success as we work to realize the future of finance. Our company is proud to serve as a trusted digital asset platform for our customers, and we will continuously provide our customers with the most robust security measures and global insurance coverage for our wallet infrastructure possible," said Amber Group's Chief Executive Officer, Michael Wu.

"We are pleased to provide OneDegree's digital asset insurance to Amber Group. Amber Group has demonstrated competency in security, control and process integrity, through our comprehensive underwriting review by OneDegree's proprietary cyber security solution Cymetrics and by our reinsurer partner Munich Re. OneDegree will continue to bring our expertise and insurance capacity to serve the broader web3 community and transform the industry with enhanced security and trust," said OneDegree's co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Alvin Kwock.

"We're proud to be supporting such a pioneering company in their mission to make crypto safer. By combining Coincover's proactive theft protection technology with comprehensive insurance coverage, Amber Group is truly leading the way in reducing the risk exposure of crypto investors across the world. We're excited to see how this impacts the wider adoption of digital assets and crypto finance," said Coincover's Chief Executive Officer, David Janczewski.

About Amber Group

Amber Group is a leading digital asset platform operating globally with offices in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The firm provides a full range of digital asset services spanning investing, financing, and trading. Amber Group is backed by prominent investors including Sequoia, Temasek, Paradigm, Tiger Global, Dragonfly, Pantera, Coinbase Ventures, and Blockchain.com.

For more information, please visit www.ambergroup.io .

SOURCE Amber Group
This Competition is hosted by the Talent Work Leading Group of Shaoxing Municipal Committee of the CPC, organized by the Talent Work Leading Group Office of Shaoxing Municipal Committee of the CPC, Shaoxing Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, and co-organized by Zhejiang Haijiao Human Resources Co., Ltd. ( Haijiao Technology). Relevant matters of the Competition are hereby announced as below:

I. Theme of the Competition

"Vigorous Shaoxing Leading The World With Wisdom" The 2nd China Shaoxing Global High-Level Talents Innovation Competition Of New Industry Platform With "Wanmu Qianyi"

II. Date of the Competition

June - September 2022

III. Competition Field

The 2nd China Shaoxing Global High-Level Talents Innovation Competition Of New Industry Platform With "Wanmu Qianyi" is open to high-level talents at home and abroad. The Competition is to mainly introduce high-level talents in integrated circuits, advanced polymer materials, biomedicine, high-end equipment manufacturing and other fields, and to accurately introduce high-level talents in frontier science and key technology fields at home and abroad.

IV. Competition System

The participants are divided into two groups: Innovation Group and New Talent Group, and the competition is held with the "2+2" mode. The Innovation Group focuses on integrated circuits and advanced polymer materials industries, while the New Talent Group focuses on biomedicine and high-end equipment manufacturing industries. A final group will be set up separately for Innovation Group and New Talent Group, and industry experts, business management experts, venture capital institutions, responsible persons of local key enterprises will be invited to form an expert evaluation group, and winners will be determined through project roadshow and expert evaluation.

V. Competition Category and Conditions

(I) Innovation Group

1. Those who possess a doctorate degree;

2. Those who work continuously for more than 36 months in overseas universities, scientific research institutions, and R&D institutions of well-known enterprises, and have a formal position; Those who are 40 years old and above should hold positions equivalent to associate professor or above in overseas well-known universities and scientific research institutions, or hold middle or senior technical positions in international well-known enterprises and financial institutions;

3. Those who are currently working or starting a business overseas, or return to China (come to China) after January 1, 2021 and intend to work in Shaoxing;

4. Those who work full-time in Shaoxing enterprises and institutions through two-way selection after winning the award shall generally sign a contract for more than 3 years.

(II) New Talent Group

1. Those who are willing to enter the postdoctoral workstation of our city for postdoctoral research;

2. Those who have obtained a doctoral degree for no more than 3 years; No limit on the number of years for obtaining a doctoral degree for those who apply for research at the second station;

3. The age is generally under 35 years old, and the age of particularly outstanding talents can be appropriately relaxed;

4. In-service postdoctoral fellows should be mainly teaching and research personnel in colleges, universities and scientific research institutes;

5. The conditions may be appropriately relaxed for foreign and returned overseas students who enter the station for postdoctoral research.

VI. Competition Process

(I) Talent application. The application begins on June 16. Participants can download the application form in the column of "Open Government Affairs - Download the Form" on the official website of Shaoxing Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (http://rsj.sx.gov.cn/), or in the column of "Public Service - Download the Information" on Haizhihui Shaoxing Talent Network (https://www.sxrc.com.cn/), fill it out and send it to the E-mail address of the Organizing Committee [email protected].

(II) Qualification review. The Organizing Committee will review the application materials and determine the list of candidates for the primary selection at the end of August .

(III) Docking negotiation. From the beginning of July to the end of August , the Organizing Committee will organize talents to match with the platform (postdoctoral workstation) (cloud docking), entrust authoritative institutions to carry out technical evaluation as appropriate, and determine 50 people for each industrial competition to enter the project evaluation.

(IV) Project evaluation. At the end of August , according to the registration materials provided by the participants, expert judges will be invited to select 10 projects separately from Innovation Group and New Talent Group to enter the finals from educational and scientific research experience, innovation ability, expected contribution and other dimensions, and based on the matching between the participating talents and Shaoxing enterprises, scientific research institutes and other units.

(V) Finals. In mid and late September , the finals will be held in Shaoxing. 1 first prize, 2 second prizes and 5 third prizes will be finally awarded in the Innovation Group. 1 gold prize, 2 silver prizes and 5 bronze prizes will be awarded in the New Talent Group.

VII. Reward Support

(I) The first, second and third prize winners of Innovation Group will be directly identified as Class A Talents, Class B Talents, and Class C Talents of the Hometown of Celebrities, enjoy corresponding policy support, and will be given the financial incentives of 100,000 Yuan, 30,000 Yuan and 10,000 Yuan, respectively.

(II) The winners of the Gold, Silver and Bronze Prizes of New Talent Group will be given the financial incentives of 100,000 Yuan, 30,000 Yuan and 10,000 Yuan, respectively. Full-time postdoctoral fellows will be given the daily fund support of 200,000 Yuan/person and living allowance of 300,000 Yuan/person; In-service postdoctoral fellows will be given the daily fund support of 150,000 Yuan/person and living allowance of 250,000 Yuan/person.

(III) The winners will be issued talent certificates and talent green cards, and enjoy housing subsidies, supporting policies for innovation and achievement transformation and other policies. The cross-city, cross-province and cross-border finalists will be provided with free cross-province and cross-country and certain transportation subsidy (the maximum subsidy shall not exceed 5000 Yuan according to the actual place of departure).

VIII. Other Matters

(I) Participants should make a commitment to the authenticity of registration contents, and the registration materials will be the basis for project assessment and fund allocation. All materials submitted, including intellectual property rights or invention patents obtained, shall comply with relevant regulations, and shall be in the charge of the participant.

(II) Participants who fill in false information will be disqualified from the competition and subsidy, the subsidy will be recovered, and the relevant personnel shall be investigated for legal responsibility according to law.

(III) No fee will be charged to the participants. The individual income tax of the competition reward obtained should be declared by the participants.

(IV) If the competition is affected by force majeure, the host has the right to adjust or terminate the competition schedule accordingly.

(V) The Organizing Committee reserves the opinion of further supplementing the competition rules and the right of final interpretation according to the progress of the competition. Matters not covered will be notified separately.

IX. Contact Persons and Contact Information of the Organizing Committee:

Contact Persons: Shi Yonghong, Ye Qingmei

Tel: 0575-85224992 15924103434

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Haijiao Technology
BEIJING, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) ("Autohome" or the "Company"), the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China, today announced that Mr. Haifeng Shao has stepped down from his role as a co-president of the Company due to his other personal commitments. Mr. Shao has no disagreement with the Company.

Mr. Quan Long, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Autohome, stated, "On behalf of Autohome, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Haifeng for his dedication and valuable contribution to Autohome during his term of service with the Company. We wish him continued success in all of his future endeavors."

About Autohome Inc.

Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) is the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China. Its mission is to engage, educate and inform consumers about everything auto. Autohome provides original generated content, professionally generated content, user-generated content, and AI-generated content, a comprehensive automobile library, and extensive automobile listing information to automobile consumers, covering the entire car purchase and ownership cycle. The ability to reach a large and engaged user base of automobile consumers has made Autohome a preferred platform for automakers and dealers to conduct their advertising campaigns. Further, the Company's dealer subscription and advertising services allow dealers to market their inventory and services through Autohome's platform, extending the reach of their physical showrooms to potentially millions of internet users in China and generating sales leads for them. The Company offers sales leads, data analysis, and marketing services to assist automakers and dealers with improving their efficiency and facilitating transactions. Autohome operates its "Autohome Mall," a full-service online transaction platform, to facilitate transactions for automakers and dealers. Further, through its websites and mobile applications, it also provides other value-added services, including auto financing, auto insurance, used car transactions, and aftermarket services. For further information, please visit www.autohome.com.cn .

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Autohome's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Autohome's filings with the SEC and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Autohome does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Autohome Inc.

Investor Relations

Sterling Song,

Investor Relations Director

Tel: +86-10-5985-7483

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Jenny Cai

Tel: +86-10-6508-0677

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States:

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Autohome Inc.
Acquisition expands company's glass packaging solutions for the olive oil, home fragrance, and spirits markets in Iberia

CORDOBA, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Berlin Packaging, the world's largest Hybrid Packaging Supplier, announced today the acquisition of Vidrierias Perez Campos SL, a family-owned Spanish distributor of glass packaging for the olive oil, home fragrance, and spirits markets.

Founded in 1987 and based in Rute (Cordoba) in southern Spain, Vidrierias Perez Campos serves the local market with high-quality glass packaging solutions. The acquisition expands Berlin Packaging's market coverage in Iberia and enables Vidrierias Perez Campos' customers to have access to Berlin Packaging's extensive product range. The company's General Manager, Juan de Dios Perez, will continue with the company, offering his deep knowledge of the business and extensive experience within the glass sector.

"The olive oil industry is key for the Iberian market. The strategic acquisition of Vidrierias Perez Campos extends our coverage to southern Spain. The company also possesses expertise in home fragrances and spirits, other important end-markets for Berlin Packaging," said Paolo Recrosio, CEO of Berlin Packaging EMEA.

"We have been offering packaging solutions for the olive oil, home fragrances and spirits markets for more than 30 years. Joining Berlin Packaging is an important step in the company's development," said Juan de Dios Perez, General Manager of Vidrierias Perez Campos.

"Targeted acquisitions such as Vidrierias Perez Campos are important to our European growth. The addition of Vidrierias Perez Campos expands our glass packaging offerings for key markets and builds upon our strong presence in Iberia," said Bill Hayes, Global CEO of Berlin Packaging.

Perez Campos is the 3rd acquisition Berlin Packaging has completed in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) in 2022 and 5th acquisition completed globally in 2022.

About Berlin Packaging

Berlin Packaging is the world's largest Hybrid Packaging Supplier of glass, plastic, and metal containers and closures. The company supplies billions of items annually along with package design, financing, consulting, warehousing, and logistics services for customers across all industries. Berlin Packaging brings together the best of manufacturing, distribution, and income-adding service providers. Its mission is to increase the net income of its customers through packaging products and services.

Press contacts: Please visit BerlinPackaging.com and BerlinPackaging.eu for more information.

Press Office  Omnicom PR Group Italy

Barbara Papini, [email protected], +39 335 6113555

Ilaria Sala, [email protected], +39 335 8112968



Berlin Packaging

Elena Franzetti, [email protected], +39 02 48436611, +39 3401204145 for EMEA

Celeste Osborne, [email protected], +1 708 272 7046 for North America

SOURCE Berlin Packaging
This 2 oz silver coin honors the dynamic leader who fought the entire world, and almost won... Tweet this

The 2 oz Napoleon bee silver coin doesn't feature the standard national symbols of France, the fleur-de-lis of the French monarchs or le coq gaulois, the French national symbol since Roman times. Instead, the reverse features the personal heraldic emblem Napoleon chose when he was crowned Emperor in 1804: the French honeybee.

The honeybee symbolized French industry and was one of the most prominent emblems of the French Revolution. Napoleon's own obsessive work habits and fanatical attention to detail led his closest friends to call him "the bee."

The coin's reverse features the honeybee, symbolic of hard work and orderliness, those qualities Napoleon demanded of himself and his nation. The bee is surrounded by a garland of laurels, and topped with the crown Pope Pius VII handed Napoleon during his coronation at Notre Dame Cathedral in 1804. The legend reads, "Napoleon Bonaparte" and the motto "1769-1821." In the coin's outer circle one of the Emperor's bees and the East India Company mint mark punctuate the two phrases.

The obverse displays the 1985 "third portrait" of Queen Elizabeth by renowned sculptor Raphael Maklouf. The background pattern of bees is repeated but in opposite contrast, light on a dark background. The obverse legend includes the 2022 year of mintage, weight, face value of 2 and 0.999 purity.

The East India Company, which minted Saint Helena's first coins in 1821, released this fixed-mintage silver coin 200 years after Napoleon's burial on the island. The fixed-mintage St. Helena 2 oz silver 2 Napoleonic bee coin is available only to Birch Gold Group customers only. Choose between home delivery or placement within a Precious Metals IRA .

For information about Birch Gold Group's products and services, visit https://www.birchgold.com or call (800) 355-2116.

About Birch Gold Group

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Burbank, California, Birch Gold Group is a leading dealer of precious metals serving a diverse customer base across the United States. Employing a team of experienced professionals and precious metal experts, the company provides a wide range of metals for physical possession and placement within an IRA, including silver, gold, platinum and palladium.

Birch Gold Group is known throughout the industry for its exemplary reputation and track record, consistently maintaining top scores and ratings with the Better Business Bureau, the Business Consumer Alliance

SOURCE Birch Gold Group
To produce the paintings, materials such as paint brushes and conte crayon were affixed to adjacent limbs and branches of trees with eco-friendly twine in the Angeles National Forest, located outside of Los Angeles, California. As natural wind moved their branches, the trees painted 10 vibrant, individually unique pieces of art.

"We're thrilled and honored to have given trees a platform to add their own unique voices to the discussion of nature preservation with our 'A Brush with Nature' collection," said Sara Lieberman, Brand Manager, Black Forest. "It's a joy to see Black Forest's commitment to doing real good come to life through each painting."

The Auction and More

Bidding on the collection is now live on eBay for gummy, fruit snack, art and nature-lovers alike, with an opening amount set at $100. And for those who aren't able to score an original painting, Black Forest is also making reprints available through eBay. All proceeds from both the auction and sale of the replica prints will go directly to the National Forest Foundation, bringing the initiative full circle and allowing consumers to directly support preserving our nation's trees with a single bid.

Real Good Requires Real Action

"Black Forest has walked the walk when it comes to its commitment to preserving our nation's most at-risk forests," said Mary Mitsos, CEO, National Forest Foundation. "We're thrilled to announce that our partnership with Black Forest has hit our original 1.5-million trees milestone, and we look forward to partnering on even more reforestation projects through the proceeds generated from their 'A Brush with Nature' by Black Forest initiative."

Rooted in a portfolio made with real fruit juice, Black Forest is committed to making a real difference to our nation's natural landscapes. Its 2020 pledge, part of a larger long-range effort to plant 10-million trees by 2030, sought to reforest land previously ravaged by wildfires and aimed to plant new trees in such sources of natural splendor as Oregon's Fremont-Winema National Forest, Idaho's Boise National Forest and the Sierra National Forest and Angeles National Forest, both in California. Having met that goal, Black Forest then commissioned trees from the latter to tell their own vital stories.

The "A Brush with Nature" by Black Forest Gummies and Fruit Snacks auction will be live until Tuesday, June 28 at 8:00 a.m. EST. To learn more about Black Forest's additional purpose-driven commitments, visit BlackForestUSA.com/Promise and follow @BlackForestUSA on Instagram and @BlackForest on TikTok.

About Black Forest

Black Forest Gummies and Fruit Snacks are Real Juicy Real Good! They contain thoughtful ingredients for thoughtful snacking, including real fruit juice. Black Forest is one of the few confectionary brands that offers both conventional and USDA-Certified organic gummies and fruit snacks. Made with real fruit juice and colors added from real sources, Black Forest gummies are fat-free, gluten-free, non-GMO and full of juicy flavor. Each gummy bear has a tree stamped on its belly, a characteristic unique to the Black Forest brand, making them as cute as they are delicious. Black Forest products can be found at mass, grocery, drug, warehouse clubs and convenience retailers nationwide, and are available in a variety of sizes ranging from 1.5oz bags to 6lb bags.

About Ferrara

Ferrara, a company related to The Ferrero Group, is a powerhouse in the North American and global sugar confections category. A passionate team of more than 6,000 employees work together to share delight in every bite through our beloved candy brands that have shaped the industry for more than 100 years. Our diverse portfolio of nearly 30 brands includes SweeTARTS, Trolli, BRACH'S, Black Forest and NERDS, along with iconic favorites like Lemonhead, Red Hots and Now and Later. Ferrara's superior innovation is rooted in diversity of thought, experience and people, helping us introduce new candy products that make everyday moments a bit sweeter. Headquartered in Chicago, Ferrara has an operational network of 20 locations in North America that includes manufacturing, distribution, and R&D facilities. Learn more at www.ferrarausa.com.

About the National Forest Foundation

National Forest Foundation is a nonprofit that partners with the U.S Forest Service and others to bring people together to restore and enhance our national forests and grasslands. NFF is the leading organization inspiring personal and meaningful connections to our national forests, the centerpiece of America's public lands. Interested in learning more about how to support the National Forest system? Visit www.nationalforests.org

Media Contact

Kevin Kearney

[email protected]

SOURCE Black Forest
Blis will fast-track its opportunity to drive mass adoption of its privacy-first advertising technology

LONDON, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blis , the audience-first platform that doesn't rely on personal data, today announced that LDC, the UK's leading mid-market private equity firm, has entered into an agreement to make a significant investment in the company. LDC's investment will back the existing management team to further grow and expand the global business, enabling Blis to double its headcount in the next few years.

As it marks 18 years in business, Blis has spent almost two decades shaping the role of location in the evolving programmatic landscape. Blis has invested heavily in its privacy-first technology for many years, expanding its solutions beyond location and launching its planning tool, Audience Explorer, in early 2021. This future-proofed approach enables Blis to deliver integrated planning and buying solutions via the Blis Platform to deliver highly accurate, targeted campaigns for some of the world's biggest brands, through personalised and scalable targeting, without reliance on personal data.

Today, some of the world's leading global brands and their media agencies use Blis' solutions to tackle challenges in a cookieless era. Blis' unique approach provides personalised targeting and performance without relying on personal data, serving up relevant ads to the most high-value, addressable audiences across any channel. Ahead of impending industry changes, Blis is not only delivering privacy-first targeting, but it is also providing the most holistic understanding of customers by combining consented location data with other rich, powerful data signals, helping clients to prepare today for the increasing lack of intent data.

"The investment from LDC marks a hugely exciting moment for Blis," said Greg Isbister, CEO of Blis. "I'm proud of everything we achieved in the past 18 years, and I'm looking forward to accelerating our growth plans in partnership with LDC. We have an incredibly dedicated and passionate team focused on the company's growth and ready to help the industry move forward in the right direction. LDC believes in our promise as the audience-first platform that doesn't rely on personal data, and their unparalleled expertise will, undoubtedly, help Blis to continue expanding globally."

LDC's John Green and David Andrews will join the board alongside Blis CEO Greg Isbister, CFO Parm Dhami industry heavy-weight John Farrell, who joins Blis as Non-Executive Chair. With more than 25 years' experience, Farrell has led some of the world's biggest marketing services brands and was the former president and CEO of Publicis Group's specialised agencies and marketing services arm.

LDC Investment Director John Green, said: "Blis' growth, especially over the past couple of challenging years, is a testament to the strength of the offering and the ambition of the team. Blis has created a leading tech business that allows the advertising industry to move forward in a more transparent and effective way. The management team, led by CEO Greg Isbister, now has the necessary support to further grow the business. We can see a real opportunity to support the growth of Blis across the globe, and we're excited to work in partnership to achieve great success and help advertisers deliver scale and results in a privacy-centric world."

About Blis

Blis is the audience-first platform that doesn't rely on personal data. We're an integrated planning and buying platform that delivers scaled, relevant and high-performing audiences, helping the world's largest brands and media agencies achieve their goals.

Over the past 18 years, Blis has built its reputation on delivering award-winning location-powered advertising solutions. In today's consumer-centric landscape, Blis is transforming the role of location data by combining it with a broad range of rich and powerful datasets to give our clients the deepest audience understanding available. Our unique approach to integrated planning and buying provides personalised targeting and performance without reliance on personal data. We serve relevant ads to the highest-value addressable audiences across any channel and deliver our clients' campaign outcomes every time, from brand awareness and engagement through to store/site visits and sales.

Established in the UK in 2004, Blis now operates in more than 40 offices across five continents. Working with the world's largest and most customer-driven companies across all verticals including Unilever, Samsung, McDonald's, HSBC, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot, as well as every major media agency.

To learn more, visit blis.com .

About LDC

LDC is the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. LDC has committed to invest in at least 100 mid-market businesses over the next five years. LDC has a portfolio of 90 businesses across the UK, across a broad range of sectors including Construction & Property, Financial Services, Healthcare, Industrials, Retail & Consumer, TMT, Travel & Leisure and Support Services. LDC has a nationwide network of regional offices to provide a local presence to the businesses and communities it supports.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1501097/Blis_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Blis
Blockchain Identity Management Market: Key Drivers

The increasing demand for digitalization is driving the blockchain identity management market. Several industries, including healthcare, consumer products, manufacturing, and retail, are increasingly adopting digitalization globally. Owing to this industry IT resources are becoming more vulnerable to cyberattacks. As a result, there is a greater demand for blockchain identity management systems that help in avoiding cyberattacks. Furthermore, technical advancements such as the incorporation of chatbots in customer service apps and the global adoption of the bring your own device (BYOD) policy have raised the necessity for proactive cyberattack protection. The popularity of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy is increasing across all industries as it allows employees to access corporate data using personal devices such as and laptops. Owing to the growing popularity of the BYOD policy, firms such as QlikTech International AB (QlikTech), VMware Inc. (VMware), and Parallels International GmbH (Parallels International) have developed a variety of BYOD solutions. When workers access corporate information on their own devices, such as cellphones, the solution assures security. As a result, various industries are integrating digitalization-based processes, which is propelling the worldwide blockchain identity management solutions market forward.

View market report outlook to know more about factors driving the market

Blockchain Identity Management Market: Key Challenges

High price and complexity in integration of application software computing are expected to be a major hindrance to the blockchain identity management market during the forecast period. Enterprise application software solutions are expensive due to the high costs associated with the licensing and development. Furthermore, prices are decided on the basis of the features of an application software not on the basis of the individual features used by customers. However, the high price of application software restricts organizations from purchasing such solutions or delays their purchase decisions, and limits market growth. Furthermore, enterprises use different applications such as TMS, CRM, and SCM, and integrating a new ERP with the existing applications becomes difficult. In addition, the increase in popularity of Software as a Service (SaaS) in the market is further leading to the integration of SAP with cloud-based applications. However, technological differences between SAP and cloud-based applications create integration issues. Numerous applications are available for different purposes. In each case, the technology used is different, thereby making the integration complex.

Product Insights and News

The blockchain identity management market forecast report offers in-depth insights into key vendor profiles. The profiles include information on the production, sustainability, and prospects of the leading companies. For instance, Accenture Plc., a leading vendor, acquired Industrie & Co to help Australian clients maximize Cloud First Investments and transform them into digital businesses. Another vendor, Amazon.com Inc. partnered with Vodafone to launch 'edge computing' in the UK.

Vendor Insights

The report identifies the following as the dominant vendors in the market:

Accenture Plc

Amazon.com Inc.

Bitfury Group Ltd.

BLOCKCHAINS LLC

Broadcom Inc.

Civic Technologies Inc.

International Business Machines Corp.

Oracle Corp.

SAP SE

SecureKey Technologies Inc.

Blockchain Identity Management Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 70.8% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 3.58 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 55.46 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 35% Key consumer countries US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Accenture Plc, Amazon.com Inc., Bitfury Group Ltd., BLOCKCHAINS LLC, Broadcom Inc., Civic Technologies Inc., International Business Machines Corp., Oracle Corp., SAP SE, and SecureKey Technologies Inc. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for 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.

Get your report sample copy to unlock scope and parent market analysis insights

North America's Contribution to Blockchain Identity Management Market

The increase in demand for digitalization is expected to propel the blockchain identity management market growth in North America over the forecast period. The region is expected to contribute 35% of market growth as countries such as the US, and Canada are the key markets for the blockchain identity management market. Market growth in North America is expected to be higher than the growth of the market in other regions.

Download your sample copy and know more about the market contribution in North America

Market Segmentation

The blockchain identity management market is divided by end-user into the BFSI segment, government segment, healthcare segment, and others segment. The BFSI segment is expected to be the major contributor to the market during the forecast period. The adoption of digital payments and use of technologies such as machine learning, and artificial intelligence in the global banking system is expected to increase the demand for more secure network connections and drive market growth during the forecast period.

Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of blockchain identity management market vendors

Detailed information on factors that will drive blockchain identity management market growth during the next five years

Accurate predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Precise estimation of the blockchain identity management market size and its contribution to the parent market

The growth of the blockchain identity management industry across North America , Europe , APAC, South America , and MEA

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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: Data processing and outsourced services

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 Application

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 15: Application - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Application

Exhibit 16: Comparison by Application

5.3 End-point - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 17: End-point - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 18: End-point - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.4 Network - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 19: Network - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 20: Network - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.5 Infrastructure - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 21: Infrastructure - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 22: Infrastructure - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.6 Market opportunity by Application

Exhibit 23: Market opportunity by Application

6 Market Segmentation by End-user

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: End user - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

6.2 Comparison by End user

Exhibit 25: Comparison by End user

6.3 BFSI - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 26: BFSI - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 27: BFSI - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.4 Government - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 28: Government - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Government - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.5 Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 30: Healthcare - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 31: Healthcare - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.6 Others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 32: Others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Others - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

6.7 Market opportunity by End user

Exhibit 34: Market opportunity by End user

7 Customer landscape

7.1 Overview

Exhibit 35: Customer landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

8.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 36: Market share by geography 2020-2025 (%)

8.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 37: Geographic comparison

8.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 38: North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

Exhibit 39: North America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 40: Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

Exhibit 41: Europe - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 42: APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 43: APAC - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 44: South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

Exhibit 45: South America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.7 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 46: MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 47: MEA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

8.8 Key leading countries

Exhibit 48: Key leading countries

8.9 Market opportunity by geography

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

9.1 Market drivers

9.2 Market challenges

Exhibit 50: Impact of drivers and challenges

9.3 Market trends

10 Vendor Landscape

10.1 Overview

Exhibit 51: Vendor landscape

10.2 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 52: Landscape disruption



Exhibit 53: Industry risks

10.3 Competitive Scenario

11 Vendor Analysis

11.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 54: Vendors covered

11.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 55: Market positioning of vendors

11.3 Accenture Plc

Exhibit 56: Accenture Plc - Overview



Exhibit 57: Accenture Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 58: Accenture Plc  Key news



Exhibit 59: Accenture Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 60: Accenture Plc - Segment focus

11.4 Amazon.com Inc.

Exhibit 61: Amazon.com Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 62: Amazon.com Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 63: Amazon.com Inc.  Key news



Exhibit 64: Amazon.com Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 65: Amazon.com Inc. - Segment focus

11.5 Bitfury Group Ltd.

Exhibit 66: Bitfury Group Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 67: Bitfury Group Ltd. - Product and service



Exhibit 68: Amazon.com Inc.  Key news



Exhibit 69: Bitfury Group Ltd. - Key offerings

11.6 BLOCKCHAINS LLC

Exhibit 70: BLOCKCHAINS LLC - Overview



Exhibit 71: BLOCKCHAINS LLC - Product and service



Exhibit 72: BLOCKCHAINS LLC  Key news



Exhibit 73: BLOCKCHAINS LLC - Key offerings



Exhibit 74: BLOCKCHAINS LLC - Segment focus

11.7 Broadcom Inc.

Exhibit 75: Broadcom Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 76: Broadcom Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 77: Broadcom Inc.  Key news



Exhibit 78: Broadcom Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 79: Broadcom Inc. - Segment focus

11.8 Civic Technologies Inc.

Exhibit 80: Civic Technologies Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 81: Civic Technologies Inc. - Product and service



Exhibit 82: Civic Technologies Inc  Key news



Exhibit 83: Civic Technologies Inc. - Key offerings

11.9 International Business Machines Corp.

Exhibit 84: International Business Machines Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 85: International Business Machines Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 86: International Business Machines Corp.  Key news



Exhibit 87: International Business Machines Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 88: International Business Machines Corp. - Segment focus

11.10 Oracle Corp.

Exhibit 89: Oracle Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 90: Oracle Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 91: Oracle Corp. Key news



Exhibit 92: Oracle Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 93: Oracle Corp. - Segment focus

11.11 SAP SE

Exhibit 94: SAP SE - Overview



Exhibit 95: SAP SE - Business segments



Exhibit 96: SAP SE  Key news



Exhibit 97: SAP SE - Key offerings



Exhibit 98: SAP SE - Segment focus

11.12 SecureKey Technologies Inc.

Exhibit 99: SecureKey Technologies Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 100: SecureKey Technologies Inc. - Product and service



Exhibit 101: SecureKey Technologies Inc.  Key news



Exhibit 102: SecureKey Technologies Inc. - Key offerings

12 Appendix

12.1 Scope of the report

12.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 103: Currency conversion rates for US$

12.3 Research methodology

Exhibit 104: Research Methodology



Exhibit 105: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 106: Information sources

12.4 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 107: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library and its client base consist of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Japan's legacy carrier taps BMF to reinvigorate the brand through dynamic narrative and content across its global Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn channels and through earned media results

LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BMF is pleased to announce the latest addition to its growing Engagement and Earned practices with the addition of Japan Airlines (JAL). Appointed as global Social Media and Public Relations Agency of Record, BMF will serve as a strategic partner in smartly evolving the legacy carrier's brand narrative  the transformative and restorative power of travel  across its owned global social channels (Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn) and via eaned media results.

Getting to the heart of what motivates global travelers, BMF is poised to reinvigorate JAL's social content to be more relevant, inspiring, magnetic, and elevated. The agency will help JAL grow brand relevance through increased social following, engagement, and reach; improve customer retention; build preference from new customers; share valuable consumer insights in real time; and keep the JAL in the global media conversation through its unique experience-led PR tactics. BMF will also spearhead Tokyo-based content ideation and production for the airline.

"It is an honor and privilege to welcome Japan Airlines to the BMF roster," says Bruce Starr, CEO and Co-Founder of BMF. "With global travel recovery accelerating each day, the timing for a refreshed social and PR strategy couldn't be more auspicious. We're thrilled to draw on our 20 year legacy of creating brand narratives that inspire action to offer global travelers a coveted window seat to the world with JAL."

Underscoring the brand's commitment to safety & comfort, sustainability, innovation, and the unique cultures of the 52 countries and regions JAL services, BMF's social content and PR efforts will spotlight the international airlines' signature experience: the art of omotenashi, a distinctive style of Japanese hospitality rooted in intuitive service and the anticipation of customers needs.

"The industry has been disrupted, not only by the pandemic, but also by the urgent need for more sustainaible and thoughtful travel. Travelers are yearning for physical reconnetion and piece of mind that their safety and well-being are top priority," says Akira Mitsumasu, Vice President, CX, Data Analytics & Marketing at Japan Airlines. "We look forward to partnering with BMF at this critical juncture to breathe new energy into our social feeds and secure meaningful results with top-tier media, inspiring brand loyalists and new customers alike to choose JAL to be a part of their journey."

About Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines (JAL) was founded in 1951 and became the first international airline in Japan. A member of the oneworld alliance, the airline now reaches 349 airports in 52 countries and regions together with its codeshare partners with a modern fleet of 229 aircraft. JAL Mileage Bank (JMB), the airline's loyalty program, is one of the largest mileage programs in Asia. Awarded as one of the most punctual major international airlines and a 5-Star Airline by Skytrax, JAL is committed to providing customers with the highest levels of flight safety and quality in every aspect of its service and one of the most preferred airlines in the world. For more information, visit: www.jal.com

About BMF

BMF is an award-winning global integrated creative marketing agency with expertise in brand strategy, experiential, digital, influencer, talent, and PR. The agency conceptualizes and executes multi-channel programs that earn attention from key opinion leaders, engage with our clients' target audiences, and create unforgettable brand experiences with lasting impact. BMF does this for brands who seek to have a meaningful role in the current cultural conversation. With teams working around the world, BMF recently produced 350 programs of which 50 were in 19 countries outside the US . Each of the programs we develop are unique  the red thread is our commitment to delivering ROI by humanizing brands in unexpected and impactful ways that are made to inspire. BMF is an LGBT owned business certified by the NGLCC (nglcc.org) with diversity & inclusion as part of the agency's core DNA. For more information, visit: www.wearebmf.com.

Media Contact: BMF

T: 323.807.7333

E: [email protected]

SOURCE BMF
$1.25 million of Purchase Price Switched from Cash to Common Stock

LAS VEGAS and VANCOUVER, BC, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTCQB: BMMJ) (the "Company" or "BaM"), a multi-state US cannabis operator, is pleased to provide an update on the first amendment to the Seaside dispensary purchase agreement.

The Company, though its wholly owned subsidiary, DEP Nevada, Inc. ("DEP"), executed definitive agreements to purchase the Reef dispensary in Seaside California on November 30, 2021 and has been operating the dispensary since December 1st, 2021. DEP has executed a first amendment to such definitive agreements (the "First Amendment") to reduce the cash purchase price of the transaction and to issue shares of common stock having the same value as the cash reduction. The details of the definitive agreements executed on November 30, 2021 are outlined in the Company's press release on December 1, 2021 and the transaction has been amended to reduce the cash purchase price from US$2.5 million to US$1.25 million. The Company will issue US$1.25 million worth of shares of the Company's common stock based on the 10-day VWAP on the ten (10) consecutive trading days prior to June 17, 2022 being the "Effective Date" of the First Amendment and subject to compliance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). The Company also agreed to issue additional shares of common stock equal to the difference between the amount of the shares of common stock of the Company that were issued on December 3, 2021 (the "MIPA #2 Shares") and the amount of shares of common stock that would have been issued had the 10-day VWAP for the MIPA #2 shares been calculated as of the Effective Date of the First Amendment (the "Additional MIPA #2 Shares"). Additionally, on the date that is eighteen (18) months (548 days) following the Effective Date of the First Amendment (the "Additional Share Issuance Date"), the Company will issue US$100,000 worth of shares to the sellers based on the 10-Day VWAP and subject to compliance with the policies of the CSE, calculated as of the Additional Share Issuance Date. Furthermore, the Company has agreed to issue US$300,000 worth of shares of common stock (the "Additional True-up Shares") in advance of the working capital true-up payment outlined in the original agreement. If the actual working capital is less than $nil, then then purchase price will be reduced by such amount and the Additional True-up Shares will be forfeited and cancelled. If the actual working capital is greater than $nil and the Additional True-up Shares are sufficient to cover the difference, then all or a portion of the Additional True-up Shares will be delivered to the sellers. If the Additional True-up Shares are insufficient to cover the difference owing by DEP to the sellers, then the Additional True-up Shares will be delivered to the sellers and the Company will issue additional shares of common stock to cover any shortfall.

"The combination of our recent debt extension, pausing our Michigan cultivation and reduced cash payment for the Seaside dispensary are designed to strengthen the Body and Mind balance sheet for future development," stated Michael Mills, CEO of Body and Mind. "We continue to focus on our cultivation, manufacturing and retail operations as we expand our brand and wholesale business and develop new strains and innovative products."

Q3 Periodic Report and Earnings Update

The Company anticipates filing its Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended April 30, 2022 after market on June 21, 2022 with a Q3 earnings call scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Eastern on June 21, 2022.

Conference Call Details

Confirmation #: 30671046

Local: Toronto: 416-764-8659

North American Toll Free: 1-888-664-6392

Encore Replay

Encore Replay Local: (+1) 416 764 8677

Encore Replay North American Toll Free: (+1) 888 390 0541

Encore Replay Entry Code: 671046 #

Encore Replay Expiration Date: 06/28/2022

About Body and Mind Inc.

BaM is an operations focused US multi-state cannabis operator investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production and retail.

BaM continues to expand operations in Nevada, California, Arkansas, Ohio and Michigan and is dedicated to increasing shareholder value by focusing time and resources on improving operational efficiencies, facility expansions, state licensing opportunities as well as mergers and acquisitions.

Our wholly owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licenses and holds cultivation and production licenses. BaM products include dried flower, edibles, oils and extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges. BaM cannabis strains have won numerous awards including the 2019 Las Vegas Weekly Bud Bracket, Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup.

Please visit www.bodyandmind.com for more information.

Instagram:@bodyandmindBaM

Twitter: @bodyandmindBaM

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.

Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

SOURCE Body and Mind Inc.
HR technology leader's seventh annual study finds employees seeking greater progress on mental health benefits, flexibility, and diversity

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Businessolver, a leader in SaaS-based benefits technology and services, today announced the release of its 2022 State of Workplace Empathy Study. The seventh annual study showed that, after resurging in the past year, empathy in the workplace is once again on the decline amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Resignation. Along with seeing perceptions of workplace empathy returning to pre-pandemic lows, Businessolver's 2022 research also uncovered clear employee expectations for empathetic work environments that prioritize flexibility; mental health; and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

"While it's discouraging to see the decline in empathy after last year's findings, the data isn't surprising," said Jon Shanahan, Businessolver President and CEO. "As we look more closely at the data, it's clear that the pandemic and Great Resignation have created a shift in what workplace empathy looks like to employees. Executives and leaders have hard work ahead of them to create an empathetic culture through policies and programs that reach all employees equallywhether that's in a home office or at a corporate headquarters."

Decline in empathy highlighted in the era of return-to-office and the Great Resignation

Record numbers of workers continued to be lured by jobs offering higher pay, better benefits, and greater respect for work-life balance. This has put employers on their heels, with many struggling to offer the kinds of perks and culture that discerning jobseekers are looking for. Businessolver's 2022 Empathy data reveals:

69% of employees say their organizations are empathetic, down from 72% last year.

More than half of employees are concerned about protecting themselves against COVID-19 while in the office.

94% of employees say that flexible work hours demonstrate an organization's empathy toward employees.

Almost overnight, the pandemic forced many employers to embrace the reality that employees didn't have to be in the office to be productive. Overall, while employees believe that their organizations considered everyone's needs when developing return-to-office plans, most (76%) still would prefer a hybrid work schedule that allowed them to decide whether they could go into work in person or work from home.

CEOs continue to struggle with empathy

While CEOs have increasingly embraced their role as "Chief Empathy Officer" since Businessolver's inaugural Empathy study in 2016, many continue to struggle with the identity: While 69% of CEOs believe it's their job to build empathy in the workplace, 79% say they struggle to be empathetic. Specifically, 77% worry they will lose respect if they're too empathetic, a 9-point increase from last year.

Overall, CEOs' empathy struggles have driven employees to seek empathy elsewhere. Fewer employees today believe that their CEO plays the most important role in determining workplace empathy. Instead, many are turning to their direct managers to demonstrate empathetic behavior. There was a 25-point plunge in the number of employees who thought that their CEO played the most important role in building an empathetic workplace. This may also be a side effect of remote work or pandemic-related restrictions that limited employee engagement to their immediate supervisors.

As the pandemic persists, mental health remains at the forefront

Alongside the tremendous loss of life and persistent health fears brought by the pandemic, many people continue to combat mental burdens when it comes to living and working during an ongoing global health crisisand the stigma that persists around seeking help.

1 in 2 employees experienced a mental health issue over the past two years.

Two thirds of employees believe employers view employees with mental health issues as "weak" or "a burden."

59% of employees fear that reaching out to a manager or HR about mental health issues could negatively impact their job security.

One of the most significant drivers of employee's mental health issues is mounting concern that the return to in-person work will result in loss of the flexibility that helped them meet the challenges of the last two years. Nearly a quarter of employees say they experienced negative mental health effects as a result of returning to the office. This point once again reinforces the importance of flexibility when it comes to both demonstrating workplace empathy and addressing employee anxiety.

As diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts push forward, some employees are left behind

For many organizations, DEI remains an important driver of workplace empathy: 76% of employees, HR professionals, and CEOs believe that DEI programs and initiatives encourage empathy in the workplace. Two-thirds of employees say that DEI efforts at their organizations are very visible, a 1-point increase from 2021. Still, our 2022 State of Workplace Empathy data shows there's more work to be done:

More than one-third (37%) of employees believe that DEI programs just aren't important to their CEOs.

Over 80% of Black employees say they would put higher importance on DEI than their current CEO, compared to 67% for all employees.

Organizations must go beyond awareness and visibility and start showing real results. Workplace inclusivity remains dismayingly elusive for Black, Hispanic/Latinx and Asian employees. Across all these groups, 1 in 4 (24%) say that they don't feel they can be their authentic selves at work.

Additional key findings

Gen Z and Boomers find common ground: 69% of Gen Z and Boomers rate their colleagues as empathetic; 39% of Gen Z employees perceive CEOs as empathetic, the lowest of any cohort, and Boomers don't view CEOs much better (41%).

Workplace empathy drives employee drive: About 70% of employees and HR professionals believe that empathetic organizations drive higher employee motivation.

Employees seeking to carve out the clock: While 94% of employees value flexible work hours as empathetic, only 38% say this option is offered by their employer.

Find the full 2022 State of Workplace Empathy data and analysis at businessolver.com/empathy.

About Businessolver

Since 1998, Businessolver has delivered market-changing benefits technology and services supported by an intrinsic responsiveness to client needs. The company creates client programs that maximize benefits program investment, minimize risk exposure, and engage employees with easy-to-use solutions and communication tools to assist them in making wise and cost-efficient benefits selections. Founded by HR professionals, Businessolver's unwavering service-oriented culture and secure SaaS platform provide measurable success in its mission to provide complete client delight.

About the State of Workplace Empathy Study

Since 2016, Businessolver has surveyed a diverse cross-section of more than 3,000 employees, HR professionals, and CEOs across six industries to examine the behaviors and benefits that make a workplace empathetic. In the survey, empathy is defined as "the ability to understand and experience the feelings of another." In February, a third-party firm fielded the online survey for the 2022 study among employees, HR professionals, and CEOs within financial services, government, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, and technology. To qualify for the survey, respondents needed to be 18 years or older, U.S. residents, employed full-time or part-time within their respective industry at an organization with 100 or more employees. Learn more and find historical trend data from 2016 to today at businessolver.com/empathy.

Media Contact

Alex Nickols

Edelman, on behalf of Businessolver

[email protected]

SOURCE Businessolver
MCLEAN, Va., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, July 21, 2022, at approximately 4:05 p.m. Eastern Time, Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) will release its second quarter 2022 earnings results. Additionally, the company will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review financial and operating performance for the quarter ending June 30, 2022.

The call will be webcast live and the earnings release will be available on the company's homepage at www.capitalone.com . A replay of the webcast will be available 24 hours a day, beginning two hours after the conference call, until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 4, 2022, through the company's homepage.

About Capital One

Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a financial holding company whose subsidiaries, which include Capital One, N.A., and Capital One Bank (USA), N.A., had $313.4 billion in deposits and $434.2 billion in total assets as of March 31, 2022. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One offers a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients through a variety of channels. Capital One, N.A. has branches located primarily in New York, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. A Fortune 500 company, Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 100 index.

Visit Capital One About for more Capital One news.

SOURCE Capital One Financial Corporation
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Car Wash Advisory is excited to announce its partnership with Eric Harrison as he joins as Chief Financial Officer. Eric has built, owned, and operated four successful car washes. In addition, he's achieved successful exits and sales to both Mister Car Wash and WhiteWater Express, which gives him the hands-on experience to give proper financial advice to those wanting to sell or exit as well.

Eric Harrison's valuable experience will help the Car Wash Advisory team continue to provide people with real investment advice that will help those looking to buy or acquire a car wash.

About Eric Harrison

Eric Harrison is a huge asset to the Car Wash Advisory team and brings years of qualified experience. To add to his experience of owning, operating, and selling car washes, Eric has also had several other successful business ventures.

Eric holds a BBA in Accounting and Computer Information Systems from Ross School of Business and the University of Michigan. Upon graduating, Eric explored other business ventures, such as being a business consultant at Arthur Andersen. Afterward, he moved on to grow and build the RV Chassis Division as Vice President at a publicly-traded company, Lippert Components.

"Eric is not only bringing over twenty years of direct multi-location car wash ownership and operations experience but also brings so much more in joining Car Wash Advisory's Leadership Team. Eric brings an innately matching cultural fit that we are so very excited for and so very fortunate to have with us," said Harry H. Caruso, the CEO and Founder of Car Wash Advisory.

The Car Wash Advisory team benefits greatly by having Eric on the team with his years of expertise. If any client is looking to buy a car wash, needs advice with their transactions, or doesn't know where to start, his leadership and advice will aid them greatly.

About Car Wash Advisory

Car Wash Advisory is the top car wash-focused investment bank, transaction advisor, and broker in the United States. The goal of Car Wash Advisory is to always provide honest, authentic, and professional car wash transaction advice, producing the best results for clients with our experienced investment advisors.

To learn more, please visit www.carwashadvisory.com .

CONTACT: Robin Sisk - Administrative Coordinator

Car Wash Advisory

332.209.4246

[email protected]

SOURCE Car Wash Advisory
The 2022 Woohoo Beach Ambassador Program Invites Dream Job Seekers to Woohoo with their Crew for the Ultimate Group Trip-of-a-Lifetime

NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of the wildly successful inaugural Woohoo Beach Ambassador Program 2021, CheapCaribbean , the online booking engine known for featuring the "best in beach" travel deals every day, has enhanced the campaign's 2022 program. Potential 2022 Ambassadors have the chance to win three dream trips, including one ultimate group trip for them and their crew. From June 21 - July 31, 2022, residents of the contiguous United States can apply for a chance to become one of three of CheapCaribbean's Woohoo Beach Ambassadors  fun seekers who will showcase "woohoo" moments for the brand  and bring along their best "beaches" for an all-expense paid Caribbean vacation.
"Ms. Scott's generosity comes at a critical time for our communities," said Brian Maness, President & CEO of Children's Home Society of North Carolina. "Children and families need more than ever to be seen, heard, and validated while facing the challenges of today's world. They need to feel hope for their future and that someone cares about them, particularly amidst current social inequities and the pandemic. We are so grateful to everyone who is helping and sharing in this work."

The organization recently launched an ambitious 5-year plan outlining a better future for North Carolina children and families. "Ms. Scott's donation will strengthen and help sustain this vital work as we continue to embrace our identity as a mission-driven problem solver, and promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family. We know that no one person, organization, or gift can do this work alone, but every person  no matter their background  can make an incredible difference through positive and inspired action," Maness said.

Gifts like Ms. Scott's, as well as the consistent support from community members across North Carolina, make it possible for CHS to serve more than 15,000 North Carolina children and families annually. In 2021, more than 4,800 families were supported with parent education and support services, and a safe family placement was created for nearly 1,100 children who are in foster care. Children's Home Society has celebrated more than 16,000 adoptions since 1902.

For more information on the Children's Home Society, how to become a foster or adoptive parent, or financial support, work, and volunteer opportunities, please call 1-800-632-1400 or visit www.chsnc.org.

About Children's Home Society of North Carolina

Children's Home Society offers a network of services and support throughout North Carolina to help establish and sustain healthy, loving relationships in every family. For 120 years, Children's Home Society has provided a broad spectrum of programs and services including adoption, foster care, parenting education, family preservation, and youth responsibility. Children's Home Society believes in the importance of family, not only in the life of a child, but also in the foundation of a community.

SOURCE Children's Home Society of NC
SINGAPORE, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

To all Shareholders

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") of CHINA YUCHAI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (NYSE: CYD) (the "Company") will be held on Friday, July 22, 2022 at 8:00 A.M. New York Time (8:00 P.M. Singapore Time). In light of the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and to enable greater shareholder attendance and participation from any location around the world, the Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only, via a live webcast, with no physical attendance at the Meeting.

Members entered in the Register of Members of the Company at the close of business on May 31, 2022 (the "Record Date") are entitled to receive notice of the Meeting and to attend the Meeting online, vote electronically and submit questions prior to and during the Meeting.

The Meeting will be accessible by visiting www .meetnow.global/MKFPQ7U and using the unique Control Number included on the proxy card or on the instructions that accompany the proxy materials.

The Meeting will be held for the following purposes:

As Ordinary Business

1. To receive and adopt the audited financial statements and independent auditors' report for the financial year ended December 31, 2021.

2. To approve an increase in the limit of the Directors' fees as set out in Bye-law 10(11) of the Bye-laws of the Company from US$250,000 to US$538,493 for the financial year 2021 (Directors' fees paid for the financial year 2020 was US$556,229).

3. To re-elect the following Directors retiring pursuant to Bye-law 4(2) of the Bye-laws of the Company to hold office until the next annual general meeting of the Company:

(i) Mr Kwek Leng Peck

(ii) Mr Gan Khai Choon

(iii) Mr Hoh Weng Ming

(iv) Mr Neo Poh Kiat

(v) Mr Ho Raymond Chi-Keung

(vi) Mr Xie Tao

(vii) Mr Stephen Ho Kiam Kong

(viii) Mr Li Hanyang

(ix) Mr Wu Qiwei

4. To authorize the Board of Directors (the "Board") to appoint up to the maximum of 11 Directors or such maximum number as determined from time to time by the shareholders in general meeting to fill any vacancies on the Board.

5. To re-appoint Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors of the Company and to authorize the Audit Committee to fix their remuneration.

6. To transact any other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

By Order of the Board

Hoh Weng Ming

President

Date: June 21, 2022

Important Notes:

1. To be admitted to attend, vote and submit questions at the Meeting, Members as of the Record Date will need to follow the instructions included on the notice of the Meeting or on the proxy card.

2. A Member may appoint a proxy who need not be a Member of the Company by inserting the proxy's name on the proxy card in the space provided. If no name is entered in the space provided, the Chairman of the Meeting or such other person as he may designate will be authorized to act as the proxy of the said Member.

3. Members are encouraged to vote and submit their proxy in advance by internet or telephone per the instructions as outlined in the proxy card, no less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the Meeting, that is no later than 8:00 A.M. New York Time or 8:00 P.M. Singapore Time on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Beneficial owners of shares held through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, will need to follow the instructions provided by their broker, bank or other nominee that holds their shares.

4. Beneficial owners of shares held through an intermediary will need to register in advance to attend the Meeting virtually, by submitting Computershare proof of their proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting their holdings of the Company's shares along with their names and email addresses. Requests for registration should be labeled as "Legal Proxy" and be received by Computershare no later than 8:00 A.M. New York Time or 8:00 P.M. Singapore Time on July 19, 2022.

Requests for registration should be directed to Computershare at the following:

By email

Forward the email from the broker, or attach an image of the legal proxy, to [email protected]

By mail

Computershare

COMPANY Legal Proxy

P.O. Box 43001

Providence, RI 02940-3001

5. As the Members will not be able to attend the Meeting in person and will be participating virtually in the Meeting, each resolution to be considered at the Meeting will be voted on by way of a poll. The Board believes voting by poll to be in the interests of the Members as a whole and ensures that the views of as many Members as possible are represented at the Meeting.

6. Pursuant to the Bye-laws of the Company, no resolution of Members may be passed without the affirmative vote of the Special Share cast by the holder of the Special Share.

7. All questions submitted at the Meeting should be relevant to the business of the Meeting.

8. The virtual meeting platform is fully supported across browsers (MS Edge, Firefox, Chrome and Safari) and devices (desktops, laptops, tablets and cell phones) running the most up-to-date version of applicable software and plugins. Note: Internet Explorer is not a supported browser.

For more information:



Investor Relations

Kevin Theiss

Tel: +1-212-510-8922 (new)

Tel: +1-212-521-4050 (old)

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE China Yuchai International Limited
In coordination with Sarasota Urban ReForesters (SURF), more than 150 Colony Cove residents, employees and volunteers helped with the planting of the microforest, which took place on June 13, 2022. Sustainability is top of mind at Colony Cove, and the high-performance microforest is a key element among the community's eco-friendly endeavors.

"In addition to the many benefits microforests provide to the environment, enhancing the beauty of Colony Cove with native landscapes offers our residents a sense of serenity, along with the physical and mental health benefits that our residents can experience by getting outside and enjoying the nature trail," said Scott Payrits, general manager of Colony Cove. "We're thrilled to be able to have a microforest that highlights our ongoing focus on sustainability and environmental awareness."

SURF, which coordinated and helped organize Colony Cove's microforest, is a coalition of nonprofits dedicated to establishing microforests throughout the Suncoast. SURF's planting strategy follows the inspiration and guidance of Akira Miyawaki, a distinguished Japanese botanist who developed a plan to convert largely urban land into forests that would grow exceptionally fast and provide many environmental benefits. The rapid growth rate enables microforests to sequester an enormous amount of carbon against climate change, which is an important objective for all involved. The rapid growth rate also intercepts rainwater and transpires it back into the atmosphere rather than allowing it to carry pollution-laden runoff that deteriorates coastal waters. In support of this effort, volunteers from Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START), the Sarasota Bay Rotary Club and Florida Veterans for Common Sense were also on hand to help plant the Colony Cove microforest.

About Colony Cove

Colony Cove is an age-qualified, resort-style manufactured home community situated along the scenic Manatee River and featuring waterfront views, planned events and activities, and amenities designed around an active lifestyle. Beautiful new homes are available in a variety of floor plans. Visit www.mymhcommunity.com for more information.

SOURCE Colony Cove
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Confie, the largest auto insurance and personal lines distributor in the US, is excited to share they will be awarding six scholarships to deserving recipients totaling $30,000 for the 2022-23 academic year.

In a new collaboration with Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) that began this year, the newly created Confie Enablement Fund will endow annual scholarships to its employees and their dependents. They will have the opportunity to apply competitively for scholarships annually, enabling successful applicants to continue or begin their dreams of higher education.

One of this year's six deserving scholarship recipients is a young man who is currently earning a bachelor's degree in Nursing. He aspires to work as a nurse in a cardiovascular intensive care unit, where he can continue to make a difference in the lives of others.

Another is a young woman studying Environmental Resources Engineering. Outside of her studies, she is planning a trip to Guatemala where she and a team of peers and professionals, all involved in Engineers Without Borders, will help bring water to the village of Las Majadas. She is also starting plans for a sanitation project in Ghana.

Confie has a deep-rooted and long-standing tradition of giving back and making a difference in the communities it serves. With core values that have a positive impact through crisis relief, promoting safety and investing in youth, the Confie Enablement Fund touches all of these areas through higher education.

"Part of what makes us strong is our winning culture and our belief in education," said Cesar Soriano, CEO. "This initiative pays off by not only continuing our professional and personal success but also our outreach in making our communities stronger and our nation, overall, a better place."

Scholarships are independently judged and awarded by Scholarship America. No personnel representing Confie or OCCF have any part in the selection. Among the recipients, those who are in or beginning a two-year degree will receive $2,500, while those seeking a four-year degree will be awarded $5,000.

About Confie

Established in 2008, Confie is the nation's leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Today, Confie meets customers wherever they are  with more than 800+ retail locations in 23 states, the Bluefire general agency, and a telephone and online shared service center servicing all 50 states. With flexible insurance options, outstanding value, and convenient service, Confie's aspiration is to be the most trusted source of insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Confie is a portfolio company of Alliant. For more information about Confie, visit www.confie.com.

About OCCF

Founded in 1989, the Orange County Community Foundation works with donors, strengthens the local nonprofit sector and works to find solutions to community needs. Since its inception, OCCF has awarded more than $870 million in grants and scholarships, ranking the organization as the 3rd most active grant maker among all U.S. community foundations. For more information, visit www.oc-cf.org.

SOURCE Confie
Company Reports Highest Yearly Revenue and Triples Executive Team

WALTHAM, Mass., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- connectRN , the leading platform connecting nurses and CNAs to opportunities and each other to build a supportive and thriving network, is proud to announce the expansion of its services to Tennessee, with its third corporate office to open in Nashville in August. Home to more than 500 healthcare companies, Nashville is the heartbeat of the healthcare industry, generating more than $95 billion in revenue and creating more than 500,000 jobs, and is an organic next step as connectRN continues to focus on delivering better work solutions for nurses everywhere. In recent months the company expanded its services to Colorado, Texas, and Georgia, with plans to launch in California by the end of Q4, and be in all 50 states by the end of the year. The company has also seen 250% revenue growth year over year.

ConnectRN's new VP Hospital Services, Tyler White ConnectRN's "Nurses Connect" Activation Truck

In December 2021, the company raised $76 million which helped fuel entry into new markets and establish strategic partnerships; the company announced entry into the home healthcare space through a partnership with Amedysis, a leader in home healthcare and hospice care. The raise also coincided with incredible growth in December and January; connectRN's revenue run rate doubled. As a result, connectRN added over 200 new employees and tripled its executive team adding Cora Jaulin, VP of Home Health, and Tyler White, VP Hospital Services. The company continues to hire and expects to have 450 employees by December 2022.

"We've experienced tremendous growth in the first half of the year and expect to continue the trend as we move into the H2. Our expansion into Tennessee is a critical milestone given Nashville's large footprint in healthcare. Our mission has always been to meet nurses where they are, so we're doing just that here," said Ted Jeanloz, CEO of connectRN. "Nurses are the future of healthcare. We are dedicated to giving every nurse the opportunity to take control of their schedule and have access to a supportive community."

To celebrate the launch in Tennessee, connectRN will bring together hundreds of nurses to show appreciation for their hard work at a "pop-up" activation: Nurses Connect Nashville on June 21st and 22nd in Centennial Park. Nashville-area nurses will be invited to meet one another, share their stories, have refreshments and sweet treats, and receive tools they can use at work, and complimentary self-care products. A similar event was successfully held in Chicago in April that brought together hundreds of nurses who shared stories and received work-related gifts.

In addition to supporting connectRN's nursing community, the company aims to advocate for all nurses. In April the platform collaborated with StoryCorps , the non-profit whose mission is to preserve and share humanity's stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world, to shine a light on the reality of what nurses are and have been going through. Six nurses, including renowned nurse influencer Sarah Warren ( @shesinscrubs ), were selected to participate in recorded sessions, discussing their stories two years in to the pandemic. These stories will be preserved in StoryCorps' archive at the Library of Congress, the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered.

connectRN also commissioned a study of 1,000 American nurses that revealed nearly nine in 10 American nurses believe that nobody understands their work and 83 percent of nurses said they are under-recognized for their work. In response to the continued underappreciation of nurses, especially during National Nurses Week, the platform launched a campaign called NursesWeakGifts to both raise awareness around the poor treatment of nurses, and give them the gifts they deserve. The campaign led to over 600 nurses exchanging gifts received at work for gifts they actually wanted or needed including gift boxes with scented candles, gourmet chocolates, and tea and mugs.

It's never been a more challenging time to be a nurse. With nearly 52 percent of nurses thinking of leaving the profession due to burnout connectRN is on a mission to improve the lives of nurses through access to community, opportunity, and support and considers it vital to give nurses a platform to amplify their voices and the experiences they have to endure, especially after two years of COVID.

"What we are doing in Nashville, and will continue to do across the country, is connect with nurses beyond shifts worked," said Jen Reddy, CMO of connectRN. "We are continuously listening and co-creating with our nurses, as we build the future of healthcare, together."

From June 16 - 22 connectRN will be celebrating CNA week highlighting the importance of CNAs and why they deserve more respect from those they work with. The platform will also be the gold sponsor for Black Nurses Week (July-26 - August 1) which shines a light and celebrates Black nursing excellence.

For more information on connectRN please visit connectRN.com

About connectRN:

connectRN is the leading nurse-centric platform that is reinventing the way nurses and other healthcare professionals are finding work. By leveraging technology, connectRN connects the nursing community to flexible work opportunities and each other to build a supportive and thriving network. The platform offers career development resources and flexible shift offerings for nurses, while alleviating staffing shortages at healthcare facilities. connectRN is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts and serves clinicians across the U.S. To learn more about connectRN, please please visit www.connectrn.com .

Media Contact

Brittany Colvin Gbur

[email protected]

215-983-9075

SOURCE connectRN
The Act Is on the Verge of Becoming Law, and This Will Finally Clear the Legal Barriers That Have Prevented Victims of Water Contamination From Being Compensated

MARLTON, N.J., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, June 16, 2022, the United States Senate voted in favor of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, advancing the piece of legislation that would open the doors for new claims on behalf of Veterans and military families injured by exposure to contaminated water at the military base. Contamination of water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina occurred over a span of 35 years, exposing an estimated one million people to chemicals that have been linked to diseases like Parkinson's disease, kidney disease, fertility problems, and several types of cancer.

Between 1953 and 1987, water treated and distributed by the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point systems on Camp Lejeune Marine Base was determined to have contained unsafe levels of toxic chemicals like trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene, or PCE), vinyl chloride, and benzene. The government has established programs intended to pay disability benefits to Veterans and health care benefits to Veterans and their families, provided that the claimants meet eligibility requirements for exposure to contaminated water and qualifying medical conditions. However, many military families have been unable to move forward with claims because of North Carolina's 10-year statute of repose.

Once it has been officially signed into law, the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 will open the door for these claimants to finally move forward with their claims for compensation. Under the new law, claimants will have two years from the date the law is officially enacted to bring Camp Lejeune claims, even if those claims had previously been barred under the 10-year statute of limitations that had applied to these legal matters prior to the passage of the law.

The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 isn't the first bill introduced in recent years in an attempt to address the legal technicalities that have historically barred Camp Lejeune lawsuit claims. For example, Pennsylvania Representative Matt Cartwright, sponsor of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, also introduced the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2021 in the House of Representatives on March 26, 2021. However, this time, the Camp Lejeune bill has advanced far enough to give military families new hope. The bill has now passed through Congress and is expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden as early as this week as part of the larger Honoring Our PACT Act.

"The Camp Lejeune Justice Act being poised to become law is huge news for our Veterans and military families who have waited years, suffering physically as well as financially, to finally get the compensation they deserve," said Console & Associates, P.C. founder and managing attorney Richard P. Console, Jr. "All toxic exposure victims deserve justice, but the fact that Camp Lejeune's water contamination issues went on for decades and that those affected were overwhelmingly the service members and military families already making so many sacrifices to serve our country make this new legislative development all the more important."

Interested parties can learn more at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/national-claims/camp-lejeune-toxic-water-contamination-lawsuit/.

At Console & Associates, our toxic exposure attorneys are seeking to interview anyone who may have been a victim of water contamination while serving, living, or working on Camp Lejeune Marine Base. We can help you understand the complex eligibility requirements for seeking compensation and advise you of your legal options at no cost. Sign up for a free, confidential case evaluation at: https://www.myinjuryadvocate.com/camplejeune54635920.

Contact:

Christina McClellan

***@consoleandassociates.com

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12921965

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Console & Associates, P.C.
To get the exact yearly growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Read this Sample Report .

Key Revenue-generating Segments

The consumer stationery retailing market report is segmented by Product (paper-based stationery, writing equipment, and marking and correction equipment) and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA).

The paper-based stationery product segment held the largest consumer stationery retailing market share in 2020. The segment will continue to account for the highest revenue throughout the forecast period. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the increasing use of recycled paper to produce paper-based stationery and product differentiation strategies adopted by manufacturers and retailers, such as interactive notebooks and fashion-based stationery.

APAC will be the leading region with 45% of the market's growth during the forecast period. China and India are the key markets for consumer stationery retailing market in APAC. The growing demand for stationery products in the education sector as a result of rapid improvement in academic infrastructure will propel the consumer stationery retailing market growth in APAC over the forecast period. Market growth in this region will be slower than the growth of the market in South America .

Request sample report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities

Vendor Landscape

The consumer stationery retailing market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying growth strategies such as increasing mergers and acquisitions to compete in the market. To make the most of the opportunities and recover from post pandemic impact, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. The consumer stationery retailing market forecast report offers in-depth insights into key vendor profiles. The profiles include information on the production, sustainability, and prospects of the leading companies.

Top Companies Mentioned with their Offerings

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.: The company offers a wide range of stationery products including tapes, glues, pens, pencils, notebooks, and diaries under multiple brands such as Huahao and XINYA, designed for individuals and school applications.

The company offers a wide range of stationery products including tapes, glues, pens, pencils, notebooks, and diaries under multiple brands such as Huahao and XINYA, designed for individuals and school applications.

Amazon.com Inc.: The company offers a wide range of stationery products including pens, notebooks, correction tapes, and diaries under multiple brands such as Kokuyo Camlin and Pilot Corporation, designed for individual and school applications.

The company offers a wide range of stationery products including pens, notebooks, correction tapes, and diaries under multiple brands such as Kokuyo Camlin and Pilot Corporation, designed for individual and school applications.

Carrefour SA: The company offers stationery and school supplies.

The company offers stationery and school supplies.

Metro AG: The company offers office supplies and stationery.

The company offers office supplies and stationery.

Penney IP LLC: The company offers stationery and school supplies under kids zone.

Some other companies covered in the report are:

Target Corp.



Tesco Plc



The ODP Corporation



Walmart Inc.



WH Smith Plc

To gain access to more vendor profiles with their key offerings available with Technavio, Click Here

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Consumer Stationery Retailing Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of over 2.57% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 7.04 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 1.75 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 45% Key consumer countries US, China, India, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Amazon.com Inc., Carrefour SA, Metro AG, Penney IP LLC, Target Corp., Tesco Plc, The ODP Corporation, Walmart Inc., and WH Smith Plc 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.

Key Topics Covered:

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: Education Services

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 ($ billion)



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 Product

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 15: Product - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Product

Exhibit 16: Comparison by Product

5.3 Paper-based stationery - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 17: Paper-based stationery - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)



Exhibit 18: Paper-based stationery - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.4 Writing equipment - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 19: Writing equipment - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)



Exhibit 20: Writing equipment - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.5 Marking and correction equipment - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 21: Marking and correction equipment - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)



Exhibit 22: Marking and correction equipment - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.6 Market opportunity by Product

Exhibit 23: Market opportunity by Product

6 Customer landscape

6.1 Customer landscape

Exhibit 24: Customer landscape

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 25: Market share by geography 2020-2025 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 26: Geographic comparison

7.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 27: APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)



Exhibit 28: APAC - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 29: North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 30: North America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.5 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 31: Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 32: Europe - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 33: South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)

Exhibit 34: South America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.7 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 35: MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion)



Exhibit 36: MEA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.8 Key leading countries

Exhibit 37: Key leading countries

7.9 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 38: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

Exhibit 39: Impact of drivers and challenges

8.3 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 40: Vendor landscape

9.2 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 41: Landscape disruption



Exhibit 42: Industry risks

9.3 Competitive landscape

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 43: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 44: Market positioning of vendors

10.3 Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

10.4 Amazon.com Inc.

Exhibit 50: Amazon.com Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 51: Amazon.com Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 52: Amazon.com Inc.  Key news



Exhibit 53: Amazon.com Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 54: Amazon.com Inc. - Segment focus

10.5 Carrefour SA

Exhibit 55: Carrefour SA - Overview



Exhibit 56: Carrefour SA - Business segments



Exhibit 57: Carrefour SA - Key offerings



Exhibit 58: Carrefour SA - Segment focus

10.6 Metro AG

Exhibit 59: Metro AG - Overview



Exhibit 60: Metro AG - Product and service



Exhibit 61: Metro AG - Key offerings

10.7 Penney IP LLC

Exhibit 62: Penney IP LLC - Overview



Exhibit 63: Penney IP LLC - Product and service



Exhibit 64: Penney IP LLC - Key offerings

10.8 Target Corp.

Exhibit 65: Target Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 66: Target Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 67: Target Corp.  Key news



Exhibit 68: Target Corp. - Key offerings

10.9 Tesco Plc

Exhibit 69: Tesco Plc - Overview



Exhibit 70: Tesco Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 71: Tesco Plc  Key news



Exhibit 72: Tesco Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 73: Tesco Plc - Segment focus

10.10 The ODP Corporation

Exhibit 74: The ODP Corporation - Overview



Exhibit 75: The ODP Corporation - Business segments



Exhibit 76: The ODP Corporation - Key offerings



Exhibit 77: The ODP Corporation - Segment focus

10.11 Walmart Inc.

Exhibit 78: Walmart Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 79: Walmart Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 80: Walmart Inc.  Key news



Exhibit 81: Walmart Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 82: Walmart Inc. - Segment focus

10.12 WH Smith Plc

Exhibit 83: WH Smith Plc - Overview



Exhibit 84: WH Smith Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 85: WH Smith Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 86: WH Smith Plc - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 87: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.3 Research methodology

Exhibit 88: Research Methodology



Exhibit 89: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 90: Information sources

11.4 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 91: List of abbreviations

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Technavio Research

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SOURCE Technavio
The addition of Mike's Auto Body and its 17 locations will strengthen Crash Champions' presence in Northern California and bring the Company's total locations across the state to 51

This acquisition brings Crash Champions' total U.S. locations to ~220 across 20 states and the District of Columbia

CHICAGO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Crash Champions (or the "Company"), one of the nation's fastest-growing independent collision repair companies, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Mike's Auto Body, a leading family-owned collision repair multi-shop operator (MSO) in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Slated to close in early August 2022, all 17 Mike's Auto Body locations will operate under the Crash Champions name and banner, bringing the Company's total number of shops in California to 51. This is a major industry development that not only adds another leading name in California into the Crash Champions platform, but rounds out the Company's footprint in the Golden State.

Having first opened its doors in 1972, Mike's Auto Body has become a well-known and trusted leader in the San Francisco Bay Area for providing high quality collision repairs and outstanding customer service. Founded by Mike Rose, the business offers a full suite of modern collision repair services at its 17 state-of-the-art locations, spanning Napa to Fremont. For a complete list of Mikes Auto Body locations, click here .

"For nearly 50 years, Mike's Auto Body has been a model of excellence for our industry," said Matt Ebert, founder and CEO of Crash Champions. "When you look at our incredible growth over the last three years, there's a common theme with every M&A transaction we've completed: true partnership with great operators. Every deal we have done has been rooted in identifying the right partners who share our operational ethos, and never has this been truer than with Mike's Auto Body. The Rose family has built a phenomenal business with a stellar reputation and robust footprint that fits well with our platform in California. I'm thrilled to welcome the Rose family and their team to Crash Champions, and I look forward to our future together."

Following the transaction, Mike Rose, Brennan Rose, and Ragen Rose-Ortland will become equity holders in the Company.

After five decades of building this business into the respected leader it is today, I could not be prouder to partner with Matt Ebert and Crash Champions to begin a new chapter, said Founder Mike Rose. This is a tremendous day in our history, and we are all very excited to take this next step.

Ragen Rose-Ortland, CFO of Mikes Auto Body, added: Matt and his team have demonstrated a clear commitment to their customers, employees, and the neighborhoods where they live and work, which was important to us with our choice of national MSOs. As we join together with Crash Champions, we know were in great hands.

Since our founding, we have been doing business the right way and putting the people we serve first, said Brennan Rose, CEO of Mikes Auto Body. This approach has led to our success, and in Crash Champions, we know we have found a partner who shares this mission and philosophyensuring that our values are maintained moving forward. This is a monumental day for the Mikes Auto Body family, and I look forward to what the future holds under the Crash Champions banner.

Crash Champions first entered the California market in early 2020 with the acquisition of Pacific Elite, a 23-location operation in Southern California. This was followed by the acquisition of Fountain Valley Bodyworks, an Orange County-based operator of two of the highest-performing collision repair shops in the country, in October 2020. Through a handful of successful transactions that followed, Crash Champions then entered the Northern California market with the addition of five locations in the San Francisco Bay Area from 2021-2022. With the addition of Mike's Auto Body, the Company now operates 51 high-performing shops throughout the state. This impressive expansion further solidifies Crash Champion's position as one of the largest collision repair companies (by location) in California.

"California has been a major focus for us, as evident by our many transactions in the market over the last few years," added Mr. Ebert. "With the addition of Mike's Auto Bodyand the experienced team behind their successour platform now includes powerful assets and capabilities in the center of Northern California. Combined with our strong presence throughout the greater Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego regions, we are now one of the top players in almost every major market of the state. This is yet another key milestone in our incredible growth story, and we're just getting started."

For more information about Crash Champions, visit our website and watch our video here . For those collision repair companies interested in selling their business, the Company has made it easy. Please visit crashchampions.com/sell-your-shop to learn more.

About Crash Champions

Crash Champions is a leading independent collision repair company operating more than 200 state-of-the-art centers across 20 statesincluding: California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsinand Washington, DC. Founded in 1999 as a single shop outside Chicago by industry veteran and entrepreneur Matt Ebert, today Crash Champions is one of the fastest growing and largest founder-led and operated collision repair MSOs in America. For more information, visit www.crashchampions.com .

Contact

Gaffney Bennett PR

[email protected]

SOURCE Crash Champions
The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) Foundation appoints national health innovator to its Board of Directors.

NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) has appointed Dr. Daniel Knecht, Chief Clinical Innovation Officer (CCIO) at CVS Caremark, to its Foundation Board of Directors.

"Dr. Knecht brings to our Board an extraordinary perspective as a practicing medical professional who is also driving national access to consumer-focused knowledge and health solutions," said CUNY SPH Dean Ayman El-Mohandes. "As advocates for public health, we are excited to collaborate on initiatives that are effective and empathetic."

In his role at CVS Caremark, the pharmacy benefit manager of CVS Health, Dr. Knecht works with clients and the product team to identify unmet needs in the marketplace and accelerate innovation to improve health outcomes and better manage costs.

"At a time when public health plays a crucial role in bridging inequities that have been deepened by the pandemic, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Knecht whose insights and expertise will be valuable to this mission," said Lyndon Haviland, CUNY SPH Board Chair.

"Dr. Knecht is on the leading edge of bringing affordable health care to the lives of consumers across the nation," said Adam M. Doyno, CUNY SPH Foundation Executive Director and Director of Development. "We are immensely proud to have him on our Board."

Prior to this role, Dr. Knecht served as VP of Clinical Product where he drove clinical product development across all major CVS Health business lines to develop and execute clinical strategies that address unmet health needs. Since joining the company in 2016, Dr. Knecht has led a series of enterprise-wide strategic initiatives including the company's efforts to combat opioid misuse and addiction. As part of the combined organization, his team focused on leveraging data analytics and enterprise assets to provide actionable insights for patients and providers that increase value of care.

Dr. Knecht graduated with honors from Dartmouth College and received a joint MD, MBA from Weill Cornell Medical College and Johnson Graduate School of Management where he was a recipient of the Lee Family Scholarship. He is a Fulbright Scholar in medical sciences and has performed research that explored health care deficiencies in the Negev region of Israel. Dr. Knecht is also an associate clinical professional at Mount Sinai West in New York City where he still sees patients.

CVS Caremark works with employers, health plans, unions and state and local governments nationwide. It manages prescription plans that help control costs while ensuring access, and provides consumers with tools, services and support.

For media inquiries contact:

Ariana Costakes

Communications Editorial Manager

CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy

[email protected]

SOURCE CUNY SPH
The recipient of the 2022 Social Good Scholarship Program's $2000 award is Alison MacLeod of Plano, Texas. Alison MacLeod is junior at Lebanon Trail High School, located in Frisco, Texas. She has been a member of her school orchestra for many years and participated in competitions while developing herself musically. On top of developing her repertoire she has hosted concerts for her community. To add to her talents, she is one of three girls in her area of Lebanon Trail, Texas to advance to the Regional Powerlifting Competition. Other school activities include her induction into the National Honor Society and Awareness Chair of her schools' 'She's the First Chapter' organization where her role is to develop school volunteer activities. She has advanced nationally in the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) and is a volunteer for the non-profit Feed My Starving Children.

"We chose Allison Macleod simply because she fit exactly what our Foundation stands for having a passion for social good within the community," said Michael Porto, 2022 Social Good Scholarship Committee member. "Allison has demonstrated her passion, leadership skills, maturity and determination to make a difference to those in her community. She is well-respected not just among her peers, but also with her educators and leadership of the non-profit she currently supports. Allison has made a large impact at Round Pier and the programs they provide to local students while at the same time, not losing sight of her studies and education where she currently maintains a 5.1 grade point average. As Allison finishes her education in the coming years, we would not be surprised to see her operating her own non-profit with the goal to further social good. We are excited to grant Allison Macleod the Lampkin Foundation's 2022 Social Good Scholarship Award," he added.

The Lampkin Foundation's $1000 award recipients are Samantha Moreno of Rancho Cucamonga, California and Catherine-Jolie Tabe of Irving, Texas.

Samantha Moreno is a Junior at Etiwanda High School. She is a member of the Junior Varsity Pep Squad, Red Cross Club, National Honors Society Club, and the California Scholarship Federation Club. She is also the CEO and Founder of Thundar Lightning & Peace, a nonprofit created to help Veterans with trauma. Her organization provides the grassroots movement her community needs to collectively act and create change for our Veterans & Military Heroes, both locally and regionally. Her passion is to be a neuro-orthopedic surgeon helping veterans with both physical and emotional trauma.

Catherine-Jolie is a senior at Little Elm High School, located in Little Elm, Texas, and has plans to attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Catherine-Jolie intends to major in Mechanical Engineering. She is a member of many clubs around her school. One of the most notable is her role as President of Little Elm Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) School-Based Enterprise. She is a two-time DECA district winner (2020, 2022) and state qualifier in Marketing Communications. With over 200 hours of community service she is an integral part of her community's growth and development.

"I want to thank this year's Scholarship Committee for their efforts to identify and acknowledge applicants who exemplify the mission of the Lampkin Foundation," said D'Andre Lampkin, Founder of the D'Andre D. Lampkin Foundation. "As we continued to navigate the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, it was apparent the committee would have a difficult time pursuing the stories of students who are leaders within their community. I am particularly pleased to see there are still young people throughout the United States who are not paralyzed by the obstacles we are facing as a nation. They continue to step up and find solutions in times when adults sometimes lack the desire to work cooperatively and collaborate. This was evidenced by each award recipient's ability to first seek buy-in from their peers and move forward with a selfless approach," D'Andre added.

Awards and Scholarships are made possible for Social Good Scholarship Fund applicants through the generosity and support of many individuals, associations, and businesses who support the D'Andre D. Lampkin Foundation.

For more information about the D'Andre D. Lampkin Foundation and its initiatives, visit www.lampkinfoundation.org or call (909) 906-2068.

The D'Andre D. Lampkin Foundation

The mission of the D'Andre D. Lampkin Foundation is to create positive opportunities and change for individuals, communities, and environments. Our goal is to sponsor and create programs and initiatives that lead to the development of stronger communities and positively impact individuals wanting to lead happier and healthier lives. We have a vision for communities that are strong, fully engaged, and resilient; where all stakeholders are self-reliant and fully supported by sustainable ingenuity and grassroots efforts.

SOURCE D'Andre D. Lampkin Foundation
ATLANTA, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DeKalb County has approved a $50,000 Super District 6 ARP appropriation of funding from Commissioner Ted Terry for economic development, nonprofit organization Prospera to support local Latino entrepreneurs, especially those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All Prospera servicesincluding individual consulting and technical assistance, business training in Spanish, and access to capitalare offered to clients at no charge, thanks to funds raised from public and private funders.

"The services that Prospera offers to Latino small business owners can be pivotal to helping overcome this ongoing crisis and preserve jobs in our community," said Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry. "This supports the objective of the American Recovery Plan (ARP) and I look forward to the execution of this project that supports "One DeKalb" and partnerships that aid post-pandemic recovery and restoration."

There are an estimated 81,500 Latinos in DeKalb County, equivalent to 10.5 percent of its population. Prospera's DeKalb County Latino Entrepreneurship Program will offer bilingual, culturally sensitive services to established and aspiring Latino entrepreneurs. The funding will enable Prospera to provide vital information, individual handholding, and personalized resources to help local Latino entrepreneurs survive and recover from the COVID-19 crisis, while equipping them to start, stay, and thrive in business in the long term.

Prospera counts on two local offices in Metro Atlanta. Individuals interested in Prospera's assistance for their businesses or new startup ideas can call (678) 904-0944 or email [email protected].

Prospera is an economic development, nonprofit organization that since 1991 has specialized in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs who want to start, sustain, or grow their businesses. In the last five years, Prospera facilitated over $61 million in loans, trained over 18,000 entrepreneurs, and helped consulting clients create or retain more than 16,000 jobs. Prospera currently offers services in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. For more information, visit www.prosperausa.org or call (678) 904-0944.

SOURCE Prospera
TrueServe is a leader in service transformation and enables organizations to reimagine their contact centers as innovative contributors to customer experience and overall business operations

NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte Digital , the experience consultancy, announced its new TrueServe solution, an integrated suite of contact center technologies built with industry-specific insights and accelerators. This solution enables organizations to transform their contact center into a digital, nimble, responsive, connected and empathetic contributor to overall business operations and customer experiences. With a right-channel approach, data-driven insights, and an accelerated speed to value, TrueServe enables companies to mitigate today's top service challenges.

Contact centers are changing by 2023: According to Deloitte's "Global Contact Center Survey 2021," fifth edition:

Fifty-six percent of contact centers will prioritize customer experience over cost.

Seventy-five percent of contact centers will move critical service tech to the cloud to support more flexible and dynamic work, workplaces and workforces.

Seventy-nine percent of contact centers will invest in additional artificial intelligence capabilities.

"Consumer expectations for better service experiences are continuing to rise, and changes in technology and workplace dynamics make it difficult to keep up without disrupting what's working," said Andy Haas, TrueServe general manager, Deloitte Digital. "TrueServe is a flexible, data-backed solution that integrates seamlessly across channels for a unified experience, and is built to evolve with the needs of our clients while continuously accelerating the path to value."

By working with leading technology companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Salesforce, and OneReach.ai, Deloitte Digital is helping organizations deliver a differentiated customer and employee experience with this cloud-based, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered, and analytics-driven contact center solution. TrueServe solves for two major issues facing businesses today: increased contact volume and demand amid an ever-growing need to improve customer experience, and a severe shortage of available workforce worldwide. All the while, the industry continues to evolve, and TrueServe offers a ready-to-deploy means of elevating customer experience and improving company environments at any stage in an organization's digital transformation.

Right - c hannel a pproach : TrueServe elevates customer and employee experiences while helping to control contact center costs. It gets customers into the right channel based on their needs, which allows contact center agents to allocate their time toward higher-value interactions and increases organizational capacity to handle higher volume through complementary channels without sacrificing level of service.

: TrueServe elevates customer and employee experiences while helping to control contact center costs. It gets customers into the right channel based on their needs, which allows contact center agents to allocate their time toward higher-value interactions and increases organizational capacity to handle higher volume through complementary channels without sacrificing level of service. Data- d riven i nsights : TrueServe enables a more responsive contact center by providing dynamic operational and strategic insights through built-in capabilities like sentiment and customer behavior analysis, performance visibility and reporting, voice and text analysis, and both real-time and historical cross-channel reporting.

: TrueServe enables a more responsive contact center by providing dynamic operational and strategic insights through built-in capabilities like sentiment and customer behavior analysis, performance visibility and reporting, voice and text analysis, and both real-time and historical cross-channel reporting. Accelerating time to value: TrueServe is a modular, ready-to-deploy solution designed to support flexibility in technology stack and provide out-of-the-box relevance and utility with pre-built industry-specific accelerators. With a connected ecosystem and suite of tools, Deloitte Digital provides a single, trusted source for service transformation.

To learn how TrueServe can help your organization reimagine contact centers, visit our solution page.

Deloitte Digital helps companies create new growth by elevating the human experience  with connected ideas, technology and talent. Our ambition is to make the best customer-oriented organizations in the world. Alongside all of Deloitte, we foster the connections necessary to shape a better future for our clients, our culture, our society and our planet. Visit www.deloittedigital.com or follow Deloitte Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter to learn more.

Salesforce and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, inc.

About Deloitte

Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 and more than 7,000 private companies. Our people come together for the greater good and work across the industry sectors that drive and shape today's marketplace  delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthier society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Building on more than 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's more than 345,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com .

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

SOURCE Deloitte Digital
TSX.V: DME

U.S. OTC: DMEHF

Frankfurt: QM01

VANCOUVER, BC, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - DESERT MOUNTAIN ENERGY CORP. (the "Company") (TSXV: DME) (U.S. OTC: DMEHF) (Frankfurt: QM01) is pleased to announce that due to greatly increased demand, it is increasing the size of its non-brokered private placement offering recently announced on June 8, 2022. The Company now plans to raise up to CAD $7.5 Million, an increase of 50% over the original amount announced. Under the terms of the private placement, the Company will now offer for sale up to 2.5 million Units (the "Units") at CAD $3.00 per Unit. The Company may in its sole discretion increase the maximum of the offering by up to 10% to a maximum of 2.75 million Units.

All other terms and conditions of the private placement will remain the same. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant (the "Warrants"), with each whole Warrant allowing the subscriber to purchase one additional share of the Company for a period of three (3) years from the date of the closing at a price of CAD $4.00 per share. The expiry of the Warrants may be accelerated at the election of the Company by written notice if the closing price for the common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange shall be equal to or greater than CAD $8.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive trading days. Finder's fees are payable of up to 7% in cash and 5% in finder warrants, with the finder warrants having an exercise price of CAD $4.00 per share, but with no forced conversion provisions.

Please refer to the Company's news release of June 8, 2022, for further details. The Units will be subject to a 4-month hold period. The private placement is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

"We are pleased that existing and new investors are showing this level of confidence in our Company," says Robert Rohlfing, CEO of Desert Mountain Energy Corp. "A healthy treasury has allowed us to explore and develop in a cost-efficient manner as the Company moves into helium production this year."

ABOUT DESERT MOUNTAIN ENERGY

Desert Mountain Energy Corp. is a publicly traded resource company primarily focused on exploration, development and production of helium, hydrogen and noble gases. The Company is primarily looking for elements deemed critical to the renewable energy and high technology industries.

We seek safe harbor

"Robert Rohlfing"

Robert Rohlfing

Exec Chairman & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in polices of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The statements made in this press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ from the Company's expectations.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding the Company's anticipated performance in the future the planned exploration activities, receipt of positive results from drilling, the completion of further drilling and exploration work, and the timing and results of various activities.

Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and the United States; financial risks due to helium prices, operating or technical difficulties in exploration and development activities; risks and hazards and the speculative nature of resource exploration and related development; risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Company's title to properties.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the continued operation of the Company's exploration operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company does not intend to, and nor does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Desert Mountain Energy Corp.
WASHINGTON, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the United States Supreme Court decision in the case of Marietta Memorial Hospital v. Davita, Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) Board of Directors President Andrew Conkling issued the following statement:

"DPC is deeply disappointed by today's Supreme Court decision," said DPC Board President Andrew Conkling. "Congress long ago reaffirmed privately-insured patients' right to continue on their employer-sponsored plan for 30 months. This played an important role in preserving patient choice and incentivizing insurers to detect and treat Chronic Kidney Disease. ESRD patients are among the most vulnerable Americans and face some of the largest health disparities. To allow these plans to shift patients to Medicare before the expiration of this period represents immediate and profound risks for kidney patients and their families across the nation. As the dissenting justices stated, Congress will have to fix a statute that the Court has broken. We will go back to Congress with other ESRD patient advocates to immediately clarify the rules once and for all."

CONTACT: Hannah Bracamonte, [email protected]

SOURCE Dialysis Patient Citizens
Eco Material Site to Convert Ash into Concrete for Bridges, Roads, and Other Key Infrastructure Needs, Reducing Pollution in the Process

PRESCOTT, Ariz., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eco Material Technologies ("Eco Material" or the "Company"), the leading producer of sustainable cementitious materials, today celebrated the opening of the Kirkland Pozzolan Mine in Yavapai County, Arizona.

The approximately 100-acre site, one of the largest natural pozzolan mines, provides natural materials that will be used in concrete to build bridges, roads, buildings, and other key infrastructure throughout the region. These materials will replace the more common Portland cement, which is a major source of pollution accounting for 8 percent of global carbon emissions.

"We are excited for the opening of the Kirkland Pozzolan Mine, which will benefit not only Yavapai County but all of Arizona as well as the surrounding region," said Grant Quasha, CEO of Eco Material Technologies. "Without the support of elected officials including Governor Doug Ducey, Senator Mark Kelly, State Senator Karen Fann, and State Representative Quang Nguyen, we would not be celebrating this milestone achievement."

The event also recognized the hard work and dedication of the plant's employees, as well as Eco Material's contributions to the area including bringing wireless internet service to the surrounding community, planting new trees, and generating significant tax revenue for the state.

Attendees included Yavapai County Supervisor Harry Oberg, a representative from Senator Kelly's office, trade industry officials, and plant employees.

About Eco Material Technologies

Eco Material Technologies is a leading producer of sustainable cement alternatives in the U.S., serving over 4,000 unique customer locations from its 100+ sites across 45 states. The Company is the leading marketer and distributor of fly ash, with an approximately 50% volume share in the U.S. and the industry's only true national footprint of logistics networks and distribution channels. Eco Material also has a patented technology to convert fly ash and other materials into innovative, near-zero carbon building materials that react faster, match the one-day performance of, and after 28 days are approximately 20% stronger than traditional cement, all while reducing by approximately 99% the CO 2 emissions that are traditionally associated with cement production. The Company also provides mission-critical utility services, including operations support, waste disposal, and environmental remediation.

Media Contact:

Eco Material Technologies

Matthew Cossel, KCSA

[email protected]

SOURCE Eco Material Technologies Inc
HOUSTON, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) will host a conference call and webcast to discuss second quarter 2022 results on Friday, August 5, 2022, at 9 a.m. Central time (10 a.m. Eastern time). Please visit the Investors/Events & Presentations page on the EOG website to access a live webcast of the conference call. If you are unable to listen to the live webcast, a replay will be available for one year.

If you have any questions, please contact Angie Lewis at 713-651-6722.

About EOG

EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE: EOG) is one of the largest crude oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the United States with proved reserves in the United States and Trinidad. To learn more visit www.eogresources.com .

Investor Contacts

David Streit 713-571-4902

Neel Panchal 713-571-4884

Media and Investor Contact

Kimberly Ehmer 713-571-4676

SOURCE EOG Resources, Inc.
Farm-gate opens wider as new Ever.Ag software sees the dairy farm

FRISCO, Texas, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ever.Ag, a leading agtech provider dedicated to empowering supply chains to feed a growing world, has acquired Cainthus, a company that offers artificial intelligence- enabled cameras for analyzing dairy operations. The addition of Cainthus to the Ever.Ag portfolio will provide dairy farmers and their advisors new insights from passive data collection.

"As part of our agtech vision, we are excited to add virtual eyes on the farm, Cainthus, to our portfolio," said Ever.Ag CEO Scott Sexton. "We believe precision agriculture, now in the dairy barn, is the future. We are committed to growing, expanding, and embedding Cainthus technology into our software suite that spans the supply chain."

The acquisition of Cainthus delivers on Ever.Ag's mission and continues its decades-long tradition of partnering with the dairy industry from farm to fork. Additionally, as consumers become more focused on purchasing environmentally friendly and sustainably produced goods, the data it collects can validate responsible farming practices throughout the supply chain. The information from Cainthus is invaluable to upstream affiliates and downstream consumers.

"At Ever.Ag, we continue to invest in the dairy industry as we've done for several decades, and Cainthus offers multiple benefits for our producer clients," said Mike Borman, Ever.Ag Chief Product Officer. "We look forward to continuing to develop its cost-saving, quality-enhancing capabilities for farmers, cooperatives, processors, and their partners."

Following the Cainthus acquisition, Ever.Ag plans to enhance the offerings of its My Dairy Dashboard product and producer portals  which integrates data from milk pickups, feed delivered, recorded cow events, milk schedules, and pay information. Cainthus will use the operational data to associate and visually validate herd performance in the barn.

Both Ever.Ag and Cainthus are leaders in data digitization for dairy farm operations and their animals. Ever.Ag solutions are designed, developed, and produced by a global team with a passion for agtech, client sustainability, and mutual prosperity.

"Mobile cow-side data entry revolutionized the industry a decade ago, but it only digitized work, it did not reduce it," said Ryne Braun, Segment Leader at Ever.Ag. "Cameras from Cainthus, mounted in your barns, provide passive collection of herd health and feed consumption data -- that's literally a gift from above. Cainthus is very innovative technology for farmers who are willing to "look up" to improve their operations."

The Ever.Ag team is comprised of over 500 agtech professionals from around the world. With headquarters in Texas, and satellite offices or hubs in Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Ireland, India, and Canada, Ever.Ag is well positioned to serve a global client base.

For more information, visit News.Ever.Ag/Cainthus.

About Ever.Ag

Ever.Ag offers innovative AgTech solutions and services that empower agriculture, food, and beverage supply chains to feed a growing world. The breadth of the portfolio is uniquely capable of supporting the complex needs of companies involved in dairy, livestock, crops, and agribusiness. With decades of experience and industry-leading innovations, our technology, risk management, and market intelligence provide our customers with the tools and insights they need to operate more efficiently, sustainably, and strategically across every stage of the supply chain. To learn more, visit News.Ever.Ag.

About Cainthus

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with an office in California, Cainthus is a computer vision company that turns visual information into actionable insights for farmers. Its proprietary technology passively tracks key farm management practices that impact nutrition, health, behavior, environment and the mental well-being of livestock. This breakthrough predictive imaging technology provides the analytics and information needed to drive business decisions.

Watch the Video

Media Contact:

Sarah Wallach

[email protected]

(720) 988-6579

SOURCE Ever.Ag
Expedera opens design centers in Taipei and Shanghai

Chinese language website now available

SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Expedera Inc, a leading provider of scalable Deep Learning Accelerator (DLA) semiconductor intellectual property (IP), today announced the opening of two regional engineering development centers and the launch of a new Chinese language website to support the technical and business needs of its growing customer base in Asia.

"The opening of our Shanghai and Taipei offices are the next step in Expedera's growth," said Da Chuang, co-founder and CEO of Expedera. "These offices will advance Expedera's product roadmap and support new and ongoing customer engagements in the region." Expedera chose Shanghai and Taipei for its new offices because of the availability of premier talent and the proximity to customers.

With the announcement of the two new design centers, Expedera has also released a new Chinese language website at http://www.expedera.cn. The China semiconductor industry registered an unprecedented annual growth rate of 30.6% to reach $39.8 billion in total annual sales, according to an SIA analysis. By 2024 it could capture upwards of 17.4% of global market share, placing China behind only the United States and South Korea.

"The launch of our Chinese language website will provide valuable localized content for customers seeking deep learning accelerator solutions for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Inference SoC applications," said Kang Ho, General Manager of Asia Pacific for Expedera.

About Expedera

Expedera provides scalable neural engine semiconductor IP that enables major improvements in performance, power, and latency while reducing cost and complexity in AI-inference applications. Third-party silicon validated, Expedera's solutions produce superior performance and are scalable to a wide range of applications from edge nodes and smartphones to automotive and data centers. Expedera's Origin deep learning accelerator products are easily integrated, readily scalable, and can be customized to application requirements. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with engineering development centers and customer support offices in China, Japan, and Taiwan. Visit https://www.expedera.com

Media Contact:

Paul Karazuba, Vice President of Marketing

408-421-2119

[email protected]

SOURCE Expedera Inc.
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd. (NYSE: FHS) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased FHS American Depositary Shares in or traceable to the Company's March 2021 initial public offering.

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 11, 2022

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in FHS:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/first-high-school-education-group-co-ltd-loss-submission-form?id=28798&from=4

First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd. NEWS - FHS NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (a) the new rules, regulations and policies to be implemented by the Chinese government following the Two Sessions parliamentary meetings were far more severe than represented to investors and posed a material adverse threat to the Company and its business; (b) contemplated Chinese regulations and rules regarding private education were leading to a slowdown of government approval to open new educational facilities which would have a negative effect on FHS's enrollment and growth; and (c) as a result, representations made in connection with the Company's initial public offering regarding FHS's historical financial and operational metrics and purported market opportunities did not accurately reflect the actual business, operations, and financial results and trajectory of the Company at the time of the initial public offering, and were materially false and misleading and lacked a factual basis.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in FHS you have until July 11, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased FHS securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the FHS lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/first-high-school-education-group-co-ltd-loss-submission-form?id=28798&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

Empire State Building

350 Fifth Avenue

59th Floor

New York, NY 10118

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
Formerly known as The Thomas Jefferson School of Law, this approximately 203,000 square foot, 8-story office building located at 1155 Island Avenue has been transformed into a state-of-the-art life science property. Modifications and improvements include upgraded HVAC and plumbing infrastructure (including VRF heating and cooling systems, new exhaust fans, 100% outside air for lab areas, and needlepoint bipolar ionization) along with a new 5,000 lb. service elevator and upgraded lab floor loads. Additional enhancements include a new lab services facility with a glass wash, autoclave and staffed shipping and receiving room, a top floor lounge and event space, and ready-to-occupy 'spec suites' consisting of 50% lab / 50% office built out in various sizes throughout the building.

"Barings is excited to lead the life science migration to Downtown San Diego, giving tenants a highly amenitized work, live and play environment," said Joe Gorin, Managing Director, Head of US Acquisitions and Portfolio Management for Barings. "Greater San Diego is an undeniable life sciences global capital and we continue to hear from life science leaders interested in a downtown, urban destination. This investment is a prime example of Barings' value-add real estate investment strategy focusing on creating unique, competitive assets that attract innovative tenant demand."

"Delivering premier Class A research ready life science environments that meet the needs of visionary companies continues to be our focus," added BJ Van Aken, Executive Vice President, West and Head of Portfolio Operations for Phase 3 Real Estate Partners. "As a key component of our Genesis portfolio, Genesis San Diego sits at the forefront of life science assets in greater San Diego, and provides the modern design and opportunities for innovation that will bring tenants to this exciting downtown location."

Life sciences are a major driver of San Diego's innovation economy. The region is home to more than a thousand life sciences companies, and as the third largest life sciences cluster in the nation, demand for high-quality lab space in greater San Diego continues to increase. While suburban Torrey Pines and Sorrento Mesa have historically answered the call for life science asset needs, Downtown San Diego is poised to be the next life sciences node for greater San Diego given its unmatched amenities, proximity to the popular Gaslamp Quarter and Petco Park, key connections to the existing scientific community such as the new UCSD satellite building, and commutability via the extension of the Blue Trolley line.

"Downtown San Diego has all the building blocks for a successful life science industry cluster," added Betsy Brennan, President & CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership. "Our community has long known this and our 2021 Demographic Study proves it. Whether it's the highly skilled talent living here, a lifestyle that can't be beat, connectivity to our regional ecosystem of innovation, or new projects like Genesis San Diego that offer quality lab and office space, Downtown is where dreams are becoming reality."

Genesis San Diego represents a commitment to sustainability, tenant health and wellness, and digital connectivity. The development includes smart building systems, green design elements, and is currently LEED-Gold.

About Barings

Barings is a $371+ billion* global investment manager sourcing differentiated opportunities and building long-term portfolios across public and private fixed income, real estate, and specialist equity markets. With investment professionals based in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, the firm, a subsidiary of MassMutual, aims to serve its clients, communities and employees, and is committed to sustainable practices and responsible investment. Learn more at www.barings.com .

*Assets under management as of March 31, 2022

About Genesis

Genesis is a life science real estate brand that leverages the deep experience and global breadth of its owners' partnership to create an environment focused on meeting the needs of its tenants to accelerate their ground-breaking discovery. Genesis' owners unique integrated venture combines Phase 3 Real Estate Partner's decades of life science real estate development and tenant experience with Bain Capital's pioneering value-add investment approach and the firm's decades of leading experience in the Healthcare and Life Science industry. At Genesis, we relentlessly pursue not only to provide the right environment today but through our deep industry partnerships and participation provide the best environment for cultivating tomorrow's undiscovered advances in science.

About Phase 3 Real Estate Partners

Phase 3 Real Estate Partners, Inc., ("Phase 3") develops premier ready to occupy research and development facilities in the major innovation clusters of the United States. Phase 3's focus on delivering the highest quality space with accelerated speed to occupancy within these key geographies allows companies to immediately pursue their scientific goals. The Phase 3 team delivers a clean, modern design aesthetic, the right combination of amenities to create community and appropriate infrastructure to meet the needs of the companies who call our facilities home. The firm's expertise in development, construction and management of life science facilities results in a strong partnership between our tenants and our team. Phase 3's current portfolio consists of nearly 4.5 million square feet and is growing in San Diego, San Francisco and Boston.

About Bain Capital Real Estate

Bain Capital Real Estate was formed in 2018 and pursues investments in often hard-to-access sectors underpinned by enduring secular trends that drive long-term demand growth for real estate assets and services. The Bain Capital Real Estate team has been executing its strategy since 2010 (formerly as a part of Harvard Management Company), having invested and committed more than $6.8 billion of equity in more than 550 assets across multiple sectors, including more than $1.7 billion in over 6.8 million SF of life sciences assets. Bain Capital Real Estate focuses on small to mid-sized assets where the team applies its deep industry expertise to accelerate impact and drive operational improvements. Bain Capital Real Estate's strategy aligns with the value-added investment approach that Bain Capital pioneered and leverages the firm's global platform and significant experience across asset classes to further bolster its insights and sourcing capabilities.

Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE Barings
DUBLIN, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Smart Grid Technology Market (2022-2027) by Component, Application, Geography, Competitive Analysis, and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Smart Grid Technology Market is estimated to be USD 53.14 Bn in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 117.21 Bn by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 17.14%.



Market dynamics are forces that impact the prices and behaviors of the Global Smart Grid Technology Market stakeholders. These forces create pricing signals which result from the changes in the supply and demand curves for a given product or service. Forces of Market Dynamics may be related to macro-economic and micro-economic factors. There are dynamic market forces other than price, demand, and supply. Human emotions can also drive decisions, influence the market, and create price signals.



As the market dynamics impact the supply and demand curves, decision-makers aim to determine the best way to use various financial tools to stem various strategies for speeding the growth and reducing the risks.

Company Profiles

The report provides a detailed analysis of the competitors in the market. It covers the financial performance analysis for the publicly listed companies in the market. The report also offers detailed information on the companies' recent development and competitive scenario. Some of the companies covered in this report are ABB, Aclara Power-Line Systems, C3 AI, Cisco Systems, Eaton, etc.



Countries Studied

America ( Argentina , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Colombia , Mexico , Peru , United States , Rest of Americas)

, , , , , , , , Rest of Americas) Europe ( Austria , Belgium , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Italy , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Russia , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , United Kingdom , Rest of Europe )

( , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Rest of ) Middle-East and Africa ( Egypt , Israel , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , United Arab Emirates , Rest of MEA)

and ( , , , , , , Rest of MEA) Asia-Pacific ( Australia , Bangladesh , China , India , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Philippines , Singapore , South Korea , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Taiwan , Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Competitive Quadrant

The report includes Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.



Ansoff Analysis

The report presents a detailed Ansoff matrix analysis for the Global Smart Grid Technology Market. Ansoff Matrix, also known as Product/Market Expansion Grid, is a strategic tool used to design strategies for the growth of the company. The matrix can be used to evaluate approaches in four strategies viz. Market Development, Market Penetration, Product Development and Diversification. The matrix is also used for risk analysis to understand the risk involved with each approach.

The report analyses the Global Smart Grid Technology Market using the Ansoff Matrix to provide the best approaches a company can take to improve its market position.

Based on the SWOT analysis conducted on the industry and industry players, the analyst has devised suitable strategies for market growth.

Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Smart Grid Technology Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains the competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's Proprietary competitive positioning tool.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Market Dynamics

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Improved Grid Reliability and Efficient Outage Response

4.1.2 Need for Careful Analysis and Better Efficiency of Smart Grid

4.1.3 Modernization of Aging Grid Infrastructure

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 Reluctance due to Aged Electric Infrastructure

4.2.2 High Installation Cost of Smart Grids

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 Varied Technological Advancements in the Communications Technologies

4.3.2 Ongoing Smart Cities Projects in Developing Regions

4.4 Challenges

4.4.1 Inadequate Data Storage and Management



5 Market Analysis

5.1 Regulatory Scenario

5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Ansoff Matrix Analysis



6 Global Smart Grid Technology Market, By Component

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Hardware

6.2.1 Smart Meters

6.2.2 Sensors

6.2.3 Programmable Logic Controllers

6.3 Services

6.3.1 Consulting

6.3.2 Deployment & Integration

6.3.3 Support & Maintenance

6.4 Software

6.4.1 Advanced Metering Infrastructure

6.4.2 Smart Grid Distribution Management

6.4.3 Smart Grid Network Management

6.4.4 Grid Asset Management

6.4.5 Billing and Customer Information System

6.4.6 Smart Grid Security

6.4.7 Substation Automation



7 Global Smart Grid Technology Market, By Application

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Consumption

7.3 Distribution

7.4 Generation

7.5 Transmission



8 Americas' Smart Grid Technology Market

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Argentina

8.3 Brazil

8.4 Canada

8.5 Chile

8.6 Colombia

8.7 Mexico

8.8 Peru

8.9 United States

8.10 Rest of Americas



9 Europe's Smart Grid Technology Market

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Austria

9.3 Belgium

9.4 Denmark

9.5 Finland

9.6 France

9.7 Germany

9.8 Italy

9.9 Netherlands

9.10 Norway

9.11 Poland

9.12 Russia

9.13 Spain

9.14 Sweden

9.15 Switzerland

9.16 United Kingdom

9.17 Rest of Europe



10 Middle East and Africa's Smart Grid Technology Market

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Egypt

10.3 Israel

10.4 Qatar

10.5 Saudi Arabia

10.6 South Africa

10.7 United Arab Emirates

10.8 Rest of MEA



11 APAC's Smart Grid Technology Market

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Australia

11.3 Bangladesh

11.4 China

11.5 India

11.6 Indonesia

11.7 Japan

11.8 Malaysia

11.9 Philippines

11.10 Singapore

11.11 South Korea

11.12 Sri Lanka

11.13 Thailand

11.14 Taiwan

11.15 Rest of Asia-Pacific



12 Competitive Landscape

12.1 Competitive Quadrant

12.2 Market Share Analysis

12.3 Strategic Initiatives

12.3.1 M&A and Investments

12.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations

12.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements



13 Company Profiles

13.1 ABB

13.2 Aclara Power-Line Systems

13.3 C3 AI

13.4 Cisco Systems

13.5 Eaton

13.6 Enel X North America

13.7 Esyasoft Technologies

13.8 General Electric

13.9 Globema

13.10 Grid4C

13.11 Honeywell

13.12 IBM

13.13 Itron

13.14 Kamstrup

13.15 Landis+Gyr

13.16 Open Systems International

13.17 Oracle

13.18 S&C Electric

13.19 Schneider Electric

13.20 Siemens

13.21 Tantalus Systems

13.22 Tech Mahindra

13.23 Trilliant Holdings

13.24 Wipro



14 Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o25nll

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets
Leading pharmaceutical companies join Vivli's new global register to accelerate research into antibiotic resistant bacteria

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Antimicrobial Resistance Register, unveiled today by the nonprofit organization Vivli, makes it possible for biopharmaceutical companies to share susceptibility data on infection causing pathogens for the first time ever in one online platform, marking a critical step in combating the growing global health threat of antimicrobial resistance. With the active participation from leading pharmaceutical and biotech enterprises, researchers will be able to use the AMR Register to translate masses of antimicrobial resistance surveillance data into meaningful action that saves lives and preserves antibiotics for future generations.

Infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are on the rise after years of overprescribing antibiotics. Now, illnesses that were once easily treatable with antibiotics are becoming more difficult to cure, and infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria cost billions in avoidable healthcare dollars. According to latest figures from the GRAM report, almost 5 million people died worldwide with an antimicrobial resistant infection. If left unchecked, the scale of antimicrobial resistance will quickly outpace what we have experienced with COVID-19, with deaths rising to 10 million per year by 2050, according to the United Nations.

Biopharmaceutical companies routinely conduct surveillance on all new antimicrobials to monitor susceptibility to pathogens of interest, generating large volumes of high-quality data. Currently, there is no easy way for researchers to access this raw data or combine and analyze multiple datasets from industry. The AMR register will make it easy for pharmaceutical organizations to securely share their data with researchers, national governments, and multi-lateral organizations such as the United Nations, CDC and the World Health Organization. With robust, reliable industry data, all accessible in one place, scientists will be able to better map key patterns of resistance and identify the emergence of new antibiotic resistant pathogens. Research insights will also inform decision-making around use of antimicrobials, shape policies aimed at halting the spread of resistant pathogens, and spur innovation around new antimicrobial drugs.

"Our understanding of how to control antimicrobial resistant infections and how best to protect human health hinges on better access to surveillance data. Now, with the AMR Register we have an early warning system for one of the greatest public health threats we face," said Chair of the AMR Register Scientific Advisory Board Marc Mendelson, PhD, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine at Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town. "Biopharmaceutical company data is a vital missing link in AMR surveillance, making the research enabled by the AMR register critical to mitigating the AMR pandemic and protecting the effectiveness of antibiotics, now and in the future."

Companies that have committed to contributing their data to the AMR Register include Pfizer, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Paratek, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., and Venatorx Pharmaceuticals. Viatris have joined as a supporter of the AMR register."

In 2016, over 100 biopharmaceutical companies and trade associations signed The Davos Declaration on Antibiotic Resistance and later released the Industry Roadmap for Progress on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, committing to sharing surveillance data to make it accessible to public health bodies and healthcare professionals. With the AMR Register, industry can now fulfill those commitments, helping contain the risk of AMR and advance scientific knowledge.

"We need urgent action to avert a wave of antibiotic-resistant bacteria," said Vivli's Executive Director Rebecca Li, PhD. "By making data openly available, industry is making a crucial contribution to furthering science and helping us get ahead of the next pandemic."

The AMR Register is guided by a Scientific Advisory Board of influential leaders in antimicrobial resistance and global health, including Henry Kajumbula, MD of Makerere University College of Health Sciences; Trudie Lang of the Nuffield Department of Medicine; Marc Mendelson, PhD, of Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town; Arjun Srinivasan, MD, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Janet Midega, PhD, from Wellcome; and Andy Stergachis, PhD, of the University of Washington. The AMR Register was made possible with an initial seed grant from the Wellcome Trust.

Learn more at www.amr.vivli.org

About Vivli

Vivli is a non-profit organization working to advance human health through the insights and discoveries gained by sharing and analyzing data. Data sharing initiatives include the Antimicrobial Resistance Register for AMR surveillance data and the Vivli Platform for clinical trial data. Vivli acts as a neutral broker between data contributor and data user and the wider data sharing community. For more information, visit www.vivli.org and follow us on Twitter @VivliCenter.

About Wellcome

Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and we're taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.

Contact:

Rebecca Li

978.804.4980

[email protected]

SOURCE Vivli
Organic Chickpea Snack Company Relaunches Chickpea Tortilla Chip Line and Debuts Sea Salt & Lime

NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HIPPEAS , Organic Chickpea Snacks, is spreading The Peas & Love with the relaunch of its newly enhanced HIPPEAS Chickpea Tortilla Chip line and the debut of a new Tortilla Chip flavor: Sea Salt & Lime. The new and improved HIPPEAS Chickpea Tortilla Chips have more crunch and a superior texture that is closer to what consumers expect from a traditional tortilla chip but developed with the better-for-you attributes HIPPEAS is known for: USDA Certified Organic, certified gluten-free, vegan and totally delicious. You can find the revamped HIPPEAS Chickpea Tortilla Chip line now at HIPPEAS.com , on Amazon and in-store at retailers nationwide.

HIPPEAS Organic Tortilla Chips

"The improved HIPPEAS Chickpea Tortilla Chip line fulfills direct consumer feedback, and we are really proud about where we landed with this innovation," stated HIPPEAS CEO, Paul Nardone. "This product really stands up well next to its mainstream competitor from a taste and texture standpoint, but that's where the comparisons end because HIPPEAS Chickpea Tortilla Chips are organic and vegan and contain both protein and fiber and no artificial colors, flavors or ingredients of any kind," he continued.

With 3 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per 1-ounce serving, these chickpea chips pack a punch of plant power, to keep you keepin' on. HIPPEAS Chickpea Tortilla Chips are available in three far-out flavors, which can be enjoyed on their own or with your favorite dip:

STRAIGHT UP SEA SALT:

We tell it like it is. Straight up sea salt, with ingredients you can actually pronounce. Nothing hidden here but good vibes.

ROCKIN' RANCH:

Let the good times roll with rockin' ranch. A drum kick of flavor that'll have your taste buds rockin' all day long.

NEW! SEA SALT & LIME:

When life gives you limesyou kick your chips up a notch! We took our perfectly sea salted tortilla chips and added a zesty/punchy kick of real lime.

There's a HIPPEAS for every craving and snacking occasion. HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Tortilla Chips come in three flavors including: Straight Up Sea Salt, Rockin' Ranch and Sea Salt & Lime (NEW). HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Puffs come in four flavors including: Vegan White Cheddar, Nacho Vibes, Bohemian Barbecue and Sriracha Sunshine.

About HIPPEAS

HIPPEAS is on a mission to shake things up. HIPPEAS is calling all snackers to #GivePeasAChance while also doing good in the world. HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Snacks are USDA Certified Organic, certified gluten-free, Non-GMO and vegan. Chickpea plants release nitrogen back into the earth, so they're naturally good for the planet. True to their mantra of Peas, Love & Giving Back, HIPPEAS is proud to support local Feeding America food banks across the country by donating food and aiding in disaster relief efforts. HIPPEAS can be found at premium retailers including Whole Foods Market, Target, Wegmans, Sprouts, Stop & Shop, Shaw's, Safeway/Albertsons, Kroger, Starbucks, Amazon, Thrive Market as well as select CVS, Publix, Walmart and Costco locations. For more information, visit HIPPEAS.com and follow along on Instagram @hippeas_snacks

Media Contact:

Rachel Powell

516.314.7730

[email protected]

SOURCE HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Snacks
"Gary has provided exceptional leadership to our financial organization, including in important areas such as risk, cash management, tax and credit," said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. "Over his 34-year career he has held many roles and we are grateful for the expertise he has brought to them all. Notably, Gary was instrumental in implementing the company's Project Orion systems, led the company's new credit facility and the debt issuance of the financing for the acquisition of Planters in 2021. We wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement and share our appreciation for his dedication, leadership and expertise over the years."

"We are very excited to welcome Florence to Hormel Foods and to this important role," Snee continued. "Florence is an experienced treasury professional who has an excellent background in finance, capital markets, treasury, tax and accounting and brings a wealth of global experience. I am confident she will be a strong addition to the finance team."

About Gary Jamison

Jamison began his career in 1988 as an accountant at one of the Hormel Foods production facilities. The next year, he moved to the company's global headquarters as an internal auditor, then soon returned to the manufacturing environment as the manager of production cost analysts and production costs. Jamison returned to the corporate office to become a corporate cost analyst before moving into marketing as a product manager and price administrator, later assuming the roles of manager of expense analysis and control, and manager of cost accounting for the company's Refrigerated Foods business. In 2003, he became the business unit controller for the company's former Specialty Foods business and in 2006, the vice president of finance at a subsidiary in California. He advanced to vice president and CFO of the company's Jennie-O Turkey Store business in Willmar, Minn., in 2012 and was named to his current role of vice president and treasurer in 2016.

Jamison earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., graduated from the Carlson School of Management Minnesota Management Institute program at the University of Minnesota, and completed the Carlson School of Management Minnesota Executive Program.

Jamison has been incredibly active on boards and in organizations, both within and outside of Hormel Foods, continually finding ways to support communities where he has lived and worked.

About Florence Makope

Prior to joining Hormel Foods, Makope was director of strategy deployment for Oshkosh Corporation, where she led the strategic planning process for the global manufacturing company. Prior to leading strategy, she was the company's director of international finance. Before joining Oshkosh Corporation, Makope worked for Plexus Corp., as treasurer and assistant treasurer. She also worked for CARE USA where she managed global treasury services and was the co-founder and director of finance and administration for Trade Finance Company. Makope began her career at British American Tobacco, where she held several positions of increasing responsibility, and ultimately held the position of group treasury manager.

Makope has served on not-for-profit boards including The Women's Fund of the Fox Valley and The Boys and Girls Club of Oshkosh.

She holds a Bachelor of Science honors degree in agricultural economics and an MBA from Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, U.K. She is also a certified public accountant.

About Hormel Foods  Inspired People. Inspired Food.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $11 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus, Jennie-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on the "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list by 3BL Media 13 times, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement  Inspired People. Inspired Food.  to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.

Contact: Media Relations

507-434-6352

[email protected]

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation
Learn about crucial advisory and intelligence that can assist buyers in identifying and shortlisting the most suitable suppliers for their dairy product requirements. Some of the leading HVAC Equipment suppliers profiled extensively in this report are LG Electronics, Raytheon Technologies, and Samsung Electronics.

Request a FREE sample report to access more information on other key market vendors and vendor analysis.

HVAC Equipment Procurement: Pricing Insights

It is crucial to keep track of current and future HVAC Equipment price trends to completely optimize the value of the purchase, both from current cash outflow as well as overall cost and benefit perspective. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by constant monitoring of price influencing factors described in the report.

Pricing insights presented in this report cover pricing benchmarks and the trends and strategies that can help optimize cost savings.

Request for a FREE sample to access the definite purchasing guide on the HVAC Equipment that answers all your key questions on price trends and analysis:

Am I paying/getting the right prices? Is my HVAC Equipment TCO (total cost of ownership) favorable?

How is the price forecast expected to change? What is driving the current and future price changes?

Which pricing models offer the most rewarding opportunities?

HVAC Equipment Sourcing and Procurement Market Report Key Details:

Report Specs Details Spend growth (CAGR) 5.31 % Incremental spend USD 32.89 Billion Pricing models Cost-based pricing model, Competition-based pricing model, and Demand-based pricing model Supplier selection scope Compatibility of equipment to site conditions, Financial stability, Warranties, and Ability to provide retrofit solutions Market dynamics Regional category spend in terms of percentage with respect to North America, South America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa and APAC and global category spend and CAGR in terms of percentage over a span of 5 years.

Download a free sample of this report now: https://spendedge.com/hvac-equipment-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report

What are the Key Data Covered in this HVAC Equipment Sourcing and Procurement Market Report?

Detailed insights and analysis of the major cost drivers, volume drivers, and innovations of the HVAC Equipment procurement and sourcing market.

Precise estimation of procurement strategies deployed by major category end-users across several industries while sourcing for HVAC Equipment requirements.

Accurate predictions on upcoming trends and changes in vendor behavior.

Analysis into various supplier selection criteria, RFX questions, supplier evaluation metrics, and the service level agreements.

Insight into the most adopted procurement strategies by buyers across industries and an analysis of these strategies with respect to innovation, regulatory compliance, quality, supply, and cost.

Comprehensive details about each pricing model and the pros and cons attached to every pricing model prevalent in the market.

Best Selling Report:

Printing Ink Sourcing and Procurement Report : This report offers detailed insights and analysis of the major cost drivers, volume drivers, and innovations of the printing ink procurement and sourcing market, which the global suppliers have been leveraging to gain a competitive edge across regions. Read More

This report offers detailed insights and analysis of the major cost drivers, volume drivers, and innovations of the printing ink procurement and sourcing market, which the global suppliers have been leveraging to gain a competitive edge across regions. Read More Industrial Gases Market Top Spending Regions and Market Price Trends: Only a few regions will drive the majority of this growth. Moreover, on the supply side, North America , Europe , and APAC will have the maximum influence owing to the supplier base. Know More

Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

Contact

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge
Appointment ensures continuity as the company continues to deliver on Ontario-focused strategy and starts a thorough CEO selection process

TORONTO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -Today Hydro One Limited (Hydro One) announced that Mark Poweska will be stepping down as President and CEO to assume a leadership position at a utility closer to his family in Western Canada later this year. William (Bill) Sheffield, a member of the company's Board of Directors since 2018, has been appointed Interim President and CEO of Hydro One. Poweska will remain with Hydro One as an advisor to support Sheffield with the transition.

"On behalf of the board of Board of Directors, I want to thank Mark for his exceptional leadership and for building a strong executive team who have put customers and communities first to deliver greater value for stakeholders, shareholders and all Ontarians," said Tim Hodgson, Chair of the Board of Hydro One. "Since joining in 2019, Mark introduced an Ontario-focused strategy which has successfully delivered operational and customer excellence, improved outcomes in employee safety, and a strong commitment to environmental, social and governance issues."

"I would like to thank Hydro One's Board, leadership team and every employee for your dedication and passion, especially over the last couple years as we supported customers and communities across Ontario," said Mark Poweska, former President and CEO of Hydro One. "I am confident that the strategy and team we have built together will continue to deliver greater value for customers, communities, employees and shareholders."

Bill Sheffield is a highly-regarded leader with experience in the electricity industry in Ontario who will provide continuity as the company delivers on its commitments. He will leverage Hydro One's significant bench-strength to further advance the company's vision, mission and strategy as the Board of Directors begin a thorough CEO selection process.

"The entire Board and management team recognizes the critical role Hydro One plays in meeting customer needs and enabling economic growth in the province," said Bill Sheffield, the Interim President and CEO of Hydro One. "I am honoured to lead this exceptional team as we continue to energize life for people and communities across Ontario."

Bio: William (Bill) Sheffield

William (Bill) Sheffield is the former CEO of Sappi Fine Papers, headquartered in the U.K. and South Africa. He began his career in the steel industry with Stelco Inc., headquartered in Ontario. Mr. Sheffield also held senior roles in the forest products industry with Abitibi-Price Inc. and Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. where he led the forestry, mill and hydro-electric operations with the Iroquois Falls Division in northern Ontario.

Mr. Sheffield has been a corporate director since 2004 and is currently completing his last term on the board of Velan Inc. Previous directorships include Ontario Power Generation, Canada Post Corporation, Houston Wire & Cable Company, Pan Asia Paper, Corby Distilleries, Royal Group Technologies, 4iiii Innovations Inc., Family Enterprise Canada, and SHAD. In addition to his engagements on the boards of public companies and Crown corporations, Mr. Sheffield has had experience with family enterprise advisory boards such as Burnbrae Farms, Longview Aviation Capital Corp. and Epicure.

Mr. Sheffield holds a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) from Carleton University, an MBA from McMaster University and holds his ICD.D. In 2015, he was awarded a Fellowship from the National Association of Corporate Directors in the U.S. He also completed the Family Enterprise Advisors Program (FEA) at the University of British Columbia.

About Hydro One Limited

Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.5 million valued customers, approximately $30.4 billion in assets as at December 31, 2021, and annual revenues in 2021 of approximately $7.2 billion.

Our team of approximately 9,300 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2021, Hydro One invested approximately $2.1 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.7 billion of goods and services.

We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian Electricity Association.

Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com, www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov.

Forward-Looking Statements and Information

This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Words such as "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "attempt", "may", "plan", "will", "can", "believe", "seek", "estimate", and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actions and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking information. Some of the factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from the results expressed, implied or forecasted by such forward-looking information, including some of the assumptions used in making such statements, are discussed more fully in Hydro One's filings with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Hydro One does not intend, and it disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, except as required by law.

SOURCE Hydro One Inc.
100,000 kg/day production facility, halfway between Melbourne and Sydney

World's largest 6500 kg/day Hydrogen Refuelling Station (HRS) approved and under construction in Melbourne's West

MELBOURNE, Australia, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hydrogen Fuels Australia (H2FA) and CLARA Energy, a developer of a large scale green hydrogen production facility in Tarcutta NSW, have agreed to plan and build a green hydrogen distribution network along the Hume Highway corridor, worth $600 million, with the first hydrogen refuelling station scheduled to open in 2025.

The two Australian-based hydrogen companies have signed an MOU to fast-track their joint development of up to five hydrogen refuelling stations between Melbourne and Sydney.

CLARA Energy is already well advanced with planning to start operations by 2025 of one of the world's largest green hydrogen production facilities in Tarcutta NSW (halfway between Melbourne and Sydney). H2FA is currently constructing their own large-scale hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) in Truganina, in the heart of Melbourne's largest warehousing and distribution region. Initially, H2FA's 5-hectare site will produce 60-90 kg of green hydrogen from its own 640 kw solar array using a Green Hydrogen Systems A/S (CPH: GREENH) Electrolyser. Permits are in place to ramp up to a refuelling capability of up to 6,500 kg per day, making it one of the largest HRS in the world.

The two companies are collaborating on the large-scale hydrogen project in Tarcutta, NSW, whereby CLARA Energy will be developing production capacity at scale, and H2FA will act as distributor and station operator. The facilities will support freight and logistics companies transitioning their fleets from diesel to hydrogen. Each diesel truck replaced with a hydrogen alternative will abate approximately 2.4 ton of CO2 on a Melbourne to Sydney return journey, demonstrating how transitioning diesel trucks to hydrogen offers a major decarbonisation opportunity for Australia.

The companies are planning to build additional green hydrogen refuelling stations in Epping and Seymour in Victoria, plus another in the Southern Highlands of NSW and a major refuelling station in Sydney. This will complete Australia's first Hume Highway green hydrogen refuelling network.

The agreement between CLARA Energy and H2FA comes as the Victorian, NSW and Queensland governments announced a tripartite Hydrogen Highway strategy to create hydrogen refuelling stations along the main arterial roads along the East Coast of Australia, to facilitate a smooth transition from diesel to green hydrogen transport in the coming decades.

CLARA Energy CEO Nick Cleary: "Creating a green hydrogen production and distribution network along the Hume Highway can help the whole hydrogen industry become viable in Australia. We know the Hume is the busiest truck route in Australia and once the major logistics companies know there will be guaranteed supply of hydrogen at a commercially viable price, it will provide even greater confidence to accelerate the transition of their fleets.''

H2FA Managing Director Francesco Ceravolo: "What this partnership aims to create, for the first time in Australia, is to deliver green hydrogen production and distribution at scale. We believe green hydrogen is necessary to decarbonise heavy freight and ultimately lead to the complete displacement of diesel for green hydrogen."

The CLARA Energy project located on the Hume Highway at Tarcutta in NSW will have the capacity in stage one to produce approximately 25,000 kg per day of green hydrogen at a price competitive with diesel. Stage one will provide adequate green hydrogen supply for approximately 200 heavy haulage trucks running between Sydney and Melbourne daily. The project's two subsequent stages should bring total daily production to at least 100,000 kg per day, enough green hydrogen to support 800 heavy haulage trucks and abating more than 57,000 tonnes of CO2 produced by diesel engines.

The cost of the first stage of the Tarcutta project, which includes a major solar PV installation and the use of electrolysers to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen, will be approximately $500 million.

CLARA Energy and H2FA are already in discussions with truck fleet operators regarding their plans to transition their diesel fleets to new green hydrogen powered trucks. Having new hydrogen refuelling infrastructure completed in time for their arrival is critical for Australia's decarbonisation pledges.

Media Contact:

For Clara Energy:

[email protected] or +61 (3) 8560 6010

For H2FA:

Terry Alberstein

[email protected]

+61 458 484 921

Note to Editors: there are additional visual assets for use by members of the media at the following link, with sourcing to @H2FA:

Media Assets

About CLARA Energy:

CLARA Energy's vision is to bring renewable energy to market at scale. To achieve its vision CLARA Energy is building numerous integrated green hydrogen production facilities. Providing green hydrogen for the transport sector, gas blending into the domestic market and MoU's already signed to supply the Asia export market. CLARA Energy will have its Hume Highway facility operating by 2025 with other projects becoming operational shortly after. CLARA Energy also just completed a detailed report, with its technical partner Arcadis (AMS: ARCAD), to decarbonise the new Inland Rail, and rail sector in Australia generally.

About Hydrogen Fuels Australia:

Hydrogen Fuels Australia is an industry pioneer in the development of next generation modular hydrogen production and integrated refuelling facilities based in Melbourne, Australia. For more information, visit: www.hydrogenfuelsaustralia.com

SOURCE Hydrogen Fuels Australia
Silicon Valley executive leads the charge to foster culture of diversity, equity and inclusion at Hyve Solutions that extends to company's suppliers and customers

FREMONT, Calif., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Steve Ichinaga, president and founder of Hyve Solutions Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of TD SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX) and a leading provider of hyperscale digital infrastructures, was honored with ten distinguished individuals at the California Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Caucus's annual Pride Month floor ceremony.

Each year, the California LGBTQ Caucus hosts a Pride Month ceremony that takes place during Assembly and Senate sessions. On Monday the legislature passed a resolution to commemorate LGBTQ pioneer Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in a major city of the United States. A ceremony to recognize the honorees followed in both the Assembly and Senate chambers.

"I'm incredibly honored to be recognized by the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus," said Ichinaga. "Creating a workplace that is diverse, inclusive and equitable for all of our co-workers at Hyve Solutions is a deeply rewarding and important part of my role as president. At Hyve, we believe that celebrating our differences cultivates innovation, which better serves our company, customers and partners. I congratulate the others recognized for their outstanding leadership and contributions to the LGBTQ community."

"We are thrilled to honor Steve Ichinaga during our annual Pride Month floor ceremony," said LGBTQ Caucus Members. "We strive to advocate for diversity and inclusion of all people and work diligently to support LGBTQ leaders who represent our community at the local, state, and federal levels. Steve's work to protect and uplift those in his workplace exemplify our cause, and we applaud his contributions to the LGBTQ community."

Ichinaga has spearheaded several initiatives at Hyve Solutions to encourage and welcome LGBTQ employees. In 2020 he created a global, cross-departmental diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) committee to engage Hyve's diverse workforce. The committee led a "Get Out the Vote" campaign, increased digital signage to promote cultural holidays and events, and gathered essential materials for essential workers during the pandemic.

"Throughout his more than 35 years with the company, Steve has driven DEI forward at both Hyve Solutions and in the broader community," said Rich Hume, CEO of TD SYNNEX. "A forward thinker and energetic leader, Steve is focused on what's best for co-workers and the company."

Under Ichinaga's leadership, Hyve Solutions received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2022 Corporate Equality Index, the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality and was named among the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.

Ichinaga uses his personal story to encourage others in the LGBTQ community to meet, network and provide mutual support. He led the company's commitment to support the United Nations Global Standards for LGBTQ+ Equality. Ichinaga is an executive sponsor of the company's Spectrum (LGBTQ+) employee resource group and often can be found discussing ways to increase representation for women, black and LGBTQ+ community members within the company.

About California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus

California's Legislative LGBTQ Caucus was formed in 2002 to create a forum for California Legislators to discuss issues that affect LGBTQ Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. California became the first state in the United States to officially form a caucus of openly-LBGTQ state legislators and continues to be a leader of progress for all Americans. In 2017, our membership hit a new milestone of 8 members and continues to remain strong. Despite tremendous progress and an unprecedented swell of support for the LGBTQ community worldwide, there is still much work to do to protect and uplift the most vulnerable in our community. The LGBTQ Caucus strives to advocate for diversity and inclusion of all people, including differently abled bodies. Our Caucus is working diligently to support LGBTQ leaders that represent our community at the local, state, and federal levels.

About Hyve Solutions

Hyve Solutions is a leader in the design to worldwide deployment of hyperscale digital infrastructures. In partnership with customers, Hyve leverages deep-seated industry experience and strong vendor partnerships to design and deliver purpose-built server, storage, and networking solutions to meet datacenter demands for today and beyond. Hyve Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of TD SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX). For more information about Hyve Solutions, visit hyvesolutions.com, email [email protected] or call (855) 869-6973.

About TD SYNNEX

TD SYNNEX (NYSE: SNX) is a leading global distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. We're an innovative partner helping more than 150,000 customers in 100+ countries to maximize the value of technology investments, demonstrate business outcomes and unlock growth opportunities. Headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and Fremont, California, TD SYNNEX' 22,000 co-workers are dedicated to uniting compelling IT products, services and solutions from 1,500+ best-in-class technology vendors. Our edge-to-cloud portfolio is anchored in some of the highest-growth technology segments including cloud, cybersecurity, big data/analytics, IoT, mobility and everything as a service. TD SYNNEX is committed to serving customers and communities, and we believe we can have a positive impact on our people and our planet, intentionally acting as a respected corporate citizen. We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive employer of choice for talent across the IT ecosystem. For more information, visit www.TDSYNNEX.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking, such as features and capabilities of products and services, security product offering expansion, technology trends, and general success of collaborations, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance that may be suggested in this release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release.

 Copyright 2022 TD SYNNEX. All rights reserved. TD SYNNEX, Hyve Solutions, the TD SYNNEX Logo and all other TD SYNNEX company, product and services names and slogans are trademarks or registered trademarks of TD SYNNEX Corporation. TD SYNNEX, Hyve Solutions, the TD SYNNEX Logo, Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. Other names and marks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE TD SYNNEX
"Our team successfully collected approximately $29.0 million in capital from 207 business owners and individual shareholders who invested in our common stock. They are now co-owners of the bank", said Inserra. "Many indicated that our 'Why' and our Mission resonated. Our Mission is to help small businesses grow and increase employment. Our 'Why' is because increasing employment at small businesses lifts people up and transforms lives."

The bank will continue to raise capital under the terms of its offering materials while it completes final testing of its digital technologies and its innovative Integro360 services, which were designed as a consultative solution to help small businesses accelerate growth.

Chief Banking Officer Mary Borg stated: "With 85% of small business owners indicating they are unhappy with their bank, we are experiencing strong interest for Integro360 services from both investors and prospective small business clients, because it is viewed as a compelling differentiator setting us apart from other banks."

"As a result of strong demand, we are requesting that small business owners and potential clients contact us to schedule a meeting to learn about Integro360 and the unique services of the bank," said Marcelo Mills, Head of Business Banking. Mills stated: "We wanted to organize all the inquiries, so we added a Reservation request button on the www.integrobank.com website so it is easy to schedule a meeting convenient for each person."



Integro Bank first applied for its banking charter on June 15, 2021 and, since then, its officers participated in capital raise activities, organizing the bank and developing its technology and services.

In commenting about the bank's launch, Chief Innovation Officer Elaine Szeto said: "Investors expressed the "wow" factor upon learning about Integro360 and our innovative technology solutions. Investor interest in privately-held stock in light of recent market volatility also contributed to the success of our capital raise."

"Be sure to watch for an announcement in July, regarding the next phase of our launch," said Thomas Inserra. "July will be an opportunity for small business owners to declare their independence from banking service providers who are not meeting their needs."

About Integro Bank

Integro Bank is a small business bank based in Phoenix, Arizona (USA). Our proprietary Integro360 consultative approach and CEO Club are designed to help small businesses grow and maximize employment. To learn how you can make an impact, help small businesses, and become a co-owner of your own bank, or to become a client, visit: www.integrobank.com

Media Contact:

Thomas Inserra, President and CEO at [email protected] or (602) 805-5088.

This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy Integro Bank's common stock. Offers may be made only by an offering circular. To obtain a copy of the offering circular investors may visit: www.integrobank.com by selecting "Become an Investor" and carefully reading the circular before subscribing to purchase any Integro Bank common stock.

SOURCE Integro Bancorp Inc.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Having eliminated the middleman and released industry-leading technology, Jet Insurance Company is now the first and only surety company to provide on-demand surety bonds to its customers. Jet breaks the mold by offering a true "pay-as-you-go" monthly option with no added charges or down payments.

"Surety principals previously had to pay for their bonds upfront, occasionally with the option of financing their premium with third-party companies that charge high APRs, exorbitant fees, and substantial down payments. We think surety should be just as easy as your car insurance, so we introduced our monthly option," John Pappalardo, Vice President.

Jet Insurance Company's streamlined application produces an immediate quote, allowing its customers to purchase and print a copy of their bond in a matter of minutes.

The monthly option automatically renews, keeping the surety bond in force as long as the card on file is valid or until the customer shuts off payments. Jet customers can opt out at any time with the click of a button, canceling the bond without any penalties.

"Our customers love these monthly payments. After a decade of working in surety bonds, I can confidently say this is a game-changer. The process is easy, the calculation is simple, and the upfront cost is so low! This will be an industry standard," continued Pappalardo.

Jet Insurance Company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jet is currently licensed in 37 states, as well as the District of Columbia, and is in the process of obtaining authorization to write surety and fidelity products in all 50 states. For more information, email [email protected] or visit https://jetsurety.com .

Contact: Sadie Giacomelli, [email protected]

SOURCE Jet Insurance Company
Singapore-based company offers leading industry solutions in thermal protection, energy conservation, and energy storage.

SINGAPORE, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- JIOS Aerogel, an innovator in critical components for Li-ion battery systems -- the world's primary energy storage medium, today announced the launch of a brand-new website that highlights the company's sharpened focus on the global challenges faced by the energy industry, primarily, thermal protection, energy conservation, and energy storage.

JIOS Aerogel's solutions address critical challenges in electrification, supporting the rapidly expanding markets for electric vehicles (EVs) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS). The new website aligns with the brand's ethos of energy conservation for a cleaner, greener future.

"In the past two years, we have seen it all: bushfires, tsunamis, health pandemics, and floods. If there is one key takeaway from everything we have witnessed, sustainability is the future. Our new website reiterates our ultimate goal to address key issues in the energy sector, like thermal protection, energy conservation, and storage. With this, we hope to collaborate and partner with more businesses looking for sustainable and efficient energy solutions," said JIOS Aerogel Marketing Director Stephen Hodson.

Towards a cleaner, greener, more resilient future

As more businesses begin to realize the implications of climate change globally, there is significant demand in the EV and ESS markets. This is even more pertinent in APAC, a region of natural disasters and catastrophes caused due to climate change.

Research suggests that the electric vehicle market in the Asia Pacific alone is estimated to reach USD 166.3 billion by 2025, with an average annual growth rate of 29.9% between 2020 and 2025. The global electric vehicle market size was USD 246.70 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 1,318.22 billion by 2028 . Furthermore, the APAC battery energy storage system market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 12.4% between 2021 and 2026.

Therefore, the JIOS Aerogel website launch couldn't be more timely as businesses and founders revisit their strategies moving forward in the post-pandemic era with a keen inclination towards sustainability. The new website can be accessed now at www.jiosaerogel.com on desktop or mobile.

JIOS Aerogel offers a wide range of products and solutions that help with thermal protection, energy conservation, and storage. One of their star products is the JIOS AeroVa Aerogel Powder. It is the ultimate additive choice for applications requiring thermal performance and fire resistance at high operating temperatures. For the EV market, JIOS Aerogel's Thermal Blades provide a compressible cell-to-cell barrier that can mitigate thermal runaway in batteries and improve battery safety.

About JIOS Aerogel

JIOS Aerogel is the world's leading manufacturer of silica aerogel powder. JIOS has dramatically lowered the cost of aerogel production through a patent-protected manufacturing process, making this advanced, multi-functional material available for a myriad of industries and applications.

JIOS has already established a Joint-Venture with Armacell GMBH to produce Armagel aerogel blankets used to provide insulation in the industrial and oil and gas sectors.

The company also provides aerogel powder to supercharge gypsum boards, achieves an A60 rating for insulation coating used on ships, improves thermal and fire performance of EV battery cells, and even makes synthetic down insulation perform just like natural down.

SOURCE JIOS Aerogel
The new Satellite Center will work to accelerate discovery research against flaviviruses, including dengue, which impacts 400 million people each year

This effort will build on Johnson & Johnson's decade-long legacy and ongoing collaboration with Duke-NUS in early-stage dengue research

The Satellite Center is the first Asia Pacific site in Johnson & Johnson's network of research collaborations aimed at addressing entrenched and emerging pandemic threats

SINGAPORE, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (the Company) today announced the launch of the new J&J Satellite Center for Global Health Discovery (Satellite Center) at Singapore's Duke-NUS Medical School, jointly established by Duke University and the National University of Singapore (NUS) as a graduate-entry medical school and research powerhouse. As the first of the J&J Centers for Global Health Discovery (J&J Centers) in the Asia-Pacific region, the Satellite Center at Duke-NUS aims to help drive new solutions to address flaviviruses, which disproportionately impact communities across the region, by bringing together the talent and expertise of the world's largest healthcare company with that of a leading academic institution.

The launch of the newest Satellite Center at Duke-NUS comes at a critical time. More than 400 million people are infected with flaviviruses each year and half of the global population is at risk, with Asia experiencing nearly three-quarters of the global burden. A warming planet means that billions more people could be impacted in the coming decades as the animal vectors that carry flaviviruses spread beyond the tropical regions where they have traditionally thrived.

Flaviviruses, like dengue and Zika, cause significant illness and death, yet no specific antiviral therapeutics are currently available. The frequency of dengue outbreaks has grown considerably over the past two decades, as evidenced by surges in places like Singapore. After experiencing its worst outbreak in history in 2020, Singapore is facing another major outbreak this year with more than 8,000 cases recorded in the first six months of 2022, exceeding the number of cases reported in the whole of 2021.

"Singapore is one of the epicenters of the dengue threat as well as a leading innovation and research hub, making Duke-NUS a natural match for our vision to address flaviviruses by advancing innovative science," said Ruxandra Draghia-Akli, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head, Global Public Health R&D at Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "Together, we can each leverage our unique strengths to translate action in the lab into solutions at the last mile that can help protect people against one of the world's most significant and rising health threats."

The J&J Centers for Global Health Discovery (J&J Centers) are a pillar of Johnson & Johnson's efforts to advance early-stage, breakthrough science where research is needed most and health challenges are most acute. The latest Satellite Center builds on a longstanding collaboration between the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson and Duke-NUS and marks the latest effort of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre to develop a collaborative Discovery District on its Campus to drive bench-to-bedside innovations. The collaboration will unite expertise from across the scientific community in the Asia-Pacific region to further cultivate Singapore as a hub of discovery research, while advancing R&D to address the unmet medical need of flaviviruses.

"The establishment of the Satellite Center at Duke-NUS builds upon our strong track record in flavivirus research and bench-to-bedside innovations, and will facilitate antiviral drug discovery for the prevention and treatment of flavivirus-associated diseases that are affecting communities in Southeast Asia and beyond. The collaboration is both timely, in view of the impending threat of climate change, and purposeful in realizing the School's vision of transforming medicine and improving lives," said Professor Patrick Casey, Senior Vice-Dean for Research at Duke-NUS.

Research at the Satellite Center at Duke-NUS will be led by Professor Subhash Vasudevan, Ph.D., Duke-NUS' EID Program, and Olivia Goethals, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Global Public Health R&D, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV.

Crowdsourcing Innovation through the Flavivirus QuickFire Challenge

Complementing the efforts of the Satellite Center, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, together with Johnson & Johnson Global Public Health, is proud to launch the Global Health Discovery QuickFire Challenge: Flavivirus Infections. The Challenge invites innovators to submit potentially ground-breaking ideas aiming to treat, control, or prevent flavivirus disease. The innovator(s) with the best potential solution will receive grant funding from a total pool of $300,000, virtual access to the JLABS Asia Pacific community, including a dedicated workstation for one year at JLABS @ Shanghai, and mentorship from experts at the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies.

Applications will be accepted until August 12, 2022. To apply for the Global Health Discovery QuickFire Challenge: Flavivirus Infections, please visit the application portal.

Johnson & Johnson's Efforts to Tackle Dengue

The Company's dengue compound discovery program started in 2007 to address the unmet medical need for treatment and prevention options for the dengue virus. The efforts at the new Satellite Center will build on more than a decade of work by Johnson & Johnson to accelerate innovation in the development of new potential preventive and therapeutic options for dengue.

In 2021, Johnson & Johnson announced the completion of a Phase 1, first-in-human clinical study evaluating a dengue-specific antiviral small molecule, with data from the study showing the antiviral to be safe and well-tolerated in humans. Additional preclinical data demonstrated the antiviral's favorable safety profile and effectiveness at preventing dengue in mouse and non-human primate models.

"While there is an urgent need for new tools to address diseases like dengue, especially in the face of climate change, we believe we can accelerate research to move even faster," said Marnix Van Loock, Ph.D., Lead for Emerging Pathogens, Global Public Health R&D, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV. "Building on our shared legacies, the Satellite Center at Duke-NUS will help jumpstart the innovation we need to strengthen the R&D pipeline and address the burden of these diseases."

Duke-NUS has played a critical role in driving progress to tackle dengue, most recently by working with SingHealth's Investigational Medicine Unit to conduct a Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating Janssen's antiviral compound for the treatment of dengue.

About the J&J Centers for Global Health Discovery

Johnson & Johnson is committed to addressing the dual gap in innovation and health equity through the establishment of the J&J Centers for Global Health Discovery. In joining forces with other institutions, leveraging regional networks and growing in scope, they provide long-term opportunities to mentor much-needed talent in the discovery sciences and empower people worldwide to drive R&D to address some of the most pressing challenges in global health.

The first J&J Satellite Center for Global Health Discovery launched in July 2021 at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), which is focused specifically on developing cutting edge science, from biology to data sciences, to help build the next generation of drug regimens needed to treat all forms of tuberculosis (TB).

In April 2022, Johnson & Johnson launched the second Satellite Center for Global Health Discovery at the Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, University of Cape Town, in Cape Town, South Africa. Driven by some of the leading researchers in Africa and discovery science, the Satellite Center is focused on outpacing the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by accelerating innovation against multidrug-resistance Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB), which are particularly concerning to public health.

While the past decade has seen a consistent decline in global funding for basic science, including discovery and pre-clinical development for neglected diseases, there are clear measures that can be taken to turn this tide. The J&J Centers are a crucial step in reversing this trend.

To learn more, visit jnj.com/global-public-health/discovery-centers.

About Johnson & Johnson

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That's why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world's largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity. Learn more at www.jnj.com. Follow us at @JNJNews.

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular, Metabolism, & Retina; Immunology; Infectious Diseases & Vaccines; Neuroscience; Oncology; and Pulmonary Hypertension.

Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at www.twitter.com/JanssenGlobal. Janssen Research & Development, LLC and Janssen Biotech, Inc. are part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things: future operating and financial performance, product development, market position and business strategy. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: economic factors, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product research and development, including uncertainty of clinical success and obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; challenges to patents; the impact of patent expirations; the ability of the Company to successfully execute strategic plans; the impact of business combinations and divestitures; manufacturing difficulties or delays, internally or within the supply chain; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; significant adverse litigation or government action, including related to product liability claims; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including tax laws and global healthcare reforms; trends toward healthcare cost containment; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of healthcare products and services; financial instability of international economies and legal systems and sovereign risk; increased scrutiny of the healthcare industry by government agencies; the Company's ability to satisfy the necessary conditions to consummate the separation of the Company's Consumer Health business on a timely basis or at all; the Company's ability to successfully separate the Company's Consumer Health business and realize the anticipated benefits from the separation; the New Consumer Health Company's ability to succeed as a standalone publicly traded company; and risks related to the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, such as the scope and duration of the outbreak, government actions and restrictive measures implemented in response, material delays and cancellations of medical procedures, supply chain disruptions and other impacts to the business, or on the Company's ability to execute business continuity plans as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Johnson & Johnson's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. Any forward looking statement made in this release speaks only as of the date of this release. Johnson & Johnson does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson
E-commerce in the MENA region is fast catching up with global powerhouses. Egypt, as the most populous Arabic country, represents one of the most diversified economies in the MENA region. The total revenue of ecommerce in Egypt reportedly reached $5 billion in 2021. In line with the National e-Commerce Strategy, Egypt aspires to harness the power of e-commerce to help catalyze innovation, growth, and social prosperity in the digital economy. The rapidly growing e-commerce market presents significant opportunities for the express logistics industry. J&T Express has established one sorting center and 10 distribution centers, with its distribution network covering the full country except the North Sinai military command area. Following the company's entry into Latin America earlier this year, it is an important step for the company to continue to further cultivate emerging markets and expand its strategic global footprint.

Charles Hou, Group Vice President of J&T Express, said, "J&T is an independent e-commerce enabler, offering express delivery solutions to leading e-commerce platforms. By leveraging our expertise of providing efficient and convenient services through our growing global operation network, J&T Express is set to contribute to the faster development of e-commerce in the MENA market and the launch in Egypt bears testament to our commitment to the region."

Patrick Chen, Head of J&T Express Egypt, said, "In view of rapidly increasing internet penetration, the Egyptian market is well-positioned to tap on existing opportunities to further e-commerce development. J&T Express is excited to establish a refined service network in Egypt and offer an efficient, convenient and quality logistics experience to local retailers and customers."

With its network launch in Egypt, J&T Express' network now spans thirteen countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Mexico, Brazil and Egypt, and serves over 2.5 billion people.

About J&T Express

J&T Express is a global logistics service provider with leading express delivery businesses in Southeast Asia and China, the largest and fastest-growing market in the world. Founded in 2015, J&T Express' network spans thirteen countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Mexico, Brazil and Egypt. Adhering to its "customer-oriented and efficiency-based" mission, J&T Express is committed to providing customers with integrated logistics solutions through intelligent infrastructure and digital logistics network, as part of its global strategy to connect the world with greater efficiency and bring logistical benefits to all.

SOURCE J&T Express
'OFFICER MIKE,' THERAPY DOG DONATED BY K9S FOR WARRIORS, PROVIDES CARE AND COMFORT TO FIRST RESPONDERS

SURFSIDE, Fla., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Officer Mike may be the newest member of the Surfside Police Department, but in his six months walking the beat, he has already made an undeniable impact on his fellow officers.

That's because Officer Mike is not your average man in blue. He is a fluffy goldendoodle and retired Service Dog who came to the Surfside Police Department courtesy of K9s For Warriors' Station Dog program. He is trained to lower anxiety and stress among officers following the Champlain Tower collapse one year ago this week.

Officer Mike

K9s For Warriors, the nation's largest provider of trained Service Dogs for military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual assault, and the Town of Surfside formally introduced Officer Mike to the public today in a ceremony at Veterans Park in memory of the lives lost one year ago.

"At K9s For Warriors, we know heroes are found in every community. That's why we're dedicated to providing life-saving dogs to our first responders, just like we do for our military veterans," said Rory Diamond, CEO of K9s For Warriors. "Our Station Dog program gives law enforcement and first responders an unconventional tool, a therapy dog, to help alleviate the stress and trauma they experience daily while serving our communities. We are thrilled Officer Mike is doing just that for our officers in Surfside after experiencing such devastating loss almost one year ago."

Surfside Police officers were among the first to arrive at the site of the Champlain Tower collapse on June 24, 2021. The catastrophic collapse claimed the lives of 98 people and local first responders heard the cries of those underneath the rubble, feeling helpless as they were unable to reach them. The hours, days, and months that passed since that devastating day have been anything but easy for the first responders and law enforcement who worked tirelessly to save as many people as they could.

Recognized as a therapy dog through the American Kennel Club, Officer Mike is providing relief, love, laughter and at times, a needed distraction for the department and town. The Town of Surfside brought him in to help their officers stay present and adequately process their emotions following traumatic events and have already seen an immensely positive impact on the officers, first responders, and staff. During the weeks and months since he became a Station Dog, Officer Mike has also been there to help comfort victims' families and community members.

"I am truly proud to have Officer Mike serving as our Station Dog," said Rogelio Torres, Chief of Police. "In addition to providing emotional support for our officers and community, he is an outstanding ambassador for our Police Department and a real extension of our extraordinary team."

As part of its mission, K9s For Warriors partners with law enforcement and first responder agencies to donate reliable, high quality K9s to provide emotional support to law enforcement officers, firefighters, dispatchers, victims, and others who are repeatedly exposed to traumatic events in the line of duty. Although these dogs are not Service Dogs and are not qualified to be paired with a veteran, they have retired from Service Dog work or received extensive training from K9s For Warriors' trainers prior to starting their career as a Station Dog.

"Time and time again, K9s For Warriors has seen the effects a Service Dog has on a Warrior as they continue to confront their service-related trauma," said Greg Wells, K9s For Warriors Station Dog manager, K9 For Warriors graduate, and former law enforcement. "Those experiences are not dissimilar to the stressors that our law enforcement and first responder communities accumulate during their careers. As former law enforcement and a military veteran, it means more to me than I could ever explain to share the healing power of dogs with the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day in our communities."

"Surfside's Police Department, Town Administration, and residents are forever grateful to the incredible team at K9s for Warriors for blessing us with Officer Mike," said Andrew Hyatt, Town Manager. "Over the past few months, his presence has brought a loving, warm energy to a community in need of healing."

About K9s For Warriors

Determined to end veteran suicide, K9s For Warriors is the nation's largest provider of trained Service Dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma. With most dogs coming from high-kill rescue shelters, this innovative program allows the K9/Warrior team to build an unwavering bond that facilitates their collective healing and recovery. This treatment method is backed by scientific research (from Purdue University's OHAIRE Lab) demonstrating Service Dogs' ability to help mitigate their veteran's symptoms of PTSD while simultaneously restoring their confidence and independence. Founded in 2011 as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, K9s For Warriors remains committed to bringing widespread awareness to veterans' mental health and contributing to policy-level reform.

The organization's four primary business operation facilities include: K9s For Warriors National Headquarters (Ponte Vedra, FL), Gold Family Campus (Alachua, FL), Petco Love K9 Center (San Antonio, TX), and K9s For Warriors at Heidi's Village (Phoenix, AZ).

Find more information at www.k9sforwarriors.org | Facebook | Twitter

SOURCE K9s For Warriors
The Company plans to separate into three independent companies, by spinning off its U.S., Canadian, and Caribbean cereal and plant-based businesses, which collectively represented approximately 20% of its net sales in 2021

The remaining business, which represented about 80% of net sales in 2021, is focused on global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen breakfast

This transaction represents another bold action toward transforming Kellogg's portfolio to further enhance performance and value

The proposed separations create greater strategic, operational, and financial focus for each company and its stakeholders, and will build on Kellogg's current momentum

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a plan to separate its North American cereal and plant-based foods businesses, via tax-free spin-offs, resulting in three independent public companies, each better positioned to unlock their full standalone potential. The three companies, whose names will be determined later, would be the following:

"Global Snacking Co.", with about $11.4 billion * in net sales, will be a leading company in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen breakfast, with iconic, world-class brands and strong underlying growth momentum and profitability;

* in net sales, will be a leading company in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and frozen breakfast, with iconic, world-class brands and strong underlying growth momentum and profitability; "North America Cereal Co.", with about $2.4 billion * in net sales, will be a leading cereal company in the U.S., Canada , and Caribbean , with a portfolio of iconic, world-class brands and compelling opportunities for investment and profit growth; and

* in net sales, will be a leading cereal company in the U.S., , and , with a portfolio of iconic, world-class brands and compelling opportunities for investment and profit growth; and "Plant Co.", with about $340 million * in net sales, will be a leading, profitable, pure-play plant-based foods company, anchored by the MorningStar Farms brand, with a significant opportunity to capitalize on strong long-term category prospects by investing further in North America penetration and future international expansion.

"Kellogg has been on a successful journey of transformation to enhance performance and increase long-term shareowner value. This has included re-shaping our portfolio, and today's announcement is the next step in that transformation," said Steve Cahillane, Kellogg Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "These businesses all have significant standalone potential, and an enhanced focus will enable them to better direct their resources toward their distinct strategic priorities. In turn, each business is expected to create more value for all stakeholders, and each is well positioned to build a new era of innovation and growth."

Strategic Rationale

In recent years, the Company has transformed its portfolio into one that has expanded geographically and shifted toward growing businesses, particularly in snacking categories. To achieve this, it has directed resources and investments toward growth categories and markets around the world, made several acquisitions and partnerships in emerging markets, and strengthened its snacks business through acquisitions, divestitures, and the freeing up of resources by exiting from direct-store delivery. The successful execution of these actions has expanded Kellogg's portfolio, resulting in a scaled global snacking business and significant emerging markets presence, complemented by strong and profitable breakfast and plant-based foods businesses. The outcome of these strategic actions has been improved growth in recent years, with momentum sustained into 2022.

After several years of transformation and improving results, the Company believes it is the right time to separate these businesses so they may pursue their particular strategic priorities.

As independent companies, all three businesses will be better positioned to:

Focus on their distinct strategic priorities, with financial targets that best fit their own markets and opportunities;

Execute with increased agility and operational flexibility, enabling more focused allocation of capital and resources in a manner consistent with those strategic priorities;

Realize improved outlooks for profitable growth; and

Shape distinctive corporate cultures, rooted in Kellogg Company's strong values, and rewarding career paths for employees of each company.

The three companies, discussed under temporary names, will be:

Global Snacking Co.

The planned separations will result in a Global Snacking Co. that is expected to enhance its leadership position in the global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen breakfast categories, by focusing investments and capital toward building upon its strong growth momentum and profitability.

Kellogg Company's three international regions  Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa ("AMEA")  will remain almost entirely intact within Global Snacking Co. Steve Cahillane will remain Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Snacking Co.

Overview

Global Snacking Co. had estimated 2021 net sales of $11.4 billion * and estimated EBITDA of approximately $2.0 billion * on an adjusted basis, based on preliminary allocation assumptions.

* and estimated EBITDA of approximately * on an adjusted basis, based on preliminary allocation assumptions. Nearly 60% of its net sales come from global snacks, participating in growing categories and led by iconic, world-class brands including Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats, Nutri-Grain, and RXBAR , among others.

and , among others. Less than a quarter of its net sales come from cereal in international markets, featuring world-class brands such as Kellogg's, Frosties / Zucaritas, Special K, Tresor / Krave, Coco-Pops, and Crunchy Nut, among others. By remaining with Global Snacking Co., this international cereal business provides scale, continuity, and growth for the company's Europe , Latin America , and AMEA Regions.

among others. By remaining with Global Snacking Co., this international cereal business provides scale, continuity, and growth for the company's , , and AMEA Regions. About 10% of its net sales come from noodles in Africa , a rapidly expanding business.

, a rapidly expanding business. The remainder, less than 10% of its net sales, comes from frozen breakfast and the world-class Eggo brand.

brand. Geographically, North America will represent just under half of net sales, emerging markets about 30% of net sales, and developed international markets more than 20% of net sales.

Outlook

This business is expected to be a higher-growth company than today's Kellogg Company, featuring a more growth-oriented portfolio and aided by more focused resources and attention to brand building, innovation, and international expansion of world-class brands, and to building scale in emerging markets.

This business is expected to expand profit margins through operating leverage, revenue growth management, productivity, and increasing emerging-markets scale.

North America Cereal Co.

The Company plans to separate North America Cereal Co. as an independent business through a tax-free spin-off. North America Cereal Co. is a leader in cereal in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean, with beloved brands, a heritage of innovation, and more than a century of operational success. As a standalone company, North America Cereal Co. will have greater strategic focus and operational flexibility, and will direct capital and resources toward unlocking growth, regaining category share, and restoring and expanding profit margins.

The proposed management team for North America Cereal Co. will be announced at a later date.

Overview

North America Cereal Co. had estimated 2021 net sales of $2.4 billion * and estimated EBITDA of approximately $250 million * on an adjusted-basis, based on preliminary allocation assumptions.

* and estimated EBITDA of approximately * on an adjusted-basis, based on preliminary allocation assumptions. The business is focused on ready-to-eat cereal in the U.S., Canada , and Caribbean .

, and . North America Cereal Co.'s portfolio is comprised of iconic, world-class brands such as Kellogg's, Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Mini-Wheats, Special K, Raisin Bran, Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Kashi and Bear Naked.

Outlook

Near term, North America Cereal Co. will be focused on the restoration of inventory, profit margins, and share position following 2021 supply disruptions.

Longer term, it will focus resources and strengthen the business through enhancing its portfolio, operating capabilities, and productivity.

This business is expected to generate stable net sales over time, with improving profit margins that will drive profit growth, higher cash flow, and increased return on invested capital.

Plant Co.

The Company intends to separate Plant Co. as an independent business through a tax-free spin-off, while also exploring other strategic alternatives, including a possible sale.

Anchored by the leading MorningStar Farms brand, Plant Co. will be a profitable, pure-play, plant-based foods company. This business offers a full portfolio of plant-based offerings across multiple product segments and eating occasions. Kellogg has grown MorningStar Farms steadily since its acquisition over 20 years ago, and the brand now has the highest share and household penetration in the frozen vegetarian/vegan category.

The proposed management team for Plant Co. will be announced at a later date.

Overview

Plant Co. had estimated 2021 net sales of $340 million and estimated EBITDA of approximately $50 million * on an adjusted-basis, based on preliminary allocation assumptions.

and estimated EBITDA of approximately * on an adjusted-basis, based on preliminary allocation assumptions. The business is currently focused on the U.S., Canada , and Caribbean .

Outlook

As an independent business, Plant Co. will have the opportunity to build on its strong base of growth and profitability, focusing its resources and investments towards capitalizing on strong category prospects, by building awareness and penetration in North America , and expanding internationally in the future.

, and expanding internationally in the future. The business is expected to accelerate net sales growth over time, from previously disclosed portfolio-segment assumptions.

* All net sales and adjusted-basis EBITDA figures are based on the Company's 2021 unaudited results derived from internal management reporting, further adjusted for splits by brands and markets, as well as preliminary cost and expense allocations, including corporate expenses; these figures will be refined prior to the transactions. Please refer to the reconciliations of adjusted-basis EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to reported operating profit in this press release.

Headquarters Locations

North America Cereal Co. and Plant Co. will both remain headquartered in Battle Creek, Michigan. Global Snacking Co. will maintain dual campuses in Battle Creek and Chicago, Illinois, with its corporate headquarters located in Chicago. Kellogg Company's three international regions' headquarters in Europe, Latin America, and AMEA will remain in their current locations.

Transaction Details, Timing, and Future Updates

The proposed spin-offs are intended to result in tax-free distributions of North America Cereal Co. and Plant Co. shares to Kellogg Company shareowners. Shareowners would receive shares in the two spin-off entities on a pro-rata basis relative to their Kellogg holdings at the record date for each spin-off.

We expect the North America Cereal Co. spin-off may precede that of Plant Co., with both currently targeted to be completed by the end of 2023. The transactions will follow the satisfaction of customary conditions, including reviews and final approval by Kellogg's Board of Directors, receipt of an Internal Revenue Service ruling and relevant tax opinions with respect to the tax-free nature of the transactions, effectiveness of appropriate filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the completion of audited financials of the independent companies.

Capital structures, dividends, governance, and other matters for each business will be announced at a later date. Management is committed to maintaining an investment-grade credit rating for Global Snacking Co. after the separations. In addition, the Company expects to maintain a strong aggregate dividend and return-on-capital profile across the three businesses. The independent dividend and capital structure policies for each business are expected to be competitive relative to their relevant peer sets.

The Company will begin incurring pretax expenses related to executing the transactions and setting up the companies. To ensure visibility into the ongoing results of the businesses, the Company will disclose these up-front costs and exclude them from its adjusted-basis results in its external reporting.

Goldman Sachs is serving as lead financial advisor, along with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal advisor.

The Company will provide updates throughout the process leading to the transactions. A dedicated website providing ongoing information about the transaction is available at unleashingourpotential.com.

Conference Call / Webcast

Kellogg Company will host a conference call/webcast to discuss the strategic rationale, the transaction timeline, and the resultant entities this morning, June 21, 2022, at 9:00am Eastern Daylight Time. The conference call and accompanying presentation slides will be webcast live over the internet at http://investor.kelloggs.com . Information regarding the rebroadcast is also available at http://investor.kelloggs.com .

About Kellogg Company

At Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), our vision is a good and just world where people are not just fed but fulfilled. We are creating better days and a place at the table for everyone through our trusted food brands. Our beloved brands include Pringles, Cheez-It, Special K, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Eggo, Mini-Wheats, Kashi, RXBAR, MorningStar Farms and more. Net sales in 2021 were nearly $14.2 billion, comprised principally of snacks as well as convenience foods like cereal, frozen foods, and noodles. As part of our Kellogg's Better Days ESG strategy, we're addressing the interconnected issues of wellbeing, climate and food security, creating Better Days for 3 billion people by the end of 2030. Visit www.KelloggCompany.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include predictions of future results or activities and may contain the words "expect," "believe," "will," "can," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "should," or words or phrases of similar meaning, including but not limited to: The anticipated separation of the Company's North American cereal and plant-based foods businesses, future operating and financial performance, product development, market position and business strategy. The viewer is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, (1) the ability to effect the transactions described above and to meet the conditions related thereto, (2) the ability of the separated companies to each succeed as a standalone publicly traded company, (3) potential uncertainty during the pendency of the transactions that could affect the Company's financial performance, (4) the possibility that the transactions will not be completed within the anticipated time period or at all, (5) the possibility that the transactions will not achieve their intended benefits, (6) the possibility of disruption, including changes to existing business relationships, disputes, litigation or unanticipated costs in connection with the transactions, (7) uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the Company or the separated companies following completion of the transactions, (8) negative effects of the announcement or pendency of the transactions on the market price of the Company's securities and/or on the financial performance of the Company, (9) evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes, (10) changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions, (11) actions by third parties, including government agencies and (12) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, periodic Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, periodic Current Reports on Forms 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.investor.kelloggs.com or on request from the Company. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In this press release, we sometimes use information derived from consolidated financial data based on preliminary allocation assumptions related to the spin-offs, but not presented in our financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Certain of these data are considered "non-GAAP financial measures" under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules. These non-GAAP financial measures supplement our GAAP disclosures and should not be considered an alternative to the GAAP measure. Our management team consistently utilizes a combination of GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate business results, to make decisions regarding the future direction of our business, and for resource allocation decisions, including incentive compensation. As a result, we believe the presentation of both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with increased transparency into financial measures used by our management team, especially in connection with the spin-offs, and improves investors' understanding of our underlying operating performance and in their analysis of ongoing operating trends. See the table under "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Amounts  Reported Operating Profit to Adjusted EBITDA" within this release for important information regarding these measures.

Kellogg Company and Subsidiaries







Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Amounts - Reported Operating Profit to Adjusted EBITDA









Year ended January 1, 2022







(millions) Global Snacking

Co.* North America

Cereal Co.* Plant Co.* Kellogg

Consolidated Reported operating profit $ 1,559 $ 155 $ 38 $ 1,752 Depreciation and amortization (369) (86) (12) (467) Mark-to-market (14) (3)  (17) Business and portfolio realignment (30) (6)  (36) Adjusted EBITDA $ 1,971 $ 250 $ 50 $ 2,272









*Reported operating profit, reconciling items and Adjusted EBITDA figures are based on the Company's 2021 unaudited results derived from internal management reporting, adjusted for splits by brands and markets, as well as preliminary cost and expense allocations, including corporate expenses; these figures will be refined prior to the transactions.









For more information on Mark-to-market and Business and portfolio realignment in the table above, please refer to the Significant Items Impacting Comparability section of the Q4 2021 earnings press release.

[-FIN] [K-ER]

SOURCE Kellogg Company
KLA Corporation Announces Cash Tender Offer for 4.650% Senior Notes due 2024 Tweet this

The Tender Offer is summarized in the table below:

Title of Notes

CUSIP

Number

Principal

Amount

Outstanding

Maximum

Amount(1)

UST

Reference

Security

Bloomberg

Reference

Page(2)

Fixed

Spread

(bps)

Early

Tender

Payment(3) 4.650% Senior Notes

due 2024

482480

AE0

$1,250,000,000

$500,000,000

2.50%

UST due

May 31,

2024

FIT1

+60

$30.00























(1) The Maximum Amount of $500,000,000 represents the aggregate principal amount of Tender Notes that will be purchased in the Tender Offer. We may increase or decrease the Maximum Amount as described herein. (2) The page on Bloomberg from which the Dealer Managers (as defined below) will quote the bid-side price of the U.S. Treasury Security. In the above table, "UST" denotes a U.S. Treasury Security. (3) Per $1,000 principal amount of Tender Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase.

The Tender Offer is being made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated June 21, 2022 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase"), which sets forth a detailed description of the Tender Offer. The Tender Offer is open to all registered holders (individually, a "Holder" and collectively, the "Holders") of Tender Notes. The purpose of the Tender Offer is to refinance a portion of KLA's outstanding indebtedness.

Tender Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 5, 2022 (the "Early Tender Date") will be eligible to receive the Total Consideration (as defined below), which includes the "early tender payment" specified in the table above (the "Early Tender Payment"). Tender Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to midnight (end of day), New York City time, on July 19, 2022 (the "Expiration Date") will be eligible to receive consideration (the "Tender Offer Consideration") equal to the Total Consideration minus the Early Tender Payment.

The total consideration ("Total Consideration") payable by KLA for Tender Notes will be a price per $1,000 principal amount based on the yield to maturity of the U.S. Treasury reference security specified in the table above (the "UST Reference Security"), as determined at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on July 6, 2022 (unless otherwise extended by us as described in the Offer to Purchase), plus a fixed spread, calculated in accordance with the Offer to Purchase. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Total Consideration determined is less than $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount of Tender Notes, then the Total Consideration will be calculated to the stated maturity date and not to the first par call date for Tender Notes.

The settlement date for Tender Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase is expected to be July 7, 2022, the second business day after the Early Tender Date (the "Early Settlement Date"). The settlement date for Tender Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date and accepted for purchase is expected to be July 21, 2022, the second business day after the Expiration Date (the "Final Settlement Date," and along with the Early Settlement Date, each a "Settlement Date"), if the Maximum Amount is not purchased on the Early Settlement Date.

In addition to the Total Consideration or Tender Offer Consideration, as applicable, Holders of Tender Notes accepted for purchase will receive accrued and unpaid interest ("Accrued Interest") on those Tender Notes from the last interest payment date with respect to those Tender Notes to, but not including, the applicable Settlement Date.

Holders who tender their Tender Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 5, 2022 (such date and time, as it may be extended, the "Withdrawal Deadline") may withdraw such tendered Tender Notes at any time at or prior to the Withdrawal Deadline. Following the Withdrawal Deadline, Holders who have tendered their Tender Notes (whether before, on or after the Withdrawal Deadline) may not withdraw such Tender Notes unless KLA is required to extend withdrawal rights under applicable law.

The Tender Offer is not conditioned on any minimum principal amount of Tender Notes being validly tendered; however, KLA's obligation to accept for purchase, and to pay for, Tender Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer is subject to, and conditioned upon, the satisfaction of or, where applicable, KLA's waiver of the conditions, including a financing condition and certain other general conditions, specified in the Offer to Purchase.

KLA has retained BofA Securities and Citigroup to act as the dealer managers (the "Dealer Managers") for the Tender Offer. D.F. King & Co., Inc. has been retained to act as the Tender and Information Agent for the Tender Offer. Requests for assistance relating to the procedures for tendering Tender Notes may be directed to the Tender and Information Agent either by email at [email protected], or by phone (212) 269-5550 (for banks and brokers only) or (800) 290-6424 (for all others toll free). Requests for assistance relating to the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer may be directed to BofA Securities at (980) 387-3907 (collect) or (888) 292-0070 (toll-free) or via email at [email protected] or to Citigroup at (212) 723-6106 (collect) or (800) 558-3745 (toll-free) or via email at [email protected]. Beneficial owners may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase, or the solicitation of tenders with respect to, the Tender Notes. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. The Tender Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase made available to Holders of the Tender Notes. None of KLA, the Dealer Managers, the Tender and Information Agent or the trustee with respect to the Tender Notes, or any of their respective affiliates, is making any recommendation as to whether or not Holders should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of their Tender Notes in response to the Tender Offer. Holders are urged to evaluate carefully all information in the Offer to Purchase, consult their own investment and tax advisers and make their own decisions whether to tender their Tender Notes in the Tender Offer, and, if so, the principal amount of Tender Notes to tender.

About KLA:

KLA develops industry-leading equipment and services that enable innovation throughout the electronics industry. We provide advanced process control and process-enabling solutions for manufacturing wafers and reticles, integrated circuits, packaging, printed circuit boards and flat panel displays. In close collaboration with leading customers across the globe, our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers design solutions that move the world forward. Additional information may be found at www.kla-tencor.com. (KLAC-F).

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements in this press release other than historical facts, such as statements regarding the Tender Offer, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such statements due to various factors, including but not limited to: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and on our business, financial condition and results of operations, including the supply chain constraints we are experiencing as a result of the pandemic; economic, political and social conditions in the countries in which we, our customers and our suppliers operate, including rising inflation and interest rates, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and global trade policies; disruption to our manufacturing facilities or other operations, or the operations of our customers, due to natural catastrophic events, health epidemics or terrorism; ongoing changes in the technology industry, and the semiconductor industry in particular, including future growth rates, pricing trends in end-markets, or changes in customer capital spending patterns; our ability to timely develop new technologies and products that successfully anticipate or address changes in the semiconductor industry; our ability to maintain our technology advantage and protect our proprietary rights; our ability to compete with new products introduced by our competitors; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; cybersecurity threats, cyber incidents affecting our and our service providers' systems and networks and our ability to access critical information systems for daily business operations; liability to our customers under indemnification provisions if our products fail to operate properly or contain defects or our customers are sued by third parties due to our products; exposure to a highly concentrated customer base; availability and cost of the wide range of materials used in the production of our products; our ability to operate our business in accordance with our business plan; legal, regulatory and tax environments in which we perform our operations and conduct our business and our ability to comply with relevant laws and regulations; our ability to pay interest and repay the principal of our current indebtedness is dependent upon our ability to manage our business operations, our credit rating and the ongoing interest rate environment, among other factors; instability in the global credit and financial markets; our exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations, or declining economic conditions in those countries where we conduct our business; changes in our effective tax rate resulting from changes in the tax rates imposed by jurisdictions where our profits are determined to be earned and taxed, expiration of tax holidays in certain jurisdictions, resolution of issues arising from tax audits with various authorities or changes in tax laws or the interpretation of such tax laws; and our ability to identify suitable acquisition targets and successfully integrate and manage acquired businesses. For other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected and anticipated in forward-looking statements in this press release, please refer to KLA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2021, and other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including, but not limited to, the risk factors described therein). KLA assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE KLA Corporation
The core purpose of NAWIC is to strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry. They are committed to championing women in order to impact the direction of the construction industry through education, community connections and advocacy. Each member is helping to further empower women by opening the door for more women in the construction industry.

"We are proud to join forces with NAWIC and empower women in our industry," said Ken Schmid, executive vice president of KONE Americas. "This collaboration underscores our company's culture and values of diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as a commitment to an inclusive construction industry."

At KONE, we see the advancements and achievements of women trailblazers on a daily basis, both within and outside of the construction industry. They are driving impactful changes at every level with their diverse perspectives, voices, talents and skills. This partnership with NAWIC allows KONE to become a more robust ally, so we can strengthen our support of women in construction, and the impact they are making.

"Having been a member of my local NAWIC Chapter (Salt Lake City #90), and experienced the benefits, such as networking with other women in this industry and the robust, professional continuous learning opportunities, I'm thrilled about this partnership with NAWIC," said Margot Epstein, director sales operations, new equipment business for KONE. "I look forward to finding even more ways KONE can support women in the construction industry, both inside and outside our own company."

Visit KONE.us for more information on KONE's collaboration with NAWIC and other organizations.

About KONE

At KONE, our mission is to improve the flow of urban life. As a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, KONE provides elevators, escalators and automatic building doors, as well as solutions for maintenance and modernization to add value to buildings throughout their life cycle. Through more effective People Flow, we make people's journeys safe, convenient and reliable, in taller, smarter buildings. In 2021, KONE had annual sales of EUR 10.5 billion, and at the end of the year over 60,000 employees. KONE class B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in Finland.

www.kone.com

SOURCE KONE
Investment in new technology creates value for businesses in more than 140 jurisdictions globally

KPMG Digital Gateway, enabled by Microsoft Azure, is designed to provide real-time holistic view of tax and finance data necessary for making better business decisions

Three new Digital Gateway applications, Tax Advance, Data Factory and Connected Modeling, help transform tax and finance functions

NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The future of tax is at a tipping point as organizations work to keep pace with a rapidly changing business landscape, shifts in tax policy, heightened compliance and reporting requirements, workforce challenges, and the untapped potential of data. As part of their multi-billion-dollar global alliance, KPMG1 and Microsoft are making significant investments to deliver advanced cloud-based tax technologies that are designed to help companies transform and lead amid continued market disruption.

KPMG and Microsoft are helping companies enable their operations to be future-ready through AI, machine learning, automation, and data & analytics applications on the KPMG proprietary Digital Gateway platform, enabled by the Microsoft Azure cloud. The collaboration is resulting in a wealth of new technology capabilities for tax and finance leaders in more than 140 jurisdictions globally through the KPMG Tax Reimagined service offering.

KPMG Digital Gateway is built with the C-suite in mind. It puts easy-to-use technology in the hands of non-technologists, so that business leaders can leverage insights to help predict what's ahead. Digital Gateway offers a holistic view of a company's total tax and finance data, in real time, and within a single platform. Business leaders use Digital Gateway's data-driven applications, powerful modeling tools and interactive visualizations to help inform strategy, forecast outcomes, plan tax requirements, minimize risk, generate cost savings, and, ultimately, drive tangible business results.

KPMG and Microsoft have augmented the Digital Gateway platform with three new applications  Tax Advance, Data Factory and Connected Modeling. The latter two process, synthesize and visualize data from an organization's ERP system, while Tax Advance is a cloud-based collaboration tool that uses Microsoft technology to connect and optimize an organization's existing document management, process and workflow approaches within the tax and finance functions.

More about KPMG Digital Gateway enabled by Microsoft

Provides a single point of entry for a company's entire suite of tax data

Translates unstructured data into actionable insights

Allows non-technology professionals to easily use the tool

Leverages AI and machine learning to reduce data redundancies across applications

Syncs with a suite of third-party tools

Equips C-suite with a Control Tower home screen, which features a suite of applications that process data, generate powerful visualizations and more

As part of KPMG's US$5 billion investment in technology, people and innovation to accelerate digital transformation, and more than US$1billion in tax and legal technology, specifically, KPMG is utilizing Microsoft Azure and Azure AI as the backbone for a common, global cloud-based platform that helps to strengthen its range of digital offerings with new innovations in cloud-based audit capabilities, tax solutions and risk management.

KPMG and Microsoft hosted a June 1 virtual event on the transformation of tax and how technology and data can unlock value to drive business growth. The event was tailored to Chief Financial, Chief Tax and Chief Executive officers. Register to access the replay for the event by emailing [email protected], and follow the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn, #KPMGTaxReImagined.

Quotes:

"C-suites are being challenged by tremendous disruption and uncertainty. Whether it's preparing for potential changes to U.S. tax policies, implementing the OECD global tax policies, addressing the rising pressure to consider ESG in their total tax stories, or determining how to do more with less, many leaders are struggling with how to prepare and respond," said Greg Engel (@Greg_Engel_KPMG), Vice Chair  Tax at KPMG in the US. "The KPMG Digital Gateway was built to equip executives with a single access point to their entire suite of tax and finance data so that they can see around the corner and make smart business decisions even amid a time of great uncertainty."

"Together, KPMG and Microsoft are on a multi-year journey to change tax and finance leaders' lives for the better and transform tax departments from a cost-center to a value center. The relationship with KPMG Tax is in direct response to the tremendous disruptions that companies are being faced with and the need to help them grapple with it. KPMG is helping Microsoft push the envelope on our technology to meet these executives' needs."  Jacky Wright, Chief Digital Officer, Microsoft

"An organization's data is both vast and complex and in order to generate real value from it, the right technology is critical," said Brad Brown, Global Head of Tax Technology & Innovation, KPMG International. "Digital Gateway is intended to be an organization's single source of truth for all its tax and finance information. Our relationship with Microsoft is a testament to our investment in tax technology built to help the C-suite make sense of their data so that they can ultimately drive value and benefit the bottom line."

About KPMG International

KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited ("KPMG International") operate and provide professional services. "KPMG" is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organization or to one or more member firms collectively.

KPMG firms operate in 144 countries and territories with more than 236,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.

KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients.

For more detail about our structure, please visit home.kpmg/governance.

Media Contacts:

Taylor Ovalle

KPMG in the US

[email protected]

+ 1 201 956 8737

Daniel Caines

KPMG in the UK

[email protected]

+44 7732400262

1 Throughout this release, "KPMG", "we," "us" and "our" refer to the network of independent member firms comprising the KPMG organization, operating under the KPMG name and affiliated with KPMG International or to one or more of these firms or to KPMG International.

SOURCE KPMG
Increasing domestic US solar supply chains will create lasting resiliency and alleviate current industry constraints. Tweet this

"Our group of companies comprise industry leaders that are committed to delivering cost-effective, renewable power for our customers. Our joint commitment to procure at this scale can provide the certainty suppliers need to ramp up capacity and overcome current supply chain constraints," said David Zwillinger, DESRI's CEO.

The buying consortium will encourage a stable, domestic supply chain for solar modules. Promoting the on-shoring of the module supply chain demonstrates the buying consortium's belief in an American-made solar industry that has the potential to create over 250,000 new permanent jobs and over 50,000 new construction jobs by 2035. Increasingly domestic supply chains will create lasting resiliency and alleviate constraints faced by the industry today.

"The Consortium has a large and growing pipeline of solar projects in the United States, and we are committed to supporting America's clean energy transition," said Andres Gluski, AES President and CEO. "We're working together with customers of all kinds to decarbonize their operations and the grid."

"Solar provides low-cost clean energy, builds resiliency into the grid and is vital in addressing the climate crisis," said Sarah Slusser, CEO of Cypress Creek Renewables. "We are proud to advance our country's important decarbonization and clean energy goals and American manufacturing through the support provided by this consortium."

Increasing solar energy deployment is essential to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and limiting global temperature rise to 1.5o C. While the White House's recently announced 24-month bridge for certain solar imports and actions to support domestic manufacturing are a large step towards addressing supply chain challenges, the Consortium recognizes that more needs to be done to build upon the industry's progress towards providing lower-cost, reliable, clean power to American families and businesses.

"Today's announcement from the Consortium is just one step toward bolstering America's solar supply chain," said Craig Cornelius, CEO of Clearway Energy Group. "With legislation pending before Congress, policymakers can scale our domestic manufacturing workforce and restore our country's legacy as a manufacturing leader. We appreciate the Biden administration's commitment to invest in American workers and urge lawmakers to seize this opportunity."

For more details, please contact the consortium at [email protected].

For suppliers interested in responding to the RFP, please contact [email protected].

About AES: The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) is a Fortune 500 global energy company accelerating the future of energy. Together with our many stakeholders, we're improving lives by delivering the greener, smarter energy solutions the world needs. Our diverse workforce is committed to continuous innovation and operational excellence, while partnering with our customers on their strategic energy transitions and continuing to meet their energy needs today. For more information, visit AES here.

About Clearway: Clearway Energy Group is leading the transition to a world powered by clean energy. Along with our public affiliate Clearway Energy, Inc., we own and operate more than 8 gigawatts of renewable and conventional energy assets across the country. As we develop a nationwide pipeline of new renewable energy projects for the future, Clearway's 5.6 gigawatts of wind, solar, and energy storage assets offset the equivalent of more than 10.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions for our customers today. Clearway Energy Group is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Carlsbad, Calif.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Houston; and Princeton, N.J. For more information, visit clearwayenergygroup.com.

About Cypress Creek Renewables: Cypress Creek Renewables is a leading US renewables developer and independent power producer. It develops, finances, owns, and operates utility-scale and distributed solar and energy storage projects across the United States with a mission to power a sustainable future, one project at a time. Since inception, Cypress Creek has developed more than 12GW of solar projects. Today it owns 2GW of solar and has a 14GW pipeline. Cypress Creek's leading O&M services business operates and maintains 4GW of solar projects for customers across 19 states. For more information about Cypress Creek, please visit www.ccrenew.com.

About D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments: D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) and its affiliates develop, acquire, own, and operate long-term contracted renewable energy assets in the U.S. DESRI's portfolio of operating and in-construction renewable energy projects currently includes more than 65 solar and wind projects representing more than 6 GW of aggregate capacity. DESRI is a member of the D. E. Shaw group, a global investment and technology development firm with more than $60 billion in investment and committed capital as of March 1, 2022, and offices in North America, Europe, and Asia.

SOURCE AES CORP.
Vendor Insights

Global Liver Cancer Drugs Market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market.

The growing competition in the market is compelling vendors to adopt various growth strategies such as promotional activities and spending on advertisements to improve the visibility of their services. Some vendors are also adopting inorganic growth strategies such as M&As to remain competitive in the market.

The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including:

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc.

AstraZeneca Plc

Bayer AG

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Eisai Co. Ltd.

Eli Lilly and Co.

Eureka Therapeutics

Exelixis Inc.

F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd.

Gilead Sciences Inc.

Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.

Lion TCR Pte. Ltd

Merck and Co. Inc.

Novartis AG

Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

Pfizer Inc.

Q BioMed Inc.

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Read Sample Report.

Geographical Market Analysis

North America will account for 42% of market growth. US and Canada are the key markets for liver cancer drugs in North America. Compared to the markets in Europe and Asia, this region's market will grow more slowly.

Over the forecast period, the expansion of the liver cancer medications market in North America would be aided by the development and introduction of treatment regimens for the disease.

Furthermore, countries such as the US, Canada, Germany, UK, and China are expected to emerge as prominent markets for Liver Cancer Drugs Market during the forecast period.

Know more about this market's geographical distribution along with a detailed analysis of the top regions. Click Here for Sample Report.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive scenario provided in the liver cancer drugs market report analyzes, evaluates, and positions companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered for this analysis include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.

Market Segmentation

By Type, the market is classified as immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

the market is classified as immunotherapy and targeted therapy. By Geography, the market is classified as North America , Europe , Asia , and the Rest of the World (ROW).

To know about the market contribution of each segment  Get the latest sample report now!

Key Market Drivers & Challenges:

Factors such as the increasing incidence of liver cancer, and advancements in diagnostic methods will be crucial in driving the growth of the market. But factors such as the only curative option available is surgical resection and transplantation will restrict the market growth. The holistic analysis of the drivers & challenges will help in deducing end goals and refining marketing strategies to gain a competitive edge.

Get a Sample for highlights on market Drivers & Challenges affecting Liver Cancer Drugs Market.

Customize Your Report

Don't miss out on the opportunity to speak to our analyst and know more insights about this market report. Our analysts can also help you customize this report according to your needs. 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.

Do reach out to our analysts for more customized reports as per your requirements. Speak to an Analyst now!

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Liver Cancer Drugs Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 14.67% Market growth 2022-2026 $ 5.29 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 10.4 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 42% Key consumer countries US, Canada, Germany, UK, and China Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc., AstraZeneca Plc, Bayer AG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Eisai Co. Ltd., Eli Lilly and Co., Eureka Therapeutics, Exelixis Inc., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., Gilead Sciences Inc., Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Lion TCR Pte. Ltd, Merck and Co. Inc., Novartis AG, Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Pfizer Inc., and Q BioMed Inc Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Type



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Type

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Type



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Type

5.3 Immunotherapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Immunotherapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Immunotherapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Immunotherapy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Immunotherapy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Targeted therapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Targeted therapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Targeted therapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Targeted therapy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Targeted therapy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Type ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 44: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 45: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 49: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 52: Chart on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 54: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 56: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 57: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 58: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 59: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 60: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 61: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 63: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 64: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 65: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 71: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 72: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 74: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 75: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 76: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 77: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 78: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges

Exhibit 79: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 80: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 81: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 82: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 83: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 84: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 AstraZeneca Plc

Exhibit 85: AstraZeneca Plc - Overview



Exhibit 86: AstraZeneca Plc - Product / Service



Exhibit 87: AstraZeneca Plc - Key news



Exhibit 88: AstraZeneca Plc - Key offerings

10.4 Bayer AG

Exhibit 89: Bayer AG - Overview



Exhibit 90: Bayer AG - Business segments



Exhibit 91: Bayer AG - Key news



Exhibit 92: Bayer AG - Key offerings



Exhibit 93: Bayer AG - Segment focus

10.5 Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Exhibit 94: Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. - Overview



Exhibit 95: Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. - Product / Service



Exhibit 96: Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. - Key offerings

10.6 Eisai Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 97: Eisai Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 98: Eisai Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 99: Eisai Co. Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 100: Eisai Co. Ltd. - Segment focus

10.7 Eli Lilly and Co.

Exhibit 101: Eli Lilly and Co. - Overview



Exhibit 102: Eli Lilly and Co. - Business segments



Exhibit 103: Eli Lilly and Co. - Key offerings



Exhibit 104: Eli Lilly and Co. - Segment focus

10.8 Eureka Therapeutics

Exhibit 105: Eureka Therapeutics - Overview



Exhibit 106: Eureka Therapeutics - Product / Service



Exhibit 107: Eureka Therapeutics - Key offerings

10.9 Gilead Sciences Inc.

Exhibit 108: Gilead Sciences Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 109: Gilead Sciences Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 110: Gilead Sciences Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 111: Gilead Sciences Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 112: Gilead Sciences Inc. - Segment focus

10.10 Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 113: Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 114: Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 115: Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.11 Lion TCR Pte. Ltd

Exhibit 116: Lion TCR Pte. Ltd - Overview



Exhibit 117: Lion TCR Pte. Ltd - Product / Service



Exhibit 118: Lion TCR Pte. Ltd - Key offerings

10.12 Merck and Co. Inc.

Exhibit 119: Merck and Co. Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 120: Merck and Co. Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 121: Merck and Co. Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 122: Merck and Co. Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 123: Merck and Co. Inc. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 124: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 125: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 126: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 127: Research methodology



Exhibit 128: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 129: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 130: List of abbreviations

About Us:

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LP Building Solutions (LP) (NYSE: LPX) today announced an agreement with Pacific Woodtech to acquire LP's Engineered Wood Products (EWP) business for $210 million. The acquisition includes LP's laminated veneer lumber and I-joist manufacturing facilities in Wilmington, North Carolina; Red Bluff, California; and Golden, British Columbia, Canada, associated timber license assets, and the SolidStart brand. The completion of this transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory reviews and is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2022.

"We believe that Pacific Woodtech is well positioned to invest in and grow the SolidStart brand, and its acquisition of LP's EWP business marks another important step in LP's ongoing strategic transformation," said LP Chair and Chief Executive Officer Brad Southern. "We will work with Pacific Woodtech to ensure a smooth transition for our EWP employees, customers, and suppliers. I want to express my sincere thanks to the entire EWP team for their patience and professionalism throughout this process. I wish them all the best moving forward."



"Adding the EWP facilities in Golden, Wilmington, and Red Bluff to Pacific Woodtech's existing EWP business propels our company to new growth," said Pacific Woodtech President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Enright. "We aim to drive positive change at the cutting edge of engineered wood products, and this acquisition will provide a more streamlined and focused EWP resource for the industry. We are committed to making this a seamless transition, one that allows for the retention and care of current employees, clients, and suppliers and strengthens our position as a leading force in the EWP market going forward."
Deven Soni, Chief Executive Officer, Matador Gold Technologies Inc.

TORONTO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Matador Gold Technologies Inc. (Matador Network) is pleased to announce it will be presenting at Gravitas' 3rd Los Angeles Summit at the Beverly Hills Hotel from June 21st to June 24th, 2022, in Beverly Hills, California.

"We are excited to share Matador's vision of modernizing the gold industry and bringing back its lustre for new and existing gold investors," said Geoff St. Clair, VP Finance and Investor Relations at Matador. Matador has raised strategic capital from several top Canadian investors including Kitco Metals, HIVE Blockchain, and Osisko Mining.

Gravitas' 3rd Los Angeles Summit will feature public and private companies across various industries presenting to a highly selective audience of venture capital, family office, and institutional investors attending from Canada, the United States, and abroad. For additional details about the conference and Gravitas Securities Inc., please visit: www.gravitassecurities.com

Summit Details

Event: Gravitas' 3rd Los Angeles Summit

Format: Presentations and Q&A

Dates: Tuesday, June 21st to Friday, June 24th, 2022

Venue: In-person at the Beverly Hills Hotel

About Matador Gold Technologies Inc.

Matador is modernizing gold by bringing it to the digital era. Matador is a DTC company that sells premium gold, such as ESG gold, directly to retail using Matador's proprietary mobile platform. Installment plans define the Matador experience, enabling buy now, pay monthly for gold. It also enables retail gold buyers to buy/sell gold in a 24/7 marketplace with the best pricing, user-interface, and payment terms.

Learn more about Matador Gold Technologies Inc. at https://www.matador.network/

SOURCE Matador Network
MIAMI, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Matrix Renewables, the TPG Rise-backed global renewable energy platform, today announced that it has signed its first U.S. tax equity financing for the Gaskell West 2 and Gaskell West 3 projects. Tax equity is being provided by an affiliate of Bank of America N.A. for a total of $92 million.

The Gaskell West 2 and 3 projects total 143 MWdc of solar and incorporate an 80 MWh energy storage system, located in Kern County, California. The projects are fully contracted, holding five long term power purchase agreements with utilities and cities in California.

Cindy Tindell, Managing Director and Head of U.S. for Matrix Renewables, said, "The team achieved a new milestone for Matrix Renewables in signing our first U.S. tax equity commitment for our flagship Gaskell solar power project. We are grateful to have the continued support of our financing partner Bank of America."

Construction of the project is progressing well and it is expected to achieve commercial operation in late 2022. Matrix was advised by CohnReznick Capital, which served as exclusive financial advisor, and Norton Rose Fulbright.

Matrix Renewables continues to grow its presence across the U.S. with an expanding team and portfolio, aligned with its corporate goals in becoming a leading renewable energy platform across North America, Europe and Latin America. Matrix Renewables' current portfolio is comprised of 2.3 GW of operational, under construction, or near ready-to-build solar PV and storage projects, with a further 3 GW pipeline.

About Matrix Renewables

Matrix Renewables is a renewable energy platform created and backed by global alternative asset manager TPG and its $14 billion impact investing platform TPG Rise. Matrix Renewables' current portfolio is comprised of 2.3 GW of operational, under construction, or near ready-to-build solar PV projects and a further 3 GW pipeline of renewable energy projects under development, across North America, Europe, and Latin America. For more information, visit matrixrenewables.com or send an email to [email protected].

SOURCE Matrix Renewables
Dallas-based Lyons & Simmons, LLP co-founders earn recognition on Lawdragon 500 list

DALLAS, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --  Lyons & Simmons, LLP co-founders Michael Lyons and Chris Simmons have earned recognition on the Lawdragon 500 list of Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers for 2022. The Lawdragon legal guide makes its selections based on peer review and careful research.

Trial lawyers Lyons and Simmons are respected for achieving victories for their clients in cases involving catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases nationwide.

Their work has propelled them to top rankings and awards, individually and as a firm, from numerous legal and business organizations. In 2021, the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association honored Lyons & Simmons with the John Howie Award, presented annually to firms that exemplify the "courageous pursuit of justice in the face of adversity."

In addition to being named to the Lawdragon 500 list, Lyons has earned individual honors from The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers list of Texas' Top 100 and Dallas-Fort Worth Top 100, the National Law Journal, D Magazine's Best Lawyers, and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. He is a member of the plaintiff lawyers' Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums.

Likewise, Simmons' individual honors include The Best Lawyers in America, the National Law Journal, Texas Super Lawyers list, D Magazine's Best Lawyers, and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, in addition to his inclusion on the Lawdragon 500 list. He is also a member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums.

Lawdragon's 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers recognizes the lawyers who stand on the front line in the pursuit of justice by taking on the toughest cases. Selection is based on peer assessment and independent research of an attorney's record of securing positive verdicts and settlements. Lawdragon received thousands of nominations before identifying the top 500 attorneys for 2022. The complete list can be found at https://www.lawdragon.com/guides/2022-04-19-the-2022-lawdragon-500-leading-plaintiff-consumer-lawyers.

About Lyons & Simmons LLP

Dallas-based Lyons & Simmons, LLP, is a trial boutique representing clients in wrongful death, personal injury, products liability and complex "bet-the-company" business litigation matters across the country. To learn more, visit http://www.Lyons-Simmons.com.

Media Contact:

Rhonda Reddick

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Lyons & Simmons
UNION CITY, Calif., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mike Galindo may be a leading entrepreneur and DJ in the Bay Area, but he needed a massive wake-up call to get his life on track and gain the motivation to pursue his passions.

Inspired by his father's hard work as a mechanic, Galindo was a high-achieving student in his youth. Unfortunately, growing up in a ghetto of Richmond, Calif., he found himself entangled with a gang in order to protect himself from bullies. As a result of owing allegiance to the gang, Galindo got himself incarcerated. Getting arrested was the wake-up call.

Mike Galindo

"There was a moment in high school I remember where I felt like I needed to be friends with someone who would help me in the future," Galindo said with regret, looking back on this point in time. "When I was in jail, I realized my life could go in one of two ways. The first is, I can stay cooped up in jail to support these 'friends' I had, and the second is, I can come out and do something better with my life. I followed my heart and chose the second option."

When he was released, Galindo left his hometown determined to find more opportunities for a better life. By working hard, he took it a step further by creating opportunities for himself instead. "From there, I got my foot in the door," Galindo said.

When Galindo earned a spot in management at a sales company, one of his coworkers told him that he was too talented for the job. She connected Galindo with her spouse at Sutter Healthcare, bringing him on board as a facility manager. After seven years, Galindo sought a professional path marked by his interests.

After working several other jobs while designing websites part-time, Galindo is now the proud owner of The Digital Marketing Agency , an advertising management, and marketing consulting business for a variety of clients. Through it, Galindo has been successful in a major way. One of his notable achievements is collaborating with Together We Vibe New Year's Eve Benefit Concert, presented by the Hard Rock Cafe and Unity Concert Series. Through his business, Galindo created marketing campaigns to promote high-profile celebrity artists like Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Estelle, and Jordin Sparks. Recently, Galindo was awarded Professional Certified Marketer by the American Marketing Association, and Digital Marketing Professional by the Digital Marketing Institute.

Galindo's mission statement is "to be a uniquely extraordinary and remarkable human being out to transform people's lives." Galindo has worked his commitment into the foundation of The Digital Marketing Agency and in his personal life via his passion for music. In turn, he has made a name for himself, as DJ Magic Mike. Through the brand, he has landed opportunities through multiple, well-known sponsors like the Ecology Center and MGD Productions. Doors opened for Galindo to DJ on the San Francisco Belle cruise ship line and Marriott Hotel. As a result, Galindo has earned a reputation as one of the top DJs in the Bay Area in Bachata music, a genre that started in the Dominican Republic. Taking from the best of both worlds  his music business and The Digital Marketing Agency has resulted in the creation of Mike Galindo Productions and San Jose Bachata Nights. With Galindo's newfound business, he became a Bachata dance teacher of a class that he was a student of only seven years prior.

Today, Galindo works tirelessly  staying up late as 2 a.m.  making the necessary sacrifices to achieve his main goal: owning a home where his daughter and father can live. "I'm committed to making this work," he said, also keeping in mind his service to his customers. "Most people can achieve success, even from a troubled past, through hard work, patience, and resilience. And beyond that, your job doesn't even need to feel like work to you. Just make sure to find something you're passionate about and good at and figure out how to make it marketable."

About The Digital Marketing Agency

The Digital Marketing Agency's mission is to enable our clients to produce unprecedented business results while making a profound and lasting difference in the world.

For inquiries, please visit us at www.digitalmarketingagency-consultant.com

Media contact:

Mike Galindo

[email protected]

510-706-3755

SOURCE Mike Galindo
"This round of funding has been closed despite a particularly challenging and turbulent capital market, which shows the confidence of world-class investors in the strength of our business," says Brian Cao, founder of MIRACLE MILES GROUP INC. "To prepare for global expansion, the company is developing an intelligent cloud platform to analyze the industry's big data. Establishing highly-efficient digital management systems enhances the entire product life cycle from product design and development to end-consumer business."

The company owns three key brands: Dream Pairs, which leads Amazon.com in women fashion footwear sales, the business-casual menswear brand Bruno Marc, and Nortiv8, an outdoor recreation line. All three are among the Top 100 footwear brands on Amazon.com, with more than 20 million pairs of shoes sold. Most notably, Dream Pairs has ranked as the #1 seller in many categories, including heel sandals, flats, and pumps.

"We are very impressed by their diligence and perseverance while improving the customer experience journey," said Jiajia Zou, Partner of Sequoia Capital China. IDG's Partner Meng Lian also spoke very highly of the supply chain efficiency: "Miracle Miles Group has an impressive market share and keeps growing despite a global pandemic. We are amazed by their dedication to quickly launch and improving future variations. We look forward to growing together with them," Meng said.

With the ammunition from this round of financing, the company will reach even more customers in the US and proceed to create a larger customer base in America, Europe, and Asia in 2 to 3 years.

About MIRACLE MILES GROUP INC.

MIRACLE MILES GROUP INC. is a tech-driven footwear enterprise with three well-established brands: Dream Pairs, Bruno Marc, and Nortiv8, covering various categories: women's shoes, kids' shoes, men's shoes, outdoor shoes, and work shoes. With over two thousand shoe styles and twenty million users, MMT's mission is to create value for and make quality fashion accessible to consumers by providing stylish, functional, comfortable footwear with reasonable pricing.

For more information, please contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Miracle Miles Technology Co.
"By enabling the large-scale storage of renewable energy, Donald Sadoway's invention is a huge step towards the deployment of carbon-free electricity generation. " says Antonio Campinos, President of the European Patent Office. " He has spent his career studying electrochemistry and has transformed this expertise into an invention that represents a huge step forward in the transition to green energy."

Sadoway was honored at the 2022 European Inventor Award ceremony. The Award is one of Europe's most prestigious innovation prizes and is presented annually to outstanding inventors from Europe and beyond who have made an exceptional contribution to society, technological progress and economic growth.

Working at the extreme

Sadoway's liquid metal batteries consist of three liquid layers of different densities, which naturally separate in the same way as oil and vinegar do in a salad dressing. The top and bottom layers are made from molten metals, with a middle layer of molten liquid salt. To keep the metals liquid, the batteries need to operate at extremely high temperatures, so Sadoway designed a system that is self-heating and insulated, requiring no external heating or cooling. They have a lifespan of more than 20 years, can maintain 99% of their capacity over 5,000 charging cycles and have no combustible materials, meaning there is no fire risk.

In 2010, with a patent for his invention and support from Bill Gates, Sadoway co-founded an academic spin-off called Ambri, based in Marlborough just outside Boston, to develop a commercial product. The company will soon install a unit on a 3,700-acre development for a data center in Nevada. This battery will store energy from a reported 500 megawatts of on-site renewable generation, the same output as a natural gas power plant.

SOURCE European Patent Office
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ports of Auckland are today welcoming an exciting addition to their fleet, with the highly-anticipated arrival of the world's first full size, ship-handling electric tug. Affectionately named Sparky, as voted by New Zealanders in a public vote in 2020, the e-tug is part of an innovative project that no other port globally has previously embarked on.

Sparky marks the beginning of a new era for the Auckland Port, who are anticipating saving approximately 465 tonnes of CO2 in diesel emissions annually from the e-tug addition alone. Roger Gray, CEO of Ports of Auckland said, "Welcoming Sparky is an exciting day for us at the Ports of Auckland. Her arrival marks a big step towards the ports' decarbonisation of operations and towards our long-term emissions reduction goals."

The expected cost of operating Sparky is less than a third of the cost of running a diesel tug. Battery operated, the e-tug has a recharge time of approximately two hours and can run up to four shipping moves on one charge. For Allan D'Souza, GM Marine and Multi Cargo at Ports of Auckland and lead on the e-tug project, the arrival of Sparky has been six years in the making. "Back in 2016 when we first pitched the idea for a fully electric tug, we were told we were dreaming. To finally welcome her to Tamaki Makaurau now is incredible."

"You'll be able to spot Sparky on the water as her superstructure is painted bright green, unlike our diesel tugs" says D'Souza. "What you won't notice is noise or smoke; being electric she's a lot quieter, and cleaner, than our current diesel tugs."

There will be approximately six weeks of testing in Auckland before Sparky is fully commissioned and operational. "E-tugs are the future for ship handling and Ports of Auckland are proud to have led the way," says Gray.

For photos, video and drone footage please see here

Additional Sparky Notes

Sparky is the first Damen RSD-E Tug 2513. She has a 6-metre draft, is 24.73 length and has two azimuth thrusters with 3-metre diameter propellers.

Sparky has a 70-tonne bollard pull (the same as the port's strongest diesel tug, Hauraki).

There are 80 battery racks holding 2,240 batteries, totalling 2,784 kWh of power.

To ensure absolute safety  of utmost importance in shipping  Sparky also has two 1000kW back-up generator sets which will only be used in cases of emergency or some fault that is not part of business as usual. We expect to use them at most, once or twice a year.

About Ports of Auckland

Ports of Auckland Ltd, Tamaki Herenga Waka, plays a key role in Auckland and Pacific Island trade. As the port for New Zealand's largest city, it has played a vital role in the Auckland economy for over 180 years.

Ports of Auckland is 100% owned by Auckland Council and serves Auckland's growth through the efficient delivery of freight and being the country's main port for car and container imports as well as the main cruise hub. The port has a rich history and takes pride in being the kaitaki  guardians  of the legacy.

Ports of Auckland aim to be emissions free by 2040.

SOURCE Ports of Auckland
VANCOUVER, BC, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - NexGen Energy Ltd. ("NexGen" or the "Company") (TSX: NXE) (NYSE: NXE) (ASX: NXG) is pleased to announce a major milestone in the advancement of regulatory approvals for the 100% owned Rook I Project ("Rook I" or the "Project") with the submission of the draft Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment ("ENV") and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission ("CNSC"). The EIS submission included letters of support for the Project from each of the Clearwater River Dene Nation (CRDN), Birch Narrows Dene Nation (BNDN), and Buffalo River Dene Nation (BRDN), which all have also endorsed the Project through the execution of Benefit Agreements with NexGen covering the entire lifespan of the Project.

The submission of the draft EIS follows the Provincial and Federal Environmental Assessment (EA) processes that commenced in April 2019 following regulatory acceptance of NexGen's Project Description. The Project, located in the uranium rich district of Saskatchewan's southwestern Athabasca Basin, includes underground and surface facilities to support the mining and processing of uranium ore from the Arrow deposit.

Leigh Curyer, Chief Executive Officer commented: "The submission of the draft EIS is an exciting and significant milestone for NexGen, and we are proud to be working alongside our local Indigenous partners and all our stakeholders as we deliver on this generational opportunity for Saskatchewan and Canada. The draft EIS incorporates best practise in every aspect of the Project's elite environmental performance and is a culmination of many years of detailed data collection, analysis and design. Upon review and approval of the Environmental Assessment, the Rook I Project will deliver enormous economic, social, and community benefits, while being a major supplier of carbon-free base load energy fuel, highlighting Canada's leading environmental commitment to the world.

On behalf of everyone at NexGen, I would like to congratulate and thank all our valued partners with whom we have been working side by side. The communities where we operate, the government of Saskatchewan and Canada and their regulatory bodies, our valued employees, consultants and investors in accomplishing this unique milestone. The NexGen team is dedicated to the optimal delivery of the Rook I Project and ready for the next exciting phase of development."

Luke Moger, Vice President, Environment, Permitting & Licensing commented: "Conducting the biophysical and socio-economic assessments in support of developing the draft EIS highlights the elite environmental and social outcomes of the Rook I Project resulting from NexGen's long-term and disciplined planning approach. Key environmental design features such as the permanent underground storage of all tailings as engineered cemented backfill and the consolidation and optimization of the Project footprint reflect the commitment of the team and the integrated approach taken, including the incorporation of valuable feedback from local Indigenous Groups and communities.

We are excited to share our draft EIS with the experienced Provincial and Federal regulatory teams and welcome the transition to the next stage of the EA process, including the technical and public review that will be led by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment."

Draft EIS

NexGen conducted the EA pursuant to The Environmental Assessment Act of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (collectively the "Acts"). The information and analysis conducted and submitted in the EIS represent the basis against which the environmental, social, and human health effects of the Project will be evaluated by the ENV and CNSC.

Since 2011, NexGen established an experienced team of subject matter experts and qualitied professionals across all aspects of the Project to conduct technical studies; engage with Indigenous Groups, communities, regulators, and public stakeholders; and prepare the EIS. The EIS represents the collection of reports that document NexGen's EA of the proposed Project and demonstrates the robust engagement undertaken over many years, the favorable geological setting of the Arrow deposit, NexGen's focused incorporation of environmental stewardship into the Project designs, and the generational positive long-term economic benefits the Project will provide to local communities, Saskatchewan, and Canada.

The draft EIS fulfills a key aspect of meeting Provincial and Federal requirements so that regulatory authorities can make an informed decision regarding Project approval. Data and analyses on the potential positive and adverse effects from the Project are included, as well as the mitigation measures and monitoring and management programs to be implemented by NexGen. Other important aspects of the EIS include the demonstration of meaningful engagement with affected Indigenous Groups, local communities, and the public, and the incorporation of Indigenous and Local Knowledge into the EA.

Engagement

In 2019, NexGen entered into Study Agreements with each of the Clearwater River Dene Nation ("CRDN"), Birch Narrows Dene Nation ("BNDN"), Buffalo River Dene Nation ("BRDN"), and Metis Nation  Saskatchewan (on behalf of Northern Region 2). NexGen has been working with local Indigenous Groups and communities since 2013, with the Study Agreements formalizing engagement approaches specifically designed to support participation in the EA process and providing capacity funding for engagement and retention of technical support. The Study Agreements also fully funded the completion of self-directed Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Land Use Studies by each Indigenous Group that were valuable sources of information used by NexGen in conducting the EA.

In addition, NexGen has signed Benefit Agreements with the CRDN, BNDN, and BRDN to ensure provisions for ongoing engagement, financial and human resources to support Indigenous cultural and traditional values as well as environmental stewardship, employment, training, and economic development throughout the entire lifespan of the Project.

EIS Submission and Next Steps

With submission of the draft EIS, the ENV and CNSC have commenced their respective Provincial and Federal reviews. Under the Provincial EA review process, the ENV has commenced their technical review of the EIS. Under the Federal EA review process, the CNSC is currently undergoing a conformance review of the EIS in advance of conducting parallel technical and public review.

Through a cooperative Provincial-Federal EA process, the ENV and CNSC will share information and work to reduce regulatory duplication, while providing a comprehensive EA process in accordance with the separate requirements that apply and must be satisfied with respect to the Acts, regulations, and guidelines in place for each of the respective jurisdictions.

NexGen  Delivering a Generational Project

To support the submission of the draft EIS, NexGen has launched "Delivering a Generational Project"  a 10-minute video on NexGen's team and innovative approach, and the unique characteristics of the Rook I Project. The video can be found by visiting www.nexgenenergy.ca or www.saskatchewanuranium.ca

About NexGen

NexGen is a British Columbia corporation focused on the development of the Rook I Project located in the southwestern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada, into production. The Rook I Project is supported by a NI 43-101 compliant Feasibility Study which outlines elite environmental performance as well as industry leading economics. Rook I hosts the Arrow Deposit that hosts Measured Mineral Resources of 209.6 M lbs of U 3 O 8 contained in 2.18 M tonnes grading 4.35% U 3 O 8 , Indicated Mineral Resources of 47.1 M lbs of U 3 O 8 contained in 1.57 M tonnes grading 1.36% U 3 O 8 , and Inferred Mineral Resources of 80.7 M lbs of U 3 O 8 contained in 4.40 M tonnes grading 0.83% U 3 O 8 .

NexGen has a highly experienced team of uranium industry professionals with a successful track record in the discovery of uranium deposits and in developing projects through discovery to production. The Company is the recipient of the 2018 PDAC Bill Dennis Award for Canadian mineral discovery and the 2019 PDAC Environmental and Social Responsibility Award.

Technical Disclosure

All technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Anthony ( Tony) George , P.Eng., NexGen's Chief Project Officer, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.

A technical report in respect of the FS is filed on SEDAR ( www.sedar.com ) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml ) and is available for review on NexGen Energy's website (www.nexgenenergy.ca ).

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors

This news release includes Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources classification terms that comply with reporting standards in Canada and the Mineral Reserves and the Mineral Resources estimates are made in accordance with NI 43-101. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These standards differ from the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") set by the SEC's rules that are applicable to domestic United States reporting companies. Consequently, Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources information included in this news release is not comparable to similar information that would generally be disclosed by domestic U.S. reporting companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards.

Forward-Looking Information

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable United States securities laws and regulations and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, the 2021 Arrow Deposit, Rook I Project and estimates of uranium production, grade and long-term average uranium prices, anticipated effects of completed drill results on the Rook I Project, planned work programs, completion of further site investigations and engineering work to support basic engineering of the project and expected outcomes. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Statements relating to "mineral resources" are deemed to be forward-looking information, as they involve the implied assessment that, based on certain estimates and assumptions, the mineral resources described can be profitably produced in the future.

Forward-looking information and statements are based on the then current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about NexGen's business and the industry and markets in which it operates. Forward-looking information and statements are made based upon numerous assumptions, including among others, that the mineral reserve and resources estimates and the key assumptions and parameters on which such estimates are based are as set out in this news release and the technical report for the property , the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price and market supply of uranium, the cost of planned exploration activities, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment, supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct NexGen's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward looking information or making forward looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate in the future.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performances and achievements of NexGen to differ materially from any projections of results, performances and achievements of NexGen expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others, the existence of negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of the availability of additional financing, the risk that pending assay results will not confirm previously announced preliminary results, conclusions of economic valuations, the risk that actual results of exploration activities will be different than anticipated, the cost of labour, equipment or materials will increase more than expected, that the future price of uranium will decline or otherwise not rise to an economic level, the appeal of alternate sources of energy to uranium-produced energy, that the Canadian dollar will strengthen against the U.S. dollar, that mineral resources and reserves are not as estimated, that actual costs or actual results of reclamation activities are greater than expected, that changes in project parameters and plans continue to be refined and may result in increased costs, of unexpected variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates or other risks generally associated with mining, unanticipated delays in obtaining governmental, regulatory or First Nations approvals, risks related to First Nations title and consultation, reliance upon key management and other personnel, deficiencies in the Company's title to its properties, uninsurable risks, failure to manage conflicts of interest, failure to obtain or maintain required permits and licences, risks related to changes in laws, regulations, policy and public perception, as well as those factors or other risks as more fully described in NexGen's Annual Information Form dated February 25, 2022 filed with the securities commissions of all of the provinces of Canada except Quebec and in NexGen's 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and Edgar at www.sec.gov .

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or statements or implied by forward-looking information or statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE NexGen Energy Ltd.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Numinus Wellness Inc. ("Numinus") (TSX: NUMI) (OTC: NUMIF), a mental health care company advancing innovative treatments and safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies, today announced that it will participate in the H.C. Wainwright 1st Annual Mental Health Conference to be held at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York City on Monday, June 27, 2022.

Payton Nyquvest, Founder and CEO of Numinus, will present live virtually at 11:00 a.m. ET. To attend, please register here.

For more information about the conference, or to schedule a one-on-one meeting with Numinus' management, please contact your appropriate H.C. Wainwright representative directly, or send an email to KCSA Strategic Communications [email protected].

About Numinus

Numinus Wellness (TSX: NUMI) helps people to heal and be well through the development and delivery of innovative mental health care and access to safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies. The Numinus model  including psychedelic production, research and clinic care  is at the forefront of a transformation aimed at healing rather than managing symptoms for depression, anxiety, trauma, pain and substance use. At Numinus, we are leading the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies into mainstream clinical practice and building the foundation for a healthier society.

Learn more at www.numinus.com and follow us on LinkedIn , Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram.

Disclaimer:

Neither Numinus Wellness Inc., nor any of its subsidiaries is a professional corporation licensed to practice health services. In jurisdictions where health services may only be provided by a corporation if that corporation holds a valid permit to do so, Numinus and its subsidiaries operate in a management services function to affiliated professional corporations, who provide health services to patients. Numinus and its subsidiaries do provide health services directly to patients in those jurisdictions where authorized to do so.

Forward-looking statements

Statements and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend" and statements that an event "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements even if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Numinus Wellness Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global oil storage market volume is expected to reach 2,292 MCM by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.98% from 2022 to 2030. A rise in oil & gas production along with the growing demand for crude oil in several end-use markets is likely to drive the market growth over the forecast period. A fixed roof oil storage tank is the most commonly used tank in North America for storage purposes of petroleum products and crude oil. These tanks are easy to construct and an economical option in comparison to the other tank designs. The floating roof tank is likely to witness the fastest growth rate over the forecast period due to fabrication developments and can be used in combination with the fixed roof oil storage tanks. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is an emergency storage reserve.

Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

In terms of volume, the crude oil segment of oil storage accounted for a prominent share in the market in 2021 and is further expected to witness steady growth over the forecast period.

Asia Pacific accounted for the maximum revenue share in 2021 on account of high demand for petroleum and distillates in the commercial and industrial sectors.

accounted for the maximum revenue share in 2021 on account of high demand for petroleum and distillates in the commercial and industrial sectors. The oil industry in North America is significantly formed by the geopolitical implications of its countries and the world. The U.S. is a major contributing nation to the oil economy of this region. Interconnections of the U.S. with the world are a key strategy for its energy security.

is significantly formed by the geopolitical implications of its countries and the world. The U.S. is a major contributing nation to the oil economy of this region. Interconnections of the U.S. with the world are a key strategy for its energy security. Major industry participants are practicing several organic and inorganic strategic growth initiatives to expand their service portfolio and enhance their foothold in the market.

Get more Industry Insights from full market research report, "Oil Storage Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Aviation Fuel, Middle Distillates, Crude Oil, Gasoline), By Product (Open Top, Fixed Roof, Floating Roof), And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Oil Storage Market Growth & Trends

To ensure energy security coupled with the increasing population and demand for petroleum products, several countries are actively involved in developing strategic petroleum reserves. Oil production has witnessed significant growth along with the rising downstream potential. This has urged the government and the oil companies to upgrade their inventories and infrastructure to store large quantities of crude oil and other petroleum products, which are anticipated to increase the SPR facilities. North America is a major oil-producing and consuming region in the world, with the U.S. accounting for a significant share. Oil storage in Canada and the U.S. has evolved rapidly to accommodate the increased output of crude oil and related products.

Oil Storage Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global oil storage market based on application, product, and region:

Oil Storage Market - Application Outlook (Volume, MCM, 2019 - 2030)

Crude Oil

Middle Distillates

Gasoline

Aviation Fuel

Others

Oil Storage Market - Product Outlook (Volume, MCM, 2019 - 2030)

Open Top

Fixed Roof

Floating Roof

Others

Oil Storage Market - Regional Outlook (Volume, MCM, 2019 - 2030)

North America

U.S.



Canada



Mexico

Europe

Germany



Russia



Netherlands



Belgium

Asia Pacific

China



Australia



Indonesia



Malaysia

Central & South America

Brazil



Argentina

Middle East & Africa

& Saudi Arabia



UAE

List of Key Players of Oil Storage Market

VTTI

Royal Vopak

Oiltanking GmbH

Buckeye Partners, LP

Containment Solutions, Inc.

Shawcor

Belco

CST Industries

Superior Tank Co., Inc.

DELTA OIL TANKING BV

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Industrial Valves and Actuators Market - The global industrial valves and actuators market size is expected to reach USD 145.87 billion by 2025 at a 4.14% CAGR over the forecast period, according to a study conducted by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing demand in the industrial sector, technological advancements propelling the use of smart valves and actuators, and stringent government regulations have bolstered market growth.

The global industrial valves and actuators market size is expected to reach by 2025 at a 4.14% CAGR over the forecast period, according to a study conducted by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing demand in the industrial sector, technological advancements propelling the use of smart valves and actuators, and stringent government regulations have bolstered market growth. Crude Oil Flow Improvers Market - The global crude oil flow improvers market size is expected to reach USD 2.03 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is estimated to grow significantly over the forecast period owing to shale revolution positively affecting the crude oil flow improvers (COFI) market.

The global crude oil flow improvers market size is expected to reach by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is estimated to grow significantly over the forecast period owing to shale revolution positively affecting the crude oil flow improvers (COFI) market. Oil and Gas Corrosion Protection Market - The global oil and gas corrosion protection market size is expected to reach USD 12.2 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period owing to rising demand from the North America region. Corrosion protection products are widely consumed in various applications sectors such as upstream, midstream and downstream.

Browse through Grand View Research's Conventional Energy Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com

Grand View Compass | Astra ESG Solutions

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661327/Grand_View_Research_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
TULSA, Okla., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) will participate in the J.P. Morgan Energy, Power and Renewables Conference on June 22-23, 2022, in New York City.

ONEOK's latest investor materials are available at www.oneok.com.

ONEOK, Inc. (pronounced ONE-OAK) (NYSE: OKE) is a leading midstream service provider and owner of one of the nation's premier natural gas liquids (NGL) systems, connecting NGL supply in the Rocky Mountain, Mid-Continent and Permian regions with key market centers and an extensive network of natural gas gathering, processing, storage and transportation assets.

ONEOK is a FORTUNE 500 company and is included in the S&P 500.

For information about ONEOK, visit the website: www.oneok.com.

For the latest news about ONEOK, find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Analyst Contact: Megan Patterson

918-561-5325 Media Contact: Brad Borror

918-588-7582





SOURCE ONEOK, Inc.
5 Young Chef's battled for the 'Young Chef of the Year' title supported by Emirates Culinary Guild, ICCA Dubai, Danube Hospitality, Safco, Welbilt, TCL and Delta Food Industries

DUBAI, UAE, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After receiving over 42,500 votes, the winners for Popular Choice categories were awarded at Hozpitality Group's 4th Middle East Chef Excellence Awards, held on 20th June 2022 at the Address Sky View Hotel Dubai.

The event was supported by the Emirates Culinary Guild and ICCA Dubai. The Judges for the Awards were prominent hospitality professionals, and these champions were invaluable in judging the Young Chefs fairly.

The event was Powered by Delta Food Industries FZC and Danube Hospitality Solutions. Among the category sponsors were Safco, Welbilt and TCL Detergents. Trophies were created by Restofair RAK for the winning chefs. The other Partners for the Chef Awards included, Dubai Restaurants Group (DRG), Fusia Events, ZEE TV group, Wassup Dubai and Absolute frame.

"The highlight for the evening was the cook off between 5 Young Chefs who battled it out for the prestigious 'Young Chef of the Year' title. Sixteen young chefs below 28 years were shortlisted to compete in the LIVE cook-off semi finals at ICCA Dubai on 9th June 2022. The chosen Top 5 competed live at the 4th 'Hozpitality Chef Excellence Awards' on 20th June 2022 at the luxurious Address Sky View Hotel Dubai," said Raj Bhatt, CEO, Hozpitality Group.

"For the Popular Choice Awards, the winners were purely based on popular choice and will be announced in a ceremony on 20th June 2022. We also had some Judges Choice Awards on top of the Popular Choice Awards," said Vandana Raj Bhatt, MD, Hozpitality Group.

Hozpitality Group's Middle East Chef Excellence Awards - MEA recognizes the talented Chef within the industry from different categories and departments in Middle East and Africa.

The winners at the Award night were;-

Middle East Chef Excellence Awards Winners- 2022

Young Chef of the Year Award (Live Cook Off)

Gold Award :- Anshul Pillai, The Address Fountain Views hotel

Silver Award :- Rere Reynaldi, Zero Gravity Dubai

Chef Excellence Awards Winners 2022 (By Popular Choice)



Hospitality Excellence:- Executive Chef of the Year - Institutional Catering (Airlines, Catering etc) Gold Gaurav Gaur, Culinary Director, Kitopi Dubai Silver Ryuta Sato, Executive Chef, Emirates Flight Catering





Hospitality Excellence:- Executive Chef of the Year  Hotel Gold Essam Nabhan, Executive Chef, Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort Silver Armando Aristarco, Executive Chef, Address Boulevard & Address Dubai Mall





Hospitality Excellence:- Executive Chef of the Year- Free Standing Restaurant Gold Dwarika Bhatt, Executive Chef, Zero Gravity Dubai Silver Dhan Singh, Executive Chef, JSB Restaurants Group (The Yellow Chilli By Sanjeev Kapoor)





Hospitality Excellence:- Executive Sous Chef of the Year Gold Giorgio Maggioni, Ex. Sous Chef, Address Sky View Dubai Silver Diego Solis, Ex. Sous Chef, Sofitel Dubai The Palm





Hospitality Excellence:- Pastry Chef of the Year Gold Nehul Gautam, Pastry Chef, Paramount Hotel Dubai Silver Nishanta Kumara, Pastry Chef, Bahi Ajman Palace





Hospitality Excellence:- Chef de Cuisine of the Year Gold Maria Gallegos, CDC, Hilton Dubai Hotel Silver Mathieu Balbino, CDC, InterContinental Dubai Festival City





Hospitality Excellence :- Sous Chef of the Year Gold Alegre Ejes Masaya, Sous Chef, Coral Beach & Resort Sharjah Silver Tribhuwan Malla Thakuri, Jr. Sous Chef, Jannah Hotel Apartments & Villas RAK





Hospitality Excellence :- Chef de Partie of the Year Gold Daljeet Singh, CDP, Wyndham Dubai Deira Silver Rajasekar Paramasivam, CDP, Aloft Palm Jumeirah





Hospitality Excellence :- Demi Chef of the Year Gold Ha Van Vong, Demi Chef, Edge Creekside Hotel Dubai Silver Ahmed Gaber Hamza Khalifa, Demi Chef, TIME Onyx Hotel Apartments





Hospitality Excellence:- Commi Chef of the Year Gold Manoj Kumar, Commis Chef, TIME Oak Hotel & Suites Dubai Silver Chok Bahadur, Commis Chef, Paramount Hotel Dubai





Hospitality Excellence:- Kitchen Steward of the Year Gold Dhanik Lal Das, Kitchen Steward, Four points by Sheraton Sharjah Silver Muhammad Suleman, Cluster Steward Manager, Address Boulevard & Address Dubai Mall





Hospitality Excellence:- Kitchen helper of the Year Gold Ephraim Aidomoje Aigbagenode, Kitchen Helper, C Central Resort The Palm Silver Saroj Kumar, Commis Chef, Zero Gravity Dubai





Hospitality Excellence:- Hidden Gem of the Year (Kitchen) Gold Kanishka Dilhan Kulasekara, Demi Chef, Radisson Blu Hotel DDC Silver Abdul Motin, Commis Chef, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Jumeirah Beach





Hospitality Excellence:- Rising Star Chef of the Year Gold Sinkeun Choi, Speciality Head Chef, Armani Hotel Dubai Silver Nour Al Huda, Commis Chef, Conrad Dubai





Hospitality Excellence:- Lifetime Achievement Award Gold Mike Borsdorf , VP Culinary, Kitopi Dubai Silver Rami Abdou Al Jebraiel, Dir. Culinary, Al Jawaher Reception & Convention Centre Sharjah





Hospitality Excellence:- Food Blogger of the Year Award Gold Bader Najeeb, Pastry Chef, Emirates Flight Catering Silver Najukta Sayyad, @ Fork.on.roads

Judges Choice Awards - 2022

Avneesh Gautama, Head Chef, Dialogue- Dine and Lounge Dubai Promising Chef of the Year JM Foods LLC Culinary Partner of the Year - Company Restofair Non Food Supplier of the Year Masterbaker Food Supplier of the Year Barakat Team Chef Supporter of the Year - Company Ron Pilnik  Emirates Snacks Food Chef Supporter of the Year - Individual IFFCO  Out of Home Industry Supporter of the Year Harald Oberender  Dubai World Trade Center Lifetime Achievement Award Muchie Masunungure, Executive Chef, Soul Hospitality Restaurants Dubai Restaurant Chef of the Year Mohammed Hussain Bahar, Executive Chef, Freshbook Foods, Kuwait Entrepreneur Chef of the year Mohamed Chabchoul, Executive Chef, Grand Millennium Business Bay Dubai Rising Chef of the Year Vikas Khanna Inspiring Chef of the Year Uwe Micheel Exceptional Leader of the Year Yugal Kishor, Head Chef, Reform Social & Grill Dubai Head Chef of the Year Abel Vieilleville, Ex. Pastry Chef, Address Downtown Dubai Pastry Chef of the Year

The list of all the winners can also be seen at https://www.hozpitalityexcellenceawards.com/chef-winners/chef-winners-2022

For any more information regarding the awards please write to [email protected]

For more details and pictures of the awards, please connect on:-

https://www.facebook.com/hozpitalityexcellenceawards/

https://www.facebook.com/Hozpitality/

http://www.hozpitalityexcellenceawards.com

About Hozpitality Group:-

Hozpitality is an online platform for professionals from Hotels, Restaurants, Airlines, Travel agencies, Clubs, Cruise Lines, Cinemas, Spas, Schools, Suppliers and Retail. Hozpitality offers Branding options, A Community Network for Employers and Job seekers, a directory of Hospitality Suppliers, Latest Hospitality News, Hotel News, Movements and Appointments and Hospitality Announcements Hotel Industry Recruitment, Professional CV designing, Hospitality Courses etc. We provide an effective platform where all hospitality professionals can come together, network and benefit.

Hozpitality.com offers a selection of best Hotel Management Institutes, Schools and Universities and Hotel management Courses. Hospitality Students can search and apply for Hotel management Courses and join the School's Alumni and network with their colleagues. Hozpitality also offers a Market Place for Hospitality Suppliers where Hospitality Products, Services, Offers and Deals can be listed and sold to millions of Global Hospitality professionals.

Hozpitality reaches out to over 1 million professionals from over 186 countries thru its 2 group websites, www.hozpitality.com and www.hozpitalityplus.com with Registered Members and Social Media from over 186 countries.

The dedicated hospitality Media and News website Hozpitalityplus.com, publishes and shares Latest Hospitality News, Announcements, Hotel openings, Promotions, Events, Hospitality Movements and Appointments and Hospitality announcements, Reviews, Blogs etc.

Middle East Hospitality Excellence Awards are presented to recognize top industry organizations which have shown skill, creativity, ingenuity and success in the Middle East & North Africa's growing hospitality industry. Logon to www.hozpitalityexcellenceawards.com

To know more about the group, Please log on to: www.hozpitality.com , www.hozpitalityplus.com , www.hozpitalityexcellenceawards.com

Contact:-

Raj Bhatt

Founder & CEO

HOZPITALITY GROUP

A SUBSIDIARY OF VR ONLINE GROUP

P.O Box- 119395, Dubai, UAE

Phone:- +971 4 334 31 77, Fax:- +971 4 334 31 78

Email:- [email protected]

www.hozpitality.com, www.hozpitalityplus.com

SOURCE Hozpitality Group
Hundreds of families, physicians, researchers, caregivers, industry partners, and those living with Duchenne and Becker gather globally to connect, share information, and learn the latest progress in the fight to end Duchenne.

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), a nonprofit organization leading the fight to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne), will host their 2022 Annual Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, June 23-26. Each year, the Duchenne community gathers to learn about the latest progress in the fight to end Duchenne and connect with leading experts. Now in its 28th year, after two years of virtual conferences, PPMD is launching an official hybrid format featuring both in-person and virtual participation options to engage more of the Duchenne community than ever before.

PPMD expects over 700 families, researchers, clinicians, and industry partners from all over the world for four days of informative and interactive sessions featuring the latest news in research, clinical trials, emerging therapies, care initiatives, quality of life issues, and more.

Founded in 1994 by a group of parents and grandparents, and led by Founding President and CEO Pat Furlong, PPMD is the largest, most comprehensive nonprofit organization in the United States focused on ending Duchenne. Since their first meeting 28 years ago, PPMD has convened families with researchers, clinicians, industry partners, advocacy organizations, and most importantly, people with Duchenne and their families at the largest Duchenne-specific conference held in the U.S.

Furlong is excited about this year's Conference and looks forward to reuniting the Duchenne community in person: "Over the past two years, we have found ourselves stronger in many ways, continuing onward no matter the obstacles in our way. I have seen incredible dedication, flexibility, creativity, compassion, and perseverance from this community, and we've emerged even stronger on the other side. This year's Conference will be a reunion, filled with a variety of interactive experiences to spark conversation, foster new and familiar relationships, learn from one another, and continue to drive change in the fight to end Duchenne."

PPMD's 2022 Annual Conference agenda will feature stories from multiple keynote speakers, and interactive discussion panels addressing comprehensive, multi-dimensional approaches to care for Duchenne. Unique topics to this year's conference:

Cardiac care in Duchenne, including The Duchenne Cardiac Care Town Hall , featuring updates around monitoring and imaging, current medical management practices, and the potential impact from gene therapy, as well as an opportunity for the community to share their concerns and priorities.

, featuring updates around monitoring and imaging, current medical management practices, and the potential impact from gene therapy, as well as an opportunity for the community to share their concerns and priorities. Becker-specific care and research panels, including discussions on natural history studies and emerging therapies, as clinical trial opportunities begin to expand to include those with Becker muscular dystrophy.

Emergency care featuring a panel of experts to discuss potential emergency scenarios and how families can best advocate for themselves and their child.

The impacts of dystrophin on the brain and implications in everyday life, including a focus on learning and behavior, coordination of care, school planning, and appropriate modifications to facilitate success at school, home, or in the workplace.

Unique experiences and perspectives on the importance of fostering independence to grow and thrive, for both caregivers and individuals living with Duchenne and Becker.

Three industry partners will present in late-breaking news sessions to share newly released data or program updates: Capricor Therapeutics, Italfarmaco, and PTC Therapeutics. In addition to these presentations, this year's Conference will feature dedicated updates from 20 partners currently in clinical trials, with panels including:

Gene therapy approaches to replace or restore dystrophin

Strategies for mitigating inflammation and fibrosis

Restoring dystrophin via exon skipping strategies

Novel approaches for combating Duchenne

Emerging therapies for Becker muscular dystrophy

A variety of breakout sessions and social gatherings will also be offered during PPMD's 2022 Annual Conference, encouraging attendees to create their own, unique experiences, in-person or virtually by participating in:

Special programming for Newly Diagnosed Families

A dedicated track for Teens and Adults with Duchenne/Becker, including sessions as part of PPMD's Power of Us Summit Series

Expanded Sibs Track sessions, offering a safe place for siblings to be together, talk, and open up about topics that they face

Breakout sessions according to age, covering multiple aspects of care

One-on-one private appointments with Behavioral Therapists, Physical Therapists, Genetic Counselors, and Respiratory Therapists to help provide guidance on every family's unique needs

A robust Resource Fair and Scientific Poster Session enabling resource providers and the community to connect about practical services, research and more

The first-ever Knight Hacks Community Poster Contest, showcasing the ingenuity of Duchenne families in memory of a beloved community member

Community Poster Contest, showcasing the ingenuity of Duchenne families in memory of a beloved community member Social activities for moms, dads, grandparents, siblings, and, of course, tweens, teens, and adults with Duchenne

Fun and interactive sessions for kids

"Every year, PPMD's Annual Conference grows. The number of attendees increases and the breadth of our agenda expands. This year's Conference is perhaps our most exciting to date, with an incredible number of presentations focused on emerging therapies and discussions around care and quality of life issues that we know more about today than ever before," says Furlong. "With such an incredibly robust agenda, I am particularly proud that this will be our first Annual Conference featuring an official hybrid format. Over the past two years, we have learned the power of our reach when travel barriers are eliminated and embrace this incredible opportunity to connect with all families on this shared Duchenne journey, whether they are near or far."

Ahead of the Conference, all registered attendees were given access to PPMD's online Conference Hub & App to stream sessions and personalize their agenda and Conference experience. This year's Hub & App offers an enhanced experience for both in-person and virtual attendees, allowing for increased interaction during live sessions, including breakouts.

PPMD is grateful to all of our industry sponsors, whose support helps make the Annual Conference possible, especially our Elite sponsors Edgewise Therapeutics, PTC Therapeutics, Sarepta Therapeutics, and our Platinum sponsors NS Pharma, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., and Santhera Pharmaceuticals. For sponsorship opportunities, please click here.

It is not too late to attend this year's meeting, in-person or virtually. To register for the 2022 Annual Conference, click here. To learn more about PPMD, please visit our website.

ABOUT PARENT PROJECT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY:

Duchenne is a fatal genetic disorder that slowly robs people of their muscle strength. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) fights every single battle necessary to end Duchenne.

We demand optimal care standards and ensure every family has access to expert healthcare providers, cutting edge treatments, and a community of support. We invest deeply in treatments for this generation of Duchenne patients and in research that will benefit future generations. Our advocacy efforts have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and won five FDA approvals.

Everything we doand everything we have done since our founding in 1994helps those with Duchenne live longer, stronger lives. We will not rest until we end Duchenne for every single person affected by the disease. Join our fight against Duchenne at EndDuchenne.org. Follow PPMD on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

SOURCE Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD)
Purchase Strengthens Park Place's Position as Global Leader of Third-Party Maintenance

CLEVELAND, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Park Place Technologies, the leading global data center and networking optimization firm, has acquired Riverstone Technology, a third-party maintenance, support provider based in Atlanta, Georgia. The acquisition will provide more products and services to Riverstone Technology's client base, including automated monitoring and a portfolio of managed services.

Riverstone Technology, founded in 2016 by current CEO and owner Barry Anderson, offers third-party maintenance and support for storage, network, and server devices. The business supports all major OEM brands and serves more than 475 clients across six continents.

This is Park Place's third acquisition of 2022 and 21st since 2016.

"We have helped thousands of companies improve their business strategy and optimize their data centers," Anderson said. "We carry the burden of maintaining data center equipment, reducing stress for businesses as they take short-term steps and set long-term goals. We have watched Park Place set industry standards for innovation and service. We are excited to connect our clients to Park Place's engineering expertise and full range of managed services and introduce them to the Curvature brand for their hardware needs."

"Riverstone Technology has grown globally through a reputation for, responsiveness and great client service, values that align with Park Place's mission and reputation. Bringing Riverstone Technology into our family will allow us to continue its third-party maintenance success while offering a full managed services portfolio to Riverstone's Technology's customers," said Chris Adams, Park Place Technologies President and CEO.

"IDC has seen multiple acquisitions in the third-party maintainers space, and Park Place has been driving much of that consolidation," said Rob Brothers, Program Vice President of Services for IDC. "This shows Park Place's commitment to expanding its abilities and a commitment to the third-party maintainer space, and something customers should consider when choosing a partner."

Founded in 1991, Park Place Technologies is powered by the world's largest on-the-ground engineering team, a robust group of hundreds of advanced engineers and its 24x7x365 Enterprise Operations Centers. Park Place leverages a global parts supply chain, automation, machine learning and a comprehensive portfolio of services and products to optimize networking and data center Uptime and performance.

Agile Equity provided investment banking services to Riverstone Technology.

About Park Place Technologies

Park Place Technologies is a global data center and networking optimization firm. Powered by the world's largest on-the-ground engineering team, a robust group of advanced engineers and our fully staffed, 24x7x365 Enterprise Operations Center, we offer a robust portfolio of IT solutions to optimize networking and data center Uptime and performance. Our services include third-party data center hardware maintenance, professional services, infrastructure managed services, network performance monitoring and hardware sales. Through our unique and fully integrated DMSO (Discover, Monitor, Support, Optimize) approach, customers enjoy streamlined infrastructure monitoring and management, cost efficiencies, less chaos, and faster mean-time-to-resolution  ultimately providing the freedom to think bigger. Park Place's industry-leading and award-winning services include Park Place Hardware Maintenance, Park Place Professional Services, ParkView Managed Services, Entuity Software and Curvature Hardware sales. For more information, visit www.parkplacetechnologies.com. Park Place is a portfolio company of Charlesbank Capital Partners and GTCR.

Park Place Technologies Media Contacts

Jennifer Deutsch | Chief Marketing Officer Main 877-778-8707 | Direct 440-991-3105

Michael Miller | Sr. Manager of Global Communications Main 877-778-8707 | Direct 440-683-9426

SOURCE Park Place Technologies
Increase in demand & accessibility for high-quality food products, rise in pet adoption in urban areas, and multi-functionality of pet food packaging products drive the growth of the global pet food packaging market.

PORTLAND, Ore., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Pet Food Packaging Market by Material Type (Paper and Paperboard, Plastic, Metal), by Food Type (Dry Food, Wet Food, Others), by Animals Type (Dogs, Cats, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030." According to the report, the global pet food packaging industry generated $9.4 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach $16.6 billion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 5.7% from 2021 to 2030.

Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities

Increase in demand & accessibility for high-quality food products, rise in pet adoption in urban areas, and multi-functionality of pet food packaging products drive the growth of the global pet food packaging market. However, stringent government regulations restrain the market growth. On the other hand, the launch of new products that will help in storing pet food for long duration and maintaining sustainability present new opportunities in the coming years.

Download Sample PDF: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/8371

Covid-19 Scenario

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the production activities of packaging materials stopped completely or partially due to lockdown measures implemented in many countries. Moreover, the disruptions in the supply chain and shortage of raw materials presented challenges in production facilities.

The demand for packaging of pet food decreased considerably as the pet food production activities faced hindrances due to closure of facilities and other issues. However, the demand for packaging increased steadily post-lockdown.

The paper and paperboard segment to continue its lead position throughout the forecast period

Based on material type, the paper and paperboard segment held the largest market share in 2020, contributing to nearly half of the global pet food packaging market, and is expected to continue its lead position throughout the forecast period. This is due to rise in adoption of these materials in the packaging industry due to environmental benefits. However, the plastic segment is estimated to witness the largest CAGR of 6.4% from 2021 to 2030, owing to increase in utilization of single-use plastic bags in the packaging of pet food.

The dry food segment to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period

Based on food type, the dry food segment accounted for the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2020, accounting for nearly half of the global pet food packaging market, and is projected to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period. Moreover, this segment is projected to register the fastest CAGR of 6.2% from 2021 to 2030. This is attributed to popularity among pet owners, long shelf life, and great taste & superior quality. The report also analyzes the segments including wet food and others.

Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Pet Food Packaging Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/8371

North America to maintain its dominance in terms of revenue by 2030

Based on region, North America contributed to the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2020, accounting for nearly half of the global autonomous mobile robot market, and is expected to maintain its dominance in terms of revenue by 2030. This is due to convenience offered by packaging with innovative slider closures, pouch packaging, and fitments for pet food. However, Asia-Pacific is estimated to manifest the largest CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period, owing to awareness of hazardous packaging products and focus on animal health.

Leading Market Players

Mondi Group

Sonoco Products

Berry Plastics

Amcor Limited

American Packaging Corporation

Ampac Packaging

Ball Corporation

Bemis Company

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- From May 23, 2022, through May 26, 2022, the Marketing Association of Credit Unions (MAC ( https://www.macnetwork.org/events/event-details/ ) held their annual awards conference, at which Pillar Credit Union ( https://www.pillarcu.com/ ) took home an award for the Most-Improved Website, designed by OMNICOMMANDER ( https://www.omnicommander.com/ ).

Pillar Credit Union partnered with OMNICOMMANDER for the purpose of modernizing its website to make it more appealing and usable - especially on mobile devices. The credit union wanted something unique-looking with advanced technology, which allows for easy website updates and the ability to enhance their members' experience.

When asked about what the redesign of their website means to the credit union, Daniel Bradshaw, Marketing Manager, expressed, "We are excited by the win! From a cleaner layout to new tools, including Live Chat, and a car-shopping widget, our redesigned website makes it easier for us to help our members every day. OMNICOMMANDER delivered beyond our expectations."

OMNICOMMANDER's President, Kim Isham, had this to say about the project, "I'm very proud of Greg Conger the Project Manager on this and the entire OMNICOMMANDER Development Team for what they were able to accomplish for our client and their well-deserved recognition for those efforts. Pillar CU's new site will better serve their members and community, and of course, the easy access built into the design will allow them to Control Everything."

About OMNICOMMANDER

OMNICOMMANDER is a veteran-owned and -operated website design, marketing, and cybersecurity firm that focuses on the credit union industry. With a dedication to the member experience, the company ensures every touchpoint has a remarkable interface. Alongside the incredible design, OMNICOMMANDER creates websites with built-in mobile responsiveness, SSL encryption, and observance of ADA guidelines.

OMNICOMMANDER provides marketing services, including targeted marketing, branding, SEO, video creation, and social media, to enhance every aspect of a brand's digital presence. OMNICOMMANDER's cybersecurity division CYBERCOMMANDER is the industry's first cybersecurity provider focused on providing a holistic yet affordable cybersecurity solution for credit unions, offering customized compliance solutions that help our partners stay two steps ahead of cybercriminals.

Contact: John Pennycuff

Phone: (800) 807-3109

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE OMNICOMMANDER
Revaia, Digital + Partners and Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital lead the round.

Investment will allow the leading enterprise grade PaaS for websites and web apps to cement its market position across its key regions ( North America , Europe and Asia ) through team expansion as well as accelerated product development both organically and inorganically.

PARIS and SAN FRANCISCO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Platform.sh , a unified, secure, enterprise-grade platform for building, running and scaling web applications, today announced it has raised $140 million in Series D funding. The round was led by Munich-based Digital+Partners , San Francisco-based Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital , and Paris-based Revaia , alongside existing investors BGV, Eurazeo, Hiinov, and Partech, all re-investing.

The funds will allow Platform.sh to build on its leading position in Europe, the US and Asia, recruiting new employees worldwide to meet its expansion goals. Building on the successful acquisition of Blackfire in May 2021 that helped the company to strengthen its offering in application performance management, Platform.sh intends to use part of the proceeds to fund future acquisitions to accelerate its organic product roll out.

Platform.sh has found global success by removing the pain associated with building websites or web applications. Digital teams face a large array of choices when building, deploying and managing web applications, from selecting which system to use in the backend to deciding what framework and language to code in. To solve this complexity, Platform.sh offers companies an end-to-end platform that helps build, host, and scale a fleet of web sites and web applications while removing the need for IT and cloud operations.

Using Platform.sh, websites and web applications can be built by distributed development teams, including external agencies, in different languages and using different frameworks, enabling smooth collaboration. Powerful automation significantly improves productivity and generates massive cost savings on cloud expenditure. Businesses of all sizes can also reduce their carbon emissions thanks to the unmatched server density provided by Platform.sh, with the company's commitment to sustainable hosting leading it to engage in the B Corp certification process. As a result, Platform.sh's responsible cloud platform and fleet management strategy has been adopted by large organizations worldwide such as Adobe , Nestle, but also for smaller digital teams like Gault et Millau , Unicef , University of Missouri and many more.

Founded in 2015 and member of the FrenchTech 120 for a third year in a row, Platform.sh currently employs 340 people across 36 countries and generates north of $40m in annual recurring revenue. Its commitment to a 100% remote workforce has made it one of the hottest tech companies to work for. This funding round demonstrates the success of both Platform.sh and the growing French tech ecosystem.

"When we launched Platform.sh, we wanted to build a very powerful cloud platform that simplifies the cloud experience for web developers, making sure they spend time on developing and zero time on cloud infrastructure," said Fred Plais, CEO and Co-Founder of Platform.sh. "Our approach has quickly inspired global corporations to manage thousands of websites and applications efficiently and securely to help them make informed, greener decisions when hosting web apps. This latest round of funding will support us as we invest in third-party technology acquisition and continue to innovate."

"We are honoured to partner with Platform.sh and support their mission to help companies implement automated cloud infrastructure, while reducing the environmental impact of their digital operations," said Morgan Kessous, Partner at Revaia. "The company screens as a leader in the DevOps and PaaS markets, and unlocks tremendous value for its customers as it provides developers a platform to deploy both safer and faster. We also share with Platform.sh's team the conviction that Green Hosting is the next frontier in cloud infrastructure, and we are very enthusiastic to back a company with the highest levels of ambition and ethics."

"We have been following Platform.sh's journey for several years and are delighted to support Fred and his excellent team to become the global category leader for managing fleets of websites," said Julian Mattes, Partner at Digital+ Partners. "The war for developer talent and the increasing complexity of DevOps tooling drives the strong demand in the website infrastructure market. We feel a strong connection to the team, the vision, and the values of Platform.sh to enable organizations to focus 100% of their time on building amazing experiences."

"The website is core to the brand and customer experience, and as such, uptime, cross-functional collaboration, and rapid iteration is table stakes," said Pete Chung, Partner at Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital. "Fred and the team at Platform.sh have built the market-leading platform to tackle these issues head-on and we look forward to partnering with the Company in its next phase of growth,"

Platform.sh was advised by KeyBanc Capital Markets, Gide and White & Case. New investors were advised by White & Case.

Notes to editors

About Platform.sh

Platform.sh is a unified, secure, enterprise-grade platform for building, running and scaling web applications. Founded in 2015, the company is headquartered in Paris and San Francisco. Platform.sh employs 340 people across 36 countries and is available in Europe, the United States and Asia, through global partnerships with AWS, GCP, Azure and OVHcloud.

A member of the FrenchTech 120 and Gaia-X, Platform.sh was recently included in the FT1000 list of fastest growing European companies. Offering a 100% remote working environment the company is a certified "Great Place to Work" and counts among its customers prestigious brands such as Adobe Magento, Gap, Nestle, Orange, The British Council, The Financial Times and Unicef.





https://platform.sh/

For more information, please contact:

CCgroup for Platform.sh

Ryan O'Leary / Matthew Denby (UK)

T: +44 7890 049769

E: [email protected]

About Revaia

Based in the core of Europe, with our roots in two of the continent's financial and technology powerhouses  Paris and Berlin  Revaia is pan-European at heart. We invest in European growth-stage companies with global ambitions and sustainable leadership. We are a young, complementary, and diverse team with entrepreneurial and private equity backgrounds. We build bridges between growth and public markets. We are sparring partners for entrepreneurs who are working to transform our world for the better. Our team has already invested in companies that are doing just that, like Aircall, Algolia, Deepki, Epsor, Frontify, GetAccept, etc.

For more information please visit: https://revaia.com/

About Digital + Partners

Based in Frankfurt, Munich and London, Digital+ Partners is a leading technology growth equity investor focused on DACH and European technology companies with over $800 million assets under management. Digital+ Partners aims to support ambitious entrepreneurs build global technology leaders, providing them with strategic advice and long-term financial support to help them define and execute their growth plans. Digital+ Partners focuses exclusively on B2B technology companies and leverages a deep corporate network to help portfolio companies access new markets and build new partnerships. For more information please visit: www.dplus.partners

About Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital

Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital is the growth-focused private investment platform within Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital targets growth equity and credit investments within technology, healthcare, consumer, digital media and other high-growth sectors. For over three decades, Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital has successfully pursued growth investment opportunities and has completed investments in over 200 companies, leveraging the global brand and network of Morgan Stanley.



For further information about Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital, please visit www.morganstanley.com/im/expansioncapital.

SOURCE Platform.sh
SEOUL, South Korea, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Prof. Cho Byoung-chul at Yonsei University College of Medicine (Director, Lung Cancer Center, Yonsei Cancer Hospital) is one of the most influential researchers in the lung cancer field and is involved in the development of innovative new drugs globally. Although the survival rate of patients with EGFR mutation positive NSCLC has improved significantly with the discovery of TKI (tyrosine kinase inhibitor), the continuous occurrence of resistant mutations as the result of the use of these TKI is leading to cancer recurrence and relapse. Accordingly, J INTS BIO' Journal met with Prof. Cho to seek his opinion and assessment on the standard of care for EGFR positive NSCLC, its treatment limitations and how he views the new 4th Generation oral TKI, 'JIN-A02', which is currently in development.
CAMBRIDGE, England, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors at Cambridge Healthcare Research (CHR) have appointed Richard Withers as Strategic Advisor to support the business through it's next period of growth.

Having appointed Founder Matteo Perucchini to CEO in September 2021, the company has continued to see substantial growth across existing business, and new client wins.

As the business moves into this next exciting growth phase the board are setting in place strategies to support the businesses acceleration whilst maintaining the commitment to quality and rigour that CHR is well known for. Simultaneously, CHR's leadership are committed to growing and fostering a supportive culture for consultants throughout their career and lifetime.

Withers is an eminent figure in the pharmaceutical market intelligence and product strategy space, having led the Global Pharmaceutical Practice at Fuld and was the Head of its European Business and founding Deallus Consulting in 2004. Richard also brings exceptional strategic planning skills to his new role at CHR, and tools from his time as an officer in the British Army.

Matteo Perucchini, CEO, said, "I am thrilled that Richard is joining the CHR family. Having taken Deallus Consulting on a substantial growth journey, Richard is able to provide a unique perspective on the opportunities and the challenges of a growing life sciences consultancy."

"Richard's role will be to help us channel our ambitions into a roadmap which will support our development, and the success of our clients and partners."

Withers is joining a growing senior team, with new roles, including Chief Commercial Officer currently under recruitment, Chief People Officer and Chief of Staff. Withers commented, "CHR is an extraordinary business, the company has seen substantial growth in a short time, and even with the challenges which come with that, has been able to remain nimble, and not take their focus away from their clients. My role is to help commit plans to actions, and to support the board and the founders through this next stage of growth."

"CHR operates in product strategy, CI and market research, but the team's ambitions stretch beyond these practices, and I'm excited to support them as the business grows both within these sectors and in other areas of consultancy within life sciences."

About Cambridge Healthcare Research

Cambridge Healthcare Research is a management consultancy providing strategic decision support to the pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer healthcare industries. Working closely with clients on asset commercialisation, product strategy and future opportunities, CHR enables its partners to navigate difficult commercial decisions, mapping their position in complex markets, and outlining the impact of competitor activities, intent and capabilities on their success. Vox.Bio is CHR's dynamic healthcare market research agency, re-thinking healthcare market research to delivering meaningful insights to clients in pharmaceutical, consumer health and medical device industries.

The team is passionate about healthcare and medical innovation, and its evaluation of market dynamics  combined with a targeted understanding of key trends in the prescriber, regulator and payer environments  equips their clients to make the right decisions from an optimally informed position.

In 2020, CHR won The Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade. The team spans global healthcare markets, with offices in Cambridge and London as well as consultants located across Europe, Asia and North America.

For further information please contact:

Edward Cartwright

[email protected]

Twitter, LinkedIn, Queen's Award, Queen's Award Video

+44-1223-900-191

Related Links

http://www.camhcr.com

https://vox.bio/

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1157854/Cambridge_Healthcare_Research_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Cambridge Healthcare Research
Modern healthcare billing platform provides greater transparency for patients and healthcare providers

SALT LAKE CITY and NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rivet, the modern healthcare billing platform, raised $20.5 million in a Series B funding round led by growth equity firm Catalyst Investors with participation from co-investor Ankona Capital and existing investors Menlo Ventures, Pelion Venture Partners and Lux Capital. Tyler Newton, Partner with Catalyst Investors, will join Rivet's Board of Directors.

Founded in 2018, Rivet's revenue cycle operating platform is used by healthcare providers across the country to collect what they are owed from payers and bring greater price transparency to patients. Using Rivet, customers have modeled more than one billion payer contracted rates, created over 400,000 patient cost estimates, and detected denials and underpayments in over 100 million claims, reducing the administrative burden felt by providers while increasing their total income as well.

"Medical payer contracts are often very complicated, resulting in reduced transparency from payer to provider to patient. Rivet deciphers contracts for providers so they can offer patients transparent pricing with our Estimates product while also ensuring proper insurance payments with our Underpayments and Denials products," said Ted Ferrin, CEO and Co-Founder of Rivet. "Rivet shines light on some of the most complex but important data in all of healthcare so that providers, patients, and payers can all be on the same page and have a much more efficient financial experience."

"Rivet has a keen ability to identify pain points in the market, execute on a product vision, deliver a high-quality product and achieve product-market fit in rapid succession," said Newton. "The team has a compelling blend of revenue cycle management, technology and sales experience that allows them to identify issues that have plagued the healthcare industry for decades and make great strides towards solving it. We look forward to working with the Rivet team to increase market penetration in the outpatient segment and expand into larger facilities, hospitals and health systems."

Rivet currently offers three software products: Patient Cost Estimates, Underpayment Detection Workflow and Denials Appeal Management. The company has historically focused exclusively on outpatient practices, offering a level of sophistication and automation typically reserved for larger health systems and inpatient facilities. Capital from the new funding round will be used to build out the Rivet team and continue investing in the platform, allowing the company to continue delivering unparalleled products to a market that is in dire need of innovation.



About Rivet

Rivet, based in Salt Lake City, UT, is dedicated to promoting transparency throughout the healthcare billing process, from payer to provider to patient. Rivet's unique platform offers tools for Estimates, Underpayments and Denials, giving patients more transparency around the cost of care and providers the ability to hold payers accountable to their contracts. The company currently operates largely in outpatient facilities, but it aims to elevate the healthcare billing experience across all settings, regardless of size or specialty.

About Catalyst Investors

Catalyst Investors is a growth equity firm based in New York. The firm's mission is to earn superior returns by helping entrepreneurs build great growth companies. Over the past 20 years, Catalyst has invested in rapidly-growing companies across the SaaS, tech enabled services and internet infrastructure sectors, and has established a successful track record of partnering with entrepreneurs and helping companies scale. Recent investments and exits include Pax8, LinkSquares, Ekos, Weave, Clinicient, ChowNow, EDB, and PresenceLearning. For more information, visit www.catalyst.com.

Media Contact: Karen Hopp, [email protected]

SOURCE Rivet
DE PERE, Wis., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wisconsin company earns second Rolls-Royce Supplier Gold Award

De Pere, Wisconsin-based Robinson, Inc., was named recently as one of only seven companies worldwide to receive a top Gold Award from Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG out of the company's approximately 1,000 suppliers. It is the second year in a row that Robinson has earned this award.

"The relationship with our suppliers is very important to us," states Erik Manning, Executive Vice President Operations and Purchasing for Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG. "We would like to thank our suppliers for excellent cooperation in a difficult environment, and for their reliability in the past year."

As a leader in the design and production of generator set (genset) power systems, Robinson represents an area of growth for Rolls-Royce. Last year's award was the first time the company recognized a systems supplier such as Robinson, which has built more than 400 gensets for Rolls-Royce over the past decade. Award criteria include on-time delivery, customer support and product quality.

"Our team takes great pride in continuously improving our systems and capabilities to better serve Rolls-Royce and its efforts in the power systems industry," comments Jim Birkholz, Assistant General Manager for Robinson. "Earning an award like this requires teamwork at every level of our organization, along with a commitment by leadership to invest in the people and equipment necessary to make it happen."

Robinson moves up to ninth on "The Fabricator" FAB 40 list

Robinson improved its ranking to ninth on The Fabricator magazine's 2022 FAB 40 list of North America's top metal fabrication companies based on self-reported revenue for 2021. It is the twelfth year in a row in which Robinson has made the Fab 40 list.

The Fabricator magazine features news, technical articles and case histories that help fabricators do their jobs more efficiently. Robinson has made the FAB 40 list every year since its inception in 2010.

Robinson has consistently increased its workforce and manufacturing space to keep up with demand. The company specializes in custom fabrication, contract manufacturing, enclosures and fully skidded systems. Customers appreciate having a single point of contact for simplified communication and frequent project updates.

About Robinson, Inc.

Robinson, Inc., is a single-source metal solutions provider based in De Pere, Wisconsin. Robinson offers design, manufacturing and production fabrication for a wide range of industries. The company employs nearly 600 people at four Wisconsin locations comprising 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

For more information about Robinson's capabilities or to request a quote, please call (920) 494-7411, or visit https://robinsoninc.com.

View the original post here.

Contact:

Robinson, Inc.

***@robinsoninc.com

(920) 494-7411

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12922124

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Robinson, Inc.
Entreda's All-In-One Monitoring and Protection Program To Enhance Network Security For Texas-Based RIA

SANTA CLARA, Calif. and HOUSTON, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Entreda, an award-winning developer of integrated cybersecurity compliance software and solutions for the wealth management and insurance industries, today announced that Houston, Texas-based Saxon Financial Group, which oversees $440 million in client assets, has elected Entreda to provide their 18 advisors and employees with network protection under Entreda's top-ranked cybersecurity platform, Unify.

Saxon Financial Group's decision to choose Entreda to protect its advisors and their clients is the latest indication that the leading cybersecurity vendor to wealth managers is strengthening its presence among independent RIAs. Pursuant to the agreement, Saxon Financial Group will be able to safeguard its business through a highly knowledgeable partner that has been recognized for outstanding service in the areas of 24x7 end-point monitoring, auto-remediations for end-point devices, disk encryption, critical security updates and data leakage monitoring. Entreda's Unify 360 Concierge Service will also provide Saxon Financial Group's network with an extra layer of data protection.

Sid Yenamandra, CEO and founder of Entreda, a Smarsh company, said, "The best financial advisors need industry-leading solutions that defend against multiple threats, including phishing attacks, ransomware, and even cyber extortion, to protect themselves and their clients from harm. Wealth managers need to see all the facets of the bigger picture to run their businesses safely and efficiently. Entreda's services to fast-growing and successful firms like Saxon Financial Group enable them to do that through weekly reports, a centralized management console, and a cybersecurity risk scoring system. With Entreda as partner, Saxon Financial Group now has an all-in-one vendor that meets their cyber compliance requirements."

Entreda's other services, including Third-Party Risk Management, hierarchical-based account access, the use of fine-grained user and device attributes to determine access policies, will further enhance monitoring of all of Saxon Financial Group's network computers and devices. Third-party vendor risk assessment will help Saxon Financial Group better evaluate the potential risks of working with a vendor. Saxon Financial Group will also have access to phishing simulations and security awareness training that will take place at regular intervals throughout the year, as well as access to Entreda's proprietary Credential Theft Monitoring solution.

Saxon Financial Group, which became a fully independent RIA in 2021, chose Entreda because of the need for a cyber compliance system available from an all-in-one provider.

Richard Saxon, President at Saxon Financial Group, said, "Our firm was built with the clients we serve in mind. Whether they are individuals, families or renowned institutions serving their communities, our clients must at all times be shielded from cyber risks and system vulnerabilities. Entreda's award-winning cybersecurity compliance platform addresses regulatory changes and advances productivity for wealth management firms and allows financial advisors to focus on what they do best: build relationships."

About Entreda, a wholly owned subsidiary of Smarsh

Entreda is the leading provider of comprehensive cybersecurity software, systems and training to the independent financial advice industry. Its Unify platform monitors endpoints on client networks, offers advanced network vulnerability scanning and automatically remediates vulnerabilities. Entreda's proprietary Cyber Risk Number safeguards clients' data and its Third-Party Risk Management program helps firms easily implement their own vendor risk assessment process. Entreda acquired cloud-based platform Privva in October 2021, further consolidating its position as a provider of vendor risk management services for wealth management. Entreda won the Wealth Management Industry Award for Top Cybersecurity vendor in 2019 and 2020 and was named in the 2021 T3 Inside Information Advisor Software Survey as the market leader for cybersecurity resources. In 2022, Entreda was named a Wealth Management Industry Awards Finalist for Cybersecurity Compliance. For more information, visit www.entreda.com.

Entreda was acquired by Smarsh, the recognized global leader in electronic communications archiving solutions for regulated organizations, in May 2020. For more information, visit www.smarsh.com.

About Saxon Financial Group

Founded in 2021 by Richard Saxon, President, as a fully independent RIA in Houston, Texas, Saxon Financial Group works with industry-leading support, technology and resources and has quickly become a destination for individual and institutional investors. Saxon Financial Group has drawn clients with custom strategies to address their short- and long-term financial challenges. With $440 million in assets under management, the firm has delivered a superior standard of service by creating a simple platform for clients with complex financial needs. Saxon Financial Group offers securities through Raymond James Financial Services.

Media Contacts:



Entreda and Smarsh



Joseph Kuo/Elizabeth Shim

Haven Tower Group

424 317 4851 or 424 317 4861

[email protected] or [email protected]

Saxon Financial Group

713 425 5340

www.saxonfinancialgroup.com

SOURCE Entreda
Anchor Fire Protection addition will expand Sciens platform across the United States offering an even broader scope of business in the important mid-Atlantic region.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sciens Building Solutions ("Sciens") today announced it has welcomed Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania-based Anchor Fire Protection ("Anchor") to its growing portfolio of companies.

This is the latest acquisition announcement from Sciens and helps expand their presence in the Pennsylvania and mid-Atlantic market, while providing Anchor and its customers with even deeper resources and expertise, as well as the ability to leverage Sciens' growing footprint across North America.

"We couldn't be more pleased to become a part of Sciens with its outstanding technical expertise and geographic reach," said Ted Wills, president of Anchor Fire Protection. "I chose Sciens because they have a very successful track record with the companies they have acquired and they allow those companies to keep doing the things that have made them successful, while maintaining their cultures. This is a phenomenal growth opportunity, and we look forward to partnering with existing Sciens companies in our region."

Anchor Fire Protection was established in 1978 in Perkiomenville, PA, where it has positioned itself as the premier fire-life safety company across several industries. The addition of Anchor to Sciens will allow the company to further expand its footprint in this exciting growth region.

"Anchor is a great fit to the outstanding reputation we have already established across the middle Atlantic states," said Terry Heath, Sciens' CEO. "With Anchor's excellent capabilities, we can continue our exciting growth trajectory in this region and further expand our presence in this important market. Our desire to actively seek partnerships with companies similar to Anchor that align with the Sciens values and superior service offerings remains strong, and we're looking forward to the future."

About Sciens Building Solutions

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, and backed by The Carlyle Group, Sciens Building Solutions is a holding company focused on the fire detection and security services sector. This includes the design, installation, and provision of maintenance services for fire detection and clean agent fire suppression systems in a variety of commercial, institutional, and government facilities. For more information, please visit: www.sciensbuildingsolutions.com.

About Anchor Fire Protection

Anchor Fire Protection was founded in Perkiomenville, PA in 1978 as a family-owned company, and quickly became a leader in fire protection, life-safety solutions, and integrated security systems for commercial and industrial properties located throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Their services include an in-house engineering department, fabrication shop, and inspection department, as well as a 24-hour/7-day a week service department. For more information, please visit: https://www.anchorfireprotection.com/.

Contact: Jil Shingledecker

[email protected]

407-221-6785

SOURCE Sciens Building Solutions
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of Convey Health Solutions Holdings, Inc. ("Convey" or the "Company") (NYSE: CNVY), in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by TPG Capital. Under the terms of the merger agreement, the Company's shareholders will receive $10.50 in cash for each share of Convey common stock owned. The transaction is valued at approximately $1.1 billion.

If you own Convey shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website:

https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/cnvy

Or please contact:

Joshua Rubin, Esq.

Weiss Law

305 Broadway, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10007

(212) 682-3025

(888) 593-4771

[email protected]

Weiss Law is investigating whether (i) Convey's board of directors acted in the best interests of Company shareholders in agreeing to the proposed transaction, (ii) the $10.50 per-share merger consideration adequately compensates Convey's shareholders, and (iii) all information regarding the sales process and valuation of the transaction will be fully and fairly disclosed. Notably, the merger consideration is below the $11.00 median price target set by analysts, and at least one analyst set a price target for the Company of $12 per share, $1.50 above the per-share merger consideration.

Weiss Law has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected]

SOURCE Weiss Law
ALEXANDRIA, Va. , June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For nine consecutive years, Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA), Inc. has been named a Top Workplace by The Washington Post for the Washington D.C. Area.

"On behalf of the entire SPA team and for the ninth year in a row, I am honored to accept this recognition from The Washington Post as a Top Workplace," said SPA President and CEO Dr. William Vantine. "SPA is a special place to work. For 50 years our employees have been known for their expertise, high quality work, and unwavering commitment to our clients' missions and our nation's security. I want to thank every team member for all they do for SPA and our customers," he added.

The Washington Post's 2022 Top Workplaces are determined by anonymous employee feedback to a survey conducted by an independent research firm.

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. is a premier international provider of innovative, leading-edge solutions in support of complex National Security programs and defense priorities. SPA's capabilities include Advanced Analytics, Software Tool Development, System Engineering, Strategy, Policy and Compliance, and Integrated Program Management. SPA employees are subject matter experts in numerous domains, including Land, Undersea, Surface and Air Warfare Operations; Intelligence Community, Radar and Sensor Systems; Unmanned Systems and Counter Systems; Nuclear Deterrence Policy, Safety and Security; Defense Industrial Base; Space Systems; Ballistic Missile Systems; Cybersecurity policy; and Hypersonics.

SOURCE Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.
With a focus on collaborative efforts between multinational firms and Chinese businesses and organizations to further open up the Chinese market, this year's summit was designed to inject new vitality into both the Chinese as well as the world's economy by creating a new development model through dialogs leading to new and expanded collaborations between all parties involved.

The event brought together top management executives from 186 Fortune 500 companies and another 290 key businesses worldwide, ambassadors from many countries, and experts from international organizations and business associations. Over 5,600 guests attended the summit held in a hybrid online and offline format.

The summit provided a platform for discussions and exchanges between top management executives from multinational firms touching on several topics, including the reconstruction of global supply chains, the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement and the achievement of carbon neutrality.

Currently, the global supply chain system is being reshaped at an accelerated pace given the impact of increased protectionism and the Covid-19 pandemic, among others. Multinational firms still have confidence in the Chinese market and are willing to invest despite the fact that the role of China in the global supply chain system is changing as a result of the weakening of the market's advantages in costs and mass production.

China plans to boost its economic growth while continuing to implement epidemic prevention and control measures. By doing so, the Chinese government aims to continue trade and investment liberalization by further relaxing market access and promoting fair competition, with the ultimate goal of creating a market-oriented and law-based international business environment.

With the further opening-up of the Chinese market, coupled with a more favorable business environment that can be expected to bring more opportunities, companies outside China are welcome to invest, establish a presence or expand an existence presence so that they can benefit from an economy that continues to grow.

SOURCE Information Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province
CHICAGO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With the "Great Resignation" showing no signs of slowing down and employee engagement at a record low of 32 percent1, companies across all industries are facing a critical inflection point: adapt to employees' evolving needs, or watch them walk out the door to their next opportunity. Now more than ever, employees want to feel personally connected to their leaders, the company vision and values and just what the organization stands for.

How to transform your company town halls into "must-attend" events that engage, inform and inspire employees.

Employee town hall meetings have long been a mainstay for companies, serving as a critical platform to foster that meaningful connection employees seek. In the best cases, these meetings are interactive and inspiring, however for many employees today, they are still seen as a chore. In an eBook released this month, Chicago-based leadership and communications consultancy  The Grossman Group  unpacks the need for meaningful change to town hall meetings.

The eBook, 10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Town Hall and Unleash the Power of your Hybrid Teams, illustrates how, with careful planning and thoughtful execution, town hall meetings can enhance engagement, build trust in leadership and create a sense of belonging among employees.

"As we enter a 'new reality' in a post-pandemic world, there is a critical opportunity for leaders and communications professionals to deliver far more informative, interactive and meaningful town halls that will engage their workforce," said David Grossman, founder and CEO of The Grossman Group. "Whether you have a fully in-person, hybrid or remote workforce, this eBook includes actionable takeaways to revitalize your internal communications efforts and town hall meetings specifically."

The new eBook offers communications leaders a roadmap for revamping their town halls to inform, engage and inspire their employees, including:

The current landscape for town halls

How town halls can aid with employee engagement, trust and fostering a sense of belonging

New data on employee engagement and trust levels today, and why it matters more than ever

The key questions all employees have, and employers must address

Practical tips to transform your town hall, based on industry best practice and best-in-class client experiences  from leveraging technology to helping leaders be transparent and demonstrate vulnerability to planning communications touch points between meetings

Download a free copy of the eBook here.

1 Gallup Employee Engagement Survey, 2022

About The Grossman Group

The Grossman Group is an award-winning Chicago-based communications consultancy focusing on organizational consulting, strategic leadership development and internal communication. A certified diversity supplier, The Grossman Group works closely with Fortune 500 companies and other organizations including Abbott, Allstate, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, Lockheed Martin and Novartis Gene Therapies, among others.

About David Grossman

A leading consultant, speaker and author, David Grossman ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, CSP is one of America's foremost authorities on communication and leadership inside organizations. He is Founder and CEO of The Grossman Group. A source to media and a member of the Forbes Communication Council, David provides expert commentary and analysis on employee and leadership issues. He's been featured on "NBC Nightly News," WSJ.com, Today.com, in the Chicago Tribune, the World Economic Forum, LA Times, and CBS MoneyWatch, among others. His latest award-winning book, "Heart First: Lasting Leader Lessons from a Year that Changed Everything" features interviews with 30+ leaders inside a variety of organizations, each of whom share extraordinarily candid insights and unique leadership lessons.

Contact: Kayla Ellsworth

The Grossman Group

312.927.4588 | [email protected]

SOURCE The Grossman Group
"This very first Dubai selection of restaurants marks a historical moment for the MICHELIN Guide and the Middle East," says Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide. "What makes Dubai's culinary landscape so distinctive is its reflection of the more than 200 nationalities that call the city home, delivering an epicurean kaleidoscope. One thing all the restaurants in this fast paced dynamic and elegant city have in common is they are brimming with passion and enthusiasm. Today, Dubai is settled as an inspiring gastronomic destination and we have no doubts that gourmets from all over the world will be seduced by its very unique energy."

Two Restaurants awarded Two MICHELIN Stars

Il Ristorante - Niko Romito receives Two MICHELIN Stars for its modern Italian fare, which comes with balance, purity and clarity. Top quality ingredients are flown in from Italy, with highlights including fish and pasta dishes.

Set in a colonial-style property at The Palm, STAY by Yannick Alleno impresses with its less-is-more approach, which results in precise, sophisticated dishes that are skillfully crafted with French cooking as the base.

9 Restaurants awarded One MICHELIN Star

Showcasing the excellence, talent and creativity of Dubai's culinary landscape, 9 restaurants serving a diverse array of cuisines, from Portuguese to Indian, Japanese and Chinese, receive One MICHELIN Star. 11 Woodfire by chef-owner Akmal Anuar, who is of Malay origin, offers a global variety of vegetables, seafood and meats grilled to perfection over oak, hickory or hay.

Led by Saverio Sbaragli, who had honed his craft at Three MICHELIN Starred Arpege, Al Muntaha sits atop the architectural masterpiece of Burj al Arab and offers sophisticated and refined French cuisine with Mediterranean influences.

Armani Ristorante presents precise, modern Italian cooking at the Burj Khalifa, where beautifully decorated dishes are met with attentive, enthusiastic service. Italian favorites such as agnolotti del plin, filetto di scorfano and agnello al mirto showcase the chefs' mastery.

First opened in London in 2001, the Dubai outpost of Hakkasan at the Atlantis Hotel offers reimagined Chinese dishes that are exclusive to Dubai, including the lychee lobster with yuzu pearl.

Hoseki is a nine-seat omakase restaurant helmed by a sixth-generation sushi master, Masahiro Sugiyama. Set on the fourth floor of the Bulgari Hotel, it offers a bespoke omakase experience using fresh ingredients imported daily from Japan.

Located in the basement of the Atlantis Hotel next to the aquarium, Ossiano is a world for creative fare, and its "Metanoia" menus gain inspiration from chef Gregoire Berger's childhood memories, featuring dishes that come with fine texture contrasts and impressive clarity of flavour.

The first international outpost of world-renowned Portuguese chef Jose Avillez, Tasca by Jose Avillez in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is set around an open kitchen, where the talented kitchen team combines fresh, great quality produce with Portuguese dishes that are vibrant, innovative, and great for sharing.

Owned by internationally acclaimed chef Massimo Bottura, Torno Subito set within the striking W Hotel on the Palm offers Italian classics, pasta dishes and desserts with a twist.

Tresind Studio is the brainchild of Himanshu Saini, which offers original and precisely executed multi-course tasting menus featuring herbs and flowers grown on its rooftop terrace setting, with highlights such as the ghee-roasted crab, tandoori chicken dumpling and morel pulao with Assam tea dashi.

14 restaurants receive a Bib Gourmand

The 2022 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai also spotlights 14 Bib Gourmand restaurants that offer a value-for-money gourmet experience for an average price of 250 AED for a 3-course meal.

Part-restaurant, part-museum, Al Khayma focuses on simple rustic Emirati cooking, slow cooked meats, Arabic spices and fresh bread cooked in the courtyard. Named after chef patronne Salam Dakkak's mother Maryam, Bait Maryam serves up delicious, home-style Levantine dishes cooked with love. Brasserie Boulud provides a little piece of France in a classically styled brasserie, offering everything from escargots and canard roti to tarte Tatin and ile flottante. Helmed by the 25-year-old chef Sara Aqel and run by a near all-female kitchen team, Fi'Lia celebrates the culinary knowledge passed down through generations of women with a menu of artisan pizzas to contemporary twists on traditional Italian dishes.

Folly offers an ingredient-driven menu that focuses on precise, modern dishes cooked from a kitchen counter where diners can watch the chefs in action. Goldfish is a funky, buzzing sushi and yakitori concept by chef Akmal Anuar, and sharing plates and wagyu steak are the order of the day. With great views of the beach from the beautiful terrace, Ibn Albahr is home to a fresh fish counter where diners can choose what to eat and enjoy ingredient-driven fare.

Indya by Vineet is the destination where street food meets sharing plates, with colourful dishes from the earth (vegetarian), land (meat) and sea. At Kinoya, five ramen dishes underpin the menu, while Japanese classics including sushi, sashimi, robata and tempura are on offer. The design at Ninive reflects a bedouin tent with low tables and cosy sofas, which sets the tone for the tasty, well-priced dishes from all over the Middle East and North Africa. Owned and run by three Syrian brothers, Orfali Bros is set in a striking, two-storey open kitchen, where playful Mediterranean small plates with global influences, such as the imam bayildi alongside burgers, caviar and wagyu beef, are served.

Helmed by Singaporean chef-owner Reif Othman, REIF Japanese Kushiyaki focuses on robata-cooked, street food-style snacks along with a wide range of well-priced sushi, ramen and creative desserts. The oldest Persian restaurant in Dubai, Shabestan has been around since 1984 and offers traditional Persian dishes, marinated meats, freshly baked breads and mezze. Teible is the cool, minimalist bakery-cum-restaurant that showcases seasonal, local and occasionally fermented ingredients in great value dishes.

One restaurant awarded a MICHELIN Green Star for sustainable gastronomy

The MICHELIN Guide is delighted to highlight establishments that are at the forefront of sustainable gastronomy. This year, one Dubai restaurant is recognized for its outstanding efforts and remarkable commitment to sustainability. Lowe, a MICHELIN-recommended restaurant by culinary duo Kate Christou and Jesse Blake, is the first and only restaurant in Dubai to receive a MICHELIN Green Star. The kitchen team cook on fire, practice nose-to-tail cooking and procure ingredients as locally as possible. As part of their efforts towards zero food waste, the restaurant's "Waste NOT" dinners offer eight to ten courses of would-be waste products, saved over the previous months.

MICHELIN Special Awards

As MICHELIN Guide inspectors dine at and observe restaurants, they keep an eye on service professionals to unearth talents that are worthy of the MICHELIN special awards.

This year, the Young Chef Award goes to Solemann Haddad of MICHELIN-selected restaurant Moonrise. Born and bred in Dubai with a French mother and Syrian father, Solemann's fascination with food and Japan began at a very early age. Mostly self-taught, this eloquent, passionate and thoughtful chef is only too happy to explain his dishes, their origins, and even divulge the secrets of how he executes them. Taking the best, mostly local, ingredients and fusing them with his heritage, he delivers an exciting omakase menu that is a blend of Japanese Kaiseki with Middle Eastern ingredients.

Danijela Tesic of Ossiano takes home the Sommelier Award for her passion and enthusiasm for wine pairing, demonstrating knowledge of the wines in a very relaxed, unpretentious style. Her choices showcase an interesting range of wines from the classic regions with a thought-provoking mix of varietals. With a delightfully friendly approach, she engages with the diners and makes the wine an integral and stimulating part of the dining experience.

The Welcome and Service Award is given to the team at Bait Maryam. Our inspectors were immediately taken by the warmth of the welcome they received when they dined here. Salam and her family showed genuine hospitality to everybody. Service is relaxed and cheerful with all the team working perfectly together to ensure diners really enjoyed their experience. From helpful recommendations of dishes to prompt and efficient service, Bait Maryam is offering some of the most charming service in the city in a restaurant that wants everybody to feel very much at home.

The MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2022 at a glance:

2 restaurants with Two MICHELIN Stars

9 restaurants with One MICHELIN Star

1 restaurant with a MICHELIN Green Star

14 Bib Gourmand restaurants

44 MICHELIN-selected restaurants

The replay of the MICHELIN Star Revelation Ceremony and other highlights are available on the official MICHELIN Guide Dubai Facebook page and the MICHELIN Guide Global YouTube channel.

The full selection of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2022 is available on the MICHELIN Guide website https://guide.michelin.com/en and on the MICHELIN Guide app, available free of charge on iOS and Android.

About Michelin

Michelin, the leading mobility company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients' mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients' needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve a variety of industries. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 177 countries, has 124,760 employees and operates 68 tire production facilities which together produced around 173 million tires in 2021. (www.michelin.com)

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1844041/MICHELIN_Star_Revelation_2022.jpg

SOURCE The MICHELIN Guide
The polyurethane segment is expected to reach around USD 865 million by 2028. Polyurethane offers high impact and abrasion resistance compared to epoxies. It is UV stable, chemical- & solvent-resistant, and can tolerate extreme temperatures. The aforementioned features coupled with the smooth & seamless finish offered makes polyurethane ideal for usage in food & beverage facilities where temperature swings are frequent.

Request for Sample Report: https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/1193

The four-component segment is projected to reach around USD 1.8 billion by 2028. Four component floor coating is ideal for facilities that require self-leveling floor coatings. The ability to withstand friction and wheel traffic are factors luring the consumers to utilize the product. It has high durability and offers different grades of slip resistance based on the customer's requirement. Epoxy resins, grade aggregates, pigments, and amine curing agents are the main constituents of these products.

The terrazzo segment from industrial floor coatings market is projected to witness CAGR of around 5% in the next few years. Terrazzo is a flooring material formulated by integrating the remains of stone clippings, marbles & tiles. It is growing in popularity as a green product owing to its recycled nature. Terrazzo floor coating mainly utilizes epoxies and provides high-performance characteristics such as stain resistance, impact resistance, durability, negligible bacteria growth & easy maintenance. The product is increasing in popularity as a replacement for concrete owing to its environmental-friendly nature and aesthetic appeal.

Key reasons for global industrial floor coatings market growth:

Growing construction spending along with rising count of small-scale manufacturers. Increasing FDI inflows accompanied by favorable government policies. Strong outlook for the manufacturing & food processing industries along with technological advancements.

The aviation & transportation segment is expected to account for around 16.5% share in industrial floor coatings market by 2028. The aviation & transportation industries require high-quality industrial floor coating as their floors are subjected to oils, chemicals, solvents, fuels, tire tracks, heavy machinery & vehicles, and other contaminants. The absence of an ideal flooring system can result in floors absorbing dangerous chemicals and developing stains, creating safety hazards.

Request for the Customization of this Report: https://www.gminsights.com/roc/1193

Europe to maintain its top status in terms of revenue:

Europe industrial floor coatings market is likely to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% through 2028 owing to a strong presence of manufacturing companies, catering to the product demand. Favorable government regulations on eco-friendly products owing to huge R&D initiatives from companies are strongly supporting market growth across the region owing to the improved product demand globally.

Leading market players:

Key industrial floor coatings industry players are Sherwin-Williams, Plexi-Chemie Inc., Sika AG, Nora Systems GmbH, Florock Polymer Flooring Systems, PPG Industries, The Lubrizol Corporation, Koninklijke DSM, Akzo Nobel, Ardex Group, ArmorPoxy, The Dow Chemical Company, Axalta Coating Systems, Asian Paints, Tambour, BASF, and Roto Polymers & Chemicals, among others.

About Global Market Insights Inc.

Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider. Offering syndicated and custom research reports, growth consulting and business intelligence services, Global Market Insights, Inc. aims to help clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data that aid in strategic decision making.

Contact Us:

Arun Hegde

Corporate Sales, USA

Global Market Insights, Inc.

Phone: 1-302-846-7766

Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688

Email: [email protected]

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1843999/Industrial_Floor_Coatings_Market_Infographic.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661916/GMI.jpg

SOURCE Global Market Insights Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jerry Garcia Archive , a new community resource created to preserve the historical and artistic contributions of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends, will begin accepting community contributions this August and host a benefit concert to celebrate the launch.

The Jerry Garcia Foundation, in partnership with Starchive , announces a first-of-its-kind fan-enriched Jerry Garcia Archive Project.

Benefit Concert for World Music in the Schools: Jerry Garcia, Hamza EL Din, Baba Olatunji, Mickey Hart, Carlos Santana, and Bobby Vega, Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, Carlos Santana and Bobby Vega with Baba Olatunji & Co. @ 53:30 February 15, 1987 1992 Archival Note: From Jerry to Manasha Jerry, Manasha and Keelin in Kona, Hawaii. Jerry and his family found rejuvenation on the Island between the busy concert tour schedule. Many of his sea-themed watercolor paintings were inspired and created in Hawaii. In 1988, Jerry became an avid scuba diver and actively supported coral reef preservation.

The archive's technology partner, Starchive, is the creation of Peter Agelasto, who serves as the lead archivist for the project. Agelasto, a former archeologist and music studio owner, originally developed the Starchive platform to organize and store digital content for his own artistic endeavors. He and Starchive co-founder Richard Averitt are providing their innovative software platform as a gift to the Jerry Garcia Foundation for the development and management of the archive.

"Building this collection with Jerry's family and global fan base is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see how emerging web3 technologies influence and enrich the artist / fan / collaboration / experiment. No one has innovated more in this creative communal space than Jerry Garcia, and I'm grateful to help serve this culturally significant initiative around one of my favorite musicians and artists," said Agelasto.

Agelasto and the Starchive team honed their software while working on the creation and curation of the Bob Dylan Archive. In 2021, Starchive was retooled to support any creator from day one for icons like Bob Dylan and Jerry Garcia and everyone in between. Today Starchive supports more than 75,000 creators in every medium from around the world.

"It's an honor and delight to work with Peter, Richard and the Starchive team. This creative integration will provide the community with a uniquely interactive and joyful experience of archival resources. We are grateful to the David Nelson Band for sharing their artistry on my father's Birthday in support of the project," said Keelin Garcia, Jerry Garcia's daughter and co-founder of the Jerry Garcia Foundation.

A musical opening reception for the archive launch is scheduled to take place on the late Jerry Garcia's 80th birthday, Aug. 1, 2022. In celebration, the David Nelson Band is scheduled to perform a benefit concert for the Jerry Garcia Foundation at the Blue Note venue, located in beautiful Sonoma County, Calif.

The David Nelson Band has been recording and performing around the country since the 1990's. Its broad musical palette spans the "almost acoustic" style that Nelson played with Jerry Garcia to roots rock n' roll and psychedelic country rock. The David Nelson Band performs Nelson's compositions (and those co-written with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter), select covers, and several Grateful Dead classics upon which Nelson appeared on the original album releases.

David Nelson (guitar/vocals) is known as the founding member of the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Moreover, he was a longtime musical partner of Jerry Garcia, dating back to 1962 in the pre-Grateful Dead bluegrass band, the Wildwood Boys. Nelson was a member of the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band (and appears on its 1988 album release Almost Acoustic and 2010 's Ragged But Right). He performed on three Grateful Dead albums: Aoxomoxoa, Workingman's Dead, and American Beauty, playing the iconic electric guitar solo on "Box of Rain."

For tickets and further information, please visit: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/david-nelson-band-celebrates-jerry-blue-note-napa-tickets/12214025?pl=bnnapa

Jerry Garcia Archive

The Jerry Garcia Archive is an online resource devoted to providing a digital library of historical information about the beloved virtuoso. The official collectively assembled archive will serve as a vehicle of education for the greater community by preserving Jerry Garcia's prodigious artistic contributions for future generations.

For more information, please visit the Jerry Garcia Archive Website .

Starchive

Starchive is a web3 enabled asset management, collection, curation and monetization platform for creators. Starchive supports both on-chain (NFTs) and off-chain content. By providing AI-assisted asset management, integrations to creator tools and communities, and easy to use blockchain integrations for wallets, minting NFTs and publishing to the metaverse, Starchive is the powerful bridge between web2 and web3 for creators from Day 1 to Dylan. Since 2014, Starchive has supported cultural icons including Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Carly Simon, Essence Magazine, The MET, and many more. In 2021 Starchive rolled out a massively scalable SaaS model of their platform and they are now serving over 74,000 creators worldwide.

The Jerry Garcia Foundation

The Jerry Garcia Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports environmental, artistic, and humanitarian causes through the beauty of music and art.

Jerry's daughter, Keelin, and his wife, Manasha, established the foundation in 2015 in honor of the musician, artist, and visionary.

Staying true to Jerry's vision, the foundation embraces the idea that music and art bring great healing to the world.

Contact:

Peter Privite for Media Agelasto

4154727382

[email protected]

SOURCE Jerry Garcia Archive
DUBLIN, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Market (2022-2027) by Procedure, Geography, Competitive Analysis, and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Market is estimated to be USD 5.8 Bn in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 11.14 Bn by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 13.94%.



Market Dynamics

Market dynamics are forces that impact the prices and behaviors of the Global Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Market stakeholders. These forces create pricing signals which result from the changes in the supply and demand curves for a given product or service. Forces of Market Dynamics may be related to macro-economic and micro-economic factors. There are dynamic market forces other than price, demand, and supply. Human emotions can also drive decisions, influence the market, and create price signals.



As the market dynamics impact the supply and demand curves, decision-makers aim to determine the best way to use various financial tools to stem various strategies for speeding the growth and reducing the risks.

Company Profiles

The report provides a detailed analysis of the competitors in the market. It covers the financial performance analysis for the publicly listed companies in the market. The report also offers detailed information on the companies' recent development and competitive scenario. Some of the companies covered in this report are Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific, Blue Sail Medical, Bracco, Edward Lifesciences, JC Medical, JenaValve Technologies, Medtronic, Meril Lifesciences, Venus Medtech, etc.



Countries Studied

America ( Argentina , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Colombia , Mexico , Peru , United States , Rest of Americas)

, , , , , , , , Rest of Americas) Europe ( Austria , Belgium , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Italy , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Russia , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , United Kingdom , Rest of Europe )

( , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Rest of ) Middle-East and Africa ( Egypt , Israel , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , United Arab Emirates , Rest of MEA)

and ( , , , , , , Rest of MEA) Asia-Pacific ( Australia , Bangladesh , China , India , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Philippines , Singapore , South Korea , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Taiwan , Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Competitive Quadrant

The report includes Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc.



Ansoff Analysis

The report presents a detailed Ansoff matrix analysis for the Global Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Market. Ansoff Matrix, also known as Product/Market Expansion Grid, is a strategic tool used to design strategies for the growth of the company. The matrix can be used to evaluate approaches in four strategies viz. Market Development, Market Penetration, Product Development and Diversification. The matrix is also used for risk analysis to understand the risk involved with each approach.

The report analyses the Global Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Market using the Ansoff Matrix to provide the best approaches a company can take to improve its market position.

Based on the SWOT analysis conducted on the industry and industry players, the analyst has devised suitable strategies for market growth.

Why buy this report?

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies.

The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry.

The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report.

The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies.

The report also contains the competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's Proprietary competitive positioning tool.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Report Description



2 Research Methodology



3 Executive Summary



4 Market Dynamics

4.1 Drivers

4.1.1 Increase in Prevalence of Aortic Stenosis

4.1.2 Rise In Demand for Various Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Procedures

4.1.3 Advancements in Technologies in the Field of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

4.1.4 Rise in Geriatric Population

4.2 Restraints

4.2.1 High Cost Associated with Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

4.3 Opportunities

4.3.1 Use of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Systems for New Indications

4.3.2 Rise in Healthcare Expenditure in Emerging Economies

4.4 Challenges

4.4.1 Stringent Government Regulations for Approval of Transcatheter Aortic Valves



5 Market Analysis

5.1 Regulatory Scenario

5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Ansoff Matrix Analysis



6 Global Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Market, By Procedure

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Transfemoral Procedure

6.3 Subclavian Procedure

6.4 Others



7 Americas' Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Market

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Argentina

7.3 Brazil

7.4 Canada

7.5 Chile

7.6 Colombia

7.7 Mexico

7.8 Peru

7.9 United States

7.10 Rest of Americas



8 Europe's Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Market

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Austria

8.3 Belgium

8.4 Denmark

8.5 Finland

8.6 France

8.7 Germany

8.8 Italy

8.9 Netherlands

8.10 Norway

8.11 Poland

8.12 Russia

8.13 Spain

8.14 Sweden

8.15 Switzerland

8.16 United Kingdom

8.17 Rest of Europe



9 Middle East and Africa's Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Market

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Egypt

9.3 Israel

9.4 Qatar

9.5 Saudi Arabia

9.6 South Africa

9.7 United Arab Emirates

9.8 Rest of MEA



10 APAC's Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) Market

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Australia

10.3 Bangladesh

10.4 China

10.5 India

10.6 Indonesia

10.7 Japan

10.8 Malaysia

10.9 Philippines

10.10 Singapore

10.11 South Korea

10.12 Sri Lanka

10.13 Thailand

10.14 Taiwan

10.15 Rest of Asia-Pacific



11 Competitive Landscape

11.1 Competitive Quadrant

11.2 Market Share Analysis

11.3 Strategic Initiatives

11.3.1 M&A and Investments

11.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations

11.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements



12 Company Profiles

12.1 Abbott Laboratories

12.2 Boston Scientific

12.3 Blue Sail Medical

12.4 Bracco

12.5 Edward Lifesciences

12.6 JC Medical

12.7 JenaValve Technologies

12.8 Medtronic

12.9 Meril Lifesciences

12.10 Venus Medtech



13 Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/sqzxay

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

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Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets
BEIJING, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Therorna Inc., a China-based biotech company specialized in the development of cutting-edge circular RNA (or circRNA) technology-based new vaccines and therapies, announced the completion of a US$42 million Series A financing round. The round was co-led by a well-known industrial investment firm and MSA Capital, with participation from Sherpa Healthcare Partners, 3H Health Investment, and existing investors Quan Capital and Cenova Capital, demonstrating their continuous commitment to supporting Therorna's growth. With the new funding, Therorna plans to accelerate the build-out of its technology platform and the development of its product pipeline, as well as the clinical trials, regulatory applications, and international collaborations.

Therorna was founded in Beijing in April 2021. The company focuses on leveraging its proprietary circRNA technology platform to develop next-generation vaccines and innovative therapies. The company has established a strong pipeline of novel prophylactic and therapeutic drugs aiming to address high unmet medical needs. When combined with the previously completed angel and pre-A rounds, the company has to date raised over US$60 million.

The scientific founder of Therorna, Professor Wensheng Wei said, "We really appreciate the support of our investors. As the world continues to suffer from the COVID-19, scientists are obliged to shoulder the responsibility to provide scientific solutions to end this pandemic. We are devoted to accelerating the clinical application of our circRNA-based vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants."

Therorna Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Daniel Tang commented, "I am very grateful for the support of our new and existing investors in this financing round. The successful completion of this round will play a key role in helping Therorna accelerate the development of a new broad-spectrum COVID-19 vaccine and the discovery of additional novel therapies for a variety of diseases. Our team will continue to spare no effort to advance the circRNA platform technology to develop the next-generation of breakthrough therapies and quickly deliver meaningful social benefits."

MSA Capital founder and managing partner Yu Zeng added, "We are confident in the potential of circRNA technology for drug development in the area of protein expression and regulation. Compared with linear RNA, circRNA boasts breakthroughs in expression, stability, immunogenicity, and production. In terms of the technology, Chinese scientists have proven their internationally recognized capabilities at innovation and efficient transformation. MSA Capital is impressed by Therorna's strong team of scientists and entrepreneurs. As a serial entrepreneur, Professor Wei has deep expertise in gene editing and circRNA technology application, and Therorna's management team has rich experience in drug R&D and industrial management. MSA Capital will make use of its resources to support the expansion of Therorna in international markets."

Sherpa Healthcare Partners investment VP Dr. Changzu Cai said, "mRNA drugs have achieved notable success in the application of COVID-19 vaccines, but challenges in terms of side effects remain to be addressed. Linear RNA is easily degraded and its application beyond vaccines is still under exploration. Thanks to its unique structure, the circRNA as a tool for protein expression has been proven to maintain a relatively stable protein expression level in vivo for a longer time, which is expected to further expand the application scenarios of RNA therapy. The team led by Professor Wei is leveraging their experience in applying circRNA as a gene editing tool to support the development of the circRNA expression tool. The proprietary circularization method developed by Therorna has demonstrated its advantages in terms of dosage, and activation of cellular immunity by being first applied in COVID-19 vaccines. We are pleased to continue supporting the efforts of Wei Lab in converting innovations into benefits for patients and communities, while looking forward to transforming Therorna into a platform-based circRNA technology-focused company with an international presence."

3H Health partner Dr. Minchuan Wang said, "circRNA has better stability and long-lasting expression with a potential for creating a new RNA therapy platform. The combination of Professor Wei's team with strong technical expertise in circRNA and the management team established at an earlier stage of the company with members having rich experience in promoting the adoption of new technologies will help accelerate the clinical transformation of circRNA. We are honored to support Therorna in this financing round, and we will work with the company's team, and their new and existing investors, to help the company assume a leadership role in the realm of circRNA, providing patients with pioneering therapies and addressing unmet clinical needs."

Exclusive financial advisor for this transaction and CEC Capital Managing Director, Echo Zhang commented, "circRNA has attracted widespread attention as an emerging technology for RNA drugs. Therorna is expected to take the lead in advancing the technology into clinical applications. We are honored to help Therorna complete this round of financing, and we believe that Therorna will lead the development of the global circRNA sector."

About MSA Capital

Founded in 2014, MSA Capital is an independent global private equity and venture capital firm with over $2.0 billion under management. The firm manages capital from the world's top sovereign wealth funds, international asset managers, pension funds, university endowments, fund of funds and family offices, as well as China's leading new economy entrepreneurs.

MSA actively partners with outstanding entrepreneurs in China and other technology markets to build leading, innovative companies that aim to deliver strong financial returns and meaningful, positive impact. The firm is headquartered in Beijing, with resident teams in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Middle East, North Africa and the United States.

About Sherpa Healthcare Partners

Sherpa Healthcare Partners ("Sherpa") was founded in 2018, the founders previously worked together in one of China's leading venture capital firms, built and led its professional medical investment team since 2011, set up the dedicated healthcare investment fund and responsible for healthcare investment. The founders have been teamed together in close co-operation, built on shared values, mutual trust, and complementary capabilities. Sherpa has now become an influential healthcare VC firm in the industry. Sherpa has invested in leading companies in many key areas, such as Pharma, GeneTech, MedTech and Medical services. From 2011 to 2020, the team has gone through 4 vintage year cycles of multiple U.S dollar funds and RMB funds and made 100 investments. Sherpa has the honor to work with many outstanding entrepreneurs and grow together with them.

About 3H Health Investment

3H Health Investment is a Hong Kong and Shanghai based healthcare venture capital firm. It focuses on unmet medical needs and invests in emerging fields of science and medicine to deliver breakthroughs to patients. Leveraging its extensive resources with clinical institutions, industry partners and policy institutes, 3H builds leading innovative healthcare companies together with its partners.

About Quan Capital

Quan capital is a life sciences venture capital firm with strong China expertise and global capabilities. We discover, incubate, and grow next-generation life science companies in early and growth stage, worldwide. Our portfolio companies pioneer differentiated therapies and enabling technologies to address major human diseases with high unmet medical needs.

Quan has offices in Shanghai, Menlo Park and Boston. Our investment professionals combine their strong expertise in both science and business with their diverse experiences in global drug development and healthcare investments, and they leverage their broad network worldwide to help maximize the company's value across geographies and development stages. Visit www.quancapital.com to learn more about us.

About Cenova Capital

Cenova Capital is one of the earliest healthcare funds dedicated to early and growth-stage investments in the life sciences and healthcare sectors in China. Since inception in 2010, Cenova Capital now has six funds under management with investments in over 80 companies in pharmaceuticals, medical deviceshealthcare services and digital heath. Cenova Capital's investors are mainly large domestic and international institutional investors including Asian sovereign wealth investors, government institutions, insurance companies, financial institutions and multinational companies.

About CEC Capital

CEC Capital is a leading Chinese FA with a focus on the global TMT, consumption and health sectors. In addition to investment banking, CEC Capital is managing a RMB fund and a dollar fund with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and it also has a license to the US securities market. The healthcare industry is an advantageous industry that CEC Capital is concerned about. Meanwhile, CEC Capital has the largest and most professional health investment banking team in China with the most complete industry chain.

SOURCE Therorna Inc.
SUGAR LAND, Texas, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the summer of 2022, Tramontina USA embarks on a voyage into a better future in partnership with Voice of the Oceans, a global expedition across the seas with a mission to raise awareness about plastics in the oceans and to help find innovative solutions to combat the problem. Tramontina USA is the official sponsor of the U.S. portion of this voyage, which is expected to last five months and conclude in October.

Tramontina USA welcomes the Voice of the Oceans' crew to its first US stop in Miami. The Voice of the Oceans' USA journey sponsorship exemplifies one the company's defining core values: environmental responsibility. In keeping with its ongoing commitment to sustainable business practices, Tramontina is also expanding its efforts to reduce one-time use of plastic packaging. Left to right: Alessandro Bampa, David Schurmann, Mars Mashburn, Wilhelm Schurmann, Vitor Nunes, and Heloisa Schurmann.

Tramontina is a leading manufacturer of quality cookware, cutlery, kitchen accessories and housewares, known in over 120 countries for premium quality, innovation and functionality. The Voice of the Oceans' USA journey sponsorship exemplifies one the company's defining core values: environmental responsibility. In keeping with its ongoing commitment to sustainable business practices, Tramontina is also expanding its efforts to reduce one-time use of plastic packaging.

The Voice of the Oceans global expedition began in 2021 and is focused on documenting the invasion of plastics in marine ecosystems, finding workable solutions to help reverse the damage and mobilizing people and businesses to adopt conservation-friendly behaviors. It is globally supported by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) as part of the Clean Seas Campaign that seeks to "turn the tide on plastic." The U.S. portion of the voyage began in Miami on June 1 and will end in Nantucket, MA, with stops in Fort Lauderdale, New York City, Boston, Newport, RI and more.

"Tramontina's commitment to sustainability is long established, and the Voice of the Oceans aligns with our values with its clear messaging and commitment to practical solutions. Another new Tramontina USA initiative is working with the environmental consulting firm Searious Business and Voice of the Oceans to ramp up our efforts to reduce one-time plastic packaging," said Mars Mashburn, Vice President of Product Development and Marketing of Tramontina USA.

For more information, visit Tramontina.com.

About Tramontina

Founded in 1911 in Brazil, Tramontina is an international brand with more than 110 years of high-end housewares manufacturing experience. Tramontina products, delivering premium quality, innovation, and functionality, are available in over 120 countries. Tramontina is dedicated to being a leading manufacturer of cookware, cutlery, kitchen accessories, and housewares items. One of the company's core values is environmental responsibility and sustainable development.

Media Contact: Field Marketing & Media

713-869-1856, [email protected]

SOURCE Tramontina
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

Class Period: November 3, 2021 to May 3, 2022

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 15, 2022

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in TUP:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/tupperware-brands-corporation-loss-submission-form-2?id=28814&from=4

Tupperware Brands Corporation NEWS - TUP NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Tupperware Brands Corporation made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Tupperware was facing significant challenges in maintaining its earnings and sales performance; (ii) accordingly, Tupperware's full-year 2022 guidance was unrealistic and/or unsustainable; (iii) all the foregoing, once revealed, was likely to have a material negative impact on Tupperware's financial condition; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Tupperware you have until August 15, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Tupperware securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the TUP lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/tupperware-brands-corporation-loss-submission-form-2?id=28814&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

Empire State Building

350 Fifth Avenue

59th Floor

New York, NY 10118

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
Prestel and Partner are the global leaders in Family Office Forum conferences. Each of their six forums is unique with conference agendas tailored to local and regional interest points along with an international outlook on the most crucial family office and private investor topics.

Prestel & Partners greatly respect the personal privacy of all attendees, (which include royals, billionaires, former heads of state, and Single Family Office Principals, CIOs and CEOs), enabling them to enjoy the event with total data privacy. They provide a bespoke and curated programme with considerable time dedicated to in-depth discussions, knowledge and experience sharing and learning opportunities, and Q&As.

Family Office Forum 2022

Adam Caller and Joanna Dunckley Phillips are leading industry experts in the field of private tutoring. Mr Caller founded elite private tutoring company, Tutors International , in 1999. The private home tuition company has established a well-earned reputation as the leading private tuition company specialising in tailored residential tutoring worldwide.

Joanna Dunckley Phillips' current role in the company involves looking after specific contracts and liaising with Clients and Tutors to ensure that the relationship between both employer and employee remains problem-free.

Mr Caller and Ms Dunckley Phillips bring a wealth of experience to the conference. Prior to moving into the management side of the business, both Mr Caller and Ms Dunckley Phillips spent many years as private tutors so are very much aware of the setbacks and complications that may occasionally arise.

Today, Mr Caller will exchange views in an armchair discussion with Ms Dunckley Phillips in a dedicated thirty-minute session entitled: 'High-end specialist tuition and the advantage of individual and customised education exactly for your kid's needs'.

Attending the Family Office Forum

Prestel and Partner's London 2022 Family Office Forum takes place on the 21st and 22nd of June at The Corinthia. Mr Caller's and Ms Dunckley Phillips' question and answer session will take place today, the 21st June at 2.50 pm.

There's still time to secure a place and benefit from their experience and expertise on high-end private tuition. Should you wish to listen to their discussion at the conference, follow the instructions on page 11 of the 2022 conference agenda .

About Tutors International

Tutors International provides an unparalleled private tutoring service that matches the right private home tutor with the right child, in order for the student to fully reach their personal potential and academic excellence. Delivering an international private tuition service for children of all ages at different points in their educational journeys, Tutors International is founded on a commitment to finding the perfect tutor to realise the specific goals and aspirations of each student. Tutors are available for residential full-time positions, after-school assistance, and homeschooling.

Founded in 1999 by Adam Caller, Tutors International is a private company based in Oxford, a city renowned for academic excellence. Our select clientele receives a personally tailored service, with discretion and confidentiality guaranteed.

Contact Details

Web: www.tutors-international.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +44 (0) 1865 435 135

Tutors International

Clarendon House

52 Cornmarket Street

Oxford

OX1 3HJ

UK

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1844219/Tutors_International_Prestel_Partner.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/699064/Tutors_International_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Tutors International
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PA Consulting (PA), the consultancy that's bringing ingenuity to life, is proud to announce that two client projects have been featured in Fast Company's 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards.

Green Boom, a start-up that has developed a patent-pending and sustainable way to help prevent, reduce, and clean up oil spills, was named a Finalist in the Nature category and received an honorable mention in the On the Rise category. Green Boom's 100 percent biodegradable solution uses treated, tear-resistant fabric pillows and tubes of varying lengths and sizes filled with natural fiber biomass to repel water and rapidly absorb oil from spills. The product can also be cleaned and reused. PA utilized data analytics and business intelligence and commercialization expertise to elevate Green Boom's go-to-market and growth strategy, creating a targeted sales strategy and path to success.

A collaboration to rethink plastic waste for the Cambridge University NHS Hospitals and Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust on behalf of the East of England Regional Sustainability Network was included as an honorable mention in the Health category. The NHS in England aspires to become the world's first net zero national health service but needed more information about what types of waste were causing the most damage and where the waste was going. PA worked in partnership with NHS Cambridge University Hospitals, Axion, The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, and Renolit to develop a roadmap for the NHS to rethink product design, adopt innovative waste management technologies, and create a roadmap to put policies into practice. Along the way, it was calculated there was an opportunity to annually prevent 16,500 tons of plastic from being wasted, which extrapolated to a national scale, means 85,000 tons of material would be recycled, cutting CO2 emissions by up to 235,000 tons a year. And better still, through recovery programs, this could unlock an excess of 40 million a year of new sources of revenue, excluding the cost to realize them.

Seth Lively, US Digital Lead at PA Consulting, said: "Congratulations to the Green Boom team for such an amazing honor. We are so excited to have worked with this unique start-up to help get this world changing solution to the market and help ensure the company's success. Tanker spills have resulted in 10,000 tons of oil contaminating the environment in 2021 alone. Hopefully if future oil spills occur, US and European leaders will use Green Boom's innovation to limit damage and protect waterways and fragile ecosystems from harm."

Mark Lancelott, Sustainability Expert at PA Consulting, said: "PA Consulting is extremely proud of our work with the Cambridge University NHS Hospitals and Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust and are honored to be on Fast Company's World Changing Ideas list. This collaboration to rethink plastic waste and reduce carbon emissions is an essential first step in the path to net zero, and we are pleased that the program has received an honorable mention. More hospitals need to be taking steps to embrace the circular economy and start their journey to net zero, we look forward to helping them achieve their goals."

David Lidsky, Interim Editor-in-Chief of Fast Company, said: "We are consistently inspired by the novelty and creativity that people are applying to solve some of our society's most pressing problems, from shelter to the climate crisis. Fast Company relishes its role in amplifying important, innovative work to address big challenges. Our journalists have identified some of the most ingenious initiatives to launch since the start of 2021, which we hope will both have a meaningful impact and lead others to join in being part of the solution."

Now in its sixth year, the World Changing Ideas Awards showcase 39 winners, 350 finalists, and more than 600 honorable mentionswith climate, social justice, and AI and data among the most popular categories. A panel of eminent Fast Company editors and reporters selected winners and finalists from a pool of more than 2,997 entries across transportation, education, food, politics, technology, health, social justice, and more. In addition, several new categories have been added this year including climate, nature, water, and workplace. The 2022 awards feature entries from across the globe, from Switzerland to Hong Kong to Australia.

To see the complete list of World Changing Ideas, go to: https://www.fastcompany.com/world-changing-ideas/list

About the World Changing Ideas Awards

World Changing Ideas is one of Fast Company's major annual awards programs and is focused on social good, seeking to elevate finished products and brave concepts that make the world better. A panel of judges from across sectors choose winners, finalists, and honorable mentions based on feasibility and the potential for impact. With the goals of awarding ingenuity and fostering innovation, Fast Company draws attention to ideas with great potential and helps them expand their reach to inspire more people to start working on solving the problems that affect us all.

About PA Consulting

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough use of technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results. An innovation and transformation consultancy, we are over 4000 specialists in consumer and manufacturing, defense and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport. Our people are strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers and technologists. We operate globally from offices across the UK, US, Netherlands and Nordics. Discover more at paconsulting.com and connect with PA on LinkedIn and Twitter. PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life.

SOURCE PA Consulting
NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Unilever PLC (NYSE: UL) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.

This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Unilever American Depositary Receipts between September 2, 2020 and July 21, 2021, inclusive.

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 15, 2022

No obligation or cost to you.

Learn more about your recoverable losses in UL:

https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/unilever-plc-loss-submission-form?id=28815&from=4

Unilever PLC NEWS - UL NEWS

CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Unilever PLC made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: a) in July 2020, the board of Ben & Jerry's, one of Unilever's marquee brands, passed a resolution to end sales of its ice cream in "Occupied Palestinian Territory" ; and b) this boycott decision risked adverse governmental actions for violations of laws, executive orders, or resolutions aimed at discouraging boycotts, divestment, and sanctions of Israel adopted by 35 U.S. states.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Unilever you have until August 15, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.

NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Unilever securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the UL lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/unilever-plc-loss-submission-form?id=28815&from=4.

ABOUT KLEIN LAW FIRM

J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

J. Klein, Esq.

Empire State Building

350 Fifth Avenue

59th Floor

New York, NY 10118

[email protected]

Telephone: (212) 616-4899

www.kleinstocklaw.com

SOURCE The Klein Law Firm
Vehicle To Grid Market: Segmentation Analysis

The market research report segments the vehicle-to-grid market by Technology (power electronics and software) and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America).

The vehicle to grid market share growth by the power electronic segment will be significant for revenue generation. The sales of drive systems will increase exponentially during the forecast period. This is due to car manufacturers such as Nissan, Honda, and Tesla planning to launch EVs with vehicle grid capabilities.

To know about the market contribution of each segment - Grab a sample report

Vehicle to Grid Market: Improvements in EV battery technology to drive growth

Improvements in EV battery technology are a key driving factor impacting the global vehicle to grid market growth. The global rise in the number of EVs is driven by the need for energy independence and support by governments. With the increase in the adoption of EVs, existing technologies are being pushed to the limits of their functionalities. Therefore, a high amount of investments is being made in R&D.

Over the years, technological advancements in EVs have enabled the reduction of battery costs while increasing their energy densities. Moreover, improvements in energy density in EVs result in higher capacity batteries. The growing number of EVs has resulted in infrastructure for battery charging that is widespread and easily available. Better energy storage options and easy integration into the grid are driving the need for grid integration

.Some vendors are focusing on opening new EV battery facilities. For instance, in December 2019 , General Motors announced the setting up of a joint venture with South Korea's LG Chem to mass-produce batteries for electric cars. Both companies plan to invest a total of $2.3 billion to build a new facility, which will be located in Lordstown, Ohio , US.

To know about other drivers along with the market challenges - Request a Sample Research Report

Get ready to achieve excellent business outcomes from this exclusive Vehicle To Grid Market report by Technavio. The report will include highlights of the overall market which includes frequently asked questions such as -

What are historical revenue figures and estimated revenue figures as well as CAGR during the forecast timeframe?

What is the current trend taking place in the market space?

Which are business tactics that will influence competitive scenarios along with defining the growth potential of the market?

What are market drivers, restraints, and challenges impacting demand & growth of the market?

Which regions & segments will garner massive revenue and emerge as market leaders in upcoming years?

The competitive scenario provided in the Vehicle To Grid Market report analyzes, evaluates, and positions companies based on various performance indicators. Some of the factors considered for this analysis include the financial performance of companies over the past few years, growth strategies, product innovations, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc. Don't wait, Make a strategic approach & boost your business goals with our Vehicle To Grid Market Forecast Report - Buy Now!

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The enterprise's very small aperture terminal (VSAT) market share is expected to increase by USD 1.20 billion from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.31%.

share is expected to increase by USD 1.20 billion from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.31%. The industrial internet of things market share is expected to increase by USD 421.28 billion from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 32.95%.

Vehicle To Grid Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 31.28% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 16.86 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 45.12 Performing market contribution North America at 33% Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled AC Propulsion Inc., Coritech Services, Daimler AG, DENSO Corp., Hitachi Ltd., Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Liikennevirta Oy Ltd., NUVVE Corp., Qualcomm Inc., and Tesla Inc. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Content

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 01: Parent market

2.2 Market characteristics

Exhibit 02: Market characteristics

2.3 Value chain analysis

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 03: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 04: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2020

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

Exhibit 05: Global - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 06: Global market: Year-over-year growth 2020 - 2025 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five Forces Summary

Exhibit 07: Five forces analysis 2020 & 2025

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 08: Bargaining power of buyers

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 09: Bargaining power of suppliers

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 10: Threat of new entrants

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 11: Threat of substitutes

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 12: Threat of rivalry

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 13: Market condition - Five forces 2020

5 Market Segmentation by Technology

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 14: Technology - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Technology

Exhibit 15: Comparison by Technology

5.3 Power electronics - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 16: Power electronics - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 17: Power electronics - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.4 Software - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 18: Software - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 19: Software - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Technology

Exhibit 20: Market opportunity by Technology

6 Customer Landscape

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 22: Market share by geography 2020-2025 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 23: Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 24: North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

Exhibit 25: North America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 26: Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

Exhibit 27: Europe - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 28: APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: APAC - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.6 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 30: MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 31: MEA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 32: South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

Exhibit 33: South America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.8 Key leading countries

Exhibit 34: Key leading countries

7.9 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 35: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

Exhibit 36: Impact of drivers and challenges

8.3 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 37: Vendor landscape

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 38: Landscape disruption



Exhibit 39: Industry risks

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 40: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 41: Market positioning of vendors

10.3 AC Propulsion Inc.

Exhibit 42: AC Propulsion Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 43: AC Propulsion Inc. - Product and service



Exhibit 44: AC Propulsion Inc. - Key offerings

10.4 Coritech Services

Exhibit 45: Coritech Services - Overview



Exhibit 46: Coritech Services - Product and service



Exhibit 47: Coritech Services - Key offerings

10.5 Daimler AG

10.6 DENSO Corp.

Exhibit 53: DENSO Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 54: DENSO Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 55: DENSO Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 56: DENSO Corp. - Segment focus

10.7 Hitachi Ltd.

Exhibit 57: Hitachi Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 58: Hitachi Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 59: Hitachi Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 60: Hitachi Ltd. - Segment focus

10.8 Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

Exhibit 61: Honda Motor Co. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 62: Honda Motor Co. Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 63: Honda Motor Co. Ltd.  Key news



Exhibit 64: Honda Motor Co. Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 65: Honda Motor Co. Ltd. - Segment focus

10.9 Liikennevirta Oy Ltd.

Exhibit 66: Liikennevirta Oy Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 67: Liikennevirta Oy Ltd. - Product and service



Exhibit 68: Liikennevirta Oy Ltd. - Key offerings

10.10 NUVVE Corp.

Exhibit 69: NUVVE Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 70: NUVVE Corp. - Product and service



Exhibit 71: NUVVE Corp. - Key offerings

10.11 Qualcomm Inc.

Exhibit 72: Qualcomm Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 73: Qualcomm Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 74: Qualcomm Inc.  Key news



Exhibit 75: Qualcomm Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 76: Qualcomm Inc. - Segment focus

10.12 Tesla Inc.

Exhibit 77: Tesla Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 78: Tesla Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 79: Tesla Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 80: Tesla Inc. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 81: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.3 Research methodology

Exhibit 82: Research Methodology



Exhibit 83: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 84: Information sources

11.4 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 85: List of abbreviations

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

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
The two new programs from VISPARK, Spark Math and Spark Chinese, have been developed with best practices from decades of pedagogy research, cognitive science, and child-centered curriculum development. VISPARK's online classes are delivered in small groups with interactive and gamified tools and are guided by experienced local teachers whom are passionate about helping kids learn in a fun and engaging environment. The courseware includes rich multimedia content such as animations, games, and songs, to help make abstract concepts simple, concrete, and fun for kids to understand and apply in problem solving.

Spark Math curriculum is primarily modeled after the best-in-class Singapore Math framework and aligns with Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics. The program combines some of the best teaching methods globally to deepen students' understanding of mathematics and its applications, including:

Singapore Math's CPA (Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract) approach

Polya's Four-Step Problem-Solving Process

Heuristic Method of teaching

Transfer of Learning approach

Based on learning maps and data analytics, Spark Math provides computerized adaptive testing, learning analytics, personalized learning solutions for students, and instructional planning for online teachers. Through the use of technology, both teaching and learning are more personalized and effective.

Spark Education's math programs have gained popularity and demonstrated strong results with its students in Singapore excelling in various international math competitions.

"We're delighted that students are enjoying the classes. We take pride in our interactive tooling and small group live classes that help our students learn better and foster a passion for mathematics," commented in the program, Spark Education Director of Pedagogy, Reece Min said. "More importantly, it has been a privilege to see our students begin to love learning and grow more confident. They have become motivated and curious learners who are proud of their own development."

Spark Chinese provides several offerings tailored to learners with different backgrounds and learning goals. From students studying Chinese as a foreign language, to students fluent in Chinese, there are programs that suit the needs of each student. The curriculum focuses on fostering interest in language learning, integrating the foundational structures of the language with its practical application, history and culture. The immersive and interactive learning experience is complete with gamified courseware content designed by experienced educators and guided by fun and passionate teachers via one-on-one instruction or in small groups.

For more information and get your free trial, please visit VISPARK.

About VISPARK

VISPARK is a global online learning service from Spark Education, is designed for children aged 3-15. VISPARK's top programs include Spark Math and Spark Chinese. The research-based curriculum is delivered with high-quality course content, interactive courseware, and experienced teachers passionate about helping kids learn. We are committed to provide a lively, fun, and efficient learning experience for kids through our online live small group classes and one-on-one instruction to achieve learning results, inspire a love for learning, and build self-confidence for learners.

Media Contact

Sara Chen

[email protected]

SOURCE Spark Education Limited
Telecommunications group plans to modernize and move critical systems to dedicated Oracle Cloud Infrastructure regions to support rollout of next-generation communications services

AUSTIN, Texas and LONDON, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle and Vodafone, the largest pan-European and African technology communications company, today announced a strategic partnership to modernize the operator's European IT infrastructure and accelerate its transition to the cloud.

Under the multi-year agreement, Vodafone will modernize and migrate a large number of its systems to OCI Dedicated Region, a fully managed cloud region that brings all of Oracle's public cloud services into Vodafone's own network and data centers. This will provide a dedicated cloud platform for Vodafone to modernize its thousands of Oracle databases as well as to support and scale its mission-critical OSS and BSS systems, including CRM and order management.

The implementation will also enable Vodafone to build new cloud-based applications faster, and by taking advantage of its geographical scale, launch them in multiple markets at the same time.

Oracle will deploy OCI Dedicated Region in Vodafone's main data centers that manage its European IT and network operations. The deployment of public cloud services directly inside Vodafone's own network and data centers will enable the operator to flexibly modernize, manage and automate its critical systems using new technologies such as autonomous services, and more easily meet the latency and performance requirements of these applications.

Vodafone will also have close access to compute resources that enable it to dynamically augment and scale services in multiple geographies according to changing business requirements, while reducing operational costs and meeting data residency regulations.

The partnership supports Vodafone's multi-year initiative to consolidate and modernize the technology infrastructure that supports its mission-critical systems into a shared, on-premises, open-standard platform capable of supporting and scaling next-generation digital services. It will also help Vodafone further its Tech 2025 goals: reducing time-to-market of its services, providing stand-out customer experiences through always-on services, and reducing operational costs through automation.

"As Vodafone focuses on growth, data is key to how we evolve our business, build new capabilities and innovate to meet the needs of our customers. Our collaboration with Oracle supports our vision of becoming a technology communications company," said Scott Petty, Chief Digital & IT Officer, Vodafone. "The agreement enables Oracle to bring its entire portfolio of cloud services directly into Vodafone data centers. This includes the same architecture, software, services and control plane used in OCI public cloud. The flexibility offered by OCI enables us to build a robust, secure, and extensible cloud platform in our own data centers, while also providing the operational agility and scalability required to support the growth and diversification of our business."

"Telecom companies are reimagining their business models to innovate and monetize new opportunities at speed and at scale," said Clay Magouyrk, executive vice president, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. "Vodafone is at the forefront of this thinking, and we are excited to bring the power of OCI to Vodafone's data centers to support the company and its partners as they fast-track this vision and deliver the next generation of connected services."

"Now more than ever, telecom companies need to quickly adopt new technologies to deliver new innovative products at speed while continuing to meet evolving regulatory requirements. Our partnership with Vodafone is based on achieving this balance, providing a cloud platform that enables Vodafone to modernize and consolidate its existing infrastructure while also building a foundation for a digital future. We are looking forward to partnering with one of the telecom sector's digital trailblazers as we help shape the next generation of communication services and business models," said Jonathan Tikochinsky, executive vice president, global strategic clients, Oracle.

About Oracle

Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

Trademarks

Oracle, Java, and MySQL are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation.

SOURCE Oracle
Despite Washington DC-area limitations on scooters, a niche tour company is ready to launch scooter tours of the National Mall

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Adventure DC Tricycle Tours co-owner Barry Ivan Silber aims to have his company provide the first guided tours of the National Mall on electric scooters, in spite of possible obstacles. Currently, his tour company conducts private by-appointment tours for visitors on pedicabs.

Seeing and using scooters on the street gave Silber the idea of conducting tours on scooter. But federal and city restrictions make using street rented scooters for tours extraordinarily difficult. In October 2021 Washington DC changed the parking requirement for rentable scooters, requiring them to be locked up to a bike lock or public sign. And since April 2021, all publicly rentable scooters on the National Mall have been restricted to certain parking locations.

Silber is in talks with scooter leasing companies with the goal of giving Adventure DC Tricycle Toursthe ability to provide tours on scooters. "Scooter tours will be something new and exciting for DC visitors," Silber said. Using a pre-existing fleet will allow Silber's company to operate without the same restrictions as those renting scooters on the street.

"These barriers didn't just block scooter parking. They blocked guided tour opportunities  until now," Silber said. Adventure DC Tricycle Tours plans to partner with companies leasing scooters. Doing so will allow his guided tours to avoid certain restrictions.

About Adventure DC Tricycle Tours

Adventure DC Tricycle Tours gives exclusive, private, once-in-a-lifetime tours, transporting families on tricycle for customized tours of Washington DC's National Mall. On tour, families can see all the Washington DC monuments and memorials, the White House, and the Capitol at their own pace, with no bus-filled crowding or walking  and no waiting. Adventure DC Tricycle Tours is welcoming of people with mobility impairments and it is dog-friendly. Major review sites rate Adventure DC Tricycle Tours with an average of 5 stars. The company's core competency is providing entertaining, educational tours. Through July 2022 the company is giving away a free e-guidebook, "A Tricycle Pilot's Guide to Washington DC's Monuments & Memorials" which answers the most questions visitors have asked company guides over the years.

Contact:

Adventure DC Tricycle Tours

Barry Ivan Silber

202-515-0307

[email protected]

SOURCE Adventure DC Tricycle Tours
After joining the SEC in 2016just as the fintech industry was emerging in the U.S. and globallyMaitra became one of the agency's key experts on a diverse range of issues and developments spawned by fintech companies entering or creating new markets. Examples include initial coin offerings, broker-dealer regulation of cryptocurrency companies, and innovative trading platforms. He also had substantial involvement with matters concerning 1940 Act-registered funds, digital asset trading platforms (including alternative trading systems, or "ATSs"), and issues related to digital assets and decentralized finance (DeFi).

"Neel has a unique combination of agency experience and industry awareness that is highly relevant to companies and investors in the fintech sector," said Doug Clark, managing partner at Wilson Sonsini. "He understands the intricacies of applicable securities laws, regulatory priorities, and enforcement efforts, and the extent to which those can be advantageous or disadvantageous to fintech clients."

Maitra worked on several proposals to create cryptocurrency-based, exchange-traded products, including the Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust; the first proposal to create a national securities exchange for digitally enhanced securities; and various efforts to address broker-dealer custody of crypto asset securities. He has also helped to coordinate efforts between federal securities, banking, and commodities regulatory agencies. While Maitra was in the SEC's Division of Trading and Markets, he was also a delegate to the FinHub, the SEC entity that has been central to defining the regulatory treatment of digital assets and blockchain-related products, as well as other innovative products within the SEC's jurisdiction.

"I'm excited about joining Wilson Sonsini because it's a one-of-a-kind law firm that has built its brand through its representation of companies and investors driving the new economy, and stands alone in its ability to deliver legal services to bold market creators in the fintech sector," said Maitra. "I look forward to the opportunity to leverage my experience to help the firm's clients define the new fintech frontier."

Before working at the SEC, Maitra was an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell in Washington, D.C., where he worked on securities, funds, and broker-dealer matters. He started his legal career at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C.

Maitra earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2010. He also received a Bachelor of Civil Laws degree from the University of Oxford, and B.A. and L.L.B. degrees from the National Law School of India University. He is admitted to practice in Washington, D.C., and New York.

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini's services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has offices in 18 technology and business hubs worldwide. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com.

SOURCE Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
HOHHOT, China, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- From June 14-16, the 15th Global Dairy Congress was hosted in Laval, France. Dr. Zhanyou Yun, Assistant President of Yili Group, attended the "Innovation for the Future" session, delivering a keynote speech with the theme "Create Value through Innovation". Dr. Gerrit Smit, Managing Director of Yili Innovation Center Europe, attended the roundtable discussion.

The World Dairy Innovation Awards was held simultaneously with the Congress. Leveraging strategic synergies and resource integration, Yili Group and its subsidiary Ausnutria topped the tally with six awards, covering segments of packaging design, infant nutrition, intolerance-friendly dairy products, ice cream, cheese and dairy snacks.

One of the judges commented, "Yili have their finger on the pulse when it comes to identifying gaps in the market and creating brilliant innovative products that both taste and look great while simultaneously serving a purpose."

Dr. Yun explained how Yili has focused on building a globally integrated innovation network, which helped the company win worldwide recognition. "Integrating talent and intelligence resources, we have currently set up a total of 15 innovation centers scattered around the world, and a 'global intelligence chain' has now been established."

Developing health products through consumer-centric innovation

"Guided by our New Vision for Value Creation, Yili pursues development as an innovation-driven company. We are dedicated to launching health products to meet the full life-cycle, all-scenario needs among all types of consumers," said Dr. Yun.

For consumers to freely enjoy cheese without storage limitations, Yili developed the "Best Cheese" winner -- the ambient cheese lollipop, which is rich in nutrition and can be safely stored at room temperature. Revisiting traditional Chinese aesthetics, the Xujinhuan 3D Fresh Milk Ice Cream has been designed into the elegant shape of a Chinese fan, featuring traditional painting carved on the surface. Developed with global high-quality milk and ingredients, the beautiful look is also accompanied by good flavor and nutrition. For middle-aged and the elderly men, a group more focused on bone health and physical fitness, the Shuhua Lactose -- Free Milk for Dad includes 50% more natural calcium, vitamin D and taurine. Applying Yili's patented technology of LHT lactose hydrolysis, the product also addresses the problem of lactose intolerance that is common among Asian consumers.

At the Congress, Dr. Yun also shared the company's progress in building a "Dairy Silicon Valley". In June, four key projects of Yili's Future Intelligence and Healthy Valley will be put into operation in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, including a liquid milk production base, a milk powder production base, the Chilechuan Ecological Smart Farm, and the Yili Intelligent Manufacturing Experience Center.

Commitment to building a net-zero carbon future

Talking about dairy's role in addressing climate change, Dr. Yun said, "Embracing the tide of sustainable development across the globe, Yili has rolled out net-zero carbon products and factories, issued the Roadmap to a Net-Zero Carbon Future, and joined hands with our partners throughout the industrial chain to build a net-zero carbon future."

In April, Yili took the lead in China's food industry to launch time-bound targets on carbon reduction, aiming to realize industrial chain-wide carbon neutrality before 2050.

On June 5, Yili also introduced the packaging featuring "no printing, less ink". Applying the technology of ink reduction printing, the packaging is able to save ink consumption by 60%. The outer carton is 80% made up of recycled paper. By upgrading into paper handles, every 100,000 outer cartons will reduce plastic usage equating to 260 kg.

Image Attachments Links:

Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=423776

Caption: Yili won six world dairy innovation awards.

SOURCE Yili Group
Finding date ideas in Los Angeles just got a whole lot easier using WooDate's date idea search engine

LOS ANGELES, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WooDate, the online date planning company that helps thousands of monthly users find date ideas in the Bay Area, has officially expanded into Los Angeles. People living in or travelling to Los Angeles will now be able to easily create date plans using the date idea search engine or request curated date plans using the date planning copilot service.

WooDate Homepage

"It's exciting to launch into the city of Los Angeles. We were able to get creative and streamline our processes to make this happen relatively quickly," explained CEO Daniel Ferras. "The timing works nicely as summer approaches, places open, and events start up again. This platform will be a helpful, new guide for finding fun and romantic date plans."

Los Angeles is a sprawling area with a dense diversity of restaurants, activities, bars, coffee shops, and dessert stores. WooDate is able to find, filter, and add the highest quality of these date stops and activities. The website currently includes 2,000-plus date ideas throughout Los Angeles, and they will continue to find and grow that number while increasing their presence in the area.

"This expansion is the first of many in the future. We're keen on expanding to promote healthy relationships and reduce the stress involved with planning dates. The average person 18 years and older in the U.S. goes on nearly 31 dates per year, and according to Hinge, '81% of people are stressed planning dates,'" explained Daniel. "That's 2-3 times a month people feel this unneeded stressed. We're motivated to eliminate that stress, and this first expansion is a giant step to help get us to that point."

Visit WooDate at www.woodate.co or find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Media Contact:

Daniel Ferras

4086345804

[email protected]

SOURCE WooDate
Harbour Energy PLC (LSE:HBR) slammed the seriously flawed windfall tax in a letter to the Chancellor of Exchequer.

The UKs biggest oil and gas producer urged Rishi Sunak to rethink the 5bn windfall tax on big companies profits.

Its chief executive Linda Cook insisted to the Chancellor the Energy Profits Levy (EPL) would disproportionately impact independent companies in the industry instead of majors like Shell PLC (LSE:SHEL, NYSE:SHEL) and BP PLC (LSE:BP.).

The four largest independent UK producers, including Harbour, are forecast to deliver over 440,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day this year, Cook said, before adding: We should all be concerned about the disproportionate impact the EPL  as currently proposed  has on these smaller companies.

It was announced in May that a 25% tax on profits of North Sea oil and gas companies would be implemented to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis.

Cook predicted it will cost the largest independent producers over 2.5bn by 2025.

While Harbour Energy appreciates the scale of the cost-of-living crisis in the UK, the EPL will only result in less capital being available for companies to invest in the North Sea, for both oil and gas and energy-transition projects, a Harbour spokesperson commented.

Its shares rose 1.9% to 353.7p.
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AssetCo PLC (AIM:ASTO), the wealth management company led by Aberdeen AM co-founder Martin Gilbert, has agreed to buy SVM Asset Management PLC (LSE:SVM) for cash and convertible loan notes.

The deal is worth about 10.7mln, with 1.7mln to be paid in cash. The remainder will be paid by the issue of 9mln 1% fixed rate unsecured convertible loan notes in AssetCo.

The loan notes may be converted into fully paid ordinary shares of 10p each in the company at an effective issue price of 14.50 and will be repaid on 31 December 2023 if not converted.

SVM is an Edinburgh-based fund management business which currently has 586mln in assets under management (AuM), including in its listed investment trust the SVM UK Emerging Fund PLC, and generated a profit of 2mln in the last financial year.

It will spearhead AssetCos plans to have a significant asset management hub in Edinburgh, the company said, adding to Saracen Fund Managers and Revera Asset Management also in the Scottish capital.

Upon completion, Colin McLean, managing director and chief investment officer of SVM, will become a director of AssetCos Scottish business.

The deal is expected to complete in September and is subject to Financial Conduct Authority approval.

Margaret Lawson, who co-founded the company in 1990, will continue in her role managing UK equity portfolios.

Gilbert and several board members at AssetCo will join the SVM board to support the continued growth of SVM and AssetCos Scottish business, according to a statement.

SVM is a well-regarded fund management firm, with a recognised investment style and a very strong investment track record, said Gilbert, who is chairman of AssetCo.

Its business model, people and product offering are its key assets, and it is core to AssetCo's ambitions, Gilbert added.

AssetCo believes the acquisition will improve its Scottish and UK brands, as well as complement its own existing funds.

The London-listed firm will have 3.5bn in AuM upon completion.
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE:RR.) will give staff a one-off payment to help with the cost-of-living crisis.

More than 14,000 members of staff will be given a 2,000 payment, with the first lump sums to be rolled out to 3,000 employees in August, according to the BBC.

The remaining 11,000 unionised workers will receive the payment when their union approves the amount.

The payment will mainly cover junior management and shop floor staff at its Derby and Bristol sites.

A spokesperson for the FTSE 100 firm told the BBC that 70% of its UK workforce will receive the one-off payment, and that shop staff will receive the highest annual pay rise for at least a decade.

The spokesperson also said the unionised members will be offered a 4% increase in pay, backdated to March, and that discussions with unions over a pay settlement for the next year are ongoing.
Scirocco Energy PLC (AIM:SCIR) chair Alastair Ferguson has told shareholders it is in their own best interests to approve the sale of the companys Tanzanian assets at an upcoming EGM.

The company earlier this month agreed a deal to sell Sciroccos 25% stake in the Ruvuma asset, which primarily comprises the Ntroya gas field development project, to Wentworth Resources and a shareholder vote is scheduled for Wednesday, 29 June.

Ferguson and the Scirocco board, which own just over 3% of the company's shares, are recommending shareholders approve the deal.

Sciroccos deal has a headline value of US$16mln albeit US$3mln of that is upfront and US$13mln is both deferred and contingent upon the future performance of gas operations (should they be delivered successfully by Wentworth and its new partners Aminex and ARA Petroleum).

Significantly, as highlighted by Ferguson, however, the companys participation in the pending field development would be subject to a cash call, of around US$6mln, to cover Sciroccos share of costs for the planned Chikumbi-1 well later this year.

Further funding requirements would also follow, subject to the Chikumbi results, to develop the field which is targeting commercial gas production before the end of 2024.

Ferguson, in his letter, cautioned shareholders over the potential risks that Scirocco would face if it were to retain the Tanzanian assets.

Should the resolution not be passed, the company will be required to fulfil its near-term funding obligations on the Ruvuma asset which can only be achieved by raising further equity, likely in excess of its current market capitalisation, and at a level of issuance and price that would be highly dilutive for existing shareholders, he said in the letter.

There are no guarantees that the company will be able to raise the capital required to meet near-term obligations which would likely lead to the company defaulting on its financial commitments and potentially relinquish its interest in Ruvuma for zero consideration.

Adding further to the potential uncertainties, he added: It should also be recognised that success is not guaranteed in the upcoming CH-1 well and the ultimate approval, extent of or timing of a related development is also uncertain.

The Ruvuma project involves significant technical and subsurface uncertainties, meaning the company would retain material downside exposure associated with the project, as well as the potential long-term requirement for large capex expenditure, implying further dilutive capital raises in order to maintain our interest.

Those factors and the significant concentration in a single asset lead the board and management to conclude that this is not an appropriate risk/reward profile for Scirocco and does not provide a reasonably deliverable path to growth or cashflow.

Chief executive Tom Reynolds, in a recent interview with Proactive, described the Wentworth transaction as the best deal available to the company.

The Ruvuma asset, as weve consistently said, is a robust and strong asset but we havent believed that Scirocco is the right home for it.

Instead, the Scirocco board believes that the US$3mln cash injection and removal of Tanzanian funding requirements will allow it to accelerate its proposed investment and growth plans which target cash-generative assets within the sustainable energy and circular economy markets.

Ferguson, in his letter, added: Completion of the divestment will enable the company to accelerate its growth strategy, which we believe will enable the board to build a business with a long-term future capable of generating sustainable returns for its shareholders.

As such, the board encourages all shareholders to cast their vote and strongly recommend that shareholders vote in favour of passing the proposed acquisition at the upcoming general meeting.
GlaxoSmithKline PLC kept an 'equal weight' stance with Barclays ahead of the demerger of Haleon, its consumer health business, in July.

Analysts at the bank harmonised GSK Consumer Health forecasts ahead of Haleons launch, with projected sales of 10.7bn, underlying earnings (EBITDA) of 2.6bn and net income of 1.5bn.

Additionally, Barclays upped its forecasts for GSKs Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine following a positive readout, with strong efficacy results expected.

As a result, Barclays increased its RSV vaccine sales forecast to 3.3bn from 2.5bn, and also increases its point of sale estimate.

Even so, Barclays thinks more improvement is required before further multiple expansion for new GSK as an independent company.

Its target price remains unchanged at 1,800p.
WTI $109.56 u/c*, Brent $114.13 +$1.01, Diff -$4.57 +$1.01.*

USNG $6.94 +6c, UKNG 215.0p +10.0p, TTF 127.160 -34c.

*US Closed for Juneteenth Day

Oil price

Markets were closed in the US for the Juneteenth Day holiday but elsewhere where it was traded oil rallied modestly. A combination of taxes has emerged from the US, Sleepy Joe is hoping to suspend the Federal gasoline tax in order to get the price under control as the $5 barrier was breached last week. Secondly the US, along with Canada and other countries in Europe according to Reuters, are pitching for a price cap on Russian oil and gas.

The better news came from Libya where some peace came to the nation and some 700/- b/d has started to flow from there. Also there were some reports of China easing Covid regulations in major cities but it is still quite some way from total freedom.

Reabold Resources/ Union Jack Oil

Reabold has provide an update on the West Newton Project, in which the Company owns a 56% economic interest. Union Jack Oil has a 16.665% interest.

Highlights:

The Company is progressing the conceptual development plan for West Newton as, predominantly, a gas development project following the completion of the significant work carried out by PEDL 183 Joint Venture partners and independent third-party experts

Post Extended Well Test analysis: Indicates the potential for good well productivity from new wells and, Underpins the strong economic returns of the project

Conceptual plan (subject to funding) envisages a phased eight well gas development, which will target recoverable hydrocarbon volumes of 35 Mboe with a sales gas component of 203 Bcf Following an initial five well development drilling campaign, First Gas is anticipated as early as 2025 A further three wells will be drilled in 2028-2030, modelling plateau production rates of 44 Mcfd of sales gas Economic modelling calculated a Gross pre-tax NPV(10) of $448 million and a pre-tax IRR of 87%, based on recoverable sales gas and small volumes of associated liquids, for the development Potential for further fields within the Greater West Newton area to be tied into West Newton infrastructure; not currently included in the modelling

The Joint Venture intends to drill the low-cost wells in a manner which phases the development cost, significantly de-risking the financial profile of the project

Immediate next steps include: Completion of a Competent Persons Report (CPR) by RPS Group (LSE:RPS) in Q3 2022 First development well, planned for H1 2023 to materially de-risk the project at modest cost



A new presentation which details the work completed and the Companys strategy to deliver production from West Newton can be found on the Companys website here: https://reabold.com/investor-relations/reports-and-presentations/.

Project Background

Following the results of the first EWT programme at West Newton A-2 and B1-z in 2021, the Company, together with its Joint Venture partners and third-party experts, including RPS and CoreLab, have worked to understand how to deliver significant commercial hydrocarbon flow from future wells at West Newton. Following post EWT analysis, it is now understood that two key issues which constrained hydrocarbon production at last years test were local formation damage and a lower than anticipated benefit from the acidisation process, where acid stimulation only interacted with a small section of the perforated intervals.

Crucially, analysis completed by CoreLab demonstrated actual fluid flow through many of the reservoir samples supporting the view that optimised development wells could deliver good hydrocarbon productivity. Furthermore, this has enabled the Company to formulate a development concept for the West Newton field based on eight wells and the associated gas and liquid infrastructure.

In addition, it is estimated that the eight wells would recover substantially all the recoverable gas from West Newton of 203 Bcf, which equates to 25 bcf of recoverable sales gas per well. The initial five wells are expected to deliver the plateau production rate of 44 Mcf/d of gas, with the additional three wells to be drilled between 2028 and 2030 extending the plateau.

Economic modelling[1] indicates significant cash flow generation from the first year of production, anticipated in 2025, with cumulative gross cash flow calculated at ca. US$1.3 billion. The Gross NPV(10) of the project is modelled to be US$448 million pre-tax with a pre-tax IRR of 87%. Initial scoping work indicates a total pre-production capex of US$139 million for the initial five well development, facilities and tie-in with additional wells drilled from cash flow.

It is expected that successful drilling results on the follow-on targets (Spring Hill, Withernsea and Ellerby) would utilise parts of the infrastructure used at West Newton adding significant further value to the licence.

[1] Based on RPS forecast gas price as at April 2022.

Stephen Williams, Co-CEO, commented:

We are delighted by the results of work completed by RPS Group and CoreLab, which have demonstrated the potential of West Newton as an extremely valuable gas development opportunity. Centred in an area of significant infrastructure and with substantial additional exploration potential within the licence, a development at West Newton could deliver substantial volumes of low-carbon gas and also facilitate further success in the Greater West Newton Area.

These studies are the beginning of an exciting new chapter for this project, which we expect will see Reabold drilling multiple, high-impact wells at West Newton in the coming years.

David Bramhill, Executive Chairman of Union Jack commented:

We are delighted by the results of work completed by RPS Group and CoreLab and the resulting Conceptual Development Plan, which has demonstrated West Newtons potential as an extremely valuable gas development opportunity.

Located in an area that has access to both significant and relevant regional infrastructure and, with substantial additional exploration potential within the wider licence, the Conceptual Development Plan and a subsequent development decision at West Newton could deliver substantial volumes of low-carbon sales gas into the UKs energy market and could also facilitate further exploration activity and development potential within the Greater West Newton Area.

These studies and the resulting Conceptual Development Plan now see the commencement of an exciting new drilling phase for West Newton which will see Union Jack drill a high-impact well in 1H 2023 and multiple development wells at West Newton in the coming years.

A new presentation which details the work completed and the Companys strategy to deliver production from West Newton can be found on the Companys website at www.unionjackoil.com

This is a very detailed analysis from some of the best in the industry and whilst it has yet to persuade either of the quoted participants in terms of market cap appreciation there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that West Newton is in the process of becoming a huge, massively profitable development.

Ever since discovery West Newton has challenged in terms of operational complexity, a smidge of drilling incompetence and even down to whether the development was one of oil or gas. It is therefore refreshing to see that this analysis proves for once and for all that it is a gas play with what might become significant liquids as a bonus.

So, expect to see a solution that as a gas development starting with a five well programme that could see first gas as son as 2025 to target recoverable hydrocarbon volumes of 35 Mboe with a sales gas component of 203 Bcf which will increase after at least three further wells.

The numbers show a robust economic case which whilst initially targeting the gas will mean that associated liquids can be easily distributed as part of the infrastructure. This makes enormous sense to me as delivering the gas first complies with national requirements for clean, transitional fuel producing significant benefits for the UKs security of supply in the next few years.

Investors would be well advised to look in some detail the presentations that both companies have added to their websites which give a wealth of additional information which to me show just how big West Newton is and could be. The size of it will dwarf the market caps of both companies which if not recognised by the market will, I am 100% sure, be taken over by an entity that has seen the same massive upside as I have done.

If Union Jack compound their value by starting to pay a dividend over the next few days then that would make them even cheaper, in my views both companies have a significant store of value here, how soon before someone takes a piece of this ultra cheap action

Scirocco Energy

Scirocco has announced that Alastair Ferguson, Non-Executive Chairman, has written a letter to all shareholders providing additional context on the Boards strategic rationale for its proposed transaction with Wentworth Resources as announced on 13 June 2022.

The full text of that letter is copied below.

Dear fellow shareholders,

As communicated to you in the circular on 13 June 2022 and the webinar on 16 June 2022, the Company is proposing to dispose of its legacy Ruvuma asset and notice was given of a General Meeting of the Company to take place at 10:30am on 29 June 2022 at Pinsent Masons LLP, 141 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, G2 7EQ where the proposition will be put to a vote as an ordinary resolution for approval by holders of Ordinary Shares.

Under the proposed Asset Purchase Agreement, the consideration for the Ruvuma asset comprises:

initial consideration of $3,000,000 in cash payable upon completion of the Proposed Transaction and prior to Completion and subject to satisfaction of certain conditions Wentworth will make a loan of $500,000 available to Scirocco (the Initial Loan Amount); plus

contingent deferred consideration of up to $13,000,000 in aggregate, made up of the following payments: $3,000,000 to be paid following the date on which the operating committee provides final approval of a development plan under the Ruvuma JOA; $8,000,000 which shall be payable from first gas on the Ruvuma Asset where the net revenues payable to Wentworth under any sale arrangements shall be payable 75% to Wentworth and 25% to Scirocco until such time as Scirocco has been paid $8,000,000; and $2,000,000 following the date on which the cumulative gross production from the Ruvuma Asset is equal or greater than 50 billion cubic feet.



The Asset Purchase Agreement was the result of an exhaustive two-year process, and the Directors unanimously agree that it represents the best possible deal for Scirocco to realise value from the asset, while retaining material upside exposure in the success case of Ruvuma.

At the same time, the deal significantly strengthens the Companys balance sheet by providing an immediate and non-dilutive injection of funds, allowing Scirocco to pursue its current investing strategy targeting cash-generative assets within the sustainable energy and circular economy markets, as approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of 9 July 2021.

All shareholders are encouraged to vote in favour of the proposed transaction

It is the duty of the Board and management to safeguard the interest of all shareholders and make decisions that we believe are in the best interest of the Company. The intention of the proposed divestment that we are asking shareholders to vote on has been communicated clearly by the Company through the two-year sales process and is wholly consistent with the revised investing strategy set out by Sciroccos Board.

Completion of the divestment will enable the Company to accelerate its growth strategy, which we believe will enable the Board to build a business with a long-term future capable of generating sustainable returns for its shareholders. As such, the Board encourages all shareholders to cast their vote and strongly recommend that shareholders vote in favour of passing the proposed acquisition at the upcoming General Meeting.

Should the resolution not be passed, the Company will be required to fulfil its near-term funding obligations on the Ruvuma asset which can only be achieved by raising further equity, likely in excess of its current market capitalisation, and at a level of issuance and price that would be highly dilutive for existing shareholders. There are no guarantees that the Company will be able to raise the capital required to meet near-term obligations which would likely lead to the Company defaulting on its financial commitments and potentially relinquish its interest in Ruvuma for zero consideration.

It should also be recognised that success is not guaranteed in the upcoming CH-1 well and the ultimate approval, extent of or timing of a related development is also uncertain. The Ruvuma project involves significant technical and subsurface uncertainties, meaning the Company would retain material downside exposure associated with the project, as well as the potential long-term requirement for large capex expenditure, implying further dilutive capital raises in order to maintain our interest. Those factors and the significant concentration in a single asset lead to the Board and management to conclude that this is not an appropriate risk/reward profile for Scirocco and does not provide a reasonably deliverable path to growth or cashflow.

It is therefore the firm belief of the Directors that the passing of the Resolution is in the best interests of the Company and Shareholders, and we unanimously recommend shareholders vote in favour.

The Directors who hold shares, totalling 3.2% of the issued share capital, will be voting in favour of the proposal. Additionally, the Company has received letters from significant shareholders representing 11.1% of the Companys issued share capital which confirm they are supportive of the proposed transaction and that it is their current intention to vote in favour of the resolution at the General Meeting.

Shareholders can submit their vote by completing the below proxy form (available on the website) and emailing the completed form to Voting@shareregistrars.uk.com.

https://d1ssu070pg2v9i.cloudfront.net/pex/scirocco/2022/06/13152517/FINAL-PROXY.pdf

We look forward to the successful completion of this transaction and moving forward as a well-funded, strategically focused company with a clear vision to deliver sustainable long-term value for the Companys shareholders.

Sincerely,

Alastair Ferguson

Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Scirocco

I think that the purpose of this message from the Chairman is clear enough, they feel that they need to get across to shareholders that the historic nature of the Ruvuma investment, made by previous management is not suited to the new growth strategy of the company.

Also given that the recent clear policy to monetise the Ruvuma asset at the best possible price has now been exercised, subject to approvals then the action that the board are taking is just what they have always been committed to. That they have been offered what they consider to be fair offer, maybe the point that is being made here is that this is the only offer on the table and is one that shareholders should accept.

United Oil & Gas

United Oil & Gas has announced the spudding of the Al Jahraa-14 development (AJ-14) well in the Abu Sennan licence, onshore Egypt.

AJ -14 summary

 Drilling of the AJ-14 development well has commenced

 The well is primarily targeting the main producing c Abu Roash C (ARC) reservoir on the Al Jahraa Field, with a secondary target in the Abu Roash G (ARG)

 The well is expected to take approximately 60 days to drill and complete and is fully funded from operational cashflow

 On completion of drilling, AJ-14 is expected to be rapidly brought into production

Following mobilisation of the Sino Tharwa-1 rig to site, the operator of the Abu Sennan licence, Kuwait Energy Egypt (KEE), has notified the Joint Venture (JV) partners that the AJ-14 well has commenced drilling.

The AJ-14 well is being drilled to intersect the ARC reservoir, targeting reserves from an undrained area of the Al Jahraa Field identified from reservoir and simulation modelling work. In addition, there is a deeper secondary objective in the ARG reservoir, with the well targeting an area up-dip of the AJ-12 well (drilled in 2019), which tested oil from this reservoir. If successful, the well is expected to be quickly tied into existing facilities, adding additional production and revenue for the Company.

The AJ-14 development well is the third well drilled in 2022. The Sino Tharwa-1 rig was previously used to drill the ASV-1X exploration well.

ASV-1X well update

The comprehensive testing programme on the ASV-1X well that was announced on 30 May 2022 is continuing, with a rig-less testing unit and downhole pump being put in place following the rig move to the AJ-14 location. A further update will be provided on completion of the test programme.

United holds a 22% working interest in the Licence, which is operated by KEE.

Brian Larkin, CEO commented:

We look forward to continuing the 2022 drilling programme with the spudding of the AJ-14 development well, the third of five wells expected to be drilled this year. As we have shown, successful development wells can be brought into production within days via existing infrastructure, adding production and revenue to the Company and with a typical well achieving payback within several months. Egypt offers a low-cost operating environment, with attractive fiscal terms and continues to deliver positive operational cashflow to United.

I am looking forward to catching up with UOG next week as I like the look of their drilling programme in Egypt which by and large is delivering for them and finding out about what else might fit into what at present is a fairly narrow portfolio.
Cobra Resources chief executive Rupert Verco sent Proactive an exclusive video update from what the company describes as a potentially world-class rare earth province, the Wudinna Project in South Australia.

Earlier this week, Cobra announced it had defined exceptional high-grade rare earth intersections following re-analysis of more drill holes at Wudinna, and, through a video call Verco gives Proactive further insights to the venture.
As Ocado Group PLC (LSE:OCDO) raised another chunk of cash it said it will satisfy its needs for the medium term.

However, the arrival of another fundraising from the reverse cash machine that is the FTSE 100 company was met with a little frustration but not surprise by long-time followers who view it as one of the ultimate jam tomorrow peddlers.

In full, Ocado said the 578mln of new funds from institutional and retail investors, alongside 300mln of bank finance, will allow the company to capitalise on the opportunity set over the medium term.

This received a sceptical hmm from analyst Clive Black at Shore Capital, who has seen similar promises before.

Indeed for Black, head of research at the Liverpool-based broker, this is a placing that reflects material cash burn and concerns about liquidity.

It follows four weeks after a profit warning for Ocados 50% owned UK joint venture Ocado Retail and four months after the even worse one before that, with the offer at a 9% discount to the last closing price and more than a 70% discount to the share price in early 2021.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, elaborates on the jam-tomorrow riff, saying Ocado has greased its baking trays by means of winning numerous contracts with third party grocery sellers, with the next stage being to fill these trays with the right ingredients to support their online grocery operations, and thats where all the extra money is needed alongside making improvements to its systems.

Ocado, which has so far evaded profitability for all but three years since it was founded in 2000 and floated in 2010, dangled the carrot of a clear path to potential group revenue of 6.3bn+ and group EBITDA of 750m+.

It said this path was paved by its Solutions business, the tech business that has 11 overseas clients with which it is building a combined 58 customer fulfilment centres (CFCs).

The lack of precision in the medium term guidance may only add to the frustration of some followers.

Ocado states that the online market will continue to grow, but the latest grocery figures which emerged this morning showed it is currently contracting as households return to some pre-pandemic habits and eschew the extra delivery costs.

Black notes that this all comes as the UK economy heads into a potentially deep recession, which he notes that Ocado's most recent statement suggests it is notably exposed.

He also takes issue with Ocado promising EBITDA of 750mln, which he says is a luxury for this business as shareholders do not live off EBITDA, particularly when monetary policy tightens, and risk becomes a bigger issue in equity valuation.

This is because EBITDA allows the group to exclude all manner of major items that would chip away at its true profit figure: R&D is amortised, assets do depreciate and need updating and replacement, and Ocados operations are high intensity in this respect.

Furthermore, profitable businesses do actually tend to pay tax and deliver retained profits and even free cash flow.

Black says it leaves open the question as to how should that EBITDA be valued if it is continually expanded to no transparent shareholder gain in terms of matters like earnings and dividends.
Marks and Spencer Group PLC (LSE:MKS) has criticised the governments decision to hold a public enquiry into the planned demolition of the retailers Oxford Street store.

The FTSE 250 wants to knock down its flagship store at Londons Marble Arch and build a more modern building in its place but its plans have run into opposition.

Communities Secretary Michael Gove decided yesterday that Westminster Council cannot grant planning permission until the government has examined the plans.

We are bewildered and disappointed at Michael Gove's baseless decision to call in the proposed redevelopment of our Marble Arch site, said Sacha Berendji, director of group property, store development and technology at M&S.

The secretary of state has blocked the only retail-led regeneration in the whole of Oxford Street in a building which was refused listed status due to its low design quality and, while safe, cannot be modernised through re-fitting as it is three separate buildings containing asbestos," grumbled Berendji.

Berendji went on to suggest that Gove appears to prefer a proliferation of stores hawking counterfeit goods to a gold-standard retail-led regeneration of the nation's favourite high street.

Environmental campaigners have opposed the demolition of the art deco building, citing concerns over carbon emissions.

A report by Simon Sturgis, the Greater London Authoritys carbon advisor, claimed nearly 40,000 tonnes of CO2 would be emitted during construction.

Henrietta Billings, the director of SAVE Britains Heritage, argued that the building could continue to serve as a landmark on Oxford Street for the next 100 years with a sympathetic refit.
Caspin Resources Ltd (ASX:CPN) has started drilling and geochemical soil sampling programs at the Mount Squires Project in the West Musgrave region of Western Australia.

Drilling has begun at the Duchess prospect, where previous soil geochemistry identified a zoned molybdenum-lead-copper-gold anomaly covering an area of at least 2 square kilometres.

Drilling is expected to take around four to six weeks to complete.

In a handy financial advantage for the company, testing is partly funded by the WA Government's Exploration Incentive Scheme, which supports greenfields exploration.

Caspin is drilling approximately 10,000 metres and will also collect 2,500 soil samples at the project, which is in an underexplored area and is highly prospective for copper-gold and nickel-copper styles of mineralisation.

Mount Squires Project with prospect locations.

The element zonation of the anomaly is characteristic of deeply weathered porphyry copper systems in which copper, gold and lead are usually strongly leached, whilst more immobile elements such as molybdenum remain in-situ, proximal to mineralisation in the core of the system.

Additional zonation effects are observed in tin, thallium, bismuth and selenium, which are all common elements found in halos around intrusive porphyry systems.

Early stage but well endowed

Caspins chief executive officer Greg Miles said, Mount Squires is a very early-stage project located in a well-endowed, but under-explored province.

"Were excited about finally getting back on the ground after a long pandemic-related disruption. The timing is excellent, while we wait for assays from our recent drilling at Yarawindah, we give our investors further exposure to discovery in another frontier with world-class potential.

Our primary focus will be on the Duchess Prospect, which because of its unique element zonation and sheer scale, demands to be drill tested.

"We also recognise that were on the doorstep of one of Australias largest undeveloped nickel and copper deposits at Nebo-Babel.

"There are already multiple targets from limited exploration and we think over time Mount Squires will grow into being a very important part of our portfolio.

Drilling will first focus on broad-spaced centres, testing the core of the anomaly as well as at least seven kilometres of strike. It is expected this will show the scale of anomalism in the broader prospect area.

Looking for extensions

Once drilling at Duchess is done, Caspin will move the rig to the eastern boundary of the project where it is seeking to find extensions of the West Musgrave trend that hosts magmatic nickel-copper mineralisation.

Drilling will search for mafic and ultramafic intrusive rocks that host strong copper mineralisation at the One Tree Hill Prospect, owned by OZ Minerals Ltd and only 200 metres from the tenement boundary.

Aircore drilling will be used, despite limited depth penetration, due to its quick and cheap nature, with up to 10,000 metres to be drilled across both target areas.

Soil geochemistry expansion

Caspin has been encouraged by recent soil sampling results that identified the Duchess Prospect, which is likely the result of utilising relatively new ultra-fine fraction assay methodology.

This technique is designed to minimise the dilutionary effects of sand cover which is prevalent in the West Musgrave region.

Soil sampling at Mount Squires Project, June 2022.

Caspin will expand the soil geochemistry program by collecting about 2,500 samples along strike and elsewhere across the project area as it looks to identify new anomalies on both the Handpump Duchess and West Musgrave Trends for later reconnaissance-style drill testing.
Australian Strategic Materials Ltd (ASX:ASM)s Dave Woodall speaks with Proactives Andrew Scott about the Dubbo Project and its move towards development. Woodall explains the companys relationship with Hyundai and how the latter will play a major role in progressing the feed component of the Dubbo Project and provide engineering, procurement and construction definition work (EPCD). ASMs managing director also discusses the recent US$15 million subscription agreement with Korean-based KCF Energy, which gives ASM vital equity funding and further develops the relationship between ASM and the consortium. The companies have agreed to negotiate on a non-exclusive basis for investments in ASM, ASMH, KSM Metals Co, Ltd and for a 2,800 5-year offtake agreement for the supply of NdFeB alloy. Finally, Woodall discusses the success of the opening of ASMs South Korean metals plant and upcoming milestones.
Fenix Resources Ltd (ASX:FEX) is positioning itself as a fully integrated mining, haulage and logistics company thanks to its latest acquisition.

The iron ore stock has inked definitive agreements with business management consultant Newhaul to pick up the remaining interest in a haulage joint venture operation.

By acquiring Newhauls 50% stake, Fenix believes it can lower operating costs while delivering higher earnings and dividends for shareholders.

To complete the buy, Fenix will hand over $7.5 million in cash and 30 million ordinary shares. Theres also a 60 million contingent share consideration if the company hits some performance milestones.

Moving ahead, Newhaul founder Craig Mitchell will join the Fenix board as non-executive director and will become the iron ore stocks largest shareholder.

Shareholders can learn more about the acquisition and how it positions the company in an investor briefing at 12:00 pm AEST today.

Building resilience against price volatility

Fenix managing director Rob Brierly said buying the remaining interest in the Mid-West haulage business was a strategic move, because it immediately reduced the companys haulage costs  the largest expense for Mid-West iron ore miners.

Commenting on the acquisition, Fenix chair John Welborn said: Fenix-Newhaul is a highly profitable state-of-the-art logistics business that is an essential component of Fenixs business success.

Consolidating 100% ownership is a smart move which will reduce our costs and provide operational flexibility.

These advantages will make our business significantly more resilient and robust to commodity price volatility.

The transaction is a key outcome from the boards recent strategic review and provides Fenix with a vastly improved platform to evaluate and acquire further growth opportunities.

About Fenix-Newhaul

Fenix-Newhaul was incorporated in October 2020 as a 50:50 joint venture company to implement the strategic alliance between Fenix and Newhaul.

The JV was established to provide haulage and logistics services to Fenixs Iron Ridge Project in the Mid-West region of Western Australia, 490 kilometres from Geraldton Port.

Nowadays, Fenix-Newhaul operates a state-of-the-art fleet of 25 quad road trains which provide a daily haulage capacity to Fenix of up to 4,000 tonnes.

In the last 18 months, the business has hauled more than 1.8 million wet metric tonnes of material  equivalent to around 1.72 million dry metric tonnes  of high-grade iron ore to Geraldton, completing more than 15,000 round trips across nearly 15 million kilometres.

Further, the Fenix-Newhaul business provides additional logistics support to Fenixs operating iron ore loading facilities at Iron Ridge.

The business includes a driver change-over facility and a driver accommodation base at Cue, as well as a company-owned 110,000-square-metre depot in Geraldton with 24-hour workshop and administration support.

New expertise on board

In tandem with the acquisition, Newhaul founder Craig Mitchell is poised to become a pivotal part of the Fenix board.

Mitchell founded the eponymous Mitchell Corp in 1997, which became one of Australias largest bulk haulage businesses.

The brand operated in four states and serviced some of Australias largest energy and mining companies before its sale to Toll Group in 2011.

Now, speaking to his expected appointment to the Fenix board, Mitchell stated: In collaboration with Fenix, Newhaul has established a highly efficient haulage solution to connect Fenixs Iron Ridge mine in the Mid-West, to the companys port operations in Geraldton.

This has been achieved by combining a modern, intelligent haulage fleet with a skilled and dedicated workforce, and strong systems and processes.

The entire Fenix-Newhaul team is excited to join with Fenix and contribute to building an even stronger and more scalable logistics business.

We remain committed to supporting Fenixs business and are particularly excited by their expansion plans in the Mid-West region.

Fenix chair John Welborn went on to say that Mitchell was a highly experienced and impeccably credentialed business leader with an enviable track record.

[Mitchell] has supported Fenix from inception both as the founder of our haulage joint venture as well as a shareholder, Welborn explained.

I would be delighted to have Craig join the Fenix board and look forward to working with him and the entire team in driving the next phase of growth at Fenix.
Moho Resources Ltd (ASX:MOH) is set to embark on the first phase of reverse circulation (RC) drilling at its 100%-owned Black Swan South nickel prospect, which is part of the regional Silver Swan North Project.

Drilling is expected to start this week at the prospect, which is on exploration licence E27/623, about 4.5 kilometres south of the Silver Swan nickel mine and around 40 kilometres north-northeast of Kalgoorlie.

"Under-explored"

The Black Swan South nickel prospect is very much under-explored by todays standards, managing director Shane Sadleir said.

Mohos experienced exploration team is looking forward to this RC drill program shedding new light on the potential of the area to host nickel sulphide mineralisation, particularly given the high-grade indicated mineral resources recently reported by Poseidon at the nearby Silver Swan and Golden Swan nickel deposits.

The Black Swan South nickel prospect is a zone of ultramafic rocks identified from historical drilling, south of the Silver Swan nickel mine.

This prospect is associated with a prominent, elliptical shaped magnetic anomaly, approximately 600 metres long and bound on its western side by an interpreted major, north-west trending structure.

Nickel sulphide mineralisation

An evaluation of past geochemical assay data by Moho's geochemical consultant, Richard Carver of GC Xplore Pty Ltd, has identified geochemical targets prospective for nickel sulphide mineralisation for drill testing.

Moho has planned 2,000 metres of RC drilling in 12 drill holes varying from 110 metres to 200 metres deep to test for the presence of nickel sulphides and validate the foot wall contact of a komatiite unit present on exploration licence E27/623.

The first stage of the RC drill program will test an under-explored komatiite sequence less than 5 kilometres south of the Silver Swan-Black Swan nickel mine.

At least three of the deeper holes will be cased with PVC to facilitate a future downhole EM survey.

Appointment of chief geologist

To drive its ambitious drilling campaign, Moho has appointed Wouter Denig as chief geologist.

Denig boasts 30 years mineral exploration experience and was previously employed with Codrus Minerals, overseeing exploration targeting across Silver Swan South and Red Gate projects in WA.

He has spent time in exploration leadership positions with companies such as Western Areas, IGO Ltd, MPI and Polaris Metals exploring for nickel sulphides, base metals and gold throughout WA, and has a masters degree in Structural Geology.

Deal with Yandal

The company has also signed option agreements over 15 tenements from Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX:YRL).

Under the agreement, which is still subject to due diligence conditions, in exchange for a 1% net smelter royalty, Moho will acquire from Yandal the exclusive right to access, explore for, own, mine, recover, process and sell all nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum group elements (PGE) extracted from 15 granted mining tenements held by Yandal.

The company will also vend four mining tenements under option and a tenement application to Yandal while retaining the rights for nickel and NSR gold royalties. The deal is the final stages of being finalised with final paperwork due to be lodged with the relevant department shortly.
Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:RCE, OTC:RECEF), which is developing a new class of synthetic anti-infectives, welcomes the news that its candidate RECCE 327 (R327) returned a good safety and tolerability profile among 10 healthy male subjects.

The Phase 1 intravenous clinical trials sixth cohort was dosed at 4,000 milligrams  an 80-fold increase on the first cohorts 50-milligram dose.

Investors have also welcomed the news, with RCE securities as much as 30.01% higher to A$0.735.

Only new class of antibiotic

According to PEW Charitable Trusts global antibiotic pipeline review, R327 is the only clinical-stage new class of antibiotic in the world being developed for sepsis, the largest unmet medical need in human health.

An independent safety committee is expected to conduct a review of the data and a recommendation can then be issued to start recruiting for the seventh cohort of the trial.

CEO James Graham said: We are pleased with these data which build on previous results and strongly support the potential of RECCE 327 as a new treatment option for patients with sepsis.

We look forward to continuing to work with the independent safety committee and further evaluating RECCE 327s safety and tolerability profile in additional cohorts.

About the trial

The Phase 1 trial is an ascending dose, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel, double-blind, single-dose study being conducted at Adelaide's CMAX clinical trial facility.

The study is evaluating the safety and pharmacokinetics of R327 in around seven to 10 healthy subjects per dose, across eight sequential dosing cohorts. The study is on track to have all Phase 1 dosing complete by the second quarter of 2022.
Walkabout Resources Ltd (ASX:WKT) has intersected high-grade zinc-lead mineralisation in its maiden scout drilling program at the Blackcraig Lead-Zinc-Silver Project in southwest Scotland.

Notably, the mineralisation was observed beneath the historic lead-zinc mines at Blackcraig, commonly occurring as high-grade stringers, blebs and disseminated mineralisation within a quartz-carbonate vein breccia.

Standout assays include:

12.4% zinc and 3.7 g/t silver over 0.8 metres from 56.2 metres downhole; and

1.3% lead and 0.19% zinc over 4.71 metres from 91 metres down hole, including 4.9% lead and 0.40% zinc over 1.02 metres from 94.69 metres.

Blackcraig forms part of a trend of historic workings that mined lead, zinc and silver over some 4.5 kilometres and which potentially extends further along strike to the historic Pibble lead-zinc-copper-silver mining area, some 5 kilometres to the southeast.

Moving forward, the assay results support the high-grade nature of the prospects in the area and warrant further interpretation and exploration follow-up.

High-grade mineralised region

Walkabout Resources CEO Andrew Cunningham said: The completion of our maiden scout drilling program over the Blackcraig prospect marks the first exploration drilling program in the region since the discovery of the mineralisation more than 250 years ago.

As expected, the results confirm the continuation of high-grade mineralisation beneath the old underground mine workings and are invaluable to our understanding of the controls and type of mineralisation in the area.

The companys large footprint in what is seen as an unexplored and potentially high-grade mineralised region further supports the need for a modern, systematic and well-planned approach to mineral exploration in Scotland and more broadly, the security of supply of critical metals in the United Kingdom.

Maiden drill program

Walkabouts maiden drill program comprised 1,676 metres across 11 holes conducted between mid-October 2021 and mid-February 2022.

Drilling targeted extension of the mineralised areas beneath the old underground lead-zinc mine as well as potential parallel structures to the main historical mining trend as identified through geological mapping and a close-spaced ground magnetics survey completed in 2020.

Mineralisation is hosted within a quartz-carbonate vein breccia within the greywacke sequences of the area.

Initial drilling concentrated on a small section of the historic mining area (880m strike length), around the historic centre of activity.

However, mineralisation and workings are known over a strike length of up to 4.5 kilometres and potentially extend further over some 9-10 metres to other historic mining areas believed to be along with the same trend.

Scotland Projects

Blackcraig is part of a series of prospects named the Scotland Projects, comprising three Mines Royal Options with the Crown Estate Scotland covering 744 square kilometres in Dumfries and Galloway.

These areas are known for their historic mining (lead-zinc-silver), and aside from the current maiden drill program at Blackcraig, have not undergone any modern systematic mineral exploration since a regional program was conducted by the British Geological Survey (BGS) in the 1970-80s when several anomalies were identified in addition to the numerous old mines and historical mineral shows in the region.

A review of historic data and reconnaissance exploration by Walkabout has identified several prospective areas for both precious and base metals, including two drill-ready projects, the first of which was drilled in December quarter 2021 and March quarter this year.
The companys shares were last trading about 7% higher intra-day, at 16 cents.

Future Metals NL (ASX:FME, AIM:FME) has upgraded the JORC 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of its Panton PGM-Nickel Project in WA to 5 million ounces palladium, platinum and gold (PGM 3E ) and 238.8 tonnes nickel.

Following the resource update, Panton is now the second-largest PGM (platinum group metals) deposit in Australia, only surpassed by Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX:CHN, OTCQB:CGMLF)s Gonneville discovery.

The companys updated MRE confirms the Panton PGM-nickel deposit to be of a global scale:

129 million tonnes at 1.20g/t PGM 3E , 0.19% nickel and 154ppm cobalt (1.66g/t palladium equivalent) containing 5 million ounces palladium, platinum and gold (PGM 3E ) and 238.8 tonnes nickel and 20,000 tonnes cobalt (6.9 million ounces palladium equivalent).

, 0.19% nickel and 154ppm cobalt (1.66g/t palladium equivalent)

Panton Mineral Resource Estimate (JORC Code 2012).

Importantly, the resource upgrade represents a 108% increase in contained PGM 3E while the contained nickel resource has increased by 526% during the companys 12 months of ownership of the Panton PGM-Ni Project.

Pantons previous MRE, reported in May 2021, related entirely to the high-grade chromite reefs and did not include any of the mineralised dunite material which envelopes the reefs.

The mineralised dunite increases the width of the mineralisation significantly, allowing for the estimation of a bulk-tonnage MRE which supports assessment of potential open-pit mining scenarios, along with a high-grade operation.

Panton PGM Project location.

Future Metals managing director and CEO Jardee Kininmonth said: This updated JORC resource estimate of 5.0Moz of PGM 3E and 239kt of nickel is a pivotal milestone for the company, demonstrating the potential for Panton to be a PGM-Ni project of global scale outside the primary supply jurisdictions of Russia and South Africa.

The inclusion of the mineralised envelope surrounding the chromite reefs has significantly increased Pantons Resource and scale potential, growing contained ounces of PGMs by over 100% and increasing the contained nickel by over 500%.

Exploration and resource growth potential

The MRE relates solely to the 5.1 kilometres of strike shown in the plan view below.

Plan view of Panton including MRE area.

There is a further ~7 kilometres of mapped outcropping reefs and associated anomalous surface geochemical samples (MAGLAG) which remain largely untested, located outside the MRE area.

At depth, the deepest drill holes are about 800 metres, the majority of which intersect high-grade reef mineralisation.

The high-grade reef is interpreted to be flattening as it dips to the southwest.

3D view of Panton MRE area looking northwest.

The Northern Anomaly & A Block North (Lower Zone) is a significant target for follow up drilling, demonstrating potential for resource volume growth as well as hosting zones with increased concentration of sulphides.

Future Metals is currently planning further exploration drilling to test areas of potentially increased sulphide mineralisation along the strike and at depth at the Lower Zone.

This planning includes the review of existing airborne aeromagnetic and electromagnetic data.

Highly prospective for concentrated sulphide zones

Kininmonth said: There remains significant exploration upside at Panton with potential to add both tonnes and grade across numerous targets.

We intend to follow up the success of the new MRE with a drill program which will test a number of exploration targets including the impressive Northern Anomaly which is highly prospective for concentrated sulphide zones.

Development optionality - forward planning

The new MRE enables Future Metals to better assess the optimal development options available for the Panton PGM-Ni Project.

The significant high-grade component of the MRE provides the company with optionality on the potential future development path.

This component of the MRE outcrops is highly contiguous and has already been subject to extensive metallurgical flotation test work which has shown PGM recoveries to exceed 70% to a high-grade PGM concentrate grading >130g/t PGM, with test work from Panoramic Resources demonstrating recoveries of over 80% and concentrate grading >200g/t PGM.

Optimisation test work and scoping studies

Future Metals is currently undertaking optimisation test work on the bulk PGM-Ni mineralisation.

The MRE demonstrates the extent of this PGM-Ni mineralisation which may also provide scope for the company to consider the production of high-value intermediate products.

Concurrent with this work, Future Metals will undertake scoping studies on the high-grade component and continue to delineate and explore for additional PGM, nickel and copper mineralisation.

Kininmonth added: The company continues to progress the metallurgy work at Panton, expanding on early exploratory sighter test work with a more systematic program where analogous projects from the PGM industry in South Africa are being utilised to determine an appropriate flow sheet configuration for the Panton mineralisation.

We are now able to move towards a scoping study to make a preliminary assessment on the best path forward for Panton.
Hawsons Iron Ltd (ASX:HIO) owns the Hawsons magnetite iron ore project in Broken Hill, NSW and is expected to produce a high-grade (70% Fe) iron ore product well suited to steel industry decarbonisation initiatives and green steel production.

The companys executive team has endorsed a 20 million tonnes per annum project and will progress a bankable feasibility study, targeting completion by years end.

Hawsons has moved away from an earlier 10 million tonnes idea, preferring the expected superior economics, ESG outcomes and investment appeal tied to a 20 million tonnes model.

Concurrently, the company has inked an MoU with Flinders Ports to jointly design, construct and operate a greenfields Myponie Point Port to export Hawsons magnetite concentrate.

With its 20 million tonnes focus and the milestone MoU at hand, Hawsons moves a step closer to meeting demand for high-grade products, essential for decarbonising steelmaking.

Recent milestones.

Aiming for first production in 2024

Hawsons chair Dave Woodall said developing a 20 million tonnes per annum magnetite mine would necessitate a review of the projects schedule.

Subsequently, this will facilitate the design, approval and construction of a dedicated underground slurry pipeline to a deep-water port export facility at Myponie Point on South Australias eastern Spencer Gulf.

Share price performance and key milestones.

Looking ahead, Woodall said the company was targeting BFS completion in December and it hoped to get first production underway in the second half of 2024.

The team of leading global partners and specialists weve engaged to complete the BFS now has the additional information required to undertake detailed engineering design and update the projects estimated delivery timetable which we will release once completed, he said.

Upcoming key developments.

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Alien Metals Ltd (AIM:UFO, OTC:ASLRF)'s Bill Brodie Good joins Katie to talk about the acquisition of the Vivash Gorge iron ore project, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

He described it as "a great asset" and compared it to other projects in the prolific region.

The Alien Metals boss told investors that the explorer is well financed and equipped with quality assets, after an earlier and recent acquisition of the Munni Munni platinum project.
GTI Energy Ltd (ASX:GTR) has brought on board as executive director James (Jim) Baughman, a highly experienced Wyoming uranium geologist and corporate executive who will help guide GTIs technical and commercial activities in the US.

Baughman, QP (SME-RM) GDB/Red Desert has already been assisting GTI in the US on a consulting basis since September 2021, but with the addition of the Green Mountain project to GTIs portfolio and an increase in field and corporate activity in Wyoming, he will now take a more prominent role.

GTI acquired 100% of ~22,000 acres (~8,900 hectares) across several groups of strategically located and underexplored mineral lode claims and two state leases that make up Green Mountain, prospective for sandstone hosted uranium that is amenable to low-cost, low environmental impact ISR mining.

Baughman has a string of highlights in his resume including being past president and CEO of High Plains Uranium, which sold for US$55 million in 2006, and Cyclone Uranium.

Invaluable technical experience

He has more than 30 years of experience advancing minerals projects from grassroots to advanced stage and has held senior positions (ie, chief geologist, chairman, president, acting CFO, COO) in private and publicly traded mining and mineral exploration companies.

Baughman is a registered member of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, Exploration and a member of the Society of Economic Geologists with a BSc in Geology (1983 University of Wyoming) and is a registered professional geologist (P. Geo State of Wyoming). He is also a registered Member of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy.

GTI executive director Bruce Lane said: We are delighted that we have been able to secure Jims ongoing services as a director and executive. He brings a wealth of highly relevant technical and commercial experience and relationships that will prove invaluable to GTI as we execute our ISR uranium strategy in Wyoming.

"We welcome him onboard and look forward to his contribution.
LGL also said it is hosting a celebratory social event to commemorate the launch of the GenZeroes live-action NFT-based series

Looking Glass Labs Inc (LGL) has said its chief executive officer, Dorian Banks, will be speaking on the topic of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in Hollywood at the Collision 2022 Conference later this week.

The talk, entitled When NFTs Meet Hollywood, will feature Banks speaking with actor Bethany Brown and executive Donnie Dinch.

I am honoured to be speaking at Collision this year. It will be a wonderful opportunity to not only share LGLs and HoKs (House of Kibaa) stories and successes, but also to learn from the other speakers and attendees, said Banks in a statement. I believe that everyone at the conference will be there to help make the future better, through collaboration and innovation."

The conference is being held at the Enercare Centre in Toronto, Ontario, from June 20-23, 2022, and Banks will be speaking on June 23 at 2.25pm Eastern Time. More information about Collision can be found on its website: https://collisionconf.com.

LGL also said it is hosting a celebratory social event to commemorate the launch of the GenZeroes live-action NFT-based series as well as the first year anniversary of its wholly-owned studio, HoK. The event will explore NFT-related art, brands, collectibles, data, fashion, films, investments, music, real estate, and more.

The party will be held at the Nebula dance club located at 135 W 41St, New York, NY 10036. Nebula boasts three levels with a cutting-edge multimedia set-up that has previously attracted other technology and Web3 companies like LGL for special events. The party is taking place during the 4th Annual NFT.NYC industry event being held from June 20-23, 2022, across New York City. NFT.NYC is held for individuals, companies, brands, artists and other to collaborate and encourage further innovation in the world of NFTs.

The event will explore NFT-related art, brands, collectibles, data, fashion, films, investments, music, real estate, and so much more. Hosting the Party during the time of NFT.NYC will enable LGL to celebrate its accomplishments and build new relationships with the NFT community.

Banks noted: We are also thrilled to be hosting the party to commemorate LGLs milestones and share our successes with the NFT community. HoK and the GenZeroes Series are important to the company. A lot of hard work, passion, persistence and creativity has been put into both HoK and the GenZeroes Series. We are proud to be where we are and we cant wait to celebrate this chapter while looking ahead to the future.

The launch of the GenZeroes Series and the anniversary are two significant milestones for the company.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
Cabral Gold Inc (TSX-V:CBR) has hailed testwork on the gold-in-oxide material at its MG target within its Cuiu Cuiu gold project in Brazil, which shows the deposit could be processed via the heap-leach method.

The extensive oxide blanket at MG was not recognized until 2021 and was generally considered waste in earlier resource estimates. Adopting heap-leach processing could result in significantly lower capital investment and costs.

Cabral said it would now advance to a preliminary economic analysis (PEA) of the gold-in-oxide blanket as soon as possible.

Alan Carter, Cabral's CEO, told investors in a statement that the column leach test results were "very encouraging".

"The overall leach recovery of 82% is excellent and higher than most heap leach gold mines that are currently in operation," Carter said.

"Furthermore, the results indicate that the composite sample used for the column leach tests may contain more gold and be higher grade than the assays from the composite sample indicate. The possible reason for this is that coarse gold particles may occur within the oxide material," he added.

The tests showed that gold recoveries based on the calculated gold content of the bulk sample were 82% after 70 days. Recoveries after 15 days were 70% and recoveries after 30 days were 78%.

Leached gold recoveries were 0.974 grams per tonne (g/t), which was "significantly" higher than the average assayed head grade of 0.896 g/t gold from head screen analysis of the composite bulk sample before the leach test.

Cabral highlighted that the column-leach recoveries compared "very favorably" with G Mining's metallurgical recoveries of 71% from the saprolite oxide material at the open pit Tocantinzinho deposit, also in Para state, Brazil, which account for just 3% of the planned overall Tocantinzinho mill feed.

The column-leach recoveries from Cuiu Cuiu also compare very well with other heap-leach gold mines around the world, noted the company.

Cabral Gold is a junior explorer with a primary focus on gold properties in Brazil. It has a 100% interest in the Cuiu Cuiu gold district located in the Tapajos Region, within the state of Para in northern Brazil.

Two gold deposits have so far been defined at Cuiu Cuiu and contain 43-101 compliant indicated resources of 5.9 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.90 g/t for 200,000 ounces and inferred resources of 19.5Mt at 1.24 g/t for 800,000 ounces.

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
Nairobi, June 21 : African leaders have directed an immediate cessation of hostilities in the eastern Congo where fighting has led to the loss of lives and property as well as mass displacements.

The leaders from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Congo, Burundi and Tanzania on Monday called on the armed groups to withdraw from recently taken positions, Xinhua news agency reported.

"In doing so, the political process should be intensified by all parties in order to allow the citizens of Congo feel safe and secure and be able to pick up and continue their respective social, cultural and economic activities," the leaders said in a communique issued after the end of the day-long meeting in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

The leaders who met for the third East African Community (EAC) Heads of State conclave on inter-Congolese dialogue of the Nairobi process on the peace and security situation in Eastern Congo, directed that all offensive language, hate speech, threats of genocide and other politically inciting language must cease and must be discouraged by all parties.

They said the people of Congo must be encouraged to work together in order to stabilise eastern Congo for it to prosper.

"The conclave agreed and reinforced that trust and confidence-building, cessation of hostilities, unconditional ceasefire, participation in the political processes in the country, prioritisation and participation in the country's development, citizenship, presence of foreign negative elements, fate of combatants during reintegration and status of refugees and internally displaced persons are among critical issues that require concerted, urgent and durable resolution," they added.

The leaders committed to contribute to reconciliation and lasting peace and were determined to find a swift and lasting solution to the conflict in Congo, particularly in the North and South Kivu as well as Ituri provinces.

The leaders directed that the Regional Force should, in cooperation with the military and administrative forces of Congo, seek to stabilise and secure the peace in Congo.

"The Regional Force should also cooperate in implementation of the disarmament and demobilisation process," the leaders said.

The latest efforts come amid diplomatic spat between Rwanda and Congo, with Kinshasa accusing Kigali of supporting the M23 rebels, who are responsible for the latest fighting that has forced thousands of people to flee to Uganda.

Regional analysts, however, say the Regional Force is likely to find it difficult to pacify the vast forested region that has many rebel groups with different interests.

The meeting was attended by Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Evariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Salva Kiir Mayardit (south Sudan) and Felix Tshisekedi (Congo) while Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was represented by Ambassador to Kenya.
Rome, June 21 : The President of Italy's Lazio region has said he will shortly declare a state of emergency to a lack of rainfall. This makes Lazio, the seat of the Italian capital, the southernmost region in the country to take the step during a prolonged drought.

At least five Italian regions north of Lazio have introduced measures to ward off water shortages, including limiting use of water to "essential" tasks such as drinking and cooking. Italian news reports say several others are considering similar moves.

Lazio is not planning to take such steps immediately, but the region's President, Nicola Zingaretti, said water rationing is possible, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Obviously, we need to prepare for a situation that will be very critical," Zingaretti added.

"We will have to consider saving water through all activities, starting with the consumption of water by families." In addition to the lack of rainfall, Italian regions have been struggling with unusually high temperatures.

In regions that have applied water rationing, the first steps have been a reduction in water pressure to buildings, and limiting the quantity of water available for agriculture.

Agricultural Association CIA-Agricoltori Italiani estimated that production of summer fruits such as melons will be 30 to 40 per cent lower this year, while the country's harvest of corn and soybeans will be halved. These markets are already under stress due to direct and indirect impacts from the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, which has sent global food prices soaring.
Varanasi, June 21 : Varanasi civil judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar, who had ordered the video survey of Gyanvapi mosque, has been transferred to Bareilly.

He is among the 121 civil judges transferred by the Allahabad High Court on Monday evening. The transferred judges are required to take charge of office by July 4.

Sources termed the transfer of Diwakar as 'routine' and said that there was no link to the sensitive Gyanvapi case that he was hearing.

Diwakar had also claimed to have received death threats during the hearing of the case.

His security had been upgraded by the Uttar Pradesh government.
Washington, June 21 : Indian Americans have been a strong and critical pillar of India's strategic relationship with the US. But the Modi government's current stand on the Russian invasion of Ukraine has pushed them furthest than they have ever been from New Delhi. A bipartisan group of Indian Americans will loudly declare their estrangement from the Modi government on this issue at an event on Capitol Hill, home to the US Legislature.

The idea is for the event, billed as "Indian Americans Against Genocide in Ukraine," to demonstrate that the diaspora is just as horrified and appalled by the invasion of Ukraine as the rest of the US, and not just the government and lawmakers but most lay Americans, barring some right-wing commentators such as Tucker Carlson.

The event, which was first reported by IANS in May is taking place on Wednesday and many lawmakers from both parties are expected to speak, including the four Indian American members of the House of Representatives, all of whom have been stridently critical of the Russian invasion and India's refusal to condemn it.

Raja Krishnamurthi's picture figures on a flyer distributed by the organisers, along with President Joe Biden's.

The American President is not attending, of course. But his picture is supposed to signal that the event is in the knowledge of the White House, according to the organisers, and dispel any misgivings that may have been felt there about Indian Americans, who are often seen as cheerleaders for New Delhi.

Indian Americans have indeed aligned themselves closely with policies of the government in New Delhi in the past and have been activists on their behalf. They were an integral part of the Vajpayee government's efforts to blunt the impact of the sanctions imposed by the Clinton administration for the Pokhran II nuclear tests in 1998 and played an outsize role in the ratification by the US Congress of the India-US civil nuclear deal, which ended India's nuclear pariah status globally and, most importantly, ushered a new warmth in the bilateral relationship that continues to this day, endorsed and bolstered by successive governments, Democrats and Republicans.

The June 22 event is jointly hosted by unequivocally Democratic US-India Security Council Inc. and Republican-leaning Hindu American Coalition. They are on the opposite sides of the aisle in US politics, but are joined at the hip in their support for the Modi government. And that is the most notable aspect of this event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has enjoyed unparalleled popularity thus far among Indian Americans, many of whom have either travelled to India to help his campaign or worked the phones from here to canvas voters in India. But his personal equity, unfortunately, may be insufficient to offset the blowback in America to his Ukraine policy.

(Yashwant Raj can be reached at yashwant@gmail.com)

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Banda : , June 21 (IANS) In a shocking incident, a man chopped a poisonous snake and swallowed it shortly after it had bitten him in a field.

The incident has been reported from Kamas police area in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh.

The man has been admitted to the district hospital where the doctors stated his condition to be stable.

According to reports, the incident took place in the Syohat village of the district where one Matabadal Singh, 49, was on his way back from the field at his village when a venomous snake bit him.

Instead of raising an alarm or rushing for medical assistance, the victim picked it up, chopped it into pieces and swallowed it.

Sources said as soon as the man reached his home, his family members questioned the blood stains on his clothes.

When he narrated the entire incident to his family members, they rushed him to the community health centre from where he was later referred to the district hospital.
New Delhi, June 21 : On the ocassion of International Yoga Day, Delhi Armed Police (DAP) organised the Yoga Day at multiple places across the national capital.

It was organised early Tuesday morning between 6 and 7 a.m.

A senior police official said that the Yoga event by DAP was organised at Third Batallion DAP Vikaspuri Police Lines, New Police Lines Kingsway Camp and Seventh Battalion DAP Malviya Nagar, where thousands of police personnel participated and performed yoga.

"Yoga was done under trained yoga proffesionals. Large number of police personnel, including top brass officials participated in the event," said the senior police official.

'Yoga for Humanity' is the theme of Yoga Day this year.

The theme portrays how yoga served humanity in alleviating suffering during the Covid-19 pandemic.
New Delhi, June 21 : An Ethiopian national was held at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital with 1,955 gram cocaine worth Rs 29.325 crore, a Customs official said on Tuesday.

The senior Customs official added that on the basis of suspicion, the Ethiopian national who arrived on June 19 at Terminal-3 in Delhi from Addis Ababa, was intercepted after he crossed the green channel and was approaching towards the exit gate of International Arrival Hall.

During his personal and baggage search, an off-white coloured powdery substance weighing 1,955 gram concealed in a trolley bag was recovered.

A diagnostic test confirmed the off-white coloured powdery substance was 'cocaine'.

"In view of the above, it was clear that the accused violated provisions of section 8 of the NDPS Act and had committed an offence punishable under section 21, section 23 and section 29 of NDPS Act. Accordingly, he has was placed under arrest as per section 43(b) of the NDPS Act. The off-white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine has been seized along with concealing material under section 43(a) of NDPS Act," the customs official said.

Further investigation in the matter is underway.
Lucknow, June 21 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel led the 8th International Day of Yoga celebrations on Tuesday by performing yoga in the sprawling lawns of the Raj Bhavan here.

A large number of state ministers, bureaucrats and eminent citizens were also in attendance.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that yoga was a perfect solution for a healthy body and mind, adding that this had been proved beyond doubt during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The state government has made special preparations for mass yoga practice at Kashi, Mathura, Gorakhpur, Naimish Dham, Chitrakoot, Bithoor, among others.

Meanwhile, Ministers participated in different programmes on the occasion in districts assigned to them.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak led the celebrations in Prayagraj, while his counterpart Keshav Maurya was in Ayodhya.

In addition, a large number of nodal officers will also participate in yoga sessions to be held across the state.

Besides, several schools, private organisations, social groups and NGOs also organised events to mark the occasion.

According to a state government spokesman, nearly 5 crore people joined the celebrations across the state on Tuesday.
San Francisco, June 21 : Tech giant Meta's Reality Labs division has revealed new prototypes in its roadmap toward the lightweight, hyper-realistic virtual reality graphics.

The breakthroughs remain far from consumer-ready, but the designs, codenamed Butterscotch, Starburst, Holocake 2, and Mirror Lake, could add up to a slender, brightly lit headset that supports finer detail than its current Quest 2 display, reports The Verge.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Reality Labs chief scientist Michael Abrash, along with other Reality Labs members, presented their work at a virtual roundtable last week.

The event focused on designs that Meta refers to as "time machines": bulky proofs of concept meant for testing one specific feature, like a super-bright backlight or super-high-resolution screen.

"I think we're in the middle right now of a big step forward towards realism," Zuckerberg was quoted as saying.

"I don't think it's going to be that long until we can create scenes with basically perfect fidelity," he added.

Zuckerberg reiterated plans to ship a high-end headset codenamed Project Cambria in 2022, following its initial announcement last year.

Cambria supports full VR as well as mixed reality, thanks to high-resolution cameras that can pass a video feed to an internal screen.

It will also ship with eye-tracking, a key feature for future Meta headsets.
Srinagar, June 21 : A terrorist was killed on Tuesday in an ongoing encounter in North Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.

The police confirmed the development and said a security operation is in progress in Sopore.

Besides the Sopore encounter, another gunfight between terrorists and security forces is also underway in Tujjan area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district.

In the last few months, there have been a series of encounters in Kashmir in which many terrorists and their commanders have been eliminated.

Most of the operations have been jointly conducted by the police and the army on the basis of specific intelligence inputs.

On Monday, officials said that seven terrorists, including two Pakistanis, were killed in three security operations in Kupwara, Kulgam and Pulwama districts in less than 24 hours.
Kabul, June 21 : The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has called on the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to address problems faced by Afghan refugees abroad.

Addressing a gathering here, acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Khalil Rahman Haqqani expressed concerns over the mistreatment of the refugees who have fled to other nations in the wake of the conflict, reports TOLO News.

"The rights of refugees, their problems must be raised to the whole world and to those who are responsible for them," he said.

The deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Bilal Karimi, said there were reports of Afghan refugees being mistreated in some countries.

"Unfortunately, we have heard some reports that our citizens are facing problems in some countries. We call on the officials of these countries to understand the situation of the Afghans based on their humanitarian and Islamic faith," he said at the same gathering.

According to the UNHCR, Afghan refugees are the third-largest displaced population in the world, following Syrian refugees and displaced Venezuelans.

There are 2.6 million registered Afghan refugees in the world, of whom 2.2 million are registered in Iran and Pakistan alone.

After the Taliban took over in August last year, 667,900 Afghans were internally displaced, which added to the already 3.5 million internally displaced civilians at the end of 2020.

Eighty per cent of the newly displaced Afghans are women and children.
Kiev, June 21 : Ukrainian Education Minister Serhiy Shkarlet said that some 900 teachers have joined the country's armed forces so far since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Kiev.

Speaking to local media on Monday, Shkarlet said that among the 900, 513 are qualified teachers and another 377 are still studying for their teaching qualifications, reports Ukrayinska Pravda.

"We are proud of each and every one of them, we have people who have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Ministry of Education, too," he was quoted as saying.

The Minister also talked about the availability of bomb shelters in schools, which are supposed to resume in-person classes on September 1.

Out of all schools, 25 per cent have equipped bomb shelters which will allow students to attend school in person, according to Shkarlet.

"As of today, and depending on the security situation at the time, the school year is set to begin on September 1. Everyone is tired of online teaching, but active hostilities continue in eight of the oblasts (regions). It is impossible to resume in-person classes in the areas near the frontline," Ukrayinska Pravda quoted the Minister as further saying.

He noted that it is the responsibility of school founders, in most cases the local governments, to ensure the availability of adequate bomb shelters in each school.

Earlier, the Ministry of Education and Science said that some Ukrainian schools will have to organise in-person teaching in shifts because the bomb shelters might not be able to accommodate all of their students at once.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mysuru :

Image Source: IANS News

, June 21 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated along with thousands of people in a Mass Yoga Demonstration at the Mysore Palace ground here on the occasion of 8th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on Tuesday, and said that 'Yoga has become a way of life'.

Integrating the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' with celebrations of 8th IDY, Mass Yoga demonstrations are being organised at 75 iconic locations across the country under the leadership of 75 Union Ministers, along with the Yoga Demonstration by the Prime Minister. The Yoga demonstrations are also being held by various educational, social, political, cultural, religious, corporate and other civil society organisations and will be attended by crores of people across the country.

Image Source: IANS News

The Prime Minister's Yoga programme at Mysuru is also part of the novel programme 'Guardian Yoga Ring', which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga's unifying power that surpasses National boundaries.

Since 2015, the International Day of Yoga (IDY) has been celebrated worldwide on June 21 every year. The theme for this year's Yoga day is "Yoga for Humanity". The theme portrays how Yoga served humanity in alleviating suffering during the Covid Pandemic.

Image Source: IANS News

Governor of Karnataka Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Union Minister for Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal were among those present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said the yogic energy, which has been nurtured for centuries by the spiritual centers of India like Mysuru, is today giving direction to global health.

"Today yoga is becoming a basis for global cooperation and is providing a belief of a healthy life to mankind," he added. He said, "Today we see that Yoga has come out of the households and has spread all over the world and this is a picture of spiritual realization, and that of natural and shared human consciousness, especially in the last two years of an unprecedented pandemic," PM Modi stated.

He further said, "Yoga has now become a global festival. Yoga is not only for any individual, but for the entire humanity. Therefore, this time the theme of International Day of Yoga is - Yoga for humanity." He thanked the United Nations and all the countries for taking this theme globally.

Image Source: IANS News

Quoting the Indian sages, the Prime Minister emphasized "Yoga brings peace for us. The peace from yoga is not merely for individuals. Yoga brings peace to our society. Yoga brings peace to our nations and the world. And, Yoga brings peace to our universe." "This whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us. And, Yoga makes us conscious of everything within us and builds a sense of awareness," he underlined.

The Prime Minister remarked that India is celebrating Yoga Day at a time when the country is celebrating its 75th year of Independence, the Amrit Mahotsav.

This widespread acceptance of Yoga Day, the Prime Minister said, "is the acceptance of that Amrit spirit of India which gave energy to India's freedom struggle. That is why Mass Yoga demonstrations are being organised at 75 iconic locations across the country which have been witness to the glorious history of India and have been the center of cultural energy." "The experience of collective yoga at the historical sites of India is like tying together India's past, India's diversity, and India's expansion", he elaborated.

He also informed about the novel programme 'Guardian Yoga Ring', which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga's unifying power that surpasses national boundaries.

"As the sun moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One earth'. "These practices of yoga are giving wonderful inspiration for health, balance and cooperation", he added.

Modi pointed out that Yoga is not just part of life for us, today, it has become a way of life. He said Yoga need not be limited to a particular time and location.

He said, "No matter how stressful we are, a few minutes of meditation relaxes us and increases our productivity. Therefore, we do not have to take yoga as an extra work. We also have to know yoga and we also have to live yoga. We also have to achieve yoga, we also have to adopt yoga. When we start living yoga, Yoga Day will become a medium for us not to do yoga, but to celebrate our health, happiness and peace." The Prime Minister said that today is the time to realize the infinite possibilities associated with yoga. "Today our youth are coming in large numbers with new ideas in the field of yoga. He informed about the Startup Yoga Challenge by the Ayush Ministry. The Prime Minister congratulated the winners of 2021 winners of 'Prime Minister's Awards for outstanding contribution for Promotion and Development of Yoga'."

-- Syndicated from IANS
Panaji, June 21 : While celebrating World Yoga Day on Tuesday, yoga performances were conducted across Goa with Union Ministers participating in central government's programme and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and other cabinet ministers engaging in state level events.

Union minister of state for tourism Shripad Naik presided over the programme held at Se Cathedral, Old Goa, and Union minister for state for food processing industries and Jal Shakti Prahlad Singh Patel was present as chief guest at Fort Aguada venue.

Chief Minister Sawant performed Yoga at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee indoor Stadium in North Goa.

Apart from Taluka wise programmes organised by state government, BJP also held the programmes at several places. Students took part in programs held in various schools of the state.

Speaking on the occasion Shripad Naik pointed out that Yoga is a gift to the world, which can help to improve health. "One can live a happy and healthy life if Yoga is practiced. Knowing the importance of Yoga, now many from India and the world have started following it," he said.

"Yoga practice is not limited only to this day, but people have started to practice it throughout the year. It helps to maintain our health if practiced at least one hour every day," Naik said.

He said that demand from across the world is increasing for Yoga trainers and many are coming to India to learn it.

Prahlad Singh Patel said that Yoga is being accepted across the world and during Covid pandemic people got to know the importance of its practice. "People are finding peace while practicing Yoga," he said.

Chief Minister Sawant said that everyone should practice Yoga for good health. "Students have also participated in today's Yoga day programme. These programmes have taken place at taluka level and at many places in Goa," he said, adding that Yoga will help promote tourism in Goa.
New York, June 21 : Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, has auctioned off his Nobel Peace Prize medal for a whopping $103.5 million and said all the money will go towards helping refugees from the war-torn Ukraine.

The US-based Heritage Auctions, which conducted the sale in New York on Monday, has not revealed who the winning bidder was, the BBC reported.

The sale will benefit Unicef's humanitarian response for Ukraine's displaced children, the auction house said in a statement.

"The most important message today is for people to understand that there's a war going on and we need to help people who are suffering the most," Muratov said in a video released by Heritage Auctions.

The Nobel Peace Prize 2021 was awarded jointly to Muratov and Filipino-American journalist Maria Ressa "for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace".

Under the 60-year-old's leadership, Novaya Gazeta has criticised the Russian authorities for corruption, electoral fraud and human rights violations.

Six of the newspaper's journalists have been murdered because they wrote critical articles on Russian military operations in Chechnya and the Caucasus, according to the Nobel Committee.

Muratov has on several occasions criticised Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the government's use of military force, both in and outside Russia.

Novaya Gazeta had suspended its operations in March, just days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Chennai, June 21 : Political parties, social activists, and local people of Puthupatti of the Tenkasi district and Paniyankurichi village in Tirunelveli district are up in arms against the dumping of waste from Kerala in their villages.

Sources in the Paniyankurichi panchayat while speaking to IANS said, "Waste from Kerala is brought through Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari into our area. A couple of days back a truckload of waste was burnt at a farm in this panchayat leading to thick black smoke. Anganwadi schools are nearby as also Primary health centres and many people had breathing difficulties." Selvaraj, a local farmer, told IANS that the Tamil Nadu government should take up this issue with the Kerala government and put an end to the menace of dumping waste from that state into the villages of Tamil Nadu.

He said, "The waste disposed of in the open includes liquor bottles and plastic waste. The discarded bottles had Malayalam letters on their labels." Idakkal Panchayat has already written a letter to the Tirunelveli district collector on the matter. Panchayat vice president, Dharamaraj told IANS, "A primary school and a silkworm rearing unit is in the area near the farm field where the waste from Kerala is dumped and burnt." He said that a truckload of meat waste was dumped in the Panchayat recently. Activists want strict monitoring at the Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari check posts to prevent dumping of waste in Tamil Nadu.
New Delhi, June 21 : India witnessed a significant decline in fresh Covid cases with 9,923 infections being registered in last 24 hours against previous day's 12,781 count, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

In the same period, 17 fatalities took the nationwide death toll to 5,24,890.

Meanwhile, the active caseload has risen to 79,313 cases, accounting for 0.18 per cent of the total positive cases.

Recovery of 7,293 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,27,15,193. Consequently, the recovery rate stands at 98.61 per cent.

While the Daily Positivity rate has come down to 2,55 per cent, the Weekly Positivity Rate currently stands at 2.67 per cent.

Also in the same period, a total of 3,88,641 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 85.85 crore.

As of Tuesday morning, the Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 196.32 crore, achieved via 2,53,58,263 sessions.

More than 3.58 crore adolescents have been administered with a first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket.
United Nations, June 21 : Nicholas Haysom, the top UN envoy in South Sudan, has called on political leaders to agree on a roadmap for the Central African nation to exit the three-year transitional period.

With only eight months left, the window of opportunity for South Sudan to meet the critical benchmarks to complete its transitional period is closing, Xinhua news agency quoted Haysom as saying at the UN Security Council.

In the months ahead, what is needed is national leadership, resources and a visible commitment by South Sudan's leaders to take the necessary steps for the country to exit the transitional period, he said.

He called on the parties to the peace agreement to agree on a roadmap toward this goal.

"This roadmap should serve to recommit the parties to the revitalised peace agreement and must be accompanied by clear benchmarks and timelines. It should especially address the completion of outstanding tasks, such as the graduation and deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces, the approval of pending key legislation for the constitution-making process and national elections, as well as critical reforms of the security, judicial and financial sectors." In regard to the elections, it is important to note that what is required is not only the technical arrangements and logistics, but also an appropriate political environment, Haysom noted.

"Unless the parties demonstrate a collective common purpose, there will be challenges in meeting these commitments. The roadmap also offers an entry point for the international community to align targeted support for priority transitional tasks.

"It is our view that the sheer magnitude of the tasks ahead requires the international community's full and unrestricted attention," he said.

The scale of sub-national conflict is alarming, according to the UN official.

In Eastern and Central Equatoria, Unity, Warrap, and Jonglei states, as well as the Abyei administrative area, violence has been perpetrated against civilians, fuelling a cycle of cattle raiding, abductions, revenge killings, and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence, said Haysom.

This year, more than 80 per cent of civilian casualties have been attributed to intercommunal violence and community-based militias.

South Sudan is confronting a serious humanitarian crisis.

As humanitarian needs grow to an estimated 8.9 million people in need, resources are diminishing. Currently, only 26 per cent of the $1.7 billion required for the humanitarian response plan has been received.

Haysom warned that climate-related displacement, food insecurity, and lack of livelihood opportunities for youth will exacerbate needs and contribute to localised conflict over resources.
Nairobi, June 21 : Kenya's Ministry of Health has reinstated the wearing of masks in public spaces as the country's Covid-19 positivity rate has spiked.

The Ministry's Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said that other confined spaces where citizens will be required to wear masks include offices, houses of worship and political indoor meetings, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to Kagwe, Kenya's Covid-19 positivity rate had risen from a weekly average of 0.6 per cent in early May to the current 10.4 per cent, hence the need for drastic measures to avert strain on the local public health system.

"The sharp rise in coronavirus infections should concern everyone and we must take strong measures to prevent a slide into a public health crisis," Kagwe said at a briefing in Nairobi.

He added that the government will accelerate Covid-19 vaccination to avert large-scale hospitalizations and fatalities, adding that the majority of new cases are mild and are being treated under state funded home-based care programmes.

Kagwe said the current cold season in Kenya combined with heightened campaigns ahead of the August 9 general elections could worsen Covid-19 transmission.

The Ministry in March announced relaxation of Covid-19 containment measures stating that wearing of masks was optional, following a sustained drop in new infections.

Local epidemiologists had late April warned that the country could experience a mild wave of infections from May to July, clarifying that the risk of mass fatalities was minimal.

Ministry statistics indicate that total confirmed positive cases stood at 329,605 as of Monday, after 252 people tested positive in the last 24 hours from a sample size of 1,993 while the positivity rate stood at 12.6 per cent.

The capital Nairobi is the hotspot for new coronavirus infections followed by neighbouring county of Kiambu while the port city of Mombasa also recorded surging transmission.

The proportion of fully vaccinated adults stood at 31.5 per cent as of Monday, as the government raced against time to attain a 70 per cent target before the year's end.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Tehran, June 21 : Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the contradiction between US actions and words is preventing the Vienna talks from reviving a 2015 nuclear deal from fruition.

Qalibaf made the remarks in a Monday meeting with the Chairman of the Croatia-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group Zlatko Hasanbegovic in Tehran, Xinhua news agency reported.

He added that in a situation where oppressive and illegal sanctions are imposed on Iran, it is important that which countries stand together in difficult circumstances.

Qalibaf highlighted the necessity of facilitating relations between Iranian and Croatian traders and private sectors, and establishing friendly Iran-Croatia parliamentary ties can multiply the bilateral economic relations within a year.

Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the world powers in July 2015 accepting to put some curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the removal of the sanctions on Tehran.

However, former U.S President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran.

Since April 2021, several rounds of talks have been held in the Austrian capital between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties to revive the deal.
Bareilly : , June 21 (IANS) Five persons were killed when the car they were travelling in collided with a truck near Ahladpur chowki here on Tuesday morning.

All the deceased youth were in their thirties and were coming to Bareilly from Uttarakhand to offer prayers at a dargah.

They have been identified as Mohd Sagir, Muzammil, Mohd Tahir, Imran Khan and Mohd Farid. They are residents of Ramnagar in Uttarakhand.

According to eyewitnesses, a tyre of the car burst after which the driver lost control and rammed into a truck.

The police said that the bodies have been sent for post-mortem and the family members of the deceased have been informed.

Traffic on the highway was blocked for a few hours before the mangled vehicle was removed.
New Delhi, June 21 : Delhi Police have arrested a desperate criminal who has been actively involved in the supply of illegal firearms, an official said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Sheikh Safikul alias Saikul alias Kaita alias Akbar, was previously involved in 30 cases of robbery, dacoity, attempt to murder, criminal assault and fire on government officials, snatching, house burglary, house theft and night burglaries of different police station in Delhi-NCR.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer north) Brijendra Kumar Yadav said a tip-off was received regarding the presence of the accused Sheikh Safikul in the Bhalswa Dairy area.

Subsequently, a team was constituted which laid a trap and apprehended the accused near bus stand 101, Bhalswa Dairy, Delhi along with one country made pistol.

During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he is involved in the supply of illegal firearms and today itself he was going to supply firearms to his associates and criminals of the area.

"He also disclosed that he has hidden one bag containing 09 more country made pistols (Katta) and 14 Live Cartridges of .315 bore and .32 bore," the DCP said.

Accordingly, the police registered a case under section 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at Bhalswa Dairy police station and arrested the accused.

Further probe in on, the official added.
Mumbai, June 21 : The Maha Vikas Agadhi government on Tuesday faced its worst political crisis as at least one Shiv Sena Minister along with other ministers and several MLAs veered towards a revolt and are now parked in Gujarat.

Sena MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut, however, dismissed speculation that a 'political earthquake' is in the offing in Maharashtra, but accused the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of hatching its biggest conspiracy to topple the MVA government.

"There is no basis for the so-called 'political earthquake' as is being touted in some circles... This is an attempt to hit at the MVA and the plot is being staged on Gujarat soil. It will prove to be futile as in the past," Raut declared.

Admitting that Minister Eknath Shinde, along with several MLAs' are "not reachable", Raut claimed that "contact has been developed with some legislators" and attempts are on to defuse the crisis.

A Congress leader said that "there's no immediate threat to the MVAa though "frantic efforts are underway to bring down the government ahead of the civic polls in Maharashtra and the states' elections later in the year.

As a precaution, the Congress is planning to herd its flock and has summoned all its MLAs to rush to Mumbai this evening.

The Nationalist Congress Party is also keeping close tabs on its legislators even as Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis airdashed to New Delhi to consult party bigwigs.

Hours after the MLC biennial election results were announced, political activity suddenly hotted up and Shinde, along with an estimated one to two dozen legislators suddenly became 'incommunicado', alarming the MVA leaders.

Early this morning, it emerged that Minister Shinde along with his supporting MLAs, had parked himself in Le Meridien Hotel in the diamond hub of Surat, barely a 3-hour drive from Mumbai.

Raut said that since early morning all the MVA allies are in hectic consultations with all the top leaders and a crucial meeting has been convened by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray this afternoon.

The Sena MP flayed the BJP for unleashing central investigation agencies to intimidate political leaders and making attempts to grab power as it did in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh in the past few years.

"Let them make all attempts to dislodge the MVA government... We shall weather this crisis soon and clear all the misunderstandings of our ministers and legislators," said Raut.

Meanwhile, Shinde -- who has reportedly met top Gujarat BJP leaders -- will address a press conference around noon.
Kolkata, June 21 : The West Bengal government, on Tuesday, heaved a sigh of relief after a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court ruled out a CBI probe into the mysterious death of the student leader Anis Khan.

Expressing trust on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the state police in the matter, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha, on Tuesday, observed that right at this moment he does not find any reason to transfer the probe to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from the SIT of state police, since there had not been any evidence of attempts to influence the probe process.

On February 19, Anis Khan was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his residence at Amta in Kolkata- adjacent Howrah district. His family alleged that he was killed by policemen in uniform. The state police started investigation forming SIT under the leadership of additional director general of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Gyanwant Singh.

The SIT members also arrested a home guard and civic volunteer in this connection.

On April 19, the SIT submitted an 82-page progress report on the investigation to the Calcutta High Court bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha, where the investigation team hinted that Anis Khan's death was a suicide.

The family of the deceased had been sticking to their demand for a CBI inquiry and also alleged that SIT investigation will actually shield the real culprits.

Expressing deep dissatisfaction over the order of Calcutta High Court's single- judge bench, Anis Khan's father Salem Khan said that he is maintaining his stand and will go further with this demand for a CBI probe in the matter.

His counsel said that after the full order is uploaded on the website of the Calcutta High Court, they will study the order and take appropriate steps accordingly.
New Delhi, June 21 : Amid calls to ensure a level-playing field between public and private 5G networks, Broadband India Forum (BIF) on Tuesday said that such demands are 'absurd and impractical' as the two 5G networks are entirely different set of services for two entirely different requirements.

Nowhere in over 55 countries where private 5G networks are deployed have similar regulations been issued, said the think tank, as the two networks are on completely different footings and are not competing with each other.

"Seeking a level-playing field with enterprises for captive private networks is akin to a child in kindergarten being asked to compete with someone who has a doctoral degree. No mature regulator anywhere in the world imposes regulation on a player with no or minimal market share,a said BIF President TV Ramachandran.

Enterprises will not be in the business of selling services or earning revenues through private 5G networks, but only use it for self-consumption.

"The credibility and rationale of such claims are questionable and require introspection," he said in a statement.

Private 5G networks are about the deployment of high speed, enhanced data capacity, and ultra-low latency applications inside a closed manufacturing unit, hospital, airport, shipping port, among others.

Private 5G networks are single end-user (the enterprise itself) in the given location, unlike a vast number of users in public networks.

In the case of private networks, the quantum of spectrum required is very small (going up to about 100 MHz) unlike the huge amounts of spectrum (almost 72000 MHz) used by public networks.

"While public networks are configured for 'best effort' service-level agreements (SLAs) to deliver average performance for external voice and data connectivity, private 5G Networks are meant to serve extremely high reliability and ultra-high SLAs with extremely low latency applications and ultra-high data rates,: the forum argued.

The telcos can operate their networks in full power, whereas private networks have to restrict power to a regulated level just like Wi-Fi networks, to prevent signals spilling out of their premises.

Hence, the same spectrum can be re-used many times across multiple different locations, unlike the case of public 5G networks.

"Private networks are not in the business of selling telecom services and earning revenues from it, but would be using the same purely for self-consumption," said the forum.

The spectrum that is earmarked for private networks needs to be exclusive and distinct from those bands for Public 5G, to avoid needless possibilities of interference between the two networks.

"Seeking a level playing field with enterprises for captive private networks is akin to a child in kindergarten being asked to compete with someone who has a doctoral degree," said Ramachandran.

The Union Cabinet last week approved the telecom department's proposal to conduct 5G spectrum by the end of next month.

The Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the spectrum auction permits all the four methods of allocating spectrum for Private 5G Networks as recommended by the Telecom Authority of India (TRAI), including the option of enterprises obtaining spectrum directly from the Department of Telecommunication (DoT).

This provides enterprises the much-required right to develop their private 5G networks based on the specialised requirements for their distinctive captive use.

Leading industry bodies have hailed the TRAI recommendations of around 35-40 per cent cut in the reserve price for 5G spectrum for mobile services, terming it historic and which can finally put India on the world 5G map.

The telecom regulator has put forward a mega auction plan valued at over Rs 7.5 trillion at the base price allocated over 30 years.
Ankara, June 21 : Turkey has received around 3.82 million foreign arrivals in May, surged by 308 per cent year-on-year, the country's Culture and Tourism Ministry said.

During the first five months of 2022, Turkey hosted a total of 12.7 million foreign arrivals, up by 207 per cent compared to the same period last year, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying.

Most foreign arrivals are registered in Istanbul, Antalya, Edirne, Mugla and Artvin.

Meanwhile, German tourists to Turkey accounted for the most in the first five months of the year, which increased by 367 per cent, followed by arrivals from Bulgaria (334 per cent) and Russia (49 per cent).

The country's crucial tourism industry has been recovering since the country eased health measures in 2021, but the number of foreign arrivals still falls behind May 2019 by 4.9 per cent, which was before the pandemic, said the Ministry.

Turkey's tourism sector has also been negatively affected by the Ukraine war, since Russian and Ukrainian tourists were the main sources of income, particularly for resorts along the Mediterranean coast.
Baghdad, June 21 : Iraq's Health Ministry declared a new wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 515 new cases reported in the past 24 hours.

"There is a noticeable increase in the positive cases during the past few days, as well as an increase in the number of infected people in hospitals, which means that Iraq has entered a new pandemic wave," the Ministry said in a statement.

It said that the resurgence of infections is an inevitable result of many people not receiving Covid-19 vaccines despite their availability in all health centre in Baghdad and other provinces, as well as the non-adherence to health-protective measures, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Ministry called for speedier vaccination and returning to individual and societal protective measures.

The new infections have raised the nationwide caseload to 2,332,692, while the death toll stood at 25,229.

A total of 18,691,060 tests have been carried out in Iraq since the outbreak of the disease in early 2020, with 6,317 done in the last 24 hours.

A total of 14,420 people were vaccinated in the same period, bringing the total number of doses administered to 10,797,872, according to the Ministry.
London, June 21 : The UK is facing the biggest rail strike in 30 years on Tuesday after 50,000 union members walked out demanding an 11 per cent pay rise, affecting millions of commuters across the country.

Tuesday's strike is the first of three national rail strikes across England, Scotland and Wales, with two more planned for Thursday and Saturday, the BBC reported.

Authorities have advised the general public to try not to travel as only a fifth of trains are due to run on half of the network.

Meanwhile, there will be no train service in areas north from Glasgow or Edinburgh; to Penzance in Cornwall; to Swansea or Holyhead.

Elsewhere, a shorter part of the day will be covered by services and the last departure for some long-distance routes will be in the middle of the afternoon.

Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of Network Rail, the company that owns and runs Britain's rail infrastructure, told the BBC that he was "profoundly sorry" for the massive disruption.

But he said there had been about 18 months of negotiations between Network Rail and the RMT union over proposed changes, pay and redundancies.

Haines said there would be no more than 2,000 job losses, but believes all can be voluntary.

The strike called by members of the RMT union is over pay and redundancies, with more due later this month and in July.

London Underground workers have also gone on strike in a separate dispute over pensions and job losses, forcing commuters to take alternate modes of transporation.

Transport for London and Network Rail's websites crashed on Tuesday morning as people desperately tried to find a route to get to work or school.
Srinagar, June 21 : Two terrorists were killed in a gunfight with the security forces in the Tujjan area in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Tuesday.

"One more terrorist killed (total 02). Search going on," police said.

One of the two slain terrorists, who belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammad, was involved in the killing of Sub Inspector Farooq Mir.

Mir was shot dead by terrorists while working in his paddy fields near his home in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on June 18.

"JeM terrorist Majid Nazir, Killer of SI Farooq Mir has been neutralised in Pulwama encounter," Jammu and Kashmir Police quoting Inspector General Police Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar tweeted.

Two encounters are underway in Kashmir between the terrorists and security forces at Tujjan area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district and at Sopore in North Kashmir's Baramulla district on Tuesday.

One terrorist has been so far been killed in the Sopore encounter.

There have been a series of encounters between the terrorists and security forces in Kashmir over the last few months in which many terrorists and their commanders have been eliminated.

Most of the operations have been jointly conducted by the police and the army on the basis of specific intelligence inputs.

On Monday, the officials said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police along with army neutralised seven terrorists, including two Pakistani terrorists in three anti-terrorist operations in Kupwara, Kulgam and Pulwama districts of Jammu and Kashmir in less than 24 hours.
New Delhi, June 21 : The Central government has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court regarding the petitions in connection with the 'Agnipath' scheme, to induct youth into all three-armed forces divisions, saying the court should hear it before taking any decision.

Three petitions have been filed so far in the apex court in connection with the Agnipath scheme. However, the caveat did not cite any particular plea.

A plea filed by advocate M.L. Sharma sought a direction from the top court to quash the notification issued on June 14 by the Ministry of Defence announcing the scheme.

The plea said a large section of youth have started protesting against the scheme in various parts of the country.

The plea said: "According to the impugned press note...dated 14.06.2022 after 4 years out of 100 per cent selected candidates for Permanent Commission in Indian Army 25 per cent will be continued in Indian Army force and the rest 75 per cent will be retired /denied jobs in the Indian Army. During 4 years they will be paid salary and perks, but after 4 years denied candidates will get no pension, etc." Sharma's plea said the Central government, contrary to the constitutional provisions and without having approval from Parliament and without any gazette notification, quashed the century-old army selection process and imposed the scheme on the country.

Another plea was filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, last week, seeking a direction to set up a committee to examine the scheme and its impact on national security and the Army. On Tuesday, a plea was mentioned before the Supreme Court seeking a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the violent protests against the scheme.

A bench of Justices C.T. Ravikumar and Sudhanshu Dhulia directed that the matter be placed before Chief Justice N.V. Ramana to examine the request for early listing.

After the Central government announced the scheme, protests broke out in several parts of the country. According to the scheme, candidates between 17.5 - 21 years will be recruited in the armed forces for a four-year period. However, after the protests broke out, the Central government increased the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022.
New Delhi, June 21 : Ahead of the larger meeting of all opposition parties in connection with deciding a consensus candidate for the post of President, a preliminary meeting was held at NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar's residence here on Tuesday.

Congress' Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Left leaders D. Raja and Sitaram Yechury attended the meeting.

Pawar is hosting a meeting of all opposition parties later in the day at Parliament Annexe to zero in on a consensus candidate for the post of President, polling for which is due on July 18.

"The meeting was held to carry out preliminary discussions. A blueprint has been prepared that will be shared with other leaders at the meeting of all Opposition parties later today," sources said.

The meeting is likely to announce a candidate for the post of President after consensus.

Earlier last week, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee had hosted a meeting here in Delhi where leaders from all major opposition parties participated and decided that they would put up a single, consensus candidate.

Meanwhile, veteran leader and former Union minister Yashwant Sinha has announced his resignation from Trinamool, immediately giving a field day for speculations that he is the likely candidate to be declared by opposition.

Incidentally, the BJP too is likely to announce its Presidential candidate later in the day.
New Delhi, June 21 : With China in the Chair as President, the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity will reconvene December 5-17 in Montreal, Canada, where a new world agreement to safeguard nature is expected to be adopted.

The decision was confirmed at a meeting of the Bureau of the CBD on Tuesday and announced as parties to the CBD convene in Nairobi (June 21-26) to advance negotiations on an ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework that will set the world on a path to bend the curve on nature loss.

"I thank the government of Canada, as the host of the Secretariat, for providing a venue in Montreal for this crucial meeting," said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

"I want to thank the fovernment of China for their flexibility and continued commitment to advancing our path towards an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework. I look forward, with the support of all parties, to successful outcomes of COP15." Originally planned for Kunming, China, in 2020, COP15 was postponed due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and later split into a two-part event.

Part 1 was successfully held in Kunming last October. Chinese President XI Jinping and other state leaders from eight parties as well as the UN Secretary-General made online presentations and speeches, reinforcing their commitment to address the biodiversity crisis.

The Chinese government, Yunnan province and the city of Kunming have been working continuously to ensure a successful COP15.

COP15 part 1 was also highlighted by the Kunming Declaration and President Xi's announcement that China would take the lead to invest RMB 1.5 billion to establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, providing strong political impetus to global biodiversity governance and a solid foundation for the second part of COP 15.

COP 15 President, Minister Huang Runqiu, noted that "China would like to emphasize its continued strong commitment, as COP President, to work with all parties and stakeholders to ensure the success of the second part of COP 15, including the adoption of an effective Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and to promote its delivery throughout its Presidency".

"It is with great pride that I can confirm Canada will welcome the world to Montreal in December 2022 for COP15. There is an urgent need for international partners to halt and reverse the alarming loss of biodiversity worldwide.

"With up to one million species currently at risk of extinction worldwide, the world cannot afford to wait any longer for global action on nature protection. Canada will continue to advocate for international collaboration on an ambitious Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework," said Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

At Nairobi's six-day fourth round of negotiations, delegates will continue progress on the GBF, building on the strong work undertaken in Geneva in March.
Noida, June 21 : Seven people were arrested after they allegedly assaulted residents of a group housing society here, an official said on Tuesday.

"The police had registered an FIR under section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 147 (punishment for rioting) of the Indian Penal Code against unknown people and arrested seven people," a police official told IANS.

The incident took place on Sunday at the Sunshine Helios premises located at Sector 78 in the city.

The FIR was lodged on the complaint of a Retired Colonel GS Sidhu who stated that the residents of the said society were protesting against the builder asking for implementation of Allahabad High Court order to hand over the society common area to Apartment Owners Association (AOA).

"During the protest, the builder deployed his goondas and bouncers to physically assault the residents. The bouncer of the builder assaulted me and hit on my head causing a grievous injury," the FIR copy accessed by IANS read.

The official said that as per a preventive action under Section 151 in the Code Of Criminal Procedure, the police have arrested seven people and further investigation is underway.
Patna, June 21 : A day after BJP MLA Hari Bhushan Thakur likened the Agnipath protesters to "Jehadis", another party MLA and cabinet minister Ram Surat Rai on Tuesday claimed the violence to be a handiwork of terrorists and political goons.

"Terrorists and political goons are behind the violence," Rai told the mediapersons.

"The opposition parties provoked students and anti-social elements and political goons were involved in the violence," Rai said.

"In the initial stage of the agitation, there were some students who protested against the government. They now understand the Agnipath scheme but the opposition parties hired some of them who indulged in violence. In the garb of the protest, the anti-social elements and political goons hi-jacked the protest and indulged in massive violence in the state," he said.

"Agitation and violence are not in the interest of the country. Opposition parties neither have sense nor vision to understand this scheme and they are blaming PM Narendra Modi. I strongly condemn it. The Congress leaders lack sense and undulge in cheap politics. The youth of the country are understanding now. Some of them did involve in violence but a large section of them have understood the concept," he said.

On Monday, BJP MLA Hari Bhushan Thakur said that those who are protesting against the Centre's Agnipath scheme are "Jehadis", adding that they have nothing to do with patriotism.

"Those protesting against Agnipath scheme are 'Jehadis'. Youth who want to serve the nation are very happy with the scheme. This is not a job but this is a service to the nation. Patriotism is not a cheap thing, people have to sacrifice their lives for it," Thakur said.
New Delhi, June 21 : After several Shiv Sena MLAs, including Minister Eknath Shinde became 'unreachable', Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday reached BJP chief J.P. Nadda's residence in the national capital to discuss the developing political situation in Maharashtra.

Shinde and other Shiv Sena MLAs have revolted against the party and moved to a hotel in Surat in Gujarat.

Sources in the BJP said that Nadda and Shah were discussing the changing political situation in Maharashtra and the party's future course of action.

It is learnt that both the leaders have discussed the next move of the BJP and whether the numbers are with the party or not.

"Party likely to move a no-confidence motion against Maha Vikas Agadhi government to prove Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has lost the majority," a party insider said.

Sources also said that instead of rushing to form a government in Maharashtra, the BJP will ensure that numbers are in its favour.

At least 25 MLAs of Shiv Sena are camping in a hotel in Surat. Sources said they are dissatisfied and unhappy with the MVA government.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also left for Delhi to deliberate the political crisis with the central leadership.

Sources also said that the next month's Presidential election is also being discussed between Nadda and Shah. The BJP Parliamentary Board meeting is likely to take place this evening to discuss the party presidential nominee.

The Congress also sent its state in-charge H.K. Patil to Mumbai. The party leaders also met at Balasaheb Thorat's residence in Mumbai to discuss the political situation.

Sena MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut, however, dismissed speculation that a 'political earthquake' is in the offing in Maharashtra, but accused the Opposition BJP of hatching its biggest conspiracy to topple the MVA government.

"There is no basis for the so-called 'political earthquake' as is being touted in some circles... This is an attempt to hit at the MVA and the plot is being staged on Gujarat soil. It will prove to be futile as in the past," Raut declared.

Admitting that Minister Eknath Shinde, along with several MLAs' are "not reachable", Raut claimed that "contact has been developed with some legislators" and attempts are on to defuse the crisis.
Houston, June 21 : Nearly 5,000 delegates attending the 2022 Texas Republican Convention have overwhelmingly passed a resolution rejecting the results of the 2020 US presidential election, according to an official statement.

The statement posted late Monday night on the Republican Party of Texas' website citing the resolution, said: "We believe that the 2020 election violated Article 1 and 2 of the US Constitution, that various secretaries of state illegally circumvented their state legislatures in conducting their elections in multiple ways, including by allowing ballots to be received after November 3, 2020.

"We believe that substantial election fraud in key metropolitan areas significantly affected the results in five key states in favour of Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.

"We reject the certified results of the 2020 presidential election, and we hold that acting President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was not legitimately elected by the people of the US.

"We strongly urge all Republicans to work to ensure election integrity and to show up to vote in November of 2022, bring your friends and family, volunteer for your local Republicans, and overwhelm any possible fraud." Matt Rinaldi, Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, said that members of party in the 'Lone Star's state "rightly have no faith in the 2020 election results and we don't care how many times the elites tell us we have to".

"The Texas Republican Party is raising record funds for election integrity, and we've made election integrity a top priority to ensure Texas never goes the way of Pennsylvania, Georgia, or Arizona. We refuse to let Democrats rig the elections in 2022 or 2024." Meanwhile, the newly adopted Texas Republicans' 2022 platform, outlined in a 40-page document, also called on the US to leave the UN.

"The UN is a detriment to the sovereignty of the US and other countries; because of this we support our withdrawal from the current Un," the platform announced.

"Texas retains the right to secede from the US, and the Texas Legislature should be called upon to pass a referendum consistent thereto," the document continued, accusing the federal government of impairing the state's right of self-government.

The Republicans in the second largest US state, where the third worst mass school shooting in history took place just weeks ago, also asserted that "all gun control is a violation of the Second Amendment and our God given rights", rejecting a new bipartisan gun proposal in the Capitol.

The platform also called for enacting "legislation to abolish abortion by immediately securing the right to life and equal protection of the laws to all preborn children from the moment of fertilization".

"We can't compromise with Democrats who have a different and incompatible vision for our future," said Rinaldi. "We need to be a bold and unapologetic conservative party." Measures adopted by the party's platform at the convention are not set laws, rather they act as a "mission statement" of sorts for the party over the next two years, said a report from local newspaper The Houston Chronicle, adding that Texas can't legally secede from the US in a fact check.

The development comes as a Senate panel is currently investigating the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot staged by thousands of Trump supporters in the wake of the election results.

The riot, the worst attack on the US Congress in more than 200 years, took place during a joint session of Congress in the process of affirming the election result.

Five deaths have been linked by authorities to the mayhem.
Kolkata, June 21 : The Calcutta High Court's single judge bench's order to remove Dr Manik Bhattacharya form West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE) in the primary teachers recruitment scam has been challenged in a division bench.

On Monday, the bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay ordered the immediate removal of Bhattacharya, from his post in connection with the recent primary teachers' recruitment scam. Authorising the state government to arrange for replacement, Justice Gangopadhyay also ordered that during the interim period Bhattacharya's responsibilities will be handled by the WBBPE secretary, Ratna Chakraborty (Bagchi).

However, on Monday, WBBPE approached the Calcutta High Court's division bench. While challenging the decision, WBBPE's counsel argued that immediate removal of Dr Manik Bhattacharjee will result in functional difficulties of the board and hence the order of the single-judge bench be stayed.

The court, though admitted the petition from WBBPE, said that hearing in the matter will take place after a few days. Incidentally, Dr Manik Bhattachrya is supposed to be present at the court of Justice Gangopadhyay at 2 p.m. on Tuesday only. Earlier, WBBPE had also challenged the order by Justice Gangopadhyay for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in the primary teachers' recruitment scam.

On June 13, while ordering the CBI probe, Justice Gangopadhyay also ordered immediate cancellation of the appointment of 269 candidates for the post. He observed that these candidates secured jobs despite not qualifying in the written examination and some of them did not even appear for the same.

On June 15, Justice Gangopadhyay slightly extended his earlier order and directed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be set up for conducting a probe into the primary teachers' recruitment scam. He also said that members of the SIT should not be assigned to other cases till this probe is completed and cannot also be transferred before the completion of the probe.
Kolkata, June 21 : West Bengal Police on Tuesday filed an FIR against several Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers including the one who is heading the central probe agency's ongoing probe in the coal smuggling case in the state. The name of the officer is Umesh Kumar.

The FIR has been filed at the Bishnupur Police Station under Diamond Harbour sub-division in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. A special team of Diamond Harbour district police has started probe in the matter.

Recently, a resident of Diamond Harbour filed a complaint at the local police station alleging that he along with some other people were threatened by the CBI sleuths in the name of interrogration pertaining to the coal scam investigation. The complainant also alleged that CBI sleuths had been putting pressure on them to give statements according to their instructions and also record those statements. He named Umesh Kumar in the complaint.

It is learnt that Umesh Kumar was a part of the CBI team who went to the residence of Trinamool Congress' national general secretary and the party MP, Abhishek Banerjee's residence in South Kolkata on June 14 this year to interrogate his wife Rujira Narula Banerjee in connection with the coal scam. Incidentally, Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of Mamata Banerjee, is the party MP from Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency.

State police sources said that they have started the preliminary investigation in the matter and if necessary, they will interact with the CBI officers named in the case including Umesh Kumar.

Besides CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also conducting a parallel probe in the coal smuggling case in West Bengal. Abhishek Banerjee himself has faced questioning from both these agencies in this connection. The name of his wife surfaced after the investigating sleuths traced a bank account purportedly held by her in the Thailand - capital of Bangkok where a huge amount of money reportedly involving the coal smuggling scam was transferred. Rujira Narula Banerjee, however, has denied knowledge of the said bank account.
New Delhi/Goa, June 21 : Raising serious concerns about the rising unemployment rate in the state, the Goa chapter of Mining Engineers' Association of India (MEAI) appealed to the governments at the Centre and state to immediately allow the resumption of mining activities through best possible means.

Citing the very high rate of unemployment in the state, the Goa chapter of MEAI claimed that in the absence of industrial activity, mining professionals are facing an unprecedented job crisis. Goa's unemployment rate was recorded at a whopping 13.4 per cent in May 2022, as against the national average of 7.12 per cent as per the data published by Centre for Monitoring of Indian Economy (CMIE).

The association said that due to the stoppage of mining operations and massive slowdown in the other industrial sectors in Goa, as per the CMIE report its unemployment rate was higher than that of several bigger states, such as Chhattisgarh (0.7 per cent), Gujarat (2.1 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (1.6 per cent), Odisha (2.6 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (3.1 per cent), Uttarakhand (2.9 per cent) and Maharashtra (4.1 per cent) during May 22.

Despite being a small state, Goa features among the first six states with maximum unemployment rate in India. As per the report of MoSPI, in 2020-21 the state had the third highest unemployment rate after Nagaland and Lakshadweep. At least 10.5 per cent of the population was unemployed, much above the national unemployment rate of 4.2 per cent.

"Despite being such a mineral rich state and tourism hub of India, Goa is in such a miserable crisis in terms of employment opportunities. There is dire need for the government to act on the long pending issue of Goa mining resumption due to which almost 3 lakh livelihoods are already disturbed," it said.

Joseph Coelho, Chairman, MEAI Goa chapter, said, "Goa's economic revival is extremely vital without any further delays, and we urge Govt. to relook at the ever-worsening employability scenario leading to the various repercussions such as rising cases of addictions, domestic violence, stress, illiteracy etc.

"The state's growth is almost stagnated with a massive debt burden of over Rs 23,000 crore, employment rate is at an all-time low, and major industrial activities have come to a standstill. Despite having ample potential, the youth, especially mining professionals, are facing an unprecedented crisis. We, as a mining professional's body, are pained by this loss of state revenue and employment opportunities. It is also disheartening to see that professional mining academic courses in the state are almost on the verge of shutting down such as mining engineering degree courses and mining diploma courses," Coelho further said.

In February 2018, the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases in Goa, bringing the local iron ore industry to a standstill. The state government has recently started the process to take over these leases by issuing notices to vacate the leases.

In the last four years, several industry bodies, mining dependent organisations, and other stakeholders have appealed to the government to find a way to resume mining in the state.

In the past too, the MEAI Goa chapter had written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, appealing to him for immediate resumption of mining to address the unemployment crisis and revenue deficit in the state.
Chennai, June 21 : Several actors and actresses from all four south Indian film industries joined scores of yoga enthusiasts across the country and the world in celebrating International Yoga Day on Tuesday.

Actress Andrea Jeremiah posted pictures of herself doing yoga on Instagram and said, "Always something new to learn! Happy International Yoga Day everyone!" Malayalam superstar Mohanlal too posted a picture of him doing yoga on Instagram on the occasion of the International Yoga Day.

Malayalam actor Unni Mukunda posted a caption on Instagram saying, 'A little yoga each day keeps the doctor away." He also went on to add, "Happy Yoga ! I'm yet to start my yoga sessions, but I strongly recommend everyone here to start practising yoga, I'm gonna start soon!" Actress Gayathrie Shankar posted a picture of her practising yoga and said, "Breathe in.Breathe out. You know what day it is!" Kannada actress Haripriya took to Instagram to post a video of her doing yoga and said, "Let's find peace while we stretch away all our problems." Actress Pranitha Subhash, who only recently gave birth to a child but is a pro when it comes to yoga, posted some old pictures of her doing acrobatic yoga and said, "I don't know if I'll ever get back to being this fit.. but here are some TBTs Acro Yoga.. Happy International Yoga Day!"
Kochi, June 21 : Popular Malayalam actor Siddique, a close friend of actor Dileep who is an accused in the 2017 actress abduction case, was questioned by the Crime branch police probe team on Tuesday.

According to sources, the probe team has to submit its final report before the court on July 15 and for long they have been planning to interrogate Siddique.

Siddique was summoned on the basis of a letter written by Pulsar Suni, the prime accused in the case, which has reference to Siddique.

The 59-year-old Siddique, who has done close to 400 films, has all along been supportive of Dileep. Even in the actors body - AMMA, he has strongly batted for the beleaguered Dileep who had to spend several weeks in jail in 2017 before being released on bail.

The police are understood to have quizzed Siddique on all the details which included a talk that took place in a hotel at Kochi before the abduction episode.

A medical doctor based in Kochi also was called by the probe team.

The probe was progressing smoothly, when last year in December, a film director Balachandrakumar, a former friend of Dileep, claimed that after being released on bail, Dileep had conspired to do away with the police officials probing the case.

After the disclosure, a fresh case was registered against the actor and after a long legal battle, Dileep managed to get a bail in that case as well.

But with fresh revelations gathering momentum, the probe team approached the court to cancel the actor's bail and it's now kept for the final orders from the court.
New Delhi, June 21 : The bail plea of Satyendar Jain, Health Minister in the Delhi Government has been rejected by a Delhi court.

Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 30 in a money laundering case. Jain is in judicial custody since his arrest over alleged hawala transactions with a Kolkata-based firm in 2015-16. The ED had attached Jain's properties worth Rs 4.81 crore of the family and companies "beneficially owned and controlled" in connection with a money-laundering investigation.

Cvoter-IndiaTracker conducted a countrywide survey on behalf of IANS to know public opinion about Jain's continuance in the Kejriwal government in the wake of rejection of his bail plea in the case.

During the survey, while 64 per cent of respondents opined that Jain should resign from post of minister in the Delhi Government, 36 per cent opposed this sentiment.

Interestingly, both the NDA and opposition voters opined on similar lines on the issue. As per the survey data, while 73 per cent of NDA supporters spoke in favour of resignation of Jain from the Delhi Cabinet, 57 per cent of opposition voters echoed similar views.

Similarly, during the survey majority of urban and rural voters opined in favour of Jain moving out of the Delhi government. As per the survey data, 70 per cent of urban respondents and 60 per cent of the respondents from rural areas said that they want Jain to resign from the Delhi government.

During the survey, the majority of respondents from different age groups also shared similar views about Jain's resignation. As per the survey data, while 78 per cent of respondents above 55 years of age want Jain to resign, 60 per cent of those in the age group of 18-24 year shared the sentiment. Similarly, the majority of respondents between 25 to 54 years also demanded Jain's resignation.
New Delhi, June 21 : The country is witnessing unabated protests against the Agnipath scheme announced by the Narendra Modi government. The Bharat Bandh call on Monday by some groups disrupted both rail and road traffic in many states of the country.

Passengers were stranded on several railway stations as hundreds of trains were cancelled across the country in different zones. Several cities, including the national capital witnessed chaotic scenes of traffic jams due to the Bharat Bandh call.

As the protests against the Agnipath scheme launched for the recruitment in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force continue, the BJP government and opposition political parties are engaged in hurling accusations at each other. The opposition is attacking the BJP government for playing with the future of youngsters by offering a job which does not have financial and social security. The BJP, in turn, is accusing the opposition of politicising the issue and misleading the youth against the scheme. The Congress party launched a satyagraha against the Agnipath scheme at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Sunday (June 19).

CVoter-IndiaTracker conducted a nationwide survey on behalf of IANS to know people's views about the events that have been unfolding since the announcement of the Agnipath scheme.

During the survey, 57 per cent of the respondents opined that the opposition political parties are trying to draw political mileage out of the issue and they are instigating the youth against the scheme. At the same time, 43 per cent of those interviewed during the survey had a different view on the issue.

Predictably, during the survey, the polarised opinion on the issue was reflected in the views of the majority of NDA and opposition supporters. As per the survey data, while 73 per cent of the NDA voters stated that opposition political parties are provoking the youngsters to protest against the scheme, 55 per cent of opposition supporters did not agree to this sentiment.

The survey data highlighted the difference in the opinions of different social groups on the issue. During the survey, 76 per cent of the Upper Caste Hindus, 62 per cent of Other Backward Classes and a large proportion of Scheduled Castes - 55 per cent opined that opposition political parties are inciting the youngsters against the four-year-job scheme. At the same time, 66 per cent Sikhs, 66 per cent Muslims and 60 per cent of Scheduled Tribe respondents absolved opposition political parties from such accusations.

The survey further revealed that the majority of Indians were opposed to the Bharat Bandh call given by protesters against the Agnipath scheme. As per the survey data, while 53 per cent of the respondents said that they don't support such a call, 47 per cent of respondents expressed support for the Bharat Bandh call. Unsurprisingly, political polarisation between the NDA and opposition voters was evident on this issue as well. While 64 per cent NDA voters opposed the Bharat Bandh call, 55 per cent of opposition supporters spoke in favour of such a call.

Difference in opinions of different social groups was evident on this issue as well. During the survey, while 64 per cent of UCH respondents and 57 per cent of OBC respondents opposed the Bharat Bandh call, majority of Sikhs - 63 per cent, ST - 73 per cent, Muslims - 53 per cent and 53 per cent of SC respondents supported the call for strike.
Mumbai, June 21 : On International Yoga Day, TV actors talk about performing different 'asanas' and keeping themselves healthy by practicing yoga. They share how yoga helps in living a stress free life and how this ancient practice helps in aligning the body and the mind.

Mouli Ganguly, seen in 'Baal Shiv' shares: "Yoga is a retreat for me amid my stressful life. Lack of exercise, inconsistent sleeping patterns, and bad eating habits are important concerns for actors because they severely impact their physical and mental health. So, my main motivation for yoga daily is to stay on track and maintain my physical fitness." "As a regular yoga practitioner, I believe that Yoga and pranayama are among the oldest and most tried and true methods for reaching my goals. Yoga serves as a form of treatment for me. "Wishing everyone a wonderful day of yoga," she adds.

On the other hand, actress Mehak Ghai, who plays Manna in 'Appnapan... Badalte Rishton Ka Bandhan' emphasises on practicing Yoga for the alertness of mind and body. She also opens up about her favourite asana.

"My favorite Yoga asana is Sukhasana because it has a relaxing effect on the mind and body which is helpful in reducing stress and anxiety. Also, Yoga really helps me in focusing and hence it helps you to make you more attentive and alert. It strengthens the back muscles and improves the overall body posture." TV actress Himani Shivpuri has made Yoga a part of her daily routine and she practices different asanas for physical strength and fighting the illness.

"To be honest, I enjoy Yoga and spend fifteen to twenty minutes each day doing Lotus pose or trikonasana. I am a diabetic patient, and doing Trikonasana helps me as a medicine and helps me transform this physical pain into my strength. When you are aging, you do not have to be strong or flexible; it's not about always looking good." "But doing Yoga is about self-inquiry. It's about taking time to show up for ourselves in a nurturing and sustainable way. I spend a lot of time meditating, which keeps me calm and makes me feel collected, leading to a productive lifestyle. I never feel more beautiful than when I'm doing yoga," she adds.

While actress Neha Sargam shares how Veerbhadra asana strengthens the arms, shoulders, and back muscles She says: "My favourite yoga pose is Veerbhadra Asana. This pose strengthens the arms, shoulders, and back muscles, all in one go. This asana is considered to be one of the most agile stances in yoga, and it adds a lot of perfection to the workout." "I have always wanted the strength of the body and mind and this asana gives me all that and much more. I feel energised after doing yoga in the morning although I am still learning and strive to get better in all the yoga flows and asanas," she concludes.
New Delhi, June 21 : Pictures are incredible things, as they can take the young minds on a pictorial journey. Children's books would not be the same without illustrations, as they help facilitate a child's imagination and enable them to adequately understand the story before they even read it.

Now imagine that your child had his/ her personalized storybook. Studies indicate that when children see themselves in a story, it has a deep effect on their literacy and language development. This enables them to be confident, enthusiastic readers for life.

So today we present to you the top 5 illustration-based customized books that your children should certainly indulge in: The Unusual Adventures of a Gutsy Explorer Merlinwand

The tale of a carefree kid who has this longing for extraordinary and exciting journeys goes on a fruitful, mission-filled, and courageous journey from a picturesque Indian village to different parts of the world. Children long for adventure and want to be different from the herd. The most fascinating part is yet to come when you can personalize the book and choose any 3 places to examine from among Iceland, Turkey, Egypt, Mongolia, Bolivia, and the Western Ghats! Priced at Rs 1,999/- Available on Merlinwand

Princess You The Great by Wonderbly

A little princess or prince has been invited to the palace to commemorate someone exceptional - but who could it be? On their way, they'll meet lots of mysterious creatures who need their assistance and understand what makes a true champion.

At Wonderbly, you can put in a child's name and see them become a brave and kind hero. Choose their identity, and dress them in the finest clothes fit for a royal. Pick a cover color from four majestic choices. And write your message on the very first page.

Priced at Rs 2,499/- Available on Wonderbly My name Bookyboo by Bookboo a book about you

The story is constructed to inculcate confidence in the child, along with life values of compassion, courage, and love for excavating new places. It's a Storybook Personalised Based On The Letters Of A Name by a brand named Bookboo. Where you make a child the hero who discovers mysterious treasure clues across India. Watch the enthusiasm at discovering that the clues add up to his or her name! Planned to inculcate core values of dignity, kindness, and courage.

Priced at Rs 1275/- Available on Bookboo The Personalised 'Siblings Edition' Activity Book! By Elemeno

Move over resembling clothes. We've got identical Activity Books! Constructed as an exploration between you and your sibling, the activity books by Elemeno are a family favorite! They're also travel-friendly, extremely personalized, and interactive enough to maintain all sorts of tantrums at bay! The activity book is personalized with the child's name, family members, and connections through some activities.

Their books have a wide range of activities scattered across six different topics. One of these topics comprises the sibling (or family members) and is your kid's very own mini-adventure! Priced at Rs. 500/- Available on Elemeno Personalised Unicorn Book by Oh! My Name

To discover her / his Unicorn, the child went on a journey, to do everything she/he could become, She/he finally establishes...not just her / his Unicorn, but something else too, something fresh which she/he before never knew...

At Oh! My Name, on the first page we publish your personalised statement for you to cherish the book as a souvenir in years to come for example, "You are as magical as the Unicorn. - Love, Mom, and Dad".

Priced at Rs. 699/- Available on Oh! My Name (N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in)
A camera-trap study in a national park in Sumatra captured images of critically endangered wildlife, like this Sumatran tiger. (Panthera tigris sumatrae). (Photo Courtesy: Max Allen) Image Source: IANS News

Chennai, June 21 : When the carcass of a cow was found near the forest area at Talavadi on Monday, the locals alerted forest department officials of Jerahalli Forest Range under the Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) who identified the pug marks of the tiger near the spot.

Notably, this is the fifth cow that was reported killed in the Talavadi area in the past 22 days. Forest department officials said that while four of the cows were killed by a tiger, one was killed by a leopard.

Camera traps are placed to track the movement of the animal and a decision has been taken to place a cage trap to catch the tiger which remained elusive.

Talavadi Farmers Association leaders told forest officials to follow the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) standard operating procedures while dealing with strayed wild carnivores.

The farmers association leaders said that scientific monitoring of wild animals and checking prey availability inside forest areas is important.

R. Chenthamarakshan, a farmer in the Talavadi forest area, told IANS that the forest department must take immediate action to catch the tiger which has been killing domestic cows in a frequent manner.
Patna, June 21 : Union Steel Minister R.C.P. Singh on Tuesday attacked his own party parliamentary board president Upendra Kushwaha after the latter said that Singh should resign from the union cabinet as the party denied him Rajya Sabha ticket.

R.C.P. Singh was in Gaya to participate at an event on the occasion of world Yoga day. When Singh was asked by the media persons to comment on the statement of Upendra Kushwaha, he said with folded hands: "Whose name you (media persons) are taking. This is a place of Bhagwan Budha. Take his name." Singh participated in the Yoga event inside the premises of Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya.

When he was asked about less number of supporters with him, he claimed that it was not an event of his party's organisation. "When events pertaining to party organisation will be held, you will see a large number of people with me," he said.

After denial of ticket, Singh' tenure as a Rajya Sabha MP will end on July 7. Upendra Kushwaha on June 14 had said that R.C.P. Singh should resign as minister on moral ground before his tenure as Rajya Sabha ends.
New Delhi, June 21 : Through Yoga therapy, you are equipped with the tools to overcome a flight or fight response in the body and kick start the rest and healing mechanism. This in turn empowers oneself to take control of any difficult thoughts that disturb your balance, states Dr. Cijith Sreedhar, Chief Physician at Prakriti Shakti, Clinic of Natural Medicine by CGH Earth.

Yoga is universally recognised as a transformative path to achieving mind-body-soul harmony. The theme of this year's International Yoga Day, Yoga for Humanity, could not be more relevant and appropriate to inspire the world at large to practise Yoga and raise awareness about its benefits to the body, mind, and overall mental health.

Yoga therapy addresses each individual's Prakruthi, or human nature. Each person's Prakruthi is divided into five layers called Panchakoshas, which include physical, energy, mind, intellect, and bliss.

In most cases of healing a person's physical and mental health, the first three layers are addressed through three corresponding fundamental aspects of Yoga. The first is Asanas, which is when one practises physical activities with awareness, followed by Pranayama, which is when one practises breathing exercises with awareness, and Dhyana Meditation, which is when one practises awareness of one's thought processes. Each fundamental yoga practise includes a variety of techniques for treating the overall health of your body and mind.

Curative programmes at PrakritiShakti, CGH Earth Experience Wellness naturopathy centre in Kerala believes in the concept of integrated yoga therapies for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions, including mental health issues.

This includes yoga and meditation, which can be tailored to address post-pandemic long COVID issues and related stress, depression, and anxiety. The centre's global patrons from Europe, Russia, and other CIS countries have begun to attend residential programmes or continue to participate in online consultations and Yoga and meditation classes led by Prakriti Shakti experts.

Dr Sreedhar, adds, "To put it simply, when we have good thoughts, we feel good. And when we feel good, we do good. So, whatever we do in our lives is based on what we think. Every time we think, our thoughts can be positive, negative, neutral, conscious, or unconscious. You may be aware that stress-inducing responses in your body are always initiated by non-conscious or subconscious activity, in which you are unaware of what you are thinking. These thoughts that lead to stress activates the fight or flight responses in your body. If the thought process we have is conscious and resourceful, then the reaction which happens in the body and mind will be positive and we remain healthy." The fight or flight response is a physiological reaction to a stressful or frightening event. Being in this state all the time is bad for one's health. Because your stress is based on your thoughts, controlling your thoughts is the best way to relax. Yoga therapy is used to intervene in reversing, controlling, or modifying mental health issues and helps control fight or flight responses. Yoga, in fact, is one of the most effective modalities for treating and controlling stress, anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders.

Prakriti Shakti, Yoga, and Naturopathy treatments are available at CGH Earth's NABH-accredited naturopathy clinic. These therapies are used in conjunction with other Yoga concepts such as Chitta Vrittis to help people overcome the perceptions and attitudes that lead to stress. These subjective realities are what cause us to react to people, events, and the outside world in general.

(IANSlife can be contacted at IANSlife@ians.in)
Hyderabad, June 21 : Three persons died of electrocution in Telangana's Mahabubabad district on Tuesday, police said.

The incident occurred in Andanalapadu village of Dornakal mandal of the district when they were installing a loudspeaker at a local temple.

The deceased were identified as Subba Rao (67), Mastan Rao (57) and Venkaiah (55).

The trio were fitting a loudspeaker to a pole close to a tree. Eye witnesses said they were electrocuted after touching an iron rod which had come into contact with an electric wire.

Meanwhile, Tribal Welfare Minister Satyavati Rathod has expressed shock and grief over the incident. She conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.

The minister spoke to officials to get details of the incident and assured the families of the deceased that the government will extend all possible help.
Surat, June 21 : Amid high voltage drama after Maharashtra Minister and Shiv Sena MLA, Eknath Shinde moved to Le Meridien hotel here with 20 MLAs, one of the MLAs Nitin Deshmukh was admitted to a government hospital in the city after he complained of uneasiness.

According to sources from the government hospital, a patient named Nitin Deshmukh is being treated in the hospital. He was brought from a hotel.

Sources also said Deshmukh had created ruckus in the hotel on Monday night as he was not at all happy with the way he was brought to Surat.

In afternoon, two cars with Maharashtra registration number plates reached hotel Le Meridien. One of the cars had registration number MH40AR1994, of Mercedes make, was allowed in the hotel, only after senior police officers spoke to Ektnath Sindhe and BJP leaders.

It is yet not clear whether more Shiv Sena MLAs have been brought to Surat. Shiv Sena's senior leaders have reached Surat to convince MLAs to come back to the party fold.

Sources said, Shiv Sena top brass has deputed two senior leaders -- Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Pathak to talk to the rebel MLAs and sent them to Surat. These leaders will speak to Eknath Sindhe and others. Even BJP MLA Sanjay Kute has reached Surat and is meeting with Shiv Sena MLAs.

Sources also say BJP's former chief minister Devendra Fadanvis is likely to reach Gujarat in a few hours. He may land in Surat and meet Shiv Sena's rebel MLAs.

It is believed that Eknath Shinde will address press only after Fadanvis arrives in the city.
New Delhi, June 21 : Fresh trouble seems to be brewing for former BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal as the Thane police on Tuesday served a notice to him in connection with a new case over the controversial remarks he made against Prophet Muhammad.

Jindal has been asked to join the probe on June 25. The case has been lodged against him by Mumbra Police Station on the complaint of one Mohammed Gufran Akmal Khan. The case has been filed under sections 153(A) (B), 295 (A), 298 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.

"This is to inform you that, Mumbra Police Station Crime registered Vide CR No. 528/2022 Section 153 (A) (B), 295(A), 298, 505 of IPC against you on the reasonable Complaint of Mohd Gufran Akmal Khan. Therefore, you are directed to remain present before me on 25/06/2022 at 11.00 a.m. at Mumbra Police Station, Thane, Maharashtra, State," read the notice.

Jindal was dismissed from the BJP after controversy erupted over his remark against Prophet Muhammad which was in support of suspended party BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's statement also against the Prophet.

The dismissed leader had also alleged that a few persons had followed him few days ago when he went to meet someone.

He had informed the police about the same.
Visakhapatnam, June 21 : Forest officials in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district on Tuesday caught the bear which had killed a person and injured six others during the last two days.

Forest officials succeeded in catching the bear after sedating it by firing a tranquilizer shot in Kidisingi village under Vajrapukotturu mandal. An official said it was later shifted to Visakhapatnam Zoo in a cage.

The veterinarians will provide treatment to the animal based on its condition. The forest department will later take a decision on releasing the bear in the forest.

People in the village heaved a sigh of relief after a team of forest officials succeeded in catching the bear.

The operation was launched on Monday after six people were injured in the attack by the wild animal, which was believed to have strayed into human habitation in search of food and water.

Earlier, on Sunday a man was killed in the attack by the bear near cashew orchards. K. Kodanda Rao (72) died while undergoing treatment.

The condition of four of those injured in Monday's attack is stated to be critical. They were admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) at Srikakulam.

According to villagers, a bear has been wandering in the cashew orchards on the outskirts of Vajrapukotturu 'mandal', attacking people and livestock for the past two days. The animal also killed two cows on Monday.

An ex-Army man Pothanapalli Tulasi Rao, and his brother Purushottam, who is currently serving in the Indian Army, rushed to the village and tackled the bear while rescuing four people who were injured in the attack. The four men were injured when they came to save a farmer who was attacked by the bear.
London, June 21 : Germany's competition regulator on Tuesday initiated a proceeding against Google and its parent company Alphabet to examine possible anti-competitive behaviour by Google Maps against rival map services providers.

The probe by the Federal Cartel Office (FCO) against Google Maps is initiated under tougher abuse laws which have applied to Google's business in Germany since January this year.

"We have information to suggest that Google may be restricting the combination of its own map services with third-party map services, for example when it comes to embedding Google Maps location data, the search function or Google Street View into maps not provided by Google," Andreas Mundt, President of the FCO in a statement.

"We will now examine whether this practice could allow Google to further expand its position of power regarding certain map services," Mundt added.

Under the new tougher laws, the authority can prohibit companies of paramount significance for competition across markets from engaging in anti-competitive practices.

"We will also look into the licensing terms and conditions for the use of Google's map services in vehicles. We are also conducting or have already concluded further proceedings against Google and other large digital companies like Apple, Amazon and Meta/Facebook," the FCO informed.

Google Maps Platform offers access to several map services. Applications of these services include embedding the maps into third-party websites, for example to show the locations of shops or hotels.

The preliminary assessment by the FCO is that Google restricts in particular the possibility to combine Google's map services with third-party maps. "This practice could impair competition in the area of map services. The fact that Google makes the use of its services in vehicle infotainment systems subject to very strict terms of use applicable to its 'Google Automotive Services' could restrict competition even further,' the German watchdog noted.
New Delhi, June 21 : Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said on Tuesday that it was never conveyed that Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde had chief ministerial ambitions, adding that a solution to the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra would be found out soon.

"Shinde never conveyed (to us) that he wanted to be the Chief Minister (of Maharashtra). The Chief Minister's post is Shiv Sena's and this is an internal issue of that party," Pawar told mediapersons ahead of the opposition meeting to finalise a consensus candidate for the Presidential poll.

"We will soon find a way out this situation. The CM's post is Shiv Sena's, Deputy CM's is NCP's. Whatever Shiv Sena will decide, we are with them," he said.

Pawar's comments came in the wake of the ongoing political crisis wherein Shinde, who is also a cabinet minister, has parked himself in Surat along with around two-dozen MLAs, sending the already precarious Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress' Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government into a tizzy.

Referring to the allegations of cross-voting during the recently concluded voting for biennial elections to 10 seats of Maharashtra Legislative Council, Pawar said, "This is not the first incidence of cross-voting." Without giving further details, the NCP supremo said he will be flying back to Mumbai after the opposition meeting and "if there is time, I will meet (Maharashtra Chief Minister) Uddhav Thackeray".

He laughed off at a question about a possible tie up with the BJP.
Peshawar, June 21 : Pakistan's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has warned of an assassination threat against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a media report said on Tuesday.

The threat alert issued by CTD's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wing stated that "terrorists are planning to assassinate Imran Khan, for which they have sought assistance from an assassin in Afghanistan", Geo News quoted the Daily Jang report as saying.

According to Daily Jang, the text of the threat alert has been shared with various forums, according to which an Afghan assassin has been given the responsibility to target the former premier.

However, the said assassin handed over the responsibility to others.

The CTD has directed all concerned agencies to take all possible measures for the security of the former prime minister in the wake of the threat alert, Geo News reported.

Meanwhile, a senior police official from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa confirmed that the CTD issued the alert on June 18.

However, there were orders to keep the threat a secret and prevent it from being leaked on social media, he said.

PTI leaders have recently expressed concerns about the threat to Khan's life and have claimed that a target killer has been hired to assassinate him.

PTI leader Fayazul Hassan Chohan had tweeted that "some people" have tasked a terrorist with assassinating the party Chairman.

"I have details that some people have ordered a terrorist named 'Cochi' in Afghanistan to assassinate PTI Chairman Imran Khan," he claimed.

Later, a party worker claimed that "the assassin has even acquired a residence in Islamabad or Rawalpindi".
Bengaluru, June 21 : In a joint operation, the Karnataka police and Military Intelligence sleuths have unearthed a racket for passing on sensitive Indian defence inputs to Pakistan, sources said on Tuesday. They have arrested one person and launched a hunt for others.

The investigations have confirmed calls from Pakistani intelligence seeking inputs on Indian armed forces. The calls were made from Pakistan through Darknet, and the accused who joined hands with them had developed expertise in converting international calls into local calls.

The investigation team nabbed Sharafuddin from Bengaluru after conducting a raid. He is a native of Wayanad district in Kerala.

According to the police, the accused had kept SIM boxes at four places in Bengaluru. The raids have been conducted in Bhuvaneshwarinagar, Chikkasandra, Siddeshwara Layout and other locations in the city.

The sleuths who conducted the raids seized 2,144 SIM cards, 58 SIM boxes and electronic devices from the accused.

The gang was involved in converting international calls into local calls. Pakistani intelligence, making use of this network, tried to get information on the Indian army, sources said.
Chennai, June 21 : The General Insurers' (Public Sector) Association of India (GIPSA), the lobby body for the four government owned multiline non-life insurers, will begin the wage revision talks with the unions on Wednesday.

The GIPSA has informed the recognised unions representing the different cadres in the four companies -- The Oriental Insurance Company Limited, National Insurance Company Limited, The New India Assurance Company Limited and United India Insurance Company Limited.

Of the four, The New India Assurance is listed in the stock exchanges.

Though not a member of GIPSA, national reinsurer General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) will also be there at the wage negotiation table.

The employee representatives of GIC Re will also participate in the wage revision talks, a source told IANS.

The GIPSA has asked the unions and associations to depute two persons to participate in the discussions that will be held at 4.30 p.m. on video conference mode.

From the five companies side, the Chairman and Managing Directors, General Manager (Personnel) will participate.

Wage revision for the employees of the non-life insurance companies fell due in August 2017.

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in)
New Delhi, June 21 : The opposition parties on Tuesday announced former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha as their consensus candidate for the post of President, election for which is to be held on July 18.

"We (opposition parties) have unanimously decided that Yashwant Sinha will be our common candidate for the Presidential election," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told media persons soon after the meeting of the combined opposition parties held at the Parliament Annexe.

The meeting was called by NCP top leader Sharad Pawar and attended by leaders from the Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPI-M, National Conference, and RJD among others.

"In his long and distinguished career in public life, Sinha has served the nation in various capacities. An able administrator, accomplished Parliamentarian, and an acclaimed Union Minister of Finance and External Affairs, he is eminently qualified to uphold the secular and democratic character of the Indian republic and its constitutional values," he said.

"Ideally, a consensus candidate of the government and the opposition should be elected to the highest office of the republic. However, the initiative for this should have been taken by the government. The Modi government made no serious effort in this direction," he added.

Earlier in the day, Sinha had resigned from Trinamool Congress (TMC) leading to speculations about his name being finalized for the President's post as opposition's candidate.

Last week, the opposition parties had convened a similar meeting wherein several leaders had wanted NCP leader Sharad Pawar to be the opposition candidate. Pawar had, however, declined the offer.

The voting for the Presidential poll is scheduled to be held on July 18 and counting to be held on July 21.
Chennai, June 21 : One of Tamil cinema's popular actors and well known politicians Vijayakanth is recovering well in a private hospital, where he underwent a surgery on Monday in which three of his toes on his right leg were amputated, sources close to the actor said on Tuesday.

A statement issued by Vijayakanth's political party, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) said that toes on the feet of the actor had been amputated as per the advice of doctors.

The diabetes problem that has been troubling Vijayakanth for years had caused blood to flow in an irregular fashion to his toes, necessitating the amputation, the statement in Tamil claimed.

The actor, whose health is being carefully monitored, is recovering well, sources said, adding that he would be in the hospital for a couple of more days after which he would be discharged.

Reiterating that the actor was recuperating well, the party's statement urged office bearers, supporters and the public not to believe rumours that were being circulated on social media about the actor's health.
Lucknow, June 21 : The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh plans to set up three new women shelters and children's homes in three districts of the state, an official said on Tuesday.

According to the government spokesman, the government has planned to set up new women shelters with a capacity of 100 beds each in Ghazipur, Moradabad and Ghaziabad districts at a cost of Rs 20.21 crore.

Besides, a government children's home with a capacity of 50 beds in Agra, and state observation homes, with a capacity of 100 beds, will also be constructed in Rae Bareli, Kanpur, Mirzapur, and Chitrakoot.

On behalf of the Department of Women and Child Development, a proposal was sent to the government to build new children's homes and shelters, on which the government has given its approval.

Women and Child Department Deputy Director, Brijendra Singh Niranjan, said: "The problem of capacity would be solved by the construction of new children's homes, women shelters and government observation homes in the state." He said that it is their responsibility to provide shelter with better facilities to orphan children and make them responsible and self-dependent.
Rampur : , June 21 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday launched a blistering attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Rampur, saying that it was SP and its leaders who had betrayed the people of Rampur.

The Rampur Lok Sabha constituency is headed for a bypoll on June 23 after sitting MP Azam Khan of the Samajwadi Party got elected to the Uttar Pradesh legislature in March this year.

Addressing an election meeting as the campaign came to a close, Adityanath said, "BJP's double-engine government worked to liberate the poor from the land mafia. They (SP) lost power but not their attitude. BJP will not let Rampur become a 'den of terrorism' again." The Chief Minister was addressing public meetings in Bilaspur and Milak ahead of the bypoll in support of BJP candidate Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi.

"Earlier, land mafias used to encroach land of the poor and often suppressed them. After coming to power, our government gave the land back to the poor and took action against such mafias along with giving them the required punishment," he said.

The Chief Minister added that every district has its own heritage, but some people made an attempt to destroy the heritage of Rampur.

"If anyone tries to destroy the heritage of Rampur, the public knows how to teach them a lesson. Today, no one can dare to encroach on the land of the poor," he stated.

Adityanath also lambasted SP for allegedly using Rampuri knives for capturing the property of the poor.

"It is up to you to decide whom to give the Rampuri knife. In the hands of good people, it would be used to protect the poor and downtrodden, but wrong people will misuse it for looting and capturing the properties of the public," he said.

The Chief Minister added that after coming to power, his government took back about 640 hectares of land in Rampur from the land mafia and gave it back to the poor.

Comparing his government with the previous ones, Adityanath said, "The difference is clear. During the Samajwadi Party government, those accused in riots were called and honoured at the Chief Minister's residence. After 2017, students are felicitated and Gurbani is recited at the Chief Minister's residence. We are also organising 'Bal Diwas' in the memory of Sahibzadas." Highlighting the works done by his government during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chief Minister maintained that the double-engine rule under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided free ration, free treatment and free vaccines to the people.

"We don't create problems. Rather, we solve them. This is the reason India is being respected at the global level," he said.

In a veiled attack on Azam Khan, he said, "We gave free vaccines to everyone without any discrimination. In fact, those who were in jail were also given free treatment, but they did not even acknowledge it." Adityanath also accused the opposition parties of hatching a conspiracy and misleading the youth on the Agnipath recruitment scheme for the armed forces.

He appealed to the youth not to get misled by the opposition's 'propaganda' against the new recruitment scheme for armed forces, which, he claimed, is in their interest.
Gandhinagar, June 21 : The Bharatiya Janata Party is all set to fly its 106 Maharashtra MLAs to Gujarat on a chartered flight, as the party fears poaching by the Shiv Sena. Meanwhile, in the evening another seven Shiv Sena MLAs landed in Surat. They were flown from Delhi to Surat.

Party sources say that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda will be flying to Ahmedabad. Sources also said that former Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadanvis will have a meeting with Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde after landing in Surat. After that both will fly to Ahmedabad, where they will discuss future plans with senior leaders.

The BJP wants to ensure that not a single BJP MLA switches sides. So it is flying all its 106 MLAs to Gujarat, to be housed in a resort near Ahmedabad.

Sources said once the meeting of Eknath Shinde with senior BJP leaders is over, he will submit his resignation as minister in the Uddhav Thackeray cabinet to the governor.

The entire operation started post the MLC elections. In two batches 25 Shiv Sena MLAs reached Surat early Tuesday morning, while a third group reached Surat in a flight on Tuesday evening.

In the morning Maharashtra's Shiv Sena Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had decided to depute two senior leaders to Surat. Ravindra Phatak, Narendra Bhondekar, Shiv Sena MLAs reached the Le Meridien hotel and another leader Milind Narvekar also reached Surat. They will meet Eknath Shinde and other MLAs at the Le Meridien hotel and try to know their grievances and if required will arrange a telephonic talk with Uddhav Thackeray.
Bhubaneswar, June 21 : Union minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said a survey will be conducted soon to provide railway connection to Odisha's Konark which houses the Sun temple.

"A survey will be conducted to connect Konark with railways either from Puri or any other nearby place," said Vaishnaw while briefing media in Konark. The union minister was in the historic town to participate in the International Yoga Day celebration at the Sun Temple.

Commenting on the protest against the Agnipath scheme, he said: "Everyone should welcome the scheme which was floated by our defence forces keeping the country's security in view. It should not be politicised as it is the future of India and our defence forces." Vaishnaw appealed to the agitators to not damage railway properties or any other public properties as those belong to the nation. He also informed that high-speed 5G internet service will be rolled out in Odisha very soon.

Later, the railways minister visited Puri where he inspected Puri railway station and reviewed the proposed developmental works as a world class station which will be constructed very soon.

Vaishnaw said that the redevelopment works of Puri railway station will be a state-of-the art station in a world class model. He said that Rs 364 crore will be invested for redevelopment of the station along with its periphery area. Tender has been already floated and work will start soon, he added.

The minister further informed that railway is taking necessary steps to accommodate pilgrims during the ensuing Rath Yatra scheduled for July 1.

As Rath Yatra was organised without pilgrims for the last two years due to Covid 19 pandemic, the railway expects that a large number of pilgrims will be gathered at Puri, this year.

Railway is also planning to run more than 200 special trains to and from Puri during the Rath Yatra period for smooth travel and convenience of the pilgrims, Vaishnaw said.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 21 : Superstar Suresh Gopi, whose term as a nominated Rajya Sabha member ended recently, on Tuesday reacted sharply to media reports that he is all set to leave the BJP.

He dismissed it as "baseless" and "with evil intent".

"Ask those who created this news, I am not leaving the BJP. This was done with an evil intent," he said.

After he received an invite to attend the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, he since then became his biggest fan.

Later, Gopi got another surprise when the BJP nominated him to the Upper House.

Even though there were speculations at times, that he might be made a Union Minister, that however did not happen.

In between, he was asked to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Trissur Lok Sabha seat but came third and two years later, in 2021, returned to contest the Trissur Assembly seat and again gave a tough fight again, but still finished third.

Then there was news that he might get one more term in the Upper House, but last month, it came out that this was not in the cards and from then, there was media speculations that he is upset with the BJP and might say goodbye to the party.

But with Gopi forcefully saying that PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are his supreme leaders, he has ended the speculations and he is expected to return from Delhi to the state capital, which will be now be his base.
Chandigarh, June 21 : In a first in the country, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday announced guaranteed government jobs to Agniveers.

The Chief Minister said Haryana is the first state to ensure such jobs for the youth. "The state government is always working for the betterment of the people by taking decisions in public interest." He said the youth who would come out after joining the army under the Agnipath scheme would be given Group C or Haryana Police jobs.

The Chief Minister was addressing a function organised in Bhiwani on the eighth International Day of Yoga.

He also dedicated 337 wellness centres to the state.

The Chief Minister said it is a matter of pride to get a job in the army. Therefore, 75 per cent of the youth who will retire under the Agnipath scheme will be guaranteed jobs in Haryana.

"This is a unique gift for Agniveers. This will increase the interest of the youth in the army," he said.

The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought about a radical change in the Indian Army.

"Now the army will be further equipped on technical grounds. This will give opportunities to the youth of 10th to 12th standards. Thus Agnipath is a better scheme not only for the youth but also for the army," he added.
New Delhi, June 21 : Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday said that there are still a few "unresolved matters" with Twitter before he moves ahead with his $44 billion takeover deal.

Addressing the Qatar Economic Forum organised by Bloomberg, the world's richest man said that he is still waiting to know the presence of the actual number of bots on the platform.

"There is the question of, will the debt portion of the round come together and then will the shareholders vote in favour," he said.

"I'd like to get like 80 per cent of North America and half the world on Twitter, which means the service needs to be appealing to people. They can't be harassed," Musk was quoted as saying.

He said he will focus on "driving the product" at Twitter and does not want to become the CEO of the micro-blogging platform.

Annoyed at the presence of fake users and bots on Twitter, Musk in May put the $44 billion takeover deal on hold.

Musk said he does not believe in Twitter findings, which claim that false or spam accounts represent fewer than 5 per cent of its monetisable daily active users (229 million).

He said that Twitter's algorithm might be manipulating users and has "very bot-friendly" rules.

Musk also asked the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to probe whether Twitter's claim on the number of its user base is true.

According to him, Twitter could have at least four times more fake accounts than what has been revealed in its US SEC filing.
Moscow, June 21 : Moscow's retaliation to Lithuania's transport "blockade" of Russia's Kaliningrad Region will seriously affect Lithuanian citizens, Nikolay Patrushev, the head of Russia's Security Council, has said.

"Of course, Russia will respond to hostile actions. Appropriate measures are in the works, and will be adopted in the near future," Patrushev told reporters during a trip to Kaliningrad on Tuesday, RT reported.

He added that the consequences of Moscow's response will "have a serious negative impact on the people of Lithuania." Kaliningrad Region is a small Russian exclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. On Saturday, Lithuania's national railway operator banned the flow of sanctioned goods between the region and the rest of Russia, citing instructions from the European Commission.

Moscow slammed the move as illegal under international law and summoned the Lithuanian ambassador. On Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry summoned the EU's envoy to Russia, Markus Ederer. "We demanded that the normal functioning of the Kaliningrad transit is restored immediately," the ministry said in a statement, RT reported.

Many countries, including EU members, imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow in response to Russia's military campaign in Ukraine, which was launched in late February.

Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat, defended Vilnius on Monday, saying it was acting in accordance with the bloc's sanctions mechanism. "Lithuania is not guilty, it is not implementing national sanctions," he told reporters, RT reported.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, June 21 : On the occasion of International Day of Yoga, IANS spoke to Pradeep Chauhan, Vice Chairman, The Life Eternal Trust, Delhi, who spoke about another aspect of yoga which is through Kundalini awakening.

He said that Sahaj Yoga is biggest gift to humanity and lakhs of people benefited from it. Here are excerpts from the interview: Q. You are practising Sahaj Yoga for many years. How do you view the transformation? A. Sahaj Yoga is nothing but awakening of Kundalini which is the storehouse of power and a primordial mother. As a primordial mother, she gives you self-realisation, she nourishes you and you get the state of thoughtless awareness.

Sahaj Yoga is the biggest gift of Her Holiness Mataji Shri Nirmala Devi to mankind. Personally, I have seen complete transformation in myself and on a daily basis we are observing how people from all walks of life are benefited by Sahaj Yoga.

Q. How can one attain self-realisation? What is the process? A. Sahaj Yoga is a universal religion. We have Kundalini which is our own and personal and she is our primordial mother or we can say mother from ages. She knows everything about us. For awakening, we don't have to do anything but just request the god you worship - from any religion or country - to give you self-realisation and you instantly get it.

After that you are in the state of Nirvichar Samadhi or thoughtless awareness. Once we are in the state of thoughtless awareness, we are connected to the all pervading power of god. Then he takes over and that is the beginning of spirituality.

Q. You said this is the gift of Her Holiness Mataji Shri Nirmala Devi. She was an Indian and follower of Hindu religion. Can a Muslim, Jew or Christian follow it without any hesitation? A. As I said, this is a universal religion. We have our own Kundalini and this Kundalini passes through our seven chakras. These chakras are evolved during different stages of human evolution and represent different deities. Universally, human being is one with one Kundalini and seven chakras. Bifurcation of religion happened in different stages of human lives and we never consolidated our religious knowledge to understand that every region is same. But time has come when we should take this forward and use it for our benefit and the benefit of the whole world.

Q. How the world can get the benefit of Sahaj Yoga? A. Sahaj Yoga gives you peace, forces you to love another person automatically. When you are peaceful and want to love another human being, where is the fight? Today, we are fighting for our territorial rights, airspace, waterways and disruption in others' lives is the main purpose. World over, security agencies are funding different people to create disruptions but in gain you are not getting anything. Sahaj Yoga is the only solution for world peace, inner peace and emancipation of human being.

Q. Does Sahaj Yoga cure mental and physical diseases also? A. Once Kundalini is awakened, we become one with divine and divine takes over. The immediate impact is that the mind becomes peaceful and the human being comes into balance. Your nervous system reacts positively to this awakening. With this peace you can sleep better, think better and behave positively. All three are important components of human life and affects home, society, country and the world. Inner peace is important prerequisite for peace in the world.

Q. You said this is a universal religion. This is practised only in India or globally people are doing this? A. Sahaj Yoga is practised all over the world. More than 100 countries are following Sahaj Yoga. In India alone, we have 1,200 Sahaj Yoga centres and almost five lakh people are following this. They are spreading this message of love and peace to the whole world.

This year is the 100th birthday celebration year of Her Holiness Mataji Nirmala Devi and celebrations have already been launched for a year, named as Shri Adi Shakti Mahotsav Varsh. During this we will tell people about the Kundalini awakening and all over the world we will go to the public to tell them about this hidden power in us.

On March 19, 2023, we will hold a big public programme in Delhi with lakhs of people and we are hopeful that millions will get their self-realisation. Today is an important day when India is celebrating Yoga Day. We have also informed people about this beautiful gift of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi to mankind.

Q. This is free or we have to pay something? And it involves some kind of pain or any other thing which is uncomfortable? A. This is an immediate process and happens instantly provided you have pure desire. Sahaj Yoga practice and Kundalini awakening is absolutely free and easy. Sahaj Yoga tells you the importance of collectivity and one day you realise that you have a much bigger world where there is no Indo-Pak, Indo-China or US-Russia tension.

Sahaj Yogis from all countries are meeting with love and staying together for many days. They meditate to achieve one common goal. To know more about it, you can visit our website - www.nirmaldham.org - or visit our centres both in India and other parts of the world.
Dharamsala, June 21 : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Tuesday expressed concern over the unprecedented rainfall and flooding in Assam that has led to extensive loss of life, devastation of property besides displacing millions of people over the last week.

"It is most unfortunate that the monsoon rains in Assam and other parts of India seem to wreak havoc year after year. I would like to express my sadness about the hardship caused to so many people in your state due to the recent floods. I offer my deep condolences to you, to the families who have lost loved ones, and to everyone affected by the flooding," the Dalai Lama wrote in a letter to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

"I appreciate that the agencies concerned are doing everything they can to rescue those affected and provide them with relief. As a mark of my solidarity with the people of Assam, I am making a donation from the Gaden Phodrang Trust of the Dalai Lama to support those efforts," he added.

The flood situation in Assam deteriorated further on Monday with the death of 11 more persons, taking the death toll to 81, officials said, adding that around 48 lakh people have been affected in 32 of the state's 34 districts.
Hyderabad, June 21 : Naga Chaitanya is reportedly dating a Bollywood actress who has also appeared in Telugu films. This news went viral and some trolls began claiming that such rumours about Chaitanya were spread by his ex-wife Samantha Ruth Prabhu's PR team to smear the actor's image.

Samantha, who came across a ridiculous write-up about the same, became enraged and dispatched the trolls in style. She asked the media to move on, stating that the parties engaged in the rumours had plainly moved on as well.

"Rumours on girl - Must be true!! Rumours on boy - Planted by girl!! Grow up guys. Parties involved have clearly moved on. you should move on too!! Concentrate on your work, on your families, move on!!", Samantha cited an article uploaded by a Twitter handle that alleged her involvement in the matter.

On the work front, Samantha will be next seen in 'Shakuntalam' and 'Yashoda'. She is actively filming for the movie 'Kushi' in which she will be seen opposite 'Arjun Reddy' fame Vijay Deverakonda.
New Delhi, June 21 : As the buzz around metaverse gains momentum, searches for virtual reality (VR) adult content have risen 115 per cent in the last five-six months, a new report showed on Tuesday.

The rise in "VR porn" searches is second only to the volume of searches seen during launch of the first-ever VR headset in 2016, according to data derived from SEO platform Ahrefs and Google Trends, reports Bankless Times.

These searches correlate almost directly with either new releases of VR technology or the Christmas sales rush seen via VR app installations year-on-year.

A recent report predicted the VR adult content market will increase from $716 million in 2021 to $19 billion in 2026, indicating that the most recent spike in searches may just be the beginning of an increasingly mainstream use for VR technology.

"With VR consoles already booming in popularity and the Oculus Quest 3 set to release in late 2023, it's inevitable that searches for all-things virtual reality are only going upwards," said Jonathan Merry, CEO of Bankless Times.

"With the digital adult content industry value set to hit over $200 billion by 2030, it will be interesting to see just how much of an impact VR and other innovative technologies will have on this figure in the years to come," he added.

The first Oculus VR console was launched in October 2016. In December that year, Facebook (now Meta) Oculus launched the Oculus Touch, a pair of tracked controllers that give you the feeling that your 'virtual' hands are actually your own hands.

The same month, searches for "VR porn" reached an all-time high, according to data from Ahrefs.AGlobally, there were over 1.2 million searches for the term in December 2016.

In September 2020, the Oculus Quest 2 was unveiled by Facebook Labs, which sold an estimated 1.87 million units worldwide.

At the same time, searches for "VR porn" were also on the rise - going from over 267,000 in September 2020 and peaking at 579,000 monthly searches in January 2021, the report noted.

The installed base of VR headsets is expected to surpass 34 million by 2024.

Meanwhile, the VR adult content industry is set to grow alongside the popularity of wider VR use. The global value of the VR adult content market is expected to increase to $19 billion by 2026, said the report.
New Delhi, June 21 : In the latest development in connection with the CDSCO bribery case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested all the remaining accused, who were allegedly involved in waiving the Phase-3 trial of "Insulin Aspart Injection" of Biocon Biologics.

The CBI said that they have arrested Guljit Sethi, the Director of Bioinnovat Research Service Private Limited; L. Praveen Kumar, the Associate Voice President and Head of National Regulatory Affairs of Biocon Biologics Limited; and Animesh Kumar, the Assistant Drug Inspector of CDSCO.

The CBI on Monday arrested E. Eswara Reddy, the Joint Drug Controller (JDC) of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and Dinesh Dua, the Director of Delhi-based Synergy Network India Private Limited. Reddy is currently posted as JDC with CDSCO headquarters, New Delhi.

A case was lodged against Reddy, Dua, Sethi, Praveen and Animesh and others.

"It was alleged that Reddy was trying to exert undue influence on officers of CDSCO to waive the Phase-3 trial of "Insulin Aspart Injection". The accused agreed to pay bribe amount of Rs 9 lakh to Reddy for favourably processing the said three files related to Banglore-based Biocon Biologics Limited and also for favourably recommending the file of "Insulin Aspart injection" to the Subject Expert Committee meeting.

The CBI laid a trap wherein Reddy was caught while accepting a bribe of Rs 4 lakh from Dua.

The CBI had on Monday conducted searches at 11 locations in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Patna, Bengaluru which led to the recovery of incriminating documents.

The Biocon Biologics had issued a statement saying their Aspart was approved in Europe and many other countries.

"We deny few allegations reported in India. All our product approvals are legitimate and backed by science and clinical data. Our Aspart is approved in Europe and many other countries. We follow due regulatory process for all our product approvals by DCGI. The entire application process in India is online and all meeting minutes are in public domain. We are co-operating with the investigation agency," it had said.

Further investigation in the matter is underway.
Chennai, June 21 : Even after the 61-day fishing ban in Tamil Nadu ended on June 14, fish prices remain high in Chennai and fishermen cite dwindling catch and non-availability of fish as the main reasons.

Sources in the fishing industry told IANS that it may take more than ten days for the prices to return to normal.

Arul Das, a fisherman from Chennai, told IANS, "The catch is very less this time. Even after 50 boats went to the sea, we are not able to get a decent catch. There is a dwindling catch of fish and we have to study in detail as to why there is a reduction in catch." However, thousands of people thronged markets of Kasimedu, Chindarapet, and Vanagram to buy their favourite fish.

Indian Fishermen Association president Dayalan told IANS, "In the past few days, only 50 boats have arrived. There are 2000 trawler and Gillnet boats in Chennai area alone. We are expecting 150-200 boats going to sea for fishing which will lead to the reduction in prices." Many fishermen who went for fishing on the Andhra coast said that they got only a small catch and this may be due to the dwindling presence of fish in the sea at around 10 nautical miles from the Chennai coast towards Andhra.

Fish sellers at Kasimedu market told IANS that the prices in the market is more than Rs 200 to Rs 250 than the wholesale market.

Syed Mushtak Ali, a businessman at Ashok Nagar in Chennai told IANS, "For those who relish fish and non-vegetarian items, pockets are burning. We were expecting the price of fish to fall after the fishing ban concluded on June 14. I don't know why the prices are high even after fishermen have started going to seas in mechanised boats. My information from the Kasimedu market is that the prices will come down only after ten to 15 days as most of the fishing boats have not commenced voyage. Several fishermen also complained that there is dwindling catch."
Mumbai, June 21 : Thousands of Shiv Sena men and women activists staged protest demonstrations in south Mumbai on Tuesday against, what they termed, the "BJP-instigated" rebellion led by Minister Eknath Shinde against the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

Sena leader Ravindra Mirlekar slammed the manner in which many of party MLAs were "misled" and taken to Surat in neighbouring Gujarat where they learnt of the real game of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"After yesterday's (Monday's) elections, in which both the Sena candidates won, there were a lot of celebrations... Many of these MLAs were lured to go for a party and whisked off to Gujarat for such ulterior motives. Now, they are calling us up and want to return safely," he said.

Mirlekar warned that those who rebel will "not be forgiven", but those who come back will be accepted into the party fold as they have not gone voluntarily and many are in touch with the party leadership.

Mumbai South Women Wing President Jayshree Ballikar, addressing the gathering, said that this is not the first time the Sena has faced such a crisis and in the past too, there were several others who "back-stabbed" the party.

"Now, just see what is their fate. The Sena, right from Balasaheb Thackeray has done a lot for these leaders, but now they have betrayed Sena President and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for their selfish interests. However, we are fully with the party and its leaders," she said.

South Mumbai Sena leader Pandurang Sakpal said the protest march was carried out in a disciplined manner to express the anguish of the Shiv Sainiks at the unwarranted rebellion by some of the greedy elements.

He said the Sena is hopeful that those who have been taken away against their wishes will come back and help strengthen the party built out of the struggles of Balasaheb and Uddhav Thackeray and other senior leaders.

Thousands of Sainiks sporting party flags, raising slogans against the rebels and the BJP, staged noisy protests in south Mumbai, hitting traffic in the evening peak hours.

Reports of similar big and small protests by Sena activists were received from other parts of Maharashtra as the party's top leadership made hectic efforts to defuse the biggest political crisis confronting the MVA government.
Kolkata, June 21 : The police was negligent as violence swept the Bogtui village in West Bengal's Birbhum district, leaving 10 people dead, as per the charge sheet submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the carnage.

In the 1,193-page charge sheet submitted at a lower court at Rampurhat in Birbhum on Monday, the central agency virtually said that the local police ignored desperate calls from the villagers while Bogtui was burning on March 21.

On March 21 this year, Trinamool Congress heavyweight and panchayat deputy chief Vadu Sekh was killed in broad daylight. Following that, major tension and violence broke out at Bogtui, when several houses were set on fire. Eight persons including women and children were killed on the spot. Later one more woman died in hospital taking the death toll in the massacre to 10 (including Vadu Sekh).

Highly-placed CBI source said that 17 persons, including prime accused Anarul Hossain, have been named in the charge sheet. "In course of our investigation, we have talked to a number of local villagers and many of them said that despite repeated calls to local police stations while the carnage was going on, no one from the local police appeared at the spot on the night of March 21," said a CBI official on condition of anonymity.

In the charge sheet, the CBI has also mentioned findings from the CCTV footage collected from various places near the place of occurrence. In the charge sheet, it has also been mentioned that Hossain came to Rampurhat Hospital, along with his close aides at around 9 p.m on March 21, where the body of bullet-hit Vadu Sekh was lying. Probably, that is when and where the planning for the Bogtui carnage was made, the CBI has said in the charge sheet.

It has also been mentioned that the rioters first locked the main exits before setting the houses on fire to ensure that no one can escape.

The CBI had on Monday also submitted a separate charge sheet in the Vadu Sekh's murder case where they named four persons.
Gandhinagar, June 21 : Union Minister of State for Finance and BJP MP from Maharashtra, Bhagwat Karad has suggested not to take Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's words seriously as no one takes him seriously in Maharashtra.

Karad was in Ahmedabad in Gujarat to attend Yoga Day celebrations and later in the day he also addressed media persons where he refuted Raut's allegation that the Gujarat police beat the Shiv Sena's two MLAs.

Karad questioned why would the Gujarat police beat Shiv Sena MLAs in Surat.

He said, "Cross voting in the Rajya Sabha polls and the MLC elections itself states that Shiv Sena MLAs are dissatisfied with the party leaders and style of functioning and compromising with its ideology. Even the people are unhappy with the Maha Vikas Aghadi government because it failed to deliver service to society and the state." Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had alleged in Mumbai that Shiv Sena MLAs were abducted to Surat, four to five of them have approached him and requested him to bail them out. He also alleged that the Gujarat police has beaten MLA Nitin Deshmukh, because of which he suffered a heart attack and has been hospitalised.

Karad said he has no idea about flying BJP MLAs to Gujarat, it is the party that decides about protecting BJP MLAs in Maharashtra.

Party sources said that the BJP high command is planning to depute Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav to keep its house in order and see that no poaching takes place.

Sources also said that along with 106 BJP MLAs, four Congress MLAs may be brought to Ahmedabad by late evening from Mumbai. Congress leaders have lost contact with these four MLAs. They will be kept in a five star hotel in Ahmedabad.
New Delhi, June 21 : Asserting that the BJP government at the Centre has failed totally in fulfilling its promises and commitments and misusing various agencies as weapons against them, at least a dozen opposition parties on Tuesday announced a consensus candidate for the President and appealed to the rest to support him.

After announcing the name of former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha soon after the opposition parties' meeting concluded on Tuesday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "India is passing through difficult times. The BJP government at the Centre has failed totally in fulfilling its promises and commitments. Furthermore, it is misusing the Enforcement Directorate, CBI, Election Commission, Governor's office and other institutions as weapons against opposition parties and state governments run by them." "Therefore, we assure the people of India that the unity of opposition parties, which has been forged for the Presidential election in a spirit of equality, common commitments and consensus building through dialogues, will be further consolidated in the months ahead," he said.

Stating that ideally, a consensus candidate of the government and the opposition should be elected to the highest office of the republic, Ramesh said, "However, the initiative for this should have been taken by the government. The Modi government made no serious effort in this direction. We, therefore, appeal to all the parties to support the candidature of Sinha so that the nation can have a worthy Rashtrapati elected unopposed." Ramesh described Sinha as an able administrator, accomplished Parliamentarian, and an acclaimed Union Minister of Finance and External Affairs, and someone who is "eminently qualified to uphold the secular and democratic character of the Indian republic and its constitutional values." Hours ahead of this meeting, Sinha had resigned from Trinamool Congress (TMC) leading to speculations about his name being finalized for the President's post as opposition candidate.

The meeting was called by NCP top leader Sharad Pawar and attended by leaders from the Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPI-M, National Conference, and RJD among others.

On June 15, a similar meeting was called by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee to, what she had described as an effort "to build consensus on a joint opposition candidate." However, Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), K. Chandrasekhar Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) had skipped the meeting.

The voting for the Presidential poll is scheduled to be held on July 18 and counting to be held on July 21. In an electoral college of around 10.86 lakh votes for the Presidential polls, the BJP and its alliance partners in the NDA are a little short of the halfway mark.
Chennai, June 21 : Actress Janani, who plays one of the leads along with Ashok Selvan and Iswarya Menon in upcoming thriller 'Vezham', says the perception that two actresses working in a project will have cold vibes is actually nothing but a misconception.

The actress, who participated in a press conference called by the 'Vezham' team recently, said, "Usually there is this misconception that two actresses working together in a project will have cold vibes. This is untrue. Both Iswarya and I share a wonderful rapport and friendship and we enjoyed working on this film together." Janani also was full of praise for the film's director, Sandeep Shyam, a newcomer. She said,"Usually, while working with directors who are newcomers, actors tend to have a sense of insecurity. However, there was no such insecurity while working with director Sandeep Shyam." On working with Ashok Selvan again after their hit film 'Thegidi', Janani said, "Ashok and I together have worked in 'Thegidi' and we are collaborating together again for this movie. I have seen a few clips from this and it has come out very well. Jhanu's musical score is the film's biggest strength. I am glad that I have a good song from him." The film, which has been produced by K4 Creations Producer Keseven, is scheduled to hit screens on June 24.
Colombo, June 21 : Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday that the crisis-ridden nation is looking forward to discussions on debt restructuring with China.

Wickremesinghe said this after a discussion with China's Deputy Ambassador Hu Wei in Colombo.

In January, President Gotabaya Rajapasa had urged Beijing to restructure its debt repayments as the country was going through its worst economic crisis. Rajapaksa made this request when he met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Over the last 10 years, China has given over $5 billion loans for projects including building highways, ports and airports, but political analysts have claimed that most of the projects were white elephants with no returns to the island nation.

China accounts for 10 per cent of Sri Lanka's total loans and it is the third biggest lender after Japan and the Asian Development Bank.

Facing crisis with no dollars to import food, fuel, medicine and cooking gas, Sri Lanka had in April suspended its debt payment of around $7 billion for 2022.

During the discussion, Wickremesinghe also reiterated Sri Lanka's adherence to the 'One China Policy'.

"The Chinese Deputy Ambassador inquired about Sri Lanka's food security programmes and re-assured the Prime Minister that China would be donating rice to Sri Lanka to help ease the food crisis," the PM office stated.

Amid the oncoming food crisis in Sri Lanka, China has offered a grant of 10,000 metric tonnes of rice amounting to around $74 million and the two out of six shipments are to reach Colombo between June 25 and 30.

Last week, Wickremesinghe had announced plans to import 50,000 metric tonnes of rice under the Indian credit line to curb the food crisis in Sri Lanka. India has offered over $3.5 billion financial assistance Sri Lanka to get food, fuel, medicine and other essentials.
New Delhi, June 21 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar should be prosecuted for perjury, as it opposed his plea seeking transfer from the Tihar Jail to any other prison outside the national capital.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, submitted before a vacation bench comprising Justices C.T. Ravikumar and Sudhanshu Dhulia, that "he impersonated the Law Secretary, Home Secretary and even made calls to judges".

Mehta said the conman should be prosecuted for perjury for making false allegations of torture and also assault inside the jail premises. Citing the ED's affidavit, he added that Chandrashekhar colluded with jail officials for his illegal activities.

The bench told Mehta that a two-judge bench has already passed an order to shift both Chandrashekhar and his wife Leena Paulouse from Tihar jail, as they cited danger to their life.

"In the facts and circumstances, without entering into the rival contentions, it would be appropriate to transfer the petitioners to some other jail so to allay the apprehension of all concerned......", said the top court in its June 17 order.

Justice Ravikumar pointed out at the specific finding in the June 17 order as he said: "So long as it's there, how can we give a different view?" But Mehta contended that ED was not a party in that order.

Senior advocate R. Basant, representing Chandrashekhar and his wife, submitted that the jail officials were demanding bribes from them for not torturing them and the June 17 order was passed after hearing the Central government.

Mehta said Chandrashekhar called some models to visit him in the jail in collusion with jail officials, and those officials who assisted him were either arrested or terminated from the services.

Taking up the matter after lunch, the bench noted since it is a two-judge bench order, therefore it will not be justified to modify the order. "It'll be a review of the order. So, after vacation, let us place it before that bench," said the bench, adding that they have been informed that the same bench which passed the June 17 order will not sit again during vacation.

Mehta assured the safety of the petitioners inside the jail. "We have posted a Tamil Nadu Special Police Force... he (Chandrashekhar) can be rest assured. Genuinely, we will be protecting him. One of the grounds raised that he was assaulted... the hospital doctors recorded something else. He has committed perjury," he said.

After a detailed hearing in the matter, the bench posted it for further hearing on Thursday.

Chandrashekhar and his wife are currently lodged in Tihar Jail in cases related to cheating and extortion. They moved the apex court seeking transfer to any other jail citing threat to their lives.

The prison authorities have denied allegations that he was assaulted within the jail and that the medical examination did not report any external injuries on him.
New Delhi, June 21 : As survival threat loomed over the Maharashtra government after the rebellion of 21 Shiv Sena MLAs led by Minister Eknath Shinde, all eyes are now on NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to intervene in the biggest political crisis the Uddhav Thackeray government has faced so far.

As BJP's surgical strike on Shiv Sena rattled the leadership of three parties -- the Congress, the NCP and the Shiv Sena, the Congress has rushed its state in-charge H.K. Patil and Pawar is also reaching Mumbai to save the government.

While Congress has maintained that its flock is together, sign of bickerings is evident in the MLC polls as Congress' second candidate lost to BJP and in Rajya Sabha polls too, BJP managed to get through. However, the Congress is confident that Sharad Pawar will save the government who is key to the MVA.

But BJP has surprised all the leaders as the MLAs opposed to Uddhav Thackarey moved to Surat. This could be Madhya Pradesh type operation, said a Congress leader while anticipating a fall of the government.

Sharad Pawar said on Tuesday that it was never conveyed that Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde had chief ministerial ambitions, adding that a solution to the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra would be found out soon.

"Shinde never conveyed (to us) that he wanted to be the Chief Minister (of Maharashtra). The Chief Minister's post is Shiv Sena's and this is an internal issue of that party," Pawar told mediapersons ahead of the opposition meeting to finalise a consensus candidate for the Presidential poll.

"We will soon find a way out of this situation. The CM's post is Shiv Sena's, Deputy CM's is NCP's. Whatever Shiv Sena will decide, we are with them," he said.

The BJP is also wary of poaching of its MLAs. It is flying all its 106 MLAs to Gujarat, to be housed in a resort near Ahmedabad.

Sources said, once the meeting of Eknath Shinde with senior BJP leaders is over, he will submit his resignation as minister in the Uddhav Thackeray cabinet to the governor.

The entire operation started post the MLC elections. In two batches 25 Shiv Sena MLAs reached Surat early Tuesday morning, while a third group reached Surat in a flight on Tuesday evening.
London, June 21 : The French competition watchdog on Tuesday said it has accepted the commitments from Google to settle the 500 million euro antitrust news licensing fine regarding paying local news publishers for displaying copyrighted content.

France hit Google with a fine of 500 million in July last year euros after finding breaches in how it negotiated with publishers to remunerate them for reuse of their content.

Google offered a first series of commitments in December 2021, which were scrutinised and last month, the tech giant submitted new commitments to the concerns raised by the French Competition Authority.

The French regulator said that it has decided to accept those commitments by Google.

"After issuing interim measures in April 2020 and then sanctioning Google in July 2021 for 500 million euros for non-compliance with these measures, the Authority welcomes the commitments made by Google," said Benoit Coeure, President of the French Competition Authority.

"For the first time in Europe, the commitments made by Google provide a dynamic framework for negotiation and sharing of the necessary information for years to come," Coeure added.

Sebastien Missoffe, Country Manager and VP, Google France, said in a blog post that the French Competition Authority has approved "our commitments which will govern the way these negotiations will be conducted in France in the next years".

"That includes appointing an independent trustee to monitor progress. This illustrates our willingness to move forward with the remuneration of publishers' neighbouring rights," Missoffe noted.

Google said that it is determined to contribute to the news ecosystem, and will continue to work on securing more agreements with eligible French publishers and news agencies to further support journalism in France.
Hyderabad, June 21 : A woman was allegedly assaulted in a brawl in a Hyderabad pub over her phone number, police said.

Two persons were injured when the two groups clashed at the pub at a five-star hotel in Hitec City early on Sunday.

The victim, said to be an employee of a United Nations body, lodged a police complaint against some youth who also attacked her two friends. The other group has also lodged a counter complaint at Raidurgam police station under Cyberabad police commissionerate.

Police said they registered cases on both the complaints and were investigating.

The woman was at the pub with two of her friends when a youth approached her and asked for her phone number. One of the two persons accompanying the woman raised an objection and this led to a fight between the two groups.

The woman alleged that eight youths outraged her modesty and attacked her friends with bottles. She said the youths also threatened to sexually assault to teach her a lesson.

Last week, a 28-year-old woman from Gujarat, working as a content writer in the city, alleged that she was raped by her friend at her flat after their returned from a pub under Cyberabad commissionerate limits The victim, along with the accused and a couple of their mutual friends, had a birthday celebration at a pub at upscale Jubilee Hills. After the party, her friends, including the accused, offered to drop her home. She alleged that after dropping her home, when she fell asleep, one of her friends, a techie, raped her.

This incident came close on the heels of gang rape of a 17-year-old girl by five youth in a car in Jubilee Hills on May 27 after a daytime party at a pub.

The accused had trapped the victim by promising to drop her home but instead took her to an isolated place and sexually assaulted her in the vehicle.

Police arrested six accused, five of them minors. The sixth accused, son of a MLA of MIM, has been charged with molestation. Five accused who raped the minor include son of a leader of ruling TRS, who is also chairman of a government-run body.
Kolkata, June 21 : The Army will try the Special Forces (SF) personnel allegedly involved in the killing of 13 villagers in Nagaland's Mon district on December 4, 2021 as per the report of its own Court of Inquiry (CoI), a source revealed.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the Nagaland government, has already indicted 30 personnel, including an officer, of the 21 Para SF for the encounter that went wrong. Based on the SIT report, chargesheets have already been filed against the paratroopers under Sections 302, 307, 326, 120B and others of the IPC.

While Section 302 deals with murder, Section 307 relates to attempt to murder. Section 326 involves 'causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons and means', Section 120B relates to criminal conspiracy.

"If one were to go by the SIT's chargesheet, it would seem like a group of renegade soldiers went to the spot with the intention to kill innocent villagers. This is far from the truth. All the accused are highly-trained personnel of the Indian Army who were on a mission to neutralise a group of militants, including some of the top leadership of the NSCN (K-YA).

"It is unfortunate that the van carrying residents of Oting arrived at the spot exactly at the time when the militants were about to get there. The militants were close by and got away, thanks to the confusion," a senior officer in the Eastern Command said.

According to another officer, the NSCN (K-YA) is a banned outfit that is against the peace process in Nagaland. In fact, this outfit has been active in the neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh over the last few months, carrying out abductions and extortions. The Assam Rifles has been busy in Arunachal Pradesh, dealing with the NSCN (K-YA). The local population in that state are up in arms against this organisation.

"The NSCN (K-YA) has cadres from Myanmar and Nagaland. The outfit is involved in drugs smuggling. Its leaders would love to see our SF personnel facing trial at a civil court. The region where the deaths occurred is close to the India-Myanmar border and villages on the Indian side have been known to shelter cadres and provide safe passage to militants. The intelligence inputs ought to have been updated based on real-time movement. But that doesn't mean that our soldiers were involved in murder," he said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a retired officer of Lieutenant General rank said how allowing a civil court to try the SF personnel would amount to "throwing them to the wolves". This would affect the morale of the troops who would be reluctant to obey orders, he said.

"However painful, such things happen during operations. Do remember that outfits like the NSCN (K-YA) kill innocents simply to scare others into providing them shelter and other support. Unfortunately, our governments are not so active about pressing charges against them. The SIT has no idea of how things operate in the Army. Otherwise, why would all the personnel be charged with murder? A soldier follows the order of his officer. He is not to be blamed if an innocent is killed by his bullets," the retired officer said.

Another important point he made is on how quick the state governments are on accusing the Army of excesses.

"The Army is not keen to get involved in such 'firefighting' operations. The states create a mess and then seek our support. We are not your fall guys. Let the states handle their own security issues," he added.

The Army has the option to try the personnel involved in the incident through court martial proceedings and it will resort to it. This will ensure a fair trial for the accused, based on the findings of the Court of Inquiry.
Chennai, June 21 : Unions in the banking sector are gearing up for a strike on June 27 to press for early settlement of their pending issues, a top All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) leader said on Tuesday.

AIBEA General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam also said the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) declined to give a firm timeline for resolution of the issues at the conciliation meeting called by the Chief Labour Commissioner on Tuesday.

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of several bank unions, had given the strike call.

"The pending issues are like hike in conveyance allowance to physically challenged employees, uniform banking hours in branches, improvement in medical insurance and staff welfare schemes, fitment to ex-servicemen employees, improvement in pension rules as given to the central government staff, special allowance in North Eastern states and others," Venkatachalam told IANS.

He said the conciliation meeting was attended by Chief Labour Commissioner S.C. Joshi, IBA Senior Advisor Brajeshwar Sharma, and Deputy Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Kul Bhushan Nayyar.

With the IBA not giving any timeline commitment the meeting remained inconclusive. The Chief Labour Commissioner advised at holding of one more conciliation meeting on June 23.
Surat, June 21 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's emissaries were successful in establishing contact between Thackeray and dissident Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, but sources said Shinde was unmoved and had some tough questions for Thackeray.

Thackeray on Tuesday afternoon deputed two leaders -- Milind Narvekar and Ravindra Phatak to drive to Surat and have a one-on-one meeting with Eknath Shinde. Sources said that after almost one-and-a-half hour close door meeting, Milind left for Mumbai. Before leaving his statement was, "Eknath Shinde had telephonic conversation with Uddhav Thackeray." But sources close to the development said, Eknath Shinde was unmoved even after the meeting with Navrekar and Phatak, on the contrary he put some tough questions to them.

Shinde put question to the emissary, "Even when I am still an MLA and a minister in the cabinet, how can the Chief Minister remove me as legislative party leader?" It said that he also conveyed to Thackeray that he should mind his business and Eknath will mind his own. Shinde confidently conveyed that he has numbers with him and does not need to worry about others.

After Phatak and Narvekar reached Surat, they were stopped by the police near the hotel Le Meridien where dissident MLAs have checked in since Monday night. Only after Eknath agreed to meet, they were allowed to enter the hotel.

Navrekar, however, did not say whether they were allowed to meet any other Shiv Sena MLAs who are also holed up in the hotel.

Sources from Surat said, the number of dissident MLAs is increasing and by the evening two more MLAs including a female one has reached the hotel. Earlier, only 30 rooms were booked in the hotel, now 20 more have been booked.
Guwahati/Agartala, June 21 : Governors, Chief Ministers, senior security and other officials and people from all walks of life performed yoga in all the northeastern states on the occasion of International Yoga Day on Tuesday.

Accompanied by his cabinet colleagues and MLAs, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended a yoga programme at Dibrugarh and was joined by a couple of his cabinet colleagues, MLAs, senior officials and hundreds of participants. He tweeted: "We took out a few moments to remember and pray for the safety and well-being of the flood-affected people in Assam. I also thank Hon Ayush Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal dangoriya dangoriya for his efforts in organising 100-day celebrations of this year's Yoga Day." Defence, para-military, security, civil officials and personnel and their families besides people from all walks of life participated in yoga sessions organised at hundreds of locations in the eight northeastern states. Students from different educational institutions attended yoga sessions across the region and participated in numerous events including poster-making competitions to celebrate the occasion.

Assam Rifles troopers organised a mass yoga demonstration and pipe band display for schools of Kohima district at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima. The event witnessed excitement, fun and wholehearted participation by students, teachers and non-teaching staff. An instructor from The Art of Living foundation conducted the yoga session and celebrated the Yoga Day with the students and teams from Assam Rifles, a defence release said.

The excitement of the students was palpable as they all gathered near the 'Selfie Point' to get their photos clicked. The event culminated with interaction and refreshments.
Mumbai, June 21 : As Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) came to grips with the "lightning bolt-type" political crisis that threatens its survival, trouble-shooters of constituent parties, the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party, and the Congress were busy in the background to defuse and salvage the situation.

First, the three parties conducted a headcount and "secured" their own legislators from the lurking Bharatiya Janata Party which has virtually launched "Operation Lotus" to bring down the MVA.

The Sena moved swiftly to contact the estimated dozen-odd MLAs who are reportedly siding with the rebel leader, Minister Eknath Shinde and have gone or were lured to Gujarat's Surat since late on Monday and early on Tuesday.

It also acted quickly to clip Shinde's wings by removing him as the Shiv Sena Legislative Party Leader, with another senior legislator Ajay Choudhari - and sent a clear message to the rebels group of what could be in store for them.

Currently, of the Sena's 55 MLAs, 31 are confirmed in Mumbai, another dozen-plus are accounted for and still with the party, including some who have called up the party leaders here claiming they were hoodwinked to join the rebels against their wishes or knowledge.

"With these figures, Shinde is left with barely nine-10 MLAs on whose strength he is bargaining with the party leadership, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and attempting to topple the government with the BJP's help," claimed a Sena leader.

Post MLC poll results on Monday night, Thackeray had made a statement that "traitors will not be forgiven" and now there's intense speculation if he had indeed got an inkling of what lay in store for his regime the very next morning.

A MVA leader pointed out that the most shocking aspect was "how these MLAs' managed to quietly slip off" taking advantage of the fracas witnessed during the counting of the MLCs biennial poll results on Monday and the boisterous celebrations that continued till late.

According to another leader, it has now surfaced how the MLAs sneaked out citing bland reasons like "having a headache", "not feeling too well", "upset tummy" etc, and disappeared from the celebration scene, remaining unsuspected till Tuesday morning.

A Congress leader demanded to know how the MLAs' regular police escorts did not get any whiff of the goings-on and why they did not alert the police control or other authorities that could have helped nip the rebellion in the bud.

A NCP leader said the Sena MLAs were allegedly told they were going to Nashik, but they landed up in Surat and it is not known if they protested at the abrupt change in destination.

With Shinde, certain other ministers and MLAs going incommunicado, the stark reality dawned on the Sena only early on Tuesday and its trouble-shooters got into the act.

During the day, the three allies also engaged in several brainstorming sessions on how to grapple with the crises, save the MVA government and also the Sena's reputation and numerical strength in the Assembly.

MVA leaders confide various options are being considered to ensure minimum collateral damage to the party or the government, reduce the rebellion to a mini-storm in a tea-cup, and simultaneously checkmate the prowling BJP.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)
Moscow, June 21 : Russias newest Sarmat nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) will be deployed by the end of 2022, President Vladimir Putin has said.

"We have successfully tested the Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile. According to the plan, the first such system will enter combat duty at the end of the year," Putin said in an address to graduating cadets on Tuesday, RT reported. The Sarmat was test-fired in April.

The missile will replace the older Voyevoda systems, also known by the NATO reporting name, SS-18 Satan.

Dmitry Rogozin, the head of the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, said in April that the Sarmat, dubbed 'Satan 2', is the most powerful missile of its class in terms of range and warheads. It was designed to be "invincible" to all existing air defenses, he said, RT reported.

Rogozin added that Sarmats are much faster than Voyevodas and "can strike targets at virtually unlimited range".

Colonel General Sergey Karakayev, the commander of Russia's Strategic Rocket Forces, announced this month that modernization with top-notch combat-ready missiles, including the Sarmat and the Avangard hypersonic glide weapon, will reach 86% by the end of 2022.

Moscow's retaliation to Lithuania's transport "blockade" of Russia's Kaliningrad Region will seriously affect Lithuanian citizens, Nikolay Patrushev, the head of Russia's Security Council, has said.

"Of course, Russia will respond to hostile actions. Appropriate measures are in the works, and will be adopted in the near future," Patrushev told reporters during a trip to Kaliningrad on Tuesday, RT reported.

He added that the consequences of Moscow's response will "have a serious negative impact on the people of Lithuania".

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
South Africa: King Sigcau was passionate about socio-economic development

President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the late King of amaMpondo, Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau, as an exemplary traditional leader, who was passionate about developing his area.

The President said King Sigcaus name shines in the pantheon of the traditional leaders of the country who fought gallantly against dispossession and exploitation, and fought for a better life for their people.

President Ramaphosa was delivering the eulogy at the funeral service of the late King of amaMpondo at Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape Province on Tuesday.

The President accorded the King a special official funeral Category 1. He was inaugurated as King of the amaMpondo nation in 2018.

The Statesman said that this was a sad and difficult day, a devastating loss for the family, the nation and the institution of traditional leadership.

When we received the news of the illness of his Majesty King Zanozuko, we believed that he would recover and continue with his duties of leading our people. Sadly, this was not to be. He left us, in the prime of his life, when we were still expecting much from him, he said.

The President emphasised that when His Majesty King Zanozuko Sigcau was confirmed a few years ago as the King of the AmaMpondo, that occasion heralded a new era for the Kingdom.

He said that it held the promise of peace, unity, development and cooperation among amaMpondo.

Working with local government, civil society and his community, His Majesty immediately set about to implement development projects to advance the interests of our people in this place. He visited other Kings to discuss issues of unity and development of their people, President Ramaphosa said.

When President Ramaphosa visited the area in November last year, he said that he met with His Majesty the King and other kings and traditional leaders and members of the communities.

The President met with the leadership of AmaMpondo ase Qawukeni and amaMpondo ase Nyandeni to discuss the need for effective consultation on all development programmes in these areas.

Speaking about his interactions with the late King, the President said that he had the privilege of discussing the Eastern Seaboard Development Initiative with the King.

I was impressed and enriched by his vision of socio-economic development. He impressed me with his extensive analysis of the terrible conditions in which our people live in these parts of our country.

He knew exactly what challenges exist in this area and the many opportunities and endowments we should use to improve peoples lives, the President said.

The Eastern Seaboard Development Initiative proposes the establishment of a new coastal post-apartheid city covering parts of the Alfred Nzo, Harry Gwala, OR Tambo and Ugu District Municipalities.

The President said Kumkani Zanozuko appreciated the socio-economic impact of this initiative and how it could benefit the impoverished and underdeveloped AmaMpondo communities.

He took it upon himself to champion the Eastern Seaboard Development Initiative and started engaging other affected Kingships urging their support. King Zanozuko was passionate about involving communities as investors in the initiative through land ownership.

To His Majesty, local communities were the first investors in the initiative, whose views and interests should guide the process, he said.

With the Eastern Cape being one of the provinces with high unemployment and poverty rates, the President said government counted on His Majestys visionary leadership in this and many other projects to transform the socio-economic conditions of his people.

He said the late King was among those monarchs who are determined that economic development should not be confined to the urban centres of the country.

He was one of those leaders who championed the Invest Rural Master Plan, a flagship project promoted by the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders.

His Majestys passing left many tasks unfinished and took from us a beacon of development, social norms and values. We are called upon to take forward his mission, the President said.

The President further hailed His Majesty as a true father of the nation, who reviled the migrant labour system, where his people, particularly men, leave their families behind and move to far-away places to seek employment.

His Majesty knew the reality that despite the importance of migrant remittances, they will always be inadequate to sustain livelihoods in his area. He knew that development has to be engendered from within, from local communities, so that it can be sustainable, the President said.

The President further described the late His Majesty as a fervent champion of the fight against gender-based violence, organising imbizos, among other initiatives, to address this scourge.

He said that this is a fight that we all need to take up.

In the same vein, we should also confront archaic practices such as ukuthwala, which violate young girls and deprive them of education and other essential opportunities to create a better future for themselves.

Through such efforts, we can help to restore the sanctity and tranquillity of rural life, and enhance the social cohesion which His Majesty so passionately embraced, he said.

In his memory, President Ramaphosa said that those who are left behind must continue with the development projects the King was involved in. He urged everyone to give full effect to the District Development Model.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-06-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
New Delhi, June 21 : Former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Madan B. Lokur has been appointed arbitrator in a dispute over a contract between Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Ltd (DTTDC) and a partnership firm K.B.G. Engineers.

The dispute relates to the non-payment of arrears claimed by the petitioner K.B.G. Engineers for the work performed for the respondent DTTDC. The dispute is stated to have arisen with the DTTDC from five different tenders, all for construction and renovation work in relation to various projects, in which the respondent corporation provided project management consultancy services. Since the parties in the present matters are the same, as are the prayers made, these matters are being considered and decided by way of this common order, said a recent order passed by Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani.

The petitioner submitted that though the dispute resolution clause does not specify any particular territorial jurisdiction as regards arbitration or even for the contract otherwise, both the petitioner and the respondent are based in Delhi; the tender was awarded in Delhi, and even the work under the tender was performed in Delhi. Accordingly, it is submitted, that the Delhi High Court has territorial jurisdiction to entertain and decide the present petitions.

The court also issued a notice in the matter and DTTDC's counsel Abhimanyu Garg accepted the notice and sought time to file a reply. "However, on being queried as to what objection the respondent may have to the appointment of an arbitrator, this court is of the view that no purpose will be served by seeking a formal written reply from the respondent," the court noted.
Srinagar, June 21 : A hybrid terrorist of proscribed terror outfit LeT was arrested from Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district on Tuesday, police said.

Police said acting on specific information regarding movement of terrorists in Baramulla, a joint checkpoint was established near Juhama crossing by the police and the army.

"During checking, movement of a suspicious person was noticed and he tried to flee from the spot. However, the alert joint party apprehended him," police said.

He has been identified as Shahid Ahmad Parray, resident of Kathpora Hajin.

Police said on his search, arms and ammunition, including a pistol, a pistol magazine, seven pistol rounds and two hand grenades, were recovered from his possession.

"Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused was working as a hybrid terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and was in an attempt to carry out terrorist activities in Baramulla town and adjacent areas," police said.

Police have registered a case and further investigation is in progress.
Panaji, June 21 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has blamed post-Independence Congress government for deaths of freedom fighters and has stated that memorials and forts having liberation importance, will be restored and beautified.

Sawant on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for upgrading the martyrs memorial in the memory of Hirve Guruji and Sheshnath Wadekar at Terekhol (Tiracol) fort in North Goa. Both hailing from Maharashtra were shot dead by the Portuguese, for unfurling the national flag on the fort on August 15, 1955. They had participated in 'Satyaghrah' to liberate Goa.

"Many freedom fighters from across India felt that Goa should get liberation from Portuguese and hence they came here to fight against Portuguese. However, then Congress government failed to protect them. It was their responsibility to protect them," Sawant said.

"All the 127 freedom fighters who had come at Terekhol fort, were told to go back to India by Portuguese. But they were firm on their decision to liberate Goa. Some of them were later shot dead by Portuguese. They sacrificed their life for the liberation of Goa, hence this history should be passed to the next generation," Sawant said.

"We will forever be indebted to the bravery and sacrifice of the martyrs in Goa's liberation struggle. This memorial shall inspire the future generations to imbibe the values of nationalism," Sawant said.

He said along with Cabo de Rama fort, Betul fort and memorials, having importance of Goa liberation, will be restored and beautified.

Sawant had earlier said that the contributions of Azad Gomantak Dal, a local armed revolutionary group, National Congress (Goa) and other freedom fighters will be included in the history textbooks.
Kolkata, June 21 : A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court has taken strong objection against West Bengal government not maintaining enough funds for 'victim compensation', which is mandatory under Section 357 (A) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973.

A single-judge bench of Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya also directed the state finance department to file a report within six weeks listing the steps to be taken for ensuring that adequate funds reach the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) within six weeks.

"The report shall indicate the funds which are proposed to be put in with SLSA within the time directed for dealing with the pending cases of victim compensation," Bhattacharya said.

She passed the order after the final hearing in a case in which a victim of human trafficking complained about non-payment of compensation amount more than three years after the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) fixed her compensation amount at Rs 1,50,000.

SLSA's counsel told the court that since the body does not have enough funds at its disposal, it is unable to pay the amount of Rs 1,50,000 to the petitioner.

While passing her order in this particular case, Bhattacharya also referred to a similar case of payment of 'victim compensation' in 2021, where SLSA submitted before the court that it had funds only of an amount of Rs 5,000 and was hence not in a position to disburse the victim compensation.

"This is a sorry state of affairs to say the least," Bhattacharya observed.

Explaining the legal aspects of the victim compensation clause, the petitioner's counsel Kaushik Gupta told IANS that Section 357A of CrPC, 1973 is a special provision for the victim compensation scheme which was brought into effect on December 30, 2009.

"Under the said provision, it is the duty of the state government in coordination with the Union government to prepare a scheme for providing funds for the purpose of compensation to the victim or his/her dependent who has suffered loss or injury as a result of some crime, requiring rehabilitation," Gupta said.

He also said that the West Bengal Victim Compensation Scheme, 2017 as notified on February 15, 2017 reinforces in Clause 3 that the state government shall constitute a fund from which compensation will be paid to the victim.
New Delhi, June 21 : The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday appointed Ruchira Kamboj as the next Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations. Kamboj is IFS 1987 batch and is presently Ambassador to Bhutan, and is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

Kamboj was earlier posted as Counsellor at India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from 2002-2005, where she dealt with a wide range of political issues, including UN Peacekeeping, UN Security Council Reform, the Middle East crisis. Upon release of Secretary General Kofi Annan's Blue Ribbon Panel Report in December 2014, she was part of the G-4 team that worked on the reform and expansion of the United Nations Security Council, which is a work in progress.

Kamboj joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1987. She was the All India women's topper of the 1987 Civil Services batch. She began her diplomatic journey in Paris where she was posted as the Third Secretary in the Indian Embassy to France from 1989-1991.

During this period, she studied French at the Institut Catholique, Paris and at the Alliance FranAaise Paris. Upon completion, she served as Second Secretary in the Indian Embassy to France dealing with political issues.

In this period, she also doubled as the Mission's Head of Chancery and dealt successfully with four Prime Ministerial visits coinciding with the opening of the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly in September every year.

From 2006-2009, she was India's Consul General in Cape Town, South Africa which involved close liaison with the Parliament of South Africa. She was the Deputy Head of the Office of the Secretary General at the Commonwealth Secretariat London.

From 2011-2014, she was India's Chief of Protocol, the first and only lady so far in Government to have held this position. In this capacity, she directed all outgoing visits of the President of India, the Vice President of India, the Prime Minister of India and the External Affairs Minister of India. She also dealt with all incoming Heads of Government and State to India. As Chief of Protocol, all High Commissioners/ Ambassadors to India worked closely with her on day to day administration issues including delicate issues surrounding the Geneva Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Chennai, June 21 : Tamil Manila Congress president and former Union Minister, G.K. Vasan have called upon the youth of the nation to grab the opportunity and join in the Agnipath scheme.

In a statement on Tuesday, the senior leader said that everyone should support the Agnipath scheme and that the youth should not be misled by the political protests being held across India.

He said that the union government envisaged the Agnipath scheme with a futuristic vision that would pave the way for better security and a better India.

The former union minister who is the son of illustrious Congress leader late G.K. Moopanar, said that the scheme will modernize the armed forces and will make India a strong nation with the participation of the youth.

Vasan said that youth is required for strengthening the security of the nation and that central government has taken efforts to fulfill that requirement.

The TMC leader said that the scheme would help youth become financially independent and get them jobs in armed forces or in the government or private sector.

He also said that the youth of Tamil Nadu in particular must make use of this opportunity and join the Agnipath scheme.
Chennai, June 21 : The Tamil Nadu Health Department has suspended a government doctor who allegedly took unauthorised absence and allowed his son, a house surgeon, to screen patients and launched an enquiry.

The incident occurred at Kavundapadi Government Hospital in Erode district on June 19.

Joint Director, Health Services, Dr. G.S. Gomathi issued suspension orders to Chief Civil Surgeon, Dr T. Dhinakar.

The Health Department has commenced probe on charges that Dr. Dhinakar's son, Ashwin who has completed MBBS but is undergoing house surgeoncy at Bhavani Government Hospital, treated patients.

A complaint to this effect was received from Murugesan of Kavundapadi, who reached the hospital on June 19 with a complaint of stomach pain and was given medicines by Ashwin. The patient and his family came to understand from other patients and their attendants that Dhinakar was on leave and that his son was treating patients.

Following the complaint, the Health Department questioned patients and their attendants and other hospital staff including paramedics, nurses, and doctors. It was found that Dhinakaran was on unauthorised absence and allowed his son to treat patients.

The Health Department has constituted a special team for probing whether such incidents are taking place in other government hospitals in the state.
New Delhi, June 21 : Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Tuesday said the courts in India assist and support arbitration and "leave substantive part of adjudication to arbitral tribunals".

In his address at the annual meet of Indo-German Chamber of Commerce on the theme "Arbitration in a Globalised World - The Indian Experience" at Germany's Dortmund, he said: "In recent years, there has been some apprehension in the minds of parties about increasing interference of domestic courts in the arbitration process. Let me assure you, Indian courts are known for their pro-arbitration stance. Courts in India assist and support arbitration and leave the substantive part of adjudication to the Arbitral Tribunal itself." He added that the geography of international arbitration is mostly concentrated around the business centres of the developed world: Singapore, London, Paris, or Stockholm, despite the fact that most disputes are generated in the developing world, and this needs to be balanced.

The CJI emphasised that it is the responsibility of the host country to ensure that there is peace and stability in the country, and also an effective legal redressal system so that it attracts investments that generate employment.

"The Indian judiciary is recognised for giving paramount importance to the rule of law. The Indian judiciary eternally guards the constitutional rights in the world's largest democracy. You can trust the Indian judiciary for its absolute independence and its inherent constitutional strength to treat all parties equally and equitably," he said.

Chief Justice Ramana said the constitutional courts of India - the high courts and the Supreme Court - have the power to judicially review every act of the government. "They can strike down any law that is not in tune with the constitutional principles. They can also set aside the arbitrary measures of the executive," he said.

He said international arbitration has several known advantages and it is in this spirit that the Indian judiciary delivers justice, to one and all, and the Indian courts do not discriminate on the basis of country of origin, and emphasised that all are equal before the courts of law in India.

Chief Justice Ramana said: "For the past two decades, India is following the path of actively encouraging arbitration, mediation, and other modes of alternative dispute resolution. India adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law while enacting the Arbitration and Conciliation Act in 1996, to make the arbitral process more efficient and to harmonise it with the international practice and procedure".

He added that to keep up with the changing global and economic scenario, the Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1996 was amended in 2015, 2019, and 2021.
New Delhi, June 21 : A Special CBI court in Lucknow has awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment to one Sanjay Kumar Gaur, the former clerk in the office of Joint Controller (Finance & Accounts), Ordinance Clothing Factory, Shahjahanpur (Uttar Pradesh) and one Mohammed Shariff Khan for causing a loss of Rs 36.49 lakh to the government exchequer.

The court imposed a fine of Rs 2.15 lakh on Gaur and Rs 1.25 lakh on Khan.

The CBI had registered a case on February 13, 2004 on the complaint from then Joint Controller (Finance & Accounts), Ordinance Clothing Factory, Shahjahanpur.

Gaur, the former clerk was accused of entering into a conspiracy with Khan, who ran a private firm and forged 7 cheques by inflating the amount and changing the names of the payee of the cheques. Thus they caused a loss of Rs 36.49 lakh to the government exchequer.

After a thorough probe, the CBI filed a charge sheet against both of them. The trial court has found both the accused guilty and convicted them.

They were awarded sentence by the court on Monday
Srinagar, June 21 : A terror module of terrorist outfit LeT in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam has been busted with the arrest of three terrorist associates by a joint security force team on Tuesday, police said.

Police, along with army's 53 RR and the CRPF, arrested three terror associates, identified as Ashiq Hussain Hajam, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar, both residents of Zuhama Chadoora, and Tahir Bin Ahmed, resident of Badipora Chadoora.

"Preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested trio was involved in facilitating transportation of terrorists, arms/explosive materials and providing logistic support to the active terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT in district Budgam," police said.

Arms and ammunition including a Chinese pistol, two pistol magazines, 22 pistol rounds, an AK magazine, and 30 AK rounds have been recovered from their possession. Besides, one motorcycle used in terror crimes has also been seized.

Police have registered a case and further investigation is in progress.
New Delhi, June 21 : Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday alleged that BJP leaders are filing false complaints and said there is no point in stopping public work for one's own political agenda.

"The Lieutenant Governor has kept all laws and norms aside to order ACB enquiry based on fake complaints by BJP leaders. If the LG wants to stop corruption, instead of listening to the lies of the BJP leaders, he should take cognisance of the corruption in the MCD, Police and DDA", said Sisodia.

He was reacting over LG Vinai Kumar Saxena reportedly forwarding an old complaint by BJP leader Manoj Tiwari regarding hospitals for a probe by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The deputy CM said, "In the last few days, I read in the newspapers that the BJP leaders are trying to stall the construction of government hospitals in Delhi by filing frivolous complaints. The Delhi LG has reopened an old complaint filed by Manoj Tiwari to be investigated by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB). Our party is an honest party full of staunch Deshbhakts. We're not afraid of any investigations. We have faced such investigations numerous times since we came to power".

Sisodia said that they are free to conduct hundreds of such investigations in the future, but this is being done to heckle the development process by falsely framing honest leaders and officials. This is not a bona fide move but a disgraceful act, he added.

"It is a one-year-old complaint which was considered by the then Delhi LG Anil Baijal, who came to a conclusion that it is a frivolous complaint. He held that this complaint was politically motivated and they are habitual of resorting to such cheap tactics", he said, adding that the then LG did not consider it worth a detailed investigation and now, the new LG has reopened the investigation by transferring it to the ACB.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari had complained about the matter and had alleged that Delhi government had passed tenders worth Rs 1,216 crore for seven temporary hospitals which was later raised to Rs 1,256 crore.
Kolkata, June 21 : West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday gave clear indications that the bills to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as Chancellor of different state universities, will not get an easy nod from his end, even after their passage by the Assembly.

"I will observe the contents of the bills purely from the legal and constitutional angle and I will take a decision on them as per provisions of the law. The present state administration has brought the Governor and the Chief Minister on the same row. A bill is being presented in the Assembly to remove me as the Chancellor. I will study the bill minutely. I will not be biased. I will have to see whether the constitutional provisions have been violated in the bill. If that happens, I will not give my consent to the bill," he said.

Although opposition leaders, educationists and members of the civil society had been speaking against the decision to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister as the Chancellor of state universities, the Governor himself had been silent so far. This for the first time that he has expressed his views on the bills.

The Governor also launched a scathing attack against the Trinamool Congress government on the recent cases of irregularities in teachers' recruitments at various levels.

"The democratic breathing space in the state had been choked. Never ever before the country has witnessed such large-scale recruitment irregularities. People not figuring in the merit list have been given appointments. The education system in West Bengal is on the verge of destruction. Thousands of eligible youths are deprived of jobs because of this scam. But I have not forgotten my oath to protect democracy and the Constitution," Dhankhar said.

Reacting to the Governor's statement, Trinamool state General Secretary and party spokesman, Kunal Ghosh said that the Governor is speaking like a mouthpiece of the BJP and thus, insulting his own constituional post.
Islamabad, June 21 : PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has said that "strict action" should be taken against former Prime Minister Imran Khan for "blackmailing" ex-NAB chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal through objectionable videos, media reports said.

In response to PTI's criticism over amendments to NAB law, the ruling party leader said those who were raising hue and cry over the changes in the accountability laws targeted their political opponents by blackmailing the former NAB chief, Express Tribune.

"He [Imran Khan] tricked Tayyaba and kept her at the Prime Minister's House for weeks. Took videos of NAB chairman from her and then blackmailed him through these videos to get verdicts of their choice," Nawaz wrote on her official Twitter handle on Tuesday, Express Tribune reported.

In May 2019, the audio and video clips relating to the alleged conduct of then NAB chairman with regard to a woman identified as Tayyaba Khatun facing investigation by NAB authorities had taken the politico-media by storm.

The anti-graft watchdog had rebutted the allegations.

Tayyaba had lodged a complaint with the Pakistan Citizen Portal (PCP) alleging that the then "NAB chairman is harassing me [and] my family. He is making fake cases against me and my husband just because I didn't make any relation wid [with] him. NAB is threatening me. I am a law student. How he disrespect a woman like this. He is a morally ill person. I have all vdos [videos] and audio recordings against him; I am attaching some screenshots of videos".
Visakhapatnam, June 21 : A bear, which was caught by forest officials in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district on Tuesday, died while being shifted to the Visakhapatnam Zoo.

The forest department caught the bear which had killed one person and injured six others during the last two days.

Forest officials succeeded in catching the bear after sedating it by firing a tranquilizer shot at Kidisingi village under the Vajrapukotturu mandal.

However, while being transported to Visakhapatnam Zoo in a cage, the animal died, an official said.

The department has ordered an inquiry to ascertain the cause of death. Veterinarians will find out if the bear died of any injury or due to sedation.

Earlier, people in the village heaved a sigh of relief after a team of forest officials succeeded in catching the bear.

The operation was launched on Monday after six people were injured in an attack by the wild animal, which was believed to have strayed into human habitation in search of food and water.

On Sunday, a man was killed by the bear near a cashew orchard. K. Kodanda Rao (72) died while undergoing treatment. The animal also killed two cows on Monday.

The condition of four of those injured in Monday's attack is stated to be critical. They have been admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) at Srikakulam.

An ex-army man, Pothanapalli Tulasi Rao, and his brother Purushottam, who is currently serving in the Indian Army, rushed to the village and tackled the bear while rescuing four people who were injured in the attack. The four men were injured when they came to save a farmer who was attacked by the bear.
Bengaluru, June 21 : Kannada actor Diganth is being airlifted from Goa to Bengaluru after he suffered a neck injury while performing a backflip.

According to sources, Digant has suffered injury in his neck, back and leg. Following initial treatment in Goa, the actor is being airlifted to the Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru.

Diganth had gone to Goa on a family trip with his wife and actress Indrita Ray. More details are yet to emerge regarding the incident.

Diganth's popular movies include 'Pancharangi', 'Lifu Istene' and 'Gaalipata'.
Srinagar, June 21 : Four local terrorists, including killer of Jammu and Kashmir Police Sub-Inspector Farooq Ahmad, were neutralised in two anti-terrorist operations in Pulwama and Sopore districts on Tuesday, police said.

Police said in Pulwama, acting on specific input generated by police regarding presence of terrorists in Tujjan village, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by police, army, and CRPF personnel.

During the search operation, as the joint security force party approached the spot where the terrorists were suspected to be hiding, they came under indiscriminate fire and retaliated, leading to an encounter.

"In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists of proscribed terror outfit JeM were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter," police said.

They have been identified as Abid Ahmad Sheikh, resident of Barpora, Pulwama and Majid Nazir Wani, resident of Banpora Ladoo, Pampore.

"As per police records, both the killed terrorists were part of group involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities. Besides, the killed terrorist Majid Nazir Wani was also involved in the killing of SI Farooq Ahmad," police said.

Huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter.

Similarly in Sopore, police said, based on specific input generated by police regarding presence of terrorists in Tulibal area, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by police, army, and the CRPF.

"During the search operation, as the presence of terrorists got ascertained, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter," police said.

"In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter." They have been identified as Zahid Ahmad Chopan, resident of Tengwani, Shopian and Mohd Youns Gul, resident of Washbugh, Pulwama.

"As per police records, both the killed terrorists had joined tnhe terror fold recently," police said.

Arms and ammunition including two AK-47 rifles and four magazines have been recovered from the site of encounter.

Inspector General Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar has congratulated the joint teams for carrying out the anti-terrorist operations in a professional manner without causing any collateral damage.

He also appreciated security personnel for tracking down and neutralising the terrorist involved in the recent killing of the police officer in Pulwama.
New Delhi, June 21 : A new app that provides localised information on ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels - a major cause of skin cancer and other UV related diseases - and five-day UV and weather forecasts at searchable locations was launched on Tuesday.

The SunSmart Global UV app highlights time slots when sun protection is required with the aim of helping people around the world know when to use sun protection, in an effort to reduce the global burden of skin cancer and UV-related eye damage.

The app was launched by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the WMO said in a statement.

It provides personalised options so that users can take actions to protect prolonged, excessive UV exposure. The app allows the inclusion of national and local data streams and adaptation to multiple languages - it is currently available in Chinese, English, French, Russian, Dutch, and Spanish.

"The app combines meteorological, environmental, and health expertise to help protect people from the sun both at work and in their leisure. It is unique because it uses data from country-level weather and UV measuring stations to provide accurate and location-specific UV Index readings," said WMO Secretary General Petteri Taalas.

"Evidence shows that overexposure to UV is a major cause of skin cancer, so it is vital for people to know when and how to protect themselves," WHO's Director, Environment, Climate Change and Health, Maria Neira said.

The SunSmart Global UV app is available free of charge at both the Apple App and Google Play stores. The app is based on the UV Index, which describes the level of solar UV radiation at the earth's surface. The UV Index is reported on a scale of 1 (or 'Low') to 11 and higher (or 'Extreme').

The UV app has been launched to coincide with the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere. By increasing the public's awareness and helping to reduce the incidence of skin cancer, this application ultimately supports the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and well-being worldwide by 2030.

--IANS niv/vd

A
Mumbai, June 21 : A fiery orator, a quietly efficient organiser known for taking spot decisions and a hardcore loyalist, Shiv Sena leader and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde is suddenly in the dock for daring the party's might and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance government in Maharashtra.

Once considered a dependable 'trouble-shooter', today Shinde, 58, himself has become a troublesome problem with the entire party out gunning for him.

At the same time, the opposition BJP almost looked at him like a potential messiah who would deliver them to the treasury bench.

Though rebels or rebellions are no strangers to Shiv Sena, the manner in which Shinde attempted to undermine the party - and the three-party MVA led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray - has stupefied his staunchest supporters.

Earlier, there were prominent names like Chhagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, Sanjay Nirupam and a family man, Raj Thackeray, besides many others at lower levels who quit the Shiv Sena in a huff, but the party was barely dented.

MVA leaders confess that Shinde's act of weaning away around a dozen Sena MLAs without the alliance getting any inkling was akin to a 'Houdini-style' feat.

A Congress leader has asked why the police escort with each MLA failed to report the matter to the concerned authorities, especially when they were crossing state borders.

Later, it emerged that the MLAs had reportedly discarded their vehicles and police security to board a bus to Nashik, but it landed them in Surat in BJP-ruled Gujarat.

Having once scalded its face in the 80-hour-long, two-man government in November 2019, this time the BJP is extra-cautious and has not jumped blindly into any political adventure till Shinde's real strength is known.

MVA leaders informed that 31 Sena MLAs are present in Mumbai, another 14-odd accounted for, and all have declared they are not rebelling, leaving Shinde with barely 10-odd MLAs, plus some Independents.

By Tuesday afternoon, relieved Sena leaders claimed that several MLAs who were 'misled' by Shinde had got in touch with the party, the spouses of some proclaimed that the MLAs were 'abducted', and tensions seemed to ebb with even NCP-Congress MLAs not crossing the 'Laxman Rekha'.

Amid reports of 'proposals' received from the rebel ministers, an emboldened Sena clipped Shinde's wings by removing him from the powerful post of Shiv Sena legislative party leader and appointed senior MLA Ajay Chaudhri in his place.

Adopting a dual strategy of keeping communication lines open with Shinde and beefing up the MVA's position while isolating the rebel/s may have helped as the mood turned from morose to upbeat by late evening.

The Sena leadership and the MVA partners also engaged in informal consultations to save the government though officially, the NCP-Congress maintained that it is Sena's "internal issue" and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is competent to resolve it.

Several party leaders compared the Shinde drama to the secretive, pre-dawn shady attempt by Devendra Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar to come to power, which came to a nought as the NCP moved fast to collect its flock of MLAs who had strayed to the neighbouring states and north India.

Hailing from a Maratha family of Jawali in Satara, Shinde has had a modest beginning in life -- a small transport business, doing odd jobs and moving to Thane.

There he came in contact with Sena's former Thane supremo Anand Dighe and was deeply influenced by the Sena founder-patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray -- by whose name he swears even today.

Shinde picked up many qualities of Balasaheb and Dighe, remaining soft-spoken, humble, helpful and down-to-earth, but shot up in politics to count among the Top 5.

His son, Shrikant Shinde, is a two-term MP from Kalyan.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at:Aq.najmi@ians.in)
New Delhi/Surat, June 21 : Once a school dropout who completed his graduation after becoming an MLA, Eknath Shinde is anchoring the biggest political coup in Maharashtra.

A protege of Anand Dighe, the then Thane district chief of Shiv Sena, Shinde joined politics in 1980 and was elected as councillor in 1997, and as MLA in 2004. Since then he is continuously winning and holds the Urban Development portfolio in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. He also served as the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly.

He joined the Shiv Sena in the '80s and was appointed Shakha Pramukh of Kisan Nagar. In 2001, he got elected as a leader of the house in Thane municipal corporation.

Shinde, who has risen from the grassroots level, has fallen out with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and is now leading a coup against him, putting the MVA government in crisis.

He thus joined the league of Narayan Rane and Suresh Prabhu who have been at loggerheads with the first family of Shiv Sena.

Shinde made a telling tweet indicating his 'rebellious' mood, saying: "We are Balasaheb (Thackeray)'s staunch Shiv Sainiks. Balasaheb has taught us Hindutva. We have never and will never compromise on the teachings of Balasaheb and 'dharmaveer' Anand Dighe for power." Significantly, he has knocked off the Shiv Sena logo from his Twitter handle, which was noted by the MVA allies.

The Sena hit back by sacking Shinde as the legislative party leader, replacing him with loyal Shiv Sainik Ajay Chaudhari.
Ranchi, June 21 : The BJP on Tuesday chose former Jharkhand Governor and tribal leader Draupadi Murmu as its candidate for the post of President, against opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha for the election to be held on July 18.

Murmu, who hails from Odisha, becomes the first woman tribal leader to contest for the country's highest constitutional post. Before this, she also holds the record of being the first tribal woman Governor in the country.

Her tenure as the Governor of Jharkhand for more than 6 years was not only been non-controversial, but also memorable. After the completion of her tenure, she left the Jharkhand Raj Bhavan for her village in Odisha's Rairangpur on July 12, 2021 and is living there since then.

Harinarayan Singh, editor-in-chief of a Hindi daily published from Ranchi, said that the name of Murmu for the post of President was also discussed in 2017.

Murmu has a rich experience of more than six years as a Governor. The BJP, with her candidature, is trying to give a symbolic message to the whole of country in many ways.

Her selection for the top post can also be a part of the BJP's strategy to make inroads into the tribal society, which has been a bastion of the Congress so far. The BJP is eyeing upcoming state Assembly elections, and tribals are its main focus area in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh where their votes are crucial for the party's scheme of things.

Murmu had served twice as an MLA and once as a minister in Odisha, before being sworn in as the Governor of Jharkhand on May 18, 2015. Her five-year term as governor was to end on May 18, 2020, but was automatically extended due to non-appointment of a new Governor due to the ongoing Covid pandemic.

She was always aware of the issues related to tribal affairs, education, law and order, and health of Jharkhand. On several occasions, she questioned decisions of the state governments, but always with constitutional dignity and decency. During her tenure as the ex-officio Chancellor of the Universities, the vacant posts of Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor were appointed in many universities of the state.

Senior Professor at Vinoba Bhave University Dr Shailesh Chandra Sharma recalls that she herself organised Lok Adalats on issues related to higher education in the state, in which about 5,000 cases of university teachers and employees were settled. In order to centralise the enrollment process in the universities and colleges of the state, she created the Chancellor's portal.

Born on June 20, 1958 in Odisha in a simple Santhal tribal family, Murmu started her political career in 1997. She was elected councillor of the district board in Rairangpur in 1997. Prior to joining politics, Murmu worked as an honorary assistant teacher at Sri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research, Rairangpur and as a junior assistant in the Irrigation Department, before joining politics. She has been MLA twice in Odisha and also got a chance to work as a minister in the Naveen Patnaik government, when the BJP was in coalition with the Biju Janata Dal.

Murmu was also awarded the Neelkanth Award for Best Legislator by the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
Surat, June 21 : The rebel Shiv Sena MLAs camping in Surat will be flown to Guwahati at midnight.

As per sources, the rebel MLAs, numbering between a dozen and two-dozen, will reach Surat airport soon from where they will be flown to Guwahati.

Sources in Gujarat BJP said that a 50-seater chartered flight has been hired for taking the MLAs to Guwahati. The sources also said that Sena MLA Eknath Sindhe, who is leading dissident group, has managed the support of five Congress MLAs, who too will be joining the group in Surat.

Party sources said this decision was taken after the Shiv Sena MLAs reached the Le Meridien hotel in Surat and had a meeting with Shinde.

Though police deployment on the Gujarat-Maharashtra border has been beefed up since Tuesday morning, the BJP fears that if the Shiv Sena rebels are kept in Surat for a few more days, Shiv Sainiks could reach here which could lead to a law and order situation.
Bengaluru, June 21 : Responding promptly to an SOS call, the Indian Coast Guard rescued 15 crew members of a merchant ship that had run aground off New Mangalore.

In a prompt and swift search and rescue mission, the Indian Coast Guard saved the lives of 15 Syrian nationals working on the foreign flag ship MV Princess Miral, which ran aground off New Mangalore on Tuesday.

The rescue mission was coordinated by Indian Coast Guard ships 'Vikram' and 'Amartya' braving the rough weather condition. The crew of the grounded vessel has abandoned the ship due to breech in hull and ingress of water in holds. The vessel was bound for Lebanon from Malaysia.

The successful operation reaffirms Indian Coast Guard's capabilities as the nodal agency for search and rescue operations in the Indian Ocean Region, a note issued by the ICG stated.
New Delhi, June 21 : The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested a woman who used to honey-trap men and then blackmailed them, an official said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Johri Jabi alias Parveen (56), was arrested from Bhopal.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), Rohit Meena, said that a man, who is doctor by profession, had filed a complaint in 2018 alleging that he was honey-trapped by a woman named Praveen on the pretext of her treatment.

The complainant also alleged that she visited his clinic for treatment stating that she is a resident of Saudi Arabia and lives alone. It was also alleged by the complainant that the woman called him to her residence citing an emergency medical condition, and made physical relations with him after intoxicating him using cold drinks laced with drugs.

Her associates already present there made a video of the doctor with the woman and after that they started demanding Rs 50 lakh from him.

As per the complaint, a case under Section 384 (punishment for extortion) of the Indian Penal Code was lodged at the Jamia Nagar police station and investigation was taken up by the local police.

During investigation, her two accomplices, namely Noor Majhar alias Aslam and Mahender, were arrested by the Special Cell in April 2019. But the woman could not be arrested as she absconded immediately after registration of the case.

On June 16, information was received by the Crime Branch that the woman was staying in Bhopal under a false identity.

Subsequently, a police team was constituted which went to Bhopal and arrested the accused woman.

During interrogation, Johri Jabi disclosed that she used to trap rich people as per the direction of the kingpin of the gang, who has been identified as Jahangir alias Shekhu, while another gang member Mahender used to make videos.
New Delhi, June 21 : All India Mahila Congress President Netta D'Souza will be booked by the Delhi Police for allegedly spitting on the police personnel during a protest in the national capital, a police official said on Tuesday.

"One of the protestors namely Netta D'Souza, All India Mahila Congress President, obstructed and assaulted the police personnel on duty and spitted over them for which a criminal case is being registered under appropriate sections of law," Special Commissioner of Police, Law and Order Division, Sagar Preet Hooda.

The Congress has been continuously protesting against the summoning of former Congress President Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and also against the recently introduced defence recruitment scheme 'Agnipath'.

The Agnipath scheme, termed as a historic and transformative measure by the Union government, has met unprecedented levels of agitations and protests in several states across India.

The protestors in several states have been targeting trains and have torched several of them in the past few days.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi left the ED headquarters at around 8 p.m. on Tuesday after being questioned for nearly nine hours in connection with the National Herald case.
Eastbourne : , June 21 (IANS) British youngster Ryan Peniston continued his superb run in the ATP Tour, making a good start at the Rothesay International here on Tuesday, a few days after reaching the quarterfinals at the Queen's Club.

The 26-year-old from Southend-On-Sea, Essex, who had not played a tour-level match entering last week's event at Queen's Club, on Tuesday rallied past ATP NextGen star Holger Rune of Denmark, winning 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 to reach the second round.

"Very, very happy with that. Tough start, but managed to fight thanks to you guys. Very happy with the win," Peniston said in his post-match interview. "It's been madness, to be honest. A couple of weeks ago it was a lot different. Now things have changed a little bit, but I'm loving it," he was quoted as saying in a report on the ATP Tour website.

Eighth seed Rune held a mini-break advantage at 4/3 in the second-set tie-break and was within two points of victory at 5/5, but was unable to convert. Peniston hit a deep backhand return to clinch the second set and never looked back.

The lefty won 72 percent of his second-serve points to set a second-round clash with the winner of the match between Spaniards Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Pedro Martinez.

Italian Lorenzo Sonego also moved on with a 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(1) win against Australian qualifier James Duckworth.
New Delhi, June 21 : As many as 197 Congress workers, including 18 Members of Parliament, were on Tuesday detained during the Congress' protest in the national capital, a police official said.

Delhi Special Commissioner of Police (CP), Law and Order, Sagar Preet Hooda said a request was received from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary for seeking permission to hold a 'Satyagraha' at the Jantar Mantar.

The programme was to be held against the Agnipath scheme and the summoning of former Congress President Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Therefore, a permission was granted for gathering up to 1,000 party workers with certain conditions and adequate law and order arrangement was put in place at the Jantar Mantar to avert any untoward incident.

However, instead of holding the protest at Jantar Mantar, the protestors assembled at AICC headquarters, 24 Akbar Road, and marched out in the form of a procession in violation of the prohibitory orders promulgated under section 144 of the CrPC in force, the official added.

"A total 197 party workers and leaders, including 18 Members of Parliament, were detained under section 65 of the Delhi Police Act," the Special CP added.

During the protest, a video of All India Mahila Congress President Netta D'Souza, spitting on police personnel while she was being detained, went viral on social media.

Hooda said that a criminal case is being registered under appropriate sections of law against D'Souza for obstructing and assaulting the police personnel.

The Delhi Special CP also mentioned another incident in which around a dozen people suddenly reached before the residence of BJP National President J.P. Nadda and raised slogans against the recently unveiled Agnipath scheme of Armed Forces.

"These protestors were carrying a long stick with some inflammable material which they later set on fire and placed it on the entrance gate of the house," the senior police official said.

The police immediately swung into action and thwarted an attempt of arson.

"Suitable legal action is being taken against those mischievous elements," he added.

The Congress has been for the past five days vociferously protesting against the summoning of Rahul Gandhi by the ED and also against recently introduced Agnipath scheme.

The Agnipath scheme, termed as a historic and transformative measure by the Union government, has met unprecedented levels of agitations and protests in several states across India.

The protestors in several states have been targeting trains and have torched several of them in the past few days.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi was questioned for nearly nine hours in connection with the National Herald case. He left the ED headquarters at around 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Ahmedabad, June 21 : Gopal Italia, the President of Aam Aadmi Party's Gujarat unit, on Tuesday accused state BJP President C.R. Patil of threatening an AAP leader.

Addressing a press conference, Italia said that the AAP is promoting the free electricity movement in a big way in the state by putting up hoardings, banners and posters across Gujarat.

"The free electricity movement is a success which can be gauged from the fact that our activists and leaders are being detained on C.R. Patil's orders. While cases are being filed against us and the hoardings and banners are being taken down, Patil crossed all boundaries a few days ago," Italia said.

"In Limbayat, our activist Pankaj Tahir had put up posters and banners supporting the free electricity movement. Disturbed by the public support for the movement in Limbayat, Patil threatened Tahir by calling him and saying 'You have got so much courage that you are now promoting the Aam Aadmi Party. I will see who saves you now'," the AAP leader said.

Italia also said that an FIR will be filed against Pati on this count.

"The call was received from the same number given in Patil's election affidavit," he said.

Tahir was with the BJP before joining the Aam Aadmi Party, which might not have gone down well with Patil, sources said.

Tahir was also present at the press conference.
New Delhi, June 22 : It is now evident that a few Congress MLAs in Maharashtra had cross-voted in the MLC elections on Monday and the party is on damage control mode and trying hard to keep its flock together amid the ongoing threat to the MVA government.

"There is crisis within the Congress... many MLAs had not voted for the designated Congress candidate in the MLC polls," former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told media.

Sources say that the Congress is likely to replace Congress Legislature Party leader Balasahab Thorat to placate party MLAs and state in-charge H.K. Patil has been rushed to Maharashtra. While the party maintains that the political upheaval is an internal Shiv Sena crisis but party leaders say that ignoring the MLAs plea was a mistake by the party.

About two dozen Congress MLAs from Maharashtra had met party President Sonia Gandhi in April to discuss party issues in the state, and share their grievances. They had complained that Congress ministers in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government ignore them and party workers and apprised her that there is a strong resentment against the ministers due to this.

Gandhi had given them a patient hearing and assured them of amicable solution within a week but there was no movement.

The MVA government on Tuesday faced its worst political crisis as at least one Shiv Sena Minister along with other ministers and several MLAs veered towards a revolt and are now parked in Gujarat.
Guwahati, June 22 : Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Tuesday filed a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against AAP leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, in connection with the PPE kit procurement controversy.

Riniki Sarma's lawyer P. Nayak said that his client submitted the PPE kit as donation under corporate social responsibility activities.

Earlier this month, a bitter war of words broke out between Assam Chief Minister and Sisodia with the former threatening to file a defamation suit after Sisodia alleged corruption in the procurement of Covid PPE kits.

Sisodia claimed that PPE kit contracts were awarded to a company linked to Sarma's wife.

Referring to a media report, Sisodia had said that while the Assam government procured PPE kits for Rs 600 a piece from other companies, Sarma gave urgent supply orders to the firms of his wife and son's business partners for Rs 990 a piece, taking advantage of the emergency situation.
New Delhi, June 22 : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi left the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s headquarters at around 11 p.m, after his questioning which was going on in connection with the National Herald case ended. He was questioned by the central probe agency for nearly 11 hours.

Earlier, he was given a dinner break at around 8:06 p.m. after a nine-hour questioning. Gandhi soon returned to ED office after having dinner.

As of now he has not been summoned for Wednesday.

On Tuesday, he was questioned for around nine hours and wasn't given lunch break. It was his fifth day of questioning.

Rahul Gandhi has so far been grilled for nearly 51 hours in his five-day questioning.

He was reportedly questioned about a few transactions made by Kolkata-based Dotex Merchandise Private Limited.

Sonia Gandhi, who is presently admitted to the hospital for Covid-related health issues, has also been summoned on June 23 in the same case.
Ahmedabad, June 22 : The Ahmedabad police have arrested a man while conducting a checking of vehicles and recovered more than 80 grams of MD drugs from a bag allegedly belonging to him. The market value of the drugs is valued at more than Rs 8.36 lakh.

The accused has been identified as 23-year-old Ganpat Bishnoi from Rajasthan, who tried to flee from the police, but was nabbed by the city police on Monday evening while conducting a checking of vehicles from Kalupur to Sarangpur.

The police rushed to the spot and caught the man on suspicion of fleeing.

During interrogation of the accused, the police found drugs in a white pouch in a bag he was carrying.

The police said, "Who and how many people did he (the accused) came across in Ahmedabad to deliver these drugs to?" Efforts are underway to nab the persons, who supplied drugs to Ganpat, the police said, while investigating the persons he was going to deliver the drugs.
Tokyo, June 22 : Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is slated to attend a United Nations conference on nuclear non-proliferation to be held in New York in August, the Japanese government said.

He is expected to deliver a speech as early as August 1 when the conference begins, according to local media citing a government official on Tuesday.

Kishida will be the first Japanese Prime Minister to attend a review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Xinhua news agency reported.

"Joined by both nuclear powers and non-nuclear states, the NPT is the foundation of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said in a press conference in Tokyo.

The review conference of the NPT will involve various countries, as well as survivors of the atomic bombings and civic groups. It had been held every five years from 1975 to 2015.

The upcoming meeting, scheduled from August 1 to 21, was originally slated to take place in 2020 but postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Istanbul, June 22 : Turkey prepares to push forward infrastructure projects in northern Syria to help repatriate 1 million Syrian refugees, the Turkish Deputy Interior Minister said.

Speaking on the second day of the Global Parliamentary Conference on Migration in Istanbul, Ismail Catakli added on Tuesday that Turkey has made plans to construct settlements in 13 areas, including "houses, offices, social centres, and administrative buildings" to support the repatriation plan.

According to Turkish officials, the country now hosts 3.6 million Syrians and supports nearly six million in the northern Syrian area close to its borders, where Turkey has been financing infrastructure and construction projects, Xinhua news agency reported.

"These people have to return to their country voluntarily in an honourable and safe way. This has to be provided," said the Deputy Minister, noting 507,000 Syrians have voluntarily returned to their hometowns so far.

Speaking of the West's approaches to the refugee issue, Catakli said "it is easy to foresee that the developed countries will inevitably be facing a much more severe refugee problem in a future not too far if the West persists on only a border control-based approach to this problem".

Turkey has seen an increased refugee influx, sparking debates internally regarding the country's economic capacity to cope with the situation.

Delegates from the parliaments of more than 50 countries attended the two-day conference beginning Monday, the annual World Refugee Day, which aims to promote robust international cooperation and national implementation.
Tripoli, June 22 : The Head of Libya's Tripoli-based High Council of State has expressed readiness to meet with the Speaker of the House of Representatives to address outstanding issues in talks on the constitutional framework for general elections.

In a letter to the UN Libya Advisor Stephanie Williams posted on the High Council of State's official website, Khaled al-Meshri told Williams on Monday that he is "fully ready" to meet with Aguila Saleh, the Parliament Speaker based in the eastern Libyan city of al-Qubba.

Al-Meshri suggested that the meeting could be held in the southwestern city of Ghadames which is comparatively neutral in politics, Xinhua news agency reported.

His overtures were made a day after the two rival governments concluded their last round of constitutional negotiations in Cairo with no breakthrough.

Williams said in a statement on Monday that there remain differences "on the measures governing the transitional period leading to elections," urging the two sides to meet in 10 days to bridge outstanding issues.

Libya failed to hold general elections in December 2021 because of disagreements on the election laws among the Libyan parties.

The North African country has been suffering political instability and chaos ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The project developer has moved into his new office on the fourth and fifth floor in Dusseldorf's KII. The office block was brought to completion last year. Along with the move, Gerch increases his office area threefold to about 2.400 m.

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WarrantyMind solves a painful, and ongoing, issue for dealerships: the cumbersome, manual process of warranty administration, which can lead to significant delays in claims reimbursement and subsequent revenue losses

FrogData has launched WarrantyMind, a data platform for warranty claims processing that solves critical warranty administration problems at dealerships. The WarrantyMind platform integrates with the DMS, enabling warranty experts to file claims more accurately and much faster than the existing dealership process.

Because of its comprehensive integration with all DMS systems, WarrantyMind is able to optimize claims management, using data analytics to analyze each repair order to ensure accuracy and to improve the speed of filing. The auto dealership claims management team is then able to use the FrogData platform to track and file claims efficiently.

WarrantyMind solves a painful, and ongoing, issue for dealerships: the cumbersome, manual process of warranty administration, which can lead to significant delays in claims reimbursement and subsequent revenue losses, said Chris Dulla, Vice President, FrogData. In addition, todays dealers face a critical shortage of good warranty claims administrators: WarrantyMind addresses, and resolves, this issue directly and efficiently.

Dulla noted that warranty administration is the single biggest driver of cash flow in an auto dealership and depends on good documentation by warranty administrators and technical repair staff, but that very often, claims pile up due to staffing issues.

In addition, current and future industry trends make effective warranty administration even more important. For example, increased consumer adoption of EVs and lease-based mobility models mean dealers warranty business will increase. Delay, or failure, to file these claims can cause significant revenue losses.

As demand for warranty administration increases, WarrantyMind offers peace of mind to dealers because they can depend on its vast data analytics platform and AI to punch through the claims and process them automatically, continued Dulla. And, with its direct one-to-one communication with the service manager, missing information will no longer delay claim submission.

According to recent FrogData dealership reports, the WarrantyMind process is making a difference to the dealership bottom line. For example, one dealer saw a 30% (4.2 day) improvement in the time it took to file a claim and reported a 10% lower rejection rate along with a five-day improvement in warranty collection efforts. Additional dealers reported an overall lower cost for their stores, with many saving up to $25,000 in the first year of service alone.

We designed WarrantyMind to be a total claims solution for dealers, one they can count on every day to open a critical revenue channel, said Dulla. So, its very rewarding to see that WarrantyMind is making a measurable difference in improving warranty cash flow and reducing overhead costs.

Key features of WarrantyMind include the following:



Data-driven warranty claims management that analyzes every repair order and uses FrogData technology to ensure accuracy and speed of filing.

Instant communication through FrogDatas internal system with dealers for repair clarifications

OEM-certified warranty experts with years of experience.

Real-time analytics on dealer warranty repair efficiency.

Integration with most DMS systems, so repair orders are already in the FrogData platform.

Warranty administration pain points at the dealership are usually the result of inadequately trained employees who misinform technicians and fail to follow up through the complex process of claims. Not only do warranty administrators need to understand repair types and what information is needed to file a claim, they also need to be good at analysis, multitasking, and communications with customers across several functional dealership areas: skills that are difficult to find and train for. WarrantyMind helps to cost-effectively bridge this skills/personnel gap for auto dealers and is built on a consistent standard and simplified process that leverages technology and expertise to help make warranty claims management more effective.

About FrogData

FrogData is the automotive industry leader in data analytics. FrogData Analytics Platform delivers advanced reporting, business insights and predictive analytics to auto dealers, helping them make better decisions to improve their business performance. FrogData is a division of izmocars, a leading global provider of automotive retail solutions including Dealer Websites, Search Engine Marketing & Interactive Media products. FrogData is based in San Francisco, CA. (http://www.frogdata.com)

Media Relations Contacts:

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, (424) 603-4340, melanie@mwebbcom.com

Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications, (714) 454-8776, angela@mwebbcom.com
The HeroZona Foundation, in partnership with Andrew & Amy Cohn, is excited to announce that it will be distributing luxury Birdiebee activewear clothing to the community at UMOM New Day Centers, an organization that restores hope and rebuilds lives by providing shelter, services and affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness. The giveaway will take place on Saturday, June 25 from 8 to 11 a.m. at 3333 E. Van Buren St. in Phoenix and is open to the public.

We are thrilled to receive this generous donation of brand-new clothing from HeroZona Foundation and Andrew and Amy Cohn, said Jackson Fonder, CEO of UMOM New Day Centers. UMOM is an organization that ends homelessness for families and single women in our community by providing programs and services that lead to a life of stability through employment and affordable housing. At the same time, we also focus on promoting self-worth, confidence, and dignity. This donation of quality clothing reinforces our approach, and we are so grateful.

This is one of many giveaway events that the foundation and Cohn family have partnered on. In April of 2021, they distributed luxury Bota Hydration Backpacks to healthcare workers at COVID-19 vaccine and testing sites under the OneCommunity Initiative. During the OneCommunity Initiative events, the healthcare workers vaccinated thousands of people to help in the fight against coronavirus.

It has always been a passion for my wife and I to support women who we feel are the backbone of society, said Andrew Cohn. Women who represent the foundation of all that is good in the Valley deserve to be elevated, feel safe, and be comfortable with who they are and their standing within our community. We share the same values as UMOM along with HeroZona. Thus, with this significant activewear donation, it is our hope to assist those in receipt of the activewear to remain motivated to not only take care of themselves, but to then be in a position to care for those they love, admire and support. It is impossible to be available for others if you don't take care of yourself. We wish UMOM and their membership the very best!

The mental health crisis across Arizona continues to rise, said Alan AP Powell, Chairman of AP & Associates  Strategic Alliances, U.S. Army Desert-Storm Veteran, and founder of HeroZona. We want to make sure that the clients UMOM serves and anyone else in need in the Valley can get access to life-changing necessities, like high-quality clothing, which can help them get a boost of confidence and encourage them to put their health first.

HeroZona Foundation has launched various community programs including Phoenix Tools 4 School, The Bridge Forum, Holiday Bike Giveaways, MLK Celebrating the Dream, Play It Forward: Engaging Our Youth Through the Arts, Veterans Reach to Teach and the HeroZona Forgotten Heroes Breakfast.

For more information about the foundations community program partnerships visit herozona.org or follow on Facebook.com/HeroZonaOrg.

About the HeroZona Foundation

The HeroZona Foundation is a non-profit organization that empowers Heroes in the community through entrepreneurship, employment, and education. The group works with veterans, first responders and those that bring social good to future generations and under-served communities. The foundations mission is to create opportunities for the brave men and women who serve their country, and community, every day. For more information, please visit HeroZona.org.

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Diagnosing scoliosis early gives patients and families treatment choices like special scoliosis exercises and bracing, which can often stop or even reverse scoliosis in some cases if the curves are caught when they are smaller. says Dr. Lloyd Hey, Director of Hey Clinic

Scoliosis, a potentially painful back condition, will affect 3% of the population, or around nine million people. The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) reports that there are clear benefits to early detection and screening of children for scoliosis by trained healthcare professionals.

During National Scoliosis Awareness Month in June, healthcare professionals from Hey Clinic will offer free scoliosis screening to children and adults at the A.E. Finley YMCAs Annual Freedom Festival celebration at 9216 Baileywick Road, Raleigh, NC on June 26th from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Clinicians will also show parents how they can continue to screen their children using a smartphone bubble app at home. Since our Hey Clinic team cares for children and adults with spinal deformities, we have seen many adult patients who regret that they were never given the choice to have scoliosis screening and/or early treatment as a child or adolescent, which resulted in their suffering decades later. Diagnosing scoliosis early gives patients and families treatment choices like special scoliosis exercises and bracing, which can often stop or even reverse scoliosis in some cases if the curves are caught when they are smaller. Awareness combined with early screening are the first two important steps to take advantage of the window of opportunity for treatment and prevention at a younger age. says Dr. Lloyd Hey, Director of Hey Clinic.

Hey Clinic team members will also provide handouts for spine and bone health. They will discuss the importance of vitamin D and calcium, obtaining and maintaining a proper body weight, and how to prevent common bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

The YMCA is expecting over 1000 people to attend the celebration that will include music, activities, food vendors and fireworks. Gates will open at 5:30 and the event is open to both members and the public. The Ys mission has always been to create programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body, so were excited to partner with Hey Clinic and bring awareness to scoliosis by offering free screening at the Freedom Festival, says a Finley YMCA representative.

For more information on scoliosis treatments and screening visit HeyClinic.com

About Hey Clinic for Scoliosis & Spine Care and Dr. Lloyd Hey

Dr. Lloyd Hey has served as a scoliosis surgeon for children, adolescents, and adults for the last 26 years. Dr. Hey earned his undergraduate degree from MIT and received his MD through the Harvard/MIT Health Sciences and Technology (HST) MD program, and Orthopedic Residency at Harvard. He obtained his pediatric orthopedic training at Boston Childrens Hospital, and adult spine training at Duke. Dr. Hey held a surgical position at Duke University and was Associate Professor, Division Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University for his first nearly 10 years in practice.

In 2005, Dr. Hey started Hey Clinic for Scoliosis & Spine Care and in addition to his Raleigh practice, he has served as Chairman of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) Safety & Value Committee and Chair of the Adult Deformity Committee. His scoliosis spine surgery checklist has been used as the basis for the SRS spine safety checklist, which he will be presenting at the SRS Annual Meeting in September 2022. He also runs a special internship/mentorship program for pre-med students, and a patient safety & resilience organization called CareGuard.org.
Stylitics, an innovator in visual merchandising and outfitting solutions for top brands and retailers, announced today a strategic partnership with Wunderkind, a leading performance marketing engine that scales one-to-one messages for top retailers. This partnership will enable retailers to show full outfits and editorial-quality merchandise bundles in emails sent to shoppers, based on items they viewed or added to carts.

By integrating Stylitics AI-driven outfitting and styling platform with Wunderkinds identification technology, retailers will have a fast and low-effort way to scale inspiration that can drive digital revenue and average order value within their one-to-one Wunderkind emails. The integration is already live with several mutual customers including Ben Sherman, one of Marquee Brands direct-to-consumer brands.

Shoppers often abandon products they like because theyre not sure how to style them, said Rohan Deuskar, Founder & CEO of Stylitics. This partnership with Wunderkind brings helpful and inspiring styling ideas into shoppers inboxes to give them that extra boost of confidence and guidance.

Heres how it works:



Wunderkind recognizes a site visitor as a mailable user for the brand

A shopper takes a high-intent action, such as viewing an item, then abandons the site

Wunderkind sends a triggered email with content tailored to the users interest, with the addition of relevant items and styling ideas created by Stylitics. This is often deployed directly through the brands email service provider.

"Wunderkind identification technology drives unmatched scale for high-performing one-to-one emails, said Michael Osborne, President of Wunderkind. By integrating Stylitics content with Wunderkind, retailers can pair that scale with highly engaging and relevant content. When customers see items paired together they already showed interest in, they feel like the brand is speaking directly to them, which can increase engagement and revenue."

If you're a brand or retailer, contact Info@stylitics.com to elevate your email marketing program with Stylitics and Wunderkind.

About Stylitics

Stylitics offers a SaaS visual merchandising platform for top brands and retailers such as Express, Kohls, and Puma to inspire online shoppers with personalized styling and outfit suggestions. Headquartered in New York City, Stylitics drives billions of dollars in revenue for more than 3,600 brands across 100-plus retailers by increasing basket sizes as well as product and category discovery. Innovative retailers choose Stylitics to create on-brand styling ideas for 100 million shoppers every month. http://www.stylitics.com.

About Wunderkind

Wunderkind is a leading performance marketing engine that scales one-to-one messages for top brands. Digital businesses use Wunderkind to remember who site visitors are better than ever before, allowing them to deliver high-performing, one-to-one messages on websites, through emails and texts, and in ads at a scale that's not otherwise possible. Wunderkind drives $2.8 billion dollars annually in directly attributable revenue for top eCommerce brands like Uniqlo, Sonos and HelloFresh, often ranking as a top-3 revenue channel in their own analytics. Wunderkind is maniacally obsessed with ROI and aims to be the infrastructural interface between individuals and brands in a world where consumers choose what they want, from whom, and when. Learn more by visiting the Wunderkind site.
Nestwave and Traxmate collaboration delivers powerful indoor and outdoor tracking of low-power, small form factor IoT devices Basing IoT tracking on Traxmate and Nestwave technologies significantly simplifies the implementation of accurate geolocation across a variety of use cases.

Nestwave, a global leader in low-power geolocation for the IoT, has announced a collaboration with Traxmate, a leading supplier of asset tracking technology. The collaboration sees the integration of Nestwaves ultra-efficient location technology with Traxmates asset tracking platform for seamless indoor and outdoor positioning, tracking and routing of small, low-power and battery-powered IoT devices.

Nestwaves innovative NestCore IP and NestCloud cloud services enable the IoTs smallest and most power-efficient geolocation solutions, while Traxmate is a comprehensive tracking data processing hub that simplifies the set-up of tracking environments and provides real-time visualization of device location. The collaboration also leverages access to a cloud-based positioning API developed by Combain, a world-leading geolocation service provider for connected IoT devices, that complements Nestwaves own GNSS solution.

The integration of Nestwave and Traxmate technologies provides a powerful combination for companies looking to deliver accurate and seamless indoor and outdoor tracking using IoT devices within the smallest power budgets and form factors, says Ambroise Popper, Nestwaves CEO. The collaboration opens up new possibilities for applications ranging from carrier tracking to the tracking of individual parcels and packets.

Traxmate CEO Bjorn Lindquist adds: Traxmate is simple to use and set up, requires no coding and provides a rich out-of-the-box feature set that includes dashboards, alerts and processing rules for taking actions on incoming data. Basing IoT tracking on Traxmate and Nestwave technologies significantly simplifies the implementation of accurate geolocation across a variety of use cases.

In support of the collaboration Traxmate and Nestwave will be demonstrating an integrated IoT tracking solution on the Traxmate booth (3A-225) at Embedded World from 21st to 23rd June in Nuremberg. The demonstration will be based on the Nestwave award-winning ThinTrack, an ultra-compact GPS solution that integrates an LTE-M/NB-IoT modem, antenna, battery, SIM, sensors and all necessary electronics into a device measuring only 82 x 35 x 3mm and weighing just 15g.

About Traxmate

Traxmate offers a complete and state-of-the-art IoT tracking platform for seamless indoor and outdoor positioning, tracking and routing of connected Internet of Thing devices. Traxmate serves mobile network operators, product manufacturers and service providers with white-labelled and on-premises versions of the Traxmate platform, which provides a hassle-free set-up of accurate tracking environments and services in both 2D and 3D. Traxmate connects easily with over 1200 different tracking devices using various connectivity and positioning technologies including GPS/GNSS, BLE, Wi-Fi, cellular & LoRaWAN.

To learn more, please visit us at http://www.traxmate.io

About Nestwave

Nestwave enables the proliferation of IoT geolocation by providing the smallest, most power efficient, lowest component count solutions.

The companys combination of IP and cloud services eliminates the need for conventional GPS/GNSS chipsets and dramatically reduces power consumption.

Because of this, Nestwave technologies minimize the bill of materials, extend the battery life and speed up the time-to-market of accurate indoor and outdoor positioning and tracking applications. Nestwave IP can be incorporated into existing DSP cores and connectivity chips without re-design, while cloud-assisted implementation leverages the computation power of the cloud and keeps power consumption to a minimum.

The unprecedented power and BoM savings realized by Nestwaves innovative technology significantly improve existing positioning and tracking applications. They also open the door to the integration of geolocation in applications where power and size limitations would previously have made this impossible. And by combining lower power consumption with the use of fewer components, Nestwave solutions contribute to environmental sustainability and reduced carbon footprints.

http://www.nestwave.com.
The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) has awarded accreditation to One Health Laboratories LLC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based on results of a recent on-site inspection as part of the CAPs Accreditation Programs.

The facilitys director, Tiffany K. Bratton, PhD, DABCC, D(ABHI), was advised of this national recognition and congratulated for the excellence of the services being provided. One Health Laboratories LLC is one of more than 8,000 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide.

We are extremely proud to receive this accreditation, said Dr. Tiffany Bratton, Lab Director of One Health Laboratories. This provides further evidence to physicians, patients, and partners that we are committed to maintaining the highest standards in laboratory quality and accuracy.

Max Perelman, One Health Laboratories Chief Executive Officer, upon learning of the laboratory's accreditation, said: One Health Laboratories is committed to delivering the highest quality information to clinicians and their patients. The CAP accreditation is a testament to the high standards of our laboratory and is an important milestone in our companys mission to provide cutting edge, rapid turnaround and STAT testing services.

The U.S. federal government recognizes the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, as being equal-to or more-stringent-than the governments own inspection program.

During the CAP accreditation process, designed to ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients, inspectors examine the laboratorys records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and record, and overall management.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF AMERICAN PATHOLOGISTS

As the worlds largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. For more information, READ THE CAP ANNUAL REPORT at cap.org

ABOUT ONE HEALTH LABORATORIES

One Health Laboratories (DBA One Health Labs) was established in 2019 to offer safe and reliable mobile testing to give people the ability to get tested for illnesses anytime, anywhere. Our national network of clinical laboratories are CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited, so we are held to the highest regulatory standards in the industry. Learn more on our website at onehealthlabs.com.
REGENT is committed to helping Hawaii move toward a sustainable transportation future and knows that the very first step is to listen and learn what the community cares about.

REGENT, the company behind the all-electric seaglider, is announcing a partnership to explore the build-out of a seaglider transportation network in the State of Hawaii to drive innovation in the passenger and freight sectors in support of a more resilient and sustainable transportation ecosystem for the State. Pacific Current, a subsidiary of HEI, is named REGENTs preferred energy and infrastructure partner for Hawaii focusing on vehicle financing and developing and providing access to renewable energy and electric charging infrastructure. Mokulele Airlines, a Southern Airways Company, will be the launch partner for the seaglider transportation network, announcing their intent to bring a fleet of REGENTs 12-passenger Viceroy seagliders to the island chain.

REGENT is committed to helping Hawaii move toward a sustainable transportation future and knows that the very first step is to listen and learn what the community cares about. The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive and the opportunity to build a seaglider network for Hawaii is a dream come true. Were thrilled to help push the boundaries of innovation in clean transportation for the state, said Billy Thalheimer, CEO and co-founder of REGENT. We recognize that Hawaii is a special place, with a sacred culture, sensitive environmental ecosystems, and unrivaled biodiversity. The feasibility study continues our commitment to engage with local communities, civic organizations, and all appropriate private and public sectors leaders to understand how seagliders can help improve the daily lives of the residents. We are excited and humbled to be a part of this team accelerating Hawaiis push toward a zero-emission future, Thalheimer added.

REGENT first embarked on its community listening tour in the summer of 2021. Key members of the REGENT management team have spent almost a full year engaging with stakeholders across the public, private, and civic sectors to understand the needs of the residents, learn more about the unique ecosystems associated with the region, and support state officials think through Hawaiis sustainability and resiliency goals.

SMS Research, a leading market research firm based in Honolulu, will look at the economic, environmental, and community benefits and challenges associated with introducing seagliders to the State of Hawaii. The study focuses on the economic impact to the State as well as how seagliders can help advance affordability and accessibility of transportation, including assessing the impact of adding new routes and services to improve access for underserved communities. Finally, the study will also include a detailed analysis of various ports and harbors led by EKNA Services, a Honolulu-based engineering and construction management firm.

The partnership between REGENT and Pacific Current, a Hawaii-based sustainable energy solution provider, creates an unparallelled end-to-end transportation-as-a-service offering that will move Hawaii closer to its sustainability goals while simultaneously improving transportation access and affordability for the residents of Hawaii. Local operators providing cargo, passenger, and emergency services to Hawaii will be able to easily transition to a new, sustainable form of transportation without having to spend large amounts of capital to get a new service up and running. Local operators will have access to vehicle leasing and financing solutions from Pacific Current as well as dock and charging infrastructure that will map to important inter and intra island commercial routes. REGENT and Pacific Current have already begun engaging key community, environmental, private, and public sector stakeholders across the State to make this vision a reality in a way that prioritizes and respects Hawaiis culture and unique environment.

Joining forces with REGENT represents a huge opportunity for Pacific Current and HEI to significantly increase our clean energy and clean transportation impact, said Scott Valentino, president of Pacific Current. The upfront capital costs associated with a transition of this magnitude are immense and often this is a gating factor for wider adoption. We hope to enable local service providers in passenger, freight and emergency services lower the price of passenger travel, and the costs of moving goods and services throughout the State. We are proud to play a small role in the States transition to a clean energy future.

The REGENT seaglider is a complete game changer for the State of Hawaii, said Stan Little, CEO of Mokulele. Not only can this vehicle help the State meet its sustainability and resiliency goals more quickly, but this will enable our airline to offer new services that arent possible today. The seaglider network gives us the ability to stand up a fast, convenient affordable transportation solution that will not require passengers to have to go to an airport. Just imagine going from Kona Harbor to downtown Honolulu in less than 55 minutes door to door. The partnership between REGENT and Pacific Current allows us to do what we do best, and that is to provide local communities across the State with safe, convenient transportation for their leisure, business and medical travel needs.

The Hawaii State Energy Office appreciates the advance work that REGENT has done to reach out to community stakeholders, cultural partners, marine conservationists, environmentalists, and State and County government representatives, said Scott Glenn, Chief Energy Officer for the State of Hawaii. The development of the seaglider network and the launch of the feasibility study shows REGENT is listening and incorporating feedback.

We appreciate that REGENT has been engaging community and environmental groups early in the process, said Kuhio Lewis, Chief Executive Officer for the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, a frequent collaborator with REGENT on community issues as the company prepares for the launch of the study. Their commitment to building relationships with the community demonstrates that they genuinely care about Hawaiis people and want to do right for our islands.

About REGENT

REGENTs mission is to drastically reduce the cost and headache of moving people and goods between coastal cities. REGENT is building a new category of vehicle called a seaglider, an all-electric, wing-in-ground-effect craft that operates within a wingspan of the water's surface and couples the speed of an airplane with the operating cost of a boat. Built to the same safety standards as all modern aircraft and watercraft, the vehicle will service routes up to 180 miles with existing battery technology and routes up to 500 miles with next-gen batteries, all via existing dock infrastructure. REGENTs world-class team of aerospace and maritime engineers are leveraging maritime vehicle development pathways to bring zero-emission, high-speed seagliders to market within five years.

About Pacific Current, a Subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) (NYSE: HE)

Pacific Current builds local partnerships and invests in clean energy and sustainability projects as part of HEIs strategy to be a catalyst for a better Hawaii. Pacific Current is a powerful investment platform focused on accelerating Hawaiis sustainable future. The company helps develop projects that advance Hawaiis ambitious environmental and economic goals.

About Mokulele Airlines, a Southern Airways Company

Mokulele Airlines was founded in Hawaii in 1994 and is currently based in Kailua-Kona. Its parent company, Palm Beach-based Southern Airways, is among Americas largest commuter airlines, serving over 40 cities across five U.S. time zones. The airlines have partnership agreements with American, United, and Alaska Airlines and safely carry hundreds of thousands of passengers per year. With a route map stretching from Nantucket to Honolulu, Southern Airways, along with its Hawaii brand, Mokulele Airlines, fly more than 240 peak-day departures system-wide.
Parent Tested Parent Approved Trust Mark Consumers are looking for an objective third party endorsement to help with their purchasing decisions and for 15 years, PTPA has been delivering on that

Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA), North Americas largest consumer testing community of over 200,000, is proud to announce the highly-anticipated recipients of its prestigious Parent Tested Parent Approved (PTPA) Trust Mark.

PTPA award-winning products represent the best of family-friendly products and services and have demonstrated leadership in credibility, quality and trust. The winning products and services have been rigorously tested by everyday families and are backed by the PTPA Trust Mark that influences the purchasing decisions of millions of families.

The influence that our Trust Mark offers has never been more impactful than it is today. Consumers are looking for an objective third party endorsement to help with their purchasing decisions and for 15 years, PTPA has been delivering on that, said Sharon Vinderine, Head of Consumer Trust at PTPA. The Parent Tested Parent Approved Trust Mark is a powerful at-a-glance symbol of trust and credibility, giving parents the ability to make confident purchasing decisions.

This seasons award recipients include products that champion quality, value and convenience, focus on health and wellness, and positively impact the lives of families.

See the complete list of winners below and by clicking HERE.

Company: Children's Education Funds Inc.

Winning Product: The Children's Education Trust of Canada - Registered Education Savings Plans

Company: Emma Sleep Canada

Winning Product: Emma Original Mattress

Company: Freestyle

Winning Product: Freestyle Diaper

Company: Janay's Herbal

Product: Janay's Herbal Face & Body Bar

Company: Medela

Winning Products: Hands-Free Pumping Bustier

Company: Medela

Winning Product: Medela Baby Pacifier

Company: Momma Bear

Winning Products: Nausea and Motion Sickness Lollipop

Company: Perch HQ

Winning Product: Serene Evolution 36 Sound Portable White Noise Machine

Company: Perch HQ

Winning Product: AZMED Maternity Belt, Belly Band for Pregnant Women!

Company: Perch HQ

Winning Product: Laevo Unicorn Slime Kit for Girls

Company: Perch HQ

Winning Product: JaxoJoy Kids Cooking and Baking Set

Company: Pure Enrichment

Winning Product: PureZone Kids Bear Air Purifier

How Winners Are Determined

PTPA is comprised of a community of more than 200,000 parents and it is those parents that form the judge and jury of the products that earn the Trust Mark. Testing is based on the principle of unbiased and authentic product testing. Recipients of the coveted award are selected based on criteria such as outstanding product functionality, value and innovation.

About PTPA Media Inc.

Parent Tested Parent Approved is one of the largest and most trusted parent-testing communities in North America. Our rigorous testing process ensures that only the best products earn the coveted Trust Mark. When consumers see the PTPA Trust Mark on a product, they can be confident that it has been tested in hand and approved by real parents. Visit us online today to learn more about how to earn the Trust Mark.

http://www.ptpaawards.com.
PrognoCISs partnership with Zocdoc offers medical professionals greater access to new patients as well as better communication with existing patients while driving down costs, says Vinay Deshpande, CEO and Co-founder of Bizmatics.

Bizmatics, a leading provider of clinical and business productivity software and services to ambulatory medical clinics, and Zocdoc, the leading healthcare marketplace that makes it easy for people to find and book in-person or virtual care across +200 specialties and +12k insurance plans, have announced a partnership to integrate Bizmatics Electronic Health Record (EHR) Software  PrognoCIS  with Zocdocs leading platform technology for new patient acquisition.

This interface enables patients to find doctors and book appointments online instantly. Any clinic using Zocdoc with PrognoCIS will have appointments booked via Zocdoc automatically transferred into PrognoCIS. Both new and existing patients can schedule appointments using Zocdoc, free of charge.

PrognoCISs partnership with Zocdoc offers medical professionals greater access to new patients as well as better communication with existing patients while driving down costs, says Vinay Deshpande, CEO and Co-founder of Bizmatics. Patients will have greater transparency with their health care needs and better access to their medical practitioners.

Were proud to partner with Bizmatics to help simplify Americans search for quality health care, said Kate Kline, Zocdocs President of Health Systems. Our continued growth with partners like Bizmatics is indicative of Zocdocs ongoing momentum in the healthcare space, and a milestone in our efforts to increase practice efficiency for providers while helping every type of patient to find and book every type of care.

If you are a healthcare provider who wants to reach new patients or ease the scheduling process for existing patients, you can learn more at https://www.zocdoc.com/partner/prognocis.

About Zocdoc

Zocdoc is a leading digital healthcare marketplace for in-person or virtual care. Each month, millions of people use our free service, via Zocdoc.com or the Zocdoc app, to find in-network doctors, instantly book in-person or virtual appointments, read reviews from verified users, get reminders for upcoming appointments and preventive checkups, and more. With a mission to give power to the patient, Zocdoc's platform delivers the accessible and simple experience they expect and deserve.

About Bizmatics: Now A Business Unit of Harris Computer

A leading EHR company, Bizmatics provides clinical and business productivity software and services to ambulatory medical clinics -small, large, and multi-specialty. Our cloud-based application, PrognoCIS is a fully integrated solution comprising of EHR, Telemedicine, Practice Management, Medical Billing and Patient Engagement tools.
From an environmental perspective, monitoring nitrate levels in surface water, groundwater and run-offs can indicate nutrient pollution which is paramount as regulations align with the need for proactive visibility, said Meena Sankaran, CEO & Founder of KETOS.

KETOS, Inc., a water intelligence innovator, today announced that its industry-leading KETOS SHIELD now monitors for additional parameters including ammonia, nitrates and sulfates. Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and other organizations can now leverage real-time monitoring for total ammonia and nitrates in water and dozens of other parameters such as inorganic materials, heavy metals and other environmental factors.

High levels of ammonia and nitrates in water can be a result of industrial processes, runoff or leakage from fertilized soil, wastewater, landfills and more. Water supplies most vulnerable to nitrate contamination are in agricultural areas. For drinking water that passes through chloramination, it is essential to closely monitor the nitrite amount in order to identify and avoid nitrification problems.

Sulfates can naturally occur due to the breakdown of organic matters, or as a result of municipal or industrial discharges. Point sources include sewage treatment plants and industrial discharges such as mining, oil & gas, and the manufacturing of fertilizers, dyes, paper, soaps, cosmetics, pesticides, and more.

CEA needs to have real time analysis of nutrients for the success of their crops, so being able to monitor for nitrates, ammonia and sulfates in real-time will be very beneficial for them, especially aquaponics, said Meena Sankaran, CEO & Founder of KETOS. From an environmental perspective, monitoring nitrate levels in surface water, groundwater and run-offs can indicate nutrient pollution which is paramount as regulations align with the need for proactive visibility.

KETOS SHIELD can monitor for total ammonia nitrogen in water in real-time, all while lowering up-front costs via a $0-CAPEX subscription model. Monitoring the concentration of ammonia in drinking water is essential to safeguard human health.

With lab accurate results for over 30 water parameters, KETOS SHIELD is part of a fully integrated water analytics solution, offering access to automated reporting, real-time alerts, EPA-compliant or custom threshold-based diagnostics, custom reports, historical trends, and mission-critical actionable insights.

KETOS allows organizations to stay connected to water quality data via an automated system with 24/7 access to critical analytics. These insights are vital for the public and private sectors and are used for water quality, safety assurance testing, protecting liability, understanding process optimization in industrial plants, improving crop yields and water data for farming, besides overall consumer health.

For more, please visit ketos.co.

About KETOS

KETOS delivers smarter, safer, and more sustainable water solutions to change the way the world thinks about water. This is done through a comprehensive offering of industrial-grade patented hardware, an IoT communication framework, and a robust software platform to address global water management issues. Real-time monitoring and understanding of water, both quantitatively and qualitatively, helps address both water efficiency (leak-detection & usage) and water quality (safety), ultimately increasing water availability. With the power of actionable and predictive water intelligence on a global scale, KETOS seeks to solve a number of the worlds water challenges with the goal of preserving this quintessential resource for generations to come. Learn more at http://www.ketos.co.
Our finalist position with the SC Awards is confirmation that the Detego Unified Forensics Platform and Detego Ballistic Imager is delivering the kind of technology todays investigators really need." - Andy Lister (Managing Director, Detego Global)

Detego Global, creators of the acclaimed Unified Investigations Platform, today announced that Ballistic Imager has been recognised as a Trust Award finalist in the Best Computer Forensic Solution category for the 2022 SC Awards. Now in its 25th year, the SC Awards are cybersecuritys most prestigious and competitive program. Finalists are recognised for outstanding solutions, organisations, and people driving innovation and success in information security.

After an extensive judging process, carried out by a world-class panel of industry leaders from sectors including financial services, consulting, healthcare and manufacturing, Detegos globally patented forensic imaging technology, Ballistic Imager was picked as one of the five finalists for this coveted award.

The 2022 SC Awards were the most competitive to date, with a record 800 entries received across 38 categories - a 21% increase over 2021. This year, SC Awards expanded its recognition program to include several new award categories that reflect the shifting dynamics and emerging industry trends. The Trust Award categories recognise solutions in cloud, data security, managed detection and more.

Detegos Ballistic Imager and other Trust award finalists reflect astonishing levels of innovation across the information security industry, and underscore vendor resilience and responsiveness to a rapidly evolving threat landscape, said Jill Aitoro, Senior Vice President of Content Strategy at CyberRisk Alliance. We are so proud to recognise leading products, people and companies through a trusted program that continues to attract both new entrants and industry mainstays that come back year after year.

Detego has already earned a strong reputation in the digital forensics and security landscapes, thanks to its innovative approach to 21st century incident response. Ballistic Imager is just one component of the powerful end-to-end Unified Forensics Platform from Detego, an ecosystem of tools currently used by enterprise organisations, law enforcement and military groups worldwide.

Detegos patented Ballistic Imager technology offers ultra-fast acquisition times to help investigators to collect data at speed (enabling the extraction of 1 TB in less than 8 minutes  4 x faster than the industry average). The technology works in any environment, is forensically sound with SHA256, SHA1, and MD5 validation, and is portable for on-the-field extraction and analysis.

Ultra-fast and compact, Detego Ballistic Imager fits in your pocket, enables the recovery of deleted data, and allows users to stop extractions before completion without losing data. It splits the imaging process across multiple collectors, using all available ports in either a boot or live state.

As companies, law enforcement agencies, and government groups continue to face increasing attack vectors and risks from a host of environments, digital forensic tools are more valuable than ever. Detegos Ballistic Imager aims to empower teams wherever they are, with access to the accurate, complete, and crucial information they need to manage incident responses.

Recognition in the SC Awards, particularly at this incredible time in the Award groups history, demonstrates just how impactful Detegos technology can be.

Sharing his thoughts on the selection, Detegos Managing Director, Andy Lister said: Our finalist position with the SC Awards is confirmation that the Detego Unified Forensics Platform and Detego Ballistic Imager is delivering the kind of technology todays investigators really need. We will continue to work closely with investigators across all key sectors to ensure our solutions remain inspired by their requirements and continue to support them by delivering the solutions they need.

This recognition comes as Detego Globals second accolade this year. The companys Field Triage solution was recognised with a UK Security Innovation award earlier this year for playing a crucial role in simplifying the investigative process for first-line responders in time-critical situations. Field Triage enables investigators in lab and field-based environments to rapidly scan devices for suspicious materials by automating time-consuming data extraction and analytical processes and get alerts through a patented red-amber-green alert system.

Winners will be announced during SC Awards week, scheduled to begin on August 22, 2022. A Meet the Winners networking reception celebration will take place during InfoSec World 2022, September 27th in Orlando, Florida.

For more information on Detegos Unified Investigations Platform, or to request a free-trial visit http://www.detegoglobal.com
Warm up your space with Mason-Lite We have immersed ourselves into an industry that touts functionality, beauty, and lifestyle. Were interested in providing that warmth in your soul, the contentedness and calm which is comparable to the warmth of a glowing fireplace and dancing flames. Bill Harris, Founder

Mason-Lite, a recognized leader in modular pre-cast masonry fireplace systems including traditional, linear, custom, and vent free systems, plus outdoor living hearth products is pleased to announce the launch of their new website, mason-lite.com.

The new website features an attractive gallery of products, lifestyle imagery, resources, videos, and brand history, beginning with the companys 2005 origins. Mason-Lite.com pairs a modern aesthetic with the companys timeless mission which is to make the dream of having a fireplace in the master bedroom, upstairs retreat, kitchen, or even outdoor patio a reality, without major building infrastructure reinforcement. When asked about the companys marketing strategy behind the redesign, Bill Harris, Founder, stated, We have immersed ourselves into an industry that touts functionality, beauty, and lifestyle. Were interested in providing that warmth in your soul, the contentedness and calm which is comparable to the warmth of a glowing fireplace and dancing flames. It was time to really portray the lifestyle and emotion in our company branding, and what better place to start than our website?

For industry professionals in the design, architecture, or builder space, the Mason-Lite team will be attending the AIA Conference on Architecture 2022 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL on June 22-24. Attendees are encouraged to visit their booth #3954 (south building, level 3, main aisle) to learn more about the company, their products, and to inquire about available CEU events certified by AIA. Mason-Lite representatives will be available to review blueprints as well.

Mason-Lite fireplaces are sourced and manufactured entirely in the USA.

Like, follow & subscribe to Mason-Lite's social media channelsl! Facebook LinkedIn Instagram and YouTube. Visit their website frequently for news, product updates and more!
Over the weekend of June 24-26, the public will have the opportunity to see the remarkable differences in buildings built to a Passive House standard around the world and across the US (https://naphnetwork.org/international-passive-house-open-days-june-2022/) . But what is Passive House? Simply put, Passive House is a building approach that prioritizes energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and comfort, said Ken Levenson, Executive Director of the Passive House Network (PHN). Passive House design and construction are how we can combat climate change in the building sector, he added.

The built environment accounts for 39 percent of annual global CO2 emissions, according to the World Green Building Council and Passive House is widely recognized as the most powerful tool we have today to produce buildings that help to mitigate these emissions.

PHN is participating in the twice yearly International Passive House Open Days (https://passivehouse-international.org/) on June 24-26. Buildings will be open to the public so that people can experience for themselves the qualities of a Passive House building which includes dramatic cuts in energy consumption, comfort, healthy indoor air quality, and affordability.

Across the US, projects will open in California, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and more. (https://naphnetwork.org/international-passive-house-open-days-june-2022/)

"We want to get the word out about Passive House design. Although the upfront costs may be about 3-7 percent higher, depending on the experience of the project team, the energy costs are typically 60-90 percent lower. There are also significant improvements in indoor comfort and air quality. Visiting a Passive House building allows the public to see for themselves how truly transformative these buildings are," said Steve Green-Mann of Home Energy Services, a San Francisco-based consulting firm that specializes in Passive House design. One of their projects in Berkeley will be featured during the open days.

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Carrick branch of the Carnegie Library will be open on Saturday, June 25, from 12 - 3 pm. "The Carrick branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is the first Passive House certified public library in North America. The building not only highlights the fundamental tenets of Passive House, but it also demonstrates how community involvement in the design process can produce a wonderful and successful space for the users and staff ... not to mention cutting their energy bills drastically despite effectively doubling the size of the space compared to the original branch library, while keeping a comfortable and quiet space that a library demands," said architect James Bischoff.

In Colorado, there are tours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday highlighting different projects in Ft. Collins, Donath Lake, Englewood, and Tabernash.

More projects are being added each day across the country and around the world. Find out more: https://naphnetwork.org/international-passive-house-open-days-june-2022/

# # #

About Passive House Network:

The Passive House Network (PHN) is an independent national non-profit educational organization affiliated with the International Passive House Association (iPHA) and the Passive House Institute (PHI), located in Darmstadt, Germany.

PHN has chapters based in the Rocky Mountain Region (http://www.phrockymountains.com), Minnesota (http://www.passivehouseminnesota.org), Pennsylvania (http://www.passivehousepa.org), New Jersey, Washington DC, and Empire State (https://naphnetwork.org/chapters/).

PHN supports the widespread adoption of the international Passive House design and construction standards, building science principles, and protocols, as a critical response to our climate crisis - providing unparalleled effectiveness in mitigating climate disruptions and adapting to rapidly changing environmental conditions.

PHN is focused on the inflection point between policy and implementation. We partner with leading stakeholders across all building sectors, including governments, professional associations, manufacturers, owners, builders, labor organizations, and educational institutions  to make the transformation complete.

About Passive House:

Passive House is an international building standard and methodology, applicable to buildings of all kinds from office buildings to hospitals, new-build and renovations, that results in a dramatic

drop in operational energy use, and more comfortable and healthy occupants - meant to aggressively mitigate our climate crisis while providing resilient adaptation.

The Passive House Standard was developed by the Passive House Institute (PHI), an independent scientific research organization, located in Darmstadt, Germany, and includes specific requirements for energy use and comfort of occupants. The Passive House Standard is being successfully applied to thousands of buildings and millions of square feet around the world, from Boston to Beijing.

The Passive House methodology starts with reducing cooling, dehumidification, and heating loads by focusing, not on gadgets and active technology, but instead on fully integrated durable passive building components, such as proper continuous thermal-bridge-free insulation, continuous airtightness, high-performance windows and doors, and ventilation that includes a high-efficiency heat/energy recovery core, carefully calculated, and all integrated with the entire architectural process of design and construction. http://www.passivehouse.com http://www.passipedia.org

About the International Passive House Association:

The International Passive House Association is a membership, communications, and global community-building arm of the Passive House Institute with over 30 affiliated regional Passive House organizations around the world. https://passivehouse-international.org/
With Ontario experiencing the highest number of drowning deaths in Canada, I am anxious to bring such an important and essential resource to my part of the province." - Michael Margolian, franchise owner British Swim School of North Central Toronto

British Swim School, the nations leading learn to swim franchise company, continues its Canadian expansion with the opening of its newest franchise location in Toronto. This is the companys fourth franchise in Toronto, with swim lessons currently being offered in seven locations.

Local resident Michael Margolian is the new franchise owner for British Swim School of North Central Toronto. Margolian, a former executive with the Canadian Government, is excited to provide students of all ages with the signature survival skills and basic stroke development British Swim School is known for.

With Ontario experiencing the highest number of drowning deaths in Canada, I am anxious to bring such an important and essential resource to my part of the province, says Michael Margolian. This is an incredible opportunity to teach a critical life skill that will help prevent drowning and save lives. The mission really resonates with my values, and I cant wait to help children feel safe in the water and give parents peace of mind.

According to the Canadian Red Cross, drowning is a leading cause of preventable injury and death in children under 10. While parental supervision is always the number one safety measure, research shows that participation in formal swim programs, such as those offered by British Swim School, can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent among children who are most at risk for deaths caused by drowning.

British Swim School offers a three-part curriculum teaching children and adults of all ages, some as young as three months, water acclimation, safety and survival skills, and swim stroke development.

"We are pleased to expand our British Swim School presence in Canada and welcome Michael Margolian to the franchise family," said Ashley Gundlach, British Swim School President. Its more important than ever that we partner with owners who are passionate about water safety. This expansion allows us to reach even more families and provide them with lifesaving skills while providing individuals like Michael opportunities to become business owners.

Margolian joins the growing team of franchise owners that operate the more than 215 British Swim Schools across the United States and Canada.

Recently ranked #352 on the prestigious Franchise 500, British Swim Schools comes off a record-breaking year in terms of customer demand and franchise performance and looks forward to building on that growth in 2022.

For more information about British Swim School, visit http://www.britishswimschool.com.

To learn more about the benefits of British Swim Schools franchising opportunities, visit http://www.britishswimschoolfranchise.com.

###

About British Swim School

British Swim School, the nations most established swim school franchise with over 40 years in business, believes that every individual, regardless of age or ability, should have the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer. Offering lessons for babies, children, and adults, the brand is dedicated to its mantra, Survival of the Littlest, focusing first on the survival skills needed to survive a water accident, then moving on to stroke development and more advanced skills. Not only does British Swim Schools give peace of mind to countless families who seek the essential life skill the brand offers their children, the purpose-driven franchise also offers an exceptional opportunity for entrepreneurs who seek a fulfilling business venture with a sound foundation, low investment, and easily scalable model. Part of the Buzz Franchise Brands family, British Swim School currently operates over 215 schools across the United States and Canada.

For more information about British Swim School, visit http://www.britishswimschool.com.

To learn more about the benefits of British Swim Schools franchising opportunities, visit http://www.britishswimschoolfranchise.com.
Were appreciative of the continued enthusiastic support that we received from the investment community in the face of a tumultuous economic backdrop.

Commercial Credit Group Inc. (CCG), an independent commercial equipment finance company, today announced that it has completed a $420,650,000 term asset-backed security (ABS) transaction. The securitization was CCGs largest offering to-date and was placed with a diversified group of fixed income investors, representing 29 unique institutions. BMO Capital Markets served as Structuring Agent and Lead Bookrunner for the placement. The securitization is comprised of 5 notes which carry the following ratings:

Notes - Moodys - Fitch - Dollar Amount

Class A-1 - P-1 (sf) - F1+ (sf) - $92,500,000

Class A-2 - Aaa (sf) - AAA (sf) - $283,130,000

Class B - Aa2 (sf) - AA (sf) - $21,970,000

Class C - A2 (sf) - A (sf) - $14,270,000

Class D - Baa2 (sf) - BBB (sf) - $8,780,000

Were appreciative of the continued enthusiastic support that we received from the investment community in the face of a tumultuous economic backdrop. stated Paul Bottiglio, CCGs SVP and CFO. This transaction helps to further diversify our funding sources, as we continue to serve our middle market customers.

The pool of financing contracts supporting the securitization consist of CCGs customer equipment finance originations in the construction, fleet transportation, manufacturing, and waste equipment industries.

About Commercial Credit Group Inc.:

Commercial Credit Group Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Commercial Credit, Inc. is an independent commercial finance company that provides equipment loans and leases to small and mid-sized businesses in the construction, fleet transportation, machine tool and manufacturing and waste industries. The companys sales force is located throughout North America. Since its inception in 2004, CCG has originated over $5 billion of equipment loans and leases. CCG is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. For more information, please visit http://www.commercialcreditgroup.com.
"I needed a coffee partner who would hold my hands and walk me through the process ... Crimson Cup has far exceeded my expectations." - Angie Davis, Owner, Angie's Sugar Buzz Bakery, Sandwich, Illinois

Want to learn how to open a coffee shop in Illinois? Get insider secrets on starting a profitable business in the Prairie State from the coffee shop startup experts at Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea.

Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year has taught over 300 entrepreneurs in 30 states how to open a coffee shop.

Now, the companys 7 Steps coffee shop startup consulting team has added to its series of state-level coffee shop startup guides with, How to Start a Coffee Shop in Illinois.

Illinois is a land of opportunity for many types of small businesses, and coffee shops are no exception, said Crimson Cup Founder and President Greg Ubert. In fact, Illinois ranks 24th among the states in the number of coffee shops per capita, with fewer than one coffee shop for every 5,979 Illinois residents.

That leaves a lot of Illinois coffee lovers without a local coffee shop.

He noted that the company supports six independent coffee shops in Illinois cities and towns.

These entrepreneurs learned how to open their shops through Crimson Cups 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program.

The program is based on Uberts book, Seven Steps to Success: A Common-sense Guide to Succeed to Specialty Coffee, which he wrote initially to help struggling coffee shop customers master all aspects of successful coffee shop operations.

We help entrepreneurs with little or no coffee experience become owners of thriving coffee shops serving their local communities, he said. From choosing a terrific location and writing a strong coffee shop business plan to buying and laying out equipment, hiring and training staff and more, our team is here to guide you.

To hear about the book in Uberts own words, download a free recorded introduction on Soundcloud.

As a coffee roaster and coffee business consultant, Crimson Cup believes our company only succeeds when our customers do, Ubert said. As a result, we support coffee shop owners at every step, from concept through opening day and beyond.

At Angies Sugar Buzz Bakery, Owner Angie Davis aims to serve the best donuts, cakes, muffins, cookies and other baked goods in Sandwich, Illinois. And, of course, the best coffee.

I always wanted to do a coffee shop like Central Perk from Friends that would bring our local community together over coffee, she said. Theres nothing better than a conversation over a sweet treat and a terrific cup of coffee!

After years of managing her aunts gas station, she bought the building at 1004 E. Church Street and transformed it into a bakery cafe in 2014.

But, while Angie knew baking, she didnt understand specialty coffee. After her first coffee supplier failed to help grow the business, she began looking for a better solution.

I needed a coffee partner who would hold my hands and walk me through the process, she said.

A referral led her to Crimson Cup. "Carol Laube, my morning baker, connected me to her cousin Penny James, who owns Pennys Perks Coffee House in Dowell, Illinois. Penny highly recommended Crimson Cup, she said.

Im very grateful it was not a franchise situation, she added. Crimson Cup has far exceeded my expectations.

Asked what advice she has for those who are considering opening a coffee shop  or adding coffee to their existing bakery or cafe  Angie said, Definitely go with Crimson Cup. Go Big or Go Home!

She said working with an established company with a proven, pre-built system has made growing her coffee business much easier.

They help with everything from recipes to equipment maintenance, she said. Just as important, they develop a close relationship with customers so we can work through any issues over the phone.

The referral from Carols cousin Penny was huge because it proved Crimson Cup partners with their customers for the long term, she concluded.

As a one-stop shop for independent coffee shops, Crimson Cup supplies award-winning coffee, the best coffee shop supplies in the business, and ongoing support to help coffee businesses thrive.

Besides the Illinois guide, Crimson Cup recently published guides on How to Start a Coffee Shop in Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

About once a week for the next year, the roaster will post a state-level coffee shop startup guides on its website. Next up: a guide on how to start a coffee shop in Georgia.

Although the fundamentals of coffee shop operation remain the same from state to state, the economic opportunities, business formation and licensing requirements vary widely, Ubert said. Were excited to share information and resources to help entrepreneurs expedite their startup journey.

He invited anyone who is thinking of opening a coffee shop in any state to call Crimson Cup for guidance.

If you run into any roadblocks or just want to discuss your vision with a coffee expert, you can reach our startup team by calling 1-888-800-9224.

About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

Founded in 1991, Crimson Cup is at the forefront of the coffee industry. Its attentive roasting, startup support and global partnerships are consciously designed for the greater good of communities around the world. Among other national recognitions, the company has earned 2020 and 2017 Good Food Awards, the 2019 Golden Bean Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year.

Crimson Cup travels the world searching for the perfect cup  driven by meaningful relationships, honesty and a shared vision for the future. Its Friend2Farmer initiatives foster respect and decency through mutually beneficial collaboration across local and global communities.

Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, the company teaches entrepreneurs how to open and run independent coffee houses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into how much it costs to open a coffee shop.

Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. The company also owns several Crimson Cup Coffee Shops and a new CRIMSON retail flagship store. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram.
Dallas Personal Injury Firm launches Community Impact Scholarship

The Law Office of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. is pleased to announce the launch of the law firms Community Impact Scholarship program. Attorney Andrews has created the Community Impact Scholarship to support deserving college students with a demonstrated history of serving our community through volunteerism. As a longtime personal injury lawyer, Mr. Andrews understands the importance of building strong communities. Now, he is ready to give back to those who are giving back themselves.

Beginning in the fall of 2022, the firm will proudly offer two scholarships of $2,500 each to college students who have dedicated substantial time and effort to volunteer work and made a difference in their community. To qualify for the Community Impact Scholarship, students must be actively involved in volunteering to serve their community and demonstrate strong leadership skills.

Qualified students may apply by submitting either a video or an essay responding to the following prompt: Why is it so important to volunteer within your community? Which efforts make the biggest difference within a community? How has the time you have dedicated to community service helped you to develop your own skills and grow as an individual?

Applications from students who meet the eligibility requirements and provide all requested information will be judged based on how thoroughly and creatively they respond to the prompt in an organized manner and how well the essay or video demonstrates dedication to community service and leadership skill.

Students must submit their applications no later than August 31, 2022 to be considered.

In offering these scholarships, Attorney Andrews hopes to help future community leaders obtain the education they need to continue bettering our local community in a meaningful way.

About The Law Office of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C.

The Law Office of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. is located in Dallas, Texas and serves clients throughout Dallas County and the surrounding area. Attorney Andrews is certified in personal injury law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His commitment to recovering compensation for injured accident victims, particularly those harmed by drunk drivers, is unmatched. Through years of courtroom experience, Attorney Andrews has established a reputation as a skilled and dedicated trial lawyer.

For more information about Attorney Andrews, please visit https://www.dfwinjurylawyer.com/ or call 214-221-5800.

To apply for the Community Impact Scholarship or learn more, please visit https://www.dfwinjurylawyer.com/scholarship.
"There are many ways for visitors to experience Chicago. Tours and sightseeing options are everywhere. We knew our clientele wouldn't be satisfied unless they had a truly luxury experience and that's why we decided to start offering Chicago limo tours, says the owner of Echo Limousine.

Echo Limousine announces the introduction of limo-based Chicago tours and sightseeing packages. These new customizable tours are a must for the discerning traveler looking for things to do in Chicago.

Visitors may choose from pre-designed Chicago tours or build their own.

With these new sightseeing packages from Echo Limousine, visitors can experience the hot spots of Chicago in the chauffeur driven limousine of their choice.

Echo Limousine's Chicago limo tours are private, with a dedicated car, SUV, or Limo Bus dedicated to visitors, their family, and friends. With a variety of vehicles, guests can host the group of their choosing, and design the sightseeing tour of their desires.

There are many ways for visitors to experience Chicago. Tours and sightseeing options are everywhere. We knew our clientele wouldn't be satisfied unless they had a truly luxury experience and that's why we decided to start offering Chicago limo tours, says the owner of Echo Limousine.

Whether one chooses one of the pre-designed tours - like the Chicago Frank Lloyd Wright tour or crafts their own experience, guests will be assured of a first-class experience in one of Echo Limousine's fleet of top of the line vehicles.

In addition to the unique Chicago sightseeing experience, guests will be comforted to know that the price they pay is all-inclusive, with no additional costs for gas, mileage, or gratuity.

For more information go to echolimousine.com to book online, or text or call (773) 774-1074.

Chicago limo service, Echo Limousine, focuses on providing clients the best-in-class transportation. Echo Limousine guarantees professional drivers and high-quality cars at affordable rates. Our guests are treated to complimentary magazines, newspapers, and complimentary bottled water while on the move. Echo Limousine offers car services for airport transfers, conventions, corporate outings, weddings, anniversaries, private tours, and other events to meet individual customer needs.
Education Technology Professionals, LLC is a proud sponsor of the upcoming National Charter Schools Conference held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. from June 19th to June 22nd.

Education Technology Professionals, LLC is a proud sponsor of the upcoming National Charter Schools Conference held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. from June 19th to June 22nd. The conference is the largest national gathering of educators, advocates, and leaders in the charter school industry.

The National Charter Schools Conference welcomes the largest national gathering of educators, advocates, and leaders in the charter community. It provides a great opportunity for networking with nationally recognized experts to help those looking to improve the learning experience of students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

At the conference, there will be a Headshot Station, which is sponsored by the Education Technology Professionals, LLC. The Headshot Station will allow every attendee to boost their career development with a professional headshot taken by a professional photographer. Each participant will receive a professional headshot shared directly to their email.

In addition to the Headshot Station, attendees of the conference can look forward to a speaking engagement at a Solution Session by Education Technology Professionals, LLC. The conversation is titled Cultivating a Love in STEM with ETP and will focus on the need for rigorous and innovative STEM programs and how Education Technology Professionals is working to address the problem by making STEM engaging and more accessible, for PreK through 12th grade students.

Education Technology Professionals, LLC encourages all professionals within the charter school industry to attend the conference. It will provide an incredible opportunity to learn from the thought leaders who will steer the future of charter school education in America.

About Education Technology Professionals

Education Technology Professionals, LLC is a team of technology professionals with a team who are passionate about technology in education. We provide simple and affordable solutions to keep your school up and running with as little downtime as possible. We also offer a rigorous and innovative S.T.E.M program for PreK through 12th grade, providing our own curriculum, resources, and teachers. Education Technology Professionals, LLC can service schools in all parts of the country. By choosing to work with Education Technology Professionals, you can reduce your variable technology costs while maintaining an active presence of IT experts at your school.


Reintroduction: Want More Do More Be More: an enjoyable and encouraging opportunity for reflection and growth. Reintroduction: Want More Do More Be More is the creation of published author Emanuel Jones, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, who works in the trucking industry as an over-the-road driver.

Jones shares, As a Reintroduction, Im here to offer and help as a positive guide to get our minds back to thinking, back to fighting, back to handling day-to-day life challenges. Yes, I, too, have been beaten, broken to pieces, laughed at, and had life pull me apart like a puzzle. One thing I can say is Im thankful to have my right mind, health, strength, breath in my body, and the ability to speak, walk, and give someone some of whats in me.

The Reintroduction is introduced to help find that champion, that winner to bring out the best you. To help you understand God has not left you. He is waiting for you. Many of us, including myself, have asked the question, If God wants me to do something, why he wont do it himself?

Well, Im here as a witness to say on behalf of God, when you want some new clothes or shoes, they dont just come to you. You have to go get them. When someone needs you, they come get you and you assist until the job or calling is done. So you have to pray, meditate, and talk to God every day to develop your peace of mind for yourself.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Emanuel Joness new book will engage the spirit and inspire the soul as readers consider the empowering spiritual message within.

Jones shares in hopes of motivating others to strive for what God has in store for all.

Consumers can purchase Reintroduction: Want More Do More Be More at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Reintroduction: Want More Do More Be More, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Finzly provides us immediate access to a forward-thinking, cost-effective, future-proof global platform to help us scale.

Finzly, Inc., an innovator in payments processing, announced that Hulett Bancorp (DBA Mode Eleven) has selected Finzlys modern payment hub technology to power its full scope offerings. Finzly's Payment Hub allows banks to provide a single API for all payment rails to fintech partners, while customers and bankers enjoy a unified payment experience sending and receiving payments on the ACH, Fedwire, RTP and SWIFT payment networks. The Payment Hub is also prewired to clear and settle on the FedNow network and is ready to be easily turned on when it becomes available.

Mode Eleven combines the trust and reach of its nationally chartered bank subsidiary, Summit National Bank, and the power of a modern technology platform to support a wide array of financial services in the new Banking-as-a-Service paradigm. The banks fintech division uses a modern platform which caters to fintech partners and businesses seeking to embed credit, debit, loan, and deposit services. Using Finzlys modern payments infrastructure, the bank can cater flexibly to the payment needs of a wide array of businesses and fintechs.

Finzlys cloud-native, micro-services-based operating system comes with readymade banking apps out of the box, including a payment hub that is readily connected with the Federal Reserve, The Clearing House, and SWIFT, thereby offloading all payment processing from the banks core. Launching new payment rails is simplified and fast through Finzlys modular plug-and-play architecture. The configurable workflow engine gives Mode Eleven full control over its payment processes, while providing it agility to innovate according to the needs of its fintech partners.

Backed by a strong leadership team that has substantial experience driving innovation in the market, Mode Eleven is building a future-proof technology stack that can enable its growth in the evolving market.

Banking-as-a-Service on a traditional banking core and tech stack necessitates middleware, often from multiple vendors, and still comes with constraints of limited API capabilities and higher costs. Using Finzlys modern operating system sitting alongside the banks core, Mode Eleven can offer seamlessly integrated banking services with reduced costs and shorter time to market.

We needed a technology partner with a modern, flexible, API-centric, end-to-end solution with capacity to support our growth into a high payment volume operation. Finzly provides us immediate access to a forward-thinking, cost-effective, future-proof global platform to help us scale, remarked Ned Cataldo, EVP, Head of Strategy, New Product and Innovation at Mode Eleven.

Scalable payment modernization is critical to banks  especially at a juncture when banks are adapting their business models to cater to the needs of new customer segments like fintechs, developers and businesses, in addition to their existing customers. We are excited about our partnership with Mode Eleven, as the bank gets ready to meet the innovative embedded banking needs of various fintechs, providing the agility of a programmable bank on our operating system, commented Booshan Rengachari, founder and CEO, Finzly.

About Mode Eleven

Mode Eleven, through its wholly owned subsidiary Summit National Bank, combines a nationally chartered bank and a technology platform with a modern Banking-as-a-Service platform to deliver a full range of solutions with greater speed, less risk, and less cost.

About Finzly

Finzly provides the financial infrastructure for Banks, Fintechs, and Businesses to offer and access financial services in an open, connected, real-time, and embedded ecosystem. Finzlys operating system for banks acts as a parallel core platform and is modern, cloud-based, real-time, and API enabled. With an array of readymade banking solutions including a multi-rail payment hub (ACH, Fedwire, RTP, FedNow, and SWIFT), foreign exchange, Digital Account Opening, KYC, Risk, Compliance, and a suite of customer experience components, Finzly allows the building of programmable banks, also offering a platform to launch Banking as a Service to fintech partners. To learn more, visit http://www.finzly.com
Kelcey Kintner Kelcey's expertise and leadership will be key to building out our crisis communications agency in Atlanta and beyond," said Red Banyan CEO Evan Nierman. "This well-deserved promotion is a testament to her leadership and success.

Leading global crisis communications agency Red Banyan has promoted crisis communications expert Kelcey Kintner to Senior Vice President.

Kintner, who was hired in 2018 to direct the respected crisis communications firms media strategy, has played a critical role across a range of accounts that focus on high-stakes and crisis PR. Leading the top crisis PR agency in Atlanta, Kintner will continue to expand Red Banyans presence in the Southeastern United States and across the nation.

A former broadcast reporter and producer, Kintner is often called upon by the media to comment on news and stories related to reputation management, corporate communications, crisis response and issues management.

Kelcey is a trusted resource for Red Banyans clients and the press. Her strategic thinking, and deep insight into how the media works, have made her a tremendous resource for our team, said CEO Evan Nierman. Her expertise and leadership will be key to building out our crisis communications agency in Atlanta and beyond. This well-deserved promotion is a testament to her leadership and success, and I look forward to seeing her play an expanding role within the firm for years to come.

Kintner earned her undergraduate degree from Tulane University and a Masters in journalism from Columbia University. She worked behind the scenes as a television booker for a national cable station and in front of the camera as a television reporter and anchor in Montana, New Jersey, and Connecticut. She also spent several years as an online influencer and writer for many well-known outlets in the parenting and fashion sectors.

Kintner possesses deep understanding of the wide and constantly changing media landscape, providing unique insights into what makes stories resonate with journalists and their audiences. She is often the driving force behind Red Banyans media strategy and press outreach, which helps drive forward the organizations who rely on Red Banyan.

"It is such an honor to be part of this amazing team of driven, creative and inspiring individuals, with respected CEO Evan Nierman at the helm, Kintner noted. Day in and day out, we at Red Banyan are making an impactful difference in our clients lives, shepherding them through crises and helping them achieve incredible results and successes. I feel very lucky to be part of it all."

Since its launch in late 2010, Red Banyan has continued to grow, establishing itself as one of the leading crisis PR agencies in the United States. Red Banyan provides crisis management, litigation support, media relations and other strategic communications services to a variety of national and global clients.

About Red Banyan

Red Banyan is a top crisis management firm focused on solving complex, highly sensitive and mission-critical communications challenges. Specializing in crisis communications, corporate public relations, government relations, and legal PR, Red Banyan provides an integrated approach to communications rooted in strategy. Learn more at http://www.redbanyan.com.


We chose Schoox to enhance how learners experience our brands and provide the robust learning and comprehensive reporting we need to support our plans for growth."

Learning management and talent development software provider Schoox today announced it has been selected by GOSH Enterprises (GOSH). The Ohio-based restaurant company operates over 800 global locations under brands that include Charleys Philly Steaks, BIBIBOP Asian Grill and Lennys Grill and Subs.

GOSH wanted a solution that could provide a consistent learning experience across all their restaurants with the flexibility to tailor training for each unique brand. They also needed a full-featured learning platform with advanced reporting to easily generate in-depth reports down to the store level.

As we have grown, so have the demands for an advanced learning management system, said Chris Titshaw, Senior Director of Training & Development, Charleys Philly Steaks. We chose Schoox to enhance how learners experience our brands and provide the robust learning and comprehensive reporting we need to support our plans for growth."

Schoox has a deep understanding of training in a franchise environment and extensive knowledge of learning in the restaurant industry, built over a decade serving the hospitality sector.

Schoox excels at delivering learning management and talent development solutions for organizations that rely on frontline workers, said Lefteris Ntouanoglou, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Schoox. We look forward to working with GOSH to deliver learning that has a positive impact on their bottom line and supports their plans for expansion."

About GOSH Enterprises, Inc.

Columbus, OH based GOSH Enterprises, Inc. is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes Charleys Philly Steaks, BIBIBOP Asian Grill, and Lennys Grill and Subs. Founded in 1986, 700 locations today across the globe serve Charleys signature grilled-to-order cheesesteaks in addition to loaded Gourmet Fries and refreshing real fruit Lemonades. BIBIBOP Asian Grill is all about well-being, serving healthy & affordable Asian food at 42 restaurants nationwide. Most recently, Lennys Grill and Subs joined GOSHs family of brands. Hailing from Memphis, TN, Lennys Grill & Subs offers unique grilled and deli sandwiches crafted with freshly baked bread, premium meats sliced to order, and freshly prepared toppings.

About Schoox

Schoox transforms learning into business growth. Our SaaS learning platform and course marketplace help companies accelerate business results by unlocking employee potential, boosting customer retention, and driving reseller revenue through learning. Schoox powers learning experiences for numerous organizations around the world, including Subway, Celebrity Cruises, Phillips 66, and Sonesta Hotels. Learn more at schoox.com.
When were selecting apprentices for our program, we will look for character. We want an individual who cares about what they do, cares about our customers and wants to learn. - Everett Hill, President of Palm Air AC

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the HVAC sector will grow by 34% by 2029. From the statistics, it is evident that a career in the HVAC industry is in high demand. Unfortunately, as the need for qualified technicians grows, many employers nationwide cannot fill the number of open positions due to the lack of skilled labor.

Palm Air is one company that is always looking to hire skilled professionals. This workforce shortage inspired them to re-launch their Apprenticeship Program. The company believes that everyone has the potential to be the best at what they do; all it takes is a little dedication and the proper training. So if someone wants to enter the HVAC sector, this is a perfect opportunity.

When were selecting apprentices for our program, we will look for character. We want an individual who cares about what they do, cares about our customers, and wants to learn. - Everett Hill, Co-owner, Palm Air AC

The Palm Air Apprenticeship Program provides opportunities for new employees in the field to get hands-on training from seasoned professionals. In this program, candidates can acquire industry tips and techniques that arent taught in tech-school courses. Therefore, candidates can learn the ins and outs of the industry and the processes of Palm Air at the same time.

The Palm Air Apprenticeship Program has two main components.

Program A



During the first 90 days, candidates are allotted 20-25 hours of part-time work as parts runners.

Basic course work - Carrier University Courses

Weekly training

Program B

Opportunity to specialize as a maintenance technician or installation technician

Candidates will be paired to work with our best technicians.

Candidates will be enrolled in an 18-month online course.

They will have the option to enroll in a 4-year program at the local community college, Palm Beach State.

Typically, apprentices start making approximately $15 per hour. Then, once the program has been completed and theyve been placed, the compensation goes up to $18+ per hour within the first year.

Once youre established, have a little bit of time in and the knowledge, well go ahead and put you in a maintenance truck or make you a permanent part of the installation team. - David Jenkins, Co-owner, Palm Air AC

After completing the program, apprentices can reap the benefits of being a Palm Air Employee:

Medical and dental insurance

Industry-related training and education

Growth opportunities

Paid time off and holidays

Voluntary and supplemental benefits

Founded in 2008, Palm Air is committed to providing its customers with cleaner, colder, more comfortable air in a whole-home approach. They service residences and businesses in Palm Beach and Broward counties, providing HVAC installation, repair and maintenance.

To learn more about the Palm Air Apprenticeship Program, contact Palm Air directly at (561) 203-1315.
Upper West Side NYC Kitchen Remodel After completing this Upper West Side apartment remodel, the entire space featured a much more open floor plan along with bright and colorful finishes. The homeowner was beyond thrilled with the outcome.

An Upper West Side resident recently completed work on a magazine-worthy renovation project at 420 Riverside Drive in Manhattan. The homeowner had been saving for years for her dream apartment, and upon finally finding it, she hired MyHome Design + Remodeling to create everything exactly how she wanted.

In order to successfully design the desired space, the homeowner and the MyHome team worked together using her existing apartment as inspiration for her new dream home. The inspiration space housed beautiful pieces of furniture and art collected by the homeowner and her husband over the years. Remodeling consultants collaborated with the homeowner on colors based on custom tile, the furniture, and art.

Because of the apartments location in a beautiful pre-war building, it was important to the homeowner and design team to keep as many of the original elements as possible. Through a unique remodeling process featuring renovation technology programs, the apartment design came to life. Using Chief Architect, a state-of-the-art design program, MyHome was able to create renderings for the homeowner during the planning phase showing what the finished home would look like at the end of the remodeling process.

In addition to the unique custom tile in several of the remodeled rooms, Designer Justin Schlenger used a preferred fixture brand, Brizo, in a Luxe Steel finish. Cambria Countertops were installed in the kitchen in the color Carrick with a matte finish, which is a cool gray tone. This complemented the upper cabinets, which are solid maple doors with a soft Elk Stain, and the lower cabinets, where Schlenger chose Sherwin Williams Georgian Revival Blue. The homeowner allowed the MyHome team to select the appliances, which were all stainless GE appliances.

The highlight of the new open kitchen floor plan at 420 Riverside Drive was a door added to the adjacent dining room wall for entry into an office and second bedroom. Schlenger ordered a reclaimed wood barn door with matte black hinges from Rustica Hardware. The door frame was painted in the Sherwin Williams Georgian Revival Blue to match the lower kitchen cabinetry and tie the two rooms together.

Every remodeling project comes with its challenges. In this case, it was the flooring refinish. The homeowner wanted to keep the existing flooring, and the construction team found out there were two levels of flooring after removing one of the walls. Furthermore, the flooring was going in a different direction in the room the walls came down in. Schlenger came up with a solution to remove the flooring from the one room and replace it, so all the flooring went in the same direction, and also added a low wood saddle to make up for the height transition.

After completing this Upper West Side apartment remodel, the entire space featured a much more open floor plan along with bright and colorful finishes. The homeowner was beyond thrilled with the outcome.

While writing my reviews I almost got a little teary thinking about what we did and what a fantastic experience it truly was. We really created a space from something that had potential to something quite remarkable. I often look around and cant believe it. I had some anxious moments in the process, but mostly I found it interesting to do and exciting to see it all unfold.

About MyHome

MyHome was founded in 2001. The company has a team of consultants, designers and managers. MyHomes New York City kitchen and bath showroom is located at 353 West 48th Street in Manhattan. MyHome offers free design consultations for Manhattan homeowners which can be booked at https://special.myhomeus.com/consulting/.


Tracey has the experience and relationships with the FAA that make her an effective and powerful advocate for airports of multiple sizes and scopes.

Jviation, a Woolpert Company, has hired Tracey Salazar to lead its new business line dedicated to renovating and replacing air traffic control towers (ATCTs). This business line combines Salazars extensive experience as an innovative strategist with the Federal Aviation Administration and Jviation and Woolperts decades of architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) work at commercial and general aviation airports.

Salazar earned her degree in electrical engineering at the University of Texas El Paso and served as a leader and mentor at the FAA for 33 years. She has managed complex technical organizations at the Denver International Airport, Houston International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and multiple general aviation airports throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Texas and Louisiana in support of the National Airspace System.

At Jviation, Salazar is leading the effort to advance aviation by designing, refurbishing and constructing ATCTs. This includes operational risk management planning and upgrading critical equipment used by air traffic controllers. Salazar said there are 256 airport-owned and 264 FAA-owned ATCTs across the country, and many of the towers at small- to medium-sized airports are over 60 years old. As a result, they need to be upgraded to improve the infrastructure, increase energy efficiency, meet Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and replace equipment that is difficult to maintain. In addition, as airports have expanded over the years, many of the ATCTs are not tall enough to see key areas of the airports and therefore need to be relocated and replaced.

ATCTs are eligible for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. The BIL has allocated $25 billion over the next five years to repair, replace and modernize critical infrastructure, buildings and equipment to operate our nations airspace safely. Salazar said, in her first few months at Woolpert, the team has helped multiple airport clients design new ATCTs and submit BIL applications to support their individual funding needs.

So much infrastructure at these airports is way past its life cycle, and this is a rare opportunity to fix a wide range of issues, Salazar said. Airports want to know what is needed and the most cost-effective way to address that need. With Greg Dyer, Todd Anderson and Dennis Kisler, we have an experienced team of former FAA employees supporting everything from replacing antiquated ATCT equipment to replacing antiquated towers.

Jviation Program Director Jason Virzi said, based on her extensive aviation experience, her comprehensive approach to airspace safety and her mentoring capabilities, Salazar is the ideal choice for this new business line.

Tracey has the experience and relationships with the FAA that make her an effective and powerful advocate for airports of multiple sizes and scopes, Virzi said. She also has a passion for fostering leadership. She can see talent in a person even when they dont see it in themselves. That makes each individual and our team better. This kind of leadership, combined with our longtime AEG expertise at airports, enables us to support all air traffic control and airport infrastructure needs to make these airports safer and better positioned for long-term success.

About Jviation, a Woolpert Company

Jviation, a Woolpert Company, is a planning, engineering, architecture, survey and construction administration firm that focuses on aviation-related projects. Jviation, which joined Woolpert in 2020, provides airport clients, from general aviation to commercial service facilities, with comprehensive consulting services in order to best serve the airport's unique needs. Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. With more than a century of experience, over 1,900 employees and 60 offices on four continents, Woolpert supports public, private, federal and U.S. military clients around the globe. Visit Jviation.com and Woolpert.com.
The addition of MLex and other practice-specific content to the Lexis+ Legal News Hub further solidifies its position as the legal industrys authoritative source of daily news and content and makes the Lexis+ ecosystem even more indispensable for practitioners.

LexisNexis Legal & Professional, a leading global provider of information and analytics, today announced the addition of MLex and practice-specific Law360 Authority content to the Lexis+ Legal News Hub and its expansion to Lexis+ users in the UK. MLexs regulatory risk content and Law360s expanded insurance, employment and tax content join the award-winning journalism of Law360 and Law360 Pulse to keep legal professionals up to date on the latest news, trends and changes that impact the business and practice of law within their established workflows.

Legal News Hub is located within the Lexis+ Experience Dock, an integrated starting point for core legal tasks that enables seamless switching between product experiences and workflows. Legal News Hub enhances current awareness functionality within Lexis+, enabling users to stay informed on breaking news and analysis on developments across 98 practice areas, industries, jurisdictions, and regulatory topics. All Lexis+ users can browse headlines and summaries from Law360, Law360 Pulse and MLex and read Law360s free Access to Justice content. Those with existing Law360 or MLex subscriptions can drill deeper into the news stories and content from within the familiar Lexis+ environment.

Legal News Hub is the latest expansion of the recently launched Lexis+ UK. Lexis+ UK is an integrated ecosystem that gives legal professionals access to the UKs largest legal research and practical guidance database, now complemented by a powerful set of legal news.

The addition of MLex and other practice-specific content to the Lexis+ Legal News Hub further solidifies its position as the legal industrys authoritative source of daily news and content and makes the Lexis+ ecosystem even more indispensable for practitioners who need to stay current on the issues and topics that affect their practice and clients, said Sean Fitzpatrick, CEO of LexisNexis North America, UK and Ireland. It also represents the first time that LexisNexis has brought together its two premiere news acquisitions  Law360 and MLex  creating a richer, more seamless news experience for our US and UK customers.

The Lexis+ Legal News Hub experience now includes:



MLex: Providing global, exclusive news and forward-looking analysis on key developments in regulatory risk, covering Antitrust, M&A, Data Privacy & Security, Financial Crime, Trade, State Aid (EU) and Sector Regulation.

Law360: Delivering award-winning, up-to-the-minute coverage of litigation, regulation and enforcement, legislation, executive orders, administrative hearings, corporate deal-making, and more, across all major practice areas, industries, and jurisdictions. Law360 also publishes Law360 Pulse, a dedicated legal news offering delving into the business of law, and Law360 Authority, which delivers daily features, special series and forward-thinking analysis from industry authorities on Insurance, Employment, Tax, and Real Estate (coming soon).

MLex is the most trusted source of regulatory news for top law firms, corporate counsel and the public sector, helping them respond to changes in the regulatory landscape, navigate risks and uncover new opportunities for their business or clients, said Bruce Macfarlane, Managing Director, MLex. Now that MLex is embedded within Lexis+ Legal News Hub, lawyers who rely on our content for enhanced awareness of regulatory developments across the globe can gain the insights they need without leaving the Lexis+ environment.

In addition to the new content, Lexis+ Legal News Hub features a new user interface, including improved readability, the ability to toggle between MLex and Law360 content, and remembering the last four practices visited so users can quickly find the content most relevant to them.

Find out more information about Lexis+ and sign up for a free trial by visiting http://www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/products/lexis-plus.page.

Current Lexis+ customers can activate free access to all content included in the Legal News Hub for seven days by clicking on any article in the Legal News Hub that is outside of their current subscription and selecting the Start Trial button.

About LexisNexis Legal & Professional

LexisNexis Legal & Professional provides legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that help customers increase their productivity, improve decision-making, achieve better outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis and Nexis services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 150 countries with 10,500 employees worldwide, is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.

About Law360

Law360, a LexisNexis company, delivers breaking legal news and in-depth analysis on the business and practice of law. Law360 combines award-winning journalism with cutting-edge technology to report on the fast-moving issues, trends, and developments our readers require to stay current and competitive, including up-to-the-minute coverage of litigation, regulation and enforcement, legislation, executive orders, administrative hearings, corporate deal-making, and more, across all major practice areas, industries and jurisdictions. Visit http://www.law360.com to find out what more than 2 million readers at top law firms, Fortune 1000 companies, and key government agencies already know.

About MLex

MLex, a LexisNexis company, is an independent news organization for breaking news and forward-looking analysis on legal and regulatory risk across the globe. Investigative journalists provide exclusive reporting on probes, policy and enforcement trends, litigation and legislative developments across key areas of regulatory risk: Antitrust, M&A, Data Privacy & Security, Financial Crime, Trade, State Aid and Sector Regulation. Trusted by top law firms, corporate counsel and the public sector, our coverage empowers our customers to respond first to changes in the regulatory landscape, navigating risks and leveraging opportunities for their business or clients. Visit https://mlexmarketinsight.com to find out more.
Adding on to basements, attics, garages and unfinished spaces usually requires breaking through concrete or doing a major structural renovation that can compromise a home's structural integrity, says Regis Saragosti, CEO of SFA Saniflo North America.

Home renovation can be tricky, especially when adding a bathroom or kitchen to a part of a home where plumbing doesn't exist.

Adding on to basements, attics, garages and unfinished spaces usually requires breaking through concrete or doing a major structural renovation that can compromise a home's structural integrity, says Regis Saragosti, CEO of SFA Saniflo North America. However, above-floor plumbing like macerating toilets and drain pumps simplifies home-improvement projects

There are many above-floor toilets and other macerating-technology products on the market today. But not all macerating systems are created equal. When planning to add an above-floor plumbing system to a home, keep these six tips in mind when purchasing a macerating pump system for either a new addition or to replace an existing one

.

1. Quality

Home renovations can be expensive. It may be tempting to opt for cheaper options, but they might cost more if they break or cause damage to a home. This same principle applies when buying above-floor plumbing systems. While there are cheaper options out there, consumers are advised to research and pick a product that is known for quality.

2. Manufacturing

Where a product is made can significantly impact its quality. In-house manufacturing means that a company can ensure the highest quality control possible, which isn't guaranteed or easy to verify when manufacturing is outsourced.

Why does this matter? Knowing where s macerating pump comes from can tell consumers about the quality and reliability of the product. For example, a recognized brand of macerators such as Saniflo is made and assembled entirely in-house in France. These products are shipped to be distributed to the company's headquarters in North America (the United States and Canada) and then sold to professional installers through Saniflo's nationwide distribution partners, explains Saragosti.

Consumers can rest easy knowing that their macerating toilet or other products have been tightly controlled throughout the production and distribution process.

3. In-Country Customer Service

Opting for cheaper above-floor plumbing solutions could lead to dealing with a defective product down the line. Next step would likely be to call the manufacturer's toll-free number to try to sort it out. But users may be met with customer service based in another country, one that is unhelpful, unreliable, or just plain hard to communicate with. In contrast, communicating with U.S. or Canadian-based customer service agents should ensure quicker responses, more reliable problem-solving and more effective communication. Purchasing from a manufacturer with a North American-based salesforce will also ensure faster, more efficient customer care, says Saragosti.

4. Compliance

It's essential to find out if any plumbing product is made according to U.S. codes and standards, especially when it comes to above-floor plumbing.

A reputable company invests in testing its products to be in compliance with major plumbing codes. This way, the product will be approved to be installed anywhere in the country while safeguarding the customer from any potential issues.

Macerating technology uses a pump powered by electricity, and any electrical product that contacts water is potentially hazardous. Consumers are advised to ensure the product is compliant with safety standards. Otherwise, you could be waiting for an accident to happen.

5. Warranty

Many above-floor plumbing systems have a product warranty of up to one year only. This can be a problem if the product breaks down or fails down the line, resulting in costly repairs or replacement.

A major brand such as Saniflo offers customers a standard three-year warranty for their macerating pump products. Also, they have offices and multiple warehouses throughout the United States and Canada, ensuring optimal availability and distribution, especially during global supply shortage challenges.

6. Insurance

As mentioned above, issues can occur with electrical products that come in contact with water. It's crucial that these products be insured should something occur. Not all brands of macerating pump products can obtain or offer insurance.

To be specific, products should carry some type of third-party certification to vouch for their reliability in protecting property as well as the health and safety of those who use them. Examples of independent laboratories that test for compliance would be "CSA" and "IAPMO."

These nationally recognized laboratories test products to conform with ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) standards for code compliance in the United States and Canada. Without such certifications, products could likely be deemed unreliable or even unsafe by insurance carriers.

Using these six tips, consumers can choose the right above-floor macerating pump system that will last for years to come. To learn more about macerating technology and how it can help with home renovation, visit Go.Saniflo.com.
MDsave, the nations leading online purchasing platform for healthcare procedures, announced today a strategic partnership with Sana, a leading provider of affordable health plans for small businesses. Combining level-funded plans and MDsaves locked-in cash-pay rates for medical procedures purchased prior to treatment, this partnership creates an innovative cost containment network strategy for employers.

This MDsave and Sana combined network delivers a comprehensive offering of medical services and care navigation minimizing cost, improving access to care, and streamlining the experience of employees. This partnership also expedites the provider revenue cycle, paying all providers rapidly within days of treatment.

In seeking a channel partner, we looked for an expert in level-funded health plan benefits with a disruptive model and symbiotic mission to help people afford their care. Sana is the perfect fit, says Paul Ketchel, chief executive officer, MDsave. This partnership accelerates our user-base growth for both self-pay and level-funded members. Joining forces with Sana offers choice to employer populations, particularly for small businesses, without the cost burden of traditional networks.

The partnership marries MDsaves network including thousands of providers, 340+ hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care sites to Sanas universe of members and employers. This integrated offering delivers savings for Sana employers, streamlines member engagement, and rapidly expands MDsaves universe of users.

As an organization, our mission is to address the escalating cost of health benefits for small employers who are the backbone of our economy, says Will Young, chief executive officer and co-founder of Sana. The partnership with MDsave offers further transparency benefiting employers, providers, and members alike.

About MDSave

Headquartered in Nashville, TN, MDsave is the nations leading online purchasing platform for healthcare services  bringing together patients seeking affordable, reliable care with providers offering high-quality services at fair prices. Through innovative technology, MDsave simplifies the healthcare billing process for patients and providers alike through transparent bundled pricing and upfront payment. MDsaves patented technology also supports employers and payers to deliver more value to employees and policyholders minimizing out-of-pocket deductible costs. For more information, visit http://www.mdsave.com.

About Sana

Austin-headquartered Sana provides small businesses with dependable health plans at affordable prices. Through value-based care, the Sana Care ecosystem of world-class providers, direct primary care and more, Sana is reducing the cost of high-quality care. Sana is making it easier than ever to administer benefits for employers and offers simplified health plans and top-notch customer service to employees. Sana provides healthcare to small businesses that drives down costs while simultaneously delivering an exceptional quality of care. For more information, visit http://www.sanabenefits.com.
Mercy College has entered a partnership with iMentor to provide high-achieving high school students scholarships to attend Mercy College with limited to no debt. The iMentor Scholars program at Mercy will help ensure iMentor students, many of whom face significant financial hardship and are first-generation college students, continue to achieve success and obtain a college degree.

iMentor, a national mentoring organization, partners with high schools serving students from marginalized communities and pairs those students with mentors for a minimum of two years. Each student builds a long-term relationship with a committed mentor and receives support from the iMentor program on their journey to college and a career.

Similarly, Mercys Personalized Achievement Contract (PACT) Program provides all students with one-on-one, personalized mentorship and support for their entire duration of college. While at Mercy, students are paired with a mentor trained in academic advising, career readiness, student life, financial aid issues and leadership development.

Mercy College and iMentor have a shared mission of helping students thrive and achieve their dreams of a college degree, said Adam Castro, Mercy Colleges vice president for enrollment management. The partnership demonstrates that collaboration across educational organizations can change the lives of young people facing significant college access challenges and financial barriers to obtaining a college degree. We have an amazing initial cohort starting at Mercy this fall and I cant wait see how this partnership blossoms.

The partnership between Mercy College and iMentor will help strengthen both organizations goals of equipping young people from all backgrounds with the support and resources necessary to gain a higher education degree and realize personal and career success.

Attending college is a transformational experience that can open doors to intellectual inquiries, to new skills and relationships, and to meaningful careers that unlock economic mobility. We are thrilled to partner with Mercy College to enable more students to graduate college with their full financial needs met and with the support of their mentors and iMentors Post-Secondary Program, said Heather Wathington, iMentor CEO. With a shared mission of expanding educational opportunities for students from marginalized communities, iMentor and Mercy are committed to helping students graduate college and achieve their highest ambitions.

For information on applying to the iMentor program, please contact Kayla Noonan, director of admissions for Mercy College, at (212) 615-3382 or knoonan1@mercy.edu, or Michelle Tsai, director of marketing and communications for iMentor, at (347) 423-058 or mtsai@imentor.org.

Student testimonials:

Abigail Aviles, Union Square Academy for Health Sciences

College is important to me because its a whole new experience compared to high school. The environment is more professional and gives you the experience of the real world. I chose Mercy since they have a lot of programs to choose from. Also, the graduation rate is at a high rate which is promising. I plan to become a veterinarian or dentist. The iMentor scholarship program has helped me out a lot by covering a lot of the cost for books and by lowering my out-of-pocket costs.

Ashley Serrano, Bronx High School for Law & Community Service

I chose Mercy because it was close to home and affordable. Ive also only heard good things about Mercy and its small class sizes. My goal at Mercy is to become a secondary English teacher. The iMentor scholarship made a big difference for me because it helped cover my full tuition, offering me a full ride to Mercy College.

Coudjegi Hadara, Laboratory School of Finance & Technology

College is important to me because my parents did not have the opportunity to go to college. I am from Mali but was born in Harlem. During the summer before my senior year, I received a letter from Mercy College. I discovered that I could declare criminal science: forensic investigations as a major. This major really aligns with my interests and passions that was fueled from my childhood of watching crime shows. I hope to have a career in law enforcement. The iMentor Scholarship covered a large gap in my financial aid package.

Jaden Muniz, Bronx High School for Law & Community Service

Ive chosen Mercy College because of the location, the financial aid package, the referrals Ive received, and because it has a biology program with an animal sciences concentration. I plan to go to graduate school after Mercy and become a veterinarian doctor. The iMentor program has helped in a variety of ways  for example they have paired me up with a mentor who has done an amazing job at guiding me to what career path that I want. Also, he helped me figure out what college best fits me.

Marcel Rojas, Bronx Academy for Software Engineering

College is important to me because without college I would not be able to reach my goal, which is owning my own house and becoming a star athlete and veterinarian. I chose Mercy because it has an affordable veterinary technology program and animal sciences concentration. It also has a softball team that I am interested in. Currently, I am trying to get a job at the Bronx Zoo working with animals. The iMentor scholarship makes Mercy more affordable to attend. I would have had to take a loan if it wasnt for the scholarship.

About Mercy College

Founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy College is an independent, coeducational college that offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs within five schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The vibrancy of the College culture is sustained by a diverse student body from around the region. The College has campuses in Dobbs Ferry, Bronx and Manhattan as well as online offerings.

About iMentor

iMentor builds mentoring relationships that empower first-generation students to graduate high school, succeed in college and career, and achieve their ambitions. iMentor was founded in 1999 by John Griffin, Richard Buery and Matt Klein. Launched with just 49 students in a single school in the South Bronx, iMentor has served nearly 40,000 students since its founding in 1999 through direct-service programs in Baltimore, the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York City, and through partnerships with local non-profit organizations that implement the iMentor model in communities across the country.
Mercy College will launch its National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read program exploring Infinite Country by Patricia Engel with a series of yearlong events that will run from September 2022 through June 2023. The NEA Big Read in New York is presented in partnership with Latino U College Access (LUCA), The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), 100 Hispanic Women, the Dobbs Ferry Public Library and the Greenburgh Public Library along with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Mercy College is honored to be selected by the National Endowment for the Arts to highlight Infinite Country by Patricia Engel for the 2022 Big Read Initiative, said Irina Ellison, associate dean of the School of Health and Natural Sciences and project director for the NEA Grant. As New Yorks largest, private, nonprofit Hispanic-Serving Institution, this amazing story will definitely resonate with our students, many of whom are children of immigrants and are first-generation college students.

An initiative of the NEA in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience.

Mercy College is one of 62 communities nationwide participating in the 2022-2023 NEA Big Read. Beginning in the fall of 2022 our community will celebrate Infinite Country with a full calendar of events including book talks, lectures, workshops and cultural activities on themes related to the books. The activities will take place across Mercys three campuses located in Dobbs Ferry, Manhattan and the Bronx as well as at partner sites and virtually.

Quotes from community partners include:

The Big Read Project would allow our Scholars to see themselves represented, and to gain exposure to writing as a potential career path. As a local non-profit organization that empowers first-generation Latino students on their journeys to and through college, it is important to uplift Latinx stories, and support a young Latina author like Patricia Engle.  Cosette Gutierrez, Executive Director, Latino U College Access (LUCA)

This opportunity would allow WHCC to partner with Mercy College in reaching out to our diverse Latino communities in Westchester County. We welcome the opportunity to be part of the Big Read Project. Mercy College has always been at the forefront of our community.  Sonia Montano, President, Westchester Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (WHCC)

the opportunity for Mercy College to share Patricia Engles book, Infinite Country.is a wonderful way to provide accessibility to those who are unaware of Engles excellent storytelling abilities. HACU hopes that Engels book will inspire the next generation of Hispanic college students to follow their dreams and share their stories.  Ebony King, Student Services Manager, Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU)

As a national organization that empowers and inspires Latinas to maximize their strength and potential, it is exhilarating to support a young Latina author like Patricia Engle. The prospect of distributing Patricia Engles book, Infinite Country for free and hosting author events and presentations is exciting and an opportunity we support and embrace.  Nancy Genova, President, 100 Hispanic Women

For more information on this NEA Grant, please contact Irina Ellison at iellison@mercy.edu.

# # #

About Mercy College

Founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy College is an independent, coeducational college that offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs within five schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The vibrancy of the College culture is sustained by a diverse student body from around the region. The College has campuses in Dobbs Ferry, Bronx and Manhattan as well as online offerings.
After college, Jack faces the horrible options of being drafted to Vietnam or becoming his father, but frees himself from both on a motorcycle trip through Europe in Tim Scotts new action and adventure novel Driving Toward Destiny: A Novel (published by Archway Publishing).

It's 1971 and Jack Higgins is draft-eligible. He knows that if he goes to Vietnam, he will be killed, but his parents insist that he interview for jobs with his father's old friends so that he will live their lives all over again. Jack wants to live his own life, so he goes to Berlin to live with a friend to get a new perspective on life. He meets new and different people, loses his virginity, studies 'Siddhartha', buys a BMW motorcycle and drives it to Crete where he faces his challenge and meets his destiny. He returns a changed, more mature man and sets off on his own life's path.

I want my readers to take charge of their lives, to be unafraid to 'hit the road' and learn who they are and where they would best find happiness in life, Scott says.

Driving Toward Destiny is available for purchase online at the Archway link above, from Barnes & Noble and on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Driving-Toward-Destiny-Tim-Scott/dp/1665722207.

Driving Toward Destiny

By Tim Scott

Hardcover | 6 x 9 in | 482 pages | ISBN 9781665722193

Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 482 pages | ISBN 9781665722209

E-Book | 482 pages | ISBN 9781665722216

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Tim Scott was born in New York in 1948 and attended the University of Vermont (Bachelor of Arts), Northeastern University (Master of Arts), and MIT Sloan School of Management (Master of Science). Driving Toward Destiny is his first novel.

Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the worldwide leader in self-publishing, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit archwaypublishing.com or call 844-669-3957.
Tower Two at Hutchinson Metro Center The presence of almost 5,100 life-sciences companies in this area is a tremendous opportunity for real estate developers, said Joe Simone, President of Simone Development Companies.

New construction of life-sciences real estate in New York City is driven by ample talent pools, venture capital and government support, said Joseph Simone of Simone Development Companies.

The New York City region is now the nations largest life-sciences economy with more than a dozen innovation clusters. The presence of almost 5,100 life-sciences companies in this area is a tremendous opportunity for real estate developers, said Joe Simone, President of Simone Development.

According to a new report, the life sciences economy in the New York City metropolitan area generated more than $23 billion in wages in 2021. The report by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) noted that over the last decade, more than 800 new diagnostic testing labs have opened in the region, a growth of 26%.

One of the thriving innovation clusters cited by the NYCEDC report is in the Bronxs Morris Park neighborhood, where the Montefiore-Einstein Accelerated Biotechnology Research Center will soon open. This biomanufacturing operation will focus on cell, gene, and antibody therapy production.

Simone Development Companies 42-acre Hutchinson Metro Center is across the street from the Albert Einstein College and Montefiore Medical Center. The campus is anchored by Montefiore, which occupies the entirety of Tower Two and parts of Tower One.

The launch of the Montefiore-Einstein biomanufacturing operation coincides with our planned expansion of the Hutchinson Metro Center campus to include life-science-focused laboratories for medical research, said Patricia Simone, President of Simone Management Group. As the NYCEDC report noted, the life-sciences sector depends on proximity and interactions among researchers, funders and entrepreneurs as they develop new technologies.

The tristate New York area has more than 5.6 million square feet of new lab space under development. In recent years, New York City clarified its land-use rules to allow more lab and research spaces.

Simone Development Companies is a fully integrated private real estate investment and development company that acquires and develops healthcare, mixed-use, office, industrial, retail and residential properties. Headquartered at the Hutchinson Metro Center, it boasts a portfolio of over 7 million square feet throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, Westchester, Orange and Fairfield Counties and New Jersey. With services spanning acquisition, development, construction, finance, asset management, accounting, leasing and property management, Simone Development Companies is set apart by its creatively oriented management team, long-term asset ownership and its pursuit of visionary development.
The NVTC Foundation Kilberg Scholarship Fund reinforces NVTCs commitment to infusing the next generation of talent into our workforce and supporting women who are pursuing careers in STEM roles. said Jennifer Taylor, president and CEO of NVTC.

The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), the trade association representing the National Capital Regions technology community, today announced five recipients of the NVTC Foundation Kilberg Scholarship Fund. This fund was established to support women interested in a career in the tech industry. Each recipient demonstrates leadership promise and a commitment to advancing technology-driven innovations. Each will receive $5,000 to pursue higher education in STEM-related fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

Congratulations to the recipients of the Kilberg Scholarship Fund. This scholarship reinforces NVTCs commitment to infusing the next generation of talent into our workforce and supporting women who are pursuing careers in STEM roles. said Jennifer Taylor, president and CEO of NVTC. Creating greater access and providing resources for women to secure in-demand jobs is not only a personal passion of mine, but also critically important to build a diverse and talented workforce.

The 2022 NVTC Foundation Kilberg Scholarship Fund recipients are:



Rusul Abdulrazzaq, Osbourn Park High School senior, who plans to attend George Mason University

Brittany Asare, Hayfield Secondary School senior, who plans to attend The University of Virginia

Ava Boston, Yorktown High School senior, who plans to attend Yale University

Keren Gonzaga, The Governor's School @ Innovation Park senior, who plans to attend William & Mary

Sajeda Shuaib, current student at Northern Virginia Community College

Established in 2021, the NVTC Foundation Kilberg Scholarship Fund serves as a continuation of retired NVTC President and CEO Bobbie Kilbergs lifelong spirit of community service in the Northern Virginia technology community. Scholarships are available annually to high school seniors or graduates pursuing post-secondary education or training in a STEM-related field. The application review committee selected the recipients based on a commitment to pursue a degree or training in STEM-related fields, Northern Virginia residency, and financial need.

These outstanding young women represent the talent and future of our workforce. I look forward to following their continued academic and leadership success, said Kilberg. Not only have the recipients displayed hard work in advancing their education, but they have also shown dedication to making their communities a better place.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia (CFNOVA), a public charity that helps grow philanthropy, manages the scholarship fund on behalf of the NVTC Foundation. A formal announcement of winners will take place in July at a private celebration for donors and winners.

# # #

About the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC)

NVTC is the trade association representing the Northern Virginia technology community. As one of the nations largest technology councils, NVTC serves companies from all sectors of the industry, from small businesses and startups to Fortune 100 technology companies, government contractors, as well as service providers, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations. More than 425 members look to the organization as a resource for networking and educational opportunities, peer-to-peer communities, policy advocacy, industry promotion, fostering of strategic relationships, and branding of the region as a major global technology center. Learn more at http://www.nvtc.org.

About the NVTC Foundation

The NVTC Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, helps expand and promote academic and employment opportunities within technology fields for communities underrepresented in the tech sector. Foundation programs include the Veterans Employment Initiative, which supports transitioning military service members and the Kilberg Scholarship Fund, which supports women pursuing higher education in technology fields. Learn more here.

About the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia (CFNOVA)

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia grows philanthropy to respond to critical need, seed innovation and lead and convene the community. Comprised of donor advised funds, permanent funds, giving circles, and other charitable endowments, the Community Foundation connects donors to community and promotes a more equitable and inclusive prosperity that marries our economic strength with the full breadth of our diverse community. In 2020, the Community Foundation awarded more than $13 million in grants and scholarships. For more information please visit us at http://www.cfnova.org, or follow up on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
OATIs mission-critical software solutions enable green-energy resources to work, and to work more efficiently.

Open Access Technology International, Inc., has been steadily deploying new software systems needed to decarbonize the electrical grid, and more innovations are on their way. Dr. Sasan Mokhtari, OATI President and CEO, made this statement while speaking last month during the OATI Employee Appreciation Week.

We are making history, Mokhtari told online and in-person employees at the event. The changes happening in the power grid are substantial, fundamental changes  and OATI is the leader in this unprecedented transformation to make green-energy commerce possible.

Green-energy resources include solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, electric vehicle (EV)-charging, smart products, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and microgrids, among others. OATIs green-energy software solutions include OATI webSmartEnergy products to help utilize, deploy, monitor, manage, and dispatch distributed energy resources (DERs); OATI GridMind to enable solar PV and BESS sites to serve microgrids and grid energy reliability needs; OATI EVolution to manage EV charging and fleet management; and OATI AMIoT to enable low cost, wireless, intelligent data networking to facilitate DERs and green energy.

OATIs mission-critical software solutions enable green-energy resources to work, and to work more efficiently, add Mokhtari. In addition, OATI empowers green energy solutions that werent previously possible by effectively connecting sustainable, distributed energy resources to the grid, and managing them once connected, through innovative distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS).

New, smart-energy products require the software changes that OATI is producing to connect to the grid. Smart cities, energy storage and distribution systems, and behind the meter business is big  and a trillion dollars in federal funding is being dedicated to it, says Mokhtari. We are well positioned to help our customers tap into this funding as we continue to transform the business of energy.

For more information about OATIs green-energy software solutions, contact sales@oati.net.

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About OATI

OATI engages with its 2,500+ energy industry customers to transform their operational tasks to meet the changes with decarbonization, and monetize their assets. OATI successfully deploys and hosts mission-critical solutions committed to industry standards and stringent security guidelines.

OATI (http://www.oati.com) is the premier provider of Smart Grid, Distribution, Energy Trading and Risk Management, Transmission Scheduling, Congestion Management, Gas Transportation Management, and Market Management services and products. OATI is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with offices in California, Punjab, and Telangana. For more information, please contact sales@oati.net.
I have always seen us all as one. As one love or as one energy, one life in action and each of us the same expression of this one life and love. My book tells about life, being a better person and an alternative way to look at life and everything, Chimie states.

Based on years of the authors research, A Players Guide to Life, the Universe, and Everything (published by AuthorHouse UK) explores the mind, spirit, soul, consciousness, and how to be a better human being. This book reminds readers of what they already know and prods them to think about life, spirituality, and everything  and at the same time, asks them to question everything and find the reasons behind it.

Offering inspiration to become a better person, this book underscores the importance of understanding that you are you and you are in balance with you, your surroundings, and the universe.

This book will appeal to readers because it gives them a way to look at life as if we are one. It has the potential to make the world a better place. It is simple and easy to read, Chimie says. When asked what he wants readers to take away from the book, the author answers, To become a better person and see us as one and act accordingly.

For more details about the book, please visit https://www.authorhouse.com/en-gb/bookstore/bookdetails/827843-a-players-guide-to-life-the-universe-and-everything

A Players Guide to Life, the Universe, and Everything

By Chimie

Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 150 pages | ISBN 9781665592680

Softcover | 6 x 9in | 150 pages | ISBN 9781665592673

E-Book | 150 pages | ISBN 9781665592666

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Chimie is an author who calls earth home. This story was inspired by the mystical setting and the authors own experiences. Chimie questioned everything and learned the importance of asking why after having the opportunity to ask God the same question. A Players Guide to Life, the Universe, and Everything is the authors second book.

AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industrys only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrates over 23 years of service to authors. For more information or to publish a book visit authorhouse.co.uk or call 0-800-014-8641.
Front profile of the new white 2022 Toyota Avalon

Sedans have always been popular in the automobile world and there is an extended list of consumers that prefer sedans over other evolving vehicle types. Toyota Avalon is a well-known sedan nameplate that has managed to stay relevant since its introduction. However, the vehicle will be discontinued after its 2022 rendition. Customers who want to purchase the 2022 Toyota Avalon in the Salinas area of California can visit the Salinas Toyota dealership and check out the new 2022 Toyota Avalon.

The 2022 Toyota Avalon starts at $36,825 and is available in six trims across gas and hybrid powertrain variants. The gas variants of the 2022 Toyota Avalon pack a 3.5-Liter V6 DOHC (Double Over Head Camshaft) 24-Valve engine generating 301 horsepower & 267 pound-feet torque and fetching a gas mileage of 22/32/26 MPG city/highway/combined respectively. The hybrid variants of the range, on the other hand, leverage a 2.5-Liter Dynamic Force 4-Cylinder DOHC 16-Valve paired with an electric motor to make 176 horsepower & 163 pound-feet torque, and fetch a gas mileage of 43/44/44 MPG city/highway/combined respectively. While gas variants use a Direct Shift-8AT 8-speed Electronically Controlled automatic Transmission with intelligence with Sequential Shiftmatic Mode to send power to wheels, hybrid trims use an Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission with Sequential Shiftmatic Mode.

Moreover, the 2022 Toyota Avalon encompasses a diverse list of standard safety features that bolster its safety ratings. Highlights include Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Intelligent Clearance Sonar, and an available Birds Eye View Camera.

Interested customers can visit the Salinas Toyota dealership at 700 Auto Center Circle in Salinas, California 93907 to test drive the 2022 Toyota Avalon. Customers can also visit the dealership's website at https://www.salinastoyota.com or call (831) 444-0700 to find out more about ongoing offers and financing options on the 2022 Toyota Avalon.
The Roofing Alliance, the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), has opened the nomination period for its 2022-23 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. The program celebrates workers who are outstanding employees within their companies while recognizing performance outside the workplace, such as charitable deeds, community involvement, challenges overcome and unwavering dedication and commitment to helping others.

As an employer in the roofing industry, an employee can be nominated for one or both of the following categories:

Outstanding Performance and Leadership

Dedicated, reliable employees are vital to a companys success with one usually standing out above all others with these qualifications:



Has a strong work ethic

Shows leadership, initiative and resourcefulness

Has earned an outstanding safety record

Shows support for his or her co-workers

Goes above and beyond specific job responsibilities

Outstanding Community Involvement

Outstanding workers not only have a passion for the work they do and a sense of loyalty toward their employers, but they also show compassion for others outside of the workplace displaying:



Dedication to bettering their community

Exemplary service

Leadership

Commitment

Selfless devotion

The MVP Award program is intended to recognize field and warehouse workers who typically may not be publicly acknowledged for their efforts. Roofing contracting firms and distributor/manufacturer firms are all eligible. Judges are recognized professionals within the roofing industry and include a representative mix of contractors, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers.

One MVP winner will be chosen to be Professional Roofing magazines Best of the Best. Professional Roofing and OMG Roofing Products Inc., Agawam, Mass., co-sponsor this elite recognition. The person selected as the Best of the Best winner typically stands out in both categories. In addition to a special prize, the winner will be highlighted in a feature article in Professional Roofing magazine in the spring of 2023.

MVP winners and their nominators will be notified the week of Dec. 5, so winners can plan to attend NRCAs 136th Annual Convention, March 7-9, 2023, in Dallas, Texas. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Sept. 30. SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION HERE: https://forms.nrca.net/Form/Launch/8021dc7e-d41c-41ec-8f83-87832cd69a43.

For more information about how to get involved and make a commitment to the Roofing Alliance, please contact Alison L. LaValley, CAE, executive director, at alavalley@nrca.net or visit roofingalliance.net.

About the Roofing Alliance

The Roofing Alliance is committed to shaping the industrys future by funding education, research, scholarships and philanthropic initiativesall for the purpose of securing the industrys future excellence. Composed of 180 members representing extraordinary leaders from the contracting, manufacturing, distribution and service provider communities, the Roofing Alliance has committed $14 million to enhance the performance and long-term viability of the industry and allocated more than $5.8 million to fund 51 research, education, technical and philanthropic programs and projects. Serving as the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Roofing Alliance members are focused on giving back and supporting high-quality educational programs and ensuring timely and forward-thinking industry responses to major economic and technological issues. For more information about Roofing Alliance initiatives, visit http://www.roofingalliance.net.
Richard Essner, PhD, professor in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biological Sciences.

A small frog is making big headlines thanks to the intriguing findings of researchers, led by Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles Richard Essner, PhD.

Comparable in size to the end of a pencil, or approximately one centimeter in length, Pumpkin Toadlets tiny nature, notably their semicircular canals, is making them clumsy when they jump with the inability to land gracefully, according to the researchers.

Essner, a professor in the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biological Sciences, collaborated with researchers from Edge Hill University in England, Universidade Federal do Parana in Brazil, and the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Their work was recently published in the prestigious, open-access scholarly journal Science Advances. Now, brightly colored Pumpkin Toadlets and the researchers findings are taking Twitter by storm. Additionally, Science Advances metric measuring attention on research places the scholarship among the top 5% ever, with related headlines spanning more than nine countries.

We discovered that this group of miniaturized frogs from Brazil, known as Pumpkin Toadlets, are unable to control their landings, Essner said. We think that their unusual landing behavior results from the small size of their semicircular canals, which are used to detect angular acceleration.

Pumpkin Toadlets and other miniaturized frogs have the smallest semicircular canals known among adult vertebrates. The vestibular system of the inner ear provides essential information about balance and movement. At small size, fluid within the semicircular canals cannot flow freely because of high resistance due to friction. This causes a reduction in sensitivity to angular acceleration and impedes their ability to use vestibular feedback to control their posture in mid-air like other frogs.

During his time as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, Essner developed an interest in the jumping and landing behavior of a group of frogs known as leiopelmatids, which branched off from other frogs over 200 million years ago. At the time, most of what was known about frog locomotion was based on frog species commonly available but not evolutionarily informative. His team filmed the frogs in his lab at SIUE and determined they lacked the controlled landings of other frogs, meaning they did not fold up their hindlimbs in midair and land forelimbs-first. This provided evidence that the evolution of jumping was a two-step process with jumping appearing first and controlled landings appearing later.

Ruda Pereira, a graduate student who worked with Dr. Marcio Pie at the Universidade Federal do Parana, conducted his thesis research on jumping and landing behavior in a diverse array of frog species, Essner said. He found that Pumpkin Toadlets, were remarkably similar to leiopelmatid frogs in having uncontrolled landings.

The findings were unexpected, though, because the toadlet is not at all closely related to leiopelmatids, and their closest relatives jump like most other frogs. This led the researchers to presume the clumsiness was due to its size rather than ancestral behavior.

In the future, wed like to examine jumping in other groups of miniaturized frogs and juveniles from small frogs, explained Essner. Wed also like to examine soft tissues associated with the vestibular system and collaborate with neurophysiologists to investigate the neural control of locomotion in miniaturized frogs.

Because disorders of the vestibular system are common in humans, Essner asserts that having an animal model of naturally occurring vestibular dysfunction could be useful for future scientific research.

Essner earned both a bachelors and masters in biology from Southeast Missouri State University in 1993 and 1996, respectively. He then earned a PhD in biological sciences from Ohio University in 2003 and joined the SIUE faculty in the fall of 2005 after completing his fellowship in Pennsylvania.

Science Advances is published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It showcases innovative, original research and reviews across a broad range of scientific disciplines.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high-quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose to shape a changing world. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi Rivers rich bottomland and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of more than 13,000.
Virtually every study of POBs finds that timing and duration of the bond issues are critical. Bonds floated at the end of a bull market are the most likely to lose money, and that makes this idea a wrong turn at the worst possible time. - E.J. McMahon

A new study published by Pioneer Institute finds that issuing pension obligation bonds (POBs) to refinance $360 million of the MBTA Retirement Funds (MBTARFs) $1.3 billion unfunded pension liability would only compound the Ts already serious financial risks.

With POBs, government entities deposit revenues from bond sales into their pension funds and use the money to make investments they hope will deliver returns that outpace borrowing costs.

Virtually every study of POBs finds that timing and duration of the bond issues are critical, said E.J. McMahon, author of Rolling the Retirement Dice. Bonds floated at the end of a bull market are the most likely to lose money, and that makes this idea a wrong turn at the worst possible time.

If investments dont meet a pension funds assumed rate of return, it could be left with debt service costs in addition to the pre-existing unfunded liability. In 2015, the Government Finance Officers Association bluntly warned that State and local governments should not issue POBs. It reaffirmed its guidance last year.

If the MBTA were a private company, federal law would require it to base the expected rate of return on its pension investments on the current and historic yields for low-risk assets such as high-quality corporate bonds. These returns are currently around 4 percent.

But under more permissive government accounting standards, the MBTA has set its expected rate of return at 7.25 percent annually.

The MBTARF is currently projected to require $3.07 billion to cover pension expenses through the lifespans of its youngest vested employees, but its assets come up about $1.3 billion short. Assuming the more conservative 4 percent rate of return, total liability rises to over $4 billion.

As recently as 2007, the MBTARF had more than 90 percent of the assets needed to meet its obligations. Yet despite annual employer (MBTA) contributions that rose from $21 million in 2001 to $148 million last year, the retirement fund was only 53.55 percent funded by fiscal 2020. Among large U.S. transit agencies, only Chicago has a lower funding ratio and a larger unfunded liability.

The T contributes 26.7 percent of covered salaries to the MBTARF, while employees kick in 9.33 percent of pre-tax salaries. Two thirds of the money goes toward the unfunded liability, not the normal cost of new pension liability that accrues each year.

McMahon identifies several issues behind these problems. The first is poor investment management. A 2016 Pioneer study found that the MBTARF would have earned an additional $900 million between 2001 and 2014 if it deposited its funds in the better performing Massachusetts State Employee Retirement System.

The second reason is that the T underfunded the MBTARF by $66 million from 2007 to 2014. If it had made its full contribution during those years, that $66 million would have grown to $183 million by the end of 2021.

Meanwhile, annual pension benefits continue to grow, from $96 million in 2001 to $220 million in 2020.

Finally, in large part because the majority of T employees can retire in their 40s or 50s, the MBTARF has fewer active employees paying into the fund than retired transit workers drawing pensions. The MBTARF has 0.845 active employees for each person collecting pension benefits. Overall, the state average for active employees-to-beneficiaries is 1.358. The MBTARF is one of only four of 105 public pension funds in Massachusetts that has more beneficiaries than contributors.

Underlying all these issues are the MBTAs fundamental budgetary challenges. Fare revenue is projected to remain 25 percent below pre-pandemic levels through fiscal 2023, and the Authority will have to draw down reserves to balance its $2.6 billion budget.

The Ts financial condition requires fiscal prudence, not a risky quick fix like pension obligation bonds, said Pioneer Executive Director Jim Stergios. Such ploys rarely work  and a bit like a Hail Mary pass, its the wrong play to call especially right now.

About the Author

E.J. McMahon is a public policy analyst focused on state and regional economic, fiscal, and demographic trends. McMahon is founding senior fellow of the Empire Center for Public Policy in Albany, New York, and an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. A former journalist, he also served in senior staff positions in New York state government. McMahon is a graduate of Villanova University.

About Pioneer Institute

Pioneer Institute develops and communicates dynamic ideas that advance prosperity and a vibrant civic life in Massachusetts and beyond. Success for Pioneer is when the citizens of our state and nation prosper and our society thrives because we enjoy world-class options in education, healthcare, transportation and economic opportunity, and when our government is limited, accountable and transparent. Pioneer believes that America is at its best when our citizenry is well-educated, committed to liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise, and both willing and able to test their beliefs based on facts and the free exchange of ideas.
Our collaboration with the private sector "should lead to more broadly based economic growth and improved livelihoods, including for women and youth, said Mariandrea Chamorro, Abts Regional Vice President for Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded Abt Associates a five-year, $25 million contract to collaborate with the private sector in Cambodia to boost agricultural competitiveness, job opportunities, and availability of nutritious foods.

Agriculture employs 35 percent of Cambodians, so the sector plays a major role in the countrys economy and the well-being of its citizens. Yet agricultural productivity is lower than in neighboring countries, and many Cambodians reduced their food consumption during the pandemic. COVID-19 has exposed weakness in the countrys agricultural market systemswhile revealing widespread readiness to adapt to more competitive agricultural and business practices.

Abt will work with the private sector under USAID/Cambodias new Feed the Future Agriculture Partnership Hub. The Ag Hub builds on previous USAID initiatives, including the Abt-led Harvest II project. Harvest II generated $28 million in horticultural investment and helped companies register 140 new food products. The Ag Hub will work with a broad range of companies and agricultural cooperatives to create income-generating opportunities for women and youth, especially in climate-smart agriculture.

Our experience in Cambodia during the pandemic has shown how creative and responsive Cambodians can be to emerging market opportunities, said Mariandrea Chamorro, Abts Regional Vice President for Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with the private sector under the Agriculture Partnership Hub so that Cambodians and Cambodian market systems can become more competitive, resilient, and inclusive. This should lead to more broadly based economic growth and improved livelihoods, including for women and youth.

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About Abt Associates

Abt Associates is a global consulting and research firm that combines data and bold thinking to improve the quality of people's lives. We partner with clients and communities to advance equity and innovationfrom creating scalable digital solutions and combatting infectious disease, to mitigating climate change and evaluating programs for measurable social impactand more.

http://www.abtassociates.com

Contact: Stan Crock

stan_crock@abtassoc.com

(301) 347-5402
USOSM President and CEO Richard Hall Praises Partner Practices' Exceptional Net Promoter Scores. This is truly an extraordinary Net Promoter Score achieved by very few companies worldwide. Patient satisfaction is one of the most important measures of success.

Since its inception in November of 2017, U.S. Oral Surgery Management (USOSM)  a specialty management services company that exclusively serves premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons  has established itself as an industry leader. It was the first company of its kind, similar to a dental service organization (DSO), but focusing solely on premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

USOSM continues to lead the industry today, with approximately 53 partner practices, 133 sites of service and 156 surgeon partners, across 19 states. All of which, consistently achieve a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 80 or above, according to the reputation management company Birdeye.

This is an amazing feat, considering the average NPS for the healthcare industry as a whole is 58 and the average NPS for healthcare providers in general is around 38, as reported by Customer Gauge. In addition, its higher than Customer Gauges reported NPS for successful restaurant and retail giants, such as Amazon, which has an NPS of 73; Chick-fil-A, which has an NPS of 58; Apple, which has an NPS of 57; and Walmart, which has an NPS of 40.

NPS measures customer experience and predicts business growth, providing the core measurement for customer experience management programs world-wide. Bain & Company, which helped establish the NPS, is well known for categorizing a good NPS as being above zero, with anything above 50 as excellent and above 80 as world-class.

Were proud that the people who helped establish the NPS would call our scores world-class, and were even prouder that our surgeon partners have been rated so well by their patients, said Richard Hall, USOSM president and CEO. This is truly an extraordinary Net Promoter Score, achieved by very few companies worldwide. Patient satisfaction is one of the most important measures of success. We work hard to optimize the business practices with our surgeon partners, and help them create that outstanding patient experience for their patients and their families.

USOSM partner practices send NPS survey questions to every patient through Birdeye, which records the responses and calculates the NPS for each partner practice in real time.

We recommend that our partner practices send out a short survey to every patient, every time, and that survey is sent out through a third-party to eliminate any bias. These short surveys provide timely and valuable insight into the patient experience, so that we can identify and address any areas that have room for improvement, added Hall.

Surveys are sent out with questions asking for a rating on patient experience from zero to 10, with zero being the worst and 10 being the best. Survey respondents are separated into three categories:



Promoters, who give ratings of nine or 10. In general, these are loyal patients who refer others.

Passives, who give ratings of seven or eight. While not necessarily dissatisfied, these lukewarm respondents have a high probability of seeking alternative healthcare in the future.

Detractors, who give ratings of zero to six. Usually, these are dissatisfied patients who may give bad reviews.

Scores are calculated by subtracting the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters. This means the rating can range anywhere from -100 to +100. A score that's above zero suggests that the practice has more promoters than detractors, which is why anything above zero is considered a good score.

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, USOSM has partner practices spanning 19 states. They include Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee, Minnesota, Alabama, Oklahoma, Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Arizona, California, Oregon, Virginia, Washington and Massachusetts. A shared services organization, USOSM collaborates with premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons to offer a partnership solution for continued and accelerated practice success. USOSM provides operational, marketing and administrative support services, reinvests resources, and applies best practices to improve clinical and financial performance and produce steadier, more profitable growth for all. For more information, visit https://www.usosm.com/.
ValvTechnologies Logo We are excited about ValvTechnologies new look and find this a great time to highlight how we continue to provide industry-leading severe service solutions, said President, Chad Bowers. We see these changes as energizing and a great way to highlight our history of quality and reliability."

ValvTechnologies, LLC, a manufacturer of zero leakage severe service isolation valve solutions, has launched a new brand and website.

With ValvTechnologies approaching its 35th year in business and coupled with the change in ownership last year to Severn Group, who is building a family of complementary, specialist, high-end valve engineering and manufacturing companies, we are taking this opportunity to refresh the ValvTechnologies brand with a more modern look.

The new logo and brand are designed to highlight ValvTechnologies innovative culture and energy, with a focus on the distinct spelling of the companys name. The new look of the website, https://www.valv.com, reflects the new brand and will highlight a cleaner user experience demonstrating the entrusted partnerships ValvTechnologies has built with its customers to engineer solutions for their specific application needs.

The website has been designed to highlight ValvTechnologies experience and the industries where its products provide the highest quality and reliability. More detail on products and applications will be added throughout the summer, with opportunities to follow along during the development.

We are excited about ValvTechnologies new look and find this a great time to highlight how we continue to provide industry-leading severe service solutions and exceptional customer-focused service, said President, Chad Bowers. We see these changes as energizing and a great way to highlight our history of quality and reliability."

About ValvTechnologies

Part of Severn Group, ValvTechnologies manufactures highly reliable metal seated valves for severe service applications. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, it is the leading manufacturer of zero leakage, high-performance isolation valve solutions for customers in energy, chemical processing, mining and minerals, pulp and paper, and other specialized industries.

ValvTechnologies, with broad experience in providing reliable custom-engineered valves to meet the demands of almost any specific process condition, prides itself on exceeding industry standards by offering market-leading warranties to maintain customers safe and reliable operations.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Studying nonlinear interfacial waves, developing solutions for clean propulsion, and analyzing the development of heritage languages in the classroom environment are some of the research projects representing five Purdue University faculty who have been named U.S. Fulbright Scholars. These faculty members will complete their research in educational institutes and research facilities around the world.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. The program aims to increase mutual understanding between the United States and other countries. Purdue University was recognized earlier this year for joining the elite list of Fulbright top-producing institutions.

Awardees, projects, and destinations

Kathryn Seigfried-Spellar, associate professor in the Department of Computer and Information Technology, Purdue Polytechnic Institute. Seigfried-Spellar will live in Spain researching the Online Grooming Strategies of Child Sex Offenders in Spain. Her host will be the University Research Institute of Criminology and Criminal Science at the University of Valencia

Alejandro Cuza, professor of Spanish and Portuguese, College of Liberal Arts. Cuza will live in Mexico while examining The Development of Spanish and English as Heritage Languages During Childhood: Implications for Classroom Instruction in Mexico and the United States. He will be hosted by the Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro.

Guillermo Paniagua, professor of mechanical engineering, College of Engineering. Paniagua will focus on H2-Air Rotating Detonation Integration Into Gas Turbines for Clean Propulsion. He has been awarded the Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award in Alternative Energy Technology. He will be hosted by the Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Zolton Machaty, professor in the Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture. Based in France, Machaty will focus on Identifying Regulators of Nerve Cord Morphogenesis. His host is the Villefranche-sur-Mer Developmental Biology Laboratory.

Ivan Christov, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, College of Engineering. His research project title is Nonlocal Nonlinear Interfacial Waves. The goal of his research is to work with world experts to unravel the physics of tunable ferrofluid interfaces. Christov will be hosted in Cyprus.

Since its establishment in 1946, more than 400,000 students, scholars and teachers have been awarded Fulbright fellowships. Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in many fields, including 60 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 88 who have received Pulitzer Prizes and 39 who have served as a head of state or government.

The deadline for applying to the Fulbright 2023-24 competition is September 15, 2022. For more information on the Fulbright Faculty Award Program, email Christopher Lukasik, provost fellow for Fulbright faculty awards, at clukasik@purdue.edu.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last four years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://stories.purdue.edu.

Writer: Margaret Mowrer

Media contact: Amy Patterson Neubert, apatterson@purdue.edu
PEGMedia.org is a content sharing site for the PEG (Public, Educational, and Government) television community. Founded in 2007 by Robert Nichols to allow stations in his home state of Maine to exchange content, it expanded to serve stations and content producers across the US.Tightrope took over operation and development of PEGMedia.org in 2021 and now says that bringing the core functionality and vision of PEGMedia to a modern technical foundation with an overhauled user interface, provides significant usability and efficiency enhancements that make it easier for channel programmers and producers to discover and share what it calls engaging and compelling content.PEG stations and independent producers who wish to air their content anywhere in the US can upload programming to PEGMedia.org. Participating stations can then download and air the shows locally on their channels. Programmes can be uploaded for free, while nominal download fees  less than $1 per show  cover only the costs of site bandwidth and storage. While Tightrope offers its own Cablecast automation and playout platform, PEGMedia.org is available to all community broadcasters regardless of which hardware and software solutions they are using.The most visible difference in the new PEGMedia.org site is said to be its completely redesigned user interface. Replacing the text-heavy design of the original offering, the new interface is attributed with offering an intuitive, graphical, thumbnail-driven dashboard while eliminating time-consuming manual steps. Stations can easily see collections of the most recent uploads; the most popular programmes; and shows or episodes specifically relevant to their state. Users can then drill down to discover and download other episodes of the same shows. The new PEGMedia.org is also said to make it faster and simpler for stations and content producers to contribute their content. The sites new cloud-based ingest pipeline combines with automated background processing to maximise efficiency and enable seamless scalability as the site grows. PEGMedia.orgs discussion forums have also been enhanced to better facilitate collaboration between the sites users and sharing of ideas about PEG content.Community media organisations need reliable, ongoing sources of content to keep their channels fresh and engaging for their audiences, commented Cablecast Community Media president Steve Israelsky. There is a broad range of high-quality content out there that has relevance and interest beyond the local area that it was created in, and PEGMedia.org provides the opportunity to bring it to other regions. We want to make it as easy and inexpensive as possible to exchange content not only for our Cablecast customers, but for the entire PEG community at large. Were pleased to enhance this service with these significant updates.
At the University of Utahs Day of Collective Action, a presentation titled Indigenizing the U reminded students and faculty that it is the responsibility of non-Native peoples who build the current systems of oppression to disrupt it. At Utah State Universitys 2019 Inclusive Excellence Symposium, the keynote address focused on how systemic racism exposes us all to racial ignorance and on strategies for transforming our knowledge into concrete social change. Another presentation, Decentering Whiteness, summarized the imperative for decolonization, which must begin with the enactment of value-laden beliefs and be based upon restoring and respecting the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples, lands, and knowledges.

Each of these presentations heralds a new civic education  one that is becoming dominant throughout the Utah System of Higher Education. In an upcoming case study for the National Association of Scholars, I examine how Utahs public universities teach civics. Ive found that the state follows a national trend: while it requires students to demonstrate a reasonable understanding of the history, principles, form of government, and economic system of the United States, its students are increasingly likely to receive an alternative civic education under the auspices of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which espouse a quite different vision of American history and civic life.

In many ways, Utahs concern for civic education is commendable. Utah makes a greater effort than many states to ensure the teaching of American history and government  including in higher education. The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) mandates that every public university in the state must require one American Institutions course. While far from the most robust requirement  Texas requires students to take four classes in American history and government  USHEs mandate serves as a good starting point. At the University of Utah, for a political science course to fulfill the requirement, it must cover a wide array of topics usually associated with robust civic education, including the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, the concept of citizenship, the separation of powers, and federalism. Students who study these topics will surely graduate better prepared for citizenship.

The requirement, however, falls short in several ways. Some of the courses offered in the American Institutions category follow a longstanding trend in higher education  namely, the reduction of civic education to the tropes of identity politics. Weber State University recently added three new entries to its list of American Institutions courses: HIST 1620 The LGBTQ Experience, HIST 1600 The Black Experience, and HIST 1610 The Latinx Experience. Needless to say, these courses drift considerably from the intention of the requirement, and by fixating on narrow identity categories, they enable a distorted civic education.

Weber States ersatz American Institutions courses reflect a new sort of civic education  one steeped in the watchwords of identity politics. This new civics is on the rise, not only in Utah but across the U.S. It portrays American history as a catalog of oppression, colonialism, and systemic racism. It espouses a vision of citizenship defined by the quest for liberation and social justice. Ultimately, it seeks to go beyond laying the groundwork for our contemporary political debates. Rather, it seeks to instill the right conclusions about these debates. Hence a barrage of university-sponsored events, lectures, and training sessions that treat systemic racism, rampant oppression, and the moral imperative of decolonization as foregone conclusions.

Increasingly, the new civics come to students from outside the formal curriculum altogether, through initiatives under the broad umbrella of DEI. The University of Utahs Day of Collective Action and Utah State Universitys Inclusive Excellence Symposium provide obvious and poignant examples. Campus DEI initiatives, however, go far beyond occasional events, or even mandatory trainingthey function as a basic guiding principle of university policy.

Throughout Utahs public universities, DEI is on the rise. In 2020, the USHE adopted its Equity Lens Framework, a set of guiding principles for the system that uses Critical Race Theory as a cornerstone. Many of Utahs universities reinforce this commitment with far-reaching institutional policies. In its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan, Southern Utah University promises to incorporate diversity as a performance dimension within the tenure and promotion process for faculty. Weber States Strategic Plan promises that a commitment to equity-minded and inclusive practices will be a job qualification and performance criterion for 100% of university positions. Utah Valley Universitys Inclusion Plan promises to integrate inclusion, equity, and diversity goals into annual faculty reviews across each college and department.

In other words, to remain in good standing, faculty at these institutions must demonstrate their commitment to DEI. Again, the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion connote substantive political positions. Forcing faculty to demonstrate their DEI credentials is a straightforward violation of academic freedom. But perhaps more importantly, it also guarantees that more students will receive a politically charged education  including a vision of American history and civic life that focuses excessively on narrow categories of identity.

Utahs policymakers should take note. They rightly require students to demonstrate a reasonable understanding of our political system and history. Unless they act, that reasonable understanding will soon be eclipsed by the political imperatives of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Bachelorette alums Katie Thurston and John Hersey have called it quits on their relationship.

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The television personalities confirmed Monday that they recently broke up after less than a year of dating.

"Statement: no we aren't together," Thurston wrote on Instagram Stories.

Former "Bachelorette" star Katie Thurston and John Hersey broke up after less than a year of dating. Photo by thekatiethurston/Instagram Stories

Hersey said in a post on his own account that he and Thurston are "no longer dating."

"I love being able to share special moments with you all -- the funny ones, the happy ones, the outrageous, embarrassing, and heartfelt ones. But I don't know if it will ever get easier to share the sad ones," Hersey wrote.

"As Katie stated earlier, we are no longer dating. This decision was not made lightly, and it was obviously not an easy one to make," he added.

"I appreciate every one of you that has supported us throughout this journey. We could not (and would not) be here without you," Hersey said.

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Former "Bachelorette" star Katie Thurston and John Hersey broke up after less than a year of dating. Photo by johnalexhersey/Instagram Stories

Thurston and Hersey first met during The Bachelorette Season 17, which aired in spring 2021. Thurston eliminated Hersey in week two of the competition and ended up choosing Blake Moynes, but split from Moynes in October 2021.

Thurston announced in November that she and Hersey were dating.
Kim Kardashian says she was "cautious" when it came to introducing her boyfriend, actor and comedian Pete Davidson, to her kids.

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The 41-year-old television personality said in an interview Tuesday on Today that she consulted with therapists and waited six months before introducing Davidson, 28, to her four children.

Kardashian shares daughters North, 9, and Chicago, 4, and sons Saint, 6, and Psalm, 3, with her ex-husband, rapper and fashion designer Kanye West.

On Today, Kardashian said she also sought advice from her sister Kourtney Kardashian, who has three kids with her ex-partner Scott Disick.

"Luckily, I have a sister that has been through it all," Kardashian said. "We talked about it, and I consulted with a few therapists and friends who have been through it. I definitely wanted to wait six months, and that was the marker."

"I think it's different for everyone and different things work for different people, but you just have to do what feels right and try to just be as respectful and cautious as possible," she added.

Kardashian and Davidson were first linked in October 2021 following Kardashian's appearance on Saturday Night Live. Kardashian said in an interview with Robin Roberts in April that she's "very happy" with the SNL star.
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Crews float a single-engine plane in the Connecticut River to the boat launch in Charlestown, N.H., on Thursday, June 23, 2022. The pilot reported having engine troubles before hitting the power lines that went over the river and then crashed into the water on Wednesday, June 22. They used a
TOKYO  U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi held bilateral talks on the second day of the Quad summit where bot
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Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer.
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NEW BRITAIN  Police are investigating an incident where Bristol man was found shot in a car that went off a local road Monday night., a city spokesperson said.

Around 10:20 p.m., police were called to Adams Street after a report of shots fired, officials said. At the scene, police found a vehicle that had gone off the road, crashing into a bush.
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BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Its one of the United States few enduring alliances in an often-turbulent Latin America, one built around a decades-long partnership combating the nations drug cartels.

But Gustavo Petros election as Colombias first leftist president is likely to test the U.S. special relationship with a major non-NATO ally like never before.

During the hard fought contest, Petro, a former guerrilla, took aim at forced coca eradication and extradition  centerpieces of the U.S.-backed drug war  as well as a free trade agreement with the U.S. he blames for impoverishing Colombian farmers

It remains to be seen whether he can implement his progressive agenda amid a fractured congress and opposition from powerful elites.

But just his promise of sweeping change in a country that has long been a bulwark of regional stability has many in Washington on edge  even if tracks the lefts resurgence throughout Latin America and was embraced by millions of Colombians fed up with enormous inequality and social injustice.

Our combined efforts to combat transnational crime are over, said Kevin Whitaker, a retired U.S. diplomat who served as ambassador in Bogota from 2014 to 2019. Theres no doubt that hes going about this in a very different manner.

But while Whitaker is skeptical of Petros motives and effectiveness as a leader, he said he couldnt be in more agreement with his campaigns overarching focus: boosting the presence of the state, not just security forces, in the long-neglected countryside.

If he is able to explain his plan to the U.S., and bridge the deep urban-rural divide that has long been Colombias biggest challenge, then it doesnt have to be a conflictive relationship, said Whitaker.

The U.S. helped Colombia pull back from the brink in 1999 with the launch of Plan Colombia to counter drug trafficking and the guerrillas who funded their insurgency through the transport of cocaine. Since then, successive Republican and Democratic administrations have provided more than $13 billion in military and economic assistance to Colombia  vastly more than any other country in Latin America.

Petro, 62, during the campaign criticized the linchpins of that bipartisan strategy.

On extradition, he said his government would prioritize truth-telling and compensation for the victims of powerful criminal groups rather than sending capos to the U.S. to face justice. Every year, under special presidential order, Colombia extradites dozens of drug traffickers charged in the U.S.

He also attacked the forced eradication of coca  the base ingredient of cocaine  for criminalizing otherwise law-abiding peasants and proving ineffective in reining in a record harvest. Instead, he would favor expanding crop substitution programs that provide credit, training and land rights to rural farmers.

All of Petros goals, however admirable, face huge obstacles.

In the U.S., a large bureaucracy consisting of hundreds of federal law enforcement agents has built up around close cooperation that will be difficult to unwind, says Whitaker.

Petro is also likely to face stiff resistance from inside the Colombian armed forces, whose influence has expanded greatly on the back of U.S. assistance and training.

Then there are the criminals themselves, who are unlikely to stand by idly if their profits are threatened. Despite being enshrined in a 2016 peace accord with the countrys largest rebel groups, voluntary crop substitution accounted for less than 1% of the 130,147 hectares of coca fields eradicated in 2020  a sign of just how tenuous the states presence remains outside urban centers.

A significant dialing back of the security component would strengthen the hands of the criminal actors and would be a point of friction with the U.S., said Cynthia Arnson, a fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington and a longtime observer of Colombia.

In other areas, such as trade and Venezuela, Petro could also clash with the U.S. His campaign platform calls for the creation of smart tariffs to protect Colombias countryside from agricultural imports allowed under a decade old free trade agreement with the U.S.

On Venezuela, he would re-establish relations with Nicolas Maduros socialist government  a move likely to anger many Republicans in Congress and unsettle the nearly 2 million Venezuelan migrants who have sought refuge in Colombia.

So far, Petro has avoided fueling any discord. In a 40-minute victory speech, he didnt mention the drug war once and his only reference to the U.S. was a call for dialogue to jointly address climate change  a priority for the Biden administration.

Its time to sit down with the United States and talk about what it means the fact that they, like no other country in the Americas, are the source of greenhouse gases that we absorb in our Amazonian jungle, he said.

The U.S. has been similarly restrained, touting the fact that Petros victory came on the 200th anniversary of the day Colombia became the first former Spanish colony to be recognized as an independent state by the U.S.

On Tuesday, President Biden spoke with Petro, congratulating him and Vice President Francia Marquez  a prominent environmental activist  on their election. During the call, Biden underscored his interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation on climate change, health security and implementation of the peace accord, according to the White House.

President Biden also welcomed the opportunity to discuss bilateral security and counternarcotics cooperation, the White House said in a statement.

But while Petro, a former senator and mayor of the capital, Bogota, has been a fixture of politics for decades, the U.S. has had only limited contact with him over the years.

That in part reflects what, until recently, had been the limited prospects for the left in the socially conservative country. But the 2016 peace deal lifted many activists fears and breathed life into new demands by younger Colombians less burdened by the bloody conflict. Petro, after losing the 2018 presidential contest, then skillfully rode the wave of discontent, benefiting from protests during the pandemic that paralyzed the outgoing conservative government of Ivan Duque and laid bare the consequences of inequality worse than any other country in Latin America except Brazil.

During Petros slow rise, U.S. officials described him alternately as a radical populist in the mold of the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, according to a 2006 secret U.S. Embassy cable published by pro-transparency group Wikileaks, or pragmatic, according to another report sent two years later.

Whichever leadership style he embraces as president remains to be seen. But Petro has already made clear that in contrast with his predecessors, hes likely to look less to Washington and seek closer ties with fellow leftists in places such as Mexico, Chile and Argentina.

Biden's longtime aide on Latin America has also in the past taken some pointed shots at Petro. During the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign, Juan Gonzalez, now the National Security Council's senior director for the Western Hemisphere, compared Petro's apparent support for Biden to former KKK leader David Duke's endorsement of Trump.

"To be clear, Biden does not know or care about Gustavo Petros opinion," said Gonzalez, who at the time was trying to defuse the Trump campaign's strategy among Latino voters in Florida of comparing Biden to Chavez or Cuba's Fidel Castro.

The opportunity for the U.S. to influence the direction of his government has also been limited by the departure earlier this month of Ambassador Philip Goldberg to take up his new assignment in South Korea. The Biden administration has yet to nominate a replacement.

Its beyond disappointing that the Biden team has not nominated an ambassador to shepherd U.S. policy through this critical transition period, said John Feeley, a former U.S. ambassador to Panama who also served as a diplomat in Colombia during the hunt for Medellin cartel boss Pablo Escobar in the 1990s. They cant blame Republican obstructionism in the Senate for this one and they would do well to announce a nominee ASAP.

___

Goodman reported from Cleveland, Ohio
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BRIDGEPORT  Two minors  ages 3 and 17  remain hospitalized with serious injuries after they were involved in a crash while riding a stand-up scooter last Friday, city officials said.

Shortly after 4 p.m. Friday, Bridgeport authorities began receiving 911 calls for a motor vehicle accident with injuries at the corner of East Washington and Housatonic avenues, said Scott Appleby, the citys director of emergency management.
Connecticut State Police /Contributed

ESSEX  Two people were hospitalized early Monday after a vehicle crashed and caught fire off Saybrook Road, according to state police.

Around 1:51 a.m., state police out of Troop F, local firefighters and paramedics were called to the 100 block for serious injuries and vehicle fire, state police said.
The number of Chinese nationals seeking political asylum overseas has skyrocketed under ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping, according to a recent report.



Figures released by the United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR showed that while around 12,000 Chinese nationals sought asylum overseas in 2012, the year that Xi took office as CCP general secretary, that number had rising to nearly 120,000 by 2021.



"Year by year since Xi Jinping came to power, in lockstep with a more oppressive system of governance, the number of asylum-seekers from China has continued to grow at an alarming rate," the overseas-based rights group Safeguard Defenders reported on its website.



"In 2020, and now with new figures just released for 2021, it shows continued growth despite COVID restrictions," it said.



In total, around 730,000 Chinese nationals have sought asylum since 2012, with more than 170,000 living outside China under refugee status, the report said.



"Seeking asylum is for many a desperate act, reserved for those with few other options, which does not apply to the great many Chinese who have moved, and continue to do so, to the U.S, Australia, and beyond, often via naturalization, work visas or property purchases," Safeguard Defenders said.



The U.S. remains the most popular destination, accepting 88,722 applicants from mainland China last year. Australia took 15,774 asylum-seekers in the same year, the figures showed.



Thousands also apply for asylum in Canada, Brazil, South Korea, and the U.K.



Transnational repression

The group warned of a growing risk of transnational repression, including the use of involuntary returns, now that a growing number of Chinese nationals have fled the country.



Safeguard Defenders researcher Jing-jie Chen said the data also reflect the impact of Xi's zero-COVID policy, that has led to grueling lockdowns and draconian restrictions of people's movements under the guise of disease control and prevention.



"China has basically been in a state of lockdown during the past couple of years that these data are from, and it is actually very difficult for asylum seekers to go abroad," Chen told RFA.



"Yet we can see that the number has reached a new high ... with the number of asylum seekers rising every year over the past three years."



The figures don't include Hong Kong, where a draconian crackdown on public dissent and peaceful political opposition has been under way under a national security law imposed by Beijing since , 2020.



Chen said many more people are voting with their feet and opting to emigrate from China, either through overseas study or investment visas and residency cards.



World Uyghur Congress spokesman Dilxat Raxit said many of the asylum-seekers are Uyghurs fleeing a network of concentration camps and technological totalitarianism in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.



He said overseas Uyghurs remain at risk from the Chinese authorities.



"Uyghurs in exile are constantly at risk from China putting pressure on their countries of residence to detain and forcibly return them," Dilxat Raxit said.



"We call on the international community to continue to take measures to provide Uyghurs at risk with adequate protection," he said, adding that many Uyghur asylum-seekers had been unable to renew expired passports and sometimes had trouble documenting the oppression they suffered back home.



Foxhunt and Skynet

Chen said the CCP has a coordinated international operation called "Operation Foxhunt" to force Chinese nationals to return home.



"Since Xi Jinping took office, he has brought the 'foxhunt' plan for the global oppression of dissidents that extends internationally," Chen said.



"If you only have a simple immigrant residency status, you may not be able to actually be protected in some countries," he said. "Sometimes, asylum and refugee status application can offer more protection."



The CCCP's law enforcement agencies routinely track, harass, threaten and repatriate people who flee the country, many of them Turkic-speaking Uyghurs, under its SkyNet surveillance program that reaches far beyond China's borders, using a variety of means to have them forcibly repatriated.



Beijing often relies on pliant allies to circumvent criminal justice processes and ensure political refugees and Muslims are sent back.



China will target ethnic groups like the Uyghurs, but also political dissidents, rights activists, journalists and former officials using its overseas networks, according to a 2021 report by Safeguard Defenders.



Between the launch of the SkyNet program in 2014 and , China repatriated nearly 10,000 people from 120 countries and regions, the report said. Yet according to Safeguard Defenders, just one percent are brought back to China using judicial procedures; more than 60 percent are just put on a plane against their will.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Authorities in the northern Chinese province of Hebei have launched a crackdown on "fake news," in a move commentators said was likely a bid to suppress widespread reporting of the vicious beatings of women at a barbecue restaurant in Tangshan earlier this month.



The Hebei provincial state prosecutor, internet regulator, state-run journalists' association and radio, film and television bureau issued a joint notice launching "a special campaign targeting fake news and extortion in journalism," vowing to crack down on "fake media, fake reporters and fake news."



The move comes amid social media reports that Tangshan police have been obstructing state media journalists as they try to follow up on a crackdown on organized crime in the city sparked by public outrage at the beating incident.



Its scope mirrors a campaign announced at the national level in the summer of 2021.



"[These government departments] have launched a special campaign against fake news and journalistic extortion," the provincial government website said in a report published .



"The chief task of this ... campaign will be to crack down on journalistic extortion and fake news, investigate and punish fake media, fake reporters, and fake bureaus, and rectify 'paid-for news'," the report said.



The campaign will be led by a taskforce in the propaganda department of the provincial branch of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), it said.



Chinese journalist Lu Nan said the provincial authorities' move to adopt the nationwide campaign is likely a direct attempt to shut down independent accounts of the Tangshan beatings and the anti-crime campaign that followed.



"They don't want to solve problems using the rule of law, but just move to solve law-enforcement issues with non-legal means, moving straight to 'strike hard' campaigns," Lu told RFA.



"All this means is that they want to keep up their total control over public expression," he said.



Pressure on media

Lu cited the case of the Guizhou TV reporter detained and interrogated by police after arriving at the Tangshan railway station.



"Just a few days ago, they were interrogating [journalists] one by one as they arrived in Tangshan, and even treated some journalists roughly who went to report there," Lu said.



"The only reason for doing such things is to cover up the truth."



Hebei-based scholar Wang Zheng agreed, saying the move was an indirect way of putting pressure on news organizations and social media sites.



"Why do they want to crack down on fake news? Because they are the ones who are fake," Wang told RFA. "Some people want to report the truth, maybe citizen journalists, but they won't be allowed."



"Sometimes citizen journalists will volunteer to cover a certain story, sometimes for a fee, given that they have to take risks, that's very reasonable," he said.



A Zhejiang-based journalist surnamed Jiang said the local authorities are clearly keen to avoid any follow-up reporting of the Tangshan beatings, which prompted widespread shock and anger on social media.



"Naturally they need to lay down the law and frighten the media so as to suppress any follow-up reporting on the Tangshan beating incident," Jiang said.



"This comes along with the deletion of tens of thousands of posts from Sina Weibo relating to Tangshan in the past couple of days, and the closure of tens of thousands of accounts."



He added: "Shanghai lawyers have also gotten a notice from the municipal justice bureau saying they are banned from representing any of the victims of the Tangshan beatings," Jiang said.



Two beaten women still in hospital

Two of the four women beaten by a gang of thugs at the restaurant remain in hospital 11 days after the attack, despite claims from the authorities that they had sustained "second degree minor injuries."



The deputy chief of the Tangshan police Lubei branch, which was responsible for the initial handling of the case, has been fired, while the authorities have promised an investigation into the slow response to incidents and serious violations of laws and discipline by Tangshan's police department.



Police arrived at the scene 28 minutes after they received the report, by which time the injured had already been sent to hospital.



Video footage of the incident showed four women who had been eating at a late-night barbecue restaurant being brutally attacked by a group of men in the early hours of , after one of them harassed a woman, who flapped a hand at her harasser and fought back after she was slapped, prompting the others to join in to repel the man.



The attackers shoved the women to the ground, kicked them, threw a chair at them, and later dragged one of the women out of the restaurant to continue beating her outside. One was taken away on a stretcher with a visibly bloodied and swollen face.



The claim that the women sustained "minor injuries" was met with skepticism on social media.



But the CCP-backed Global Times said the official classification of "minor injuries" could include anything up to broken ribs, perforated eyeballs or rupture of tissues and organs.



Nine suspects - seven men and two women - were formally arrested on , it said.



It said five officials are being investigated for by the CCP's own discipline inspection and supervision arm, including Ma Aijun, the head of the public security bureau of Lubei district in Tangshan.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
In a photo published by North Korea's state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), members of the military distribute medicines to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

With a shortage of vaccines in North Korea, the government is telling unvaccinated soldiers to rely on unproven folk remedies if they come down with coronavirus symptoms, sources in the country told RFA.

North Korea has been importing Chinese vaccines for use among the military and has held widely publicized vaccination campaigns involving soldiers. But not every member of the military has been fortunate enough to receive the so-called potion of love from the countrys leader, Kim Jong Un.

Instead, they have been told to turn to unproven folk remedies if they get sick.

Fever continues to emerge among soldiers who could not be vaccinated due to a lack of vaccines, a resident of South Hwanghae province, on the peninsulas western coast, told RFAs Korean Service on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

Military authorities are recommending folk remedies such as indoor disinfection using mugwort smoke and gargling with salt water, she said.

According to the source, only soldiers working off base were vaccinated due to an insufficient amount of vaccine inventory imported from China.

The vaccinations were limited to the soldiers of the military police squadron who perform crackdowns against other soldiers, the communication battalion, the divisional medical office, and the rear support battalion. Even so, soldiers within those units who are on ordinary guard duty, are known to have been excluded from the vaccination, she said.

Unvaccinated troops and soldiers were excluded from rural support or community service. Last year, soldiers helped rice planting and harvesting at a nearby farm. But, this spring, the authorities banned the unit from rural support activities due to fear of the spread of COVID-19, said the source.

In North Hamgyong province, in the countrys northeast, only the coast guard, the military police and staff of military hospitals are vaccinated, a resident there told RFA on condition of anonymity to speak freely.

The military authorities are designating units and soldiers to be vaccinated separately as there is a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines. Only officers and soldiers who have been vaccinated are permitted to engage in outside activities, the second source said.

Most soldiers who did not get vaccinated were instructed not to leave the barracks and to prevent COVID-19 with folk remedies such as mugwort smoke disinfection and gargling salt water, she said.

Soldiers tending two salmon farms, one of which Kim Jong Un once visited to provide guidance on its operations, were also excluded from vaccination, according to the source. Places visited by the countrys leaders are usually given special considerations long after the trip, so it is somewhat surprising that the fish-raising soldiers did not receive vaccines.

There are complaints within the military over what authorities have implemented. The authorities have declared a national emergency and even implemented nationwide lockdown measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but they have failed to secure enough COVID-19 vaccines, said the second source.

Very few soldiers have been vaccinated. However, some soldiers are rather fortunate in that they were not mobilized for rural support labor because they are not vaccinated, she said.

RFA reported in May that the North Korean government began a vaccination campaign for soldiers working on a high-priority construction project in Pyongyang. The event was filmed and used as propaganda, complete with soldiers weeping at receiving Kim Jong Uns Immortal Potion of Love.

Citizens who saw the propaganda complained that the government only secured enough vaccines for the military, not for the general public.

After two years of denying the pandemic had penetrated its closed borders, North Korea in May declared a maximum emergency and acknowledged the virus had begun to spread among participants of a large-scale military parade the previous month.

Though North Korea has not been tracking confirmed coronavirus cases, possibly due to lack of testing equipment, state media has been publishing daily figures of people who report fever symptoms.

As of Monday, 4.65 million people have come down with fever, nearly 99.4 percent of whom have recovered, according to data published by the state run Korea Central News Agency.

Translated by Claire Lee and Leejin J. Chung. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Many of the workers are human-trafficking victims lured to the Chinese-run special economic zone for jobs.

Lao women, whose faces have been blurred to protect their identity, work as 'bar girls' in the Golden Triangle SEZ in northern Laos' Bokeo province, February 2022.

UPDATED at 10:27 A.M. EST on 2022-06-22

Police in northwestern Laos Bokeo province rescued nearly 500 trapped workers in the past year, including about 200 women who were victims of human trafficking in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, a provincial official said.

Bokeo Deputy Gov. Khamphaya Phompanya told Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, Laos deputy prime minister and chairman of the National Committee on Anti-Human Trafficking, during a June 14 meeting that police rescued 477 workers between May 2021 and May 2022.

Bokeo province is home to the SEZ, a gambling and tourism hub catering to the Chinese situated along the Mekong River where Laos, Myanmar and Thailand meet. In 2018, the U.S. government sanctioned the Chinese tycoon who is said to run the SEZ as head of a trafficking network.

Most of those rescued have been Lao nationals lured by middlemen to perform jobs as scammers trying to convince people to invest or buy shares in the Kings Romans Casino. When they couldnt meet their sales quotas, they were detained against their will, and in some cases sold off to work in the sex industry.

Our police department estimates that there are a lot of workers who are still being abused in the Golden Triangle SEZ in Bokeo province and havent been rescued, Khamphaya said during the meeting. Rescuing workers in the SEZ is not easy because the SEZ is controlled by the Chinese, and not accessible by the Lao authorities.

Lao authorities cannot easily enter the Chinese-run zone, which operates largely beyond the reach of the Lao government. Provincial police officers have been able to rescue workers being held against their will by their employer only after the women have contacted the authorities.

At the end of the meeting, Kikeo said that the Lao government began implementing a five-year anti-human trafficking plan to crack down on human trafficking nationwide in 2021.

Bokeo province officials have put in place their own measures to protect SEZ workers. In February, they began requiring all employers to sign labor contracts that ensure workers have a safe workplace, insurance benefits and fair wages.

The authorities also prohibit forced labor and require regular monitoring and reporting of work and living conditions to the provincial management office. Once the contracts are signed, workers receive a province-issued smart card showing their identity and the name of their employer.

Labor contract disputes

A Bokeo province police officer, who like other sources requested anonymity for safety reasons, told RFA that authorities know there are still many more abused and trapped workers in the SEZ, but they dont know the number.

[M]any Lao and foreign workers have been abused [while] having labor disputes with Chinese employers, he said. For example, they couldnt do the jobs, and the employers wouldnt give them any food and water, or would detain them or sell them to massage parlors and brothels.

We dont know the number because the SEZ is a Chinese territory, the police officer said. We can go in there only when were allowed to.

A member of Bokeos anti-human trafficking unit said it also was difficult to rescue trapped workers because they have signed employment contracts.

We cant help many workers such as those who have labor contracts with their employers for six months or one year, he said. They have to abide by the contracts. We can help only those who are abused and didnt sign the contracts.

A Lao woman who recently escaped from the SEZ confirmed that human trafficking is still occurring despite the Lao governments efforts.

Right now, they [human traffickers] are still recruiting Lao and Thai girls, women and men to work in the SEZ, she told RFA, adding that recruiters usually are paid 15,000 baht (U.S. $425) for each person they recruit.

Many workers experience all kinds of hardship and still continue to work in the SEZ because they come from very poor families, she said. They have no other choice but to work there.

Another former SEZ worker said when middlemen tried to sell him women, he declined because he pitied them.

In the SEZ, a woman can be sold for sex for 2,000 yuan (U.S. $300) per night or 400 yuan (U.S. $60) for one time.

Translated by Max Avary for RFA Lao. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of the story erroneously stated that Bokeo is the smallest and least populous province in Laos.
The charred bodies of the five were found by returning villagers on June 20.

Four civilians and a local militia member were found killed Monday after a three-day raid by junta troops and allied fighters on a village in northwestern Myanmars Sagaing region that saw 10,000 civilians flee the area, Myanmar sources say.

The five victims, whose charred bodies were discovered after being left behind by departing junta soldiers, were buried by residents of Chaung-U townships Nyaungbin Tae village when they returned following the attack, one local villager told RFA on Tuesday.

A military column combining Myanmar military and fighters from the Pyu Saw Htee, a pro-junta armed group, had entered the village on Saturday, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

When they arrived, all the villagers ran to safety, leaving only four or five people behind in the village, the source said. During the raid, one of the village guards was killed by artillery fire, but we werent able to recover his body until the soldiers left the village on June 20.

We later found all the bodies and buried them yesterday, the source said.

Killed in Nyaungbin Tae by junta troops and allied fighters were 20-year-old Toe Naing Win, a member of a local Peoples Defense Force unit set up to oppose junta rule; Paw Kyi, 52, whose body was found burned in a house; and 37-year-old Ne Win and 49-year-old Pyay Aye, whose bodies were found in a cornfield nearby, sources said.

The body of Aung Min, 48, was later found outside the village, they said.

The June 18 raid on the village was carried out by a force of around 80 junta soldiers, all in plain clothes, a local anti-junta militia member told RFA, also declining to be named.

There was no fighting, no clash, the source said. They entered the village after shelling it with heavy weapons, and one of our comrades was killed by an artillery shell. Two others were injured, one in the hand and the other on his body.

Four men were killed in the village altogether, three of them when their house was set on fire. One other man was shot dead in the road when he would not carry the soldiers stuff, he said.

The soldiers may have been attached to Light Infantry Battalions 357, 368 and 369, and were accompanied by pro-junta fighters from the Pyu Saw Htee pro-junta militia, he added.

Before leaving Nyaungbin Tae, soldiers looted the villages nearly 275 homes of cash, jewelry and other valuables, villagers said.

'We all had to run'

Also speaking to RFA, a 70-year-old villager confirmed that junta soldiers had attacked Nyaungbin Tae with heavy weapons. We all had to run, and older women who could not run had to be taken away on motorcycles, the villager said, also speaking on condition of anonymity.

One woman who was paralyzed had to be left behind in the village, he said.

The men who were killed were too attached to their livestock and refused to leave. They were seized and killed. Now I dont even want to hear anything about the army, and I dont want to see them, he added.

Requests for comment by junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Htun received no reply.

Sagaing has been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting to take place between junta troops and opposition forces since Myanmars military overthrew civilian rule in a February 2021 coup.

Villagers say junta forces have indiscriminately attacked communities, killing civilians, torching homes and forcing thousands to flee in search of safety.

Translated by Khin Maung Nyane for RFA Burmese. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Locals believed the blast was caused by a grenade left by soldiers.

Two seven-year-old children were killed when an unexploded ordnance went off while they were playing with it in central Myanmar's Magway region, residents told RFA.

Residents of Kan village in Magway's Gangaw township said Pyae Sone Aung and Min Htut Zaw did not know what the ordnance was. They found it after junta forces left their village on Sunday evening.

One local told RFA the shell suddenly went off while the children were playing with it, killing both of them.

It was an explosion of a 40 mm bomb, the resident said. The children found it and were playing with it by picking it up and throwing it. I think it hit a stone and exploded and killed them.

Around 74 soldiers from Gangaw township in Magway region and more than 100 soldiers from Kale township in Sagaing region camped near Kan village for two days. Residents believe the ordnance was a 40 mm grenade, left behind by the soldiers from Kale Township.

More than 98 vehicles carrying solders arrived in Gangaw township on June 17, locals told RFA. They were carrying out military scorched-earth operations in villages, including Kan where the blast took place.

Calls to a military council spokesman by RFA went unanswered on Tuesday.
Chinese authorities sentenced a young Tibetan language activist arrested in October 2021 to four years and five months in prison, although his friends and family members remain in the dark about where he was taken, a source in Tibet told RFA on Monday.

Thupten Lodoe, also known by his pen name Sabuche, is in his 30s and hails from Seshul county (in Chinese Shiqu), part of the Garze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province.

He was actually arrested in October of last year and 2021 [and] convicted of separatist acts and creating disorder in society on June 13 or 14, said a friend of his in Tibet, who declined to be identified for safety reasons. We dont know where he is imprisoned at the moment.

Lodoe was reportedly taken to Sichuans capital Chengdu following his arrest, according to an earlier RFA report.

Lodoes arrest comes as part of a larger crackdown by the Chinese government on Tibetan writers, intellectuals and cultural leaders who are arbitrarily imprisoned in undisclosed locations, usually for long periods. In most cases, authorities do not provide information about their charges and sentencing details to their families.

Fluent in Chinese, English and Tibetan, Lodoe is known to have studied at a school established by the Panchen Lama, a Tibetan spiritual leader. After his graduation, Lodoe taught in a school in his town.

The Chinese government previously offered Lodoe 10,000 yuan (U.S. $1,500) for a job, which he turned down to advocate for the preservation of the Tibetan language, sources told RFA earlier.

Lodoe was sentenced to four years and five months in prison for allegedly writing about the real situation of Tibetans inside Tibet under the Chinese government and sharing them on social media, said his friend.

Chinese police had warned Lodoe once before to stop writing such articles, but he kept doing so, he added.

Lodoe also translated many works from Chinese and English into Tibetan for which the Chinese government considered him a threat, which was another reason for his arrest, the Tibetan said.

Now, the Chinese government has erased Lodoes social media posts and blocked his accounts, he said.

Translated by Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibetan. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
RFE/RL's Georgian Service spoke to prominent French intellectual Bernard-Henri Levy, a renowned author, philosopher, and war correspondent. Levy has been a regular visitor to Ukraine since the country's 2014 revolution that overthrew pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. He addressed crowds on Kyiv's Independence Square in 2014 and 2015, reported from the Donbas front lines, and publicly supported Ukraine's acceptance into Euro-Atlantic structures.

The author of a new documentary in which he visits the world's trouble spots, including Ukraine, Levy says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is "one of the founding fathers of Europe," whereas Russian President Vladimir Putin is merely a "bad chess player."

RFE/RL: Right before the war, you said, "If Putin invades, it will be too late." What now? What's the reality in which we now find ourselves?



Bernard-Henri Levy: The reality is the current disaster, the current carnage. And the reality is that all of that could have been avoided. All this massacre, all this devastation, could have been avoided. If we had [listened to] those who for years predicted it, it could have been avoided.

I've just finished a documentary about the current war but also about the last eight years. I spoke on the Maidan (Kyiv's Independence Square) in February 2014. And I said that this could happen. I had a debate later with one of the [influences on] Putin, [Russian political philosopher and strategist] Aleksandr Dugin, and I understood that it was an absolute plan of Russia to invade Ukraine. So, the story was written in advance and the West just sat, waited, and observed till the date of the invasion. And this fills me with sadness and sorrow. So many civilian lives could have been saved.

Putin was just waiting for the window of opportunity, for the moment. And he probably felt that the moment had come when he saw the terrible spectacle of America withdrawing from Kabul. Kabul was probably the spark. Putin, I suppose, when he saw this self-inflicted defeat for America, thought [that] the way is [clear], I just have to proceed, to go. Nobody will prevent me. They are weak. They are no longer able -- willing -- to defend their own values.

He was wrong. Since we see now America behaving well. But this was the miscalculation, so a lot of people knew that this would happen.



RFE/RL: Right now, what do you think is at stake for the West in Ukraine?



Levy: Ukrainian lives. And us, too. If Ukraine loses, it would be a wave of disaster for all Europe. This war [in] Ukraine is our war in Europe. Their defeat, the defeat of the Ukrainians, would be our defeat. The domino effect will be huge. And what is at stake is really the stability, the architecture, and the very existence of the European Union as a political entity.

If we don't stop Putin in Ukraine, Baltic countries, Poland, other countries will be at stake militarily, [and] others will be threatened politically. We know that Putin has some puppets in [all] European countries. He had, before 2014, Yanukovych in Ukraine as a puppet. We have our Yanukovychs in France: [French far-right leader] Mrs. [Marine] Le Pen, [French far-left leader] Mr. [Jean-Luc] Melenchon are sort of Yanukovych [figures].... They would be except that, thank God, they are not in power. But if they were in power, they would be the puppets of Putin.... The ultimate target of Putin, if he won in Ukraine, would be the whole of Europe. We are at stake; the stake is us.



RFE/RL: With that in mind, is the West doing enough for Ukraine? Is Ukraine receiving the Western aid that it deserves?



Levy: Europe woke up. America woke up, and the extent of solidarity is impressive. I cannot remember such an amount of help decided by the president of [the United States], voted by Congress, as [there] is now for Ukraine. Now, you have two limits to that. No. 1: The weapons, even in America, the quantity of weapons which can be delivered is not without limits. You have some limits. And my impression is that the West is close to that limit. The violence, the savagery of Putin's army is such that we will probably need for Ukraine more than we can deliver.

After that, you also have the question [of] when the weapons are available. The [timing of delivery] is not easy. It's a huge performance to deliver some weapons in such a quantity to a country which is [being] scrutinized by the FSB (Russia's Federal Security Service), with [Russia controlling the airspace]. It's a very impressive performance [and] we succeeded in delivering weapons, which, by the way, are still relatively unknown.



RFE/RL: It's quite clear that some countries are more willing to deliver than others. And when you see, for example, the Eastern Europeans giving what they've got, and then the Western Europeans being hesitant about giving even a fraction of that, that raises some questions, doesn't it?



Levy: One of the theses which I hear very often is that, for example, my country does not do enough. I'm not sure. I was on various front lines recently for this documentary in Ukraine and I saw some French weapons, some CAESAR [self-propelled howitzers], and so on. So I think that there is a real, strong, unprecedented solidarity with Ukraine.



RFE/RL: I want to ask you about President Zelenskiy himself and to quote you once again. Before the war, you said you hoped but were unsure that he would pass the exam that lay ahead of him. Three months on, has he passed?



Levy: I said it when I met him in 2019, I think. I met him for the first time before his election. And, of course, I wasn't sure. We spoke about Putin. And I asked him: What will happen when you confront Putin? Do you feel that you are strong enough and so on? By the way, he said, "Yes," and he's right.

On the very day of the invasion, this man was just great. No question. On the very day, it did not take [him even] one hour to [rise to] the level of the event. He revealed himself to be a hero overnight. He found the behavior of [British wartime leader Winston] Churchill in London in 1940. I never saw in my lifetime such a metamorphosis in a normal [head] of state, not shaped for a tragic destiny. My feeling is that Zelenskiy was not ready for that. And nevertheless, overnight, it happened. He incarnated the resistance of his people and he became a pure hero.

Today, if there is an image of heroism in Europe, it is him. Today, if there is an embodiment of the old European values of chivalry, it is him. Today, there is one name that added itself to the list of the founding fathers of Europe: Robert Schuman, Jean Monnet, Konrad Adenauer, Charles De Gaulle, and so on.

One morning to the list of the founding fathers of Europe [was added] this young man, Volodymyr Zelenskiy. This young man is today one of the founding fathers of Europe. He re-founded, in a way, Europe, with his bravery, with his spirit of resistance, with his commitment to the values of Europe. He took all that in his arms, he embraced all of that, and therefore, he is, in spite of his young age, a founding father of Europe.



RFE/RL: Let me now ask about a far less likable figure, Vladimir Putin. Has he passed his own exam, if we are to deduce from his own quotes that he sees himself as an equal to Peter the Great?



Levy: Of course, no. Vladimir the Little. Vladimir the Bad Chess Player. He was supposed to be a good chess player. I remember [former world chess champion Garry] Kasparov, by the way, telling me a few years ago that mentioning Putin as a great chess player is an insult to chess. He was right. He's not even a chess player.... He miscalculated everything, he [made mistakes at] every point. He did not know his army, did not know the state of his weapons, misinterpreted the reaction of the West. He underestimated Zelenskiy. In politics, he is just a zero. Vladimir the Little.



RFE/RL: Let me ask you about your own president this time. You said that the recent visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on June 16 to Ukraine "is late but could be historic." Was it?



Levy: We need time to know if an event is historic or not. You know, Zhou Enlai, the Chinese leader at the time of Mao, was one day asked: What do you think of the French Revolution of 1789? He reflected and he said, "You know, it's a little early to know." So we will know if it is historic.

But one thing I'm sure is that Europe gave the image of its own unity. Europe spoke in one voice. Europe reasserted [its] commitment toward Ukraine. And in this sense, it was an anti-Munich 1938, when we said: "OK, Mr. Hitler, take the Sudetenland." Today, it is the exact opposite. Don't touch the Sudetenland of today, which is the Donbas. This belongs to Ukraine.

RFE/RL: Do you think that was the message this visit sent?



Levy: Oh, yeah. It is the message that Ukraine is a sovereign country, that this is a war of aggression. And that we should help Zelenskiy to win the war. This is what Macron said. He has to prevail. So it is an anti-Munich for the moment.



RFE/RL: Macron also said some other things that made people raise their eyebrows. For instance, his warnings about humiliating Moscow. What do you make of that?



Levy: I said weeks ago that the only focus we should have in the West is the defeat of Putin. The only reasonable and honorable target which we should have is Putin losing the war, losing face, and, if possible, losing power. So of course, I don't like this idea that we should find an exit door for Putin. In 1943, nobody tried to find an exit door for Hitler. Nobody thought we should not humiliate Hitler. Nobody thought we should save Hitler's face. We thought Hitler had to be defeated, period. That's exactly what has to be said about Putin. This is my opinion, but I may disagree with my president.



RFE/RL: Is such an outcome feasible?



Levy: I think it is feasible, yes. I am an eyewitness of two situations where it already happened. Out of Kyiv, on the outskirts of Kyiv, the Russians were defeated at a horrible price, of course, a horrible cost -- [reported war crimes in] Bucha and Borodyanka.... But they were defeated, they were repelled. In Mykolayiv, they were repelled also. The Russians were repelled.

Each time the Russian Army has to confront properly the Ukrainian Army, the Russian Army is defeated. The only weapon which the Russians have is the rain of bombs and missiles, with phosphorus and so on, the artillery, the mastering of the sky. But when it comes to confronting a real army and behaving as a real army, they failed.

Look what happens even in Syevyerodonetsk. Of course, when you have a rain of bombs, Ukrainians withdraw. When the Russians come in to occupy, they are unable and they withdraw again. So my belief is that if they are equipped enough, the Ukrainians will win this war. Equipped enough, they will win. I was a few times on the ground during these last 100 days and I have this absolute conviction that Ukraine can win, Ukraine cannot lose, and Ukraine will prevail. But we have to help.



RFE/RL: When France says they want to sit down at the negotiating table, there is a particular nation not so far from Ukraine that gets worried. Georgia shares the exact history of what happened the last time France said we are at the negotiating table with Russia. And we have the example of 2008 and the peace deal that then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy made to end the conflict. So how optimistic should we be about France's capacity to deliver an agreement that will be fair and upheld?



Levy: It's a very different situation from Georgia. I was in Georgia, I was a [correspondent] for Le Monde.... It was very different. The Russian tanks arrived, maybe 40 or 50 kilometers from Tbilisi. Without [any] real resistance, not very strong resistance from the army of [then-President Mikheil] Saakashvili.

Now, in Ukraine, it is a completely different situation. You have a heroic president and a heroic people, some heroic soldiers, resisting foot by foot, and sometimes repelling the Russian Army. So nobody will dictate to Zelenskiy the conditions of the end of the war. Nobody will dictate [that]. I have enough experience myself over this situation to be sure of that.

The outcome of the war will be dictated by Zelenskiy; nobody will be able to twist his arm because he's strong, he has a strong army, and he himself is strong. This man is made out of iron.... He's the boss.



RFE/RL: And that was not the case in Georgia?



Levy: In Georgia, Saakashvili was a good man and brave also. But he was about to be defeated. A few days more. I don't know the worst that could happen. Again, I saw the Russian tanks that were there. So it's a different situation. You have not such a resistance in Georgia. What happens to Ukraine is unbreakable. It's impossible to break. Really.



RFE/RL: Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia are trying to get EU candidate status. And I do know already that you're supportive of that for Ukraine. But I once again have to go to Macron, who said Georgia was in a different position geopolitically and geographically, that he was supportive of Ukraine and Moldova getting the candidate status but he was unsure about Georgia. And let me ask you, both as a journalist and as an average Georgian citizen, if the consensus in the West is that Ukraine has paid for that with blood and deserves it, Georgia also paid with blood in 2008. Is Georgian blood of a different composition? Does it not count? Don't we deserve it as well?

Levy: Of course. I wrote a piece in 2008calling for urgent entry into NATO for Georgia and Ukraine. I have believed that [for] 14 years; it has been an emergency for 14 years now, I completely agree. Now [for] Georgia, it's a scandal that we didn't yet enter the process. But now there is an emergency, which is Ukraine. In Ukraine, the blood is spilling -- rivers of blood are here. We have to stop that. No more Buchas. No more Borodyankas. And my feeling is that the emergency is to start the process with Ukraine, to accelerate it, and maybe a little later, Ukraine, like in a brotherly chain, will help Georgia or other countries of the area to join.



RFE/RL: Georgia and Moldova are the other two that want to join.



Levy: Today, let's be careful. There could be a trap here, [so we] say OK, we have to admit three, four, or five countries. If we do [it] like this, Brussels will say OK, wait a minute, impossible. So let's start now with Ukraine. And again, I'm a friend of Georgia. I pleaded for 30 years for the entrance into the EU for Bosnia-Herzegovina. For me, it is a shame that there is no organic agreement, if not entry for Bosnia. But today, let's be careful not to create a huge problem, which is impossible to solve. Ukraine now. It is possible. Let's open the door without delay to Ukraine.

This is an abridged version of the interview and has been edited for clarity.
KYIV -- Russian missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital and the central city of Cherkasy on June 26 killed at least two people and injured 11 others, including a 7-year-old girl pulled from the rubble, with more blasts reported later, in the first major strikes against either city in weeks.

Ukrainian officials who have pledged to retake lost cities responded with a fresh plea for more weapons to fight the Russian invasion as G7 leaders opened a two-day summit at which they are expected to announce further punishing sanctions on Russia.

The bombardments against Kyiv and Cherkasy came as Ukraine's defense forces battled to regroup after the loss of a strategic town to Russian forces on the front lines hundreds of kilometers to the southeast, where some of the most intense fighting is raging four months into Russia's full-scale invasion.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians and refugees, and Western aid and reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko went to the scene in one of that city's historic northern neighborhoods, known as the Shevchenko district, after at least two buildings were affected by the early morning explosions blamed on up to four Russian missiles.

Klitschko said one person was killed and six were injured, including the 7-year-old, who was in stable condition after surgery. The condition of her mother, who was also hospitalized, was much more serious, Klitschko said on Telegram.

Russia said its strike on Kyiv had hit a weapons factory, dismissing as "fake" reports that it had struck a residential area. The Artyom factory "was the target, as military infrastructure," the Russian Defense Ministry said. It claimed in a statement that damage to a nearby residential building had been caused by a Ukrainian air- defense missile.

Klitschko called the attacks on Kyiv an attempt by Russia to "intimidate Ukrainians" ahead of a NATO summit slated for Madrid on June 28-30.

Others suggested they and other bombardments -- including near Ukraine's border with Poland -- might also be an effort to send a message to G7 leaders gathering near Munich to discuss pro-Ukraine measures on June 26.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba responded to the fresh Kyiv attacks with an image of the 7-year-old being lifted from the apartment building rubble and urging "more sanctions on Russia and more heavy arms for Ukraine" from the G7.

Also on June 26, current and former officials in central Ukraine said explosions had rung out in the city of Cherkasy, which had so far avoided being targeted by Russia's worst attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Later, Cherkasy Regional State Administration Chairman Ihor Taburets blamed two Russian missiles for the blasts and said one person had been killed and five more injured.

"Today, the enemy launched missile attacks on the Cherkasy region," Taburets said via Telegram. "There are 2 strikes near the regional center. One dead and five wounded. Infrastructure damaged."

Cherkasy has not been targeted previously by major attacks by Russian forces.

Farther to the southeast, Ukrainian forces said a day earlier that they had made a "tactical withdrawal" from the city of Syevyerodonetsk in a blow that could shape the fighting in the east.

But President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed in his nighttime video address that Ukraine would eventually retake the cities it has lost since Russia's all-out invasion began on February 24.

Zelenskiy said the biggest ground war in Europe since World War II had taken a heavy toll on Ukrainians and their defenders but spoke of eventually winning the war.

"We don't have a sense of how long it will last, how many more blows, losses, and efforts will be needed before we see victory is on the horizon," Zelenskiy said.

Zelenskiy is due to remotely address the G7 on June 27 to urge further international support for Ukraine's defense.

On June 25, Ukraine's military said defense forces had withdrawn from Syevyerodonetsk after weeks of intense battles to fight from higher ground in nearby Lysychansk, across the Siverskiy Donets River.

Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said his forces were carrying out a "tactical regrouping" by pulling its forces out of Syevyerodonetsk.

Syevyerodonetsk, a city in the Luhansk district of around 100,000 residents before the war, has been devastated as Russian forces sought to concentrate gains in the two eastern districts known collectively as the Donbas.

Russia-backed separatists have controlled swaths of that region since Russia annexed Crimea and helped kick off the eastern Ukrainian fighting in 2014.

Meanwhile, fears mounted of a widening war since Ukrainian officials reported "massive bombardment" from rockets "fired from the territory of Belarus and from the air" and Moscow said it would provide Belarus with an advanced missile system.

In Belarus, strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka's dependence on Moscow has increased since a crackdown over protests that began when he claimed a sixth presidential term in flawed elections two years ago.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised meeting with Lukashenka on June 25 that Moscow plans within months to supply Belarus with Iskander-M missile systems, a nuclear-capable, mobile guided-missile system with a range of up to 500 kilometers.

"Today's strike is directly linked to Kremlin efforts to pull Belarus as a co-belligerent into the war in Ukraine," the Ukrainian intelligence service said of the missiles launched from Russian warplanes over Belarusian territory.

Lukashenka allowed thousands of Russian troops to stage attacks on Ukraine from the earliest stage of the invasion.

A representative of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, Vadym Skibitskiy, told RBC-Ukraine on June 25 that Belarus is maintaining 4,000-6,000 of its own troops near the Ukrainian border.

He estimated that Russia has around 1,500 of its troops in Belarus to help with air, special forces, and missile components of the invasion.

With additional reporting by Reuters, AP, dpa, and AFP
A human rights group says Iran has "secretly" executed Kurdish political prisoner Firuz Musalu without even informing his immediate family that the punishment was being meted out.

According to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, which monitors Kurdish areas in western Iran, Musalu was executed inside the Urmia Central Prison on June 20. Not even his lawyer was informed, the group added.



The 31-year-old had been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Urmia on charges of waging war against God through membership of an opposition group."



Without mentioning Musalu's name, the Fars news agency, which is affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, quoted the chief justice of West Azerbaijan as saying that a person had been executed as punishment for "killing two border guards" in the northwestern Iranian province.



"The Public Relations Department of the Judiciary of West Azerbaijan Province has confirmed the execution of this political prisoner," Hengaw said in a statement noting that "some of the criteria for a fair trial were not observed even according to internal standards and that the security services prevented his case from being sent to the Supreme Court."



The Statistics and Publication Center of the Human Rights Activists in Iran NGO says that, from the beginning of January to December 20, 2021, at least 299 people were executed in Iran, while another 85 were sentenced to death. Four children were among those executed.



Some human rights sources, including the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), have stated that more than 85 percent of executions in Iran are carried out "in secret and without official and public information."



According to Amnesty International, Iran has had the highest number of executions in the world since 2017. More than half of the world's recorded executions take place in the country.

With writing and reporting by Ardeshir Tayebi
An adviser to Ukraine's interior minister on June 19 cited a heightened risk north of Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, as Russian troops seek to once again make it a "frontline city." Vadym Denysenko told Ukrainian national television that enemy forces are seeking to get closer to Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, in order to shell it. "Russia is trying to make Kharkiv a frontline city," Denysenko said.

Within hours of his warning, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed it had launched Iskander missiles at a tank-repair plant in Kharkiv. Photographers from Reuters and epa documented the devastation caused by the missile attacks, which damaged several educational institutions and an industrial area.

In May, Kharkiv's defenders appeared to have pushed Russian forces back from an encirclement operation around the city. Last week, reports suggested Russian forces had deployed artillery to thwart a Ukrainian counteroffensive near Kharkiv.
Kyiv has announced the arrival of the first U.S. long-range weapons systems that the Ukrainian military has been waiting on for months, and the United States says it will send a new batch of military assistance including more rocket systems.

News of the arms shipments on June 23 came as Russian forces, backed by massive artillery power, pressed ahead with their offensive to completely encircle Ukraine's last pocket of resistance in the Luhansk region.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on June 23 that High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from the United States are now in Ukraine.

It was not immediately known when the HIMARS had entered the country or if they were already being used on the front line, but Kyiv hopes the artillery will help turn the tide in the war that began four months ago.

"Thank you to my U.S. colleague and friend Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for these powerful tools! Summer will be hot for Russian occupiers. And the last one for some of them," he said on Twitter.

The HIMARS is a multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) developed for the U.S. military in the 1970s. Both Russia and Ukraine already operate MLRS systems, but the six-rocket HIMARS is more advanced, with a range of 80 kilometers and superior precision.

Kyiv has asked for 300 such systems, but Washington has only donated four so far. Germany will also send three such systems to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said on June 23.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians and refugees, and Western aid and reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

The additional aid announced by the White House later on June 23 includes four HIMARS, tens of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition, and patrol boats, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. The value of the package is $450 million, he said.



The announcement came after EU leaders meeting in Brussels formally agreed to take the historic step of making Ukraine and Moldova candidates for EU membership.



The move was hailed by the leaders of the two countries, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said there can be no better sign of hope for the citizens of the countries in these troubled times.



The announcements came as the Ukrainian militarys General Staff said its forces stopped an offensive of Russian troops in the direction of the southern outskirts of Lysychansk in the Luhansk region, forcing them to retreat.



"To resume the offensive, the occupiers are putting forward reserves, the General Staff said late on June 23. The Ukrainian defenders also stopped the enemy's offensive near Borivsky.



Fighting continued elsewhere, including near Bila Hora, Lysychansk, and Syevyerodonetsk. The militarys claims could not be independently verified.

The heavy use of artillery and the recent troop reinforcement was likely behind Russia's improved military performance in the Luhansk cities of Lysycyhansk and its twin city Syevyerodonetsk, Britain's Ministry of Defense said in its daily intelligence bulletin early on June 23.

Luhansk military Governor Serhiy Hayday said on June 23 that the villages of Loskutyvka and Rai-Oleksandryvka, south of Lysychansk and Syevyerodonetsk, have now fallen to the Russians.

He said Ukrainian forces continue to resist in Syevyerodonetsk and the nearby settlements of Zolote and Vovchoyrovka.

Hayday said Ukrainian forces are facing "massive" and relentless artillery attacks in Lysychansk and may need to retreat to avoid being cut off after Russian forces captured the two settlements to its south.

"In order to avoid encirclement, our command could order that the troops retreat to new positions," Hayday said on national television. "All of Lysychansk is within reach of their fire. It is very dangerous in the city."

But he said Lysychansk could still be reached by road, allowing civilian evacuations to continue. Russia's TASS news agency had earlier cited Russia-backed separatists as saying the city was surrounded and cut off from supplies.

The fight for Syevyerodonetsk and Lysychansk is "entering a sort of fearsome climax," said Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.



Russia seeks to capture both Luhansk and Donetsk, which make up most of Ukraine's industrial heartland of Donbas.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk regional military administration, said Ukrainian forces control less than half of the Donetsk region, adding that more than 100 cities and villages within these areas had no gas or electricity.



Kyrylenko said that the 55 percent of Donetsk that is under Russian occupation is "completely destroyed."



However, British intelligence noted in its bulletin that Russian efforts to achieve a deeper encirclement to take the Donetsk region west of Luhansk remain stalled.

Arestovych said in a video address that Russia launched the most intensive strikes in weeks on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, adding that they were aimed at "terrorizing the population."

The shelling, which caused at least 10 deaths in the Kharkiv region over two days, was mean to "distract us and force us to divert troops" from the main battlefields in the Donbas, Arestovych said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a group of European newspapers that the defense intelligence service believes that Russia's momentum in the war in Ukraine will slow in the next few months as its army exhausts its resources.



In the next few months, Britains intelligence service believes that Russia could come to a point at which there is no longer any forward momentum because it has exhausted its resources," Johnson was quoted as saying.



"Then we must help the Ukrainians to reverse the dynamic. I will argue for this at the Group of Seven (G7) summit, he said.



The G7 summit, bringing together the heads of state of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, is scheduled to begin on June 26 in Germany.



"Inasmuch as the Ukrainians are in a position to start a counteroffensive, it should be supported with equipment that they demand from us," he said.



A victory for Ukraine -- or failure for Russia -- would at least see Ukraine regain the status quo that was there before Russia invaded, he said.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, BBC, CNN, and TASS
ODESA, Ukraine -- Before the Russian invasion, Odesa-born artist Ihor Husev achieved considerable success at home and abroad with his haunting, dreamlike paintings: A ballet dancer stands on train tracks on the snow; a speedboat sits on a trailer by a lake, under a menacing sky that suggests summer is only a memory.



It takes a month to make each of them, he said, gesturing with his hand at a pile of oil-on-canvas paintings he made before February 24. But its all irrelevant now -- we are living in a transformative moment.



That moment started when Ukrainians in Odesa and elsewhere woke up that morning to a nightmare, he said, as Russian rockets fell in and near cities across the country.



Like millions of people in Ukraine and elsewhere, it was a nightmare he had not expected to become reality despite the tens of thousands of troops massing at the borders, threatening words from Russian President Vladimir Putin, and U.S. authorities warning that a full-scale invasion could come any day.



Putin was announcing everything so ostentatiously and endlessly that I thought it was just another one of his scary fairy tales, Husev recalled.



The invasion led to a new turn in Husevs art, and a fairy tale figured in a drawing he published on Facebook on the first day of the invasion -- the first work in what he calls series 3 world war 2022.



Husev drew Lenins tomb walking on chicken legs dripping blood and wrote the Russians are coming beneath the image, whose meaning would be lost on almost nobody in Ukraine or Russia: The mummified past is approaching and its as scary as Baba Yaga, a wicked witch and the ultimate villain of Slavic folklore.

Husev was frightened, too. But what could I do? he asked. My wife and I realized that we would rather die in our bed than run away, and I decided to keep people's spirits up by doing what I do best -- drawing.



And hes doing it with a sizable splash of Odesas best-known commodity: humor.



If you can laugh at something, you stop being afraid, and when you stop being afraid, you are already a winner, said Husev, 46.



As the death and destruction wreaked upon Ukraine continues with no end in sight and wariness is widespread in Odesa, which has been bombarded but has escaped capture, its humor with a dark streak.



There is Lenins tomb, uprooted from Moscows Red Square and leaving bloody tracks as it strides forth on chicken legs like Baba Yagas hut.



There is a drawing of farm fields and a road that eerily evokes misleadingly optimistic Soviet-era art and is captioned with a play on words, saying both Everything will be fine and Everything will be fertilizer.

And there is a drawing that echoes a famous 19th-century painting by the Russian artist Vasily Surikov, only here a sledge being pulled through the snow carries not a black-clad noblewoman under arrest but a shiny-white washing machine -- a reference to looting by Russian soldiers who have sent such goods back home from Ukraine.

In May, he published a simple piece that shows the Ukrainian and Russian spellings of his citys name -- Odesa and Odessa -- with a fiery bang in place of each letter s.

Husev has garnered attention with his new works, finding himself invited to appear on TV news in his country, where the invasion has increased solidarity that had already been on the rise since 2014, when Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula -- southeast of Odesa -- and fomented war in the eastern region known as the Donbas.



What strikes almost anybody coming to the largely Russian-speaking port city in the fourth month since the invasion is the proliferation of blue-and-yellow national flags that are painted on the walls of a great many buildings.



The janitors who painted them are the true artists of today, Husev said, talking as he walked around his sunlit studio filled with books, plants, and sculptures. Unlike some of my artist friends, who keep on painting flowers and landscapes.



Husevs wartime drawings, meanwhile, are all made on the pages and covers of old books he bought at Starokonka, an Odesa flea market. Remakes of pictures from the Soviet schoolbook Mother Tongue are among his favorites.



He believes the artworks he publishes on social media are popular precisely because this aesthetic of torn books, deconstructed classics, and ridiculed Soviet heroes resonates with today's audience.

Some of his works have been printed out and displayed at Odesas central Book Market, which has become a popular meeting spot -- a venue for jazz concerts and theater performances -- as the city seeks to come back to life after the initial shock caused by the war, despite continued attacks.



We are all living in a state of altered consciousness. There was a psychedelic revolution in art back in the day, and today theres the bombardirovka, he said -- Russian for bombardment.



To people enjoying their morning coffee at the Book Market, Odesa seems calm. Military experts argue that as long as Ukraines defensive line is maintained in Mykolayiv, more than 100 kilometers to the northeast, the city is safe.



With thousands of internally displaced people flowing in and out, a daily curfew, and beaches mined against the threat of an amphibious attack, anti-Russian sentiment appears to be growing in Odesa.



In mid-April, five plaques of Russian sister cities were taken down on a central square, and the mayor vowed to replace them with names of cities that have offered help during the current war.
RFE/RL's Borys Sachalko reports from combat positions near Izyum, where Ukrainian troops come under heavy fire from Russian forces. The Ukrainians respond with Grad rockets and use drones to keep track of incoming artillery as they try to hold their ground.
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Russian soldiers opened fire on them with a cannon, machine guns, and assault rifles. Twins Yevhen and Bohdan Samodiy and their friend Valentyn Yakymchuk were killed while walking down the street in their home village of Mokhnatyn, in northern Ukraine, on March 14.
With his power threatened by popular unrest and elite infighting in January, Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev called in Russian troops in a move that many observers thought would sacrifice Kazakhstan's independence and make Toqaev beholden to Moscow.



But four months after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, Toqaev seemingly disproved that notion by defying the Kremlin while on stage with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 17.



The Russian leader had earlier advanced the contentious claim on stage that the entire former Soviet Union is part of historical Russia and that other countries could face a similar fate to Ukraine if they also openly defied Moscow.



When asked in St. Petersburg about Russias war by moderator Margarita Simonyan -- the editor in chief of the Russian news channel RT -- Toqaev stated that Nur-Sultan does not recognize the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in Ukraines eastern Donbas region that Russia has declared independent countries.



It has been calculated that if the right of nations to self-determination were actually implemented across the globe, then instead of the 193 states that now make up the UN there would be more than 500 or 600 states on Earth, Toqaev said. Naturally, it would be chaos.



He added that for this reason we do not recognize Taiwan, or Kosovo, or [the breakaway Georgian regions of] South Ossetia or Abkhazia. This principle will be applied to quasi-state entities, which, in our opinion, Luhansk and Donetsk are.



While the statement is not the first time a high-ranking Kazakh official has voiced displeasure about Russias invasion and attempts to break apart Ukrainian territory, the bold reiteration made while sitting next to Putin highlights how Russian partners like Kazakhstan are looking to distance themselves from Moscows invasion and the growing friction they are experiencing while walking a fraying diplomatic tightrope.



It was courageous to do that right on the stage with Putin, William Courtney, an adjunct senior fellow at RAND who served as the first U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, told RFE/RL. Moscows posture is becoming more and more aggressive towards its neighbors and its possible the frustrations over [the war in] Ukraine will impact its attitude even more. That means Kazakhstan could come under more pressure in the future.



Walking A New Tightrope



Toqaevs comments in St. Petersburg came after some hard-line Russian commentators made territorial claims for Russia on parts of northern Kazakhstan, which has a large ethnic Russian population and has surfaced in Russian nationalist discourse since the collapse of the Soviet Union -- along with eastern Ukraine -- as an area of potential annexation.

But, as the Ukraine war has progressed, Kazakhstan has increasingly shown greater independence from Moscow than many expected.



In addition to not recognizing the Moscow-backed separatist entities in Ukraine, Nur-Sultan canceled a military parade to celebrate Victory Day, a prominent holiday to mark the Soviet Unions contribution to victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.



Kazakhstan has also been treading carefully to avoid violating Western sanctions against Russia and tried to balance public opinion at home with growing aversion to Moscow's foreign policy and pro-Ukraine demonstrations across the country.

Nur-Sultan has also looked to expand cooperation in rerouting energy supplies to Europe that bypass Russia and, during a June 15 interview with the state-run Rossia-24 television station, Toqaev said Nur-Sultan would not help Moscow get around the new sanctions regime and also pushed back against assertions that his country was indebted to Russia following the deployment of troops in January by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) -- the military bloc that Russia led during its intervention in Kazakhstan.

In Russia, some people distort this whole situation, asserting that Russia supposedly saved Kazakhstan, and Kazakhstan should now eternally serve and bow down to the feet of Russia, he said during the interview. I believe that these are totally unjustified arguments that are far from reality.

Those comments received a swift response in Russia, with nationalist lawmaker Konstantin Zatulin calling Kazakhstan's territorial integrity into question.



They know too well that a whole range of regions and settlements with a predominantly Russian population have had a weak relationship with what has been called Kazakhstan, he said in a radio interview.



Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov also posted a video criticizing Kazakhstan and other members of the CSTO for their lack of support for Moscows invasion of Ukraine and said Nur-Sultans sovereignty in the northern part of the country was eroding.



Despite Toqaevs comments about Russias designs for Ukraine and the ensuing blowback from nationalist circles, the majority of the Kazakh leaders appearance alongside Putin focused on ways to keep building ties with Russia amid its economic isolation from the West and even praised the Russian president for fostering strong ties with Kazakhstan over the years.



Kazakhstan will continue to find ways to cooperate and work with Russia despite all the fallout from Moscows invasion, said Courtney. But Russian nationalist calls about northern Kazakhstan are a very serious thing for the [Kazakh government]. Its a raw nerve that is being pressed.



Post-Invasion Reality



Navigating these difficult fault lines between Kazakhstan and Russia is not new for Toqaev or Nur-Sultan, but Moscows invasion has raised the stakes.



Toqaev is a seasoned diplomat who previously served as prime minister, foreign minister, a UN director in Geneva, and speaker of the Senate. He also played an intimate role in crafting Kazakhstans foreign policy after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.



Kazakhstan has long tried to strike a balance between its two powerful neighbors, Russia and China, while also maintaining strong ties with the United States and the European Union. Nur-Sultan has also sought to build up ties with other regional powers, such as Iran and Turkey.



In the aftermath of the Ukraine war, Kazakhstan has doubled down on this strategy, welcoming Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and also deepening outreach to Ankara and Tehran. Toqaev made a state visit to Turkey in May and left with promises of boosting trade and rerouting trade lines along Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that passed through Kazakhstan and Russia to Europe to now move through Turkey.

He also received strong pledges of support from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in statements that were meant to be heard by Moscow.



Similarly, Toqaev made a June 19 visit to Iran in an effort to boost relations and increase bilateral trade.



The renewed outreach to other powers is meant to lessen Kazakhstans dependence on Russia, experts say, and is part of a wider recalibration under way for Russias neighbors since its February invasion of Ukraine.

Recalibration still means that some things have changed for the long run, Zachary Witlin, a senior analyst at the consultancy Eurasia Group, told RFE/RL. Its difficult for any former Soviet republic neighboring Russia to look at whats happening in Ukraine and not wonder where else that is possible.
The fully underwritten financing was selectively launched in late December last year at an original target size of USD 700 million with a pre-funding option, and subsequently offered to the wider market in February 2022. Owing to stellar market response, the facility amount was upsized to USD 1 billion. The Facility comprised three tranches with tenors of 3, 4 and 5 years. The 5-year tranche followed the successful precedent set earlier by Techcombank in its USD 800 million deal.

The Facility offered an interest margin of 140 basis points on the 3-year loan, 155 basis points on the 4-year loan, and 170 basis points on the 5-year loan, over Compounded SOFR, which was itself a benchmark pricing by a Vietnamese bank in the offshore syndicated loan market. The loan proceeds, which are for general corporate and working capital purposes, would bolster Techcombanks ability to support the increasing medium and long-term funding needs of its customers as the Vietnamese economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Techcombanks exemplary track record and robust business strategy have enabled it to access a large pool of liquidity from a diverse range of investors. A total of 26 prestigious international banks - headquartered in Australia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and United Kingdom - joined this landmark transaction. The outstanding success of the transaction in terms of size, tenor and participation reaffirmed the pioneering position of Techcombank in the Vietnamese banking sector.

Standard Chartered Bank and United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB) initially underwrote the financing and were joined by fellow Mandated Lead Arrangers, Underwriters and Bookrunners, namely Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Meanwhile, P.T. Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, CTBC Bank Co., Ltd., State Bank of India, and Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank Co., Ltd. came in as Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners.

Mr. Bryan Liew, Head of Leverage and Acquisition Finance Syndicate of Standard Chartered Bank, said: Once again, Techcombank has set the bar for the Vietnamese loan market, with an eye-catching USD 1 billion transaction. The wide representation of banks across tenors attests the markets belief in this credit and confidence in its medium and long-term prospects. We, along with our Commercial, Corporate and Institutional Banking team, Standard Chartered Vietnam, are delighted to lead this landmark transaction, once again.

Ms. Lim Lay Wah, Head of the Global Financial Institutions Group of UOB, said: Techcombank continues to set new milestones in offshore fund raising, following its inaugural transaction in 2020. With the latest loan, Techcombank is pioneering the market for USD SOFR borrowings. UOB is excited to be part of Techcombanks business growth and we look forward to forging a long-term partnership to mark new milestones together.

Mr. Alex Macaire, Group Chief Financial Officer of Techcombank, said: We are delighted to have successfully accessed the international syndicated loan market with new records for a third year in a row. To achieve this milestone in the current challenging environment is a testament to the confidence and trust international investors have in Techcombank and the Vietnamese economy after conducting thorough due diligence. On behalf of Techcombank, I would like to thank all the banks involved for their strong commitment and support, which will help us to continue to deliver our growth strategy and provide outstanding services to our growing customer base.

Mai Tram
In the aftermath of an independent investigation that found no evidence National City Councilman Jerry Cano used his position to avoid fines for building code violations, a key question lingered.

Why did it take five years for the city to resolve the violations?

According to a report by Attorney William Curley of the Lozano Smith Law Firm, the Building Department has been understaffed and lacks proper policies and protocols for following up on cases, forcing staff to use their discretion to prioritize certain work.

The citys state of affairs can be traced back to the 2008 financial crisis, which took a toll on the city as revenues dropped. Amid the financial troubles, retirements and routine resignations came at a time when the city could not afford to hire more staff, according to Curleys report.

The retirements and resignations removed both manpower and institutional memory, Curley said in the report.

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With less staff, the city was forced to reorganize and consolidate departments and positions. As a result, staff with little or no substantive expertise or training was now delivering the services, according to the report.

Basic management skills, rather than subject matter expertise, were used to ensure a basic level of city services was preserved, Curley said.

The impact came in the form of corollary lack of experience, no guiding policies and no new resources to assist them, he said.

Curley described the situation as a perfect storm that allowed Canos case to stay on the back burner of departmental priorities.

The attorney said the Building Department, given the circumstances, prioritizes matters that pose a threat to life and safety or encourage economic development. It also gives special attention to directions from the City Council.

Canos case did not fall into those categories.

According to the report, Building Official Luis Sainz and his boss, Frank Parra, had discussions, sometimes heated, as to the enforcement efforts to be directed towards Councilmember Canos property.

Parra, emergency services director, believed the Building Department should focus its resources on higher priority, more beneficial projects.

The department heads exercise of discretion, and allocation of his staff resources, was done in good faith in an effort to address the most critical and timely projects, Curley said.

Still, the attorney said, the department heads strategy, while rational, did not work and should be abandoned.

He said he found a need to formalize policies, set clear and transparent priorities, and to rely less upon discretion and more upon rules and procedures.

In addition to suggesting the city develop standardized policies, Curley recommended the city use modern technology to calendar and track records of inspections and other enforcement activities.

He noted the city already has plans to implement a new permitting and inspections software by Meritage Systems. The software, called Community Core Solutions, is designed to streamline and automate the Building Departments work, helping to insure compliance, increase efficiency and improve customer satisfaction, according to a Meritage Systems flier.

Canos violations, which stemmed from outdoor renovations made to his home without the proper permits, were issued by the city in 2013. He did not correct the violations until May 2018, after news reports led to public outcry over the violations.

Records show the city did not fine Cano and instead issued a recordation in 2015 that limited his ability to sell or refinance his house on Mary Lane.

In light of the revelations in the news reports, Councilwoman Mona Rios called for an investigation into Canos case. At the same council meeting during which Rios made the request, Cano accused her of inappropriately touching him.

When the investigation by Curley got underway, Cano, who was elected in 2012, refused to be interviewed and withdrew the allegation against Rios.

Now that the investigation is complete, Curley suggested the city turn over the findings of his investigation to the District Attorneys Office or the state Fair Political Practices Commission if the City Council wants a further review. Without having spoken with Cano, Curley said he was not able to determine with certainty whether Cano violated state laws.

He noted other agencies with investigation powers to command cooperation may find Cano violated fiduciary duties that apply to council members. He also noted Canos case required staffs time, and hence public monies  a possible violation of Penal Code 424, which addresses the misuse or improper use of public funds.

Curley noted the citys municipal code requires council members to undergo state-mandated ethical conduct training. He said he confirmed council members are offered regular and rigorous training.

No member of the citys governance structure can assert that they were unaware of the requirement to act ethically, and to strive to perform beyond the minimum legal and ethical requirements, Curley said. As leaders, all should go beyond the minimum floor of ethical conduct so as to set an example of what is expected conduct in National City.

In light of the outcome of the investigation, Curley said, the City Council can consider reprimands against Cano, including censure, a formal rebuke.

Curleys report does not clear up some matters. It does not address why the city issued a recordation instead of fines or why the first violation notice was written out and delivered to Cano in person rather than on city letterhead and via certified mail.

Sainz, the building official, told The San Diego Union-Tribune in April he wrote the notice on paper and hand-delivered it to Cano at the request of his boss. Parra denied that assertion.

Curley did not respond to questions about the findings of his investigation.

Parra said he would not comment on the findings until the City Council discusses the report and its next steps on Sept. 4. Sainz said City Attorney Angil Morris-Jones asked that questions about the matter be directed to her office.

The findings of a separate investigation by Curley that focused on city staffs handling of Canos case will be withheld by the city because it involves personnel matters, City Manager Leslie Deese said. She said last week the report was complete and she was reviewing it.

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
Grant advances UofSCs efforts to create destination for preserving, teaching civil rights history

National Park Service funds rehabilitation of significant SC landmark in movement

The University of South Carolinas Center for Civil Rights History and Research will receive $500,000 in federal funding to further its mission to preserve civil rights history and tell critical stories of the movement.

The African American Civil Rights grant administered by the National Park Service will be used to continue rehabilitation and preservation of the historic Booker T. Washington Auditorium Building.

I was proud to work with the University of South Carolina to help them receive a third phase of funding from the National Park Service for renovations of Booker T. Washington High School, said Congressman James E. Clyburn. This school was an integral part of the African American story in South Carolina and fostered some of the greatest minds of the civil rights movement. The continuation of this funding brings us one step closer to fully restoring this historic site for future generations to learn the important role that South Carolina played in the struggle for equality.

Built in 1956 and named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, the auditorium is the only remaining structure of the original four-acre Booker T. Washington High School complex. One of the first public high schools for African American students in Columbia, Booker T. Washington has a powerful history as a significant landmark in South Carolinas civil rights history. Civil rights leaders J. Andrew Simmons, Septima Clark and Modjeska Simkins taught at the school in the 1920s and 1930s, and NAACP attorneys Matthew Perry and Lincoln Jenkins attended as students, along with many others who became leaders in the city and state.

We are excited to have federal support for the critical work of the center, which preserves and shares the stories of South Carolinas role in the struggle for civil rights, Interim President Harris Pastides said. This news comes at a key juncture, building on the momentum of private support to ensure the center can fulfill its mission.

The grant will fund phase three of a multiphase project to fully rehabilitate the auditorium building. Planned work includes renovations to create a meeting and multipurpose performance space. The improvements will support engagements with the community and beckon graduates and the public back to Booker T. Washington High School. Mechanical HVAC and lighting systems will be upgraded for the community space, and original 1950s public restroom facilities will be renovated to comply with accessibility standards.

The Booker T. Washington High School Auditorium Building was acquired by the University of South Carolina after the high school closed in the 1970s. Renovations and historical preservation in 2013 made important physical upgrades to the building on Wheat Street and created space to highlight the schools six-decade history from 1916 to 1974.

In 2013, we shared a powerful moment celebrating the initial phase of the restoration of the Booker T. Washington High Schools historic auditorium. With former students and teachers in the audience, we made a commitment to preserve the last building of a vaunted community institution, said Bobby Donaldson, professor of history and director of the Center for Civil Rights History and Research.

A $1.8 million gift at that time from the Rev. Solomon Jackson, known for his philanthropy in South Carolina and to higher education, laid a strong foundation on which the center continues to build.

The National Park Service's support enables the university to make vital improvements to the auditorium and to strengthen collaborations with neighborhoods and community organizations, Donaldson said. Our partnerships have been fruitful, and we continue to work on exciting new projects that will strengthen the center's work and widen the National Park Service's footprint across South Carolina and the nation.

Continuing preservation efforts advance UofSCs commitment to documenting and interpreting the history of the civil rights movement in South Carolina and the nation and will help strengthen partnerships between the university and the Booker T. Washington High School Foundation and the Ward One and Wheeler Hill neighborhood organizations.

The new funding will build on rehabilitation work supported by two previous park service grants. It is one of 44 projects across 15 states that will receive 2022 grants totaling more than $16.2 million. Of that total, more than $2.2 million was awarded to six projects in South Carolina to help preserve the sites and history related to the African American struggle for equality.

Combined with a $1.5 million gift from Williams, an energy infrastructure company, announced earlier this year, the grant will help broaden the Center for Civil Rights History and Researchs reach and resources to share South Carolinas important role in the broader national movement. In part, the Williams gift supports the traveling "Justice for All" exhibit throughout South Carolina.

Through research, training and public engagement, the center is deeply committed to preserving important sites in the South Carolina struggle for equality and justice, Donaldson said.

The university founded the Center for Civil Rights History and Research in November 2015 as the first organization dedicated to chronicling South Carolinas civil rights story. The cornerstone of its collections is the congressional papers of Clyburn, the states first African American congressman since 1897.

The centers mission is trifold: Engaging the community in programming to foster advocacy and action; informing curriculum for K-12 and higher education; and serving students, educators, researchers and the community in identifying and using university collections and resources.

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A six-year development battle in residential Palo Alto has finally been settled after the City Council voted to allow reconstruction of Castilleja School, paving the way for whats expected to be a dramatic increase in students at the private middle and high school for girls.

By a 6-1 vote this month, with Vice Mayor Lydia Kou voting in opposition, the council approved the plan to tear down the old dormitory building and reconstruct it as classrooms.

The development proposal will also add a parking garage beneath the athletic field for 52 vehicles on one level. Once the project is completed, in an estimated three years, the school will be able to increase its student body from 416 to 450. If the school succeeds in its goal of reducing car trips during peak hours, it would be able to further increase enrollment to 540 students, a capacity agreed to by the council.

This seemingly puts to an end a battle that began in 2013 when the school admitted to exceeding its allowed enrollment. The city then began an enforcement action that required the school administration to come up with a long-range plan to buffer the effects on the neighborhood of an expected surge in students. The application, submitted in June of 2013, included a campus expansion, most of which was resisted by residents of Old Palo Alto, the neighborhood of single-family homes south of Embarcadero Road, where the school sits.

It is as good as an outcome as we could have had with neither side feeling that they didnt get unreasonable measures, said Palo Alto Mayor Pat Burt. If the school lives up to obligations, it can expand. The neighbors got a lot of mitigation.

The mitigation mainly involves traffic-calming measures at the school; congestion has gotten worse as it attracted more students from up and down the Peninsula, many of them driven to school and picked up until they are old enough to drive themselves and clog up neighborhood street parking, Burt said.

In addition to building the parking garage, Castilleja agreed to allow only members of the senior class to drive to school and to enforce rules that minimize car trips to the neighborhood and the drop-off and pickup of students. It will also pursue a transit-first policy in which 40% of the student body will be required to live within 5 miles of the campus. Additional scholarships may be required to meet this goal because tuition for all grades, 6 through 12, is $56,500 a year.

Only a small minority of the students are from Palo Alto or East Palo Alto, Burt said.

The schools impact on the neighborhood has been a sore point for years. To ease this tension, the city will appoint a three-person committee of neighborhood residents to oversee the traffic situation and the construction and expansion project. Castilleja also agreed to limit its special events to 70 per year, down from as many as 90.

We are glad the councils decision will open more educational opportunities for girls, Nanci Kauffman, head of school at Castilleja, said in an email to The Chronicle. ... As we collaborated to provide for a positive outcome for the school and the community, our plans improved and our work continues as we move into the next phase.

That phase will begin as soon as construction permits are issued, and it may involve a temporary relocation of the school, if a suitable campus can be found. This would shorten the time frame considerably, said Kathy Layendecker, associate head of school.

Castilleja was founded in 1907 by Mary Ishbel Lockey, who had graduated from Stanford University with a degree in English. The central building is a brown shingle Craftsman that blends nicely into the residential neighborhood. But the additions have been a hodgepodge of styles and eras.

This is a very affluent, elite school, but some of the buildings are substandard, Burt said.

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Four buildings will be torn down and replaced by one building, with the above ground square footage of the school actually reduced, the school maintains.

It is a very dense campus surrounded by low-density houses, and that is what a lot of the tension is about, said Burt. Many neighbors would prefer they not be allowed to expand at all.

A Palo Alto organization called Preserve Neighborhood Quality of Life led the fight against the expansion. On its website, the group asserted that to allow Castilleja to expand its student body by 30% would bring an additional 300 cars per day to the neighborhood during peak traffic hours. Castilleja maintains that it has reduced traffic by 30% over the last 10 years.

The neighborhood group also noted that 75% of Castillejas students come from outside Palo Alto, and that 47 of its neighbors had signed a letter stating that they did not want a parking garage, which it claims will require removal of mature oaks and redwoods and bring an unwanted and industrial aspect to a residential block.

Would you want a commercial underground garage exit next to your home, constant weekday traffic and off-hour special events? the website states. And what about 5 years of major construction for a project that largely serves the affluent of other communities?

A request for comment on the City Councils approval of the project was not immediately responded to by representatives of PNQL.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com
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Californias fire-ravaged sequoia groves have left scientists and forest managers scrambling to ensure a future for the worlds largest trees.

Over the past two years, nearly a fifth of all giant sequoias, once considered virtually immune to wildfire, burned so badly they died. Fire experts fear more lethal blazes are imminent.

This week, the effort to protect the cherished trees turns to Congress. In a rare show of bipartisanship, Californias Democratic Rep. Scott Peters of San Diego and Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield plan to introduce the Save our Sequoias Act, a bill that would provide money and support to restore and help fireproof the venerable giants.

Its something we ought to be able to deal with, Peters told The Chronicle, noting that even in the politically divisive Beltway, hes been able to reach across the aisle for partners in the vital endeavor to safeguard the popular sequoia. This is something as Americans and Californians that we all want to do right away.

The famous trees grow naturally only in about 75 groves on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Revered for their massive, 30-foot-wide trunks and towering heights of 250 feet, the titans can live for 3,000 years.

However, even with their thick, fleshy bark and need for heat to release seeds, which has allowed them to coexist with fire for millennia, Californias increasingly violent blazes have proved too explosive. Between Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks east of Fresno and Giant Sequoia National Monument to the south, thousands of sequoias have fatally burned.

The Save our Sequoias Act builds upon a small but already emerging initiative to address the threat that extreme wildfire poses for the trees.

Under the legislation, which The Chronicle obtained an advance copy of, the existing Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition  a group of nonprofit, tribal, local, state and federal land managers who oversee many of the burned areas  could expedite forestry projects aimed at boosting fire resiliency in the standing groves, such as cutting fire lines, thinning brush and prescribed burning, as well as reforesting places where sequoias have died.

The bill calls for a federal emergency declaration, which would streamline regulations that can potentially hold up the work, including the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act.

The measure also would provide $325 million over 10 years for projects.

We have to actively manage the groves to withstand the increasingly intense fires that were seeing now, said Teresa Benson, supervisor of the Sequoia National Forest where many of the trees have burned, including Long Meadow Grove and its much-visited Trail of 100 Giants in the Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Benson, as a federal employee, cant publicly endorse legislation, but she said shes all for money to boost forest management.

What weve long been relying on is the ability to use the workforce we have, she said, noting that current staffing falls short of the challenge posed by the new era of dizzying wildfire.

The more destructive fires, scientists say, are driven by the buildup of vegetation thats resulted from decades of fire suppression, on top of the drying and warming thats come with climate change.

In 2020, the SQF Complex fires, an outgrowth of the lightning-sparked Castle Fire, killed an estimated 7,500 to 10,600 large sequoias. In 2021, the KNP Complex and Windy fires wiped out an estimated 2,261 to 3,637 big trees. Researchers started recording significant numbers of deaths from fire, albeit far fewer, in 2015.

About 60 of the groves that burned over the past two years are in McCarthys congressional district.

The House minority leader, who led a delegation of Congress members to Sequoia National Forest last month, has advocated for greater forest management not only to improve the health of the trees but to boost the safety of nearby residents and the vigor of the southern Sierras tourist economy.

These natural wonders have stood tall for thousands of years, and their loss is a devastating blow to our communities and the environment, McCarthy said in a statement to The Chronicle. This bill would make commonsense reforms to forest management practices to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires.

Republican Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, the only forester in Congress and ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, also helped forward the legislation. Other sponsors include California Democratic Reps. Jim Costa and Jimmy Panetta and Republican David Valadao.

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The authors say they hope the bill will be taken up as stand-alone legislation in the current session of Congress. However, with competing priorities in Washington, the item could get pushed to next year and bundled into a broader package, such as the farm bill.

While both Democrats and Republicans have expressed support, there are still sticking points for the parties. The streamlining of environmental regulation, specifically for clearing trees, has drawn criticism from the left before, while spending significant amounts of money can be unpopular on the right.

The Save the Redwoods League, a San Francisco-based conservation group and part of the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition, has already begun prioritizing where future aid for the trees may be best directed.

The organization identified about 20 groves this month, and 2,000 acres of forest, that are most at risk of burning and urgently need help. The list, which is fluid, includes the prominent stands at Calaveras Big Trees State Park and Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park.

The groves were designated as vulnerable because they havent recently burned and therefore have more vegetation to fuel a catastrophic fire.

It feels like cheating to say the priority is every single one, said Joanna Nelson, director of science and conservation planning for the Save the Redwoods League, who helped create the list. But over a course of about five years, we need to treat every grove.

The alternative to more robust forest management, Nelson said, is to risk the very extinction of the cherished species.

We could have these trees only in something that is zoo-like or arboretum-like, she said. Yes, Im worried about them.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander
Inside Exposition Hall at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds on a hot Tuesday afternoon, 1-year-old Bert Avina helped make history: He became one of the first babies in the Bay Area to get his COVID-19 vaccine.

Avina smiled and wriggled on father Rob Avinas lap and barely flinched when Rob rolled up the pant leg on his gray, navy and maroon onesie and licensed vocational nurse Brenda Bufe jabbed his right thigh with the Moderna vaccine, which she quickly covered with a bright-green Band-Aid.

Tuesday marked the first day that infants and toddlers 6 months to 4 years old could get vaccinated against COVID-19, following federal and state approvals for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines over the weekend.

Its been a long pandemic for us, Avina said while they waited 15 minutes to make sure Bert didnt have an allergic reaction. He was born during it. This is his first chance to have a little protection before the inevitable happens. Im really thrilled about it, and wanted to do it as soon as we could.

Avina was one of 500 Bay Area residents who snapped up pediatric vaccine appointments as soon as Santa Clara County opened up slots Monday, soon after shipments of vaccine arrived. All 500 appointments were booked within two hours of the county releasing them online, said Dr. Ahmad Kamal, the countys director of health care preparedness.

Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

The Expo  which is adorned with animal stickers, colorful paper lanterns and a big-screen TV playing cartoons on a loop  is poised to get busier. By the end of the week, the county plans to ramp up daily appointments to about 1,000 here and at vaccination sites in Mountain View and San Martin.

This isnt the end, but at the same time, its the beginning of being able to feel more comfortable at the grocery store, at Disneyland, Avina said. Now hes at the beginning of that process. I couldnt be happier.

Avinas desire to get his son vaccinated right away is shared by many parents in the Bay Area. The region has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country across all age groups, including the next-youngest cohort eligible for shots  children 5 to 11, who in many parts of the Bay Area are vaccinated at rates of 60% to 75%, much higher than the state and national average of 35%.

Young kids have generally been much less prone to becoming seriously ill or dying from COVID. But hundreds have died, and most of those whove been hospitalized have no underlying conditions, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the virus in kids.

Any protection at this point is better than the status quo, said Wendy Matheny of San Bruno, who plans to get 4-year-old daughter Lily vaccinated within the week.

But some parents, including many who themselves eagerly got vaccinated and boosted the first chance they got, say they plan to wait before getting their babies and young children vaccinated. This is reflected in national polling data, which found that just 18% of parents with children under 5 plan to get their child vaccinated right away. A larger share, 38%, say they will wait and see how the vaccine is working for others, according to a recent survey by Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit focusing on health issues that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente . Eleven percent say they will get their child vaccinated only if required, and 27% say they will definitely not get their child vaccinated.

The sentiments reflect peoples shifting attitudes about the pandemic in general, and the perceived threat of the virus to young children in particular. Society is at a different point now than when vaccines first became available for older adults 18 months ago and the need to vaccinate fast was palpable and urgent. Some peoples perception of the threat of COVID today is lower than than it used to be, especially when it comes to young children  many of whom have had COVID at least once and who usually fare better than adults. For some parents, this makes the risk-benefit calculus for vaccinating young children more complicated than it was for themselves or their older parents.

The expectations for vaccines are also different now than they were a year and a half ago, when the hope was that the shots could prevent most infections. Now, its possible and increasingly common to get infected and reinfected, even after getting vaccinated and boosted, in part because newer, more contagious variants can better sidestep immunity from previous infection and vaccination.

It seems like everyone whos vaccinated and boosted and fully protected has still gotten COVID, said Amy Rands of Oakland, who previously intended to get her 19-month-old daughter, Drew, vaccinated right away, but now plans to wait a month or two to see how real-world side effects play out. So I just wonder if the benefits of vaccinating her will be worth any sort of challenging factors related to side effects. Im sure it will. But its a lot to go through, especially with three doses ... if (side effects) feel like it did to an adult.

Carolyn Fong/Special to The Chronicle

Rands, who is vaccinated and boosted, said she will still get Drew vaccinated relatively soon  certainly before she starts day care in the fall.

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My plan is just to wait a little longer ... to see anecdotally, from friends or my pediatrician, what theyre seeing in side effects, she said.

The side effects for both vaccines are similar to those in older children and adults, including fever, fatigue, temporary loss of appetite and soreness at the infection site. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are safe and effective in young children, and the benefits outweigh the risks, federal and state vaccine officials found. Pfizers three-dose vaccine is for children 6 months to 4 years old; the second shot is given three weeks after the first, and the third is given eight weeks after the second. Modernas two-dose vaccine is for children 6 months to 5 years old, and is given three weeks apart.

The Pfizer vaccine is 80% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID after three doses, but that figure is considered unreliable because it was based on just 10 cases in the clinical trial. Modernas vaccine has an overall efficacy rate of 42% at preventing symptomatic COVID  51% in kids 6 months to 2 years old, and 37% in kids 2 to 5. Its likely that both vaccines will later include an additional booster dose.

The fact that many babies and young children have already been infected is also factoring into some parents decision-making. As of February, 75% of children 11 and under have had COVID, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released in April. Many children got through their infection without severe illness and subsequently acquired some temporary natural immunity, so some parents feel vaccination now is not that pressing.

Lisa Mario of Menlo Park, who has 9-month-old twins, plans to wait and learn more about the side effects before getting her boys vaccinated. Mario got vaccinated while she was pregnant and got boosted while she was breastfeeding, so her babies acquired some antibodies already. They also later got COVID in May, she said, and recovered after about two days of fever.

Dr. Sarah Rudman, assistant health officer in Santa Clara County, urges vaccination for additional protection. She plans to get her own daughter, Emily, 2, vaccinated as soon as she can get an appointment.

There is a little protection that comes from having had COVID before, but we do know from excellent studies in older children and adult populations that vaccines on top of having COVID gives an added layer of protection, Rudman said. I think that added level of protection is valuable, and the added risk is minimal, if negligible.

Catherine Ho (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho
The monsoonal moisture flowing into Northern California from the coast of Mexico this week could bring a chance of wet and dry thunderstorms to the area starting Wednesday, meteorologists said.

The storm activity appeared to be headed toward the Central Valley and the Sierra, according to the National Weather Service. Isolated showers, thunderstorms and some lightning were expected Wednesday through Friday in those areas, weather officials said.

San Benito and inland Monterey counties were predicted to receive about 1 inch of rain Wednesday, weather officials said.

But in the Bay Area, meteorologists say chances for rain and dry thunderstorms were slim.

The Bay Area itself wont get a whole lot from this, said the weather services Sarah McCorkle.

McCorkle said areas like the East and North Bay could see remnants of the monsoonal moisture starting Wednesday evening into Thursday.

It wont be a lot of rain. If we do get some, it might wet the ground but it wont be a lot, she said.

In some places the event could line up with a heat wave, triggering concerns for lightning-sparked wildfires in regions that have seen historically low rainfall this year. Communities in the East Bay, San Joaquin Valley and Santa Cruz Mountains saw temperatures in the triple digits Tuesday.

Some forecasts show the system clipping the South Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains, but predicting where and when thunder and lightning could hit is notoriously finicky.

Still, McCorkle urged people to continue tracking the forecast as lightning can lead to wildfires. Nearly two years ago, similar conditions coalesced and ignited the CZU August Lightning Complex fire, which destroyed more than 900 homes in Santa Cruz County.

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Its important that people are just staying aware and having your fire plan ready, she said.

The weather service urged people to keep vehicles off of dry grass, avoid using outdoor equipment that could create sparks, properly dispose of cigarettes and matches and avoid dragging tow chains.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Hannah Hagemann contributed to this report.

Jessica Flores (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores
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SACRAMENTO  Every year, Democrats who control the California Legislature pass long lists of bills supported by labor unions, a powerful political force in the Golden State. They often work to earn high ratings and endorsements from labor organizations, including by writing and supporting legislation aimed at boosting union participation.

But the staffers who work for those lawmakers and help craft those pro-labor bills are barred under California law from forming a union themselves.

It is a form of hypocrisy, said Alan Moore, who works as a legislative aide for Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco.

Moore and many of his colleagues are hopeful that a bill scheduled to be heard in committee this week will pass and allow them to form a union. The bill, AB1577, looks likely to advance, as a majority of lawmakers on the committee have signed on as co-authors.

That would be the furthest a bill to let legislative staff form a union has ever gotten. Several previous attempts failed to get a hearing, meaning lawmakers have not had to publicly take a side. Thats what happened last year, when a version of the bill was never assigned to a committee.

Lawmakers and others who support the bill say a groundswell of support for unions across the country, including among workers at big companies such as Starbucks and Amazon, has helped propel the bill forward.

Were seeing this energy, and its what makes me feel so confident that were gonna have the opportunity to really push this through, Assembly Member Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, said at a news conference in support of the bill.

Additionally, concerns about working conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the #MeToo movement against workplace harassment have heightened interest in a union among some legislative staff.

Assembly Member Tasha Boerner Horvath, D-Encinitas, talked about the potential for a union to help legislative staff deal with sexual harassment issues at a May news conference announcing the bill.

She told the story of her mom, who was sexually harassed while working as a math teacher. Her moms colleagues, not management at the school, were the ones who helped her and protected her, she said.

I grew up knowing that women will never have a fair shot in the workplace if we dont have the right to collectively bargain, Boerner Horvath said. If we want equality for women, if we want equity for our staff, we have to give you the right to bargain.

Lorena Gonzalez wrote the original bill to allow staff to unionize when she represented San Diego in the state Assembly. Gonzalez, a Democrat, has since resigned to lead the California Labor Federation. Amid the #MeToo movement, the Legislature held hearings to address sexual harassment of staff and formed the Workplace Conduct Unit to handle investigations into misconduct claims. The unit has since come under scrutiny after The Chronicle published stories about women who say the unit mishandled their claims.

I was always concerned that those people who are most affected, our staff, didnt have a say in it, Gonzalez said of the WCU. She told The Chronicle she feels the same way about how workplace decisions were handled during the pandemic, when there was no reimbursement for cell phones or laptops.

Shubhangi Domokos, a former legislative staffer, said that when she worked in the Capitol, she was lucky to work for Gonzalez. But she said many legislative staff members have a very different experience.

There are countless staffers I know who cant share their stories because of the very real fear of retaliation and, frankly, of being blacklisted simply for advocating for the fundamental right to join a union, she said at the news conference. Even after living through #MeToo and surviving this pandemic, staffers have never had a protected forum to weigh in on how the Legislature deals with matters of sexual harassment, workplace bullying and health and safety protocols.

Domokos said she knows staffers who work 14-hour days and have to take on second jobs. She said they took on extra work during the pandemic, helping operate crisis hotlines and helping with problems related to unemployment benefits.

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Aubrey Rodriguez has worked in the Assembly since 2015, currently serving as legislative director for Assembly Member Alex Lee, D-San Jose. He told The Chronicle he wants to form a union to ensure he and his colleagues are paid fairly.

Although we get really great benefits, a lot of times we dont have a collective voice, and it shows in pay discrepancies within the same office, he said.

Not all staffers support unionization. George Andrews, chief of staff for Assembly Member Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, said there are pay inequities among legislative staff, but he doesnt believe this bill would address them.

Andrews said Republican staffers are often paid less than Democratic ones, even though he said he believes they do more work because there are fewer of them. Republican lawmakers comprise a small minority of the Legislature, meaning there are far fewer Republican staffers than Democratic ones.

During their time controlling the Legislature, Democrats have not addressed that pay disparity. He said he doesnt believe this bill, which is being pushed by Democratic lawmakers, will address those either.

The language has no protections for the true minority in this building, Andrews said of the bill. I think its a scam.

AB1577 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Labor Committee on Wednesday, its first test. It must pass out of the full Senate and Assembly and be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to become law.

Sophia Bollag is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sophia.bollag@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SophiaBollag
Filipa Ioannou/The Chronicle

San Francisco police said a man was shot and killed in the citys Marina district on Sunday night.

San Francisco Police officers responded to a report of a shooting on Francisco and Scott streets at approximately 10:34 p.m., where they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound, police said.
A driver struck and killed a pedestrian before fleeing in San Franciscos Mission District on Tuesday morning, authorities said.

A man was crossing South Van Ness Avenue at 16th Street around 4:36 a.m. when a driver traveling north on South Van Ness Avenue ran a red light and struck him, San Francisco Police Officer Kathryn Winters said in a statement.

Investigators believe the driver fled north on South Van Ness Avenue, Winters said.

Police officers responded to the area and found Rene Kelly, 48, suffering from traumatic injuries, Winters said.

Paramedics rendered aid to the victim, police said, but Kelly died from his injuries at the scene.

The incident was under investigation. Anyone with information and video footage is asked to contact the Police Department at 415-575-4444.

Jessica Flores (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores
Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle 2010

The city of Oakland has agreed to pay $1.5 million to cover attorneys fees and damages for 25 people after a lawsuit was filed alleging police violated their rights during the George Floyd protests in 2020, according to the city.

The Anti Police-Terror Project, Community Ready Corps and 27 individuals filed a lawsuit against the city, former interim Police Chief Susan Manheimer and three police officers over the handling of protests that broke out after the murder of George Floyd, according to a city staff report. Two of the 27 people who filed suit have not settled with the city.
Good news, Bay Area burrito fans: A new location of Mission District taqueria institution El Farolito is now open in North Beach.

The taqueria is officially slinging burritos and tacos at 1230 Grant Ave., at Columbus Avenue, according to an El Farolito Facebook post and Hoodline.

This outpost of El Farolito nearly didnt exist, however, after it was temporarily blocked due to San Franciscos ban on chain stores in North Beach. The controversy sparked debate over whether the iconic San Francisco-born string of taquerias should be considered a chain, which is defined by city planning code as a business with 11 or more locations. That then led to fervor over the citys rules.

El Farolito already had at least 11 restaurants in San Francisco, the East Bay, the North Bay and the Central Valley, but some outposts outside of San Francisco are called El Favorito and use slightly different signage. The first taqueria opened in San Francisco in 1983.

El Farolito ultimately overcame the rules by making some changes to signage at other locations.

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The North Beach taqueria makes what critic Soleil Ho deemed among the best burritos in the Bay Area. Few foods are more comforting than Taqueria El Farolito's iconic, baby-size burritos, Ho wrote. Nachos, tortas and quesadillas are also on the menu. Like the Mission original, the newest outpost stays open late, until 2 a.m.

Taqueria El Farolito. 10 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. 1230 Grant Ave., San Francisco. elfarolitosf.com

Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany
Darker, kid! Always go darker than you think! With his hand gripped on my shoulder, the cook who taught me how to make gumbo would repeat these words while waving a hand at the roux I was stirring, halting me from tipping shellfish stock into the immature pot and making an irreversibly grave error. We would wait for the roux, a simple mixture of flour and oil, to darken, tense as a racing greyhound in the moment before the stuffed rabbit swings out in front of its face. And then it was time to run, run, run. A decade later, I can still hear his gravelly voice pinging around my skull when I taste other peoples gumbo.

Maybe Ive let this memory congeal into an unreachable dogma, but Ive often perceived something not-quite-right about the bowls of gumbo Out There, in the big, wide world outside of New Orleans. Some were so light as to be practically blond, while others were filled with disintegrating shrimp that had been thrown into the pot way too early. Theres a Creole saying, first documented in writing by 19th century historian and sometimes-New Orleanian Lafcadio Hearn, that feels right here: Jardin loin, gombo gate. When the garden is far, the gumbo is spoiled.

In the Bay Area, Ive found only two gumbos that hush the tiny Creole man living inside my head. Both are what youd call gumbo ya-ya, a variation that uses chicken and andouille sausage as the main proteins in the stew. The first is Brenda Buenviajes thick and glossy gumbo, reminiscent of Japanese curry and served at her eponymous restaurants in San Franciscos Tenderloin and North Oakland. The deep brown of dark chocolate, Buenviajes take is full of chest-rumbling culinary bass notes, with a sprinkle of raw scallions providing the countermelody. To me, its perfect; no notes.

The second, from Gumbo Social, is perhaps less well-known, though it shouldnt be.

Felix Uribe/Special to The Chronicle

Camped out in a tented stall in the Outer Sunsets weekly Sunset Mercantile, Dontaye Ball  the self-styled Mr. Gumbo  is often seen in the back, stirring pots and flipping shrimp on a flat-top grill. A classically trained chef, Ball began making gumbo at casual get-togethers with his friends; eventually, they got more elaborate, morphing into a build-your-own gumbo bar stacked with langoustines, crab, lobster and even mussels. As more and more people showed up to eat, the routine snowballed into a full-blown business. The menu at his stall has only four options: a breakfast sandwich ($11), a shrimp poboy ($14), mixed greens and beans for the vegans ($10) and gumbo ($12). The spirit of the gumbo bar lives on through $4 optional add-ons of smoked turkey, shrimp and roasted pork belly.

The poboy is a beast of a sandwich, piled high on a crisp French loaf with grilled shrimp, coleslaw and a thick thread of remoulade-like social sauce. Its the kind of sandwich that makes you pause to consider your plan of attack  should I go sideways? Top-down? Whatever you do, spread a napkin on your lap to catch any shrimp that attempt to flee.

Felix Uribe/Special to The Chronicle

While he doesnt make any claims of authenticity, Ball has dealt with plenty of gumbo skeptics like me before. People come up to me and ask, Where are you from? When I say, San Francisco, they give me that look. Ball laughed when he recounted the many looks hes received. I think Ive changed a lot of minds that think folks from the West Coast cant make good gumbo.

Balls gumbo is thinner than the gravy-adjacent version at Brendas, which makes it easier to sip on as you stroll around the farmers market. Okra is sliced laterally into curving scimitar-like pieces, their open sides seared on a grill to add even more depth and crunch to the stew. While a New Orleans-focused business like muffuletta pop-up Sandys might employ sausages imported from Louisiana, Gumbo Social opts for locally made ones from Evergood, which makes its own version of Louisiana hot links.

I think thats important to what we do, he said. Were using the stuff thats here. Its going to taste just a little bit different, he conceded, but its that approach that makes him a dyed-in-the-wool Californian. Well, that and the fact that he also started fantasizing about putting sea urchin roe on gumbo during our conversation.

Felix Uribe/Special to The Chronicle

A descendant of migrants from Mississippi who settled in the Fillmore neighborhood, Ball both eschews the obligations of authenticity and owns his Southern heritage. His first taste of gumbo was at his grandmothers home in the Fillmore when he was 8 years old; the image of bright red crab legs peeking out of the gumbo pot is forever engraved on his mind.

My thesis is that gumbo is the most important food to American culture, he said, and in many ways, its exactly the kind of soup that one might expect to find in the apocryphal Great American Melting Pot. In Gombo Zhebes, Lafcadio Hearns 1885 collection of Creole proverbs, he noted that English-speaking New Orleanians of the time used the term gombo instead of Creole to refer to the local patois, a mishmash of French, Spanish, Choctaw and the myriad of languages spoken by enslaved West Africans. Any arguments about the supremacy of one gumbo technique over the other, or any attempt to codify the recipe, invariably run up against the baked-in nature of the dish: Its all about multiplicity, even in its name.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Felix Uribe/Special to The Chronicle

Hearns 1885 cookbook, La Cuisine Creole, includes a number of gumbo recipes that he gathered from local sources, with beef, oysters, shrimp and chicken serving as key ingredients in some. Depending on who you ask, the best gumbo might include lobsters, mounds of kale, or fresh-caught rabbit or squirrel.

While fondness for a dish like gumbo might make us a bit possessive over its parameters, Id imagine a mindset like Dontaye Balls is the healthy way to go about it. Why not pork belly or langoustines or duck confit? If gumbo is a key to understanding American culture, perhaps it best represents our cultures optimism: that feeling that, with just enough cooking, all the disparate elements will eventually start to make sense together. Well, while that might work wonders in a stew pot, whether that works in a human society is, as they say, TBD. Weve gotta keep stirring that one yet.

Gumbo Social. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays. 1994 37th Ave., San Francisco. Check website for other pop-up locations: www.gumbosocial.com

Soleil Ho is The San Francisco Chronicles restaurant critic. Email: soleil@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hooleil
Matthias Gafni/Matthias Gafni

San Francisco firefighters received at least 50 calls for first aid during the Warriors parade that drew tens of thousands of people to Market Street on Monday, mostly stemming from the sticky June heat and heavy alcohol consumption.

Many people arrived wearing San Francisco layers, Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a Fire Department spokesperson, told The Chronicle, describing how revelers stuff themselves into jackets despite the warm weather, and failed to bring water bottles.
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San Francisco will open a drug sobering center Monday where people on the street can temporarily ride out highs and could get connected to treatment, the latest initiative to address the overdose crisis and complaints about drug use on city streets.

The center, called SoMa RISE, will operate out of a former office building the city is leasing at 1076 Howard St. in the South of Market neighborhood, one of the epicenters of the drug crisis, along with the Tenderloin.

The space will have room for around 20 people from the Tenderloin and SoMa, who are expected to stay between four and 12 hours, longer if necessary.

On a tour Thursday, officials showed off the renovated former co-working office. Floor-to-ceiling glass dividers separated the lobby, where an emergency medical technician will test guests for COVID-19 and check their vital signs, from the resting space filled with a dozen plastic beds, chairs and a couple tables with games, puzzles and coloring materials. Guests can use the bathroom and showers, get food and clothes and talk with counselors to connect to services including possibly housing or treatment.

The city designed the center in 2019 to mainly serve users of methamphetamine, which can cause bad reactions including paranoia or hallucinations. Troubling behaviors on the street that may look like mental illness - someone talking to themself or pulling at their clothes - may actually be meth-induced, officials said. The increase in meth use over the past decade contributed to skyrocketing overdose deaths and flooded San Franciscos emergency rooms with people high and in crisis. The center will also help users of the powerful opioid fentanyl, a factor in a majority of the citys more than 1,300 overdose deaths over the past two years, and other drugs.

The dual epidemic of fentanyl and meth, compounded with homelessness, is a big problem for the city, Dr. David Pating, the Department of Public Healths lead for the new sobering center, said in the buildings lobby. The sobering center is one solution to avoid drug-related crises in public and get people connected to help.

Its safer to be here than on the streets - safer for the participants who are intoxicated and safer for the neighborhood as well, Pating said.

Vitka Eisen, CEO for nonprofit drug treatment provider HealthRIGHT 360 that will run the site, said the center could be a first intervention for people coming off the streets or a place to reconnect with those who may have left treatment.

We want to make sure that those people dont fall between the cracks, she said.

The program will be voluntary. People can walk in, be referred by other centers or service providers, or transported by city outreach teams that respond to people who are homeless or in mental health crises.

At least six staff members on-site, plus an emergency medical technician, are trained in how to respond to and reverse overdoses as well as de-escalate violence. Once people come down from their highs, staff can transport them in vans or give them taxi vouchers to their next destination, such as a shelter, treatment program, medical clinic or home location, information online said.

The city budgeted $4.2 million to run the program and lease the building for the fiscal year starting July 1. The city said start-up costs were marginal, shared between the health department, landlord and HealthRIGHT 360, but could not provide an exact number.

The city signed an eight-year lease, starting in 2021, with the possibility to extend for another five years. A $9.9 million contract  with $1.1 million of that as a contingency  between the city and HealthRIGHT 360 available online runs from July 2021 to December 2023, but was only signed in February after departmental delays.

The center initially will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and scale up to 24 hours a day.

Officials hope the opening of the drug sobering center  the top recommendation of a meth task force of city experts in 2019  will provide long-term solutions to people suffering from addiction and reduce the number of people acting erratically or dangerously while high on the streets.

The need is far greater than 20 beds: In the last comprehensive count in 2019, the city counted 4,000 people who struggled with substance use, mental illness and homelessness.

The 18-month pilot program comes to fruition as San Francisco grapples with reducing public drug use and fatal overdoses. The centers opening follows Mayor London Breeds emergency declaration in the Tenderloin in December to address the overdose crisis. It also comes a week after the news that the centerpiece of the emergency  a drop-in center to connect people to services in U.N. Plaza  will close at the end of the year.

The Tenderloin center made the controversial choice to allow drug use in an outdoor fenced-in area, but that will not be the case in the new sobering center. The mayors spokesperson, Parisa Safarzadeh, said if people are using, staff will ensure they immediately discontinue using on-site and connect them with the nonprofit Harm Reduction Therapy Center or other off-site programs where they could use drugs.

The city has run a similar 12-bed alcohol sobering center in SoMa since 2003.

Shannon Smith-Bernardin, an assistant professor at UCSF who ran the alcohol sobering center for 10 years and now heads the National Sobering Collective nonprofit, said such centers reduce harm and keep people out of expensive emergency rooms and jails. They also can connect people to long-term care, although it often takes multiple visits to get someone to try treatment. At Bostons sobering center, the average was 13 interactions, she said.

Laura Thomas, director of harm reduction policy for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and a member of the meth task force, said it was vital to have a place for drug users to rest regardless of what their goals are in the moment around changing their relationship around drugs.

Others want to see more an emphasis on treatment. Tom Wolf, a recovery advocate, said he wanted to reserve judgment on the sobering center to see how it goes. He expects all the beds will be full, but said the key is to see what happens after visitors leave the center.

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.

Safarzadeh said if the center is full, staff will alert outreach teams and work to connect someone in need to another resource. Once guests at the center come down, staff can refer them to myriad programs, including detox, medication-assisted, residential drug or mental health treatment and therapy.

Alex Kral, an epidemiologist at RTI International who researches drug policies, said we need more treatment slots in San Francisco to make those connections. The city is working on adding 400 behavioral health treatment beds.

Many experts and advocates also want to see a supervised drug consumption site staffed by medical professionals. The federal government prohibits such sites, but New York City has opened two. City officials have been talking for years about opening a site in San Francisco, but the plan hasnt moved forward, frustrating harm-reduction advocates.

Breeds spokesman Jeff Cretan said Tuesday that the city was still talking with the Department of Justice as they worked through very real issues.

The city started planning the drug sobering center in 2019, but the pandemic pushed back the planned opening in 2020. The city announced last June that the center would open in the fall. Construction and supply chain problems delayed the opening, Safarzadeh said.

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who co-chaired the meth task force and attended Thursdays tour, said he was continually frustrated by how long it takes to get facilities like this up and running.

It would be great to move quickly on this to see if it works, adjust and do the next thing and have all of that take weeks and months, not years, because the need is obvious, he said.

Mandelman also said it was critical to get the center running 24/7 as soon as possible to avoid what happened at the Tenderloin center. It planned to scale up to operate round-the-clock, but still shuts at 8 p.m., sending visitors back to the streets if there is no placement for them.

The city said experts are developing criteria to evaluate the sobering centers effectiveness, which may support initiatives to create additional drug crisis response centers in other neighborhoods where we know the need exists.

Editor s note: This story has been updated to correct that the city secured an eight-year lease.

Mallory Moench (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench
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A year after his first attempt to paddle from San Francisco to Hawaii alone in a small kayak was thwarted by rough seas, Cyril Derreumaux is trying again on Tuesday.

The 45-year-old French-born resident of Larkspur launched his custom-made 23-foot-long craft from Sausalito last June with the goal of paddling approximately 2,400 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean to Honolulu. He'd prepared for a year and would have been the second person to make the voyage in a kayak following the legendary El Gillet, who completed the journey in 63 days in 1987 and nearly starved to death in the process.

But last summer, after 6 days at sea, much of which he spent hunkered against choppy water in his small cabin, Derreumaux called for a rescue from the U.S. Coast Guard.

"I had to admit, like, yes, I guess I wasn't prepared," he said.

But rather than give up entirely, Derreumaux has spent the past year planning his second attempt  improving his boat, honing logistics and training off the California coast. Preparing has become an obsession, he said.

"I haven't been able to start a normal life because my dream has still been alive," Derreumaux said.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

He is launching from Monterey in the company of just a few friends and support crew members.

June offers ideal ocean conditions for these types of mid-Pacific crossings, and a relatively high number of extreme seafarers left California for Hawaii last summer  including one piloting a stand-up hydrofoil powered by a hand-held sail.

Derreumaux's modest carbon-fiber kayak is much lighter and more cramped  and his cockpit is nearer to the water's surface  than the relatively hefty open-ocean rowboats that have carried solo rowers to Hawaii in each of the past two summers.

Last year, Turkish-born adventurer Erden Eruc launched from Crescent City and stopped in Hawaii after 80 days at sea en route to the Philippines. The year before, sailor Lia Ditton set out from Sausalito and arrived in Honolulu after a punishing 86-day odyssey.

Derreumaux rowed to Hawaii in 2016, but as part of a four-man crew in the Great Pacific Race, a team rowing event that departs from San Francisco and has run four times since 2014. He anticipates this summer's solo voyage, should he complete it, may take 2-3 months.

"If you go with the intention of not quitting until the boat sinks, maybe that's the way to go," he said. "From the moment I go, I have to be on my top game. I have to take it almost as if it's a race  be super focused and disciplined."

To track Derreumauxs voyage and read his blog posts from the ocean, visit his website: www.Solokayaktohawaii.com/tracker.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

Gregory Thomas is The Chronicle's editor of lifestyle & outdoors. Email: gthomas@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @GregRThomas
Author Jennifer Egan says she is considering a book idea about San Francisco before the tech boom.
A cart with syringes and other items for safe drug use at the Tenderloin Center.
The Red Victorian on Haight Street was identified as a possible place for transitional age housing by Supervisor Dean Preston when it went for sale in 2020 but it ultimately was not purchased by The City.
A surge in demand from Asia for discounted Russian oil is making up for the sharply lower number of barrels being sold to Europe, dulling the effects of the Wests efforts to punish Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine and keeping revenue flowing to the Kremlin.

Most of the additional oil has gone to two countries: China and India. Chinas imports of Russian oil rose 28% in May from the previous month, hitting a record high and helping Russia overtake Saudi Arabia as Chinas largest supplier. And most of the increase went to India, which has gone from taking in almost no Russian oil to bringing in more than 760,000 barrels a day, according to shipping data analyzed by Kpler, a market research firm.

Although South Korea and Japan have cut back on Russian oil, those volumes are a fraction of what is being bought by China and India.

Asia has saved Russian crude production, said Viktor Katona, an analyst at Kpler. Russia, instead of falling further, is almost close to its pre-pandemic levels.

Russian oil is being sold at a steep discount because of the risks associated with sanctions imposed to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Even so, soaring energy prices have led to an uptick in oil revenue for Russia, which took in $1.7 billion more last month than it did in April, according to the International Energy Agency.

Although it remains to be seen how much Asia will continue buying the oil as Europe weans itself off Russian energy, the shift has allowed Moscow to maintain its production levels and defy analysts expectations that its output would plunge. And it has offered another indication of the support Russia enjoys from China, whose top leader, Xi Jinping, has offered to deepen cooperation with Moscow despite its invasion of Ukraine.

Russian crude sales dropped by 554,000 barrels a day to Europe from March to May, while Asian refiners increased their take by 503,000 barrels a day  nearly a replacement of one for one. Of those, 165,000 barrels are going to China from eastern Russian ports instead of the Baltic and Black Sea ports that traditionally supply Europe. Russian sales to India reached a record 841,000 barrels a day in May, eight times the average from last year.

J.P. Morgan commodities experts estimate that China can buy an additional 1 million barrels of Russian crude a day as China recovers from COVID-19 and attempts to add to its strategic crude stockpiles on the cheap. Russian Urals crude is selling for a $30 discount compared with Brent, the international bench mark.

The combination of discounted Russian crude and higher prices at the pump also means that Indian refiners are doubly profiting, according to analysts. Some of the oil products re-exported by India went in shipments bound for the United States, Britain, France and Italy, according to the Finland-based organization Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

There was the hope that threatened sanctions against those who insured Russian shipments would stick. But while financing shipping vessels has increased costs, the discounts are so steep that China, India and other Asian buyers are buying.

Once they refine oil into diesel, no one can distinguish whether the products that are sent to Europe and elsewhere come from Russian crude. JP Morgan estimates that Russia can find shipping capacity to transport about 3 million barrels a day of oil to Asia, and state-run Indian and Chinese insurers will take care of the insurance.

Those molecules, a lot of them are Russian, Jeff Brown, president of FGE, an energy consulting firm, said of the refined oil that is being re-exported to the West. Thats the core tension  they want to punish Russia, but they dont want oil prices to go up.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Parents can start getting their children ages 6 months to 4 years old the COVID-19 vaccine, the San Francisco Department of Public Health said Tuesday.

If you have health insurance, you should reach out to your provider or pediatrician about booking a time to get your child a shot. Kaiser, UCSF, Dignity and Sutter Health are opening appointments starting today.

To ensure that everyone has access to the vaccine, the Department of Public Health is also offering COVID-19 vaccines at city-operated and neighborhood sites, including Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, starting Wednesday. Some pharmacies will also offer vaccines, though most can only serve children 3 years or older. You can find a list of vaccine sites and pharmacies at sf.gov/getvaccinated. You can also book appointments through the state's vaccine site here.

The Food and Drug Administration approved two vaccine brands, Pfizer and Moderna, for this age group. The vaccines use the same technology as the adult vaccines but the doses are smaller.

The Pfizer shot is for children 6 months to 4 years old, and three shots are needed. The first two are administered three weeks apart, and the last at least two months later. The Moderna vaccine is two shots given about four weeks apart for kids 6 months through 5 years old.

The vaccines provide protection from hospitalization, death and possible long-term complications from contracting COVID-19, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said.

San Francisco's health department received an initial shipment of 12,800 vaccines that will be distributed through San Francisco Health Network, which serves the most vulnerable people in the city, including patients without insurance. This shipment does not include doses sent to major health systems, pharmacies and community clinics, the department said.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP)  Disney workers traded their character costumes for yoga pants early Tuesday and planked, did the downward dog and folded into lotus poses at Walt Disney World in Florida to celebrate International Yoga Day.

The sunrise celebration has spread to other Disney properties around the globe since yoga enthusiasts started it at the Florida resort in 2016.
San Francisco has all kinds of unique rental situations. From bunk bed pods to beds that descend from the ceiling, living in one of the most expensive cities in the country forces people to get creative in order to find semi-affordable housing. And one of the best ways to get a deal is to luck into a room in a San Francisco apartment thats been rent-controlled for years.

But when you sign up to live with someone whos paying far below market rate, theyre not just becoming your roommate  theyre also becoming your landlord. The master tenant, as theyre often known, gets to decide your rent; youll likely cut a check directly to them and even funnel repair requests their way. This situation is ripe for conflict, seeing as one person has drastically more power than the other tenants. But its not a perfect arrangement for the de facto landlord, either: They often hold even more power than they may have bargained for.

To understand a master tenant situation, its important to start with rent control and all the rules that come along with it. More than 60% of San Franciscos rental units are subject to rent control. Specifically, rental units in a building constructed before June 13, 1979, qualify. Under the San Francisco Rent Board, people living in rent-controlled apartments are entitled to special protections regarding rental increases and eviction. Their apartments are likely cheaper than market rate and can only increase in rent costs by a certain amount each year.

The San Francisco Rent Board sets a percentage per year based on the Consumer Price Index in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose region for a 12-month period. The allowable annual increase amount for March 2021 to Feb. 28, 2022, was 0.7%. This year, the allowable increase has risen to 2.3%. If you moved into your current two-bedroom apartment in 2010 and paid $2,800 a month, the most your rent could be now is $3,339. Thats about 15% below the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment according to Zumpers most recent rental estimations.

These arrangements are pretty much the only affordable arrangements that are left, said Scott Weaver, an attorney and volunteer with the San Francisco Tenants Union. Its unfortunate in this tight housing market because you want to be able to be picky about who you have as a master tenant.

Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE

But becoming a master tenant often happens by accident. Theres no document thats signed that empowers someone to be a master tenant, said tenants rights attorney Joseph Tobener. It happens by circumstances. People get into these roommate situations in order to survive.  The roommate is a way to make ends meet.

Search master tenant on Twitter and there are plenty of horror stories out there. A common grift? Master tenants charging subtenants an amount that adds up to more than the actual rent, allowing them to keep the profit. Adam, who declined to give his last name, said when he first moved to San Francisco, he found a two-bedroom apartment in Nob Hill with a master tenant who was never around (a nice perk). But the master tenant later rented her room out to another tenant, who was very messy, and then eventually stopped paying rent entirely. Adam came home one day to find a note taped to the front door that showed the full rent amount of the apartment, which was far lower than the "half" he was paying for his room. The full rent for the apartment was $2,150, and his rent for the smaller bedroom was $1,500.

The master tenant moving out of their apartment entirely happens more than youd think, whether or not they ever plan to return.

Some San Franciscans get a room in a master tenant-run apartment thats too cheap to leave, even though the master tenant is dangerous, abusive or just plain a terrible roommate.

One SFGATE staffer said he suffered through a terrible master tenant situation for eight years because the rent on his apartment in Russian Hill was significantly cheaper than it would have been in a market-rate unit. The master tenant had already been there for more than 10 years, was messy and had a penchant for late-night parties. But ultimately, the master tenant conundrum is what allowed the SFGATE staffer to save up enough money to buy a place in the Bay Area.

If youre tempted to rent a room from a master tenant, make sure to look out for red flags, Weaver said. You want to be picky about your master tenant. You have to rely on your gut instincts. If theres been a lot of turnover, that may be a warning sign.

Weaver also warns against renting from someone who seems to revel in their amount of power and the fact that they get to make the rules.

While it seems like master tenants are all-powerful, theyre actually taking on more responsibility than they often think. Master tenants are landlords under the rent ordinance, so any law that applies to a landlord is going to apply to master tenants, Tobener said.

That means a master tenant could be sued if repairs arent made in a timely manner, or if they arent keeping the apartment up in a safe way should there be a fire, for example. They also could be sued if its discovered that theyre charging the subtenants more than the total cost of rent, or an odd proportion of the share.

If you end up as a master tenant, even by accident, Tobener recommends getting tenant insurance to protect yourself. Youre in the business of landlording if youre a master tenant and youve got to run it like a business or its going to bite you in the ass, Tobener said. And most people dont. Most people think of it just like a roommate situation [where youre] the one cutting the check.

The actual landlord will also typically only work with the master tenant when it comes to collecting rent, taking repair requests, etc. If the landlord forms a relationship with one of the other tenants, then they wouldnt be able to necessarily raise the rent if the master tenant eventually moves out. Plus, its easier to just deal with one person.

With San Francisco rental prices still the second-highest in the country, Weaver said he thinks these types of situations will always be around. And he said he thinks most of the time, they end up working out fine. If people are able to get along, its a great thing, Weaver said.
COLOGNE, Germany (AP)  When Syrian refugee Fadel Alkhudr arrived in Germany in 2015, the first thing he saw when he stepped out of the train in Cologne was the city's majestic cathedral.

Alkhudr, 42, became so fascinated by the famous Gothic landmark on the Rhine river with its twin spires and elaborate ornaments that he spent hours looking at it. He took photos of it, drew sketches, and eventually started carving a wooden replica.

For over 2.5 years  or around 5,000 hours, as he says  Alkhudr worked on creating a two-meter (6.5-foot) -tall copy of the structure in a small basement-turned-workshop in Colognes Kalk neighborhood.

Alkhudr, who is Muslim, said he developed such a close connection to the Catholic cathedral that at some point it felt like the building became a part of him like its a dear friend to me.

The Syrian, who learned carving from his father at the age of 13, first fled to Turkey and then to the western German city of Cologne after his familys wood-carving business in Aleppo was destroyed in the war in Syria. He said hes often asked if it didnt feel strange for a Muslim to dedicate himself to Germanys most famous Christian house of worship.

Not at all, he answers, because growing up in Aleppo before the civil war, he had both Muslim and Christian friends, and customers from different religions who came to buy wooden art at the family store.

When we were in Aleppo we used to have ... no issues between a mosque and a church, the father of five recounts. Our neighbors were Christian and we are Muslims, we used to invite each other into our homes and there were no problems.

Alkhudr is one of over 1 million migrants who came to Germany from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan in 2015-16, escaping war, destruction and poverty in their home countries. He first worked odd jobs to make a living, brought his family over in 2017, and, since 2019, focused on creating the cathedral model. He hopes that in the future he can also make a living in Germany as an art carver.

Alkhudr used hard beech wood and 50-year-old tools from back home in Syria that his father had passed on to him. The end result was taller then himself, measuring two meters in height and length, and 1.40 meters in width.

The original cathedral is 152 meters (500 feet) tall and took more than 600 years  from 1248 to 1880  to complete. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hosts the Shrine of the Three Kings, believed to contain the bones of the Three Wise Men. The cathedral is one of Germany's top tourist attractions and one of the oldest and most important pilgrimage sites of Northern Europe.

Alkhudrs delicately chiseled work is currently on show at the cathedrals Domforum visitor center just across from the original. The Syrian hopes that he can present his woodwork in other cities, too, and thus spread what he sees as the cathedral's unifying message.

For me, the cathedral is a home for all people, he said.

___

Kirsten Grieshaber reported from Berlin.
An American teacher who was arrested at a Moscow airport last summer has been sentenced to 14 years in a maximum-security Russian prison.

Russian officials say the video shows the detention of Marc Fogel at the Moscow airport as security staff find what they describe as large-scale cannabis in his luggage.
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SYLHET, Bangladesh (AP)  Early and strong monsoon rains have brought heavy flooding to northeastern India and Bangladesh, killing dozens of people, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes and cutting millions off from crucial supplies.

In the particularly hard-hit area of Sylhet in Bangladesh, villagers waded, swam and paddled makeshift rafts or small skiffs to a boat delivering aid that had moored to one shelter, its ground floor covered halfway to the ceiling with water.

Monsoon rains in South Asia typically begin in June. But this year, heavy downpours lashed northeastern India and Bangladesh beginning in March, triggering floods as early as April in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina surveyed many of the flooded areas by helicopter Tuesday and urged regional leaders to speed up relief efforts at a meeting with them.

The U.N. childrens agency says about 4 million people  including 1.6 million children  have been cut off by the floods in the countrys northeast and that without fresh drinking water, they could be in serious danger of waterborne diseases.

On the other side of the mountain range to the north of Sylhet in Indias Assam state, the torrential rains sent the Brahmaputra River spilling over its banks in many areas, leaving destruction and triggering massive landslides.

Assam authorities reported 10 more flood deaths on Tuesday, bringing its total to 64, with 17 others killed in landslides.

Nearly a quarter-million people are now living in emergency relief camps in Assam, and many others have constructed their own temporary shelters and cobbled together basic rafts to escape areas cut off by the floods.

The National Disaster Response Force and the Indian Army have evacuated thousands of people in the last week from the roofs of their houses with inflatable boats. They fear some people are still missing.

The Brahmaputra River flows from India into northern Bangladesh on its way to the Bay of Bengal, and Bangladeshs Flood Forecast and Warning Center warned Tuesday of dangerously high waters for the next five days.

With rising global temperatures due to climate change, experts say the monsoon is becoming more variable, meaning that much of the rain that would typically fall in a season is arriving in a shorter period of time.
Commemorating its 157th anniversary on June 19, the day known as Juneteenth marks one of the earliest moments of liberation of enslaved people in the U.S. While the day has been traditionally marked by prayer services and public memorials, flying the Juneteenth flag is also part of the holidays commemoration.

Norwich resident Ben Haith is crediting with designing the Juneteenth flag, according to Connecticut by the Numbers, and worked with illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf to create the banner while living in Boston in 1997.

The flag was revised in 2000 to todays version; seven years later, CNN reports that June 19, 1865 was added to mark the day in 1865 on which a group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned they were freed from the institution of slavery, making them among the last to be freed. The day came two-and-a-half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation declaring enslaved people in states seceded from the Union freed.

Haith, who grew up in Stamford, told the Norwich Bulletin that the flag is about humanity and about people who accomplished a lot, even though they went through a lot. Channeling this symbolism into the flags design was a deliberate process, Haith told CNN while breaking down the meaning of the flags components.

Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

Seen in flag-raising ceremonies around the state, the flag is red and white and features a white star framed by a starburst at the center along with the June 19, 1865 date along the outer right side. Haith told CNN the star symbolized both Texas as the Lone Star State and honors Galvestons role the formation of the holiday; it also represents the freedom of African Americans in all 50 states.

The burst surrounded the star is inspired by a nova, a term that astronomers use to mean a new star, according to CNN represents a new beginning for those freed from slavery in Galveston and the rest of the U.S. The red and blue background colors are separated by an arc, which CNN notes is indicative of a new horizon and connotes the the opportunities and promise that lay ahead for Black Americans.

Haith explained to the Norwich Bulletin that the starburst as the representation of a new people, with the star bursting out. The curve of between the red and blue background colors represents the star rising into the heavens, where the other stars are in the blue, Haith said, noting that we all belong to the universe.

The red and blue background colors  along with the white star, burst and date  represent the American flag and serve as a reminder that slaves and their descendants are Americans. The inclusion of the June 19, 1865 date marks the date that enslaved Black people in Galveston learned they were freed from the institution of slavery.

While Haiths flag design is widely used to help commemorate Juneteenth, he said he considers himself a small part of the holiday and all it stands for.

Whats happening with Juneteenth is much larger than me; Im just a small part of it, and I appreciate peoples thanking me about designing the flag, which represents something much larger than itself, he told the Norwich Bulletin. Hopefully, people will start thinking about Juneteenth throughout the world, to help bring peace to our world
CHICAGO (AP)  Two teenage girls have been charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery in the stabbing of a 15-year-old girl on Chicago's Southside.

The suspects  ages 17 and 15  were arrested Monday, Chicago police said.
ATLANTA (AP)  The owners of a majority share of a nuclear power plant being expanded in Georgia are suing lead owner Georgia Power Co., claiming the company is trying to bilk them out of nearly $700 million by unilaterally changing a contract.

The lawsuits, filed in recent days in state court in Atlanta by Oglethorpe Power Corp. and the Municipal Electrical Authority of Georgia, lay out the clearest version yet of a contract dispute that's been simmering for months.

At issue are the billions in cost overruns for a third and fourth nuclear reactor being built at Plant Vogtle, east of Augusta. If Oglethorpe and MEAG win, it could hold down bills for the millions of customers of electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in Georgia, as well as for customers of the municipal utility in Jacksonville, Florida, and for some Alabama cooperative and municipal utility customers.

If Georgia Power loses, the shareholders of its parent, Atlanta-based Southern Co., would most likely have to absorb more losses. The company has said it's unlikely that its regulator, the Georgia Public Service Commission, will let Georgia Power charge customers above a certain amount for Vogtle.

Oglethorpe and MEAG say a judge should enforce the contract and order Georgia Power to repay disputed amounts, plus interest and attorneys fees. They aren't trying to stop completion of the Vogtle units east of Augusta.

Despite its solemn, written promise to accept increased responsibility for cost overruns over the threshold, Georgia Power has quite simply reneged. The time has come for Georgia Power to honor its agreement, Oglethorpe's lawyers wrote in the Fulton County Superior Court lawsuit.

Georgia Power spokesperson Jacob Hawkins said the company hasn't seen the lawsuit and "will continue to engage with our co-owners productively.

At issue is a 2018 deal. Oglethorpe threatened to back out unless it was protected from additional overruns. Because Oglethorpe's 38 cooperatives and MEAG's 49 municipal utilities don't have shareholders, unlike Georgia Power, there's no one to absorb overruns except electric customers.

Georgia Power owns 45.7% of the two reactors, compared to Oglethorpe's 30% and MEAG's 22.3%. The city of Dalton's utility owns the remaining 1.6% and hasn't sued.

Georgia Power agreed that above a certain point, it would pay 55.7% of the next $800 million in construction costs, and then 65.7% of the next $500 million. Those extra contributions total $180 million. After that, the co-owners can require Georgia Power to cover all remaining overruns. In exchange, the co-owners would sell part of their ownership shares to Georgia Power.

Oglethorpe and MEAG say the agreement activates once shared construction costs rise $2.1 billion above $17.1 billion. That doesn't count financing costs and some other costs. Associated Press calculations show the reactors will cost at least $30.34 billion overall.

Oglethorpe and MEAG say Georgia Power should already be paying higher shares of construction costs under the agreement. Oglethorpe announced on Saturday that it will freeze its costs and force Georgia Power to pay additional overruns in exchange for part of Oglethorpe's ownership, saving Oglethorpe a projected $400 million.

But Georgia Power says the base construction cost should be $18.38 billion and that the agreement doesn't kick in until shared costs reach $20.48 billion. If Georgia Power can raise all the thresholds in the agreement by $1.3 billion, the other owners would have to pay an extra $695 million.

Southern Co. has acknowledged it will have to pay at least $440 million more to cover what would have been other owners costs, saying other amounts are in dispute.

Georgia Power has also argued that COVID-19 was an act of God that drove up costs and delayed work, and it shouldnt have to pay for that slowdown, although that claim is barely mentioned in the lawsuits.

Oglethorpe and MEAG say Georgia Power has continued to bill them for the original shares of the construction costs in recent months, and not reduced shares. Months of private talks preceding the lawsuits produced no agreement.

Vogtle is the only nuclear plant under construction in the United States. Its costs and delays could deter other utilities from building such plants, even though they generate electricity without releasing climate-changing carbon emissions.

When Vogtle was approved in 2012, the reactors were estimated to cost $14 billion, with the first electricity being generated in 2016, compared to 2023 now.

-

An earlier version of this story incorrectly attributed a quote. It came from lawyers for Oglethorpe Power Corp., not the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia.
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LONDON (AP)  Thousands of druids, pagans and New Age revelers greeted the summer solstice at Stonehenge on Tuesday, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

About 6,000 people gathered at the ancient stone circle in southern England to watch the sun rise at 4:49 a.m. on a clear, crisp morning, local police said.

It was the first time revelers have been permitted to gather at the Neolithic monument to celebrate the solstice since 2019. The sunrise was streamed online in 2020 and 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The crowds raised their arms in the air and cheered as the sun rose over the horizon. Some performed pagan rituals and sang songs, and many hugged the ancient stones as part of the ceremony. Plenty others awakened early and made the trip there just to soak up the atmosphere.

Police said the ambience was convivial and there were only two arrests  one for assault and one for drug possession.

English Heritage, which looks after Stonehenge among around 400 historic sites, said 170,000 people around the world also watched the solstice online on Tuesday.

Were so delighted to have been able to welcome people back this year and also to livestream the occasion to thousands of people right around the world," said Nichola Tasker, English Heritages director of Stonehenge.

Stonehenge was built between 5,000 and 3,500 years ago on a windswept plain in southwest England by a sun-worshipping Neolithic culture. Experts still debate its purpose, but it is aligned so that on summer solstice the sun rises behind the Heel Stone and rays of sunlight are channeled into the center of the circle.

Summer solstices take place as one of the Earths poles tilts most closely toward the sun. The Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice marks the day with the longest daylight hours in the year, and also officially marks the beginning of summer.
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SYLHET, Bangladesh (AP)  Villagers in northeastern Bangladesh crowded makeshift refugee centers and scrambled to meet boats arriving with food and fresh water as massive floods, which have killed dozens of people and displaced hundreds of thousands there and in neighboring India, continued to wreak havoc Tuesday.

In Sylhet, one of the worst-hit areas in the extreme northeast of the country near the border with India, villagers waded, swam and paddled makeshift rafts or small skiffs to a boat delivering aid that had moored to one shelter, its ground floor covered half way to the ceiling with water.

The low-lying village along the Surma River is prone to flooding, but with the extreme rainfall at the start of this years monsoon season, villager Mehedi Hasan Parvez said hes never seen anything this bad.

In some cases even the second story of buildings has been inundated, the local businessman said, sitting in a small boat as he waited his turn to receive a package of rice, canned goods and other staples.

Some people have been without water at home for three days, he said. They have no food at home and cant get to the market to buy supplies.

Monsoon rains in South Asia typically begin in June. But this year heavy downpours lashed northeastern India and Bangladesh as early as March, triggering floods as early as April in Bangladesh.

With rising global temperatures due to climate change, experts say the monsoon is becoming more variable, meaning that much of the rain that would typically fall in a season is arriving in a shorter period.

Meghalaya, the mountainous region of India to the north of Sylhet, and neighboring Assam state, renowned for its tea plantations, have seen far more rain in June than usual.

In the settlements of Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, some of the worlds wettest areas on the southern fringes of Meghalaya state that overlook Bangladeshs plains, more than 970 millimeters (38 inches) of rain was recorded on Sunday alone, according to India's Meteorological Department.

Meghalaya has already received 174% of its total average June rainfall over the first three weeks of the month. Assam is at 97% of its average for the month over the same period.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina surveyed many of the flooded areas by helicopter on Tuesday and urged regional leaders to speed up relief efforts at a meeting with them.

So far, reports of fatalities in Bangladesh range between 12 and 32, but the U.N. children's agency said about 4 million people have been cut off by the floods in the country's northeast and are in urgent need of help.

UNICEF said in a report Monday that they include 1.6 million children and that without fresh drinking water, they could be in serious danger of waterborne diseases.

In the Sylhet region, 90% of health facilities have been flooded and thousands of people have taken refuge in overcrowded shelters, the agency said.

At one makeshift shelter, a village woman shared a small room with more than a half dozen others and two of her family's cattle, saying she had been left with little choice.

My house has been destroyed by the floodwaters, said the woman, who identified herself only as Jainabunnesa.

On the other side of the mountain range to the north of Sylhet in India's Assam state, the torrential rains sent the Brahmaputra River spilling over its banks in many areas, causing destruction and triggering massive landslides.

Assam authorities reported 10 more flood deaths on Tuesday, bringing its total to 64, with 17 others killed in landslides.

The National Disaster Response Force and the Indian Army have evacuated thousands of people in the last week from the roofs of their houses with inflatable boats. They fear some people are still missing.

Nearly a quarter-million people are now living in emergency relief camps.

The Brahmaputra River flows from India into northern Bangladesh on its way to the Bay of Bengal, and Bangladeshs Flood Forecast and Warning Center warned Tuesday of dangerously high waters for the next five days.

___

Ghosal reported from New Delhi. Associated Press writers David Rising in Bangkok, Julhas Alam in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report.
MECOSTA COUNTY  While the state has lifted the ban on poultry shows in the state of Michigan, obstacles remain for poultry to have shown at this years fair. Most notably, the lack of available Pullorum tests.

On June 11, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) lifted the poultry show ban that was put in place May 10 due to the avian flu. This has given the Mecosta Free Fair an opportunity to try to have poultry at this years fair, yet logistical issues remain as officials scramble to get the poultry show ready to go. One issue that has arisen is the lack of Pullorum tests available to the fair.

Steve Cramer, fair board president, explained the issues surrounding finding the Pullorum tests at the June 17 fair board meeting.

We'll see if it's even possible, John was going to check to see if there's any other fairs, Cramer said. We had borrowed before from Evart, but I don't think they had ordered any either, thinking there were going to be no chickens at their fair. So right now, we're kind of limited to the point that, now, that may be a setback. So, it's kind of in limbo a little bit right now, and well see what's going to happen.

Pullorum tests look for Pullorum-Typhoid disease in poultry, and a negative test less than 90 days prior to the showing is required to show at fairs in Michigan. In the past, poultry had been tested at check-in. This year, with the poultry show ban being in place, the timeline has been changed.

Not only are Pullorum tests the only issue to wait and see upon, if another case is found of the avian flu between now and July 11, the ban could be put back into place. In a news release sent out June 11 lifting the ban on poultry shows, state veterinarian (lowercase) Dr. Nora Wineland explained that the virus had not left Michigan.

HPAI continues to be detected in wild birds throughout the state, which is not unexpected as the virus is known to be carried by wild birds. Wineland said. Since the virus is still present in the environment, it is still crucial for owners and caretakers of domestic birds to take every step possible to protect their flocks.

The fair board agreed at the meeting that no matter what happens, they should make every available effort to have an in-person poultry show for the kids. If the plans for in-person poultry fall through, there is a plan in place for the birds that were going to be sold to be taken to Heritage Processing in Fremont to be butchered Tuesday night of the fair. On Wednesday they will stay on a donated refrigerated truck and be sold that way. Even while the fair intends to have a live poultry show, that plan will continue to be available as a backup.

The fair intends to have more information on the availability of the Pullorum tests by the end of this week.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday issued an executive order declaring that an abnormal economic disruption exists in Wisconsin due to a disruption of energy supplies, allowing himself to trigger a statewide ban on gasoline and diesel price gouging.

In the order, Evers said that the disruption in supply poses a serious risk to the economic well-being of Wisconsin, both at the individual consumer level and to our essential tourism industry.

By making that declaration, Evers could implement a ban on the sale of wholesale and retail diesel and gasoline at unreasonably excessive prices. The order will remain in effect until Dec. 1.

The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Wisconsin on Tuesday was about $4.83, which is below the national average of $4.97, according to AAA.

Complaints of alleged price gouging can be filed with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, one of five Republicans running for a chance to take on Evers in November, dismissed the executive order.

Tony Evers disingenuous executive order is nothing more than an election-year stunt, attempting to deflect from his own failures, which include proposing a near 40-percent increase in the gas tax," she said in a statement.

Evers, in his first state budget proposal in 2019, called for raising the gas tax by 8 cents per gallon, with future increases tied to inflation. He also called for ending the state's minimum markup law on gasoline, which he argued would result in a net savings for drivers.

The Republican-controlled Legislature rejected his proposal, but Republicans and the state chamber of commerce have been using it against him this year as gas prices soar and Evers is seeking reelection.

Wisconsin law prohibits gas stations from raising prices more than once in 24 hours, but there is no limit as to how much they can raise prices when they do so. There is a minimum markup law that prevents retailers from selling gas and other goods below cost in an attempt to attract customers.

While there is no law against price gouging, there is a mechanism that Evers used that allows for a governor to declare there to be an abnormal economic disruption, which prohibits the excessive raising of gas prices.

Evers on Tuesday also renewed his call for the federal government to suspend the federal gas tax. He also sent a letter calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to waive federal reformulated gas requirements for six southeastern Wisconsin counties through the end of the year.

Evers estimated that waiving that requirement would reduce the cost of gasoline by 30 cents per gallon in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington, and Waukesha counties.
CHICAGO (AP)  A former Illinois state senator was sentenced Tuesday to a year and a day in prison for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Teamsters union for a no-show job.

Thomas Cullerton, a Democrat from the Chicago suburb of Villa Park, was sentenced on a federal embezzlement charge for fraudulently receiving salary and benefits from the union, according to the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

Cullerton, 52, pleaded guilty in March, two weeks after he abruptly resigned from the Legislature. He admitted that he improperly took more than $240,000 from the Teamsters.

He agreed to pay $248,828 in restitution.

Prosecutors allege that from 2013 to 2016, he collected $169,488 in salary, bonuses and allowances from the Teamsters, $57,662 in health and pension contributions and $21,678 in reimbursed medical bills while doing little or no work for the labor union.

Cullerton admitted that he used the embezzled money to pay personal expenses, such as his mortgage, utilities and groceries, prosecutors said Tuesday in a news release.

He resigned on Feb. 23, hours before his attorney notified a judge that they had reached a plea deal with prosecutors.

Cullerton was indicted in 2019 just days after former Teamsters boss John T. Coli pleaded guilty in an extortion case. Coli, who has not been sentenced, acknowledged arranging the job for Cullerton despite doubts that the employment was legitimate.

Cullerton is part of a Chicago political family that dates to the Great Fire of 1871. He is also a distant cousin of former Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP)  While the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against a 2018 state law that protected workers at a former nuclear weapons production site, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said an updated law passed earlier this year remains in place.

That means thousands of employees at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation can still be compensated for health issues they face because of their work.

Because the legislature already fixed the issues the federal government raised, there is little practical impact in Washington as a result of this ruling, Ferguson said Tuesday. Hanford workers, and all others working with dangerous radioactive waste, remain protected."

The federal government has not challenged this new law. If they do, we will defend these protections all the way back up to the Supreme Court again if we have to, Ferguson said.

Hanford, located near Richland in southcentral Washington state, was created by the Manhattan Project during World War II and made the plutonium for much of the nation's nuclear arsenal. Hanford plutonium was included in the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan at the end of World War II.

Hanford no longer makes plutonium, but some 10,000 workers are involved in cleaning up a massive volume of nuclear waste that was left behind. The dangerous work is expected to take decades.

The Washington Legislature earlier this year passed a bill that made important clarifications and enhancements to the old 2018 law. Those enhancements, such as ensuring the protections apply to all individuals who work on the Hanford site, address key concerns raised by the federal government.

The Biden administration has not challenged the new law, nor has it indicated it plans to, Ferguson said.

In 2018, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit challenging the prior law. The federal government argued that the law violates intergovernmental immunity, a legal doctrine that prevents states from regulating federal operations or property. However, in 1936 Congress gave states broad authority to apply their workers compensation laws to federal projects.

In 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Stanley A. Bastian granted Washingtons motion for summary judgment upholding the prior law. The Trump administration appealed, and in 2020, a panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the law.

Last September, the Biden administration appealed the Ninth Circuits unanimous decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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ATLANTA (AP)  Three Democrats endorsed by Stacey Abrams won runoffs for statewide office Tuesday, while two Republicans beat other members of their party who had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Bee Nguyen beat Dee Dawkins-Haigler in the Democratic race for secretary of state. Charlie Bailey beat Kwanza Hall in the party's race for lieutenant governor, while state Rep. William Boddie Jr. beat Nicole Horn for the Democratic nod for labor commissioner. All three were endorsed by Abrams, meaning she got a racially diverse ticket for her November run against incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.

Georgia Republicans chose their nominees in two heavily GOP districts in Tuesday runoffs. In the 10th Congressional District east of Atlanta, Mike Collins beat former Democrat Vernon Jones. In suburban Atlantas 6th District, Rich McCormick beat Jake Evans.

Both Jones and Evans lost badly after both were endorsed by Trump. That means that the majority of Trump's choices who were opposed in Republican primaries in Georgia lost, including former Sen. David Perdue, who was blown out by Kemp in the governor's race.

Here's a look at races other than the Democratic secretary of state:

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Bailey, who was the Democratic nominee for attorney general in 2018, beat former Atlanta City Council member Hall. Bailey had trailed Hall in the May 24 primary but overtook him with backing by Democratic leaders, including Abrams

Bailey will take on Republican state Sen. Burt Jones, who won the nomination after being endorsed by Trump. Republican incumbent Geoff Duncan didn't seek another term.

Bailey had been running for attorney general again but shifted into the lieutenant governor's race. Bailey is promising to work with Abrams to cover uninsured adults, improve education and increase public safety. Bailey attacked Hall for money Hall received from the city of Atlanta after stepping down from the City Council. Despite a prohibition on the city hiring former officials for a year, Hall said he did nothing wrong.

Hall, who also served out the last month of the late John Lewis' term in Congress, enjoyed strong name recognition from his time on City Council, but his low-dollar campaign wasn't enough to overcome Abrams' support of the better-financed Bailey.

LABOR COMMISSIONER

Boddie beat entrepreneur Horn for the Democratic nomination for labor commissioner and will face state Sen. Bruce Thompson, the Republican nominee, in November.

Republican incumbent Mark Butler didn't seek reelection after the the state Labor Department was beset by complaints when Georgia's unemployment rate hit a record during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both Boddie and Horn agreed that the department needs more money to hire more employees, ensuring jobless benefit applicants can get responses to questions. Boddie has said his legislative experience will help him persuade lawmakers to give the department more money.

Boddie criticized Republicans for pulling Georgia out of the federal program that extended unemployment benefits months before the federal program expired.

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

The Democrats' nominee from 2018 will get another run at being Georgia's chief insurance regulator, as Janice Laws Robinson beat insurance salesman Raphael Baker. She will face incumbent Republican John King in November.

Laws Robinson has said she would target Georgia's high auto insurance costs by changing state law to make it easier for the commissioner to block rate increases before they take effect. She has said she would also crack down on insurers taking advantage of policy buyers through unfair underwriting practices.

Baker, a Democratic activist, said he wanted to lower auto insurance rates. He said Black consumers, in particular, pay too much, and he wanted to make insurance practices more equitable.

CONGRESS REPUBLICANS

In the 10th Congressional District east of Atlanta, trucking company owner Collins easily beat Jones in a bitter runoff. Trump backed Jones, but Kemp, fresh off a primary triumph over Trump-endorsed Perdue, joined other GOP officeholders in backing Collins.

In the 6th District in Atlantas northern suburbs, emergency room physician McCormick romped over Trump-backed lawyer Evans. That race revolved around accusations by each candidate that the other is insufficiently conservative.

The 6th and the 10th are both heavily Republican districts.

In southwest Georgia's 2nd District, real estate developer Chris West, who finished second on May 24, edged out former Army officer Jeremy Hunt. West will carry forward Republicans' high hopes of knocking off 30-year Democratic incumbent Sanford Bishop in November.

In suburban Atlanta's 7th District, frontrunner Mark Gonsalves beat Michael Corbin, and will face Democrat Lucy McBath in a district that became much more Democratic in redistricting.

CONGRESS DEMOCRATS

In coastal Georgia's 1st District, lawyer Wade Herring swamped Joyce Marie Griggs after outspending her. Herring told Democrats he would have a better chance of upsetting incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter. Griggs, a disbarred lawyer, had lost to Carter as the Democratic nominee in 2020.

But in the 10th District, Tabitha Johnson-Green will be the Democratic nominee for the third cycle in a row after losing to Republican incumbent Jody Hice in 2018 and 2020. She handily beat Athens real estate agent and musician Jessica Fore, and will face Collins in November.

STATE LEGISLATIVE SEATS

Party nominations were being settled in one state Senate and 10 state House seats.

Banker Mike Hodges beat former state House member Jeff Jones 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.

Among six Republican and four Democratic state House contests were two incumbents who didn't win majorities on May 24 and needed wins Tuesday to keep their chances of reelection alive. Republican incumbent Sheri Gilligan, a sometime critic of House Speaker David Ralston, was opposed by Carter Barrett in House District 24 in southwestern Forsyth County. Democratic incumbent Roger Bruce was vying with Rashaun Kemp in House District 61 in southern Fulton and northeastern Douglas counties.
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ATLANTA (AP)  Georgia Democrats chose state Rep. Bee Nguyen as their nominee for secretary of state, a position that assumed new importance after former President Donald Trump cast doubt on Georgias 2020 election results by making false claims of widespread voter fraud.

Nguyen defeated former state Rep. Dee Dawkins-Haigler in the primary runoff Tuesday and is set to challenge Republican incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in November's general election. The significance of the position was highlighted by Raffenspergers appearance as a witness Tuesday before the U.S. House Jan. 6 committee.

For the first time in our states history, an Asian American woman is going to be a nominee on a statewide ticket," Nguyen, the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, told supporters Tuesday night. The question that Ive been asked as Ive been on this campaign trail for 14 months has been, Will Georgians vote for an Asian candidate? The answer is yes, Georgians will.

Meanwhile, Republicans had no statewide runoffs but were voting in four congressional races. Trump had endorsed candidates in two of those races and both were defeated.

In the 10th Congressional District east of Atlanta, trucking company owner Mike Collins beat former Democrat Vernon Jones, who had been endorsed by Trump, in a runoff to become the Republican nominee. Collins, the son of former congressman Mac Collins, was narrowly the frontrunner in the eight-candidate May primary, while Trump's endorsement helped push Jones into second place.

In the 6th District in Atlantas northern suburbs, emergency room physician Rich McCormick held off Trump-backed lawyer Jake Evans. That race has revolved around accusations by each candidate that the other was insufficiently conservative.

The secretary of states race was the most high-profile of four Democratic statewide runoffs, with nominees also being selected for lieutenant governor, labor commissioner and insurance commissioner.

Trump targeted Raffensperger after the 2020 general election for failing to overturn his narrow loss in the state. Raffensperger  who won the praise of some Democrats for refusing to bend to pressure from the former president  dispatched a challenge from a Trump-endorsed primary challenger without being forced into a runoff.

With Trump and his allies pushing false claims of widespread voter fraud in Georgia, Nguyen highlighted her work in the General Assembly to debunk false narratives and stand up for voting rights.

We will remind Georgians that Brad Raffensperger aint our friend and we deserve better," Nguyen told supporters. "We deserve a secretary of state who will uphold the law and protect our freedom to vote. We can have both, yall.

She has served in the state House since winning a 2017 special election to succeed Stacey Abrams in a district that includes parts of the city of Atlanta and is vice chair of the state Democratic Party. Abrams, who endorsed Nguyen in the runoff, is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor after narrowly losing the election to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in 2018.

A statement from Nguyen's campaign included comments from many of the state's top Democrats touting her strengths. Abrams said Nguyen is "a lifelong advocate for the people of Georgia, and her work on the front lines to protect our democracy and the freedom to vote exemplifies the courage and tenacity needed in our next Secretary of State.

Dawkins-Haigler called the Democratic primary campaign spirited but said her low fundraising haul and lack of party backing stacked the deck against her in the runoff.

"However, we still ran a race full of integrity, and now that its over Im going to make sure that the Democrats still try to win in November, she said in a phone interview.

There were few policy differences between Nguyen and Dawkins-Haigler with both stressing the need to increase voter education and work more closely with local election boards to ensure universal access to free, fair and secure elections. They both also said Raffensperger is no election hero, targeting his endorsement of a sweeping election overhaul passed last year by Republican state lawmakers.

In southwest Georgias 2nd Congressional District, Republicans have high hopes of knocking off 30-year Democratic incumbent Rep. Sanford Bishop. GOP voters chose real estate developer Chris West over former Army officer Jeremy Hunt in that race.

In the other statewide Democratic races, Charlie Bailey beat Kwanza Hall for lieutenant governor, William Boddie defeated Nicole Horn for labor commissioner, and Janice Laws Robinson bested Raphael Baker for insurance commissioner.
BOSTON (AP)  Hundreds of dead birds have washed up on Martha's Vineyard and animal control officials there think a highly contagious strain of avian flu may be responsible.

The Tisbury Animal Control posted an avian influenza warning on social media Monday, telling residents that hundreds of dead cormorants have washed up all over the island and it's extremely dangerous for a small island.
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TOKYO (AP)  Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday that talks with China's leader are key to regional and international peace and stability amid growing tensions over territorial disputes and Beijing's increased military activity around Japan.

It is important to maintain stable and constructive relations between Japan and China, Kishida said at a party leaders' debate in Tokyo ahead of July 10 parliamentary elections.

Asked about a possible summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping when the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in September, Kishida said nothing has been decided, but "Dialogue is important. I hope to think in concrete terms.

Japan sees Chinas increasingly assertive military activity in the East and South China Seas as a threat to some of the worlds busiest sea lanes.

Japan is especially concerned about Chinese military and coast guard activity in the East China Sea near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands, which Beijing also claims and calls Diaoyu.

Japan's government said Tuesday it protested to Beijing after finding that China has set up a new oil drilling rig in a contested area of the East China Sea.

Dialogue with South Korea, despite troubled relations stemming from Japan's actions during World War II, is also important considering the worsening) security environment in the region, Kishida said.

Asked about a possible meeting with new South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol when both leaders are invited to the June 29-30 NATO summit in Madrid, Kishida said nothing has been decided, but dialogue is important.

Kishida said stable relations between the two sides depend on efforts by Seoul to settle their disputes, including one over South Korean court decisions awarding compensation to wartime Korean workers in Japanese factories.

Kishida also said he will prioritize policies to ease surging energy and food prices triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Official campaigning for the election for about half of parliament's upper house, the less powerful of its two chambers, begins Wednesday. More than 500 candidates are expected.

Kishida's governing Liberal Democratic Party has included a sharp increase in military capability and spending in its campaign platform.

I will protect the people's lives and livelihoods," said Kishida, who with popular support ratings of around 60% is expected to lead his party to victory. That could allow him to stay in power uninterrupted by another election for up to three years.

Kishida has largely maintained his popularity by avoiding divisive policies while being helped by the slowing of COVID-19 infections and growing concerns about security issues following Russia's Ukraine invasion, experts say.
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JACKSON, Miss (AP)  William LaForge, who has served as the president of Delta State University since 2013, will depart at the end of June. The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning board, which governs the states eight public universities, approved the leadership change at a meeting last week in Jackson.

But LaForge said he didn't learn of the change until several days later. In an email message to the entire campus Tuesday, LaForge wrote that he didn't learn of the move until Monday  just before the board published a news release announcing its decision.

Beginning July 1, Butch Caston will begin serving as interim president.

The very basic explanation I was provided was that the IHL Board thinks a leadership change is warranted because the comparative state of the university from the time when I began my service in 2013 until now is not favorable  especially with respect to enrollment metrics and financial sustainability, LaForge wrote.

Delta States student enrollment declined by just over 9% between 2020 and 2021. Between fall 2019 and fall 2021, enrollment declined by 27%  the most drastic change of any public university in the state. In 2019, 3,761 students enrolled. That fell to 2,727 students in 2021.

LaForges salary is $265,001. Of the total, $215,000 is provided with state funds and $50,001 is provided by the universitys foundation, according to an IHL spokesperson.

LaForge has a lifelong connection to Delta State as a professor's child. He attended Delta State and was student body president.

We wish him well as he looks forward to new challenges and opportunities," IHL board president Tom Duff said in Mondays news release announcing the leadership change.

LaForge wasn't the only one caught some off guard by the IHL's decision.

"I was shocked and surprised to see this happen," Doug Pinkerton, a recently retired Delta State recreation director, told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "No one I talked to saw this coming.

Caston assumes the position after serving as the universitys interim vice president of student affairs and interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. He holds a masters degree in guidance and counseling from Delta State and a doctorate from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Caston will be tasked with addressing several issues facing Delta State, including declining enrollment, fiscal challenges and infrastructure, Duff said. In his email message, LaForge wrote that Caston has his full support and confidence.

LaForge is a native of Cleveland, Mississippi, where Delta State is located. He had a 36-year career in Washington before his appointment to the Delta State presidency. On Capitol Hill, he rose to become chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi. LaForge's government career included a stint as chief counsel of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. He also worked in the private sector as an attorney and lobbyist.

LaForge and his wife, Nancy, plan to return to their home in Northern Virginia. I am very disappointed in the decision, but I accept the outcome and am fully prepared to move on, he wrote.

Information about the search for a permanent president will be released later, the IHL said in the news release.

___

Michael Goldberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/mikergoldberg.
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SAO PAULO (AP)  Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva laid out his campaign platform Tuesday, including a pledge for zero deforestation initiatives and appeals to moderates as seeks to unseat Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil's election in October.

The 76-year-old leftist, who governed in 2003-2010, leads the far-right incumbent in all opinion polls on the presidential race.

Da Silva unveiled his plan at a hotel in Sao Paulo standing next to former Sao Paulo Gov. Geraldo Alckmin, a right-leaning politician turned ally who will be his running mate. Da Silva said the 34-page document will be later updated after national gatherings with allies.

Everyone here, even those who are not engineers, knows that a house starts with good foundations, he told supporters in a televised address. These are our foundations. We will build our house overtime.

Da Silvas plan includes a promise to fight environmental crime promoted by vigilantes, land grabbers, logging traffickers and any economic organization acting in defiance to the law.

Our commitment is with the relentless combat against illegal deforestation and the promotion of zero net deforestation, which means the restructuring of degraded areas and reforestation of the biomes, the document says.

The plan also says the standard for mineral regulation should be modernized, and illegal mining, particularly in the Amazon, will be fought against severely.

Bolsonaro is a staunch supporter of miners and says they should have the right to operate on Indigenous lands, which are often are among the best protected against deforestation in Brazil.

The plan also talks about green jobs at state-run oil giant Petrobras. The company should operate in segments linked to environmental and energy transition, such as gas, fertilizers, biofuels and renewable energies, the document says, without mentioning how much would be spent on that initiative.

Drafted by members of seven parties supporting Da Silva, the plan doesn't include an expected call for scrapping a labor law overhaul passed by congress in 2017. It says only that da Silva would seek to annul the regressive parts of the current labor laws.

The document also is silent on several other matters that had been expected to be addressed, including regulation of the media, policies for land reform and a clear defense of abortion rights.

Allies of da Silva said those drafting the document sought to appeal to business leaders who have expressed concerns about da Silvas bid to return to the presidency.

They said the anti-deforestation tone is aimed at politicians like environmentalist Marina Silva, a moderate who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency in the last three elections and has yet to endorse anyone in this race.

Speaking about zero net deforestation is what Marina does, said Sen. Randolfe Rodrigues, a da Silva ally who from the Rede Sustentabilidade party. The rest of the language is indeed for moderates to take heed, look at what we are doing."

Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo, said the plan is adequately wide and superficial so moderates can be attracted to the bid by da Silva, who is called Lula by Brazilians.

Lulas challenge is not to cause an impact with this document. He is speaking little about what he will do so no divisive talking points become the focus, Melo said in a phone interview.

A Bolsonaro supporter briefly interrupted the presentation by shouting at da Silva from a few meters (yards) away, a security breach that unsettled the staff of the former president.

The heckler, far-right politician Caique Mafra, is a friend of lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, a son of the president, and will run for Sao Paulo states legislative this year.

He came in, teased us, but there was no attack, said Aloizio Mercadante, one of the coordinators of the campaign document. This incident only stresses how much care we need to have with security in this tough campaign.

In the last presidential contest, Bolsonaro was stabbed in his abdomen during a campaign rally. Doctors said the wounds nearly took his life, but he recovered in time to emerge victorious over leftist Fernando Haddad, an ally of da Silvas. Bolsonaro has undergone six surgeries because of damage from the stabbing, most of them in his intestines.

The attacker, Adelio Bispo, has been in a mental institution since the incident.
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP)  A convicted sex offender has been sentenced in California to 20 years in prison for taking a 15-year-old girl on a three-month interstate road trip during which he gave the teen meth and had an unlawful sexual relationship with her, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

Kenneth Wayne Fischer pleaded guilty in May 2020 to multiple charges including transportation of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office.
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MONTERREY, Mexico (AP)  The industrial hub of Monterrey has long been one of Mexicos most prosperous cities, so its almost 5 million residents were shocked when they lost the most basic of services: water.

A combination of an intense drought, poor planning and high water use has left residents of Mexicos industrial powerhouse to resort to extreme measures that call up images of isolated, poorer areas: storing water in buckets to use a scoopful at a time.

We are panicked, because we dont know when the water will come back on, said 60-year-old Monterrey resident Maria del Carmen Lara. We finally got them to send us a water truck, but we still dont have running water.

Local authorities began restricting water supplies in March, as the three dams that help supply the city dried up. They currently hold only 45%, 2% and 8% of their capacity, and city authorities say the two lowest dams had only a few days worth of water left. Earlier this month, they declared water would be available only between 4a.m. and 10a.m, recently extending the service until 11a.m. But authorities havent even been able to supply that, and in thousands of homes, not a drop has come out of faucets for weeks.

Lara and her husband havent had running water for three weeks and dont have enough money for holding tanks to store any significant quantity. In a stop-gap measure, some of the citys suburbs have set up giant plastic water tanks in public squares for residents to fill containers with water. So on a recent hot, sunny day, they were busy dragging buckets and bins to a water tank truck to fill them.

Big, expensive and sometimes corruption-laden water management plans have come and gone, but the lack of long-term planning or conservation remain. One project, that would have built an aqueduct to bring water from the Panuco river, 310 miles (500 kilometers) away, to the city, which authorities at the time claimed would sure up the city's water supplies for 50 years, was dropped in 2016 because of alleged corruption in the granting of contracts by the previous administration.

Experts say it was clear to see the crisis coming: for six years, Monterrey, capital of Nuevo Leon state, has suffered below-average rainfall or outright drought.

Set on an arid plain against the backdrop of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, water  except for during brief, catastrophic floods  has never been abundant in Monterrey. For decades, the states water planning essentially came down to waiting for a hurricane in the Gulf to swell local rivers.

Juan Ignacio Barragan, the citys water director, said Monterrey has been hit by a double whammy of drought and higher temperatures, which has dried up the city's reserves. This May, the state reported its hottest ever average temperature, hitting highs of 104 degrees (40 C.)

This is a situation which has forced us to ration water, to be able to distribute it more equitably throughout the city, Barragan said. He accused the previous administration, which governed the state from 2015 to 2021, of allowing water extraction from dams in high levels without considering the impacts that the prolonged drought had already caused to the state's water sources.

For a city accustomed to consuming 4,225 gallons (16,500 liters) per second, it now has only 3,435 gallons (13,000 liters) per second available.

Barragan said the city has begun an effort urging city residents to use less. Historically, average daily consumption in Monterrey has been around 160 to 170 liters (42 to 44 gallons) per day per person, far higher than the World Health Organization's recommendation of around 100 liters (26 gallons) per day.

About 60% of the Monterreys water comes from dams, with the rest coming from public wells. The state also has private wells, which owners, ranchers and businesses drill with strict limits on how much they can pump. But those limits often appear to have been ignored, and some wells may have been drilled surreptitiously, according to state and federal officials.

And its not just Monterrey. According to the North American Drought Monitor, a cooperative effort between drought experts in Canada, Mexico and the United States, 56% of Mexico is experiencing some level of drought.

All of Nuevo Leon is either abnormally dry or in drought. The natural weather phenomenon La Nina and climate change may be factors in unseasonably low rainfall, according to officials and experts.

For those who dont believe in climate change, here are the consequences, said Nuevo Leon Gov. Samuel Garcia. This is clearly the result of climate change: a semi-desert area gets drier.

Brenda Sanchez, a former official of the federal ministry of Environment and Natural Resources who now serves as a local legislator in Nuevo Leon agreed, saying that urgent action was needed to combat the real-life consequences of climate change.

For now, the authorities' response to water shortages has been more of the same: dig more wells, reservoirs and dams. A fourth dam is currently under construction in the state's southeast and an aqueduct to carry water from the El Cuchillo dam, the state's largest, is planned. Authorities are also looking to halt illegal water grabs from rivers that feed the dams and have tried to get large corporate water users to share some of their water rights with city residents.

Rosario Alvarez, an activist with the environmental group Pronatura Noreste, said the governments plans are too little, too late.

The most recent problem is that we havent planned for a drought like the current one, Alvarez said. We have had several years with below-average rainfall, we havent had hurricanes.

What came together was a lack of significant infrastructure, a lack of understanding of the characteristics of the region where we live and poor administration of what little water we have, she said.

Meanwhile, until the next hurricane streams up the Gulf of Mexico  and there are none in sight  anger is growing among residents and street protest have broken out in Monterrey.

We are fed up, said 35-year-old Monica Almaguer, a resident of the suburb of San Nicolas. They havent even lived up to the schedule in which they said there would be water. I have gone 35 days without water.

Gabriel Revillas, 47, who has also been without water for several days, filled up a jug at a private purified water supplier.

The only thing we can do is pray, pray for a miracle, he said.

___

Associated Press reporter Suman Naishadham contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.

___

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden's administration announced Tuesday that it would restrict the use of anti-personnel land mines by the U.S. military, aligning the country's policy more closely with an international treaty banning the deadly explosives.

The president believes strongly that we need to curtail their use worldwide, John Kirby, a national security spokesman, said at a White House briefing.

The United States has not extensively deployed the mines since the Gulf War in 1991. But the announcement represents a shift from a more permissive stance under then-President Donald Trump, and it concludes a review that has lasted for more than a year.

Bonnie Jenkins, the State Department's undersecretary for arms control and international security, said the new policy fulfills a commitment that President Biden made as a candidate," when he described Trump's decision as reckless.

Anti-personnel land mines are buried underground or scattered on the surface, and they can pose a lethal threat to civilians long after combat has ended. Russia has reportedly used the explosives during its invasion of Ukraine.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., described the White House announcement as a long overdue recognition that the grave humanitarian and political costs of using these weapons far exceed their limited military utility.

As welcome as this step is, the White House needs to put the U.S. on a definitive path to join the treaties banning anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions," he said in a statement. "Neither of these indiscriminate weapons, the horrific consequences of which we are seeing in Ukraine today, belong in the arsenals of civilized nations.

Under the new policy, the U.S. will restrict the use of these explosives outside of its efforts to help defend South Korea from a potential North Korean invasion. Although the U.S. does not currently have any minefields deployed there, Washington has pledged support for Seoul's defense, which includes anti-personnel mines.

The U.S. has a stockpile of 3 million anti-personnel land mines. Under the new policy, any that aren't needed to protect South Korea will be destroyed. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a question about whether any will be discarded.

The exception regarding the Korean Peninsula, which was also in place during President Barack Obama's administration, leaves the U.S. short of full compliance with the Ottawa Convention, the 1997 treaty intended to eliminate anti-personnel land mines.

Russia is not a signatory to the treaty either, and Human Rights Watch said it has documented Moscow's use of mines during its invasion of Ukraine.

Alicia Arango Olmos, Colombias ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva and a top official in the global campaign against the use of land mines, has urged Russia to stop deploying them. Anti-personnel mines only cause victims, they dont resolve any type of problem, she said in April.

Her office praised the U.S. announcement on Tuesday.

We welcome this timely decision and thank the United States for your commitment with the principles of the (Ottawa) Convention, the office tweeted. We need to continue our clearance efforts all around the world until we reach a #MineFreeWorld.

U.S. officials said that the Pentagon was working on alternatives to land mines on the Korean peninsula, but did not detail what those might be.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, said the administration needs to have a better answer about when those alternatives will be developed, rather than just kicking this down the road.

He said the U.S. should continue working to completely comply with the Ottawa Convention.

We need to get fully in step to fully differentiate ourselves from the international scofflaws like Russia," he said.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  A state appeals court on Tuesday rejected a request by an eastern North Carolina eye doctor to strike down a state law that requires regulators to agree new operating rooms are needed in his region before they could be built.

A three-judge panel of the intermediate-level state Court of Appeals court ruled the state's certificate of need law doesn't violate the constitutional rights of Dr. Jay Singleton and the Singleton Vision Center when it comes to the situation the ophthalmologist wants to change.

Certificate of need requires a medical entity seeking to expand bed space or use expensive equipment to receive formal approval from the Department of Health and Human Services that declares the services are necessary to reflect population growth or patient needs, among other conditions. Republican legislative leaders and other right-leaning think tanks have sought to reform or do away with certificate of need, replacing them with more free-market forces.

In 2020, Singleton sued DHHS and executive and legislative branch leaders, alleging that he's essentially unable to expand his New Bern practice and offer less costly surgeries. Singleton performs most of his outpatient surgeries at Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern, the only facility with an operating room certificate in Craven, Jones and Pamlico counties, Tuesday's' opinion read.

State regulators have calculated there's no need for additional operating room space in the three counties, the opinion said, and that Carolina East representatives have indicated the hospital would fight any effort to issue additional operating room certificates.

Superior Court Judge Michael OFoghludha dismissed the lawsuit last year. He agreed with lawyers for state officials who argued Singleton's demands  which included blocking enforcement of the certificate law and declaring it unconstitutional as it applied to him  couldn't be granted through the court.

Singleton appealed the case, which prompted attention from outside groups. Associations representing North Carolina hospitals and other groups filed a brief supporting the certificate law, while the John Locke Foundation in Raleigh filed another siding with Singleton  himself represented by lawyers from a national libertarian-leaning nonprofit law firm.

Writing the unanimous opinion, Court of Appeals Judge John Tyson said Singleton and his practice had failed to exhaust or even attempt to invoke statutory and administrative remedies available to them that could show he was deprived of procedural due process.

The remedy plaintiffs admittedly and essentially seek is for a fact-finding administrative record and decision thereon to be cast aside and a CON to be summarily issued to them by the court," Tyson wrote. "This we cannot do.

But Tyson added that the ruling doesn't preclude medical practices from challenging the certificate law in court in the future, or to make the case with the General Assembly, DHHS or state commissions that the "process is costly and fraught with gross delays, and service needs are not kept current."

Judge Toby Hampson and Jeffery Carpenter agreed with Tysons ruling. A review of the ruling by the state Supreme Court isnt automatic because the opinion was unanimous.

In North Carolina, legislators have declared that requiring state review of new institutional health services based on need, cost of services and other considerations promote the health and lives of people in the state, the opinion said.

Tyson pointed out that at least 12 states have eliminated the certificate of need systems. The legislature approved small changes to North Carolina's system last summer, and the Senate passed a wide-ranging health car access bill last month that would scale back the system even further if it became law.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  North Dakota is receiving its initial order of 5,700 coronavirus vaccine doses for young children now that federal officials have endorsed the shots for youngsters ages 6 months to 5 years.

An estimated 50,000 North Dakota children are eligible to receive the vaccine after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended the shots for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
AUGUSTA, Ky. (AP)  A distilling group is working to develop a new $23 million distillery planned in the northern Kentucky community of Augusta.

Augusta Distillery will be located in the historic F.A. Neider building, which provided metal stamping services dating back to 1883 until its closure in 2007.
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LIMA, Peru (AP)  Former Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori revealed Tuesday that she is ending her marriage to her Peruvian-American husband, Mark Villanella.

Fujimori, 47, said on her Twitter account that they made the decision after extensive reflection and are ending the marriage on the best terms and reaffirming our commitment to continue educating and supporting our daughters with much love.
OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP)  Three people were stabbed in a fight on Monday night in Ocean City, police said.

Officers called to the 10 block of Wicomico Street for a report of a fight found three people with stab wounds, Ocean City police tweeted.
HELSINKI (AP)  NATO member Estonia said Tuesday that a Russian border guard helicopter violated the airspace of the Baltic nation over the weekend, and Russias ambassador was summoned and given a note over the incident.

Estonias military said in a statement that the Russian MI-8 helicopter entered the countrys airspace in southeastern Estonia in the Koidula area  not far from the Russian city of Pskov  without permission on Saturday evening.
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korea conducted its first successful satellite launch using a domestically developed rocket on Tuesday, officials said, boosting its growing aerospace ambitions and demonstrating it has key technologies needed to launch spy satellites and build larger missiles amid tensions with rival North Korea.

The three-stage Nuri rocket placed a functioning performance verification satellite at a target altitude of 700 kilometers (435 miles) after its 4 p.m. liftoff from South Koreas space launch center on a southern island, the Science Ministry said.

The satellite transmitted signals about its status to an unmanned South Korean station in Antarctica. It is carrying four smaller satellites that will be released in coming days for Earth observation and other missions, ministry officials said.

The science and technology of the Republic of Korea have made a great advance, Science Minister Lee Jong-Ho said in a televised news conference at the launch center. The government will continue its audacious march toward becoming a space power together with the people.

In a video conference with scientists and others involved in the launch, President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated them for their achievement and vowed to keep his campaign promise to establish a state aerospace agency, according to his office.

Live TV video showed the 47-meter (154-foot) rocket rising into the air amid bright flames and thick white smoke.

The launch made South Korea the worlds 10th nation to place a satellite into space with its own technology.

It was South Koreas second launch of a Nuri rocket. In the first attempt last October, the rocket's dummy payload reached the desired altitude but didn't enter orbit because the engine of the rockets third stage burned out earlier than planned.

South Korea, which has the worlds 10th largest economy, is a major producer of semiconductors, automobiles and smartphones. But its space development program lags behind that of Asian neighbors China, India and Japan.

North Korea placed Earth observation satellites into orbit in 2012 and 2016, though there is no proof that either one has ever transmitted spaced-based imagery and data back home. The North Korean launches resulted in U.N. economic sanctions because they were viewed as covers for testing the countrys banned long-range missile technology.

Since the early 1990s, South Korea has sent a slew of satellites into space, but all used foreign rocket technology or launch sites. In 2013, South Korea successfully launched a satellite for the first time from its soil, but the first stage of the rocket was Russian-made.

After that satellite launch, North Koreas Foreign Ministry accused the United States of having double standards and brigandish nature," arguing that Washington supported the South Korean launch but led the U.N. sanctions over the Norths satellite launch the previous year. North Korea didnt immediately comment on Tuesdays Nuri launch.

South Korea plans four more Nuri launches in coming years. It also hopes to send a probe to the moon, build next-generation space launch vehicles and send large-scale satellites into orbit.

South Korean officials said the Nuri rocket has no military purposes.

The transfer of space launch technology is strictly restricted under a multilateral export control regime because it has military applications. Ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles often share similar bodies, engines and other components, though missiles require a reentry capability and other technologies.

If you put a satellite on the top of a rocket, it would become a space launch vehicle. But if you mount a warhead on it, it becomes a weapon, said Kwon Yong Soo, a former professor at Korea National Defense University in South Korea. (A successful launch) is really meaningful because we also succeed in the test of a long-range rocket that can be used to build a long-range missile.

Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Koreas Science and Technology Policy Institute, said it would be difficult to directly use Nuri as a missile because it employs liquid fuels that must be kept at extremely low temperatures and requires much longer fueling time than solid fuels. He said North Korean long-range missiles also use liquid fuels, but extremely toxic ones that are maintained at ordinary temperatures and require less fueling time than Nuri.

This year, North Korea has test-launched about 30 missiles with ranges that potentially place the U.S. mainland and regional allies South Korea and Japan within striking distance.

South Korea already has missiles that can hit all of North Korea, but some experts say it also needs longer-range missiles because its surrounded by regional military powers and potential adversaries.

If we only think about North Korea, a long-range missile doesnt mean much for us. But its very unfortunate that military powers like China and Russia are near us, Kwon said.

He said Nuris successful launch proves South Korea has the capability to send a spy satellite into orbit. Lee said Nuri can be used to launch a spy satellite, but it would be better for South Korea to have many small spy satellites that could be sent up with less powerful solid-fueled rockets.

South Korea currently has no military reconnaissance satellites of its own and depends on U.S. spy satellites to monitor strategic facilities in North Korea. South Korea has said it plans to launch its own surveillance satellites soon.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control

WINCHESTER  Mosquito traps are being placed around Scott County as part of the health department's screening for West Nile virus.

The virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has become infected by feeding on a bird carrying the disease. It can be spread to people, although only about one in five show any symptoms and about one in 150 infected people develop severe symptoms, which can include encephalitis, meningitis or death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those with weakened immune systems or older than age 50 are at a higher risk for severe symptoms, which can include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  Prominent South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, who faces more than 70 criminal charges after police scrutinized his finances in the aftermath of the unsolved shooting deaths of his wife and son last year, is likely going to permanently lose his law license.

The South Carolina Supreme Court said Murdaugh's attorneys said Tuesday they would not contest any arguments scheduled for a disbarment hearing Wednesday. As a result, the justices canceled the proceedings.

The decision likely ends the legal career of a member of a prominent family that has dominated the legal scene in tiny Hampton County for nearly a century. Murdaughs father, grandfather and great-grandfather were the areas elected prosecutors for 87 years straight.

Alex Murdaugh once worked for the family-founded law firm, which discreetly boasted of securing million-dollar verdicts for accidental deaths, product liability or workplace safety cases. The firm said in September that Murdaugh was stealing money.

Chief Justice Don Beatty said in court papers last week that Murdaughs own admissions in civil cases and statements by his lawyers in bond hearings leave no doubt he stole money from clients and had lied to the authorities and should be disbarred. Thats even as no arrests have been made in the June 2021 killings of Murdaughs wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at a family home in Colleton County.

A statement from Beatty on Tuesday said a formal order on disbarment will be issued later.

Beatty left no doubt in his order last Thursday where he falls on what should happen to Murdaughs law license.

In this unique case, Respondents admissions in the public record lead to only one conclusion  that Respondents egregious ethical misconduct subjects him to the most significant sanction available  disbarment, Beatty wrote.

The deaths of his wife and younger son prompted at least a half-dozen investigations into Murdaugh and his finances that resulted in indictments against him. Murdaugh is facing charges he stole $8.5 million from people who hired him and that he lied to police in saying he was shot by a stranger on a roadside when  officials say  he really asked a friend to kill him so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance policy.

Anything Murdaugh or his attorneys said before the state Supreme Court could have been used against him in criminal cases or additional investigations.

A number of other former clients have accused him of stealing from them, leading to dozens of criminal indictments. Murdaugh signed a civil settlement saying he is responsible for taking more than $4.3 million from insurance settlements meant for the family of his housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, who Murdaugh said died after a fall in the familys home.

Meanwhile, the anniversary of the June 7, 2021, deaths of Murdaugh's wife, Maggie, 52, and son, Paul, 22, passed with no arrests and no additional information from the State Law Enforcement Division. Its agents have revealed little beyond the fact that the two were shot outside their Colleton County home and Murdaugh called 911, saying he discovered the bodies.

Murdaugh's lawyers continue to insist he had nothing to do with the killings, saying he was visiting his mother and ailing father when his wife and son were killed.

State police also are investigating other unusual deaths around the Murdaughs and plan to exhume Satterfield's body. Murdaugh reported she was gravely injured in a fall, dying later in the hospital. But the coroners office said it was not informed of her death like it should have been for anyone who dies under unusual or suspicious circumstances.

State police also are looking at an unsolved death that was ruled a hit-and-run on a Hampton County road in 2015. The 19-year-old victim's mother said she thought Paul Murdaugh could have been involved.

A judge has frozen Murdaugh's assets as a number of civil lawsuits make their way through the courts, including some on behalf of the family of a 19-year-old woman killed and others on board Murdaughs boat in February 2019 when it crashed into a bridge pier. Police charged Murdaugh's late son with boating under the influence.

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Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court has rejected Bayer's appeal to shut down thousands of lawsuits claiming that its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer.

The justices on Tuesday left in place a $25 million judgment in favor of Edwin Hardeman, a California man who says he developed cancer from using Roundup for decades to treat poison oak, overgrowth and weeds on his San Francisco Bay Area property. Hardeman's lawsuit had served as a test case for thousands of similar lawsuits.

The high courts action comes amid a series of court fights over Roundup that have pointed in different directions.

On Friday, a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an Environmental Protection Agency finding from 2020 that glyphosate does not pose a serious health risk and is not likely to cause cancer in humans. The appellate court ordered the EPA to reexamine its finding.

At the same time, Bayer has won four consecutive trials in state court against people who claimed they got cancer from their use of Roundup. The latest verdict in favor of the pharmaceutical company came last week in Oregon.

Bayer had argued that federal regulators have repeatedly determined its products are safe and that lawsuits based on claims under state laws should be dismissed.

In a statement, Bayer said it disagreed with the Supreme Court's decision not to take up its case. The company believes that the decision undermines the ability of companies to rely on official actions taken by expert regulatory agencies, as it permits every U.S. state to require a different product label in conflict with federal laws, Bayer said.

Last year, Bayer set aside $4.5 billion to deal with the claims that glyphosate, the weed-killing ingredient in Roundup, causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. The company had previously taken a charge of nearly $10 billion for earlier rounds of litigation.

Bayer also had warned that allowing these sorts of claims will damage innovation in agriculture, health and other industries.

Bayer, which is based in Leverkusen, Germany, inherited Roundup and the litigation when it acquired Monsanto in 2018.

The EPA says on its website that there is no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer in humans. But in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans. The agency said it relied on limited evidence of cancer in people and sufficient evidence of cancer in study animals.

The Justice Department, which had sided with Bayer in the lower courts during the Trump administration, recommended that the high court not get involved.

Bayer maintains the product is safe but said that it would replace glyphosate in Roundup for residential use beginning in 2023. Products containing glyphosate will still be available for professional and farm use.
BEIJING (AP)  Two of the four female victims remain hospitalized 11 days after a group assault in northern China that sparked nationwide outrage, authorities said Tuesday, as they announced the firing of one police official and an investigation into the handling of criminal cases by the local police.

The Hebei province Public Security Department said in-depth investigations are being carried out into the slow response to incidents and serious violations of laws and discipline by police in the city of Tangshan, which is about 150 kilometers (100 miles) east of Beijing.

The assault raised concern about public safety and the mistreatment of women in society. Hundreds of thousands of people commented after videos of the attack were posted online, many calling for justice.

Police arrived at the scene 28 minutes after they received the report, and the injured had been sent to the hospital by the time they arrived, provincial authorities said in a statement. The deputy chief of the Tangshan police Lubei branch, which was responsible for the initial handling of the case, has been removed from office, though the statement did not say why.

Four women eating at a late-night barbecue restaurant were brutally attacked by a group of men in the early hours of June 10, after one of the women appeared to reject the advances of one of the men and fought back after she was slapped, surveillance video from the restaurant showed.

The attackers could be seen shoving the women to the ground, kicking them, throwing a chair at them, and later dragging one of the women out of the restaurant to continue beating her on the sidewalk. One had a bloodied and swollen face as she was taken away on a stretcher.

Nine suspects were arrested the next day. In recent days, rumors have spread online that at least one of the women had died, but the Hebei public security statement appeared to contradict that.

It said that the conditions of the two hospitalized women were improving and that they had sustained second-degree light injuries. The other two women were slightly injured and not hospitalized, the statement said.

While some online comments applauded the statement for refuting the rumors, more raised questions about the severity of the womens injuries and the slow initial response of the police.

Reports of a series of gang crimes in Tangshan surfaced after the attack, along with public questioning of alleged ties between the police and gang members. The investigation into the case has been transferred to the police in another jurisdiction, the city of Langfang, which is also in Hebei province.

The Hebei province anti-corruption body said Tuesday that five police officers are under investigation, including the chief of the Lubei branch in Tangshan and at least two others from a police station under the Lubei branch.

___

Associated Press news assistant Caroline Chen contributed.
By Harika Maddala

Bay City News Foundation

Carol Bluitt, an Antioch resident and a mother of three young sons ages 7, 9 and 10 years old, watched them play Frisbee in the grass while she sat in a picnic chair under a tree on Sunday at Williamson Ranch Park.

Bluitt, wearing a Minnie Mouse hat and listening to live DJ music on the warm and breezy afternoon, was one of many enjoying the Juneteenth celebration at the park.

The park was transformed on Sunday into what felt like a small-sized, one-day local fair that welcomed families from Antioch and beyond to enjoy live music, food, drinks, rides, face painting and more.

The city of Antioch and Oakland-based nonprofit Makin Moves Motorcycle Club organized the Juneteenth/Father's Day community event.

"This is a free event. All we care about is that you come in with a positive attitude, have a good time here and leave with a full stomach," said Kevin Lamb of Makin Moves.

The event brought in visitors not just from Antioch but also from Oakland and San Francisco.

"It's nice to be hanging out here with my family -- my mother, stepfather, son and daughter," said Lacora Benard, an Oakland resident. "We are just hanging out and getting some sun. It is really nice that they are having this free event with the food and games."

Juneteenth, observed every year on June 19, is a holiday originating in Texas, where it is also known as Emancipation Day. On June 19, 1865, Union general Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the freedom of the enslaved African Americans in the state, shortly after the end of the U.S. Civil War and two years after President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

"I always talk to my children about what their responsibility is," said Carol Bluitt, talking about what she does for Juneteenth every year. "I teach them that they are important. I let them know that people died so that you live this life that you are living today. We always have to be grateful and think about our forefathers and thank God for them."

For Bluitt's family, as with many African American families, it is a tradition to gather for Juneteenth and spend the day together.

"Back home, we have celebrated it every year, in Chicago. We have been celebrating it since the '60s," said 96-year-old Merle Wilson, an Antioch resident of eight years. "It's a state holiday and a city holiday back home. But I am 96 now so I don't have to worry about taking time off from work. I go to events everywhere now."

President Joe Biden signed a bill establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday last year, meaning federal workers get a paid holiday and no mail is delivered. But other U.S. workers don't necessarily enjoy this benefit. According to Pew Research Center, at least 24 states and the District of Colombia have legally recognized Juneteenth as a public holiday at the state level this year. But California is still yet to join the list of states to recognize this day as a paid holiday.

"I think it is important to celebrate ourselves even if the community don't," Bluitt said. "We have to celebrate ourselves. And what I do is I get with my family -- my sisters, my nieces and nephews -- and we thank God.

"We thank God for people who put all the work in -- who died so that we can be free and sit in this park today, and just look around and see all my Black folks, and the good music and the good food, and just thank God for our lives, and we are able to have fun today and celebrate African American people."

The 96-year-old Wilson had a few words to share about what freedom in America meant to him. He said, "Freedom means to do anything that I want to do within reason. Not to step on nobody else's toes or to let them step on mine."

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.
A man was found motionless with his face down on the San Antonio River Walk early Monday morning, according to the San Antonio Police Department. The San Antonio Fire Department pulled the body out of the river when they made the scene.

The possible drowning occurred around 3:16 a.m. in the 100 block of North Riverwalk, near North St. Mary's Street and Brooklyn Avenue. First responders were called to the scene after a passerby found the body floating inside the river. He called the authorities immediately, SAPD said.
California lawmakers have just over a week to decide what they're going to do about gas rebates.

July 1 marks the beginning of the new fiscal year, which means Gov. Gavin Newsom needs to sign off on a spending plan by June 30. Earlier this year, Newsom pledged to use some of the state's nearly $100 billion surplus to issue gas rebates to Californians, but disagreements with Democratic leaders in the Legislature over how those rebates should be distributed have prevented any plans from being finalized.

According to a Monday article by CalMatters, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said the two sides had a long, long weekend of negotiations and certainly made progress. He said Californians can certainly expect to see something in the form of a gas rebate before October.

The root of the disagreement between Newsom and Democrats in the Legislature is over who should receive payments. Newsom wants to send $400 in the form of debit cards to vehicle owners (up to $800 for drivers with more than one vehicle) and would hire a third-party vendor to work with the Department of Motor Vehicles in issuing those payments. Members of the Legislature, on the other hand, want the state Franchise Tax Board  the agency that distributed state-issued pandemic relief checks  to issue $200 to residents making less than $125,000 (for joint filers, the threshold is $250,000) regardless of whether they own a vehicle.

Newsom argues that his plan would get money to Californians quicker, but Democratic legislators are hesitant to tie the payments to vehicle ownership, citing equity issues.

Adding to the issue is a scheduled increase to the state's fuel excise tax  approximately an additional 3 cents per gallon  which is set to take effect July 1. Californians are already paying more for gas than anyone else in the U.S. According to the American Automobile Association, the average price for a gallon of gas in California is currently $6.38  dwarfing the national average of $4.96.

Monday also brought news of a new state Assembly select committee that will investigate price gouging by oil companies. Rendon, who announced the formation of the new committee, said it will question oil companies, regulators and economists to find out why the state's gas prices are consistently the highest in the country. However, the Assembly's monthlong recess is scheduled to begin on July 1, which means any revelations from the committee's investigation likely won't come until the end of the year.

But Californians could see some relief sooner if President Joe Biden follows through on a plan to suspend the federal gas tax, which could save consumers as much as 18.4 cents per gallon. Over the weekend, Biden said he hoped to have a decision made by the end of this week.
WFO SACRAMENTO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

_____

HEAT ADVISORY

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Sacramento CA

230 AM PDT Tue Jun 21 2022

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO

10 PM PDT WEDNESDAY...

* WHAT...Hot temperatures with highs 100 to 109 in the Valley, 95

to 103 in the foothills. Overnight lows 64 to 74 in the Valley,

68 to 80 in the foothills.

* WHERE...Sacramento Valley, Northern San Joaquin Valley,

Carquinez Strait and Delta, and adjacent foothills.

* WHEN...From 10 AM this morning to 10 PM PDT Wednesday.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.

Widespread moderate, locally high, heat risk expected in the

Central Valley; moderate to high heat risk in the foothills.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Hottest day will be today for the Delta,

northern San Joaquin Valley and southern Sacramento Valley.

Hottest day will be Wednesday for the northern half of the

Sacramento Valley and foothills.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO MIDLAND/ODESSA Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, June 21, 2022

_____

FLASH FLOOD WARNING

The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...

North Central Jeff Davis County in southwestern Texas...

* Until 700 PM CDT.

* At 400 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing

heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2 inches of

rain have fallen. 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...

mainly rural areas of North Central Jeff Davis County

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law

enforcement and request they pass this information to the National

Weather Service when you can do so safely.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
Accordingly, as soon as Vietnamese enterprises detected signs of fraud, they coordinated with authorities to promptly cancel the delivery of 26 out of 100 containers that six Vietnamese export companies had signed a contract to sell to a group of five Italian importers.



Of the 74 containers already loaded onto the ships, the Vietnamese side promptly stopped 39 containers at the transit port in Singapore and sent them back to Vietnam. At the same time, it requested the delivery unit return the original documents that had not been delivered to the buyer's banks for some containers already on their way to ports in Italy.



Out of 35 containers whose original documents were lost, 30 were brought back to Vietnam and sold to other customers in Italy or a third country. For the remaining five containers at Italian ports, after working with Italian authorities, on May 2, the Larino Civil Court issued a ruling to return the ownership of three containers within the jurisdiction of this Court.



On June 15 and 16, Napoli Economic - Financial Police and Genoa Port Military Police decided to return the last two containers of cashew nuts to Vietnamese enterprises.



Thus, up to now, all 100 containers of cashew nuts have been handed over to Vietnamese businesses.



According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), it is the close attention and direction of the Prime Minister, leaders of the MoIT, relevant ministries, and agencies, as well as the active coordination from Italian agencies, that has helped the case to be resolved quickly, bringing fair results for Vietnamese enterprises.



Along with that, authorities quickly mobilized all direct and indirect resources to protect the interests of businesses in solving the case.



In the coming time, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to work with associations and the Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Trade to disseminate information on the process of international economic integration, promote export, and skills and lessons that enterprises should pay attention to when exporting in the international market.

By Thanh Lam  Translated by Bao Nghi
ANSR, the market leader in enabling organizations to build, manage and scale global teams through Global Capability Centres (GCCs), today announced its partnership with Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) as part of ADIO's $545 million Innovation Programme to drive innovation and growth for global businesses.

ADIO will provide the companies financial and non-financial incentives to support their growth in Abu Dhabi. ANSR and Talent500 will set up regional headquarters and innovation centres in Abu Dhabi aimed at developing technological solutions to support global workforce transformation. In addition, Talent500's global workforce solution aims to attract global ready-to-hire talent and manage the end-to-end setup of high-impact product and technology teams 60% faster.

The UAE has emerged as a leading destination for Indian businesses, including India's crypto ecosystem, 80% of who have moved to the UAE in the last 3 months.

In addition, Talent500, the fastest-growing global workforce builder in the world, will establish its Regional HQ in Abu Dhabi to provide fast-growth businesses in the Middle East access to top global talent. Aimed at transforming global hiring using artificial intelligence, Talent500 will connect leading technology professionals in product engineering, mobile, cloud and AI/ML with some of the most exciting enterprises in the region. Talent500 will also partner with local academic institutions to develop training, upskilling and internship programmes in relevant areas.

Vikram Ahuja, CEO of Talent500 and Managing Director at ANSR said, "In a rapidly changing post-pandemic world, access to global talent will be a key differentiator for businesses. Abu Dhabi's attractiveness as a safe and stable location ranked high for ease of doing business, makes it an ideal global technology hub. We believe that this one-of-a-kind partnership between ADIO and ANSR-Talent500, will result in giant strides for Indian businesses looking to go and creating a vibrant deep tech ecosystem in Abu Dhabi."

Commenting on the partnership, Lalit Ahuja, CEO, ANSR added, "ANSR is truly honoured and excited to partner with ADIO to transform the tech ecosystem in the region. With the rapidly changing global ecosystem, we're committed to contributing to the transformation of Abu Dhabi as a progressive and technology-led global technology location. We look forward to working closely with our portfolio of leading global businesses to set up their regional technology headquarters in Abu Dhabi in support of the emirate's vision of becoming a leading global technology hub."

Eng. Abdulla Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Acting Director General of ADIO, said, "With talent and teams increasingly mobile and global, organisations need new technologies and solutions to maintain a successful workforce. Being home to 200 nationalities and a dynamic innovation ecosystem, Abu Dhabi understands that the future of work is being rapidly reshaped and is equipped to enable workforce transformation. ANSR and Talent500 are aligned with Abu Dhabi's vision of using innovation to address global challenges, and we are excited to support their growth through the Innovation Programme, which will enable us to drive meaningful progress in the global talent market."

ANSR's investors include Accel Partners, Evolvence Group and Sistema. Evolvence Group is a Dubai-based conglomerate which focuses on asset management, education, and retail. Rohit Batra, a partner with the firm commented on this partnership, "As competition for talent heats up globally and distributed teams become mainstream in a post-pandemic world, leading enterprises are seeking out solutions to build and manage a global workforce, while setting up hubs in talent-rich locations. Abu Dhabi's supportive regulations and growing ecosystem make it an ideal destination to attract top professionals and businesses alike."
Edtech startup BrightChamps is planning to close mergers and acquisitions worth $100 million through stock and cash deals in the ongoing fiscal year (FY23), cofounder and chief executive Ravi Bhushan said.

The acquisitions will likely be across India, the United States, the UK, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

We have already done a couple of acquisitions like Education 10X, and it is performing very well. This gave us more confidence to double down on our acquisitions, Bhushan said. We are in the final stages of discussion with a tech startup here in India and will be closing the deal soon.

He, however, declined to share details of potential deals. The market opportunity, he said, is much bigger than anticipated.

BrightChamps acquired Education 10X in February in a stock and cash deal. The financial terms were not disclosed.

The investment for acquisitions will be in phases, Bhushan added.

We are going aggressive on this (inorganic expansion) and if the same market situation prevails, we are looking to spend this money in two-three quarters from now, he said.

Founded in 2020 by Bhushan, an IIT-Varanasi graduate, BrightChamps offers online courses on programming, artificial intelligence, design thinking and financial literacy to kids aged 6-16 years.

It is currently operational in more than 30 countries, including the United States, Canada, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Nigeria.

The edtech startup has raised $63 million since inception. Its investors include Premji Invest, the investment office of Wipro founder-chairman Azim Premji, edtech-focused investor GSV Ventures, Flipkart cofounder Binny Bansal-backed 021 Capital and Singapore-based venture fund Beenext.

In November, it had an annual revenue run rate of $10 million.

Bhushan declined to share the companys latest financials.

While most of its business are from outside India, the startup is looking to acquire edtech firms here in the life-skill vertical, product-led distribution platform and other areas.

Recently, the firm also launched RoboChamps, its robotics vertical that is working on teaching life skills learning at a reduced cost, Bhushan said.

We can make this ambitious plan only because we are very prudent on cash burn and other costs. We have deep pockets, Bhushan said, on raising capital amid a slowdown in big-ticket funding.
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Elon Musk, the billionaire visionary and oftentimes erratic entrepreneur, struck a sober tone Tuesday as he forecast a probable recession in the US and left doubts about his commitment to a $US44 billion takeover of Twitter.

In an interview at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, the Tesla chief executive officer said the electric-car makers workforce needs to be trimmed as supply-chain snarls crimp growth. He was also unguarded in his view that the US economy is headed toward contraction. Its just a question of when.

Musks deal for Twitter remains in some doubt. Credit:AP

A recession is inevitable at some point, said Musk, who joined the Middle East forum via video linkup from the US in the middle of his night. As to whether there is a recession in the near term, that is more likely than not.

Musk, whos also the CEO of rocket-launch company SpaceX, was far from the jocular and sometimes edgy showman whos a star on Twitter, with almost 100 million followers. Appearing in front of some of the Qatari backers of his planned acquisition of the social media platform, the billionaire was businesslike, measured and respectful. At 3am New York time, Musk was dressed in a dark suit jacket and a collared white shirt.
It would be pretty clear to most grown-ups what used to go on at the now defunct adult bar Ponytails on the outskirts of Manila.

So why would the Financial Times, private investigators working for the son of a former PM and our very own Australian Federal Police feel the need to go poking around in the venues affairs?

Its quite the yarn. Back in 2019, this masthead reported former Dawson MP George Christensen had been a regular at the bar in a satellite city of the Philippines capital.

Christensens frequent trips to the country had been investigated by the AFP, who found no evidence of illegality, but raised concerns he could be open to compromise.
When it was first published by Sylvia Beach from her famous Parisian bookshop, Shakespeare and Company, in February 1922, it immediately fell foul of obscenity laws around the world and was roundly denounced, banned, censored and burnt. That the story not only survived but went on to be one of the most read and unread books of all time must be a testament to something. What was I missing? Great-grand nieces and nephews of Irish writer James Joyce at the Bloomsday celebrations. Credit:AP I bought the novel (again) four weeks before Bloomsday itself and sought the counsel of friends, acquaintances and the internet on how to tackle it now that I was older, wiser and desperate not to look like a total fool in Dublin (this last proving a surprisingly efficacious stimulus). Advice ranged from listening to it as an audiobook (an Irish accent helps, to be sure), not taking it too seriously, starting at chapter 4, skipping the boring bits, reading a chapter a week, reading a chapter a year, reading it all in 24 hours, reading it out loud, reading it while drunk and reading it out loud while drunk.

Ulysses novelist James Joyce. Credit:Getty Images To those not in the know, Ulysses is set on one day  June 16, 1904  and concerns two men, Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus, as they go about their lives. It starts in a Martello tower in Sandycove just outside Dublin city and ends in the early hours of the next day after the two men get rip-roaringly drunk. It is a book exceptional for its time, as academic, author and Joyce scholar Declan Kiberd writes in the introduction to my edition, in cleaving to the quotidian. After all, here were characters shown urinating, defecating, masturbating, having sex and farting. On Bloomsday, at the top of the Martello tower that Joyce once stayed in and later used in the first chapter, volunteer guide Seamus Cannon, resplendent like many others on Bloomsday in a beige linen suit, bowtie and straw boater, put it thus: He [Joyce] took the bread of life and consecrated it into art. He also gave headaches and feelings of intellectual inadequacy to generations of would-be readers (though that might just be me) who couldnt get their head around the stream-of-consciousness style and the lack of punctuation.

It helps to know that Joyce was attempting to recreate on the page how the way the brain works in real life. Imagine how your mind wanders during just a few seconds  all the chitter-chatter of everyday life and shards of memory and of thoughts thought, examined, discarded  and youll have an idea of what reading Ulysses entails. It helps, as someone on an online comments section put it, to have a comprehensive education in English literature from Anglo-Saxon to the 19th century and an acquaintance with early Continental modernism and the classics to appreciate and understand it. A bit of Latin and a thorough grounding in Irish history, Catholicism and politics wouldnt go amiss, either. And lets not even get started on the fact that the book is Joyces interpretation of Homers Odyssey, with Leopold Blooms wanderings through Dublin standing in for Odysseuss 10-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan Wars. In fact, forget I mentioned it. Bloomsday, itself, began in 1954 when a few local literary luminaries decided to celebrate the book by getting together to recreate it. That first Bloomsday ended in drunkenness and recriminations, but a tradition was born that has turned into an event celebrated around the world. That sound you can hear is Shakespeare turning in his grave. My Bloomsday begins at the James Joyce Centre, where I have inveigled an invite to the official Bloomsday breakfast. Here, the great and the good of Dublin (it is kicked off by Irish politician Catherine Martin, who exults in the positively Joycean title of Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media) are dressed to the nines in Edwardian garb  like many other Ulysses nuts throughout the city  to watch a troupe of actors perform excerpts from the book.

I also meet a man from Philadelphia who has been studying Ulysses via Zoom meetings and has flown over from the USA to meet his fellow pupils. They started reading it in February and have just finished. One well-timed bomb here, I think, would wipe out most of the people in the world who have read the whole of Ulysses. Loading After this, we head off on a walking tour with guide Loic Wright, whose erudition and heavily annotated and bookmarked copy of the book (his last one fell apart at the seams) help trace the Dublin of Ulysses over modern Dublin. Bloomsday is busy. The city is awash with people in period dress-up, following in Blooms footsteps. They head en masse to Davy Byrnes restaurant for a gorgonzola sandwich and a glass of burgundy, a la Bloom. They queue massively outside Swenys former chemist to buy, a la Bloom, a scented lemon soap. There are kidneys for breakfast on many menus, a la Bloom. They, like us, head to the Martello tower to stand on the top and gaze at people diving off the rocks below into what Joyce called the snotgreen and scrotumtightening sea.

Gradually it begins to rub off  all the discussions and the listening and the orations and the performances  and starts to make weird sense. This was Joyce going where nobody had gone before. He was experimenting with interior monologues, making up words, pushing boundaries. There are passages of pure beauty, genius even. And there are passages that make you want to deliberately choke to death on your breakfast kidney. I was halfway through (though I did skip ahead to read the closing monologue of that sexy minx Molly Bloom) but Im going to begin again with a fresh perspective. Starting with that wonderful opening: Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed Keith Austin attended Bloomsday courtesy of Failte Ireland Tourism Office. To read more from Spectrum, visit our page here.
Only Murders in the Building 

Disney+, new episodes from June 28

Even amid the slew of surprise feel-good hits last year, Only Murders in the Building really was a surprise feel-good hit.

Right from the start, the comedic chemistry between longtime friends Steve Martin and Martin Short and their younger but equally luminous co-star, Selena Gomez, was a sheer delight. There was a real sense of playfulness too as, together with showrunner John Hoffman (who created the series with Martin), they revelled in meta asides and character flourishes in the wacky yet touching tale of three Manhattan misfits who come together to make an investigative podcast about a murder in their apartment building.

The comedic chemistry of Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez continues to fire in season 2 of Only Murders In The Building. Credit:Disney+

The new second season brings more of the same, along with an even more ebullient sense of freedom stemming from the first being so widely adored. And the sublime cast is further bolstered by the likes of Shirley MacLaine, Michael Rapaport and Amy Schumer.
The Kings School has defended a controversial trip by its headmaster and his wife to the Royal Henley Regatta, saying it was standard practice among independent schools to fly principals overseas with their spouse and traditional for the Kings principal to travel business class.

In a letter to parents on Tuesday, the schools chair, Rosemary Abrahams, acknowledged parents were concerned after the Herald revealed headmaster Tony George and his deputy, and both their wives, were flying to the UK watch the Kings First VIII race in the schoolboys Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup.

The Kings School boat shed in Putney, Sydney. Credit:Janie Barrett

Multiple sources told the Herald that flights were originally intended to be first class, an expense signed off by Mrs Abrahams, although were later changed to business class.

Some members of the schools council were concerned that the expenses had not been put before the whole council for approval and one council member resigned over the issue.
The NSW racing industry will receive a funding boost of at least $265 million as the government moves to lift the tax rate for the booming online gambling sector.

Tuesdays state budget included a measure to lift the tax rate for online betting from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, adding an extra $740 million in government revenue over the next four years.

Online betting agencies will be taxed more under the change. Credit:Getty

The proportion of wagers placed online has ballooned from 43.6 per cent of the market in 2019 to 73.7 per cent last year, prompting concerns taxpayers were missing out from a potentially lucrative source of revenue.

The government said the new system would introduce competitively neutral tax rates across online and offline betting products, but the change has the potential to stoke a fierce backlash from the states powerful gaming and racing sectors.
RICHARD CONNOLLY, 1927  2022

In the days when performance radio (plays, features and much more) was important on ABC networks, Richard Connolly was a fine editor, and produced many memorable programs, eventually becoming director of Radio Drama and Features. He composed many hymn tunes, to words by poet James McAuley, still sung widely in Australian churches. And he composed and sang the theme for Play School on ABC TV in 1966, which is still used.

Richard Connolly was born in 1927, and grew up in Guildford, western Sydney, the eldest of eight children. His forebears on both sides had come from Ireland in the first half of the 19th century, and Catholicism was a strong element in their lives.

Richard Connolly at the keyboard in recent times.

Connolly has documented his education, from the primary school of St Patricks Guildford to the Propaganda Fide College in Rome and Sydney University. In it he records his gratitude to the small band of Good Samaritan nuns who taught him in Guildford, notably Sister Oonah who taught him the piano for five years. Then she put in front of him a book of Latin hymns, at the harmonium. While still at primary school, he became organist for the service of Benediction in the parish church, and thus, he says, began his career in liturgical music.
The states public school and Catholic school teachers are set to stage a historic joint 24-hour strike on June 30 as anger escalates across the profession over staff shortages, mounting workload and pay.

It has been more than two decades since the NSW Teachers Federation and the Independent Education Union of Australia have taken joint action, which the unions say is a direct result of the manifest failure of the state government and Catholic employers to deal with the teaching crisis.

Teachers chant during a strike in December. Credit:Louise Kennerley

This action speaks to the crisis in which we find ourselves, federation president Angelo Gavrielatos said. Hundreds of classes every day, and thousands upon thousands of students, are being denied their education and their the future.

It will be the third time the states public school teachers have voted to strike in just over six months, and the second time NSW and ACT Catholic diocesan schools have voted to take industrial action this year. Together, the unions represent more than three quarters of the states teachers.
Murder accused Jason Roberts took police to the site of buried evidence connected to the shooting deaths of two officers more than a decade earlier, a trial has heard.

Prosecutors allege Roberts was with Bandali Debs in Cochranes Road, Moorabbin, after midnight on August 16, 1998, when Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller were shot. Silk died at the scene and Miller died in hospital.

Retired detective Ron Iddles outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Credit:Penny Stephens

But Roberts, 41, argues he was not there and has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder. Justice Stephen Kaye has told the jury Debs and Roberts were convicted of the murders in 2002 but the Court of Appeal granted Roberts a retrial.

The Supreme Court heard that in 2013 Roberts told homicide detective Ron Iddles he was with his then-girlfriend Nicole  Bandali Debs daughter  at the Debs home in Narre Warren when the shootings happened. Roberts had told Iddles that Debs said he alone shot both Silk and Miller.
Victoria has brought forward by six months new laws to criminalise the public display of the Nazi swastika.

The state has become the first Australian jurisdiction to ban the hate symbol, also known as the Hakenkreuz, after parliament passed a bill on Tuesday evening with bipartisan support.

A Nazi flag flying over a home in the Victorian town of Beulah in 2020.

Anyone who intentionally displays the swastika symbol could face 12 months in prison and a fine of about $22,000 when the legislation comes into effect in six months time.

The government says it has brought forward the date when the legislation will come into effect, originally planned to take 12 months, based on feedback from religious, legal and community groups.
WA paedophile freed from prison

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The unprecedented shutdown of Australias east coast electricity market could be lifted by as early as Wednesday night if the nations major power generators demonstrate they can offer enough supplies to avert shortfalls during a 24-hour monitoring regime.

Officials from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) briefed power companies on Tuesday on the criteria that must be met before it would begin a staged process to resume normal trading.

The operator seized control of the energy market for the first time in its history last week to stabilise power supplies. Credit:Joe Armao

AEMO anticipates monitoring will continue for at least 24 hours, a spokesperson said.

If AEMO is confident the criteria are being met, the next step is to formally remove the market suspension and resume normal operation under the market rules.
Doctors say vulnerable patients are at risk of missing out on medical care this winter unless the federal government halts plans to scale back Medicare rebates for telehealth, and are calling for more flexibility for patients.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the Albanese government was seeking advice about options to extend rebates for longer phone consultations, which are due to expire on June 30 under a policy of the former Morrison government.

Many rebates for telephone consultations are due to expire on June 30. Credit:Jim Rice

Dozens of telehealth rebates are due to be abolished on July 1, including phone consultations of more than 20 minutes with a GP, initial consultations with a specialist and some disability and mental health services.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Adjunct Professor Karen Price called on government to make longer telephone consultations with GPs a permanent fixture of telehealth to ensure that patients with complex needs can access the care they need.
Media personality Lisa Wilkinson gave a Logies acceptance speech referencing Brittany Higgins despite being warned by prosecutors that further publicity about the former political staffers rape case could lead to the trial being delayed.

ACT Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucy McCallum on Tuesday cancelled the scheduled June 27 trial start date, saying she was not satisfied any directions to a jury to disregard reporting of Wilkinsons speech or any preconceptions they might have about the case would ensure a fair trial.

Lisa Wilkinson won a Logie award for her interview with former staffer Brittany Higgins. Credit:Getty Images

Regrettably and with gritted teeth, I have concluded that the trial date of 27 June, towards which the parties have been carefully steering, should be vacated, she said.

Bruce Lehrmann, also a former Liberal staffer, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual intercourse without consent, relating to an alleged incident in Parliament House in 2019.
NSW Labor will move to block former deputy premier John Barilaro taking up a plum New York trade posting until a parliamentary inquiry into his appointment is completed.

Barilaro was appointed to a $500,000-a-year job less than a year after quitting state politics in a move that has outraged Liberal ministers and backbenchers.

The decision, which did not go to cabinet for approval, prompted an urgent upper house inquiry.

Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro has been appointed to the plum role of US trade commissioner. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Leader of the opposition in the upper house Penny Sharpe has called on the government to halt the appointment until the Public Accountability Committee has finished its inquiry and reported to the parliament.
Queenslands decade-long freeze on coal royalties will come to an end, with new progressive rates to net the state $1.2 billion over the next four years in the most significant addition to revenue in the 2021-22 budget.

In doing so, the government appeared to break an election promise not to increase any taxes during the term, but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insisted that promise was to average Queenslanders, not large companies.

Coal mining near Emerald, central Queensland. Credit:James Laws

I believe that Queenslanders are on our side, she said.

Queenslanders will see that some of these companies are making billions of dollars, coals being exported overseas and we can reinvest that money for Queenslanders into hospitals and schools and regional Queensland.
Long before there was Masterchef, there was The God of Cookery. In the 1996 film, Stephen Chow judges a fictional cooking competition that captivates audiences across China. The finale was held inside Jumbo Floating Restaurant  an epic scene of decadence befitting Jumbos iconic status. Now Jumbo lies at the bottom of the ocean, as do many of Hong Kongs hopes of returning to its halcyon days.

The 76-metre-long behemoth, which could sit 2300 diners at a time, capsized in bad weather on Monday after being towed 690 kilometres towards the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. It got that far with all the seaworthiness of a floating imperial palace, complete with a dragon throne, aquarium and a six-storey pagoda. By Tuesday afternoon, it was resting 1000 metres below sea level.

Jumbo Floating Restaurant was being towed to Southeast Asia before it capsized. Credit:Hong Kong Tourist Association

Jumbo closed at the start of the pandemic in March 2020, then floundered under the mountain of maintenance required to keep it afloat. Last week it set sail from Hong Kong to a destination unknown. A spokesperson for the company told the South China Morning Post the vessel was being towed to somewhere in Southeast Asia. But it never made it.

It is a poetic end for a vessel that came to epitomise Hong Kongs excess of the 1980s and 1990s when Western and Chinese money flooded into Asias financial capital. The floating kingdom of Hong Kong casino tycoon Stanley Ho marked the centre of Aberdeen Harbour. Its bookings surged on the back of tourism and investment, filling its thousands of seats nightly with diners chowing down on crabs, lobster, and roasted suckling pig.
The law enforcement response to the Uvalde school shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers was an abject failure in which a commander put the lives of officers over those of the children, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steven McCraw told a hearing into the shootings.

Meanwhile, senate bargainers in Washington reached agreement on a bipartisan gun violence bill that couples modest restrictions with some $US15 billion in new federal funding for mental health programs and school security upgrades  a breakthrough potentially clearing the way for the reform package to become law later this month.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visiting a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Credit:AP

During the Texas Senate hearing into the May 24 school shooting on Tuesday (US time), McCraw told politicians that terrible decisions were made by the onsite commander and officers who did not have enough training, costing them valuable time that may have saved lives.

There is compelling evidence that the law enforcement response to the attack at Robb Elementary was an abject failure and antithetical to everything weve learned, McCraw said.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, June 17th, 2022, the Court of First Instance rendered its decision denying a request to suspend the decision of the Honorable Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson regarding the deportation of a man who previously resided in St. Maarten legally for an extended period of time. The man requested his permanent residence permit, however, during the processing time of the application for the permanent permit, he committed a crime for which he served a prison sentence.

Even though the man at the time of submitting the application did not have a criminal record, the Minister is by law, authorized to take into consideration facts and circumstances that could result in a person not being eligible for issuance of a residence permit. In this case, the man's permit request was denied based on the Ordinance Admittance and Expulsion of St. Maarten, in the interest of public order since he had committed a crime on St. Maarten. In addition, even though the man is a Director of a Company, for which he received his previous residence permit, he could not prove that he met the income requirements due to his incarceration.

The man's appeal against the denial was also filed too late and deemed inadmissible which resulted in him residing in St. Maarten illegally. The Minister issued a detention and deportation order based on the above facts. The man has been detained for a couple of days but because he cooperated with the deportation, he only stayed in detention for a couple of days before being deported. Based on the deportation order of the Minister of Justice, he is not allowed to return to St. Maarten for a period of three years.

The mans Attorney, Mr. Edwin Maduro submitted a petition to the Court requesting a suspension of the deportation order and to instruct the Minister to allow the man to return to St. Maarten as he is a director of a company that is still operational, and his wife and two kids are residing on St. Maarten. Attorney Maduro complained about the manner in which persons are deported within a couple of days after being detained without allowing them to appeal the deportation orders and deemed the manner in which the man was deported unlawfully.

On behalf of the Minister of Justice, Attorney Ms. Cindy Marica, explained to the Court that the man is a convict who based on the Immigration Laws of St. Maarten, cannot obtain a residence permit. The Minister is by law authorized to deny an application (or even revoke an existing residence permit) in the interest of public order in cases like this. The fact that the man is a director of a company and/or has a family in St. Maarten under these circumstances is not a decisive factor. The man should not be allowed back to St. Maarten as he has brought himself into this situation by committing a criminal act. Moreover, his appeal against the denial of his residence permit was submitted too late and even if the appeal would be successful, he will not be able to submit a Declaration of Good Conduct given his criminal record.

The Court agreed with the arguments on behalf of the Minister of Justice and disregarded the arguments of the man with regard to the manner in which the deportation took place. The Court denied the requests to suspend the deportation order and allow the man to return to St. Maarten to run his business.

All visitors are urged to respect the immigration laws of St. Maarten. If you plan on residing on the island, you must apply for a residence permit at the Immigration and Border Protection Services. First-time applicants should not be in St. Maarten during the processing of their applications.
~ Former MP Frans Richardson was condemned to 20 months with a 5-year ban on passive rights. ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Former Chief Executive Officer of Ports St. Maarten Mark Mingo was fully acquitted by the Court of Appeals on Tuesday.

Mingos life was turned upside down when he was arrested on June 17th, 2017. On Tuesday the former CEO broke down when the verdict was read in open court and he was able to walk out a free man.

The court determined that the prosecution did not have the evidence to support their claim that Mingo overrated over 200 invoices.

Chief Executive Officer Mark Mingo was found guilty in January 2020 by the Court of First Instance he was found guilty of forgery and scamming the Port of St. Maarten in excess of $10M. Mingo was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment while not allowed to work for any government-owned company for a period of six years. On Tuesday, he was declared an innocent man since the Prosecution was not able to prove their charges against him.

The Prosecutors claim that some companies sent fictitious or greatly increased bills to the port that were paid.

The appeals court found that the prosecution did not prove their case against Mingo. In 2017 the Prosecution said Mingo defrauded the port of at least 17 million dollars. In 2020 he was convicted of defrauding the port of over $10M.

Co- suspects in the Emerald case were former Member of Parliament Frans Richardson who received 20 months imprisonment and a 5-year ban on his passive rights. Member of Parliament Frans Richardson was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment while he lost his voting rights for a period of five years. The court found that Richardson accepted $370,000.00 in bribes from the dredging project conducted by Devcon.

While businessman Oniel Arrindell was found guilty of bribing MP Richardson, tax fraud, and firearm possession. He was sentenced to 66 months imprisonment by the court of the first instance in 2020/ The appeals court reduced his sentence to some 40 months.

The appeal in large-scale TBO investigation Emerald: convictions and acquittal

The Common Court of Justice today sentenced A., the main suspect in the Emerald investigation, to a prison sentence of forty months. Another suspect, a former member of parliament R. has been sentenced to twenty months in prison. The suspectM., CEO of the Port at the time, was acquitted of all the accusations made against him.

The Court has found that A. was guilty of defrauding the Port, bribing then a member of parliament R., possessing a firearm and ammunition, and committing tax fraud. A. was acquitted of the accusation that he had defrauded the Port by submitting false invoices to the Port.

A., who acted as a PR employee of the Port and at the same time as a consultant to an American company where the Port had concluded a dredging contract, defrauded the Port by an amount of USD 2.7 million that this dredging company paid to him as a consultant under false pretenses by charging to the Port. In addition, A. bribed a member of parliament R. by paying him a sum of USD 370,000 in exchange for support from R. to the dredging contract to be concluded between the Port and the American company.

As a member of parliament, R. allowed himself to be bribed by A. for the aforementioned amount of USD 370,000,-, laundered this money, and also committed tax fraud. In addition to the prison sentence of twenty months, the Court imposed on Mr. R. as an additional punishment that he may not be elected as a member of general representative bodies for a period of five years.

M., who was ultimately responsible for the Port at the time, was acquitted of defrauding the Port. It is true that the Court's investigation has shown that his actions as CEO of the Port can be questioned, but in the court's opinion, no legal and convincing evidence has been provided for his involvement in the port fraud.

The defendants and the public prosecutor have 14 days to lodge an appeal in cassation with the Hoge Raad in the Netherlands.

Court of First Instance Press Release.
WBA OpenRoaming Enables Dublina?s Smart City Vision with Seamless, Secure, High-Performance Wi-Fi

London, UK, June 20th June 2022: The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) and City of Dublin today announced a successful proof-of-concept trial of OpenRoaminga in Dublin, Ireland. Initially deployed at Bernardo Square, Dame Street and the City Councila?s Amphitheatre, WBA OpenRoaming enables residents and visitors to log in only once and then maintain seamless connectivity as their smartphones, tablets and other Wi-Fi devices automatically switch between different public Wi-Fi hotspots. The success of the trial will pave the way for a larger city-wide deployment.

Dublin is a high growth city. It currently has a population in the Greater Dublin Area of around 2.02 million and is anticipated to grow to 2.2 million by 2031. It houses 30% of the countrya?s working population and attracts over 6.6 million overseas visitors a year. It is anticipated that OpenRoaming will be initially rolled out on over 150 APa?s across Dublin city.

Now available at over 1 million hotspots worldwide, WBA OpenRoaming frees users from the need to constantly re-register or re-enter log-in credentials a all while maintaining enterprise-grade security and privacy. The WBA OpenRoaming standard also enables enterprises, device OEMs, service providers and others to provide performance guarantees and a with Wi-Fi 6 and 6Ea a carrier-grade experience as users roam between different public Wi-Fi venues.

The trial, initiated by Dublin City Councila?s Smart Dublin programme and supported by the WBA and Virgin Media, also involved participation from CommScope and represents a key a milestone toward achieving Dublina?s smart city goals, which include:

a Providing communities, residents and businesses with seamless access to services online, as well as high-quality connectivity

a Giving tourists and other visitors free, secure, high-performance Wi-Fi access. Once they arrive and log on to an OpenRoaming-enabled hotspot, their device is automatically authenticated for use every time it switches to another OpenRoaming-enabled hotspot. This convenience makes it easier for them to find what they need, such as restaurant recommendations, transit schedules, directions and more.

a This seamless, secure experience ensures that they have the broadband connectivity they need for interactive immersive learning, research, hybrid study and more.

Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance, said: aWi-Fi is the foundation for smart cities. This successful proof-of-concept trial shows that that the City of Dublin and its residents, businesses and visitors all can depend on the WBA OpenRoaming standard to ensure that they always have convenient access to seamless, secure, carrier-grade Wi-Fi connectivity.a

Jamie Cudden, Smart City Lead, for the City of Dublin, said: aDublin is at the forefront of a digital transformation that is serving as a model for other municipalities across Ireland and the world. Collaborations like this are key to the delivery of convenient, reliable and ubiquitous connectivity which is critical for achieving our smart city goals such as closing the digital divide and ensuring that government is responsive to the needs of citizens and businesses. This successful trial of WBA OpenRoaming is a milestone toward achieving all those goals.a

Bart Giordano, SVP Ruckus Networks, CommScope, said: a\As a founding partner in the OpenRoaming framework, we are pleased to announce with the WBA the successful launch of the OpenRoaming initiative and network for the City of Dublin. OpenRoaming brings the promise of seamless and secure connectivity to users and IoT devices all over the world. The core elements of OpenRoaming are in line with those of the Ruckus Network portfolio: cloud federation, cybersecurity, policy and automation. We look forward to expanding the City of Dublina?s network and capabilities and supporting OpenRoaming deployments worldwide. \

Aidan Darcy, VP Business & Wholesale at Virgin Media Ireland said: aIta?s fantastic to be working with Dublin City Council on such an important initiative. Given the fact that we are the official provider of both the Wi-Fi and broadband infrastructure, we are able to offer cutting-edge broadband speeds and an exceptional Wi-Fi experience for residents and tourists availing of the new Dublin City Wi-Fi Zones. Wea?re passionate about connecting communities and, with this new initiative, we really feel wea?ll be creating connections for good.a

Launched in May 2020, WBA OpenRoaming is now in Release 3, which will make the business and commercial aspects of roaming easier than ever before and importantly, cut back on hundreds of hours of legal and administrative time when establishing roaming settlement agreements.

World Wi-Fi Day a 20th June 2022

This announcement comes just before World Wi-Fi Day (an annual WBA initiative), a global platform to recognize and celebrate the significant role Wi-Fi is playing in getting cities and communities around the world connected.

It is a unique opportunity to reflect on how we can reduce digital poverty through innovative projects that will connect the unconnected.
Shengyang Electronics joins HomeGrid Forum bringing exciting G.hn knowledge of Industrial M2M and IoT use cases

Posted by Publisher Telecommunication

Nuremberg, Germany 20 June 2022: HomeGrid Forum has today welcomed Shengyang Electronics as its latest member at the Embedded World event in Nuremberg. The Chinese RF specialists bring a wealth of knowledge and experience of G.hn technologies and how they can be applied for M2M and IoT use cases. It is expected that the companya?s recent investment in G.hn technology solutions will see their first product gain HomeGrid certification by the end of this month with small volumes then available for sampling in Q3-2022.

Shengyang Electronics (SY-E) is owned by Zhejiang Shengyang Science & Technology and has been operational since the end of 2021. Based in Guangdong, China, with a world class RF design facility in the UK (MWave). SY-E designs and manufactures high quality, cost effective, solutions for the worlda?s largest satellite broadcast and mobile operators and their OEM suppliers.

HomeGrid Foruma?s President Livia Rosu said aIt is with great enthusiasm that we welcome ShengYang Electronics among HomeGrid Forum members. Their great knowledge of G.hn technology will help unlock the potential of M2M applications that need resilience and real-time synchronization like autonomous robots, smart buildings and factory automation processes. ShengYang teama?s participation in the Industrial IoT Task Force and multi-vendor interoperability certification program will support the core principles that drive the 4th Industrial Revolution.a

The first ShengYang product seeking certification is a Module addressing industrial applications, targeted at customers which are looking for a robust and reliable connectivity solution deployed using an existing wiring infrastructure. SY-E Industriala?s G.hn module allows solution providers to immediately deploy a POC, alongside a business model which allows for the same module to be deployed for quick mass production roll out.

SY-Ea?s Production, Quality and R&D teams have a wealth of experience which they will bring to the other members of the HomeGrid Forum. They will be sharing their innovation insights, and developments and experience on performance for G.hn technologies, specifically innovations in M2M possibilities.

ShengYang Electronics General Manager, Robert Xu adds, aJoining the HomeGrid Forum brings huge benefits from recognition of being a member, having a shop window for certified products, and the ongoing dialogue with other member categories and workgroups such as silicon providers through to OEMa?s and importantly end user Corporations which drive the future applications and requirements for the technology going forward. MWave, our UK based facility in Aldermaston, Berkshire will spearhead the launch of the G.hn products in Europe, supported by the R&D team that developed the first product.a
Maple Gold Reports Phase I Drill Results at Eagle, Including 6.4 G/T Gold over 3.0 Meters within 4.0 G/T over 7.5 Metres

Maple Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX-V: MGM) (OTCQB: MGMLF) (FSE: M3G)A (\Maple Gold\ or the \Company\  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/maple-gold-mines-ltd/ ) is pleased to report assay results from the Companya?s Phase I drill program at its 100%-controlled Eagle Mine Property (\Eagle\) in Quebec, Canada. The Phase I program consisted of eight (8) diamond drill holes totaling 4,462 metres (\m\) that begin to test potential extensions of mineralization along the past-producing Eagle-Telbel Mine Trend. Importantly, drilling has identified at least four (4) additional styles of gold mineralization beyond the known Eagle-Telbel style mined historically, providing further indications for multiple gold events that may provide for broader gold distribution than previously interpreted.

Highlights:

Drill hole EM-22-005 intersected 0 grams per tonne gold (\g/t Au\) over 7.5 m, including 6.4 g/t Au over 3.0 m, within a semi-massive pyrite and iron carbonate horizon typical of historical Eagle-Telbel style of mineralization (see Plates 1 and 2).

Drill hole EM-22-001 intersected 4 g/t Au over 0.9 m within quartz-carbonate veinlets containing visible gold (VG).

Drill hole EM-22-002 intersected 4 g/t Au over 4.7 m, including 3.8 g/t Au over 2.1 m, within highly altered, graphitic and pyritic Harricana Group sediments, as well as 2.1 g/t Au over 1.8 m further up hole in altered microgabbro.

Fred Speidel, VP Exploration of Maple Gold, stated: aWe are pleased with the results to date from our initial Eagle drill campaign. The data collected during Phase I is already guiding our Phase II drilling, which tests the Eagle-Telbel Mine Trend at greater depths, and we expect to reach our target of twelve (12) drill holes totaling roughly 8,200 m by the end of this quarter. In addition, we have just completed Winter 2022 drilling at Douay with assay results anticipated in the coming weeks, and initial partnership drilling at Telbel is expected to commence in Q3 2022 as part of a recently approved C$4.8 million supplemental budget for deep drilling at Douay and Joutel. This year should prove be the Companya?s busiest one yet for exploration drilling, reflecting our aim of making new discoveries and achieving significant resource gains across our Quebec project portfolio.a

Interpretation and Summary of Results

Nearly all of the Phase I drill holes contained at least one interval with greater than 1 g/t Au (see Table 1 for complete assay results). In addition to the historically mined Eagle-Telbel style semi-massive pyrite with iron carbonate veinlets in mixed felsic volcanics and sediments, Phase I drill core displayed multiple additional distinct styles of gold mineralization, including:

Quartz-carbonate-visible gold veinlets in footwall felsic volcanics and pyroclastics

Iron carbonate-pyrite altered microgabbro

Silica-pyrite altered feldspar porphyry

Pyrite-rich, graphitic, hanging wall sediments

The first three holes, EM-22-001 to EM-22-003, tested shallow targets northwest of the Eagle-Telbel Mine Trend that are primarily associated with micro-gabbro hosted mineralization, as well as sulfide-rich graphitic sediments found at the top of the Harricana Group sediments. The next two holes, EM-22-004 and EM-22-005, tested moderate depth targets characterized by abundant to semi-massive sulfide and Fe-carbonate veinlets in different proportions (see Plates 1 and 2). The last three holes, EM-22-006 to EM-22-008, tested the same pyrite and iron carbonate zones at slightly greater depth; in addition to this target, the holes also intercepted gold mineralization in microgabbro and feldspar porphyry.

The location of the Companya?s Phase I (completed) and Phase II (in-progress) drill holes is shown in Figure 1 below. A section view depicting the location of the EM-22-005 intercept relative to historical drilling (particularly EM-14-001, which returned 12.4 m of 2.9 g/t Au, including 4.8 m of 5.3 g/t Au) and the current 3D model at Eagle is shown in Figure 2 below.

Complete Phase I drill program results at Eagle are included in Table 1 below.

Equity Incentive Plan Grant

Pursuant to its Equity Incentive Plan (the \Plan\) dated December 17, 2020 and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company has granted stock options (\Options\) to an employee, officer and director of the Company. The new Options grant is a replacement award for Options that recently expired without being exercised.

Options to purchase an aggregate of 3,000,000 common shares of the Company (each, a \Common Share\) were granted, with an exercise price of $0.23 per Common Share. Each Option grant vests one-third on the date of the grant, one-third 12 months from the date of the grant and one-third 24 months from the date of the grant. Once vested, each Option is exercisable into one Common Share for a period of five years from the date of the grant.

Further details regarding the Plan are set out in the Management Information Circular of the Company filed on May 16, 2022, which is available on SEDAR.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical data contained in this press release was reviewed and prepared under the supervision of Fred Speidel, M. Sc., P. Geo., Vice-President Exploration of Maple Gold. Mr. Speidel is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Speidel has verified the data related to the exploration information disclosed in this press release through his direct participation in the work.

Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC)

The Company implements strict Quality Assurance (\QA\) and Quality Control (\QC\) protocols at Eagle covering the planning and placing of drill holes in the field; drilling and retrieving the NQ-sized drill core; drillhole surveying; core transport; core logging by qualified personnel; sampling and bagging of core for analysis; transport of core from site to the Val da?Or, Quebec AGAT laboratory; sample preparation for assaying; and analysis, recording and final statistical vetting of results. For a complete description of protocols, please visit the Company\-s QA/QC webpage at www.maplegoldmines.com.

About Maple Gold

Maple Gold Mines Ltd. is a Canadian advanced exploration company in a 50/50 joint venture with Agnico Eagle Mines Limited to jointly advance the district-scale Douay and Joutel gold projects located in Quebeca?s prolific Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt. The projects benefit from exceptional infrastructure access and boast ~400 km2 of highly prospective ground including an established gold resource at Douay (RPA 2019) that holds significant expansion potential as well as the past-producing Eagle, Telbel and Eagle West mines at Joutel. In addition, the Company holds an exclusive option to acquire 100% of the Eagle Mine Property.

The district-scale property package also hosts a significant number of regional exploration targets along a 55 km strike length of the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone that have yet to be tested through drilling, making the project ripe for new gold and polymetallic discoveries. The Company is well capitalized and is currently focused on carrying out exploration and drill programs to grow resources and make new discoveries to establish an exciting new gold district in the heart of the Abitibi. For more information, please visit www.maplegoldmines.com.

ON BEHALF OF MAPLE GOLD MINES LTD.

\Matthew Hornor\

B. Matthew Hornor, President & CEO

For Further Information Please Contact:

Mr. Joness Lang

Executive Vice-President

Cell: 778.686.6836

Email: jlang@maplegoldmines.com

Mr. Kiran Patankar

SVP, Growth Strategy

Cell: 604.935.9577

Email: kpatankar@maplegoldmines.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PRESS RELEASE.

Forward Looking Statements:

This press release contains \forward-looking information\ and \forward-looking statements\ (collectively referred to as \forward-looking statements\) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation in Canada, including statements about exploration work and results from current and future work programs. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, uncertainties and management\-s best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company\-s expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Maple Gold Mines Ltd.\-s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company\-s website at www.maplegoldmines.com. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Solar wind is continually released from the sun's outermost atmosphere. This artist's illustration shows solar wind streaming out from the sun.

The solar wind is a continual stream of protons and electrons from the sun's outermost atmosphere  the corona.

These charged particles breeze through the solar system at speeds ranging from around 250 miles (400 kilometers) per second to 500 miles (800 km) per second, in a plasma state, according to the National Oceanic and Administration Space Weather Prediction Center (opens in new tab) (SWPC).

When the solar wind reaches Earth it sends a flurry of charged particles into the magnetosphere and along Earth's magnetic field lines, towards the poles. The interaction of these particles with Earth's atmosphere can produce glowing aurora displays above polar regions.

Related: How hot is the sun?

The existence of the solar wind was first proposed by pioneering astrophysicist Eugene Parker whose name graces NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission.

In 1957, Parker was working as an assistant professor at the University of Chicago when he realized the superheated corona of the sun should, in theory, emit charged particles at high speed, according to the University of Chicago (opens in new tab). (This superheating is one of the most mysterious aspects of the sun's behavior and solar physicists still don't completely understand why the sun's atmosphere is hotter than its surface.)

Parker's theory described that in the sun's corona, plasma is continually heated with temperatures in this region reaching a blistering 3.5 million degrees Fahrenheit (2 million degrees Celsius). Eventually, the plasma becomes so hot that the sun's gravity can no longer hold it down so it is hurled into space as the solar wind, dragging the sun's magnetic field along with it, according to NASA JPL (opens in new tab).

Did you know? The solar wind transports a million tons of matter into space every second, according to NASA (opens in new tab).

His theory was widely criticized at the time, Parker recalled in 2018. "The first reviewer on the paper said, 'Well I would suggest that Parker go to the library and read up on the subject before he tries to write a paper about it, because this is utter nonsense.'"

Support for this theory finally came from astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar  who, decades later became the namesake of NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Though Chandrasekhar wasn't fond of the particle idea, he accepted Parker's theory because he could not find any issues with Parker's mathematics, the University of Chicago said.

Then in 1962, NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft detected the presence of solar wind particles during its voyage to Venus.

In addition to the constant streams of solar wind, the sun sometimes expulses massive quantities of those charged particles in one go. These events, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), can trigger geomagnetic storms in the environment around Earth, which are associated with the beautiful aurora displays, but can also wreak havoc with power grids, telecommunication networks and satellites orbiting the planet.

How far does the solar wind blow?

Solar wind consisting of charged particles and the sun's magnetic field bombard Earth's magnetosphere. (Image credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)

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The solar wind sweeps through the solar system far beyond the orbit of Pluto, forming a large "bubble" called the heliosphere. According to NASA, the heliosphere is shaped like a long wind sock (opens in new tab) as it moves with the sun.

The closest boundary of the heliosphere is about 100 AU out from the sun, according to an ESA statement (opens in new tab). (1 AU, or astronomical unit, is the average distance from Earth to the sun, it is equivalent to roughly 93 million miles (150 million kilometers).

The heliosphere acts as a protective shield, defending us against cosmic rays consisting of energetic particles that can damage living cells. Comic rays are generated outside our solar system and blaze along at almost the speed of light. Without our protective bubble, these high-energy atom fragments would constantly bombard Earth. "Without the heliosphere, life would certainly have evolved differently - and maybe not at all," says heliophysicst Richard Marsden in the ESA statement.

Solar wind speed

NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, or STEREO studies solar wind. This gif visually represents the computer-processed data of solar wind. (Image credit: NASA, data from Craig DeForest, SwRI)

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Though the solar wind flows from the sun constantly, its properties such as density and speed vary throughout the sun's 11-year cycle of activity. During this cycle sunspot numbers, radiation levels, and ejected material ebb and flow from a solar maximum to a solar minimum. These alterations affect the properties of the solar wind, including the strength of its magnetic field, the speed at which it travels, temperature and density.

The average constant solar wind speed at Earth is around 190 miles (300 km) per second (mps) according to the space weather forecast website SpaceWeatherLive.com.

Putting things into perspective The solar wind travels at average speeds of 0.87 million mph (1.4 million km/h). A Category 5 hurricane can top 150 mph (241 km/h).

During Mariner 2's flyby of Venus, the spacecraft not only detected the presence of solar wind but also identified two distinct streams (opens in new tab) of solar wind, one fast and the other slow. According to NASA, the slow stream was reported to be traveling about 215 mps whilst the fast stream zipped by at twice that speed.

The origin of the fast stream of solar wind was identified in 1973 using X-ray images taken of the sun's corona from Skylab. The culprit for speedy solar winds are coronal holes, cooler regions of the sun with an open magnetic field line structure (opens in new tab) that allows the solar wind to escape with relative ease.

Abnormally fast solar winds can be generated during coronal mass ejection (CME) events. During CMEs, wind speeds can jump up to more than 600 miles (1000 km) per second, according to SpaceWeatherLive.com.

A Coronal mass ejection (CME) captured by NASA and ESA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). (Image credit: NASA/GSFC/SOHO/ESA)

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Despite the impressive breakneck speeds achieved by some solar wind streams, it is the slower solar wind that has got scientists scratching their heads.

"The slow solar wind is, in many respects, a larger mystery," said Jim Klimchuk, solar physicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in a NASA statement (opens in new tab).

NASA's Ulysses mission, launched in 1990, has already revealed some clues to the origin of the slow wind stream when it flew around the sun's poles. It found that during periods of minimum solar activity, the solar wind originates primarily from the sun's equator.

"As the solar cycle progresses toward its maximum, the structure of the solar wind changes from two-distinct regimes  fast at the poles and slow at the equator  to a mixed, inhomogeneous flow." according to a NASA statement on the Parker Solar Probe and the birth of solar wind (opens in new tab).

The Parker Solar Probe will investigate this mystery during its seven-year mission to observe the sun. "It offers great promise for revealing fundamental new understanding," said Klimchuk.

The effects of solar wind

The effects of our windy star are felt throughout the solar system.

"My feeling is  if the sun sneezes, Earth catches a cold, because we always feel the impact of what happens on the sun thanks to the solar wind," said Nicky Fox, the division director for heliophysics at NASA Headquarters in a NASA Science article (opens in new tab).

On Earth, the solar wind is responsible for dazzling aurora light shows around the polar regions. In the Northern Hemisphere the phenomenon is called the northern lights (aurora borealis), while in the Southern Hemisphere, it's called the southern lights (aurora australis). If solar wind speeds are high enough geomagnetic storms can be triggered which can lead to auroras expanding closer to the equator than is possible during calmer space weather conditions.

CMEs can trigger large geomagnetic storms that result in impressive auroras like this one pictured in Alaska. (Image credit: Noppawat Tom Charoensinphon via Getty Images)

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Geomagnetic storms can also wreak havoc with satellites and electricity networks and threaten astronauts in space. During these storms, astronauts on the International Space Station need to seek shelter and all spacewalks are paused and sensitive satellites are powered down until the radiation storm has passed.

SpaceX has already witnessed firsthand the damage space weather can do when a geomagnetic storm destroyed up to 40 Starlink satellites worth over $50 million, in Feb. 2022. As Starlink satellites are released into very low-altitude orbits (between 60 and 120 miles (100 to 200 km), they rely on onboard engines to overcome the force of drag, raising themselves to a final altitude of about 350 miles (550 km).

During a geomagnetic storm, Earth's atmosphere absorbs energy from the storms, heats up and expands upwards, leading to a significantly denser thermosphere that extends from about 50 miles (80 km) to approximately 600 miles (1,000 km) above the Earth's surface. A denser thermosphere means more drag which can be an issue for satellites. In Feb. 2022 the batch of recently released Starlink satellites failed to overcome the significantly increased drag from the geomagnetic storm and began to fall back to Earth, eventually burning up in the atmosphere.

Solar weather can have drastically expensive consequences, it is, therefore, important to increase our understanding, monitoring and predictions of such events. Scientists study solar wind in a bid to shed light on the space weather environment and improve space weather forecasts.

"We can't ignore space weather, but we can take appropriate measures to protect ourselves," NASA says (opens in new tab).

How do scientists study solar wind?

The Heliophysics System Observatory contains a fleet of spacecraft designed to study our dynamic solar system. (Image credit: NASA)

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Heliophysics missions study the sun and its influence on the solar system, including the effects of solar wind.

According to NASA the goal of these missions (opens in new tab) is "to understand everything from how planetary atmospheres have formed, to how space weather can affect astronauts and technology near Earth to the physics that defines our neighborhood in space."

Understanding the solar environment is no mean feat hence why there is a whole fleet of space missions dedicated to understanding our sun and its behavior. These missions can be collectively thought of as a single observatory, The Heliophysics System Observatory (HSO).

The HSO consists of several solar, heliospheric, geospace and planetary spacecraft including the Parker Solar Probe on a daring mission to "touch" the sun, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)  a joint effort between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) consisting of two near-identical observatories one located ahead of Earth's orbit and the other trailing behind and ESA's Solar Orbiter that is taking a first time look at the sun's uncharted polar regions.

Additional resources

If you want to see how the solar wind interacts with other objects in the solar system check out this NASA infographic (opens in new tab). Explore the numerous NASA heliospheric missions (opens in new tab) in more detail with NASA. Explore solar wind in more detail with this explainer article from the University of Chicago (opens in new tab). See real-time solar wind speed and density with NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (opens in new tab).

Bibliography

Richardson, J. D., Wang, C., & Paularena, K. I. (2001). The solar wind: from solar minimum to solar maximum. Advances in Space Research, 27(3), 471-479. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273117701000746

Coronal holes. NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-holes

Fox, K. Impacts of strong solar flares. NASA, May 13, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/flare-impacts.html

Frazier, S. Fast solar wind causes Aurora Light Shows. NASA, October 9, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/fast-solar-wind-causes-aurora-light-shows

The heliosphere. ESA Science & Technology, September 1, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://sci.esa.int/web/ulysses/-/2576-the-heliosphere

Lerner, L. Eugene Parker, 'Legendary figure' in solar science and namesake of Parker Solar Probe, 1927-2022. University of Chicago News, March 16, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://news.uchicago.edu/story/eugene-parker-legendary-figure-solar-science-and-namesake-parker-solar-probe-1927-2022

NASA. Effects of the solar wind. NASA. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/news-articles/effects-of-the-solar-wind

NASA. Solar wind science. NASA Space Technology 5. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/nmp/st5/SCIENCE/solarwind.html

NASA. The Solar Wind. Solar Physics. Marshall Space Flight Center. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/SolarWind.shtml

The solar wind. SpaceWeatherLive.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/help/the-solar-wind.html

Solar wind. Aurora Forecast. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://auroraforecast.is/solar-wind/

Solar wind. Solar Wind | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/solar-wind

Zell, H. (2021, March 19). Heliophysics Missions: Studying the Sun and its effects on interplanetary space. NASA. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/missions/index.html
Michelle Keegan (Brassic; Our Girl), Faye Marsay (Game Of Thrones; Black Mirror) and Warren Brown (The Responder; Luther) lead the cast of brand new drama Ten Pound Poms alongside Australian actors Rob Collins (Mystery Road; Firebite), Leon Ford (Elvis; The Light Between Oceans), Declan Coyle (Long Black; Life Of Jess), David Field (Shantaram; Preacher), Stephen Curry (Hounds Of Love; The Castle), Hattie Hook (Savage River; Of An Age), Finn Treacy (The Portable Door; Young Rock) and Emma Hamilton (The Tudors; Mr Selfridge).The six-part series follows a group of Brits as they leave dreary post-war Britain in 1956 to embark on a life-altering adventure on the other side of the world. For only a tenner, they have been promised a better house, better job prospects and a better quality of life by the sea in sun-soaked Australia.But life down under isnt exactly the idyllic dream the new arrivals have been promised. Struggling with their new identity as immigrants, we follow their triumphs and pitfalls as they adapt to a new life in a new country, far from Britain and familiarity.At the heart of the drama are Annie (Faye Marsay) and Terry Roberts (Warren Brown). They try to make the best of the situation for their family, but the poor living conditions at the migrant hostel and local attitudes towards immigrants test them in ways they couldnt have imagined.They arent the only people at the hostel avoiding the truth. Kate (Michelle Keegan) is a young nurse who arrives without her fiance and will do whatever it takes to try and rewrite her devastating past. Bill (Leon Ford) has lost his family business back home and is so desperate to prove hes living the Australian dream that hell stop at nothing in order to get a lifestyle he cant sustain. Teenager Stevie (Declan Coyle) comes from a troubled background and hopes to use this new adventure to escape his oppressive father. Meanwhile, Ron (Rob Collins), an Indigenous Australian war veteran, struggles with feeling like an outsider in his own country.Danny Brocklehurst says: Ten Pounds Poms demands an ensemble cast that we are always rooting for, actors we love and want to succeed. I am thrilled to have found those actors. It is a delight to welcome so much exciting Australian talent as well as working with the brilliant Faye and Warren for the first time. This is my third outing with the wonderful Michelle Keegan and I'm positive we will make another winner together.Ten Pound Poms is produced by Eleven for BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Stan in Australia. Tommy Bulfin executive produces for the BBC and Amanda Duthie and Cailah Scobie for Stan. Joel Wilson and Jamie Campbell executive produce for Eleven, and Olivia Trench will co-executive produce the series. Joining Danny Brocklehurst on the writing team are Ryan Griffen, Smita Bhide and Ava Pickett. It is directed by Jamie Stone and Ana Kokkinos. Sony Pictures Television (SPT) will distribute the series worldwide.Filming is taking place in Australia.
Cabin Fever: The Harrowing Journey of a Cruise Ship at the Dawn of a Pandemic by Michael Smith and Jonathan Franklin (Doubleday)

Imagine stepping off a dock in Buenos Aires in early March 2020 to board a ship with 1,242 fellow passengers and 586 crew members for a cruise around the tip of South America. Youve heard about a virus making people sick in China and Italy and Spain, but its thousands of miles away. The prospect of touring the Falkland Islands, climbing Machu Picchu, and getting up close to a penguin colony in Chile far outweigh whatever dread you feel about global news.

Thats the starting point for a new nonfiction book called Cabin Fever by investigative journalists Michael Smith and Jonathan Franklin. They tell the story chronologically, starting March 6, 2020, just two days before the Holland America cruise ship the MS Zaandam leaves port in Argentina. Days later the World Health Organization formally classifies COVID-19 as a pandemic and for the next 25 days, the Zaandam is adrift in international waters, denied safe harbor in every port as COVID breaks out across the world. Its not until April 2, 2020, that the ship finally docks in Port Everglades, Florida, with three bodies in its morgue and hundreds of other sick passengers on board.

The book opens with a cast of characters  brief bios of the people on board who the journalists talked to to reconstruct the narrative. In addition to Dutch Captain Ane Smit and a few of his fellow officers, theres a pair of retirees from Missouri hoping to cross Machu Picchu off their bucket list, two men from Nashville celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, and the manager of the ships massive laundry operation, Wiwit Widarto, who has spent 30 years working on cruise ships to provide for his family back home in Indonesia.

Over the course of the books 250 pages we learn their stories, with a focus on their experience aboard the Zaandam. Smith and Franklin eschew the Bob Woodward approach, writing in the omniscient third-person, not trying to recreate dialogue. Each dispatch is dated and time-stamped as we read about the characters journey from everythings going to be all right out here in our adult playground on the ocean to knocks on doors as trays of food are dropped outside cabins by crew members wearing hazmat suits. The result reads like the longest newspaper story ever written mixed with the requisite dramatic flourishes required to keep readers turning pages. One additional traveler was aboard the ship, ends chapter one. The crew was unaware of its presence. It was never cataloged or ordered and had not purchased a ticket. This stowaway, likely hiding in the lungs of a passenger or perhaps a crew member, was microscopic in size yet capable of overwhelming this gargantuan ship.

The Zaandams journey, of course, was well covered by the media. It was one of more than 100 cruise ships at sea when COVID broke out. Thanks to social media and wi-fi, passengers shared their misery in real time. But putting it all together in a format like this gives it the proper context. Its easy in hindsight to think it wasnt that bad. At least six Zaandam passengers ultimately died, but the death toll in the U.S. alone has now exceeded one million people. Smith and Franklins riveting recount of the cruise take readers back to a time Im sure many of them would like to forget  when fear trumped everything and nobody knew what the future looked like. Its an impressive example of narrative journalism. Perhaps too soon for some, but a worthy addition to the historical record.
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The tombstone bore the name of Wade Ayres, a Native American boy who died at a government-run boarding school in Pennsylvania more than a century ago and was thought to have been buried on the grounds of what is now a U.S. Army base.

But when the Army exhumed grave B-13 over on Saturday, intending to repatriate the boy's remains to the Catawba Indian Nation of South Carolina, they did not match those of a male age 13 or 14. Instead, they belonged to a female age 15 to 20, the Army said in a statement.

Her remains were reburied in the same grave on Monday and marked unknown.

The Army is committed to seeking more information in an effort to determine where the remains of Wade Ayres are buried so that he may be returned to his family and the Catawba nation, the Army said.

Messages were sent to Catawba and Army officials on Tuesday seeking more information about efforts to locate Wade. It was also unclear whether the Army is seeking to match the unidentified female to a tribe.

The discovery came as the Army disinters the remains of eight Native American children who died at the government-run Carlisle Indian Industrial School. The disinterment process began earlier this month and is the fifth such project at Carlisle, the home of the U.S. Army War College.

So far, the Army has disinterred four of the children, with two already returned to family members, one reburied and one to be repatriated pending analysis, according to Renea Yates, director of the Office of Army Cemeteries.

The Army has transferred remains of a total of 23 Native American children from Carlisle in recent years, but its repatriation efforts have not always gone as planned.

In 2017, disinterred remains were not consistent with the identity of the child recorded to have been buried in that plot. Yates said Tuesday that Army research determined a headstone had been set over the wrong grave. The correct child was disinterred and returned to their family and tribe the following year in 2018, she said in a written statement.

There could be a number of reasons why remains do not match cemetery records, including shifting ground, poor record-keeping and a mixup at the time of burial, said University of South Florida forensic anthropologist Erin Kimmerle.

Unfortunately, it happens all the time, Kimmerle said in a phone interview Tuesday. Ive probably done 40 different exhumations in known, existing cemeteries and every cemetery had issues.

The Carlisle cemetery was relocated in 1927 to make way for new construction at the base, according to the Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center at Dickinson College. Kimmerle said its possible that graves were switched at that time. She said she suspects Wade might be buried nearby.

More than 10,000 children from more than 140 tribes passed through the Carlisle school between 1879 and 1918, including famous Olympian Jim Thorpe, as part of a U.S. policy to force Native American children to assimilate to white society.

The school sought to separate Native children from their cultures, cutting their braids, dressing them in military-style uniforms and punishing them for speaking their native languages.

Some 186 children originally were buried in the cemetery at the site.
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (AP)  A child was stabbed in the chest by a barb from a catfish during a fishing trip, sheriff's officials in Florida said.

The child's mother began driving toward a hospital on Monday afternoon but stopped in New Port Richey and called 911 when the child started having difficulty breathing, Pasco County Fire Rescue officials said on Twitter.

Firefighters discovered the barb was embedded 1 to 1 1/2 inches (2.5 to 3.8 centimeters) in the child's chest, according to the agency's spokesman, Corey Dierdorff. The child was then airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa.

Dierdorff told news outlets he did not know how or where the child was stung, or what kind of catfish it was. He said the child was under 10 years old, but that he didn't have an exact age or the sex of the child.

Catfish have spines and stingers on their fins and the underside of their bodies. Because of this, anglers are cautious around catfish, but Dierdorff said he had never heard of anything like this incident.

You hear of fisherman that might be cut by a barb or hit in the back of the leg and get an infection, but never heard of one penetrating the chest," he said.

Catfish stings can cause swelling and numbnes, and typically need to be treated with an antibiotic to prevent infection, according to WebMD.
Natacha Pisarenko/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  The State Department is confirming the death of a U.S. citizen in Ukraine who is believed to be only the second American to have been killed in the conflict there.

The department said Tuesday that Stephen Zabielski had died in Ukraine and that it is in touch with his family to provide consular support and assistance. Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further, it said.
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There has been a dramatic fall in the age of substance initiation to just 10-12, manager of Bucharest's 'St. Stelian' Hospital Teodora Ciolompea told the Senate's Committee on Human Rights, Equal Opportunities, Cults and Minorities.

"There is a lack of access to treatment for 14 to 18-year-olds. We can only admit adults to the hospital. So this would be a first requirement, also, I think it would be very important to resume discussions on the mental health law, which should be updated to meet the requirements of the European Mental Health Strategy, which is currently in the works," said Ciolompea.

She said that around 3,000 patients are currently given drug substitution treatment at the 'St. Stelian' Hospital and the 'Obregia' Hospital in Bucharest, after using injectable substances.

"Apart from that, there is the acute case service which virtually has about 2,000 patients treated every year, but the number is growing from year to year and there is also the outpatient post-detox treatment, which is also very important, with a brief hospitalization for a maximum of 10 days. Services could be further extended, because the patients also need psychological counseling and social assistance," said the manager of the 'St. Stelian' Hospital.

As part of the discussions for the review of policies for the prevention and combat of illicit drug trafficking and use, as well as for the integrated assistance to substance consumers, Eugen Hriscu, a therapist at the ALIAT Clinic, said that Romania has big issues with the treatment of underage drug addicts and the only solution "is to tell a parent of a dependent child to wait until the child turns 18 or to have them admitted to a psychiatric ward from where they will be discharged after 7 days without any significant improvement."

"Romania has in the first place an institutional problem - which is called the National Anti-Drug Agency, a body under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior tasked with doing two completely different things - on the one hand arrest the consumer, because Romanian law criminalizes possession for consumption, and on the other hand do prevention and treatment. These are two diametrically opposed activities and because of this the number of convictions is on the rise, the number of drug seizures goes upwards too, but the treatment and prevention part fares poorly," said Eugen Hriscu. AGERPRES
President Klaus Iohannis had a meeting on Tuesday with the ambassadors of member states of the European Union, accredited in Bucharest, context in which he highlighted that both the European Council meeting, as well as the NATO Summit of this month, will represent important landmarks in regards to tackling complex European and global agenda, marked by the war in Ukraine and its political, economic and social consequences.

According to a press release sent by the Presidential Administration, on the occasion of the end of the French Presidency of the European Council at the end of June, current topics were tackled, which will be on the agenda of the European Council meeting on June 23-24, namely the security evolutions and the support granted to Ukraine, the accession requests to the EU of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, the economic situation, as well as the relations of the European Union with the Western Balkans.

The main topics were presented for the future NATO Summit in Madrid, which will take place at the end of June.

President Iohannis mentioned the crucial decisions that will have to be adopted on the occasion of the NATO Summit in Madrid in regards to consolidating the posture of defence and deterrence of the Alliance on the entire Eastern Flank, in a long-term unified manner and the ambitious tackle in formulating the New Strategic Concept, which will reflect new security parameters, to grant priority to collective defence, to define Russia as a threat and to consolidate the Alliance on all levels.

President Iohannis expressed our country's firm support for NATO's policy of "Open Doors" and for the accession of Sweden and Finland to the Alliance.

Furthermore, the Romanian president referred to the results of the recent visit carried out in Kyiv, alongside the French president Emmanuel Macron, the German chancellor Olaf Scholz, as well as the Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, highlighting that this was a shared action, through which the European unity was reaffirmed, as well as the solid European commitment for continuing support for Ukraine, on several levels.

Iohannis also referred to the substantial discussions with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which were focused on solid ways of continuing to help Ukraine against the Russian aggression, of supporting the reconstruction effort, followed by reestablishing peace, as well as the logistic plan regarding the export of cereal.

In context, Iohannis highlighted the constant support of our country for Ukraine, since the first days of the Russian aggression.

"In this sense he referred to the help of the over 1.25 million Ukrainian refugees that crossed Romania's borders since the start of the war, to the mechanisms of integration on the work force and in the area of education provided for Ukrainian refugees, to the international logistics Center for distributing humanitarian aid from Suceava, as well as the efforts of facilitating the transit of cereal export from Ukraine towards international markets, presenting Romania's recently adopted measures," the press release reads.

Furthermore, the president reiterated the necessity of continuing support from EU member states for the Republic of Moldova, country which is deeply affected by the war in Ukraine, expressing his hope in this sense, through the Conference of Donors for the Republic of Moldova, which Romania will host in the month of July, to manage to mobilize an important financial aid for this country.

A topic of interest was about the accession requests to the EU from Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, context in which the Romanian head of state congratulated the opinions that were recently published by the European Commission, that acknowledges the perspective of the three states of becoming EU member states, as well as granting the status of candidate for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, by understanding to fulfill certain steps.

Furthermore, the Romanian president highlighted the need to continue the commitment towards advancing the enlargement policy, in agreement with its own merits, for candidates that are already in this process.

In this sense Iohannis reiterated the need to continue the commitment towards opening accession negotiations with Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia, mentioning that organizing a meeting with EU-Western Balkan leaders, on June 23, is an opportune moment for reaffirming the EU's clear and active commitment for the region, as a geopolitical approach, in a difficult context.

President Iohannis also tackled the economic perspectives at a European level, with emphasis on the importance of adopting and implementing quick and coordinated measures, giving example of the current proposal of the European Commission RepowerEU, meant to stimulate investments in the energy sector, in close correlation with those from Romania's National Recovery and Resilience plan (PNRR).

At the end of the meeting the Romanian head of state wished good luck to the future presidency of the Czech Republic to the EU Council, which will start on July 1, 2022.AGERPRES
The Chamber of Deputies rejected, on Tuesday, the simple motion submitted by Save Romania Union (USR) against the Minister of Education, Sorin Cimpeanu.

There were 60 votes in favor, 186 against and two abstentions.

The simple motion dubbed "Minister. Disaster. Education without a future" and signed by 52 USR deputies, was debated by deputies in Monday's session.AGERPRES
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Theres nothing better for NASCAR fans than the thrill of watching souped-up race cars zipping around the track at 200 mph speeds. This year marks the second NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 race at the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee. A camera shot into the revved-up crowd will reveal all sorts of NASCAR fan gear, from hats, graphic tees, and jackets to NASCAR flags, banners, and signs.

If youre going to join the Nashville Superspeedway excitement in person this year, there are essential items that every NASCAR fan should bring. If you dont know what you should pack, check out our list of Ally 400 must-haves for race day.

Lets face ithard metal stadium bleacher seats are so uncomfortable! Diehard NASCAR fans shouldnt have to suffer to support their sport. Thats why these Stadium Seats for Bleachers with Back Supports and Cushioned Armrests from Sportneer are a must-have. Your race day seat really cant get better than this. The foldable, portable seat also has side zipper pockets for drinks, and snacks. The seat also reclines into six positions.

NASCAR racing is an extremely loud sport, with all those engines cranking at top speed around the track. If youre heading out to the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway, use these 3M Corded Reusable Earplugs to protect your ears and block some of the sounds. This set protects your ears against noise thats at or exceeds 85 decibels.

Half the thrill of any live sporting event is munching on snacks. On race day, you and your friends can enjoy a huge array of snacks with this 40-count Variety Assortment featuring Cheez-Its, Oreos, M&Ms Cookies, Goldfish, and Rice Krispie Treats. Stuff them in your backpack ahead of the Ally 400 race, or share them with friends and family at a prerace tailgate party.

Staying hydrated at the race is criticalespecially if its a sweltering day. This Personalized Custom Racing Flags Stainless Steel Water Bottle keeps up to 20 ounces of water or your favorite beverage cold. You can also personalize the bottle to add a name, date, initials, or your pets name. The built-in, reusable straw is eco-friendly.

Keep the harsh effects of the sun away from your scalp and face with this Unisex Adult Sun Hat from Columbia. The 100% nylon hat features expert stitching and artisanship. Omni-Shade reportedly blocks UVA and UVB rays to help prevent sunburns and long-term skin damage, and moisture-wicking technology helps keep you dry.

Youll need to apply sunblock before heading out to the Nashville Superspeedway on the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 race day. This two-pack set of Sport Ultra Sunscreen Spray from Banana Boat provides broad-spectrum, SPF 50 UV protection. The formula also delivers superior endurance against water and sweat.

Diehard NASCAR fans never mind the rain. Because the weather is so unpredictable, packing a Disposable Rain Poncho from Hagon PRO is an excellent idea. The poncho folds up into a compact pouch for transport. Its constructed with .035 mm-thick PE plastic to offer better protection.

Disposable rain ponchos make a fantastic alternative to toting around a heavy coat, jacket, or umbrella in case it rains. They are even small enough to fit in your pocket. So, this makes them an excellent option for the Ally 400 race. They come five in a pack. So, share them with family and friends or set the extras aside for another occasion.

Show your NASCAR love in the scorching heat with this handy NASCAR Cooling Towel (5 pack) from WinCraft. The 12 x 30 towels are 100% performance polyester fabric. Just wet and wring one out, and the material instantly cools to provide relief. You can share the multipack with family and friends on Ally 400 race day or get-togethers like backyard barbecues!

Stay up to date on the NASCAR racing circuit, including the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 race on this Battery-Operated Portable Radio from PowerBear. The radio lasts up to 800 hours on two AA batteries. Its also perfect for camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities to keep you informed of severe weather alerts and power outages.

If you want to bring fast-paced NASCAR action into sharp focus, grab the EACONN 10X50 Binoculars for Adults. The high-powered binoculars deliver 10X magnification and a 50mm large objective lens to see 342 ft/1,000 yards away clearly. The set is waterproof and easy to focus, with adjustable eyepieces and a focus wheel that rotates to achieve a clear image. Stow them in a carrying case to easily transport them into the Nashville Superspeedway on race day.
PHOENIX (AP)  Kari Lake, the frontrunner in the Republican primary for Arizona governor, condemned the growing cultural clout of drag queens, jumping into the latest social grievance taking hold on the right.

But her comments were quickly criticized over the weekend by one of the most popular drag performers in Phoenix, who says Lake is a hypocrite who frequented his performances.

Richard Stevens, who performs as Barbra Seville, said Lake, a former television news anchor, regularly attended drag shows and even hired him to dress as Marilyn Monroe at a private party and brought her young daughter. He posted photos on his social media accounts of Lake posing with drag queens and screenshots of his conversations with her.

The dispute between the gubernatorial frontrunner and the prominent drag queen drew national attention and put Lake on the defensive two weeks before early voting begins ahead of Arizona's Aug. 2 primary. It also fuels a persistent criticism of Lake's conversion from Barack Obama donor to Donald Trump conservative.

They kicked God out of schools and welcomed the Drag Queens, Lake tweeted on Friday night. They took down our Flag and replaced it with a rainbow. They seek to disarm Americans and militarize our Enemies. Lets bring back the basics: God, Guns & Glory.

Stevens responded on social media the next morning: Ive performed for her. Ive performed for her family. Ive met her kids. Ive been in her home, and I have her private phone number and her private Facebook account.

He told The Associated Press on Monday that he stayed in touch with Lake and privately defended her even as she ran a far-right campaign that he disagreed with. But when she came after drag queens, he said, this hypocrisy really bothered me.

I was just personally offended by that tweet," Stevens said.

Stevens said he first met Lake in the late 1990s, when he performed regularly at a gay bar near the KSAZ studios, where Lake was an evening anchor. He said Lake and her coworkers would sometimes stop by the bars weekly drag show after the broadcast, and he recognized her from watching the news. They eventually struck up a friendship, he said. She would ask him for sources to discuss issues affecting the LGBTQ community, and he occasionally appeared on Fox 10 broadcasts.

Lake once hired him to perform as Marilyn Monroe at a coworker's baby shower about a decade ago, and there he met her daughter, whom he remembers being around 9 or 10 years old.

As Stevens' post quickly gained traction on social media Saturday, Lake's campaign initially responded by drawing a distinction between a drag performer and a man impersonating a female celebrity.

The campaign published a statement Sunday condemning the media for covering the controversy and threatening to sue Stevens for defamation.

Like most sane people, Kari Lake is very much opposed to grown men or women dancing provocatively for children, especially at the expense of the taxpayer, the statement said. Why would anyone be opposed to this?

The statement called Stevens a "talented comedian and performer that Kari Lake covered during her TV career" and pointed to his support for Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

A spokesman for Lake, Russ Trumble, declined to comment further Monday, saying its a legal matter now.

Lake jumped quickly into the frontrunner's position after launching a campaign that energized the GOP base and earned Trump's endorsement. She has aggressively promoted false claims that the 2020 election was marred by fraud. But she faces a challenge from businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson, who's family fortune has allowed her to vastly outspend Lake on television ads, and from former U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon.

Drag shows feature men dressing in flamboyant women's clothing while dancing and singing or lip-syncing. Once a relatively obscure subculture, they've have exploded into the mainstream with the popularity of the television hit RuPaul's Drag Race." Some performances, particularly light-night events at bars, can be risque. Others are promoted as family friendly affairs, such as drag queen story hour.

Lake's drag queen tweet latched onto an issue that caught fire this month with conservatives around the country who say drag shows are sexualizing children.

Lawmakers in several states have introduced legislation attempting to ban children from drag shows, and GOP leaders of the Arizona Senate say they have plans for a similar bill.

The fact is, drag has existed forever, Stevens said. Ive been doing drag longer than Kari has been a Republican. But if you want to outlaw drag in front of kids, you better free up your calendar because its ingrained in our culture. The first drag queen I saw was Bugs Bunny.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
TUESDAY, June 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A new rule that would require tobacco companies to slash nicotine levels in cigarettes could be issued Tuesday by the Biden administration.

The rule, which would have an unprecedented effect in lowering smoking-related deaths, would be unveiled as part of a compilation of planned federal regulatory actions released twice a year, an individual with knowledge of the rule who spoke on the condition of anonymity told the Washington Post.

The policy, which would lower nicotine in cigarettes to minimally or nonaddictive levels, would dovetail nicely with a major goal of the White House  to cut cancer deaths. As part of the retooled cancer moonshot announced in February, President Joe Biden promised to cut cancer death rates by 50 percent over the next quarter century.

About 480,000 Americans die of smoking-related causes each year, and tobacco use remains the top cause of preventable death in the United States.

Announcing the new rule would just be the first step in a lengthy process, the Post reported. It could take at least a year for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates tobacco products, to actually issue a proposed rule. After that, the FDA would have to sift through public comments before issuing a final rule.

Any opposition could delay or derail the effort  especially if the regulation was not completed before Biden left office. The tobacco industry, which is sure to fight the new measure, could also legally challenge any final regulation.

The Trump administration's first FDA commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, once said he wanted to lower nicotine levels as part of a broader tobacco policy, and the agency took a first step in 2018 by publishing an information-gathering notice. But the idea was shelved after Gottlieb left the administration in spring 2019, the Post reported.

"There's a long arc to major policymaking, and the Biden administration's commitment to advance that effort will mean it gets done," Gottlieb told the Post.

Mitch Zeller, who recently retired as director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, acknowledged it could take years for such a rule to take effect.

"The most important, game-changing policies take a long time, but it is worth the wait because, at the end of the day, the only cigarettes that will be available won't be capable of addicting future generations of kids," Zeller told the Post.

Pat Folan directs the Northwell Center for Tobacco Control in Lake Success, NY. She believes that "this measure will have its most significant impact on young people trying cigarettes for the first time. With less nicotine, teens may not become addicted so quickly."

On the other hand, the move to lower nicotine levels could backfire among older smokers, Folan said. They may simply up their intake by consuming more cigarettes per day.

Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, told the Post that cutting nicotine levels "would produce the greatest drop in cancer rates and make the biggest difference" of any public health measure under discussion.

Nicotine, a chemical that occurs naturally in the tobacco plant, does not cause cancer. But its highly addictive properties make it hard for people to quit using cigarettes, whose smoke contains harmful ingredients that can cause lung cancer and heart disease.

Reynolds American, one of the nation's biggest tobacco companies, did not respond immediately to requests for comment, the Post said. Altria said it would comment after the administration formally announces any nicotine-reduction plans.

An FDA-funded study, published in 2018 in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that lowering nicotine levels in cigarettes could save more than 8 million lives by the end of the century.

More information

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on smoking.

SOURCE: Washington Post; Pat Folan, director, Northwell Center for Tobacco Control, Lake Success, NY

Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
ST. LOUIS  CrimeStoppers will put a $10,000 donation toward addressing the ongoing problem of vehicle break-ins in and around downtown, the organization announced Tuesday.

The nonprofit will use the funds to offer rewards, up to $2,000, for information that leads to arrests in break-in cases. The organizations board will vote on each individual rewards amount.

Car break-ins across the region have been an issue for several years, and it ebbs and flows, District 4 commander Maj. Renee Kriesmann said during a press briefing where the initiative was announced.

Greater St. Louis Inc., the regions business development organization, made the donation, specifically designating it for the citys downtown and Downtown West neighborhoods, said Lisa Pisciotta, executive director of CrimeStoppers.

The citys new interim police chief, Lt. Col. Michael Sack, noted that solving and preventing these break-ins will keep stolen firearms out of the pockets of people looking to commit crimes.

Ten vehicles were broken into in the downtown area over the weekend, and seven firearms stolen from those cars, interim public safety director Dan Isom said on Tuesday.

Pisciotta said the CrimeStoppers program has always offered up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest in felony crimes and up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of suspects wanted for homicide in the St. Louis region.

The organization is run by the St. Louis Regional Crime Commission, a nonprofit supported by private contributions and dedicated to bolstering crime-fighting efforts in the bistate region.

To submit an anonymous tip, people can call 866-371-8477, complete an online form, or use the P3 app.

Earlier this month, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department released a warning about a spike in car break-ins, specifically of Kia and Hyundai vehicles.

They urged all vehicle owners to use car clubs, a bar-like device that locks a vehicles steering wheel in place, in an effort to deter thieves.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY  A man was shot and killed Monday morning in what police described as a domestic incident.

Officers were called to the 2400 block of Stoney End Court around 7:20 a.m. on a report of a shooting, police said. The location is an unincorporated part of north St. Louis County.

Police found a man there who had been shot; he was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting.

St. Louis County police investigators believe the shooting was a result of domestic dispute.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  Prosecutors have charged a woman with murder in the shooting death Monday of her boyfriend in north St. Louis County.

Zina Neal, 40, was held Tuesday on $150,000 cash bail.

Prosecutors charged Neal with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of 34-year-old Delawrence Foggy Jr.

Neal and Foggy lived together in the 2400 block of Stoney End Court, which also was the scene of the killing.

Foggy was fatally shot about 7:20 a.m. Monday in what St. Louis County police described as a domestic feud. Foggy died at the scene.

County police Sgt. Tracy Panus said Neal and Foggy were in a romantic relationship. Police did not provide additional details about the shooting.

2022 St. Louis-area Homicide Tracker Learn about homicide victims and regional trends with this database from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

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JEFFERSON CITY  Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens hit the conservative talk radio circuit Tuesday, arguing that a campaign video showing him storming a house with soldiers in search of Republicans in name only was intended to be a humorous metaphor.

I dont think there is a real person in Missouri who thinks about it literally. Not one, Greitens said in an interview on KFTK (97.1 FM) radio. What youre seeing is a tremendous amount of faux outrage from leftists and RINOs.

The video, released Monday, shows Greitens holding a shotgun and accompanying a team armed with assault rifles and flash grenades as they rush into a house in search of RINOs.

Join the MAGA crew, Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, says. Get a RINO hunting permit. Theres no bagging limit, no tagging limit, and it doesnt expire until we save our country.

Later Tuesday, on Kansas Citys KCMO talk radio, the Republican candidate for Missouris open U.S. Senate seat said the controversial video was clearly a metaphor.

Every normal person around the state of Missouri saw that, said Greitens, who is attempting a political comeback after he quit as governor in 2018.

Greitens campaign did not respond to requests for comment from the Post-Dispatch. During his abbreviated and rocky tenure as governor, and in his run for Senate, Greitens has parroted former President Donald Trumps complaints about the mainstream media.

The 38-second video was panned by fellow Republicans and Democrats, as well as by outside groups.

The Eagle Forum PAC, the political action committee launched by the late Phyllis Schlafly, denounced the video as deeply disturbing.

Advocating violence is a disqualifier for public office, said chairwoman Anne Schlafly Cori. Eric Greitens is not fit to serve the voters of Missouri.

The Missouri State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, which has endorsed Attorney General Eric Schmitt in the crowded GOP primary, also criticized the ad.

This deplorable video has no place in our political system and sends a dangerous message that it is somehow acceptable to kill those who have differing political beliefs, the statement said.

Others denouncing the video were some of his GOP opponents, including U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler and Missouri Senate President Dave Schatz.

Schmitts campaign tweeted an eye-roll emoji.

Amid a rise in political violence, ranging from the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and the arrest of a man who threatened to kill U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Facebook took the video down and Twitter pasted a warning over the link.

Greitens, who also used violent imagery in his successful bid for governor in 2016, said critics missed the point of the video.

It has a sense of humor, he told KTFK.

Posted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 21.(tncms-asset)c84c77cc-f0b3-11ec-baeb-00163ec2aa77[0](/tncms-asset)(tncms-asset)0bcc10c2-f0d5-11ec-b3f7-00163ec2aa77[1](/tncms-asset)(tncms-asset)fd5f15a8-ed81-11ec-82b3-00163ec2aa77[2](/tncms-asset)

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ST. LOUIS  The Freedom Suits Memorial sculpture, which pays tribute to the enslaved Missourians who sued for their freedom prior to the Civil War, was dedicated on Monday.

The ceremony was held downtown at the Civil Courts building and newly dubbed Freedom Plaza, drawing more than 200 people, including politicians, judges, historians and even descendants of those who sued.

Today couldnt be a better day for us to commemorate this wonderful monument, which actually brings those other enslaved people who had the bold tenacity and strength of character to come out from behind the shadows and say this will go on no further, said Lynne Jackson, a featured speaker and descendant of Dred Scott, the namesake behind one of the most well-known of the lawsuits.

The 14-foot bronze statue highlights on its granite base the names of about 330 people who petitioned the court for their freedom more than 150 years ago. The sculpture shows a woman at a judges bench, under a depiction of the rotunda of the Old Courthouse. The back of the sculpture shows a slave owners house and a handler along the riverfront, and one side shows Native Americans canoeing on the river.

The statue was designed by Preston Jackson, a retired professor at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago.

After the legal files of the enslaved who petitioned the court were found by courthouse employees over 10 years ago, the Freedom Suits Memorial Steering Committee was formed, led by 22nd Circuit Court Judge David Mason.

... Tell the world that were not afraid to put up a monument that reminds us we have to do better, Mason said.

Missouri law at the time said that if an enslaved person was taken to a free state long enough to establish residency, he or she became free and stayed free upon returning to Missouri.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones also spoke at the event, pointing out that the dedication fell on the newly enacted federal holiday Juneteenth, which marks the date in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free  more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

The vibrancy of Black culture. Our resilience, our resistance as we commemorate Juneteenth weekend is a testament to how the Freedom Suits reverberate across history.

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1/6 panel: Local 'heroes' rebuffed Trump, then faced threats

WASHINGTON (AP)  The House Jan. 6 committee has heard chilling, tearful testimony that Donald Trumps relentless pressure to overturn the 2020 presidential election led to widespread threats against local workers and state officials. The panel focused Tuesday on the heroes of democracy  election workers and officials who fended off the defeated presidents demands. The committee is focused on Trump's schemes to reject state tallies and electors, all fueled by his false claims of election fraud. It heard from Arizonas Republican state House Speaker Rusty Bowers and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger about pressure from Trump, including Trumps call asking the Georgia official to find 11,780 votes to prevent Joe Bidens victory.

Britt wins tumultuous Alabama Senate race scrambled by Trump

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Katie Britt has won the Republican nomination for Senate in Alabama, defeating six-term Congressman Mo Brooks in a primary runoff after former President Donald Trump endorsed and then un-endorsed him. The loss ends a turbulent campaign for Brooks, a conservative firebrand who had fully embraced Trumps election lies and had run under the banner MAGA Mo. But it wasnt enough for the former president, who initially backed Brooks in the race to replace retiring Sen. Richard Shelby, but then rescinded his support as Brooks languished in the polls. Trump eventually endorsed Britt in the races final stretch after she emerged as the top vote-getter in the states May 24 primary.

Takeaways: Trump's conditional loyalty, new warning for left

WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump extended his losing record in Georgia on Tuesday after two Trump-backed U.S. House candidates lost in landslides. An establishment-backed Senate candidate in Alabama that Trump belatedly endorsed handily beat one of the former presidents most ardent defenders in Congress. Meanwhile, moderate Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser won her Democratic primary, offering a warning to progressives as crime rises in urban areas.

Texas top cop: Uvalde police could've ended rampage early on

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  The head of the Texas Department of Public Safety says three minutes after a gunman entered a school where he slaughtered 19 elementary students and two teachers there was sufficient armed law enforcement on scene to stop the gunman. Yet police officers armed with rifles stood and waited in a school hallway for more than an hour while the gunman carried out the massacre. Col. Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, called the police response an abject failure. He says police radios did not work within the school and that school diagrams officers used were wrong.

'Nowhere I feel safe': Election officials recount threats

WASHINGTON (AP)  A former Georgia election worker in gripping testimony has told the House Jan. 6 committee about the onslaught of threats that she and her family received after former President Trump and his allies falsely accused her and her mother of pulling fraudulent ballots from a suitcase. Wandrea Shaye Moss told lawmakers Tuesday how her life was upended when Trump and his allies latched onto surveillance footage from November 2020 to accuse her and her mother of committing voter fraud, allegations that were quickly debunked. The committee also heard from high-ranking elections officials in Georgia and a lawmaker in Arizona who were also on the wrong end of Trump's pressure campaign.

'The impossible': Ukraine's secret, deadly rescue missions

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  A series of clandestine, against-the-odds helicopter missions to reach besieged soldiers are being celebrated in Ukraine as one of the riskiest, most heroic feats of military derring-do in the four-month war against Russia. The flights delivered supplies and evacuated wounded during the last-ditch defense of the Azovstal steel mill. It was surrounded by Russian forces in the brutalized city of Mariupol. Ukrainian troops were pinned down for weeks, their supplies running low, their dead and injured stacking up. Ukraines president first spoke of the sometimes deadly helicopter resupply missions only after Azovstals defenders started surrendering in May. The Associated Press has found and interviewed some of the wounded who were rescued from the death trap.

Civil jury finds Bill Cosby sexually abused teenager in 1975

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP)  Civil trial jurors have found that Bill Cosby sexually abused a 16-year-old girl at the Playboy Mansion in 1975. The Los Angeles County jury delivered the verdict Tuesday in favor of Judy Huth, who is now 64, and awarded her $500,000. The jurys decision is a major legal defeat for the 84-year-old Cosby. It comes nearly a year after his Pennsylvania criminal conviction for sexual assault was thrown out and he was freed from prison. Cosby did not attend the Los Angeles trial. He has repeatedly denied Huths allegations that he forced her to perform a sex act at the mansion.

Senators reach bipartisan compromise on gun violence bill

WASHINGTON (AP)  Senate bargainers have reached agreement on a bipartisan gun violence bill. That potentially tees up congressional passage this week on an incremental but notable package that would stand as Congresss response to mass shootings in Texas and New York that shook the nation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., predicted Senate approval later this week, and passage by the Democratic-led House could follow quickly. It would make background checks tougher for the youngest gun buyers and bolster spending for school safety and mental health programs, and bar gun ownership by romantic partners convicted of domestic abuse.

Texas GOP's swing to far right cemented with party platform

WASHINGTON (AP)  Ten years ago, the Texas Republican Party used its platform to oppose teaching critical thinking in schools. In 2014, it declared homosexuality a chosen behavior contrary to God. By 2020, the party was ready to remind the world that Texas retains the right to secede from the United States. But now the Texas GOP platform has broken new extremist ground. It's embraced fringe positions that most mainstream Republicans in the state would have shied away from in years past. Approved by 5,000-plus party delegates last weekend in Houston during its biennial convention, the new platform brands President Joe Biden an acting commander-in-chief who was never legitimately elected.

Westminster dog show gets 4 finalists, and one has NFL ties

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. (AP)  A bloodhound, a French bulldog, a German shepherd and a Maltese have been chosen to advance to the final round of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. Trumpet the bloodhound, Hollywood the Maltese, Winston the French bulldog and River the German shepherd were selected Tuesday night. One of Winstons owners is NFL defensive lineman Morgan Fox, who was signed last month by the Los Angeles Chargers after six seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers. Three more finalists will be selected Wednesday night, when all seven will face off for the coveted best in show prize.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The headlines on the newsstands in Seoul blared fresh warnings of a possible nuclear test by North Korea.

Out on the sidewalks, 28-year-old office worker Lee Jae Sang already had an opinion about how to respond to North Korea's fast-growing capacity to lob nuclear bombs across borders and oceans.

Our country should also develop a nuclear program. And prepare for a possible nuclear war," said Lee, voicing a desire that a February poll showed was shared by 3 out of 4 South Koreans.

Its a point that people and politicians of non-nuclear powers globally are raising more often, at what has become a destabilizing moment in more than a half-century of global nuclear nonproliferation efforts, one aggravated by the daily example of nuclear Russia tearing apart non-nuclear Ukraine.

That reconsideration by non-nuclear states is playing out in Asia. The region is home to an ever-more assertive North Korea, China, Russia and Iran  three nuclear powers and one near-nuclear power  but is unprotected by the kind of nuclear umbrella and broad defense alliance that for decades has shielded NATO countries.

Vulnerable countries will look to the lessons from Ukraine  especially whether Russia succeeds in swallowing big pieces of Ukraine while brandishing its nuclear arsenal to hold other nations at bay  as they consider keeping or pursuing nuclear weapons, security experts say.

As important, they say, is how well the U.S. and its allies are persuading other partners in Europe, the Persian Gulf and Asia to trust in the shield of U.S.-led nuclear and conventional arsenals and not pursue their own nuclear bombs.

For leaders worried about unfriendly, nuclear-armed neighbors, they will say to their domestic audiences, Please support our nuclear armament because look what happened to Ukraine, right? said Mariana Budjeryn, a researcher with the Project on Managing the Atom at Harvards Kennedy School of Government.

As a schoolgirl in 1980s Soviet-era Ukraine, Budjeryn drilled on how to dress radiation burns and other potential injuries of nuclear war, at a time that country housed some 5,000 of the Soviet Union's nuclear weapons. Her country renounced nuclear weapons development after the Soviet Union shattered, opting for economic assistance and integration with the West and security assurances.

Ultimately, I think a lot is riding on the outcome of this war in terms of how we understand the value of nuclear weapons," Budjeryn said.

Around the world, the U.S. military is reassuring strategic partners who are facing nuclear-backed rivals.

Near the North Korea border this month, white-hot ballistic missiles arched through the night sky as the U.S. joined South Korea in their first joint ballistic test launches in five years. It was a pointed response to North Korea's launch of at least 18 ballistic missiles this year.

In Europe and in the Persian Gulf, President Joe Biden and U.S. generals, diplomats and troops are shuttling to countries neighboring Russia and to oil-producing countries neighboring Iran. Biden and his top lieutenants pledge the U.S. is committed to blocking nuclear threats from Iran, North Korea and others. In China, President Xi Jinping is matching an aggressive foreign policy with one of his country's biggest pushes on nuclear arms.

Some top former Asian officials have cited Ukraine in saying it's time for more non-nuclear countries to think about getting nuclear weapons, or hosting U.S. ones.

I dont think either Japan or South Korea are eager to become nuclear weapon states. It will be immensely politically painful and internally divisive. But what are the alternatives? ex-Singapore Foreign Minister Bilahari Kausikan told the audience at a March defense forum.

For those hoping North Korea would give up its nuclear weapons, the example provided by Russia's invasion of Ukraine is another nail in that coffin," Terence Roehrig, a professor of national security at the U.S. Naval War College, said at another defense forum in April.

Ukraine is going to be another example to North Korea of states like Iraq and like Libya, that gave up their nuclear capability  and look at what happened to them, Roehrig said.

Ukraine never had detonation-ready nuclear bombs  at least, none it could fire on its own.

The Soviet Union's collapse left Ukraine with the worlds third-largest nuclear arsenal. But Ukraine didnt have operational control. That left it with a weak hand in the 1990s when it negotiated with the U.S., Russia and others on its place in the post-Soviet world, and the fate of the Soviet arsenal. Ukraine got assurances but no guarantees regarding its security, Budjeryn said.

A piece of paper, is how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy referred to one such assurance, signed in 1994.

The U.S. itself has given nuclear and nuclear-curious countries plenty of reasons to worry about forgoing the world's deadliest weapons.

The West compelled Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to give up his country's rudimentary nuclear weapons program in 2003. A couple of years later, Gadhafi's son Saif al-Islam shared with researcher Malfrid Braut-Hegghammer his father's biggest worry about that  that Western nations would support an uprising against him.

And lo and behold, a few years later, get to 2011, you saw what happened," said Braut-Hegghammer, now a University of Oslo nuclear and security strategy professor.

What happened was NATO, at U.S. urging, intervened in a 2011 internal uprising against Gadhafi. A NATO warplane bombed his convoy. Rebels captured the Libyan leader, tortured him and killed him.

In Iraq, the U.S. played a central role in forcing Saddam Hussein to give up his nuclear development program. Then the U.S. overthrew Saddam in 2003 on a spurious claim he was reassembling a nuclear weapons effort. Three years later, with Iraq still under U.S. occupation, Saddam plunged through a gallows.

The Middle East leaders fall and brutal deaths have clouded denuclearization efforts with North Korea. Rare U.S.-North Korea talks in 2018 collapsed after the Trump administration repeatedly raised the Libya model and Vice President Mike Pence threatened Kim Jong-un with Gadhafis fate. Ignorant and stupid, North Koreas government responded.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine now only highlights to some countries, at least, that if you have a nuclear weapons program, and youre sort of far along with that, giving it up is a terrible idea, Braut-Hegghammer said.

The world's nine nuclear powers  the United States, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea  hold some 13,000 nuclear weapons. Israel does not acknowledge its nuclear program.

The biggest nuclear powers historically have sought to control which countries can licitly join the club. Countries that proceed regardless, including Iran and North Korea, are isolated and sanctioned.

Nuclear experts mention South Korea and Saudi Arabia as among the countries mostly likely to consider nuclear weapons. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2018 pledged to immediately acquire nuclear bombs if Iran did.

It's surprising that more countries haven't acquired a bomb, Jessica Cox, head of NATOs nuclear directorate, said at the April forum.

If you look at it from a historical perspective, it is not at all clear in the 1950s and 1960s that there would be less than 10 nations armed with nuclear weapons in the world ... 70 years later.

What made the difference in Europe was NATO's nuclear deterrence  30 nations sharing responsibility and decision-making for a nuclear arsenal that deters attacks on them all, Cox said.

Many feel Ukraine made the right decision when it avoided possible isolation by waiving a nuclear-armed future. That gave Ukraine three decades to integrate with the world's economy and build alliances with powerful nations now aiding its defense against Russia.

As a young woman in Ukraine, Budjeryn realized at one point after the 1990s accords that her own job, then in business-development, was funded by the Clinton administration, as part of the West's rewards to Ukraine for the nuclear deal.

If Ukraine prevails," she said, " then it will communicate that nuclear weapons are useless.

But if Ukraine falls, the story will look very different, she said.

Chang reported from Seoul.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
U.S. Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma testified as part of a civil case into an alleged sexual assault at the Baptist church camp he oversaw that he believed a 13-year-old can consent to sex. The Associated Press obtained a copy of Lankfords deposition from 2010, before he'd joined Congress. A 13-year-old girl's family sued a 15-year-old boy who was alleged to have had sex with her at the camp, and also sued the camps owner and operator. Lankford isnt alleged to have had any knowledge of the assault and wasnt accused of any wrongdoing. Oklahoma's age of consent is 16. Theres no provision in state law under which a 13-year-old could consent to sex. A Lankford reelection campaign spokeswoman declined comment.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Kansas' top court declared Tuesday that the state constitution doesn't prohibit partisan gerrymandering, prompting one dissenting justice to accuse the majority of ignoring a full-scale assault on democracy" from a Republican congressional redistricting law.

The state Supreme Court issued the opinion explaining its 4-3 decision last month to approve the new congressional map. It previously issued only a brief opinion that did not explain the majority's reasons.

The new map makes it harder for the only Democrat in the Kansas congressional delegation, two-term Rep. Sharice Davids, to win reelection in her Kansas City-area district. Davids is the states first openly lesbian and Native American woman in Congress.

Dissenting Justice Eric Rosen argued that the decision moves Kansas toward a one-party system of government," aids a power grab and authorizes political chicanery.

In turning a blind eye to this full-scale assault on democracy in Kansas, the majority blithely ignores the plain language of this state's Constitution, Rosen wrote.

Lawsuits over new congressional maps proliferated this year across the U.S., with Republicans looking to recapture a U.S. House majority in Novembers midterm elections. Maps in at least 18 states inspired lawsuits, according to the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice.

In the Kansas Supreme Court's majority opinion Tuesday, Justice Caleb Stegall said the state constitutions guarantee of equal legal protection for all citizens does not prohibit the Legislature from considering partisan factors when redrawing lines each decade to make districts as equal in population as possible. The Legislature has Republican supermajorities and traditionally has been controlled by the GOP.

Stegall also argued that unless the state Supreme Court set a zero tolerance standard on partisan gerrymandering, it has no clear standards for when it should be prohibited.

Are there any manageable and neutral judicial standards by which judges can decide that question without resort to our own partisan biases? Stegall wrote.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican running for governor, praised the court's majority, saying it declined invitations to substitute its redistricting preferences for those of the peoples elected representatives.

Kansas courts previously had not been asked to consider whether the state constitution bars political gerrymandering. Federal judges  not the Kansas courts  have typically reviewed the states congressional boundaries, but the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in 2019 that complaints about partisan gerrymandering are political issues and not for the federal courts to resolve.

Stegall is widely seen as the seven-member court's most conservative justice, having been appointed by conservative GOP Gov. Sam Brownback in 2014. But he was joined in the majority by a justice appointed by a moderate Republican governor and two who were appointed by Democrats. All of the dissenters were appointed by Democratic governors.

The majority also rejected critics' claims that the new congressional map represented racial gerrymandering because it split the Black and Hispanic populations in the Kansas City areas between two districts. Stegall wrote that the aggrieved voters did not show that race was the predominant factor in how the lines were drawn.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, which represented 11 voters, said in a statement that the decision was especially harmful to minority voters who were targeted and silenced.

Democrats accused Republicans of planning to hurt Davids politically. Although Republicans said that was not the case, a now-retired state Senate leader said publicly in 2020 that fellow Republicans could draw all four congressional districts to favor the GOP and guarantee a plan that "takes out Davids.

Republican lawmakers noted repeatedly that the Kansas side of the Kansas City area has too many people to fit into a single congressional district, requiring some sort of split. And they argued that Davids still would win her new district based on 2020 election results.

The new congressional map moved the northern part of Kansas City, Kansas, out of the 3rd District represented by Davids and into the larger 2nd District of eastern Kansas represented by Republican Rep. Jake LaTurner. Kansas City, Kansas, is among the state's few Democratic strongholds.

The map also moved the liberal city of Lawrence  a Democratic stronghold only about 40 miles west (64 kilometers) of Kansas City and home to the main University of Kansas campus out of the 2nd District. Instead, the city of 95,000 has been added to the already sprawling 1st District, which is dominated by small conservative communities in central and western Kansas.

Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The House 1/6 committee heard chilling, tearful testimony Tuesday that Donald Trump's relentless pressure to overturn the 2020 presidential election provoked widespread threats to the backbone of our democracy" election workers and local officials who fended off the defeated presidents demands despite personal risks.

The panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol focused on Trumps efforts to undo Joe Bidens victory in a most local way  by repeatedly leaning on public officials in key battleground states with shocking proposals to reject ballots outright or to submit alternative electors for the final tally in Congress.

The high-profile pressure, described as potentially illegal, was fueled by the presidents false claims of voter fraud  which, the panel says, spread dangerously in the states and ultimately led directly to the deadly insurrection at the Capitol.

A handful of election officials in several key states stood between Donald Trump and the upending of American democracy, Chairman Bennie Thompson said, praising them as heroes and the backbone of our democracy.

The hearing was punctuated throughout with accounts of the personal attacks faced by state and local officials.

Arizona Republican House Speaker Rusty Bowers said he was subjected to a public smear campaign, including relentless bullhorn protests at his home and a pistol-wielding man taunting his family and neighbors.

Officials in Michigan, Pennsylvania and other states told similar stories of having their cellphone numbers and home addresses spread publicly after they refused Trumps demands.

At one gripping moment, two Georgia election workers, a mother and daughter, testified that they lived in fear of saying their names aloud after Trump wrongly accused them of voter fraud.

There were a lot of threats wishing death upon me, said Wandrea ArShaye Shaye Moss, a former state election worker.

The public hearing, the fourth by the panel this month, stemmed from its yearlong investigation into Trumps unprecedented attempt to remain in power, a sprawling scheme that the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee has likened to an attempted coup. The panel insisted that Trump's lies over the election threaten democracy to this day, as local officials face ongoing threats and challengers try to take over their jobs.

The committee's vice chair, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, implored Americans to pay attention to the evidence being presented, declaring, We cannot let America become a nation of conspiracy theories and thug violence.

One key witness was Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who testified about Trumps phone call asking him to find 11,780 votes that could flip his state to prevent Bidens election victory.

While the committee cannot charge Trump with any crimes, the Justice Department is watching the panels work closely.

Trump defended himself on social media, describing his phone call to Raffensperger as perfect, similar to the way he described the 2020 call with Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskyy that resulted in his first impeachment.

The public testimony from Raffensperger came weeks after he appeared before a special grand jury in Georgia investigating whether Trump and others illegally tried to intervene in the states 2020 election. Raffensperger beat a Trump-backed challenger in last months primary election.

He and Gabe Sterling, his chief operations officer, detailed their painstaking efforts to count the Georgia vote, going down the rabbit hole, he said, investigating one false claim after another of fraud. After a hand recount of 5 million ballots, Biden's victory was unchanged.

The numbers don't lie, said Raffensperger, who said that some 28,000 Georgia voters simply bypassed the presidential race but voted down-ballot for others. At the end of the day, President Trump came up short.

Bowers, the Arizona House speaker who also appeared in person, walked through what started with a Trump phone call on a Sunday after he returned from church. The defeated president laid out a proposal to have the state replace its electors for Biden with others favoring Trump.

I said, Look, youre asking me to do something that is counter to my oath, Bowers testified.

Bowers insisted on seeing Trumps evidence of voter fraud, which he said Trumps team never produced beyond vague allegations. He recalled Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani later told him, Weve got lots of theories, we just dont have the evidence.

Trump wanted Bowers to hold a hearing at the state Capitol, but the Republican leader said there was already a circus atmosphere over the election. The panel showed video footage of protesters at the Arizona statehouse including a key figure, the horned hat-wearing Jacob Chansley, who was later arrested at the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Trump nevertheless pressed the Arizona official, including in a follow-up call, suggesting he expected a better response from a fellow Republican.

But Bowers said that because of his faith, including a belief the U.S. Constitution is divinely inspired, what the president was asking him to do was foreign to my very being.

Bowers called Trumps effort a tragic parody.

With in-person testimony, Moss, who had worked for Georgia's Fulton County elections department since 2012, and her mother, Ruby Freeman, a temporary election worker who spoke earlier to the panel, gripped the audience with their accounts of the fallout from the smear campaign by Trump and Giuliani.

Do you know how it feels to have the president of the United States target you?" Freeman testified. "The president of the United States is supposed to represent every American, not to target one. But he targeted me.

The select committee outlined Trump's elaborate fake electors scheme that sought to have representatives in as many as seven battlegrounds  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada and New Mexico  state that he, not Biden, had won their states.

Several Republicans in Congress latched onto the scheme in the run-up to Jan. 6.

The committee displayed a text message from an aide to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., to an aide for Vice President Mike Pence the morning of Jan. 6 saying Johnson wanted to give Pence an alternate slate of electors for MI and WI.

Do not give that to him, Pence aide Chris Hodgson replied. And Johnson didnt, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Conservative law professor John Eastman, a lawyer for Trump, pushed the fake electors in the weeks after the election. The idea was to set up a challenge to Biden's win when Congress met on Jan. 6 with Pence presiding in what is typically a ceremonial role to certify the election. Trump sent thousands of his supporters to the Capitol to fight like hell, as he pressured Pence to reject the ballots. The effort ultimately collapsed amid the deadly riot, as Pence refused Trumps demands that he reject the electors.

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Bob Christie in Phoenix contributed to this report.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  Prominent South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, who faces more than 70 criminal charges after police scrutinized his finances in the aftermath of the unsolved shooting deaths of his wife and son last year, is likely going to permanently lose his law license.

The South Carolina Supreme Court said Murdaugh's attorneys said Tuesday they would not contest any arguments scheduled for a disbarment hearing Wednesday. As a result, the justices canceled the proceedings.

The decision likely ends the legal career of a member of a prominent family that has dominated the legal scene in tiny Hampton County for nearly a century. Murdaughs father, grandfather and great-grandfather were the areas elected prosecutors for 87 years straight.

Alex Murdaugh once worked for the family-founded law firm, which discreetly boasted of securing million-dollar verdicts for accidental deaths, product liability or workplace safety cases. The firm said in September that Murdaugh was stealing money.

Chief Justice Don Beatty said in court papers last week that Murdaughs own admissions in civil cases and statements by his lawyers in bond hearings leave no doubt he stole money from clients and had lied to the authorities and should be disbarred. Thats even as no arrests have been made in the June 2021 killings of Murdaughs wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at a family home in Colleton County.

A statement from Beatty on Tuesday said a formal order on disbarment will be issued later.

Beatty left no doubt in his order last Thursday where he falls on what should happen to Murdaughs law license.

In this unique case, Respondents admissions in the public record lead to only one conclusion  that Respondents egregious ethical misconduct subjects him to the most significant sanction available  disbarment, Beatty wrote.

The deaths of his wife and younger son prompted at least a half-dozen investigations into Murdaugh and his finances that resulted in indictments against him. Murdaugh is facing charges he stole $8.5 million from people who hired him and that he lied to police in saying he was shot by a stranger on a roadside when  officials say  he really asked a friend to kill him so his surviving son could collect a $10 million life insurance policy.

Anything Murdaugh or his attorneys said before the state Supreme Court could have been used against him in criminal cases or additional investigations.

A number of other former clients have accused him of stealing from them, leading to dozens of criminal indictments. Murdaugh signed a civil settlement saying he is responsible for taking more than $4.3 million from insurance settlements meant for the family of his housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, who Murdaugh said died after a fall in the familys home.

Meanwhile, the anniversary of the June 7, 2021, deaths of Murdaugh's wife, Maggie, 52, and son, Paul, 22, passed with no arrests and no additional information from the State Law Enforcement Division. Its agents have revealed little beyond the fact that the two were shot outside their Colleton County home and Murdaugh called 911, saying he discovered the bodies.

Murdaugh's lawyers continue to insist he had nothing to do with the killings, saying he was visiting his mother and ailing father when his wife and son were killed.

State police also are investigating other unusual deaths around the Murdaughs and plan to exhume Satterfield's body. Murdaugh reported she was gravely injured in a fall, dying later in the hospital. But the coroners office said it was not informed of her death like it should have been for anyone who dies under unusual or suspicious circumstances.

State police also are looking at an unsolved death that was ruled a hit-and-run on a Hampton County road in 2015. The 19-year-old victim's mother said she thought Paul Murdaugh could have been involved.

A judge has frozen Murdaugh's assets as a number of civil lawsuits make their way through the courts, including some on behalf of the family of a 19-year-old woman killed and others on board Murdaughs boat in February 2019 when it crashed into a bridge pier. Police charged Murdaugh's late son with boating under the influence.

Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  Federal officials and tribal nations have formally reestablished a commission to oversee land management decisions at a national monument in Utah  among the first such joint governance agreements signed by Native Americans and U.S. officials.

Leaders from agencies including the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service met with representatives from five tribal nations Saturday to sign a document formalizing the Bears Ears Commission, a governing body tasked with day-to-day decisions on the 2,125 square-mile (5,500 square-kilometer) Bears Ears National Monument.

In 2021, President Joe Biden restored two sprawling national monuments in southern Utah  Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante  reversing a decision by President Donald Trump that opened for mining and other development hundreds of thousands of acres of rugged lands sacred to Native Americans and home to ancient cliff dwellings and petroglyphs.

Together, the monuments encompass an area nearly the size of Connecticut, and were created by Democratic administrations under a century-old law that allows presidents to protect sites considered historic, geographically or culturally important.

Tribes have long sought a larger role in their oversight.

This is an important step as we move forward together to ensure that Tribal expertise and traditional perspectives remain at the forefront of our joint decision-making for the Bears Ears National Monument. This type of true co-management will serve as a model for our work to honor the nation-to-nation relationship in the future," said Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning, one of the agreement's signatories.

The Bears Ears Commission and Obama-era joint governance plan was altered to the chagrin of tribal officials when Trump downsized the monument in 2017. The five nations, all of which were driven off land included in the monument, are the Hopi, the Navajo Nation, the Pueblo of Zuni, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation.

Today, instead of being removed from a landscape to make way for a public park, we are being invited back to our ancestral homelands to help repair them and plan for a resilient future. We are being asked to apply our traditional knowledge to both the natural and human-caused ecological challenges, drought, erosion, visitation, etc., said Bears Ears Commission Co-Chair and Lieutenant Governor of Zuni Pueblo Carleton Bowekaty.

Tribes also play a role in jointly managing some resources within national park units, including Canyon de Chelly National Monument on the Navajo Nation and Point Reyes National Seashore on the historic lands of the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo in California.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Yoga for Humanity is the theme for International Day Of Yoga 2022, which is on June 21. On this day, people around the world celebrate the importance of yoga and the physical and mental health benefits that yoga can bring to peoples lives.

No one can provide greater testimony to the benefits of yoga than 74-year-old Dr. Jaime Sanchez, who recently returned to St. Louis from an International yoga tour to Venezuela and Costa Rica. Dr. Sanchez is a naturopathic doctor and founder of several yoga schools in the U.S. and Venezuela, including West East Yoga in St. Louis.

Even in his 8th decade, Sanchez states, I feel great thanks to yoga.

Beginning on International Day of Yoga, Dr. Sanchez will begin teaching chair yoga at More 4 Life, a physical therapy and wellness practice in Manchester, MO in order to help other seniors feel great as well.

Dr. Dave Candy, physical therapist and owner of More 4 Life, is delighted about the partnership. We help people stay active, mobile, and healthy without pain medication, injections, or surgery, and yoga is one great way to do that.

Dr. Sanchez states, Yoga is for all kinds of people: old people, young people, people who are flexible and not flexible, people who are sick and not sick. Yoga is for everyone because its all about moving, and moving is the key for recovery.

The chair yoga classes at More 4 Life will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00am and are open to the community. Learn more about chair yoga classes at M4LPT.com/chair-yoga/

New participants can get their first class for free by calling 314-941-3970.





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Years ago, when I got my history degree, I said to myself, Id better get a business degree, too, so I have something useful. But Ive learned over the years that if more people knew more about history, our world would be a better place. History is constantly speaking to us. Travelers enjoy a privileged way to hear it  and sometimes an up-close chance to witness history in the making.

Whenever I see the restored Reichstag building in Berlin, Im reminded of my visit in 1999, when it reopened to the public. For tourists unaware of history, it was just a new dome to climb, offering another vantage point on the city. But a knowledge of its past gives it far deeper meaning. It was in this building that the German Republic was proclaimed in 1918. In 1933, this symbol of democracy nearly burned down. While the Nazis blamed a communist plot, some believe that Hitler himself planned the fire. Whatever the case, he used the fire as a convenient excuse to frame the communists and grab total power.

After 1945, this historic home of the German parliament  which saw some of the last fighting of World War II on its rooftop  stood as an abandoned and bombed-out hulk overlooking the no-mans-land between East and West Berlin. After reunification, Germanys government returned from Bonn to Berlin. And, in good European fashion, the Germans didnt bulldoze their parliament building. They respected the buildings cultural roots and renovated it.

They capped it with a glorious glass dome, incorporating modern architectural design into a late-19th-century icon, and opened it up to the people. The dome rises 50 yards above the ground. Inside, a cone of 360 mirrors reflects natural light into the legislative chamber below. Lit from inside at night, it gives Berlin a kind of lantern celebrating good governance.

The Reichstag dome is a powerful architectural symbol. German citizens climb its long spiral ramp to the very top and look down, literally over the shoulders of their legislators, to see whats on their desks. Jerked around too much by their politicians in the past century, Germans are determined to keep a closer eye on them from now on. And this dome is designed to let them do exactly that.

When the Reichstag first reopened, I climbed to the top of the dome and found myself surrounded by teary-eyed Germans. Anytime youre surrounded by teary-eyed Germans, something exceptional is going on. It occurred to me that most of these people were old enough to remember the difficult times after World War II, when their city lay in rubble. What an exciting moment for them: the opening of this grand building was the symbolic closing of a difficult chapter in the history of a great nation. No more division. No more communism. No more fascism. They had a united government entering a new century with a new capitol building, looking into a promising future.

It was a thrill to be there. I was caught up in it. As I looked around at the other tourists, it occurred to me that most of them didnt have a clue about what was going on. They were so preoccupied with trivialities  camera batteries, their Cokes, the air-conditioning  that they missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate this great moment with the German people. I thought, Im living in a dumbed-down society. And it saddened me. I dont want to live in a dumbed-down society.

Powerful forces find it convenient when were dumbed down. As a society, we become easier to manipulate...easier to make money from. I vowed right there, in my work as a travel writer, that I would expect my readers to be engaged...and made smarter by their travels.

In mainstream tourism, were often encouraged to be lighthearted and avoid the serious. Sure, fun in the sun, duty-free shopping, and enjoying the nightlife can be a big part of your vacation. I enjoy it, too. But all this can distract us from a more important reason to travel. Travel can broaden our perspective, enabling us to rise above the advertiser-driven infotainment we call the news to see things as citizens of the world. By plugging directly into the present and getting the worlds take on things firsthand, a traveler goes beyond traditional sightseeing. (And shortly after that inspirational Berlin visit, I wrote an entirely new kind of book that develops that notion, called Travel as a Political Act.)

When we travel, we have the opportunity to see history as its unfolding. With knowledge of the past, we can better appreciate the significance of whats happening today. Thats something a lot of travelers dont take advantage of  and its never been more important.

(Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. This article was adapted from his book, For the Love of Europe. You can email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.)
Israel recently introduced Othello-P, a new GDS (gunfire detection system) that can be vehicle-mounted or used from a stationary position on the ground. Othello-P uses acoustic and infrared optical acoustic sensors along with new software to instantly locate where the gunfire or an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) is coming from. One Othello-P system provides 180-degree surveillance while two Othello-Ps provide complete (360-degree) surveillance. Othello-P detects the flash, blast and shock wave of a projectile day or night no matter where the shooter is, including higher elevations or even from aircraft. Rifle fire can be detected up to 400 meters distant while RPG rockets can be detected up to 2,000 meters away. Not only are nearby troops instantly alerted, via the new Israeli battlefield communication network, but also headquarters for operations in the area who can quickly call in air or artillery strikes. Othello-P can also be mounted on unmanned vehicles, which Israel had been using for over a decade and current models can be used in urban or open terrain. These vehicles already use visual and audible sensors to detect threats.

Gunfire detection systems have been around for over three decades. The first practical system was developed because a French scientist applied techniques used by ships and submarines to detect submarines to gunshot detection systems. Details of this breakthrough spread through the scientific community and in 1992 a California based seismologist (earthquake detection specialist) working for the United States Geological Survey developed a gunshot detection system he believed could accurately detect the location of gunfire in urban areas. He did this as a public service because nearby Menlo Park had a major problem with gun crime and the police were looking for a practical solution to detecting the location of such incidents quickly. The proposed system was installed, tested and it worked. These systems have gotten cheaper and more effective since then and are widely used in cities with a lot of illegal gun use. Police were able to show up at the scene of gunfire quickly and that, combined with growing use of surveillance cameras, reduced gunfire incidents by identifying and prosecuting many of the shooters. There is still illegal use of firearms, but a lot less of it compared to cities without the gunfire detection systems.

As Israel recently demonstrated, the greatest advances in gunfire detection technology have come from the military. One of the first, and most useful, of these military gunfire detection systems was developed in a few months in 2004, in response to a U.S. Department of Defense request for an affordable acoustic sniper detector. Testing delayed it from entering service immediately but by 2005, the system was being used in Iraq. This is another example of how wartime urgency speeds the development of new technology.

Acoustic gunfire (sniper) detectors have been in the field for two decades and have gotten better each year. Over 60,000 sniper detectors were shipped to Iraq and Afghanistan, where they have been heavily used and increasingly popular. Sniper detection systems provide directional information about where the snipers are. New generations of these systems show up every few years. Since 2004 the usefulness of these anti-sniper systems steadily increased as manufacturers reduced the number of false alarms and improved the user interface. There are other reasons for all this progress, including major advances in computing power, sensor quality, and software development. A decade ago, it was possible to instantly pinpoint the location of a sniper and quickly inform troops of that location.

British, American, French, and Israeli manufacturers have produced most of these systems, which are also sold to police organizations. The systems have varied greatly in capabilities and price. Some of the first ones cost over $200,000, but prices have been dropping rapidly over the first decade of use as the technology matured.

Some of these early systems were light enough (183 gm/6.4 ounces) to be worn. The most popular wearable system (SWATS) comes in two pieces. One is the sensor, which is worn on the shoulder, while the cell phone size controller, with small LCD display, is worn in front, where it can be quickly glanced at. SWATS calculates (from the sound of the weapon fired) direction of fire in a tenth of a second. SWATS was very popular with troops and costs about $2,000 each. SWATS could also be mounted on vehicles and still work when the vehicle wass moving at speeds of 80 kilometers an hour.

As the capability and reliability of these devices has improved, the troops have come to depend on sniper detectors. Without these devices there would be many more casualties. That's because, with a sniper detector, troops can quickly turn on the enemy shooter and deliver accurate fire of their own. American infantry are much more accurate shooters than your average Islamic terrorist gunman. That first shot from an Islamic terrorist gunman usually misses, which is even more likely once American infantry return fire.

Snipers have been forced to adjust their tactics in response to systems like SWATS and the French SLATE (Systeme de Localisation Acoustique de Tireur Embusque). To survive a sniper must "shoot and scoot", which greatly reduces the usefulness of snipers. In many cases Islamic terrorists choosing to try some sniping, without thinking it through, were killed shortly after they taking their first shot at sniper-detector equipped troops. This sort of thing is usually witnessed by other Islamic terrorists, which makes sniping less popular. This is particularly true as more accurate and reliable gunfire detectors were introduced.

The France SLATE system is vehicle mounted and quickly detects where the sound of a gunshot is coming from. SLATE is linked to the remote (from inside the vehicle) weapons turrets (armed with a 12.7mm machine-gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher). SLATE has an operator option that will automatically turn the turret and the operator's gun sight (a video camera with zoom) to where the gunshot came from. The operator can then decide whether to open fire.
Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE: RF) on Tuesday announced three new members have been appointed to the boards of Regions Financial Corp. and its subsidiary, Regions Bank: Mark Crosswhite, Noopur Davis and J. Thomas (Tom) Hill. With the addition of Crosswhite, Davis and Hill, Regions will increase to a 14-member board, which will, as of July 1, 2022, consist of 13 independent outside directors.

Our three new directors bring a diverse range of skills, experience and perspectives that will further position Regions for continued growth, said Charles McCrary, chair of the Regions Financial Corp. and Regions Bank boards. From extensive experience as sitting CEOs of large companies, to deep knowledge on the technology and cybersecurity front, the input provided from these new members will be invaluable to our boards. Each member will have a key role in oversight and governance as Regions continues its mission to create shared value for our customers, communities, associates and shareholders.

Mark Crosswhite is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Alabama Power Company, a Southern Company subsidiary headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., that provides electric service to 1.5 million customers. As an Alabama native and resident, Crosswhite has a strong connection to Regions markets and headquarters city. He is chairman of the boards of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and Prosper Birmingham. He also serves on numerous corporate, civic and nonprofit boards, including the boards of Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited and the UAB Health System. Crosswhite is also a member of the Presidents Cabinet of the University of Alabama. In addition, Crosswhite serves on the Council on Competitiveness and the Presidents Advisory Council for the Freshwater Land Trust. Crosswhite earned a bachelors degree in 1984 from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a J.D. degree in 1987 from the University of Alabama School of Law.

Noopur Davis is corporate executive vice president and chief information security and product privacy officer for Comcast, a Fortune 30 media and technology company. She leads teams responsible for product security and privacy, cloud security, information and infrastructure security, cybersecurity risk, security engineering, security incident response, the legal response center and technical fraud. Davis holds a bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University and a masters degree in Computer Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She is a member of several trade associations and serves on the Board of Directors of Entrust, Board of Advisors of Immersive Labs and the Board of Directors of the National Technology Security Coalition. Davis also serves on multiple advisory councils including Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services and VMWare.

Tom Hill is chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Vulcan Materials Company, the nations largest producer of construction aggregates and a major producer of aggregates-based construction materials. Hill is actively involved in a number of industry trade groups and currently serves on the boards of the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. He has previously served on the boards of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Central Alabama. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and the Wharton School of Business, Executive Management Program.

Regions is committed to serving the long-term interests of shareholders by maintaining strong governance principles and cultivating an experienced and engaged Board of Directors with diverse skills and attributes. Board committees play a vital role in that process. Crosswhite will serve on the Audit and the Nominating & Corporate Governance committees; Davis will serve on the Risk and Technology committees; and Hill will serve on the Compensation & Human Resources and Risk committees.

The boards have adopted comprehensive Corporate Governance Principles to guide oversight and independent governance.

The Corporate Governance Principles affirm the boards will seek members from diverse professional backgrounds who combine a broad spectrum of experience and expertise with a reputation for integrity to ensure the boards maintain an appropriate mix of skills and characteristics to meet the needs of Regions and the people served by the company, said Ruth Ann Marshall, chair of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. The addition of Mark, Noopur and Tom reflects those principles, and I look forward to their contributions.
More information available at www.ProtectFujitec.com

HONG KONG & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Oasis Management Company Ltd. (Oasis) is the manager to funds that own over 9.7% of Fujitec Co. Ltd. (Fujitec or the Company).

On June 17, Fujitec published a Notice Concerning Board of Directors Resolution in relation to the Implementation of an Additional Investigation by the Third-Party Committee. We believe this is another blatant attempt to fool shareholders:

[T]he board of directors of the Company has today resolved to establish a third-party committee and implement additional investigations and evaluations into the Transactions in order to provide an ease of mind and to rid the suspicions of the Companys shareholders and other stakeholders.

(emphasis added)

The aim of any fair, independent, and transparent investigation should be to determine whether any actions breached standards of good governance, and to identify measures to resolve and improve governance in light of any breaches --- not just to provide ease of mind and rid the suspicions of shareholders. In the case of Fujitec, where we have identified many related-party transactions between the Company and President Uchiyamas family entities, it is even more important that any such investigation be independent and thorough, rather than a simple box-ticking exercise conducted by cherry-picked third parties to whitewash the related-party transactions.

Fujitecs latest statement only underscores the pressing need for a governance overhaul at the Company. Stakeholders deserve more.

With ISS and Glass Lewis independent endorsements of our concerns and recommendations to vote against President Uchiyama, Oasis reaffirms its call to shareholders to VOTE AGAINST President Uchiyama to protect Fujitec from further abuses of power by the Uchiyama family.

The risks associated with removing President Uchiyama are minimal. We believe the daily business operations are run by the Executive Vice President Okada and the rest of the executive team, and would continue to operate in the event President Uchiyama is dismissed.

We believe that supporting President Uchiyamas re-appointment will reward poor corporate governance and promote abuses of power by executives. This would send the wrong message to Fujitecs stakeholders as well as the market that investors tolerate conflicted transactions that misuse corporate assets to benefit certain individuals and do not hold individuals to account that exhibit significant misconduct.

All investors are encouraged to review our detailed materials available at www.protectfujitec.com, which include questions for shareholders to ask the company.

About Oasis

Oasis Management Company Ltd. manages private investment funds focused on opportunities in a wide array of asset classes across countries and sectors. Oasis was founded in 2002 by Seth H. Fischer, who leads the firm as its Chief Investment Officer. More information about Oasis is available at https://oasiscm.com. Oasis has adopted the Japan FSAs Principles for Responsible Institutional Investors (a/k/a Japan Stewardship Code) and in line with those principles, Oasis monitors and engages with our investee companies.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this press release (referred to as the "Document") is an information resource for shareholders in Fujitec offered by Oasis, the investment manager to funds that are shareholders of Fujitec (the "Oasis Funds").

The Document is not intended to solicit or seek shareholders' agreements to jointly exercise voting rights with Oasis. Shareholders that have an agreement to jointly exercise their voting rights are regarded as Joint Holders under the Japanese large shareholding disclosure rules and they must file notification of their aggregate share ownership with the relevant Japanese authority for public disclosure under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. Oasis does not intend to be subjected to such notification requirement. The Document exclusively represents the opinions, interpretations, and estimates of Oasis.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220620005639/en/

Media

Taylor Hall, [email protected]

Japan Media

Ashton Consulting Limited

Tadashi Shiokai and Yuzo Iwaya

Phone: +81 03-5425-7220

Email: [email protected]

Source: Oasis Management Company Ltd.
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Safety National Casualty Corporation announced changes to the companys executive management structure today. The following realignment of responsibilities became effective on June 14, 2022.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005080/en/

Mark Wilhelm, Executive Chairman, Safety National (Photo: Business Wire)

Mark Wilhelm, formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, became Executive Chairman. In this position, he will be responsible for the management, development and effective performance of the companys executive management team, sharing overall responsibility for business operations and financial results with the Chief Executive Officer. He will provide guidance and oversight in setting the companys mission, vision, strategic direction and initiatives in addition to responsibility for key stakeholder relationships.

Duane Hercules, formerly President, became Chief Executive Officer. In his new role, he will provide leadership to develop, execute and achieve strategic business objectives and goals, and shares responsibility for company business operations and financial results with the Executive Chairman. He will be responsible for advancing the companys mission while preserving and enhancing its reputation and culture.

John Csik, formerly Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, became President. In this position, he will be responsible for directing all insurance and reinsurance operations.

Cyndee Morton, formerly Executive Vice President Operations and Chief Innovation Officer, became Chief Operating Officer and Chief Innovation Officer. In this role, she will provide executive management oversight to the operations, strategic analysis, budgeting, forecasting and human resources areas in addition to her existing oversight of the Enterprise Risk Management and Data Analytics Department and organizational innovation.

Gus Aivaliotis, formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer, will continue as Chief Underwriting Officer. In this role, he will add executive management oversight of the Credit Risk Department to his existing oversight of the Insurance Underwriting Department.

Tom Grove, formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer, became Chief Client Officer, adding executive management oversight of the Client Engagement Department to his existing oversight of the Business Development, Claims and Risk Services Departments.

Steve Divine, formerly Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Accounting Officer, became Chief Financial Officer. In his expanded role, he will provide senior leadership to the Finance and Accounting, Actuarial and Ceded Reinsurance Departments.

Seth Smith, formerly Executive Vice President Underwriting, became Executive Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer  Insurance Underwriting, providing leadership to all insurance underwriting units within the organization.

Nick Kriegel, formerly Senior Vice President and General Counsel, became Senior Vice President of Operations and General Counsel. In this expanded role, he will provide senior leadership to the Account Services, Loss Portfolio Transfer, Product Development, Project Management Services and Information Services Departments in addition to his existing oversight of the Legal and Corporate Compliance Departments.

Safety National is a leading specialty insurance and reinsurance provider. Servicing thousands of customers nationwide since 1942, the company offers specialized expertise, flexible program and placement design, and unique claims proficiency. Safety National is a member of the Tokio Marine Group and is rated A++ (Superior), FSC XV by A.M. Best. Learn more at www.safetynational.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005080/en/

Christie Tucci

Assistant Vice President of Communications

Safety National

314-692-9548

[email protected]

Source: Safety National
The nanosatellite will support the European Space Agencys Hera Mission

TURIN, Italy--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP), a global leader in satellite solutions, primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries, today announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tyvak International SRL, has together with its partners, achieved full Critical Design Review of the Milani spacecraft. A critical component of the Hera planetary defense mission, Milani will be the European Space Agencys (ESA) first deep-space nanosatellite. Milani will also be the first nanosatellite ever to orbit an asteroid. Tyvak International is responsible for Milanis design, build, and mission operations. In this exploration, Tyvak International is joined by an excellent consortium of European industries and research centers from Finland, Czech Republic, and Italy.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005408/en/

Milani scans Didymos (Credit: ESA / Science Office)

The worlds first test of asteroid deflection, Hera, will perform a detailed post-impact survey of the target asteroid, Dimorphos  the orbiting Moonlet in a binary asteroid system known as Didymos. NASAs DART mission will first impact the moonlet. Following the DART impact, Hera will turn the experiment into a well-understood and repeatable planetary defense technique, utilizing new technologies from autonomous navigation around an asteroid to low gravity proximity operations. Hera will be humankinds first probe to rendezvous with a binary asteroid system and Europes flagship Planetary Defender.

Milani, named after Andrea Milani, the pioneer of asteroid risk analysis who came up with the original double-spacecraft DART-Hera concept, is a companion nanosatellite of HERA, carried by the mothercraft along the journey to the asteroid, and ultimately released in its proximity. Milanis main instrument will be the ASPECT hyperspectral imager (by VTT, Finland), combining visible and near-infrared wavelengths to survey the surface down to a maximum spatial resolution of one meter. ASPECT will sift through sunlight reflected from Dimorphos as well as its bigger companion Didymos, looking for distinctive mineral absorptions of individual asteroid boulders. Along with ASPECT, Milanis secondary payload is called VISTA (Volatile In-Situ Thermogravimetre Analyser). The instrument (by INAF, Italy) can detect the presence of dust particles smaller than 5-10 micrometers in water and will monitor molecular contamination surrounding the satellite. Finally, laser reflectors (by INFN, Italy) will enable unprecedented gravity field measurements of the asteroid coupled with Heras laser range finder.

Terran Orbital is honored to be selected once again for a contract that will yield unprecedented scientific returns for the global community while propelling Europes ambitions in Planetary Defense capabilities, said Terran Orbital Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer Marc Bell. Tyvak Internationals design and construction of the Milani spacecraft will enable the acquisition of extremely valuable information for future asteroid deflection missions. We are thrilled ESA trusted us with this privilege, and we look forward to continuing to design, build, deliver, and operate cutting-edge satellite solutions that make our planet a safer place to live.

We are absolutely thrilled by the maturity reached by the Milani spacecraft in such a short time, said ESA Hera Project Manager Ian Carnelli. The capability of Tyvak International, not only to meet this important milestone but to do so while developing new advanced technologies with its partners, is unprecedented. We look forward to continuing this adventure and giving Milani a beautiful ride to Didymos.

About Tyvak International

Tyvak International, a Terran Orbital Corporation, is a leading European nano and microsatellite provider, based in Torino, Italy. A front runner in miniaturization and specialized in execution and delivery, Tyvak International is contract Prime of European Space Agency for the Milani mission, coordinating a team of 12 entities, universities, research centers, and enterprises in Italy and across all Europe. Learn more at www.tyvak.eu.

About Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of small satellites primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com.

Disclaimer: Please note that the view expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005408/en/

Virginia Norder

[email protected]

949-508-6404

Source: Terran Orbital Corporation
Models of oil barrels and a pump jack are displayed in front of a rising stock graph and "$100" in this illustration taken February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

By Arathy Somasekhar

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Oil prices edged up on Tuesday on high summer fuel demand while supplies remained tight because of sanctions on Russian oil after its invasion of Ukraine.

Brent crude futures settled 52 cents, or 0.5%, higher at $114.65 a barrel. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude contract for July expired on Tuesday, closing at $110.65, with a gain of $1.09, or 1%. The more active August contract was up $1.53 at $109.52.

Both benchmarks posted a weekly loss last week. For WTI it was the first weekly loss in eight weeks, for Brent the first in five.

"You have some people jumping in here to buy the bottom or what they hope is the bottom of the market," said Robert Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho in New York.

The 50-day simple moving average of U.S. front month futures touched its highest since 2008, and Brent's touched its highest since 2013.

Prices drew support when Exxon Mobil Corp Chief Executive Darren Woods predicted three to five years of fairly tight oil markets.

Vitol's head Russell Hardy flagged under-investment and a decline in production capacity for crude oil and a tight refining situation.

U.S. crude and gasoline inventories likely fell last week, while distillate stockpiles were seen up, a preliminary Reuters poll showed. Weekly inventory data is delayed by Monday's public holiday, with industry data due on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. and government data scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m. [EIA/S]

On the demand side, UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said that despite concerns over economic growth, data continues to show solid oil demand.

"We expect oil demand to improve further, benefiting from the reopening of China, summer travel in the northern hemisphere and the weather getting warmer in the Middle East. With supply growth lagging demand growth over the coming months, we continue to expect higher oil prices," he said.

The White House has asked the chief executives of six oil companies to a meeting on Thursday to discuss ways to reduce high energy prices.

On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden said a decision on whether to pause a federal gasoline tax could come this week. The United States is also in talks with Canada and other allies to further restrict Moscow's energy revenue by imposing a price cap on Russian oil, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Monday.

The market has been supported by supply anxiety after sanctions on oil shipments from Russia, the world's second-largest oil exporter, and worries Russian output could fall due to sanctions on equipment needed for production.

European Union leaders aim to maintain pressure on Russia at their summit this week by committing to further work on sanctions, a draft document showed.

"Supply concerns are unlikely to subside unless there is a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, or unless we see a sharp rise in supply from either the U.S. or OPEC," said Madhavi Mehta, commodity research analyst at Kotak Securities.

Graphic: Russian barrels to northeastern Europe- https://graphics.reuters.com/NORWAY-OIL/SVERDRUP/mypmnrkllvr/chart_eikon.jpg

(Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar, additional reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in London, Sonali Paul in Melbourne and Koustav Samanta and Isabel Kua in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)
AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE American: UAVS) (AgEagle or the Company), an industry-leading provider of full-stack drone, sensor and software solutions for commercial and government/defense use, today announced that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a Design Verification Report (DVR) establishing that eBee X of senseFly, SA, an AgEagle company, meets Ground Risk Class (GRC) M2 mitigation qualifications based on Specific Operation Risk Assessment (SORA) methodology.

The eBee X is the industrys first drone to receive a DVR from EASA on M2 mitigation, paving the way for European drone operators to seek approvals from their applicable National Aviation Authorities to use the eBee X to fly Beyond Vision Line of Sight (BVLOS) missions and conduct Operations Over People (OOP).

The EASA design verification report demonstrates that the eBee X meets the highest possible quality and ground risk safety standards and, thanks to its lightweight design, effects of ground impact are reduced. As such, drone operators conducting advanced drone operations in 27 European Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland can obtain the HIGH or MEDIUM robustness levels of the M2 mitigation without additional verification from EASA.

Adrian Marina, Land Surveyor with SysCAD Solutions in Europe, stated, We have a project involving capturing data related to quarry excavation volume measurements which will require multiple drone flights throughout the year. However, for this operation to take place, we will require SORA authorization to fly beyond visual line of sight and near a populated area. Now that the eBee X has received the EASA DVR affirming its safety profile, we can move forward with seeking regulatory clearances for this important project. Moreover, as a reseller of eBee UAVs, we are very excited about the growth opportunities this represents to our firm and the benefits eBees M2 mitigation DVR will provide to both current and prospective customers looking to launch or scale their drone operations safely and efficiently.

This issuance of the DVR from EASA marks yet another major accomplishment, further distinguishing our eBee line of UAVs; and is a direct reflection of our teams unwavering commitment to innovation, quality and high performance, noted Barrett Mooney, AgEagle Chairman and CEO. Regulatory constraints relating to limitations of BVLOS and OOP have continued to be a gating factor to widespread adoption of commercial drone technologies across a wide range of industry sectors worldwide. Being the first company to receive this DVR from EASA for M2 mitigation is a historic milestone for AgEagle and our industry in the European Union and will be a key factor in fueling growth of our customer base.

AgEagles commitment to our demanding customers has driven its focus to establish recognized centers of excellence in drone airframes, sensors and software, which, in turn, has resulted in the Companys drone operations receiving official ISO:9001 certification for its Quality Management System (QMS). Meeting a wide variety of strict standards, AgEagle has demonstrated that it delivers consistently high-quality products and services in every aspect of its fixed-wing drone operations, including design, manufacturing, marketing, sales and after-sales. An international certification, ISO:9001 recognizes organizational excellence and good quality practices based on a strong customer focus, robust process approach and proof of continual improvement. The certification was achieved following an extensive audit across our drone operations, led by the Companys dedicated in-house quality management team. The QMS was developed over a two-year period by senseFly, outlining a framework of policies, processes and procedures to help achieve the Companys high-performance objectives.
(Reuters) -BlockFi has signed a term sheet with digital asset exchange FTX for a $250 million revolving credit facility, the cryptocurrency firm's chief executive officer, Zac Prince, said in a tweet https://twitter.com/BlockFiZac/status/1539216594383028224 on Tuesday.

The agreement will give BlockFi access to capital amid a rout in the digital currency market. Last week, the company said it was reducing its headcount by about 20%, in addition to implementing other cost-cutting measures like reducing marketing spending and executive compensation.

FTX Founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried said in a tweet https://twitter.com/sbf_ftx/status/1539268631095152642?s=21&t=6IKWqlgii1rM5BTAmAFCEg that the credit facility will enable BlockFi to "navigate the market from a position of strength."

Aggressive rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve and recession fears have led to a turmoil in equities and sparked a sell-off in crytocurrencies. Over the weekend, the world's biggest cryptocurrency, bitcoin, dropped below the key $20,000 level for the first time since December 2020.

The crypto winter has also hurt other major players like Coinbase Global Inc, which last week said it would cut about 18% of its workforce.

Companies use revolving credit facilities as backstop financing to combat adverse impacts on other sources of income. For the most part, these facilities remain undrawn.

(Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru and Hannah Lang in Washington; Editing by Maju Samuel)
Small figurines are seen in front of displayed Microsoft logo in this illustration taken February 11, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Ilustration

By Paresh Dave

OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp on Tuesday said it would stop selling technology that guesses someone's emotion based on a facial image and would no longer provide unfettered access to facial recognition technology.

The actions reflect efforts by leading cloud providers to rein in sensitive technologies on their own as lawmakers in the United States and Europe continue to weigh comprehensive legal limits.

Since at least last year, Microsoft has been reviewing whether emotion recognition systems are rooted in science.

"These efforts raised important questions about privacy, the lack of consensus on a definition of 'emotions,' and the inability to generalize the linkage between facial expression and emotional state across use cases, regions, and demographics," Sarah Bird, principal group product manager at Microsoft's Azure AI unit, said in a blog post.

Existing customers will have one year before losing access to artificial intelligence tools that purport to infer emotion, gender, age, smile, facial hair, hair and makeup.

Alphabet Inc's Google Cloud last year embarked on a similar evaluation, first reported by Reuters.Google blocked 13 planned emotions from its tool for reading emotion and placed under review four existing ones, such as joy and sorrow. It was weighing a new system that would describe movements such as frowning and smiling, without seeking to attach them to an emotion.

Google did not immediately respond to request for comment on Tuesday.

Microsoft also said customers now must obtain approval to use its facial recognition services, which can enable people to log into websites or open locked doors through a face scan.

The company called on clients to avoid situations that infringe on privacy or in which the technology might struggle, such as identifying minors, but did not explicitly ban those uses.

(Reporting by Paresh Dave; Editing by David Gregorio)
FILE PHOTO: The seal of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seen at their headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

By Jody Godoy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a challenge brought by a former Xerox Corp executive and backed by Elon Musk to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rule requiring people who agree to settlements with the agency not to deny its allegations against them.

The justices declined to hear former Xerox chief financial officer Barry Romeril's appeal of a lower court's decision that the rule does not violate his free speech rights under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. Romeril agreed under the rule not to deny accounting fraud allegations he settled with the SEC in 2003.

Musk, the Tesla Inc CEO and world's richest person, is seeking to end his own 2018 SEC settlement. Musk in April signed on to a legal brief in support of Romeril. Musk's settlement required a Tesla lawyer to vet some of his posts on Twitter, resolving an SEC lawsuit accusing him of defrauding investors by tweeting that he had "funding secured" to take his electric car company private, though a buyout was not close.

Defendants can contest SEC allegations, but an agency policy dating back to 1972 states that when they settle without admitting wrongdoing they must also agree not to contradict the agency's findings. If a defendant violates their settlement, the SEC can seek to undo it and litigate the claims.

Critics have called it a "gag" rule. The SEC has said dumping the rule would undermine its credibility and strain its resources by prompting more trials.

Romeril was one of six executives who settled allegations of inflating Xerox's earnings by $1.4 billion in the late 1990s. He agreed to pay more than $5 million in penalties and be permanently barred from serving as an officer of a public company.

Romeril made a bid to strike the no-deny provision from his deal in 2019, which a Manhattan-based federal judge denied. Romeril then argued to the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the judge never had the authority to approve the settlement because it unconstitutionally violated free speech protections.

The 2nd Circuit found last year that Romeril had waived his right to free speech in order to avoid litigation, rejecting his argument that the agreement violated the First Amendment.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley and Judy Godoy; Editing by Will Dunham)
CALGARY, Alberta, June 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canacol Energy Ltd. ("Canacol" or the "Corporation") (TSX:CNE) (OTCQX:CNNEF) (BVC:CNEC) announced that it has declared a dividend of CAD$.052 per share, payable on July 15, 2022, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2022. This dividend qualifies as an 'eligible dividend' for Canadian income tax purposes. The declaration, timing, amount and payment of future dividends remain at the discretion of the Board of Directors.



Dividends on shares traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) will be paid in Canadian Dollars (CAD) on July 15, 2022.

For shareholders trading on the Colombia Stock Exchange (BVC), the Colombian peso equivalency shall be calculated based on the exchange rate as certified by the Banco de la Republica (Central Bank) on the date of monetization and will be published accordingly on the SIMEV website www.superfinanciera.gov.co

Shares traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange

Form NR301 will be mailed to Registered non-resident shareholders as at the dividend record date, by Olympia Trust Company, Canacols transfer agent. In order to receive the preferred treaty rate, you must complete and mail back the form as soon as possible. Failure to supply a completed NR301 form will result in Olympia withholding the statutory 25% withholding tax rate on any payments to Registered non-resident shareholders. If you have previously completed Form NR301, you do not need to complete a new form.

Instructions on how to correctly complete the NR301 are on the back of the form. Shareholders who hold their shares through a broker should contact their broker directly. They do not need to return a form to Olympia.

Shares traded on the Colombia Stock Exchange

Dividend payments will be subject to withholding at the Canadian statutory rate of 25%. Shareholders who are entitled to a reduced withholding tax rate under a tax treaty should contact their broker or nominee to submit Form NR301 (English version). Brokers should submit Form NR301 on behalf of their shareholders to Deposito Centralizado de Valores (Deceval) as soon as possible. If you have previously completed Form NR301, you do not need to complete a new form.

Form NR301 can be downloaded at:

https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/cra-arc/formspubs/pbg/nr301/nr301-13e.pdf

For information purposes, a Spanish version of Form NR301 can be downloaded at:

http://canacolenergy.co/es/investors/stocks-dividends/dividend-forms/

The content contained herein is not tax advice. Do not use or otherwise rely upon any of the content without first seeking independent tax advice.

About Canacol

Canacol is a natural gas exploration and production company with operations focused in Colombia. The Corporation's common stock trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the OTCQX in the United States of America, and the Colombia Stock Exchange under ticker symbol CNE, CNNEF, and CNE.C, respectively.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, including without limitation statements relating to estimated production rates from the Corporation's properties and intended work programs and associated timelines. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Corporation cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. They are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change and the Corporation assumes no obligation to revise or update them to reflect new circumstances, except as required by law. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements. These factors include the inherent risks involved in the exploration for and development of crude oil and natural gas properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological and geophysical data, fluctuating energy prices, the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs or delays and other uncertainties associated with the oil and gas industry. Other risk factors could include risks associated with negotiating with foreign governments as well as country risk associated with conducting international activities, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Corporation.

For more information please contact:

Investor Relations

South America: +571.621.1747 [email protected]

Global: +1.403.561.1648 [email protected]

http://www.canacolenergy.com
Mutual Fund and Exchange-Traded Fund Assets and Sales

TORONTO, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) today announced investment fund net sales and net assets for May 2022.

Mutual fund assets totalled $1.895 trillion at the end of May 2022. Assets decreased by $18.6 billion or 1.0% compared to April 2022. Mutual funds recorded net redemptions of $6.4 billion in May 2022.

ETF assets totalled $310.9 billion at the end of May 2022. Assets increased by $0.9 billion or 0.3% compared to April 2022. ETFs recorded net sales of $2.6 billion in May 2022.

Mutual Fund Net Sales/Net Redemptions ($ Millions)*

Asset Class May 2022 Apr. 2022 May 2021 YTD 2022 YTD 2021 Long-term Funds Balanced (5,347 ) (2,055 ) 4,276 1,012 31,555 Equity (994 ) (697 ) 3,268 6,942 22,131 Bond (882 ) (1,752 ) 1,098 (2,926 ) 8,223 Specialty 57 (204 ) 345 906 2,808 Total Long-term Funds (7,166 ) (4,708 ) 8,987 5,935 64,718 Total Money Market Funds 774 (199 ) (561 ) 967 (5,060 ) Total (6,391 ) (4,907 ) 8,426 6,902 59,658

Mutual Fund Net Assets ($ Billions)*

Asset Class May 2022 Apr. 2022 May 2021 Dec. 2021 Long-term Funds Balanced 932.8 943.6 935.2 1,024.9 Equity 674.4 681.7 664.4 747.7 Bond 238.1 239.2 254.8 261.5 Specialty 22.1 22.2 18.0 22.2 Total Long-term Funds 1,867.4 1,886.7 1,872.3 2,056.3 Total Money Market Funds 27.6 26.9 28.6 26.4 Total 1,895.0 1,913.6 1,900.9 2,082.7

* Please see below for important information regarding this data.

ETF Net Sales/Net Redemptions ($ Millions)*

Asset Class May 2022 Apr. 2022 May 2021 YTD 2022 YTD 2021 Long-term Funds Balanced 229 125 284 1,143 2,008 Equity 1,634 539 3,797 11,791 15,360 Bond (235 ) 322 1,751 1,277 6,799 Specialty 593 (115 ) 1,941 1,373 5,135 Total Long-term Funds 2,221 870 7,773 15,584 29,301 Total Money Market Funds 347 91 (177 ) 1,126 (1,676 ) Total 2,568 961 7,596 16,710 27,625

ETF Net Assets ($ Billions)*

Asset Class May 2022 Apr. 2022 May 2021 Dec. 2021 Long-term Funds Balanced 12.1 11.9 9.7 12.1 Equity 203.3 202.1 188.6 225.2 Bond 75.7 75.8 84.1 89.6 Specialty 12.4 13.0 9.5 13.6 Total Long-term Funds 303.4 302.9 291.9 340.5 Total Money Market Funds 7.5 7.1 5.6 6.6 Total 310.9 310.0 297.4 347.1

* Please see below for important information regarding this data.

IFIC direct survey data (which accounts for approximately 91% of total mutual fund industry assets) is complemented by data from Investor Economics to provide comprehensive industry totals.

IFIC makes every effort to verify the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information; however, IFIC does not guarantee, warrant, represent or undertake that the information provided is correct, accurate or current.

* Important Information Regarding Investment Fund Data:

Mutual fund data is adjusted to remove double counting arising from mutual funds that invest in other mutual funds. Starting with January 2022 data, ETF data is adjusted to remove double counting arising from Canadian-listed ETFs that invest in units of other Canadian-listed ETFs. Any references to IFIC ETF assets and sales figures prior to 2022 data should indicate that the data has not been adjusted for ETF of ETF double counting. The Balanced Funds category includes funds that invest directly in a mix of stocks and bonds or obtain exposure through investing in other funds. Mutual fund data reflects the investment activity of Canadian retail investors. ETF data reflects the investment activity of Canadian retail and institutional investors.

About IFICThe Investment Funds Institute of Canada is the voice of Canadas investment funds industry. IFIC brings together approximately 150 organizations, including fund managers, dealers, professional and back-office service providers, to strengthen the integrity of the investment funds industry, foster public confidence in investment funds, and enable investors to achieve good outcomes. By connecting savers to Canadas economy, our industry contributes significantly to Canadian economic growth and job creation.

For more information please contact: Pira KumarasamySenior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs[email protected] 416-309-2317

Source: The Investment Funds Institute of Canada
MONTREAL, June 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Senvest Capital Inc. (the Corporation) (TSX: SEC) is pleased to announce the voting results from its annual meeting of shareholders held on June 20, 2022 (the Meeting).

Election of Directors

The following six director nominees, proposed by management, were elected at the Meeting:

Name of Nominee Votes For Percent Votes Withheld Percent Victor Mashaal 1,601,525 99.83 % 2,667 0.17 % David E. Basner 1,602,642 99.90 % 1,550 0.10 % Eileen Bermingham 1,602,642 99.90 % 1,550 0.10 % Frank Daniel 1,601,525 99.83 % 2,667 0.17 % Jeffrey Jonas 1,602,642 99.90 % 1,550 0.10 % Richard Mashaal 1,601,525 99.83 % 2,667 0.17 %

Appointment of Auditors

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were reappointed as the Corporations auditors.

About Senvest

Senvest and its subsidiaries have business activities in merchant banking, asset management, real estate and electronic security.

For more information, please contact Mr. George Malikotsis, Vice President, Finance of Senvest Capital Inc., at (514) 281-8082.

Source: Senvest Capital Inc.
FILE PHOTO: Trevor Milton, founder and former-CEO of Nikola Corp., exits the Manhattan Federal Courthouse following an appearance in New York City, U.S., July 29, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo

(Reuters) - Trevor Milton, the billionaire founder and former chief executive of Nikola Corp has asked a federal judge to block evidence related to his "wealth, lifestyle or spending habits" at his trial for fraud charges.

A court filing from Monday showed that Milton's lawyers told U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that details of Milton's wealth were "unfairly prejudicial" and could mislead the jury.

U.S. prosecutors have criminally charged Milton with defrauding investors by lying to them about Nikola, the Phoenix-based electric truck maker he founded in 2014.

Prosecutors say he wrongly claimed that Nikola had built an electric- and hydrogen-powered pickup from the "ground up", developed batteries he knew the company was buying elsewhere, and that the company was making progress on a truck prototype he knew did not work.

Milton also targeted retail investors with a public relations blitz of social media posts as well as television and podcast interviews to drive up Nikola's stock price, authorities alleged.

His lawyers on Monday also filed to exclude evidence of retail investors' circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying those circumstances did not affect whether or not Milton committed securities or wire fraud.

Nikola declined to comment on Milton's court filing.

Judge Ramos in November last year had rejected Milton's claim that he should not have been indicted https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/us-charges-nikola-founder-trevor-milton-with-lying-investors-2021-07-29 in New York for securities and wire fraud because his alleged lies were in Arizona and Utah, where he lives, and the case belonged there if at all.

The company's share price has fallen more than 90% from its June 2020 record high.

(Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi)
FILE PHOTO: A Tesla logo is seen in Los Angeles, California U.S. January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) -A Black former elevator operator at Tesla Inc's flagship California assembly plant on Tuesday rejected a $15 million award in his lawsuit alleging racial abuse by coworkers, opening the door for a new trial after a judge slashed a $137 million jury verdict.

Lawyers for Owen Diaz, who had sued Tesla in 2017, turned down the judge's award in a brief filing in federal court in San Francisco. They said in a statement that the award was unjust and would not deter future misconduct by Tesla.

"In rejecting the courts excessive reduction by asking for a new trial, Mr. Diaz is again asking a jury of his peers to evaluate what Tesla did to him and to provide just compensation for the torrent of racist slurs that was directed at him," his lawyers said.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

U.S. District Judge William Orrick lowered the jury award, which was one of the largest of its kind in a discrimination lawsuit, to $15 million in April. He had also denied Tesla's motion for a new trial, conditioned on Diaz's acceptance of the lower award.

Earlier this month the judge denied Diaz's motion for permission to appeal that ruling and gave him two weeks to accept the lower award or agree to a new trial. [L1N2XU232]

Tesla is facing a series of lawsuits involving alleged widespread race discrimination and sexual harassment at its Fremont, California factory, including one by a California civil rights agency.

Last week, a Tesla shareholder filed a lawsuit accusing the company's chief executive, Elon Musk, and board of directors of neglecting worker complaints and fostering a toxic workplace culture. [L4N2Y40XI]

Tesla has denied wrongdoing and says it has policies in place to prevent and address workplace misconduct.

Diaz alleged that his colleagues and a supervisor subjected him to a hostile work environment that included slurs, caricatures and swastikas in his nine months working at the Fremont plant in 2015 and 2016.

A jury had awarded Diaz $6.9 million of compensatory damages and $130 million of punitive damages last October, but Orrick in April said those numbers were excessive.

Diaz's lawyers in their statement on Tuesday said Orrick's decision highlighted systemic bias that federal judges have against juries, which in turn violates the constitutional rights plaintiffs have to a trial by jury.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New YorkEditing by Jonathan Oatis and Mark Potter)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2022) - Lobe Sciences Ltd. (CSE: LOBE) (OTCQB: LOBED) ("Lobe" or the "Company"), a Canadian Biopsychedelics company committed to discovering and developing psychedelic inspired medicines for the improvement of neurologic, brain and mental health disorders, today announced an exclusive agreement with Clearway Global LLC ("Clearway").

Philip Young, CEO of Lobe stated, "We are pleased to have the opportunity to team up with the Clearway network and in particular with Dr. Fred Sancilio, a global expert in drug development and strategic planning. Dr. Sancilio brings over 40 years of pharmaceutical experience to our program and has a track record of success that is unmatched".

Dr. Fred D. Sancilio, Founder and CEO of Clearway commented "We are excited to be part of this evolving new area of pharmaceutical research that is demonstrating incredible potential to treat brain disorders that were previously believed to be untreatable. Biopsychedelics, such as those being developed at Lobe, present entirely new mechanisms of action that may change the way we treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other neurologic diseases. Mental illness is a wide-open field of research, and I am optimistic that Lobe is on the right path toward helping patients who suffer from these diseases".

In recent preclinical studies, treatment with Lobe's unique platform technology combining N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) with the bio psychedelic psilocybin, showed statistically significant positive results in a model of PTSD when compared to either moiety alone. In association with Clearway the Company plans to develop proprietary new chemical entities (NCEs) that improve upon naturally derived psychedelic molecules which can be unstable as pharmaceutical drugs. These NCEs are being studied as potentially low dose therapeutics without the psychedelic effect to allow patients to be treated at home or by their family physician.

About Lobe Sciences Ltd.

Lobe Sciences is a life sciences company focused on psychedelic medicines. The Company, through collaborations with industry-leading partners, is engaged in drug research and development using psychedelic compounds and the development of innovative devices and delivery mechanisms to improve mental health and wellness.

About Clearway Global LLC

Clearway Global, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sancilio & Company, provides early and mid-stage biopharmaceutical companies a world class network of development partners including international experts in regulatory affairs, business development, pre-clinical & clinical development, formulations, analytical chemistry, manufacturing, and controls. Clearway's founder, Dr. Fred Sancilio, MS, PHD is a recognized leader in drug development, analytical chemistry, corporate strategy and regulatory affairs. He is a serial entrepreneur and has contributed to dozens of successful start-ups that are now industry leaders.

For further information please contact:

Lobe Sciences Ltd.

Philip J Young, CEO

[email protected]

Tel: (949) 505-5623

NEITHER THE CSE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any securities.

Disclaimer for Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company, research and development using psychedelic compounds, and the development of innovative devices and delivery mechanisms to improve mental health and wellness, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of the forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including changes to the regulatory environment;, that the Company's drug research and development activities may be unsuccessful; that drugs and medical devices produced by, or on behalf of, the Company, may not work in the manner intended or at all, and may subject the Company to product liability or other liability claims; that the Company may not be able to attain the Company's corporate goals and objectives; and other risk factors detailed in the Company's continuous disclosure filings from time to time, as available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release and the Company does not intend to update any of the included forward-looking statements except as expressly required by applicable Canadian securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/128433
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2022) - Meryllion Resources Corp.(CSE: MYR) ("Meryllion" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that the first phase of exploration on the Mt Turner Cu-Mo-Au project in north Queensland has identified a number of previously unknown near surface drilling targets as well as sub vertical deeper targets possibly associated with porphyry mineralization targets.

Meryllion is earning an option over the Mt Turner Project from Essex Minerals Inc (TSXV: ESX) (OTCQB: ESXFM) (FSE: EWX1) ("Essex") by funding an induced polarization (IP) geophysical and mapping program to identify drill 1targets associated with an under-explored porphyry intrusive complex.

Highlights

A Phase 1 total of 31-line km of IP has been completed over the Mt Turner porphyry complex. The lines were spaced at 400 m with readings at 100 m along the lines (See Figure 1).

The IP program has successfully identified a number of significant high-intensity chargeability anomalies indicative of sulphide mineralization within a large felsic, porphyry style mineralizing center (see Figure 2) with strike lengths of up to 1.6 km and widths of up to 1.2 km. The largest anomaly remains open to the north.

Coincident with and spatially related to the chargeability anomalies, detailed mapping has discovered a number of altered sub-volcanic and high-level volcanic intrusives, as well as an elongate, extensively altered, volcanic center.

Strike continuous chargeability anomalies have been identified in four main geological settings (See Figure 3):

- A flat-lying high chargeability zone at a depth of between 100 - 150 m on the eastern flank of the altered volcanic centre.

- Sub-horizontal and vertical deeper anomalies associated with the Mt Turner-type volcanic intrusives.

- Additional vertical anomalies associated with a NE trending western structural corridor.

- Anomalies associated with vertical altered sub-volcanic intrusives.

The eastern flat-lying zone is characterized by a +40 millivolt/volt anomaly currently traced for a strike of 1.6 km (open to the north) with a width of up to 1.2 km. Initial interpretation suggests this anomaly could represent a secondary sulphide blanket or mineralization associated with overlying impervious flat- lying volcanic units and underlying coarser units and flat granite fractures above vertical feeder structures - a classic trap site for hydrothermal fluids. The anomaly represents a previously unknown, significant near surface drill target.

The sub-horizontal and associated vertical anomalies are associated with the annular Mt Turner and Mt Turner East intrusive centers and provide important new data in defining significant porphyry drill targets at Mt Turner. Detailed field mapping has confirmed the contact of the intrusive and granite host is often occupied by annular hydrothermal and collapsed breccias intruded by late-stage pebble dykes. The clasts are rounded indicating transport and cemented in places by drusy quartz and gossan and display open space texture. In addition, quartz veined mineralized clasts within the breccia indicate that hydrothermal fluids have brought deeper mineralization to the surface (See Figure 4). These hydrothermal breccias may have transported deeper porphyry style molybdenite mineralization to the surface which has been identified in previously reported soil anomalies. Decompression breccias indicative of a porphyry environment have also been observed.

The western NE striking zone varies from 100 to 200 m wide and is currently 1.2 km in strike. Several zones of quartz veined gossanous breccias associated with fault slices of schist and altered granite intruded by rhyolite dykes are evident at surface. A significant (+40 millivolt/volt) vertical chargeability anomaly is coincident with a gold in soil anomaly on IP Line 3 and 5. Supergene copper mineralization has been located at lower elevations associated with quartz veining. Several rock chips of surface mineralization have been submitted for assay.

Meryllion CEO Richard Revelins commented: "We are delighted with the Phase 1 results from the IP program, which has identified significant near surface and deeper porphyry drill targets co-incident with previously identified surface gold, copper, and molybdenum in soil anomalies. These new sulphide targets are also associated with peripheral associated gold mineralization targets on the regional scale Drummer Fault and breccia complexes further to the north, making the Mt Turner property an exciting new exploration center."

Meryllion Option and Joint Venture

Essex has granted Meryllion a 90-day option to fund a minimum $250,000 on exploration at Mt Turner, including a detailed IP survey to define drill targets within the porphyry system. Meryllion will then have the right to earn up to a 70% interest in the project by funding up to a further $3,800,000 in exploration in three stages. (see Company News Release of April 26, 2022)

Summary Geology and Mineralization of the Mt Turner Project

The Mount Turner Property lies in the western portion of the Georgetown Inlier, which constitutes the bulk of the proclaimed Etheridge Goldfield. It consists of variably metamorphosed and deformed sedimentary and volcanic rocks of Palaeo- to Mesoproterozoic age, intruded by Mesoproterozoic granites.

The Proterozoic rocks have been intruded by Siluro-Devonian age granitic rocks during a period of subduction and underplating that is thought to have occurred during the Tabberabberan cycle of the Tasman Orogen (ca 430- 380 Ma).

The Georgetown Inlier subsequently experienced a period of felsic intrusion and accompanied sub-aerial volcanism during the Carboniferous to Permian period (ca 350-230 Ma) associated with extension and rifting that developed during the Hunter-Bowen cycle of the Tasman Orogeny. This magmatism is termed the Kennedy Igneous Association, which consists of widespread and voluminous felsic extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks, producing a number of large volcanic subsidence structures. This magmatic event was responsible for the 5 million-ounce Kidston gold deposit located some 70 km to the SE of Mt Turner and several other precious metal deposits in Queensland.

The Permo-Carboniferous Mt Turner intrusive complex, which is centered within the property, consists of multiple phases of rhyolite to micro-granodiorite dykes, stocks and associated breccias, hosted by the Meso-Proterozoic Mount Turner Granite and metasediments of the Palaeo-Proterozoic Lane Creek Formation.

The property was initially examined under special Department Reserve during the 1975-78 field seasons by geologists of the Australian Government's Bureau of Mineral Resources (now Geoscience Australia) and the Geological Survey of Queensland after discovery of extensive hydrothermal alteration around Mt Turner.

The subsequent report (Baker & Horton, 1982) described the intrusive complex as a porphyry copper- molybdenum system with zoned polymetallic mineralization. The report was based on 11 widespread, shallow vertical drill holes,

A portion of Mt Turner was held by Kidston Gold Mines ("KGM") in 1994-1998 and assessed for gold only. Mega Uranium flew detailed regional aeromag0netics in 2006-2007 as part of a regional uranium assessment. No follow- up exploration has been undertaken on the porphyry copper-molybdenum potential identified in the 1970s until the ground was staked in 2019 by KNX Resources Limited, an Australian exploration company now owned 100% by Essex.

Essex currently owns 100% of the Mt Turner property.

About Meryllion

Meryllion is an exploration and development company focused on mineral exploration and mine development and finance opportunities in Tier 1 jurisdictions, where the Company can earn an interest by funding exploration. The Company also has an option over the Oldham Range Polymetallic Project located 320kms west of Wiluna, Western Australia.

Qualified Person

All of the scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and/or prepared by Mr Lee K. Spencer, BSc (Hons), MSc, MAusIMM, a "Qualified Person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF MERYLLION RESOURCES CORP.

Richard Revelins Director & CEO

[email protected] +1-310-405-4475 (USA)

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.





Figure 1Completed IP Lines on Lidar

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5495/128452_036bd7206464dbfd_001full.jpg.





Figure 2Lines 1-15 2D chargeability inversion sections

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5495/128452_036bd7206464dbfd_002full.jpg.





Figure 3Initial overlay of IP results and geological mapping on previous magnetic and soil results

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5495/128452_036bd7206464dbfd_003full.jpg.





Figure 4Stockwork veined clast within hydrothermal breccia Mt Turner East, IP line 1

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5495/128452_036bd7206464dbfd_004full.jpg.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/128452
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 21, 2022) - Vegano Foods Inc. (CSE: VAGN) (OTCQB: VAGNF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its press release of April 3, 2022, it has completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding securities of SMPL Oats Ltd. ("SMPL") by way of a three-cornered amalgamation carried out under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Amalgamation") pursuant to the terms of a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") among the Company, 1355441 BC Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("Subco") and SMPL. In accordance with the Agreement, the Company issued to the former shareholders of SMPL (the "SMPL Shareholders") 0.893612552643442 of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Vegano Share") for each common share of SMPL acquired by the Company. The Company issued an aggregate of 28,678,680 Vegano Shares to the SMPL Shareholders. The corporation resulting from the Amalgamation, named "SMPL Oats Ltd.", is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and will carry on the business of SMPL.

About SMPL

SMPL is a beverage company that specializes in creating innovative oat milk that is dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free and plant-based. SMPL Oats focuses on the health beverage market segment. All products are a no-compromise alternative to dairy milk distributed through a direct-to-consumer online website. The Company's mission is to help individuals build healthy eating habits and live a more health-conscious life.

This combination of in-house owned products, efficient supply chain of best-in-class health foods, seamless shopping and delivery experience aims to position Vegano for category dominance and deliver long-term shareholder growth. This acquisition now allows Vegano to operate in the global plant-based beverage market, which is expected to grow to US$22.78 billion by 2027, exhibiting a compounded annual growth rate of 8%[1], the brand soft launched its premium and nutritious oat milk in late 2021.

The Plant Based Foods Association defines plant-based as "food and beverages made from plants that contain no animal derived ingredients".[2] Plant-based dairy alternatives are expected to exhibit steady growth and continue to be dominant in market share. The North American plant-based beverage market is projected to be valued at US$111.4 million by 2023.[3] North America is projected to be the fastest-growing region with a compounded annual growth rate of 8.5% from 2021 to 2017 due to a fast-growing vegan population in the region.[4] Increasing innovation by key regional players is expected to strengthen the North American market.

Transaction Terms

In consideration for all outstanding share capital of SMPL, the Company issued an aggregate of 28,678,680 Vegano Shares. In addition, the Company reserved for issuance 116,169 Vegano Shares to be issued to the holders of special warrants of SMPL (the "SMPL Special Warrants") on conversion of such SMPL Special Warrants at the election of the holder. Vegano also reserved for issuance (i) 12,654,854 Vegano Shares for issue on exercise of common share purchase warrants of SMPL, (ii) 6,828,553 Vegano Shares for issue on exercise of common share purchase warrants issued to former holders of SMPL Special Warrants, and (iii) 116,169 Vegano Shares for issue on exercise of common share purchase warrants to be issued to holders of SMPL Special Warrants on conversion of such SMPL Special Warrants at the election of the holder.

The acquisition of SMPL does not constitute a fundamental change for the Company, nor has it resulted in a change of control of the Company, within the meaning provided by the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Related Party Disclosure

Each of Conor Power and Joel Primus, directors of the Company, were also directors and shareholders of SMPL and accordingly, the acquisition of SMPL securities from each of Messrs. Power and Primus constitutes a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Amalgamation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 based on the exemption set out section 5.5(b) Issuer Not Listed on Specified Market and Section 5.7(1)(a) Fair Market Value Not More than 25% of Market Capitalisation. The Agreement was approved by the independent director of the Company. Additional information required pursuant to MI 61-101 was provided in the material change report filed by the Company on April 8, 2022.

Investor relations

Part of SMPL's initial business plan was to take the company public by way of a non-offering prospectus prior to announcing Vegano's acquisition thereof. In forming that strategy, SMPL prepaid for digital media campaigns. The Company paid Market IQ Media Group Inc. $131,500 on September 6, 2021 and Axe Communications Inc. $50,000 on September 10, 2021. The Company also paid Grainne Capital limited $200,000 on September 15, 2021. The Company entered into an agreement with Ascent Marketing Ltd. $238,095.24 for general consulting services on April 22, 2022. SMPL paid $200,000 on May 10th to Maynard Communication Limited. All of these vendors will be providing investor relations services which might include strategic digital media, marketing and data analytics services for the purposes of promoting SMPL, which by way of the acquisition is now Vegano Foods Inc.

ABOUT VEGANO FOODS INC.

Vegano Foods Inc. is Canada's premier 100% plant-based meal box company that operates in Vancouver and is set to expand to Toronto, Montreal, and Los Angeles later this year. Founded in March of 2020, Vegano helps make healthy plant-based eating more accessible to Canadians, allowing them to take veganism beyond Meatless Mondays and Veganuary. Vegano uses high-quality ingredients sourced from local farmers and producers to ensure that its meal kits are delivered fresh to their members every week. With many chef-created recipes, Vegano's meals can be prepared in under 45 minutes, allowing people to spend less time on meal prep and more time on things they love. For more information, visit www.veganofoods.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Conor Power, CEO & Director

[email protected]om

Press Contact:

[email protected]

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

[1] Vision Research Reports. (2020, December). Plant-based beverages market size, share, growth, trends, company analysis, regional insights and forecast 2021 - 2027. Vision Research Reports.

https://www.visionresearchreports.com/plant-based-beverages-market-size-share-growth-trends-company-analysis-regional-insights-and-forecast-2021-2027/35780.

[2] Benzaquen, D. (2021, July 13). Plant Based Foods Association. https://www.plantbasedfoods.org/.

[3] WantStats Research And Media Pvt. Ltd. (2021, February). Plant-based beverages market research, size, share, Global Forecast 2027: MRFR.

Plant-Based Beverages Market Research, Size, Share, Global Forecast 2027 | MRFR.

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/plant-based-beverages-market-6516.

[4] Vision Research Reports. (2020, December). Plant-based beverages market size, share, growth, trends, company analysis, regional insights and forecast 2021 - 2027. Vision Research Reports.

https://www.visionresearchreports.com/plant-based-beverages-market-size-share-growth-trends-company-analysis-regional-insights-and-forecast-2021-2027/35780.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/128427
DENVER, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- APITech (API Technologies Corp.), a leading provider of capabilities that protect, power, and process critical RF and electronics applications today announced early samples of the company's new line of High Power SAW Filters.

The backbone of digital transformation is the wireless spectrum. One of the key threats to systems using that backbone is electromagnetic confusion, which will increase exponentially as the transformation accelerates. The wireless interface of every digitally transformed device, machine, or service will need RF filtering technology to ensure that a clean signal is received and processed.

High power SAW (surface acoustic wave) technology provides essential signal filtering/conditioning for systems that require sustained input power of 1W and higher. These include satellite, defense, electronic warfare, and other high-reliability and high-power applications.

APITech has developed new SAW Filter technology using an advanced manufacturing process that will deliver the higher power, tighter bandwidths, and expanded package options required by these systems. APITech is the only US-based manufacturer of this high-power technology.

"As an industry leader in SAW Filter development for decades, APITech has been working with our customers to understand and respond to these higher power requirements," says Ian Dunn, Chief Technology Officer at APITech. "We are excited to announce this new line of high-power SAW filters that can meet those demands. Going forward we plan to extend this high-power capability across the entire frequency range and all package types."

Prospective customers may meet with our product experts at the International Microwave Symposium (IMS) held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO, USA from June 21st-23rd, 2022, APITech will exhibit at Booth #11080.

Availability

First samples of these new SAW Filters will be available to key development customers in Q3. For more information on APITech's new High Power SAW Filters visit: https://www.apitech.com/products/rf-solutions/saw-filters-oscillators/hp-saw-filters/

About APITech

APITech (API Technologies Corp.) is an innovative designer and manufacturer of high-performance subsystems, modules, and components to Protect, Power, and Process critical RF and electronics applications. A high-reliability technology pioneer with over 70 years of heritage, APITech's products are used by global defense, industrial, and commercial customers for critical applications including electronic warfare, Radar, C4ISR, Space, missile defense, commercial aerospace, wireless communications, medical, oil and gas, and harsh environments.

Contact:

Madeline LeeAPITech+1 508-251-6486[email protected]

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SOURCE API Technologies Corp.
GREEN BAY, Wis., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) today announced it will release second quarter 2022 financial results on Thursday, July 21, 2022, after market close. The Company will host a conference call for investors and analysts at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT) on the same day.

Interested parties can access the live webcast of the call through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, http://investor.associatedbank.com. Parties may also dial into the call at 877-407-8037 (domestic) or 201-689-8037 (international) and request the Associated Banc-Corp second quarter 2022 earnings call. The financial tables and an accompanying slide presentation will be available on the Company's website just prior to the call. An audio archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website approximately fifteen minutes after the call is over.

ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $35 billion and is Wisconsin's largest bank holding company. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from more than 200 banking locations serving more than 100 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, and loan production offices in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements made in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes any statements regarding management's plans, objectives, or goals for future operations, products or services, and forecasts of its revenues, earnings, or other measures of performance. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," "should," "will," "intend," "target," "outlook," "project," "guidance," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations and, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements include those identified in the Company's most recent Form 10-K and subsequent SEC filings. Such factors are incorporated herein by reference.

Investor Contact: Ben McCarvilleVice President | Director of Investor Relations920-491-7059 | [email protected]

Media Contact: Jennifer KaminskiVice President | Public Relations Senior Manager920-491-7576 | [email protected]

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SOURCE Associated Banc-Corp
COLUMBUS, Miss., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BankFirst Capital Corporation (OTCQX: BFCC) ("BankFirst" or the "Company"), parent of BankFirst Financial Services (the "Bank"), today announced the opening of a new loan production office located at 2100 Southbridge Office Building, Suite 450, Birmingham, Alabama, 35209 (the "LPO").

In making the announcement, BankFirst's President and Chief Executive Officer, Moak Griffin, said, "We are very excited to expand our footprint into the Birmingham market and the opening of our new LPO further underscores our commitment to our customers and communities in the State of Alabama." Stephen Walker, will oversee the operations of the LPO. Mr. Walker has over 9 years of banking experience in the Birmingham market, primarily focusing on commercial real estate, and over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry.

With the opening of the new LPO, the Bank now has 41 offices serving Mississippi and Alabama, and have assets in excess of $2.0 billion.

About BankFirst Financial Services

BankFirst Capital Corporation (OTCQX: BFCC) is a registered bank holding company based in Columbus, Mississippi with approximately $2.0 billion in total assets as of March 31, 2022. BankFirst Financial Services, the Company's wholly-owned banking subsidiary, was founded in 1888 and is locally owned, controlled, and operated. The Company is headquartered in Columbus, Mississippi, and the Bank operates additional branch offices in Columbus, Flowood, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Louin, Macon, Madison, Newton, Starkville, and West Point, Mississippi; and Addison, Aliceville, Arley, Bear Creek, Carrollton, Curry, Double Springs, Fayette, Gordo, Haleyville, Lynn, Northport, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Bank also operates four loan production offices in Biloxi, Brookhaven, and Oxford, Mississippi and Birmingham, Alabama. BankFirst offers a wide variety of services for businesses and consumers. The Bank also offers internet banking, no-fee ATM access, checking, CD, and money market accounts, merchant services, mortgage loans, remote deposit capture, and more. For more information, visit www.bankfirstfs.com.

Available Information

The Company maintains an Internet web site at www.bankfirstfs.com/about-us/investors. The Company makes available, free of charge, on its web site the Company's annual meeting materials, annual reports, and quarterly earnings reports. In addition, the OTC Markets Group maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding the Company (at www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BFCC/overview).

The Company routinely posts important information for investors on its web site (under www.bankfirstfs.com and, more specifically, under the Investor Relations tab at www.bankfirstfs.com/about-us/investors). The Company intends to use its web site as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under the OTC Markets Group OTCQX Rules for U.S. Banks. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Company's web site, in addition to following the Company's press releases, OTC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts.

The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the Company's web site is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

Member FDIC

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SOURCE BankFirst Capital Corporation
BRUNSWICK, Maine, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bowdoin College is involved in a new project aimed at developing academic courses that tackle the ethical issues raised by emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Sponsored by Google and the National Humanities Center (NHC), the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Curriculum Design Project grew out of mounting concern among academics over the extent to which AI permeates many aspects of our lives and the ethical questions raised by the implications of this.

"Our selection committee valued the diverse perspectives that different types of higher education institutions would contribute to this project," said Andy Mink, the NHC's vice president for education programs.

"As a small liberal arts college, Bowdoin represents a unique setting with an exceptionally bright and engaged student body. Also, considering Bowdoin's academic culture, we anticipated that they would fully embrace the interdisciplinary possibilities for this work."

Bowdoin has assembled a team of four faculty members who will cocreate and coteach this course. The two principal investigators on the project are computer scientist Eric Chown, who is the Sarah and James Bowdoin Professor of Digital and Computational Studies (DCS), and Assistant Professor of Digital and Computational Studies (DCS) Fernando Nascimento, who has a background in philosophy.

"This is exactly the sort of area we focus on at the DCS program, so I'm sure that's one of the reasons we were chosen for this award," said Chown. One example of this kind of work that's already underway is the Computing Ethics Narratives, another national initiative involving Bowdoin faculty aimed at integrating ethics into undergraduate computer science curricula at American colleges and universities.

Other faculty involved in the NHC project are cinema studies scholar Allison Cooper, who is also an assistant professor of Romance languages and literatures, and Professor of Government Michael Franz. While his colleagues will work on the broader ethical issues regarding AI, Chown's focus will be more on teaching the nuts and bolts behind the subject.

"My work in machine learning and artificial intelligence will serve basically to study what's going on in AI and how it works. Then we'll look at various applications and, using the work of Fernando and Alison, students will be asked to consider questions like 'What are the developers' goals when they're doing this?' 'How is this impacting users?'" Franz, meanwhile, will focus on issues surrounding government regulation in the AI sphere and what the political implications might be.

Representatives from Bowdoin (and fourteen other institutions) are partnering with the NHC to develop undergraduate courses to examine the issue from a number of different angles.

The team from Bowdoin is in North Carolina for a five-day NHC conference (June 2024) to discuss next steps.

Read more about Bowdoin's involvement.

For more information and to arrange an interview with members of Bowdoin's team, contact Doug Cook, media relations director, at [email protected] or 207-671-4459.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bowdoin-college-chosen-for-national-initiative-on-ai-ethics-301572360.html

SOURCE Bowdoin College
ELLENTON, Fla., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Colony Cove, a 55+ manufactured home community in Ellenton, FL, planted more than 4,000 trees on a 1.5-acre peninsula located within the community, creating an environmentally beneficial microforest with a community nature trail. Microforests are very dense plantings of native species and are a powerful way to help improve the quality of the local environment and combat climate change.

In coordination with Sarasota Urban ReForesters (SURF), more than 150 Colony Cove residents, employees and volunteers helped with the planting of the microforest, which took place on June 13, 2022. Sustainability is top of mind at Colony Cove, and the high-performance microforest is a key element among the community's eco-friendly endeavors.

"In addition to the many benefits microforests provide to the environment, enhancing the beauty of Colony Cove with native landscapes offers our residents a sense of serenity, along with the physical and mental health benefits that our residents can experience by getting outside and enjoying the nature trail," said Scott Payrits, general manager of Colony Cove. "We're thrilled to be able to have a microforest that highlights our ongoing focus on sustainability and environmental awareness."

SURF, which coordinated and helped organize Colony Cove's microforest, is a coalition of nonprofits dedicated to establishing microforests throughout the Suncoast. SURF's planting strategy follows the inspiration and guidance of Akira Miyawaki, a distinguished Japanese botanist who developed a plan to convert largely urban land into forests that would grow exceptionally fast and provide many environmental benefits. The rapid growth rate enables microforests to sequester an enormous amount of carbon against climate change, which is an important objective for all involved. The rapid growth rate also intercepts rainwater and transpires it back into the atmosphere rather than allowing it to carry pollution-laden runoff that deteriorates coastal waters. In support of this effort, volunteers from Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START), the Sarasota Bay Rotary Club and Florida Veterans for Common Sense were also on hand to help plant the Colony Cove microforest.

About Colony CoveColony Cove is an age-qualified, resort-style manufactured home community situated along the scenic Manatee River and featuring waterfront views, planned events and activities, and amenities designed around an active lifestyle. Beautiful new homes are available in a variety of floor plans. Visit www.mymhcommunity.com for more information.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/colony-cove-plants-4-000-trees-to-create-community-microforest-301572418.html

SOURCE Colony Cove
ROWLEY, Mass., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Comstar, LLC ("Comstar") is providing notice of a recent event that may affect the security of certain information.

On or about March 26, 2022, Comstar discovered suspicious activity related to certain servers within its environment. Comstar immediately took steps to secure our network, and launched a thorough investigation, with the assistance of third-party experts, to determine the nature and scope of the incident. On April 21, 2022, the investigation determined that certain systems on Comstar's network were subject to unauthorized access. However, the investigation was unable to confirm what specific information on those systems was accessed. As such, Comstar reviewed the contents of those systems to determine what information was contained therein and to whom it related for purposes of notification.

The review of the systems determined information related to certain individuals was contained within. The information varied by individual but may have included name, date of birth, medical assessment and medication administration, health insurance information, driver's license, financial account information, and Social Security number.

Individuals who have questions about this incident or believe they may be impacted by this incident, can contact our dedicated call center at 877-587-4280, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time except holidays, or visit our web site for more information at www.comstarbilling.com.

Monitor Your Accounts

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of your credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a "credit freeze" on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer's express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. To request a credit freeze, you will need to provide the following information:

Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.); Social Security number; Date of birth; Addresses for the prior two to five years; Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill; A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver's license or ID card, etc.); and A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if you are a victim of identity theft.

Should you wish to place a fraud alert or credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax Experian TransUnion https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/ https://www.transunion.com/credit-help 888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 833-395-6938 Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016 Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

You may further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps you can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and your state Attorney General. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

For California residents: Visit the California Office of Privacy Protection (www.oag.ca.gov/privacy) for additional information on protection against identity theft.

For Kentucky residents: Office of the Attorney General of Kentucky, 700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 118 Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, www.ag.ky.gov, Telephone: 1-502-696-5300.

For District of Columbia residents: the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001; 202-727-3400; and [email protected].

For Maryland residents: the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-528-8662 or 1-888-743-0023; and www.oag.state.md.us. Comstar is located at 8 Turcotte Memorial Drive, Rowley, MA 01969.

For Massachusetts Residents: You have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this incident.

For New Mexico residents: you have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in your credit file has been used against you, the right to know what is in your credit file, the right to ask for your credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to your file is limited; you must give your consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; you may limit "prescreened" offers of credit and insurance you get based on information in your credit report; and you may seek damages from violator. You may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage you to review your rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.

For New York residents: the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov/.

For North Carolina residents: the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.

For Oregon residents: Oregon Department of Justice, 1162 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301-4096, www.doj.state.or.us/, Telephone: 877-877-9392.

For Rhode Island residents: the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; www.riag.ri.gov; and 1-401-274-4400. Under Rhode Island law, you have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this incident.

For Washington D.C. residents: the Office of Attorney General for the District of Columbia can be reached at: 441 4thStreet NW, Suite 1100 South, Washington, D.C. 20001; 1-202-442-9828; https://oag.dc.gov.

For All U.S. residents: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20580, www.consumer.gov/idtheft, 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338).

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comstar-llc-provides-notice-of-security-incident-301572516.html

SOURCE Comstar, LLC
NEW YORK , June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Frier Levitt is pleased to announce a significant victory on behalf of HIV-focused specialty pharmacy, Mission Wellness, against Caremark and SilverScript that a federal court has refused to seal, resulting in the victory becoming public record through court filings. Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) often impose on pharmacies repressive "gag clauses" that prevent Providers and law firms from revealing victories achieved against PBMs.

The victory against Caremark and SilverScript provides hope to independent pharmacies that wish to challenge PBM fees.

Like many pharmacies around the country, Mission Wellness has been a passionate advocate for serving vulnerable patients and took appropriate steps to stand up to Caremark's unreasonable DIR fees and reimbursement "underwater." Frier Levitt obtained an Arbitration Award on behalf of the specialty pharmacy of over $3.6 Million. Frier Levitt prevailed on all counts, including breach of contract, with the Arbitrator ordering the return of 100% of the DIR fees recouped from Mission Wellness, plus attorneys' fees and interest, as well as a stern caution about future DIR fee assessment. As of the date of this article, Caremark and SilverScript have not yet taken responsibility and paid Mission Wellness the awarded amount. Frier Levitt filed a petition to confirm the unpaid Arbitration Award in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.

PBMs assess DIR fees against pharmacies participating in Medicare Part D networks. "DIR" stands for "Direct and Indirect Remuneration," and describes any kind of remuneration Part D Plan Sponsors (PDPs) or their PBMs receive from any source after the point of sale that offsets the PDP's costs. In many instances, PBMs unilaterally recoup DIR fees from providers months after the provider is initially paid by the PBM.

Mission Wellness is a minority and woman-owned San Francisco specialty pharmacy. Because of Caremark's DIR fees, Mission Wellness was losing money while participating in Caremark's Medicare Part D networks. Caremark and SilverScript have profited at the expense of Mission Wellness, HIV patients and Medicare. Only Mission Wellness' sheer dedication to the HIV community motivated them to continue serving HIV patients at a loss. Mission Wellness is one of only a handful of specialty pharmacies located within walking distance of its San Francisco neighborhood. Had Mission Wellness dropped out of Caremark's Medicare network, HIV patients would have suffered. Mission Wellness continued to care for Caremark's Medicare patient population while facing financial ruin. The owner has a passion to care for this vulnerable patient population that Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS") legally recognizes as one of only a few federally "protected classes" of patients. Medicare Part D is our governmental prescription drug program for those aged 65 or older, but HIV patients qualify for Medicare regardless of age. Caring for HIV patients is a matter of national significance, according to CMS and Mission Wellness. But, for Caremark, it is all about DIR fees.

Caremark refused to provide the required discovery throughout the arbitration, including discovery necessary to "audit" Caremark's calculations of medication adherence, which serves as the basis for its recoupment of DIR fees. Even after being sanctioned by the Arbitrator, Caremark refused to provide the basis for the DIR methodology.

The victory against Caremark and SilverScript provides hope to independent pharmacies that wish to challenge PBM DIR fees. The victory arrives almost simultaneously with last week's announcement that the FTC is currently investigating the practices of Caremark and other PBMs, as it relates to their improper recoupment of DIR fees from independent pharmacies. According to trial counsel, Co-Founding Member Jonathan E. Levitt, Esq., "performance-based DIR fees are a threat to the existence of independent pharmacies and the deleterious impact of DIR fees is felt by patients, Medicare, drug manufacturers and wholesalers. PBMs profit from DIR fees." Levitt concludes that: "specialty pharmacies should be aware that they have rights under federal law, that can be vindicated in a court of law."

About Frier Levitt LLC

Frier Levitt LLC is a premier boutique law firm with offices in New York and New Jersey. Firm attorneys are leading practitioners providing an array of services to healthcare and life sciences clients nationally. Frier Levitt serves the provider community, wholesalers, manufacturers and plan sponsors, large physician group practices, hospitals, hospital medical staffs, ambulatory surgery centers, and laboratory companies. For more than 20 years, the Firm has been and continues to be a leader on PBM contracts and applicable law. Firm attorneys are at the forefront of disputing PBM-imposed DIR fees and have successfully challenged DIR fees against major PBMs, obtaining more than $40M in damages on behalf of its pharmacy clients arising from trials and settlements. For more information, please visit www.frierlevitt.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/frier-levitt-obtains-arbitration-award-against-caremark-arising-from-improper-dir-fees-301572356.html

SOURCE Frier & Levitt LLC
Houston innovation leader will help maximize the incubator's energy transition efforts

SOMERVILLE, Mass. and HOUSTON, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Greentown Labs, the largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, today announced that it has appointed Barbara J. Burger, Ph.D., former Vice President of Innovation and President of Chevron Technology Ventures, to its board of directors.

Dr. Burger has been a long-time, transformative supporter of Greentown Labs and the opening of its Houston incubator. While at Chevrona Greentown Labs partner since 2013she spearheaded the corporate's partnership with Greentown, and Chevron became the first Founding Partner of Greentown Houston, which opened in 2021. Today, she continues to be an ally to Greentown's community of entrepreneurs and hosts semi-annual Women of Greentown Houston dinners.

As an experienced corporate executive with demonstrated leadership in base business, innovation, venture investment, and the energy transition, Dr. Burger has played a pivotal role in advancing Houston's energy innovation ecosystem throughout her career.

"Barbara Burger is a tireless advocate for the energy transition and the unique role that the City of Houston can play in it," said Ryan Dings, Greentown Labs' Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel. "Barbara is a key reason why our vision for Greentown Houston became reality. We are honored to welcome Barbara to the Board and look forward to benefiting from Barbara's industry expertise and deep technical knowledge as Greentown continues to grow."

Dr. Burger has held management positions across international marketing, chemicals, technology marketing, lubricants, ventures, and innovation. While at Chevronfrom which she recently "graduated" she also held a wide range of civic and industrial leadership positions, including the governing board of the MIT Energy Initiative, the external advisory council for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Greentown Houston Advisory Board, the Rice University Corporate Innovation Advisory Board, Houston Exponential, the Activate Leadership Council, the Houston Symphony Society, and the Board of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative Climate Investment LLP.

"I am honored and excited to join the Greentown Labs Board of Directors," said Dr. Burger. "Combatting the effects of climate change requires bringing a wide range of innovative solutions to scale. There is work for incumbents and startups alike in this enormous challenge that WE all face. Greentown Labs plays an essential role in providing facilities, tools, programs, and an inclusive community to nurture and grow innovation that matters."

Dr. Burger holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Rochester, a doctoral degree in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and an academic honor MBA in finance from the University of California, Berkeley. She is an active alumnus of the University of Rochester, where she serves on the Board of Trustees and the university's River Campus Libraries National Council. She established the Barbara J. Burger Endowed Scholarship in the Sciences and founded the Barbara J. Burger iZone, where students generate, refine, and communicate ideas for social, cultural, community, and economic impact. At Caltech, she supports graduate women in chemistry who aim to contribute through careers beyond academia and serves on the Strategic Advisory Board for the Resnick Sustainability Institute.

Dr. Burger joins 11 existing board members:

"I am thrilled to welcome Barbara to our already outstanding Board of Directors at Greentown Labs," said Barton. "She brings a wealth of private and nonprofit sector expertise to our growing organization, and Barbara's deep expertise in helping climate technology startups accelerate their growth and deliver pioneering solutions to the world's energy and climate problems will help further propel Greentown and its members forward."

About Greentown Labs

Greentown Labs is a community of climate action pioneers working to design a more sustainable world. As the largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, Greentown Labs brings together startups, corporates, investors, policymakers, and many others with a focus on scaling climate solutions. Driven by the mission of providing startups the resources, knowledge, connections, and equipment they need to thrive, Greentown Labs offers lab space, shared office space, a machine shop, an electronics lab, software and business resources, and a large network of corporate customers, investors, and more. With its headquarters in Somerville, Mass. and a recently opened incubator in Houston, TX, Greentown Labs is home to more than 200 startups and has supported more than 450 startups since the incubator's founding in 2011. These startups have collectively created more than 8,400 jobs and have raised more than $2.2 billion in funding. For more information, please visit www.greentownlabs.com or Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Greentown Labs Media Contact:Lara CottinghamChief of Staff, Greentown Labs[email protected]281-797-9246

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SOURCE Greentown Labs
SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cordoba Music Group, which includes highly-respected and iconic brands such as Cordoba Guitars and Guild Guitars, is excited to announce that long-time industry veteran, Heiko Starke, has accepted the position of Sales Manager for its European direct operations. This territory includes Germany, Austria, Benelux, and Spain. Effective immediately, Heiko will be taking over all sales related operations from current European Business Manager Ralf Benninghaus-Fliedner, who will continue to work with CMG management in areas of strategy and brand development.

Heiko Starke comes to CMG with over 28 years of experience in the musical instrument industry, many of them in leading positions at Fender Musical Instruments GmbH and Musik Meyer GmbH.

"We are excited to have Heiko who is extremely self-motivated, and an internationally experienced sales professional join the CMG team and look forward to continued success with him leading the charge," says Ralf Benninghaus-Fliedner.

About Guild Guitars

Cordoba Music Group is a leading manufacturer and distributor of acoustic and electric guitars, ukuleles, and musical instrument accessories. CMG's brands include Cordoba Guitars, Guild Guitars, HumiCase, and DeArmond, which are globally distributed and used by musicians around the world. Other CMG brands include Savarez and Aquila strings, of which CMG acts as primary importer and U.S. distributor to retail stores. The company's corporate headquarters are located in Santa Monica, CA, and distribution and manufacturing facilities are located in Oxnard, CA.For more information, visit www.cordobamusicgroup.com.

CONTACT

CORDOBA MUSIC GROUPMedia Contact: Alex R. Ordonez310.857.1710 [email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/industry-veteran-joins-cordoba-music-group-as-european-sales-manager-301572510.html

SOURCE Cordoba Music Group Inc.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LP Building Solutions (LP) (NYSE: LPX) today announced an agreement with Pacific Woodtech to acquire LP's Engineered Wood Products (EWP) business for $210 million. The acquisition includes LP's laminated veneer lumber and I-joist manufacturing facilities in Wilmington, North Carolina; Red Bluff, California; and Golden, British Columbia, Canada, associated timber license assets, and the SolidStart brand. The completion of this transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory reviews and is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2022.

Pacific Woodtech's acquisition of LP's EWP business marks another important step in our ongoing strategic transformation

"We believe that Pacific Woodtech is well positioned to invest in and grow the SolidStart brand, and its acquisition of LP's EWP business marks another important step in LP's ongoing strategic transformation," said LP Chair and Chief Executive Officer Brad Southern. "We will work with Pacific Woodtech to ensure a smooth transition for our EWP employees, customers, and suppliers. I want to express my sincere thanks to the entire EWP team for their patience and professionalism throughout this process. I wish them all the best moving forward.""Adding the EWP facilities in Golden, Wilmington, and Red Bluff to Pacific Woodtech's existing EWP business propels our company to new growth," said Pacific Woodtech President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Enright. "We aim to drive positive change at the cutting edge of engineered wood products, and this acquisition will provide a more streamlined and focused EWP resource for the industry. We are committed to making this a seamless transition, one that allows for the retention and care of current employees, clients, and suppliers and strengthens our position as a leading force in the EWP market going forward."

LP's financial adviser is UBS Investment Bank. LP's legal advisers are Troutman Pepper and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP.

About LP Building Solutions

As a leader in high-performance building solutions, Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP Building Solutions, NYSE: LPX) manufactures engineered wood building products that meet the demands of builders, remodelers, and homeowners worldwide. LP's extensive offerings include innovative and dependable building products and accessories, such as siding solutions (LP SmartSide Trim & Siding, LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Trim & Siding, LP BuilderSeries Lap Siding, and LP Outdoor Building Solutions), LP Structural Solutions (LP TechShield Radiant Barrier, LP WeatherLogic Air & Water Barrier, LP Legacy Premium Sub-Flooring, and LP FlameBlock Fire-Rated Sheathing, LP NovaCore Thermal Insulated Sheathing, and more), LP TopNotch Sub-Flooring, and oriented strand board (OSB). In addition to product solutions, LP provides industry-leading customer service and warranties. Since its founding in 1972, LP has been Building a Better World by helping customers construct beautiful, durable homes while our shareholders build lasting value. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, LP operates 25 plants across the U.S., Canada, Chile, and Brazil. For more information, visit LPCorp.com.

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SOURCE LP Building Solutions
Industry veteran brings proven track record in building successful businesses and leading high-performance teams across large pharmaceutical, biotech, and specialty pharma companies

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- QurAlis Corporation, a biotech company developing breakthrough precision medicines for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases with genetically validated targets, today announced the appointment of Anne Clem Whitaker as chair of its board of directors. Ms. Whitaker replaces founding board member Johnathan J. Fleming, who is stepping down from the company's board.

"As we welcome Anne to her new role, I would like to thank Jonathan for the integral role he played as chairman of the board of QurAlis since our founding. His guidance has been invaluable, and we are grateful for his leadership and dedication to QurAlis," said Kasper Roet, Ph.D., founder and CEO of QurAlis. "Anne is a world-class leader who brings deep experience and expertise in building successful businesses and leading high-performance teams across all facets of the life sciences industry. We are exceptionally privileged to have Anne join as board chair, in this critical phase in which QurAlis is transforming from a pre-clinical to a clinical stage company. I am excited to work with her and our board in advancing our goal of halting disease progression and significantly improve outcomes for patients with ALS and other serious neurodegenerative diseases."

Ms. Whitaker is a seasoned healthcare executive and director with more than 30 years of extensive leadership and commercialization experience in pharmaceuticals, biotech, consumer products, and medical devices. She currently serves as managing partner of Anne Whitaker Group, LLC, a board and private equity advisory firm. She has held senior-level executive leadership roles at Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Bausch Health, and multiple CEO roles for private and public development-stage companies.

"QurAlis has made tremendous strides in researching and developing a new approach to treating ALS and other serious neurodegenerative diseases. With a compelling pipeline and dynamic leadership team, QurAlis has the potential to transform the CNS therapeutic landscape. I am honored to join as chair to help QurAlis achieve its vision of pioneering the path to conquering ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases with genetically validated targets with next-generation precision medicines," said Ms. Whitaker.

Most recently, Ms. Whitaker served as CEO of Aerami Therapeutics before taking on the chair of the board position in November 2020. She also serves as an independent director on the boards of numerous public and private companies: Bryn Pharma, Caladrius Biosciences, Curio Digital Therapeutics, Faron Pharmaceuticals, Nykode Therapeutics, OraSure Technologies, ErgoMed and Trinity Life Sciences. She previously served on the boards of Cree, Mallinckrodt, KNOW Bio, Novoclem Therapeutics, Synta Pharmaceuticals, UDG Healthcare, and Vectura Group. In addition to her board work, she is an active industry advisor to private equity and venture capital funds in the U.S. and Europe.

Prior to joining Aerami, Ms. Whitaker served in multiple C-suite roles for emerging biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical companies. Previously, she served as the North America Pharmaceutical Region Head and president for Sanofi from 2011 to 2014, and as senior vice president from 2008 to 2011 at GSK, where she ran their cardiovascular, metabolic and urology business in the U.S. From 1992 to 2008, Ms. Whitaker held several commercial roles at GSK and a senior level global role as the senior vice president, head of the Organizational and Leadership Development Center of Excellence based in London. She started her career in the pharmaceutical industry as a pharmaceutical sales representative for the Upjohn Company. Ms. Whitaker holds a B.S. in chemistry from the University of North Alabama.

About QurAlis Corporation QurAlis is trailblazing the path to conquering amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases with genetically validated targets with next-generation precision medicines. QurAlis' proprietary platforms and unique biomarkers enable the design and development of drugs that act directly on disease-causing genetic alterations. Founded by an internationally recognized team of neurodegenerative biologists from Harvard Medical School and Harvard University, QurAlis is advancing a deep pipeline of antisense oligonucleotides and small molecule programs including addressing sub-forms of ALS that account for the majority of ALS patients. For more information, please visit www.quralis.com or follow us on Twitter @QurAlisCo.

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SOURCE QurAlis
BEIJING, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Therorna Inc., a China-based biotech company specialized in the development of cutting-edge circular RNA (or circRNA) technology-based new vaccines and therapies, announced the completion of a US$42 million Series A financing round. The round was co-led by a well-known industrial investment firm and MSA Capital, with participation from Sherpa Healthcare Partners, 3H Health Investment, and existing investors Quan Capital and Cenova Capital, demonstrating their continuous commitment to supporting Therorna's growth. With the new funding, Therorna plans to accelerate the build-out of its technology platform and the development of its product pipeline, as well as the clinical trials, regulatory applications, and international collaborations.

Therorna was founded in Beijing in April 2021. The company focuses on leveraging its proprietary circRNA technology platform to develop next-generation vaccines and innovative therapies. The company has established a strong pipeline of novel prophylactic and therapeutic drugs aiming to address high unmet medical needs. When combined with the previously completed angel and pre-A rounds, the company has to date raised over US$60 million.

The scientific founder of Therorna, Professor Wensheng Wei said, "We really appreciate the support of our investors. As the world continues to suffer from the COVID-19, scientists are obliged to shoulder the responsibility to provide scientific solutions to end this pandemic. We are devoted to accelerating the clinical application of our circRNA-based vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants."

Therorna Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Daniel Tang commented, "I am very grateful for the support of our new and existing investors in this financing round. The successful completion of this round will play a key role in helping Therorna accelerate the development of a new broad-spectrum COVID-19 vaccine and the discovery of additional novel therapies for a variety of diseases. Our team will continue to spare no effort to advance the circRNA platform technology to develop the next-generation of breakthrough therapies and quickly deliver meaningful social benefits."

MSA Capital founder and managing partner Yu Zeng added, "We are confident in the potential of circRNA technology for drug development in the area of protein expression and regulation. Compared with linear RNA, circRNA boasts breakthroughs in expression, stability, immunogenicity, and production. In terms of the technology, Chinese scientists have proven their internationally recognized capabilities at innovation and efficient transformation. MSA Capital is impressed by Therorna's strong team of scientists and entrepreneurs. As a serial entrepreneur, Professor Wei has deep expertise in gene editing and circRNA technology application, and Therorna's management team has rich experience in drug R&D and industrial management. MSA Capital will make use of its resources to support the expansion of Therorna in international markets."

Sherpa Healthcare Partners investment VP Dr. Changzu Cai said, "mRNA drugs have achieved notable success in the application of COVID-19 vaccines, but challenges in terms of side effects remain to be addressed. Linear RNA is easily degraded and its application beyond vaccines is still under exploration. Thanks to its unique structure, the circRNA as a tool for protein expression has been proven to maintain a relatively stable protein expression level in vivo for a longer time, which is expected to further expand the application scenarios of RNA therapy. The team led by Professor Wei is leveraging their experience in applying circRNA as a gene editing tool to support the development of the circRNA expression tool. The proprietary circularization method developed by Therorna has demonstrated its advantages in terms of dosage, and activation of cellular immunity by being first applied in COVID-19 vaccines. We are pleased to continue supporting the efforts of Wei Lab in converting innovations into benefits for patients and communities, while looking forward to transforming Therorna into a platform-based circRNA technology-focused company with an international presence."

3H Health partner Dr. Minchuan Wang said, "circRNA has better stability and long-lasting expression with a potential for creating a new RNA therapy platform. The combination of Professor Wei's team with strong technical expertise in circRNA and the management team established at an earlier stage of the company with members having rich experience in promoting the adoption of new technologies will help accelerate the clinical transformation of circRNA. We are honored to support Therorna in this financing round, and we will work with the company's team, and their new and existing investors, to help the company assume a leadership role in the realm of circRNA, providing patients with pioneering therapies and addressing unmet clinical needs."

Exclusive financial advisor for this transaction and CEC Capital Managing Director, Echo Zhang commented, "circRNA has attracted widespread attention as an emerging technology for RNA drugs. Therorna is expected to take the lead in advancing the technology into clinical applications. We are honored to help Therorna complete this round of financing, and we believe that Therorna will lead the development of the global circRNA sector."

About MSA Capital

Founded in 2014, MSA Capital is an independent global private equity and venture capital firm with over $2.0 billion under management. The firm manages capital from the world's top sovereign wealth funds, international asset managers, pension funds, university endowments, fund of funds and family offices, as well as China's leading new economy entrepreneurs.

MSA actively partners with outstanding entrepreneurs in China and other technology markets to build leading, innovative companies that aim to deliver strong financial returns and meaningful, positive impact. The firm is headquartered in Beijing, with resident teams in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Middle East, North Africa and the United States.

About Sherpa Healthcare Partners

Sherpa Healthcare Partners ("Sherpa") was founded in 2018, the founders previously worked together in one of China's leading venture capital firms, built and led its professional medical investment team since 2011, set up the dedicated healthcare investment fund and responsible for healthcare investment. The founders have been teamed together in close co-operation, built on shared values, mutual trust, and complementary capabilities. Sherpa has now become an influential healthcare VC firm in the industry. Sherpa has invested in leading companies in many key areas, such as Pharma, GeneTech, MedTech and Medical services. From 2011 to 2020, the team has gone through 4 vintage year cycles of multiple U.S dollar funds and RMB funds and made 100 investments. Sherpa has the honor to work with many outstanding entrepreneurs and grow together with them.

About 3H Health Investment

3H Health Investment is a Hong Kong and Shanghai based healthcare venture capital firm. It focuses on unmet medical needs and invests in emerging fields of science and medicine to deliver breakthroughs to patients. Leveraging its extensive resources with clinical institutions, industry partners and policy institutes, 3H builds leading innovative healthcare companies together with its partners.

About Quan Capital

Quan capital is a life sciences venture capital firm with strong China expertise and global capabilities. We discover, incubate, and grow next-generation life science companies in early and growth stage, worldwide. Our portfolio companies pioneer differentiated therapies and enabling technologies to address major human diseases with high unmet medical needs.

Quan has offices in Shanghai, Menlo Park and Boston. Our investment professionals combine their strong expertise in both science and business with their diverse experiences in global drug development and healthcare investments, and they leverage their broad network worldwide to help maximize the company's value across geographies and development stages. Visit www.quancapital.com to learn more about us.

About Cenova Capital

Cenova Capital is one of the earliest healthcare funds dedicated to early and growth-stage investments in the life sciences and healthcare sectors in China. Since inception in 2010, Cenova Capital now has six funds under management with investments in over 80 companies in pharmaceuticals, medical deviceshealthcare services and digital heath. Cenova Capital's investors are mainly large domestic and international institutional investors including Asian sovereign wealth investors, government institutions, insurance companies, financial institutions and multinational companies.

About CEC Capital

CEC Capital is a leading Chinese FA with a focus on the global TMT, consumption and health sectors. In addition to investment banking, CEC Capital is managing a RMB fund and a dollar fund with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and it also has a license to the US securities market. The healthcare industry is an advantageous industry that CEC Capital is concerned about. Meanwhile, CEC Capital has the largest and most professional health investment banking team in China with the most complete industry chain.

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SOURCE Therorna Inc.
WASHINGTON  An unidentified airman has been arrested in connection with an attack using explosives in April on a small U.S. military base in Syria that wounded four American service members, Air Force officials said Tuesday.

"As part of an ongoing investigation, on June 16, an airman was taken into custody stateside in conjunction with the attack in Green Village, Syria, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek wrote in an email. After reviewing the information in the investigation, the airman's commander made the decision to place him in pretrial confinement."

Stefanek declined to provide the service members name until prosecutors file charges against the airman.

It is too early in the process for a charge sheet, she said. It will be available if charges are preferred.

The attack occurred in the early morning of April 7 at the base known as Green Village, which is east of the Euphrates River and adjacent to major oil fields. Four U.S. troops received minor injuries that included possible traumatic brain injuries, U.S. officials said at the time.

Several hundred U.S. and coalition forces are stationed at Green Village as they train local forces to fight remnants of the Islamic State terrorist group, according to the Pentagon.

Though indirect fire was initially blamed for the incident, investigators later found evidence that suggested someone had deliberately placed explosive material in an ammunition storage room and a shower area, according to an April 15 statement by Combined Joint Task Force  Operation Inherent Resolve.

Operation Inherent Resolve is a U.S.-led international coalition under U.S. Central Command that targets the Islamic State, primarily with campaigns in Iraq and Syria.

The investigation, which is being conducted by the Army's Criminal Investigation Division and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, is ongoing.
Kremlin threats of retaliation against NATO ally Lithuania for instituting a transit ban over the weekend that affects Russias exclave of Kaliningrad could have serious implications for several hundred U.S. soldiers positioned in nearby northeastern Poland.

For years, security analysts have feared that in the event of a crisis with Russia, Moscow could seal off the Baltic states from the rest of NATO by seizing the Suwalki Gap, a vulnerable choke point that connects Poland to Lithuania.

In response to such concerns, NATO established multinational quick-reaction battlegroups. One of them, based about 50 miles from Kaliningrad, is manned by roughly 800 U.S. soldiers and a few hundred troops from other countries.

On Monday, the Kremlin lashed out at Lithuania for imposing a ban on rail transit across its territory of certain goods that are subject to European Union sanctions, calling the decision unlawful. Items such as steel, coal and alcoholic beverages are affected.

We pointed out in this regard that if the transit of goods between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russia through Lithuania is not fully restored, Russia reserves the right to take action to protect its national interests, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Russia did not specify what retaliatory measures it was considering, but the threats have put a renewed spotlight on the Suwalki Gap.

NATO did not immediately respond Tuesday to a question about whether steps are being taken to enhance the units ability to mobilize.

But at a summit of alliance heads of state next week in Madrid, NATO is expected to approve plans that will bolster the alliances eastern flank.

Lithuanian officials have downplayed concerns about an imminent Russian attack over the ban, saying Russian forces already have their hands full fighting in Ukraine.

We are not particularly worried about Russian threats, Laurynas Kasciunas, chairman of the Lithuanian parliaments national security and defense committee, said as quoted by The New York Times. The Kremlin has very few options for how to retaliate.

Kasciunas added that an attack is highly unlikely because Lithuania is a member of NATO. If this were not the case, they probably would consider it.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the situation as more than serious.

This decision is really unprecedented, he said. Its a violation of everything.

Lithuania said the transit ban was imposed in conjunction with EU sanctions.

On Monday, the EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, confirmed that the ban was not a unilateral action, saying the accusation against Lithuania that it is implementing Lithuanian sanctions is false, pure propaganda, according to news reports.

Isolated from mainland Russia, Kaliningrad uses trains to get goods into the territory by crossing Belarus and Lithuania. In recent years, Russia has built up its defenses in the exclave, where nuclear capable missiles are based.

According to a NATO fact sheet, Battlegroup Poland operates on a nearly ceaseless training schedule to ensure that it is ready on short notice and up to the task of deterring enemies.
Ex-Russian ecology official Oleg Mitvol pleads guilty to fraud

MOSCOW, June 21 (RAPSI)  Oleg Mitvol, a former official of Russias environment agency Rosprirodnadzor, charged with especially serious fraud, has made a plea bargain, the Krasnoyarsk regional court informs RAPSI.

Mitvol, a member of an engineering and construction survey organization in the city of Krasnoyarsk, tried to persuade the court to mitigate the previously taken in his regard preventive measure in the form of pretrial detention; nevertheless, his appeal was dismissed by the court.

Mitvols lawyer moved for the mitigation of the pretrial detention referring to the fact that the defendant had entered into a pretrial agreement and explaining that Mitvol had to care about his disabled mother, a young daughter and an unemployed wife. Moreover, Mitvol, according to the lawyer, was ready to voluntarily compensate for the damage caused by his actions. The court was also provided with personal guarantees from State Duma lawmakers Alexander Khinshtein and Oleg Savchenko, according to case materials.

The prosecutor's office objected, pointing out that the damage from the alleged crime was caused to the state budget, Mitvol was detained at the airport while trying to flee abroad, and citing the serious nature of the alleged crime, as investigators believed that the ex-deputy head of Rosprirodnadzor had embezzled more than 900 million rubles (about $16 million at the current exchange rate).

Mitvol held the post of deputy head of Rosprirodnadzor agency from 2004 until 2009. He then served as prefect for Moscow's Northern Administrative District from July 2009 until October 2010. He has been the chairman of the board of the Krasnoyarsk Trust for Engineering and Construction Surveys since 2018. The company won a contract to take part in the construction of the Krasnoyarsk metro in 2019.
Chinese and Russian warships cruised off the coast of Japan last week, coinciding with the end of a major U.S. military exercise involving two aircraft carriers 2,000 miles away.

Valiant Shield, a 12-day naval exercise in the eastern Philippine Sea near Guam, ended Friday with the sinking of a decommissioned frigate, the USS Vandegrift. The frigate provided a target for new weaponry and technologies, according to a Pacific Fleet news release on Friday. The Vandegrift went down under overwhelming multi-domain strikes, according to the release.

The entire exercise covered a wide area, from the Northern Marianas to Palau, and included units from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Space Force. The carriers USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Ronald Reagan took part, along with the USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship that carries F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters.

More than 200 aircraft total and an estimated 13,000 personnel were involved in Valiant Shield, Indo-Pacific Command said in a June 6 news release.

Meanwhile, seven Russian ships, including frigates and destroyers, steamed south approximately 112 miles off the coast of Chiba prefecture on Wednesday, the Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

The ships were part of a Russian exercise in the area, according to USNI News on Monday.

Five of the seven ships turned southeast toward the East China Sea, while the remaining two were last reported headed southwest toward the Philippine Sea, according to the Defense Ministry.

The Self-Defense Force is monitoring and gathering information on the Russians activities with a general interest, Yoshihiko Isozaki, Japans deputy chief cabinet secretary, said at a news conference Monday.

We continue to closely observe activities related to Russian military and make every possible effort to monitor air and water surrounding our country, he said.

Chinese naval vessels were also spotted last week in the waters around Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said during a news conference Tuesday. Four Chinese ships were spotted traveling from the Sea of Japan south toward the Philippine Sea, Matsuno said.

The increasing quality and quantity of Chinas military power is a strong concern for the region and the international community, he said.

Next week, the worlds largest maritime exercise is scheduled to start in Hawaii, California and the waters adjacent to them. Rim of the Pacific 2022 is reported to include 26 nations, 38 surface ships, four submarines, 170 aircraft and approximately 25,000 personnel.
Herat, Afghanistan, March 30, 2005: Girls from the local orphanage, dressed in traditional festive clothes, sing a song during a groundbreaking ceremony for a new girls orphanage. The new 16-room orphanage, with a kitchen, dining hall, toilets and showers, was one of the last projects for the American Herat Provincial Reconstruction Team before turning the mission over to the Italians.
President Joe Biden has a politically risky itinerary for his scheduled trip to Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia in mid-July. The question is, why he is doing this?

The tour is scheduled to begin in Jerusalem, where the president plans "to meet with Israelis leaders to discuss security, prosperity and increasing integration into the great region." All worthy topics, but not quite in sync with the moment.

On Monday, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced his resignation. According to the U.S. embassy, Biden's visit is still on. When he arrives in Jerusalem, he will find a caretaker prime minister, Yair Lapid, and a government incapable of making major moves or decisions. Elections are scheduled for late October or early November. Biden will also meet with the opposition leader, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who polls say is most likely to lead the next government.

His visit to the West Bank, where he plans to meet the head of the Palestinian Authority, is a controversy waiting to happen. No American president has ever visited the contested area before. The break from diplomatic precedent will be welcomed by the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.

But the battle here is for the future, and there is no reason to suppose that a summer chat between 87-year-old Mahmoud Abbas and the 79-year-old Biden will make much of a difference in the contours of the Holy Land.

Irrelevance abroad won't prevent the president's visit to the West Bank from becoming a talking point in America, with midterm congressional elections coming in November. Supporters and critics of Israel will argue over the departure from protocol. Biden may have concluded that this could be advantageous to his party.

I wouldn't presume to argue politics with the president, but most public opinion polls show the Democrats are facing a landslide defeat in the House for reasons that have nothing to do with the West Bank or the moribund "peace process," now going on for more than 55 years.

The last stop on the president's tour, in Saudi Arabia, is the one most likely to matter. Or maybe matter too much.

According to the White House, Biden will be meeting the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and additional Arab leaders from Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. The Saudi king, Salman Bin Abdulaziz, will chair the gathering. The name of his son, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, was intentionally omitted from the announcement.

The White House notes that Saudi Arabia "has been a strategic partner of the United States for nearly eight decades." That is mostly true, but it requires an asterisk when it comes to the Biden administration.

In 2018, Saudi agents in Istanbul carried out the lurid assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, a longtime Saudi journalist turned Washington Post columnist. Khashoggi had many friends in the U.S. capital, and his murder became a cause celebre.

In his presidential campaign, Biden accused the crown prince of ordering the murder. MBS, as he is known, is the kingdom's defense minister, heir to the throne of his 86-year-old father and the current power behind it. Not incidentally, he was regarded as a close ally of Donald Trump's White House.

Biden vowed that, if elected, Saudi Arabia would pay a terrible price for murdering Khashoggi. He said he would end America's special relationship with Saudi Arabia and turn it into an "international pariah."

But it was a pledge he couldn't keep. The kingdom, whatever its sins and flaws, is too big, too energy-rich and too widely allied to be isolated and turned into a pariah by presidential fiat. (Biden is now discovering that the same is true of Russia.)

The White House announcement of the meeting in Riyadh was a smorgasbord of bland offerings: Support the truce in Yemen, regional economic and security cooperation, infrastructure and climate initiatives; deter Iran, and advance human rights. Biden's actual motive is to persuade the Saudis to pump enough oil to lower gas prices in the U.S. before November. This will not happen without the acquiescence of Mohammed Bin Salman.

The Saudi royal family is famous for its hospitality. MBS will not want a public scene, especially with his father present. Biden's climb-down is already being choreographed.

Three days after the official American agenda was announced, he amended it. "I'm not going to meet with MBS," he told reporters. "I'm going to an international meeting, and he's going to be part of it."

Sure. Maybe the two men will bump into one another at the royal palace, shake hands and say "no hard feelings." More likely, the sulha will be accomplished in private. No matter, everyone will be aware that Biden, the notional leader of the free world, came to the meeting as the supplicant of a prince young enough to be his grandson.

Biden's trip to the Middle East is still three weeks off. There is no one to talk to in the Holy Land. There is no one he wants to talk to at the summit. He should find a way to make amends with MBS that doesn't require an almost 7,000-mile pilgrimage  and offer the kingdom a generous oil deal it can't refuse.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Zev Chafets is a journalist and author of 14 books. He was a senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the founding managing editor of the Jerusalem Report Magazine.
(Tribune News Service)  Matthew Heath, a former U.S. Marine jailed under terrorism charges by the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela, has been hospitalized after trying to take his life on Saturday by using a piece of porcelain broken off from a sink to try to cut his veins, persons close to his defense team said.

Heath, who the State Department says has been jailed under specious charges, is currently stable after being treated for the wounds on his left arm. The lesions he inflicted on himself were considerable but he is now out of danger, a member of his defense team told the Miami Herald.

He is currently under observation at the military hospital in Caracas.

A State Department spokesman confirmed that the U.S. government is monitoring Heaths condition.

We are aware of reports that a U.S. citizen was hospitalized in Venezuela, the spokesman said. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.

Trudy Rutherford, Heaths aunt, said in a statement that the family learned of Heaths attempted suicide through private channels  not from our government.

Matthews life is in imminent danger, and we dont detect any urgency at all from the White House. We are frustrated with the pattern of deciding not to decide at the White House, endless policy reviews, and empty platitudes about his case being a priority, Rutherford said.

The family has reached out to former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who now works as a private citizen to help free Americans unjustly detained abroad, to help secure an emergency medical evacuation of Heath, Rutherford said.

Just last week on a conference call with three senior administration officials, we warned them of our concerns about Matthews mental health and physical well-being after nearly 22 months of wrongful detention, Rutherford said.

Legal team says Heath has been tortured

Members of his legal team said Heath has been under great stress because he has been tortured, and said that some of his torturers are now his jailers. His arrest was totally arbitrary  and that took place almost two years ago, and since then the ill treatment has not ceased, said human rights activist Tamara Suju, who also forms part of his defense team.

He is currently being subjected to psychological . . . torture, which can be more devastating to the person than the physical torture, she said. And he is overwhelmed by the overall injustice of his case, and the fact that his trial is now at a standstill because the witnesses against him are now refusing to testify.

They are refusing to testify because Heath has accused some of the witnesses brought against him in court of being the very same Venezuelan intelligence officers that tortured him soon after he was arrested, in an attempt to make him confess to the trumped-up charges, Suju said.

So the new witnesses that the prosecutors want to bring are refusing to show because they fear they will be identified as well.

Heath, 40, was arrested four months after a botched coup in May 2020, launched from Colombia and led in part by a Florida company called Silvercorp USA, an effort that may have been stopped with the help of Venezuelan government infiltrators. Linking these events to Heath, the Maduro regime accuses him of being a spy and a terrorist and claims he was caught in Falcon state carrying weapons and explosives.

Circumstances arent clear

His family and lawyers, however, claim that he was caught in a series of misadventures while attempting to visit friends by boat in Aruba, an island that is just 15 miles off Venezuelas northwest coast.

How he went from the boat to the volatile region inside Venezuela remains unclear. His family alleges he was kidnapped and extorted in Colombia before his arrest in Venezuela.

Although the U.S. has no diplomatic relations with Venezuela under the Maduro regime, the State Department has said that it is monitoring Heaths situation closely and on Jan. 21 issued a statement highlighting that the former Marine had been wrongfully detained for 500 days.

Matthew was arrested in September 2020 on specious charges, and his trial is still ongoing. We continue to seek his unconditional return and the release of all U.S. nationals wrongfully detained overseas, and Secretary (Antony) Blinken is relentlessly pursuing Matthews release. To the Maduro regime officials who have imprisoned him, we call for him to be allowed to return to the United States so that he can reunite with his family, it said in a press release.

____

2022 The Charlotte Observer.

Visit charlotteobserver.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Two Americans who fought for Ukraine before being captured by Russia will not be granted the protections afforded to prisoners of war by the Geneva Conventions, the Kremlin's top spokesman said Monday.

Alexander Drueke and Andy Tai Huynh were "involved in firing and shelling" of Russian troops and "should be held responsible for those crimes that they have committed," Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, claimed in a Monday interview with NBC News.

The Geneva Conventions protect prisoners of war from torture, summary execution and prosecution for fighting in a war. But Peskov said the Americans "are not the Ukrainian army" and "are not subject to the Geneva Conventions."

Responding to Peskov, the State Department said in a statement: "We call on the Russian government  as well as its proxies  to live up to their international obligations in their treatment of any individual, including those captured fighting in Ukraine."

Peskov accused Drueke, 39, and Huynh, 27  both U.S. military veterans from Alabama  of being "soldiers of fortune," or mercenaries, and said that Russian or Russia-aligned authorities will investigate their cases. Although Peskov told NBC that their fate "depends on the investigation," he also said Drueke and Huynh would "face the same fate" as two British citizens and a Moroccan man sentenced to death earlier this month by Kremlin-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

"Those guys on the battlefield were firing at our military guys. They were endangering their lives," Peskov said. "There will be a court, and there will be a court decision."

Before his capture, Drueke told relatives he was teaching Ukrainian troops how to use U.S. weaponry. "He went over there not to fight, but to train," his mother, Lois Drueke, told The Washington Post.

Huynh volunteered to fight alongside Ukrainian troops, according to Joy Black, who identified herself as Huynh's fiancee.

On June 8, both men told their relatives that they would be incommunicado for several days as they carried out a mission. Family members later told The Post the pair went missing near the Russian border.

Drueke, who previously served in the Army Reserve and deployed to the Middle East, had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder since returning home but hoped to find meaning fighting in Ukraine, his mother said.

Huynh served in the Marine Corps for four years, according to service officials.

It's unclear how many Americans have signed up to fight for Ukraine. Soon after the conflict started in late February, Ukrainian officials said some 4,000 had expressed interest in doing so.

At least two American citizens have been killed in the fighting: Marine Corps veteran Willy Joseph Cancel, 22, of Tennessee, and Stephen Zabielski, 52, of Florida.

The Washington Post's Dan Lamothe contributed to this report.
VILNIUS, Lithuania  Lithuania on Monday defended its decision to bar rail transit from Russia to a Russian Baltic Sea exclave of goods hit by European Union sanctions, in a move that drew Moscow's strong anger amid high tensions in the region.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said his country was simply implementing sanctions imposed by the EU, of which it is a member. He said the measures implemented Saturday were taken after "consultation with the European Commission and under its guidelines."

"Sanctioned goods (will) no longer be allowed to transit Lithuanian territory," Landsbergis added.

Goods on the list include steel, but are set to be broadly expanded to cover items from coal to alcoholic drinks.

The Kaliningrad exclave, home to some 430,000 people, is surrounded by Lithuania and Poland, another EU country, to the south and isolated from the rest of Russia. Trains with goods for Kaliningrad travel via Belarus and Lithuania. There's no transit through Poland. Russia can still supply the exclave by sea, without falling foul of EU sanctions.

Russia has demanded that Lithuania immediately lifts the ban, with the Foreign Ministry in Moscow saying that if transport links are not restored in full "Russia reserves the right to take action in defense of its national interests."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov strongly denounced the "unlawful" ban.

"This decision, indeed unprecedented, is a violation of everything and then some. We understand that it is connected to the relevant decision of the European Union to extend the sanctions to transit (of goods). This we also consider unlawful," Peskov told reporters on Monday.

The foreign ministry summoned Lithuania's chief diplomatic representative in Moscow for a formal protest and alleged the Baltic nation was acting in breach of international agreements. Lithuania has not had an ambassador in Moscow since April, when it downgraded diplomatic ties in protest at the killing of civilians in Ukraine by Russian troops after the Feb. 24 invasion.

Lithuania later summoned the Russian envoy in Vilnius to tell him the ban was in line with EU sanctions, and that there was no blockade of Kaliningrad.

The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said Lithuania's move should not be compared to the situation in Ukraine. "The rest of the world will not be affected by what is happening in Kaliningrad, but the rest of the world is very much affected by what is happening in Ukraine," he said.

Borrell added that Lithuania did not take any unilateral national restrictions and denied that land transit between Kaliningrad and other parts of Russia had been stopped, or banned.

"There is no blockade," Borrell said. He added that the transit of passengers and goods that are not sanctioned is continuing.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted: "Russia has no right to threaten Lithuania. Moscow has only itself to blame for the consequences of its unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine."

On Monday, Lithuanian customs said the sanctions, which took effect in mid-June, were part of the fourth EU sanctions package imposed on March 15.

Lina Laurinaityte Grigiene, a customs spokeswoman, said affected items include Russian steel "that cannot be transported over the territory of European countries."

"The land transit between Kaliningrad and other parts of Russia is not stopped or blocked. All goods that are not under sanctions travel freely," she said.

She added that starting July 10, similar sanctions will be implemented on concrete and alcohol goods, from Aug. 10 on coal and from December no Russian oil will be allowed into EU territory.

Anton Alikhanov, the governor of the Russian exclave, has estimated that the ban would affect some 50% of all goods flowing towards Kaliningrad by rail. He also said he would call on Russian authorities to take measures against Lithuania and would seek to have more goods sent by ship.

Kaliningrad, which is home to the Russian Baltic Fleet, is Russia's only ice-free Baltic port. Moscow has also deployed there nuclear-capable Iskander missiles.

As part of its economic sanctions, the EU has imposed a number of import and export restrictions on Russia. The bloc said it has been careful not to harm the Russian population with its packages of measures and therefore excluded products related to health, pharma, food and agriculture. The list of sanctioned products include up to 90% of oil imports, coal, steel, iron, wood, as well as caviar and vodka. Bans are implemented by the EU's customs authorities.
A U.S. citizen has been killed in combat in Ukraine, according to an obituary published by his family and affirmed by the State Department, making him at least the second American to die as a result of the war.

Stephen D. Zabielski, 52, died May 15 while fighting in the conflict, said the obituary, published in the Recorder, a newspaper serving Montgomery County in Upstate New York. He left behind a wife, five stepchildren and seven siblings, among other family.

The State Department is in touch with the family and has provided all possible consular assistance, a U.S. official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the issue is considered sensitive. The official declined to offer more details about the case out of respect to the family during this difficult time.

News of the death circulated widely after Rolling Stone magazine, citing multiple people familiar with the circumstances of Zabielskis death, reported Monday that he was a U.S. Army veteran and had been killed by a land mine. The Washington Post was unable to immediately verify his military records.

Attempts to reach Zabielskis family were unsuccessful. He was from New York and lived there for the majority of his life before moving to Florida in the past few years, his obituary said. He worked in construction.

Zabielskis death occurred about two weeks after the family of U.S. Marine Corps veteran Willy Joseph Cancel, 22, disclosed that he was killed while fighting in Ukraine.

The government in Kyiv has aggressively recruited Westerners with previous military experience to join its International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine, and has sent many into combat.

The news of Zabielskis death follows reports that two other Americans who joined the war effort disappeared in Ukraine this month. Alexander J. Drueke, 39, and Andy Tai Huynh, 27, both of Alabama, were last seen near the northeastern city of Kharkiv, and are presumed to have been taken captive by forces aligned with the Kremlin. Drueke is a former Army staff sergeant who served in Iraq and Kuwait, while Huynh is a former Marine corporal who deployed in the Pacific, according to service records released by the Pentagon last week.

Americans captured in Ukraine face an uncertain fate. The Kremlins top spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said in an NBC News interview broadcast Monday that Drueke and Huynh should be held responsible for the crimes they have committed. He referred to them as soldiers of fortune and suggested they would not qualify for protections afforded to prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions.

Two British citizens and a Moroccan who had fought alongside Ukrainian forces were taken captive this month. A court in eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have controlled territory for years, sentenced them to death.

U.S. officials have for months sought to discourage Americans from joining the war, citing the safety risks and the U.S. governments limited ability to assist when something goes wrong. President Biden on Friday said emphatically that Americans should not be going to Ukraine now.

The Washington Posts Alice Crites contributed to this report.
NEW YORK  The Nobel Peace Prize that Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov was auctioning off to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees sold Monday night for $103.5 million, shattering the old record for a Nobel.

A spokesperson for Heritage Auctions, which handled the sale, could not confirm the identity of the buyer but said the winning bid was made by proxy. The $103.5 million sale translates to $100 million Swiss francs, hinting that the buyer is from overseas.

The live auction happened on World Refugee Day. Previously, the most ever paid for a Nobel Prize medal was $4.76 million in 2014, when James Watson, whose co-discovery of the structure of DNA earned him a Nobel Prize in 1962, sold his.

Three years later, the family of his co-recipient, Francis Crick, received $2.27 million in bidding also run by Heritage Auctions.

Muratov, who was awarded the gold medal in October 2021, helped found the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta and was the publication's editor-in-chief when it shut down in March amid the Kremlin's clampdown on journalists and public dissent in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It was Muratov's idea to auction off his prize, having already announced he was donating the accompanying $500,000 cash award to charity. The idea of the donation, he said, "is to give the children refugees a chance for a future."

Muratov has said the proceeds will go directly to UNICEF in its efforts to help children displaced by the war in Ukraine.

Melted down, the 175 grams of 23-karat gold contained in Muratov's medal would be worth about $10,000.

In an interview with The Associated Press before the auction, Muratov said he was particularly concerned about children who have been orphaned because of the conflict in Ukraine.

"We want to return their future," he said.

He added that it's important international sanctions levied against Russia do not prevent humanitarian aid, such as medicine for rare diseases and bone marrow transplants, from reaching those in need.

"It has to become a beginning of a flash mob as an example to follow so people auction their valuable possessions to help Ukrainians," Muratov said in a video released by Heritage Auctions, which handled the sale but is not taking any share of the proceeds.

Muratov shared the Nobel Peace Prize last year with journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines.

The two journalists, who each received their own medals, were honored for their battles to preserve free speech in their respective countries, despite coming under attack by harassment, their governments and even death threats.

Muratov has been highly critical of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and the war launched in February that has caused nearly 5 million Ukrainians to flee to other countries for safety, creating the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II.

Independent journalists in Russia have come under scrutiny by the Kremlin, if not outright targets of the government. Since Putin came into power more than two decades ago, nearly two dozen journalists have been killed, including at least four who had worked for Muratov's newspaper.

In April, Muratov said he was attacked with red paint while aboard a Russian train.

Muratov left Russia for Western Europe on Thursday to begin his trip to New York City, where live bidding began Monday evening.

Online bids began June 1 to coincide with the International Children's Day observance.

Early Monday, the high bid had been only $550,000. The purchase price had been expected to spiral upward, but perhaps not over $100 million.

"It's a very bespoke deal," said Joshua Benesh, the chief strategy officer for Heritage Auctions. "Not everyone in the world has a Nobel Prize to auction and not every day of the week that there's a Nobel Prize crossing the auction block."

Since its inception in 1901, there have been nearly 1,000 recipients of the Nobel Prizes honoring achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and the advancement of peace.

The ongoing war and international humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of those affected in Ukraine are bound to stoke interest, Benesh said, adding it's hard to predict how much someone would be willing to pay for the medal.

"I think there's certainly going to be some excitement Monday," Benesh said. "It's it's such a unique item being sold under unique circumstances ... a significant act of generosity, and such a significant humanitarian crisis."

Muratov and Heritage officials said even those out of the bidding can still help by donating directly to UNICEF.

Associated Press writer Andrew Katell contributed to this report.
AUSTIN  The head of the Texas Department of Public Safety on Tuesday assailed the police response to the massacre at Robb Elementary last month as an abject failure, describing in damning detail how officers quickly made it into the school  wielding rifles and obtaining protective shields  but left children trapped with an attacker as they dawdled waiting for a key to an unlocked door.

During searing testimony before state lawmakers, Steven C. McCraw, who directs the public safety agency, painted a bleak timeline outlining repeated police and school security lapses during the May 24 slaughter in South Texas.

Police were carrying radios that would not communicate. Classroom doors had locks that could not be secured from inside. And the school districts police chief, Pedro Pete Arredondo, made error after error throughout the catastrophe, McCraw said, breaking with decades of accepted law enforcement practice by not pursuing the gunman sooner.

The only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering Room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander, who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children, McCraw said. The officers had weapons; the children had none. The officers had body armor; the children had none. The officers had training; the subject had none.

Video: The head of the Texas Department of Public Safety on June 21 blamed Chief Pedro Pete Arredondo for the long delay before police entered Robb Elementary on May 24, when 19 students and 2 teachers were killed.

McCraws testimony Tuesday, which stretched for more than four hours in the Capitol in Austin, offered the most detailed official account so far about what happened during the bloodshed in Uvalde, a small city west of San Antonio. Nineteen children and two teachers were killed during the massacre, and authorities say law enforcement officials who eventually breached the classroom shot and killed the gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos.

In the days after the shooting, police actions at the school drew increasing scrutiny and then condemnation, as the initial depictions of a swift law enforcement response soon gave way to mounting revelations about how long it took authorities to confront the shooter.

Since the Columbine High School attack in 1999, it has been standard practice nationwide for law enforcement officials responding to active attackers to pursue them until the threat is stopped. But McCraw said that during the Uvalde massacre, Arredondo delayed for more than an hour waiting for a radio, rifles, shields, a SWAT group and, finally, a seemingly unnecessary key  costly decisions he made as the commander on scene.

In all, 77 minutes transpired between the moment the gunman entered the school, McCraw said, and when he was killed.

Arredondo has disputed McCraws account, telling the Texas Tribune that he did not consider himself the scenes commander and that the classroom door was locked. He has not responded to multiple interview requests from The Washington Post, and neither Arredondo nor his lawyer, George E. Hyde, responded to calls and text messages seeking comment Tuesday.

McCraws testimony coincided with Arredondos own on the other side of the building. While McCraw spoke before cameras in a public setting, Arredondo was testifying behind closed doors with a three-person state House of Representatives investigative committee. The group expects to deliver a report of its own fact-finding in early to mid-July. The Justice Department is also reviewing the law enforcement response to the attack.

Arredondos absence on Tuesday before the Senate committee did not go unnoticed. Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R, issued a blunt challenge to Arredondo to testify in public, saying the police chief had chosen instead to hide by speaking behind closed doors to another committee. In Uvalde, there is mounting anger toward the school police chief - with many parents and community members calling for him to be held accountable.

If he truly wanted to be respectful, he would step down, Jasmine Cazares, the older sister of 10-year-old Jackie, killed in the attack, told city leaders Tuesday.

While not defending Arredondo, state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D, who represents Uvalde and has spent the last month with grieving families, said he should not be scapegoated either. The senator asked McCraw whether his agency bears as much responsibility for the failures. He and other Democrats asked why none of the more than a dozen agents initially on scene took over command when it was clear the schools chief was making the wrong calls.

We spend $4 billion on these guys and they show up pointing the finger at six local cops, Gutierrez said, referring to Abbotts controversial border initiative that has deployed large numbers of troopers to areas along and near the border with Mexico. DPS are always the heroes.

Others echoed his frustration. Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin accused McCraw of having an agenda that leaves out details that make DPS look bad, noting that the agency presented incorrect information in its first briefings on the attack. State Sen. Jose Menendez, D, said Republican colleagues were too quick to accept McCraws version of events.

If the whole ugly, bare-knuckled truth doesnt come out, no one will have confidence in government and institutions, he said. I dont think we can afford that.

Few minutes of the hearing were dedicated to the state laws that permitted the shooter to obtain the assault-style weapons used to slaughter children. The committee debated doors, locks, police protocols, mental health, prayer in schools and facility hardening  but gun control was given scant attention.

In one exchange, state Sen. Royce West, D, asked McCraw whether 18 was too young for a person to access such firepower. The state police chief remarked that age is no indicator of maturity, citing the young men and women who have fought the nations wars. But those 18-year-olds were trained, West quickly quipped.

Democrats, city mayors and a few Republicans are asking Abbott to call a special session and debate proposals  such as raising the age limit for purchasing these kinds of rifles  mirroring Florida legislation passed in the wake of the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school. The governor, who is running for reelection, did not respond to questions about bringing the legislature back.

The Senate hearing Tuesday included testimony from other officials, including the state commissioner of education. Speakers discussed topics including the shooter, who they described as chronically absent and a poor student, as well as future changes to physical access to schools.

But McCraw was the most high-profile official to appear, with his testimony eliciting moments of anger, shock and sadness at what happened at Robb Elementary. Officials had largely stopped providing public updates after accounts and details they offered following the shooting had to be amended or walked back.

Authorities had initially said that a school resource officer exchanged fire with the shooter, before later saying that the officer was not on campus and, upon arriving at the school, drove by the attacker. McCraw had also said the gunman made it inside the school through a door propped open by a teacher, before his agency later said the educator had actually closed the door but it failed to lock.

When he broke down the timeline on Tuesday, McCraw seemingly preempted questions about the accuracy of this latest account, saying that the details were drawn from video footage, including school surveillance cameras, as well as police body-worn cameras.

Those details included a grim minute-by-minute breakdown describing what investigators say happened in Uvalde.

Just three minutes after the gunman made it inside the school and entered classrooms, McCraw said, several police officers were also inside, some carrying rifles. Arredondo was among the officers inside the school in those early moments of the shooting, according to the Department of Public Safety timeline.

Within 19 minutes, McCraw said, police had a protective ballistic shield inside the school. Not long after, a student inside called 911  beginning a series of harrowing calls from children trapped in the classroom  and more ballistic shields arrived. More gunfire periodically rang out from the attacker.

The timeline released by McCraws agency also includes quotes from Arredondo describing a fear that if the attacker starts shooting, were going to lose more kids and notes about his attempts to speak to the shooter. The timeline also quotes Arredondo as saying officials had master keys that were not working and describing police taking time because they were trying to preserve the rest of the life. McCraw testified that there was no video evidence indicating that officers had tried to open the door before breaching it  and that the investigation indicates it was unlocked the entire time.

The public safety department also on Tuesday released a call transcript showing that minutes after Arredondo entered the school alongside other officers, he called the Uvalde police landline and requested a lot of firepower to back him up.

The transcript showed that Arredondo told a dispatcher at 11:40 a.m., I need this building surrounded. The call transcript showed that Arredondo asked for the school to be surrounded with as many AR-15s as possible and, when asked by a dispatcher whether there was a teacher inside the room with the gunman, said the teacher was in Classroom 102, across from another person who had possibly been shot.

Moments later, he said that he and the other officers were standing in the hallway while the shooter was inside Classroom 111 or 112, the transcript shows. Arredondo also asked for a police SWAT team to set up on the south side of the school, near the Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home.

The call transcript also showed Arredondo saying he needed more firepower in here because we all have pistols and this guys got a rifle. He also requested a rifle and a radio  noting that he did not have his own radio  and asked the dispatcher to call him once the SWAT team had been set up.

Police said before attacking the school, the gunman shot his grandmother in the face. He then crashed his vehicle near the school, fired toward men at the nearby funeral home and went inside, officials said. McCraw on Tuesday said the gunmans grandmother was still alive and had lost her jaw as a result of the shooting.

While more details about the police response were still emerging, key questions about the attack still remained unanswered. McCraw said officials still did not know why the gunman attacked the specific rooms he targeted.

In Uvalde, residents and relatives of the dead students and teachers broke into applause Tuesday evening when the City Council unanimously voted to deny Arredondo a requested leave of absence. He was elected to the council last fall and sworn in during a private ceremony six days after the shooting. City officials said at the time it was closed to the public out of respect for grieving families.

Placing a framed picture of her dead sister on the podium, Cazares chastised council members for welcoming Arredondo onto the board after the shooting. He was not present Tuesday and, if he misses three meetings in a row, his seat will be considered vacated.

Was it out of respect? she asked. Or was it private because he knew the people that voted him in now wanted him out?

- - -

Bella and Berman reported from Washington. The Washington Posts Teo Armus and Meryl Kornfield contributed to this report.

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The legacy of Te Moana a Tois Maori Health Runanga will be acknowledged at a commemoration event this week in Tauranga.

Occupying a unique place in our health system, the Runanga is the only multi-iwi Maori organisation working alongside a Crown health entity as an equal Te Tiriti partner.

Maori Health Runanga chair Linda Steel says the Runanga has had a pivotal role in providing strategic direction to improve health outcomes for Maori in the rohe.

From our earliest roots with the establishment of the Te Whanau Poutirirangiora-a-papa and Poutiri Trust in 1997 and then the Runanga itself a few years later, we have been driven to create intergenerational change which addresses the profound inequity facing our Te Moana a Toi whanau within the health system.

Next month, the Runanga will be replaced with one of several Iwi-Maori Partnership Boards spread throughout the country to provide region-specific advice to the new Maori Health Authority as part of the latest health system restructure intended to address poor outcomes for Maori health.

As the Runanga transitions to the IMPB its vital that we take the opportunity to acknowledge and honour the ahika, kuia, koroua, rangatira at the grass roots level of whanau, hapu, iwi who have worked so hard to affect the vision of Tino Rangatiratanga in Maori health for nga iwi o Te Moana a Toi, says Linda.

This has been a first in Aotearoa and may the vision, values and treaty-based principles firmly established by this ropu, lay the foundation for Iwi-Maori partnerships going forward.

Bev Edlin.

Dr Bev Edlin, Chairperson of the BOPDHB says the Runanga has been instrumental in raising health outcomes for whanau in Te Moana a Toi.

The Runanga has provided a key link to enable Maori to contribute to decision-making, participate in the planning and delivery of health and disability services as well as providing an effective forum for consultation and engagement with whanau, hapu and Iwi.

The constructive relationship we enjoy with the Runanga demonstrates our commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi principles; their valuable mahi illustrates the critical role Maori must play in determining their own aspirations and priorities for health.

Past members of the Runanga and other honoured guests will be welcomed onto Hungahungatoroa Marae in Matapihi this Thursday, June 23, to celebrate and reflect on the many milestones and achievements of the Runanga.

Linda says the day will highlight the pioneers who contributed to Maori health in the region.

The relationships we have today are entirely due to long years of mahi tahi from a really special group of pakeke.

"They were true leaders who battled the system and stood proudly against inequity. As we walk down the path that they have forged for us, we honour their bravery, their aroha for our people and their vision for health in Te Moana a Toi.
UPDATED 2.55pm: Police have located a person of interest wanted in connection to a shooting in the Waikato today.

He is now being spoken to by police in relation to the firearms incident that left one man with a gunshot injury early this morning.

Police were initially called to Waghorn Road just after 1.35am after a report a person had been injured, says Waikato East Area Commander Inspector Dean Anderson.

A man was located a short distance from a rural property with a gunshot injury and taken to hospital in a serious condition.

The victim remains in a serious condition in hospital.

Dean says police are still in the area making enquiries and conducting a forensic scene examination.

"Police would like to thank local residents for their co-operation and assistance.

"We are not seeking anybody else in relation to the matter."

EARLIER:

Police are continuing to look for a "person of interest" following a shooting earlier today.

Enquiries are continuing following a firearms incident in Wardville near Matamata.

Police were initially called to Waghorn Road just after 1.35am after a report a person had been injured, says Waikato East Area Commander Inspector Dean Anderson.

A man was located a short distance from a rural property with a gunshot injury and taken to hospital in a serious condition.

He is currently undergoing surgery.

Dean says local police, supported by the AOS and Eagle Air Support Unit, have been searching the wider area for a person of interest.

"The person has not been located at this time.

"Indications are that the incident was not gang-related and the individuals were known to each other.

"A forensic examination is underway on Waghorn Road where the incident occurred.

"Cordons remain in place and the rural community will notice an increased Police presence in the area."

If anyone in the area notices anything out of the ordinary on their property, including people who are not known to them, gates left open, equipment tampered with or vehicles taken, please call Police on 111 and quote event number P050980430.
A man was found floating face down at a Rotorua pool complex where the duty manager was unaware of the absence of a rostered lifeguard.

The Coroners report into the death of French tourist Denis Miklus at Rotoruas Polynesian Spa also notes the spa was short-staffed that day and, for a period, there was no supervision in the adult pool areas.

Miklus died on June 19, 2018, and Coroner Matthew Bates report rules the cause was drowning.

Bates said Miklus was fit and healthy and with no ongoing medical conditions  and has urged lifeguards to intervene immediately if they see anyone with their head underwater in higher temperature thermal pools.

On the day he died, Miklus was dropped off at the spa by his partner Jany Toomaru at 11.43am. He was discovered just after 1pm alone, floating face down in what was known as the 42-degree Priest Pool.

Polynesian Spa staff removed Mr Miklus from the pool and commenced CPR. Emergency services attended and continued resuscitation efforts. Unfortunately, Mr Miklus could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bates said on the day Miklus died the spa was short-staffed and that there was simply no evidence that a lifeguard was monitoring the adult pool areas when Mr Miklus got into difficulty.

He said there was conflicting evidence as to staffing on the day, with Polynesian Spa adamant that all rostered lifeguards were covered that day.

Bates, however, said there is no evidence of the presence of lifeguard 3. There is no evidence of replacement cover for lifeguard 3.

Bates said he found evidence of just two lifeguards present responsible for lifeguard duties usually shared by three lifeguards.

A separate WorkSafe investigation into the death found the number of lifeguards on duty on 19 June 2018 was sufficient for the number of bathers at the time, however Bates said he was unable to agree.

The level of lifeguard supervision required in terms of Polynesian Spas own policy and procedures, taking into account the particular layout of Polynesian Spa, and the requirements set out in the Aquatic Facilities Guidelines, fell short on 19 June 2018 due to the reduced number of lifeguards on duty.

However, Bates also said he accepted entirely a statement from Polynesian Spa chief executive Gert Taljaard that the facility had a proud health and safety history.

Bates said he did not wish to minimise Miklus death, or an earlier drowning in 2003, but I need to be clear that the health and safety systems employed by Polynesian Spa, when implemented as intended, are very effective and fit for purpose, as evidenced by the spas excellent record over many years.

Taljaard also told the Coroners Court that in the wake of Miklus death they recruited an additional lifeguard.

Bates made a number of recommendations in his report, including closing or delaying openings of certain areas of the spa in the event of staff shortages.

There should never be a business as usual approach with a reduced number of staff available to supervise all areas and all bathers, he said.

He also recommended bathers receive a warning not to submerge their heads under the water, and the implementation of a policy for immediate staff intervention when bathers are seen with their head or face submerged in higher temperature thermal pools.

He also recommended CCTV to monitor bathers and refresher training for reception staff for safe bathing messages.

-Stuff/Benn Bathgate.
Four months into the Wednesday Challenge project to change the way we travel, a new carpooling app is being launched in Tauranga.

The Liftango carpooling app launches in Tauranga this week, and is the latest new mode on offer as part of the challenge.

Project director Heidi Hughes says the app enables real-time dynamic carpool matching that can help improve parking problems across Tauranga and help employees reduce their commute costs.

The app gives users access to a trusted network of signed up carpool members. They simply enter where they are, where they want to go and request a ride at any time.

The app then finds them a match. The service is free and choosing to drive or be a passenger is flexible for each trip.

Heidi says the app essentially creates a connected group of active car poolers united with a common interest - to use sustainable, cost effective and reliable shared transport.

There are so many companies with employees, living in the same suburb, who currently all jump in their cars in the morning and drive separately to work.

With the Liftango carpooling APP users have the opportunity to contribute to less carbon emissions, connect with others at the beginning and end of their day and know theyre contributing to a transport solution in our city.

With 14 businesses already signed up for the launch of the service, it seems the business community recognise the benefits.

We have businesses including Beca, Craigs Investment Partners, KPMG, Tonkin and Taylor, Tourism BOP, Blue Lab, Manawa Energy, Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Toi Te Ora, Envirohub, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, The Flooring Room and Tauranga Boys College staff whove jumped on board for the launch this week and many more in the sign-up process.

Some of the staff from Tonkin + Taylor who are registered to use the new Liftango carpool app launched this week.

They recognise the benefits to their employees and the contribution they will be making to reducing carbon emissions, traffic congestion and parking issues.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board sustainability manager Vicktoria Blake says they support carpooling for various reasons, including potential improvements to emissions reduction and subsequent air quality improvements.

Further, vehicle sharing can be a great social activity after a time many of us have experienced some levels of social isolation.

The emissions from BOPDHBs staff commute is currently estimated at almost 5,000 tCO2e each year, we are working hard to find as many solutions as possible to reduce this footprint.

Craigs Investment Partners sustainability manager Oliver Pomfrett agrees.

Weve signed up because its a great opportunity for our business to contribute to a more sustainable city in a way that is really engaging for our people.

Meanwhile, schools are also opting into the app.

Tauranga Boys College head of faculty, Andrew Corney, says it makes a lot of sense for their teaching staff.

Many of our teachers live in similar parts of the city so weve signed up to Liftango to try and make it easier for our staff to coordinate carpooling.

Heidi says the Wednesday Challenge and Liftango partnership recognises the significant issues with traffic and parking in Tauranga and seeks to make inroads into the problem.

Their technology is world class and its exciting we have been able to integrate it into the Wednesday Challenge.

Like with the Wednesday Challenge Strava app, the Liftango app has a direct connection to our points system, so every trip automatically gives registered riders a Wednesday Challenge point.

Passenger safety is a key component of the app.

Weve made it exclusive to businesses and organisations signed up to the challenge to safeguard passengers. Businesses know that their staff can connect with other registered users in a closed and trusted community.

Its also a great way for Taurangas business community to connect and collaborate with others. Its a win-win.

The Wednesday Challenge has been running for four months in Tauranga and already boasts more than 9000 participants who have logged over 62,000 journeys.

Heidi says people are attracted by the environmental, health and wellbeing benefits of the challenge and the chance to win rewards and prizes.

Our transport emissions are rising every year, because we are one of the fastest growing cities in New Zealand.

The Wednesday Challenge is an invitation for Tauranga to roll up our sleeves and begin the work we need to do now to solve our own carbon emission issues, while at the same time, resolving some of the issues we have around congestion, parking and safety on our streets.

The Wednesday Challenge is led by Envirohub Bay of Plenty with funding from Waka Kotahi, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Tauranga City Council.

To find out more about the Liftango carpool app go to www.wednesdaychallenge.co.nz/welcome-liftango
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What just happened? Tesla is facing a lawsuit filed by two former employees over claims its decision to lay off around 10% of its workforce violated federal law as the company did not provide those affected with advanced notice of the cuts.

Reuters writes that the employees from its Sparks, Nevada, Gigafactory filed the suit in Texas on Sunday. It states that 500 employees were terminated from the factory without giving a 60-day notice perioda violation of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.

John Lynch and Daxton Hartsfield, who had worked at the plant for around five years, were among the those let go from the factory this month, according to the suit. They say neither were given advanced notice of their terminations, on June 10 and June 15, respectively, and are now seeking class-action status on behalf of any US Tesla employees laid off in May or June who also received no advanced notice.

The WARN Act requires companies to provide a 60-day notice period to workers before any layoffs affecting 50 more employees, giving them enough time to find other employment or retrain.

"Tesla started laying people off in blatant disregard for the WARN act," Boston-based employment attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, who is representing the workers, told Bloomberg.

Earlier this month, Tesla boss Elon Musk told executives he wanted to cut 10% of jobs at the company and pause all hiring over his "super bad feeling" about the economy. He clarified to CNBC that the figure represents salaried workers only, while the number of hourly employees will increase. However, this still means around 3.5% of Tesla's total workforce is being laid off, an amount he said is "not super material."

"A year from now, I think our headcount will be higher in both salaried and obviously in hourly," Musk added.

The world's richest person also addressed the lawsuit, saying it had "no standing" and was a "small lawsuit of minor consequence."

Elsewhere in the interview, Musk said he believed a recession was "inevitable at some point," and that it happening in the near term is "more likely than not" but "not a certainty."

Musk previously came under fire for demanding Tesla and SpaceX workers spend a minimum of 40 hours in the office per week or quit. He also said that staff must work in a main company office, not a remote location.
In a nutshell: Microsoft seems to be blocking people in Russia from downloading its popular operating system, although one can easily get past the restriction by using a VPN service. It will be interesting to see if this is enough to push users to switch to Linux.

Users in Russia are currently unable to download Windows 10 and 11 ISOs and installation tools from Microsoft's servers. People first started noticing the issue over the weekend.

If someone with a Russian IP address tries to download the Windows ISO files directly from Microsoft's website, they get greeted with a message stating there was a problem with their request.

Attempting to download the Windows Update Assistant, Windows Media Creation Tool, or Windows 11 Installation Assistant also doesn't work, with users getting redirected to a webpage with an error message.

Additional confirmation: https://t.co/ROJawaNGS3



Unclear if it's intentional or just a server error, though.  Catalin Cimpanu (@campuscodi) June 19, 2022

Some people in Russia have reported that they are able to download the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool. However, it crashes on startup, generating a 0x80072F8F-0x20000 error.

Users claim that using a VPN service gets rid of these error messages, allowing them to download the files. Ironically, Russia's strict censorship laws block many VPN providers from operating in the country.

Microsoft hasn't yet issued a statement on the matter, so it's unclear if this is just a server error or a deliberate decision taken by the company to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In March, Microsoft stopped all new sales in the country, joining dozens of Western companies taking similar action. Earlier this month, the company announced it's winding down its business in Russia, resulting in over 400 employees getting laid off.
Period-tracker apps are one of the most useful innovations that women can take advantage of. It reminds them of their menstruation cycle so that they will know what actions to do in real-time.

(Photo : DAVID TALUKDAR/AFP via Getty Images)

An Indian man looks on as he walks along a wall painting about female menstruation at the school for underprivileged children, Parijat Academy, on the Menstrual Hygiene Day in Guwahati on May 28, 2019.

However, there are some instances when users forget that they still need to protect their data when using these menstruation cycles.

As of writing, Roe v. Wade allows a woman to have an abortion in the United States. But, if this decision is overturned, then those who already had an abortion can be tracked using their period-tracker data.

This is why it is important to ensure that the application you are using is not storing your information.

Period-Tracker App 2022: How Safe are They?

The Wall Street Journal's latest report provided the some of the top period-tracker apps used across the globe, as well as the data security features of these applications:

(Photo : ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images)

Models of a pair of menstrual cups and a tampon are on display during the press preview of the new Vagina Museum in Camden market, north London on November 14, 2019.

Also Read: Period Tracking and Contraception with Smartwatch? Here Are Tech and Apps that Support It

Glow

Doesn't have encryption, but uses technical safeguard features to protect user data.

Uses your data for marketing and targeted advertising.

Clue

Encrypted but not end-to-end

Ensures that your data is not sold to third parties, but can still provide anonymized user information to researchers.

Apple Health

End-to-end encrypted

Doesn't have health data to share, but works with third parties.

The three mentioned menstruation cycle applications above are some of the well-known applications. If you want to know other period-trackers and their details, you can visit this link.

Protecting Your User Data

If you still want to use your period-tracker app, then there are some things you can do to further ensure the safety of your personal information.

Consumer Reports Org's blog post provided some of them:

Using trusted VPNs tpm protect your period-tracking online activities.

Ensuring that your emails and text messages are encrypted since some period-tracker apps can access them.

Turning of your GPS so that you can hide your real location.

In July 2019, a new study revealed that menstrual cups are actually as safe and effective as the common sanitary products.

In September 2019, experts claimed that menstrual tracker apps share sensitive user data with Meta's Facebook platform.

For more news updates about period-tracker apps and other similar applications, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Best Period Tracker Apps For Women Featuring Flo, Clue, and Period Calendar [2022]

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Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
An APK teardown of Google Calendar suggests big changes are coming. With this, a new version of the app may remove Assistant Reminders from Calendar. Instead, users will be alerted with "Reminders are now Tasks."

(Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

BERLIN, GERMANY - JUNE 09: A wooden Google logo hangs at a stand at the 2022 Re:publica digital society festival on June 09, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. The three-day event brings together stakeholders and leading voices from a wide spectrum of today's global, digital society.

A new alert would further explain the change: "Use Tasks to get notified about your to-dos and keep track of them wherever you are in Google Workspace."

On that note, Google will transfer current reminders to the new Tasks protocol. Then, when users create a reminder, the Tasks service will take its place.

Still, everything is hypothetical right now. One thing's for sure, Google has removed the Reminders service from Assistant.

Currently, Tasks support are in Calendar; however, once this update is ready, it will be the only way to access reminders along with meetings and appointments.

Also Read: Google Introduces New Interview Warmup Tool

What's Happening?

One thing to remember is that this isn't the first thing that will go because users will also lose access to location and assigned reminders. Moreover, Google Calendar will also direct users to find any of their existing entries in Keep, and not Assistant anymore.

It's still unclear whether a merge between Keep and Assistant Reminders will happen or if this only means that the tech giant is only downplaying the existence of Assistant Reminders.

Additionally, Google is really cleaning up its duplicate apps-just recently, they confirmed it was combining Duo into Meet.

On the topic of merging apps, though, Google recently announced that their Meet and Duo apps would be merged into a new app called Meet. This new video chatting app will replace Duo, which means that Duo users will need to download Meet to continue using the video chat features.

The reason for this consolidation is that Google is moving away from confusion and simplification. The new app will link to Duo's existing features and bring in all users that have been using Duo in Google Meet. In addition, Google Chrome will also now have the Meet app built-in.

The Calendar update should roll out in version 2022.24.0.x.

Google Apps Experience Shakedowns

Google has been streamlining its services. And it seems the company continuously wants to simplify the structure of its applications and services.

These continuous updates may also signal more updates coming soon. It is known that Google Apps have been cluttered over the years, and now the tech giant is being more proactive in delivering a better user experience.

What's Next?

Currently, users have access to many different apps under the Google umbrella. For example, there's the Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Calendar, Sites, and Tasks apps. It's true that many of these applications have different purposes and features, but it's not clear if the company will change its strategy.

So far, the tech giant hasn't confirmed any changes at the time of writing.

Related Article: Google's Duo and Meet Will Be Combined Into a Single Platform

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Written by April Fowell

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
iPhone's first-ever iteration lacks a copy and paste feature even if it was touted to be a smartphone with tons of handy features, such as a touch screen and a Safari web browser.

Some of you might still remember this missing feature on the earliest version of the iPhone.

But this time, an ex-Apple engineer offers an explanation why a function as necessary as the copy and paste failed to make it back then.

(Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO - JUNE 19: The new iPhone 3Gs is displayed at an Apple store June 19, 2009 in San Francisco, California.

First iPhone Lacks Copy and Paste Feature

As per a news story by 9to5Mac, more than a decade has already passed since Apple first introduced the iPhone. These days, its flagship smartphone has become an icon in the mobile phone scene, amassing millions of sales every year.

The latest iPhone now flaunts the latest specs like a 120Hz touch screen display and top-notch camera sensors. But nearly 15 years ago, people were only clamoring for a copy-paste feature, which was oddly missing during its first release.

(Photo : Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - NOVEMBER 28: People participate in the Apple iPhone 3Gs launching ceremony at the Olympic stadium on November 28, 2009 in Seoul, South Korea.

As such, early users of the iPhone had to wait for quite a while before getting their hands on the handy copy and paste function on their smartphones.

But why did iPhone users have to wait before it had to be rolled out? An ex-engineer of the Cupertino-based tech giant explains.

Ex-Apple Engineer Explains Why iPhones Missed Copy-Paste at First

The former engineer at Apple, Ken Kocienda, also known as the inventor of the autocorrect on iPhones, revealed something about the first ever version of the flagship smartphone.

9to5Mac notes that the ex-Apple engineer joined the iPhone maker back in 2001. Kocienda is one of the key figures who make the first-ever iPhone possible.

Before Apple joined the mobile device market, Kocienda was working behind its web browser, Safari.

Even if Kocienda is no longer with the Cupertino giant, he recently talked about some explicit details regarding the first iPhone, specifically why it oddly lacks a copy and paste.

(Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Apple CEO Steve Jobs watches a video of the new iPhone 3G as he delivers the keynote address at the Apple Worldwide Web Developers Conference June 9, 2008 in San Francisco, California.

Essentially, the ex-Apple engineer discloses that they did not have much time to stuff the copy and paste capability on the earliest iPhone.

He went on to claim that the folks behind the iPhone were caught up with the autocorrect system of the smartphone, giving them inadequate time to work on a copy-paste function.

Read Also: iPhone 13 Hack 2022: How to Turn Off 5G and Switch Your Phone Back to 4G

iPhone's Copy and Paste

According to a 2009 report by Engadget, the copy and paste feature on iPhones only arrived in that year, thanks to the iPhone OS 3.0 update.

The news outlet notes that it supports various apps like Safari and SMS, bringing handy options like copy, paste, and cut.

Related Article: [RUMOR] ALL iPhone 14 Models To Have 6GB of RAM-A Massive Memory Feature Enhancement From Apple

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The race to discover 6G is on, but a dearth of materials to make it possible continues to be a hurdle, even for seasoned experts. However, researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University discovered a promising material that might enable sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication networks.

(Photo : @franckinjapan / Unsplash)

Is 6G Available?

5G has set an unprecedented speed in quality when it comes to telecommunication services that people are eagerly waiting for what 6G can offer more. As of 2022, there have been cases of 6G already being in the works.

A report from Tech Times stated that South Korea plans to launch 6G mobile services in 2028. It was also noted that Google, Apple, Qualcomm, and Intel are already members of the NGMN trade association. This cooperation is planned to employ cutting-edge 6G technology for "Enhanced Machine Communication" and "Enhanced Human Communication."

Just recently, Purple Mountain Laboratories, a Chinese government-backed organization, reported a 6G speed breakthrough. Regardless, no specifics on how to produce 6G were provided.

Also Read: 6G Connectivity To Arrive Around 2028! South Korea as First Country To Commercialize It as Mobile Services

Materials for 6G

Amidst countries looking to hand out 6G first, the race to find appropriate magnetic materials is required in order to achieve sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication systems.

According to SciTech Daily, Osaka Metropolitan University researchers and colleagues discovered an unusual collective resonance at high frequencies in a magnetic superstructure known as a chiral spin soliton lattice (CSL), exposing CSL-hosting chiral helimagnets as a viable material for 6G technology.

The researchers stated that future communication technologies will need to increase the frequency spectrum from a few gigahertz (GHz) to more than 100 GHz. Because present magnetic materials used in communication equipment can only resonate and absorb microwaves up to around 70 GHz with a functional magnetic field, such high frequencies are not yet conceivable.

To fill this knowledge and technological gap, a research team led by Professor Yoshihiko Togawa of Osaka Metropolitan University investigated the helicoidal spin superstructure CSL.

Professor Togawa explained that "The CSL phonon mode, or collective resonance mode-when the CSL's kinks oscillate collectively around their equilibrium position-allows frequency ranges broader than those for conventional ferromagnetic materials."

It is worth mentioning that this CSL phonon mode has been theoretically known but never detected in experiments.

The researchers began their study with CrNb3S6, a common chiral magnetic crystal that harbors CSL. They created CSL in CrNb3S6 and then studied its resonance behavior when the external magnetic field strength changed. The magnetic resonance signals were detected using a specifically built microwave circuit.

They had observed resonance in three modes, namely the "Kittel mode," the "asymmetric mode," and the "multiple resonance mode."

In the Kittel mode, or using the conventional ferromagnetic materials, the resonance frequency increases if the magnetic field strength does the same. This implies that building high frequencies required for 6G would require an impractically strong magnetic field. Meanwhile, the CSL phonon was not discovered in the asymmetric mode.

Interestingly, the CSL phonon was identified in the multiple resonance modes; unlike magnetic materials already in use, the frequency increases spontaneously as the magnetic field intensity lowers. This is a unique phenomenon that may permit a boost to more than 100 GHz with a relatively small magnetic field. Therefore, a critical mechanism for achieving 6G operability.

Related Article: Chinese Lab Announces 6G Speed Breakthrough, While the 5G Technology Hasn't Completely Rolled Out Yet

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Written by Thea Felicity

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Elon Musk is still uncertain if he will push through with buying Twitter.

The reason, which also halted the deal, is still Twitter's bot accounts.

Will the Deal Push Through?

The billionaire warned that before the acquisition becomes official, several difficulties must first be resolved, such as obtaining the exact estimate of bots on the bird app and accomplishing the financing for the deal.

As reported first by Time, Musk said in a statement with Bloomberg's Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait at an Economic Forum in Doha that the number of spam, fraudulent, and bot accounts on the app is still a pressing issue for him.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has constantly raised doubts about Twitter's transparency on bot accounts ever since sealing a deal to buy the company for $54.20 per share in April. He also put the deal on hold and said he could lower the deal's price.

Time noted that Musk's lawyer has stated that Twitter must comply by releasing the requisite information to obtain the debt financing needed to complete the transaction.

Musk's takeover will be backed by $13 billion in borrowed financing from banks. Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Corp., and Barclays Plc are among the lenders.

He stated in the forum that he is committed to improving the services of Twitter and looks forward to getting 80% of North America and maybe "half of the world" on the social network.

Read also: Tesla Cybertruck: CGI or Real? Twitter User, Musk Tease Electric Pickup Prototype

China: Not a Problem

Musk also noted that if he takes ownership of Twitter, his commercial operation in China will not be a problem, a country with a crucial production hub and increasing consumer industry for Tesla.

It is worth noting that China has an official ban on Twitter. However, it still utilizes the app to convey public messages around the world. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Musk's arch-nemesis, wrote a tweet alluding to Musk's statement that says, "Did the Chinese government just gain a bit of leverage over the town square."

Interesting question. Did the Chinese government just gain a bit of leverage over the town square? https://t.co/jTiEnabP6T  Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) April 25, 2022

He also declined to reveal the certainty of whether the Twitter transaction will push through, given that he frequently brought up the bot issue as an ongoing problem, implying that he is open to any possibilities that may come with the deal.

Musk put the takeover on hold while he launched an independent investigation on the veracity of real accounts. He also filed a formal letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission warning Twitter's board that unless they prove the number of its user base, he could scrap the deal.

Related Article: Elon Musk Says Tesla Will Terminate 3.5% of Staff After Ex-Workers Allege Company of Violating Labor Laws

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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
After years of pressure from local businesses and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), social media platform Facebook is now working on taking action against fake reviews left on business pages.

Facebook to Create Policy Against Fake Reviews

According to The Verge, the social media giant will be updating its Community Feedback policy in order to address this issue that has hurt a lot of local businesses.

Facebook's Community Feedback policy in the United States now states that it will ban fake and paid reviews. Users can no longer post bogus reviews for an establishment in hopes of getting compensation like a free meal.

They can no longer post glowing reviews about a product they've never used or a restaurant they've never been to.

Also Read: Facebook the 2021 Most Targeted Site by Phishing Scams! Around 14% of Fake Pages Copy FB

What are the Reviews That Will Be Taken Down?

The reviews that Meta, Facebook's parent company, will check are those that are overly positive, those that are too vague, comments that are too negative, comments that contain inappropriate or graphic content, and those that can be tagged as spam.

If a user violates these new rules, Meta will remove the review. If the user is a repeat offender, their Facebook account will be suspended or banned from the platform.

If a business is found guilty of paying people to leave positive comments on its page, it will no longer be allowed to use product tags and listings. They will also be suspended or banned from accessing any Meta features, according to Engadget.

Facebook users will see an increase in crackdowns in the next couple of months as the new policy rolls out.

UK Crackdown

In 2021, Facebook removed around 16,000 fake review groups in the UK after a watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has expressed its concerns about the growing number of fake comments and reviews on pages. However, the platform failed to catch every offender.

According to TechCrunch, the CMA has been pushing for platforms to do something about the fake reviews. The investigation started in 2018, and the watchdog pressured both Facebook and eBay to act against the fake review sellers.

The two companies promised to do more to fix the issue. Facebook, in particular, came under fire after the regulator found out that Instagram was also used for fake review trades.

This pressure forced Facebook to remove 188 groups and disable 24 user accounts in 2019. However, it is not clear how many accounts the company has banned or suspended as of 2022.

Ever since the CMA has raised the issue of fake review trading, Facebook has been repeatedly criticized for not doing enough to clean up the platform and protect the businesses that use its service.

In April 2021, the CMA revealed that Facebook had changed the systems it uses for 'identifying, removing, and preventing the trading of fake or misleading reviews" on its platform, including Instagram.

In 2021, Facebook was also called out for not tackling the issue with misinformation on its platform regarding COVID-19 vaccines and mask mandates, further allowing anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists to thrive.

Related Article: Facebook Removes 500 Misinformation Accounts Promoting Claims of Fake Swiss Biologist | Accounts Linked to Chinese Network

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Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Flagstar Bank, one of the largest banks in the United States, has recently announced that the latest data breach affected over 1.5 million customers.

According to the Michigan-based financial service provider, the hackers have stolen Social Security numbers from the users.

Flagstar Data Breach

(Photo : Eduardo Soares from Unsplash)

Flagstar notified its customers that the hackers stole Social Security numbers from over 1.5 million users

Flagstar has confirmed that attackers have infiltrated its network from December 3 to 4, 2021.

Based on the letter that the company recently sent to the customers, the hackers were able to obtain confidential information from the affected users.

"Flagstar recently experienced a cyber incident that involved unauthorized access to our network. Upon learning of the incident, we promptly activated our incident response plan, engaged external cybersecurity professionals experienced in handling these types of incidents, and reported the matter to federal law enforcement," the bank said in the letter.

As of writing, Flagstar did not explain why it took half a year to discover the hacking incident. When Techcrunch reached out to the company spokeswoman Susan Bergesen through email, the bank did not respond to the query.

Additionally, the company did not reveal the exact number of affected users in the data breach. It did not specify the specific systems that were hit during the time.

Regarding this, the Office of the Maine Attorney General received information that the Flagstar hackers hit 1,547,169 individuals in the country.

Related Article: Anonymous' Alleged Russia Central Bank Hack To Release Thousands of Hacked Files!

First Security Issue that Hit Flagstar

The latest case is not the first time that Flagstar encountered a data breach done by hackers. As per ZDNet, the zero-day vulnerability impacted the platform.

According to the report, the incident took place in March 2021. Flagstar later discovered a flaw that gained access to its data on Accellion.

The financial institution was aware of the issue. It said at that time that the confidential details were exposed. There's a chance that the customer's PII was leaked.

Because of this, Flagstar assured that the affected customers would receive credit monitoring for free.

In another hacking incident, a former Amazon employee was found guilty of gaining access to the information of CapitalOne customers.

Tech Times reported that Paige Thompson, who once served as a software engineer on Amazon Cloud, has stolen users' data, including email addresses, bank account information, and Social Security numbers, to name a few.

So far, this data breach has been one of the biggest hacking schemes over the past decade.

Although Thompson is found guilty of stealing private details from the customers, she's not found guilty of device access fraud and identity theft. Thompson is scheduled for her sentence in September.

Read Also: Ransomware Operations of Clop Gang Resumes After Recent Arrests - New Data Breach Victims

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Written by Joseph Henry

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
War in the Ukraine will be focus of retired LSU professor's talk on Wednesday
A member of the tactical team from the New Orleans ICE field office uses a phone during an early morning raid to pick up an illegal immigrant on the deportation list in Kenner.
Woodside will vigorously defend a federal court action by the Australian Conservation Foundation to stop its $17.3 billion Scarborough gas project on the basis that its contribution to global warming would harm the Great Barrier Reef.

The action launched on Tuesday is another possible barrier to Woodside proceeding with its plan to develop the Scarborough gas field off the WA coast and process the gas for export at an expanded Pluto LNG plant.

Woodside faces fresh legal headwinds for its Scarborough gas project. Credit:Will Willitts

ACF chief executive Kelly OShanassy said evidence presented to the court would show Scarboroughs emissions would significantly impact the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef.

The head of the International Energy Agency recently said climate chaos is guaranteed if proposed oil and gas mega-projects go ahead, OShanassy said.
Parkinson in Australia 

Between 1979 and 1983 leading British talk show host Michael Parkinson would decamp to the ABCs Gore Hill studios in Sydney, where he would helm an Australian edition of a program that was already close to an institution in the United Kingdom. A selection of the 75 episodes produced are now streaming on ABC iview, serving as a mix of time capsule and cultural snapshot. As a means of eavesdropping on the past the chat show might not be an obvious choice, but four decades later this is a valuable resource and fascinating viewing.

A selection of episodes are now streaming on ABC iview, serving as a mix of time capsule and cultural snapshot.

Each episode begins with a contemporary disclaimer: The following program expresses attitudes that are not consistent with current standards and may offend some viewers. Thats true, although the question is whether its Barry Humphries comic creation Sir Les Patterson or then-Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen discussing abortion that deserves the warning. There may be unseen episodes that do cross a line, but historic insight outranks contemporary privilege. This was monocultural Australia, just starting to mix with the world  repeat guest Bob Hawke was not yet prime minister, just the gregarious head of the ACTU.

Theres a degree of cultural cringe to bringing out an Englishman to engage notable Australians (and a healthy quota of British celebrities), but Parkinson really was an accomplished interviewer. His questioning was direct but alert  these are conversations that are fluid in mood, so that guests got in their best anecdotes for the audiences amusement but they would equally be pressed on thornier points. In this age of seven-minute slots the extended running time is a pleasure, with many opening guests getting a half an hour or more opposite the lanky Parkinson.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Brendan Cowell has never been called up for jury duty before, but having just spent almost half a year watching a murder case unfold in the new drama The Twelve, he thinks hes done his time. Ive definitely done it now, he says laughing. And thats what Ill be saying if I ever get the letter. Ill be like, I did five months [of jury duty] in 2021-22. Sam Neill was the lawyer and so was the lady from Janet King. Its late March and Cowell is on his lunch break. They are in the middle of the shoot for The Twelve and hes been spending his time sitting in a wooden box built in the middle of a sound stage in Sydneys Artarmon. Its a room at the (fictional) Parramatta Supreme Court, where the actors  judge, jury, accused, lawyers and spectators  and camera crew sit on the inside, while on the outside are the sound and make-up crew, who are perched on chairs with make-up kits slung around their waists. They are watching Marta Dusseldorp, who is playing prosecutor Lucy Bloom, on the monitor, as she delivers another flawless take. And while the camera is focused firmly on Dusseldorp, over her shoulder you can see Cowell and 13 other actors sitting quietly: sometimes their heads nod, sometimes they write something down. They are the jury of The Twelve, tasked with determining the fate of Kate Lawson (Kate Mulvany), an artist who is accused of killing her 14-year-old niece Claire. Sam Neill (centre) as barrister Brett Colby, who is defending Kate Mulvanys character Kate Lawson (far left) in a murder trial in The Twelve. Based on a Belgian drama, the 10-episode series focuses as much on the stories of the men and women of the jury as it does on the case. How will their lives determine the fate of Kate Lawson? They will judge her not only on the evidence, but on the way she looks, appears and behaves. Even her shade of lipstick will come under scrutiny.

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As Neills smooth defence barrister, Brett Colby, warns: The jury is everything. (If you are wondering why there are 14 jurors when the show is called The Twelve, its because 12 is the number of people on a standard jury, with two extras empanelled as back-ups in case the trial goes longer than three months.) The show begins on the first day of the trial, as the 14 jurors are chosen. They are a mixed bag  a widower, a devout Catholic, a woman who believes horoscopes may determine the case, an indigenous student, a wealthy heiress, an alpha-male businessman and an Uber driver from Iraq, among others. All jostle for position in the jury room, all look each other up and down. Cowell plays Garry, whose I-love-the-dog-track dress sense and down-at-heel circumstances come from a gambling addiction that makes him an easy mark for outside influences on the case. And even though the murder trial is fictional, what struck Cowell was the enormity of situation. I remember coming to [director] Dan Nettheim on the first day with the jury  and this is just a really stupid actor comment  and saying this would be incredibly overwhelming walking into this murder case of this young girl, says Cowell. And going on Garry  I live in that shitty little flat in Glebe, Ive got two greyhounds  and I have to decide who killed this person? And suddenly, I kind of took a breath in, and I spoke about it to the whole cast. Like, when weve just found out what the case is, lets all take a breath when we enter the jury room because its not a traffic fine, you know, and its going to affect lives.

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Early on, Garry is dismissed by some of his fellow jurors, who mistake his friendliness for nosiness. And thats Garrys greatest trick, says Cowell, he is not who he appears to be. Cowells character Garry is initially dismissed by some of his fellow jurors, who mistake his friendliness for nosiness. Credit:Ben Symons/Foxtel Im not putting Garry into a familiar dead-shit archetype, says Cowell. Hes a very emotionally intelligent man. Hes a very capable man. Hes a wise fella. Hes just got a disease. And when theres a green light, he goes 100 miles an hour with everything. He doesnt comprehend balance. And its a very topical question in society: If you do bad things, does that make you bad? Or can you still be good and do bad things? Joining Cowell in the jurors box is Brooke Satchwell, who plays Georgina, a mother-of-three who tries to dodge jury duty and whose unstable home life brings to bear on the case, too. The 14-person jury in The Twelve must decide if Kate Lawson murdered her 14-year-old niece. Shes in different states of fragility and vulnerability, says Satchwell of Georgina. So questions of integrity, particularly when it comes to the care of a child, deeply affect her. And anything of a more volatile nature is starting to creep into her understanding of her own situation.

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So there is quite an emotional aspect, as someone who potentially, until this point, has kept all of their emotions very strongly compressed and, and suppressed in a way that they cant be used against her. And that means during the various testimonies throughout the court case, some of her responses perhaps arent as rational, or more governed by emotion, which is what the most fascinating aspect of all of this is: how on earth we are expected to pass judgment on someone, particularly for something as diabolical as murder? Brooke Satchwell, centre, plays mother-of-three Georgina in The Twelve. Credit:Brook Rushton/Foxtel Satchwell is a big fan of the Flemish-language original, De Twaalf, which she describes as having a thermal texture. Its incredibly human, she says. That living, breathing, closeness of observing a person reacting in a situation and experiencing it, theres a lot of space for that, which is a really captivating thing to watch on screen, to see someone navigate a situation rather than dramatic plot point, dramatic plot point. And while court cases should be the last bastion of truth  that is, after all, what everyone is there to discover  Cowell says there is just as much room for opinion. Weve just had four different witnesses tell a very different story about the same thing, he says. And thats because were getting towards the crescendo. You start with facts, everyones presenting facts, but hang on, the facts arent the same. Reminds you of certain American presidents, you know?

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Its up to us to decipher [the truth] from the life that weve lived, on what our values are. Who is telling the truth? Garry, not so much because Garry has motive, but everybody else is reacting to it emotionally. And that doesnt necessarily mean theyre saying the truth. Loading Which is the brilliance of the show  the ripple effect through the lives of juries, and you go home with the jury members. And you see why theyre taking stuff personally, but that can really, really cloud their judgment. So I think everybodys pretty baffled by the end because of their own shit. And while we do get to see the jurors lives outside the courtroom, a lot of the acting work is just sitting in the background, listening to the evidence presented before them. Half of the time they are not even on camera, so what exactly are they doing? Listening acting is my favourite thing, says Satchwell, before conceding but I am getting a lot of work done. Ive finally embraced technology and I am very happily sitting there and getting a lot of work done in between takes. And for Cowell? Its a great way to get paid, he says, laughing. What did you do today, darling? I sit there and watch Marta Dusselldorp and Sam Neill talk. And hanging out with Brooke Satchwell. You know, its not awful.

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It would be pretty clear to most grown-ups what used to go on at the Ponytails bar in a red-light district just outside Manila.

So why would the Financial Times, a private investigator working for the son of a former PM and our very own Australian Federal Police feel the need to go snooping around in the venues affairs?

Former MP George Christensen. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Its quite the yarn. Back in 2019, this masthead reported former Dawson MP George Christensen had been a regular at the now defunct club in a satellite city of the Philippines capital.

Christensens frequent trips to the country had been investigated by the AFP, which found no evidence of illegality but raised concerns he could be open to compromise.
Queensland man murdered in violent stabbing attack

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The family of a woman whose decomposed remains were found in a bag at the bottom of Brisbanes Kangaroo Point cliffs almost four years ago still have no answers, despite a police murder investigation with substantial reward.

A coroner will take over in the hope of answering questions around the disappearance of mother-of-10 Constance May Watcho, 36, from a Brisbane unit on November 27, 2017.

The crime scene at the bottom of the Kangaroo Point cliffs where Constance Watchos remains were found. Credit:Dan Peled - AAP

She was not reported missing for more than two months when her family became concerned, travelled to Brisbane to look for her, and were told nobody had seen her since November.

A coronial inquest will be held later this year to try to determine when, where, and how Watcho died and whether anyone else was involved in her demise.
A Melbourne barrister and former university lecturer has been charged with possession of child abuse material and drug offences after detectives from Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police raided his CBD chambers.

Melbourne barrister Harlis Kirimof

Members of the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team arrested Harlis Kirimof last Thursday after executing a warrant at his office at Owen Dixon Chambers West on Lonsdale Street.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed that a 33-year-old man was charged with possession of child abuse material and a drug of dependence.

Kirimof will appear before the Magistrates Court on October 28.
The Victorian opposition has stared down internal dissent from a small number of MPs and committed to support the Andrews governments plans for an independent body that will oversee treaty negotiations with the states First Nations people.

Nationals leader and Indigenous affairs spokesman Peter Walsh said the Coalition would vote in favour of the bill when it came before Parliament this week, but urged the government to do more to close the gap on Indigenous health, education, housing, life expectancy and incarceration.

The opposition will support plans for a Treaty Authority. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Walsh said that one of the things that we want to do as a Coalition ... is actually walk across the land together with our Indigenous community, making sure that we work with them, that their aspirations can be achieved, and particularly that we can work towards improving the Closing the Gap indicators.

The Liberals and Nationals are committed to advancing the treaty process in Victoria in a way that supports self-determination and reconciliation while strengthening community and connection to Country.
London: Australias former attorney-general and most recent high commissioner to the UK George Brandis has been appointed a professor at the Australian National University, focusing on national security, law and policy.



He will start the prestigious position, based at the ANUs National Security College, on July 1.

George Brandis was Australias high commissioner from 2018 until April this year. Credit:Liliana Zaharia

He is the second person to be appointed a professor in the practice of national security by the college, following in the footsteps of Duncan Lewis, who was formerly the head of the spy agency ASIO.

Brandis, as attorney-general, oversaw ASIO and was responsible for national security.
Soho Rep has announced its 2022-23 season, which will feature three world premiere commissions.

The first is Kate Tarker's Montag, which is described as a domestic thriller depicting female friendship. According to a press statement, "Faith and Novella are best friends living in a small German town near an American military base. In Novella's basement apartment, they're practicing some unusual combat drillsarmed with wine, potato chips, and the very best speakers they can afford. Montag is a domestic thriller, a sleep deprivation comedy, and a rebellion celebration under threat of annihilation." It is set to run October 12 through November 13. Dustin Wills, who helmed Soho Rep's hit Wolf Play, directs.

February 15, 2023-March 26, 2023 Soho Rep and the NAATCO National Partnership Project will present the world premiere of Shayok Misha Chowdhury's Public Obscenities, a bilingual play in Bangla and English. According to its press description, "Choton relishes being the translator, toggling nimbly between Bangla and English, Grindr banter and academese. But when he returns to Kolkata with his boyfriend Raheem  to the house his grandfather disappeared from decades ago  an unexpected discovery leaves Choton at the limit of what language can touch." Chowdhury will also direct.

Finally, Soho Rep will present the world premiere of Jillian Walker's The Whitney Album, May 24, 2023-July 2, 2023. It's about the playwright's relationship to the life and death of Whitney Houston. Jenny Koons directs.

As previously reported, the Soho Rep production of Hansol Jung's Wolf Play, will return as part of the forthcoming MCC season.
(The Center Square)  The state of Wyoming is appealing the federal governments recent purchase of over 35,000 acres of land in Natrona County, citing concerns over transparency and public oversight of the land acquisition.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced earlier this month that it acquired the land with $21 million total from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

BLM officials said the land acquisition, which increases access to almost nine miles of the North Platte River, is a big step forward for improving public access.

Wyomings appeal alleges the agency didnt allow for public comments or input from state or local officials. It added that an environmental assessment didnt address potential impacts that the Marton Ranch acquisition will have on tax revenues, grazing, mineral development, and other natural resources.

Gov. Mark Gordon said in a statement Friday that while he values public land access, the acquisition needs public scrutiny.

This action is not about limiting access for sportspeople or challenging the rights of private property owners rights, he said. It is about whether the Federal government can increase its land holdings without public scrutiny, or should it adhere to the same transparent process that private landowners are subject to if they sought to purchase or exchange federal land.

A BLM High Plains District spokesperson told The Center Square that the agency is reviewing the appeal but declined to comment further.

This story may be updated.
Last Call at the Hotel Imperial: The Reporters Who Took on a World at War, by Deborah Cohen. (Penguin Random House/TNS)
1 Worker Dead, 1 Injured in Accident at Lime Plant in Virginia

One person has been killed and another injured in an accident at a lime plant in Virginia, according to officials.

The incident took place on June 20 at the Lhoist Chemical Lime Plant in Giles County, Giles County Sheriffs Office said in a statement on social media. The area is a well-known industrial site for extracting and processing limestone.

Officers from the Sheriffs Office, as well as Pembroke Fire Department, Giles Rescue Squad, Carilion EMS, Newport Rescue Squad, and Celco Emergency Response Team were dispatched to the scene after receiving a 911 call at approximately 3:58 p.m.

Upon arriving at the plant, officials were made aware that an excavator had been engulfed by materials inside of the mine, trapping an employee inside of the cab of the equipment.

A second worker had also sustained minor lime chemical burns after attempting to rescue the other employee who had become trapped. First responders treated the second worker at the scene and he was later released, police said.

First responders entered the mine and assisted mine workers with extricating the equipment operator out of the cab of the equipment which had been knocked on its side and engulfed by the materials inside the mine, police said in a statement.

However, the other employee who had become trapped did not survive.

The equipment operator was found to be deceased at that time, personnel safely extricated the individual from the mine without further incident, officials said.

Both were employed by Gillmann Services, Inc., which provides contracting services at the facility. The victims were not identified.

Police said all other workers at the mine were safe and accounted for following the incident. No other injuries were reported.

First responders cleared the scene at 6:44 p.m. and the mine was promptly shut down. It will remain closed pending further police investigation.

According to its website, the Belgium-headquartered Lhoist Group is a global leader in lime, dolime, and minerals and has a presence in 25 countries with more than 100 facilities around the world.

The Epoch Times has contacted Lhoist Group for comment.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock most often mined from a quarry. It forms the basic building blocks of the construction industry and is the base material from which cement and building stone are made.

However, environmental experts have highlighted a number of issues with limestone mining, including the loss of habitat, high dust emissions, and changes in the land use pattern.
A dose of AstraZeneca vaccine is prepared at COVID-19 vaccination centre in the Odeon Luxe Cinema in Maidstone, UK, on Feb. 10, 2021. (Andrew Couldridge/Reuters)

1st COVID-19 Vaccine Damage Payment in UK Confirmed With Others Expected to Follow

Vikki Spit, whose fiance Lord Zion died after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, has become one of the first recipients of funds under Englands vaccine damage payment scheme (VDPS).

Spit told GB News on Monday that after months of campaigning she was to receive a 120,000 ($160,000) payment following the death of her 48-year-old musician partner and husband-to-be, Lord Zion.

Its the first step in the battle, Spit said. People can no longer sneer at us and say were making stuff up and pretending we dont exist.

This isnt about money as nothing can bring back the people we have lost. This is about recognition, she added.

1,300 Applicants

The first payment was confirmed on Friday 16.6 and we expect others to follow in the next few days, Sarah Moore, a partner at Hausfeld law firm, told The Epoch Times by email.

Hausfeld represents more than 95 families and individuals in England, including those who have experienced a range of severe health conditions and death following the COVID-19 vaccination.

Moore said that in the UK there are currently around 1,300 applicants awaiting an outcome from the VDPS.

We also know historically that the acceptance rate for applications is 1.7 percent in the UK. That means that very many of those applicants will be refused an ex gratia payment [or a payment made voluntarily] under the VDPS. That is inevitably going to lead to financial hardship for some families and potentially resentment and vaccine hesitancy going forward, she added.

Vials labelled AstraZeneca COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine and a syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo, in this illustration photo taken on March 14, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Causal Link

The VDPS is a one-off tax-free payment of 120,000 if someone is proven to have been severely disabled or have died as a result of vaccination from diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, swine flu, and more. To be eligible, claimants must meet a 60 percent disablement criteria.

In December 2020, ministers agreed to add COVID-19 to the scheme, to demonstrate government confidence in the safety profile of any vaccine being used in the vaccination program.

In March, the government said that it estimated that the process will take on average six months, requiring access to peoples medical notes and their previous medical history, because while someone may have had a reaction on the day, we cannot say for sure until we have looked at all the evidence that that is a causal link between the vaccine and the adverse event, even though there may be a strong suggestion that it is.

It is encouraging that there has now been the first payment from the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, not least that there is now recognition that the COVID-19 vaccine has caused a severe medical condition, another applicant, Julian Gooddy, told The Epoch Times.

Gooddy said that he started to suffer two weeks after taking the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and developed Bells palsy with paralysis down one side of his face and mouth, and had difficulty in speaking and blindness in one eye. He said that he was still suffering severe health issues.

He said his issue has always been the lack of support from the medical profession and from the government in regards to compensation, and a lack of any understanding.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

In March, Conservative MP Sir Christoper Chope told The Epoch Times that he believes that tens of thousands have been severely adversely affected by COVID-19 vaccines in the UK.

Chope introduced a private members bill, a piece of legislation to try and explore the issue further after members of the public had told him about COVID-19 vaccine harms.

In June, he asked the secretary of state for health and social care in Parliament, What assessment he has made of the potential link between the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and Guillain-Barre syndrome in the context of the case of Ross Wightman who was awarded compensation from the Canadian Vaccine Injury Support Programme in June 2022 following his diagnosis with that syndrome?

Wightman is one of the first Canadians approved for a payout owing to a COVID-19 vaccine injury. The former pilot has not disclosed his payout, except to say it is short of the maximum amount of 178,000 ($284,000).

Minister for Vaccines and Public Health Maggie Throup responded that a review of the available evidence, including Yellow Card reports and epidemiological studies, indicates that an association with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is possible.

A government spokesperson told The Epoch Times by email that all VDPS claims are medically assessed by an independent, third party medical assessor.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has now started to receive outcomes from the independent medical assessor for the first batch of COVID-19 related claims sent for assessment. We will contact each claimant directly as soon as we have an update on their individual claim, the spokesperson said.

In the UK, the vaccines currently approved for emergency use are those from Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer-BioNTech. All three have legal indemnity protecting the companies from being sued for damages.

The Epoch Times has contacted AstraZeneca for comment.

Lee Harding contributed to this report.
Fletcher Pack, 3, holds a lollipop after receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination at a Walgreens pharmacy in Lexington, S.C., on June 20, 2022. (Sean Rayford/AP Photo)

5 Things to Know as American Babies, Toddlers Start Getting COVID-19 Vaccines

Some of the youngest Americans started getting COVID-19 vaccines on June 20, after U.S. authorities authorized and recommended the shots.

The under-5 population was unable to get a COVID vaccine since the beginning of the pandemic. Now, all Americans except for those younger than 6 months of age can.

Some parents had been waiting for the clearance and immediately took their children to get a shot.

Hes never really played with another kid inside before, McKenzie Pack of Lexington, South Carolina, told the Associated Press after her 3-year-old son got a Moderna dose. This will be a really big change for our family.

Others are holding off, noting that the vaccines have not proven to be as effective as originally promoted.

It seems like everyone whos vaccinated and boosted and fully protected has still gotten COVID, Amy Rands of Oakland, California, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Here are five things to know about young children and the vaccines.

Dosage Amounts

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are now available to young children. Pfizers primary series is three doses, with the second dose advised three to eight weeks after the first, and the third advised at least eight weeks after the second. Modernas second dose is recommended four to eight weeks after the first.

Each dose of Pfizers vaccine is 3 micrograms, or one-third of that given to adults and many older children. Modernas dosage for the youngest population is 25 micrograms, a quarter of that given to adults.

The Pfizer vaccine provides little protection until three doses are administered, the companys trial found.

For people whove gotten that vaccine, whove gotten say two doses of that vaccine, they have to know theyre not protected, and theyre going to have to wait a few months until they are protected. And I just wonder whether parents will understand that, Dr. Paul Offit, who advises the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on vaccines, said during a recent meeting.

Modernas vaccine, meanwhile, needs one fewer dose, but resulted in more children getting fevers.

The vaccines are being administered at pediatricians offices, pharmacies, and other facilities.

Like all COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccinations are being offered for free, with the government footing the bill.

Children at Little Risk From COVID-19

Approximately 2.5 million COVID-19 cases have been recorded among children aged 0 to 4 in the United States through mid-June.

About 40,000 of the infected children, or 0.1 percent, required hospital care, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

About 14 percent of those were admitted for other reasons, according to the data.

Just 215 deaths of children aged 6 months to 4 have involved COVID-19, according to a preliminary count as of late.

Why the Vaccines Were Authorized

Both trials that led to the clearance relied on a technique called immunobridging instead of more traditional clinical efficacy measurements.

The technique allowed Pfizer and Moderna to compare the levels of antibodies in a selection of children to the levels in a random group of adults from trials completed in 2020.

That, the companies and some experts assert, is sufficient to show the vaccines are effective.

The view is far from universal, especially as the vaccines have performed worse against newer variants of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus which causes COVID-19.

Efficacy against infection was measured as a secondary endpoint. The efficacy of Modernas vaccine was substandard, or under 50 percent, and the efficacy of Pfizers vaccine was unreliable.

Both the immunobridging analyses and the efficacy estimates were drawn from small numbers of trial volunteers.

A subgroup of 490 Moderna participants were analyzed for immunogenicity. Pfizers immune response measurements were based on just 220 children.

The efficacy estimates were based on about 4,100 Moderna volunteers and 992 Pfizer participants, respectively, who received the vaccines.

Neither trial returned efficacy results against severe disease or death. There were actually more cases of severe disease among vaccinated Pfizer participants than those who received a placebo.

Government scientists and their advisers say one can assume the vaccines will protect against severe illness and death based on how the vaccines have performed in older age groups. Some experts say that remains to be seen.

Division Over Need

Because of the dearth of data and the small risk COVID-19 poses to young children, along with vaccination safety concerns, experts are divided on whether children should get a vaccine.

The CDC recommends that virtually all children get vaccinated, including those down to 6 months of age. And a number of health care groups and doctors offered support for widespread vaccination.

Pediatricians should promote vaccination and give COVID-19 vaccines, the American Academy of Pediatrics said in a statement.

We must not let up in our efforts to make sure all families can benefit from the protection of these vaccines, according to Dr. Moira Szilagyi, president of the group.

But other experts argue few, if any, children need a vaccine.

The Florida Department of Health said in a statement that it does not recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children, adding that the currently available evidence on COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years is inadequate for assessing risks and benefits.

Another key point: some 70 percent of small children have evidence of prior infection, which gives them a level of protection against re-infection and severe disease.

Many parents of young children are aware of the issues. Just 18 percent planned to get their child vaccinated right away, while 27 percent said they will definitely not get their children vaccinated, according to an April survey. An unpublished survey conducted by the CDC in February and presented during a recent meeting found about half of those parents would definitely or probably get their children vaccinated.

An unpublished survey of pediatricians and other child health care providers that was presented during the same meeting found that around 75 percent of the providers planned to offer COVID-19 vaccines to young children.

Safety Concerns

FDA scientists said the risk of side effects from the vaccines was outweighed by the known and potential benefits, including protecting against severe illness.

Safety data was the most robust out of the three prongs from the trials, drawing from thousands of participants in each of the studies.

A higher percentage of vaccinated participants in both studies reported adverse reactions. There was also a higher percentage of serious adverse events found in Moderna recipients compared to the placebo group, but study investigators and the FDA concluded all but two of them were unrelated to the vaccine.

Authorities said the reactions overall were similar to those seen after routine childhood vaccinations such as measles.

Some outside parties said the trial raised safety concerns, though, and encouraged parents to do research before making the decision on whether to vaccinate their child.

I think its really important that they understand how many people and how many babies were actually in this in the [trials], Kim Witczak, a drug safety advocate told The Epoch Times. This one decision would be one that they will live the rest of their life. So they should definitely take the time and familiarize themselves with the data.
6 Injured, 3 in Critical Condition After Taxi Jumps Curb in New York

Six people are injured, three critically, after a New York City taxi cab swerved onto a sidewalk in central Manhattan hitting a group of pedestrians, police said.

The crash took place around 1 p.m. local time in New York Citys Flatiron District near 29th Street.

The cab was on West 29th Street turning south onto a narrow section of Broadway, when it hit a person on a bicycle, and then crossed through the bike lane and onto a sidewalk. The vehicle struck two women before stopping against the side of the building and trapping the two people.

Police said bystanders rushed in to try and lift the taxi away from the two women.

About 15 to 20 New Yorkers attempted to pick this cab off this women, said John Chell, the deputy police chief of the NYPDs Patrol Services Bureau.

In total we have six victims at the hospital including the cab driver. We have three critical, three non critical, he added.

Mayor Eric Adams issued a public statement thanking the people who helped the two women.

Traffic safety is all of our concern, and I will continue working and taking action every day to keep New Yorkers and everyone else visiting our city safe on our streets, he said. I also want to thank the numerous New Yorkers who came to the aid of those injured and displayed that New Yorkers will always be there for each other.

Police said it appeared to be accidental. An investigation is underway.
American Airlines to Drop Flights to 3 Cities Due to Pilot Shortage

American Airlines has announced it will end services to three U.S. cities in the fall citing a regional pilot shortage.

The three cities that will no longer be serviced by the airline are Toledo, Ohio; Ithaca, New York; and Islip, New York, according to an airline spokesperson.

Were extremely grateful for the care and service our team members provided to our customers in Islip, Ithaca, and Toledo, and are working closely with them during this time, the spokesperson said in a statement obtained by The Hill. Well proactively reach out to customers scheduled to travel after this date to offer alternate arrangements.

The flights to the three cities will end on Sept. 7.

As U.S. travel demand surges, some airlines have struggled to rebuild their capacity to carry the large numbers of passengers wanting to travel, many for the first time since the pandemic began in 2020.

Fox reported that airlines have reported in early June that there is a shortage of around 12,000 pilots, resulting in a reduced number of flights as travel demand booms.

The large numbers of flight cancellations and disruptions in May and June prompted Delta Air Lines pilots to publish an open letter to customers saying they shared the frustration of passengers over recent flight delays and disruptions, which they said were unacceptable.

We are disheartened when we witness the impact of your disrupted travel plans, the pilots wrote in an open letter, in which they said they were flying a record amount of overtime to help you get to your destination.

At the current rate, by this fall, our pilots will have flown more overtime in 2022 than in the entirety of 2018 and 2019 combined, our busiest years to date, they wrote.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has said the U.S. government may take action against the airlines over the number of cancellations, once his department sees how airlines handle increased travel over the Fourth of July holiday.

That is happening to a lot of people, and that is exactly why we are paying close attention here to what can be done and how to make sure that the airlines are delivering, Buttigieg said on June 18. He also didnt elaborate on what his agency might do.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has said that passenger volume has been approaching pre-pandemic levels, which is expected to peak during the summer.

Around 2.44 million people were screened by TSA at airports in the United States on Friday, the largest number on any day since Nov. 28, 2021, according to the TSA.

But thousands of airport and airline staff were also laid off during the pandemic economic shutdowns, both in the United States and around the world. Some airport and airlines have reportedly struggled to attract employees who now hold fears over job security.
Australia's new deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles smiles during a swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Canberra on May 23, 2022. (Photo by Saeed Khan / AFP via Getty Images)

Australias Defence Minister Visits India to Strengthen Defence Ties

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles on Monday arrived in India to hold a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart in a bid to bolster defence ties.

In a post on Twitter on Tuesday, Marles praised India as a top-tier partner and a close friend to Australia.

I look forward to advancing our ongoing defence engagement as Comprehensive Strategic Partners and reiterate our commitment for closer cooperation in the #IndoPacific, he said in the Twitter post.

Arrived in India  a top-tier partner + close friend to Australia. I look forward to advancing our ongoing defence engagement as Comprehensive Strategic Partners and reiterate our commitment for closer cooperation in the #IndoPacific. pic.twitter.com/68bxyCkxyf  Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) June 20, 2022

Prior to the trip, Marles noted that his first bilateral meeting with Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh would be instrumental in strengthening the two countries relationship.

The rules-based international order that has brought peace and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific for decades is experiencing pressure as we face shifts in the geostrategic order, he said in a statement on Monday.

Australia stands ready to work closely with India in support of an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific.

Marles New Delhi visit comes after about a week after he joined defence talks in Japan. The move was set against a backdrop of Chinas rising military, economic and political influence in the Indo-Pacific, raising concerns from Australia and its Quad allies, including India, the U.S. and Japan.

It also comes as India struggles to defend its eastern border of Aksai Chin, which China has effectively taken control over.

But despite the bilateral chill, India, which relies heavily on China for trade, has been less vocal about Beijings military aggression than its Quad partners. The India-China trade surpassed the $100 billion mark for the first time in 2021 to reach $125 billion and even increased by 15.3 percent to over US$31 billion in the first quarter of 2o22.

The Quad partner has also remained reluctant to directly condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, depending on Kremlin for a large amount of its arms imports as it moves to deter Chinese expansion on its border.

On a separate trip, Australias home affairs minister is meeting Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and foreign minister Gamini Peiris.

Clare ONeil will discuss cooperative measures to tackle transnational crime, including people smuggling, as boats leaving Sri Lankas economic hardships to trickle towards Australia.

ONeils trip coincided with Australia announcing $50 million worth of developmental assistance for food and health care in Sri Lanka.

AAP contributed to this report.
The Osaka District Court in Osaka, Japan, in September 2021. (Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Constitutional in Japan, Court Rules

A Japanese court on Monday dismissed a lawsuit filed by three same-sex couples who argued that Japans ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.

Three same-sex couples in their 30s and 50s contended in Osaka District Court that the law prohibiting them from marrying was unjust discrimination and sought 1 million yen ($7,400) in damages for each person.

The court rejected their claims and ruled the ban was constitutional, given Japans legislation that states that marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes, which excludes same-sex marriage.

The court said that there had not been enough discussions over the legalization of same-sex marriage in Japan, but that a new system could be formed in the future to accommodate the interests of same-sex couples.

The three couples, two of them male and one female, plan to appeal the courts decision, Kyodo News reported.

It is such a disappointment. Im not convinced [by the courts verdict] at all, said Machi Sakata, one of the plaintiffs.

Their lawyers claimed that the Osaka court provided no solid grounds to overturn the Sapporo courts verdict from last year, which ruled that the ban on same-sex marriage violated the Japanese Constitutions guarantee of equality.

In March 2021, the three same-sex couples filed a lawsuit in the Sapporo District Court and demanded 1 million yen in damages per person. The court ruled in favor of their claims but said they were not entitled to damages.

Amnesty Internationals East Asia researcher, Boram Jang, said that Japans ban on same-sex marriage was a damaging setback to equal rights in the country and was discriminatory to same-sex couples.

Last years ruling by the Sapporo District Court, which held that Japans marriage ban was unconstitutional, offered hope of progress on this issue, but todays verdict is a crushing blow to same-sex couples who will feel they are back to square one, Jang stated.

In a statement, the human rights group called on Japans government to undertake a thorough review of all laws, policies, and practices that discriminate against same-sex couples in all walks of life.

However, a Justice Ministry official told Kyodo News, The court recognized our claims that provisions in the civil law regarding marriage are not against the Constitution.

The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001. According to the Human Rights Campaign, a total of 31 countries have legalized same-sex marriage, including Taiwan, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.
The "Lady of Justice," a 12 foot high, gold leaf statue is pictured on top of the dome of the Central Criminal Court, commonly referred to as The Old Bailey in central London on Aug. 21, 2016. (Niklas Halle'n/AFP via Getty Images)

Barristers to Down Their Wigs Next Week in Strike Over Legal Aid Money

Barristers are expected to man picket lines outside the Old Bailey and many other criminal courts next week after the legal profession in England and Wales voted to go on strike as it pressures the government to increase legal aid funding.

Justice Minister James Cartlidge described the outcome of the ballot as disappointing and said it would inevitably add to the backlog of trials.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA), which represents barristers in England and Wales, said 81.5 percent of its 2,000 members voted and 53 percent of them approved of industrial action. They will withdraw their labour on June 27 and 28 and will ramp it up until the week of July 18 when there will be a five-day strike.

The CBA is demanding the government honour the recommendations of the Criminal Legal Aid Review which said barristers fees should go up by 15 percent.

Jo Sidhu QC and Kirsty Brimelow QC, from the CBA, said: Without immediate action to halt the exodus of criminal barristers from our ranks, the record backlog that has crippled our courts will continue to inflict misery upon victims and defendants alike, and the public will be betrayed.

They said, the survival of a profession of specialist criminal advocates was at stake.

The strikes are expected to cause major disruption to criminal trials but barrister Rachel Chan wrote on Twitter: This is epic, unprecedented & significant.

The strike is the latest step the CBA has taken to try and force the government to increase legal aid rates.

In April barristers refused to carry out return workstepping in to cover court hearings for colleagues whose cases are overrunningbut now Justice Secretary Dominic Raab comes under more pressure.

Latest figures, in April 2022, from the HM Courts and Tribunals Service, show there were 58,271 outstanding cases at crown courts.

Cartlidge added: The 15 percent pay increase we consulted on would mean a typical criminal barrister earning around 7,000 extra per year and only last week I confirmed we are moving as quickly as possible to introduce fee rises by the end of September. We encourage the Criminal Bar Association to work with us, rather than escalate to unnecessary strike action, as it will only serve to harm victims as they are forced to wait longer for justice.

PA Media contributed to this report.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks before signing nine bills into law with the goal of improving military veterans' lives in the State Dining Room at the White House on June 7, 2022. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Biden: We Need More Money to Plan for the Second Pandemic

President Joe Biden said his administration needs more funding for not just COVID-19 vaccines, but to plan for another pandemic.

We do need more money, Biden told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. We dont just need more money for vaccines for children eventually. We need more money to plan for the second pandemic. Theres gonna be another pandemic. He did not elaborate.

We have to think ahead, he said, adding that is why we need the money.

Biden was making those comments as COVID-19 vaccines rolled out for children as young as 6 months after both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) authorized Pfizers and Modernas vaccines.

Some municipalities announced over the weekend that those vaccines will be administered starting Tuesday. Monday was a federal holiday.

With the latest vaccine rollout Tuesday, Biden said there is finally, some peace of mind and described it as a monumental step forward in his administrations COVID-19 response.

The federal government has already made at least 10 million COVID-19 doses available to states and health providers and will rely on pediatricians and other health care providers to dole them out, officials said. Pharmacies and other health care providers will also give the vaccines.

What the Data Shows

Federal data suggest that since October 2021, only about 29 percent of children aged 5 to 11 are considered fully vaccinated after the Pfizer vaccine was authorized. About 36 percent in that age group have received one dose.

Meanwhile, studies have also shown that children and especially young children have exceptionally low mortality and hospitalization rates compared with other groups. In general, elderly and individuals with compromised immune systems are the most at risk from COVID-19.

Some polls targeting parents of small children show that the vast majority of those parents do not their kids to receive the shots despite some mainstream news outlets and health officials claiming that parents are eagerly anticipating the rollout. In May, a Kaiser Family Foundation poll showed that only 18 percent of American parents with very young children were planning on having them receive the shots.

Among the states, Florida is the only one to not place any orders for COVID-19 vaccines for children under the age of 5, according to Gov. Ron DeSantiss spokeswoman Christina Pushaw. On June 20, DeSantis doubled down and told a crowd that his office is recommending against vaccinating babies.

We are not going to have any program where were trying to jab 6-month-old babies with mRNA. Thats just the reality, the Republican governor said. Our Department of Health has looked at it. There is no proven benefit to put a baby on mRNA, so thats why our recommendation is against it, he added.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walk at Mykhailivska Square, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 17, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via Reuters)

Boris Johnson Flies to Kyiv and Returns a Favor

Commentary

Boris Johnson flew to Kyiv on Friday, June 17, to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, to demonstrate the UKs ongoing support in its war with Russia. Specifically, he offered to re-establish a military training program, which first began in 2015.

But he was also returning a favor for Zelenkyys backing during attempts by Conservative MPs to remove him from office over the Partygate scandal.

The president sent a message supporting Johnson prior to his vote of no-confidence in the UK Parliament. Afterward, Zelenskyy said, Im glad we havent lost an important ally, this is great news.

As Russia is now viewed by many Tories as the number one national security threat, the presidents support may have won back more than a few votes to the Bo-Jo camp.

Normally, bigger nations come to the aid of smaller ones and free nations help occupied ones, but the ZelenskyyJohnson relationship also operates on another level. They are two beleaguered leaders looking out for each other. Indeed, its hard to know whos helping who the most.

But such bonne-amie hasnt always existed. The Ukrainian president was initially very critical of Western interferenceat a press conference on Jan. 28, he accused both Johnson and President Joe Biden of exaggerating the threat caused by Russian troops on his border.

Foreign Policy, the Last Refuge of a Politician

Johnsons warnings of an imminent lightning strike by Russia to take out Kyiv was rejected by Zelenskyy. Johnsons motivation was also questioned in the UK as his intervention coincided with the publication of the Gray report into illegal parties at UK government properties during the lockdowns.

Zelenskyy expressed his displeasure to a gathering of Western reporters in Kyiv: These signals have come even from respected world leaders, who speak openly and with undiplomatic language. They say simply, Tomorrow, there will be war. This is panic. How much does it cost for our state?

But his views had completely changed when he appeared alongside Vice President Kamala Harris at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 19, just weeks later, and delivered a defiant address.

He said, Today, we have neither weapons nor security, adding, I want to believe that the North Atlantic Treaty and Article 5 will be more effective than the Budapest Memorandum. (pdf)

By that, he meant being part of the Wests defensive pact with its nuclear shield would be more effective than standing alone.

Journalists chose to overlook his glaring volte-face, but at a recent Democratic fundraising event in Los Angeles, Biden reminded them of Zelenskyys initial hesitancy

Recalling his own hawkish stance on Russian intentions, he said: I know a lot of people thought I was maybe exaggerating, but I knew, and we had data to sustain, he [Putin] was going in off the border. There was no doubt. And Zelenskyy didnt want to hear it, nor did a lot of people.

The Zelenskyy administration remembers it differently. Presential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said, Ukraine understood the intentions of the Russians, expected one or another aggressive scenario [and] prepared for it. He added, Undoubtedly, the volume of the invasion, which we saw on Feb. 24, shocked many countries, including our partners.

Prior to the invasion, German intelligence chief Bruno Kahl had expressed doubts that Russia had made up its mind about Ukraine. He told Reuters, I believe that the decision to attack has not yet been made.

He did not view the build-up as stage one of a Putin Blitzkrieg of Western Europe, as some political leaders have warned. Instead, Khal believed Russia was waiting for a response to its list of demands, namely:

Ukraine should not be allowed to join NATO.

NATO should pull troops out of Poland and the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

NATO should not deploy missiles in countries close to or bordering Russia.

Zelenskyy knew this and yet he chose to travel to the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 19 and expressed his desire for Ukraine to join NATO, with the implication that NATO nuclear missiles would be located on Ukrainian soil and aimed at Russia.

His speech was guaranteed to cause panic in the Kremlin and, just five days later, Putin let slip the dogs of war. Yet there would be another twist in this sad story and another Zelenskyy volte-face.

After a month of bitter fighting, the Ukrainian president told his people in a 90-minute video call: Security guarantees and neutrality, non-nuclear status of our state. We are ready to go for it.

This was a recognition of Russias demands prior to its invasion, and a complete reversal of his previous stance in Munich, which was itself a reversal of his original position.

If There Had Been No Munich Speech, Would There Have Been a War?

The most plausible explanation for Zelenskyys change in Munich is that Kamala Harris and others in the Biden administration turned his head with promises of NATO support and membership.

This might have seemed like the best way to resolve his problems in Crimea and the Donbas region and to stop any other territorial ambitions Putin may have in Ukraine.

But his Cuban missile-type threat caused such a shockwave in Moscow that it provoked Putin to move away from his policy of intimidating Ukraine into submitting to his demands, to invading it before NATO could move in.

Although, even the Cuban analogy doesnt fully equate to the strategic threat the Russian leader perceived.

In October 1962, President John F. Kennedy had to deal with a vulnerable fleet of 25 Soviet cargo ships operating thousands of miles from home. Whereas if Ukraine joins NATO, Putin will have on his border a fully integrated nuclear force with around 3.5 million troops and civilians.

That seems a more likely reason to attack than Bidens recent assertion that Putins aim is trying to obliterate the [Ukrainian] culture, not just the nation, but the culture.

If the Russian president was trying to irradicate its culture, or even take over the country, he would have removed its leaders by now. But Zelenskyy is still at liberty and proving to be a formidable opponent who enjoys huge international acclaim.

Zelenskyy went for the big prize of NATO security, egged on by a Biden administration seeking credibility after its Afghanistan debacle and a British prime minister looking to save his own political career.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A protester holds a sign with an image of detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi as they prepare to face off against security forces during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon, Burma, on March 5, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Cambodia Invites Burmese Juntas Defense Minister to ASEAN Summit

Cambodia has invited the Burmese juntas defense minister to the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, despite the pleas of hundreds of human rights groups to bar him from attending due to the juntas atrocities against civilians.

General Nem Sowath, director-general of Cambodias General Department of Policy and Foreign Affairs at the Defense Ministry, said on June 17 that all ASEAN defense ministers had been invited to the June 22 meeting.

This will include Burmese regime defense minister General Mya Tun Oo, who faced U.S. sanctions for his role in ousting the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese media The Irrawaddy reported.

As we are the chair for this year, we have mentioned that ASEAN is 10, which makes it necessary to invite all ASEAN members. We also have the consensus from eight ASEAN countries, Sowath told reporters.

The decision was made despite the demands of 677 regional and international civil society organizations that Mya Tun Oo be barred from attending the ASEAN defense ministers meeting on account of his role in the military regimes commission of ongoing atrocity crimes.

In a letter to ASEAN defense ministers, the groups claimed that inviting Mya Tun Oo to the ASEAN defense ministers meeting (ADMM) would be inconsistent with the blocs earlier resolution that barred the juntas political representatives from attending any meetings.

In allowing the junta to participate in ADMM, ASEAN is further risking complicity in the juntas atrocity crimes by providing support and legitimacy to the military and encouraging a military that is waging a nationwide campaign of terror, they said.

At least 700,000 people have been forcibly displaced since the junta seized power in a coup on Feb. 1, 2021. The troops had killed over 1,900 people and arbitrarily arrested 14,000 people as a result of anti-junta protests.

As ASEAN defense ministers, we appeal to you to disinvite Mya Tun Oo from ADMM and all future meetings. Engage with the National Unity Government as the legitimate government of Myanmar, and work to resolve the crisis in Myanmar.

Cambodia is the current chair of the 10-member ASEAN. The bloc has adopted a five-point consensus as a measure designed to restore democracy in Burma (also known as Myanmar).

In January, Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen went ahead with his trip to Burma and met with military leader General Min Aung Hlaing despite calls from several human rights groups to cancel his trip.

Citing the five-point consensus on Burma, the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights said on Twitter that Hun Sens move to meet with the military regime undermines ASEAN credibility and threatens efforts to restore the countrys democracy.

The 10-member ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
A team of Cambodian and American scientists and researchers, along with Fisheries Administration officials, prepare to release a giant freshwater stingray back into the Mekong River in the northeastern province of Stung Treng, Cambodia, on June 14, 2022. (Chhut Chheana/Wonders of the Mekong via AP)

Cambodian Catches Worlds Largest Recorded Freshwater Fish

BANGKOKThe worlds largest recorded freshwater fish, a giant stingray, has been caught in the Mekong River in Cambodia, according to scientists from the Southeast Asian nation and the United States.

The stingray, captured on June 13, measured almost 4 meters (13 feet) from snout to tail and weighed slightly under 300 kilograms (660 pounds), according to a statement Monday by Wonders of the Mekong, a joint CambodianU.S. research project.

The previous record for a freshwater fish was a 293-kilogram (646-pound) Mekong giant catfish, discovered in Thailand in 2005, the group said.

The stingray was snagged by a local fisherman south of Stung Treng in northeastern Cambodia. The fisherman alerted a nearby team of scientists from the Wonders of the Mekong project, which has publicized its conservation work in communities along the river.

The scientists arrived within hours of getting a post-midnight call with the news, and were amazed at what they saw.

Yeah, when you see a fish this size, especially in freshwater, it is hard to comprehend, so I think all of our team was stunned, Wonders of the Mekong leader Zeb Hogan said in an online interview from the University of Nevada in Reno. The university is partnering with the Cambodian Fisheries Administration and USAID, the U.S. governments international development agency.

Freshwater fish are defined as those that spend their entire lives in freshwater, as opposed to giant marine species such as bluefin tuna and marlin, or fish that migrate between fresh and saltwater like the huge beluga sturgeon.

The stingrays catch was not just about setting a new record, he said.

The fact that the fish can still get this big is a hopeful sign for the Mekong River,  Hogan said, noting that the waterway faces many environmental challenges.

The Mekong River runs through China, Burma (also known as Myanmar), Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It is home to several species of giant freshwater fish but environmental pressures are rising. In particular, scientists fear a major program of dam building in recent years may be seriously disrupting spawning grounds.

Big fish globally are endangered. Theyre high-value species. They take a long time to mature. So if theyre fished before they mature, they dont have a chance to reproduce, Hogan said. A lot of these big fish are migratory, so they need large areas to survive. Theyre impacted by things like habitat fragmentation from dams, obviously impacted by overfishing. So about 70 percent of giant freshwater fish globally are threatened with extinction, and all of the Mekong species.

The team that rushed to the site inserted a tagging device near the tail of the mighty fish before releasing it. The device will send tracking information for the next year, providing unprecedented data on giant stingray behavior in Cambodia.

A team of Cambodian and American scientists and researchers, along with Fisheries Administration officials, measure the length of a giant freshwater stingray from snout to tail before being released back into the Mekong River in the northeastern province of Stung Treng, Cambodia, on June 14, 2022. (Sinsamout Ounboundisane/FISHBIO via AP)

The giant stingray is a very poorly understood fish. Its name, even its scientific name, has changed several times in the last 20 years, Hogan said. Its found throughout Southeast Asia, but we have almost no information about it. We dont know about its life history. We dont know about its ecology, about its migration patters.

Researchers say its the fourth giant stingray reported in the same area in the past two months, all of them females. They think this may be a spawning hotspot for the species.

Local residents nicknamed the stingray Boramy, or full moon, because of its round shape and because the moon was on the horizon when it was freed on June 14. In addition to the honor of having caught the record-breaker, the lucky fisherman was compensated at market rate, meaning he received a payment of around $600.

By Jerry Harmer
The vaccination campaign is expanding to American children. This week, locations around the country are opening up for children under 5 to get the shot.

The chief White House COVID-19 doctor is appealing to parents around the country to have their children under 5 years of age vaccinated. However, many questions remain as to whether its necessary, but more importantly, is the risk worth the benefit?

The White House is scrambling to message to the American people that they are looking for solutions to high gas prices. The president says hes considering certain actions, as mixed messages linger over President Joe Bidens trip to the Middle East.

Another important decision looms large: will the United States lift tariffs on China? Biden says hell speak with Chinas Xi Jinping, while his own cabinet continues to show differences of opinion.

With the abortion debate heating up, a top official at the United Nations is criticizing the United States, while at the same time praising communist China.

Lily Tang Williams is running for Congress in the state of New Hampshire. She says she fears that the country she loves is turning into the country she left behind.

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Chief of Staff of Democrat Congressman Defaced Rep. Greenes Posters: Document

The chief of staff of a member of Congress defaced posters put up by a colleague, according to a newly published document.

The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) identified Timothy Hysom, chief of staff for Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), as the man who defaced the posters, which were put up by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), according to an affidavit obtained and published by Just the News.

The poster was defaced seven times between Jan. 24 and March 11.

Each time, stickers with Bible verses were placed on the poster, which states There are Only Two Genders: Male and Female Trust the Science.

After most of the acts took place, a surveillance camera was placed in the area and monitored by USCP personnel. The camera caught a man identified as Hysom defacing the poster on March 10 and March 11 in the same pattern as the previous defacements, according to the affidavit.

An alert was issued and, based off the alert, Hysom was stopped by officers, but allowed to go on his way. Thats when he defaced the poster yet again, according to footage from the camera.

Hysom declined to give an interview to law enforcement and retained a lawyer. The USCP officer who penned the affidavit, which was entered in support of an arrest warrant, said that Hysom destroyed seven posters for a combined loss of $350. Hysom violated District of Columbia law that prohibits people from willfully and wantonly defacing public or private property.

Prosecution Declined

A spokesman for Greene told The Epoch Times via email that the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia informed Greene that Hysom would not be prosecuted. A USCP spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email that a person who defaced posters put up outside a congressmembers office was referred for prosecution, but the U.S. attorneys office declined to prosecute, so without a filed criminal case we will not release the name to the public.

The U.S. attorneys office did not respond to a request for comment.

Matt Corridoni, a spokesman for Auchincloss, defended what Hysom did, saying regulations bar posters from being placed in hallways outside of members offices.

Adhering a stickerto a poster that shouldnt be there in the first placeis hardly a federal crime. What Tim did was to adhere a series of stickers to foul, mean spirited, bullying posters outside the Congresswomans office. These stickers were never threatening and always respectful, Corridoni told The Epoch Times in an email.

One sticker, according to the police report, was a picture of Jesus that stated: I never knew you, MTG. Love (a heart sign) GOD. Matthew 7:21-23. Another said: Pharisee: a member of an ancient Jewish sect, distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law, and commonly held to have pretensions to superior sanctity. A self-righteous person; a hypocrite. Another stated, True Disciples of Christ dont say the thing you say, act the way you act, and treat people the way you treat people.

While the Capitol Police were obligated to pass along Rep. Greenes accusation of destruction of public property to the U.S. Attorneys office, they have set aside the charges and have declined to prosecute such a ridiculous accusation. Congressman Auchincloss knew nothing about what his chief of staff had done, Corridoni added.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) joins a Republican congressional delegation at the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas, on April 25, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Two-tiered Justice System

Auchincloss is one of the members of Congress whose staffers have been accused of recently letting a crew with Stephen Colberts show into a building near the Capitol before the crew was arrested. Corridoni previously told The Epoch Times that they do not condone any inappropriate activity and cannot speak to anything that happened after their contact with the crew.

During a speech on the House of Representatives floor on June 21, Greene said the lack of prosecution highlights a two-tiered justice system.

Hysom previously worked for Rep. Adam Lowenthal (D-Calif.). During that time, Hysom told a news outlet that he was disgusted by a man who entered the congressmans office and took down a gay pride flag. Staffers, including Hysom, appeared to support prosecuting the man, who was not prosecuted.

Hysom was so offended he chased that man down the hall, they wanted him prosecuted. But yet the chief of staff for Jake Auchincloss feels completely above the law and feels and says that my sign saying theres only two genders, male and female, he says its a statement of hate, and therefore hes entitled to attacking me for it, Greene said.

You see that is complete hypocrisy. That is not the way this works. Why is one above the other? It shouldnt be. I thought in America, arent we all equal? Arent all our belief prospected? Isnt our speech protected? Why is my religion under attack? Why is Christianity under attack? Why is my belief in defending women and girls privacy rights in sports, why is that wrong but yet its ok for him to defend the pride flag and be angered and upset and want to arrest and prosecute someone when they attack it? Two-tiered justice system.
China Power Demand Sets New Records as Heat Waves Bake Northern Cities

BEIJINGPower consumption surged in Chinese provinces north of the Yangtze river due to warmer-than-normal weather, with regions like Henan, Chinas third-most populous province, being tested to meet record electricity demand.

The maximum power demand load in Henan, which has a population of nearly 100 million people, set a new record of 65.34 million kilowatts on Sunday, state television reported on Monday.

While the provincial grid was able to cope with the heavy demand, electricity supply in Henan is expected to be relatively difficult this summer, according to the report, with the maximum load seen rising further to nearly 75 million kilowatts.

As temperatures climb, demand for power rises as homes and businesses crank up air conditioning, peaking typically around the end of July and beginning of August in China.

Temperatures in Henans capital Zhengzhou, where major Taiwanese Apple supplier Foxconn has a production hub, have reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in recent days.

In contrast to the heaviest rainfall in 60 years in southern China, Henan and nearby Shandong and parts of Hebei have battled with scorching heat waves and drought-like conditions this month.

The high temperatures will persist through Tuesday, with Henan, Hebei, and Shandong still the core areas of the warm weather, Chinas meteorological administration said.

Land surface temperatures at 92 weather stations in Henan exceeded 60 degrees Celsius this month, with one registering 74.1 degrees, local media reported.

In Jiangsu, the maximum power demand load in Chinas fourth-most populous province broke above 100 million kilowatts on June 17 for the first time this summer, 19 days earlier than in 2021.

Prolonged periods of high temperatures could lead authorities to limit, stagger, or ration power consumption of industrial users during peak periods.
Aerial view of a combine harvester working at a wheat field in Bohu County, Bayingol Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, in Xinjiang, China, on July 8, 2021. (Que Hure/VCG via Getty Images)

Chinas Theft of US Agriculture Tech Secrets Is Enormous National Security Threat: Analyst

Tiny as it is, a seed is like a mini biological computer. Inside it is all the genetic codeintellectual property containing billions of dollars of potential worththat in the hands of adversaries could give them control over the food production of a country and beyond.

One unmistakable adversary in this area is China, according to Ross Kennedy, a U.S.-based logistics and supply chain analyst at Fortis Analysis.

For China, home to 1.4 billion people, possessing the means to increase their own domestic food security is job number one, he told NTD, sister media outlet of The Epoch Times.

Lying, stealing, barteringwhatever it takes to get that technologyChina has proven willing to do.

Kennedy calls it a domain for gray zone asymmetric warfare. By stealing U.S. agricultural technologies and developing a version of its own, China would be able to fill the countrys most basic needs while undercutting America economically and diplomatically in its pursuit of global leadership in agricultural production, he said.

Most people dont realize that you could steal some kernels of corn, or a few soybeans, and perpetuate a multibillion-dollar industrial espionage campaign, Kennedy said.

If youre able to crack the code of a genetically modified organism, then you would be able to steal hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars of intellectual property.

In recent years, if you could do that, youre lifting the secrets to life of that corn, that soybean, and giving yourself an enormous step ahead in terms of time and cost advantage on feeding your own population.

A farmer dries corn grains at Chengkan village in Huangshan, Anhui Province of China, on Sept. 16, 2021. (Shi Yalei/VCG via Getty Images)

Seeds as a Weapon

China is the worlds largest agricultural importer, with imports totaling $133.1 billion in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Plagued by shrinking arable land and natural disasters, and with swelling demand for food to feed one-sixth of the worlds population, the country has for years shown considerable interest in U.S. agricultural assets, among which the most valuable and easily transferable property are seeds, according to a May research report (pdf) by the U.S.China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC).

Seed innovation has generated billions of dollars for U.S. agricultural biotechnology firms such as Monsanto. In 2021, the United States exported around $174 million worth of seeds to China, accounting for 15 percent of its total exports, according to the report.

The importance of advancing seed technology is not lost on China. Chinese state media have described seeds as chips of agriculture, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping has long elevated grain security as a core basis of national security.

In an inspection tour of a seed lab in Chinas southernmost province of Hainan in April, Xi called on the country to hold Chinese seeds tightly with our own hands to keep the Chinese rice bowls steady and achieve food security.

But some Chinese scientists have taken a shortcut by outright stealing U.S. agricultural trade secrets.

Days before Xis trip to Hainan, Chinese national Xiang Haitao, a former imaging scientist at Monsanto in Missouri, was sentenced by a U.S. federal court to 29 months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing trade secrets from his former employer. Xiang had attempted to steal an algorithm that helps farmers optimize agricultural productivity, in order to benefit a Chinese state-run research institute, prosecutors said.

In another case, Mo Hailong, director of international business at a Beijing-based agribusiness with ties to the Chinese regime, attempted to steal corn seeds from testing fields at Monsanto and another U.S. seed producer, Dupont Pioneer, in 2011 and 2012. Mo was sentenced to three years in federal prison in 2016, after pleading guilty to conspiring to steal trade secrets.

In 2018, two Chinese rice researchers visited various U.S. research and production facilities. U.S. prosecutors who charged them with a conspiracy to steal rice production technology said they found stolen rice seeds in the researchers luggage at the Honolulu airport as they attempted to fly back to China. They are currently at large in China. Two other Chinese rice researchers who helped organize their trip were convicted in a connected case in 2018 and sentenced to one and 10 years, respectively.

It seems silly, but if you can get three, four, five, six, 10 different varieties of seed, now youve got the ability to not only reverse engineer that seeds tolerance to various pesticides or insects, Kennedy said, but also, through reverse engineering, unlock a seeds ability to produce high yields and adaptability to various climates, such as hotter and wetter environments.

Wheat is displayed for judging at the Cedar County Fair in Tipton, Iowa, on July 13, 2018. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Theres places in China where they would love to be able to grow things like corn or soybeans, but they dont really have access to the good genetic technology to make seeds that can thrive in more challenging conditions, Kennedy said.

So one seed is a problem, he said. But if China gets its hands on multiple seeds, suddenly now youve got a much larger issue.

The communist regime could also weaponize seeds to effectively wipe out an adversarys ability to produce crops at scale, Kennedy said. It could do this by turning on or off the genetic triggers that cause crops to fail, create toxins in plants to poison animals, or create weakness to certain types of bacteria or fungi to dramatically increase the disease pressure on the land, he said.

Massive Diplomatic Lever

With only a handful of domestic players such as Dow Chemical Company and Dupont controlling much of the U.S. food production, China has its obvious targets, Kennedy said.

You really only need to penetrate or create problems with one, he said. Now youre talking about 1.4 billion mouths to feed in a place like China that used to have to buy American and European genetic technology. And now they have the means to do their own and race ahead and provide that to the rest of the world, and undermine U.S. efforts in that way as well.

Such technology theft can become a massive diplomatic lever for China and allow it to undermine American diplomatic and national security efforts worldwide, he said.

In the same way they would export construction technology for [the] Belt and Road [Initiative], you could also do Belt and Road with food and with energy, Kennedy said, referring to Beijings trillion-dollar project to facilitate trade and infrastructure partnerships with Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.

According to Kennedy, in places such as Africa where theres an abundance of arable land and labor but a lack of modern seed technology, China could come in and say, Hey, we can give the farm equipment, the methods, the machinery, and this very expensive intellectual property. We can provide the soil to you to lift yourself up out of food issues or food poverty, but we want access to these critical minerals. Or, We want to build a military base on your shoreline, or whatever it may be.

Sudanese farmers snack on peanuts harvested on a farm in Ardashiva village in Sudans east-central al-Jazirah state, 70 km south of the capital, on Aug. 8, 2020. (Ashraf Shazly/AFP via Getty Images)

Critics of the Belt and Road Initiative have dubbed the project a form of debt-trap diplomacy, which saddles developing nations with sustainable debt levels and thus leaves them vulnerable to ceding strategic infrastructure and resources to Beijing. In September, research lab AidData counted at least 42 countries with public debt exposure to China exceeding a tenth of its gross domestic product.

But Kennedy noted that genetically modified seeds differ from construction projects in that they have a relatively short life span: Each seed is only good once, and only really keeps in condition in a bag for a year or two.

This is a way that China has an annual way of maintaining control over certain things, he said.

By controlling the seeds, China gets to dictate the terms that the countries dependent upon the resource must follow.

Its a variant of debt-trap diplomacy, but its also one that hits immediately and hits very, very close to home in a way that maybe repossessing your bridge or your railroad does not, he said.

Securing Land for China

Chinese purchases of American farmland, another facet of Beijings involvement in the U.S. agricultural sector, have also been raising economic and national security alarms.

In 2013, Chinese meat processor Shuanghui International Holdings (now WH Group) took over the worlds leading pork producer, Virginia-based Smithfield Foods, marking the largest Chinese acquisition of an American consumer brand to date.

The deal, according to the USCC report, gave the Hong Kong-based firm more than 146,000 acres of land spreading across six states, supplying China with record amounts of pork in 2020 as African Swine Fever dwindled herds and pandemic lockdowns disrupted production in China.

Beijings goal is to be able to convert as much American farmland as possible to exclusively provide for China, Kennedy said.

Now you have secured on that acre, and scale that however many hundreds of thousands of acres, youve secured your own supply chain for your country as the owner of that land, even if its on foreign soil, he said.

A machine seeds corn and soybean at a field in Liaocheng, in Chinas eastern Shandong Province on April 27, 2022 shows. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Officially, Chinese investment in U.S. farmland has ballooned more than 25 times, from 13,720 acres to 352,140 acres between 2010 and 2020, according to a 2020 USDA report (pdf).

While this only represents roughly 1 percent of all foreign-held acres in the United States, the USCC report said theres no mechanism in place at the federal level to track land ownership and usage, and Chinese investors could circumvent the rules with few repercussions.

This is an enormous problem. Its not one thats going away, Kennedy said.

Such lands could become a potential vector for the regime to stage various forms of espionage against the United States, Kennedy said. Chinese animal nutrition supplier Fufeng Group announced last November that it was in negotiations to purchase 370 acres of land in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to build its first U.S. corn milling facility. The proposed plants location, about 12 miles from the Grand Forks Air Force Base, has stirred fears of the site being used to spy on U.S. military activities in the area.

Once you have land, you have options, Kennedy said. Getting its hand on vast swaths of land, he added, has been an enormous priority for China for a long time.

Some lawmakers have already been sounding the alarm. Late last month, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) introduced legislation aiming to ban foreign nationals with ties to Beijing from acquiring agricultural land in the United States.

If we begin to cede the responsibility for our food supply chain to an adversarial foreign nation, we could be forced into exporting food that is grown within our own borders and meant for our own use, Newhouse said in a statement.

The threat of Chinese agricultural espionage calls for more national awareness and a switch in mindset, Kennedy said.

When it comes to collaboration involving sensitive technology, the first thing to ask, Kennedy said, should be, Is this a last resort to partner with China on this?

He said that instead of considering the benefits of a collaboration from only an economic point of view, business and academic leaders also need to factor in national security and ask: Do we have any other options at our disposal to achieve the goal of whatever the program or the initiative may be? If the answer is yes, that needs to be pursued.
Chinese Interference Cost Conservative Seats in Canadas 2021 Federal Election: Erin OToole

Former Conservative Leader Erin OToole said foreign interference from Beijings communist regime cost his party seats in Canadas 2021 federal election.

Speaking to CBC host Chris Hall on June 18, OToole was asked about an interview with Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith earlier this month in which OToole said the Conservative Party had lost about eight or nine seats in the election due to foreign interference from China.

When pressed for the source, OToole said the number came from his partys internal review following the election, adding that there were more ridings where the influence operations by Beijing played a role. He also cited reports from Canadas intelligence agencies, saying that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service had warned his campaign team about foreign interference.

OToole said he had asked the intelligence agencies to inform the government of such threats, and that he believed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was aware of the issue, though not of the degree of it.

He pointed to a misinformation campaign launched through WeChat, a Beijing-controlled social media platform, which he said has roughly 600,000 users just in B.C.s Lower Mainland alone. He also said about 2 million Canadians are getting news through a site that is controlled through Beijing.

These are devices that now have more reach into some communities than the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, he said. Canadians need to be aware because this was meant to provide misinformation and to lead to voter suppression as much as it was telling people who to vote for.

While the misinformation campaign wouldnt change the overall outcome of the election, OToole said it could have changed the results in some ridings where candidates were neck and neck, such as in Richmond, Lower Mainland, and Tri-City in B.C., and in Markham and Richmond Hill in Ontario.

More people are getting their news from WeChatan algorithm controlled from Beijingthan this [CBC program] or regular journalism. And there was such a campaign against our party, against me, and it was impossible to counter it, he said. This is an area where I think we should have been more prepared.

We should be demanding a better defence against this interference in the next federal election.

The former Tory leader said the Chinese communist regime targeted his party due to some of its policy agendas that would expose the authoritarian regimes human rights abuses and misconduct, including a motion that declared Beijings abuse of the Uyghur Muslims in Chinas Xinjiang Province as an act of genocide.

A spokesperson for the Conservative Party of Canada told The Epoch Times that they have no comment regarding OTooles remarks.

Targets of Misinformation

OToole said one possible target of Chinas misinformation campaign was Kenny Chiu, the incumbent Conservative MP for B.C.s StevestonRichmond East riding who was seeking reelection.

Chiu was known for his pro-Chinese-democracy stance and has been an outspoken critic of the Chinese Communist Party. With his private members bill, C-282, Chiu sought to increase a public registry that would compel those working on behalf of foreign governments to register as foreign agents.

While the bill didnt mention China, it has been reported that Chiu was criticized on WeChat by members of the Chinese-speaking community after the introduction of the legislation. Chiu told The Epoch Times in a previous interview that the legislation was deliberately misrepresented as anti-Chinese and that it would bring harm to Chinese Canadians.

Marcus Kolga, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and founder of DisinfoWatch.org, has also sounded the alarm about Beijings disinformation campaign during the election, including an anonymous article posted on WeChat that he said falsely accused Chiu of seeking to suppress the Chinese community.'

Such disinformation is intended to influence Chinese-speaking voters and could affect the elections outcome, Kolga said in an article published in September 2021.

Such threats to the integrity of our elections must be considered by the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol and the social media platforms that have signed the Declaration on Election Integrity, yet allow foreign propagandists to amplify disinformation, should be held to account.

Kolga pointed to an article published by communist Chinas mouthpiece, Global Times, which discredited OToole and the Conservative Partys platform. The article also threatened Canadians with a counterstrike if they elected a Conservative government.

The issue was also highlighted in a study released in March 2022, co-authored by several academic institutions, including the University of Toronto and McGill University.

The study noted that Chinese officials and state media had commented on the Canadian election with an apparent aim to convince Canadians of Chinese origin to vote against the Conservative Party, and misleading information and information critical of certain candidates was also circulated on Chinese-language social media platforms.

The study concluded that no evidence shows that Chinese interference had a significant impact on the overall election, saying that Canadians were generally able to detect false news stories.
Citizenship Decisions Encouraging Judicial Activism in Australia

Commentary

On June 8, the Australian High Court handed down a controversial decision to strike down government powers to strip nationals of citizenship for engaging in suspected terrorist activities. The court ruled in favour of Delil Alexander, a Turkish citizen whose Australian citizenship was cancelled in 2021, due to the national security agencys assessment that he had joined the Islamic State and engaged in foreign incursions and recruitment. By majority, the court-ordered Alexanders citizenship must be restored with the Australian government to pay costs.

In June 2021, ASIO, Australias national security agency responsible for the protection of the country from espionage and terrorism, communicated to then Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews that Alexander was part of a group of religious extremists whose trip to Syria had been arranged by terrorist facilitator Hamdi al-Qudis. In April 2013, he travelled to Turkey and on to Syria, where he joined Islamic State by August, four months later.

The capture of Alexander in Deir az-Zour province in November 2017 coincided with a major Syrian military operation, backed by Russian forces and pro-government militias, to reconquer the province from Islamic State control. He was arrested and found guilty of offences by a Syrian court in January 2019.

As a result, in July 2021, Andrews stripped Alexanders second (Australian) citizenship, using discretionary powers granted in the Citizenship Act, for having repudiated his allegiance to Australia.

However, Alexanders lawyers appealed to the High Court partly because he needed to recover his citizenship due to a perceived danger of serious human rights violations. Arguably, the decision was challenged on grounds including that it would have a punitive character with significant consequences for the individual.

By contrast, government lawyers contended that the relevant minister had faithfully complied with all the three required conditions in the decision: a person has engaged in the requisite conduct; the conduct demonstrates the person has repudiated their allegiance to Australia, and it would be contrary to the public interest for this person to remain an Australian citizen.

On June 8, the High Court held that the minister could not strip individuals of citizenship for suspect acts of terrorism. In a joint decision, Chief Justice Susan Kiefel and Justices Patrick Keane and Jacqueline Gleeson argued that Australian citizenship is an assurance that a person is entitled to be at liberty in this country and to return to it as a safe haven.

Susan Kiefel was being sworn in as Chief Justice of the High Court, in Canberra, Australia, on Jan. 30, 2017. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image)

Justices Michelle Gordon and James Edelman reached the same conclusion. In their judgement summary, the Full Court stated (pdf):

Some members of the majority held that  the substantive effect of the ministers determination  was to deprive the plaintiff of his entitlement to enter and live at liberty in Australia. This purpose and effect of the law was punitive in character  Two Justices reached the same conclusion that [the provision] was punitive in character; it conferred power on the minister to cease citizenship as a sanction for past conduct, akin to historical forms of punishment, with significant consequences for the individual.

Justice Simon Steward was the only member of the court to dissent from the majority. He reminded his peers that the law allows citizenship cancellation for conduct which is so incompatible with the shared values of the Australian community that it constitutes a severance of the bond between citizens and a repudiation of allegiance. He also informed that the capacity to impose a penalty of some kind is not necessarily a power exclusively reposed in the judicial branch of government.

It is not the first time a decision of the High Court has been mired in controversy.

More recently, in the 2020 case of Love v Commonwealth, two individuals who had committed crimes in Australia and were born overseas were allowed to stay in the country because the court discovered the third category of persons who are neither an Australian citizen under the Australian Citizenship Act nor a non-citizen.

The plaintiffs in the Love case were born in Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. Both were serving a term of imprisonment, one for a serious act of domestic violence and the other for grievous assault occasioning bodily harm. The government sought to deport both of them, arguing that they were not citizens and, therefore, it was within its discretionary power to deport them pursuant to section 51(xix) of the Australian Constitution.

However, by a majority of four to three, the High Court ruled that no foreigner who may have committed a serious crime but identifies himself as Aboriginal can be expelled by the government from Australiaeven if such a person is born overseas and does not have Australian citizenship.

People are seen during a citizenship ceremony at Government House during Australia Day celebrations, in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 26, 2022 (James Ross/AAP Image)

In other words, writes legal affairs journalist Chris Merritt: Even when born overseas and holding the citizenship of another country, foreign criminals with Aboriginal ancestry can no longer be treated as aliens for the purposes of migration law. This ruling also means that Aboriginal elders and community leaders can stymie moves to deport foreign criminals if they determine they have Aboriginal ancestry.

The case of Love can be fairly described as one of the most radical instances of judicial activism in Australian history.

Judicial activism describes a tendency of some judges to consider preferred outcomes, attitudinal preferences and political values when interpreting the applicable law.

Professor Brian Galligan describes this as control or influence by the judiciary over political or administrative institutions.

According to Lorraine Finlay, the human rights commissioner: When unelected and unaccountable judges step beyond their judicial role and enter the political realm, our democracy is weakened  When judges start to veer from the judicial towards the political, the rule of law is necessarily undermined.

Unfortunately, over the last two years, the High Court of Australia has certainly been more adventurous in their activism. Such activism may have occurred in the Alexander case, and it was certainly noticeable in the Love case as it directly relates to the creation of a new right by unelected and unaccountable judges.

Of course, discretionary decisions which are based on legislation within the limits of the Australian Constitution are for the relevant government department to determine. For the moment an unelected and unaccountable judiciary ventures to abruptly substitute its own opinion for that of the elected government, it enters a field where it would be almost impossible to set limits to its interference, except as should be prescribed in its own discretion.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Striking CN rail workers at the CN MacMillan Yard in Vaughan, Ont., on June 20, 2022. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers says signal and communication workers have walked off the job across the country. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)

CN Strike Could Put Further Strain on Supply Chains

The longer the strike at Canadian National Railway lasts, the deeper the difficulties and the longer the recovery time for already-strained supply chains, says a former railroad employee and industry consultant.

Some 750 CN signals and communications workers represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) went on strike on June 18.

In an open letter to IBEW employees on June 20, CN executive vice president and chief operating officer Rob Reilly said that CN began negotiations with the union in October 2021 and that the company had met or exceeded every one of the unions demands. These include better scheduling to ensure two consecutive days off, an increase in the all-inclusive expense allowance, overtime procedures based on seniority, and more.

The latest offer also includes a 10 percent increase in wages over three years, better health coverage, higher meal per diems, and a doubling of mileage reimbursements when travelling for business.

While we are disappointed in the current situation, we remain open to resolving the outstanding issues through an agreement or through binding arbitration. I sincerely hope we can come to a resolution as soon as possible, Reilly wrote.

In a press release, CN said its operational contingency plan allows the Company to maintain a normal level of safe rail operations across Canada and serve its customers for as long as required.

Greg Gormick, a consultant on railway issues with On Track Strategies, believes the contingency plan cant last indefinitely.

They will, of course, have non-union supervisory people filling in for the rank and file who are represented by the IBEW, but it cant go on forever. So lets hope they resolve it, because over time, it will have an impact on the operations, Gormick said in an interview.

This could drag on for several weeks. If it does, then were going to see problems.

Railways Now  Not as Resilient 

In April, IBEW train control, signals, and communication maintenance workers for the Toronto Terminals Railway went on strike. The work action, which began April 20, concluded May 3 when IBEW agreed to binding arbitration. Gormick hopes the unions latest dispute will be resolved quickly.

In November 2019, more than 3,000 CN conductors and yard service employees represented by Teamsters Canada held an eight-day strike. The job action created difficulties for businesses relying on the railway, which hauls 300 million tons of freight over its 20,000-mile network each year.

Gormick said the effects of the 2019 strike reverberated after the job action ended, and a long one this time would do the same.

There were the blockades in early 2020, and then COVID hit. [With] all the stripping of the physical assets of the railways and the human resources, the railways are not as resilient as they used to be. Its not easy for them to recover, he said.

Youve got a backlog of traffic, youve got things that have been sitting waiting. And were in a stage where  our supply chains are stressed badly [already], so the last thing that you need is a major strike.

Poor rail service in the early part of 2022 prompted complaints to the Canadian Transportation Agency from the agriculture sector. Mark Hemmes, president of Quorum Corporation in Edmonton, monitors rail delivery of farm commodities in Canada. He says the bottlenecks in service for his sector are resolved for now.

The bottom line is that this labour disruption isnt going to have much of an effect on anything. So were in pretty good shape. If this would have happened in the dead of winter, Id have a whole different mindset, Hemmes said in an interview.

Theyre doing OK insofar as keeping up with what the demand is. Right now, everything is so soft that a strike really doesnt have that much of an impact.

 It  s a Tough Job 

Nelson Wiseman, political science professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, says that while rail strikes have been big economic, labour, and political issues in past decades, he does not expect this one to rank at that level.

Now that negotiations have failed, I expect the federal government to appoint a mediator, but the strike could go on for some time before the government would consider intervening with legislation, he said. If there is a holdup in normal operations for any sustained period of time or safety issues arise, that would push the government to act sooner.

Gormick says railways already have problems recruiting this generation to their workforce, so improved compensation and working conditions for striking workers and other employees could be mutually beneficial.

If theres a signal problem, if theres a great crossing circuit problem, theyre the ones that get the calls to go out in the middle of the night and all weather to do this sort of thing. So its a tough job, he said.

With the operating crews, its almost impossible to guarantee them anything that looks like a normal working life. Friends that are still out there  complain about the almost total unpredictability of it now. Its not going to be easy to hire people to work on a railway because its a tough way to make a living.
A new CHD Films documentary, Infertility: A Diabolical Agenda, exposes a World Health Organization program resulting in the sterilization of African women without their knowledge or consent.

From award-winning filmmaker Dr. Andy Wakefield, in collaboration with executive producer Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., chairman of Childrens Health Defense (CHD), and CHD Films, comes the documentary Infertility: A Diabolical Agenda.

The film exposes a World Health Organization (WHO) population control experiment carried out under the guise of a vaccination program, that resulted in the sterilization of women in Africa without their knowledge or consent.

The 30-minute film premiered Friday, June 10 on CHD.TV.

It is with timely irony that the World Health Organization reveals its true colors as it makes a desperate grab for control of global health, said Wakefield, who directed the film. This story is a true WHO dunnit.

Infertility: A Diabolical Agenda pulls back the curtain to reveal the truth behind WHOs nefarious collaboration with the Kenyan government in which an experimental tetanus vaccination  later found to be laced with the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)  was given to millions of unknowing African women of childbearing age in the 1990s and early 2000s. Consequently, their right to carry children was stolen.

Wakefield chronicles this tragic story and brings shocking new evidence to light. As the late Dr. Stephen Karanja warns in the film, When theyre through with Africa, theyre coming for you.

The truths exposed in this film cast a long shadow from a tetanus trial in Africa to the symptoms of infertility that are happening all over the world, including reports after the Gardasil vaccine and the COVID-19 shots, said CHD Chief Science Director Dr. Brian Hooker.

Mary Holland, CHD president and general counsel and author of The HPV Vaccine on Trial: Seeking Justice for a Generation Betrayed, had this to say about the film:

This film documents evidence that strongly supports the idea that the WHO was conducting an experiment on women of childbearing age to make them infertile without informed consent.

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, signed by most countries of the world, specifies that enforced sterilization is a war crime. This film highlights that rendering human beings infertile without their consent, as was done to the most vulnerable people during the eugenics era in the U.S., is truly diabolical.

The film asks whether the global community should vastly empower the WHO to regulate and enforce global health policy.

After the premiere a special edition of CHD.TVs Friday Roundtable featured Wakefield, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Jim Thorp, Brian Hooker, Ph.D. and Dr. Liz Mumper to discuss the dramatic rise in infertility issues across the globe.

The line-up includes the following highlights:

Wednesday, June 22 at 1:30 p.m. ET: Against the Wind with Dr. Paul Thomas will be joined by Dr. Andy Wakefield.

Watch on-demand The Solution with Dr. Tony ODonnell interviewing Dr. Andy Wakefield.

An abiding principle of ethical medical practice is that every patient has the right to fully informed, voluntary consent, said Kennedy.

We expose the WHOs gross violation of this principle in its surreptitious campaign to prevent and abort pregnancies in millions of unsuspecting African women. WHO led these women to believe that they were part of a public health program to protect their newborn babies. This is a timely message that the WHO is not fit, on any level, to dictate global health policy.

06/09/22 Childrens Health Defense, Inc. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of Childrens Health Defense, Inc. Want to learn more from Childrens Health Defense? Sign up for free news and updates from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the Childrens Health Defense. Your donation will help to support us in our efforts.
Representation of cryptocurrency Dogecoin is seen in this illustration taken on Nov. 29, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Elon Musk Sends Dogecoin 8 Percent Higher on Support for Cryptocurrency

Dogecoin prices surged about 8 percent on Tuesday after billionaire CEO Elon Musk reiterated his support for cryptocurrency Dogecoin in a recent interview.

Speaking with Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait at this years Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, Musk explained his reasoning behind his public endorsement of the digital currency.

I intend to personally support Dogecoin, because I just know a lot of people who are not that wealthy who have encouraged me to buy and support Dogecoinso Im responding to those people, Musk said, adding that it was his employees around the Tesla and SpaceX factories who requested that he champion Dogecoin in the public square.

This is the second time in recent days that the Tesla Motors and SpaceX CEO remarked on Dogecoin, writing in a tweet on Sunday that I will keep supporting Dogecoin.

Musks vocal support of the meme coin and Bitcoin moved markets last year.

SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk grimaces after arriving on the red carpet for the Axel Springer award in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 1, 2020. (Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters)

Earlier this year, Musk confirmed that the electric vehicle maker and spacecraft manufacturer would accept Dogecoin as a method of payment for some merchandise.

Dogecoin had skyrocketed to 74 cents leading up to Musks guest appearance on Saturday Night Live. When he labeled it as a hustle, Dogecoin endured an immense selloff and it has been unable to recover since, plummeting below 5 cents year-to-date, Dogecoin is down nearly 63 percent.

Last week, Musk and his companies were sued for $86 billion in compensatory damages and $172 billion in treble damages by a Dogecoin investor, alleging that he ran a pyramid scheme to support cryptocurrency, according to a complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan.

Defendants were aware since 2019 that Dogecoin had no value yet promoted Dogecoin to profit from its trading, the lawsuit said. Musk used his pedestal as Worlds Richest man to operate and manipulate the Dogecoin Pyramid Scheme for profit, exposure, and amusement.

Keith Johnson accused Musk, Tesla, and SpaceX of racketeering for endorsing Dogecoin, jacking up the tokens price, and then letting its value crash. As a result, Johnson is seeking $86 billion in damages and wants to block Musk and his corporations from touting Dogecoin. He is also looking for a judge to determine that investing in Dogecoin is gambling under federal and New York law.

In recent months, there has been a flurry of crypto-related lawsuits, including cases against high-profile individuals.

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian and champion boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr are being sued for alleged false statements promoting EthereumMax, a minor cryptocurrency that collapsed 99.6 percent after touching a record high of $0.0000000220.

Many of these cases involve the complainants arguing that these tokens are pump-and-dump schemes designed to deceive investors.

[S]ocial media influencers are routinely paid by scammers to help them pump and dump new tokens on the back of pure speculation. Some influencers promote coins that turn out simply not to exist at all, said Charles Randell, the chair of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), in a fall speech to the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime.

Naoshad Pochkhanawala, a financial planner at Amiko Benefits, an investment solutions firm, contends that legal pump-and-dump schemes are prevalent in the crypto sphere because unregulated markets are, shockingly, unregulated.

Dogecoin was as viable a currency as tulips and Beanie Babies, Pochkhanawala told The Epoch Times.

The concept of blockchains being currencies by virtue of a grand mutual delusion though, that is now truly challenged. They [cryptocurrencies] will sprout up like weeds in good economic times and collapse like the Ponzi schemes when they are in bad. And those who distribute them will profit. Many will get lucky, they will mistake luck for skill and keep the myth going. Most though will just lose.

Dogecoin: Hype or Viable?

The entire cryptocurrency market has cratered this year, wiping out approximately $2 trillion since hitting a peak in November 2021. The crypto market cap is now around $950 billion.

Year-to-date, Bitcoin has plunged 55 percent, Ethereum has declined close to 70 percent, Cardano has lost 63 percent, and Litecoin has declined more than 64 percent.

During the market selloff, there has been plenty of analysis discussing the sectors future. While the consensus is that the crypto market is here to stay, some purport that there is a type of rebalancing unfolding, whereby the virtual tokens with utility will survive and thrive, and the joke coins will tumble.

In other words, this is a healthy downturn for an industry that has been historically volatile.

But what about Dogecoin?

Proponents assert that Dogecoin could have a healthy future because it can serve as a tool for micropayments and, if Twitter is officially run by Musk, it could serve as a payments mechanism on the social media outlet. In addition, Dogecoin block time is about ten times faster than Bitcoin.

But theres pretty much nothing in Dogecoin that serious investors may find appealing, says Stefan Ristic, a crypto author and the owner of BitcoinMiningSoftware.com.

However, we may say that certain investors find it interesting during hype times and trending markets, which are the times when you can make a profit. So even though theres no real value in it, an investor with proper risk management may trade it when theres a high risk-reward ratio, Ristic told The Epoch Times.

As crypto markets get more mature, I expect coins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu to become history. But at the end of the day, its people who run the market prices with their opinion, so no one can say for sure.

An internet meme of a Shiba Inu dog inspired the creation of Dogecoin in 2013. But IBM software engineer Billy Markus and Adobe software engineer Jackson Palmer also had the objective of creating a peer-to-peer virtual currency that could generate a broader audience than Bitcoin.

During the ultra-bull run last year, Palmer, who had been open about his disinterest in the overall cryptocurrency industry, wrote in a tweet in July 2021 that he would never return to the space.

Despite claims of decentralization, the cryptocurrency industry is controlled by a powerful cartel of wealthy figures who, with time, have evolved to incorporate many of the same institutions tied to the existing centralized financial system they supposedly set out to replace, he wrote.

Many investors have tried to piggyback off of Dogecoins success by launching clones, including DogeFi, Kishu Inu, DogeSwap, and snoop doge.

Looking ahead, Frank Corva, a senior analyst at Finder, a financial services firm, thinks Dogecoin has more room to retreat if Musk does not fully utilize the digital token.

In the cryptos nine years of existence, DOGE has been pumped and dumped many times, he told The Epoch Times. If Musk doesnt do something substantial with Dogecoin  like put it on one of his companys balance sheets  then its price will likely continue to retreat along with the price of most other altcoins until the next bull market rolls around and speculators start pounding the drum to pump it up again.
Hongkong Youth Summits Mt. Denali in AlaskaMore Challenging than Mt. Everest

An 18-year-old Hong Kong youth Bob Tsang Long-kit has climbed the six tallest peaks on seven continents. He completed Mt. Denali, the highest peak in North America at 6,190 metres (20,310 feet)) on June 12 2022.

Compared with other peaks, climbing Mt. Denali is the most exciting and most harsh, and it is also the most memberable trip for me, since I had to support myself throughout the whole process, carrying 110 pounds of baggage on an 11-day trip. The temperature difference between day and night was 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit), the physical requirements were too demanding! he told the Epoch Times reporter.

Bob and his father John climbed Mt. Denali, the highest mountain in North America on June 12 2022. (Courtesy of the Tsang family)

Bob and his 50-year-old father, John Tsang Chi-shing, started in Nepal and climbed Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world (8,849-metres-high (29,032.15 feet) on May 12 this year (2022), breaking the record of the youngest Hongkonger to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.

A month later, father and son went to Alaska to challenge Mt. Denali, the highest peak in North America.

The weather was dreadful during the trip. Cloudy with strong wind reaching speeds of 30 to 40 km per hour (18.64 to 24.85 miles per hour). (Courtesy of the Tsang family)

John is a senior mountain climbing expert who has climbed Mt. Everest four times and the worlds highest peaks on seven continents.

This was Johns fourth time climbing Mt. Denali. But for him, the challenge this time was greater than ever: The weather was not fine when we climbed Mt. Denali. We set off at 9:30 a.m. on June 12. Due to the strong wind of 30 to 40 km per hour (18.64 to 24.85 miles per hour) on average, three team members decided to descend from the mountain earlier than planned. Climbing teams from all over the world were worried about the unstable weather, and no one else reached the summit on that day, so my son and I decided to try our luck and climb to the top!

Since there were no other mountaineering teams queuing up to reach the summit, the trip was successful, John and his son reached the peak at their quickest speed.

They only stayed at the peak for about ten minutes, and returned to the camp base at 8:30 in the eveningtheir climb lasted for 11 hours.

Bob mentioned that fortunately, the weather was not as bad as imagined, and the wind speed was relatively stable. The hardest part was climbing along the slopes and cliffs on the path to the top. Although there were ropes to assist along the way, the climbing required a lot of physical strength and endurance.

Hong Kong climbing team at the Mt. Denali. (Courtesy of the Tsang family)

Encamping was quite time consuming when climbing Mt. Denali. (Courtesy of the Tsang family)

Talking about the experience of climbing Mt. Denali, Bob believed that speed and proficiency are very important terms.

Skills such as mountain climbing, rope climbing and encamping were not difficult, but it is more difficult to be proficient in extreme weather.

If one climbs slowly and delays too long, it will increase the danger of climbing. The Itinerary was very full every day, it was much busier than climbing Mt. Everest. We spent 3 to 4 hours encamping every time. The most uncomfortable thing for us was the temperature. The temperature difference between day and night here was huge, it could be as high as 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) during daytime and minus 40 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees Fahrenheit) at night, so we tried our best to climb during the day.

Huge temperature difference at Mt. Denali. (Courtesy of the Tsang family)

John added that climbing culture in the United States is different from in other regions. People have to carry all the equipment by themselves. When climbing Mt. Everest there are Sherpass to help.

They took a turboprop plane to the camp in Alaska, and their luggage and equipment needed to be kept under 125 pounds. During the 11-day trip, the team members needed to pull snow equipment by themselves. There was no supply station, and they needed to set up their own camp and bring their own food and sleeping bags.

On the other hand, people in the U.S. pay more attention to the environment. For example, there is a designated place for the disposal of excrement. If one misses the place, you have to carry it out of the mountain for disposal. People cannot leave rubbish on the mountain.



John explained that Mt. Denali is a training ground for many climbers before they go to climb Mt. Everest.

But the conditions here are worse than Mt. Everest. Low temperature is the biggest challenge. In winter, the temperature here can reach minus 80 to -100 degrees Celsius (-112 to -148 degrees Fahrenheit), the lowest temperature in summer averages minus 40 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees Fahrenheit).

Located in the Arctic Circle, there are almost 24 hours of daylight in summer, but the temperature difference between day and night is huge, with a range of 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit), which is a great challenge to the human body.

Many climbers are injured here, most of them get frostbite, affecting fingers, toes, nose, and so on. Improper eye protection during climbing can easily lead to snow blindness. In addition, the ozone hole above the mountains makes the ultraviolet intensity high, and climbers also need to pay attention to protect themselves. These factors make climbing Mt. Denali even more difficult than Mt. Everest.

John said that even though the weather was not ideal, he was confident to take the challenge of climbing Mt. Denali with his son, because he had climbed the mountain on three previous occasions, he was familiar with the route, and he had the good equipment which he used to climb Mt. Everest the previous month.

Hong Kong climbing team at Mt. Denali. (Courtesy of the Tsang family)

Bob and his father John left Hong Kong for Nepal on March 8, 2022, and returned to Hong Kong on June 22. In the 97-day trip they reached the top of five mountains of over 6,000 meters (19,685 feet)March 22, Mera Peak, Nepal; April 4, Island Peak, Nepal; April 17, Lobuche, East Nepal; May 12, Mt. Everest, Nepal; June 12, Mt. Denali, U.S.A., successfully completing the entire climbing trip.

So far, 18-year-old Bob has climbed six of the highest peaks on the seven continents of the world, and there is still Vinson Massif in Antarctica where he has never visited.

With his experience, he is more confident to challenge Vinson Massif, but he is worried that the cost of the trip will be high, and sponsorship is needed to get a chance to climb Antarcticas highest peak.

John is satisfied with his sons performance. He is very pleased with his sons strength and perseverance in such harsh conditions.

He evaluated the 3-month challenge with a full score of 100, and he would give his son 80 points, and the gap of 20 points is for experience.

He encouraged his son to continue to work hard, and hoped that he could enter a new life with such spirit and strength.

Bob is about to study film production at the University of York in the United Kingdom. He hopes to turn this climbing journey into a documentary, and leave a video record of this unforgettable memory from his time while 18-years old.
NR | 1h 36min | Documentary | 24 June 2022 (USA)

The opening scene in director Sean Cisternas new documentary The Long Rider shows narrator and co-photographer Filipe Masetti Leite atop one of his three horses heading towards a stadium on the distant Brazilian horizon.

Filipe Masetti Leite at a stop in The Long Rider. (Prime Video)

Hes wearing an ornate, rodeo-inspired shirt, and delivering a tear-tinged, carefully-worded monologue telling us that hes nearing the end of a multi-year-long journey.

Leite doesnt tell us where this trek started, and it really doesnt matter as hes informing us he has reached his desired destination in one piece. In the space of three minutes, co-producers Cisterna and Leite have all but spoiled what well be seeing over the next 90.

Filipe Masetti Leite from the documentary, The Long Rider. (Prime Video)

Whatever roadblocks Leite and his equine companions met were conquered, reducing what could have been a gripping real-life thriller into a lukewarm, man-and-his-horses, human interest fluff piece.

Literary Inspiration

Born in Brazil, Leites family moved to Calgary, Alberta when he was 9 years old. His parents were horse aficionados and, as stated by Leite, he was riding them before he could walk.

His life forever changed when his father gave him the 1933 book Tschiffelys Ride by A.F. Tschiffley. In it, the Swiss-born Tschiffley chronicled his solo horseback trip from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Washington, D.C. From this point forward, Leite was fixated on, if not matching Tschiffelys accomplishment, eclipsing it.

As defined in the film, a long rider travels over 1,000 miles in a single journey by himself on horseback. It doesnt go into detail about what a single journey might entail or how many stops one can make when going from point A to point B, meaning: Its highly subjective and open to interpretation.

Filipe Masetti Leite and his three horses in The Long Rider. (Prime Video)

Leites goal is to travel from Calgary to his birthplace (Sao Paolo), roughly 8,000 miles, over the course of two years. He plans on going no further than 30 kilometers (about 18 and half miles) per day as to not put too much wear on the horses, which would leave him 300 days of down time or wiggle room, something of which he will need in spades.

Bad Planning

From the get-go, it becomes clear that Leite spent more time dreaming and fantasizing about his trip than actually planning for it. For instance, he chooses to depart Calgary in July when the average temperature is 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Not too bad. But upon arriving in Montana in August, the average is 78 degrees Fahrenheit and it only gets warmer the further south he goes, and by the time he hits Mexico, wellfugetaboutit.

Had Leite left Calgary in April (average 52 degrees Fahrenheit), it wouldnt have been nearly as warm so early into the trip. His departure date was not etched in stone; he couldve left whenever he wanted. He also forgot to pack water before he left. Oops.

Filipe Masetti Leite in The Long Rider. (Prime Video)

The weather becomes the least of Leites worries once he arrives in Central and Northern South America. This is a region so engulfed in graft and red tape, it makes the bureaucracy in Washington look Utopian by comparison.

Whether it be Panama, Peru, Bolivia, Honduras, El Salvador, or Nicaragua, getting through each country requires official travel and agricultural documentation (most of them not transferable from one country to another). He was stranded in Panama for 91 days while waiting for his paperwork to clear.

In one instance, Leite cannot bring the horses through one of these countries on foot; they must be hauled through in a trailer for the entirety. Im not an expert on such matters, but I dont think this portion of the trip would qualify as riding a horse.

This is just another glaring example of Leites severe lack of preparedness.

Prone to emotional outbursts, frequent sobbing, and a case of self-described post-partum depression, it would also appear Leite wasnt psychologically prepared (or didnt prepare himself) for such an endurance test which, admittedly, is beyond the realm, scope, and capability of most humans.

Not for Pre-Teen Children

In most instances, this type of movie, perhaps not the content itself but the idea of having a long term goal and carrying through with it, would make for ideal family viewing, especially for the young folks. But not here. The movie comes without an MPAA rating, but had it been, it would be R as Leite drops a half-dozen thoroughly avoidable F-bombs.

Filipe Masetti Leite and his horse companions in The Long Rider. (Prime Video)

Oddly enough (or not), the most satisfying portion of the production takes place after Leites homecoming in Brazil during the extended epilogue. It is during this stretch where the time-tested relationship with his girlfriend is revealed, as well as the fate of the ashes of a woman named Naomi he inherited along the way, and what will happen with his three stalwart travelling companions (Bruiser, Frenchie, and Dude).

Director of The Long Rider, Sean Cisterna. (Prime Video)

Everything that is wrong with The Long Rider lies at the feet of Cisterna. While this is Leites (pardon the obvious pun) first rodeo, it marks Cisternas eighth feature behind the camera, yet it feels like his first.

Too Much Me

There is more than enough raw visual content and incidental dialogue here to sufficiently propel the narrative; Leites narration was not needed, and actually detracts from the final cut, with far too much of his smart phone video lending the film an inescapable, self-absorbed TicTok air. The segments not captured on smart phone are by far the most engrossing.

Filipe Masetti Leite in The Long Rider. (Prime Video)

While the intent here is occasionally inspiring and certainly well-intended, the execution mostly misses its desired mark.

Presented in English with occasional subtitled Spanish and Portuguese.

The Long Rider

Documentary

Director: Sean Cisterna

Narration: Filipe Masetti Leite

Running Time: 1 hour, 36 minutes

MPAA Rating: NR

Release Date: June 24, 2022

Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Law enforcement personnel guard the scene of a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. (Marco Bello/Reuters)

First Image From Inside Texas School Shooting Released Ahead of Senate Hearing

The timeline of events during the May 24 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School is becoming clearer as surveillance and police body camera footage provide more details ahead of a Texas senate hearing on Tuesday.

KVUE-TV and Austin American-Statesman obtained documentation and surveillance video from within Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, that revealed police stood in the hallway armed with high-powered rifles and a ballistics shield at least 19 minutes after the gunman entered at 11:33 a.m.

The Epoch Times has not independently reviewed the documentation or video.

Among the documentation reviewed by Austin American-Statesman and KVUE-TV is a transcript allegedly of a phone call made by Uvalde school district police chief Pete Arredondo, who was the incident commander, to the Uvalde Police Department at 11:40 a.m. asking for help.

Its an emergency right now, he reportedly said. We have him in the room. Hes got an AR-15. Hes shot a lot.  They need to be outside the building prepared because we dont have firepower right now, he said. Its all pistols.

I dont have a radio, he added. I need you to bring a radio for me.

KVUE-TV displayed a screenshot from school surveillance video timestamped 12 minutes after Arredondos call, at 11:52 a.m., that shows Uvalde police officers taking cover at the intersection of a hallway, armed with semiautomatic rifles and at least one ballistics shield.

None of the officers tried to break down the door to get into the classroom at this time, which officials later said was the wrong decision.

Arredondo believed more equipment and officers were needed for a tactical breach, according to Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw. McCraw said Arredondo also thought the situation had changed from an active shooter to a barricaded subject and that there was no kids at risk.

However, Austin American-Statesman reported that the gunman could allegedly be heard firing rounds inside the classroom 29 minutes later at 12:21 p.m.

It was already known that law enforcement waited around 77 minutes in the school before finally breaching the classroom and killing the suspect, where he was holed up with the bodies of his fourth grade and adult victims.

It was also already reported that between 12:03 p.m. and 12:47 p.m. calls were made to 911, including by people who said they were inside the classroom with the gunman, Salvador Ramos, 18. Gun shots could be heard in the background of some of the calls.

At 12:51 p.m., a specialized Border Patrol unit entered the room and killed Ramos.

Law enforcements response has been criticized since the mass shooting, including the decision by Arredondo for officers to hold back and wait for a specialist unit.

Video footage from surveillance and police body cameras has been used to reconstruct the sequence of events, which is expected to be revealed more fully during a state senate hearing over two consecutive days starting Tuesday at the request of Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican.

The Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans hearing begins at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and will hear from invited and public testimony on school safety, police training, and social media.

The second day of hearings, chaired by Republican Sen. Robert Nichols of Jacksonville, on Wednesday will focus on mental health and firearms safety.
Prescription drugs are seen on shelves at a pharmacy in Montreal on March 11, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz)

Florida Man Arrested for Distributing $230 Million Worth of Adulterated HIV Medication

Lazaro Hernandez, 51, of Miami, was arrested on June 17 for allegedly distributing millions of dollars worth of adulterated drugs for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that were eventually distributed to patients throughout the United States.

Hernandez and co-conspirators established licensed wholesale drug distribution companies in New York, Florida, Connecticut, and New Jersey to distribute adulterated and misbranded prescription drugs at steep discounts to other co-conspirators at wholesale pharmaceutical distributors in Maryland, Mississippi, and New York, according to a June 17 press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

These distributors then allegedly resold the drugs to pharmacies throughout America. The pharmacies dispensed these adulterated drugs to unsuspecting patients as well as billed the drugs to health insurers like Medicare.

Between approximately 2019 and 2021, the wholesale pharmaceutical distributors paid Hernandez and his co-conspirators more than $230 million for the illegally acquired and adulterated prescription drugs. Hernandez allegedly laundered those hundreds of millions of dollars through the use of several corporations in Miami, the DOJ stated.

The indictment alleges Hernandez to be part of a nationwide scheme to defraud the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as engaging in the distribution of adulterated drugs. Hernandez is said to have illegally acquired large quantities of HIV medication and created false drug labeling as well as documentation to make it appear as if these high-priced medications were acquired legally.

Hernandez is facing charges of conspiracy to deliver into interstate commerce adulterated and misbranded drugs, specific money laundering offenses, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to traffic in medical products with false documentation. He faces a total penalty of more than 100 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.

Hernandez was also charged in a separate, superseding indictment together with 37-year-old Eladio Vega in the same case, according to another DOJ press release. The indictment charges them with being part of the prescription medication diversion fraud scheme.

Suppliers of the adulterated drugs obtained the medication through health care fraud, theft or burglary, or procuring them via patients who chose to sell them, the DOJ said. As of June 17, eight of the 15 defendants who have been charged in the case have entered guilty pleas.

The indictment charges Hernandez and Vega with conspiracy to distribute misbranded and adulterated drugs, conspiracy to traffic in medical products with false documentation, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of mail fraud. It also charges Hernandez with two counts of money laundering, the release stated. The case is being investigated by the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami and FBI Miami.
Florida Police Officers Disciplined Over Leak of Comedian Bob Sagets Death Before Family Were Notified

Two Florida police officers who leaked news of comedian Bob Sagets death before his family was informed were temporarily suspended, according to law enforcement officials.

Saget was found dead in his hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Florida, on Jan. 9, just hours after performing in Jacksonville. He was 65 years old.

According to an autopsy, the Full House star died from blunt head trauma after possibly falling and hitting the back of his head. No illicit drugs or toxins were found in his system at the time of death.

News of his death was leaked to the public before Sagets wife, Kelly Rizzo, and their three children were informed, and before an official release was provided by the sheriffs office public information officer, according to a report by the Orange County Sheriffs Office.

Orange County deputies Emiliano Silva and Steven Reed were suspended for 81 hours without pay for violating the departments dissemination of information directive.

According to the department, Silva responded to the scene at the Ritz-Carlton hotel and told his brother about Sagets passing, who then posted the news on Twitter.

Reed was off duty at the time of the incident but was told about it by another Orange County Sherriffs deputy and spread the information to some friends who had seen one of Sagets recent stand-up comedy shows.

The report said that the two law enforcement agents leaks resulted in an influx of media inquiries at a time when Mr. Sagets next-of-kin had not been notified and Homicide Unit detectives had not even arrived at the scene.

This case highlights how important it is to allow detectives in death investigations the time to ensure next of kin notifications are made before that information is disseminated to the public, Orange County Sheriff John Mina told The Epoch Times. The deputies acknowledged their wrongdoing and were disciplined for their actions.

Brian Bieber, the Saget familys attorney, told Click Orlando that he was not aware of the deputies being disciplined.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Orange County Sheriffs Office for comment.

Saget rose to fame as Danny Tanner, a widower and father of three on the television sitcom Full House, which ran from 1987 to 1995 on ABC.

Outside of television, he was also a standup comedian and host of Americas Funniest Home Videos from 1989 to 1997.

Sagets family sued the Orange County Sheriffs office in February to stop them from releasing records such as pictures, audio, and videos related to his death, and a judge temporarily granted the familys request.

On March 14, a Florida judge granted a permanent injunction to prevent such materials relating to his death from being released, ruling that there exists a lesser public interest in the disclosure of the Protected Records than the privacy and statutory rights of [the Saget family].

Sagets family said in a statement to NBC News at the time that they were grateful for the permanent injunction to preserve Bobs dignity, as well as their privacy rights, especially after suffering this unexpected and tragic loss.

We are pleased this issue has been resolved, and the healing process can continue to move forward, the family continued, adding: All of the prayers and well wishes continuously extended to the family are beyond appreciated.

Sagets autopsy also revealed that the comedian had COVID-19 at the time of his death.
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GOPers See Big Win for Religious Freedom If House Keeps Charitable Choice in Fed Grants

First Amendment religious freedom advocates cheered on June 21 when the Supreme Court struck down a Maine law denying faith-based school funding options to parents who see public education as failing their children. Another such big win could come on June 22 in the House of Representatives.

The occasion is the House taking up H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, legislation that enjoys bipartisan support, having been introduced by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and the committees ranking Republican member, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.).

Unlike most legislation, however, House Republicans see the expected victory for religious freedom and school choice in what H.R. 7666 doesnt do.

By making sure charitable choice wasnt stripped in this bill, were leading to ensure the federal government does not discriminate against faith-based and religious organizations, Rodgers told the Epoch Times. Faith-based non-profits and organizations deserve every chance to make a difference in our communities and to compete on equal footing for funding. They should never be pressured or forced to compromise their religious missionism.

Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), a member of the energy and commerce panel, told The Epoch Times that the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act would ensure that religious organizations, including pro-life groups, can compete for funds on equal footing with other organizations and at the same time preserve their religious mission.

Without a charitable choice provision, the Biden administration could pick and choose who gets funds and who doesntand freeze out anyone who doesnt march in lockstep with their agenda, Johnson said. Getting this provision included is a victory against the radical lefts continual war on religious organizations and religious freedom.

Three major block grant programs are covered by H.R. 7666, including the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, and the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Grant. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the legislation would spend more than $1.6 billion over a 10-year period.

Charitable choice first became law when President Bill Clinton signed bipartisan block-grant legislation containing the provision in 1998, with strong support from both parties in Congress. The protections coverage was subsequently extended throughout the federal social welfare program ranks.

But in more recent years, increasingly influential far-left activists in the Democratic Party have routinely pushed Congress to ban faith-based groups from competing on an equal basis with secular nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations in providing services for social welfare programs funded by block grants.

The Coalition Against Religious Discrimination (CARD) describes itself as a broad and diverse group of leading religious, civil rights, labor, health, secular, and womens organizations that formed in the 1990s to monitor legislative and regulatory changes impacting government partnerships with religious and other nonprofit social service providers, and, in particular, to oppose government-funded religious discrimination, according to an April 30, 2021, letter signed by representatives of dozens of far-left activist groups.

But the groups concern about religious discrimination doesnt extend to faith-based groups that have participated in federal block-grant-funded social service programs for decades.

Faith-based organizations, like secular organizations, however, should not be allowed to take government funds and then place religious litmus tests on whom they hire, whom they serve, or what services required under the program to provide, CARD told Melissa Rogers, executive director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Earlier this year, Democrats succeeded in removing charitable choice protection from H.R. 5129, the Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act of 2022,(CSBG) which funds and governs the administration of anti-poverty programs that originated with the War on Poverty in the 1960s. The Senate has yet to take up the CSBG proposal.

Gone were the comprehensive regulatory protections for faith-based groups against bureaucratic and political interference that had developed in the decades since the Clinton era, and in its place was a simple sentence:

Neither the federal government nor a state or local government shall require a religious organization to alter its form of internal governance except (for purposes of administration of the community services block grant program) as provided in section 680(c).

But Republican aides who spoke on background to The Epoch Times said there was a much better outcome when the committee moved H.R. 7666.

We kept the Democrats from inserting language that would strip charitable choice from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA] grant programs where faith-based organizations have historically been eligible. Theyve tried to change the status quo like this before in other bills, one of the Republican aides told The Epoch Times, referring to CSBG.

Were maintaining charitable choice, so it remains unlawful to discriminate against faith-based groups in the case of these SAMHSA grants. Its a victory to keep the Biden administration from expanding its war against the missions of religious organizations.
Hang Seng Index is Increasingly Flooded with Mainland Stocks

Commentary

Over the 25 years after the handover of Hong Kongs sovereignty, Hong Kong has undergone tremendous changes in all segments of society. One most notable change during the past 25 years is the Hang Seng Index (HSI), which used to reflect the health of the Hong Kong stock market. It is now being dominated by technology stocks from mainland China. Seven of the top 10 Hang Seng Index constituent stocks are now mainland companies.

The Hong Kong stock market has become a China offshore financial market, moving further and further away from being a true global financial centre. On the other hand, due to factors such as the worsening Sino-U.S. relations, resulting in the potential delisting of Chinese stocks from Wallstreet; a tough zero-Covid policy; and the Hong Kong National Security Law, together they make it difficult for the CCP to achieve its economic goals.

Chinese Stocks Account for Two-thirds of HSI

The Hang Seng Index was launched in 1969, initially with only thirty-three listed companies as constituent stocks. Starting from June 13, 2022, the number of constituent stocks was increased from 66 to 69. The new stocks include SMIC () (0981), Zhongsheng Group Holdings Ltd. () (0881), Orient Overseas (International) Ltd. () (0316) and China Hongqiao Group () (1378), while AAC Technologies Holdings Inc. () (2018) was dropped. SMIC, Zhongsheng Holdings and China Hongqiao are all Chinese stocks, while Orient Overseas (International) is a de facto Chinese company as it was acquired by China COSCO Holdings (), another company under full Chinese ownership.

Before the handover of Hong Kongs sovereignty in 1997, the representative constituent stocks of the HSI included CLP Power(), TVB (), Cathay Pacific(), and the likes. Today, Alibaba (), Meituan (), CNOOC (), China Mobile () and other Chinese stocks are all listed in the sixty-nine constituent stocks, accounting for about two-thirds of the weighting and occupy a highly dominant position.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of China, the size of Chinas economy has grown from US$962 billion in 1997 to US$17.8 trillion in 2021, and the representation of Chinese stocks in Hong Kongs stock market has become increasingly dominant. Although Chinese companies only account for 53 percent of the number of listed companies in Hong Kong, Chinese stocks account for 78 percent of the market value of the US$4.8 billion Hong Kong stock market at the end of May this year.

Seven Chinese-funded Stocks Within Top 10 HSI Constituents

At present, 69 Hang Seng Index constituent stocks account for about 60 percent of the total market capitalization, an increase of more than five times in the past 15 years. Among the top 10 HSI constituent stocks, seven are Chinese stocks, and the remaining three are Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. (), HSBC Holdings plc. () and AIA Group ().

At present, Chinese technology stocks have dominated the Hang Seng Index constituent stocks, to such an extent as replacing the financial services stocks that are the backbone of Hong Kongs economy, and Hong Kongs role as an international financial centre is deteriorating.

Factoring in such issues as the U.S.-China trade war, Chinas implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL), the pressure of delisting Chinese companies from the U.S., and Chinas stringent zero-Covid policy such as mandatory testing and isolation, forcing Hong Kong to replicate likewise, Hong Kong is on the path to become isolated from rest of the world. All these would discourage tourist arrivals, slow down business activities, and ultimately make Hong Kong less competitive.

Looking at the trend of the Hang Seng Technology Index in the past two years, it was found that the index fell from a peak of 10,560.97 on Feb. 19, 2021 to the lowest point of 3,472.42 on March 15, 2022, a drop of 67.1 percent. Launched on 27 July 2020, the Hang Seng Technology Index tracks the thirty largest technology companies listed in Hong Kong, most of which are Chinese technology stocks, including Baidu (), Alibaba Group (), JD.com (), Bilibili (), Xiaomi Group (), SMIC(), Kingsoft (), and the likes.

On May 13, 2022, the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department announced an advance estimate of GDP for the first quarter (Q1) of 2022. It was down by 4.0 percent in real terms compared with the same period in the previous year, ending four consecutive quarters of year-on-year growth. A spokesperson for the Hong Kong government said that the Hong Kong economy faced enormous pressure in Q1 this year. The fifth wave of the pandemic and the implementation of anti-pandemic measures have severely hit a wide range of economic activities and economic sentiment.

Piles of Chinese Stocks to be Delisted

It is estimated up to 150 Chinese stocks in the U.S. may be delisted following escalation of the dispute between China and the U.S. One consequence is more and more Chinese concept stocks may move to be listed in Hong Kong. On May 20 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced another eight Chinese concept stocks to be put on a list pending delisting. These include Secoo Holding Ltd. (), AIH (), China Natural Resources (), Moxian (BVI) Inc. (), the likes. These are included in the 150 number.



Under the U.S. Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (HFCAA) of 2020, U.S.-listed companies must use an accounting firm that complies with the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) standards for auditing. However, the CCP has long refused to let Chinese companies hand over their manuscripts to U.S. regulators, citing national security concerns. The Act stipulates that in case the SEC determines the audit report of any company as not up to standard for three consecutive years, it is liable to be delisted.

In late April 2022, Fang Xinghai (), vice chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), said that negotiations between China and the United States on audit supervision cooperation were making progress, and it was believed that a mutual agreement could be reached soon. Analyses from some experts have it that most Chinese concept stocks with state-owned enterprises background will choose to delist from the U.S. On the other hand, technology companies may first list in Hong Kong and wait for the results of further negotiations between China and the U.S.

Earlier, UBS released its latest report on May 24, 2022, stating that under current condition of high uncertainty, such as the effects of Sino-U.S. relations, possible delisting of Chinese stocks, a tough zero-Covid policy, the Hong Kong National Security Law and other factors, Chinas full-year GDP growth forecast was lowered to 3 percent from 4.2 percent, and JPMorgan Chase also lowered it to 3.7 percent from 4.3 percent on May 23. From all these estimates it looks likely the CCPs expected annual growth target of around 5.5 percent may come to nothing.
HKGov recently revoked the honors and the JP titles of three pro-democracy activists, who were all sentenced to more than a year in prison for participating in social movements. Photo shows Yeung Sum, former Democratic Party Chairman. (Song Bilong/The Epoch Times)

Hong Kong Government Strips Merits from Pro-Democracy Activists

The Hong Kong government recently revoked the honorary merits of three pro-democracy activists and their titles of Justice of the Peace. All three persons were sentenced to more than one year in prison for participating in social movements.

Some scholars believe that after the handover, the system of Justice of the Peace, and the honorary awards system have gradually become a political candy hand-out system. You have to side with the government to be awarded.

On June 10, 2022, the Hong Kong government gazetted to revoke the honorary titles of Yeung Sum, former Democratic Party Chairman, Sin Chung-kai, former Vice Chairman, and Professor Benny Tai Yiu-ting, former Associate Professor of the Faculty of Law of the University of Hong Kong.

On the same day, Chief Executive Carrie Lam used her authority to revoke the appointments as Justice of the Peace from Yeung and Sin, effective immediately. However, the Gazette did not explain why.

Yeung Sum sent a letter to party members and media outlets in regards to the revocation, stressing the fact that he had defended the rights to peaceful assembly and demonstration in Hong Kong, which is both honorable and conscientious.

The 74-year-old pan-demo activist did not regret it in the slightest. Even though his title and medal have been stripped due to his involvement in social movements, as well as being accused of violating the Public Order Ordinance for defending those rights. Yeung had no plans to appeal the decisions of the title revocation.

In an interview with Epoch Times, political scholar Benson Wong Wai-kwok said that Yeungs response was very fitting, Under the current leadership of the Hong Kong government, being given an honorary title not only is a disgrace, it is also a humiliation, simply because it is presented to you by a regime that is not recognized, credited, or approved by general public opinion at all, Wong emphasized.

Looking into previous records, Yeung Sum was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star by Hong Kong government in 2009. The then chief executive was Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.

The government had high praises for Yeung. It recognized Yeungs work as being exceptional in both public and social services. His commitment to fighting for the well-being of the disadvantaged was evident. Yeung had given a lot of invaluable advice and contributions to livelihood issues in society.

Yeung acted and strengthened the bridge of the communication between communities and the government, while he was in various public positions.

Sin Chun-kai, on the other hand, was also awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2007.

Both Yeung and Wong were appointed the title Justice of the Peace.

Professor Benny Tai Yiu-ting was awarded the Medal of Honor by the Government in 2001, in recognition of his undeniable contributions to promoting civic education in the Basic Law and human rights. The Chief executive at the time was Tung Chee-wah.

The Hong Kong government never mentioned the reasons why the three influential civil figures were stripped from the titles of Justice of the Peace or why their medals were revoked.

Under the Justice of Peace Ordinance, A JPs title can be revoked if he/she is sentenced to imprisonment both locally and internationally.

Yeung Sum and Sin Chung-kai were sentenced to jail due to participating in 2019 rallies, while Professor Tai was also sent to jail for initiating Occupy Central and publishing an advertisement for the ThunderGo Project in 2016.

Not long ago, former Director of the Bureau of Civil Affairs, Patrick Ho Chi-ping, was convicted for corruption and money laundering by the U.S. Southern Federal District Court of New York and sentenced to three-year imprisonment.

However, the Hong Kong government did not rescind his title of Justice of the Peace or his medal of Gold Bauhinia Star.

Political scholar Wong Wai-kwok pointed out, that based on the Ordinance, regardless of whether you have committed a crime in Hong Kong or overseas, anyone who is convicted should receive the same treatment.

Wong urged the government to explain the real reason behind the revocation of the medals and appointment of Justice of the Peace from the democratic figures.

Side with The Political Power to be Honored

At the beginning of the citys opening, the British government introduced the Justice of the Peace (JP) System in Hong Kong, and enacted an ordinance in 1844, authorizing the Justice of The Peace to process summary offenses.

With the gradual perfecting of the British government and its judicial system, the only function left of the Justice of the Peace was prison inspection. Since then the title position of Justice of the Peace has evolved into an honorary title in Hong Kong.

After the handover of sovereignty in 1997, the Justice of the Peace System was retained in Hong Kong.

Wong thought that it would seem as if the Chinese Communist Party was showing respect to Hong Kongs One Country Two Systems initially.

Ironically though, the title appointment of JP and merit systems became a political candy hand-out.

Those who had received the honorary titles were mainly among pro-Beijing and pro-government individuals. That extended to people who were questioned, whether they had contributed anything at all to Hong Kong society; a few of the professionals and centrists became embellishments.

Since the Handover, a large number of pro-democracy legislators had been appointed as Justice of the Peace by the Hong Kong government, including Cyd Ho Sau-lan, former Labour Party Legislator, who had been on bail for violating the National Security Law, and Charles Mok Nai-kwong, former Legislative Councilor representing the Information and Technology Sector.

Historian Hans Yeung Wing-yu told us that Hong Kong at the time was still relatively objective politically. It was still a civic society. If someone had done a good job, then the government would recognise this by making an awarding.

In recent years, most who had been awarded leaned towards the pro-Beijing party, DAB, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong civic society disappears, you no longer have to purely be someone who has significantly contributed to social affairs to be awarded. All you need to receive the honors is to be someone who is politically reliable and sides with the power.
After bidding a rushed farewell to his family, Xavier Cheung came to London by himself a year ago, bringing with him a music dream.

With no financial back-up nor outstanding academic qualification, Xavier, now 28, worked in a restaurant and real estate agency to earn money for rental. After sending tons of his CVs out, a music school extended an offer to him. Within a few months, teaching piano became Xaviers full-time rather than part-time job. He even started his own company. Now he is working hard to earn tuition for a masters degree in music.

Xavier Came to Britain last year starting a new journey by himself. (Courtesy of Xavier Cheung)

Whereas the mansion of music always looked beyond reach to Xavier in Hong Kong, the artistic feel of Britain gave him confidence. Here you would find a homeless person playing to express emotions with a broken piano abandoned on the streetthis is what music is about. With money or not, you can play music as long as you love it, this is the spirit of music.

He is now a life member of the Chopin Society UK and a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, which are mansions of music with a different classical music feel to him. Here in Britain he finally realised a piano dream of many years.

Xavier first touched piano at the age of four. At that time he did not have any interest and it was for passing piano exams. That changed in 2011, before he was admitted to university. He fell in love with music.

In 2014 pursuing further studies, he took a music-related programme and obtained a professional diploma in music marketing and management from the Hong Kong Open University (now renamed Hong Kong Metropolitan University). Apart from general music technique, he also acquired knowledge in marketing and management, which created a foundation on which to later built his company.

He once went to Taiwan to pursue a bachelor degree in information and communication. After school he part-timed as a music teacher and continued practising in the hope of keeping his fire-feeling in music.

Xavier gave a piano performance at Tamkang University, Taiwan. (Courtesy of Xavier Cheung)

Career Aspiration Ignited in Britain

Upon graduation Xavier returned to Hong Kong and went through the turbulent 2019. He referred to Chopins music to describe his state of mind: At that time I admired Chopins Polonaises very much. From 2014 to 2019 a lot happened in Hong Kong, which resembled the environment in which Chopin composed the Polonaises. I found expressions in his music about how to fight communism and defend against invasion of a different culture. I felt the affinity of music and society, especially in 2019.

The emigration tide propelled Xavier to make a decision for career development once again. At the end he moved to Britain alone without support from family nor hefty capital. All he had was a pair of hands to carve out new territory for himself. Here in Britain, I started from zero hence there is nothing to lose and no returns for work is fine with me. This is my dream! This is my challenge!

Xavier knew very well that it was not easy to do music in Hong Kong. The music scene there was exclusive, open to young people from either a family of musicians with a wide network, or a wealthy family that can afford costly instruments for practising. A young person with only a dream and aspirations had a hard time breaking into the music industry.

Western classical music originated from Europe. Xavier found Britain to offer much more room for development in music. In Europe if you love music and seek opportunities, you will get them, regardless of your background. Ever since landing in Britain, Xavier had been non-stop in seeking opportunities and exploring different directions for development. He began the process with sending resumes to music organisations.

He said, With a bit of audacity and initiative to reach out, you will get people to notice you. Designer clothes or family wealth wont gain you access to the music scene here. Westerners dont care about these. It was good news to him that the Incorporated Society of Musicians strongly supported musicians. Even a nobody can apply for and get funds from the Society.

Xavier often took part in different music events after joining the Chopin Society UK. (Courtesy of Xavier Cheung

After landing in Britain, the turning point for Xavier was getting a part-time piano teacher job in a music school opened by a Polish musician. Starting from giving trial classes to two students, he got more and more students. The side job became his main job. In order to work as a self-employed tax-payer, he founded his own company Chun Yin Studio Ltd. It only took him two hours to get approval and open a company account to register his school in London. It was win-win to sign a teaching contract in a companys capacity with the Polish musicians school. There are other advantages as wellhe can now do musical instruments retail and other commercial joint-ventures such as promoting NFT cryptocurrency for music. These are the projects that can be further developed.

With more and more Hong Kong families moving to Britain, Cantonese-speaking piano teachers are getting popular. (Courtesy of Xavier Cheung)

Asian Music is Hong Kong Musicians Advantage

Xavier had confidence in developing a music career in Britain. We have great prospects. As a Hongkonger we are not at a disadvantage in Europe. First of all, we speak one additional language. Secondly, Asians, when learning music, have a wider exposure than westerners to other music genres such as Chinese and Japanese ones. This is the advantage of us Hongkonger being diversified and international.

He believed Asian music has its own uniqueness which sounds fresh to Europeans. Now that he is here Xavier believes he should fully utilise his advantages to bring more westerners to appreciate Asian music.

Coming to Britain, Xavier was immersed in the countrys arts and culture, playing music with fellow musicians from the United States, Britain and Germany. (Courtesy of Xavier Cheung)

Xavier also came to understand the difference between teaching music in Hong Kong and Britain. In Hong Kong parents look at teachers pedigrees. Graduates from top music schools, or teachers with high academic qualifications are soon grabbed. It is different in Britain. Here they first look at how you get along with students, and how you get kids to like music. If you dont know how to teach, you will not be hired, regardless how well you play professionally. Actually the basic requirement for teaching piano is not high herea Grade 6 or Grade 8 in the Piano Test achieved will suffice, plus adequate English for communication.

More and more Hong Kong families have now moved to Britain. Parents, especially the ones who emigrated a long time ago, want to get Cantonese music teachers for their children. Many Hong Kong families prefer a piano teacher to speak Cantonese to kids, so they favour bilingual teaching. In view of this need, Xavier was positive about the room for development in London. He thought there was going to be a large potential market.

This April Xavier ran an International Music Festival in Londons Camden School For Girls music school, together with Hong Kong Cultural Square and Pianistas, a Polish musicians school. (Courtesy of Xavier Cheung)

In his companys capacity, Xavier ran an International Music Festival this April in Londons Camden School For Girls music school, together with Hong Kong Cultural Square and the Polish musicians school. He and the Polish musician served as jurors. The goal of the festival was bridging different countries culture with music, and making music part of daily life. The event attracted Hong Kong immigrants as well as locals. Young people learned from each other through music.

Xavier participated in most of the events planning, finding the location and publicity work. As a new kid to the block, he tried his hand and got a strong boost from the festivals success. He harboureds hopes for facilitating more similar events and bringing together more groups.

Xavier is planning to enrol in next years music MA program to further his professional studies. Studying music was just his pastime and dream in the past but now it is within his reach. For me, taking up studies is to enable him to better share music and enable us to enjoy music together, which is an opportunity to be treasured. There is so much to learn. In the future, I hope to further develop my music school. This is my aspiration.
Invocation of Emergencies Act Will Go Down in History as a Political Embarrassment

In Canada, the checks and balances that restrain government overreach are being ignored

Commentary

The federal government proclaimed a national state of emergency and invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 of this year. We are now dealing with the aftermath. There are demands that the minister of public safety resign for misleading the House of Commons.

I will only mention one of the worst abuses, which was that the government gave itself the power to freeze the bank accounts of people who supported the protests, without a judicial order. Like so much of what happened during the COVID crisis, it taught us that the people running the country do not have the slightest grasp of the fundamentals of constitutional government.

The current view seems to be that the people in political office have the authority to do whatever they want, simply because they were elected.

That is not how the system works. The history of government has taught us that the actions of the people in power need to be constantly scrutinized to keep them within proper limits. As a result, we have a host of checks and balances, which are there to prevent them from doing whatever they see fit.

There is a reason why the Magna Carta is the cornerstone of the system. It stands for the principle that the law of the land takes precedence over the powers of government. The law of the land is now the constitutional law, which is supreme, and places legal limits on the power of the government to restrict our freedoms.

That is the principle, at least, which worked rather well until recently, when a new generation of politicians, judges, and public officials apparently decided that politics trumps law and the government has the right to do what it wants. The invocation of the Emergencies Act will go down as a historical embarrassment, which merely demonstrated that the politicians do not know their limits and will go to any lengths to get their way.

The excuse all the way through the crisis has been that we are in an emergency. It was hyperbole, of course, and political fiction. The threat to our national security was largely imaginary. Try telling someone in Sudan or Ukraine that the sound of honking horns on Wellington Street imperilled the country.

A lot of middle-class indignation in Ottawa during the days of the Freedom Convoy was instigated by local politicians, since we were heading into a municipal election and they did not want anyone upsetting the public. The removal of the police chief at the height of the misconduct deserves an inquiry of its own.

It seems to me that Mr. Trudeau mostly went into hiding. He has his autocratic side, and he simply didnt want the protesters there. The failure of his government to listen to the cries of frustration from ordinary Canadians was nothing short of mystifying.

The point is that the invocation of the Emergencies Act was not a genuine response to the facts on the ground. If you watched the hearings on the implementation of the Emergency Act last week, it was clear from the slipshod responses that the people on Mr. Trudeaus side know it wasnt justified and dont really care. They were going to bend the facts and do whatever they had to do to get the boss the result that he wanted. Now they are going to rationalize it all away. It seems to me that their capacity for self-deception is endless.

In its application to the Federal Court, the Civil Liberties Association described the invocation of the Emergencies Act as unnecessary, unjustifiable and unconstitutional. I think we can go much further. It seems to me that Mr. Trudeaus use of the emergency powers was blatantly unconstitutional.

So where was the privy council and the civil service? Why did just about everyone in the upper echelons simply go along? The courts should have stepped in; the police should have balked; and where was the mainstream press, which should have hammered the government?

They all should have been applying the brakes.

There are deep issues here. It seems to me that the political climate in Ottawa has become remarkably permissive. The traditional checks and balances on government are still there, on paper, but it is clear that they mean very little when the people applying them are all playing politics.

The real crisis is a crisis of character. We need a different set of people in positions of authority, who refuse to give in to political pressure. We need judges and officials who provide calm and dispassionate oversight and place the proper limits on the prime minister and his cabinet.

I do not know where we will find those people, but without them it is evident that those currently in charge are going to continue to run roughshod over the liberties of the public. And get away with it.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Japans Exploring Counterstrike Capabilities to Response to Growing China Threats in Indo-Pacific: Analysts

Indicating a potential historic shift, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on June 10 that Japan will reinforce its defense capabilities and is exploring the possibility of possessing counterstrike capabilities.

This is to ensure that Japan plays a more responsible role in the region threatened by Chinese activities in the South and the East China Sea and by the insecurities arising after Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to experts.

As the security environment surrounding Japan becomes increasingly severe, we will set out a new National Security Strategy by the end of this year. I am determined to fundamentally reinforce Japans defense capabilities within the next five years and secure a substantial increase of Japans defense budget needed to effect it, said Kishida.

He added that Japan will not rule out any options, including counterstrike capabilities.

Strategic analysts told The Epoch Times that Kashidas speech at Shangri-La Dialogue suggests a major shift in policy because it shows Japans willingness to shift from mostly playing an economic and development role in the region to playing a serious security role.

Japans potential enhanced strategic capabilities will help it to deter adversaries by imposing costs and weakening their ability to conduct subsequent attacks, according to the analysts.

The acquisition of strike capabilities is part of Japans ability to conduct counterattacks that are seen as an essential step to deal with the growing missile threats posed by North Korea, fill the readiness deficit against China, and potential attacks by Russia, Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, project assistant professor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo, said in an email.

Kishida has described the regional context as something that invokes a sense of urgency. The prime minister said hes concerned that what happened in Ukraine may happen in East Asia in the future, and Japan should be prepared to face any emergency arising due to those countries who trample on the peace and security of other countries.

Without naming China, Kishida said that international law is not being followed in the South China Sea, while in the East China Sea where Japan is located there are increased attempts to change the status quo by force. Peace across the Taiwan strait is also threatened, he said.

Men wearing period Japanese Imperial Army and Navy uniform gather outside the Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on August 15, 2020, on the 75th anniversary of Japans surrender in World War II. (Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images)

Change in Policy

Experts said the shift in Japans defense policy is due to the changing geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific where the United States wants other countries to share the responsibility to secure the region.

Why would Japan want to change the policy? The reason is in the U.S., said Satoru Nagao, a non-resident fellow at the Washington-based Hudson Institute.

Nagao noted that China has substantially increased its defense budget.

According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institutes report on World Military Expenditure over 2010-2020, China increased its military budget by 76 percent, while during the same period the United States decreased its defense budget by 10 percent though it still remains the highest in the world.

For a long time, when Japan needed strike capability, Japan relied on the U.S. If the U.S strike capability is enough, Japan does not need any strike capability, Nagao said.

However, the situation of the U.S. has changed because U.S.-China military balance has changed. Still, the U.S. spent three times bigger military expenditure [than China] but the U.S. is also asking allies and partners to share the security burden, he added.

Under these circumstances, U.S. allies and partners including Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, and South Korea especially, and Quad members being India, Australia, and Japan, are enhancing their strike capabilities, said Nagao.

If the United States, Japan, Australia, and India all possess long-range strike capabilities, their combined capability would force China to defend on multiple fronts, according to him.

Grant Newsham, a senior fellow at Japans Forum for Strategic Studies, said that Kishidas speech and appearance at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore are significant.

Japan is more active in asserting itself and in taking a leadership role in the Indo-Pacific than it has ever had before in the modern era, according to Newsham.

He addressed security matters and indicated that Japan was going to play its part in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. Of course, that means ensuring the region is free of Chinese intimidation and domination. He didnt use quite those words, but his meaning was clear enough, said Newsham.

An aerial view of the remote islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi said Japans strike capability till date was for its remote islands but now itll possess long-range strike capability. (Dong-A ILBO/AFP/GettyImages)

Long-Range Strike Capability

Experts said that Kishidas indication of Japans interest in possessing counter strike capabilities means that Japan could produce and possess long-range strike capability designed primarily to defend and to deter an enemy.

Ryo said Japans strike capability to date was for its remote islands. However, if the country changes its policy Japan would need a strike capability of at least 621 miles (1000 kilometers) for effective counterattack operations.

Japan is mulling a number of options, including the Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM-ER) with a range of 900 km [560 miles], and extending the range of the Type 12 surface-to-ship missile to 900 km [560 miles] and eventually to 1,500 km [930 miles], said Ryo.

In the long term, Japan is also considering the production of cruise missiles with a reach of up to 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers), submarine-launched cruise missiles of 1000km, as well as hypersonic weapons, according to Ryo.

However, to deal with the threats from China, Japan may need to consider medium-range ballistic missiles, he said.

Newsham said that Kishida announced that the Japanese navy will conduct patrols, exercises, and other engagements in the region more than it has ever done before in the past 75 years and the Japanese Navy will be sailing a small task force throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

I believe a submarine and a destroyer will also be going along. This would not have been thought possible, say, five years ago. Now its considered normaland youll note nobody in Japan is complaining, nor is anyone in the regionexcept the Peoples Republic of China, said Newsham.
A police tape marks the perimeter of a crime scene in Mexico, on April 21, 2019. (Guillermo Arias/AFP via Getty Images)

Jesuits: 2 Priests Killed in Northern Mexico

MEXICO CITY, MexicoTwo Jesuit priests have been killed inside a church where a man pursued by gunmen apparently sought refuge in a remote mountainous area of northern Mexico, the religious orders Mexican branch announced Tuesday.

Javier Campos Morales and Joaquin Cesar Mora Salazar were killed Monday inside the church in Cerocahui, Chihuahua.

Violence has plagued the Tarahumara mountains for years. Cerocahui is near a point where Chihuahua state meets Sonora and Sinaloa, a major drug-producing region.

A statement from the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus in Mexico demanded justice and the return of the mens bodies. It said gunmen had taken them from the church.

Acts like these are not isolated, the statement said. The Tarahumara mountains, like many other regions of the country, face conditions of violence and abandonment that have not been reversed. Every day men and women are arbitrarily deprived of life, as our murdered brothers were today.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said during his daily news conference Tuesday that the priests were apparently killed by gunmen pursuing another man who sought refuge in the church. That man was also killed, the president said.

Lopez Obrador said authorities have information about possible suspects in the killings and that the area has a strong organized crime presence.

For some reason, the gunmen did not kill a third priest who was at the church, but refused his pleas for them to leave the bodies of his two colleagues, said Narce Santibanez, the press director for the Jesuits in Mexico.

The surviving priest said his two colleagues had been killed by gunshots at close range.

The killing of priests has been a persistent tragedy in Mexico, at least since the start of the drug war in 2006.

The Rev. Gilberto Guevara serves in the parish of Aguililla in the western state of Michoacan, a town that has been on the front lines of cartel turf wars for years. Three priests have been killed in the area over the last decade.

The danger is always there, Guevara said about working in the cartel-dominated region. As long as we dont get in the way, they respect us, just as the government respects us as long as we are useful to them.

The churchs Catholic Multimedia Center said seven priests have been murdered under the current administration, which took office in December 2018, and at least two dozen under the former president, who took office in 2012.

The center said that in 2021, a Franciscan priest died when he was caught in the crossfire of a drug gang shootout in the north-central state of Zacatecas as he drove to Mass. Another priest was killed in the central state of Morelos and another in the violence-plagued state of Guanajuato that year.

In 2019, a priest was stabbed to death in the northern border city of Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas.

Chihuahua Gov. Maria Eugenia Campos wrote in her Twitter account that she laments and condemns the killings, and said security arrangements had been discussed for priests in the area.
John Robson: Stop Voting for People Who Make a Mockery of Ministerial Responsibility

Commentary

If I asked which cabinet minister you want fired first, the flood of replies might resemble a DDS cyberattack. The Suns Brian Lilley recently named five prime candidates, then, after sighing wearily that the list could be longer, lengthened it. And its a good question why the queue increasingly resembles that at a passport office.

He certainly wanted to dump Karina Gould over the passport fiasco. And to be fair, as minister of International Development, shes not in charge of it. But one good way to get rid of a minister of International Development anyway is to abolish the whole department, since making other countries advanced would be neither a legitimate function of the Canadian government nor something it could possibly accomplish even if it were discharging its genuine basic duties so well it had time and money to spare tilting at global windmills.

Actually, Im just kidding. Gould is now minister of Families, Children and Social Development. Its hard to keep track of the musical chairs. Or the proliferation of ministries whose existence is an affront to common sense (because society does not develop nor do we reproduce thanks to the state) and to our constitutional order (because the ongoing executive seduction of the legislature by drawing so many caucus members into the lucrative confines of cabinet, across jurisdictions and parties, is a major impediment to accountability nowadays).

Speaking of genuine basic duties, the corner of the bureaucratic labyrinth formerly known as the Passport Office then Passport Canada, subject to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, was abolished on Canada Day 2013 and the mess dumped on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which fobbed it off on Employment and Social Development Canada, which tossed the glowing potato on to Service Canada before mutating into Goulds FCSD. Though again to be fair, Lilley also rightly wanted to fire Immigration Minister Sean Fraser for the immigration mess. To say nothing of the Afghan refugee fiasco.

Its one thing to have a disaster smouldering unnoticed beneath your desk. Its quite another to have it blazing away in public and be unable to pour water on it. And a third to ignite such a mess in a minor portfolio, like Melanie Joly in Canadian Heritage (again not a government responsibility John Locke would recognize) that you get handed the matches in a major one. But yes, shes now our Foreign Affairs minister (or Global Affairs Canada on the apparent theory that a pompously woke name improves a bureaucratic entity) even though her most conspicuous Heritage foul-up was a Holocaust memorial that didnt mention Nazis killing Jews. Doh.

So what can we do about a cabinet that supposedly looked good because it was 2015 and now looks terrible? Especially since its all fine and good to fire ministers whose ineptitude renders satire obsolete, but who would you replace them with?

Does anyone want Harjit Sajjan back in cabinet after his preposterous tenure at Defence? Just kidding. He already is, having replaced Gould as minister of International Development. So again, lets ditch incumbent and office lest he be replaced with someone even less competent or conscientious.

Yes, conscientious. One prominent Canadian commentator recently tritely praised Doug Ford for avoiding culture war hot buttons to focus on Bread and Butter instead of Guns & Gonads. But without rehashing my distaste for amorphous pragmatism in politics, surely the Jordan Peterson phenomenon has made very clear that culture wars concern character and competence broadly, not just a few hot buttons.

Indeed, Justin Trudeaus ministers are not putting on a spectacular gong show because they have some special talent for it. On the contrary, they are very typical modern people, with enormous self-esteem, focused on rights not responsibilities, and so ignorant of political economy that they do not even recognize censorship while imposing it. And far from treasuring Sir John A. Macdonalds reputed retort that people who want a better cabinet should send me better wood (I cant actually document the line but it sounds like exactly the sort of thing hed have said repeatedly over adult beverages), they probably think hes some bigoted clown whose statues need vandalizing.

So speaking of leadership, Lilley pointed out that the whole thing is Trudeaus fault since its his cabinet, and Jagmeet Singhs since hes propping up Trudeau while denouncing him as a tool of capitalist oppression. Again, fair enough. But dont stop there. Who can fire those two for smug ineptitude?

Uh, thatd be us. Were the ones sitting watching a terrible show with the remote right beside us on the couch.

If you want to fire incompetent ministers, dont send me a list. I probably couldnt stand to look at it anyway. Stop voting for people who make a mockery of ministerial responsibility, basic competence, and humility, or tolerate such a mockery.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
West Point graduates raise their hands during the 2022 commencement ceremony at the U.S. Military Academy on May 21, 2022 in West Point, New York. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Judicial Watch Uncovers Records of CRT Being Taught to West Point Cadets: An Attack From Within

Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point have been taught to analyze society through the Marxist lens of critical race theory (CRT), according to documents released Monday by Judicial Watch.

The more than 600 pages of records, which include presentation slides about CRT, whiteness, and queer theory were only given to Judicial Watch after the watchdog group sued the U.S. Department of Defense.

One presentation that discusses whiteness states that its first necessary to address whiteness and the take-for-grantedness of whiteness before one can understand racial inequality and slavery.

It moves on to describe whiteness as a location of structural advantage, of race privilege and a standpoint or place from which white people look at themselves and the rest of society, and a set of cultural practices that are usually unmarked and unnamed.

Another presentation, titled Education and Work Inequality, instructs cadets to discuss How White Networks Exclude Black Men from Blue-Collar Jobs.

Several of these slides encourage students to view society from a critical race perspective, asking them how the CRT framework can be applied to address social issues.

What is the difference between desegregation versus integration? one slide asks. How would you apply a tenant of CRT to this idea?

What is educational sovereignty? another slide asks, referring to the idea of indigenous people rejecting education aimed at ensuring their assimilation into the dominant culture. How does it relate to CRT?

Another slide addresses affirmative action and asks, Do you think Affirmative Action creates an environment for reverse discrimination? Use CRT to support your answer.

One of the documents explains that the course is meant to help West Point cadets lead more effectively by familiarizing them with difficult topics.

Regardless of personal views, future leaders need to understand arguments on controversial issues and need to be prepared to thoughtfully answer questions when Soldiers ask about topics in the news, such as Critical Race Theory, the document reads, noting that cadets taking the two-lesson course will learn about both CRT and criticisms of it as a theory.

Debated topics (e.g. controversial Supreme Court decisions, communism, radicalization) are often discussed in the classroom, it adds. These discussions are respectful of cadet opinions and foster a deeper understanding of current issues; the ability to engage in such discussion often results in tremendous personal and intellectual growth for cadets.

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton disagreed with the claim, arguing that exposing West Point cadets to CRT only serves to radicalize those young minds.

Our military is under attackfrom within, Fitton said in a press release. These documents show racist, anti-American CRT propaganda is being used to try to radicalize our rising generation of Army leadership at West Point.

The release of documents comes two months after Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), a West Point graduate, demanded that West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams hand over all records about CRT-infused training sessions for cadets.

I was provided a presentation slide from one of the workshops with the title of White Power at West Point and Racist Dog Whistles at West Point,' Waltz wrote in an April 8 letter to Williams. Additionally, another presentation slide shared with me depicted a lecture by Dr. Carol Anderson of Emory University with the title Understanding Whiteness and White Rage.

None of the three said presentations were among materials released by Judicial Watch.

The Defense Department didnt immediately respond to a request for comments.
Kremlin Does Not Know Location of Captured US Mercenaries, Says They Should Bear Responsibility for Crimes

MOSCOWThe Kremlin said on Tuesday it did not know the location of two Americans captured while fighting in eastern Ukraine, but that they were mercenaries and could be sentenced to death in Russian-backed breakaway territories.

Americans Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, went missing this month while fighting near Kharkiv. Russian state media later showed video interviews with the pair, saying they had been captured by Russian-backed forces.

Citing an unidentified source, the Interfax news agency reported that the men were in the separatist self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine.

Britons Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin and Moroccan citizen Brahim Saadoun were sentenced to death by a DPR court this month after being captured fighting with the Ukrainian army.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a call with reporters that Moscow could not rule out that the two captured men, both from Alabama, would also be sentenced to death if put on trial in a separatist territory.

Though Russia does not carry out the death penalty, the Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics, whose independence is recognized only by Moscow, have it on their statute books.

Peskov said they were mercenaries engaged in illegal activities and should take responsibility for their crimes, RIA news agency reported.

U.S. citizen Alexander Drueke poses for a picture before leaving for Ukraine, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on March 28, 2022. (Lois Drueke/Handout via Reuters)

Andy Huynh, a U.S. citizen captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine, at an unknown location, in a still image from a video released on June 17, 2022. (RU-RTR/Handout via Reuters)

We are talking about mercenaries who threatened the lives of our service personnel. And not only ours, but also the service personnel of the DPR and LPR.

Asked whether the Americans could be put on trial in the DPR and sentenced to death, Peskov said: We cannot exclude anything because these are decisions for the court. We never comment on them and have no right to interfere in court decisions.

Reuters could not immediately verify the Interfax report on the location of the Americans. A spokesperson in the DPR declined immediate comment.

The Kremlin says that as mercenaries, the men are not protected by the Geneva Conventions, which outline how prisoners of war should be treated.

Relatives of the captured Americans say they are not mercenaries and had traveled to Ukraine as volunteers in April to help repel Russian forces.

Alexander Druekes mother Lois said: Alex did not go in a military capacity. He went as a civilian with military training.

Huynh and Drueke last spoke to relatives on June 8 to say they were going on a mission and would be out of contact for a day or two. They were feared captured after they did not return to base.

Family members said they later found out that the men had been in Kharkiv region, which borders the Donetsk region to the north.
Left-Wing Australian Greens Leader Removes National Flag Out of TV Sight

Leader of the left-wing Greens Adam Bandt has been criticised for virtue-signalling after he pushed the Australian flag out of the TV camera shot in his press conference.

On Monday afternoon, before Bandt and Deputy Greens leader Mehreen Faruqi arrived at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in the Sydney CBD, a member of the Greens pushed the Australian flag to the side while the Aboriginal and Torress Strait Islander flags remained in the centre.

When asked about the move, Bandt said that the Australian flag was hurtful to Australian Aboriginals. He also told the ABC that he usually has it removed before he speaks.

Ahead of a press conference with Greens leader Adam Bandt, a Greens staffer has just moved the Australian flag out of the TV camera shot. #auspol pic.twitter.com/g524GbpKKH  Isobel Roe (@isobelroe) June 20, 2022

For many people, this flag represents dispossession and the lingering pains of colonisation, he said. Through treaty with First Nations people and by moving to a republic, we can have a flag that represents all of us.

The event has attracted criticism from Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Price, who told The Australian on Tuesday that its becoming a little bit childish for leaders to be virtue-signalling about who loves Aboriginal people more.

Northern Territory political leader Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. (Supplied)

Indigenous leader Warren Mundine described such action as idiotic for someone who wants to represent Australians in the federal parliament

Are the Greens actually in the Australian Federal Parliament? Seriously? Do they actually hate Australians that much, Mundine told the Daily Telegraph.

Aboriginals call themselves Australians all the time.

The Greens are just a fringe university-type group trying to run down the country.

Australian Aboriginal leader Warren Mundine speaks at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

The sentiment was echoed by Nationals Senator Matt Canavan who told Sky News First Edition that if the Greens are ashamed of the Commonwealth, they should not be using taxpayer-funded Commonwealth offices for their press conferences.

Meanwhile, former Labor senator Stephen Conroy said the move is one of the Greens leaders tactics to grab attention.

Heres a bloke that in his heart believed he would be a minister after the election he truly did believe he would have his hands on the reigns of power and he is just deeply, deeply bitter about it, he told Sky News Australia on Tuesday.

Frankly we should just ignore him because he is going to keep having to do these cheap pathetic stunts to try and draw attention to himself.

Bella dAbrera, director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation Program at the Institute of Public Affairs said the Australian flag is a unifying symbol that is a pillar of our history and the Australian way of life. She added that the removal of the flag was completely out of touch with real Australians who are proud of their country, and proud of their history.

This is exactly the type of empty virtue signalling we have come to expect from the Greens Party, she told the Daily Telegraph.

The incident comes after the NSW government on Sunday announced that it will install the Aboriginal flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge permanently which is estimated to cost $25 million.
Protesters gather in front of a liquor store in flames near the Third Police Precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 28, 2020. (Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images)

Marxists Seek to Leverage Riots to Subvert American Society: Philosopher

Marxists seek to advocate and facilitate riots, such as the 2020 unrest in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, in a bid to subvert American society and pave the way for a socialist takeover, according to professor of philosophy and author Douglas R. Groothuis.

The goal is to destabilize America, and to threaten the opposition, Groothuis recently told Epoch TVs China Insider program.

The ideological basis of the 2020 riots demanding racial justice after Floyds death is the Marxist-rooted critical race theory, he noted.

Thats a kind of new Marxism or cultural Marxism, that expands the categories of oppressor and oppression to include racial minorities, Groothius said.

The people involved in the violence dont believe in the founding American ideals, he added. They dont believe in freedom of speech, freedom of religion  limited government  intrinsic human rights.

On the far left and critical race theory, the idea is that America is systemically and intrinsically racist. And so they went to the streets basically saying, We want to tear it all down, he added.

The expert called this a very radical and dangerous kind of movement, that had been facilitated by a lack of awareness of many Americans, as well as the inaction of others.

If you have a generation that doesnt know how evil communism is, and how dangerous it is to liberty, to life, to everything good, to faith, to religious freedom, and if the people who believe in the American vision are sleepy, or are just dying out, then I think America is in trouble, Groothius said.

A lot of our institutions have been corrupted by far-left thinking and by socialist thinking, he said, citing universities, mainstream media, public schools, and Hollywood as examples.

To illustrate this point, Groothuis accused the mainstream media of giving a free pass to the rioting in 2020 by diminishing the level of violence involved in its coverage and insisting the demonstrations were mostly peaceful.

We saw with these riots in 2020, that people on the left did not condemn the riots. It might have taken them a few months to say, well, its a better idea not to do this, he said.

According to Groothuis, the advocacy of critical race theory, and other ideas such as diversity, equity, and inclusion has ramped up under the Biden administration.

Those are really  just code words for socialism, for the state taking over the economy, the state taking over business, and getting rid of these founding American ideals that have been so successful for our country, he said.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the White House for comment.

As the United States awaits the Supreme Courts final decision on whether Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling which found a constitutional right to abortions, will be overturned, the expert raised concerns that very strong pro-abortion supporters will take to the streets if it is overturned.

The leaking of the Supreme Courts draft opinion in May was for the purpose of mobilizing the pro-abortion camp to take action, he said.

Thereve been demonstrations at the homes of judges, he said. This is actually illegal [but] nothing was done about it.

To counter such Marxist-style movements, the expert urged Americans to return to the countrys founding principles.

Dont let the spirit of the times muffle the spirit of truth that you find in the Bible. And dont let the spirit of the times muffle the sound principles of civil government we have in the Declaration and the Constitution, he said.

Hannah Ng Reporter Follow Hannah Ng is a reporter covering U.S. and China news.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at an event in New York City on Oct. 25, 2019. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Meta Settles With US Department of Justice Over Discriminatory Advertising Allegations

Facebooks parent company Meta and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have agreed to a settlement over allegations the company engaged in discriminatory advertising.

Facebook discriminated by offering advertisers an algorithm that enabled advertisers to target ads to users based on their looks, sex, religion, and interests, according to a federal lawsuit.

That violated the Fair Housing Act when it was used by advertisements for housing, according to the DOJ.

Under the proposed settlement (pdf), announced on June 21, Meta will stop using the advertising tool that relies on the algorithm and develop a replacement tool.

The new tool must address disparities for race, ethnicity and sex between advertisers targeted audiences and the group of Facebook users to whom Facebooks personalization algorithms actually deliver the ads, the DOJ said in a statement.

If the U.S. government clears the replacement, it must be fully implemented by Dec. 31.

Meta has also agreed to pay $115,054, the maximum penalty that can be assessed under the housing act.

This settlement is historic, marking the first time that Meta has agreed to terminate one of its algorithmic targeting tools and modify its delivery algorithms for housing ads in response to a civil rights lawsuit. The Justice Department is committed to holding Meta and other technology companies accountable when they abuse algorithms in ways that unlawfully harm marginalized communities, Kristen Clark, an assistant attorney general, said in a statement.

Because of this ground-breaking lawsuit, Meta willfor the first timechange its ad delivery system to address algorithmic discrimination. But if Meta fails to demonstrate that it has sufficiently changed its delivery system to guard against algorithmic bias, this office will proceed with the litigation, added Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

The settlement must be approved by a court to take effect.

Meta officials said the settlement came after more than a year of working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop a novel use of machine learning technology that will work to ensure the age, gender and estimated race or ethnicity of a housing ads overall audience matches the age, gender, and estimated race or ethnicity mix of the population eligible to see that ad.

The company said the change was being made in part to address criticism from civil rights groups and other outside parties.

Discrimination in housing, employment and credit is a deep-rooted problem with a long history in the US, and we are committed to broadening opportunities for marginalized communities in these spaces and others, Roy Austin, vice president of civil rights at Meta, said in a statement.
Michigan GOP Lawmakers Demand Voter Fraud Investigation, Cite 2000 Mules Allegations

Michigan House GOP lawmakers are demanding the states attorney general investigate Michigans secretary of state for voter fraud allegations and evidence presented in the 2000 Mules documentary.

Led by District 59s Rep. Steve Carra, 17 of the Great Lake States 56 Republican lawmakers wrote in a letter dated June 15 requesting that Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel investigate allegations in the state of voter fraud during the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

We write to you today urging you to investigate, and bring charges if credible evidence is found, the Secretary of State of Michigan, members of her office, and any organizations or individuals for crimes related to fraud committed in the 2020 election and crimes brought to light in the documentary 2000 Mules, reads the GOPs letter, first published on Scribd by NBCs Ben Orner on June 16.

The lawmakers requested Nessel investigate voter fraud claims presented in the 2000 Mules documentary directed by conservative author and filmmaker Dinesh DSouza.

The documentary features the undercover investigative work of David Lara, a citizen investigator, and Arizona State Senate candidate Gary Snyder, as well as investigations conducted by the election integrity organization True The Vote on an alleged coordinated ballot trafficking operation during the 2020 election.

Described as an expose of widespread, coordinated voter fraud in the 2020 election, the documentary draws on cell phone location data paired with video surveillance footage that showed a cohort of people allegedly dropping ballots off at drop boxes situated outdoors on average more than 20 times each. Those people were dubbed by the investigators as mules.

One such instance included a mule in Atlanta visiting ballot dropboxes 28 times. Michigan was named as a state that had such mules influence the 2020 Presidential Election, the letter reads.

Additionally, the lawmakers further requested an investigation into Bensons alleged violations of state election laws and procedures.

The Secretary of State used 4.5 million dollars of CARES funds to recklessly mail absentee ballot applications to all registered voters not on the permanent absentee voter list, the lawmakers said, referring to the $2.2 trillion COVID-19 emergency relief fund passed in a bill by Congress in 2020.

State law states that absentee voter ballot applications may only be made by a written request signed by the voter, an application form provided by the city or township clerk, or a federal postcard application.

The lawmakers further allege that the Secretary of State violated the Administrative Procedures Act by issuing an order to Michigan clerks in October 2020 to presume the accuracy of absentee ballot signatures. They cite State Court of Claims Chief Judge Christopher Murrays 2021 ruling that states Bensons signature verification guidance was invalid.

The standards issued by defendant Benson on October 6, 2020, with respect to signature-matching requirements amounted to a rule that should have been promulgated in accordance with the APA, ruled Murray on March 9, 2021, who referred to the states Administrative Procedures Act as APA .And absent compliance with the APA, the rule is invalid.

The lawmakers raised concerns about the role that non-profit organizations, which allegedly contributed private funding towards election administration, played in the 2020 election.

The receipt of nonprofit grant money by local clerks, and not the Secretary of States Office, is uncharted territory, especially when the money is used for dropboxes. 7.6 million dollars was distributed among 19 municipalities from Zuckerbergs Center for Technology and Civic Life in the form of 474 grants, the most given to a state in the nation, they said.

During the 2020 election cycle, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife gave $419.5 million to left-wing activist groups, purportedly to ease the strain on election systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of this funding, $350 million went to the Safe Elections Project of the Center for Technology and Civic Life (CTCL), which in turn used the money for grants to sympathetic groups, according to the Thomas More Societys Amistad Project.

In response to a press inquiry from The Epoch Times, a spokesperson from Bensons office said the GOP lawmakers letter is replete with false statements and misinformation. The spokesperson said that Benson acted properly in sending absentee ballot request forms amid COVID-19 and that no clerks were given instruction to presume the validity of voter signatures. The spokesperson rejected the evidentiary value of the 2000 Mules documentary.

As the top legal officer in the State of Michigan, you are tasked with the enforcement of our states laws, the letter continued.

You have a statutory obligation to investigate reported violations of the law and we urge you to look into the new evidence brought forth in 2000 Mules and to review the security of our elections.

Matthew Vadum contributed to this report.
A view shows railway tracks at a commercial port in the Baltic Sea town of Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region, Russia, on Oct. 28, 2021. (Vitaly Nevar/Reuters)

Moscow Fumes After EU Cuts Off Shipments to Baltic Outpost

KYIVRussia summoned the European Unions ambassador in Moscow on Tuesday, fuming over what it calls an illegal rail blockade of a Russian outpost on the Baltic Sea, the latest stand-off over sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.

On the ground in eastern Ukraine, Russias separatist proxies said they were advancing towards Kyivs main battlefield bastion. A Ukrainian official described a lull in fighting there as the calm before the storm.

The latest diplomatic crisis is over the Kaliningrad enclave, a port and surrounding countryside on the Baltic Sea that is home to nearly a million Russians, connected to the rest of Russia by a rail link through EU- and NATO-member Lithuania.

Lithuania has shut the route for basic goods including construction materials, metals, and coal, which it says it is required to do under EU sanctions that took effect on Saturday.

Russia calls the move an illegal blockade and has threatened unspecified retaliation against Lithuania.

EU envoy Markus Ederer appeared at the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. EU spokesperson Peter Stano said Ederer explained that Lithuania is implementing EU sanctions and there is no blockade, and asked them to refrain from escalatory steps and rhetoric.

The standoff creates a new source of confrontation on the Baltic, a region already set for a security overhaul that would hem in Russias sea power as Sweden and Finland apply to join NATO and put nearly the whole coast under alliance control.

Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russias powerful Security Council, arrived in Kaliningrad to hold a council meeting, Russias RIA state news agency reported.

Moscow had summoned a Lithuanian diplomat on Monday, but the EU has deflected responsibility from the Lithuanians, saying the policy was a result of collective action by the bloc. Vilnius was doing nothing else than implementing the guidelines provided by the (European) Commission, said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Heavyweight Fight

Within Ukraine, the battle for the east has become a brutal war of attrition in recent weeks, with Russia concentrating its overwhelming firepower on a Ukrainian-held pocket of the Donbass region.

Ukrainian servicemen ride American 155 mm turreted self-propelled howitzers M109 in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on June 13, 2022. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

The fighting has spanned the Siverskyi Donets river that curls through the region, with Russian forces mainly on the east bank and Ukrainian forces mainly on the west, though Ukrainians are still holding out in the east bank city of Sievierodonetsk.

In recent days Russia has captured Toshkivka, a small city on the west bank further south, giving it a potential foothold to try to cut off the main Ukrainian bastion at Lysychansk.

Rodion Miroshnik, ambassador to Russia of the pro-Moscow separatist Luhansk Peoples Republic, said forces were moving from the south towards Lysychansk with firefights erupting in a number of towns.

The hours to come should bring considerable changes to the balance of forces in the area, he said on Telegram.

The governor of Ukraines surrounding Luhansk region said Russian forces had gained some territory on Monday. It was relatively quiet overnight, but more attacks were coming, Serhiy Gaidai said: Its a calm before the storm.

Dmitry Muratov, editor of Novaya Gazeta, one of Russias last independent newspapers, auctioned off a Nobel Peace Prize he had won last year, raising $103.5 million for UNICEF to help Ukrainian refugees. The anonymous buyer bid for the medal by phone at the auction in New York.

Novaya Gazeta has halted publication since Moscow enacted a ban on reporting that departs from the official account of the special military operation in Ukraine.
Netherlands Minister for Climate and Energy Rob Jetten after the weekly Council of Ministers at the Binnenhof in The Hague on April 22, 2022. (Bart Maat/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Netherlands Lifting Restrictions on Coal-Fired Power Stations Amid Drop in Gas Supplies From Russia

The Netherlands is following in the footsteps of neighboring Germany and lifting a cap on production by coal-fired power stations in an effort to prevent a winter energy crisis amid a drop in gas supplies from Russia.

Because the risk of gas shortages has increased, the cabinet has decided today to withdraw the production limitation for coal-fired power stations for 2022 to 2024 with immediate effect, climate and energy minister Rob Jetten said in a statement announcing the move on Monday.

This means that the coal-fired power stations are allowed to produce at full capacity again so that less gas is needed for the production of electricity by gas-fired power stations. This reduces the risk of gas shortages and makes it easier to fill the gas storage facilities in the Netherlands and Europe.

The Netherlands is in the first phase of a gas crisis, according to Jetten, which has prompted the government to initiate its Gas Protection and Recovery Plan.

Jetten said the overall aim of removing the restrictions on coal-fired power stations is to fill gas storage facilities across the Netherlands with more than had previously been agreed by Europe to ensure that plenty of gas is saved ahead of the winter.

The Netherlands capped its coal-fired power plant production at just 35 percent of capacity as it seeks to transition away from higher carbon dioxide emissions to clearer energy.

Its removal of the cap on coal-fired energy production is expected to save 2 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas use per year but Jetten noted that the Netherlands would still meet its 2030 climate goals, which included phasing out its last four coal-fired power plants by 2030.

The Dutch cabinet will announce additional measures aimed at reducing the extra CO2 to offset emissions from coal-fired power stations in the near future.

In the short-term, officials are working on a temporary gas-saving tender that will give large gas consumers a financial incentive to reduce their gas consumption, Jetten said.

Back in May Russias Gazprom cut off gas supplies to Dutch gas trader GasTerra after it had failed to pay for deliveries in Russian rubles as requested by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March.

That decision means Gazprom will not deliver some 2 billion cubic meters of gas to the Netherlands between now through Oct. 1, when its contract with GasTerra was set to end. However, Jetten stressed on Monday that there was currently no shortage of gas in the Netherlands.

There are currently no acute gas shortages in the Netherlands, but the declining gas supplies could have consequences, the climate and energy minister said.

With the declaration of the first level of a gas crisis, gas companies must provide additional detailed information on current gas supplies and stocks on a daily basis. This will enable the government to monitor the gas market even more closely and immediately take additional measures if the situation so requires.

The latest decision by the Dutch government comes just a day after Germanys economy minister Robert Habeck said that the country will limit the use of natural gas for electricity production and instead increase coal burning to compensate. The move comes amid decreased supplies from Russia and fears over potential shortages.

Elsewhere on Monday, the Dutch government also announced plans to produce 2.8 billion bcm of gas from the Groningen gas field in the year ending October 2023, scaling back on the 4.5 bcm in the current production year.

Due to the uncertain geopolitical developments, State Secretary Vijlbrief has decided not to close any wells definitively this year, the government said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The remains of Sani's church, which was allegedly bombed from the air by people in a helicopter. (Courtesy of Mazara Kim)

Nigerian Terrorists Fire at Villagers From Helicopter, Eyewitnesses Say

It was a sunny Sunday in Maikori, a small farming town in the south of Nigerias Kaduna state. Rev. Denis Sani, the pastor of the evangelical church Winning All as well as a leader of a 50-man civilian watch unit, was giving a sermon.

A few minutes before noon on June 5, Sani got news he dreaded. A band of 200 armed terrorists had swarmed the nearby town of Dogon Noma, which meant Maikori was next.

After dismissing the congregation of 400 worshippers, he mobilized his team at the northern entrance of the thickly forested town where the terrorists were expected to storm in on motorbikes.

At 12:30 p.m., a convoy of more than 70 motorcycleswith three assailants to a bikearrived at Maikori after leveling Dogon Noma and two other settlements in their path.

Sanis team was outnumbered by 4 to 1. It was their first time fighting against such a force armed with sophisticated weapons.

We heard different sounds of guns, he said, some were louder than [an] AK-47.

The team hid behind tall trees and grasses near the approach to the village and fought with their hunting rifles and homemade short guns. Their goal was to slow the invaders enough to allow women, children, and the aged to evacuate.

The ensuing firefights kept the terroristswho didnt anticipate resistancefrom advancing for several minutes. But at about 1 p.m., a silver-colored helicopter appeared overhead and began shooting at the defenders.

The terroristsadvancing under the cover of the fire from the helicoptershot at fleeing residents, including women and children. They looted and burned homes.

An 18-year-old resident named Shadrach Joshua, who was running with a 2-year-old child on his back, was hit in the leg by the gunfire from the helicopter.

At the end of the four-hour raid, two members of Sanis watch team were among 33 people left dead in the attack.

The attack was little noticed by Nigerian media, although it took place at the same time as a brazen mass murder 349 miles away at a Roman Catholic church in Ondo state. The murder of 40 congregants by three terrorists grabbed the attention of the world.

Both incidents represent the persecution of Christians in Nigeria that many observers have called a Christian genocide.

They were closely followed by the murder of three worshippers and the kidnapping of many others during a church service in Kajuru on June 19.

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) has asked Victoria Nuland, the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, to engage the government of Nigeria on the issue of Christian persecution.

Previously, Ondo had not seen major militant activity, and the attack indicates the southward migration of terror towards Christian-majority regions as well as Nigerias oil-producing areas, Smith said.

This is of great concern, especially given the outsized importance of Nigeria throughout all of West Africa, Smith said in a letter to Nuland.

According to a statement on Smiths website, the letter was in response to the State Departments decision to omit Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern in its annual International Religious Freedom Report released earlier in June.

That was despite the widespread religious persecution plaguing the country.

The statement laments that in 2021, more than 4,650 believers were killed in Nigeria, accounting for nearly 80 percent of Christian deaths worldwide, according to the religious freedom watchdog Open Doors International.

Kaduna police spokesman Mohammed Jalige and Samuel Aruwan, the states internal security commissioner, didnt answer several calls and text messages sent by The Epoch Times.

However, Aruwan issued a statement through the Facebook page of Kaduna Gov. Nasir El-rufai that claimed an air force team covering ground troops fought bandit terrorists in Maikori to rescue residents.

An air force helicopter [under Operation Whirl Punch] dispatched to the area intercepted the bandits at the last location [Ungwan Maikori] and engaged them as they retreated, before the arrival of ground troops, Aruwan wrote.

But Sani told The Epoch Times that no military personnel were seen in the town during the four-hour attack.

To this day, no soldier or government official has visited this village, he said, noting only civilians were attacked by the helicopter.

It was around 1 p.m. that the helicopter came and started shooting at us, following even women and children who were running in the bush, with gunfire that the terrorists gained access and started burning our houses, Sani said.

From a safe distance, Shehu Muazua previously displaced farmer from the nearby village of Karamai, who now lives in a grass tent two miles south of Angwan Maikoricould see the helicopter shooting at civilians as they fled from their burning houses.

It flew around the village, back and forth, while the bandits were burning houses and shooting people, Muazu told The Epoch Times.

But several days after the raid, the military has yet to report any arrests. Sani also confirmed no terrorist was killed by gunfire from the helicopter.

Not even the trace of their blood was seen on the ground, he said.

The attack has stirred calls for an investigation of possible military complicity with terrorists in the state.

If the helicopter was from the government, how come they shot the villagers and not the attackers? Yakubu Umar Barde, a member of Nigerias House of Representatives, told The Epoch Times by telephone.

If they only mistook the victims for the attackers, how come they bombed a church? asked Barde, who represents Kajuru.

We have reports from the villagers saying they used to see helicopters landing in their villages, supplying something they dont understand and flying back at midnight, said Barde.

According to Aeroaffaires, an international aviation company that runs helicopter chartering services in Lagos, Nigeria, the cost of hiring a helicopter ranges from $1,255.13 to $4,183.78 per hour, depending on type and size.

But terrorists are able to afford them due to their wide financial networks, Barde says.

These bandits have their masters in the cities. The money [they get from kidnapping] gets back to the cities. If the government is serious, this can be investigated. But they are being treated with kid gloves.
Nigerian Woman Who Converted to Christianity Will Be Killed If Deported From Canada, Says Religious Rights Advocate

A Nigerian family that fled to Canada four years ago to escape persecution for their Christian faith is facing deportation after the federal government rejected their application to remain in Canada.

Morufat Ogunkoya, her husband, and their son and two daughters fled Nigeria in 2018 after she converted from Islam to Christianity and her father, a Muslim cleric, issued an Islamic legal ruling called fatwa calling for her death, according to one of the groups helping the family.

Toronto-based Rev. Majed El Shafie, founder of One Free World International, which works to protect the rights of religious minorities around the world, has been active in urging the feds to let the Ogunkoya family remain in Canada.

They will kill  [Morufat]. Viktor [her son] will be recruited into extremist groups. And the two girls will be forced back into Islam, forced into marriage, and maybe even female genital mutilation, El Shafie said in an interview.

Something tells me that our Canadian government does not understand or does not want to understand what will happen to this family.

Before fleeing Nigeria, Viktor was attacked and threatened with further violence unless the family returned to Islam, El Shafie said. Daughters Hephzibah and Rejoice were almost abducted twice, he said, and Morufats mother was killed by poisoning after she warned Morufat about her fathers fatwa. Morufats father is affiliated with Nasril Fathia, an offshoot of the more widely known terrorist group Boko Haram, El Shafie said.

Lets think about this for a minute, said El Shafie. You are OK with sending a woman and her three kids back to Nigeria, where Christians are being killed every day. And especially because shes a Muslim converted to Christianity, so shes an infidel, not just a Christian. Does this make sense to you? Does this make sense to the government?

Nigeria made headlines during the past year due to attacks on Christian communities and churches there, including a raid on June 5 when gunmen opened fire on a Catholic church and at least 50 people were killed.

Relatives of churchgoers who were attacked by gunmen during Sundays church service gather as health workers attend to victims brought in by ambulance after the attack at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Nigeria, on June 5, 2022. (Stringer/Reuters)

Legal Hurdles, Compassionate Need

Morufat and her children live in Welland, Ontario, near Niagara Falls. Her husband, who had also converted to Christianity, has been estranged from the family since before they arrived in Canada. The family first obtained visas to enter the United States. Then Morufat and the children crossed into Canada in January 2018 via an unmarked border crossing at Lacolle, Que.

The federal government denied the familys application for refugee status, with the immigration officer stating that the Ogunkoyas could return to a part of Nigeria where their risk of harm would be minimal.

A deportation order issued to the family in late 2019 forced Morufat and her children to go into hiding, with the help of the local community. It wasnt until November 2021 that they were able to come out of hiding while proceeding with their pre-removal risk assessment and humanitarian and compassionate application. However, that application was also denied.

Despite this, their lawyer Sam Plett is optimistic they will eventually succeed.

Right now, we feel there are legal grounds for the court to intervene, Plett told The Epoch Times.

Credibility was never used as a reason to deny their claim. But the finding at the time was that there was another city in their home country that is called an internal flight alternative. When you make a refugee claim, you have to show that you would be at risk everywhere in the country, not just in the particular area where you resided prior to coming to Canada.

Still, Plett said Canada has an obligation under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the U.N.s 1951 Refugee Convention not to remove people who face death, torture, or persecution, provided the applicants have remained in Canada longer than 12 months after their asylum claim has been rejected.

Therefore, if a federal court could stay the deportation until after their case is heard through a judicial review, Plett believes he can convince a judge the Ogunkoyas have a legal right to remain in Canada, and a compassionate need as well.

 A Ton of Support Letters, Signatures

Plett and the groups helping the family had compiled hundreds of pages of evidence they say demonstrate the familys successful integration and positive value to the community. Yet they say the denial of the familys claim seemed to ignore much of this documentation.

It was 1,500 pages with a ton of support letters, signatureseverything they did from working in the community to jobs to how theyre involved in the church and everything, said Sonya Wierenga, executive director of Rose City Kids, a non-profit Christian organization in Welland that offers programs for children.

They said theres no proof they are volunteering in the community, no proof that theyre part of a church. But meanwhile, I had letters from the pastor, the secretary, and church members. So we concluded they didnt read it.

Wierenga and her organization have spearheaded the efforts to help the Ogunkoyas stay, including during the time when they were forced to hide in a church for almost two years.

The Epoch Times reached out multiple times to the minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, Sean Fraser, but did not receive a response by press time.
FILE - Test engineer Jacob Wilcox pulls his arm out of a glove box used for processing sodium at TerraPower, a company developing and building small nuclear reactors on Jan. 13, 2022, in Everett, Wash. The U.S. nuclear industry has provided a steady 20% of the nation's power for years, but now plant operators are hoping to nearly double their output over the next three decades, according to the industry's trade association. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Nuclear Industry Looking to New Reactors to Expand Output

The U.S. nuclear industry is now looking to almost double its output over the next 30 years as older reactors retire, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the industrys trade association.

Utility members of the institute estimate that they could add 90 gigawatts of nuclear power to the U.S. grid. The bulk of this power is set to come online by 2050. Such power capacity translates to around 300 new small modular reactors, Maria Korsnick, president and chief executive officer of the institute, told The Associated Press.

We have the innovation, we have the capability, we have the American ingenuity, she said. Theres no reason that we shouldnt be able to bring these products to market.

Korsnick is expected to address NEIs Nuclear Energy Assembly conference on Tuesday in Washington, highlighting the potential for doubling American nuclear output to policymakers and industry leaders. This is not wishful thinking, Korsnick said.

First, there is a massive demand for nuclear power as energy companies strive to meet carbon reduction goals and customer expectations. Secondly, there is a significant interest at the state and federal levels. Thirdly, unlike traditional reactors, smaller reactors can mostly be manufactured in a factory setting, she said.

However, there are challenges to the plan. This includes the development of supply chains, more financial incentives from the government like what Washington has provided to renewable projects in the past decade, and the speedy issue of licenses to reactors, Korsnick stated. Despite these challenges, the NEI chief said that she remains bullish about nuclear powers future opportunities.

U.S. nuclear electricity generation capacity peaked in 2012 when there were 104 nuclear reactors with a capacity to output 102 gigawatts, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

By the end of 2021, the nation had 93 operating nuclear reactors with an output capacity of around 95 gigawatts. Their total output came in at 778 million megawatt-hours last year, which accounted for 19 percent of Americas electricity, enough to power around 70 million homes.

Meanwhile, Americas thorium reserves are also under the crosshairs of the U.S. government, with the Department of Energy committing almost $1 billion to its Defense Environmental Cleanup program that aims to destroy the supply of thorium it has on hand. Thorium can break down nuclear waste and provide clean energy.

In an interview with Newsweek, Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) called on the American government to stop the destruction of its thorium (U-233) reserves. Tubervilles new bill, the Thorium Energy Security Act, seeks to save Americas thorium reserves and use them to develop new nuclear reactors.

We want to be greener, but we want to be efficient, Tuberville said. We want to keep energy costs down, and this could be a huge advantage for everybody across the globe to be able to do this now.
Intercontinental ballistic missiles are launched by the Vladimir Monomakh nuclear submarine of the Russian navy from the Sera of Okhotsk, Russia, on Dec. 12, 2020. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Nuclear Weapons Imbalance Creates Dangerous Moment: Former CIA Officer

A former CIA officer and expert on nuclear weapons has criticised successive American and British leaders, including President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, for believing the mantra nuclear wars can never be won and should never be fought and allowing Russia and China to build up a massive strategic advantage over the West.

Peter Vincent Pry, director of the Task Force on National and Homeland Security, told The Epoch Times, This is one of the most dangerous moments weve ever faced in the nuclear missile age.

Russias invasion of Ukraine, and some of the belligerent remarks made by President Vladimir Putin, have resurrected the specter of a nuclear war that could wipe out humanity.

Earlier this month a white paper was published (pdf) that recommended the British government make public information filmssuch as the Protect and Survive series, made in the 1970sto prepare the population for the possibility of nuclear conflict.

In response to the white paper, UK Defense Select Committee chair Tobias Ellwood MP said, Perhaps, with the war in Ukraine and Russian troops attacking nuclear power stations and Putin threatening nuclear attack, it is timely to review our resilience to nuclear accidents and attacks.

Soldiers in Moscow look on at the funeral of Soviet leader and former KGB head Yuri Andropov in 1984. Seven years later, the Soviet Union collapsed. (AFP/Getty Images)

Pry said the Soviet Union collapsed because it could not keep up with U.S. military spending, but he said that in the 1990s and even after the rise to power of Putin in 2000, too many U.S. and British political leaders assumed the threat of nuclear war was a thing of the past and reduced military spending even while Russia rearmed and China built up a massive nuclear arsenal.

Gullible West Swallows Official Russian and Chinese Figures

Officially China spends $293 billion a year on its military and Russia only $66 billion, compared to the $800 billion the Pentagon spends, but Pry said the reality was that China had more than matched U.S. spending and Russia had massively under-played how much it had spent and gullible Western politicians had believed it.

He said Russia and China now outnumbered the West by 10 to one on tactical nuclear weapons and he added, All their nuclear missiles are brand new, whereas ours are 30 years old.

But Tim Ripley, a defense analyst and author of Little Green Men: The Inside Story of Russias New Military Power, told The Epoch Times: During the Cold War, and especially during the Cuban missile crisis, the clock was ticking towards Armageddon. Are we at the same level of danger now? Probably not.

Ripley said: There has been lots of rhetoric but we have yet to actually see the deployment of nuclear weapons. For all the rhetoric coming out of Russia their nuclear ships and submarines are spending an awful long time in port.

Russian servicemen patrol the destroyed part of the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works amid fighting in the port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, on May 18, 2022. (Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images)

But he said the Ukraine conflict did pose a great risk of a nuclear accident.

Ripley said: Certainly there are Russian nuclear weapons at air bases and ports close to Ukraine and Ukraine has attacked several of those with missiles, so there is potential for an accident. Not necessarily a Hiroshima, but certainly one causing nuclear pollution.

So are political leaders ready for nuclear conflict and do they understand the complex nuances of military strategy?

UKs Policy of Strategic Ambiguity

Britain has long maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity as far as its nuclear weapons.

The alternative would be a no first strike policy, which means Britain would only launch nuclear weapons if it came under nuclear attack itself.

Dominic Cummings, the former government adviser who has now become one of Prime Minister Boris Johnsons critics, wrote recently on the subject.

He said, COVID showed how leaders can stumble into disaster because they have meetings based on big assumptions theyve never really studied and questioned.

Cummings also said he started questioning government officials in 2020 about the nuclear strategy in regards to Russia but said, It cant easily be publicly discussed.

Pry said he agreed with Cummings that Britain seemed unprepared and Johnson should rein in his warlike rhetoric over the Ukraine.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy light candles at the Mikhailovsky Zlatoverkhy Cathedral (St. Michaels Golden-Domed Cathedral) in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 17, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office of Ukrainian/Handout via PA Media)

Ripley said that in 1991, Britain, along with the United States, threatened to nuke Iraq if Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons against allied troops during the Kuwait War, and he said the Ukraine conflict had raised the possibility of certain scenarios under which Britain might launch nuclear missiles at Russia.

If Ukraine was overrun and there were British troops in Poland or Estonia that is an example of where a threat could come into play. If the Russians nuke a British battalion in Estonia and we nuke their troops in Ukraine, what happens next? Would they nuke one of our aircraft carriers off Norway? If either side nukes the others territory then that is the end of the world, said Ripley.

But he said both Russia and NATO are aware of the escalatory dilemmas and neither side wanted the conflict in Ukraine to develop into a wider war, let alone a nuclear conflagration.

Russia and China Think They Can Win Nuclear War

Pry is not so sure. He said: Russia and China think they can win [a nuclear war]. We have brainwashed ourselves that you cant win a nuclear war  but they dont believe that, not when you dig into their military doctrine, you look at their exercises, you look at their posture. Thats what you trust, not what they say.

Pry said Russia believes that with its latest hypersonic nuclear missiles it could knock out the U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile silos and ultimately defeat the West in a nuclear war.

A hypersonic Zircon cruise missile is fired from the guided missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov during a test at the Barents Sea, in this still image taken from a video released May 28, 2022. (Russian Defense Ministry/Reuters)

He pointed out the hundreds of deep underground shelters Russia has for its military and political elite and said they conducted a nuclear attack drill in 2016 which involved sheltering 40 million people.

Cummings also raised the idea of building underground bunkers: Given the inevitability of future pandemics and the cumulative probability of WMD [weapons of mass destruction] attacks growing over time (without dramatic political changes), should we invest in new civil defence structures? For example, should we encourage the building of shelters that could double for pandemics and nuclear attack, with off-grid energy and recycled air?

Ripley said Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland built bunkers during the Cold War as part of their normal housing programs, but he said it would be phenomenally expensive for Britain to embark on such a project.

Political Resistance to Updating Nuclear Weapons

While Russia and China have been investing in a new generation of nuclear weapons, politicians in NATO countries have been struggling to persuade voters of the need to update their weapons.

In 1980, shortly after the BBC revealed the existence of the Protect and Survive films, Prime Minister Margaret Thatchers government announced plans to produce a new independent nuclear deterrent, Trident, which would replace Polaris, the submarine-launched system which had been operating since 1968.

An undated photograph of the Vanguard-class submarine HMS Vigilant, one of four Royal Navy submarines armed with Trident missiles, at Faslane naval base in Scotland. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

Trident came into operation in 1994 but Ripley said: Thatcher started building it but the Cold War was over by the time it was ready. Now the Royal Navy is replacing its Vanguard submarines with a new class of Dreadnought subs but they will still use Trident missiles.

The new submarines, which are being built in Barrow-in-Furness in the north of England, are reported to be costing 31 billion ($38 billion) and many Labour Party MPs, including former leader Jeremy Corbyn, were opposed to them being built.

Pry said the submarines may be new but the Trident missiles they would use are antiques, but there was no political appetite for updating them.

He said people in Britain and the United States had forgotten the lessons of the Cold War.

Pry said: The USSR spent itself into oblivion eventually with the burden of defense armaments and thats my hope for us to win the new Cold War. If we can just stay out of war with these great powers for long enough, and if we can deter them for long enough, I think they will collapse because their systems are based on lies. They have a false understanding of how economies work and they have a false understanding of human nature.

A UK Ministry of Defense spokesperson said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, We have absolute confidence in our nuclear deterrence and our ability, along with those of our NATO allies and partners, to deter the most extreme threats to our collective security and way of life.
Asylum seekers sit before boarding trucks as Thai Immigration officials escort them to a court in Songkhla, southern Thailand March 15, 2014. Thailand sentenced dozens of asylum seekers thought to be from China's Uighur minority for illegal entry, an official said, despite a US appeal for their protection. (Tuwaedaniya Meringing/AFP/Getty Images)

Number of Chinese Asylum Seekers in 2021 Shows Nearly 800 Percent Increase Over 2012

The number of Chinese asylum seekers increased by nearly 800 percent between 2012 and 2021, according to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The UNHCR statistics show that the number of people fleeing China last year reached a record high of 118,476, while in 2012 the number was 15,362 worldwide. The the number of Chinese asylum seekers in 2019 and 2020 was 104,248 and 108,071, respectively.

In 2019 the number of Chinese asylum seekers first reached over 100,000.

These people were forced to leave China, which has not been ravaged by war in the past decade and declared itself to have achieved moderate prosperity in 2021. The zero-COVID restrictions and strict border controls in 2020 and 2021 were not able to stop people from fleeing China.

Since 2012, there have been some 730,000 Chinese seeking asylum, and more than 170,000 people are living outside of China under refugee status, according to a June report of Safeguard Defenders, a nongovernmental organization based in Spain.

In one year of Xi Jinpings rule, 2021, China has now had more asylum-seekers than during the last eight years of his predecessor Hu Jintaos rule, wrote Safeguard Defenders in the report.

It also noted that the United States has been the most popular destination for Chinese asylum seekers, which saw 88,722 persons seeking asylum there, and Australia is the second most popular, with 15,774 asylum seekers last year.

The number of Chinese asylum seekers continues to increase, with no end in sight, said the organization.

Many are seeking asylum because they have few other options to protect their safety and wellbeing. However, those who go abroad may be hunted down and brought home.

Chinas Long-Arm Policing Abroad: Safeguard Defenders

According to a January report of Safeguard Defenders, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) touted that 10,000 Chinese citizens have been successfully brought back from over 120 countries across the world since it launched Operation Fox Hunt in 2014.

The report (pdf), titled Involuntary Returns: Chinas Covert Operation to Force Fugitives Overseas Back Home, exposes three methods the CCP employs to forcibly bring people back to China: threats to family remaining in China, targeting victims in foreign countries, and kidnapping.

The 69-page dossier goes into detail about how each method is carried out, with data and case studies, to forcibly return Chinese nationals (or non-Chinese nationals born in China) located abroad.

Wang Jingyu, who left China in 2019, is shown here in an undisclosed location in an undated photo. (Courtesy of Wang Jingyu)

One case etails how the CCP threatened a targets family. Wang Jingyu, born in 2001, left China for Europe in 2019. In an online post in February 2021, he questioned Chinas official death toll after a border clash with Indian troops in 2020. Police in his hometown city of Chongqing, charged Wang with picking quarrels and provoking troubles and detained Wangs parents, in a bid to force Wang to return to China.

They also contacted Wang directly by phone to pressure him to come back. In April 2021, Wang was arrested in Dubai while changing planes for a flight to the United States. He was released after the story broke in western media and human rights NGOs and the U.S. Department of State put pressure on the UAE.

Another case involves kidnapping abroad. Dong Guangping, is a Chinese human rights defender who had already served three years in prison in China on charges of inciting subversion of state power in the early 2000s. Dong managed to flee to Thailand, where he was granted official refugee status by the UNHCR. As he awaited resettlement to Canada in a Bangkok immigration detention center, Chinese police walked in, handcuffed him in front of Thai officers, and led him out, the report reads.

Dong later surfaced in detention in China.

More cases of the Chinese diasporas being targeted and kidnapped by the CCP are disclosed in the report.

Under Xi Jinping, the CCP has deepened, widened, and strengthened its persecution of all perceived sources of opposition ranging from underground churches, Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetans, Mongolians, Uyghurs, academia, and the media, not to mention its sweeping crackdown in Hong Kong, said the report.

The 10,000 cases of forced return to China are just the tip of the iceberg, reads the report.

The rapidly expanding global practice poses a severe threat to national sovereignty and individual rights everywhere, the report states. The CCPs message is that nowhere is safe; fleeing overseas will not save you, there is no escape.

National awareness and investigations, as well as targeted actions to counter these operations and protect those most at risk are key to upholding the international rules-based order, said the report in its recognition of the need for action.

Wu Minzhou contributed to the article.
A soldier of the People's Liberation Army stops a photojournalist from shooting in Tiananmen Square at The Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on May 25, 2020. (Andrea Verdelli/Getty Images)

Number of Licensed Journalists in China Declined by 27.4 Percent in the Last Decade

Under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s censorship and tight control, the number of Chinas licensed journalists is dwindling.

Between mid-January and late April, the State Administration of Press and Publications organized the annual press card verification. Chinese reporters were required to take a test as part of the renewal process. State-run Xinhua News Agency recently reported that as of April 30, a total of 3,676 news outlets and 180,075 journalists in China had passed the renewal, while 24 news outlets and 353 journalists had their press credentials suspended.

On May 16, the All-China Journalists Association released its Report on the Development of Journalism in China. As of December 2021, there were 194,263 journalists in China with valid press cards, the report said.

A comparison between the two reports shows that 14,188 journalists, or 7.3 percent, did not pass the annual verification.

Having a press card is the only legal way for news gathering and editing in China. According to regulations of the State Press and Publication Administration, the press card is renewed every 5 years and must be verified every year. Those who fail to pass the verification will have their press cards canceled; those who engage in reporting activities under the guise of news organizations, or fake news reporters, will be fined up to 30,000 yuan (approx. $4,500) and may be criminally charged.

In November 2012, China had 248,101 licensed journalists. Five years later, 228,327 remained. Today there are only 180,075 left. In just a decade, the number decreased by 68,026, or 27.4 percent.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international non-governmental organization, said in May this year that more than 120 journalists are currently imprisoned in China, making China the biggest jailer of reporters in the world.

On May 3, RSF released this years World Press Freedom Index rankings. Among the 180 countries and regions in the world, China ranks 175th, not far off from Iran and North Korea rankings, and lower than Syria and Venezuela.

RSF pointed out that in the eyes of the CCP, the role of the media is to act as the partys mouthpiece. Both state-owned and private media are under increasingly tight control by the CCP, while foreign journalists face many obstacles when reporting in China. Journalists and bloggers who dare to report on sensitive information are regularly monitored, harassed, detained, and in some cases tortured. To further silence them, the CCP will even accuse them of spying, subverting state power, or provoking trouble. Independent journalists risk being placed under residential surveillance in designated locations, like in lawful solitary confinement in black jails for six months.
A worker collects a crude oil sample at an oil well operated by Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA in Morichal, Venezuela, on July 28, 2011. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters)

Oil Prices Climb on Supply and Demand Fundamentals

LONDONOil prices rose on Tuesday on high summer fuel demand while supplies remain tight because of sanctions on Russian oil after its invasion of Ukraine.

Brent crude rose $1.61, or 1.4 percent, to $115.74 a barrel by 0825 GMT.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for July, which expires later on Tuesday, rose $2.29, or 2.1 percent, to $111.85. The more-active WTI contract for August was up $2.48 at $110.47 a barrel.

UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said that despite concerns over economic growth, latest data on flight activity and mobility on U.S. roads continues to show solid oil demand.

We expect oil demand to improve further, benefiting from the reopening of China, summer travel in the northern hemisphere and the weather getting warmer in the Middle East. With supply growth lagging demand growth over the coming months, we continue to expect higher oil prices, he said.

Prices have been supported by supply anxiety after sanctions on oil shipments from Russia, the worlds second-largest oil exporter, and questions over how Russian output might fall due to sanctions on equipment needed for production.

Supply concerns are unlikely to subside unless there is a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, or unless we see a sharp rise in supply from either the U.S. or OPEC, said Madhavi Mehta, commodity research analyst at Kotak Securities.

Prospects are receding for successful negotiation of a nuclear deal with Iran and a lifting of U.S. sanctions on the Iranian energy sector.

Weekly U.S. petroleum inventory data will be delayed by a day this week because of a U.S. public holiday on Monday, with the American Petroleum Institute industry data for the week ending June 17 due on Wednesday and U.S. Energy Information Administration data scheduled for Thursday.

By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin
Parliamentary Protective Service officers wear headsets for hearing protection against the sound of truck horns during a rally against COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa Jan. 31, 2022. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

Parliament Security Did Not Request Emergencies Act, Says Acting Director

The security service in charge of protecting Canadas Parliament did not request the Emergencies Act, its acting director told a House committee on Tuesday.

Chief Operations Officer Larry Brookson answered with a simple No when asked by Tory MP Brad Vis during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs if the Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) requested the act be invoked.



The committee is currently conducting a study on expanding the parliamentary precinct to include sections of Wellington and Sparks Streets, in view of the trucker-led Freedom Convoy protest that blocked parts of downtown Ottawa in February.



Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino has repeatedly said the act was invoked based on the advice of law enforcement, and heads of organizations that had a security role during the Freedom Convoy protest are being asked when they testify before parliamentary committees if they did, in fact, request the act.

The government has tried to reframe Mendicinos statements by saying he meant police requested certain tools that only the Emergencies Act could provide.

Liberal MP Greg Fergus asked Brookson if he could ask him a more fulsome question than the one asked by Vis.

Would any police force ask for an act to be invoked? Or would they identify the tools that they would need for their operational challenges? And its up to the elected officials to find the best tool available? Which would better describe the situation? said Fergus.

Brookson replied he could not comment on police matters because, while the PPS has the responsibility to protect the parliamentary precinct, it is not a law enforcement agency.

Because you had answered [Viss] question, I just want to know, was there any more nuance to the answer of that question? Fergus pressed.

Well, the only extra nuance would be there was no benefit whatsoever of the invocation of the Emergencies Act for the service, Brookson said, adding that his service did not receive any extra powers.

Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull asked Brookson if he could speak to how frequent were the threats and security concerns shared by MPs and their staff during the occupation?

Brookson responded that he did not have specific numbers on calls for service during that period but he was extremely concerned.

While the director of the PPS is required to be a member of the RCMP, he principally reports to the speakers of the House and Senate. He also reports to the RCMP commissioner on operational matters.

The organization was created in 2015 to consolidate the Senate Protective Service and the House of Commons Protective Service, in response to a breakdown in communication during the October 2014 terrorist attack by Michael Zehaf-Bibeau on Parliament Hill and at the War Memorial.
Philippine Government Attorney Fatally Shot in US During Uber Ride to Airport With Mother

Philippine officials are calling on Philadelphia law enforcement to find those responsible for the fatal shooting of a Philippine government attorney on Saturday as he traveled in an Uber alongside his mother.

John Albert Laylo, 35, and his mother Leah Laylo were in an Uber on their way to the Philadelphia International Airport on Saturday to catch a flight back home to the Philippines after vacationing in the United States.

However, their journey to the airport took a fatal turn when someone from a black vehicle began firing on the Uber vehicle as it stood at a red light. The incident occurred at around 4 a.m. along the 200 block of South 38th Street in University City, according to police.

Laylo was shot in the head and rushed to Penn Presbyterian Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:33 a.m. Sunday. His mother was hospitalized with wounds from shattered glass, according to Philippine Consul General Elmer Cato.

The gunman fled the scene, police said.

Shortly after the incident, Leah Laylo took to Facebook to confirm her sons death in a lengthy post alongside photos of the pair.

My last happy moments with my son Jal who passed away this morning at 10:33 am EST time, Laylo wrote on Monday. I thank God for the 35 years of his life. Im beyond grateful for having a good, smart, generous, loving, caring son these are the adjectives I can think of now. Im lost of [sic] words!

Before he left he made sure we had fun! But never did I imagine or dream that its almost the end of our vacation will be like this! We traveled together and we are supposed to go home together! I will bring him home soon in a box!

Police are still investigating the shooting incident and have not yet made any arrests or recovered any weapons.

Law enforcement officials are currently attempting to retrieve surveillance video from the scene to help identify the vehicle used by the suspect, police said in a statement Sunday night.

The Epoch Times has contacted Philadelphia Police for comment.

In the meantime, Cato has called on the Philippine Consulate General in New York and Philadelphia Police to do everything they can to bring the perpetrator to justice.

Writing on Twitter, Cato said he assured Laylos mother the Philippine government will help in bringing his remains back home as soon as possible.

We are also in touch with police authorities and have underscored the importance of our request for them to bring the perpetrator of this incident to justice, Cato said in a statement to CBS News.

A statement issued on the website for Central European University, where Laylo studied for a masters degree in law, confirmed that he was returning from a family holiday in the United States on Saturday when he was fatally shot.

At the time of his death, he was working as a government attorney in the Philippines, according to the website.

Jal was not only an outstanding student from all perspectives but also a steadfast friend of CEU, both during his studies and after his graduation. Amongst his peers, he was an initiator of various classroom and extra-curricular activities, an understanding friend and a student filled with enthusiasm, the statement reads. He was the cohesive force who molded the cohort into the unforgettable group of students they became.

CEU grieves with the family and friends of alumnus John Albert Laylo, whose tragic death is a shock to our whole community, the statement added.

Members of Philadelphias Filipino community held a memorial vigil for Laylo on Monday night outside the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where he died.
Police Could Have Stopped Uvalde Shooter 3 Minutes After Entering School: Texas Official

The director of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said that there is evidence suggesting the police response to the mass shooting at a Uvalde school was an abject failure.

However, we do know this: Theres compelling evidence that the law enforcement response to the attack at Robb Elementary was an abject failure and antithetical to everything weve learned over the last two decades since the Columbine massacre, DPS Director Steven McCraw told a Texas Senate panel on Tuesday.

Elaborating, McCraw suggested that the officers could have stopped gunman Salvador Ramos three minutes after he entered the school because there was a sufficient number of armed officers wearing body armor to isolate, distract, and neutralize the subject.

The only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander, who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children, he claimed.

Eight minutes after Ramos entered, police reported that they had a crowbar that could be used to break open the classroom door, he said. Nineteen minutes after Ramos entered, officials brought their first ballistic shield into the building, he remarked.

It comes as documents obtained by local news outlets suggest that several police officers armed with rifles and at least one ballistic shield were in Robb Elementary School within minutes of the suspect entering. KVUE-TV also released an image showing several officers in the building 19 minutes later, although they did not enter the classroom Ramos was in for nearly another hour.

Wooden crosses are placed at a memorial dedicated to the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on June 3, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

During his testimony, McCraw again noted that Ramos entered Robb Elementary through an unlocked door. A teacher previously told news outlets via her attorney as she went inside the building to report a car crash involving Ramos, and when she saw Ramos approaching, she kicked the door shut after propping it open with a rock.

It was closed, but unlocked, McCraw said, saying it allowed the gunman to walk straight through it.

McCraw added that regardless of whether the door was locked, the windows to the side could have been shot, which could have allowed Ramos to enter the school. But the classroom that Ramos went to could not have been locked from the inside, McCraw said, further impugning previous accounts that he was barricaded inside the room.

Since the May 24 shooting, which left 19 students and two teachers dead, there have been questions about the role the school police chief, Pete Arredondo, played in the response.

It has been reported that he didnt have a radio with him. Thats true. He did not, McCraw said of Arredondo on Tuesday.

Arredondo later told news outlets that he didnt consider himself the individual in charge and assumed someone else had taken control of the response.
A house stands on the side of a landslide that destroyed a house and forced 77 residences to be evacuated, June 21, 2022, in Saguenay, Que. (The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot)

Quebec Extends State of Emergency in Saguenay, Que, Because of Landslide Threat

Quebec is extending a state of emergency in a city north of Quebec City where a neighbourhood is threatened by landslides.

Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault tweeted late Monday afternoon that she signed a decree allowing Saguenay to extend a state of emergency in the La Baie district, part of which was evacuated over the weekend.

A city official has said that the affected area remains unstable and other landslides are imminent and inevitable.

The state of emergency declaration, which is renewable every five days, will allow the City of Saguenay to take decisions more quickly regarding matters such as tendering contracts, requisitioning property and redirecting traffic.

On Monday, authorities reported that about 187 residents had been relocated from their homes in the neighbourhood after a landslide destroyed a house. The city first declared a state of emergency on Saturday.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault has announced he will visit the affected area, about 250 kilometres north of Quebec City, on Wednesday.
Republicans Ask Capitol Police for Materials on Arrest of Colbert Show Staffers

Two House Republicans issued a letter to the U.S. Capitol Police requesting more details on the arrest of seven staffers from CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The group was charged with illegal entry after hours, after they were found unescorted in an office building for the U.S. House of Representatives around 8:30 p.m. on June 16.

In a letter on Monday addressed to Thomas Manger, the U.S. Capitol Police chief, Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) requested materials they say would help them understand how the staffers could access the House office buildings after hours.

The congressmen requested all reports, witness statements, as well as all security footage and photographs related to the arrest of the seven staffers.

Davis, the ranking member of the Committee of House Administration, said in a Fox News broadcast on June 17 he had received information that staffers of Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and reportedly Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) were involved in allowing the Colbert show staffers into the building.

According to the version of events, Schiffs office initially let the group into the Cannon House Office Building while a Jan. 6 committee hearing was underway. The U.S. Capitol Police removed them because they did not have proper press credentials. Later, a staffer with Auchinclosss office let the group enter the Longworth House Office Building, which was nearby.

Spokespersons for Schiff and Auchincloss did not return queries from The Epoch Times.

These individuals were arrested and charged with unlawful entry after causing disturbances at the offices of several Republican members, including banging on their office doors, Jordan and Davis said in the letter (pdf).

The arrest happened near the offices of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Fox News reporter Chad Pergram previously reported.

Jordan and Davis noted in their letter, The individuals were originally in the Capitol Complex in connection with the activities of the January 6th Select Committee, but it is unclear whether the Select Committee had any involvement in or awareness of these individuals planned harassment of Republican offices.

Much has been made lately about unauthorized access to House office buildings, including debunked Democrat allegations that Republican members led so-called reconnaissance tours of the Capitol Complex in advance of January 6, the letter continued. Unlike the Democrat allegations of reconnaissance tours, however, the events on June 16 actually resulted in arrests for unlawful entry.

A spokesperson for CBS previously told The Epoch Times in an email that the group was recording interviews for a comedy segment of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and that the interviews were pre-arranged with congressional aides.

After leaving the members offices on their last interview of the day, the production team stayed to film stand-ups and other final comedy elements in the halls when they were detained by Capitol Police, the spokesperson said.

Caden Pearson and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Smart Coffee Makers Could Serve Chinas Unrestricted Warfare: Expert

A recent report that shows China could spy on Americans via smart coffee makers is very concerning, since Beijing is waging what is known as unrestricted hybrid warfare, according to data security expert Rex Lee.

Evidence that coffee makers manufactured by China-based firm Kalerm are insecure was uncovered by American researcher Christopher Balding. According to his report (pdf), these internet-connected machines collect information, such as payment data, time, and location, from users in China.

While we cannot say this company is collecting data on non-Chinese users, all evidence indicates their machines can and do collect data on users outside of Mainland China and store the data in China, the report warned. The data is collected at the point of operation from software embedded in the coffee maker.

According to Kalerms website, its coffee makers are sold in 45 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Some of its models are promoted as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, capable of accepting Chinese online payment platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, while the machines can be remotely controlled and monitored using a mobile app.

Unrestricted Hybrid Warfare

Intrusive apps and IoT devices are technology making up Chinas unrestricted hybrid warfare, Lee said during a recent interview with EpochTVs China Insider. Lee is a former adviser to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the National Security Agency (NSA), and the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

Related Coverage Chinese Coffee Machines Could Be Spying on You; Victims in Restaurant Beating Silent in China

China aims to use unrestricted hybrid warfare operations to achieve the objectives of war without actual war. In other words, Lee said China wants to subdue the enemy without fighting.

Under the strategy, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses intrusive apps, products, and services to surveil and data mine the end-user, Lee said.

The strategy is indiscriminate, Lee continued, saying that it targets everyone, including teens and children.

A mobile phone displaying the logos for Chinese apps WeChat and TikTok in front of a monitor showing the flags of the United States and China on an Internet page, in Beijing, on Sept. 22, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

In the case of problematic coffee makers, Lee said the problem did not lie with the devices, but rather the mobile app used to connect to the machines.

So you buy a smart coffeemaker, its not just smart and sitting there with a camera and a microphone in there. It has to be activated through an app, Lee said.

You can actually unplug it [the smart coffee maker], throw it away, Lee continued. But if the app is still active on your smartphone, your tablet PC, or your Smart TV, theyre going to be able to surveil and data mine you through the microphone and camera associated with that host device where the app is being hosted.

An intrusive app can effectively be able to attach itself to the contact app and collect all of the end-users contact information, calendar information, Lee explained. It can attach itself to the accelerometer on the device, giving the ability for the app developer to track the end user, whether theyre sitting, walking, riding a bike, or in a car.

Consequently, the problem is not limited to one particular manufacturer of smart coffee makers. Rather, devices manufactured by companies that share the same app developer would warrant security and privacy concerns, Lee added.

In China, local laws grant CCP officials sweeping authority to collect data. For example, the countrys Cybersecurity Law, which went into effect in 2017, requires that all companies operating in China store their data within Chinas borders.

When youre talking about apps and platforms developed by companies in adversarial countries, such as China and Russia, then there becomes even a greater privacy and cybersecurity threat associated with using those products and services, Lee said.

Internet of Things

China has for years devoted its attention to the development of its IoT industry. According to Chinas state-run media, the sector grew to more than 2.4 trillion yuan (about $375 billion) by the end of 2020, citing data from the countrys Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

U.S. officials have long taken notice of the threat posed by Chinese IoT devices. In 2018, the U.S.China Economic and Security Review Commission published a report warning U.S. companies and consumers.

China is also actively researching IoT vulnerabilities, both for security purposes and almost certainly to collect intelligence, conduct network reconnaissance for cyberattacks, and enhance its domestic surveillance powers, the report said.

More recently, Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) introduced new legislation in March, seeking to subject companies selling IoT devices to regular federal review in order to protect American consumers.

Companies that make the devices can have access to the activity each device monitors, which can result in nefarious use of that data when those companies are connected to China or other known malicious actors, according to a press release announcing the new bill.

Lee offered a solution to the concerns surrounding IoT devices.

We can control the distribution of these apps and platforms if Google, Apple, and Microsoft are willing to take a hit in the wallet for the sake of national security and the security of their end users, Lee said.

They can stop distributing the surveillance and data-mining apps and platforms, Lee said.

Frank Fang journalist Follow Frank Fang is a Taiwan-based journalist. He covers US, China, and Taiwan news. He holds a master's degree in materials science from Tsinghua University in Taiwan.
Hungarian-American financier and philanthropist George Soros looks on during a meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 23, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

Soros Spent $40 Million to Elect Progressive Prosecutors in Past Elections: Report

Billionaire George Soros, a megadonor to liberal causes, spent at least $40 million in support of progressive prosecutor candidates between 2014 and 2021, according to a preliminary report published by Virginia-based Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF).

Progressive prosecutors advocate for criminal justice changes that will cut the population behind bars and direct resources to treatment and rehabilitation programs; they often support putting more effort into investigating and prosecuting law enforcement misconduct.

In recent years, Soros has emerged as the most visible financier of the progressive prosecutor movement in the country, donating to nonprofits that mobilize grassroots support, spending big to elect progressive prosecutors, and supporting professional organizations that guide policymaking, according to the report.

Between 2018 and 2021, Soros and Soros-backed entities spent nearly $20 million in support of 40 progressive prosecutor candidates across the nation, according to the report, which is based on multiple sources that include media articles, state and local campaign finance databases, IRS forms, and organizational statements or annual reports.

The report doesnt list all 40 progressive prosecutors and the amount of Soross money that was spent on each.

LELDF Policy Director Sean Kennedy told The Epoch Times that a full report would be published at a future date. LELDF is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and defending the law enforcement profession. The organization also seeks to educate the public about risks and threats to the profession, according to its website.

An entity is considered Soros-backed if the billionaire was its sole source or primary donor, or if Soross donations to that entity in relevant election cycles exceeded the amount spent on candidates, according to the report.

A common strategy is to set up state super PACs, which often bear the name Justice and Public Safety, to steer sizable spending in support of progressive candidates and to counter their opponents.

Notable beneficiaries include Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, Cook County (Chicago) States Attorney Kim Foxx, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, and New York Citys Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, according to the report.

Many Soros-backed prosecutors face public outcry at the spiraling crime rates under their helm.

In Los Angeles, Gascon is mired in a robust recall campaign. As of last week, the campaign had successfully collected 567,857 signaturesthe legal amount required to get the recall on the ballot; the campaign is still gathering signatures over concern that some might be ruled invalid by election officials.

Last week, three Republican Pennsylvania lawmakers began an effort to impeach Krasner as violent crime skyrockets in Philadelphia. They are in the process of reaching out to crime victims and drafting Articles of Impeachment to be introduced in the state Legislature, according to statements.

Between 2014 and 2018, Soros and Soros-backed entities spent $19.3 million in local prosecutor races, according to a Los Angeles Times and Marshall Project investigation cited by the report.

In 2014, the Soros-founded Open Society Foundations donated $50 million to American Civil Liberties Union in support of its nationwide campaign to drive down the jail and prison population, according to a statement.

The vast Soros-linked social justice network includes the Brennan Center for Justice, Fair and Just Prosecution, and the Vera Institute of Justice, according to the report.

In 2018, Fair and Just Prosecution, Brennan Center for Justice, and Justice Collaborative developed a framework titled 21 principles for the 21st-century prosecutor, with recommendations that include moving toward ending cash bail, minimizing misdemeanor prosecutions, and ending the prosecution of juvenile offenders as adults.

Representatives for the Open Society Foundations and Soros didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
Stephen Colbert speaks during an event in Newark, N.J., on Dec. 7, 2019. (Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Montclair Film)

Stephen Colbert Responds for First Time After Staffers Arrested Near US Capitol

TV host Stephen Colbert on June 20 downplayed his staff members allegedly breaking the law, resulting in their arrests.

Staffers with The Late Show With Stephen Colbert were taken into custody on June 16 at a U.S. House of Representatives building that is connected to the U.S. Capitol.

According to the U.S. Capitol Police, the crew had been directed to leave earlier in the day. The staffers were charged with unlawful entry and additional charges may be pressed.

CBS has said the group included Triumph, a puppet manned by Robert Smigel.

Colbert, speaking about the matter for the first time, said that the purpose of the visit was to interview members of Congress to highlight the hearings that a select House committee has been holding on the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the Capitol.

Democratic and Republican congresspeople agreed to talk to Triumph. Hes a bipartisan puppet, Colbert said.

The crew obtained security clearance and filmed all day June 15 and June 16 and were invited into the offices of the members who were being interviewed, he added.

Now end of day two, Thursday evening, after they finished their interviews, they were doing some last-minute puppetry and jokey make-em-ups in a hallway when Triumph and my folks were approached and detained by the Capitol Police, which actually isnt that surprising, Colbert said. The Capitol Police are much more cautious than they were, say 18 months ago. And for a very good reason.

Critics, including Fox News host Tucker Carlson, rushed to compare what happened to Jan. 6.

Actor and comedian Robert Smigel performs as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog in the hallways outside the House Jan. 6 Select Committee in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington on June 16, 2022 (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

This was not some spontaneous outbreak of insurrection. No, this was a meticulously planned coup from afar, Carlson said on his show.

Colbert said that Capitol police officers and his staffers were just doing their job and that those arrested were released after being processed. He said that attempts to link the situation with the breach were predictable but wrong.

Colbert did not name any of the members that his team interviewed.

According to Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), a top Republican, a staff member for Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) initially let the team into the building and a staffer for Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) later let the team back in after they were removed.

Schiffs office has not responded to requests for comment.

The congressman had a scheduled interview with CBS, as did other members of Congress. Our contact with them ended well before the building closed for the evening, Matt Corridoni, a spokesman for Auchincloss, told The Epoch Times in an email. We do not condone any inappropriate activity and cannot speak to anything that occurred after hours.

Colberts crew was reportedly banging on the doors of offices belonging to Republican members of Congress before they were arrested.

Davis and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), meanwhile, urged the Capitol Police to share more details about the arrests, including witness statements, security footage, and photographs.

The Capitol Police is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act, and rarely releases documents pertaining to investigations and other matters.
Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Casper, Wyoming, on May 28, 2022. (Chet Strange/Getty Images)

Such Courage: Trump Praises Texas GOP for Disavowing Result of 2020 Presidential Election

Former President Donald Trump has praised the Texas GOP for adopting a platform on June 18 that rejected the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Wow! Look at the Great State of Texas and their powerful Republican Party Platform on the 2020 Presidential Election Fraud, said Trump on Truth Social on June 21.

After much research and study, they disavow the national result for President. Such courage, but thats why Texas is Texas!!! They know that a Country cannot survive without Free and Fair Elections (and STRONG BORDERS!), he added.

The former presidents comments came days after Texas Republicans passed a resolution stating that President Joe Biden was not legitimately elected, and that substantial election fraud in key metropolitan areas influenced the results of the 2020 presidential election in favor of Biden.

We believe that the 2020 election violated Article 1 and 2 of the US Constitution, that various secretaries of state illegally circumvented their state legislatures in conducting their elections in multiple ways, including by allowing ballots to be received after November 3, 2020, states the GOPs resolution passed on June 18, the last day of a three-day biennial Texas Republican convention held in Houston, Texas.

We believe that substantial election fraud in key metropolitan areas significantly affected the results in five key states in favor of Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. We reject the certified results of the 2020 Presidential election, and we hold that acting President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was not legitimately elected by the people of the United States.

James Wesolek, communications director for the Republican Party of Texas, previously told The Epoch Times that 5,500 delegates attended the convention, which offers Republicans an opportunity to set priorities for the next legislative session in 2023 and elect party leaders.

The state GOPs position on the 2020 election results formed part of a new party platform adopted at the convention that also recommends numerous measures to bolster election integrity, including implementing voter photo ID and in-person voting, and tightening the voter registration process.

The declaration by the nations largest GOP has since drawn attracted heavy criticism from media and political figures. The lone star state Republicans, however, have been undeterred.

Texas Republicans rightly have no faith in the 2020 election results and we dont care how many times the elites tell us we have to, said Matt Rinaldi, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, in a statement published on the Texas GOPs website on June 20.

The Texas Republican Party is raising record funds for election integrity, and weve made election integrity a top priority to ensure Texas never goes the way of Pennsylvania, Georgia, or Arizona. We refuse to let Democrats rig the elections in 2022 or 2024.

According to the U.S. National Archives, Joe Biden received 306 electoral votes in the 2020 election and Donald Trump received 232 electoral votes. Trump and conservative figures across the country immediately challenged the results, alleging that substantial fraud influenced the 2020 election. Democrats and mainstream media have vociferously denied such allegations, claiming them to be unfounded.
A phenomenon of strange deaths has fallen under the label of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS). The real cause of the deaths is unknown, but is affecting young people primarily in their sleep. The Spectator reports, They simply do not wake up after going to bed, or collapse during the day, and claims cases have been increasing.

Meanwhile, there are new phenomena of fatal conditions, including the brain disorder commonly known as Mad Cow Disease, a sudden increase in myocarditis and heart failure, and strange blood clots being found in cadavers.

Also, Brazilian journalist Paulo Figueiredo join us to talk about George Soros buying up Spanish-language media outlets in Florida.

In this live Q&A with Joshua Philipp, well discuss these stories and others, and answer questions from the audience.

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Supreme Court Invalidates Washington State Workers Comp Law Affecting Federal Nuclear Cleanup Site

High court reverses 9th Circuit decision

The Supreme Court struck down a Washington state law that extended workers compensation benefits to employees at a decommissioned federal nuclear production facility where employees suffered exposure to radioactive waste, finding the statute discriminates against the federal government.

The ruling in United States v. Washington, court file 21-404, is a win for the Biden administration, which argued the state law intrudes on federal authority. Washington state had argued the case was moot because a new state law replaced the old one.

The new decision reverses a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which had sided with the state.

The unanimous decision (pdf) was written by Justice Stephen Breyer who will leave the court in the coming weeks. He will be replaced by Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was narrowly confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 7.

Workers compensation laws and regulations provide employees regular cash benefits and reimbursement for medical treatment for diseases and injuries experienced while on the job.

This case is about whether the federal government has to continue paying the workers compensation claims of specific employees working for private federal contractors.

The constitutional doctrine known as intergovernmental immunity prevents states from taxing or regulating property or operations of the U.S. government, but Congress may waive this immunity. In 1936, a federal law waived federal immunity in connection with state workers compensation laws on federal land after the Supreme Court ruled states could not apply their workers compensation laws to federal facilities. The goal was to ensure non-federal workers involved in federal work would not be left without workers compensation coverage, in which case their only option for redress might be launching a civil lawsuit if they suffered a workplace injury or disease, according to a SCOTUSblog summary.

Since 1989, the U.S. Department of Energy has been cleaning up the Hanford Site, a 600-square-mile site along Washingtons Columbia River that made weapons-grade plutonium for the Manhattan Project, the nations nuclear program during World War II and the Cold War. The remediation project is expected to continue over the next six decades and involve around 400 department employees, along with another 10,000 contractors and subcontractors. The workers are at high risk of suffering diseases caused by workplace exposure to radioactivity and other toxins at the site.

In 2018, Washington state enacted HB 1723, creating a legal presumption that some medical conditions affecting workers at the Hanford Site are occupation-related diseases that can lead to workers compensation benefits. The statute came after reports emerged that site workers had become sickened but were denied workers compensation benefits because they were federal contractors.

In March of this year, the state attempted to placate federal authorities by expanding the presumption so it would cover all employees at all radiological waste sites in the Evergreen State. Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee signed the bill, SB 5890, on March 11 and the state then argued that its action had rendered the case before the Supreme Court moot.

In the new decision, Breyer wrote that the Supremacy Clause in the U.S. Constitution generally immunizes the federal government against state laws directly regulate or discriminate against it, but Congress can allow such states law by waiving this constitutional immunity. Congress passed a statute waiving the federal governments immunity insofar as a state authority charged with enforcing  the state workers compensation laws  [applies] the laws to land or projects belonging to the [Federal] Government, in the same way and to the same extent as if the premises were under the exclusive jurisdiction of the State.

The issue here is whether the Washington workers compensation law is covered by the congressional waiver. According to Breyer, the state law applies only to workers at one federal facility in the state, thus raising workers compensation costs for the Federal Government.

We conclude that the state law discriminates against the Federal Government and falls outside the scope of Congress waiver. We therefore hold that the law is unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause, Breyer wrote. The case was remanded to the 9th Circuit for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, said in a press release that the Supreme Courts ruling doesnt matter because the new state law took effect in March.

Because the legislature already fixed the issues the federal government raised, there is little practical impact in Washington as a result of this ruling, Ferguson said. Hanford workers, and all others working with dangerous radioactive waste, remain protected.
[June 21, 2022] TORONTO-BASED MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY WINS "DIGITAL DISTRUPTOR" AWARD BoomerangFX Utilizes Artificial Intelligence to Deliver Innovative End-to-End Practice Management Automation Software for Medical Practices

TORONTO, June 21, 2022 /CNW/ - Over the past two years, BoomerangFX, the Toronto-based software as a sales (SaaS) company, has increased their number of employees by 900% and revenue by 500%. What started as a five-person operation now has 55 employees and is on track to surpass 125 by the end of 2022. The company's rapid growth and unique product offering have not gone unnoticed. In May of this year, BoomerangFX won the Digital Disruptor Award from ITWorld Canada and the Gartner Group. BoomerangFX was originally conceptualized and founded by world renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Stephen Mulholland. Dr. Mulholland then brought in the SaaS management team under Jerome Dwight, BoomerangFX's Chairman and CEO, to develop, grow and scale the company. Previously named one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40, Dwight is an entrepreneur and technology industry executive with experience in both private and public markets. Early in his career, Dwight served as CEO of Bank of New York Mellon Canada. Dwight's recent ventures include the launch of Nextgear Capital which rose to prominence as Canada's largest non-bank auto finance fintech. He subsequently co-founded MUVITCanada.com, Canada's first Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven automotive marketplace, now owned by Autotrader parent Cox Automotive. Under the leadership of Dwight, BoomerangFX has been recognized as one of the fastest growing healthcare SaaS solutions in North America. The rapidly expanding team will soon be moving to a 15,000 square foot office space featuring high-tech infrastructure to support machine learning, an AI lab for experimental work and virtual training rooms. The new headquarters will support the growing team currently working with over 100 health care practice clients across North America. Designed specifically for the non-insured, private-pay cosmetic surgery, dermatology, medical spa, ophthalmology, hair restoration, dentistry, women's health and podiatric industry segments, BoomerangFX is a cloud-based tool that can be accessed from virtually anywhere in the world. "We identified the private health care market as one that was really ignored from a technological advancement or automaion perspective," says Dwight. "Our vision is to automate the inside of a private healthcare practice, and that's a very broad vertical including some of the fastest-growing categories inside healthcare. There really is no end-to end solution that helps these medical practices grow and manage their business."

Built on advanced AI, BoomerangFX has developed one of the world's first end-to-end practice management and lead generation software platforms. This tool offers everything from a scheduling system, marketing automation, a comprehensive EMR/HER system with secure electronic medical records, as well as invoicing and accounting reports, all in a single, easy-to-use platform. "Our technology guides clinic owners through critical business decisions with real-time insights into patient engagement, staff effectiveness, optimal clinic revenues, retreatment patterns, and the allocation of digital advertising dollars to continuously attract a steady pipeline of new patients," says Dwight. BoomerangFX is uniquely situated at the intersection of Martech (marketing technology), which is a $120 billion dollar industry growing more than 22% annually, and Aesthetic and Cosmetic Health Care, with a market value of $270 billion, experiencing a growth of more than 35% a year. Since launching, BoomerangFX has successfully closed private financing commitments of $20 million. They are currently on a hiring spree for various roles, from technology development, data science and digital marketing. The company expects to expand to over 65 employees in the immediate future. BoomerangFX's leadership team includes executives from Silicon Valley, Digital Marketing, Fintech, and leading SaaS technology start-ups. Within its first 12 months, the platform has consistently expanded its roster of medical practice clients across the US and Canada. Currently, the software is utilized in a variety of markets, including Florida, California, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Ohio and Oregon in the United States and the Greater Toronto Area and Montreal in Canada. Later this year, the company also plans to open a technology and sales office in the US. "We were struggling to access critical data on new patient consultations and keep track of schedules between our medical practice and aesthetic business," says Dr. Lacy C. Kessler, an Obstetrician based in Waco, Texas. "For the first time, I am not only able to see my entire patient schedule in one place, but I'm also able to look at how those clients were generated and what profit we're making from each treatment." "When my projected sales are low, my BoomerangFX digital marketing team is just a click away to drive more leads and book appointments," says Leesa Richardson, Practice Manager at SpaMedica Plastic Surgery in Toronto, Ontario. "Their ability to predict and estimate my return for ad spend is astonishingly accurate." "We are committed to helping our clients reboot their practice growth and profitability," says Dwight. "We have invested in a multimillion-dollar product roadmap to build AI across all of our platform capabilities. Artificial intelligence has the potential to radically transform the inside of a medical practice and lead to better patient outcomes by allowing healthcare practitioners to spend less time on day-to-day administration and more patient interaction time." In addition to the primary software, the platform offers supplementary solutions, including: Boomerang Optimize  Practice consultants who advise on software utilization, best practices and performance enhancement, providing a one-on-one resource that allows clients to maximize patient profitability and retention.

 Practice consultants who advise on software utilization, best practices and performance enhancement, providing a one-on-one resource that allows clients to maximize patient profitability and retention. Boomerang Grow  Specialized Digital advertising that generate new patient leads from Google, Facebook and Instagram that then flow directly into the lead management system.

 Specialized Digital advertising that generate new patient leads from Google, Facebook and Instagram that then flow directly into the lead management system. Boomerang Learn  a growing collection of training resources, books and webinars, for the medical aesthetics, dermatology and women's health related private-pay segments including a community of over 10,000 users and practitioners who have subscribed to the training tools to-date. The platform offers three account options: A Base account for 1  5 users starting at $499 /month

/month A Pro account with 5  10 users at $699 /month

/month An Enterprise account with 10+ users at $899 /month ABOUT BOOMERANGFX

BoomerangFX is a cloud-based practice management and digital marketing system designed to help physicians manage and market their businesses. The platform provides private-pay medical professionals with the industry's first automated digital marketing and practice management solution encompassing marketing automation and lead generation, integrated scheduling and CRM, comprehensive EMR/HER, secure electronic medical records, as well as invoicing and accounting reporting, all in one place. For more information, please visit www.boomerangfx.com. SOURCE BoomerangFX

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Supreme Court Strikes Down Maines Ban on Funding for Religious Schools

Decision a loss for the Biden administration

The Supreme Court voted 63 to strike down as unconstitutional a Maine law that excludes families from a student aid program if they choose to send their children to religious schools, in a decision released June 21.

The ruling is a defeat for the Biden administration, which supported Maines position.

Under the program, school districts in the largely rural state provide tuition assistance for students who do not have a local public secondary school so they can attend other institutionseven in foreign countriesas long as the funding is not used for religious education. Fewer than half of Maines 260 school administrative units operate a public secondary school of their own.

The petitioners in the case are parents David and Amy Carson of Glenburn, Maine, along with Troy and Angela Nelson, of Palermo, Maine. Respondent A. Pender Makin was sued in her official capacity as commissioner of the Maine Department of Education. The petitioners filed suit in 2018, claiming the nonsectarian requirement of the tuition assistance program offended the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Michael Bindas, a senior attorney with the public interest law firm Institute for Justice, argued the case before the Supreme Court and praised the ruling.

Todays decision makes clear, once and for all, that the government may not bar parents from selecting religious schools within educational choice programs, whether because of their religious affiliation or the religious instruction they provide, Bindas said in a statement.

Parents have a constitutional right to choose such schools for their children, and the Court today held that a state cannot deny them that choice in programs that allow for other private options.

The parents pointed to the Supreme Courts decision two years ago in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which held that a state may not exclude families and schools from participating in a student-aid program because of a schools religious status. But the parents argued the high court didnt resolve the question of whether a state may exclude families and schools based on the religious use to which a students aid might be put at a school.

The decision (pdf) in Carson v. Makin, court file 20-1088, an appeal from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit, was delivered by Chief Justice John Roberts. The other five conservative justices joined the Roberts opinion. Liberal Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor wrote separate dissenting opinions.

Roberts wrote that Maines nonsectarian requirement for its otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause.

Regardless of how the benefit and restriction are described, the program operates to identify and exclude otherwise eligible schools on the basis of their religious exercise. The high court reversed the judgment of the 1st Circuit and remanded the case to that court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Roberts noted that in the Espinoza decision the Supreme Court found that a provision of the Montana Constitution that barred government aid to any school controlled in whole or in part by a church, sect, or denomination, violated the Free Exercise Clause. The no-aid provision triggered strict scrutiny because it excluded religious schools from public benefits solely because of the religious character of the schools, the chief justice wrote, quoting Espinoza.

A State need not subsidize private education, we concluded, [b]ut once a State decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious.

Roberts added, a neutral benefit program in which public funds flow to religious organizations through the independent choices of private benefit recipients does not offend the Establishment Clause.

In his dissent, Breyer wrote that there is some play in the joints between the First Amendments two Religion Clauses and this gives States some degree of legislative leeway.

Sometimes it allows a state to further antiestablishment interests by withholding aid from religious institutions without violating the Constitutions protections for the free exercise of religion. In my view, Maines nonsectarian requirement falls squarely within the scope of that constitutional leeway.

In her dissent, Sotomayor lamented that, in her words, the Supreme Court continues to dismantle the wall of separation between church and state that the Framers fought to build, and that [n]othing in the Constitution requires todays result.

What a difference five years makes. In 2017, I feared that the Court was lead[ing] us  to a place where separation of church and state is a constitutional slogan, not a constitutional commitment, she wrote, quoting her dissent (pdf) in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia Inc. v. Comer.

Today, the Court leads us to a place where separation of church and state becomes a constitutional violation. If a State cannot offer subsidies to its citizens without being required to fund religious exercise, any State that values its historic antiestablishment interests more than this Court does will have to curtail the support it offers to its citizens. With growing concern for where this Court will lead us next, I respectfully dissent.

Mat Staver, founder and chairman of public interest law firm Liberty Counsel, hailed the ruling as a great victory for religious freedom and school choice.

For 40 years, Maines law has unconstitutionally discriminated against parents regarding private schools based on religion. That discrimination ends today. Faith-based schools make an important contribution to their communities and are part of the foundation of America. Parents need more educational choices for their children, Staver said in a statement.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), also praised the decision.

CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said in a statement that the court was right to strike down a law that barred students from receiving tuition assistance for private school simply because their school of choice has a religious character. In doing so, the court has preserved the constitutional rights of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and many other students of faith.

Maines woke attorney general, Aaron Frey, a Democrat, was bitter after the ruling, attacking religious schools as bigoted.

Public education should expose children to a variety of viewpoints, promote tolerance and understanding, and prepare children for life in a diverse society, he said in a statement.

The education provided by the schools at issue here is inimical to a public education. They promote a single religion to the exclusion of all others, refuse to admit gay and transgender children, and openly discriminate in hiring teachers and staff.

Frey expressed horror that one school teaches children that the husband is to be the leader of the household.
The flags atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge fly at half-mast to mark the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on April 10, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by David Gray/Getty Images)

Sydney Companies Suggest Quote for Aboriginal Flag on the Harbour Bridge Is Overinflated

Several Sydney-based manufacturers have suggested they could add the Aboriginal flag to the Sydney Harbour Bridge for a cheaper price after the New South Wales (NSW) government revealed the installation would cost taxpayers A$25 million.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Monday admitted that he was stunned by the A$25 million price tag, which he described as a pretty ridiculous and outrageous cost that doesnt seem to pass the pub test. However, Perrottet refused to share further details of the plans or how many quotes the government received.

The advice that I have received has been that its complex, that there are heritage concerns; obviously all the poles will need to be replaced, and all three of them are the equivalent size of a six-story building, so I accept that its not a simple process and its not a simple construction, Perrottet told 2GB radio.

When this came through once again, I was surprised by it, and I will be sitting down and going through line by line to make sure the taxpayers of NSW get value for money.

Sydney-based flag pole installer Ray Haynes told 2GB on Tuesday: Without seeing all the paperwork, I went online saying I would do it under 10 million.

Meanwhile, flagpole company Poseidon Poles and Flags told The Daily Telegraph that replacing the three poles on the Harbour Bridge would cost $650,000 while replacing each pole would cost between $175,000 to $200,000.

Sydney-based manufacturer Goldspar estimated that putting a regular 20-metre pole on the world-famous landmark would cost between $30,000 to $40,000. The company noted that traffic control and closing the bridge could be a factor behind the staggering price.

It comes after Aboriginal advocate Cheree Toka called to put the Aboriginal Flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge permanently alongside the Australian and the NSW flags to acknowledge and celebrate the Aboriginal culture. Tokas petition on change.org has gathered over 177,000 signatures by Tuesday.

The move, however, was described by One Nation Leader Mark Latham as empty symbolism that ignores real problems facing the Aboriginal community. He also criticised the Liberal-Labor-Green alliance for washing taxpayers money down the drain for no tangible purpose.

In Walgett, the Indigenous-run government school is so violent and dysfunctional that families are leaving the town, while others are bussing their children an hour to Lightning Ridge, he wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.

In places like Bourke and Wilcannia in Western NSW, the police work on the assumption that every Indigenous child over the age of 5 has been sexually abused.

These are the real-life tragedies destroying young Aboriginal lives, not the absence of a flag on a bridge.

These are the problems that need fixing, not the empty symbolism of a flag only the inner-city harbour elites can actually see.
Tearful Uvalde Parents Demand School Board Fire Top Cop for Botched Response to Mass Shooting

UVALDE, TexasWe were failed by Pete Arredondo, Brett Cross, guardian of Uziyah Garcia, a Robb Elementary fourth grader who died in the May 24 mass shooting at the school, told the Uvalde, Texas, Consolidated Independent School District board on June 20.

He killed our kids, teachers, parents, and city, and by keeping him on your staff, yall are continuing to fail us.

Cross joined about 120 Uvalde residents at the school board meeting, with several speaking publicly and pleading for the board to fire or at least suspend Arredondo, the school districts police chief.

Having Pete still employed, knowing he is incapable of decision-making that saves lives, is terrifying, Cross said, adding that he has four other children at local schools.

Arredondo, the onsite incident commander at Robb Elementary, instructed police officers to not pursue and engage suspect Salvador Ramos, reportedly due to the belief that the active shooter situation had evolved into a barricaded subject scenario.

Police officers were inside the school building within two minutes of Ramos gaining entry through an unlocked door, but didnt stop him until 77 minutes later, according to a timeline provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

DPS Director Steven McCraw told a Texas Senate panel on June 21 that police officers could have stopped Ramos three minutes after he entered the school because there was a sufficient number of armed officers wearing body armor to isolate, distract, and neutralize the subject.

McCraw also said the door of the classroom where the massacre occurred couldnt have been locked from the inside.

The only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander, who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children, he said.

In a tearful speech, the father of victim Amerie Jo Garza called for accountability.

Its pretty clear what everyone wants here. We all know that they messed up. We all know that this wasnt handled right, he said.

Most of these parents dont want to be here. But were here because we have to speak for our children, because they cant speak for themselves anymore.

I had officers from the department look me in the eyebecause I was trying so hard to get in thereand ask me to trust them, Garzas father said.

How are we supposed to continue our lives here, knowing that those people that are supposed to protect us let down our family?

Jesus Rizo Jr. said he was at the school board meeting to talk about accountability on behalf of friends and family.

The thing that I cant wrap my mind around ishow is Mr. Arredondo still with the program? he said. How is he still employed? Its an insult to injury, these people are in pain, and you allow this to happen.

At the first school board meeting about 10 days after the May 24 shooting, the board chose not to take any action against Arredondo.

Arredondo was also sworn in as a Uvalde city councilman on May 31 in a closed ceremony, after being elected two weeks before the massacre. The councils agenda for its June 21 meeting includes an item to consider granting a leave of absence from future council meetings to Councilman Pete Arredondo.

The children that didnt make itwe dont hear their voice anymore, but I promise you one thing: We will speak for them. You will hear their voice through us until accountability takes place, Rizo said.

Javier Cazares, father of 9-year-old Jacklyn Cazares, who also was killed in the mass shooting, questioned the board about its documented school safety and security measures, which he said were insufficient at Robb, including the perimeter fencing, security cameras, and door security.

The 16-year-old daughter of slain teacher Irma Garcia spoke about the loss of both parents, as her father died from a heart attack two days after his wife was killed.

I need you to know that the horrifying manner in which my mother was murdered and taken from us completely shattered our hearts, but made my dads stop, Lyliana Garcia said.

Garcia, one of four siblings, said Fathers Day, two days prior to the board meeting, was the first of many lonely family occasions.

The family had also been looking forward to celebrating their parents wedding anniversary on June 28.

The table we sat at with absolute joy and laughter is now quiet and holds two empty seats, Garcia said.

The knowledge of being orphaned at such a young age is inconceivable. These are the consequences my family has to suffer due to the lack of due diligence.

Garcia finished by sharing her 12-year-old sisters question.

She said, My mom died protecting her students, but who was protecting my mom?' Garcia said. This will always haunt me and should always haunt all of you.

Monica Saiz-Martinez heard every gunshot on May 24 as she was working at Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home, across the road from Robb Elementary. She said she and coworkers directed fleeing children to the funeral home for shelter during and after the massacre.

Saiz-Martinez said she had tried to contact the school several times prior to May 24 because she had concerns over security, especially a main gate that was often left open.

On a couple of occasions last year, towards the end of the school year, there were some bailouts in the vicinity of Robb school. One that resulted in a high-speed chase that caused a wreck in the same canal Salvador Ramos crashed in, she said.

I called the school on several occasions hoping to get an answer as to why this gate was open. My attempts failed when no one answered my calls.

Uvalde had been having problems with high-speed chases of smugglers vehicles transporting illegal aliens through town. Often the driver would stop and the vehicles occupants would flee from law enforcement, known as a bailout.

In a previous interview, Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin told The Epoch Times that local schools had gone into lockdown 48 times in the spring of 2021 because of high-speed vehicle pursuits and bailouts of illegal aliens.

Saiz-Martinez said that because of the bailouts near the school, district police should have had security at the gate.

Had there been security at this gate, I truly believe the shooter would not have entered Robb school and these children would be here with us today, she said.

The Texas Senate is holding two days of hearings beginning June 21 to hear testimony on school safety, police training, social media, mental health, and firearms safety.
Tesla Cutting Salaried Workforce by 10 Percent Over Next 3 Months After Growing Very Fast: Musk

Electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc. will cut down its salaried workforce by 10 percent over the next three months, amounting to a roughly 3.5 percent reduction in total headcount at the company, CEO Elon Musk said on June 21.

We grew very fast on the salaried side, Musk said in an interview with Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait at the Qatar Economic Forum.

The businessman noted that he believes Teslas headcount will be higher in salaried and hourly workers a year from now but that currently, the reduction will be 3 percent to 3.5 percent.

Tesla, headquartered in Austin, Texas, had about 100,000 employees globally at the end of 2021, but Musk has warned that he had a super bad feeling about the U.S. economy and told the company to pause all hiring worldwide while noting that the company would need to cut 10 percent of its workforce.

Earlier in June, the businessman informed Tesla staff of the planned cuts in an email, stating that the company had become overstaffed in many areas, according to Electrek.

The cuts, Musk said in the email, do not apply to anyone actually building cars, battery packs or installing solar while hourly headcount will increase.

Roughly 39 percent of Teslas 100,000 or so workers were production line employees as of Dec. 31, 2021, according to Teslas annual filing submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

However, the recent cuts have not gone down well with some employees, namely two former workers at Teslas Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada, who filed a lawsuit against the company on June 19, stating that they were not given enough notice of their terminations.

The lawsuit states that Tesla violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires employers to provide written notices to workers at least 60 calendar days before a mass layoff.

Tesla has failed to give Plaintiffs and the Class Members any advance written notice of their terminations, the lawsuit states. Instead, Tesla has simply notified the employees that their terminations would be effective immediately. Tesla has also failed to provide a statement of the basis for reducing the notification period to zero days advance notice.

Musk appeared to play down the lawsuit during his June 21 interview, telling Micklethwait, Lets not read too much into a preemptive lawsuit that has no standing.

Musk also shared his thoughts on the chances of a recession in the U.S. economy, stating that an economic downturn is inevitable at some point and would likely happen in the not-so-distant future.

As to whether there is a recession in the near term, that is more likely than not, Musk said. It is not a certainty, but it appears more likely than not.

Despite growing fears among economists that a recession could be a possibility, the Biden administration has maintained its stance that this is an unlikely scenario.

When asked on June 20 by a reporter about experts stating that a recession is more likely than ever, President Joe Biden rebuffed the comment, telling the reporter: Not  the majority of them arent saying that. Come on, dont make things up, OK?

Now you sound like a Republican politician, Biden said, before insisting his comment was a joke. But all kidding aside, no I dont think it is. I was talking to Larry Summers this morning, theres nothing inevitable about a recession.
Migrants who recently crossed the border and were caught, are directed to walk back to Mexico, in Laredo, Texas, on June 15, 2022. (Veronica G. Cardenas/Reuters)

The Flood of Illegal Immigration Into the US Continues

Biden administration's immigration policy has resulted in a loss of border control

Commentary

The illegal immigration numbers continue to rise. Despite the continuation of Title 42 by court order, the disaster on the U.S. southern border continued unabated and accelerated during May.

Title 42 is a Trump-era public health provision that denies asylum requests under U.S. law and international treaty to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (the United States remains under a pandemic emergency). The Biden administrations ongoing efforts to repeal Title 42 were seen by many observers, including Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), as a green light for a new surge in illegal aliens over the past few weeks, who anticipated an easier time in getting into the United States without Title 42 in place.

And those predictions have been borne out by new statistics from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The agency released a shocking monthly operational update on June 15 without much media attention. Here are key statistics from that update:

Unique Encounters: This is CBP jargon for their personnel actually catching an illegal alien crossing the border. CBP reported that encounters increased 15 percent from April to over 177,000 unique individuals in May. Amortized over a year, that works out to over 2.1 million illegals per 12-month period.

Total Encounters: The CBP reported that there were over 239,000 total encounters in May, of which about 25 percent represented people who had been captured previously and deported. This number is an all-time record of illegal alien encounters across the U.S.-Mexico border. Unreported was the number of illegals not encountered in May due to inadequate resources to surveil and interdict them. Due to the lack of resources, a certain percentage of illegals slip into the United States daily without encountering any U.S. law enforcement. Those who are captured and deported know full well that their odds of getting into America increase with each attempt.

Unaccompanied Children: The CBP reported 14,700 encounters with illegal alien children during May, representing a 21 percent increase from April. Note: children are trafficked and used to construct family units in order to facilitate entry into the United States, as well as directly for sex trafficking.

Expulsions: Despite Title 42 remaining in effect, the CBP reported that only 42 percent (about 100,000) of the individual encounters were processed under that rule. The rest were processed under Title 8, the normal U.S. laws dealing with immigration and nationality. The CBP gave no reasons for using Title 42 or Title 8 to process these people.

Haitian migrants, part of a group of over 10,000 people staying in an encampment on the U.S. side of the border, cross the Rio Grande river to get food and water in Mexico after another crossing point was closed near the Acuna Del Rio International Bridge in Del Rio, Texas on Sept. 19, 2021. (Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images)

Deportations Down

Also unreported in the CBPs monthly operational report are the deportation figures for May. In another shocking report, the nonprofit Center for Immigration Studies CIS) obtained official federal government deportation statistics via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request because the Biden administration has been hiding the politically-inconvenient numbers from the public.

From the records received by CIS and reported here: In fiscal year 2021, total ICE removals were 59,011, including both border and interior removals. That is nearly 70 percent lower than fiscal year 2020, when ICE removed 185,884 aliens.

CIS further points out that nearly four times more deportations (267,258) were made in 2019 than in 2021, as 2019 was the last year in which Trump-era enforcement was in place without pandemic restrictions.

Even more shocking was the precipitate drop in criminal alien deportations under the Biden administrations policies. According to CISs government statistics, Removals of convicted criminals fell 62 percent in 2021, to 39,149 from 103,762 in 2020. Removals of aggravated felons fell 43 percent in 2021, to 5,221 from 9,161 in 2020.

Another important statistical category from the CIS report is interior removals. These are illegal aliens encountered by state and local law enforcement officers in the interior of the United States and subsequently turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation processing. CIS reported that interior removals by ICE in 2021 dropped 50 percent from 2020, when interior removals should have increased, given the dramatic increase in illegal aliens crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in 2021, as reported by The New York Times last October.

These statistics further indicate the illegal-alien friendly law enforcement policies of the Biden administration and a return to virtue-signaling sanctuary city policies in some states. But it is even worse, as those numbers do not support claims made by ICE Director Tae Johnson in the 2021 ICE annual report that ICE had deported an average of 937 aggravated felons per month [in 2021]the highest level ever recorded since ICE began collecting detailed criminality data. This statement is patently false based on the actual statistics obtained by CIS.

Border Patrol agents apprehend a group of Cubans and Venezuelans that had just waded across the Rio Grande from Mexico into Eagle Pass, Texas, on Jan. 25, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Terrorists Captured

The Washington Times reported on June 16 that CBP agents captured 15 people in May who were in the FBIs terrorist screening databasea record for any month, equaling all of 2021 and more than the Border Patrol found from 2017 to 2020 combined.

Catching 15 potential terrorists is both good and bad, as the expert quoted in the article reported: The big worry is with the chaos down there, when you have these kinds of people coming to the border, you have to assume that some of them got in, said Todd Bensman, author of Americas Covert Border War, an analysis of terrorists attempting to exploit the U.S. immigration system.

Bensman noted that the CBP generally captures an average of one or two people in that terrorist database per month. With 15 captured in May, that indicates a troubling surge of potential terrorists among the flood of illegal aliens coming across the border each month. The big question is how many others escaped detention (and how many have slipped through since January 2021)?

Concluding Thoughts

Due to the Biden administrations apparent weak enforcement of existing U.S. immigration laws, many illegal aliens believe that now is a good time to try to get into the United States and that they will be allowed to stay even if interdicted. Many may have even seen press reports of free airfare to interior U.S. cities being given to illegal aliens, as reported by Breitbart and other media, as well as support from open borders non-governmental organizations assisting illegal aliens who make it into the country.

The Mexican government is facilitating the transit through Mexico of migrant caravans to the U.S.-Mexico border; without Mexican government support, the caravans would not be permitted. There is no apparent diplomatic pressure on the Mexican government from the Biden administration to shut them down.

Meanwhile, those illegals caught crossing the border and deported are incentivized to keep trying until they get through. The CBPs monthly operational report for May is proof of the pudding. The monthly statistics of border-crossers continue to increase while the number of deportees continues to decrease. That is a recipe for disaster.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Lockdown Advocacy of Devi Sridhar

Commentary

The COVID era gave rise not only to popular mania but also to astonishing intellectual pretension. The experts were everywhere. They had all the answers. They knew for certain that a path never tried in anyones lifetimes was the certain way to go in order to control a virus. And this fanatical attachment to one goal caused all other considerations to be pushed aside.

The end of the story was baked in from the start. The experts were proven to have massively exaggerated their prowess and understanding of events. On point after point, their models blew up. The epidemic would end the way they always have, through acquired immunity and endemicity. Nowhere did the methods of the vaunted experts achieve the goal; at best they delayed the end point and created tremendous destruction along the way.

Now there is a problem: how to dial it all back without admitting profound error. This is a particular problem for those who wrote books before the story was complete. And by complete I am referring especially to the tremendous waves of infections that came 20 months after lockdowns were first imposed.

A paradigmatic case is Devi Sridhar, professor and chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. During the pandemic, she became a ubiquitous presence on television for two years both in the UK and the United States. Her main message was to advocate and defend lockdowns, masking, mandates, and the entire apparatus of compulsion that characterized the pandemic response in nearly every country in the world. Her message was always geared toward what is called eliminationism or zero COVID.

As a Rhodes scholar in a high prestige position, she was well positioned to be this messenger. She has a compelling way and presents well in the medium. Plus, the message she delivered was the one that earned an official stamp of approval from all mainstream media. She was also a pro at delivering an attitude of disdain toward anyone who dared question the zero COVID story.

Now she has a book out that further elaborates on her point of view. It has the right title: Preventable: How a Pandemic Changed the World and How to Prevent the Next One. Its a pretentious title, presuming that she knows for certain that the pandemic was preventable and therefore she should be trusted to tell us what to do next time.

Whats striking is the contrast between the certitude of the body of the book in which she is an unapologetic defender of China-style lockdowns and the afterword, which must have been written only days before the book went to print. Here we have a very different tone, discussed toward the end of this review.

Sadly for her, the book came out just before a wave of new lockdowns came to China that wrecked the lives and liberties of hundreds of millions of people and made an enormous mess of the entire economic mission of the country. She must not have had time to revise the manuscript.

Of China, her book says:

The way China set about eliminating SARS-CoV-2 could be described as draconian. It undertook house-to-house testing and removed individuals to quarantine facilities if they tested positive (sometimes against their will); it used tracking technology to trace 99100 per cent of those who had had contact with the infected; it locked down entire buildings so individuals could not leave their flats or have free movement; and it constructed completely new hospitals within days. The Chinese government understood well that the virus moves when people move. So it stopped people moving internally . The efforts to contain the spread within Wuhan were effective and focused on reducing the R number. These measures to contain spread worked . [China showed that] containment strategies (however draconian) could be effective at stopping this respiratory pathogen . The evidence in February 2020 showed that containment was successful . Within the span of three months, China had eliminated the virus fully within its borders .

This is the same message she delivered to millions day after day for two years.

We could just stop this review here, observing that none of the above turns out to be true. Currently, China faces an enormous problem. If we are to believe the data, vast swaths of Chinas population still lack acquired immunity to COVID. Millions or billions need the exposure, and, as with all places in the world, the result for nearly everyone moderately healthy and not elderly will be recovery. This will happen with or without lockdowns.

President Xi Jinping, however, became convinced either by virtue of his ego or his circle of sycophants that his lockdowns two and a half years ago were his greatest achievement. He was celebrated by the World Health Organization and nearly every country in the world copied his brutal methods of virus suppression. He regarded it then as evidence that the CCP was destined to rule the future, by virtue of its masterful social, economic, and now medical management of society.

So of course the CCP cannot turn back now. He has stated repeatedly that there will be no compromise of the zero COVID stance that both he and Dr. Sridhar have long advocated. He must now either continue to threaten and enact lockdowns or figure out some clever way to back away from the position without admitting past error. He may in fact figure it out at some point.

After all, nearly every other government in the world has finally figured it out. Even under the best of assumptions that lockdowns offer some contribution to mitigate the ill-effects of a pathogen, the costs far outweigh those benefits. And those costs not only include economic, educational, and nutritional ones but also costs in terms of deaths from overdoses, despair, and self-harm from the inevitable demoralization from being treated like a prisoner or lab rat.

So I did read Dr. Sridhars book in search of some insight as to why she could have made such a profound error. All I found was a relentless and single-minded attachment to a zero COVID agenda, or some version of it, a genuine belief that the right deployment of human force could somehow make a virus go away. It truly boggles the mind.

The rest of the narrative is utterly predictable.

Countries that locked down are good, especially New Zealand and Australia. Countries that did not are bad, especially Sweden but also the UK and the US after reopening. Countries that kept lockdowns longer are good. Countries that opened up too soon are corrupt and rejecting the science. The Great Barrington Declaration is bad. Ramdesivir is good while Ivermectin is bad. And so on.

Her hard-core bias extends even to a rousing defense of Rebekah Jones, the low-level data employee in Florida who wrongly accused the Governors office of manipulating data in a case that was later tossed out.

The book is so partisan that she sometimes lets her politics even race ahead of her epidemiological position. For example, and this probably wont surprise you, she comes to the defense of the George Floyd protests even in the midst of lockdowns:

In late May 2020, I was asked whether protesters were wrong to take to the streets. I replied that racism is also a pandemic, and one that Black Americans feel cant be swept under the carpet any longer. While clearly mass gatherings during a pandemic are risky, I could understand that people were willing to take this risk in order to effect change for their children and the children of their children. This is how the civil rights movement has attempted to progress racial equality over decades.

In any case, you get the point here. She has a tribe and she wants to be its messenger. Still, I struggled through the entire text to see if I could find insight. This one jumped out at me:

While WHO was at the forefront of press briefings and leading technical and normative guidance to the pandemic, the World Bank had the financial power to help governments respond with key policies, whether through building up health systems and testing, putting in place economic packages to support lockdown measures, or in acquiring and distributing vaccines.

There we go: the World Bank subsidized lockdowns. Fascinating. That I did not know. This is a serious problem that needs to be fixed. How many millions face malnutrition as a result?

So much for the body of the book.

Probably the most telling part of the book is the afterword, written January 2022. Here our author jumps in with the latest information, namely that China had not in fact eradicated the virus and now keeps locking down, which she says is due to inferior vaccines. Within a few paragraphs, shefor the first time in the bookrecognizes that even the best vaccines do not stop infection and do not stop the spread..

Whoops. Is she willing to rewrite the entire book in light of this last-minute realization that lockdown eliminationism and even mass vaccination cannot achieve the goal? No. Is she willing to rethink? Perhaps a bit but not enough.

While some say we should adapt normal social relations and mixing for the foreseeable future, I struggle with this line of thought. Humans are social: we need to hug, talk, dance, sing, kiss and be around others. Were not bears or rhinos or other solitary creatures. We like seeing each others faces. And we know that a sense of community and connection are vital to wellbeing too. A holistic approach to public health is vital, and this includes not just peoples mental health but also their ability to pay rent, feed their family, stay warm through the winter and have a meaningful role in society, be that going to church or being part of a glee club. For a certain period of time, altering these made sense, so that we could avoid preventable illness and deaths; allow vaccines to be created, trialled and distributed in 2020 and into 2021; allow clinicians to better understand how to treat COVID-19; and allow a better understanding of transmission and risk.

Again, very interesting, especially because the change in tone from the rest of the book is so sharp. She doesnt come close to repudiating her entire bookand she still believes that totalitarian measures somehow make sense for a period of timebut she does say that she is tired and exhausted and perhaps ready for some rethinking.

Ive taken a step back from media work . Ive been testing several times a week, and, while I cautiously avoid crowded spaces, and wear masks on public transport and in shops, I continue to go to the gym and to hot yoga and to see friends outside or in small groups. Ive found a sustainable way to live alongside COVID-19 for now.

These are hopeful signs. Its possible that even Devi Sridhar might eventually come to see the error of her ways. Or perhaps like most of the exalted experts who assisted in driving the world into the greatest calamity of the modern era, she will quietly disappear from the op-ed pages and television screens and go back to her prior life as a public health professor with degrees with anthropology. At some point, too, she will get COVID and discover with millions of others that it is part of the human experience to get sick and get well and become stronger as a result.

We will wait in vain for any sort of extended literary mea culpas. Not even the pensive afterword comes close. After all, when the next great health crisis presents itself, the WHO pushes for lockdowns again, and the major media empires need some great excuse to order people back home to be glued to the screen, the expertise of these compelling punditsnow with real media experiencewill need to be called upon again.

From the Brownstone Institute

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Newest Chinese Naval Base Is in  the Bahamas

Where are the Americans?

Commentary

My first memory of the Bahamas was a wonderful family trip there in 1980. I remember beautiful beaches, conch shells, and remnants of the very recently departed British Empire. My parents also let us ride around on mopeds, wearing no helmets, while we werent even old enough to have drivers licenses in America.

The British Colonial Hilton, where we stayed (sounds impressive, but we were a family of modest means, and I think it was a Best Western affiliate at the time and we all crammed into one room), was the nicest hotel we had ever stayed in.

Curiously, the hotel is now owned by China Construction America and has chosen to depart the Hilton system.

Even more curiously, the hotel complex is across the street from the U.S. Embassy. Coincidence, Im sure.

Bahamas Isnt Just Disney Cruise Destination

In more recent timesNovember 2019we took a Disney cruise to the Bahamas. It was a beautiful cruise. We especially loved the mini nation-state of Castaway Cay operated by Disney with the blessing of the government of the Bahamas.

Whatever you think of Disneys current woke behavior, it was a memorable time in a pre-virus Americathings were good, and Trump was president. Most impressive was the skippers ability to stop and then back-in park a 100,000-ton cruise liner without any assistance from a tug. A global positioning system, linked to a navigation system, can do wonders.

Not well known is that theres also a very important U.S. Navy facility in the Bahamas. It carries the inauspicious name of the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) and serves several purposes. Its where the United States, the UK, and other strategic partners send their submarines for research, testing, and preparation for actual combat patrols. Im not going to go into any more detail, but its an important facility.

Theres also this curious interest in the Bahamas by this little Chinese company called Huawei. They, in essence, provide the entire telecommunications infrastructure for the Caribbean island nation.

Thats very convenient, especially when the extensive data generated by AUTEC must travel the same network for certain parts of its journey. Im sure our ones and zeros receive no more special attention than anyone elses ones and zeros during the transit of the data.

Again, like the Chinese-owned hotel across from the American Embassy, Im sure its all a coincidence.

Bahamians Ask Where Are the Americans?

Whether it be the streets of Baghdad, Bosnia, Taiwan, or any other place Ive worked and served, I like to ask the local population whats on their minds. On the streets of Nassau, Bahamas, the simple question on the mind of the locals is, Where are the Americans? The second thing on the minds of Bahamians is a dislike of the heavy-handed Chinese presence.

Twice, Bahamians pointed at the hotel where I had stayed as a child 40 years earlier and said, They are the problem, referring to the Chinese ownership of the hotel and the expanding Chinese footprint.

The consensus of everyone I talked to is that the Belt and Road Initiative imbued extensively with civil-military fusion at the direction of the Chinese Communist Party, had quickly established a strong perception of the Chinese as the new colonial masters. Colonial masters with a very different approach.

Many seemed to fondly remember or look back to the days of British Rule. With the departure of the British, corruption took over, and soon mated with Chinese influence operations.

US Fails to Deploy an Actual Ambassador

One thing I did when I returned from the 2019 trip was to review the status and background of the U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas. Ambassadors and their staffs are the face of the United States to these countries and are the defining and decisive instrument of national power to assert U.S. interests.

Unfortunately, there hasnt been an American ambassador to the Bahamas since 2011, and its been spotty since the independence of the Bahamas in 1973. What we have in the Bahamas is a charge daffaires.

A charge daffaires is nice, but its a major statement that the United States is bored and uninterested in the country and is unwilling to post an ambassador.

Ive met with several ambassadors and charge daffaires while visiting or working in these countries in my government role, who were very unimpressive and acted woke, before being woke was a thing. Several times, I had to restrain myself when an ambassador would make demeaning comments about America in front of our foreign partners.

Theres a difference between transparency and the ability for minor self-deprecating humor to build relationships, and woke pandering. Foreign nationals arent impressed by the latter.

Ive noticed a deficit of dedicated U.S. ambassadors in many locationsPanama, and the various South Pacific island republics, for example. And even when we do have an ambassador, they dont appear to be asserting American interests.

The Chinese are aggressively occupying the Bahamas, which is essentially the closest sovereign country to the contiguous United States that doesnt share a land border. The United States needs a dedicated ambassador there fast: one who unashamedly puts U.S. interests first and is willing to help the country actively respond to the Chinese occupation forces.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Symbol of victory, unsung hero of soup stock.

That single leathery leaf you occasionally find in your soup, its called bay.

Bay leaf has a unique and complex tastehints of clove, pepper, and eucalyptus with a pleasant woody bitterness. It is not poisonous, as many believe, just really hard to chew.

Once bay imparts its subtle flavor to a recipe, the stiff leaf is usually discarded before serving. It can be a choking hazardespecially for children. Cooking softens bay a bit, but it still takes some determined gnawing to break down. In a few unfortunate cases, bay leaf pieces have had to be surgically removed from the intestines.

Laurus Nobilis

The scientific name for bay leaf suggests a person of great importance: Laurus nobilis.

In ancient Greece and Rome, bay symbolized victory. Winning athletes, top scholars, and soldiers triumphant in battle were all crowned with bay wreaths to honor their accomplishment.

Bay still signifies achievement, although its in name only. An undergraduate or bachelors degree comes from baccalaureate, a Latin word which means berries of laurel. The terms poet laureate and resting on ones laurels also borrow from the symbolism of accomplishment synonymous with bay.

What makes bay so great? According to the ancient Greeks, this leaf gave the oracle at Delphi the insight to predict the future. As she chewed aromatic bay leaves the oracle was able to hear messages from Apolloa deity for whom bay was sacred.

For centuries, bay was revered as a plant that offered protection from evil and divine inspiration. While scientists have yet to verify its supernatural attributes, they have discovered a wealth of vitamins (A,C, and B), minerals (copper, magnesium, iron, and selenium), and antioxidants. The essential oils and other phytochemicals in bay can help digestive upset, relieve pain, calm a cough, and ease menstrual problems.

Dr. Bay

Bay has had many physician admirers throughout history. In medieval Germany, healer, composer and Benedictine abbess Hildegarde von Bingen recommend bay laurel for headache, chest pain, gout, and liver problems.

Modern herbalists still use bay for these ailments, and have even added a few others. A 2008 study found bay to be effective in reducing blood glucose, improving insulin function, and lowering cholesterol.

Bay leaf has a mild narcotic effect, which means that it calms the mind and relieves pain. A cup of bay tea can soothe a headache (some call bay the headache tree), and encourage a sound sleep.

Consider bay leaf next time youre suffering from a chest cold. It has a mentholated quality that can help remove phlegm stuck in the lungs.

Bay also helps regulate menstruation and resolve vaginal dischargeadd essential oil to hot bath water and soak. It has antibiotic properties that make it valuable in healing wounds and treating kidney infections. Drinking this mildly astringent tea has also been known to stop a nose bleed.

How to Use

Its nice to have access to fresh bay leaves, but dried also work well, provided theyre stored properly. Dry leaves are less bitter than fresh, and keep up to a year in a sealed container. Time and exposure to air eventually strip the leaves of their aromatic essential oils. For this reason, its best to buy your leaf in small quantities.

Adding bay to food is the most common application. Soup stock, beans, tomato sauce, rice, even desserts like custardbasically anything that simmers for a length of time can benefit from a little bay. It not only adds a subtle flavor, but the antimicrobial properties from just a couple leaves can help food last longer.

Powdered leaf can be added to foods if you want the bay flavor without the risk of leaf shards. The spice blend known as Old Bay is basically a seasoned salt heavy on the powdered bay.

Bay leaf keeps pests away. For centuries, people have stored grains and beans with a handful of bay leaves to deter rodents and insects, thanks to a compound called eucalyptol. For this reason, it is also used in treating lice.

If you can find a steam distilled essential oil of bay laurel (most bay oils are other plants) it is useful to have around for all types of ailments. Apply topically to areas of pain or tension.

But go easy. Bay oil contains eugenola compound also found in clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, oregano, and thyme essential oils. Eugenol is not a problem when dealing with the whole leaf. But a concentrated oil may irritate sensitive skin, and should be avoided in pregnancy and with small children.

Bay and Orange Peel After Dinner Tea

Whether for medicine or just as a relaxing beverage, tea is one of the safest, easiest, and most effective ways to use bay. The addition of orange peel in this recipe adds a complementary flavor, and another digestive aid.

Add 6 to 7 bay leaves (fresh or dried) and the peel of one orange (preferably organic) to one quart of water. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low (covering preserves essential oils). Simmer for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Bay Laurel Imposters

Lots of leaves go by the bay name, but they can differ considerably from bay laurel, a Mediterranean native. West Indies bay is a key ingredient in the classic Bay Rum aftershave. Indonesian bay leaf tastes similar to cinnamon. A type of bay leaf from India is used to scent rice.

Mountain Laurel and Cherry Laurel are American natives related to bay laurel, but they are toxic. Many bay leaves sold in the United States are usually Californian bay leaf, unless specified otherwise. California bay has similar properties and a stronger mentholated taste than genuine bay laurel.
Signage is displayed at the TikTok Creator's Lab 2019 event hosted by Bytedance Ltd. in Tokyo on Feb. 16, 2019. (Shiho Fukada/Bloomberg)

TikTok an Invasive Tool for Beijing: Lawmakers Warn of Threat After Report Shows US Data Accessed in China

The hugely popular short-video app TikTok is but another invasive tool for Beijings espionage campaign on America, U.S. lawmakers said after news of leaked internal recordings allegedly showing the apps private U.S. user data being repeatedly accessed in China.

Between at least September 2021 and January, engineers in China had access to the apps U.S. data, according to leaked recordings of 80 internal meetings cited by BuzzFeed News. In addition, TikTok employees at times had to turn to their colleagues in China to determine how U.S. data was flowing, which the U.S. staff werent authorized to independently access, the report said.

TikTok is owned by Beijing-based tech giant ByteDance and has drawn concern in the United States and elsewhere over whether its data can be accessed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), given that its laws compel companies to cooperate with security agencies when asked.

Everything is seen in China, a member of TikToks Trust and Safety department said in a September 2021 meeting, according to the report. The same month, a director addressed a Beijing-based engineer as a Master Admin with access to everything.

No surprise there, TikTok is just another invasive tool for communist China to infiltrate Americans personal and proprietary information, Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) told The Epoch Times. This app presents a very real threat to our national security, and the United States should take strong action to stop the CCPs espionage campaign.

The popular China-owned platform has for years sought to minimize its links with Beijingconcerns that triggered efforts from the Trump administration to ban TikTok from operating in the United States. In a number of public statements, the company has maintained that it stores U.S. user data locally and wouldnt share them with Chinese authorities if asked.

The Chinese national intelligence law requires all organizations and citizens to support, assist, and cooperate with national intelligence efforts in accordance with law and protect national intelligence work secrets they are aware of. Because of that, Chinese firms have no option but to hand over whatever data the authorities demand and to deny doing so publicly, experts have said.

In August 2021, a state-backed firm linked to the countrys top internet watchdog also took a 1 percent stake in one of ByteDances subsidiaries, heightening worries of potential influence Beijing could exercise over the platform.

People walk past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video-sharing app TikTok, in Beijing on Sept. 16, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Any U.S. user data that can be accessed by a private company in China can undoubtedly also be accessed by the Chinese Communist Party, Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) told The Epoch Times.

In a congressional hearing in October 2021, Michael Beckerman, vice president and head of public policy in the Americas for TikTok, denied that ByteDance employees have access to TikTok user data. He told lawmakers that a world-renowned U.S.-based security team handles access to U.S. user data, and it stores backups in Singapore.

The leaked recordings, Zeldin said, suggest that Beckerman possibly lied to Congress, which is a felony.

Even the possibility that the private data of millions of Americans, many of them only teenagers, was accessed by the Chinese government and could have been used for any number of the CCPs nefarious activities should set off alarm bells in our government and private sector, and for anyone who uses this app, he said.

The U.S. government needs to urgently determine what data was collected, what the Chinese government had access to, and how the data has been used.

Shortly before the June 17 Buzzfeed article, TikTok announced that it was migrating all U.S. user traffic to Oracle servers in the United States. It added that it would continue to use its U.S. and Singapore data centers for backup storage, but it expects to delete U.S. users data from those sites over time.

Every Piece of Technology Coming From China Is Weaponized

Former Chinese internet censor Liu Lipeng previously told The Epoch Times that TikTok had sought to hire people like him to monitor U.S. users. In 2018, Liu interviewed with ByteDance for a TikTok content manager position, which would expect him to inspect globalized videos on the platform.

They are directly censoring Americans speech, he said in an interview in 2020.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in August 2020 to ban TikTok and Chinese super app WeChat, saying the apps capture of vast swaths of Americans data threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans personal and proprietary informationpotentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage.

Since then, Trumps order has been stalled by several lawsuits and court orders.

In July 2021, President Joe Biden revoked the executive order, instead directing the Commerce Department to evaluate the platform to determine whether it poses a national security risk.

A symbol of TikTok (Douyin) is pictured at The Place shopping mall at dusk in Beijing on Aug. 22, 2020. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

Casey Fleming, a cybersecurity analyst and CEO of strategic advisory firm BlackOps Partners, said that Beijings global ambition should ring alarm bells in regard to technology from China.

One thing he always tells people who consult him on such matters, Fleming said, is that youve got to understand that every piece of technology coming from China is weaponized, he told EpochTVs China Insider program. Its to weaken the United States and strengthen China.

Personal data is very, very valuable because it paints a picture of who ones connected to, their business transactions, smartphone activities, and what they will do in the future, said Fleming. The way TikTok is programmed to trap the audience on the app is also a form of psychological control, he said.

The thing that most people dont really understand is the Chinese Communist Partys values and goals are completely opposite of the U.S. and the free world, Fleming said.

They want to completely control it. So there are no independent companies in China, the CCP completely commands and controls in there.

Anybody engaging in business or other pursuits in China is subject to CCP law in China.

TikTok didnt return a request for comment by press time.

David Zhang contributed to this report.
Packs of menthol-flavored and non-menthol cigarettes are displayed for sale in a smoke shop in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 28, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Tobacco Smoking Causes Schizophrenia and Depression, Study Finds

Tobacco smoking causes mental health disorders, according to a recent UK study. The study found smoking increased the risk of developing schizophrenia by 53 to 127 percent and can increase depression by 54 to 99 percent.

There is no longer any doubt that smoking is bad for mental health, and this needs to be a priority, said professor Marcus Munafo, co-author of the study.

The review (PDF), published by the University of Bristol on June 20, examined several studies on tobacco smoking and found that smoking had a causal relationship to the development of schizophrenia and depression.

The authors mainly focused on two recent studies that found that smoking increased the risk of depression, with greater risks for lifetime smokers than first-time smokers.

The first study published in 2019 found that first-time smokers increased the risk of depression by 54 percent, while risks doubled for lifetime smokers, increasing to 99 percent. Whereas the second study published in 2021 saw an overall increase in risk ranging from 27 to 88 percent for smokers.

Researchers noted a stronger relationship between smoking and schizophrenia as opposed to depression. The same two studies found that smoking increased the risk of schizophrenia by an average of 53 and 97 percent, respectively.

However, lifetime smokers had a further increase in the risk of schizophrenia, with the 2019 study finding an average risk of 127 percent, with the maximum interval set at 208 percent.

Smoking and People With Mental Health Disorders

The study also showed a high degree of bidirectionality between tobacco smoking and mental health conditions, meaning that depressed and schizophrenic individuals are more likely to take up smoking. People with mental health problems often have a higher rate of smoking than the general population.

Smoking rates among people with different mental health conditions, based on data from the University of Bristol. (The Epoch Times)

In the UK and the United States, over a third of people with mental health disorders take up smoking compared to the 15 and 21 percent of the general population.

Although individuals with mental health problems comprise less than 20 percent of the population, they also take up over 30 percent of smokers, indicating a strong bidirectional relationship between smoking and mental health conditions.

Smoking cessation has also been linked to an improvement in mental health conditions, according to previous UK studies, though further research is needed to support this finding.

All these findings highlight the severe effect tobacco smoking has on an individuals mental health.

While the overall review found a stronger relationship between smoking and developing schizophrenia, as opposed to depression, the researchers at the University of Bristol noted the possibility of cannabis playing a role in the relationship.

Cannabis is often smoked with tobacco and there is strong evidence to suggest that high potency cannabis is associated with psychosis, the authors wrote in their study.

Given the high rates of co-use between tobacco and cannabis in many populations, it can be very difficult to disentangle their effects, using various studies.

According to the authors, additional investigations are also needed to find the reason behind this causal relationship and possible implications with other mental health conditions.

The study was presented to the Royal College of Psychiatrists International Congress and has already been shared with the UK government, which is currently developing a new Tobacco Control Plan for publication in late 2022.
Turkey-backed Syrian fighters gather in the countryside of the northern city of Manbij, Syria, on June 2, 2022. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on June 1 renewed threats of a military offensive in northern Syria, which he said would target Kurdish "terrorists". (Bakr Alkasem/AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey Gears Up for Fresh Campaign in Syria Despite US, Russian Misgivings

ANKARA, TurkeyTurkey recently announced plans to launch a fresh military incursion into northern Syria with the stated aim of subduing Kurdish militants who it says threaten its security.

Both the United States and Russia have urged Ankara to stand down, and it remains unclear what form the planned operation will take.

In the face of opposition from so many actors, both regional and international, the prospects of an imminent Turkish incursion appear increasingly dim, Ilhan Uzgel, a Turkish political analyst, told The Epoch Times.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently announced plans to launch a cross-border offensive against the YPG, a Kurdish militant group operating in northern Syria.

We will clear [the Syrian cities] Tel Rifaat and Manbij of terrorists  before gradually proceeding into other regions, Erdogan told lawmakers on June 1.

The YPG Peoples Protection Units is the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkeylike the United States and European Unionconsiders to be a terrorist group.

Based in northern Iraq, the PKK, which seeks to establish an independent Kurdish state, has carried out numerous attacks inside Turkey over the past four decades.

Since 2016, Turkey has carried out three major incursions into northern Syria, with which it shares a 900-kilometer-long border and where it still maintains a significant military presence.

Turkey seeks to establish a 30-kilometer-wide (19-mile-wide) security zone inside Syrian territory, with the stated aim of protecting its borderand troopsfrom attacks by the PKK and its Syrian offshoot.

According to Ankara, attacks on Turkish forces from YPG-held areas, especially near Manbij and Tel Rifaat, have increased in recent months.

If threats are increasing, were obliged to take action, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in May.

Given the multiplicity of foreign actors involved in the Syria conflict, the political/military situation there is complex. While Turkey, a longstanding NATO member, supports armed groups opposed to the Syrian government, Russia and Iran both firmly back Damascus.

The YPG, meanwhile, enjoys the support of Washington, which ostensibly views it as a bulwark against ISIS terrorist group. The United States, Russia, and Iran all maintain troops in Syria, albeit in different parts of the country.

Geopolitical Balancing Act

Turkish plans for an operation in Syria came up on June 7, when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Cavusoglu in Ankara.

We understand Turkeys security concerns, Lavrov said after the meeting, going on to accuse the United States of illegitimately feeding certain forces in Syriapresumably a reference to the YPG.

According to professor Mehmet Seyfettin Erol, head of the Ankara Center for Crisis and Policy Studies, Russia recognizes Turkeys legitimate grounds for an operation in Syria.

Describing the Syrian theater as a delicate geopolitical balancing act, Erol told The Epoch Times that Turkey had amply conveyed that it will not tolerate threats to its security.

But on June 15, Russia appeared to change to course, with its envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev, warning Turkey that a cross-border operation would be unwise at the present juncture.

Lavrentyev made the remarks from Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan, where he was holding talks with Turkish, Iranian, and Syrian officials as part of the ongoing Astana peace process.

Russia has made its position clear, said Uzgel, a former professor of international relations. Moscow doesnt want another Turkish operation in Syria when its deeply engaged in the Ukraine conflict.

However, some commentators believe Ankara will pursue its foreign-policy goals regardless of Moscows disapproval.

I dont think Turkey really cares about what Russia says regarding the wisdom of a military operation in Syria, Matthew Bryza, a former White House and senior State Department official, told The Epoch Times.

According to Bryza, who sits on the board of the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington-based think tank devoted to defense policy issues, Turkey will conduct operations in northern Syria depending on its own calculations regarding its security.

Facts on the Ground

However, Russia isnt the only state involved in Syria to raise objections to another incursion by Turkey.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking at a June 1 press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, also appeared to urge Turkey to reconsider the move.

Any escalation in northern Syria is something we would oppose, Blinken told reporters.

Only days earlier, Irans Foreign Ministry voiced similar sentiments.

Iran opposes any military action  on the territory of other countries, it said in a statement.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also weighed in on the issue. In a June 10 interview, when asked about a possible Turkish incursion, he replied: If conditions allow for direct military confrontation, we will not hesitate.

Given the array of actors opposed to the move, Uzgel believes Turkey may drastically scale down its planned operationor call it off altogether.

Since Turkey has already committed itself, one possible exit strategymeant to save facewould be to launch a smaller, more limited operation, he said.

Whats more, he said, in light of facts on the ground, a full-scale operationas envisioned by Erdoganwould carry with it enormous risks militarily.

The Russians control areas around Manbij and Tal Rifaat, while the Syrian army is also reportedly deploying to the region, Uzgel said. Under such daunting circumstances, it seems highly unlikely that Turkey can meet its military objectives.
CEO, and chief engineer at SpaceX, Elon Musk, arrives for the 2022 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on May 2, 2022. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

Twitter Board Unanimously Backs Elon Musks $44 Billion Buyout Bid

Twitters board has issued a unanimous recommendation that shareholders approve Elon Musks $44 billion bid to buy the social media platform, regulatory filings show.

In a preliminary proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 21 addressed to Twitter stockholders (pdf), the companys board says it unanimously recommends that shareholders vote in favor of approving a merger agreement that would see a company controlled by Musk take ownership of Twitter.

If the merger is completed, you will be entitled to receive $54.20 in cash, without interest and subject to any applicable withholding taxes, for each share of our common stock that you own, the board said in the filing.

This purchase price amounts to a premium of around 38 percent above the closing price of Twitter common stock on April 1, the last full trading day before Musk disclosed he held a 9-percent stake in the company.

If the transaction is completed as per the boards recommendation, Twitter stockholders stand to pocket a profit of around $15 for each share that they own.

Twitter shares rose about 3 percent to $38.98 ahead of the opening bell Tuesday, well below Musks offer price.

The billionaire tech mogul has stood by his proposal to buy Twitter, though doubts about whether the transaction would go through have swirled after Musk said he was putting the Twitter acquisition on hold in order to find out more about inauthentic activity on the platform, including fake accounts.

Musk accused Twitter of allowing a significant number of automated or bot accounts on the platform and demanded that the company release the relevant data to him so that his team could carry out his own review.

Twitter CEO, Parag Agrawal, later said nonpublic information would be required to obtain an accurate bot count. This prompted Musk to accuse the company of resisting and thwarting his ability to obtain information about fake or automated Twitter, with the Tesla CEO saying that its a breach of the terms of their April agreement.

At the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on Tuesday, a moderator asked Musk whether Twitter had provided him with enough information on the bot accounts.

Were still awaiting resolution on that matter, and that is a very significant matter, Musk replied, reiterating doubts over Twitters claims that fake accounts amount to fewer than 5 percent of the platforms monetizable daily active users.

And then of course, theres the question of, will the debt portion of the round come together? And then will the shareholders vote in favor? Musk added.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Twitter with a request for comment on Musks remarks in Doha but received no reply by press time.

Twitters SEC filing on Tuesday made no mention of Musks bot-related reservations though it does shed light on Musks question as to whether shareholders will vote in favor of the deal.

In Doha, Musk was also asked if he would step into the role of Twitter CEO if his buyout bid proves successful.

I would drive the product, which is what I do at SpaceX and Tesla. Whether I am called the CEO or something else is much less important, he replied.

Musks response built on earlier remarks he made during an all-hands meeting at Twitter, in which he said he doesnt really care about holding the top title but people do need to listen to me.
Many services were cancelled due to the rail strike at Central Station, Glasgow, Scotland, on June 21, 2022. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

UK Business Groups Warn of Incredible Damage Caused by Rail Strikes

British business groups have warned that the ongoing rail strikes will cause incredible damage to the UK economy as firms brace themselves for serious disruption.

The Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers union (RMT) has started a three-day nationwide industrial action. It said it wants to shut down the countrys railway network in what union leaders say will amount to the biggest rail strike in modern history.

Economists at the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) have warned that the strikes will cause at least 91 million ($112 million) in losses to the UK economy.

The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry warned that the capital cannot afford a summer of chaos on the railways and tube lines.

The groups chief executive Richard Burge called the strike damaging and expressed concerns about the possibility that this dispute continues through the year and we see multiple strikes into the future.

A week lost every month for the foreseeable future is going to do incredible short-term and long-term damage to the economy and the UKs reputation as an attractive destination for investment, he said.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, has warned that the rail strike could cost the hospitality sector up to 540 million ($664 million).

She said: Fragile consumer confidence will take a further hit, thousands of people able and willing to spend money in hospitality venues across the country will be prevented from doing so, while staff will undoubtedly struggle to even get to work.

She called for urgent and productive talks to avoid further disruptions.

Meanwhile, James Hardiman, senior analyst at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said the rail strikes will be damaging for the retail sector, as the strikes limit commuter and customer traffic.

UK footfall is already down on pre-pandemic levels, and this will only slow the progress retailers have made to bring people back in-store, he said.

At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the strike was so wrong and so unnecessary and causing significant disruption and inconvenience up and down the country.

It was making it more difficult for people to get to work, risking peoples appointments, making it more difficult for kids to sit examsall sorts of unnecessary aggravations, he said.

Johnson called on the union barons to return to the negotiating table and restart talks with Network Rail and the train companies.

But the main opposition Labour Party has accused the government of hobbling the talks between the unions and rail operators by refusing to take part.

PA Media contributed to this report.
RMT union members stand on the picket line outside Glasgow Central Station, in Scotland, on June 21, 2022. (PA Media)

UK Labour MPs Join Rail Strike Picket Lines in Defiance of Leaders Plea

Several senior British Labour MPs have joined picket lines in support of the ongoing rail strike, despite warnings from Labour leader Keir Starmers office.

The Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers union (RMT) started a three-day nationwide industrial action on Tuesday. It said it wants to shut down the countrys railway network in what union leaders say will amount to the biggest rail strike in modern history.

According to UK media reports, Starmer instructed senior Labour MPs to show leadership by refraining from openly voicing support for the strikes, in an apparent attempt to fend off the Conservative governments accusation that Labour is on the side of the striking workers who have caused chaos and misery for millions of commuters.

A leaked memo said: Please be reminded that frontbenchers including [parliamentary private secretaries] should not be on the picket lines. Please speak to all the members of your team to remind them of this and confirm with me that you have done so.

But several frontbench Labour MPs defied the order and joined the picket lines.

Kate Osborne, a parliamentary aide to shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle, joined striking workers in Bromley, southeast London, saying: Im a trade unionist, I will always stand on the side of the workers.

Labour whip Navendu Mishra also joined a picket line, saying: As a proud trade unionist, I stand with all workers on our railway network who are taking industrial action to fight for their jobs and keep passengers safe.

Likewise, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who sits in the Scottish Parliament, distanced himself from Starmers position by heading to a picket line to show his solidarity.

Trade unions, which are among the partys biggest donors, expressed frustration over the Labour leaders lack of support for the strikes.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, told the PA news agency: The Labour Party was founded by the trade unions and we expect Labour MPs to defend workers, by words and by actions.

But Labours shadow Treasury chief secretary Pat McFadden warned colleagues that joining picket lines will not resolve the dispute on the railways.

Asked what his message to Labour MPs who do join the protests would be, McFadden told LBC News: I would say to them, in the end thats not how this will be resolved. It will be resolved by a deal that gets the railways running again, and thats where the political focus should be.

But Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner has given clear backing to the industrial action.

She wrote on Twitter: Workers have been left with no choice. No one takes strike action lightly. I will always defend their absolute right to do so for fairness at work.

PA Media contributed to this report.
A nurse administers a pediatric dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to a young girl at a vaccination clinic in Los Angeles on Jan. 19, 2022. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

United States Donates 2.2 Million Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Doses to Nepal

The United States sent 2.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal for use in the countrys vaccination program for children aged five to 11 years, according to the U.S. Embassy in Nepal.

These are in addition to the 2.26 million doses of Pfizer vaccines and 1.5 million single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines previously supplied to Nepal by the United States, the embassy said on June 19.

This donation also celebrates 75 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Nepal. The United States historic support for Nepals health sector reflects the powerful results of our partnership, the embassy said in a statement.

The United States also pledged to support Nepals Health Ministry in training frontline health workers in 56 districts to administer the pediatric Pfizer vaccine.

Dr. Surendra Chaurasia, chief of the logistic management section under Nepals Department of Health Services, said the first phase of the vaccination program for children in 27 districts would begin on June 23.

The second phase of the vaccination program will involve the remaining 50 districts.

We will dispatch the vaccine doses to the provinces and districts as soon as possible, Chaurasia told reporters, according to The Kathmandu Post.

Nepals Health and Population Ministry in February procured about 8.4 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use in children between five and 11 years old, according to local reports.

This was consistent with the World Health Organizations recommendation to use the Pfizer vaccine in children above the age of five, though the need for booster doses in children has yet to be confirmed.

The United States also donated 302,400 pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine to Mongolia through the United Nations-backed COVAX program, bringing the total number of vaccines donated to Mongolia to more than 1.4 million.

In spite of the push by government officials to provide pediatric vaccine doses, there is disagreement in the medical community about whether COVID-19 vaccines should be given to children.

In May, North Carolina Physicians for Freedom (NCPF) warned about the risk of using the vaccines on children, citing that the vaccines were linked to more deaths and adverse events in one year than all other childhood vaccines combined in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System over the past 31 years.

Even this high number of deaths probably under-reports by a factor of 20 to 44, according to two analyses, NCPF said in a press release on May 19.

Among adverse reactions that have been reported are myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart that causes the heart muscle to die, as well as blood clots and severe disability affecting the nervous system, NCPF stated.

The physicians organization said the risk of heart complications from the vaccines among boys aged 12 to 15 years is much higher than the risk they might have to be hospitalized because of COVID-19 itself.

Matt McGregor contributed to this report.
President of Argentina Mauricio Macri and his wife Juliana Awada receive Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan after the G20 Leaders Summit Buenos Aires 2018 at on Dec. 2, 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Ricardo Ceppi/Getty Images)

US Lacks Comprehensive Strategy to Counter China in Latin America: Expert

The United States has lacked a grand strategy to repel the Chinese regime from expanding its influence in Latin America, according to security expert Joseph Humire.

Washington has been absent in the region for the past three decades, and as a result, China has seen an opportunity and has really capitalized on the opportunity, Humire recently told Epoch TVs China Insider program.

The Reagan administration  is the last U.S. administration that had a broader policy for Latin America with the Cold War and anti-communism, he said.

Humire referred to the special bond between the United States and the region, saying that Latin America shares a cultural affinity with and historical ties with America.

But, the problem is we dont talk about this, he said, adding that Washington, instead, talks transactionally focusing on trade and other economic ties.

Furthermore, according to the expert, this region is very nascent in terms of democracy.

Many countries in Latin America didnt achieve  full democracy until the mid-20th century, or even in some cases, the late 20th century, meaning they had periods of dictatorships, Humire said.

As a result, he said, these countries are now seeking to develop peacefully.

Latin America is not looking for war. Theyre not looking for conflict, Humire said

Theyre looking just to be able to grow to have their democracies mature to the point that they can have respect for their own national sovereignty, he added.

To help them reach that end, the United States should extend its cooperation in the region beyond merely the economic sphere, according to Humire.

Washington should engage with the region with a bigger message, he said. The biggest message is that the investments that the United States made in Latin America are meant to drive a peaceful region, a peaceful neighborhood.

Its meant to create a neighborhood thats both stable, prosperous, and peaceful, something that cant be done with the investments [by] China and other parts of the world, he added.

Meanwhile, Humire said China has rapidly expanded its trade relations in the Western hemisphere.

If you go back 20 years ago, China was a trade partner of only three countries in South America. Fast forward 10 years by 2010, [they are] the top trade partner of seven of the twelve sovereign nations in South America, Humire said.

Today, they are the top trade partner of nine of the top sovereign nations in South America, he added.

But Chinas trade relationships with Latin America come with political and geopolitical and even military ambitions, Humire noted.

We are not far away from the Chinese government having military outposts inside Latin America, very close to the U.S. border, he said.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the State Department for comment.

Hannah Ng Reporter Follow Hannah Ng is a reporter covering U.S. and China news.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy are seen in close proximity to patrol coastal ship USS Sirocco in the Strait of Hormuz on June 20, 2022. (US Navy photo)

US Navy Ship Responds After Iranian Vessel Gets Too Close

Three Iranian fast-attack naval ships harassed two U.S. Navy ships entering the Persian Gulf, said Navy officials on Tuesday.

The Cyclone-class patrol coastal ship USS Sirocco and Spearhead-class USNS Choctaw County vessel were in the Strait of Hormuz when three Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGCN) Navy ships approached them, the Navy said in a statement.

One of the IRGCN vessels approached Sirocco head-on at a dangerously high speed and only altered course after the U.S. patrol coastal ship issued audible warning signals to avoid a collision. The Iranian vessel also came within 50 yards of the U.S. Navy ship during the interaction, and Sirocco responded by deploying a warning flare, the U.S. Fifth Fleet confirmed.

The Navy described the Iranian ships approach as unsafe and unprofessional in the statement.

The full interaction among all vessels lasted one hour and ended when the IRGCN craft departed the area. U.S. Navy ships continued their transit without further incident, according to the Navy. The IRGCNs actions did not meet international standards of professional or safe maritime behavior, increasing the risk of miscalculation and collision.

U.S. Central Command forces will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere in the area of responsibility international law allows while promoting regional stability, said Col. Joseph Buccino, spokesman for U.S. Central Command, in a statement.

The Iranian Navy often targets and harasses U.S. vessels traveling into the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important shipping route that Iran has long attempted to gain control of. A significant portion of the worlds liquified natural gas and oil travels through the strait, which is located between Iran and the United Arab Emirates as well as Oman.

Last November, an Iranian helicopter came within 25 yards of the USS Essex amphibious warship, prompting another response from the Department of Defense. Two U.S. guided-missile destroyers and one U.S. Coast Guard ship were also seen sailing near a tanker that was captured by Iran in October of 2021.

And in 2020, the U.S. accused 11 Iranian vessels of making unprofessional and unsafe maneuvers when they sailed around U.S. warships.

Tensions have remained high in the region, with Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander, Hossein Salami, warning other regional governments against having a role in the Persian Gulf

We explicitly declare and warn that the continuation of such relations is not acceptable at all, Salami said at the time, referring to Israeli naval presence in the region. They should know that the existence of the evil Zionist regime everywhere is a cause of insecurity.
The Virginia-class attack submarine Pre-commissioning Unit (PCU) John Warner (SSN 785) is moved to Newport News Shipbuilding's floating dry dock in preparation for the September 6 christening in Newport News, Virginia, U.S. August 31, 2014. U.S. Navy/John Whalen/Huntington Ingalls Industries/Handout via REUTERS

US to Train Australian Nuclear Submariners

Lawmakers are clearing the way for Australian naval officers to receive the highest standard of training in U.S. Naval technology and establish the crew of the countrys future nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

Republican and Democrat members of the AUKUS Working Group introduced the Australia-U.S. Submarine Officer Pipeline Act on June 15.

Our bill will authorize an education and training program for Royal Australian Navy submariners to receive formal instruction in the highest standard of U.S. Navy technology and will begin rotating in the first cohorts of Australian sailors who will command their future fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, according to Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) in a statement.

Under the program, at least two Australian naval officers will be selected each year to receive training at the Navy Nuclear Propulsion School in South Carolina. Officers will be enrolled in the Submarine Officer Basic Course and later be assigned to an operational U.S. submarine at sea.

The landmark AUKUS deal, signed between former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, U.S. President Joe Biden, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, will see the three nations closely cooperate in the fields of quantum technology, undersea capabilities, and cyber.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington D.C. on Sept. 15, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The centrepiece of the agreement is the sharing of the U.S.s top-secret nuclear propulsion technology with Australia and the arming of the nations naval forces with nuclear-powered submarines.

The deal is significant given Australias long-standing aversion to nuclear power, which was put aside in response to increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region from the Chinese Communist Party.

An ongoing concern with the implementation of AUKUS has been the lag time between the signing of the agreement and the arrival of the first nuclear-powered submarines, which could be expected around the late 2030s.

As a stopgap solution, former Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton revealed that he was close to requesting to purchase two Virginia-class submarines from the United States, while the remaining eight submarines in the proposed fleet would be constructed locally in South Australia.

There have also been calls for Australia to purchase a third-class of submarine as a stopgap, but Dutton, now the opposition leader, has argued strongly against this.

Defence leaders here and in the U.S. strongly advised me, Australia doesnt have the construction workforce, let alone the crew capability, to run three classes of submarines, he wrote in an op-ed.
FBI public affairs officials arrive at the Uvalde High School auditorium for an update with state and local officials the day after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary, in Uvalde, Texas, on May 25, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Uvalde Classroom Door Wasnt Locked, Says Texas Public Safety Director

The classroom door that separated Uvalde mass shooter Salvador Ramos and a team of police officers in Uvalde, last month wasnt locked, according to a senior Texas law enforcement official.

Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw told a Texas Senate hearing Tuesday that there was nothing barring officers from accessing Ramos, who shot and killed 19 children and two adults on May 24 at Robb Elementary School.

I have great reasons to believe (the door) was never secured, McCraw said at the Senate hearing. How about trying the door and seeing if its locked?

McCraws statement is sure to further anger parents of children who have since accused local Uvalde police of failing in their duties. Police waiting outside the classroom the gunman was in for nearly an hour, officials have previously said.

The law enforcement response to the attack at Robb Elementary was an abject failure and antithetical to everything weve learned over the last two decades since the Columbine massacre, McCraw said.

He added that the incident commander prioritized the safety of police over that of the students who were inside the school. McCraw has indicated school police chief Pete Arredondo was in charge, although Arredondo has previously said that he wasnt aware that he was in charge at the time.

McCraw slammed the response, saying that the only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander.

The officers had weapons, while the children had none. The officers had body armor, the children had none. The officers had training, the subject had none, McCraw said. One [hour], 14 minutes and eight seconds. Thats how long the children waited, and the teachers waited, in Room 111 to be rescued. And while they waited, the on-scene commander waited for a radio and rifles. And he waited for shields, and he waited for SWAT. Lastly, he waited for a key that was never needed.

On June 10, Arredondo told the Texas Tribune that he wasnt the on-scene commander at the time of the shooting and assumed someone else took over after more police arrived. The chief claimed that the door was locked as officers were attempting to find a key.

Each time I tried a key I was just praying, Arredondo told the outlet. Seventy-seven minutes after the shooting started, officials unlocked the door and shot the suspect, he added.

My mind was to get there as fast as possible, eliminate any threats, and protect the students and staff, Arredondo said in the interview, noting that about 500 students and staff were evacuated.

McCraws statement comes as images published by the Austin American-Statesman newspaper this week appear to show armed officers, including one with a ballistic shield, inside Robb Elementary that have a timestamp taken about one hour before Ramos, 18, was stopped.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Uvalde Police Department for comment.
Police, including riot control officers and an armoured vehicle, take action to clear away Freedom Convoy protesters from downtown Ottawa on Feb. 19, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Vancouver Police Cleared for Shooting Less-Lethal Rounds at Freedom Convoy Protesters: Watchdog

An Ontario police watchdog said two Vancouver police officers didnt commit a criminal offence when they shot less-lethal rounds at Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa earlier this year.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said no serious injuries were reported after two protestersa 36-year-old man and a 41-year-old manwere shot by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officers during an operation to push protesters south of Bank Street in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 19, 2022.

Police officers with the VPD were in Ottawa to assist with policing the Freedom Convoy protests.

SIU Director Joseph Martino said he had no reasonable grounds to believe that two Vancouver Police Department officers committed a criminal offence when they fired at the two protesters, according to a statement released on June 20.

Director Martino concluded that there were no reasonable grounds to believe that either subject official comported themselves unlawfully in the use of their less lethal firearms. Accordingly, there was no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case, the statement reads, adding that the file is now closed.

According to the SIU full report, a VPD officer shot rubber bullets and a pepperspray projectile at a protester who was shining a bright light on the front of the police line. One of the rounds struck the man in the face. The protester ducked behind a barrier but soon returned, and continued to shine the light at police. The police then discharged the less-lethal weapon a second time, striking the protester in the left shoulder area.

The report said another Vancouver police officer shot either rubber bullets or bean bags to deter protesters from moving toward officers. The officer fired his weapon, striking one protester in the leg, and fired again at another protester.

The Freedom Convoy trucker protest began as a demonstration against the federal governments COVID-19 vaccine mandate requiring all cross-border truck drivers to be fully vaccinated or face a 14-day quarantine upon returning to the country. The protests quickly evolved into a national movement after massive convoys of trucks arrived in Ottawa on Jan. 29, with supporters joining from across the country to call for an end to all pandemic mandates and restrictions.

In response to the weeks-long protests, the Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14, granting the police sweeping additional powers, including compelling towing companies to remove trucks and vehicles parked in Ottawas downtown area. During the operation to remove protestors, police were seen wielding batons and tear gas. Mounted police also charged at the protesters, and on one occasion, trampled on two people, including a disabled woman. Martino said in the SIU report that he was satisfied with the officers engagement with the protesters, which he said was a reasonable and legitimate exercise of police powers at common law to maintain public order and safety. Noe Chartier, Omid Ghoreishi, and The Canadian Press contributed to this article
A supporter of Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) hammers a campaign sign into the ground outside a polling place at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, on June 21, 2022 (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

Voters Head to Polls for Alabamas Senate Primary Runoff

MONTGOMERY, Ala.Alabama voters turned out on June 21 to decide between Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) and Katie Britt in the U.S. Senate Republican primary runoff election.

The latest polls show Britt in the lead by 48 percent to Brooks 36 percent.

These figures match the trends of the Alabama primary. Britt got the most primary votes, although she didnt reach the 50 percent mark.

The voters that trickle into locations like Huntingdon Colleges polling center will determine which of the two candidates reaches the general election in November.

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) voter Shirley Krothapalli leaves a polling place at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, on June 21, 2022. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

On June 21, voters in Montgomery seemed evenly divided between Britt and Brooks. The winner of the race between the two will likely win the general election in deep-red Alabama.

Im not a fan of Katie Britt, said Montgomery voter Shirley Krothapalli. I want someone whos actually going to work.

Krothapalli added that she planned to vote for Brooks.

Another voter, Cindy DeLongchamp, said she planned to vote for Britt because she knew her personally and knew she had a strong work ethic.

She is a fellow parent at Montgomery Academy, and Ive seen her work very, very hard during her campaign, she said.

Although Britt received an endorsement from former president Donald Trump, DeLongchamp said the endorsement made no difference for her.

No, I decided a long time ago to vote for Katie, she said.

Britts last-minute Trump endorsement was the last in a long line of endorsement disappointments for Brooks.

Brooks started the race with a Trump endorsement, which Trump revoked after Brooks made a speech asking voters to focus on the next election instead of continuing to debate the 2020 election.

Then, Brooks missed an endorsement from primary candidate Mike Durant. If Durants voters had all swung to Brooks, it would have given him a significant advantage in the run-off.

Finally, Trump endorsed Britt. This move was even more surprising because political action committees affiliated with Trumps rival Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have spent immense amounts of money on campaign ads for Britt.

But according to Alabama voters interviewed by The Epoch Times, Trumps last-minute endorsement flips had little impact on their votes.

Its been a bunch of noise, said Britt voter Mose Stuart. The whole issue with Donald Trump endorsement, I think he himself has rendered it a little bit meaningless.

Stuart said that Trump has often endorsed candidates who lead in polls late in the race. This approach means that Trump-endorsed candidates usually win because Trump only endorses people who are already winning.

Im not even sure that it would have mattered in this election, he said.

Voter Vanessa Askren said she was voting for Brooks because he impressed her in an interview on Glenn Becks show.

He sounded very intelligent, very savvy on the economics of everything, she said.

Several voters mentioned concerns over the rising cost of energy, the lack of border security, a bad economy, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the increasing power of China.

Askren said she believed the next few elections were very important.

I think this election and 2024 are for the survival of this country, she said. Our liberty is going away, and I dont think people realize it.
Chicago police work at the scene of a shooting near East Chicago Avenue and North State Street in the Near North Side neighborhood, Thursday, May 19, 2022 in Chicago. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Weekend Violence in Chicago: 44 People Shot, 6 Dead

Multiple shooting incidents over the weekend resulted in at least 44 people being shot in Chicago, with six of them killed, according to the citys police department.

Police are investigating the incidents but no one has been taken into custody over them. Weekend shooting incidents have been counted as occurring between June 17 and 19.

The first reported victim was a 40-year-old female who suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head on Friday around 1 a.m. at 10700 block of S State St. She was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.

At 1:38 a.m., a 22-year-old male was shot while inside a vehicle and pronounced dead a short time later.

At around 8:11 a.m. at the 2000 block of W. Van Buren, an unidentified male in his 20s was found dead with a gunshot wound to the face.

At around 8:28 p.m., a 30-year-old man who was sitting in front of a porch was shot by an unknown offender and died from his wounds.

A shooting incident resulted in five people being shot and wounded at 3000 block of S Rhodes at around 11:45 p.m. They were standing outside an open parking lot when they were shot at by an unknown offender.

On June 19, 3:36 a.m., a 40-year-old male was discovered on the sidewalk at 700 block of W. 72rd St. with a gunshot wound to the head and the body. He was sent to hospital in a critical condition and died not long after.

On the same day at 8:33 p.m., a 60-year-old woman was standing on the sidewalk of 6400 block of S. Marshfield when she was shot and later died.

South and West sides

The majority of shooting victims were from the South and West sides. The South side had 19 victims, the West side reported nine, and the Southwest Side registered four victims, according to Chicago Sun Times.

Last year was one of Chicagos deadliest years in a quarter-century, with the city seeing 836 homicides. In total, there were at least 4,300 gunshot victims in 2021 according to data from the Chicago Police Department, which is up from the 2,800 people shot in 2018.

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Illinois is ranked around the middle when it comes to firearm mortality by state. The death rate in Illinois is 14.1 deaths per 100,000 people. Top-ranked Mississippi has a 28.6 death rate.

Chicago employs much stricter gun laws than what the state of Illinois implements. Chicagos laws ban the possession of certain semi-automatic firearms that the city defines as assault weapons and certain firearms accessories.

Last year, the states Democrat Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation that criminalizes the private sale of guns without the buyer going through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) before the sale. The legislation comes into effect in 2024.

Whether the NICS will have any effect on reducing gun crimes will remain to be seen. A 2015 study by the University of Chicago Crime Lab showed that inmates locked up for gun crimes avoid getting their firearms from sources that require background checks, federal or otherwise.
US President Donald Trump (R) and Florida's governor Ron DeSantis hold a COVID-19 and storm preparedness roundtable in Belleair, Florida, July 31, 2020. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Were Not Working at All Against Trump, Says Head of PAC Backing DeSantiss 2024 Run

Ed Rollins, the campaign strategist behind the 1984 Reagan reelection, said Donald Trump is definitely running for the Republican nomination for president of the United States in 2024.

The information that Ive gotten the last several weeks is Trump is definitely running, Rollins told The Epoch Times on June 14.

But thats not stopping Rollin from pushing the idea that another GOP standard-bearer would make a better candidate than Trump would.

Despite the claims by Rollins that Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis will stand down if Trump runs, the PAC Rollins created to help this potential Trump opponent secure the nomination keeps rolling so it can eventually help whoever is the nominee.

Rollins raised eyebrows several weeks ago with his launch of the Ready for Ron PAC, aimed at supporting the presidential candidacy of DeSantis, after Rollins ran the 2016 PAC that helped propel Trump to the presidency.

In a June 10 blast from Rollins from an address at AmericansWithDJT.com, Rollins wrote:

Donald Trump is not running, thats why we have to prepare for Ron DeSantis running for President if were going to have any shot at restoring Donald Trumps America-First agenda and getting America back on track.

The links in the email send readers to ReadyForRon.com.

Were not working at all against Trump, Rollins told The Epoch Times.

At that point in time, I didnt know if he [Trump] was running or not. What Ive said since has made it clear is that he [DeSantis] wont run against Trump, Rollins added.

Subsequent to the statement Rollins made to The Epoch Times, another blast came from an AmericansWithDJT.com address on June 17, this one touting Elon Musks support of DeSantiss nomination for president in the next election cycle. The message said:

Governor Ron Desantis

Fellow American- Were ready, Elon is ready, but are YOU ready for Ron?

If you are with us, sign the petition to Draft Ron Desantis for President!

DeSantis  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 15, 2022

This time the email arrived without Rollins signature, but was still forwarded to ReadyForRon.com.

Rollins told The Epoch Times that a Trump candidacy most certainly would chase out of the running other serious players for the Republican nomination for president in 2024.

Hes got a ton of money, he got a political base thats still there, hes got a whole variety of operatives, some good, some not so good, but hes got a campaign ready to go, he said.

Rollins, 79, said that the calendar is moving very quickly for potential nominees if they were to make a serious run at the presidency, which may be why the Ready for Ron campaign got rolling now.

Iowa will be the first state where the GOP has a nominating contest in 2024. The Democrats, have opted for a multi-state primary day instead, breaking with the longstanding Democrat tradition that Iowa caucus first.

Then quickly thereafter, the GOP hosts elections in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida.

Its tough for anybody else to get started against Trump, so thats my feeling, Rollins said about the difficulties other campaigns would face against Trump.

But there are some hurdles to clear for Trump, Rollins says.

The Jan. 6 riots hurt what was mostly a pretty good track record as president, said Rollins, dividing the GOP as to whether they can trust Trump.

The reality is that hes got to resolve some issues that are out there. I think that overall prior to Jan. 6, prior to the post-election stuff, he had a pretty good record, Rollins said.

One general consultant told The Epoch Times that while he thinks that Trump would win against Biden, the unique opportunity DeSantis brings to capture votes from Democrats in a more-or-less permanent realignment of voters, makes the Florida governor more appealing to the GOP than Trump.

A lot of Democrats who will vote against Biden in the midterms in 2022 will vote against Trump in 2024, Tony Marsh of Savanna Communications told The Epoch Times, saying that its a historic chance for the GOP to make inroads on once-sacrosanct Democrat voting groups.

While most polling cites Trump as having a big lead against any potential opponents, a recent straw poll at the Western Conservative Summit saw DeSantis take the top spot amongst a group thats very conservative.

DeSantis led the voting with 71 percent of the vote to Trumps 67.7 percent in an approval vote that allowed voters to vote for each candidate they approved of, said ColoradoPolitics.com.

Jeff Hunt, director of Centennial Institute, one of the summits organizers, said that Trump and DeSantis are both the type of fighters that rank-and-file conservatives want.

Both DeSantis and Trump, 40 points ahead of the rest of the field in the straw poll, are willing to fight back against the leftists and their media supporters, Hunt told The Epoch Times, noting that his organization, as a 501c3 nonprofit, doesnt support or oppose any candidate.

Conservatives are looking for leaders that are willing to advance conservative principles, even against opposition.

The poll was the second second-place showing for Trump amongst Western Conservative Summit activists who gave the top spot to DeSantis last year, too.

Rollins cautions that Trump has to overcome some misgivings from the GOP, despite outward appearances of unity regarding support for Trump within the party.

COVID is probably what cost him the election more than anything else, Rollins said.

But hes got lots of problems out there and I think that this point in time, Im just advocating that we have a good candidate prepared to run against Biden, he said, adding that his strategy was to beat Biden, regardless of who the ultimate GOP nominee for president is.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Trump and DeSantiss offices for comment.
The flag of the World Health Organization (WHO) at their headquarters in Geneva on March 5, 2021. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

WHO and Lancet Commission Chiefs Come Out in Support of Lab Leak Theory

News analysis

World Health Organization (WHO) Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reportedly admitted to a senior European politician that the virus that causes COVID-19 most likely came out of a Wuhan lab. The Daily Mail reports that Tedros made the admission citing a catastrophic lab accident.

The disclosure comes on the heels of a WHO investigative report that was published earlier this month, concluding that the pandemic may have started at a Wuhan lab and that Chinese authorities have been blocking access to crucial data.

At the same time, Jeffrey Sachs, leader of the Lancet Commission on COVID-19, now says that he is convinced that the pandemic started in a lab and that SARS-CoV-2 was created with the aid of U.S. biotechnology.

Sachs made his stunning admission last week at a conference in Spain where he had been invited by former Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero.

The admissions from two of the worlds most prominent COVID-19 authorities, who also happen to be establishment stalwarts with a record of appeasing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is a significant development in the search for the origin of the pandemic.

Early in 2020, just as the pandemic was starting to unfold, Xiao Botao, a whistleblower from China, published an article claiming that the virus had come out of a Wuhan lab. The whistleblowers paper was quickly removed from the internet and an all-hands-on-deck effort to scrub and censor the idea of a lab leak quickly ensued.

Two institutions played a key role in that scrubbing effort. The World Health Organization and esteemed British medical journal The Lancet.

WHO chief Tedros and his organization famously pushed CCP propaganda, including lavishly praising Xi Jinping and claiming that the virus did not transmit between humans. Tedros also spearheaded efforts to combat the spread of rumors and misinformation. In addition, two separate WHO investigations aggressively dismissed the lab leak theory.

For its part, the Lancet published a statement that maligned anyone who deigned to so much as contemplate that the virus might have come out of a lab.

That Lancet statementwhich was published before most Americans even knew that there was a pandemic spreading around the globewas signed by a number of notable leaders in the field of virology and set the tone for the corporate medias coverage.

It also served as a warning to other scientists and science publications around the globe that lab-leak discussions were off-limits.

Most virological research in the Western world is funded through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), headed by Dr. Anthony Fauciwho was himself instrumental in shutting down any discussion of the lab leak theoryand Jeremy Farrar, the British pharmaceutical trust director who sits on billions of dollars worth of grant money and has long-standing ties to Chinas CDC head, Gao Fu. Farrar co-authored the Lancet statement.

The Lancets editor, Richard Horton, is a recipient of the CCPs Friendship Prize. Before the pandemic, he published a glowing tribute to Xi and the Chinese regime. Horton later went on Chinese state TV where he praised Chinese authorities, impugned Western governments, and asserted that claims that the pandemic might have started in a Wuhan lab were part of a pandemic of disinformation.

Horton also set up a commission to investigate the nature, origin, and prevention of zoonotic diseases. The focus on zoonosisor a natural originmeant that The Lancet had predetermined what the commission was supposed to conclude.

Sachs was appointed as head of the commission while Peter Daszak, the president of EcoHealth Alliance who helped Fauci funnel U.S. taxpayer money to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, was made a member of the group. It was Daszaks enormous conflicts of interest, as well as the emergence of new evidence pointing to a lab leak, that led to the eventual disbanding of the Lancet Commission in September 2021.

However, the group did not publicly dismiss the natural origin narrative until last week, when Sachs attended a conference in Madrid where he made his surprising admission:

I chaired a Commission for the Lancet for two years on COVID. Im pretty convinced it came out of U.S. lab biotechnology, not out of nature.

Sachss statement is not only hugely significant because of his role as chairman of the Lancet Commission but alsoand perhaps even more sobecause of his admission that U.S. biotechnology was used to create SARS-CoV-2.

We have known for some time about the cooperation between the so-called godfather of gain-of-function experiments, Ralph Baric of the University of North Carolina, and the director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Shi Zhengli. In fact, it was the disclosure of that collaboration in a Jan. 31, 2020, article in Science magazine that led Faucis team to scramble to cover up the NIAIDs involvement with, and funding of, Shis lab.

Baric and Shis collaboration traces back to 2015 when they created a modified coronavirus that was not only uniquely able to latch on to human cells but also able to efficiently replicate in human lungs. While the virus they created was not SARS-CoV-2, the virus did have the attributes that we would later find in SARS-CoV-2.

Their collaboration proved that Shi had gained the technical know-how to do the kinds of experiments that might have resulted in COVID-19. Baric also sent transgenic mice with human lung receptors to Shis Wuhan lab. Humanized mice mimic human lung tissue and act as experimental stand-ins for humans. They are used to test whether newly created viruses can replicate and spread quickly among humans.

It is not a big leap to go from infected lab mice to infected lab workers. This is even more evident when one considers that the Wuhan lab conducted its coronavirus research under biosafety level two conditions, which even Baric acknowledged as dangerous, stating that there is much less oversight and that lab-acquired infections occur much more frequently at biosafety level two than at higher levels.

After the pandemic started, Chinese authorities directed their labs to shift coronavirus work to biosafety level three labs.

But even that might not offer sufficient protection against a biosafety accident. Late last year, a lab worker in Taiwan contracted COVID-19 from handling infected lab animals in a biosafety level three lab.

To underscore how significant Sachss sudden shift is, he has also co-authored a paper in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, calling for an independent investigation of information held by U.S.-based institutions that would reveal the origin of the pandemic.

While it is correct that Chinese authorities have been concealing crucial data from the Wuhan lab, as well as data on early patients, many of the answers to the pandemics origins are held in the United States by organizations such as Faucis NIH and NIAID, by the Pentagons Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, by Daszaks EcoHealth Alliance, and by Barics lab, which provided the Wuhan lab with biotechnology.

Sachss observations further highlight the significance of the highly unusual furin cleavage site, the part of SARS-CoV-2 that makes it so virulent. It has been known since the start of the pandemic that SARS-CoV-2 is the only coronavirus of its kind that has a furin cleavage site. But Sachs now goes further, pointing out that the critical amino acid sequence of SARS-CoV-2s furin cleavage site insertion happens to be identical to one that is present in the human body, strongly suggesting that it was deliberately inserted into a SARS-like virus.

Lastly, Sachs is also raising the issue of the 2018 partnership agreement between the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Daszaks EcoHealth, and Baric that had the specific goal of inserting such furin cleavage sites into SARS-like viruses.

It has always strained credulity that a bat virus traversed all of China without leaving a trace only to suddenly erupt on the doorsteps of a lab that was known to have been creating COVID-like viruses. Sachs and Tedros appear to have come to the same conclusion.

The fact that the two institutions at the center of efforts to aggressively push the natural origin narrative have now changed course will give considerable momentum to finally get to the bottom of what really happened at the Wuhan lab. It alsovery belatedlyvindicates Xiao Botao who, at great personal risk, tried to tell the world where the virus came from.
This combination of two separate photos shows actors Johnny Depp (L) and Amber Heard in the courtroom for closing arguments at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Va., on May 27, 2022. (Steve Helber/AP Photos, Pool)

Why the Depp vs Heard Case Mattered

Commentary

The mainstream media is working overtime to play down the Depp v Heard court case, dismissing it as a tawdry celebrity circus and attributing the massive public interest to sinister efforts by Johnny Depp fans to support their star and a win for yet another powerful man. But there are really significant issues at play here.

Perhaps most importantly, we witnessed cracks in the Believe All Women feminist edifice. The waves of social media applause that greeted the daily exposure of Heards lies in the Virginia courtroom spoke to the immense frustration of communities everywhere that have been cowered into denying the truth about domestic violence for decades.

Then it all played out on this massive public stage. This was not a he-said/she-said drama where no one knew who to believe.

Critically, Amber Heard and Johnny Depps behaviour was captured on tape, and due to the decision to broadcast live the entire proceedings, it was revealed to all.

Viewing figures totalled an incredible 84 million hours of this courtroom drama featuring these recordings of their conversations, attracting audiences of up to 3.5 million, amplified daily in thousands of YouTube videos, Instagram clips, and other social media promotions, which also often attracted viewers in their millions. The Johnny Depp hashtag reached 30 billion views on TikTok.

So absolutely huge numbers of people actually got to hear what went on between these two. As the jury concluded, they heard ample evidence that Amber Heard misrepresented herself as a domestic violence victim. Johnny Depp has always categorically denied he had physically abused Heard, and the evidence stacked up showing this to be the case.

Depp was revealed as a booze-addled, angry man prone to texts fantasizing about hurting Heard but contrary to the view of the British judge who ruled in his failed defamation case against The Sun newspaper; there was no proof he was a wife-beater.

Rather than Johnny Depp being revealed as a wife-batterer, Amber Heard was shown to be a violent woman. One of the most telling incidents took place in Australia whilst he was filming Pirates of the Caribbean. Depp described how he locked himself in bathrooms to escape the endless parade of insults and abuse he was receiving.

Actor Johnny Depp stands in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Va., on May 4, 2022. (Elizabeth Frantz/Pool Photo via AP)

The description of Depp trying to get away from a woman screaming obscenities, sneering and tormenting him ticked many of the boxes in the recently conducted survey of male victims of coercive control, published by psychologists from the University of Central Lancashire (pdf).

Smashing property, tick. Threating to report him to the police for something he hadnt done, tick. Playing mind games, humiliating him, insulting his masculinity. Tick, tick, tick.

The Lancashire University survey results added to the growing body of evidence that women are just as likely as men to be perpetrators of coercive control.

Most people realise that some women can be experts in this type of controlling behaviour. Its just that we havent been allowed to talk about it until this case let the cat out of the bag.

Amber Heards are everywhere. That was the message that flooded social media. The womans appalling behaviour triggered a shudder of recognitionnot just from men who have faced similar abuse from their partners, but from children witnessing their fathers fall victim to their mothers.

There was Australian Institute of Criminology research (pdf) which showed a similar number of children (22 percent) witnessing domestic violence from mothers against their fathers as mothers being abused by their fathers (23 percent).

The Depp/Heard case represents a critical cultural momenta real breakthrough in truth-telling about domestic violence, undermining the ideological straitjacket that feminists have worked so hard to maintain.

Theres a YouTube video called, I did not punch you, I was hitting you, which shows Johnny Depp in court listening to a recording of Amber Heard where she angrily explains that yes, she did start a physical fight with him but indignantly points out that she never punched him, she was just hitting him.

Amber Heard leaves Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse after the jury announced split verdicts in the Depp v. Heard civil defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Va., on June 1, 2022. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

Thats the classic female line. A hit from a woman simply doesnt matter. The ubiquitous slap on the face is the socially accepted female response to any perceived male offence. Almost every romcom features a woman whacking a man across the kisser. Thats the punchline greeted by a gale of laughter by audiences everywhere.

Over 25 years ago, one of the worlds leading domestic violence researchers, the late sociology professor Murry Straus, called out this casual attitude to womens slaps in his article (pdf). Straus pointed to everyday scenes in the media where a man makes an insulting comment to a woman, and she responds by slapping the cad.

Straus warned that this presents an implicit model of assault as a morally correct behaviour to millions of women, a stance that is not only morally reprehensible but actually dangerous.

Drawing on a series of studies conducted in the 1980s, Straus explained that dismissing womens violence poses a real risk to women because minor violence by women increases the probability they will end up victims of serious male assault. She slaps, he retaliates, and shes the one more likely to be injured.

A recent meta-analysis of 85 studies of domestic violence conducted by Sandra Stith and colleagues from Kansas State University found that one of the most significant risk factors in predicting serious abuse of women was the woman initiating violence.

So Amber Heards violence matters. She placed herself at risk of real injury by slapping, hitting, and throwing things at a man. It is a tribute to Johnny Depp that he never retaliated to the violence.

If we actually cared about reducing the scourge of domestic violence, we would talk openly about this critical issue. We would protect such women by teaching them to deal with conflict without resorting to violence and guide couples to handle volatile problems differently. Thats the approach used by couples and family therapy professor Sandra Stith and some similar brave souls scattered across the globe, despite active resistance from the ideologues.

Recently CEDV, the international coalition working to change domestic violence laws and policies, launched a #MenToo campaign to ensure male victims of domestic violence are heard, believed, and have equal access to services.

Thats the beginninga vital first step towards the evidence-based treatment programs that are the only real solution to this vexed social issue.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Medicare and Medicaid administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure in Washington on April 13, 2022. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Workers Who Verify Compliance With COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Dont Have to Be Vaccinated: Biden Administration

Workers who are charged with verifying that health care facilities are complying with the Biden administrations COVID-19 vaccine mandate dont have to be vaccinated themselves, the government has said.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which imposed the mandate, said in January memorandum that workers who have not received a vaccine should not participate in surveys of the health care facilities. The surveys include checking whether the facilities are obeying the mandate.

But the agency also said that organizations that accredit the surveyors, and state agencies, were responsible for the vaccination status of surveyors.

Therefore, certified providers and suppliers are not permitted to ask surveyors for proof of their vaccination status as a precondition for entry, the administration said.

In a new memo dated June 16, CMS made clear that surveyors do not have to be vaccinated as it rescinded the earlier memo.

The federal government has explained that the guidance does not include any possibility of penalties for noncompliance, and further prohibits facilities from inquiring about surveyor vaccination status. We understand that there is nonetheless some ongoing confusion about this guidance, which we expect this recission will resolve, Karen Tritz and David Wright, two CMS officials, wrote.

We commend all the entities who have established COVID-19 vaccination programs for their surveyors, and we continue to encourage vaccination of surveyors performing federal oversight surveys, they added.

Brian Harrison, a Republican Texas representative who worked in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the Trump administration, told The Epoch Times in an email that the memo shows that Bidens vaccine mandates never had anything to do with public health, but sadly and tragically, they had much more to do with giving the federal government more control over our lives.

CMS, part of HHS, imposed the mandate in 2021 at the direction of President Joe Biden.

The Supreme Court ruled in January that the mandate does not violate the Constitution, at the same time justices struck down a mandate for private businesses.

The CMS mandate affects all health care facilities that get Medicare or Medicaid funding. It requires that the facilities ensure their workers are vaccinated, with limited exceptions.

Facilities that dont comply face fines, denial of payments, and termination from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Surveyors were ordered to check compliance while performing standard certification and accreditation visits.

As of mid-June, 95 percent of the facilities surveyed were found to be in substantial compliance with the mandate, CMS said in a statement.

In another recent memo, CMS rolled back how often surveyors verify compliance.

Survey agencies will now only check for compliance during initial and recertification surveys and in response to specific complaint allegations that allege non-compliance with the staff vaccination requirement, the memo, also from Tritz and Wright. states.

Surveyors are no longer expected to perform these reviews on every survey, they added. This reduction in survey frequency is in keeping with the normal process for oversight of any Medicare requirement, and is supported by the high rates of compliance in initial surveys.

Gary Bai contributed to this report.
At a recent meeting of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping stressed that anti-corruption efforts need to target both "flies" and "tigers," referring to lower and senior level officials. (Ed Jones-Pool/Getty images)

Xi Jinpings Power Grip: Loyalty in the Name of Anti-Corruption

Xi Jinping is toughening his talk to the leading cadres in the Party, a typical power play of the regimes leader before the national meeting of its rubber-stamp legislature this fall.

In a recent address to the top leaders of the central committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Xi warned the cadres to conduct self-reform to guarantee the success of his anti-corruption campaign, which he claimed was promised to Chinas people.

Self-Reform

State mouthpiece Xinhua News reported that Xi made an important remark in a study session of the CCPs politburo on June 17.

Xi emphasized that anti-corruption is a fight that the CCP cant lose, and a war to ensure the CCP will rule forever, according to the report.

Xi demanded the cadres to conduct self-reform, which he also mentioned earlier this year in a meeting with his anti-corruption watchdog, Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

Self-reform is a communist term used to warn and attack a political opponent. Its the CCPs way to kill the opponent before the opponent threatens the leaders rule, current affairs analyst Li Yuanhua explained.

Xi targeted not just the leading officials who should strictly discipline not only themselves, but also their family members and people around them, Xinhua reported.

Former Chinese Communist Party head Jiang Zemin attends the closing session of the 18th National Congress on Nov. 14, 2012 in Beijing. during which Xi Jinping, who pursued members of Jiangs faction with corruption charges for 19 months, was voted Party leader. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

Absolute Loyalty

In the talk, Xi also demanded the absolute loyalty to the Party of the CCDI leading officials. He insisted on zero tolerance to cadres who feigned compliance and practiced duplicity.

Law expert and activist Yuan Hongbing said that the so-called loyalists are actually those who are duplicitous.

For instance, among the corrupt officials who were purged in recent years, many of them were also the leading cadres of the CCDI, and at least three of them were at the deputy ministerial level.

According to the CCDI 2021 year-end report, there were a total of 247,000 inefficient governmental arrangements identified and corrected throughout the nation while Xis instruction was implemented.

Tang Jingyuan, a Chinese affairs analyst, said that the number of inefficiency cases being corrected suggests wide-spread resistance in the regime to Xis anti-corruption campaign.

Haizhong Ning contributed to this report.
STAMFORD  Graduates from J.M. Wright Technical High School received their diplomas on Monday evening at the Palace Theatre.

Students from Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport, Wilton attend Wright Tech, a technical high school in Stamford that is part of the Connecticut Technical High School System
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  It's only been a month since North Korea acknowledged having a COVID-19 outbreak, after steadfastly denying any cases for more than two years. But already it may be preparing to declare victory.

According to state media, North Korea has avoided the mass deaths many expected in a nation with one of the world's worst health care systems, little or no access to vaccines, and what outsiders see as a long record of ignoring the suffering of its people.

North Korea's official virus numbers, experts believe, have as much to do with propaganda to boost leader Kim Jong Un as with a true picture of what's happening in the country, and there's widespread doubt about their accuracy.

What's clear, though, is that the daily updates from state media make it appear inevitable that the nation will completely defeat a virus that has killed more than 6 million people around the world. According to the official tally, cases are plummeting, and, while 18% of the nation of 26 million people reportedly have had symptoms that outsiders strongly suspect were from COVID-19, less than 100 have died.

The South Korean government as well as some experts believe that North Korea may soon declare that it has beaten the virus. This will be linked, of course, to Kim's strong and clever guidance.

A victory lap, however, isnt a foregone conclusion. Doing so, according to some experts, would deprive Kim of a useful tool to control the public and could open the government up to humiliation if cases continue.

There are two sides to such a declaration, said Moon Seong Mook, an analyst with the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. If North Korea says that COVID-19 has gone, it can emphasize that Kim Jong Un is a great leader who has overcome the pandemic. But in doing so, it cant maintain the powerful restrictions that it uses to control its people in the name of containing COVID-19.

Outsiders suspect that Kim is using the outbreak to boost internal unity at a time when many of his people are tired of 2  years of draconian curbs that have hurt their livelihoods.

However North Korea deals with its description of the pandemic, many signs, at least in public statements, point to a declaration of success in dealing with a virus that has confounded the richest countries in the world.

In the initial stage of the outbreak, Kim described a great upheaval as daily fever cases  North Korea rarely calls them COVID-19, presumably because it lacks test kits  reached about 400,000. Now, however, the leader is suggesting that the outbreak has peaked, with his health officials maintaining a widely disputed fatality rate of 0.002%, the lowest in the world.

The question many outside experts are wrestling with is: What is the true state of misery in North Korea, which has banned nearly all outside journalists, aid workers and diplomats since early 2020?

North Korea is widely believed to be manipulating its true death toll to prevent any harm to Kim. It might also have exaggerated the number of earlier fever cases to boost vigilance against the virus and draw stronger public support for authorities' anti-virus controls. North Korea has recently reported about 17,000 to 30,000 new fever cases each day, for a total of 4.7 million. It says  to widespread outside disbelief  that only 73 have died.

Whatever the real situation is, outside monitoring groups say they havent detected signs of anything catastrophic in North Korea.

If a large number of people had died, there would have been some pieces of evidence, but there hasn't been any, said Nam Sung-wook, a professor at Korea University in South Korea. During a huge famine in the 1990s, for instance, rumors of widespread death and of people abandoning bodies spread outside of the country, into China and South Korea.

Kang Mi-jin, a North Korean defector in Seoul who runs a company analyzing the Norths economy, said three of her contacts in the northern North Korean city of Hyesan told her during phone calls that most of their family members have suffered suspected COVID-19 symptoms. But she said they told her that none of their relatives, neighbors and acquaintances have died of COVID-19, though theyve heard rumors of such deaths in other towns.

During an earlier phone conversation, one of my sources cried a little bit when she said she was worried that some bad things could happen in her family (because of COVID-19). But now she and others have become stable and sometimes laugh when we talk on the phone, Kang said.

During a recent ruling party meeting, Kim said the country's pandemic fight has passed the stage of unexpected serious crisis. State media have urged the public to rally behind Kim in a firmer way to overcome the pandemic completely.

Cho Joonghoon, a spokesperson for South Koreas Unification Ministry, which oversees relations with North Korea, told reporters last week that the North may announce its COVID-19 crisis has been resolved this month.

Nam, the South Korean professor, said the outbreak appears to have eased in Pyongyang, North Koreas capital, but will likely continue in rural areas, where some people with symptoms are venturing out of doors because they rely on market activities for a living and have no access to public rations.

I think North Korea will declare a victory over the pandemic a bit later. It would lose face if it proclaimed victory too soon and new patients cropped up afterwards, Nam said.

Kang, the defector, said that North Korean residents in Hyesan abide by the government's anti-pandemic orders and that few fever patients go outside during quarantine periods.

Because North Korea believes that the pandemic, U.N. sanctions and other economic difficulties will continue, there's little chance it will lift major restrictions soon, said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam Universitys Institute for Far Eastern Studies in Seoul.

The United States and other countries with advanced health care and medical systems havent declared an end to COVID-19. So North Korea will also find it much more difficult to do so, Lim said.

The global vaccine alliance GAVI said earlier this month that it understands that North Korea has accepted an offer of vaccines from China. But North Korea has ignored South Korean and U.S. offers of medical support.

Despite its COVID-19 outbreak, North Korea has continued test-firing missiles this year. But it hasn't yet carried out a widely expected nuclear test, possibly because of worries about a potential backlash from people still struggling with the virus.

North Korea may officially declare victory over the virus when its daily fever cases and the pandemic situation in neighboring China ease significantly, said Ahn Kyung-su, head of DPRKHEALTH.ORG, a website focusing on health issues in North Korea.

But he said such a declaration doesnt mean much because North Korea likely only acknowledged the outbreak last month because it had determined that it was manageable.

According to North Korea, it defeats everything. It doesnt acknowledge things that it cant overcome. It always wins absolutely, no matter whether it faces military, economic or pandemic difficulties, Ahn said.
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NORWALK  James Vasquez was in his living room on Feb. 24 when the world learned that Russian military forces had launched a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine.

Within two weeks, the U.S. Army veteran announced during a rally outside Darien Town Hall that he intended to travel to the war-torn country to fight on its behalf.

Im a veteran, I kinda know what Im doing, and I figured I could help these people, Vasquez, said during a recent interview at his home in Norwalk.

He had returned temporarily, but pledged on Twitter  where he regularly posted updates from the front lines to his more than 380,000 followers  to return to the fight. Im selling my house, Im selling everything, and Im going back, he said.

To join the war, Vasquez says he bought a ticket to Poland, making his way across the border into Ukraine. He intended to join the Ukrainian foreign legion, but the plan fell through after an attack on the base where the legion was staged. Undaunted, he met up with another Western soldier  a native Ukrainian  and made his way to the front where he joined a group of Ukrainian fighters.

We started training these guys up showing them how to fight, showing them how to shoot, how to tactically maneuver, he said. Most of them never even held a rifle before I got there.

He said he also provided the men with equipment including rifle sights  the ones who could shoot long distance were given magnified scopes  which he brought in through a connection in Poland.

If you want anything in Ukraine, and you got money and you know a couple of people, you can get it, he said wryly.

For the first few days, Vasquez said he was part of a team equipped with Javelin anti-tank missiles before he finally got a weapon  a bare Kalashnikov rifle that fired an older 7.62 mm round that was less plentiful than the ammunition used by Russian troops. Vasquez said he had only three magazines for the weapon that had to be reloaded manually from a bag filled with loose rounds. The first time he rode into battle was in a Toyota Camry, he said.

I like literally commandeered a hunting store in Kiev and bought out ... all their ammunition, he said with a chuckle.

Between fighting, Vasquez said he and another fighter would transport supplies needed at the front, including body armor, camouflage netting and ammunition from an area in the western part of Ukraine to the east.

Everything these guys needed to fight like gentlemen he said.

Javelin missiles were plentiful if armored vehicles were not, along with Stinger air defense missiles. One day, Vasquez said a Russian rocket flew over his units position. and a Ukrainian Stinger flew out from nearby, intercepting it in midair. The explosion rained red-shot shrapnel on the group, somehow not killing any of them.

Lithe and crew cut at age 48, Vasquez is amiable when he approaches from the front lawn of his home, his dog tags on a chain around his neck.. A gray SUV is hitched to a trailer holding his powerboat in his driveway. The vehicle, like Vasquez, is headed to Ukraine.

Three combat helmets sit on a counter in his kitchen. One, Vasquez says, will be donated to the Ukrainian museum in Stamford. Another has The Tickler written on the side in tape  a joke he compares to the peace sign worn by Matthew Modines character in Full Metal Jacket.

Vasquez grew up in Brooklyn, entering the military at 17. He built high-rise buildings in Boston and New York, moving to Connecticut six years ago after a job in Stamford.

Up until a few months ago, thats what I did, he said.

He declined to speak about what he did in the military.

Now he says hes trying to raise funds for the war effort with another veteran, including through a fundraiser in Washington, D.C.

He seems eager to return to Ukraine. Five of his fellow combatants have been killed, he said. Two Americans fighting in Ukraine had reportedly been captured by Russian forces as of this interview, while the State Department had identified a third American as missing in action after having traveled to the country to fight.

When I get there theres going to be a truck waiting for me with a whole bunch of goodies that Im going to bring to the front lines, he said.

At checkpoints, he said his American passport was met with glee from the Ukrainians.

In their minds, were sending Americans, he said. They dont realize that Im the only [expletive] there.

Part of his fundraising, he claims, is also to give troops at the front line a space for a reprieve for a few days away from the front.

Thats one thing the Russians dont have, he says. These things are very important for soldiers that are constantly in battle.
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Police had enough officers and firepower on the scene of the Uvalde school massacre to have stopped the gunman three minutes after he entered the building, and they would have found the door to the classroom where he was holed up unlocked if they had bothered to check it, the head of the Texas state police testified Tuesday, pronouncing the law enforcement response an abject failure.

Officers with rifles instead stood in a hallway for over an hour, waiting in part for more weapons and gear, before they finally stormed the classroom and killed the gunman, putting an end to the May 24 attack that left 19 children and two teachers dead.

I dont care if you have on flip-flops and Bermuda shorts, you go in, Col. Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said in blistering testimony at a state Senate hearing.

The classroom door, it turned out, could not be locked from the inside by design, according to McCraw, who also said a teacher reported before the shooting that the lock was broken. Yet there is no indication officers tried to open it during the standoff, McCraw said. He said police instead waited for keys.

I have great reasons to believe it was never secured, McCraw said of the door. How about trying the door and seeing if its locked?

Delays in the law enforcement response at Robb Elementary School have become the focus of federal, state and local investigations.

McCraw lit into Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde school district police chief who McCraw said was in charge, saying: The only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering Room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children.

Arredondo made terrible decisions, said McCraw, who lamented that the police response "set our profession back a decade.

Arredondo has said he didnt consider himself the person in charge and assumed someone else had taken control of the law enforcement response. He has declined repeated requests for comment from The Associated Press, and his lawyer did not immediately respond Tuesday.

The police chief testified for about five hours Tuesday at a closed-door hearing of a Texas House committee also investigating the tragedy, according to the panel chair.

Senate members hearing the latest details reacted with fury, some decrying Arredondo as incompetent and saying the delay cost lives. Others pressed McCraw on why state troopers on the scene didnt take charge. McCraw said the troopers did not have legal authority to do so.

The public safety chief presented a timeline that said three officers with two rifles entered the building less than three minutes behind the gunman, an 18-year-old with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle. Several more officers entered minutes after that. Two of the officers who went into the hallway early on were grazed by gunfire.

The decision by police to hold back went against much of what law enforcement has learned in the two decades since the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado in which 13 people were killed in 1999, McCraw said.

You dont wait for a SWAT team. You have one officer, thats enough, he said. He also said officers did not need to wait for shields to enter the classroom. The first shield arrived less than 20 minutes after the shooter entered, according to McCraw.

Eight minutes after the shooter entered, an officer reported that police had a heavy-duty crowbar that they could use to break down the classroom door, McCraw said.

The public safety chief spent nearly five hours offering the clearest picture yet of the massacre, outlining a series of other missed opportunities, communication breakdowns and errors based on an investigation that has included roughly 700 interviews. Among the missteps:

 Arredondo did not have a radio with him.

 Police and sheriffs radios did not work inside the school. Only the radios of Border Patrol agents on the scene did, and they did not work perfectly.

 Some school diagrams that police used to coordinate their response were wrong.

Public leaders, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, initially praised the police response in Uvalde. Abbott said officers reacted quickly and ran toward the gunfire with amazing courage to take out the killer, thereby saving lives. He later said he was misled.

State police initially said the gunman, Salvador Ramos, entered the school through an exterior door that had been propped open by a teacher. However, McCraw said the teacher had closed the door, but unbeknownst to her, it could be locked only from the outside. The gunman walked straight through, McCraw said.

The gunman knew the building well, having attended the fourth grade in the same classrooms where he carried out the attack, McCraw said. Ramos never communicated with police that day, the public safety chief said.

Sen. Paul Bettencourt said the entire premise of lockdown and shooter training is worthless if school doors cant be locked. We have a culture where we think weve trained an entire school for lockdown .... but we set up a condition to failure, he said.

Bettencourt challenged Arredondo to testify in public and said he should have removed himself from the job immediately. He angrily pointed out that shots were heard while police waited.

There are at least six shots fired during this time," he said. Why is this person shooting? Hes killing somebody. Yet this incident commander finds every reason to do nothing.

Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said Tuesday that the city has specific legal reasons that it's not answering questions publicly or releasing records. There is no cover-up," he said in a statement.

Later in the day, the Uvalde City Council voted unanimously against giving Arredondo, who is a council member, a leave of absence from appearing at public meetings. Relatives of the shooting victims had pleaded with city leaders to instead fire him.

Please, please, were begging you, get this man out of our lives, said Berlinda Arreola, the grandmother of Amerie Jo Garza.

After the meeting, the mayor pushed back on McCraw's testimony casting blame on Arredondo, saying that the Department of Public Safety has repeatedly put out false information about the shooting and glossed over the role of its own officers.

He called the Senate hearing a clown show and said he heard nothing from McCraw about state troopers' involvement, even though McLaughlin said their number in the school hallway at points during the slaughter surpassed that of any other law enforcement agency.

Questions about the law enforcement response began days after the massacre. McCraw said three days afterward that Arredondo made the wrong decision when he chose not to storm the classroom for more than 70 minutes, even as trapped fourth graders inside two classrooms were desperately calling 911 for help and anguished parents outside the school begged officers to go inside.

An hour after the shooter first crashed his truck outside the school, Arredondo said, according to McCraws timeline: People are going to ask why were taking so long. Were trying to preserve the rest of the life.

But McCraw said Tuesday that the amount of time that elapsed before officers entered the classroom was intolerable.

Police havent found any red flags in Ramos' school disciplinary files but learned through interviews that he engaged in cruelty to animals. He walked around with a bag of dead cats, McCraw said.

In the days and weeks after the shooting, authorities gave conflicting and incorrect accounts of what happened. But McCraw assured lawmakers: Everything Ive testified today is corroborated.

McCraw said if he could make just one recommendation, it would be for more training. He also said every state patrol car in Texas should have shields and door-breaching tools.

I want every trooper to know how to breach and have the tools to do it, he said.

___

Associated Press writers Jamie Stengle and Terry Wallace in Dallas, correspondent John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, and photographer Eric Gay in Austin contributed to this report.

___

Find more AP coverage of the Uvalde school shooting: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting
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PHOENIX (AP)  Kari Lake, the frontrunner in the Republican primary for Arizona governor, condemned the growing cultural clout of drag queens, jumping into the latest social grievance taking hold on the right.

But her comments were quickly criticized over the weekend by one of the most popular drag performers in Phoenix, who says Lake is a hypocrite who frequented his performances.

Richard Stevens, who performs as Barbra Seville, said Lake, a former television news anchor, regularly attended drag shows and even hired him to dress as Marilyn Monroe at a private party and brought her young daughter. He posted photos on his social media accounts of Lake posing with drag queens and screenshots of his conversations with her.

The dispute between the gubernatorial frontrunner and the prominent drag queen drew national attention and put Lake on the defensive two weeks before early voting begins ahead of Arizona's Aug. 2 primary. It also fuels a persistent criticism of Lake's conversion from Barack Obama donor to Donald Trump conservative.

They kicked God out of schools and welcomed the Drag Queens, Lake tweeted on Friday night. They took down our Flag and replaced it with a rainbow. They seek to disarm Americans and militarize our Enemies. Lets bring back the basics: God, Guns & Glory.

Stevens responded on social media the next morning: Ive performed for her. Ive performed for her family. Ive met her kids. Ive been in her home, and I have her private phone number and her private Facebook account.

He told The Associated Press on Monday that he stayed in touch with Lake and privately defended her even as she ran a far-right campaign that he disagreed with. But when she came after drag queens, he said, this hypocrisy really bothered me.

I was just personally offended by that tweet," Stevens said.

Stevens said he first met Lake in the late 1990s, when he performed regularly at a gay bar near the KSAZ studios, where Lake was an evening anchor. He said Lake and her coworkers would sometimes stop by the bars weekly drag show after the broadcast, and he recognized her from watching the news. They eventually struck up a friendship, he said. She would ask him for sources to discuss issues affecting the LGBTQ community, and he occasionally appeared on Fox 10 broadcasts.

Lake once hired him to perform as Marilyn Monroe at a coworker's baby shower about a decade ago, and there he met her daughter, whom he remembers being around 9 or 10 years old.

As Stevens' post quickly gained traction on social media Saturday, Lake's campaign initially responded by drawing a distinction between a drag performer and a man impersonating a female celebrity.

The campaign published a statement Sunday condemning the media for covering the controversy and threatening to sue Stevens for defamation.

Like most sane people, Kari Lake is very much opposed to grown men or women dancing provocatively for children, especially at the expense of the taxpayer, the statement said. Why would anyone be opposed to this?

The statement called Stevens a "talented comedian and performer that Kari Lake covered during her TV career" and pointed to his support for Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

A spokesman for Lake, Russ Trumble, declined to comment further Monday, saying its a legal matter now.

Lake jumped quickly into the frontrunner's position after launching a campaign that energized the GOP base and earned Trump's endorsement. She has aggressively promoted false claims that the 2020 election was marred by fraud. But she faces a challenge from businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson, who's family fortune has allowed her to vastly outspend Lake on television ads, and from former U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon.

Drag shows feature men dressing in flamboyant women's clothing while dancing and singing or lip-syncing. Once a relatively obscure subculture, they've have exploded into the mainstream with the popularity of the television hit RuPaul's Drag Race." Some performances, particularly light-night events at bars, can be risque. Others are promoted as family friendly affairs, such as drag queen story hour.

Lake's drag queen tweet latched onto an issue that caught fire this month with conservatives around the country who say drag shows are sexualizing children.

Lawmakers in several states have introduced legislation attempting to ban children from drag shows, and GOP leaders of the Arizona Senate say they have plans for a similar bill.

The fact is, drag has existed forever, Stevens said. Ive been doing drag longer than Kari has been a Republican. But if you want to outlaw drag in front of kids, you better free up your calendar because its ingrained in our culture. The first drag queen I saw was Bugs Bunny.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The House 1/6 committee heard chilling, tearful testimony Tuesday that Donald Trump's relentless pressure to overturn the 2020 presidential election provoked widespread threats to the backbone of our democracy" election workers and local officials who fended off the defeated presidents demands despite personal risks.

The panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol focused on Trumps efforts to undo Joe Bidens victory in a most local way  by repeatedly leaning on public officials in key battleground states with shocking proposals to reject ballots outright or to submit alternative electors for the final tally in Congress.

The high-profile pressure, described as potentially illegal, was fueled by the presidents false claims of voter fraud  which, the panel says, spread dangerously in the states and ultimately led directly to the deadly insurrection at the Capitol.

A handful of election officials in several key states stood between Donald Trump and the upending of American democracy, Chairman Bennie Thompson said, praising them as heroes and the backbone of our democracy.

The hearing was punctuated throughout with accounts of the personal attacks faced by state and local officials.

Arizona Republican House Speaker Rusty Bowers said he was subjected to a public smear campaign, including relentless bullhorn protests at his home and a pistol-wielding man taunting his family and neighbors.

Officials in Michigan, Pennsylvania and other states told similar stories of having their cellphone numbers and home addresses spread publicly after they refused Trumps demands.

At one gripping moment, two Georgia election workers, a mother and daughter, testified that they lived in fear of saying their names aloud after Trump wrongly accused them of voter fraud.

There were a lot of threats wishing death upon me, said Wandrea ArShaye Shaye Moss, a former state election worker.

The public hearing, the fourth by the panel this month, stemmed from its yearlong investigation into Trumps unprecedented attempt to remain in power, a sprawling scheme that the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee has likened to an attempted coup. The panel insisted that Trump's lies over the election threaten democracy to this day, as local officials face ongoing threats and challengers try to take over their jobs.

The committee's vice chair, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, implored Americans to pay attention to the evidence being presented, declaring, We cannot let America become a nation of conspiracy theories and thug violence.

One key witness was Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who testified about Trumps phone call asking him to find 11,780 votes that could flip his state to prevent Bidens election victory.

While the committee cannot charge Trump with any crimes, the Justice Department is watching the panels work closely.

Trump defended himself on social media, describing his phone call to Raffensperger as perfect, similar to the way he described the 2020 call with Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskyy that resulted in his first impeachment.

The public testimony from Raffensperger came weeks after he appeared before a special grand jury in Georgia investigating whether Trump and others illegally tried to intervene in the states 2020 election. Raffensperger beat a Trump-backed challenger in last months primary election.

He and Gabe Sterling, his chief operations officer, detailed their painstaking efforts to count the Georgia vote, going down the rabbit hole, he said, investigating one false claim after another of fraud. After a hand recount of 5 million ballots, Biden's victory was unchanged.

The numbers don't lie, said Raffensperger, who said that some 28,000 Georgia voters simply bypassed the presidential race but voted down-ballot for others. At the end of the day, President Trump came up short.

Bowers, the Arizona House speaker who also appeared in person, walked through what started with a Trump phone call on a Sunday after he returned from church. The defeated president laid out a proposal to have the state replace its electors for Biden with others favoring Trump.

I said, Look, youre asking me to do something that is counter to my oath, Bowers testified.

Bowers insisted on seeing Trumps evidence of voter fraud, which he said Trumps team never produced beyond vague allegations. He recalled Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani later told him, Weve got lots of theories, we just dont have the evidence.

Trump wanted Bowers to hold a hearing at the state Capitol, but the Republican leader said there was already a circus atmosphere over the election. The panel showed video footage of protesters at the Arizona statehouse including a key figure, the horned hat-wearing Jacob Chansley, who was later arrested at the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Trump nevertheless pressed the Arizona official, including in a follow-up call, suggesting he expected a better response from a fellow Republican.

But Bowers said that because of his faith, including a belief the U.S. Constitution is divinely inspired, what the president was asking him to do was foreign to my very being.

Bowers called Trumps effort a tragic parody.

With in-person testimony, Moss, who had worked for Georgia's Fulton County elections department since 2012, and her mother, Ruby Freeman, a temporary election worker who spoke earlier to the panel, gripped the audience with their accounts of the fallout from the smear campaign by Trump and Giuliani.

Do you know how it feels to have the president of the United States target you?" Freeman testified. "The president of the United States is supposed to represent every American, not to target one. But he targeted me.

The select committee outlined Trump's elaborate fake electors scheme that sought to have representatives in as many as seven battlegrounds  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada and New Mexico  state that he, not Biden, had won their states.

Several Republicans in Congress latched onto the scheme in the run-up to Jan. 6.

The committee displayed a text message from an aide to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., to an aide for Vice President Mike Pence the morning of Jan. 6 saying Johnson wanted to give Pence an alternate slate of electors for MI and WI.

Do not give that to him, Pence aide Chris Hodgson replied. And Johnson didnt, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Conservative law professor John Eastman, a lawyer for Trump, pushed the fake electors in the weeks after the election. The idea was to set up a challenge to Biden's win when Congress met on Jan. 6 with Pence presiding in what is typically a ceremonial role to certify the election. Trump sent thousands of his supporters to the Capitol to fight like hell, as he pressured Pence to reject the ballots. The effort ultimately collapsed amid the deadly riot, as Pence refused Trumps demands that he reject the electors.

___

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Bob Christie in Phoenix contributed to this report.
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JERUSALEM (AP)  Israels weakened coalition government announced Monday that it would dissolve parliament and call new elections, setting the stage for the possible return to power of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or another period of prolonged political gridlock.

The election will be Israel's fifth in three years, and it will put the polarizing Netanyahu, who has been the opposition leader for the past year, back at the center of the political universe.

I think the winds have changed. I feel it, Netanyahu declared.

The previous four elections, focused on Netanyahus fitness to rule while facing a corruption investigation, ended in deadlock. While opinion polls project Netanyahu, who is now on trial, as the front-runner, it is far from certain that his Likud party can secure the required parliamentary majority to form a new government.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a former ally and aide of Netanyahu, formed his government a year ago with the aim of halting the never-ending cycle of elections. But the fragile coalition government, which includes parties from across the political spectrum, lost its majority earlier this year and has faced rebellions from different lawmakers in recent weeks.

Announcing his plan to disband the government during a nationally televised news conference, Bennett said he had made the right decision in difficult circumstances.

Together, we got Israel out of the pit. We accomplished many things in this year. First and foremost, we brought to center stage the values of fairness and trust, Bennett said, standing alongside his main partner, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. We shifted to a culture of we, together.

Under their coalition deal, Lapid, who heads the large centrist party Yesh Atid, now becomes the interim prime minister until the election, in which he is expected to be the main rival to Netanyahu.

Standing together with Bennett, he thanked his partner for his hard work and for putting the country ahead of his personal interests.

Even if were going to elections in a few months, our challenges as a state cannot wait, Lapid said. What we need to do today is go back to the concept of Israeli unity. Not to let dark forces tear us apart from within.

Bennetts coalition included a diverse array of parties, from dovish factions that support an end to Israels occupation of lands captured in 1967 and claimed by the Palestinians, to hard-line parties that oppose Palestinian statehood.

Many of the parties had little in common beyond a shared animosity to Netanyahu. Often described as a political experiment, the coalition made history by becoming the first to include an Arab party.

Bennett listed his governments accomplishments, including passing a national budget for the first time in three years and leading the country through two waves of the coronavirus without imposing a lockdown. Under his watch, Israels tense border with the Gaza Strip remained largely quiet, though tensions with the Palestinians escalated in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. His Arab partner, the Islamic Ra'am party, secured unprecedented budgets to fight poverty, neglect and discrimination in Israel's Arab sector.

On the international stage, Bennett repaired Israel's bipartisan standing in Washington, which suffered after Netanyahu's close ties with former President Donald Trump. He deepened fledgling ties with Gulf Arab countries, repaired frayed relations with Egypt and Jordan, and claimed to have prevented the United States from reviving an international nuclear deal with Iran. Bennett even briefly emerged as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Despite its successes, the coalition eventually unraveled, in large part because several members of Bennetts own hard-line party objected to what they felt were his pragmatism and moderation.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, whipped up the opposition by accusing Bennett of cooperating with terror supporters  a reference to his Arab partners in the coalition. A Netanyahu supporter was arrested last month on suspicion she sent death threats and bullets to Bennett's family in the mail.

Palestinian citizens of Israel make up about 20% of the countrys population but are often seen as a fifth column and have never before been part of a coalition. Although Netanyahu himself had also courted the same Islamist party last year, the criticism appeared to make some of the hard-line members of Bennetts coalition uncomfortable.

The final blow to the government was the looming expiration of a law that grant Israels West Bank settlers special legal status.

The law underpins separate legal systems for Jews and Palestinians in the West Bank, a situation that three prominent human rights groups say amounts to apartheid. Israel rejects that allegation as an attack on its legitimacy.

Parliament had been set to extend the law earlier this month, as it has done for the past 55 years. But the hard-line opposition, comprised heavily of settler supporters, paradoxically voted against the bill in order to embarrass Bennett. Dovish members of the coalition who normally oppose the settlements voted in favor in hopes of keeping the government afloat.

But a handful of coalition members, including Arab lawmakers as well as hard-line nationalists, either abstained or voted with the opposition to defeat the bill and cause the coalition to rip apart.

Bennett, a former settler leader, said there would have been grave security perils and constitutional chaos if he had allowed the law to expire at the end of the month. I couldnt let that happen, he said.

Bennett and Lapid will now present a bill to dissolve parliament in the coming days. Once that passes, the country will head to an election, most likely in October.

The settler law remains in effect and will not expire if the government collapses.

Netanyahu described the imminent dissolution of parliament as great tidings for millions of Israelis, and he said he would form a broad nationalist government headed by Likud after the next election.

But he also vowed to try to form an alternative government before the parliamentary vote by trying to persuade some of his opponents to support him. The odds of that appeared slim, given their past never to serve under Netanyahu while he is on trial.

Theres a need to rehabilitate the state of Israel, and we have the ability to do it, Netanyahu said.

The dissolution threatened to overshadow a visit by President Joe Biden scheduled for next month. A statement issued by Bidens National Security Council said he looks forward to the visit.

Israel held four inconclusive elections between 2019 and 2021 that were largely referendums about Netanyahus ability to rule while on trial for corruption. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing.

Opinion polls have forecast that Netanyahus hard-line Likud will once again emerge as the largest single party. But it remains unclear whether he would be able to muster the required support of a majority of lawmakers to form a new government.

Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, said Mondays developments were a clear indication that Israels worst political crisis did not end when this government was sworn into office.

___

Associated Press Writer Ilan Ben Zion contributed to this report.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Polish and Ukraine government officials say they plan to put on public display in Warsaw damaged or burnt-out Russian tanks and armored vehicles captured by Ukrainian forces during the war.

The head of the Polish prime minister's office, Michal Dworczyk, said the idea is to highlight Russian atrocities and the Ukrainian response.
It is no longer news that the World on Monday 20 June celebrated the annual event tagged; Refugee Day, an international day organized every year on 20 June by the United Nations, to among other aims celebrate and honour refugees from around the world. It is equally common knowledge that the day was first established on 20 June 2001, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of refugees.

However, as the world celebrated, what is in some way newsy is that while over 100 million people worldwide going by reports, find themselves displaced by wars, natural disasters and other forms of hostilities and unable to return home, and other refugees were forced to flee their homelands at a moments notice, with little more than the clothes on their backs, there were even a larger number of people in todays world and Nigeria in particular that unmindful of the fact that they have fallen into this troubling refugee bracket/category, not as a result of war as currently witnessed in countries such as Ukraine, Sudan, Afghanistan, and other areas currently faced with violent crisis or natural disaster induced displacement. But as a result of factors that has to do with governments failure to adhere strictly to the dictates of the global call for the implementation of right to adequate housing which of course, is both a human right and one of the basic needs of man borne out of desire for security, privacy and protection from negative impacts of the environment.

Take Nigeria case as an example, separate from powerful statistics which made it abundantly clear that Nigeria is currently faced with over 17 million housing deficit and may require about 700,000 new houses annually to close the gap, a September 2019 report findings and recommendations on Nigerias housing challenge/deficit by Ms Leilani Farha, Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, made shocking revelations that every Nigerian of goodwill should be worried about. The report glaringly supports the belief in some quarters that we are not only casualties of housing deficit, rather, in applied sense, the majority of Nigerians even with roofs over heads, still qualify as refugees in their home country.

The report which has as a goal; assessing, the housing conditions of people in Nigeria using international human rights law and standards, and to determine if governments are meeting their obligations in this regard, was based on housing-related data, laws, jurisprudence and policies in several communities in three major urban centres: Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt and focused on vulnerable populations whose rights are most precarious,

It did confirm what has been on the minds of Nigerians as it describes the conditions met in the informal settlements visited as inhumane and an assault on human dignity.

That was not the only sad commentary.

The report also confirmed the following; one, that economic inequality has reached extreme levels in Nigeria. Secondly, Nigeria's housing sector is in a complete crisis and there is no current national housing action plan or strategy. Thirdly, that Coordination and communication between federal and state governments seems lacking and private market housing is unaffordable for most, rental housing is scarce, requires tenants to have one to two years rent in advance and there are no rent control or caps; The report further established that in Nigeria as in many other countries, real estate is used as a convenient place to launder corrupt money, to park excess capital and as a means of financial security for the wealthy.

Leilani also remarked that the Nigerian government does not fully appreciate the nature and extent of the crisis on their hands, noting that internally displaced persons living in an informal settlement in the Federal Capital Territory live in appalling conditions. With over a hundred children attending a tiny, overcrowded one-room school run with little resources by an NGO, despite living half an hour drive away from Abujas city centre and the Federal Ministry of Education

This inequality underlined by the report, was widely attributed to several factors, including corruption and mismanagement of public funds, and a failure to implement just tax policies, whereby low-income earners pay disproportionately more taxes than do high earning corporations. Less than 6 percent of registered corporate taxpayers are active, and only between 15-40% of the Value Added Tax is collected.

Separate from the reports expression of concern that State governments routinely ignore the rule of law in right to housing cases, what is in some ways an even more troubling manifestation of how seriously off track successive administrations have taken us as a nation, is the reports remark that Nigeria is blessed as one of the largest economies in the world, just behind Norway and well ahead of countries like Singapore and Malaysia-and considered as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, albeit, reliant on the precarious oil market.

Yet, unable to meet the standard as set under international human rights law, which demands that states should spend the maximum of available resources toward the progressive realization of economic, social and cultural rights including the right to housing-this include collecting and imposing taxes, and developing mechanisms to prevent corrupt money from landing in residential real estate or other assets domestically or internationally.

This disgraceful treatment suffered by the vast majority of the vulnerable Nigerians in the hands of their leaders has created not just deep resentment and hurt the feelings of the nation but rendered all her citizens outside the government circle (corridors of power) as refugees.

Consider this example reported in-depth by the report.

It says; there is a consensus that the legal framework for land administration, especially the Land Use Act (LUA), is exacerbating the pressures on the housing sector. The manner in which the LUA has been used has resulted in severe consequences for the enjoyment of the right to housing. The LUA vests State Governors with significant management and administrative power. Governors can grant rights of occupancy and also revoke them based on an overriding public purpose. 'I received many reports of Governors abusing their land administration powers, including granting occupancy rights to family members and friends; defining public purpose in a manner that results in forced evictions of impoverished communities inconsistent with international human rights law, including for luxury developments that often stand vacant  unsold or unused. The LUA also makes land title registration cumbersome and extremely onerous to perfect'

The report observed something else.

None of the homes visited had running water, boreholes or portable water, thus most families have to pay high prices to access household and drinking water. Those who could not afford fresh water were using contaminated floodwater, resulting in cholera and other health issues. I saw a few houses with latrines. According to UNICEF, diarrhoea kills more than 70,000 children under five years old annually in Nigeria, most of it caused by poor access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene. Nearly one-quarter of Nigerians defecate in the open. The report stated.

Going by the above, it may in my views be said that; there may be a sincere desire by the government to develop the political and socio-economic situations in the country. However, it may also be thought audacious to talk of creating a better society without the government; whether state or federal, studying this report. Government must in addition tackle the problems of a battered economy arising from corruption, social vices, decayed institutions and homelessness.

This must be done not for political reasons but for the survival of our democracy and nation.



Utomi is the Program Coordinator (Media and Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He could be reached via; [email protected],com/ 08032725374




Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly called petrol, will now sell at N180 per litre, following a directive by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to its members, on Monday.

IPMAN, in a statement by its secretary, Akeem Balogun, said with the predicament and the current price of PMS at private depot, there was no way they could sell PMS less than N180 per litre.

The statement reads: Distinguished marketers, the Chairman and executives in conjunction with some senior members of our unit, organised a press conference today 20th June, 2022, at IPMAN HOUSE Ejigbo Lagos, where we explained our predicament with the current price of PMS at private depot.

We explained that with the current price, there is no way we can sell less than N180 per litre.

On this note, members are hereby advised to sell at a sustainable price within their environment. Just make sure that the price is on your pump.

Kindly contact the Secretariat should you have any authority challenging your operations.

Petrol is currently sold at the government regulated price of between N162 and N165 per litre.
Undoubtedly, it has been a long drawn out war against Cannabis since its proscription. Regardless of the strict laws, global Cannabis trade has remarkably continue to thrive fueled essentially by both active supply and demand angles which have effectively guaranteed huge inflow of cash that has proved to be the underlining incentive.

Instructively, a strong stigmatization campaign incentivized its prohibition in America which birthed the Marihuana Act in the 1930s. Before then, it was unregulated and widely used for recreational and medical purposes with mixed tale of efficacy.

However, Nigeria supported its war with laws like the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA), 1935 and Indian Hemp Act (IHA) 1966, which bans the planting, harvesting and consumption of Cannabis before the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA) Act of 1989. This is, in addition, to been a signatory to the single convention of narcotic drugs 1961 and UN convention on psychotropic substances of 1988.

Essentially, the pattern of the war has been within the framework of the extant laws which more often than not involves the seizure of the substance, setting alight of large swathe of farmlands and the seized consignments, and arrest/prosecution of barons and couriers. Notwithstanding the whole enchilada, it hasnt deterred the large presence of ever-ingenious and bold players in the ecosystem.

Cannabis has a long medical history and a resurgence is only just being recorded with validated efficacy. It was reported that Cannabis has shown huge therapeutic value for about 1.2 billion people suffering various medical conditions- it use is effective in acute pain management, suppressing arthritis and other anxiety. Intriguingly, I happened on a documentary not long ago which proved revelatory on the impact of Cannabis in dealing with autism with users talking impressively on the outcome.

The delisting of cannabis from the group of dangerous drugs which included heroin and synthetic opioids by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) had the narrative on Cannabis changed considerably with many countries racing towards instituting laws in accommodating the green gold and Africa is intriguingly not left out in the rush. Lesotho is the first African country to do so for medical and scientific purposes with the requisite license coming at a steep cost.

The legalization of the psychotropic substance has made a transition from the question of morality to commerce/business. Though, the staggering statistics of victims of the use of Cannabis as well as the impact on society notably youth and its place as a part of the paraphernalia of crimes and conduit into the addiction to other hard drugs makes the war a serious undertaking. And, that forms the argument against legalization, which can hardly be faulted -the base of junkies is bound to ramp up.

However, the revelation on Cannabis and the global hurry to get a slice of the opportunity it presents is huge enough to recalibrate our thinking and impression. Prohibition Partners- a research consulting firm in a 2019 report, estimated that Africas Cannabis business could earn as much as 7.1 billion dollars annually by 2023.

No doubt, this is an assurance that a vista of opportunities will proceed from a regulated Cannabis industry- job and wealth creation, economic diversification, improved foreign exchange earnings. Like cannabis, the proscription of alcohol in America had social and health issues as the driving force. Also, singularly important was the need for more tax revenue especially during the great depression which legalising alcohol sales was seen as a veritable source. In fact, Franklin Roosevelt promised to lift the alcohol ban which he fulfilled.

The approach in leveraging the opportunity should be tailored toward medical purposes, which will encourage the establishing of industries in the processing and exports of Cannabis-based products or raw material underpinned by a strict regulatory and legal framework. So, the country has no shortage of entrepreneurs incline in taking the plunge. Huge revenue would be racked up from the issuance of licenses and taxes from the industry.

This will in no way obviate the place of the NDLEA instead it will be streamlined to reflect the new reality and further strengthen its arms in playing supervisory, monitoring and regulatory role better on the industry. Again, the entire argument for cannabis remains primarily for its medical and scientific uses.

As earlier adverted, many Africa countries have jumped on the bandwagon with many also tying up loose ends preparatory to taking a shot at the business angle while Nigeria remains non-committal despite the loud calls for change of attitude toward Cannabis

It is still a budding industry which may have informed the indifference by authorities. At any rate, lively debates need to be sustained for rich knowledge on the subject in actuating a rethink. With abundant land, experienced farmers and decent growing conditions Nigeria can be on its way to becoming a major player with rich economic harvest.

ABACHI UNGBO: [email protected]


Deputy ministers father turns himself in over Khao Yai encroachment

RAYONG: Soonthorn Vilawan, the father of Deputy Education Minister Kanokwan Vilawan, turned himself in to police in Rayong province this morning (June 21) to answer charges of the illegal occupation of land in Khao Yai National Park.

corruptioncrimelandpolice

By Bangkok Post

Tuesday 21 June 2022, 03:15PM

Soonthorn Vilawan, second from right, chairman of the Prachin Buri Provincial Administration Organisation, reports to Rayong police this morning (June 21). Photo: supplied

Mr Soonthorn is chairman of the Prachin Buri Provincial Administration Organisation. His daughter has already been charged in the same case.

Prayut Phetkhun, deputy spokesman of the Office of Attorney-General (OAG), said Soonthorn reported to Muang Rayong police.

He was being handed over to the Region 2 office of the Anti-Corruption Commission, headed by director-general Phichit Juthaprachakul, reports the Bangkok Post.

When Soonthorn arrived, public prosecutors would immediately take him to court, the spokesman said.

Soonthorn, his daughter Kanokwan and eight other people have been accused by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) of illegally occupying about 150 rai of land in Khao Yai National Park in Prachin Buri.

Ms Kanokwan reported to the OAG on June 10 to hear the charges. The deputy education minister was taken to the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 2 in Rayongs Muang district and indicted.

She was released on bail with B300,000 cash and land title deeds as surety.

Her father failed to show up, prompting a police search for him at five locations in Prachin Buri with a warrant for his arrest. They did not find him.

The OAG decided to indict the deputy education minister and the nine others on June 7 on the recommendation of the NACC.

The commission said it had sufficient evidence to take legal action against them over the issuing and use of three false title deeds to three blocks of land inside the park in Prachin Buri, her home province. Two of them cover a total area of 54 rai inside Khao Yai.
Kyiv braces for heavier fighting as Russia-EU tensions climb

KYIV: Moscows blockade of Ukrainian grain exports and a rail transit row sparked fresh tensions between Russia and the European Union yesterday (June 20), as Kyiv warned that Russian troops were intensifying their battle for control of eastern Ukraine.

RussianUkraineviolencedeathmilitarypolitics

By AFP

Tuesday 21 June 2022, 09:42AM

Workers of the Liubotinsky Lyceum of Railway Transport and local residents dismantle the ruins of an administrative building, as result of the explosion of a Russian rocket, in Lyubotyn, Kharkiv region yesterday (June 20). Photo: Sergey Bobok / AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of holding Africa hostage by blocking wheat deliveries, which has spurred food shortages and fears of famines in vulnerable areas.

Russia hit back by blaming soaring grain prices on the Wests destructive policies and illegal restrictions imposed since the war began.

Nearly four months after Russia launched its bloody invasion, Zelensky said Ukraine was headed into a fateful week with EU leaders set to discuss Kyivs bid to become a candidate for bloc membership on Thursday and Friday.

European Council President Charles Michel yesterday invited the blocs leaders to back granting candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova ahead of the pivotal Brussels summit.

Zelensky warned to expect heavier fighting in the days to come in strategic areas in eastern Ukraine already under relentless Russian bombardment.

Ukraine said Russian troops appeared to be making small gains, including capturing a village near the industrial city of Severodonetsk, a focus of recent fighting.

The fallout from the war continued to reverberate beyond Ukraines borders, with Russia threatening EU member Lithuania over its openly hostile restrictions on the rail transit of goods to Moscows exclave of Kaliningrad.

Russias foreign ministry said if the cargo transit between Kaliningrad and the rest of the country was not fully restored Russia reserves the right to take actions to protect its national interests.

Lithuania and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the ban was in line with European sanctions over Moscows aggression.

Turkey dealt a fresh blow to Sweden and Finlands hopes for swift NATO membership yesterday, saying next weeks alliance summit in Madrid was not a deadline.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said talks between Turkey, Sweden and Finland in Brussels were constructive but conceded that Ankaras legitimate concerns had not been fully addressed.

Turkey says the Nordic nations offer a safe haven to the Kurdistan Workers Party, an organisation listed as a terrorist group by its Western allies.

Elsewhere on the diplomatic front, US President Joe Biden said it was not likely that a trip to Europe this week would include Ukraine, after the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Britain met Zelensky in Kyiv last week.

Biden is one of few Western leaders yet to visit the country since Russias invasion.

Complex grain talks

The Wests deteriorating relationship with Moscow was highlighted in harsh comments from Borrell, who called Russias blockade of vitally needed grain exports from Ukraine a real war crime.

One cannot imagine that millions of tonnes of wheat remain blocked in Ukraine while in the rest of the world people are suffering hunger, Borrell said as EU foreign ministers met in Luxembourg.

Moscow denies responsibility for the disruption to deliveries.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova yesterday called the West provokers and destroyers, blaming its policies and anti-Russian sanctions for the logistical upheaval that has pushed up cereal prices and fanned fears of famines in vulnerable regions.

Zelensky said Ukraine was engaged in complex multilevel negotiations to end Russias blockade of Ukrainian ports.

But there is no progress yet... That is why the global food crisis will continue as long as this colonial war continues, he said in a video address to the African Union.

Germany said it will host a meeting on Friday on the crisis, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken among those attending.

Oil site strike

On the ground, Ukraines presidency said the intensity of shelling in the Donetsk area of the eastern Donbas region was growing along the entire frontline, leaving at least one person dead over the last 24 hours and injuring seven others, including a child.

Ukraine announced it had lost control of the village of Metyolkine, adjacent to Severodonetsk.

In Severodonetsk, Russians control most of the residential areas, the head of the city administration Oleksandr Stryuk told Ukrainian television yesterday.

A chemical plant in Severodonetsk where hundreds of civilians are said to be sheltering was being shelled constantly, Ukraine said.

Kyiv also reported heavier Russian shelling in the Kharkiv region in the northeast.

Crimea leader Sergey Aksyonov said three people were injured and seven more missing after Ukrainian forces attacked oil drilling platforms in the Black Sea off the coast of the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.

Aksyonov vowed that search and rescue operations would continue.

It was the first reported strike against offshore energy infrastructure in Crimea since Russia launched its invasion.

Energy crisis

The Ukraine war is fuelling not only a global food crisis but an energy crisis too.

Hit by punishing sanctions, Moscow has turned up the pressure on European economies by sharply reducing gas supplies, which has in turn sent energy prices soaring.

The Netherlands yesterday lifted restrictions preventing its coal-fired power stations from operating at full capacity to counter the fall in Russian gas supplies, a day after Germany and Austria took similar steps.

But Berlin insisted it still aims to close its coal power plants by 2030.

Chinas imports of oil from Russia meanwhile jumped by 55% year on year in May, customs data showed yesterday, helping to make up for losses from Western sanctions as Beijing refuses to publicly condemn Moscows war.
Man talked out of jumping from Patong hotel balcony

PHUKET: An emotionally distraught man from Bangkok was persuaded to not jump from the sixth floor of a hotel in Patong this morning (June 21).

patongSafetypolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 21 June 2022, 06:42PM

Police were called to the scene, the Red Planet Patong Hotel on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, opposite Patong Post Office, at 11:30am.

Lt Col Wuttiwat Liangboonjinda and fellow police officers, along with Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers, arrived to see the man dangerously perched on the balcony railing of his room on the sixth floor, with his legs dangling over the side.

The officers attempted to talk the man into moving to a safer position, but to no avail.

Patong disaster officials also soon arrived and set up a large inflatable mattress in the hope that if the man jumped, he would land on it.

The man, Kanaphot Saiphet, 30, from Bangkok, said he was intent on jumping. He was unable to contact his girlfriend, who had left him for another man.

After an hour of talking with his friend Thanawat Kongchum, 29, Mr Kanaphot agreed to talk with his girlfriend on the phone  and to do so, to move from the dangerous position he had taken up on the balcony.

Mr Thanawat said Mr Kanaphot and his girlfriend had an argument in Surat Thani, but continued their trip together to Phuket.

However, the girlfriend later without notice boarded a flight back to Bangkok, leaving Mr Kanaphot searching the island for her.
Phuket enters bid for Expo 2028

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew is in Paris for Thailand entering its bid to host the World Specialised Expo in 2028 at the 170th General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) being held yesterday and today (June 20-21).

tourismeconomics

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 21 June 2022, 04:04PM

Governor Narong is joined in his visit to Paris by Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) President, TCEB Southern Regional Office Director Pattanachai Singhavara, Phuket Tourist Association President Bhummikitti Ruktaengam and even Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Dr Weerasak Lorthongkham.

The Phuket delegation met with Thana Veskosit of the Thai Embassy in Paris last Friday (June 17) before the BIE General Assembly, during which the six countries would deliver their presentations in their bids to host Expo 2028.

Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, is also present at the event, as is Sun Tan, Vice President of the Federation of Thai Industries.

Thailand is one of five countries that have entered bids to host the expo.

The United States bid is for a Specialised Expo in Minnesota from May 15-August 15, 2027 under the theme Healthy People, Healthy Planet: Wellness and Well-Being for All.

Thailands bid is for a Specialised Expo in Phuket from Mar 20-June 17, 2028 under the theme Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity.

Serbias bid is for a Specialised Expo in Belgrade from May 15-Aug 15, 2027 under the theme Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All.

Spains bid is for a Specialised Expo in Malaga from June 5 and Sept 5, 2027 under the theme The Urban Era: towards the Sustainable City.

Argentinas bid is for a Specialised Expo in San Carlos de Bariloche between Feb 1 and April 30, 2027 under the theme Nature + Technology = Sustainable Energy. A viable future for humanity.

A video of the presentations have been posted online. The video, posted on YouTube, is six hours long. Thailands presentation starts at 4 hours 24 minutes.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha submitted a formal letter of support for Phuket to host the World Specialised Expo.

The undated letter, shared by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket) on June 15, was submitted to the BIE in English, French and Thai.

Thailand has very much appreciated the spirit of global citizenship and, therefore, the importance of reinvigorating globalization for the benefit of all countries. In this regard, Thailand relishes the opportunity to accelerate international cooperation on the many global issues that require an enlivened spirit of global citizenship, whether it be for sustainable growth, climate change, the promotion of peace, or access to sustainable development, he wrote.

It is with this essence that I am pleased to affirm my support for the candidature of the island of Phuket to be the host for a Specialised Expo in 2028, with the theme of Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity. I believe that with Thailands experiences in sustainable development, world-class tourism, and hosting many international meetings, Phuket Expo 2028 will be a successful event that contributes to our shared commitment to the SDGs and indeed, a renewed spirit of internationalism through productive and innovative cooperation between our government, business, and civil society sectors, he added.

Thailand stands ready to welcome the world to Phuket Island for Phuket Expo 2028, and is looking forward to this excellent opportunity to promote a refreshed appreciation of global connectivity and solidarity that will contribute to our shared aspirations for development, progress, and prosperity for all, PM Prayut concluded.

The three-month event is expected to attract 4.9 million visitors to the fair, generating cash flow spending of B49 billion, altogether adding B39bn to the national GDP. Income from tax collection generated from Phuket hosting the event is estimated at B9.5bn

Hosting the event is expected to create some 113,000 jobs, with the event itself enjoying 9x ROI (return in investment).

The event is to be held on 141 rai of state land near Tha Chatchai in Mai Khao, at the northern tip of the island.

The project plan is to build a world-class health tourism city, with a 5,000-seat conference centre and research facility at the site, said the notice.

The infrastructure benefits Phuket will enjoy from hosting the expo is positioning itself as a medical, health and wellness tourism destination, as well as development of the public healthcare system, the formation of a medical community, a senior care centre and a modern patient care centre all based at the new development.

Prosperity distribution and reduction of inequality in urban development and Development of a standardized waste disposal system in the Phuket area were also touted as further benefits.

Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew has already repeatedly explained that the bid to host the expo is part of a plan to help broaden Phukets economic base and reduce the islands overdependence on destination tourism.

The Thai Cabinet in January approved a budget of B4.18bn for Phuket to host the expo.

Phuket Chamber of Commerce President Thanusak Phungdet has announced that a delegation from the BIE is currently expected to arrive in Phuket for a four-day inspection tour, from July 25-28.
Tree-planting to honour Queen Sirikits 90th birthday

PHUKET: Phuket officials will organise a mass planting of trees in public areas as part of the activities to honour the 90th birthday of Queen Sirikit, mother of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, on Aug 12.

environmentnatural-resourcesculture

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 21 June 2022, 03:02PM

The trees will be planted in public park areas within the Phuket Municipality area, Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan announced at an event held at the Provincial Hall government complex on Tha Kraeng Rd yesterday (June 20).

The trees to be planted comprise 90 Yang Na (rubber) trees, 50 mahogany trees and 60 Takhian (Thai teak) trees, V/Gov Amnuay said.

The seedlings used for the mass planting event were handed over to Phuket Municipality by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew at the National Love Tree Day 2021 event held on Oct 21 last year, he added.

Phuket City Deputy Mayor Orapailin Trakulpriphon explained that the area selected for the planting of the trees was a site of more than 20 rai held under the Ministry of Interior but entrusted to Phuket City Municipality to care for.

The event Tree planting day to honour Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother on the auspicious occasion of her 90th birthday is being held under the project to save trees and protect the environment, Ms Orapailin said.

The event is to raise awareness of conservation, restore natural resources and the environment for all sectors. The project also includes increasing green areas in Phuket Municipality, where people can come to relax, and where in the future trees grown can prevent and capture all kinds of dust as well as absorb greenhouse gases that cause global warming, Ms Orapailin added.
One of the complaining residents also talked to the Sun and said that the rambunctious racket interrupted her Sunday errands.



"I was mowing my lawn at about 12:30 pm one Sunday and I could still hear them. I had to go and get my earphones



That does sound like some booming bonking.



However, the neighbour also revealed that she is divorced, so might be feeling a bit envious of the passion coming from next door.



Im on my own, and Im just a bit jealous. Its not just me that hears it, but lots of neighbours, its hilarious really.


FILE - A Pakistani boy works at a tea shop in Peshawar, Pakistan, Sunday, June 12, 2022. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal in Pakistan's newly elected government faced criticism Wednesday, June 15, 2022, following his plea to the nation to drink less tea to help save on imports amid a deepening economic crisis. Pakistan is among the world's top tea importers, a hugely popular drink among both the rich and the poor in this country of 220 million people.
Have an interesting bit of news youd like to see mentioned in the Along the Way column? Email it to Natasha Connolly at news@thesunchronicle.com .
Russian attacks are laying down a curtain of fire across areas of eastern Ukraine where pockets of resistance are denying Moscow full military control of the region
Rhode Islands governor signed three firearms bills into law on Tuesday that included a ban on magazines holding more than 10 rounds, calling it a response to a national crisis that has taken too many lives and torn apart too many families
Commentary: Our childrens lives should be more important than our gun culture
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  Africa is actually taken hostage in Russias invasion of Ukraine amid catastrophically rising food prices, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the African Union continental body during a closed-door address on Monday.

It took weeks of requests for Zelenskyy to address African nations, many of whom retain close ties to Russia and failed to support a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning the invasion earlier this year.

Ukraine and the West hope to weaken those ties by emphasizing that Russias actions are to blame for dramatic shortages of wheat and edible oils and skyrocketing food and fuel prices across the African continent of 1.3 billion people. Russia's blockade of Ukrainian exports is a war crime, the European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said on Monday.

They are trying to use you and the suffering of the people to put pressure on the democracies that have imposed sanctions on Russia, Zelenskyy told the AU, whose leaders recently met in Russia with President Vladimir Putin and echoed Moscows assertion that Western sanctions are in part to blame for the food security crisis. They appealed to other countries to ensure grain and fertilizer exports from Russia and Ukraine arent blocked.

Millions of people in the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia and Somalia, are now struggling to find food or even humanitarian food aid amid a historic drought. The Associated Press was the first to report hundreds of deaths this year in Somalia alone.

We know for a fact there will be increased deaths ... well into 2023, USAID Ethiopia mission director Sean Jones told the AP last week.

Official reaction to Zelenskyys speech was muted. African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat, one of those who met with Putin, tweeted that African nations reiterated the AU position of the urgent need for dialogue to end the conflict. Current AU chair and Senegalese President Macky Sall tweeted that Africa respects the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the freedom of commerce.

Russia is the largest weapons exporter to sub-Saharan Africa, and Moscow emphasizes its long ties with African nations dating to the Soviet Union. Some African leaders, meanwhile, are exasperated by global powers' efforts to choose one side or another.

Ukraine will press its case again later this week when its foreign minister speaks to Africa-based reporters in a briefing organized by the United States government on how Russian Federations full-scale invasion of Ukraine affects food security on the African continent.

The EU's top diplomat said he has written to all African foreign ministers to explain that the blocs sanctions on Russia are not responsible for the looming global food crisis, and pledged to work out ways for exports of food and fertilizers to reach their continent.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden visited a vaccination clinic Tuesday to celebrate that virtually all Americans can now get a COVID-19 shot Tuesday after the authorization of vaccines for kids under 5 over the weekend.

Biden visited a vaccination clinic in Washington, where some of the first shots were given to young children in the last major age group ineligible for vaccines, hailing it as an important pandemic milestone that will support the countrys recovery. While anyone aged six months and up is now eligible for vaccines, the administration is cautioning that it expects the pace of shots for the youngest kids to be slower than older ones, as parents are more likely to rely on their children's pediatricians to administer them.

The United States is now the first country in the world to offer safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as six months old, Biden said at the White House.

Addressing parents, Biden said, I encourage you to talk to the doctor after you make a plan to get your child vaccinated.

Biden also delivered a thinly veiled criticism of Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who blocked his health department from ordering and delivering pediatric vaccines in his state, a move the White House said delayed the availability of shots for kids under 5.

Lets be clear: Elected officials shouldnt get in the way and can make it more difficult for parents who want their children to be vaccinated and want to protect them and those around them, he said. This is no time for politics. Its about parents being able to do everything they can to keep the children safe.

Earlier Tuesday, he and first lady Jill Biden met with newly vaccinated kids and their parents at Church of the Holy Communion in southeast Washington. As he handed out hugs to kids, Biden spoke of his youngest grandson, Beau, aged two, being newly eligible for vaccination.

Everybody knows I like kids better than people, he joked.

In a Friday interview with The Associated Press, White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha predicted that universal eligibility for vaccines would be a huge psychological milestone for the country as it seeks to emerge from two years of pandemic disruption.

When the President came into office, he was very clear, he said over and over again, that he wanted to make sure that every American had the access and availability of these life protecting vaccines, he said. We are now at the point where that vision, that expectation that mission can now be fulfilled.
WOOD RIVER  Toni Corona is preparing to retire after nearly 20 years as director of the Madison County Health Department.

Corona, who has been with the MCHD since it started in 1996 and has been the director since 2003, is retiring on June 30.

Its sinking in right now, for sure, but the health department is in a really good spot, said Corona, who was the environmental health services manager for MCHD before becoming the director.

The dedicated people here, from the division directors to the coordinators to all of the staff, do a tremendous job," she said. This job has been easy for me because of the passion and professionalism of our staff.

"Its time for me to do something different and Im going to take some time off.

Corona said her decision to retire had been in the back of her mind for a while.

It was probably mid-May when I started thinking about it, Corona said. I wanted to evaluate and access where we are at, and the state fiscal year starts on July 1, when youre starting grant applications and doing those types of things. The timing (to retire now) just seemed right.

Corona admits that the past two-plus years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the added stress that was placed on public health professionals, played a role in her decision to retire this summer.

Ive had a 33-year career in this field, and never did I imagine what this would be like, Corona said. We have 40 employees now, but at the height of the pandemic, we had 70.

The last two and a half years have been a blur, but we were so successful in the pandemic response," she said. "We led a mass vaccination clinic for a period of months and provided about 116,000 vaccines to individuals, not to mention all of the contact tracing and consultations we did with long-term care facilities and hospitals.

I dont want to indicate that COVID is over  its still present and we need people to be aware and stay up to date with their vaccinations," she said. "But compared to where we were, I think its in a good spot.

While the pandemic resulted in longer hours and a heavier workload for Corona and her staff, it also reminded her of why she chose to become a public health professional.

I absolutely love public health, Corona said. My degree is in environmental health and part of that was an internship, but at that time there was no local health department in Madison County. In 1995, the county board voted to start a health department and it was up and running in 1996.

Im born and raised in Madison County, and I wanted to be a part of that," she said. "Its been a full circle and a fantastic ride. My career is very much my vocation and to be of use is very important to me.

Corona said her successor at MCHD has not yet been determined. The county administration will name an interim director internally to keep things going, she said.

I know that the job has been posted, and they will begin a search for a director of public health," she said. "State law defines the minimum qualifications for the job and there is a process to make sure that individual has the correct experience and knowledge of public health.

An Alton native, Corona is a 1985 graduate of Marquette High School who earned a degree in environmental health from Illinois State University. Her first job in public health was in LaSalle County; she also worked in the St. Clair County Health Department for several years.

After the 1993 flood, I left St. Clair County and went to the Illinois Department of Public Health and did a lot of post-flood recovery work with wells and private sewage systems, Corona said. By then, the Madison County Health Department was starting to form, and I left the IDPH to come here.

Corona leaves her job with high hopes for the future of public health in Madison County.

The mission of a local health department is to ensure that folks have what they need within a population of community health, Corona said. We have environmental programs but there is also the communicable disease aspect.

We do a lot of immunizations and prevention programs such as cancer screenings," she said. "Last month we identified three health priorities for the course of the next four years, which are mental health, substance use and access to care.

Coronas plans for the future remain fluid.

Im going to relax for a while, but I have to be of use, Corona said. I will be doing something, but I dont know yet what that will be. Im excited for the opportunities and Im appreciative of what I have had here.

Leaving here is somewhat bittersweet," she said. "I love to be a part of something and know that were doing good, but I also leave here very confident in the future of the health department. I know its in good hands and I know that the staff is top-notch.
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PARIS (AP)  Frances top administrative court ruled Tuesday against allowing body-covering burkini swimwear in public pools for religious reasons, arguing that it violates the principle of government neutrality toward religion.

While worn by only a small number of people in France, the head-to-ankle burkini draws intense political debate in the country.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin hailed the ruling by the Council of State as a victory for secularism. Some Muslim women decried it as unfairly targeting their faith and their bodies, and based on outdated misconceptions about Islam.

The city of Grenoble, led by a mayor from the Greens party, voted last month to allow women to wear burkinis in public pools after campaigning by local activists. The city also voted to allow women to swim topless, as part of a broader relaxation of swimwear rules.

The prefect, or top government official, for the Grenoble region blocked the burkini decision, arguing it ran counter to Frances secular principles.

The Council of State upheld the prefect's move Tuesday, saying in a statement that the Grenoble vote was made to satisfy a religious demand and harms the neutrality of public services.

The ruling was the first under a controversial law, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, aimed at protecting republican values from what his government calls the threat of religious extremism.

Clothing rules in public pools in France are strict, for what authorities say are reasons of hygiene: caps are required, and baggy swim trunks or other voluminous clothing is generally banned. Wetsuits are not allowed in many pools too, as are some sun-protection suits.

A few other cities and towns allow burkinis in public pools. The city of Rennes is among them, but its decision was aimed at loosening swimwear rules and not based on religious reasons.

The Grenoble mayor argued that women should be able to wear what they want and express their religious conviction in pools like in the street. Opponents of the burkini  who include local officials from the far right but also the left -- argued that the swimwear represents the oppression of women and a potential gateway to Islamic radicalism.

Six years ago, the Council of State struck down a local burkini ban, amid shock and anger after some Muslim women were ordered to remove body-concealing garments on French Riviera beaches.

For Fatima Bent of Muslim feminist group Lallab, Tuesdays ruling is a clear step backwards that will further isolate women who cover their heads and bodies in public.

While some Muslim women are forced by male relatives to cover themselves, she said, Muslim women are not homogenous. (French authorities) look at Muslim women through a single prism. She blamed a leftover colonial-era fixation with the body of Muslim women by politicians who want to control them.

Grenobles decision about swimming topless has not been threatened in the courts.
NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The manufacturer of popular cereals and other food products is dividing into three companies, and one of them is going to be headquartered in the Land of Lincoln.

Kellogg Company announced Tuesday they are breaking up into Global Snacking Co., North American Cereal Co., and Plant Co. The latter two will remain in Battle Creek, Michigan, where the Kellogg began in 1906. Global Snacking Co. will be headquartered in Chicago.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Periods of rain. High 72F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Rain early. Decreasing clouds overnight. Low 58F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Visa and Mastercard face regulatory probes into the card fees they set and charge to businesses in the UK after sharp hikes in recent years.

The UK's Payment Systems Regulator found that Visa and Mastercard have increased so-called 'cross-border interchange' fees five-fold since Brexit.

Retailers are charged these fees for online card transactions between the UK and Europe, and they generally pass the cost onto customers.

Under review: Retailers face much higher card fees for online transactions with EU since Brexit

The interchange fee, which is set by Mastercard and Visa but cashed in by the acquiring bank, had been capped by an EU agreement, but that fell away in Britain after the country left the bloc.

Retailers are now charged 1.15 per cent of the value of the online transaction with European customers if by debit card, compared to 0.2 per cent before Brexit.

And the interchange fee charged to businesses for digital payments made via credit card has gone up to 1.5 per cent of the value of transactions, from just 0.3 per cent.

The watchdog is now concerned shoppers may ultimately end up paying the cost of this increase in fees, which was part of an agreement struck between card issuers and the EU commission in 2019.

Natalie Timan, head of strategy at PSR, said: 'To accept card payments, merchants must pay certain fees which can ultimately impact the cost we all pay for goods and services.

'We want to understand whether card payments are working well and to make sure that merchants, and ultimately consumers, get a good deal.'

The watchdog is also launching a review into fees for services provided by Mastercard and Visa that allow retailers to accept card payments.

These fees, which go into the two payments' giants pockets, have increased 'significantly' from 2014 to 2018, the PSR has found.

'Further feedback from stakeholders also highlights that scheme fees have continued to increase since then,' the watchdog added.

Draft terms of reference for the reviews have been put out for public consultation until 2 August.

A Mastercard spokesperson said: 'Mastercard closely engaged with the PSRs market review of card acquiring services over the past few years and we will review the Terms of Reference of this latest investigation in detail.

'The UK is one of the most innovative and competitive payments markets in the world and were committed to working together with the PSR to advance payment choice in the interests of everyone who makes and receives payments.'

A Visa spokesperson said: 'Visa continues to be one of the most cost-effective and secure ways to pay and be paid and we remain committed to offering consumers and businesses in the UK access to innovative, easy, reliable and secure digital payments.

'Were proud to be part of a thriving, competitive and dynamic UK payments industry and we look forward to continuing a constructive dialogue with the PSR.'
An Aston Martin used in the latest James Bond hit, No Time to Die, is set to go under the hammer later this week, with the winning bid expected to reach half a million pounds.

The 2019 DBS Superleggera Coupe was driven on screen in the final film to feature Daniel Craig as the British Secret Service agent by the character Nomi - his 007 successor - played by Lashana Lynch.

And it won't be the only Bond car going under the hammer, with a Land Rover used in the filming of Spectre also going to the block as part of the Goodwood Festival of Speed sale hosted by Bonhams on Friday.

This Aston Martin DBS Superleggera featured in the latest Bond film, No Time to Die. On Friday, it will go under the hammer at a UK auction where it is expected to fetch half a million pounds

The Bond-film Aston Martin has an estimate of 400,000 to 500,000.

That's around double the price when it was new, with the 200mph-plus British motor costing 225,000 when it hit showrooms in 2018.

The car was affiliated with the cult film franchise before No Time to Die hit the screen, with Aston Martin in 2019 unveiling a DBS Superleggera to celebrate 50 years since the film On Her Majesty's Secret Service hit the big screen.

The 2019 DBS Superleggera Coupe was driven by the character Nomi - played by Lashana Lynch (pictured right)

The car being offered to the highest bidder will be seen as an opportunity for enthusiasts to get their hands on a genuine modern-era Bond car and a significant item of movie memorabilia

The Aston Martin was loaned to Eon Productions by the vendor, its first and only owner, as the British car maker could not provide a factory DBS Superleggera for the production

That limited edition version of the supercar followed the specification of the original DBS used in the film, with an olive green paint job - though only 50 units were made.

The car being offered to the highest bidder will be seen as an opportunity for enthusiasts to get their hands on a genuine modern-era Bond car and a significant item of movie memorabilia.

It was driven in scenes from the film with Daniel Craig as the passenger, with the footage filmed on location in Scotland and at RAF Brize Norton.

However, this car wasn't provided by the iconic British car firm.

It was loaned to Eon Productions by the vendor, its first and only owner, as Aston Martin could not provide a factory DBS Superleggera for the production.

The film company kept the DBS for two years for filming and promotional purposes and covered 800 of the car's existing 850 recorded miles.

The supercar has a massive 715bhp 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine under its bonnet

It can accelerate from rest to 62mph in 3.4 seconds and onto a top speed of 211mph

Performance wise, the supercar has a massive 715bhp 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine under its bonnet, which propels it from rest to 62mph in 3.4 seconds and onto a top speed of 211mph.

This DBS Superleggera is offered with a mounted and framed certificate from Aston Martin, thanking the vendor for the loan of the car, sill plates marking the car's use in the production and an engine plate indicating that the Aston's 'final inspection' was carried out by Daniel Craig.

Also being offered at the same sale is a 2014 Land Rover Defender SVX 'Spectre' 4x4 Utility.

Another Bond-film motor: This Land Rover was one of the cars used in 2015 film, Spectre

It is one of 10 converted Land Rover Defenders used in the action-packed snow chase scene sequence, of which only seven cars survived

The Defender, one of the last of the previous-generation 4X4s, has been extensively modified by off-road racing specialist Bowler Motorsport. This means it has incredible off-road ability

It is one of 10 used in the 2015 film's action-packed snow chase sequence, of which only seven of the Land Rovers survived, with those that didn't flipping and exploding as Craig's Bond evaded the enemy.

This left-hand drive SVX was extensively modified by off-road racing specialist Bowler Motorsport to surpass standard Land Rover off-road capability, including fitting Rose-jointed suspension and rally-specification Bilstein shock absorbers.

Its exterior enhancements include a full roll cage, LED roof lights, bonnet rope and WARN electric winch.

Inside, supportive Recaro front seats were fitted for stunt-driving purposes.

Inside, supportive Recaro front seats were fitted for stunt-driving purposes

The custom-built Defender has Rose-jointed suspension and rally-specification Bilstein shock absorbers

Its exterior enhancements include a full roll cage, LED roof lights, bonnet rope and WARN electric winch

The auction house says it expects the 4X4 to change hands for a fee in the region of 150,000 to 200,000.

The two Bond vehicles will be under the hammer at the Goodwood Festival of Speed event at Goodwood House, West Sussex.

Tim Schofield, head of Bonhams Motor Cars UK, said: 'Bonhams has a history of successfully selling motor cars from the James Bond films, and so we are delighted to present two recent stars of the series.

'Both offer a golden opportunity to acquire a genuine James Bond film vehicle and in the case of the DBS, a "real" 007 Aston Martin.'
Easyjet will likely rack up another year of losses as it cancels thousands more flights and leaves holidaymakers in the lurch.

The budget airline was on track to return to profit this year as it bounced back from the pandemic.

But amid chaotic scenes at airports across the UK and Europe, the carrier yesterday slashed the number of flights it planned for the summer.

Apology: Easyjet Chief executive Johan Lundgren (pictured) admitted service has been below expectations

It is feared as many as 10,000 flights could be cancelled between July and September  leaving the holiday plans of 1.5m customers in jeopardy.

Analysts had expected EasyJet to be back in the black this year having suffered 2.2billion of losses since coronavirus struck in 2020.

But with revenues taking another hit and costs rising, they slashed their forecasts yesterday. Experts at private wealth manager Bernstein warned the lost flights could cost it as much as 200million.

And brokers at Peel Hunt said EasyJet was on course to make a 59million loss this year having previously pencilled in a 44million profit.

Analyst Alex Paterson said: Because the disruption has dragged on, costs have increased.

Shares fell 4 per cent in early trading yesterday before ending up 1.5 per cent, or 6.7p, at 443.7p.

Sophie Lund-Yates, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: These plans are going to prolong total recovery for EasyJet. The costs that come with ramping operations back up are huge.

So while its a customer apology being doled out today, any deviation from the new plan will mean the same courtesy would be due to shareholders.

In an unscheduled trading update, EasyJet said it was proactively consolidating  or axing in plain English  flights in a bid to avoid last-minute cancellations.

It said the move would give customers advance notice and the chance to rebook on alternative flights.

Holidaymakers have been hit by mass cancellations and long queues at airports ever since travel restrictions were eased in spring, with EasyJet and British Airways among the worst offenders amid staff shortages and IT failures.

In a move that will fuel concerns about the summer, EasyJet said it expects capacity between April and June to be around 87 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, having previously forecast 90 per cent.

And it cut the outlook for the crucial July to September holiday period from 97 per cent to 90 per cent  raising the prospect that 10,000 flights could be axed.

In a grovelling apology, chief executive Johan Lundgren said: We are sorry that for some customers we have not been able to deliver the service they have come to expect from us.

Heathrow was also forced to apologise unreservedly after it cancelled flights at two terminals yesterday following a weekend that saw luggage pile up.

Lundgren said he was forced to act after London Gatwick and Amsterdams Schiphol airport imposed a cap on flights.

The airline has already cancelled thousands of flights, particularly during school holidays at Easter and the half-term period, which coincided with the Jubilee bank holiday weekend.

No-frills rival Ryanair, however, capitalised on the cancellations, adding over 200 extra flights from its UK airports.
A fund run by the activist billionaire shaking up Unilever has found itself in the crosshairs of its own top shareholders.

Trian Investors 1 (TI1), listed on the London Stock Exchange and managed by Nelson Peltzs firm Trian Partners, is under siege from Invesco, Janus Henderson, Staude Capital and Pelham Capital.

The four investment firms, who also have the support of Aegon Asset Management, have joined forces to call for an overhaul of TI1s board.

In the firing line: Trian Investors 1, managed by Nelson Peltzs firm Trian Partners, is under siege from Invesco, Janus Henderson, Staude Capital and Pelham Capital

They said their aim was to achieve an acceptable standard of governance and to restore the trust and confidence of the independent shareholders in TI1.

The intervention is a blow to 79-year-old Peltz who is in the middle of an activist battle with consumer goods giant Unilever and recently won a seat on the board, sparking speculation he could seek to break it up.

But he now faces a shareholder backlash of his own. The rebel group was angered by several changes which TI1 made to the way the business operated at its shareholder meeting last year.

Trian was accused of having a conflict of interest since the changes would increase the amount of money it makes from managing TI1.

Shareholders want to remove TI1s chairman Chris Sherwell and non-executive directors Simon Holden and Anita Rival.

They suggest investment veteran Robert Leggett, and Miles Staude of Staude Capital as replacements.
Mining giant Glencore has pleaded guilty to another series of bribery offences concerning its oil operations in Africa.

At a hearing at London's Southwark Crown Court, a subsidiary of the Anglo-Swiss company admitted to five counts of paying over $28million (23million) in illegal financial inducements to secure preferential access to oil.

Glencore Energy also acknowledged two charges of failing to prevent bribes from being made on behalf of the business in relation to the awarding of crude oil cargoes 11 years ago. Sentencing is set to occur on 2 to 3 November.

Confession: Glencore Energy has admitted to five counts of paying more than $28million (23million) in illegal financial inducements to secure preferential access to oil

The court case was brought by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), which launched an investigation - codenamed Operation Azoth - three years ago into suspected corruption at Glencore.

That probe ran in parallel with separate bribery inquiries into the London-listed group by authorities the previous year in the US and Brazil.

The Brazilian investigation arose out of Operation Car Wash, the largest corruption investigation in the country's history, which looked at suspected illicit payments made to employees of Petrobras, the state-run oil giant.

Last month, Glencore announced it had achieved resolutions with authorities in all three countries and was setting aside $1.5billion to cover any potential fines.

It agreed to pay over $1.1billion to settle two separate legal cases brought by the US Department of Justice, one regarding the bribery of officials and the other related to the manipulation of fuel oil prices.

Merrick Garland, the US Attorney General, called it the 'largest criminal enforcement action to date for commodity price manipulation conspiracy in oil markets.'

Settlement: Last month, Glencore announced it had achieved resolutions with authorities in the UK, USA and Brazil and was setting aside $1.5billion to cover any potential fines

At the same time, the SFO introduced seven charges against the company after uncovering 'profit-driven bribery and corruption' in five African countries: Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

The bribery charges state that Glencore 'gave a financial advantage' worth millions of dollars with the intention it would 'induce officials' from different countries.

The aim was for the officials to 'perform their functions improperly, or reward them for so doing, by unduly favouring Glencore Energy UK Limited in the allocation of crude oil cargoes, the dates crude oil would be lifted and the grades of crude oil allocated.'

Today's hearing comes a few days after Glencore predicted bumper half-year results on the back of skyrocketing commodity prices and market volatility that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has heightened.

In its marketing business alone, the FTSE 100 group anticipated posting underlying trading earnings of over $3.2billion for the first half of 2022, compared with $2.4billion in each of the two calendar years prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Glencore has particularly profited from record thermal coal prices, although this has not stopped many investors from pressuring the firm to ditch its coal operations for environmental reasons.

Around a quarter of shareholders recently voted against the company's 'climate progress report,' whose goals include slashing emissions in half by 2035 against 2019 levels before becoming net zero by the middle of the century.

Despite the outcome of today's court hearing, Glencore shares rose 2.1 per cent to 482.6p on Tuesday amid higher commodity prices, meaning their value has climbed by over 177 per cent in the past two years.
Glencore has been convicted of a string of bribery offences by a UK court in a major triumph for the Serious Fraud Office.

An embarrassing corruption scandal forced the mining and commodities giant to plead guilty to multiple corruption charges.

A Glencore subsidiary admitted to shelling out more than 23million worth of bribes to officials across Africa to obtain preferential access to oil and illicit profits.

Fresh scandal: A Glencore subsidiary admitted to shelling out more than 23m worth of bribes to officials across Africa to obtain preferential access to oil and illicit profits

Southwark Crown Court heard the biggest bribes paid by Glencore were payments of over 9million to officials working for Cameroons national oil and gas company, or the oil refining business Societe Nationale de Raffinage.

An SFO probe, code-named Operation Azoth, revealed the full extent of the FTSE 100 firms international palm-greasing, which spanned operations in Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan.

It revealed Glencore Energy (UK) paid bribes for preferential access to oil, including increased cargoes, valuable grades of oil and preferable dates of delivery.

This rare high-profile success for the SFO will relieve some of the pressure on agency director Lisa Osofsky, who has been criticised for recent blunders.

These included a failed corruption investigation into Unaoil, which forced Attorney General Suella Braverman to launch an independent review into the case.

Glencore has been a target of the SFO for the past three years, during which it has worked with prosecutors in the US, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The company, which has been convicted of seven counts of bribery, will be sentenced in November.

It was just last month that the Anglo-Swiss firm announced it was poised to plead guilty in the UK and also settle a series of global investigations for an eye-watering 1.2billion.

Chief executive Gary Nagle said he wanted to draw a line under the cases.

He said: This type of behaviour has no place in Glencore, and the board, management team and I are very clear about the culture that we want and our commitment to be a responsible and ethical operator wherever we work.

Nagle became chief executive last summer when he succeeded veteran boss Ivan Glasenberg, who took Glencore public in 2011.

Chairman Kalidas Madhavpeddi also stressed it is not the company it was when the unacceptable practices behind this misconduct occurred. The firm employs around 135,000 people worldwide at roughly 150 sites.

Despite the court judgment, Glencore shares rose by 2 per cent, or 9.9p, to 482.6p. Its value has soared 330 per cent since 2020.

The company has been facing mounting pressure for its coal credentials this year, as it boasts 26 mines in Australia, Colombia and South Africa.

Its most recent annual shareholder meeting saw almost 24 per cent of investors vote against its climate-progress report.

But its financials have flourished. Last week Glencores trading arm announced 2.6billion worth of earnings for the first six months of the year.

Glencore has one of the worlds biggest broking businesses, which trades everything from oil and gas to cobalt, nickel and copper.

The sprawling division is operated by seven marketing heads, all of whom report directly to Nagle. Its results last year helped the wider group clock up record profits of 16billion.

On the back of this, the firm promised to hand 3billion back to investors through share buybacks and dividends.
CCTV: Yesterday the Center for International Knowledge on Development launched the first-ever Global Development Report. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended and addressed the launch. Could you give us more details on that?



Wang Wenbin: On June 20, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended and addressed the launch of the Global Development Report upon invitation.

State Councilor Wang stressed in his address that development is getting more and more marginalized on the international agenda, and the outlook of attaining the SDGs as scheduled is not that optimistic. The Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by President Xi Jinping has helped to bring development back to the center of the international agenda. It offers an effective platform for all parties to coordinate development policies and deepen practical cooperation as well as an impetus to pool resources, address difficulties holding back development and promote greater coordination and efficiency.

This report is the first Global Development Report released by the Center for International Knowledge on Development. Based on useful experience of China and other countries, the report lays out a range of policy advice in eight areas on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Parties attending the event spoke highly of the GDI and Chinas launch of the Global Development Report. They believe that the GDI pools international consensus, reflects developing countries' shared aspiration and serves as an important platform for the international community to achieve sustainable development.

China attaches high importance to the issue of development and is set to hold the High-level Dialogue on Global Development later this week. As a developing country, China stands ready to work with all parties to further deepen practical cooperation across the board, strengthen the sharing of knowledge and expertise and expand exchanges on experience and mutual learning. We are also willing to join hands with all parties to advance the GDI, renew the global development partnership and make positive contributions to expediting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

CCTV: The Human Rights Council is in session. Can you share what China has accomplished in human rights development and Chinas position on promoting global human rights governance?

Wang Wenbin: Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has united and led the Chinese people in securing, respecting, promoting and developing human rights. And together with the people, the Party has found a path of human rights development that is in line with the trend of the times and suitable for Chinas realities.

Compared with when the Peoples Republic was founded in 1949, the Chinese people now enjoy broader, fuller and more wide-ranging democratic rights. Our human rights are protected like never before. Chinas per capita national income increased from less than 100 dollars to about 12,000 dollars. Average life expectancy expanded from 35 years to 77.3 years. Infant mortality rate dropped from 200 deaths per 1,000 live births to 5.4. Respecting and protecting human rights is high on the governments agenda. China has advanced whole-process peoples democracy and human rights protection by strengthening the rule of law. We have stepped up efforts to build China into a country of safety and the rule of law. We have promoted social equity and justice, protected the lawful rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups, and achieved significant progress in human rights.

From a global perspective, China has made important contribution to global human rights cause with its rapid human rights development. Chinas Human Development Index (HDI) grew from 0.499 in 1990 to 0.761 in 2019. It is the only country to have moved from the low human development category to the high human development category since the world first began analyzing global HDI trends in 1990. Since reform and opening-up began, China has accounted for over 70 percent of people lifted out of poverty worldwide, which notably lowered the global poverty rate. Since the start of COVID-19, average life expectancy has dropped to varying degrees in the US and EU countries, but steadily risen in China. China is the only major country that has formulated and implemented four consecutive national human rights action plans. China has ratified or joined 29 international human rights instruments, including six core UN human rights treaties. China has served as a member state of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) five times, one of the most frequently elected members. We have established human rights dialogues or consultation mechanisms with more than 20 countries and regional organizations. China 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. The resolution on the contribution of development to the enjoyment of all human rights submitted by China was adopted in the UNHRC several times, injecting new impetus into global human rights governance.

A countrys human rights condition is essentially gauged by whether its peoples interests are protected and whether they enjoy a growing sense of fulfillment, happiness and security. This is the most important criterion. A Harvard University survey among the Chinese people spanning over a decade found that more than 90 percent of respondents are satisfied with the Party and their government. In 2021, as many as 91 percent of Chinese interviewed by Edelman, a top global public relations consultancy firm, said they trust their government, the highest recorded over a decade and all over the world for years running. According to the 2021 Global Law and Order report released by the international polling agency Gallup, China ranked second with an index score of 93, moving up for the third consecutive year. This indicates that China is among the countries where people have the strongest sense of security.

As President Xi pointed out, in terms of human rights protection, no one can claim perfection and there is always room for improvement. When it comes to human rights issues, there is no such thing as an ideally perfect country, still less a one-size-fits-all human rights development path. Respecting and protecting human rights must be grounded in a countrys national reality. The promotion and protection of human rights is a common cause for humanity. Global human rights governance needs to be discussed by all countries and the outcomes of human rights development should be shared by all people. On the basis of equality and mutual respect, China is ready to conduct human rights dialogue and exchanges with all other parties. However, we do not need patronizing lecturers or double standards, still less interference by using human rights as a political tool. China will continue to take solid steps with an open mind, and work with the international community to pursue the common values of humanity, stay committed to the vision of equality, mutual trust, inclusiveness, mutual learning, win-win cooperation and common development, and steer global human rights governance toward greater fairness, justice, equity and inclusiveness.

Bloomberg: Tomorrow, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act takes effect in the US. Under the law, the US government assumes that anything made even partially in Xinjiang is produced with forced labor and cant be imported unless companies can prove otherwise. Do you have any comment on it?

Wang Wenbin: The allegation of forced labor in Xinjiang is a huge lie made up by anti-China forces to denigrate China. It is the complete opposite of the reality Xinjiang, where cotton and other industries rely on large-scale mechanized production and the rights of workers of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are duly protected.

The USs Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act is built on a lie and designed to impose sanctions on relevant entities and individuals in Xinjiang. This move is the furtherance of that lie and an escalation of US suppression on China under the pretext of human rights. Moreover, the act is solid evidence of USs arbitrariness in undermining international economic and trade rules and global industrial and supply chains.

The act is a clear indication that the US is seeking to engender forced unemployment in Xinjiang through legal form of actions, and to make the world decouple with China. It fully exposes the USs hegemonic nature -- a country that violates human rights and breaks rules in the name of preserving them. China strongly condemns and firmly opposes these acts and will act forcefully to uphold the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and nationals.

The US move is against the trend of the times and bound to fail.

Global Times: It is reported that the Five Eyes alliance is collecting and forging evidence to fabricate rumors that China is conducting political infiltration into Western countries, with the aim of tarnishing Chinas image in the world. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: We have noted the reports. Countries concerned must give an explanation for this.

Political infiltration is a signature act of countries like the US and the UK. In the name of freedom and democracy, the US instigated color revolutions and created turbulence in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Middle East, Latin America, etc. to serve its own geopolitical agenda. As American writer William Blum noted in his book Americas Deadliest Export: Democracy, since the end of World War II, the US has made attempts to overthrow more than 50 foreign governments and grossly interfered in elections in at least 30 countries. Politicians in the US, the UK and other countries frequently colluded with anti-China rioters in Hong Kong. The US co-opted with other Five Eyes countries to lecture China on Hong Kong affairs by issuing joint statements. The National Endowment for Democracy acted as the henchman and white glove of the US government and meddled repeatedly in Hong Kongs political agenda to make Hong Kong a bridgehead for subversion and infiltration against the mainland. These plain facts are for all to see.

On top of all their infiltration and interference activities in China, countries like the US and the UK have sought to deflect the blame on China. This reveals their deeply held Cold War mentality and ideological bias. In the name of preventing infiltration, certain countries have politically persecuted individuals having normal exchanges and cooperation with China, creating a chilling effect and reviving McCarthyism. Such moves not only gravely undermined bilateral relations with China but also fed racial discrimination and hate speech and act domestically. The China Initiative launched by the US and the China Research Group set up by anti-China lawmakers in the UK are typical cases in point. As disclosed by media reports, the Tsai Ing-wen authorities paid big bucks for phone calls with US leaders and interactions with senior US officials. I wonder what the Five Eyes make of this?

We urge relevant countries to stop political infiltration, stop spreading disinformation on China and stop relentlessly containing and suppressing China.

Shenzhen TV: According to reports, the US witnessed another bloody weekend as many people were shot dead or injured in separate incidents. According to the website of the non-profit Gun Violence Archive, on Saturday and Sunday alone, around 90 people were killed in about 220 separate shooting incidents in the US. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: We noticed relevant reports. We lament the serious casualties in the recurrent shooting incidents. We are concerned and upset about the US governments inaction and absence of substantive measures over the years on gun violence.

As a country with the most serious gun violence in the world, the US has seen the number of gun violence victims at home hitting new record highs. On average, 122 people in the US are shot dead everyday. American children and teens are 15 times more likely to die from gunfire than their peers in 31 other high-income countries combined. Over the past 25 years, the US government has been unable to roll out even a single gun control act. As noted in US media reports, there are always people calling for actions but then the proposals are shelved. In the face of the recurrent human rights tragedies at home, US politicians have offered nothing but the same hypocritical and empty words of placation and symbolic appearances at grieving events. They just repeat the routine when the next violent shooting incident takes place.

People cant help but ask: do American people truly enjoy human rights as they witness families, even their own children, being gunned down but can do nothing about it? Do US politicians care more about human rights or about the USs hegemony, when they are busy pointing fingers at other countries but indifferent to the death of fellow Americans?

We urge the US to respond to its peoples concerns, earnestly protect their lives and safety, and ensure that Americans can sit safely in classrooms and walk freely on the street without fear. This is what the government should do if it truly cares about and is committed to human rights.

NHK: Japan lodged a protest over China's building of facilities for gas field explorations in the East China Sea. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: Chinas oil and gas exploration activities in the East China Sea are all conducted in undisputed waters under Chinas jurisdiction. The matter falls completely under Chinas sovereign rights and jurisdiction. Japan should not make unwarranted remarks.
Richard Church, assistant director of the Carter County School System, made the budget amendment request to the Carter County Commission on Monday night. His request was denied by votes of 10-10 and 9-11.
"At this point, I am planning to attend anything between now and the time it is finalized by the commission. I know its not likely to change the outcome, but I dont want to let it die without a solid fight to the end."  Parent Heather Imburgia, who started a change.org petition to save Innovation Academy.

Pull Quote
Fertilizer manufacturer Omnia Holdings (OMNJ.J) says African governments are increasing support for smallholder farmers amid fears that input costs, driven higher after Russias invasion of Ukraine, could cut crop production and worsen food insecurity.

Omnia supplies fertilizer to both commercial and smallholder farmers in several sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, major fertilizer exporters, has accelerated price increases first triggered by COVID-19-induced supply chain disruptions. According to Omnia, prices of fertilizer input materials have gone up by between 200% and 400% since January 2021.

Aid agencies have warned that rising input prices could force Africas smallholder farmers to reduce plantings of staple grains such as maize, worsening a food crisis in a region where millions have already been plunged into extreme poverty by COVID-19, armed conflicts and climate shocks.

Omnia Holdings chief executive officer Seelan Gobalsamy told Reuters in an interview that fears of fertilizer shortages as a result of the conflict were driving demand ahead of the planting season.

We see governments, countries across the world being concerned about food security. Everybody wants security of supply of fertilizer and that drives up prices, it also raises concerns about food security in the coming period, Gobalsamy said.

What were seeing is a lot more support from governments for the smaller farmers, to aid those farmers because they have two roles  a subsistence role and a commercial role, he added, referring to African governments.

On Monday, Omnia reported 21.437 billion rand ($1.34 billion) revenues in the full year to March 31, a 30% increase compared to the same period last year, driven by higher commodity prices and sales. Headline earnings per share  the main profit measure in South Africa  were 86% up at 6.72 rand compared to last year.

SOURCE: REUTERS
WASHINGTON  The State Department is confirming the death of an Amsterdam, Montgomery County native in Ukraine who is believed to be only the second American to have been killed in the conflict there.

The department said Tuesday that Stephen Zabielski had died in Ukraine and that it is in touch with his family to provide consular support and assistance. Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further, it said.

The department did not provide a date or the circumstances of his death, but an obituary published in his hometown newspaper said Zabielski, 53, died on May 15. The Recorder in Amsterdam, where Zabielski had lived until 2018, said he had been killed while fighting in the village of Dorozhniank, Ukraine.

Zabielski is at least the second American to have been killed in combat in Ukraine, a war fueled by a Russian invasion that has seen American volunteerism of all sorts contribute in absence of formal U.S. military involvement. In late April, Willy Joseph Cancel, a 22-year-old former Marine from Tennessee was killed fighting on behalf of Ukraine. Cancel grew up in Orange County, New York.

In brief comments about Zabielski, the State Department reiterated longstanding advice it has given to Americans not to travel to Ukraine for any reason due to the fighting.

According to a Rolling Stone article, Zabielski was part of a squad of western volunteers attached to the Ukrainian army, dubbed the Wolverines. Tristan Nettles, a Marine Corps veteran, told Rolling Stone the squad was made up of 13 men from Canada, Poland, the U.S. and the UK, who had all had prior military experience. Nettles, who said he was with Zabielski the night he died, said Zabielski triggered a trip wire, which detonated a mine that killed him and injured one other. However, a Facebook post allegedly from a member of that team disputed parts of Nettles' account, including that Zabielski had triggered the trip wire.

Best of the Capital Region 2022 Its the 25th anniversary of our Best of the Capital Region readers survey. Make sure your voice is heard by nominating your favorite people, places and businesses between Jan. 21 and Feb. 4.

Zabielski's obituary published June 1 said he had been employed in construction for over 30 years, and enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding his Harley motorcycle. He most recently lived in Hernando, Fla., and is survived by his wife, step-children and a large extended family that includes seven siblings. He was predeceased by his first wife, and two other siblings.

The Times Union could not immediately reach a family member for comment Tuesday.

The Associated Press and Times Union staff writer Massarah Mikati contributed.
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BETHLEHEM  The Port of Albany has apparently gotten in a bit of hot water with the federal government after allowing tree cutting at an 82-acre Hudson River site being developed for an offshore wind turbine tower assembly facility.

Because it was awarded a $29.5 million grant from the Department of Transportation to help pay for preparation and upgrades to the site, located in the town of Bethlehem and known as Beacon Island, the Port of Albany was required to go through a separate review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before cutting trees.

Now, with the grant technically in jeopardy, there are efforts behind the scenes to get the project back in compliance.

Elias Rodriguez, a spokesman for the EPA, told the Times Union that the U.S. Maritime Administration, which is part of the DOT, is responsible for ensuring that the Port of Albany complies with the terms of the grant.

Under the rules, the Port of Albany was supposed to go through an EPA review process under what's known as the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to study the environmental impacts of their actions. The review is very similar to the state environmental review that has already taken place.

Rodriguez stressed, however, that the EPA never issued a stop-work order on the project.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation issued a permit in March that allowed for tree-cutting at the site. And no violations have been reported by DEC at the site either.

The current status of the project and what happens next are unclear. Port of Albany CEO Rich Hendrick did not return a call seeking comment. Officials with the Maritime Administration also did not respond to a request for comment.

The port got the grant to upgrade Beacon Island, a man-made piece of shoreline in Glenmont, to allow for a new $350 million offshore wind turbine assembly facility to be built by a consortium of international firms building wind farms off the coast of Long Island. The project has been touted as a major economic development project for the Capital Region that will create hundreds of jobs in the renewable energy sector.

Spectrum News was the first to report the issue with the tree-cutting and that it could jeopardize the grant, which was secured by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer of New York back in December.

It wasn't until after that announcement by Schumer that the Port of Albany sent out a request for proposals to hire a company to do the tree cutting and removal. WM. J Keller & Sons Construction Corp. in Castleton was selected and awarded a $970,000 contract in March.

The Times Union called the office of WM. J Keller & Sons to ask if it had been informed about the issue with the tree cutting, but an employee who spoke to the newspaper said she wasn't aware of either the contract or the controversy.

It is unclear when the tree removal began or when the issue was brought to the attention of the federal government. The town of Bethlehem's planning board has been overseeing the local review process. A call to David VanLuven, supervisor of the town of Bethlehem, was not returned.

John Lipscomb, a patrol boat captain and vice president for Riverkeeper, a nonprofit that seeks to protect the Hudson River, said he discovered that Beacon Island was clear cut on one of his boat patrols on May 25.

"It's a shocking sight to see because it had been wooded," Lipscomb said. "It's a horrific looking site now."

He said he hadn't yet reached out to any government authorities on his concerns when he was contacted by Spectrum News about the same issue.

Lipscomb says he still doesn't know if any permits or regulations were actually violated, but he says that clearing all trees from the shore of the Hudson River like that can have devastating effects on wildlife and erosion. He said he brought officials from the town of Bethlehem to tour the site so he could explain the importance of retaining as much of the natural landscape as possible to protect the river.

"We are not super-informed yet," Lipscomb said.
ALBANY - Local business and political leaders gathered Friday at Albany Nanotech for a panel discussion in which they urged Congress to finally pass the $52 billion CHIPS Act, which would provide the computer chip industry billions of dollars to build new factories across the United States, including a new federal chip manufacturing research lab based in Albany.

The event, organized by the State University of New York system, the Business Council and the locally-based American Semiconductor Innovation Coalition, featured U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, the Democratic congressman from Amsterdam, as well as executives from IBM and GlobalFoundries.

And while there is plenty of excitement about the CHIPS Act, and what it could mean for the Capital Region, there was also some worries since the legislation appears to be stalled as Congress approaches its recess at the end of July.

The CHIPS Act was designed to provide up to $2 billion to chipmakers as a way to remake the domestic chip manufacturing sector, which has lost its status as the world's largest chips producer.

Today, the U.S. only makes 12 percent of the world's chips, down from nearly 40 percent back in the 1990s. Tonko, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and the chip industry believe what's needed is a massive infusion of capital in order to get the momentum swinging back away from China, whose relationship with the U.S. has become increasingly belligerent.

China also has been threatening to take back the island nation of Taiwan, which produces a majority of the world's most advanced chips due to its technological and manufacturing leadership. The CHIPS Act is also a hedge against China's threats against Taiwan, which is a U.S. ally.

"It is deep investments that need to be made," Tonko said at Friday's event.

Tonko is a member of the congressional committee negotiating the final version of the CHIPS Act, which is now in conference between the House and the Senate as part of a larger China competition bill. Because of the issues Republicans had with that larger, more expensive bill, the legislation has been stalled.

"All they had for me was decline, decline, decline," Tonko said of his GOP counterparts.

Because of that, there is now talk in Congress of stripping out the CHIPS Act on its own again in the hopes that it will pass quickly and not get bogged down in partisan fighting that could end up killing the bill entirely.

But now, it's not just China that the U.S. has to worry about.

The CHIPS Act, which was originally championed by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer of New York, has forced leaders in South Korea, Japan and India to create similar incentive programs in order to compete, according to the New York Times. The European Union is also doing the same thing as well.

GlobalFoundries has already promised that if the CHIPS Act passes, it will build a new chip factory in Saratoga County next to its existing factory at the Luther Forest Technology Campus known as Fab 8.

Heather Briccetti, president of The Business Council of New York State, said at Friday's event that adding new chip fabs is about more than just jobs at the factory but construction jobs and new operations set up by suppliers, as well as the new housing and retail that would develop from an influx of employees.

"The more critical mass (in the chip industry in New York), the more companies we will see grow around it," Briccetti said.
When Jeff Rosenstock heard that the former factory at 23 Market St. in Ellenville was going to be revitalized, he was thrilled. The building is full of family history.

Rosenstock is the grandson of Louis Rosenstock, a World War I vet who in 1927 founded General Sportswear in Ellenville. Jeans and apparel were sewn at 23 Market St. Its a third-generation family business, said Rosenstock, the companys current president. Though he grew up in New York City, he has many fond childhood memories of summers and weekends in the Catskills.

In 1948, Louis Rosenstock launched Devil-Dog Dungarees. The name is a reference to the Marines. He was feeling very patriotic and wanted to come out with a line of jeans that would really stand for durability and performance and value, said his grandson.

Courtesy of Devil-Dog Dungarees archive

In 1952, the company expanded to North Carolina, where Devil Dog Manufacturing was established. But Ellenville remained corporate headquarters for many years. Many Rosenstock family members lived there, including Louis Rosenstock, and some descendants remain to this day.

As a kid, Jeff Rosenstock was in Ellenville frequently. He would ride his bike from his grandmothers place to 23 Market St. I remember seeing all the people working there  a lot of action watching my dad and his brothers at the time.

Courtesy of Devil-Dog Dungarees archive

Devil-Dogs sales and design operations were eventually relocated to New York City. Today, while the company continues to operate an office in Ellenville for employees working in the HR and accounts payable and receivable departments, the Rosenstock family sold 23 Market St. in 2013.

At the time, they believed the buyer was going to do many wonderful things with the space. Instead, nothing happened, and the building fell into disrepair. We sold it with the hopes that what is taking place now was supposed to take place back then, Rosenstock said.

When they learned the building changed hands again in June 2021 and that the new owners  architect Scott Dutton and Kevin OConnor, CEO of the nonprofit housing organization RUPCO  planned to create a 13-unit apartment complex with professional offices and other spaces, they were delighted.

It has been the backbone of our business, Rosenstock said. Its a beautiful building and an important part of our history where we founded and did original production, where our family grew up.

When Dutton came across the Devil-Dog building, he was equally delighted. Ellenville is about to explode  it seemed like it was the right time, he said. Dutton has made a name for himself in the Hudson Valley buying and renovating old buildings like the Lace Mills loft (which had been boarded up for 25 years before he took it on in 2012) and the Fuller Shirt Company building, both in Kingston.

That has been our track record: buying buildings that were underutilized, neglected, not obvious, and with some architectural vision and a little bit of risk turning that around and making something, Dutton said.

Tenants wont be able to move in for several years. First, the proposed plans need to get through Ellenvilles planning board, which so far has seemed receptive to the project. The new owners are also in the lengthy process of getting the building listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. It opens up historic tax credits and you can use them as part of the financing package, Dutton explained. Whenever the space is ready, he expects the apartments will fill quickly. I dont think there is any inventory that will be of this quality, he said.

Devil-Dogs name will remain attached to the building, just as Fuller Shirt Companys did in Kingston. Dutton has yet to connect with the Rosenstocks but intends to. I got in touch with the members of the Fuller family and when one of the last people who had worked in the building passed away, they had their service [there]. Its a nice throughline.

Courtesy of Devil-Dog Dungarees archive

The purchase of 23 Market St. included a small lot across from the building where Dutton anticipates making an additional two-story structure with a commercial ground floor and a residential upper floor. We will work on that this winter and bring that as a separate application, he said.

Rosenstock is excited to see whatever Dutton comes up with. Its a big space. The facade in front looks like an old-school brick two-story building, but it runs all the way back behind it where we had selling and warehouses. Its a pretty big footprint.

He marvels at how fully his grandfather lived the American dream. He came over from Austria, started a business, served in the army, and then launched a brand to honor the military community.

For many years after moving to North Carolina and then to New York City, the Devil Dog brand concentrated on private-label business. Then, in 2019, his grandsons relaunched Devil-Dog Dungarees, primarily as a jeans brand. In spring 2022, they expanded the collection with crew necks, hoodies, polos, and jean jackets. They sell online and at 150 stores, including Nordstroms and Dillards. Jeans are $79 and are not sold anywhere around Ellenville  yet.

Even with so much change, Rosenstock, who grew up fishing and enjoying local spots like Nevele Falls and Shadowland Stages, says the companys Catskills roots remain foundational. The brand still tells the history of our presence in Ellenville. We are really proud of it.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russian attacks laid down a curtain of fire Tuesday across areas of eastern Ukraine where pockets of resistance are denying Moscow full military control of the region, almost four months after the Kremlin unleashed its invasion.

Today everything that can burn is on fire, Serhiy Haidai, the governor of Ukraines eastern Luhansk region, told The Associated Press.

Russia's war has caused alarm over food supplies from Ukraine to the rest of the world and gas supplies from Russia, as well as raising questions about security in Western Europe.

The Russian military currently controls about 95% of the Luhansk region. But Moscow has struggled for weeks to overrun it completely, despite deploying additional troops and possessing a massive advantage in military assets.

With the help of tactical movements, the Ukrainian army is strengthening defenses in the Luhansk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. That really is where the toughest situation is now.

In the city of Sievierodonetsk, the hot spot of the fighting, Ukrainian defenders held on to the Azot chemical plant in the industrial outskirts. About 500 civilians are sheltering at the plant, and Haidai said the Russian forces are turning the area into ruins.

It is a sheer catastrophe, Haidai told the AP in written comments about the plant. Our positions are being fired at from howitzers, multiple rocket launchers, large-caliber artillery, missile strikes.

The defense of the chemical plant recalled the besieged Azovstal steel mill in the brutalized city of Mariupol, where Ukrainian troops were pinned down for weeks.

Neighboring Lysychansk, the only city in the Luhansk region that is still fully under Ukrainian control, also was targeted by multiple airstrikes.

The airstrikes on Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk ruined more than 10 residential buildings and a police station. In the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, a school burned down as the result of the shelling, the presidents office said. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions make up the Donbas.

Separately, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland met for about an hour at a Ukrainian-Polish border post with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. They discussed how the U.S. can help identify, apprehend and prosecute anyone involved in war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

We and our partners will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable, Garland said in a statement.

Garland also tapped Eli Rosenbaum  a 36-year Justice Department veteran who headed efforts to identify and deport Nazi war criminals  as counselor for war crimes accountability. He will coordinate efforts to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, also came under heavy Russian shelling on Tuesday. Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said 15 civilians were killed and 16 wounded in Kharkiv and elsewhere in the region.

Zelenskyy said the attacks in the Kharkiv region were especially cruel and cynical because they brought no clear benefit to the Russian forces. The Russian army is deaf to any rationality. It simply destroys, simply kills, and in this way it shows its command that it is not really standing in place," he said in his video address.

Speaking Tuesday to graduates of Russian military academies at a lavish Kremlin reception, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the Russian armed forces as heirs to the countrys legendary military traditions. The country is now going through another series of trials, he said, expressing confidence that Russia will overcome all the challenges.

There is no doubt that we will become even stronger, he added.

International support for Ukraine was demonstrated once more when a Nobel Peace Prize medal auctioned off by Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov sold Monday night for $103.5 million, shattering the old record for a Nobel. The auction aimed to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees.

Geopolitical tensions stemming from Russias invasion returned to Lithuania. Due to European Union sanctions on Moscow, the Baltic country earlier this month banned rail traffic from crossing its territory from Russia to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Kaliningrad, with a population of around 430,000 people, is wedged between Lithuania and Poland, both EU countries, and is isolated from the rest of Russia.

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Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of the Kremlins Security Council and a hard-liner, visited Kaliningrad on Tuesday and vowed to respond to the ban.

The relevant measures are being drawn up in an interagency format and will be adopted shortly, Patrushev said, without elaborating. He added: Their consequences will have a significant negative impact on the population of Lithuania.

In other developments Tuesday:

 Zelenskyy said he spoke with leaders from nine European Union members  Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain  in anticipation of Fridays meeting of EU leaders to decide whether to grant Ukraine candidate status. He said his agenda for Wednesday is just as full. We are expanding the circle of those who support Ukraines candidacy and making it more likely that Fridays decision will be positive, he said.

 John Kirby, a national security spokesman for the White House, said it was appalling that the Kremlin suggested two Americans captured by Russian forces in Ukraine could be sentenced to death. Kirby declined to say what steps the U.S. would take if Russia does not treat Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh, both from Alabama, as prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it depends on the investigation, when asked during an NBC interview whether the Americans could be sentenced to death like two Britons and a Moroccan captured while fighting for Ukraine.

 The U.S. State Department confirmed the death of a U.S. citizen in Ukraine who is believed to be only the second American to have been killed while fighting in the conflict.

 Britains Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence report that Ukraines coastal defenses have largely neutralized Russias ability to project maritime force in the northwestern Black Sea. This has undermined the viability of Russias original operational design for the invasion, which involved holding the Odesa region at risk from the sea, the report said.

 Russian authorities blocked the website of British newspaper The Telegraph over an article it published, the internet rights group Roskomsvoboda reported Tuesday. It said Russias media and internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, blocked Russian access to a story that alleged that Russian forces had prepared a mobile crematorium for use in its war with Ukraine, possibly to hide its military casualties. The move made the entire Telegraph website inaccessible for some Russians.

___

Karmanau reported from Lviv. Francesca Ebel contributed from the Krakovets border crossing in Ukraine.

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Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  A group of former leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia said Tuesday that the guerrilla organization was responsible for war crimes, including the kidnapping of thousands of civilians for ransom and also holding politicians as hostages for several years in the hopes of exchanging them for imprisoned rebels.

The former FARC leaders recognized their role in these crimes during a hearing held by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, a tribunal created following a 2016 peace deal between the FARC rebels and the Colombian government.

The peace tribunal is in charge of investigating war crimes committed during the five decade long conflict between the FARC and the Colombian government and finding ways in which victims can be compensated.

Under the terms of the peace deal, former combatants who collaborate with the tribunal can avoid prison sentences but will have to participate in restorative justice schemes that will be determined by the special peace tribunal along with victims.

The peace tribunal says that so far, it has registered more than 3,000 people as victims of kidnappings conducted by the FARC, before the group demobilized in 2016, although the number of total victims could exceed 20,000, according to databases compiled by human rights groups.

In Tuesdays hearing, Rodrigo Londono, the FARCs last commander, said that the kidnappings were sanctioned for years by leaders of the rebel group, who only required that hostages not be killed without their approval. Londono admitted that some hostages suffered from inhumane treatment that included being tied with chains to trees, or being held within barbed wire fences. He also said that some female hostages suffered from sexual abuse.

In the name of our revolutionary ideals we committed war crimes and crimes against humanity the former FARC leader said. For years we condemned hundreds of human beings to live in inhumane conditions and to suffering that had a lot of impact on their families.

The hearing was attended by seven former rebel leaders who were part of the FARCs last secretariat. Sitting across the room were five kidnapping survivors who demanded that the former rebels disclose more details on several high profile cases, including the 2002 kidnapping of 12 members of the Valle del Cauca state assembly, who were held as hostages for five years.

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In 2007, eleven of those hostages were executed by their captors in a remote jungle camp in circumstances that are still unclear.

Sigifredo Lopez was the only hostage who was not executed. He addressed the former rebel leaders during the hearing, and said he wanted to know who helped the FARC to kidnap the political leaders.

The sons and daughters of my colleagues want to know who are the people who shot them, he added. There are people who have not been able to grieve over the bodies of their brothers or their parents.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israel's outgoing coalition government will fast-track a bill this week to dissolve parliament, setting up the country for its fifth elections in three years, a Cabinet minister said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced on Monday that he would disband his alliance of eight ideologically diverse parties, a year after taking office, and send the country to the polls. A series of defections from his Yamina party had stripped the coalition of its majority in Israel's parliament, known as the Knesset.

Bennett cited the coalition's failure earlier this month to extend a law that grants West Bank settlers special legal status as a main impetus for new elections. His key ally, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, will become the caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed in the aftermath of elections, which are expected to be held in October.

Welfare Minister Meir Cohen, a member of Lapid's Yesh Atid party, told Israeli public broadcaster Kan that the coalition would bring the bill to a preliminary vote on Wednesday.

We hope that within a week we will complete the process," Cohen said. "The intention is to finish it as soon as possible and to go to elections."

A parliamentary committee approved holding a preliminary vote to dissolve parliament on Wednesday, with a final vote expected early next week.

New elections raise the possibility that former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now opposition leader, will be able to stage a comeback. Netanyahu was ousted by the eight-party alliance after four inconclusive elections that were largely seen as referendums on the his fitness to rule. The alliance's factions range from dovish liberals opposed to Israeli settlements to hawkish ultranationalists who reject Palestinian statehood. It was only their opposition to Netanyahu that brought them together.

Netanyahu is currently on trial for corruption but has denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the charges as a witch hunt by his political opponents. Israeli law does not explicitly state that a politician under indictment may not become prime minister.

As politicians gear up for fall elections, several coalition members have floated the possibility of passing a law before the Knesset disbands that would bar a lawmaker accused of a crime from serving as prime minister.

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Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the aim of his Yisrael Beytenu party in the upcoming elections is to prevent Benjamin Netanyahu from returning to power." Along with the bill to dissolve parliament, he said he would advance legislation on Wednesday to bar a lawmaker under indictment from assuming the premiership.

I hope that bill, too, will find a majority, he said at an economic conference hosted by the Israel Democracy Institute.

Justice Minister Gideon Saar, leader of the New Hope party, told Army Radio that his faction had advocated such a bill and would vote in favor if it's brought before parliament.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz, a centrist who formed a short-lived national unity government with Netanyahu after gridlocked elections in 2020, told reporters he wouldn't partner with him again.

Honestly, in pain and sorrow, I say he has exhausted the political trust that can be given to him, Gantz said.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  A new law creating a provisional ballot system in New Hampshire faces lawsuits days after it was enacted.

The ACLU of New Hampshire filed a lawsuit Tuesday arguing that the law violates the right to privacy the state added to its constitution in 2018 because it would diminish the secrecy of ballots and tie voters names to the candidates for whom they voted.

The bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Chris Sununu on Friday creates a new type of affidavit ballot for first-time voters who dont have required documents.

Under current law, such voters fill out affidavits promising to provide documentation within 10 days, and those who dont can be investigated and charged with fraud. But the votes themselves remain valid.

Under the new law, which takes effect in 2023, ballots cast by voters who fail to provide proof of their identities and residency seven days after an election would be thrown out. Municipalities would report to the secretary of state total votes, minus the unqualified affidavit ballot votes, no later than 14 days after an election.

The government should not know who you cast your ballot for in a state election, said Henry Klementowicz, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of New Hampshire. Voting is one of the most important democratic things a person can do, and they deserve to do so privately and secretly.

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The law also faces a court challenge from the advocacy groups 603 Forward and Open Democracy Action.

While provisional ballots are required by federal law, New Hampshire is exempt because it offered same-day voter registration at the time the National Voter Registration Act was enacted in 1993. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Idaho and Minnesota are the only other two states that do not issue provisional ballots.
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JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  A top Alaska elections official said Tuesday that the fifth-place finisher in the special primary for Alaska's U.S. House seat will not advance to an August special election following the withdrawal of independent Al Gross, who was in third place.

Gail Fenumiai, director of the Division of Elections, said that's because the withdrawal occurred less than 64 days before the scheduled Aug. 16 special election. In a letter to an attorney for Republican Nick Begich's campaign, she pointed to a provision of law laying out the timeline.

Fenumiai said Gross withdrew on Tuesday and that the division would remove his name from the special election ballot. She said an upcoming Sunday withdrawal deadline for the special election was to give candidates a chance to remove their names from the ballot after the Division certifies the election but before it begins printing ballots.

She said anyone who disagrees with the decisions outlined by the division should file suit immediately, citing the timeline to print ballots to meet deadlines and keep the special election on track.

Elections officials said they completed their final ballot counts on Tuesday. Officials are aiming to certify the special primary by Saturday.

Gross, an orthopedic surgeon, was in third place in the June 11 special primary, behind two Republicans  former Gov. Sarah Palin and Begich, a businessman  and ahead of Democrat Mary Peltola, a former state lawmaker.

Gross was positioned to advance to the August special election as one of the top four vote-getters under a new open primary system. But on Monday evening, he suddenly announced plans to end his campaign.

"Trust that I am making the right decision," Gross said in a statement to supporters Tuesday.

He said he and his wife have decided it is just too hard to run as a nonpartisan candidate in this race. I still believe that when people with differing opinions listen to each other and work together, problems get solved. Maybe we can reach that place sometime in the future. I hope we do.

The candidate in fifth place is Republican Tara Sweeney, who was an assistant secretary for Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior during the Trump administration.

Her campaign on social media said Sweeney is currently visiting an area of the state inaccessible by phone or email. When she returns, well make a campaign update. Thank you for your patience and support!

Sweeney's campaign manager did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the ballot decision outlined by Fenumiai.

This was the first election under a system approved by voters that ends party primaries and institutes ranked choice voting for general elections. A whopping 48 candidates ran in the special primary.

Gross had given no public indication that a shakeup was coming.

On social media Friday, Gross said he was thrilled to earn the endorsement of an electrical workers union.

Working men and women can trust that they can always count on me to fight for them and stand up to powerful corporate and special interests on their behalf, he said in a fundraising appeal that also featured the words Stop Sarah Palin!

Chip in today to help us bring independent leadership to Alaska, the post says.

On Monday, his campaign posted a photo of him at a brewery, with a description stating that he and his wife had enjoyed a beer there over the weekend.

But Monday evening, his campaign released a statement saying he would withdraw from the special and regular elections for the seat left vacant by the death in March of Republican Rep. Don Young. Young had held the seat for 49 years.

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Palin, Begich, Peltola and Sweeney are among the candidates who have filed to run in the regular primary.

Gross, who sought to cast Palin as a quitter for resigning partway through her term as governor in 2009, did not make himself available to reporters after announcing plans to drop his campaign.

His campaign did not respond to emails seeking comment Tuesday. A woman who answered the door at the Gross home in Anchorage told a reporter who asked to speak to Al Gross that they were not taking any press and asked the reporter to leave the property.

Gross, in the statement Monday, said there are two outstanding Alaska Native women in this race who would both serve our state well, and I encourage my supporters to stay engaged and consider giving their first-place vote to whichever of them best matches their own values."

The campaign confirmed he was speaking about Peltola and Sweeney.

The August special election will feature ranked choice voting and determine who will serve the remainder of Youngs term. The August regular primary and November general election will determine who will serve a new two-year term starting in January.

Gross ran for U.S. Senate in 2020 with the endorsement of state Democrats.

But during the House race, he got crosswise with some Democrats when in a newspaper interview he did not commit to caucusing with Democrats if elected. He later said he would.

___

Associated Press reporter Mark Thiessen contributed from Anchorage.
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korea conducted its first successful satellite launch using a domestically developed rocket on Tuesday, officials said, boosting its growing aerospace ambitions and demonstrating it has key technologies needed to launch spy satellites and build larger missiles amid tensions with rival North Korea.

The three-stage Nuri rocket placed a functioning performance verification satellite at a target altitude of 700 kilometers (435 miles) after its 4 p.m. liftoff from South Koreas space launch center on a southern island, the Science Ministry said.

The satellite transmitted signals about its status to an unmanned South Korean station in Antarctica. It is carrying four smaller satellites that will be released in coming days for Earth observation and other missions, ministry officials said.

The science and technology of the Republic of Korea have made a great advance, Science Minister Lee Jong-Ho said in a televised news conference at the launch center. The government will continue its audacious march toward becoming a space power together with the people.

In a video conference with scientists and others involved in the launch, President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated them for their achievement and vowed to keep his campaign promise to establish a state aerospace agency, according to his office.

Live TV video showed the 47-meter (154-foot) rocket rising into the air amid bright flames and thick white smoke.

The launch made South Korea the worlds 10th nation to place a satellite into space with its own technology.

It was South Koreas second launch of a Nuri rocket. In the first attempt last October, the rocket's dummy payload reached the desired altitude but didn't enter orbit because the engine of the rockets third stage burned out earlier than planned.

South Korea, which has the worlds 10th largest economy, is a major producer of semiconductors, automobiles and smartphones. But its space development program lags behind that of Asian neighbors China, India and Japan.

North Korea placed Earth observation satellites into orbit in 2012 and 2016, though there is no proof that either one has ever transmitted spaced-based imagery and data back home. The North Korean launches resulted in U.N. economic sanctions because they were viewed as covers for testing the countrys banned long-range missile technology.

Since the early 1990s, South Korea has sent a slew of satellites into space, but all used foreign rocket technology or launch sites. In 2013, South Korea successfully launched a satellite for the first time from its soil, but the first stage of the rocket was Russian-made.

After that satellite launch, North Koreas Foreign Ministry accused the United States of having double standards and brigandish nature," arguing that Washington supported the South Korean launch but led the U.N. sanctions over the Norths satellite launch the previous year. North Korea didnt immediately comment on Tuesdays Nuri launch.

South Korea plans four more Nuri launches in coming years. It also hopes to send a probe to the moon, build next-generation space launch vehicles and send large-scale satellites into orbit.

South Korean officials said the Nuri rocket has no military purposes.

The transfer of space launch technology is strictly restricted under a multilateral export control regime because it has military applications. Ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles often share similar bodies, engines and other components, though missiles require a reentry capability and other technologies.

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If you put a satellite on the top of a rocket, it would become a space launch vehicle. But if you mount a warhead on it, it becomes a weapon, said Kwon Yong Soo, a former professor at Korea National Defense University in South Korea. (A successful launch) is really meaningful because we also succeed in the test of a long-range rocket that can be used to build a long-range missile.

Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Koreas Science and Technology Policy Institute, said it would be difficult to directly use Nuri as a missile because it employs liquid fuels that must be kept at extremely low temperatures and requires much longer fueling time than solid fuels. He said North Korean long-range missiles also use liquid fuels, but extremely toxic ones that are maintained at ordinary temperatures and require less fueling time than Nuri.

This year, North Korea has test-launched about 30 missiles with ranges that potentially place the U.S. mainland and regional allies South Korea and Japan within striking distance.

South Korea already has missiles that can hit all of North Korea, but some experts say it also needs longer-range missiles because its surrounded by regional military powers and potential adversaries.

If we only think about North Korea, a long-range missile doesnt mean much for us. But its very unfortunate that military powers like China and Russia are near us, Kwon said.

He said Nuris successful launch proves South Korea has the capability to send a spy satellite into orbit. Lee said Nuri can be used to launch a spy satellite, but it would be better for South Korea to have many small spy satellites that could be sent up with less powerful solid-fueled rockets.

South Korea currently has no military reconnaissance satellites of its own and depends on U.S. spy satellites to monitor strategic facilities in North Korea. South Korea has said it plans to launch its own surveillance satellites soon.
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ALBANY  Stewarts Shops has closed its location near the Albany Medical Center campus, citing anemic business and an inability to expand.

The decision to permanently shutter 10 New Scotland Ave. was unavoidable, according to company officials.

Unfortunately, there is not enough business at this shop and with rising wages, growing costs and the burden of increased regulations, this closure was necessary, said Erica Komoroske, a company spokeswoman.

In most areas, Komoroske said Stewarts Shops have the space to be the community grocery store, restaurant and gas station."

Yet the now-shuttered location, she said, could not expand to fit those needs.

The location didnt have gas pumps and was one of several businesses in a mini-strip mall-type setting.

City Councillor Jack Flynn, Ward 8, said the store was also a magnet for criminal activity, including shoplifting, while employees were at the receiving end of death threats.

Stewarts rep Tyler Fronte confirmed public safety issues.

Weve had quite a few problems as of lately with partner security, Fronte said, referring to company vernacular for store employees.

Komoroske downplayed problems singular to the location, which straddles the borders of Washington Park and Albany Meds campus.

Security and theft remain a concern at all of our shops, Komoroske said.

City police didnt immediately respond on Tuesday when asked about the number of service calls to 10 New Scotland Ave., which closed on Sunday. All employees have been offered positions at nearby locations.

At least one other location in the city of Albany was shuttered for similar reasons: Morton Avenue in 2018, Komoroske said, as well as a store on Central Avenue in Colonie this past January. And in Troy, the company shuttered a location on Sixth Avenue in early 2019, also because they could not expand gas or food-to-go options.

We did try and build a location at the corner of Colvin and Washington, but the project was denied, Komoroske said, citing a 2020 rejection by the city Planning Board. We are always looking at new locations throughout Albany for future shops.

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Flynn lamented the closure, calling Stewarts a great community advocate.

And he harbored concerns if a second Stewarts Shops at the corner of Central Avenue and Manning Boulevard facing similar challenges would prompt a similar decision by the company.

Stewarts reps said there are no plans to close that location.

However, there are security concerns at this shop, Komoroske said. Weve had to limit our hours and partner safety is always a priority.

Flynn said hell work with City Councillor Alfredo Balarin, Ward 11, to avert a possible closure, scheduling outreach with city police, neighborhood groups and company brass to discuss ways to keep the location safe and open.

Company brass said theyre always scouting out prospects for new locations.

"Although we are closing this shop, we continue to invest in the Capital Region and are always looking for opportunities to expand our presence in Albany and Albany County, Stewarts Shops President Gary Dake said in a statement.
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COHOES  When Season Two of HBOs The Gilded Age debuts, the audience will see the Harmony Mills complex standing in for Pittsburgh and scenes from a play performed on the Cohoes Music Hall stage.

Executive Producer David Crockett described in an interview how the series set in 19th century New York City is expanding its storylines and its cast of characters leading the show, to break out of its Troy base from the first season to take advantage of settings in Albany and Cohoes.

We like Troy so much, but were hoping to see some new areas ... Our story expands for a second season. We need new locations and different things to see. Were working our way around, Crockett said.

Just as the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall stood in for a concert hall in New York City, the Cohoes Music Hall, which opened in 1874, will provide the performance space for a play.

We have a theater scene that we will be shooting there, Crockett said. The crews will film portions of a play that will be performed in the Music Hall, which is in the upper stories of a bank building.

The Gilded Age, with its nine episodes set in 1882, was created and written by Julian Fellowes, who also was the creative force behind the Downton Abbey series set in Great Britain. While The Gilded Age takes place in late 19th century New York depicting the lives of societys upper crust, Downtown Abbey occurs several decades later in the 20th century portraying the lives of British aristocrats.

During the 2021 filming in Troy, Fellowes kept an eye remotely on the production from Great Britain. When filming starts locally in August, Fellowes may appear in the Capital Region for a few days to visit the sets, Crockett said.

Hes trying to figure out his schedule. Hes made a point to say he really, really wants to try to come after seeing so much of it on film, Crockett said.

Fellowes work demands historic authenticity. Troy in the first season gave that feeling in creating Gilded Age Manhattan and Brooklyn. Crockett said he marveled at the depth Troys surviving 19th century streetscape gave the production without having to rely on massive use of computer generated graphics.

While production crews are slowly arriving in Troy to begin preparations, the series will film about one-third of its scenes each in Troy, Cohoes and Albany, Crockett said.

Harmony Mills, which straddles either side of North Mohawk Street, will stand in for the Pittsburgh mills that tycoon George Russell, portrayed by Morgan Spector, owns in Pittsburgh. Harmony Mills, now home to apartments and lofts, was at one time the largest cotton mill complex in the world after it was built in the late 19th century.

The production also is looking at streets in Cohoes for exteriors. Cataract and School streets, which are lined with housing for the original mill workers were scoped out last year.

The Gilded Age has picked some of the citys gems to film and it shows that Cohoes plans to preserve and enhance its historic buildings are paying off, Mayor William Keeler said.

Best of the Capital Region 2022 Its the 25th anniversary of our Best of the Capital Region readers survey. Make sure your voice is heard by nominating your favorite people, places and businesses between Jan. 21 and Feb. 4.

In Albany, the First Presbyterian Church at Willett and State streets will be used for a church scene as may other churches in the city. Albanys Washington Park will stand in for scenes set in Central Park in New York, Crockett said.

Location scouts and the production team took a long look at using the Oklahoma Track in Saratoga Springs, but it wont be filmed this year, Crockett said. It may later on if the series continues to be renewed.

Everything that we do is really looking for pieces of the puzzle, Crockett said.

Thats whats occurring with the depiction of the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. While Troys widows walks and upper stories were studied, it appears that it will be a welding of local appearances and computer graphics to catch the flavor of the hoopla surrounding the bridge linking Brooklyn to Manhattan.

Everybody had a great time up here last year. Its an enjoyable place to spend time. Its an enjoyable place to film, Crockett said about the region.
BRUNSWICK  On May 31, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik held a meet-and-greet event at the Brunswick Community Center, a taxpayer-supported venue run by Brunswick's town government.

People suspected of being political opponents of the Schuylerville Republican were not allowed to enter the event, including Democrats who had been outside protesting her appearance. Stefanik is a vocal supporter of former President Donald J. Trump.

Stefanik was allowed to use the 3,000-square-foot venue by Phil Herrington, the town's supervisor and a fellow Republican.

That roiled many Democrats because about two years ago, then-Congressman Antonio Delgado, a Democrat who represented Rensselaer County, was barred from using the same community center by a different Brunswick Republican elected official, Town Clerk Bill Lewis.

At a Town Board meeting on June 9, Kathy Betzinger relayed how she'd sought to use the center for the Delgado event but was rejected; she alleged politics were influencing access to and use of a taxpayer-funded space.

"You're all the same party, you're using it politically, and I just have a problem with that," said Betzinger, the former chair of the Brunswick Democratic Party. "This is our community center. So we either have one set of rules, or it's over."

Lewis, who attended the town meeting, confirmed that Delgado had not been allowed to use the venue because "over the years, we've pretty much not allowed anybody to use it for political matters."



At the same meeting, Herrington stated that he had not consulted the Town Board before allowing the Stefanik event to take place at the community center. He acknowledged that bylaws likely prohibited use of the center for political events though he noted that, over the years, political parties had held caucuses there.

Herrington even suggested that he consciously did not consult the town attorney out of concern that he would have advised against holding the Stefanik event.

"I didnt check with the town attorney  because I know what his answer would have been, quickly," Herrington said.

Herrington said the booking of the event was "100 percent" done by him. He'd gotten a call from a top Rensselaer County GOP operative, Richard W. Crist, who is the county's operations manager, stating Stefanik needed a place for the meet-and-greet.

Herrington said he'd understood that the event was "open to everybody."

Upon agreeing to allow the congresswoman's event at the center, Herrington said he got in touch with Jennifer Mann, the chair of the Brunswick Democratic Committee, and extended an offer for Stefanik's Democrat opponent, Matt Castelli, to hold a similar event at the same venue.

"I wanted to be fair," he said. "If we're going to have one person come, we've got to have the other party."

Stefanik's district does not currently include Rensselaer County, but due to the once-a-decade redistricting process she will seek re-election in November in a district that includes part of it.

Democrats who were at the congresswoman's event last month said that the 50 or so people who participated in the protest were filmed by a young man who walked around recording video and taking photographs, images that were apparently then used to identify and bar those people from entering the event. Others who did not protest but were suspected of being Stefanik's political opponents also were barred from entry, according to Mann. She wore a sticker in support of Castelli, but did not participate in the protest. Mann was also holding a clipboard in order to take notes, which was cited by a Stefanik staffer as the reason to bar her, Mann said.

"He said, 'You're one of them, you're a campaign operative, you're collecting signatures for the other side,'" Mann recalled. "And he was super, super rude to me."

Outside the venue, a Stefanik opponent confronted former Rensselaer County Legislator Todd Tesman, a Republican.

As tensions had increased, Tesman said he was asked to provide "security" at the event's door. Tesman told the Times Union that the man had shouted an obscenity at him, and the "way that he was reacting led me to believe that man wanted a physical confrontation, which he did not get from me."

Other Stefanik opponents were "relentlessly" trying to get past the person in front of the door, stepping on the foot of the man standing there, Tesman said.

Crist at this point decided to lock the event venue's doors, according to Herrington.

"Rich Crist said, 'We can't let these people in. I paid for it, we paid for it. It was a private event as far as we're concerned. If we let these (people) in, it's going to get out of control,'" Herrington recalled.

"So they made a decision to shut the door," he said. "That was not what I envisioned."

Most protesters were not planning on causing problems, Mann said.

"They were all a bunch of gray-haired old ladies and men, laughing and smiling at people," she said.

According to Mann, Stefanik staffers said the event was "private" and required an RSVP. The flier for the event, which was sponsored by the Rensselaer County Republican Party, did not state that an RSVP was required.

Crist told the Times Union that "the actions taken were in the interest of safety and protecting everyone who attended the event."

Alex DeGrasse, a senior advisor for Stefanik, said that local elected officials invited her to the event, "which included Republicans, Democrats and independents in attendance."

DeGrasse, who did not say whether he attended the event, in a statement said that, "local organizers received reports from attendees that ... (protesters) blocked cars and screamed obscene, threatening language at Stefanik supporters. The Stefanik campaign condemns any acts or threats of violence and will never tolerate criminal behavior."

Some Democrats did get into the event, including one who took a video of Stefanik's remarks. She gave a seven-minute, campaign-style speech, promising to win re-election so as to "fire Nancy Pelosi once and for all" and "save this country."

There were no disruptions during the speech, and Stefanik did not take questions from the audience. She then walked around the room and spoke to individual attendees.

At the Town Board meeting two weeks ago, Herrington gave a lengthy play-by-play of the evening's events that did not include certain allegations now being lodged by Stefanik's campaign, including that protesters physically pushed campaign staff.

"Honest to God, if you just came and parked your car and went in, you could have stayed inside," Herrington told the Democrats present at the meeting. He added that the presence of protesters "shocked me."

A lifelong resident who attended the event and is a registered Democrat disputed any allegation that there was pushing or that anyone lobbed obscenities at Stefanik's attendees. He said there was some yelling but that it was a Stefanik supporter who directed racist language at the protesters.
The Government has said it is in ongoing contact with French authorities about a military exercise planned for this week that may affect a part of Irelands waters.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is in contact with the French authorities in relation to a missile or rocket-firing exercise planned for this week, taking place in an area of the Atlantic Ocean off the French coast, but which may stretch to the extremities of Irelands southern waters.

The exercise is scheduled to take place from Tuesday until Friday and Monday between 2am to 4pm each day.

A small piece of the southern extremity of Irelands exclusive economic zone (EEZ), approximately 200km south west of Irelands territorial waters, is among the area where the French military exercise may take place.

An EEZ is an area of the sea in which a country has special access to its marine resources.

The Irish Aviation Authority was informed of the military exercises via standard procedures, and the Department of Transport has issued a marine notice on Monday in response.

The notice states: Given the nature of the planned exercises, vessels and crew are advised of safety risks in the operational area.

The Department said in a statement: As a close EU partner, the Department of Foreign Affairs will, as normal, maintain contact with the French authorities throughout the period of the military exercise.

Cork fisherman Patrick Murphy, CEO of the Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation, told RTE Radios Drivetime that the exercise was wrong and the damage that could be done to biologically sensitive areas by the military exercise.

We have the Celtic Explorer, the Marine Institutes vessel for monitoring and collecting data on species, that is actually working in that area at the moment, and this could play havoc with the data that theyre collecting.

Mr Murphy and a number of other fishing representatives met with the Russian ambassador to Ireland Yury Filatov and his colleagues earlier this year about a Russian military exercise that had been planned off the coast of Co Cork.

The exercise was later moved outside of Irelands EEZ.

Asked about the French military exercise, Mr Murphy said this is a serious development.

It is no different from the one that we managed to stave off and push off outside of our EEZ, which were the Russians. The only difference here is the flag.

When we met with the Russian ambassador the last time we got assurances that the trajectories of the missiles or bullets or whatever they were firing would be away from our fishing vessels that would be inside the area.

This time we dont know are these vessels firing from the French side into the Irish EEZ zone. We dont know. We have no clue about the nature of these exercises and whether these will be left on the sea floor.

This is a real concern for our industry. We fished in these waters and we will continue to fish in these waters. We dont need this type of armaments on the seafloor to be coming up in our nets.
The majority of young Irish prisoners are likely to re-offend within three years of release from prison, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has found.

The 'Prison Re-offending 2019' report published today (Tuesday June 21) uses data from the Irish Prisons Service and An Garda Siochana's PULSE reporting system to determine re-offending patterns across demographics.

The report has revealed 82% of prisoners under the age of 21 at the time of their sentencing re-offended within three years.

Statistician at the Crime and Criminal Justice Division, Felix Coleman said, "The data [sic] indicates that younger age groups of individuals released from custodial sentences are much more likely to re-offend, with more than four-fifths (82%) of individuals aged less than 21 at the time of sentencing re-offending within three years of release.

"In contrast, just under 30% of prisoners who were over 50 years old re-offended within three years of release."

The significant re-offending rates among young adults is contrary to a dip in the number of re-offending rates overall.

Mr Coleman continued, "Re-offending rates have fallen over time whether one looks at three year or one year windows for re-offending following release from custody. Just less than 45% of individuals released in 2019 re-offended within one year of release, compared to just over 54% of individuals released in 2011 who re-offended within one year of release.

"The one year estimate of custodial re-offending for 2019 also shows a drop of three percentage points when compared with the same measure for re-offending for 2018 (just under 48%)."

The report also noted a difference in re-offending rates between males and females depending on type of sentence received in court (custodial or fine).

Mr Coleman said, "Although most individuals released from custodial sentences in 2016 were male (92%), more females re-offended within three years (70%) than males (62%).

"In contrast, when looking at 2019 one-year fine sentence re-offending rates, males (47%) were more likely to re-offend than females (42%)."

Over 80% of individuals released from custodial sentences in 2016 relating to Public Order offences (threatening or insulting behaviour, trespassing and failure to comply with directions from An Garda Siochana) re-offended within three years of release.

People released from custody in relation to Damage to Property and the Environment and Burglary were the next most likely to re-offend within the time frame (79% and 77% respectively).

Individuals released from custody in relation to Sexual Offences (23%) were the least likely to re-offend.
For those who don't know . . .

David Ernest Duke is an American white supremacist, antisemitic conspiracy theorist, far-right politician, convicted felon, and former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. From 1989 to 1992, he was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for the Republican Party.



And for those who might have missed it . . . Here's the name check and obligatory political castigation from Mayor Q . . .



Local conservative talker Pete Mundo will talk with the embattled politico this morning.

From our vantage . . .

What's important here is that BOTH DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERS & REPUBLICANS are speaking out against this thinly veiled threat of violence. Moreover, this OUTRAGE DEFENDS REPUBLICANS FOR A CHANGE . . .

Whilst the TKC blog community is always in it for the LULZ . . .

People who REALLY support this kind of advert, discourse & tactics aren't conservatives, they're trolls.

This video gambit doesn't really require outrage but a calm and thoughtful explanation of why it's a cynical publicity stunt from a politico who was betrayed by his own party and now stands at war with most Missouri Republicans.

The ploy might be effective considering recent polling numbers but it remains desperate and hostile.



Meanwhile . . . We share a few more links on the fallout of his EPIC troll on American media.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Eric Greitens calls mounting criticism of RINO-hunting video 'faux outrage' * Missouri Independent In an appearance in KCMO's "Pete Mundo in the Morning" show, Greitens said the video had been seen by 3.5 million people, generated thousands of hits on the fundraising site it promotes and achieved its dual purposes of getting attention for his campaign and outraging his opponents.

Ex-Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens' 'RINO Hunting' Ad Is a Dumb, Dangerous Troll Back in 1984, when former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens and I were about 10 years old, a man named James Oliver Huberty walked into a California McDonald's with an Uzi, a handgun, and a shotgun, and mowed down 21 people, while also injuring 19.

Analysis: Viral 'RINO hunting' ad goes too far Missouri Republican Senate candidate Eric Greitens released a campaign ad urging his supporters to 'hunt' political opponents. CNN's Chris Cillizza breaks down what this ad says about our current political climate.

'He's Going into a House with a Gun': Fox News' Martha MacCallum Presses J.D. Vance on Greitens' 'RINO-Hunting' Ad Ohio U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Vance downplayed any suggestion that Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Eric Greitens is calling for violence in his latest ad. On Monday, Greitens released an ad featuring the candidate brandishing a shotgun and entering a house with a tactical team to hunt "RINOs," or, Republicans In Name Only.

Developing . . .


As election season heats up, insiders were kind enough to share a glimpse of Kansas City's future before it takes hold.

Here's the deal . . .

BEHIND THE SCENES KANSAS CITY POWER PLAYERS HAVE ANOINTED DR. MELISSA PATTERSON HAZLEY AS THIS COWTOWN'S NEXT MAYOR!!!



We're going to try to make it plain because there are a few moving parts to this story . . .

First of all, who is she?!?!

Dr. Melissa Patterson Hazley is an Educational Psychologist, a senior researcher with the UMKC Institute for Human Development and a native Kansas Citian. She also served as the Chair of the Central City Economic Development Sales Tax Board, which is a 1/8 cent sales tax fund dedicated to economic development in Kansas Citys urban core.

It's also worth noting her legacy . . . She's a descendant of KCMO icon Charles Hazley who served as a councilman from 1971 to 1991.



In what is the worst kept secret in all of local politics . . . She's campaigning hard amid an increasingly crowded 3rd District At-Large contest.

A quick breakdown . . .

We're all familiar with a ridiculous poking incident . . . But voters should also understand . . .



Freedom, Inc. has all but declared political war on incumbent 3rd District At-Large Councilman Brandon Ellington. Even worse, Mayor Q isn't fond of his colleague who he feels should/but doesn't provide (former) home district support.

Meanwhile . . .



Local media personality Darron Story has a lot of friends and he has garnered the early support of former Mayor Sly James but after a year of campaigning . . . People mostly know him as a pleasant voice on the radio.

Even further behind the scenes . . . Yes, we've heard about a potential Northeast candidate who may very well SHOCK & FRUSTRATE his entrenched political rivals and we'll talk about that at some point but this post belongs to the future.



Now . . .

The civic elite have decided that Dr. Hazley is their future favorite and whilst her political career might be groundbreaking . . . It also serves to protect that status quo.

Accordingly . . .

Insiders noticed Dr. Hazley EARNESTLY campaigning at Congressman Cleaver's recent BBQ wherein she secured a surprising number of commitments and connections.

But even better than political favors . . .

Here's the trump card that Dr. Michelle Patterson Hazley holds . . .



She is a favorite of Bridgette Williams - The Heavy Constructors boss who controls more campaign cash than ANYBODY in Kansas City.



And so . . .

Here's how things will probably might work themselves out . . .

Dr. Hazley will meet with overwhelming support and love from the the local civic set and mainstream media.

She will serve one term on council.

And as Mayor Q is termed out . . . Following in his footsteps . . .



Dr. Melissa Patterson Hazley ASCENDS to her place in Kansas City history as this town's first African-American Mayor.

Even better . . .

The Heavies control taxpayer purse strings for another 8 years at 12th & Oak and our progressive friends can sleep better having helped achieved a KCMO milestone without any regard for the shaky finances and infrastructure of this community.

Again, as usual, the Northeast could provide a stumbling block here . . .

Also . . .

Dr. Hazley has impressive qualifications and we hear she's a very nice person . . . But academics rarely make good big city politicians.

She's already engaged in municipal life so it's possible that she has garnered valuable experience dealing with the murky world of local politics . . . Then again . . . Insiders fear that she might suffer from an inability to cope with criticism and challenges that always come with work as an elected official.

Nevertheless . . .

The local elite have seemingly ordained Dr. Melissa Patterson Hazley as a new leader of Kansas City and their money and favor is now hers to lose.

Developing . . .
Campaign mounts to have Muzzo name removed from York Region, Toronto hospitals
Mayor John Tory says supporting Indigenous-led housing projects is an important part of the affordable housing strategy in the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan. - Dan Pearce/Metroland
The teen, who can't be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 15
George Brown College will work with Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN) to animate campus space to be reflective of Indigenous heritage and cultural best practices. - George Brown College Facebook
Provincial parties including the New Democrats are pledging improvements to Scarborough Health Network's Centenary campus, shown here, as well as its Birchmount site in Agincourt. - Metroland file photo
Toronto police say they have detained a man and dog after two violent robberies and an attempted boat theft Saturday morning that sent two people to hospital with serious injuries.
Should Gary Griffith reapply for the Police Commissioner job he once held? Well the Opposition Leader says he should. She took time to address that matter as she voted in her party's internal election today which she predicts she will win by a landslide.
In the southern direction, the Ukrainian military killed 25 Russian invaders, a powerful communications station, and three ammunition depots in the past day alone.

This was reported on Facebook by Operational Command South, according to Ukrinform.

"The activity of our forces pushes the enemy to resort to desperate means of influence. Limited in maneuvers and restrained in advancing, the enemy is trying to hold its ground on the farthest equipped line of defense. Meanwhile, from the air and from the temporarily occupied Crimea, they inflicted a massive missile strike. "Four X-31A missiles from an enemy fighter and an Onyx missile from the coastal missile complex, all targeting Ochakiv, hit the farmland area in the suburbs," the statement said.

It is noted that nine more Onyx missiles targeted Odesa region. In the Danube Delta, residential buildings located on the islands were damaged. In the Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky district, arrivals were reported near the cemetery and by an industrial infrastructure site. No casualties were reported. In Odesa, a civilian security guard was killed by an enemy strike on a logistics warehouse.

In Kherson region, an enemy Ka-52 helicopter launched an air strike at the positions of Ukrainian defenders. No casualties were reported. In response, Ukrainian helicopters attacked enemy positions in the area.

"In an attempt to increase its influence on our defenses and counter-offensive actions, the enemy employed incendiary munitions proscribed by international humanitarian law," OC South wrote.

The Ukrainian forces destroyed a T-62 tank, a Meteorit self-propelled jet mortar, a powerful communications station, a radar, an electronic warfare station, two military trucks, and three ammunition depots were destroyed throughout the day. During an attempt to carry out air reconnaissance in Mykolaiv region, the enemy also lost two of its Orlan-10 UAVs.

The enemy group in the northwestern Black Sea area currently consists of five warships, four landing craft, and a submarine.

In refutation of enemy propaganda reports, the statement says the rest of the fleet remains at its bases. However, the threat of a missile strike remains relevant, and an attempt at deploying a landing party is not ruled out.

"The sea continues to eloquently persuade vacationers to stay away as far as possible from the shoreline. In Koblevo, waves brought ashore another sea mine. At a distance of about 50 meters, it detonated," added the Ukrainian military.
At least 323 children have been killed and 587 injured in Ukraine since the Russian invasion started.

The Ukrainian Prosecutor Generals Office said this in a statement posted to Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

More than 910 children were injured in Ukraine as a result of full-scale armed aggression by the Russian Federation. As of the morning of June 21, 2022, the official number of child victims over the past day has not changed - 323. The number of those injured has increased to 587, the report states.

On June 19, a 16-year-old girl was injured by enemy shelling in the village of Ivanivka, Izium district, Kharkiv region.

These figures are not final, as they are being investigated within the areas of hostilities, temporarily occupied and liberated areas.

Currently, most casualties were recorded in Donetsk Region (302), Kharkiv Region (174), Kyiv Region (116), Chernihiv Region (68), Luhansk Region (54), Kherson Region (52), Mykolaiv Region (48), Zaporizhzhia Region (30), and Sumy Region (17).

A total of 2,052 educational institutions were damaged across Ukraine as a result of Russias daily air and artillery strikes, and 210 of them were destroyed completely.

On February 24, 2022, Russia started a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian occupiers are shelling and bombarding Ukrainian cities and villages, torturing and murdering civilians.
Russian forces have fired at the Donetsk region from aircraft and used cluster munitions over the past day.

That's according to the press service of the Donetsk regional police, Ukrinform reports.

In the Donetsk region, the police documented 23 war crimes committed by Russia.

"The occupiers fired on 16 settlements, killing and wounding civilians. Some 54 civilian buildings were destroyed, including residential buildings and infrastructure," the statement said.

The towns of Avdiivka, Myrnohrad, Hirnyk, Kurakhove, Bakhmut, Toretsk, Druzhkivka, Siversk and the villages of Zhelanne, Kurakhivka, Hostre, New York, Opytne, Reznikivka, Tonenke, and Bila Hora came under enemy fire.

Russian forces fired on the Donetsk region using aircraft, an S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, Tornado-S and Uragan MLRS, artillery, and tanks. The invaders also used cluster munitions.

Some 41 residential buildings were destroyed and damaged by the shelling, including ten apartment buildings, a kindergarten, a farm, a mine, factories, and a penal colony.

In addition, Russian troops shelled a school in Avdiivka using Grad multiple rocket launchers. The building burned down. This is the third school destroyed by the Russians in this city.

The police and the Security Service of Ukraine have opened criminal proceedings under Article 438 (violation of the laws or customs of war) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Hollywood actor Ben Stiller in Ukraine wanted to see for himself the scale of the devastation and talk to people who were forced to flee their homes due to the war and are now trying to return to normal life.

This was reported by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Ukrinform informs.

"These personal stories will allow Mr. Stiller to draw attention to the growing need for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, both the urgent and medium- and long-term needs of displaced persons and communities, and relevant UNHCR programs, especially in the areas of protection, housing and assistance (cash and in-kind)," the report states.

During the visit, Stiller reportedly met with residents of Makariv, whose homes were destroyed, and visited the local community center in Irpin, which UNHCR helped rebuild in 2014 to meet IDPs from Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The actor also talked to several people who were forced to leave their homes for the second time when Irpin began firing on Russian invaders.

Earlier, during a visit to Poland this week, Stiller met with Ukrainian refugees. Among them was a woman who left Kharkiv with three children two months ago. The family wants to return to Ukraine, but the area where they lived was destroyed by the shelling.

Ben Stiller became a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in 2018 and has been one of the most influential voices on refugee and internal displacement since.

It was reported that Hollywood actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Ben Stiller arrived in Ukraine on June 19. He visited Lviv, as well as the liberated settlements of Kyiv region.

He also met with President of Ukraine VolodymyrZelensky and Foreign Minister DmytroKuleba.

UNHCR has been working in Ukraine since 1994. After February 24, 2022, the organization significantly expanded its humanitarian programs to support government efforts to respond to the urgent humanitarian and long-term problems and needs of affected populations and communities in recovery. In particular, UNHCR helps to repair damaged homes, provides legal advice to missing persons, psychosocial support for rehabilitation after trauma, and financial and in-kind assistance to people to cover their basic needs such as housing, hygiene and food.

Photo: UNHCR / Andrew McConnell
Russia will make active efforts to obtain access to Western military technology through circumventing sanctions.

Thats according to the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS), Ukrinform reports.

"Today, CSIS is warning Canadian businesses () that Russia will be looking actively for ways to circumvent new rounds of sanctions," the intelligence service said.

It is noted that the Russian defense industry is heavily dependent on foreign components and technologies in modernizing its army. "Attempts by Russian stakeholders to evade these sanctions and illegally acquire Western dual use/restricted technologies will continueand potentially escalate, including in Canada," the agency warned.

CSIS is Canada's top intelligence service, collecting and analyzing information on the country's national security, participating in counterintelligence efforts, as well as intelligence operations in Canada and beyond.
Stopping Russian gas purchases through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline would be reasonable if it was agreed at the European level.

Thats according to Fabian Molina, a member of the Swiss parliament, Ukrinform reports referring to Guildhall.

SP (Social-Democratic Party of) Switzerland is shocked by the ongoing illegal and brutal war of aggression in Ukraine and since the outbreak of the invasion has successfully campaigned for Switzerland to adopt the EU sanctions as well as proposed additional sanctions against those responsible for the war, such as account freezes or a trade ban on Russian gas and oil in Switzerland, the legislator said.

SP National Councilor Jon Pult has also called for Switzerland to stop buying gas from Nord Stream 2 as early as 2021. It is clear that Switzerland must also get rid of fossil fuels in its energy supply as quickly as possible. However, a boycott of gas from Nord Stream 1 only makes sense if coordinated at European level, added the lawmaker.

Member of European Parliament Reinhard Butikofer (Germany) has shared the view of the EU's need to abandon Russian energy.

I advocate severing European dependencies on Russian fossil energy, he said. My own country will do that step by step.

Earlier, the German economy ministry official noted that a national effort is required for Germany to achieve energy independence from Russia  both at the national, state, and local levels, including those of businesses and households. In 2024, it is realistic to drop consumption of Russian gas to 10%.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has said that Russia must stop blocking Ukrainian seaports as this could lead to world hunger.

Colonna spoke of this in Luxembourg at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Ukrinform reports.

"Russia must stop playing with world hunger," said the top diplomat. She also stressed that "Russia must stop blocking Ukrainian ports and destroying storage infrastructure in Ukraine."

According to the Minister, France strongly supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General and the special role of Turkey in finding an agreement to facilitate the export of grain from Ukraine via the Black Sea.

"There are many risks that Ukrainian grain will remain blocked; its dangerous for global stability," said Kolonna.

She noted that the issue of unblocking the export of Ukrainian grain will be at the center of negotiations between EU foreign ministers.

On February 24, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. As a result of hostilities in Ukrainian ports blocked more than 20 million tonnes of grain, much of which was intended for the UN World Food Program.

The European Union has created so-called "solidarity corridors" for the export of Ukrainian grain by land, rail, road, and inland waterways, but these emergency measures cannot fully address the issue. The EU supports UN efforts to find further ways to unblock Ukrainian ports and resume trade via the Black Sea routes.
The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria) have signed a memorandum providing for the establishment of a permanent consultative mechanism for cooperation.

That's according to the ministry's press service, Ukrinform reports.

"The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The signing of the document is aimed at finding the most optimal mechanism for mutually beneficial cooperation between Ukraine and Italy, as well as deepening cooperation between the two countries' business circles," the statement said.

The signatories agreed to establish a permanent bilateral advisory mechanism on cooperation in the economic sphere, the statement added. It will envisage, in particular, cooperation in attracting investment to build industrial capacity in Ukraine, including industrial outsourcing and promoting Ukraine's participation in European and regional value chains.

In addition, support will be provided to business representatives of Ukraine and Italy in order to more effectively realize the opportunities for bilateral trade.

Representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Confindustria will set up a working group to implement the memorandum.

The General Confederation of Italian Industry unites more than 150,000 companies that make up more than 34% of Italy's GDP.

On June 20, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the president of the General Confederation of Italian Industry, Carlo Bonomi. At the meeting, the head of state emphasized the importance of launching the confederation's office in Ukraine.
Russia's attempts to threaten Lithuania by banning the transit of goods to the Kaliningrad region pose a challenge for the European Union and NATO.

This opinion was expressed by the head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office Andriy Yermak on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"The Kremlin's attempts to threaten Lithuania are a challenge for the EU and NATO. Now it is important to maintain a stable position and make no concessions to Russia on sanctions and restrictions on transit of goods from Russia to Kaliningrad. Any concession will be perceived by Russia as a weakness," Yermak said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Lithuania has announced the suspension of transit to Kaliningrad of a large list of Russian goods that have fallen under EU sanctions.

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Lithuanian Charge d'Affaires, Virginia Umbrasene, strongly protesting the decision and demanding that the restrictions be lifted immediately.

At the same time, it was stated that "Russia reserves the right to act to protect its national interests."
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would do everything in his power to make sure Ukraine remains in global focus.

Thats according to Zelenskys video address to the nation, seen by Ukrinform.

The president said he had addressed the participants of the International Festival of Creativity in Cannes - the largest such event in the world: The Cannes Lions is a special audience. These are people who know how to control attention and who are very much needed in Ukraine right now. The longer the war lasts, the harder it is to compete for the attention of hundreds of millions of people in different countries. But I will do everything possible so that attention to Ukraine does not fade.

The leader said he had called on the most creative people in the world to be our allies in this, adding that feedback in Cannes was very positive.

Also, Zelensky addressed the summit of the Three Seas Initiative, a powerful association of 12 states between the Baltic, the Adriatic, and the Black Sea.

And at the summit it was decided that Ukraine acquires a status that will allow it to become a full member of the Three Seas Initiative.

For us, these are significant economic opportunities, modernization of transport, communications and networks. This is another line of close cooperation between Ukraine and the EU states, Zelensky said.

The president also reported that in the framework of the Open Border project, the capacity of the Krakovets-Korczowa checkpoint has been increased by 50 percent, which will significantly increase the export-import flow across the border. Modernization awaits other checkpoints on the borders with the European Union.

And it is tangible, not only for us. It allows doing global things, like fighting the food crisis provoked by Russia's blockade of ports, the president said.

I spoke about it in an address to the leaders of the African Union. I stressed that this crisis is artificial  it would not exist if it was not for the Russian war against us. I also stressed that we can ensure the supply of agricultural products in the amount that will definitely guarantee the security of Africa, the security of Asia.

Read also: Zelensky to address NATO summit in Madrid via video link

The president also addressed the participants of the Global Policy Forum in Italy on how to eventually bring all Ukrainian migrants home.

As reported earlier, Zelensky said he saw Italy as one of the guarantors of Ukraines security.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of Slovakia Eduard Heger coordinated their positions on the eve of the European Council session.

Coordinated positions with Eduard Heger on the eve of this week's session of the European Council, Zelensky posted on Twitter.

The President noted that he appreciated Slovakia's significant support on Ukraine's path to the European Union.

We are looking forward to the historic European Council decision, Zelensky stressed.

As reported, on June 17, the European Commission published its conclusions on the applications for accession to the EU filed by Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia and recommended granting Ukraine and Moldova candidate status. The European Council is due to consider the issue at its session on June 23-24.

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Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel has visited Borodianka in Kyiv region, destroyed by Russian invaders.

Borodianka has suffered to the point of total destruction by Russian aggression & is today a symbol of senseless cruelty and violence. Nothing can convey the horror of what has happened here, Bettel posted on Twitter.

Borondianka has suffered to the point of total destruction by Russian aggression & is today a symbol of senseless cruelty and violence. Nothing can convey the horror of what has happened here. pic.twitter.com/blb5x13xQQ  Xavier Bettel (@Xavier_Bettel) June 21, 2022

As reported, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel arrived in Kyiv today to demonstrate solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Photo: Xavier Bettel, Twitter

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The European Commission recommended last week that Ukraine be granted EU candidate status, which is a mandatory formal step before the issue is considered at the level of the European Council.

Following an official opinion of the European Commission, one of the skeptical countries -- the Netherlands -- announced that it was ready to support granting Ukraine candidate status. At the same time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Wopke Hoekstra, said that it could take many years before Ukraine becomes a full member of the EU. On Wednesday, June 22, the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament will discuss the country's position at the upcoming EU summit.

The European Council will consider Ukraine's bid for receiving the status of a candidate for EU membership at a meeting on June 23-24.

An Ukrinform correspondent in the Netherlands spoke with Emine Dzhaparova, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, who held a series of meetings to encourage European counterparts to support Ukraine and grant the country EU candidate status.

TRANSFORMATION OF PUBLIC OPINION IN THE NETHERLANDS

- On June 17, the European Commission recommended granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership. What does this mean for skeptical countries?

- This opinion, this assessment will be taken into account, but that's not all. There is another nuance. An opinion of the European Commission is followed by national procedures that require parliaments to adopt appropriate recommendations to their governments. And the debate on this issue in some parliaments, including in the Netherlands, will be very active. And, in fact, it's not clear which position wins. So we are here to create a basis for the parliament's recommendation to be in Ukraine's favor.

- What do you feel after the Government of the Netherlands declared its readiness to support granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership? How did you manage to reach the skeptical Netherlands?

- I feel uplifted, and I can accurately summarize the work of a large team of people whose mission has been accomplished. What we have been doing here in the past few weeks is ensuring a multi-component presence, actively working with experts, media, officials, parliament, and cultural diplomacy - we have used all possible levels and are happy to have received the signals we expected.

And the messages we conveyed, I think, they made an impression. The transformation of public opinion in the Netherlands has taken place, and the government has to keep up with what ordinary people think. And people think that we are part of the European community, that we deserve to be a country that must join the EU. At the same time, everyone understands that this is a path requiring transformation, reforms, and enormous efforts.

- Yes, Ukraine still has a lot to do, and they all constantly remind us of this. What has been done in the past eight years?

- We understand that on June 23-24, when, I hope, Ukraine is granted candidate status, it will be a political investment in the future, a political signal. At the same time, countries must take into account what we have already done. For example, 63% of the Association Agreement has been implemented. We are integrated into all possible areas of the European Union - from energy to trade. And this path will continue. Some 93% of our foreign policy decisions are in line with the European Union. We are consciously synchronizing our foreign policy decisions with our main partner -- the European Union. And this is also a sign that for us it is not just pathos, but our life, and we demonstrate our Europeanness on very specific life examples  when we fight, when we die for values, when people in European countries only talk about them, while we defend them. And this is a really huge path, when in such conditions we show the strength to talk about the future, rather than become pessimistic. And every Ukrainian does what he or she can. Putin's war has called into question stability as a phenomenon. And today more and more European countries understand that their security policy is not sufficient, is not effective, and it will not happen without Ukraine.

EUROPE NEEDS UKRAINE AS MUCH AS WE NEED EUROPE

- Why does the European Union need Ukraine?

- Ukraine will be a powerful partner. We are not a country that always asks for some assistance, as some imagine us to be. We are a country that makes a significant contribution, including to the security dimension. There is no country in the EU that would have such an experience of war, there is no country with such an army as ours. Agriculture, digitalization There is no country in the EU that has such a mobile app as "Diia", when in a few clicks you can get most of the public services. We tell all this to our partners, we demonstrate it to them.

- Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi visited Kyiv. How does such a demonstration of the horrors of war affect the leaders of the three countries when they return home from Ukraine?

- When you see with your own eyes that such horrors can happen in Europe in the 21st century and you see this not in the newspapers or videos, but with your own eyes, when you hear people who have survived these horrors, you can no longer live the way you lived before. And if it seems that the war is far away, then no, it is very close. For example, the Dutch like to go on holiday to Spain, and this is the same distance.

- What does the EU candidate status mean for Ukraine?

- Every relationship at some point needs to be formalized. I said so if we use metaphorical language. For example, when a man proposes to a woman and gives her a wedding ring as a sign that he wants to be with her, it does not guarantee that they will get married. But the wedding ring is a sign, a demonstration of the seriousness of intentions. We also see the candidate status as a signal that we are part of the European community. And if we do not receive this status, we will consider it to be a signal to Putin of the possibility of moving forward with impunity. His appetites will grow, and other countries will be the first under threat. We are on the verge of huge threats that did not exist after the Second World War. Putin wants to redraw the whole modern geopolitical map, so we say that Europe needs Ukraine as much as we need Europe.

WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE EVERY UKRAINIAN COULD RETURN HOME

- During your visit to the Netherlands, you met with Ukrainians who have been forced to leave their homes due to the war. What was this meeting like?

- The meeting was not just emotional. It was full of family ties. We shared our stories. I told my story about how my family is currently overcoming these challenges of war, and Ukrainians shared their stories and experiences with me. The main thing I came to them with is that we will all return [to Ukraine]. The president expects all Ukrainians to return home. And we are working to make sure that every Ukrainian could return home and have a place to return to.

- Tell us about your meeting with Mayor of Maastricht Annemarie Penn-te Strake, in particular, about further cooperation and the possibility of twinning between Maastricht and a Ukrainian city.

- It was a fantastic meeting. She is an empathetic person. She has done a lot to help our Ukrainians here. She asked what else could be done. In particular, we discussed the possibility of rehabilitating our civilians affected by the war. We talked about the possibility of signing an agreement on sister cities. And the mayor was very positive about this. We now have to work on this issue and give them suggestions.

- Last week, Rotterdam hosted a one-day business forum on the rebuilding of Ukraine. The event was attended by representatives of the public and business sectors of the Netherlands, foreign business, Ukrainian and Dutch associations in the fields of agriculture, energy, medicine, IT. Why are such events important for Ukraine today?

- We are presenting the government's vision of the reconstruction and development of the country. And this is also an investment in the future, because the war will end and the country will have to be rebuilt. And we see this rebuilding in the partnership. We invite Dutch businesses, and about 300 companies have registered for this business forum. That is, we see that there is great interest.

We are now presenting our roadmap. Dutch business needs to hear this. And on this basis, we can already talk about cooperation. This business forum provided signals from the Ukrainian side that reconstruction and development is what we are working on. That there is a government plan to be presented at the conference in Lugano, there are clear priorities, that there is really a business that is still going on, and there are companies that invest in Ukraine even under such difficult conditions, that life is going on.

And it is important for us to look for these opportunities, because the economy and entrepreneurs are the blood of any state. I am glad that a large number of people registered, there was maximum attendance. There are some signals of interest from the Dutch side, in particular from the Minister of Trade, with whom we met and talked in detail. Ukrainian companies working in IT, agriculture, energy came here to establish contacts with Dutch companies. Business contact always works better, because we can only create conditions.

And I looked at our participants: they are young, active, with excellent English. This is exactly how I imagine Ukraine. It seems to me that the Dutch  either businesses or government agencies - looking at such representatives of Ukraine, conclude for themselves that this is not the Soviet style of robots that read speeches from a sheet, barely speaking or not speaking any language except Russian. That is, it is a sign that we are people who want something, who are fighting for the future. Since one of the tasks of Russia is to kill our economy, then what we demonstrate, including at a business forum, is one of our counterattacks.

INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL TO INVESTIGATE RUSSIAN AGGRESSION

- Last week, it emerged that a Russian spy was trying to infiltrate the International Criminal Court as an intern. What do such actions by Russia say?

- Ukrainians have had no illusions for a long time. Russia is a cynical, insidious country that uses every opportunity to continue its crimes. The fact that posing as a Brazilian, this GUR officer Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov tried to infiltrate the ICC and obtain sensitive information, information related to their crimes, means that they feel that these crimes exist. We all know that these crimes exist, but if you listen to Russian officials and the propaganda that Ukraine is to blame for everything and they tried to save the world from Nazism, all this nonsense proves that this country is going further and deeper into the point of no return.

- How has the world's attitude to Russia changed today?

- Yes, what we have today about Russia is not enough. At the same time, the way Russia is seen today has never been before. We constantly had to find a million and a thousand arguments, proving what modern Russia is. We were partly heard and partly not heard. Today it is much easier to do this. However, even under such conditions, we still have voices that are beginning to say: let's begin to reach an agreement.

- More than 40 countries supported the idea of creating the Special Tribunal for the Punishment of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. When and how can it be created?

- Crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes of aggression, genocide - all these can be considered by the International Criminal Court. But it is essential for us to prove that Russia is an aggressor country. The world's leading lawyers spoke about the need to think about creating a separate tribunal. We followed this path. We are currently conducting diplomatic work to prove why Ukraine wants to launch this tribunal. It is crucial for us that it should be internationally recognized. Not just a national court in Ukraine, but an international tribunal. And the more countries are there, the greater the authority of this court is. And since our history proves that everything impossible is possible, there is also hope here that countries will support this idea.

CRIMEA IS ANOTHER HUB OF RUSSIAN AGGRESSION

- Russia uses Crimea for military purposes. Tell us about forced conscription in the annexed Crimea and life under occupation.

- Today, Crimea is directly used as a projection of force. Because the military is being brought to Crimea, equipment is being brought there, stolen grain is being brought. That is, Crimea is another hub of Russian aggression. People in Crimea, as they have been living under occupation for eight years, are afraid. This is the key thing that all Ukrainians should understand. Fear is the main feeling of the people there under occupation.

And the most cynical thing that is happening is the replacement of the population. For example, under such depressive conditions, Ukrainians simply leave, and Russians are brought in and stimulated to live there. Half a million Russian citizens have already arrived in Crimea. This is a crime. Today, they are trying to recruit our citizens from the occupied territories, in particular from Crimea, into the Russian army, and they are doing so by force. And if you refuse to join the army, you can go to jail. And this is a deliberate policy, when they actually kill our own citizens at the expense of our own citizens. And, of course, for us, it is a great human tragedy. And the same policy is used to the Crimean Tatars - to do everything possible to have the Crimean Tatars in the Russian army, who would then be sent here to fight.

- On the third day of the all-out invasion, Ukraine filed a lawsuit against Russia with the UN International Court of Justice demanding to bring the aggressor to justice for distorting the concept of genocide. After all, in order to justify its attack, Russia is actually trying to change the reality and distort everything, saying that Ukraine is allegedly guilty of genocide in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In March, a court ordered Russia to immediately suspend military operations launched on February 24, 2022 in Ukraine. However, Russia ignores this court decision. What's next?

- Our position is based on the fact that Russia is manipulating the very concept of genocide in order to hide their own crimes. And, in fact, today we invite countries to intervene. This is a legal procedure where countries can express their position on this, because the court has determined that we have until September 22, 2023 to submit our position. We will do it within a month, that is, we will do it earlier. And in fact, when we do, Russia must respond. The trials take much time regardless of whether this concerns the UN International Court of Justice or the idea of creating a separate international tribunal for aggression that we want to launch. The Scythian gold case alone has shown us how things that are obvious to us can last for years in space and time.

- The so-called Russian Crimean museums, after the defeat in the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, went to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands. However, it seems that it will quite difficult for the so-called Crimean museums, because after the all-out invasion, a law firm representing the interests of Crimean museums abandoned its clients. What does this mean for us?

- We will return the Scythian gold. It is already obvious to me that there is no chance for Russia. First, their legal position is weak. Secondly, in the civilized world it is difficult to find people willing to represent Russia's interests in court. There is no one to protect. Can you imagine the level of toxicity? None of those with world authority wants to work with them, and this is also a victory for us. That is why we must continue our struggle.

Iryna Drabok, The Hague

Photos by the author
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has allocated 15% of its defense budget to support the Ukrainian Army.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky made the statement during a joint briefing with Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Zelensky said that during his visit to Ukraine, Bettel visited deoccupied settlements in Kyiv region. He stressed that this visit confirmed support for Ukraine.

"Being in Ukraine now, being with Ukraine now is being on the bright side of history, no matter how difficult it may be," the Ukrainian head of state said.

Read also: Ukraine receives from Germany first batch of Panzerhaubitze artillery units

Zelensky noted Luxembourg's assistance, which has been actively provided to Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion. In this context, the president thanked Bettel for allocating 15% of Luxembourg's defense budget to support the Ukrainian Army.

He also expressed gratitude for helping Ukrainians who found shelter in Luxembourg amid the war.

At the same time, Zelensky said that during the meeting with Bettel, the two discussed issues of strengthening sanctions against Russia, addressing challenges related to the blockade of Ukrainian ports by the Russian military, as well as contributing to the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Regarding the reconstruction, Zelensky noted that the issue will be further considered at a conference in Lugano in July.

Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel is on a working visit to Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin for supporting the EU candidate status for Ukraine and invited him to visit the country.

The head of state said this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

"Talked to Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin on the eve of the historic European Council meeting. Thanked for Ireland's active support of Ukraine's European aspirations and the status of a candidate for EU membership. Invited to make the first visit to Ukraine in the history of bilateral relations," Zelensky said.

On June 17, the European Commission published its opinions on EU membership bids from Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia and recommended that the first two countries be granted candidate status. The European Council is due to consider the issue at a summit on June 23-24 and make a final decision.
Russian invaders in Mariupol began to exhume the dead.

The occupiers began a slow exhumation of the dead. The corpses are dug out, loaded on tractors and taken to a morgue at Metro. Registration is carried out exclusively involving relatives. Due to the heat, [bodies are] immediately taken from the morgue to mass graves. Not always with the installation of numbers," Petro Andriushchenko, adviser to Mariupol mayor, posted on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

He stated that the aggressors treated the dead as garbage and it had already become the norm.

At the same time, Andriushchenko outlined the biggest problems of the city. According to him, drinking water remains the number one problem. Despite the delivery of water once a week announced by the invaders, not all residents can collect it. In some areas where water supply is partially available, people are forced to use technical water as drinking water. And for the residents of Livoberezhny, this problem remains unresolved.

In addition, due to problems with the humanitarian aid (incapacitated residents of Mariupol almost do not receive it) and the availability of pensions, people stand in line for food to "supermarkets" for 3-4 hours. "Prices have skyrocketed immediately as Mariupol residents get money. The occupiers are taking advantage of the trouble at every turn," the mayor's adviser noted.

Mariupol experiences one of the biggest humanitarian disasters caused by Russia's aggression. The city was almost completely destroyed by enemy shelling.

Mariupol has no normal electricity, water and gas supply. About 22,000 civilians have died since the Russian invasion began. More than 50,000 have been deported to Russia and the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk region.

Today, more than 100,000 people remain in the blocked city. Mariupol is on the verge of ecological disaster and an outbreak of infectious diseases.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on the participants of the Cannes Lions International Festival to talk about Ukraine as the end of war and its circumstances depend on the world's attention.

We are defending against a nuclear state that has unlimited access to money and has disregarded any limits on violence. Ill be honest with you  the end of this war and its circumstances depend on the world's attention. And that's why I need allies. We need people like you. You are the most creative people in the world  always on the cutting edge, the President of Ukraine addressed the participants of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

As noted, creative people are able to find words and images to reach the depths of the human soul, make people talk about issues everyone would otherwise overlook.

I am sure that you will do a lot more to promote Ukrainian bravery. Your campaigns and your work will make our fight for freedom legendary. Because we are fighting not only for our own freedom but for the freedom of the entire democratic world; for all of those who cannot even imagine the extent of tyranny and censorship that exist in Russia, the President said.

Addressing the Festival participants, Zelensky said that they could bring peace to Europe simply by applying their professional qualities.

I believe that the power of human creativity is greater than the power of a nuclear state that is stuck in the past. Speak of Ukraine! Don't let the world switch to something else! The world must remember that Ukraine is fighting for freedom. This fight must end in our victory as soon as possible. Your every success will mean saving thousands of lives, the Head of State stressed.

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a global event for those working in creative communications, advertising, and related fields. The festival is considered the largest gathering of professionals, designers, digital innovators, and marketers in the world. The Cannes Lions is the most coveted and respected award in the global advertising and creative industry.

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Published June 21, 2022

CAPTION: ULM Medical Laboratory Science students learn about their future career at the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science of Louisiana and Mississippi 2022 Bi-State Annual Meeting. From left to right in the back row are Ashley Dupre, Shannon Johnson, Bishnu Dangol and Montserrat Brown-Garza. From left to right in the front row are Lauren Gremillion, Alicia Guerrero, Misisipi Bhandari, Chance Foret, Bennie Kirkikis and Chloe Paul.

MONROE, LA  Thirty-two Medical Laboratory Science students represented the University of Louisiana Monroe at the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science of Louisiana and Mississippi 2022 Bi-State Annual Meeting in New Orleans from April 19-21.

While there, three students were elected as officers for the Louisiana Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (LSCLS). In their new roles, Noor Farhat, Sara Seiler and Sam Hughes will increase awareness of the Medical Laboratory Science profession amongst Louisiana students.

Farhat, a first-year Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) student, also earned the 2022 LSCLS Student of the Year Award. Two other students took home honors to the bayou. Alexa Garlington, a second-year MLS student, received the Keys to the Future Award. Misisipi Bhandari, also a second-year MLS student, won the Betty Lynne Theriot Memorial Scholarship.



ULM Medical Laboratory Science students are fully prepared to represent our profession at the state and national level because of their didactic and professional training at the university and the bi-state meeting, said Jessica Lasiter, ULM MLS program coordinator.

Lasiter attended the conference with her students and colleagues Emilea Haddox, Debbie Wisenor and Karen Williams.



Year 2 MLS students Misisipi Bhandari, Chance Foret, Alicia Guerrero, Bennie Kirkikis, and Chloe Paul presented their MLS Quality Projects at the bistate meeting as an educational session. These projects were completed over the course of their final year with a clinical instructor serving as a mentor.



Travel to the conference was made possible by a $2,500 scholarship given by the ULM Student Enhancement Activity Fee Committee.

I enjoyed my time at the conference being able to learn from my peers and leaders. I was reminded of the great importance of medical laboratory scientists in healthcare, said ULM MLS student Lauren Gregory.



Medical laboratory scientists collect patient samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissues and other substances. Many medical laboratory scientists work in hospital laboratories. Others work in medical and diagnostic laboratories or doctors offices. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical laboratory scientists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.
Los titulares del @MinCulturaPe, @MineduPeru, @MTPE_Peru, @MTC_GobPeru y @MINPRODUCCION recibieron su cuarta dosis contra la COVID-19 en la campana de vacunacion que se realiza en los exteriores del coliseo donde se desarrolla el XVII Consejo de Ministros Descentralizado. pic.twitter.com/Rm395mQsMO
Montreal, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2022 ) :A major biodiversity summit delayed due to the pandemic will be held in Montreal, Canada instead of China as planned, the UN said Tuesday, as Beijing continues with its strict zero-Covid policy.

A group of around 195 nations are aiming to adopt a new global deal to arrest declining biodiversity and safeguard nature at the COP15 summit, which has been delayed three times and was originally scheduled to take place in southwest China's Kunming.

The secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN body behind the COP15 conference, said in a statement Tuesday that instead delegates would meet from December 5-17 in Canada, "where a new world agreement to safeguard nature is expected to be adopted." It did not give a reason for the summit location being moved.

But Beijing has persisted with strict Covid control policies including flight cancellations and quarantine requirements on arrival.

Environmentalists had earlier warned that the high-stakes deal could be jeopardised by the delays.

The meeting will bring together thousands of government officials and ministers, along with scientists, environmental activists and journalists.

A central pillar of the planned nature pact is to conserve at least 30 percent of the planet's land and oceans by 2030.

Negotiators are gathering Tuesday in Nairobi to work on a draft text of this global biodiversity framework to be adopted later this year.

More than 90 world leaders have signed a pledge over the past two years to reverse nature loss by 2030, stating that the interconnected threats of biodiversity loss and climate change are a "planetary emergency".

According to the most recent Protected Planet report by the UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre, only 17 percent of land habitats and around seven percent of marine areas were protected by 2020.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2022 ) :China on Tuesday earmarked 200 million Yuan (about 29.92 million U.S. Dollars) of central disaster-relief funds as rounds of rainstorms have battered the country's southern areas.

The emergency funds, allocated by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management, will be used to support flood-control and disaster-relief efforts in the provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi and Hunan, as well as the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Recent downpours in south China's Pearl River basin have affected some parts of Guangdong and Guangxi, prompting authorities to activate a Level-II emergency response on Monday.

East China's Jiangxi Province also upgraded the flood control emergency response to Level II on Monday evening.

China has a four-tier flood-control emergency response system, with level I being the most urgent and severe.

After entering the flood season, China has allocated 560 million yuan to help local governments in flood control and disaster relief.
Oslo, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2022 ) :The auction of Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov's Nobel gold medal for a whopping $103.5 million to benefit children displaced by the war in Ukraine smashed the record for Nobel medals.

The Nobel Peace Prize medal was sold to an as yet unidentified phone bidder at a sale in New York on Monday organised by Heritage Auctions.

Muratov won the medal, made of 150 grammes of 18-carat gold, in 2021 when he was awarded the Peace Prize together with Maria Ressa of the Philippines "for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression".

The proceeds of Monday's sale far exceed the previous record of $4.76 million for the sale of a Nobel medal in 2014.

"Muratov consulted the Nobel committee beforehand and was assured that the Nobel committee supported his decision to sell his medal so that the proceeds could benefit children and refugees of Ukraine," the committee's secretary Olav Njolstad told AFP.

"It's an excellent purpose. We can only congratulate him on the result and hope that the aid comes to those who need it the most", he wrote in an email.

Over the past 120 years, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to 975 individuals and organisations, honouring achievements in the fields of peace, literature, medicine, physics, chemistry and, since 1969, economics.

Swedish scientist and philanthropist Alfred Nobel created the prizes in his 1895 will for those who "have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".

Due to reversals of fortune and the sharing of inheritances, some of the medals have ended up at auction over the years.

The cheapest Nobel ever sold at auction is probably that of France's Aristide Briand, honoured in 1926 for his role in France and Germany's shortlived post-war reconciliation.

His prize went for a steal in 2008 at just 12,200 Euros ($12,870) to a folk museum in France. It was then actually stolen by unidentified thieves seven years later.

That of Britain's William Randal Cremer, who won in 1903, did only slightly better, going under the hammer for $17,000 in 1985.
Vice Chancellor Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Professor Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum will soon visit Saudi Arabia to explore and examine the possibilities of collaboration with the Saudi online education system as per the instructions of the Federal Ministry of Education and Vocational Training

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2022 ) :Vice Chancellor Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Professor Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum will soon visit Saudi Arabia to explore and examine the possibilities of collaboration with the Saudi online education system as per the instructions of the Federal Ministry of Education and Vocational Training.

This visit will be part of AIOU's efforts to establish and promote joint ventures with other countries for imparting quality education to the people of Pakistan.

Federal Minister for Education, Rana Tanveer Hussain was of the view that the online education system has become very popular all over the world during the COVID-19.

He said that Saudi Arabia has established a state of the art online system for education with 20 tv channels.

A delegation of AIOU will visit Saudi Arabia to examine their education system to improve the facilities here at AlOU.

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Zia Ul-Qayyum said that after the approval of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), the university has expedited the work of setting up the "Education Television Channel".

The university has already launched a 'Web TV' facility to provide multimedia support to its more than 1.2 million students across the country, which is running very successfully.
?? El Gobierno reafirma su compromiso con los agricultores.

? El presidente @PedroCastilloTe lidero el lanzamiento y colocacion de la primera piedra del proyecto de mejoramiento del servicio de recarga hidrica y aprovechamiento de agua de lluvia, en Coporaque, region Arequipa. pic.twitter.com/bS1URAyEFd
(@FahadShabbir)

Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the extra-judicial killing of four more Kashmiris in fresh acts of state-sponsored terrorism by Indian occupation forces in Pulwama and Baramulla districts of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2022 ) :Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the extra-judicial killing of four more Kashmiris in fresh acts of state-sponsored terrorism by Indian occupation forces in Pulwama and Baramulla districts of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

"Since India's illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019, more than 636 Kashmiris have embraced martyrdom in fake 'encounters' and so-called 'cordon-and-search operations'. This year alone, 113 extra-judicial killings of Kashmiris have been recorded," the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

He said the intensified military crackdowns and the rising numbers of extra-judicial killings in the IIOJK were part of the extremist anti-Muslim designs of the "Hindutva" inspired BJP-RSS combine in India.

He said ironically, the Kashmiri youth had been a specific target of the 900,000 strong Indian military occupation force stationed in the IIOJK.

"India must realize that use of brutal force against the Kashmiri people, extra-judicial killings, custodial torture & deaths, forced disappearances, incarceration of Kashmiri leadership & youth and other methods of subjugation have failed in the past and will not succeed in the future," the spokesperson remarked.

He said through a dossier unveiled last year, Pakistan had provided to the world incontrovertible evidence of the gross and systemic oppression, and human rights violations by the Indian occupation forces in the IIOJK.

The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan's call for investigation of extra-judicial killings in the IIOJK by establishing an Independent Commission of Inquiry as recommended by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in its Kashmir reports of 2018 and 2019.

He also urged the international community to hold India responsible for its brazen suppression of innocent Kashmiris, and play its due role in ensuring a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
(@FahadShabbir)

Iran executed more than 100 people in the first three months of 2022, continuing a worrying upward trend, according to a report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that was presented Tuesday

Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2022 ) :Iran executed more than 100 people in the first three months of 2022, continuing a worrying upward trend, according to a report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that was presented Tuesday.

Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, UN deputy human rights chief Nada Al-Nashif presented Guterres' latest report on Iran, decrying that executions in the country were on the rise.

"While 260 individuals were executed in 2020, at least 310 individuals were executed in 2021, including at least 14 women," she said, adding that the trend had continued this year.

Between January 1 and March 20, she said, "at least 105 people were executed," many of whom belonged to minority groups.

" Guterres's report had noted with deep concern the increase of executions for lesser crimes, including for drug-related offences, Nashif said.

"The death penalty continues to be imposed on the basis of charges not amounting to 'most serious crimes', and in ways incompatible with fair trials standards," she told the council.

Nashif said that in March, 52 people sentenced to death on drug-related charges were transferred to Shiraz prison for execution.

She also lamented the continued use of the death penalty for juvenile offenders, in violation of international law.
Italy's Five Star Movement, the biggest party in Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government, on Tuesday looked on course to split over long-running tensions exacerbated by attitudes to the Ukraine war

Rome, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2022 ) :Italy's Five Star Movement, the biggest party in Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government, on Tuesday looked on course to split over long-running tensions exacerbated by attitudes to the Ukraine war.

Dozens of lawmakers have signed up to form a new group led by Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio due to launch in 2023, media reports said.

Di Maio has backed Draghi's policy of supporting Kyiv and sending weapons to Ukraine.

The former Five Star leader and deputy prime minister has clashed for months with the head of the party, former premier Giuseppe Conte.

Conte argues that Italy's efforts should instead focus on a diplomatic solution.

Tensions peaked at the weekend after Di Maio called for an end to party criticism over Draghi's approach to the Ukraine crisis -- notably the sending of weapons to Kyiv.

"I am accused by the leaders of my political force of being Atlanticist and pro-European," Di Maio wrote in a statement.

"Let me say that, as foreign minister, in the face of this terrible war I proudly claim to be strongly Atlanticist and pro-European."
Dozens of Malians on Tuesday demonstrated in the central town of Bankass to demand protection from the state after suspected militants massacred more than 130 civilians in nearby neighbouring villages

Bamako, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2022 ) :Dozens of Malians on Tuesday demonstrated in the central town of Bankass to demand protection from the state after suspected militants massacred more than 130 civilians in nearby neighbouring villages.

The mass killing -- the latest in a series of attacks across the Sahel -- resulted in one of Mali's highest civilian death tolls.

Villagers continued to search for the missing Tuesday, raising fears of an even greater toll.

The government says fighters from the Fulani religious leader Amadou Koufa's armed group, the Macina Katiba, killed 132 civilians in Diallassagou and two surrounding villages, a few dozen kilometres (miles) from Bankass.

Junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita has declared three days of mourning and a government delegation was sent to the scene on Tuesday.

Political leaders expressed compassion with the victims' families, while rallying around the armed forces.

But a group of political parties named the "Cadre d'echange", or Exchange Framework, demanded Goita make an in-person visit and said the authorities had a responsibility to take "the necessary measures so that such tragedies are not replicated".

Residents of Bankass, the main town in the region, held a demonstration on Tuesday.

Photos sent by a Dogon community association show several dozen people gathered in the street.

"We have gathered despite the rain to call for security, and to condemn the crimes", Oumar Togo, a member of the Bankass youth association, told AFP by telephone.

"The government must ensure our security".
(@FahadShabbir)

Moscow on Tuesday warned Lithuania of "serious" consequences over its restriction of rail traffic to Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, as Kremlin forces made gains in Ukraine's strategic Donbas region

Kyiv, Ukraine, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2022 ) :Moscow on Tuesday warned Lithuania of "serious" consequences over its restriction of rail traffic to Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, as Kremlin forces made gains in Ukraine's strategic Donbas region.

The row over Lithuania, the arrival of sophisticated German weaponry in Ukraine's arsenal, and an imminent decision on Kyiv's candidacy to join the EU threaten to further ratchet up tensions between the West and Moscow.

Kremlin troops were meanwhile gaining ground in the Donbas, causing "catastrophic destruction" in Lysychansk, an industrial city at the forefront of recent clashes, the region's governor said. Ukraine confirmed Russia had taken the frontline village of Toshkivka.

Governor Sergiy Gaiday said "every town and village" in Ukrainian hands in the Lugansk region was "under almost non-stop fire".

Since being repelled from Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine following its invasion in February, Moscow has been focusing its offensive on the Donbas region.

In the eastern city of Sloviansk, which could become a flashpoint as Russian troops advance from the north, local people were preparing to withstand attacks and the authorities said the community would defend itself.

"We believe they'll beat the Russian scum," resident Valentina, 63, said of local Ukrainian forces.

- 'Serious' consequences - Russia's war of words with EU member Lithuania escalated on Tuesday, with Moscow vowing "serious" consequences over Vilnius' restrictions on rail traffic to the exclave of Kaliningrad that borders Lithuania and Poland.

Lithuania says it is simply adhering to EU-wide sanctions on Moscow but Russia countered, accusing Brussels of "escalation".

Moscow summoned the EU's ambassador to Russia. Its foreign ministry said Lithuania's actions "violate the relevant legal and political obligations of the European Union".

"Russia will certainly respond to such hostile actions," security council chief Nikolai Patrushev said at a regional security meeting in Kaliningrad.

Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov tweeted that powerful German-made Panzerhaubitze 2000 howizter artillery pieces had reached his country's forces.

Russia said Tuesday it had repelled a Ukrainian attempt to re-take the symbolic Snake Island, a small territory in the Black Sea captured by Russian forces on the first day of the invasion.

- 'Significant losses' - In addition to Toshkivka, Ukraine said it had lost control of the eastern village of Metyolkine, a settlement adjacent to Severodonetsk, which has been a focus of fighting for weeks and is now largely under Russian control.

A chemical plant in Severodonetsk where hundreds of civilians are said to be sheltering was being shelled constantly, Ukraine warned.

But defence ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk told Ukrainian television that Russian forces had suffered "significant losses in the area of Severodonetsk".

Ukraine on Tuesday said it struck a Black Sea oil drilling platform off the Crimea peninsula because Russia was using it as a military installation.

The rig had Russian garrisons and equipment for air defence, radar warfare and reconnaissance, Sergiy Bratchuk of Odessa's regional military administration told an online briefing.

Crimea's Moscow-backed leader Sergey Aksyonov had said three people were injured and seven more were missing after the first reported strike against offshore energy infrastructure in the Russian-annexed peninsula since the war began.

Russian shelling killed 15 people including an eight-year-old in eastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region on Tuesday, its governor said.

On the maritime front, Russia's navy is blockading ports, which Ukraine says is preventing millions of tonnes of grain from being shipped to world markets, contributing to soaring food prices.

Prior to the war, Ukraine was a major exporter of wheat, corn and sunflower oil.

With European officials due to gather this week at a summit expected to approve Ukraine's candidacy to join the EU, Brussels foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the Russians' port blockade "a real war crime".

Moscow denies responsibility for the disruption to deliveries and, following Borrell's comments, blamed the West's "destructive" position for surging grain prices.

Turkish media reported that Russian, Ukrainian and UN officials would meet in Istanbul next week to try to unblock Black Sea grain exports.

- $100-million medal - In New York, Dmitry Muratov, the Russian editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, auctioned off his Nobel Peace Prize gold medal for $103.5 million to benefit children displaced by the war.

It was sold to an unidentified phone bidder.

Muratov won the prize in 2021 alongside journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines.

With US-Russia tensions soaring, the US State Department on Tuesday confirmed a second American, 52-year-old Stephen Zabielski, was killed fighting for Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier told NBC news that two Americans captured in Ukraine while fighting with Kyiv's military were "endangering" Russian soldiers and should be "held accountable for those crimes".

On the ground, the police chief of the Kyiv region said victims of the Russian attempt to seize Ukraine's capital continued to be found.

So far, the bodies of 1,333 civilians have been discovered and 300 people remain missing.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland visited Ukraine on Tuesday to discuss prosecution of individuals involved in war crimes.

"There is no place to hide," Garland said, vowing to hold to account those responsible for "atrocities" and war crimes.

Spain said one of its citizens fighting for Ukraine had been killed, without giving further detail.

Denmark and Sweden meanwhile became the latest European countries to warn of potential gas supply problems. Their energy agencies issued early warnings, due to uncertainty over hydrocarbon imports from Russia.

Ukraine has called the reasons given for Russia's reduction of gas supply to European customers "far-fetched" and "illegal".
Space research hardware kept the Expedition 67 crew busy on Friday as the four astronauts and three cosmonauts turned on free-flying robots, configured nanosatellites, and replaced a fuel bottle inside a furnace.

The septet also split its day inside the International Space Station with Earth observations, spacesuit helmet work, and cargo packing.

The Astrobee robotic assistants were flying autonomously inside the Kibo laboratory module today streaming video of their activities to mission controllers on Earth. NASA Flight Engineer Bob Hines configured the cube-shaped Astrobees to test their ability to navigate and visualize the inside of Kibo on their own.

ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti swapped a fuel bottle inside the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace that enables safe observations of high-temperature phenomena in microgravity. She started the day partnering with NASA Flight Engineer Jessica Watkins collecting blood samples and processing them in a centrifuge. Watkins also photographed Earth landmarks in North America, Spain, and Africa while verbally providing descriptions to assist researchers on the ground.

NASA Flight Engineer Kjell Lindgren checked out components on a U.S. spacesuit helmet before continuing to pack Northrop Grumman's Cygnus space freighter. Cristoforetti and Watkins both joined Lindgren at the end of the day as they loaded Cygnus with trash and discarded gear ahead of its departure later this month.

In the Russian segment of the orbiting lab, Commander Oleg Artemyev tested a set of nanosatellites before their future deployment. He also assisted Cristoforetti while she pedaled on an exercise cycle for a physical fitness evaluation. Flight Engineer Denis Matveev spent Friday servicing a Russian oxygen generator while Flight Engineer Sergey Korsakov worked on configuration tasks and computer maintenance inside the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module.

The International Space Station Flight Control Team has decided to postpone the first limited reboost of the International Space Station by the Northrop Grumman Cygnus resupply vehicle from Saturday to Monday to refine the duration and magnitude of the activity in the wake of Thursday's debris avoidance maneuver. The postponement will have no impact on station operations.

This Cygnus mission is the first to feature this enhanced capability as a standard service for NASA, following a test of the maneuver which was performed in 2018 during Cygnus's ninth resupply mission. Cygnus arrived at the orbital outpost in February and is slated to depart from the space station later this month when it will be deorbited to burn up harmlessly in the Earth's atmosphere.

On-Orbit Status Report

Payloads:

Crew Earth Observations (CEO): The Crew utilized the Window Observational Research Facility (WORF) window to perform CEO Operations. CEO utilizes crewmembers on the ISS to photograph the Earth using digital handheld cameras from their unique point of view located over 250 miles above the surface. Photographs record how the planet is changing over time, from human-caused changes like urban growth and reservoir construction, to natural dynamic events such as hurricanes, floods, and volcanic eruptions. A major emphasis of CEO is to monitor events needing immediate (disaster-level) response in support of the International Disaster Charter (IDC) (coordinated through the US Geological Survey). CEO imagery provides researchers on Earth with key data to understand the planet from the perspective of the ISS. Crew members have been photographing Earth from space since the early Mercury missions beginning in 1961. The images taken from the ISS ensure this record remains unbroken.

Electro-static Levitation Furnace (ELF): The air supply Gas Bottle Unit (GBU) was replaced. The ELF is an experimental facility designed to levitate/melt/solidify materials by containerless processing techniques using the electrostatic levitation method. With this facility, thermophysical properties of high temperature melts can be measured, and solidification from deeply undercooled melts can be achieved. The ELF is located in the JEM Multipurpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) in Kibo.

EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments for Space Station Racks (EXPRESS Rack): The crew performed the first half of the ExPRESS Laptop Computer (ELC) CLS 14 Software installation setup on to ELC4 and ELC8. The EXPRESS Racks support science experiments in any discipline by providing structural interfaces, power, data, cooling, water, and other items needed to operate science experiments in space.

Integrated System for Autonomous and Adaptive Caretaking (ISAAC): Camcorders were setup, and the Astrobee Free Flyer performed ground recording operations and then the crew undocked and translated the flyer to specified locations for additional recording. The ISAAC project demonstrates using autonomous robots in human exploration vehicles to track vehicle health, transfer and unpack cargo, and respond to critical faults such as leaks and fires. ISAAC uses the space station's Astrobee and Robonaut robots for the demonstration. This technology could be used on vehicles and habitats on future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars to maintain vehicles while astronauts are away for extended periods.

NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer-21 (NRCSD-21): NRCSD-21 launchers were searched for as they will be returning on the upcoming Cargo Dragon, SpaceX-25 (SpX-25). The NRCSD is a self-contained CubeSat deployer system that mechanically and electrically isolates CubeSats and has been in operation since 2014. NRCSD-21 will be launching CAP Sat (Cooling, Annealing, and Pointing Satellite), PR-CuNa R2 (Puerto Rico CubeSat NanoRocks-2), and SPACE HAUC (Science Program Around Communications Engineering with High Achieving Undergraduate Cadres).

Systems:

ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA) Helmet Troubleshooting: Today, the crew performed additional troubleshooting and data gathering on the Neck Ring of ExtraVehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) 3004 and Helmet 1090. This troubleshooting was done to investigate the issue discovered on June 7th when the helmet was unable to lock onto the EMU. The crew discovered that part of the Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment (TMG) was folded over the neck ring interface, repositioned the TMG, and successfully installed the Helmet to the EMU. The Neck Ring is the mechanical interface that connects the helmet with the Hard Upper Torso (HUT).

Cygnus Cargo Operations: The crew completed the final cargo transfer operations between the ISS and Cygnus cargo vehicle, NG-17, loading items like common trash for disposal. NG-17 is planned for unberth later this month where it will depart the ISS for an eventual destructive re-entry in the Earth's atmosphere.

Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Manual Fill: As part of regularly scheduled preventive maintenance, the crew performed a manual WHC flush tank fill. By using a post-flight analysis bag to capture any pressure relief, also known as the burp, they depressurized the flush water tank and water valve block to protect the dose pump. The pump is critical as it injects the pre-treat required to properly recycle waste urine.

Completed Task List Activities:

None

Today's Ground Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Cygnus Table Load and Repress

Astrobee Live Streaming Video and Imagery

ZBook SSC Client Load and Configure

OPM for Cygnus Reboost [Deferred]

Look Ahead Plan

Saturday, June 18 (GMT 169)

Payloads:

Astrobee Off (NASA)

XROOTS Fluid Recovery (NASA)

Systems:

Crew Off Duty

Sunday, June 19 (GMT 170)

Payloads:

Repository Urine Setup (NASA)

XROOTS Plant Check (NASA)

Systems:

Crew Off Duty

Monday, June 20 (GMT 171)

Payloads:

CAL MTL Jumper Check (NASA)

CBEF-L Cage Interface Install (JAXA)

EML Lens Config (ESA-joint)

ESA EPO (ESA)

NRCSD-21 Missing Hardware Locate for Return (NASA)

Payload HW Relocate (NASA)

Repository Urine and Collect (NASA)

XROOTS Fluid Recovery (NASA)

Systems:

Cygnus Reboost (Planned)

Water Processing Assembly (WPA) Inlet Cleaning

Hatch Seal Inspections

On Board Training (OBT) Cygnus Departure Reviews

Window Inspections for LAB and JPM

Today's Planned Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Assessing Physical Fitness Level Using Cycle Ergometer

Astrobee Prep

Astrobee Stowage Clear and Replace

Astrobee Undock Operations 1

Cold Atom Lab MTL Jumper Leak Check

Crew Earth Observation Big Picture Words and Operations

Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF) Gas Bottle Unit (GBU) Replacement

ESA PAO Message Recording

EXPRESS Rack ZBook Setup Start and Finish

ExtraVehicular Activity Helmet Troubleshooting

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Inspection

Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS EveryWear (EVW) Nutrition Tracking

HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Configure and Run

HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Conclude and Stow

HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Operator

HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Spin Conclude

HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Setup and Frozen Blood Collection Subject

HRF Generic MELFI Sample Insertion

HRF Generic MELFI Sample Retrieval and Insertion

HRF Generic Urine Collection and Stow

Installation of Laptop SSC1 in FGB

JEM Airlock Passive Capture Mechanism Installation

JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Extension to JPM Side

JEM Airlock Slide Table (ST) Retraction from JPM Side

Node3 Air Revitalization System (ARS) Rack - Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) - Hand Valve 01 (HV01) Open and Close

NRCSD Hardware Locate

Photo/TV D5 Camera Sensor Cleaning [Deferred]

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in JEM

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Social Media Event

RS1 Laptop Handover

RS1 Laptop Handover Stow [Deferred]

Swap SSC (Station Support Computer) 20 and 22 Swap

Transfer Cygnus Cargo Operations

Urine Transfer System Offload EDV Swap

USOS Window Shutter Close [Deferred]

Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Manual Fill Initiate and Terminate

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Churches in South Sudan over the weekend came together for a joint ecumenical prayer gathering at the Anglican All Saints Cathedral grounds in Juba.

Fr Mbikoyezu John Gbemboyo  Juba, South Sudan.



South Sudans Christian leaders brought together various Churches in Juba to pray for the health of Pope Francis and the now postponed Apostolic visit of Pope Francis.

An occasion to explain the postponement

According to organisers, the ecumenical prayers were also an occasion for Church leaders to explain the postponed visit of Pope Francis. It was also an opportunity for the Church leaders to publicly demonstrate their resolve for unity and solidarity as they keep hope alive for the Popes visit. The leaders took turns encouraging South Sudanese, especially those who worked tirelessly over the last few months in preparation for the visit.

A speedy recovery for Pope Francis.

What God started in Rome

In his opening remarks, the General Overseer of Sudan Pentecostal Church (SPC), Dr Isaiah Majok Dau, told congregants, I still believe that the three leaders will come to South Sudan to cement what God started to do in Rome. Dont give up on hope no matter what happens because the situation in the country can be changed for the better, he said, adding, Do not lose faith in God.

Dr Majok referenced a time when the Sudanese lived together in relative peace and harmony. He said he remained convinced peace would ultimately return to South Sudan.

God will let come to pass what he started in Rome.

Unity attracts Gods favour

Basing his preaching on the Gospel of John Chapter 17, Presiding Bishop of the Africa Inland Church (AIC), James Lagos Alexander, spoke of the the power of unity in the Churches. That unity, he emphasised, needed to be promoted.

Bishop Alexander stressed that unity attracts Gods favour and blessing upon us. Unity leads to greater productivity, and it leads us to sustainability, he said. Even South Sudans independence, he reminded the congregation, was born from the power of unity demonstrated during the referendum of 2011.

We must accompany our quest for peace with prayers and love of neighbour to open the doors for South Sudanese to exist as one. When we loved one another, we were strong. Love and prayer gave us the South Sudan that we have today, he said.

The Bishop gave antidotes for overcoming disunity. What was tearing the nation apart, he said, was a spirit of bitterness and a refusal to forgive.

Praying for Pope Francis

In his concluding remarks, the Catholic Archbishop of Juba, Stephen Ameyu Martin, underlined that the Church and political leaders of South Sudan needed to be lovers of humanity for the country to prosper. Archbishop Ameyu reiterated that the visit of Pope Francis had not been cancelled but postponed. He encouraged South Sudanese to continue praying for a speedy recovery of the Pope.

South Sudans weekend ecumenical prayer gathering was organised by the Churches Steering Committee for the Apostolic Visit under the auspices of the South Sudan Council of Churches. The event was also attended by several denominations, politicians and government officials led by Hon Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin Bil, Chairman of the High-Level Steering Papal Committee.

The Ecumenical gathering brought together Christians, politicians and government leaders.

The postponed visit

The historic ecumenical pilgrimage for peace to South Sudan was to have been undertaken next month from 5 July to 7 July as a joint visit by Pope Francis, the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields.

According to Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, the Popes doctors requested the postponement.
Two Jesuit priests serving in Mexico, Javier Campos and Joaquin Mora, were killed on Monday by an armed person.

By Benedict Mayaki, SJ

Two Jesuits, Fathers Javier Campos and Joaquin Mora, were killed in Cerocahui, Tarahumara, Mexico on Monday.

Both priests were murdered while they were trying to protect a man who ran into a church in search of refuge while he was fleeing from an armed individual.

Tragedy



Father Luis Gerardo Moro Madrid, SJ, provincial of the Mexico province of the Society of Jesus, announced the sad news in a statement.



It is with deep pain and a sense of anguish that I inform you that in the afternoon of 20 June, in Cerocahui, Tarahumara, Jesuit Fathers Javier Campos, SJ, and Joaquin Mora, SJ, were murdered while trying to defend a man who was seeking refuge in the church and who was being pursued by an armed person."

The Provincial said that the Jesuits were also working with federal and state authorities for the safety of three other Jesuits: Esteban Cornejo, Jesus Reyes, and Jesus Zaglul; and the pastoral team of the parish.

Father Madrid restated the congregation's public condemnation of the tragedy and demanded "a prompt investigation as well as safety for the community," as the murders happened "in the context of the violence that this country is experiencing."

I ask you to join us in prayer for them, Fr. Madrid said.

Appeal against violence

The General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Arturo Sosa, also expressed sorrow upon hearing of the murder of the Jesuits.

"I am shocked and saddened by this news," he said. "My thoughts and prayers are with the Jesuits in Mexico and the families of the men. We have to stop violence in our world and so much unnecessary suffering."
Gunmen attack a Catholic and Baptist church in Kaduna on Sunday, killing three people, injuring two, and abducting dozens of others.

By Vatican News staff reporter

Unknown gunmen suspected to be terrorists attacked worshippers at a Catholic church and a Baptist church on Sunday morning - both of them located in Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State - in the latest instance of insecurity in Nigeria.

Media reports say the attackers struck Maranatha Baptist Church and St. Moses Catholic Church on 19 June, killing at least three people, injuring two others, and kidnapping over thirty persons in the raid.

The attack came barely a week after some terrorists invaded communities in the same Kajuru LGA, killing over 30 villagers.

Attacks in Nigeria

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, who confirmed the attacks, said that gunmen riding motorcycles targeted four villages, beginning from Ungwan Fada and moving into Ungwan Turawa, before Ungwan Makama and then Rubu.

In Rubu village, the unknown gunmen attacked worshippers in the Baptist and Catholic churches.

Aruwan also confirmed that three persons were killed, two persons injured, and an unspecified number of locals were also kidnapped during the attacks.

The bandits also looted shops and carted away some valuables from the villages.

Deputy governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, condemned the attacks and expressed her deep sadness. She also condoled with the families of the deceased victims and prayed for the repose of their souls.

Meanwhile, security patrols are being conducted in the area as investigations into the attacks continue.

Insecurity in Nigeria

Though it is unclear who is behind the attacks in Kajuru, instances of violence are not uncommon in the north of Africas most populous country where authorities have had long-running security challenges.

Nigerias security woes started over a decade ago with the rise of the Boko Haram extremist Islamic terrorist group. Adding to that, clashes between the nomadic Fulani herdsmen and the more stable indigenous farmers have increased, fueled by disputes of grazing land and access to water.

In recent years, the activities of bandits, commonly referred to as unknown gunmen have left many citizens afraid for their lives as these violent groups have been linked to attacks on rural communities, killings of dozens of people, and kidnappings, including of members of the clergy.

On 29 May, the prelate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, Samuel Kanu-Uche; his chaplain, along with the Methodist bishop of the Owerri diocese were kidnapped. The clerics were only released two days later after paying a N100 million ransom.

Two weeks ago, a group of armed persons stormed St. Francis Xavier parish in Owo, Ondo State during a Pentecost Sunday Mass. The attackers gunned down over 40 people, injured dozens and left behind a gory scene. A funeral Mass for the victims of the Owo massacre was held in Friday.

In an interview with Vatican News, Bishop Jude Arogundade of Ondo lamented the killings of innocent Christians and called on the government to do more to protect the lives and properties of its citizens, especially in the face of the increasingly daring attacks of the bandits.

Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the Owo attack, commending the souls of the dead to the loving mercy of God and imploring divine healing and consolation upon those who are grieving. The Holy Father also prayed for the conversion of those blinded by hatred and violence, so that they will choose instead the path of peace and righteousness.
Pope Francis apologizes to the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan for having to postpone his Apostolic Visit, and says he plans to go as soon as possible and is optimistic.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis says he wishes to reschedule his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan as soon as possible.

Read also 12/06/2022 Pope at Angelus: Holy Trinity revolutionizes our way of life In his Angelus address on the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, Pope Francis recalls that the Trinity is not a "theological exercise," but "a revolution in our way of life."

While addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope apologized to the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan for having to postpone his Apostolic Visit to their countries, set for 2-7 July, due to his knee and leg-related problems.

Expressing how much this trip means to him, the Pope suggested he is optimistic and asked the faithful to join him in praying for the trip to take place as soon as possible.

On Friday, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, announced the postponement of the Apostolic Journey.

At the request of his doctors, and in order not to jeopardize the results of the therapy that he is undergoing for his knee, the Holy Father has been forced to postpone, with regret, his Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo and to South Sudan, planned for 2 to 7 July, to a later date to be determined.

The Papal Trip to two African nations was to include two stops in the DRC  in the capital, Kinshasa, and the city of Goma  and a visit to Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
The Osservatore Romano newspaper offers a response to the new book "The Pope at War: The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler, written by David I. Kertzer.

By Matteo Luigi Napolitano

The opening of the archives on the pontificate of Pope Pius XII has launched a new season of studies that will hopefully prove fruitful and stimulating. Leading the way were Johan Ickx's volume on Pius XII and the Jews, and Il Diario di un Cardinale edited by Sergio Pagano and dedicated to Pius XII's Secretary of State, Cardinal Maglione. Cesare Catananti's study entitled Il Vaticano nella Tormenta offers a perspective on wartime events experienced by the Papal Gendarmerie.

Now the new book by David I. Kertzer, "The Pope at War: The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler, attempts to offer a further contribution to the still-meager historiography budding from the newly-opened Vatican archives.

Long-awaited and heralded, Kertzer's study seeks to cover the events that enveloped the pontificate of Pius XII. Indeed, according to the authors preface, this book would be "the first full account with previously unknown materials and new revelations on the choices Pius XII made between 1939 and 1945. However, the scholar does not quote the aforementioned volume by Ickx, neither in the text nor in the bibliography, a failure copied by the book by Catananti.

Kertzer's "statement of intent" represents an extensive duty owed to readers. He rightly warns the author that the Vatican archives must be compared to other sources. And this makes his "moral contract" with readers all the more demanding.

Since we have already addressed some of the issues raised by Kertzer shortly after the opening of the archive on Pius XII (cf. "Osservatore Romano" of Sept. 4, 2020), and on the website vaticanfiles.net, we will limit our analysis to those aspects of this new book that we feel deserve critical scrutiny.

One of the "novelties" in Kertzer's book would be a sort of "secret negotiation" with Hitler, ardently desired by Pius XII carried out through highly confidential initiatives aimed at smoothing bilateral relations between the Holy See and Nazi Germany. This attempt would have been carried out between the end of 1939 and March 1940 (when the German foreign minister visited the Vatican). The protagonists of this "secret mission" included: the Prince of Hessen, a nobleman who had married Princess Mafalda of Savoy, and who was a known emissary of Hitler to Mussolini; Cardinal Camerlengo Lorenzo Lauri; and the representative of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in Berlin, Raffaele Travaglini.

In the first volume of the official Vatican series Actes et Documents du Saint-Siege relatifs a la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, published as far back as 1965 (updated five years later), we read that "these secret negotiations did in fact exist; they were the preliminaries of Ribbentrop's visit to Italy." Further on in the same volume, on the date of March 9, 1940, we read, "On Monday the 11th, von Ribbentrop will visit the Holy Father. The audience has been secretly prepared for quite some time. Through the Prince of Hessen (I think) and by means of X." The author of this note is Msgr. Domenico Tardini, Secretary for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs of the Secretariat of State. The "Mr. X" is none other than Viscount Raffaele Travaglini di Santa Rita, Marquis of Vergante. When the first volume of the Actes was published, Travaglini was still living (he would die on February 9, 1994). Because of the delicacy of the high offices he held in the immediate postwar period, Travaglini probably asked not to be mentioned in a volume that featured him in a negotiation with Nazi Germany. We know his name from Tardinis original note, accessible as of March 2, 2020, in which the Monsignor identifies the protagonists of the operation as the "Prince of Hesse (I think) and Travaglini (for sure)." But Travaglini is not unknown to historians. "A protege of Cardinal Lauri [...], Travaglini is an ambassador of the Order of the Knights of Malta and travels to Berlin about twice a year, where he is also said to have negotiated repeatedly with Goring. One of Travaglini's tasks was to improve relations between Italy, Germany and the Vatican." This is the profile the Nazi security service made of him, in a document opened to scholars a long time ago.

So, there is nothing new here. Instead, there is ample evidence of the secret negotiation that Kertzer believes was "erased from all the official papers of the Holy See" as early as 1965, at the release of the first volume of Vatican documents that Paul VI ordered to be published. But there is more.

Kertzer believes he has overwhelming evidence of Pius XII's desire to come to an agreement with Hitler. But what Kertzer sees as an embrassons-nous operation between Pius XII and Hitler is something very different. First, the documents on the case are found in the dossier of Ribbentrop's visit to Rome, thus in the ordinary papal diplomatic bureaucracy, and not among Pius XII's most secret papers. This is a clear sign that the "Travaglini-Hessen" operation was well known to the Pope's collaborators. It also emerges that it was Hitler, not Pius XII, who ardently desired a new agreement in a broader sense than the 1933 Concordat. And this agreement was nothing but the revision of the Concordat of 1933 to include Austria (German after the Anschluss), Bohemia and Moravia (German protectorates after March 15, 1939). That we talk only about a revision of the Reichskonkordat of 1933 emerges from the fact that Hitler proposed to involve in the operation the authorities of Baden and Bavaria (Lander with which the Vatican had negotiated separate concordats in the pre-Nazi era). But Pacelli (Pope Pius XIIs birth surname), who knew those concordats from having negotiated them, was not the kind of man to give them up and therefore did not want to make any written commitments. Secondly, no negotiations would ever open before five papal conditions were accepted by Hitler. These conditions (Aufzeichnungen) are faithfully recorded in the Vatican archives, and were prepared personally by the Pope, who added to them the necessity of having a papal envoy in occupied Poland.

The conditions set by Pius XII pertained to the inalienable freedom of the Church in Germany; conditions that Hitler was obviously not ready to accept. On the German side it was also asked whether the papal note could "be considered a basis for an armistice" (a sign of a lingering "war" between the Third Reich and the Catholic Church); it also asked to "suppress for tactical and party reasons" the second part of the first point (concerning the withdrawal of publications particularly offensive to the Pope and the Church). Not only that; but the Prince of Hesse did not rule out adjusting "especially the fourth part" of the papal note ("to restore the freedom of the Church to defend itself openly against public attacks on Catholic doctrine and institutions"). They were obviously unacceptable conditions for the Pope. On the other hand, Hitler (busy on other fronts) had no concrete proposals of any kind. Ribbentrop's March 1940 visit (which, moreover, forced the German delegation to remove swastikas from the motorcade admitted to the Vatican) was thus a failure and a disappointment. A new concordat should have crowned the expectations of the Prince of Hessen and Travaglini; instead, it was dismissed as one of many proposals for conciliation, official and unofficial, between Church and German state.

But if Hitler was thinking about a new Concordat, this means that the 1933 Concordat did not satisfy him. Kertzer does not clarify this point. He writes that the Concordat of 1933 was a great triumph for Hitler, and that, with Pacelli on the Papal Throne, Nazism now could boast of recognition by the pope himself.

But, if this is the case, why did Hitler want a new Concordat? Just because he had annexed more territories? This Kertzer does not explain. Nor does he explain why the 1933 Concordat, going through political and ecclesial vicissitudes almost ninety years long, has survived and is still in force today, governing the relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Holy See.

Kertzer's volume then presents some problems in source control. One example concerns Pius XII's first encyclical, Summi Pontificatus dedicated to the tragedy of Poland invaded by Germany and the USSR. Kertzer dismisses the papal document as a set of pretty words harmless to Italy and Germany. But the sources tell a different story. Summi Pontificatus even entered into the work of the League of Nations. The encyclical was mentioned at the very session of the Council that decreed the expulsion of the USSR from the League of Nations for its unprovoked attack on Finland. It was on that occasion that the Council chairman, unbeknownst to those present, quoted Pius XII's first encyclical. Having finished reading it, he said, "Gentlemen, the text that I have now read is the excerpt from the Encyclical Summi Pontificatus." The reaction of those present at the Councils session was of deepest emotion. The French delegate to the League of Nations, Paul-Boncour, greatly appreciated "such just and moving words." The British delegate Butler joined in his French colleague's moved comments. The Summi Pontificatus, so the Vatican papers say, produced "a great impression not only in League of Nations circles but also outside." Positive indeed were the reactions in Paris and London. As a journalist in Geneva ironically noted, the Vatican entered the League of Nations on the same day the USSR was expelled from it.

But did Pius XII's encyclical Summi Pontificatus appeal to the Germans? As much as the counselor of the German embassy in the Vatican, Menshausen, said that in his country the encyclical had been "read in the churches and that the newspapers spoke of it with respect," the reality was quite different. German archives tell us that the Berlin authorities forbade the printing and distribution of the Summi Pontificatus (according to a telegram from Ernst Woermann to von Bergen, dated Nov. 8, 1939). Vatican sources even reveal to us that the Nazi Governorate in Poland disseminated an adulterated version of the encyclical, substituting the word "Germany" for the word "Poland," and altering the Pope's words of piety toward Poles to show that they were instead addressed to Germans.

A more correct use of sources then reveals the true German reactions to the Summi Pontificatus. Kertzer informs us that on Jan. 1, 1940, the German embassy counselor to the Vatican, Fritz Menshausen, wrote that the Pope had explained "that his speeches were logically general in nature and that he had specially drafted them so that they could not be interpreted by Germany as directed against it." What Kertzer does not say is that Menshausen's direct superior, Ambassador to the Vatican von Bergen, did everything he could to present it as a harmless document. But to no avail. "The relatively favorable judgment on the papal encyclical, in the report that has reached us, is not shared here - Woermann wrote to him from Berlin. - Here one is of the opinion that with this encyclical, which is essentially a condemnation of the principle of the totalitarian state, the Pope has first and foremost kept in mind the Third Reich." Not differently commented Woermann's superior, von Weizsacker: "If the Vatican," he wrote to Bergen on Jan. 25, 1940, "asserts that these statements are of a general nature and not directed against anyone in particular, this is in our opinion true only in a formal sense. The Vatican adopts general phrases, but it is quite clear that it alludes to particular cases." In the words of the head of the Reichs High Security Office, Reinhard Heydrich, "the encyclical is directed solely against Germany, on the ideological level as well as with regard to the German-Polish conflict." And he continued, "I consider it superfluous to emphasize how dangerous it is both internally and in foreign relations." Nor can we overlook the words of the commander of the Gestapo, Heinrich Muller: "I have orders not to prohibit the reading of the Encyclical, but to prevent any dissemination of it, especially by leaflets." These documents, being coeval with the aforementioned "secret negotiations" between Germany and the Holy See, help to further diminish its importance.

The themes we have just recalled are not found in Kertzer's book. This is why the volume seems to betray an inaccurate checking of sources. For example, many documents that Kertzer cites as his archival findings were published as early as the 1970s-1980s. More, opinions of various diplomats are often taken as fool's gold, when in fact they are nothing more than personal views, if one compares the documents the right way. Kertzer then holds to the worn-out view that Pius XII cared only about baptized Jews. The "Jews" Series, opened on March 2, 2020 at the behest of Pope Francis, seems to us to have done justice to this fusty cliche.

But what we consider a truly serious omission concerns the October 16, 1943 roundup of Roman Jews. Kertzer follows Cardinal Maglione's record when he narrates his conversation with the German ambassador. But then he omits some decisive words addressed by the Cardinal to von Weizsacker (new ambassador to the Vatican): "The Holy See must not be put in the need to protest. Should the Holy See be obliged to do so, it would rely, for the consequences, on Divine Providence." In other words, if the raid of the Roman Jews continued by Hitler's supreme order, the Holy See would protest by accepting to suffer the appropriate consequences. This omission on the part of Kertzer is no minor affair.

This omission is then compounded by a failure to compare with British sources. Here follows the notes sent to London by British representative in the Vatican, Osborne, on Oct. 31, 1943: " As soon as he heard of the arrests of Jews in Rome Cardinal Secretary of State sent for the German Ambassador and formulated some [sort?] of protest, achieving the desired result. And how to overlook, for the humanitarian aspects of that tragic "Black Saturday," the diary of the Slovak minister in the Vatican, Karol Sidor? "On the Holy Father's orders," reads the document made known by scholars Robert Letz and Peter Slepcan, "more than a hundred Jews and Italian officials were hidden in the Generalate of the Jesuits. Likewise in every convent Jews with their entire families are hidden."

Still on the subject of "Black Saturday" in Rome, Kertzer's volume presents further problems and even a rather serious error. Kertzer informs us that on October 18, 1943, British minister Osborne was received in audience by Pius XII, who expressed to him his concerns about food shortages and possible unrest in Rome. The pope added that he had no reason to complain about the Germans, who were respecting the Vatican's neutrality. Oddly, Kertzer writes, Osborne makes only indirect reference to the roundup of Romes Jews in his report of his audience to London. This is true. But on October 31, 1943 Osborne sent the dispatch we mentioned above - and unknown to Kertzer.

The serious mistake made by the scholar concerns instead the American delegate to Pius XII, Harold Tittmann. Kertzer writes that, as in the audience with Osborne, "apparently, the pope made no mention of what had happened to Romes Jews in his meetings with the two envoys, or, if he did, it was regarded as too inconsequential for them to put in their reports Kertzer places papal audience with Tittmann on October 19, 1943. In reality, it happened on the 14th (at 11 a.m.), which is two days before, not three days after the raid on the Rome Ghetto. We are told this by the audience sheets for 1943 kept in Master of the Chambers files which, on the contrary, do not record any audience granted by the Pope to Tittmann on October 19, 1943. The dating error we clarified long ago is due to the fact that Tittmann had no telegraph and cipher service, and therefore had to rely on his English colleague Osborne. The date of October 19, 1943 is in fact that of the telegram with which Osborne "refiled" Tittmann's undated dispatch, of which, moreover, two versions exist. In the one preserved in the British archives Tittmann writes that he had not seen the Pope since the previous Monday (19th October was Tuesday  can Tittmann ever have had two audiences with Pius XII on two consecutive days)? In the copy of the telegram preserved in American archives we read that he had not seen the Pope since the previous year. There are evidently transmission errors due to the difficult passages Tittmann's dispatch underwent before reaching its destination via Algiers, in a complicated interplay (Osborne's dispatch of October 19, 1943 contains Tittmann's undated one; and a later Foreign Office dispatch for the British Embassy in Washington contains both). On October 15, 1943, the Osservatore Romano gave timely notice of the papal audience with Tittmann. Only by "creative historiography" could one therefore accuse Pius XII of keeping silent on October 14, 1943, about an event that occurred in the Rome Ghetto two days later.

Unsatisfactory use of sources and various other problems (omissions and a sometimes-inaccurate critical method) do not, therefore, make this volume, moreover written in fluent fictional prose, the definitive Thule of research on Pius XII. This is, moreover, normal for the immense amount of documents which, made accessible by the Vatican at the height of the pandemic, will only now and gradually be the subject of hopefully more accomplished analysis.
Increasing numbers of European citizens are turning to the EU institutions in Brussels, demanding they take on a leading role to end the conflict in Ukraine. Catholic journalist Marco Tarquinio tells Vatican News of a widespread expectation that Europe, which is built on values of respectful coexistence and fraternity, take action for peace in line with the Popes appeals.

By Gabriella Ceraso & Linda Bordoni

It is increasingly evident not only that there is no solution to the war in Ukraine on the horizon, but also that the conflict and the suffering it is causing may soon disappear from the spotlight and fall into neglect.

This is driving civil society to mobilize from below, silently but concretely pushing for a European initiative that would transform the EU into a protagonist of the peace process.

This is the aim of a 15-point peace plan to end the Russo-Ukrainian War, published last week and presented on Monday at the headquarters of the Italian Office of the European Parliament.

It proposes a negotiated compromise peace agreement that could be mediated by France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Israel and would be followed by a cessation of all military operations and the withdrawal of all Russian military forces from Ukraine outside of the Donbas region.

The comprehensive peace proposal attempts to permanently resolve, rather than postpone the resolution of, all existing areas of contention between Russia and Ukraine to ensure that Russia wont have any reason to resume hostilities against Ukraine in the future.

It also addresses some of Russias most pressing security concerns while serving to enhance the security of NATO members by reducing the prospects of a future conflict with Russia.

Marco Tarquinio is the Editorial Director of the Catholic publication Avvenire. He spoke to Vatican News about the salient points of the plan and about Pope Francis reiterated appeals for peace.

Q: Civil society is calling for a united Europe. What are the central points of this call for responsibility?

It is a call that wells up from below but intends to pressure those who have political power and the possibility to affect the current events, and to direct them in a different direction than the one undertaken so far, without neglecting all available tools.

First and foremost, the role of the United Nations, where the European Union does not have voting rights but is represented alongside its 27 members, one of which, France, is a permanent member of the Security Council, that must take responsibility for promoting an initiative for mediation. This is something that must also, and especially, take place within the General Assembly, where a large majority of nations who are pressing in this direction have already agglomerated.

Then, it would take the intervention of a peacekeeping force - a word that seems to have been banished from the current scenario - and a humanitarian corridor would need to be kept open at all times. This is important to prevent what has already happened during other conflicts in which escape routes that safeguard the human dignity of the person have been sealed once the emotion of the moment has passed.

It is then asked that the EU intervene in negotiations, that are both possible and necessary, not only in the role of spectator. In this regard, the document takes into account the fact that Italy is one of the countries that has already made a move in this direction, a move that triggered a series of dystonic reactions from the parties involved, especially from Russia.

In short, it calls on Europe to grow up. It calls on it to provide a common security system that is interdependent among states and independent of other dimensions, with a real security defense organism that has two arms: a military non-aggressive one, and a civilian non-violent one.

Returning to the topic of an international framework, the other call is directed to multilateral organizations. The United Nations of course, but also the OSCE, which, according to a desire shared by the Holy See and the President of the Italian Republic, should become a point of reference and embody the spirit of the actions that are carried out. This, so that we do not rush towards the direction of Yalta, but towards that of the 1975 Helsinki Accords that opened a new phase in the relationship between European states and for stability and peace in the world.

Q: Europe is currently bearing the brunt of the immediate consequences of what is happening in Ukraine. It is a Europe that is financing the conflict with weapons, but that has called for responsibility and the promotion of peace, multilateral solutions, and conflict prevention according to Article 21 of the EU Treaty. How can we make this Article work? Why isnt it working?

This article isn't working because Europe is broken, it has not agreed on the direction to take. Despite apparent unanimity in the early stages of the war, different sensitivities and tendencies have emerged among the 27 member states. During the press conference, we expressed the hope that even if there is no absolute unanimity, there should, at least, be an initiative from the European institutions, to agree on an enhanced cooperation initiative involving some major countries.

A hint of this was seen in the joint mission to Kyiv of the leaders of France, Germany, and Italy, the three big founding countries that gave an impetus to the EU. We would like this to be strengthened, using the instruments indicated in Article 21 - which is the translation of Article 11 of the Constitution of the Italian Republic. Its the Article quoted by many Italians, and by the Holy Father himself, who has upheld it during this crisis.

It says that Italy rejects war as an instrument of aggression against the freedom of other peoples and as a means for the settlement of international disputes.

This is a key point. Politically, we would like to see a strong and cohesive initiative of the major European leaders who would thus respond to the feelings of so many people who today are not represented by what is happening on the public stage.

Q: Is there a disconnect between civil society and politics? And responding to the Pope's call for each of us to ask ourselves what we can do for peace, can this proposal be of support?

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I think the right way is the simple way, which is available to all thinking people with a heart. And that is to organize mobilizations from below, as is already happening - less perceptible than in the past because there is a lack of big rallies - but there are meetings in every part of the country.

I know something about this myself, personally, as do all the proponents of this initiative, which brings together people of different sensitivities, different backgrounds, people of faith and of no faith, and this is very important. I think that together we have to constantly pressure and show governments that this disconnect between public opinion and those who have the power to push buttons must vanish, taking into account the very complicated situation we have before us.

We are not talking about wishes from below or from above. We need to find a way, together, to pressure the protagonists of the war, so that they choose a different path: one that puts an end to the suffering of the people, starting with the Ukrainian people, which is, at this stage, the one being attacked. Everyone can do his or her part, every drop in the ocean counts.

Q: Pope Francis positions on war, crises, weapons, and common responsibility have been criticized and considered a utopia. Is that the case? What are your thoughts in this regard?

What is most serious is that they have also been censored. I think that, at this moment, above all, one should be grateful to Pope Francis.

For us Catholics it is simple; for so many others it is just as simple to recognize themselves in the appeals that he has issued with extraordinary effectiveness and that point to a different direction, the one that, it appears, we don't want to see.

There is a road before us that seems cannot be travelled. The Pope knows how to tell us this and he does so as a man of faith, as a First Citizen in a world that has no other First Citizens who know how to take initiatives for peace.

It is no coincidence that even the proponents of the appeal that I decided to join, (the National Association of Italian Partisans, Arci, and the European Movement), wanted to make an appeal to the Catholic world, through the President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, who committed to receive it and deliver it to the Holy See.

This is because they all recognize in Pope Francis the highest, most credible, and clearest point of reference, at a time when other voices may nurture great interests in conducting mediations, but perhaps not the general interest of building a new level of security, coexistence and mutual respect in the sign of fraternity, which is fundamental for us Christians.
An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2021 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam....




According to the UNHCR's Global Trends report, Peru is among the five countries that receive the most refugees in the world, hosting 1.3 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants, along with Turkey (3.8 million), Colombia (1.8 million), Uganda (1.5 million), and Pakistan (1.4 million).





"Nowadays, Peru faces a situation that has global impact and scale. Peru has hosted 1.3 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants, and nearly half a million have sought international protection," Agusti told Andina News Agency.





He explained that Peru is a very receiving country, but when mass exodus occurs took place, as in the case of Venezuela, this brings some fears among the population.





"It is important to continue to co-operate with authorities to work on that union, and above all, on social inclusion," he said on the occasion of the World Refugee Day





On the other hand, he reported that, by the end of 2021 those displaced worldwide stood at 89.3 million, and that 1% of the world's population is now forcibly displaced.

Regarding those who have been displaced as a result of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, he said they are not included in the UNHCR's Global Trends report.

However, if they were added to the number of people displaced in the first 6 months of the year, the figure would stand at more than 100 million people.





(END) GSR/CVC/RMB

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) representative in the country, Federico Luis Agusti, reported that Peru is among the five countries that receive the most refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in the world.Published: 6/20/2022
Lithuania on Monday defended its decision to bar rail transit from Russia to a Russian Baltic Sea exclave of goods hit by European Union sanctions, in a move that drew Moscow's strong anger amid high tensions in the region.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said his country was simply implementing sanctions imposed by the EU, of which it is a member. He said the measures implemented Saturday were taken after "consultation with the European Commission and under its guidelines."

"Sanctioned goods (will) no longer be allowed to transit Lithuanian territory," Landsbergis added.

Goods on the list include steel but are set to be broadly expanded to cover items from coal to alcoholic drinks.

The Kaliningrad exclave, home to some 430,000 people, is surrounded by Lithuania and Poland, another EU country, to the south and isolated from the rest of Russia. Trains with goods for Kaliningrad travel via Belarus and Lithuania. There's no transit through Poland. Russia can still supply the exclave by sea, without falling foul of EU sanctions.

Russia has demanded that Lithuania immediately lifts the ban, with the Foreign Ministry in Moscow saying that if transport links are not restored in full "Russia reserves the right to take action in defense of its national interests."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov strongly denounced the "unlawful" ban.

"This decision, indeed unprecedented, is a violation of everything and then some. We understand that it is connected to the relevant decision of the European Union to extend the sanctions to transit (of goods). This we also consider unlawful," Peskov told reporters on Monday.

The foreign ministry summoned Lithuania's chief diplomatic representative in Moscow for a formal protest and alleged the Baltic nation was acting in breach of international agreements. Lithuania has not had an ambassador in Moscow since April, when it downgraded diplomatic ties in protest at the killing of civilians in Ukraine by Russian troops after the Feb. 24 invasion.

Lithuania later summoned the Russian envoy in Vilnius to tell him the ban was in line with EU sanctions, and that there was no blockade of Kaliningrad.

The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said Lithuania's move should not be compared to the situation in Ukraine. "The rest of the world will not be affected by what is happening in Kaliningrad, but the rest of the world is very much affected by what is happening in Ukraine," he said.

Borrell added that Lithuania did not take any unilateral national restrictions and denied that land transit between Kaliningrad and other parts of Russia had been stopped or banned.

"There is no blockade," Borrell said. He added that the transit of passengers and goods that are not sanctioned is continuing.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted: "Russia has no right to threaten Lithuania. Moscow has only itself to blame for the consequences of its unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine."

On Monday, Lithuanian customs said the sanctions, which took effect in mid-June, were part of the fourth EU sanctions package imposed on March 15.

Lina Laurinaityte Grigiene, a customs spokeswoman, said affected items include Russian steel "that cannot be transported over the territory of European countries."

"The land transit between Kaliningrad and other parts of Russia is not stopped or blocked. All goods that are not under sanctions travel freely," she said.

She added that starting July 10, similar sanctions will be implemented on concrete and alcohol goods, from Aug. 10 on coal and from December no Russian oil will be allowed into EU territory.

Anton Alikhanov, the governor of the Russian exclave, has estimated that the ban would affect some 50% of all goods flowing toward Kaliningrad by rail. He also said he would call on Russian authorities to take measures against Lithuania and would seek to have more goods sent by ship.

Kaliningrad, which is home to the Russian Baltic Fleet, is Russia's only ice-free Baltic port. Moscow has also deployed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles there.

As part of its economic sanctions, the EU has imposed a number of import and export restrictions on Russia. The bloc said it has been careful not to harm the Russian population with its packages of measures and therefore excluded products related to health, pharma, food and agriculture. The list of sanctioned products include up to 90% of oil imports, coal, steel, iron, wood, as well as caviar and vodka. Bans are implemented by the EU's customs authorities.
A British subsidiary of mining and trading giant Glencore on Tuesday formally pleaded guilty to seven counts of bribery in connection with oil operations in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Sudan.

At a Southwark Crown Court hearing in London, Glencore Energy admitted to paying more than $28 million in bribes to secure preferential access to oil and generate illicit profit between 2011 and 2016. The company will be sentenced on Nov. 2 and 3, the U.K. Serious Fraud Office, or SFO, said.

Glencore, a Swiss-based multinational, has already said it expects to pay up to $1.5 billion to settle allegations of bribery and market manipulation and three subsidiaries in the United States, Brazil and Britain have now pleaded guilty to criminal offenses.

U.S. authorities will see the bulk of those funds after Glencore agreed to a $1.1 billion U.S. settlement last month to resolve a decade-long scheme to bribe foreign officials across seven countries  and separate charges alleging a trading division manipulated fuel oil prices at U.S. shipping ports.

But the guilty plea by a corporate heavyweight in London is a much-needed boost for the SFO, which has faced sharp criticism and awaits the outcome of a forensic government-ordered review after senior judges overturned two convictions in its Unaoil bribery investigation because of disclosure failings.

The SFOs success with Glencore will certainly not protect it from any flak that comes its way," said Syed Rahman, a partner at Rahman Ravelli. But the result it has in this case is an indicator of what the agency is capable of when it does not make mistakes.

Helen Taylor, a legal researcher at pressure group Spotlight on Corruption, urged the SFO now to investigate and prosecute senior executives who had condoned the wrongdoing.

The SFO said only that its Glencore investigation was ongoing.

Glencore is also paying $29.6 million directly to state-run Brazilian oil company Petrobras in compensation for defrauding the company and roughly $10 million to authorities in civil penalties, prosecutors have said.
Mali's military government says Islamist militants have massacred 132 civilians in the central Mopti region, in one of the deadliest attacks of the decade-long militant insurgency.

Mali has declared three days of mourning after gunmen suspected to be Islamist militants killed 132 villagers in the central Mopti region.

The attack on three villages the evening of June 18 is one of the deadliest since Malis conflict began in 2012.

A government statement was read on state TV ORTM Monday night by presenter Mariam Kone.

She says the government condemns with the utmost rigor the attacks and abuses perpetrated against peaceful populations. Kone says the government reassures that all measures will be taken to find and bring the perpetrators of these criminal acts before the court.

The attack in Mopti is the latest in a wave of attacks on civilians in Mali and neighboring Burkina Faso.

Last week in Burkina Faso, militants killed 86 civilians in an attack in the northern Seytenga area.

The U.N. mission to Mali, known as MINUSMA, in a statement Monday night condemned the attacks in central Mali.

The statement noted recent attacks also took place in several areas of Gao region, causing the deaths of dozens of civilians.

Local officials told AFP this week that 24 civilians were killed in Ebak, Mali, 35 kilometers north of the regional capital.

A local political movement reported that Islamist militants killed 22 men in Izingaz in Menaka region on June 12.

Malis military government has not commented on the growing insecurity and violence in the countrys northern regions.

The rise in violence comes as the French military is in the process of withdrawing from the region over Malis working with Russian mercenaries.

Human Rights Watch and news reports quote locals saying Malis army and Russian mercenaries killed hundreds of civilians in Moura, in central Mali, in March.

The military denies killing any civilians, says there are only Russian instructors in Mali, and says the Moura attack killed more than 200 Islamist militants.
Lawyers for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange are urging the Australian government to do more to gain the release of the Queensland-born activist. Assange is to be extradited from Britain to the United States to face espionage charges, in a move approved by the British government late last week.

To his supporters, Julian Assange is a hero who, among other things, exposed U.S. wrongdoing in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. They insist his prosecution is politically motivated.

But officials in Washington have for years said the confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables Assanges Wikileaks website released had violated U.S. espionage laws and put lives at risk.

The Australian-born activist is in a British prison awaiting extradition to the United States, where he is wanted on 18 criminal charges, including breaking spying laws.

Last Friday, British Interior Minister Priti Patel approved Assanges extradition.

Assanges legal team is urging the recently elected government in Canberra to demand Assanges release from prison. It is reported that Australia is quietly lobbying for his release and has raised the case with senior United States officials.

Greg Barns is a member of Assanges Australian-based legal team. He told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that Canberra had intervened to bring home an Australian terrorism suspect from Guantanamo Bay and a Melbourne-based academic recently detained in Iran.

There is precedent for Australia doing this. We saw most famously the David Hicks case back in, I think, 2004 when the [former Prime Minister John] Howard government used its good offices with the Bush administration to get David Hicks back to safety from Guantanamo Bay," said Barns. "We saw it in Kylie Moore-Gilbert, for example. Simply because a case is before other jurisdictions does not mean that Australia cannot get involved.

In a statement, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Assanges case has dragged on for too long and that it should be brought to a close. She added that the Australian government could not intervene in the legal matters of another country.

Since it was founded in 2006, Wikileaks has released hundreds of thousands of secret classified files and diplomatic cables in what has been described as the largest security breach of its kind.

Assange has been fighting extradition to the United States since June 2019 and has indicated he plans to appeal Britains expulsion order.
Hazmat-suited workers poke plastic swabs down millions of throats in China each day, leaving bins bursting with medical waste that has become the environmental and economic levy of a zero-COVID strategy.

China is the last major economy wedded to stamping out infections no matter the cost.

Near-daily testing is the most commonly used weapon in an anti-virus arsenal that includes snap lockdowns and forced quarantines when just a few cases are detected.

From Beijing to Shanghai, Shenzhen to Tianjin, cities are now home to an archipelago of temporary testing kiosks, while authorities order hundreds of millions of people to get swabbed every two or three days.

Mass testing appears set to stay as Chinese authorities insist zero-COVID has allowed the world's most populous nation to avoid a public health catastrophe.

But experts say the approach  a source of political legitimacy for the ruling Communist Party  creates a sea of hazardous waste and a mounting economic burden for local governments who must plough tens of billions of dollars into funding the system.

"The sheer amount of medical waste that is being generated on a routine basis (is) at a scale that is practically unseen in human history," said Yifei Li, an environmental studies expert at New York University Shanghai.

"The problems are already becoming astronomical, and they will continue to grow even bigger," he told AFP.

Beijing has positioned itself as an environmental leader, cracking down on air and water pollution while setting the goal of making its economy carbon-neutral by 2060, a target experts say is untenable given the current trajectory of investments in coal.

Blanket-testing is now posing a new trash challenge.

Each positive case  typically a few dozen a day nationwide  unspools a trail of used test kits, face masks and personal protective gear.

If not disposed of properly, biomedical waste can contaminate soil and waterways, posing threats to the environment and human health.

Cities and provinces, home to a total of around 600 million people, have announced some form of routine testing in recent weeks, according to an Agence France-Presse analysis of government notices and Chinese media reports.

Different regions have imposed different restrictions, and some areas have suspended the policy in step with falling cases.

Nationwide data on the waste footprint has not been disclosed. But Shanghai officials said last month the city produced 68,500 tons of medical waste during its recent COVID lockdown, with daily output up to six times higher than normal.

Under Chinese regulations, local authorities are tasked with separating, disinfecting, transporting and storing COVID waste before finally disposing of it  usually by incineration.

But disposal systems in the poorer rural parts of the country have long been overburdened.

"I'm not sure that ... the countryside really has the capacity to deal with a significant increase in the amount of medical waste," said Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The spike in waste may prompt some local governments to process it improperly or simply "dump it on the ground" in temporary landfills, said Benjamin Steuer of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

In a statement to AFP, China's Health Ministry said it had made "specific demands for medical waste management" as part of national COVID protocols.

Waste of money?

Beijing has urged provincial capitals and cities with at least 10 million people to set up a test site within a 15-minute walk of every resident.

Top leaders also expect local governments to foot the bill for testing at a time when many are struggling to balance the books.

Expanding the model to the whole of the country could cost between 0.9% and 2.3% of China's gross domestic product, Nomura financial analysts said last month.

"The economics of that is tricky," said Li of NYU Shanghai. "You don't want to invest in permanent infrastructure to process what is perceived as a short-term surge of medical waste."

Jin Dong-Yan, a professor at Hong Kong University's School of Biomedical Sciences, said "very ineffective and costly" routine testing would force governments to back away from other much-needed health care investments.

Authorities are also likely to miss positive cases as the omicron variant spreads rapidly and is harder to detect than other strains, he told AFP.

"This will not work," he said. "It will just wash down millions of dollars into the sea."
Holed up in a bombed-out house in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian troops keep a careful accounting of their ammunition, using a door as a sort of ledger. Scrawled in chalk on the door are figures for mortar shells, smoke shells, shrapnel shells, flares.

Despite the heavy influx of weapons from the West, Ukrainian forces are outgunned by the Russians in the battle for the eastern Donbas region, where the fighting is largely being carried out by way of artillery exchanges.

While the Russians can keep up heavy, continuous fire for hours at a time, the defenders can't match the enemy in either weapons or ammunition and must use their ammo more judiciously.

At the outpost in eastern Ukraine, dozens and dozens of mortar shells are stacked up. But the troops' commander, Mykhailo Strebizh, who goes by the nom de guerre Gaiduk, lamented that if his fighters were to come under an intense artillery barrage, their cache would, at best, amount to only about four hours' worth of return fire.

Ukrainian authorities say the West's much-ballyhooed support for the country is not sufficient and is not arriving on the battlefield fast enough for this grinding and highly lethal phase of the war.

While Russia has kept quiet about its war casualties, Ukrainian authorities say up to 200 of their soldiers are dying each day. Russian forces are gaining ground slowly in the east, but experts say they are taking heavy losses.

The United States last week upped the ante with its largest pledge of aid for Ukrainian forces yet: an additional $1 billion in military assistance to help repel or reverse Russian advances.

But experts note that such aid deliveries haven't kept pace with Ukraine's needs, in part because defense industries aren't turning out weaponry fast enough.

"We're moving from peacetime to wartime," said Francois Heisbourg, a senior adviser at the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research think tank. "Peacetime means low production rates and ramping up the production rate means that you have to first build industrial facilities.  This is a defense-industrial challenge which is of a very great magnitude."

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany last week reported that the U.S. has delivered about half its pledged commitments in military support for Ukraine, and Germany about one-third. Poland and Britain have both come through on much of what they promised.

Many foot soldiers say they can't even begin to match the Russians shot for shot, or shell for shell.

Earlier this month, Ukraine's ambassador in Madrid, Serhii Phoreltsev, thanked Spain  which trumpeted a shipment of 200 tons of military aid in April  but said the ammunition included was enough for only about two hours of combat.

Ukrainian filmmaker-turned-fighter Volodymyr Demchenko tweeted a video expressing gratitude for guns sent by the Americans, saying, "It's nice guns, and 120 bullets to each." But he lamented: "It's like 15 minutes of a fight."

Part of the problem, too, is that the Ukrainian forces, whose country was once a member of the Soviet Union, are more familiar with Soviet-era weaponry and must first be trained on the NATO equipment they are getting.

An untold number of Ukrainians have traveled abroad to get training on the Western weapons.

Of the $1 billion pledge from the U.S., only slightly more than one-third of that will be rapid, off-the-shelf deliveries by the Pentagon, and the rest will be available over a longer term. The pledge, which includes 18 howitzers and 36,000 rounds of ammunition for them, addresses Ukraine's plea for more longer-range weaponry.

That's still far short of what the Ukrainians want  1,000 155 mm howitzers, 300 multiple-launch rocket systems, 500 tanks, 2,000 armored vehicles and 1,000 drones  as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's adviser Mikhail Podolyak tweeted last week, before the latest big Western pledges.

"What the Ukrainians have got to do is conduct what military people tend to call a counter-battery operation" to respond to Russian artillery fire, said Ben Barry, a former director of the British army staff who is a senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "To do this, you need accurate weapons with a high rate of fire and a range that allows them to keep out of the way of the other side's artillery."

"The Ukrainians are saying they don't have enough long-range rockets to adequately suppress Russian artillery," he said. "I think they're probably right."

As it now stands, Ukrainians use "shoot and scoot" tactics  fire, then move before the Russians can zero in on them.

Better NATO hardware, even in small quantities, is often welcome.

On a nearby front Saturday, a Ukrainian unit granted The Associated Press rare access to the firing of U.S.-supplied M777 howitzers  towable, 155 mm weapons  on Russian positions.

A lieutenant who goes by the call sign Wasp touted the M777's precision, speed of fire, simplicity of use and the ease with which it is camouflaged, saying the new hardware "raises our spirits" and "demoralizes the enemy because they see what the consequences are."

Friends of Ukraine are digging in for the long haul.

Time may be on Ukraine's side, the experts say. Ukrainian fighters are both motivated and mobilized  all men in the country of 40 million have been called to fight, whereas Russia has so far avoided a call-up of conscripts, which could vastly tilt the war in Russia's favor but may not be popular domestically.

As for how long such fighting could last, analyst Heisbourg said a yearslong war of attrition is "quite possible."
Pavlo Vyshebaba joined the military on the first day of the Russian invasion, having no combat experience at all. Then the well-known Ukrainian eco-activist headed straight to his native Donbas region. During brief calm moments on the front line, he wrote about what he was seeing and feeling. Lesia Bakalets has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.
East African leaders meeting in Kenya have agreed to deploy a Kenya-led regional security force to stop the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Weeks of fighting between DRC troops and rebels has raised tensions between the DRC and Rwanda. Congo accuses its neighbor of supporting the rebels, something Rwanda denies.

Seven countries in the East African Community regional bloc have given the green light for the standing EAC regional force to deploy its troops to the eastern DRC.

EAC leaders who met in Kenyas capital, Nairobi, Monday said they were committed to contributing to reconciliation and peace efforts in Congos volatile North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces.

The areas have experienced decades of deadly fighting and, more recently, the emergence of the rebel group M23.

Kenya will lead the operation to pacify the region, which is home to dozens of rebel groups, some domestic, others with origins in Uganda and Rwanda.

The groups fight for control of territory and the regions rich mines. Some fighters say they took up arms to protect their communities from other rebel groups.

Researcher and political analyst Ntanyoma Rukumbuzi said the EAC force must assure communities they will be safe.

We need to see a military force that protects civilians by ending fighting, forcing combatants to lay down their guns, he said. We need a guarantee that a force is filling the vacuum where many of these armed groups have been working to protect their communities.

Blaise Karege, a security researcher with web app Kivu Security Tracker, said the deployment of regional forces will not bring stability to Congo, noting that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have sent troops in the past with little effect.

Karege said dialogue among Congolese would be of more help than having more troops in the country.

Fighting won't end Congos problems. Peace talks would have helped, he said. We wouldnt need a lot of money, people and effort, I think Congolese want to talk. Congolese can talk to each other; they dont have to go back to Kenya.

Some reports say Rwanda will not take part in the planned deployment. Kinshasa has accused Kigali of supporting M23, a claim denied by Rwanda.

M23 claims it is protecting the Tutsi minority in the eastern DRC. Since the Rwandan government is Tutsi-led, some Congolese government officials link the two.

There was no immediate word on how many EAC troops will be deployed to Congo or when they may arrive.

The EAC says the force will work with the Congolese army to disarm rebel groups and militias.

EAC leaders also called on Congo and Rwanda to stop using offensive language, hate speech and threats of genocide.
A dirty stream stems from Ethiopias Awash River, a lifeline for locals and their main water source for bathing, washing, cooking, and drinking. Ethiopia is reeling from the worst drought to hit the Horn of Africa in 40 years, and the northern Afar region is no exception.

Clean water is a luxury many cannot afford, said Semera resident Aisha Ali.

"My children suffer from skin diseases and are always ill because the water we use is not clean, she said. Some children even die because of this unsafe water.

Khadijah Hamidah lives next to the river and said her children also suffer from illnesses and disease because of the dirty water.

This is the only choice we have. All our children and families use this water, she said.

But its not just villagers who are struggling with a lack of clean water.

Dubti General Hospital, the only functional medical center in Afar, is overwhelmed with patients.

Its acting head, Dr. Yusuf Muhammad, said the hospital also is suffering from the clean water shortage.

Sometimes, we may not get the water, he said. Sometimes, some of the elective surgery cases are stopped or postponed due to lack of water. Surgical site infections are there because theres no adequate water. Patient attendants are using rainwater. Theres a nearby river. They are using river water. It is not safe.

The Afar regions water bureau says it is struggling to address the water shortage and that it tries to provide filters.

Fatuma Haissema, who works with the Afar Water and Energy office, said many boreholes have been dug, but that they couldn't be utilized because of a shortage of fluoride.

"The fluoride level (in the boreholes) was below the WHO standard, and we were forced to close the wells, she said. The cost of filtering the water is high and beyond the capacity of our office.

Relief comes when clean water is trucked in by aid groups and the regional government.

Fatuma Omar, a resident of Semera, said the locals are relieved they can get trucked water.

Previously, we would buy water and carry it from the city center, she said. One jerrycan costs about 40 cents (20 birr). It was expensive and tiring. But now, we get clean water, so this is good for us.

The relief is only temporary, however, as the truck quickly runs dry, and people have to wait for the next one or are forced to risk using water from the river.
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.

The latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. All times EDT:

11:30 p.m.: Recent fighting has favored Russia because of its huge edge in artillery firepower, a fact Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged in a late Tuesday night address, Reuters said.

"Thanks to tactical maneuvers, the Ukrainian army is strengthening its defenses in the Luhansk region," he said. "That is really the toughest spot. The occupiers are also pressing strongly in the direction of Donetsk."

Luhansk and Donetsk provinces combined are known as the Donbas, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

"And just as actively as we are fighting for a positive decision by the European Union on Ukraine's candidate status, we are also fighting every day for modern weaponry for our country. We don't let up for a single day," Zelenskyy said, urging those nations supporting his country to speed up arms deliveries

10:45 p.m.: A court in Moscow on Tuesday extended the arrest of a municipal legislator charged with discrediting the country's military after his criticism of Russia's military action in Ukraine, The Associated Press reported.

Alexei Gorinov, a member of the municipal council of Moscow's Krasnoselsky District, has remained in jail since his arrest in April. He was accused of discrediting the country's military after speaking out against Russia's military action in Ukraine during the council's session in March.

Addressing the court on Tuesday, Gorinov rejected the charges and insisted that he was merely expressing his own political views.

He may face a fine or a prison term of up to 10 years if convicted.

His lawyers, noting he suffers from tuberculosis, asked the court to place him under house arrest, but the court dismissed the appeal and ruled Gorinov should remain in jail until November 19.

9:15 p.m.: Estonia summoned the Russian ambassador on Tuesday to protest an "extremely serious" violation of its airspace by a Russian helicopter, the second time in less than two weeks that Tallinn has reprimanded Moscow's envoy.

It also expressed solidarity with fellow Baltic nation Lithuania, which Moscow says will be punished for banning the transit of some goods to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

The Estonian foreign ministry said the helicopter had flown over a point in the south-east without permission on June 18.

"Estonia considers this an extremely serious and regrettable incident that undoubtedly causes additional tensions and is completely unacceptable," it said in a statement, repeating calls for Russian troops to leave Ukraine.

8:43 p.m.: Cyberattacks, disinformation and other forms of information warfare being waged in Ukraine are a "crystal ball" for future problems elsewhere, a Google executive told the U.N. Security Council Tuesday.

"States must find a way to turn the volume down and settle on some kind of deterrence doctrine for the cyber domain," Jared Cohen said at a council meeting on hate speech, incitement and atrocities in Ukraine. "There is no magical algorithm or single fix for this," he said.

Cohen heads Jigsaw, a part of Google that aims to build technology to combat disinformation, censorship and extremism online.

8 p.m.: The United Nations, along with its humanitarian partners, were able to deliver on Monday 12 trucks of critical supplies to help nearly 64,000 people in the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Sloviansk, which is just 10 kilometers from the front line, has experienced intense shelling over the past weeks. Previously home to about 100,000 people, about a quarter of the population remains, mostly the elderly.

The people there have no piped water, and electricity is quite limited, Dujarric said, and basic supplies are limited. Mondays humanitarian convoy reached Sloviansk with water purification tablets and vital hygiene supplies to cover the needs of 20,000 people, critical household items for around 2,000 people and enough food to feed around 5,000 people for a month.

In Kramatorsk, kits to purify water and hygiene supplies will be provided for more than 20,000 people, along with food assistance for at least 10,000.

7:15 p.m.: On Sharm el-Sheikh's sandy beaches many of the sun loungers lie empty. At a central promenade packed with shops, cafes and nightclubs, crowds are thinner than usual.



The resort on the southern tip of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula is reeling from the impact of the war in Ukraine, which has seen Ukrainians and Russians - previously among the town's top visitors - virtually disappear, tourism sector workers say.



Their absence has delivered the latest in a series of shocks to a sector that accounts for up to 15% of gross domestic product and generates sorely needed foreign currency.



6:34 p.m.: Polands foreign minister said Tuesday the current security crisis on the continent shows that Europe cant defend itself without the United States, but that NATO members in the region should take more responsibility for their own protection, The Associated Press reported.



Poland perceives the engagement of the United States in European security as a fundamental condition of peace in Europe, Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau told a gathering of Polish ambassadors, in comments carried by the state news agency PAP.



He credited U.S. leadership in NATO as being key to a decision for a rapid and effective adaptation to the Russian threat in 2016.



It was then that NATO increased its presence on the eastern flank of NATO following Russias seizure of Ukraines Crimea Peninsula in 2014 and its support for pro-Moscow insurgents in Ukraines eastern Donbas region.



5:56 p.m.: Turkeys military delegation will travel to Russia this week to discuss a possible safe sea corridor in the Black Sea to export Ukrainian grain, Turkish presidency sources told Agence France-Presse on Tuesday.

Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine halted Kyiv's Black Sea grain exports, causing global food shortages, though Moscow blames Western sanctions for the crisis.

The sources said a four-way meeting between Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and the United Nations would be held in Istanbul in the coming weeks, possibly with the participation of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

The sources said the plan envisaged creating three corridors from Ukraine's Black Sea port city of Odesa under Kyiv's supervision, and that both Ukrainian and Russian food products would be shipped from there.

They said 30-35 million metric tons of grain could be shipped from there in the next six to eight months.

5 p.m.: Lviv buried Artemiy Dymyd, 27, who died while defending Donbas from Russian occupiers. His mother sings to him a last lullaby in the Lviv Garrison Church, according to Euromaidan Press.

4:23 p.m.: A Russian pilot died Tuesday when his fighter plane crashed near the border with Ukraine, according to the press service of the southern military district.

According to preliminary information, a technical malfunction could have caused the crash and a team from the Russian Aerospace Forces was rushed to the Rostov region to investigate.

The pilot was the only one on board, according to the Interfax agency.

3:45 p.m.: Italian Premier Mario Draghi secured Senate backing Tuesday to continue supporting Ukraine against Russia, following calls from the 5-Star Movement leadership for Italy to stop sending weapons and focus more on diplomacy.

Draghi outlined Italys Ukraine policy, and briefed senators on his recent visit to Kyiv alongside the French and German leaders, ahead of the European Council later this week. While providing no new information on the weaponry Italy had sent, Draghi thanked senators for their united support for the government line.

The government has provided no information on the specific armaments it has provided Ukraine, citing state secrecy.

3:10 p.m.: The United States said Tuesday it stood firmly behind Lithuania and NATO commitments to defend it after Russia warned the European Union member country over restrictions on rail transit.

"Specifically our commitment to NATO's Article Five -- the premise that an attack on one would constitute an attack on all -- that commitment on the part of the United States is ironclad," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

2:30 p.m.: The U.N. World Food Programs Executive Director David Beasley on Tuesday welcomed action by members of the World Trade Organization to allow humanitarian food aid to be purchased without any export restrictions. Beasley has repeatedly expressed concern about growing global food security challenges as a result of the war in Ukraine and the resulting disruption to agricultural supplies and trade.

2:18 p.m.: A White House official said on Tuesday it is "appalling" that a public official in Russia would suggest the death penalty for Americans captured in Ukraine, Reuters reported.



The Kremlin said on Tuesday that the U.S. citizens captured in Ukraine were subject to court decisions and did not rule out that they could face the death penalty.



"It's appalling that a public official in Russia would even suggest the death penalty for American citizens ... in Ukraine," said John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications.



2:06 p.m.: Russian soldiers opened fire on them with a cannon, machine guns and assault rifles. Twins Yevhen and Bohdan Samodiy and their friend Valentyn Yakymchuk were killed while walking down the street in their home village of Mokhnatyn, in northern Ukraine, on March 14, Dmytro Dzhulay with Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys Ukrainian service, has this report. (WARNING: viewers may find the content of this video disturbing.)

1:55 p.m.: The State Department is confirming the death of a U.S. citizen in Ukraine who is believed to be only the second American to have been killed in the conflict there, The Associated Press reported.



The department said Tuesday that Stephen Zabielski had died in Ukraine and that it is in touch with his family to provide consular support and assistance. Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further, it said.



The department did not provide a date or the circumstances of his death but an obituary published in his hometown newspaper said Zabielski, 53, had died on May 15. The Recorder in Amsterdam, New York, where Zabielski had lived until 2018, said he had been killed while fighting in the village of Dorozhniank, Ukraine.



Zabielski is at least the second American to have been killed in combat in Ukraine. In late April, Willy Joseph Cancel, a 22-year-old former Marine from Tennessee was killed fighting in Ukraine. In brief comments about Zabielski, the State Department reiterated longstanding advice it has given to Americans not to travel to Ukraine for any reason due to the fighting.

1:31 p.m.:

1:22 p.m.: One of the largest employers in Maine is permanently closing a Russian subsidiary and ceasing business in the country, The Associated Press reported. Westbrook-based Idexx Laboratories, a leader in veterinary medicine, disclosed its decision with the Securities and Exchange Commission last week, the Portland Press Herald reported.



The company said in a disclosure to investors that it was providing transition support to Russian employees affected by the closure. It said it is liquidating the Russian subsidiary. Idexx had 18 staff workers in Moscow before Russias invasion of Ukraine, the newspaper reported. Many other U.S. and international companies already had pulled out of the country since the invasion.



Idexx, which has more than 1,000 employees in Maine, is a leader in the veterinary diagnostics and software fields. The company reported more than $3.2 billion in revenue last year. Russia accounted for less than 1% of consolidated revenue, the company said.

1:16 p.m.:

1:07 p.m.: FIFA, world soccer's governing body, says it has extended its employment rules to help players, coaches and teams impacted by the war in Ukraine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.



The association said in a statement on Tuesday that the move, which extends the right of foreign players and coaches to suspend contracts with clubs in Russia and Ukraine until June next year, will help bring players and clubs stability given the uncertainty surrounding Ukraine as it fights to repel Russia's unprovoked invasion.



"These provisions give players and coaches the opportunity to train, play and receive a salary, while protecting Ukrainian clubs and facilitating the departure of foreign players and coaches from Russia," the statement said.



The rule was first introduced on March 7, less than two weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine. FIFA has also banned Russian teams from all international competitions.

12:49 p.m.:

12:38 p.m.: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland pledged during a visit to Ukraine on Tuesday to help prosecute war crimes committed since the Russian invasion in late February, Agence France-Presse reported.



"I'm here to express the unwavering support of the United States for the people of Ukraine in the midst of the unprovoked and unjust Russian invasion," Garland told reporters after meeting with Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova near the Polish-Ukrainian border.



"I'm here to continue our discussions, myself and the prosecutor general, of the actions that the United States is taking to assist the Ukrainian authorities in holding accountable those responsible for the atrocities or the war crimes that the entire world has seen," he said in remarks broadcast on Fox News.



"The United States is sending an unmistakable message - there is no place to hide," Garland said. "We and our partners will pursue every avenue available to ensure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable." Venediktova thanked Garland for his support, calling it "very important."

12:26 p.m.:

12:10 p.m.: Russia's ambassador in London said on Tuesday that Britain had asked for Moscow's help in connection with two British citizens sentenced to death in a Russian-backed separatist region for fighting for Ukraine.

A court in the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine this month sentenced Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner and Moroccan Brahim Saadoun to death for "mercenary activities."

Their families deny that the trio, who were contracted by the Ukrainian armed forces, are mercenaries. Britain says its citizens were regular soldiers and should be exempt under the Geneva Conventions from prosecution for participation in hostilities.

"There was an approach by the British to us - they sent us a note but the note was so full of such arrogant and didactic expressions that it really didn't produce any desire in us to cooperate in these questions," Ambassador Andrei Kelin told Russia-24 TV.

11:44 a.m.:

11:28 a.m.: When television reporters Tikhon Dzyadko and Ekaterina Kotrikadze left Russia with other colleagues in March, they left the country without one of its few major non-government media outlets, Reuters reported.

The pair - leading journalists at independent TV channel Dozhd - have been broadcasting a current affairs show on their joint YouTube channel from neighboring Georgia since Dozhd went off air but are now preparing a formal relaunch from abroad.

A live stream they did last week had more than 92,000 views, allowing them to connect with some of their audience on one of the few online platforms that has not been blocked by the authorities.

11:17 a.m.: Russian forces attacked the eastern Ukrainian village of Moshchun leaving residents to pick through the resulting rubble, VOAs Eastern Europe bureau chief Myroslava Gongadze reported Tuesday on Twitter.

11:03 a.m.: German self-propelled howitzers have arrived in Ukraine in the first delivery of heavy weapons promised by Berlin, Ukraine's defense minister said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

Ukraine has pleaded with the West to send more and better artillery as the country runs out of ammunition for its existing Soviet-era arsenal, which is dwarfed by Russia's.

"We have replenishment!...The German Panzerhaubitze 2000 with trained Ukrainian crews joined the Ukrainian artillery family," Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on social media.

10:54 a.m.:

10:49 a.m.: Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel says his country will support local and international investigations of "war crimes" committed in Ukraine to ensure that those responsible are "identified, prosecuted, and punished," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. After touring the towns of Bucha and Borodyanka, Bettel said in a series of tweets on Tuesday that the destruction wrought by Russian forces during their invasion of Ukraine stands as a "symbol of senseless cruelty and violence."

10:34 a.m.: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland visited Ukraine on Tuesday where he will discuss efforts to identify, arrest and prosecute those involved in war crimes and other atrocities committed during Russia's invasion, Reuters reported, quoting a Justice Department official.

Garland is slated to meet with Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova, the department official told reporters.

Speaking to reporters in Ukraine as he entered the meeting, Garland said: "I'm here to express the unwavering support of the United States for the people of Ukraine in the midst of the unprovoked and unjust Russian invasion.

10:12 a.m.: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty published this photo essay on Twitter Tuesday, showing how citizens and first responders reacted to the destruction caused by recent Russian attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

10:00 a.m.: The U.N. Security Council was scheduled to meet on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at headquarters in New York City to discuss Ukraine, VOAs U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer reported. The meeting was requested by Albania under the agenda item Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine. The focus will be on Incitement to violence leading to atrocity crimes and the main briefer will be Alice Nderitu, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. Two civil society briefers are also expected to participate.

9:33 a.m.: Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen addressed Ukraines parliament on Tuesday, expressing solidarity with the people of Ukraine. For 117 days you have been defending yourselves against a brutal and shameless aggressor, Frederiksen said. Words cannot describe what you have suffered. Attacks against civilians, thousands of lost lives, millions of families forced to flee, she added.

9:04 a.m.: The Kremlin said on Tuesday it did not know the location of two Americans captured while fighting in eastern Ukraine, but that they were mercenaries and could be sentenced to death in Russian-backed breakaway territories, Reuters reported.

Americans Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, went missing this month while fighting near Kharkiv. Russian state media later showed video interviews with the pair, saying they had been captured by Russian-backed forces. Citing an unidentified source, the Interfax news agency reported that the men were in the separatist self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine.

Britons Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin and Moroccan citizen Brahim Saadoun were sentenced to death by a DPR court this month after being captured fighting with the Ukrainian army.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a call with reporters that Moscow could not rule out that the two captured men, both from Alabama, would also be sentenced to death if put on trial in a separatist territory.

8:47 a.m.: Ukraines government has been urging its citizens to pay attention to air raid sirens and seek shelter as appropriate, as Russia continues its assault on the eastern city of Kharkiv, VOAs Eastern Europe bureau chief Myroslava Gongadze reported Tuesday.

8:28 a.m.: Tay, a 3-year-old Belgian shepherd, likes his work sniffing out explosives left behind by Russian forces who once occupied the Ukrainian city of Trostyanets. He's among a number of dogs belonging to sapper teams who treat the search for deadly mines as a game. Their masters sometimes express disbelief at what the Russian troops have left behind, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

8:13 a.m.: Ukraine has detained a senior government official and a business leader suspected of being part of an alleged Russian spy network, Reuters reported Tuesday, quoting the Security Service of Ukraine.

The Security Service (SBU) did not name the two suspects but identified them as a senior official in the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers and a department head at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a business lobby. It said in a statement on the Telegram app that it had carried out a "multi-stage special operation" to neutralize the alleged spy ring.

"As a result: in Kyiv, the head of a department of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers and the head of one of the directorates of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry were detained," the SBU said. "These officials passed on various intelligence information to the enemy: from the state of our defense capability to arrangements at the state border and personal data of Ukrainian law enforcement officers."

8:06 a.m.:

7:51 a.m.: One of President Vladimir Putin's top allies warned Lithuania on Tuesday that Russia would respond to a halt in the transit of EU-sanctioned goods to the exclave of Kaliningrad in such a way that the citizens of the NATO and EU member would feel the pain,Reuters reported.

Nikolai Patrushev, a former KGB spy who is now the secretary of Russia's Security Council, said Lithuania's "hostile" actions showed that Russia could not trust the West.

"Russia will certainly respond to such hostile actions," Patrushev was quoted as saying by state news agency RIA. "Appropriate measures are being worked out in an interdepartmental format and will be taken in the near future," he was quoted as saying. "Their consequences will have a serious negative impact on the population of Lithuania."

7:32 a.m.: Russia says it has reconfigured communications infrastructure in Ukraine's Kherson region and is now broadcasting Russian television channels to the region as Moscow continues to impose control on the southern area near Crimea, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

7:16 a.m.: Africa is actually taken hostage in Russias invasion of Ukraine amid catastrophically rising food prices, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the African Union continental body during a closed-door address, The Associated Press reported Tuesday.

It took weeks of requests for Zelenskyy to address African nations June 20, many of whom retain close ties to Russia and failed to support a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning the invasion earlier this year.

Official reaction to Zelenskyys speech was muted. African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat, one of those who met with Putin, tweeted that African nations reiterated the AU position of the urgent need for dialogue to end the conflict. Current AU chair and Senegalese President Macky Sall tweeted that Africa respects the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the freedom of commerce.

Russia is the largest weapons exporter to sub-Saharan Africa, and Moscow emphasizes its long ties with African nations dating to the Soviet Union. Some African leaders, meanwhile, are exasperated by global powers efforts to choose one side or another.

7:04 a.m.: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday announced more aid to avert economic shock and a food crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.

6:57 a.m.: Ukraine is engaged in complex negotiations to free its ports from a Russian naval blockade, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the EU's top diplomat accused Russia of committing a "real war crime" by blocking grain exports from the ports, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

There has been no progress yet on complex multilevel negotiations to unblock our Ukrainian ports, Zelenskyy said, warning that the current global grain crisis would last as long as Russia's "colonial war."

Zelenskyy made the comments in a video address to the African Union June 20. Earlier on June 20, Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, commented on the grain export situation at the start of a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

6:46 a.m.: Satellite images bolster accusations that Russia is transporting huge quantities of stolen Ukrainian grain to Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Ukrainian Service has documented a series of shipments through the largest grain terminal in Russian-occupied Crimea and published this investigative report.

6:34 a.m.: European Union leaders aim to maintain pressure on Russia at their summit this week by committing to further work on sanctions, a draft document showed, with gold among assets that may be targeted in a possible next round of measures The EU has adopted six packages of sanctions against Russia and Belarus since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, but several sectors including gas remain largely untouched as EU governments avoid measures that could damage their own economies more than Russia's, Reuters reported.

6:21 a.m.: Its not a summer heat wave thats making European leaders and businesses sweat. Its fear that Russias manipulation of natural gas supplies will lead to an economic and political crisis next winter. Or, in the worst case, even sooner. The Associated Press on Tuesday published this explainer about the energy pressure game over the war in Ukraine.

6:15 a.m.: Germany will send weapons to Ukraine for as long as needed, said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, adding that since his trip to Kyiv last week, it had become only clearer that Ukraine belongs to Europe.

One thing is clear: we will continue to support Ukraine, also with weapons, for as long as Ukraine needs our support, Scholz said in a speech to German industry association BDI's Industry Day.

He underscored at the Tuesday event that Germany stood resolutely at the side of Lithuania and other eastern allies.

Now is the time when everyone around the world who defends democracy and freedom, human rights and a liberal society has to join hands, he said.

6 a.m.: The Baltic states on Tuesday asked for more financial support from the EU to handle Ukrainian refugees, the Lithuanian presidents office said.

We must share the financial burden, which at the moment is unproportionally assigned to national budgets. EU solidarity is very important to assure proper support to war refugees from Ukraine, Lithuania's president Gitanas Nauseda said in a statement.

5:30 a.m.: Ukraine reported heavy strikes Tuesday in the Sievierodonetsk region as Russian forces push to gain full control of the eastern city.

A spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said at a daily briefing that fighting in Sievierodonetsk was fierce, with Russia conducting both airstrikes and shelling on Ukrainian positions.

Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai reported heavy fighting at the Azot chemical plant in Sievierodonetsk, where Ukrainian fighters and about 500 civilians are taking shelter.

Haidai also said Russian forces had brought catastrophic destruction to the city of Lysychansk, located just across a river from Sievierodonetsk.

5:15 a.m.: European countries are united in their support for granting Ukraine the status of European Union member candidate, Luxembourgs foreign affairs minister said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

We are working towards the point where we tell Putin that Ukraine belongs to Europe, that we will also defend the values that Ukraine defends, Jean Asselborn told reporters before a meeting with other EU ministers.

5:05 a.m.: The website of British newspaper The Telegraph has been blocked in Russia following a request from the prosecutor general, data from state communications regulator Roskomnadzor showed on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

Since sending troops into Ukraine in February, Russia has cracked down on media coverage of the conflict, introducing 15-year prison sentences for journalists who spread intentionally fake news about what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine.

4:30 a.m.: Reuters reported that the European Union ambassador to Russia has arrived at the Russian foreign ministry, the RIA news agency said on Tuesday.

The governor of Kaliningrad region said on Monday that the ministry would summon EU ambassador to Moscow Markus Ederer over Lithuanias ban on the transit of goods under EU sanctions through Kaliningrad.

4:10 a.m.: Two Americans who were captured in Ukraine are currently located in the Russian-backed Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing the Interfax news agency.

On Monday, the Kremlin said that two Americans detained in Ukraine were mercenaries not covered by the Geneva Conventions who should face responsibility for their actions.

They were involved in firing and shelling our military personnel, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. They were endangering their lives. When asked what crimes the Americans had committed, Peskov didnt give specifics but said, those crimes have to be investigated.

3:45 a.m.: American actor and U.N. goodwill ambassador Ben Stiller met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to discuss ways of further cooperation of the Ukrainian authorities with UNHCR, according to a statement issued by the presidents office following their meeting.

2:45 a.m.: Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Tuesday that his country is committed to joining NATO, but must solve its territorial problems with Russia before that, according to Reuters.

He made the statement while attending an economic conference in Qatar.

2:10 a.m.: Ukrainian forces last week claimed their first successful use of Western-donated Harpoon anti-ship missiles to engage Russian forces, the British Military Intelligence said on Tuesday.

The target of the attack was almost certainly the Russian naval tug Spasatel Vasily Bekh, which was delivering weapons and personnel to Snake Island in the north-western Black Sea, the defense ministry said in its daily Twitter update.

The war has entered a brutal attritional phase in recent weeks, with Russian forces concentrating on Ukrainian-controlled parts of the Donbas, which Russia claims on behalf of separatists.

1:30 a.m.: Denmarks energy agency declared a first level early warning alert over worries of its gas supply, due to uncertainty on energy imports from Russia because of the ongoing war in Ukraine, Agence France-Presse reported.

12:30 a.m.: Dmitry Muratov, editor of one of Russias last independent newspapers, auctioned off his 2021 Nobel Peace Prize medal on Monday, bringing in a record-shattering $103.5 million to benefit children displaced by Russias war in Ukraine.

Organizer Heritage Auctions did not identify the winning bidder of the auction, which took place on World Refugee Day. The money is going to UNICEFs humanitarian response for displaced Ukrainian children. Muratov was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines for their work to preserve free speech in their countries.

The previous record price paid for a Nobel Prize medal was $4.76 million in 2014.

Muratov said after Mondays auction that he hoped there was going to be an enormous amount of solidarity, but I was not expecting this to be such a huge amount.

12:01 a.m.: European Council President Charles Michel said he would invite the EU to give Ukraine and Moldova candidate status to join the bloc at a summit this week, Agence France-Presse reported. The comments come after the European Commission recommended granting Ukraine candidate status last week ahead of an EU Council gathering in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

Now is the time to acknowledge that the future of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia lies within the EU. I will invite you to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, Michel wrote in an invitation letter to council members, AFP reported.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
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President Emmanuel Macron held talks Tuesday with France's main party leaders in a bid to show he is open to dialogue after his centrist alliance failed to win an absolute majority in parliamentary elections.

The meetings at the Elysee presidential palace come after Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne formally offered her resignation Tuesday, in line with the tradition after parliamentary elections. Macron immediately rejected the offer and maintained the current government.

Macron's Together! alliance won 245 seats in Sunday's parliamentary elections  44 seats short of a majority in the National Assembly, France's most powerful house of parliament.

The leftist Nupes coalition won 131 seats to become the main opposition force. The far-right National Rally got 89 seats in the 577-member chamber, up from its previous eight.

Macron held successive meetings with opposition members, including the president of The Republicans, Christian Jacob, the head of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, and far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Macron also met with representatives of his own party and allied movements. Other meetings were scheduled Wednesday.

Talks were aiming at finding "potential constructive solutions" to the situation, according to Macron's office.

Macron has not publicly commented on the elections' results yet.

With the most seats at the National Assembly, his government still has the ability to rule, but only by bargaining with legislators. To prevent potential deadlock, Macron's party and allies may try to negotiate on a case-by-case basis with lawmakers from the center-left and from the conservative party.

Macron was reelected in April on an agenda including measures to boost purchasing power, tax cuts and raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65.

After her meeting with Macron, Le Pen said that he "listens," but "does he hear? We'll see."

She said she told him her party's MPs will be part of the opposition but don't want to do "systematic obstruction."

"If measures are being proposed that go in the right direction ... we will vote for them. If they go in the wrong direction, we will amend them. If they are not amended as we want, then we will oppose them," she said.

On his way out of the Elysee, Jacob said The Republicans, who hold 61 seats, won't enter into any "pact or coalition" with Macron's centrists. However, he opened the door to voting in favor of some measures if they are in line with his party's platform.

He notably mentioned pension changes, since the conservatives are, like Macron, in favor of raising the retirement age.

The Socialist leader, Olivier Faure, told reporters "it's possible to move forward" but "we won't approve policies which would be contrary to commitments we made to the French."

Faure advocated for a measure proposed by the leftist coalition to bring the monthly minimum salary from about 1,300 euros to 1,500 euros.

Macron will also soon need to handle another issue: a government reshuffle. Three ministers  out of the 15 who were running for reelection  have lost their seats and won't be able to stay in the government under the rules he set.

While keeping him busy at home, the situation at parliament is not expected to destabilize Macron's international agenda. The French president holds substantial powers over foreign policy, European affairs and defense.

Macron is to travel to Brussels for a European summit scheduled on Thursday and Friday. He will then head to a G-7 meeting in Germany next week, followed by a NATO summit in Spain and a brief visit to Portugal.
A senior U.N. official warns of catastrophic consequences for millions of people in northeast Nigeria facing a food and nutrition crisis if the U.N. does not receive the funds needed to assist them.

U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, says he is ringing the alarm bell now because the United Nations has received less than 20 percent of its $350 million appeal for Nigeria.

He says people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are struggling to survive after 12 years of conflict. Of the 8.4 million people who need humanitarian assistance, he says the U.N. plans to support at least 5.5 million of the most vulnerable. He says nearly 600,000 people are starving and go for days without food.

Malnourished children, he says, are of particular concern.

Approximately, overall, 1.74 million children under five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition across the northeast this year. Of these, over 300,000  are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition and are, indeed, at high risk of death," said Schmale.

He says about 80 percent of U.N. aid will be used to assist women and children who often suffer the most in conflict zones. He says they are subject to violence, to abductions, to rape, and other forms of abuse.

Trond Jensen is Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Nigeria. He says much of the northeast lacks adequate protection for civilians. He says people who venture outside the fortified military garrison towns are in danger of being killed.

It is a serious crisis in the sense that there is no freedom of movement, in the sense that much of the countryside is under the control then or the influence of the various different factions of Boko Haram," said Jensen. "So, that there are indiscriminate killings of civilians.

U.N. officials recognize Nigerias crisis is overshadowed by the disastrous war in Ukraine and is in danger of being forgotten. However, they warn ignoring the humanitarian needs of Nigeria would have far reaching consequences in further destabilizing the region.
A prominent Washington-based policy research organization says the United States is preparing for the wrong kind of likely conflict should China invade Taiwan.

In a newly released book titled, Defending Taiwan, the American Enterprise Institute argues Washington wrongly predicts a short and geographically localized war over Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. Instead, AEI researchers say, the Pentagons planning should revolve around a conflict of extended duration.

In the most worrying scenario, Beijing would launch a surprise missile attack, hammering not only Taiwans defenses but also the American naval and air forces concentrated at a few large bases in the western Pacific, according to AEIs senior fellows Hal Brands and Michael Beckley who assessed a U.S.-China conflict in the western Pacific will not end quickly.

For years, U.S. policy has been to effectively deter a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait while preparing for contingencies in the event of a Chinese attack.

Senior U.S. officials have also raised grave concerns about the Beijing governments increasingly provocative rhetoric and activity towards Taiwan.

Civilian leaders in the past had directed the U.S. military to develop viable plans to defend Taiwan, according to an internal document under former U.S. President Donald Trumps administration.

More recently, top officials from President Joe Bidens administration have repeatedly warned against Beijings use of force to alter the status quo.

If Taiwan were attacked by China, opinion polls indicate a bare majority of Americans now favor defending Taiwan.

Fifty-three percent may not seem like a lot but that's more than the percentage of Americans who favor defending Germany from Soviet aggression at various points during the Cold War. And so, its fairly significant, Brands told reporters on Monday. He was citing the finding by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in August 2021.

With respect to allies, its been pretty striking. I mean, both the Japanese and the Australians have said as clearly as they can that they would not simply sit out a U.S.- China war over Taiwan, said Brands, who is also one of the members of the State Departments Foreign Affairs Policy Board. The Japanese have said that this would be nearly existential for them, given geography.

To prevent the worst from happening while preparing for a long war, Brands and Beckley made several policy recommendations. They suggested the United States and Taiwan could amass key weapons stockpiles to win the race to reload, which would also deter China from resorting to war if Beijing knew it would be outgunned if the conflict drags on. In addition, Washington can demonstrate through preparations the grit to endure losses, threaten retaliation, and contain escalation.
Dmitry Muratov, editor of one of Russias last independent newspapers, auctioned off his 2021 Nobel Peace Prize medal on Monday, bringing in a record-shattering $103.5 million to benefit children displaced by Russias war in Ukraine.

Organizer Heritage Auctions did not identify the winning bidder of the auction, which took place on World Refugee Day.

The money is going to UNICEFs humanitarian response for displaced Ukrainian children.

Muratov was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with journalist Maria Ressa of the Philippines for their work to preserve free speech in their countries.

The previous record price paid for a Nobel Prize medal was $4.76 million in 2014.

Muratov said after Mondays auction that he hoped there was going to be an enormous amount of solidarity, but I was not expecting this to be such a huge amount.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters
Botswanas Minister of Mineral Resources, Lefoko Moagi, says the meeting in the resort town of Kasane needs to candidly discuss issues affecting the diamond industry.



He says those include the Kimberley Process, a system that monitors the sale of conflict diamonds  diamonds used to fund armed groups and wars.



I am hopeful that this inter-sessional meeting will implore you to delve into the rough diamonds related matters, engage and discuss even the most uncomfortable Kimberley Process issues with the sole objective of ensuring that the Kimberley Process remains fit for purpose in these evolving times, whilst maintaining the original mandate of this entity as espoused in the United Nations general resolution.



Abu Brima is a member of the Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition, a group which monitors the diamond body.



He tells VOA the Kimberley Process is losing its relevance and the Coalition made its position known at the meeting.



All the principles, all the procedures will have to be revised, especially to create a proper agenda for reform, to reform those aspects that make KP an impediment to achieve its own agenda. The whole question of conflict diamonds will have to be opened up and broadened.



Russia would have been on the agenda at the Botswana meeting only if there was a consensus from all the 85 participating countries.



But Brima says such an arrangement no longer serves its purpose and needs to be revisited.



The consensus decision making process would veto power by any individual country that is not comfortable with any decision. That does not help KP to move forward. That needs to be changed.



Despite the criticism, Minister Moagi says the Kimberley Process remains relevant to the global diamond trade.



Through the KP, in spite of challenges and shortcomings, we continue to give our many stakeholders reasonable assurance that as an industry, we value peace and security. Moreover, we equally recognize the need to ensure that the rough diamond trade optimally contributes to sustainable development."



Russias continued trade in the stones has come under global scrutiny with concerns diamond revenue could be funding the invasion of Ukraine.
Panamas President Laurentino Cortizo announced Monday he has been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder.

The 69-year-old Cortizo said in a statement the medium risk myelodysplastic syndrome was discovered as part of routine blood tests taken in May that showed a drop in his hemoglobin and white blood cell count.

Myelodysplastic syndrome affects the blood-forming cells in bone marrow. The American Cancer Society considers it a type of cancer.

Cortizo is due to get a second opinion at a specialist in Houston, Texas, after his July 1 annual address to Panamas National Assembly.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
Russia has summoned the European Union's envoy to Moscow to "strongly" protest new restrictions on goods shipments to its Kaliningrad exclave through EU member Lithuania while threatening the Baltic state with "retaliation."



The Foreign Ministry in Moscow said on Tuesday that EU Ambassador to Moscow Markus Ederer was informed of the "inadmissibility of such actions" and warned "retaliation will follow" if the restrictions aren't removed immediately. It did not elaborate.



Kaliningrad is wedged between Lithuania and Poland, where the Pregolya River feeds into the Baltic Sea. It has about 500,000 inhabitants.



Lithuanian officials said they imposed the restrictions beginning on June 20 in an effort to shore up punitive measures that followed Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine on February 24.



Ederer echoed that line after the meeting in Moscow, saying that "Lithuania is not taking unilateral measures, it is implementing EU sanctions."



He added that there was no blockade of Kaliningrad as the transit of non-sanctioned goods to the enclave continues.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, dispatched one of President Vladimir Putin's top allies to Kaliningrad, where he warned that "appropriate measures" will be taken by Moscow "in the near future."



"Russia will certainly respond to such hostile actions," Russian Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev said at a regional security meeting in Kaliningrad.



"Their consequences will have a serious negative impact on the population of Lithuania," he warned.



Some information came from Reuters, AFP, and AP.
Hearings for the trial of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be moved to a prison compound in the military-built capital Naypyidaw, a source with knowledge of the case said Tuesday.

The Nobel laureate, 77, was detained by the military when it ousted her government last year and faces a raft of charges that could see her jailed for more than 150 years.

She has since been confined to an undisclosed location in Naypyidaw, leaving only to attend hearings in a municipal compound in the east of the sprawling, low-rise capital inaugurated by the army in 2006.

Future hearings "will be conducted at the new Special Court in Naypyidaw Prison" following the completion of a new court building in the compound, said a source with knowledge of the case.

The source did not give further details.

Suu Kyi's lawyers have been banned from speaking to the media and journalists barred from her trial.

Under a previous junta regime, she spent long spells under house arrest in her family mansion in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city.

Her current detention has seen her links to the outside world limited to brief pre-trial meetings with her lawyers.

She has already been convicted of corruption, incitement against the military, breaching Covid-19 rules and breaking a telecommunications law, with a court sentencing her so far to 11 years.

Suu Kyi turned 77 on Sunday and brought a birthday cake to court to eat with her lawyers ahead of a hearing on Monday, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
The editor of a Tunisian news website close to the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party was released after being detained in relation to a company accused of plotting against the state, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Lotfi Hidouri, editor of the Achahed website, had been detained since Thursday. He appeared Monday before a judge, who ruled he should be released, lawyer Samir Ben Amor told AFP.

Hidouri still faces prosecution, however, over allegedly suspicious transactions between a group that finances his operation and Instalingo, a digital content production firm.

Instalingo has been under investigation since last year for allegedly "plotting against state security" and "inciting violence", according to Tunisian media reports.

Ben Amor said Hidouri had "no administrative duties" at Achahed that could justify his prosecution.

Ennahdha was the dominant force in a parliament dissolved by President Kais Saied after he sacked the government and seized wide-ranging powers last July.

Rights groups have warned that Saied's moves threaten the country's hard-won democratic gains since its 2011 revolution that sparked the Arab Spring uprisings.

In May, the SNJT journalists' union warned of "serious threats" to press freedom in the North African country.
Ukraine reported heavy strikes Tuesday in the Sievierodonetsk region as Russian forces push to gain full control of the eastern city.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address that the military situation in the eastern region of Luhansk is really the toughest area right now. The occupiers are also putting serious pressure on the Donetsk direction.

He said Russia has stepped up efforts to evict Ukrainian troops from key areas.

A spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said at a daily briefing that fighting in Sievierodonetsk was fierce, with Russia conducting airstrikes and shelling on Ukrainian positions.

Serhiy Haidai, governor of Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, told The Associated Press in written comments, Its just hell there. Everything is engulfed in fire. The shelling doesnt stop even for an hour.

"Today, everything that can burn is on fire," Haidai said. He reported heavy fighting at the Azot chemical plant in Sievierodonetsk, where Ukrainian fighters and about 500 civilians are taking shelter.

Russian forces control about 95% of the Luhansk region, AP reported, with Ukraine forces holding just the Azot chemical plant in Sievierodonetsk.

Haidai also said Russian forces had brought catastrophic destruction to Lysychansk, an industrial city just across a river from Sievierodonetsk.

Zelenskyy acknowledged difficulties trying to defend the countrys eastern region but said Russian forces would continue to be met with Ukrainian resistance.

In Lviv, Ukraine, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland met Tuesday with Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova to announce the creation of a team focused on war crimes accountability, the Justice Department said.

"The United States is sending an unmistakable message. There is no place to hide. We will, we and our partners, will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable," Garland told reporters.

The War Crimes Accountability Team will assist Ukraine with criminal prosecution, evidence collection and forensics of human rights abuse, war crimes and other atrocities, the department said, adding that the team's lead counselor is Eli Rosenbaum, a Justice Department official who once led the effort to track down Nazi war criminals.

America  and the world  has seen the many horrific images and read the heart-wrenching accounts of brutality and death that have resulted from Russias unjust invasion of Ukraine, Garland said in a statement.

The team also will focus on potential war crimes over which the United States has jurisdiction, including killing and wounding U.S. journalists, the department said.

"In addition, the Justice Department will provide additional personnel to expand its work with Ukraine and other partners to counter Russian illicit finance and sanctions evasion. Among other things, the Department will provide Ukraine an expert Justice Department prosecutor to advise on fighting kleptocracy, corruption, and money laundering, the DOJ statement said.

Also, Ukraine is set to become an official candidate for European Union membership on Thursday, ministers and diplomats said on Tuesday.

Last week, the European Commission recommended the action. After several days of internal EU discussion, none of the 27 member states have voiced opposition to the plan, three diplomats told Reuters.

"We are working towards the point where we tell (Russian President Vladimir) Putin that Ukraine belongs to Europe, that we will also defend the values that Ukraine defends," Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's foreign affairs minister, said, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday that the United Nations and its humanitarian partners delivered on Monday 12 trucks of critical supplies to help nearly 64,000 people in the cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. He said the cities are close to the front lines of the government-controlled Donetska Oblast.

The humanitarian convoy that reached the two cities carried hygiene supplies, water purification tablets and food assistance, he said.

Margaret Besheer contributed to this report.
YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan participated in the expanded-format session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Minsk. Firstly, the Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko met the Heads of Government of the EAEU member states, and then the video-shooting ceremony took place, the PMs Office said.

Prime Minister Pashinyan delivered a speech at the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, in which, in particular, he noted,

Distinguished members of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council,

Dear participants of the session,

First of all, let me thank the Belarusian side and personally the Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko for organizing the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and, of course, for the warm reception and the traditional hospitality.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank the presiding party, personally the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Akylbek Japarov, for his efforts to develop the issues to be discussed.

I sincerely welcome the representatives of the member and observer states of the Eurasian Economic Union.

The Eurasian Economic Union is gradually completing the stage of accomplishment, and is passing to the stage of revealing its integration potential for the benefit of creating a common economic space, sustainable economic growth of our countries, strengthening competitiveness, effective promotion of its economic interests in the international arena.

Given the new realities, the need to strengthen the close coordination of our actions increases as a basis for the member states to adapt to the modern conditions of the world economy.

In the context of modern economic challenges, one of the most important issues remains to ensure food security of our countries. At present, for objective reasons, some restrictions on the supply of certain types of agricultural products arise in the common agricultural market, which can negatively affect the sustainable agricultural activities in our countries, in general, the food security of the Union.

In this regard, I believe that the member states of the Union should respond to the risks first of all on a collective basis, using the potential of developing consolidated, mutually acceptable solutions, minimizing the possibility of food shortages.

Dear participants of the meeting,

As the continuation of the discussion of the key issues on our agenda that started yesterday, I would like to dwell on some aspects that are relevant for the Union.

Cooperation within the Union is a priority for our countries, which allows to strengthen the traditional cooperation, to establish new partnerships in order to realize the economic potential of the Union.

In this context, for the purpose of the operation of the Union's common market, I consider the removal of barriers to mutual trade, the formation of new export-import logistics chains, the development of import substitution, and the further improvement of conditions for doing business important.

The experience of the recent years shows that most of the obstacles faced by businesses arise due to the lack of unified, coordinated, consented rules of activity. Only the readiness for constructive dialogue, openness and transparency can help maintain positive dynamics in this issue.

I attach importance to solving the issue of the alcoholic beverages market. The establishment of common goals and principles, common regulatory measures can contribute to the creation of a common market without discriminatory restrictions or exceptions in mutual trade. This is a priority direction for Armenia, which has wide export opportunities.

Colleagues,

We are witnessing a digital transformation of the world economy. Without advanced digital tools and technologies, it is difficult to compete in the world arena.

Since the formation of the digital agenda of the Union, a number of large-scale projects have already been launched, due to which the economic relations between our countries have become more simple and more transparent in terms of assessing their effectiveness.

I consider the development of the system for tracking cargo through navigation seals important, mutual recognition of digital signatures, as well as the discussion of cross-border e-commerce, the growth of which poses new challenges for us, requiring effective solution to issues related to product security, consumer protection, as well as ensuring the integrity of taxes and customs revenues.

Given the lack of shared borders with the EAEU member states, the digitalization of processes will save time and material resources for Armenia.

Logistics is another field that requires digital solutions. In this context, I would like to emphasize the need for the member states to work out agreed proposals for cooperation on creation and development of transport infrastructure, multi-module logistics centers and Eurasian transport corridors. The Armenian side attaches great importance to the development of dialogue and cooperation with the People's Republic of China in the implementation of the "Belt and Road" strategic initiative.

Distinguished Heads of Delegations,

In the end, I would like to note that despite the objective difficulties that arise on the way to reaching compromises, we continue to move towards building an effective union that will work successfully in today's difficult realities.

Thank you for your productive work and constructive discussion.

The Prime Ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union member states discussed and adopted decisions related to the strengthening of the internal market, the development of transport infrastructure, and the regulation of customs tariffs. Reference was also made to cooperation on digital agenda.

By the decision adopted at the meeting, the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission was instructed to ensure, together with the governments of the EAEU member states, the preparation of indicative balances on wheat, barley, corn, sunflower seeds, sugar and other products.

Tigran Sargsyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Development Bank, made a presentation on the forthcoming joint programs and steps in the direction of the digitalization process.

The agreed documents and protocols were signed at the session.

It was decided to hold the next session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Kyrgyzstan at the end of August.

After the session, the Prime Ministers visited the Victory Square in Minsk, laying wreaths at the monument to the victory in the Great Patriotic War, paying tribute to the memory of all the victims.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council Monday that it is a moral imperative for members to renew an aid operation from Turkey into northwest Syria that assists more than 4 million people.

It is a moral imperative to address the suffering and vulnerability of 4.1 million people in the area who need aid and protection, he said. Eighty percent of those in need in northwest Syria are women and children.

The 15-nation council must decide by July 10 whether to extend the authorization for the United Nations and its humanitarian partners. Humanitarian groups reach 2.4 million Syrians in the nongovernment-controlled northwest each month with vital assistance through the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey.

Russia has loudly signaled for some time that it would like to do away with the eight-year-old cross-border mechanism and has turned the annual renewal into a fraught exercise inside the council, which leaves aid agencies and recipients in a stressful limbo.

Moscow has previously used its veto, or the threat of it, to whittle down the operation from four crossing points to one. It remains to be seen how divisions caused by Moscows war in Ukraine may impact the councils negotiations.

Crossline vs. cross-border

Damascus and Moscow want all aid to go through the regime.

We are absolutely convinced that organizing in coordination with Damascus is possible to all regions of Syria, Russian deputy envoy Dmitry Polyanskiy told the council, adding, once Bab al-Hawa is closed, crossline deliveries could increase.

Hundreds of trucks cross each month from Turkey into northwest Syria with food for 1.8 million people. By comparison, just five crossline convoys have reached the Northwest this year, each carrying food for 43,000 people.

Chinas envoy also signaled Beijing may not support an extension.

A clear timeline should be set for the termination of cross-border delivery and for the transition to the crossline approach promoted accordingly, Ambassador Zhang Jun said. China hopes that the members of the council will, through dialogue and consultation, find a viable solution for the arrangement after the expiration of resolution 2585.

Resolution 2585 contains the authorization for the cross-border mechanism and expires July 10.

Population on the brink

After more than a decade of war, a pandemic and an economic crisis, 90% of Syrians now live below the poverty line.

People are living on the brink, no longer able to cope, Guterres said.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield visited the Bab al-Hawa crossing earlier this month to assess the situation.

I have rarely seen such desperation in the eyes of the aid workers, who were unsure whether theyll be able to continue to deliver food, medicine and other critical aid to those who need it most, she said.

The United Nations has made it clear that it wants the cross-border operation renewed for another year. The organization also hopes crossline deliveries within Syria can be scaled up.

While increasing crossline assistance was an important achievement, in the present circumstances it is not at the scale needed to replace the massive cross-border response, the secretary-general said. He added that all aid channels should be kept open.

The heads of six U.N. humanitarian agencies, including the World Food Program, issued a joint appeal last week, calling on the council to renew the mandate.

Our priority and only goal is to get humanitarian aid to families who need it in the safest, most direct and efficient way, away from political calculations or agendas, they wrote.

The United Nations says 14.6 million Syrians need humanitarian assistance, of which 12 million are food insecure. The organization has appealed for $10 billion this year to assist people both inside the country and those who have fled. The U.N. says nothing short of a permanent cease-fire will end the suffering.
The U.N. refugee agency projects more than 2 million refugees will need to be resettled in third countries of asylum in 2023, a 36% increase over this years 1.47 million.



All of the more than 27 million refugees in the world have fled war, violence, conflict, or persecution and need international protection. But some refugees are particularly vulnerable. They include people who cannot return to their home countries, live safely in neighboring countries, or have special needs and disabilities.



U.N. refugee spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo says resettlement is a lifesaving tool to protect some refugees, who are most at risk or have special needs that cannot be met in their countries of asylum.



Of all refugees submitted by UNHCR for resettlement last year, 37% were for those with legal and physical protection needs, 32% were for survivors of violence and/or torture and 17% were for women, adolescents and children at risk, she said.



The UNHCR reports the most needs in 2023 will be from countries of asylum across the African continent, closely followed by the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.



Mantoo says Syria, with nearly 778,000 refugees, represents the population with highest global resettlement needs, followed by refugees from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Myanmar, which has more than 114,000 largely stateless Rohingya.



She says the substantial jump in the number of refugees needing resettlement next year is based on several factors.



The humanitarian impact, the protection impacts of the pandemic, which have exacerbated vulnerability. The protracted nature of a number of these refugee situations in which more people are displaced or they are spending longer times in displacement, and also the emergence of new humanitarian crises and displacement situations, she said.



Mantoo warns resettlement needs will continue to grow in the absence of peace and prospects for the voluntary return of refugees.



The UNHCR is appealing for predictable, multi-year resettlement commitments from states. It also is calling on states to speed up resettlement processing and departure arrangements, so refugees do not have to continue languishing in countries of asylum with no end in sight to their ordeal.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland visited Ukraine on Tuesday in a show of American support for Kyivs prosecution of Russian forces accused of war crimes and other atrocities.

Garland met with Ukraines Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova, who is spearheading the investigation of what Kyiv says are 16,000 reported war crimes since Russia invaded the country almost four months ago.

Russia has denied targeting civilians in Ukraine.

As he headed into the meeting, Garland told reporters, "I'm here to express the unwavering support of the United States for the people of Ukraine in the midst of the unprovoked and unjust Russian invasion."

He added, "The United States is sending an unmistakable message. There is no place to hide. We will, we and our partners will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable."

The U.S. Justice Department, which Garland heads as the countrys top law enforcement official, has launched its own task force called "KleptoCapture," which is focused on seizing yachts and other luxury assets of Russian oligarchs who are supporting Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine.

Last week, the U.S. took possession of a super yacht it had seized in Fiji.

In the first war crimes trial in Ukraine last month, a Russian soldier pleaded guilty to fatally shooting an unarmed civilian four days after the invasion began February 24.

Vadim Shishimarin, 21, was convicted in the fatal attack on a 62-year-old Ukrainian man and sentenced to life in prison.
U.S. state officials detailed Tuesday how former President Donald Trump and his political allies tried to get bogus electors appointed in states he lost to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election to keep Trump in power and change vote totals  even though there was no evidence of vote-counting fraud.



Republican Rusty Bowers, the speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, told the congressional committee investigating the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 last year that Trump implored him in two phone calls to overturn Biden's victory in the western state, but that he refused.



Bowers said he voted for Trump but told him during the phone calls that "I would not do something illegal for him" by appointing electors for him when Biden had won the state by more than 10,000 votes.



Bowers said a Trump lawyer, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, claimed that 200,000 migrants illegally voted in Arizona in 2020, along with 5,000 to 6,000 dead people. When Bowers demanded proof, Trump said in one call, "Give the man what he needs, Rudy."



But Bowers said Giuliani never offered proof of the illegal votes, eventually acknowledging to the Arizona lawmaker, "We've got lots of theories, but we don't have the evidence."



Trump issued a statement before Tuesday's hearing started, claiming that Bowers at one point told him the Arizona vote was "rigged" against Trump as he sought re-election. Bowers denied he ever made such a comment to Trump.



Biden, Bowers said, legitimately won the state.

The House of Representatives investigative committee also heard extensive testimony from two election officials from the southern state of Georgia, where Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to lose the state since 1992.



Trump, in a taped January 2, 2021, call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, the state's top election official, asked him to "find" enough votes to overtake Biden's 11,779-vote victory margin.



Raffensperger testified Trump pleaded with him to overturn the state's vote. The ballots had been counted three times, he said, and each time Biden won, with what the election official said were "remarkably close" totals.

But Trump persisted, telling Raffensperger, "The people of Georgia are angry. The people of the country are angry, and there's nothing wrong with saying that, you know, that you've recalculated. All I want to do is this: I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. ... Fellas, I need 11,000 votes. Give me a break."



"There's no way I lost Georgia," Trump argued to Raffensperger. "There's no way. We won by hundreds of thousands of votes. And you would be respected, really respected, if this thing could be straightened out."



Trump continues to contend he was cheated out of another term in the White House and has hinted he might run again for the presidency in 2024.



Over the weekend, he complained on social media about the House investigation and defended his call to Raffensperger.



"My phone call to the Georgia Secretary of State, with many other people, including numerous lawyers, knowingly on the line, was absolutely PERFECT, and appropriate," Trump wrote. "YES, it was a PERFECT CALL ..."



"The highly partisan Unselects (on the investigative committee) are trying to create a FAKE narrative, for whatever reason but only with evil intention, that 'He (me) knew he lost the election,'" Trump said. "This is completely false. I felt the Election was RIGGED & STOLLEN (sic), have from the very beginning, & have only gotten stronger in that belief with time & large amounts of additional evidence and proof."



Bowers, Raffensperger, Gabriel Sterling, the chief operating officer of the Georgia elections office, and Georgia election worker Wandrea ("Shaye") Moss all testified that they and their colleagues received threats of violence from Trump supporters who refused to accept his election loss.



At the center of Trump's post-election efforts was an audacious scheme to have fake electors supporting Trump named in states where Biden had narrowly defeated him. These fake electors would certify to Congress that Trump rather than Biden had won those states.



In the U.S., presidents are effectively chosen in separate elections in each of the 50 states, not through the national popular vote. Each state's number of electoral votes is dependent on its population, with the biggest states holding the most sway. Those votes are formally counted in the U.S. Capitol some two months after the election, with the vice president presiding.



About 2,000 Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6 for hours, blocking lawmakers from certifying Biden's eventual 306-232 victory in the Electoral College.



But in the days and weeks ahead of the certification, Trump worked to overturn vote counts in states he narrowly lost, hoping to change the national result.



While the House committee cannot bring criminal charges, the Justice Department is closely monitoring the hearings to determine whether anyone, Trump included, should be charged with illegally trying to reverse the election outcome to keep him in power. A prosecutor in Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, has convened a grand jury investigation to probe Trump's actions to overturn the vote in that state.

Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff of California, who led most of the questioning Tuesday, said at the end that whether Trump engaged "in criminality is for others to decide."

But Schiff said Trump's efforts to upend the election result to stay in power despite Biden's victory at the ballot box was "unpatriotic and fundamentally un-American."



The investigative panel already has heard testimony that key Trump aides told him he had lost the 2020 election and that there were a minimal number of voting irregularities, not enough to overturn the national Electoral College victory for Biden.



In addition, Trump was told it would be illegal for then-Vice President Mike Pence to unilaterally block Biden's victory, as Trump privately and publicly implored Pence to do.
Authorities in Zambia said they have arrested a Chinese citizen accused of selling exploitative videos of Malawian children. Malawian authorities say they are working to have the man, Lu Ke, returned to Malawi, where rights campaigners say he should face justice.

Immigration officials in Malawi told VOA their counterparts in Zambia arrested Lu Ke on Monday in the eastern Chipata district.

We got a report from our colleagues that he was found in a lodge in Chipata when he wanted to make some immigration formalities so that so he should be in line with Zambian laws, said Pasqually Zulu, spokesperson for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services in central Malawi.

Last week, Lu Ke fled Malawi, where police were searching for him after a BBC investigation found he was recording young villagers in central Malawi and making them say racist things about themselves in the Chinese language, Mandarin.

In one video children, some as young as 9 years old, are heard saying in Mandarin that they are a black monster and have a low IQ.

The BBC reported he was selling the videos at up to $70 apiece to a Chinese website. The kids performing in the videos were paid about a half dollar each.

The news sparked outrage in Malawi. On Tuesday, various rights organizations held street protests and presented a petition to the Chinese Embassy in the capital of Lilongwe.

In the petition, protesters asked the Chinese to compensate the children in the videos for being fooled to say words in a foreign language they could not understand.

Comfort Mankhwazi, president of the University of Malawi Child Rights Legal Clinic that led the protests, said she welcomes the arrest.

This is one of the things we were hoping would happen, Mankhwazi said. And we are hoping that his arrest will lead to his prosecution in Malawian courts in which he will be tried for his action against our children, and indeed lead to him having to pay compensation.

Zulu said the Malawi government is working with Zambian authorities to bring the suspect back to Malawi for criminal proceedings.

Cooperation is so good with our colleagues in Zambia and our effort this time around is to get hold of him so that he should come to Malawi to answer charges against him, Zulu said. So we we are very, very hopeful the steps that we have taken so far will bear fruit.

There were no official comments from Chinese authorities on the arrest of Lu Ke as of Tuesday. However, Chinese diplomat Wu Peng, who visited Malawi after the incident, said on Twitter last week that China does not tolerate racism.

Peng said China has been cracking down on unlawful online acts in recent years and that it will continue to crack down on such racial discrimination videos.
Some Zimbabwean youth have arrived in the United States for the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders program, a flagship program of the U.S. governments Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

Since 2014, nearly 5,100 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the Fellowship. Forty-three Zimbabweans will be in the program this year.

The Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished leaders and have established records of promoting innovation and positive impact in their communities and countries. In 2022, the Fellowship will provide 700 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. college or university with support for professional development after they return home.

Deputy Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate, Lagos, Jennifer Foltz, stated this at the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association Nigeria, MWFAAN Close/Awards Ceremony for Young African Leaders Initiative, YALI Network members.

According to Foltz, mentorship is something that is very important in the United States and is a critical piece of her exchange program. With the right mentor to guide the young people to progress through education, career, or business, individuals can grow faster and more efficiently by learning from someone who has already gone down the same path."

I have seen many young people flourish and accomplish things they did not think possible through strong mentorship, she said.

Mhlelusizo, who is a professional chef in Zimbabwe, said, It has always been my dream, to learn, adopt and implement the American way of doing business so I can add value into the Zimbabwe mainstream economy in my own way.
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peshawar (216.5 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : on my laptop, floor was shaking for about 10 seconds | 11 users found this interesting.

Dera Ismail Khan (191.2 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / 20-30 s : My bed are shaking . Then my sister wake up. And she saw the fan . Fan are shaking . So we all are together and stand in the center of door . And wait for the shaking stop . It's a 2:00am 22 June 2022 . And at least 20 to 30 second earthquake | 8 users found this interesting.

Khost, / Strong shaking (MMI VI) : At around 1:27 Am at night while we were asleep an earthquick shook our house the quake felt for 2 minutes however, we are safe but caulities reported from Speera,Dandkai Village and prticularily Gheeyan District of Paktika area where the causality toll r | 7 users found this interesting. / Strong shaking (MMI VI)

Peshawar khwaja town (211.4 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Iam here in Peshawar khwaja town. And i was setting in a bed and zet myself for sleeping and suddenly a feel a quick shaking. The shaking is high this time | 6 users found this interesting.

Multan (371.2 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : I was laying in my bed and watching a movie and I started feeling jolts I was in doubt and then I started receiving messages from friends they felt that too. | 3 users found this interesting.

Islamabad (333.7 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 10-15 s : I was lying down in bed when the shaking began. It was stronger than the one that occurred a few days back. | 3 users found this interesting.

Risalpur (253.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : 2min shaking and very much | 4 users found this interesting.

Chashma (196 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s : Bed shaking | 4 users found this interesting.

Kabul (163.3 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Bed wobbling | 4 users found this interesting.

Mardan / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single vertical bump / 2-5 s : Heavy quick jolts but in the end there was not after shocks. Usually such earth quake has 2nd spells . It was around 5.5 to 6 intensity | 3 users found this interesting.

Mardan (261.3 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : There was a mild right to left horizontal motion. It was strong enough to be felt my the entire population of that area. | 2 users found this interesting.

Taunsa (286.1 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : I was on the computer chair. I felt my chair and monitor are shaking. Then I saw a ceiling fan which was switched off is shaking. I observed a wire hanged in air was also shaking. | 2 users found this interesting.

Dera Ismail Khan (191.3 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : I was lying on my bed about to sleep and my bed started shaking i thought it was my sister but later found out it was an earthquake | 2 users found this interesting.

Abbottabad (365.9 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : I was in my bed and it started shaking and then I turn on my lap and my table and other furniture were also shaking | 2 users found this interesting.

Islamabad (332.1 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) : I was at 2nd floor and was sleeping on ground when I feel 3 to 4 minor shakes at about 1:58 AM. | 3 users found this interesting.

Rawal (336.6 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : My room was shaking left to right | 3 users found this interesting.

Islamabad (336.2 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Very dengerous | 3 users found this interesting.

E11/2 hill road Islamabad (327.7 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : I was just studying while my girlfriend came and told me it is a quake. When I saw the fan it was shaken and also the water inside the bottle was shaking as well. | One user found this interesting.

Srinagar (501.6 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s : It was like i was in water | 2 users found this interesting.

Kabul,Afghanistan (172.8 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : Continues shaking for up to almost 15 to 20 seconds | 2 users found this interesting.

Multan (370.9 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : It's too scary | 2 users found this interesting.

College Road, Abbottabad (366.2 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 15-20 s : My desk, laptop, chair and the were swinging up and down and here and there. | 2 users found this interesting.

pind dadan khan (334.7 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) : Suddenly shaking everything | 2 users found this interesting.

Peshawar gulbahar (218.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 15-20 s : It was a strong earthquake felt like something is really swinging my home | 2 users found this interesting.

hangu (146.6 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) : in bed when i was about to sleep | 2 users found this interesting. Too much shaking in continuous / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Islamabad (335.1 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Saw ceiling fan swinging little bit sideways and felt on bed | 2 users found this interesting.

B-17 Islamabad (315.5 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Just for few seconds earth quake was felt | 2 users found this interesting.

Layyah, Punjab (272.4 km SSE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : I feel some little earth quake | 2 users found this interesting.

near Lahore, Punjab (497.4 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) : I was lying down when I felt the shaking | 2 users found this interesting.

Abbotabad, Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (366.8 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / complex motion difficult to describe / 15-20 s : It stayed for sometime but wasnt that high to cause tention | 2 users found this interesting.

Dera Ismail Khan (190.9 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : I was watching movie at that time and suddenly I felt to and from motion horizontally on bed.At first I was thinking It will be my brother shaking bed but soon I realised there is no one and it may be earth quake.So I run from room into outside lawn.
If in previous articles I have presented the history of the Banderist movement from the interwar period to the present day, I would like to talk here about their ideology.

Their reference intellectual, then and now, is Dmytro Dontsov (1883-1973). Although he died in Canada and was buried in the United States, his works have not been translated, but his followers have made them known to us. This absence in the bookstores of other countries explains why he is unknown abroad. However, after a long period of absence, hes been one of the best-selling authors in Ukraine these recent years.

Feeding like the Nazis on his interpretation of Nietzsche, Dmytro Dontsov called for the birth of a "new man" with "a burning faith and a heart of stone" who would not be afraid to destroy the enemies of Ukraine without mercy. Thinker of the "integral Ukrainian nationalism", he built a philosophy where everything nationalistic is against Russia and against Jews.

He wanted to create an elite people, far from the "egalitarianism of slaves" of the Russian October Revolution and the "universal ideals" of the French Revolution.

He said that the imagination of real Ukrainians must be "fed by the legend of the last battle", the "denial of what is" and the "fascinating image of the catastrophe that will bring something new". They must serve "a categorical order" with "reckless obedience".

According to him, "Ukrainian nationalism" is characterized by:

 "the assertion of the will to live, of power, of expansion" (he promotes "The right of strong races to organize peoples and nations to strengthen the existing culture and civilization")

 "the desire to fight and the awareness of its extremity" (he praises the "creative violence of the initiative minority")

Its qualities are:

 "fanaticism" ;

 "immorality".

The fanaticism refers to the religious character of his doctrine. Dontsov notes that this is what makes the warriors invincible. It is therefore perfectly logical that after the World War Stepan Bandera and Yaroslav Stetsko agreed to work in Munich with the secret society of the Muslim Brotherhood, or that in 2007 their followers were able to form an Anti-Russian Front with Chechen jihadists.

At the beginning of his work, Dontsov was not inspired by Italian fascism or German national socialism, but he appears to be marked by the same reasoning as the Croatian Ustasha, the Romanian Iron Guard, the Slovak Glinka, the Polish Oboz Narodowo-Radykalny.

In contact with the Nazis, Dontsov began to claim a mythical geography and history. The "true Ukrainians" were said to be of Scandinavian or proto-Germanic origin and to have descended from the Varegues, a Viking tribe from Sweden. Their ancestors founded the city of Novgorod in Russia and subdued the Russian Slavs.

In this mythology, the "Ukrainian nationalists" are the Good, while the "Muscovites" are the Evil. It is therefore quite normal that the muse of the Svoboda (Freedom) Party, the MP Irina Farion, declared well before the Russian military intervention: "We came into this world to destroy Moscow".

In 2015, President Petro Poroshenko and his Prime Minister Arseni Yatsenyuk passed a set of laws that on the one hand banned Communist and Nazi symbols and on the other rehabilitated Banderist symbols. In practice, since no one claimed to be a Nazi, the monuments to the victory of the Red Army over the Nazis were destroyed and replaced by others in honor of Stepan Bandera -who was responsible for the murder of 1.6 million of his compatriots- and his master thinker, Dmytro Dontsov.

The Council of Europe criticized these "decommunization" laws, which cast aspersions on regimes in general without mentioning the acts they condemn.

It was as a result of these laws that the motto of the Banderists became part of the official discourse: "Glory to Ukraine". Of course, I have nothing against this slogan, any more than I have against the cry of the Muslims "Allah Akbar!", but after hearing it sung by the jihadists who wanted to cut my throat I can no longer think that "God is great!" and I am still haunted by what the jihadists mean by it.

Similarly, it makes sense that Ukraine has a legal framework that legalizes a form of racial discrimination. On July 21, 2021, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law, introduced at his initiative, on the "indigenous peoples of Ukraine. It states that Tatars and Karaite Jews have "the right to full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms" (sic). This text, which seems very generous, is not at all so, because it is interpreted by default. It completes the texts recognizing the rights of Ukrainians of Scandinavian or proto-Germanic origin. In fact, it is used by the Courts to deny the rights of Ukrainians who do not recognize themselves in the general definition, nor in one of these minorities, in other words in those who say they are Slavic of Slavic origin. The latter people are not allowed to bring before a court their "right to full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms".

On March 20, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky declared in a video posted on his Telegram account, "Any activity on the part of politicians participating in dividing society or collaborating with the enemy will not succeed, and will receive a severe response." With that, he banned 11 political parties (Opposition Platform - For Life, Sharijs Party, Nachi, Opposition Bloc, Left Opposition, Union of Left Forces, Derjava, Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Socialist Party of Ukraine, Socialists, Bloc of Volodymyr Saldo). While most of them were not represented in the single chamber, the Verkhovna Rada, Opposition Platform-For Life was the second largest party in the country. It received 13 per cent of the vote and won 43 of 450 deputies.

Also on March 20, President Zelensky signed decrees banning for five years three opposition channels that had been "suspended" for several months. In addition, he merged all remaining channels under the control of the Security and Defense Council.

So there is no more freedom of expression, neither for politicians nor for journalists. Ukrainian democracy is dead, not from Russian military intervention, but from the will of its own government.

A Council for the Development of Libraries was created on May 5, 2022. Among other things, it must decide on the Russian books that are overloading the shelves. The Minister of Culture and Information Policy, journalist Oleksandr Tkachenko, said that they could become a raw material for printing Ukrainian books on recycled paper.

Book burnings are a classic of dictatorships. This time, we wont burn anything in public, but we will recycle the paper. It is less conspicuous and more ecological.

Now lets come to the way of making war. One peculiarity of the Ukrainian army is noteworthy: it does not pick up the bodies of its dead soldiers. All other armies in the world do not hesitate to put themselves in danger for that. To give a dignified burial to their dead is indispensable in their eyes. Not to do so would have disastrous consequences on the morale of their companions. So why does the Ukrainian army act differently?

If I understand Dmytro Dontsovs thinking, this is a preparation for the eschatological battle between good and evil. According to Scandinavian mythology, when a battle was fought by the Varegues, the Valkyries came down to the battlefield riding wolves. They decided who of the brave Vikings would die. Then they took their souls to Valhalla to form with them the future army of the "last battle". Thus, the men fallen on the field of honor were not victims of the fate, but were chosen for a glorious destiny.

This sacred ideology refers to the "Prayer of the Ukrainian Nationalists," written by Josef Mashchak in 1922. It is taught and recited in the Banderist youth camps. It is at the center of the ceremonies of the secret Centuria order, which the Banderists introduced into the NATO armies.

The war of the "Ukrainian nationalists" against the Slavs has therefore just begun.
On 17 June 2022, US Secretary of State Anthony Biden announced his selections for the Foreign Affairs Policy Board.

Co-chairs:

 Cecilia Munoz (former adviser on domestic policy to President Obama, she now works for the think-tank New America). She will be responsible for assessing the consequences for US citizens of various foreign policy actions.

 Thomas E. Donilon (former National Security Advisor to President Obama, now an employee of the worlds second largest investor, BlackRock). Logically, he should be responsible for assessing the consequences for the super-rich of various foreign policy actions.

Members :

 David Autor, professor of labor economics at MIT.

 Sameer Bhalotra, Cybersecurity specialist.

 Hal Brands, professor of international relations at Johns Hopkins University. He is in favor of reinvigorating America and taking inspiration from the Cold War in dealing with China and Russia.

 Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuellar, former judge and legal adviser to Barack Obama, he now chairs the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

 Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., former governor of Indiana and president of the Hudson Institute.

 Janine Davidson, former Undersecretary of the Navy, specialist in the adaptation of the Armed Forces to the Rumsfeld/Cebrowski doctrine, current president of the Metropolitan State University of Denver.

 Cathy Feingold, former director of the Solidarity Center (unionized workers branch of the National Endowment for Democracy), and former vice-president of the International Trade Union Confederation.

 Margaret A. Hamburg, former Commissioner of the Federal Food and Drugs Administration. She participated in the 2021 Munich Security Conference exercise on monkeypox [1]

 Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., former Governor of Utah. He served as President Obamas Ambassador to China and President Trumps Ambassador to Russia.

 Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a biologist and feminist, she is co-ounder of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank on global warming and ocean conservation.

 Kristie A. Kenney, diplomat and former adviser to John Kerry. Her husband, Ambassador William Brownfield, was a personal enemy of President Hugo Chavez.

 Gilman G. Louie, former president of a CIA-sponsored company in charge of big data, now president of Americas Frontier Fund, an association involved in the development of artificial intelligence in the USA.

 Katherine Maher, former employee of the National Democratic Institute (the left-wing political branch of the National Endowment for Democracy) expert on the Middle East. Current director of the Wikimedia Foundation, which notably oversees the online encyclopedia Wikipedia.

 James M. Manyika, economist focused on new technologies, former director of the McKinsey & Company consulting outfit, current adviser to Google/Alphabet.

 Meghan L. OSullivan, oil specialist, former assistant to Paul Bremer at the Coalition Provisional Authority (which was a private company and not a public administration), today president of the Trilateral Commission and Raytheon executive.

 Annise D. Parker, former lesbian mayor of Houston and current president of the Victory Institute, the association of elected LGBTQI officials.

 Vincent R. Stewart, General of the Marines, Director of Military Intelligence.
Russia cant guarantee that the former Americans servicemen that were captured in Ukraine wont face the death penalty, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with NBC television that was aired on Monday, Tass informs.

June 21, 2022, 09:45 Russia cant guarantee that captured Americans wont face death penalty  Kremlin

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 21, ARTSAKHPRESS: "I cannot guarantee anything. It depends on the investigation," he said when asked if he could guarantee that the US prisoners of war wont face the same fate as Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner and Moroccan national Brahim Saadoun who were earlier sentenced to death by a court in the Donetsk Peoples Republic.

The Daily Telegraph last week reported that two former US servicemen Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh were captured near Kharkov. The US State Department said on June 16 it was ready to engage with Russia regarding the US nationals that took part in the hostilities in Ukraine. It also again strongly advised Americans against going to Ukraine.

On February 24 Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in response to a request for help by the heads of the Donbass republics. The West retaliated to the Russian decision by imposing sweeping sanctions on the country and increased shipments of weapons to Kiev.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Until now, the main difference between Susan Lucci at the Daytime Emmys and Diane Warren at the Oscars was that Lucci eventually won. Well, no more. Kinda. Warren will be awarded an honorary Oscar at this years Governors Awards in November, according to a press release from the Oscars. Warren has famously been nominated for 13 Oscars. She was nominated for the first time in 1987, for Mannequins Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now, but  maybe because her songs tend to be overproduced and schlocky  she has yet to win. Luckily for her, the Governors Awards exist, and Warren will receive one without ever needing to win a competitive award. Does this mean that she will probably never win the actual thing? Maybe! But beggers cant be choosers, so congratulations, Diane!

The other winners this year include Euzhan Palcy, the first Black woman to direct a film for a major Hollywood studio, and director Peter Weir, who has been nominated for both good films (The Truman Show) and bad ones (Dead Poets Society, sorry) but has never won until now. Michael J. Fox is also receiving an honorary Oscar, specifically the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, for his work with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research. Were happy for all of them, but if Warren had to win for anything, wed want it to be for A Star Is Borns intentionally great ass song.
Photo: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Dune: Part Two  The ReDu (speculative title) continues to suck prestigious actors into its force field like some kind of science-fiction planet. Deadline reports that Lea Seydoux, who was most recently seen doing future crimes, has been cast as Lady Margot, a member of the Sisterhood.

In other 2une casting news, Christopher Walken already rocks the Futurama Mom look, so the actor is perfectly fit to play the most powerful ruler in the galaxy. Variety reports that Walken has been cast as Shaddam IV of House Corrino, Emperor of the Known Universe. While the character did not appear in Denis Villeneuves first Dune film, he was the catalyst that set off all of its ensuing action and carnage by handing over control of Arrakis to House Atreides. What this really means is that he will be playing Florence Pughs dad, so thats something for Film Twitter to talk about until October 2023.

Feyd-Rautha will appear in the film, and Deadline reports that Austin Butler is in negotiations to play him. The thing about Stings performance as spiky-headed Harkonnen baddie Feyd-Rautha in 1984s Dune is its kind of impossible to follow Stings performance as Feyd-Rautha in 1984s Dune. Its just so weirdly sexy (okay, Bowies Goblin King in Labyrinth was able to follow it, but thats it). I assumed that the character wasnt in Denis Villeneuves Dune, because Sting was busy and hes 70. It turns out the next rival whom Timothee Chalamet has to face will be played by an Elvis impersonator, which is technically Butlers job description now.

But heres where things get spice-y. New York Times reporter Kyle Buchanan tweeted a link to the Deadline article and added that they also looked at Harry Styles and Tye Sheridan for this role That ellipsis has us going hmm  in a big way. Did Villeneuve see Styless performance in Eternals and go, Scrap it? Did he watch The Card Counter and say, Thats quite enough family vengeance from Tye Sheridan, thanks?

Elsewhere in the Duneiverse, Florence Pugh is in negotiations to play Princess Irulan Corrino, eldest daughter of the Emperor and possible romantic rival to Zendaya. (They may contractually have to change the spelling of the movie to Dughne: Part Twugh.)

This post has been updated.
Photo: Alysse Gafkjen. Hair and makeup by Sherita Leslie.

Yola knows what some music heads will wonder after they watch her in Elvis, the latest cinematic spectacular from Baz Luhrmann: why Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the woman who invented rock and roll and became one of Elvis Presleys primary Black influences, doesnt get much more than a minutes-long performance of the spiritual Strange Things Happening Every Day. Lets just take one thread we can ostensibly trace, Yola begins. It is late on a Sunday at Urban Cowboy, a hotel and bar in the heart of gentrifying East Nashville, and she will give anyone who will listen a lesson on who came before the King: She clocked Little Richard out of a backwater in Georgia and gave him his rise to fame. If we dont have that drag-wearing Black man being as free as he feels he can be, enough to inspire Prince  her eyes widen as she imagines the alternate timeline  then what happens if we dont have Prince? We wouldnt know what kind of postapocalyptic music nightmare wed be in if we dont hold things up to the light.

But she isnt losing sleep over the films slight depiction. Many Black artists might have balked at taking on the minor role given to a major artist in a biopic that once again centers one of the most famously overexposed white men in music history. For Yola, there was simply no passing up the opportunity to play a woman so integral to the development of her own sound. Born Yolanda Claire Quartey, Yola, 38, launched her career in England with a 2016 EP spanning rock, dance, and country-adjacent folk. Soon after, she took on Nashville, showcasing at conferences like AmericanaFest, where she caught the attention of producer and Black Keys front man Dan Auerbach, who signed Yola to his Easy Eye Sound label. Her debut album, 2019s Walk Through Fire, was a commercial and critical success, landing her on editorial playlists and the radar of film producers.

I wanted to go through exactly what it was, physically, to do what she was doing. I wanted to know how hard it was.

Singing in Elvis, of course, came easily to Yola, who regularly belted Tharpes gospel classic Didnt It Rain in the shower growing up. She could perform off muscle memory and intuition, an asset Luhrmann saw when he hired her to cover a song for the soundtrack. The producers also knew she could match Tharpes vocals but couldnt know for sure how Yola, who had never acted before, would do onscreen. Then came a recording session with Luhrmann on Music Row in 2019. You could see his nose getting ever closer to the glass, peeking in and then giving directions and then just watching, she says, laughing. Then he started taking photos of different angles of me to see if my bone structure was a bit similar. So Im getting screen-tested already in the studio.

Yola is no Rosetta doppelganger, but what she lacked in resemblance she made up for in astute presence, reviving Tharpes compelling onstage charisma; the tilt of the head, eyes to the heavens, as her voice soars: its all there. Still, to fully channel Tharpe  who first picked up the guitar at age 4  is to wrap steady fingers around the neck of a Les Paul, to bend strings and distort sound  to play. I wanted to go through exactly what it was, physically, to do what she was doing, says Yola, who had just over a year to build on her own chord-focused approach and master Tharpes soloing technique. She wanted to know how hard it was. The guitar was essential to Tharpes spiritual expression. She performed first with her mother and later as a solo act, moving from gospel concerts and tent revivals to nightclubs, perfecting her versatile, electric-guitar-driven style at each stop. Now, generations removed from a time when the guitar was the most convenient instrument to create music of many genres, Black folk in the mainstream with six-strings strapped to their backs are the exception, not the rule. And you dont know that youre missing it, Yola says. You dont know that you have an owner-ship over a legacy thats yours to have. And then youre like, Wait a minute  now that I think about it, that might be more our shit than anyone elses shit.

Photo: Alysse Gafkjen. Hair and makeup by Sherita Leslie.

In Luhrmanns film, the cradle-to-grave arc of Elviss life is filtered through the lens of Colonel Tom Parker, his eccentric Dutch manager (played convincingly by Tom Hanks), who, in the years following Elviss death, was found to have mismanaged the artists vast fortune. Yet it is impossible to consider Elviss success without the savvy influence of Parker, the former carnival worker who knew just how to turn the awkward kid from Tupelo, Mississippi, into a main-stage attraction. The films focus is not on Elvis the man but Elvis the moneymaking machine, and in the context of the business, Elviss exposure to (and imitation of) rocks Black originators feels like a means to a necessary, highly lucrative end. The cultural theft isnt vocalized in the film. It doesnt have to be. The on-the-nose Beale Street scenes get the job done: There, a regal Tharpe reigns over a nightly showcase, introducing the world to prodigies (like Richard) and future stars; Big Mama Thornton belts out her original, stirring rendition of Hound Dog; B.B. King serves as Elviss ear and Official Black Friend.

There is the sense that Hollywood knew better than to release an Elvis movie in 2022 without the Black folks who established himbut also that it was unsure how to incorporate said Black folks without making Elvis look like the greatest minstrel America ever spawned, as renowned Black critic Margo Jefferson dubbed him in 1973. Yes, Elvis spent his childhood in a Black neighborhood in Mississippi, and, yes, he came of age in Memphis just as Black blues, gospel, and soul were coalescing into this hot new sound called rock and roll. But the split screen juxtaposing Arthur Big Boy Crudup (played by another respected musician, Gary Clark Jr.) performing Thats All Right with Elviss attempt to match him note for note, inflection for inflection, is perhaps not as honorific a flex as Luhrmann intended.

The easy narrative is Hes the appropriator. No, the systems the fricking appropriator.

Yola lived with Tharpes music for much of her life, discovering her in the stashes of record collectors back home in Bristol, England. As for Elvis? I wasnt aesthetically drawn to him as an artist to give enough of a fuck, she says. But stepping into his world the way Parker saw it and Luhrmann interpreted it challenged her to consider less sinister reasons for Elviss mimicry. Youre gonna experience Black shit if youre just around Black people, she says. And America is enamored by Black stuff  surprise, surprise. So of course Elvis is gonna be like, I need more of this shit, and its his fucking raison detre the whole time. She doesnt blame him alone for burying rocks roots. The easy narrative is Hes the appropriator,  she says. No, the systems the fricking appropriator.

Yola empathizes with Elvis in a way, too; he is portrayed in Luhrmanns film as more of a bystander to his own career than the tenacious King. Walk Through Fire earned Yola Grammy and Americana Music Honors & Awards nominations and articles that fawned over the new Nashville talent with the great big voice. She got labeled a country star. But she was still new to town then, and the success, she says, wasnt mine. Her sound has always been an amalgam of styles and genres, indebted to the crate-digging, completist culture of her hometown and the genreless nature of U.K. radio. She has spent the past two years putting together a trusted band, a co-writing cohort, and a more cross-genre sound that better reflects her core interests  with influences as varied as Mary J. Blige and renowned Black drummer James Gadson. Her sophomore album, Stand for Myself, released last summer, marked the start of a kind of artistic self-ownership she hadnt been afforded earlier.

Theres a tendency recently to describe every black women [sic] who plays a guitar and isnt RnB/Pop as country, Yola tweets days after we speak. Its creating a new monolith, that erases Americana, blues, roots, classic soul and cross genre artists like myself who just so happen to be black women in an adjacent space. Folk-rock artist Lilli Lewis suggested that shoehorning Yola into a genre that doesnt fully encompass her sound might actually benefit her, as theres so much money in country, providing greater visibility. Except Yola knows better than most that it doesnt work like that. There are some artists who will never have the luxury of being so chameleonic in how they get to be perceived. Not everyone gets to be Elvis. Fewer still could ever do what Tharpe did.
Kathryn VanArendonk is a critic who writes about TV and comedy. She gets mad when people say TV is a 10 hour movie. Joel Kim Booster in Psychosexual. Photo: Netflix

It is never easy to create something and unpack the awareness of creating that thing at the same time. The ideal of it is so appealing: You get the ability to enjoy something thats made to transport you, but you also get that sense of privileged, look-behind-the-curtain insider information about how the sausage gets made. The problem is that theyre opposing impulses. To do both things at once, without letting one task overwhelm the other, is like holding two repelling magnets at just the right position: When it does work, its like something is being briefly suspended in midair, contrary to everything you know about how gravity is supposed to work. There are stretches of Joel Kim Boosters Netflix special Psychosexual where the magnets wobble a little  bits where the effort of doing stand-up feels mostly in service of a metatextual point Booster is trying to make. Fairly often, though, the magnets hold. In those moments, Psychosexual feels buoyant and alive.

The majority of Psychosexual is designed to achieve all the things a comedians first major special needs to achieve. Booster is introducing himself as a comedic sensibility, and theres material about being Asian, being gay, being adopted, sex, drugs, relationships. Theres even a long section on cats versus dogs, a topic so well worn that even introducing it feels like a bit of a joke. (He pulls it off, though, particularly once he zeroes in on dogs as tools of the police state.) The joke-monologue portions have the rhythm of solid reliability, and Booster performs them like they are almost a bit too comfortable, like they are old standbys. That rhythm of warm comfort is at odds with the lighting design and setting at L.A.s Catch One, which is so dark and engulfed by deep navy tones that it approaches film noir, often throwing Boosters face into deep shadow. Occasionally there are gorgeous shots where his face glows or is limned by lovely backlight. Just as frequently it looks like someones mom is about to yell that he needs to turn on a light, for Petes sake, youll ruin your eyesight!

Psychosexuals larger conceit reveals itself in Boosters deployment of crowd work, where the tone shifts away from the relaxed stand-up mode and into excited discomfort when the audience realizes they are part of the show. After a warm-up round of introductory jokes (P.F. Changs; code-switching; the existence of Boise, Idaho), Booster turns to the audience and asks who in the crowd knows his work, and who is there despite having no idea who he is. From that second group, he selects a straight white guy named Ben and starts interrogating him. Heres the thing, Booster says. I know exactly what you were thinking when I walked out onstage tonight. You were like, Oh great, here comes this gay, Oriental comedian. Booster repeats it several times until the audience is cracking up at the phrase gay, Oriental comedian and then unveils the bigger point: Straight white men, he has found, complain that Boosters comedy is not relatable because its too focused on being gay and being Asian. That is not what I want at all! he says. I want to be a comedian that appeals to all demographics. Then he pulls out the punch line while pointing back to his selected straight white male audience member: Especially the most important one!

The idea, as Booster explains, will be to check back in with this particular white dude throughout the show, to see how hes feeling and whether hes found any of the jokes to be relatable. Hell be a representative for all straight white men  if a joke works for this dude, that means itll play for everyone like him. Booster then proceeds through his set doing exactly what he said hed do. His first section is full of jokes about being gay and Asian, something Booster explains is there so that the people whove come because they want their lives to be reflected onstage feel like theres been material for them. Then he checks in with Ben: Did he find those jokes alienating? Was there one he particularly disliked? Fear not, Booster promises, because the next set of jokes will be more appropriate for Ben. The next stretch is, yes, the jokes about cats and dogs, and also a section about the pluses and minuses of various drugs. Then another check-in: Was that better for Ben? Did that feel a little more comfortable?

The idea Boosters playing with is both simple and effective. He is frustrated by the sense that a joke about his identity or his specific experience is cast as niche, as comedy thats only meant for a particular audience because it isnt relatable for anyone who is not Asian or gay or male or ideally all of those together. Its unfair to describe comedy by straight white guys as universal while material from queer people, women, and people of color is not relatable. The crowd work is ideological work, a way for Booster to acknowledge the implicit checklist of all the things this special is supposed to do while also pointing out the annoyance of needing to be a role model: do the comedy while examining the task of comedy; represent gay Asian men while unpacking the task of representation.

Its a lot to stitch together, and not all of the edges are tucked in neatly. Its fun when Booster does crowd work, and not all of it is the running thread of his chosen white guy. The strongest stretch is a short interaction about Asian racism. But the trouble with crowd work is that sometimes it does fizzle, or at the very least, it cant always achieve the desired sense of shock. Theres a fun interaction with a monogamous couple, but it doesnt ratchet up as much tension as Booster seems to want it to.

The note Booster arrives on by the end of the special is a declaration: He simply wants to be an entertaining stage dummy. That may well be true, but producing an entire special that performs an elaborate metatexual dance with the idea of doing a first comedy special does somewhat undermine the insistence that hes just a hot gay comedy goof. As a dramatic conclusion, though, its a bit of a letdown after the more surprising, prickly moments of introspection earlier. Nevertheless, the gambit largely pays off. Booster introduces himself and defines a comic identity that stems from but also pokes at his sexuality, ethnicity, and gender, and the crowd work is a tool used in the service of the special he wants to create. He gets to perform the specialness while also questioning the assumptions of that performance. But it is a relief when the conclusion is not a meta one, and when Booster shifts back to close with a silly joke about what a role model actually means to him. It means a gay guy kicking straight men out of a gym steam room  the kind of relatability Booster is happy to celebrate.

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A documentary book on Armenian Genocide has been published in Spain for the first time. Author of the book Armenian Genocide (El Genocidio Armenio), Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna, Associate Lecturer of Current World History at the international degrees of San Pablo CEU-University Madrid, has been studying the 1915 Armenian Genocide for years and advocating the Spanish recognition of the Genocide.

June 21, 2022, 11:17 El Genocidio Armenio: Author of new book optimistic over recognition of Armenian Genocide by Spain

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 21, ARTSAKHPRESS: In an interview to ARMENPRESS, Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna said he wrote the book for justice aimed at raising awareness on the Armenian Genocide within the Spanish society.

This book is just a modest contribution to set the facts and pave the way for a better understanding of the Armenian Genocide among the Spanish general public, he says.

Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna has no Armenian roots. He says he has been interested in Armenian culture since childhood thanks to his father who loved Armenian music. After I visited the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute in 2012, I decided to focus on the Armenian Genocide and have been reading and researching since then. After 10 years, it was high time to write something targeting the Spanish audience. I wrote something about my personal progress some years ago, he says.

The author says that the book is a short history of the Genocide. It is covering the road to the Genocide  the Hamidian Massacres, the destruction of the Armenians in Cilicia, the ideological and political roots of political violence against Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, how it was perpetrated (legal framework, military and paramilitary units, etc) and the different stages of the genocide (massive arrests, deportations, confiscations, death marches through the dessert, etc).

However, I am also interested in the Armenian attempts to resist and fight. Sometimes people think that Armenians remained silent like a lamb being led to the butcher and accepted their terrible fate. It was not so. Wherever they could fight and resist, they did it. Probably the most famous example was the Armenian resistance in the Musa Dagh in July 1915, he added.

In his book Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna has also touched upon the material destruction and confiscation of Armenian-owned estate (houses, churches, businesses) and the unjust laws that made it possible.

He says he summed up some other issues like the evidence of the genocide including some Spanish sources, scholarship and authors. The epilogue deals with the issue of impunity of the Genocide, he adds.

The Armenian people suffered a genocide before the eyes of the world (we shouldnt forget the journalists and diplomats reporting from many places like Constantinople, Aleppo, etc).

Later it was denied and went basically unpunished. This impunity is one of the great injustices in the XX century, he says.

He thinks there are valuable lessons to learn from the current time: the importance of international commitment, the need to resist and fight wherever possible, the importance of memory, the need of justice We need to talk about the non-Armenians who tried to help and, in some cases, save Armenians. They shouldnt be forgotten. They should rather become examples of what is right and decent beyond cultural, ethnical or religious differences, he adds.

Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna says many people welcomed such a book for the Spanish audience. He hopes it will also help to raise the level of Armenian studies in Spain and foster cooperation with scholars and researchers from other countries

I have been advocating for a very long time for the Spanish recognition of the Armenian Genocide. This is a general knowledge book geered toward the general public. I would like my fellow citizens to hear and read, including some Spanish sources, the history of the genocide, yes, but also the stories of heroism, resistance and humanity by Armenians. Definitely Id like to raise awareness of the need of recognition, but also of the suffering and dignity of the Armenians confronting this terrible fate, he says.

Asked what perspectives he sees for the recognition of Armenian Genocide by Spain on a state level, Ricardo Ruiz de la Serna said he is optimistic over the recognition. I am mostly confident and optimistic regarding the recognition. Perhaps it will take some time but Armenians know the value of patience, perseverance and hope. I remember the story of how Armenian books were tore apart in order to be saved during the Genocide. They were not saved for the present generation but for generations to come. That action was not out of desperation but out of faith and hope in the future. I would like to honor that confidence in the future, although I would prefer my book not to be tore apart unless necessary to save it, he stated.
After a two-year hiatus due to the covid pandemic, Elizabeth Bick returns to the Pantheon in 2022 for her project Every God.

The New York-based photographer Elizabeth Bick has returned to Rome's Pantheon on 21 June, the longest day of the year, to photograph the tourists visiting the ancient monument. Bick depicts her subjects in theatrical poses, making dramatic use of chiaroscuro, as the Pantheon's visitors gaze upwards in awe at the oculus. Her photographs are part of a project titled Every God, which began when Bick was a resident artist at the American Academy in Rome in the summer of 2014. Bick says she chose the summer solstice to take advantage of the light falling on visitors - of diverse ages, cultures, races and genders - as well as allowing her to document "our relationship to technology as it rapidly changes." Bick's photographs for Every God can be seen on her website.

All photographs Elizabeth Bick.
Tourists can experience the Rome of 2,000 years ago with 3D bus tour.

Rome is to launch the city's first Virtual Reality Bus, an immersive 3D experience which brings to life the central archaeological area of the capital.

From 23 June it will be possible to travel among the ruins of ancient Rome and discover how they were 2,000 years ago, with the Virtual Reality Bus, a 16-seater vehicle equipped with cutting-edge technology.

Passengers on the electric bus can view the Imperial Fora, Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus and Theatre of Marcellus thanks to "visor free" VR displays, with all imagery created by visual effects specialists under the guidance of archaeologists.

All the 3D displays are visible directly on the OLED screens superimposed on the windows of the bus, with a system of motorised curtains that allows passengers to compare the present with the past.

The VrBus project will allow visitors to literally immerse themselves in the history of Rome", said the city's mayor Roberto Gualtieri, who described it as a "one-of-a-kind initiative" that will take tourists and Roman residents "on a journey to discover Rome's past."

Imperial Rome - Virtual Reality Bus will be active every day from 16.20 to 19.40 (last tour), departing from Piazza della Madonna di Loreto, at the Trajan's Column end of Via dei Fori Imperiali.

The tour, lasting 30 minutes, is available in Italian and English. Tickets can be bought online or at the ticket office near Trajan's Column. For full details see website.
The United States and Iran had their latest near miss Monday, after three vessels controlled by Tehrans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps buzzed two American ships at what the U.S. military called dangerously high speed, The Washington Post reported.

June 21, 2022, 14:59 US, Iranian military vessels narrowly avoid collision in Persian Gulf

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 21, ARTSAKHPRESS: The USS Sirocco, a Cyclone-class patrol ship, and the USNS Choctaw County, a fast transport vessel, were in routine transit through international waters in the Persian Gulf when three Iranian boats designed for fast attack approached the Sirocco head on, according to a U.S. military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the encounter. They diverted only after the Sirocco issued an audible warning signal. The Iranian boats also came within 50 yards of the Choctaw County, prompting the Sirocco to deploy a warning flare.

The Iranian navys actions did not meet the international standards of professional or safe maritime behavior, increasing the risk of miscalculation and collision, said Col. Joseph Buccino, spokesman for U.S. Central Command. CENTCOM forces will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere in the area of responsibility international law allows while promoting regional stability.

Mondays dramatic interaction, lasting about an hour, ended when the Iranian ships departed the area, officials said.

It was the latest close encounter between Iranian and American vessels in the gulf.

Last year, according to reports, three Iranian fast-attack craft similarly barreled down on two U.S. vessels patrolling international waters in the Persian Gulf, coming within 68 yards and prompting the American ships to fire warning shots.

In 2020, the United States accused 11 Iranian ships of making unsafe and unprofessional moves when they zipped around American vessels.
Rome mayor asks residents not to waste water as several Italian regions hit by severe drought.

The Lazio region around Rome is set to declare a state of emergency as an ongoing drought raises the prospect of water rationing in Italy's capital this summer.

Describing the situation as "serious", Lazio governor Nicola Zingaretti told Italian news agency ANSA that he will ask all mayors in the region to introduce water-saving measures.

As the river Tiber's water levels drop by a metre compared to this time last year, Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri stressed that at present there were no plans for rationing but advised the city's residents not to waste water.

Northern Italy is currently grappling with a severe drought which threatens the agriculture sector and has seen the river Po hit its lowest level in 70 years.

On Tuesday Italy's health undersecretary Andrea Costa indicated that the government is set to declare a state of emergency in the regions worst hit by the drought, ANSA reports.

Remains of the ancient Pons Neronianus or Bridge of Nero become visible as water levels drop in Romes river Tiber. https://t.co/s0bqJziErF  Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) June 20, 2022

The head of the Tevere Basin authority, Erasmo D'Angelis, told ANSA that since the last drought in the summer of 2017, Rome's water authority ACEA had improved the city's poor record of leaking pipes, from 43 per cent down to 28 per cent.

"The climate is changing and we too must change", D'Angelis said, adding that currently the worst affected area in Lazio is the Viterbo province north of Rome.

Local media posted images of people walking on the Tiber river bed in north Rome while near the Vatican the remains of the ancient Bridge of Nero surfaced with the recent drop in water levels.

Photo ANSA Riccardo Antimiani
Tap&Go contactless payment system was introduced on Rome's metro in 2019.

Rome commuters will soon be able to avail of contactless ticketing on the city's entire transport network with the launch of the capital's first "Tap&Go" bus.

The cashless system, which allows passengers to pay for tickets with credit, debit and prepaid cards, was launched on a trial 15-day basis on the number 51 bus.

Introduced at the turnstiles of the city's subway network in 2019, Tap&Go is set to be extended to all buses and trams operated by Rome transport company ATAC by the end of the year.

The capital's transport councillor Eugenio Patane hailed the system as accessible and efficient and will go some way to combating fare evasion on Rome buses.

"Before you had to go around the city, to newsstands and tobacconists, to look for tickets" - said Patane - "From now on you can get on the bus and pay with your mobile phone and your credit card."

Since its launch on Rome's underground system more than 11 million tickets have been purchased through Tap&Go which accounts for around 20 per cent of metro ticket transactions.

For full details see Roma Mobilita website.
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Elon Musks assertion last month that the number of Twitter bots is as unknowable as the human soul may well be a negotiating tactic from a man whos probably feeling a bit of buyers remorse. Yet tallying up how many machines are running around on Twitter Inc.s platform is a pretty straightforward process, if only everyone can agree on what theyre counting.

A very significant matter deterring Musk from closing the deal at the $44 billion price originally agreed is whether the number of fake and spam users on the system is less than 5%, as Twitter claims, which I think is probably not most peoples experience when using Twitter, he told Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait at the Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday. Other items to be overcome include debt financing and a shareholder vote on the acquisition, he said.

With shares of the social media company trading at 30% below Musks purchase price of $54.20, theres $15 billion worth of reasons for the South African businessman to find loopholes and push for a discount. His comment Tuesday is similar to one made in a June 6 filing, when he claimed that Twitter refused to provide the information needed to facilitate his evaluation of spam and fake accounts on the companys platform.

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Lets pause here. So far we have three different terms  bot, spam, and fake accounts  which could have entirely different meanings. Not all bots are fake, and not all fakes send spam.

There are numerous ways to categorize accounts on Twitter, but the simplest and most useful may be to examine every Twitter handle on two bases. Human, where an actual person sets up and runs activities on the account, or automated where a piece of human-written software acts on behalf of the account to tweet, retweet and like. The latter, can be called a bot.

There are also authentic accounts, where the entity operating the account is the same as that which it purports to represent, and inauthentic where this is not the case. This second category would be considered fake.

Theres a lot of gray area when sorting accounts, and we shouldnt assume a bot account is bad and human is good. For example, many corporations and media outlets do much of their posting and retweeting using third-party software. Technically, their Twitter account is being run by a bot, but we like to think of them as good bots. Those that keep tweeting crypto scams are bad bots.

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In addition, inauthentic accounts are frowned upon, but quite often lay harmlessly dormant for months or years on end before being reactivated to harass individuals or spread misinformation. Weve seen this in Chinese state-backed entities and ruling-party linked actors in India. Catching an inauthentic account is extremely difficult. Some are run by bots, but by no means all of them. And just because an account is operated by a human with a pseudonym doesnt mean its malicious.

Through a combination of machine learning and monitoring by our teams, we proactively detect accounts whose activity indicates that there are attempts to manipulate Twitter conversations in an automated way, ie bad bots, Twitter said in an email to Bloomberg Opinion.

Sorting bot, fake and spam accounts by these categories is as much art as science. In fact, counting bots is the easiest part, and Musks claim that at least 20%, and as high as 90%, of users fall into this category is out of whack. Its an entirely calculable number because Twitter itself lets external developers build bots and plug into its data feed. All you need to do is apply for a developer account and connect to the companys application programming interface, known as an API.

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Twitter counts how many of these are in use, and puts that figure into the hundreds of thousands of monthly active developer accounts. If we generously round that up to one million, then were look at 1 out of 229 million users,(1) or less than 0.5%. To be clear, not all of those developer accounts actually post to Twitter  meaning tweet, retweet or like. In fact, thousands of developers use the API to passively gather data, which could be used for marketing and research. Thats a far cry from 20%.

To be fair, there is another way to run a Twitter bot without using the companys API, and thats by mimicking a real person. Because Twitters platform runs on a web browser using standard protocols, clever software developers can exploit this openness to create a bot that appears to be just like a human on Chrome or Firefox. Twitter cant count these interactions as easily, but it does have systems in place to hunt them out, and shut them down if need be. If 20% of its users were browser-emulating bots, then theres every chance Twitter would know about it.

Chief Executive Officer Parag Agrawal has been pretty open about these challenges.

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Spam isnt just binary (human/not human). The most advanced spam campaigns use combinations of coordinated humans + automation, he said in a thread last month. They are sophisticated and hard to catch.

To ameliorate his concerns, Twitter offered to walk Musk through its methodologies, which his lawyers curiously decried as being tantamount to refusing Mr. Musks data requests. If, instead, the new buyer wanted to access every Tweet since the first was sent in March 2006, that could certainly be arranged. But its unlikely to bring much satisfaction because Musk and his team would then be left sorting through reams of data to decide for themselves what is a bot, what is fake, and what is spam.

With a $44 billion social media company and mountains of old tweets in his hands, Musks problem wont be trying to know the unknowable, but deciding what exactly it is that he wants to know.

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More From This Writer and Others at Bloomberg Opinion:

 Twitter Must Tackle a Problem Far Bigger Than Bots: Tim Culpan

 Why All the Social Networks Want to Be Like TikTok: Parmy Olson

 Elon Musks Twitter Has a Crypto Swamp to Drain: Lionel Laurent

(1) Twitter reports mDAU, monetizable Daily Active Users, its own metric for counting real users that may actually see ads posted to the platform. It may not be directly comparable to monthly active developer metrics.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Tim Culpan is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology in Asia. Previously, he was a technology reporter for Bloomberg News.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Beware the nested game. It is one of the least-known but most useful adages to keep in mind when following international affairs, and it is especially relevant now that Lithuania has announced a blockade of sanctioned Russian goods. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight A nested game is what it sounds like  a game within a game. It recognizes that the actors in most real-world settings are not unified and have conflicting motives. The classic example is the failure of a proposed Middle East peace deal because some hard-line faction sponsored a terror attack or an assassination. The agreement was never just the two sides dealing with each other; each side was also dealing with its own internal conflicts.

The nested game theory can help increase understanding of the Russian war against Ukraine too, and unfortunately it shows that the risk of escalation is increasing. Most assessments of the war measure the relative military strengths of each side. That is surely important  but so are the nested games. Russia and Ukraine are not monolithic. Each country encompasses many diverse interests and opinions, especially if Ukraine plus its allies is defined as one side of the conflict.

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Lithuania has announced that it would block rail shipments of sanctioned goods to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, an outpost of Russian territory surrounded by Lithuania, Poland and the Baltic Sea, with no direct land connection to the Russian mainland. Lithuania claims, not incorrectly, that such a blockade follows from EU sanctions against Russia.

Still, from Russias point of view, it may feel like an act of war when a NATO member cuts off part of the connection between Kaliningrad and the mainland. Various Russian officials have threatened escalation and retaliation, while leaving the details vague. Russia also claims this blockade violates previous transport agreements with Lithuania.

If Lithuania had not imposed this blockade when it did, it is not clear the European Union would have forced it to do so (delaying or renegotiating EU pledges is hardly unprecedented, especially when pre-existing agreements with other countries can be cited). In this sense the blockade was a strategic decision on the part of Lithuania. One view of Lithuanias strategy is that it is forcing or inducing its allies to affirm their support, at a more rather than less favorable moment in the hostilities.

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Its too soon to tell whether this is a wise strategy for Lithuania. But the point is that Lithuanias interests are not identical to NATOs, the EUs or the USs. Given some risk of Russian escalation, and in light of my view that punishing Kaliningrad is a low priority, I personally would have preferred if Lithuania had not made this decision.

Instead, by playing a nested game, Lithuania has made matters riskier for some of the other parties involved. Lithuania also has made the course of the conflict more difficult to predict, because hostilities could spread to the Baltics as well.

Now some of the smaller players in the region, especially those which fear Russia the most, may see advantages in escalating the conflict. It is the conventional wisdom that time is now on Russias side, so smaller countries may feel a sense of urgency that, say, Germany does not.

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Nested games tend to complicate rather than simplify situations. Is the disturbing agent here Lithuania or the US, as some suggest? What exactly are the splits of opinion within the Lithuanian government? What does Poland think about the timing of this possible escalation? Speaking of which, Poland has been playing nested games all along, as it faces ongoing decisions about how directly to be involved in supplying weapons to Ukraine, which can heighten the risk of Russian attacks in Polish territory.

Merely outlining all the different questions can be dizzying. In this way, the nested games theory functions as a kind of alternative to game theory and its vaunted ability to predict the future. But therein lies the danger too.

Game theory isnt always correct about the future, of course. But it is a useful discipline because it forces people to consider the worst possible outcomes. The risk of the nested games theory is that it can lead to an acceptance of the internal logic of a narrow faction or situation  and once wars get started, they tend to develop logics all their own. Throughout history far too many wars have spiraled out of control for reasons that appear arbitrary, nonsensical or simply unnecessary, but that make sense under a theory of nested games.

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All of which is a way of saying that the value of the nested game theory is its explanatory power, not its predictive worth. And that once nested games take hold, the risks of escalation grow.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 A Long War in Ukraine Could Bring Global Chaos: Hal Brands

 Seven Worst-Case Scenarios From the War in Ukraine: Niall Ferguson

 Hard Lessons From 100 Days of the Ukraine War: Leonid Bershidsky

 Putin Cant Keep Russian Mothers Silent: Clara Ferreira Marques

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Tyler Cowen is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of economics at George Mason University and writes for the blog Marginal Revolution. He is coauthor of Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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In agreeing to visit Saudi Arabia next month, US President Joe Biden has stepped back from his vow to treat the country as a pariah. Critics have blasted him for overlooking Saudi human-rights violations, including the brutal murder and dismemberment of former Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. In exchange, Biden has won only a token increase in oil production that wont do much to lower gas prices at home.

Even so, Bidens trip can serve a valuable purpose. Healthy US-Saudi ties are critical to calming a volatile part of the world and stabilizing global energy markets. When he meets with Saudi Arabias de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman  widely known as MBS  Biden should make clear that improved relations require both nations to respect the others core interests.

The U.S.-Saudi relationship has always had a strongly transactional element. The U.S. provides security through arms sales and military deployments, and in turn the worlds swing oil producer stabilizes prices. But the importance of the alliance goes beyond oil. The Saudis are indispensable to any effort to blunt Irans regional ambitions. Their blessing could well determine whether or not more Arab nations normalize relations with Israel. Snubbing Saudi leaders will only encourage them to deepen growing links with fellow autocrats in Russia and China.

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Engaging with the Saudis, however, doesnt mean placating them. If the US is to reaffirm its commitment to Saudi security  which has been complicated by the administrations attempts to revive the Iran nuclear deal and to shift resources to the Indo-Pacific  then Saudi leaders must pull back from their flirtation with the Russians and Chinese.

The US has a right to expect further increases in oil production, for instance  not because they will necessarily reduce prices at the pump, but to curb how much Russian President Vladimir Putin profits off continued aggression in Ukraine. The Saudis should also limit the volume and sophistication of the weapons they buy from China, and curtail the two nations growing cooperation over ballistic-missile and uranium-enrichment technology.

Biden should press MBS as well to follow up on his initial moves to expand ties with Israel. While progress toward full normalization will be gradual, Saudi leaders should be prepared to develop a clear road map to joining the Abraham Accords, as Gulf allies Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates already have. They can start by allowing more Israeli commercial flights to cross Saudi airspace and expanding business and people-to-people ties.

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Riyadh should also engage in more open military and intelligence cooperation with Israel, working to integrate air defenses across the region and conducting more joint military exercises. Only a truly unified coalition that includes Gulf states, Israel and the US will have a chance of deterring Irans proxy attacks and missile proliferation across the Middle East, which will pose a threat regardless of whether the Iran nuclear deal is revived.

Finally, Biden shouldnt shy away from addressing areas of tension between the two countries. He should press the Saudis to work more intensively with the United Nations to transform the recently extended cease-fire in Yemen into a lasting peace settlement. Though MBS has expanded some social liberties and the place of women in Saudi society, his government has also imprisoned Saudi activists for promoting similar reforms. They should be released and others allowed to leave the country if they wish. As for Khashoggis murder, Biden isnt likely to elicit any public contrition, but Saudi leaders should at least guarantee that no similar atrocity will take place again.

Like Bidens trip itself, such gestures should properly be seen not as concessions but as investments in a relationship that both nations need to work. If Biden can restore that frayed understanding, his visit will have been worth it.

More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

 Biden Yields to Saudis as Gasoline Prices Soar: Bobby Ghosh

 Saudi Arabias Oil Whisperer Spills Some of His Secrets: Javier Blas

 How Did Jared Kushner Get $2 Billion From Saudis?: Timothy L. OBrien

The Editors are members of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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President Joe Biden has a politically risky itinerary for his scheduled trip to Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia in mid-July. The question is, why he is doing this? The tour is scheduled to begin in Jerusalem, where the president plans to meet with Israelis leaders to discuss security, prosperity and increasing integration into the great region. All worthy topics, but not quite in sync with the moment.

On Monday, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced his resignation. According to the US embassy, Bidens visit is still on. When he arrives in Jerusalem, he will find a caretaker prime minister, Yair Lapid, and a government incapable of making major moves or decisions. Elections are scheduled for late October or early November. Biden will also meet with the opposition leader, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who polls say is most likely to lead the next government.

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His visit to the West Bank, where he plans to meet the head of the Palestinian Authority, is a controversy waiting to happen. No American president has ever visited the contested area before. The break from diplomatic precedent will be welcomed by the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.

But the battle here is for the future, and there is no reason to suppose that a summer chat between 87-year-old Mahmoud Abbas and the 79-year-old Biden will make much of a difference in the contours of the Holy Land.

Irrelevance abroad wont prevent the presidents visit to the West Bank from becoming a talking point in America, with midterm congressional elections coming in November. Supporters and critics of Israel will argue over the departure from protocol. Biden may have concluded that this could be advantageous to his party.

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I wouldnt presume to argue politics with the president, but most public opinion polls show the Democrats are facing a landslide defeat in the House for reasons that have nothing to do with the West Bank or the moribund peace process, now going on for more than 55 years.

The last stop on the presidents tour, in Saudi Arabia, is the one most likely to matter. Or maybe matter too much.

According to the White House, Biden will be meeting the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and additional Arab leaders from Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. The Saudi king, Salman Bin Abdulaziz, will chair the gathering. The name of his son, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, was intentionally omitted from the announcement.

The White House notes that Saudi Arabia has been a strategic partner of the United States for nearly eight decades. That is mostly true, but it requires an asterisk when it comes to the Biden administration.

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In 2018, Saudi agents in Istanbul carried out the lurid assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, a longtime Saudi journalist turned Washington Post columnist. Khashoggi had many friends in the US capital, and his murder became a cause celebre.

In his presidential campaign, Biden accused the crown prince of ordering the murder. MBS, as he is known, is the kingdoms defense minister, heir to the throne of his 86-year-old father and the current power behind it. Not incidentally, he was regarded as a close ally of Donald Trumps White House.

Biden vowed that, if elected, Saudi Arabia would pay a terrible price for murdering Khashoggi. He said he would end Americas special relationship with Saudi Arabia and turn it into an international pariah.

But it was a pledge he couldnt keep. The kingdom, whatever its sins and flaws, is too big, too energy-rich and too widely allied to be isolated and turned into a pariah by presidential fiat. (Biden is now discovering that the same is true of Russia.)

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The White House announcement of the meeting in Riyadh was a smorgasbord of bland offerings: Support the truce in Yemen, regional economic and security cooperation, infrastructure and climate initiatives; deter Iran, and advance human rights. Bidens actual motive is to persuade the Saudis to pump enough oil to lower gas prices in the US before November. This will not happen without the acquiescence of Mohammed Bin Salman.

The Saudi royal family is famous for its hospitality. MBS will not want a public scene, especially with his father present. Bidens climb-down is already being choreographed.

Three days after the official American agenda was announced, he amended it. Im not going to meet with MBS, he told reporters. Im going to an international meeting, and hes going to be part of it.

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Sure. Maybe the two men will bump into one another at the royal palace, shake hands and say no hard feelings. More likely, the sulha will be accomplished in private. No matter, everyone will be aware that Biden, the notional leader of the free world, came to the meeting as the supplicant of a prince young enough to be his grandson.

Bidens trip to the Middle East is still three weeks off. There is no one to talk to in the Holy Land. There is no one he wants to talk to at the summit. He should find a way to make amends with MBS that doesnt require an almost 7,000-mile pilgrimage  and offer the kingdom a generous oil deal it cant refuse.

More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

 Saudi Arabias Chief Oil Whisperer Spills Some of His Secrets: Javier Blas

 Saudi Megaproject Is Big on Hubris and Low on Practicality: Bobby Ghosh

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 Israels Support of Ukraine Alliance Is Risky But Unavoidable: Zev Chafets

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Zev Chafets is a journalist and author of 14 books. He was a senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the founding managing editor of the Jerusalem Report Magazine.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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As energy security becomes a growing source of angst, its that clear large-scale, reliable use of renewable resources remain a distant reality in many countries. Thats allowed a more controversial  and almost perfect  alternative to make a comeback: nuclear. Trouble is, nobody wants a reactor in their backyard and the memories of past accidents remain a serious concern.

But with costs rising and few solutions at hand, both governments and companies are turning to nuclear power as a cleaner and cheaper source to help them reach their ambitious climate goals.

Even if a few years away, the development of, and investment in, nuclear energy sources and storage methods could ensure industrial operations highly dependent on pre-heating processes for raw materials and high temperatures are able to function as the world navigates its way through this energy crisis. With all the supply chain snarls over the past year, a power shortage is the last thing consumers and businesses need.

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In Japan, the median levelized cost of energy(1) is far lower than utility scale solar and offshore wind. A recent survey showed that more than 80% of Japanese companies are in favor of restarting nuclear reactors to meet power needs. Electric utility Kansai Electric Power Co. is resuming work at one its idled reactors earlier than planned to manage energy demand. Bringing the Mihama No. 3 reactor online will lower need for liquefied natural gas, and the firms nuclear generation could grow 76% by 2023 as it brings back more reactors, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

In India and China, its proving competitive, too, where dirtier options like coal are now more expensive. South Korea is focused on reviving nuclear power, which contributes to about 27% of the nations energy mix.

Earlier this year, the Biden administration issued a notice of intent for the implementation of a $6 billion nuclear credit program that supports the operation of reactors  the nations largest source of clean power  across the country. Last week, the US Department of Energy awarded over $60 million for 74 nuclear projects. British jet engine maker Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd., backed by the UK government and other investors, said late last year it was going to begin building smaller and cheaper reactors. Some of its compact modular reactors are expected to come online by 2029 and the regulatory processes are already underway.

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The return to nuclear makes sense: The cost of extending the lifetime of power plants and building reactors in countries that have stuck by the energy form is cheaper and competitive. Those that havent are now struggling with their aging fleet of reactors and lack of other sources.

The biggest stumbling block, though, is the deep-seated anxieties around safety and waste disposal. Memories of nuclear accidents like Three Mile Island in 1979, Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima Daiichi in 2011 continue to loom large in both public and corporate memory. Yet whats often forgotten is that on a deaths-per-unit of electricity basis, nuclear remains at the bottom of the list, while coal is at the top.

The progress thats been made on alleviating issues around nuclear power is underappreciated. For instance, safety in reactors is typically based on an assessment of the core melting. To address these concerns, 14 countries have come up with lower-risk designs and development of a new generation of reactors. These systems will use different coolants, like molten salts or liquid metal, and methods that ultimately make nuclear power production cleaner, secure and more efficient. Reactors that use such materials seek to reduce or cut the production of dangerous gases that explode under pressure.

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A host of startups are working on making nuclear power more acceptable. NuScale Power LLC is building small modular reactors that could eventually power 60,000 homes per unit. The firm, which has received more than $450 million of support from Washington, is working with the US and Romanian governments to build a plant in the eastern European country. Meanwhile, Swedens Seaborg Technologies has teamed up with Samsung Heavy Industries Co. to build a floating, compact molten salt reactor that could change energy use in logistics. Bill Gates-backed TerraPower  also focused on small reactors  has partnered with South Koreas industrial conglomerate SK Group to build these plants.

Nuclear power stands to be the solution, or at least fill major energy gaps, in the coming years. In addition to the existing nuclear fission used in commercial reactors, startups are now pushing towards nuclear fusion technologies and have raised billions of dollars from the likes of Tiger Global LP and Bill Gates. Rejecting the power source out of fear isnt going to get us too far, and nor will scare-mongering. Companies and countries shouldnt be shying away from openly discussing nuclear energy and raising awareness. Public acceptance is key. Without it, well be breathing dirty air and living through outages.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

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 Nuclear Plant Attack Shows Bigger Is Safer: David Fickling

 Climate Finance Can Add Up to Net Zero: Clara Ferreira Marques

 Theres No Such Thing as Secure Energy: Liam Denning

(1) Present cost of energy generation of a generator over its lifetime

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Anjani Trivedi is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering industrial companies in Asia. Previously, she was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Real estate matters a lot to China: Construction and property sales have been the biggest engines of economic growth since President Xi Jinping came to office a decade ago. Home prices skyrocketed  surging sixfold over the past 15 years  as an emerging middle class flocked to property as one of the few safe investments available. The boom led to speculative buying as new homes were pre-sold by property developers who turned more and more to international investors for funds. So when Chinese officials ratcheted up steps to reduce the risk of a bubble and temper the inequality that unaffordable housing can create, it touched off a crisis that has sent some major developers into default. A sales slump that began during the pandemic was deepened by aggressive measures to contain Covid-19. So far, the states intervention has held off a disorderly collapse of the property market that could undermine the financial system and jolt the world economy too.

1. What fueled the real estate boom?

In 1998, when China created a nationwide housing market after tightly restricting private sales for decades, only a third of its people lived in towns and cities. Now almost two-thirds do, increasing the urban population by 480 million. The property sector also expanded rapidly, while struggling to keep up. Boom cities such as Shenzhen became less affordable based on price-to-income ratios than London or New York, frustrating a generation of would-be buyers. Local and regional authorities, which rely on sales of public land for a hefty chunk of their revenue, encouraged more development, which also helped meet the central governments ambitious annual targets for economic growth, which often hit double digits. Debt piled up as builders rushed to meet demand. Annual sales of dollar-denominated offshore bonds -- meaning those sold mainly to foreign investors -- surged from $675 million in 2009 to $64.7 billion in 2020, leading to a swelling interest burden. Developers had some $207 billion in dollar-denominated bonds outstanding as of late last year, accounting for about one-quarter of the total from all Chinese borrowers. Additional, opaque liabilities make it hard to assess true credit risks.

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2. What did the government do?

It has for years tried to defuse the debt bomb amid fears an explosion could set off a disastrous financial meltdown. In mid-2020, it began to squeeze new financing to real estate developers to try to reduce the threat, and asked banks to slow the pace of mortgage lending. New borrowing metrics introduced for developers proved to be a gamechanger. Called the three red lines by state-run media, they aimed to reduce reckless borrowing by setting thresholds for a developers liabilities, debt and cash holdings. Annual borrowing would be capped based on how many parameters were met.

3. What happened to the developers?

Those that didnt have enough cash on hand to cover their liabilities found themselves in a bind. At least 18 defaulted on offshore bonds after the crackdown began. China Evergrande Group, once the countrys biggest developer, was labeled a defaulter for the first time in December after it missed payments on several bonds. The establishment of a risk management committee dominated by provincial officials was quickly announced for the firm to stave off a complete collapse. (Bondholders still were left wondering how much they would collect once the dust settles.) Others, including Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. and Sunac China Holdings Ltd., followed. Fears of further contagion have reverberated throughout the industry and the wider economy, hammering domestic growth, weakening consumer confidence and roiling global markets that have long assumed Chinas real estate titans would be bailed out by the government.

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4. Where does this leave the industry?

In a deep slump. Combined sales at the top 100 developers halved in the first four months of this year compared with last. Property loan growth slowed to the weakest pace in over two decades at the end of March. Construction fell 14% in 2021 from the previous year, the biggest fall in six years. All this matters a lot because in China, the real estate sector accounts for almost a quarter of gross domestic product, when nonresidential construction, building materials and related activity such as real estate services are included.

5. How bad could it get?

Across China millions of square feet of unfinished apartments have been left to gather dust as a result of developers facing cash flow problems. Home prices began to fall in September for the first time in six years. A full-bore property crisis could leave millions more homebuyers who put up money in advance in limbo. (Buyer protections commonly used abroad, such as escrow accounts and installment payments, have tended to be weak.) Fire sales would further pummel the market, squeezing other developers and rippling through related industries and suppliers. The risk of popular unrest -- more than 70% of urban Chinas wealth is stored in housing -- would rise, unsettling the government. A historic selloff in offshore bonds would spread to the much larger domestic credit market, spreading from lower-rated property companies to stronger peers and banks. Global investors would sell even more.

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6. Is there a way out?

The government has tweaked some rules to try to stabilize the situation. For example the central bank stepped up its support for several distressed developers and banks were instructed to ensure growth in both residential mortgages and loans to developers in some areas. Above all, avoiding a Lehman moment  when the failure of the US bank in 2008 sent shock waves through global markets  is a priority ahead of this years Communist Party congress, where Xi is expected to be handed a third term. That political necessity most likely means the government will try to contain the crisis, at least for the near term.

(Adds graphic)

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Mobile payment gateway provider Opn Co. was valued at roughly $1 billion in a $120 million funding round last month, making it one of a handful of unicorns in Japan. The Tokyo-based company, previously known as Omise, owes much of its success to its early entry into another Asian nation: Thailand. Entering the market in 2013, when it was heavily reliant on cash transactions, Opn seized a sizable share of mobile payments by helping small businesses make the digital transition and getting the major network operators to adopt its technology, the company said.

The Series C+ funding marks a rare success for a Japanese startup at a time when venture capital is bracing for a sharp industry downturn. JIC Venture Growth Investments and Mars Growth Capital Pte participated in the round, while Japans largest bank Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. agreed to provide about $38 million as part of a loan guarantee program organized by the countrys trade ministry.

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Our priority now is on developing our product line and expanding our presence in both existing and new markets, Jun Hasegawa, co-founder and chief executive officer of Opn said in an interview. While we are always considering ways to grow our business, our options could later include a global IPO to expand our global reach.

Opn designs software that helps merchants set up payments on their mobile or desktop websites. Its biggest market is Thailand, home to 41-year-old Hasegawas co-founder Ezra Don Harinsut. The firms clients include True, one of Thailands largest telecommunications conglomerates, and Total Access Communication Public Co., or DTAC.

The startup plans to use proceeds from the funding to expand its services to new markets including Vietnam and the Philippines. Apart from Japan and Thailand, Opn currently operates in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Over the long term, Hasegawa aims to make Opn services available in at least 36 major countries including the U.S. and European economies.

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We want to have a footprint in every major country, Hasegawa said.

Despite increasing competition in mobile payments, Hasegawa says Opns years-long experience in Southeast Asian markets and ability to adapt to complex local regulations give it an edge against rivals. The company in April appointed Chris Misner, who had been general manager of Apple Inc.s Asia-Pacific online store, to its board.

Revenue has doubled every year since 2019 as more consumers opted for digital payments in the wake of the global pandemic, helping Opn reach 100 million transactions per year. The company didnt disclose detailed earnings figures.

But Hasegawa hasnt always been successful with his ventures. In 2017, he brought in $25 million through an initial coin offering, an unregulated sale process that had exploded in popularity that year. His company was at the time working on facilitating payments with cryptocurrency, and its OmiseGo tokens were worth more than $2 billion at one point. They tumbled as the market crashed and the firm divested of OmiseGo in December 2020.

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Ive learned a lot from my past failures, and theyve made me think about what is the one service that you always need, all the time, Hasegawa said. Now, we have a strong yearning toward creating global financial infrastructure, thats what were after.

(Updates with board member information; an earlier version corrected the spelling of DTAC in fifth paragraph)

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Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko warned European Union Ambassador to Moscow Markus Ederer on Tuesday that the blocs ongoing arms supplies to Kiev were unacceptable, Tass informs.

June 21, 2022, 17:47 Senior Russian diplomat slams as unacceptable EU arms supplies to Kiev

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 21, ARTSAKHPRESS: "Russia stressed as unacceptable the EUs ongoing weapons supplies to Ukrainian forces. [Russia] stressed that the weapons are being used for attacks on civilian infrastructure in Donbass localities leaving civilians and children dead," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Moscow also informed the EU envoy of its "opinions on the developments in Ukraine and in the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics amid the special military operation", the ministry added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Ederer and expressed a resolute protest over the ban on the transit of certain goods to the Kaliningrad Region, Russia's Baltic Sea exclave.
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In the history of dangerous naivety, the decentralized finance mania of 2021 will hold its own against the 2007 boom in collateralized debt obligations. It took a financial crisis for the world to wise up to CDOs, which repackaged risky mortgage bonds to make them look safer than they were. CDOs are nothing but a massive Ponzi scheme, said the villain of a fictional account of the 2008 meltdown. How much more carnage will it take this time to know that blockchain-based lending is similarly reckless?

The idea that one could ditch regulated intermediaries like banks and make far higher returns by lending digital assets was a key attraction of decentralized finance, or DeFi. But that was before the bloodletting began, triggered by the collapse last month of the cryptocurrency pair Terra-Luna. The appeal of changing money into TerraUSD, a stablecoin that promised 1:1 convertibility into dollars, lay in the near-20% yield on TerraUSD deposits. Withdrawal of funds from Anchor Protocol, the main DeFi lending application on the blockchain, crushed the coin, as well as Luna, its sister asset.

Soon after, lenders Celsius Network and Babel froze deposits. BlockFi Inc., a Peter Thiel-backed lending platform, said it fully liquidated or hedged all the associated collateral of a large client believed to be Singapore-based Three Arrows Capital, a troubled crypto hedge fund. BlockFi is reducing headcount by 20% just as Coinbase Global Inc., the largest US-based digital asset exchange, lays off 18% of its workforce. Theres no end in sight to the crypto winter. Of the $252 billion of investor funds tied up in DeFi protocols last December, less than $75 billion remain.

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Blockchain technology promised the Impossible Burger version of finance: lending without trust, the most important ingredient. Market participants in DeFi are anonymous. Assessing the risk of borrowers through time-tested methods  from banks screening to reliance on reputation in informal networks  is therefore not possible, researchers at the Bank for International Settlements noted recently. Thus, loans have to be over-collateralized in order to make up for the missing trust. But as recent events have shown, Bitcoin loans with Ethereum collateral can be just as combustible as the portfolio of subprime mortgage bonds backing a CDO.

Contrast the fragility of Defi with the robustness of hawala, a highly efficient system of moving funds in the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent since medieval times. If DeFi relies on software code to act as a substitute for courts in enforcing contracts, hawala seeks to fill the legal void with trust. As Matthias Schramm and Markus Taube described the institutional arrangement in their 2003 paper:

(Hawala) is able to move large amounts of money without recourse of the formal banking system and even without retaining any bookkeeping notes. Instead, it is based on the trust of the participating parties and its social and religious embeddedness within the Islamic community.

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Modern-day regulators detest hawala because users of the multinational, club-like network can circumvent anti-money-laundering and terror financing laws with ease. Yet, the way the system operates, its almost impossible to obliterate, or even detect. Hawala intermediaries often maintain regular banking relationships indistinguishable from legitimate small business accounts.

Good or bad, hawala is a very real money-transfer product  and has been for centuries(1). By contrast, much of DeFi is just decentralization kabuki. Crypto bros talk big about defying the tyranny of government controls and large custodial organizations, though in reality DeFi cant even match the success, in this regard, of a premodern alternative. Hawala arose to get around the lawlessness that preyed on medieval traders traveling long distances; it then learned to live outside  but alongside  the law.

That isnt all. To be a DeFi borrower, you need more crypto collateral than the loan youre seeking. This restricts access to credit to borrowers who are already asset-rich, the BIS report notes. For DeFi lending to become a serious tool of financial inclusion, two things have to happen. First, people need to be able to take loans under their real names to establish a pattern of trustworthy behavior. Second, more real-world assets like buildings and equipment must get digital representations on the blockchain so that even the less wealthy have some initial collateral.

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For all the concerns around large tech platforms profiting from consumer data, fintech is doing a lot better than DeFi on inclusion. Online commerce platform MercadoLibre Inc.s machine learning-based scoring model is demonstrably superior to what credit bureaus can tell a conventional bank about borrowers creditworthiness in Argentina. Ditto for Ant Group Co.s Alipay payments network in China. Fintech has added a wider range of information  about a broader set of potential borrowers  to what traditional lenders could find out about a narrow group of people within existing banking relationships. This has had a large impact on emerging markets. A jar of Nutella sold by a mom-and-pop shop in India now tells a potential lender something valuable about its owners creditworthiness.

Ignoring borrower-level information  or losing it in the labyrinths of financial engineering  doesnt end well. Think of highly rated senior CDO tranches where the underlying mortgages were subprime. DeFi needs to give up on its techno-anarchist utopia, and get more real and centralized. Otherwise DeFi lending will enter the annals of finance as a failure where hawala has been success: a 21st-century trustless technology losing to a 14th-century innovation that thrived by holding trust supreme.

More From This Writer at Bloomberg Opinion:

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 When Cryptos Own Hedge Fund Geniuses Failed: Lionel Laurent

 Dreams of an Algorithmic Stablecoin Wont Die: Trung Phan

 Central Banks Can Save DeFi. Really: Andy Mukherjee

(1) Hawala as a legal concept came to be described as early as 1327, according to Schramm and Taube, though the actual practice is probably much older.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Andy Mukherjee is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering industrial companies and financial services in Asia. Previously, he worked for Reuters, the Straits Times and Bloomberg News.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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The world has an obsession with Japans shrinking population. Each year, news that the country is a little bit smaller can reliably be called upon for column inches, which tend to examine it as a Japanese mystery  one of those inherently Oriental concepts that foreigners could not possibly penetrate, like wabi-sabi or the bushido code of samurai warriors.

The New York Times asked in 2012, Without babies, can Japan survive? The Atlantic wrote about the mystery of why Japanese people are having so few babies. To be fair, Japan talks about the population crisis as much as anyone, with one paper recently calling for the declaration of a declining birth-rate state of emergency.

The proposal has echoes of the climate emergency legislation passed by governments such as the UK to heighten awareness of global warming. But Japan is to the fertility crisis what low-lying Pacific Islands are to the environmental crisis: just a early signal of the same problems that are coming for everywhere else.

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Japan first took serious notice of its declining births in 1989, in an event known as the 1.57 Shock  the total fertility rate (TFR) that was recorded that year, less even than the 1.58 of 1966, when couples avoided having kids due to superstition over an inauspicious event(1) in the Chinese Zodiac.

Despite three decades of task forces, government support programs and ministers in charge of the issue, little has changed. While the decline in the birth rate has been arrested, Japan has been able to do almost nothing to significantly raise it. A record low of 1.26 was recorded in 2005, which has risen to 1.3 in 2021  and while thats impacted by the pandemic, it hasnt been above 1.5 in more than three decades.

Japan is often convinced that its economic malaise since the 1980s is the root of its ills, but that link seems less than clear. Births dropped all through the 1970s and 80s, with the 1.57 Shock coming at the peak of its economic might. If anything there seems to be an inverse relationship between wealth and fertility: Okinawa, the countrys poorest region, consistently has the highest rate, with wealthy Tokyo the lowest. The experience of other countries also indicates differently, with rich Singapore at an even lower rate than Japan. Almost every country in Europe lies below the 2.1 level needed to maintain the population, with countries including Croatia, Portugal and Greece all set to lose similar levels to Japan over the next three decades.

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Economic conditions are not so helpful in explaining persistent trends, explains Mikko Myrskyla, director of the Rostock, Germany-based Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research. Scientists are somewhat helpless in explaining what then drives the long term change.

Its a variation on the Anna Karenina principle: All fertile societies are alike; each infertile society is infertile in its own way.

While Western media once tended to obsess over how little sex the Japanese might be having, the same phenomenon is now being observed across the globe. Are there other unique social conditions, perhaps? Seen through a western lens, some of Japans problems might seem obvious: A notorious culture of overtime work or waiting lists for kindergartens.

Yet many of these issues are no longer as chronic as they once were  and alleviating them has had little impact on fertility. Average overtime hours have halved in less than 10 years, according to one report. The number of kids on waiting lists for kindergartens has plunged, down nearly 80% in 2021 from 2017, even as the female labor participation rate has risen.

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What about Japans low gender equality? If anything, womens increasing role outside the home in recent decades is one factor contributing to the decline, enabling women to delay marriage or not marry at all, according to one report. Nearby Taiwan touts itself as the most gender-equal society in Asia, but has a TFR rate of just 1.08  the worst in the world, according to one estimate.

Japan may have its own idiosyncrasies, but given the very large number of countries with persistent low fertility, each reaching low fertility its own way, it would be difficult to single out something specific, said Myrskyla. He points to European countries such as Italy, Germany, Finland and Hungary, where gender norms and public support for working mothers vary wildly, but the TFR is consistently low.

Myrskyla suggests adaptation is a likely better policy response than Japans 30 years of trying to increase births  investing in education, keeping people in jobs for longer, and integrating women and immigrants to top up the workforce. In recent years, Japans policy mix has also gradually come to focus not on changing peoples minds about marriage or kids, but helping those who lack opportunities  holding events for rural communities to meet potential partners, or the recent addition to health insurance coverage of expensive IVF treatments.

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Perhaps the one thing that unites countries with low TFR is that they tend to be wealthy, even if wealthy countries dont necessarily have below-replacement levels. Although Japan frets about how rich it truly is, its still a very wealthy nation in per-capita GDP terms. Many are surprised to learn that the US has a persistently low fertility rate of just 1.66. A Japanese saying describes a problem that is someone elses issue as a fire on the other side of the river. When it comes to population, Japans struggles are anything but.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 Workers in Japan Should Ask for a Raise: Gearoid Reidy

 The Singapore of the Future Is Small and Rich: Daniel Moss

 India May Have the Worlds Biggest People Problem: Mihir Sharma

(1) Worryingly, the next such year, known as hinoe-uma, will occur in 2026.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg News senior editor covering Japan. He previously led the breaking news team in North Asia and was the Tokyo deputy bureau chief.

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In an extremely important church-and-state decision, the Supreme Court has held that if the state of Maine decides to pay for a childs private education in lieu of a public one, it must allow its tuition money to be used at religious schools. The 6-3 decision, Carson v. Makin, profoundly undermines existing First Amendment law.

It represents the end of the centuries-old constitutional ban on direct state aid to the teaching of religion. And remarkably, it does all this in the name of religious liberty, giving the free-exercise clause of the First Amendment primacy over the establishment clause found in the exact same amendment.

The framers conception of the two religion clauses of the First Amendment had two parts that fit together. The establishment clause meant the government couldnt make you perform a religious act or spend taxpayer dollars on religion. The free exercise clause said the government couldnt stop you from performing a religious act, understood as prayer or preaching or teaching or belief.(1)

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For most of U.S. history, the Supreme Court enforced these clauses by, among other things, saying that the government could not fund the teaching of religion in religious schools. That principle was substantially undermined 20 years ago when the court held that states could fund religious education  including Catholic schools  indirectly via voucher programs that could be used at secular or religious private schools.

But until today, the Supreme Court didnt go the next step, which has been sought by advocates of religious education ever since. It had never held that if the state pays for private secular education, it must  not may  also pay for religious education. The key case holding the line was a 2004 decision, Locke v. Davey. In that ruling, the court said that the state of Washington did not have to allow a student to use a state scholarship to pay for religious training in a religious institution.

The opinion by then Chief Justice William Rehnquist said there was play in the joints between the two religion clauses. That meant the states could choose not to pay for religious education without the court saying that the choice amounted to a violation of the religious liberty of the person who wanted to get religious education paid for.

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Chief Justice John Roberts has managed to keep the Locke case alive while weakening its play-in-the-joints theory. The way he did it was by holding, in two recent cases, that the state can choose not to fund a specific religious action, but cannot exclude an institution from getting government funds because of its religious character. The distinction is subtle, even Talmudic. But it saved Roberts from having to overturn the Locke precedent.

In the Carson case, Roberts never specifically repudiated the play-in-the-joints idea. But even though he didnt reverse Locke v. Davey, he wrote an opinion under which the idea no longer makes much sense. Effectively, he overturned Locke without saying so.

The Maine law in question is applied so that the content of the religious education matters. The state wont allow tuition to go to a school if it is associated with a particular belief system and promotes that belief system by teaching it through the lens of faith. The analogy to the state of Washingtons rule in Locke v. Davey is almost exact.

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Roberts, however, characterized the Maine rule as discriminating against certain schools because of their religious character. Such discrimination violates the free-exercise clause under the doctrine Roberts has developed. He held that Maine must therefore let its state tuition aid go to the religious schools.

In dissent, Justice Stephen Breyer pointed out that play-in-the-joints was now a thing of the past. The court today nowhere mentions, and I fear effectively abandons, this longstanding doctrine, he wrote. And in a passage destined to be cited by future litigants, he raised the most worrisome prospect of what is coming next: Does the holding mean that a school district that pays for public schools must pay equivalent funds to parents who wish to send their children to religious schools?

If the answer to Breyers question were to be yes, Carson v. Makin would be a sea change in how education is financed in the US. It would mean that states would have to fund Catholic schools, yeshivas and madrasas so long as the state pays for public schools.

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On its face, the Carson decision doesnt go that far. Maines provision is relatively unusual, stemming from the rural nature of the state, where some towns cant afford their own schools.

But Breyers worry is real. The next step for religious schools will be to demand universal funding. And since this was a 6-3 decision, Robertss vote wouldnt be necessary to reach the radical, topsy-turvy conclusion that, under the free-exercise clause, states must pay for religious education.

In a separate dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor put it bluntly: Today, the court leads us to a place where separation of church and state becomes a constitutional violation. Shes right, or very nearly so.

Under the Supreme Courts logic, for state government to avoid violating the establishment clause by refusing to fund religious teaching counts as a violation of the free-exercise clause. The framers would have been dumbfounded.

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More From Noah Feldman on the Supreme Court in Bloomberg Opinion:

 Supreme Court Makes Immigration Lockup Harder to Escape: Noah Feldman

 Supreme Court Has a Nasty Surprise in Store for Business: Noah Feldman

 Threat to Kavanaugh Will Irrevocably Change Justices Lives: Noah Feldman

(In the second-to-last paragraph, corrects the quote from Justice Sotomayor to read: ... a place where separation of church and state becomes a constitutional violation.)

(1) I wrote a book and several articles supporting this understanding of the history.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. A professor of law at Harvard University, he is author, most recently, of The Broken Constitution: Lincoln, Slavery and the Refounding of America.

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The US and China have many trade disputes, but none perhaps as explosive as accusations about forced labor being used in Chinas Xinjiang region. The Chinese government, which vehemently denies the charges, says outsiders have misconstrued a rural jobs program that aims to improve living standards for ethnic minorities in poor regions. But many people from one targeted group -- the mainly Muslim Uyghurs living in Xinjiang -- say that they have no choice but to participate or risk having themselves or family members put in detention. The US, which says the program contributes to a campaign of genocide, is stepping up the pressure on China with a new law that takes effect June 21.

1. What is the new law?

Under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in December, the US government assumes that anything made even partially in Xinjiang is produced with forced labor and cant be imported unless companies are able to provide clear and compelling evidence otherwise. That raises the prospect that the ban could be extended to other Chinese regions, since workers and goods from Xinjiang flow across the country. The new process will effectively supplant about a dozen existing orders barring the import of some goods from Xinjiang, including cotton, tomatoes and solar panel material. China has warned that the new law would severely damage ties between the two nations and has vowed to take countermeasures.

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2. What does forced labor mean?

The International Labor Organization, a United Nations agency, defines it as all work or service which is exacted from any person under the threat of a penalty and for which the person has not offered himself or herself voluntarily. (China in April ratified two long-standing ILO conventions on forced labor, though it didnt signal any policy changes.)

3. How did Chinas program begin?

The rural jobs transfer program has roots in Chinas hukou registration system, which determines where people can live and work. In the late 1970s, leader Deng Xiaoping started opening the country to foreign investment and made it easier for workers to move around. Even so, by the turn of the century the number of surplus rural laborers was still estimated at 100 million to 200 million people. In 2002, the Communist Party decided to lift all movement restrictions, so long as population flows were orderly and guided. The Agriculture Ministry then urged local governments to boost vocational training for rural workers and link them with job opportunities in cities. Ever since the program has been hailed an important national tool for ending poverty.

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4. Whats different in Xinjiang?

Basically the political situation. About 10 million Uyghurs, a Turkic-speaking ethnic minority, inhabit the region, which is roughly the size of the US state of Alaska. They have long complained that their culture was under threat from an influx of ethnic Han Chinese, who comprise more than 90% of Chinas 1.4 billion people. In 2014, a spike in Uyghur-perpetrated violence, mainly against Han Chinese, prompted President Xi Jinping to order authorities to strike first against terrorists. So they set up a separate system of vocational education and training centers designed to identify and de-radicalize ethnic minorities with extremist views by indoctrinating them with party ideology -- while also teaching job and Chinese language skills. A 2019 assessment by a United Nations working group said an estimated 1 million people had reportedly been sent to internment facilities under the guise of counterterrorism and de-extremism policies since 2016.

5. Is it still happening?

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China -- which strictly controls access by outsiders to the remote region -- says the centers are no longer in operation and that everyone has now graduated. (It also says the region has been free from terror attacks for more than five years.) Its important to note, however, that the detention camps are separate from the jobs program. While some went directly from the camps into jobs, most recruits are from villages and other poor areas who are encouraged by the government to apply. Ma Xingrui, who was appointed as the new Communist Party chief for the region in December, has the stated aim of advancing Xinjiangs economic development, which will likely entail expanding the labor program in terms of numbers as well as skill levels.

6. How does it work?

According to scholars including Rune Steenberg, a postdoctoral researcher affiliated with Palacky University Olomouc in the Czech Republic who conducted anthropological fieldwork in Xinjiang between 2010 and 2016, it goes like this: Villages are assigned quotas for workers to be transferred out. Government officials are persistent in their cajoling and persuading. Those who participate are sometimes given wages and a degree of autonomy to choose the type of work they do. The threat of detention or other repercussions for the person and their family is often sufficient to secure their cooperation. Its this intense persuasion that forms the coercive element of transfer labor programs, suggesting limited or no free will. Another researcher, Adrian Zenz, used official data to show that a record 3.2 million transfers were made in 2021, though its possible that some people were transferred more than once.

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7. Where do workers in Xinjiang go?

Some stay in the region, where manufacturing is still emerging. The Chinese government created a program that aims to promote investment in Xinjiang, usually by granting favorable terms. These investors build factories in the region and in some cases agree to hire some workers through the labor transfer program. In other cases Uyghur laborers are dispatched from Xinjiang to work in other provinces, removing them from their communities and families. This isolation in often unwelcoming locations can slowly erode cultural and religious links with their homes. Not everyone can go, however -- only those who are deemed not to pose a security risk in the form of a potential for violence or terrorism, according to Darren Byler, who has written books on Xinjiang and teaches at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. In 2020, the government said a total of 117,000 people had been sent out of the region since 2014.

8. How is it linked to genocide?

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In one of its last acts, President Donald Trumps administration designated Chinas crackdown on ethnic minorities in Xinjiang as genocide, which is defined by international convention as specific acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tied the labor issue to other charges including forced sterilizations and indefinite detention without trial, and said the campaign was ongoing. The Biden administration has kept the same stance. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has called accusations of genocide in Xinjiang the lie of the century. In May, Michelle Bachelet became the first UN human rights chief to visit China since 2005. Though she went to Xinjiang, she said she was unable to visit any detained Uyghurs or their families, while adding that her trip wasnt an investigation.

 A Bloomberg Big Take on how the dispute is redefining US-China Relations, and an investigative report on Xinjiangs solar industry.

 The US State Department 2021 report on Xinjiang.

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 A Jamestown Foundation report by scholar Adrian Zenz on new trends in Xinjiangs coercive labor placement systems.

 A report co-authored by Laura Murphy at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK on Uyghur forced labor and building materials.

 From the archive: Chinas vast police state and how it defends its actions in Xinjiang.

 QuickTakes on Chinas new Silk Road, its treatment of Uyghurs and what calling something genocide means.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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STOCKHOLM  At least two people were stabbed, and the one suffered life-threatening injuries, in a shopping malls parking area west of the Swedish capital, police said Tuesday. A 16-year-old has been detained on suspicion of involvement in the assault. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight Police said some kind of sharp object was used in the attack, which is believed to have been carried out by one person.

The victim with life-threatening injuries was immediately operated on while the other was in serious but stable condition, hospital officials said. Both are middle-aged men.

Police said the suspect was being questioned and the motive for the assault was unclear. Police will investigate whether the two victims and the suspected attacker were previously acquainted. Prosecutors must decide whether to formally arrest and charge the suspect.

Police were alerted at 8.30 a.m. to the events in the town of Vasteras, some 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Stockholm.

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BRUSSELS  Belgiums judicial authorities said on Tuesday they have repatriated six women of Belgian citizenship who were held in a Syrian detention camp for foreigners affiliated with Islamic State group extremists, along with 16 children. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight The federal prosecutors office said its the second repatriation operation of this kind after the one that took place in July 2021, when Belgian authorities took back six mothers and 10 children.

Federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw told a news conference that the children were born between 2010 and 2019 and were immediately separated from their mothers upon arrival at the Melsbroek Air Base.

Among them is an orphan of a Belgian father, he said. These children were immediately taken into care by the competent youth services and prosecutors.

The transfer from Syria was made possible by a decision last year by the Belgian governement to allow the return of mothers who clearly expressed the wish to return, and who have clearly distanced themselves from extremist ideology.

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Van Leeuw said DNA tests were carried out to properly identify the link between the mothers and the children who returned Tuesday.

All the women on the latest flight have been given sentences in Belgium of up to five years in jail and were arrested upon arrival. Their children will remain under medical observation for a while.

Then, an appropriate framework will be put in place on a case-by-case basis, Van Leeuw said. Everyone will understand that it is important to respect the privacy of children and those around them, so that ... their integration can take place in all serenity.

Federal police commissioner Marc De Mesmaeker said the children were escorted to Belgium in the best possible way. He said they were accompanied by people speaking their language throughout the stressful journey and were given food, clothes and toys.

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Van Leeuw said the repatriation operation, which was carried out in cooperation with local authorities, took place in the Roj Camp in northeast Syria. It is home to some 2,500 women and children.

Van Leeuw said there are a few Belgian women left in Syria, but not in the Roj camp. He estimated that between 10 and 15 Belgian men are in prison in the country. Belgium is not trying to bring them back home.

Under the Belgian doctrine, returning children home is being done for humanitarian reasons. But repatriation operations of women are also as a matter of national security since its easier to monitor people who have spent time in Syria when they are on home soil.

Since the war in Syria began in 2011, several hundred Belgians have traveled to conflict zones in Iraq and Syria to join terror groups, Belgium has also been hit by several terror attacks in the past decade, including suicide bombings in 2016 that killed 32 people and wounded hundreds more in the Brussels subway and airport.

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KYIV, Ukraine  As was his habit before each flight, the veteran Ukrainian army pilot ran a hand along the fuselage of his Mi-8 helicopter, caressing the heavy transporters metal skin to bring luck to him and his crew. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight They would need it. Their destination  a besieged steel mill in the brutalized city of Mariupol  was a death trap. Some other crews didnt make it back alive.

Still, the mission was vital, even desperate. Ukrainian troops were pinned down, their supplies running low, their dead and injured stacking up. Their last-ditch stand at the Azovstal mill was a growing symbol of Ukraines defiance in the war against Russia. They could not be allowed to perish.

The 51-year-old pilot  identified only by his first name, Oleksandr  flew just the one mission to Mariupol, and he considered it the most difficult flight of his 30-year-career. He took the risk, he said, because he didnt want the Azovstal fighters to feel forgotten.

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In the charred hell-scape of that plant, in an underground bunker-turned-medical station that provided shelter from death and destruction above, word started reaching the wounded that a miracle might be coming. Among those told that he was on the list for evacuation was a junior sergeant whod been shredded by mortar rounds, butchering his left leg and forcing its amputation above the knee.

Buffalo was his nom de guerre. He had been through so much, but one more deadly challenge loomed: escape from Azovstal.

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A series of clandestine, against-the-odds, terrain-hugging, high-speed helicopter missions to reach the Azovstal defenders in March, April and May are being celebrated in Ukraine as among the most heroic feats of military derring-do of the four-month war. Some ended in catastrophe; each grew progressively riskier as Russian air defense batteries caught on.

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The full story of the seven resupply and rescue missions has yet to be told. But from exclusive interviews with two wounded survivors; a military intelligence officer who flew on the first mission; and pilot interviews provided by the Ukrainian army, The Associated Press has pieced together the account of one of the last flights, from the perspective of both the rescuers and the rescued.

The Azovstal fighters tenacity had frustrated Moscows objective of quickly capturing Mariupol and prevented Russian troops there from being redeployed elsewhere. Zelenskyy told Ukrainian broadcaster ICTV that pilots braved powerful Russian air defenses in venturing beyond enemy lines, flying in food, water, medicine and weapons so the plants defenders could fight on, and flying out the injured.

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The military intelligence officer said one helicopter was shot down and two others never came back, and are considered missing. He said he dressed in civilian clothes for his flight, thinking that he could melt into the population if he survived a crash: We were aware it could be a one-way ticket.

Said Zelenskyy: These are absolutely heroic people who knew what was difficult, who knew that it was almost impossible. ... We lost a lot of pilots.

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If Buffalo had had his way, he would not have lived to be evacuated. His life would have ended quickly, to spare him the agony he suffered after 120mm mortar rounds tore apart his left leg, bloodied his right foot, and peppered his back with shrapnel during street fighting in Mariupol on March 23.

The 20-year-old spoke to The Associated Press on condition that he not be identified by name, saying he didnt want it to seem that he is seeking publicity when thousands of Azovstal defenders are in captivity or dead. He had been on the trail of a Russian tank, aiming to destroy it with his shoulder-launched, armor-piercing NLAW missile on the last day of the invasions first month, when his war was cut short.

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Tossed next to the wreckage of a burning car, he dragged himself to cover in a nearby building and decided it would be better to crawl into the basement and quietly die there, he said.

But his friends evacuated him to the Ilyich steel mill, which subsequently fell in mid-April as Russian forces were tightening their grip on Mariupol and its strategic port on the Sea of Azov. Three days passed before medics were able to amputate, in a basement bomb shelter. He considers himself lucky: Doctors still had anesthetic when his turn came to go under the knife.

When he came around, a nurse told him how sorry she was that hed lost the limb.

He cut through the awkwardness with a joke: Will they return the money for 10 tattoo sessions?

I had a lot of tattoos on my leg, he said. One remains, a human figure, but its legs are gone now, too.

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After the surgery, he was transferred to the Azovstal plant. A stronghold covering nearly 11 square kilometers (more than 4 miles), with a 24-kilometer (15-mile) labyrinth of underground tunnels and bunkers, the plant was practically impregnable.

But conditions were grim.

There was constant shelling, said Vladislav Zahorodnii, a 22-year-old corporal who had been shot through the pelvis, shredding a nerve, during street fighting in Mariupol.

Evacuated to Azovstal, he met Buffalo there. They already knew each other: Both were from Chernihiv, a city in the north surrounded and pounded by Russian forces.

Zahorodnii saw the missing leg. He asked Buffalo how he was doing.

Everything is fine, we will go clubbing soon, Buffalo replied.

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Zahorodnii was evacuated from Azovstal by helicopter on March 31, after three failed attempts.

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It was his first helicopter flight. The Mi-8 took fire on its way out, killing one of its engines. The other one kept them airborne for the remainder of the 80-minute early morning dash to Dnipro city on the Dnieper River in central Ukraine.

He would mark his deliverance with a mortar-round tattoo on his right forearm: I did it not to forget, he said.

Buffalos turn came the following week. He was ambivalent about leaving. On the one hand, he was relieved that his share of the dwindling food and water would now go to others still able to fight; on the other, there was a painful feeling. They stayed there, and I left them.

Still, he almost missed his flight.

Soldiers hauled him on a gurney out of his deep bunker and loaded him aboard a truck that rumbled to a pre-arranged landing zone. The soldiers wrapped him in a jacket.

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The helicopters cargo of ammunition was unloaded first. Then, the wounded were lifted aboard.

But not Buffalo. Left in a back corner of the truck, hed somehow been overlooked. He couldnt raise the alarm because the mortar blasts had injured his throat, and he was still too hoarse to make himself heard over the whoop-whoop-whoop of the helicopter rotors.

I thought to myself, Well, not today then, he recalled. And suddenly someone shouted, You forgot the soldier in the truck!

Because the cargo bay was full, Buffalo was placed crosswise from the others, whod been loaded aboard side by side. A crew member took his hand and told him not to worry, theyd make it home.

All my life, he told the crew member, I dreamed of flying a helicopter. It doesnt matter if we arrive  my dream has come true.

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In his cockpit, the wait seemed interminable to Oleksandr, the minutes feeling like hours.

Very scary, he said. You see explosions around and the next shell could reach your location.

In the fog of war and with the full picture of the secret missions still emerging, its not possible to be absolutely sure that Buffalo and the pilot who spoke to journalists in a video interview recorded and shared by the military were aboard the same flight. But details of their accounts match.

Both gave the same date: the night of April 4-5. Oleksandr recalled being fired upon by a ship as they swooped over waters out of Mariupol. A blast wave tossed the helicopter around like a toy, he said. But his escape maneuvers got them out of trouble.

Buffalo also recalls a blast. The evacuees were told later that the pilot had avoided a missile.

Oleksandr gunned the helicopter to 220 kilometers (135 miles) per hour and flew as low as 3 meters (9 feet) above the ground  except when hopping over power lines. A second helicopter on his mission never made it back; on the return flight, its pilot radioed him that he was running short of fuel. It was their last communication.

On his gurney, Buffalo had watched the terrain zip past through a porthole. We flew over the fields, below the trees. Very low, he said.

They made it to Dnipro, safely. Upon landing, Oleksandr heard the wounded calling out for the pilots. He expected them to yell at him for having tossed them around so violently during the flight.

But when I opened the door, I heard guys saying, Thank you, he said.

Everyone clapped, recalled Buffalo, now rehabbing with Zahorodnii at a Kyiv clinic. We told the pilots that they had done the impossible.

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AP journalists Sophiko Megrelidze in Tbilisi, Georgia, and Oleksandr Stashevskyi in Kyiv contributed.

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Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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(Bloomberg) -- Alabama has chosen two small, Southern US banks as lead underwriters for a $725 million municipal-bond deal to finance new state prisons, marking an unusually large transaction for the firms, more than a year after an initial financing attempt was derailed.

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Stephens Inc. and The Frazer Lanier Company Inc. will be co-senior underwriters managing the sale this month, according to a preliminary official statement. Its the states second attempt to finance the project after a plan in 2021 fell apart over controversy about the participation of a private prison company. Raymond James Financial Inc., Wells Fargo & Co. and four other banks are in the syndicate, the bond document shows.

The state and banks that were involved in the prior deal faced an outcry over Alabamas use of private prison giant CoreCivic Inc., which would have built and owned the facilities, leasing them back to the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Related: Alabama Revives Prison Bond Deal That Was Dropped After Furor

The underwriter selection is fairly atypical for such a sizable transaction. Combined, Frazer Lanier and Stephens have only underwritten about $491.5 million of municipal bonds this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Neither bank has led a transaction this large before, nor have they senior-managed a sale over $200 million in the last decade, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

They have co-managed a handful of larger transactions but are almost always accompanied by a bulge-bracket bank. For example, Frazer Lanier was involved in a $1.5 billion sale for the Alabama Federal Aid Highway Finance Authority last year, which was led by Bank of America Corp. and included banks such as Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Citigroup Inc., and Wells Fargo in the syndicate.

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Frazer Lanier, an investment bank based in Montgomery, Alabama, is ranked as the 46th largest underwriter of long-term state and local government debt this year, and Stephens, headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, is ranked 43rd.

After the sharp rebuke of the earlier proposed bond sale by both investors and activists, the original underwriters Barclays Plc and KeyBanc Capital Markets dropped out of the transaction. Another bank that was set to participate, Stifel Financial Corp., also faced criticism from activists. Without underwriters, the sale collapsed. It would have totaled more than $900 million of debt through both public and private offerings borrowed by a CoreCivic-owned entity.

The state then formed a new plan to develop the two prisons, which the state says will improve conditions for those incarcerated. The legislature approved the sale of bonds and the use of pandemic relief aid from the American Rescue Plan legislation to fund the project.

The Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority is selling $725 million of bonds through a negotiated sale planned for June 28, according to investor roadshow documents. The sale is rated Aa2 by Moodys Investors Service, AA- by S&P Global Ratings and AA by Fitch Ratings. The debt is backed by annual appropriations from the legislature to the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Spokespeople for Governor Kay Ivey, the Alabama Department of Finance and Stephens didnt respond to a request for comment. A representative at Frazer Lanier deferred all questions to Alabama.

When searching for an underwriter to underwrite this transaction, Alabama asked the banks applying for the contract to provide assurances they wouldnt drop out in the face of any activist backlash, according to a request for proposals issued in November.

The document asked respondents to detail how they would market the bonds considering the result of the design-build-financing sale earlier this year and the overall trend of investors consciously moving away from supporting the infrastructure of prisons.

Please discuss whether your firm has, or has had, any prohibition from participating on financings related to prisons (public or private), the request for proposals said. What assurances, or certifications will your firms senior management provide that it will not pull out of the financing should investors campaign against your firm from serving in the capacity of underwriter?

Related: Alabama Seeks Bank Assurance on Prison Bond After Barclays Exit

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Kim Teo doesnt consider herself much of a whiz in the kitchen. But as the chief of Mr Yum, the QR code-powered ordering and payment platform, its not much of a disadvantage.

The food space, ironically, has been part of our journey for a long time. Probably born out of my inability to cook, Teo tells the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Kim Teo is the co-founder and chief executive of Mr Yum, a mobile ordering and payments platform. Credit:Joe Armao

Mr Yum is headquartered in Melbourne, but her team is hard-pressed to catch her in the office. These days, a fair chunk of her time is spent flying between London and San Francisco, in efforts to crack the US and UK markets.

Most Australians will recognise Mr Yum through the distinctive round QR code discs attached on the table of their local restaurant, cafe, pub (or even bowling alley). Founded in November 2018, the hospitality tech start-up began as just a fancy digital menu. Its now-crucial ordering and payment feature was introduced less than a year later. Soon after, the pandemic hit, which proved to be a blessing of sorts.
Critics say Tether essentially acts as a loosely regulated bank. Traders hand over millions of dollars and, in return, receive millions of stablecoins, which they use to bet on more volatile cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Dogecoin. Tether currently has 70 billion coins in circulation, making it more than three times the size of TerraUSD before the crash. In a worst-case scenario, critics say, a downturn could spark the crypto equivalent of a bank run. Traders might all rush to exchange their Tethers for dollars, only to discover that Tether could not fulfill those orders. Investors would lose billions of dollars, forcing them to sell their other crypto holdings, causing a potentially devastating panic that might spill into non-crypto markets. Tether got a taste of that scenario last month. As cryptocurrencies plummeted, a flood of investors asked to exchange their Tethers for dollars, forcing the company to pay out about an eighth of its reserves, or $US10 billion, over the course of a week and a half. On cryptocurrency exchanges, Tether briefly wavered from its $US1 peg. Long one of the most scrutinised companies in the industry, Tether is facing heightened pressure from regulators, investors, economists and growing legions of sceptics, who argue it could be another domino to fall in an even bigger crash. Credit:Bloomberg Ultimately, the company said, it met the demand. Tether went on a victory lap, proclaiming it had weathered the crisis flawlessly.

The crash was the best story that could have happened to Tether, Paolo Ardoino, the companys chief technology officer, said in an interview. Were not fooling around, and we take risk management extremely seriously. Then last week, the crypto bank Celsius Network announced it was halting withdrawals, causing digital currency prices to crash again. Tether had invested in Celsius in 2020 and lent it about $US1 billion in Tethers, according to Bloomberg News; the company said this week that it currently had zero exposure to Celsius apart from a small investment. Still, as the market reeled, investors pulled out about $US1.6 billion from Tether. Loading More sceptics are speaking up. Last month, a top US banking official called for new rules governing Tether and its competitors, saying the TerraUSD crash highlighted the risks of loosely regulated stablecoins. Some traders are now putting their funds into alternate stablecoins, amid fears that the next crash could test whether Tether has adequate reserves. They had enough collateral to weather this run, but that doesnt mean they have enough to weather the next run, said Bruce Mizrach, an economics professor at Rutgers University who studies cryptocurrencies.

Even by cryptos often-surreal standards, Tether has a peculiar history. The company was founded in 2014 by Brock Pierce, a cryptocurrency evangelist who, as a child actor, starred in the Mighty Ducks movies. He and his partner, Reeve Collins, later handed control of the firm to a former plastic surgeon named Giancarlo Devasini, who has stored some of Tethers assets in a bank in the Bahamas run by one of the creators of the Inspector Gadget cartoon. Tether has grown rapidly. Last year, it issued roughly 50 billion stablecoins, more than tripling the worldwide supply. If we have to redeem till the last cent, we can do it, Ardoino said in the interview. The company is operated by about 50 employees in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Its CEO, JL van der Velde, is a Dutch businessman whose LinkedIn profile suggests he is based in Hong Kong; the company declined to confirm his location. He and Devasini, the chief operating officer, rarely speak publicly. Tethers public face is Ardoino, who describes his colleagues as normal people amazed by the companys growth. Tether was founded by Brock Pierce in 2014. Credit:Getty Images They didnt think initially that it would maybe go so big, Ardoino said. They werent prepared to be public persons. Theres nothing bad about it.

At times, Tether has insisted that its stablecoins were fully backed by US dollars. But last year, New York Attorney General Letitia James called those claims a lie. A few years earlier, a cryptocurrency exchange affiliated with Tether had lost $US850 million in a business deal gone sour. To cover the losses, the exchange, Bitfinex, took loans from Tethers reserves, leaving the stablecoin partly unbacked, according to James investigation. Tether settled with the New York attorney general, paying $US18.5 million in penalties without admitting wrongdoing. A Tether spokesperson said the issue with the companys reserves boiled down to a communications misstep. Tether is really the lifeblood of the crypto ecosystem. f it imploded, then the entire facade falls down. Hilary Allen, a finance expert at American University. Concerns about Tether have spread to Washington. When Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen testified before Congress last month, she noted Tethers wavering from its $US1 peg and called for greater regulation of stablecoins.

The growth of stablecoins presents the same kind of risks that we have known for centuries in connection with bank runs, she said. Ardoino said Tether was eager to work with regulators to devise a global framework governing disclosures that stablecoin issuers must make about their reserves. But Tether has resisted more aggressive proposals, which would subject it to regulatory requirements such as those of traditional banks. Loading Everyones freaking out  like, I lost my life savings, said Collins, who founded Tether with Pierce and now runs a crypto venture called BLOCKv. Thats a tragedy, but its just as much of a tragedy when someone says, I went to a casino and lost my life savings. But that doesnt mean lets regulate casinos out of existence. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Loren Hunter delivers a moving Adele-like ballad. Credit:James D Morgan / Getty Images Infamous Anne Boleyn, trigger for the divorce and the rift in the church, is played by Kala Gare as an impudent, waspish young woman whose perky pop song, Dont Lose Ur Head, is littered with modern text-speak. Jane Seymour (Loren Hunter) portrays herself as the only queen Henry genuinely loved and Hunters warm, honeyed tones elevate her heartfelt love ballad, Heart of Stone. Vivacious, brassy Kiana Daniele is German Anna of Cleves, and her feisty, razor-edged song Get Down reveals a woman who, despite being damned as ugly, survived after divorce to live a comfortable life. Chelsea Dawson plays Katherine Howard, whose song All You Wanna Do is resonant of Britney Spears music and life, telling the story of a teenage girls hopes for love repeatedly dashed by predatory men.

Finally Catherine Parr (played by Shannen Alyce Quan on opening night) interrupts and challenges this my trauma was bigger than yours contest. Quans poignant, impassioned I Dont Need Your Love features a vocal run that reaches a knock-out top note. Quan may be an understudy, but she has serious chops. Carrie-Anne Ingrouilles crisp, vigorous choreography is fast-paced and sassy with plenty of hip bumps, pelvic rolls and sharp foot work, while Gabriellla Slades costumes feature gleaming bodices and skirts that echo Tudor attire, with stiff fabrics and sharp lines referencing 16th century armour for the women. This pop-fuelled musical is ferocious, topical and resonates with contemporary audiences. A spontaneous standing ovation on opening night followed the finale, MegaSIX, a thrilling remix for this girl group of queens. This is a show that you cannot, must not miss. Reviewed by Kate Herbert DANCE Callum Linnane and Brett Chynoweth in Harlequinade. Credit:Jeff Busby

Harlequinade  Arts Centre, until June 25 Harlequinade, with its flash and finery, its elegance and finesse, is a clever bit of illusionism. Its a work that transports us in time and place, evoking the colour, cosmopolitanism and complacency of the Russian court of the late 19th century. This two-act comic ballet by the great Marius Pe tipa  with a perky score by Riccardo Rigo  was first staged in 1900 in St Petersburg. This new version aims to recapture the look and feel of that premiere. Easy prey: Benedicte Bemet as Columbine. Credit:Jeff Busby

Petipas original choreography, which has not been seen since 1927, was reconstructed in 2018 by Alexei Ratmansky using archival records: a restoration process he has used on other Petipa works such as Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. The subject is a stock piece of commedia dellarte foolishness. The penniless trickster Harlequin wants to marry Columbine, but her tight-fisted father is against the match. The intercession of a good fairy with a magic slap stick sets all to rights. Anyone who fears the earthy ribaldry of the commedia  where Harlequins stick is traditionally both weapon and phallus  can rest assured. There is nothing here that could offend the fastidious tastes of a tsar or tsarina. This is the most modest fairy tale. Benedicte Bemet, who danced the doe-eyed Columbine on opening night, is light and precise and at all times tractable. Sharni Spencer is delightful as the mischievous Pierrette. And Brett Chynoweth as Harlequin impresses with his command of the stage. Steven Heathcote as Cassandre (left) and Callum Linnane as Pierrot. Credit:Jeff Busby

The dancers are equal to the ballets technical demands, but I think they get the mime gestures all wrong. Mime is not a game of charades: it needs to be funny. And its only funny when it has a sort of rigidity or mechanical quality. Still, Harlequinade has charm. There are beautiful group symmetries, varied patterns, endlessly beating calves and much twinkling pointwork. There is even a large cohort of gorgeously costumed children from ballet schools across Victoria who parody the adults. It all culminates in a grand post-nuptial pas de deux in which Harlequin plays a dashing hunter while Columbine flounces like pretty bird. She is an easy prey, of course, and subsides gracefully into his arms, signifying the happily ever after. Well, of course, a return to the classicism of Petipa also means a return to a particular system of gender relations. Turn of the century St Petersburg might be a diverting place to visit  but how long would we want to stay? Reviewed by Andrew Fuhrmann DRAG CABARET Valerie Hex with bears in Yummys Iconic. Credit:Jacinta Oaten

Iconic  Meat Market, until June 25 Iconic, a wickedly audacious, flamboyant drag and burlesque show by award-winning Australian cabaret company Yummy, tantalises with high-camp acts that satirise and celebrate pop culture, divas and icons. An excitable audience sits on three sides of a catwalk, with the front row close enough to touch artists performing acts ranging from trapeze to striptease, magic and fan dancing, all accompanied by pulsating pop tunes. The cast sashays onto the catwalk in a parade of eye-popping, extravagant costumes fashioned from lame, velvet, patent leather, lycra or gossamer-thin fabrics in outrageous, backless, topless or bottomless outfits that reveal muscled bodies.

Trapeze artist Jarred Dewey in Iconic. Credit:Brig Bee The opening song, Iconic by Madison Rose, sets the tone with Yummys homage to supermodels and pop idols as the cast struts and dances while lip-syncing Roses lyrics: I wanna walk like Tyra. I wanna look like Linda Evangelista. I wanna be Madonna. Queer performer Valerie Hex is the imposing, charming and witty MC of this transgressive show, and also the mastermind of Iconic, which is set to tour Londons West End. In a fashion parade of ostentatious outfits, Hex links the acts, firing up the audience with razor-sharp humour and bold innuendo. Dressed in purple lame, a tribute to Princes obsession with that colour, Hex performs a memorable magic routine to When Doves Cry, during which he hilariously destroys several magicians doves by disembowelling, dropping or roasting. Masterly circus artist Jarred Dewey performs three remarkable acts. His flawless, breathtaking static trapeze and pole routines display exceptional skill, strength and muscularity, and his exquisite acrobatic dance and contortion defy the laws of human anatomy and flexibility.

Jandruze performs a hot and dangerous fire-dance and turns sandwich-making into a kinky, simulated sex act with outsized bread, cheese and a bottle of mayonnaise. Burlesque artist Themme Fatale, a guest on the program, is sassy and provocative: Being queer is a little bit weird, hard and a little bit dangerous, they declare, before lying on a bed of nails while an audience member stands on them. Themme returns wearing pink lame and wild make-up, then defiantly and alarmingly staples paper money to their backside. Hollywould, another guest, arrives in a flouncy, mauve gown then proceeds to remove it in a saucy striptease showcasing the bounciest buttocks in the show. Iconic sends the crowd home delighted and titillated with a final tribute to gay icon, Britney Spears. You listen to one mix tap of Britney and you turn gay, quips Hex, and everyone leaves smiling. Reviewed by Kate Herbert CLASSICAL MUSIC

Paul Grabowsky plays Bach for Musica Viva. Credit:Musica Viva Paul Grabowsky & Andrea Lam  Melbourne Recital Centre, June 21 When T. S. Eliot declared the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time, he may well have been describing the moment when a listener to Bachs Goldberg Variations hears the return of the opening aria. The intervening journey through 30 variations over 40 minutes hopefully renders this repeat not merely a relief, but a revelation. Promising exploration and revelation, this program followed Bachs masterpiece played by pianist Andrea Lam with Improvisations on the Aria from Bachs Goldberg Variations created by jazz pianist Paul Grabowsky.

Spot-lit on a darkened stage, Lam brought the full romantic resources of the piano to bear on her Herculean task. No brittle percussiveness for her. Weaving the thread of the arias melody through its harmonic framework, she imparted a soft, ruminative quality, going on to give a richly coloured interpretation that celebrated Bachs astonishing creativity. The three minor mode variations proved important anchor points, Lam particularly digging into the harmonic perversity and almost unbearable sorrow of Variation 25, before the aria returned with a sense of gratitude and valediction. Grabowsky, bathed in blue light, gave the aria a strong, purposeful air before creating an improvisatory patchwork quilt, the first few panels of which were finely embroidered riffs on the melody. Larger panels with static textures and rhythms diminished hope of returning to the starting point, but a circuitous route that included some flashy, exuberant playing led to the arias familiar shape coming into clearer view. An eerie polytonal rendering of the melody preceded a jazz-infused restatement of the aria, depositing the audience not quite where it started. While not leaving listeners knowing the Goldbergs as if for the first time, Lam and Grabowskys thoughtful exploration did offer revealing glimpses into Bachs inexhaustible richness. Reviewed by Tony Way.

CLASSICAL MUSIC Bach  Exploring the Bach brand: the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Credit:Julian Kingma Hamer Hall, June 19 Billed as a Bach family reunion, this concert was both an exploration of the diversity and influence of the Bach family brand as well as a celebration of the solo expertise within the Australian Chamber Orchestra. It was also an opportunity to hear the newest member of the ACOs family of distinguished instruments: the 1732 ex-Dollfus Stradivarius, now assigned to principal violin Helena Rathbone.

J. S. Bachs evergreen Concerto for Two Violins in D minor was a perfect vehicle for experiencing the Stradivarius subtle glories. Contrasting with the silvery brightness of artistic director Richard Tognettis 1743 Guarneri del Gesu, Rathbone drew a deep, honeyed tone from her newly acquired instrument, projecting well in the bustling outer movements, also contributing a refined, engaging personality to the tender, buoyant exchanges of the central Largo. Other fine soloistic displays surrounded this rapturous centrepiece. Mezzo-soprano Anna Dowsley brought suppleness of line and an appealing richness of tone to J. C. Bachs amorous Ciacona Meine Freund ist mein, sparkling obligato being supplied by Satu Vanska. Vivid characterisation brought alive the differing moods of two arias from J. S. Bachs Cantatas 54 and 82. Mozarts tribute to J. C. Bach in the slow movement of his Piano Concerto No. 12, played with wistful delicacy by Erin Helyard at the fortepiano, was an excellent foil to Timo-Veikko Valves account of C. P. E. Bachs Cello Concerto in A major where elegance and ebullience were astutely balanced. A grand Overture in the starchy French style by Johann Ludwig Bach and a rustically rhetorical Sonata by Heinrich Bach gave further context, while works by Schumann and Sofia Gubaidulina refracted Bachs genius through romantic and contemporary lenses. Harnessing the intimacy and intensity of a dozen players, this family reunion was a welcome, wide-ranging reminder of the Bach familys enduring legacy. Reviewed by Tony Way

THEATRE Alienating: Brechts Mother Courage at La Mama. Credit:Darren Gill Mother Courage and Her Children  La Mama Courthouse, until June 19 War is indeed a ceaseless engine of destruction, as Brecht portrayed in Mother Courage and Her Children, and the most famous anti-war play of the 20th century will be relevant for as long as war persists. Why, then, are productions of it so thin on the ground in Australia? Why does Brechts style of epic theatre seem to be loved by theatre artists and yet loathed by the masses?

The questions worth asking in the wake of this La Mama production, which does at least partly achieve what Brecht set out to do when he devised defamiliarisation techniques and the principles behind his political theatre. Powerful anti-war theatre in Mother Courage. Credit:Darren Gill This show challenges the audience to think rather than feel; it makes theatre part of the world rather than using it as a form of escape. No one could accuse its poor theatre vision of succumbing to naturalism or to melodrama. The actors dress in costumes scrounged from op-shops. The fourth wall is regularly breached. The acting never seeks to manipulate our sympathies, emphasising dialectic argument over character, and there are striking resonances from recent Australian wartime experience  the grotesque spectacle of a soldier drinking from a prosthetic leg, for one. Brecht himself might have approved of Bagryana Popovs performance as Mother Courage. Productions during the playwrights lifetime tended to highlight maternal suffering, leading audiences to overlook the characters complicity in warfare and her callous profiteering from it.

Popov gives full play to the ugliness and blindness of Courages behaviour. Shes a cunning, streetwise, endlessly calculating survivor  a bogan Mother Courage who pours her vitality into a life-denying enterprise and reaps the whirlwind. Sure, shes a victim, too. Courage loves her children, and the morality of the starving can find no just comparison to the deluded pieties of the cosseted, but the contradictions Mother Courage embodies encourage reflection on the systems, beliefs and social structures that perpetuate the tragedy of war. A diverse cast creates powerful moments, with forceful performances from Tom Considine as the Cook, Richard Bligh as the Chaplain, Kate Bayley as sex worker Yvette, and Rodrigo Calderon as Courages eldest child  a war hero turned murderer, and one emblem among many of the way in which war corrupts virtue. Unfortunately, some directorial decisions and design elements dont do the show any favours, and may leave audiences alienated from theatre itself, rather than bourgeois complacency. Terrible acoustics are a major problem, exacerbated by the traverse staging and, perhaps, a want of vocal training among some members of the cast. Many songs and some snatches of dialogue are so indistinct as to be virtually inaudible. Such defects remind you that youre watching theatre, true, but they also compromise the poetic and the consciousness-raising in a way Brecht never intended. Reviewed by Cameron Woodhead

THEATRE 5 stars at Theatre Works. 5 Stars  Theatre Works, until June 25 Calling your play 5 Stars is leading with your chin, but Jake Stewart is a playwright of unquestionable talent and a smackdown would be below the belt.

Loading 5 Stars dramatises the true story of his unrequited love for performer Joel Beasley. It could have been saccharine and sentimental affair, but it isnt, partly because it is unsparing in its emotional honesty, but also because it lies nested within a labyrinth of metatheatre that foregrounds the other story, also true, of the complicated process of making art from life. Stewart and Beasley might not be a match in romance, but as partners in performance they make a charismatic duo. The outbreaks of comedy in the play  from witty banter between actors playing themselves to the goofy spectacle of two of Santas elves in a Brokeback Mountain-style tryst  are crisply delivered, with well-turned deflationary humour, vibrant physical comedy, and more than a dash of camp. Theres also a melodramatic play within a play, amid detours onto the tortured path 5 Stars took from page to stage. As with many new plays, the premiere was delayed for two years by the pandemic. Side projects including a lockdown doco make their way into this production. But the emotional core of the work lies in its searching, poetic reflections as it grasps for emotional truth, however unflattering or difficult to admit, in what comes across less as an unrequited infatuation  though theres a bit of that  and more as two divergent perspectives on what love is, that converge in a shared passion for art.
A grade-A student who became involved in a plot to murder her teacher has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of intending to cause bodily harm.

The 13-year-old from Willetton Senior High School, a respected government school in an inner southern suburb of Perth, changed her plea on Tuesday at Perth Childrens Court as her attempted murder trial was due to begin, after the state agreed she played a lesser role in the attack.

A Willetton Senior High School student has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge over an alleged plot to kill a teacher at the school. Credit:Holly Thompson

Her co-offender, a 14-year-old student, admitted to stabbing her teacher with a 25-centimetre knife during a school meeting on November 1, 2021. Moments before the attack, the 55-year-old teacher stood up and turned her body as the student lunged at her, meaning she sustained only a shallow wound under the arm.

The 13-year-olds lawyer Simon Watters said his client, who sat quietly in the dock during the hearing, was a good student who had achieved 90 per cent grades in maths and 80 per cent in science.
The Afghan government has released five British citizens from custody, UK officials said in a statement that included an apology on behalf of the men and an expression of regret from the British government.

The Britons had been caught up in a crackdown on foreigners and Afghan civil society activists by the Taliban after they seized power in August. The British government did not comment on Monday (Tuesday AEST) on the circumstances of the mens release or why they had been imprisoned, but a Taliban spokesperson said they had violated Afghan laws and traditions.

A Taliban fighter stands guard as people receive Chinese food rations, Kabul. Credit:AP

The release coincided with a statement of contrition issued by Britains Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

On behalf of the families of the British nationals, we express their apologies for any breach of Afghan culture, customs or laws, and of their assurance of future good conduct, the statement said.
Singapore: The Sri Lankan navy has been given priority access to fuel on the crisis-hit island as it tries to stop a surge of boats leaving for Australia while conceding it will be difficult to catch them all.

The Australian Border Force intercepted at least three vessels from Sri Lanka in the past month, as hundreds tried to flee a devastating economic meltdown, while the Indian Ocean nations own navy stopped an additional seven boats, it said on Monday.

A picture supplied by the Sri Lankan navy of an alleged asylum seeker boat bound for Australia earlier this month. Credit:Sri Lanka Navy

Australia announced on Monday that it would provide $50 million in development assistance for urgent food and health care in Sri Lanka, which was reeling from soaring prices and acute shortages of food, petrol, medicine and other essentials.

The pledge came as Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil flew to the capital Colombo for meetings with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister GL Peiris about combatting people smuggling. She said Australia was ready to also expand assistance on border protection and in intelligence sharing following a request from Sri Lanka.
London: Germany could defy the European Unions effective ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, in a move aimed at protecting hundreds of thousands of jobs in its world-leading car manufacturing sector.

Just days after Berlin announced it would fire up mothballed coal-fired power stations next northern winter as Russian cuts to gas exports threaten shortfalls, Finance Minister Christian Lindner said completely phasing out the combustion engine in Europe was the wrong decision because manufacturers elsewhere in the world, such as China, would fill the gap.

Germany Finance Minister Christian Lindner says China will fill the gap in the market if Europe phases out petrol-fuelled cars. Credit:Bloomberg

As part of the European Unions plan to cut greenhouse emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 from 1990 levels, it has proposed a 100 per cent reduction in emissions from new cars by 2035, a mandate that would make it impossible to sell new petrol or diesel vehicles.

Lindner, a member of the business-friendly Free Democratic party within the coalition government, told a conference on Tuesday evening AEST: Germany is not going to agree to a ban on combustion engines.
A first-of-its-kind project in upstate New York broke ground earlier this month with a clean water septic system that will stop toxins in wastewater from reaching Owasco Lake and our drinking water.

The Auburn YMCA-WEIU and Camp Y-Owasco have been creating friendships, enhancing skills, building character and creating memories for youth and teens on Owasco Lake for nearly 100 years. Camp Y-Owasco runs traditional day and residential summer camp programs for youth and teen leadership programs, which feature many waterfront activities such as swimming, canoeing, sailing and kayaking. Like many lakes across the state and country, Owasco Lake's waterfront, including Camp Y-Owasco, has shut down in recent years due to toxic blooms in the water that can make people and animals sick. Camp Y-Owasco relies on the lake as a centerpiece and cornerstone for camp programming every summer. When harmful algal blooms are present, all programming on the lake must be stopped immediately. Not being able to utilize the lake can negatively impact a camper's experience, especially if they are a first-time camper or if that is a camper's only week of camp for the summer.

In an effort to improve the health of Owasco Lake and reduce the rate of harmful algal blooms, the Auburn YMCA, the Nature Conservancy in New York, the Cayuga County Health Department and the Cayuga County Soil & Water Conservation District have teamed up to install a clean water septic system, the first in the Finger Lakes and one of the first in upstate New York, at Camp Y-Owasco on the east shore of the lake.

Harmful algal blooms are caused by several sources, including soil runoff and septic systems. Most septic systems are not designed to remove nutrient pollution from wastewater. It ends up in our lakes, rivers and drinking water. This new system will remove harmful contaminants from the camp's wastewater, preventing pollution from entering the lake and local drinking water. We want to do what we can  and inspire and educate others  to protect clean water and prevent further pollution of our lakes.

With support from the Emerson, Columbia and Metcalf foundations, the Nature Conservancy awarded the Auburn YMCA a $50,000 grant to help fund the project. We are pleased to work on this innovative project with the Nature Conservancy and the Cayuga County Health Department. The Cayuga County Health Department and the Nature Conservancy will monitor the rate of pollution reduction, which is expected to be 90% or more over the next two summers. We are excited to share the results of this new system.

"The Auburn YMCA-WEIU is extremely grateful to the Nature Conservancy for writing the grant to enable this clean water septic system to be installed at our Camp Y-Owasco. The collaboration between Cayuga County Soil & Water, Cayuga County Health Department, and the Nature Conservancy has been phenomenal. We all have the same goal: to protect our lake and do our part to maintain its health for the future," said Denise Tabone, interim CEO of the Auburn YMCA-WEIU.

Installation of the new system broke ground on June 2 and only took a few days to complete. The quick installation made it possible for the system to be operational before the start of Camp Y-Owasco's 2022 camp season. An educational and interpretative sign will accompany the new system, which will be incorporated into Camp Y-Owasco's nature curriculum. Watershed education has been a priority at Camp Y-Owasco in recent years. With the addition of this septic system, campers will further build their knowledge and understanding of the impact that they have on our lakes. Swimming and boating at camp spark the love and passion for our lakes, and education drives the desire to sustain and preserve that love, creating better environmental stewards.

"In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught."  Baba Dioum

Melissa Cartner is the Camp Y-Owasco director for the Auburn YMCA-WEIU, 27 William St., Auburn. For more information, visit auburnymca.org or call (315) 253-5304.

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Expert Helps Christian Journalists, Aid Workers 'Understand Each Other' in a Crisis

Crisis communications specialist helps reporters, relief workers decipher roles at June 26-29 event in Chicagoland





CHRISTIAN JOURNALISTS, AID WORKERS STAGE 'CRISIS SUMMIT:' Palmer Holt, founder of InChrist Communications (ICC, www.InChristCommunications.com), will be one of the experts helping faith-based journalists and humanitarian aid workers decipher each other's roles at a groundbreaking "crisis summit" this month. The Crisis Publishing Initiative Conference will take place June 26-29 in Mundelein, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.



NEWS PROVIDED BY

InChrist Communications

June 21, 2022



CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 21, 2022 /Standard Newswire/ -- One of the nation's leading experts in Christian media and crisis communications will help faith-based journalists and humanitarian aid workers decipher each other's roles at a groundbreaking "crisis summit" this month.



Veteran journalist and crisis communications specialist Palmer Holt, founder of InChrist Communications (ICC, www.inchristcommunications.com), will speak on "Getting the Best News Coverage in a Disaster" at the Crisis Publishing Initiative Conference, June 26-29, in Mundelein, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.



The one-of-a-kind event -- taking place as multiple humanitarian crises erupt on the global stage -- will bring together some 100 Christian journalists, publishers and faith-based disaster response professionals from more than 20 countries.



"One of the biggest challenges facing journalists covering a major humanitarian crisis is trying to accurately ascertain exactly what's going on as an often-chaotic situation evolves," Holt said.



"My job is to help relief organizations, mission agencies and churches at the scene connect and communicate effectively with the media, and help journalists get the information, interviews and compelling stories they're looking for."



Telling the Story in a Crisis

While some Christian agencies are well prepared to assist journalists during a crisis, others are not set up to cope with a sudden media deluge, Holt said.



"Mission agencies and other faith-based NGOs typically are not as nimble and well resourced as news organizations, and this can cause delays in responding to reporters' inquiries," said Holt, who helped mission agency SIM USA garner 30,000 positive media hits in response to the Ebola crisis in Africa, culminating in the cover of TIME magazine's coveted "Persons of the Year" issue.



"While delays can be frustrating for the media, reporters need to understand that aid agencies are often responding to life-and-death situations as they occur, and having to communicate with a universe of stakeholders, all at the same time," he said.



For relief organizations, one of the most effective ways to keep the media up-to-date with developments in the throes of a humanitarian crisis is to set up a comprehensive online press room on their website.



Situation Critical

"Giving the media the resources they need to do their job well and in real-time is absolutely crucial to getting accurate information out to the public at the exact moment when people are clamoring to know what's going on and how they can donate to help," Holt said.



"Aid agencies need to grasp the moment with a sense of urgency because the news cycle moves ultra fast, and the opportunity for them to score major media coverage can vanish just as quickly," he said. "When aid organizations do everything they can to help the media do their job, they get the best results."



At the conference -- organized by Magazine Training International and the Evangelical Press Association -- journalists from the U.S., U.K., Ukraine, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, India and other countries will discuss how to cover crises, such as war, refugee emergencies, human trafficking, religious persecution, and violence against women and girls.



Established in 2002, InChrist Communications is a national, full-service communications agency primarily serving faith-based organizations, churches, businesses and individuals seeking to reach the Christian market. Core services include branding, marketing, media relations/publicity, social media, crisis communications, advertising, creative services and special events.



SOURCE InChrist Communications



CONTACT: Palmer Holt, 704-662-2569, pholt@inchristcommunications.com


A town court jury has delivered its verdict in the trial of a Seneca County man charged with two crimes connected with the 2020 fight that broke out on Cayuga Nation land.

A Seneca Falls Town Court trial resulted in the acquittal of Charles Bowman, of Fayette, on a third-degree assault charge but a conviction on a third-degree criminal trespass charge, court officials said Tuesday.

Seneca Falls Town Justice Laverne C. Lafler Jr. presided over the trial, which started June 14. Bowman is due back in court for sentencing on Sept. 28.

The trespass charge is a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to three months of incarceration and a fine of $500, or a year of probation.

Bowman, who is not a Cayuga Nation citizen, was involved in the fighting that broke out between the nation's traditional members and Cayuga Nation police and security personnel took place Feb. 29, 2020 on nation property in Seneca Falls.

A brawl erupted following a press conference held by the Cayuga Nation Chiefs of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy at a site the traditional faction had occupied for several years. The Cayuga Nation Police Department was formed by federal representative Clint Halftown, whose leadership the traditional Cayugas oppose. A week prior to the clash, Halftown's forces raided the site and destroyed buildings, claiming the property was being occupied illegally. Citing the nation's sovereign status, local law enforcement did not intervene in that property dispute.

In May 2021, the Seneca County District Attorney's Office filed the two criminal charges against Bowman after convening a grand jury to review the incident.

Criminal charges filed against man hurt in fight on Cayuga Nation land A Seneca County man who sued the Cayuga Nation Police Department's leader and a private security firm, alleging he was assaulted during a 2020

Since those charges were filed, Halftown and the Cayuga Nation police chief filed a defamation lawsuit against Bowman, who filed his own counter-suit in response. Bowman previously had sued the Cayuga Nation Police Department leader and the private security hired to assist the nation police, alleging he was assaulted.

In a statement issued through its Washington, D.C.-based public relations firm, Levick, the Cayuga Nation lauded the trespassing conviction against Bowman without address the acquittal on the assault charge.

"Mr. Bowman trespassed onto Nation property and quickly engaged in a series of violent confrontations, despite repeated warnings from Nation police officers," the statement said. "The Seneca Falls Police Department did the lawful thing in investigating Mr. Bowmans conduct and referring it for prosecution. Those who violate the law should be held accountable, and the Cayuga Nation appreciates the jurys careful consideration of the evidence resulting in the just conviction Mr. Bowman for his unlawful trespassing on Cayuga Nation property."

Bowman told The Citizen that he was pleased with assault charge acquittal, and that while he respects the jury verdict on the trespassing count based on the information they received, he will likely appeal that conviction.

Bowman said he hopes Seneca Falls law enforcement now will file charges against members of the Cayuga Nation Police Department and the security firm that was present that day.

"The men who assaulted me should now be arrested," Bowman said. "The excuses to protect these men need to end."

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Several Democrats in the Finger Lakes region are giving Gov. Kathy Hochul an ultimatum: If she doesn't sign the cryptomining moratorium, they won't vote for her.

The state Legislature approved a bill that would impose a two-year moratorium on permits for power plants that support cryptocurrency mining operations, specifically those that use "proof-of-work authentication methods to validate blockchain transactions," according to the text of the measure. Hochul is reviewing the bill.

So far, Hochul hasn't indicated whether she will sign it. Environmental advocates are urging her to act quickly to prevent cryptomining operations from opening in New York and to halt the renewal of permits for existing facilities, such as Greenidge Generation's plant in Yates County.

With the environmental factors apparently not enough to persuade Hochul to immediately sign the bill, proponents of the moratorium are applying political pressure. Hochul is in a three-way primary for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams round out the primary field.

Lodi Supervisor Kyle Barnhart, the lone Democrat on the Seneca County Board of Supervisors, says he won't vote for Hochul if she doesn't sign the cryptomining moratorium. He spearheaded the effort in Seneca County to pass a resolution urging the governor to sign the cryptomining moratorium and to not renew Greenidge Generation's permits.

"Protecting our environment is a top priority for upstate New Yorkers, which is why I was so excited to have our first governor in 100 years hail from upstate," Barnhart said. "Unfortunately, Governor Hochul seems to care more about pleasing her billionaire crypto donors. Reasonable Democrats are losing faith in her every day she fails to act."

The other Democrats who say they may not support Hochul if she doesn't sign the cryptomining moratorium include Tompkins County Legislator Anne Koreman, Tompkins County Democratic Committee Vice Chair Stacey Dimas and Martha Robertson, the former chair of the Tompkins County Legislature.

Vanessa Fajans-Turner, an Ithaca Democrat who briefly ran for Congress this year, made the financial drivers of climate change a top priority during her campaign. She argued that Hochul and New York can't be viewed as climate leaders if they allow cryptomining to continue.

"Too often money speaks louder than words, and any politician who allows the interests of a small minority of crypto donors to undermine their climate leadership will lose my support and put our economic and climate future in jeopardy," Fajans-Turner said.

The complaints from Finger Lakes Democrats may not be enough to derail Hochul's political ambitions  she has a big lead in the polls for the Democratic nomination  but it could get the governor's attention since she has enjoyed strong support from upstaters. She hails from Buffalo and as lieutenant governor, she made regular visits to the Finger Lakes region.

Along with the lack of action on the cryptomining moratorium legislation, there is another reason advocates of the legislation are concerned about Hochul's stance. They point out that she has accepted donations from crypto interests.

Irene Weiser, a coordinator for Fossil Free Tompkins and a former Caroline town councilmember, noted that Hochul promised to clean up Albany when she was sworn in as governor.

"Now I'm not so sure anything has changed," Weiser said. "She can prove she and her administration can't be bought by signing the crypto moratorium bill before the primary, by having her (state Department of Environmental Conservation) deny Greenidge's air emissions permit in that timeframe too, and by giving the crypto money back."

Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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Mangalore, the port city and the administrative head quarters of Dakshina Kannada is famed for the nightlong dance-drama performance known as Yakshagana.
Holi

Place : North India

Significance: Spring festival

Date: 28.3.2021 - 29.3.2021

Holi is the most lively of all Hindu festivals, observed all over North India, which falls on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun (March) according to the Hindu calendar. It heralds the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring and marks the rekindling of the spirit of life. It is a festival of joy when all is forgiven and it is a time to break free from the shackles of convention and let ourselves go.

Legend associated with the festival

Holy is associated with a legendry encounter between Hiranyakashyapu, a powerful demon king and his son Prahlad. Hiranyakashyapu who had gained victory over gods in a war had forbidden his subjects from worshipping gods. But his son Prahlad who was a ardent devotee of Vishnu, refused to obey his orders.

Hiranyakashyapu had a sister, Holika, who was blessed with special powers-fire could not burn her. Hiranyakashyapu ordered Holika to take Prahlad in her lap and mount a burning pyre. She did so, but Prahlad came out unscathed while Holika was reduced to ashes. It is said that Holi is celebrated and Holi fires lit in remembrance of this miracle.

Celebration

The night before full moon, crowds of people gather together and light huge bonfires to burn the residual dried leaves and twigs of the winter. People throw coloured powders at each other and make merry. People, young and old are drenched with colours being poured from atop the houses, bursting balloons, or long pistons. Singing and dancing add to the gaiety of the occasion.

Preparations for the festival begin a week ahead. Houses are given a fresh coat of color, beautiful floral designs are drawn at the entrance and colours bought. In earlier days the colors were extracted from a flower that blossoms only during this festival and the pistons were made of bamboo sticks. But over the years colors are made artificially and pistons made of different materials are available in various designs. In villages, powders made of rice flour mixed with turmeric and bamboo poles are still used. Special delicacies such as malpua and other delicacies are prepared on this day, which vary from region to region.

Mathura ( Uttar Pradesh ) and the small towns of 'Braj Bhoomi ( Land of Lord Sri Krishna ) celebrates the joyful rasaleela of Krishna and gopis during Holi. Especially famous is the Lathmaar Holi of Barsana and Nandgaon. In Anandpur Sahib ( Punjab ), Sikhs celebrate a special festival 'Hola Mohalla' on the day after Holi. It marks a display of ancient martial arts and mock battles.
Festivals  Punjab Festivals  Guru Parab

Guru Parab

Month: October- November

Significance: Guru Nanak's Birthday

Date: 19.11.2021

The birth anniversary of Guru Nanak -the first or the founder guru of the Sikhs, is celebrated with great fervour on the full moon day of Kartika (October-November). Guru Parab, also known as Jyototsava is one of the most sacred festivals of the Sikhs.

Guru Nanak was born in 1469 at Talwandi about 45 kms away from Lahore and is now known as Nankana Sahib. Nanak was a great reformer, preacher and a saint. In Sikhism he tried to harmonize both Hinduism and Islam . He never believed in cast-distinction and liberalized social practices. He traveled widely and preached the name of God as a potent means of spiritual realization. God's name and its repetition helps us to develop the best in us. A true Sikh strives not for salvation or paradise but to see God in the form of love. Guru Nanak was followed by nine other Gurus, in succession under whom Sikhism gradually developed. Other Gurus are also commemorated on other Guru Purabs.
Banks and schools were closed. Federal and state offices were not open. But at the Cayuga County Office Building, it was business as usual.

Juneteenth, the anniversary of when the last enslaved people were freed in Texas, was officially observed on Monday. It became federal and state holidays in 2021.

But it was not a holiday for Cayuga County employees. In an email obtained by The Citizen, Sheila Smith, the clerk of the Legislature, reminded all employees that Juneteenth is not a county holiday and they should report to work as scheduled.

The city of Auburn, Harriet Tubman's final resting place, observed the holiday. Neighboring counties, including Onondaga and Seneca, have designated Juneteenth as a county holiday.

Cayuga County Legislature Chairman David Gould told The Citizen on Friday that he supports establishing Juneteenth as a county holiday. The decision not to do it this year is more about timing.

The contracts with four different public employee unions are up this year and negotiations will likely begin this summer, he said. He anticipates that adding Juneteenth as a holiday for county employees will be addressed in those talks.

"Because it's a contract negotiation year, (the Legislature) decided to wait and we'll negotiate it with the unions through the contract," Gould said, adding that if the Legislature "made it a holiday last year, I'm sure it would've stayed that way this year."

Gould's predecessor, Legislator Aileen McNabb-Coleman, was the chair from 2020 through 2021. Even though then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo had signed an executive order making Juneteenth a state holiday in October 2020, she said the county did not receive notification about the holiday until a few days before the Juneteenth anniversary.

She blamed the late notice as the reason why the county did not observe the holiday.

"Admittedly, there was a lack of time for planning," McNabb-Coleman said. "From reopening from COVID, the (county Department of Motor Vehicles) was on different hours. All these departments were on different hours. We decided that on short notice, it was too much to handle and figure out."

During McNabb-Coleman's tenure, the county issued a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth. Gould presented a proclamation at Juneteenth festivities over the weekend.

Legislator Brian Muldrow, the county's first Black lawmaker, told The Citizen that he has partnered with three other legislators  Gould, Christina Calarco and Chris Petrus  to introduce a resolution that encourages the public employee unions to recognize the holiday. The goal of the resolution is to ensure that Juneteenth is added as a holiday in the final contracts.

He said the Legislature will vote on the resolution at its full meeting on Tuesday.

"This, recognizing (Juneteenth) as a holiday in our county allows the Black and Brown people, as well as everybody, to know that the county actually is going to recognize this day as they should and the country should," he said.

Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Mostly cloudy and muggy with a few showers and a thunderstorm in the morning, then some afternoon sunshine and turning less humid late in the day. .

Tonight

Becoming mostly clear, cooler, and comfier.
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June 21, 2007

AUBURN  Color and warmth will return to downtown as an ongoing project strives to draw more people to the heart of Auburn, said Michael Moore, who is overseeing the undertaking.

The downtown improvement project will touch Genesee Street, Loop Road and South Street. Workers broke ground last month after five years of discussions and planning toward the design.

Bricks are a key design element, as they will go in near intersections and some sidewalks. The clay bricks will give the downtown its new look come October, when the project is slated to reach completion, but also posed the project's biggest challenge, Moore said.

Crews from the general contractor, Auburn company Rizzo Construction, are tearing up old cement and fixtures and pouring concrete. Then the subcontractor sends workers to install the bricks.

There's just a lot of brick to put down, and that's throughout the project, Moore said, estimating 100,000 square feet of sidewalks will have some amount of brickwork.

Bricks will continue to go in until the end. Moore said despite huge preparation efforts, most people only see the progress once those blocks hit the sidewalk.

It's a beautiful look. It will bring warmth and earthy tones into the city, he said.

Crews also are only replacing broken or worn segments of concrete. Fewer than five business owners have asked to add their sidewalks at their expense.

The contractors made maintaining accessibility to shops a priority.

The last thing we want to do it hurt these businesses, Moore said.

They also are keeping an eye on the parking situation, only taking away parking spots in the immediate areas where they are working. Workers likely will not replace parking meters along East Genesee Street near Wegmans. The Auburn City Council agreed to purchase 10 parking kiosks for that road, although Auburn Police Chief Gary Giannotta predicts it will take three months to get them. Another kiosk is slated to go in the parking lot south of the parking garage.

Currently, Auburn's only parking kiosk is on State Street.

Moore hopes the renovated Exchange Street Mall, along with State Street will create more pedestrian traffic.

The new Exchange Street Mall's design alternates rustic-colored concrete pavers, similar to the circular designs on State Street, and flat concrete areas, broken up trees, planting beds with bushes and shrubs, and other lighting improvements to make it more people friendly.

This will soften it up, give downtown a whole other character, Moore said.

Once completed near the end of the total project, people can sit on benches and seating walls in the urban park.

Hopefully, it will be a nice people place  Pedestrians will have some place to go, Moore said.

Mayor Timothy Lattimore said downtown will look beautiful after all the work is done. The project failed after a 2-2 vote and the mayor's abstaining vote in September 2006.

The original design was too Disneyland. It was too much, councilor William Graney said.

As an example, he pointed to the brickwork with granite that stretched across intersections, rather than the current design where brickwork is only in a portion of the sidewalk.

In the first vote, Graney and councilor Matt Smith voted the project down. Councilors David Dempsey and Thomas McNabb approved the $1.86 million project.

The amended design saved the city money and received four votes, with only Dempsey voting against the plan in April.

While construction crews are hard at work, Verizon and New York State Electric and Gas are taking advantage of the project by upgrading their facilities in the area.

They've pulled out unhealthy trees, but kept the strong ones. Crews will plant trees and shrubs and do landscaping as the last stage of the project.

There's a lot of bang for your buck. For $1.3 million, we're touching a lot of areas, Moore said.

 Compiled by David Wilcox

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HIT: To the Juneteenth weekend celebration held in Auburn.

This newly proclaimed federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States has a special connection to the Auburn area given the importance of so many local figures in the abolitionist movement, including Harriet Tubman, whose 200th birthday is also being celebrated this year.

The result was three days filled with events, including a day-long celebration on Saturday. Organizers with the city of Auburn, Booker T. Washington Community Center, Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Auburn Downtown BID, NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center, Cayuga County Office of Tourism, Seward House Museum and Perform 4 Purpose did a tremendous job making this the biggest and best Juneteenth celebration Auburn has had.

'Like a family': Auburn-area residents celebrate Juneteenth AUBURN  With a statue of famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman looking over the crowd, city residents kicked off the third day of its biggest-eve

Their efforts got notice not just around central New York, but the nation. An article published by U.S. News and World Report put Auburn on a list 12 places to visit for Juneteenth.

MISS: To some damaging thunderstorms that blew through the Cayuga County area last week.

Hundreds of Cayuga County-area residents lost power and emergency calls for downed wires, trees and flooding poured into the county's 911 dispatch center on Thursday.

Fortunately, major damage was limited, and first responders did their usual tremendous handling issues and keeping people safe.

HIT: To the return of the Prison City Ramblers Father's Day Car Show at Emerson Park.

This holiday tradition was missing from Cayuga County-area Fathers' Days in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic, so it was wonderful to have it return for 2022.

Thanks to the car club for getting this show back on the calendar.

The Citizen Editorial board includes president and director of local sales and marketing Michelle Bowers, executive editor Jeremy Boyer and managing editor Mike Dowd.

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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The e:NP1, the first production model under GAC Hondas all-electric vehicle brand e:NP, officially hit the market on June 20. Coming with four trim levels, the new model is priced between 175,000 yuan ($26,180) and 218,000 yuan ($32,620) after subsidies.

The e:NP1 made its debut at the Auto Guangzhou 2021 in November last year. Its Chinese name Ji Pai 1 was announced on March 29 this year, when GAC Honda launched the brand e:NP (named Ji Pai in Chinese).

e:NP1; photo credit: GAC Honda

Adopting Honda Motor's all-new design language e:N Design, the e:NP1s front features a sealed-off grille and a luminescent "H" emblem in the middle. The charging port is behind the front logo.



e:NP1; photo credit: GAC Honda

At the rear, a new Honda emblem replaces the traditional H marque and a full-width LED light strip accentuates the model's width.

The e:NP1 is an SUV that measures 4,390mm long, 1,790mm wide, and 1,560mm tall, with a wheelbase that spans 2,610mm.

e:NP1; photo credit: GAC Honda

With a spiffy and stylish interior, the e:NP1 is equipped with a 10.25-inch liquid crystal dashboard and a 15.2-inch vertically-installed console-mounted display armed with the Honda CONNECT 3.0 in-car connected system, which supports over 20 functions including AI voice assistant, energy management, and OTA.

The e:NP1 comes with two power solutions: the one carries an electric motor that churns out up to 150kW and 310 Nm, and delivers a CLTC range of 510km; the other is armed with a 134kW electric motor and is capable of a 420km range under CLTC test cycle.

GAC Honda plans to roll out one all-electric model under the e:NP brand per year by 2025.

Honda Motor (China) investment Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honda Motor in China, announced on June 20 that GAC Honda has began construction of its new EV plant.

Located in the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development District, Guangzhou city, GAC Honda's EV-dedicated production plant will cover an area of 400,000 square meters and involve a total investment of 3.49 billion yuan ($522.197 million). The plant is expected to begin operation in 2024 with an annual production capacity of 120,000 units.

In China, Honda is planning to introduce 10 e:N Series EV models by 2027. The EV plant of GAC Honda will serve as a core operation of Honda EV production in China, together with the new EV plant which will be built by Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. and is planned to begin operation in 2024.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On June 21st, XPeng announced that its vehicle delivery volume officially surpassed the 200,000-unit milestone.

Photo credit: XPeng

Just earlier in May, another Chinese new energy vehicle startup, NIO, also witnessed the delivery of its 200,000th vehicle.

Chairman and CEO of XPeng, He Xiaopeng, said that the 200,000th vehicle mark might not seem like a big deal in the vast auto industry, but for XPeng, it represented the trust and anticipation from 200,000 users who chose to believe in the automaking startup.

In May, XPeng delivered 10,125 vehicles, surging 78% year over year. With 4,224 vehicles delivered in May, the P7 model sustained its favorable position among XPengs product lineup. In the meantime, 3,686 P5s and 2,215 G3is were delivered in the month.

In the first five months of 2022, XPengs accumulative delivery volume amounted to 53,688 vehicles, soaring 122% compared to the same period last year. Moreover, the auto startup said that its Zhaoqing factory has adopted a double-shift production schedule since mid-May to catch up with its massive back log accumulated in the first quarter of this year.

According to the companys first quarter financial statement, XPeng projected that it would see a quarterly delivery volume of 31,000-34,000 vehicles in the April-June period. In April, XPengs monthly deliveries reached 9,002 units.
Unless youre an accomplished chef or experienced foodie, the world of spices can be an intimidating one. But for more than 20 years, Spice World, a family business in the heart of St. Boniface, has been making it easier for customers to navigate the countless flavours, international tastes and aromatic blends from around the world.

Unless youre an accomplished chef or experienced foodie, the world of spices can be an intimidating one. But for more than 20 years, Spice World, a family business in the heart of St. Boniface, has been making it easier for customers to navigate the countless flavours, international tastes and aromatic blends from around the world.

With more than two decades in the business, the Delos Santos family, who immigrated from the Philippines, has been sharing their love of spices with customers. Their knowledge and passion for service continues to set them apart from local supermarkets as they provide information and suggestions to make purchases based on flavour and cooking preferences.

Spice World originated in the 1970s, and the Delos Santos family took it over in 1997. The parents with three children spent their days together creating a place that would become an important part of the community.

And when his parents retired, Aaron Delos Santos bought the business. He remembers spending his childhood days helping out when he could, along with his two sisters.

"Right after school we would go to the shop and try and help; we were a handful. We were always there," said Delos Santos.

"My parents always had some of that entrepreneurial spirit. We are trying to continue on their legacy, and their work ethic. Now their job is watching our grandkids," said the father of two young children.

"We want to share our love of cooking with our customers, inspire and provide people with the highest quality of spices, connecting and coming together for the love of food."

Spice World has at its centre that love of food, creating different spice blends and flavours for just about any dish. With more than 100 spices and blends to choose from, theres an abundance of flavours to experience. A website features recipes to encourage consumers to explore the tastes from around the world.

Joe Laurin De Oliveira began cooking late in life, and appreciates the various offerings available at Spice World with one particular favourite.

ETHAN CAIRNS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Delos Santos family displays many different spices and seasonings.

"One little gem I discovered is the Peg City spice. So delicious to sprinkle on chicken and fry it up and serve along with some rice and whatever vegetables Im in the mood for. I also like to sprinkle on potatoes after I cut them up into wedges, and bake at 450 for about 20 minutes if Im not in a mood for rice. Sometimes I just salt and pepper the potatoes, and make a dip with the spice mixed with mayo. I can go on and on  so many ways to make meals extra tasty," said Laurin De Oliveira, with his goal of making dinner in less than 30 minutes from Monday through Friday, with fewer ingredients and maximum flavour.

The popular Peg City blend combines paprika, kosher salt, garlic, onion, celery, black pepper, cumin, oregano, coriander, dill weed and lemon pepper. The in-house spice blend works with anything youd like to throw on the grill, be it meat, vegetables, or tofu, and also works to spice up popcorn.

"We love to try to play around with different flavours, create unique blends. We are foodies and we love that," said Delos Santos. "To have customers come in, saying we tried this, its super exciting. For years Ive been thinking about the Montreal Steak spice blend but had never seen Winnipegs own. Ive been creating Peg City spice blend over the years, testing different layers, for a wide variety of flavours. Within the last five to 10 years we started playing around with a lot of different flavours, trying out different flavours from around the world."

Spice World makes it a priority to access spices from a network of ethically sourced distributors supporting sustainable farming practices.

"We only deal with certain suppliers; its really important to us that its ethically sourced. We know what we are giving our customers.

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"What makes us different is the care we give our customers; the classics, the world of spices is so huge, it can be overwhelming. We are more than happy to give suggestions to customers, to offer flavour profiles. If you only need a certain amount, well do that. That kind of service is so important."

Spice World supplies restaurants throughout the city, with wholesale pricing. Customers can bring their own empty shakers or jars for a refill into the shop as long as theyre clean. Whole spices will keep for between one and two years. Ground spices will keep for six to eight months. Though not organic, spices are non-irradiated, non-GMO, kosher certified, and most products are gluten-free.

"This was a mom-and-pop shop," said Delos Santos. "It used to be my father and I. Now we have four or five staff members. Its growing a lot more. Its fun and we are proud.

"St. Boniface is such a great community; the residents have all welcomed us. We love the repeat customers. Theyll ask how my parents are doing. Theyve seen me as a child, how the business has grown. They notice the difference in the quality and the love we put into it."

Visit: spiceworld.ca

business@freepress.mb.ca
HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kongs iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant has capsized in the South China Sea less than a week after it was towed away from the city, its parent company said Monday.

Hong Kong's iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant is towed away in Hong Kong, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Hong Kong's iconic restaurant on Tuesday departed the city, after its parent company failed to find a new owner and lacked funds to maintain the establishment amid months of COVID-19 restrictions. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kongs iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant has capsized in the South China Sea less than a week after it was towed away from the city, its parent company said Monday.

The restaurant encountered "adverse conditions" on Saturday as it was passing the Xisha Islands, also known as the Paracel Islands, in the South China Sea, and water entered the vessel and it began to tip, according to Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises Ltd.

The company said no one was injured, but that efforts to save the vessel failed and it capsized on Sunday.

"As the water depth at the scene is over 1,000 meters, (it makes it) extremely difficult to carry out salvage works," it said in a statement.

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It said the company "is very saddened by this accident."

FILE - The last Chinese imperial-style Hong Kong Jumbo Floating Restaurant, which has been featured in many local and international movies over the years, is seen in Hong Kong on June 13, 2022. The restaurant has capsized in the South China Sea less than a week after it was towed away from the city, its parent company said Monday, June 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

The Jumbo Floating Restaurant, almost 80 meters (260 feet) in length, had been a landmark in Hong Kong for over four decades, serving Cantonese cuisine to over 3 million guests including Queen Elizabeth II and Tom Cruise.

It closed in 2020 due to the pandemic and laid off all its staff. Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises said the restaurant became a financial burden to its shareholders, with millions of Hong Kong dollars spent on its inspection and maintenance even though it was not in operation.

The restaurant was towed away last Tuesday. The company said it planned to move it to a lower-cost site where maintenance could be carried out.

It said that prior to its departure, the vessel had been thoroughly inspected by marine engineers and hoardings were installed, and all relevant approvals were obtained.

"The company is now getting further details of the accident from the towing company," the statement said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court has rejected Bayer's appeal to shut down thousands of lawsuits claiming that its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer.

The U.S. Supreme Court, Tuesday, June 21, 2022 in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court has rejected Bayer's appeal to shut down thousands of lawsuits claiming that its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer.

The justices on Tuesday left in place a $25 million judgment in favor of Edwin Hardeman, a California man who says he developed cancer from using Roundup for decades to treat poison oak, overgrowth and weeds on his San Francisco Bay Area property. Hardeman's lawsuit had served as a test case for thousands of similar lawsuits.

The high courts action comes amid a series of court fights over Roundup that have pointed in different directions.

On Friday, a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an Environmental Protection Agency finding from 2020 that glyphosate does not pose a serious health risk and is "not likely" to cause cancer in humans. The appellate court ordered the EPA to reexamine its finding.

At the same time, Bayer has won four consecutive trials in state court against people who claimed they got cancer from their use of Roundup. The latest verdict in favor of the pharmaceutical company came last week in Oregon.

Bayer had argued that federal regulators have repeatedly determined its products are safe and that lawsuits based on claims under state laws should be dismissed.

In a statement, Bayer said it disagreed with the Supreme Court's decision not to take up its case. "The company believes that the decision undermines the ability of companies to rely on official actions taken by expert regulatory agencies, as it permits every U.S. state to require a different product label" in conflict with federal laws, Bayer said.

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Last year, Bayer set aside $4.5 billion to deal with the claims that glyphosate, the weed-killing ingredient in Roundup, causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer. The company had previously taken a charge of nearly $10 billion for earlier rounds of litigation.

Bayer also had warned that allowing these sorts of claims will damage innovation in agriculture, health and other industries.

Bayer, which is based in Leverkusen, Germany, inherited Roundup and the litigation when it acquired Monsanto in 2018.

The EPA says on its website that there is "no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer in humans." But in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans." The agency said it relied on "limited" evidence of cancer in people and "sufficient" evidence of cancer in study animals.

The Justice Department, which had sided with Bayer in the lower courts during the Trump administration, recommended that the high court not get involved.

Bayer maintains the product is safe but said that it would replace glyphosate in Roundup for residential use beginning in 2023. Products containing glyphosate will still be available for professional and farm use.
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken off for a 10-day international trip, with the Russia-Ukraine conflict expected to be a major focus.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken off for a 10-day international trip, with the Russia-Ukraine conflict expected to be a major focus.

He will first fly to Kigali, Rwanda, Tuesday night to meet with the heads of the Commonwealth nations for the first time since 2018. Canada is planning to promote support for Ukraine and condemnation of Russia at the meetings.

The trip also takes Trudeau to Germany for the G7 Summit and then on to Madrid for a NATO Summit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is planning to address leaders at both of those summits, as he continues to meet with world leaders to ask for financial and military support.

NATO leaders will be joined by delegations from Sweden and Finland, both of which have applied to join the alliance as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and leaders from both Japan and South Korea have said they plan to attend.

The prime minister is also attending a bilateral meeting with Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, during his busy itinerary.

Trudeau is planning to be back in the country in time for Canada Day celebrations on July 1.

He has finished a 10-day isolation period that just fit between his return from the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles on June 11 and his departure for this stretch of travel.

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The Prime Minister's Office says he began feeling symptoms of COVID-19 on June 11, but not until after his arrival in Canada. His plane landed in Ottawa at 8 p.m., according to his public itinerary.

He tested positive for COVID-19 on June 13, but his isolation was deemed to have begun two days earlier, when his symptoms began.

According to a May 22 version of the COVID-19 orders-in-council, international travel is considered to be higher risk by the Canadian government, as travellers could bring new variants of the virus into the country.

As a result, those who are fully vaccinated are supposed to monitor for symptoms of the virus for 14 days after they return from an international trip, and if any symptoms develop they're supposed to notify public health and begin 10 days of isolation. That's double the isolation time required by Ontario Public Health for those who test positive in the province.

Trudeau also tested positive for COVID-19 in January.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2022.
Provencher MP Ted Falk received a standing ovation Monday from his fellow members of the Conservative Party of Canada, marking his return to the House of Commons following the suspension of COVID-19 vaccine mandates for MPs.

Provencher MP Ted Falk received a standing ovation Monday from his fellow members of the Conservative Party of Canada, marking his return to the House of Commons following the suspension of COVID-19 vaccine mandates for MPs.

Falk, who had refused to disclose his vaccination status, citing privacy, began attending Parliament virtually in December, after rules about acceptable medical exemptions were tightened. A vaccine mandate came into force in November that meant all members of Parliament and visitors to the House of Commons in Ottawa had to be fully vaccinated.

On Monday, during question period, Falk rose to ask whether the federal Liberal government would stop collecting GST on fuel purchases and lower the cost of groceries. Before he spoke, other members of his party stood and cheered for him.

The Free Press has reached out to Falks offices requesting comment.

Falk was the only MP from Manitoba to refuse to disclose his vaccination status. The others are all vaccinated.

He represents a riding that has had some of the lowest vaccine uptake in the province throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Last year, as COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths continued to climb in Manitoba, Falk spoke on a right-wing podcast.

Im not an anti-vaxxer, but Im not completely sold on this vaccination, Falk said in April 2021 on an episode of Conservative Roundup.

In summer 2021, he publicly shared misinformation about the vaccine in a Steinbach newspaper interview, telling the Carillon: You were 13 times more likely to die from the delta variant if you were double vaccinated, than if you were unvaccinated.

Falk apologized for those comments soon afterward. A statement attributed to him from the Conservative party made clear the statistics he quoted were inaccurate.

I would like to correct erroneous comments I made when referencing a study on COVID vaccines. The statistics I quoted were not correct, the statement read. Vaccines are safe and effective.

I have and will continue to be an advocate for getting vaccines to every Canadian who wants one. I apologize for any confusion caused by my comments.
For NDP Leader Wab Kinew, the most recent Free Press-Probe Research poll results contain both good and bad news.

For NDP Leader Wab Kinew, the most recent Free Press-Probe Research poll results contain both good and bad news.

The good news is, well, pretty darn good. The early June survey showed the NDP out in front of the governing Progressive Conservatives and Premier Heather Stefanson with a comfortable 10-point lead provincially  and an alarmingly high 27-point lead in Winnipeg, where most elections are decided.

The good news continues when you look at key regions and demographics: Kinew has the highest approval rating of any of the three main party leaders; the New Democrats are very popular with women in Winnipeg (a key electoral group); the NDP enjoys gaudy leads in both southwest and southeast Winnipeg, two areas of the city where Tories currently dominate but which appear to be lining up as potential gains for the NDP.

The last bit of good news is the poll shows voters are not flocking to the Liberals. Grit Leader Dougald Lamont has been an effective critic of the PC government. Unfortunately, his party seems to be mired in a distant third place  out of sight and mind of many voters.

However, even with all that, there is still bad news for Kinew and the NDP to consider.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES NDP Leader Wab Kinew has the highest approval rating of any of the three main party leaders.

Although the survey is a reasonably accurate picture of voter sentiments today, we are still to far out from the October 2023 general election to believe this is how it would turn out.

Thats one of the biggest flaws in voting intention polls taken between election; they ask how people would vote "if a provincial election were held tomorrow." The only time that would present an accurate prediction of the outcome is if the poll were taken the day before a vote was scheduled.

As such, this poll  as promising as it may be for the Opposition NDP  doesnt really tell us whats going to happen in 17 months time.

Opposition leaders often track huge leads over governing leaders because, freed from the burden of actually having to govern, they can howl and stamp their feet in indignation with reckless abandon. Voters in opinion polls tend to judge opposition parties and leaders less on what they have done or say they will do, and more on how angry they are at the bunch in charge.

Voters in opinion polls tend to judge opposition parties and leaders less on what they have done or say they will do, and more on how angry they are at the bunch in charge.

The problem for the NDP, and for all opposition parties, is when it comes time to mark a ballot, voters will be assessing specific pledges and policies for all the parties competing for their attention. That kind of scrutiny can erase any pre-election poll advantages.

This dynamic can be seen in other regions around the world.

In the recent Ontario election, Tory Premier Doug Ford entered the campaign leading most polls but seemingly vulnerable to growing discontent about his COVID-19 pandemic response. Ford was, however, resoundingly re-elected with a majority, after voters studied NDP Leader Andrea Howarth and Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca and deemed them to be unworthy of support.

In the United Kingdom, the perils of opposition politics is also on full display.

On June 23, voters will go to the polls in the Yorkshire constituency of Wakefield for a critically important byelection. The riding had been solid Labour territory for decades, but swung to the Conservatives in 2019.

In Manitoba, while Kinew and Lamont have done admirable jobs fulfilling the role of opposition critic, neither has been assessed by voters in the crucible of an election campaign where you have to enunciate your own plans and not just denigrate the plans put forward by opponents.

Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Conservatives are, however, in a tailspin. A recent poll of Wakefield put Labour up 48 per cent to 28 per cent over the Conservatives. Labour campaign organizers are taking no comfort.

"I can categorically say we are not 20 points ahead and we are fighting for every vote," Louise Haigh, a Labour MP who is running the Wakefield campaign, told the Guardian. "The fact we have only won one byelection in 25 years shows the scale of the task. It is not a foregone conclusion that we win."

Labours problem is the same one shared by the Ontario Liberals and NDP: its leader, Keir Starmer, is not connecting with voters.

As controversial as Johnson is, his buffoonish charm is undeniable. Starmer, on the other hand, is dogged by concerns he is awkward, standoffish, and estranged from the average voter. He is carrying the burden many opposition leaders must bear: he is seen as a denigrator, not a leader of governments.

CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES The problem for opposition parties is when it comes time to mark a ballot, voters will be assessing specific pledges and policies for all the parties competing for their attention

In Manitoba, while Kinew and Lamont have done admirable jobs fulfilling the role of opposition critic, neither has been assessed by voters in the crucible of an election campaign where you have to enunciate your own plans and not just denigrate the plans put forward by opponents.

There is no doubt both parties have benefited from the ongoing inability of the PC government in general, and Stefanson in particular, to appear even remotely competent.

But at some point  certainly by this time next year  Kinew and Lamont will have to prove to voters the reality of a change in government is as attractive as the prospect appears now.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca

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At least two more women have come forward with allegations of abuse at the hands of a retired priest at Fort Alexander residential school in Manitoba.

Maureen Fontaine, 67, visits the cemetery on Sagkeeng First Nation. Fontaine, who was a day student at Fort Alexander residential school, went to RCMP this week alleging abuse by retired priest Arthur Masse. (Karen Pauls / CBC News)

At least two more women have come forward with allegations of abuse at the hands of a retired priest at Fort Alexander residential school in Manitoba.

Maureen Fontaine, 67, is one of them.

"I was a young age, and I had to go to the washroom. So the priest took me down  in the basement, and there was no washroom there. He did things to me that a little child shouldn't have gone through," she said.

To read more of this story first reported by CBC News, click here.

This content is made available to Free Press readers as part of an agreement with CBC that sees our two trusted news brands collaborate to better cover Manitoba. Questions about CBC content can be directed to talkback@cbc.ca.
Connor Taylor has wanted to be a video game creator since he was 12. Red River College Polytechs newest program will start him on that journey.

Connor Taylor has wanted to be a video game creator since he was 12. Red River College Polytechs newest program will start him on that journey.

The college unveiled its Pathway to Information Technology program on Monday.

Taylor, now 26, is the first student to enrol in the new course, which is an eight-month preparatory program for business information technology, information security and IT operations.

"Im excited to get started. Ive started reading and writing to prepare for the fall," he said.

The program becomes the colleges fourth pathway program, which are designed to provide Indigenous Manitobans with skills and supports required to transition into other RRC Polytech programs by increasing their academic, personal, social and financial readiness.

"Its beneficial to have a stepping stone since I havent been to school since I was a teenager," Taylor said. "Its nice to be able to rely on a program without losing your independence."

Fred Meier, RRC Polytech president and CEO, made the announcement at the colleges new facility Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, where the course will be taught.

"Weve found through the programs that theres a higher level of success when people are provided the support necessary," he said.

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Meier also highlighted the importance of an RBC Reaction by Collision event, which included Indigenous traditions, art and talent, held in tandem with Mondays announcement.

"We want to build Indigenous culture into who we are as an institution. We want people to feel that they belong and its important to have an event like this to expose more people to what were building," he said.

The program is supported by a $1 million pledge from RBC.

"There's incredible talent among Indigenous communities. If we can help be part of their journey in some small way, that is truly meaningful for us," Robb Ritchie, RBC regional director of communications, said.

The program will officially begin this fall.

bryce.hunt@freepress.mb.ca
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The first batch of the IM L7s was delivered to consumers in Shanghai and Suzhou on June 18.

The IM L7 is the first production model under the Chinese high-end all-electric car brand, which is owned by IM Motors, the joint venture among SAIC Motor, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech, and Alibaba.

The model's delivery was originally scheduled to begin in April, but was delayed to mid-June due to the coronavirus impact.

IM L7; photo credit: IM Motors Due to external circumstances, such as logistics and transportation factors, the time of vehicle delivery will be different for consumers across China, the automaker said via its WeChat account.

With the delivery kicking off nationwide, IM Motor is going to launch the IM Care tailor-made service.

Up until now, IM Motors has already opened nearly 70 experience and delivery service centers, and expects the total number to grow to 120 by the end of this year.

The IM L7 formally hit the market on April 17. The model currently comes with two variantsthe Dynamic and the Pro, which are priced at 368,800 yuan ($55,260) and 408,800 yuan ($61,250) respectively.

Positioned as a full-sized sedan, the IM L7 measures 5,098mm long, 1,960mm wide, and 1,482mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,100mm. The model comes with a total of 6 body color options, named Pissarro white, Raphael tea, Cezanne black, Rembrandt gray, Diana white and Morandi gray.

In terms of power system, the two permanent magnet synchronous motors can continuously drive both axles with a system output of 425 KW / 725 Nm. The IM L7 can sprint from 0-100km/h within only 3.87 seconds and has a braking distance from 100-0km/h of 32.69 meters. Equipped with a ternary lithium battery pack, the model has a CLTC-rated range of 615km.
A criminal investigation has been launched into allegations of abuse at a St. James personal care home  accusations that stayed hidden for four months until a whistleblower notified the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

A criminal investigation has been launched into allegations of abuse at a St. James personal care home  accusations that stayed hidden for four months until a whistleblower notified the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

At least 15 residents at Extendicares Oakview Place at 2395 Ness Ave. may have been victimized, and two health-care aides are on paid leave while the investigation continues.

No details were released about what kind of mistreatment the residents might have suffered, or what the abuse allegations entail. The two aides are believed to be responsible for the abuse.

The daughter of a resident, who spoke to the Free Press Tuesday afternoon outside the home, said her mother was one of the abuse victims.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, was visiting her 91-year-old mother Tuesday when news broke about the alleged abuse.

The daughter said her mom, who has been in the home for three years, told her and her brother this winter that people at the home were hurting her. They saw bruises on their mother but didnt initially believe her because she has dementia.

"We didnt think it was possible. We believe her now," said the woman, who noted her mothers behaviour has changed.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Allegations of abuse against two health-care aides are said to affect as many as 15 residents at Extendicares Oakview Place personal care home.

"She doesnt want to bathe now and if people touch her or get too close now, she screams. It makes sense now."

She is furious her mother could be hurt in a home meant to protect her, she said.

"My brother and I put her in this home because we thought she would be safe and cared for. This is heartbreaking," she said.

The administrator of the home has stepped down, and a new regional director for Extendicare in Manitoba has been hired.

Sandra Goers, the newly appointed regional director and director of operational quality for Western Canada, said during a virtual news conference Tuesday afternoon that Extendicare has known about the allegations since February but a "breakdowns in process" meant the WRHA, the police and the provincial office for protection of persons in care werent notified, in contravention of Extendicares responsibilities.

Only one residents family was initially notified, but now all 15 affected families have been contacted, Goers said.

Goers took over the regional director position on Monday. On Tuesday afternoon, she issued a public apology, thanked the whistleblowing staff member and described the allegations as "devastating."

"It is completely unacceptable that this did not take place, and for that, we unreservedly apologize to residents, their families, and to the WRHA. Im so very sorry for the hurt that this has caused you, and to our community at Oakview Place."

"You deserved better from us, and we will do better."

The son of another resident, who didnt want to be identified, came to check on his mother Tuesday afternoon after learning of the alleged abuse.

He said hes confident his mother, who has been at the home for more than six years, wasnt a victim because she is aware of her surroundings and would have told him.

However, he called the situation disgusting and plans to speak to the home.

Residents and their families are rightfully upset and concerned, said Gina Trinidad, the WRHAs chief operating officer of community health services and long-term care, who also apologized.

"We are deeply disturbed and disappointed by these serious allegations and the process the facility initially took to investigate the concerns," Trinidad said.

WRHA conducted unannounced visits to the home after the staff member reported the allegations to them on June 10. The aides were placed on leave after the WRHA found out earlier this month. The homes licence is not under review at this time.

Staff will be re-trained on abuse and neglect policies and the whistleblower program, said Goers, who was asked why the company didnt notify WRHA or police if Extendicare knew about the allegations in February.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority is disturbed by the allegations, says Gina Trinidad, the WRHAs chief operating officer of community health services and long-term care.

"Im not going to sit here in front of you and make any excuses whatsoever. We are wholeheartedly apologizing for what has happened. It is very clear that there was a breakdown in processes, and we have apologized and we will apologize again. We will do whatever we can to help rebuild trust with both the residents, their families, and additionally the WRHA," Goers responded.

The Winnipeg Police Service confirmed it is investigating, but wouldnt confirm when they were informed about the allegations or the nature of the alleged abuse.

Police have instructed the WRHA not to release many details about the matter so as not to compromise the criminal investigation, a WRHA spokesman said.

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The provincial government declined to comment.

"The province will co-operate fully with the authorities, but there is an ongoing police investigation, so it would not be appropriate to comment at this time," a provincial spokesperson stated.

The allegations underscore the need for a seniors advocate in Manitoba and bolstered staffing levels in personal care homes, Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont stated.

"It is inexcusable that allegations of abuse came forward in February and action was not taken until June. The fact that processes and policies were not followed in allegations of abuse and neglect means that Extendicares licence should be immediately reviewed by the province," Lamont stated.

 with files from Dean Pritchard

katie.may@winnipegfreepress.com
On a grassy patch of land along the highway that runs through Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, across the road from the radio station, lies an old Anglican cemetery dotted with weathered wooden crosses.

On a grassy patch of land along the highway that runs through Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, across the road from the radio station, lies an old Anglican cemetery dotted with weathered wooden crosses.

In one section, two rows of graves reach out towards the fences. Some are still marked; others have had their markers lost to grass fires or the turning of time.

Manitoba Indigenous Tuberculosis History Project Archival photo from the Brandon Indian Sanatorium shows a group of nine children in front of a painted background.

In 2020, shortly after taking a job as a Sioux Valley land manager, Cheyenne Ironman brought a group of the First Nations elders to the cemetery. She listened as they shared what they knew about those two rows of graves, the last resting place for some 50 tuberculosis patients from communities near and far, who had died at nearby sanatoriums.

For the longest time, that was all the documentation Sioux Valley had about the graves: stories and memories. A community member whod long tended to the cemetery had kept a list of the names hed found on the crosses, so Ironman collected that, but otherwise the stories of those buried there long remained shrouded by time.

"A lot of what we knew were just stories that were passed down from when they were buried," Ironman says.

Now, that shroud is lifting. In 2020, Ironman met Erin Millions, research director with the Manitoba Indigenous Tuberculosis History Project, and told the researcher she hoped to restore the identities of the people buried on Sioux Valley land, and connect them with their families.

On Tuesday, the project launches a brand-new website (indigenoustbhistory.ca), a collection of resources that brings the history of Manitobas Indigenous sanatoriums and Indian hospitals to light, and aims to help communities track down information that has long eluded them.

The site includes hundreds of photos gathered from public and private collections, links to media and archival records, and a step-by-step guide for relatives searching for the fate of patients who never came home. That was what communities told project leaders they wanted most: an accessible trove of information, and help finding their loved ones.

"Unlike many academic research projects, we havent set out with a goal to accomplish," Millions says. "We have let communities and former patients lead us in the directions of the work they want us to do."

Through that direction, what started in 2019 as a six-month social media project has grown to become an ongoing effort, led by a team of researchers that have consulted with Indigenous communities and scoured archives across Canada for scattered records of the sanatorium system.

What even project researchers didnt expect to find, Millions says, is just how deeply intertwined the hospitals were with the residential school system. The two were interconnected, and children were shunted between them. Some thought to have gone missing in residential school actually died in hospitals or vice versa.

So deep is the connection, Millions says, the schools and the hospitals must be understood as one system.

"Where they died impacts where they are buried," she says. "Often, their families werent told they were transferred or very young children were sent to a hospital and then to residential school. Finding where these children are really has to involve research around the hospitals. Weve tracked so many of them."

Yet, while residential schools have received increased attention in recent years  thanks to survivor advocacy that pushed the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and a national research hub at the University of Manitoba  the history of the segregated tuberculosis hospitals, which operated between the 1930s and early 70s, remains under-examined.

Theres still no clear figure of exactly how many people went into the tuberculosis hospitals. Efforts to track that information down are stymied by Manitobas strict health privacy regulations: most Indigenous sanatoriums in the province were funded by Ottawa but run by the provincial Sanatorium Board, and so their records remain sealed under provincial law.

Thus, national research into Indigenous tuberculosis hospitals  which were largely run by the federal government  often leaves a black hole, when it comes to patients in Manitoba. Thats where the history project hopes to make a difference: by linking communities impacted by the system with whatever public and private records they can obtain.

Already, that approach is helping to bring answers to those who have long sought them.

In May, Sioux Valley welcomed Saul Day, of Sandy Lake First Nation in northern Ontario. Day, 76, never knew what happened to his mother, who was taken to Brandon Sanatorium in the early 1950s. Researchers spotted her name on an official record, noting shed been buried in Sioux Valley.

The visit was meaningful: "To feel that closure, my inner child is well now," Day told APTN.

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It was also meaningful for Sioux Valley, which has since developed a welcoming protocol for any other families whose loved ones are buried there.

"We definitely encourage people to reach out if theyre wanting to come visit the cemetery," Ironman says.

For the Manitoba Indigenous Tuberculosis History Project, the new website is one part of an ongoing process.

Project members plan to continue advocating on behalf of families, for more Indigenous access to records held in non-Indigenous systems; and they hope to keep gathering research to build a more complete picture of the lives that moved through the sanatoriums.

"What we have done is such a tiny fragment of what there is still to understand about this," Millions says. "Theres much, much more to do."

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Manitoba patients are being kept in the dark about physicians accused of misconduct by outdated provincial legislation and a secretive self-regulating body, a Free Press investigation has found.

Manitoba patients are being kept in the dark about physicians accused of misconduct by outdated provincial legislation and a secretive self-regulating body, a Free Press investigation has found.

The legislative weakness and lack of transparency have led to policies that shield doctors from scrutiny and leave patients vulnerable to harm  a potentially dangerous approach critics say will only change when public pressure forces the government to act.

"Significant changes (are needed) to ensure that  at all times  protection of the public is the key goal," said Brandon Trask, an assistant professor with the University of Manitobas faculty of law. "People have to have trust in their physician."

JESSICA LEE JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Transparency is important not just for protecting patients, but also for instilling public confidence in the regulatory system overall, said Brandon Trask, an assistant professor with the University of Manitobas faculty of law.

Legislation must be updated to make the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) more transparent. Anything less is "doing a disservice" to the public, he said, adding patients will lose faith in the regulatory process and distrust doctors, possibly putting their health  and even lives  in harms way.

A Free Press investigation is examining how Manitobas physician watchdog, the self-regulating CPSM, handles accusations of physician misconduct. The newspaper has spoken with patients who have reported to police allegations of sexual assault, interviewed health policy experts across the country and combed through years of CPSMs annual reports to gain a better understanding of the complex and secretive process.

The CPSM registrar, Dr. Anna Ziomek, has declined interview requests from the Free Press. But in an emailed statement, Ziomek noted only a "small number" of physicians have faced disciplinary action by the college.

Critics argue approach to investigating Manitoba doctors harmful to patients JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS College of Physicians and Surgeons head office Posted: 6:17 PM Jun. 17, 2022 The woman walked out of the doctors office that day feeling violated. It was 2011, she was 19 and she had an appointment for her first full physical exam with the physician shed been seeing since she was a baby. But she knew he wasnt supposed to touch her that way. Read Full Story

In the last 10 years, college investigations have resulted in 33 physicians being disciplined. There are roughly 3,000 practitioners in the province, according to the CPSMs 2021 annual report.

Ziomek said the CPSM is bound by the limitations of the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA)  which governs Manitobas regulated health professions  but strives to be as transparent as possible. The CPSM recognizes "some improvements can be made," but legislative changes can only happen at the government level.

Health Minister Audrey Gordon declined to be interviewed for this series.

Manitoba Sen. Marilou McPhedran was consulted on drafts of the RHPA over a decade ago. The legislation, she said, still lacks a "moral compass " that keeps patient safety at the forefront.

"For Manitoba, youre just missing that compass. And that was a conscious choice," she said of the then-NDP government, which created the legislation in 2009.

But bringing about legislative change is an uphill battle, said McPhedran, who has sat on several Ontario task forces addressing similar oversight problems.

"You have to ask yourself, essentially, where is the squeaky wheel?" she said. "(Governments) have to respond to where theyre getting the most pressure."

Its only when the public is made aware of egregious cases of misconduct, often through media reports, that voters put pressure on governments to act, McPhedran said.

ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Bringing about legislative change is an uphill battle, said Manitoba Sen. Marilou McPhedran, who has sat on several Ontario task forces addressing similar oversight problems.

McPhedran, who authored the book Preventing Sexual Abuse of Patients: A Legal Guide for Health Care Professionals, has chaired three independent inquiries in Ontario looking at physician misconduct. The last of which, a Sexual Abuse Task Force, was launched by Ontarios minister of health in 2014 in direct response to investigative reporting by the Toronto Star.

Among the Stars findings were that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) was allowing doctors who the college had found guilty of misconduct for sexually abusing patients to continue practising, was placing antiquated gender-specific conditions on physician licences  such as male physicians not able to treat female patients  and not automatically revoking licenses after physicians committed certain sexual acts of abuse against patients, such as groping. Licences were only automatically revoked for specific cases of patient sexual abuse, such as penetration, oral sex and masturbation.

Today, all of those regulatory failures have been remedied in Ontario. As well, complaints are made public relatively early in the investigative process and the CPSO keeps physician records  including disciplinary information  online for 30 years after a doctor ceases being a CPSO member.

The situation is starkly different in Manitoba.

Here, investigations happen behind closed doors, preventing patients from knowing if their still-practising doctor is accused of misconduct.

Oftentimes, it can take upwards of one year between the time a complaint comes in and when the college makes information about the matter public. Of the 83 cases reviewed and "closed" by the CPSMs investigation committee between April 2020 and April 2021, 24 took longer than a year to complete, according to the CPSMs 2021 annual report. The college only makes information about complaints public after an investigation has resulted in a physician being formally censured or disciplined.

Although the college can temporarily suspend a licence while investigating misconduct, it rarely takes that step. As well, the college keeps discipline decisions online for 10 years and wipes non-practising physicians profiles from its website almost immediately.

Complainants are also required to keep quiet, signing confidentiality agreements as part of the complaints process, adding another layer of secrecy.

RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE: Click to Expand Klinic Community Healths 24-hour sexual assault crisis line can be reached at (204) 786-8631 in Winnipeg and toll free in Manitoba at 1-888-292-7565. The SANE program at Health Sciences Centre can be reached by 204-787-2071 and asking for the SANE on-call nurse. More information at klinic.mb.ca and hsc.mb.ca.

In a recent high-profile case, the public only learned of a complaint lodged against a prominent family physician in rural Manitoba after police charged him with sexually assaulting patients in November 2020. Ste. Anne family doctor Arcel Bissonnette, who is in his early 60s, now faces 22 counts of sexual assault for allegations that span nearly two decades.

Bissonnettes case is still before the courts and he is presumed innocent. His lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.

Upon his 2020 arrest, the college confirmed that at least 22 months prior, someone raised "concerns" about Bissonnette, prompting the college to require he have a female chaperone present while conducting breast and pelvic exams and post the condition on his licence in his office. Court documents show three women were still allegedly sexually assaulted by Bissonnette after the condition was put in place.

Two victims tell the Free Press they are appalled that the college did not suspend his licence or inform patients of allegations leveled against him.

The college will say little on the matter, citing the court case and the RHPAs privacy provisions.

That lack of transparency  silence amid serious allegations  highlights the urgent need for regulatory overhaul, said Paul Harte, a Toronto-based medical malpractice lawyer.

"(The RHPA) should not be used as a shield for public scrutiny of the effectiveness of the regulator," Harte said. "The college tends to interpret their legislation in a way which provides less transparency rather than more. For example, you never see them challenging the legislation or attempting to publish things and seeing what happens.

"I dont think theres a particular will on the part of the self-regulator to have this transparency."

TIJANA MARTIN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS That lack of transparency  silence amid serious allegations  highlights the urgent need for regulatory overhaul, said Paul Harte, a Toronto-based medical malpractice lawyer.

He said the government should take over regulation, or at the very least ensure more independent oversight is in place. Otherwise, self-regulation  physicians regulating physicians  risks doctors interests being or appearing to consistently trump patients interests and safety, he said.

While Ontario has made significant strides in improving its oversight system, a recommendation from an earlier McPhedran-chaired task force that called for the creation of an independent body to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate sexual abuse cases involving health professionals remains unimplemented.

McPhedron said part of the reason why provincial governments are reluctant to disrupt or dismantle the self-regulatory bodies is because they can offload hot-button issues  such as sexual abuse of patients  on colleges, leaving government free from criticism.

Asked if Manitoba should consider an independent review, the likes of which led to widespread change in Ontario, McPhedran said that could be the natural next step. But getting there requires the public putting significant pressure on the government, she said.

Lorian Hardcastle, an associate professor with the University of Calgarys faculty of law, agrees, saying policy change will only come when theres a public airing of regulatory failures.

"Its an easy win (for governments) where its come into the public consciousness," Hardcastle said. "But where it hasnt come into the public consciousness, theres often just (an acceptance that) These are self-regulating professions, lets let them do their thing."

Meanwhile, University of Manitobas Trask maintains "significant changes" are needed in Manitoba. Transparency is important not just for protecting patients, he says, but also for instilling public confidence in the regulatory system overall.

Its not just that justice needs to be done, justice must also be seen to be done," he said.

katrina.clarke@freepress.mb.ca
Once the House of Commons quits work on Thursday for its scheduled summer break, members of Parliament will be free to scatter across the country and do what comes naturally to them. Canadians who take an interest in such things will be able to watch how their political representatives behave when freed from the discipline of a parliamentary session.

Once the House of Commons quits work on Thursday for its scheduled summer break, members of Parliament will be free to scatter across the country and do what comes naturally to them. Canadians who take an interest in such things will be able to watch how their political representatives behave when freed from the discipline of a parliamentary session.

Conservatives will face the urgent demands of a leadership race. No lazy hot summer afternoons for them. The followers of Pierre Poilievre, Jean Charest, Patrick Brown, Leslyn Lewis and the other contenders will be courting their friends, neighbours and potential party members in anticipation of the Sept. 10 vote to choose a successor to Erin OToole.

Conservatives do this a lot. In 2017, they chose Andrew Scheer as their leader. They dumped him in 2019 after he narrowly lost a federal election. In 2020, they picked Mr. OToole to take his place. He lost a federal election and they dumped him by a caucus vote in February this year.

Since then, leadership contenders have been stoking rage against each other and against the ruling Liberals and selling party memberships to potential supporters. Angry epithets have been zinging across the country as leading candidates show off their vituperative skills.

The work of pulling the party back together and teaching the art of teamwork must wait for another day. Conservatives are too busy tearing their party apart, as they have been doing through the Scheer and OToole years, to worry about binding the wounds.

JUSTIN TANG / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Erin OToole was voted out as leader of the Conservative Party of Canada earlier this year.

New Democrat MPs will face no such strenuous efforts. Their leader, Jagmeet Singh, is reasonably well liked by the public and there have been no signs of internal insurgency against his leadership.

The parliamentary party already made its grand strategic choice of promising to keep the Liberals in power in this minority Parliament as long as their government appears to be delivering a short list of NDP legislative demands. After that, there is little to be done but wait for a general election and hope the NDP does not appear impotent and irrelevant in the eyes of its supporters.

The easiest summer of all awaits the ruling Liberals. They have NDP support in their back pocket. Political Canada is entertained by the continuing self-destruction of the Conservative party. Once Parliament has risen, no one will be paying much attention to what the government does or fails to do. The slow-motion Conservative train wreck will hold the nations attention.

The Liberals toughest task will be to slather on enough sunscreen as they loll beside their backyard pools. As far as the Liberal eye can see into the future, there is no bump in the road, no obstacle to challenge or interrupt the serene continuance of Liberal rule.

As far as the Liberal eye can see into the future, there is no bump in the road, no obstacle to challenge or interrupt the serene continuance of Liberal rule.

Public impatience with rising consumer prices could become a problem, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau long ago learned from his father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, how to deal with that  wait for the Tories to propose wage and price controls, dismiss their plan as foolish, then adopt it when other remedies prove ineffective. It worked for the father; why would it not work for the son?

The Conservatives choice of a successor to Messrs. Scheer and OToole should hold the countrys attention as the summer days shorten toward autumn. Then the public will have to wait and see how soon the knives come out once again.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The House 1/6 committee heard chilling, tearful testimony Tuesday that Donald Trump's relentless pressure to overturn the 2020 presidential election provoked widespread threats to the backbone of our democracy" election workers and local officials who fended off the defeated presidents demands despite personal risks.

Vice Chair Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., gives opening remarks as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol continues to reveal its findings of a year-long investigation, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The House 1/6 committee heard chilling, tearful testimony Tuesday that Donald Trump's relentless pressure to overturn the 2020 presidential election provoked widespread threats to the "backbone of our democracy" election workers and local officials who fended off the defeated presidents demands despite personal risks.

The panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol focused on Trumps efforts to undo Joe Bidens victory in a most local way  by leaning on officials in key battleground states to reject ballots outright or to submit alternative electors for the final tally in Congress.

The pressure, described as potentially illegal, was fueled by the presidents false claims of voter fraud which, the panel says, led directly to the deadly insurrection at the Capitol.

"A handful of election officials in several key states stood between Donald Trump and the upending of American democracy," Chairman Bennie Thompson said, praising them as heroes and the "backbone of our democracy."

The hearing was punctuated throughout with accounts of the personal attacks faced by state and local officials.

Arizona Republican House Speaker Rusty Bowers said he was subjected to a public smear campaign, including relentless bull-horn protests at his home and a pistol-wielding man taunting his family and neighbors.

Officials in Michigan, Pennsylvania and other states told similar stories of having their cellphone numbers and home addresses spread publicly after they refused Trumps demands.

At one gripping moment, two Georgia election workers, a mother and daughter, testified that they lived in fear of saying their names aloud after Trump wrongly accused them of voter fraud.

Rusty Bowers, Arizona state House Speaker, from left, Brad Raffensperger, Georgia Secretary of State, and Gabe Sterling, Georgia Deputy Secretary of State, are sworn in to testify as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol continues to reveal its findings of a year-long investigation, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

"There were a lot of threats wishing death upon me," said Wandrea ArShaye "Shaye" Moss, a former state election worker.

The public hearing, the fourth by the panel this month, stemmed from its yearlong investigation into Trumps unprecedented attempt to remain in power, a sprawling scheme that the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee has likened to an "attempted coup." The panel insisted that Trump's lies over the election threaten democracy to this day, as local officials face ongoing threats and challengers try to take over their jobs.

The committee's vice chair, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, implored Americans to pay attention to the evidence being presented, declaring, "Donald Trump didnt care about the threats of violence. He did not condemn them, he made no effort to stop them."

"We cannot let America become a nation of conspiracy theories and thug violence," she said.

Other key witnesses included Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who testified about Trumps phone call asking him to "find 11,780" votes that could flip his state to prevent Bidens election victory, and his deputy Gabe Sterling, who became a notable figure during Georgia's long recount in 2020 when he urged Trump to tone down the rhetoric.

While the committee cannot charge Trump with any crimes, the Justice Department is watching the panels work closely.

Trump defended himself on social media, describing his phone call to Raffensperger as "perfect," similar to the way he described his 2020 call with Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskyy that resulted in his first impeachment.

The public testimony from Raffensperger came weeks after he appeared before a special grand jury in Georgia investigating whether Trump and others illegally tried to intervene in the states 2020 election, and after Raffensperger beat a Trump-backed challenger in last months primary election.

He and Sterling, his chief operations officer, detailed their painstaking efforts to count the Georgia vote, investigating one false claim after another of fraud. After a hand recount of 5 million ballots, Biden's victory was unchanged.

Vice chair Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., hugs Rusty Bowers, Arizona state House Speaker, during a break as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol continues to reveal its findings of a year-long investigation, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

"The numbers don't lie," said Raffensperger, who said that some 28,000 Georgia voters simply bypassed the presidential race but voted down ballot for others. "At the end of the day, President Trump came up short."

Bowers, the Arizona House speaker, walked through what started with a Trump phone call on a Sunday after he returned from church. The defeated president laid out his proposal to have the state replace its electors for Biden with others favoring Trump.

"I said, Look, youre asking me to do something that is counter to my oath," Bowers testified.

Bowers insisted on seeing Trumps evidence of voter fraud, which he said Trumps team never produced beyond vague allegations. He recalled Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani at one point told him, "Weve got lots of theories, we just dont have the evidence."

Trump wanted Bowers to hold a hearing at the state Capitol, but the Republican leader said there was already a "circus" atmosphere over the election. The panel showed video footage of protesters at the Arizona statehouse including a key figure, the horned hat-wearing Jacob Chansley, who was later arrested at the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

Trump nevertheless pressed the Arizona official, including in a follow-up call, suggesting he expected a better response from a fellow Republican.

But Bowers said that because of his faith, including a belief the U.S. Constitution is divinely inspired, what the president was asking him to do was "foreign to my very being."

Bowers called Trumps effort a "tragic parody."

In in-person testimony, Moss, who had worked for Atlanta's Fulton County elections department since 2012, and her mother, Ruby Freeman, a temporary election worker who spoke earlier to the panel, gripped the audience with their accounts of the fallout from the smear campaign by Trump and Giuliani.

"There is nowhere I feel safe. Nowhere," Freeman testified. "Do you know how it feels to have the president of the United States target you? The president of the United States is supposed to represent every American, not to target one. But he targeted me."

The select committee worked to untangle the elaborate "fake electors" scheme that sought to have representatives in as many as seven battlegrounds  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada and New Mexico  sign certificates stating that Trump, not Biden, had won their states.

The committee showed a text message sent from an aide to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., to an aide for Vice President Mike Pence the morning of Jan. 6 saying Johnson wanted to give Pence an "alternate slate of electors for MI and WI."

"Do not give that to him," Pence aide Chris Hodgson replied. And Johnson didn't, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

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Conservative law professor John Eastman, a lawyer for Trump, pushed the fake electors in the weeks after the election. Trump and Eastman convened hundreds of electors on a call on Jan. 2, 2021, encouraging them to send alternative slates from their states where Trumps team was claiming fraud.

The fake electors idea was designed to set up a challenge on Jan. 6, 2021, when Congress met in joint session, with Vice President Pence presiding in what is typically a ceremonial role to accept the states' vote tallies. But the effort collapsed, as Pence refused Trumps repeated demands that he simply halt the certification of Bidens win  a power he believed he did not possess in his role.

That's the certification the Capitol mob tried to stop.

At least 20 people in connection with the fake electors scheme were subpoenaed by the House panel. The committee says it will show that it has gathered enough evidence through its more than 1,000 interviews and tens of thousands of documents to connect the varying efforts to overturn the election directly to Trump.

___

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Bob Christie in Phoenix contributed to this report.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Police had enough officers and firepower on the scene of the Uvalde school massacre to have stopped the gunman three minutes after he entered the building, and they would have found the door to the classroom where he was holed up unlocked if they had bothered to check it, the head of the Texas state police testified Tuesday, pronouncing the law enforcement response an abject failure.

A window washer work around the town square, Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. Uvalde is home to the Texas elementary school where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers has long been a part of the fabric of the small city of Uvalde, a school attended by generations of families, and where the spark came that led to Hispanic parents and students to band together to fight discrimination over a half-century ago. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Police had enough officers and firepower on the scene of the Uvalde school massacre to have stopped the gunman three minutes after he entered the building, and they would have found the door to the classroom where he was holed up unlocked if they had bothered to check it, the head of the Texas state police testified Tuesday, pronouncing the law enforcement response an abject failure.

Officers with rifles instead stood in a hallway for over an hour, waiting in part for more weapons and gear, before they finally stormed the classroom and killed the gunman, putting an end to the May 24 attack that left 19 children and two teachers dead.

I dont care if you have on flip-flops and Bermuda shorts, you go in, Col. Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said in blistering testimony at a state Senate hearing.

A school bus passes a 'Uvalde Strong' sign placed in the window of a business to honor the victims killed in the recent school shooting at Robb Elementary, Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. The Texas elementary school where a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers has long been a part of the fabric of the small city of Uvalde, a school attended by generations of families, and where the spark came that led to Hispanic parents and students to band together to fight discrimination over a half-century ago. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

The classroom door, it turned out, could not be locked from the inside by design, according to McCraw, who also said a teacher reported before the shooting that the lock was broken. Yet there is no indication officers tried to open it during the standoff, McCraw said. He said police instead waited for keys.

I have great reasons to believe it was never secured, McCraw said of the door. How about trying the door and seeing if its locked?

Delays in the law enforcement response at Robb Elementary School have become the focus of federal, state and local investigations.

McCraw lit into Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde school district police chief who McCraw said was in charge, saying: The only thing stopping a hallway of dedicated officers from entering Room 111 and 112 was the on-scene commander who decided to place the lives of officers before the lives of children.

FILE - A mourner stops to pay his respects at a memorial at Robb Elementary School, created to honor the victims killed in the recent school shooting, June 9, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. Two teachers and 19 students were killed in the mass shooting. Law enforcement authorities had enough officers on the scene of the Uvalde school massacre to have stopped the gunman three minutes after he entered the building, the Texas public safety chief testified Tuesday, June 21 pronouncing the police response an abject failure.(AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Arredondo made terrible decisions, said McCraw, who lamented that the police response "set our profession back a decade.

Arredondo has said he didnt consider himself the person in charge and assumed someone else had taken control of the law enforcement response. He has declined repeated requests for comment from The Associated Press, and his lawyer did not immediately respond Tuesday.

The police chief testified for about five hours Tuesday at a closed-door hearing of a Texas House committee also investigating the tragedy, according to the panel chair.

Senate members hearing the latest details reacted with fury, some decrying Arredondo as incompetent and saying the delay cost lives. Others pressed McCraw on why state troopers on the scene didnt take charge. McCraw said the troopers did not have legal authority to do so.

Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw testifies at a Texas Senate hearing at the state capitol, Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Two teachers and 19 students were killed in last month's mass shooting in Uvalde. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

The public safety chief presented a timeline that said three officers with two rifles entered the building less than three minutes behind the gunman, an 18-year-old with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle. Several more officers entered minutes after that. Two of the officers who went into the hallway early on were grazed by gunfire.

The decision by police to hold back went against much of what law enforcement has learned in the two decades since the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado in which 13 people were killed in 1999, McCraw said.

You dont wait for a SWAT team. You have one officer, thats enough, he said. He also said officers did not need to wait for shields to enter the classroom. The first shield arrived less than 20 minutes after the shooter entered, according to McCraw.

Eight minutes after the shooter entered, an officer reported that police had a heavy-duty crowbar that they could use to break down the classroom door, McCraw said.

Photos of doors from Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, are used as Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw testifies at a Texas Senate hearing at the state capitol, Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Two teachers and 19 students were killed in last month's mass shooting in Uvalde. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

The public safety chief spent nearly five hours offering the clearest picture yet of the massacre, outlining a series of other missed opportunities, communication breakdowns and errors based on an investigation that has included roughly 700 interviews. Among the missteps:

 Arredondo did not have a radio with him.

 Police and sheriffs radios did not work inside the school. Only the radios of Border Patrol agents on the scene did, and they did not work perfectly.

 Some school diagrams that police used to coordinate their response were wrong.

Using photos of doors from Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw testifies at a Texas Senate hearing at the state capitol, Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Two teachers and 19 students were killed in last month's mass shooting in Uvalde. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Public leaders, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, initially praised the police response in Uvalde. Abbott said officers reacted quickly and ran toward the gunfire with amazing courage to take out the killer, thereby saving lives. He later said he was misled.

State police initially said the gunman, Salvador Ramos, entered the school through an exterior door that had been propped open by a teacher. However, McCraw said the teacher had closed the door, but unbeknownst to her, it could be locked only from the outside. The gunman walked straight through, McCraw said.

The gunman knew the building well, having attended the fourth grade in the same classrooms where he carried out the attack, McCraw said. Ramos never communicated with police that day, the public safety chief said.

Sen. Paul Bettencourt said the entire premise of lockdown and shooter training is worthless if school doors cant be locked. We have a culture where we think weve trained an entire school for lockdown .... but we set up a condition to failure, he said.

A section of a classroom door from Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, is seen as Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw testifies at a Texas Senate hearing at the state capitol, Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Two teachers and 19 students were killed in last month's mass shooting in Uvalde. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Bettencourt challenged Arredondo to testify in public and said he should have removed himself from the job immediately. He angrily pointed out that shots were heard while police waited.

There are at least six shots fired during this time," he said. Why is this person shooting? Hes killing somebody. Yet this incident commander finds every reason to do nothing.

Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said Tuesday that the city has specific legal reasons that it's not answering questions publicly or releasing records. There is no cover-up," he said in a statement.

Later in the day, the Uvalde City Council voted unanimously against giving Arredondo, who is a council member, a leave of absence from appearing at public meetings. Relatives of the shooting victims had pleaded with city leaders to instead fire him.

Using photos of doors from Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw, seated center, testifies at a Texas Senate hearing at the state capitol, Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Two teachers and 19 students were killed in last month's mass shooting in Uvalde. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Please, please, were begging you, get this man out of our lives, said Berlinda Arreola, the grandmother of Amerie Jo Garza.

After the meeting, the mayor pushed back on McCraw's testimony casting blame on Arredondo, saying that the Department of Public Safety has repeatedly put out false information about the shooting and glossed over the role of its own officers.

He called the Senate hearing a clown show and said he heard nothing from McCraw about state troopers' involvement, even though McLaughlin said their number in the school hallway at points during the slaughter surpassed that of any other law enforcement agency.

Questions about the law enforcement response began days after the massacre. McCraw said three days afterward that Arredondo made the wrong decision when he chose not to storm the classroom for more than 70 minutes, even as trapped fourth graders inside two classrooms were desperately calling 911 for help and anguished parents outside the school begged officers to go inside.

An hour after the shooter first crashed his truck outside the school, Arredondo said, according to McCraws timeline: People are going to ask why were taking so long. Were trying to preserve the rest of the life.

But McCraw said Tuesday that the amount of time that elapsed before officers entered the classroom was intolerable.

Police havent found any red flags in Ramos' school disciplinary files but learned through interviews that he engaged in cruelty to animals. He walked around with a bag of dead cats, McCraw said.

In the days and weeks after the shooting, authorities gave conflicting and incorrect accounts of what happened. But McCraw assured lawmakers: Everything Ive testified today is corroborated.

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McCraw said if he could make just one recommendation, it would be for more training. He also said every state patrol car in Texas should have shields and door-breaching tools.

I want every trooper to know how to breach and have the tools to do it, he said.

___

Associated Press writers Jamie Stengle and Terry Wallace in Dallas, correspondent John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, and photographer Eric Gay in Austin contributed to this report.

___

Find more AP coverage of the Uvalde school shooting: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting
Winona County experienced 84 new COVID-19 cases from 4 a.m. June 10 to 4 a.m. June 17, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

The new cases increased the countys total to 13,771 cases.

The weeks cases was a decrease from the previous week, as June 3 to June 10 had a total of 135 new cases.

Again, no new deaths due to COVID-19 were confirmed in the county, leaving the death toll at 74.

As for vaccinations, 64.1% of all Winona County residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 61.5% have received a full COVID-19 vaccine series and 40.5% are fully up-to-date with their recommended doses.

A 0.1% increase was seen among residents who have received a full series, but a 0.1% decrease was experienced among residents who are fully up-to-date with their recommended doses.

In Winona County, 98% of residents 65 years old and older, 78% of residents between 50 and 64 years old, 56% of residents between 18 and 49 years old, 69% of residents between 16 and 17 years old, 70% of residents between 12 and 15 years old, and 44% of residents between 5 and 11 years old have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

None of the age groups vaccine rates saw a percent increase compared to the previous week.

Minnesota as a wholes vaccination rate is still ahead of Winona Countys, as 70.5% of Minnesota residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information about COVID-19 in Winona County and Minnesota as a whole, visit health.state.mn.us.

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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Behind the raw public frustration and anger over election security that has played out this week in New Mexico was a hint of something deeper -- a growing divide between the states Democratic power structure and conservative rural residents who feel their way of life is under attack.

In Otero County, where the crisis over certifying the states June 7 primary election began, County Commissioner Vickie Marquardt struck a defiant tone as she relented under pressure from the states Democratic attorney general, Democratic secretary of state and a state Supreme Court dominated by Democratic appointees.

One of the main explanations she gave for reversing course had nothing to do with questions over the security of voting machines  the reason the all-Republican, three-member commission had originally refused to certify its election.

If we get removed from office, nobody is going to be here fighting for the ranchers, and thats where our fight should be right now, said Marquardt, the commission chairwoman in a county where former President Donald Trump won nearly 62% of the vote in 2020.

Otero County is similar to the handful of other New Mexico counties where residents have questioned the accuracy of election results and given voice to unfounded conspiracy theories about voting systems that have rippled across the country since former President Donald Trump lost re-election in 2020.

In the states vast, rural stretches, frustration over voting and political representation has been building for years. Residents have felt marginalized and overrun by government decisions that have placed limits on livelihoods  curtailing access to water for livestock, shrinking the amount of forest land available for grazing, or halting timber operations and energy developments due to endangered species concerns.

Tensions have mounted as Democrats in New Mexico consolidate control over every statewide office and the Supreme Court. Democrats have dominated the Legislature for generations.

Even as they voted to certify their elections, sometimes reluctantly, commissioners from several New Mexico counties said they were bound by the law to take that step  thanks to legislation passed by Democrats. They urged their residents to take the fight to the statehouse.

Some bemoaned what they felt was an encroachment by the state on the powers of local government. Marquardt, from Otero County, complained of her commissions meager rubber stamping authority under laws enacted by Democrats and an election certification railroaded through by larger forces.

Otero County is among more than a dozen self-proclaimed 2nd Amendment sanctuary counties in rural New Mexico to approve defiant resolutions against recent state gun control laws. The county also has embraced resistance to President Joe Bidens goals for conservation of more private land and waterways for natural habitat, arguing it will cordon off already limited private land.

Amid alienation, skepticism about the security of elections has taken flight.

On Friday, Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin was the lone dissenting vote in the election certification, though he acknowledged that he had no evidence of problems or factual basis for questioning the results of the election. His vote came after the county elections clerk said the primary went off without a hitch and that the results were confirmed afterward.

The former rodeo rider and co-founder of Cowboys for Trump dialed into the meeting because he was in Washington, D.C., where hours before he had been sentenced for entering restricted U.S. Capitol grounds during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

Applause rang out when Griffin declared, I think we need to hold our ground.

The developments in New Mexico can be traced to far-right conspiracy theories over voting machines that have spread across the country over the past two years. Various Trump allies have claimed that Dominion voting systems had somehow been manipulated as part of an elaborate scheme to steal the election, which Biden won.

There has been no evidence of widespread fraud that would have changed the results of the 2020 presidential election, and testimony before the congressional committee investigating the insurrection has made clear that many in Trumps inner circle told him the same as he schemed to retain power.

The election clash that erupted this past week worries Dian Burwell, a registered independent and coffee shop manager in the Otero County seat of Alamogordo.

We want people to vote and when they see all this, theyll just say, Why bother? Burwell said.

Despite New Mexico counties eventual votes to certify their primary results, election officials and experts fear the mini-rebellion is just the start of efforts nationwide to sow chaos around voting and vote-counting, building toward the 2024 presidential election. The New Mexico secretary of states office said it had been inundated with calls from officials around the country concerned that certification controversies will become a new front in the attacks on democratic norms.

In another New Mexico county where residents angrily denounced the certification, commissioners were denounced as cowards and traitors by a hostile crowd before voting. Torrance County Commissioner LeRoy Candelaria, a Republican and Vietnam veteran, voted to certify the results without apologies, despite the personal insults.

The semi-retired rancher and highway maintenance foreman said he has taken time outside commission meetings to explain his position that New Mexicos vote-counting machines are well-tested and monitored.

Our county clerk did an excellent job. I dont think theres a vote that went wrong in any way, Candelaria said later in a telephone interview. My personal opinion is there are people who are still mad about the last presidential election. ... Lets worry about the next election and not take things personally.

Associated Press writers Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Anita Snow and Terry Tang in Phoenix contributed to this report.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Children in Baraboo and Wisconsin Dells have access to free lunches again this summer from two community school districts.

The School District of Baraboo and Wisconsin Dells School District are giving out free breakfasts and lunches at different sites to area students 18 and younger. Baraboo schools are operating the program at Baraboo High School and Al Behrman Elementary School, while Wisconsin Dells is running at six locations, as well as locations in Portage.

"This program fills a void created when school lunches are not available," said Liz Behning, the School District of Baraboo food service director, in an email.

Meals are available to all children, regardless of income or district attendance status, in both districts.

The six sites for the Dells include Kilbourn Public Library, the municipal pool, and Fireman's Park in the city, along with Captain Bob's Park and Ridgewood Apartments in Lake Delton, and Memorial Park in Briggsville. Each site has lunches at various times: 11 a.m. and 1:05 p.m.

Greg Heller, Director of Food Service, added that two district vans work three sites apiece each day.

Each week on a random, unannounced day, the Wisconsin Dells program has a special event. This can include giveaways, learning activities, and other engagements to maintain community participation.

"There's something planned every week," he said.

Baraboo's program runs through July 12, which is also when summer school ends in the district. Wisconsin Dells' program runs till August 19.

"Between breakfast and lunch, we're doing about 200 meals a day for students who are in the summer school program as well as walk-ins from our community," said Behning.

Behning added that Baraboo received a donation from a local church to cover the costs of meals for parents eating with their children.

Breakfasts are served in Baraboo from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and lunches are from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at both service sites. Baraboo will not be open on July 4 and 5 due to the holiday.

The lunches are served in-person to students who must eat their meals on site. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the districts allowed grab-and-go meals during 2020 and 2021, but have reverted to in-person gatherings for this summer.

Both programs serve a variety of foods that basically are the same as school lunches. This includes vegetables, burgers, chicken and pulled pork sandwiches, chicken nuggets, pizza, and corn dogs, among other foods. Heller said the Dells also creates a lunch that resembles "Lunchables," and that both hot and cold meals are served.

Heller, who has been with the district for 16 years, said that the Wisconsin Dells program has been in existence for nearly 15 years. He added that it started as an idea from the UW Extension. The district began by getting meals from Adams-Friendship Area School District before preparing the meals locally beginning in early 2010, along with extending service to Portage.

Other communities served by the Wisconsin Dells School District during the summer are Cambria, Friesland, and Endeavor, according to Heller. He also wants more students and families in the Dells area to take advantage of the program, as he said the turnout at the lunch sites is often low.
After four years, Sauk County Historical Society is preparing to bring back an event highlighting historic homes in the area.

The Societys Tour of Historic Homes event will be held on July 23, offering participants the opportunity to take a self-guided tour through five houses built between the mid-19th century and the mid-20th century. The tour is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Since 1993, the tour has been held every other year, but due to the pandemic, this years tour is the first time the event has been held in four years.

The oldest home on the tour is the House of Seven Gables, built in 1860. The Gothic Revival Style house has been featured on the cover of the popular magazine Old House Journal, in addition to being one of only 20 homes across the state featured in a lavish book called Wisconsins Own: Twenty Remarkable Homes.

For the past 56 years, Ralph and Pamela Krainik have called Seven Gables their home, spending time, money, and energy ensuring that the house is taken care of. Currently, despite being over 150 years old, the home is still in a museum quality state, according to Paul Wolter, director of the Sauk County Historical Society.

(The House of Seven Gables is) always worth a visit, said Wolter. Its just wonderful.

The house was originally featured in The Baraboo News Republic in August of 1860, when construction on the house had just begun. Later articles by the Republic say that the home was finished just three months later.

According to our ideas of beauty, and we think that the public will coincide with us, the new building now being erected by T. Thomas of the Sauk County Bank upon the beautiful knoll about two blocks north east of the Court House will be the most elegant residence in the vicinity, the article reads.

The home was named after the classic Nathaniel Hawthorne novel, which tells the story of a long-haunted New England house and its inhabitants. The story of Baraboos House of Seven Gables doesnt feature such gloomy undertones.

Terrell Thomas, a teller who later became the banks president, purchased the six-lot site on which the house was built in 1857. Since then, it has been through five owners and many restorations.

The House of Seven Gables is the only home in this years historic tour roster to have been featured on the tour before; the other four homes are new to the tour. They include the Schultz House, Schaefer House, Halsted House and the French House.

While each house boasts a unique history and viewing experience, Wolter says the overall tour is an effective way to raise money for the Historical Society itself.

We like to use (the tour) as a tool to promote historic preservation he said. No denying this is a fundraiser for the historical society, since we have our own giant old house to keep up.

Beyond showcasing historic architecture and preservation efforts, Wolter added that the tour is also a good way to show people that when it comes to homes, age is just a number.

The tour helps show people that they can live in these old houses and not be a martyr, he said. They can be quite comfortable in these old houses.

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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Yunnan Energy New Material Co., Ltd. (SEMCORP), a Chinese lithium-ion battery separator film supplier, recently updated the latest progress of its cooperation with CATL, under which both parties agreed last November to co-build a limited liability platform venture focusing on the investment in the projects of dry-/ wet-process separators.

According to the announcement SEMCORP released on Monday, the company's designated subsidiary, Shanghai Energy New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. has signed an agreement to build a lithium ion battery separator and coating cutting lines in the area co-administered by the Management Committee of Xiamen Torch Development Zone for High Technology Industries and the government of Xiamen Tong'an district.



Photo credit: SEMCORP

The platform joint venture, which is 51/49 held by SEMCORP and CATL, will build a project subsidiary to take charge of the construction and operation of the aforesaid facilities.

Temporarily named Xiamen Energy New Materials Technology Co., Ltd., the project subsidiary would involve a registered capital of 1.6 billion yuan ($239.403 million).

The project company plans to build 16 lithium ion battery separator and coating splitting lines with a total of 5.2 billion yuan ($778.059 million) to be invested. The facilities will mainly serve the markets of new energy vehicle power battery systems and energy storage systems, and is anticipated to start operation in 2023.
Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson tried to hand then-Vice President Mike Pence official-looking documents falsely affirming former President Donald Trump won Wisconsin and Michigan as Pence prepared to affirm Joe Bidens electoral victory on Jan. 6, 2021, according to text messages revealed at a U.S. House hearing Tuesday.

The Wisconsin document, signed by 10 Republicans who convened in the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, was filled out on the same day the Democratic slate of Wisconsin electors met in the same building to deliver the states 10 electoral votes to Biden. The meeting of Republicans occurred after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Biden had won the election.

Johnson needs to hand something to VPOTUS please advise, Johnson aide Sean Riley texted Pence staff member Chris Hodgson at 12:37 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021.

What is it? Hodgson replied.

Alternate slate of electors for MI and WI because archivist didnt receive them, Riley wrote back.

Hodgson responded: Do not give that to him.

The text messages were produced Tuesday by the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The senator had no involvement in the creation of an alternate slate of electors and had no foreknowledge that it was going to be delivered to our office, Johnson spokesperson Alexa Henning said in a statement after the revelation. This was a staff to staff exchange. His new Chief of Staff contacted the Vice Presidents office. The Vice Presidents office said not to give it to him and we did not. There was no further action taken.

After being asked follow-up questions about whether Johnson was informed about the fake document being provided to his office, who provided it or whether Johnson was involved in the decision to contact Pences office, as the text implies, Henning said, I sent you my statement.

Later on Tuesday, Johnson told a CNN reporter, I was aware that we got this package and that somebody wanted us to deliver it to the vice president. We reached out. They didnt want it, we didnt deliver it.

In the interview, Johnson said he didnt know who delivered the documents to his office.

In the run-up to the vote certification on Jan. 6, 2021, Johnson indicated he would object to the certification of electors in key states Biden won. But he changed course after the assault on the Capitol and voted to certify key swing states whose results Republicans were trying to discredit.

He later told a liberal activist in comments that were secretly recorded, theres nothing obviously skewed about the results of the 2020 presidential election. Even so, the senator has consistently supported former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gablemans effort to review the 2020 election.

Wisconsin, we deserve better, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin stated on Twitter.

Two days before the text exchange between Johnsons office and that of the vice president, according to another text the House committee disclosed Tuesday, Wisconsin Republican Party executive director Mark Jefferson texted an unidentified person saying, Freaking trump idiots want someone to fly original elector papers to the senate President. Theyre gonna call one of us to tell us just what the hell is going on.

Wisconsin Republican Party spokesperson Anna Kelly did not respond to a request for comment.

Fake electors

Republicans have said the meeting to sign the document was to preserve their legal options amid litigation surrounding the election. Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro sent a memo to fellow Trump attorney and former Dane County Circuit Court Judge James Troupis on Nov. 18, 2020, detailing the Republicans eventual plan to pose as electors.

One of those fake electors, former Wisconsin Republican Party chair Andrew Hitt, told the U.S. House committee in a video presented Tuesday that he was told the fake Trump electors would only count if a court ruled in the former presidents favor.

Official-looking certificates were submitted by Republicans claiming to be electors in Wisconsin and six other states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Pennsylvania.

In a Dec. 9, 2020, memo obtained by The Washington Post and revealed this week, Chesebro called the plan to sign official-looking documents in Wisconsin and Arizona unproblematic but said the plan was slightly problematic in Michigan, somewhat dicey in Georgia and Pennsylvania and extremely problematic in Nevada  all states where local laws made producing such documents difficult.

The article didnt explain why Wisconsin was unproblematic, but explained that the slight problem in Michigan was state law requiring the electors to convene at a specific time in the Senate chambers, which is where the Democratic electors were already convening. Wisconsin law specifies a time, but not a room in the state Capitol where the meeting should be held.

In court

Chesebro, Troupis and the 10 Republicans who signed the paperwork are now subject to a lawsuit in Wisconsin  the first of its kind nationwide  alleging they played a role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

The lawsuit seeks more than $2.4 million in damages, including $2,000 in fines for the Republicans and their attorneys, and up to $200,000 in punitive damages for each plaintiff. Plaintiffs in the case include lawfully elected Wisconsin electors Khary Penebaker and Mary Arnold, as well as Bonnie Joseph, who is listed in court documents as someone who objects to Defendants unlawful interference in Wisconsins participation in the Electoral College.

Law Forward also filed a complaint with the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office and another with the Office of Lawyer Regulation  the agency that handles complaints against lawyers in Wisconsin  against Hitt. The U.S. Department of Justice is also looking into the matter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Former families and a former teacher at one of Madisons most prominent Catholic schools say its shift to a more traditionalist approach has resulted in the departure of most of its staff and a massive drop in enrollment for the coming school year.

Madison Diocese officials did not respond to repeated requests for comment from the Wisconsin State Journal about the changes at St. Maria Goretti, which enrolls students in prekindergarten through eighth grade at 5405 Flad Ave. on the citys Southwest Side.

But in a letter sent to school families in October, Diocese Bishop Donald Hying acknowledged concerns about recently hired Principal Bob Schell and priest Father Scott Emerson and said changes at the school reflect the desire of your leadership to strengthen the Catholic identity and formation of our students. He rejected the notion that an increased emphasis on religion will diminish the quality of academic excellence.

Exact figures are hard to come by, but enrollment for the 2022-23 year is projected to be between 100 and 120, down from more than 400 during the 2020-21 year and about 330 at the beginning of 2021-22, according to parish or former parish members. Schell said enrollment last school year was about 300 but declined to speculate about what it would be next year, saying much can happen during the summer months.

The school had 40 staffers most recently, Schell said, and next year there were will be somewhere around 14, to align with reduced enrollment.

Former teacher Heather Kandiko, who taught Spanish at the school for 14 years, said teachers and other staff left throughout the last school year, including the mass resignation of the schools lunch crew. She said she received a contract non-renewal notice just before spring break but then saw her job and others at the school posted on a teachers job site.

There was nothing stated directly on the notice of why, she said. About 10-plus other teachers were given the same exact letter.

Schell declined to discuss specific personnel matters.

Families who formerly had children at the school say changes have included a greater emphasis on the spiritual formation of boys specifically and a more traditional, less joyful approach to Mass.

They just came in and bombed our school, said Katy Sands. Its like a brand-new school. She said she and her husband allowed their eighth-grader to finish out the year at St. Maria Goretti, but moved their sixth-grader prior to the start of the year and their fourth-grader in October. Both went to other Catholic schools.

Schell denied that boys are getting a disproportionate amount of attention or that Mass is significantly different. But as an example of the kinds of changes Hying referenced in his letter, Schell described a program last year called Virtues in Practice, which is a way for children in grades prekindergarten through eight to grow closer to Jesus by imitating His life and virtues.

It is set up in such a way that a whole school studies the same virtue each month, to provide a whole-school (and at home, whole-family) focus, he said. The program covers 27 virtues over a three-year cycle, with 81 saints held up as models of the virtues, and staff were encouraged to integrate this learning into their regular classroom routines.

Some school families and members of St. Maria Goretti church have complained in recent years about what they see as the advent of a more conservative form of Catholicism that started when longtime priest Father Mike Burke stepped down from full-time ministry in 2017 and was replaced in 2019 by Emerson, who got rid of some contemporary music and emphasized the use of altar boys.

Jamie Wenger said he and his family enjoyed many really wonderful years at the school and at the parish but became less active as they saw the conservative direction that the parish was going in.

The changes were accompanied by a 200-person drop in parish membership to about 6,700 as of August, and are just the latest sign of the tension generally in Dane Countys Catholic community, where more liberal-leaning rank-and-file Catholics have often been at odds with a more conservative Diocese of Madison leadership, most notably former Bishop Robert Morlino, who died in 2018.

Dispute over masks

Before he was hired by Emerson, Schell served as principal of Elm Lawn Elementary School in the Middleton-Cross Plains School District, but had also been a longtime member of St. Mary of Pine Bluff in rural Cross Plains, including serving for a time as chair of the churchs pastoral council.

St. Marys priest, the Rev. Richard Heilman, has made regular appearances on a right-wing podcast in which the host and his guests often criticized or spread misinformation about government attempts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

Schell in August said he wasnt aware of Heilmans views on the pandemic response, but said, whatever Father Heilmans views are, that does not affect me as a principal.

Schell also drew criticism on Aug. 13 for announcing that masks would be optional last year at the school. He also shared with some parents a nine-page list of links to studies or articles purportedly questioning the effectiveness of masks and pointing to their alleged negative health effects.

The school later reversed course on the mask requirement, in line with Dane Countys mandate at the time.

In his Oct. 7 letter, Hying writes that he had heard various rumors, gossip, lies and calumny concerning Mr. Schell, but when pressed, the people alleging such things couldnt come up with the necessary details to justify launching a review of Schells work.

What I do hear from some quarters is disregard and resistance to the increased Catholic practice within the school, he wrote. We dont need all that Jesus stuff is an actual quote from a school parent.

He claimed the absence of most school parents from weekly Mass and other participation in the church suggests to me that many do not want an actual Catholic school, but simply a private Madison school which is academically excellent.

It seems that if you arent the right kind of Catholic, you arent good enough for SMG anymore, Kandiko said.
Here's what Wisconsin legislators and advocates on both sides of the abortion issue had to say about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning
The former state Supreme Court Justice leading the GOP-ordered review into Wisconsins 2020 election has appealed a Dane County judges decision to hold him in contempt after a heated courtroom appearance.

Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington last week held the Office of Special Counsel headed by Michael Gableman in contempt, offering a scathing rebuke of the former justices behavior in court earlier this month, when Gableman accused the judge of being a partisan advocate.

Remington ordered Gableman be fined $2,000 a day until he complies with ongoing public records requests and directed Gablemans sneering conduct in Remingtons courtroom to the office that regulates attorneys and judges in Wisconsin to take possible action against his license to practice law.

Attorneys for Gableman late last week filed an appeal of Remingtons order, seeking review by a three-judge panel in Wisconsins District 2 Court of Appeals in Waukesha.

Gablemans attorneys wrote in the court filing that Remington erred in the June 16 hearing by denying his motion to adjourn the contempt hearing, seeking to force Gableman to testify without legal counsel present and ordering sanctions grossly disproportionate to the violation.

Remingtons order was made after Gableman refused to provide testimony in a June 10 hearing. It also came two days after Remington cautioned the former justices staffer Zakory Niemierowicz, whom Gablemans attorneys have described as the sole legal custodian of the requested records, to consider seeking legal counsel, noting that remedial sanctions for contempt could include jail time.

Gableman refused to testify without counsel, and after a heated exchange with the court, J. Remington mis-characterized Gablemans objection as invoking Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and found OSC in contempt, Gablemans attorneys wrote in the filing.

At Remingtons order, the Dane County Clerk of Courts forwarded his decision and the transcript of the hearing to the Office of Lawyer Regulation, which may be the first such referral for a former state Supreme Court justice who is practicing law after leaving the high court.

There are limits to the public availability of complaints filed against lawyers, which are confidential until the Office of Lawyer Regulation, which investigates the complaints, asks the state Supreme Court to act, and the court later issues some form of discipline.

Discipline can be anything from a private reprimand to revocation of a lawyers license to practice.

Gableman is expected to be back in court on Thursday as part of another case filed by liberal watchdog group American Oversight seeking records related to the ongoing probe.

American Oversight has filed three open records cases against Gableman, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and the Assembly seeking public records related to Gablemans review of the 2020 election.

Gableman was hired a year ago by Vos, under pressure from Donald Trump to investigate the former presidents loss to President Joe Biden by just under 21,000 votes in Wisconsin. While the probe was originally allocated $676,000 in taxpayer funds, invoices have shown that ongoing court battles surrounding the review have pushed the cost to nearly $900,000.

A recount, court decisions and multiple reviews have affirmed that President Joe Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Only 24 people out of nearly 3.3 million who cast ballots have been charged with election fraud in Wisconsin.
Anticipating a U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade within the next week, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin isnt scheduling abortions after June 25.

Overturning Roe could activate Wisconsins near-complete abortion ban, first passed in 1849, although Planned Parenthood of Wisconsins legal advocacy director in May said the organization doesnt think the statute would spring back to life. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers called for the Republican Legislature to convene Wednesday to repeal that ban  a demand the Legislature will almost certainly reject.

The decision not to schedule abortions after June 25 is a safe measure to prevent canceling appointments if the nations highest court overturns Roe, according to a Friday press release from Planned Parenthood.

To suspend care on the same day for patients who have traveled great distance and at great cost is inconvenient in the least; traumatizing for those who are caught by surprise after a highly anticipated appointment under difficult circumstances; and dangerous for those who are in the midst of an abortion procedure, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin associate medical director Dr. Allison Linton said in a statement.

The organization may resume appointments if the opinion doesnt come out June 27 as Planned Parenthood anticipates, the release said.

Its definitely not Planned Parenthoods position that our criminal statute automatically springs back to life, but there are absolutely people that believe that it does, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin legal advocacy and services director Michelle Velasquez said in an interview May 18.

Dan Lennington, deputy counsel at the conservative legal group Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, said he thinks the law would activate immediately. He also pointed out Planned Parenthood of Wisconsins decision to shut down ahead of the ruling shows they understand the risk of prosecution.

Velasquez said Planned Parenthood is considering whether it would be wise to file a lawsuit challenging the states abortion laws that could up end at the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which has a 4-3 conservative majority. Justice Brian Hagedorn, who has sometimes served as a swing vote, once wrote Planned Parenthood was a wicked organization more committed to killing babies than to helping women and said Roe should be overturned.

We just have to really think about who is making those decisions, and are we employing a strategy that is going to give us the most of the potential for success in the long term? she said.

With conservative Justice Patience Roggensacks upcoming retirement, liberals have a chance to gain a court majority in 2023.
POMPANO BEACH, Fla.  As part of National Adult Sex Education Month, personal lubricants and supplements maker Swiss Navy has created a comprehensive certification course to help provide adult products retail associates with valuable knowledge and a path to certification as an expert in their field.

We create solutions for our customer-partners, said Briana Watkins, ACS, vice president of sales and marketing for M.D. Science Lab. We understand the concerns that retailers have, many of which are struggling with high turnover and need help with the demands of constantly training and retraining their staff.

The new online Swiss Navy Certified Expert certification course is self-paced and can be accessed on multiple devices at any day and time to fit into retail staff schedules.

The multi-module course covers various types of consumable goods along in-depth knowledge of uses and solutions and is peppered with "Did You Know" tidbits to help initiate conversations with consumers. The course was created in a bite-sized format so that retail staff can easily navigate their way to certification on any time schedule.

So far, weve released our first two modules with eight additional modules in the works, Watkins said. We understand how information in our industry is constantly expanding and evolving, which can make it difficult for retailers to keep training current and comprehensive. We want to provide an education for your staff members to help them be better prepared and to be a valuable part of your success.

Upon successfully completing all ten modules in the course, the staff member will receive a certificate of completion announcing them as a "Swiss Navy Certified Expert."

To sign up, visit swissnavycertifiedexpert.com.

To see the latest Swiss Navy products, visit swissnavy.com. For more sales and marketing resources, please visit Swiss Navys B2B Resource Center at b2bswissnavy.com.
Photo taken on June 12, 2022 shows Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam at the Government House in Hong Kong, south China. [Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai]

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam said Hong Kong will have a bright future by focusing on economic development and leveraging its unique advantages.

HONG KONG, June 20 (Xinhua)  Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said Hong Kong has returned to the right track of "one country, two systems" and its future is very promising.

"Hong Kong today is more stable than ever before. I'm confident that with the staunch support of the central authorities, Hong Kong will have a bright future as it focuses on economic development and leverages its unique advantages," Lam said in an interview with Xinhua.

Successful Practice of 'One Country, Two Systems'

Hailing "one country, two systems" as a great vision and a groundbreaking cause, Lam said that its practice in Hong Kong over the past 25 years has proved successful.

At a meeting celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland on July 1, 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping expounded on the relationship between "one country" and "two systems".

"'One country' is like the roots of a tree. For a tree to grow tall and luxuriant, its roots must run deep and strong," Xi said.

"I particularly like the metaphor of a tree," Lam said. "Only by taking the 'one country' as the foundation and safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests, can the 'two systems' be brought into full play."

Acknowledging that Hong Kong has gone through great challenges and difficulties over the past five years, Lam said it is now back on the right track.

To boost Hong Kong's development, Lam called for efforts to raise the awareness of national security among Hong Kong residents, better integrate Hong Kong into national development, and promote further development of various sectors, including innovation and technology, and financial services.

A staff member arranges flowers at a park in Hong Kong, south China, June 20, 2022. [Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai]

Safeguarding National Security

Recalling the turmoil in 2019, Lam said that the central government responded decisively by bringing in the national security law in Hong Kong, playing an instrumental role in ending violence and chaos and restoring order in the city.

"It is imperative to develop a sound legal system and enforcement mechanisms for Hong Kong to safeguard national security," Lam said. "Otherwise, not only will the security of Hong Kong be jeopardized, but also the whole country would be at great risk."

The 2019 turmoil enabled people to see that a legislative vacuum pertaining to national security in Hong Kong could lead to infiltration or acts of sabotage against the mainland via Hong Kong by external forces, she added.

"The national security law in Hong Kong has provided a solid foundation for us to move forward," Lam said.

Patriots Administering Hong Kong

From September 2021 to May 2022, under the new electoral system, the HKSAR successfully held elections for the Election Committee, the seventh-term Legislative Council (LegCo), and the sixth-term chief executive. An increasing number of capable and patriotic people have entered the governing structure of the HKSAR.

Lam said that the purpose of improving the HKSAR electoral system was to better implement the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong."

"In the past, when it came to the election, I was worried that some unpatriotic people would enter the legislature, thus hindering the administration of the HKSAR government. They might even use this platform to do something against the central authority and undermine the relationship between the central authority and the HKSAR," she said. "Now these concerns are gone."

The implementation of the "patriots administering Hong Kong" principle has provided room for the HKSAR government to achieve more accomplishments, Lam said, adding that future HKSAR officials will be more confident in planning for Hong Kong's future.

Workers operate at the construction site for a transaction center in Qianhai, Shenzhen City, south China's Guangdong Province, on Sept. 8, 2021. [Xinhua/Mao Siqian]

Optimistic About Future

Lam highlighted the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as the most noteworthy accomplishment of the last five years. The commissioning of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and the Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point has facilitated the formation of a "one-hour living circle" in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"In order for Hong Kong to have a brighter future, it is imperative to integrate Hong Kong into China's overall development," she emphasized.

Over the past 25 years, cooperation and exchanges between Hong Kong and the mainland have deepened, Lam noted, adding that the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) supports Hong Kong in enhancing its status as an international financial, transportation, trade center and an international aviation hub, as well as in strengthening its roles as a global offshore renminbi business hub, an international asset management center and a risk management center.

The plan also backs Hong Kong in developing itself into an international innovation and technology hub, a center for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, a regional intellectual property trading center, a hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world, and in promoting its service industries for high-end and high value-added development, she added.

"Hong Kong has a better foundation in the future, and we should be more confident in doing something innovative to boost Hong Kong's economy and improve the people's livelihood," Lam said.

"I am optimistic about the future of Hong Kong because we have returned to the right track of 'one country, two systems.'"

(Source: Xinhua)
BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua)  A study outline on Xi Jinping's economic thought has been published and distributed across the country.

The compilation was organized by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the National Development and Reform Commission.

The outline was published jointly by the People's Publishing House and the Xuexi Publishing House.

With 15 chapters and around 100,000 Chinese characters in total, it systematically explains the essence, rich content and requirements of Xi Jinping's economic thought.

The book fully reflects the original contribution of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the realm of economy.

(Source: Xinhua)
The US State of Pennsylvania is a land full of history and natural beauty, ideal for visitors with a wide range of interests. The state's National Parks are thus a great place to discover, where tourists and locals alike can get a firsthand experience of incredible natural sights and historical points of importance. This article looks at the Nineteen National Parks in Pennsylvania.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

A 70,000-acre recreation area along a portion of the Delaware River on the border of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, protects 65 km of the Eastern United States most important rivers. In this vast state park, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and even rafting. For those seeking drier activities, over 160 km of hiking trails can be found, including a portion of the famed Appalachian Trail that passes through the park.

Valley Forge National Historical Park

National Memorial Arch dedicated to George Washington and soldiers of the Continental Army of the American Revolutionary War at Valley Forge Historical Park military camp, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Located just 32 km outside of Philadelphia, Valley Forge National Historical Park gives visitors the unique opportunity to visit the area that the Continental Army, under the command of George Washington, took refuge in during the winter of 1777. During the American Revolutionary War, as fighting with the British raged on, Washington chose the Valley Forge area as a campsite because it was far enough from enemy troops to avoid any surprise attacks. In the park today, one can enjoy historical exhibits, artifacts, and other displays dedicated to this period of American history, while guided trolley tours give a fascinating insight into the greater American Revolution and Pennsylvanias role in the War.

Upper Delaware Scenic And Recreational River

View of Upper Delaware Scenic Byway with autumn colors.

On the border between Pennsylvania and the State of New York, the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River offer its visitors excellent opportunities to go fishing, canoeing, rafting, and wildlife watching. The park covers around 118 km of the Delaware River and features sites like the Roebling Bridge (the oldest suspension bridge in the country, built in 1849), the Zane Grey Museum, the Delaware and Hudson Canal, and the Hawks Nest scenic area.

Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial

A Polish military leader who migrated to the United States, Thaddeus Kosciuszko served as a colonel in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and was a close friend to Founding Father Thomas Jefferson. The National Memorial dedicated to his memory is right in Downtown Philadelphia and commemorates his life in Europe as a commander and his historic role in Americas independence. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, it is the smallest site considered a National Park in the country. No tickets are required to visit this Museum, which gives visitors a special look into a relatively obscure yet important figure of the Revolution.

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

A network of managed routes and trails that spans the States of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail covers an astounding area of 1,140 km. Visitors can go hiking, biking, paddle boating, and wildlife watching in this year-round Park, which is managed by several Federal, State, and Local agencies. Ride along the confluence of the Potomac, Ohio, and Rappahannock Rivers, for some great vistas of nature and wildlife undisturbed by urban development.

Johnstown Flood National Memorial

Johnstown Flood National Memorial.

112 km east of Pittsburgh, the Johnstown Flood National Memorial commemorates the devastating 1889 deluge that killed more than 2,200 people. With the collapse of the South Fork Dam, 20 million tonnes of water fell downstream, destroying much of Johnstown in minutes. In the Park today, portions of the destroyed Dam are preserved alongside several historic buildings that survived the waters. Meanwhile, in the visitor center, two floors of exhibits are dedicated to give a fascinating insight into the series of events that led up to the tragedy. A tour of the historic South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club is also a worthy place to stop over.

Independence National Historical Park

Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A history lovers dream, Independence National Historical Park is the place to get a literal firsthand view of key events that shaped the fledgling nation of America. Located in Downtown Philadelphias Old City, start ones visit at Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence was drafted, debated, and signed on July 4, 1776), and then visit Carpenters Hall (where the First Continental Congress met). From there, stop by City Tavern, a preserved colonial bar that saw as patrons such figures like John Adams and the First Bank of the United States for personal encounters with significant historical architecture. And, of course, visitors cannot miss the famous Liberty Bell with its iconic crack, proudly on display in the Liberty Bell Center.

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site.

Some 24 km to the southeast of the city of Reading, history lovers are also in for a treat when they visit the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, a preserved 19th-century rural iron plantation. These iron plantations, like Hopewell Furnace, were very important for their production of stoves, grates, and other common iron objects, and during the Revolutionary War also produced shells, bullets, cannons, and other artillery for the Continental Army. Visitors can enjoy historical recreations of an iron plantation village and see furnaces and blacksmiths in action in an immersive time capsule experience. On the way out, why not pick some apples from some local mills?

Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site

Built between 1698 and 1700, Gloria Dei Church is the oldest in Pennsylvania and is still in operation today. Established as a Swedish Lutheran congregation, it is now Episcopalian. Right in the heart of historic Philadelphia, Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site is an off-site component of Independence National Historical Park, where visitors can tour the church buildings and cemetery and learn about Swedish colonization of the area. Inside, one can view historical items such as a Baptismal font from 1731 and bronze bells from the metal cast in 1643!

Friendship Hill National Historic Site

Friendship Hill National Historic Site.

Approximately 88 km southeast of Pittsburgh lies Friendship Hill National Historic Site, once the home of former Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin in the 19th century. Visitors can tour this historic Mansion, first constructed in 1789, and enjoy guides from costumed interpreters who highlight not just Gallatins life but the social and political atmosphere of the Jefferson Presidency (1801-1809). Around the historic Mansion, one can also take a leisurely stroll or hike around the roughly 16km of trails filled with greenery and calm natural sounds.

Gettysburg National Military Park

8th Pennsylvania Cavalry statue in front of Pennsylvania Memorial in the Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Editorial credit: Nagel Photography / Shutterstock.com

Situated in Southern Pennsylvania and about 96 km from Baltimore, Maryland, Civil War history aficionados will surely not want to miss Gettysburg National Military Park. Established in 1895, on the site of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, visitors can see firsthand the battlefield, hospital areas, and the Gettysburg National Cemetery where Abraham Lincoln delivered his eternal Gettysburg Address. Take a 25 km auto tour around the site that stops at such spots as Picketts Charge and the Eternal Light Peace Memorial for an emotional and unique visit.

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Mount Washington Tavern at Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Pennsylvania.

Site of the Battle of Fort Necessity (1754) during the French and Indian War, this National Park is just under 100 km southeast of Pittsburgh. History lovers once more get the chance to see a chapter of American history up close on this unique reconstructed battlefield. Visit the rebuilt Fort Necessity, which was designed by George Washington, the Mount Washington Tavern, and the grave of British General Edward Braddock, or simply view the vast fields that saw heavy fighting during the War. A place of living history, Fort Necessity National Battlefield was designated a place of historical significance in 1966.

Flight 93 National Memorial

Tower of Voices monument at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Editorial credit: Steve Heap / Shutterstock.com

Dedicated to the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 that was hijacked and flown into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the National Memorial is a moving and solemn place of reflection. Just outside Shanksville and some 100 km southeast of Pittsburgh, the Memorial Plaza honors all 40 victims of the flight, with each name inscribed on white marble on the Wall of Names. In the Visitor Centre, interactive exhibits and other information are on display, highlighting the courage of those on board who valiantly stopped the hijackers from reaching their intended target, the US Capitol Building.

First State National Historical Park

Although much of the First State National Historical Park is situated in the State of Delaware, it extends into Pennsylvania in Delaware County, some 40 km southwest of Philadelphia. Officially created in 2013, the Park commemorates the early colonial history of the first two states admitted to the Union (Delaware and Pennsylvania), with several historical buildings, forts, and memorials. In the nearby Brandywine State Park, visitors can also enjoy some leisure time hiking, horseback riding, or viewing some historic Quaker-style homes.

Eisenhower National Historic Site

Eisenhower National Historic Site.

64 km southwest from the city of Harrisburg lies Eisenhower National Historic Site, once the home and farm of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Tour this quaint house and charming property to see where the former President spent his post White House life and where several international dignitaries went to visit. For a fascinating glimpse into the private life of a Commander in Chief, this informative and historical excursion is well worth a visit for anyone with even a passing interest in the political history of the nation.

Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site

Fans of American literature and poetry will most definitely not want to miss the opportunity to visit the Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site. Located in central Philadelphia, the preserved home in which Poe lived for less than a year, but where he wrote some of his most famous works (including The Tell-Tale Heart), is a treat to visit for literary aficionados. Learn more about this American icon, his inspirations, and the circumstances surrounding his tragic death at the age of 40. For true Poe fans, this Museum is a most special experience. Do not forget to pose with the statue of the Raven!

Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site

Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site in Pennsylvania.

Site of the first railroad constructed through the Allegheny Mountains of central Pennsylvania in the 1830s, today, this preserved 58 km long rail line is a popular and fascinating outing for the whole family. Tourists can view historic railroad tunnels (including the Staple Bend Tunnel), bridges, an engine house, and even a 19th-century tavern, the Lemon House. Restored to its original condition from the 1820s, stepping into the building is like voyaging back in time.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

362 km of the 3,500 km Appalachian Trail passes through Pennsylvania, which can be enjoyed at the National Scenic Trail. With elevations ranging from 280 up to 2,000 feet, the Trail has a wide array of flat areas and steep climbs and descents. Pick up a map, compass, or GPS and experience the wonder of these great hiking trails in a truly unique natural setting.

Steamtown National Historic Site

Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Editorial credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock.com

Right in the heart of downtown Scranton, Steamtown National Historic Site is a great place to get up close and personal with historic train locomotives, passenger cars, and freight cabooses. Commemorating centuries' worth of rail history (from 1850 to 1950), the Site offers its visitors unique opportunities to take guided train tours and see the evolution of the workings of a typical American rail yard. Among the sights of interest include the 1903 Chicago Union freight engine, and the 1941 Big Boy Union Pacific Locomotive, lovingly restored and ready to welcome all aboard in a most charming setting.

Pennsylvania is a state rich in culture, history, and natural beauty, all of which can be discovered and appreciated in any of its wonderful State Parks. From Civil War history to scenic hiking trails, to railroad rides, and memorials to those killed in terrorist acts, the State Parks of Pennsylvania offer an eclectic range of activities and learning experiences.
The US State of Colorado is known as an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. The four national parks throughout the state (Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, Rocky Mountain, and Great Sand Dunes) only serve to solidify this reputation. Each place showcases its own character-rich ecology, formations, activities, and combination of natural and human history. No matter which national park one visits, be sure to pack a sturdy pair of shoes and check that the camera is fully charged.

Black Canyon Of The Gunnison

A view of the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado.

Two million years of erosion have carved out the vertical cliffs of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Located in Western Colorado, these sheer, scarred cliffs narrowly encroach on the determined Gunnison River below. Near the South Rim campground, the 2,250-foot Painted Wall is the highest cliff found in the state. Two other campsites offer multi-day immersions in this wild setting. There are fun and challenging hikes to and from the river that can be undertaken by sure-footed folks. People of all abilities can also enjoy the scenic lookouts that will stop one in the tracks for a special moment. If one is lucky, one might even spot the Peregrine falcon hitting its world-record dive speeds. When night falls, one must turn attention to the starry skies. Minimizing light pollution is actually one of the conservation aims of the National Park Service in Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Mesa Verde National Park

Cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.

Mesa Verde National Park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects the ancient structures and cultural heritage of the Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi) people. For over 700 years (roughly between 550 to 1300), this indigenous group built their homes throughout the cliffs and plateaus of Mesa Verde in modern-day Southwest Colorado. About 600 cliff dwellings and another 4,100 archaeological sites have been uncovered throughout the park, with new discoveries still occurring regularly. Self-guided and guided tours are available to explore these fascinating pueblos and to learn about the history and ancestry of the Anasazi, as well as the backstory of the modern Pueblo people. Like Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde is also an International Dark Sky Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Landscape view of Rocky Mountains National Park in Colorado.

In the Northcentral part of Colorado, sprawls all 265,807 acres of Rocky Mountain National Park. As the name suggests, this place is all about highlighting the grandiose wonder of the Rockies. Complementing the beauty of the mountains are lush alpine meadows and dazzling glacial lakes. Plus, the big land features come hand-in-hand with big animals, including a herd of about 600 to 800 elk, which make their home here in the winter, approximately 350 bighorn sheep, a healthy population of mule deer, and the occasional moose. Fitness buffs can explore the park and spot some of these animals via a network of hiking trails totaling 350 miles in length. Hiking the off-beaten path can also be a good way to escape the summer crowds. In 2021, Rocky Mountain National Park welcomed over 4.3 million visitors, most of whom came between May and October.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve completes the Colorado package in another unique and enticing fashion. Here in the Southcentral portion of the state roam the tallest dunes in North America. The sandy mountains are backdropped by the 14,000-foot peaks of the snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains, to the North and East, as well as the San Juan Mountain Range, to the West. The 30 square-mile, deceptively fluid desert dune field is without trails but therefore promotes a more freelance style of adventure. Chugging up one of these high-altitude, leg-zapping hills can be a strangely fun experience. Coming back down is all the more exhilarating since it can be done by bounding on foot in large leaps, carving wide tracks on a sandboard, or sliding swiftly on a sand-sled. Nearby retailers provide rentals for the latter two options for anyone tempted to try out these exciting fringe sports. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is yet another International Dark Sky Park, and it can be visited 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round.

With such a variety of natural beauty, it is no wonder why the four national parks in Colorado attract so much attention. From challenging hikes to mesmerizing viewpoints, scenic drives, evidence of the earth's ever-changing landscape (including from human activity), and of course, the harmonious wildlife ever-present within the protected boundaries, these parks have something for all bold adventurers and weekend road-trippers.
The Connecticut River is the New England region's longest river. The Algonquian people of southern New England named it the "long tidal river" because it stretches over 410 miles and passes through four states, beginning at the northern tip of New Hampshire along the Quebec border and continuing through Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut on its way to Long Island Sound. For several millenniums, the plentiful resources of the Connecticut River drew humans who transformed and remade the surrounding landscape in profound, though not necessarily beneficial ways.

Course Of The River

The Connecticut River runs from its headwaters near the Canadian border all the way to Long Island Sound. The watershed's land use is around 77 percent wooded. The rest are distributed among agricultural, wetlands/water, and developed uses. The Connecticut River is the only significant river in the northeastern United States that does not have a major port at its mouth.

Upper Connecticut River

View of the Connecticut River from Brattleboro, Vermont State Line next to New Hampshire.

The Connecticut River rises near Pittsburg, New Hampshire, from Fourth Connecticut Lake, a tiny pond 300 yards south of the United States' national boundary with Chartierville, Quebec, Canada. Beginning at the height of 2,670 feet above sea level, the Connecticut River travels for 14 miles past the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, all within the town of Pittsburg, before widening to form a 255-mile boundary between New Hampshire and Vermont. The Connecticut River descends more than 2,480 feet in elevation as it travels south to the Massachusetts border, where it rests at 190 feet above sea level. The "Upper Valley" refers to the region above and downstream of the river that separates Lebanon, New Hampshire, and White River Junction, Vermont.

Middle Connecticut River

Springfield, Massachusetts, downtown skyline on the Connecticut River at dusk.

The river reaches its greatest depth  130 feet  in Gill, Massachusetts, at the French King Bridge, and its greatest width  2,100 feet  in Longmeadow, right across from the Six Flags New England amusement park. This middle section of the Connecticut River is dotted with lush green forests and agricultural hamlets. Nevertheless, the region is most known for its multiple college towns, including Northampton, South Hadley, and Amherst, as well as the river's most populated city, Springfield. The community is built on cliffs next to the Connecticut River, where it meets two main tributaries, the Chicopee River to the east and the Westfield River to the west.

Lower Connecticut River

Downtown Hartford and the Connecticut River from Great River Park in Hartford, Connecticut. Editorial credit: Nagel Photography / Shutterstock.com

The Lower Connecticut River segment begins 15 miles south of Hartford, near Middletown, with a narrowing of the river and then a sudden bend southeast. The Connecticut River flows through a sparsely populated, mountainous, forested region in southern Connecticut before broadening and emptying into Long Island Sound between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme.

History Of The Connecticut River

The Connecticut River's development began more than 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age. The early people of the Connecticut River Valley exploited the river not only for transportation and trading route extension but also for the lush hunting and farming areas it supplied. These forefathers of modern tribes left artifacts that experts are still discovering today, some of which are over 5,000 years old. The Dutch were the first Europeans to arrive in Connecticut in 1614. With the foundation of English colonies in Massachusetts, developing economic interactions between indigenous people and newcomers grew increasingly challenging. Native populations living along the river moved up to the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth colonies as early as 1631, hoping to fortify their position against the expanding economic and political might of the Pequot-Dutch trade alliance. Despite being provided incentives, the English initially showed little interest in establishing a presence in the river valley until September 26, 1633, when a party of Plymouth immigrants led by William Holmes sailed up the Connecticut River. The company passed the Dutch fort at modern-day Hartford and built their own trading post just south of the confluence of the Farmington and Connecticut Rivers. Over the next two years, another group of immigrants from Massachusetts, as well as one from England, arrived in the area and established what became the colony of Connecticut. With English immigrants going up into New Hampshire and Vermont in pursuit of pelts and other marketable items, the Connecticut River's value as a trading route grew. By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the river had a thriving shipbuilding sector and became an important lumber transport route.

Plant And Animal Life In Connecticut River

A Canadian goose sits in the Connecticut River.

Several wild faunal species are found in the Connecticut River Valley, whether it be lynx or pine marten in the boreal white spruce-balsam fir woods or migrating Canada geese, songbirds, and waterfowl congregating along the river and its agricultural regions. The river and its corridor support almost 300 native animal species, including numerous state and nationally endangered and vulnerable species, such as the state-endangered cobblestone tiger beetle. The dwarf wedge mussel is a species found in the river that is both state and nationally endangered. The Connecticut River has the world's greatest population of this species. The Connecticut River Valley is also home to various plant communities. The silver maple - wood nettle - ostrich fern floodplain woodland thrives on the river's regular spring floods. Among the ostrich ferns in several of these floodplain habitats grows the state-listed endangered green dragon. Calcareous riverbank seeps are found exclusively in the Connecticut River valley in New Hampshire, at river narrows, on outcrops, and on rocky or sandy substrates where groundwater emerges, and yearly ice destroys woody vegetation and creates fen-like conditions. Circum-neutral riverbank outcrop communities are found solely in New Hampshire along the Connecticut River and feature flood-tolerant plant species, including Jesup's milk-vetch, a federally listed endangered species with only known occurrences along the Connecticut River.

Significant Developments

View of Connecticut River from Gillette Castle in East Haddam, Massachusetts.

After centuries of development, Connecticut's shoreline represents a unique and delicate mix of economic and natural values. The Connecticut River Gateway Commission, which oversees waterfront development requirements, was established in 1973 due to public demand. Additional laws aimed at cleaning up the Connecticut River helped improve the surrounding ecosystem, gradually reintroducing schools of shad and herring to the river and, in 1989, allowing bald eagles to nest for the first time in over a century. The whole Connecticut River watershed became the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge in 1995 due to new legislation. Three years later, the Connecticut River was designated as an American Heritage River, and it is still protected as one of just 14 rivers in the Nation. The Connecticut River has come a long way, but there are still many chances to improve river access for leisure, connectivity, habitat restoration, and flows at the huge hydro plants located along the corridor. If computer modeling work by experts at the University of Massachusetts to synchronize water releases amongst the river's 54 significant dams pay off, the river might soon flow at a more natural pace. Access to traditional breeding habitat for anadromous fish is restored by building fish ladders at numerous dams on the river.

Threats To Connecticut River

During less-than-severe droughts, some significant streams go dry because too much water is drawn from subterranean aquifers that would normally sustain the rivers during the dry season. New commercial wells require a permit to extract water; wells that existed before the 1982 state water diversion statute require only registration with the state. These older wells in their watersheds have a significant impact on many streams. At the same time, Connecticut is increasingly vulnerable to heavy rains, which produce floods and pollution. Bacteria levels in most of Connecticut's streams are greater than what is deemed safe for recreational activities. A different statistical analysis conducted by DEEP in 2010 showed that 47 percent of wadeable streams (streams shallow enough to be examined) are appropriate for water-based recreation. Sanitary sewers were developed alongside storm sewers in 15 Connecticut cities and municipalities. When it rains, these combined sewer systems transport more water than their treatment centers can manage, and a mix of rainfall and untreated sewage spills into the rivers and Long Island Sound. Unfortunately, experts expect that climate change will result in more frequent high-intensity rainfall events in Connecticut. During particularly heavy rains, many other municipalities' sewage treatment systems, including those without integrated sanitary and storm sewers, are overwhelmed and dump untreated or inadequately treated sewage into rivers and ports.

None of New England's water basins are as significant as the Connecticut River, the region's critical physical feature and important watershed to which all rivers and streams drain. Conserving the Connecticut River's water quality is of utmost importance due to its crucial influence on the economic, ecological, and cultural activities of both the local area and the broader region.
The Winooski River is a 145km long river that flows in the north-central portion of the US State of Vermont. It springs near Cabot in Washington County and runs southwest, then northwest through the Green Mountains, via Montpelier and Waterbury, to discharge into Lake Champlain near the city of Winooski. The river's name has been derived from an Indian term that means "wild onion land." The East Barre Dam is one of the river's flood-control and hydroelectric-power structures.

The Course Of The Winooski River

Montpelier, Vermont, sits astride the Winooski River in the state's center.

The Winooski River is one of Vermont's largest watersheds. With a length of 145km, the Winooski provides water for various fish. The Winooski River flows southwest from Cabot to Montpellier. The river begins to take shape at this point. Steven's Branch, North Branch, and Dog River all enter the Winooski, roughly tripling its size. The river is fairly sluggish and silty from Montpellier to Middlesex, with few pockets of fish. Excellent wade fishing chances are available from the Middlesex Dam, just upstream of the Mad River confluence, downstream to the Route 2 Bridge in Waterbury. This area of water contains pockets of water as well as deeper flows, riffles, and pools.

Mist rises above the Winooski River on the eastern edge of Montpelier, Vermont.

The Route 2 bridge marks the higher portion of the river stretch. This two-mile stretch of water near Waterbury will give fishers the best chance of catching a monster fish. This area is easiest accessed via River Road, which runs along the river's south bank. The stretch's bottom boundary is the Winooski Street Bridge. The Little River is the outflow of the Waterbury Reservoir just downstream of Waterbury. During the summer, this tailwater offers icy water and has been recognized as cooling the Winooski River as far downstream as the Huntington River junction. The Little River may be a problematic fishery at times, yet it retains some monster trout. The Bolton Dam is located a few kilometers downstream of the Little River. There are more pools and slower running water from the Bolton Dam downstream, with a few stretches of great pocket water. When the river reaches the confluence of the Huntington, it slows dramatically and becomes more suitable for Smallmouth Bass and Fallfish. River Road continues downstream from the Winooski Street Bridge until it reaches the Janesville Bridge, which is 100 yards upstream of the Huntington River. At this point, the Winooski turns northwest and joins Lake Champlain in the city of Winooski.

Brief History Of Winooski River

Early Native Americans hunted fish, birds, and animals and foraged for different kinds of plants for medical and health purposes. Wood, clay, bone, and plant fibers were used to make tools and containers. The area was arctic tundra ten thousand years ago, and before that, Paleolithic humans hunted animals here. Around 1000 AD, humans began horticulture, with many using the Winooski floodplains or what is now known as Lake Champlain. Samuel de Champlain led a company of Frenchmen into the region in about 1609. They hacked down trees and hauled them away for timber, but they didn't dwell there until approximately 1759. When the English captured the region in 1763, residents from New York and New Hampshire settled there. These settlers attempted to claim Vermont's new holdings as their own, causing the Vermont lands to sell for exceedingly low prices. Ira and Ethan Allen, brothers, purchased significant tracts of property around Winooski and Lake Champlain. And founded settlements that grew into Burlington and several other cities along the Winooski and Lake Champlain. The lake provided transportation and powered mills for different reasons like wool, flour, paper, and (eventually) electricity throughout this period. However, most of those mills would eventually produce electricity solely. There were several farms in the surrounding region. Even though there are fewer farms now, there is greater runoff into the Winooski watershed from more developed areas, despite the presence of more re-grown trees.

Plants And Animal Life

A bike rider on the Warren & Ruth Beeken Rivershore Trail along the Winooski River in Richmond, Vermont. Editorial credit: Bob LoCicero / Shutterstock.com

Riverbank trees and bushes safeguard the Winooski River's soil from erosion. One especially significant species is speckled alder, a dense shrub that grows on the banks. Wildlife can also find refuge in bank vegetation. Bullrush, sedges, wild rice, and burreed can all be found in slow-moving water, as can river grape. The Winooski River is a haven for numerous animal species. Sandpipers exploring lake and stream borders for food or swallows capturing insects can be seen in the spring, summer, and fall. Great blue herons, ring-billed and herring gulls, and goldfinches are also common along the river. One must keep an eye out for nesting American ospreys in the snags of huge old trees. Over 50 bird species nest on Vermont's Intervale floodplain, which runs between Burlington and Colchester. The mink, as well as ducks and muskrats, call Half Moon Cove home. Deer are more likely to be seen if nearby regions are wooded. Moose have also been spotted in the Winooski River Basin along the North Branch and other tributaries. Frogs, snakes, turtles, and toads are likely to be seen as you canoe along the river. Muskrats, beavers, water shrews, and otters, all of whom rely on the river for food, are also commonly spotted. Keep a look out for raccoons, foxes, skunks, fishers, and coyotes, who may drink from the river. Wild brook trout, Vermont's sole native stream trout, live in the cold, shady mountain streams. Naturalized populations of wild rainbow and brown trout can be found in large tributaries and throughout the Winooski River. The Winooski River receives a seasonal influx of fish from Lake Champlain. Smallmouth bass and walleye may be found in large numbers downstream of the Bolton Falls Dam. Near the mouth, largemouth bass and northern pike are prevalent. Spawning salmon are captured in the fall and trucked to spawning locations before being released.

Significant Developments

Essex Junction Dam on Winooski River in Essex Junction Village, Vermont.

The Winooski River and its tributaries have long been used to generate hydroelectricity. As a supplemental source of revenue, many mills produced power. Standard Light and Electricity Company began producing hydroelectric power for local consumption in Montpelier in 1886. Burlington Light and Manufacturing Company was also offering local hydroelectric electricity about the same period. Later hydroelectric efforts included the construction of Bolton Falls in 1899 and Station #19 at Essex Junction in 1917. Many of the power firms were bought by what is now Green Mountain Power in the 1920s. The Winooski River and its tributaries are the state's second-largest hydroelectric source, with 15 hydroelectric plants in operation, eleven of which are currently operational. In addition to the hydroelectric dams, the Winooski Watershed contains additional 75 dams. The majority of these are on tributaries. Only three of the watershed's dams were constructed for flood control, and they are all on streams. The remaining dams were constructed for recreation, water storage, and modest mill usage.

Threats

Toxic chemicals from the Vermont Air National Guard installation in South Burlington have poisoned not just neighboring wells but also the Winooski River and its tributaries. According to state officials, this is the main lesson from a recent analysis on how far the contamination has extended beyond the base. Marguerite Adelman and her husband Bob Ackland with Military Poisons Vermont discovered 148.5 parts per trillion (ppt) of PFAS (poly-fluoroalkyl substances) in the waters of the Winooski River's Salmon Hole, a popular fishing site in Winooski. The polluted river water comprised 40.5 ppt of the five PFAS compounds regulated in Vermont, with PFOS accounting for 37.8 ppt. These compounds are utilized at the Vermont Air National Guard installation in firefighting foams and other uses. This indicates a significant hazard to the river and public health as these contaminants are bioaccumulating due to affected fish and groundwater.
Hong Kong: Community isolation units built

The Pennys Bay and Kai Tak community isolation facilities (CIFs) constructed with Mainland support have been completed and were handed over today to provide around 10,000 isolation units.

Construction of the facilities started on February 19 using the modular integrated construction method. Each block of the Pennys Bay CIF has two storeys while the Kai Tak facility has four storeys with lifts installed.

Apart from fitting an individual toilet and bathroom in each unit, the two CIFs also provide various connecting units and accessible units to meet the needs of different families and people with disabilities.

Secretary for Development Michael Wong, Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan and Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung attended the handover ceremony this afternoon.

Mr Wong thanked the central government for its guidance and staunch support, the Liaison Office of the Central Peoples Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LOCPG) for its guidance and intensive co-ordination, colleagues for their full co-operation, and the construction team for working around the clock to enable the projects to be handed over in phases in a timely manner, enhancing Hong Kongs anti-epidemic capabilities.

LOCPG Deputy Director Yin Zonghua and Deputy Director-General of the Department of Exchange & Co-operation of the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Liu Wenda joined the three secretaries to inspect the Kai Tak CIF to learn about its operations and the challenges encountered during construction.

This story has been published on: 2022-06-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Trend

The need for e-commerce and cashless payment services has increased significantly against the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic, board member of PASHA Bank Jalal Orujov said in an interview with Trend.

He noted that there were certain projects in this direction even before, but the challenges caused as a result of the pandemic required the acceleration of these solutions' introduction.

"Companies have emerged offering innovative solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), as well as service packages that allow accepting and making non-cash payments. In addition, there has been a recent trend in Azerbaijan towards the use of electronic wallets. These solutions mainly represent fintech startups, with banks playing a secondary role as a provider.

Also, in recent years, measures have been taken in Azerbaijan to cover the population with banking services. Today, we can say that most of the country's population is covered by financial services: wages and pension payments are provided through bank cards. I also want to note that the popularity of payments using mobile phones creates opportunities to completely stop the use of the typical plastic cards in the long term," Orujov said.

According to him, a trend towards the development of "Open Banking" (Open Banking) has been observed in Azerbaijan over the last years.

"The lack of an appropriate regulatory framework currently prevents the country's banks from introducing ideas based on Open Banking. Our bank, in particular, and some other financial institutions are doing some work in this direction, but very limited. In fact, Open Banking would contribute to the emergence of new fintech startups that can provide banking services in a different, more convenient format for the client. The positive impact of introducing Open Banking is that banks will not have to work out these solutions themselves.

I believe that this trend will actually develop only after the relevant authorities approve the regulatory standards related to it. The most important thing is that the implementation of this initiative will create competition in the market not only between banks, but also between providers of banking services," Orujov emphasized.

In his opinion, two more trends have gained impetus lately.

"These include the increase in online payments and the use of bank cards not only for cashing out funds, but also for paying for goods and services through POS terminals. PASHA Bank is not very active in consumer lending, but we can say that we have the most developed network of POS terminals. Also, our bank is the largest acquiring bank in Azerbaijan. If we compare the results of 2020 and 2021, then the turnover of non-cash payments in our network amounted to about 1.6 billion manats ($941.1 million) in 2020, and 2.8 billion manats ($1.6 billion) in 2021. The upward trend continues this year as well. Thus, according to the results of the first quarter of this year, the turnover increased by 20 percent," Orujov said.

Orujov said that this summer a contactless payment solution Google Pay will be launched in Azerbaijan, which will allow to make payments using mobile devices running on the Android platform.
WASSERBILLIG/LUXEMBOURG  The pjur Digital Days Partner Summitwhich was held from June 14-17has been deemed a big success by pjur, which noted that "countless appointments, campaigns and activation ideas were discussed, laying the foundations for the next six months."

"The pjur Digital Days Partner Summit 'Stronger Together' was a great success!" says Alexander Giebel, CEO and founder of pjur, drawing a positive balance of the four-day-event. "The discussions were constructive and future-oriented and we got the chance to learn more about our customers current challenges and were able to find solutions together. During those four days we have laid the foundation for a successful second half of 2022."

Digital Days Partner Summit unites pjur with customers worldwide as a focal point for customer appointments and meetings that due to the digital format can be held independent of location.

According to pjur, Stronger Together underlines the idea that brands and retailers are even more successful together and that close collaboration and (campaign) planning is essential. Altogether, pjurs Smarketing team welcomed partners from four continents.

"pjur is a global brandthanks to our customers," adds Marco Castor, head of sales at pjur. "The pjur Digital Days Partner Summit is the ideal way to connect with partners all over the world, without the hassle of travelling expenses and jetlag. I am convinced that we created a great opportunity to strengthen the relationships with our customers and bring the brand forward."

Besides business, there was no shortage of fun and one lucky winner can look forward to an Apple Watch Series 7, the company said.
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A view from Wrexhams Member of the Senedd

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South constituency Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. (You can view an archive here).

Wrexham MS Lesley Griffiths writes

One of the key issues for constituents at this present time is the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. With bills soaring, the Welsh Government has acted decisively and implemented a number of measures in recent weeks to help ease the burden on household budgets.

The latest announcement is a 4m fuel voucher scheme which will be of particular interest to people on a pre-payment meter or not connected to mains gas. Latest figures suggest people in Wrexham and North Wales with pre-payment meters have been the hardest hit in the UK by rising standing charges, with costs increasing by 102%.

It was, unfortunately, rather telling the Social Justice Minister, Jane Hutt, launched the scheme during a visit to Wrexham Foodbank. There are now nine centres in the local area and although the team at the local Foodbank do an outstanding job, I would prefer there to be no need for foodbanks to exist in our society.

We are investing an extra 4m in the Fuel Bank Foundation to roll-out a national scheme that covers the whole of Wales and supports people most in need

Social Justice Minister @JaneHutt as she visited a foodbank in Wrexham today. https://t.co/jEYIgPNpLy pic.twitter.com/BoKLLo6RZP  Welsh Government Communities (@WG_Communities) June 10, 2022

Arrangements for the voucher scheme are being put in place and I will share more information as soon as it is available. If you need support right now, the Welsh Governments Discretionary Assistance Fund is also available to those facing financial hardship.

With people in Wrexham among the most susceptible in the country to rising costs, Im proud the Welsh Government is doing everything in its power to support people through the cost-of-living crisis, despite overall responsibility lying with the UK Government.

Are you struggling to pay your energy bills? Were making 4m available for our fuel voucher scheme, to help those at risk of fuel poverty. You could be eligible to get up to 30 in the summer and 49 in winter, and up to 3 vouchers in 6 months https://t.co/SqxngJx9EJ pic.twitter.com/UUO6mYohvZ  Welsh Government  (@WelshGovernment) June 10, 2022

Engaging with young people is a key element and enjoyable aspect of my job and it was a pleasure to recently catch up with students from Ysgol Bryn Alyn. The virtual meeting was arranged by The Politics Project. This educational organisation specialises in running digital surgeries which aim to build relationships between young people and their politicians. Earlier this year, I approached all Wrexhams secondary schools, as well as Coleg Cambria, highlighting the work of The Politics Project so I hope to take part in more surgeries with students in the not-too-distant future.

Fantastic surgery with @lesley4wrexham and @YsgolBrynAlyn last Friday. Great discussions on youth voice, the impact of exams, @wrexham becoming a city and, of course, what everyone thinks of @VancityReynolds and @RMcElhenney owning @Wrexham_AFC! pic.twitter.com/gR7bkEBJq1  The Politics Project (@PoliticsProject) May 31, 2022

I recently met with Inspector Luke Hughes of Wrexham Police Station for a walkabout the city centre. Keeping in close contact with the police ensures Im kept up-to-date with local issues, as well as providing me with the opportunity to raise constituents concerns directly with the police.

Good to join @NWPWrexhamTown for a walkabout the city centre. The local team do an excellent job and I was pleased to learn anti-social behavior continues to be down significantly in the town/city centre. pic.twitter.com/oDbKOenTse  Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) June 8, 2022

The Wrexham Walking Festival is an event I have supported for many years and this year, I joined the team for a walk around a sunny Erddig Country Park. During the nine-day event, people of all ages and abilities were invited to enjoy a series of free walks exploring the picturesque surroundings of North East Wales. Although the 2022 festival has reached its conclusion, organisers Walkabout Wrexham & District arrange walks throughout the year so if anyone is interested in finding out more information, please click the link below.

 @ErddigNT looking wonderful in the sunshine   It was a pleasure taking part in this year's #Wrexham Walking Festival. The 9 day event finishes on Sunday so theres still time to join the team this weekend!  More information here: https://t.co/GWWGeCJysC pic.twitter.com/BIhSNj5RRB  Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) June 10, 2022

Hundreds attended Wales Armed Forces Day which took place in Wrexham on Saturday. It was great to see the town buzzing with activity and to see so many people come out in support of our Armed Forces community.

Fantastic event to celebrate Armed Forces Day Cymru in Wrexham. Good to see @WG_Communities @hannahblythyn pic.twitter.com/KzglPPr1Gc  Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) June 18, 2022

Congratulations to Bradford on being named City of Culture 2025 and commiserations to everyone who contributed so much to the Wrexham bid. Despite the setback, the #Wrecsam2025 team can be proud of everything they achieved and it was heartening to see so many people unite behind the bid. I hope the positivity generated by the campaign can be harnessed, allowing the city to continue to thrive in the months and years ahead.

Constituents have contacted me about the bid and future plans so I have written to Wrexham Council to ascertain whether it is considering bidding to be the next City of Culture in 2029, having come so close and learnt so much during this campaign. All three runners up received 125,000 to take forward elements of their bids so I have also questioned how the Local Authority plans to spend the grant funding.

Congratulations to Bradford on winning the #cityofculture2025 bid. Well done to everyone who contributed so much to @wrexhamcbc bid. Be very proud!  Lesley Griffiths (@lesley4wrexham) May 31, 2022

If youre a constituent in Wrexham and there is anything I could help you with, please email me: lesley.griffiths@senedd.wales or call 01978 355743. You can sign up to my regular e-newsletter by clicking here.



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Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South constituency Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd to write a monthly article with updates on their work in Parliament and the Senedd, and closer to home. (You can view an archive here).
Over 1,000 young entrepreneurs in Wales to get Welsh Government support in starting their own business

Over one thousand young people in Wales will receive Welsh Government support to start their own business as part of plans to foster a new culture of entrepreneurship among young people in Wales.

Over the next three years 5 million will be invested to deliver on the self-employment aspect of the ambitious Young Persons Guarantee.

This is included in the 20.9m a year commitment to extend the hugely successful Business Wales service beyond the end of EU funding in 2023.

Announcing the funding support for 1,200 young people in Wales, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said that supporting young entrepreneurs will form a vital part of making Wales a place where more young people feel confident in planning their future.

Encouraging young adults to stay in Wales by building their careers and launching their own businesses here will be instrumental as we re-design our economy post-coronavirus, said Vaughan Gething.

We see this as the start of a new era, which is why we are taking bold action to build a vibrant economy that provides opportunities for all as we sustainability invest in the industries and services of the future.

Our young people hold the key to Wales future success. Their talents, skills and creativity are essential to ensuring our economic success.

I am determined we do all we can as a government to help deliver the long-term economic benefits our young people deserve for them all to fulfil their potential.

By working together towards the vision we have set out for a greener, fairer Wales we can pave a path to prosperity for all young people, regardless of background.

The 5 million funding will build on the success of Big Ideas Wales, run by the Welsh Governments Business Wales service, which provides learning through workshops led by entrepreneurs and a network of Champions to aide transition from Further and Higher Education into the world of work.

Specialist support will be provided via:

A new Young Persons Start Up Grant of up to 2,000 per business. This will support 1,200 young people that are unemployed, left education or training in the early stage of business to become self-employed.

Pre and post start up support for one year, designed to help individuals overcome any barriers to starting a business, including one-to-one business advisory support, entrepreneur mentoring, business planning and financial management.

Twenty-year-old Neath Port Talbot entrepreneur Poppi Kingsepp recently launched her own catering business with help from Big Ideas Wales and a Barriers To Start Up Grant of 2,000 from Business Wales.

She said: Launching a business in the post-pandemic hospitality sector proved to be a challenge, especially for someone like myself who knew absolutely nothing about business.

But Big Ideas Wales had so much valuable advice to offer me as a young entrepreneur and supplied me with the tools I needed to navigate this industry.

I couldnt have done it without the support of my business advisor, who turned up to each and every one of our weekly progress meetings armed with useful advice, helpful resources and lots of assets to help grow my business.

Summer Start-Up Week 2022, a collaboration by Further and Higher Education institutions in partnership with Big Ideas Wales, began yesterday with more than 180 young people registered for the award-winning, free, online course to support young peoples transition from education into business.

The Economy Minister added: The UK Government broke its promise to replace in full the EU money Wales was set to receive.

The Welsh Government cannot replace the missing 1.1 billion but we are determined to support young people with the funding we do have.

Our support is a down payment on the future success of a modern Welsh economy, powered by skilled workers and ambitious businesses.

We will continue to press the UK government to back a Team Wales vision where talent is supported and the 1 billion promised to Wales is restored.
LOS ANGELESContent creators and models have a new way to interact with followers via a virtual spinning wheel offered by Wheelie.Site, a new platform launched earlier this month.

The site launched on June 1, giving creators and others the opportunity to use the spinning wheel, much like the one used on Wheel of Fortune, where fans can spin the wheel and each spoke offers a prize. The website allows content creators to set up their own spinning wheel with prizes and set a price visitors have to pay to spin the wheel. After every spin, a notification is sent to the creator and a spinning history is saved, only visible to the wheel creator.

Users can spin the individual wheels as many times as they want and for each spin the defined spinning prize goes to the wallet from the wheel creator. If an amount of $25 is reached, a withdrawal request can be made. The wheel spinner will see their spinning history from each model on a personal profile page made for them.

Mike (founder of Wheelie.Site) had the idea with the spinning wheel two years ago after he saw a cam model with a self-made spinning wheel in the background of her room. Viewers could spin it by sending a tip. After that he kept seeing content creators using a wheel for some interactivity. Now cam sites like Chaturbate offer plugins where viewers can spin a wheel live. He soon developed and released the first version of Wheelie.Site, with improvements, new features and bug fixes being released on a daily basis.

We put a strong focus on user centered design and take the feedback of our users very seriously, the sites creators wrote in an announcement. The goal of the website is not to replace any existing content monetization platform, but rather be an extension to these sites to offer a bigger variety for fans to interact with their favorite models.

No subscription for the site is required, but content creators are asked to list Wheelie.Site on LinkTree or other listing platforms they use.

Wheelie.Site also offers a referral program for creators where they can invite other creators to join. With every accepted invitation, the payout fee can be lowered for the lifetime of the account.

For more information, visit Wheelie.Site.
Three vehicles seized by police within 30 minutes of each other

Three vehicles have been seized in the Wrexham Rural area this afternoon within just half an hour of each other.

Officers from NWP Wrexham Rural stopped the first vehicle in Ruabon as a routine traffic stop, however it transpired that the insurance had expired at the start of the month and had not been renewed.

A second vehicle was stopped in Johnstown due to showing as not being insured.

The occupants had just driven from Manchester after recently buying the vehicle and had not yet purchased any insurance.

In Llay an off road bike was stopped. Police say the rider was uninsured, but also did not have a driving licence.

One of the riders friends was also found to have Cannabis on his person too.

All vehicles seized by officers, and drivers reported for the relevant offences.
Being a dad can make an individual more attractive to potential mates, a phenomenon observed in many species, from fishes to primates to birds. The principle has even been documented in insects.

In field studies, male carrion beetles who had the opportunity to care for their offspring attracted three times as many females as males who hadnt had that opportunity. The males who had previously raised a brood of young produced much more of the sex pheromone that attracts females than males who had no experience taking care of young beetles.

Pheromones are widespread as sex attractants in insects. Many studies have shown the quantity and quality of the pheromones released by males influence their attractiveness to females.

From an evolutionary perspective, this makes sense. Females seek to mate with the best males and pheromones provide clues about male quality. The amount and ratios of various chemicals within the pheromones released are honest signals that give information about nutritional state, parasite load, body size, age, and other traits that indicate overall health and good genetics.

The finding that male beetles who had taken care of young produced more sex pheromone and were therefore more attractive to females is surprising because both parental care and producing sex pheromones have high energetic costs. The expectation was that males who had previously invested in offspring would have fewer resources to put towards pheromone production, not more.

There are multiple possible explanations for the increase in pheromones produced by males who are experienced dads, and all require understanding a bit about how carrion beetles raise their young. After finding a carcass of a small animal such as a bird or rodent, a pair of beetles bury it and cover it with various secretions.

The female lays eggs in the surrounding soil, and when the larvae hatch, they head to the carcass where they develop, eating from the flesh all around them. The parents feed their young additional food  a regurgitated liquid they produce after digesting the flesh themselves. The parent beetles also care for their young by protecting them from predators and parasites.

One possible explanation for the observation that dads attract more females is that males benefit from access to the buried body meant to feed the developing beetles. This high-quality nutrient source offers males extra energy they can use for all sorts of activities, including pheromone production.

Another possibility is that while males are caring for their young, they dont release any sex pheromone, so they accumulate large quantities of it for later use. Still another factor at play might be the secretions beetles put on the carcass. Chemical alterations make the food easier for their young to digest and may also make it easier for males to uptake or produce precursors to the pheromones that attract females.

Usually, there is conflict between spending energy and effort on paternal care versus on future mating opportunities. However, in species in which brood care enhances sexual attractiveness, the unusual circumstances favor the evolution of male parental care.

Karen B. London, Ph.D. is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and an author of six books on canine training and behavior, including her most recent, Treat Everyone Like a Dog: How a Dog Trainers World View Can Improve Your Life.

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Apple store employees in the Baltimore suburb of Towson, Maryland voted on Saturday to become the first workers at one of the computer giants 270 US retail outlets to join a union. The Towson workers voted 65-33 to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) after a month-and-a-half unionization campaign, which began in early May.

According to the Washington Post, Towson Mall employees said they hope organizing will give them a seat at the table on things like coronavirus safety, hours and pay. The group will form a specific division of IAM called the Coalition of Organized Retail Employees, or Apple CORE.

Were literally the face of Apple, said employee Chaya Barrett to the Baltimore Sun. How is it fair that we are being dictated as to what to do, what to say, how to actbut we dont get any say in any of the things that are happening in our everyday lives: our safety, our well-being, our mental health?

The Apple employees are pressing for better work schedules and other improvements in opposition to the corporations heavy-handed and oppressive practices. A worker told the Post that she is forced to juggle her duties as a parent to three kids with Apples inflexible scheduling system. This is forcing her to take vacation and sick days for routine child-care needs.

In addition, the average pay is only $20 an hour for workers who require considerable technical skills to service Apples customers. Wages have been kept low despite record revenues and profits in recent years.

The companys second quarter earnings in 2022 shows it made $97.3 billion in revenue. This is an increase of 9 percent over the same period last year. After record profits in 2021 and early 2022, which the financial publication Market Watch said made Apple one of the biggest winners in the first year of the pandemic, the corporation has faced difficulties due to stock selloffs and slowdowns in its supply chain.

IAM President Robert Martinez Jr. celebrated the results publicly and called on Apple CEO Tim Cook to respect the election results and fast-track a first contract. For their part, Apple has not announced whether it would try to appeal the vote. It is also possible that Apple will drag out negotiations for a first contract, leaving Towson workers without anything to show for their votes.

Other Apple stores in Atlanta, Georgia and New York Citys Grand Central Terminal have also begun organizing drives. Organizers with the Communications Workers of America called off their drive in Atlanta. claiming Apples repeated violations of the National Labor Relations Act have made a free and fair election impossible.

Among retail and technology workers there has been an increased interest in unionizing. Workers at dozens of Starbucks coffee locations have sought to unionize while 8,000 Amazon workers on Staten Island, New York voted in late March to join the Amazon Labor Union.

Workers are looking for a way to collectively fight for livable working conditions, safety and dignity at their jobs. But the various organizations they are affiliated with do not provide them a way forward. Retail workers already unionized by many of the same organizations have seen their living standards drop throughout the pandemic and before. A stark statistic provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that nonunionized workers actually experienced higher pay raises (4.9 percent) than their unionized counterparts (3.5 percent) in the 12 months ending in March 2022.

As for the IAM, it has a long history of collusion with corporate management and the betrayal of strikes and other struggles by workers at Boeing, in the airlines and other industries.

Apple workers in Towson only have to travel an hour north on Interstate 83 to Harley-Davidsons York, Pennsylvania factory where 1,000 workers unanimously rejected a contract proposal put forward by IAM Local 175 last week. The deal maintained the hated two-tier wage system, which robs younger workers of income, pensions and other benefits. Workers denounced IAM officials for ignoring their demands and pushing a pro-company proposal that did not pass the smell check.

Speaking on the vote by the Apple workers, President Biden told reporters yesterday, I am proud of them. Workers have a right to determine under what condition they are going to work or not work.

But Biden, a long-time shill for big business, knows the unions will not aid workers in determining their working conditions. Instead, he looks to the corporatist unions to suppress the growing tide of working-class opposition to surging prices, intolerable working conditions and the continued sacrifice of human life for corporate profit as the pandemic continues.

Sooner rather than later, workers at Apple, Starbucks, Amazon and other newly unionized workplaces will find themselves in a struggle not only against corporate management but against their new representatives. That is why the fight for genuine workers control over the shop floor and to vastly improve wages and benefits requires the formation of rank-and-file factory and workplace committees. Consisting of the most militant and class-conscious workers and based on the methods of the class struggle, not class collaboration, these committees will fight for what workers need, not what is acceptable to the corporations and their two political parties.
There was a total of 768 violent attacks on mosques and Muslims in Germany between January 2014 and June 2021. In particular, the years 2020 and 2021 stand out, with over 140 attacks, although the unreported number of such hostile actionsincluding vandalism, incitement, arson attacks and bodily harmis likely to be significantly higher.

There have already been numerous attacks on mosques this year. In January, the WSWS reported that the Islamic Cultural Centre Halle Saale e.V. was shot at with an air rifle.

The mosque attacked in Halle (Photo: Islamisches Kulturcenter Halle Saale e.V. via Facebook)

The figures were published by Brandeilig.org, the first nationwide reporting centre for anti-Muslim racism. The independent anti-discrimination organisation Federation against Injustice and Racism e.V. (FAIR), based in Cologne, had launched the initiative to raise awareness of anti-Muslim racism in society.

According to the Interior Ministry, between 4.4 and 4.7 million Muslims live in Germany, which is slightly more than 5 percent of the total population. Most originate from Turkey, although one in two Muslims now comes from another country. There are also about 2,350 mosques nationwide. Germany thus has the second largest Muslim population in Western Europe after France.

Through annual reports, Brandeilig.org now wants to close existing information gaps regarding mosque attacks and violence against Muslims. Last May, the initiative published the inaugural Brandeilig report, for 2018, as this was the first year in which a reliable amount of information was available; further reports are to follow.

Information was collected on the numerical extent of the attacks, in which federal states they occurred, the motivation for the crime as well as the sequence of events and types of attacks.

For 2018, Brandeilig.org registered a total of 120 violent attacks. Overall, violence of varying degrees was used in 84 percent of cases, in addition to considerable damage to property and personal injury. In 4 percent of cases, the perpetrators left pig limbs in the vicinity of the mosquesa particularly disgusting action, as many Muslims do not eat pork for religious reasons.

Bavaria had the highest incidence of violence against Muslims or mosques, with 25 attacks, or 21 percent of the total. North Rhine-Westphalia follows close behind with 23 attacks (19 percent). There were 14 attacks in Lower Saxony and 12 in Baden-Wurttemberg, each corresponding to about one tenth of the total number.

Violence against Muslims also occurred in 10 other federal states, with some people fearing for their lives. Only in Brandenburg and Saarland were there no attacks against Muslims or mosques recorded by Brandeilig.org in 2018.

A total of 54 attacksalmost half of all incidentscan be attributed to the right-wing extremist spectrum. In seven cases, the offence was characterised by the use of racist vocabulary or racist symbolism (e.g., daubing buildings with swastikas).

The most frequent type of attack (44 percent) was vandalism of various kinds. This included graffiti, leaving an animal carcass or broken windows, whereby the overall crime patterns are subject to a broad spectrum. There have also been nine attacks in the form of arson, e.g., the use of homemade Molotov cocktails against mosques, in which two people were injured.

Other types of attacks recorded were incitement (21), insults (7) or threatening behaviour (7). Two people were injured through the use of air rifles. Premises associated with a mosquesuch as libraries, function rooms or residential unitswere also attacked.

A particularly repulsive act, which according to the report cannot be assigned to any category but apparently has a right-wing extremist background, occurred in Bavaria. On the building site for a mosque in Regensburg, crosses were erected bearing the names of victims of the 2016 terrorist attacks in Brussels. At the time, the right-wing Identitarian Movement of Bavaria had claimed responsibility for the Regensburg incident. This was an attempt to tar all members of the Muslim religious community as terrorists and stigmatise them, even if this is not stated in the report.

By conducting an additional survey of 68 of the 120 affected communities, the Brandeilig initiative was also able to paint a more detailed picture of the vast extent of violence against Muslims.

In the process, 77 percent of those surveyed stated they had repaired the damage themselves because the insurance company would not cover the costs. About 211,230 were raised through donations to pay for such repairs. While the report does not give any information on the financial scale of the property damage, the money raised for repairs gives at least a rough idea of its extent. In one case, the insurance company cancelled the contract with the affected municipality after the costs were covered.

It is also alarming that about half of respondents answered yes to the question whether there had been previous attacks. Moreover, in some cases, the police were only notified when the attacks had become more frequent. This underlines the assumption that there was far more hostility than documented by Brandeilig.org.

While the Brandeilig report presents the attacks on mosques and Muslims in Germany in detail, making an important contribution to publicising such crimes, the causes of this wave of violence are only superficially hinted at and largely obscured.

The reports authors state that the right-wing populist wing in Germanys party-political landscape is gaining strength and that extra-parliamentary right-wing extremist and Islamophobic groups are also a cause for concern. However, the report also states that there is hardly any awareness in society as a whole of the seriousness of the situation.

The main responsibility for the increasing violence against Muslims lies with the ruling class, which has moved further and further to the right in recent years. It has created the ideological climate and political structures in which violence against Muslims and other minorities is now taking place.

Leaders of all the establishment parties and the media have joined in the agitation against Muslims. At the same time, the federal and state governments have de facto adopted the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) anti-refugee policy. Since its entry into the Bundestag in 2017, the AfD has been included in all parliamentary work, even functioning as the official opposition under the last government.

Right-wing extremist forces and terrorist structuresoften with close ties to the state apparatusare emboldened by this and are increasingly willing to resort to deadly violence. In recent years, the Hanau massacre (11 killed), the attack on the synagogue in Halle (2 killed) and the murder of leading Christian Democratic Union politician Walter Lubcke were three of the worst right-wing extremist terrorist attacks in Germany since the end of the Second World War. Right-wing violence can only be stopped by the independent intervention of the working class, which vehemently opposes right-wing extremism, militarism, and war.
A recent study by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) and the Kirby Institute at University of New South Wales has found that twice as many Australians as previously reported may have been infected with COVID-19 during the countrys first Omicron wave.

Staff prepare to collect samples at a drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

The researchers tested 5,185 samples taken from blood donors for antibodies produced by infection, but not by vaccination. Based on the results, the scientists concluded that around 3.4 million adults (17 percent of the population) had been infected by the end of February. According to the survey, this was at least twice as high as indicated by cases reported to authorities by the end of February.

A comparison of the infection rates in different states illustrates the disastrous impact of the let it rip policies now adopted by all governments, Labor and Liberal-National alike, across the country.

The samples, collected just before Western Australias Labor government dropped its hard border, indicated that just 0.5 percent of blood donors in that state had contracted the virus. In Queensland, where the state Labor government threw open the border on December 23, despite surging cases in neighbouring New South Wales (NSW), 26 percent of the samples tested contained COVID-19 antibodies.

Since the period in which these samples were collected, regular surveillance testing in schools and workplaces has been almost entirely eliminated, asymptomatic close contacts are no longer required to test or isolate in most states, and free polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing programs have been slashed, forcing people to rely on less accurate, self-reported rapid antigen tests.

This means the drastic under reporting of infections revealed by the study is only likely to have worsened. The clear implication is that at least 14 million Australians, or well over half the population, may have contracted the virus since the beginning of the year, based on a doubling of the official figure of more than 7 million.

Further indicating that the impact of COVID-19 has been far worse than the official statistics show, the Australian Bureau of Statistics Provisional Mortality Statistics for January and February 2022 reveal 5,052 excess deaths, compared to the historical average, almost 3,000 more than have been reported as directly caused by the virus.

The doubled infection rate calculated in the NCIRS study also raises the spectre of mass Long COVID. Estimates of the incidence of Long COVID vary, but even using conservative figures of 5 to 10 percent of all infections, 700,000 to 1.4 million Australians could already be facing ongoing debilitating illness.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported yesterday that demand for neuropsychological treatment is reaching record levels and people seeking treatment for Long COVID are waiting between six and twelve months for an appointment.

While governments have been virtually silent on the issue, federal Health Minister Mark Butler admitted this morning that Long COVID was proving to be a major health challenge as a result of millions and millions of Australians contracting the virus this year.

Labor, no less than the Liberal-National Coalition, is directly responsible for those millions and millions of infections. In line with the demands of big business, all Australian governments have reopened workplaces and schools and abandoned virtually all public health measures.

The newly-elected federal Labor government has made clear that these homicidal policies will continue. Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese admitted last week that the pandemic clearly isnt over yet, but only extended the federal governments pandemic health funding by three months, to the end of December.

The $760 million pledged over this period will do nothing to address the crisis in the health system, which is being pushed to breaking point with a combination of surging COVID-19, widespread influenza, understaffing and decades of cuts under Labor and Liberal-National governments alike.

Emergency department wait times are at record highs and ambulances in every state and territory are routinely ramped outside hospitals for hours, waiting to offload patients.

At the same time, even the most basic and limited public health measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 infections continue to be removed, at the behest of the corporate and financial elite.

Last Tuesday, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), the body that supplies official health advice for government leaders to justify their edicts, released a statement calling on state and territory governments to end mask mandates for airport terminals from as early as June 17.

This has nothing to do with the protection of public health, but was because all states and territories have relaxed mask mandates in most settings within the community. What follows from this is the pretext for the removal of masks in every other setting where there are still mandates in place, in particular on public transport.

After the statement, Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory scrapped mask mandates in airports. From next week, mandatory mask wearing in Victorian airport terminals will no longer be required. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce used the announcement to demand the new Labor government scrap mask mandates for passengers on planes.

In Victoria, further public health measures are being wound back, with three-dose vaccine mandates to be scrapped in education, food distribution, meat and seafood processing and quarantine accommodation sectors. Changes are also being made to isolation requirements for positive cases, with Victorians who test positive for COVID-19 being able to leave home to drive a household member to or from education or work.

All of this takes place as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Australia approaches 8 million and the official death toll surpasses 9,300.

Tens of thousands of new infections are being recorded every day across the country, with 3,000 people now hospitalised and 113 in ICU. At the current rate, basic arithmetic indicates that some 15,000 Australians could die from the virus by the end of the year.

In fact, all of the conditions have been created by the ruling class for forthcoming waves of COVID-19 to cause even greater amounts of infection, illness and death.

While only a tiny fraction of COVID-19 samples detected in Australiamostly those found in incoming international travellersare subjected to genomic sequencing, there are signs that Omicron BA.5 is set to become the dominant strain. A recent Japanese study has shown that the sub-variant is more contagious than earlier forms, and more resistant to immunity from vaccination or previous infection.

Vaccine immunity, already limited against Omicron, is waning. Just 67 percent of adults aged over 16 have received a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, because of the relentless campaign by governments and the corporate media to downplay the severity of the pandemic. A fourth booster shot is currently limited to those over 65 years of age and those with underlying health conditions.

COVID-19 continues to spread throughout aged care facilities, with over 600 active outbreaks, including 3,316 cases among residents and 1,689 among staff. Only 50 percent of aged care residents have received a fourth vaccine dose. Almost a third of the total recorded COVID-19 deaths have been in residential aged care.

The ongoing wave of mass infections and deaths was not and is not inevitable. It is the result of a deliberate policy, embraced by state and federal, Labor and Liberal-National governments, to sacrifice the health and lives of the population for corporate profits.

The mounting deaths and infections demonstrate that, contrary to the claims of the ruling class, the population cannot live with the virus. COVID-19 can and must be eliminated. The recent experience of China, where a two-month lockdown in Shanghai and other public health measures, including widespread contact testing and tracing, successfully suppressed the most infectious variant of COVID so far, demonstrates that the virus can be stopped.

A strategy to end the pandemic requires that the international working class take matters into its own hands. The Socialist Equality Party calls for the formation of rank-and-file committees in every workplace and community to implement the measures necessary to halt the transmission of the virus.

Through a global network of these committees, workers can take up a fight against the let it rip agenda of the ruling elite and for the adoption of public health measures based on the best available science.
Caterpillar workers: Wed like to hear from you. Fill out the form at the end of this report to share your experience about any workplace or safety issues at your facility. All comments will be published anonymously.

Worker pouring molten iron into a mold at Caterpillars Mapleton, Illinois, foundry. [Photo by Caterpillar]

Current and former Caterpillar workers continue to come forward and share their stories with the World Socialist Web Site about the companys unsafe working conditions in the aftermath of the death of 39-year-old Steven Dierkes earlier this month.

Steven Dierkes died instantly after reportedly falling into a molten iron crucible at Caterpillars Mapleton, Illinois, foundry, according to the Peoria County coroner. Dierkes had only begun work at the foundry a few days earlier.

Many workers who have reached out to the WSWS have condemned both the company and the United Auto Workers (UAW), which has done virtually nothing to protect workers from the daily horrors they confront. And despite Caterpillar having a record of repeated safety violations, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also done nothing more than issue wrist-slap fines to the company.

The stories Caterpillar workers have shared harken back to the brutal sweatshops of much earlier periods, as depicted in Upton Sinclairs The Jungle (1908), the muckraking novel detailing conditions in the meatpacking industry, or Friedrich Engels The Conditions of the Working Class in England (1845), which powerfully exposed the conditions facing English workers in the mid-19th century.

Nothing has changed since either of these deaths

A current Caterpillar worker in the same foundry where Steven Dierkes died stated that Caterpillar has done nothing to address any safety issues, despite two recent deaths, Dierkes and that of 50-year-old contractor Scott Adams last December.

I currently work for Caterpillar in Mapleton, Illinois, the worker said. Nothing has changed since either of these deaths or dismemberments.

Caterpillar has a culture of Come in, shut up, keep your head down and obey. If you dont, youre walked out or targeted. They do not care about your safety and they never have.

The UAW, he added, provides no protection for workers.

They show total indifference, total apathy

Another current Caterpillar worker responded to the WSWSs interview with a former worker who worked on line 5 in the foundry and described the conditions there as a death sentence.

You may have noticed that line 5 comes up a lot, he said of the reports of safety issues there by workers. I cant begin to describe the whole operation for you. Ill let their letters paint the picture. I worked line 5 and did those jobs. Sounds like most of the safety measures we had have gone by the wayside. As for it being old and broken down? It was old and broken when I was hired a long time ago.

Management, he added, if they mention it at all, still refer to Stevens death as an accident, as if he stubbed his toe. I honestly believe not one of those fs could tell you his first name.

They show total indifference, total apathy, he said of Caterpillar management. In their eyes, We are not human. We are beasts of burden. And our plant manager for one would gladly put us down if we got injured. Just like an old mule. A right piece of work she is with a Cheshire cat smile. The impression is almost literal. Shell speak to you, smile, then walk away and the smile will still be floating there as if it wasnt even attached to her face.

People started screaming  

A worker at Volvo Trucks New River Valley Plant in Virginia said, I used to work for a Caterpillar subcontractor myself. While [Stevens death] is tragic and shocking, I have no trouble believing it.

Theyre utterly neglectful about keeping up with their PMs (preventative maintenance), like most corporations are. I know because I was their Engineering Analyst and was in charge of filing the paperwork for when they completed the PMs.

They let a Cincinnati 6-axis lathe sit for 14 months with no PM, and then one day just fired it up and put an 800-pound rod in it. It threw the rod across the work area crushing the operators leg, but thankfully missing the rest of him.

It was creepy how it sounded. It was a shaking crash as it tore through the door of the Cincinnati and then ding ding da-ding ding as another crash quaked the area.

And then people started screaming, he recalled.

Even though our office was upstairs you could hear everything clear as a bell. It was miraculously fortunate that no one else was hurt, and that it was only the mans leg that was injured. I offered him the paperwork to prove that they were neglectful of their PMs when I saw him again a year and a half later, but he declined. As far as I know he didnt sue them and he was out for almost a year and a half with his injuries.

I was working then for a company called Swanson Industries in Rural Retreat, Virginia. The managers drove the company into the ground with bad quality and safety. Everyone got laid off and they closed shop. As far as I know the company still exists at its parent site in West Virginia. This was circa 2011.

Corporations view people as just interchangeable and inexhaustible resources, he concluded. They dont really care if people get hurt or die. They just put a Now hiring advertisement up and keep bribing those who would punish them.

The UAW did nothing for me

A former Caterpillar worker who worked for more than a decade in Illinois said, I quit Caterpillar in May of 2015 when my mom was told she had cancer and not long to live. I was upset and just left. They would not give me my job back. The UAW did nothing for me.

When it came to safety or health issues at his facility, he felt that CATs medical personnel were only looking out for the company. Heating pad and ibuprofen was the cure for everything. I had surgery on both elbows for the cubital tunnel, surgery on the right hand for carpal tunnel and surgery for a torn left rotator cuff.

Speaking about the two-tier system that the UAW imposed on behalf of management after two bitter and prolonged strikes in the 1990s, he said, We felt less than human working along with the other union people that were getting higher wages from the first tier. Caterpillar management treated us differently also. It was degrading.

This facility is a danger to everyone in it

Another current worker in the Mapleton foundry said, Ive been everything from just a floor worker, all the way to working closely with management people and have seen startling things.

Privately they will acknowledge safety shortcomings, but instead of fixing it, they just say that we should have an experienced person do it because they cant afford the down time and not making parts.

I personally have seen a multitude of safety hazards that go unresolved. The production number outweighs the risk. Supervisors are given bonuses and raises based on product numbers, but neither the company nor the union hold them accountable for injuries in their area.

This facility coupled with the management, he warned, is a danger to everyone in it.

Caterpillar workers: Wed like to hear from you. Fill out the form at the end of this report to share your experience about any workplace or safety issues at your facility. All comments will be published anonymously.
Australias Labor Party Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited her New Zealand counterpart, Nanaia Mahuta, in Wellington last Thursday, before heading to the Solomon Islands the next day.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong with her New Zealand counterpart, Nanaia Mahuta. [Image: Penny Wong Facebook]

Wongs trip was her fifth since assuming office in May, including to five countries across the Pacific, aimed at bolstering Canberras position in the region following an eight-nation tour by Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Wong told Radio NZ the new Australian government was seeking to be more engaged in the Pacific. She voiced concerns about security arrangements being drawn up between Pacific countries and countries outside of the Pacific familya reference to China.

Mahuta and Wong told a joint press conference that the Pacific is a contested space. Mahuta referred to an increasingly uncertain and risky geostrategic environment. The ministers said they would be working together with Pacific Island nations as they define their priorities, including climate change.

Coming from the local powers that have maintained colonial control across the highly exploited region for more than a century, references to the Pacific family are entirely hypocritical. Solomon Islands foreign affairs official Collin Beck tweeted that the term should be redefined because unnamed states (i.e. Australia and NZ) had cast aside the principle of non-interference.

A week earlier New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had visited Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. While that meeting and Wongs visit to Wellington focused on furthering the US-led military build-up against China, a major issue on the agenda was Australias controversial 501 deportations.

Under section 501 of Australias Migration Act, passed in 2014, the government can cancel someones visa if they are convicted of a crime or crimes that carry a cumulative sentence of more than a year in prisonregardless of the nature of the offences or how long the person has lived in Australia. It can cancel visas on character groundsoften due to gang links or if they are deemed a risk to national security.

New Zealanders are disproportionately affected, because of the large number who live in Australiamore than 650,000and who face almost insurmountable obstacles to gaining citizenship. A total of 2,572 people were deported to New Zealand between 2015 and February this yearmore than double the number expected when the policy began.

New Zealand governments have repeatedly lobbied Australia to ease the policy. Former Prime Minister John Key and current Prime Minister Ardern both urged Australia to stop exporting their problems and to only deport those with clear connections to New Zealand. Ardern described the policy as corrosive in the trans-Tasman relationship.

Canberra has bluntly refused to yield. Peter Dutton, the previous home affairs minister and now Opposition leader, boasted it was a matter of taking the trash out to make Australia a safer place.

The consequences are brutal. Many people have served prison sentences, only to be re-arrested and thrown into immigration detention centres to await deportation. Families have been ripped apart, with parents permanently separated from their Australian-born children. Deportees often arrive in New Zealand with no home to go to and no family connections.

One of those deported last year was a 15-year-old boy, whose deportation was a clear breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. NZ police figures indicate that a third of deportees left New Zealand before they were 18 years old and 41 percent had lived overseas for more than 10 years. The Ministry of Health estimated in 2019 that up to 90 percent had mental health or addiction issues that often stemmed from traumatic childhoods.

Following his meeting with Ardern, Albanese declared Australia would retain the 501 policy. Albanese said he had agreed to look at the issue, adding we do recognise concerns have been raised, those deserve consideration. In Wellington, Wong said the government would consider NZs concerns, and we will work through them together in an orderly way. This will simply mean reviewing how Canberra handles visa cancellations, with limited cosmetic changes.

Ardern, and New Zealand media commentators, however, seized on these comments to declare a significant shift and a reset in the trans-Tasman relationship.

In fact, the governments on both sides of the Tasman will continue to operate harsh deportation policies, bound up with their anti-immigrant and anti-refugee agenda, upheld by the NZ Labour and Australian Labor parties since their founding.

As the economic situation deteriorates, with living costs dramatically outstripping wages, governments throughout the world are responding by intensifying nationalist and anti-immigrant measures.

The Ardern governments criticism of Australian policy is entirely hypocritical. While Ardern was in Australia discussing the 501 policy, Immigration NZ was serving deportation papers on a former prison inmate who left Samoa as a preschooler. Mose Vaipapa, now 29 years old, served 15 years in jail for two serious rapes he committed when he was 14 years old. While in prison he was involved in a riot at Hawkes Bay Prisons Youth Unit and assaulted two guards.

Vaipapas sentences were served in full, without parole. However, he is now being returned to Samoa, where he has not lived since he was four, doesnt speak the language and has no family or other connections. Mike Sceats from the Porirua Community Law Centre told the New Zealand Herald: We institutionalised him. We made him. It seems wrong to now just foist him off onto Samoa.

In another case an Indian couple, Amanpreet Kaur and Simranpreet Singh, are about to be deported after Kaur, who lived in Auckland, illegally hid in a truck during the citys COVID restrictions last year to cross the citys boundary and be with her husband who was working in Rotorua.

The couple were taken to court but discharged without conviction. A judge declared that the consequences of any conviction would be out of all proportion to the gravity of the offending. The deportation is nevertheless proceeding after their humanitarian appeal failed.

Open Justice reported earlier this year that New Zealand sent 400 designated criminals back to Pacific nations between 20132018a move that is contributing to growing crime and drug addiction in those countries. Comparing the New Zealand policy with Australias, Timothy Fadgen of Auckland University said: Its a difference without a distinction and creates the same sorts of problems in those communities that the Australian policy is creating here.

Since assuming office in 2017, Arderns Labour-Green government has sought to scapegoat migrants for the housing crisis, social inequality and pressure on public services. Throughout the pandemic, it has continued deportations, including for people who overstay their visa or who commit trivial breaches of their visa conditions. During the two year-period 202021, 854 people were either deported or self-deported to India, Fiji, Malaysia and the UK.

New Zealands political establishment also tacitly supports Australias inhumane and criminal persecution of refugees, which the Keating Labor government initiated in the 1990s by introducing mandatory detention of all asylum seekers arriving by boat.

The attacks on migrants, in Australia and New Zealand, are aimed at dividing the working class, to prevent a unified movement against austerity, militarism and the homicidal let it rip COVID policies. The working class must come to the defence of refugees and immigrants, and fight for freedom of movement between Australia, New Zealand and internationally, with migrants given the same democratic and social rights as everyone else.
Police with a ballistic shield and semi-automatic rifles inside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas at 11:52 am on May 24, 2022.

The first image that has been begrudgingly publicly released from inside Robb Elementary School, the site of last months horrific massacre in Uvalde, Texas, which left 19 children and two teachers dead, has obliterated police claims that they were unable to respond faster to the mass killing in progress because they lacked the proper equipment.



The image, taken from school security camera, revealed that not only were multiple police officers inside the school within 10 minutes of the gunman entering; they were equipped with semi-automatic rifles and a ballistic shield.



Even the lowest rated ballistic shields provide some protection against small arms fire, such as from a 9 mm pistol. However, many police departments opt for shields which are rated to stop 5.56 mm rounds, the ammunition used by the shooter and by all AR-15 style rifles, the civilian version of the US militarys M-16 rifle.



The image, which was first made public by the Austin Statesman Monday night, shows that police were inside the elementary school at 11:52 a.m, which is 9 minutes after police said the shooter entered either Classroom 111 or 112, and 19 minutes after he entered the school. It would be another 58 minutes until cops claimed they entered the classroom and killed Ramos. It is still not known at this time how many children and teachers died because police refused to enter the classroom and confront the shooter sooner.



In the still image, two police are seen wielding semi-automatic rifles with 30-round magazines, the same weapon configuration as the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos. The photo shows that at least five cops are in the hallway, meaning the cops had at least a 5-to-1 advantage on the shooter and more than enough manpower to stack up outside the door and clear the room, a basic close quarters combat tactic taught in every police and prison training academy in the United States.



That the police did not do this further exposes their class role. Their purpose is not to serve and protect the entire population but rather to defend the interests of the wealthy and the power of the capitalist state. President Joe Biden, Congress and the Democratic and Republican parties, when they speak of law and order, do not seek to protect ordinary people from violence but to enforce the private property rights of the ruling class.



The fact that police had, in the words of one investigator quoted by the Texas Tribune,more than enough firepower to take on the gunman is just the latest development in a series of slow-drip revelations to emerge in the past week. There is no doubt that this footage has been in possession of the police from the outset of the investigation.



That it was released now, after all the funerals had been held in Uvalde over the last 21 days, is part of police and government attempts to conceal the full extent of their complicity in the massacre until, they hope, massive social anger has subsided. There is no doubt that the ongoing investigation into the police response is in fact a massive cover-up that extends throughout the entire Texas police apparatus, and the state and federal governments.



In another stunning revelation exposing police deceptions, this past Saturday multiple news agencies, citing unnamed sources close to the ongoing investigation, revealed that once Ramos entered the school at approximately 11:33 a.m., not a single cop tried to open the door to the joined classrooms where he was conducting his killings until an ad hoc Border Patrol team shot and killed Ramos at, allegedly, 12:50 p.m.



This is in contrast to claims made by the incident commander, Chief Pete Arredondo of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police, who said in an interview with the Texas Tribune on June 9 that he and another cop had tried to enter Classrooms 111 and 112. In the interview Arredondo, who has shunned nearly all interviews and questions since the massacre, said that both doors were locked, which prevented them from entering sooner.



This was part of the false narrative put forward by police that they were unable to get inside the classroom sooner because Ramos had barricaded himself inside.



ABC News reported on Sunday that surveillance footage showed that neither Arredondo nor any other officers taking cover in the hallway outside the classrooms ever attempted to open the door before receiving the keys to the two connecting classrooms. Furthermore, once Arredondo received the keys, he apparently did not try them on either of the two classroom doors where Ramos was, instead opting for a safer location farther away. This was done, apparently, in the hopes of finding a master key that would open the likely already unlocked door.



Arredondo, in what is now known to be a lie, said in the interview with the Texas Tribune that the classroom door was reinforced with a hefty steel jamb, which allegedly prevented police from kicking the door down. Of course, one cannot kick a door down without first lifting ones foot.



The same source confirmed with ABC that investigators now believe that Ramos could not have locked the door from inside the classroom, as has been repeated for nearly a month by police officials, including Arredondo, and Texas Department of Safety Director Steve McCraw. In a previous interview with ABC News, Robb Elementary School teacher Arnulfo Reyes, who was severely wounded in the massacre and witnessed all of his students murdered by Ramos, said that prior to the shooting he made the school principal aware that the lock to his door to Room 111 did not latch properly.



When that would happen, I would tell my principal, Hey, Im going to get in trouble again, theyre going to come and tell you that I left my door unlocked, which I didnt, Reyes said in the June 9 interview with Amy Robach. But the latch was stuck. So, it was just an easy fix.



Furthermore, the Houston Chronicle, citing another source close to the investigation, said that in addition to police having access to a ballistic shield, and high-powered rifles, they also had a Halligan bar, commonly used by firefighters to open locked doors, which could have easily breached the classroom door without a key.



In an effort to keep further images from emerging which would no doubt expose more police lies and cowardice, the City of Uvalde, in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Marshals Service and Governor Greg Abbotts office, have asked state Attorney General Ken Paxton to block the public release of police body camera footage from the school.



In a letter to Paxton requesting the footage not be released, the Texas Department of Safety said that releasing the footage could expose weaknesses in the police response. Similarly, a private lawyer for the city of Uvalde, Cynthia Trevino, wrote in another letter to Paxton that some of the footage contains highly embarrassing information that may cause emotional/mental distress, according to Vice.


Over the past week Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and state health authorities have declined to pre-order and approve mRNA COVID-19 shots for children aged 6 months to 5 years, setting off a wave of outrage and opposition among parents to the governors anti-scientific repudiation of vaccines.

In a statement Wednesday, the Florida Department of Health, which is overseen by DeSantis office, declared it did not place orders for the federal government to ship vaccine doses for pediatric patients because it has not advised that all children become vaccinated. DeSantis and state Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo have justified their denial of vaccines with talking points common of the far-right, including an entirely phony concern for the health of small children.

Without offering a shred of real evidence, DeSantis claimed that the U.S Food and Drug Administrations authorization of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for children was aimed mainly at reducing parents fears about the virus.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Feb. 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. [AP Photo/John Raoux,]

At an event last Friday, DeSantis categorically denied claims from the Biden White House that there had been a change in policy by the state to administer vaccinations for toddlers and infants. We are not going to have any programs where were trying to jab 6-month-old babies with mRNA, he declared. Thats just the reality. I think what they thought would happen was that wed be embarrassed about it.

The governor also denounced the media, saying, definitely not surprised that legacy media would amplify the life, because thats what they do. DeSantis admitted he regretted state authorities had no authority to prevent practitioners and hospitals from ordering the vaccines, but that this was no cause to believe somehow weve reversed the DOHs anti-vaccination policies.

DeSantis remarks at the press conference ranged from unsubstantiated claims about European handling of the vaccines to baseless pseudo-science. The governor said Florida had been watching the policies of European countries and taking cues from them. He claimed some countries dont allow Moderna for under age 30, or they recommend against it, but refused to list any of the countries he was referring to specifically, before highlighting that as a reason not to order any childrens doses of the mRNA vaccines.

The fascistic opposition to child vaccinations comes amid an alarming shift in the pandemic, as Florida reached the harrowing milestone this week of 75,000 deaths, while COVID hospitalizations are rising to levels last experienced during Floridas winter surge. As of Friday, more than 3,500 patients were in Florida hospitals for COVID-19, up from 3,200 patients a week ago and barely 1,000 COVID patients in early April.

For the week ending on June 16, Florida reported 74,323 confirmed new COVID cases, up from about 60,000 per week just a month ago. These numbers are believed to be a vast undercount since state statistics do not include the people who are confirming infections using at-home tests. Health experts note that at least four highly infectious strains of the deadly Omicron variant are circulating in Florida at this time: the highly transmissible BA.2.12.1 Omicron subvariant, the BA.2 subvariant, as well as newcomers BA.4 and BA.5.

The entire record of DeSantis throughout the pandemic has been to staunchly oppose all impingements on the profits of big business, not only banning mandatory vaccinations in workplaces but also prohibiting mask wearing in schools and rejecting the closure of all non-essential businesses.

The latest far-right assault on child vaccinations flows logically from the demands of the Democratic and Republican parties that schools be fully reopened so parents could return to work and that lockdowns be ended. The capitalist politicians articulate the interests of corporations and the super-wealthy, who see any limitation to business activity as an intolerable barrier to the production of profit and who call for letting the disease rip through communities without restraint.

In seeking to further burnish his credentials among the extreme right, DeSantis is opposing even the limited and ineffective mitigation policies of the Democrats. They long ago abandoned all essential public health measures meant to contain the spread of COVID-19 and embraced the strategy of herd immunity, which means the normalization of continued death from the disease.

DeSantis decision not to order child vaccines by last weeks federal deadline, and the demented anti-vaxx conspiracy theories accompanying this, stand sharply at odds with the scientific research supporting the deployment of vaccines for children.

Florida remains the only state in the country that has refused to pre-order shots for infants and preschoolers, as state pediatricians and hospitals were forced to begin making their own order requests directly from the federal government. Although DeSantis could not forbid health care providers to order the newly authorized vaccines, Florida wont be included in the first two waves of vaccine shipments, delaying their arrival at pediatricians offices and hospitals. Only large-scale pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens that participate in a federal program will get vaccines in the first wave.

At the Friday press conference, DeSantis referenced an examination of the FDAs study by Dr. Ladapo, claiming the Surgeon General had supposedly proved the vaccine had given no proven benefit for babies. Joe Ladapo [and] our department of health has looked at it. There is no proven benefit to put a baby with an MRNA, so thats why our recommendation is against it. ... Thats different from prohibiting the use of it, he declared.

But DeSantis himself acknowledged the study established effectiveness of the vaccines for younger children. Moreover, neither DeSantis nor Ladapo have offered up any credible evidence that the vaccines pose a risk to the health of infants and toddlers.

Barring state programs for COVID vaccines means Floridas county health departments, which are state agencies, wont receive any shipments of the vaccines for children under 5 because state health officials refuse to recommend them. The refusal to stock the vaccines at local health departments will have a devastating impact on working class families and the most vulnerable who rely on the cheaper costs and subsidies from state programs for medical services.

There is outrage among parents and the public as a whole over the criminally indifferent policies that will exacerbate the spread of the disease and place untold numbers of small children at risk. Lisa Gwynn, the Academy of Florida Chapter President, said our phones are ringing off the hook with concerned parents eager to know where they can get the vaccine.

Right now, she continued, we dont have a good answer.

Refusing to enact state programs for the distribution of vaccines will place all the burden on doctors and individual pharmacies, which will place a heavy strain on health services and disrupt their distribution.

According to Gwynn, Floridas vaccine distribution system is state-based and not designed to allow individual doctors and institutions to order directly from manufacturers. Gwynn noted further, The states decision to obstruct access to COVID-19 vaccines is anti-science, an affront to parental rights, and an intrusion into the relationship between doctors, patients, and the families they serve.
Do you work for CP Rail? We want to hear from you. Write to cpworkersrfc@gmail.com or contact the WSWS to share your experiences and help build the CP Workers Rank-and-File Committee.

In February 2019, Canadian Pacific Train 301 derailed on a steep grade near Field, British Columbia, killing the three crew members on boardconductor Dylan Paradis, engineer Andrew Dockrell and trainee conductor Daniel Waldenberger-Bulmer.

In the three years since the accident, the families of Paradis and Dockrell have been engaged in a legal battle to uncover the truth about what happened.

Mid-train distributed power remote locomotive from the derailed CP Rail Train 301

Last March, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB), a federal agency tasked with investigating accidents on Canadas railways, released its grossly overdue final report into the derailment. It was a scathing indictment of the criminal policy of Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) that has produced hazardous working conditions akin to those that prevailed on the railroads in the 19th century. However, the TSB can only issue non-binding recommendations to Transport Canada, the federal agency tasked with issuing rules for the railroads.

Also in March, the Teamsters union sabotaged the struggle of CP Rail workers for improved health and safety conditions and better work scheduling, prompting rank-and-file workers at Canadas second largest railroad to establish the CP Workers Rank-and-File Committee.

In an interview with the CP Workers Rank-and-File Committee, Pam Fraser, Paradis mother, stated, We thought that the Teamsters union would be a supportive partner in our initiatives to effect change but they went by the wayside. Unions, she continued, dont seem to have any power anymore. Workers cannot even strike.

In its founding statement, the CP Workers Rank-and-File Committee advanced a program calling for workers control of health and safety and scheduling, which the committee explained could only be achieved by building a mass movement of rail workers across North America.

Let us organize a common struggle against the rampant profiteering and corporate-union-imposed dictatorship that currently dominates North Americas railroads! the statement declared. If [CP Rail CEO Keith] Creel and his corporate buddies plan on building a multi-national railway to ship cargo and exploit workers from the Canadian Arctic to tropical Mexico, then we will build a multi-national worker-led counter-offensive of Canadian, American, and Mexican railroaders to stop corporate profiteering at the expense of our health, safety, and very lives.

Regina-based lawyer Tavengwa Runyowa, whose legal team is representing two of the Field victims families, recently spoke with the WSWS about the case. This is the second two of a two-part interview.

Part One examined Runyowas views on the TSB report. Part Two will discuss the regulatory system more broadly and how it is rigged in favour of the highly profitable railroad operators.

* * *

In June 2021, two petitions initiated by Dylan Paradis mother, Pam Fraser, were filed in parliament demanding that the Canadian government allow TSB investigators to make referrals of potential criminal violations to the RCMP and protect them from reprisals. The petitions were shelved after parliament was dissolved ahead of the September 2021 federal elections.

Tavenga Runyowa (Photo by Runyowa Law)

Two new parliamentary petitions were filed in early May. The first was initiated by Lori Desrochers. Her former partner, veteran conductor Kevin Timmerman, was killed in CN Rails Saskatoon yard in 2015. To this day, Runyowa commented, no public authority, including the CN Police, the RCMP, the Saskatoon Police Service, the TSB, Transport Canada, and Saskatchewans Chief Coroner, has fully explained the details of Kevin Timmermans death to his loved ones.

In fact, Saskatchewans Chief Coroner, Mr. Clive Weighill, was the Chief of the Saskatoon Police Service when Kevin Timmerman died. It was his police officers and subordinates who documented that they handed over the Kevin Timmerman matter to CN Rails police to investigate the very employer that they report to.

Years later, Mr. Weighill became the Chief Coroner who continues to insist that Kevin Timmermans death was an accident. This was even after he agreed to reopen the coroners investigation but refused to recuse himself from the file when Ms. Desrochers and Ms. Timmerman pointed to the conflict of interest between himself and his former police department that had allowed CN Rail to investigate itself in the accident.

Loris petition seeks a government-mandated inquiry into the impact of private railway police forces on public safety and the administration of justice in Canada and the US.

The second petition, initiated by Pam Fraser, seeks to replace private railway police forces with a federal public railway police of Canada that would be funded by the railway companies but answerable to an independent civilian oversight commission.

With Lac Megantic (a 2013 derailment and explosion that killed 47 people) and Field, there is this growing focus on the railway companies which have never really been challenged or had this level of scrutiny before, commented Runyowa. Were hoping these petitions will be a galvanizing centre that forces the government to at least say something.

The federal governments continued sanctioning of the railways literally policing themselves isnt Runyowas only complaint with the way Ottawa regulates the railways. Beyond corporate self-policing, fatigue is another major and unresolved issue that the federal government has failed to act decisively on, he insisted. If youre tired and youre driving a multi-thousand-tonne train, youre a danger to yourself and many others. If the Prime Minister cannot stand up and acknowledge that, then weve got serious problems.

Runyowas initial focus is on reforming Sections 44 and 44.1 of the Railway Safety Act, which allows private corporations to operate police forces.

However, we feel that amending the Act does not go far enough, he said. Removing any conflicts of interest but keeping the private police in place means that public police forces across the country will investigate all railway accidents depending on where they happen. Public police forces simply do not have the specialized railway expertise, will, and resources to properly investigate these cases. It will result in a patchwork of investigations of different competencies across the country.

In fact, both the CN Police Service and CP Police Service Chiefs of Police are members of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP). These railway police chiefs are corporate employees who answer to the companies corporate Chief Legal Officers, who is the final arbiter on all disciplinary issues relating to the Chiefs. This means that through their chiefs of police, CN Rail and CP Rail are effectively members of the CACP and exercise significant influence in shaping how railway incidents involving the companies are investigated.

If the CACP sees CN Rail and CP Rail as law enforcement partners, how can Canadians trust that its public police forces would properly investigate these railway companies, even if the companies themselves stopped investigating themselves?

A troubling example of the cozy relationship between the CACP and the railway companies is CP Rails sponsorship of the CACP 2019 Annual Conference. CP Rail provided that sponsorship several months after the Field, BC derailment, which the RCMP initially failed to investigate, and in a year when there were other deaths and serious injuries at the company. We asked the CACP to explain why it has accepted sponsorship from a party of interest in railway deaths occurring under its members watch, including the RCMP. The CACP refused to answer and told us to not contact them again.

The fact that the police chiefs of publicly funded law enforcement agencies can display such hostility to accountability is shocking. It evokes the conduct one would expect in countries where the rule of law and accountability are token concepts. Beyond its members being publicly funded institutions, the CACP as an association also receives funding from the Government of Canada. Considering this double-dose of public funding and the CACPs representation of most of Canadas police forces, it is troubling that the CACP would accept the sponsorship of a railway company that its members are supposed to investigate in the public interest, while also giving railway companies a seat at the table to influence how its members will investigate those companies.

Another troubling example is the CN Police Services participation in the creation of the Collaborative Protocol for Rail Death Investigations that the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police launched in May of 2019. We have been unable to secure a copy of this document, but the last entities that should be allowed to work on the creation of the framework on railway death investigations are the railway companies who are often implicated in those deaths.

Runyowa detailed how conflict of interest issues between the railway regulators and company police are rife. We need police officers who are fully independent and TSB employees that do not work for the railways and are not looking for jobs with the railways after they retire, he stated. We need really strong conflict of interest rules around that because I think its a combination of fear and the hesitance of jeopardizing lucrative future opportunities in the private sector that work together to prevent regulators from taking action.

Thats one of the reasons why weve got serious issues with one of the TSB board members [Faye Ackermans] being a former CP rail employee. She worked there for 26 years or so and not in an unimportant capacity. By the time she finished, she was dealing with the safety portfolio. According to the board, she doesnt take a pension from them, but that doesnt matter. By taking part in preparing TSB reports into serious railway incidents in which her former employer was involved, and where she helped to build the safety culture, she is adjudicating her own legacy. Even if she left CP Railway many years ago, she is still dealing with her former colleagues who are tied to the culture she helped create, or at least worked in.

When a devastating event such as the Field, BC derailment happens, and which is of such great consequence to her former employer and former colleagues, Ms. Ackermans must recuse herself from any involvement on that file. To our knowledge, she did not recuse herself and was involved in the drafting of the final report, which the Board can edit, notwithstanding what the investigator initially wrote. How can the victims families know if they are getting the whole truth when the TSB Board member with the most knowledge about railways was a senior and decades-long employee of the very company under investigation?

Mr. Crawford, the TSB investigator on the ground, interpreted the evidence and used his independent judgment to say theres something that needed to be referred for an independent criminal investigation. It was not up to people without railway experience and certainly not up to Ms. Ackermans, who has railway experience but is connected to the company in question, to second guess him and to deny his request to refer the matter to the RCMP. This is one of the key elements at the core of the lawsuit.

We have to get rid of these conflicts of interest and the revolving door between industry and the public sector. And we have to make sure that the police that are supposed to be investigating are taken out of the railway companies control and given the proper resources to conduct rigorous investigations, including hiring non-policing forensic experts.

Pam Frasers legal team currently has two sets of lawsuits in the courts. The first is directed against CP Rail and the CP Police, and concerns the defendants alleged role in the fatal derailment and how they handled the immediate aftermath. The second set concentrates on CP Rails alleged efforts to impede an independent criminal investigation and the TSBs removal of Don Crawford from the investigation after he recommended a criminal investigation by the RCMP.

The law requires all police officers to be operationally independent from the authorities that hire and pay them, Runyowa said. But it seems like the railway chiefs of police, who are corporate employees who answer to the corporations Chief Legal Counsel, are mere extensions of the corporate personality.

Runyowa concluded by stressing that the political decision to deregulate the railways has proven disastrous for worker and public safety. What really needs to be emphasized is that we can talk about brakes, fatigue, weather, and its very easy to get lost in the minutia, he explained. But we need to figure out why all of this is happening. Theres a profit motive on the one hand, and the fact that our government made the decision to deregulate the railway industry on the other. Deregulation means that the government turns around and takes a nap while corporations get to grade their own homework. Lo and behold, they always pass with flying colours.

Its really important not to underestimate the extent to which the deregulation of the railway industry basically allowed the federal government to give the railway companies keys to the castle. Its only been with a significant amount of luck that there hasnt been another big disaster like Lac-Megantic, which was so devastating in its human toll.

This bigger piece needs to be fixed and the only person who can fix it is the Prime Minister. Hes avoided commenting on this issue as his ministers of transport have. But we can talk about the TSB report ad nauseam. I dont feel that that report is going to make any change that is significant.

The recommendation on automatic brakes may get accepted, but we understand from various sources that this [change] is already a widespread practice. If so, by formalizing it, the Minister of Transport would be giving the appearance of taking bold and decisive action when, in fact, he is merely reinforcing a pre-existing trend. And, when you have problems that can manifest in 50 different ways, you can have a derailment any time. Its a massive infrastructure involving many people and moving pieces running across the continent and there are a hundred different ways that things can go wrong, all of which are linked to profit.
Over the weekend, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously to approve the COVID vaccines for the youngest in the population. Based on these endorsements, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that children between six months and five years of age should be vaccinated with either Pfizer or Modernas COVID-19 vaccines.

Arihana Macias, 7, gets a compress after receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children five to 12 years at a Dallas County Health and Human vaccination site in Mesquite, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. [AP Photo/LM Otero]

There are 19.3 million in this age group for whom the COVID vaccines remained out of reach since the vaccines were first ushered in in December 2020.

While the number of young children who have died from COVID has so far remained low, some 442 under the age of five according to the CDC, this figure is far greater than the death toll from influenza in the same age bracket. As the pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Yvonne Maldonado of Stanford University noted, Children shouldnt be dying of anything.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children represented nearly 19 percent of all cumulative COVID cases in the US. However, seroprevalence data based on blood samples, published by the CDC, indicated that approximately 75 percent of all children 18 and under have been infected, far above the 60 percent figure for the whole population.

This means that children represent the most infected group, a point that should be contrasted with the incessant claims by capitalist politicians and the media bears that children were somehow immune to the ravages of the virus.

Since the pandemic, AAP reported that over 90,000 children have been hospitalized for COVID, a number known to be a vast undercount. Per the CDCs provisional count of COVID deaths, 1,257 children have died during the pandemic, 20 percent of them during the Omicron wave.

These figures might seem low compared to the horrifying death toll among the elderly and immunocompromised, but they are far greater than the toll in terms of hospitalizations and death from the flu among the same age group.

There were 42,386 pediatric hospitalizations during the 2017-2018 flu season, the worst in the last decade, as compared to the quarter million hospitalized in the first three months of this year due to COVID.

There were also 110 deaths among the youngest and, in total, 526 children died that flu season compared to the over 1,200 who have been killed by SARS-CoV-2. In the current flu season, only 29 children have died, in large part to the limited mitigation measures in effect, including masking. In just the last month alone, almost 60 children died from COVID.

A study released in preprint by the Imperial College of London, reviewing COVID deaths among children, found, COVID was a leading cause of death in CYP [children and young people] aged 0-19 years in the US between March 2020 to April 2022, ranking #9 among all causes of deaths, #5 in disease-related causes of deaths (excluding accidents, assault and suicide), and #1 in deaths caused by infectious/respiratory disease. Specifically, for those under the age of five, it ranked in the top five.

All these figures do not even address the broader issue of Long COVID and its unknown long-term impact on the health of children, who have much longer to live and develop symptoms than the elderly.

These realities make the approval of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines a welcome step forward, albeit with significant limitations, as we shall see.

Both Pfizer and Moderna had presented their clinical-trial data to the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) advisory panel on June 15, highlighting that these vaccines are both safe and produce an antibody response that is similar to that in older children and adults. The panel recommended the vaccines unanimously by a 21-0 vote.

There are differences between the two pediatric version of the mRNA vaccines that are important to review.

Pfizers regimen consists of three shots, each containing three micrograms, or one-tenth of the adult dose. The second shot is given three weeks after the first and the third two months later, with a total of three months required to complete the series.

The pediatric trials were small, with fewer than 1,000 participants. Only 10 children actually contracted COVID, seven in the placebo group and three in the vaccine group. Pfizers original two-dose regimen had not generated a sufficient immune response, leading the company to announce in December 2021 that it would add a third dose to its regimen.

As STAT News noted regarding Pfizers limited effectiveness data, This was a result of the fact that the Pfizer shot was not effective enough as a two-dose vaccine to warrant authorization. The company, consulting with the FDA, decided to test a third dose, but there has simply not been enough time for cases of COVID to occur. FDA officials say they are confident the three-dose regimen protects as well as two doses in other age groups.

It bears mentioning that the FDAs confidence was based on the level of immune antibodies generated after participants had completed the vaccine series. As Pfizer noted in its review of the results for children aged 2-4 years and infants 6-23 months, The antibody responses in both age groups were comparable to those recorded in people 16 to 25 years of age immunized with two 30-g doses and met the pre-specified success criteria ...

Modernas vaccine is a two-dose regimen, each containing 25 micrograms, or a quarter of an adult dose. The shots are given four weeks apart. Though children complete the vaccination series sooner with Moderna, the side effects, albeit transient, may be harsher. Whereas Pfizers were limited to pain at the injection site and some fatigue that resolved quickly, in the Moderna trial one child had a seizure presumably triggered by a high fever after vaccination.

An FDA panel member, who is a pediatric infectious-disease specialist from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, said, Beyond one febrile seizure, there wasnt anything that was highly concerning. That was very reassuring to me.

Modernas trial was larger, at almost 5,000 participants. The efficacy against symptomatic infection ranged from around 37 to 51 percent with 265 children contracting COVID, making the data more robust and applicable. Additionally, in the Moderna trial more participants who received the active ingredient developed a fever after the second vaccine dose, while the adverse reactions among Pfizer recipients and the placebo arm had similar complaints.

Other side effects of the vaccines include loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, irritability, fever, and pain at the site of injection. With Moderna, children can develop swollen lymph nodes in the inoculated arm. The trials were too small to evaluate for heart inflammation, which has occurred infrequently in adolescent boys. Questions about boosters have already been raised, as immune waning is rapid with the vaccines and the subvariants of the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 are known to have significant immune evasion capacity.

As critical as it is to ensure all children have access to life-saving vaccines, the CDC and the Biden administration will use this advance to reinforce their claims that a vaccine-only approach is a viable response to the pandemic. They seek to justify the abandonment of all-inclusive public health measures to ensure mask mandates are in place, all COVID cases are tracked, and public health departments provide robust and accurate data that includes infections, hospitalizations and deaths.

More than 18 months into the era of COVID vaccines, the vaccine-only strategy has proven an abysmal failure. Breakthrough infections are very common, and vaccines have not alleviated the risks of Long COVID nor the impact on various organ systems. The campaign for Zero-COVID remains the only viable solution to a pandemic that continues to wreak havoc on the population of the working class across the globe.
Beatrice will be alive with activity this week as organizers make last-minute preparations for the annual Homestead Days event.

Jacob May, Chairman of Homestead Days Committee, said excitement has been building, and this years Homestead Days will feature new events and returning favorites.

People just enjoy the weekend in general because its a good community event, he said. Everybody is excited about it. There's a little something for everyone. We first of all love to have new people come in because new people means new ideas and make no mistake, we dont have all the right answers. We try to do what we think is best for the community and events. Just having new volunteers and people on the planning committee is crucial to keep an event like this new and fresh.

Homestead Days 2022 will be held June 22-26, with a wide variety of activities organizers hope will offer something for everyone.

Were super excited about all the things planned for this year and have been working hard on making plans, since basically last years Homestead Days wrapped up, said Angie Bruna, Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce Director. Southeast Nebraska CASA has the Junior Ms. Homesteader talent contest Wednesday evening, and Thursday officially kicks off with our events on Fifth Street between Court and Ella streets. We have a color run that evening, ice cream social, different kids games and a tractor pull.

In addition, area businesses are getting in the action with their own promotions and events.

The Thursday park festivities will be held from 5:30-8 p.m., with the color run happening at 7 p.m. Event registration starts an hour earlier, and the grand marshal of the parade will also be announced during the event at 6 p.m.

Friday afternoon there will be a family bike ride event from Chautauqua Park to Riverside Park and back. Bruna said the ride, which starts at 4 p.m., will highlight the recent additions to the trail system. Then from 5-8 p.m. there will be a free swim night at the Beatrice pool, and a cruise night event planned for the evening.

Saturday features the highlight of Homestead Days, the annual parade down Court Street at 10 a.m.

It is the most highly-attended event throughout Homestead Days, Bruna said. We average 13,000 during normal years, but last year we estimated 14,000-15,000 because that many more people came out.

Bruna said last week there were 75 entries registered for the parade, and she expected the number to near 90 by the big day.

Charles Park will be home to kids games and art in the park from noon to 4 p.m., ahead of another annual favorite, Ribfest.

Ribfest will be held from 4-11:30 p.m. at Stone Hollow Brewing Company located at 301 Court St.

I definitely enjoy that and its a neat atmosphere there at Stone Hollow, May said. It just brings a whole different vibe to Ribfest and having an indoor/outdoor atmosphere has really helped. Last year everyone wanted to get out with the pandemic slowing down and it was phenomenal. It ended up being the best turnout weve ever had.

Sunday activities include the annual car show from noon to 4 p.m. at Chautauqua Park, and a free fishing clinic at Rockford State Recreation Area.

New this year is a kickball tournament that will be held at 1 p.m. at Chautauqua Park. The event is being held by Youth Leadership Beatrice, and the $10 registration fee for kids of all ages benefits the Beatrice Community Food Pantry.

A complete listing of events can be found online at HomesteadDays.com, or for more information about events or how to volunteer, contact the Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce at 402-223-2338.

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Mrs Vans Blackberry Skillet Cake

Ingredients and Method for Cake:

1 1/2 sticks butter, separated

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

12 oz. fresh blackberries, washed and drained

1 1/2 cups + 1 tbsp. granulated white sugar

2 cups flour

2 1/2 tsps. baking powder

1/2 tsp. ground clove

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 eggs

2 tsps. vanilla

1 cup buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Toss blackberries with 1 tbsp. granulated white sugar.

2. Put 1/2 stick butter in a 10" cast iron skillet and place in the oven until melted. Remove from the oven, add 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup walnuts, stir and then add and arrange blackberries in a cast iron skillet.

3. In a medium bowl combine 2 cups flour, 2 1/2 tsps. Baking powder, 1/2 tsp. ground clove, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg and 1 tsp. cinnamon, then set aside. In a separate bowl, mix 1 stick butter with 1  cups sugar, then whisk 2 eggs, 2 tsps. vanilla and 1 cup buttermilk together. Add this to butter and sugar and mix until combined.

4. Pour wet mixture into dry mixture and mix until smooth for about 2 minutes.

5. Pour into a cast iron skillet on top of the berry mixture.

6. Bake approx. 40 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

7. Cool in cast iron skillet for 10 minutes before inverting cake

onto a serving plate. While the cake is cooling, mix up nutmeg glaze.

Ingredients and Method for Nutmeg Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

6 tsps. warm water

1. Combine all 3 ingredients and whisk until smooth.

2. Once cake is cooled and inverted onto serving plate,

drizzle glaze over top of warm cake... enjoy!
Nineteen-year-old Rachel Fleeman is just like her peers  in most ways.

She loves movie nights with friends and traveling. Classes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln keep her busy. She journals, reads and drinks plenty of coffee to fuel her late-night study sessions.

But when shes not in school or scrolling through TikTok, she's curating wardrobes, creating stickers and crafting designs for trendy sweatshirts. But the hours she spends styling arent just for fun.

Unlike most of her classmates, she already knows the joys and challenges of running a small business.

Fleeman simply decided to stop saying some day and start chasing the dream she feels was born to pursue.

Tuesday, she opened a colorful clothing boutique in Waverly called Raine Company. The storefront peddles a variety of womens clothing, home goods and other accessories. Many of the looks were designed by her.

When customers walk through her light pink door and past her potted plants, theyre greeted by joyful colors and Fleemans smiling face. A wave of rust, blush, mustard and baby blue ripples across the walls.

It's a shop thats inspired to make others feel good and love themselves, Fleeman said. The apparel, the meaning behind everything in here is to make you feel good about yourself.

The young entrepreneur began Raine Company by peddling her products online, and she continues to sell her creations through her website and in more than 50 stores nationwide. But three designs and a few products blossomed into more ideas and a massive internet following that overtook her home.

I needed a bigger space out of my parents basement, so I looked for office spaces, Fleeman said. I guess a storefront was always something I wanted, but it wasn't really on my radar.

When her aunt let her know that a space next door to the hair salon opened up, Fleeman jumped on it.

After weeks of remodeling, redecorating and rearranging, the store was finally ready for business. She proudly reported that her first day was a bustling success.

There's been so much love, and I don't even know how to describe the feeling of it, Fleeman said. I get messages daily from people who say my business inspires them.  So getting to meet those people, at least the local ones, has been so cool.

While Fleeman is inspiring others, her boutique draws inspiration from someone else. Her grandmother, Elaine, passed away in 2020 after 14 years battling Parkinsons disease. Fleeman said she spread joy everywhere she went, and her business seeks to follow that legacy.

The name Raine is a combination of her and grandmothers names. She began the concept as a senior in high school at Lincoln Pius X, looking to find hope while grieving.

We were super close, Fleeman said. She never complained. She loved constantly on people.

Several of Fleemans family members and closest friends have helped make her goals a reality. Her mom, sister and cousin helped paint the walls and give the space its enthusiastic feel.

Her best friend, Sophie Thorson, helped package and pose for Fleemans photos and offered endless support.

When I wear her stuff, I always get compliments and like to tell people Oh, it's my best friend's business, Thorson said.

Thorson said her friend has been kept plenty occupied trying to get the store in order. Instead of hanging out at each others houses, theyve been spending every spare moment organizing clothes for the grand opening.

But Thorson wouldnt trade her time with Fleeman. She said shes always been there to cheer her up on dark days.

She cares about her people more than anyone I've ever met, Thorson said. She hates people feeling bad about themselves.

Thorson is sure Fleemans genuine nature will be evident in everything she does with the business.

Her aunt who works next door, Kendra Speicher, said she expects her niece to thrive.

She's a hard worker and a people person through-and-through, Speicher said.

She's got great potential here and with her business online, reaching out to people and bringing smiles and joy, Speicher said. You kind of get that feeling walking in here.

Past the entryway are racks of pastel sundresses, woven pillows, mugs, caps, candles and books. Inspirational tees spread messages like treat yourself kindly and dont stress about the could haves.

Those messages are what ultimately inspire the young woman to juggle school, business ownership and the challenges of being a college student.

Fleeman spent the week preparing for the boutique's grand opening that doubles as a birthday party (she turned 20 over the weekend), but shes most excited to meet more internet supporters and new friends.

Like everything else she does, its all about the community.

If it wasn't for the people, this wouldn't exist. Seeing their love and their comments and messages and everything like that, that's what keeps me going, Fleeman said. To be able to make a difference in their life; that's definitely my favorite part.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7241 or jthompson@journalstar.com

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Commissioners from four counties filled the District 39 Montana Senate seat left vacant with the recent death of Democrat Mark Sweeney of Philipsburg, appointing Teamsters business agent Jessica Wicks of Anaconda on Tuesday.

Wicks will serve the district for the next several months but fellow Democrat Jesse Mullen of Deer Lodge, a newspaper owner and manager, will be the partys nominee in the November election. Republicans plan to gather soon to choose their nominee.

The next legislative session wont be until early next year but committees meet in the interim and Wicks plans to be involved in them and be accessible to constituents.

Mark served on the Business and Labor Committee, on Energy and on Education, so my focus will probably be on those areas, she told The Montana Standard after her appointment. If theres something else I can to do help with Montana State Hospital and the prison I will definitely try to turn my focus there.

Sweeney was elected to the seat in 2020 but died unexpectedly at his home in Philipsburg on May 6. He was running for the Democratic nomination to the eastern U.S. House seat now held by Republican Matt Rosendale. Penny Ronning won the Democratic nomination in the June 7 primary.

Sweeneys state Senate seat wasnt up again until late 2024 but voters will decide in the Nov. 8 election who holds it in 2023 and 2024.

Democrats from across the district met recently and nominated Mullen to be the partys candidate on the ballot in the November election, but under state law, it took commissioners to fill the seat until the end of the year.

Party precinct officials gave them three people to choose from, including Mullen, Wicks and Anaconda Fire Department Captain Scott DeMarois.

Commissioners from Granite, Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Powell and Butte-Silver Bow counties met via Zoom on Tuesday to choose Sweeneys immediate replacement.

The commissioner votes were weighted based on the number of votes cast from each county in the district in the last election and how many commissioners each county has.

Under that formula, votes from each of the commissioners in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County counted a little more than 12 percent and all voted for Wicks. She is a business agent at the Teamsters Local 2 in Anaconda and commander of Anaconda Pinter Search and Rescue.

All but one commissioner from the other three counties chose Mullen but the five votes from Anaconda-Deer Lodge equaled more than 60 percent alone, giving Wicks the appointment. The votes for Mullen equaled just over 19 percent.

The district covers all of Granite County and parts of Powell, Butte-Silver Bow and Anaconda-Deer Lodge counties, the latter a Democrat stronghold that includes the city of Anaconda and a big chunk of the districts voters.

Republicans came close to flipping control of the seat in 2020, with Sweeney winning 50.8 percent of 8,756 total votes cast to 49.2 percent for Suzzann Nordwick of Walkerville. Republicans control the state Senate 31-19 and have a 67-33 majority in the House.

Republicans from the four counties will meet soon to choose their nominee, said Kerry Graybeal, a Republican Party official from Granite County organizing the meeting.

Libertarians and the Green Party can also place someone on the ballot and must complete that process by Aug. 24, according to state election officials.

Mullen is the owner and CEO of the Mullen Newspaper Company based in Deer Lodge. The company owns and manages the Philipsburg Mail, Silver State Post in Deer Lodge and newspapers in Browning, Shelby, Stevensville, Cut Bank, Valier and Browning.

It also owns two newspapers in Nebraska, one in Colorado and one in Idaho. Mullen and his wife, Sasha, also own Browsing Bison Books in Deer Lodge and Philipsburg.

Mullen said he knew and admired Sweeney and he always responded to constituents.

I have quite a bit of respect for him so when I heard about his death  a number of people in this community were devastated and some of them approached me  and I decided to throw my hat in the ring, he said.

Mullen said one of his primary campaign issues is keeping the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge and the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs. He noted recent comments from a Montana Department of Corrections official saying it might time to look at moving the prison to a city with a larger workforce pool.

If we dont start advocating for those people immediately we are at risk of losing a number of jobs and I cant think of any issue more important to the economy of the region, he said. It would have a cascading effect.

Mullen has been a reporter and editor in the past, he said, and believes politicians need to be transparent and accountable.

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man smoking a cigarette

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The Biden Administration is expected to announce a policy that would require tobacco companies to lower the amount of nicotine in cigarettes sold in the United States to minimally or nonaddictive levels, according to The Washington Post.

Though the outlet reports it could take the Food and Drug Administration at least a year to issue a proposed rule, it would likely be challenged in court by pro-tobacco groups.

"This would be really historic," Dorothy Hatsukami, professor at the University of Minnesota, told The Wall Street Journal. "You can actually change smoking behavior."

Mitch Zeller, recently retired director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, told the Post that despite the possibility of it taking years for the policy to take effect, it's still necessary.

"The most important, game-changing policies take a long time, but it is worth the wait because, at the end of the day, the only cigarettes that will be available won't be capable of addicting future generations of kids," he said.

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.

Man Smoking Cigarette

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RELATED: Biden Administration to Announce Plan to Ban Menthol Cigarettes: Reports

According to a scientific study based on the expected policy, cigarettes with very low nicotine levels result in people becoming less dependent on cigarettes and making more attempts to quit smoking.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, often leading to lung cancer, respiratory disorders, heart disease, stroke, and other serious illnesses, per the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The CDC also reports that cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States.

Matthew Myers, the president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, told the Post that reducing nicotine levels "would produce the greatest drop in cancer rates and make the biggest difference" of any public health measure under discussion by the administration.

In April, the FDA proposed banning menthol cigarettes. Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who worked under the Trump administration, had previously said he would propose a ban on menthol products, but did not before leaving. The House of Representatives has also voted for a bill that would ban all flavored tobacco products, but it did not come to the floor in the Senate.
Madrid-based The Mediapro Studio, one of Europes super-indies, is re-teaming with Hulu Japan to produce Season 2 of thriller The Head, the studios hit drama series whose Season 1 was broadcast in more than 90 countries.

The English-language shoot has got underway in Tenerife, in Spains The Canary Islands, helmed by Jorge Dorado, who directed Season 1.

More from Variety

The Head Season 2 boasts an extensive international cast led once again by John Lynch (The Terror, The Fall) and Katharine ODonnelly (Mary, Queen of Scots).

Joining them for Season 2, the series features Hovik Keuchkerian (Money Heist, Riot Police), Moe Dunford (Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Josefin Nelden (The Restaurant) and Olivia Morris (Hotel Portofino).

Season 2s newest additions in leading roles take in Enrique Arce (Money Heist, Rifkins Festival), Nora Rios (Caliphate, Heartbeats) and Tania Watson (Now and Then, Pioneras, The Minions of Midas), Thierry Godard (Oussekine, A French Case) and the special collaboration of Japans Sota Fukushi (Bleach).

If Season 1 was set at a remote polar research station, the principal setting for The Head Season 2 will once again be an isolated and inaccessible location, this time a huge freighter carrying a scientific mission as it sails the ocean, where the confrontation between good and evil that already marked the storyline of the first instalment of the series will rear its head once more.

With several weeks of filming in Tenerife and a large cargo ship as the main stage of the plot, the production of the new season will later return to Madrid to complete filming interiors at an impressive location that will reproduce the laboratory of a ship on a scientific mission as well as exterior locations in Ireland and other sites in Spain.

Story continues

Ran Tellem, director of international content development at The Mediapro Studio, repeats as executive producer of the series alongside Laura Fernandez Espeso, Javier Mendez, Bernat Elias and Mariano Baselga.

Baselga also serves as head writer of the writers room, which takes in playwright Jordi Galceran (The Method), Isaac Sastre of The Head S1 and Brazils Caue Laratta.

The Mediapro Studio Distribution will again be responsible for the titles worldwide distribution.

The Head has become one of The Mediapro Studios biggest international franchises, released in over 90 countries to excellent results, including in major markets and with operators such as HBO Max in the U.S. and Latin America and Canal Plus in France.

Starzplay has distributed in the U.K. and Germany, NENT in Scandinavia, SBS in Australia, SCC in Canada, and Amazons Prime Video in Italy, the Netherlands and India.

Further distribution deals have been closed with Watch it! in the Middle East and North Africa, AXN in Portugal, Streamz in Belgium, Go3 and Nent in the Baltics, TET in Latvia, ETV in Estonia and Hulu Japan.

In Spain, the series premiered on Orange TV; since last November it is also available on Disney Plus.

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Former President Trumps role in pushing state officials across the country to bypass election requirements and aid him in claiming victory will take center stage Tuesday for the fourth hearing from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Well be taking a close look at how the president and his allies came up with these schemes to pressure Republican-controlled legislatures and other state officials to reverse the certification of his electoral loss, a committee aide told reporters on Monday.

Well demonstrate that President Trump and his allies drove the pressure campaign based on lies. These lies led to threats that put state and local officials and their families at risk. These lies perpetuated the publics belief that the election was stolen, tainted by widespread fraud, and these lies also contributed to the violence on Jan. 6.

Appearing before the committee Tuesday will be Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state who Trump called just days before the Jan. 6 certification of votes asking him to find 11,870 votes  just enough to make Trump the victor of the state.

Raffenspergers deputy, Gabe Sterling, and former Georgia election worker Wandrea Shaye Moss, will also testify.

But Trumps efforts werent just limited to Georgia.

Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers (R) will also speak to multiple efforts to pressure him to take action to unwind the election, an effort that included a call from Trump and his attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Central to Tuesdays hearing are Trumps efforts to pressure election officials, a plot that also included a plan to craft false election certificates claiming that Trump had won in key states that he had actually lost.

In an effort to capitalize on its baseless claims of voter fraud, the campaign hoped that former Vice President Mike Pence would seat the rogue electors from seven battleground states  a suggestion that was laid out for the campaign in a memo from attorney John Eastman.

Story continues

The strategy was also forwarded by many others in Trumps orbit. Text messages to Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows show former Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Donald Trump Jr. and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) encouraging the pursuit of the idea.

Have a team on it, Meadows responded to one of the messages.

In January, the committee sent subpoenas to 14 people who helped coordinate the so called alternate electors plan. That list included state GOP officials and activists from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In February, the panel subpoenaed six others involved in the effort, including campaign officials and Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, who has since won the GOP primary.

The group went as far as to send false election certificates to the National Archives claiming Trump had won.

The panel also sent a subpoena to Giuliani to uncover work he did to convince state legislators to overturn the election.

Trumps campaign spent the months of November and December 2020 working its way through different state contacts.

Trump called canvassers in Michigan and even invited some of the states Republican state lawmakers to the White House for a meeting. Trump and Giuliani would go on to call Bowers and attempt to get in touch with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R). The two men made similar efforts in Pennsylvania.

Like in prior hearings, the committee will rely heavily on testimony from Republicans, in this case focusing on how officials like Bowers were made deeply uncomfortable by Trumps requests.

We will highlight some of the heroes of the story  many of them Republican officials  but public servants who didnt give into the pressure campaign, who remained true to their oaths to their duties as public servants. They prioritized their duty to uphold the law and the constitution over the pressure campaign, over loyalty to any party or any individual, the aide said.

Trumps fake elector scheme is already being investigated by the Justice Department, which launched the probe after state officials and lawmakers raised concerns over criminal wrongdoing.

Its also the subject of an investigation by prosecutors in Georgia.

Georgia will be a special focus of Tuesdays hearing, as will the threats to election workers.

Mosss testimony will touch on both, after the election worker was name-checked by Trump and falsely accused of counting fake ballots and double counting ballots for President Biden. The accusation resulted in death threats for the Georgia election worker, who later sued conservative cable news channel One America News for defamation.

What youll take away is that President Trump was warned that his actions, including repeating these false claims, risked inciting violence, and he did it anyway, the aide said.

Youll hear ultimately how this threat is not over. Threats to election workers and continuing efforts to undermine our countrys faith in democratic institutions are real, theyre a danger to our democracy and lies about the 2020 election and lies about insecure elections are ongoing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Twitters board of directors on Tuesday unanimously recommended shareholders approve Elon Musks bid to buy the social media company.

The board recommended stockholders approve Musks $44 billion offer, stating they determined it to be fair and in the best interests of Twitter and its stockholders, according to a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Once the merger is complete, stockholders will be entitled to $54.20 per share, the board said.

Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday, Musk said there were still some unresolved matters about the deal, amplifying concerns hes raised about the number of bots on the platform. Hes cast doubt on Twitters assessment that bots make up fewer than 5 percent of users.

Earlier this month Musk escalated his calls for Twitter to provide him with information about bot accounts in an SEC filing accusing the company of actively resisting and thwarting his information rights under the merger agreement by failing to provide him the information.

Twitter reportedly agreed after the filing to provide raw data information about tweets posted to the site daily.

At Tuesdays event, Musk said he was still awaiting resolution on that matter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  Tuesday's House hearings on the Capitol attack Jan. 6, 2021, focused on the pressure former President Donald Trump applied to state officials to overturn 2020 election results, including Trumps infamous call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Here's what happened today



Who testified: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, the office's chief operating officer Gabe Sterling, Arizona GOP House Speaker Rusty Bowers and Shaye Moss, a former election registration officer in Fulton County, Georgia.



New evidence: British documentarian Alex Holder said Tuesday he provided the Jan. 6 committee with previously unreleased recordings of exclusive interviews with Trump, his children and former Vice President Mike Pence before the attack.

Trump's pressure campaign: Tuesdays hearing will include recordings of phone calls Trump made to state officials. When he made those calls, he already knew allegations of a stolen election were nonsense, Rep. Liz Cheney said.

'Dangerous and escalating campaign of pressure': Trump's efforts to pressure officials to stop the electoral vote count "targeted every tier of federal and state elected officials," Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said at the hearing's start. "Anyone who got in the way of Donald Trump's continued hold on power after he lost the election was the subject of a dangerous and escalating campaign of pressure."

Bowers denies calling election rigged: Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, a Republican, disputed the recounting of a conversation he was said to have had with Trump in November 2020 about the election being rigged against him. "Anywhere, anyone, anytime has said that I said the election was rigged. That would not be true," Bowers said.

No evidence: In questioning from Schiff, Bowers recalled Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani talking about election fraud: "We've got lots of theories, we just don't have the evidence." Bowers added, "I don't know if that was a gaffe or maybe he didn't think through what he said."

Pressure continues: Bowers said U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz. and chair of the conservative Freedom Caucus, asked "if I would sign on both to a letter that had been sent from my state and or that I would support the decertification of the electors." Bowers replied, "I said I would not."

Fake electors scheme in Michigan: The committee learned through testimony that Michigan Republican fake electors planned to hide overnight in the Michigan Capitol so they could cast their votes in the statehouse chambers the next day.

Debunking Georgia election conspiracy: Gabriel Sterling, of the Georgia Secretary of State's Office, told the committee that a video showing normal ballot counting at State Farm Arena in Atlanta was turned into a right-wing conspiracy theory that alleged election fraud in Georgia.

No 'suitcase of ballots': Senior Justice Department officials repeatedly told Trump that allegations about fraud in Georgia were false. Deputy Attorney General Richard Donahue recalled in testimony how he told Trump in a phone call that what was described as a suitcase under a table was a wheeled bin that carries ballots.

Investigating voter fraud allegations: Raffensperger said every allegation of voter fraud was checked and said there was no way he could have lawfully changed the state's election result. "No, the numbers are the numbers. The numbers don't lie."

Facing down threats: Raffensperger said some of Trump's followers "started going after" his wife and others broke into his daughter-in-law's home. Nonetheless, he didn't quit his job, "because I knew that we did follow the law, we followed the Constitution. I think sometimes moments require you to stand up and just take the shots. You're doing your job. That's all we did."

Threats against election workers: Shaye Moss, an election worker in Fulton County, Georgia, became a target of false allegations and threats by former President Trump and others. On Facebook, she received threats, including racist ones. "A lot of them are just hateful," she said.

Disinformation upends election worker's life: Asked by Schiff how the experience of being "targeted by the former president and his allies" has affected her life, Moss said, "It has turned my life upside down." She said she doesn't go "anywhere at all."

'Nowhere I feel safe': Ruby Freeman, a former election worker and mother to election worker Shaye Moss, also received threats and left her home for two months on the FBI's advice. There is nowhere I feel safe, Freeman said. Nowhere."

Pleading the Fifth: To date, 30 witnesses to the Jan. 6 committee have invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, Cheney said in her closing statement.

Next session: The Jan. 6 committee will reconvene at 3 p.m. Thursday for its fifth hearing.

Story continues

What evidence does the Jan. 6 committee have?: Is the Jan. 6 committee sitting on explosive evidence of Trump's role in the Capitol assault?

Mother and daughter deliver emotional testimony

Moss was visibly emotional and looked nervous to be testifying in front of the national audience as photographers took her photo during her remarks, bouncing her leg and wringing her hands beneath the table.

Freeman sat behind her daughter as she testified, dabbing her eyes with a tissue while video of her own prerecorded testimony played.

-- Dylan Wells

'Do you know it feels to have the president of the United States target you,' witness says

Freeman says she no longer feels safe

In an impassioned plea, the Fulton County small business owner and 2020 election worker told the committee how unsafe she felt after being targeted by Trump and Giuliani.

There is nowhere I feel safe, Freeman said. Nowhere.

Do you know it feels to have the president of the United States target you? she asked. The president of the United States is supposed to represent every American, not to target one. But he targeted me, Lady Ruby  a small business owner, a mother, a proud American citizen, who stood up to help Fulton County run an election in the middle of the pandemic.

- Erin Mansfield

FBI warns Georgia election worker to leave home

The FBI told Freeman she was not safe in her home ahead of Jan. 6.

Freeman left and stayed away from her home for two months.

It was horrible. I felt homeless, she said. I cant believe this person has caused this much damage to me and my family to have to leave my home that Ive lived there for 21 years.

 Rachel Looker

Georgia elections worker: Ive lost my reputation

Freeman, an elections worker in Georgia, described the emotional toll she endured after Trump and his supporters falsely accused her of rigging the election.

Freeman, a small business owner who went by the name of Lady Ruby, said during videotaped testimony that she stopped giving out her name in public because of threats she received from Trump supporters.

I get nervous when I bump into someone I know in the grocery store, she said.  I get nervous when I have to give my name for food orders. Im always concerned of whos around me. Ive lost my name, and Ive lost my reputation.

Michael Collins

Trump attacked Georgia election worker 18 times in phone call with election officials

The committee detailed how Trump falsely accused Freeman of being an "election scammer" no less than 18 times in a phone call with state officials  nevermind a total lack of evidence, and a total distortion of a video.

Freeman's daughter detailed how those "lies" led to death threats against her family. Moss also broke down the false claims about a video showing the two women at work on election night in Fulton County.

To wit: Trump's attorney, Giuliani, claimed the video showed the two women exchanging a USB drive full of bogus votes.

It was not a USB port, Moss testified  it was a ginger mint.

- David Jackson

Trump targeting turned election workers 'life upside down.

After being targeted by Trump and his allies for debunked claims of election fraud in Georgia, Moss says her life was turned upside down.

Moss told the committee she no longer gives out her business card and she doesnt want anyone knowing my name. She also doesnt go out anymore with her mom because she might yell my name over the grocery aisle or something. I don't go to the grocery store at all.

I havent been anywhere at all. I gained about 60 pounds. I dont do nothing anymore, I dont want to go anywhere. I second guess everything that I do, said Moss, almost tearing up. Its affected my life in a major way. Every way. All because of lies.

- Kenneth Tran

Election worker describes threats from Trump supporters

Moss described the social media attacks she received after Trumps allies circulated a video falsely accusing her of election fraud.

There were just a lot of horrible things there, Moss said. Lot of threats, wishing death upon me, telling me Ill be in jail with my mother.

Moss, who worked in Fulton County, Ga., said she had never experienced anything like that in her more than ten years as an election worker.

- Maureen Groppe

Fulton County election official and her mother targeted with nasty lies

An election worker who helped process voter registrations, absentee ballot requests, and the votes became the target of nasty lies spread by President Trump and his allies in December 2020, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said in the hearing.

Moss worked in Fulton Countys Department of Registration and Elections from 2017 to 2022. Her mother, Ruby Freeman, also suffered from the disinformation campaign.

Thompson called the two women unsung heroes who keep democracy functioning.

- Erin Mansfield

Trump repeats fraud claims on Jan. 6

Trump continued to promote fraud allegations on Jan. 6, four days after Raffensperger told him the allegations were false.

Trump claimed that the Georgia secretary of state and the attorney general were lying. His claims included how Fulton County Republican poll watchers were ejected from the room after a water main burst and how election officials pulled suitcases of ballots out from under a table and illegally scanned them.

Tens of thousands of votes. This act coincided with a mysterious vote dump of up to 100,000 votes for Joe Biden. Almost none for Trump. Oh, that sounds fair, Trump said in a clip from his Jan. 6 speech, which was played during the hearing.

 Rachel Looker

Georgia election officials disprove suitcase conspiracy theory

Trump pushed a conspiracy theory in a phone call with Raffensperger that 18,000 ballots for Biden were delivered in a suitcase in Georgia, a baseless conspiracy that a Trump-appointed federal prosecutor later dismissed.

Gabriel Sterling, the chief operating officer in Raffenspergers office, said his office had an observer in Fulton County who was present for the counting of about 8,900 votes from the time he showed up to the time he left, a number way below 18,000.

Additionally, Sterling said there would have been no physical way to know who each of those ballots were for, and said the suitcases in question were standard ballot carriers that allow for seals to be put on so theyll be tamper-proof.

- Erin Mansfield

We didnt have any votes to find, Raffensperger says

Raffensperger testified about a phone conversation in which Trump urged him to find votes to overturn his election loss.

But, we didnt have any votes to find, Raffensperger said, adding that votes had been counted accurately and that the vote totals had been certified.

Raffensperger also disputed Trumps claims that ballots had been shredded. There was no shredding of ballots, he said.

 Michael Collins

Raffensperger disputes thousands of votes cast by dead people

Raffensperger disputed former Trumps claim that thousands of votes were cast in Georgia by dead people.

The states review found only four instances of votes cast in the name of people who were deceased, Raffensperger testified.

He also rejected Trumps claim that a lot of votes were dropped late at night. Raffensperger said all ballots had to be accepted by 7 p.m.

- Maureen Groppe

Trump to Georgia investigator: Whatever you can do

Trump called Georgia Secretary of State investigator Frances Watson who was supervising the audit process in Georgia.

Whatever you can do Frances, it would be, its a great thing. Its an important thing for the country, so important. You have no idea, so important and I very much appreciate it, Trump told Watson in a taped phone call played during the hearing.

Schiff said the select committee received text messages that found Mark Meadows wanted to send Georgia investigators POTUS-stuff including coins, autographed Make America Great Again hats and other items. White House staff intervened before items could be sent.

 Rachel Looker

Justice officials: Voter fraud allegations in Georgia were false

Attorney General Bill Barr and a top prosecutor in Georgia testified by video that allegations of election fraud in Georgia were false.

Barr said he told Trump that allegations of vote counters in Fulton County pulling ballots out of a suitcase and scanned them were untrue.

We took a hard look at this ourselves, Barr said. And based on our review of it, including the review of key witnesses, the Fulton County allegations had no merit.

Former Georgia U.S. Attorney BJay Pak, who resigned over Trumps efforts to overturn the election, testified that he reviewed a videotape purportedly showing the fraud. There was nothing there, he said.

 Michael Collins

28,000 Georgia voters skipped POTUS race on ballot

Raffensperger disputed Trump's claim to Watson that he had won the election.

Asked by Schiff about the accuracy of the claim, Raffensperger said No he did not.

What happened in fall of 2020 is that 28,000 Georgians skipped the presidential race and yet they voted downballot in other races. Raffensperger said. And the Republican congressman ended up getting 33,000 more votes than President Trump. And thats why President Trump came up short.

- Kenneth Tran

Trump told Georgia investigator she would be praised for calling election for him

In a call to Watson, Trump pressured Watson to investigate his false claims of voter fraud in Georgia and call the election in his favor.

Trump told Watson that he won by hundreds of thousands of votes, it wasnt even close, and that the Georgia voters were angry that the election was correctly called for Biden.

When the right answer comes out, youll be praised  because everyone knows its wrong, theres no way, Trump told Watson.

- Katherine Swartz

Georgia official: Answering Trump's lies was like a 'shovel trying to empty the ocean'

A Georgia election official told the committee how frustrating it was to answer Trump's repeated lies about alleged voter fraud in Georgia.

It was like "a shovel trying to empty the ocean," said Gabriel Sterling, chief operating officer for the Georgia secretary of state's office.

In speeches and social media, Trump kept claiming fraud in Georgia, even though GOP state officials repeatedly told him there was no credible evidence for his claims.

Sterling said millions of Trump's fans, including members of his own family, simply refused to believe that evidence: "Once you get past the heart, the facts don't matter as much."

- David Jackson

GA election official describes `normal ballot processing

Sterling said actions by vote counters that became the basis for conspiracy theories were, in fact, normal ballot processing.

One of the most frustrating claims, Sterling testified, was about the suitcases of ballots that Trump allies said were pulled out from under a table after election monitors had been kicked out.

Sterling said that, in full view of election monitors, the vote counters had put uncounted ballots in tamper-proof containers because they had thought they were done for the night. They then were told to continue processing those ballots.

But the conspiracy theories, Sterling said, took on a life of their own.

- Maureen Groppe

Dominion staffer was threatened by QAnon supporters: Georgia official

Sterling said he made a public plea for Trump to stop inspiring people to commit acts of violence after he saw a young staffer for Dominion Voting Systems was being threatened online by QAnon supporters.

Sterling said he received a call from a pretty unflappable Dominion staffer who was audibly shaken by the threats against the staffer. Sterling said he saw the mans name trending on Twitter along with a picture of a noose that said, You committed treason. May God have mercy on your soul.

Sterling said he lost his temper to the point he got red in the face. That inspired him to say to Trump via a press conference, Stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence. Someones going to get hurt. Someones going to get shot. Someones going to get killed. And its not right.

- Erin Mansfield

Members trapped in the chamber and officers injured on Jan. 6 in audience

Democratic Reps. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania and Veronica Escobar of Texas  both of whom were trapped in the gallery on Jan. 6  are watching today's proceedings in the hearing room.

U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges, U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, and D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone are also watching in the room. The officers were charged with protecting the Capitol on Jan. 6 and have been attending the hearings.

House Chaplain Margaret G. Kibben is also present. Kibben was in her third day on the job on Jan. 6 and led a prayer in the chamber as members donned escape hoods.

- Dylan Wells and Chelsey Cox

Michigan official: GOP electors planned to hide in state Capitol

The committee played a video of testimony by a former Michigan Republican official who told of a plot by GOP electors planning to hide in the state Capitol.

Laura Cox, the former leader of Michigans Republican Party, recalled a conversation with a man who told her he was working with Trumps re-election campaign.

He told me that the Michigan Republican electors were planning to meet in the Capitol and hide overnight so that they could fulfill the role of casting their vote in the Michigan legislative chambers, Cox said.

I told him in no uncertain terms that that was insane and inappropriate, Cox said.

 Michael Collins

Bowers describes influx of calls, emails and protesters at his home

Bowers said he received over 20,000 emails and tens of thousands of voicemails and texts following the 2020 election. The influx of emails and calls made it challenging for his office to work and communicate, he said.

At home, up until recently, it is the new pattern or a pattern in our lives to worry what will happen on Saturdays because we have various groups come by, Bowers said.

Bowers described how individuals visit his home playing videos and blaring loudspeakers claiming that he is corrupt and a pedophile.

 Rachel Looker

Bowers describes disturbing protests outside his home

Bowers said protests outside his home continued until recently, with groups accusing him of pedophilia and perversion, and arguing with his neighbors. At least one protester brought a pistol, Bowers said.

There was one gentleman who had the three bars on his chest and he had a pistol and was threatening my neighbor  not with the pistol, but just vocally, Bowers said. When I saw the gun, I knew I had to get close.

Bowers said the "disturbing' protests upset his daughter, who was gravely ill, and his wife.

- Bart Jansen

Arizona fake electors were like tragic parody: Bowers

Bowers was not aware at the time when a group of fake electors cast electoral votes for Trump and sent them to Washington, D.C., for certification.

When he learned of the scheme, Bowers said he thought of the book The Gang that Couldnt Shoot Straight."

"And I just thought this is a tragic parody, Bowers told the committee.

He read to the committee his personal journal he kept in December 2020, a month before the Capitol attack. It is painful to have friends who have been such a help to me, turn on me with such rancor, Bowers wrote. I do not want to be a winner by cheating. I will not play with laws I swore allegiance to.

- Kenneth Tran

Trump campaign lawyers backed away from alternate electors

As Trumps legal challenges to the election repeatedly failed, Trump campaign lawyers no longer wanted to pursue alternate slates of electors, according to testimony the committee aired.

Justin Clark, one of the campaign lawyers, said he told others that convening electors in states Trump lost was not appropriate unless litigation was pending.

Im out, Clark said he relayed.

Matt Morgan, another campaign lawyer, said he took his responsibility in the scheme to zero.

Cassidy Hutchinson  who was a top aide to Trumps chief of staff, Mark Meadows  said she participated in a meeting during which the White House counsels office said the law did not support the plan for alternate electors. Meadows and Giuliani were also at that meeting, according to Hutchinson.

- Maureen Groppe

Sen. Ron Johnson attempted to give fake elector documents to Pence ahead of Jan. 6

Text messages obtained by the committee show that Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., wanted to hand-deliver fake elector votes from Michigan and Wisconsin to Pence.

A staff member for Johnson sent a text message to an aide for Pence minutes before the beginning of the joint session, but Pences aide, Chris Hodgson, instructed Johnsons aide to not give Pence the alternate slate of electors..

- Katherine Swartz

Trump aide: Staff members felt like 'useful idiots' and 'rubes' over fake elector scheme

The committee played video of a former Trump staff member talking about the anger he and others felt over the "fake elector" scheme that even campaign attorneys wouldn't stand behind.

"We were useful idiots  just rubes at this point," Robert Sinners told the committee.

Sinners also said that no Trump officials "really cared" if aides like him were putting themselves at legal risk.

- David Jackson

Freedom Caucus chairman also pushed Arizona House Speaker

Even after batting down requests from Trumps inner circle to overturn the election, Bowers said he received a pressuring call from the then-chairman of the Freedom Caucus.

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., called Bowers on Nov. 30  the day Arizona was supposed to formally award the states electoral votes to Biden  to ask if Bowers would sign a letter from his state or support decertification of the official electors, Bowers testified Tuesday.

I said I would not, Bowers testified Tuesday.

- Erin Mansfield

Bowers to Eastman: 'No sir.'

Bowers described for the committee a Jan. 4, 2021, call with one of Trumps lawyers where he refused to reject the states electors for Biden.

Bowers said the lawyer, John Eastman, suggested the legislature take the action and allow courts to sort out the dispute. But Bowers reacted incredulously and refused, telling Eastman it would violate his oath of office.

Youre asking me to do something thats never been done in history  the history of the United States and Im going to put my state through that without sufficient proof? And thats going to be good enough with me, that I would put us through that, my state, that I swore to uphold both in Constitution and in law? Bowers said. No sir.

- Bart Jansen

Arizona official on violating constitutional oath: I will not do it

Bowers cited his religious faith as one of the reasons he would not grant Giulianis request to remove Bidens electors and replace them with electors for Trump.

Bowers said it is a tenet of his faith that the Constitution is divinely inspired. Bowers said he was concerned that Giuliani would ask him to violate his oath to uphold the Constitution without offering any strong judicial quality evidence of election fraud.

For me to do that, because somebody just asked me to do it, is foreign to my being, he said. I will not do it.

 Michael Collins

Members from QAnon, Proud Boys protest at state capitals

Schiff said the select committee uncovered evidence that individuals from groups like QAnon and the Proud Boys involved in the Jan. 6 attack participated in "stop the steal" protests at state capitals.

One of the protests took place at the Arizona House of Representatives building where protestors called for Bowers by name and stood outside the door armed with rifles. Protesters illegally entered the building and refused to leave, Schiff said.

One protester at the Arizona House building, QAnon Shaman" Jacob Chansley, was sentenced to 41 months in prison after breaching the Capitol on Jan. 6.

 Rachel Looker

Giuliani said he didn't have evidence of fraud, Bowers says

Giuliani wanted Arizona to hold an official hearing to certify Trump as the winner because he claimed over 200,000 undocumented individuals and 6,000 dead people had voted in the election, Bowers testified.

On multiple occasions, Bowers and other senators pushed Giuliani and other Trump attorneys for names of individuals and evidence of fraud, but Giuliani never provided evidence.

Weve got lots of theories, we just dont have the evidence, Giuliani told them.

I dont know if that was a gaffe or maybe he didnt think through what he said, but both myself and others in my group and my counsel remembered that specifically and kind of laughed about it, Bowers said.

- Katherine Swartz

Arizona Republican: Could not replace Biden electors with Trump electors

Bowers told the committee he adamantly told Trump and his aides that he could not ask his state legislature to simply award him electoral votes after Trump lost the the state's popular vote to Biden.

The idea of even considering it was "totally foreign" to him, Bowers testified, and he wouldn't have it.

Bowers said he told Trump's team: "You are asking me to do something that is counter to my oath," as well as "to the laws of the state of Arizona."

- David Jackson

Bowers: 'I didnt want to be used as a pawn'

Bowers said he refused Giulianis request to hold a hearing on evidence of election fraud  evidence that Bowers said Giuliani never provided.

I refused, Bowers testified. I didnt want to be used as a pawn.

Bowers said the circus had been brewing with lots of demonstrations about the election results and I didnt want to have that in the House.

- Maureen Groppe

Arizona official says he asked Giuliani repeatedly for proof of fraud

Bowers said he asked Giuliani repeatedly for proof of election fraud but did not receive it.

Bowers said he was on the phone with Trump and Giuliani when Giuliani began listing off large numbers of people who voted but shouldnt have  such as undocumented immigrants and dead people  when he asked, Do you have their names?

Bowers said Giuliani told him yes and that Trump told Giuliani to give him what he wanted. Bowers said he never received the information he asked for despite asking for the information on multiple occasions.

- Erin Mansfield

Bowers denies Trump statement election was rigged

Bowers opened his testimony by directly denying a claim Tuesday by former Trump that Bowers said the 2020 election was rigged.

Trump had issued a statement minutes before Bowers appearance saying the two had talked by phone in November 2020, saying Bowers called the election rigged. Bowers, who campaigned with Trump, confirmed having a conversation with Trump, but said parts the former president cited were untrue.

Bowers also denied Trumps claim that he won Arizona instead of Biden. That is also false, Bowers said.

- Bart Jansen

PA House Speaker bombarded with calls from Trump lawyers

Pennsylvania House Speaker Bryan Cutler received daily voicemails from Trumps lawyers in the last week of November.

Hey Brian, its Rudy. I really have something important to call to your attention that I think changes things,Giuliani said in a taped voicemail played during the hearing.

Cutler asked his lawyers to have Giuliani stop calling, but the calls continued. He said there were multiple protests at his house and district office following. His personal email, cell phone and home phone number were shared online.

We had to disconnect our home phone for about three days because it would ring all hours of the night and fill up with messages, Cutler said.

 Rachel Looker

Schiff: Trumps pressure campaign incited threats of violence and death.

Schiff said Trump's intense pressure campaign against state election officials brought angry phone calls, and texts, armed protests, intimidation, and all too often, threats of violence and death.

The pressure campaign singled out specific elections officials and workers. The Jan. 6 committee played a video of pro-Trump protestors chanting stop the steal outside Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Bensons house. Protesters called Benson a "tyrant" and a "felon."

Benson told the committee The uncertainty of that was the fear. Are they coming with guns? Are they gonna attack my house? Im in here with my kid, you know, Im trying to put them to bed. And so that was the scariest moment, just not knowing what was going to happen.

- Kenneth Tran

Trump used escalating campaign of pressure in battleground states: Schiff

In his opening remarks to the committee, Schiff spoke of the layers of pressure Trump put on election commissioners and state legislators in key states.

Trump began by pressuring states to stop the counting of votes on Election Day. Then he put more pressure on officials who refused to certify him as winner of states he lost. When state elected officials refused to go back into session to appoint Trump electors, Trump further amped up the pressure, yet again Schiff said.

Anyone who got in the way of Trumps continued hold on power after he lost the election was the subject of a dangerous and escalating campaign of pressure. This pressure campaign brought angry phone calls and texts, armed protests, intimidation, and all too often, threats of violence and death, Schiff said.

- Katherine Swartz

Trump did not care about threats of violence, Cheney says

Cheney said former Trump did not care that his false allegations of election fraud were leading to threats of violence.

Donald Trump did not care about the threats of violence, Cheney said. He did not condemn them. He made no effort to stop them. He went forward with his fake allegations anyway.

Cheney urged viewers watching the hearings to focus on the evidence and not be distracted by politics. This is serious, she said. We cannot let America become a nation of conspiracy theories and thug violence.

 Michael Collins

Cheney: Justice Department should examine Trump's pressure on state officials

In her opening statement, Cheney, R-Wyo., said Trump's pressure on officials in Georgia, Arizona, and other states to reverse his election losses to Biden should be deplored by everybody  including Justice Department investigators.

"Each of these efforts to overturn the election is independently serious," Cheney said. "Each deserves attention both by Congress and by the Department of Justice."

The Justice Department is already prosecuting rioters who breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021  Cheney and other committee members clearly want prosecutors to include Trump himself in their investigation.

- David Jackson

Thompson says Trumps lie hasnt gone away

Trumps false claims of election fraud continue to reverberate in contests held after the 2020 presidential campaign,Thompson said.

The lie hasnt gone away. Its corrupting our democratic institutions, Thompson said. People who believe that lie are now seeking positions of public trust.

He cited the recent primary election in New Mexico where a county commissioner refused to certify the results based on a gut feeling about the voting machines. That same commissioner is among those who pleaded guilty to illegally entering the Capitol on Jan. 6, Thompson said.

- Maureen Groppe

Trump amplified threats of violence, chairman says

Thompson said Trump not only knew state election officials would be threatened with violence for not overturning the election results in his favor, but that he amplified those threats.

When they wouldnt embrace the 'big lie' and substitute the will of the voters with Donald Trumps will to remain in power, Donald Trump worked to ensure they faced the consequences, Thompson said, referring to state election officials.

Threats to peoples livelihood and lives, he said. Threats of violence that Donald Trump knew about and amplified.

- Erin Mansfield

Thompson: Trump pressure on states part of the playbook

Thompson, the committee chairman, opened Tuesdays hearing by reciting evidence from previous hearings about Trumps pressure on Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 election, but the scheme didnt end there.

Thompson, D-Miss., said state officials from Georgia and Arizona would describe the pressure on them.

In fact, pressuring public servants into betraying their oaths was a fundamental part of the playbook, Thompson said. A handful of election officials in key states stood between Donald Trump and the upending of American democracy.

- Bart Jansen

Trump blasts Bowers before hearing testimony

Trump called Bowers a Republican in name only before the lawmaker is scheduled to testify Tuesday about Trumps pressure to flip his states election results.

Bowers has said Trump and his lawyer, Giuliani, called to urge him to overturn his states electors for Biden and replace them with electors for Trump. But Trump said Bowers thanked him in November 2020 for getting him elected and that Trump won the election.

During the conversation, he told me that the election was rigged and that I won Arizona, Trump said in a statement. He said he got more votes than I did which could never have happened.

- Bart Jansen

British documentarian provides committee more video of Trump, Pence

A British documentarian said Tuesday he provided the House Jan. 6 committee with previously unreleased recordings of exclusive interviews with Trump, his children and former Vice President Mike Pence before and after the Capitol attack Jan. 6, 2021.

Alex Holder said in a tweeted statement he began the project in September 2020 and hadnt expected the recordings to be subpoenaed. We simply wanted to better understand who the Trumps were and what motivated them to hold onto power so desperately, said Holder, who has a deposition with the committee scheduled Thursday.

The recordings are scheduled to be part of a three-part series to be released this summer called, Unprecedented.

 Bart Jansen

Donald Trump hits Kevin McCarthy over lack of Trump Republicans on Jan. 6 committee

Trump is now attacking House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy over the lack of pro-Trump Republicans in the Jan. 6 committee hearings on the Capitol attack.

"It was a bad decision not to have representation on that committee," Trump told conservative radio talk show host Wayne Allyn Root last week. "That was a very, very foolish decision because they try to pretend like they're legit, and only when you get into the inner workings, you say, 'What kind of a thing is this?'"

The committee does have two Republican members  Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger  and they are outspoken critics of Trump.

McCarthy  who is counting on Trump's support to become speaker of the House should Republicans win control of Congress in this year's elections  did propose other Republicans for Jan. 6 committee membership. But current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., rejected GOP firebrands Jim Jordan and Jim Banks because they voted against the electoral vote count that elected Biden.

- David Jackson

What we learned at earlier hearings

June 9 hearing: Committee members gave an overview of what they called former Trump's "sophisticated seven-part plan" to overturn the 2020 election. Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards described suffering a concussion and slipping in blood while battling rioters. British documentarian Nick Quested played video of a meeting between two leaders of far-right rights the night before the attack.

June 13 hearing: The committee outlined how Trump's aides on the campaign and at the White House told him repeatedly he lost the 2020 election. Former Attorney General Bill Barr called the allegations of election fraud "completely bogus and silly" in videotaped testimony. A committee member, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., called Trump raising $250 million after the election to fight election fraud "a big rip-off" because most of the money went to a campaign fund unrelated to the legal fight.

Thursday: The hearing focused on Trump's pressure on Vice President Mike Pence to reject electors from key states and overturn the election for him. Retired federal judge Michael Luttig, who advised Pence, told the committee there was no constitutional basis for Trump's strategy. "None," Luttig said. Videotaped testimony from a series of Trump aides including his daughter, Ivanka Trump, described a Jan. 6 call between Trump and Pence as "heated" and said the president called his vice president a "wimp."

Trump vs. Pence in 2022 endorsements

Trump supported Republican candidates hoping to knock off Raffensperger and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, but both incumbents won.

The campaign became a proxy fight between Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, who supported the incumbents.

But other Trump candidates, including Jim Marchant, who won the GOP nomination for Nevada secretary of state, have said they wouldnt have certified 2020 election results that Biden won.

Who is Shaye Moss?

Wandrea' ArShaye "Shaye" Moss, who will testify at a panel by herself at the Jan. 6 committee hearing Tuesday, handled voter applications and absentee ballot requests in Fulton County, Georgia, and helped process the vote count on Election Day 2020.

After Trump and his supporters falsely accused Moss of processing fake ballots for Biden, Moss received so many death threats and racist taunts, she changed her appearance and went into hiding, according to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, which gave her a 2022 "Profile in Courage Award."

Bowers and the committee vice chair, Cheney, also received the award.

Remember Trump's 'find' votes call to Georgia?

A key event the committee is investigating is the Jan. 2, 2021, call from Trump urging Georgia Secretary of State Brian Raffensperger to find 11,780 votes for him to beat Biden in Georgia.

Trump insisted he couldnt have lost the state, but Raffensperger told him what he was saying was not true during the call, which was recorded. Sterling publicly called Trump's claims false.

Thompson, the committee chairman, said Trump tried everything in his power to change the election results. "He tried to pressure state legislatures to reverse the results of the election in their states, but they refused," Thompson said.

What we know about today's hearing: Jan. 6 hearings resume Tuesday with a focus on Trump's pressure on state officials. What to expect.

Trump contends Georgia call was 'perfect'

Trump continued to maintain in a statement Sunday his call to Georgia officials was "appropriate." In a separate statement, he again called the investigation a hoax and a waste of time.

"My phone call to the Georgia Secretary of State, with many other people, including numerous lawyers, knowingly on the line, was absolutely PERFECT and appropriate," Trump said.

Jan. 6 committee hearing schedule: Here's what to expect about at upcoming Jan. 6 hearings

Chairman of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., speaks with members of the media after a hearing of the committee, Thursday, June 16, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) ORG XMIT: DCJM117

Why hear from Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers?

Testimony from the Arizona House Speaker, Rusty Bowers, is important because the state was one of seven key states that President Joe Biden won in 2020, but Trump and his allies tried to overturn.

Bowers said he got a call in late November 2020 from Trump and his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, urging the lawmaker to submit an alternate set of electors. Bowers refused.

Another Trump lawyer, John Eastman, argued states could submit alternate slates of electors from the ones that were officially certified, so Vice President Mike Pence could reject their Biden electors, according to earlier testimony and court records. Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark drafted a letter to six of the states urging legislative leaders to overturn their official results, according to court records.

"We'll show during the hearing what the president's role was in trying to get states to name alternate slates of electors, how that scheme depended initially on hopes that the legislators would reconvene and bless it," Schiff told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday.

What happened on Day 3: Trump called Pence a 'wimp' as VP resisted 'pressure campaign' to overturn election

Will Ginni Thomas testify?

The committee asked Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, for an interview because of emails she sent Bowers and texts she sent former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to fight the election results.

"We want to know what she knows, what her involvement was in this plot to overturn the election,"Schiff told CNN.

Ginni Thomas told the Daily Caller she is eager to testify and "cant wait to clear up misconceptions.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jan. 6 hearing: State election officials tell of pressure from Trump
Rep. Tom Rices (S.C.) loss to state Rep. Russell Fry last week marked the first primary defeat among the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Trump, invigorating other Trump-backed challengers as the political futures of four more incumbents who voted to impeach hang in the balance.

The marquee race will be Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.) versus Trump-endorsed candidate Harriet Hageman, an attorney and former national committeewoman for the Republican National Committee who also has the support of more than 100 House Republicans, including Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.).

But before the Cheney-Hageman race on Aug. 16, primaries on Aug. 2 in Michigan and Washington state will test the strength of Trump endorsements against Reps. Peter Meijer (Mich.), Dan Newhouse (Wash.) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (Wash.).

Frys outright win of the vote in the solidly red South Carolina district encompassing Myrtle Beach came as a surprise to some political observers. Rice outraised Fry and spent nearly three times what Fry did on his campaign. Internal surveys from the Fry campaign and a Trafalgar poll showed Fry with double-digit leads over Rice, though not enough to avoid a runoff. But on primary day, he won 51 percent of the vote.

That could be a good sign for MAGA challengers in the four upcoming races, all of whom can point to bright spots in polls. But not all are well-positioned in terms of fundraising.

A January poll of Michigans 3rd Congressional District sponsored by the Democratic abortion rights group EMILYs List found former Trump political appointee John Gibbs with an initial 13 percent support to 26 percent for Meijer, who was elected in 2020.

But after being informed of Meijers impeachment vote and Trumps endorsement for Gibbs, Gibbs shot to the lead with 37 percent support to 19 percent for Meijer.

Getting that message out, however, takes money, and Meijer  a member of the wealthy and recognizable family whose name is that of an eponymous supermarket chain  is in a better financial position. He had $1.5 million in cash on hand at the end of the last reporting period on March 31, compared with $81,935 for Gibbs.

Story continues

Still, the Gibbs campaign is incredibly confident, campaign manager Taylor Frasier said in a statement.

Like Tom Rice, Peter Meijer has been a rubber stamp for RINO Republicans his entire SHORT career, Frasier said.

Meijer, who will face a more Democratic-leaning district if he wins his primary, focused on his military service and legislative resume in his first campaign ad released last week, and is projecting confidence about the race.

Every district is different, every challenger is different  But were very mindful of what weve seen in other races, Meijer told CNN following Rices loss last week.

Loren Culp, a former small-town police chief in Republic, Wash., is also severely lagging in fundraising in his race against incumbent Newhouse, despite an endorsement from Trump. Newhouse, who was first elected in 2014, had $928,319 in his campaign account as of the end of March, while Culp had just $23,544.

But internal polls from the Culp campaign make him optimistic about a path to victory.

The most recent poll from April by Spry Strategies found Culp leading the primary field with 28.1 percent support and Newhouse in second place with 22.6 percent support. That would push them to the general election due to Washingtons nonpartisan top-two primary system. Head-to-head, Culp led Newhouse 38.3 percent to 37.3 percent, with a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points.

The electorate is moving to the right and becoming more conservative in this already very conservative district, Culp said in a statement. This presents a problem for Mr. Newhouse because hes lost his base voters who supported Mr. Trump in the 2020 election.

Tom Rices race is very informative of what is going on across the country  including right here in Washington State, Culp added.

Newhouse has mostly stayed out of the national spotlight and steered away from Trump-related topics. In a campaign video posted on the front page of his website, he used footage from an April appearance on Tucker Carlsons Fox News show talking about a bill to stop China from buying U.S. farmland.

The Trump-backed challenger in the other Washington race is in a much better financial position.

At the end of the last fundraising reporting period on March 31, retired Green Beret Joe Kent had $1 million, while Herrera Beutler, who was first elected in 2010, had $2 million.

A May poll from the Trafalgar Group found Kent leading the primary field with 27.6 percent to 21.9 percent for Herrera Beutler.

The Cheney-Hageman race will be the most watched and most expensive.

Two recent polls from PACs opposing Cheney show Hageman with a strong lead among likely Wyoming GOP primary voters.

A May 24-25 WPA Intelligence poll sponsored by Club for Growth PAC found Hageman with 56 percent support to 26 percent for Cheney. A June 1-2 poll by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates from Wyoming Values PAC similarly found Hageman at 56 percent support and Cheney at 28 percent.

Cheney, however, has been a fundraising giant. She raised $10.1 million for her race as of March 31  the seventh-highest sum of all House candidates  and had $6.8 million in her campaign account.

Hageman has raised enough to be very impressive in a typical House race, but lags behind Cheney with $2 million raised and $1 million in the bank at the end of March. She is also being supported by several outside PACs, including the House Freedom Caucuss PAC.

This month, Cheney aired her first television ads, featuring testimonials from voters calling her a statesman and praising her commitment to working on legislation.

Hagemans ads have focused mostly on her Wyoming roots and President Biden rather than on her opponent.

One GOP member who voted to impeach Trump, Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), did not have a Trump-endorsed primary challenger. Results for his June 7 top-two nonpartisan primary are still being counted, but he is currently in the lead among Republicans to face Democrat Rudy Salas in the general election.

Four of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach are not running for reelection: Reps. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio), Fred Upton (Mich.) and John Katko (N.Y.).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Elon Musk's transgender daughter seeks name change as she does not wish to be related to him 'in any way, shape or form'

Elon Musk has previously been slammed for his comments on gender pronouns. Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images

Elon Musk's transgender daughter has applied to legally change her name, per Reuters.

She said she does not "wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form."

She is also seeking to change her name, citing her gender identity, per TMZ.

Elon Musk's transgender daughter has applied to legally change her name as she no longer wants to be associated with her father.

Per Reuters,the 18-year-old said she no longer wished to be "related to my biological father in any way, shape or form."

According to legal documents filed by the younger Musk in a California court in April, the other reason stated for the name change was "gender identity," TMZ reported. The teenager, who turned 18 recently  the age of consent in the state  wants to be legally recognized as female and by her new name, per the outlet. Her chosen name was redacted in court documents, Reuters reported.

Musk's mother is Canadian author Justine Wilson, who was married to the billionaire from 2000 to 2008, per Reuters.

The elder Musk previously came under fire over comments he made concerning gender pronouns.

In a December 2020 tweet, he shared a cartoon picture of a soldier rubbing blood on his face next to the words "when you put he/him in ur bio." The soldier is shown wearing a hat that says "I love to oppress."

Days later, he tweeted: "I absolutely support trans, but all these pronouns are an esthetic nightmare."

Musk also pointed out how his electric car company, Tesla, had topped an annual list of the best places for LGBTQ people to work. However, the Human Rights Campaign  the group behind the list  later called out Musk and said he should apologize for his "insensitive comments" about gender pronouns, per CNBC.

Musk did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
RansomHouse, a ransomware gang, has claimed responsibility for the cyberattack on Shoprite, Africas largest retailer.

The attack, which Shoprite confirmed a week ago, compromised customer data in Eswatini, Namibia and Zambia, the company said. Shoprite said the data breach included names and ID numbers but no financial information or bank account numbers.

In messages posted on RansomHouse's Telegram channel and seen by TechCrunch, the gang, which is said to be targeting companies with weak security, claimed to have obtained 600 gigabytes of data from Shoprite. It said to have collected personal data that was in plain text/raw photos packed in archived files, completely unprotected.

The group also claimed to have contacted Shoprites management for negotiations and hinted that it will sell the data and make some of it public if the talks failed.

TechCrunch reached out to Shoprite to confirm if RansomHouse had made contact with them, and to get more details including the number of customers affected by the attack, but the retailer declined to comment while referring us to this statement they posted following the incident.

In the statement, the retailer said investigations were ongoing and that it had notified the information regulator at its headquarters in South Africa (SA).

An investigation was immediately launched with forensic experts and other data security professionals to establish the origin, nature and scope of this incident, said Shoprite.

Additional security measures to protect against further data loss were implemented by amending authentication processes and fraud prevention and detection strategies to protect customer data. Access to affected areas of the network has also been locked down, it said.

The group urged affected customers to take precautionary measures while saying that it had not noted any misuse or publication of the data.

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The Group (Shoprite) is not aware of any misuse or publication of customer data that may have been acquired, however, web monitoring relating to the incident continues  there is a possibility that the impacted customer data may be used by the unauthorized party, it said.

Shoprite is Africas largest chain retailer with 2,933 stores as of February this year. Its brands include Shoprite, Usave, LiquorShop, Checkers, Checkers Hyper and House & Home. The retailer has a strong financial performance with its operating profit rising last year by 19% (in the financial year ended July 4) to 9.7 billion rand ($681 million).
Amber Heard. NBC News

The full version of Amber Heard's interview with NBC's Savannah Guthrie aired Friday.

Heard said she is "terrified" that Johnny Depp might sue her again following their defamation trial.

"I took for granted what I assumed was my right to speak," the actor said.

Amber Heard said she's nervous about what she can publicly say after a Virginia jury found her liable for defaming her ex-husband Johnny Depp after weeks of sensational testimony in the highly publicized trial.

In a Friday NBC "Dateline" interview with "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie, Heard said she was "terrified" that Depp might sue her for defamation again if she continues to speak out.

"I took for granted what I assumed was my right to speak. I'm scared that no matter what I do or what I say or how I say it  every step that I take will present another opportunity for this sort of silencing, which is what, I guess, a defamation lawsuit is meant to do  to take your voice," Heard said.

At the center of the defamation trial, which played out in a Virginia court earlier this year, was a 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which Heard implied she was a survivor of sexual and domestic violence. The piece did not name Depp, but he responded by taking Heard to court, accusing his ex-wife of ruining his reputation and career by insinuating in the op-ed that he abused her.

Heard countersued for $100 million, arguing that Depp defamed her through statements made by his lawyer, Adam Waldman, who called Heard's claims of abuse by Depp a "hoax."

Heard testified at the trial that Depp assaulted her before and during their marriage, which ended in divorce in 2016. Depp denied the claims.

The jury ultimately found both Heard and Depp liable for defaming each other, though the verdict was undeniably a win for Depp, who was awarded $15 million in damages compared to Heard's $2 million payout.

In her first prime-time interview following the verdict, Heard told Guthrie that she stands by "every word" of her testimony and will do so until her "dying day." But the actor said Depp's numerous fans in attendance at the trial often made testifying difficult.

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"In the courtroom, I am testifying about sexual assault and violence in front of a jury in a packed courtroom of people who are expressing their disdain for me," she told Guthrie.

Heard said barricades had to be established outside of the courthouse for her safety, due to crowds of "Captain Jack Sparrow" fans stationed outside the building each day.

The trial inspired outsize internet engagement  the vast majority of which seemed to be support for Depp. Heard said in her interview that she doesn't "blame" the jury for their verdict in the case.

"I'm not a good victim, I get it. I'm not a likable victim. I'm not a saint," she said. "I'm not asking anyone to like me."

But Heard said she fears the outcome may have a "chilling" effect for domestic-violence survivors.

"What I learned in that trial is it's never going to be good enough. If you have proof, then it was a scheme, it was a hoax," she said. "If you don't have proof, it didn't happen."

A spokesperson for Depp responded to Heard's interview by accusing her of "relitigating" the case in the media.

"It's unfortunate that while Johnny is looking to move forward with his life, the defendant and her team are back to repeating, reimagining and relitigating matters that have already been decided by the Court and a verdict that was unanimously and unequivocally decided by a jury in Johnny's favor," the representative told Insider.

Heard told Guthrie that she plans to appeal her case and is focused on being a mother to her young daughter.

Read the original article on Insider
A Tennessee man is accused in Bismarck of having fentanyl in his possession equaling 10,000 potentially lethal doses.

Walter Holmes, 61, of Memphis, Tennessee, was arrested Monday by officers with the North Dakota Highway Patrol and the Metro Area Narcotics Task Force. He's charged with possessing the drug with intent to deliver. He faces a possible 20-year prison sentence if convicted. An attorney isnt listed for him in court records.

Law enforcement officials linked messages about the distribution of drugs from a previously seized cellphone to one that Holmes was carrying, according to an affidavit. Patrol troopers and Task Force officers found 100 grams of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that authorities say can be lethal in a 2-milligram dose. Distributors mix it with a diluting agent and sell it for as much as $50 per one-tenth of a gram, placing the value of the drugs seized at $50,000.

Fentanyl has been linked to a surge of overdose deaths in the U.S. in recent years, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Holmes made his initial court appearance Tuesday. He'll enter a plea later.

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A sign at the airport said that customers face longer lines than usual "due to crowds and staff shortages." Grace Dean/Insider

I flew from Schiphol, Amsterdam's massive airport that's ranked as one of the busiest in Europe.

I queued for 90 minutes to drop my bag off and get through security because of staff shortages.

The airport had its own library, let you take drinks through security, and didn't play speaker announcements.

I flew from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands' biggest airport and one of the five busiest in Europe, on Thursday, June 9.

The exterior of Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Grace Dean/Insider

Sources: Aero Affairs, OAG, Simple Flying

My flight took me from Schiphol to Gatwick, which is around 25 miles south of London. I'd flown from Schiphol before, but I'd never seen it so busy.

A row of houses in Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

My airline, EasyJet, emailed me two days before my flight, saying: "There may be delays at the airport security control before your flight and we recommend that you arrive at AMS airport 3 hours before your flight time." I followed this advice, arriving at the airport, which is south-west of the city center, three hours before the flight was due to depart at 7:10 p.m. local time.

The exterior of Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Grace Dean/Insider

There were dozens of flights departing from the airport that day. The airport says that it has direct flights to almost 300 destinations and that 19.9 million passengers flew to or from Schiphol in the second half of 2021. The vast majority flew with KLM, the Netherlands' flagship carrier.

Departure boards in Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

Source: Schiphol, Schiphol 2021 annual report

Photos shared on social media over recent weeks have shown huge lines of customers waiting to pass through security at various airports because of labor shortages coupled with a surge in the number of people flying. Some passengers have been arriving hours in advance of their flight to ensure they don't miss it. Signs inside Schiphol told people not to arrive more than four hours before their flight.

A sign in Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

The entrance downstairs didn't seem too busy. I headed over to bag drop and security for passengers flying from gates in the airport's third departure lounge.

The interior of Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

But when I got up there I was confronted with a huge line of passengers queueing to drop off bags at the EasyJet desk. Most of the counters at the desk were closed.

Story continues

The queue for bag drop at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

Despite the airline telling people to arrive at the airport around three hours before their flight, a screen by the EasyJet check-in desk said that check-in wouldn't actually open until two hours before the flight departed. There were no members of staff round to ask, so I just decided to join the line anyway.

Check-in boards in Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

It took about half an hour for me to get to the front of the line and drop my suitcase off ...

The queue for bag drop at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

... after which I was redirected to another line.

The queue for scanning boarding passes at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

This was to scan our boarding passes before going through security. I'd never had to queue like this before just to join the line for security.

The queue for scanning boarding passes at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

After this, I was led to my third line. A sign said that customers face longer lines than usual "due to crowds and staff shortages."

The queue for security at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

"This feels like a queue for a really shit rollercoaster," the person behind me in the queue said.

The queue for security at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

Schiphol had around 62,000 employees in 2021, but is currently struggling to find staff and had to hold a job fair earlier this month. "The waiting times at Schiphol have been extremely long in recent weeks, due in part to a shortage of staff throughout the sector," it says on its website. "Ongoing shortages on the labor market have led to a high demand for personnel." A spokesperson told Insider that the airport's operations were "busy, but manageable."

The interior of Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

Source: Schiphol, Schiphol 2021 annual report

Despite how busy the airport was, the staff at security were friendly and efficient.

The queue for security at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

The security counters themselves looked quite futuristic.

The security desks at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

We didn't have to take out liquids and electronics out of our cabin bags and I was also allowed to take through my half-full water bottle, which had never happened to me before.

A sign in Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

After your bags were scanned, staff sent them down a two-channel conveyor belt: One for bags that needed a closer inspection, and one for bags that didn't. I'd never seen a belt like this in an airport before. It made the process quicker.

The security desks at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

I'd thought that I'd already been through the final line, but I had one more queue to go. This time it was for passport checks and stamps.

The queue to have passports checked at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

In total, I'd spent 90 minutes waiting in line.

The queue for scanning boarding passes at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

But because I'd got there early, this meant I still had another 90 minutes before my flight departed to explore the terminal. "We are aware of longer than usual security delays at Amsterdam airport currently and so are advising customers due to fly from Amsterdam to allow additional time to make their way through the airport," an EasyJet spokesperson told Insider, adding that it was "outside of our control."

Departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

Despite the huge queues for check-in and security, the departure lounge really didn't seem too busy. There was a big line for the Jamie Oliver restaurant, though.

Departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

What surprised me was that so many of the concessions in the airport were closed. It was only around 5:30 p.m. and there were dozens of flights still due to depart that day.

A closed concession stand in departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

Even one of the Starbucks' was closed.

A closed concession stand in departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

The Rijksmuseum  one of Amsterdam's busiest and most famous museums  has a gift shop in Schiphol, but this too was closed.

A closed concession stand in departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

There was still a lot to do while you waited for your flight, though. As well as 2 ($2.10) massage chairs, various types of seats, and even some individual workspaces, the airport had its own so-called library.

The library in departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

This was home to books about Dutch culture, which a sign said were available in more than 40 languages.

The library in departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

Alongside Dutch, signs around the airport were listed in English, as is the case in many major European airports. Some of the signs didn't even have any writing in Dutch.

Departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

The strangest thing for me was that Schiphol is one of a growing number of silent airports. This means that announcements aren't made over the loudspeaker telling passengers which flights have started boarding or calling for late passengers. Compared to other airports I'd been to, Schiphol didn't seem to have as many departure screens, either.

Departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

Source: NU.nl

For me, this was a little unsettling. I was worried I'd miss boarding for my flight because of the lack of announcements, and the restaurant I'd gone to for a drink didn't have any screens, meaning I couldn't easily check whether passengers were being called to the gate.

Departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

But overall, the mood in the airport was quite calm.

Departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

It wasn't crowded, everything was incredibly clean, and the facilities were very sleek and modern.

Departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

There was artwork dotted throughout the airport, too, like this sculpture of a giant apple.

A sculpture in Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

My flight ended up being a little late. Passengers were told to head to the gate at around 6:50 p.m. and there was a long line to board the plane. By 7:10 p.m., the scheduled departure time for the flight, most passengers still hadn't boarded. But in the end, we only arrived into Gatwick 10 minutes late.

The line to board my flight at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

Despite the long lines for check-in and boarding, I was still impressed by the airport. It seemed modern and futuristic. Though I found the lack of announcements a bit unsettling, I can imagine that other passengers would have found a constant stream of announcements overwhelming.

Departure lounge three at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Grace Dean/Insider

Read the original article on Business Insider
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) speaks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) outside Moscow in Novo-Ogarevo on March 19, 2010. Alexey Nikolsky/AFP via Getty Images

Hillary Clinton told The Financial Times that Vladimir Putin "was very sexist" towards her when they met.

She spoke of several "helpful" interactions she had with him before he'd "manspread" for the press.

Clinton pointed to a 2012 comment she made as a basis for Putin's involvement in the 2016 election.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a recent interview said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "very sexist" towards her, while also noting that they would sometimes have "helpful" interactions away from the media.

During a conversation with The Financial Times, Clinton spoke of her diplomatic efforts with the man that she once said "doesn't have a soul" and who launched the ongoing invasion of Ukraine  remarking on his sexism during her tenure as secretary of state.

"He was very sexist towards me," she said of Putin, who once said it is "better not to argue with women" after Clinton lamented the difficulties in forging a relationship with him.

She continued: "We had some interesting, even helpful, interactions in private and then the press would be invited in and he would say something insulting about America. He would then manspread for effect."

Clinton also said she felt Putin's "influence campaign" regarding the 2016 US presidential election  which she lost to former President Donald Trump  was rooted in a 2012 statement where she advocated for Russians who were protesting against his return to power in Moscow.

The former secretary of state then said that Putin's route to any sort of victory in Ukraine would be tied to a Trump victory in 2024  pointing to the former US president's disdain for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

"If Trump had won in 2020 he would have pulled out of NATO  I have no doubt about that," she told the Financial Times, referring to the international alliance composed of 30 countries.

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton said earlier this year that Putin was standing by for Trump to remove the United States from NATO had he secured a second term in office.

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"I thought he put his foot over it, but at least he didn't withdraw then," Bolton said during a talk hosted by The Washington Post in which he pointed out Trump's 2018 suggestion to leave the alliance. "In a second Trump term, I think he may well have withdrawn from NATO. And I think Putin was waiting for that."

Putin in the past has opposed Ukraine's efforts to become part of NATO, with the leader seeing its membership as a threat to Russia.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Reuters) - The Russian foreign ministry will summon on Tuesday European Union ambassador to Moscow Markus Ederer over Lithuania's ban of the transit of goods under EU sanctions through Kaliningrad, the governor of Kaliningrad said on Monday.

Vilnius banned the transit of goods under European Union sanctions through Lithuanian territory to and from the Russian exclave sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland, citing EU sanction rules.

"This is, of course, a situation, that can be resolved by diplomatic means," Anton Alikhanov, Kaliningrad's governor, told the Russian television. "As far as I know, tomorrow Marcus Ederer, the European Union ambassador to Russia, will be summoned to the foreign ministry .... and he will be told of the appropriate conditions involved here."

There was no immediate official confirmation from the Russian foreign ministry about the summon.

(Reporting in Melbourne by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Sandra Maler)
The El Paso crowds gathered like no other Monday evening, and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman took notice.

"I thought we had some good crowds, but this has exceeded my wildest expectations," he told the El Paso Times. "The people of El Paso are amazing. They always been good to me and good to the Cowboys."

The three-time Super Bowl champion made three stops while promoting his new beer in the Sun City: Bikini Joe's, 7942 Gateway East Blvd; Headquarters, 2910 Tularosa Ave; and Union Draft House Sunland, 730 Sunland Park Drive.

The beer, known as Eight, after his iconic jersey number, launched on taps in bars, restaurants and other on-premise accounts in Texas in February.

Celebrities in El Paso: Musician Jack White visits pawnshop known for Elvis statue in Downtown El Paso

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman visits Union Drafthouse to promote his beer, Eight Elite Lager, in El Paso, Texas, Monday, June 20, 2022. Aikman made stops at a few local grocery stores and other sports bars around the city.

Aikman told the El Paso Times in February that he has always liked beer, and the new line is consistent with his lifestyle: to work hard but enjoy time with family and friends.

"I think that I have some God-given talents, but the reason I think I was able to do what I was able to do athletically and even what I'm able to do currently with Fox is just through good, old-fashioned hard work. And those people willing to do that are people who have always inspired me and that's really who this beer is for."

More from Aikman: Dallas Cowboys legend Troy Aikman interview taps into his new beer, El Paso memories

Summer in El Paso: Stay cool with these 7 must-try summer foods

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman visits Union Drafthouse to promote his beer, Eight Elite Lager, in El Paso, Texas, Monday, June 20, 2022

NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman cheers beers with fans at Union Draft House.

NFL Hall of Famer and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman wears a giant hat as he autographs fans memorabilia.

A fan gets his arm autographed by NFL Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboys legend Troy Aikman, who is in town to promote his beer, Eight Elite Lager, at Union Draft House. The fan said he would get the autograph tattooed on his arm.

NFL Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboys legend Troy Aikman poses with fans at Union Draft House.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Troy Aikman visits El Paso Union Drafthouse to promote 'Eight' beer
A view of the U.S. Supreme Court Building on May 16, 2022. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The Supreme Court delivered a major victory to religious-freedom advocates.

The Court said a Maine rule that prohibits use of taxpayer money for religious teaching is unconstitutional.

The ruling narrows the separation between church and state, according to some legal experts.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a Maine program that bars taxpayer funds from being spent on religious teaching at schools is unconstitutional, delivering another major victory to religious-freedom advocates.

The decision was 6-3, with the court's conservatives in the majority.

"Maine's 'nonsectarian' requirement for its otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion.

The case involved two Maine families who wanted to enroll their children at a private Christian school that offers religious teaching, but were denied tuition assistance from the state. Maine, a largely rural state that does not have public schools in some areas, has a program that allows public funds to cover students' tuition fees at nearby private schools, so long as they are "nonsectarian."

The families appealed the state's decision, arguing that the rule is discriminatory and violates their First Amendment right to exercise religion freely, otherwise known as the free exercise clause. A lower court dismissed their challenge, which was then brought to the nation's highest court.

"The court's already made pretty clear the rules here," Nicole Garnett, a professor at the University of Notre Dame Law School who filed a legal brief in support of the plaintiffs, told Insider ahead of the decision. "It's saying, if you don't want to enlist private schools to help educate your kids, you don't have to do. But if you do, you can't kick them out of the program or prohibit them because they're religious."

The Supreme Court's three liberals, Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan, dissented on Tuesday.

Story continues

"This Court continues to dismantle the wall of separation between church and state that the Framers fought to build," Sotomayor wrote in a dissenting opinion.

The case largely represented a contest between the First Amendment's free exercise and establishment clauses, the latter of which prohibits the government from establishing or promoting religion. Maine argued that the state should not be forced to use taxpayer funds toward religious schools.

The Supreme Court's ruling has broad legal and political implications, experts say, and could bolster the school-choice movement driven, in part, by the religious right. Advocates of school choice say it offers students more options beyond the traditional public school system. Critics, meanwhile, say the school-choice movement erodes the public school system, which most students in the country attend.

"The biggest impediments to the expansion of school choice, legally in the United States, are state constitutional provisions that, on their face, require discrimination against religious institutions," Garnett said, referring to the Blaine Amendments, which the Supreme Court has largely said violates religious rights.

The Supreme Court's decision narrows the separation of church and state by potentially clearing the way for more taxpayer money to go toward religious teaching, some legal experts contend. And those teachings, for example, could include discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.

"It's a choice context. So parents can choose to participate or choose to send their kids to a school that has some discriminatory provisions," Kevin Welner, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder's School of Education, told Insider before the ruling.

Welner said the court's decision could spark new legal challenges from religious groups seeking taxpayer funding for religious education.

Consider that "I'm a religious entity. I have beliefs that involve what you call discrimination against members of the gay community," Welner said. "And I require you, the state, to not just issue a charter to me, but allow me to run this charter school as a private religious school that can discriminate."

The decision adds to a series of recent Supreme Court rulings that have protected religious liberties. Two years ago for a similar case, the court's conservative majority ruled that a Montana program that allowed taxpayer money to go to religious education was constitutional.

"Where justices in the past have looked to maintain this distance between religious beliefs and government support," Welner said, "The current court wants to make sure that all government support that can go to non-religious entities will also be freely available to religious entities and religious people."

Read the original article on Business Insider
STRATEGIC MARKET RESEARCH LLP

Antibody Drug Conjugate market was worth $3.51 billion in 2020 registering a CAGR of 14.12 %. It is estimated to grow at a rate of 17.08% and will increase in value to USD 13.15 Billion in 2030.

New York, United States, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The surge in the antibody-drug conjugates market growth is due to rising cancer cases globally, technological advancements in medical technology and the rising geriatric population.

Insights of the Antibody Drug Conjugates Market:

North America leads the regional market with a share of almost 29.36% in 2020, having a steady growth rate.

By Type, the Monoclonal Antibody-drug conjugates led the market in the year 2020.

By Application, the breast-cancer market dominated the market for ADC.

By End-Users, the segment in 2020 was dominated by Hospitals and clinics.





To get a first-hand overview of the report, Request a Sample at

https://www.strategicmarketresearch.com/request-sample/antibody-drug-conjugates-market

Key fact or s boosting the worldwide market growth: -

Antibody-drug conjugates are primarily used in cancer treatment, wherein they are developed to target the cancer cells alone, bypassing the healthy cells. According to Eurostat, cancer was responsible for the deaths of approximately 1.2 million people in Europe, which was 26% of the total deaths in the region. According to the CDC, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women in the US and is responsible for nearly 42,000 deaths each year. Thus, with rising cancer cases globally, the need for antibody-drug conjugates (or ADCs) will boost the overall market growth.

As per UN statistics, globally, the number of people above the age of 65 will rise from 9.3% of the total population in 2020 to 16.0% of the population by 2050. This can be attributed to increased awareness of healthy habits and lifestyles adopted by the people resulting in the rise in the average age of the individuals.





The report on Antibody Drug Conjugate Market by SMR comprises the following segmentation:

By Technology

Non-cleavable Linker

Cleavable Linker

Linker less





Story continues

By Application

Breast Cancer

Leukemia

Lung Cancer

Brain Tumor

Lymphoma

Myeloma

Other Cancers





By Region

North America

Canada

USA

Mexico

The rest of North America

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Rest of Europe





Asia Pacific

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Australia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Argentina

Brazil

Rest of Latin America





Middle East and Africa

South Africa

Nigeria

UAE

Saudi Arabia

Turkey





Make a Direct Purchase of the latest Antibody Drug Conjugates Market Report published in the month of January 2022. Click the below link to initiate the purchase:

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Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2020-2030 Forecast Period 2020 to 2030 CAGR 14.12% 2030 Value Projection USD 13.15 Bn Base Year 2020 Market Size in 2020 USD 3.51 Bn Historical Data for 2015 - 2019 No. of Pages 135 Companies Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, , ADC Therapeutics , Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Pfizer Inc, AstraZeneca,Gilead Sciences Inc, Seagen, Inc, Astellas Pharma, Seagen Inc, Daiichi Sankyo Company Ltd, GlaxoSmithKline Plc Leading Segment Based By Application Breast Cancer dominates Leading Region North America Segments covered By Application, By Technology and By Region Growth Drivers



Continuous surge in cases of chronic diseases worldwide, the rise of old age population, rapid advancements in the medical tourism sector, rise in preferences for enteral feeding as compared to parenteral feeding, etc.





By Technology,  Cleavable Linker  has the highest and the most robust market share .

Cleavable linker technology offers superior adaptability, which means it offers more varied usages as compared to noncleavable linkers. Cleavable linkers have the unique characteristic of using varied mechanisms to act on the disease site. In May 2022, Aptamer Group Plc and PinotBio announced that they would continue collaborating to develop four new drug conjugates using linker technology. This would ensure that the focused chemo-therapeutics would be developed for use soon.

By Application, Breast Cancer held the highest market share.

The number of breast cancer cases is on a spiralling rise. According to the WHO, the number of cases nearly doubled between 2000 and 2020, from 10 million cases to 19.3 million cases. Additionally, breast cancer has become the most prevalent form of cancer, surpassing lung cancer. Therefore, using ADCs as viable treatment options will also prevail, thereby increasing its market size.

By Region, North America holds the highest market share .

North America will continue to hold the highest market share of ADCs as most of the development is done in the region, including the R&D and the clinical trials. The presence of many pharmaceutical companies based in the US, such as Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Gilead Sciences and Abbott International, will foster huge numbers in terms of revenue share. The American Cancer Society has made a prediction of 1.9 million cancer cases and 609,000 deaths in 2022. With the rising cases of cancer in the region, it will enhance the market for ADCs.

Before initiating a purchase, make a Pre-order enquiry and get a detailed overview of the content of the report.

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Key Players in the Antibody Drug Conjugate Market:

Gilead Sciences Inc.

Pfizer Inc.

Daiichi Sankyo Company Ltd.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc

Seagen Inc.

ADC Therapeutics

ImmunoGen

AstraZeneca Plc

Genentech Inc.

Mersana Therapeutics

Amgen Inc.

Sanofi





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Recent Developments in the Market:

In June 2022, ADC Therapeutics was in the process of adding its second ADC to the portfolio of its company with its product - camidanlumab tesirine. The drug showed promising results in phase 2 of the clinical trial. They are likely to apply for the FDA approval as an option to treat Hodgkins lymphoma.

In June 2022, Spirea Limited announced that it had secured funding of GBP 2.4 million from investors to develop highly specialised ADCs in treating solid tumours. Their technology enables a higher ratio of drug to antibody, which means more amount of the drug is delivered to the affected area to remove the cancer cell. This would further help in the treatment of cancers.

In May 2022, the FDA approved the use of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu), which was developed to treat metastatic HER2, which is a positive type of breast cancer. The drug was developed by Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca.





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FILE PHOTO: The United Nations headquarters building is pictured though a window with the UN logo in the foreground in the Manhattan borough of New York

By Ali Kucukgocmen

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - About 800 Syrian refugees are returning to their country from Turkey every week but conditions are not suitable for a large number of voluntary returns, an official from the United Nations refugee agency said.

Turkey hosts around 3.7 million Syrians, the largest refugee population in the world, but worsening public sentiment has led the government to work on plans to send them back.

President Tayyip Erdogan's government has said it plans to settle around 1 million Syrians in cinderblock houses that will be built in the country's northwest.

The plans did not attract international support, and the Turkey representative for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Monday that the conditions in Syria are not suitable for many refugees to return.

"The level of uncertainty in Syria does not enable a mass voluntary return movement these days," Philippe Leclerc told Reuters in an interview in Istanbul.

He said about 800 Syrians, mostly singles, return to various parts of northern Syria every week but most Syrians believed they would stay in Turkey because their economic conditions are more favourable than in Syria.

"Naturally people believe that their future is in Turkey rather than Syria in view of the very little progress we have seen," he said, saying that political, social and economic conditions in Syria are deteriorating.

UKRAINE

Leclerc separately said it was important for Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations to work on exporting Ukrainian grain to overcome the negative impacts of food security problems around the world.

A de facto Russian blockade has led to shut down of food exports from Ukraine, one of the world's leading sources of grain and food oil, causing international concern about global shortages and hunger.

The United Nations is trying to broker a deal to resume Ukraine exports and Russian food and fertilizer exports, which Moscow says are harmed by sanctions.

Story continues

Leclerc said the rising prices of grains are worsening food security issues around the globe, including Afghanistan, the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.

"It is important that the United Nations, Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey are trying to work on the possibility of having the Ukrainian grains exported - be it by sea or by land through Romania," Leclerc said.

Russia has said it has offered "safe passage" for Ukraine grain shipments from Black Sea ports but is not responsible for establishing the corridors and Turkey suggested that ships could be guided around sea mines.

Leclerc said 145,000 Ukrainians had arrived in Turkey since Russia's invasions, and 10,000 had received a residency permit on top 20,000 who already had them. Another 5,000 people applied for international protection, Leclerc added.

(Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Tuvan Gumrukcu)
Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed Senate Bill 2-D into law and, in so doing, gave the insurance industry a generous benefit at the expense of Florida property owners.

The law is essentially another layer of reinsurance  its a $2 billion fund (plus additional money from the general budget if the governor so desires) that insurance companies can tap into, free of charge.

The law is explicit that no premiums shall be charged to insurance companies for their participation in the program. The law is also clear that insurance companies may draw from the fund without any offsets for reimbursements that they may have received from other reinsurance sources. It provides for 100% reimbursement (90% of losses plus 10% for loss adjustment expenses") to insurance companies, which is powered by tax dollars.

The law also provides for rulemaking authority, and specifically states that no findings are required for any rules deemed to be enacted on an emergency basis. The rulemaking authority created is specifically exempt from Florida Statute 120.54, which requires single-subject rules, public notice, public rule development workshops and notice of estimated regulatory costs, to name just a few highlights.

Senate Bill 2-D is essentially another layer of reinsurance  its a $2-billion fund (plus additional money from the general budget if the governor so desires) that insurance companies can tap into, free of charge.

None of these procedural safeguards are required for rules promulgated under the new law.

While the law does provide for a rate reduction to consumers, which is to be commensurate to the cost savings realized by the companies participating in the program, it appears that the insurance companies themselves are free to determine the amount. There is neither a mechanism for oversight nor a penalty for failure to comply.

The law also makes it more difficult to maintain a lawsuit against an insurance company. Florida Statute 624.155 allowed for, among other things, suits against insurance companies based on bad faith, but the new law does away with that and now requires claimants to specifically prove a breach of contract.

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While refusing to pay a valid claim for years and years might not actually be a breach of contract, it could certainly be bad faith, but Floridians no longer have that option available.

You can also expect to see a separate roof deductible tacked on to policies at the next renewal, which means more out of pocket costs for claims which include roof damage.

Finally, the law creates a new avenue for insurance companies to collect legal fees against the insured when cases are dismissed, and removes an avenue for the insured to collect legal fees against the insurance companies.

Attorneys are more likely to accept clients whose claims include favorable fee-shifting provisions, which means less attorneys may be inclined to represent insureds in policy disputes.

Adam Ellis

Florida needed some relief, but this certainly isnt it. This new law props up private companies with taxpayer dollars, and further skews an already uneven playing field in favor of big insurance.

Adam Ellis is a civil trial attorney in Tallahassee focused on employee rights.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Adam Ellis: New insurance law is boon to Florida's insurance industry
Tonight, Beyonce is dropping her first single in two years. Its called Break My Soul. Are you ready?

As COVID vaccines for infants, toddlers and preschoolers start rolling out, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) picked a fight with the White House by not pre-ordering doses ahead of time. Well look at some of the implications.

Welcome to Overnight Health Care, where were following the latest moves on policy and news affecting your health. For The Hill, were Peter Sullivan, Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi. Subscribe here.





DeSantis escalates feud with White House

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is escalating his feud with the White House over the COVID-19 response as he positions himself for a possible presidential campaign in 2024.

DeSantis has been taking heat from infectious diseases experts  as well as state and national Democrats  for his decision not to preorder from the federal government COVID-19 vaccines for infants and young kids.

The state of Florida intentionally missed multiple deadlines to order vaccines to protect its youngest kids, White House coronavirus response coordinator Ashish Jha told reporters Friday.

The White House initially made 10 million vaccines for young children available for states to preorder.

Having a small stockpile of doses on hand meant shots can start being administered as early as June 20, if states were able to distribute them quickly enough.

But Florida was the only state that decided not to place an order.

No middleman: The argument from state officials was twofold:

According to DeSantis, kids arent at risk of getting seriously sick. The states not going to expend resources on something that isnt needed.



The Health Department said theyre not going to be the Biden administrations warehouse for unused vaccines. If a pediatricians office or hospital wants the shots, they can place an order through the official state website.

Picking fights: DeSantis has spent much of the pandemic attacking the Biden administrations COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

Story continues

The Sunshine States governor has made it a point of pride to question and challenge a range of federal guidance, repeatedly promoting the freedom of a state without policies such as mask or vaccine mandates.

Read more here.





Adviser: Vaccines good choices for kids under 5

White House COVID-19 response coordinator Ashish Jha on Monday heralded the recent authorization of COVID-19 vaccines for kids under the age of 5, saying it gives parents two good choices.

Over the weekend, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave the final sign-off to Modernas and Pfizers COVID-19 vaccines for children under age 5, the last group of people in the U.S. to be permitted to receive coronavirus immunizations.



Appearing on ABCs Good Morning America on Monday, Jha told host George Stephanopoulos that both vaccines were exceedingly safe and effective.

Pfizers vaccine is administered in three doses while Modernas is administered with two doses.

Should parents wait?: Stephanopoulos asked Jha if parents of children close to turning 5 should wait until theyre older so that they can receive the stronger dose.

What I personally think  you should go ahead and get your child vaccinated if theyre right on that cusp. You maybe want to talk to your pediatrician or family physician, but really the bottom line is weve got safe, effective vaccines for 4- and 5-year-olds, so it probably doesnt matter hugely, said Jha.

Read more here.





GOTTLIEB PREDICTS SLOW START FOR KIDS VACCINES

There are still questions about how many parents will actually get their young kids vaccinated even after the authorization.

Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said on Sunday that he anticipates a slow rollout for COVID-19 vaccines for children under age 5.



I think its going to be a little bit more of a slow rollout relative to what weve seen in past rollouts with the other age groups, Gottlieb said of vaccinating the youngest Americans during an interview on CBSs Face the Nation.

Maybe around childrens hospitals, youll see some clinics stood up, but most people are probably going to get vaccinated in their pediatricians offices, and its going to take a little bit more time to get the vaccine into those local settings because its more difficult to vaccinate a child who is very young, Gottlieb continued.

Not everyone eager to vaccinate their kids: Gottlieb also cited surveys that indicated that roughly 20 percent of parents with children under 5 planned to vaccinate their children but said he anticipated a possibly lower rate.

As prevalence declines going into the summer, a lot of parents may choose to take a wait-and-see attitude and reconsider this in the fall. I think uptick will be pretty slow, he explained.

Read more here.





FIRST PROBABLE MONKEYPOX CASES REPORTED IN MISSOURI, INDIANA

State health officials in Missouri and Indiana reported their first probable cases of monkeypox on Saturday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had reported monkeypox cases in 20 other states and Washington, D.C., as of Friday, although health officials continue to stress that the risk to the public remains low.



Both states sent samples to the CDC for confirmatory testing after the states performed initial tests. Most states have been testing most for orthopoxvirus, the family of viruses which monkeypox belongs to.

This week, one of our excellent nurses suspected one of our patients may have monkeypox virus, said Marvia Jones, director of the Kansas City Health Department.

We are considering this a probable case of monkeypox virus until we receive final confirmation from the CDC labs. We appreciate the work our disease investigation and nursing staff have done to educate themselves on this rare virus and be on alert for it.

Read more here.





These cities, states say they wont enforce abortion bans

After a leaked Supreme Court draft decision indicated the high court is poised to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which would effectively eliminate federal abortion protections and lead to bans in a number of states, some state and local officials have said they will not prosecute abortion-related cases.

The draft ruling published by Politico in May would give individual states authority over abortion access. According to abortion rights advocacy group Guttmacher Institute:

Thirteen states have so-called trigger laws in place that would almost immediately ban or severely restrict abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned.



Another nine states still have laws or constitutional amendments against the procedure in place from before the 1973 decision.



A number of states have also moved to restrict abortion access in anticipation of the Supreme Courts decision on the matter.

Abortion holdouts: But some state and local officials, even in states that have the trigger laws in place, have said they are not intent on prosecuting people over the matter, possibly putting officials at odds with one another.

Follow the link below to see a list of state and local officials who say they do not plan enforcing abortion bans.

Read more here.





STATE BY STATE

Report: 2 in 3 Hawaii adults experienced negative COVID impacts from health to livelihood (Hawaii News Now)

First probable monkeypox case detected in New Jersey, Health Department says (northjersey.com)

Maines COVID-19 hospitalizations inch lower (Portland Press Herald)





WHAT WERE READING

It was stolen from me: Black doctors are forced out of training programs at far higher rates than white residents (Stat)

Forever chemicals linked to high blood pressure in women (The Washington Post)

Those who tested positive for COVID-19 can share their genetic makeup with DNA testing sites to help research (Chicago Tribune)





Thats it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hills Health Care page for the latest news and coverage. See you tomorrow.





VIEW THE FULL EDITION HERE

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Operation Underground Railroad HIDU DOG

Operation Underground Railroad

A dog named Hidu is being hailed as a hero after sniffing out essential evidence in the case against a high-profile suspected pedophile found hiding out in Mexico City.

According to The Associated Press, Free a Girl  a Netherlands-based group fighting human trafficking  recently warned the U.S.-based Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) that a Dutch man who openly supported sexual activity with children had fled the Netherlands and his pending court cases to Mexico City.

With this information, the activist groups, Mexican prosecutors, and Hidu, a dog trained by Jordan Detection K9 Academy to sniff out memory devices, joined forces to find the man. The team used chat rooms and social media to lure the individual into a trap.

"We were able to confirm he was in Mexico and then talking to him in just different chat rooms," Matt Osborne, OUR's director of global operations, told AP. "He said, 'I'm in a really kind of dangerous rundown area. I don't want to give you my address. I don't want you guys to come see me, but you can come meet me at a gas station.'"

RELATED: Dog Who Survived Weeks Stuck in an Outdoor Pen After Owner's Death Finds a New Home

On June 5, Mexico City prosecution detectives met the man at the designated gas station and placed him in prison on charges of human trafficking and drug and weapons possession.

After tracking down the man's small hideout apartment, OUR called upon Hidu. The black labrador is trained to sniff out triphenylphosphine oxide, or TPPO, a chemical used to coat electronic devices, like memory cards and flash drives.

Even though Hidu had only completed his training two weeks before entering the suspect's apartment, the dog had no trouble locating the man's devices loaded with child sexual abuse evidence.

The AP noted that Hidu found a phone hidden in a pile of dirty laundry and more evidence taped behind a hung painting.

RELATED: Hero Dog Who Saved Owner from Mountain Lion Dies from Injuries Weeks Later: 'We Love You, Eva'

"The dog sniffed out a couple of the hard drives in a few places in his apartment that were difficult for humans to find, but the dog sniffed it out," Osborne explained.

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Thanks to Hidu's incredible nose, prosecutors collected four terabytes of child sexual abuse evidence.

Todd Jordan, the owner of Jordan Detection K9 Academy, emphasizes the importance of electronics detection dogs like Hidu.

"I think the electronics dogs have now surpassed the accelerant canines because of just the need of them, and just because of the way the world is right now," Jordan told AP. "These dogs, I mean just everybody, every internet crimes task force could use one of these."
A mountain lion that has been roaming residential neighborhoods in central Bismarck since last week was seen on home surveillance video again Tuesday.

Sue Olson, who has lived in her house on North 11th Street just to the east of the Capitol for 45 years, said her surveillance system sent an alert to her cellphone at 2:37 a.m. Tuesday. Stray cats have prompted similar alerts in the past, and "I thought if it was a burglar I'd hear more noise, so I didn't get up," she said.

When she did get up at 6 a.m. she looked at the video and saw the lion passing through her backyard.

"That was quite exciting. My heart pretty much went," she said. "I just couldn't believe it. I hollered at my husband (Jerry) and said 'Get in here!'"

The mountain lion was first captured on home video about 5 a.m. Thursday in the 1000 block of North First Street. A sighting in the 1000 block of North Fourth Street was reported to police midday Friday. There also were unconfirmed sightings on Saturday and Sunday in the 1000 and 1200 blocks of Ward Road, according to Police Lt. Luke Gardiner. Officers also responded to the sighting at the Olson residence Tuesday.

"We will keep responding to calls regarding the mountain lion and encourage the public to reach out to us with any information," Gardiner said.

State wildlife officials believe the lion is either a young male or a female, according to Stephanie Tucker, furbearer biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Tucker thinks the lion "took a wrong turn" and came into the city, possibly while seeking new territory. It's unclear what the animal is surviving on.

Mountain lions in the wild typically feed on deer and elk, but they also will eat smaller animals such as rabbits and turkeys, according to Game and Fish.

"Mountain lions are opportunistic predators, meaning they'll eat just about anything," Tucker said, adding that they're strictly meat eaters and won't eat people's garbage. "Also, they don't need to eat every day," she said.

Olson said she and her husband are trying to spread the word about the lion. Their son put their video on social media.

"We have told the whole neighborhood, because everyone has little dogs and cats, and kids," she said. "I want the whole city to know it's still out and about."

Mountain lions tend to shy away from people, and there has never been a documented attack on a person in the state, though the possibility can't be ruled out, Tucker said. She advises anyone who encounters a lion to raise their arms to make themselves bigger, yell and slowly back away.

The last known mountain lion in Bismarck city limits was in January 2019. Police officers shot and killed the male animal near Municipal Ballpark to eliminate any danger to the public. Police also shot and killed a male lion behind the former Home Depot building in north Bismarck in November 2009. The current lion will suffer the same fate if it surfaces again and is deemed by police to be a safety risk.

Reach News Editor Blake Nicholson at 701-250-8266 or blake.nicholson@bismarcktribune.com.

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Animal shelters in Louisiana saved more dogs and cats in 2021  even as shelters across the nation struggled  but the state still ranks near the bottom of U.S. states.

Louisiana's shelters saved 76,879 dogs and cats that entered their care in 2021, with a save rate of 78%. Louisiana's save rate was one of the lowest in the country in 2021, but the state saw significant improvement, as shelters across the country had a decline in save rates , according to Best Friends Animal Society, an organization that aims to improve the lives of pets and animals.

Shelter deaths across the U.S. rose for the first time in five years, which Best Friends Animal Society attributes to staffing shortages, fewer volunteers, and reduced adoption events, along with increased intakes and fewer adoptions.

Food Finds: Owner's dog inspired Lafayette restaurant, pet-friendly business serves barbecue, cocktails

Abram Cross is one of the many volunteers helping to load animals into aircraft. Animals being flown out from Lafayette animal shelter to NJ to help alleviate shelter pressure. Wednesday, March 17, 2021.

The responsibility of saving pets lives should not rest solely on shelters and those in animal welfare, but on entire communities including community members, government leaders, shelters, and other animal welfare groups, said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, in a news release.

Through collaboration and community involvement, this model provides better support for pet owners, efficiency in shelters, and more lifesaving outcomes for pets. When a community supports its shelters critical needs, we see dramatic results.

'It's amazing': Louisiana man who rescued 13 kittens sees outpouring of support

For the last six years, Best Friends Animal Society has compiled data for a national look at how many dogs and cats in animal shelters have been saved in a given year. Around two-thirds of Louisiana, shelters reported data for the report.

Louisiana's saving rate of 78% was the fourth lowest of U.S. states, according to the most recent data, ahead of only Alabama (76.9%), Maryland (77.3%), Mississippi (72.7%), and North Carolina (76.6%).

Story continues

Generally speaking, Best Friends Animal Society says an ideal save rate would be above 90%, which is the benchmark for "no-kill" status. The benchmark assumes that around 10% of animals brought into shelters will have medical conditions or behavioral issues that warrant humane euthanasia, but the shelters do not kill animals due to a lack of space.

Three shelters in Louisiana reached a no-kill status in 2021, including the Lafayette Animal Shelter and Care Center, the St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services, and the Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter. One other shelter, Tangipahoa Parish Animal Services, received a special mention from the organization for increasing its saving rate by more than 40% over the year, reaching 81.3%.

Shelter: Lafayette animal shelter reaches no-kill threshold for first time

Around 31.3% of state shelters were designated as no-kill in 2021.

"These four shelters prove that saving dogs and cats is possible even during the most challenging of times, said Lee Ann Shenefiel, south-central regional director at Best Friends Animal Society, in a news release. Its our hope that other shelters in Louisiana will adopt similar lifesaving programs so they can save as many dogs and cats as possible in the future.

In 2020, around 57,747 of the 60,671 dogs and cats that entered Louisiana shelters were saved, for a rate of 71.6%. The percentage of shelters with no-kill designations was around the same.

The report lists Louisiana as a "medium priority" in terms of the help needed to save more cats and dogs in shelters. Only two states  New Hampshire and Delaware  are listed as no-kill states, meaning all shelters meet the 90% save rate benchmark.

CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING TODAY: Help support journalists like William Taylor Potter

In Louisiana, eight parishes are considered no-kill by the report, including De Soto, Concordia, West Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, St. Martin, Lafayette, Vermilion, Assumption, and Washington. Five other parishes are considered nearly no-kill  Morehouse, East Baton Rouge, Ascension, Lafourche, and Terrebonne.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana animal shelters saved more dogs and cats in 2021
PARIS, June 21, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mutua Madrilena chooses Akur8 as its new pricing solution for its Non-Life insurance lines (motor, home and multi-risk) in Spain. This allows Akur8 to strengthen its presence in Spain by putting its innovative model at the service of the country's leading General Insurance company.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005014/en/

Developed specifically for insurers, Akur8's solution empowers pricing teams to make better decisions faster by automating rate making through its proprietary algorithms powered by Transparent AI. Key benefits for insurers include accelerated speed-to-accuracy and market reactivity for immediate commercial impact, while maintaining full transparency and control over pricing models.

Mutua Madrilena, the leading insurer by turnover in Non-Life insurance in Spain, has chosen to implement Akur8's RISK, DEMAND and RATE modules to remain at the forefront in the predictive power of its pricing models, in the agility of updating rates and pricing new products, and to reinforce the consistency of its modeling process and results.

"We are really looking forward to starting this new collaboration with Mutua Madrilena, a key player in the Spanish insurance market. We are very proud to provide them with a best-in-class solution taking their pricing capabilities to new heights and bolster innovation at the core of the pricing process" stated Samuel Falmagne, CEO at Akur8.

"Reinforcing our footprint in Spain is a great milestone for Akur8s global expansion. It strengthens our position as the up-and-coming pricing solution on the Spanish market and our relevance among large mutual insurers" noted Brune de Linares, Chief Customer Officer at Akur8.

"For Mutua Madrilena, working with Akur8's pricing solution will help us to further improve our time to market and continue to offer the best customer experience to our policyholders," commented Federico Vicioso, CTO of Mutua Madrilena.

Story continues

About Akur8

Akur8 is revolutionizing insurance pricing with Transparent AI, boosting insurers pricing capabilities with unprecedented speed and accuracy across the pricing process without compromising on auditability or control.

Our modular pricing platform automates technical and commercial premium modeling. It empowers insurers to compute adjusted and accurate rates in line with their commercial strategy while materially impacting their business and maintaining absolute control of the models created, as required by regulators worldwide. With Akur8, time spent modeling is reduced by 10x, the models predictive power is increased by 10% and loss ratio improvement potential is boosted by 2-4%.

Akur8 already serves 50+ customers across 20+ countries, including AXA, Generali, Munich Re, Tokio Marine North America Services (TMNAS); specialty insurer Canopius and MGA Bass Underwriters; consulting partners Xceedance and Perr & Knight; and insurtechs Bought by Many and wefox. Over 700 actuaries use Akur8 daily to build their pricing models across all lines of business. Akur8s strategic partnerships include Milliman, Duck Creek, Guidewire and Sapiens.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621005014/en/

Contacts

For Akur8

Anne-Laure Klein, COO

anne-laure.klein@akur8.com

+33 6 63 79 44 74
Romelu Lukaku will return to Inter Milan on a one-year loan deal, the PA news agency understands.

Inter chiefs are thought to have struck an 8million euro loan fee with the Blues, with Lukaku understood to have taken a pay cut to leave Stamford Bridge.

The Belgium striker only joined Chelsea in a club-record 98million deal last summer, but a number of controversies strained relations with the Blues.

Lukaku only returned to Stamford Bridge from Inter last summer (John Walton/PA)

Chelseas new co-owner Todd Boehly has put an immediate stamp on his tenure by giving the green light for Lukakus return to Inter.

US magnate Boehly has backed manager Thomas Tuchel over the decision to let Lukaku return to Italy.

And once the 29-year-olds Inter return is officially complete, the Blues will be able to turn attentions to wider transfer business.

Chelsea will set about seeking a replacement, with the club understood to remain keen on Robert Lewandowski despite the Poland hitmans desire to swap Bayern Munich for Barcelona.

Todd Boehly has given the green light to the deal (Adam Davy/PA)

Catalan giants Barcelonas continued financial issues could yet open the door for Chelsea to pounce on Lewandowskis unsettled situation.

Lukakus impending departure could yet point manager Tuchel towards a more fluid approach without a clear focal-point striker.

Chelsea hold strong interest in Manchester Citys Raheem Sterling, with the England forward open to leaving the Etihad Stadium with just one year left on his contract.

Chelseas next order of business after settling the Lukaku situation could well be to complete the long-mooted transfer of Sevillas Jules Kounde.

The France defender has made it clear for some months now that he is ready for the Stamford Bridge switch, but the two clubs will need to thrash out a fee.

Robert Lewandowski is one name linked with the Blues (Rafal Oleksiewicz/PA)

Lukaku might have ended this season as Chelseas top scorer with 15 goals, but the vastly-experienced Belgium striker failed to live up to top billing.

A disastrous interview with Italian TV in December led to an apology to both Chelsea and the clubs fans in early January, after he had revealed his unhappiness in west London.

Despite several glimpses of hitting top form that never materialised, a move away now appears to suit all parties.

Lukaku is thought to have pushed for the move back to Inter in the end, and new Chelsea supremo Boehly has opted to clear the air by granting that switch.
Republican voters will effectively pick the next member of Congress for a handful of open, deep-red congressional seats in Tuesdays primaries  including a Senate seat in Alabama thats been the subject of one of the strangest and most dramatic races of 2022.

There, the fight to replace retiring GOP Sen. Richard Shelby has come down to Rep. Mo Brooks and Katie Britt, Shelbys former chief of staff  and, as often happens in GOP primaries these days, Donald Trump. A handful of safely Republican House districts in Georgia and Alabama will also see voters choose brand-new nominees.

And in Virginia, Republicans in two swing seats will get the chance to shape the broader House landscape, selecting their contenders to go after vulnerable Democratic districts.

Heres what to watch for in Tuesdays elections:

Trump and Mitch McConnell on the same page

Tuesdays marquee race is the Alabama Senate runoff between Britt and Brooks.

Trumps mercurial temperament has hung over the entire race. The former president first endorsed Brooks, a longtime ally, back in April 2021. But Brooks campaign never took off, and Trump un-endorsed him in March, citing Brooks unwillingness to harp on Trumps full suite of falsehoods about the 2020 election.



Remarkably, Brooks was still able to snag second place in the late May primary and advance into the runoff alongside Britt. Thats when Trump plunged back in, backing Britt earlier this month. In a stemwinder of an endorsement statement, the former president said Brooks words caused me to withdraw my Endorsement, and Mo has been wanting it back ever since  but I cannot give it to him!

Britt is the favorite heading into the primary, having outpolled Brooks in recent weeks. And in a twist, Trumps backing puts him on the same side of a primary as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Brooks has a long history of anti-McConnell statements, and the McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund pumped $2 million earlier this year into a super PAC bashing Brooks (and boosting Britt).

Story continues

Battleground Virginia

Virginia Republicans are also picking their candidates for a pair of battleground districts that will be right in the middle of the fight for the House majority.

In Virginias 2nd District, state Sen. Jen Kiggans is the party favorite in a field that also includes Tommy Altman, Andy Baan and Jarome Bell. Kiggans has been tabbed as a top candidate by House Republicans campaign arm and has the support of the Congressional Leadership Fund  the super PAC with close ties to House Republican leadership.

Meanwhile, a Democratic group has spent heavily to promote Bell as a Trump-aligned candidate in the final days of the primary  the latest example of millions of dollars of Democratic meddling in GOP primaries this year. The winner will face Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria in November.

The race to challenge Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger in the 7th District is a crowded and tight one. The race includes four candidates with the National Republican Congressional Committees on the radar designation for potential top recruits: former Green Beret Derrick Anderson, state Sen. Bryce Reeves, Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega and Stafford County Supervisor Crystal Vanuch.

POLITICOs Election Forecast rates the 2nd District as a toss-up and the 7th District as leaning Democratic heading into the June nominating contests.



Remaking the House, one primary at a time

A trio of House primary runoffs on Tuesday will likely pick long-term Republican members of Congress in safe red seats.

The race to replace Brooks in the House, in Alabamas 5th District, sees Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong facing off against former Assistant Secretary of the Army Casey Wardynski. Strong narrowly missed out on winning the nomination outright in May, when he took 45 percent of the primary vote. Wardynski outpaced four other candidates at 23 percent of the vote to get the second spot in the runoff.

Georgia Republicans are also competing for two red seats there  the 6th and 10th Districts.

Georgia's 6th District might be the most recognizable congressional seat in America after the expensive Trump-era elections there, but the makeup of the district is much different now: It was significantly redrawn during the redistricting process, with Republicans transforming Democratic Rep. Lucy McBaths battleground into a solidly red seat. McBath hopped over to the 7th and successfully beat fellow Democratic Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux in a member-versus-member primary, leaving the 6th open.

Republicans Rich McCormick and Jake Evans advanced out of the primary, with McCormick taking 43 percent of the vote to Evans 23 percent in a crowded field. Evans has Trumps endorsement, while McCormick, a surgeon who narrowly lost to Bourdeaux in 2020, has the support of groups including the Club for Growth and Americans for Prosperity, as well as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

In the 10th, the race is on to replace GOP Rep. Jody Hice, who unsuccessfully tried to unseat Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in last months primary. There, businessperson Mike Collins narrowly edged out the party-switching former state Rep. Vernon Jones for the two spots in the runoff, 26 percent to 22 percent.

The GOP battle has broken down along familiar lines in the state: Trump has backed Jones, after dangling his endorsement in this race as a means of getting Jones to suspend his campaign for governor. Collins, meanwhile, has the support of Gov. Brian Kemp  whom Trump just tried and failed to beat in a May primary.

A handful of other big tests

Democrats have a series of statewide runoffs in Georgia, but the two biggest ones are likely the lieutenant governor and secretary of state, with candidates hoping to join a ticket headed by gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams. State Rep. Bee Nguyen is the favorite for the Democratic secretary of state nomination, a race that has attracted national attention amid fights over voting and election administration in the state.

The lieutenant governor primary sees former Democratic Rep. Kwanza Hall, who briefly served in Congress to finish the term of the late Rep. John Lewis, in a battle with attorney Charlie Bailey.

And in Alabama, Republicans will pick their nominee in a runoff, with two candidates running to succeed term-limited Secretary of State John Merrill. The matchup pits state Auditor Jim Zeigler against state Rep. Wes Allen. Zeigler is part of a coalition of Trump-aligned secretary of state candidates that are trying to seize control of American elections, while Allen has pushed to withdraw the state from a national compact that most election officials say is critical to maintaining and improving voting rolls.

And in the nations capital, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser is facing a heated Democratic primary that includes two current city councilmembers. Bowser is seeking a third term. Whoever emerges with the Democratic nomination will be a heavy favorite in November in the deep-blue city.
Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...High temperatures of 98 to 106 expected. * WHERE...In Washington, Lower Columbia Basin of Washington, Foothills of the Blue Mountains of Washington and Yakima Valley. In Oregon, Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon. * WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 11 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Widespread afternoon high temperatures between 98 and 106 degrees are forecast with the highest temperatures expected in the Lower Columbia Basin of Washington. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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. &&
The Yakima Herald-Republic in early June asked District 4 congressional candidates for their position on a variety of local and national issues. Their responses will be published ahead of the Aug. 2 primary election as part of a weekly series.

Anything else of note: Garcia is the plaintiff in one of two lawsuits filed over new voting boundaries in the Yakima Valley.

Occupation: Tanker crewman in the U.S. Army and National Guard, Americorps supervisor at OIC of Washington, loan specialist and community development specialist U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development

Community service: Foster First board member; former creative director for Walt Disney Company's largest employee volunteer project Flashback; winner of the Horatio Alger/Louis Feinstein Humanitarian Award

Brad Klippert

Name: Brad Klippert

Age: 64

Community of residence: Kennewick

Occupation: Aviator in the U.S. Army, Commander of the Washington State Guard, Benton County Sheriffs Deputy

Education: EMT training from Columbia Basin College; paramedic training from Central Washington University; bachelors degree in Behavioral Science and Biblical Studies from Northwest University; masters in teaching from City University

Community service: The ARC of Washington state, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Association of Washington Business, the Fraternal Order of Police, Washington Council, the Washington Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, the Washington Food Industry Association

Previous elected office: State representative for District 8, 2008-present
After Ukraines initial, inspiring victories over Russian invaders in Kyiv and other critical western and central cities, its intrepid military faces fierce fighting and significant setbacks in eastern Ukraine.

The more open terrain works to Russias military advantage in weaponry, including more long-range artillery. The gains have advanced and consolidated Russian President Vladimir Putins revised goals of seizing the eastern Donbas region.

While the West has responded to Russias February full-scale invasion of Ukraine with unexpected diplomatic, economic and military unity, divisions are becoming more apparent between Western and Eastern European nations.

Warsaw and other eastern capitals believe Moscows aggression wont stop at the Ukrainian border and that the Kremlin must be defeated for long-term security in Europe. While Western European nations certainly want Ukraine to prevail, they appear more focused on a negotiated settlement than the ongoing military campaign, which could turn into a longer slog or even a so-called frozen conflict.

Three Western leaders  French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi  will soon meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv in a show of support. But what matters most beyond the event is what they say and do to shore up Ukraines flagging military prospects. Macron, in particular, has not been rhetorically helpful by twice saying it is important not to humiliate Putin, as if Russias rulers emotions are more important than the deaths of Ukrainian citizens  and perhaps of their country.

Increasingly public pleas  and complaints  from members of Zelenskyys government on the amount and pace of allied arms delivery threaten to widen the divide. That would play right into Putins apparent belief that Western resolve will weaken.

Italy, Germany and France in particular have by and large been rather weak in recognizing the danger of Putins foreign policy, and weak in helping Ukraine respond to the aggression of the past eight years, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst told an editorial writer in reference to Russias annexation of Crimea and destabilization of eastern Ukraine. Herbst, now the senior director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center, added that conversely, like Ukraine, Poland sees things clearly because their very security and even perhaps existence as an independent nation depends upon seeing things clearly.

Diplomacy can and should ultimately play a significant role in stopping Putins war of choice. But the only way Putin will negotiate, and the only way Ukraine can succeed, is if the country is on a better strategic footing. And that wont happen if the West isnt as aggressive in delivering arms as the Ukrainians are in using them.

Putins aggression goes beyond Ukraine, Herbst said. There will be negotiations when Putin realizes he cannot achieve his objectives by aggression. Right now, he still thinks he can. Calling for negotiations too soon, Herbst added, is interpreted by Putin as the absence of Western resolve to provide Ukraine with the support that we should be providing.

Herbst said Ukraines requests could be met within the recently allocated tranche of about $40 billion in U.S. military and civilian aid, a laudable commitment by Congress, President Joe Biden and the American people. But which weapons  and how many  are sent is the most pressing matter now. When U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meets his European counterparts in the coming days, he should prod the alliance to level the battlefield, so Ukraine is strengthened at the negotiating table.
In his new book, Matthew Continetti details the 100-year history of the battles between the Right and conservatives, between populism and neoconservatism. In short, there were more than a few Donald Trumps before 2016, and Conservatism Inc. isnt dead yet. []

In January of 1992, the libertarian theorist Murray Rothbard published an untimely reflection in the traditionalist journal Chronicles. The conservative and Republican elite had effectively scuttled former Klansman David Dukes bid to become governor of Louisiana. In the long term, though, appeals to color-blind morality and the appearance of respectability were a losing game. The fortunes of the right, Rothbard argued, rested on aggressive populism that would directly challenge existing norms and institutions. The vanguard of this strategy would be composed of rebels willing to defy good manners and conventional wisdom, not tweedy intellectuals like mainstream libertarians or wishy-washy patricians like then-President George H.W. Bush.

More than 30 years later, its easy to read Rothbards essay as prefiguring Donald Trump. During the 2016 campaign, Trumps rhetoric echoed the populist agenda Rothbard proposedincluding its appeal to America First. In office, Trump governed in a more familiar manner. But he realized the possibility that Rothbard merely described and Pat Buchanan later attempted without success: an electorally efficient coalition that combined support from habitual Republicans with successful appeals to downwardly mobile white voters with loose connections to any party or the political system more generally.

Rothbard was looking backward as well as forward, though. A section of the essay was a defense of Joseph McCarthy. On many issues, Rothbard pointed out, McCarthy was a moderate, even liberal Republican. His offense against conventionnorms, as we would say todaylay in his style. The fascinating, the exciting thing about Joe McCarthy, Rothbard wrote, was his willingness and ability to reach out, to short-circuit the power elite: liberals, centrists, the media, the intellectuals, the Pentagon, Rockefeller Republicans, and reach out and whip up the masses directly. The right-wing populist strategy Rothbard recommended was not really new. It was the revival of an old struggle against a corrupt, unsuccessful, effectively if not intentionally anti-American establishment.

Matthew Continettis The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism is a history of that struggle. Rejecting stylized accounts of a cohesive movement that emerged after World War II, Continetti depicts a dialectic between enthusiastic but dangerous populists, whom he dubs the Right, and the prudent restrainers he describes as conservatives in the proper sense. Although he tries to be fair to both cohorts, Continetti does not deny that his heart is with the conservatives. Like many other fixtures of Washington think tanks and journalism, Continetti treats Trumps success where the likes of Buchanan, Wallace, and McCarthy failed as a rude awakening from a gilded dream.

One of the ironies of this account is how closely it follows a cyclical pattern that continues today. As Continetti suggests without quite asserting, the history of the American right is a sort of perpetual motion machine through which anti-establishment rage generates a counter-establishment, that then succumbs to the same tendencies that generated it in the first place.

Continetti begins the story in 1920, when Warren Harding promised a return to normalcy after the political, economic, and cultural upheavals associated with the First World War. This was the last moment, he argues, when the forerunners of modern conservatism could regard themselves as guardians of an existing regime rather than insurgents. For that very reason, ironically, the term conservative was not frequently used. Instead, figures like Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover presented themselves as advocates of simple Americanism.

That untroubled identification with a stable national identity and constitutional order became impossible after 1932. The huge majorities won by Franklin Roosevelt led opponents, whether on partisan or ideological grounds, to worry that the nature of the country had somehow changed for the worse. That disillusionment turned into rage in 1940, when the GOP nominated Wendell Willkie to oppose FDRs bid for an unprecedented third term. Phyllis Schlafly would coin the phrase a choice not an echo in her 1964 polemic against Nelson Rockefeller. But her premise that the Republican Party was run by elitist moderates who deplored their actual voters and had no real intention of overturning the disastrous status quo dates to 1940.

World War II postponed the reckoning by granting Roosevelt a moral halo he has enjoyed ever since, leading to yet another reelection (assisted by a blackout on media reports of his bad health). But it reemerged in 1948, when many hoped Douglas MacArthur would challenge the moderate Thomas Dewey, and with even greater strength in 1952, when the Republican convention chose the politically flexible Dwight Eisenhower over Robert Taft, whose skepticism of international alliances and the New Deal was appealing to traditional Republicans but couldnt outweigh his unexciting personality. At each stage, populists charged that they were robbed of victory by weakness, treachery, and fraud. The script hasnt really changed.

The outpouring of support for McCarthy in the early 1950s was partly the result of right-wing populists thwarted aspirations of the previous decade. As with Trump, McCarthys deviations from factual accuracy, political responsibility, and good taste were defended on the grounds that he was willing to fight where other figures merely cowered. Also like Trump, the party establishment boosted him as long as they found him useful, only challenging his methods when they began to threaten their own interests. Although he believed McCarthy ultimately went too far in alleging Communist subversion of the armed forces, Eisenhower campaigned for McCarthy in 1952, suppressing a defense of his own aide George Marshall.

Intellectuals played an ambiguous role in these developments. The so-called Old Right of the 1930s was skeptical of electoral politics, which figures like Albert Jay Nock and H.L. Mencken saw as inevitably hostile to individual freedom and cultural excellence. Yet the popularity of such figures as Father Coughlin and Charles Lindbergh indicated there was a mass market for anti-establishment politics that sounded culturally traditionalist themes. After the disaster of Roosevelts four terms, the perennial challenge for the right was to find surrogates who could attract genuine popular support while pursuing a more coherent agenda.

Of course, intellectuals differed among themselves about what that agenda should be. Some emphasized economic libertarianism at home, others anti-Communist foreign policy, others the restoration of religious authority in matters of personal conduct. Although its centrality has been exaggerated by critics, skepticism about the civil rights agenda embraced by an increasingly bipartisan Washington consensus was also part of the mix. Although few leaders of the postwar intellectual right embraced white supremacy per se, almost all regarded nationalized civil rights enforcement as a threat to American institutions of separated powers, local control, and associational freedom, while simultaneously reflecting and promoting dangerous trends of social decay.

Continetti does a good job surveying debates about these issues, which he rightly places at the intersection of theory and practice. But he acknowledges that none really squared the circle of ideological sophistication and political efficacy. Goldwaters position on racial issues, for example, was notoriously rickety. While he personally supported integration and limited civil rights measures, he regarded the 1964 Civil Rights Act as unconstitutional and accurately predicted it would lead to affirmative action and intrusive oversight of private enterprises. For many of his supporters, though, that fact of his opposition was more important than his justificationor the less coercive policies he preferred. Although his 1964 campaign is remembered as an electoral disaster, Goldwater performed considerably better than Alf Landon, who won just two states in 1936. That was partly because Goldwater found support in the South that had evaded Republicans before the national Democrat Party adopted new civil rights after the Second World War.

Indeed, the sociological character of the postwar right was more important than its conceptual one. Associated with a kind of Yankee asceticism in the 1920s, by the 1970s it was clear that the social foundation of the right lay between the Appalachians and the Rockies and among the lower middle classes. That posed a problem for intellectuals and high-level organizers, who were almost by definition college educated, geographically concentrated in coastal cities, and disproportionately Jewish or Catholic (including many highbrow converts). While they claimed to speak for the interests and beliefs of ordinary people, members of the conservative elite often had more in common with their liberal or progressive opponents than with the right whose dispositions they purported to share.

The loose sutures between the populist body and intellectual head of what had become known as movement conservatism produced recurring waves of rebellion, consolidation, and disillusionment. William F. Buckley, the movements avatar, got his start as a McCarthyite. After the founding of National Review in 1955, he became a leader of the counter-establishment that helped Goldwater secure the GOP nomination where Taft had failed. In the Nixon years, though, Buckley and his libertarian-inflected conservatism seemed genteel and passe. It was challenged by a New Right that hoped to unify the white ethnics of the Midwest with the religious conservatives of the South in a populist alliance against secularism, feminism, and other expressions of cultural liberalism. Buckley rode out the storm, helping to craft the new coalition that brought Reagan victory. But other conservatives of the previous era, not least Goldwater himself, drifted away from what they saw as bullying, even authoritarian philistinism.

Its in this unsettled period that Continetti finds the closest thing that his book offers to heroes. Initially anti-Communist Democrats, so-called neoconservatives drifted toward the Republican Party in the 1970s. They brought with them an optimistic interpretation of 20th-century history that included qualified admiration for Franklin Roosevelt, affiliations with elite institutions that the likes of Buckley had rejected decades earlier, and technocratic skills that, in principle, better suited them for the development and implementation of public policy than the more philosophical orientation of their predecessors. Despite their intellectual credentials, neoconservatives also claimed they were closer to the opinions of most Americans than pseudo-populists who still dreamed of overturning the New Deal. On paper, theirs was a commonsense conservatism that could satisfy much of the right while effectively channeling into stable institutions.

Yet the neoconservative project ended in apparent failure. Despite charges that they had been coopted by liberalism, this was not the result of a fundamental disagreement on most issues. In fact, neoconservatives were hardly less outspoken on questions of crime, sexual morality, and rejection of the adversary culture than so-called paleocons. They did believe that elements of the welfare state were here to stay, in contrast to libertarians like Rothbard. On the other hand, sophisticated populists like Sam Francis believed the same thing. If the results of the Reagan administration were any indication, so did most voters.

The divide was deeper when it came to foreign policy and matters of national identity. Although they understood that it could not be fully restored, paleocons invoked preWWII Americanismincluding the presumption of Anglo-Protestant hegemony. Neoconservatives, by contrast, embraced the more recent ideal of the melting pot. As a result, they were nonchalant about immigration compared to the populist base. Even worse, by paleoconservative standards, was the aspiration to extend these principles beyond the borders of the United States. In the paleos view, the Cold War had been necessary to defend American and perhaps broader Western interestsbut not a crusade to make the world safe for democracy.

Anxiety about these universalist, almost crusading tendencies were justified by the disaster in Iraq. While Continetti is broadly sympathetic to the neoconservative persuasion, he admits that the freedom agenda pursued by George W. Bush was an act of extraordinary hubris that squandered many of the economic and political advantages won by the defeat of the Soviet Union. In this case, populists could plausibly reclaim the mantle of prudence and restraint, while the ostensibly responsible elites were accused of the most dangerous enthusiasm, leading to yet a round of second thoughts, political conversions, and ideological purges that continues to this day.

The relationship between conservatives and the right is not so clear as Continetti depicts it, then. The dialectic does not depend only on populists ability to generate the political energy intellectuals need to implement their plansa subordinate role they understandably reject. It also involves frequently shifting conceptions of moderation and extremism, preservation and change. For all the rhetorical excess and personal instability that encouraged comparisons to Joe McCarthy and other demagogues, Donald Trump, like McCarthy, was closer to the center of public opinion on many issues than his more theoretically consistent predecessors, including an attitude toward the welfare state that was more similar to Irving Kristols than to Murray Rothbards.

Like insurgencies of the past, Trumps influence is already leading to the coalescence of a new counter-establishment, based on its own myth of populist legitimacy and institutional betrayal. If the historical pattern holds, though, it will soon enough be challenged by upstarts who will accuse it of becoming merely conservative, forgetting its principles, abandoning its supporters, and conceding victory to the left. Who knows what alternatives those challengers will propose? The war for American conservatism continues.
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Ana says that first and foremost she is a mother of two from Budapest, and she describes herself as a spiritualist.

She is also a popular fluid art teacher, and painter, holding weekly workshops in her studio in the 9th district.

Her classes are also available in English as well as Hungarian - for more details her webpage address is fluidart.hu



1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in south-west Hungary, in Kaposvar.



2. If you could be an expat anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

Nepal



3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?

The usual Hungarian cuisine and Hungarian specialities such as Turo Rudi or tejfol. And of course my native language.



4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?

Parliament, Fisherman's Bastion, Heroes' Square, Matthias Church, Basilica.. and nightlife in Budapest.



5. What is your favourite food?

Im vegetarian and I like very much cheeses, stuffed cabbage (vegetarian), soups.



6. What is your favourite sport / form of exercise?

Tibetan yoga



7. What is your favourite place in Hungary?

Balaton and Matra



8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

Musician or actress.



9. What's a job you would definitely never want?

Repetative and monotonous jobs where there is no need for creativity.



10. Where did you spend your last vacation?

In Croatia, Bol Island



11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?

On a tropical island.



12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

Faith No More, Blade Runner, crafting.



13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?

Beautiful nature colours such as flowers or birds feathers.



14. Red wine or white?

Both.



15. Book or movie?

Both



16. Morning person or night person?

Night person



17. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

Situation of people living in extreme poverty.



18. Buda or Pest side?

Buda



19. Which achievement in your life are you most pleased about?

How I was able to open my painting studio, where I teach fluid painting. I run group workshops during the weekend and private and English language workshops during the week.



20. What would you say is your personal motto?

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. -Mother Teresa




The number of COVID-19 cases in Nebraska fell 7% last week, ending a nine-week stretch of rising case numbers.

The state recorded 2,998 new virus cases for the week ending Friday, compared to 3,240 the week before, according to figures from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cases fell in more than two-thirds of the states and were down 12% nationally.

Nebraskas case levels also remain relatively low for the nation, about 20% below the U.S. rate.

Cases continue to explode in neighboring Wyoming, which last week had both the nations highest case growth and highest case rate.

Iowa is among the states that saw increasing cases, though its per-capita case rate remains among the lowest in the country.

Meanwhile, some who have long avoided the virus recently have tested positive. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and first lady Susanne Shore tested positive for COVID last week and reportedly were experiencing mild symptoms. Ricketts has been vaccinated and received a booster shot, according to his spokeswoman.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leader of the U.S. governments COVID pandemic response effort, also tested positive for the coronavirus last week. Fauci, 81, has been vaccinated and twice boosted and likewise was reporting mild symptoms.

Dr. James Lawler, an executive director of the University of Nebraska Medical Centers Global Center for Health Security, said there likely are a number of reasons that the virus is catching people who so far have avoided it.

One obvious reason, he said, is that there is more of the virus circulating than is being picked up on officially reported tests.

Many people infected with COVID arent getting tested for it, and many of those who do test are using at-home antigen tests that arent routinely reported or included in official counts.

We have a much cloudier view into whats really happening in overall community numbers, Lawler said. Its probably true that infection rates in communities are quite a bit higher than what the official numbers would lead you to believe.

In addition, he said, the versions of the virus now circulating  BA.2.12.1, which last week made up an estimated 64% of reported cases nationally, and the newer BA.4 and BA.5  are much more transmissible than previous strains. That goes for the original Wuhan strain and even the BA.1 version of omicron.

In addition, many people now are months out from their last dose of vaccine or their last booster. We know with these vaccines, Lawler said, immunity wanes over time, especially with some of these newer variants.

Immunity induced by COVID-19 infections also wanes over time, he said. Some people who contracted the delta or BA.1 strains now are getting the newer strains.

At the same time, the vaccines continue to provide significant protection against serious illness and death. In December, state health officials reported that Nebraskans who were fully vaccinated but not boosted were 11 times less likely than those who had not been vaccinated to require hospital care. Those who had been vaccinated and boosted were 46 times less likely to be hospitalized than those who hadnt gotten any shots.

Lawler said people are taking fewer precautions against the virus than they were six months or a year ago. Fewer people are masking indoors. In such spaces, even a masked person has a greater risk of catching COVID.

Nebraska COVID-19 hospitalizations also were down slightly last week, with a daily average of 124 hospitalized patients, down from 129 the previous week.

Nebraska recorded seven new COVID deaths, bringing the toll of confirmed or probable deaths for the pandemic to 4,330. Total reported cases are inching close to half a million, topping 494,000.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have discussed the prospects for further cooperation in achieving the goals set in the field of electricity, renewable energy, and energy efficiency, Azernews reports, citing the Energy Ministry.

The discussion took place during the meeting between Azerbaijan's Energy Ministry representatives with the head of the representative office of the EBRD in Azerbaijan Kamola Makhmudova.

During the meeting, the parties noted the successful development of relations between Azerbaijan and the EBRD in many areas, including in the energy sector. They also considered the status of implementation of projects implemented with the financial support of the bank.

The ministry and the bank are currently cooperating to conduct renewable energy auctions in Azerbaijan and the formation of the necessary regulatory framework for small-scale renewable energy projects.

Established in 1991, EBRD invests in projects that contribute to the transition to an open market economy, as well as the development of private and business activities.

The bank is a leading investor in Azerbaijan. To date, the EBRD has invested over 3 billion ($3.5bn) in 177 projects in Azerbaijans economy.

The country has been cooperating with EBRD since 1992 to achieve further economic development. One of the main priorities of EBRD in Azerbaijan is to support the local corporate sector with direct financing. EBRD continues to pursue investments in energy projects, especially where there is a gap to improve efficiency and energy security.

Azerbaijan is the largest recipient of the EBRD funds in the Caucasus, as well as one of the largest recipients of this organizations funds in the CIS and Eastern Europe.
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Five major US cities already on track to break their 2021 homicide totals

https://nypost.com/2022/06/20/5-us-cities-already-on-track-to-break-their-2021-homicide-totals/?

By Emily Crane New York Post June 20, 2022 4:04pm

Former ICE director Jonathan Fahey reacts to rising violent crime and homicides in Washington D.C.

NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE SO FAR

Five major US cities are already on track to break their steep 2021 homicide figures  suggesting a particularly violent summer ahead.

This years homicide numbers for Los Angeles, Washington DC, Baltimore, Milwaukee and Atlanta have all surpassed the rates reached at the same time in 2021, according to the data, first reported by Fox News.

Milwaukee has been the city with the largest spike, recording 96 homicides as of June 17  a 25% increase compared to its 77 figure recorded this time last year.

In Washington DC, there have already been 93 homicides compared to the 82 in its first six months of 2021, or a 13% jump.

Atlantas rate has increased more than 13% compared to last year, too, with 68 homicides across the city as of June 11 compared to 60 for the same period in 2021.

Meanwhile, Baltimore has experienced a nearly 8% increase, or a jump from 142 incidents for the period last year to 153 so far in 2022. And Los Angeles has had a 7% spike, with 151 incidents in the same time frame last year and 162 homicides so far in 2022.

Police respond to a shooting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 13, 2022. Milwaukee is one of five major cities to surpass their high 2021 homicide rates.

The latest figures follow a spate of deadly violence across the country over the weekend, including multiple shooting slayings.

Milwaukee was riddled with gun violence after 14 separate shootings left three dead and 15 injured, according to cops. The three shot dead were all men under age 25, FOX6 reported.

At least 48 people were shot in Chicago  including an 11-year-old girl who took a bullet to her leg  from Friday through Sunday.

Of the 48, four people were shot dead across the Windy City, WGN9 reported. In one incident, police said a 36-year-old woman was shot in the head while standing on a sidewalk Sunday night.

A memorial for graduate student Brianna Kupfer who was stabbed while working in a Los Angeles furniture store. LA has seen a 7% spike in homicides in 2022 so far.

The 11-year-old girl, who is being treated in hospital and is expected to survive, was also on the sidewalk when an unknown man approached her and started firing, police said.

Meanwhile, cops in Baltimore are investigating a spate of weekend gun violence  including a quadruple shooting Friday night, the Baltimore Sun reported.

In that incident, a 50-year-old woman and two men, ages 33 and 46, were injured when gunfire broke out in the West Baltimore neighborhood. A 21-year-old woman, who had been driving in the area, ended up taking herself to the hospital after being shot, cops said.

Evidence markers at the scene of a shooting in Baltimore on May 31, 2022. Baltimore has seen an 8% increase in homicides in 2022.

A 15-year-old boy was also shot dead in Washington, DC, during a chaotic Juneteenth celebration Sunday night.

The shooting, which erupted at a musical event that lacked a permit, also injured a police officer and two other adults.
YORK -- During their 20th ultrasound, Andy and Sarah Griess of Sutton were made aware that their son, Conway Griess, was going to be born with a heart defect. Since then, the family has faced ongoing medical challenges, but they are hanging on to that little bit of hope with the support of family, friends and Andys co-workers from Black Hills Energy.

Conway was born at the Methodist Womens Hospital in Omaha on December 13. He was born with a congenital heart defect called pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (VSD). He was immediately transferred to Childrens Hospital; he was there for a 10-day stay.

Sarah said the original plan was for Conway to have open heart surgery within the first week he was born, but the doctors postponed it to take place four months later.

Sarah said, After he was born, the doctors discovered he had MAPCAS (major aortopulmonary collateral arteries). He had five collaterals form because his pulmonary artery never formed correctly and the collaterals provided blood to his lungs. Since he had five of them, and they were pretty good size at birth, they allowed us to take him home to grow before having surgery.

At that point, everything seemed like a dream to the Griess family. Andy and Sarah said they were both scared and unsure of the unknown.

I was in disbelief, said Andy. You dont hear things like that happen very often. You think to yourself Maybe Ill just wake up from this big dream.

While the surgeons were prepping for Conways first surgery, doctors found a separate defect in Conways trachea called Complete Tracheal Rings which caused airway issues. Doctors recommended that Conway have two surgeries done at the same time, but there are only a few hospitals that can do the job.

Sarah said, Once they found out about the tracheal rings, our whole plans changed. The first few days in the hospital, they worked on getting Conway to eat more, so they inserted a tube while they called around to hospitals. In less than a week, we were given the idea to transfer to Stanford.

Within a week of being admitted, the Griess family was given a notice from Stanford Childrens Hospital, saying the nurses were going to go on strike. The news put a halt on their traveling plans and Conways conditions worsened.

When they officially went on strike, Conway's oxygen levels dropped significantly and his left lung collapsed, Sarah said.

Conways lungs collapsed two more times after that. While in Omaha, Conway was intubated and placed in a medically induced coma. Before any more complications, the surgeons at Omaha Childrens Hospital went back to the drawing board to see where they could transfer Conway next.

They sent Conways medical records to Cincinnati, Ohio and Ann Arbor, Michigan. A hospital in Michigan then accepted Conway as a patient. Once Andy and Sarah filled out the paperwork, they were left heartbroken again when they found out it would be several weeks waiting on a bed to open.

Every day, they would call back with their ICU bed status, and they just never had an ICU bed, so we never transferred there, Sarah said. After waiting for Michigan, a surgeon called from Omaha, and said the nursing strike was over at Stanford and they were accepting patients again.

Andy said, Two months living in the hospital is a long time and on top of that your stress level and anxiety level are super high. You want to be there for your kid, but you also need to take care of yourself. The worst part is knowing you cant do much for them besides hold their hand and comfort them. You want to do more.

Finally, on June 1, the Griess family traveled to California where Conway was able to have surgery, but the surgery was incomplete because his lungs were too weak to go through with the surgery. Hes now on a ventilator and is connected to an ECMO machine that helps support his heart and lungs.

Between taking care of Conway, making time for work and keeping in contact with their other two children, Owen and Lyla who are staying with their grandparents, the Griess family is taking all the help they can get.

Black Hills Energys Jeffrey Hohnholt said, With all the travel, hotels, motels and food, it gets expensive. Were doing what we can to support Andy, Sarah and the family.

Black Hills Energy will be selling hamburgers and hot dogs at the York Farmers Market on Thursday and on June 30. Other ways people can help support is donating through the GoFundMe Page named Conway Andrew organized by a family friend, Kristina Meyers, and donating through the Conway Griess Benefit at the local Cornerstone Bank.
YORK -- Over 500 middle and high school students, counselors, sponsors, and teachers took part in this years Soul Quest at York College with youth groups representing 14 states. One traveled as far as North Carolina to be a part of this encouraging and uplifting week.

The singing, classes and fellowship filled the campus with joy, praise and a ton of laughter. With the weeks theme of Grow, around 20 campers made the decision to be baptized while others sought out a counselor or their youth group minister to pray with them about their faith walk and struggles they were facing.

Jonathan Storment, preaching minister for the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in Little Rock, Ark., and author of How to Start a Riot: Support Your Local Jesus Revolution, was the evening keynote speaker once again.

Sean Algaier (03) led this years worship and was one of the speakers featured during the morning assembly. Other York College alumni that spoke during the morning worship were Matt Madole (02), Caleb Moose Smith (15), Justus Coppinger (22) and Justin Carver (07).

Besides the morning and evening worship times, campers went to daily classes predominantly taught by youth and family ministers, a wide range of free time activities, as well as group time. The annual service projects had to be cancelled due to Tuesday evenings hailstorm that hit the community.

Tim Lewis, who completed his 19th year as Soul Quest director, gave high praise to the campers and staff in their flexibility during a week of weather mishaps, camper relocation and schedule adjustments.

The attitudes in the midst of a bunch of different circumstances has been tremendous probably the best that Ive seen in a long, long time. Everyone has been wonderful to work with, commented Lewis.

Another thing that was special and evident from the first song going forward was the worship.

The spirit coursing through the auditorium is so vibrant! said Jared Stark, co-director of Soul Quest. We have youth ministers from all over the country that record the worship, to capture it and take it back home. Its just so beautiful.

Algaier was called upon at the last minute when longtime Soul Quest worship leader Andy Spell was unable to attend because of illness.

Sean was on his way to York when he was asked if he could step in for Andy. He did a great job mixing it up and keeping a balance between some fun songs at the beginning and then going deep in our worship together, said Stark.

A unique feature to this years session was the amount of York College gear that was given away during the daily Morning Show. Enrollment counselor Logan Kaliff (21), known affectionately on campus as the Swag Master, threw ball caps, T-shirts, beanies and other YC items to the waiting hands of Soul Questers. On the final day, a couple of York University hoodies made it into the swag mix to unofficially celebrate the transition to University status.
YORK  Damien Hartman, 29, (whose address has been listed as both Bradshaw and York) has been sentenced to jail for a Class 3A felony, as he was accused of failing to register his current address with local law enforcement, as is required because he is a registered sex offender.

He was sentenced in York County District Court by Judge James Stecker.

Hartman was convicted of third degree sexual assault of a child in York County on April 15, 2013. As part of his sentence, he became a 25-year registrant on the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry.

His last reported address, according to the registry, was Omaha. Yet, sheriffs deputies cited him for non-reporting because he was actually living in Bradshaw. As reported earlier, court documents now indicate he is living in York.

He was facing a possible maximum sentence of three years in prison with 18 months of post-release supervision and/or a $10,000 fine.

This past week, he was sentenced to eight months in jail and was given credit for 21 days already spent in the county jail. He was also ordered to 18 months of post-release supervision.
The Indian automotive industry is buzzing with SUV launches, with multiple new SUVs introduced in the country in the past few months, while many more are staring at an imminent launch. Automakers are expecting these SUVs to help push the auto sales as things go back to normal post Covid-19. In fact, SUV is the single largest selling body type in India, outpacing not only the sedans, but also hatchbacks. So much is the demand for SUVs, that almost all manufacturers are giving increasing preference to this body type, launching new products every now and then. In fact, some automakers have stopped making sedans and hatch altogether. These SUVs are big in size, practical, yet value-for-money as compared to equally sized sedans. We bring you a list of all the upcoming SUVs under Rs 25 lakh to launch in India in 2022.

Mahindra & Mahindra's next-generation Scorpio has been raking quite an interest in the India market and has been the subject of many leaked spy photos in recent months before Mahindra officially unveiled the SUV. The new Scorpio-N will be sold along side the current-gen Scorpio that will be renamed Scorpio Classic and is expected to feature improved mechanicals and greater overall dimensions than the outgoing generation. Both the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engines of the upcoming Mahindra Scorpio are believed to come from the same family as Thar and XUV700 but will be tuned differently.

India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch the new Vitara Brezza in India, that once held the top spot in the sub-4m compact SUV game. The freshen up Vitara Brezza will get a host of changes over the current gen model, including a more premium and modern design language, updated cabin with new features and revised mechanicals and added safety features as well.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. has announced that it will launch the all-new Tucson in the Indian market soon. Hyundai will introduce its premium SUV with the 4th Generation model arriving in the second half of the calendar year. The SUV upon launch will be competing against the likes of Jeep Compass and Volkswagen Tiguan in the Indian market. The 4th Generation Hyundai Tucson features completely new looks with completely new grills complemented by the LED DRLs. Moreover, the car features several pronounced creases, and the back end features split tail lights and an LED light bar that runs the length of the car.

After entering the Indian market with the Citroen C5 Air Cross, the French automaker is all set to launch a subcompact SUV, which was announced for India launch way back in September 2021 is expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2022, most probably by July-August. Citroen will offer 78 customization options in the cabin and outside, among which are 8 seat covers and 10 paint schemes with dual-tone finish options.

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To raise awareness about the use of a Rs 10 coin, a guy in Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, purchased a car for Rs 6 lakh with 60,000 Rs 10 coins. The man, named Vetrivel, told reporters that his mother ran a small shop in his area but that others refused to accept Rs 10 coins, resulting in a pile of the money accumulating at their home. He further stated that he had witnessed children playing with Rs 10 coins as if they were worthless and that he had gathered the coins to purchase the car in order to raise awareness about their value.

"My mother is having a shop at Arur in Dharmapuri. No one is willing to accept the Rs 10 coin, and even banks were reluctant to accept them, claiming that they don`t have the facility to count the coins. "Vetrivel said that the Reserve Bank of India has never said that these coins are worthless and asked why the banks were not accepting them.

He said that the car dealership was sceptical about taking the Rs 10 coins but then finally agreed to take the money seeing his determination and persistence, he carried the coins in sacks, the money was counted, and the keys were handed over to him.

Also read: Tourist drives around on Goa beach in MG Hector SUV, irks netizens

It is to be noted that there have been such incidents previously when people have bought vehicles by paying a huge sum in the form of sacks full of coins. Earlier, there was a boy who bought a bike worth Rs 2.6 lakh by paying the whole sum in coins. In addition, before that, a man from North East bought a brand new scooter in a similar manner. However, the reason for them buying the vehicles with coins was completely different from Vetrivels reason.

With inputs from IANS
The trouble between airlines and specially-abled passengers continues in India as yet another wheelchair bound passenger was denied boarding recently. As per a PTI report, an award-winning physically challenged artist has claimed she was prohibited from boarding an Alliance Air flight from Bengaluru to Kochi. The incident comes into the light after multiple such incidences have been reported from the across the country. Mis-handling of specially-abled passengers have become a challenge not only for the airlines, but also DGCA, who recently issued guidelines for such incidences.

Sarita Dwivedi, claimed that she was not allowed to take her battery-operated wheelchair on the Alliance Air flight and was asked to leave behind her wheelchair, or book a flight on another airline. She further claimed that Alliance Air did not even refund the amount of around Rs 8,000 she had spent on the tickets for herself and her friend who had come from Kochi to Bengaluru to take her here. She also accused a staff member of hostile behaviour towards her.

Alliance Air is yet to issue a statement on the issue. Dwivedi said she had to subsequently shell out around Rs 14,000 for travelling on another private carrier to reach here along with her friend. The airline also carried her wheelchair in the plane's cargo without any hitch, she said.

However, what transpired at the Alliance Air counter at Kempegowda International Airport on Saturday was a very bad experience, she said. On being asked whether she plans to sue the airline or take any other action, she said she was not sure how to go about that.

Also read: Meet Captain Monica Khanna, the pilot who saved 185 lives by safely landing SpiceJet plane on fire

Giving details of her ordeal, Dwivedi said she reached the check-in counter around 8 am, an hour ahead of the flight's departure, conforming to the one hour rule. "On seeing me, the first thing the person from the airline said was that if you are travelling with a motorised wheelchair, you should come a little early. Then I got little angry and said I was on time. I told him to get the scanning person to scan the wheelchair so that I can go. Again he said I was late. Then he said 'madam you cannot travel with the motorised wheelchair as it was battery operated'."

On being asked whether the airline official gave a reason for not allowing the wheelchair, she stated "they said there are certain guidelines against it. But these guidelines are there with every airline."

"They said that in view of the guidelines, I cannot take my wheelchair. So either I should leave it behind or I cannot travel on the flight. That is how they were talking to me. I felt so bad," she said. She had earlier tweeted about the incident, tagging Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiradita Scindia.

Asked if the airline offered any alternatives, she said, "they were not willing to do anything for me. I was ready to leave the wheelchair there, provided they could send it to my place in Kochi. I am not from Bangalore. I am a humble person. I did not want to argue, so I asked them what they can do to help me," she said. They said they cannot do anything but can refund her ticket amount.

However, "they have not refunded the ticket amount.. I had spent around Rs 8,000 on two tickets for myself and my friend.. Even my friend could not travel as I was not allowed to travel. Not only did they not refund the amount, I had to, thereafter, spend around Rs 14,000 on two tickets to Kochi," on another airline, she claimed.

Dwivedi reached Kochi on Saturday afternoon instead of the morning as she had originally planned. When asked whether Alliance Air has got in touch with her subsequently to refund the amount, Dwivedi said, "Nothing. They have no facilities. They do not know how to talk to people. They just keep arguing and shouting. It was irritating."

She claimed initially the airline did not allow them to get their boarding passes and then they said that their manager was coming and to wait for him as after he arrives, then only they can do anything.

After a long wait, a person came who was a senior supervisor in Alliance Air and not the manager. "So I asked the person at the counter who had stopped me from boarding earlier as to whether this was the same person he spoke about. But he did not give a proper response."

She said the man started shouting at her that he was the responsible person and that he would be taking the decisions in the absence of the manager who was not here. Dwivedi said she asked him why she was made to wait so long at the airport, if the manager was not going to come.

"I, thereafter, calmly asked them to send me to Kochi. I said I do not want a refund....They said we cannot do that and that I can get a refund only. They said I should book a flight on another airline. That is how they replied. Then they said that I could travel by their airline, but the wheelchair cannot be taken along," she added.

For Dwivedi who had travelled the long distance from Indiranagar in Bangalore to the airport, everything had been "spoiled" by then and she subsequently demanded that the airline gave in writing why she was not allowed to board her flight.

"After travelling so far alone and managing everything physically, mentally and financially, they spoiled everything for me. For a person like me it is difficult. It is in my nature that I speak softly to people and I was speaking calmly to them at the airport to find a solution. They are the ones who started arguing and then shouting at me," she alleged.

Personnel of the Airports Authority of India were present there and provided her with food and water and comforted her. They even tried to reason with the airline official, but in vain. "So then I asked him to give me in writing why I missed my flight, why I was not allowed to board," she said.

Thereafter, for the sake of formality the official wrote down why she was not allowed to board and she also agreed to get a refund to book tickets on another flight as she was getting late, Dwivedi said. However, when the official realised she was going to fly on another airline, he said he would not give anything in writing and walked away with the paper, she claimed.

On how the experience was with the other carrier she later flew in, she said, "they never created any issue for me. They were quick and gave a very good service. My wheelchair has a dry battery. The rule is that you cannot travel with a wet battery on an airline."

"I just removed the battery supply and gave it to the airline and they put the wheelchair in the baggage," she said. "I travel a lot and wherever I go, I have never faced this problem. This time the travel agent booked the tickets on Alliance Air. He did not mention that I was differently abled or wheelchair user while booking the ticket. That is required if I need a wheelchair. But I carry my own wheelchair, so where is the need to put that (while booking a ticket)?"

"Even otherwise, imagine if I am travelling with a prosthesis and all of a sudden something happens to me and I cannot walk. I will definitely bring my wheelchair without any information. Are they so unprofessional that they cannot handle such a situation," she asked.

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SpiceJet's Dubai flight from Madurai, carrying over 130 passengers and three infants, was diverted to Goa Airport owing to a medical emergency, but the flight continued to its destination once the unwell customer was deplaned, according to the airline. SpiceJet flight SG 23 departed Madurai airport at 9.20 a.m. but was redirected to Goa airport, where it landed at 10.57 a.m., according to SpiceJet.

"SpiceJet flight SG 23 of June 20, operating from Madurai to Dubai, was diverted to Goa due to a medical emergency. At the Goa Airport, the passenger concerned was deplaned and the flight proceeded to Dubai where it has landed," a SpiceJet spokesperson said in a statement.

The aircraft, SpiceJet said, departed from Goa at 12.40 pm and landed in Dubai at 3.56 pm (IST). There were 132 passengers and three infants on board, the airline said, adding one passenger deplaned at Goa Airport.

Also read: DGCA to investigate Delhi-bound SpiceJet and IndiGo flights emergency landing incidents

SpiceJet has been recently involved with multiple incidents of diversion or emergency landing but for different reasons than this case. A few days ago, the Spicejet plane bound for Jabalpur had to return to Delhi from where it took off because the aircraft lost the cabin pressure.

Prior to that, another SpiceJet flight had to make an emergency landing at Patna Airport because the engine caught fire mid-flight. Based on the reports the fire in the engine was caused by a bird strike.

With inputs from PTI
On June 19, a Delhi-Patna SpiceJet flight took off from the Patna airport for Delhi and shortly after the take off, it suffered a mid-air engine fire. As seen in the videos shot by some passengers, the left engine of the Boeing 737 aircraft caught fire shortly after the takeoff and later made an emergency landing at the Patna airport with just one of its engines being operational. Gurcharan Arora, SpiceJets chief of flight operations, conveyed that the pilots handled the situation really well. "Pilots handled the situation well. Only a single engine was functioning when the plane landed back. Engineers inspected the aircraft. It was confirmed that the fan blade and engine were damaged as a bird hit it. DGCA will probe further," Arora said.

The said flight was piloted by Captain Monica Khanna, who was the pilot-in-command of the SpiceJet Limited flight SG723. As per reports, since the flight suffered engine failure during the takeoff, it was loaded with fuel and landing a fully fuelled aircraft safely is challenging for any pilot.

As per Spicejet, as a precautionary measure and as per SOP, the Captain decided to shutdown the affected engine and decided to return to Patna. Post flight inspection showed bird hit with 3 fan blades damaged.

#WATCH Patna-Delhi SpiceJet flight safely lands at Patna airport after catching fire mid-air, all 185 passengers safe#Bihar pic.twitter.com/vpnoXXxv3m

Not only theres a risk of fire during landing due to amount of fuel, the plane itself is very heavy with passengers and fuel. The Boeing 737 aircraft had 185 people on board passengers, and all of them walked out of the flight safely, soon after the plane made the emergency landing.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a probe into the matter and the officials said that the plane (VT-SYZ), prima facie, was involved in air turnback as the cabin crew informed PIC about sparks coming out of the engine.

Also read: Another SpiceJet flight makes emergency landing in Delhi, fails to regain cabin pressure differential

During the rotation, the cockpit crew suspected a bird hit on the engine. Later, the crew did not observe any abnormality and the flight resumed further climb." The flight returned back after a bird hit and due to one engine shut in the air, all on-board passengers safe," the officials added.

"The Delhi-bound flight had returned to Patna airport after locals noticed a fire in the aircraft and informed district and airport officials. All 185 passengers were safely deboarded. The reason is a technical glitch, engineering team analysing further," said Chandrashekhar Singh, Patna District Magistrate told media persons.

(With inputs from ANI)

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On the occasion of International World Yoga Day 2022, yoga teacher and author, Ira Trivedi, who started the practice at the early age of 11 talks about the many health benefits that yoga can do. She has been practising and teaching yoga for over 25 years across the globe. Ira was a part of the team that organised the first International Day of Yoga in New Delhi, where two Guinness World Records were set. In an exclusive chat with Zee News Digital, Ira Trivedi shares tips on how you can incorporate yoga into your daily life by following a few simple steps:

Q. What difference did yoga bring into your life?

A. Yoga has brought a huge transformation in my life. I never imagined that such a simple physical practice can do this but it definitely has. And the transformation began by just doing Yoga for 10 minutes a day. So it brings in physical benefit and definitely mental and emotional benefit as well. And the spiritual evolution too is wonderful.

Q. Whats the reason behind the rising popularity of yoga in the world today?

A. The rising popularity of Yoga in the world is this that the benefits of it, are so immense and I felt so profound that it is spread like a wildfire and it is probably the biggest export of Yoga into the world.

Q. Can you name celebs whom you have trained?

A. I have trained former late President of India, Pranab Mukherjee and his wife. Also, I led the first international day of Yoga, 8 years ago. That was the first international day of Yoga, and it created a genius book of world records. So I have had the benefits of teaching really wonderful people and high-position Yoga and it's been fantastic.

Q. Please share your quick yoga-at-home tips

A. Just remember that Yoga doesn't have to be like an hour, it can just be 10 - 15 minutes. I began my day by doing a simple practice of Kapal Bhati and Anulom Vilom, breathing practices and by doing Surya namaskars. Remember simplicity is the best.

Q. Which asanas can be performed on a daily basis despite busy schedules?

A. Yoga is a very beautiful and target practice. So for example, no need to do long asana practices. If you suffer from PCOD or PCOS make sure, you do Sarvangasana, Halasana, Matsyasana - one minute each, that's 3 minutes. If you suffer from back pain, or lower back pain, Setu Bandha Sarvangasana could be very beneficial. If you are suffering from tight hamstrings, doing the Janushirshasana, Padahastasana can be really wonderful. So depending upon your problem you can definitely be doing a bit of Yoga that can help you.
New Delhi: Each year World Music Day is celebrated on June 21. The day gives respect to the art form of music that binds people across culture, region, language and religion. Music also gives a channel to various emotions like love, grief, loss, and is cathartic in nature. On World Music Day, both veteran and amateur artists are celebrated and are encouraged to practise their craft.



HISTORY

Music Day was first celebrated in the year 1982 on the Summer Solstice in France, when the former French minister of art and culture, Jack Lange, along with Maurice Fleuret started the Fete de la Musique in Paris. That is also why World Music Day is alternatively known as Fete de la Musique as well.



After France recognised this as an event, it became a global festival, and various countries including the United States, India, the UK, Canada, Malaysia, Italy, Brazil, Japan, China, Mexico,Greece, Russia, Ecuador, Australia, Peru and others also observed the day.

SIGNIFICANCE



Music can influence, impact people across cultures and age groups. Various studies have shown that learning music can improve cognitive development, memory and brain activity. Music also has therapeutic value and can help people with anxiety and uneasiness. It is also used in times of hardships to provide strength and support to one another. Music is also played at the time of celebrations.

HOW WORLD MUSIC DAY IS CELEBRATED

On World Music Day, singers, musicians organise free concerts and events for people to take part in. Veteran and amateur artists are also encouraged to hone their craft. Various cultural events are also organised on World Music Day.
Just before the pandemic, Clevermethod had settled into its dream offices.

But after two years of remote work, those dream offices don't seem so dreamy. It's giving up its unique offices along the Buffalo River with roll-up doors and even a kayak launch out back. Now the marketing agency is trying to find someone to sublease the space it once coveted for a workforce that remains remote.

"It came to the point where, 'OK this is the future,' " said Doug Kasperek, Clevermethod's president. "It was a heartbreaking decision. We put a lot of sweat and time and money into it. And we werent there very long to enjoy it."

Companies large and small are taking a harder look at how much office space they need. Many employees prefer working remotely, and are doing so productively, which can leave employers paying for a lot of leased space sitting empty.

The tenants are reacting in all kinds of ways. Some are taking a wait-and-see approach before making any long-term decisions. Others are downsizing the amount of space they use, or signing short-term renewals. Still others, like Clevermethod, are exiting their office space, at least for now. Amid all that, some employers are scouting for office space to move into, or taking advantage of better-quality space that's come available for sublease.

The subleasing solution

A prominent example of this question about the future of office space needs is along the Niagara Thruway: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New Yorks building, on West Genesee Street.

The gleaming complex was built at a cost of $110 million by Duke Realty, and opened in 2007. Its now owned by Orion Office REIT, based in Arizona. Highmarks lease runs through July 2024.

Highmark leases the entire 430,000-square-foot building and has subleased some of that space in prior years, said Kyle Rogers, a Highmark spokesman.

Right now, about 10% of its space is subleased to tenants such as Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Invest Buffalo Niagara, Amerigroup and, soon, the Buffalo Center for Health Equity. That has allowed Highmark to save some on rent costs, and it anticipates it may sublease more space down the road.

I think its safe to say we anticipate there will be additional space for us to do that, Rogers said. Its just too early to tell how much and where that would be.

A pivotal question is, how much will Highmark employees use the office space? In mid-May, Highmark started allowing all employees to return to their pre-pandemic workspaces in the office if they desired, Rogers said.

Highmark has nearly 1,400 employees in its eight-county service area that would call the Buffalo building, at least before the pandemic, their home base. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, more than 90% of those employees transitioned to work from home, Rogers said. Highmark, he said, found employees exceeded expectations and, when surveyed, workers reported higher job satisfaction and production.

Allowing employees back to the office is the next step in a work-from-anywhere program the insurer launched in summer 2021. In that, employees could designate one of three options: work off site fully, on-site fully or in a flex role, meaning two days or less in the office.

And while Rogers said the majority of the workforce designated to work either fully off site or in a flex role, they can change their designation if they wish.

As employees evaluate how they want to work in the future, Highmark will study traffic patterns and understand how many people are in the office, allowing it to evaluate its workspace needs.

Univera Healthcare is also taking stock of its office space needs. The health insurer leases space in Amherst from Ciminelli Real Estate.

Univera, which has 540 employees in Western New York, also has adopted a flexible model, allowing employees to choose to be a remote employee who works from home or an on-site employee who works from the office on Park Club Lane in Amherst. Employees must formally commit to being one or the other, spokesperson Peter Kates said.

Less than 10% of its local workforce, Kates noted, has chosen to be an on-site employee and have a dedicated workstation. Those employees are in the office at least three days per week.

Employees who chose to work remotely can come into the office, as needed, but must reserve a hotel workstation on those days, Kates said.

Univera leases its 120,000-square-foot building from Ciminelli Real Estate. Kates declined to say when that lease expires.

"We are evaluating future space needs," he said.

"You've got to adapt"

Before the pandemic, Clevermethod had emphasized in-person work, Kasperek said. "We were very flexible always with our staff, in terms of scheduling."

But if in-person was to be the focus, Clevermethod wanted to give its employees top-notch office space. That was the vision behind what the agency created at 301 Ohio St.

Yet just as quickly, Clevermethod's 14-employee staff had to pivot to remote work, and has made that switch effectively, Kasperek said. Still, there was the matter of the leased space. If workers were only going to come in periodically, it was hard to justify needing 8,400 square feet.

"You've got to adapt," Kasperek said. Thats the bottom line here. I think a lot of old-school businesses were so resistant, they just expected everyone to come back, and well, that was a different story.

Now, two brokers with Hanna Commerical Real Estate, Paula Blanchard and Joe Deck, are marketing the Ohio Street offices for sublease. A recent open house drew strong turnout - about 30 people. Blanchard said it helps that Clevermethod's space is so different.

But the region's office market as a whole faces challenges, she said.

"Overall, the office market is pretty soft because of Covid. Personally, I dont think its ever going to bounce back 100% to its pre-Covid levels, because there are so many companies who have come to appreciate the benefits of working remotely, as Clevermethod has," she said.

Office needs have changed, with so many employers embracing hybrid work schedules, Blanchard said. And that is not unique to Western New York.

"What were seeing in the industry is, the trends are that its probably going to level out somewhere around 20% to 25% below pre-Covid levels, as far as office usage is concerned," she said.

Some tenants are repurposing their offices to better suit the way their employees work. In other cases, as leases are expiring, they are downsizing at their current location or even relocating within their current building, Blanchard said.

"I think the office spaces and the landlords who can figure out a way to differentiate themselves from the pack are going to be the most successful," Blanchard said.

That's not to say everyone is cutting back. Blanchard noted two tenants  both of them attorneys  recently leased small offices at 125 Delaware Ave., a building near the Statler.

Office outlook

James Militello, owner of J.R. Militello Realty, said two office tenants he works with  he declined to name them  recently decided to downsize their space and sign short-term renewals, of one year and three years each. That's in contrast to signing longer-term deals and making investments in the space.

"The reason for it is, they said, 'Lets wait and see what happens," Militello said. "Everyone is struggling with the uncertainty."

Those two tenants were impacted by the issue of getting workers to return to the office, he said. "They know they have to adjust to that, but they don't know how much, and how long."

Shana Stegner of CBRE Buffalo said what office users are deciding about their space is specific to who they are and their particular needs.

In some cases, a tenant in lower-quality space might jump at the chance to move into higher-quality space available for sublease, Stegner said. She is more optimistic about improvements in the office market.

"Its all about getting your employees to come back into the office," Stegner said. "You want to have that amenity-rich type space, so thats desirable."

Once Clevermethod's space is subleased, the company plans to find smaller office space  maybe half the size of the Ohio Street offices  for team collaboration and hosting clients. Kasperek just wishes his employees had more time to take advantage of what the riverfront offices had to offer.

"Someone's going to walk into a beautiful, turnkey spot," he said.

Matt Glynn

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday congratulated former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, who has emerged as the consensus presidential candidate of 13 opposition parties, including the Congress, and hoped that he would protect the values the country represents. Leaders of the non-BJP parties, who gathered in New Delhi for a meeting convened by NCP chief Sharad Pawar to decide on a consensus candidate for the presidential election, agreed on Sinha's name.

Banerjee tweeted, "I would like to congratulate Shri @YashwantSinha on becoming the consensus candidate, supported by all progressive opposition parties, for the upcoming Presidential Election. A man of great honour and acumen, who would surely uphold the values that represent our great nation!"

I would like to congratulate Shri @YashwantSinha on becoming the consensus candidate, supported by all progressive opposition parties, for the upcoming Presidential Election.



A man of great honour and acumen, who would surely uphold the values that represent our great nation!  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 21, 2022

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee who attended the opposition meeting also congratulated Sinha.

"It is my firm belief that for all progressive parties who share the same vision for our nation, there could not have been a better choice!" he said in a Twitter post.

Sinha, a former BJP leader, joined the TMC last year.

Earlier in the day, Sinha said that he will "step aside" from the TMC to work for the larger national cause of Opposition unity, amid indications that he is being considered as the Opposition's joint candidate for the presidential elections.

Sinha's name came up after NCP chief Sharad Pawar, former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah opted out of the race.
Though the fire of the movement is burning in different parts of the country against the 'Agneepath' scheme, almost every day the 'Agniveer' is getting the promise of employment. After four years of contractual service in the country's army, there is a lot of work for Agniveers. What have they been promised till date.

Agneepath Scheme: What is Agneepath Yojana

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the 'Agneepath' scheme on Tuesday, June 14. According to the announcement of the Narendra Modi government, aspirants will be appointed on contract basis for a period of four years in the three divisions of the country's armed forces i.e. land, navy and air force. Young people in the age group of 17-21 years can join. However, the age limit was later increased to 23 years. The soldier will be identified as 'Agniveer.

Agneepath Scheme: Central Government Benefits

The central government had said that Agniveers will get Rs 30,000-45,000 per month as salary. At the end of the four-year contract, 25 per cent of 'Agniveer' will be inducted into the army. The rest will get Rs 11-12 lakh in one lap at the time of retirement. Those joining the scheme will not get the benefit of pension.

Agneepath Scheme: Protests and Movements

Many young people have protested against the central government's scheme. Opposition parties came out in their support. While Rajnath Singh termed it as a "historic decision", former Congress president Rahul Gandhi demanded that the prime minister should apologise to the youth and withdraw it. Apart from the protests of the political parties, a section of the youth also took part in the movement. This movement has been felt in many states of the country including Bengal, Bihar, Telangana, Haryana, Maharashtra. Protesters have walked the path of vandalism, blockade of trains and roads and violent movements.

Agneepath Scheme: Benefits after Retirement

Though the movement is intense, the 'Agniveer' has been given the assurance of employment by the Centre as well as various state governments after retirement under the scheme:
Varanasi: Violent protests against Agneepath scheme have spread across the state of Uttar Pradesh. Trains have been burnt and public property has been vandalized in several places. In Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government had already created a controversy by demolishing the houses of those involved in such violent vandalism with bulldozers. This time, the Varanasi administration has gone a step further and said that in the name of protest, they will recover the compensation from the destroyers of government property.

The Varanasi administration has already started the process of identifying those involved in the violent protests over the Agneepath military recruitment project. Once the work is completed, the Varanasi administration will recover the damages to the destroyed public property from the accused.

Also Read: Amid Agneepath protests, PM Narendra Modi's BIG STATEMENT - '...things get trapped in politics'

36 buses damaged, caused loss of Rs 12.97 lakh: District Magistrate Varanasi

This was stated by an official of Varanasi municipality on Tuesday (June 21). District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said that 36 buses were damaged in the protests on June 17 and caused a loss of Rs 12.97 lakh. He added that 27 people have been arrested in the case so far. Several other people have been identified for indulging in vandalism.

A Varanasi Municipality official also said that a list of government properties which were destroyed during the protests is also being prepared by the administration to collect compensation from those involved in the vandalism. He added that more information about those involved in such acts is being collected from government employees.

Also Read: Agniveers will never constitute the whole army: NSA Ajit Doval amid uproar over Agneepath scheme

Information on violent protestors is being gathered

Information on violent protesters is also being collected from 'secret' sources in rural areas of Varanasi and from officials of other districts too. Earlier, the Magistrate of Varanasi had appealed to the youth saying that they should not be 'misled' with the Agneepath project and indulge in any chaotic activity which could ruin their future.

Applicants can't be part of Anti-Agnipath protests: Dept. of Military Affairs

Incidentally, a large section of the country's military leadership has also said that applicants for the Agneepath project should be told that they did not take part in any kind of arson or violent movement against the project.

Lt Gen Anil Puri, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, said, "The foundation of the Indian Army is discipline. There is no place for arson and vandalism. Applicants for the Agneepath project will have to give a declaration to each person that they were not part of the anti-Agneepath protest or vandalism. Police verification is 100 per cent necessary and without it no one can join the fire. And the police will also conduct a proper investigation into this announcement.

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NEW DELHI: The three service chiefs are expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi separately on Tuesday to brief him about the Centres Agnipath scheme as well as their plan for its implementation. The meetings are being planned amid widespread protests in several states against the new military recruitment scheme. It is learnt that the chiefs would apprise the Prime Minister about various aspects of the implementation of the scheme. However, there is no official word about the meetings between the prime minister and the service chiefs.

Several parts of the country witnessed violent protests after the new military recruitment model was announced on June 14. The Agnipath scheme provides for the recruitment of youths between the age bracket of 17-and-half years to 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years.

Days later, the government extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022. The personnel to be recruited under the new scheme will be known as 'Agniveers'. Several opposition parties, as well as military veterans, criticised the scheme questioning the four-year tenure for 75 per cent of the recruits. The government has been strongly defending the scheme, saying the "transformative reform" measure for recruitment into the armed forces will provide an opportunity for the youth to serve the nation.

Amid criticism by some opposition parties of the Agnipath scheme brought by the government for recruitment in the armed forces, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that a few decisions "may seem bitter at first" but will bear fruits in the coming days.

"Few of our initiatives might seem to be bitter in the present times. But, they will bear fruits in the coming days," PM Modi said while speaking at the inauguration of multiple rail and road infrastructure projects in Kommaghatta in Karnataka.

What's the Agnipath scheme?

The Agnipath scheme was launched last week and following protests, the central government has announced several support measures in the last few days to allay apprehensions surrounding the new recruitment scheme into the armed forces.

Unveiling the Agnipath scheme in the presence of the three service chiefs, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said on June 14 said that it was a transformative initiative that would provide a youthful profile to the armed forces. The Union Cabinet had also approved the scheme on June 14.

The youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers. Listing out the benefits of the scheme, the government said it is a "transformative reform of recruitment policy" of the armed forces and a unique opportunity for the youth to serve the country and contribute to nation-building.

The scheme allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the armed forces for a period of four years. The government said that the scheme provides an attractive financial package, will entail armed forces having a more youthful profile and provides an opportunity for Agniveers to train in the best institutions and enhance their skills and qualifications.
New Delhi: Amid the nationwide protests against the Centre's Agnipath army recruitment scheme, National Security Advisor of India Ajit Doval said that the recruits of the Agnipath scheme are not meant to constitute the whole army. He also said that the 'misled' youth need to look at the scheme through a specific perspective as 'Agnipath isn't a standalone scheme in itself'.

Agniveers will never constitute the whole army: NSA Ajit Doval

Speaking to ANI about the Agnipath scheme uproar in the country, he said, "Agniveers will never constitute the whole army. Those Agniveers who become regulars eventually will undergo intensive training, acquire experience over a period of time."

Also Read: Agneepath Recruitment 2022: Registration for Indian Air Force to begin from June 24 at careerindianairforce.cdac.in, all details here

Need for perspective: Doval

He further stated, "There's a need to look at it in a perspective. Agnipath isn't a standalone scheme in itself. When PM Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, one of his prime priorities was how to make India secure and strong. That required many avenues, many steps - multitude of them."

"Broadly speaking, they come under the four heads. It requires equipment, it requires change in systems and structures, it requires change in technology, it requires change in manpower, policies and they have to be futuristic," he added.

What is Agnipath scheme?

This scheme entails a recruitment process for individuals with ranks below that of officers, with the goal of deploying fitter, younger troops on the front lines, many of whom will be on four-year contracts. It's a game-changer that will give the Army, Navy, and Air Force a more youthful image.

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New Delhi: A special court in Patna on Tuesday (June 21) sentenced Bahubali RJD MLA Anant Singh to 10 years imprisonment in the AK-47 recovery case. In 2019, an AK-47 rifle, two hand grenades and 26 live cartridges were recovered from Anant Singh`s house in his native village and the MP-MLA court on June 14 held him guilty of the offence. Besides Anant Singh, the caretaker of his house Sunil Ram has also been awarded 10 years in jail. MP-MLA court judge Triloki Dubey has announced the highest quantum of punishment to the RJD MLA and his caretaker.

His conviction in the case is set to cost him his legislatorship in Bihar Assembly. Anant Singh is currently an MLA from the Mokama Assembly constituency in the Patna district.

Sunil Singh, the lawyer of Anant Singh (Defense Lawyer) confirmed the quantum of punishment of 10 years jail term.

"We will appeal to the higher court to challenge the decision of the MP-MLA court. If we manage to get a stay from the high court against this decision, Anant Singh`s legislatorship will remain," Singh said.

This morning, Anant Singh reached MP-MLA court located at Pirbahore area of Patna in a jail ambulance.

On August 16, 2019, a team of Patna police headed by then City SP Lipi Singh raided the house of Anant Singh in his native village Nadwa under Barh police station. As per the police theory, the raiding team had seized an AK-47 rifle, 26 live cartridges, and two hand grenades. While the AK-47 rifle was hidden in a hutment behind a big box, the hand grenades were recovered from the adjoining hut.

The police said that AK-47 was evenly wrapped with a plastic bag followed by layers of carbons to avoid detection in metal detectors during transportation.

At the time of the raid, Anant Singh was not in Bihar. He fled to Delhi and surrendered before the lower court there. Bihar police took his custody and put him behind the bars of Patna Beur jail. Since then, he has been lodged in Beur jail.

During the three years trial of the case, the prosecution side produced 13 witnesses and their statements were recorded in the court. The defense side also produced 34 witnesses before the court.

The hearing of the case was completed on June 13 and he was held guilty on June 14.
Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde today spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Shinde, who is unhappy with Shiv Sena'a alliance with NCP, has made his condition clear that Shiv Sena must join BJP and break the current alliance with NCP and Congress. Shinde is firm on his stand that won't return to the party fold with his MLAs. The BJP has a strength of 106 MLAs in 288 member Maharashtra assembly, while the Shiv Sena has a strength of 55 MLAs.

Together, the two parties can comfortably form a government.

The call between the two leaders was moderated by Shiv Sena MLA Milind Navrekar who led a delegation to meet Sinde in Gujarat's Surat.

Eknath Shinde, a senior leader of the Shiv Sena, is at the Centre of mega political crisis in Maharashtra. Shinde, who was disgruntled over various reasons, is reportedly planning to quit Shiv Sena along with 22 MLAs. Shinde's moving away with 22 MLAs will get the Shiv Sena - NCP - Congress (Maha Vikas Aghadi) government in minority. The MVA will then find it extremely difficult to survive as its numbers will go way below the needed strength of 144 MLAs.
Kerala plus two Results 2022: Department of Higher Secondary Education (DHSE) is scheduled to declare the Kerala 12th board Results 2022 today, June 21, 2022. The Class 12 DHSE result 2022 will be announced today at 11 am for around four lakh students. The Kerala Plus Two Results will be announced via a press conference by Education Minister V Sivankutty at 11 am on June 21. After the official address, the Kerala 12th board result 2022 will be declared on the official websites. Results of all the streams  commerce, science, technical, and humanities will be declared at the same time.

DHSE Kerala result 2022 official websites -- keralaresults.nic.in, dhsekerala.gov.in, results.kite.kerala.gov.in, kerala.gov.in and prd.kerala.gov.in will host the Kerala 12th result 2022. Once announced, students who have appeared for Kerala DHSE Plus 2 can check their results at keralaresults.nic.in.

Kerala Plus Two Results 2022: Here's how to check your class 12th result

Once announced, students can check their Kerala Class 12th result 2022 following the steps given below

Visit the official website at keralaresults.nic.in On the homepage look for the result link Enter your log in details Your result will be displayed on the screen Keep the hard copy of the same for future reference.

The Kerala DHSE exams were held at various exam centers across the state from March 30 to April 22, 2022. Kerala DHSE examinations plus 2 practical tests, was held throughout the state from February 21 to March 15, 2022. Nearly 4 lakh students have reportedly appeared in the Kerala DHSE Plus 2 examinations this year. The examinations were conducted this year from March 30 to April 22, 2022. Last year, V Sivankutty, the State Education Minister, held a press conference to announce the plus two results for the academic session 2020-2021. The DHSE plus 2 results were released on July 28, 2021.

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Eknath Shinde, a senior leader of the Shiv Sena, is at the Centre of mega political crisis in Maharashtra. Shinde, who was disgruntled over various reasons, is reportedly planning to quit Shiv Sena along with 22 MLAs. Shinde's moving away with 22 MLAs will get the Shiv Sena - NCP - Congress (Maha Vikas Aghadi) government in minority. The MVA will then find it extremely difficult to survive as its numbers will go way below the needed strength of 144 MLAs.

The Operation Lotus - a codename given to BJP's alleged attempts to topple the MVA government in the state - has got a big boost due to this. Just in case, the government comes into minority, it will be an uphill task for Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Paware to stack up the required numbers.

Shinde made a telling tweet indicating his `rebellious` mood, here on Tuesday. "We are Balasaheb (Thackeray)`s staunch Shiv Sainiks. Balasaheb has taught us Hindutva. We have never and will never compromise on the teachings of Balasaheb and `dharmaveer` Anand Dighe for power," said Shinde in a tweet in Marathi.

Significantly, he has knocked off the Shiv Sena logo from his Twitter handle, which was noted by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies.

The Sena hit back by sacking Shinde as the party leader in the legislature and replacing him with a loyal sainik, Ajay Chaudhari this afternoon.

While preparing to join hands with the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shinde has kept a lifeline open with the MVA with proposals and counter-proposals changing hands between Maharashtra-Gujarat.

Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar made it clear that there is no need for a leadership change in Maharashtra.

Pawar also said Shinde never expressed his desire to become the Chief Minister, but made it clear that its an internal issue of the Sena and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray would handle the matter and sort it out.

Congress Minister Ashok Chavan and senior leader Prithviraj Chavan declined to comment on the Sena`s internal matter, but admitted that the MVA faced a crisis, while NCP`s Minister Chhagan Bhujbal expressed optimism that the political storm would clear in a day or so.

After the Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a setback in the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls on Monday night, Shinde went incommunicado. He is camping at a hotel in Gujarat's Surat city along with some party MLAs.

Shinde rose in the Shiv Sena hierarchy from ranks. He had served as the party corporator for several terms before getting elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2004.

He is also known for his accessibility and has a strong grip on the party organisation in Thane and Palghar districts, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, which send 24 MLAs to the Assembly.

The BJP leaders have been hinting that a `change of government` in the state is inevitable, though no top leaders are officially commenting till the undeclared `Operation Lotus` is a success.
New Delhi: Maharashtra minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has gone incommunicado, a party leader said on Tuesday, a day after the ruling Maha Vikas Agahdi (MVA) suffered a setback in the state Legislative Council polls by losing one out of the six seats it contested. The development could rattle the MVA, comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, as some Sena MLAs are believed to be in touch with Shinde. However, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut asserted that the Sena is a party of loyalists and attempts by the BJP, like in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, to topple the MVA government would not succeed.

He also said Shinde was a trusted Shiv Sainik, and that the 'missing' MLAs will be back after the party is able to reach out them.

Earlier in the day, a Sena leader said Shinde, who wields influence in some of the satellite cities of Mumbai, maybe in Gujarat along with some MLAs. The leader, however, did not divulge the number of MLAs who could be with Shinde and their details.

"He (Shinde) was at the Shiv Sena office in the Legislative Assembly premises on Monday when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was present there. But, no one knows about him after that. He was not present during the counting (for MLC polls)," the leader said.

According to sources, Shinde along with some Sena MLAs was camping at a hotel in Gujarat's Surat city.

Meanwhile, Raut said "BJP's Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan pattern" to topple the MVA government will not succeed.

"Once we reach out to the missing MLAs, they will be back. Shinde is a trusted Shiv Sainik. The Shiv Sena is a party of loyalists and not those who fall to the lust of power and positions," he said.

Raut said if Shinde has any misunderstanding with the chief minister, it can be cleared.

"I have spoken to (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar and other leaders of the MVA," Raut said.

The opposition BJP on Monday won all five seats it contested in the state Legislative Council elections for 10 seats, while Congress candidate and Dalit leader Chandrakant Handore lost, in another setback for the MVA after the Rajya Sabha polls earlier this month. Two candidates each of the Shiv Sena and NCP won, while the Congress managed to bag just one seat. Ten Council seats were up for grabs and 11 candidates were in the fray for the elections, which came days after the Rajya Sabha polls, which saw the BJP handing an embarrassing defeat to the Shiv Sena-led ruling coalition.
Developer Douglas Jemal is preparing to start the cleanup and removal of debris from a collapsed garage at the two-story Meidenbauer House in the Fruit Belt, as he proceeds with plans to save, renovate and revive the 150-year-old structure.

Jemal, who stepped into a void earlier this year after the latest effort to save the house was doomed by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, plans to stabilize the structure before seeking input from the community on a future reuse. He is seeking permission from the Buffalo Preservation Board this week to start the initial work.

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The Meidenbauer House is a 5,400-square-foot combination of two Italianate brick houses, located at 204 High St. and 291 Maple St., that date back to 1870. The endangered 19th-century structure, which is a local landmark and part of the High Street Historic District, was originally built by a German malting family when the Fruit Belt neighborhood was home to breweries.

The city took ownership in 2005 and issued four requests-for-proposals to rescue and redevelop the property since then. But developers, preservationists and neighbors have disagreed about what to do.

The Fruit Belt Community Development Corp., an affiliate of St. John Baptist Church, sought to tear down the building for a parking lot next to a planned grocery store, but that plan was derailed by local opposition.

Most recently, Dr. Greg Daniel's Kanaka Partners was named designated developer in 2020, with plans for affordable housing for employees of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. But the project was delayed, and then Daniel pulled out after his option expired last fall.

Separately, Jemal's Douglas Development Corp. is also asking for Preservation Board approval to add the words "Police Apartments" in two lines of aluminum signage to a new steel canopy in front of the former Buffalo Police Headquarters building at 74 Franklin St., which Jemal converted into 114 apartments.

Also pending before the Preservation Board when it meets this week:

Nick Tzetzo and Mark Trammell plan to spend $3 million to renovate the 22-unit red-brick-and-frame apartment building at 430 Delaware Ave., at the corner of Edward Street. The rehab of the 13,000-square-foot structure and its 1953 storefront addition that juts in front along Delaware would include restoration of the slate siding, brick and metal paneling of the facade. Also, it would incorporate the addition of an original bay window on the second floor of the south side of the three-story building.

Richard Ries III, through his e2i Ventures, wants to renovate the first floor of the Fairmount Apartments at 23 Allen St., by removing part of the wall separating two commercial spaces and combining them into one, for Remedy House restaurant. The spaces used to house Caffeology and Buffalo Tikka house. The $86,000 project would include new black-framed entrance doors, sidelights, storefront and transom windows and yellow canvas awnings for both the west side storefront at the corner of Allen and North Pearl streets, and the east storefront on Allen.

The State Historic Preservation Office notified the Preservation Board that the State Review Board has recommended the Monroe Motor Car Co. building and Main Garage at 1786 and 1796 Main St. and 1040 Lafayette Ave. for listing on the State Register of Historic Places and for nomination to the National Register. The 33,000-square-foot complex  known more recently as the former Record Theatre  is being redeveloped by the principals of Preservation Studios and Urban Vantage into 17 units of affordable housing and 11,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.

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New Delhi: The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA) government is facing its worst political crisis in Maharashtra with "rebel" Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who is said to be camping in Gujarat, saying that he "will never cheat" for power. Taking to his official Twitter account amid reports of him and some 21 Shiv Sena MLAs going incommunicado, Shinde said that he is a "Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sainik" and that he will never betray the ideals of the Shiv Sena founder.

"We are Balasaheb's staunch Shiv Sainiks ... Balasaheb has taught us Hindutva .. We have never and will never cheat for power and will never abandon the teachings of Balasaheb and Dharmaveer Anand Dighe Saheb," Shinde, the Maharashtra Cabinet Minister, tweeted in Marathi.

    ...      ..                    Eknath Shinde -   (@mieknathshinde) June 21, 2022

Shinde's first reaction to the ongoing political crisis triggered by him in Maharashtra comes amid questions on the stability of the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA dispensation also comprising NCP and Congress.

Here are the top developments on Maharashtra political crisis

Shiv Sena removes Eknath Shinde as its Legislative party leader

According to news agency ANI, Shiv Sena has decided to remove Eknath Shinde as its Legislative party leader. It is learnt that Sewri MLA Ajay Chaudhary will be the new Shiv Sena Legislative Party leader.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray meets party leaders

A meeting was said to be underway on Tuesday between Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sena top leaders and MLAs, even as state minister Eknath Shinde was camping along with some party legislators in Gujarat. The Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi has also suffered a setback on Monday when it lost out of six seats it contested in the Maharashtra Legislative Council polls.

Attempt being made to pull down MVA govt; Uddhav Thackeray will handle situation: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has alleged that a third attempt is being made to pull down the MVA government in Maharashtra. He, however, has expressed confidence that chief minister Udhhav Thackeray will be able to handle the situation.

Pawar, who played a crucial role in the formation of the MVA government, said it will complete its full five-year term and ruled out going with the BJP, in case the state government falls.

He said he would be meeting Thackeray later in the day and would be leaving for Mumbai soon after the opposition meeting on the joint presidential candidate.

"There are no differences in the alliance and all have full confidence in the leadership of Thackeray," he was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.

"It is an internal matter of Shiv Sena, they will inform us after assessing the situation," he also said.

Pawar also said that his party will support the Shiv Sena.

The NCP chief said Eknath Shinde, who has turned a rebel along with some MLAs, never told them about his chief ministerial ambitions.

Congress deputes Kamal Nath as observer for Maharashtra

As the crisis in the ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra intensified, the Congress on Tuesday deputed its senior leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath as an AICC observer in the state.

"The Congress president has deputed Kamal Nath as All India Congress Committee (AICC) observer in the wake of recent political developments in the state, with immediate effect," said an official communication from the Congress.

The Congress shares power with the NCP and Shiv Sena in the MVA government in Maharashtra.

Will Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA govt fall in Maharashtra?

In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, Shiv Sena has 55 MLAs, NCP (53), Congress (44), Bahujan Vikas Agahdi (three), Samajwadi Party, AIMIM, and Prahar Janshakti Party two each. MNS, CPI-M, PWP, Swabhimani Paksha, Rashtriya Samaj Party, Jansurajya Shakti Party and Krantikari Shetkari Paksha have one MLA each. There are 13 independent MLAs.

The opposition BJP, on the other hand, has 106 MLAs.

(With agency inputs)
Following the fractured verdict in the October 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, both the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party have been grappling with the `numbers game` to secure their respective positions for the past 30 months. In the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the mid-way mark is 144, while the current strength is 287 as one Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke of Mumbai, passed away recently.

Besides the MVA-BJP, there is a significant 29-strong group of MLAs who are independents or from smaller parties who have become important for both the ruling and opposition side. The MVA strength is: Shiv Sena (55), NCP (53) and Congress (44), and with the support of smaller parties and independents, the ruling alliance commands around 169 legislators.

The BJP has 106, plus the support of smaller parties and independents giving a strength of around 114. The rest five are unattached to either group ostensibly to keep their `political bargaining power` evergreen, as was witnessed in this months` biennial elections to both Rajya Sabha and Maharashtra Legislative Council.

In the ongoing crisis that has gripped the state, Shiv Sena`s senior Minister Eknath Shinde has pitched tent in Surat, Gujarat -- ruled by the BJP -- and the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Shinde has reportedly gone away with an estimated dozen to two dozen legislators, which has posed a question mark on the MVA`s very survival, though the Sena moved quickly to open up back-channel communication with a majority of the potential disgruntled rebels.

Given the BJP`s past track record of toppling governments in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and other states earlier, the sudden yet un-declared `Operation Lotus` has pushed the MVA government on the brink.

Battling the Shinde conflagration on one side, the MVA allies have also tried to herd and secure their respective legislators besides their supporting smaller parties and independents.

The MVA allies have kept a brave face and maintained that there`s no immediate threat to the government, as indicated by Sena`s Sanjay Raut and Congress` Prithviraj Chavan, Ashok Chavan and others.

Meanwhile, Shinde is likely to visit Ahmedabad later this evening to meet BJP President J.P. Nadda, Amit Shah, while Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis is also going there.
New Delhi: Australian Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who is on a four-day visit to India, performed yoga in the national capital on the occasion of the 8th International Day of Yoga on Tuesday and said that he will be meeting his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh. "An early morning start with some yoga, ahead of a busy couple of days here in India. Looking forward to a packed couple of days, meeting my counterparts and seeing firsthand our close partnership. @rajnathsingh," the Australian Defence Minister said in a tweet.

An early morning start with some yoga, ahead of a busy couple of days here in India.



Looking forward to a packed couple of days, meeting my counterparts and seeing firsthand our close partnership.@rajnathsingh @DefenceMinIndia @DefenceAust @dfat @AusHCIndia @AusCG_Mumbai pic.twitter.com/60u27nEVa8  Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) June 21, 2022

Marles arrived in India on Monday to hold a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh to strengthen defence and security cooperation between both countries. His visit marks the first high-level visit from Australia after newly-elected prime minister Anthony Albanese took office on May 23.

Also Read- International Yoga Day 2022: Know its history, theme and significance

During his visit from June 20-23, the Australian Defence Minister will hold his first bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh."Australia and India are Comprehensive Strategic Partners. I am committed to strengthening Australia`s defence and security cooperation with India," said Marles.

"I am looking forward to meeting with my counterpart, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and holding our first bilateral Defence Ministers` Meeting," Marles said in a statement. Marles stated that Rajnath Singh has been instrumental in advancing India-Australia defence ties and he looks forward to working with him to enhance the defence pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

The minister also noted that India is one of Australia`s closest security partners and the Government is focused on revitalising Australia`s historically deep engagement with our partners across the Indo-Pacific."The rules-based international order that has brought peace and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific for decades is experiencing pressure, as we face shifts in the geostrategic order," he said said.

Arrived in India  a top-tier partner + close friend to Australia.



I look forward to advancing our ongoing defence engagement as Comprehensive Strategic Partners and reiterate our commitment for closer cooperation in the #IndoPacific. pic.twitter.com/68bxyCkxyf  Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) June 20, 2022

"Australia stands ready to work closely with India in support of an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific".During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Marles will also meet External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and engage national security and defence policymakers and personnel. Earlier, the Australian PM Albanese had said that the relationship with India is very important and ties between the two countries have never been closer.

Also Read- International Yoga Day 2022: 'Yog not only a part of life, but is now way of life', says PM Modi

"Our relationship with India is a very important one and it was a great honour to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi."PM Modi congratulated Prime Minister Albanese on his election victory. Both leaders reviewed the multi-faceted cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including trade and investment, defence manufacturing, renewable energy, green hydrogen, education, science and technology, agricultural research, sports, and people-to-people ties.

Both Prime Ministers affirmed their desire to continue the positive momentum in the bilateral relationship. Bilateral discussions with PM Modi focused on Australia and India`s full strategic and economic agenda, including clean energy technology.
Police in the Maldives used tear gas and pepper spray to control a crowd of people who disrupted a yoga event organised by the Indian High Commission, or embassy, in the capital Male on Tuesday morning, an organiser said. The crowd stormed a stadium where more than 150 people, including diplomats and government officers, were taking part in an event celebrating International Day of Yoga, attacking participants and vandalising the property, one of the organisers, who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak with the media, told Reuters.

Earlier, the protesters brandished placards proclaiming that yoga was against the tenets of Islam. Islam is the state religion in the Maldives, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean with a population of about half a million. Police responded with anti-riot measures and later used pepper spray and tear gas to control the crowd and secure the area, Superintendent of Police Fathmath Nashwa told Reuters.

An investigation has been launched by @PoliceMv into the incident that happened this morning at Galolhu stadium.



This is being treated as a matter of serious concern and those responsible will be swiftly brought before the law.  Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) June 21, 2022

Six people have been arrested in connection with the incident, Nashwa said. Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said a police investigation into the incident had begun. "This is being treated as a matter of serious concern and those responsible will be swiftly brought before the law," Solih said on Twitter.
In Maharashtra, the politics of Maharashtra has taken a different turn when the legislative council votes are over. After the results were declared yesterday, it was found that out of the 10 seats in the Legislative Council, 5 went to the ruling camp (Shivsena-NCP-Congress) and 5 went to the pocket of the opposition political party BJP in Maharashtra. Following the results, Maharashtra Urban Development Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has gone to a hotel in BJP-ruled Gujarat, sources said. He was accompanied by 21 other ruling party MLAs. According to sources, it is believed that he may join the BJP. However, BJP turn down the claim of Eknath joining the party.

According to sources, the Maharashtra minister has gone to the Meridian Hotel in Surat in BJP-ruled Gujarat. It is also reported that he cannot be found on the phone. He is accompanied by 21 other MLAs. Sources said five of the total 22 MLAs are ministers from Maharashtra. Meanwhile, on Eknath Shinde's joining the BJP, senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said, "We are not in touch with Eknath Shinde. We have nothing to do with his party leadership not getting him. We are definitely monitoring the situation very closely. We will take action whenever necessary in the interest of Maharashtra. It would have happened one day or the other. Because Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray betrayed the people in October 2019 (assembly elections). We had warned them about the dissatisfaction of the people with such treachery, but they did not pay heed to it."

Meanwhile, targeting the BJP in this situation, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that efforts are being made to topple the Uddhav Thackeray government. Efforts are being made as was the case in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. He said, "Shivesena is a group of loyal people. We won't let that happen. He added that some of the MLAs in Surat have been spoken to." He added, "They want to come back. But they are not allowed to come."

According to sources, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will meet immediately in this situation. Meanwhile, the second meeting of the opposition on the presidential candidate is scheduled to be held today under the chairmanship of Sharad Pawar. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut will reportedly not be there.
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was grilled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for around 12 hours on Monday, has been called again for questioning on Tuesday (June 21, 2022) in the National Herald money laundering case. The Congress MP reportedly left the ED headquarters on APJ Abdul Kalam Road in Delhi around 12:30 am and has so far spent more than 40 hours with the federal investigating agency over four sittings since his first appearance on June 13.

Gandhi's ED probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper. The newspaper is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Private Limited.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has also been summoned by the agency for questioning in the case on June 23. She was discharged on Monday from a private hospital in Delhi where she was admitted for Covid-related complications.

In a complaint in the Delhi High Court, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy has accused Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds. Officials familiar with the probe said Rahul Gandhi is being asked questions about the takeover of the AJL by YIL since the Gandhis have stakes in the latter.

Congress leaders meet President Kovind, raise 'mistreatment' of MPs by cops, seek withdrawal of Agnipath scheme

Top Congress leaders on Monday met President Ram Nath Kovind and raised the issue of alleged ill-treatment of party MPs by police during their protest against the ED questioning of Rahul Gandhi and sought the withdrawal of the Agnipath scheme for defence recruitment. The Congress delegation comprised Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, senior leaders P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal.

The party wrote to the president to register its strong protest against the "vicious and unprovoked attack unleashed on Congress MPs by Delhi Police", which comes under the direct purview of the Union home ministry.

Noting that they have met both Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha chairman and submitted their petition, the second memorandum said, "We request you to ensure that this petition is referred to the privileges committee immediately and the Committee begins a time-bound inquiry on breach of privilege".



ALSO READ | 'No one is Queen Victoria or Prince': BJP hits back at Congress amid Rahul Gandhi's ED probe



Over 50 party MPs earlier held a meeting at Parliament House and took out a solidarity march from Parliament to Vijay Chowk, where they were stopped by the Delhi Police.

The party also staged a demonstration at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in support of their demands.

(With agency inputs)
NIPER JEE 2022: The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad announced the result of the NIPER Joint Entrance Examination, NIPER JEE 2022 today, June 21 at niperhyd.ac.in. The NIPER JEE result 2022 announced in the form of a rank card mentioning the name of candidates, All India Rank (AIR), category and other details. NIPER JEE 2022 exam was held on June 12 for master's and PhD courses. After the results now, the authorities will release the NIPER JEE 2022 merit list mentioning the list of toppers.

The merit list for NIPER JEE 2022 will be released in the form of PDF. Candidates mentioned in the merit list will be called for counselling sessions, group discussion and interview rounds. The NIPER JEE 2022 result mentions the hall ticket number, All India Rank (AIR), category, and other details. Only the candidates included in the NIPER JEE 2022 result will be called for counselling, group discussion, and interview. NIPER JEE 2022 results will offer admission to 1050 MPharm and 180 Ph.D. seats.

NIPER JEE 2022: Here is how to download your NIPER JEE 2022 result

- Visit niperhyd.aptonline.in.

- Under the NIPER JEE 2022 results section, click on the link of the respective course.

- The NIPER JEE result will be displayed on the screen in the PDF format

- Using Ctrl+F search for you hall ticket number

- Verify all the details mentioned there

- Download the PDF and take multiple printouts for future reference.

Now after the results are announced, the qualified candidates will be called for the counselling session. NIPER JEE counselling will be conducted in offline mode at the respective colleges. Along with the counselling, a personal assessment and interview will be done. After the admission process is over, shortlisted candidates will get the call letters to join the programme.
Hyderabad: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has invited All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi for a meeting on Tuesday to discuss a joint opposition candidate for the upcoming presidential elections 2022. Owaisi has deputed AIMIM`s leader Imtiaz Jaleel for the meeting. "NCP chief Sharad Pawar invited Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi for a meeting to discuss the upcoming presidential elections. Owaisi thanked Pawar for the kind invitation and has deputed Aurangabad MP Mr Imtiaz Jaleel to represent AIMIM in the meeting," AIMIM said in a statement.

NCP has called Opposition parties meeting to discuss upcoming presidential elections at the Parliament. "In connection with the forthcoming Presidential election, a meeting of Opposition parties has been arranged at 1430 hrs. on June 21, 2022, committee Room-1, Parliament House Annexe Extension, New Delhi. The meeting will be followed by a press conference," the NCP said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold its parliamentary board meeting here on Tuesday where it is likely to finalise its pick for the election slated to be held on July 18, sources said. The BJP has already formed a 14-member management team to oversee the election. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the convenor of this team.

Earlier, Leaders of several opposition parties had urged Sharad Pawar to be the joint candidate but the senior NCP leader declined the offer. The Opposition meeting was called by Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and was attended by leaders from 17 opposition parties.

Later, Banerjee mentioned two more names besides Sharad Pawar, which include the names of Farooq Abdullah and Gopalkrishna Gandhi. However, on these two names, no other party leader expressed an opinion in this meeting.

Abdullah had also declined the opposition leaders` request to contest the presidential election. Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party did not participate in the meeting which was held at the Constitution Club.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) led by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao did not send a representative to the meeting. Congress participated in the meeting along with 16 other political parties.

Apart from TMC, Congress and NCP, the parties which attended the meeting included CPI, CPI(M), CPIML, RSP, Shiv Sena, RJD, SP, National Conference, PDP, JD(S), DMK, RLD, IUML and JMM participated in the meeting held at the Constitution Club of India here.

The polling for the presidential election is slated for July 18 and votes will be counted on July 21.
New Delhi: Even as the Opposition is yet to choose its candidate for Presidential polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold its parliamentary board meeting here on Tuesday where it is likely to finalise its pick for the election slated to be held on July 18, sources said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to join the meeting virtually. The BJP has already formed a 14-member management team to oversee the election. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the convenor of this team.

BJP chief JP Nadda hold a key meeting on Sunday to brainstorm on the upcoming election where members of the management team were present.

The meeting was attended by senior leaders like Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ashwini Vaishnaw, G Kishan Reddy, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Vinod Tawde, CT Ravi, Sambit Patra and others. Notably, Nadda and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh were entrusted with the responsibility of holding talks with all political parties over the candidate for presidential polls.

They have held talks with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, Trinamool Congress president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Biju Janata Dal supremo and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah but no outcome has come so far.

The late date for filing nominations is June 29, the polling will take place on July 18 and the votes will be counted on July 21. Opposition leaders, who met in the national capital on June 15, announced that they have decided to field one consensus candidate for the presidential polls.

Leaders of 17 political parties joined a crucial meeting of opposition parties convened by Mamata Banerjee to build consensus on fielding a joint candidate against the NDA in the presidential elections.

TMC, Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPIML, RSP, Shiv Sena, NCP, RJD, SP, National Conference, PDP, JD(S), DMK, RLD, IUML and JMM - attended the meeting held at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi on June 15.
21st June 2022: On the final day of his 100-day Journey for Soil, which also coincided with the International Day of Yoga, Sadhguru, Founder-Isha Foundation, addressed a Save Soil event at the Indian Air Force base in Sulur, Coimbatore, with Minister of Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh as special guest. Air Marshal SK Indoria, Air Vice-Marshal S Sreekanth, actress Tamannaah Bhatia were also present on the occasion.

Defence Minister credits Sadhguru for bringing spirit of Vasudev Kutumbakam

Addressing an audience consisting of Air Force personnel, the Defence Minister credited Sadhguru for bringing the spirit of Vasudev Kutumbakam (the world is one family) alive by connecting a large number of people from all over the world into one fold, creating a new environmental movement.

Also Read: This is when hard work begins: Sadhguru in Bangalore as 100 day 'Journey For Soil' nears completion

Referring to the exalted status enjoyed by the Gurus in the Indian culture, and one who guides from darkness into light, the minister conveyed that Sadhguru in the same manner is contributing to human wellbeing by teaching people to live happier and more meaningful life through Yoga on one hand, and also inspiring them to address the environmental problems on the other hand.

Rajnath Singh called soil as 'the soul of our society and culture'

The Defence Minister drew a profound connection of soil with the Indian culture and called the soil as the soul of our society and culture observing that protecting the soil is a great effort to preserve human civilization and culture.

Expressing concern over fertile top soil lasting only 60 more years, the Defence Minister praised the movement, saying that The Save Soil campaign brings in a ray of hope, and instils a belief that the millions who have supported the cause will contribute towards maintaining our soil.

Sadhguru's appeal to save soil in a timely manner

Speaking at his first event in Tamil Nadu, Sadhguru pointed that as a generation we stand on a cusp of time, where if we act now in 10-15 years we can make a significant turnaround. If we wait for another 25-30 years time, even if want to we cannot turn it around because bio-diversity loss is happening at that loss.

Urging people support in driving national policy changes, Sadhguru contended that in a democracy for real sensible things to happen people must voice it. As citizens of this nation, we must assure the elected governments that if you take long term steps for the well-being of the nation, we are with you, asserted Sadhguru.

Save Soil movement has dispatched 193 Soil Policy Handbooks unique to each country

Sharing an update about the movement Sadhguru shared the movement has prepared and dispatched 193 Soil Policy Handbooks unique to each country basis the latitudinal position, economic condition, soil types and agricultural tradition of each given nation to support countries in preparing their own policy in increasing organic content of the soil.

After a lone motorcycle journey for soil spanning 27 nations and more than 28,000 km in 100 days, having participated in 600+ events globally, Sadhguru, returned to Tamil Nadu today. Thousands received him as he returned from a phenomenally successful mission of urging nations around the world to save soil from extinction through policy-driven action, touching over 3.2 billion people over the course of 3 months.

Sadhguru entered Tamil Nadu via Sathyamangalam, where traditional drummers welcomed him near the Bannari temple. Sadhguru is expected to reach Adiyogi later today at 8:30 pm, where thousands of people from across Tamil Nadu are expected to attend the ceremonial welcome for Sadhguru at Adiyogi.

What is Save Soil Movement?

In March, Sadhguru embarked on a lone motorcycle journey as part of the Movement to Save Soil from extinction globally. The Movement is urging nations across the world to urgently legislate to save the planets agricultural soils, 50% of which are already said to be degraded and incapable of yield.

The objective of the Movement is to urge nations to mandate 3-6% organic content in agricultural soils around the world. This is the minimum organic content required to keep soil fertile and capable of yield and prevent it from turning into sand.

Sadhgurus Journey for Soil began on 21st March in London and has passed through 27 nations in Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. Sadhguru also addressed the 15th session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP15) in Ivory Coast in May.

Representatives of 197 nations were in attendance. In the same month, Sadhguru also spoke at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. At both events, Sadhguru urged political, business and cultural leaders to facilitate urgent and decisive policy-driven steps to halt rapid desertification of the earth. UNCCD predicts that at the current rates of soil degradation, 90% of the earth could turn into desert by 2050  less than three decades from now.

Till date, 74 countries have pledged to Save Soil from extinction. Sadhguru reached India on 29th May arriving at the West Coast port city of Jamnagar in Gujarat which became the first state to sign an MoU with Isha to save soil in the state.

Subsequently, seven more Indian states have signed MoUs to save soil in their states Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In Delhi, Sadhguru met with Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi on World Environment Day - 5th June  seeking the central governments support for the Movement. The Prime Minister lauded the Save Soil effort and assured the governments wholehearted support for the Movement.

Live TV
Workers at a Starbucks in Cheektowaga will vote again on whether to join a union, after the result of the first election was inconclusive.

It comes just as a Starbucks executive who was a frequent presence in Buffalo-area stores amid the union's organizing efforts is leaving the company.

A National Labor Relations Board official directed a revote for workers at 1775 Walden Ave., near the Walden Galleria. The NLRB plans to count the ballots July 15.

In the first election, an NLRB vote count on March 9 showed workers at that location voted 8-7 in favor of being represented by Starbucks Workers United.

But Starbucks argued that several other ballots were improperly excluded from the count and could possibly change the election's outcome. The case was transferred to the NLRB's regional director in Atlanta, who ordered additional ballots to be counted.

The vote then stood at 10-10, with one challenged ballot. After Starbucks filed more objections, the NLRB regional director in Atlanta then ordered a new election.

The Walden Avenue location drew attention as a store that Starbucks last year temporarily converted into a training location, before turning it back into a store. Union representatives claimed that was intended to disrupt their organizing efforts, which Starbucks denied.

Vote result at Cheektowaga Starbucks now unclear A disputed union election at a Starbucks store at at Walden Avenue and Anderson Road is now tied 10-10, after an objection was filed after Starbucks Workers United won a previous vote count 8-7.

As the revote takes place, Starbucks executive Rossann Williams is leaving at the end of the month. She has been with the Seattle-based corporation for 17 years, most recently as executive vice president of North America.

A Starbucks letter to employees said Williams' decision to leave was not taken lightly and was preceded by discussion about a next opportunity for Rossann within the company, which she declined.

A federal complaint filed by the NLRB against Starbucks in May alleged the company had been "creating the impression" among Buffalo-area store employees that their union activities were under surveillance by their employer. It claims high-ranking officials, including Williams, were making "unprecedented and repeated visits to each store." Starbucks has denied using any surveillance tactics against its employees.

Michelle Eisen, a Starbucks Workers United leader, commented on Williams' departure while speaking at a labor conference in Chicago on Friday: "I feel completely comfortable in speaking for my fellow partners when I say we are more than happy to take full credit for that resignation."

Matt Glynn

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New Delhi: Former Minister of Finance Yashwant Sinha`s tweet on larger national cause has sparked fresh speculation about the Opposition choosing him as its joint candidate for the upcoming presidential election 2022. Taking to Twitter today, Yashwant Sinha wrote, "I am grateful to Mamataji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now a time has come when for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step."

I am grateful to Mamataji for the honour and prestige she bestowed on me in the TMC. Now a time has come when for a larger national cause I must step aside from the party to work for greater opposition unity. I am sure she approves of the step.  Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) June 21, 2022

Leaders of Opposition parties will meet in Delhi on Tuesday afternoon to finalise a joint nominee for the Presidential election. Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury also met NCP leader Sharad Pawar for the Opposition leaders` meeting to decide the candidate for the Presidential polls. On March 13, 2021, ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, upset Sinha quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and joined Trinamool Congress in Kolkata.

The Opposition has had a tough time last week while picking their candidate for the presidential election after NCP chief Sharad Pawar declined their offer for the Opposition`s presidential candidate. Leaders of 17 political parties joined a crucial meeting of opposition parties convened by Mamata Banerjee to build consensus on fielding a joint candidate against the NDA in the presidential election here.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, NC chief Farooq Abdullah and Mahatma Gandhi`s grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi have so far turned down the offer to be the Opposition`s Presidential polls candidate. In a statement, Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and C Rajagopalachari, said several esteemed leaders of the Opposition have done him the honour of thinking of him for the Opposition`s candidature in the upcoming election for the presidency.

"I am most grateful to them. But having considered the matter deeply I see that the Opposition`s candidate should be one who will generate a national consensus and a national atmosphere beside Opposition unity. I feel there will be others who will do this far better than I, he said.

"And so, I have requested the leaders to give the opportunity to such a person. May India get a President worthy of the office presaged by Rajaji as the last Governor-General and inaugurated by Dr Rajendra Prasad as our first President, stated Gandhi.

"Several parties were here today. We`ve decided we will choose only one consensus candidate. Everybody will give this candidate our support. We will consult with others. This is a good beginning. We sat together after several months, and we will do it again," TMC leader Mamata Banerjee had said after the meeting on June 15.

CPI MP Binoy Viswam who participated in the meeting said that Mamata Banarjee had proposed NCP`s Sharad Pawar`s name as the Presidential candidate of the Opposition. Pawar did not accept that proposal. TMC, Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPIML, RSP, Shiv Sena, NCP, RJD, SP, National Conference, PDP, JD(S), DMK, RLD, IUML and JMM - participated in the meeting held at the Constitution Club of India here.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold its parliamentary board meeting here on Tuesday where it is likely to finalise its pick for the election slated to be held on July 18, sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to join the meeting virtually. The BJP has already formed a 14-member management team to oversee the election. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the convenor of this team. BJP chief JP Nadda held a key meeting on Sunday to brainstorm on the upcoming election where members of the management team were present.

The meeting was attended by senior leaders like Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ashwini Vaishnaw, G Kishan Reddy, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Vinod Tawde, CT Ravi, Sambit Patra and others. Notably, Nadda and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh were entrusted with the responsibility of holding talks with all political parties over the candidate for presidential polls.

They have held talks with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, Trinamool Congress president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Biju Janata Dal supremo and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah but no outcome has come so far.

The late date for filing nominations is June 29, the polling will take place on July 18 and the votes will be counted on July 21. Opposition leaders, who met in the national capital on June 15, announced that they have decided to field one consensus candidate for the presidential polls.

Leaders of 17 political parties joined a crucial meeting of opposition parties convened by Mamata Banerjee to build consensus on fielding a joint candidate against the NDA in the presidential elections. TMC, Congress, CPI, CPI(M), CPIML, RSP, Shiv Sena, NCP, RJD, SP, National Conference, PDP, JD(S), DMK, RLD, IUML and JMM - participated attended the meeting held at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi on June 15.

The President is elected by the members of an electoral college consisting of the elected members of both the Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of States and the Union Territories of Delhi and Pondicherry. The presidential election is slated to be held on July 18 and votes will be counted on July 21.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi formally kicked off the International Yoga Day 2022 celebrations from the heritage city of Mysuru on Tuesday. He was joined by nearly 15,000 yoga enthusiasts who also participated in the event at the Mysore Palace grounds. The PM started the event by delivering a speech around 5:30 AM followed by a 45-minute long Yoga session during which at least 15 asanas were performed.

I extend my greetings to all on this 8th #InternationalYogaDay. Today, Yoga is being practiced in all parts of the world. Yoga brings peace for us. The peace from Yoga is not only for individuals, it brings peace to our nations and the world: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/A2rg5GJCP7  ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2022

This year's International Yoga Day celebrations hold significance since it marks the 75th year of Indias Independence. This year, the theme for the celebration is "Yoga for humanity", keeping in mind the physical, emotional and mental stress that people went through because of the pandemic.

Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister had on Monday said, "Tomorrow, June 21 will be marked as International Yoga Day. Guided by the theme of `Yoga For Humanity`, let us make this Yoga Day a success and further popularise Yoga."

  21                     ,              https://t.co/UESTuNPNbW  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 20, 2022

Keeping the overarching theme of the 75 years of India`s independence the Ministry for Ayush has identified 75 locations for Union Ministers to participate in the Yoga Day celebration. While Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will be joining the Prime Minister from Mysore, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be performing yoga at the IAF base in Coimbatore.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be performing Yoga in Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be present at Purana Qila in Delhi whereas Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri will be present at the iconic Red Fort.

Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy will join the Yoga celebrations from the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad whereas Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur will be present in Hamirpur.

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju will be performing yoga at Dong village in Arunachal Pradesh whereas Heavy Industries Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey will join the Yoga celebrations From the iconic Puri Beach.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will be present at the Sun Temple in Konark in Odisha whereas Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be at Jantar Mantar in the national capital. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will be at the Marine Drive in Mumbai whereas Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will be at the statue of unity in Kevadia, Gujarat.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi will be in Hampi while Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will be at the Gwalior Fort. Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari will be at the Zero Milestone in Nagpur whereas Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will be at the Sand Dunes in Jaisalmer.

Minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will be at the Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh whereas Giriraj Singh will be at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar. Minister for State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal will be in Jaipur, Minister of State for external affairs V Muraleedharan will be at the Padmanabhava Temple in Kerala, MoS Road and Transport VK Singh will be at the Kochi Fort.

Minister for State for Defence Ajay Bhatt will be at the Wagah border. Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh will be in Jammu and MoS Health Bharati Pawar will be at the Martand Sun Temple at Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir.

It was during his speech at the UN General Assembly in September 27, 2014, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi first floated the idea of the International Yoga Day.

The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations. With universal recognition and growing popularity of Yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015.
Elon Musk`s transgender daughter has filed a request to change her name in accordance with her new gender identity and because "I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form."

The petition for both a name change and a new birth certificate reflecting her new gender identity was filed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Santa Monica in April. It came to light recently in some online media reports.

The former Xavier Alexander Musk, who recently turned 18, the age of consent in California, has asked the court to change her gender recognition from male to female and to register her new name, according to court documents available online through PlainSite.org.

Her new name was redacted in the online document. Her mother is Justine Wilson, who divorced Musk in 2008.

There was no further explanation of the rift between Musk`s daughter and her father, the Tesla and SpaceX chief who is attempting a $44 billion takeover of social media platform Twitter.

Neither a lawyer who represents Musk nor the Tesla media office immediately responded to Reuters emails requesting comment on Monday.

In May, about a month after the name and gender change document was filed, Musk declared his support for the Republican Party, whose elected representatives support a raft of legislation that would limit transgender rights in states across the country.

Musk has weighed in on the issue of transgender people choosing their preferred pronouns, tweeting in 2020, "I absolutely support trans, but all these pronouns are an esthetic nightmare."
Srinagar: In a big breakthrough, a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist was among four Pakistan-backed terrorists who were killed in two separate encounters with the security forces in Pulwama and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. Security forces had earlier launched a cordon and search operation in Tulibal village in Baramulla's Sopore area following information about the presence of terrorists there, a police spokesperson said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the terrorists opened fire at the security forces, which retaliated strongly. Two unidentified terrorists were killed in the encounter, which was underway when reports last came in, he added.

Two terrorists were killed in another encounter that broke out in Tujjan in south Kashmir's Pulwama, the spokesperson said. Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said one of the slain terrorists has been identified as Majid Nazir of Jaish-e-Mohammad. He said Nazir was involved in the killing of Sub-Inspector Farooq Ahmad Mir a few days ago.

Five anti-terror operations took place in Kashmir in the last 40 hours in which at least 10 terrorists were killed. The data compiled by the J&K Police says, "28 terrorists were killed in 18 days, ahead of the Amarnath Yatra as anti-terror operations intensified across Kashmir Valley to ensure a safe and secure pilgrimage.

It's pertinent to mention here that 70 encounters have taken place in Kashmir since January this year and the security forces have managed to kill 117 terrorists. Out of those, 33 terrorists were Pakistanis. 16 security personnel and 19 civilians too lost their lives in these operations.

Meanwhile, 46 active terrorists, mostly hybrid terrorists, were arrested alive, and 189 terrorists' supporters were arrested this year in Kashmir.
Baramulla: An unidentified terrorist was killed by security forces after an encounter broke out in the Tulibal area of Sopore town in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The police said that the operation is still underway."Sopore Encounter Update: 01 terrorist killed. #Operation in progress. Further details shall follow," Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet.

Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Tulibal village in the Sopore area of Baramulla district following information about the presence of terrorists there, a police spokesman said. He said the search operation turned into an encounter after terrorists opened fire on the security forces, which retaliated strongly.

Meanwhile, another encounter broke out at Tujjan in south Kashmir Pulwama district, the police spokesman said adding further details were awaited. Earlier on Monday, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that seven terrorists including three Pakistanis were killed in encounters with security forces in the Valley.

"An encounter began in Kupwara on Sunday. Two LeT terrorists from Pakistan were killed yesterday itself. Another Pakistani terrorist was gunned down early morning today. A local terrorist from Shopian, Showkat was gunned down along with him," IGP Kashmir told ANI.

"In Pulwama, a local terrorist of LeT was gunned down. In Kulgam, a local terrorist of Jaish-e-Mohammed and one Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist were killed. A total of seven terrorists killed so far. Three of them were Pakistanis and four were local terrorists. Encounters concluded in Kupwara and Pulwama. Search is underway in Kulgam," he added.

According to Jammu and Kashmir Police, encounters broke out between terrorists and security forces in the Chatpora area of Pulwama and in the DH Pora area in Kulgam on Sunday. Meanwhile, Kupwara Police launched a joint anti-terrorist operation along with the Army`s 28RR on the disclosure of an arrested terrorist Showket Ahmed Sheikh.

Security forces are on alert as there have been incidents of targeted killings in Kashmir and sections of the minority community had threatened that they were preparing for mass migration if the government did not relocate them.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, had urged the people not to allow inimical forces to break the social fabric and noted that the electoral process is likely to begin in the coming months.

Rajnath Singh also made a veiled reference to Pakistan and said some forces were trying to sow seeds of hatred in the Union Territory. He said there is a foreign conspiracy in the recent targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir and such attempts would be foiled.

He was addressing an event held here today to mark the 200th anniversary of Maharaja Gulab Singh`s `Rajyaabhishek ceremony`. "I appeal to the people here that the social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir should never break rising above religion, caste. There are some forces here which have always tried to break this social fabric and promoted the radicals. Recently, attempts were made again to ignite hatred in J-K," he said.
Mumbai: After suspected cross-voting in Maharashtra MLC elections, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has called an urgent meeting of all Shiv Sena MLAs on Tuesday. According to sources, all MLAs have been strictly asked to remain present in the meeting. Meanwhile, Bal Thackeray loyalist Eknath Shinde will be addressing a press conference in Surat today at noon.

Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate from Congress Chandrakant Handore had lost in the MLS polls. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged five seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena won two each while Congress was able to clinch one seat out of the total 10 seats in Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) that went to polls on Monday.

Taking to Twitter, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said, "Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad election results - Shiv Sena (Mafia Sena) got 52 votes. 12 MLA`s revolted (55 Shiv Sena + 9 supporters = 64) Uddhav Thackeray`s Mafia Sarkar`s count down started."

As many as eleven candidates were in the fray for the elections to the ten seats in the MLC. All the five candidates of the BJP -- Pravin Darekar, Ram Shinde, Shrikant Bharatiya, Uma Khapre and Prasad Lad emerged victorious.

NCP candidates-- Ramraje Nimbalkar and Eknath Khadse-- and the Shiv Sena nominees- Aamshya Padavi and Sachin Ahir also secured their seats. Of the two candidates fielded by Congress, Bhai Jagtap secured the win while Chandrakant Handore lost.

BJP`s winning candidate claimed that cross-voting happened among members of Shiv Sena and Congress. "We are very happy. Maharashtra has shown faith in the BJP. Cross-voting happened among members of Shiv Sena and Congress. Otherwise, we would not have received so many votes. BJP will get more victory and receive 134 votes," said BJP leader Pravin Darekar.

He further said that independent MLAs have shown their dissatisfaction with the state government. "We got 134 votes and this is the answer to all those who questioned what Devendra Fadnavis can do? Devendra Fadnavis is the only leader who can lead, which all the three parties could not do. Devendra has done it, the government cannot do anything and dissatisfaction has been shown against the government, independent MLAs have shown their dissatisfaction against the state government. We have proved this in the poll result," he said.

Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam had pointed out that Handore was lost due to "internal sabotage". "It is really unfortunate that a Dalit candidate Chandrakant Handore who was supposed to get first preference votes of Congress MLAs lost to the second preference candidate of the Congress party. It is nothing but internal sabotage. My sympathy is with Handore," he said in a tweet.

BJP general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh had said that his party has 106 MLAs in Assembly and it has received 133 votes. "Maharashtra Council Polls: Shiv Sena-MLAs in Assembly: 56, Votes received: 52; NCP- MLAs in Assembly: 53, Votes received: 57; Congress- MLAs in Assembly: 44, Votes received: 41; BJP- MLAs in Assembly: 106, Votes received: 133," he tweeted.

He further took a dig at Congress and said, "Even in defeat, Congress exhibits its true colours. Its moneybag candidate Bhai Jagtap poaches party votes to defeat a Dalit leader from party Chandrakant Handore. Old habits die hard." The Members of the Assembly voted in the legislative Council elections at Vidhan Bhawan in Mumbai on Monday.

The BJP has 106 MLAs, Shiv Sena 56, NCP 53 and Congress has 44 MLAs. A total of 285 members cast their votes in the MLC polls. Former Home Ministers Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik, who are in judicial custody in money-laundering cases were not allowed to vote.
New Delhi: The highly controversial Layerr Shot advertisement managed to irk netizens for its derogatory and demeaning commercial. The body spray's ad first aired on June 4, 2022, and received a massive backlash for promoting 'rape culture' as it showed a group of 4 men talking about getting a shot (which they meant for the body spray) while a woman is shown to be checking out the product on display. This projection angered netizens to no end.

ACTOR DECLINED BANNED LAYER'R SHOTS AD

Days after the controversy, actor Saurabh Verma's friend Abbas Mirza, who is a senior creative director of Kinnect, a digital marketing agency, as per his Linkedin profile, shared an inside story of his friend who said 'NO' to the now-banned ad.

Mirza heaped praises on his actor-friend Saurabh Verma, and went on to share is WhatsApp chats with the casting team where Verma had objected to the commercial being 'demeaning to women'.

Many people commented on the post and hailed Verma for putting forth his opinion and turning down this 'derogatory' advertisement while others also thanked Mirza for sharing his friend's story with the world.

CONTROVERSIAL LAYER'S SHOT COMMERCIAL

After receiving a severe backlash, Layerr Shot responded with a statement reading: "This is with reference to our recent two TV advertisements of Layerr SHOT on various broadcasting platforms. We, the brand Layerr SHOT would like to inform one and all that only after due & mandatory approvals, we have aired the advertisements, wherein, we never intended to hurt anyones sentiments or feelings or outrage any womens modesty or promote any sort of culture, as wrongly perceived by some. However, we sincerely apologise for the advertisements that consequentially caused rage amongst individuals & several communities and beg their pardon. Most importantly, we have voluntarily informed all our media partners to stop the telecast/broadcasting of both the TV advertisements from 4th June with immediate effect."

What followed was, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry urging Twitter and YouTube to remove the videos of the publicity from their social media platforms stating that it was 'detrimental to the portrayal of women in the interest of decency and morality' and violated Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code).
New Delhi: 7th Pay Commission fitment factor latest update: The endless wait of central government employees who have been pressing for the hike fitment factor may be up for some good updates next month. If media reports are to be believed, the much anticipated discussion on hiking the fitment factor of central government employees under the 7th Pay Commission might be taken up next month.

As per Zeebiz website, a draft will be prepared on the fitment factor hike which will be shared with the government. Once the draft is submitted, a meeting over the issue will reportedly be held by the end of July. Once the fitment factor is hiked, the salary of central government employees too will increase substantially.

Several media reports have said that the government might soon give its nod on raising the fitment factor. The central government employees unions have long been demanding for hiking minimum pay of Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000 and fitment factor be raised from 2.57 times to 3.68 times.

If the government makes announcement regarding the hike in fitment factor of central employees, then their salary will consequently increase. In fact, with the increase in fitment factor, the minimum wage will also increase. Employees are currently getting salary under fitment factor on the basis of 2.57 percent, which if increased to 3.68 percent, there will be an increase of Rs 8,000 in the minimum salary of the employees. This means the minimum pay of the central government employees will be hiked from Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000.

Check out this assumptive salary calculation post the hike in fitment factor under 7th Pay Commission



If the fitment factor is raised to 3.68, the basic salary of the employees will become Rs 26,000. Right now, if your minimum salary is Rs 18,000, then excluding allowances, you will be getting Rs 46,260 (18,000 X 2.57 = 46,260) according to the 2.57 fitment factor.

Now, if the fitment factor is 3.68, then your salary will be Rs 95,680 (26000X3.68 = 95,680).

The Union Cabinet had in June 2017 approved recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission with 34 modifications. The new scales of pay provided for entry-level basic pay going up from Rs 7,000 per month to Rs 18,000, while at the highest level i.e. Secretary, went up from Rs 90,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. For Class 1 officers, the starting salary was at Rs 56,100.
New Delhi: The Modi government is likely to implement four labour codes on wages, social security, industrial relations and occupation safety, health and working conditions from July 1, as per media reports. If these labour codes are implemented, the new wage code will impact employees' working hours, salary restructuring, PF contribution, gratuity aspect and encashing of Earned Leaves among the prominent ones. Since these are now early speculations, nothing concreted should be infered till the government officially notifies the rules.

Till now, 23 states have pre-published draft rules on these laws, while the Centre has completed the process of finalising the draft rules on these codes in February 2021. The central government had notified four labour codes, namely, the Code on Wages, 2019, on August 8, 2019, and the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 on September 29, 2020.

Since labour is a concurrent subject, the Centre wants the states to implement these as well in one go, as has been reported earlier.

Reduced in-hand salary after implementation of Wage Code

The government's notification on Code on Wages 2019 may reduce the take-home pay while components like PF and Gratuity might rise. This is based on the grounds that the new wage code mentions provision entailing that the employee's basic salary will be at least 50 percent of his/her net monthly CTC. Hence, if this provision comes into effect, it will mean that employees will not be able to get more than 50 percent of his/her net monthly salary in form of allowance.

Higher PF after implementation of Wage Code

This also means that there will be a consequent rise in gratuity and PF contribution of the employee. Hence, while the take home pay of the employees may be reduced, the Gratuity and PF component may rise.

12 hours work-week

Experts also believe that the new draft will impact the working hours of employees with some media reports saying that employees may be allowed a four-day workweek but they will have to work for 12 hours on those four days. The labour ministry has apparently made it clear that 48-hour weekly work requirement is a must.

Big changes in Earned Leave policy after new wage code implementation

The biggest change could be seen in cases of Earned Leave. Government departments now allows 30 holidays in 1 year, defense employees get 60 holidays in 1 year. Employees can cash up to 300 holidays on carry forward, however the Labor union is demanding to increase number of holidays to 450 in new code. At present there are 240 to 300 holidays in different departments. Employees can take these holidays in cash only after 20 years of service.
New Delhi: Garena Free Fire releases redeem codes on everyday basis. The 12-digit redeem code consists of alphabets and numbers. Players can get rewards such as skins for in-game weapons and characters to improve their gaming experience.

Garena Free fire is banned in India. However, if you are located outside India, you can access the reward codes and redeem them. For that you will be required to visit official Garena Free Fire reward site and log in to your Facebook, Google, Twitter IDs to access the Free Fire redemption page. (Also read: Google Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro features listed on ecommerce website: Details here)

Check out the Garena Free Fire Redeem Codes for June 21, 2022

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(Also read: Shocking! Ex-Amazon Web Services engineer hacked data of 10 crore customers)

How to Redeem Garena Free Fire codes for today, 21 June 2022

Step 1: Go to the official Garena Free Fire redemption portal



Step 2: Log in on the portal with either your Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Google, VK, or Huawei ID.



Step 3: Enter a redeem code in the designated text box.



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(Disclaimer: Garena Free fire is banned in India. Hence we advise people to adhere to government rules)
Water pressure has been restored in the City of Lockport after a water main break Tuesday afternoon, Lockport officials said shortly after 3 p.m.

Police said in the 2:23 p.m. tweet that there was "no service in the entire City of Lockport as of this time." The city water department was working to restore service, police said.

City officials said in an earlier message to residents that a break to a 30-inch water main "has reduced water pressure to residents throughout the city."

Contractors working on the "Gulf Interceptor project accidentally struck the main," located on the west side of the city, officials said.

They said that while pressure was restored work was still continuing on the main.

Two extra tanker trucks from nearby fire departments were dispatched to Lockport to provide extra water in case of a fire, said Niagara County Emergency Services Director Jonathan Schultz. There were no active fires in Lockport Tuesday afternoon.

"Just to be proactive," Schultz said.

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The Covid-19 pandemic slowed air travel almost to a near crawl, but the pent-up demand to fly has been picking up and the Transportation Security Administration wants to remind passengers about airport checkpoint protocols in order to avoid long waits, or worse, missed flights.

"There will be lines at these checkpoints," said Bart Johnson, federal security director for TSA at all New York State airports outside New York City.

Johnson was backed by a small team of TSA agents Tuesday at Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Cheektowaga for the reminder.

Two years ago, air travel had declined about 95%.

"Right now, it's returned to just about normal," Johnson said.

With the number of air travelers rising, it is important for them to get to the airport 90 minutes to two hours before their flight is scheduled to depart, he said.

Travelers should plan ahead and know exactly what they packed in their carry-on luggage, he added.

"Start with an empty bag and make certain you do not put any prohibited items in that bag," Johnson said.

Foremost among prohibited items: explosives, guns, brass knuckles and mace.

"Unfortunately, we get a handgun every once in a while," Johnson said. "That's totally unacceptable to carry a weapon through a checkpoint and then try to bring it on a plane."

He called TSA officers the last line of defense.

"Other things that we encounter are oversized liquids," Johnson said, pointing to a cart loaded with confiscated canned and bottled beverages, as well as bottles of spreadable condiments, lotions and creams that are not allowed aboard aircraft.

He said passengers should remember the 3-1-1 rule: Each passenger may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters, and that each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols.

Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the TSA, added that passengers are often confused as to what constitutes prohibited liquid gels and aerosols.

"If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, it's a liquid gel or an aerosol," Farbstein said.

TSA agent Noah Trotta said the biggest problem caused by passengers trying to bring through disallowed items is the backup.

"When one happens, it's like a domino effect," Trotta said. "So that when there's one, there's going to be five. It backs up the search table. So one person has to wait two minutes. But the fourth or fifth person in line has to wait 10 or 15 minutes because you have to do all the ones in order as we received them."

That could result in delays that could lead to missed flights.

Christina Thompson, another TSA agent, said there are ways for travelers to check ahead of time to see what items they may or may not bring aboard the plane.

"Honestly, if they have any questions about what to bring and what they shouldn't bring, the TSA website is a great resource," Thompson said.

The website is TSA.gov. There is also an app called MyTSA, Farbstein said.

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The 25-year-old driver of the vehicle, along with the three other men, aged 25, 35 and 38, were all arrested and taken into custody. One of the men who claimed ownership of everything that was seized was turned over to the Buffalo Police Department to face weapons and narcotics charges
Nearly a year ago, just outside a third-floor courtroom downtown, Charles L. Jones spoke with his two attorneys for about 45 minutes.

The attorneys were trying to convince Jones not to do what it appeared he had already decided: plead guilty to murder charges in the separate killings of his mother and girlfriend.

Over the preceding six months, according to his defense attorneys, they had less than an hour of interaction with their client. That limited amount of time to talk about the case meant the guilty pleas Jones entered that day were not made knowingly or intelligently, as legally required, his attorneys now say.

And that's why, the attorneys argued last week, Jones should be allowed to withdraw them.

People charged with crimes are legally permitted to plead guilty against the advice of counsel, but Jones did it and got nothing in return, attorney Robert Cutting told the judge.

"There was no benefit to him in doing so," Cutting said.

Jones pleaded guilty June 30, 2021, in Erie County Court to two counts of second-degree murder, the charges he faced in connection with the slayings of his mother, Alethia Atwood Williams, and his girlfriend, Jacquetta L. Lee.

Lee, 25, was found fatally stabbed in her Main Street apartment on July 18, 2019.

On Aug. 16, 2019, Buffalo police went to Jones' mother's Jefferson Avenue apartment with a warrant for his arrest. After a three-hour standoff, police found Jones's mother's body in a closet. The 52-year-old, who also was fatally stabbed, had been dead more than three weeks.

Jones, now 27, has yet to be sentenced.

During arguments before Erie County Judge Sheila A. DiTullio, Cutting and co-counsel Emily Trott said they should have made it clearer on the record that day in court almost a year ago that Jones was taking the pleas against their advice.

In addition, both should have made motions to be relieved as Jones' attorneys, Cutting said.

The limited amount of time they had seen their client was due to conditions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, including a lack of areas in the Erie County Holding Center to have private conversations between attorney and client, he said.

In response, DiTullio asked Cutting whether that meant any guilty pleas tendered during the pandemic could be considered valid.

In their motion filed with the court and in their arguments in court last week, Jones' defense attorneys failed to cite any legal authority on which they had based their arguments to have the pleas withdrawn, Assistant District Attorney Eugene Partridge told the judge.

The parties had 10 court appearances in the case before Jones entered the pleas, which offered ample opportunity for discussions between client and counsel, Partridge said.

In fact, just before he entered his pleas, Jones answered in the affirmative when asked by the judge if he had enough time to consider his choice, the prosecutor said.

DiTullio told attorneys she would issue a decision Aug. 2.

Curtis Lee, Jacquetta's father, has been attending Jones' court appearances, including last week's. He described Jones' actions since pleading guilty as "shenanigans."

He said he doesn't buy Jones' attorneys' arguments that there wasn't enough opportunity for consultation. Jones' attempt to withdraw his pleas has been aggravating for his family, Curtis Lee said.

Lee believed his daughter was a victim of domestic violence, but she refused to seek an order of protection. He said his daughter's killing was allowed to happen due to weaknesses in the system that's supposed to protect victims of domestic violence.

He said he believes changes need to be made to the system, including allowing third parties to seek orders of protection that forbid contact between two people.

He said he felt powerless and put faith in a system that didn't work. And his daughter is dead because of it, he said.

"I'm a grown man and I let a kid kill my daughter," he said.

With the existing pleas, Jones faces a prison term of up to 50 years to life in prison.

Prosecutors were prepared to agree, and the judge was willing to commit, to a 40-years-to-life sentence, defense attorneys said. But that was only if Jones agreed to waive his right to proceed to seek a mitigated sentence by making a claim he was a victim of domestic violence.

Jones has submitted a request to the Erie County Assigned Counsel Program, which provides his defense attorneys, asking new counsel be assigned.

Reach Aaron at abesecker[at]buffnews.com or 716-849-4602.

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What was going on inside Edward T. Harris' brain one night more than three years ago took center stage Tuesday as testimony in his murder trial wrapped up in Erie County Court.

Prosecution and defense experts offered differing opinions about the Town of Tonawanda man's state of mind on the evening in March 2019 when he drove his Kia Soul at more than 80 mph into an apartment building on Delaware Avenue, a crash that killed a 94-year-old woman who lived on the first floor.

Prosecution witness Dr. Gary Horwitz testified Harris, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, was triggered by a scene in a movie he was watching with his wife. The two then got in an argument and Harris drove off as his wife was preparing to take him to the psychiatric emergency room at Erie County Medical Center, he said.

Defense witness Dr. Gundu Reddy testified Harris had a psychotic episode that night, which led him to crash his vehicle into the Ken-Ton Presbyterian Village Apartments. Several risk factors contributed to the psychosis, Reddy said, including an undiagnosed condition of bipolar disorder, sleep apnea, borderline narcolepsy, not having slept in several days and a prescribed medication he was taking.

Prosecutors allege Harris, 36, was impaired by marijuana at the time of the crash, at about 7:10 p.m. March 26, 2019.

Lida Alminate, who was buried under debris inside her apartment when Harris' car hit the exterior wall , died four days later.

Harris is on trial on charges of second-degree murder and vehicular manslaughter. His non-jury trial began April 7 and continued the following day before being paused until Tuesday.

Tuesday, there were three witnesses called  Harris' wife and the two experts. Judge James Bargnesi plans to deliver his verdict Monday morning.

Harris had been using medical marijuana for about two years, having been prescribed it for pain, Robin Harris, his wife, testified. Her husband suffered back, knee and foot pain and was deemed a "100% disabled veteran," she said.

He had previously been treated for mental health issues, and his mental health had been deteriorating for months leading up to the crash, she said.

That night, as he ate dinner and they watched "Anne of Green Gables," Edward Harris threw his plate against a wall and started saying things that didn't make sense, she said.

"It was like a switch flipped," she testified.

She said her husband had been discharged from the Marines with diagnoses of depression and PTSD. He had gotten sober before being discharged, after dealing with alcohol abuse issues, she said.

The prescription medication Edward Harris was taking, known as modafinil, a stimulant that is used to treat people with sleep-related problems, can cause psychosis, and anyone taking it should be closely supervised, said Reddy, the defense expert.

Marijuana played no role in the crash, defense attorney Frank LoTempio III said in his closing statement Tuesday. He contended prosecutors failed to meet their burden of proof on both charges.

In April, Erie County's former chief toxicologist testified levels of THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana, that were found in Harris' blood showed he was driving while impaired the night of the crash.

There is no level of THC in a person's blood that automatically makes them considered impaired under New York State law.

Horwitz, the prosecution's expert witness, said he believes Harris suffered a concussion in the crash, which he said would explain the symptoms the defense's expert concluded was psychosis.

Horwitz told the judge Harris exaggerated his mental health issues to another doctor and told the defense expert things Harris previously said in an interview with him that he couldn't remember.

In his closing statement, Assistant District Attorney Paul Glascott said Harris exhibited "total disregard" for others when he drove straight down a residential street and across a busy street without swerving or braking.

"He just didn't care," Glascott said.

Reach Aaron at abesecker[at]buffnews.com or 716-849-4602.

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Kenneth Macur, the Medaille University president since 2015 who had come under fire on a few occasions over the past two years, has retired at age 66.

The university board of trustees has named Lori V. Quigley, PhD, a former provost and senior vice president at Medaille from 2016 to 2020, as interim president, effective immediately.

Medaille College lays off 23, spokesman says; profs question numbers Faculty members who asked not to be identified gave The Buffalo News different figures.

Our students, faculty, staff, alumni and longstanding supporters will be well served by Dr. Quigleys deep knowledge of the University from her prior role as provost, senior vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Medaille, said Michael K. Walsh, chair of Medailles Board of Trustees. She has the full endorsement of the Board of Trustees, and we will support her leadership through this time of transition.

Macur notified the board of his retirement on June 20, the university said in a news release. He had come under fire most recently for his handling of a surprise dormitory room raid conducted by security guards from Vista Security Group of Amherst on Feb. 12 and 13.

Medaille contracted with Vista for campus security services starting in mid-January without informing students of the change. The weekend of the raids, guards wearing hoodies instead of uniforms used keys to open dorm room doors late at night while some students were asleep or in the shower. Ostensibly, the guards were looking for alcohol. Students expressed anger, fear and trauma in the wake of the intrusion, which Macur admitted was a violation of the universitys privacy policies.

Late-night dorm raids at Medaille College spur protest Students who say they fear for their safety and dont feel heard staged a walkout and protest Friday to publicize the incidents and call for college leaders to step down.

About 100 students walked out of class and held a protest March 25 calling for Macur to step down. At the protest, Macur said the raids shouldnt have happened and that five security guards who participated had been removed from security detail on campus. But he refused to blame the firm for the actions of a couple of people behaving badly or take responsibility for the incidents.

Also, in May 2020, the faculty voted 63-1 that it had no confidence in Macur and accused him of "years of budgetary mismanagement." Faculty also criticized him for using the Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse to give himself emergency powers to cut staff at will. That July, Medaille had laid off two dozen employees and announced that 18 others took early retirement.

Medaille faculty accuse president of using Covid-19 to cover mismanagement A group of Medaille College faculty members said mismanagement, not the novel coronavirus pandemic, caused the colleges fiscal crisis, and the group criticized President Kenneth Macur for using the pandemic to give himself emergency powers that will allow him to cut staff at will. In a statement to The News, the faculty members said Macurs invoking of an act

Macur was selected as president of Medaille College in 2015 to replace Richard T. Jurasek, who retired at 67.

Macur was not available for comment Tuesday. In May, Medaille received state approval to change its name to Medaille University.

Another Medaille administrator, Vice President for Student Development Amy DeKay, is also leaving the university after a long career at her alma mater.

DeKay served as assistant/associate dean of students and director of Student Activities/Campus Center Operations and New Student Orientation at Medaille from 1997 to 2009. Since 2009, she has been vice president for Student Development at Medaille.

DeKay said her departure from Medaille is completely unrelated to Macurs retirement. Her last day at Medaille is July 1, and she starts a new job as vice president for Student Experience at Alfred University on July 11.

Quigley, Medailles new interim president, has served as chair of the board of directors for Seneca Gaming Corporation. A member of the Seneca nation, Quigley has a long resume in higher education. Prior to joining Seneca Gaming, whose president and CEO report directly to her, she was assistant to the provost for Graduate Programs at Niagara University.

Before that, she was provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs and chief academic officer at Medaille from July 2016 to April 2020. She previously served as dean and as a professor of literary education at The Sage Colleges in Troy and Albany, as associate dean in the school of education at SUNY Buffalo State and on the teaching faculty at Buffalo State and St. Bonaventure University, where she obtained her bachelors degree. She holds a masters degree in communications and a doctorate in philosophy from Fordham University in New York City.

Quigley did not return a phone call from The Buffalo News. Medaille provided the following comment from her in its release: As interim president, I pledge to lead with integrity in acknowledging and valuing the contributions that each member of the faculty and staff provide in ensuring the academic success of the students we serve. I remain grateful to the Medaille Board of Trustees for the confidence they have placed in me during this transition period.

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By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have signed a number of deals on the implementation of joint projects and trade contracts worth over $500 million, Azernews reports, citing Uzdaily.

The documents were signed within the Azerbaijani-Uzbek business forum which was held in Tashkent on June 20 ahead of the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Uzbekistan. During the forum, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan also signed 10 agreements on practical cooperation between ministries and agencies of the two countries.

"The documents signed within the #Uzbek-#Azerbaijani #businessforum will create additional opportunities for the expansion of collaboration between our #business circles, as well as the establishment of new ties in the fields of intellectual property, #industry, #energy, #construction, #tourism, #export, and #investment promotion, #trade, #SME-s, and others," Azerbaijan's Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on his official Twitter page.

During the forum, the participants considered opportunities to increase trade turnover, promote mutual investment and expand business contracts. Azerbaijan invited Uzbek businessmen to take advantage of the favorable business environment created in the country.

Opening the forum, the heads of delegations Uzbek Investment and Foreign Trade Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Sardor Umurzakov, and Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov emphasized the commitment of the two governments to further expand diversified cooperation and establish strong ties between the business communities.

Stressing the successes achieved in investment, industrial, and trade cooperation, the parties noted the significant untapped potential of the economies of the two countries and the existing prerequisites for further increasing mutually beneficial partnership in such areas as petrochemical, chemical, electrical, textile, food, pharmaceutical, automotive and other industries.

The parties announced the introduction of specific measures to stimulate the increase of mutual and transit freight traffic through the territories of the two countries, which will deepen Uzbek-Azerbaijani cooperation in the field of transport and logistics.

The program of the event included B2B and G2B panel sessions, during which representatives of the Uzbek and Azerbaijani businesses were able to substantively discuss the prospects of business cooperation on the basis of concrete project proposals.

The volume of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan amounted to $111.9 million in 2021. Presently, around 195 Azerbaijani enterprises are represented in Uzbekistan, 69 of which have joint capital and 126 of them have 100 percent Azerbaijani capital.
WASHINGTON  President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer visited Buffalo together last month after the Tops Markets shooting, but the massacre that authorities say was carried out by a white supremacist wasn't the only thing on Schumer's mind. The neighborhood where it happened was, too  and he told the president so.

Schumer said this week that he used his time with the president that day to lobby Biden to push the Commerce Department to choose Buffalo as one of the cities to receive up to $100 million under the administration's "Build Back Better Challenge." Buffalo is already a finalist for that award.

'The world needs to know were hurting here in Buffalo': A grieving community gathers to see President Biden Dozens gathered at a police blockade at Jefferson Avenue and East Utica Street, as close as they could get to where the president and first lady Jill Biden laid flowers in memory of the victims over a block away.

The Western New York Advanced Manufacturing Cluster, developed by the five-county Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, would use the money to train more than 1,600 local workers for advanced manufacturing jobs and to clean up East Side industrial sites to attract new businesses. The Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration is expected to announce the 20 to 30 winners of those awards later this year.

I spoke directly to the president on the transformational impact this major federal investment from the EDAs Regional Challenge would have on improving the lives of the people of the East Side," Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in a statement. "One of the best ways to uplift the community is to rectify decades of underinvestment in these neighborhoods by bringing good-paying jobs, new businesses, and workforce training to create new economic opportunity for the East Sides families and residents."

In response, Biden said he was aware of Buffalo's application and that he understood Schumer's point of view, the senator said.

'He told us he'll keep fighting': Shooting victims' families moved by Biden's empathy Before his speech, the president met privately with family members of the 10 victims of Saturday's racist mass shooting at the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue.

Buffalos East Side needs robust investment to heal and build for the future," Schumer added. "This funding would make sure that the East Side community and Western New York workers are the ones who secure training and good-paying jobs and bring manufacturing back to America to build our nations future.

If Buffalo were to receive the grant, the federal money would flow to the city over three years. The program aims to develop a more diverse, highly skilled workforce to help bring new jobs to the East Side.

Schumer said that he told Biden that the project could help the Buffalo region become a national hub in industries such as vaccine production, utility infrastructure components, industrial gases and precision motion control.

The senator's talk with Biden was just part of his lobbying effort to help Buffalo land the award. He previously spoke with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo about the region's application, and this spring visited the Northland Workforce Training Center to discuss what winning the award would mean for the city.

Local institutions backing the proposal for the advanced manufacturing cluster include the University at Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Invest Buffalo Niagara, Launch NY, Buffalo Manufacturing Works, Northland Workforce Training Center, Goodwill of Western New York, SUNY Alfred and the Buffalo Urban Development Corp.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  Katie Britt won the Republican nomination for Senate in Alabama Tuesday, defeating six-term Rep. Mo Brooks in a primary runoff after former President Donald Trump took the unusual step of rescinding his initial Brooks endorsement.

The loss ends a turbulent campaign that pit Brooks, a conservative firebrand who has spent more than a decade in Congress, against someone who has never held elected office. Brooks ran under the banner MAGA Mo" and fully embraced Trumps election lies. But that wasnt enough for the former president, who initially backed Brooks in the race to replace Britt's former boss, retiring Sen. Richard Shelby, but then pulled his support as Brooks languished in the polls.

The race was among a handful of contests held Tuesday at the midpoint of a primary season that has been shaped by Trumps effort to influence the GOP.

By the time Trump backed her earlier this month, Britt was already considered the favorite in the race. She emerged as the top vote-getter in the state's May 24 primary, but just missed the threshold that triggered a runoff. Still, Tuesday's result gives Trump a win at a time when his influence over the GOP has come under scrutiny.

The former president has had a mixed record of success in backing candidates this election season, helping lift Senate contenders in Pennsylvania and Ohio while floundering elsewhere, particularly in Georgia. Voters in the onetime Republican stronghold rejected his efforts to unseat the states GOP governor and secretary of state, both of whom rebuffed his extraordinary pressure to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. And his trouble in the crucial swing state deepened Tuesday as two of his endorsed congressional candidates faltered in their GOP run-off elections.

In the 6th District in Atlantas northern suburbs, emergency room physician Rich McCormick beat Trump-backed lawyer Jake Evans. And in the 10th District east of Atlanta, trucking company owner Mike Collins bested Democrat-turned-Republican Vernon Jones.

Trump persuaded Jones to run for the seat and drop his long-shot bid for governor to clear the field for his chosen candidate, former Sen. David Perdue. Perdue lost to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who endorsed Collins. The seat is being vacated by Republican Rep. Jody Hice, who also lost his bid to unseat Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, another top Trump target.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser won the Democratic nomination to serve another term, fending off a pair of challengers amid concerns over rising crime and homelessness.

But the Alabama Senate runoff had drawn particular attention because of the drama surrounding Trump's endorsement and because the winner, who will face Democrat Will Boyd in November, is considered the overwhelmingly favorite in the Republican state.

Britt, 40, cast herself as part of a new generation of conservative leaders while disparaging Brooks, 68, as a career politician. If victorious in November, Britt will be the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama and one of its youngest members. The states previous female senators had been appointed.

Alabama has spoken. We want new blood. We want fresh blood, she said at her victory party. We want someone who will fight for Christian conservative values, who will fight for the freedoms and liberties this nation was founded on and will fight for the American dream for the next generation and the next generation.

That argument seemed to resonate with some voters Tuesday.

Shes young. Shes smart, said 86-year-old Carolyn Bowman. Thats what we need in Congress.

Brooks, who is known for his bombastic oratory style, described the race as a battle for the soul of Republican Party, pitting the true conservative wing against establishment members of the GOP. He disparaged Britt, 40, as a RINO  the GOP pejorative meaning Republican in name only  and maintained he was the only one with a proven conservative record.

The founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, Brooks has a history of bucking party leadership and made his opposition to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell a pillar of his campaign, embarking on a Fire McConnell Tour of town halls.

In his concession speech Tuesday night, Brooks told supporters he respected the races outcome. But in a sign of the contentious race, he accused voters of having been seduced by false advertising and congratulated high-dollar donors and special interest groups for funding Britts campaign.

We are sending to Washington, D.C., the exact opposite of what we need in the United States Senate. But the voters have spoken. They might not have spoken wisely, he groused.

Brooks was initially considered the frontrunner when he announced his Senate candidacy, and Trump quickly offered his support, rewarding an ally who had been an ardent supporter of Trumps false claims of election fraud. Brooks voted against certifying Democrat Joe Bidens presidential election victory and delivered a fiery speech at the Stop the Steal rally that proceeded the U.S. Capitol insurrection, telling the crowd, Today is the day that American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.

But their relationship soured as Brooks struggled to gain traction. Trump eventually pulled his support in March, accusing Brooks  one of the most conservative members in Congress  of going woke for saying at a rally that it was time to move on from litigating the 2020 presidential election.

Brooks clawed his way into a second-place finish in the May primary and tried once again to get Trump to back him. But Trump instead threw his support to Britt 11 days before the runoff she was widely expected to win.

Elsewhere, in Virginia, Republicans chose a pair of Trump-aligned congressional candidates to take on two of the most vulnerable Democrats in the fall.

In the coastal 2nd District, state Sen. Jen Kiggans won the Republican race to try to unseat Democrat Elaine Luria, a retired Naval commander and member of the Jan. 6 committee, in the general election. And in central Virginias 7th District, Yesli Vega emerged from a competitive six-candidate field to face Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger.

At the polls Tuesday in Virginia Beach, Nanci Eves, 70, said she voted for Kiggans in part because she believes the candidate is best positioned to win in November.

We need someone who can beat Elaine Luria, said Eves, a retired nurse who lives in Virginia Beach and who thinks Democrats have made a mess of the country while in power.

Colvin reported from Washington. Ben Finley in Virginia Beach, Va., contributed to this report.

Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ap_politics.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
PARIS (AP)  President Emmanuel Macron held talks Tuesday with Frances main party leaders in a bid to show he is open to dialogue after his centrist alliance failed to win an absolute majority in parliamentary elections.

The meetings at the Elysee presidential palace come after Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne formally offered her resignation Tuesday, in line with the tradition after parliamentary elections. Macron immediately rejected the offer and maintained the current government.

Macrons Together! alliance won 245 seats in Sunday's parliamentary elections  44 seats short of a majority in the National Assembly, Frances most powerful house of parliament.

The leftist Nupes coalition won 131 seats to become the main opposition force. The far-right National Rally got 89 seats in the 577-member chamber, up from its previous eight.

Macron held successive meetings with opposition members, including the president of The Republicans, Christian Jacob, the head of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, and far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Macron also met with representatives of his own party and allied movements. Other meetings were scheduled Wednesday.

Talks were aiming at finding potential constructive solutions to the situation, according to Macrons office.

Macron has not publicly commented on the elections results yet.

Instead, in his first public appearance since the elections, he appeared Tuesday evening on a stage set up in the Elysee courtyard for Frances Music Day, for a show in front of about 2,000 guests. Macron said that while being busy all day with politics, it was now time for entertainment. Be happy! he told the crowd.

With the most seats at the National Assembly, his government still has the ability to rule, but only by bargaining with legislators. To prevent potential deadlock, Macron's party and allies may try to negotiate on a case-by-case basis with lawmakers from the center-left and from the conservative party.

Macron was reelected in April on an agenda including measures to boost purchasing power, tax cuts and raising the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65.

After her meeting with Macron, Le Pen said that he listens, but does he hear? Well see.

She said she told him her partys MPs will be part of the opposition but dont want to do systematic obstruction.

If measures are being proposed that go in the right direction ... we will vote for them. If they go in the wrong direction, we will amend them. If they are not amended as we want, then we will oppose them, she said.

On his way out of the Elysee, Jacob said The Republicans, who hold 61 seats, wont enter into any pact or coalition with Macrons centrists. However, he opened the door to voting in favor of some measures if they are in line with his partys platform.

He notably mentioned pension changes, since the conservatives are, like Macron, in favor of raising the retirement age.

The Socialist leader, Olivier Faure, told reporters its possible to move forward but we wont approve policies which would be contrary to commitments we made to the French.

Faure advocated for a measure proposed by the leftist coalition to bring the monthly minimum salary from about 1,300 euros to 1,500 euros.

Macron will also soon need to handle another issue : a government reshuffle. Three ministers  out of the 15 who were running for reelection  have lost their seats and won't be able to stay in the government under the rules he set.

While keeping him busy at home, the situation at parliament is not expected to destabilize Macron's international agenda. The French president holds substantial powers over foreign policy, European affairs and defense.

Macron is to travel to Brussels for a European summit scheduled on Thursday and Friday. He will then head to a G-7 meeting in Germany next week, followed by a NATO summit in Spain and a brief visit to Portugal.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Empires come and go. They all have their time of glory, often at the expense of their own people. Eventually they all disappear. Often all that remains is some classic debris. Historians play the role of reporter and prophet and like the legendary prophets, no one believes them. They tell us what has been and what is to come. The old cliche  history repeats itself.

Sadly, I am beginning to believe that we are in the last stages of empire; our sphere of influence is waning. A few empires died by the sword but most crumbled from within. The symptoms are all there: hate and anger all around, the very rich and the very poor and nothing in between, burgeoning homelessness, denial of basic rights, leaders ignoring the needs of the people, neglect of the helpless, corruption in government and blood in the streets. How long can we continue on this path? We do not look like the city on the hill, the beacon of hope for the world. Can we look to our Congress for rescue? I think not. We send these men and women to Washington to lead us to a better place and what we get in return is disgraceful. A pundit recently opined How in the world can these senators walk around here upright when they have no backbone? Those cowardly windbags deliver nothing but hot air. And what is our response? We send them back to their sinecures year after year to get old, fat and rich. Until we start to pay closer attention to our vote, we are doomed to collapse as a nation. The time is short, very short. We are allowing Lady Liberty to be throttled. Lets send the do-nothings home and replace them with caring and concerned patriots. The time to act is now. Vote wisely.
SYDNEY, June 20, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--eCargo Holdings Limited (ASX:ECG) ("eCargo") today provides an update on its exclusive distribution partnership with UK-based organic baby and toddler food company Ellas Kitchen (Brands) Limited (Ellas Kitchen).

Key Highlights

eCargo signed an exclusive distribution partnership with Ellas Kitchen in September 2021, covering all online and offline sales and distribution in China, Vietnam and Cambodia

Partnership has been extremely effective, with Ellas Kitchen now selling: in more than 25 points of distribution online, including T-Mall, T-Mall Global, Taobao, VIP, Pinduoduo, and Jingdong Across 20 provinces at more than 3,000 offline locations

Allows both companies to take advantage of the growth in Chinas premium infant food market and continue the growth of Ellas Kitchen in Asia

Partnership provides an excellent case study to showcase eCargos online and offline distribution and supply chain capabilities, driving the growth of international brands in Asia

Ellas Kitchen, a UK-based B Corp certified company with a mission to improve childrens lives through developing healthy relationships with food, signed an exclusive distribution partnership with eCargo in September 2021. The partnership involves eCargo handling both offline and online sales and distribution within China, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Since launching, the partnership has been successful at scaling Ellas Kitchens sales in China, with their organic baby and toddler food now selling via more than 25 points of distribution online, including T-Mall, T-Mall Global, Taobao, VIP, Pinduoduo, and Jingdong and across 20 provinces and more than 3000 offline locations in China. To facilitate rapid sales growth, eCargo also relaunched flagship stores on Jingdong Worldwide and Jingdong China, with a renovated look and feel to align with Ellas Kitchens new marketing positioning in China. eCargo also coordinated successful in-channel marketing campaigns including livestreaming with celebrities and influencers, and offline tasting events for customer acquisition.

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The partnership has allowed both companies to take advantage of the growth of Chinas premium infant food market, a key category of growth potential in 2022 for eCargo, as Ellas Kitchen successfully grows in the market.

Kim Gelling, Global Commercial Director at Ellas Kitchen, said of the partnership, "We are delighted that our partnership with eCargo in China is helping to fulfil our mission to improve childrens lives through developing healthy relationships with food. eCargo has demonstrated that they are the perfect partner for our brands Asian expansion, with their capabilities across online and offline allowing us to significantly scale up our sales and reach across China. Since partnering with eCargo our brand recognition has substantially increased, allowing us to support more families by bringing joy to mealtimes and making eating fun for little ones. We look forward to continuing to leverage eCargos comprehensive services to make our healthy organic products available to even more families across key Asian markets."

eCargo Holdings Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Lun said of the partnership, "We are thrilled that our partnership with Ellas Kitchen is delivering outstanding results for their brand and rapidly increasing sales. We identified mum and baby as a key growth vertical and the success we are having with Ellas Kitchen provides a great case study to showcase our capabilities, as we help brands sell more in Asia. We are also providing Ellas Kitchen with a full suite of supply chain services, including warehousing, logistics, and ecommerce marketing, to help them navigate the complexities of bringing their products into Asia."

About eCargo Holdings Limited

eCargo Holdings Limited is an ASX-listed company offering solutions that connect global brands with Chinese buyers and provide the tools businesses need to grow their China sales. Their core focuses are in utilising technology and data to grow brands in China through their nationwide distribution and trading (online and offline) network.

About Ellas Kitchen (Brands) Limited

Ella's Kitchen Brand mission is to improve children's lives through developing healthy relationships with food. Set up in 2006 by Ella's Dad Paul Lindley, the company prioritises health and nutritional value, but never at the expense of taste or convenience. Ellas Kitchen Brand strives to be good in every sense, offering healthy, handy and fun food that doesnt cost the earth. In 2016, Ellas Kitchen Brand certified as a B Corporation, a global movement of pioneering companies that are using their business as a force for good. By certifying as a B Corp it reinforces that the business is meeting rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220620005249/en/

Contacts

Investor Relations (Australia):

Justin Foord

Market Eye

justin.foord@marketeye.com

+61 402 600 691
Loyola Hartery was last seen on Friday, leaving his home in Portugal Cove South on his ATV. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police - image credit)

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Residents of the small community of Portugal Cove South on Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula were waiting for news Tuesday in the search for missing resident Loyola Hartery, while police reported a body had been recovered at sea earlier in the day.

Shortly after 2:30 p.m. NT, police said in a statement that a commercial vessel had discovered a body in the ocean near Witless Bay, about 100 km north of Portugal Cove South.

Hartery, 68, was last seen early Friday morning leaving his home in the Southern Shore community on his ATV.

An extensive search took place over the weekend including ground searches of the southern tip of the Avalon Peninsula by Central Avalon Ground Search and Rescue, aerial searches by the Canadian Armed Forces 103 Squadron out of Gander, Government Air Services and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association. Additionally, the Canadian Coast Guard searched the coastline between Chance Cove Park and west of Trepassey.

On Tuesday, the RCMP said its search efforts have been exhausted, meaning the search is officially called off.

Community members and volunteers had been continuing with their own, Mayor Clarence Molloy told CBC News.

An RCMP official said the force is "unable to speculate on a connection," and that police were waiting for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to identify the body.

Molloy said he spoke with Hartery's family, and that they were told police were on their way to the community to meet with the family.

"The way they mentioned it to me, they feel that's their brother," Molloy told CBC News Tuesday afternoon.

"We're hoping [that] it is him. At least it would be closure for the family  They've been steady on all weekend searching from here."

'The community came right together here'

Molloy described Hartery as an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting and fishing, as well as a well-known community member who helps anybody he can.

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"He's always around to help people. Move their pots around. In the wintertime he'd have the plow on his bike and plowed driveway for people," Molloy said.

He's well known and well liked, keeps on top of everythingHe'll be missed around the community, you know?"

Molloy said people have brought food to the community centre throughout the search to feed volunteers. "The community came right together here, which like most places in Newfoundland does the same thing," he said.

The RCMP said that while active search efforts have been suspended, anyone with any information or possible sightings can contact Ferryland RCMP and all new information will be investigated.

The police force is also asking cabin owners in the area of Portugal Cove South to check any trail cameras.

Read more articles from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
Mandalay said drilling from the North Zone produced significant intercepts, which included 155.0 grams per tonne gold over 0.8 metres

Mandalay Resources Corp. (TSX:MND, OTCQB:MNDJF) has provided an update on the eastern extension drilling from the North Zone drilling program at its Bjorkdal operation in Sweden, which included what it called significant intercepts such as 155.0 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 0.8 metres (m).

The junior mining company said during the first half of 2022, underground exploration at Bjorkdal has been focused on further defining the Eastern Plunge extension veining and investigating the breadth and grade of mineralization to the north of Aurora within the North Zone.

We expect these results will increase our 2022 year-end Mineral Reserves, Mandalay Resources CEO Dominic Duffy said in a statement.

The latest round of drilling is ongoing and is aimed at infilling known veining and testing for the lateral and vertical extents, Duffy added.

Mandalay noted that so far, the drilling supports the interpreted veining previously tested and suggests concentration of veining about 450m north of Aurora where the best grades of the prospect have been recovered in MU22-002.

It added that lateral extension drilling is not far progressed, however, there are indications that the trend could span 750m.

The company also reported that drilling at the Eastern Extension has now identified veining of mineable grades up to 400m down plunge from the current underground infrastructure, with results that included 14.7 g/t gold over 4.1m.

Drilling and development of both areas of interest will be ongoing through 2022, aiming to increase reserves and setting up the next high tonnage and grade development area for the Bjorkdal Mine, according to the company.

Mandalay released a video prepared by its vice president of operational geology and exploration, Chris Davis, to further explain the information in this release, which can be found here.

Mandalay Resources is a natural resource company with producing assets in Australia (Costerfield gold-antimony mine) and Sweden (Bjorkdal gold mine).

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
The decision by Kellogg to split follows similar announcements by global conglomerates such as Johnson & Johnson and General Electric Co in the past year

Kellogg Company (NYSE:K) has said it will split into three independent companies in an overhaul aimed at simplifying its structure and focusing on expanding its snack business.

The breakup of the Pringles, Cheez-It and Pop-Tarts maker would result in the creation of a global snacking business that would also house its international cereal and noodles brands and its North America frozen breakfast division. The business brought in net sales of $11.4 billion in 2021, accounting for 80% of its total revenue.

Its North American cereal unit and plant-based segment, which includes brands such as MorningStar Farms, will be spun off to its shareholders in a tax-free transaction, the Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops cereal maker said.

"These businesses all have significant standalone potential, and an enhanced focus will enable them to better direct their resources toward their distinct strategic priorities," Kellogg chief executive officer Steve Cahillane said in a statement.

The Battle Creek, Michigan-based company has in recent years focused on its global snacking portfolio, as sales of US cereals have declined with more Americans taking to snacking and relying on fast-food chains for breakfast.

The decision by Kellogg to split follows similar announcements by global conglomerates such as Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and General Electric (NYSE:GE) Co in the past year.

Kellogg said it expects the spin-offs to be completed by the end of 2023, adding that it was also exploring strategic options for its plant-based business including a possible sale.

The snacks business, which will be the biggest post the split, would be helmed by current Kellogg CEO Cahillane.

The company said its North American cereal business and the plant-based focused company will remain headquartered in Battle Creek, Michigan. While the snacking-focused company will maintain dual campuses in Battle Creek and Chicago, Illinois.

Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK commented: "The three companies, whose final names havent yet been decided, will be 'Global Snacking' which will generate about $11.4bn in sales. North American Cereal' company will focus on the US, Canada and the Caribbean and 'Plant Co' will be a plant-based foods company."

"Sadly, there is no truth in reports that they will be called Snap, Crackle and Pop, because Snap is already taken," he added.

Shares of the snack and cereal giant, which began life in 1894 when W.K Kellogg created Corn Flakes, jumped 4% in New York morning trading to $70.49.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
OSHKOSH  Second-time state pageant entrant Miss Badgerland, Grace Marie Stanke, 20, of Wausau, was chosen last Saturday night as Miss Wisconsin 2022 after besting 21 other participants at Oshkosh West High Schools Kimball Auditorium..

Stanke, an incoming junior studying for a bachelors degree in nuclear engineering at UW-Madison, competed last year as Miss Madison and placed among the semi-finalists. Last Wednesday, she earned the first of two preliminary talent awards after performing a classical violin solo of The Storm by composer Antonio Vivaldi. She has trained on the string instrument since age 8.

Stanke earned a $12,500 winners scholarship and also won the Overall Interview award and the June 15 preliminary talent prize, earning her an additional $800.00 in scholarship funds. She was crowned by Miss Wisconsin 2021, Jennifer Marie Schmidt, 26, of Mount Pleasant, and will advance to the 2022 Miss America competition set for December.

During the coming year, Stanke will speak about her platform program of Clean Energy, Cleaner Future to advocate for zero-carbon energy sources like nuclear energy so the nation can help reduce the effects of the climate crisis.

In 2017, Stanke, the daughter of Jenny and Darrin Stanke of Wausau, was named Miss Wisconsins Outstanding Teen on her second attempt, and becomes the first former state teen title winner to later be chosen as Miss Wisconsin.

Among the top five finalists Saturday, three were former state Outstanding Teen titleholders.

Her long-term boyfriend, Ridge Marvin Vanderhei of Wisconsin Rapids,

The first through fourth runners-up on Saturday, were, respectively, former Miss Wisconsins Outstanding Teen 2016 and current Miss Harbor Cities, Kylene Elizabeth Spanbauer of Fond du Lac; Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest, Madeline Kay Adickes of Onalaska; Miss Kenosha, Jenna Lee Jane Zeihen of Kenosha; and lastly Miss South Central, Jordenne Demiree Butler of Onalaska.

Adickes, 24, performed a piano and vocal number You Will Be Found from the Broadway show Dear Evan Hansen during the talent judging, and was the state first runner-up in 2019 as Miss Onalaska.

Butler, 23, was the state first runner-up last year as Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest and was also Miss Wisconsins Outstanding Teen in 2015. Last Thursday, she won the On-Stage Question/Social Impact preliminary award for speaking about her platform issue Building Resilience for Healthy Futures. On Wednesday, she presented a dance to I Am What I Am by Gloria Gaynor made famous from the 1983 musical La Cage Aux Folles.

Those remaining the semi-finals included: double-preliminary winner Miss Saint Francis, Jasmine Peck of Saint Francis; Miss Great Lakes, Breah Ostertag of Oshkosh; Miss Madison, Anna Marie Kelly of Madison; Miss Racine, Maria Jose Castillo Venegas of Racine; Miss Sugar Maple, Lila Hui Szyryj of Madison; and Miss Milwaukee, Jada Monet Davis of Milwaukee, who won the Peoples Choice online vote. Miss Racine and Miss Kenosha tied for the Miss Congeniality honors voted by the other contestants.

Miss Onalaska, Ava Krause, a La Crosse Central High School graduate, won the state pageants overall evening gown award.

Second-time state competitor Miss Wood Violet, Ariana Michelle Voyles of Kenosha returned home with the Non-Finalist Interview and Talent awards. She presented Explosive on the flute. Fairfax, Virginia native Miss Madison, Anna Maria Kelly, won the Marcon Marketing scholarship.

Named as Miss Wisconsins Outstanding Teen 2022 last Friday in Oshkosh was host-city representative Miss Oshkosh Teen, Evelyn Rose Green, 17, of Oshkosh, a dance/twirler. She will advance to the national teen pageant on Aug. 12 in Dallas.

Greens first runner-up was Miss Titletown Teen, Morgan Eberhardt of Green Bay. Miss Onalaska Teen, Trinity Horstman, 17, of Onalaska, tap dancer and a second-time state competitor, placed as fourth runner-up. She also won the Patriotism Reigns essay prize. Miss Southport Teen, Etta Tidd, 13, of Kenosha was voted Miss Congeniality.

A total of 17 competed in the 17th annual state teen pageant held last Friday at Oshkosh West High School.

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By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Officials from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have held a number of meetings to discuss the development of cooperation in the fields of industry, energy, agriculture, investment, and SMBs.

A meeting was held between Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov with Uzbekistan's Investment and Trade Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Sardor Umurzakov.

During the meeting, the parties noted the high level of Azerbaijani-Uzbek relations, the importance of mutual official visits of the presidents, and negotiations in the development of relations.

They emphasized that the successful implementation of the action plan to develop cooperation between the two countries makes a significant contribution to the expansion of bilateral relations.

Moreover, the meeting was held between Azerbaijan's Agency for Small and Medium Business Development Board Chairman Orkhan Mammadov with the Commissioner for Protection of Rights and Legitimate Interests of Entrepreneurship under the President of Uzbekistan D. S. Kasimov.

The sides discussed the mechanisms of legal support for business and the possibility of sharing experiences in this area.

On June 20, an Azerbaijani-Uzbek business forum was held in Tashkent ahead of the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Uzbekistan. Within the forum, a number of agreements on the implementation of joint projects, trade contracts worth over $500 million, as well as 10 agreements on practical cooperation between ministries and agencies of the two countries were signed.

The volume of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan amounted to $111.9 million in 2021. Presently, around 195 Azerbaijani enterprises are represented in Uzbekistan, 69 of which have joint capital and 126 of them have 100 percent Azerbaijani capital.
CHIPPEWA FALLS  A Chippewa Falls man accused of causing a fatal head-on crash northwest of Chippewa Falls in December, and later charged with driving under the influence with children in the car, failed to show up for a court hearing last week, so a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Andrew J. Lomprey Jr., 33, 400 Pumphouse Road, was charged in Chippewa County Court last week with three counts of bail jumping. According to the criminal complaint, Lomprey failed a random drug test on May 2, when meth and fentanyl was detected in his system. Lomprey then failed to show up for his next six random drug tests, court records show. Lomprey was released on a $100 cash bond.

When Lomprey skipped his court appearance June 14, Judge Ben Lane issued a warrant for his arrest, and added the county will seek extradition if he is located in another state.

According to the criminal complaint, Chippewa Falls officers were called to the Kwik Trip at 503 E. Grand Ave. on Saturday, April 30. Lomprey was unconscious in the drivers seat, with two children in the back seat. When officers woke him up, Lomprey had slurred speech. He was arrested for operating under the influence.

In January, Lomprey was cited for operating left of center, causing death. However, Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell later dismissed the citation but has the option to charge him again later. Newell said the fatal driving case remains under investigation; no criminal charges in the fatal crash have been filed at this time.

The crash occurred at 5:52 a.m. Dec. 19 on Highway S in the town of Tilden, approximately three-quarters of a mile east of U.S. 53, between the freeway and Highway Q, said Chippewa County Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk.

Lomprey was driving west-bound when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a vehicle driven by Curtis C. Wright, 56, of Eau Claire, said Kowalczyk.

Wright was pronounced dead at the scene. Lomprey was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Kowalczyk said there was no evidence of alcohol or drug use by either driver, and it was unclear why Lompreys car crossed the center line and struck Wrights vehicle. Kowalczyk said both men were headed to their respective jobs.

Online court records show Lomprey was convicted in Winona County, Minnesota, of operating while impaired after he was stopped there in March 2017. He also was charged with possession of a controlled substance; that was later dismissed.

Lomprey also was charged with battery-domestic abuse and disorderly conduct in 2019; those charges were later dismissed. Lomprey was convicted of burglary in 2018 in Dunn County Court and was placed on one year of probation.

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Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson tried to hand then-Vice President Mike Pence official-looking documents falsely affirming former President Donald Trump won Wisconsin and Michigan as Pence prepared to affirm Joe Bidens electoral victory on Jan. 6, 2021, according to text messages revealed at a U.S. House hearing Tuesday.

The Wisconsin document, signed by 10 Republicans who convened in the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, was filled out on the same day the Democratic slate of Wisconsin electors met in the same building to deliver the states 10 electoral votes to Biden. The meeting of Republicans occurred after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Biden had won the election.

Johnson needs to hand something to VPOTUS please advise, Johnson aide Sean Riley texted Pence staff member Chris Hodgson at 12:37 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021.

What is it? Hodgson replied.

Alternate slate of electors for MI and WI because archivist didnt receive them, Riley wrote back.

Hodgson responded: Do not give that to him.

The text messages were produced Tuesday by the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The senator had no involvement in the creation of an alternate slate of electors and had no foreknowledge that it was going to be delivered to our office, Johnson spokesperson Alexa Henning said in a statement after the revelation. This was a staff to staff exchange. His new Chief of Staff contacted the Vice Presidents office. The Vice Presidents office said not to give it to him and we did not. There was no further action taken.

After being asked follow-up questions about whether Johnson was informed about the fake document being provided to his office, who provided it or whether Johnson was involved in the decision to contact Pences office, as the text implies, Henning said, I sent you my statement.

Later on Tuesday, Johnson told a CNN reporter, I was aware that we got this package and that somebody wanted us to deliver it to the vice president. We reached out. They didnt want it, we didnt deliver it.

In the interview, Johnson said he didnt know who delivered the documents to his office.

In the run-up to the vote certification on Jan. 6, 2021, Johnson indicated he would object to the certification of electors in key states Biden won. But he changed course after the assault on the Capitol and voted to certify key swing states whose results Republicans were trying to discredit.

He later told a liberal activist in comments that were secretly recorded, theres nothing obviously skewed about the results of the 2020 presidential election. Even so, the senator has consistently supported former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gablemans effort to review the 2020 election.

Wisconsin, we deserve better, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin stated on Twitter.

Two days before the text exchange between Johnsons office and that of the vice president, according to another text the House committee disclosed Tuesday, Wisconsin Republican Party executive director Mark Jefferson texted an unidentified person saying, Freaking trump idiots want someone to fly original elector papers to the senate President. Theyre gonna call one of us to tell us just what the hell is going on.

Wisconsin Republican Party spokesperson Anna Kelly did not respond to a request for comment.

Fake electors

Republicans have said the meeting to sign the document was to preserve their legal options amid litigation surrounding the election. Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro sent a memo to fellow Trump attorney and former Dane County Circuit Court Judge James Troupis on Nov. 18, 2020, detailing the Republicans eventual plan to pose as electors.

One of those fake electors, former Wisconsin Republican Party chair Andrew Hitt, told the U.S. House committee in a video presented Tuesday that he was told the fake Trump electors would only count if a court ruled in the former presidents favor.

Official-looking certificates were submitted by Republicans claiming to be electors in Wisconsin and six other states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Pennsylvania.

In a Dec. 9, 2020, memo obtained by The Washington Post and revealed this week, Chesebro called the plan to sign official-looking documents in Wisconsin and Arizona unproblematic but said the plan was slightly problematic in Michigan, somewhat dicey in Georgia and Pennsylvania and extremely problematic in Nevada  all states where local laws made producing such documents difficult.

The article didnt explain why Wisconsin was unproblematic, but explained that the slight problem in Michigan was state law requiring the electors to convene at a specific time in the Senate chambers, which is where the Democratic electors were already convening. Wisconsin law specifies a time, but not a room in the state Capitol where the meeting should be held.

In court

Chesebro, Troupis and the 10 Republicans who signed the paperwork are now subject to a lawsuit in Wisconsin  the first of its kind nationwide  alleging they played a role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

The lawsuit seeks more than $2.4 million in damages, including $2,000 in fines for the Republicans and their attorneys, and up to $200,000 in punitive damages for each plaintiff. Plaintiffs in the case include lawfully elected Wisconsin electors Khary Penebaker and Mary Arnold, as well as Bonnie Joseph, who is listed in court documents as someone who objects to Defendants unlawful interference in Wisconsins participation in the Electoral College.

Law Forward also filed a complaint with the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office and another with the Office of Lawyer Regulation  the agency that handles complaints against lawyers in Wisconsin  against Hitt. The U.S. Department of Justice is also looking into the matter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Butterflies are often connotated with positive change or progress, because of their fascinating metamorphosis process.

In a literal context, they spell change for Columbus Community Hospital, in the form of a new Philips EPIQ Elite Ultrasound machine.

This year for the annual butterfly release fundraiser, the hospital sold the individual butterflies for the release at $15 per butterfly. Proceeds went to fund the new diagnostic imaging equipment for the cardiovascular department.

Columbus Community Hospital Foundation board member Martin Nore said the department has needed this technology for years. This improvement, he added, will help to increase the hospital's breadth of care they can provide and hopefully keep patients in Columbus.

"With newer technology, good things come about with updating, This will help people to be able to stay close to home and not have to go far away for treatment," Nore said.

Nore said that one of the facets of the event and the foundation that he enjoys is that funds raised are put right back into the community.

"I like the fact that donations and contributions go towards Columbus and the surrounding area, continues to support Columbus Community Hospital and not to some out-of-state function," Nore said.

Angie Ramaekers, director of volunteer and guest services at the hospital, said this was technically the ninth year CCH has put on this event, but due to COVID-19 causing a gap year, this is the eighth butterfly release.

"It was about 10 years ago that we heard about butterflies in another community and thought we could do something like that, a little different, make it our signature event," Ramaekers said.

The painted lady butterflies are available for $15 leading up to the actual release. Ramaekers said this year, they had over 350 butterflies purchased, plus many donations outside of that toward the new machine.

"That piece of equipment will be an assist to all the cardiac services here at Columbus Community Hospital. Its great, the proceeds go toward showing the future of cardiac services here," Ramaekers said.

In addition to the release of real butterflies, donors can also dedicate symbolic butterflies to a loved one or cause. Butterfly memorials are placed on a large banner next to the release area.

Jill Sander, an attendee who brought her family for the butterfly release, has done this for several years with her family.

"Were doing it in memory of my mom, dad and mother-in-law. We've been doing it for quite a few years; it's a tradition with the granddaughters," Sander said. "We really enjoy watching the butterflies."

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The tombstone bore the name of Wade Ayres, a Native American boy who died at a government-run boarding school in Carlisle more than a century ago and was thought to have been buried on the grounds of what is now the home of the U.S. Army War College.

But when the Army exhumed grave B-13 over on Saturday at Carlisle Barracks Post Cemetery, intending to repatriate the boys remains to the Catawba Indian Nation of South Carolina, they did not match those of a male age 13 or 14. Instead, they belonged to a female age 15 to 20, the Army said in a statement.

Her remains were reburied in the same grave on Monday and marked unknown.

The Army is committed to seeking more information in an effort to determine where the remains of Wade Ayres are buried so that he may be returned to his family and the Catawba nation, the Army said.

Messages were sent to Catawba and Army officials on Tuesday seeking more information about efforts to locate Wade. It was also unclear whether the Army seeks to match the unidentified female to a tribe.

The discovery came as the Army disinters the remains of eight Native American children who died at the government-run Carlisle Indian Industrial School. The disinterment process began earlier this month and is the fifth such project at Carlisle, the home of the U.S. Army War College.

So far, the Army has disinterred four of the children, with two already returned to family members, one reburied and one to be repatriated pending analysis, according to Renea Yates, director of the Office of Army Cemeteries.

The Army has transferred remains of a total of 23 Native American children from Carlisle in recent years, but its repatriation efforts have not always gone as planned.

In 2017, a grave thought to belong to a 10-year-old child actually contained two sets of remains, from a teenage male and a person of undetermined age and sex.

There could be a number of reasons that remains do not match cemetery records, including shifting ground, poor record-keeping and a mixup at the time of burial, University of South Florida forensic anthropologist Erin Kimmerle said.

Unfortunately, it happens all the time, Kimmerle said in a phone interview Tuesday. Ive probably done 40 different exhumations in known, existing cemeteries and every cemetery had issues.

The Carlisle cemetery was relocated in 1927 to make way for new construction at the base, according to the Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center at Dickinson College. Kimmerle said its possible that graves were switched at that time. She said she suspects Wade might be buried nearby.

More than 10,000 children from more than 140 tribes passed through the Carlisle school between 1879 and 1918, including famous Olympian Jim Thorpe, as part of a U.S. policy to force Native American children to assimilate to white society.

The school sought to separate Native children from their cultures, cutting their braids, dressing them in military-style uniforms and punishing them for speaking their native languages.

Some 186 children originally were buried in the cemetery at the site.

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A Massachusetts man was sentenced to life in prison last week in connection with the stabbing death of a Carlisle woman in October 2020.

The Cumberland County District Attorneys Office reported Monday that Sean Michael Roberts, 30, of Gloucester, Massachusetts, was sentenced to life in prison Friday by Cumberland County Judge Jessica Brewbaker. Roberts had been found guilty of murder in the first degree during a trial in April.

Roberts had been charged with homicide on Oct. 15, 2020, after he called 911 to report that he had stabbed the girl [he] was staying with. Roberts had been visiting a friend in Carlisle, and police determined that Roberts had used a folding knife to stab the victim, Jodi Sivik, in the neck repeatedly.

Roberts was located on the street just outside of the residence, and Siviks body was found just inside the door. The District Attorneys Office said the jury had convicted him after deliberating for less than three hours.

Jodis family gets to begin to put this tragedy behind them and focus instead on honoring the memory of a beautiful, thoughtful, kind, funny woman whose life was cut too short, Chief Deputy District Attorney Kimberly Metzger said.

Email Naomi Creason at ncreason@cumberlink.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelCreason.

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Joe Bidens daughter told the press to back off as her father took a presidential beach stroll in Delaware.

Ashley Biden and Mr Bidens grandaughter Natalie intervened as the commander-in-chief began chatting to reporters as he walked with his family in Rehoboth Beach.

Nope, like no more - No more questions, the first daughter said behind her father as she raised her hands during the Monday walk.

But Mr Biden could not help talking politics as he was asked about the forthcoming G7 meeting in Germanys Bavarian Alps.

Yes, one of the things that you may recall that I initiated was the international flat tax. We got 140-some nations to sign on, said Mr Biden before telling his granddaughter, Im coming.

President Joe Biden talks to the media after walking on the beach with his granddaughter Natalie Biden, left, and his daughter Ashley Biden, right, Monday, June 20, 2022 at Rehoboth Beach, Del. (AP)

This is my son Beaus oldest daughter and shes trying to tell me dad, grandpa, pop, get going, explained Mr Biden. the president said.

The women then explained how they had spent Fathers Day on Sunday, with Natalie telling DailyMail.com, We had dinner.

Ashley said that the first family had All hung out together, with Natalie adding, And we did puzzles.

President Joe Biden talks to people as he walks on the beach with his granddaughter Natalie Biden and his daughter Ashley Biden, Monday, June 20, 2022 at Rehoboth Beach, Del. (AP)

The Biden family was spending time in Delaware on the federal holiday of Juneteenth, which Mr Biden signed into law last year.

Mr Biden posed for pictures with beachgoers who recognised him as he made his way across the sands.
On Saturday, the Battle of Pilot Knob Historic Site, in cooperation with the Ozark Regional Library, is sponsoring an informative kids' safety event. Running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the event focuses on bicycle safety, and kids will have the chance to earn a personalized Missouri State Parks drivers license.

There will also be a second day of the event on July 7 at the Azalea Park in Fredericktown.

In order to earn a Missouri State Parks drivers license, the historic site will be having kids test skills on a bicycle safety course. Put together in the day-use parking lot next to the museum, kids are encouraged to bring their bikes to be checked out and then used in the course. If a child does not have a bike to use, the park will have some on loan for the day. Toddlers are also allowed to participate with tricycles.

The event is meant to allow parents and guardians the chance to learn about other safety topics relating to children as well, including filling out information that can be used in case of an Amber Alert.

According to Bryan Bethel, manager of the Battle of Pilot Knob Historic Site, parents will be filling out information such as the weight, height, hair and eye color, and any other information that can be used for Amber Alerts.

Children will also be outfitted with helmets, donated by Iron County Hospital, while supplies last.

For more information on the event either call the Battle of Pilot Knob Museum at 573-546-3454 or call the Ozark Regional Library at 573-546-2615. The Historic Site is located at 118 E. Maple Street in Pilot Knob.

Danielle Thurman is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be contacted at dthurman@dailyjournalonline.com or 573-518-3616.

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Come along for a leisurely drive on the winding, remote backwoods byways of American conservatism.

Let's start in Lebanon, N.H., where Norris Cotton worked as a lawyer before being elected to the U.S. House (1947-1954) and the Senate (1954-1974, 1975). He described himself as "rock-ribbed conservative and proud of it."

Drive north a while on Route 10, turn onto the country road known grandly as the Governor Meldrim Thomson Scenic Highway and pause at Mount Cube, where within living memory Mr. Thomson, who governed this state from 1973 to 1979, would serve you a plate of pancakes slathered in his own maple syrup. Mr. Thomson, who wanted to outfit the state National Guard with nuclear weapons, warned conservatives about "those who wish to completely socialize America."

Carry on a bit, climbing into the forest toward Warren, where as a college student Sherman Adams (governor, 1949-1953) explored the hills, finding inspiration to become a modest lumber baron. As Dwight Eisenhower's chief of staff, he was known as the man who said "no" when the White House was approached with some damn-fool idea.

Where this road leads is to the current day, when Republican Gov. Chris Sununu has approval ratings over 50%. He's one of the most popular state chief executives in the country. He's the second member of his family to capture the governor's chair under the gold dome of the state Capitol and is the third to win a statewide election. He's a credible candidate for president or an attractive figure for the vice presidency. His family is close to the Bushes.

So naturally Mr. Sununu, whose conservative bona fides would be unassailable in any other era, is being challenged from the right.

And before he has to run against a Democrat in the fall, he will have to run against Donald Trump in late summer.

Not literally against Mr. Trump, of course. The former president isn't on the Republican primary ballot Sept. 13, but some of his supporters are. They've caused a ruckus before and are determined to do so again.

Their prospects against an establishment Republican whose family has won eight times in statewide contests are about as great as the chance that New Hampshire will enact a broad-based tax anytime soon. Both Sununus who occupied the governor's office on the second floor of the Capitol -- the father, John H. Sununu, who served from 1983 to 1989, and the son, who has been governor since 2017 -- foreswore an income or sales taxes in a state that prides itself on having neither.

Even so, the campaign for one of the challengers, Thad Riley, bellows in an email that "Thad's vision for New Hampshire is precisely like President Trump's!" Mr. Riley is a former member of the school board in Brentwood, N.H., (population not quite 5,000) in the southeastern corner of the state. One of the other primary challengers is former State Rep. Karen Testerman, who has run for governor before and who has argued that Mr. Trump did not lose New Hampshire, where official final results showed him trailing Joe Biden by 59,277 votes, or 7.4 percentage points, the largest margin of any battleground state.

"There is a 'Disgruntlement Caucus' in the state Republican Party who feels Sununu is too close to the center or too willing to work with Democrats or sometimes describes himself as pro-choice," says Christopher Galdieri, a political scientist at Saint Anselm College in Manchester and author of "Donald Trump and New Hampshire Politics." "But it's also part of a national effort to elect candidates who are on board with Trump."

Mr. Trump has made no endorsements and perhaps will not; New Hampshire's traditional place as the venue for the first presidential primary may persuade him to make no unnecessary foes in a state that could play a role in a third presidential campaign.

But make no mistake: Mr. Trump is no fan of Mr. Sununu; in part because of Mr. Sununu's family's ties to establishment figures such as the Bush family and in part because of what Mr. Sununu said at this spring's Gridiron Club dinner, itself the very definition of an establishment forum:

"The press often will ask me if I think Donald Trump is crazy. And I'll say it this way: I don't think he's so crazy that you could put him in a mental institution. But I think if he were in one, he ain't getting out!"

And yet the themes that have animated Trump supporters nationally are in the air here. Mr. Riley wants a state education oversight board allowing parents to complain in biweekly sessions about the lessons their children are being taught in public schools -- an echo of what Glenn Youngkin used in his successful 2020 gubernatorial campaign in Virginia.

Meanwhile, Ms. Testerman charges the governor's policies on the coronavirus "brought about the destruction of small businesses and hurt our families" -- an echo of the approach that State Sen. Doug Mastriano used in his successful campaign for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in Pennsylvania last month. Indeed, Ms. Testerman's website argues, "We must decide whether we are a free state," a statement itself with echoes of Mr. Mastriano's plea for Pennsylvanians to "walk as free people." It will not go unnoticed that one of her slogans is "Together We Can Make New Hampshire Great Again."

These challengers have a steep uphill fight to defeat Mr. Sununu, who is well-funded and is an accomplished campaigner. "With more than one fringe candidate out there running against Sununu," says Andrew Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, "consolidating the pro-Trump, anti-Sununu sentiment will be difficult."

The road from Lebanon, where Norris Cotton was buried in 1989, to Warren, where he was born in 1900, leads us to Mount Mousilauke, known for its vista stretching to the far horizon. The other day the view was aptly obscured in haze, for so too is the future of American conservatism, here in a place and an age Norris Cotton, Meldrim Thomson and Sherman Adams never could have contemplated.

David M. Shribman is the former executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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Shopping for cannabis can be overwhelming for new consumers. Ngiste Abebe, vice president of public policy for Columbia Care, which operates Cannabist and gLeaf dispensaries in Virginia, offers some helpful information and tips to simplify the process. Abebe is also a volunteer board member at Virginia NORML and the vice chair of the Public Health Advisory Council for Virginias Cannabis Control Authority.

How do patients get a Virginia medical cannabis card?

The first step is to talk to a doctor, nurse practitioner or other medical provider who is registered with the states boards of pharmacy and can issue you a patient certification. Virginia NORML maintains a patient-friendly, searchable database to help you find a provider and a step-by-step guide to follow, and telehealth makes appointments more accessible than ever.

Next, youll submit the certification online to the Board of Pharmacy. Once approved, youll receive an email confirmation and later a physical card to present when shopping at dispensaries. After July 1, the process with the Board of Pharmacy will be changing and updates will be sent out accordingly.

Are cannabis products available for sale without a health care practitioners certification in Virginia?

Only registered patients are currently allowed to purchase medical cannabis in Virginia. Adult use (or recreational use) is still being considered by the state legislature.

Does a patient need to have a specific medical condition to qualify as a medical cannabis patient?

There is no list of required conditions; the decision is made between you and your health care practitioner. A conversation with your provider can help determine whether medical cannabis is a good option for you.

For those new to medical cannabis, how do they figure out which product is best?

When you visit a medical cannabis dispensary, youll be met by well-trained pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who can answer any questions and alleviate concerns. There are a lot of different product formats  flower, vapes, tinctures and more. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are there to help you navigate the options and talk through suggested doses based on potency and strain lineage (sativa, indica or hybrid).

How do patients know whether a product is safe?

When visiting a state-licensed medical cannabis dispensary, rest assured that all products are third party-tested and approved by the Board of Pharmacy. These requirements (third party testing and verification by a regulator) are not applied to many of the Delta-8 THC or CBD products that you might find in grocery stores or gas stations. No other cannabinoid sales outlet in Virginia meets the same level of safety testing, accurate labeling and third party review.

What is Delta-8?

Delta-8 THC is a type of cannabinoid produced naturally by the cannabis plant. Typically processed at higher concentrations, it is not regulated or tested. The FDA recently issued a warning about the potential health effects of Delta-8 THC products.

Whats the best way to store cannabis at home?

Products sold at state-registered medical cannabis dispensaries come in child-resistant packaging. If you dont finish the product once its been opened, its always a good idea to store the remainder in a secure stash/lockbox out of childrens reach. LOCKGREEN, a 100 percent Black-owned, Virginia-based company, offers some great options.

About Columbia Care

One of the largest and most experienced cultivators, manufacturers and providers of cannabis products and related services, Columbia Care maintains licenses in 18 U.S. jurisdictions and the EU. In Virginia, the company operates retail dispensaries called Cannabist and gLeaf. For more information, visit col-care.com.

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LONDON  The world watched as Prince William grew from a towheaded schoolboy to a dashing air-sea rescue pilot to a balding father of three.

But as he turns 40 on Tuesday, William is making the biggest change yet: assuming an increasingly central role in the royal family as he prepares for his eventual accession to the throne.

That was clear two weeks ago when William took center stage at the extravaganza concert marking Queen Elizabeth IIs 70 years on the throne, lauding his grandmother as an environmental trailblazer as he delivered a call to action on climate change.

Tonight has been full of such optimism and joy  and there is hope, he said, as images of wildlife, oceans and jungles were projected on the walls of Buckingham Palace behind him. Together, if we harness the very best of humankind, and restore our planet, we will protect it for our children, for our grandchildren and for future generations to come.

Get ready to see more of this.

Slowed by age and health problems, the 96-year-old queen is gradually handing over more responsibilities to her son and heir, Prince Charles. That in turn gives William, his eldest son, a more important role to play and more opportunities to put the stamp on a new generation of the monarchy.

William, along with his wife, Kate, has staked out a role as an advocate for more openness about mental health, and as a supporter of organizations working to end homelessness. This month, he was spotted selling the Big Issue, a magazine that supports the homeless, on a London street.

In an article for the magazine, William pledged to continue doing what I can to shine a spotlight on this solvable issue.

And while I may seem like one of the most unlikely advocates for this cause, I have always believed in using my platform to help tell those stories and to bring attention and action to those who are struggling, he wrote. I plan to do that now Im turning 40, even more than I have in the past.

Williams position as the eventual heir to the throne was, of course, sealed at his birth on June 21, 1982, the first son of Charles and the late Princess Diana. That put him in the public eye from the second that Charles and Diana presented him to the TV cameras outside the Lindo Wing of St. Marys Hospital in London.

The world has watched William from his school days in London to his courtship of Kate Middleton at St. Andrews University in Scotland and their spectacular wedding at Westminster Abbey.

He paraded before the cameras once again when he graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, then went on to active duty in the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force. Finally, he became a civilian air ambulance pilot before moving into full-time royal duties five years ago.

His charities and causes  from mental health to the environment  have given hints of what sort of monarch he might one day be.

Royal expert Pauline Maclaran, author of Royal Fever: The British Monarchy in Consumer Culture. said William was keen to show how he will treat things differently.

And so we see that more and more, where the future of the line is being emphasized, with Charles being put more in a kind of holding position for William. Were always reminded that William is after Charles, she added.

Events just before and during the celebrations of the queens platinum jubilee started to give a clearer indication of Williams vision of the future.

William and Kate represented the queen last March when they made an eight-day tour of Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, three of the 14 independent countries where the British monarch still serves as head of state.

They were met with brass bands and gala dinners, but also with demonstrations by protesters demanding reparations for Britains role in the enslavement of millions of Africans. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness told the royals his country intended to become a republic, severing ties to the monarchy.

After the trip, the young royals were criticized as tone deaf for perpetuating images of Britains colonial rule.

But rather than falling back on the House of Windsors traditional response of never complain, never explain, William took the unusual step of issuing a statement reflecting on all that had happened.

I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future, William said. In Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, that future is for the people to decide upon.

Catherine and I are committed to service, he continued. For us, thats not telling people what to do. It is about serving and supporting them in whatever way they think best.

That willingness to be approachable is critical for the House of Windsor as it seeks to remain relevant to younger people and cement its role in British society, Maclaran said.

Its important that William shows there are going to be changes to the monarchy, she said. Otherwise, you know, I suspect it really cant survive.
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

The National History Museum has enriched its collection with a unique exhibit.

The tombstone of the founder and first ruler of the Karabakh khanate, founder of Shusha city Panah Ali Khan Javanshir (1693-1763), is on display in the museum, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

Director-General of the Azerbaijani National History Museum, academician Naila Valikhanli, Vice-Presidents of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), academicians Isa Habibbayli and Govkhar Bakhshaliyeva, Executive Director of the History Museum, associate professor Farhad Jabbarov, senior members of the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) took part in the presentation.

In her speech, Naila Velikhanly pointed out that the National History Museum has been systematically collecting, researching, and promoting a rich collection related to Karabakh history and culture.

She added that the exposition hall also displays a series of unique exhibits related to the history of Karabakh and the city of Shusha, including a 14th-century silver coin with an inscription about minting in Karabakh, two silver keys from the gates of the Shusha fortress, a mace - a symbol of the power of Ibrahimkhalil Khan (1763 -1806 years), rare documents, photographs, drawings, musical instruments, etc.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli stressed that this exposition is of great importance from the social, political and historical points of view.

He underlined that the History Museum provides insight into Azerbaijani history and culture through valuable exhibits and a number of events.

Academician Govkhar Bakhshaliyeva expressed her confidence that the museum exhibits related to the history of Karabakh and the city of Shusha, will become an important source for further research and studies.

Head of the Department of Scientific Exposition and Organization of Exhibitions, Ph.D. in history, associate professor, and curator of the exhibition Sabuhi Ahmadov noted that Panah Ali Khan Javanshir was buried at the Imarat cemetery in Aghdam, where a tomb was built over his grave.

During the Armenian occupation of Karabakh, most of the buildings there were destroyed, including monuments associated with Azerbaijan's prominent figures.

In 1974, the tombstone of Panah Ali Khan Javanshir was brought to the History Museum where it was restored using modern methods.

The museum's restoration laboratory restored the tombstone without damaging its original appearance.

On the first floor, the museum showcases a model of the "Imarat" cemetery and the translation of the inscription on the tombstone, information plates about the history of the tomb as well as Panah Ali Khan Javanshir's portrait by artist Ajdar Gafarov.

The National History Museum also plans to hold a special exhibition and catalog dedicated to the city of Shusha.

The opening of the exposition and the catalog presentation are scheduled for November this year.
NEW YORK  America has perfected the stressful TV cooking competition, pitting amateur or professional chefs against each other in such high-pressure, scream-filled shows as Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen or Top Chef.

PBS hopes to change that with an original food competition show, The Great American Recipe, that dispenses with the angst and scary knife graphics. Its more The Great British Baking Show than Hells Kitchen.

Gentle and supportive, the show gathers 10 home cooks from around the country and gives them the opportunity to showcase their signature dishes. The eight-episode series premieres Friday on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS Video app.

Yes, they were competing, but they really were just there to be their best selves and tell each other stories through their food, said the shows host, Alejandra Ramos, a chef and writer who contributes to the Today show.

The contestants include a hotel receptionist from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who makes a soul-satisfying linguini; a firefighter from Providence, Rhode Island, who makes a meaty Chicken Sicilian; and a small-business owner from New York, an expert on cod fritters, or bacalaitos.

Sylvia Bugg, chief programming executive and general manager for general audience programming for PBS, said its the stories behind the food that make the show compelling.

Hopefully people can see themselves reflected in the stories through The Great American Recipe that they may not have otherwise seen, she said. Its nice competition; its great characters, great story. You get that emotion, which I think is just the recipe for success, and were pretty excited about it.

The home chefs are tasked with creating two dishes for each shows two rounds, which are judged on taste, presentation, execution and how it highlights the theme  things like a meal in a pinch, a crowd pleaser or a special-occasion meal. The judges are Leah Cohen, Tiffany Derry and Graham Elliot.

The dishes were delicious and incredible. We loved eating them. But listening to the stories was honestly the most satisfying part of being on the show, said Ramos.

The dishes that are presented offer a lovely rainbow of flavors, from chicken tostadas and Zuppa Toscana to a potato-crusted quiche, pineapple fried rice and shakshouka, a Mediterranean version of huevos rancheros. Many recipes have been handed down to the contestants from family but added to, and played with, the melting pot of America.

American food is not just one thing. I think it can often be dismissed as like, Oh, its burgers or its pizza. Whereas everything else gets its own separate identity, said Ramos.

But the reality is that this country is an amalgamation of cultures and stories and regional differences and ingredients and climates and all of those things combined  thats what American food is. Its not just one thing. This is really about celebrating that diversity.

There is a camaraderie among the contestants, who will offer to help others when they finish early or taste anothers dish for advice. In one sweet scene, a woman of Italian heritage admits shes anxious about pivoting to make lime shrimp tacos.

Am I nervous that Im doing Mexican in an elimination round when I am Italian? Yes, I am. But I dont really have a lane to stay in, she said. And thats sort of the shows motto: The only lane is good-tasting food.

I think thats the beauty of the show  its not just about putting people into boxes, but its really empowering them to tell the breadth of their story and all the different stops and starts and turns that path takes, said Ramos.

One of the sweetest challenges on the show was when contestants are asked to illustrate how they show love through food. One man made a dish he made for his wife, another cooked something the persons mom made them when they were sick, and a third offered something they whipped up for a friend who was broken-hearted.

The series  filmed in a barn in southern Virginia  culminates in a finale in which the remaining home cooks prepare an entire meal for the judges. The winning dish will grace the cover of a companion book, The Great American Recipe Cookbook, which will also feature recipes from all of the contestants and the shows host and judges.

The home cooks range in age from late 20s to 60s and also include a sport operations specialist from Minneapolis; a small-business owner from Boise, Idaho, with two boys; and a digital content creator from San Luis Obispo, California, who makes a mean choriqueso. It is clear they are the rock star food people of their circles.

And the bonds between them grow to the point that survivors guilt sets in. Anytime there was an elimination, it was like almost everyone else was more sad about the elimination than the actual person that was going home, said Ramos.
The rhythms of beaten drum shared the air with wafting scents of traditional Afghan food air at Charlottesvilles IX Art Park on Monday at a World Refugee Day celebration hosted by local nonprofit International Neighbors, a Charlottesville-based nonprofit that works with refugees and immigrants who have settled in the area.

This is a celebration of diversity. This is about loving your neighbor, your refugee neighbor, said Adaline Masah, director of outreach for International Neighbors.

The event featured free food, an interactive drum circle session, a multicultural fashion show, and various giveaways and informational sessions from community groups.

World Refugee Day is recognized internationally on June 20 every year. It was designed by the United Nations to celebrate and honor refugees from around the world.

The day was first established in 2001 in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

This is the second year International Neighbors has held a community event to commemorate the day.

We want our neighbors to see each other and for our refugee neighbors to know that we support them and support the community. We want the community to get to know their neighbors too, Masah said.

Sharon Stone, founder of local nonprofit The Free Book Bus, debuted a new coloring book at the event. The book is called Welcome to Charlottesville, and highlights various aspects of life in the area through the ABCs in which A is for Albemarle County and B, naturally, is for Bodos Bagels.

Stone created the book specifically with immigrants and refugees in mind and is translating the book into several languages. On Monday, she had an Arabic translation available. In the next few weeks, a Pashto version will join and versions in Farsi, Dari and Spanish are in the works.

Its been more than a year in development. When I first started seeing refugees on the bus they were asking for Pashto, Dari and Farsi. I started buying them online, but they were very limited and expensive. So I had the idea to do an ABC book and get it translated, Stone said.

Stone takes her bus to schools, housing complexes, food pantries and other community hubs, where children and even adults can browse the bookshelves installed and choose a title or two to take home. Its completely free with no catch.

The book was written by Stone and illustrated by Racheal Davis. The translation and production of the books was funded through grants from the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band and Whole Foods Market Community Giving Program, as well as a donation from Ned Woodhouse.

The English translation of the book will be sold at Alakazam Toys and other local businesses as a fundraiser for the bus.

Parents get really excited about the book. A lot of times, when [families have] been here awhile, their kids start to lose the native language. Parents really want their kids to have the ability to read and write their native language from their home country as well as English, Stone said.

Mohammad Nasim Kakar, an Afghan refugee and Charlottesville resident, is president of the newly incorporated Afghan Community of Charlottesville, a group that works to promote community and culture among refugees and help those who have newly arrived in Charlottesville.

He said events like these are important for community members to get to know the culture of their neighbors and for refugees to meet people in Charlottesville.

We are thankful to have an event for us to show our culture to the people around us, to people live who in Charlottesville, Kakar said. We have around 600 Afghan families living in Charlottesville, and they dont know the culture here when they first come here. Our goal is to help them get connected in the community.

Kakar said connecting with Charlottesville residents at events like this has helped the city feel more like home to him and other refugees.

Charlottesville became my home. I feel like its my own country. The people are nice, and I feel safer here. This is a great city to live in with my family, he said.

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A cave-in inside of a Giles County, Va., mine killed one man Monday afternoon and injured another worker, according to the countys emergency services department.

The incident occurred at the Lhoist Chemical Mine Plant on Big Stony Creek Rd. in Ripplemead, an expansive backcountry industrial site where limestone is extracted and processed.

Jon Butler, Giles Countys emergency services coordinator, said authorities received an emergency call around 4 p.m. Upon arriving, they learned that a machine excavator inside the Lhoist mine had been engulfed by materials which capsized the excavator and trapped its operator inside its cab.

After emergency workers and mine employees entered the mine, they found the machine operator had been killed. Another worker was treated on the scene for chemical burns he suffered while attempted to rescue his colleague.

Neither worker was identified by authorities and no other injuries were reported.

The mine will remain shut down while the incident is under investigation, Butler said.
The states nurse licensing board reprimanded a Philomath nurse June 15 after he arbitrarily wrote names in medical documents.

Jeremiah Moore intentionally wrote incorrect names on medical documentation when he didnt know X-ray technicians last names where he worked as a circulating operating room nurse, according to the Oregon State Board of Nursing.

Falsifying data violates state licensure law.

The board learned about the inaccurate medical documentation in November.

Moore expressed remorse for his actions and completed continuing education courses in accurate documentation and in ethics and professionalism, according to a disciplinary order filed by the board. He cooperated with the board which formally reprimanded his license.

The state granted Moore a registered nurse license in 2017 and could, according to the order, revoke that license if violated again.

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It starts with a 911 call.

Maybe someone is struggling and doesnt have anyone to talk to. Or maybe the call comes from a third party, whether friend or stranger, to report a commotion.

The latter was the case in early June, when many concerned citizens called 911 about a seemingly agitated man who climbed a tree and wouldnt come down in downtown Albany. What followed was hours of negotiations.

No matter who places the call, local law enforcement agencies are receiving and responding to more and more mental health-related reports. Whether law enforcement is the proper response to someone experiencing a mental health crisis, however, isnt always clear-cut.

It depends on what kind of mental health call because we get a wide variety of different calls, and sometimes we don't realize it's a mental health issue until after we get there, Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan said. Sometimes we have frequent callers, and we know that they're not necessarily a danger to themselves or others.

With mental health-related calls on the rise, local agencies are working with county mental health organizations to address the growing crisis.

Its a gray area

Law enforcement officials say its not always clear which route  mental health or police  is appropriate. Regardless, sometimes, officers have to get involved, simply because theyre often first on the scene.

I wish we lived in that black and white world. We don't, Albany Police Department Chief Marcia Harnden said. There are people who are experiencing acute mental health crises or mental illness that are a danger to the community, and that's always going to involve us. Until there is strong infrastructure in place  crisis response centers, bolstering up crisis responding teams  we're going to continue to go to those calls.

Thats what happened when the man climbed the downtown Albany tree. Passersby thought to call police, not county mental health services. When officers arrived, negotiations proved mostly unsuccessful, according to APD, and tensions heightened as the number of spectators grew.

For people experiencing a mental health crisis, or for those witnessing someone experiencing a crisis, calling the police is a natural instinct, Benton County Sheriffs Office Capt. Chris Duffitt said. They call 911 when they dont know whom else to call.

Law enforcement here, and I think nationally, is the first responder for really when somebody needs help, Duffitt said. I think that law enforcement will continue to be that first responder in a lot of these calls because sometimes even if we're looking at a mental health issue, we will never know that it's a mental health-related call until we arrive.

Training takes time

Officers and deputies receive some training when it comes to responding to mental health-related calls, and local agencies are making it more of a priority.

Crisis intervention training teaches officers how to respond to people experiencing various mental illnesses and crises, such as suicidal ideation, mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and more.

But such training is not available to every officer or deputy. Duncan said the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training requires one hour of crisis intervention training every year. Its up to the specific agency if they want to invest more time, and likely more money, into additional training.

The problem is, especially in our divisions that are 24/7, I've got to take them off the road to do that or we pay overtime for them to complete that training, Duncan said. So there's always that balance of budgets.

Duncan agrees training needs to be mandatory, but she said training is not always funded by the state, and it doesnt come cheap.

Still, although costly and time-consuming, local agencies are placing an emphasis on the training.

Our deputies at the Benton County Sheriff's Office all have received crisis intervention training, Duffitt said. It's a 40-hour course that we require every deputy and new deputy to go through prior to being out on patrol, and also in our other divisions within our office to include the corrections deputies and the parole probation deputies.

In Corvallis, the training also is becoming more of a priority. As of May, around 70% of Corvallis Police Departments sworn officers had completed it, according to Officer Trevor Anderson.

Theyre trained fairly well on responding to mental health crises  they get quite a bit of training, Anderson said. Our chief is looking to train 100% of our staff. We're committed to that, but it's kind of a moving target as officers retire and we get new officers on. We try to run at least one CIT class a year.

Our goal is two a year, if possible, but COVID threw a wrench in that. So we're trying to ramp back up on that.

Corvallis Police Department was recently selected as one of three departments in the country to pilot a crisis response and intervention training. The program is backed by the U.S. Department of Justices Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Local agencies have been training on crisis response techniques for many years, but this new program represents a more inclusive approach to issues like substance abuse and intellectual and developmental disabilities, a news release from the city said.

Marilyn Marker, chair for National Alliance on Mental Illness Mid-Valleys advisory committee, said the local branch has participated in some of the crisis intervention training with local police. Marker said these sessions are key for law enforcement officials to understand how to communicate with someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis.

We go and tell our stories as either a family member or as a peer with experience with mental illness or with their family member and sort of put a face on what it's like to have a family member with an illness, Marker said. We talk about what has worked for them and, if they've had experiences with law enforcement, what has been positive and what hasn't worked so well.

Marker emphasized that approaching someone in crisis with a calm attitude and listening to them is crucial, and the training is a great way to learn these skills.

But even when theres a will, the way is not always easy. At the Albany Police Department, staffing shortages make it particularly difficult to get officers this training.

Our goal here is to have all of our sworn officers trained in crisis intervention training within the next five years, Harnden said. That's a huge lift considering how short-staffed we are, and it's difficult.

The man in the Albany tree, about two stories high, reportedly was experiencing mental health problems. Whether or not the responding officers had the necessary training to handle the situation is unknown. What is known is that it took about three hours to coax the man to come down on his own.

Current protocol

After a call comes in to 911 call centers, what follows may involve police, county health services or a combination of both. Regardless, agencies across the board say theyre seeing more calls involving mental-health at least in some capacity.

In Corvallis, thats happening at least weekly, and probably more frequently than that, Duffitt said.

In the Linn County Sheriffs jurisdiction, Duncan said there have been around 80 such calls since Jan. 1, not including those that are later identified as mental health-related calls.

Albany police Dispatcher Christopher Johnson estimated about a third of all calls have some sort of mental health component.

I think coming out of COVID, we're experiencing people struggling with more and more mental health issues on various levels of various degrees, Harnden said.

The dispatchers first task is to determine whether there is a criminal component to a mental health-related report. Its all about getting the most information possible before sending someone out to the scene, dispatchers say.

We are looking for immediate threats of harm, past history and taking into account all information to determine if law enforcement needs to get involved now or later, Johnson said.

The information gathering continues once officers arrive at the scene, utilizing everything they learned through training.

It involves active listening and trying to gather clues about what this person is going through, and how we can best help them, Duffitt said. If available, we'll get a hold of Benton County Behavioral Health and ask them to respond as well. That usually isn't until after we've already made contact with somebody, and we've put this information together, so we can seek assistance from them.

As officers or deputies assess the situation, they are tasked with figuring out next steps. Duncan said Linn County deputies focus on reducing tensions.

Our staff do such a good job at de-escalating these situations that our use of force is extremely low, Duncan said. We're talking them into wanting to go to the hospital, we're talking them into de-escalating the issue or to stop the crime that they're committing.

But if someone is actively committing a crime or is endangering themselves or those around them, police must intervene, agency leaders said.

This is why police responded to the man in the tree. He was eventually arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.

Obviously, when we respond to a call where somebody is a danger to themselves or somebody else, we have an obligation to take action and that of making sure that somebody doesn't harm themselves or somebody, Duffitt said. So what we have in Oregon is a peace officer hold or a peace officer custody so we're able to take somebody into custody and transport them to the hospital where they can get the help that they need.

Working with the county

The local police and sheriffs offices have formed relationships with their respective county mental health services to better address those in crisis. In many cases, a dual response is most effective.

We try to work collaboratively with them as much as possible. Knowing that we're the ones who are typically going to respond first to these calls, we try to use them as much as we can, Duffitt said. And that goes beyond even just our patrol response. If somebody gets arrested for a crime, and they get taken to our jail, then County Behavioral Health is contacted to help these people as much as they're able to, granted that the person wants to speak with somebody from Behavioral Health.

Both law enforcement and county mental health officials agree that a working relationship is key.

We have a great partnership and collaboration with our county agencies so far, Benton County Behavioral Health Program Manager Eric Bowling said. We have to work together to meet our communitys needs.

Benton County Behavioral Health wants to ensure people and their actions arent criminalized, Bowling said, when mental health issues are truly the driving force behind the actions that spurred the calls for help.

Meeting people where theyre at is at the core of the countys partnership with police, Bowling said. The focus is on providing the best care possible at that specific moment in time.

Ive been doing this for quite a number of years, and I started the program in Linn County, Bowling said. Ive seen the good that can come from these programs and the impact on the community.

In Albany, Kiersten Glaesers role with Linn County Mental Health is a direct sign of collaboration between county and police.

She's been a huge asset, Harnden said. She follows up on cases, and she makes sure she can follow the individual through the healthcare system and try to guide them towards resources.

Harnden added that Glaeser never seems to have a day off.

Officials at Linn County Mental Health say their relationship with law enforcement is crucial in getting someone the proper care.

I think that mental health gives a different lens and helps people struggling with mental illness. We're all trained, were all master's level folks, Nova Sweet, Linn County mental health crisis response team supervisor, said. Theyre able to look at things from a mental health perspective versus a safety perspective.

Tanya Thompson, mental health program manager, said her office works closely with local agencies, especially Albany PD. She meets with the agency often to discuss community-wide issues regarding mental health.

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When jail is the only option

If someone is experiencing a mental health crisis while committing a crime, they may end up with a citation and possibly a visit to jail.

That was the case with the man in the tree earlier this month. After Albany police safely talked him down, he was taken to Samaritan Albany General Hospital where he was evaluated and cleared by mental health prior to being taken to jail.

But is jail the right place for someone in crisis? The answer, again, isnt always obvious.

The jail is the right place for somebody who's committed crimes, Duffitt said. And sometimes that is people who are mentally ill.

It isnt always the most ideal place, law enforcement officials all seem to agree, but it is often the only option. Someone may be experiencing a crisis or living with a mental illness, but that doesnt necessarily mean they arent guilty of committing a crime.

If theyre committing a person's crime, a major felony crime, those people are going to have to go to jail, and not all mental illnesses preclude the ability to be culpable in a crime, Duncan said. But for those kinds of smaller crimes, there's potential for going down a mental health path.

The severity of the alleged crime will often determine whether or not someone will end up in jail. Officers must figure out intent and motive, whether the mental health crisis is the core motivator of the behavior," Corvallis PDs Anderson said.

Landing in jail doesnt mean someone will stay there. In regards to the man who climbed the tree in Albany, Linn County Mental Health was working with the mans probation officer to get him out of jail and into a psychiatric facility, according to Albany police.

While housing a person experiencing a mental health crisis is not ideal, the mid-Willamette Valley doesnt have a lot of options, according to officials. Hospital and jail beds are hard to come by in both counties, and theres no crisis center fit to handle the local demand.

If mental health issues or mental illness is driving criminal behavior, there should be options other than just the traditional criminal justice system, Harnden said.

The hope is to have more options in the future. For now, agencies are considering trying out what is known as the Yellow Line Project. It aims to provide more resources to those experiencing mental health crises and to avoid taking them to jail if possible. Duncan said shes working with the District Attorneys Office and other agencies to potentially implement this project in Linn County.

It would only be for some of the smaller crimes where there's a mental health component to it, but if there's a way that we can get them back on the path of mental health treatment, when that's really the issue instead of taking them to jail  which doesn't necessarily solve the problem for them or the community  thats the intent, Duncan said.

The individual would have to commit to a roughly two-month-long program of mental health treatment. Law enforcement would work with county mental health to determine how much progress the individual is making. If they are showing positive growth and complying with treatment, the police or sheriffs office wont send over the charges to be filed with the District Attorneys Office for prosecution.

These would only be for minor cases, such as trespass, Duncan said.

I think everybody can agree that sometimes for those people, the criminal path is not the best place for them, she said. My goal would be to work with mental health and other partners.

Harnden likes the idea, though shes unsure if the county has the infrastructure to support the program at this time.

Finding what works

If theres one thing all agencies seem to agree on, its that what works for one community may not work for another.

In Corvallis, a pilot program known as the Crisis Outreach Response and Engage team, or CORE, tries to resolve tense situations without jail. The team consists of Anderson and Alyssa Giesbrecht of county Behavioral Health.

I think we've seen a lot of successes over the past nine months or so, and I really think that it's filling a need in the community, Anderson said. We've got quite a few success stories already, but the biggest thing I'm seeing is it's really breaking down silos between service providers, because the line of communication between law enforcement and county health has never been better.

While Corvallis PD has seen success with its pilot program, a designated crisis response team isnt necessarily a viable option for other agencies.

The Linn County Sheriffs Office, Duncan said, cant even entertain the idea of a program like that until she gets staffing levels up.

We can talk about all these programs that we want to implement and things we want to do, but until I have the staff just to take the calls that are out there now, I can't even look at those things, she said.

For the Benton County Sheriffs Office, Duffitt said maintaining that relationship with county behavioral health is key.

I think that continuing to work collaboratively and having the contact information and the ability to contact our Benton County Behavioral Health is what is the most important and being able to work together to solve some of these issues related to the crisis we face in that way, Duffitt said.

In Albany, Harnden sought help from the City Council, seeking approval of a new mental health related position for the Police Department. In a memo sent to the council in late May, Harnden asked for the creation of a full-time mental health intervention specialist, effective July 1. The position would be a combined effort between police, fire, parks and recreation and library departments, according to the memo.

On June 8, the city council unanimously approved the new position.

The goal of this position is to provide assessment and treatment services; crisis intervention and treatment services, including intensive services, to individuals with complex needs and diagnoses; and develop and implement specific services in the community, the memo says.

The specialist will respond to mental health calls, not unlike the man in the tree, as well as provide follow-up to cases. In the memo, Albany fire Chief Shane Wooton, Parks and Recreation Director Kim Lyddane and Library Director Eric Ikenouye all offered their support for the new position.

Stretched thin

Law enforcement arent the only agencies experiencing short-staffing. Resources are stretched thin in both counties mental health departments and in the private sector.

One of the problems Marker said shes seen while working for National Alliance on Mental Illness is the difficulties getting an appointment with a mental health professional.

It takes a really long time to get an appointment unless its really an emergency, Marker said. It can take up to six months to get an appointment with a psychiatrist in town.

Thompson said Linn County Mental Health is working on getting fully staffed. Until then, its hard for the crisis response team to get out to other parts of Linn County, such as Lebanon and Sweet Home, in a timely manner.

We would absolutely love to have a full workforce, Sweet said. For crisis mobile, we'd like to be able to respond to all of Linn County, within 15 to 45 minutes depending on where we're going in Linn County.

Although infrastructure and resources may not be solidified, agency personnel have hopes for the future and are actively trying to improve the situation, whether that be through pilot programs, new initiatives or simply starting the conversation.

I think more mental health resources, and more available mental health resources would be extremely beneficial to the people of Benton County and in Oregon in general, Duffitt said. Dealing with increased calls related to mental health crises,  it would definitely be reasonable to think that more mental health resources would better the community.

Corvallis PD hopes to grow its CORE team in the future and looks forward to eventually having an alternative to jail and the hospital, Anderson said.

Neither place is really built for addressing mental health issues, and the emergency room is better equipped to handle broken arms, chest pains, physical illness versus mental health issues. And a jail is meant to house people that have committed crimes, not necessarily someone that is suffering from mental illness, he said.

Duncan would like to see a county crisis center dedicated to addressing mental health related cases.

It's not going to be a short-term goal, but I would really love to see Linn County get some kind of crisis resource center that is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week center that somehow would be staffed with some crisis workers, Duncan said. We can still have some place to take them to de-escalate.

Maddie Pfeifer covers public safety for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6091 or Madison.Pfeifer@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @maddiepfeifer_

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Linn County voters will have the chance this November to vote on whether they support a proposed ban on psilocybin production, manufacturing and service centers in the county under the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act.

The Linn County Board of Commissioners decided unanimously during a meeting on Tuesday, June 21 to put the matter on the general election ballot.

My fear is of young people taking mushrooms and going out and doing things that may cost them their life, Commissioner Roger Nyquist said.

I just think its appropriate to refer this measure to the voters in Linn County and allow them to have a say in this, particularly because they did not vote to support this measure in the first place, he added.

Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as psychedelic mushrooms, have been shown in some U.S. Food and Drug Administration studies to be an effective treatment for mental health conditions including addiction, depression, anxiety and end-of-life distress.

However, the psychedelic nature of psilocybin has made it a controversial topic in Linn County.

Oregon voters approved in November 2020 Measure 109, the psilocybin program, which directed the Oregon Health Authority to license and regulate everything to do with psilocybin products for individuals 21 and over. The vote was fairly split, with 56% of all Oregonians voting yes and 44% voting no.

In Linn County, however, those numbers were flipped, with 55% voting no and 45% voting yes.

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Counties are automatically opted into the psilocybin program, which is set to begin Jan. 2, 2023, unless a governing body adopts ordinances that allow its constituents to decide if theyd rather not have these facilities in their area.

Commissioners have three options when it comes to psilocybin in Linn County: allow the program to proceed automatically; refer the matter to voters in November; or adopt time, place and manner regulations for the program.

A ban on psilocybin production, manufacturing and service centers would impact only the areas in Linn County outside of the incorporated city limits.

Commissioner Will Tucker said he wishes voters had the same opportunity to vote for a ban on Measure 110, which made Oregon the first state to decriminalize the possession of hard drugs and use money saved from enforcing criminal drug possession penalties to fund a new drug addiction treatment and recovery program.

Commissioner Sherrie Sprenger said it was naive and ill-informed to think legalizing marijuana would eliminate the black market for weed, and she thinks the same argument will continue around psilocybin.

The situation many rural folks in Oregon find themselves in frequently is this idea that our voice wasnt heard and our voice wasnt taken into consideration, Sprenger said. Sometimes we feel like the metropolitan areas, i.e. Portland and Eugene, make decisions for the rest of us. Local voters need to have a say in their own community.

Joanna Mann (she/her) covers education for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6076 or Joanna.Mann@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @joanna_mann_.

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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: 541-231-6238 or alice.rampton@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.

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John W. Reger Jr.

August 15, 1959 - June 11, 2022

John was born to John W. (Bud) and Charlotte J. Reger in Corvallis, Oregon. Family and friendships were the two most important factors to John throughout his life. Beginning with friends that he was raised with on 14th St., to those he made throughout his college and working career.

John graduated from Corvallis High School in June of 1978. He then attended Oregon State University majoring in forest products. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Some of his best friends in life came from the "Delt," brotherhood.

After college, John began his working career as a lumber broker and continued in wood products throughout his career. At the time of his death, he was employed as Vice President of Operations for Wildwood Trading Group.

Wilsonville, Oregon was his home for the past 35 years. His home and acreage on Ladd Hill was a thing of beauty where he cultivated his acres into a vineyard known as Boydog Ranch and Vineyards. John returned to the college campus in his later years and obtained a degree in Viticulture and Enology.

John is survived by his dad and mom; sister Charise; nephews Jackson, Justin and Jarett; his special friend Sue Perry, and his uncles, aunts, and cousins.

John was much loved by his family and friends. A memorial service for John will be held Saturday, July 9th, 2 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 2745 NW Harrison St., Corvallis, OR 97330.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice, 1046 SW Sixth Ave. Albany, OR. 97321.
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijani Culture Minister Anar Karimov is on a visit to Tehran at the invitation of Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mehdi Ismaili.

During the trip, Karimov took part in a joint press conference with Mehdi Ismaili, Azernews reports, citing Azertac.

At the press conference, Anar Karimov praised the level of the Azerbaijani-Iranian cultural ties, noting that the two countries have great potential to enhance this partnership.

The Azerbaijan culture minister stressed the role of the mutual visits and joint projects including film weeks and book exhibitions in strengthening cultural ties. Major work is carried out in this direction.

Anar Karimov also touched upon the restoration work carried out by the Azerbaijani state in Karabakh region liberated from the Armenian occupation.

The culture minister expressed the hope that his visit would be fruitful and invited Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mehdi Ismaili to visit Azerbaijan.

In his remarks, the Iranian Minister Mehdi Ismaili noted that there are no obstacles to the development of cultural ties.

"The peoples of Iran and Azerbaijan are united by centuries-old ties of friendship and kinship. Both nations have a common history, culture, traditions, and religious values. These values, along with political and economic ties, have created a great basis for the development of cultural ties," said Mehdi Ismaili.

He noted that great work is being done to organize joint cultural projects, films, book fairs, cultural weeks, etc.

The ministers then answered questions from the media representatives.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan and Iran have successfully many cultural projects.

In 2017, Baku hosted the Iranian Culture Days within the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games.

The events raised big interest among Baku residents. Iranian representatives performed at a series of concerts, featuring the country's national songs and dance numbers.

The Days of Iranian and Azerbaijani cultures held in previous years also kicked off with great success.
Altrusa International of Marianna recently inducted new officers for the upcoming year of 2022-23.

Organizers are looking forward to having new members join Altrusa and bringing new ideas to help with the groups community service projects.

Altrusa has many community projects such as Chipola scholarships for women returning to school, backpacks and school supplies for children in need, coats for kids and more.

Those interested in Altrusa can contact a club member or join the group at Jims Buffet & Grill in Marianna on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, at noon.
Tools shops, clothing stores (especially the tie and belt departments) and other local retail outlets were busy places as kids, wives and others shopped for the perfect gifts in the run-up to Fathers Day, but restaurants caught the traffic on the big day itself.
For over 10 years, practical nursing students from Wallace Community Colleges Dothan and Sparks campuses have volunteered with Camp Seale Harris, a day camp for kids living with diabetes.

The day camp is a medically-supervised, fun camp experience and family connection to year-round support for Wiregrass children ages 5-15 who have diabetes. The 2022 Camp Seale Harris Dothan Day Camp is being held through June 24 at Eastgate Park in Dothan.

Each year, 40 to 50 practical nursing students from Wallace Community College-Dothan assist at the camp, where they observe the camp physicians and nurses as they educate campers about living with diabetes, learn about new pediatric equipment and technology firsthand from campers, and assist with camp activities like swimming, sports, games, crafts, and more.

Being involved in Camp Seale Harris Dothan Day Camp bridges a gap between the children and healthcare providers that will impact their future success, Dr. Sandra Bryant, WCCD practical nursing instructor. The students learn from, interact with, and build relationships with the participants in many camp activities that will lead to enhanced self-care. The students are definitely influencers in these childrens lives. What looks like just a fun day camp to others, is usually a life lesson to help teach campers how to act and react while living their best lives. For our students, the experience is an immersion in current best practices for pediatric diabetes and allows for a deeper understanding of how these children carry on their lives.

The impact on the students future nursing practice is immeasurable, Bryant said. Wallace practical nursing instructors are thankful, she said, for both nursing students who volunteer and for the willingness of Camp Seale Harris to partner with the nursing program each year.

Nursing Students from Wallace Community College have been involved in the Camp Seale Harris Dothan Day Camp for many years in order to see the real life aspects of children living with diabetes  and how the children can take care of themselves but get to be kids at the same time, said John Latimer, Camp & Community Programs director for the Southeastern Diabetes Education Services and Camp Seale Harris. The students get to see the children play and have fun while also getting to see and be a part of checking their blood sugars, taking insulin, counting carbohydrates, and more.

Campers, Latimer said, enjoy the interaction with practical nursing volunteers as well. They get to meet people who care about them and see them outside of a hospital or clinic setting, he said, and end up wanting to learn more about diabetes.

Camp Seale Harris was founded in 1949 by Samuel Eichold II, MD, and has impacted thousands of children living with diabetes and their families for 73 years through educating, encouraging and empowering them to live well.
Since opening in 2020, the Wiregrass Public Safety Center has extended its training reach across the country.

The state-of-the-art training facility for police, fire, first responders, and the community opened in 2020 and currently has fire and police training scheduled through summer 2023, said Jason Wright, manager at the Wiregrass Public Safety Center.

We touch everybody from the top of the federal government all the way down to the county government, he said.

Wright provided an update for the Dothan City Commission during Tuesdays commission meeting.

In all, 19 different states and 213 different agencies were represented by people sent for training at the Wiregrass Public Safety Center in 2021. Last year, more than 1,500 people were trained at the center.

To put the numbers in a broader context, the center was responsible for 1,386 hotel nights in Dothan and an estimated economic impact of $230,000, Wright said.

Thirty-four different agencies that operate under the Department of Defense and Department of Justice used the Wiregrass Public Safety Center for training in 2021 and so far in 2022, Wright said. Among those have been the FBI, ATF, DEA, and U.S. Marshals. Along with Fort Rucker, public safety and fire departments from military installations around the country have trained at the center including Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Bliss in Texas, Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Travis Air Force Base in California, and Fort Knox in Kentucky. Department of Defense personnel also traveled from Afghanistan, Honduras, Italy, and Spain for training.

So far in 2022, there have been 97 agencies and installations that have used the Wiregrass Public Safety Center for training with more than 900 individuals trained.

Farley Nuclear Plant and Georgia Pacific also have sent personnel for training.

Looking to the future, the center hopes to implement a farm safety program. Also, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences is putting a chemistry lab back in Dothan and will locate the $5.3 million lab on the 23-acre public safety center property, Wright said.

Locally, the centers impact is felt beyond hotel rooms and economics, according to Wright.

The centers Womens Safety Initiative is a year-long program that has drawn women from Dothan, Enterprise, New Brockton, Elba, and Geneva, Wright said. The center has also hosted a quarterly Rape Aggression Defense class taught by the Dothan Police Department. A firearms safety course is one of the centers most popular programs and is offered every other month. Both the rape defense and firearms safety classes are $20 each to take.

A Community CPR and Stop the Bleed class is taught monthly by the Dothan Fire Department.

A lot of babysitters and students heading into college take this class, Wright said.

Harley Davidson of Dothan is also using a course at the Wiregrass Public Safety Center to teach its riding academy.

One of the centers most fun programs is the Wiregrass Public Safety Academy, which hosts students who plan to make public safety a career. The center receives money from Wiregrass Resource Conservation & Development to host the academy.

Students who want to pursue a career in public safety, we want to show them that Dothan is the place to start your career, Wright said. We put them through a week of police similar to what they would go through at the academy. Same thing with fire, similar to what they would go through at recruit school.

At the end of the academy, the center awards two scholarships  $1,000 for the police academy and a seat in the fire recruit school. There have been success stories of students returning for jobs with the City of Dothan, Wright said.

Seeing these students come back and come into the City of Dothan is the ultimate goal for the program, Wright said.

Peggy Ussery is a Dothan Eagle staff writer and can be reached at aussery@dothaneagle.com or 334-712-7963. Support her work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com.

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VESTAVIA HILLSJefferson County sheriffs deputies responded to 13 calls in the past three years to the home of the man charged in last weeks shooting deaths of three people at St. Stephens Episcopal Church.

It appears, however, that most, if not all, of those calls for service were initiated by Robert Findlay Smith himself.

Smith, 70, is charged in the slayings of Walter Bart Rainey, 84, of Irondale; Sarah Yeager, 75, of Pelham; and Jane Pounds, 84, of Hoover. The charge against Smith is capital because two or more people were killed in the shooting.

Smith, described by police as the lone suspect, was taken into custody after police were called at 6: 22 p.m. Thursday to an active shooter at the church.

The shooting happened during a Boomers Potluck dinner that started at 5 p.m. at the church. There were about 25 at the dinner in the parish hall.

Smith was sitting alone, and a longtime church member approached him and invited him to sit at a table, said the Rev. Doug Carpenter, who founded the church in 1973 and retired in 2005. He identified himself to victim Rainey only as Mr. Smith and refused to join them.

He then pulled out a handgun and shot three people.

Jim Musgrove, a church member, hit the shooter with a chair and wrestled the gun away from him.

Smith had previously attended St. Stephens. A motive in the shooting has not been disclosed.

Smith lives near Cahaba Heights and police blocked off his roadway for much of Friday afternoon while they carried out a search warrant at his Sicard Hollow home.

Public records show Smith is an ATF licensed firearms dealer, with a business called Original Magazines 2 at 4128 Sicard Hollow Road, which is also his home address.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms issued Smith a warning letter, the least severe action possible, on Feb. 7, 2018, after an on site  compliance investigation at Smiths residence at 4128 Sicard Hollow Road in Birmingham, according to press reporting on American gun dealers and manufacturers.

Smith had not recorded the sale or other disposition of a firearm in the required seven days, an ATF timeline said, and he could not locate firearms listed in his inventory.

Authorities have not disclosed a motive in the shooting, and court records dont list any prior violent crimes for Smith. He received a DUI in 2016 and went to driving school.

He pleaded guilty and received a $465 fine to DUI in Chattanooga on November 2005 case in which he was also charged with possession of a handgun while intoxicated. That charge was dropped.

Law enforcement radio communications during the active shooter situation indicated that police were familiar with the suspect, knowing where he lived and what he drove.

Vestavia Hills police Capt. Shane Ware said last week he could not yet comment on any prior possible involvement with the suspect. Vestavia Hills police declined an AL.com request for 911 calls of the shooting, saying they are part of an ongoing investigation.

The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, however, responded to a request for calls to service at Smiths home.

Deputies responded to his home 13 times between 2019 and 2022, the last time taking place on April 11. Details of the calls were not available and in most of the incidents, no report was made.

Over the past three years, there were two medical calls, five incidents of investigate complaint, three requests for extra patrol at his home, two reports of a suspicious person or vehicle and one incident of criminal mischief.

Smith remains held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail. It was not immediately clear when he will make his first court appearance or if he has a lawyer to speak on his behalf.
The European Christian Political Movement (ECPM) gathered for its annual General Assembly in Madrid and, in conjunction, organized an event around the topic of the European Digital Identity- the benefits and risks associated with this proposed new technology.

In the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, the European Union decided there is a need for increased digitalization in Europe and for a centralized solution regarding services and access to them by the European citizens.

Part of the big digital transformation package is also the initiative on a European Digital Identity platform, a proposal meant to amend Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market (eIDAS). This new proposal for a regulation aims to change the one in 2014 in significant ways and it raises various concerns about data privacy and protection, which our speakers today addressed.

Dr. Eppo Bruins, former Dutch member of Parliament and tech specialist, presented examples of where data sharing is useful (like having only one charging key for all EV charging stations in NL), but warned that in case of centralizing personal data that could be dangerous. He believes this technology is inevitable, but we still have a say in how it will be used and what safeguards and watchdogs will accompany it. Currently, all of our data is owned by the tech companies and they decide what to do with it and how much to sell it for. If the EU wishes to propose this digital identity technology, citizens should demand it is safe. He advocated for a self-sovereign identity (SSI) by which a person owns and controls their own data, without having to rely on an external, third- party. "If the EU doesn't define the standards, then the industry will. And if the European continent doesn't fight back, no other continent will."

MEP Cristian Terhes, former software developer and programmer, warned especially about the dangerous precedent this sets and he described a slippery slope where at the end of it the European citizens will face curtailing of their rights, of movement, social life etc. He spoke about the file on this technology which reached the LIBE committee of which he is a substitute member. He is the rapporteur on the file and recently submitted strong warnings to his colleagues and committee members about what is proposed. Namely, he is concerned that the citizens' data will become a commodity, threatening citizens' right to private life. Most worrying is the European Commission reserving the right to add further legislative acts to this legislation, after it is passed. Mr. Terhes also criticized the Commission's claim that this technology respects the principle of minimization, saying that it is merely an illusion that the user owns their data but in reality it is the administrator of the server who owns it. He also highlighted the proposal that a certificate be added to the root of the most used browser, as that would severely impact security when browsing online.

Both speakers warned about the "chinification" of Europe, referring to the credit system China uses and the intense surveillance and control the government exercises on its citizens.

The two presentations were followed by a panel discussion where MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen, Ms. Inga Bite (lawyer and ECPM AC vice-president) and Michal Povazan (policy advisor, Krestanska unia Slovakia) have discussed the forms of digital identity existing in their countries at the moment and whether a European Digital Identity would be beneficial or not.

Mr. Ruissen was critical about the scope of the proposal and also about the philosophy behind the system, specifically that this is meant to further centralize and federalize the EU. He expressed concern about potential data leaks and about the loophole the Commision created, giving as an example the COVID-19 certificate, which in the beginning was advertised as totally voluntary but in the end turned out to be mandatory.

Ms. Bite admitted that discussions about this technology and Commission proposal have not happened in Latvia yet. She mentioned the recent experiences Latvians had with the COVID-19 certificate which greatly polarised the society and was also the unique solution on the market to comply with the rules. She mentioned losing access (or having it stolen) to the key to one's digital identity and how disastrous that could be for a person.

Mr. Povazan echoed what Ms. Bite said and confessed Slovakia hasn't tackled this topic so far either. He focused on the discrepancy in lifestyle and education between citizens in the countryside and those in cities. He argued that a digital identity would divide and discriminate against those who live in remote areas, do not have access to a smartphone or are not tech savvy to use it.

At the end of each part, speakers and panelists answered questions from the audience.

The entire conference can be viewed here.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

The Armenian armed forces have shelled Azerbaijani military positions stationed in liberated Kalbajar and Lachin regions, Azernews reports, citing the Defense Ministry.

From the night of June 20 to the morning of June 21, the Armenian armed forces fired at the Azerbaijani military positions in the direction of Lachins Minkand and Kalbajars Yellija villages from their positions in Garakilsa regions Saybali and Basarkechars Ashagi Shorja settlements near the state border, the ministry said.

The Azerbaijani army units took appropriate retaliatory measures to suppress the opposite side, the report added.

Armenia periodically shells Azerbaijani military positions located on its liberated territories. The previous truce violation took place on June 17 in the same direction.

To recap, on May 22, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, European Council President Charles Michel, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Brussels. After the meeting, Michel said that Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed on a number of key issues, including the creation of border delimitation commissions, of which the first meeting was held on May 24.

Earlier, Ilham Aliyev stated that peace will return to the Caucasus based on the five principles Baku recently proposed for normalizing relations with Armenia.

In response to the peace negotiations with Azerbaijan, Armenia's revanchist opposition took to the streets, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The street protests have been going on since mid-April, with no tangible outcomes.

The trilateral ceasefire deal, signed by the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders with the mediation of the Russian president on November 10, 2020, ended the three-decade conflict over Azerbaijans Karabakh region, which along with the seven adjacent regions came under the occupation of Armenian armed forces in the war in the early 1990s.

The deal also stipulated the return of Azerbaijan's Kalbajar, Aghdam and Lachin regions. Before the signing of the peace deal, Azerbaijan liberated 300 villages, settlements, city centers, and historical Shusha city that had been under Armenian occupation for about 30 years.
Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.6 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Capitalize Revolving Loan Fund to Serve Small Businesses in Maryland

WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Departments Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.6 million grant to the Maryland Department of Commerce, Baltimore, Maryland, to capitalize and administer a revolving loan fund that will serve small businesses throughout Maryland. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This project will provide gap financing to help small, local businesses recover, grow and create new employment opportunities. The eligible lending area includes all counties in Maryland with priority consideration given to businesses located in rural regions and the city of Baltimore. This EDA grant will be matched with $396,000 in state funds and is expected to create 250 jobs, retain 110 jobs, and generate $210,000 in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

President Biden is committed to providing businesses with the resources they need to recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. This EDA investment will provide needed capital to small businesses and entrepreneurs in Maryland, creating a stronger, more robust regional economy.

The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting locally-driven strategies designed to stimulate entrepreneurial activity, said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. This Revolving Loan Fund will provide the capital that small businesses and entrepreneurs in Maryland need to grow and thrive.

By focusing on both Marylands rural areas and the City of Baltimore, this new grant delivers a timely federal investment that will provide businesses and entrepreneurs new opportunities to expand, launch new initiatives, create new jobs, and help their communities recover from the pandemic, said Senator Ben Cardin. These EDA grants for capitalizing revolving loan funds have been instrumental in supporting small businesses in Maryland and throughout the country, by providing them access to capital when they need it most. I am proud to have worked on a bipartisan basis to strengthen the agencys RLF program and make it more flexible and user-friendly for the state and regional organizations that administer them.

When we invest in Marylands small businesses, our local economies thrive, said Senator Chris Van Hollen. This American Rescue Plan initiative will provide resources for entrepreneurs who have been hardest hit by the pandemic  from those in Baltimore to rural Maryland, and all parts in between  creating hundreds of good-paying jobs, creating new opportunities, and generating economic growth across the state. I will continue to support initiatives like this that help expand prosperity for Marylanders.

Small businesses are the engine that drives Marylands economy, innovation and communities, said Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03). This funding will encourage small businesses to grow, create good paying jobs and expand opportunities across our state. It is clear that the American Rescue Plan has targeted the needs of Marylands small businesses effectively and supported a robust recovery. Now, as our small businesses face rising costs, this funding will allow them to overcome new challenges and thrive.

This project is funded under EDAs American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance program, which makes $500 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance grants available to American communities. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program is EDAs most flexible program, and grants made under this program will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through construction or non-construction projects designed to meet local needs.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)

The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
ELKO  High school students showed their support for local foster and at-risk children with a donation to the Northern Nevada Moses Project.

On June 9, members of the Elko High School Groom Room delivered brand new blankets, diapers, baby wipes, hygiene kits, socks, underwear and containers purchased with proceeds from pet photos with the Easter Bunny to the local chapter of the Northern Nevada Moses Project.

The Northern Nevada Moses Project provides new clothes and items to children who are removed from a home by the Division of Child and Family Services and placed in foster care.

The students, who worked in the Groom Room their senior year, initiated two pet photo sessions with the goal of helping other children. In the fall, proceeds from photos with Santa were donated to the Giving Tree.

We wanted to find a different way to help more kids, said senior Monse Orozco.

Finding ways to help local youth prompted the students to raise money through their basic grooming business, a senior-year class in the EHS Agriculture and CTE department.

We had a conversation about how there are still foster kids who need supplies, and some dont get those supplies they need and go to homes not having anything. So, we wanted to help some kids and make a difference, Orozco explained.

This spring, the Groom Room raised about $500 from pet photos with the Easter Bunny to purchase brand new items for the Northern Nevada Moses Project.

I think its great seeing where these things will go. I mean, were all pretty lucky to have what we have, and some kids dont, so seeing these things go to kids who need it will be great, said senior Alicia Saldana.

Elishia and Jon Gift are foster parents who started the local Northern Nevada Moses Project branch after seeing a need in rural Nevada.

A lot of the programs Reno and Las Vegas have arent available here, Elishia said. A lot of the start-up costs, its pretty costly to take in a foster child. They come with nothing sometimes. Sometimes they come with a little bit, but very often, it is stuff thats not even appropriate. It has stains, holes, or doesnt fit.

So we wanted to be a blessing to our community and give back to these kids, so they have their self-esteem back after losing everything, she continued. Its hard to be torn away from a home, even if its not the greatest circumstances, they lose everything they know.

Elishia added that although clothing doesnt define self-worth, the project is to give back their self-worth and who they are. It helps.

Since opening their location at 350 Seventh Street, Elishia said they were amazed at what the community has done. Weve had a lot of good donors and a lot of corporations that have stepped up and wanted to help.

They also were grateful to the Groom Room students for their donation.

Were super thankful to these kids who took time and were generous and giving and went the extra mile with what they had and knew, Elishia said.

Homeless and at-risk teens can also reach out to the Moses Project for items, Elishia added.

Cassie Wylie, a detective with the Elko Police Department, is a board member of the local chapter of the Moses Project. She said she supports the project by raising awareness about it in the community. Children are near and dear to my heart.

Anything I can do to help, because like Elishia said, these kids lose everything, and they come with nothing, and we want to make sure the experience they remember is positive, and they experience compassion, Wylie continued. Thats what were trying to do is give them things every child should have.

Orozco said she hopes the tradition started by her Groom Room class will continue with future students.

Were all seniors. This is the last project were going to be able to do, and hopefully, we inspire some more people to keep doing stuff like this and keep helping other people, Orozco said.

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Ink hit paper this weekend, and the five tribes that successfully won a battle with the federal government to create Bears Ears National Monument have it in writing that their interests must be part of land management plans going forward.

President Joe Biden issued a proclamation last October that preserves more than 1.36 million acres in southwest Utah and creates a monument that people from the Zuni Pueblo, Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Ute Mountain Tribe, and Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray say is a sacred site.

The agreement signed Saturday means that the five tribes will work cooperatively with the federal Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service, by coordinating on land use planning and implementation, as well as the development of long-term resource management and programmatic goals, according to the intergovernmental agreement.

Instead of being removed from a landscape to make way for a public park, we are being invited back to our ancestral homelands to help repair them and plan for a resilient future, Zuni Pueblo Lt. Gov. Carleton Bowekaty said. We are being asked to apply our traditional knowledge to both the natural and human-caused ecological challenges, drought, erosion, visitation.

A key part of the agreement is to also create educational programs and opportunities for tribal youth from the five tribes to learn and practice cultural traditions at the site that are part of their heritage going back thousands of years. These programs are already running, led by organizations like the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coaltion, which brought together the tribes in 2015 to create this plan.

Executive director Patrick Gonzales Rogers said the coalition hopes to see federal funding to boost these youth programs and that they continue to build off the shared knowledge between the different tribal communities.

Finding that common ground between the various tribal interests was important for any success by the coalition. Rogers said leaders had to practice pragmatism that recognized historical differences but also generational battles.

The conflict and tension between Pueblo tribes and Navajo have been outstanding for almost 1000 years, he said. And so the ability to kind of quash that and have a sense of humility, thats the bigger picture. This is powerful, because this is something that they were willing to do despite these really long-standing historical differences.

In 2016, the group successfully petitioned then-President Obama to preserve Bears Ears, but that was quickly reversed by the Trump administration. The victory by the coalition in 2021 not only restored the monument, it also increased its size.

The signed agreement is a win for the tribes, and the deal is distinguished by how the federal government will work with local tribal communities on land restoration and preservation. BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning went so far as to say in a statement that the co-managining agreement, will serve as a model for our work to honor the nation-to-nation relationship in the future.

Federal money will also go to the individual tribes to hire staff that can help lead these discussions.

While the coalition shares the excitement, Gonzales Rogers points out that without an act of Congress codifying protections at Bears Ears, its still unclear if this agreement can be reversed by a different administration with protections suddenly removed again as with Trump. The group is also trying to bridge some understanding with the state of Utah, which is preparing a legal fight against Bidens order by the Utah Attorney Generals Office.

To this point, they have not been what I would call incredibly successful, but the tribes remain in a posture to talk about these things in a way that collaboration towards these issues would be the premium, he said. But were not at that point as we talked today,

The federal deal could provide greater strength for the sovereign nations when going against state laws, he added.

While the legal issues could take years to resolve, the land agreement is still a victory for the five tribes and a future toward more tribal nations collaborating.

In a statement, Lt. Gov. Bowekaty asked, What can be a better avenue of restorative justice than giving tribes the opportunity to participate in the management of lands their ancestors were removed from?

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Officials at Yellowstone National Park released photos showing the aftermath of severe storms and flooding in June 2022. The pictures were taken near the north entrance of the park and while water levels have receded, it will take time to recover from the damage left behind. (Jacob W. Frank/National Park Service)

The northern loop of Yellowstone is expected to reopen within the next two weeks after it was closed last week from historic flooding that caused evacuations of the park and surrounding communities.

National Park Service Director Chuck Sams, with Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly, announced the reopening plans, in a press release on Monday. At the same time, the park announced it has secured $50 million to kick-start recovery efforts from the record-breaking floods.

The reopening of the northern loops means visitors will be able to access Dunraven Pass, Tower, Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris  opening visitor access to approximately 80 percent of Yellowstone National Park, according to the release.

As for the $50 million, it will be used to restore temporary access to Gardiner and Cooke City, Montana, and other additional sites. And plans are being finalized for improving the Old Gardiner Road for temporary access between Yellowstone and Gardiner.

The NPS currently anticipates the Old Gardiner Road will be substantially improved over the upcoming months, ensuring that essential emergency services, food, supplies and other administrative needs will be available throughout the winter months, the release read. As work proceeds through the summer, the NPS will look for opportunities to restore limited visitor access at the parks North Entrance.

In addition to plans to reopen Yellowstones northern loop much sooner than initially anticipated, the National Park Service said it is working with the Federal Highway Administration on a range of temporary and permanent options to restore access to Silver Gate and Cooke City at the parks northeast entrance.

Currently, the Northeast Entrance Road is impassible between Lamar Valley and Silver Gate. Cost, funding and timelines are not yet available for these short or long-term repairs to the Northeast Entrance Road but will be released as soon as possible, the release read.

The Daily Montanan, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and Twitter.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping will host the 14th BRICS Summit and the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, and attend the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum in virtual format later this week.

The BRICS mechanism features five major emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Since it was forged more than a decade ago, the member countries have achieved fruitful results in cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, politics, security, technological innovation, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Over the years, President Xi has contributed his insights to the mechanism, promoting the development of the global platform for multilateral cooperation. The following are some highlights of his remarks in this regard.

ON POLITICAL AND SECURITY COOPERATION

"We are in a great era of development, transformation and adjustment. Although conflict and poverty are yet to be eliminated globally, the trend toward peace and development has grown ever stronger," Xi said at the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum on Sept. 3, 2017.

"Our world today is becoming increasingly multipolar; the economy has become globalized; there is growing cultural diversity; and the society has become digitized. The law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak and the zero-sum game are rejected, and peace, development and win-win cooperation have become the shared aspiration of all peoples," he said.

ON WORLD ECONOMY

"We should promote the building of an open global economy, advance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, jointly build new global value chains, and rebalance economic globalization," Xi said at the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum in 2017, noting: "Doing so will bring benefits to people across the world."

"We five countries should open more to each other, expand converging interests in this process, take an inclusive approach and share opportunities, so as to create even brighter prospects for growing the economies of the five countries," Xi added.

At the 12th BRICS Summit on Nov. 17, 2020, Xi said: "COVID-19 is a challenge we have to face head-on. We need to call on the international community to place the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the heart of international development cooperation. Poverty eradication must be made a primary goal, and more resources must be channeled to poverty reduction, education, health and infrastructure development."

"We need to support the UN's coordinating role and foster global development partnerships that are more equal and balanced, so that the fruits of development will spread to more developing countries and the needs of underprivileged groups will be better addressed," he also stressed.

ON PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGES

"The successful cooperation of the BRICS countries proves that different social systems can accommodate each other, that different development models can work with each other and that different values can draw on the strength of each other. We should stay open and inclusive so as to learn from each other and make progress together through seeking common ground while putting aside differences," Xi said at the Seventh BRICS Summit on July 9, 2015.

"We the BRICS countries boast great civilizations. When it comes to cultural and people-to-people exchanges, there is a lot we can do together," the president said at the plenary session of the BRICS Johannesburg Summit on July 26, 2018.

"We should aim at greater people-to-people connectivity and more popular support for BRICS cooperation through extensive exchanges in cultural, educational, health, sports, tourism and other areas," he added.

At the plenary session of the BRICS Brasilia Summit on Nov. 14, 2019, Xi noted: "We need to sustain and build up this momentum to take our people-to-people exchanges to greater breadth and depth. On that basis, we can leverage 'BRICS Plus' cooperation as a platform to increase dialogue with other countries and civilizations and win BRICS more friends and partners."
Metinvest mining and metallurgical group has appealed to consumers with a request not to buy steel products stolen by Russians from the port of Mariupol produced by the Mariupol Illich Iron and Steel Works and the Azovstal plant.

According to the group's press release on Tuesday, the letters were sent to all ports, customers and partners on behalf of the General Director of Mariupol Illich Iron and Steel Works Taras Shevchenko and General Director of Azovstal Enver Tskitishvili.

At the same time, on the first day of the war, more than 234,000 tonnes of metal products produced at Illich Iron and Steel Works and Azovstal remained in the Mariupol Maritime Merchandise Port. Due to the Russian occupation of Mariupol, the plants are unable to export these products to legitimate buyers in Spain, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.

The enterprises of Metinvest said that there is a high probability of theft and smuggling of Ukrainian metal products, given the loading of metal onto the vessel RM-3 by Russian RiverSea Shipping Company. The plants focus on the lack of any cooperation or coordination with representatives of the aggressor country or its the occupation administration involved in the export of metal to the Russian Federation.

Illich Iron and Steel Works and Azovstal said that, according to international and Ukrainian legislation, the armed seizure of merchant ships in the waters of the Mariupol port and Ukrainian products have all the signs of banditry or robbery. Businesses are asking all potential buyers to decline any offers related to stolen metal products, as their purchase would not be considered in good faith.

At the same time, the enterprises urge buyers to carefully consider each transaction regarding any metal products of dubious origin, especially from the temporarily occupied Mariupol, Kherson, Sevastopol or from Russian Taganrog, Tuapse, Rostov-on-Don, Novorossiysk, which did not supply such products before, the plants urge ports to carefully check the validity of accompanying documents and the origin of all metal products from the above-mentioned cities.

It is also necessary to check certificates of origin and accompanying documents for metal products from these cities; reject suspicious transactions with Russian companies related to the supply of metal products originating from the mentioned cities; inform Metinvest about all commercial offers for any metal products of dubious origin.

According to the press release, in the middle of June this year, Illich Iron and Steel Works of the Metinvest group applied to the Cabinet of Ministers and the Office of the President of Ukraine with a request to impose personal sanctions on Russian residents illegally seizing and reselling Ukrainian metal.

At the end of May, Metinvest reported a high risk of piracy by the Russian Federation, as well as theft and illegal export of metal products belonging to the group from the port of Mariupol.

Metinvest is making every possible legal effort to bring all responsible persons and their accomplices to strict legal liability, the group said.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has arrived in Uzbekistan for a state visit on June 21, Azernews reports per Azartac.

A guard of honor was lined up for the president at the Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport decorated with the national flags of the two countries.

President Ilham Aliyev was welcomed by Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and other officials.












Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk proposed to appoint MP Dmytro Lubinets (For the Future group) to the post of Commissioner for Human Rights.

"According to the law requirements, I submitted a proposal for the candidacy of MP Dmytro Valeriyovych Lubinets for the post of Verkhovna Rada Commissione for Human Rights," the speaker wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday.

The head of the Verkhovna Rada expects that the experience of Lubinets as chairman of the parliamentary committee on human rights, de-occupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk, Luhansk regions and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, national minorities and interethnic relations, as well as his professional and human qualities will create all the necessary prerequisites for the full implementation of the powers vested in the Ombudsman.

Dmytro Lubinets is a Ukrainian politician and lawyer, MP of Ukraine of the 8th convocation (from the Petro Poroshenko Bloc) and the 9th convocation (non-partisan). In 2019, he entered the Verkhovna Rada as a non-partisan self-nominated candidate in constituency No. 60 (Donetsk region) and became a member of the For the Future deputy group, which became a party on June 2, 2020.

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada dismissed Liudmyla Denisova from the post of Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights. The corresponding decision was supported by 234 MPs at a plenary session on Tuesday. The Rada appointed her to this position on March 15, 2018.
Ukraine will soon receive the first batch of sleeves for temporary storage of agricultural crops - mobile granaries, the need for which arose due to a shortage of storage capacity caused by the temporary occupation of the Russian Federation of part of its territories and the destruction of some elevators.

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food turned to the governments of the United States, Canada, Great Britain and the EU with a corresponding request to provide Ukraine with mobile granaries. At the moment, the first batch of these sleeves is already sailing to Ukraine, according to the agency's website.

The report states that these "sleeves" are long plastic bags that can be stored directly in the fields and which can hold up to 200,000 tonnes of grain.

The ministry indicated that in addition to this, another version of mobile granaries, which are common in Canada and the United States, is planned for delivery - the so-called temporary silos. These are large metal rings mounted on a regular platform. A special material is laid on their surface that does not allow moisture to pass through, and on top it is closed with a special awning that preserves the grain from environmental influences. One such silo holds about 5,000 tonnes of grains.

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy specified that many Ukrainian farmers are already buying mobile granaries, primarily sleeves for grain storage.

According to the agency, by the beginning of a full-scale war, Ukrainian farmers had approximately 75 million tonnes of elevator capacities at their disposal. During the war, granaries with a total capacity of about 10 million tonnes ended up in the territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation, were damaged or destroyed as a result of hostilities.
European Council President writes to EU leaders that he will invite them to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine

President of the European Council Charles Michel will invite the heads of state and government of the European Union member states to grant the status of EU candidate members to Ukraine and Moldova at the upcoming summit to be held June 23-24 in Brussels.

This is discussed in Michel's invitation letter to EU leaders. "Now is the time to acknowledge that the future of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia lies within the EU. I will invite you to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. In parallel, we will continue to provide Ukraine with strong humanitarian, military, economic and financial support," according to a letter, the text of which was distributed on Monday in Brussels.

Michel stated that with the resumption of war in Europe, the leaders took unprecedented actions, demonstrating the EU geopolitical influence.

"We now need to take further steps to strengthen our continent's security and stability. This will be the main focus of our European Council meeting on 23-24 June," the President of the European Council outlined the agenda.

He also pointed to the importance of the Western Balkans for the EU. "We must therefore re-energise the enlargement process and advance the integration of our Western Balkan partners. We will meet them before our formal European Council," Michel stated.

"Peace, security and prosperity in a rules-based international order are values the EU shares with other European partners. The idea of a European political community has been presented to foster political dialogue and cooperation. We will engage in a strategic discussion on how to reinforce our relations to address issues of common interest," he said.

"The consequences of the war are being felt far beyond our region. Russia is weaponising food supplies, stealing grain, blocking ports and turning Ukrainian farmlands into battlefields. This affects many countries, especially in Africa, risking famine and political and social instability. Building on our efforts to help Ukraine export its grain, we will discuss further measures to tackle these issues," the President of the European Council said.

He mentioned the banking union and the union of capital markets as other issues on the agenda.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with President of the General Confederation of Italian Industry Carlo Bonomi and called the opening of the representative office of the confederation in Ukraine an important manifestation of active support for Ukraine, in particular, future EU membership, the website of the head of state reported on Monday.

"The opening of the confederation's office in Kyiv right now is a landmark event and a powerful signal to all foreign investors," Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The President noted the interest of the Ukrainian side in strengthening cooperation with Italian business and well-known companies that could help restore and modernize the economy of our country. The President expressed interest in the participation of Italian companies in the implementation of projects to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure, social facilities and housing.

The parties separately discussed areas of future cooperation. "The help of the confederation in starting production on the territory of Ukraine, creating new jobs is extremely important for the employment of Ukrainians who lost their jobs as a result of hostilities," Zelensky emphasized.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also announced his meeting with Bonomi, calling it "useful."

"War is a time of challenges, but also a time of opportunities. We will welcome more Italian businesses and encourage them to explore new opportunities that Ukraine has to offer," Kuleba wrote on Twitter on Monday.
Borodianka becomes symbol of senseless cruelty, violence after Russian aggression  PM of Luxembourg

Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel visited the village of Borodianka, Bucha district, Kyiv region, liberated from Russian occupation, and noted the special cruelty of the invaders.

"Borondianka has suffered to the point of total destruction by Russian aggression and is today a symbol of senseless cruelty and violence. Nothing can convey the horror of what has happened here," Bettel said on Twitter on Tuesday.

The message is illustrated with a photo of the head of the Luxembourgish government next to destroyed houses and together with local residents.

Bettel announced his visit to Ukraine a few hours earlier.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video message to the participants of the Cannes Lions international creativity festival, urged them to talk about Ukraine and not let the world switch to something else.

"Some 117 days ago, everything changed for Ukraine. We are defending against a nuclear state that has unlimited access to money and has disregarded any limits on violence. I'll be honest with you  the end of this war and its circumstances depend on the world's attention. And that's why I need allies. We need people like you," the head of state said.

He called the festival participants "the most creative people in the world who each time find words and images to reach the depths of the human soul and make people talk about problems."

"I am sure that you will do a lot more to promote Ukrainian bravery... Now you can bring peace to Europe simply by applying your professional qualities. I believe that the power of human creativity is greater than the power of a nuclear state that is stuck in the past," the president said.

"Speak of Ukraine! Don't let the world switch to something else! The world must remember that Ukraine is fighting for freedom. This fight must end in our victory as soon as possible. Your every success will mean saving thousands of lives," Zelensky said.
Ukrainian troops launched a concentrated strike on the island of Zmiyiny (Snake) with the use of various forces and means of destruction, according to the operational command Pivden (South).

"A concentrated strike was carried out on ther Snake island with the use of various forces and means of destruction, during which the ruscists proudly called the island garrison, and it now counts significant losses. The military operation continues and requires information silence to complete it," the Facebook message says.

Shelling continues in Kherson region, the occupiers use various weapons, including those prohibited by international conventions. The situation in the region is very difficult, especially in the settlements that are located near Snihirivkavka, Zelenodolsk community and on the border with Mykolaiv region. The situation with the restoration of electricity and water supply in the villages of Beryslav district remains critical.

"But our units continue to destroy the enemy and push him to the east. A helicopter pair struck a cluster of enemy manpower and military equipment in the morning. Rocket and artillery units have worked out more than 100 firing tasks. Their results are being clarified, but as of this morning it is already known that the world has become cleaner by 26 ruscists. A tank, a multi-purpose armored tractor, another three armored and four trucks will no longer harm the Ukrainian people," it said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the Luxembourg government has allocated 15% of the funds from its defense budget to support the Ukrainian army.

"Luxembourg has been constantly helping us. If we talk about assistance regarding the capacity of our army, then 15% of the entire defense budget, although the Prime Minister does not like to talk about it, Luxembourg allocated to our defenders and defenders," Zelensky said at a briefing with Bettel in Kyiv on Tuesday.

According to the head of state, this is a great help.

"If every state in the world allocated approximately such budgets, then I think we would have already won," he stressed.

Zelensky also thanked the Prime Minister of Luxembourg for his personal help. "Since the first days of this war, we have been in constant contact. This is absolutely true," the president said.
Mansoura's criminal court has postponed to Tuesday the trial of 21-year-old university student Mohamed Adel, accused of stabbing to death fellow student Nayera Ashraf in Mansoura city in northern Egypt last week.
Sudan has accused the Ethiopian army of executing seven soldiers and a civilians who it says were captive and vowed to take action.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

The Anatolian Eagle - 2022 international flight-tactical drills featuring Azerbaijani servicemen kicks off in Konya, Turkiye, Azernews reports, citing Turkish National Defense Ministry.

Along with Azerbaijan, British, Jordanian, Pakistani, Turkish air and naval forces, as well as NATO units are attending the drills, the ministry said.

Azerbaijan and Turkey periodically hold joint drills to improve interaction and communication between their army units.

Military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey first emerged in 1992, with an agreement signed between the Azerbaijani and Turkish governments on military education and weapon equipment and deals to help strengthen the bond between the two nations.

On June 15, the two countries signed a memorandum of alliance that cemented the existing military, political and economic cooperation.

The Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations that President Ilham Aliyev and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed during the first official visit to Shusha eight months after Azerbaijans victory in the war with Armenia also focuses on defense cooperation.

It affirms joint efforts by the two armies in the face of foreign threats. The declaration also pledges joint efforts for the restructuring and modernization of the armed forces. Moreover, the two nations affirm to encourage the execution of joint projects with the aim of developing capabilities in the field of sea, air, and space.

In an interview with Turkey's Anadolu Agency on September 27, 2021, President Ilham Aliyev said that the signing of the Shusha Declaration raised bilateral relations to an even higher level.
Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett hosted what was almost certainly his final cabinet meeting Sunday, commending his government as "short-lived with great achievements", ahead of parliament's expected dissolution this week.
Egypt issued the State Ownership Policy Document earlier this month to chart the map of future partnership between the public and private sectors, laying the groundwork for the latters greater participation in Egypts economic activities.
French regulators accepted on Tuesday commitments from Google to negotiate fairly with news organisations over copyright, ending a long-running dispute.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday urged world powers to do their utmost to help end Russia's invasion by the end of the year, as G7 leaders planned new sanctions and vowed to support Ukraine "as long as it takes".
The Sovereign Fund of Egypt, in cooperation with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, aims to attract investments worth $10 billion during the coming period, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Wednesday.

Madbouly made the comments after the cabinet approved on Wednesday a draft investment agreement between Egypt and Saudi Arabia on the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

Madbouly said that this is part of a package of Saudi projects that will be established in Egypt and will be announced as soon as possible.

Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala Al-Saeed, who is also the chairman of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, signed the draft agreement.

The agreement aims to lure foreign investments, localise modern technologies in the Egyptian economy, and transfer expertise related to the Fund's investments in Egypt in a way that enhances the trade volume between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Essam bin Saeed, a member of the Saudi Cabinet and Minister of State for Shura Council Affair, said the investments of the Saudi fund will include several sectors such as in education, healthcare, agriculture, development, and the financial sector.

"It is true that the sovereign fund has commercial entities, but be fully confident that we are working on a partnership with Egypt that achieves growth in all fields," he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia deposited $5 billion in the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) as part of the rigid bonds and close cooperative relations between the two countries and as a gesture of confirmation of their deep-rooted relations, according to Saudi state news agency SPA.

This comes a month after President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi paid a visit to Riyad, where he met with Saudi Arabias King Salman to discuss boosting cooperation and coordination between the countries on several fronts with the aim to protect Arab security.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia have closely coordinated on regional and international issues since El-Sisi took office in 2014, with the two sides regularly holding top-level meetings.

Egypt signed in 2019 three financial agreements with Saudi Arabia to provide EGP 125 million to boost financial leasing for small and medium sized enterprises, under the Saudi Fund for Development.

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Iran insisted Wednesday it had declared all sites which hosted past nuclear activities after Western governments submitted a motion to the UN atomic energy watchdog to censure it for non-cooperation.

"Iran has no hidden or undocumented nuclear activities or undisclosed sites," the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Mohammad Eslami, told the official IRNA news agency.

"These fake documents seek to maintain maximum pressure" on Iran, he added, referring to the crippling economic sanctions reimposed by Washington when then president Donald Trump abandoned a nuclear deal between Iran and major powers in 2018.

The resolution submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency by the United States, Britain, France and Germany is the first since June 2020 when a similar motion censuring Iran was adopted.

In a joint statement to the IAEA's Board of Governors, Britain, France and Germany said they "strongly urge Iran to stop escalating its nuclear programme and to urgently conclude (the) deal that is on the table."

The motion is seen as a sign of growing Western impatience with Iran after talks on reviving the 2015 deal stalled in March.

"This recent move by three European countries and the US by presenting a draft resolution against Iran is a political one," Eslami said, adding that "Iran has had maximum cooperation with the IAEA."

The trigger for the latest Western condemnation was a report issued by the IAEA late last month in which it said it still has questions about traces of enriched uranium previously found at three sites, which Iran had not declared as having hosted nuclear activities.

The watchdog said those questions were "not clarified" in its meetings with Iranian authorities.

The IAEA Board of Governors is expected to vote on the motion later on Wednesday or on Thursday, diplomats said.

European governments have expressed mounting concern over how far Iran has gone since the US reimposed sanctions in resuming nuclear activities it had halted under the 2015 deal.

Iran has built up large stockpiles of enriched uranium, some of it enriched to levels far higher than those needed for nuclear power generation.

"Its nuclear programme is now more advanced than at any point in the past," the governments said in their joint statement, adding Iran's accumulation of enriched uranium has no "credible civilian justification".

Talks to revive the nuclear accord started in April last year with the aim of bringing the United States back in, lifting sanctions and getting Iran to return to the limits it agreed to on its nuclear activities.

But negotiations have stalled in recent months and the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell warned in a tweet last weekend that the possibility of returning to the accord was "shrinking".

IAEA head Rafael Grossi told reporters on Monday that it would be "a matter of just a few weeks" before Iran could get sufficient material needed for a nuclear weapon if they continued to develop their programme.

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The number of nuclear weapons in the world is set to rise in the coming decade after 35 years of decline as global tensions flare amid Russia's war in Ukraine, researchers said Monday.

The nine nuclear powers -- Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, the United States and Russia -- had 12,705 nuclear warheads in early 2022, or 375 fewer than in early 2021, according to estimates by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The number has come down from a high of more than 70,000 in 1986, as the US and Russia have gradually reduced their massive arsenals built up during the Cold War.

But this era of disarmament appears to be coming to an end and the risk of a nuclear escalation is now at its highest point in the post-Cold War period, SIPRI researchers said.

"Soon, we're going to get to the point where, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, the global number of nuclear weapons in the world could start increasing for the first time", Matt Korda, one of the co-authors of the report, told AFP.

"That is really kind of dangerous territory."

After a "marginal" decrease seen last year, "nuclear arsenals are expected to grow over the coming decade", SIPRI said.

During the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has on several occasions made reference to the use of nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile several countries, including China and Britain, are either officially or unofficially modernising or ramping up their arsenals, the research institute said.

"It's going to be very difficult to make progress on disarmament over the coming years because of this war, and because of how Putin is talking about his nuclear weapons", Korda said.

These worrying statements are pushing "a lot of other nuclear armed states to think about their own nuclear strategies", he added.

"Nuclear war can't be won"

Despite the entry into force in early 2021 of the UN nuclear weapon ban treaty and a five-year extension of the US-Russian "New START" treaty, the situation has been deteriorating for some time, according to SIPRI.

Iran's nuclear programme and the development of increasingly advanced hypersonic missiles have, among other things, raised concern.

The drop in the overall number of weapons is due to the US and Russia "dismantling retired warheads", SIPRI noted, while the number of operational weapons remains "relatively stable".

Moscow and Washington alone account for 90 percent of the world's nuclear arsenal.

Russia remains the biggest nuclear power, with 5,977 warheads in early 2022, down by 280 from a year ago, either deployed, in stock or waiting to be dismantled, according to the institute.

More than 1,600 of its warheads are believed to be immediately operational, SIPRI said.

The United States meanwhile has 5,428 warheads, 120 fewer than last year, but it has more deployed than Russia, at 1,750.

In terms of overall numbers, China comes third with 350, followed by France with 290, Britain with 225, Pakistan with 165, India with 160 and Israel with 90.

Israel is the only one of the nine that does not officially acknowledge having nuclear weapons.

As for North Korea, SIPRI said for the first time that Kim Jong-Un's Communist regime now has 20 nuclear warheads.

Pyongyang is believed to have enough material to produce around 50.

In early 2022, the five nuclear-armed permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the US -- issued a statement that "nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought".

Nonetheless, SIPRI noted, all five "continue to expand or modernise their nuclear arsenals and appear to be increasing the salience of nuclear weapons in their military strategies."

"China is in the middle of a substantial expansion of its nuclear weapon arsenal, which satellite images indicate includes the construction of over 300 new missile silos", it said.

According to the Pentagon, Beijing could have 700 warheads by 2027.

Britain last year said it would increase the ceiling on its total warhead stockpile, and would no longer publicly disclose figures for the country's operational nuclear weapons.

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The Aswan Forum will cast a spotlight on the impacts of climate change on sustainable peace and development in Africa.

The third edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, scheduled to be held next week in hybrid format with sessions online and in person, aims to develop context-specific and action-oriented recommendations to advance a transformative green post Covid-19 recovery agenda in Africa and propose measures and actions that ensure the continent achieves peace, development, and climate goals.

The forum is being held amid pressing challenges, including the war in Ukraine which has raised concerns about food security across Africa, climate change, and population displacement. It is estimated that by 2050 more than 85 million African citizens will be forced to move because of climate change, explained Ahmed Abdel-Latif, executive director of the forum and director-general of the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peace building (CCCPA), which is acting as secretariat to the forum.

Aswan Forum III is special, says Abdel-Latif, because it is a stop on the way to the 27th Session of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh in November this year. It will place special emphasis on the interface between climate change and sustaining peace in Africa and focus on the links between peace and climate change, displacement and climate change, and the role of women and youth in developing solutions. It is also scheduled to present a field study on Nigerias experience in facing terrorism.

The forums third edition, held under the theme Africa in an Era of Cascading Risks and Climate Vulnerability: Pathways for a Peaceful, Resilient, and Sustainable Continent, will bring together leaders from regional and international organisations, business, civil society, and experts from a range of sectors, and feature a youth dialogue that will focus on empowering youth-led climate responses for sustaining peace and development.

African priorities  including enhancing cooperation to combat terrorism, overcome the effects of the pandemic, achieve food security and advance post-conflict reconstruction and development efforts  are among the foci.

The Aswan Forum, explained Abdel-Latif, is a platform which Egypt initiated to allow African governments, research centres, and other parties to meet.

Each forum is part of an ongoing process that begins before the forum convenes and continues after it ends.

By the end of the third edition participants are expected to produce a list of action-oriented recommendations, and in the course of the sessions will follow up on the implementation of the recommendations produced by the second edition.

If we follow developments in the Covid-19 file, for instance, we will find that a number of African countries have started producing their own vaccines rather than importing vaccines from outside the continent, says Hamdi Loza, deputy foreign minister for African affairs.

In preparing for the forum the CCCPA conducted a series of webinars the first of which, Financing for Peacebuilding in Peacekeeping and Transition Contexts, was conducted in October, and the last, From the Agenda for Peace to the New Agenda for Peace, in May.

Loza points to the establishment of the African Union Centre for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (AU-PCRD Centre) as one of the achievements of the Aswan Forum and a sign of the importance Egypt places on post-conflict reconstruction and development. The agreement to establish the centre was signed on the sidelines of the first edition of Aswan Forum and it officially opened in temporary headquarters in Cairo last year. It is expected to move to permanent premises in the New Administrative Capital by the end of 2022.

Egypt took the initiative to launch the Aswan Forum during its presidency of the African Union in 2019.

We witnessed huge regional and international interest in the forum in its first and second editions, says Loza, because it reflects African perspectives on the problems facing the continent.

We are keen to maintain the level of interest by facilitating in-depth and practical discussions during the third edition and we are exerting every effort to reach practical recommendations that can be implemented on the ground.

A version of this article appears in print in the 16 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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A Syrian desert monastery that was once a hub for interfaith dialogue, attracting tens of thousands, has reopened to visitors after more than a decade of war and isolation.

"We yearn for people to return. We want to see them pray and meditate with us once more, so that they may find here a space for calm, silence and contemplation," Father Jihad Youssef told AFP, his voice echoing through the dark, empty halls of the monastery he heads.

In 2010, 30,000 people visited Deir Mar Moussa Al-Habashi (St Moses the Ethiopian), a 7th century monastery perched atop a barren, rocky hill about 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of Damascus.

But the onset of civil war in 2011 and the disappearance of Father Paolo Dall'Oglio, who had led and revived the community since 1982, scared away visitors for nearly a decade.

With security having improved in surrounding areas, the monastery reopened its doors to visitors this month.

They must climb 300 steps to reach the stone monastery, built on the ruins of a Roman tower and partly carved into the rock.

It has an 11th century church adorned with icons, ancient murals and writing in Arabic, Syriac and Greek that says "God is love" and "in the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful" -- a phrase that serves as Muslim praise to God.

Symbol of coexistence

Dall'Oglio hosted interfaith seminars at the monastery, where the Christian minority and Muslims used to pray side by side, turning it into a symbol of coexistence that attracted visitors and worshippers for three decades.

The Italian Jesuit priest was expelled from Syria in 2012 for supporting a mass anti-government uprising, but returned a year later.

He disappeared in the summer of 2013, on his way to the headquarters of the group that later became known as the Islamic State in the city of Raqa, where he had gone to plead for the release of kidnapped activists.

Dall'Oglio's practice of inter-religious coexistence was the exact opposite of the intolerant, murderous extremism of IS.

He was reported to have been executed and his body dumped in a crevice soon after his capture, but his death was never confirmed by any party.

"IS most likely kidnapped him. We do not know for sure whether he is alive or dead," Youssef said, adding that no one contacted the monastery to demand ransom.

An escape

In 2015, the monastery came under IS gunfire after the jihadists began two years of control in the nearby Homs countryside.

"We were scared we would be kidnapped or killed at any moment," especially after IS reached the nearby village of Al-Qaryatain and kidnapped groups of Christians there, Youssef said.

IS abducted the monastery's former chief Jacques Mourad from Al-Qaryatain for several months in 2015.

The group razed a monastery in the nearby village and locked hundreds of Christians in a dungeon. They were later freed, but a Christian community which once numbered hundreds in Al-Qaryatain has now fallen to fewer than two dozen.

"We experienced all kinds of fear," Youssef said, adding that they felt isolated in the desert monastery at the height of the fighting, and later because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

US-backed local forces defeated the IS "caliphate" in eastern Syria three years ago, while Syrian government troops, supported by Russia and Iran-linked forces, have recaptured much territory from rebels.

"This is a simple monastery devoid of luxuries. There is no internet or cell coverage, making it easier to escape the hustle and bustle of the city," Youssef said.

Two monks, a nun, and two postulants live in the three-storey monastery, which includes rooms for visitors, a bird farm, and an expansive library.

They live off the land and drink from a nearby well.

In the early hours of the morning, Youssef calls out to them for breakfast from a courtyard overlooking caves carved into the hill.

The lonely hilltop refuge basks in unparalleled tranquillity.

Youssef al-Halabi, 48, has been a monk for 16 years but he said the lack of visitors left him wondering what he could do to fill his spare time.

"I started looking for ways to fill these long hours... because sometimes we had zero yearly visitors," he said.

After his morning prayer, the white-bearded monk usually heads to a nearby cave to make candles. Sometimes he occupies himself with farming.

Halabi, who has devoted his life to worship and to serving visitors, said he hoped people would fill the monastery once more "to share our way of life".

"This is a space to breathe, away from the noise and agitation," he said.

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Lebanon will sign a final agreement to import gas from Egypt via Syria on 21 June in Beirut, Lebanese Minister of Energy Walid Fayad said on Monday.

In statements to Lebanese Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Monday, Fayad said a meeting will be held in Beirut on Tuesday with Egyptian and Syrian officials to sign a final agreement to import gas from Egypt via Syria.

The Lebanese government accomplished what it had to do to receive financing from the World Bank and US approval on the agreement, he added.

There has been no confirmation from Egypt yet.

Reuters reported that a US official said last week that the final approval on the agreement would allow Washington to evaluate whether the deal followed US sanctions on Syria, after which gas could "finally flow."

In September 2021 Egypt agreed to supply Lebanon with natural gas to its power plants through Jordan and Syria in a revival of the Arab Gas Pipeline to help Lebanon in its longtime crippling electricity problem.

The Arab Gas Pipeline has been out of service in Lebanon even before Syrias 10-year conflict would begin. Nevertheless, Syrian experts have finished work in the war-torn country.

The Syrian government is under US and Western sanctions for its role in the war, which has left nearly half a million killed and disappeared and nearly half of the population displaced.

Despite the sanctions, the US has supported the resumption of natural gas flow from Egypt to Lebanon via Syria.

According to Fayad, the agreement stipulates that 650 million cubic meters (22.95 billion cubic feet) of gas will be brought to Lebanon through the pipeline annually to the Deir Ammar power station in the north, leading to the production of 450 megawatts of electricity and adding three to four hours of electricity supplies a day.

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By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

Italian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Claudio Taffuri said that the relations between the two countries have reached a special level, Azernews reports.

The remarks were made during a festive event organized on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of Italy's republic in Baku.

"Relations between our countries have been rapidly developing in all spheres for 30 years. Today, these relations have reached a special level," the ambassador said.

The event coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Italy.

Further, Taffuri recalled that the signing of a strategic agreement between the two countries on the establishment of the Azerbaijani-Italian University in Baku during the visit of the Italian Foreign Minister to Azerbaijan created the basis for the development of relations in the humanitarian sector.

"Azerbaijan's support for Italy during the coronavirus pandemic should also be emphasized. First, it is a gesture of friendship and close ties between our countries," the ambassador added.

The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on May 8, 1992. Italy's first embassy in the South Caucasus was opened in Azerbaijan in 1997 and the embassy of Azerbaijan in Italy has been functioning since 2003.

Azerbaijan is a major supplier of energy to Italy. In Azerbaijan, over 100 Italian companies operate in various sectors. At the same time, Italian firms have contracts worth more than 10 billion ($11.8 billion) for Azerbaijani projects both inside and outside the country. Azerbaijan's total investment in the Italian economy is estimated to be around 1.7 billion ($2 billion), with Italy investing approximately 770 million ($910.8 million) in Azerbaijan.

The two countries' trade turnover was $9.6 billion in 2021, with Italy also being Azerbaijan's main trade partner.

Italy was one of the first countries to express support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, as well as an interest in participating in restoration efforts in Azerbaijan's liberated territories. Thus, Italy and Israel are working on a joint project to transform the liberated Zangilan region into a smart city.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Cairo International Airport on Monday night, presidential spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

El-Sisi and Bin Salman, who is on an official two-day visit to Egypt, will discuss bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in various fields, as well as regional and international political issues of mutual concern, the statement said.

Sources told Reuters this week that Bin Salmans meeting with El-Sisi will discuss issues that include the regional impact of the war in Ukraine as well as preparations for US President Joe Biden's trip to Saudi Arabia next month.

Bin Salmans visit to Egypt is his first leg of a three-nation regional tour that includes Jordan and Turkey.

Over the past years, Egypt and Saudi have shared warm relations in the various political, economic, security and investment fields and have maintained continuous coordination on regional issues of concern.

During the current global crisis, Saudi Arabia has deposited $5 billion in the Central Bank of Egypt, and the kingdom is expected to invest further in the country.

Moreover, prior to the war, Saudi Arabia deposited $3 billion in the Central Bank of Egypt and extended the maturity of other deposits worth $2.3 billion that will now be paid in October 2026.

Regarding trade, Egypts exports to Saudi Arabia jumped by 17.4 percent in 2021 y-o-y to reach about $1.99 billion, up from $1.69 billion in 2020, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The trade ministrys data also shows that Egypt was ranked the seventh largest market for Saudi merchandise exports in 2021 with a total value of $2.478 billion.

As per the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, trade exchange between the two countries grew significantly in 2021 to record $14.5 billion  an increase of 88 percent.

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Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday said Lebanon was ready to expel Syrian refugees living in the country if the international community does not work to repatriate them.

Related Lebanon calls for financial support from UN to host Syrian refugees

Lebanon, grappling with its worst ever economic crisis, has the world's highest proportion of refugees in its population, with the government estimating that Syrians account for almost a quarter of its more than six million residents.

"Eleven years after the start of the Syrian crisis, Lebanon no longer has the capacity to bear this burden, especially under the current circumstances," Mikati said.

"I call on the international community to work with Lebanon to secure the return of Syrian refugees to their country, or else Lebanon will... work to get Syrians out through legal means and the firm application of Lebanese law."

Mikati's remarks were made during a ceremony launching the 2022-2023 Lebanon Crisis Response Plan, which is backed by the United Nations.

The UN humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, Najat Rochdi, was in attendance.

Mikati's statement follows similar remarks made in May by social affairs minister Hector Hajjar, who said that Lebanon could no longer afford to host such a large refugee population.

On Monday, Lebanon appealed for $3.2 billion to address the ongoing impact of the Syria crisis, according to a UN statement. Some $9 billion have been provided in assistance through the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan since 2015, the UN says.

But a dire economic crisis that has plunged many Lebanese into poverty is exacerbating public resentment over the continued presence of Syrian refugees in the country.

Some political figures and pundits have recently posited that, thanks to cash handouts by aid agencies, Syrian refugees have been receiving more assistance than the poorest Lebanese.

Nine out of 10 Syrians in Lebanon are living in poverty, while poverty levels for Lebanese have also risen to cover more than 80 percent of the population.

Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have warned against forced repatriation to Syria, where they have documented cases of detainment, torture and disappearance committed by the Syrian authorities against returnees.

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Egypt's public prosecutor ordered an urgent investigation into the incident concerning a young man falling from Cairo Tower that caused public uproar on social media over the past few hours.

A team of investigators arrived at the scene to conduct necessary examinations, a statement by the prosecutor said on Monday.

The statement did not mention whether it was a suicide attempt or not.

In recent years, several suicied cases have been reported, whether by jumping off Cairo Tower or in front of trains, in addition to swallowing pesticides.

The World Health Organisation has listed Egypt among countries with low suicide rates.

According to a report published by WHO in 2018, suicide attempts in Egypt reached 3.799 or 0.68 percent of total deaths, a ratio of three suicides per 100,000 people.

Recently, many private and government-sponsored online campaigns and hot numbers began addressing the problem.

Upon dialling 02 2081 6831 or 080 0888 0700 -- the hotline of the Ministry of Health and Population's General Secretariat of Mental Health -- callers are able to talk to employees about mental health issued and are directed to the nearest suitable mental health facility.

Furthermore, there are various online initiatives such as Takestep and Shezlong that enable users to book and pay for online or phone sessions anonymously.

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EU officials said Tuesday that there was no opposition within the 27-nation bloc to granting war-torn Ukraine "candidate status", ahead of a summit expected to green light the move.

The bloc's executive arm last week proposed taking the symbolic first step to put Ukraine on the years-long path towards EU membership in a strong sign of support as Kyiv battles Russia's military onslaught.

A two-day summit from Thursday looks set to approve the move to formally name Ukraine and neighbouring Moldova "candidates" to start negotiations on joining.

"There is not a single country which makes problems with the proposal," said Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn at a meeting with EU counterparts in his country's capital.

"We will show great unanimity."

The EU is expected to impose conditions on Ukraine and Moldova over judicial reforms and tackling corruption, among other issues, before they could move on to formal entry negotiations.

It would then take years -- if not decades -- of painstaking evaluations before Ukraine would get close to becoming an actual member.

Georgia, which also applied for membership in Ukraine's slipstream, looks likely to be told it needs to carry out further reforms before it can become a candidate.

Momentum has picked up for the EU to open the door to Ukraine after the leaders of heavyweights France, Germany and Italy threw their heft behind the move on a visit to Kyiv last week.

Three EU diplomats told AFP that no countries raised objections at a meeting of the bloc's ambassadors on Monday.

More sceptical nations such as the Netherlands and Denmark have said they will back the move provided it is made clear that reforms are needed.

"We want to help the Ukrainians to to reach the European dream and granting candidate status is a step and an encouragement to do that," said Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod.

"It's also true that that there's a lot of obligations that have to be fulfilled."

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Egypt seeks to crystallise a joint African vision that accelerates the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda and climate action, as well as boosting the African intra-cooperation in partnership with the global and regional partners, said Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Tuesday.

El-Sisi made his statements in a recorded video message aired during the opening of the third edition of the two-day Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development that kicked off in Cairo on Tuesday.

The president noted that the forum comes amid serious challenges with significant political and economic repercussions on development.

These challenges are being reflected on the African continent, mainly on its food security, energy security, health, economy and the social aspect as well. That confers on us the responsibility of helping our economies to be resilient against the external shocks, said the president.

Touching upon the food crisis in Africa amid both the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, El-Sisi asserted the necessity of adopting a package of urgent and effective procedures in coordination with the international community and global partners to contain the impacts of this crisis and maintain the security of the African supply chains.

He also urged sustainable measures for supporting food security and the agriculture sector as well, stressing that the continent needs to raise its agricultural production, paving the way for self-efficiency amid the ongoing challenges of water scarcity, price hikes and climate change.

Yet, other challenges must be dealt with; especially the stability of peace and security in the continent, protecting our countries from terrorism proliferation, weapon smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal immigration. All these challenges need innovative solutions to cope with and effective mechanisms to overcome, the president also stated.

Talking about the UN Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP27), which Egypt is set to host in November as the voice of Africa, El-Sisi expounded that Aswan Forum in its third edition is a unique opportunity to shed light on the climate change threat and its related impacts, which are linked with the peace and security issues in the continent as well.

The president also urged the international community to fulfil its pledges towards African countries, especially developing and the low-income countries, mainly for adaptation to climate change and doubling the finances dedicated to it.

Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said that Aswan Forum mirrors the role Egypt plays in Africa for the sake of boosting its peace and development and reflects the importance Egypt attributes to reach practical solutions to the troubles the continent is suffering.

He added that Egypts efforts in this area are in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030, Egypts Vision 2030, and the Africa We Need Agenda 2063.

Amid the ongoing challenges, it is important for the continent to diversify its food resources, provide the security for the supply chains, and contain the price hikes through the national policies of each country in the continent. It is imperative also to contain the repercussions of the global tension and the rising energy prices with a comprehensive vision to fight terrorism and building a strong entities for that mission, Shoukry also explained.

He added that Egypt, through hosting the anticipated COP27, will coordinate with all African countries to set a clear map for the sake of the climate action on the global and regional levels as well as enhancing the accesses to the financial resources for the African countries.

Egypt will also focus on the green recovery agenda and supporting Africas efforts to contain the impacts of the ongoing challenges, urging the international community to meet its obligations for the continent which is the least contributor to the climate change crisis, as Africa is responsible for only three percent of the global carbon emissions.

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said in a recorded message that only two percent of the global investments in the renewables goes to Africa while it is the most affected area by the climate change crisis.

Guterres added that the continent needs investments in health, job creation, poverty reduction, boosting its growth and health systems, as the war in Ukraine along with the climate change and the COVID-19 have affected it severely.

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The United States on Tuesday voiced revulsion over reports of hundreds of deaths in mass killings in Ethiopia as it renewed a call for a peaceful resolution of differences.

Survivors told AFP that hundreds of people belonging to the Amhara ethnic group were killed over the weekend by rebels in the Oromia region, with bodies still lying on the streets after hours of violence.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States was "gravely concerned" by "this horrific act."

"We also call on all Ethiopians to reject violence, and instead, pursue peaceful dialogue to resolve differences," Price said in a statement.

"National reconciliation must involve comprehensive, inclusive justice for victims and accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses and violations."

The Oromia regional authorities said the attack was carried out by the Oromo Liberation Army, which is branded as a terrorist organization by the Ethiopian government.

But a spokesman for the rebel group blamed the region's own pro-government militia for the killings and called for an independent investigation.

The violence comes despite guarded hope for a return to peace in northern Ethiopia, where a war that broke out in November 2020 has horrified rights groups and foreign governments, with the United States ending preferential trading status for its longtime ally.

Ethiopia's government declared a humanitarian truce in March, allowing limited supplies of international aid into Tigray for the first time since mid-December.

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Bahraini King Hamad bin Eissa Al-Khalifa and Jordanian King Abdullah II had already met with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi in Sharm El-Sheikh to the same end.

Both meetings confirm Egypts central role in reaching a united Arab stand ahead of the widely anticipated, mid-July meeting between the US president and leaders of nine Arab nations: the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.

Ahead of his first visit to an Arab country since taking office 18 months ago, Biden will stop in Israel and Palestine for meetings with top Israeli government officials and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The Democratic administration has long promised to bring the peace process back on track, after it was damaged nearly to the point of collapse under the Trump administration. So far, little if anything has been achieved, making it difficult for Arab leaders who will meet Biden in Jeddah to interact positively with ongoing US efforts to form a new joint security alliance against Iranian threats to the Arab Gulf region, Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq.

Trump had disregarded all key pillars of that peace process since it was launched in Oslo in 1993: the exchange of land for peace, and linking the normalisation of ties between Israel and Arab countries to progress in the two-state solution. He recognised occupied East Jerusalem as Israels united capital, closed the Palestinian Embassy in Washington and shut down the US Consulate in East Jerusalem, which endorsed Washingtons refusal to recognise Israels unilateral decision to annex that part of the disputed city which was occupied in 1967, like the rest of Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Gaza. Instead, Trump and his infamous son-in-law Jarred Kushner pushed for normalisation agreements between Israel and several Arab countries, known as the Abraham Accords, while promising billions of dollars in aid to Palestinians, imagining that this would be a fair offer in return for giving up the aspiration to an independent Palestinian state.

The Biden administration sought to distance itself from those steps, but no tangible measures have been taken to revive peace talks between Israel and Palestinians. The announcement by Israels fragile ruling coalition on Monday that it would call for new elections, expected by autumn, is certainly going to be the common Israeli excuse to escape from taking any steps towards reviving serious peace talks with the Palestinians. On the Iran confrontation front, any Israeli government in office, especially if right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a comeback, will remain a central issue, if not the only one. Netanyahus possible return to office as prime minister would likely lead to more hard-line language and stands on Iran, and a return to the total disregard of any attempt to reach peace with the Palestinians.

The consultations that took place in Cairo and Sharm El-Sheikh are a necessary prelude to ensure that Arab leaders will speak in a united voice when they meet Biden in Jeddah to discuss various thorny topics, including Iran, the dead Palestinian-Israeli peace process and, more recently, the devastating effect of the Russia-Ukraine war on the region. The soaring prices of basic commodities, such as wheat and cooking oil, as well as fuel, has added tremendous pressure on Egypts budget, nearly doubling the cost of its imports.

Al-Sisi and Bin Salman discussed the vital role Saudi Arabia played in helping Egypt overcome the massive losses it suffered following the outbreak of the Ukraine war four months ago. As portfolio investors pulled money from Egypt, tourism income declined and the government faced rising commodity prices in knock-on effects at the start of the Ukraine war, Saudi Arabia deposited $5 billion in Egypts Central Bank. The Saudi-based International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) has provided Egypt with finance for commodity imports and Egypts government has said cooperation with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund will result in $10 billion in investments.

Egypt has also strongly supported recent efforts by Saudi Arabia to bring an end to the ongoing war and suffering in Yemen, which is likely to be another important topic on the agenda of the upcoming US-Arab summit. President Al-Sisi has expressed strong support to the UN-mediated truce in Yemen, which has led to the most peaceful period there since war broke out seven years ago. Egypts ties with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf nations, as well as Jordan and Iraq, constitute to a strategic partnership, given that these relations are the cornerstone of preserving regional security and stability. This partnership aims at achieving development and peace through a unified and effective vision.

A version of this article appears in print in the 23 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Turkeys preparations for a further military campaign in northern Syria are intended to shore up President Erdogans popularity at home.

As the Turkish army and the Syrian militia factions under its command complete preparations for another military campaign in northern Syria, Ankaras determination to re-escalate the conflict in the area has raised widespread concerns regionally and internationally.

The new Turkish intervention in northern Syria is integrally related to Turkeys recalcitrant Kurdish question, as Ankara claims that the predominantly Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria are affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkey has designated a terrorist organisation.

In its last meeting on 26 May, Turkeys National Security Council determined that further military operations in Syria were necessary for Turkish national security. The aim of the new operations is to create a 30 km buffer zone inside Syria, clear it of Kurdish elements, and then use it for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees.

The question of refugees has become one of the hot-button issues that the opposition parties in Turkey have used to strengthen their position against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its leader President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The popularity ratings of both the party and the president are now at an all-time low, and both are determined to reverse the trend ahead of the elections to be held in the spring of 2023.

Turkish forces have been amassing troops and reinforcing their positions in northeastern Syria especially near YPG locations. Erdogan has said that the Turkish army and military intelligence have planned extensive combat activities along a broad front in order to carve out the 30 km safety zone, as he has termed it.

On 27 May, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a NGO, reported that a Turkish military convoy had crossed into Syria in the direction of Manbij with 56 tanks, 11 rocket launchers, and dozens of trucks carrying logistical equipment. It has reported several other large convoys since.

A statement issued by the Turkish National Security Council meeting that Erdogan chaired on 26 May said that the purpose of the military moves was to neutralize areas that the Kurds were using to launch attacks against Turkey. It added that Turkish military operations in Syria now and in the future do not target the sovereignty of neighbouring countries.

In the same week, Turkish news outlets reported that Turkish-affiliated militias, some of which operate under the umbrella of the Syrian National Army (SNA), have been engaged in intensive training. The Turkish national TV channel A Haber aired footage of SNA fighters carrying out simulated combat tasks.

The SNA, previously known as the Turkish-backed Free Syria Army (TFSA) or Free Syria Army (FSA), has sent reinforcements to the fronts in Kobane and Manbij, according to SNA officials in Syria. All army units and factions are in a state of combat readiness, they say.

Islamist militias in Idlib in northern Syria have also been mobilising for the campaign. Foremost among these is the Hayaat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS). Previously known as the Nusrah Front, it is the largest Turkish-affiliated militia in Syria.

The impending Turkish military operation will have repercussions at several levels. Most immediately, it will precipitate another wave of population displacement from northern Syria.

While the operation is said to target YPG forces, the main victims will be civilians in the predominantly Kurdish regions of northern Syria, especially in the areas around Qamishli, Kobani, and Ein Eissa. Their displacement will further aggravate the turbulence elsewhere in Syria.

The operation will increase tensions between Ankara and the US and NATO. The US backs the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), of which the YPG is a founding member and which has been the combat force on the ground in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group in the region.

Washington has cautioned against the new incursion as a result and has warned of a risk to US forces stationed in the area. US President Joe Biden has called on Ankara to abide by the 2019 agreement in which Turkey committed itself not to encroach on Kurdish-controlled areas in northeastern Syria, adding that keeping the ceasefire lines in place was crucial to Syrias stability.

The Turkish incursion will also further rile the countrys NATO partners, who have been angered by Erdogans refusal to approve Swedens and Finlands applications to join NATO and accuse him of exploiting the membership bids for his own political ends.

Regardless of its aims, the operation will bring about a larger Turkish footprint in northern Syria, signalling to Moscow and Tehran that Ankara will be more of force to be reckoned with in Syria. As both Moscow and Iran are aware, Turkey is taking advantage of Russias preoccupation with Ukraine and Irans preoccupation with negotiations over its nuclear programme and its current domestic crisis in order to impose its will in Syria.

This may affect relationships connected with the Syrian crisis. Russia and Iran will probably work together more closely than they have been in Syria as a result, and there is even a possibility that a Turkish offensive in Syria could reduce tensions between the US and Russia and Iran.

Washington opposes Turkish incursions into northeastern Syria and continues to preserve its relationship with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). In a sign of its support for the latter, US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland announced on 11 May that Washington planned to issue a licence to ease foreign investment in areas outside of regime control in northeastern Syria without being sanctioned.

The United States intends in the next few days to issue a general licence to facilitate private economic investment activity in non-regime held areas liberated from IS in Syria, Reuters cited her as saying during a meeting of the anti-IS coalition in Marrakech.

A major flareup in the conflict in Syria will jeopardise regional and international peacemaking efforts, which have begun to pick up pace. The Arabs have taken steps towards reconciliation with the Syrian regime, while the European powers have sought to mobilise international support for the war-ravaged country.

The peacemaking efforts have gained impetus from Syrian President Bashar Al-Assads recent declaration of a general amnesty that aims to free thousands of Syrian political detainees. The renewed Turkish offensive would stymie current peacemaking efforts and hamper initiatives to revive them, especially since military re-escalation in the north of the country will probably spill over into other areas.

Erdogan desperately needs a victory in order to reverse the downward spiral in his partys and his own personal popularity. If the countrys economic straits, deteriorating standards of living, and rising unemployment are the main reasons for this decline, Syrian refugees in Turkey have also increasingly been turned into scapegoats for the countrys problems.

The mounting popular hostility towards them in Turkey has led the government to U-turn on its longstanding welcome to its Syrian brothers and produce a speedy remedy. More importantly in terms of Erdogans calculations, a military campaign in Syria will pull the rug out from under the opposition parties and force them to line up behind him in the crucial period leading up to the 2023 Turkish general elections.

This would not be the first time that the militarisation of Turkeys foreign policy has helped him export domestic problems, throw the opposition into disarray, and score political points at home.

A version of this article appears in print in the 23 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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On the 70th anniversary of the fall of the House of Mohamed Ali, Tarek Osman begins a new series on the making and unmaking of Egypts former royal family

Mohamed Ali was not the first ruler of Egypt to attempt to extract the country from the Middle Ages and usher it into modernity. At the end of the 18th century, several of the last Mamelukes who had previously ruled the country, most notably Ali Bek Al-Kebir, had spearheaded notable changes.

But Mohamed Ali was nevertheless the founder of modern Egypt.

He was the first ruler of the country in over four centuries not to be appointed by an Ottoman sultan. The withdrawal of France from Egypt in 1801 after its three-year campaign in the country had proven a failure that created a power vacuum in the country. It also stirred frustrations and aspirations.

The ease with which French general Napoleon Bonaparte and his army had managed to conquer Egypt at the end of the 18th century had revealed the shocking differences in development between Egypt (and with it the rest of the East) and France (and with it the West). This was a key reason why many Egyptian notables  sheikhs from Al-Azhar, traditionally Sunni Islams most revered seat of learning, as well as wealthy Cairene and Alexandrian merchants  wanted a complete overhaul of how the country was ruled.

Mohamed Ali was their choice to fill the vacuum. This mid-ranking officer in the Ottoman army had built a reputation during the years of the French campaign as smart, pious, and concerned about the future of the country. This was certainly at least in part an act. In fact, he had ambitions to take over Egypt, and so he positioned himself smartly, cultivated connections, and bided his time.

The Egyptian notables effectively forced the Ottoman sultans hand into accepting Mohamed Ali as his viceroy in the country. For many, particularly in Istanbul, Mohamed Ali was a surprising choice. But the real surprise was that the Egyptians had had a choice of ruler at all. It was the first time in many centuries that the Egyptians had had any say in who was to govern them.

Mohamed Ali was also the first non-Mameluke in over five centuries to rule Egypt. It is true that since the Ottoman conquest of the country in the early 16th century, there had always been an Ottoman ruler in Cairo. But he had almost always been a figurehead, with real power residing with the countrys senior Mamelukes.

Mohamed Ali ended that situation first by cutting all the trappings that had connected Egypt with the Ottoman Empire and second by cutting off the heads of the most senior Mamelukes in a meticulously executed massacre that followed a sumptuously prepared dinner at the Cairo Citadel.

Eliminating the Mamelukes was the first step in a determined and ruthless campaign. Following the Mamelukes came the turn of the most important notables who had campaigned and lobbied to put Mohamed Ali on the throne. Some of them were imprisoned, some disappeared, others got the message and retreated from public life.

After the Mamelukes and the notables came the land. Mohamed Ali confiscated the entirety of Egypts land, including the religious endowments traditionally managed by Al-Azhar. This effectively made him the sole landowner in Egypt at a time when landownership was the only determinant and reservoir of wealth.

Sole and supreme ruler of Egypt, Mohamed Ali then began to create the country he had envisioned.

He started with the armed forces, where the changes were not merely in armaments, personnel, and logistics, but primarily in meaning. While serving in the Ottoman garrison in Egypt, Mohamed Ali had observed the French army and understood that modern armies were not merely fighting forces. Instead, they were elaborate organisations under sophisticated command structures drawing on agrarian and industrial production systems.

This understanding ushered in the beginning of modern industry in Egypt. Factories producing weapons, clothing, and vehicles, among other military requirements, were built in the first few decades of the 19th century.

Villages and later towns appeared around these factories. A new irrigation system was introduced, and within a decade tens of thousands of acres had been added to Egypts cultivated land. The new towns, the irrigation network, and the expansion of cultivated land transformed the Nile Delta, perhaps more than any previous wave of change had done since the settling of the Arabs in the area almost 13 centuries earlier.

At the beginning of his reign, Mohamed Ali relied on the French officers, engineers, and advisers who had stayed in Egypt after the French army had left. But as his changes gained momentum and modern Egypt began to take shape, he increasingly poached talented administrators from different European capitals as well as from the Ottoman court. An elaborate, largely Turkic and Circassian, but also international, power structure began to take shape round Mohamed Ali.

Here was the essence of the Pashas project: the modern state that he built was in Egypt, but it was not Egyptian. Mohamed Ali, an Ottoman by upbringing, experience, and way of life, mixed his immense ambition to create a dynasty of his own with his desire to fashion a modern, strong, and developed state anchored on Ottoman culture.

Years later, as will be seen in the next article in this series, when the army led by his son, Ibrahim, was on the verge of entering Istanbul and vanquishing the Ottomans, Mohamed Ali was aiming not at destroying the Ottoman Empire as at taking it over, modernising it, and bringing its various provinces under his familys control.

Mohamed Alis project had given rise to modern Egypt; at heart, however, there was very little of and about Egypt that was in the Pashas project. This was a reason why Mohamed Ali never worried about the notion of legitimacy or the consent of the Egyptian people.

The Pasha held unflattering views of the Egyptians. Although he was the first to institute programmes to send promising young Egyptians to Europe to be educated (primarily in science), his governing structure remained until the very end of his reign in the mid-19th century largely devoid of Egyptian people.

Mohamed Alis state was Egyptian by name, but its rulers, managers, and the thinking and culture that shaped it were detached from the heritage of the land that Mohamed Ali had come to control and upon which he built his state.

Mohamed Ali died peacefully, having spent the last years of his life between two of his most charming, yet far from most opulent, palaces in Cairo and Alexandria. In his last years, he became increasingly detached, and according to some telling stories, his mind was past its prime. But his reputation as by far the most successful ruler the Mediterranean had seen in the first half of the 19th century was all but secured for eternity.

In one of the most-penetrating portraits of the Pasha a few years before his death by Belgian painter Jean-Francois Portaels, Mohamed Ali exudes the confidence of a man who had transformed a backwater Ottoman colony into a strong modern state, unrivalled in the East.

He remains a rare example in Egyptian history of a leader who had vast ambition, wide vision, an iron will, tremendous energy and an impressive work ethic, all mixed with the ability to execute and implement what he wanted to achieve with firmness and often ruthlessness. It was also always done in ways that rose above the ignorance that had prevailed in the country before him.

Mohamed Ali not only forced Egypt to wake from its long and lethargic sleep, but he also turned its face towards Western modernity. This was the first step in a long journey that, as this series will show, would last over 150 years.

But because Mohamed Alis project was essentially non-Egyptian, the body of the country remained for a long period fixed in its place and hardly moving with the head. This created a set of problems that would haunt the Mohamed Ali Dynasty and Egypt for decades.

The writer is the author of Islamism: A History of Political Islam (2017) and Egypt on the Brink (2010).



A version of this article appears in print in the 23 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman toured some regional capitals this week, ending with an official visit to Turkey, the first in almost four years. He started with Egypt, followed by Jordan. Saudi sources say the prince will visit Cyprus, Greece and Algeria probably in late July.

The visit to Egypt was preceded by a summit hosted by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi in Sharm El-Sheikh and attended by Bahraini King Hamad bin Eissa Al-Khalifa and Jordanian King Abdullah II.

Official statements from the summit said the leaders discussed mutual coordination towards various issues of common concern in addition to the latest developments on the regional and international arenas and the challenges facing the region. The leaders also stressed the importance of bolstering up the brotherly and strategic relationship between the three countries to achieve common goals and interests. The only reference to Bidens visit was that they also welcomed the upcoming summit to be hosted by Saudi Arabia in July, comprising leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and the US.

Some analysts note that the summit, which occurred just two days before Bin Salmans visit to Egypt and Jordan, was mainly meant to formulate a somehow unified position on different issues  ranging from the economic fallout of the Ukraine war, especially on energy and food prices, to the stance on relations with Israel and Iran. The Saudi crown-princes visit to the two Arab countries would conclude a shared position on almost all these issues. One commentator noted that Riyadh is taking the lead with the UAE backstage for now. But many Gulf sources confirmed to Al-Ahram Weekly that all regional issues that might arise in the summit with the American president are coordinated between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.

The visit to Turkey may be a bilateral event between Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Saudi commentator Abdul-Aziz Alkhames told the Weekly that the crown-princes visit to Turkey is in return for Erdogans visit to the Kingdom [in April this year], and mainly to show normalisation of relations. Also, there is a need to coordinate on regional issues, especially on Iran, to reach a coherent stance before Bidens visit to the region. The visit aims also to push the rapprochement between Turkey and Egypt.

There are other aspects to Bin Salmans tour, mainly economic, including investment pledges and financial assistance under such dire circumstances in accordance with Saudi sources. Such areas might appear unrelated to preparation for the July summit, but commentators see it as part of the effort to bring political positions closer to the Saudi stance when the leaders meet US President Joe Biden in Jeddah next month.

Though Biden tried to downplay his eagerness to get the Gulf countries to produce more oil and lower prices for consumers in the US, many in the region believe it is still one of his primary goals. When asked about that recently, Biden said his Middle East visit is mainly about Israel, not oil. But even that, as many American commentators say, is another electioneering ploy. Yet gas prices at the pump are more important for the American voter than peace in the Middle East. A pro-Israel lobby in the US might not be enough to improve Bidens and his Democratic Partys chances in the upcoming mid-term elections for the Congress.

By and large, the outlook of the Jeddah summit might not be that very bright. Abdul-Aziz Alkhames said that he is not expecting much to come out of the visit and the summit, other than reinforcing the new shift in the region towards a balanced foreign policy mandated mainly by national interests.

There was a notion propagated by some parties within the region that the US will use the summit to form an Israeli-Arab alliance, mainly against Iran. Israeli officials downplayed that, mentioning that only token achievements like opening Saudi airspace to Israeli flights are possible. I dont think there will be any announcement on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords. Any development in relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv will be separate from these accords. Saudi relations with Israel will be different, fitting with the Saudi vision only, Alkhames said.

Even Iran, which is the main issue of concern to GCC countries, might not be addressed in a fully conclusive way. This administration is not ready for full cooperation in the right way. Biden is only concerned about energy and a few other issues. The American position on Iran is not clear, according to Alkhames. The time for American leadership is past, he concluded. The region now seeks cooperation only. That applies to US and others as national interests dictate.

Many in the West echo the same view especially that Biden is going to be in a different Middle east. Some question the American goal of upending the GCC and Arab closeness to Russia and China.

A veteran Western diplomat told Al-Ahram Weekly of what he described as double-hesitancy that might not help achieve the goals of the visit: On one hand, the Biden administration has no strategy for a coherent Middle East policy. On the other hand, Gulf and Arab stances on almost all regional issues are not the same  to say the least.

The lack of a solid strategy is replaced by the kind of tactical policy that has become a norm in Bidens administration  both on internal issues and foreign policy. Leaders in the region understand this as they note opinion polls showing this administrations popularity declining day by day.

If Biden is trying to achieve a foreign policy mark that might help his administration and party internally, he might be frustrated. In fact, the hosts are aware of the situation he is in and might not be enthusiastic to help. As for regional players, matters close to home are more important and they no longer buy the grand rhetoric of global coalition or American-led free world, the diplomat added.

Many in the region and in the West see two main outcomes of the summit: rehabilitation of the Saudi crown-prince, which is a big U-turn for Bidens administration; and reinforcing the GCC and Arab foreign policy shift away from American hegemony.

A version of this article appears in print in the 23 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Hong Kong: HKEX committed to national growth

Chief Executive Carrie Lam

Todays anniversary gathering takes on added significance with the reopening of the HKEX (Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing) Connect Hall. The newly renovated Connect Hall has been fitted out with the latest technology, as well as a brand-new multifunction venue, the 388 Suite, and standout features like the eye-catching Brand, Media & Gong Walls. To say the least, the smartly refurbished Connect Hall will continue to link global markets and our financial community, while serving as an inspiring symbol of one of the worlds largest financial centres. And if I may add, todays gathering also carries a third meaning, that is, you will see a lady Chief Executive and a lady Chairperson of HKEX striking the gong for perhaps the final time, because I doubt very much we will have this happy coincidence of a lady Chief Executive and a lady Chairperson of HKEX for some time to come. And if one takes into account that Laura (HKEX Chairman Laura Cha) and I came from the same secondary school, we served on ExCo (Executive Council) for 10 years and we are good personal friends, this thing will never happen.

HKEX plays a pivotal role in fostering the internationalisation of Hong Kongs financial centre and the city per se. To date, Hong Kong is a major listing platform from different jurisdictions. Alongside a vibrant securities market, HKEXs vision to go international is evidenced by its acquisition as early as 2012 of the London Metal Exchange, commonly known as LME, which until now remains a world centre for the trading of industrial metals where the majority of all non-ferrous metal futures business is transacted among participants from the physical industry and the financial community.

I very much treasure HKEXs strong partnership with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government during these five years, especially during my previous two trips to Davos in 2019 and 2020 for attending the World Economic Forum (WEF). HKEX not only greatly assisted us in organising the signature Hong Kong Night to introduce to guests from around the world Hong Kongs unique strengths and abounding opportunities, but also actively made use of various occasions like the WEF annual meetings and media interviews to promote Hong Kongs cosmopolitan outlook. This year, I was unable to lead a government delegation to Davos for WEF taking place in May, after last years edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 epidemic, given the need to ensure a smooth transition to the new-term Government; I felt much encouraged that Laura and Nicolas (HKEX Chief Executive Officer Nicolas Aguzin) led an HKEX delegation to physically participate in over 70 meetings, events and media interviews in order to connect with global leaders and champion Hong Kongs vibrant capital markets for us. I was particularly thrilled to have heard from Nicolas during his recent interview from Davos that HKEX is planning to establish two international offices, alongside its footprints in Singapore, Beijing and Shanghai at present, to reach out to more overseas investors and market Hong Kong as a fundraising destination.

Despite COVID-19, social unrest and significant economic and geopolitical factors, HKEX, together with the Hong Kong SAR Government, has worked assiduously to build on Hong Kongs singular advantages under the one country, two systems principle. The revamp of the Hong Kong listing regime in 2018 has realised outsized dividends, attracting new economy companies with weighted voting rights, as well as making Hong Kong Asias largest, and the worlds second-largest, fundraising hub for biotechnology. More recently, the reform relating to special purpose acquisition companies, better known as SPACs, has helped to enhance our competitiveness and forge a more diverse, dynamic and sustainable listing regime.

With the unwavering support from the central government, our various mutual market access initiatives have thrived. Some of you may recall that I attended the launch ceremony of Bond Connect here on my third day as the Chief Executive. Since then, we have witnessed the launch of the Bond Connect southbound trading, the cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect and A-share index futures, and we are about to welcome exchange-traded funds or ETFs, to be included under Stock Connect. Each of them has expanded mutual access between the financial markets of Hong Kong and the Mainland, realising fresh investment opportunities for all concerned.

When it comes to creating opportunities, I am pleased to have seen HKEXs new strategic plan and its vision to create the Marketplace of the Future. Among the plans three pillars is an ambitious, long-term blueprint built on connecting China and the world. That means expanding Connect programmes, becoming the Mainlands offshore risk management centre, solidifying HKEXs role as the Mainlands preferred offshore fundraising centre, and increasing its portfolio of Mainland product offerings. In strengthening Hong Kongs unique position as a conduit for capital flow between the Mainland and the world, HKEXs strategy aligns seamlessly with the National 14th Five-Year Plan, which champions the reinforcing of Hong Kongs status as a global financial centre.

I am also delighted to learn about HKEXs ever-growing commitment to driving sustainability. In March this year, Hong Kongs first carbon futures ETF was listed on HKEX, extending the coverage of Hong Kong-listed commodity ETFs to carbon credits, an integral asset class in the global drive to achieving carbon neutrality. Looking at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), HKEX has been forging collaboration with various Mainland partners to press ahead with green and sustainable finance. To name a few, HKEX entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Guangzhou Futures Exchange last August to drive a green and low-carbon market in GBA, and another MoU with the Guangzhou-based China Emissions Exchange in March this year to strengthen co-operation in carbon finance, including exploring the development of a voluntary carbon emission reduction programme in GBA. These joint efforts will gainfully add to our countrys endeavours to peak carbon emissions and reach carbon neutrality.

As the first lady Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, I am particularly happy with HKEXs commitment in championing for diversity on the boards of listed companies. Under the amended Corporate Governance Code and Listing Rules of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, with effect from January 1 this year, existing listed issuers have a three-year transition period to comply with the diverse board requirement, that is to appoint a director of a different gender no later than December 31, 2024, whereas IPO (initial public offering) applicants have to identify at least a director of a different gender from July 1, 2022, onwards.

As my five-year plan is drawing to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to remind us all that maintaining Hong Kongs status as an international financial centre is actually a requirement stipulated in Article 109 of the Basic Law. While the Basic Law has also bestowed upon the Hong Kong SAR the key factors of success, namely no foreign exchange control policies and the free flow of capital within, into and out of the SAR (Article 112), it is incumbent upon us to enhance our competitiveness through putting due emphasis on a sound regulatory system and market development. That is why a Financial Leaders Forum was created at the beginning of this term of Government to enable the Government to play a more active role on policymaking and matters relating to monetary stability, financial safety and regulation as well as market development. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Financial Secretary for chairing the Financial Leaders Forum all these years, and stability has been assured with his re-appointment and the re-appointment of Chris Hui (Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui) as the leaders of the financial services in the Hong Kong SAR Government.

Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Laura and Gucho (Mr Aguzin), if I may call you that, and to each and every one of you, for the remarkable contributions in achieving an orderly and sustainable growth of Hong Kongs securities market. My gratitude also goes to all members of the Financial Leaders Forum and the Financial Services Development Council for their dedication and support over the past five years. I have every confidence that HKEX will continue to be a pivotal player in taking Hong Kongs financial services sector to new heights, locally and beyond.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave these remarks at the Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing 22nd Anniversary Celebrations on June 21.

This story has been published on: 2022-06-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
An official welcome ceremony has been held for Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at Kuksaroy Residence in Tashkent, Azernews reports, citing Azertac.

A guard of honor was arranged for the Azerbaijani president in the square decorated with the national flags of the two countries.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev welcomed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

The state anthems of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan were played.

The chief of the guard of honor reported to the Azerbaijani President.

President Ilham Aliyev saluted the Uzbek soldiers.

The presidents reviewed the guard of honor.

State and government officials of Uzbekistan were introduced to President Ilham Aliyev, while members of the Azerbaijani delegation were introduced to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The guard of honor marched in front of the presidents to the accompaniment of a military march.




Political confusion is reigning in Israel in the build-up to a visit to the region by US President Joe Biden, with the dissolution of the countrys parliament expected within days, reports Mohamed Abu Shaar

The leaders of Israels coalition government dropped a political bombshell this week by announcing that they would submit legislation to dissolve the countrys parliament the Knesset. The decision is meant as a preemptive move to prevent similar action by the opposition led by Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu in the coming days.

According to a deal between leader of the Yamina Party Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atids Yair Lapid, legislation will be submitted to dissolve parliament within days and to hold early elections. The leaders also agreed that Lapid would take over from Bennett as prime minister and continue to hold his Foreign Ministry portfolio.

The leaders decided to dissolve the Knesset due to their failure to maintain the current governing coalition, as well as many other crises that have taken place in recent weeks.

Most notably, there was the resignation of Nir Orbach from the Yamina Party in reaction to the coalitions failing to pass the emergency regulations law that applies Israeli law to settlements in the West Bank. The legislation was opposed by Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi of the Meretz Party and Mazen Ghanaim of the United Arab List.

Ghanaim and Rinawie Zoabi, named as rebels by Israels Hebrew media, caused the collapse of the government coalition and exhausted attempts to stabilise it from within.

Coalition leaders said dissolving the Knesset would block Netanyahus return to power, especially after it was revealed that Likud was already talking with members of the government coalition to form a new right-wing government during the current Knesset session and without holding new elections.

The dissolution could give the parties in the ruling coalition an opportunity to rearrange their political cards and expel the rebels, though it does not guarantee their return to power. Some of the parties in the coalition may not meet the electoral threshold in the upcoming elections (four seats out of 120 in the Knesset), further indicating the critical political situation in Israel.

The Israeli opposition is continuing with its attempts to form a new right-wing government in the present Knesset, even though opinion polls show that Likud and other right-wing parties would win more votes in any future elections and some members of the current coalition government have departed the political scene.

However, the opposition cannot form any government without the help of parties in the incumbent coalition. As a result, Israel will likely return to the political crisis that preceded the formation of the incumbent government.

In order to avoid this, Israelis will return to the polls for the latest in a series of parliamentary elections designed to prolong Lapids tenure as prime minister and similar to what happened to Netanyahu before he was removed from power.

But repeatedly dissolving the Knesset will not in itself solve the apparent inability of the right, left, or centre blocs from forming a stable government supported by more than 61 out of the 120 Knesset members. This means that parties of different stripes are forced to forge alliances that quickly collapse due to diverging views.

The political crisis in Israel coincides with a planned trip by US President Joe Biden to the Middle East on 13-16 July, including Saudi Arabia where he will attend a summit meeting bringing together the leaders of nine countries, including those who are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Biden will also stop in Israel and the Palestinian Territories to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his trip.

The trip is significant for US relations with the Arab countries and developments in the Palestinian-Israeli issue. Tel Aviv is hoping it will prompt its integration into the Middle East and settle its confrontation with Iran, especially after the failure of the Vienna talks to bring Iran and the US back into the nuclear deal.

Relations between Iran and Israel have been strained by Tel Avivs threats against Tehran, in which it has accused Iran of trying to target Israelis in Turkey in reaction to claims that Israel has been behind the killing of scientists and military officials in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

Israel has announced it is creating a US-led coalition against Iran in an escalation that could lead Israel to launch a military strike against Iran. The aim would be to obstruct Irans nuclear programme, which has reached levels that Israel considers dangerous and bringing it close to becoming a nuclear power.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) views Bidens visit as an opportunity to restore relations with the US after a lull during former US president Donald Trumps tenure. It also wants to restore Washingtons role in the Middle East peace process such that the US takes more equitable positions towards the Palestinians.

However, the importance the PA attaches to the visit is not matched by the US with regard to the Palestinians.

Washington will likely be more focused on Irans nuclear programme during talks with Israeli officials, as well as on diplomatic relations between Israel and the Arab countries and domestic complications caused by the collapse of the government coalition led by Bennett and Lapid.

This reduces the likelihood of a breakthrough in the US position regarding talks between the Palestinians and Israelis.

During meetings between Palestinian and US officials in Ramallah last week, the PA discussed the issues it wants to present to Biden during his talks with Abbas. These include the creation of a political atmosphere conducive to the pursuit of the peace process with Israel after the talks were suspended eight years ago and developments took place on the ground that have complicated the possibility of creating an independent Palestinian state.

The PA also wants the US to open a consulate in Occupied Jerusalem, which would be an implicit recognition by Washington that East Jerusalem is the Palestinian capital. Israel opposes such a move. The PA also wants the offices of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), the highest Palestinian executive authority, in Washington to be re-opened after their closure in September 2018.

It wants US funding estimated at $500 million annually to be restored after it was suspended under Trump as part of a decision to stop all funding to the Palestinians, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and some development and relief agencies in the Palestinian Territories.

While the Biden administration has since paid its share of UNRWA funds and of the funds due to some Palestinian institutions in Occupied Jerusalem, it continues to withhold direct funding to the PA.

In Israel, the domestic scene has been casting a shadow over Bidens trip, but US Ambassador to Tel Aviv Thomas Nides said it would proceed as planned despite the dissolution of the Knesset and early elections, with Lapid welcoming Biden.

However, Biden will find it difficult to present proposals opening up political prospects between the Palestinians and Israel due to the interim government that will be in place until the elections are held or until Israels right-wing comes to power again under Netanyahu.

The political turmoil in Israel in recent years has often impacted its relations with the PA. Four parliamentary elections in two years have caused domestic issues to dominate the Israeli agenda, and Netanyahu early took unilateral positions towards the Palestinians that increased the political estrangement between the two sides.

The complexities of Israels domestic scene and the absence of a government capable of taking major decisions, such as returning to the peace process, have caused Washington to avoid putting pressure on successive Israeli governments. This will make Bidens meeting with Abbas no more than a palliative one, according to Palestinian political analyst Talal Okal.

Okal told Al-Ahram Weekly that Bidens visit would not succeed in creating a path for the peace process to restart, and at best it would result in the US administration implementing some of its promises, such as reopening the PLO offices in Washington.

He noted there were other more pressing issues on the US agenda, such as the war in Ukraine and Irans nuclear programme after the failure of the nuclear deal.

Okal said that Biden could pressure Israel into taking a more definite position on the side of the US-NATO alliance against Russia, a more pressing issue for Washington than the Palestinian issue.

However, the PA said it had suspended implementing important steps in its relationship with Israel until Bidens visit. Previously, it had decided to implement decisions made by the Palestinian Central Council on withdrawing recognition of Israel in protest against the latters unilateral actions.

Foreign Ministry adviser Ahmed Al-Deek said that the Palestinian president threatened to implement the decisions of the Central Council to suspend recognition of Israel and end the PAs commitments to all agreements with it until it recognises a Palestinian state. But US mediators told us that Biden would come to the region and it would be important to listen to what he has to say.

Al-Deek said the PAs suspension of measures that could lead to an escalation of the situation was about giving a new chance to what can be done before implementing these decisions. He added that consultations had taken place with the Arab countries and international parties about the Central Councils decisions and Abbas had been persuaded to delay until Bidens visit.

Israeli and US reports indicate that Biden has little to offer the Palestinians, and the PAs patience is running out due to internal crises and pressure by the Palestinian group Hamas to carve out a greater role for itself in the West Bank.

This has put greater pressure on the PA to present a political project that is convincing to Palestinian public opinion.

A version of this article appears in print in the 23 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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This week, as the Middle East prepares for the first visit of US President Joe Biden since his inauguration in January 2021, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett collapsed. Bennett will step aside to be replaced by his Foreign Minister Yair Lapid who will serve as interim prime minister until new elections can be held.

Despite the turmoil, Israels foreign policy parameters are unlikely to see any significant changes ahead of elections. According to a Washington-based diplomat, consolidating relations with the Arab countries and working with regional allies to constrain Irans political, economic and military capacities will continue.

Biden is expected to arrive to Israel on 15 July where he will meet with the acting prime minister and other senior officials before heading to Bethlehem in the occupied Palestinian territories to meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. He is scheduled to arrive in Saudi Arabia on 16 July where he will be received by King Salman, and later joined by Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman. Bidens encounter with the king and crown prince is expected to be short, and will be followed by a meeting with the leaders of all the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states. The US president and the GCC leaders will then be joined by the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq.

Since his inauguration Biden has met with the king of Jordan twice at the White House, and once with the prime minister of Iraq and with the emir of Qatar. He has also met with the president of Turkey and the Israeli prime minister. According to informed diplomatic sources, during these meetings the US president was keen to ensure Washingtons key regional allies were onside with Americas priorities in the Middle East and pave the way for what seemed at the time to be an imminent nuclear deal between the West and Iran.

As hopes for a deal with Iran receded and the Russian invasion of Ukraine brought an open-ended war to the heart of Europe, the US and its regional allies found themselves facing a new set of circumstances which Cairo-based Western diplomatic sources say has contributed to the timing and design of the Biden talks in the Middle East, particularly the trips Saudi leg.

According to one diplomat, Washington has realised it must reconsider its policy of disengagement from the Middle East. He argues that Biden and his aides, who needed to apply pressure and exercise charm in equal measure to persuade Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to back a UN General Assembly resolution condemning the war on Ukraine and agree to a partial increase in oil production to help control soaring oil prices, understand that they are in no position to either pull out of the region or criticise allies over matters of governance.

In an attempt to regain its traditional clout Washington is now moving towards greater engagement in the region which the diplomat says is likely to translate into at least some intervention on the Palestinian-Israeli front despite the very obvious limitations of trying to push serious political negotiations there, closer rapport with its Gulf allies, especially Saudi Arabia, and a less confrontational approach to disagreements over human rights and democracy with regional allies. Statements staking out these new policy guidelines have come from the US State Department and to a lesser extent the White House.

A Gulf-based political analyst says the leaders of countries in the region also realise they cannot forgo their strategic alliances with the US, which for Gulf states are ultimately about national security and stability, and that however cautious Gulf leaders are being about supporting the US and Europe against Russia no Gulf capital can afford to turn its back on Washington.

He also points out that the desire of Israel and Turkey to work with leading regional capitals, including Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, and with Washington, on regional stability has been intensively discussed by regional leaders including President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, King Abdullah of Jordan, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and the new leader of the Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed.

According to diplomatic sources in Cairo, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have discussed with regional leaders what the Biden administration can do to promote Middle East stability without abandoning diplomacy with Iran, pressuring Israel into peace talks with the Palestinians or overlooking the US administrations commitment to democracy and human rights.

There are no illusions, say sources, either on the side of Biden or his Middle East interlocutors about what the summit in Saudi Arabia can produce. Biden, they say, is already going to make history when his plane flies directly from Israel to Saudi Arabia. And the fact that while in Saudi Arabia he will discuss political and security cooperation between Israel and its allies probably represents a more significant takeaway for the Democratic president ahead of mid-term congressional elections than securing another increase in oil production.

The same sources add that Riyadh is likely to be content with its positioning as a top regional policy-maker, and one that has put tensions with the US aside for the sake of joint interests, irrespective of any unease over the protocol arrangements for Bidens stopover in Saudi Arabia and exactly when the crown prince joins the president and king.

Gulf countries will also be told by Biden that any deal with Iran will not overlook their security concerns, shared by Israel, while Egypt, Jordan and Iraq will brief the Americans on what they consider the essential requirements for regional stability: prioritising economy over governance, and managing the troubling situation of the Palestinians and ongoing conflicts in Syria and Libya. Turkey, for its part, will be happy to be re-integrated in the Middle East, not just through economic cooperation but also possible security collaboration while Israel, sources agree, is in a win-win situation.

Pre-Biden visit consultations have been underway for a while. This week, President Al-Sisi met with the monarchs of Jordan and Bahrain and the crown prince of Saudi Arabia who arrived in Cairo on Monday, travelled to Jordan on Tuesday and Turkey on Wednesday.

While the immediate political crisis in Israel has not resulted in any announcement of a delay to Bidens regional visit, diplomatic sources who spoke hours after the news broke of the Israeli governments collapse say even if the visit is delayed again, Americas re-engagement in the Middle East will continue to pick up.

A version of this article appears in print in the 23 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The public prosecution ordered the four-day detention of a Mansoura University student after he slaughtered his female colleague on Monday for turning down his marriage proposal.

Related Prosecution investigating knife murder of student in front of Mansoura University campus

The victim, Nayera, appeared in an appalling video circulated on social media over the past few hours showing the accused attacking her in front of the gate of Mansoura University and stabbing her multiple times in the neck and chest.

The footage showed that the assailant was later attacked and restrained by bystanders.

Hours later, police notified the prosecution that the victim had her throat slit with a knife by the assailant, who was arrested with the knife in his possession.

An official statement by the countrys public prosecution on Tuesday said that the defendant confessed to deliberately murdering the victim due to what he called disputes between them and also due to her refusal to marry him.

The accused, the statement added, re-enacted his attack, explaining in detail how he planned on committing his crime and carrying it out.

The defendant also confirmed the validity of the videos recorded by surveillance cameras in the area of the accident.

Furthermore, the prosecution said it took the statements of Nayeras parents and sister in addition to a fellow university student, who all said the victim had repeatedly been approached by the defendant after the failure of their relationship and her refusal to marry him.

They also told the prosecution that the victim had drawn up restraining orders against the defendant nearly two months ago, the statement pointed out.

Additionally, the prosecution said it took the statements of 13 other eyewitnesses, including students and staff at the university, who all confirmed that the defendant committed the crime.

The prosecution pointed out that it ordered an examination to be conducted on the body of the victim to determine the found wounds and show the cause of death.

On Monday, the prosecution said in its first statement on the incident that it found wounds on the victims neck, chest, and other areas.

The prosecution also warned against circulating footage of the crime or speculating about the assailants motives, saying that this can directly affect the integrity of the investigation, compromise evidence, disturb public order, and cause harm to the victims family.

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A joint statement was issued on Monday after Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell chaired on Sunday the ninth meeting of the EU-Egypt Association Council in Luxembourg.

The statement explained the areas of cooperation that the council has agreed to maximise during the coming period in light of the new partnership priorities document adopted by the two sides during their meeting to guide their relationship until 2027.

This includes enhancing bilateral trade, improving the delivery of basic health services, diversifying energy sources, green energy transition, and supporting Egypts presidency of the UN Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP27) that will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh this November.

This is in addition to committing to promoting democracy, fundamental freedoms and human rights, gender equality and equal opportunities, and protecting the rights of migrants.

Below is the joint press statement  9th Association Council meeting between Egypt and the European Union

The ninth meeting of the Association Council of the European Union and Egypt took place in Luxembourg on 19 June 2022. The event confirmed the robust and multifaceted partnership between the two parties.

The Association Council adopted new Partnership Priorities to guide the relationship until 2027, in line with the new EU Agenda for the Mediterranean and its Economic and Investment Plan and Egypts Sustainable Development Strategy Vision 2030. Guided by the Partnership Priorities, the EU and Egypt will further deepen their dialogue and their cooperation around three overarching priorities: (i) Sustainable Modern Economy and Social Development; (ii) Partnering in Foreign Policy, and (iii) Enhancing Stability.

Both parties confirmed the great importance they attach to their relationship and underlined the strategic nature and potential of the partnership.

The EU communicated that the Multi-Annual Indicative Program (MIP) 2021-2027 has also been approved. Under this MIP a first tranche of 240 M will be made available for the period 2021-2024 to support Egypt in the areas of green and sustainable development; human development, economic resilience and prosperity building through green and digital transition; and social cohesion, modern and democratic state in accordance with the priorities identified in the Partnership Priorities. This will allow the EU and Egypt to cooperate closely on long-term sustainable socio-economic recovery and accelerate the transition to a green and circular economy. The MIP will also support the implementation of the flagship initiatives of the Economic and Investment Plan of the New Agenda for the Mediterranean.

The EU and Egypt are important trading partners. The two sides will work together to enhance bilateral trade relations, investments and Egypts further integration into regional and global value chains.

The EU and Egypt will work together to enhance the competitiveness of the economy and support the development of the private sector, in both urban and rural settings. Particular attention will be paid to the promotion of women empowerment and the role of women and youth in society and the economy. Employment opportunities will be enhanced through continued support to the education system.

Cooperation will also focus on the improvement in the delivery of basic health services by modernising the health care systems.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to work together on climate change mitigation and adaptation, including the sustainable management of resources, with particular emphasis on the management of water, the development of sustainable agriculture, and expanding public transport networks. The diversification of energy sources and the green energy transition, including the expansion of renewable energy and energy efficiency actions will be a central element in these efforts. Both sides also indicated their intention to work on other crucial areas such as biodiversity conservation, combating desertification and land degradation, and disaster risk reduction.The EU signaled its support to the work of the Egyptian COP27 Presidency so as to ensure the success of the COP including an outcome which will deliver greater global ambition.

The EU and Egypt confirmed the importance of cooperation in research and innovation in sectors such as energy, water, agro-food and health as well as in advancing digital technologies.

Egypt and the EU remains committed to promoting democracy, fundamental freedoms and human rights, gender equality and equal opportunities as constitutional rights of all their citizens, in line with their international obligations. In this regard, both sides agreed to deepening their political dialogue on human rights. The EU and Egypt agree that civil society and the private sector are important and potent contributors to the implementation of their partnership priorities and can support the sustainable development process underway in Egypt.

Combating terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism represents a common goal of the EU and Egypt enshrined in the Partnership Priorities. Both sides welcomed their upcoming co-chairmanship of Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) starting in March 2023 and reiterated their commitment to address the root causes of terrorism with full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, in order to successfully counter and prevent radicalisation and foster socio-economic development. The EU and Egypt remain committed to cooperating in fighting violent extremism conducive to terrorism and any form of discrimination, including Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia.

The EU and Egypt underlined the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach to migration governance which entails creating regular migration pathways, tackling the root causes of irregular migration, combating migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons, ensuring dignified and sustainable return and reintegration. The EU and Egypt are committed to the protection of the rights of migrants and refugees.

On regional and global matters, the EU and Egypt underlined that peace, security and a multilateral, rules-based order lie at the heart of their longstanding partnership. Recalling United Nations General Assembly resolutions ES-11/1 and ES-11/2 on Ukraine, which they both voted in favour of, they reaffirm their shared principles in line with the UN Charter of respect for international law, territorial integrity and national sovereignty, and the need to refrain from the use of force, respect international humanitarian law and solve conflicts by peaceful means as the basis for international cooperation. They condemned all violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights in conflict areas, and called for strict respect for international humanitarian law.

The EU and Egypt expressed concern about the impact of the war on increased food insecurity globally, as well as on global supply chains and energy and commodity price hikes. The EU will support Egypts efforts to enhance its cereal production and storage facilities with 100 million from the regional Food and Resilience Facility to provide partial assistance to meet the consequences of rising prices of food and commodities.

Given the strategic orientation of the partnership, the EU and Egypt are committed to reinforcing cooperation in foreign policy at the bilateral, regional and international organisations levels, notably in the UN and multilateral fora, including the Union for the Mediterranean, the League of Arab States (LAS) and the African Union. In this context, the EU and Egypt exchanged views inter alia on the Middle East Peace Process, Libya, Syria, Horn of Africa and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

The EU recognizes the pivotal role played by Egypt in supporting peace and security in the Middle East and Africa. The EU and Egypt reiterated that the only path to a just, lasting and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the two-state solution that ends occupation and leads to the establishment, of an independent, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian State, on the lines of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with the State of Israel in peace, in accordance with international law and UN Security Council resolutions. They warned of the danger inherent in the absence of a political horizon to end the conflict and emphasized the necessity of relaunching serious and meaningful negotiations to achieve the two-state solution and restore confidence in the Middle East peace process. They condemned the construction and expansion of settlements, confiscation of land and forced evictions of Palestinians from their homes, as illegal measures under international law, that undermine the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for peace.

The EU also welcomes the efforts exerted by Egypt towards becoming an energy hub in the region with focus on renewable energy, ongoing cooperation in the framework of the EMGF, and the implementation of mutually beneficial energy projects, including interconnection projects between Egypt and the EU.

In light of the significance of the Nile as the only source of water resources and livelihood for Egypt in a context of its unique water scarcity, the EU and Egypt welcomed the UN Security Council Presidential Statement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issued on 15 September 2021 regarding reaching a mutually acceptable and binding agreement on the filling and operations of the GERD. Reaching such an agreement as soon as possible is a top priority for the EU and Egypt in order to protect Egypts water security and promote peace and stability in the wider region. The EU stands ready to support African Union-led talks and to play a more active role, if useful and desirable to all parties, by putting forward its rich experience in the management of shared water resources in line with international law. With political will and support from the international community, this dispute could be turned into an opportunity for many people. Millions of people who live in the Nile Basin stand to benefit from an agreement on the GERD which would create predictability, and open the door for foreign investments in energy, food security and water security.

The meeting was co-chaired by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission, and by Sameh Shoukry, Egyptian Foreign Minister, in the presence of Oliver Varhelyi, the Commissioner of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, as well as the EU Member State Foreign Ministers Ioannis Kasoulides from Cyprus and Nikos Dendias from Greece and Daniela Grigore Gitma,, Secretary of State for European Affairs from Romania.

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Lebanon has signed a deal to import natural gas from Egypt via Syria to boost power supply in the crisis-stricken country, AFP reported on Tuesday.

Lebanon has signed a deal to import natural gas from Egypt via Syria to boost power supply in the crisis-stricken country, AFP reported on Tuesday.

Lebanese Energy Minister Walid Fayad, Egyptian and Syrian officials signed the deal in Beirut earlier today.

"The importance of this deal... stems from the fact that it will secure an additional four hours of electricity per day following its implementation," Fayad told a press conference following the signing event.

In September 2021, Egypt agreed to supply Lebanon with natural gas for its power plants through Jordan and Syria in a revival of the Arab Gas Pipeline to help Lebanon in its longtime crippling electricity problem amid the country's worst-ever financial crisis.

The Egyptian gas is expected to activate gas-operated power plants that have been non-functional for 11 years.

In statements to Lebanese Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Monday, Fayad said the agreement stipulates that 650 million cubic metres (22.95 billion cubic feet) of gas will be exported to Lebanon through the pipeline annually to the Deir Ammar power station in the north.

This is expected to lead to the production of 450 megawatts of electricity, Fayad added.

The deal is a part of wider efforts  which include a separate electricity deal with Jordan  to boost supply by eight to 10 hours a day in the coming months, up from just two currently.

Two years into Lebanon's economic meltdown, the cash-strapped state is struggling to purchase fuel for its power stations.

With mains electricity effectively non-existent, many rely on private generators, but prices have increased after the government lifted fuel subsidies as global fuel prices soared.

Lebanon's crumbling electricity sector has cost the country more than $40 billion since the end of its 1975-1990 civil war.

Successive governments have failed to cut down on losses, repair crumbling infrastructure or even collect electricity bills regularly across the country.

World Bank and the US

Implementation of both the agreements still needs World Bank funding, which pledged financing, and US assurances that they will not trigger sanctions under the so-called Caesar Act which prohibits commercial dealings with Damascus.

The Syrian government is under US and Western sanctions for its role in the war, which has killed or disappeared nearly half a million and displaced nearly half of the population.

Despite the sanctions, the US has supported the resumption of natural gas flow from Egypt to Lebanon via Syria.

"We hope that after today, all hurdles will have been cleared so that we can receive World Bank funding and... final guarantees from the US, especially with regard to sanctions," Fayad told today's presser.

Gas supplier: Egypt

Today's agreement comes days after the signing of a framework agreement to export natural gas from Israel via Egypt to Europe.

Egypt achieved self-sufficiency in natural gas by the end of September 2018, with the current natural-gas production having reached 7.2 billion cubic feet per day.

The boom in the North African country's gas production has been supported by huge gas discoveries, the biggest of which is the giant Zohr field in the Mediterranean.

Zohr field was discovered in 2015 and is believed to be the largest-ever gas discovery in Egypt and the Mediterranean.

With its gas exports expected to to rise to 7.5 million tons by the end of the 2021/2022 fiscal year, Egypt plans to use its location on Europes doorstep to become a major supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the continent, which is transitioning away from other fossil fuels.

The EU block currently seeks to decrease dependency on Russian gas as result of war in Ukraine.

Egypt has the infrastructure for the transport and handling of natural gas, with the main network of 7,000km of pipelines, as well as a distribution network of 31,000 kilometres, and 29 gas-treatment plants in addition to two LNG facilities.

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President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi asserted on Tuesday Egypts commitment to its stance regarding the national security of the Gulf region as part of its own national security rejecting any practices aiming to destabilize it in his meeting in Cairo with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, the Egyptian Presidency said.

The statement from El-Sisi came following his meeting in Cairo with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.

Cairo is the first stop for Prince bin Salman in a regional tour that includes also Jordan and Turkey.

According to the Egyptian presidency, El-Sisi and bin Salman also discussed the latest developments regionally and internationally, with both sides having a mutual understanding about continuing joint efforts to face the dangers threatening the security and stability of the region.

In a joint statement issued following the meeting, Egypt and Saudi Arabia emphasised the necessity of supporting international efforts to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program. They also highlighted the importance of boosting the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as well as safekeep the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia reiterated their support for efforts to make the Middle East a nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction free zone in a way that contributes to achieving international and regional stability.

They also support the efforts to encourage Iran to commit to the principles of non-interfere in the Arab states affairs and refrain from all destabilising activities in the region including supporting armed militias and threatening maritime navigation.

According to the joint statement, both leaders also discussed other developments in Palestine, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon and Sudan.

The two leaders also discussed the upcoming Gulf Cooperation Council +3 Summit which will be chaired by Saudi Arabia and will run from 15 to 16 June

The summit will host the heads of state of the GCC countries, the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, as well as US President Joe Biden, who will be making his first tour in the Middle East by visiting Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the West Bank.

Regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Saudi Arabia reiterated its full support to the Egyptian water security as a part of Arab water security, encouraging Ethiopia not to take any unilateral actions regarding the filling and operation of the dam. They also called for Ethiopia to agree to a legally binding agreement with Egypt and Sudan in accordance with the UN Security Councils presidential statement issued in September 2021.

Saudi Arabia also announced in the joint statement it supports Egypt in hosting the upcoming UN Conference on Climate Change (COP27), which will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh in November. Egypt and Saudi Arabia also agreed to hold a Green Middle East Initiative summit and Saudi Arabias green initiative forum during the COP27.

During the talks, the Saudi crown prince praised Egypts vital role as a main pillar of security and stability in the region.

Egyptian-Saudi Trade Relations

Earlier Tuesday, Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed 14 investment agreements worth $7.7 billion in several fields, including petroleum, renewable energy, green hydrogen, IT, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and cyber security.

The signing comes on the side-lines of the two-day official visit of Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Egypt that started on Monday night.

ver the past years, Egypt and Saudi have shared warm relations in the various political, economic, security and investment fields and have maintained continuous coordination on regional issues of concern.

The volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached about SAR 54 billion ($14.4 billion) in 2021  its highest value in history  achieving a growth of 87 percent compared to 2020, according to a recent report issued by the Federation of Saudi Chambers.

Moreover, the volume of Saudi exports to the Egyptian market reached SAR 38.6 billion ($10.8 billion), and Egyptian imports to the Saudi market reached SAR 15.7 billion ($4.18 billion)  a record growth of 60 percent.

Furthermore, the volume of Saudi investments in Egypt amounts to more than $32 billion through more than 6,800 Saudi companies, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

During the current global crisis, Saudi Arabia has deposited $5 billion in the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), and the kingdom is expected to invest further in the country.

Moreover, prior to the war, Saudi Arabia deposited $3 billion in the CBE and extended the maturity of other deposits worth $2.3 billion that will now be paid in October 2026.

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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev have held a meeting in a limited format, Azernews reports citing Azertac.

The presidents first posed for official photos.

To be updated




After a two-day debate marathon on Sunday and Monday, Egypts lower chamber of Parliament  the House of Representatives  gave a final approval on the states FY2022/23 Budget and Development Plan in a plenary session on Tuesday.

The budget targets EGP 2.071 trillion in expenditures and EGP 1.518 trillion in revenues. This, according to Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait, means a budget deficit of EGP 553 billion, up from EGP 475 billion in FY2021/22.

Maait indicated that the budget also targets tax receipts of EGP 1.2 trillion, however, net borrowing is expected to reach EGP 558 billion in the new budget, while we will be required to pay EGP 965.4 billion in settlement of debts during the coming FY, which will begin on the first of July.

He also noted that despite the global economic crisis that has been triggered by the war in Ukraine, the budget targets more spending on subsidies and social safety net programmes.

Fuel subsidies will be increased from EGP 18.4 billion to EGP 28.9 billion, while food subsidies, which cover bread and basic commodities for 71 million citizens holding ration cards, will climb from EGP 87.2 billion to EGP 90 billion, said Maait during the debate.

On Tuesday, the House also approved the FY 2022/23 Socio-economic Development Plan and the budgets of 59 public economic organisations.

The debate over the budget and plan on Sunday and Monday saw a lot of MPs levelling sharp criticism at the government and finance minister, citing excessive borrowing, lack of fiscal discipline, and austerity measures. The Egyptian Socialist Democratic Party said it had decided not to endorse the budget and plan.

Meanwhile, the House also gave a final approval on amendments to the Agricultural Land Tax Law.

The law, which was approved in principle by MPs on 7 June, will suspend the imposition of the agricultural land tax for two years  starting from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023  and that under approval from the cabinet, the suspension could also be extended for another year  ending on 30 June 2024.

Additionally, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Alaa Fouad said the governments approval of a two-year suspension of the law aims to ease financial burdens for farmers and stimulate them to increase agricultural production of strategic crops like wheat.

The House also gave a thumbs up on a government-drafted law regulating procedures of filing appeals before the Cassation Court. The law, which was approved in principle on 7 June, aims to speed up the process of settling judicial disputes before cassation courts.

In another news, the House approved a government-drafted law aiming to establish a military technological academy in Egypt.

Major-General Mamdouh Shahin told MPs that the new academy will offer technical education and technological training that will help army officers keep abreast of the latest developments in military technology.

* 1 USD = 18.78 EGP according to the Central Bank of Egypt on Tuesday 21 June

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The European Union says Ethiopia's government must reconnect its northern Tigray region to the world as a yearlong partial blockade has left food aid for almost 1 million hungry people stuck in warehouses without the fuel to deliver it.

Janez Lenarcic, the EU commissioner for crisis management, told reporters on Tuesday that the recent increase in aid convoys arriving in Tigray was a positive development but added that ``more needs to be done'' before the EU normalizes relations with Africa's second-most populous country with 115 million people.

``I do not see the rationale for keeping the blockade of banking services, electricity and telecommunications in place,'' Lenarcic said, adding that the ``partial blockade'' of the Tigray region is hampering humanitarian efforts while 5.2 million people need aid after 19 months of conflict.

Tigray has been mostly cut off from the rest of Ethiopia after Tigray forces re-captured the regional capital a year ago and federal forces withdrew.

A truce declared by the government in March has led to a significant increase in aid reaching Tigray by road after months of deprivation.

Lenarcic called on Ethiopia's government to lift restrictions on fuel and cash entering Tigray and said ``monitoring mechanisms'' could be put in place to allay government fears that Tigray forces might divert fuel for military purposes.

The United Nations this month said enough food to feed 950,000 people is currently stuck in warehouses in the regional capital, Mekele, because there is not enough fuel to distribute it within Tigray after several fuel tankers were refused access to the region.

``We have a situation where the warehouses are full, but the aid cannot get out into the countryside where needs are highest,'' Lenarcic said, and noted that many people in Tigray depend entirely on such aid because they cannot access money in their bank accounts.

Last year, amid reports of human rights abuses in the conflict, the EU suspended budgetary support for Ethiopia worth 88 million euros ($107 million).

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed this month announced the formation of a committee to handle negotiations with the Tigray forces, who were declared a terrorist group by the government last year.

``I do believe it should be possible for both sides to come to an agreement soon,'' Lenarcic said. ``It is urgent this happens.''

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The Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) held its 42nd annual convention in Washington DC on Friday from 17 to 18 June after a two-year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event discussed strengthening the voices of Arab-Americans, especially youths, as well as many legislative and legal initiatives.

The convention also reviewed the seminal work of the ADC in preserving Arab cultural heritage in the US and a media project that aimed to tackle anti-Arab discrimination and islamophobia on mainstream and social media.

Safa Rifka, the ADCs Chairperson said: From 2019 to 2021, the ADC successfully took on 1,693 cases on immigration status, support to economically impaired members of the community impacted by COVID-19, hate crimes, bullying, discrimination, and harassment from certain law enforcement sources, upholding the rule of law and addressing penitentiary issues.

The impact of COVID-19 was felt acutely in America, not least within our community. It is also a reality that 40% of Arab-Americans live around or beneath the poverty line, and this number has increased because of the impact of the pandemic. The ADC has multiplied its efforts in order to enhance addressing economic challenges to the community. We promoted knowledge programmes to inform young business owners about the options and opportunities that existed and we helped current business owners by informing them about the resources available to support them, he added.

We also exerted much effort to secure the minority status for the Arab-American community, which will obviously open more doors to community businesses. We still face traditional challenges, including racism and discrimination. In the last couple years, hate crimes have been on the rise in America, fed by white supremacy and right-wing extremism. Six January put a new emphasis on the struggle against racism and discrimination in the US.

Rifka continued: In the past three years, the ADC noticed a significant increase in discrimination complaints. In 2019, there were more than a hundred such cases and we noticed that they were increasingly related to workplace incidents. In 2020 and 2021, the number decreased, with people working from home. However, there was another emergence of cases related to cyber bullying from workplace colleagues during the pandemic. On the immigration front, the ADC supports a number of cases including delays to visa status and processing, not least because the pandemic slowed down the related institutions. The ADC also held a couple of key meetings with the secretary for homeland security in order to address these delays and difficulties.

Furthermore, the ADC has put more frontline resources towards policy and legislative matters, meeting almost every congressional office and becoming the only Arab-American institution to become a member of the Policy Advisory Committee of the Progressive Caucus.

On discrimination in education, the ADC legally assists Arab-American students who experience discriminatory grading, punishment, discriminatory scholarship selection, and discrimination and harassment for expressing their political views on campus. The ADC also works with the Department of Justice and the Department of Education to improve services for Arab children, notably refugees, that are learning English as a second language, he concluded.

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Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed 14 investment agreements worth $7.7 billion on Tuesday, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) said in a statement.

The agreements, which were signed at GAFIs headquarters, cover several fields, including petroleum, renewable energy, green hydrogen, IT, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and cyber security.

Among the agreements was one between Saudi Arabias ACWA Power and the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company to produce and transmit 1,100 megawatts of wind power in the Gulf of Suez for 25 years, the statement said.

The agreements were signed by Saudi investment groups with Egyptian governmental and private-sector companies in the presence of the Saudi Minister of Trade and Investment Majed bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the chairperson of the Egyptian-Saudi Business Council, in addition to representatives of more than 60 Saudi institutions and companies.

Representing the Egyptian side was Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker, and CEO of GAFI Mohamed Abdel-Wahab.

The agreements signed today represent a qualitative leap in the investment relations between the two countries, not only in terms of the material value, but in terms of added value to the economies of the two countries to support the infrastructure, logistical, and technological sectors, which will develop the capabilities of the Egyptian economy, Abdel-Wahab said on Tuesday.

The CEO of GAFI also referred to the newly-announced State Ownership Policy Document that highlights Egypt keenness to create equal opportunities, strengthen competition mechanisms, and empower the private sector.

The State Ownership Policy Document identifies the sectors from which the Egyptian state plans to withdraw, decrease, or increase its presence over the coming three years with the aim of increasing the private sectors participation in public investments to 65 percent, up from the current 30 percent, according to previous statements by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

The signing comes on the side-lines of the two-day official visit of Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Egypt that started on Monday night when President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received him at Cairo International Airport.

The last visit by the Saudi Crown Prince to Egypt was in June 2021, when he met the Egyptian President in Sharm El-Sheikh.

The Crown Princes visit  the first in a three-legged tour that will also include Jordan and Turkey  comes nearly three weeks before the Gulf Cooperation Council +3 Summit, which will be chaired by Saudi Arabia and will run from 15 to 16 July.

The summit will host the heads of state of the GCC countries, the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq, as well as US President Joe Biden, who will be making his first tour in the Middle East by visiting Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the West Bank.

Egyptian-Saudi trade cooperation

The CEO of GAFI stressed on Tuesday that organising this important event is a reflection of the strength of the historical and economic relations that bind the two brotherly countries.

Over the past years, Egypt and Saudi have shared warm relations in the various political, economic, security, and investment fields and have maintained continuous coordination on regional issues of concern.

The volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached about SAR 54 billion ($14.4 billion) in 2021  its highest value in history  achieving a growth of 87% compared to 2020, according to a recent report issued by the Federation of Saudi Chambers.

Moreover, the volume of Saudi exports to the Egyptian market reached SAR 38.6 billion ($10.8 billion), and Egyptian imports to the Saudi market reached SAR 15.7 billion ($4.18 billion)  a record growth of 60%.

Furthermore, the volume of Saudi investments in Egypt amounts to more than $32 billion through more than 6,800 Saudi companies, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

During the current global crisis, Saudi Arabia has deposited $5 billion in the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), and the kingdom is expected to invest further in the country.

Moreover, prior to the war, Saudi Arabia deposited $3 billion in the CBE and extended the maturity of other deposits worth $2.3 billion that will now be paid in October 2026.

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Egypt needs to import five million tons of wheat for the fiscal year 2022/23, Egyptian Minister of Supply Ali Moselhi told Reuters on Tuesday.

In 2021, Egypt imported 5.5 million tons of wheat, according to data released by the supply ministry in December, recording a huge drop from 12.8 million tons of wheat imported in 2020.

About 4.1 million tons of local wheat have been collected from farmers since the beginning of the supply season, which started in April and runs through August, chairman of the state-run General Company for Silos and Storage Kamal Hashim said on Saturday.

It is the first time that Egypt has collected more than four million tons of local wheat, Hashim added.

The local wheat supply, which is expected to increase from 3.5 million tons in 2021 to six million tons this year, will boost the strategic wheat reserves to cover local consumption until January 2023, according to official statements.

The increase in the expected volume of wheat this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, is a result of increasing the amount of land devoted to wheat cultivation by more than 400,000 feddans.

It also came because of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis directives to provide farmers with incentives to sell more of their crop to the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade.

Moselhi told the Senate in May that Egypt is doing its best to achieve greater self-sufficiency in wheat production, aiming to meet 65 percent of domestic needs by the year 2024.

In the meantime and on the heels of the Russia-Ukraine war, Egypt  the worlds top wheat importer  is seeking to diversify its sources of wheat. Before the war, 80 percent of Egypts wheat imports were sourced from Russia and Ukraine.

Moselhi also stated in his remarks to Reuters that Egypt added Portugal to its list of countries from which wheat can be imported. Egypt received a shipment of 63,000 tons of wheat from France in mid-June.

The EU has recently allocated 100 million in immediate relief to encourage investments in Egypt's agricultural sector and secure the country's food needs during the global grain crisis that resulted from the Russian-Ukrainian War, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced on 15 June during his visit to Egypt.

In early June, Egypts General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) announced that it has signed a contract to purchase 465,000 tons of wheat from Russia, Bulgaria and Romania in what is reportedly the countrys largest wheat purchase since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

During the first week of May, Egypt signed a deal to import 61,500 tons of Indian wheat.

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French regulators accepted on Tuesday commitments from Google to negotiate fairly with news organisations over copyright, ending a long-running dispute.

Under the agreement, the US tech giant will provide news groups with a transparent offer of payment within three months of receiving a copyright complaint.

The framework is part of a process to enforce a 2019 EU law on "neighbouring rights" that sought to crack down on internet platforms using snippets of media content without paying.

Organisations representing French magazines and newspapers -- as well as Agence France-Presse (AFP) -- lodged the case with the regulator three years ago.

France's arrangements could now be followed across the rest of the 27-nation bloc.

Google had fought hard against the idea of paying for content and was fined 500 million euros ($530 million) last year for failing to negotiate in good faith.

But the authority said on Tuesday that Google had dropped an appeal against the fine and its commitments to negotiate fairly were "likely to put an end to the competition concerns".

The framework is in place for the next five years and can be renewed if the French regulator sees fit.

Competition authority president Benoit Coeure told a press conference that France had gained more concessions on compliance from Google than most other countries and Tuesday's decision "will feed the European debate".

Google France's managing director Sebastien Missoffe said the deal validated agreements it had already made with French firms.

"This is a historic decision that sets a sustainable framework for the remuneration of publishers and news agencies, and journalists, under French law," said Missoffe.

Google said some 150 publications in France had already signed remuneration contracts -- they include AFP and newspapers like Le Monde.

The firm said some 650 companies across Europe had also made deals.

However, it may now be possible for those companies to scrap their agreements and try to renegotiate better terms under the new framework.

Google's licensing of news content is already regulated in Australia and British lawmakers are also looking into the issue.

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'Despite the continents enormous renewable energy potential, just two percent of renewable energy investments have gone to Africa over the last decade," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres underlined in his speech at the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, adding that Countries must arrive in Egypt for COP27 determined with clear plans to close this financing gap.

Despite the continents enormous renewable energy potential, just two percent of renewable energy investments have gone to Africa over the last decade, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated on Tuesday.

The Secretary Generals remarks came in his speech at the forum's opening session the two-day Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development that kicked off in Cairo on Tuesday, adding that Countries must arrive in Egypt for COP27 determined with clear plans to close this financing gap.

"We need to end the COVID-19 pandemic, with governments, global and regional organizations, and pharmaceutical companies working better together to deliver and locally produce tests, vaccines, and treatments," Guterres said.



We must expand African countries access to financing and debt relief, so they can invest in job creation, poverty reduction, expanded social protection, food security and green growth, he said.



"We need to silence the guns across Africa, and address conflicts many roots  by tackling inequalities and discrimination, and strengthening governance, institutions, public services and justice systems," he added.



And we need bold climate action, Guterres said. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has identified Africa as a global hotspot for the climate crisis. Breaching the Paris Agreements 1.5 degree goal would be disastrous.



He went on to say "Many AU member states have come forward with ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions, clearly identified adaptation needs and adopted the African Union Green Stimulus Program."



The world must match Africas ambitions with resources, financing and technologies to accelerate the transition from coal and other fossil fuels to renewables," he said. I am calling for a five-point proposal to achieve a renewable energy revolution, making renewable technology freely available as a global public good, he noted.



Countries should support the work of the World Meteorological Organization to ensure that every person in the world has access to early warning systems for disasters over the next five years, he added.



He concluded by saying "Across all these areas, the United Nations stands with Africa as we shape a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future for all Africans."

Mobilizing efforts to confront climate change



Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat thanked Egypt for organizing the Aswan Peace Forum, hoping that the forum's results will contribute to efforts to shore up stability and peace in the African continent.



He also stressed the importance of mobilizing efforts to confront climate change and provide comprehensive solutions to the enormous challenges facing Africa.



In this regard, he underlined the importance of investing in the climate field, saying there should be new energy applications to back efforts exerted by developing countries on this score.



He also hoped that the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the UNFCCC, set for Sharm El Sheikh in November will end in success.

The third edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development was held in 21-22 June in a hybrid format with a focus on climate and security issues in Africa.

The event, held under the auspices of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to host 900 representatives from 50 countries, including foreign ministers of the continent, senior officials, think tanks, the private sector, and NGOs.

In a recorded video message aired during the opening session, Sisi stated that Egypt seeks to crystallise a joint African vision that accelerates the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda and climate action, as well as boosting the African intra-cooperation in partnership with the global and regional partners.

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Enhancing cooperation

A FREE trade agreement between Egypt and the Eurasian Economic Union has been negotiated after four rounds, Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea stated on Saturday, adding that Egypt will host a fifth round of talks.

According to Gamea, the agreement aims to develop trade exchange rates, enhance joint industrial cooperation and increase joint investments between the two sides. This came during a meeting between Gamea and the minister in charge of trade in the Eurasian Economic Commission Andrey Slepnev at the conclusion of Gameas participation in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. Egypt welcomes receiving more investments from Eurasian Economic Union countries and shows its desire to facilitate procedures for Eurasian investors, Gamea said. She further called on companies and businessmen from both sides to establish partnerships and joint investment projects.

Slepnev affirmed the Eurasian Unions keenness to conclude a free trade agreement with Egypt, especially since there was big consensus in visions between the two sides on many topics of negotiations.

Travel restrictions lifted

ALL CORONAVIRUS restrictions for travellers entering Egypt, whether Egyptians or foreigners, have been lifted.

However, during a meeting held last Thursday between Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli and the Supreme Committee for the Management of Pandemics, a statement issued by the cabinet following the meeting did not clarify when the decision will go into effect.

Egypt joined 38 countries around the world that lifted travel restrictions last month. Passengers arriving in Egypt were required to either provide a negative PCR test performed 72 hours before departure, or an accredited Covid-19 vaccination certificate showing the vaccination date 14 days before departure, or conduct at ports of entry any coronavirus tests approved by the Egyptian Health Ministry.

Last weeks decision was made with Egypt witnessing a sharp drop in the number of coronavirus infections and deaths. The average daily coronavirus death toll and infections in Egypt have dropped to single digits in recent months. In April, Egypt cancelled exceptional Covid-focused disinfection of planes after each flight, returning to normal sanitisation procedures.

Murderer detained

A SUSPECT accused of killing a female university student was on Tuesday detained by the prosecutor-general for four days pending investigation. Mohamed Adel was detained after confessing to the killing of Mansoura University student Nayera Ashraf.

The suspect, a fellow student at the university, had the victims throat slit with a knife after she turned down his marriage proposal. Police arrested Adel with the knife in his possession, according to a statement by the prosecution which started its investigation on Monday, the day of the attack. The prosecution examined the victims body and found injuries on her neck, chest and other areas. It also examined recordings extracted from surveillance cameras at the site of the incident and heard the testimonies of two security personnel at the university, who confirmed that the suspect committed the crime.

Ashrafs parents and sister, summoned by the prosecution, stated that the suspect had previously threatened Ashraf with murder. The suspect, a third year arts student, stabbed the victim in front of the faculty gate while on her way to the bus stop returning home after finishing her exams. A video of the incident has been widely circulated on social media, showing what appears to be a man cutting a womans throat on a busy street in front of Mansoura University campus before he was subdued by bystanders who handed him to the police. The prosecution warned against circulating footage of the crime or speculating on the assailants motive, saying it could directly affect the integrity of the investigation and cause harm to the victims family. The killing sparked a public uproar with the hashtag #justicefornayeraashraf trending on social media networks.

A version of this article appears in print in the 23 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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A recent agreement with the European Union will see Egyptian and Israeli gas exports covering part of Europes needs, writes Ahmed Kotb

Egypt, Israel, and the European Union last week signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to export Israeli liquefied natural gas to Europe via Egypt.

The signing of the MoU took place on the sidelines of the seventh ministerial meeting of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum in Cairo, with the participation of Minister of Petroleum Tarek Al-Molla, President of the European Commision Ursula von der Leyen, Israeli Minister of Energy Karine Elharrar, and EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate Kadri Simson.

Europe has been seeking to meet part of its gas needs through supplies from the Eastern Mediterranean as part of a plan to compensate for part of its Russian gas imports.

The gas export deal is a commitment to share natural gas with Europe and help it diversify its energy sources. It will last for three years with an automatic two-year extension, according to the Israeli Energy Ministry.

This is a historic agreement between Egypt, Israel, and the European Union, said Von der Leyen, noting that the MoU represented an opportunity for energy security and regional cooperation.

Under the export agreement, the EU will encourage European companies to participate in exploration bids in Israel and Egypt. It could help to fund the development of energy infrastructure in the two countries and work with Egypt and Israel to reduce methane emissions, she said.

Simson praised the infrastructure for the gas industry that Egypt enjoys, saying it would contribute positively to strengthening and supporting cooperation between Egypt and the EU in various natural gas activities.

She also praised the advanced technologies in use in the Zohr Field, the largest natural gas field in the country, and Egypts ability to operate one of the most important discoveries made in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

The agreement came in the light of Europes efforts to secure its energy needs at a time when Russia has already begun to reduce gas supplies to Germany by 40 per cent and to pump 100 million cubic metres of gas per day instead of the previous 160 million cubic metres through the Nord Stream pipeline.

This has raised the fears of the European countries and prompted them to work on diversifying energy sources and finding alternatives to Russian gas.

Al-Molla said that Egypts agreement to export gas to Europe was permanent. He explained that Egypt exports about 500 million cubic feet of gas per day to Europe in the summer, while this quantity exceeds one billion cubic feet in the winter.

But Egypt alone might not be able to meet all of Europes needs for natural gas, which depends on Russian gas for about 40 per cent of its needs at present, he said.

According to a statement by the Russian company Gazprom, Russia exported 185.1 billion cubic metres of gas last year, with Germany, Italy, and Turkey consuming the majority of the Russian gas exports.

Russia exported about 155 billion cubic metres of gas to the EU countries in 2021, of which 140 billion cubic metres represented pipeline deliveries, with the average monthly supply amounting to about 11.6 billion cubic metres of gas.

Egypt is seeking to become a regional energy hub by exporting its surplus natural gas production as well as the surplus gas production of neighbouring countries to Europe through two liquefaction stations located on the Mediterranean in Idku and Damietta.

The agreement reflects the strong European desire to benefit from Egypts logistical capabilities and its important geographic location to fill the expected void in the energy exported to the European countries, specifically natural gas, said Ramadan Abul-Ela, a professor of petroleum engineering at Suez University, adding that Egypts role in the natural gas agreement with Israel and the EU was pivotal.

Without the Egyptian infrastructure, liquefaction plants, and deep-water pipelines, the agreement cannot be implemented, he said.

Abul-Ela said that the implementation of the agreement would start after the completion of the needed infrastructure and the connection of pipelines between the Israeli fields and the Zohr Field. Either Egypt would buy gas from Israel and then sell it, or it would take gas transit and liquefaction fees, he said.

Egypt has become a major player in the global gas market and has maintained its production and export levels of natural gas despite the Covid-19 pandemic and its repercussions, Abul-Ela noted.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the volume of Egypts gas production in 2020-21 reached 66.2 billion cubic metres. Consumption reached 62.9 billion cubic metres, while the surplus was 3.3 billion cubic metres.

The ministry stated that 30 gas field development projects were implemented from July 2014 to September 2021, with a total investment of about LE514 billion.

During 2020, Egypt signed 22 agreements to search for oil and gas with international companies with a minimum investment of about $1.6 billion and a total signing grant of $139 million to drill 74 wells.

Maritime boundary demarcation agreements have contributed to the expansion of exploring for natural gas fields, including an agreement signed between Egypt and Cyprus in September 2014.

A maritime boundary demarcation agreement with Saudi Arabia was signed in April 2016, allowing the start of oil and gas exploration for the first time in the area. An agreement with Greece was also signed in August 2020.

On Tuesday, Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria signed an agreement to transport 650 million cubic metres of gas annually from Egypt to Lebanon via Syria.

According to the agreement, the gas will be pumped through a pipeline to the Deir Ammar power station in northern Lebanon, where it will add about 450 Megawatts to the grid, equivalent to about four additional hours of electricity per day.

Among the factors that have contributed to Egypts transformation into an exporter of liquefied natural gas, the total production capacity of the liquefaction plants in Idku and Damietta has reached 12 million tons annually, in addition to the return of the Damietta plant to exports after an eight-year hiatus.

Egypt exported the first shipment of liquefied natural gas from the plant in March 2021, which led to an increase in liquefied gas exports by 123.3 per cent to reach 6.7 million tons in 2021 compared to three million in 2013.

Egypt succeeded in achieving self-sufficiency in natural gas in September 2018, and then returned to exporting natural and liquefied gas. 2018-19 recorded the production of 66.1 billion cubic metres of gas, consumption of 61.8 billion cubic metres, and a surplus of 4.3 billion cubic metres.

Egypt initiated the idea of inaugurating the East Mediterranean Gas Forum during the Crete Summit meeting held between the leaders of Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece in October 2018. The forums charter was signed in September 2020 and entered into force in March 2021.

The forum includes seven members: Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Italy. France later joined them, and the US, EU, and World Bank joined as observers. The forum is an umbrella group for cooperation and regional integration to exploit the abundant gas resources of the Eastern Mediterranean for the maximum benefit of the countries of the region.

A version of this article appears in print in the 23 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Despite the Ukraine crisis, Egypt is keeping good relations with both Russia and the US.

Egypt values its solid and historic relations with Russia and the tangible progress in those relations in recent years, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said last week.

Speaking via video link to the 25th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), at which Egypt is this years guest country, Al-Sisi said relations between the two countries have reached a distinguished level.

It is no secret that since the war in Ukraine erupted on 24 February Egypt has been under pressure to downgrade its relations with Russia. An article in The New York Times last week claimed Washington has pressured Cairo to strongly condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine.

President Al-Sisi told local media on 13 June that the war in Ukraine has polarised the world into two camps, but we are trying to adopt a balanced line and not to take sides.

In dealing with the crisis, Egypt is focusing on political and diplomatic channels and trying to find a non-military solution without taking sides, said Al-Sisi.

Egypt has excellent relations with both Washington and Moscow and since the crisis erupted in February it has been keen not to alienate either the US of Russia, says Al-Ahram political analyst Hassan Abu Taleb.

Yet sections of the Western media, particularly in the US, are trying to portray Egypts good relations with Russia as evidence that Cairo, and indeed President Al-Sisi in person, are refusing to toe the American line on the war.

Abu Taleb points out that Egypt is not the only Washington ally in the Middle East to adopt a neutral line on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

American Arab allies like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are not only adopting a similar line but appear keen to underline that they are maintaining friendly relations with Moscow, he said.

In recent years Egypt and Russia have cooperated in implementing a number of major development projects, including the $26 billion Dabaa nuclear power plant and the creation of a Russian Industrial Zone along the Suez Canal. Russia is also the source of more than half the wheat Egypt imports annually, and Russian tourists to Egypt are a major source of revenue.

To boost economic cooperation with Russia, President Al-Sisi dispatched Minister of Industry and Trade Nevine Gamea to Moscow last week to meet Russian officials. Gamea held extensive talks with Anton Kobyakov, an economic advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which she said we discussed cooperation in the field of tourism and I expressed hopes that Russian tourists will be back to the Red Sea resorts in Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada next July and August.

Gamea also held talks with Alexander Avdeyev, governor of the Russian province of Vladimir Oblast, a leading producer of engineering equipment, agricultural and food machinery, organic fertilisers, glass, and wood.

The meeting reviewed several joint cooperation proposals that aim developing trade and investment relations between Egypt and the province, said Gamea.

Gamea also noted that Egypt has become the worlds biggest customer for Russian railway carriages and during her trip met with Kirill Valerevich, head of Transmash Holding, the worlds largest producer of railway carriages, to review progress in implementing a contract to supply 1300 railway carriages to the Egyptian Railways Authority. Half of the cars have already been delivered.

Earlier this month an Egyptian delegation travelled to Russia to visit Rosatom Company which is in charge of constructing the Dabaa nuclear power station. Russian officials told the delegation that the war in Ukraine had not delayed production and that the plants components would be delivered on schedule.

Given the level of diplomatic contacts and economic cooperation we can conclude that Egyptian-Russian relations are strong and the war in Ukraine will not negatively impact the relationship, says Abu Taleb.

While hailing Egypts historic relations with Russia, President Al-Sisi also stressed the importance of Egypts partnership with the US. On 17 June, while addressing the Economic Forum on Energy and Climate Change Summit held virtually under the auspices of US President Joe Biden, he announced the launch of an Egyptian-US partnership to promote climate change adaptation in Africa.

While local analysts agree that relations between Washington and Arab allies like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE took a nosedive when Biden entered the White House in January 2021, it now seems that the US administration has recognized their strategic importance to American interests, hence Bidens decision to visit the Middle East next month and hold a summit with them in a damage limitation exercise, says Abu Taleb.

President Al-Sisi, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Bahraini monarch Hamad bin Eissa held a summit in Sharm El-Sheikh on 18 June during which they said they welcomed the visit of US President Joe Biden to the region planned for next month.

A version of this article appears in print in the 23 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijan's military pilots have fulfilled tasks in the Anatolian Eagle - 2022 international tactical-flight drills in Konya, Turkey, Azernews reports per the Defense Ministry.

The participants were instructed about the safety standards according to the plan prepared by the instructors at the beginning of the training, and the issues linked to the flight and other tasks were discussed.

After defeating conventional enemy air defenses, military pilots initiated air attacks on the objectives, according to the plan.

The training tasks were successfully completed, the ministry said.

It should be noted that the international tactical flight drills will last until July 1.

Along with Azerbaijan, British, Jordanian, Pakistani, and Turkish air and naval forces, as well as NATO units are attending the drills, the ministry said.

Azerbaijan and Turkey periodically hold joint drills to improve interaction and communication between their army units.

Military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey first emerged in 1992, with an agreement signed between the Azerbaijani and Turkish governments on military education and weapon equipment and deals to help strengthen the bond between the two nations.




Major steps are being taken to localise car manufacturing and associated industries in Egypt, reports Khaled El-Ghamry

Egypt is seeking to become a regional hub for the automotive industry in order to cover the needs of the local market and major parts of Africa.

During a visit to the East Port Said Industrial Zone last week, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli launched the National Strategy for Localising the Automotive Industry.

He said that by 2035 Africa will be needing five million cars. Companies wishing to invest in the sector in Egypt would be well placed to benefit from this demand through the free-trade agreement between Egypt and other African countries.

The government is designing incentives programmes to encourage the localisation of the automotive industry, Madbouli said, adding that more will be offered when companies introduce new technologies and consider environmental aspects.

Additional incentives will be made available for companies that manufacture cars that run on clean energy sources, such as electric vehicles, he said.

One day after launching the strategy on 15 June, Madbouli witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) and a leading Japanese company, Sumitomo, to set up a factory manufacturing electrical components for cars.

The factory is scheduled for operation before the end of 2023.

Another MoU was also signed on 14 June between the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, the East Port Said Development Company, and the Egyptian International Motors Company.

The MoU aims to localise automotive and associated industries in the Suez Canal Industrial Zone east of Port Said through the establishment of a joint complex for the manufacture of vehicles and associated supplies.

In the first phase, the complex is scheduled to produce 75,000 cars annually. It will meet local and regional needs, export to different countries, and attract more international automotive companies to manufacture cars in Egypt.

Rami Gad, general manager of the Egyptian International Motors Company, Renault Egypt, believes East Port Said will be a mecca for the automotive industry in the region, being a logistical area that includes manufacturing, shipping, and unloading for cars and other goods, such as cement and grains.

The area has the latest scientific systems and equipment, and these will reduce accidents and minimise time delays and losses, thus decreasing the cost of final products. Unloading grain usually takes about 30 days in the ports, but in East Port Said port the process takes no more than two days, Gad added.

The exceptional location of the port on the Mediterranean Sea and the entrance of the Suez Canal also facilitates export to Europe, Africa, and the Far East.

The East Port Said complex comprises a production line for paints, an assembly line, presses, and the equipment required for manufacturing vehicles. If manufacturers share these lines, services, and facilities, the cost of production will decrease and so will the price of locally manufactured vehicles, Gad said.

The facilities will encourage export operations, increase the competitiveness of Egyptian products, and supply the Egyptian market with its automotive needs.

In a decade or so from now, annual demand in Egypt for cars will rise to 600,000, according to studies, an attractive figure for international automotive companies to manufacture their cars in Egypt.

Gad added that factories producing associated automotive supplies in the industrial complex, along with the use of technology in transportation, will facilitate production and reduce time and costs, all helping to make Egypt a leading producer of cars in the region.

Negotiations to draft the National Strategy for Localising the Automotive Industry began in 2018, Khaled Saad, secretary-general of the Egyptian Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said, with many meetings held between the then minister of investment and manufacturers, agents, the heads of banks, the deans of public-sector engineering faculties, and representatives from the Central Bank of Egypt.

However, the strategy did not see the light at that time.

Following the hike in the exchange rate and the reluctance of global car manufacturers to supply Egypt with cars because of delayed payments caused by the rationing of hard currency, the government realised the importance of the sector.

It decided to benefit from the automotive sector instead of spending foreign currency on importing cars, opting to support the localisation of the automotive industry and attract foreign investments to this sector to fulfil the needs of the local market and export to the wider region, Saad explained.

The state is thus focusing more attention on the automotive sector, with the release of the strategy and the announcement of a set of incentives for manufacturers. Saad noted that the Sumitomo facility will cover the local market and also export, adding that Egypts new road network, various ports, and new industrial complexes will attract a large number of investors to the automotive sector.

He said that the East Port Said complex will help to increase the local components in cars from 30 to 45 per cent, covering the needs of the local market and exporting the surplus.

Hussein Mustafa, former executive president of the Egyptian Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said the new strategy means that the Egyptian automotive industry and associated industries will advance under one umbrella, the Supreme Council for the Automotive Industry.

The council will comprise representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Finance, and other institutions.

To maximise production and increase the employment of local components, Mustafa suggested further coordination between factories producing component parts. He said it was important to raise the quality of manufactured products to meet international standards in order to export to global markets and also for Egyptian products to venture into new markets.

He proposed studying obstacles holding back the industry, with a view to resolving them along with any tax and customs problems that may be impeding the automotive industry.

In addition to acquiring land with adequate utilities for factories in industrial areas, Mustafa said the council should include representatives from the private sector with a view to exchanging expertise with government agencies that have a wealth of data on the automotive sector.

A version of this article appears in print in the 23 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The cancellation of this years El Gouna Film Festival is a great loss for all those involved in the film industry in Egypt.

I was saddened to read the recent statement issued by the management of the El Gouna Film Festival announcing the cancellation of this years festival, planned for mid-October, due to what it described as current global challenges.

I imagine that this sudden cancellation will bring relief to those who over the years have seen nothing in the festival except the red carpet, controversial outfits, extravagant opening and closing ceremonies, and lots of jewelry.

But in fact the medias focus (to the point of obsession) on these aspects of the festival has entrenched a negative and provocative image in peoples minds, to the extent that the festival has come to be seen more as an occasion for the wearing of extravagant costumes than as an international cultural event to be proud of and one at which to watch international films, receive international stars, directors, and producers, celebrate the heritage of Egyptian cinema, honour our great artists, and perpetuate the memory of departed giants.

Cancelling any artistic, literary, or cultural festival is unfortunate whatever the circumstances because it disrupts a channel for the dissemination of art and creativity, wastes an opportunity to learn about new cultural and intellectual trends around the globe, and deprives Egyptian art of an opportunity to break into the world scene.

If we really want Egyptian cinema to regain the position that it occupied in previous decades, then this will not be achieved by reminiscing about the past or looking nostalgically at film posters from the fifties and sixties. Instead, it means venturing into global competition and encouraging creativity and cultural activity, even if this might mean tolerating some silly behaviour and extravagant costumes.

On the other hand, limiting ones gaze to the extravagance that necessarily surrounds any international film festival obscures an economic reality that is no less important than the cultural one. Cinema is an industry that employs large numbers of people, not only in artistic production, but also in terms of the provision of equipment, services, costumes, food, security, and supplies of all kinds, all of which provide job opportunities and support the economy.

When an international festival is held in Egypt, whether in El Gouna or in Cairo, this means increased demand for hotels, transport, restaurants, apartments, and the whole range of tourism services. Moreover, an international festival brings free advertising to the country and attracts the attention and curiosity of millions around the world who will see photographs of their favourite stars appearing in front of Egyptian landmarks.

As for the belief that cancelling the El Gouna Festival this year will be respectful to ordinary peoples feelings and avoid provoking them in the light of the present harsh economic conditions, in my opinion this risks having the opposite effect because the real economic impact of any such cancellation would be the loss of job opportunities, tourism, and foreign currency, all of which we desperately need.

Whatever the real reasons and justifications for cancelling this years festival, I hope that there will be room for this decision to be reviewed and that the authorities will intervene to support this cultural event of world importance that our neighbouring countries are seeking to imitate.

I hope that we will all stand in solidarity with the festival and its management because the loss of the opportunity to organise an international festival that is well established and well recognised is a loss for the country, tourism, the economy, and the arts.

This article also appears in todays edition of the daily Al-Masry Al-Youm (23 June).

A version of this article appears in print in the 23 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Ukraine said Tuesday it had "finally" deployed an advanced German artillery system, in the latest delivery of the long-range precision weapons that it has been calling for.

"Panzerhaubitze 2000 are finally part of 155 mm howitzer arsenal of the Ukrainian artillery," Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov wrote on social media, thanking his German counterpart Christine Lambrecht.

Germany said last month it would send seven self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, ramping up deliveries of heavy weapons to help Kyiv battle Russia's invasion.

A source in Ukraine's embassy in Berlin told AFP that all seven howitzers promised by Germany arrived in Ukraine.

The German army has about 100 howitzer 2000s in its stocks, but only 40 are combat ready.

The United States, France and other Ukraine allies have vowed further supplies of heavy weapons for Kyiv, and deliveries from Washington are due in Ukraine this month.

The West has sent weapons into Ukraine to help it fight the Kremlin's forces, but Kyiv complains it has only received a fraction of what it needs and is clamouring for heavier weaponry.

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The European Union on Tuesday pledged an additional 600 million euros to help vulnerable nations weather a food security crisis worsened by Russia's war on Ukraine.

The funds include 150 million euros ($158 million) in humanitarian assistance for African, Caribbean and Pacific nations and 350 million euros to boost sustainable food production in the longer term.

"Russia's war of aggression is taking a heavy and senseless toll, not only on the Ukrainian population but also those most vulnerable around the world," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said.

"Russia is still blocking millions of tonnes of desperately needed grain. To help our partners we will mobilise an additional 600 million euros to avoid a food crisis and an economic shock."

The West and Ukraine accuse Moscow of trying to pressure them into concessions by blockading vital grain exports via the Black Sea to ratchet up fears of global famine.

But the EU has struggled to counter the Kremlin's claims, which attribute rising prices and shortfalls in the Middle East and Africa to the bloc's sanctions imposed on Russia.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday called Russia's blockade "a real war crime" and warned that Moscow would be held responsible if it keeps on stopping exports.

The EU backs United Nations efforts to mediate a deal between Ukraine, Russia and Turkey to get the grain out, but this has failed to make headway so far.

Brussels is trying to increase exports from Ukraine using railway routes, but there is not enough capacity to take out more than a fraction of the stranded stocks.

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A Japanese court ruled Monday that the country's ban on same-sex marriage does not violate the constitution, and rejected demands for compensation by three couples who said their right to free union and equality has been violated.

The Osaka District Court ruling is the second decision on the issue, and disagrees with a ruling last year by a Sapporo court that found the ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional. It underscores how divisive the issue remains in Japan, the only member of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations that does not recognize same-sex unions.

In its ruling, the Osaka court rejected the plaintiffs' demand for 1 million yen ($7,400) in damages per couple for discrimination they face. The plaintiffs -- two male couples and one female couple -- were among 14 same-sex couples who filed lawsuits against the government in five major cities -- Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Osaka -- in 2019 for violating rights to free union and equality.

They argued that they have been illegally discriminated against by being deprived of the same economic and legal benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy through marriage.

Support for sexual diversity has grown slowly in Japan, but legal protections are still lacking for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. LGBTQ people often face discrimination at school, work and at home, causing many to hide their sexual identities.

Rights groups had pushed for passage of an equality act ahead of last summer's Tokyo Olympics, when international attention was focused on Japan, but the bill was quashed by the conservative governing party.


Meanwhile, the far left and far right were celebrating. Leader Jean-Luc Melenchon of the new left-wing NUPES coalition, which placed second in the voting, called the results an electoral defeat for President Emmanuel Macron.

France's Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne acknowledged the message from Sunday's vote that gave the centrist Ensemble or Together coalition the largest number of seats in the lower house -- but stripped it of a ruling majority. She called the situation unprecedented and vowed to cobble a working majority.

Two months after French President Emmanuel Macron won reelection, his second term is now threatened with gridlock and a possible political crisis after his centrist party lost its ruling majority in the lower house of the National Assembly Sunday. Legislative vote saw a surging far left and far right -- and near-record abstention.

However, his alliance didn't do as well as he'd hoped -- earning only 131 of the 577 legislative seats, compared to 245 for Macron's centrists.

In many ways, the biggest win went to the far-right National Rally party, which scooped up 89 seats, an historic high. Leader Marine Le Pen noted that effectively makes hers the biggest opposition party, as Melenchon's NUPES is an alliance of four different leftist parties.

What's clear is the results present a major challenge to Macron's second-term ambitions, which include passing major fiscal and retirement reforms. In the near term, it may also force him to concentrate less on foreign policy goals -- including helping to end the war in Ukraine -- as he looks for a way to govern effectively at home.

Political analyst Jean Petaux outlines several political scenarios for Macron moving forward -- from hoping the NUPES coalition will divide and weaken, to seeking alliances with the center-right Les Republicains and other parties on a case-by-case basis. And possibly even orchestrating a political crisis that would allow the President to call for new legislative elections next year, hoping they might produce more favorable results. All suggest a complicated political path ahead.

Petaux believes Prime Minister Borne will likely keep her job. But the NUPES vow to bring a no-confidence motion against her up for vote in early July. More immediately, three of Macron's ministers lost their legislative bids. Under his rules, that means they must resign.
President Joe Biden said Monday that he's considering a federal holiday on the gasoline tax, possibly saving Americans as much as 18.4 cents a gallon.

"Yes, I'm considering it," Biden told reporters after taking a walk along the beach. "I hope to have a decision based on the data -- I'm looking for by the end of the week."

The administration is increasingly looking for ways to spare Americans from higher prices at the pump, which began to climb last year and surged after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Gas prices nationwide are averaging just under $5 a gallon, according to AAA.
Senior U.S. officials have also raised grave concerns about the Beijing government's "increasingly provocative rhetoric and activity" towards Taiwan.

For years, U.S. policy has been to effectively deter a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait while preparing for contingencies in the event of a Chinese attack.

"In the most worrying scenario, Beijing would launch a surprise missile attack, hammering not only Taiwan's defenses but also the American naval and air forces concentrated at a few large bases in the western Pacific," according to AEI's senior fellows Hal Brands and Michael Beckley who assessed a U.S.-China conflict in the western Pacific will not end quickly.

In a newly released book titled, "Defending Taiwan," the American Enterprise Institute argues Washington wrongly predicts a short and geographically localized war over Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. Instead, AEI researchers say, the Pentagon's planning should revolve around "a conflict of extended duration."

A prominent Washington-based policy research organization says the United States is preparing for the wrong kind of likely conflict should China invade Taiwan.

Civilian leaders in the past had directed the U.S. military to develop viable plans to defend Taiwan, according to an internal document under former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

More recently, top officials from President Joe Biden's administration have repeatedly warned against Beijing's use of force to alter the status quo.

If Taiwan were attacked by China, opinion polls indicate a bare majority of Americans now favor defending Taiwan.

"Fifty-three percent may not seem like a lot but that's more than the percentage of Americans who favor defending Germany from Soviet aggression at various points during the Cold War. And so, it's fairly significant," Brands told reporters on Monday. He was citing the finding by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in August 2021.

"With respect to allies, it's been pretty striking. I mean, both the Japanese and the Australians have said as clearly as they can that they would not simply sit out a U.S.- China war over Taiwan," said Brands, who is also one of the members of the State Departments Foreign Affairs Policy Board. "The Japanese have said that this would be nearly existential for them, given geography."

To prevent the worst from happening while preparing for a long war, Brands and Beckley made several policy recommendations. They suggested the United States and Taiwan could amass key weapons stockpiles "to win the race to reload," which would also deter China from resorting to war if Beijing knew it would be outgunned if the conflict drags on. In addition, Washington can demonstrate through preparations the grit to endure losses, threaten retaliation, and contain escalation.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 21, 2022 - 20:38 | World, All, Japan

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi voiced concern Tuesday over the recent modernizing of a Cambodian naval base with Chinese aid, during a meeting with his Cambodian counterpart.

Kishi urged Tea Banh to explain the rationale behind modernizing the Ream Naval Base, ASEAN sources told Kyodo News, at a time when China continues to expand its territorial ambitions in the East and South China seas.

The base, which is strategically located on the Gulf of Thailand, near the South China Sea, has been a source of geopolitical tension. The sea is where China's territorial claims are overlapping with some Southeast Asian countries.

The United States has been alarmed in recent years over Cambodia's demolition of U.S.-funded buildings at the base. It has also expressed concern over a Chinese military buildup there, which Cambodia denies.

But Tea Banh told Kishi the base needs to be modernized to enable ships from Japan and elsewhere to easily dock and have vessels repaired, saying Cambodia had to send vessels in need of repairs overseas, the sources said.

With China's growing maritime assertiveness in mind, Kishi told his Cambodian counterpart that Japan will not tolerate any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force.

Their talks came a day before Cambodia hosts an in-person meeting between defense ministers of Japan and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It would be their first such meeting since November 2019, according to Japan's Defense Ministry.

In his bilateral talks, Kishi also raised concern over Russia's possible participation in the meeting in November of ASEAN defense ministers plus eight countries including Japan, the United States and Russia, the sources said.

Kishi was quoted by the sources as telling Tea Banh that should Russia, which invaded Ukraine in late February, be invited to the meeting, Japan would reconsider whether to take part.

However, Tea Banh said it is too early to raise concern over Russia's participation and that the situation in Ukraine could change by then, according to the sources.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The plus-eight countries also include Australia, China, India, New Zealand and South Korea.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Deputy Energy Minister Elnur Soltanov has said that Azerbaijan will launch new green energy programs, Azernews reports.

He made the remarks at the German-Azerbaijani Sustainable Development Forum on the topic Renewable Energy in Azerbaijan, on June 21, the report added.

According to Soltanov, since natural gas accounts for about 94 percent of Azerbaijan's electricity production, increasing the amount of "green" energy will result in gas savings.

The deputy minister emphasized that objectives have been set and activities are being conducted with this aim.

"Work continues jointly with the Ministry of Economy to attract investors. Local investors are a priority for us. However, this cooperation area is also available for foreign investors, and the good news is expected in this regard in the near future," Soltanov said.

He added that Azerbaijan anticipates a rise in the number of renewable energy auctions.

"We are constantly looking for potential investors for new renewable energy projects. We expect an increase in the number of auctions in the sphere of solar photovoltaic and wind energy in near future," Soltanov said.

According to him, Azerbaijan also has a large potential for offshore wind energy production, with the Caspian Sea's potential being assessed at 157 gigawatts.

The official highlighted that one of the priorities in the program "Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development" signed by President Ilham Aliyev is to turn Azerbaijan into an environmentally friendly country. The program also includes work to minimize environmental pollution.

"This means not only that energy will come from renewable sources, but also to increase energy efficiency. One of our priorities is to achieve pure zero carbon emissions. Today, the installed capacity of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan is 17 percent. It is planned to increase this figure to 30 percent by 2030, Soltanov emphasized.

He went on to say that Azerbaijan's Karabakh region has great potential for solar energy development.

"Karabakh has the best potential for generating solar electricity, second only to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic," Soltanov noted.

He briefed the forum participants about the efforts of turning the region into a "green" zone.

"All energy sources in Karabakh will operate on alternative energy. We have already restored four small hydroelectric power plants, and by the end of this year its planned to restore 18 more at the expense of private investors," the deputy minister said.

He also recalled the groundbreaking construction of solar and wind power facilities totaling 470 megawatts with prominent energy companies ACWA Power and Masdar took place in early 2022.

Furthermore, Tabriz Ammayev, Director of the State Agency for Renewable Energy Sources under the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry, stated that new projects in the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) sector are likely to be approved in Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan has already adopted a law On the use of renewable energy sources in the production of electricity. A renewable energy strategy for 2022 through 2026 is being developed. We hope it will be approved soon," Ammayev said.

He noted that Azerbaijan's hydrogen production potential is now being analyzed in collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

"Creation of green zone in Karabakh will also contribute to significant development and increase the experience of Azerbaijan in the production of renewable energy," Ammayev said.

The director also briefed the forum participants about a number of agreements with companies such as ACWA Power (Saudi Arabia), Masdar (UAEs Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company), and current energy projects.

"Azerbaijan being an oil and gas exporting country pays significant attention to sustainable development. Country striving to achieve the target of 30 percent for the usage of RES by 2030 with the potential for further growth," Ammayev said.

Addressing the event, Heiko Schwarz, deputy chief of the German Embassy in Azerbaijan, emphasized that significant chances for peace and development had already emerged in the South Caucasus.

We have already seen real opportunities in the South Caucasus. This is peace and prosperity. The European Union also supports this. We are living in a state of crisis. Sometimes we take peace for granted and dont understand its value. Crises encourage us not only to move towards sustainability but also to consider each sphere in a broader aspect," Schwarz stressed.

Moreover, Vice President of Uniper Global Commodities SE Michael Hilmer said that Azerbaijan has a considerable capacity for renewable energy development.

"Azerbaijan has great potential in the renewable energy sector. Uniper is ready to cooperate with the sides wishing to take an active part in the South Caucasus. The launch of the major renewable energy project is also scheduled in Azerbaijan," he stated.

Hilmer underlined the formation of a working group on energy transition in Azerbaijan.

"We can get our ideas across to decision-makers through this group," Hilmer said.

He noted that, while renewables were previously addressed in light of climate change, they are now being referred to on a far wider scale.

On June 21, the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK Azerbaijan) and RENAC AG organized a German-Azerbaijani Sustainability Forum on "Renewable Energy in Azerbaijan" within the Energy Export Initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection.

The forum, which was moderated by AHK Azerbaijan Executive Director Tobias Baumann, discussed cooperation between the two countries in the field of renewable energy.

Angelika Farhan-Reimpell, head of the German Energy Solutions Coordination Office at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Activity, spoke about the work done by her organization as part of the energy solutions initiative.

The AHK Azerbaijan Board Chairman Farid Isayev expressed confidence that the forum will contribute to cooperation between entrepreneurs of the two countries.

The forum continued with discussions.
By Christine T. Tjandraningsih, KYODO NEWS - Jun 22, 2022 - 03:55 | All, World, Coronavirus

The pandemic fund being prepared by the Group of 20 major economies to deal with future pandemics may start operating by the end of this month, the forum's current chair Indonesia said Tuesday after its gathering in Yogyakarta, an ancient city in central Java.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which has cost over 6 million lives and taken a toll on the global economy, the G-20 joint meeting of health and finance ministers sought to craft a funding mechanism for prevention efforts against infectious disease outbreaks and preparations for a swift response in the event of future health crises.

Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati told a press conference that the process to establish the financial intermediary fund, or FIF, "is now being finalized and hosted by the World Bank."

"I believe the board of the bank will meet on June 30. By that time, if it is approved by the board, then this FIF can start to operate...and that exactly may be the (operational) date," Indrawati said.

Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin also revealed that a total of approximately $1.24 billion has been committed by Germany, Indonesia, Singapore, the United States and the European Union, as well as the London-based charity organization Wellcome Trust.

He expressed hope that the fund will eventually reach $10.5 billion so that lower-to-middle income countries can procure necessary vaccines, drugs, testing kits and equipment.

Earlier in the day, Indrawati told the G-20 delegates that the fund must be inclusive and also reflect the "voices of developing countries" for a more effective system in preventing and preparing for pandemics.

During the health ministerial meeting, which preceded the Tuesday meeting, at least 17 of 20 health ministers agreed in principle to harmonize global health protocol standards for the sake of international travelers, according to a source close to the gathering.

The remaining three countries -- Argentina, Brazil and China -- have not made their decisions known, the source said.

A common global framework to read QR codes containing vaccine certificates and other information is now being developed, and it is expected to be launched after G-20 leaders adopt it during their summit in November, health officials said.

Initially, the system will be able to read certificates from G-20 member countries, but it will be opened to all countries around the world in the future.

The G-20 groups Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey, along with the Group of Seven industrialized economies -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the EU.

Related coverage:

Western health chiefs walk out in protest at Russia at G-20 meeting
KYODO NEWS - Jun 21, 2022 - 22:04 | All, World, Japan

Japan, the United States and South Korea are planning to hold a three-way summit on the fringes of a NATO leaders' gathering in Spain next week, diplomatic sources close to the matter said Tuesday.

Leaders from the three nations will likely discuss imminent issues such as responses to North Korea, which has been repeatedly launching ballistic missiles despite mounting criticism from the international community, the sources said.

It will be the first top-level meeting between the three countries since September 2017. If realized, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, U.S. President Joe Biden, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will hold talks together for the first time.

At the meeting, the three leaders are expected to affirm their cooperation to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of China's growing presence in the East and South China seas, according to the sources.

In addition to the trilateral talks, the Japanese government is also considering a four-way summit with South Korea, Australia and New Zealand on the sidelines of the NATO meeting.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 21, 2022 - 20:42 | World, All, Japan

China urged Japan on Tuesday not to meddle in Beijing's development of gas fields in the East China Sea, saying such a move has been done within the nation's jurisdiction.

On Monday, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said China has set up a new drilling facility for gas fields in a contested area of the sea, despite Tokyo's repeated calls on Beijing to halt its unilateral resource development program there.

"China has conducted oil and gas development in undisputed waters under China's jurisdiction in the East China Sea," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters, adding, "Japan should not make irresponsible remarks."

The new drilling facility is located on the Chinese side of a Tokyo-proposed median line separating the two countries' exclusive economic zones in the sea, the Japanese ministry said.

In 2008, Beijing and Tokyo agreed on joint gas development in the area, but negotiations were suspended in 2010 when bilateral tensions escalated in the wake of a Chinese trawler's collision with a Japan Coast Guard vessel.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 21, 2022 - 23:39 | All, World

The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki called for ridding the world of nuclear weapons amid Russia's threats to use them in its war against Ukraine, as the first meeting of parties to a U.N. treaty prohibiting the ultimate weapons of war started Tuesday in Vienna.

The three-day meeting aims to build momentum toward the eventual elimination of the weapons. Japan, however, did not join it even as an observer, despite high expectations among survivors of the atomic bombings of the two Japanese cities that it would.

The Japanese government has said as no nuclear-weapon state has signed on to the pact, known officially as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, Japan would rather promote "realistic efforts" toward a world free of nuclear weapons while trying to involve those states.

In a speech as president of the nongovernmental organization Mayors for Peace, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui cautioned that nuclear weapons are not a solution to the war in Ukraine.

Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue, who serves as the group's vice president, said that amid the Russian nuclear threat, "now more than ever, I feel that the existence of the treaty is very important as it is the only international treaty that clearly prohibits the immediate crisis the world is now facing."

In a video message, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, "Let's eliminate these weapons before they eliminate us."

The meeting is expected to conclude Thursday with a political statement and an action plan to chart a course for nuclear abolition and the salvation of "hibakusha" -- survivors and others who have been physically affected by nuclear radiation -- as well as the restoration of environments contaminated by nuclear tests.

The treaty is the first international pact outlawing nuclear weapons development, testing, possession and use.

The treaty, which finds the complete elimination of such weapons as the only way to guarantee nuclear weapons are never used again, took effect in January last year, with 65 parties ratifying it so far.

The United States, China, Russia and other nuclear-armed nations are not part of it, and Japan has stood aligned with the United States as it has a long-standing security alliance with Washington that offers the shelter of its nuclear umbrella.

Survivors of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombings and signatory countries were calling for Japan's attendance as an observer as the only nation to have suffered the devastating consequences of such bombings.

Germany, Norway and the Netherlands are participating with observer status even as their national defense depends on the U.S.-led nuclear umbrella as members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Sweden and Finland, which have submitted applications to join NATO in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as Australia, are among the other observer participants.

The meeting is being held in the Austrian capital amid heightened security concerns in Europe in the wake of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Participating countries hope to take a firm, united stance on nuclear disarmament at this meeting and attend the review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to be held in New York in August.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who represents an electoral district in Hiroshima and often speaks of the vision of a world without nuclear weapons, is attending the NPT review conference, the government said Tuesday.
KYODO NEWS - Jun 21, 2022 - 11:27 | All, World

A Nobel Peace Prize medal belonging to independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta's editor-in-chief was auctioned off for $103.5 million in New York on Monday, with the money to be used for children displaced by ongoing war in Ukraine.

The winning amount for the medal -- which was awarded to Dmitry Muratov in 2021 -- will be donated to the United Nations Children's Fund.

"I will not see this medal again, but I would like to see the future of those people who will benefit from it," Muratov said at the auction ceremony.

The identity of the successful bidder remains unknown.

The auction started at $787,500, with repeated bidding by local agents and via the internet. The price rose to $16.6 million and then suddenly hit $103.5 million, sending shockwaves among those present at the venue who then clapped for the final price.

Muratov shared the Nobel Peace Prize last year with Maria Ressa, a journalist from the Philippines, for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.

He led the newspaper's investigative reporting on the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and expressed opposition to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine launched on Feb. 24.

But in late March, the paper announced that it would cease reporting until the end of the military operation in response to tighter media restrictions and warnings from the Russian authorities. Some of the paper's journalists continue to work in Europe.

Muratov co-founded the paper in 1993.

Calling Novaya Gazeta the "most independent newspaper" in Russia, the Norwegian Nobel Committee credited it with publishing critical articles on subjects such as "corruption, police violence, unlawful arrests, electoral fraud and 'troll factories' to the use of Russian military forces both within and outside Russia."

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Journalists Maria Ressa, Dmitry Muratov win Nobel Peace Prize

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Japanese-owned Stradivarius violin sells for $15 million at auction
KYODO NEWS - Jun 21, 2022 - 21:28 | All, Japan

Japanese political party leaders on Tuesday sparred over issues ranging from surging prices exacerbated by Russia's war on Ukraine to national security, in a policy debate held a day before the start of campaigning for next month's upper house election.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed that his ruling party will prioritize the implementation of measures aimed at cushioning the impact of high energy and food prices, rather than considering lowering the consumption tax rate from the current 10 percent or seeking a change to the Bank of Japan's ultraeasy monetary policy.

"(The tax) is a stable financial source for social security," said Kishida, who heads the Liberal Democratic Party, as he participated in the event with eight other party chiefs at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo.

Fighting an uphill battle against the LDP in the July 10 House of Councillors election, Kenta Izumi, head of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, criticized the government and the BOJ for not taking action against a weak yen and called for reducing the tax rate.

"We cannot leave rising prices as they are," Izumi said.

Meanwhile, Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, said the debate over price increases has been too focused on monetary policy and that more fiscal measures should be taken.

Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Komeito, the junior coalition partner of the LDP, questioned Izumi's call for reducing the consumption tax to 5 percent, saying revenues from it have been earmarked to finance the country's swelling social security costs.

Kishida also stressed the importance of maintaining stable and constructive relations with China, which he said are important "not only for each other but also for the peace and stability of the region and the international community."

He took a positive stance on a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with whom he last spoke in October, saying, "Dialogue matters."

As for South Korea, Kishida said Tokyo and Seoul "cannot move forward" unless they see progress in resolving issues such as compensation demands from South Koreans for their labor rendered under Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

In addition, he pledged to take the lead in reforming the U.N. Security Council, whose dysfunction was exposed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Amid concerns over China's growing military buildup and North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the LDP is looking to lift the defense budget to an amount on par with 2 percent of gross domestic product or more, which is a spending target for North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations.

The Japanese Communist Party's Chairman Kazuo Shii said the LDP's desire to drastically boost defense spending will induce a "vicious cycle" of escalating regional tensions, while saying the ruling party is irresponsible that it is not explaining how to finance the increase.

In the election, 125 of the 248 seats will be up for grabs, of which 50 will be chosen under the proportional representation system and the rest from electoral districts that are largely based on prefectures.

A tally by Kyodo News shows more than 530 people planning to run in the election.

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Food prices rising in Japan, cooking oil up 1.5-fold on year

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64% of Japanese unhappy with gov't response to rising prices: poll
KYODO NEWS - Jun 21, 2022 - 09:51 | World, All, Japan

The South Korean government will set up a public-private body to resolve the issue of compensation for forced wartime labor during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, a local media report said Monday.

The body made up of government officials and experts will be established as early as the end of this month to prevent the liquidation of Japanese corporate assets that plaintiffs in forced labor lawsuits have seized, according to the Seoul Shinmun report.

The plaintiffs are taking steps to realize the liquidation. But Japan has protested to South Korea and warned that liquidating the assets "would invite a grave situation" for both countries.

The body would be a first action by the government of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who took office on May 10 and called for a future-oriented approach to the bilateral relationship, aimed to resolve the issues stemming from Japan's colonial rule between 1910 and 1945.

Bilateral ties sank to the lowest point in years during the administration of Yoon's predecessor, Moon Jae In, over the forced labor issue and that of Korean women forced to work in Japan's wartime military brothels.

South Korean Supreme Court rulings in 2018 ordered two Japanese companies, Nippon Steel Corp. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., to pay damages to Korean plaintiffs for their labor under the Japanese colonial rule.

The companies did not comply with the compensation orders as they heeded the Japanese government's position that the issue of claims stemming from the colonial rule was settled in 1965 under a bilateral accord signed alongside a treaty that established diplomatic ties.

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South Korea hopes to normalize security cooperation with Japan

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South Korea court orders sale of Mitsubishi Heavy patent for wartime labor
Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends the opening meeting of the 22nd session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, June 20, 2022.

The Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee convened a meeting on Monday to discuss high quality, green and low carbon development. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee convened a meeting on Monday to discuss high quality, green and low carbon development.

Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the opening meeting of the 22nd session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee.

State Councilor Wang Yong attended the meeting, delivered a report, and listened to the opinions and suggestions.

Recognizing China's progress in green and low carbon development, the State Councilor pledged enhanced support for the green transformation in all areas of economic and social development.

Presiding over the meeting, Zhang Qingli, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, called for a consensus to contribute wisdom and strength to coordinate green, low carbon and high quality development.

During the session, the attendees will hold discussions on a range of topics, including deepening industrial structure adjustment, strengthening ecological protection and restoration, and improving related policies, laws and standards. 
BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to host the 14th BRICS Summit and the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, and attend the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum in virtual format later this week.

As the world grapples with a series of challenges, it is looking forward to listening to the voices of the BRICS countries as well as other emerging economies at the upcoming gathering.

At the opening of the BRICS Business Forum in 2017, the last time China was the BRICS chair, Xi delivered a keynote speech titled, Working Together to Usher in the Second "Golden Decade" of BRICS Cooperation, outlining an optimistic future for BRICS cooperation.

In the first half of the second "golden decade" of BRICS cooperation, China has put forward practical proposals and plans and contributed its wisdom and strength.

Five years have passed since 2017, with China again assuming the BRICS chairmanship.

While the COVID-19 pandemic and major changes both unseen in a century pose grave challenges to global security and development, China is promoting a BRICS more focused on high-quality development, opening-up and cooperation, deepening the group's partnership and working toward a future of equity, justice, peace and prosperity for the world.

Under China's chairmanship, the international community expects that any consensus reached at the BRICS Summit and other relevant events will be the "golden key" to helping all countries, especially developing ones, better address challenges and bolster development.

"The BRICS countries in the year 2022 become all the more important," said Herman Tiu Laurel, founder of Philippine BRICS Strategic Studies, stressing that the mechanism allows the BRICS countries "to lead the world out of this quagmire of conflict, and tension, and focus again the attention of the global community on development."

The international community also expects the mechanism to become more open and inclusive and push for a more just and equitable global governance system.

Since the BRICS mechanism was established 16 years ago, cooperation has been vital. Member countries and other developing nations benefited from an expansion in energy infrastructure, green finance and the digital economy.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that a number of other countries wanting to join in BRICS "speak volumes about the confidence that many of other countries are having in BRICS."

"People see BRICS as a very attractive bloc," he noted.

In recent years, the BRICS mechanism has witnessed several achievements, including establishing the New Development Bank and the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement.

In 2021, the total volume of trade in goods of BRICS countries increased 33.4 percent year on year. Launched in December 2020, the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Innovation Center has provided more than 120,000 training opportunities in 28 countries and carried out over 100 pilot projects.

Since the beginning of the year, China has continuously promoted the "BRICS Plus" cooperation model, epitomizing China's adherence to the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation.

The high expectations of China's chairmanship stem from the international community's appreciation for China's global governance philosophy, which emphasizes extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.

Since assuming the BRICS chairmanship earlier this year, China has held more than 70 conferences and activities, covering politics, security, trade and finance, people-to-people exchanges, sustainable development and public health.

China's continuous contribution to the BRICS, which cover over 40 percent of the world's population and about a quarter of the global economy, has boosted global confidence in the mechanism.

Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told Xinhua the next five years of BRICS collaboration could benefit the world.

The 'BRICS Plus' and the initiatives China proposed "will be catalysts for global economic growth, sustainable common development and an equitable security system," Kin said. 
VIENTIANE, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China and Laos have for the first time achieved the two-way transmission of electricity since the two countries' grid connectivity project was launched 12 years ago.

The Nam Tha 1 Hydropower Station in northern Laos successfully sent electricity to Yunnan Province in Southwest China on Monday.

In order to help consume the surplus hydropower in Laos during the rainy seasons, China Southern Power Grid (CSG) and Electricite du Laos (EDL) signed a 115 kV power trade agreement in March.

China and Laos agreed to send extra hydropower from Laos to Yunnan Province in rainy seasons, while in dry seasons, CSG will supplement the power supply to northern Laos. 
Following the expanded meeting in Tashkent, a ceremony of signing Azerbaijani, Uzbekistan documents was held in the presence of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Azernews reports, citing Azertac.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the Declaration on the Deepening of Strategic Partnership and Expanding Comprehensive Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sahil Babayev, and Minister of Employment and Labor Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Nozim Khusanov signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan Rashad Nabiyev, and Minister of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ibrohim Abdurakhmonov signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Inam Karimov, and Head of Agency of Plant Protection and Quarantine of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ibrohim Ergashev signed the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Plant Quarantine and Protection between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov, and Minister of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ruslanbek Davletov signed the Agreement on cooperation in the field of protection of industrial property between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan Rashad Nabiyev, and Minister of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ilkhom Makhkamov signed the Agreement on International Road Transport between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan Zakir Hasanov, and the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bakhodir Kurbanov signed the Agreement on Military Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Agreement on Military-Technical Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov signed the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Cooperation in Combating Illegal Migration and the Program of Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2022-2024.

Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov, and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov signed the Agreement on Industrial Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Agreement on Interregional Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan.












Photo taken on June 12, 2022 shows Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam at the Government House in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam said Hong Kong will have a bright future by focusing on economic development and leveraging its unique advantages.

HONG KONG, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said Hong Kong has returned to the right track of "one country, two systems" and its future is very promising.

"Hong Kong today is more stable than ever before. I'm confident that with the staunch support of the central authorities, Hong Kong will have a bright future as it focuses on economic development and leverages its unique advantages," Lam said in an interview with Xinhua.

SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE OF "ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS"

Hailing "one country, two systems" as a great vision and a groundbreaking cause, Lam said that its practice in Hong Kong over the past 25 years has proved successful.

At a meeting celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland on July 1, 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping expounded on the relationship between "one country" and "two systems".

"'One country' is like the roots of a tree. For a tree to grow tall and luxuriant, its roots must run deep and strong," Xi said.

"I particularly like the metaphor of a tree," Lam said. "Only by taking the 'one country' as the foundation and safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests, can the 'two systems' be brought into full play."

Acknowledging that Hong Kong has gone through great challenges and difficulties over the past five years, Lam said it is now back on the right track.

To boost Hong Kong's development, Lam called for efforts to raise the awareness of national security among Hong Kong residents, better integrate Hong Kong into national development, and promote further development of various sectors, including innovation and technology, and financial services.

A staff member arranges flowers at a park in Hong Kong, south China, June 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Lo Ping Fai)

SAFEGUARDING NATIONAL SECURITY

Recalling the turmoil in 2019, Lam said that the central government responded decisively by bringing in the national security law in Hong Kong, playing an instrumental role in ending violence and chaos and restoring order in the city.

"It is imperative to develop a sound legal system and enforcement mechanisms for Hong Kong to safeguard national security," Lam said. "Otherwise, not only will the security of Hong Kong be jeopardized, but also the whole country would be at great risk."

The 2019 turmoil enabled people to see that a legislative vacuum pertaining to national security in Hong Kong could lead to infiltration or acts of sabotage against the mainland via Hong Kong by external forces, she added.

"The national security law in Hong Kong has provided a solid foundation for us to move forward," Lam said.

PATRIOTS ADMINISTERING HONG KONG

From September 2021 to May 2022, under the new electoral system, the HKSAR successfully held elections for the Election Committee, the seventh-term Legislative Council (LegCo), and the sixth-term chief executive. An increasing number of capable and patriotic people have entered the governing structure of the HKSAR.

Lam said that the purpose of improving the HKSAR electoral system was to better implement the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong."

"In the past, when it came to the election, I was worried that some unpatriotic people would enter the legislature, thus hindering the administration of the HKSAR government. They might even use this platform to do something against the central authority and undermine the relationship between the central authority and the HKSAR," she said. "Now these concerns are gone."

The implementation of the "patriots administering Hong Kong" principle has provided room for the HKSAR government to achieve more accomplishments, Lam said, adding that future HKSAR officials will be more confident in planning for Hong Kong's future.

Workers operate at the construction site for a transaction center in Qianhai, Shenzhen City, south China's Guangdong Province, on Sept. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Mao Siqian)

OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FUTURE

Lam highlighted the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as the most noteworthy accomplishment of the last five years. The commissioning of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and the Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point has facilitated the formation of a "one-hour living circle" in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"In order for Hong Kong to have a brighter future, it is imperative to integrate Hong Kong into China's overall development," she emphasized.

Over the past 25 years, cooperation and exchanges between Hong Kong and the mainland have deepened, Lam noted, adding that the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) supports Hong Kong in enhancing its status as an international financial, transportation, trade center and an international aviation hub, as well as in strengthening its roles as a global offshore renminbi business hub, an international asset management center and a risk management center.

The plan also backs Hong Kong in developing itself into an international innovation and technology hub, a center for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, a regional intellectual property trading center, a hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world, and in promoting its service industries for high-end and high value-added development, she added.

"Hong Kong has a better foundation in the future, and we should be more confident in doing something innovative to boost Hong Kong's economy and improve the people's livelihood," Lam said.

"I am optimistic about the future of Hong Kong because we have returned to the right track of 'one country, two systems.'"
BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has promulgated a set of regulations on the Party's work regarding political consultation, and issued a notice to facilitate the implementation.

Approved at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on May 27, the regulations consist of 31 articles in eight chapters.

The formulation of the regulations is of great significance for upholding and improving the multiparty cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the CPC, and for consolidating and expanding the patriotic united front, according to the notice.

It urged Party committees and leading Party members' groups at all levels to strengthen the leadership over the implementation of the regulations to ensure that political consultation is in the right political direction and its efficiency and effect are enhanced. 
Photo taken on May 29, 2022 shows China-donated COVID-19 vaccines at Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar. (Xinhua/U Aung)

BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China has played a constructive role in the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations to facilitate a major decision on the waiver of intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, an official with the Ministry of Commerce said Monday.

Due to the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, developing members will be authorized to produce COVID-19 vaccines without the consent of the right holder for five years, according to the decision made at the WTO's Ministerial Conference Twelfth Session (MC12) from June 12 to 17 in Geneva, Switzerland.

At a pivotal stage of MC12 negotiations, China, as a major producer and a supplier of COVID-19 vaccines, announced that it will forego the flexibility of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver on COVID-19 vaccines, the official said.

Developing members enjoy larger flexibility on the implementation of authorization, notification obligation and provision of appropriate remuneration to the right holders.

The move shows China's sense of responsibility as a major country, the official said, adding that it laid a foundation for the final MC12 outcomes.

China announced on May 2020 that it would make COVID-19 vaccines a global public good in order to ensure vaccine accessibility and affordability in the developing world. By far, the country has provided over 2.2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations, according to the official.

The important achievement made at MC12 will play a vital role in bridging the global vaccine gaps and improving the vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries, the official noted. 
BUJUMBURA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Burundian Communication, Information Technology and Media Minister Leocadie Ndacayisaba has commended China for granting the east African nation's rural population access to digital satellite television.

In a project handover ceremony held here on Monday, the minister said the project will allow Burundian people to have access to the national television information and programs and boost universal access to the right to information.

During the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Burundi Zhao Jiangping said the project will contribute to the promotion of cultural exchanges.

According to Zhao, 200 villages would be connected to the digital television system in the second phase of the project with the donation of 190,000 sets of decoders and accessories from China. This has come after 300 other villages had been connected to digital television previously in the country by October 2018 through the project's first phase.

"In the framework of reinforcing bilateral relations between Burundi and China, both projects will significantly boost access to the television digitalization process", said Zhao.

On his part, Xu Weichao, managing director of StarTimes Media Burundi which implemented the project, said the completion of the second phase of the project means a greater Burundi population in rural regions would benefit from access to digital television services.

Xu added that more than 1,000 technicians had also been trained countywide by StarTimes to ensure the project's maintenance.

Participants in the ceremony also included governors of provinces of Burundi who represented beneficiaries of the project. They said that they are grateful to China which allowed the remotest population in the East African nation to have access to television programs. 
BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Despite rising uncertainties, BRICS nations have made remarkable achievements in cooperation, helping promote common development and global economic recovery.

BRICS, an emerging-market group which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, represents approximately 40 percent of the global population and accounts for about 25 percent of the global economy.

Wang Youming, director of the Department for Developing Countries Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said that BRICS cooperation in areas such as poverty reduction, food security, green development, industrialization, the digital economy and connectivity has met the needs and aspirations of many developing countries.

The BRICS-founded New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai, offers a glimpse into the group's efforts to tackle the infrastructure and development challenges faced by emerging economies while advancing the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The bank had approved more than 80 projects in member countries by May 2021, with a total portfolio of some 30 billion U.S. dollars, it said.

Looking ahead, the bank said it will provide 30 billion U.S. dollars of financial support to member countries from 2022 to 2026, with 40 percent of the funds to be used to mitigate global warming.

Wang said the majority of NDB loans are used for clean drinking water, environmental sanitation and green energy, helping member countries achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

BRICS countries are important producers and consumers of agricultural products, playing an important role in the global food system.

As of May this year, three of the world's four major food producers are BRICS members, and the BRICS countries' total agricultural GDP accounts for more than half the world total.

The 12th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Agriculture, held via video link earlier this month, adopted a joint statement from BRICS agriculture ministers and a document on a BRICS food security cooperation strategy. It also announced the establishment of a forum on the agricultural and rural affairs development of BRICS countries.

In the eyes of Wang Wen, executive dean of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China, the BRICS partnership has not only injected impetus into global development cooperation, but it has also functioned as a new booster for global economic recovery.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, developing economies have increased their share of the trade in goods globally, and BRICS countries are playing a growing role in world trade, according to the Global Development Report released Monday.

"Goods exports and imports of BRICS countries made up 19.8 percent and 16.4 percent of the world totals in 2020 respectively," said the report published by the Center for International Knowledge on Development.

In 2021, despite the prolonged impact of COVID-19, the total volume of trade in goods of BRICS countries surged 33.4 percent year on year to 8.55 trillion U.S. dollars, official data showed.

China is a key investor and trade partner in the BRICS group, and trade and investment cooperation between China and other BRICS countries exerts a very strong impact on the development of their economies, Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told Xinhua.

In the first five months of the year, trade between China and other BRICS countries recorded a 12.1 percent year-on-year rise to reach 195.96 billion U.S. Dollars, growing faster than China's overall foreign trade in the same period, Tuesday's customs data showed.

During a recent online shopping festival guided by China's commerce ministry, a special "Buy in BRICS" section was launched, where the sales of chocolate and red wine from BRICS nations respectively skyrocketed 302.1 percent and 283.8 percent, according to the ministry.

Under the theme of "Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global Development," the 14th summit of BRICS, will be held this week in virtual format under China's chairmanship.

"BRICS' multilateralism is very important for today's new world order," said Phea. "I believe that the summit's outcome will benefit not only the BRICS countries but also other developing countries as well as the whole world." 
Photo taken on July 8, 2021 shows a view of a ferris wheel and Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu)

In the eyes of Richard Cullen, a visiting professor at the University of Hong Kong, the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong has been a great success, which has come through all the tests in the past 25 years, especially the 2019 chaos.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. "After 25 years, our business has grown stronger and our ability to operate in Hong Kong has improved in many ways," U.S. businessman Jim Thompson said.

HONG KONG, June 21 (Xinhua) -- There is a group of foreigners in Hong Kong who first came here for work, business, or pursuing dreams. While living in the city, the beautiful "Pearl of the Orient" has become their second hometown.

When talking about the upcoming 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), they agree that the "one country, two systems" principle is conducive to Hong Kong's long-term prosperity, stability and development.

Richard Cullen, a visiting professor at the University of Hong Kong, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Hong Kong, south China, Aug. 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu)

"ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS" GREAT SUCCESS

"July 1 is a special day for Hong Kong. I watched the handover ceremony on TV 25 years ago," said 74-year-old Richard Cullen.

Cullen, a visiting professor at the University of Hong Kong, chose to stay in the city after moving here from Australia more than 30 years ago.

"Very soon after I arrived in Hong Kong, I realized I was living in a unique world city," said Cullen. "In this vibrant city, I feel energy, freedom and efficiency."

In the eyes of Cullen, the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong has been a great success, which has come through all the tests in the past 25 years, especially the 2019 chaos.

As a law professor, he pointed out that "the national security law in Hong Kong has done a very good job." Since the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong, chaos stopped and social stability has been restored in this city, he added.

He is disgusted with the attempts of some external forces to suppress China's development at the expense of Hong Kong's interests, saying, "What is truly good for China is good for Hong Kong. Without China, there would not be Hong Kong."

When speaking of the three major elections since the improvement to the HKSAR's electoral system, Cullen said that they were all very successful. "There was nobody running around, throwing things or shouting," he said.

"No city can replace Hong Kong in my view," said Cullen. "I wish Hong Kong all the best. It deserves that."

U.S. businessman Jim Thompson is seen during an interview with Xinhua in Hong Kong, south China, Aug. 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu)

"AFTER 25 YEARS, OUR BUSINESS HAS GROWN STRONGER"

U.S. businessman Jim Thompson's office is on the top floor of a building in the downtown Wan Chai area. To the north of the office are the Golden Bauhinia Square and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

Looking out of his office window, he clearly remembered the historic moment of Hong Kong's return (to the motherland) 25 years ago.

Every year since 2003, Thompson was invited to attend the anniversary celebration events held by the HKSAR government, never missing it once. "The 'one country, two systems' principle has worked well for the past 25 years," he said.

In the 1960s, Thompson, chairman of logistics company Crown Worldwide Group, set up his company in Japan. In 1978, he moved the company's headquarters to Hong Kong and has remained committed to the city ever since.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. "After 25 years, our business has grown stronger and our ability to operate in Hong Kong has improved in many ways," he said.

In Thompson's view, the steady opening-up of the Chinese market has provided very good opportunities for Hong Kong-based businesses and many companies have thus been able to expand.

Noting that many successful mainland enterprises and individuals have invested in Hong Kong and got their companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, he said, "This was a huge support for Hong Kong financial markets and allowed Hong Kong to remain as the third leading financial center in the world."

Hong Kong being backed by the Chinese mainland, and especially being a part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, will always be a key advantage for local businesses, according to Thompson.

Hong Kong has gone through lots of ups and downs in the past 25 years, but in every case, it quickly bounced back and got stronger, he noted.

"I believe the Chinese government wants Hong Kong to succeed and be a strong part of the country," said Thompson, hoping that people in Hong Kong continue to embrace and love this city.

Photo taken on July 1, 2020 shows the Golden Bauhinia Square after a flag-raising ceremony held by the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

HONG KONG, A DREAM-CHASING PLACE

John Swindleton, 34, is from Canada. He is attracted by the opportunities offered by Hong Kong's rapid economic development.

After graduating from university, he got a short-term internship in Hong Kong. Swindleton then decided to stay in the financial hub. He now works at a bank.

To Swindleton, Hong Kong is a place for him to realize his career goals. "There are a lot of opportunities here for me to start my career."

A lot of international firms chose to do business in Hong Kong, because it is the gateway connecting the Chinese mainland with the rest of the world, he said.

"This geographical advantage gives comfort for international firms to do business here," he noted.

Recalling some people's concern about Hong Kong's prospects before its return to the motherland in 1997, he said, "But Hong Kong has taken off since, and the track record speaks for itself."

Hong Kong is still one of the freest economies in the world, he added.

Swindleton believed the "one country, two systems" principle is a success. He shared with Xinhua an article from which he once read that "Hong Kong residents enjoy far more rights and freedoms in accordance with the law than they did before 1997."

During his leisure time, Swindleton enjoys going to Hong Kong-style cafes and having local food like dim sum. "Hong Kong is an East-meets-West city where foreigners can enjoy a merge between the cultures, and you can enjoy cuisines from all over the world," he said.

The natural scenery in Hong Kong is also charming. A hiking and climbing enthusiast, he said it is very convenient to reach hiking trails and beaches within a short distance from downtown.

"Hong Kong is really an attractive place and it doesn't change," he said. 
UNITED NATIONS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called for a clear timeline for the termination of cross-border aid delivery into Syria, and suggested cross-line delivery be the primary avenue for humanitarian assistance in the war-torn country.

Security Council Resolution 2585 on humanitarian assistance to Syria, which expires in July, has played a part in easing the humanitarian situation in Syria. However, it has not been fully and effectively implemented, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

The Security Council should conduct a comprehensive analysis and adopt an integrated approach to overcome the obstacles to humanitarian relief in a targeted manner, and make more reasonable and effective arrangements for the next stage of humanitarian relief, he said.

The Chinese envoy noted that cross-line delivery should be the primary avenue for humanitarian assistance in Syria. However, despite the explicit requirements of Resolution 2585, there has been limited input in this regard.

"The council must make specific demands to increase the efficiency and scale of cross-line delivery, promote capacity-building for parties to ensure safe passage, and support the efforts of international humanitarian agencies," he told the Security Council.

China has always maintained that the cross-border mechanism is only an extraordinary arrangement made under specific circumstances, Zhang said, adding that the Security Council should assess the effectiveness and applicability of the mechanism in a timely manner in light of the developments on the ground, and make adjustments accordingly.

Cross-border humanitarian operations in Northwest Syria must be carried out in strict compliance with the Security Council resolutions, and the neutrality and transparency of the assistance must be ensured, he said.

A clear timeline should be set for the termination of cross-border delivery, and the transition to the cross-line approach promoted accordingly, he added.

Zhang also called for the immediate lifting of unilateral sanctions against Syria so as to create a favorable external environment for economic recovery.

It is estimated that the unilateral sanctions over the years have incurred tremendous economic losses for Syria and have greatly weakened the government's ability to raise resources and carry out reconstruction, he said.

Unilateral sanctions run counter to the efforts of the Security Council and the international community to improve humanitarian access and resources in Syria, and have become the biggest obstacles to the improvement of the humanitarian situation in the country, he said.

China urges the countries concerned to immediately and fully lift the unilateral sanctions, Zhang said, adding that the Security Council must make clear requirements in this regard. 
FUZHOU, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua on Monday urged solid action on rural construction, in a bid to push forward rural revitalization and modernization.

Describing rural construction as a significant part of national modernization, Hu said that unremitting efforts should be made to ensure rural residents can also lead modern lives. He made the comments while addressing a meeting on rural construction in Sanming, east China's Fujian Province.

He cited measures to reinforce rural infrastructure, build a livable and beautiful rural environment, and improve rural basic public services.

Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, the work should be done according to local conditions and step by step, Hu said, also calling for the participation of people from various sectors of society. 
HANGZHOU, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Sold for up to 60 yuan (about 9 U.S. dollars) apiece, around 500 kg of waxberries left Xianju, a mountainous county in east China's Zhejiang Province, and arrived in supermarkets and high-end hotels in Dubai last week, where customers could enjoy a fresh taste of the early summer.

"Waxberries are highly perishable. To keep their freshness as much as possible, we pick up the fruit at 3 a.m. before putting them into cold storage for pre-cooling," said Wu Jiazhen, head of the Xiandai Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. in Xianju County.

"We then seal the berries, put them in boxes and send the fruit to the airport by a refrigerated truck," Wu said.

Customs in the city of Taizhou which administers Xianju had sampled the waxberries before they were picked up and conducted lab tests on agricultural residues to ensure the quality and safety of the exported berries.

"On the picking day, we also check the appearance and quality of the fruit and speed up inspection and quarantine procedures," said Chen Ye, an official with the Taizhou Customs.

With a history of more than 1,000 years, the juicy and sweet Chinese bayberries in Xianju, which are up to more than 40 grams apiece and as big as ping pong balls, have become all the rage home and abroad in recent years.

From 2019 to 2021, a total of nearly 30 tonnes of Xianju waxberries had been exported to countries including the United States, France, Germany, Singapore, Canada and Netherlands.

"The price of exported Xianju waxberries this year reaches 10 to 60 yuan apiece. Behind the relatively higher price are mainly the expensive transportation fees and decreased production due to the climate reasons," Wu said.

Xianju is now home to 100,000 waxberry growers and more than 50 waxberry planting villages. The planting area of the Chinese bayberries in Xianju totaled over 94 square km, with the output reaching 100,000 tonnes worth over 1 billion yuan last year. The average income of Xianju's waxberry growers has increased by 32,000 yuan annually.

Zhu Shuixing, an agronomic expert with the agriculture and rural bureau in Xainju, attributed the prosperity of the sweet business to the development of storage and transportation technology.

"With the support of research institutes, Xianju waxberries have adopted a series of freshness-keeping technologies, such as vacuum packaging, nitrogen packaging and cold chain transportation," Zhu said.

"Under normal temperature in summer, waxberries can only be kept for one to two days, but with the digital pulsed magnetic field technology, they can be kept for as long as 30 days," Zhu added. 
ISTANBUL, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkey prepares to push forward infrastructure projects in northern Syria to help repatriate 1 million Syrian refugees, the Turkish deputy interior minister said Tuesday.

Speaking on the second day of the Global Parliamentary Conference on Migration in Istanbul, Ismail Catakli said Turkey has made plans to construct settlements in 13 areas, including "houses, offices, social centers, and administrative buildings" to support the repatriation plan.

According to Turkish officials, the country now hosts 3.6 million Syrians and supports some 6 million in the northern Syrian area close to its borders, where Turkey has been financing infrastructure and construction projects.

"These people have to return to their country voluntarily in an honorable and safe way. This has to be provided," said the deputy minister, noting 507,000 Syrians have voluntarily returned to their hometowns so far.

Speaking of the West's approaches to the refugee issue, Catakli said "it is easy to foresee that the developed countries will inevitably be facing a much more severe refugee problem in a future not too far if the West persists on only a border control-based approach to this problem."

Turkey has seen an increased refugee influx, sparking debates internally regarding the country's economic capacity to cope with the situation.

Delegates from the parliaments of more than 50 countries attended the two-day conference beginning Monday, the annual World Refugee Day, which aims to promote robust international cooperation and national implementation. 
By Trend

Russia Todays editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan openly talks about a blackmail plan for worldwide famine, representative of the French Foreign Ministry Anne-Claire Legendre said on Twitter, Trend reports.

"Russia's strategy is to create massive famine to force the international community to accept its vision," Legendre noted.

Earlier, speaking at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Simonyan mentioned a very cynical joke that is popular in today's Moscow - "the only hope is for the famine."

It means that the famine will start now and they will come to their senses and lift the sanctions and be friends with us, because they will realize that its impossible not to be friends with us, Simonyan added.




QINGDAO, Shandong, June 21 (Xinhua) -- At the third Qingdao Multinationals Summit held on Monday and Tuesday in east China's Shandong Province, many multinationals have expressed confidence in China's economy, saying that China is still a major investment destination for them.

Against the backdrop of contraction in transnational investment in manufacturing in recent years, China has constantly attracted multinationals' investments in the manufacturing sector due to its huge market and complete supply chain.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The 14th BRICS Summit is slated to be held under China's chairmanship this week, at a time when the emerging markets and developing countries are coping with an increasingly volatile world.

The summit and two other related high-level events -- the High-level Dialogue on Global Development and the BRICS Business Forum, running from Wednesday through Friday, will gather online the leaders of the world's five prominent emerging markets -- Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa -- as well as leaders from other developing countries.

Global watchers will be keeping tabs on the events, as BRICS countries are home to nearly 42 percent of the world's population and account for about a quarter of the global economy. Their interaction and cooperation play a crucial role in shaping the world's political and economic landscapes.

Over the years, Chinese President Xi Jinping has used at least three catchphrases to describe BRICS cooperation. These pearls of wisdom may offer some insights into the workings of this mechanism underpinned by five heavyweight developing countries.

-- FINGERS AND FIST

During the seventh BRICS Summit in 2015, Xi likened the five BRICS countries to five fingers, different in length when stretched out, but making a clenched fist when drawn together.

Xi's remarks vividly expound on the respective potential and advantages of the five countries, and the solidarity and synergy that BRICS exudes.

Over the years, BRICS countries have blazed a path of forging partnerships rather than alliances, while upholding mutual respect and common progress.

The closer ties among BRICS countries have been manifested in the joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

-- NOT A TALKING SHOP, BUT A TASK FORCE

In 2017, Xi pointed out that "BRICS is not a talking shop, but a task force that gets things done."

BRICS cooperation has been upgraded from a foreign ministers' meeting mechanism to the mechanism of BRICS leaders' meeting, and in the meantime established a number of cooperative mechanisms, such as the New Development Bank (NDB), the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, and the BRICS Business Council, to propel pragmatic collaboration in multiple areas.

The goods trade among BRICS countries reached 8.55 trillion U.S. dollars in 2021, up 33.4 percent year on year. The establishment of the NDB is another fine example. Since the beginning of its operations, the bank has approved about 80 projects and handed out 30 billion U.S. dollars in loans.

Earlier this month, BRICS economic and trade ministers pledged to deepen cooperation in fields including digital economy, trade investment and sustainable development, the supply chain and multilateral trade mechanisms.

Deepened cooperation has also been nailed down in areas such as aerospace, information and communications, environment, new energy, and biotechnology.

The BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution will be taken as the starting point to promote BRICS economic cooperation in the next phase. China has been actively leading and boosting the partnership, focusing on cooperation in the digital industry and transforming industries with digital technologies, and setting up an innovation center in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province.

-- A BIGGER PIE

BRICS cooperation is already about more than the five countries. Since its inception, the cooperative mechanism has closely related its future to the fortunes of the emerging markets and developing countries.

"The development of emerging markets and developing countries is not intended to move the cheese of anyone but to make the pie of the global economy bigger," Xi said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum in 2017.

At the BRICS Xiamen Summit in 2017, the well-received "BRICS Plus" approach was adopted. It is designed to strengthen the unity and coordination among BRICS members for greater cohesion, and to keep broadening the BRICS "circle of friends" in a joint pursuit of shared development and prosperity for all emerging markets and developing countries.

The approach explores cooperation within the United Nations, the G20, and other frameworks to advance the common interests and boost the development space for emerging markets and developing countries, thus contributing more to world peace and development through broader partnerships.

The High-level Dialogue on Global Development will be held virtually on Friday. BRICS leaders and leaders of relevant emerging markets and developing countries will attend the meeting on fostering a global development partnership for the new era to jointly implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 
Indira Findlay designs a patch memorializing her children's grandfather who was a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the quilt project during the 13th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, on June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

by Xinhua writers Liu Yanan, Zhang Mocheng

NEW YORK, June 20 (Xinhua) -- As African Americans in New York joined others from across the country to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States, they also honored the lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic at a regular thematic event in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

A traditional altar of Black people was set up at Nethermead, the central meadow in Prospect Park, on Sunday along the main stage and a number of stands serving participants of the 13th Annual Juneteenth NY 2022 Festival.

The altar featured quilts contributed by people, who lost their loved ones due to the pandemic. The quilts displayed were collected from Brooklyn of New York City and Toledo of Ohio, according to Catherine Mbali Green-Johnson, curator of the quilt project.

Participants also made artworks or wrote words on the quilts in commemoration of their family members who died of the coronavirus.

"To the person who was dad or mom to me!" read one line with heart-shaped drawings. "Thank you for giving me wisdom, self-respect, teaching me to have love for my mind and body. Thanks for showing me what a mom is," read another one.

The markings and patterns in quilts were used as a way to send messages and learn where to go when Black people escaped from slavery hundreds of years ago, according to Green-Johnson.

"It (quilt) is definitely very tightly woven into who we are as people and so we wanted to, in this way, remember (it)," said Green-Johnson.

Green-Johnson added she lost her father to COVID-19 in April 2020 and organizers of the yearly event came up with the idea of quilt making as a way to help people like her "deal and heal" with such an unforeseen moment in their lives.

"We had to end up taking him into the hospital, but he never came home... Today is Father's Day. So I get to honor him in this way," Green-Johnson told Xinhua.

"As we open up the world, it's almost as if we have forgotten that millions of people are no longer here, and it's not. I don't see how we can continue to move forward without really acknowledging that loss. There was a huge loss for me," she said.

African Americans were hit hard by the pandemic with higher hospitalization and mortality rates.

"We didn't have a solid infrastructure in a lot of our communities. So when the pandemic hit, it further exposed that lack of infrastructure in our neighborhoods," said Green-Johnson.

Sufficient funds should be guaranteed to be distributed to communities of color across the country and people need to have access to health care, she noted.

"We are no longer waiting. We are making sure that we are vocal, we are in office, we are elected, (and that) we are in a space where we are practicing every day our liberation," said Green-Johnson, adding that the quilt project was launched in April and around 40 people have participated in the project.

"It's been a beautiful response to it. I think people were looking for a way to express their grief in a communal way," she said, adding that reflecting on all of the loss and doing that with the community is a really powerful experience for many people.

Green-Johnson also mentioned that the quilts on display will be exhibited in more cities.

In 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the nation, though the day had long been celebrated in a number of states. 

A quilt memorializing victims of the COVID-19 pandemic is displayed as part of the quilt project during the 13th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, on June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Indira Findlay (R) designs a patch memorializing her children's grandfather who was a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the quilt project during the 13th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, on June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

A quilt memorializing victims of the COVID-19 pandemic is displayed as part of the quilt project during the 13th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, on June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Chayanne Marcano (1st L), and Catherine Mbali Green-Johnson (1st R), curators of the quilt project, watch as people make patches for a quilt memorializing victims of the COVID-19 pandemic during the 13th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, on June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Chayanne Marcano (L) and Catherine Mbali Green-Johnson, curators of the quilt project, place a quilt memorializing victims of the COVID-19 pandemic during the 13th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, on June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Children design a patch memorializing their grandfather who was a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic for the quilt project during the 13th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, on June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Chayanne Marcano, curator of the quilt project, hangs a patch for a quilt memorializing victims of the COVID-19 pandemic during the 13th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, on June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Chayanne Marcano, curator of the quilt project, hangs a patch for a quilt memorializing victims of the COVID-19 pandemic during the 13th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, on June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)
NICOSIA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Promoting peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit around the world, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) serves as a platform to build a community with a shared future for mankind, said a Cypriot international affairs expert.

Kostas Gouliamos, former rector of European University Cyprus, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the BRI has gained acceptance and appreciation around the globe, with people from different countries praising the inspiring initiative and its fabulous achievements.

"It stimulates cooperation and ensures solid outcomes in sub-regions in Asia, Africa and Europe," Gouliamos noted.

The BRI is "the accurate venue for tangible and intangible outcomes pertinent to innovative, harmonized, green, open, high-quality and shared developments, which consequently protects and maintains peace and promotes people's well-being in the post COVID-19 era," he added.

Contrary to protecting the narrow interests of a group of countries that divide the world, China's endeavor to promote multilateralism via the BRI helps create a harmonious world, he added.

Impressed by many projects under the framework of the BRI worldwide, such as the Port of Piraeus and the China-Europe Freight Trains, he said all these projects have significantly benefited the locals and boosted their countries' economy.

Cyprus firmly supports the BRI and works closely with China to deepen and strengthen the Belt and Road cooperation, Gouliamos said, referring to the initiative as "as the project of the century and as transcontinental long-term multilateralism program."

At the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa, Cyprus, with its advanced shipping sector and financial services, plays an important role in China's Maritime Silk Road Initiative, he said, adding that "the BRI framework brings China and Cyprus closer." 
TRIPOLI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The head of Libya's Tripoli-based High Council of State on Monday expressed readiness to meet with the speaker of the House of Representatives to address outstanding issues in talks on the constitutional framework for general elections.

In a letter to the UN Libya advisor Stephanie Williams posted on the High Council of State's official website, Khaled al-Meshri told Williams that he is "fully ready" to meet with Aguila Saleh, the parliament speaker based in the eastern Libyan city of al-Qubba.

Al-Meshri suggested that the meeting could be held in the southwestern city of Ghadames which is comparatively neutral in politics.

His overtures were made a day after the two rival governments concluded their last round of constitutional negotiations in Cairo with no breakthrough.

Williams said in a statement on Monday that there remain differences "on the measures governing the transitional period leading to elections," urging the two sides to meet in 10 days to bridge outstanding issues.

Libya failed to hold general elections in December 2021 because of disagreements on the election laws among the Libyan parties.

The North African country has been suffering political instability and chaos ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. 
Tunisian President Kais Saied (R) receives the draft of a new constitution from Sadok Belaid, head and coordinator of the High National Advisory Committee for the New Republic, in Tunis, Tunisia, on June 20, 2022. Saied declared in December last year that a constitutional referendum will be held in 2022 for a "new republic," and later set the voting date for July 25, the country's Republic Day. (Tunisian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

TUNIS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied received the draft of a new constitution on Monday, the Tunisian presidency said in a statement.

The draft was submitted by Sadok Belaid, head and coordinator of the High National Advisory Committee for the New Republic, the statement said.

After validation by the president, it will be published in the Official Journal of the Tunisian Republic (JORT), it added.

Saied declared in December last year that a constitutional referendum will be held in 2022 for a "new republic," and later set the voting date for July 25, the country's Republic Day. 

Tunisian President Kais Saied (R) receives the draft of a new constitution from Sadok Belaid, head and coordinator of the High National Advisory Committee for the New Republic, in Tunis, Tunisia, on June 20, 2022. Saied declared in December last year that a constitutional referendum will be held in 2022 for a "new republic," and later set the voting date for July 25, the country's Republic Day. (Tunisian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)
Photo taken on Sept. 8, 2021 shows models of jets during an exhibition on BRICS New Industrial Revolution held in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

Amid the pandemic and global changes, Silveira said she believes that the key roles played by BRICS countries as both crucial producers and consumers would contribute significantly to global economic recovery.

by Xinhua writer Luo Jingjing

SAO PAULO, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The media are crucial and fundamental for a better understanding among the populations of the BRICS countries, a Brazilian media veteran told Xinhua recently.

Janaina Camara Da Silveira, who established RadarCHINA -- a news platform to discuss China and China-Brazil relations more than a decade ago, has been following progress of BRICS cooperation for long.

She noted that BRICS members, though having their own distinctions, are all developing countries and share similar concerns and challenges.

Silveira spoke highly of such cooperation fruits as the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development (R&D) Center, the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Innovation Center in the Chinese city of Xiamen, as well as the establishment of the New Development Bank.

Amid the pandemic and global changes, Silveira said she believes that the key roles played by BRICS countries as both crucial producers and consumers would contribute significantly to global economic recovery.

She hailed China as a major manufacturer of all kinds of products, and highlighted India for being an important producer of pharmaceutical products.

"Just by exporting their knowledge and know-how, China can actually help the other BRICS countries," she commented on China's mature e-commerce market.

"What the BRICS countries should do is to promote people-to-people exchanges," she said, adding that the BRICS Film Festival is her favorite among all cultural exchange activities.

"It's just amazing the way that the directors from the BRICS countries showed in short movies to make people know each other," she recalled.

Silveira said she believes BRICS will gain more and more importance in the following year. 
by Xinhua writer Luo Jingjing

SAO PAULO, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The media are crucial and fundamental for a better understanding among the populations of the BRICS countries, a Brazilian media veteran told Xinhua recently.

Janaina Camara Da Silveira, who established RadarCHINA -- a news platform to discuss China and China-Brazil relations more than a decade ago, has been following progress of BRICS cooperation for long.

She noted that BRICS members, though having their own distinctions, are all developing countries and share similar concerns and challenges.

Silveira spoke highly of such cooperation fruits as the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development (R&D) Center, the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Innovation Center in the Chinese city of Xiamen, as well as the establishment of the New Development Bank.

Amid the pandemic and global changes, Silveira said she believes that the key roles played by BRICS countries as both crucial producers and consumers would contribute significantly to global economic recovery.

She hailed China as a major manufacturer of all kinds of products, and highlighted India for being an important producer of pharmaceutical products.

"Just by exporting their knowledge and know-how, China can actually help the other BRICS countries," she commented on China's mature e-commerce market.

"What the BRICS countries should do is to promote people-to-people exchanges," she said, adding that the BRICS Film Festival is her favorite among all cultural exchange activities.

"It's just amazing the way that the directors from the BRICS countries showed in short movies to make people know each other," she recalled.

Silveira said she believes BRICS will gain more and more importance in the following year. 
HONG KONG, June 21 (Xinhua) -- There is a group of foreigners in Hong Kong who first came here for work, business, or pursuing dreams. While living in the city, the beautiful "Pearl of the Orient" has become their second hometown.

When talking about the upcoming 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), they agree that the "one country, two systems" principle is conducive to Hong Kong's long-term prosperity, stability and development.

"ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS" GREAT SUCCESS

"July 1 is a special day for Hong Kong. I watched the handover ceremony on TV 25 years ago," said 74-year-old Richard Cullen.

Cullen, a visiting professor at the University of Hong Kong, chose to stay in the city after moving here from Australia more than 30 years ago.

"Very soon after I arrived in Hong Kong, I realized I was living in a unique world city," said Cullen. "In this vibrant city, I feel energy, freedom and efficiency."

In the eyes of Cullen, the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong has been a great success, which has come through all the tests in the past 25 years, especially the 2019 chaos.

As a law professor, he pointed out that "the national security law in Hong Kong has done a very good job." Since the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong, chaos stopped and social stability has been restored in this city, he added.

He is disgusted with the attempts of some external forces to suppress China's development at the expense of Hong Kong's interests, saying, "What is truly good for China is good for Hong Kong. Without China, there would not be Hong Kong."

When speaking of the three major elections since the improvement to the HKSAR's electoral system, Cullen said that they were all very successful. "There was nobody running around, throwing things or shouting," he said.

"No city can replace Hong Kong in my view," said Cullen. "I wish Hong Kong all the best. It deserves that."

"AFTER 25 YEARS, OUR BUSINESS HAS GROWN STRONGER"

U.S. businessman Jim Thompson's office is on the top floor of a building in the downtown Wan Chai area. To the north of the office are the Golden Bauhinia Square and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

Looking out of his office window, he clearly remembered the historic moment of Hong Kong's return (to the motherland) 25 years ago.

Every year since 2003, Thompson was invited to attend the anniversary celebration events held by the HKSAR government, never missing it once. "The 'one country, two systems' principle has worked well for the past 25 years," he said.

In the 1960s, Thompson, chairman of logistics company Crown Worldwide Group, set up his company in Japan. In 1978, he moved the company's headquarters to Hong Kong and has remained committed to the city ever since.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. "After 25 years, our business has grown stronger and our ability to operate in Hong Kong has improved in many ways," he said.

In Thompson's view, the steady opening-up of the Chinese market has provided very good opportunities for Hong Kong-based businesses and many companies have thus been able to expand.

Noting that many successful mainland enterprises and individuals have invested in Hong Kong and got their companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, he said, "This was a huge support for Hong Kong financial markets and allowed Hong Kong to remain as the third leading financial center in the world."

Hong Kong being backed by the Chinese mainland, and especially being a part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, will always be a key advantage for local businesses, according to Thompson.

Hong Kong has gone through lots of ups and downs in the past 25 years, but in every case, it quickly bounced back and got stronger, he noted.

"I believe the Chinese government wants Hong Kong to succeed and be a strong part of the country," said Thompson, hoping that people in Hong Kong continue to embrace and love this city.

HONG KONG, A PLACE FOR DREAM-CHASING

John Swindleton, 34, is from Canada. He is attracted by the opportunities offered by Hong Kong's rapid economic development.

After graduating from university, he got a short-term internship in Hong Kong. Swindleton then decided to stay in the financial hub. He now works at a bank.

To Swindleton, Hong Kong is a place for him to realize his career goals. "There are a lot of opportunities here for me to start my career."

A lot of international firms chose to do business in Hong Kong, because it is the gateway connecting the Chinese mainland with the rest of the world, he said.

"This geographical advantage gives comfort for international firms to do business here," he noted.

Recalling some people's concern about Hong Kong's prospects before its return to the motherland in 1997, he said, "But Hong Kong has taken off since, and the track record speaks for itself."

Hong Kong is still one of the freest economies in the world, he added.

Swindleton believed the "one country, two systems" principle is a success. He shared with Xinhua an article from which he once read that "Hong Kong residents enjoy far more rights and freedoms in accordance with the law than they did before 1997."

During his leisure time, Swindleton enjoys going to Hong Kong-style cafes and having local food like dim sum. "Hong Kong is an East-meets-West city where foreigners can enjoy a merge between the cultures, and you can enjoy cuisines from all over the world," he said.

The natural scenery in Hong Kong is also charming. A hiking and climbing enthusiast, he said it is very convenient to reach hiking trails and beaches within a short distance from downtown.

"Hong Kong is really an attractive place and it doesn't change," he said. 
UNITED NATIONS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday welcomed the peaceful holding of presidential elections in Colombia.

"The secretary-general welcomes the largely peaceful conduct of the election, which reaffirms the strength of Colombian democracy and the progress brought about by the peace process," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief, in a statement.

Gustavo Petro was elected president of Colombia on Sunday in the second round of elections.

Guterres commended the people of Colombia for their participation and historic voter turnout in the second round of the presidential elections, Dujarric said in the statement, adding that the UN chief also welcomed the ongoing dialogue to ensure a harmonious transition between the outgoing and incoming administrations.

"The secretary-general reaffirms the readiness of the United Nations to work with the incoming administration and the people of Colombia on shared priorities of consolidating peace, advancing human rights and sustainable development," said the statement. 
By Trend

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Egypt on Monday, the Egyptian presidency said, starting his first tour outside the Gulf region in over three years. He will also visit Jordan and Turkiye, Trend reports citing Reuters.

The prince's trip comes ahead of next month's visit to the region by U.S. President Joe Biden, who is expected to meet Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia after a visit to Israel, with the Ukraine conflict and regional security on the agenda.

Prince Mohammed, known as MbS, will hold talks with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and Turkiye on strengthening bilateral cooperation and matters of joint interest, Saudi state news agency SPA said.
WASHINGTON, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Both the Black-White and Latino-White homeownership gaps grow wider than they were before the Fair Housing Act passed in 1968, according to a recent opinion article published by CNN.

"Systemic discrimination in housing and lending policies has been a prime engine of social and economic inequality among communities of color," the article wrote on Sunday, adding that Black households own about 2.9 percent of wealth in the United States, only slightly more than they owned in 1863 when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed into law.

The median White household today has about 188,000 U.S. dollars in wealth, compared to 24,100 dollars and 36,100 dollars for Black and Latino families, respectively, said the story.

"Without interventions, researchers project that by 2053, the median wealth for Black households will fall to 0 dollar, and by 2073, median Latino wealth will meet the same fate," said the media. 
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (L) and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid make a joint statement to the press in Jerusalem, on June 20, 2022. Israel's fragile coalition government will vote to dissolve the parliament next week, announced Israel's Prime Minister's Office on Monday, sending the country to the fifth elections in three years. (JINI via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Israel's fragile coalition government will vote to dissolve the parliament next week, announced Israel's Prime Minister's Office on Monday, sending the country to the fifth elections in three years.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his main coalition partner Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid decided to present a bill to dissolve the parliament next Monday, the office said in a statement.

Once the parliament approves the bill, Lapid, leader of the centrist party of Yesh Atid, will rotate with Bennett and serves as interim prime minister until the next government is established, the office said.

The elections are expected to take place in October, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported.

"Citizens of Israel, we stand before you today in a difficult moment, but with the understanding that we have made the right decision for the people of Israel," Bennett said in a joint statement alongside Lapid, which was broadcast live on the country's main TV channels.

Bennett noted that he and Lapid decided on the move in the wake of their failure to pass regulations that provides protections to Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.

The regulations will expire at the end of June, but the opposition, mostly composed of pro-settler parties, voted against a government-sponsored bill to extend them in order to force the coalition to resign.

Bennett, leader of the pro-settler party of Yamina, said he held a series of consultations with judicial and security officials on Friday that made him realize that the expiration of the regulation will create "horrible damages."

He said the coalition "left no stone unturned" in an attempt to raise enough votes to pass the bill in the parliament, but the efforts were "fruitless."

Bennett and Lapid have struggled to keep together the shaky coalition of eight parties since its establishment last year, but a series of defections left it without a majority in the parliament for more than two months.

Last week, Nir Orbach, a lawmaker with Bennett's Yamina party, announced he was resigning from the coalition because it had failed in "lifting Israelis' spirits."

After his leave, the coalition was left with only 59 seats in the 120-seat parliament. Other lawmakers also threatened to rebel.

Bennett's coalition was inaugurated in June 2021, after a string of inconclusive elections. It is made of parties with diverse ideologies, including pro-settler nationalists and dovish parties, united only with the goal of ousting longtime leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

The move threw a political lifeline to Bennett's predecessor Netanyahu, who is now the leader of the opposition and facing a criminal trial over corruption charges.

The leader of the right-wing Likud party celebrated the fall of the government, saying on Monday in a video statement that he and his opposition colleagues "struggled for a year" to topple the government.

"I and my friends will establish a new government ... that will restore the national pride of the people of Israel," he vowed. 

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (L) and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid make a joint statement to the press in Jerusalem, on June 20, 2022. Israel's fragile coalition government will vote to dissolve the parliament next week, announced Israel's Prime Minister's Office on Monday, sending the country to the fifth elections in three years. (JINI via Xinhua)

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (L) and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid make a joint statement to the press in Jerusalem, on June 20, 2022. Israel's fragile coalition government will vote to dissolve the parliament next week, announced Israel's Prime Minister's Office on Monday, sending the country to the fifth elections in three years. (JINI via Xinhua)

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (L) and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid make a joint statement to the press in Jerusalem, on June 20, 2022. Israel's fragile coalition government will vote to dissolve the parliament next week, announced Israel's Prime Minister's Office on Monday, sending the country to the fifth elections in three years. (JINI via Xinhua)
TAIYUAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Song Yanru began her day of work early in the morning, sorting and loading courier packages.

As a courier in the countryside, she needs to drive some 200 km of mountain roads to visit a dozen of remote villages almost every day.

"Earlier I used to get only a handful of packages every day, but now I handle more than 1,000 on a daily basis," said Song, who hails from Nitun Town in Yangqu County, north China's Shanxi Province.

In February, several express firms, led by ZTO Express, launched express delivery sites in 19 villages of Nitun, offering local residents the convenience to send and receive express parcels at their doorstep. And Song is in charge of sending and collecting parcels for all the 19 villages.

Song drove her vehicle cautiously along the winding mountain roads to prevent any damage to the packages stacked behind her driver's seat.

Upon her arrival at Longquan Village, several villagers came up to greet her.

"Before, I had to go to the town to receive packages, but now I can easily get the clothing sent by my daughter from the city," said a villager surnamed Wang, while happily receiving her package from Song.

"Goods are much cheaper these days, so I bought lots of items online," Wang said, referring to her shopping spree during the recent mid-year online shopping festival.

China's metropolitan population has long been accustomed to shopping online and receiving quick delivery at their homes. However, in some rural areas, villagers still need to travel long distances from home to deal with courier packages, sending and picking up deliveries in the town seat.

To better connect the rural people to the booming e-commerce economy, courier companies have been setting up express delivery sites in villages, usually in cooperation with local grocery stores or village committees.

The delivery business in Shanxi's rural areas during the first five months of this year has seen evident growth, according to the ZTO Express outlet in the province.

"The express delivery service is now available in 89 villages, which is almost 85 percent of the total villages, in Yangqu County, and the number of parcels delivered to these villages has jumped some 300 percent since February," said Zhou Zijian, a manager of the ZTO Express outlet in the county.

It was getting dark, Song unloaded the last package and said goodbye to the villagers. She got in her vehicle and headed back towards the town, carrying parcels to be sent to places across the country.

Though it is no easy job to be a courier in the countryside, Song believes that it is a fulfilling experience to be able to provide convenience to those in need. And the villagers have also developed a sense of trust in her. Besides offering express delivery service, she would sometimes help them buy some necessities from town.

"Several villagers even expressed their desire to start an online shop to sell local specialties," Song said, adding that she expects to see greater changes in the villages and is happy to be able to do her part in making the countryside a better place. 
TEHRAN, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Iranian security forces have arrested elements of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad who were plotting to assassinate the country's nuclear scientists, official news agency IRNA reported Tuesday, quoting a local prosecutor general.

"The assassination of nuclear scientists has been on the agenda of some of these people," Mehdi Shamsabadi, prosecutor general of the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, was quoted by IRNA as saying.

He did not elaborate on the time, number and identity of the detainees.

The investigation is in the preliminary stage but an indictment will be issued and sent to court soon, according to Shamsabadi.

In April, Iran announced the arrest of three Mossad spies who were reportedly involved in the dissemination of classified information and documents. 
Concrete barriers used against sea-level rises are seen along the coastline in Alexandria, Egypt, June 19, 2022.

The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has launched a climate adaptation project on the North Coast and the Nile Delta to counter sea-level rises, the impact of weather hazards on low-lying coastal areas, and seawater intrusion. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

A boy fishes by the sea amid concrete barriers used against sea-level rises in Alexandria, Egypt, June 19, 2022.

The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has launched a climate adaptation project on the North Coast and the Nile Delta to counter sea-level rises, the impact of weather hazards on low-lying coastal areas, and seawater intrusion. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

People row boats on the sea with concrete barriers used against sea-level rises in the background in Alexandria, Egypt, June 19, 2022.

The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has launched a climate adaptation project on the North Coast and the Nile Delta to counter sea-level rises, the impact of weather hazards on low-lying coastal areas, and seawater intrusion. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Concrete barriers used against sea-level rises are seen along the coastline in Alexandria, Egypt, June 19, 2022.

The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has launched a climate adaptation project on the North Coast and the Nile Delta to counter sea-level rises, the impact of weather hazards on low-lying coastal areas, and seawater intrusion. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

People standing on concrete barriers used against sea-level rises fish by the sea in Alexandria, Egypt, June 19, 2022.

The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has launched a climate adaptation project on the North Coast and the Nile Delta to counter sea-level rises, the impact of weather hazards on low-lying coastal areas, and seawater intrusion. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Concrete barriers used against sea-level rises are seen along the coastline in Alexandria, Egypt, June 19, 2022.

The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has launched a climate adaptation project on the North Coast and the Nile Delta to counter sea-level rises, the impact of weather hazards on low-lying coastal areas, and seawater intrusion. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Concrete barriers used against sea-level rises are seen along the coastline in Alexandria, Egypt, June 19, 2022.

The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has launched a climate adaptation project on the North Coast and the Nile Delta to counter sea-level rises, the impact of weather hazards on low-lying coastal areas, and seawater intrusion. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Concrete barriers used against sea-level rises are seen along the coastline in Alexandria, Egypt, June 19, 2022.

The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has launched a climate adaptation project on the North Coast and the Nile Delta to counter sea-level rises, the impact of weather hazards on low-lying coastal areas, and seawater intrusion. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Concrete barriers used against sea-level rises are seen along the coastline in Alexandria, Egypt, June 19, 2022.

The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has launched a climate adaptation project on the North Coast and the Nile Delta to counter sea-level rises, the impact of weather hazards on low-lying coastal areas, and seawater intrusion. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

People sit on the concrete barriers used against sea-level rises in Alexandria, Egypt, June 19, 2022.

The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has launched a climate adaptation project on the North Coast and the Nile Delta to counter sea-level rises, the impact of weather hazards on low-lying coastal areas, and seawater intrusion. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
BAGHDAD, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Monday declared a new wave of COVID-19 infections in the country, with 515 new cases reported in the past 24 hours.

"There is a noticeable increase in the positive cases during the past few days, as well as an increase in the number of infected people in hospitals, which means that Iraq has entered a new pandemic wave," the ministry said in a statement.

It said that the resurgence of infections is an inevitable result of many people not receiving COVID-19 vaccines despite their availability in all health centers in Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces, as well as the non-adherence to health-protective measures.

The ministry called for speedier vaccination and returning to adhere to individual and societal protective measures, the statement added.

On Monday, Iraq reported 515 new COVID-19 cases, raising the nationwide tally and death toll to 2,332,692, and one more fatality, bringing the death toll from the virus to 25,229. The total recoveries in Iraq grew by 225 to 2,304,557.

A total of 18,691,060 tests have been carried out in Iraq since the outbreak of the disease in early 2020, with 6,317 done during the day, it said.

A total of 14,420 people were vaccinated against COVID-19 in the past 24 hours across Iraq, bringing the total number of doses administered to 10,797,872, according to the Health Ministry.

Iraq has been pushing forward its vaccination drive since the drug authority approved in January 2021 the emergency use of China's Sinopharm vaccine and other COVID-19 vaccines.

The Chinese government has sent several batches of medical aid to Iraq and donated four shipments of Sinopharm vaccines to help fight the pandemic. 
Passengers of the Cypriot-registered Daleena ferry disembark after arriving at the port of Piraeus, in Piraeus, Greece, on June 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

ATHENS, June 20 (Xinhua) - The Port of Piraeus in Greece on Monday welcomed the first passenger ferry on the newly inaugurated line between Cyprus and Greece. The route last operated 21 years ago, the Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

It took around 30 hours for the Cypriot-registered Daleena ferry to reach Piraeus from Limassol in Cyprus.

In statements to the press, officials from both sides said that the resumed ferry connection will boost maritime tourism, offering an alternative to air travel.

In 2001, the passenger ferry route was canceled due to financial reasons, as flights became more frequent and inexpensive.

This time, after receiving a special permission from the European Union, the government of Cyprus offered annual subsidies to the tune of 5.5 million euros (5.77 million U.S. dollars) to the operators of the regular ferry link.

Daleena will make 22 round trips this year until mid-September and the agents said almost all of those have already been booked. (1 euro = 1.05 U.S. dollars) 

Passengers of the Cypriot-registered Daleena ferry disembark after arriving at the port of Piraeus, in Piraeus, Greece, on June 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

The Philarmonic Orchestra of the Port Authority perform as passengers of the Cypriot-registered Daleena ferry disembark after arriving at the port of Piraeus, in Piraeus, Greece, on June 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)
BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- More than 9,600 suspects have been caught in more than 5,200 cases of illegal or destructive mining since 2021, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

The ministry also disclosed 10 typical cases in the fields, including the illegal mining of coal, sand and rare earth.

Police will closely cooperate with other departments and continue to intensify the crackdown on such offenses, so as to resolutely safeguard the security of mineral resources and the ecological environment, according to the ministry. 
CARACAS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Gustavo Petro's presidential win in Colombia opens up an opportunity for dialogue and restoring diplomatic relations, first vice president of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Diosdado Cabello said Monday.

"Without a doubt, a new opportunity is opening up for the Colombia we all want ... a new opportunity for dialogue is opening up. It radically changes the relationship with Venezuela," Cabello said during his weekly press conference in Caracas.

Cabello, who congratulated Petro and his vice-presidential running mate Francia Marquez, said the election outcome "reflects signs of hope" for a diplomatic relationship that has been frozen for more than three years.

Venezuela severed political and diplomatic ties with Colombia on Feb. 23, 2019, after the neighboring nation refused to recognize the mandate of President Nicolas Maduro.

"Venezuela has always been here, in the same place, with open arms," Cabello said in reference to his country's willingness to dialogue.

He stressed the ruling party "supports any initiative to quickly restore the good relations between Colombia and Venezuela." 
TRIPOLI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday that 590 migrants were returned to Libya after being rescued off the coast last week.

"In the period of 12-18 June 2022, 590 migrants have disembarked back on Libyan shores," IOM said in a statement.

So far in 2022, a total of 8,860 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, including 635 women and 334 minors, IOM said, adding 150 migrants died and 565 others went missing on the Central Mediterranean route in the year.

In 2021, a total of 32,425 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, while 662 died and 891 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, IOM revealed.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores. 
By Trend

Georgia President Salome Zourabichvili said at a briefing today that Georgia is at a crucial moment and asked everyone to spare no effort to present Georgia as a dignified, European country, Trend reports citing 1tv.

President stressed the importance of taking appropriate steps to protect the countrys interests ahead of the crucial session of the European Council.

For my part, I try my best to use these last days to advance our interests as much as possible. Thus, we are sending letters to all my colleagues to protect our interests before this crucial meeting of the European Council, President said.

At the same time, President addressed the participants of todays rally and called them to stay calm. It is vital to show our face and it should be calm, President added.
A Malagasy expert said that the people-centered philosophy of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has yielded fruitful results over the past years.

David Richman Rakotomavo, office assistant at the Constitutional Court of Madagascar, made the remarks during a recent interview with Xinhua.

He also said that China's anti-pandemic policy, centering on people's life and safety, has proved to be effective and inspiring.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
JERUSALEM, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Israel's imports of goods from China increased by 40.8 percent year-on-year in the first five months of 2022, excluding diamonds, according to a report issued by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics on Monday.

Israeli import value from China in January-May totalled 5.45 billion U.S. dollars, compared to 3.87 billion dollars in the same period in 2021, showed the report.

Israel's imports from China in the first five months have already exceeded half of the total imports recorded last year in value, which is 10.7 billion dollars, according to the report.

The official figures show that China was Israel's largest source of imports in January-May, reaching 12.5 percent of all Israeli imports, excluding diamonds. Imports from the United States, second on Israel's imports list, accounted for 8.4 percent of the total.

In May alone, Israel's imports from China totalled 1.04 billion dollars, a 33.7-percent rise year-on-year.

Israeli exports to China increased by 3.9 percent to 1.87 billion dollars in January-May from the 1.8 billion dollars same period last year.

Total Israeli imports in the first five months of 2022 amounted to 46.39 billion dollars, an increase of 30.5 percent, while Israeli exports amounted to 29.95 billion dollars, an increase of 27.6 percent. 
Forest firefighters work at a hot area in the province of Zamora, Spain, on June 20, 2022. A wildfire caused by a lightning strike on June 15 in the province of Zamora has become the worst ever recorded in the history of Spain, regional authorities confirmed on June 20. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

MADRID, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A wildfire caused by a lightening strike on Wednesday in the province of Zamora in northwest of Madrid has become the worst ever recorded in the history of Spain, regional authorities confirmed on Monday.

The fire in the Sierra de la Culebra nature reserve has been fueled by temperatures of over 40 degrees centigrade and winds gusting at up to 70 kilometers an hour. So far 30,800 hectares of woodland and scrub with a perimeter of 120.88 kilometers have been destroyed.

The previous worst fires were in the region of Huelva in southwest Spain which destroyed 29,687 hectares in 2004 and another fire that affected 28,879 hectares in Cortes de Pallas in eastern Spain in 2012.

The reserve is environmentally important as it contains the highest concentration of wolves in the Iberian Peninsula, along with important populations of red and roe deer.

Cooler weather on Sunday has eased conditions for firefighters, who have now been able to extinguish the flames. Hundreds of firefighters accompanied by members of the Spanish Military Emergency unit are now working to dampen down the area and establish fire breaks.

Elsewhere, 13 municipalities in the region Navarre in northern Spain have had to be evacuated due to a series of wildfires described by the local government as "the worst in decades." 

Photo taken on June 20, 2022 shows trees burnt in a wildfire in the province of Zamora, Spain. A wildfire caused by a lightning strike on June 15 in the province of Zamora has become the worst ever recorded in the history of Spain, regional authorities confirmed on June 20. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

Photo taken on June 20, 2022 shows trees burnt in a wildfire in the province of Zamora, Spain. A wildfire caused by a lightning strike on June 15 in the province of Zamora has become the worst ever recorded in the history of Spain, regional authorities confirmed on June 20. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

Forest firefighters work at a hot area in the province of Zamora, Spain, on June 20, 2022. A wildfire caused by a lightning strike on June 15 in the province of Zamora has become the worst ever recorded in the history of Spain, regional authorities confirmed on June 20. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

Photo taken on June 20, 2022 shows plants burnt in a wildfire in the province of Zamora, Spain. A wildfire caused by a lightning strike on June 15 in the province of Zamora has become the worst ever recorded in the history of Spain, regional authorities confirmed on June 20. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

Photo taken on June 20, 2022 shows a road sign damaged in a wildfire in the province of Zamora, Spain. A wildfire caused by a lightning strike on June 15 in the province of Zamora has become the worst ever recorded in the history of Spain, regional authorities confirmed on June 20. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
BRUSSELS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission proposes to disburse 600 million euros (633 million U.S. dollars) on top of existing EU support to help regions hit by the current food crisis, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday.

"To help our partners we will mobilize an additional 600 million euros (633 million dollars) to avoid a food crisis and an economic shock," she said at the 2022 European Development Days.

The money will come from the European Development Fund, and will be used to support African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to counter the looming food crisis.

The countries will receive 150 million euros (158 million dollars) for humanitarian assistance, 350 million euros (369 million dollars) for sustainable production and resilience of food systems, and 100 million euros (105 million dollars) in macro-economic support.

This comes on top of an existing package of the EU's 3 billion euros (3.16 billion dollars) for global food security, tweeted von der Leyen.

Investments in food production and resilience of food systems are especially important, said von der Leyen. 
Forest firefighters work at a hot area in the province of Zamora, Spain, on June 20, 2022. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

The fire in the Sierra de la Culebra nature reserve has been fueled by temperatures of over 40 degrees centigrade and winds gusting at up to 70 kilometers an hour. So far 30,800 hectares of woodland and scrub with a perimeter of 120.88 kilometers have been destroyed.

MADRID, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A wildfire caused by a lightening strike on Wednesday in the province of Zamora in northwest of Madrid has become the worst ever recorded in the history of Spain, regional authorities confirmed on Monday.

The fire in the Sierra de la Culebra nature reserve has been fueled by temperatures of over 40 degrees centigrade and winds gusting at up to 70 kilometers an hour. So far 30,800 hectares of woodland and scrub with a perimeter of 120.88 kilometers have been destroyed.

Photo taken on June 20, 2022 shows trees burnt in a wildfire in the province of Zamora, Spain. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

The previous worst fires were in the region of Huelva in southwest Spain which destroyed 29,687 hectares in 2004 and another fire that affected 28,879 hectares in Cortes de Pallas in eastern Spain in 2012.

The reserve is environmentally important as it contains the highest concentration of wolves in the Iberian Peninsula, along with important populations of red and roe deer.

Photo taken on June 20, 2022 shows plants burnt in a wildfire in the province of Zamora, Spain. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

Cooler weather on Sunday has eased conditions for firefighters, who have now been able to extinguish the flames. Hundreds of firefighters accompanied by members of the Spanish Military Emergency unit are now working to dampen down the area and establish fire breaks.

Elsewhere, 13 municipalities in the region Navarre in northern Spain have had to be evacuated due to a series of wildfires described by the local government as "the worst in decades." 
BEIRUT, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon on Monday signed an energy import deal with Egypt to receive 650 million cubic meters of natural gas on an annual basis, Elnashra news website reported, citing the Lebanese energy minister.

The deal also involves Syria which will get 8 percent of the 650 million cubic meters gas per year, Walid Fayyad told a press conference in the capital Beirut.

The agreement was signed between the Lebanese energy ministry, the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company and the Syrian Petroleum Company.

This will give Lebanon an additional power generating capacity of 450 megawatts, or four hours of power per day.

Deficits in Lebanon's electricity sector have cost the government more than 40 billion U.S. dollars since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.

In September last year, Lebanese, Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian energy ministers agreed to supply natural gas for generating electricity to Lebanon from Egypt via Jordan and Syria, after the United States agreed not to sanction its transfer in Syria. 
BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- SF Airlines, China's largest air-cargo carrier, has expanded the size of its freighter fleet to 72, according to the cargo carrier Monday.

The airline has recently put a 767-300BCF cargo plane into operation. It is the second freighter joining the fleet in June, serving efficient and high-quality transport for the fruit season and the mid-year "618" shopping festival, said SF Airlines.

In the first half of the year, the cargo airline has added four freighters into its fleet, including three 767-300BCFs and one 757-200F.

Headquartered in Shenzhen, SF Airlines is the aviation branch of China's express delivery giant SF Express.

The airline has been expanding the transport capacity and air-route network to provide efficient and stable transport services for diverse products, especially fresh agricultural products. It is of importance for the high-quality growth and brand marketing of the agricultural industry, said SF Airlines. 
Video: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on June 20, 2022 that all delivery channels for humanitarian aid in Syria should be kept available. (Xinhua)

The massive humanitarian response the United Nations and its partners are conducting in Syria has staved off the worst, but more is required, says Antonio Guterres.



UNITED NATIONS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday that all delivery channels for humanitarian aid in Syria should be kept available.

The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire. Needs are at their highest since the start of the war more than 11 years ago. The world's largest refugee crisis continues to impact the region and the world, Guterres told the Security Council.

Some 14.6 million people need humanitarian assistance. Twelve million people are food insecure. Ninety percent of the population live below the poverty line. Infrastructure is crumbling. Economic activity halved during a decade of conflict, regional financial crises, sanctions, and the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Photo taken on June 20, 2022 shows a wide view of the Security Council meeting on Syria's humanitarian situation at UN Headquarters in New York. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

Needs in Northwest Syria continue to increase. Some 2.8 million people, mostly women and children, are displaced. Many live in camps or informal settlements. More than 90 percent of people in the Northwest need aid, he said.

The massive humanitarian response the United Nations and its partners are conducting in Syria has staved off the worst. But more is required, he said. "That is why I have consistently stated the importance of maintaining and expanding access, including through cross-line and cross-border operations. When it comes to delivering life-saving aid to people in need across Syria, all channels should be made, and kept, available."

Despite the incredibly challenging operating environment, the United Nations has delivered aid across the front lines into the Northwest. Five cross-line convoys have now provided life-saving assistance to tens of thousands of people in need. The United Nations has also taken full advantage of the cross-border authorization to save lives. Hundreds of trucks now cross from Turkey every month. Since cross-border aid was authorized in 2014, over 50,000 trucks have crossed into Syria to provide assistance to those in need, said Guterres.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C) speaks at a Security Council meeting on Syria's humanitarian situation, at UN Headquarters in New York on June 20, 2022. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

"The United Nations cross-border operation into Syria is one of the most heavily scrutinized and monitored aid operations in the world. There is no doubt that our aid is reaching the people in need. While increasing cross-line assistance was an important achievement, in the present circumstances, it is not at the scale needed to replace the massive cross-border response," he said.

He called on the members of the Security Council to maintain consensus on allowing cross-border operations by renewing the authorization for an additional 12 months.

Together, the international community has helped avoid a total collapse in Syria. But the only way to end the humanitarian tragedy in Syria is through a truly nationwide cease-fire and a political solution that enables the Syrian people to determine their own future. The international community must do all that is necessary to reach a negotiated political solution, he said. 
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe speaks to journalists in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, June 20, 2022. (Photo by Fred Mutune/Xinhua)

Kenya's Ministry of Health on Monday reinstated the wearing of masks in public spaces and other confined spaces to curb the further spread of COVID-19 infections.



NAIROBI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Health on Monday reinstated the wearing of masks in public spaces including supermarkets, open-air markets, airplanes, trains and public service vehicles to curb the further spread of COVID-19 infections.

Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Health Mutahi Kagwe said that other confined spaces where citizens will be required to wear masks include offices, houses of worship and political indoor meetings.

According to Kagwe, Kenya's COVID-19 positivity rate had risen from a weekly average of 0.6 percent in early May to the current 10.4 percent, hence the need for drastic measures to avert strain on the local public health system.

"The sharp rise in coronavirus infections should concern everyone and we must take strong measures to prevent a slide into a public health crisis," Kagwe said at a briefing in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.

He said that the government will accelerate COVID-19 vaccination to avert large-scale hospitalizations and fatalities, adding that the majority of new cases are mild and are being treated under state-funded home-based care programs.

A student receives a COVID-19 booster shot during the launch of a vaccination center at Kenya Medical Training College in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, June 16, 2022. (Photo by Fred Mutune/Xinhua)

Kagwe said the current cold season in Kenya combined with heightened campaigns ahead of Aug. 9 general elections could worsen COVID-19 transmission and informed the move to reinstate the mask mandate.

The health ministry in March announced a relaxation of COVID-19 containment measures stating that wearing masks was optional, following a sustained drop in new infections.

Local epidemiologists warned in late April that the country could experience a mild wave of infections from May to July, clarifying that the risk of mass fatalities was minimal.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that the country's total confirmed positive cases stood at 329,605 as of Monday after 252 people tested positive in the last 24 hours from a sample size of 1,993, with the positivity rate standing at 12.6 percent.

Nairobi, the national capital, is the hotspot for new coronavirus infections followed by the neighboring county of Kiambu while the port city of Mombasa and several western Kenyan counties had also recorded surging transmission.

The proportion of fully vaccinated adults stood at 31.5 percent as of Monday, as the government raced against time to attain a 70 percent target before the year's end, says the Ministry of Health. 
By Trend

The famous Textile Museum of the George Washington University presented the potential for implementing joint commercial and investment projects in the textile sector of Uzbekistan, Trend reports citing Uzdaily.

The presentation was attended by the Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, the Chairman of the National Commission on Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labor Tanzila Narbayeva, representatives of the Uztekstilprom associations and cotton-textile clusters of Uzbekistan, the US textile industry, American investors in the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan - CNH Industrial and John Deere, Trade Association National Cotton Council, Global Trade Alliance of America, United States Commercial Service, State Department and Diplomatic Corps, International Finance Corporation and World Bank.

At the beginning of the event, the competitive advantages of the textile industry of Uzbekistan, the features of the development of cluster production in agriculture and the mechanization of the cotton harvest were discussed in detail. Efforts were explained to create modern enterprises within the cluster system of Uzbekistan with the ability to ensure full transparency regarding labor practices and trace all stages of the production cycle - from growing cotton to its deep processing and production of finished products.

The participants also received information about the benefits and preferences provided in Uzbekistan for foreign investors, the existing potential in the field of processing cotton fiber, the production of value-added products, the needs of the internal and external markets of Uzbekistan.

The national textile companies UztexGroup, Bunyoidkor Textile, Nil Granit and Haj Textile separately presented the production and export potential of their enterprises.

The representative of the White & Case company, K. Yong, noted that thanks to the level of state support and revolutionary changes in agriculture, the textile sector of Uzbekistan is demonstrating unprecedented growth rates.

The president of Fonttheim International K. Fontaine, who represents the interests of many US textile brands, noted that "the textile and clothing industry of Uzbekistan has a historic opportunity to expand its presence in the European and American markets."

During the presentation, clarifications were given to questions of interest to the participants regarding the mechanisms used in the cluster system of Uzbekistan to ensure traceability in supply chains, standards for environmental protection, social policy and corporate governance (ESG), transport routes and export markets for finished textile products.
Video: A free music festival marking Juneteenth was held on June 19, 2022 in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, where African Americans commemorated the end of slavery in the United States and honored the lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua)

"We didn't have a solid infrastructure in a lot of our communities. So when the pandemic hit, it further exposed that lack of infrastructure in our neighborhoods," says Catherine Mbali Green-Johnson.



by Xinhua writers Liu Yanan, Zhang Mocheng

NEW YORK, June 21 (Xinhua) -- As African Americans in New York joined others from across the country to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States, they also honored the lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic at a regular thematic event in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

A traditional altar of Black people was set up at Nethermead, the central meadow in Prospect Park, on Sunday along the main stage and a number of stands serving participants of the 13th Annual Juneteenth NY 2022 Festival.

The altar featured quilts contributed by people, who lost their loved ones due to the pandemic. The quilts displayed were collected from Brooklyn of New York City and Toledo of Ohio, according to Catherine Mbali Green-Johnson, curator of the quilt project.

A quilt memorializing victims of the COVID-19 pandemic is displayed as part of the quilt project during the 13th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, on June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Participants also made artworks or wrote words on the quilts in commemoration of their family members who died of the coronavirus.

"To the person who was dad or mom to me!" read one line with heart-shaped drawings. "Thank you for giving me wisdom, self-respect, teaching me to have love for my mind and body. Thanks for showing me what a mom is," read another one.

The markings and patterns in quilts were used as a way to send messages and learn where to go when Black people escaped from slavery hundreds of years ago, according to Green-Johnson.

"It (quilt) is definitely very tightly woven into who we are as people and so we wanted to, in this way, remember (it)," said Green-Johnson.

Chayanne Marcano (L) and Catherine Mbali Green-Johnson, curators of the quilt project, place a quilt memorializing victims of the COVID-19 pandemic during the 13th Annual Juneteenth Festival in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, on June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Green-Johnson added she lost her father to COVID-19 in April 2020 and organizers of the yearly event came up with the idea of quilt making as a way to help people like her "deal and heal" with such an unforeseen moment in their lives.

"We had to end up taking him into the hospital, but he never came home... Today is Father's Day. So I get to honor him in this way," Green-Johnson told Xinhua.

"As we open up the world, it's almost as if we have forgotten that millions of people are no longer here, and it's not. I don't see how we can continue to move forward without really acknowledging that loss. There was a huge loss for me," she said.

People take part in a celebration of Juneteenth in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

African Americans were hit hard by the pandemic with higher hospitalization and mortality rates.

"We didn't have a solid infrastructure in a lot of our communities. So when the pandemic hit, it further exposed that lack of infrastructure in our neighborhoods," said Green-Johnson.

Sufficient funds should be guaranteed to be distributed to communities of color across the country and people need to have access to health care, she noted.

"We are no longer waiting. We are making sure that we are vocal, we are in office, we are elected, (and that) we are in a space where we are practicing every day our liberation," said Green-Johnson, adding that the quilt project was launched in April and around 40 people have participated in the project.

People take part in a celebration of Juneteenth in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, June 19, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

"It's been a beautiful response to it. I think people were looking for a way to express their grief in a communal way," she said, adding that reflecting on all of the loss and doing that with the community is a really powerful experience for many people.

Green-Johnson also mentioned that the quilts on display will be exhibited in more cities.

In 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the nation, though the day had long been celebrated in a number of states. 
BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A State Council report on the work to boost children's health was submitted Tuesday to the 35th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for deliberation.

China has redoubled its efforts to prevent and manage the issue of myopia among children and adolescents and has taken a raft of measures such as issuing a comprehensive implementation plan, carrying out myopia monitoring regularly, and piloting technical projects for myopia prevention and control, according to the report.

In 2020, the coverage of optometry health checks for children under six reached 91.8 percent, and the rate of myopia among children and adolescents decreased to 52.7 percent, down 0.9 percentage points from 2018.

Moreover, the report also shows the country's increased efforts in tackling obesity among juniors, such as conducting scientific guidance, publicity campaigns, appraisal and monitoring, and nutrition intervention projects. 
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C) speaks at a Security Council meeting on Syria's humanitarian situation, at UN Headquarters in New York on June 20, 2022. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday that all delivery channels for humanitarian aid in Syria should be kept available. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday that all delivery channels for humanitarian aid in Syria should be kept available.

The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire. Needs are at their highest since the start of the war more than 11 years ago. The world's largest refugee crisis continues to impact the region and the world, Guterres told the Security Council.

Some 14.6 million people need humanitarian assistance. Twelve million people are food insecure. Ninety percent of the population live below the poverty line. Infrastructure is crumbling. Economic activity halved during a decade of conflict, regional financial crises, sanctions, and the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Needs in Northwest Syria continue to increase. Some 2.8 million people, mostly women and children, are displaced. Many live in camps or informal settlements. More than 90 percent of people in the Northwest need aid, he said.

The massive humanitarian response the United Nations and its partners are conducting in Syria has staved off the worst. But more is required, he said. "That is why I have consistently stated the importance of maintaining and expanding access, including through cross-line and cross-border operations. When it comes to delivering life-saving aid to people in need across Syria, all channels should be made, and kept, available."

Despite the incredibly challenging operating environment, the United Nations has delivered aid across the front lines into the Northwest. Five cross-line convoys have now provided life-saving assistance to tens of thousands of people in need. The United Nations has also taken full advantage of the cross-border authorization to save lives. Hundreds of trucks now cross from Turkey every month. Since cross-border aid was authorized in 2014, over 50,000 trucks have crossed into Syria to provide assistance to those in need, said Guterres.

"The United Nations cross-border operation into Syria is one of the most heavily scrutinized and monitored aid operations in the world. There is no doubt that our aid is reaching the people in need. While increasing cross-line assistance was an important achievement, in the present circumstances, it is not at the scale needed to replace the massive cross-border response," he said.

He called on the members of the Security Council to maintain consensus on allowing cross-border operations by renewing the authorization for an additional 12 months.

Together, the international community has helped avoid a total collapse in Syria. But the only way to end the humanitarian tragedy in Syria is through a truly nationwide cease-fire and a political solution that enables the Syrian people to determine their own future. The international community must do all that is necessary to reach a negotiated political solution, he said. 

Photo taken on June 20, 2022 shows a wide view of the Security Council meeting on Syria's humanitarian situation at UN Headquarters in New York. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday that all delivery channels for humanitarian aid in Syria should be kept available. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)
Police wearing riot gear arrest a woman who drove too close to police lines during a protest in Minneapolis, the United States, May 29, 2020. (Photo by Angus Alexander/Xinhua)

The U.S. "problem of crime is clearly systemic," and "perhaps most troubling of all is the U.S.' allegiance to force as the ultimate solution to all systemic problems," reported The Davis Vanguard.

NEW YORK, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The United States has been solving its crime problem by putting people in cages, currently with five percent of the world's population but 25 percent of the world's prisoners, reported The Davis Vanguard on Sunday.

"In other words, it cages people at five times the world's per-capita incarceration rate," said the local news portal based in the city of Davis, Yolo County, California, noting that "putting people behind bars is not a crime remedy."

The U.S. "problem of crime is clearly systemic," and "perhaps most troubling of all is the U.S.' allegiance to force as the ultimate solution to all systemic problems," said the report.

"U.S. police departments spend about half as much as China does for its entire military, much more than India or Russia," it said, adding that the idea that "the beatings will continue until morale improves" is simply ridiculous.

"One wouldn't expect to train a dog with such methods, much less human beings, but putting people in cages still appeals to Americans because the popular narrative pointedly ignores systemic problems," it added. 
UNITED NATIONS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called on the Security Council to adjust sanctions against Sudan in a timely manner.

The Darfur region of Sudan is at a critical stage of transitioning from peacekeeping to peacebuilding. The security situation in the region is largely stable, but remains fragile, with violent incidents, including intercommunal clashes, occurring from time to time, said Counselor Xing Jisheng of the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Following the withdrawal of the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur, the Sudanese government assumes the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians. The Security Council should make timely adjustments to the sanctions on Sudan in light of the evolving situation, and create good conditions for the Sudanese government to strengthen its capacity for protecting civilians, he told the Security Council.

"Security Council Resolution 2620 calls for the establishment of clear, well-defined and realistic benchmarks for adjusting Sudan sanctions by August 31. China hopes that this requirement can be implemented in a timely manner," said Xing. 
CAIRO, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and visiting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Tuesday discussed the security threats and challenges faced by the region and agreed to continue intensive security coordination between the two Arab countries.

The talks reflected a mutual understanding to continue joint efforts to address the risks threatening the security and stability of the countries and peoples of the region, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

The Egyptian president "reiterated Egypt's unwavering position with regard to the Gulf's security, stressing that it is integral to Egypt's national security, rejecting any practices that seek to destabilize it."

For his part, the Saudi crown prince underscored the importance of continuing intensive coordination and consultations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia to counter the challenges and crises faced by the Arab world.

The crown prince also highlighted Egypt's "pivotal and firm role as a fundamental pillar for security and stability in the region."

Earlier in the day, the Egyptian government announced that Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed 14 investment deals in Cairo valued at 7.7 billion U.S. dollars during the state visit of the Saudi crown prince, covering the fields of food and pharmaceutical industries, infrastructure, renewable energy, green hydrogen, e-commerce, digital finance, and information services. 
UNITED NATIONS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday condemned the killings of more than 100 people in terrorist raids in Mali, said his spokesman.

"We add our voice to the strong condemnation by our colleagues in the peacekeeping mission, following attacks by extremist groups on a number of villages in the Bandiagara region of Central Mali," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for Guterres.

The attacks over the weekend, according to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, known by its French acronym as MINUSMA, left more than 100 civilians dead and several homes and shops burned, said the spokesman.

Attacks also took place in several localities in the Gao region of Mali, causing dozens of civilian deaths and displacement of people, Dujarric said. "We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and to the people of Mali and we wish a speedy recovery to those wounded."

An integrated team from MINUSMA, operating from Mopti, assisted regional authorities in visiting the violence-hit areas. At the request of the Malian armed forces, the UN peacekeeping mission also assisted in the evacuation of wounded civilians to Sevare town, he said.

Dujarric said that following its Security Council mandate, the mission is ready to support national authorities, assist the population and strengthen security, in close coordination with the Malian armed forces and would include ground patrols and aerial reconnaissance or aerial deterrence.

The spokesman added that MINUSMA would continue to pursue its actions to support the stabilization of Central Mali, which is a strategic priority.

Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world. It sits on the southern fringe of the Sahara in West Africa. Along with other countries in the Sahel, it recently has been hit with several extremist attacks. 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) meets with Russian and Ukrainian delegations before a fresh round of face-to-face peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 29, 2022. (Xinhua)

Turkey is to host a meeting next week with the UN, Russia and Ukraine as part of its efforts to broker a deal on allowing Ukraine to export grains to avert a global food crisis.



ANKARA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is to host a four-way meeting with the United Nations, Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul next week to discuss a possible Black Sea corridor for exporting Ukrainian grains, local media reported Tuesday.

A Turkish military delegation will travel to Russia this week to discuss the details of the planned corridor, the HaberTurk TV reported, quoting anonymous presidential sources.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wanted to attend the meeting, according to the sources.

The United Nations had appealed to Russia and Ukraine, as well as Turkey, to agree to set up a maritime corridor to export Ukrainian grains. Turkey, a NATO member, has been making efforts to broker a deal to allow Ukraine export grains to avert a food crisis.

A worker unloads wheat at a grain silo in Banha of Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt, on May 16, 2022. Egypt has seen a rise in food prices due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, two main wheat exporters to Egypt. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Guterres discussed the issue over the phone on Monday.

Turkey earlier said it is ready to take on a role within an "observation mechanism" if a deal is reached. According to the plan, representatives from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations will create the observation mechanism.

It is expected that the mechanism will become operational within one month and some 20 to 25 vessels will depart from Odessa port of Ukraine to sail across the Black Sea through the corridor, the Turkish presidential sources told the HaberTurk TV.

Yemenis buy grains at a market in Sanaa, Yemen, on Feb. 27, 2022. The price of wheat in war-torn Yemen has seen a rapid rise due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russia was the biggest exporter of wheat to Yemen in 2021 while Ukraine came as the fourth. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua)

It is expected that some 30-35 million tons of agricultural products will be exported from Ukraine in six to eight months, the report said.

The plan is to open three corridors from four ports in Odessa of Ukraine. Kiev says clearing mines will take time so these corridors will come into operation to meet the urgent export of grains, HaberTurk reported.

Ukraine is a major grain exporter to Africa and the Middle East. As the Russia-Ukraine conflict drags on, the disruption to the Ukrainian grain shipments has led to sharp rise in food prices.

Lebanese workers work at a flour mill in Hasbaya, southern Lebanon, on Feb. 28, 2022. The Russia-Ukraine conflict raised concerns about food supply in Lebanon, which imported 60 percent of wheat from Ukraine. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) 
UNITED NATIONS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy warned on Tuesday that antagonism within the international community over the conflict in Ukraine is disrupting UN work.

"For some while, with the conflict in Ukraine unraveling, antagonism has been permeating the international community, seriously disrupting the work of the United Nations in various fields, and calling into question the authority and effectiveness of the Security Council," said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

Such a political climate is not conducive to the proper settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and may lead to the failure of global governance mechanisms, plunging the world into greater division and turmoil, which is not in the interests of any party, he told a Security Council meeting on Ukraine with the theme of "incitement to violence leading to atrocity crimes."

Hate speech between countries can poison the international political climate to the detriment of world peace and stability, he warned.

"We are all in the same boat. Our security is indivisible. Cold War mentality, the logic of hegemony, and bloc politics have long outlived their relevance. We must substitute dialogue for confrontation, consultation for coercion, partnership for alliances, and win-win for zero-sum," he said.

The Security Council, in particular, should shoulder its responsibilities, manage differences, and be an active force for the facilitation of peace talks, mediation, and good offices, he said.

Sending in more lethal weapons will only fuel animosity, exacerbate conflicts, trigger a wider humanitarian crisis, and claim more innocent lives, said Dai.

Prolonged and enlarged conflicts will bring greater security risks and spillover effects, from which no party can benefit. The international community should work together to de-escalate the situation, put out the fire, and facilitate peace talks, thus creating conditions for the parties to resume negotiations and achieve a cease-fire without further delay, he said. "We advice certain countries not to continue adding fuel to the fire to serve their own geopolitical self-interest, not to mention force other countries to take sides, thereby intensifying division and antagonism within the international community."

Social media must never become a lawless space for spreading hatred and inciting violence. Certain social media platforms have adapted their policies for political ends, allowing one-way hate speech. Such a practice is extremely dangerous. It is imperative to strengthen government oversight of social media platforms. They should not be given a free rein, he said.

The conflict in Ukraine has lasted for nearly four months. The rising casualties and displacements are heart-wrenching. The circumstances and causes of violations of international humanitarian law must be ascertained. Any allegations should be based on facts. Pending the final findings, all parties should avoid unwarranted accusations, he said. 
Paddy Cosgrave, CEO of Web Summit and Collision, speaks during the opening night event of the 2022 Collision Conference in Toronto, Canada, on June 20, 2022. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua)

"In the aerospace sector, COMAC in time will be a competitor of Boeing and Airbus and I have no doubt they will make planes as successfully as Airbus and Boeing have been making them and they'll probably be cheaper, and they'll probably be lighter," said Paddy Cosgrave, the founder and CEO of Web Summit and Collision.

by Martina Fuchs

TORONTO, June 21 (Xinhua) -- China is progressing rapidly in the development of aerospace, quantum computing and electric vehicles, which lead to more innovative competition, Paddy Cosgrave, the founder and CEO of Web Summit and Collision, two of the world's largest and fastest-growing tech conferences, said Tuesday in an interview with Xinhua.

Asked about his views on China's technology developments over the next couple of years, Cosgrave said: "I think it's firstly quite phenomenal. It was really interesting seeing Huawei file for a patent for a quantum computer chip. I think progress in semiconductors is moving faster than anybody expected."

Last week, Chinese telecom giant Huawei announced a patent for a quantum chipset and said it would now dive into the world of quantum computers.

"I'm particularly interested in the progress of COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China)," Cosgrave said.

"In the aerospace sector, COMAC in time will be a competitor of Boeing and Airbus and I have no doubt they will make planes as successfully as Airbus and Boeing have been making them and they'll probably be cheaper, and they'll probably be lighter," he said.

"I think that's good for the industry as a whole, that will inspire Boeing and Airbus to become even more innovative than they already are. I think competition is a good thing," the CEO continued.

"We're seeing the same in the electric car industry. I think NIO, amongst others, will make fantastic progress in Europe over the coming years. It's going to be interesting for European car manufacturers. China will remain open, and I think Europe will remain open to Chinese imports," Cosgrave said.

Paddy Cosgrave, CEO of Web Summit, speaks during the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, Nov. 4, 2019. (Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua)

More than 35,000 people from around the world have convened at the Enercare Centre in Toronto this week for the largest tech event taking place in Canada since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Over 900 speakers, 1,500 startups, 1,200 journalists, 850 investors and 100 unicorn companies are expected to gather to discuss topics covering technology, artificial intelligence, data science, finance, autotech, and digital media.

The executive said that he also plans to further expand global footprint with additional conferences. "We're continuing to create regional events. Web Summit is our mothership in Lisbon, that's our annual global gathering, and as the years have passed, more and more people have been coming from South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia."

"We want to go to those markets to increase the brand awareness of Web Summit. In 2023, we're going to Rio de Janeiro, we've done a deal with the city, with the government and we're looking forward, we hope, to going to the Middle East and going to more places in Asia and Africa in 2024, 2025."

Cosgrave added that the RISE conference, which is one of the most important media and tech industry summits for the Asian region and also produced by the team behind Web Summit and Collision, will return to Hong Kong during March 21-23 in the AsiaWorld-Expo.

"We started RISE just over five years ago. It's our baby, our little sister conference in Hong Kong," he told Xinhua. "For us, it's a perfect meeting place for the East meeting the West, or the rest of the world."

"Historically, we've brought some of the most interesting Chinese founders and investors together with some of the most interesting entrepreneurs and investors from the rest of the world. We've been so sad that we haven't been able to do it since 2019 but we hope in 2023, we'll be back in Hong Kong," Cosgrave said.

With demand for in-person events increasing rapidly, the number of Collision attendees has grown by 40 percent, from 25,711 in 2019 to 35,562 from 130 countries in 2022, Collision said in a press release. 
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Baku Hande Harmanci has said that Azerbaijan will get thousands of tests to diagnose monkeypox disease, Azernews reports.

According to Harmanci, the Azerbaijani government has appealed to the World Health Organization to get tests to diagnose the disease.

"There are several different types of the disease. We are investigating which of them is most likely to occur. We are cooperating with the Ministry of Health and Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB). Tests will be brought soon. Thousands of tests will be brought to Azerbaijan to diagnose monkeypox. There is no significant threat in the country, Harmanci stressed.

She underlined that monkeypox was formerly only seen in Africa, but it is currently spreading throughout Europe. It is difficult to pass from person to person because it is infected in different ways. People should not worry, but they must keep the disease under control.

Vaccination of the entire population against the disease is not a topic of discussion. Research is underway. There may be vaccinations for people at high risk. There is no need for everyone to be vaccinated," Harmanci stressed.

The number of coronavirus infections is decreasing globally and the daily infection rates are also low in Azerbaijan, she added.

People should not be comforted, though, and should continue to constantly watch the epidemiological situation.

Last year, the statistics fell in the summer and then rose again in the fall. That is why we must pay close attention to it, Harmanci advised.

She noted that the WHO is closely following the new variants and strains of COVID-19.

"Currently, different variants of the omicron strain are emerging. All are under observation. While keeping our spirits high, we must also know that the pandemic is not over. It is unknown what the epidemiological situation with coronavirus will be in the fall. Therefore, we need to continue all the protective measures we have learned, such as hand washing and respiratory hygiene. In addition, it is important that unvaccinated citizens over the age of 50 are vaccinated. We currently recommend a booster dose of COVID-19. Time will tell the application of the fourth and fifth doses. COVID and influenza vaccines are likely to be made together each year. But these are still under consideration, the WHO representative emphasized.
MOGADISHU, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations humanitarian agency has called for a massive scale-up in resources to prevent famine in Somalia.

Adam Abdelmoula, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, warned that acute malnutrition is about to increase unless the response plan is scaled up in a major way.

"The humanitarian situation in Somalia continues to deteriorate rapidly. Already 1.5 million children below the age of five are malnourished, and we expect that 356,000 of these may not survive through the end of September this year," Abdelmoula said in a statement issued on Monday evening in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The UN official spoke in Dollow, a region in southern Somalia, where he witnessed the consequences of drought during a joint visit with Somalia's Special Envoy for Drought Response, Abdirahman Abdishakur.

The UN said the escalating drought which has ravaged several parts of Somalia due to failed rains has devastated many lives in Somalia.

The country has suffered through four unprecedented and consecutive failed rainy seasons, something that had never happened in the country's history.

"7.1 million Somalis are in need of food assistance. If the fifth rainy season fails, this number will increase significantly," Abdelmoula said.

He said eight of Somalia's 90 districts are already in famine-like conditions categorized as catastrophic. More are bound to slide into this dreaded category if the funding gap is not met.

"I continuously appeal to our donors, traditional or new, to spend the money upfront so that we can save lives as we look at a fifth failed rainy season," Abdelmoula said.

Abdelmoula was on Monday in Dollow where he visited new settlements of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and health centers and met with community elders and humanitarian partners.

"We have seen that people have come to Dollow to look for assistance because here they have access to aid agencies," Abdishakur said during the visit to the Kabasa IDP camp.

"But we have witnessed many of them who arrived just a few days ago who are in desperate need and who have not received assistance," he added. 
WINDHOEK, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), a state-owned enterprise mandated to run the tourism facilities within the country, on Tuesday announced the commencement of major renovations to eight of its resorts.

"The biggest challenge for NWR has been its ageing infrastructure. Most of our customer complaints were more on our ageing infrastructure," said Nelson Ashipala, an NWR spokesperson, adding that a 16-million-Namibia-dollar (about 1.1 million U.S. dollars) budget has been set aside for the renovations.

According to Ashipala, NWR needed to craft plans that would allow them to revitalize its assets after the halt on all expenditure as a result of the impact of COVID-19.

"Major work will mostly be carried out at Onkoshi and Sossuss Dune Lodge, where decks and roofing types will completely be changed," he said, adding that some of the resorts still to be refurbished are Onkoshi, Ai-Ais, Waterberg and Hardap Dam Resort.

Ashipala told Xinhua that renovations started this week and are expected to be complete by the end of October this year. Most of the work being done entails roofing, flooring and tiling, he said.

"The resorts will still be 100 percent open to the tourists," he explained, while he asked visitors for patience as most of the resorts will be busy with the renovations.

Ashipala said some of the resorts such as Okaukuejo in the Etosha National Park have already been completed with the renovations.

The renovation announcement from NWR coincides with the recent announcement by the Qatari government to work closely with the NWR to scale up cooperation in the hospitality sector.

Namibia's tourism sector has traditionally been a key employer and contributor to the economy.

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council 2021 country report, Namibia's total travel and tourism sector in 2020 contributed 16.8 billion Namibia dollars or 9.8 percent to the country's economy. 
CAIRO, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Monday welcomed Libyan parties' agreement on the majority of articles of a draft constitution reached in Cairo.

Egypt welcomes the outcomes of the third round of negotiations between Libyan parties to reach a constitutional consensus, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said in a statement.

The talks, hosted by Cairo in coordination with the United Nations, kicked off on June 12 and concluded Monday.

Hafez expressed aspiration that the Libyan Constitutional Committee will continue its efforts and finalize the limited outstanding articles as soon as possible.

In March, Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives or the parliament, and the Tripoli-based High Council of State formed a joint committee to reach a firm constitutional basis for sooner national elections.

The two sides reached consensus on 137 articles of the constitution in the previous round of talks in Cairo.

Observers believe the negotiations are the last chance to agree on a constitutional basis for possible future elections. However, if the negotiations fail, it could threaten the ceasefire agreement signed in October 2020 and bring unprecedented relative stability to Libya.

Libya failed to hold general elections in December 2021 due to disagreements on the election laws among the Libyan parties.

Libya has been suffering escalating violence and political instability ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. 
DAR ES SALAAM, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The government of Tanzania said on Tuesday the state-run Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has embarked on a five-year strategy aimed at upgrading the country's ports.

Godfrey Kasekenya, the Deputy Minister for Works and Transport, told parliament in the capital Dodoma that the 2021/2022 to 2025/2026 strategy will involve the upgrading of the ports berths, among others.

Kasekenya said ports under the upgrading program included Dar es Salaam, Mtwara and Tanga, all located along the Indian Ocean.

He said the upgrading of the ports will go in tandem with the procurement of port facilities, including mobile harbor cranes, terminal tractors and ship to shore gantry cranes to attract users.

Kasekenya said currently TPA is promoting Mtwara port in order to attract markets from the Mtwara Development Corridor that attracts five countries of Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Comoro and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
ADDIS ABABA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Moussa Faki Mahamat on Tuesday condemned the killing of 132 civilians in central Mali.

A total of 132 civilians were killed in three villages in the rural commune of Bankass in central Mali, the Malian government said in a statement late Monday.

"I am deeply shocked and saddened by the massacre of 132 civilians in Mali. I condemn it with all my strength and offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims," Mahamat said in a Twitter post.

The AU Commission chairperson further emphasized that the perpetrators of "this unspeakable tragedy must be sought and brought to justice."

According to the Malian authorities, the peaceful populations of Diallassagou, Dianweli, Deguessagou villages and surroundings in the rural commune of Bankass were the subject of barbaric attacks on the night of June 18 to 19.

Several perpetrators of the massacre have been formally identified, which are part of the fighters of the Katiba Macina of Amadou Koufa, according to the statement.

Mali has been facing security, political and economic crises since 2012, with insurgencies, jihadist incursions and inter-community violence killing thousands and displacing hundreds of thousands of others in the West African country. 
Participants practise yoga during an event for International Yoga Day at Marina Barrage rooftop green in Singapore on June 21, 2022. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

Participants practise yoga during an event for International Yoga Day at Marina Barrage rooftop green in Singapore on June 21, 2022. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

Participants practise yoga during an event for International Yoga Day at Marina Barrage rooftop green in Singapore on June 21, 2022. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

Participants practise yoga during an event for International Yoga Day at Marina Barrage rooftop green in Singapore on June 21, 2022. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

Participants practise yoga during an event for International Yoga Day at Marina Barrage rooftop green in Singapore on June 21, 2022. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

Participants practise yoga during an event for International Yoga Day at Marina Barrage rooftop green in Singapore on June 21, 2022. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)
Vehicles move on a flooded road after pre-monsoon rains in Peshawar, Pakistan, on June 21, 2022. A recent spell of heavy pre-monsoon rains has wreaked havoc in parts of Pakistan, leaving at least 26 people killed and several injured as well as damaging infrastructure and standing crops, government officials said on Tuesday. (Str/Xinhua)

By Raheela Nazir

ISLAMABAD, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A recent spell of heavy pre-monsoon rains has wreaked havoc in parts of Pakistan, leaving at least 26 people killed and several injured as well as damaging infrastructure and standing crops, government officials said on Tuesday.

The country's eastern Punjab province was the worst-hit region with 16 deaths, followed by southwest Balochistan and northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, which reported five deaths each over the last five days, a senior official from the National Disaster Management Authority told Xinhua.

The official said women and children were among the victims, adding that heavy monsoon rain-triggered flash floods also damaged dozens of houses, buildings, schools, roads and bridges.

Meanwhile, local administrations are busy carrying out rescue and relief services in affected areas and struggling to cope with the current emergency.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the current spell of pre-monsoon rains is expected to continue till Wednesday, saying heavy falls and windstorms may trigger land sliding, flash flooding and damage to loose structures in vulnerable areas of the country.

The weather department also warned passengers and tourists, urging them to remain alert and avoid unnecessary traveling during the forecasted period.

Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman said that the country will experience monsoon rains until at least August this year with intervals, during which the rainfall is expected to be above normal in various parts of Pakistan.

"Pakistan may have to face a flood-like situation similar to the one in 2010," the minister said on Monday.

Urging citizens and relevant authorities to exercise vigilance and preparedness for the upcoming monsoon and brace for low to high-intensity floods, she said that all-out precautionary measures must be taken to cope with the possible disastrous impacts of the expected monsoon rains.

Though the sharp dropping of temperature owing to wet showers brought much-awaited relief for the people facing scorching weather, citizens are also complaining about the miseries and weighty disruption rains have caused.

Azra Begum, a factory worker in the eastern Rawalpindi district, told Xinhua that she and her family could not make it to their workplace on time as continuous rains affected the transportation system in the community.

"Our streets and homes are flooded with the sewage water. We are also facing load shedding... halting our daily life while forcing us to stay indoors," she said. 

A man rides on a motorbike during a pre-monsoon rain in Peshawar, Pakistan, on June 21, 2022. A recent spell of heavy pre-monsoon rains has wreaked havoc in parts of Pakistan, leaving at least 26 people killed and several injured as well as damaging infrastructure and standing crops, government officials said on Tuesday. (Str/Xinhua)

Vehicles move on a flooded road after pre-monsoon rains in Peshawar, Pakistan, on June 21, 2022. A recent spell of heavy pre-monsoon rains has wreaked havoc in parts of Pakistan, leaving at least 26 people killed and several injured as well as damaging infrastructure and standing crops, government officials said on Tuesday. (Str/Xinhua)

A street is flooded after pre-monsoon rains in Peshawar, Pakistan, on June 21, 2022. A recent spell of heavy pre-monsoon rains has wreaked havoc in parts of Pakistan, leaving at least 26 people killed and several injured as well as damaging infrastructure and standing crops, government officials said on Tuesday. (Str/Xinhua)
Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape attends the handover ceremony of the newly built provincial hospital in Enga, PNG, June 20, 2022. China handed over the newly built provincial hospital in Enga to the PNG government on Monday, which will help improve medical services for local people. (Chinese Embassy to PNG/Handout via Xinhua)

SYDNEY, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China handed over the newly built provincial hospital in Enga to the government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Monday, which will help improve medical services for local people.

Addressing the handover ceremony in the Engan capital of Wabag, PNG Prime Minister James Marape thanked the Chinese government for its support for the high-quality project, saying that the PNG government is willing to deepen cooperation with China in all areas.

Enga Province Governor Peter Ipatas said it was a dream for the people of Enga and the country to have a medical center with advanced technologies, and thanks to China's help, the dream came true.

Calling the project the latest outcome of bilateral cooperation in the health sector, Chinese Ambassador to PNG Zeng Fanhua said both China and PNG are developing countries, bilateral cooperation demonstrates friendship as well as mutual support and trust, and China is ready to continue providing assistance to PNG's social and economic development. 

Aerial photo taken on May 31, 2022 shows the provincial hospital in Enga, Papua New Guinea (PNG). China handed over the newly built provincial hospital in Enga to the PNG government on Monday, which will help improve medical services for local people. (Guangdong Foreign Construction Co./Handout via Xinhua)

Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape (R, front) and Chinese Ambassador to PNG Zeng Fanhua (L, front) attend the handover ceremony of the newly built provincial hospital in Enga, PNG, June 20, 2022. China handed over the newly built provincial hospital in Enga to the PNG government on Monday, which will help improve medical services for local people. (Chinese Embassy to PNG/Handout via Xinhua)
DHAKA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Four million people, including 1.6 million children, stranded by flash floods in northeastern Bangladesh are in urgent need of help, said the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) here Monday.

In a statement, UNICEF said it is on the ground to protect children and to deliver emergency water and health supplies.

"Children need safe drinking water right now. Preventing deadly waterborne diseases is one of several critical concerns," said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh.

He said UNICEF has already dispatched 400,000 water purification tablets that can support 80,000 households with clean water for a week.

UNICEF said it is working to further support the government of Bangladesh's emergency response with millions of water purification tablets, more than 10,000 water containers known as jerry cans, and thousands of hygiene kits for women and adolescent girls.

UNICEF said it is also procuring emergency medical supplies for district health facilities.

In the northeastern Sylhet division, according to UNICEF, 90 percent of health facilities have been inundated, while cases of waterborne diseases continue to rise.

Children are at heightened risk of drowning, already one of the major causes of child deaths in the country, it said.

Over 36,000 children have taken refuge in overcrowded shelters together with their families, said UNICEF.

It said schools have been closed, and exams canceled, further hampering the education of children who already suffered an 18-month pandemic school closure.

UNICEF said at least eight children have tragically lost their lives.

"Our heart goes out to the children whose lives have been lost. Children are the most vulnerable in this desperate situation. UNICEF is working around the clock with authorities and our partners to meet the immediate needs of children," said Yett.

UNICEF is urgently seeking 2.5 million U.S. dollars in funding for the emergency response as it provides life-saving supplies and services to children and families affected by the flooding. 
MOSCOW, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia has called on Lithuania to immediately lift its ban on the transit of a large number of goods through its territory to Russia's Kaliningrad region, Russian foreign ministry said Monday.

The ministry summoned the Lithuanian charge d'affaires earlier in the day.

Moscow demanded the imposed restrictions be immediately lifted, calling them "provocative" and "openly hostile."

"If cargo transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the Russian Federation through Lithuania is not fully restored in the near future, Russia reserves the right to take actions to protect its national interests," the ministry said.

Lithuania announced last week to ban the rail transit of goods that are subject to European Union sanctions through its territory to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. 
SCOTUS Rules in Favor of Religious Freedom and School Choice

NEWS PROVIDED BY

June 21, 2022

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2022 / Christian Newswire / -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Carson v. Makin, a case that challenges a Maine law that discriminates against parents based on religion by providing some families with tuition support for the school of their choice but denying that same support to other families. The High Court held that the Maine program violates the Free Exercise Clause.

The High Court considered whether a 1982 Maine law violates the First Amendment by excluding religious schools from the state's "tuitioning system," which pays for students to attend private schools.

Three families from three different small towns in Maine sued the state over a program that bans families from an otherwise generally available student-aid program if they choose to send their children to schools that teach religion. They qualified for Maine's Town Tuitioning Program in all other respects, but they are excluded from participating only because they chose religious schools for their children.

As a result, these families who want to send their children to Christian schools in Bangor and Waterville were denied in lower federal courts and then appealed to the Supreme Court.

Because many areas of the state are rural and sparsely populated, not all school districts run their own secondary schools. To help students in those districts attend secondary school, the state has paid for students to attend either another public school or a private school of their choice. However, since 1982, the state has only allowed tuition payments under the program to go to private schools that do not provide religious instruction.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion with Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett joining. Justice Breyer wrote a dissent joined by Justice Kagan and in which Justice Sotomayor joined in part. Justice Sotomayor also filed a dissent.

Justice Roberts wrote, "A neutral benefit program that gives public funds to religious organizations through the independent choices of the recipients of those benefits does not violate the Constitution's establishment clause. The principles outlined in two recent cases, Trinity Lutheran v. Comer and Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, decide this case. Because the benefits hinge on whether a school is religious, the Maine program 'effectively penalizes the free exercise' of religion."

The majority opinion continues: "The 'unremarkable' principles applied in Trinity Lutheran and Espinoza suffice to resolve this case. Maine offers its citizens a benefit: tuition assistance payments for any family whose school district does not provide a public secondary school. Just like the wide range of nonprofit organizations eligible to receive playground resurfacing are eligible to receive Maine tuition assistance payments here. And like the daycare center in Trinity Lutheran, BCS and Temple Academy are disqualified from this generally available benefit 'solely because of their religious character.' By 'condition[ing]the availability of benefits' in that manner, Maine's tuition assistance programlike the program in Trinity Lutheran'effectively penalizes the free exercise' of religion." [citations omitted]

"While the wording of the Montana and Maine provisions is different, their effect is the same: to 'disqualify some private schools' from funding 'solely because they are religious.' A law that operates in that manner, we held in Espinoza, must be subjected to 'the strictest scrutiny.'" [citations omitted]

"As noted, a neutral benefit program in which public funds flow to religious organizations through the independent choices of private benefit recipients does not offend the Establishment Clause. Maine's decision to continue excluding religious schools from its tuition assistance program after Zelman thus promotes stricter separation of church and state than the Federal Constitution requires." [citations omitted]

The High Court also wrote, "Maine's 'nonsectarian' requirement for its otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Regardless of how the benefit and restriction are described, the program operates to identify and exclude otherwise eligible schools on the basis of their religious exercise."

Justice Breyer dissents, in an opinion joined by Justice Kagan and in part by Justice Sotomayor. He writes that the High Court's decision doesn't pay enough attention to the Establishment Clause while paying too much attention to the Free Exercise Clause. Justice Breyer also writes, "The majority's decision 'also fails to recognize the 'play in the joints' between the two clauses.'"

In her dissent filled with strong language, Justice Sotomayor wrote: "What a difference five years makes. In 2017, I feared that the Court was 'lead[ing] us . . . to a place where separation of church and state is a constitutional slogan, not a constitutional commitment.' Today, the Court leads us to a place where separation of church and state becomes a constitutional violation."

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "This is great victory for religious freedom and school choice. For 40 years, Maine's law has unconstitutionally discriminated against parents regarding private schools based on religion. That discrimination ends today. Faith-based schools make an important contribution to their communities and are part of the foundation of America. Parents need more educational choices for their children."

Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost.



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CONTACT: Mat Staver, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org



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The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has launched FADX 15 futures contracts trading on its derivatives platform.

The futures, based on the FTSE ADX 15 (FADX 15) Index, are the first index derivatives to be listed on the ADX as the exchange accelerates efforts to bolster market liquidity and attract more global investors, said a statement.

FADX 15 futures are cash-settled contracts that will replicate the price performance of the benchmark FADX 15 index, which comprises the most liquid and the largest 15 companies listed on the ADX main market. Each FADX 15 Index futures contract is equivalent to the dirham (AED) value of the FADX 15 index.

Launched in March 2022 with the aim of supporting the derivatives market, Exchange Traded Funds, and other index tracking products, the FADX 15 selects companies by free float adjusted market capitalisation and median trading value.

The introduction of FADX 15 futures will provide a new way for investors to trade equities listed on ADXs main market, facilitating risk management for portfolio investors during periods of market volatility.

Saeed Hamad Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, commented: The launch of FADX 15 Index futures will increase opportunities for investors and traders to gain two-way market exposure while enhancing their hedging and leveraging capabilities. The roll out of a wider array of products on our derivatives market continues to reflect our commitment to meet the evolving needs of sophisticated market participants and attract global institutional investors. We look forward to deepening our partnership with FTSE Russell to create more indices that will support the ADX One strategy of enhancing market liquidity and providing unique growth opportunities.

Arne Staal, Chief Executive Officer, FTSE Russell, said: We congratulate ADX on the launch of the FADX 15 Index Futures. This contract will facilitate market access for international investors and enhance transparency, governance, and efficiency for the UAE capital markets. Our collaboration with ADX confirms FTSE Russells commitment in enabling Middle Eastern financial markets to innovate and meet the growing demand for open access to data, pricing, and performance metrics. We are delighted to closely work with ADX and we look forward to announcing a range of new benchmarks in the coming months.

ADX launched its derivatives market in November 2021, when trading in the single equity futures of Etisalat, First Abu Dhabi Bank, International Holding Company, Adnoc Distribution and Aldar Properties commenced. The value of trades on the derivatives market increased by more than 950% from beginning of the year to end of May.

The ADX One strategy was launched at the start of 2021 and aims to bring a broader offering of products and services to market, along with state-of-the-art infrastructure in partnership with global market leaders. The market capitalisation of the exchange recently exceeded AED2 trillion for the first time, supported by a series of listings and increased international investment. At the same time, the FTSE ADX 15 Index (FADX 15) is up 14% year to date, making it one of the best performing equity indexes in the worldm, the statement said. - TradeArabia News Service
MOSCOW, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The BRICS countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, have been making significant contributions to improving global economic governance and promoting global economic recovery, a Russian expert has said.

Amid the complicated world situation, the BRICS cooperation mechanism will play an important role in dealing with external challenges, resolving energy and food crises, and propelling global economic growth, said Rosalia Varfalovskaya, leading researcher of the Center for China Socio-Economic Research, the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The BRICS countries, located in different parts of the world, have ample human resources and great economic potential and occupy a pivotal position in the global industrial chain, Varfalovskaya said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

A huge amount of economic, technological and financial resources have been accumulated since the BRICS cooperation mechanism was established, she noted.

The open model of "BRICS Plus" will further unleash the potential of economic cooperation, thus pushing ahead with economic development in the world, Varfalovskaya explained.

She recalled that the New Development Bank, established by the BRICS countries, announced in May that from 2022 to 2026, it will provide 30 billion U.S. dollars of financial support for member countries.

"The funds will finance projects in these countries in the fields of energy and food security, the development of payment systems, climate change, healthcare and transport infrastructure affected by the current global crisis," she said.

While some Western countries are wielding the weapon of sanctions, the BRICS countries promote cooperation among its members and oppose sanctions that are illegal and contrary to common economic sense, Varfalovskaya noted.

The Russian scholar stressed the importance of strengthening partnership in international business and exploring institutional innovation to create a new pattern of global development.

She considers as "promising" the prospects of BRICS countries' cooperation with other integration organizations like the Eurasian Economic Union and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur). 
MOSCOW, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Russia Markus Ederer on Tuesday to protest against the restrictions on cargo transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of the Russian territory, it said in a statement.

The ministry informed Ederer about the "inadmissibility of such actions" and the consequences, adding that such actions violate the legal and political obligations of the EU and will lead to an escalation of tensions.

The ministry demanded the restrictions be lifted immediately, saying retaliation would follow if cargo transit was not restored.

Lithuania announced last week that it would ban the rail transit of goods subject to EU sanctions through its territory to the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the Lithuanian charge d'affaires and demanded the restrictions be immediately lifted, calling them "provocative" and "openly hostile." 
ANKARA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces on Tuesday detained at least 213 suspects across the country in a large-scale operation against narcotics, the country's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters.

The operation was part of the southern Diyarbakir-based operation, Soylu said in southeast Turkey's Diyarbakir city, adding that weapons were seized in the raids, along with drugs and money.

The police teams staged simultaneous actions in Turkey's largest city Istanbul, northwestern Bursa, central Eskisehir, eastern Erzurum and Van, southeastern Diyarbakir, Batman, Sanliurfa, Mus, Bitlis, and Mardin cities.

Over 4,200 security forces made up of police and gendarmerie forces, stormed 292 addresses, including those of the ringleaders of drug dealers, according to the authorities.

Prior to the operation, an investigation was launched eight months ago to arrest the members of an organization, who transported synthetic drugs produced in Iran from the border provinces to Diyarbakir and distributed them to surrounding provinces, the state-run TRT broadcaster reported.

The raids were Turkey's most comprehensive operation to date against street drug dealers, said the TRT.

Turkish security services have been carrying out several operations against drug trafficking, which officials claim is used to fund the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group that Ankara says plays a role in international drug trafficking.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for over 30 years. 
ST. PETERSBURG, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) concluding last week has signaled the failure of the unilateral sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other Western countries, analysts and government officials say.

The forum, held on June 15-18, brought together political and business figures from over 130 countries and regions, who shared their ideas on major challenges facing the world economy and offered their solutions.

Despite the U.S. boycott and the absence of many European countries, this year's forum has seen 14,000 participants and 691 business contracts worth 5.6 trillion rubles (about 100 billion U.S. dollars) signed, with all indexes showing increase compared with last year's event, according to the Roscongress Foundation, organizer of the forum.

During a plenary session at the forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the West has been imposing an unprecedented number of sanctions upon Russia at an unprecedented speed, yet the Western countries' "economic blitzkrieg" against Russia was doomed to fail from the beginning while sanctions as a weapon have proved to be a double-edged sword.

Putin emphasized that despite efforts that are currently being taken by some countries to maintain a unipolar world order, this era is over and the arrival of a multilateral world system is inevitable.

This year's event demonstrated Russia's self-sufficiency and its capability of responding to external pressure under a complex international situation, said Anton Kobyakov, adviser to the Russian President and executive secretary of the organizing committee of the forum.

As many U.S. and European companies continue to leave the Russian market, Russia has decided not to limit its partnerships and to shift its focus to emerging markets, analysts here say.

Topics through conferences during the forum showed that Russia has been focused on expanding cooperation with BRICS countries and the Commonwealth of Independent States, and looking for opportunities for further cooperation with Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said Russia was willing to work with the Eurasian Economic Union and other multilateral frameworks such as the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in order to strengthen cooperation in scientific and technological innovation and green energy, and to further promote regional integration for further development.

Mikhail Myasnikovich, chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, believes that the current global economic order is undergoing a transformation, and the establishment of the Greater Eurasian Partnership is conducive to solving the problems and addressing challenges currently facing Russia.

He added that Russia is willing to strengthen cooperation with other countries in infrastructure fields such as payment settlement, logistics and transportation.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Turkey can serve as a logistics hub for Russia to import goods from third countries and export Russian goods. 
HOUSTON, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 5,000 delegates attending Texas GOP Convention over the weekend have overwhelmingly passed a resolution rejecting the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, according to a statement on the Republican Party of Texas website on Monday.

"We hold that acting President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was not legitimately elected by the people of the United States," the resolution stated.

"We believe that the 2020 election violated Article 1 and 2 of the U.S. Constitution, that various secretaries of state illegally circumvented their state legislatures in conducting their elections in multiple ways, including by allowing ballots to be received after November 3, 2020," the resolution read.

It added that they believe substantial election fraud in key metropolitan areas significantly affected the results in five key states in favor of Biden.

"Texas Republicans rightly have no faith in the 2020 election results, and we don't care how many times the elites tell us we have to," Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi said in the statement.

The newly adopted Texas Republicans' 2022 platform, outlined in a 40-page document, also called on the United States to leave the United Nations.

"The United Nations is a detriment to the sovereignty of the United States and other countries; because of this we support ... Our withdrawal from the current United Nations," the platform announced.

"Texas retains the right to secede from the United States, and the Texas Legislature should be called upon to pass a referendum consistent thereto," the document continued, accusing the federal government of impairing Texas' right of self-government.

The Republicans in the second largest U.S. state, where the third worst mass school shooting in U.S. history just happened weeks ago, also asserted that "all gun control is a violation of the Second Amendment and our God given rights," straightly rejecting a new bipartisan gun proposal in the U.S. Capitol.

The platform also called for enacting "legislation to abolish abortion by immediately securing the right to life and equal protection of the laws to all preborn children from the moment of fertilization."

"We can't compromise with Democrats who have a different and incompatible vision for our future," said Rinaldi. "We need to be a bold and unapologetic conservative party."

Measures adopted by the party's platform at the convention are not set laws, rather they act as a "mission statement" of sorts for the party over the next two years, said a report from local newspaper The Houston Chronicle, adding that Texas can't legally secede from the United States in a fact check.

Thousands of individuals, mostly former President Donald Trump's supporters, stormed the U.S. Capitol and disrupted a joint session of Congress in the process of affirming the 2020 presidential election results on Jan. 6, 2021. Five deaths have been linked by authorities to the mayhem.

A House committee led by Democrats is investigating the riot, the worst attack on the U.S. Congress in more than 200 years. However, as conspiracy theories and disinformation abound, the country's political divide appears to be widening ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. 
South actress Nayanthara has been in the news after she tied the knot with filmmaker Vignesh Sivan on June 9. The couple has also arranged a grand wedding between close friends and relatives in Tamil Nadu, its photos were all over the social media. After the wedding, the couple is now on a honeymoon in Thailand, from where Vignesh has shared some romantic photos of himself with his wife. In these photos, it can be seen that Nayantara and Vignesh Sivan, who arrived in Thailand on their honeymoon, are seen lost in each other.

Meanwhile , Nayantara is looking very bold with yellow atyer by creating a high bun of hair. At the same time, Vignesh looks casual in green trousers with black tea. Vignesh has become very cozy by putting his arms in the arms of his wife sitting on the chair on the side of the pool in the middle of the rising sun. Sharing these photos, Nayanthara wrote in the caption - With my Tharam in Thailand. These romantic pictures of the couple are being liked by the fans and they are also engaged in commenting and giving their reaction to it.

Reports say that Nayanthara is a well-known actress of South films. People are very fond of their beauty and acting. At the same time, Nayanthara is soon going to come to Bollywood to beat the hearts of the people. She is all set to make her Bollywood debut with the film Jawan opposite superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

Rajinikanth shares emotional audio in the name of fans, know what is special?

Salman khan is excited about No Entry 2, Anees Bazmee reveals

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Croatias remarkable national journey is a source of hope for Ukraine 21 June, 10:17 AM

I recently had a fascinating chat with my colleague, Darjan Milutinovic. We discussed a country fighting for its freedom at a time when its independence was denied by a far more powerful neighbor.

This adversary launched a full-scale invasion with a much larger army and occupied a quarter of the country while destroying entire cities and committing war crimes. People experienced mass murder, torture and rape, with citizens herded into camps.

The countrys economy collapsed but the people fought on, buoyed by a strong vision of a brighter future.

 

This sounds exactly like Ukraines current experience, but it is actually the story of Croatia in the early 1990s.

In 1991, Europes biggest conflict since WWII erupted in the Balkans when the Yugoslavian military invaded Croatia after it declared independence. Serbia opposed the secession and sought to claim Croatian lands populated by ethnic Serbs.

After an initial attempt to occupy Croatia failed, a self-proclaimed Serbia-backed entity was established within Croatia occupying 26% of the country.

In 1995, Croatia launched two major offensives and regained control over the occupied regions of the country. Despite this success, the cost of the conflict was huge. From a pre-war population of four million, around 15,000 civilians and soldiers were killed or missing.

More than half a million people were displaced. Economic losses were equally severe, with GDP falling by half during the first year of the conflict alone. Meanwhile, infrastructure damaged was estimated at approximately EUR 250 billion, or five times Croatias annual GDP.

In every single category, these figures are strikingly similar to the costs inflicted on Ukraine during the first four months of todays ongoing Russian invasion.

Since the end of the Balkan Wars, Croatia has made huge progress. It has undergone a transformation from a war-torn country to a high-income EU member state and, after Slovenia, is now the most developed country in the region.

Read also: Diane Francis EU candidate status for Ukraine is the ideal response to Russian aggression

The celebration of Croatias Statehood Day this year coincided with a historic milestone for Croatia; the European Commission (EC) and the ECB published a Convergence Report which concluded that Croatia is the only non-euro EU country ready to implement the EURO from 2023.

The EC also concluded that Croatia no longer suffers from macroeconomic imbalances and can be excluded from the Macro Imbalances Procedure (MIP). Croatia is now expected to join the Schengen zone and become an OECD member in the near future.

Reaching this point was not easy. For a quarter of a century, Croatian governments have had to tackle challenges including rebuilding the country, establishing a sensible monetary regime, and handling successive economic crises.

Through it all, Croatias strong commitment to EU integration has served as a guiding light that has helped steer the country toward more prosperous times.

The parallels between Croatias earlier predicament and Ukraines current plight are immediately apparent.

Both countries were forced to fight for their freedom, identity, and independence against a more powerful neighbor. Thankfully, todays Ukraine also shares the same sense of national unity and solidarity that proved so crucial in Croatias earlier success.

Croatians have enormous empathy for Ukraines suffering because it is so painfully familiar. Indeed, this emotional bond has been evident ever since Russian aggression against Ukraine first began with the seizure of Crimea and invasion of eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Following the start of Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, Croatia has provided humanitarian and military aid, with individual Croatians volunteering to help defend Ukraine.

While Ukrainians are very grateful for all this material and moral support, we believe Croatia offers something even more precious: hope.

Croatias national journey is a source of inspiration for all Ukrainians. It tells us that victory over a far stronger adversary is possible. It gives us reason to believe that occupied lands can be liberated and reintegrated. And it allows us to look with growing confidence toward a future within the European family of nations.

Ukrainians expect to receive EU candidate nation status in the coming days, but nobody in Ukraine is under any illusions about the difficulties that lie ahead. The war with Russia is far from over. Ukraine is fighting not only for its independence but for its very existence.

Once this existential threat is overcome, Ukraine must then meet the demanding criteria for EU membership. This historic process may take time, but the journey made by Croatia gives us hope and inspiration.

This column was first published by the Atlantic Council. NV is republishing it with permission.

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Kathmandu, June 21

Airline Operators Association of Nepal has warned it will stop all commercial flights from Wednesday if its demands are not met.

The association, on Tuesday, presented five demands that it says are necessary for the betterment of the aviation sector.

Its first demand is for the government to take back its decision to increase the fees like passenger service charge and landing, parking and navigation fees.

The association has also asked for a space for hangers dedicated to helicopters where companies can repair them. They also want the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal to provide them with a helipad from where they can regularly operate flights.

The association has also asked CAAN to withdraw its provision to force helicopter and airline companies to set an operating base and start and end their flights from the respective airport it chooses as their base.

The association also wants CAAN to ask the government to help make aviation safety better in Nepal so that the European Union Air Safety Agency can remove it from its list of dangerous countries. It said that this was one of the reasons why Nepals tourism industry is not thriving.
Kathmandu, June 21

Television personality Rabi Lamichhane announced the formation of a new party  Nepal Independent Party, at a programme held in Rastriya Sabha Griha in Kathmandu on Monday.

The election symbol for his party will be a bell.

Lamichhane yet did not say from where he would be contesting the next parliamentary elections.

He also urged other independent candidates to join his party.

Rabi Lamichhane said he had to form a party to collect proportional representational votes from all over the country.

He said that he would conduct a preliminary election within the party before giving out names of people who would contest the local, provincial and general elections.

Rabi Lamichhane said his party would also not have any sister organisations and that the party would only have members and no cadres.

Lamichhane also stated that 50 per cent of the members of his party would be young men and women.

Lamichhane on June 16 had announced that he was resigning from his post as managing director at Galaxy 4k TV and entering mainstream politics.
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and ADQ, the UAE-based entities, have signed the Rabat Declaration extending support to the first Africa Sovereign Investors Forum (ASIF), organised by Ithmar Capital, Moroccos sovereign strategic investment fund.

The Rabat Declaration acknowledges the establishment of ASIF as a facilitator and a catalyser of bankable investment opportunities.

The event brought together the regions leading sovereign wealth funds (SWFSs) to discuss and drive transformational development projects and strengthen inter-Africa relations.

Improved collaboration

Held in Rabat under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, ASIF set the foundation for improved collaboration among multiple stakeholders to forge multidimensional partnerships that will contribute to the socio-economic progress of the continent.

All the main African sovereign wealth funds participated in the forum and signed a memorandum of understanding to activate continuous dialogue and develop transformational and concrete investment projects.

In addition to ADIA and ADQ, Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) were among the entities from the GCC that attended the inaugural ceremony.

ADIA, ADQ and KIA expressed their confidence in ASIFs framework for unlocking investment opportunities that meet the requirements of international investors while stimulating economic development in Africa for the benefit of its future generations.-- TradeArabia News Service
Home  Entertainment  Music  The Midnight Riders: Pioneering the Nepali blues rock music to lead it to the next level

Twelve years back, the trio of Deep Shamsher Rana, Sunny Mahat and Sanjeev BK, popularly known as Jimi Blues, encountered each other. They decided to jam up because they had a similar interest in music. Later, they chose to form a band and named it The Midnight Riders (TMR). The band was formed just for fun, but as time passed, they started taking it seriously.

The band then played various genres from 70s pop to rock and many others. But lastly, they decided to rest on blues-rock (or postmodern blues) as it was something that the band members associated themselves with. Its sound pleased them musically.

However, in the context of Nepal, there are relatively very few crowds who listen to such music. Yet, this is not an issue for The Midnight Riders. The band love what they are playing, so they have been continuing it for the last decade.

Blues in every sound

Jimi Blues, vocalist and guitarist of The Midnight Riders. Photo: Aryan Dhimal.

Sunny Mahat, the bassist of The Midnight Riders, says the band are okay with whatever they are doing. Since there is a very small market of blues music and since very few people understand such a kind of music, there are only a handful of blues artists. But, not everyone needs to listen to all types of music.

He also says that the taste of music changes in every generation. In the context of Nepal, till now, there is no generation that only listens to blues music, but hopefully in the future things will change.

Similarly, Jimi Blues, the vocalist and guitarist of the band, also presents his arguments behind the existence of a few blues artists. He says, The ones who earlier played blues music could not continue it for long and they were replaced by other artists with different styles of music.

However, as of late, according to The Midnight Riders, their listeners are increasing gradually. If you go to any pubs in Thamel, you can see the audiences of various ages enjoying the blues-based music, adds Jimi Blues.

Blues is the kind of genre that every other genre pursues in their music. The element of blues can be heard in a lot of popular music of recent days, says Mahat. Music like rock and roll and blues never go out of its style.

Hope for revival

Sunny Mahat, bassist of The Midnight Riders. Photo: Aryan Dhimal.

The Midnight Riders believe todays listeners are more musically mature, which is also one of the major reasons behind the increase in the number of their listeners.

The craze of blues music has even dispersed outside the Kathmandu valley.

Surprisingly, the audience of blues bands outside the Kathmandu valley has a better quality. The sense of respect they give to our music is commendable, says Mahat.

The band have found their followers from far-flung areas and other countries as well. Hence, they are hopeful about the revival of blues music in Nepal.

Nepal mostly remains backwards in following the global trends. Globally, in many parts of the world, people have started teaching blues music to their children. Likewise, in those countries, the blues bands have started making space in mainstream music as well.

The global trend in music has made the band optimistic, say the members.

Untitled album

Jay Ram, drummer of The Midnight Riders. Photo: Aryan Dhimal.

The band with a current line-up of Jimi Blues on vocals and guitar, Sunny Mahat on bass guitar and Jay Ram Karki on drums are celebrating their 12th anniversary on Tuesday.

In a couple of months, the band are coming up with their second album, which is now in the post-production phase. According to the band, the album sounds heavier than their debut album Baiguni Lai Blues Le Marnu Parchha released in 2019.

This time, we have given extra effort to production work, says Mahat. Adding, The album is also an improved version of The Midnight Riders.

This time, the album includes songs that feature the heavy and funky sides of blues music and many more.

The lyrics, composition and music are very different this time,  says Karki. However, we havent named the album yet.

The album is being recorded and produced by Satish Sthapit. The band consider Sthapit as their backbone, adding the album would be impossible without his support.


Description

Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Summer Films 2022

This summer, the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce its continuation of The Finest in World Cinema program. Every Tuesday and Wednesday night from June 7 to August 31, the WHBPAC will present a carefully curated program of first run, independent and foreign films for the enjoyment, edification, and enrichment of the community.

Andrew Botsford of Quogue will once again introduce our summer films each Tuesday night and discuss them afterward, often with guest commentators, followed by an informal audience discussion.

Most recently a visiting professor and communications consultant for the graduate arts program at Stony Brook Southampton, Andrew was for 20 years the associate editor of The Southampton Press and editor of its Arts & Living section. He has written extensively about film, theatre, and the arts. The host of the annual Hamptons Doc Fest in Sag Harbor, he has been an actor, director and producer with the Hampton Theatre Company in Quogue since 1985.

This is Andrews 16th year of hosting the WHBPAC summer film series.

Please note: due to a prior commitment, Andrew will not be leading the discussion on August 23.

All screenings will have subtitles in English, no matter the language presented by the actors.

LOST ILLUSIONS

June 21 & 22 @ 7:30pm

Directed by Xavier Giannoli

In 1821, Lucien de Rubempre (Cesar winner Benjamin Voisin) arrives in Paris as a sensitive, and idealistic young poet determined to write a reputation-making novel. Instead, he finds himself swept into journalism, whose influence and reach is booming with the help of the printing press, widely available of late. Under the mentorship of cynical editor Etienne Lousteau (Cesar winner Vincent Lacoste), Lucien agrees to write rave theater reviews for bribes, achieving material success at the expense of his conscience. With this sweeping adaptation of one of Balzacs greatest novels, Xavier Giannoli crafts a contemporary tale of corruption amidst an early form of fake news.

149 minutes | French | NR

Trailer: https://youtu.be/6ltI1Zuar_g
Airlines body warns of fallout from Airbus-Qatar Airways dispute FILE PHOTO: A Qatar Airways Airbus A350 XWB aircraft is displayed at the Singapore Airshow at Changi Exhibition Center

DOHA (Reuters) - A senior airline industry official criticised a decision by Airbus to revoke a plane order from Qatar Airways, saying the move would encourage airlines to take their own decisions to cancel deals whenever unhappy with planemaker performance.

Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, issued the warning as the head of Qatar Airways told the same news conference that manufacturers should not take advantage of "market dominance" to bully airlines.

Airbus and Qatar Airways are locked in a dispute over the A350 that spilled over to the A321neo earlier this year when Airbus revoked a deal for the smaller plane on the grounds that the two deals were contractually linked.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher, Editing by Jamie Freed)
AMSTERDAM, June 21, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" (Excellent) of Enel Insurance N.V. (EINV) (Netherlands), a captive of Enel S.p.A. (Enel), a multinational electric utility company based in Italy. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect EINVs balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

EINVs balance sheet strength assessment is supported by its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). The captive benefits from a liquid investment portfolio and a low dependence on reinsurance. In 2021, EUR 250 million was injected into the captive to support its significantly higher retention levels under the parents new insurance programme. While EINVs risk-adjusted capitalisation is expected to remain at the strongest level, the higher retention levels increase the potential for volatility.

EINVs operating performance assessment reflects AM Bests expectation that EINVs prospective combined ratio will remain within the captives through-the-cycle target of between 95% and 100%. In 2021, EINV reported a net profit after tax of EUR 15.8 million (2020: EUR 3.5 million loss). The improvement was driven both by better technical results, with combined ratios decreasing to 83.2% in 2021 (2020: 101.5%), and non-technical results, which benefited from foreign exchange gains of EUR 3.7 million (2020: EUR 4.7 million loss).

As a single-parent captive, EINV is well-integrated within the Enel group and plays a fundamental role in managing the groups risk exposures. The captives strategic importance to the parent was confirmed with the significant capital injection and increase in net retention in 2021.

Story continues

AM Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated throughout the world. For current Bests Credit Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative risk transfer insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2022 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220621006080/en/

Contacts

Giannina Carbajal Ortiz

Financial Analyst

+31 20 308 5428

giannina.carbajal@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Pierre Tournier

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Jeff Mango

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Strategy & Communications

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jeffrey.mango@ambest.com
An advertising board shows a 5G logo at the International Airport in Zaventem

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -Mobile operators in Belgium have bid 1.2 billion euros ($1.26 billion) for fifth-generation (5G) mobile licences, the telecoms regulator said on Tuesday.

Proceeds from the auction, which attracted bids from five operators, were 468.5 million euros higher than the minimum price, the regulator said.

The Belgian regulator cleared the five entrants to the auction in March, after the government said it would encourage a new entrant on the market to increase competition with the largest operators Proximus, Orange Belgium and Telenet's BASE.

The two new entrants in the auction, CityMesh Mobile and Network Research Belgium, both obtained licences for frequencies that can be used for 5G applications.

($1 = 0.9507 euros)

(Reporting by Bart Meijer; editing by Jason Neely)
Straits Research - Market Research Strategy | Strategy Consulting | Business Research | Business Consulting | Market Research

Asia-Pacific is the second-largest contributor to the bioabsorbable stents market because of an increase in the number of people leading sedentary lifestyles, an increase in the prevalence of coronary artery disease, and progress made in the healthcare industry. The global bioabsorbable stents market size was valued at USD 216 million in 2021. It is anticipated to generate USD 365 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.95% during the forecast period (20222030)

New York, United States, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bioabsorbable stents are a specific form of a stent that can disintegrate or reabsorb within the body of the patient. Stents come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. These are employed in various therapeutic situations, including esophageal cancer, gall bladder cancer, and cancers of the abdomen and gastrointestinal system. The bioabsorbable stents assist in the restoration of blood flow and provide support to the blood vessel during the healing process. Furthermore, these stents reabsorb or disappear from the treated location on their own after a few days, which offers advantages such as less late-stent thrombosis.





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Rising Geriatric Population and Advanced Technologies Propel the Market

Heart disease is the leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide. Three-quarters of deaths from heart disorders occur in low to middle nations. The rise in the global elderly population is also a significant driver driving the global bioabsorbable stent market, as older people are more prone to cardiovascular disease. Since aging causes changes in the blood vessels present in the heart, people over the age of 65 are more likely to acquire coronary artery disease than younger people. As a result, the rising frequency of heart illness, combined with an aging population, is driving up the need for bioabsorbable stents.

Physicians employ the latest devices to perform cardiac surgery on patients, such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) operations. Several newer technologies are gaining traction and being utilized by various healthcare practitioners. With the help of bioabsorbable stents, correct blood flow will be restored, and blood will gradually be reabsorbed in the body, allowing for natural restoration of vascular function and repair of artery walls. Bioabsorbable stents decrease the risk of many procedures such as acute and sub-acute elastic recoil, intimal hyperplasia and adverse vascular remodeling, and balloon angioplasty coronary dissections. As a result of these technological breakthroughs in bioabsorbable stents, the market is projected to expand.





Need for Non-Invasive Approach and Improving Health Infrastructure Spur the Market

The global market is expected to develop due to the rising need for minimally invasive surgical procedures and increased usage of percutaneous coronary intervention procedures. A minimally invasive surgical procedure is one in which a little incision replaces a large hole. Percutaneous coronary intervention is a minimally invasive surgical treatment in which angioplasty is performed, and bioabsorbable stents are implanted in the patient's body. Furthermore, by 2026, the incidence of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatments is anticipated to reach one million. As a result, the demand for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a less invasive technique, is booming.

The global market is growing due to an increase in investment and activity in R&D by various medical fields to discover and develop new solutions for bioabsorbable stents with precision and rapid response. Investment in the R&D sector is a venture strategy for generating unique products and long-term company and development growth. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) data, global R&D investment has surpassed USD 1.7 trillion, with around ten countries accounting for 80% of the total. The market is expected to rise during the projected period due to government regulations governing the design and deployment of sophisticated stents, including bioabsorbable stents.





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Regional Analysis of the Global Bioabsorbable Stents Market

North America is anticipated to hold the largest market share of USD 153 million by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. Developments in technology and research in North America for bioabsorbable stents and an increase in the proportion of elderly patients with coronary artery disease and pulmonary disease will increase the market for bioabsorbable stents in the years to come. Asia-Pacific is the second contributor to the bioabsorbable stents market because of an increase in the number of people leading sedentary lifestyles, an increase in the prevalence of coronary artery disease, and progress made in the healthcare industry. Asia-Pacific is anticipated to be worth USD 120 million at a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period.

The bioabsorbable stents market in Europe is expected to witness steady growth, with a value of USD 40 million in 2021. The growing incidence of coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease, as well as the adoption of unhealthy lifestyle choices, the increase in the geriatric population, the increase in the number of approvals for bioabsorbable stents, the presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure , and the surge in the number of approvals for bioabsorbable stents, are all major factors driving the market forward. LAMEA has the lowest market. In 2021, the market revenue was valued at USD 18 million, with Brazil being their major contributor. Firms' extensive Research and development spending resulted in technological breakthroughs, which boosted the multi-functionality, simplicity of use, and scalability of bioabsorbable stents , resulting in market expansion.





Key Highlights

The global bioabsorbable stents market was valued at USD 216 million in 2021. It is anticipated to generate USD 365 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.95% during the forecast period (20222030).

Based on the types of biomaterials used, the two subsegments are polymeric stent and metallic stent. The polymeric stent is the major shareholder in the global bioabsorbable stents market. It is projected to generate USD 194 million at a CAGR of 5.4% by 2030.

Application-wise, the most significant share of the market is held by coronary artery disease. The global market for coronary artery disease is projected to generate USD 278 million at a CAGR of 6.7% by 2030.

The bioabsorbable stents market is segmented as hospitals and cardiac centers based on the end-users. The global market for the hospital is projected to generate USD 330 million at a CAGR of 6.2% by 2030.

Geographically, the market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. The market in North America is expected to be valued at USD 153 million at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period.





Get a Free Sample Copy of This Report @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/bioabsorbable-stents-market/request-sample





Competitive Players in the Global Bioabsorbable Stents Market

The key players in the Global Bioabsorbable Stents Market are

Arterial Remodeling Technologies

Arterius Limited

B. Braun Melsungen AG

Biotronik SE & Co.KG, Boston Scientific Corporation

Elixir Medical Corporation

Kyoto Medical Planning Co. Ltd

Microport Scientific Corporation

Reva Medical Inc.

Terumo Corporation.





Global Bioabsorbable Stents Market: Segmentation

By Biomaterial

Polymeric Stents

Metallic Stents

By Application

Coronary Artery Disease

Peripheral Artery Disease

By End-User

Hospitals

Cardiac Centers

By Regions

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

LAMEA





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With our reports, understand the market better through the latest versions of data presentation, unlike the conventional excel sheets and data pointers.

Study the market happenings in a more dramatic and exciting way through interactive dashboards and graphical representations, which will make you understand the market easily with approximate facts and figures.

Visit Straits Research to get a FREE Sample Report and know-how we interactively present the data, unlike the traditional sheets with immense data that makes it havoc of a task to understand.





TABLE OF CONTENT

1 Introduction

1.1 Market Definition

1.2 Market Scope

2 Research Methodology

2.1 Primary Research

2.2 Research Methodology

2.3 Assumptions & Exclusions

2.4 Secondary Data Sources

3 Executive Summary

4 Market Overview

4.1 Report Segmentation & Scope

4.2 Value Chain Analysis: Bioabsorbable Stents Market

4.2.1 Vendor Matrix

4.3 Key Market Trends

4.3.1 Drivers

4.3.2 Restraints

4.3.3 Opportunities

4.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis

4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.4.3 Threat of Substitution

4.4.4 Threat of New Entrants

4.4.5 Competitive Rivalry

4.5 Environment & Regulatory Landscape

4.6 Forecast Factors & Relevance of Impact

4.7 Macro-Economic & Geopolitical Scenario

4.8 Parent Market Overview

4.9 Technology Landscape

4.10 Market Share Analysis

4.11 Potential Venture Analysis

4.12 Regional Price Trends

4.13 Raw Material Trends

4.14 Cost Structure Analysis

4.14.1 Labor Cost

4.14.2 Consumables

4.14.3 Maintenance Cost

4.15 Covid-19 Impact Analysis:

4.15.1 Pre and Post Covid-19 Market Scenario Analysis

4.15.2 Market Recovery Timeline and Challenge

4.15.3 Measures Taken by Top Players

4.15.4 Quarterly Market Revenue and Growth Forecast till 2021

4.15.4.1 North America

4.15.4.2 Europe

4.15.4.3 Asia-Pacific

4.15.4.4 Central and South America and the Caribbean

4.15.4.5 The Middle East and Africa

5 Biomaterial Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.1.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

5.2 Polymeric Stents

5.2.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

5.3 Metallic Stents

5.3.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

6 Application Overview

6.1 Introduction

6.1.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

6.2 Coronary Artery Disease

6.2.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

6.3 Peripheral Artery Disease

6.3.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

7 End User Overview

7.1 Introduction

7.1.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

7.2 Hospitals

7.2.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

7.3 Cardiac Centers

7.3.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

8 Regional Overview

8.1 Introduction

8.1.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

8.2 North America

8.2.1 Economic Overview

8.2.2 Market Scenario

8.2.3 U.S.

8.2.4 Canada

8.2.5 Mexico

8.3 Central and South America and the Caribbean

8.3.1 Economic Overview

8.3.2 Market Scenario

8.3.3 Brazil

8.3.4 Argentina

8.3.5 Colombia

8.3.6 Rest of Central and South America and the Caribbean

8.4 Europe

8.4.1 Economic Overview

8.4.2 Market Scenario

8.4.3 Germany

8.4.4 France

8.4.5 The U.K.

8.4.6 Italy

8.4.7 The Rest Of Europe

8.5 Asia-Pacific (APAC)

8.5.1 Economic Overview

8.5.2 Market Scenario

8.5.3 China

8.5.4 Japan

8.5.5 India

8.5.6 Australia

8.5.7 South Korea

8.5.8 Rest Of APAC

8.6 Middle East

8.6.1 Economic Overview

8.6.2 Market Scenario

8.6.3 South Arabia

8.6.4 The UAE

8.6.5 Qatar

8.6.6 Oman

8.6.7 Turkey

8.6.8 The Rest Of Middle East

8.7 Africa

8.7.1 Economic Overview

8.7.2 Market Scenario

8.7.3 Nigeria

8.7.4 South Africa

8.7.5 The Rest Of Africa

9 Competitive Landscape  Manufacturers & Suppliers

9.1 Competition Dashboard

9.2 Industry Structure

9.3 Arterial Remodeling Technologies

9.3.1 Business Overview

9.3.2 Financial Performance

9.3.3 Recent Developments

9.3.4 Portfolio

9.4 Arterius Limited

9.5 B. Braun Melsungen AG

9.6 Biotronik SE & Co.KG

9.7 Boston Scientific Corporation

9.8 Elixir Medical Corporation

9.9 Kyoto Medical Planning Co. Ltd

9.10 Microport Scientific Corporation

9.11 Reva Medical Inc.

9.12 Terumo Corporation

10 Conclusion & Recommendation

11 Acronyms & Abbreviations





Read the full Report Description with Table of Content and Figure @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/bioabsorbable-stents-market/toc





Market News

In April 2021 , MicroPort launched the Castor Branched Stent-Graft system in Italy, which is used for aortic arch repair by minimally invasive treatment.

In March 2021 , B Braun collaborated with Infrared to accelerate the clinical trial of SeQurnt Pleases Rex and utilize both It resources for clinical expertise and financial resources.

In March 2021 , Elixir Medical announced the INFINITY SWEDEHEART randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the DynamX Coronary Bioadaptor system, the first coronary artery implant to adopt vessel physiology.

In September 2020 , Terumo launched the TREO abdominal stent graft system to increase its product portfolio to treat a patient suffering from abdominal aortic aneurysms.

In June 2020, BIOTRONIK was awarded a group purchasing contract from Vizient to enhance and access biotronik vascular intervention solutions like bare-metal stents, increasing its business segments.

News Media

Biodegradable Stents Market: Future of Angioplasty

High Prevalence of Chronic Diseases is Surge Demand of Occlusion Devices Market





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(Bloomberg) -- The largest party in Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghis governing coalition split on Tuesday after Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio quit the group over its refusal to back military support for Ukraine.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Di Maio told reporters in Rome that he was leaving the Five Star Movement, which he used to lead, and would start a new parliamentary group. The decision follows days of back and forth with former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, the current Five Star leader.

The move is the biggest political shake-up in Draghis government since he became premier last year, but it does not threaten his majority in both houses of Parliament, where his coalition has a comfortable majority. Conte has signaled he intends to continue to support Draghis government.

But following the shake-up, Matteo Salvinis League will become the largest party in the coalition, giving him a stronger voice on his core policy platforms, including blocking tax rises and pushing for more state aid.

Conte is opposed to sending weapons to Ukraine, conflicting with the governments stance. Draghi has been one of the most outspoken backers for the country and traveled to Kyiv earlier this month to voice support for Ukraines bid to join the European Union.

Five Star had the duty to support the government without ambiguity, Di Maio said. At this historical juncture, supporting European and Atlanticist values cannot be considered a fault.

The debate has divided both Italys public opinion and Draghis wide coalition government. The rift widened this week ahead of a closely watched parliamentary debate on Italys position on the war.

Di Maio now plans to set up a separate parliamentary group. At least 60 out of 227 Five Star lawmakers are set to join him, according to news agency Ansa. Conte instead is considering leaving Draghis coalition and offering his support only on ad hoc basis, according to people familiar with the matter. Five Star said in a statement they had no plan to quit the government.

Story continues

Read More: Draghis Predecessor May Quit Italian Coalition Over Ukraine

Five Star came first in Italys 2018 elections but has since fallen dramatically in the polls. While Draghi on Tuesday vowed to continue providing aid and defended the European Unions sanctions regime, 57-year-old Conte has called on the government to focus on reviving peace talks and halt weapons deliveries.

The poor performance of the party under Contes leadership has been exacerbating internal tensions. With his stance on the war in Ukraine, Conte has harmed Italys international image without even succeeding in shoring up the partys electoral fortunes, Di Maio said.

(Updates with Draghi prospects, League in third and fourth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
eCom Babes

eCom Babes is the worlds leading educational platform and support community helping women succeed with online boutiques. Their new product pipeline determines which products sell best online.

Dorda, Puerto Rico, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- One of the biggest eCommerce hurdles is knowing which products to sell. Now, eCom Babes, the worlds #1 educational platform for female eCommerce entrepreneurs, is demystifying that process with their cutting edge pipeline that helps retailers know which products are selling the best online.

After years as a successful eCommerce entrepreneur, Cortney Fletcher launched eCom Babes in 2018. She was concerned by the lack of resources for female entrepreneurs as well as the high barriers to entry in the industry. She decided to create a support structure with what is now one of the worlds only female-focused online eCommerce training programs supported by a robust Facebook community. To date, she has helped 10,000 female founders launch and scale successful online boutiques.

eCom Babes focuses on two barriers that traditionally keep women out of eCommerce: the heavy upfront investment in inventory and the need to feed pricey payper-click advertising campaigns to get noticed online. Its solution to these two problems is a unique strategy known as connective eCommerce. This innovative method relies on a proprietary combination of affiliate marketing and sourcing products without needing to pay for inventory to take the hassles and financial risks out of online retail.

Our product pipeline will be just one more revolutionary way that we are supporting our community of female entrepreneurs, said Cortney. We hone in on the top-trafficked online stores and then determine which of their products are selling best. This allows our sellers to leverage this success.

The pipeline is backed by a full research team and cutting edge software that take the guesswork out of inventory selection.

Story continues

As weve piloted the pipeline, it has been driving up sales significantly for our community members, said Cortney. Theyre able to hone in on the most profitable inventory items and avoid wasting time with things that wont sell as well. Our competition isnt doing anything like this, and its making all the difference in helping our sellers buildup to that six figure mark.

Cortney mentors her eCom Babes members through weekly Q&A sessions and a tight knit Facebook community with more than 4,500 members from nearly 50 industries.

To learn more about the eCom Babes online training course or support community, or to leverage the power of the new product pipeline for tracking product success in an unprecedented way, visit www.eComBabes.com.



Medic Contact:

eCom Babes - 855-736-6285

Earnings and income representations made by eComBabes are aspirational statements only of earnings potential. Results are not typical and results will vary.




Fireweed Zinc Ltd.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FIREWEED ZINC LTD. (Fireweed or the Company) (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQB: FWEDF) is pleased to announce it is rebranding and transitioning with a name change to FIREWEED METALS CORP. Fireweed will now operate as and market itself as Fireweed Metals Corp., but formal adoption of the new name will occur when regulatory approvals are received. Fireweed will continue to trade under the same symbols on stock exchanges (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQB: FWEDF; FSE:20F) and the number of shares outstanding will not change.

The rebranding features a new redesigned website, www.FireweedMetals.com, which launches today. Readers are encouraged to explore the new website which features a new look and new content with enhanced visuals and videos.

Executive Statement

Fireweed CEO Brandon Macdonald stated: Fireweed has quickly grown into much more than a zinc company. The purpose of this rebranding and the new website is to reflect that we are now a leading critical minerals company. Our projects host major deposits of zinc and tungsten, each with unique supply dynamics and compelling demand growth. Our flagship Macmillan Pass Project is one of the largest undeveloped zinc projects in the world. Nearby, our recently acquired Mactung Project is one of the worlds largest and highest grade tungsten deposits. To the north, we have also recently acquired the Gayna River zinc-gallium-germanium project. All our projects are in the safe jurisdiction of Canada. With both zinc and tungsten being designated as critical minerals by Canada, the US, and the EU, Fireweed is positioned to be a significant critical minerals player on the world stage and to help enable the transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy.

New Website

In coordination with the rebranding, Fireweed is pleased to launch a new redesigned website, www.FireweedMetals.com. The new website features a new look and content, and will have new content released regularly. Fireweeds ambition is to have industry leading data transparency, and will be working towards that goal in the coming months. Readers are encouraged to explore the new website and learn more about Fireweed and its projects.

Story continues

Name Change Detailed Information

The name change to Fireweed Metals Corp. was approved by a special resolution at the recent Annual General and Special Meeting of the shareholders held on May 25, 2022 (see Fireweed news release dated June 10, 2022) as well as by the Board of Directors. To finalize the name change, regulatory approvals are needed including TSX Venture Exchange approval. After the name change, Fireweed will continue to trade under the same symbols on stock exchanges (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQB: FWEDF; FSE:20F) but under a new CUSIP number, and the number of shares outstanding will not change.

About Fireweed Metals Corp. (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQB: FWEDF; FSE:20F): Fireweed Metals is a public mineral exploration company on the leading edge of Critical Minerals project development. The Company has three projects located in northern Canada:

Macmillan Pass Zinc-Lead-Silver Project: Fireweed owns 100% of the district-scale 940 km 2 Macmillan Pass project in Yukon, Canada, which is host to the Tom and Jason zinc-lead-silver deposits with current Mineral Resources and a PEA economic study (see Fireweed news releases dated 10 th January 2018, and 23 rd May 2018, respectively, and reports filed on www.sedar.com for details) as well as the Boundary Zone, Boundary Zone West, Tom North Zone and End Zone which have significant zinc-lead-silver mineralization drilled but not yet classified as mineral resources. The project also includes large blocks of adjacent claims with known showings and significant upside exploration potential. Plans for 2022 include a large drill program toward expanded mineral resources and an updated PEA to include large new zones of mineralization defined since 2018 including Boundary Zones.

Mactung Tungsten Project: The Company has a binding Letter of Intent to acquire 100% interest in the 37.6 km 2 Mactung Tungsten Project located adjacent to the Macmillan Pass Project. Mactung contains historic resources that make it one of the largest and highest-grade undeveloped tungsten resources in the world. Located in Canada, it is one of the rare large tungsten resources outside of China. Plans for 2022 include due diligence and validation work on historic data in order to support a new mineral resource estimate followed by a Preliminary Economic Study.

Gayna River Zinc-Gallium-Germanium Project: Fireweed has 100% of the 128.75 km2 Gayna River project located 180 kilometres north of the Macmillan Pass project. It is host to extensive critical minerals mineralization including zinc, gallium and germanium as well as lead and silver, outlined by 28,000 metres of historic drilling and significant upside potential. Plans for 2022 consist of an airborne LiDAR topography survey, ground geophysics survey and historic data compilation.



In Canada, Fireweed (TSXV: FWZ) trades on the TSX Venture Exchange. In the USA, Fireweed (OTCQB: FWEDF) trades on the OTCQB Venture Market for early stage and developing U.S. and international companies and is DTC eligible for enhanced electronic clearing and settlement. The Company is current in its reporting, and undergoes an annual verification and management certification process. Investors can find Real-Time quotes and market information for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com. In Europe, Fireweed (FSE: 20F) trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Additional information about Fireweed and its projects can be found on the Companys website at www.FireweedMetals.com and at www.sedar.com .

ON BEHALF OF FIREWEED METALS CORP.

Brandon Macdonald

CEO & Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements

Forward Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company and its projects that are based on the beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including but not limited to, without limitations, exploration and development risks, expenditure and financing requirements, general economic conditions, changes in financial markets, the ability to properly and efficiently staff the Companys operations, the sufficiency of working capital and funding for continued operations, title matters, First Nations relations, operating hazards, political and economic factors, competitive factors, metal prices, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulations and oversight, permitting, seasonality and weather, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events. Should any one or more risks or uncertainties materialize or change, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and forward-looking statements may vary materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law.

Contact:

Brandon Macdonald

Phone: (604) 646-8361




The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said they were letting the bear go. The deputies said they had no choice but to shoot it.

Two Palm Beach County deputies shot and killed a black bear in Royal Palm Beach on Saturday afternoon after hours of tracking and a standoff with multiple deputies, drones, and FWC officers, authorities said in a news release.

The bear had been sitting 50 feet up a pine tree as deputies waited below for bear trappers to come tranquilize it, a Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office news release says, but the trappers didnt arrive in time.

The FWC said that they werent waiting for bear trappers at all.

A Sheriffs Office deputy originally responded to a bear sighting a little after 8 a.m. He spotted the bear and followed it as it walked into a womans backyard on Belmont Drive, where it proceeded to rest in a tree next to her porch, above her trampoline.

The woman, who has three young children, told law enforcement that she feared for her and her familys life, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office news release.

I just looked out my window and saw a bear on my patio, Sarah Loredo told CBS 12. The worries were simply just keeping my family safe and alerting my neighbors to stay inside. The sheriffs office did a great job of being on site and keeping everyone calm.

The bear eventually left her property and headed to a tree on Crestwood Boulevard, where it would later die.

Meanwhile, FWC officers arrived, joined by a second PBSO deputy and the PBSOs Drone Unit. They located the bear, but thats where accounts conflict.

The police stated that their plan was to keep the bear in the tree until FWC trappers arrived.

After several hours of waiting for a bear trapper and/or a tranquilizer, from FWC, all was met with negative results, the Palm Beach Sheriffs Office news release stated, adding, PBSO was faced with making the decision to discharge their shotguns, striking and killing the bear.

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The FWC account was different.

In this instance we were not waiting for a tranquilizer or trapper since FWC staff determined the best approach was to let the bear leave the area on its own, Arielle Callender, a spokesperson for the FWCs South region, wrote in an email.

She said that the department euthanizes bears only as a last resort, if they pose an immediate threat to people.

This was not one of those situations, said Drew Martin, conservation chair for the Loxahatchee Group of the Sierra Club. He said the bear probably had wandered into the area overnight, looking for food. Palm Beach County is not bear country, and police dont typically have to interact with them.

They could have just let the bear go, Martin said. I think people are overly frightened. Black bears arent that dangerous if they leave them alone.
Leading Spanish infrastructure group Acciona has started the operation and maintenance of Saudi Water Partnership Company's (SWPC) Shuqaiq 3 desalination plant, one of the largest in Saudi Arabia with a production capacity of 450,000 cu m of potable water per day.

Acciona was the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for Shuqaiq 3 Independent Water Project (IWP).

The SWPC commemorated the completion of the construction of Shuqaiq 3 with an open ceremony last week. The event was attended by its CEO Engineer Khaled Al Qureshi, Japans Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Fumio Iwai as well as representatives of Acciona and Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ).

The Saudi utility also awarded Acciona an O&M contract for 25 years.

According to Acciona, the project includes EPC of a large electrical special facility (ESF) to feed the plant with power and some other additional installations from the existing power plants in the vicinity.

A key project in the modernisation of the water sector being carried out by SWPC, the Shuqaiq 3 plant will provide water to some two million inhabitants of Asir and Jizan, an extremely dry region near the border with Yemen.

Acciona, a major player in the region, is currently building four more desalination plants in the KSA. These plants are being implemented using sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO) technology, which is more energy efficient than conventional thermal desalination.

Once all are completed, Acciona will produce 2.5 million cu m of drinking water a day, enough to supply more than 8 million people, almost one-quarter of the population of the country.-TradeArabia News Service
Company Logo

Dublin, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Neurology Devices Market Report 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global neurology devices market is expected to grow from $13.94 billion in 2021 to $15.91 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2%. The market is expected to grow to $25.75 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8%.



Major companies in the neurology devices market include Medtronic Inc., Stryker Corporation, Terumo Corporation, Integra Lifesciences, Boston Scientific Corporation, Penumbra, Inc., B. Braun Group, Nevro, LivaNova, PLC, and Natus Medical.



The neurology devices market consists of sales of neurology devices and related services by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that produce neurology devices to diagnose and treat neurological diseases.



The main types of neurology devices are cerebrospinal fluid management (CSF) devices and equipment, interventional neurology devices and equipment, neurosurgery devices and equipment, and neurostimulation devices. The neurostimulation device is a device that generates the electrical impulses placed under the skin of specific parts of the patient's body. The type of expenditures is public and private. The products included are instruments/equipment and disposables. The various end-users involved are hospitals and clinics, diagnostic laboratories, and others.



North America was the largest region in the global neurology devices market in 2021. Asia Pacific was the second largest region in the global neurology devices market. Africa. was the smallest region in the global neurology devices market.



The increase in the patient pool due to the rising geriatric population globally contributed significantly to the growth of the neurology devices market during the historic period. According to the Population Reference Bureau, the share of the population over the age of 65 in the global population increased to 9% in 2019.

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The global population aged 65 years or over was 703 million in 2019. This rise in the geriatric population increased the demand for medical care and drove the healthcare expenditure. These factors increased the demand for neurology devices and drove the market during the historic period.



Regulatory changes are likely to lead to increased costs relating to new product development and service offerings to clients. These regulations include changes to equipment approval procedures and others. For instance, the United States Food and Drug Administration is requesting more clinical data to support claims, therefore increasing the time to process 510(k)s by over 55% over the last decade. The potential loss of revenue due to delays in product release and additional costs incurred due to stringent approval processes puts a strain on investments relating to new product development, thereby affecting the growth of the market.



Neurology devices manufacturers are investing in the research and development of implantable wireless brain devices to treat neurological and psychiatric diseases. The neuromodulation devices are tiny devices with a wireless neuromodulator, implanted inside the cranium (skull) to communicate with the brain and stimulate nerves in the body.

They are equipped with antennas, application-specific integrated circuits, ceramic lid, and feedthrough. These devices are used for relieving depression, traumatic brain injury, stress, and bipolar disorders by manipulating brain signals accordingly.

Companies Featured

Medtronic Inc.

Stryker Corporation

Terumo Corporation

Integra Lifesciences

Boston Scientific Corporation

Penumbra, Inc.

B. Braun Group

Nevro

LivaNova, PLC.

Natus Medical

Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Report Structure



3. Neurology Devices Market Characteristics

3.1. Market Definition

3.2. Key Segmentations



4. Neurology Devices Market Product Analysis

4.1. Leading Products/ Services

4.2. Key Features and Differentiators

4.3. Development Products



5. Neurology Devices Market Supply Chain

5.1. Supply Chain

5.2. Distribution

5.3. End Customers



6. Neurology Devices Market Customer Information

6.1. Customer Preferences

6.2. End Use Market Size and Growth



7. Neurology Devices Market Trends And Strategies



8. Impact Of COVID-19 On Neurology Devices



9. Neurology Devices Market Size And Growth

9.1. Market Size

9.2. Historic Market Growth, Value ($ Billion)

9.2.1. Drivers Of The Market

9.2.2. Restraints On The Market

9.3. Forecast Market Growth, Value ($ Billion)

9.3.1. Drivers Of The Market

9.3.2. Restraints On The Market



10. Neurology Devices Market Regional Analysis

10.1. Global Neurology Devices Market, 2021, By Region, Value ($ Billion)

10.2. Global Neurology Devices Market, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, Historic And Forecast, By Region

10.3. Global Neurology Devices Market, Growth And Market Share Comparison, By Region



11. Neurology Devices Market Segmentation

11.1. Global Neurology Devices Market, Segmentation By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

Cerebrospinal Fluid Management (CSF) Devices And Equipment

Interventional Neurology Devices And Equipment

Neurosurgery Devices And Equipment

Neurostimulation Devices

11.2. Global Neurology Devices Market, Segmentation By End User, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

Hospitals And Clinics

Diagnostic Laboratories

Other End Users

11.3. Global Neurology Devices Market, Segmentation By Type of Expenditure, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

Public

Private

11.4. Global Neurology Devices Market, Segmentation By Product, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

Instruments/Equipment

Disposables

12. Neurology Devices Market Segments

12.1. Global Cerebrospinal Fluid Management (CSF) Devices And Equipment Market, Segmentation By Type, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, Value ($ Billion) - CSF Drainage Systems; CSF Shunts

12.2. Global Interventional Neurology Devices And Equipment Market, Segmentation By Type, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, Value ($ Billion) - Aneurysm Coiling & Embolization Devices; Neurothrombectomy Devices; Angioplasty Devices; Interventional Neurology Support Devices

12.3. Global Neurosurgery Devices And Equipment Market, Segmentation By Type, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, Value ($ Billion) - Neurosurgical Navigation Systems; Neurosurgical endoscopes; Aneurysm Clips; Stereotactic Systems; Other Neurosurgery Devices

12.4. Global Neurostimulation Devices Market, Segmentation By Type, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, Value ($ Billion) - Implantable Neurostimulation Devices; External Neurostimulation Devices



13. Neurology Devices Market Metrics

13.1. Neurology Devices Market Size, Percentage Of GDP, 2016-2026, Global

13.2. Per Capita Average Neurology Devices Market Expenditure, 2016-2026, Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/sa0dzp





CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900




Despite the ongoing efforts by the African Energy Chamber to drive sustainable socioeconomic growth on the back of African oil and gas, a lawsuit has been filed against us aimed at restricting our efforts to make energy poverty history by 2030

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / Representing the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) has become an invaluable advocate for Africa's oil and gas industry at a time when global stakeholders are calling for the immediate end to fossil fuel utilization. With over 600 million without access to electricity and 900 million people without access to clean cooking solutions, the continent desperately needs its oil and gas reserves if it is to make energy poverty history by 2030. In this regard, the AEC has remained focused and committed, calling for a well-planned, strategic approach to Africa's energy transition, one which considers the needs of Africans today, tomorrow and for future generations.

The AEC consistently and continuously asks the big questions, such as how Africa's energy transition will be funded; why western nations continue to develop their hydrocarbons while asking Africa to transition to renewables; and what steps need to be taken to alleviate energy poverty once and for all? In asking these questions and driving a real discussion about African energy, the AEC continues to be a voice for hundreds of millions of people across the continent who do not have access to electricity - Africans who will greatly benefit from oil and gas.

While Africa is only responsible for less than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the continent is still being asked to abandon its oil and gas in the name of climate change, thus, carrying the burdens of developed countries, ones which continue to develop oil and gas. After COP26 in Glasgow, the UK announced a major oil and gas bid licensing round; the US opened federal lands for drilling; England is looking at re-opening its coal mines for the first time in 30 years; Germany is building new LNG terminals; and Norway has given out 52 oil licenses. The chamber believes that Africans should have the right to explore oil and gas in the same these countries are.

Despite the ongoing work by the chamber, going as far as launching the first-ever Africa-focused and Africa-held energy event in 2021 - African Energy Week - UK-based events company, Hyve Group, responsible for launching the Green Energy Africa Summit as well as Africa Oil Week's disastrous move to Dubai in 2021 citing Africa's inability to host a large-scale event, has filed a lawsuit to blackout the AEC. The lawsuit is intended to silence both the AEC and Africa while preventing the development of the continent's oil and gas resources.

"When they lose, they get desperate, and this is what this lawsuit is: a desperate attempt to silence Africa. They are employing their bullying tactics, threatening the AEC, an organization which has only ever been committed to Africa's development. Their misrepresentations have cost us a lot of money and yet we continue to push for the continent we love and the continent we are committed to. We will fight back like never before. We will not give in to intimidation and the ruthless attempts to keep us quiet," states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC, adding that, "The stakes are too high for Africans for us to let some woke' British company tell us to go green. They do not represent Africa and any attempt to silence Africa by this UK based company must be put to a stop."

They have lost key sponsors, speakers, partners and 70% plus of African ministers and national oil company leaders, all of which have chosen to join the chamber and support AEW.

African business, the oil industry and everyday people are with us because they know the work the chamber does and its commitment to driving development in Africa. We have and continue to finance a lot or programs across Africa and pay taxes. Now that they are losing money by trying to tell Africa what to do and where to discuss African matters, they are coming after us. If we have to oppose the Dubai move again, we will. If they go to Dubai again, we will oppose them. As Dr Martin Luther King Jr puts it "It is part of the earth man walks on. It is not man. We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right".

The AEC proudly supports the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, Mozambique's right to develop its gas resources, Senegal and Mauritania's Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project as well as gas monetization plans in Nigeria, Ghana, the Congo, Cameroon and Angola, among others. Africa needs it oil and gas and this very narrative is what the Chamber will continue to promote.

The move by British based Hyve Group CEO Mark Shashoua is not the first time African organizations or oil and gas projects and governments have been attacked by UK activists and groups. Friends of the Earth sued to block funding for the Mozambique LNG project; Extinction Rebellion harassed African executives during an energy conference in London in May 2022; and now their eyes are set on the AEC. We need to FIGHT BACK, and we cannot do it without your help.

To join the fight against Hyve Group, AOW and Green Energy Africa Summit focused on silencing an African organization, we ask that you donate here. (https://bit.ly/3zRJI4R) Your donation will not only help us win this case but continue the work we are proud of us in Africa, and for Africa Oil and Gas. The AEC will continue to dedicate itself and its work towards making energy poverty history in Africa and your donation will go a long way in helping us make this a reality.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Week (AEW).

Download Image: https://bit.ly/3biARPu

SOURCE: African Energy Week





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/706019/Help-Us-Fight-Back-Against-the-Attack-on-African-Oil-and-Gas




Appointment ensures continuity as the company continues to deliver on Ontario-focused strategy and starts a thorough CEO selection process

TORONTO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -Today Hydro One Limited (Hydro One) announced that Mark Poweska will be stepping down as President and CEO to assume a leadership position at a utility closer to his family in Western Canada later this year. William (Bill) Sheffield, a member of the company's Board of Directors since 2018, has been appointed Interim President and CEO of Hydro One. Poweska will remain with Hydro One as an advisor to support Sheffield with the transition.

Hydro One Inc. Logo (CNW Group/Hydro One Inc.)

"On behalf of the board of Board of Directors, I want to thank Mark for his exceptional leadership and for building a strong executive team who have put customers and communities first to deliver greater value for stakeholders, shareholders and all Ontarians," said Tim Hodgson, Chair of the Board of Hydro One. "Since joining in 2019, Mark introduced an Ontario-focused strategy which has successfully delivered operational and customer excellence, improved outcomes in employee safety, and a strong commitment to environmental, social and governance issues."

"I would like to thank Hydro One's Board, leadership team and every employee for your dedication and passion, especially over the last couple years as we supported customers and communities across Ontario," said Mark Poweska, former President and CEO of Hydro One. "I am confident that the strategy and team we have built together will continue to deliver greater value for customers, communities, employees and shareholders."

Bill Sheffield is a highly-regarded leader with experience in the electricity industry in Ontario who will provide continuity as the company delivers on its commitments. He will leverage Hydro One's significant bench-strength to further advance the company's vision, mission and strategy as the Board of Directors begin a thorough CEO selection process.

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"The entire Board and management team recognizes the critical role Hydro One plays in meeting customer needs and enabling economic growth in the province," said Bill Sheffield, the Interim President and CEO of Hydro One. "I am honoured to lead this exceptional team as we continue to energize life for people and communities across Ontario."

Bio: William (Bill) Sheffield

William (Bill) Sheffield is the former CEO of Sappi Fine Papers, headquartered in the U.K. and South Africa. He began his career in the steel industry with Stelco Inc., headquartered in Ontario. Mr. Sheffield also held senior roles in the forest products industry with Abitibi-Price Inc. and Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. where he led the forestry, mill and hydro-electric operations with the Iroquois Falls Division in northern Ontario.

Mr. Sheffield has been a corporate director since 2004 and is currently completing his last term on the board of Velan Inc. Previous directorships include Ontario Power Generation, Canada Post Corporation, Houston Wire & Cable Company, Pan Asia Paper, Corby Distilleries, Royal Group Technologies, 4iiii Innovations Inc., Family Enterprise Canada, and SHAD. In addition to his engagements on the boards of public companies and Crown corporations, Mr. Sheffield has had experience with family enterprise advisory boards such as Burnbrae Farms, Longview Aviation Capital Corp. and Epicure.

Mr. Sheffield holds a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) from Carleton University, an MBA from McMaster University and holds his ICD.D. In 2015, he was awarded a Fellowship from the National Association of Corporate Directors in the U.S. He also completed the Family Enterprise Advisors Program (FEA) at the University of British Columbia.

About Hydro One Limited

Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.5 million valued customers, approximately $30.4 billion in assets as at December 31, 2021, and annual revenues in 2021 of approximately $7.2 billion.

Our team of approximately 9,300 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2021, Hydro One invested approximately $2.1 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.7 billion of goods and services.

We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian Electricity Association.

Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com, www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov.

Forward-Looking Statements and Information

This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Words such as "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "attempt", "may", "plan", "will", "can", "believe", "seek", "estimate", and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actions and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking information. Some of the factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from the results expressed, implied or forecasted by such forward-looking information, including some of the assumptions used in making such statements, are discussed more fully in Hydro One's filings with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Hydro One does not intend, and it disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, except as required by law.

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SOURCE Hydro One Inc.
Silicon Valley executive leads the charge to foster culture of diversity, equity and inclusion at Hyve Solutions that extends to company's suppliers and customers

FREMONT, Calif., June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Steve Ichinaga, president and founder of Hyve Solutions Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of TD SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX) and a leading provider of hyperscale digital infrastructures, was honored with ten distinguished individuals at the California Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Caucus's annual Pride Month floor ceremony.

Hyve Solutions

Each year, the California LGBTQ Caucus hosts a Pride Month ceremony that takes place during Assembly and Senate sessions. On Monday the legislature passed a resolution to commemorate LGBTQ pioneer Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in a major city of the United States. A ceremony to recognize the honorees followed in both the Assembly and Senate chambers.

"I'm incredibly honored to be recognized by the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus," said Ichinaga. "Creating a workplace that is diverse, inclusive and equitable for all of our co-workers at Hyve Solutions is a deeply rewarding and important part of my role as president. At Hyve, we believe that celebrating our differences cultivates innovation, which better serves our company, customers and partners. I congratulate the others recognized for their outstanding leadership and contributions to the LGBTQ community."

"We are thrilled to honor Steve Ichinaga during our annual Pride Month floor ceremony," said LGBTQ Caucus Members. "We strive to advocate for diversity and inclusion of all people and work diligently to support LGBTQ leaders who represent our community at the local, state, and federal levels. Steve's work to protect and uplift those in his workplace exemplify our cause, and we applaud his contributions to the LGBTQ community."

Ichinaga has spearheaded several initiatives at Hyve Solutions to encourage and welcome LGBTQ employees. In 2020 he created a global, cross-departmental diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) committee to engage Hyve's diverse workforce. The committee led a "Get Out the Vote" campaign, increased digital signage to promote cultural holidays and events, and gathered essential materials for essential workers during the pandemic.

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"Throughout his more than 35 years with the company, Steve has driven DEI forward at both Hyve Solutions and in the broader community," said Rich Hume, CEO of TD SYNNEX. "A forward thinker and energetic leader, Steve is focused on what's best for co-workers and the company."

Under Ichinaga's leadership, Hyve Solutions received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2022 Corporate Equality Index, the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality and was named among the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.

Ichinaga uses his personal story to encourage others in the LGBTQ community to meet, network and provide mutual support. He led the company's commitment to support the United Nations Global Standards for LGBTQ+ Equality. Ichinaga is an executive sponsor of the company's Spectrum (LGBTQ+) employee resource group and often can be found discussing ways to increase representation for women, black and LGBTQ+ community members within the company.

About California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus

California's Legislative LGBTQ Caucus was formed in 2002 to create a forum for California Legislators to discuss issues that affect LGBTQ Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. California became the first state in the United States to officially form a caucus of openly-LBGTQ state legislators and continues to be a leader of progress for all Americans. In 2017, our membership hit a new milestone of 8 members and continues to remain strong. Despite tremendous progress and an unprecedented swell of support for the LGBTQ community worldwide, there is still much work to do to protect and uplift the most vulnerable in our community. The LGBTQ Caucus strives to advocate for diversity and inclusion of all people, including differently abled bodies. Our Caucus is working diligently to support LGBTQ leaders that represent our community at the local, state, and federal levels.

About Hyve Solutions

Hyve Solutions is a leader in the design to worldwide deployment of hyperscale digital infrastructures. In partnership with customers, Hyve leverages deep-seated industry experience and strong vendor partnerships to design and deliver purpose-built server, storage, and networking solutions to meet datacenter demands for today and beyond. Hyve Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of TD SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX). For more information about Hyve Solutions, visit hyvesolutions.com, email sales@hyvesolutions.com or call (855) 869-6973.

About TD SYNNEX

TD SYNNEX (NYSE: SNX) is a leading global distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. We're an innovative partner helping more than 150,000 customers in 100+ countries to maximize the value of technology investments, demonstrate business outcomes and unlock growth opportunities. Headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and Fremont, California, TD SYNNEX' 22,000 co-workers are dedicated to uniting compelling IT products, services and solutions from 1,500+ best-in-class technology vendors. Our edge-to-cloud portfolio is anchored in some of the highest-growth technology segments including cloud, cybersecurity, big data/analytics, IoT, mobility and everything as a service. TD SYNNEX is committed to serving customers and communities, and we believe we can have a positive impact on our people and our planet, intentionally acting as a respected corporate citizen. We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive employer of choice for talent across the IT ecosystem. For more information, visit www.TDSYNNEX.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking, such as features and capabilities of products and services, security product offering expansion, technology trends, and general success of collaborations, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance that may be suggested in this release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release.

 Copyright 2022 TD SYNNEX. All rights reserved. TD SYNNEX, Hyve Solutions, the TD SYNNEX Logo and all other TD SYNNEX company, product and services names and slogans are trademarks or registered trademarks of TD SYNNEX Corporation. TD SYNNEX, Hyve Solutions, the TD SYNNEX Logo, Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. Other names and marks are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE TD SYNNEX
IMCD N.V.

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands (21 June 2022)  IMCD N.V. (IMCD or Company), a leading distributor of speciality chemicals and ingredients, today announces that IMCD has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of the speciality distribution company, Welex S.A. Holdings (China) Limited and certain related business (Welex).

Welex represents a wide range of leading global suppliers providing its customers with an extensive portfolio backed by technical and logistical services. Welex focuses on industries covering coatings and inks, textiles, additives for speciality compounding, and agrochemicals. Welex generated a revenue of approximately HKD 322 million (ca. EUR 39 million) in 2021 and has 68 employees in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Qingdao offices.

The addition of Welex opens the door for us to diversify our coatings, paint and ink business, enter the fast-growing agrochemical market and develop into the highly valuable speciality compounding application. In particular, we gain the geographical expansion across China with a strong presence in the Southern part, commented Andreas Igerl, Managing Director of IMCD China. This is an important milestone for us as we continue our growth momentum with the diversification of our business.

Welex adds a coatings and agrochemicals application laboratory to IMCDs global network of technical centres.

Having established Welex for almost three decades, my team and I have witnessed the changes in the manufacturing industry of South China and the overall development of the country, remarked Tony Leung, Managing Director of Welex. I am impressed with how IMCD can understand and assimilate our differences in style and culture. I am confident that joining IMCD will allow us to grow and prosper on a global platform.

The closing of the transaction is expected to take place at the earliest of 31 October 2022.

Attached, please find the full press release in pdf format.

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Attachment




ReportLinker

Intravenous Infusion Pump Market Research Report by Product (Ambulatory Infusion Pumps, Enteral Infusion Pumps, and Implantable Infusion Pumps), Disease Indication, Region (Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa) - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

New York, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Intravenous Infusion Pump Market Research Report by Product, Disease Indication, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06286961/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Intravenous Infusion Pump Market size was estimated at USD 3,721.34 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 4,062.96 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 9.43% to reach USD 6,392.00 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2019 and 2020 are considered historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Intravenous Infusion Pump to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Product, the market was studied across Ambulatory Infusion Pumps, Enteral Infusion Pumps, Implantable Infusion Pumps, Insulin Infusion Pumps, Patient-Controlled Analgesia Infusion Pumps, Syringe Infusion Pumps, and Volumetric Infusion Pumps.



Based on Disease Indication, the market was studied across Analgesia/Pain Management, Chemotherapy, Diabetes, Diabetes, Gastroenterology, Hematology, and Pediatrics/Neonatology.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Intravenous Infusion Pump market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Intravenous Infusion Pump Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Intravenous Infusion Pump Market, including Adepto Medical, ANGEL Electronics, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Baxter International, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Boston Scientific corporation, Carefusion Corporation, CODAN ARGUS AG, F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., Fresenius SE & Co., Ivenix Inc., J2S Medical, Medtronic Plc., Micrel Medical Devices Sa, Pfizer Inc., Shenzhen Hawk Medical Instrument Co. Ltd., Smiths Medical Plc., Terumo Corporation, Venner Medical, and ZOLL Medical Corporation.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Intravenous Infusion Pump Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Intravenous Infusion Pump Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Intravenous Infusion Pump Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Intravenous Infusion Pump Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Intravenous Infusion Pump Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Intravenous Infusion Pump Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Intravenous Infusion Pump Market?

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When she was 10 years old, Ope Bukolas family relocated from Nigeria to the U.S., where she advanced her studies to later pursue a degree in economics. Exposed to the top-of-the-line education at New York University, she wondered how her friends in Nigeria and other bright students in Africa could access the same.

Upon graduating, she embarked on a quest to make education easily accessible, keen to pivot on opportunities in the American edtech sector as she gained experience through roles that saw her digitize textbooks at Palo Alto Networks and later serve as the product lead at Google Classroom.

By the time she left Google in 2019, Bukola knew exactly what she needed to do to make quality education accessible and affordable, and after years of planning and studying the market, she was joined by Keno Omu and Rob Cobb to launch the Kibo School last year. Omu is the former dean at Africa Leadership University while Cobb is a master teacher at Flatiron School who previously worked as curriculum engineer at Make School.

Kibo is an online school that is set to offer several STEM degree programs targeted at students in Africa. And, its take-off is being propelled by a $2 million seed funding led by Neo, a VC firm by the co-founder of Code.org. Future Africa, Pledges, Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, Transcend Network and several angel investors also participated in the round. The new funding brings the total capital raised by the startup to $2.4 million after last years pre-seed round.

There are so many young people getting into the technology workforce, and I really think the continent could be the place for young technologists, if only our education system was up to the task. Our mission at Kibo is to provide a better alternative to traditional education, said Bukola, who is also the CEO at Kibo.

The primary goal for the seed round is to get the degree program off the ground. We have been doing these short classes, and were going to keep doing them and going through the process of applying for accreditation. But our primary focus now is bringing in students for our degree programs, she said, adding that through the short courses launched last year, the school has trained 400 students in 13 countries in Africa.

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The focus on STEM was validated when Kibo won the GSV Cup, one of the largest edtech pitch competitions globally, in April this year.

Kibo School raises $2M seed funding to offer online STEM degrees to students in Africa

Kibo School team celebrates after winning the GSV Cup. Image Credits: Kibo School

The future of global talent is African. We're the youngest and the fastest-growing continent. So, if you want to solve the world's future problems, literally the young people are going to be in Africa. This is not just a charitable thing; it's just a practical thing because Africa is where the opportunity for growth is, she said.

The school opened the application window for its full-time computer science degree, its inaugural program, yesterday, and aims to attract 100 students in the first cohort of the three-year degree program, which will have students paying a total cost of $6,000.

The program is accredited by Woolf, a collegiate university based in U.K. As a Woolf member, students enrolled at Kibo will earn European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits, which are transferable across the globe.

Kibo has opened up the program to students in six cities across Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana, and those enrolled will be required to live at least 100 kilometers from these cities, to make it easy for occasional meetups. The school plans to introduce more programs and to take in new students every quarter, starting next year.

Its an online degree, but we have target cities because it's still really important to help students build community. So, in every city where we're enrolling students, there's going to be an adviser on the ground who will organize meetups every month, said Bukola.

Bukola noted that the building communities of students in different countries will ensure that the school retains its students and helps circumvent the common failures of online learning.

Learning at Kibo is moderated, not self-paced like most online courses, and students are required to work on collaborative projects. They are also paired with professional mentors and have to attend internships before graduating. The school has also signed commitments with several organizations to offer internships and part-time work to its students.

The key for us is understanding that human connection is at the heart of learning. So, you can't remove people from the learning experience. And maybe the cheapest thing to do would be to make the students watch videos and learn completely on their own, but that simply doesn't work. That is why we are really focused on collaborative learning, said Bukola.

We're really focused on making it a very professional degree. It's not just like book learning, students will build projects and then one quarter every year they will have to do an internship or an industry experience.

Bukola said they are working on building a more intelligent system that will automate most of the schools administrative tasks including pairing students for revision.
Lithium Americas

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC) (Lithium Americas or the Company) is pleased to announce the voting results from its annual meeting of shareholders held on June 21, 2022 (the Meeting).



A requisite majority of shareholders, casting votes in person or by proxy, approved the following items of business at the Meeting:

setting the size of the Board of Directors at nine;

electing each of the nine incumbent directors nominated by management;

re-appointing PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as the Companys auditor; and

approving a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation.

Votes were cast on the matters noted above as follows:

Election of Board of Directors

Number of Directors Votes For Votes Against Setting the number of directors at nine 42,054,406 (98.86%) 483,077 (1.14%) Director Votes For Votes Withheld George Ireland 41,671,914 (97.97%) 865,570 (2.03%) Fabiana Chubbs 41,461,079 (97.47%) 1,076,405 (2.53%) Kelvin Dushnisky 41,135,680 (96.70%) 1,401,805 (3.30%) Jonathan Evans 41,957,067 (98.64%) 580,417 (1.36%) Dr. Yuan Gao 37,881,520 (89.05%) 4,655,965 (10.95%) John Kanellitsas 41,088,159 (96.59%) 1,449,326 (3.41%) Jinhee Magie 41,332,972 (97.17%) 1,204,512 (2.83%) Franco Mignacco 41,238,860 (96.95%) 1,298,625 (3.05%) Xiaoshen Wang 37,188,584 (87.43%) 5,348,901 (12.57%)

Appointment of the Auditors

Resolution Votes For Votes Withheld Appointing PwC as the auditors 72,728,305 (99.24%) 558,305 (0.76%)

Advisory Vote

Resolution Votes For Votes Against Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation 40,915,602 (96.19%) 1,621,882 (3.81%)

Further details concerning voting results are available under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

ABOUT LITHIUM AMERICAS

Lithium Americas Corp. is focused on developing lithium projects in Argentina and the United States. Lithium Americas is a Canadian-based company listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: LAC) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: LAC).

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For further information contact:

Investor Relations

Telephone: 778-656-5820

Email: ir@lithiumamericas.com

Website: www.lithiumamericas.com




Fortune Business Insights

Companies Covered in the Logistics Robots Market are ABB, TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORPORATION, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., FANUC CORPORATION, Vecna Robotics, KUKA AG, Yaskawa America, Inc., Dematic, Krones AG, I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A., Columbia/Okura LLC, IAM Robotics, TOSHIBA CORPORATION, Teradyne Inc., OMRON Corporation, Asic Robotics AG, The Hi-Tech Robotic Systemz, Bastian Solutions, Inc., Daifuku Co., Ltd., Vanderlande Industries B.V., KION GROUP AG

Pune, India, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Logistics Robots Market is anticipated to grow during the projected period due to the expansion of the e-commerce industry. Fortune Business Insights publishes this information in a report titled, "Logistics Robots Market, 2021-2028". As per the report, the logistics robots market size was USD 5.38 billion in 2020. The market is projected to grow from USD 6.17 billion in 2021 to USD 17.82 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 16.4% during the 2021-2028 period.

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Players Profiled in the Market Report for Logistics Robots are:

ABB (Switzerland)

TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORPORATION (Japan)

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Japan)

FANUC CORPORATION (Japan)

Vecna Robotics (U.S.)

KUKA AG (Germany)

Yaskawa America, Inc. (U.S.)

Dematic (U.S.)

Krones AG (Germany)

I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A. (Italy)

Columbia/Okura LLC (U.S.)

IAM Robotics (U.S.)

TOSHIBA CORPORATION (Japan)

Teradyne Inc. (U.S.)

OMRON Corporation (Japan)

Asic Robotics AG (Switzerland)

The Hi-Tech Robotic Systemz (India)

Bastian Solutions, Inc. (U.S.)

Daifuku Co., Ltd. (Japan)

Vanderlande Industries B.V. (Netherlands)

KION GROUP AG (Germany)

COVID-19 Impact:

Factory Automation Post Pandemic To Bolster Market Growth

During the initial lockdown phase, the warehouse shutdown and the closure of manufacturing plants amid pandemic affected various industries globally. However, the increased demand for factory automation to manage factory operations has bolstered the logistics robots market growth during the pandemic period. Also, the automated factory resolved several supply chain issues and met customer demand.

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Browse Summary of this Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/logistics-robots-market-102923

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2020 USD 5.38 billion Revenue forecast in 2028 USD 17.82 billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 16.4% 2021-2028 Base Year 2020 Historical Year 2017 - 2019 Forecast Year 2021 - 2028 Segments Covered By Type, By Application, By Industry, By Region Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2020 to 2027 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America and Rest of World Countries Covered Unites States, Canada, Mexico, Unites Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Number of Companies Covered ABB, TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORPORATION, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., FANUC CORPORATION, Vecna Robotics, KUKA AG, Yaskawa America, Inc., Dematic, Krones AG, I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A., Columbia/Okura LLC, IAM Robotics, TOSHIBA CORPORATION, Teradyne Inc., OMRON Corporation, Asic Robotics AG, The Hi-Tech Robotic Systemz, Bastian Solutions, Inc., Daifuku Co., Ltd., Vanderlande Industries B.V., KION GROUP AG Saudi Arabia Facility Management Market Coverage Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis.

Segments:

Technological Advancement to Support Automated Guided Vehicles Segment Growth

By type, the market is categorized into automated guided vehicles, autonomous mobile robots, robot arms, and others (UAV's). The automated guided vehicles segment is expected to dominate the market due to rising technological advancements in the industry.

Transportation Segment to Lead Market Due To Rising Deployment Activities

Based on application, the market is divided into palletizing & de-palletizing, pick & place, transportation, and others (shipment & delivery). The transportation segment is anticipated to lead the global market owing to the increasing deployment of robots to move heavy goods.

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Rapid Digitization to Bolster E-commerce Segmental Growth

Based on industry, the market is segregated into e-commerce, healthcare, retail, food & beverages, automotive, and others. The E-commerce segment is predicted to hold a dominant market share due to rising digitization and increased online shopping by the population.

Geographically, the market share is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Report Coverage:

The report highlights well-researched information regarding the recent trends and advancements in the market. In addition, the trends adopted by leading market players to improve their business performance are discussed further in this report. Furthermore, the study sheds light on drivers and restraints affecting market development during the forecast period. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic is discussed briefly in the report.

Drivers & Restraints:

Rapid Digitization To Bolster Market Growth

The market is expected to emerge in the coming years owing to the rising adoption of autonomous warehouses. Also, the increasing digitization and rapid technological advancements in the industry are considered major driving factors. The expansion of the e-commerce industry and rising online customer engagement are expected to bolster the market growth.

However, high initial setup costs associated with robot development may hamper the market growth.

Regional Insights:

North America Dominates Global Market Due To Rapid Industrialization

North America is expected to grow at a substantial CAGR to dominate the global logistics robots market share during the forecast period owing to the rising construction of warehouses. Also, growing industrialization and commercialization in the region are expected to bolster the regional market growth.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to propel growth in the coming years due to the considerable presence of leading market players.

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Competitive Landscape:

New Robot Launch Allow Companies To Strengthen Their Market Position

The key market players implement various business development strategies to improve their performance. These strategies include forming a strategic alliance, partnership, merger, and collaboration. Also, the adoption of advanced technologies allows companies to introduce reliable and efficient products.

Table of Content:



Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Methodology/Approach Data Sources

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Trends Impact of COVID-19 on Logistics Robots Market Short-term Impact Long-term Impact

Competition Landscape Business Strategies Adopted by Key Players Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players Porters Five Forces Analysis Global Logistics Robots Market Share Analysis and Matrix, 2020

Key Market Insights and Strategic Recommendations

Profiles of Key Players (Would be provided for 10 players only)

6.1. Overview

Key Management Headquarters etc. Offerings/Business Segments Key Details (Key details are subjected to data availability in public domain and/or on paid databases) Employee Size Past and Current Revenue Geographical Share Business Segment Share Recent Developments

Primary Interview Responses

Annexure / Appendix Global Logistics Robots Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2017-2028 By Type (Value) Automated Guided Vehicles Autonomous Mobile Robots Robot Arms Others (UAVs) By Application (Value) Palletizing & De-palletizing Pick & Place Transportation Others (Shipment & Delivery, Packaging, and others.) By Industry (Value) E-commerce Healthcare Retail Food & Beverages Automotive Others (Consumer Electronics, and others) By Geography (Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Latin America



TOC Continued....!

Key Industry Development:

November 2019: OMRON Corporation introduced mobile robots that are proficient in moving a payload capacity of nearly up to 250 kg. The company is also expanding its existing series of mobile robots with the new addition.

Speak to Our Analyst:

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Read Related Research Insights:

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(Bloomberg) -- Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera fired his head of police and said he wont delegate duties to Vice President Saulos Chilima after they were named in a corruption probe.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The duo were among more than 50 public officials to be linked to Zuneth Sattar, a Malawian now based in the UK who is alleged to have paid bribes to win state contracts worth more than $150 million, Chakwera said in an address to the nation Tuesday.

The move is the latest crackdown by Chakwera on graft, one of the issues he campaigned on to win election in a rerun vote two years ago. He fired his entire cabinet in January after just one of his ministers was accused of corruption, while police arrested a former finance minster and ex-central bank governor late last year.

Malawi is one of the worlds least-developed countries, and funding from international donors was halted almost a decade ago following the emergence of a major state corruption scandal. Chakwera has said he expects to clinch a new financing agreement with the International Monetary Fund this year, a deal that would be key to kicking off an economic revival.

Zuneth Sattar was arrested in the UK in 2021 for alleged corruption and is under investigation, the Financial Times reported last month. A London court has refused to let him leave the country, the newspaper said. He denies wrongdoing.

Chakwera said the corruption report was light on detail about how Vice President Chilima was involved with Sattar, one reason he stopped short of a straight dismissal. Chakwera picked Chilima as his running mate in 2020 to unite two opposition parties in his winning election campaign.

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The Vice Presidents office was not available for comment. However Chilima told reporters last month he wasnt going to comment on the allegations, preferring to allow the rule of law to take its course.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Acwa Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor and operator of power generation, desalinated water and green hydrogen plants worldwide, said it has signed an agreement with Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) and Shuaibah Water Electricity Company (SWEC) for the restructuring of the Shuaibah 3 Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP).

As per the agreement, the Shuaibah 3 IWPP will be converted from an energy-intensive power generation and thermal desalination facility to a greenfield seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant under the name Shuaibah 3 Independent Water Project (IWP), said a statement from Acwa Power.

Deemed as one of the largest desalination projects in the kingdom, Shuaibah 3 IWP will utilise state-of-the-art RO technologies to ensure the highest level of production efficiency and reliability that can be benchmarked against any comparable plant in the world.

Acwa Power said the project will produce potable water at record-low power consumption and be partially energised by photovoltaic solar energy, which will reduce electricity consumption from the grid by 45% and minimise the carbon footprint, advocating the best environmental and sustainability practices during operation.

The switch from thermal to RO will reduce the power needed to desalinate seawater by 70%, he added.

Saudi utility developer pointed out that operations of Shuaibah 3 IWPP will cease in 2025, saving nearly 45 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and 22 million barrels of light crude oil annually.

Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al Fadli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SWPC, signed a 25-year water purchase agreement for the new Shuaibah 3 IWP with a consortium led by Acwa Power and Public Investment Fund (PIF)-owned Badeel, at a value of approximately SR3 billion.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Mohannad Ahmed Basudan, CEO of National Center for Privatization and Member of the Board of Directors of SWPC; Engineer Khaled Al Qureshi, CEO of SWPC and Mohamad Abunayyan, Chairman of Acwa Power.

The Acwa Power-Badeel consortium will lead the implementation of the project while SWPC will serve as the offtaker, said the statement.

Once completed, Shuaibah 3 IWP will produce 600,000 cu m of water per day, catering to the water demand of Jeddah and Makkah Al Mukarramah, especially during peak demand periods such as Ramadan and the Hajj seasons, it added.

Acwa Power Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan said: "The energy sector is witnessing strategic shifts towards reducing the dependence on liquid fuels as a vital energy source for water desalination and power production."

"This is the first project in which a thermal water desalination plant is converted into a greenfield reverse osmosis facility that utilises renewable energy to save up to 70% of energy consumption," he noted.

According to him, Shuaibah 3 IWP is proof of the strength of Acwa Power's partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture to raise the efficiency of the water desalination sector in Saudi Arabia.

The project is one of the first of its kind in the region and falls within the framework of the programme led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy, and unparalleled contribution of Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen, to deploy renewable energy as the primary source of power for water desalination, he explained.

Local content of the project will amount to 40% in the construction phase; 50% in the operation and maintenance phase for the first five years; and will eventually increase to 70%, he added.

Shuaibah 3 IWP is expected to be commercially operational by Q2 2025, with the financial returns of the contracted revenues reflected during the same period.-TradeArabia News Service
Canada Foundation for Innovation

Panelists from across the country gather to reflect on how to support young people with the skills and knowledge they need to make decisions on science-based issues

OTTAWA, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a public environment where misinformation can strongly influence the attitudes young people have toward science, it is more important than ever that educators, employers, communicators and governments collaborate to ensure the next generation is well equipped to make informed decisions based on evidence, and ultimately contribute to an innovative and prosperous Canada.

This was the clarion call that came from a national conversation on youth and science organized by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and Acfas on June 8.

The event, part of the CFIs 25th and Acfass 100th anniversary celebrations, brought together experts in science education, communications and skills development from across the country, to discuss the findings of a survey the CFI and Acfas commissioned last year to shed light on the attitudes 18- to 24-year-old Canadians have toward science.

The survey, conducted by Ipsos, found most young adults in Canada have confidence in science, but that persuasion by social media influencers and difficulties delineating between real and fake information can affect their ability to make informed health, environmental, social and lifestyle choices.

The conversation focused on three themes related to the survey:

The role of educators in promoting science literacy

The current state of science communication to build public trust

The skills in science and technology that will contribute to the Canadian economy.



Among the conclusions were that science should be viewed as a journey that can lead to unpredictable outcomes  and that we need to be better at reflecting this reality in schools; that we should be communicating science in a way that acknowledges the limits of our understanding; and ensuring those interested in careers in science can see themselves in these careers and are provided with the opportunities and pathways to pursue them.

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Read: Full summary report of the national conversation on youth and science

To expand on the conversation, CFI president and CEO Roseann OReilly Runte spoke to Mona Nemer, Chief Science Advisor of Canada, and Remi Quirion, Chief Scientist of Quebec, about how the scientific community can support future generations to solve worldwide problems.

Watch: Discussion with Roseann OReilly Runte, Mona Nemer and Remi Quirion

Speaker list for national conversation on youth and science

Plenary discussion: Why science literacy and culture are more critical than ever for young adults Moderator: Roseann OReilly Runte Panelists: Eric Meslin, President and CEO, Council of Canadian Academies Sebastien Dallaire, Ipsos

Breakout sessions:

Literacy and scientific culture: What is the role for educators?



Moderator: Frederic Bouchard, Dean of Arts and Science, Universite de Montreal Panelists: John Munro, President, British Columbia Science Teachers Association Bonnie Schmidt, President, Lets Talk Science

Scientific communication and public trust: Do we need to revisit our approaches?



Moderator: Carly Weeks, Health Reporter, The Globe and Mail Panelists: Chantal Barriault, Director, Science Communication Graduate Program, Laurentian University Sandy Baumgartner, CEO, Saskatchewan Science Centre and President, Canadian Association of Science Centres Anna Blakney, Assistant Professor, Michael Smith Laboratories and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia

Science and technology skills: What do young adults need to contribute to a strong Canadian economy?



Moderator: Valerie Walker,CEO, Business + Higher Education Roundtable Panelists: Duff Montgomerie, former Deputy Minister, Labour and Advanced Education, Nova Scotia Nancy Deziel, Director General, Centre national en electrochimie et en technologies environnementales (CNETE) Nadine Spencer, CEO, Brand EQ Group Inc., Black Business and Professional Association

Quotes

This discussion illustrates that engaging young people in science requires not just education, communication, technology or the economy. It will require all of these fields together. And working collaboratively, we can make a difference that will take us not away from innocence, but away from ignorance, to a kind of wisdom that will enable us to use human capacity for the greater good.

 Roseann OReilly Runte, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation

We have an obligation to work together to reach 18- to 24-year-old Canadians where they are. We need their ideas, their hopes  and even their misgivings  to enrich our society and allow it to grow and prosper. It is crucial for young people to have an interest in science, and it is our challenge to listen to them and engage with them.

 Jean-Pierre Perreault, Chair of the Board, Acfas

Related links

Social media

Canada Foundation for Innovation

For updates, follow us on Twitter @InnovationCA, LinkedIn, Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel to find videos about the CFI and its transformative research projects. Follow our 25th anniversary activities through #PromisingFutureNow.

Acfas

Follow Acfas on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. Check out the images from La preuve par limage on Instagram. Follow our YouTube channel to learn more about the prix Acfas winners, as well as the finalists of Ma these en 180 secondes and Genies en affaires competitions.

About the Canada Foundation for Innovation

For 25 years, the Canada Foundation for Innovation has been making financial contributions to Canadas universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research organizations to increase their capability to carry out high-quality research. The CFI invests in infrastructure that researchers need to think big, innovate and push the boundaries of knowledge. It helps institutions to attract and retain the worlds top talent, to train the next generation of researchers and to support world-class research that strengthens the economy and improves the quality of life for all Canadians.

A promising future, now

25 years of investing in ideas that change our world

About Acfas

Acfas, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary from May 2022 to June 2023, showcases knowledge as a driver of societal development by grouping together members of the research community from across the broader French-speaking world. Resolutely focused on the future, Acfas represents a powerful vector for the democratization of science and scientific communications. The association champions researchers of all disciplines, while promoting excellence in research.

Find out more about the 100th anniversary of Acfas

Contact

Benoit Clement

Media Relations and Social Media Specialist

Canada Foundation for Innovation

C: 613-943-2580

benoit.clement@innovation.ca

Gabriel Vignola

Director of communications

T: 514-849-0045, ext. 261

gabriel.vignola@acfas.ca








Sydney, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Proactive, provider of real-time news and video interviews on growth companies listed in Australia, has covered the following companies:

Future Metals NL (ASX:FME, AIM:FME) has upgraded the JORC 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of its Panton PGM-Nickel Project in WA to 5 million ounces palladium, platinum and gold (PGM3E) and 238.8 tonnes nickel. Click here

Armada Metals Ltd (ASX:AMM) has intersected magmatic nickel-copper sulphides during phase one diamond drilling at the Nyanga Project in Gabon. Click here

Recce Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:RCE, OTC:RECEF), which is developing a new class of synthetic anti-infectives, welcomes the news that its candidate RECCE 327 (R327) returned a good safety and tolerability profile among 10 healthy male subjects. Click here

Race Oncology Ltd (ASX:RAC) has seen two of its peer-reviewed abstracts published in the prestigious scientific journal Cancer Research with shares trading higher as a result. Click here

Walkabout Resources Ltd (ASX:WKT) has intersected high-grade zinc-lead mineralisation in its maiden scout drilling program at the Blackcraig Lead-Zinc-Silver Project in southwest Scotland. Click here

Moho Resources Ltd (ASX:MOH) is set to embark on the first phase of reverse circulation (RC) drilling at its 100%-owned Black Swan South nickel prospect, which is part of the regional Silver Swan North Project. Click here

GTI Energy Ltd (ASX:GTR) has brought on board as executive director James (Jim) Baughman, a highly experienced Wyoming uranium geologist and corporate executive who will help guide GTIs technical and commercial activities in the US. Click here

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) remains on track to ship its first spodumene concentrate by the end of this year from the Finniss Lithium Project near Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. Click here

Golden Rim Resources Ltd (ASX:GMR) has fielded strong assays from 36 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes across 3,691 metres in exploration and infill drilling at Kada Gold Project in Guinea. Click here

Fenix Resources Ltd (ASX:FEX) is positioning itself as a fully integrated mining, haulage and logistics company thanks to its latest acquisition. Click here

Apollo Minerals Ltd (ASX:AON) has completed the consolidation of 100% ownership of the Kroussou Zinc-Lead Project in Gabon by acquiring the remaining 20% interest held by Trek Metals Ltd (ASX:TKM). Click here

Sunstone Metals Ltd (ASX:STM) is set to quadruple its landholding in highly prospective northern Ecuador through a staged acquisition of the Verde Chico Project to the west of its El Palmar gold-copper porphyry discovery. Click here

Radiopharm Theranostics Ltd (ASX:RAD) has strengthened its advisory credentials with the appointment of Dr Susann Brady-Kalnay PhD to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Click here

Galileo Mining Ltd (ASX:GAL) is warming to the potential of its Callisto discovery, which is part of the Norseman project in southern WA, returning more multiple sulphide hits during a new drilling campaign. Click here

Caspin Resources Ltd (ASX:CPN) has started drilling and geochemical soil sampling programs at the Mount Squires Project in the West Musgrave region of Western Australia. Click here

Sipa Resources Ltd (ASX:SRI) has a comprehensive reverse circulation (RC) drill program underway at the Paterson North Project joint venture with Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Limited (RTX) in Western Australias prolific Paterson Province. Click here

Aurumin Ltd (ASX:AUN) has brought a highly prospective exploration licence into the fold at its Central Sandstone Gold Project in WA. Click here
Image 1

Mr. Saxon, who is now Chief Executive Officer of TAAT, served in various positions for over 20 years with Altria and PMI including heading Altrias Corporate Venture Fund and leading PMIs business activities as General Manager for Norway and Denmark. He has led business units with full profit and loss (P&L) responsibility ranging from USD $100 million to USD $3 billion while consistently delivering record business results

Michael Saxon, who has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of TAAT, served in various positions for over 20 years with Altria and PMI including heading Altrias Corporate Venture Fund and leading PMIs business activities as General Manager for Norway and Denmark. He has led business units with full profit and loss (P&L) responsibility ranging from USD $100 million to USD $3 billion while consistently delivering record business results.



LAS VEGAS and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAAT GLOBAL ALTERNATIVES INC. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQX: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP) (the Company or TAAT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Saxon, a 20-year global veteran of the tobacco industry, as the Companys Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and member of its Board of Directors. Mr. Saxon has been on the TAAT Advisory Board since late 2020 (as announced in a press release dated October 1, 2020 ). With considerable experience in attaining profitable market penetration for tobacco products in the United States and several international markets, Mr. Saxon is expected to be instrumental to the Companys ability to scale the footprint of TAAT at a global level. Former CEO Setti Coscarella will remain available to the Company as an Advisor.

Michael Saxon is an accomplished consumer products executive with over 25 years of experience growing Fortune 100 businesses in the United States, Europe, and Asia, having successfully influenced government policy and led business units with full P&L responsibility from USD $100 million to USD $3 billion while operating in different regulatory systems. His career reflects a demonstrated history of setting record income and market share results in a wide range of market conditions and succeeding in various go-to-market models, including wholesale, distributor, and DSD. He brings a strong, innovative mindset from his experience creating new products and brands and having been the catalyst for successful large-scale transformation initiatives to drive organic growth and executing M&A transactions to enter new markets. Mr. Saxon served in various positions for over 20 years with Altria Group and Philip Morris International (PMI). Most recently, he helped create Trolley Ventures , a Richmond, VA venture capital firm investing in early-stage start-ups.

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Mr. Saxon, who is now Chief Executive Officer of TAAT, served in various positions for over 20 years with Altria and PMI including heading Altrias Corporate Venture Fund and leading PMIs business activities as General Manager for Norway and Denmark. He has led business units with full profit and loss (P&L) responsibility ranging from USD $100 million to USD $3 billion while consistently delivering record business results

Mr. Saxon, who is now Chief Executive Officer of TAAT, served in various positions for over 20 years with Altria and PMI including heading Altrias Corporate Venture Fund and leading PMIs business activities as General Manager for Norway and Denmark. He has led business units with full profit and loss (P&L) responsibility ranging from USD $100 million to USD $3 billion while consistently delivering record business results.



Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access SEDAR or the Investor Relations section of the Companys website for a version of this press release containing all published media.

Im excited to be joining the TAAT team, said Michael Saxon. This is an exhilarating time in our industry, and TAAT is positioned to be a disruptor. With about eighteen months of actual market and consumer feedback, I believe TAAT is in an ideal position to accelerate its commercialization efforts. This will include focusing our efforts on the large and profitable USA market, while our product development team leverages their capabilities to develop other Beyond Tobacco products that can further disrupt the USA and other international markets. There is a tremendous market opportunity for the company, and I am eager to launch new initiatives to accelerate adult consumer adoption of TAAT.

Former CEO and Director Setti Coscarella stated, It has been my pleasure to lead TAAT through our initial years and through the pandemic. At this point, I am satisfied the company is in an excellent position to hand direction over to Mr. Saxon, and I am pleased to be continuing my participation as an Advisor.

The Company announces that it has granted an aggregate of 1,750,000 incentive stock options (Options) to directors and officers. The Options have an exercise price of $0.85 per common share (each a Share) and are valid for a five-year period from the date of grant. 1,500,000 of the Options will vest quarterly over a period of two years from issuance, starting on the 91st day of grant. The Options were granted in accordance with the Companys stock option plan.

In connection with Mr. Saxons appointment to the Board of Directors and as CEO, the Company has also granted him 1,000,000 restricted share units (RSUs) under the Companys shareholder approved restricted share unit plan (the RSU Plan). The RSUs will vest quarterly over a period of two years from issuance, starting on the 91st day of grant and shall entitle Mr. Saxon the ability to acquire one Share of the Company underlying each such RSU by delivering a notice of acquisition to the Company in accordance with the RSU Plan. In accordance with the RSU Plan, the RSUs were priced at $0.85 based on the closing price of the Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) on June 17, 2022.

TAAT hereby announces that Setti Coscarella has resigned from his positions as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company, effective immediately. The Company would like to thank Mr. Coscarella for his contributions in establishing the product and brand and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

TAAT GLOBAL ALTERNATIVES INC.

Joe Deighan

Joe Deighan, COO and Director

For further information, please contact:

TAAT Investor Relations

1-833-TAAT-USA (1-833-822-8872)

investor@taatglobal.com

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSES REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER.

About TAAT Global Alternatives Inc.

TAAT develops, manufactures, and distributes alternative products in categories to include tobacco, hemp, kratom, and other emerging segments of the CPG industry. Its flagship product is a nicotine-free, tobacco-free cigarette with a patent-pending base material formulation, sold in over 2,700 U.S. stores. With over CAD $80 million in overall net revenue in 2021, TAATs facilities include a manufacturing plant in Nevada, as well as a distribution centre and multiple convenience stores in Ohio.

For more information, please visit http://taatglobal.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the anticipated performance of TAAT in the tobacco industry, in addition to the following: Potential outcomes from the appointment of Michael Saxon as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the transition of Setti Coscarella from his former roles as Chief Executive Officer and director to being a member of the TAAT Board of Advisors effective immediately. The forward-looking information reflects managements current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) changes to the growth and size of the tobacco markets; (iii) changes to the regulatory landscape applicable to the Company's business; and (iv) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The statements in this news release have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As each individual is different, the benefits, if any, of taking the Companys products will vary from person to person. No claims or guarantees can be made as to the effects of the Companys products on an individuals health and well-being. The Companys products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This news release may contain trademarked names of third-party entities (or their respective offerings with trademarked names) typically in reference to (i) relationships had by the Company with such third-party entities as referred to in this release and/or (ii) client/vendor/service provider parties whose relationship with the Company is/are referred to in this release. All rights to such trademarks are reserved by their respective owners or licensees.

Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms

Disclosures relating to investor relations firms retained by TAAT Global Alternatives Inc. can be found under the Company's profile on http://sedar.com .




RIBER

Press release

Report on the Combined General Meeting and on the Supervisory Board from June 21, 2022

Bezons, June 21, 2022  6pm  RIBER, a global market leader for molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) equipment serving the semiconductor industry, brought its shareholders together for its Combined Annual General Meeting today, chaired by Ms. Annie Geoffroy, Chairwoman of the Company's Supervisory Board.

Approval of the full-year accounts for 2021

The General Meeting approved the corporate and consolidated financial statements for 2021.

Cash payout released for payment on July 4

The General Meeting approved the appropriation of earnings for 2021 and a payout drawn against the issue premium account for 0.05 euros per share: The ex-dividend date will be June 30, 2022, followed by payment on July 4, 2022.

Terms of office renewed, and new Supervisory Board member appointed

The General Meeting renewed the terms of Ms. Annie Geoffroy and Christine Monier, and Messrs. Pierre-Yves Kielwasser and Bernard Raboutet.

The General Meeting also appointed Mr. Jean-Christophe Eloy as a new member of the Supervisory Board. His rich experience in the semiconductor industry and his perfect knowledge of business issues will enrich the skills of the Supervisory Board and strengthen the Company's development strategy.

The Supervisory Board now has seven members, including two women. 71% of the members are independent.

Other resolutions

RIBER's shareholders adopted the other resolutions, which included:

The statutory auditors special report on regulated commitments,

The total annual compensation for the Supervisory Board members for the 2021 fiscal year,

The authorization for the Executive Board to carry out transactions on the Company's shares,

The authorization for the Executive Board to reduce the capital by canceling treasury stock held by the Company,

Supervisory Boards decisions

Following the General Meeting, the Supervisory Board met, renewed Ms. Annie Geoffroys term of office as Chairman of the Companys Supervisory Board and confirmed Mr. Nicolas Grandjeans term of office as Vice-Chairman.

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The Supervisory Board defined the composition of its committees. From now on:

The Audit Committee comprises Ms. Annie Geoffroy, Mr. Nicolas Grandjean, Mr. Pierre-Yves Kielwasser and Mr. Didier Cornardeau, its Chairman.

The Appointments and Compensation Committee comprises Mr. Bernard Raboutet, Mr. Jean-Christophe Eloy and Ms. Christine Monier, its Chairwoman.

The CSR Committee comprises Mr. Bernard Raboutet, Mr. Jean-Christophe Eloy and Ms. Christine Monier, its Chairwoman.





The Supervisory Board took note of the expiration of the terms of office of the members of the Executive Board and thanked them, including Its Chairman Mr. Philippe Ley, for their commitments over the past few years, as well as for the results achieved in the companys development.

Renewal of the Executive Board

In accordance with the Company's statutory provisions, the Supervisory Board appointed a new Companys Executive Board made up of two members, in the person of Mr. Michel Picault and Mr. Emmanuel Routier, for a term of five years from this date.

Mr. Michel Picault was also appointed Chairman of the Executive Board for a term of one year. His deep knowledge of the company, its strategy, its clients and partners is a source of opportunities to prepare for 2023 and initiate a new phase of development for the Company.

At the same time, the Supervisory Board has initiated a selection process for new candidates, in order to strengthen and diversify the staff of the Executive Board.

Biography of the new Supervisory Board member

Jean-Christophe Eloy, 56 years old, started his career at CEA-Leti and then created the semiconductor business at Ernst & Young. He is today President and CEO of Yole Group, the market research & strategy consulting company created in 1998. Yole Group has since grown to become a group of companies offering specific support to semiconductor companies.

Jean-Christophe Eloy is an emlyon business school graduate and is an engineer from INPG (Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble).

Biography of the new Executive Board member

Michel Picault, 68 years old, after having been a researcher in a state agency, then a development engineer in a Telecom company, joined RIBER in 1983. Until 1997, he held various positions (technical, marketing/sales, production...) in the US and France. In 1997, he took over RIBER with a group of investors, and became Chairman of the Executive Board, a position he held until 2008, then from 2016 to 2019, while being an Executive Board member until 2020. Since 2014, he runs a consulting company for SMEs, and is involved in the financing of start-ups that he supports.

Michel Picault is a graduate of INSA Lyon - National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon.

The Company would like to thank the shareholders who took part in this General Meeting. The quorum conditions and detailed voting results will be available soon on the French version of the Companys website (www.riber.com)

About RIBER

RIBER is the global market leader for MBE - molecular beam epitaxy - equipment. It designs and produces MBE systems and evaporators for the semiconductor industry. It also provides technical and scientific support for its clients, maintaining their equipment and optimizing their performance and output levels. Through its high-tech equipment, RIBER performs an essential role in the development of advanced semiconductor systems that are used in numerous consumer applications, from information technologies to 5G telecommunications networks, OLED screens and next-generation solar cells.

RIBER is a BPI France-approved innovative company and is listed on the Euronext Growth Paris market (ISIN: FR0000075954).

www.riber.com

Contacts

RIBER: Stephane Berterretche | tel.: +33 (0)1 39 96 65 00 | invest@riber.com

CALYPTUS: Cyril Combe | tel.: +33 (0)1 53 65 68 68 | cyril.combe@calyptus.net

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BRUSSELS, June 21 (Reuters) - France's Europe minister Clement Beaune said on Tuesday the United Kingdom should respect its Brexit agreement with the European Union and described as worrying initiatives by London to ditch parts of the Northern Ireland protocol.

"Everyone should respect their word and their signature. You can't instrumentalise for whatever reason such serious and important matters," Beaune said.

The British government published legislation earlier this month to tackle disruption to post-Brexit trade with Northern Ireland, setting out measures it says are needed to protect peace in the British-ruled province but which are sure to antagonise the EU. (Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Catherine Evans)
* This content was produced in Russia, where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine.

MOSCOW, June 21 (Reuters) - Russia will respond shortly to Lithuania's "blockade" of goods transit from mainland Russia to its Kaliningrad exclave, Interfax news agency cited Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev as saying on Tuesday.

"Russia will certainly respond to such hostile actions. Relevant measures are being worked out in the interdepartmental format and will be taken in the near future," Interfax cited Patrushev as saying.

He said that the counter-measures would have a serious negative impact on the Lithuanian population.

Lithuania has shut a rail corridor from Russia to its exclave to certain basic goods including construction materials, metals and coal in response to new EU sanctions that came into force on Saturday. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
BEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / June 21, 2022 / (TSXV:SSE) - Silver Spruce Resources Inc. ("Silver Spruce" or the "Company") (TSXV:SSE)(FRA:S6Q1), with its partner Colibri Resources Corp. ("Colibri"), announces that the Company has mobilized its Hermosillo-based team of geologists and support personnel to the Diamante project, and collared the first hole of its 2,000 metre R/C program at the Pillado Au-Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu target (Figure 1).

"We are pleased to begin our maiden exploration drilling program on several highly prospective areas of Diamante. Our first two targets, Pillado and La Prieta, exhibit multiple vein, breccia, disseminated and manto-style mineralization, locally with fault controls parallel to and intersecting high grade polymetallic, silver-gold and base metal-bearing occurrences with historical artisanal mining. Importantly, despite the number and quality of known mineralization targets, there is no recorded historical drilling on Diamante to date," stated Greg Davison, Silver Spruce Vice-President Exploration and Director.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc., Tuesday, June 21, 2022, Press release picture

Mr. Davison added, "TRAX equipment and personnel have conducted activities for two weeks on the Pillado and La Prieta targets, under the direction of our exploration point team, to clear access routes and prepare the requisite drill pads. Minera Drilling mobilized from Hermosillo to site on June 15th and currently are collared on Pillado pad #40 located north of the portal. The initial three holes at this location will target the E-W trending, northerly-dipping mineralization. Six additional holes are proposed at Pillado and another eight holes at La Prieta, all of which are oriented to intersect depth projections of known surface and shallow underground mineralization. The program is anticipated to continue for four to five weeks through mid-July 2022. Samples will be screened using pXRF analyses during the on-site logging to provide rapid qualitative data for dynamic decision-making on drill hole planning and depth targeting. Sample shipments to ALS Global in Hermosillo will be delivered on a weekly basis."

The drill-ready Diamante gold-silver (Au-Ag) property ("Diamante" or the Property") is located 5 km northwest of the town of Tepoca, and 165 km southeast of the capital city of Hermosillo, eastern Sonora, Mexico.

Constructora Trax ("TRAX") and Minera Drilling, both from Hermosillo, Mexico, respectively, were contracted for the preparation of access trails and pads, and drilling 2,000 metres of reverse circulation drill holes on the principal drilling target areas of the Diamante 1 and 2 concessions, specifically on the first-priority targets at Pillado (see Figures 1, 2 and 3) and La Prieta (Figure 4) with Calton, Aguaje, El Chon-El Chon Oeste and Mezquite Raizudo next in line.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc., Tuesday, June 21, 2022, Press release picture

Our recent geological mapping programs conducted over multiple targets reported Au values to 51.5 g/t from silicified breccias in the Calton target (see Press Release of April 27, 2022), the highest Au grade yet reported from Diamante, and Ag values >1,000 g/t were recorded from base metal sulphide-bearing veins at Pillado, El Chon and El Cumbro accompanied by high-grade primary and supergene Pb+Zn+Cu up to a combined grade of 50.9 wt.% from grab and channel sampling at surface and within historical trenches and artisanal workings.

Specifically, geochemical results from surface and underground sampling of eight target areas reported precious metals (Au to 51.5 g/t, Ag to 2,270 g/t), base metals (Pb to 42.3 wt.%, Zn to 22.9 wt.% and Cu to 3.2 wt.%) and pathfinders each exhibited weak to highly anomalous values commonly with high Ag;Au and low to high Pb:Zn. Elevated Cu, Cd, Sb, Hg, As and Bi are linked commonly to Pb and/or Zn.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc., Tuesday, June 21, 2022, Press release picture

Silver Spruce Resources Inc., Tuesday, June 21, 2022, Press release picture

Our recent target mapping program reported assays consistent with historical surface and U/G channel samples reported up to 39.8 g/t Au, 3,460 g/t Ag, 18.2% Pb, 33.5% Zn and 1.47% Cu (see Press Releases of April 12, 2021, and January 24, 2022). Most drill targets are polymetallic vein style with precious metal-dominant targets also identified at Calton, El Chon and Aguaje. Metal zoning or pulses of mineralization may be indicated at each of these three locations.

Project Geology

The Property is located within the west-central portion of the Sierra Madre Occidental Volcanic Complex within the northwest-trending "Sonora Gold Belt" of northern Mexico. Diamante offers strong precious metal tenor with a polymetallic endowment, multiple quality targets, styles of mineralization, of particular significance for our exploration moving forward, no records of drilling. Historical exploration and artisanal activities are indicated by surface trenches and subsurface workings parallel to and cutting the vein mineralization were measured up to 100 metres in length, with the latter showing shafts and short lateral drifts.

Geological features of epithermal Au, low to intermediate sulphidation Ag-Au (Pb-Zn), high sulphidation Au-Cu, and potential porphyry style Au-Cu occur as disseminated, stockwork and vein styles. Silicification with sericitic, argillic and propylitic alteration were accompanied by drusy to vuggy quartz, black tourmaline, multiple disseminated to vein sulphides with incipient to pervasive oxidation to carbonates, sulphates such as jarosite, hematite and iron hydroxide. Recent exploration verified pathfinder elements including As, Sb, Hg, Cd and Bi.

Mineralization is reported visually as pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, argentiferous galena, argentite, hematite and probable metal oxides, carbonates and sulphates, including copper carbonate (malachite), copper sulphates and plumbojarosite.

Structural lineaments show intersecting and splaying vein patterns with steep to moderately dipping northwest, northeast and north-striking orientations were confirmed and spatially coincident with parallel to oblique faults and shears which control and locally offset the mineralization.

Project Background

Silver Spruce can acquire up to 50% interest in four Diamante concessions with a cumulative land position of 1,057 hectares (see Press Release of April 29, 2021).

The Property is well situated in terms of logistics for exploration and is easily accessible from Mexican Highway #16 which transects Diamante 1 and along several trails and dry river beds southward to Diamante 2.

Mining and exploration in the surrounding area is very active with adjacent and nearby properties held by Alamos Gold, Argonaut, Agnico Eagle, Evrim, Newmont, Garibaldi, Kootenay Silver and Penoles among others.

Geochemical Analysis, Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Drilling samples ( splits) will be delivered by the Project Geologist from the Property to the ALS sample preparation facility in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. The remaining  and  splits will be stored at Colibri's facilities in Suaqui Grande, south of Tecoripa, Sonora.

ALS Global in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is a facility certified as ISO 9001:2008 and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 from the Standards Council of Canada. Local chain of custody will be monitored and maintained by the Project Geologist under the direction of the QP.

The samples will be crushed to 70% passing 2mm (PREP-31) and a split of up to 250 grams pulverized to 85% passing 75 micrometres (-200 mesh). The sample pulps and crushed splits will be transferred internally to ALS Global's North Vancouver, Canada or Lima, Peru analytical facility for gold and multi-element analysis.

Pulps (50gram split) will be submitted for Au analysis by Fire Assay with Atomic Absorption finish (Au-AA24). The retained pulps also will be analysed by Four Acid Digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) multi-element analyses (ME-ICP61m) with Hg by Aqua Regia and ICP-MS (Hg-MS42).

Over-limit Au and Ag samples will be analyzed by Fire Assay with Gravimetric Finish Ore Grade (Au-GRA21 or Au-GRA22, Ag-GRA21). Overlimit base metals will analyzed by Four Acid Digestion followed by Ore Grade Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) for Cu, Pb and Zn (Cu-OG62, Pb-OG62, Zn-OG62). High grade samples above the range of the Ore Grade OG62 analysis will be digested, as above, and analyzed using Titration (e.g., Pb-Vol70).

In-house quality control samples will be inserted into the sample set by the Project Geologist. ALS Global conducts its own internal QA/QC program of blanks, standards and duplicates, and the results are provided with the Company sample certificates. The results of the internal and ALS control samples will be reviewed by the Company's QP and evaluated for acceptable tolerances prior to disclosure.

All sample and pulp rejects will be stored at ALS Global pending full review of the analytical data, and future selection of pulps for independent third-party check analyses, as requisite.

All metal values disclosed herein by Silver Spruce are reported from grab and channel samples which may not be representative of the metal grades.

The Company's Qualified Person believes that the sampling documentation, analytical protocols and quantitative data will withstand scrutiny for inclusion.

About Minera Drilling

Minera Drilling, offering reverse circulation and diamond drilling, has its drilling equipment and technical team based in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

About Constructora Trax

TRAX offers a comprehensive, high-level response for civil engineering, construction and development in the states of Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Zacatecas, Guerrero among others. TRAX has extensive project experience since 1990 specializing in earthworks, demolition, explosives, drilling and blasting, mineral exploitation in both underground and open pit mines, feasibility analysis of mining projects and a wide range of infrastructure projects.

Qualified Person

Greg Davison, PGeo, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director, is the Company's internal Qualified Person for the Diamante Project and is responsible for approval of the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), under TSX guidelines.

About Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior exploration company which has signed Definitive Agreements to acquire 100% of the Melchett Lake Zn-Au-Ag project in northern Ontario, and with Colibri Resource Corp. in Sonora, Mexico, to acquire 50% interest in Yaque Minerales S.A de C.V. holding the El Mezquite Au project, and up to 50% interest in Colibri's Diamante Au-Ag project. Silver Spruce recently signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement with Colibri on the Jackie Au project. Silver Spruce signed a Definitive Agreement to acquire 100% interest in the Mystery Au project in the Exploits Subzone Gold Belt, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Company signed an Agreement to earn 100% interest in the Pino de Plata Ag project in western Chihuahua, Mexico. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. continues to investigate opportunities that Management has identified or that have been presented to the Company for consideration.

Contact:

Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Greg Davison, PGeo, Vice-President Exploration and Director

(250) 521-0444

gdavison@silverspruceresources.com

Michael Kinley, CEO

(902) 402-0388

mkinley@silverspruceresources.com

info@silverspruceresources.com

www.silverspruceresources.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements," Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, statements regarding the private placement.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate.

SOURCE: Silver Spruce Resources Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/705890/Silver-Spruce-Mobilizes-Geological-Team-and-Collars-First-Hole-Of-2000-Metre-RC-Drill-Program-on-The-Pillado-and-La-Prieta-Au-Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu-Targets-at-Diamante-Project-Sonora-Mexico




SL Green Realty Corp

Conference Call to be Held on July 21, 2022 at 2:00pm ET

NEW YORK, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG), Manhattans largest office landlord, today announced that it will release its earnings for the second quarter of 2022 on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 after market close.



The Company's executive management team, led by Marc Holliday, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will host a conference call and audio webcast on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at 2:00 pm ET to discuss the financial results.

Simultaneous with the earnings release, supplemental data will be made available in the Investors section of the SL Green Realty Corp. website at https://slgreen.com under Financial Reports.

The live conference call will be webcast in listen-only mode and a replay will be available in the Investors section of the SL Green Realty Corp. website at https://slgreen.com under Presentations & Webcasts.

Research analysts who wish to participate in the conference call must first register at https://register.vevent.com/register/BI04e64809f000428788776f970609f10f.

About SL Green Realty Corp.

SL Green Realty Corp., Manhattans largest office landlord, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust, or REIT, that is focused primarily on acquiring, managing and maximizing value of Manhattan commercial properties. As of March 31, 2022, SL Green held interests in 72 buildings totaling 34.7 million square feet. This included ownership interests in 26.7 million square feet of Manhattan buildings and 7.2 million square feet securing debt and preferred equity investments.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions thereof. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially, and we caution you not to place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of the words may, will, should, expect, anticipate, estimate, believe, intend, project, continue, or the negative of these words, or other similar words or terms.

Story continues

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us. Factors and risks to our business that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements include the risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except to the extent required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

SLG-EARN

PRESS CONTACT

slgreen@berlinrosen.com




Slate Office REIT L.P.

TORONTO, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Slate Grocery REIT (TSX: SGR.U) (TSX: SGR.UN) (the REIT), an owner and operator of U.S. grocery-anchored real estate, announced today that it has agreed to acquire 14 properties comprising 2.5 million square feet (the Portfolio). The Portfolio is valued at US$425 million (the Acquisition), which represents a 6.9% capitalization rate or US$174 per square foot. The Portfolio is located across seven states with over two-thirds of the Portfolio value being allocated to the Southeastern United States.



The REIT also announced that it has entered into agreements (the Subscription Agreements) with Slate North American Essential Real Estate Income Fund L.P. (the NA Essential Fund), a vehicle managed by Slate Asset Management (Slate), which will result in the formation of a strategic joint venture (the Joint Venture). The NA Essential Fund has agreed to make an initial investment of US$180 million into the REITs assets (the Investment) through the purchase of partnership interests in two REIT subsidiaries (the JV Partnerships). Proceeds from the Investment will be used immediately to fund the REITs Acquisition.

Acquisition highlights:



Significant concentration of assets in the rapidly growing Sunbelt Region  Significantly increases the REITs exposure to Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia  leading markets for population growth in the US.

Comprised of a wide range of high-performing grocers  Increases the REITs exposure to leading national grocers, including Publix, Ahold Delhaize, Albertsons, and Walmart.

Attractive valuation and defensive basis  Low acquisition basis of US$174 per square foot (PSF) with below market rents.

Significantly increases the size and scale of the REITs portfolio  The REITs pro forma portfolio will comprise 15.7 million square feet and US$2.4 billion of essential grocery-anchored real estate.

The Acquisition will be financed through new bank financing, the proceeds from the US$180 million Investment from the NA Essential Fund (as described above), and existing balance sheet liquidity. Following the Acquisition, the REITs leverage is expected to be approximately 53.7%.

Story continues

"This Acquisition and Joint Venture illustrate the value and resources Slate Asset Management brings to all of our managed entities," said Blair Welch, Chief Executive Officer of Slate Grocery REIT and Founding Partner of Slate. "Our global reach and track record facilitate these creative solutions for capital and deals that enable the REITs continued growth and ensure we are providing the best value to the REITs unitholders. We are very pleased to establish this partnership between Slate Grocery REIT and the Slate North American Essential Real Estate Income Fund, which demonstrates confidence from a leading institutional investor in the REITs strategy, management, and valuation."

The closing of each of the Investment and the Acquisition are expected to occur on July 14, 2022. For more information, please refer to the REITs website for both the most recent investor presentation as well as a presentation summarizing the Acquisition, available at slategroceryreit.com/investor-presentations.

Summary of the Joint Venture

The REIT has entered into Subscription Agreements with the NA Essential Fund, a vehicle managed by Slate, which will result in the formation of a strategic Joint Venture. The Joint Venture is part of a long-term strategic partnership between the REIT and the NA Essential Fund.

Joint Venture highlights:

Institutional validation of the REITs portfolio and management team  The Joint Venture creates a long-term partnership with a fund that includes New Zealand Superannuation Fund, a leading global sovereign wealth fund that endorses the strength, quality, and stability of the REITs platform.

Validation of the REITs real estate value  The NA Essential Fund is investing at a valuation in line with the REITs Q1 2022 IFRS value. The Investment also reflects a pro forma 6.8% cap rate on managements estimated 12 month forward NOI from Q1 2022 and US$150 per square foot. The Investment implies a valuation of US$13.01 per unit of the REIT, a 21.8% premium to the REITs current trading price immediately prior to the execution of the Subscription Agreements, of US$10.68.

Establishes structure for an efficient source of growth capital  The Joint Venture optimizes the REITs cost of equity by providing the potential for a consistent source of private equity capital in addition to the REITs public funding strategies.

Immediate use of Investment proceeds toward a high-quality, accretive acquisition  The REIT is allocating the entirety of the US$180 million Investment by the NA Essential Fund toward the purchase of a high-quality grocery-anchored Portfolio that is accretive to unitholders at an attractive valuation.

Key terms of the Joint Venture include:

The NA Essential Fund will, through a subsidiary, invest in the JV Partnerships. The NA Essential Fund will not be a securityholder of the REIT.

Upon completion of the Investment, the NA Essential Fund will effectively own an approximately 18.4% interest in the REITs existing assets, through its approximately 18.4% ownership interest in the JV Partnerships.

The NA Essential Funds US$180M Investment in the JV Partnerships implies a valuation of US$13.01 per unit of the REIT.

In connection with the Investment, the parties will enter into amended and restated partnership agreements of the JV Partnerships (the JV Partnership Agreements). The JV Partnership Agreements will provide for, among other things, the following: The REIT (including through Slate, as manager) will maintain the sole power to manage its existing and future portfolio of assets (subject to limited and customary approval rights of the NA Essential Fund over certain fundamental matters involving the JV Partnerships). The NA Essential Fund will have pre-emptive rights, pursuant to which it will be entitled to acquire at least an 18.4% interest in new equity issued by the JV Partnerships (subject to customary exclusions), for so long as it maintains a 9% ownership interest in the applicable JV Partnership. New properties to be acquired by the REIT will be acquired through the JV Partnerships unless the NA Essential Fund does not participate. Transfers by the NA Essential Fund will be subject to approval of the REIT, acting reasonably, and a right of first refusal in favour of the REIT. The REIT will have customary drag-along rights and the NA Essential Fund will have customary tag-along rights, subject to exceptions. The parties will also have certain one-time call or put rights in certain circumstances if Slate is no longer manager of the applicable party.





Slate is a related party of the REIT as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). As a result, the Investment by NA Essential Fund, which is managed by a Slate entity, could be considered a related party transaction for the REIT. As such, the board of trustees of the REIT (the Board) established a special committee composed entirely of independent trustees (the Special Committee) to, among other things, review, consider, negotiate and oversee the Investment. The members of the Special Committee are Colum Bastable (Chair), Andrea Stephen, Thomas Farley, Patrick Flatley and Marc Rouleau. The Special Committee retained Blair Franklin Capital Partners Inc. (Blair Franklin) as financial advisor and Fasken as legal advisor. After careful deliberation, the Special Committee determined that the Investment is in the best interests of the REIT and unanimously recommended approval of the Investment by the Board. Following receipt of the unanimous recommendation by the Special Committee, the Board (with interested trustees abstaining) has unanimously approved proceeding with the Investment.

Additional information regarding the Joint Venture, the Investment and related terms will be included in a material change report to be filed by the REIT on www.sedar.com. This press release is only a summary of certain principal terms of the Joint Venture and the Investment and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed information contained in the material change report.

About Slate Grocery REIT (TSX: SGR.U / SGR.UN)

Slate Grocery REIT is an owner and operator of U.S. grocery-anchored real estate. The REIT owns and operates approximately U.S. $1.9 billion of critical real estate infrastructure across major U.S. metro markets that communities rely upon for their daily needs. The REITs resilient grocery-anchored portfolio and strong credit tenants provide unitholders with durable cash flows and the potential for capital appreciation over the longer term. Visit slategroceryreit.com to learn more about the REIT.

About Slate Asset Management

Slate Asset Management is a global alternative investment platform targeting real assets. We focus on fundamentals with the objective of creating long-term value for our investors and partners. Slates platform has a range of real estate and infrastructure investment strategies, including opportunistic, value add, core plus and debt investments. We are supported by exceptional people and flexible capital, which enable us to originate and execute on a wide range of compelling investment opportunities. Visit slateam.com to learn more.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information herein constitutes forward-looking information (which may include financial outlook), each, as defined under Canadian securities laws which reflect managements expectations regarding objectives, plans, goals, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of the REIT. Some of the specific forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the intention of the NA Essential Fund to complete the closing of the Investment; the intention of the REIT to complete the closing of the Acquisition; the terms and conditions which will apply to the Investment and the Acquisition; the anticipated benefits and results of the Investment and the Acquisition; and the expected timing for completion of the Investment and the Acquisition. Some of the specific forward-looking statements contained herein, which may constitute financial outlook, include statements with respect to: the REITs leverage following the completion of the Acquisition and the Investment; and the cap rate on managements estimated 12-month forward NOI. The purpose of such statements is to assist readers in understanding the anticipated effects on, and benefits of, the Acquisition and the Investment, as applicable, and may not be appropriate for use for any other purpose. The words plans, expects, does not expect, scheduled, estimates, intends, anticipates, does not anticipate, projects, believes, or variations of such words and phrases or statements to the effect that certain actions, events or results may, will, could, would, might, occur, be achieved, or continue and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the REIT cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings of the REIT with securities regulators.

Non-IFRS Measure

This news release contains certain financial measures that are not measures used under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), including NOI. See the REITs most current Managements Discussion and Analysis available at www.sedar.com for more information.

This announcement by the Slate Grocery REIT (TSX: SGR.U) (TSX: SGR.UN) is not, and should not be construed as, an offer to investors for units in Slate North American Essential Real Estate Income Fund L.P.

SGR-AD

For Further Information

Investor Relations

+1 416 644 4264

ir@slateam.com




Saudi-based Alfanar Construction, along with several other companies, has reached an agreement to sponsor the $10 million Global Innovation Award in Water Desalination at the recently concluded Innovation Driven Desalination Conference in Jeddah.

The deal was signed by Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) Governor Engineer Abdullah Al Abdul Karim and Alfanars Executive Vice President, Engineer Amer Al Ajmi, along with other companies, in the presence of Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al Fadhli.

Al Ajmi said: "Alfanar is proud to be one of SWCCs partners for the international award for innovation in desalination. Alfanar Construction specializes in the development of water projects, whether desalination, treatment, or strategic storage projects, and is always keen to adopt initiatives to support modern innovation in order lower the cost of treating water.

Alfanar Construction, he stated, has gained a growing regional and international reputation by diversifying its portfolio of projects and services globally.

"Today, the company serves businesses across the digital solutions, energy, water, oil and gas, social infrastructure and healthcare sectors through its various business divisions and sub-brands," he added.
(Bloomberg) -- South Africas Health Minister Joe Phaahla has recommended dropping the countrys remaining coronavirus-related restrictions.

Most Read from Bloomberg

These include the wearing of masks and curbs on gathering sizes. Phaahla made those proposals following the decline in hospitalizations and reported cases, according to a statement dated June 20.

The cabinet will discuss the proposals in coming days, he said.

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2022 Bloomberg L.P.
SIRIUS MANAGEMENT CONSULTING

South Korea data center market was valued at $3.9 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $5.8 billion by 2027

Chicago, June 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Arizton latest research report, the South Korea data center market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.71% during 2022-2027. The growing support and initiatives from the government for the development of data centers will lead to attracting new investors to the country. The high adoption of artificial intelligence by the government and other organizations is one of the major factors driving market growth.



South Korea Data Center Market Report Scope

Report Attributes Details MARKET SIZE (2027) $5.8 Billion MARKET SIZE (2021) $3.9 Billion CAGR (2022-2027) 6.71% MARKET SIZE (AREA) 348 thousand Sq. Feet (2027) MARKET SIZE (POWER CAPACITY) 80 MW (2027) COLOCATION MARKET SIZE (REVENUE) $1,000 Million (2027) BASE YEAR 2021 FORECAST YEAR 2022-2027

Click Here to Download the Free Sample Report

Key Insights

South Korea is in the Northeast Asian economic zone and has strong trade connectivity with major Asian countries. Seoul is the primary location for data center development, with more than 15 data center facilities contributing around 50% of the existing third-party data center capacity in South Korea.

Telecom, cloud, healthcare, BFSI, automobiles, gaming, logistics, and education are some of the industry verticals in South Korea that drive the demand for data centers in South Korea.

South Korea has the presence of global cloud service providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, Google, Oracle, and Tencent. Some of the local cloud service providers in the country include KT, LG CNS, and SK C&C.

The South Korea data center market has witnessed several investments via joint ventures; for instance, in April 2022, Digital Edge and SK ecoplant signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop a data center facility in Incheon, South Korea.

The country has the presence of several free economic zones such as Incheon FEZ, Busan-Jinhae FEZ, Gwangyang Bay Area FEZ, Chungbuk FEZ, and Saemangeum-Gunsan FEZ will drive data center investment in the country in upcoming years.

The South Korea Government aims to generate around 35% of energy from renewable energy sources by 2040 in the country. Data center service providers such as NAVER, Equinix, and Digital Realty are using renewable energy to power their data center operations.

Story continues

South Korea Data Center Market Growth Enablers

The South Korean data center market is one of the quickly emerging markets in the APAC region, with growth in investments from global cloud service providers such as AWS, Microsoft, Alibaba, and Google.

Several startups in the country are using big data solutions for modifying their business operations. For instance, Coupang, an e-commerce company based in South Korea, is using big data analytics for its e-commerce platform.

Growing joint ventures will bring foreign investments to the country as well as attract other investors to invest in data centers. The joint ventures will further create revenue opportunities for vendors and local operators with investments from global firms. Joint ventures are also encouraging global brands to increase their presence in the country and maintain a brand reputation, local market knowledge, and local operations.



Market Segmentation

Infrastructure Type

IT Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

General Construction

IT Infrastructure

Server

Storage

Network



Electrical Infrastructure

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

Generators

Transfer Switches and Switchgears

PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure



Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Racks

Other Mechanical Infrastructure



General Construction

Core and Shell Development

Installation and Commissioning Services

Building Design

Physical Security

DCIM



Tier Segments

Tier I & Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV



Geography

Seoul

Other Cities

Vendors Analysis

IT Infrastructure Providers

Arista Networks

Atos

Cisco Systems

Dell Technologies

Fujitsu

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

IBM

Inspur

Intel

Lenovo

NetApp



Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors

BEHIVE

DPR Construction

GS E&C

HanmiGlobal

Hyundai Engineering & Construction

ISG

POSCO ICT

SAMOO Architects & Engineers

Samsung C&T



Support Infrastructure Providers

ABB

Caterpillar

Cummins

Delta Electronics

Eaton

Fuji Electric

Legrand

Mitsubishi Electric

Piller Power Systems

Rittal

Rolls-Royce

Schneider Electric

STULZ

Vertiv

Data Center Investors

Actis

Digital Realty

Dreammark1

Equinix

Kakao Corp

KT Corp

LG Uplus

NAVER Corp

NHN Corp

Princeton Digital Group (PDG)

Pure Data Centers

Samsung SDS

SC Zeus Data Centers

SK Broadband

ST Telemedia Global Data Centers





Explore our data center knowledge base profile to know more about the industry.

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Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals, and materials, IT and media, logistics, and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

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CONTACT: Arizton Advisory and Intelligence Call: +1-312-235-2040 +1 302 469 0707




CALGARY, AB, June 21, 2022 /CNW/ - Katipult Technology Corp. (TSXV: FUND) ("Katipult" or the "Corporation"), a leading Fintech provider of software for powering the exchange of capital in equity and debt markets, announced today that Sprott Capital Partners has chosen to use Katipult DealFlow to modernize its processes around financings. Sprott Capital Partners LP ("SCP"), a division of Sprott Inc. was formed in 2017 to provide a comprehensive suite of capital raising and advisory solutions to natural resources companies. In a short period of time, SCP has become a trusted partner to corporate and institutional clients by leading and completing a number of financings and M&A advisory mandates. Leveraging its deep sector expertise, longstanding relationships and best-in-class execution capabilities, SCP is uniquely positioned to deliver successful financial and strategic outcomes to its clients.

Katipult Technology Corp. logo (CNW Group/Katipult Technology Corp.)

"At Sprott Capital Partners, financings are an important and growing part of our business. Our standing in the industry means we are frequently the dealer of choice for the natural resources space. As such, it is crucial that we modernize our processes to improve efficiency and create a better experience for both investors and issuers. We're confident that Katipult DealFlow  which has been specifically designed for managing deal workflow and is already widely used in the Canadian IIROC dealer community  will allow us to achieve this," says Lisa Edwards, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of Sprott Capital Partners.

Katipult DealFlow is an industry-leading solution that functions as the operating system for investment capital. DealFlow simplifies and personalizes the signing experience for investors by creating an intelligent digital subdoc from the legal agreement prepared by issuer counsel, eliminating 85 percent of not-in-good-order documents. This speeds up the entire deal's process flow while saving internal resources on the part of compliance teams, equity capital management teams, and investment advisors. It also leads to a superior experience on the part of investors, with issuers also being able to secure their capital quicker.

"We are pleased to welcome Sprott Capital Partners into the expanding community of financial companies using DealFlow to bring their processes into the digital era. DealFlow is used by firms like Canaccord Genuity, Raymond James, Echelon Wealth Partners, Cormark Securities, and TSX Trust. Sprott Capital Partners makes an excellent addition to our customer portfolio," says Gord Breese, Katipult CEO.

About Katipult

Katipult ( www.katipult.com ) is a provider of industry leading and award-winning software infrastructure for powering the exchange of capital in equity and debt markets. Our cloud-based solution and solutions digitize investment workflow by eliminating transaction redundancy, strengthening compliance, delighting investors, and accelerating deal flow. Katipult provides unparalleled adaptability for regulatory compliance, asset structure, business model, and localization requirements.

Regarding Forward Looking Statements: Certain disclosure in this release, including statements regarding the streamlining and automation of internal processes at Sprott Capital Partners and the growth of Katipult's portfolio of investment banks constitute forward-looking statements. In making the forward-looking statements in this release, the Corporation has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Corporation's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Corporation, including, but not limited to, the Corporation's product will continue to operate as expected, and the industry will continue to see value in the Corporation's product. Although the Corporation considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors may include, among others, failure to manage growth and product implementation successfully, lengthier than anticipated sales and implementation cycle, cyber risks, risks related to cloud based solutions, failure to continue to adapt to technological change and new product development, dependence on key personnel, competition, intellectual property risks, economic conditions, privacy concerns and legislation, regulatory environment, risk associated with a change in the Corporation's pricing model, risk of defects in the Corporation's solution, dependence on market growth, operational service risk, dependence on partners and delay or failure to realize anticipated benefits of key account installations. Readers are cautioned, especially in these uncertain times, not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Corporation does not intend to, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Katipult Technology Corp.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2022/21/c1718.html
(Adds Castillo Santisteban and Al Mafyar, updates to show Lng Endeavour has arrived) June 21 (Reuters) - The following liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers are expected to arrive in Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands in the coming weeks. Estimated arrival dates, often revised by port authorities and AIS Live ship-tracking data on Refinitiv Eikon, are updated below. Some tankers heading for Belgium and Britain may be loading at the terminal. Those expected to load are indicated with an (L). Those likely to perform ship-to-ship transfers are indicated with (STS). Tankers that have docked are indicated with (A). For the Reuters LNG guide, click here: LNG TANKER CAPACITY in EXPECTED ARRIVAL FROM PORT cubic metres BRITAIN Valencia Knutsen 170,000 June 20 (A) Peru Dragon Castillo Santisteban 170,000 June 21 Peru Dragon Energy Liberty 165,000 June 21 United States Isle of Grain Arctic Lady 145,000 June 22 Norway Isle of Grain Maran Gas Posidonia 159,000 June 22 United States South Hook Aamira 261,000 June 24 Qatar South Hook Al Dafna 262,000 July 2 Qatar South Hook Al Mafyar 261,000 July 5 Qatar South Hook Methane Becki Anne 170,000 July 11 Peru Milford Haven BELGIUM Bu Samra 261,000 June 20^ (A) Qatar Zeebrugge Nikolay Urvantsev 169,000 June 21 (STS) Russia Zeebrugge Energy Intelligence 173,000 June 21 (L) (STS) Netherlands Zeebrugge Bu Samra 261,000 June 23^ Qatar Zeebrugge Yakov Gakkel 172,000 June 24 Russia Zeebrugge Al Jassasiya 144,000 June 25 Qatar Zeebrugge Clean Ocean 159,000 June 25 (L) Egypt Zeebrugge Eduard Toll 172,000 June 26 Russia Zeebrugge Corcovado Lng 158,000 June 28 United States Zeebrugge Golar Crystal 160,000 July 9 (L) France Zeebrugge NETHERLANDS Lng Endeavour 174,000 June 20 (A) United States Gate Lngc Golar Celsius 160,000 June 23 United States Gate Lng Rosenrot 177,000 July 2 United States Gate Sources: Ports, AIS Live ship tracking, Refinitiv Eikon data. (^) Partial unload (*) Arrival date calculated using www.searates.com at an average speed of 13.5 knots (Reporting By Susanna Twidale)
SAN DIEGO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, TuSimple (Nasdaq: TSP) co-founder and CEO Xiaodi Hou announced the addition of two key leadership positions and the departure of its CFO as the company continues transitioning from testing to scaling and, ultimately, wide deployment of autonomous trucking technology across the U.S.

Dr. Ersin Yumer is being promoted to Executive Vice President of Operations. Dr. Yumer oversees the TuSimple Autonomous Freight Network (AFN) to support Driver Out operations and has deep experience in the industry, including previous roles at Aurora Innovation, Inc., Uber Technologies, Inc., Argo AI, and Adobe, as well as a PhD from Carnegie Mellon in the field of machine learning and computer vision.

Dr. Lei Wang is being promoted to Executive Vice President of Technology. Dr. Wang will continue to develop the advanced hardware, software, and algorithm technology required to install safe and reliable Driver Out capability. Dr. Wang has held technology leadership roles at WeRide.ai, Instagram and Facebook, and also has a PhD in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a focus on algorithm designs in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

In addition, Chief Financial Officer Patrick Dillon will leave the company to pursue other opportunities. Eric Tapia, TuSimple's Global Controller and principal accounting officer, will temporarily take on the role of the company's Chief Financial Officer while TuSimple carries out a search for a new CFO.

"I want to personally thank Pat Dillon for helping guide us through the IPO process and our first year as a public company. He has provided invaluable support and guidance to TuSimple and played a key role in TuSimple becoming a commercial leader in autonomous trucking and achieving several industry firsts," said Xiaodi Hou, Co-Founder and CEO.

Additionally, TuSimple is also reconfirming it is on track to meet or out-perform previously announced 2022 Adjusted EBITDA guidance and will provide an update at the regularly scheduled quarterly update.

Story continues

"With more than 7 million miles driven by TuSimple's autonomous vehicles, we are laser focused on transitioning to the next stage: Driver Out Commercialization. Ersin Yumer is uniquely qualified to make sure that safety, efficiency and scalability are cornerstones of our entire organization. Additionally, Lei Wang is a highly experienced and capable technologist and organizational leader." Dr. Hou continued, "As TuSimple continues growing and scales up to Driver Out Commercialization, I'm excited to execute our vision of a safer, more reliable and more efficient future. We remain committed to the long-term financial goals of the company, and today's announcements will help get us there."

About TuSimple

TuSimple is a global autonomous driving technology company headquartered in San Diego, California, with operations in Arizona, Texas, Europe, and China. Founded in 2015, TuSimple is developing a commercial-ready, fully autonomous (SAE Level 4) driving solution for long-haul heavy-duty trucks. TuSimple aims to transform the $4 trillion global truck freight industry through the company's leading AI technology, which makes it possible for trucks to drive safely autonomously, operate nearly continuously, and reduce fuel consumption by 10%+ relative to manually driven trucks. Global achievements include the world's first fully autonomous, 'driver-out' semi-truck run on open public roads, and development of the world's first Autonomous Freight Network (AFN). Visit us at www.tusimple.com .

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tusimple-announces-leadership-changes-301571613.html

SOURCE TuSimple Holdings, Inc.
(Bloomberg) -- India is expected to resist an anticipated push from Chinese President Xi Jinping to use this years BRICS summit of emerging market powers, which includes Russia, as a platform to highlight his efforts to build an alternative to the US-led global order, Indian officials with knowledge of the matter said.

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The US criticized Chinas stepped-up purchases of Russian oil as a worrying sign of collaboration between the countries. President Joe Biden, asked about comments made by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said he isnt concerned about Ukraine fatigue among world leaders.

Chinas premier visited a wheat farm for a trip that likely signaled Beijings worries about rising food prices. A close ally of President Vladimir Putin threatened retaliation in an escalating standoff with the European Union after Lithuania blocked the transit of sanctioned goods to Russias Baltic territory of Kaliningrad.

(See RSAN on the Bloomberg Terminal for the Russian Sanctions Dashboard.)

Key Developments

India to Resist Anti-US Messaging at BRICS Summit With Xi, Putin

Germanys Ukraine Support Ranges From Howitzers to Sleeping Bags

Ukrainians Should Own More Guns After War Ends, Law Chief Says

Ukraine Poised to Get Backing of EU States on Membership Path

Putin Ally Vows Russian Response to EU Kaliningrad Sanctions

India to Resist Anti-US Messaging at BRICS Summit With Xi, Putin

The Latest on the Ground

Fighting continues in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk as Russia bombarded the nearby city of Lysychansk in attempts to seize the last pocket of the Luhansk region controlled by Ukrainian forces, according to regional governor Serhiy Haiday. The Russian offensive continued in neighboring Donetsk as troops advanced toward the town of Bakhmut, according to Ukraines military. The military also reported heavy fighting in the southern region of Kherson. In the north, Russian forces intensified the shelling commercial and residential buildings in Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city. Putins government recently replaced the commander of the Russian Airborne force and may purge other leaders it sees as not getting the job done in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War reported.

Story continues

(All times CET)

China Premiers Trip to Shows Inflation Worries (4:55 a.m.)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited a wheat farm in a province neighboring the capital, underscoring his governments lingering worries about food security and inflation.

Earlier this month, President Xi reviewed efforts to boost domestic grain production in Sichuan province, as Russias war destabilizes global food security. China is one of the worlds biggest wheat importers, leaving it particularly exposed to the effects of Putins invasion of Ukraine, a major shipper of grains such as barley, corn and wheat.

Read more: China Premiers Trip to Wheat Farm Shows Food, Inflation Worries

India to Resist Anti-US Messaging at BRICS (1:15 a.m.)

Indian negotiators will look to ensure any joint statement out of the summit is neutral and prevent attempts by China and Russia to use the summit to score a propaganda victory against the US and its allies, according to Indian officials with knowledge of the matter. Indias government will also seek to delay Chinas effort to expand the BRICS grouping by pushing the organization to decide on criteria for adding new members, they said.

The virtual event, which Beijing is hosting this week, is set to bring together Xi, Russian President Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South Africas Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazils Jair Bolsonaro.

Read more: India to Resist Anti-US Messaging at BRICS Summit With Xi, Putin

Dubai Attracts Traders of Russian Commodities (1:00 a.m.)

Traders of Russian commodities are rushing to set up businesses in Dubai as Switzerland makes it increasingly challenging for them to deal with Moscow. Russias three largest oil producers are in the process of evaluating Dubai for trading operations, and several other firms have already relocated there.

Switzerland has for decades been home to middlemen helping to match Russian producers with buyers all over the world. Now, a ratcheting up of sanctions is prompting a migration to the emirate in the Persian Gulf.

Read more: Dubai Becomes New Switzerland for Traders of Russian Commodities

Biden Pushes Back on Idea of Ukraine Fatigue (11:01 p.m.)

Biden pushed back against comments from Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said there is a risk of growing fatigue around the conflict in Ukraine because of other global pressures such as inflation. The US leader said he doesnt have such fears.

Im not afraid, Biden said at the White House. But what I do think is there at some point, this is going to be a bit of a waiting game -- what the Russians can sustain and what Europe is going to be prepared to sustain.

US Slams Chinas Purchases of Russian Oil (8:02 p.m.)

Chinas purchases of Russian oil are another example of growing collaboration between the countries as the West tries to enact sanctions on Moscow, a spokesman for the US National Security Council said.

I think this is just a piece of Chinas willingness to continue to go along with Russia, NSC Spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House. We have, as we said at the outset, called on China to be a responsible power here and to join the rest of the world in condemning what Russia has done in Ukraine and enforcing sanctions against Russia for it.

China snapped up a record quantity of Russian crude last month, lifting purchases to $7.47 billion -- about $1 billion more than April and double the amount of a year ago.

India Leaning on Oil Companies to Buy Cheap Russian Oil, Journal Reports (5:34 p.m.)

Indian oil companies have come under pressure from government officials to purchase discounted Russian oil, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing industry executives. Officials in recent weeks have strongly encouraged industry to seek ways to keep up purchases, it said.

The newspaper cited an unidentified official as saying the government wasnt giving directives to companies.

Germany Says Putin Mounting Economic Attack Using Gas (5:15 p.m.)

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck accused Putin of mounting an economic attack on Europe by cutting supplies of gas through a key pipeline.

What we have seen over the past week is another dimension, Habeck, who is also the vice chancellor, said in a speech to an industry lobby conference in Berlin. The pattern is always the same, he added. Reduce the volume to push prices up and spark a debate in Europe and in Germany about misery and fear.

Ukrainians Should Own More Guns After War, Law Chief Says (5 p.m.)

Ukrainian Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky is championing a loosening of gun restrictions as Russias attack on the country shifts sentiment toward more openness on civilian possession of firearms. The war showed that tens of thousands of guns, including assault weapons, that have been distributed by the government for national defense were proof that Ukrainian citizens can handle arms.

This is the reason for me to believe that one can allow buying and storing handguns, meaning pistols, at home, Monastyrsky told Bloomberg News in an interview.

Ukrainians Should Own More Guns After War Ends, Law Chief Says

Draghi Vows to Defend Ukraine Despite Splintering Coalition (4:07 p.m.)

Italys biggest party is set to splinter over the countrys support for Ukraine, just as Prime Minister Mario Draghi defended in parliament his governments stance on the conflict.

Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio may soon quit the Five Star Movement and set up a new parliamentary group of his own, in a clash with party leader Giuseppe Conte, according to people familiar with the issue who declined to be named on a confidential matter. Di Maio is siding with Draghi in moving ahead with military support, while Conte prefers focusing on peace talks to end the conflict.

Europe Still Imports Huge Volumes of Russian Diesel as War Rages (3:09 p.m.)

Almost four months after the invasion of Ukraine began, European nations are still importing huge quantities of Russian fuel.

So far this month, the continent has received close to 14 million barrels of diesel-type fuel from countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union, according to Vortexa Ltd. data compiled by Bloomberg. Thats a relatively limited drop-off from pre-war levels earlier this year and the vast majority, if not all, of that fuel originated in Russia.

Europe Still Imports Huge Volumes of Russian Diesel as War Rages

US Attorney General Makes Unannounced Visit (2:59 p.m.)

Attorney General Merrick Garland made the trip to Ukraine on Monday as the US and other countries seek to help the country document abuses by Russian forces.

Garland planned to meet with Ukraines prosecutor general, Iryna Venediktova, to discuss US and international efforts to help identify, apprehend and prosecute individuals involved in war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine, according to a Justice Department official.

Putins Security Chief Vows Response to EU Kaliningrad Sanctions (2:48 p.m.)

The secretary of Russias Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, said the Kremlin will certainly respond to such hostile actions and appropriate measures will be taken soon, after the government in Vilnius halted sanctioned goods to Kaliningrad, an exclave wedged between Poland and Lithuania that belongs to Moscow.

Their consequences will have a serious negative impact on the population of Lithuania, the Putin ally said in comments from Kaliningrad shown on state TV.

Russia Eyes New Rules on States Gold, Gem Sales Amid War (1:17 p.m.)

Russias government and parliament are seeking to change rules on the sales and management of the states precious metal and gem stockpiles amid the war with Ukraine.

The Finance Ministry proposed this week to put a portion of the countrys gold and gems into a special reserve that can be accessed in times of war, according to the government documents website. If the proposal passes, the Putin will have more leeway to decide what to do with the reserves.

Tallinn Says Russian War Games Simulate Attack on Estonia (1:00 p.m.)

Estonias Defense Ministry said Russias attack simulation against the country is meant as a provocation days ahead of next weeks NATO summit in Madrid. It didnt provide details on the location of the exercises.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry in Tallinn summoned the Kremlins ambassador to Tallinn, saying that a Russian military helicopter flew into its airspace on June 18 in the first such instance since the February invasion of Ukraine.

Scholz Pledges Unlimited Weapons Supplies (12:18 p.m.)

Germany will supply Ukraine with weapons for as long as necessary to help it defend itself against Russias invasion, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

We will continue to support Ukraine, also with weapons, and for as long as Ukraine needs our support, Scholz said in a speech in Berlin. The German leader, who has been criticized for not doing enough to help the government in Kyiv, also reiterated his support for Ukraines bid to be granted candidate status to join the European Union.

Rebuilding Ukraine May Cost $1.1 Trillion, EIB Head Says (12:06 p.m.)

Europe will have to play the biggest role in rebuilding Ukraine in an effort that could require 1 trillion euros in outside assistance, European Investment Bank chief Werner Hoyer said at a briefing in Frankfurt.

The estimate comes as EU leaders are scheduled to meet Thursday and Friday in Brussels to discuss Ukraines reconstruction plan and its bid for membership of the bloc. The EIB could play a central role in funneling money from the EU to the country.

Luxembourg Premier Visits Ukraine (11:45 a.m.)

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel arrived in Kyiv Tuesday, the latest in a string of European officials to visit Ukraine.

Germanys Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi made a joint visit to Ukraine last week.

Ukraine Reinstalls Import Taxes To Shore Up Finances (10:48 a.m.)

Ukraines parliament approved a law to reimpose duties from July 1 on imported goods, including a value-added tax, after it scrapped them at the start of the war to tame inflation.

The move is intended to bolster the budget as Ukraine faces a growing deficit due to elevated military spending and revenues hobbled by the war and Russias blockade of Ukrainian exports.

Gas Row Could Embolden ECB Hawks (9:48 a.m.)

New restrictions on Russian gas supplies, targeting the biggest pipeline to Europe, have sent natural gas prices soaring and markets are now pricing delivery rates to remain close to 120 euros per megawatt-hour until next spring. This would deal a new upside shock to euro-area prices and may increase the probability that the European Central Bank will hike rates by 50 basis points in September.

Russian Sovereign Debt Swaps Payout in Turmoil (9:42 a.m.)

Sanctions over the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine have turned the payout mechanism for insurance on Russias sovereign debt into a painful legal conundrum.

The Credit Derivatives Determinations Committee, a panel of 13 banks and asset managers who regulate the credit derivative swap market, is into its third week of deliberations as the measures complicate traditional settlement routes.

At stake is a potential payment of $1.5 billion after the panel ruled Russia missed interest of just $1.9 million on a sovereign bond -- a failure-to-pay event.

Read more: Russia Swaps Payout in Turmoil as Sanctions Tear Up the Playbook

Switzerland Imports Russian Gold for First Time Since Invasion (9:35 a.m.)

Switzerland imported gold from Russia for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine, showing the industrys stance toward the nations precious metals may be softening.

More than 3 tons of gold was shipped to Switzerland from Russia in May, according to data from the Swiss Federal Customs Administration.

Georgian Premier Says EU Unfair on Candidate Status (8:47 a.m.)

Georgia considers it unfair for the EU not to grant candidacy status to the country after recommending it for Ukraine and Moldova, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said in an interview at the Qatar Economic Forum with Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait. The Caucasus nation would be the first country to be granted the status on the merits of complying with the EUs requirements, and the bloc gave it to Ukraine and Moldova because of the situation created by Russias war, he said.

While Georgia supports Ukraine politically, its in a very vulnerable position and cant impose national sanctions on Russia over the invasion, though it wont let Russian companies use Georgian territory to bypass the international measures, he said.

Kremlin Says Captured US Veterans Could Face Death Penalty (5:15 a.m.)

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told US broadcaster NBC he couldnt guarantee the two Americans captured in Ukraine wouldnt face capital punishment, saying they should be held responsible for the crimes they have committed.

In the interview that aired Monday, he said Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh, whose families reported them missing last week, werent likely to be protected by the Geneva Conventions as prisoners of war. Thats because Moscow considers them soldiers of fortune not part of the Ukrainian army, he said, adding that thered be a full investigation into their cases.

Some 20,000 people from around the world have responded to Kyivs call to join the International Legion of Ukraines effort against Russian forces, the Ukrainian government said in March. A court in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region previously sentenced two British fighters and a Moroccan to death.

Russian Editors Nobel Medal Sells for Record $103.5 Million (2:45 a.m.)

Dmitry Muratov, the Russian editor awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for championing freedom of speech, auctioned his medal Monday for $103.5 million, breaking the record for a Nobel.

The previous record was set in 2014, when James Watson sold his medal for discovering the structure of DNA for $4.76 million. Muratov will donate the money to help Ukrainian refugees.

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US Attorney General Merrick Garland visited Ukraine on Tuesday where he will discuss efforts to identify, arrest and prosecute those involved in war crimes and other atrocities committed during Russias invasion, a Justice Department official said.

Garland is slated to meet with Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova, the department official told reporters.

Speaking to reporters in Ukraine as he entered the meeting, Garland said: Im here to express the unwavering support of the United States for the people of Ukraine in the midst of the unprovoked and unjust Russian invasion.

The United States is sending an unmistakable message. There is no place to hide. We will, we and our partners will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable, he added.

Garlands pledge to help assist Ukraine in pursuing war criminals is just one of several steps the Justice Department has taken this year in response to Russias attack against Ukraine.

The department also launched a task force known as KleptoCapture which is focused on seizing yachts and other luxury assets of Russian oligarchs in a bid to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Last week, the U.S. took possession of a superyacht seized in Fiji a month earlier that is believed to be owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov.
Zahid Industries Participated at the World Defense Show in Riyadh

The World Defense Show was held in Riyadh from 6 - 9 March

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zahid Industries, a Zahid Group company, recently participated at the World Defense Show in Riyadh from 6  9 March 2022.



The General Manger of Zahid Industries, Mr. Alaa Akra, stated that the localization of defense industries will have a direct positive impact on the GDP of KSA due to the transfer of knowledge and technology from International companies to local companies that will contribute to the development of the entire industrial sector to align with the best industry standards and comply with International quality standards.



Mr. Akra also thanked the General Authority of Military Industries for their exceptional efforts in managing the offset programs between international companies and local manufacturers.



Mr. Barig Siraj, Vice President of Zahid Group, commented: This participation is in line with the Kingdoms Vision 2030 and the direction of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, to localize 50% of the defense military industries. We are pleased with the signing of a 12-year localization contract between Zahid Industries and Raytheon Technologies, as well as Zahid Industries becoming a globally approved supplier of General Dynamics Land Systems. This is only the beginning of building cooperation for future strategic partnerships for the defense industries, and we are proud to be a part of this success.



Zahid Group have developed strategies on how to participate in this sector through Zahid Industries, a company that has now been licensed by the General Authority of Military Industries. The Group invested in special tools and dedicated facilities, attracted global expertise to train and empower Saudi cadres to become the future leaders in this sector and to become an integral part of protecting the homeland.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea657fd1-d62a-4eb1-a36c-13664486a1e7

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CONTACT: contact info: Mrouj Barefah MBarefah@zahid.com




The man who was shot and killed at a Stafford motel Sunday morning has been identified as 47-year-old Leo D. Franklin of Oxon Hill, Md.

Franklin was shot in the chest at the Red Roof Inn at 386 Warrenton Road in southern Stafford, Sheriffs Maj. Shawn Kimmitz said. He was pronounced dead a short time later at a local hospital.

Stafford resident George Lee Pearson III, 44, is charged with second-degree murder and two firearms offenses. He is being held in the Rappahannock Regional Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned this week in Stafford General District Court.

The reason for the shooting remained unclear Tuesday, but Kimmitz said Pearson and Franklin knew each other and that Franklin was a frequent visitor to the Fredericksburg area.

Deputies found Franklin in the parking lot about 8:15 a.m. with a gunshot wound to his chest. Pearson had already left the scene, but detectives were able to reach him via FaceTime on his phone and convinced him to turn himself in later that day.

Police said Pearson stopped on an Interstate 95 exit ramp in Hanover County and was taken into custody by Hanover deputies and Virginia State Police.

The gun believed to have been used to kill Franklin was recovered from the car.

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Bahrain has announced a outdoor work ban - which restricts labourers and workers from doing work during the afternoon - for the months of July and August, reported BNA.

The ban will be on any work being carried out under direct sunlight and in open places from noon until 4 pm, stated the report, citing the Ministry of Labour.

The aim is to protect workers and ensure their safety from heat stress, sunstroke and various summer diseases, and to reduce occupational accidents during the hottest months of the year, the ministry added.

Announcing the noon work-ban, Labour Minister Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan said: "Bahrain is committed to banning afternoon work under searing temperatures and high humidity in line with human rights principles and the need to provide a safe and healthy work environment."

The strict application of the ban in the previous years has contributed to reducing the risks of work injuries, he added.

The minister stressed that ongoing work at the existing projects won't get affected and will be completed on time, especially as companies can reschedule the work timings during the ban.

Compliance with the ban by private sector establishments in the last five years exceeded 98%, he added.
Wet your whistle and get a taste of the Old West at one of these five historic bars in Colorado.
Providers began vaccinating some of the youngest Coloradans on Tuesday, just days after federal regulators approved the use of the doses for children between six months and 4 years.
Hundreds of electric scooters have been zooming around Colorado Springs for the past six months, and they might be here for the long haul.

This is the first summer the city will have e-scooters available to rent after they were locally launched as part of a one-year trial in October 2021. The companies Veo and Lime each have 300 scooters in some of Colorado Springs busier hubs, including Old Colorado City and the downtown area.

Since last year, there have been around 80,000 e-scooter trips in Colorado Springs, with usage peaking on weekends and in early afternoons, according to Todd Frisbie, city traffic engineer.

E-scooters can be rented through the Veo or Lime apps; both companies charge $1 to unlock a scooter and 29 cents per minute during ride time. Each e-scooter has speed restrictions, with a top speed of 15 mph, and a bell for warnings. Helmets are not required, but encouraged for riders.

BIKE TO WORK DAY Bicycle commuting is coming to Colorado Springs this week. Free breakfast and after-work parties are being offered at over 40 stations along the city's trail systems and at local businesses for the commute Wednesday. A free concert from 6-8 p.m. will also feature local artists at 235 S. Nevada Ave. with food trucks and craft vendors not far away. Free beer, wine and whiskey tastings are also advertised. Register here if you plan on biking to work Wednesday.

The city is optimistic about the pilot program up to now. Weve been pleased with how its gone so far and that the scooter companies have worked well with the city, Frisbie said.

Both Veo and Lime have recently made requests for additional stations, which the city is in the process of reviewing. Frisbie said the companies would likely add more scooters to fill the new stations, if approved, and each company is permitted up to 600 scooters each  double the current fleet.

There have been discussions about adding stations to a new area in southeast Colorado Springs, but nothing has been made official, Frisbie said.

Councilmember Bill Murray has expressed opposition to the e-scooters since they were proposed. "Still am not convinced this mobility device is in the best interests of our communities," he wrote in an email to The Gazette.

"You cannot hear them, they are left all over the sidewalks and people ride them on the sidewalks. We need a better period of time to assess their success here," Murray said.

The one-year trial period will end in October, at which time the city will determine if the scooter rentals will continue permanently.

Frisbie said the city has received complaints from the public about the e-scooters, mainly related to parking. At the beginning of the program when the program was new there were more complaints but they have tapered off over time, he said.

In the downtown core, there are forced parking zones where scooters must be parked to leave room on sidewalks for pedestrian traffic. Outside of the busier hubs, scooters can be parked anywhere.

The forced parking zones are somewhat unique to Colorado Springs, according to Frisbee. It helps to prevent disorganized scooter parking, which was seen when e-scooters were first introduced in Denver without warning or regulations in 2018.

Some restricted ride areas include the Colorado College and UCCS campuses, and sidewalks with heavy pedestrian traffic.

When e-scooters are parked outside of the hubs, the company will eventually move them back to a station if no one else rides them.

"Scooter companies have worked well with us in addressing parking issues as they come up," Frisbie said. The companies are notified about parking violations and have two hours to resolve them.

Veo and Lime were picked last year as the city's scooter companies after a robust selection process, and they are not pursuing others at this time.

E-scooters are mostly used in the Cascade Avenue corridor between Colorado College and Cimarron Street, and the Colorado Avenue corridor from the South Seventh Street to 31st Street.

While there are docking stations downtown and in Old Colorado City, the operating boundaries are more expansive so riders can take scooters around most of the city.

A law passed in April by the Colorado Legislature mandates e-scooter riders must adhere to the Safety Stop by yielding at stop signs and only proceeding through red lights after stopping and yielding to pedestrians and immediate oncoming traffic.
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The future of a beloved recreation hub in northern El Paso County is in question amid a new cost to keep it open to hikers, cyclists and equestrians.

For close to 25 years, the county parks department has annually paid $452 to rent 91 acres known as Black Forest Section 16, where a four-mile loop trail tours the area's iconic pines. Now the lease is set to expire with the State Land Board, the constitutionally-directed agency that pumps money into schools from leases it holds across Colorado.

The new yearly charge presented for Black Forest Section 16: $21,825, an increase of more than 4,700%.

"Truly jaw dropping," said Susan Davies, executive director of Trails and Open Space Coalition.

Following a recent county commissioners meeting, a social media post by Davies's organization garnered outcry. One commenter considered the open space "vital to quality of life" and called the proposed rate "outrageous and unacceptable." Another considered it "the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of." Another was left "gobsmacked."

Another thought of the past 25 years as a "sweetheart deal" and viewed the $242 per acre as "a bargain for land that's probably worth many tens of thousands per acre on the open market."

Having lived nearby for 52 years and having helped spearhead the initiative that led to the original lease in the 1990s, Judy von Ahlefeldt acknowledged the drastically changed real estate market. Still, she called the new rate "way too high" and criticized the county for moving too quickly on an agreement.

"The whole thing is a mess," von Ahlefedlt said.

Todd Marts, who oversees parks and trails as director of El Paso County Community Services, recognized the raise as "significant" but pledged to renew the lease despite tight finances.

With $4.4 million budgeted for 2022, the county is tasked with more than 8,000 acres for recreation. That acreage grew this year with two new open spaces while tax support for the department hovers around pre-recession levels.

Marts said the significance of Black Forest Section 16 is represented by the trail's often-full parking lot. The property is also home to the long-going, volunteer-run Black Forest Slash Mulch Program  "huge for fire mitigation," Marts said.

Asked what $21,825 a year would mean for the broader park system  including Bear Creek, Fox Run and Fountain Creek regional parks, not to mention the increasingly popular and needy Paint Mines far east  Marts said "it's going to have an impact for sure."

He added: "How will things shuffle, what it's going to come from, I don't have that yet. But the bottom line for me is, we're not giving up on Black Forest Section 16. We're going to preserve it as long as we can."

Talks with the State Land Board have centered on extending the lease 10 years. Black Forest Trails Association has endorsed the move.

"It's just a hard pill to swallow," said the group's president, Rich Mock. "It's a lot of money."

It's fair by State Land Board standards and obligations, explained Kristin Kemp, the agency's outreach and communications officer.

That obligation is rooted in history almost as old as America. Drawn amid westward expansion, Thomas Jefferson's "Jeffersonian Grid" laid out square-mile sections to be held in trusts that would financially benefit public institutions (sections numbered 16 would be for schools, like today's School in the Woods, situated off the loop trail in Black Forest).

Colorado's trust land amounted to about 4 million acres upon statehood in 1876. That's now closer to 3 million, which is largely leased for agriculture, oil and gas and other mining. Last year, the State Land Board reported revenues for schools totaling about $116 million, with only about $2.4 million of that reported from recreation leases.

The vast majority of those leases are for hunting and fishing through a program with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Such a lease for such broad recreation as Black Forest Section 16 is "highly unusual," Kemp said, and the 25-year term even more so (five is the standard now, with room for negotiating). Another example is the lease for Boulder County's Bald Mountain and Heil Valley Ranch open spaces; rent for the 706 acres has been $243,815.

On those kinds of properties, concessions should be granted, Davies said.

"It shouldn't just be about maximizing dollars. It's supposed to be about the benefit to the people of Colorado, and this truly is a well-used 90 acres," she said.

It's about money for schools, Kemp said. In response to local criticism, "I would say I think it's great that they had the opportunity to recreate on that property for such a long time at such a low rate," she said, "and our duty is to use the land to earn income for schools, and in setting this new rate, a lot has changed in 25 years."

A lot has, agreed von Ahlefedlt, who recalled a collaborative, multi-agency effort to preserve Black Forest Section 16 back in the '90s. Her message now to county commissioners on the lease, which is set to expire in December: "I don't think this should be done today. This should be the beginning of a process that involves stakeholders."

Stakeholders including locals, advocates, School in the Woods and government representatives.

"We need to get a new partnership going," von Ahlefedlt said. "We need to develop a broader vision in concert with what the state can live with and ask, 'What is the highest and best use for this land?'"

She doubted the county's ability or interest to outright buy the property  a cost projecting to exceed the parks budget.

Recently, Boulder County has expressed interest in buying its rented ground at Heil Valley Ranch. Boulder is one Front Range county annually collecting millions of dollars from sales tax portions for parks and open spaces, with others being Douglas, Jefferson and Larimer counties. The local equivalent is the Trails, Open Space and Parks program benefiting the city of Colorado Springs, a program approved by voters in 1997.

"Counties up and down the Front Range have a way to pay for these things," Davies said. "Is it time now to do this so you don't run into these situations where you risk losing something?"
One of Colorado Springs oldest educational nonprofits is joining forces with a national teacher training organization to try to combat the shortage of Black teachers, according to a recent news release.

The Sachs Foundation, which has helped send 3,000 Black Coloradans to college since its 1931 inception, and Teach For America Colorado, the state branch of a national group that expands educational opportunity for children by recruiting and training educators, are partnering to build a pipeline of Black educators in a state that sorely needs them, according to Sachs Foundation President Ben Ralston.

"Teach For America is a well-known and widely respected national organization, so we're thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the TFA Colorado team," Ralston said.

"We've been committed to building a pipeline of diverse teachers for Colorado from the beginning," said Prateek Dutta, executive director of TFA Colorado. "Black teachers have to overcome so many barriers, and this partnership is the perfect step in the right direction because now we have the resources to attract and retain Black educators by addressing the two major challenges they face: lack of funding and isolation.

The partnership is seeking a local solution to what has been a national problem for decades, Ralston said. Educational data show that the number of Black teachers in the U.S. has steadily declined since Brown vs. Board of Education outlawed school segregation in 1954. Currently about 7% of U.S. teachers are Black, according to a study by the Pew Research Center.

Colorado's numbers are even starker than the national average: About 1.6% of the states teachers are Black.

Colorado Springs' largest school district, Academy School District 20, had 16 Black teachers during the 2021-2022 school year  less than 1% of the district's 1,651 teachers, according to Colorado Department of Education data.

Of the area's districts, Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 had the highest percentage of Black teachers last year, at 3.6%. District 11, Widefield School District 3, and Harrison School District 2 were tied for second-highest at 3.4%.

We found those numbers disturbing, said Ralston. And we think we can do something to help change that narrative.

The teacher development program could have far-reaching implications for teachers and students, Ralston said. Studies have shown that the presence of just one Black teacher grades 3-5 increases lower-income Black boys interest in college and reduces their high school dropout rate by nearly 40%.

Black students, and Black men in particular, have lower dropout rates, high college attendance, and less disciplinary issues if they have just one Black teacher at some point in their school career, Ralston said.

The two organizations plan to help build a community of Black educators through salary supplements, training and support groups, Ralston said. Teach for America will recruit and train the teachers, and the Sachs foundation  which granted $2 million in scholarships to high-achieving Black Coloradans in the past year  will provide financial support for teaching candidates and for participating Black teachers.

The financial support is integral, Ralston said, because many Black college graduates  who typically have greater student loan debt than their white counterparts  often feel the need to pursue more lucrative careers like engineering or business, even if they would rather teach.

Ralston said cohort groups, which will provide networking opportunities and peer support, should help overcome a critical recruiting obstacle: Many Black prospects, cognizant of the fact that about 140 of Colorados 178 school districts have no Black educators at all, might balk at the idea of being the only Black teacher at their school.

Before its partnership with Teach for America, the Sachs Foundation had worked on a teacher development program with Colorado College and hopes to bring more local colleges and universities into the fold as the program grows, officials said.

Ralston does not expect to create a deluge of Black teachers, especially in a state where Black people only make up about 4% of the population. But he believes the partnership can make a significant impact in the coming years.

It's a natural fit because we share the same values, and our capabilities are complementary, Ralston said. The Sachs Foundation has funds we can use to meet this challenge, and TFA has the critical teacher recruiting and training expertise to make it work. We're hoping to expand the program eventually."
A consortium led by Acwa Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor and operator of power generation, desalinated water and green hydrogen plants worldwide, today (June 21) signed an agreement to develop a 1.1GW wind project in Egypt, at an investment value of $1.5 billion.

The agreement was signed at the headquarters of the Egyptian General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, Cairo during HRH Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Princes state visit to Egypt.

As per the deal, Acwa Power-led consortium, comprising Hassan Allam Holding, will work together during the development phase to complete the site studies and secure the financing of the facility.

Located in the Gulf of Suez and Gabal el Zeit area, this wind project is the largest single contracted wind farm in the Middle East region and one of the largest onshore wind farms in the world.

The project will be designed to use state-of-art wind turbines with blade heights of up to 220 m which helps in achieving the best use of the designated land plots in the most efficient way.

When complete, the project will mitigate the impact of 2.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year and provide electricity to 1,080,000 households.

The signing ceremony of the agreement took place at the headquarters of the Egyptian General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, Cairo, in the presence of Dr Mohamed Shaker El Markabi, Egypts Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy; Dr. Majid Bin Abdullah Alkassabi, Saudis Minister of Commerce; Dr. Issam bin Saad bin Saeed, Minister of State and Cabinet member for Shoura Council affairs; Dr. Hala Al Said, Egypts Minister of Planning and Economic Development; Mohamed Abdel Wahab, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI); Eng. Osama Asran, Egypts Deputy Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy; Eng. Gaber Desouky, CEO of the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) in addition to Saudi officials led by Acwa Power Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr El Markabi said: "This milestone wind project falls within the framework of the Egyptian governments strategy to diversify its energy sources and leverage the countrys rich natural resources, especially in renewable energy."

"The ministry is taking concrete actions to ensure the resilience of our energy strategy, because of the escalating changes that the world is witnessing, which aim to increase the contribution of renewable energy to up to 42% by 2035," he noted.

The 1.1GW wind project confirms Egypts commitment in spearheading the use of renewable energy sources to reduce the impact of carbon emissions produced by conventional energy sources, as Egypt gears up to host the United Nations Climate Conference (COP 27) in November 2022, the foremost international forum to discuss countries efforts in addressing climate change, he added.

Hassan Allam Utilities, the investment and development arm for Hassan Allam Holding, currently operates a 50 MW solar plant in Benban solar park cementing its position as one of Egypt's leading green energy producers.

This is Acwa Powers third project - and first wind farm - in Egypt, after the 120MW Ben Ban solar independent power projects in the Aswan region and the 200MW Kom Ombo solar plant.

"We are honoured to contribute to the strengthening ties of Saudi Arabia, our home, and Egypt via this milestone wind project, and extend our sincerest gratitude to the leaders of both countries in entrusting their faith in our abilities to realise their renewable energy mandates," remarked Acwa Power Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan.

"With sustainable development at the top of the agenda for both states, progress cannot be made without concerted efforts in expanding infrastructure that is underpinned by renewables," noted Abunayyan.

"This wind project demonstrates a commitment to realising a greener tomorrow, despite global economic volatility, and we look forward to working with like-minded partners for a positive future," he added.

Dalia Wahba, Deputy CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Hassan Allam Utilities, said the project marked an important milestone in Egypt's plans to decarbonise the energy sector and meet its targets under the countrys Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).

"We are proud to be part of this flagship project and look forward to a fruitful partnership," she noted.

Wahba said Egypt had embarked on a serious economic reform programme sending a clear invitation to the private sector to support in building a greener and brighter future.

"As a group, Hassan Allam Holding is committed to be a positive contributor to the environment. We are adopting sustainability principles and expanding our investments into large scale green energy projects," she added.

The 1.1GW wind project is forecasted to reach financial close by the third quarter of 2024. The plant will be commercially operational by the end of 2026.-TradeArabia News Service
Kelly Watt and Phil Rosenberg-Watt stand in the remnants of their Superior home. In response to the fires destruction, residents in the eastern grassland area of unincorporated Boulder County must now follow new building regulations requiring them to use ignition-resistant materials before they build new homes.
The man accused of killing his teenage co-worker at a Colorado Springs Walgreens faces his first court appearance Tuesday morning.

Joshua Taylor Johnson, 28, will have his first appearance in the 4th Judicial District Court on Tuesday, when the prosecution could file charges against him in the death of Riley Whitelaw, 17.

Click or tap here to read more about the life of Riley Whitelaw

Johnson is currently being held in the El Paso County jail on suspicion of first-degree murder.

On the evening of June 11, Whitelaw was found dead inside the breakroom of a Colorado Springs Walgreens at 6820 Centennial Blvd., having suffered injuries to her neck.

The following day Johnson was arrested more than 100 miles from Colorado Springs by Colorado State Patrol with scratches on his face and hands, which Johnson said he got from having been attacked at a Walgreens in Colorado Springs, according to an affidavit.

According to the same affidavit, Whitelaw had made complaints to her manager at Walgreens about Johnson more than a year prior to her death, saying he was making "advances towards her" that made Whitelaw uncomfortable.

Several weeks before her death, Whitelaw had requested different hours so she would no longer have to work with Johnson, according to the affidavit. However, when Whitelaw asked for additional hours, she was told it would require her to work with Johnson.

Johnson was taken back to Colorado Springs after he was found by state troopers and stated to police that at one time he a crush on Whitelaw but didn't anymore, and that he was in the breakroom and "fell in the blood." After falling, Johnson said, he went home to change clothes.

Johnson's first appearance in court will be at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Follow @ZachNDupont on Twitter for updated coverage.
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Uvalde resident Raul Nolasco Jr. stands by the memorial for victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting, at Uvalde Town Square, Texas, U.S., June 11, 2022. REUTERS/Lisa Krantz
Injaz Bahrain, a member of Junior Achievement (JA)Worldwide, the worlds largest non-profit business education organisation, had impacted over 135,000 students during the closing academic year 2021-2022.

At its annual board meeting in-person Injaz said its board members have been instrumental in engaging more than 1,700 volunteers and mentors to deliver its programmes in more than 300 schools and 10 universities across Bahrain.

Among the key notable achievements was the unveiling of Injaz Bahrains new brand identity. The newly launched identity is a milestone in Injaz Bahrains journey as it introduces a new youth-oriented vision underscoring the importance of empowering young people to build skillsets and embrace mindsets necessary to create thriving communities.

Injaz Bahrain Academy

The non-profit organisation highlighted its collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sport to establish the Injaz Bahrain Academy and how this partnership would help achieve a national vision of innovation, excellence, and empowerment of the youth at a national, regional and global level.

Commenting on the successes of the organisation, Shaikha Hessa Bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairperson of Injaz Bahrain said: As part of Injaz Bahrains membership within the larger JA Worldwide organisation, we are proud of the impact that the chapter has made with national youth as they grow into the leaders and innovators of tomorrow, who serve their communities to their fullest potential. We thank our partners for their continuous support and reaffirm that it is through collaboration and partnerships that we bring positive change to our communities, change that delivers on the national vision of sustainable human capital development.

Young Entrepreneurs Competition

As part of its plans, Injaz Bahrain is set to host its annual Young Entrepreneurs Competition which will see the participation of students from 15 High Schools and 10 Universities in Bahrain. The competition is set to take place by the end of June at Wyndham Grand Hotel.

Other prominent highlights shed light on Injaz Bahrains collaboration with BBK to develop a new programme catered to spreading awareness on the fundamentals of Banking to high school students and their respective educators. Additionally, Injaz Bahrain is also set to partner with both members of the board and non-members to offer its talented pool of ESP (Entrepreneurship Skills Pass) alumni more than 79 internship opportunities across diverse sectors of the industry.

Utilising its social media channels to bridge knowledge gaps and educate its students, Injaz Bahrains upcoming initiatives include broadcasting its signature Job Shadow programme in partnership with Bapco and Al Ghaliya. The programme introduces students to careers through one-day, on-site orientation where students get to learn more about the workplace and the potential careers opportunities available.

The meeting was also attended by Injaz Bahrain board members including Dr Abdulrahman Saif  Group Chief Executive BBK; Ali Al Baqali  CEO Alba; Anwar Murad  Deputy CEO Al Salam Bank; Chris Russell  CEO HSBC; Dana Buheji- Chief Human Resource Officer NBB; Essa Al Jowder  EY Office Managing Partner; Hussain Rajab  CEO Tamkeen; Khaled Kanoo  Director Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo; Michel Sawaya  CEO Citi Bahrain; Mohammed Al Moayyed  Chairman of Al Moayyed International Group; Sattam Al Gosaibi  CEO KHCB; Shaikh Bader Al Khalifa  GM Corporate Communications and Sustainability at Batelco; Abdulhakeem Al Khayyat  CEO KFH; Yasser Alabbasi  President GPIC; Hana Sarwani - Executive Director Injaz Bahrain.-- TradeArabia News Service
Kremlin says it does not know location of captured U.S. 'mercenaries'
The world's attention is descending on Vatican City as rumors swirl Pope Francis is readying to resign.

Resignation rumors are gaining traction in the wake of a series of unusual activities by the 85-year-old leader of the Catholic Church, according to a report.

Francis, who has been confined to a wheelchair due to crippling knee pain, canceled a scheduled trip to Africa, the report noted.

He has also supposedly called for a meeting of cardinals, which the Washington Examiner is unable to confirm.

It is this highly unusual meeting that is fueling the resignation rumors, the report noted.

"Inside the Vatican, moments ago, we saw a ton of cardinals, which our guide tells us is highly unusual," Megyn Kelly, who is in Vatican City, posted to social media.

"That's not normal, and, moments earlier, when we were in the Sistine Chapel, a priest or a bishop, we're unclear, came in and gave us a blessing," she said. "Also highly unusual. What was he doing there? Why was he doing that? What did he know?"

Ranking members of the clergy are expected to be in Rome this week for the Tenth World Meeting of Families, which is set to begin Wednesday.

Francis assumed his role in 2013 following the resignation of then-Pope Benedict XVI.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Resignations are a rarity for the papacy, but when addressing his knee pain in the past, Francis has said, "Rather than operate, I'll resign," according to the report.
The Girls of the West always ride during the grand entry before every performance of the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. Above, in 2016, Girl of the West Allison Mitchell rides into the arena before the rodeo.
A workshop was organised in Dubai to promote the values of tolerance among employees and provide staff with practical knowledge and skills about community coexistence.

The training workshop was organized by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) in cooperation with the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence.

Held at the ministrys headquarters in Dubai, the two-day event aimed to unleash employees potential to innovate and lead initiatives, enhance the values of human brotherhood and develop knights of tolerance not only in the workplace but also in the wider society.

Ahmed Ali Al Dashti, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector; Mohammed Abdullah Al Zarooni, Director of MoHAP Representative Office in Sharjah; and Chairman of the Tolerance Committee in the Ministry; and Wedad Bu Hamid, Director of the Government Communication Department, attended the workshop in addition to a number of employees.

Academic norms

During the gathering, the participants were briefed on the practical criteria and academic norms for adopting the concepts of tolerance and coexistence as a way of life and an institutional approach.

The event also touched on the foundations and rules of tolerance in the UAE, as well as the best practices and experience provided by the country in the field of promoting humanitarian principles at the local and global levels.

Sustainable institutional culture

The workshop kicked off with a speech by Al Dashti, in which he stressed that the UAE has evolved into a role model for human fraternity and coexistence as well as a unique example for laying solid foundations for tolerance both locally and globally.

"The UAE has long maintained that tolerance is an essential pillar of the Union's system of values and a cornerstone of humanity's future. As a result, it has become a breeding ground for over 200 nations with diverse traditions and faiths, living in peace and regulated by legislation and laws that provide justice, respect, and equality for all," Al Dashti stated.

"Tolerance has become a sustainable institutional culture in the UAE, thanks to the well-thought-out directives of our wise leadership. The UAE has always looked forward to the future with optimism, driven by the principles of the 50 to strengthen the country's value system of openness, tolerance, respect of other cultures, and human fraternity," he added.

Upholding values

Al Dashti spoke highly of MoHAPs extraordinary efforts to uphold the values of tolerance and coexistence in various walks of life through a variety of initiatives and projects.

"Hosting this workshop reflects the ministrys long-standing commitment to boosting the concepts and principles of tolerance among employees at work. We want to improve their capacities to adopt practices of coexistence and openness to diverse cultures. In addition to highlighting the importance of positive interaction with others, the event sought to encourage employees to be active partners in conveying the message of tolerance to all members of society, especially that consolidating human values in the UAE is a national responsibility that everyone must shoulder, "Al Dashti noted.

Participatory training method

Al Zarooni emphasised that MoHAPs initiatives and projects launched to propagate and bolster the values of tolerance stem from the forward-looking vision of the UAEs wise leadership, which truly believes in the role that tolerance can play in supporting the countrys success and prosperity, and driving the UAEs sustainable development to the next level.

Al Zarooni stated that the training workshop was extremely beneficial and helped improve the role that MoHAP staff may play in propagating and applying tolerance concepts and principles.

To engage all trainees in conversations, the workshop was implemented using a participatory training style and active participation. During the programme, a mix of theoretical and practical techniques were reviewed to provide the attendees with a set of key knowledge and skills in order to be able to disseminate the values of tolerance.

Concepts of tolerance

Presented by Counselor Rashid Ibrahim Al Nuaimi, Advisor to Strategic Planning and Institutional Performance Management at the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, the workshop covered a variety of topics and introduced participants to the fundamental concepts of tolerance, allowing them to employ the six keys of a tolerant personality.

The participants were also given an overview of the fundamentals and skills required to build a tolerant and cooperative work environment, to ensure the happiness and satisfaction of customers.-- TradeArabia News Service
Colorado's law requiring vehicles to display red taillights 500 feet to the rear does not mean red is the only acceptable color, the state Supreme Court ruled by 5-2 on Tuesday.

In writing for the court's majority, Justice Richard L. Gabriel noted that a hardline interpretation of the tail lamp law would enable officers to stop certain groups of people at higher rates for taillight infractions after spotting slight defects.

Police "could initiate a traffic stop if the officer detects a hairline fracture in a vehicles tail lamp that emits the tiniest sliver of white light. Such an interpretation would serve no purpose other than to allow traffic stops that have nothing to do with traffic safety," Gabriel wrote in the June 21 opinion. "And such stops would likely disproportionately burden those in lower socioeconomic classes who might lack the resources to replace tail-lamp covers that have minor cracks but are otherwise fully serviceable."

The request to interpret the tail lamp law came to the high court out of Mesa County, where deputies pulled over Timothy Robert McBride's car after observing him fail to signal when exiting a roundabout. Law enforcement arrested McBride on an outstanding warrant and also searched his car to find narcotics and a handgun.

Prosecutors charged McBride with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a weapon by a prior offender and failing to signal. They also prosecuted McBride for violating the tail lamp law, given that his car's taillights did not have the customary red lens, but rather were covered in red tape and partially melted from the rear light bulbs.

State law requires vehicles to emit red light "plainly visible" from 500 feet to the rear. One deputy testified at trial that McBride's car emitted "some white light" to the rear, while another said the lamps "were emitting white light." They did not state, however, whether there was also red light in addition to the white.

A jury convicted McBride of all but the drug charge, prompting McBride to appeal. In July 2020, a three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals reversed most of McBride's remaining convictions, but affirmed the tail lamp violation.

"(W)hen the Legislature says 'red' it means only 'red,'" wrote Judge Christina F. Gomez for the panel.

During oral arguments to the Supreme Court in May, attorneys raised the specter of kaleidoscope-colored tail lamps or lights that could reflect the Denver Broncos' colors  as long as the tail lamps still emitted at least some visible red.

"Say I pay someone $25,000 to paint my house gray. I leave. I come back expecting my house to be gray," said First Assistant Attorney General John T. Lee. "I drive by and the front is white. The side is white. I get to my front door and theres one strip painted bright gray with the note: You didnt say all gray.'"

But the court's majority disagreed with Lee and the Court of Appeals, believing the literal reading of the law does not preclude colors other than red.

"It does not say that 'only' red light must be visible. Nor does it say that a violation occurs if a tail lamp emits any white light, no matter how small and no matter the distance at which such white light may be visible," wrote Gabriel. "It requires only that a red light be plainly visible from 500 feet to the rear."

He dismissed the safety concerns the government had raised, stating that as long as a red light is plainly visible, the infiltration of white light would not confuse drivers about which direction a car is traveling.

Because the testimony from the deputies at trial and the photos of McBride's car did not establish that no red light was plainly visible from 500 feet, the court reversed McBride's tail lamp conviction based on insufficient evidence.

Gabriel added that the question of kaleidoscope-colored tail lamps may be an issue the Supreme Court will have to address in the future, "but that question is not before us in this case."

Justice William W. Hood III, writing in dissent for himself and Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright, believed the majority's decision was naive for overlooking the threat that multicolored tail lamps present to driver safety.

"After all, nothing in the statutory scheme (after today) would prevent someone from festooning the back of a vehicle with a rainbow of tail lamps if the lamps are legally spaced," Hood wrote. "I fear that the majoritys holding invites the use of multiple colors that could confuse and endanger other drivers and would undermine the Legislatures stated intent."
Iowa Board of Regents' President Michael Richards overseeing the special meeting regarding proposed tuition increases for the three universities. (Screen shot courtesy of the Iowa Board of Regents YouTube.)

Iowa State graduate student Rachel Sorensen said Monday she is homeless for the summer because shes not earning enough to cover the cost of living. She told members of the Iowa Board of Regents her situation isnt unique and their plan to increase state university tuition and fees will make it worse.

My concern when I see the tuition raise or raising fees automatically goes to grad students who are struggling to get by, Sorensen said. We are having departments shut down. Were having students not be able to get funding in the summer. Were having students who are actually homeless in the summer, and theyre trying to raise extra money at this point to pay their tuition if they are masters students and then it is extremely difficult for them.

Sorensen, president of the Iowa State University Graduate and Professional Student Senate, was among student leaders who spoke Monday during a special Regents meeting about the effect of a proposed 4.25% increase in tuition to cover rising costs and overall stagnant funding from the state.

Sorensen said she knows international students who are stranded in the county because they cant afford the costs of travel while paying tuition costs.

I struggle to think how we can balance the need for international students to come but at the same time raise the tuition for them to the point where it can make it difficult for them to go back and get their visa so that they can go back into our country, Sorensen said.

University of Northern Iowas Student Body President Leila Masinovic is a first-generation college student. Masinovic said her mother came from a war-torn county while facing the atrocities of genocide. A degree was not a possibility for Masinovics mother but she always encouraged her daughter to pursue an education. For this reason, Masinovic said she is serving as a voice for other students also fighting for their future.

Something we all understand is the financial burden that a college education can cause to not only our students and their families, but to the communities that they could have served if they were able to continue their education as they have wished, Masinovic said. This unfortunate circumstance of a promising individual not being able to attend college because of rising costs will only be a great disadvantage and hindrance to our society.

In 2021, 56% of students graduated from a state university in Iowa with student loan debt averaging $28,500. This is roughly what out-of-state students pay in a year to attend an Iowa public university. The University of Northern Iowa serves as the states only regional comprehensive university, which Masinovic said is in need of greater state funding to maintain lower tuition rates in comparison to the two research universities.

University of Iowas Student Body President Patrick Johnson said with rising costs, the universities look toward out-of-state students to come to Iowa and stay after they graduate. Yet as tuition increases, Iowas median household income remains in the bottom half of the nation. Nonresident students at the University of Iowa will pay less than a 2% increase instead of an additional 4.25%.

The contradiction stands boldly for all of us, Johnson said. We continue to increase economic barriers for our students and simultaneously question the reasons why they must relocate following their graduation. This model, as Im sure as we are all aware, is simply unsustainable and in need of reform.

The Iowa Legislature approved a 1.1% increase to all three universities. The 2023 appropriations are still $85 million less than 2009 appropriations. Riley Post, vice president of UIs Graduate and Professional Student Government, said while state allocations have decreased by 45%, tuition has gone up by 41%.

Were really taking the responsibility for funding these institutions away from the state and moving them on to the backs of students, Post said. When the two numbers match so perfectly, it almost seems to imply that we arent actually getting anything additional and students were simply just taking on this extra cost as its being deferred by the state.

Iowa State University Student Body President Jacob Ludwig said the only way to prevent future tuition increases is for greater funding to come from the state.

State budgeting prerogatives have made the acquisition of additional funds an uphill battle that is harder to win with each passing year, Ludwig said. This reality means that we have to advocate more and harder for the universities that we all love.

Board members did not comment on the tuition proposal. The final reading and vote on the proposed tuition increase will take place on July 27.

What is it going to take for legislators to invest back into the public universities of Iowa? Masinovic said. For in the end, that is not just our education we are asking you to assist in funding, we are asking you to invest into the leaders of the community that will take care of you when the time comes. To change our society to change our society for the better, we must go where it all begins. An affordable and accessible education helps a society flourish.

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Originally published on iowacapitaldispatch.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
Kaladin19 wrote:

Hi Team,

Hi Kaladin19, happy to provide some insight below...

Would love to get a review on the below profile and chances for Finance Focused M7 B Schools in US



 Demographics (nationality, gender): Indian, Male, 29 years old



 Education (undergraduate institution, GPA, major - high school/entrance exams not needed): Bachelor of Engineering, BITS Pilani, India, 7/10



 Other coursework or post-undergraduate education: Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Considered as MBA but its more like MiM than MBA) at IIM Ahmedabad (Typically Ranked #1 Management School in India) , 3.5/4 (Top 10%); CFA Charterholder (Passed CFA L3 in 2015)



 GMAT or GRE or EA score (include section breakdown): 770 (Q51, V44, IR 6, AWA 5) All this is very impressive!



 Work experience (briefly highlight amount of work experience, industries, roles, promotions, special accomplishments, international exposure):

- 1 year at Credit Suisse Global Markets India before IIMA working as trade analytics support for the US Collateral Trading desk

- 2 years as Associate at leading Indian Investment Bank covering Digital Consumer Tech Startups. Raised $60mn for a digital content aggregator from 2 global growth equity players as well as raised $100mn for online movie ticketing platform led by a Global PE player

- 1.5 years as Investment Research Associate at India Office of large US Asset Management Firm (Total AUM of firm is $600bn+) where I initiated on 9 India healthcare companies with combined market cap of $75bn+ and also expanded my coverage to Asia Healthcare

- Currently for past 1 year as Junior Portfolio Manager at large Asian Asset Management Firm (Total AUM of firm is $250bn+) in its APAC Office (Think Singapore or HK) for its India Fund with AUM of $400mn where I am co-manager of the fund and have exclusive coverage and management of select sectors including Internet, Healthcare and Chemicals

impressive-- ideally you have some examples of promotions within these roles

 Extracurricular activities (briefly highlight notable undergraduate and post-undergraduate ones):

- Core member of student run initiative to teach underprivileged children and blue collar workers on campus. Coordinated basic computer education for a cohort of 60 children and 30 workers. Also mentored 2 children on an one-to-one basis to address their basic skills

- Core manager of Finance club at IIMA where I organized an trading simulation event in the business festival of the institute with participation of 150+ participants. Also conducted remedial sessions on finance courses like Corporate Finance and Derivatives

- Mentored an underprivileged 11th grade student for 1 year in 2021-22 to build his life and social skills through diverse activities like board games as well as advising on future career plus life choices

- Volunteered with a seed stage VC fund focused on student entrepreneurs as Investment Scout souring deals and promising startups for the fund. Scouted 10+ startups and 2 of those converted into investments for the fund too. Mentored 2 further cohorts of volunteers for investment scouts and still contribute to Investment Committee Meetings of fund as a non-voting participant

- Part of founding team of alumni chapter of IIMA in my current city. Volunteered to organize periodic alumni connect events as well as enable a platform for alumni to share both job openings as well as recreational activities together all really impressive things here-- lots of good material to work with on MBA applications



 Post-MBA goals:

Short Term - Continue my career in Investment Management ideally at a larger asset manager like Capital Group. In case can't make the switch directly to a larger firm post MBA would even be willing to look at smaller buy side shops or even reputed sell side roles in the US

Long Term Key Goal - Open my own fund in the future and manage money of large institutional investors



 Target schools:

Given I already have graduate education from a top school, my target schools are Wharton, HBS, Columbia, Booth and Stern (Stanford seems a pretty long shot given my profile) All these schools are competitive so it can help to take a lot of shots-- but from this list I think Wharton, CBS, Stern and Booth could be the most likely breakthroughs



 Everything seems fine right now so why MBA?:

The idea of another Masters degree (or 2nd MBA) came about because I had applied to a large HF with $100+bn AUM in Asia and they had not even entertained my application even though they wanted an Indian who understood Indian Markets because I did not have MBA from the US or had not worked in the West. Given my key goal of opening my own fund, this felt like an eye opener as my current pedigree would always be a handicap when looking to raise money from LPs most of whom are global and appreciate global pedigree



Any other sticky points you envision beyond the age, UG GPA and 2nd MBA?

Do check with each program on how your masters will be viewed--but I would not worry about your age and I think your GMAT score trumps the gpa. I think you have an excellent profile to apply-- and that you should do your research to understand why you like a particular program beyond just their rankings.

_________________
Officials with the Virginia State Police have charged a North Carolina suspect in a fatal hit-and-run last week in Pittsylvania County.

Mckinley Thorpe Jr., of Roxboro, North Carolina, is facing a felony count of failure to stop at the scene of a traffic crash, Corinne N. Geller, a spokesperson with the Virginia State Police, announced Tuesday afternoon.

Geller told the Register & Bee she did not know the age of the suspect.

He was arrested Friday without incident and is being held in the Pittsylvania County Jail.

Thorpe is charged in connection with an incident that left a Danville woman dead and injured another while they were pushing a disabled SUV on U.S. 58 in Pittsylvania County.

The incident happened shortly after 9:15 p.m. June 15 less than a mile east of Clarks Mill Road, according to the Virginia State Police.

Authorities said a 2004 Honda CR-V had become disabled when heading west along U.S. 58.

Lenise K. Snead, 62, of Danville, and another woman only identified as a 33-year-old from Ringgold started pushing the CR-V in the right travel lane.

Thats when they were both hit from behind by a 2021 Honda Accord.

Both vehicles ended up off the right side of the highway, Corinne N. Geller, a spokesperson for the Virginia State Police, wrote in a news release. The driver of the Accord then fled the scene on foot.

Snead died on the scene. The other woman was taken to an unidentified hospital for treatment of what Geller described as serious injuries.
Saudi Arabia has announced its support to G20's working group on the global pandemic Preparedness Prevention and Response (PPR), and the need to ensure sustainable funding to combat global health security threats.

Saudi Health Minister Eng Fahd Al-Jalajel stressed the need to strengthen global health systems and enhance coordination through the One Health approach.

This came during his speech delivered virtually on June 20, to the meeting of G20 health ministers held in Jakarta.

Importance of coordination

Al-Jalajel said Saudi Arabia stresses the importance of continuing coordination and joint work between health ministers in the group.

The Saudi minister indicated that the G20 could lead attempts to address gaps shown in the Global Report on Efforts to End Tuberculosis for the year 2021, explaining that case detection and treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis is one of the biggest obstacles to achieving progress in this field.

He pointed to the importance of investing in rapid testing and effective treatment by funding existing initiatives such as the World Health Organization and the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.-- TradeArabia News Service
REIDSVILLE  A Reidsville man has been charged in connection with the Monday shooting death of 32-year-old Keith Clark of Reidsville.

Lavaniel Nevario King, 34, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and is being held in the Rockingham County Detention Facility in Wentworth on a secured $750,000 bond, according to a news release from the Reidsville Police Department.

Local police were called to the 2100 block of South Scales Street on Monday at around 12:26 p.m. where they found Clark with multiple gunshot wounds, the release said.

Clark was transferred to a local hospital where he died of his injuries on Monday.

In 2008, King was arrested as part of an undercover drug operation in Reidsville. Then 20, he was charged with possession with intent to manufacture and sell cocaine. The deposition of the 2008 case was not immediately available.

The investigation into the Monday homicide is ongoing, police said in the release.

Authorities request that anyone with information about the crime contact RPD Investigator Lingle at 336-347-2338 or leave an anonymous tip with Rockingham County Crime Stoppers at 336-349-9683. A cash reward may be available through Crime Stoppers, the release said.

Contact Susie C. Spear at sspear@rockinghamnow.com, (336) 349-4331, ext. 6140 and follow @SpearSusie_RCN on Twitter.
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The School of Drama at the UNC School of the Arts has been ranked No. 4 on the Hollywood Reporters list of the Top 25 Drama Schools in the World for the second year in a row.

UNCSA is third among the Bachelor of Fine Arts programs on the list.

In an article, The Hollywood Reporter cited UNCSA for its strong record of graduating employable actors, and stated, Theres no arguing its students find work.

The article also said, The school now teaches on-camera acting all four years of the program  and recent grads are feeling the benefits.

The Hollywood Reporter also mentioned student Briana Middleton, on leave for 2020, who was cast while still in school by George Clooney in The Tender Bar, and alumnus Jeremy Gill, who will appear in the upcoming Cat Person.

The publication noted UNCSAs comparably low $24,000 per year out-of-state tuition, less than half that of other BFA programs ranked in the top five. In-state tuition at UNCSA is $6,497 annually.

The publication consulted with educators, alumni and industry execs for its annual ranking of the best drama schools, which appeared in the June 15 issue.

The UNCSA School of Drama consistently ranks among the top theater programs in the country and the world, said UNCSA Chancellor Brian Cole. These important industry accolades are indicative of the quality of training and the expertise of the professors, as well as the ways in which the school has evolved alongside the industry particularly during the global pandemic.

The UNCSA School of Drama offers a four-year undergraduate drama program for actors and directors and a one-year acting program for high school seniors.

Scott Zigler, dean of the School of Drama at UNCSA since 2017, said: We are honored to be included among such a stellar group of training programs for actors and directors. Of particular importance to the School of Drama is that The Hollywood Reporter took note of how employable our actors are, due in no small part to our weaving of on-camera training through all four years of our curriculum, as THR noted.

We have always made clear to our students that we are not trying to train a certain kind of actor, but rather want to provide them with a broad array of tools, articulated by our world- class faculty, so they can pursue the career they envision for themselves. Employability is our No. 1 goal as a training program, and the success of so many of our alumni hopefully bears this out.

336-727-7366 @fdanielWSJ

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GREENSBORO  StarMed Healthcare will begin providing the newly approved COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years old at Four Seasons Town Centre on Wednesday.

The vaccines, manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are the same as vaccines for adults, but will be administered to children in smaller doses, according to a news release from StarMed.

Pfizer recommends three doses at one-tenth the strength of an adult shot. The second shot would be three weeks after the first, followed by a third shot at least two months later.

Moderna recommends two doses at one-fourth the strength of an adult shot. The second shot would be about four weeks after the first.

Parents can register their children at https://unityphr.com/campaigns/starmed/vaccine for a vaccination at a StarMed Healthcare location. There is no cost to get vaccinated, with or without insurance, and regardless of your immigration status.

Four Seasons is at 410 Four Seasons Town Centre and the vaccines are offered indoors.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of the vaccine in children 5 and younger on Wednesday and it was approved by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday. Temporary side effects are similar to adults: a sore arm at the injection site, headache, and being tired or achy for a day or two, according to the release.

A COVID-19 vaccination can protect children against the virus, and the people around them. If a child does become infected with the virus, they may not become as sick as they would without the vaccine, StarMed said in the release. Children and families are urged to continue social distancing, wearing masks in crowded places and handwashing, even after receiving a vaccination.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that all children 6 months to 5 years old should get their COVID-19 vaccine, according to a statement from Director Rochelle P. Walensky.

Lewis and Clark Countys current COVID-19 risk level is at medium, with the county seeing a rise in cases over the past few weeks, according to Carin McClain, Lewis and Clark Countys COVID-19 vaccine coordinator. Between June 10-14, the countys COVID-19 hub reported 16 COVID-19 cases in the 0-9 age group. As of 3 p.m. Monday, the county has 115 active cases of COVID-19.

The CDCs new guidance expanding eligibility to include all children 6 months through 5 years of age is an important milestone in our fight against COVID-19 and one that parents of young children and those of us in public health have been eagerly awaiting for quite some time, McClain said Monday in an email to the Independent Record.

While children and adolescents are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, the effects of the virus are unpredictable, she said. Vaccination is the best way to protect children from COVID-19.

McClain said children in this age group can be vaccinated with either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine  whichever is available.

According to a Food and Drug Administration news release from June 17, the Moderna vaccine is a series of two doses one month apart for this age group. The Moderna vaccine also has a third vaccine dose available for people who are immunocompromised. Two months after receiving a second dose, it was found to be 50.6% effective at preventing COVID-19 for children from 6 months old to 23 months old. For those aged 2 through 5, it was 36.8% effective at preventing COVID-19.

The Pfizer vaccine, according to the FDA, is a series of three doses. The first two happen three weeks apart, with the third dose coming eight weeks after the second dose. The rate of effectiveness in young children was similar to that of older people who took the Pfizer vaccine  around 80.3%, according to Pfizers website.

McClain said the county doesnt have plans now for a vaccine clinic for kids in this age group. She recommended parents check in with their childrens health care provider or local pharmacies to make a vaccine appointment.

All children, including those who have already had COVID-19, should get vaccinated, McClain said.

For parents who might be hesitant, McClain emphasized that the vaccines are safe and effective, protect kids against COVID-19, allow kids to stay in school and help protect vulnerable adults and that public health depends on people getting the vaccine.

There has been so much misinformation and disinformation that its understandable that parents dont know who to trust, McClain said.

But, she said Lewis and Clark County Public Health will continue to provide information about COVID-19 and vaccines through its social media accounts and its COVID-19 hub.

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Nearly 100 Montanans are expected to soon be en route to Norfolk, Virginia, for Saturdays commissioning of the submarine currently known as PCU Montana SSN 794, making it the USS Montana and the first Navy ship named after the Treasure State in more than 100 years.

Bill Whitsitt, chair and director of the USS Montana Committee, said he and the committee are looking forward to the big day at the Naval Station Norfolk when the ship is placed into active service.

We are going to have a great time and very meaningful time, he said.

But it wont be the USS Montana in name only, as the entire $2.6 billion, 7,800-ton Virginia-class submarine built by Newport News Shipbuilding - Huntington Ingalls Industries and General Dynamics Electric Boat will have a Montana theme. Passageways are named for Montana rivers, such as the Missouri, Flathead, Gallatin, Jefferson, Madison and Yellowstone.

And the lowest part of the boat, which has one hallway, is called Bitterroot, Whitsitt said.

Berthing areas, where sailors sleep, are named for Montana places and towns such as Helena and Kalispell.

And there will be other Montana touches throughout the nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine.

It took a lot of work and coordination but the crew is so excited, Whitsitt said.

The crew mess area includes a Glacier Park panorama requested by the submarine's commander, Jon Quimby.

Its quite stunning, Whitsitt said.

And the crew dining area is called the Big Sky Saloon. Currently, two of the 135 crew members are from Montana, but that number fluctuates.

Other Montana touches include a genuine peace pipe to be presented by Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes elder and made by a Blackfeet artist.

A Native American drum group will also perform on Friday and Saturday.

The first and only commissioned USS Montana was an armored cruiser added to the U.S. Navy fleet in 1908. It was decommissioned in 1921.

Whitsitt said the first USS Montana had an original 18-piece silver service, which is now with the Montana Historical Society. He said the committee received a 3D scan of a plate with an etching of Meriwether Lewis seeing the Rocky Mountains for the first time that will be in a display case aboard the submarine.

And the crew has embraced some of Montanas history, giving themselves the nickname The Vigilantes of the Deep in honor of the states period of vigilante justice in the 1800s.

On Thursday, members of the crew will get a taste of Montana as they feast on 200 pasties made in Butte. The pasties were frozen and shipped east.

Vice Chair Craig Anderson said Whitsitt is trying to arrange to have a couple chefs from the submarine come to Butte and learn how to make pasties.

For the past five years members of the crew have visited Montana and attended rodeos in Bigfork and parades in Kalispell. And committee members have taken the ships bell around the state. Its a replica of the bell aboard the first USS Montana and honors the state motto of oro y plata (gold and silver). Melted into it are Montana gold and silver as well as gold and silver dolphin pins worn by submariners.

Whitsitt said it was important for the crew members, who often spend time in dangerous places, to have a feeling of love for them not only from Montana, but from everyone across the country.

Anderson said people were thrilled about the commissioning.

There is a no-host event Thursday evening for people to get acquainted and various events on Friday.

Anderson said people coming from Montana will be given a tour of the largest naval base in the world and take a cruise of the harbor. They'll also get a tour of the USS Montana. People signed up to attend by filling out forms on the committee's website, which were submitted to the Navy.

Gov. Greg Gianforte is expected to speak at the Friday and Saturday events, organizers said.

The nonprofit USS Montana Committee, which has raised nearly $200,000 over five years for the submarine, is volunteer. Whitsitt said the committee does not end with the commissioning.

We have said from the beginning it is our intention is to have the committee to be the support group for the submarine for its entire 30-year life, he said.

Virginia-class submarines, which are nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines, will replace the Navys Los Angeles-class submarines as they are retired. The submarines incorporate dozens of new technologies that increase firepower, maneuverability and stealth and enhance their warfighting capabilities. They have 12 Tomahawk missile tubes and four torpedo tubes, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Construction of the ship started in 2015. It was christened in September 2020 by Sally Jewell, the former secretary of the interior. It is now known as PCU (Pre-Commissioning Unit) Montana SSN 794 until it is commissioned.

Whitsitt said the USS Montana will remain in the shipyard for a few months, where it will have its software updated. It will then be moved to the Pacific fleet and be based in Hawaii.

We can imagine some of the challenging areas they will go, he said.

According to a tentative schedule posted on the USS Montana Committee webpage, the commissioning will be shown live online at https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/28926.

Saturdays ceremony will begin at 8 a.m. Mountain time. Streaming will begin at 7:45 a.m.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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The Montana State Prison is adjusting work schedules in an effort to address a large number of vacant positions, but the president of the correctional officers' union said Monday the overhaul will only push more employees out.

About 30% of jobs at the prison in Deer Lodge are unfilled.

In an internal memo shared Monday with the Montana State News Bureau, Department of Corrections Director Brian Gootkin told correctional staff at the state prison their shifts will be changed from eight hours a day to 12 hours in mid-July. Over a two-week period, officers will work three 12-hour shifts and get four days off, followed by three 12-hour shifts, an eight-hour shift and three days off.

"Due to vacancies, light duty, extended leave and a depleted workforce throughout Montana, MSP is down 79 positions," DOC department heads said in Monday's memo. "For the wellbeing of our employees, we want to eliminate holdovers, reduce mandatory overtime and preserve existing vacations."

Staffing has fallen into a fragile balance at Montana State Prison, a 1,600-bed facility, as recruitment and retention problems raised alarm even for lawmakers who are in between legislative sessions. The Department of Corrections has closed a unit of the prison, approved a $2 hourly raise and formed a committee specifically to address those staffing issues, while the warden inside the prison works to keep mandatory posts covered as a matter of safety.

Warden Jim Salmonsen told state lawmakers during an interim committee meeting in January the prison was suffering a 20% vacancy rate at the prison, although union officials have said that figure is likely higher. Monday's memo is the first published notice by the DOC saying the vacancy rate has climbed to 30%, nearing in on a third of prison positions.

In recent months, the prison has filled the empty shifts by employees either volunteering to take the overtime or from a mandatory overtime list. If all shifts are not filled by volunteers and individuals from the mandatory overtime list, supervising command staff mandate employees remain at their post until a replacement is found, referred to as a mandatory holdover.

Aaron Meaders, president of the Federation of Montana State Prison Employees Local 4700, said Monday this change essentially makes all shifts mandatory holdovers. Indeed, the DOC memo said employees will be paid for four overtime hours for each 12-hour shift.

"This is going to do nothing but make things worse," Meaders said in a phone interview. "We're all barely holding on as it is."

Meaders said the union membership has, several times, voted against 12-hour shifts. He said Monday it's too soon to say how or if the union will take action in response to the shift changes.

Carolynn Bright, a spokesperson for the corrections department, did not return an email asking for the department's response to Meaders' statement. The memo itself constitutes the 14-day notice of a change in schedule as required by the Local 4700 collective bargaining agreement, department leadership wrote in the document.

Monday's memo includes a few additional measures, like reducing visitation for MSP inmates to two days a week from four, which will take effect July 2.

"This will allow us to place correctional officers normally assigned to visitation inside the compound," the memo stated.

Additionally, the department will pull staff from probation and parole to assist in covering inmates' hospital stays and transportation between facilities when necessary. The mandatory overtime list is also expanding to include other departments, which include admissions, the prison ranch, fire, treatment technicians and mental health technicians, according to the memo.

- This article has been updated with additional information from the Department of Corrections.

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When Rhonda Grant-Connelly heard her nephew Gabriel Myo-Grant was missing, she drove from Browning to Billings to help search for him.

Grant-Connelly visited the rescue and crisis centers, she carried his picture through homeless encampments and hung posters around town.

"I just hope he didn't try to hitchhike and get in the wrong car," Grant-Connelly said. "That's my biggest fear. People don't always think of boys as being vulnerable but they are and he is."

Myo-Grant, 16, walked away from his group home in Billings on June 5 and hasnt been seen since. Hes 5 feet 8 inches tall, 150 pounds and has dark brown hair and brown eyes. Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services (406-338-4000) is investigating his case.

Myo-Grant is one of several Native Americans reported missing in southeast Montana in recent weeks. Many are teenagers, and some have been found. While the cases have caused alarm in Native communities statewide, officials and advocates say they are unique and dont appear to be related.

Missing Indigenous people in southeast Montana

As a result of centuries of colonial trauma, racist government policies, a historic distrust of police and a patchwork of law enforcement jurisdictions, among other things, Native Americans go missing and experience violence at disproportionately high rates.

As of noon Monday, there were 173 active missing persons cases in Montana. Of those, 44, or 25%, were listed as Native American. Indigenous people account for 6.7% of the states population.

Sienna Flores, 15, was last heard from on June 10, according to the Montana Missing Persons Database. She has black hair and brown eyes, is 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds. Sean Tran, 16, was last contacted June 3. He is 6 feet tall, 180 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. Flores and Tran are both listed as runaways. Domonique Stone, 52, was last heard from June 17. He is 6 feet tall, weighs 225 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

Contact the Billings Police Department at 406-657-8461 with information on Flores, Tran or Stone's whereabouts.

Arshanda Knowshisgun, 39, traveled from the Northern Cheyenne Reservation to Billings for a Kevin Gates concert June 11. She was reported missing shortly thereafter, and her body was recovered from the Yellowstone River later that week. She leaves behind five children, their ages ranging from 1 to 18 years old. Her oldest son, Jamari, said he was "heartbroken" and "shocked" at the loss of his mother.

Leila Crazymule, 18, Charlize Sanchez, 16, Lacee Robinson, 15, Teiganleigh Cobell, 15, and Ciera Spotted Elk were all said to be missing and have been found, according posts on to social media.

No real connection

Trends in missing persons data can be hard to identify in real time, as each case occurs under unique circumstances, in different places under various law enforcement jurisdictions. Sometimes a friend will inadvertently report someone missing who is not, and sometimes a person reported missing will be found within a few hours.

For those reasons, among others, Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder said he doesnt necessarily see the specific cases his office has handled as related. His office primarily deals with cases and incidents in Yellowstone County outside of Billings city limits.

Cheryl Horn, a member of the Aaniiih and Nakoda Tribes and missing and murdered Indigenous people advocate, agreed.

Theres no real connection, she said. There seems to be a lot of runaways in Billings, and that makes it really hard to look for them because they may not want to be found. But its hard, too. You dont want to label people a runaway because then people may not look for them.

Annita Lucchesi  founder and executive director of Sovereign Bodies Institute, one of the only comprehensive national databases for missing and murdered Indigenous people in the U.S.  said it's hard to tell whether the cases in southeast Montana are related because "there hasn't been enough investigation."

"To me, it's scarier that the cases may not be connected," she said. "It's scary that this is somehow our normal in the Billings, Crow and Northern Cheyenne communities. ... It's easier for people to think of it as connected because if there's one serial killer or one cartel doing this, then you arrest the bad guy and the problem goes away. Unfortunately, that's not our reality. This is systemic, and we're caught in a constant and basic system failure."

She said Sovereign Bodies Institute usually sees an uptick in missing Indigenous persons cases among young people during the summer and holidays when school is out of session. The barrage of missing persons cases can be triggering, she said, for families that have lost someone and overwhelming for community members trying to help.

"We have search groups out looking for people, while one survivor is recovering from injuries in the hospital, and in the meantime, more people are reported missing, she said.

Myo-Grant isnt Grant-Connellys first nephew to go missing. In December 2016, Matthew Grant, 21, went missing and was later found dead in an alley in Browning. Weeks later, Grant-Connelly said Grants mother took her own life, leaving behind several children.

When I talk about Gabriel missing now, I keep almost saying Matthew, Grant-Connelly said. Its like Im reliving this nightmare. Its just been so hard."

Grant-Connelly helped organize a self-defense training in Browning on Saturday to combat the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis. She has another training planned in Heart Butte but said she may need to cancel, as she'll be searching for Myo-Grant.

"These poor kids," she said. "I feel like we failed them. This system has failed them.

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Samsung offers job opportunities to Vietnamese students in RoK

Samsung Display Vietnam (SDV) and the Vietnamese Students Association (VSAK) in the Republic of Korea (RoK) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to arrange a workshop specifically focusing on personnel recruitment.









Representatives from Samsung Display Vietnam and the Vietnamese Students Association in the RoK at the signing ceremony (Photo: VNA)





The signing of the MoU is expected to open up fresh job opportunities for Vietnamese students and researchers at SDV production lines.



Addressing the event held at the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK, the two sides committed to jointly organising a recruitment workshop for all students and postgraduates to seek out high-quality human resources for SDV, and at the same time to provide useful information and necessary skills during the recruitment process.



Le Van Hung, first secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy, highlighted the significance of the event, saying it marks the first time that such a large company like SDV has signed a co-operation agreement with VSAK in the RoK.



The Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK is fully committed to providing further support to SDV and VSAK in creating greater opportunities for Vietnamese international students in the future, he said.



In response, Nguyen Huy Hoang, head of Human Resources Department of SDV, emphasised that the main purpose of signing the MoU is to develop a comprehensive co-operation relationship between the company and VSAK, helping SDV access a high-quality pool of workers made up of Vietnamese students and PhD holders.



Through this co-operation programme, SDV hopes to increase the job opportunities for the Vietnamese community in the RoK, he stressed.



Hoang went on to reveal that SDV plans to recruit a number of personnel with doctoral degrees with attractive salaries ranging between US$20,000 and US$40,000 per year.



Furthermore, VSAK will also co-ordinate with SDV to organise a series of recruitment workshops at five famous universities in the RoK, including Hanyang University in Seoul, Sungkyunkwan in Suwon, KAIST Institute in Daejeon, Ulsan University, and Busan University, he added.
Large UAE national companies have identified over 300 products across 11 sectors to be manufactured locally and committed to allocate nearly AED110 billion ($30 billion) in potential purchase agreements for local manufacturers, revealed Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.

The UAEs leadership supports the transformation of the industrial sector into a global manufacturing hub, he said at the Make it in the Emirates Forum in Abu Dhabi.

He emphasised that the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, constitute the foundation of the national industrial strategy. The strategy is designed to contribute to a diversified and sustainable economy and leverage on the UAEs value proposition and competitive advantages to build a strong industrial sector, enhance self-sufficiency and localise supply chains.

The Make it in the Emirates Forum convenes leading national companies, manufacturers, local and international industrial investors and financial institutions.

He said: "The Covid pandemic and recent geopolitical challenges have disrupted our supply chains and affected the global economy; an experience from which we extracted many lessons. One of the most important lessons we learned is that regardless of global economic conditions, enhancing self-sufficiency and resilience in vital sectors such as, food, healthcare, and the sectors critical to ensuring business continuity and economic growth, is critical.

He noted that the Ministry was guided by the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, saying: The UAE, with its strong will, resources, capabilities and effective policies, is capable of building a global economic base. By achieving self-sufficiency in a number of vital industries, we will enhance the resilience of our economy in the face of global crises and safeguard the UAE from global economic challenges.

The UAE is a Destination for Future Industries

Dr Al Jaber continued: Based on the vision of our leadership, we worked on developing and launching a national industrial strategy, in consultation with all relevant parties in the industrial sector, including government and private sector companies, investors, and financial institutions through a transparent dialogue and various workshops, studies, and international and regional benchmarking.

Our industrial strategy aims to create an attractive business environment for local and international industrial investors, support the growth of national industries, enhance their competitiveness and empower innovation and the adoption of advanced technologies. It also aims to strengthen the UAEs position as a global destination for industries of the future and the Ministry encourages financial institutions to offer competitive financing and administrative services based on quality, efficiency and transparency as well as contribute to support the development of laws and legislations that help support and protect our national products," he said.

Our objective is to safeguard our national progress, leverage the legislative system, attract investments to our industrial sector, support local manufacturing and create growth opportunities, with an ultimate goal of empowering our national economy and increasing the industrial sectors contribution to our GDP to more than AED300 billion by 2031.

A key enabler of the work has been to research and identify priority sectors to achieve the nation's goal, which include: food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, heavy industries such as aluminium and iron, defense, electrical equipment and appliances, in addition to future industries like space and clean energy such as hydrogen, he noted.

He continued: We have worked closely with the Emirates Development Bank to provide competitive financing solutions supporting the growth of industrial companies. And so far, the bank has provided AED2 billion to finance priority sectors. The ministry is looking forward to more competitive financing programs through the various financial institutions and authorities in the country."

The National In-Country Value (ICV) Program aims to redirect large amount of purchase value of major companies and government agencies into the local economy by providing local companies with a competitive advantage in the government procurement process and access to capital and smart financing solutions. This will contribute to developing local industry, strengthen supply chains, substitute imports, and create jobs, said Dr Al Jaber.

Currently, 45 government entities, 6 leading national companies, and 5,500 local industrial companies are participating in the program. In its first year, the National ICV Program succeeded in redirecting more than 40 billion dirhams into the national economy.

We have cooperated with the relevant government agencies, large national companies, investors, manufacturers, and various stakeholders, in preparing for this forum, which today is presenting you with opportunities from a group of leading national companies that have significant purchasing power. They include: Adnoc, ADQ Holding, Emirates Global Aluminium, TAQA, Etisalat, Etihad Airways, Edge, Mubadala, Emirates Steel, Pure Health, Strata, Aldar, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Etihad Rail, and Masdar, among others.

These companies today are offering more than 300 products and materials, which can be manufactured locally at competitive prices, at quality standards and with approved schedules, as additional manufacturing opportunities for existing and new investors.

In cooperation with all parties, clear information on future product needs has been provided. This data will help manufacturers increase local production to meet the needs of large national companies, whether by relying on their existing capabilities or by creating partnerships and attracting external investors.

He said: I am happy to announce that these large national companies have committed to allocate nearly AED 110 billion in potential purchase agreements for local manufacturers. Details of these products and industrial investment opportunities will be provided during the forums sessions and exhibition. This unprecedented move will contribute to creating opportunities for the growth of the national industrial sector, adding at least AED6 billion annually to GDP.

Competitive Advantages

Dr Al Jaber highlighted the UAEs strong value proposition saying: The UAE enjoys many competitive advantages, the most important of which is a wise and supportive leadership that always looks to the future with a positive outlook, provides and focuses on ensuring stability, and have given directives for a flexible and encouraging environment to achieve our goals.

We also enjoy a highly skilled workforce, energy resources, raw materials, a strategic geographic location, advanced infrastructure, transparent regulations and laws, reliability and credibility, competitive financing, an excellent quality of life in a diverse, tolerant and secure society, strategic partnership agreements and cooperation and trade agreements with various countries around the world. All of which have enabled us to develop our national industry, attract investments, build partnerships, and enter new markets.

He highlighted: We are currently working with the relevant authorities on additional enablers and features to enhance the ease of doing business and reduce costs. We will hear from some of our partners today and in the next few weeks about some of these plans.

Concluding his keynote speech with a call to action, he invited to all attendees to take advantage of the forum.

Our goal in this forum is to develop the industrial sector by strengthening cooperation between: large national companies who will benefit from the availability of their products locally; manufacturing companies who will benefit from developing and expanding their businesses; and investors who will benefit from participating in the growth of the industrial sector in the UAE and achieve meaningful economic returns, he said. -TradeArabia News Service
DECATUR  The Decatur City Council voted unanimously to name a downtown park after Decatur-born artist Preston Jackson.

There were no empty seats in the City Council Chambers as the Monday meeting began, with many guests staying exclusively for the Jackson naming resolution.

Public comments featured overwhelming support for Jackson.

The two citizens who initially proposed the name change  Eyvonne Hawkins, a professor at Richland Community College, and Jim Taylor, an executive board member of the Decatur Trades and Labor Assembly  both thanked the council for moving forward with the resolution.

The artists brother, T.J. Jackson Jr., also spoke at the meeting.

To the people of our nation and our community, regardless of race, color, or creed, this induction will be a transforming message to them that there is good, and you can overcome the evil, he said.

T.J. Jacksons wife, Paulette Jackson, told council members they will be doing (themselves) an honor by passing the naming resolution.

"You will not only be making a mark in Decatur, in Illinois, but around the country, she said. Her remarks were met with applause from the audience.

The city-owned space, located on the west side of Water Street between North and William Streets, will be named "Preston Jackson Park following the councils approval of the naming resolution.

Preston Jackson is a sculptor and painter who often works in metals, including both steel and foundry casts. He is a 1998 laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, the highest honor given to individuals in Illinois, and is professor emeritus of sculpture at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago.

While some previously speculated Archer Daniels Midland Co. or other entities might build facilities on the land, which is directly across from the ADM City Center building, no official plans ever materialized. The land then became an accidental park, said City Manager Scot Wrighton.

According to a memo from Wrighton, Jackson has informed the city he would attend a future dedication ceremony if the naming resolution were approved. An official ceremony isnt likely until later in the year.

Mayor (Julie) Moore Wolfe thought it would be fitting that the formal decision to name the park in honor of Mr. Jackson occurs close to the 2022 observance of Juneteenth, Wrighton wrote in the memo.

The resolution allows for the council to repurpose the property for future economic development purposes, meaning the green space might one day no longer serve as a park. The Jackson sculpture, the park's focal point, could also be relocated to another public location.

Councilman Bill Faber suggested the council should take action to guarantee that wont happen.

Let me go on the record this evening. I am totally supportive that we should maintain the boundary integrity of this park once we name it after Preston Jackson, he said.

Along with the Preston Jackson park naming, ongoing community revitalization efforts were a top focus at Monday's meeting.

Council members voted to approve the agreement with Teska Associates Inc. for the Jasper Street Great Streets, Great Neighborhoods Plan, which is intended to be a pilot program for annual street revitalization projects the city hopes to pursue.

The choice of Jasper Street for the program was a point of contention for some council members. Councilman David Horn suggested other streets, such as Oakland Avenue, should have been considered, while Faber expressed concern that community groups were not consulted.

Still, the measure was approved unanimously.

The council also accepted a $645,749 bid from Interior Specialty Construction Inc. for interior modification projects on the second floor of the Decatur Public Library.

The project will include adding classrooms and offices as part of a workforce development project thats supported by Workforce Investment Solutions and Richland Community College. The citys project will be funded by American Rescue Plan monies.

The bid was higher than council initially expected, said Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe, but will be worth the investment.

I'm very excited to see our goals actually coming to fruition for something we can see and touch and help move our community forward, Moore Wolfe said.

Other actions taken at the meeting included approving an agreement with the Tjaty Group to introduce a youth leadership and intervention program and approving a change to the citys cash reserve policy from 60 to 90 days.

Contact Taylor Vidmar at (217) 421-6949. Follow her on Twitter: @taylorvidmar11.

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DECATUR  Zoo camper Alyanna Rouser, 12, began her week learning, feeding and taking care of animals.

I love animals and I want to be a vet when I grow up, she said. I especially like big animals.

Alyanna was one of several campers taking part in one of the Scovill Zoo camps scheduled throughout the summer.

Although she has a pet at home, Alyanna knows she has to go to the zoo to spend time with the special animals shes not allowed to take home.

The camels, spider monkeys, peacocks, theres no way, she said.

According to Ken Frye, Scovill Zoo director, the camps provide opportunities to connect with nature. Theyre learning about animal care, theyre learning about species survival, theyre learning about their environment, he said. Its kind of connecting them to whats outside their window.

The zoo camps are categorized by age, including a 90-minute class for ages 5 and 6 years old. The three-hour zoo camps are for the older children, 7- and 8-year-olds and 9- and 10-year-olds. The 11- to 13-year-olds get a whole day camp, Frye said. All the camps just last one week long.

The camp registrations were quickly filled shortly after the summer activities were announced in March. It didnt take long for the camps to fill up, Frye said. But we can put you on a waiting list.

The camps are beneficial for the childrens futures, Frye said. For some it creates that life long learning of wanting to be around animals, he said. Sometimes they learn its not for them, and thats OK too.

Past campers have returned for a job. Some of them have come back and worked in the petting zoo, Frye said.

On Monday, Camp instructor Lizzie Van Ert began the week teaching the campers with the Zoo Crew camp about adaptation. Guinea pigs were one of the groups of animals the campers took care of, which consisted of crate training, feeding them dandelions and other caregiving.

Each week well go through a different group of animals, and todays focus is mammals, Van Ert said. This is something more involved, more hands-on with the animals.

Maia Cook, 11, began her second week of zoo camp on Monday. This week is a little different, she said. And I like hanging out with animals.

Maia and the Zoo Crew of 11- to 13-year-olds spent the day feeding and cleaning, as well as taking part in games and crafts. Plus, theyll be running around the zoo and doing the keeper tasks and animal activities, Van Ert said.

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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BLOOMINGDALE  About half a dozen families were already waiting in the parking lot of Rana-Reagan Pharmacy in Bloomingdale when it opened Monday morning.

Co-owner Bhavna Modi told the families that COVID-19 vaccines for young children had not yet arrived, and they might want to check back later. But they insisted on waiting. Some had brought coolers with food for the day.

They said they dont mind waiting, Modi said. Its very emotional. They say their kids will be able to go to summer school and see their grandparents.

Their patience was soon rewarded. The Bloomingdale pharmacy received its first shipment of Moderna vaccines for young children around 10:45 a.m. and began administering them within minutes, becoming one of the first locations in the state to give out the long-awaited shots.

For more than two years, many families with children under 5 have waited for COVID-19 vaccines for their youngest kids  watching as every other age group was given the opportunity to get immunized. This weekend, they cheered when vaccines for the youngest set were finally approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Monday, some Illinois providers began giving the first shots. Many more Illinois pharmacies, doctors offices and health departments plan to start administering the vaccines in the coming days.

Health leaders are urging parents to check with their pediatricians first to see if theyll have vaccines available. Some pediatricians are planning to offer the vaccine and others are not.

Walgreens plans to start vaccinating 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds this week. Illinois pharmacists can only vaccinate children 3 and older, but CVS Health will give Pfizer shots to children ages 18 months through 4 years starting Tuesday at its MinuteClinics, which are staffed by family nurse practitioners, physician associates and nurses.

The Chicago Department of Public Health is planning a number of events for children 6 months and older throughout the summer. Various county health departments are also planning to offer vaccines this week.

Though some parents remain hesitant about vaccines for their kids, those who streamed through the doors of Rana-Reagan Pharmacy on Monday were excited and relieved. Some traveled hours to the pharmacy, after hearing about it on the Facebook group Chicago Vaccine Hunters.

Trista Countryman drove for about an hour from Plainfield to get Moderna vaccines for her twin 4-year-old sons, Rudy and Gryffin. She spent the weekend making calls to see who would have the vaccines first.

As they stood in the waiting room of the pharmacy Monday, pharmacist Jignesh Gandhi asked if they were ready.

Weve been waiting a year and a half, Countryman said. Were ready to go!

Gandhi told the boys it would feel like a mosquito bite. Within a few minutes, her sons had been vaccinated and were clutching chocolate candy bars Gandhi gave them after the shots.

I just wanted them to get vaccinated as soon as possible, Countryman said. I felt it was important for them to get their lives back a little bit.

Soon it was 4-year-old Liam Grunwaldts turn. Since COVID-19 began, Grunwaldts family has been trying to protect him because he has kidney disease and pulmonary problems. Theyve tried to avoid eating indoors and large crowds.

Weve been waiting for this day, Christina Grunwaldt said, through tears of relief. Now, if he catches COVID-19, she wont worry as much that hell have to be hospitalized for it, she said.

We can do more activities, like before 2020, said Grunwaldt, of Carol Stream, as her two older, vaccinated children sat beside her.

Becky Trimble drove about two hours from Mequon, Wisconsin, to Rana-Reagan Pharmacy Monday to get a vaccine for her 3-year-old son, Cole.

Each day that we wait is another day hes unprotected, Trimble said. So if I can get in the car and drive two hours, thats what Im going to do.

Many parents went to Rana-Reagan specifically because they had heard it had the Moderna vaccine Monday. Vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer were authorized Saturday by the CDC.

Though the FDA has said both vaccines are safe and effective, the shots have differences that have some parents angling for one over the other.

The Moderna vaccine for children ages 6 months through 5 years is supposed to be given in two doses, about four weeks apart, and each shot is about one-fourth of an adult dose. The Pfizer vaccine for children ages 6 months through 4 years consists of three doses, given over the course of about 11 weeks. Each dose of the Pfizer vaccine is about one-tenth of an adult dose.

Many parents who want the Moderna vaccine for their kids are attracted to the shorter timeline to full vaccination.

Amanda Mehrbrodt said she spent hours combing through the data for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines before deciding to pursue Moderna for her 4-year-old son, Adam. She drove about an hour from Frankfurt to Rana-Reagan on Monday.

Shes eager for Adam to be fully vaccinated before he goes to school in the fall.

He doesnt know anything other than COVID. He was 2 when COVID hit, Mehrbrodt said. She also has a 21-month-old who shes hoping will get vaccinated by the Will County health department later this week.

Her younger child still hasnt met some family members, she said. Mehrbrodt is looking forward to traveling, playdates with cousins and just feeling less worried, once her kids are fully vaccinated.

We want to get back to living our life, she said.

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Judge Rodney Forbes is running to be the Sixth District Circuit Judge on the Republican ticket. Judge Forbes has the experience to do the job. He has been an associate judge since 2017 and now has five years of experience on the bench, and many more years of trying cases in the courtroom. This is something neither of his opponents can claim.

In any position I have held I was required to have needed experience before moving up the chain. To want to hold a supervisory position over people when you have never done their job is egotistical, at best, and dangerous at worst. You need to be able to walk before you can run.

Judge Forbes has also been the only candidate recommended by an anonymous poll of attorneys conducted by the Illinois Bar Association. The other candidates earned a not recommended decision. That speaks for itself.

His opponents want you to believe that Judge Forbes has been too lenient on those who appear in his courtroom. This is untrue. He is required by law to set bond. Perhaps his opponents would be better served to run for positions by which they can change the laws judges are bound by.

Judge Forbes can truly be trusted. He has proven to be a fair and impartial judge, and he has the experience to do the job correctly.

Trusted. Proven. Experienced.

Please show that these are qualities you, as voters, require for the position by either early voting or voting on June 28 for Judge Rodney Forbes.

Linda Martin, Cerro Gordo

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PINEY FLATS, Tenn.  Food City held a grand re-opening celebration for its newly remodeled and expanded location in Piney Flats, Tennessee, Tuesday.

At the grand re-opening ceremony, Johnson City Commissioner Jenny Brown reminisced about what Piney Flats was like before the arrival of Food City and thanked Food City CEO Steve Smith and the company representatives for their work in remodeling the location, where many in the community gather.

"I think many of us could remember riding through Piney Flats a number of years ago, and you could probably stop and get a soft drink and maybe get some gas. You could get your dog and cat vaccinated just down the road here at Appalachian Animal Hospital. But, there weren't the services and the support for goods and services in Piney Flats. When Food City came in, that all changed," Brown said. "This is the gathering place. This is where people come to catch up on the news and to talk to each other and to reconnect as citizens. We're so proud, and Steve, to you and all the team at Food City, you continue to advance, and we are so proud of that."

During his remarks, Smith, the CEO of Food City, thanked his Food City team and emphasized the grocers roots in the region.

"I remember 16 years ago when we first opened this door. We made a big bet on this community continuing to grow, and that bet has paid off, and here we are again adding on to the store, remodeling the store, and making another investment in Sullivan County and in Johnson City, and we're proud to do that because we are a local company," Smith said. "Our goal is to run the best store in town, day in and day out."

At the end of the Food City re-opening ceremony, which included a ribbon-cutting, the raising of the American flag, and the singing the Star Spangled Banner, Smith took some extra time to announce the construction of a Kurtz Ace Hardware store across the street.

"You might have noticed a little construction going on in that Family Dollar (across the road) that will become a Kurtz Ace Hardware store that will open in the middle part of August," Smith said.

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More than 150 wing enthusiasts roamed the streets of Bristol Saturday afternoon in search of a wing with the perfect zing. It was all part of the first ever Discover Bristol Wing Walk. After selling out in its first year, organizers have already said the Wing Walk will return.
Rhonda Pawlik said she is worried that an effort to make school boards a partisan election in Catawba County could affect how children are educated.

Pawlik, the president of the Catawba County chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators, said she is concerned a state bill making school board elections partisan would bring politics into education. The effect would negatively impact students, she said.

Do we want our school boards to become as dysfunctional as our national politics that is happening today and watch our kids suffer because of that? Pawlik said. We are so divided right now and it is time for our community here in Catawba County to come together and unite with each other.

Pawlik was one of six people who spoke on the bill at Mondays Catawba County Board of Commissioners meeting. All six asked the board to ask state leadership to oppose the bill.

The legislation in question, House Bill 1162, would create partisan races for all three school boards in Catawba County. If the bill becomes law, the first partisan school races would take place in 2023 for Hickory and Newton-Conover and in 2024 for Catawba County.

The bill was sponsored by Catawba County Reps. Jay Adams and Mitchell Setzer. The bill passed the House in a 63-40 vote last Thursday.

As of Tuesday morning, the bill was in the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate.

Joan Gardner, another who spoke before the board of commissioners Monday, said she believes the change would stop people from doing research on candidates for school board and voting based on background. Instead, people will vote on party lines, she said.

I think we have enough problems in the schools through the fact that we have COVID. I think the rates of literacy are abysmal. I think there is no reason that the school board should be partisan, Gardner said. I think the focus should be on facts, literacy, math proficiency, and I think government and how it works should be in there as well.

Sen. Dean Proctor of Catawba and Alexander counties said he believes theres a good chance the bill will pass before the Senate adjourns by the end of the month.

Proctor said he supports the bill because of the local support for the bill among Catawba County officials.

After Mondays meeting, Randy Isenhower, chairman of the board of commissioners, said he supports the bill. Isenhower said knowing the party affiliation of a candidate gives voters more information on the people running for office.

When we associate with organizations, such as political parties, we generally say we are aligned with the values and policies of that organization. So voters will now know more about the candidate, as the candidate is a member of a party with known values and policies, Isenhower said in an email.

At a Republican primary debate in April, outgoing Commissioner Sherry Butler and board candidates Robert Abernethy and Cole Setzer, winners in the Republican primary for county commissioner, also said they were in favor of partisan races.

Commissioner Kitty Barnes said Tuesday that she disagrees.

I do not support partisan elections for school boards and related my reasons to all three of our state legislators, Barnes said.

Pawlik asked the entire board of commissioners to oppose the legislation.

The pressure from different groups from both parties will take a focus off what is most important and that is to provide that best education for those children, she said. We do not need these groups pressuring the school board on making decisions because we need to focus on our education and on safety.

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Cai Es exhibition hall.

Hunan Xiangjiao Wine Co., LTD.

Symposium of provincial Overseas Chinese cultural exchange base.

On June 15th, Li Zuyuan, a member of the Party committee and the vice chairman of the Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, led a team to Shaoyang to inspect Cai Es former residence and memorial hall, and Hunan Xiangjiao Wine Co., LTD., and held a symposium on the construction of overseas Chinese cultural exchange base.

This inspection aims to find potential problems. On the basis of sorting out the current status of the base, summarizing and refining experience, digging out existing problems, and putting forward suggestions for improvement, this trip will conclude with a special investigation report titled Research and Thinking on Better fulfilling the Role of the Overseas Chinese Cultural Exchange Base in Hunan Province in the New Era. It will become a referential document to promote the comprehensive strengthening of the construction of the exchange base in the future, to give better support to the exchange base platform. Also it can play a greater role in uniting the strength of overseas Chinese, carry forward excellent Chinese culture, spread the voice of Hunan and China, and facilitate the high-quality development of the work of the Federation of overseas Chinese in the new era.

In the exhibition hall of Cai Es life, the inspection team visited the four exhibition halls. Through text, pictures, cultural relics, videos and other materials, the team reviewed Cai Es life of fighting with the feudal autocracy and pursuing republic democracy. The inspection group was affected by his patriotism, outstanding moral character and adherence to truth and honesty. They said that they will promote these sites, Cai Es former residence and memorial hall, in greater efforts, so that more Overseas Chinese could walk into these places, listen to the stories of this hero and pursue the spirit of revolution.

In Hunan Xiangjiao Wine Industry Co., Ltd., after the inspection team visited the baijiu workshop and Xiangjiao product showroom, etc., they had a detailed understanding of wine-making process and the enterprises development process. Also they experienced the process of blending base wine, and learned about the production and operation status of the enterprise.

The company is a large-scale baijiu enterprise belonged to Jindong group. In recent years, Xiangjiao Wine industry has become a golden business card of Shaoyang for friendly cultural exchanges with foreign countries. It has hosted more than 60 batches of around 3000 people from Japan, South Korea, Benin, Laos, Thailand and other foreign envoys and businessmen in China, and overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. It has also assisted in organizing the visits and activities of overseas Chinese arranged by the Hunan Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.

At the symposium of overseas Chinese cultural exchange base, Li Shigang, the secretary of the Party and the chairman of Shaoyang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, reported on the development of cultural exchange work in recent years. Representatives of overseas Chinese cultural exchange bases introduced the work achievements of the bases since their openings, and made suggestions on the next step of strengthening the base construction.

Li Zuyuan gave his praise to the cultural exchange works of Shaoyang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese in recent years and the achievements of overseas Chinese cultural exchange bases.He pointed out that the leaders of each base should fully rely on the exchange base platform, innovate the publicity model, display the elegant demeanor of Chinese civilization, carry forward the excellent traditional Chinese culture, and execute proper cultural exchanges.
CONCORD  The Carolina Brotherhood stopped by the Concord Police Department Monday to honor fallen Officer Jason Shuping as part of the groups 2022 Carolina Brotherhood Memorial Ride.

Th annual, multi-day memorial ride honors fallen first responders and public safety members across the Carolinas. The cyclists are comprised of first responders from both North Carolina and South Carolina.

The group started its journey in the Town of Mooresville around 7 a.m. Monday, June 20, and honored fallen Mooresville Police Department K-9 Officer Jordan Sheldon who was killed in 2019.

Once the group made it to Concord, it stopped at the police station. Haylee Shuping, wife of fallen Concord Officer Jason Shuping, was present along with another family member. Hugs were given all around as the cyclists came off of their bikes. Concord Police Chief Gary Gacek greeted the riders and thanked them for their dedication to honoring those who have served and given their lives.

Every year, you ride to keep the memories alive of those first responders that weve lost far too soon, the chief said.

The Carolina Brotherhood was formed in 2012 with the goal to honor fallen public safety members across the Carolinas, to never forget those who have served and died in the line of duty, and to honor their families.

The group will pedal about 600 miles in six days, honoring six firefighters, 29 police officers and five K9s lost in the line of duty in 2019 and 2020.

The names of fallen first responders can be read on the back of the groups support trailer.

After stopping in Concord, the cyclists headed back down the highway to head to their next several stops before ending the day in Spring Lake.

The group will travel all the way down to Columbia, South Carolina during its six-day ride and will ultimately end in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
MATTOON  Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation is pleased to announce that 16 Mattoon High School seniors have been named recipients of the 2022 MHS Alumni Scholarship.

A total of $15,500 has been awarded to the following students:

Faith Alvis received a $2,000 Florence Parker Scholarship. She plans to attend Murray State University to study aquatic biology.

Chase Armstrong received a $500 MHS Alumni Scholarship. He will attend Brigham Young University.

Cooper Bergstrom received a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by First Mid Bank and Trust. He plans to attend Saint Louis University to study dentistry.

Brock Davee was awarded a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by First Mid Bank and Trust. Brock plans to attend the College of Charleston, in Charleston, South Carolina, to study agriculture.

Josiah Donaldson was awarded a $750 MHS Alumni Scholarship to attend Kansas State University. He plans to study architectural engineering.

Kendall Harminson received a $500 MHS Alumni Scholarship. She plans to study nursing at Eastern Illinois University.

Chole Jobe was awarded a $1,500 Florence Parker Scholarship. Chloe plans to attend Lake Land College to study nursing.

Anna Jurka was awarded a $1,000 MHS Alumni Scholarship. Anna plans to attend Illinois State University to study nursing.

Grace Lange received a $500 MHS Alumni Scholarship. She plans to attend Concordia University Wisconsin for Biblical studies.

Logan MacDonald was awarded a $500 MHS Alumni Scholarship to attend Lake Land College to study agriculture.

Ethan Pope received a $500 MHS Alumni Scholarship. He plans to attend Lake Land College to pursue a business degree.

Morgan Prahl received $500 MHS Alumni Scholarship to pursue a nursing degree at Lake Land College.

Kaiden Rice received a $1,000 Helen Janssen Memorial Scholarship to attend Lake Land College studying physical therapy.

Averie Smith was awarded a $500 Carl Eatchson Education Scholarship. She plans to attend John A Logan College pursuing secondary education.

Isabella Smith received a $2,000 Carl Eatchson Education Scholarship to attend Millikin University to study secondary education.

Zachary Wetzel received a $500 Scholarship sponsored by First Mid Bank and Trust to attend Lake Land College pursuing civil engineering/architecture.

The Mattoon High School Alumni Scholarship, a fund of Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, provides financial assistance for Mattoon High School seniors pursuing higher education.

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The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has signed a mutual agreement with Emirates Development Bank (EDB), and Edge Group, one of the world's leading advanced technology groups for defence to boost manufacturing in defence sector.

The agreement is in line with the UAEs Fourth Industrial Revolution program, Industry 4.0, and aims to support support the development of manufacturing at one of the worlds top 25 advanced technology groups for defence.

The pact includes financing of up to AED1 billion ($272.2 million) provided by EDB to support and accelerate the industrialisation of Edges unique offerings. The event took place at MoIATs 'Make It In The Emirates' forum being held in Abu Dhabi.

The forum has brought together over 1,300 delegates, including representatives from leading national companies, manufacturers and investors.

It aims to promote the growth of national industries and discuss opportunities for partnership and cooperation in the industrial sector, in addition to presenting opportunities for product localization, redirect the value of purchases into the national economy, and benefit from local purchasing power to develop the industrial sector.

The agreement was signed by Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the MoIAT, Mansour AlMulla, Managing Director & CEO of Edge Group and Ahmed Al Naqbi, CEO of Emirates Development Bank, in the presence of Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, and Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Edge Group.

Under the agreement, MoIAT will provide EDGE with a robust roadmap which will reinforce Edges position as one of the worlds leading and most financially sound suppliers of military hardware and technology.

MoIAT will support Edge to expand global exports of more than 40 cutting-edge domestically manufactured products and solutions, spurred on by several recent wins against major industry players, boosting the groups contribution to in-country value.

Dr Al Jaber said the agreement is aimed at consolidating the UAEs position as a global industrial hub.

"The Ministry and EDB are committed to supporting leading national companies like EDGE to leverage the growth opportunities in the country. The financing will support EDGEs efforts to adopt advanced technologies and manufacturing processes and will contribute to increasing its exports, supporting the growth of the national economy," he stated.

"EDB is a strategic partner that enables the Ministry to implement its programs and initiatives. We look forward to continuing our partnership with leading national companies to support the UAEs economic diversification, industrial growth, and sustainability," he added.

According to him, Edge is one of the greatest success stories to have emerged from the UAEs industrial ecosystem.

"As part of our objective to build a global hub for manufacturing, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, along with EDB is committed to supporting partners like EDGE to capitalize on growth opportunities," he added.

With a focus on Autonomous Capabilities, Precision Guided Platforms and Electronic Warfare, alongside its other defense and security capabilities, Edge continues to collaborate with a diverse set of international partners to co-develop intellectual property (IP) and future products, with an emphasis on SMEs and start-ups.

It is adopting advanced Industry 4.0 technologies to create efficient manufacturing processes in all areas of its product development journey and is upskilling and training its workforce in the adoption of these technologies across all its shopfloor operations.

Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Edge Group, said: "We have an aggressive product development roadmap and have been building a strong industrial blueprint as a pioneer of indigenous capabilities and advanced technologies, to bring superior products and solutions to market with agility, covering our focus areas and beyond."

"We share the vision with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology to expand the range and scope of these capabilities, to push the boundaries in superior manufacturing for local clients as well as global export, and to further increase the in-country value of our products and services," he stated.

"Our work with MOIAT is allowing Edge, as a leader in the domain, to adopt best-in-class frameworks and Industry 4.0 technologies across our operations, as we aspire to become a global lighthouse of modern digitisation, driving higher quality and efficiency," added Al Bannai.-TradeArabia News Service
SPRINGFIELD  A federal judge in Chicago handed down a one-year prison sentence Tuesday for a former state senator who once chaired the Senate Labor Committee.

Tom Cullerton, a Villa Park Democrat, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of embezzlement for receiving salary and benefits from Teamsters Joint Council 25 as a purported union organizer even though he admitted to doing little or no work for the union.

Cullerton, 52, was first elected to the General Assembly in 2012 to represent the 23rd District, which at that time spanned a portion of northern DuPage County. He had previously worked as a truck driver and was a member of a local Teamsters union.

In March 2013, shortly after being sworn into office, he was given a job at Teamsters Joint Council 25 and he remained on the payroll until February 2016.

In addition to receiving a salary, monthly car and telephone allowances and bonuses, prosecutors said, Teamsters Joint Council 25 also funded Cullertons health and pension benefits through Teamsters Local Union 734, all totaling $248,828.

Cullerton was indicted in August 2019 on 40 counts of embezzlement. But he maintained his innocence and continued to serve in the Senate, although he was stripped of his chairmanship of the Labor Committee.

In March of this year, however, he entered a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in which he admitted to one count of embezzlement. He then resigned his Senate seat and was replaced by former state Rep. Diane Pappas, who is not running for a full term in that office.

In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman also ordered Cullerton to repay the union $223,828, an amount that reflected the fact that he had previously made a $25,000 restitution payment. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to seek forfeiture of his Villa Park residence

Prosecutors initially asked for an 18-month sentence, which they said would reflect the seriousness of the crime.

In a court filing earlier this month, they noted that after Cullerton lost his job at Teamsters Joint Council 25, he took another do-nothing job as a salesman for a video gaming company in 2017 where he received a salary of $1,000 a week, an amount that was later doubled to $2,000 a week, even though he brought in little if any business for the company. He was not charged in relation to those payments.

He continued to receive those payments, prosecutors argued, until the investigation into his Teamsters employment became public.

Cullertons defense attorney, however, argued for a more lenient sentence of three years probation, with an order to perform community service and pay restitution, arguing that Cullerton was currently employed doing shift work at a warehouse and that money continues to be a source of stress for his family.

Tom is a good and decent man who made a terrible mistake, attorney Daniel Collins wrote in a court filing. He should not have accepted the Teamsters salary and benefits without doing enough to earn them. Tom will live the rest of his life with deep regret and shame, but he is determined to make it right and continue in some way to help his community.

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Toyota Motor North America Inc. has taken the next step toward its planned $1.29 billion electric-vehicle battery plant with its announcement on Tuesday about members of its local management team.

In December, Toyota Battery Manufacturing N.C. selected the Greensboro-Randolph megasite for a manufacturing plant projected to have 1,750 employees when production begins in 2025.

The Toyota subsidiarys plans are to build lithium-ion batteries for about 200,000 hybrid and electric vehicles annually in what could be the biggest single capital investment in state history.

The four managers come from Toyota facilities in the United States.

Sean Suggs has been selected as president with responsibilities for all manufacturing and administration functions at the Liberty facility.

Suggs, a 24-year veteran with Toyota, served in a similar role for a Toyota plant in Mississippi and, most recently, was group vice president and chief social innovation officer for Toyota Motor North America.

Don Stewart has been named the plants vice president of manufacturing, which includes responsibilities as the lead plant operational manager.

Stewart, a 25-year Toyota veteran, most recently served as Toyota Motor North Americas vice president of production engineering, overseeing the powertrain division.

April Mason will serve as general manager of plant services with oversight for production control, facilities and local business planning, as well as coordination with various regional functional teams related to Toyotas battery business.

Mason, a 28-year Toyota veteran, served most recently served as general manager of administration for Toyota Alabama.

Emily Wilemon-Holland will be the plants corporate communications manager in the Triad, as well as local government relations and the Toyota Racing Development campus in Salisbury. She most recently worked in the same position for Toyotas facilities in Mississippi.

Plant rollout

Site preparation is underway at the plant site.

Toyota said the Liberty plant will debut with four production lines.Wilemon-Holland said additional hiring for the Triad plant is focused on administrative and plant engineering roles.

Generally at Toyota, we hire based on the technology at the plant, but across the company we hire from all disciplines, she said.

We are targeting 2023 to begin hiring maintenance and production employees.

A second phase could involve an additional 3,875 jobs and an additional $3 billion in capital investments.

With two additional production lines, the plant could produce enough batteries for up to 1.2 million vehicles annually.

Toyota described the mega-site as a shovel-ready site featuring the ideal combination of strategic location, world-class workforce and unparalleled transportation infrastructure.

Chris Reynolds, Toyota Motor North Americas executive vice president for corporate resources, noted North Carolinas extensive and well-maintained infrastructure, four international airports and two seaports, its consistent ranking as one of the top states to do business, its world-class education system and, importantly, its outstanding and diverse workforce.

Foremost among the states advantages has been its lithium sector, including the worlds largest provider of lithium to the EV battery industry, the largest known hard rock lithium deposit in the U.S., and the highest concentration of advanced lithium-processing experts outside of China.

Those elements, Toyota said, make North Carolina the ideal location for companies entering and operating in the EV ecosystem.

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As Forsyth Countys chief public defender, Paul James oversees an office of nearly 20 attorneys who provide legal representation to people facing criminal charges and cannot afford to hire an attorney on their own.

But over the last two years, the caseload his assistant public defenders have to take on has increased, even during a pandemic that largely shut down court operations. Some people might think that things would get easier with courtrooms shut down or with severely limited operations. But James said that just isnt true. People were still getting charged with crimes and attorneys in his office were still getting appointed to represent them.

Everything still kept coming in and people were still expecting to get appointed counsel, James said.

And the COVID-19-fueled shutdown of courts led to a massive backlog that court officials are working to deal with now.

James is hoping to get some help from the N.C. General Assembly.

On May 25, Sen. Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, introduced Senate Bill 790. The bill was placed in the Senate Appropriations/Base Budget committee the next day. The bill asks for $1.34 million for the Forsyth County Public Defenders Office. Out of that, $456,100 would go to hiring four full-time temporary personnel for fiscal year 2022-23. The positions would be two assistant public defenders, one legal assistant and one investigator.

Even without the pandemic, James said thats not sufficient additional staff.

Several years ago, the National Center for State Courts commissioned a study that recommended 13 additional assistant public defenders were needed in Forsyth County, James said.

But the immediate need now is staff and attorneys to handle the case backlog brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years, as court operations slowed and jury trials stopped.

For much of 2020, most in-person hearings were canceled. At some points, then-Chief Justice Cheri Beasley issued orders limiting in-person hearings to ones that had to be held, such as involuntary commitments, and encouraging remote hearings using the video-conferencing program WebEx.

One of the biggest impacts is that Forsyth County didnt have a jury trial for more than a year. The countys first murder trial since 2019 didnt happen until January of this year.

Chief Justice Paul Newby has since ordered that court operations go back to normal.

James estimates there is roughly an 11,000 case backlog in Forsyth District Court.

The most recent budget provided funding for some additional judges, but that doesnt help, James said.

Without adequate staffing of both of these entities (district attorneys offices and public defenders offices), the allocation of additional judges will not be of much use in reducing the backlog, James wrote in a March 31 letter to Forsyth Countys delegation of state legislators, including Lowe.

Lowe said the request was fairly basic.

They have a backlog, he said. And the hope, he said, is that this bill will help deal with that backlog.

He said the bill is still in the Senate Appropriations committee and one of the budget writers has the request as well. The bill could come out of the committee and head to the Senate floor or the request could go directly into the final budget, Lowe said.

But the problem, James said, is beyond just the pandemic. His attorneys were already overwhelmed, and the court-appointed list of private attorneys has shrunk, James said.

Its getting close to a crisis point, he said.

Its that way throughout the state, he said. The (Administrative Office of the Courts) is aware of it. IDS (Indigent Defense Services) is aware of it. All the chief public defenders are aware of it. Were not quite sure what the solution is besides more manpower and more funding and thats something that only the legislature can determine.

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Volvo expects to begin U.S. production before the end of the decade on large electric transport trucks that charge themselves and emit only water vapor.

The heavy-hauling vehicles will use hydrogen fuel cells to produce their own electricity, giving them a range of more than 600 miles, the company said Monday. Greensboro-based Volvo Trucks North America already produces and sells traditional electric and diesel-powered big rigs in the U.S.

We have been developing this technology for some years now, and it feels great to see the first trucks successfully running on the test track, Roger Alm, president of Sweden-based parent company Volvo Trucks, said in an announcement Monday of the self-charging models.

Pilot programs for customers will begin within a few years, according to the company.

U.S. production and sales of the hydrogen-powered vehicles are expected to start in the second part of this decade, Volvo Trucks North America spokesman Fredrik Klevenfeldt confirmed to the Journal Monday.

All of Volvos large trucks sold in North America are assembled at the companys New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Va., about 100 miles north of the Triad.

The company also operates a powertrain manufacturing facility in Hagerstown, Md.

Volvos existing VNR Electric truck has a range of 275 miles, a battery capacity of 565 kilowatts and can achieve an 80% charge in 90 minutes.

The company also makes large trucks powered by natural gas and biogas that reduce emissions by 20% to 100%. Biogas is produced using organic materials such as animal waste.

The hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will have a weight capacity of more than 65,000 pounds, Volvo said. The maximum weight allowed for a truck and load in North Carolina is 80,000 pounds.

Already running late

Fuel cells work like batteries, but do not run down or need recharging. They produce electricity and heat as long as fuel  in this case, hydrogen  is supplied.

Because water is the only byproduct of the process, no greenhouses gases such as carbon dioxide  the leading manmade contributor to climate change  are released into the atmosphere.

But while the fuel-cell system itself is considered emission-free, the hydrogen used for it may not be.

Hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, which involves passing electricity through water. If fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas are used to create the electricity, the hydrogen produced brings its carbon footprint to the fuel-cell process.

At Duke Energy, North Carolinas largest utility, coal and gas still make up more than 58% of the companys electricity generation while solar, wind and water power account for a combined 7% (nuclear totals more than one-third).

With that energy mix, finding green hydrogen produced entirely with clean energy can be a challenge. But Volvos Alm said market forces will help to change that.

We expect the supply of green hydrogen to increase significantly during the next couple of years, since many industries will depend on it to reduce (carbon dioxide), he explained. However, we cannot wait to decarbonize transport. We are already running late.

In North Carolina, transportation is responsible for nearly 36% of greenhouse gas emissions, making it the economic segment that contributes most to climate change in the state. However, medium- and heavy-duty trucks account for about one-fourth of the total.

In 2020, trucks traveled more than 9 billion miles on North Carolina roads and highways while all vehicles covered 106 billion miles combined, according to the N.C. Trucking Association.

Big order

Volvo Trucks North America began taking orders for its original VNR Electric truck in December 2020 and started production in early 2021.

In March of this year, California trucking company WattEV ordered 50 VNR models that it plans to lease to customers at a per-mile rate, including charges, that is on par with what it charges for its diesel trucks.

WattEV is building a public network of heavy-duty truck charging depots to service major transportation corridors that connect shipping ports with freight distribution centers and warehouses.

John Deem covers climate change and the environment in the Triad and Northwest North Carolina. His work is funded by a grant from the 1Earth Fund and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. 336-727-7204

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With everything thats happening in our country and our region, and with abundant distractions at our fingertips, it would be easy to forget that halfway around the world, a war rages  a war instigated by a powerful, oppressive invader that uses every resource at hand, from military might to a misinformation campaign designed to decimate morale, to illegally annex a nation that has implemented a bold but costly resistance.

But the resistance  powered by the Ukrainian people, under the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy  is still strong and still determined to defeat the Russian invaders, pressed into service by the corrupt Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

On Sunday, perhaps with a mind to connecting with his allies in the West, Zelenskyy posted 10 photos of parents and their children, praising the fathers who protect and defend the most precious. The photos are all set against the backdrop of the war, from a man and woman holding their baby in a shell-battered hospital room to a soldier kneeling to kiss his child inside a subway station, now being used as a bomb shelter.

Its a reminder that war takes no holiday.

The military invasion of Ukraine has been raging for a scant four months  it began with the first Russian troops crossing the border separating the two countries on Feb. 24, accompanied by a missile barrage  but it already seems much longer.

No doubt it feels like a lifetime to those involved  including the soldiers, many of them volunteers pressed into service, and the more than 2 million refugees who have been taken in by sympathetic nations, including the U.S.

Russia has shown little regard for international rules of war or human decency. Its military targets schools and hospitals and lies about providing humanitarian corridors for the safe passage of civilians. Reports from the ground tell of Russian soldiers who systematically rape Ukrainian men, women and children.

Yes, crimes can be committed even in war.

Ukraines eastern Luhansk region is the site of concentrated fighting this week  a strategically important area that Russia is determined to capture  and despite resistance, its likely to fall.

We must understand that the enemy has an advantage both in terms of personnel and weapons, so the situation is extremely difficult. And at this very minute these decisive battles are ongoing at the maximum intensity, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Monday.

As the war rages around them, Ukrainians are in desperate need of food, medical supplies, water and other life-saving materials.

The effects of the war are not confined to Ukrainian soil. Western nations have largely banned the import of Russian oil in an attempt to cut one of the rogue nations most lucrative means of funding its invasion. Thats contributed to the rising gas prices we feel.

A small price to pay, some patriots would say, for the cause of freedom.

Ukraine has been called the breadbasket of the world because it produces enough wheat to feed some 400 million people throughout the world.

Well, thats gone, World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley said last month. Russian blockades have disrupted the distribution of Ukrainian agricultural products  a development a UN official calls a real war crime.

Little of that makes its way to the U.S., but its loss is likely to cause a ripple effect that could raise prices here, analysts say.

The worlds poorest are going to suffer from this war, Sal Gilbertie, president of Teucrium Trading LLC, which manages a wheat fund, told the Wall Street Journal. Its a crime against humanity.

The U.S. has committed $54 billion this year in armaments and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, but Sen. Rob Portman, who co-chairs the Senate Ukraine Caucus, says more is needed  and that a Ukrainian victory is necessary.

Speaking at Dartmouth College on Friday, Portman and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, vice-chair of the caucus, said they understood that the American people could feel the economic ripples of the war and our sanctions against Russia, but that our support is essential and should be unwavering.

They are defending democracy not just for their country but for the rest of the world, Shaheen said. Its about whether were going to stand up for other democracies.

Freedom isnt free, were often reminded. Thats certainly true in this case. Ukrainian freedom requires American support  and, every now and then, the undivided attention of the American people.
Big Sal's Pizza at 27th and Vine streets has announced plans to close.

"With deep sadness Big Sal's will be closing at the end of the week," the restaurant said Monday on its Facebook page.

"The last 2+ years has taken its toll on us. We want to thank all former and current employees, our great customers and all the vendors we work with. The current employees have been short staffed for a long time now, so they deserve a special thank you!"

The post said the restaurant will be serving the food and drinks it has left in inventory the rest of the week.

"There are plans to have a farewell karaoke party on Sunday night. Updates to come on that," the post said. "We might not have food left by then, but we will have alcohol."

Vince Di Salvo and son Steve opened the restaurant and bar in 2006 after taking over the space previously occupied by the former Fat Pat's Pizza.

Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.

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A 17-year-old motorcyclist who police chased down O Street reached speeds as high as 100 mph as he fled a traffic stop Tuesday morning, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

The teenager, who voluntarily stopped the motorcycle as he approached 120th Street, had brass knuckles in his pocket and a concealed handgun in his backpack when troopers took him into custody at about 2 a.m., the patrol said in a news release.

The pursuit began near 56th and O streets, when a trooper saw two motorcycles without license plates and attempted a traffic stop.

Both motorcycles fled east at a high rate of speed, passing the city's eastern edge before one motorcyclist turned north and the other continued on O Street before stopping, the Patrol said.

A spokesman said there was little traffic on O Street at the time.

The 17-year-old was referred to the Lancaster County Attorney's Office on suspicion of willful reckless driving, carrying a concealed weapon and flight to avoid arrest. He was taken to the Youth Services Center.

The Patrol has not located the second motorcyclist.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley

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A group led by longtime advocates of a so-called fairness ordinance that would expand discrimination protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity are launching an initiative to get the question on the ballot in November.

We believe Lincoln, given the opportunity to vote, will vote to be inclusive, caring and protective of people who are marginalized due to military status, veteran status, disability, race, national origin, marital status and sex, a group sponsored by six longtime advocates said in a prepared statement.

The ballot language includes many of the changes that were part of a city ordinance that the Lincoln City Council rescinded last week on a 4-3 vote. That same council had passed the ordinance months earlier on a 5-0 vote. Tom Beckius and Richard Meginnis were absent.

The ordinance was a broad update to the citys Title 11, the portion of municipal code that deals with equal protection in housing, employment and public accommodation.

It added active military and veterans as a protected class, updated language on race to include such protections as hair texture and hairstyles, as well as updating disability language.

The flash point, however, was expanding the definition of sex to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Opponents, led by the Nebraska Family Alliance, launched a successful referendum petition that required the City Council either to vote to rescind the entire ordinance or put it to a vote of the people.

Some transgender advocates had been vocal about their fears that supporters werent adequately prepared to win at the ballot box, given the well-organized and well-funded opposition, and that transgender people would be the targets of any opposition campaign.

On June 13  just a week ago  council members who narrowly voted to rescind the ordinance because of those concerns said they supported such protections. Meginnis, who introduced the motion to reconsider the ordinance, said he thought the issue had become too divisive now.

That upset many of the longtime advocates who have worked for years to get such protections in city code and were convinced Lincoln, which has elected five Democrats to the City Council  including three openly gay members  and a Democratic mayor, would pass the ordinance.

Organizers of the initiative, called Let Lincoln Vote, plan to file the initiative with the City Clerk on Wednesday and hold a news conference at 2 p.m.

The group said registered voters have until Aug. 1 to sign a petition to put the question on the November ballot.

Lancaster County Election Commissioner Dave Shively said the group will have to collect 8,846 signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. However, once the signatures are verified, the City Council also will have to pass a resolution to place it on the ballot.

Kay Siebler, one of the petition organizers, said she and others believe voters will approve the initiative.

We decided this anti-discrimination language must be. It must be," she said. "Its past time. Its not a controversial decision. Thats why were doing it.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSreist

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OMAHA  A 15-year-old Omaha boy has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with a slaying that occurred just more than a year ago.

Nowa Kawunda is accused of fatally shooting Timothy Washington III at 2:20 a.m. June 16, 2021. Washington, 37, was pronounced dead at the scene near 39th Street and Ames Avenue.

He was already in jail on some other charges from incidents that occurred on the same day, said Brenda Beadle, the chief deputy in the Douglas County Attorneys Office. This (murder) charge is just another part of that night.

Kawunda, who was 14 at the time of Washingtons slaying, previously was charged with first-degree assault in connection with the shooting of Mack Johnson. Johnson, 37, told police that he was in a vehicle parked near 28th and Spencer streets when he was shot at about 2:30 a.m. early June 16 last year.

Kawunda also has been charged with robbery, two counts of shooting at an occupied dwelling or vehicle and five counts of use of a weapon to commit a felony. A Douglas County judge ordered Kawunda held on $1 million bail.

Beadle said Kawunda has filed a motion to have his case transferred to juvenile court.

Washington was the second-youngest of six siblings, his older sister, Rayonta Washington, said a few days after his death.

Three boys, three girls, just like the Brady Bunch, she said. He was loving and caring, a father, brother, friend, uncle  he was everything, but most of all a father.

Washington had three children who were ages 2, 8 and 17 at the time of his death.

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Did you know a tiny soybean grown in Nebraska can travel 7,000 miles to feed people in Asia? Its extraordinary that the soybeans grown on our farm near Chapman go on to provide food, fuel and feed for poultry, pigs and fish all over the world.

Its not just my soybeans that are doing big things. From supporting food security and providing an important protein source to supplying sustainable energy through biodiesel thats lowering emissions, thousands of Nebraska soybean farmers are helping solve some of societys greatest global challenges.

We meet these challenges by forging partnerships between the soy checkoff, a collective of our nations 515,000 soybean farmers, and consumers all over the world. Though my roots are planted firmly in Nebraska, Ive had the opportunity to travel abroad to strengthen relationships with our global customers. People across the world in places like Egypt, Vietnam and Guatemala are eager for sustainable agricultural products, and Nebraska farmers take pride in meeting that demand.

In the last four decades, conservation efforts by U.S. soybean farmers improved drastically. In fact, todays farmer can grow 130% more soybeans on the same amount of land. This allows us to use less energy and water and lower our carbon footprint -- all while meeting the needs of a growing global population.

As weve boosted production, weve also become more efficient  increasing land-use efficiency by 48%, irrigation water-use efficiency by 60% and soil conservation by 34%.

U.S. farmers accomplish these sustainability improvements, in part, through advances in farming equipment and technology.

For example, modern irrigation systems used on our farm allow us to water crops twice per week, but with half the water we previously used. We also benefit from planting cover crops like radishes and turnips that help conserve moisture in the soil. These water conservation improvements safeguard our natural resources now and into the future.

Not only are we more sustainable on the farm, but Nebraska soybeans provide renewable components for more than 1,000 other products on the market today, including artificial turf, asphalt, and even Skechers shoes and Goodyear tires.

Oil from soybeans is a renewable alternative in trucks, heavy machinery and jet fuel. These types of advances in biofuels and biodiesel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86% compared with petroleum diesel.

We do this through research and innovation that makes us more sustainable every day. My family strives to improve our farm so we can leave it in better condition for the next generation of farmers and, in turn, positively impact consumers.

As you drive through the farmlands of Nebraska this summer, youll pass miles and miles of green fields. Take a good look and know that Nebraska farmers take pride in being good stewards of the land and environment. We do this to perfect the bushels of soybeans that go on to do big things in the lives of people all over the world.

Greg Greving is a soybean farmer near Chapman. The Grevings grow soybeans, commercial corn, seed corn, white corn, popcorn and wheat. He serves as a farmer-leader on the United Soybean Board.

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Radisson Hotel Group has debuted its second brand in Kuwait with the signing of Park Inn by Radisson Kuwait Hotel & Apartments, bringing the Groups presence in the region to 75 hotels and over 16,000 keys in operation and under development.



The newly built hotel is scheduled to open at the end of 2023 and will consist of 250 rooms and serviced apartments.



Overlooking the Arabian Gulf and located 36 kilometres south of Kuwait City, the hotel is ideal for business travellers with its proximity to the main petrochemical district, and a 30 minutes drive from Kuwait International Airport.



We started our journey in Kuwait and the region more than 40 years ago and today we diversify this presence with the introduction of this beautiful asset to the market. We thank our partners for their trust as we continuously work towards maintaining our position as one of the preferred international hotel operators in the industry, said Elie Milky, Vice President Development  Middle East, Pakistan, Cyprus & Greece.



The debut of the (upper) midscale Park Inn by Radisson hotel brand in the country will enable guests to focus on a work/life balance and find harmony in their travel experience while enjoying the hotels contemporary design and friendly personalized service. The hotel will consist of 250 modern superior rooms, suites and serviced apartments, many with sea-facing views, making it suitable for both short and long stays.



The hotel will have a lobby cafe, one all-day dining restaurant and one specialty restaurant with a terrace. Meetings and event venues will include a multipurpose hall, a ballroom, and three meeting rooms. The hotel will also offer a fitness centre, a beauty salon, and a Spa.  TradeArabia News Service
RACINE  The Racine Police Department is warning the public of an increased presence of fentanyl, a deadly opioid, in locally recovered marijuana, a drug that it is virtually impossible to overdose from.

An alert on the RPDs Facebook page Friday said: We the Racine Police Department do not condone the consumption or sales of illegal narcotics. But, if you were to find yourself in possession of such, we want you to be as safe as possible. Currently, the City of Racine is seeing a spike of illegal narcotics laced with fentanyl, including but not limited to, marijuana. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is extremely dangerous. Drug traffickers will often mix fentanyl and weed together, due to it being a cheap way of manufacturing their product. We care about the citizens of Racine, and we dont want more overdoses. Please make good decisions and be safe!

Earlier this year, fentanyl test strips became legalized in Wisconsin, allowing drug users to test their product for the presence of fentanyl, which is believed to be at least 50 times more potent and deadlier than morphine.

Racine County distributes fentanyl test kits for free. Visit bit.ly/3HwnfMA or call the Opioid Resource Hotline at 262-638-6375 to learn more.

Advocates for the legalization of marijuana have argued that legalization could make the drug safer. If recreational marijuana was legal and regulated, like it is in more than a dozen states, including Illinois and Michigan, the production lines could be tracked from the grower to the user. When marijuana is primarily available through the black market, it is more likely that the drug will be contaminated.

For marijuana, I would say its definitely safer if we know the place distributing it is  government-regulated, said Fabi Maldonado, a Racine County Board supervisor and advocate for the legalization of cannabis, in a phone interview Sunday. Its a safer route.

Local law enforcement has been reporting with greater regularity that officers are finding fentanyl mixed in with other, less lethal drugs, putting the lives of users at risk.

Maldonado continued: When you have fentanyl in your body, its usually unknown. People who are looking for cannabis are not looking for fentanyl. The end result is totally different  When you smoke cannabis, youre not looking to die from it.

However, overdoses related to marijuana laced with fentanyl are rare. Fentanyl is more regularly found mixed with drugs like heroin and other opioids or cocaine, where it would be virtually undetectable to the eye when used to cut another powder.

As Medical News Today reported last month: As illegally manufactured fentanyl is readily available, it is also less expensive and more accessible than some other opioids. Some drug dealers now press fentanyl into pills to make it look like an opioid prescription, or to increase the high a person experiences with other opioids.

Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are blamed for recent sharp increases in drug overdose deaths nationwide.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: In 2019, more than 36,000 deaths involving synthetic opioids  other than methadone  occurred in the United States, which is more deaths than from any other type of opioid. Synthetic opioid-involved death rates increased by over 15% from 2018 to 2019 and accounted for nearly 73% of all opioid-involved deaths in 2019. The rate of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids were more than 11 times higher in 2019 than in 2013.

Likewise, from 1999 to 2020, U.S. drug-related overdose deaths rose from fewer than 20,000 per year to 91,799 in 2020, the federally funded National Institute on Drug Abuse reported. Across that same timeframe, the U.S. population grew by only 18.1%, from 279 million to 329.5 million.

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A 63-year-old man allegedly punched a kid who was riding a bike and yelled "I'm going to sue everybody" while standing in the street. He also allegedly said he wished he had taken a bigger hit of crack before the incident.
CALEDONIA  A Racine man faces charges after allegedly causing a head-on collision that sent four people to the hospital.

Carnell K. Williford, 31, of the 1400 block of Geneva Street, was charged with four felony counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and four misdemeanor counts of operating while intoxicated causing injury (as a first offense).

According to a criminal complaint:

On Sunday, officers were sent to Gehring Road and Douglas Avenue for a head-on collision.

Upon arrival, officers saw a Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Impala with heavy front end damage. The Impalas driver, Williford, was frantic and pacing at the scene.

There were four occupants in the Fusion, one crying from leg pain, one screaming in pain while trapped in the car, and another who reported chest and foot pain and appeared to have a broken foot. The fourths injuries were unspecified.

All four were transported to the hospital.

An officer spoke with a witness who said she saw Willifords car swerving repeatedly. She saw his car completely cross the center line and drive into oncoming traffic, hitting the Fusion.

Officers spoke to Williford and noticed the smell of alcohol coming from his breath. Williford had bloodshot and glassy eyes, and was slurring his speech. At first, Williford said he fell asleep at the wheel, but then he said he was looking at his phone to change the music right before the crash. After failing the sobriety tests, Williford was transported to the hospital.

While there, he said he was at a bar in Milwaukee and drank two tequila drinks before driving home. He did not recall seeing the other car nor the accident itself.

Williford was given a $2,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Monday. A preliminary hearing is on June 29 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show.

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RACINE  Dorothy McDonald remembers the moment she realized she wanted to teach. It was thanks to Mrs. Smith, McDonalds third-grade teacher.

She got to know us as students, McDonald said. I was an introvert, and she helped me come out of my shell. I just loved the way she taught us. She taught the whole person.

After that school year, McDonald could not imagine herself doing anything else.

I said, Oh my gosh, I want to be like Mrs. Smith. This is what I want to do, McDonald said. I never had another career choice.

That enthusiasm remained. This spring, McDonald finished her 32nd and final year teaching second grade in the Racine Unified School District, including the past 24 years at Roosevelt Elementary School, 915 Romayne Ave.

McDonald was one of 51 retirees from RUSD this month. She considered working for another year or two, but the COVID-19 pandemic and a curriculum change contributed to her retirement this year.

McDonald adored working as an educator, but said she is overjoyed to begin the next stage of her life.

I had some teary eyes, (but) it was more of a happy emotion for me, McDonald said of the final school day. Its almost a guilty joy, because I really loved teaching, but I really love not having to teach again full-time.

McDonald loved teaching, and Lori Nasci, Roosevelt Elementary principal, said she excelled at it. Nasci has worked in elementary schools for 15 years, and called McDonald the best instructor she has seen.

I have never met a better teacher, Nasci said. She will go above and beyond, always, to make sure that the kids are successful.

McDonald looked back with fondness and gratitude at her more than three decades of teaching. Her first few years involved challenges, but after getting used to the job, McDonald said the vast majority of her time with students was excellent.

Out of 32 years, at least 20 of them, I couldnt believe I was getting paid to do this, McDonald said. Im thinking, Oh my gosh, I could do this for free. Thats how much I loved it.

Her time working at Racine Unified schools is likely not over, though. McDonald plans to be a substitute teacher starting this fall. Nasci said she would gladly welcome McDonald back to Roosevelt as a substitute.

McDonald is also considering teaching a course on classroom management at the college level or for professional development. Classroom management was a challenge early on, but she became an expert after about a dozen years.

Priority number one was classroom management and connecting with my students, McDonald said. Once I could manage my classroom and connect and wed become a team, academia is just so much easier.

Nasci agreed. If the behaviors are not under control, the children cannot learn, she said. Thats the bottom line.

Nasci worked with McDonald for two years and could not remember a time when she was called to McDonalds room for student behavior issues. She doesnt waste a single minute of instruction, but at the same time she makes it fun, Nasci said.

McDonald was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and moved to Racine in 1980 while in middle school. She graduated from Case High School and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After college, she taught at North Park Elementary for eight years before moving to Roosevelt.

All of McDonalds 32 years were spent teaching second grade at RUSD. She enjoyed teaching that grade because it is a transition time for students.

They do anything they can to show, Hey, Im a bigger kid now, McDonald said. I just love where they are socially, the mindset of a second-grader. I would say its a perfect grade.

McDonalds third-grade instructor, Mrs. Smith, was the first of many who helped shape her teaching style. She also received guidance from many peers. When facing an issue, McDonald said it was crucial to humble herself and seek advice from teachers with more experience.

Either keep doing what youre doing and get no result, or ask someone and try something new, McDonald said. I tell any teacher: Your biggest job as an educator is to look at the staff member who knows how to do the thing you want to do, and go ask. Dont try to figure it out on your own.

Other key traits to being a successful teacher include patience and forgiveness.

You have to have a forgiving heart, because students are not always kind, McDonald said. Theyre going to say and do things that  rub you the wrong way.

She initially took things personally when a student said something disrespectful, but learned not to over time. I started figuring out theyre bringing baggage into the classroom, McDonald said. Theyre really not mad at you.

In addition to helpful colleagues, McDonald said her faith and optimism guided her through challenges. One of her biggest challenges was the evolving role of technology. Computers were not used during her first few years teaching, but now students often work on laptops.

McDonald also learned how to teach remotely during the pandemic. Partly due to technology, McDonald said children have shorter attention spans than when she began teaching.

Much has changed in McDonalds more than three decades of teaching, but she said the fundamental needs of children have not.

They still want the same things: They want to feel safe, they want to feel loved, they want to feel like you care about them, McDonald said.

Setting ground rules was key to creating a safe, loving classroom. For McDonald, it was crucial to connect with students and establish procedures in the first few weeks of school. She referred to that time as 21-day boot camp.

Teach them everything, McDonald said. Literally teach them how to come into the classroom and begin their day  The tiniest things will really go a long way.

That was particularly important in 2021-22. It was the first full in-person school year for her students, who had kindergarten and first grade disrupted by the pandemic.

McDonald said things started slow, but the students eventually got the hang of things and excelled. She said this past school year involved one of her favorite classes, a fitting end to her career.

It was just such a blessing, McDonald said. What a way to go out.

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PLEASANT PRAIRIE  Auxiliary Bishop James Schuerman of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee was in the Kenosha area Saturday evening, blessing a new monument meant to provide families grieving over miscarriages a place to mourn at the Site of Holy Innocents in All Saints Cemetery, 3300 Springbrook Road, approximately nine miles south of the Racine Countys southern border. The Monument to the Unborn sits on a common grave at All Saints Cemetery, where for 25 years miscarried infants from the Kenosha area have been interred free of charge to families. However, there was never a space for people to mourn noted Terry Glidden, faithful navigator of Archbishop Mesmer Assembly 1201 and member of the Knights of Columbus.

Two-and-a-half years ago, the Rev. Joseph Lappe, administrator at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii Parish in Kenosha, brought up the idea of creating the monument, which was finally installed in November 2021 with funding raised by the Knights of Columbus. Due to various circumstances, the blessing had to be put off for several months.

Glidden said Kenoshas four local Knights of Columbus councils came together to raise the funds for the monument, buying five grave lots and raising $25,000 for the stone monument. Several members of the Knights of Columbus recalled their shock at how quickly fundraising went, with efforts expected to take up to three years. Instead, within two months, they were done.

We hit a really raw nerve, Glidden said, I cant tell you how many people reached out. In some cases, they lost them 20, 30 years ago. Their hearts were still breaking.

The memorial is designed with a bench flanking each side, allowing people to sit and meditate, pray, just be there, Glidden said.

Karen Metallo, a pastoral associate and someone who lost a child to a miscarriage herself, said it was a great comfort to have the monument, both for herself and for others in the community.

For all the people that have suffered a miscarriage or a stillbirth, they need a monument, a special place where they can come and pray and meditate, Metallo said. The people of Kenosha have worked so hard to make this possible. After the Mass, Schuerman blessed the monument, and attendees  some of whom Glidden said had suffered miscarriages themselves  placed roses at the base of the headstone.

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KENOSHA  Gov. Tony Evers touched on the importance of resiliency, unity and tearing down barriers during an appearance Saturday at Kenoshas Juneteenth Celebration, the day before the actual Juneteenth holiday on Sunday, June 19.

This is a moment to celebrate the resilience and strength of black Americans, Evers said. This is also a moment that we have to promise to do more, do better ... because we have to create a state where everyone can achieve their dreams.

Evers addressed the crowd of Juneteenth attendees in the late afternoon at 52nd Street at 13th Court. He spoke of issues and challenges facing Wisconsin.

I dont have to tell you the inequities that come when we talk about education, access to health care, and the criminal justice system, said Evers. We know that racism is a public health issue, and a crisis. We know it has harmed generations of Wisconsinites and requires action.

The Democratic governor continued: I know we can do the right things to make Wisconsin a better place to work, live, and raise a family, which is why I am running for reelection.

Speaking with a reporter, Evers emphasized the importance of such community events.

These celebrations bring so much to your community. Juneteenth is such an important date across the state of Wisconsin and our nation. People are here celebrating some really important things, he said.

Its a lot of positive energy, said Evers.

Event organizer Alvin Owens agreed.

I think its been outstanding, said Owens. Im overwhelmed by how beautiful this day has been  the amount of people that showed up today, the love, the unity  everybody is here today, and that was our goal.

Cyndean Jennings, education chairperson for the Kenosha NAACP, appreciated the governors visit.

It says a lot for him to have taken the time out of his schedule to come to the city of Kenosha, and acknowledge the efforts that the organizers have put in place today to honor Juneteenth, Jennings said. I know that meant a lot to our community.

Jennings and organizers estimated that attendance for the 2022 Juneteenth Celebration was about three times greater than in the past.

We appreciate that our governor recognizes the importance of Juneteenth to the African American community. Not only was his presence important, but also his comments about his support, said Tim Mahone, who was involved in the planning and execution of the Juneteenth Celebration.

Its so good to see this event grow, Mahone said. More vendors, more attendees, more smiling faces ... the fact that we can come together and socialize today is absolutely beautiful.

Following Evers speech, a youth talent show was held. Then, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is also running for U.S. Senate, closed out the night with some final comments.

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1. Yes. Roe was bad law and never should have been enacted. Last weeks ruling was just.

2. Yes. The court ruling correctly leaves the question of reproductive rights to the states.

3. No. Roe v. Wade was established law. The ruling will cause a womens health crisis.

4. No. The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was more about politics than the law.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say whether it was the right ruling; it depends on your perspective.

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A 21-year-old La Crosse man is being held in the La Crosse County Jail after allegedly fleeing from police officers while handcuffed.

Ezekiel G. Smith was charged Monday in La Crosse County Circuit Court with a felony count of escape while under arrest, three counts of felony bail jumping and a misdemeanor count of resisting an officer.

According to the criminal complaint, police were called June 19 to Moxies Pub, where a bartender told police that Smith entered the bar shirtless and wearing an ankle bracelet. He was accompanied by a woman and a toddler. Police determined Smith was with the woman in violation of a no-contact order and that he had another bond condition that prohibited him from consuming alcohol.

The complaint says Smith was holding the child in his arms when approached by police. He was reportedly uncooperative, refused to speak with officers, and smelled of alcohol. He then walked outside and placed the child on the top of his shoulders. He refused to the relinquish the child but passed the child to the woman who was with him in the bar.

After police handcuffed Smith, he allegedly broke away from police and ran toward a mobile home park. Police regained custody of Smith after a short foot pursuit.

Judge Elliott Levine set cash bond at $1,000. He noted that Smith had eight open cases.

You can only have so many cases that are pending, and theres the escape issue, Levine said.

Defense attorney Allison West asked for a signature bond. She said Smith is employed and is the sole means of economic support for his family.

Smiths next court date is a June 30 preliminary hearing.

La Crosse Tribune reporter Steve Rundio can be reached at steve.rundio@lee.net.

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Michelin has unveiled the 2022 selection of the Michelin Guide Dubai  the first edition in the United Arab Emirates  celebrating Dubais spectacular culinary map.

A total of 69 restaurants, which covers 21 cuisine types, have been selected and recommended by the anonymous Michelin Guide inspectors.

The guide recognises two 2 Michelin Stars restaurants, nine 1 Michelin Star restaurants, 14 Bib Gourmand restaurants and 44 Michelin-selected restaurants.

"This very first Dubai selection of restaurants marks a historical moment for the Michelin Guide and the Middle East, says Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide.

What makes Dubais culinary landscape so distinctive is its reflection of the more than 200 nationalities that call the city home, delivering an epicurean kaleidoscope. One thing all the restaurants in this fast paced dynamic and elegant city have in common is they are brimming with passion and enthusiasm. Today, Dubai is settled as an inspiring gastronomic destination and we have no doubt that gourmets from all over the world will be seduced by its very unique energy, Poullennec said.

The 2 Michelin Stars restaurants

Il Ristorante - Niko Romito received two Michelin Stars for its modern Italian fare, which comes with balance, purity and clarity. Top quality ingredients are flown in from Italy, with highlights including fish and pasta dishes.

Set in a colonial-style property at The Palm, STAY by Yannick Alleno impresses with its less-is-more approach, which results in precise, sophisticated dishes that are skillfully crafted with French cooking as the base.

One Michelin Star restaurants

Showcasing the excellence, talent and creativity of Dubais culinary landscape, 9 restaurants serving a diverse array of cuisines, from Portuguese to Indian, Japanese and Chinese, received One Michelin Star.

11 Woodfire by chef-owner Akmal Anuar, who is of Malay origin, offers a global variety of vegetables, seafood and meats grilled to perfection over oak, hickory or hay.

Led by Saverio Sbaragli, who had honed his craft at Three Michelin Starred Arpege, Al Muntaha sits atop the architectural masterpiece of Burj Al Arab and offers sophisticated and refined French cuisine with Mediterranean influences.

Armani Ristorante presents precise, modern Italian cooking at the Burj Khalifa, where beautifully decorated dishes are met with attentive, enthusiastic service. Italian favorites such as agnolotti del plin, filetto di scorfano and agnello al mirto showcase the chefs mastery.

First opened in London in 2001, the Dubai outpost of Hakkasan at the Atlantis Hotel offers reimagined Chinese dishes that are exclusive to Dubai, including the lychee lobster with yuzu pearl.

Hoseki is a nine-seat omakase restaurant helmed by a sixth-generation sushi master, Masahiro Sugiyama. Set on the fourth floor of the Bulgari Hotel, it offers a bespoke omakase experience using fresh ingredients imported daily from Japan.

Located in the basement of the Atlantis Hotel next to the aquarium, Ossiano is a world for creative fare, and its Metanoia menus gain inspiration from chef Gregoire Bergers childhood memories, featuring dishes that come with fine texture contrasts and impressive clarity of flavour.

The first international outpost of world-renowned Portuguese chef Jose Avillez, Tasca by Jose Avillez in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is set around an open kitchen, where the talented kitchen team combines fresh, great quality produce with Portuguese dishes that are vibrant, innovative, and great for sharing.

Owned by internationally acclaimed chef Massimo Bottura, Torno Subito set within the striking W Hotel on the Palm offers Italian classics, pasta dishes and desserts with a twist.

Tresind Studio is the brainchild of Himanshu Saini, which offers original and precisely executed multi-course tasting menus featuring herbs and flowers grown on its rooftop terrace setting, with highlights such as the ghee-roasted crab, tandoori chicken dumpling and morel pulao with Assam tea dashi.

14 restaurants receive Bib Gourmand

The guide also spotlights 14 Bib Gourmand restaurants that offer a value-for-money gourmet experience for an average price of AED250 for a 3-course meal. They inlcude: Al Khayma, Bait Maryam, Brasserie Boulud, FiLia, Folly, Goldfish, Ibn Albahr, Indya by Vineet, Kinoya, Ninive, Orfali Bros, REIF Japanese Kushiyaki, Shabestan and Teible.

This year, one Dubai restaurant is recognised for its outstanding efforts and remarkable commitment to sustainability. Lowe, a Michelin-recommended restaurant by culinary duo Kate Christou and Jesse Blake, is the first and only restaurant in Dubai to receive a Michelin Green Star.

Michelin Special Awards

As Michelin Guide inspectors dine at and observe restaurants, they keep an eye on service professionals to unearth talents that are worthy of the Michelin Special Awards.

This year, the Young Chef Award went to Solemann Haddad of Michelin-selected restaurant Moonrise. Danijela Tesic of Ossiano takes home the Sommelier Award for her passion and enthusiasm for wine pairing. The Welcome and Service Award was given to the team at Bait Maryam. - TradeArabia News Service
Fort McCoy was among many installations around the world to celebrate the U.S. Armys 247th birthday June 14.

Led by Fort McCoys Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (DFMWR), the installation held a wide variety of activities in honor of the day.

Events included the Army Birthday 5k Run/2-Mile Walk at Rumpel Fitness Center that also included a breakfast for participants and spectators. There also was the Army Birthday Ceremony and Lunch at McCoys Community Center where hundreds of people received a free lunch and cake, and the 204th Army Band entertained the audience with many popular songs.

Hundreds of people also received an Army birthday T-shirt highlighting the day as well, said Christie B. Clark, sponsorship and advertising coordinator with Fort McCoy DFMWR.

DFMWR also had a free HyperBowling Hyperactive Game from 4 to 6 p.m.  also at McCoys Community Center, Clarke said. DFMWR also provided free automatic car washes at the MWR Car Wash from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The 2022 celebration was the largest since 2019. The 2020 and 2021 celebrations were scaled back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All events were free and open to the entire Fort McCoy community, Clark said.

DFMWR Director Patric McGuane opened the birthday ceremony at McCoys. He welcomed everyone to the celebration and was thankful for all the organizations and businesses that helped sponsor the birthday celebration.

A special thank you to all our sponsors, McGuane said. Without you all of this would not have been possible today.

History shows the U.S. Army was founded on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the colonies for one year. The June 14 date is when Congress adopted the American Continental Army after reaching a consensus position in The Committee of the Whole. The record, according to Army history, indicates only that Congress undertook to raise 10 companies of riflemen, approved an enlistment form for them, and appointed a committee to draft rules and regulations for the government of the Army.

Fort McCoy Garrison Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Chad Maynard also provided some welcoming remarks and reviewed the Armys history.

Thanks to all of the DFMWR team and all the sponsors for supporting this event, Maynard said.

And the Army has grown over 247 years, Maynard said. From a rag-tag group of Soldiers in the Continental Army to the Army of today.

And now we are part of the strongest military of all time, and I am proud to be a part of that, he said.

Gen. James C. McConville, the 40th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, wrote on his official Facebook page June 14 about the Army birthday and those who he serves with in the Army. McConville visited Fort McCoy in August 2021.

Americas U.S. Army celebrates its 247th Birthday today, and I could not be more proud of what our Soldiers have done in support of this great nation, the post states. It is truly an honor to serve alongside you all. Happy Birthday United States Army!

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As part of a district-wide push for increased sustainability, Northside Elementary/Coulee Montessori is the next school in La Crosse making the shift to solar energy.

With installation scheduled to begin later this summer, the schools roof will include a network of 292 solar panels capable of generating 20% of the schools energy needs. District administrators, elected officials and leaders of the project gathered Monday to celebrate meeting their funding goal and announce future projects.

Leadership and staff from Solar on La Crosse Schools (SOLS) also attended the celebration event. The organization partners with the school district to coordinate fundraising efforts and to help strategize for solar installation.

Schools use about 43% as much power as all of the office buildings in the United States, said Ben Golden, a member of the SOLS leadership team. Its a great place to start when were thinking about clean energy.

The projected reduction in carbon emissions created by the solar panels is equal to planting around 160,000 trees and will save around 7 million pounds of coal, Golden said.

Northside Elementary relies on a geothermal heating and cooling system, meaning it requires twice as much electric energy as other similar buildings. This made it a prime candidate for solar energy use, according to Mike Freybler, the energy and transportation manager with the La Crosse School District.

Although the total cost for the solar infrastructure was around $239,500, the system will generate $12,000 in savings each year and $500,000 in total. The solar panels system is warrantied for the next 25 years and projected to operate at full capacity for that same time period, if not longer.

The cost of purchasing and installing the solar infrastructure was completely covered by fundraising efforts, which raised more than $100,000 to put toward the project, Golden said.

Xcel Energy, the Couillard Solar Foundation, La Crosse Community Foundation, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Hammond Energy Solutions and Focus on Energy also contributed grants and rebates.

While the dollar signs around solar energy oftentimes receive attention, SOLS co-director Heather Talbot emphasized the educational opportunities.

When I was a kid in school, I did not know what a green job was, Talbot said. The educational benefits of these projects cannot be overstated. Normalizing renewable energy technology for kids, its tremendous.

Instructional staff at Northside Elementary/Coulee Montessori are using lesson plans to help inform students of future career opportunities within clean energy field and how to think about potential environmental impacts when making decisions.

These projects demonstrate to our students what good stewardship of the environment looks like, said Amoreena Rathke, an art teacher at the school.

These initial solar projects are also about showing that introducing solar energy is feasible, according to SOLS member Alysa Remsburg.

Part of the idea of SOLS is modeling this for the school district, getting them used to the idea of working with the contractors and all that, doing that with private money, Remsburg said. The next step for us is to really advocate for the school district to then take this on themselves.

Golden said the installations within schools can help inform the wider La Crosse population of the advantages of and possibilities around solar energy.

We know that when people see solar going up in a neighborhood, they get inspired and it has a ripple effect, Golden said. We know that the city has an action plan for carbon neutrality, and so we want to be a part of that.

With many district buildings around La Crosse, increasing sustainability in schools is an important piece of the puzzle to consider, said Anders Olsen, a representative for the Climate Action Plan who attended the event.

Although the Climate Action Plan is not directly tied to installation projects within the school district, cultivating these community partners is important for carrying out the goals within the plan.

If we can reduce energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our schools, thats a chunk of what we need to do as a city, Olsen said.

Other community partners include the Boys and Girls Club and the La Crosse Public Library.

The SOLS team announced plans for two future solar panel installations Monday. A 25kW solar panel array will be installed at La Crosse Polytechnic in 2023, infrastructure that will offset around 33% of the schools energy use.

A solar outdoor classroom will also be created at Summit Elementary. The canopy of solar panels will generate energy and provide shade and shelter outside, Golden said.

We decided to really put a focus in this coming year on projects that could have an educational component to them, Golden said.

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Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse are studying the health of Myrick Marsh to learn more about how humans are impacting the ecosystem.

The researchers are collecting data on the amount of oxygen being released and consumed by plants and animals within the marsh. Using these figures, current student Aly Reuvers and biology professor Eric Strauss can establish a baseline of health for the marsh that can be used as a point of comparison in future studies.

"It gives us a basis of how we impact the marsh," Reuvers said. "And this will give us an idea of how those things occurred and also they'll kind of give us an idea of how climate change can affect the marsh as well."

In addition to climate change, the study can also help people better understand humans can impact ecosystems. Oxygen levels are a good measure of health because it shows that energy is flowing efficiently throughout the marsh, Strauss said.

"It's hard and it's confusing to understand what's going on with climate change and nutrient pollution," he said. "Anytime anybody does anything, and you can relate it to something that they understand it's going to help everybody."

Later this summer, Reuvers and Strauss will place a sensor in Myrick Marsh to collect hundreds of data points that measure oxygen levels. Then, Reuvers will run a series of equations to establish a health baseline.

They may also add small amounts of other nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, into samples from the marsh to determine how oxygen consumption and production levels are impacted.

Before heading out to the marsh, the researchers are first running a series of smaller tests in the Prairie Spring Science Center on the UW-La Crosse campus. Reuvers and Strauss already found a piece of microplastic within a water sample, just one of hundreds of thousands pieces that are likely in the marsh as a result of humans.

Despite this, the researchers are currently anticipating the marsh is healthy due to the amount of greenery, plants and algae within. The data should reflect that oxygen production and consumption levels shift regularly, depending on whether it's day or night and photosynthesis is occurring.

If the marsh were unhealthy, there would already be external indicators, like large amounts of dead fish, Strauss said.

Completing this research is also important because a health baseline has not yet been established for this body of water, Strauss said. The data and health baseline may even be shared with local environmental groups and organizations when the research is completed.

"The marsh is in town, everyone sees it, people go running by it, or they fish in it," Reuvers said. "I feel like people around here are very interested in how the environment works and protecting it, so I think they'll appreciate the results we come up with."

Strauss said this area of research has many opportunities for expansion over the next several years. If time allows, Reuvers and Strauss may also look at carbon dioxide production levels of the marsh later this summer.

"Future students can come in and they can continue monitoring this. I also considered measuring carbon dioxide dynamics for an entire year to see seasonal effects ," Strauss said. "If there's ever an event that happens, like a big runoff event, maybe it's road salt or fertilizer, or maybe the river overflows into the marsh in a big way, we can see what the effect would be."

This project is made possible through the University's Dean's Distinguished Fellowship program, which sponsors and promotes undergraduate research collaborations between faculty mentors and students. At the end of the summer, Reuvers will present the research and findings to other students and faculty within the program.

She said participating in this research has been helpful in determining her path following graduation from the University.

"I think it's very important, because it'll helped me decide if this is what I want to do later on in my life," Reuvers said. "So far, I really enjoy it."

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russian attacks laid down a curtain of fire Tuesday across areas of eastern Ukraine where pockets of resistance are denying Moscow full military control of the region, almost four months after the Kremlin unleashed its invasion.

Today everything that can burn is on fire, Serhiy Haidai, the governor of Ukraines eastern Luhansk region, told The Associated Press.

The Russian military currently controls about 95% of the Luhansk region. But Moscow has struggled for weeks to overrun it completely, despite deploying additional troops and possessing a massive advantage in military assets.

With the help of tactical movements, the Ukrainian army is strengthening defenses in the Luhansk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. That really is where the toughest situation is now.

In the city of Sievierodonetsk, the hot spot of the fighting, Ukrainian defenders held on to the Azot chemical plant in the industrial outskirts. About 500 civilians are sheltering at the plant, and Haidai said the Russian forces are turning the area into ruins.

It is a sheer catastrophe, Haidai told the AP in written comments about the plant. Our positions are being fired at from howitzers, multiple rocket launchers, large-caliber artillery, missile strikes.

The defense of the chemical plant recalled the besieged Azovstal steel mill in the brutalized city of Mariupol, where Ukrainian troops were pinned down for weeks.

Neighboring Lysychansk, the only city in the Luhansk region that is still fully under Ukrainian control, also was targeted by multiple airstrikes.

The airstrikes on Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk ruined more than 10 residential buildings and a police station. In the city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, a school burned down as the result of the shelling, the presidents office said. The Luhansk and Donetsk regions make up the Donbas.

Separately, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland met for about an hour at a Ukrainian-Polish border post with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. They discussed how the U.S. can help identify, apprehend and prosecute anyone involved in war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

We and our partners will pursue every avenue available to make sure that those who are responsible for these atrocities are held accountable, Garland said in a statement.

Garland also tapped Eli Rosenbaum  a 36-year Justice Department veteran who headed efforts to identify and deport Nazi war criminals  as counselor for war crimes accountability. He will coordinate efforts to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine.

Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, also came under heavy Russian shelling on Tuesday. Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said 15 civilians were killed and 16 wounded in Kharkiv and elsewhere in the region.

Zelenskyy said the attacks in the Kharkiv region were especially cruel and cynical because they brought no clear benefit to the Russian forces. The Russian army is deaf to any rationality. It simply destroys, simply kills, and in this way it shows its command that it is not really standing in place," he said in his video address.

Speaking Tuesday to graduates of Russian military academies at a lavish Kremlin reception, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the Russian armed forces as heirs to the countrys legendary military traditions. The country is now going through another series of trials, he said, expressing confidence that Russia will overcome all the challenges.

There is no doubt that we will become even stronger, he added.

International support for Ukraine was demonstrated once more when a Nobel Peace Prize medal auctioned off by Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov sold Monday night for $103.5 million, shattering the old record for a Nobel. The auction aimed to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees.

Geopolitical tensions stemming from Russias invasion returned to Lithuania. Due to European Union sanctions on Moscow, the Baltic country earlier this month banned rail traffic from crossing its territory from Russia to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Kaliningrad, with a population of around 430,000 people, is wedged between Lithuania and Poland, both EU countries, and is isolated from the rest of Russia.

Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of the Kremlins Security Council and a hard-liner, visited Kaliningrad on Tuesday and vowed to respond to the ban.

The relevant measures are being drawn up in an interagency format and will be adopted shortly, Patrushev said, without elaborating. He added: Their consequences will have a significant negative impact on the population of Lithuania.

In other developments Tuesday:

 Zelenskyy said he spoke with leaders from nine European Union members  Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain  in anticipation of Fridays meeting of EU leaders to decide whether to grant Ukraine candidate status. He said his agenda for Wednesday is just as full. We are expanding the circle of those who support Ukraines candidacy and making it more likely that Fridays decision will be positive, he said.

 John Kirby, a national security spokesman for the White House, said it was appalling that the Kremlin suggested two Americans captured by Russian forces in Ukraine could be sentenced to death. Kirby declined to say what steps the U.S. would take if Russia does not treat Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh, both from Alabama, as prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it depends on the investigation, when asked during an NBC interview whether the Americans could be sentenced to death like two Britons and a Moroccan captured while fighting for Ukraine.

 The U.S. State Department confirmed the death of a U.S. citizen in Ukraine who is believed to be only the second American to have been killed while fighting in the conflict.

 Britains Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence report that Ukraines coastal defenses have largely neutralized Russias ability to project maritime force in the northwestern Black Sea. This has undermined the viability of Russias original operational design for the invasion, which involved holding the Odesa region at risk from the sea, the report said.

 Russian authorities blocked the website of British newspaper The Telegraph over an article it published, the internet rights group Roskomsvoboda reported Tuesday. It said Russias media and internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, blocked Russian access to a story that alleged that Russian forces had prepared a mobile crematorium for use in its war with Ukraine, possibly to hide its military casualties. The move made the entire Telegraph website inaccessible for some Russians.

Karmanau reported from Lviv. Francesca Ebel contributed from the Krakovets border crossing in Ukraine.

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.

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BOISE, Idaho (AP)  Cooler and wetter weather this spring has alleviated drought concerns in much of Idaho but spurred grass growth that could cause large rangeland wildfires in the southern part of the state as plants dry out this summer, wildfire forecasters told the Idaho Land Board on Tuesday.

Officials also told the board, which includes Republican Gov. Brad Little and four other statewide elected office holders, that the state is well-staffed with wildland firefighters following legislation approved earlier this year to increase firefighter starting pay to $15 an hour and also provide hazard pay up to 25% above their hourly wage.

"First it's too dry, then it's too wet and you're going to have fuel," Little said after the meeting. He said he felt the state is prepared for wildfire season but can never be 100% ready.

The Land Board directs the Idaho Department of Lands that is responsible for handling fire protection on 9,800 square miles (25,000 square kilometers) of state, federal and private land. The department had one of its worst wildfire seasons in 2021 with some 225 square miles (580 square kilometers) burned, six times the 20-year average and costing the state $75 million.

Jim Wallmann, a meteorologist at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, said above-normal precipitation the last three months has helped take areas of Idaho out of drought and abnormally dry conditions.

This year we're looking a lot better because of the cooler and wetter spring that we've had," he told the board. "Drought has been removed from all of northern Idaho. We still have some drought in the southern portions of the state with the worst conditions along the Nevada and Utah borders.

He said there's a greater chance for rangeland grass fires in southeastern Idaho in August and September, and southwestern Idaho in August.

We do have a lot of grass out in the southern portion of the state, he said.

For northern Idaho, he said, we're not expecting any drought to develop this summer. It looks like a typical summer, maybe a little bit above normal for temperatures."

Josh Harvey, fire management bureau chief for the Lands Department, said the agency has 170 wildland firefighters this year, up from 140 in past years.

He also said the state for the first time has a full 20-person firefighting crew that can travel anywhere in the state to fight wildfires.

Harvey also said the agency this year will use four drones with infrared cameras that can detect hotspots where wildfires could reemerge.

Federal, state and local wildland firefighting agencies often compete for wildland firefighters, and Idaho appears to have held its own this year following the move by lawmakers to bump up starting pay and hazard pay.

There is still some ongoing discussions regarding resource availability, Harvey said. But the outlook for this year is much better than it has been in years past. I think we've had significant success over some of our neighboring agencies in hiring.

Idaho is now in its 10th year of having Rangeland Fire Protection Associations that are nonprofit organizations established to prevent and suppress range fires. The associations are often comprised of ranchers trained in wildland firefighting and who are often the first to respond because they live in the area. The groups have about 350 trained members this year, state officials said.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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RANDALIA, Iowa (AP)  A northeast Iowa farmer has pleaded not guilty to neglect charges after more than 3,000 feeder hogs died on his property.

Derek David Smith, 41, of Randalia, waived an arraignment and filed a written not guilty plea to one count of livestock neglect on Monday, the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reported.

Court records indicate Smith was hired by Valley Farms to care for the hogs. Authorities found more than 3,000 hogs dead at Smith's confinement operation on June 2, according to court records.

The animals died from lack of feed and another 200 hogs had to be euthanized for health reasons, according to the records.

Smith's trial is tentatively set for August in Fayette County District Court in West Union.

The charge is a serious misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,560 fine.

For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  An Ohio man who has admitted to killing five members from a single family will be allowed to testify at the death penalty trial of his brother, who is charged in the same crime, according to a judge's ruling Tuesday.

George Wagner IV, his parents and his brother, Jake Wagner, were charged in the 2016 fatal shootings of the Rhoden family near Piketon in southern Ohio. Authorities say the shootings of seven adults and a teenage boy stemmed from a dispute over custody of a child that Jake Wagner had with one of the victims.

Jake Wagner pleaded guilty last year in the shootings, admitting to killing five of the victims as part of a plea deal with prosecutors that spared him from being sentenced to death. Wagner's mother, Angela Wagner, also pleaded guilty to helping plan the slayings.

John Parker, a lawyer representing George Wagner, argued Tuesday that the deal Jake Wagner struck with prosecutors limits his ability to conduct a thorough cross examination. Parker has said that Jake Wagner told prosecutors that his brother didn't shoot anyone.

Jake Wagner isn't in a position to testify truthfully because he faces the death penalty if he doesn't strictly obey the terms of his plea deal, Parker said. Our right to confrontation is more or less meaningless because hes got a script he has to follow, he said.

Special prosecutor Andrew Wilson argued that there's nothing unusual about Jake Wagner's plea deal, and added that his testimony will be bolstered by other evidence implicating George Wagner.

Pike County Judge Randy Deering, without comment, denied Parker's request to keep Jake Wagner and his mother from testifying. Deering also denied a request from George Wagner's attorneys to drop charges that involve crimes committed outside Pike County.

Special prosecutor Angela Canepa argued that the defendants were in and out of Pike and Scioto counties the night of the crimes and the killings were part of a single course of conduct.

Jake and Georges father, George Billy Wagner III, has pleaded not guilty.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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VFS Global, the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist, said that nationals of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia can now apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) when travelling to the UK.



Travellers can apply in advance from the comfort of their home, anywhere between three months and 48 hours prior to their intended date of travel, for the purposes of tourism, business, study or medical treatment.



Having extended to the two new locations, VFS Global now offers EVW assistance in six countries in the GCC - Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.



With an EVW, travellers visiting the UK for up to six months need no longer apply for a visit visa, enrol biometrics at the Visa Application Centre, or hand in their passports in advance for processing. Customers can provide their information, upload their travel documents, and make the fee payment online. With its trained professionals VFS Global can provide assistance in completing the EVW application .



Atul Marwah, HeadMiddle East & North Africa, VFS Global, said: VFS Global is excited to roll out the EVW service in a further two countries in the Middle East, and we thank UKVI for their continued faith in us. The Kingdoms of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia remain key source markets for the UK, and this service is ideal for travellers looking to visit the country for a short term, while providing them an easier, more cost-effective, and convenient visa application journey.  TradeArabia News Service
China launched a new-generation aircraft carrier on Friday. It is the first such ship to be both designed and built in China. It marks a major step for the country as it seeks to strengthen its navy.

Chinese state media reports said the Type 003 carrier, named Fujian, left where it was built outside Shanghai on Friday morning.

The Type 003 ship is thought to be as advanced as Western carriers. China is seeking to turn its navy -- already the worlds largest -- into a multi-carrier force.

Ridzwan Rahmat is a Singapore-based researcher with the defense intelligence company Janes. He said, This is an important milestone for Chinas military-industrial complex.

He said the ship demonstrates that Chinese engineers are now able to manufacture all the fighting equipment that makes up modern naval warfare. He added that the ability to build a very complex warship will bring other benefits for the Chinese shipbuilding industry.

Chinas first aircraft carrier was a repurposed Soviet ship. Its second was built in China but based on a Soviet design.

The Type 003 employs a launch system known as a catapult launch. Chinas official Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday that the catapult launch is an electromagnetic-type system. That system was first developed by the U.S. Navy.

Rahmat said the system will permit the ship to launch more kinds of aircraft, which is necessary for China to expand its naval power.

Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Navy (or PLAN) has been working for many years to become a force that is able to operate worldwide rather than only near the Chinese mainland.

The PLAN currently has an estimated 355 ships, including submarines. U.S. experts estimate the force will grow to 420 ships by 2025 and 460 ships by 2030.

In its report to the U.S. Congress last year on Chinas military abilities, the Department of Defense said the carrier development program was very important to Chinese navy development. It said the program will permit Chinese naval operations to go beyond East Asia into increasingly longer ranges.

In recent years, China has expanded its presence into the Indian Ocean, the Western Pacific and beyond. It also set up its first overseas base in the African nation of Djibouti, where the U.S., Japan, and other nations also have a military presence.

China recently signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands, a nation in the Pacific Ocean. Some observers are concerned that the agreement could give China a military camp in the South Pacific.

China is also expanding a port facility in Cambodia, which could give it a presence in the Gulf of Thailand.

Now that it is launched, the carrier will have to be fitted with necessary equipment. The process could take two to six months. Next there will be harbor acceptance tests and sea tests, which may take another six months. The next step will involve engineers launching test loads using the catapult system.

Rahmat said, The first aircraft will only be launched from this carrier perhaps in late-2023 to 2024, and full operational capability will likely be declared closer to 2025.

Im Jill Robbins.

Tom Krisher reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

______________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

advanced  adj. far along in a course of progress or development

milestone  n. an important point in the progress or development of something

benefit  n. the ability to do something

beyond  n. a good or helpful result or effect

range  n. the distance over which someone or something can see, hear, or reach someone or something else

facility  n. something (such as a building or large piece of equipment) that is built for a specific purpose

harbor  n. a part of the ocean or a lake that is next to land and that is protected and deep enough to provide safety for ships

capability  n. the ability to do something

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A Cambodian fisherman recently caught the worlds largest recorded freshwater fish in the Mekong River. The fish, a stingray, weighed just under 300 kilograms and measured four meters long.

A team of scientists from the research group Wonders of the Mekong quickly came to measure and photograph the fish. Zeb Hogan is the groups leader. He observed it is hard to find such a large fish in freshwater, saying, so I think all of our team was stunned.

Hogan added, The fact that the fish can still get this big is a hopeful sign for the Mekong River.

The Mekong runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is home to many different types of large freshwater fish.

The previous record for freshwater fish was a catfish. It was also caught in the Mekong, but in Thailand, in 2005 and weighed 293 kilograms. The Cambodian fisherman caught the record-breaking stingray near Stung Treng in the countrys northeast.

Some fish spend part of the time in freshwater and some time in saltwater. As a result, large fish like beluga sturgeon and bluefin tuna do not qualify for the freshwater fish record.

Hogan said large fish are endangered around the world. They are caught because of their size and can be sold for a lot of money. They take a long time to grow and sometimes they are caught before they can reproduce. Hogan said big fish also need large areas of water, such as long rivers or deep lakes to survive. They also can be hurt by projects that change the movement of rivers, such as dams.

So about 70 percent of giant freshwater fish globally are threatened with extinction, and all of the Mekong species, Hogan said.

The researchers planted a tracking device near the tail of the stingray before releasing it. The device will send information to help scientists learn its behavior.

Hogan said the giant stingray is a very poorly understood fish, and noted that even its name has changed many times in the last 20 years. The scientists hope to be able to follow its movements and learn more about its life, where it spends time and what it interacts with as it moves through the river.

The researchers say the record stingray is the fourth large female seen in the area in the past two months. So, they believe it could be a place where they go to lay eggs.

People in that part of Cambodia started to call the large fish Boramy, or full moon, because of its large shape and the fact that the moon was visible when it was let go. The fisherman was paid $600 for his catch, the same price he would have gotten if he sold it in a market.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press.

Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

stunned adj. surprised or shocked

track v. to follow the progress and movements of something

extinction  n. the state or situation that results when something has died out completely

global  adj. involving the entire world

species  n. a group of animals or plants that are similar
A Nobel Peace Prize won by Russian reporter Dmitry Muratov last year has been sold in an effort to help Ukrainian child refugees.

The award sold for $103.5 million during an auction in New York Monday night. The auction company that held the sale, Heritage Auctions, did not identify the buyer. The auction, which lasted about three weeks, ended on World Refugee Day.

Heritage said all the money will go to the United Nations childrens agency UNICEF. The organization is currently involved in efforts to help children displaced by the war in Ukraine.

The Associated Press reported the sale broke the record for a Nobel Prize that has been publicly sold. The highest price paid for a Nobel had been $4.76 million in 2014, the news agency said. That prize was co-awarded to American James Watson in 1962 for his efforts in discovering the structure of DNA.

Muratov told the AP he was surprised at the awards high selling price. I was hoping that there was going to be an enormous amount of solidarity, but I was not expecting this to be such a huge amount, he said.

Muratov was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2021. He shared the prize with reporter Maria Ressa of the Philippines. The two reporters, or journalists, were honored for their efforts to safeguard free speech in their countries while facing heavy government pressure.

Muratov helped launch the Novaya Gazeta independent newspaper. The Nobel committee had called the publication the most independent newspaper in Russia today. The committee praised the paper for providing Russians with important information rarely mentioned by other media.

Muratov dedicated his award to six Novaya Gazeta reporters who had been murdered after reporting on human rights violations and corruption in Russia. He donated $500,000 of his Nobel Prize money to aid organizations.

Muratov has been highly critical of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and the war Russia launched in February in Ukraine. The latest conflict has led nearly 5 million Ukrainians to flee to other countries for safety. The war has created the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II.

Independent journalists in Russia have increasingly come under pressure from the Russian government. Since President Vladimir Putin came into power more than 20 years ago, about 24 journalists have been killed, the AP reported.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports 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

auction  n. a public sale at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most

DNA  n. deoxyribonucleic acid: a chemical in the cells of living things that contains genetic information

enormous  adj. extremely large

solidarity  n. agreement and support between people in a group who have similar aims or beliefs

dedicate  v. to officially honor or remember someone or something

annex  v. to start to control or rule an area of another country
LEXINGTON  The Dawson County Area Hero Flight and crew members were honored by the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century with flags that flew over the U.S. Capitol building during their visits.

The event was held on Sunday, June 19 at the Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles. Past Hero Flight committee chairman, Max McFarland, welcomed those in attendance and introduced, Steve Zerr, Dawson County Veterans Service coordinator.

Zerr spoke about how the idea for the Dawson County Hero Flight got started after he became the Veterans Service coordinator in 2014.

Zerr said Korean War veteran Robert Bob Fisher came into his office and inquired about the county doing a veterans flight to Washington D.C. that was similar to the one Buffalo County had been doing.

After a year in his position, Zerr began asking around for someone who could help coordinate and chair a committee for a Dawson County Hero Flight and this led him to Max McFarland.

Zerr said McFarland, cannot be thanked enough, for his work with the Hero Flight.

He also thanked all the other members of the Hero Flight committee who helped make it possible for area veterans to visit their memorials in the nations capital.

The next to speak was Sherilyn Ward, past president of the Colonial Dames and the one who was behind Sundays recognition of the Dawson County Hero Flight.

The National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century is an organization of women, eighteen years of age or over, who are lineal descendants of an ancestor who lived and served prior to 1701 in one of the Original Colonies in the geographical area of the present United States of America, according to their website.

Wards husband, Fredrick Otis Ward, served in the U.S. Army until his discharge in Sept. 1967. He and his son Steve were able to be a part of one of the Dawson County Hero Flights. He died at the age of 83 on Feb. 1, 2022.

Ward presented McFarland and Zerr with two flags that were flown over the U.S. Capitol building on Sept. 27. Their certificates read, At the request of the Honorable Adrian Smith, member of Congress, this flag was flown on behalf of the Colonial Dames XVII  Nebraska who would like to show our appreciation to our Veterans  who served their country and were able to go on a Dawson County Hero Flight.

Ward also announced that $900 from Otis Wards memorial fund had been donated to the Heartland Military Museum, the site of all the send offs for the Hero Flight.

In turn, McFarland presented Dawson County Hero Flight visors to the three Colonial Dames in attendance, Ward, Cheryl Clark and Marge Bader. McFarland said these hats were only presented to Dawson County veterans, their escorts and members of the flight crew.

Senator Matt Williams was invited to provide the closing comments for the event, he had attended all six send offs for the Hero Flight over the years.

Williams said he spoke with a veteran who went on the Hero Flight who was uncomfortable about being called a hero. The veteran had served his time state-side and didnt feel like he should be called a hero.

He told the man that service to the country, in any capacity, is a sacrifice.

Williams also shared a personal moment he had when he was in Washington D.C. and was sitting at the Korean War Memorial, taking some time for deeper thought.

He said he could see the statues of the memorial reflected off of a nearby surface, intermingled in the scene were two children, playing with each other. Williams said those children could enjoy the simple act of carefree play, because of the veterans who had served and sacrificed for the country and their fellow citizens.

Williams also thanked the members of the Hero Flight committee who had helped to make this trip possible for all of the veterans. He said they stepped up and helped to make this considerable project happen. He closed saying it is great to dream, but in order for that to become reality, people need to take action.

During the event, McFarland gave an overview of the six Dawson County Hero Flights and the impact it had on the veterans who went on the flights.

The mission of the flights was, to honor our veterans by flying them to Washington D.C. and enable them to visit their memorials. Dawson County Area Hero Flight is organized for the sole purpose of honoring American veterans for all of their sacrifices and service above self.

Time is a factor in being able for veterans to be able to visit the memorials in Washington D.C. Nationally there are over 21,000 veterans on Honor Flight waiting lists, 20 percent are World War II veterans, 43 percent are Korean War veterans and 36 percent served in the Vietnam War, around 640 World War II veterans die each day nationwide.

McFarland noted the differences in the Honor Flights, which is a national organization and take veterans on a 24 hour trip of Washington D.C. The local Hero Flight was a three day trip for veterans.

He noted they narrowed down participants to veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Locally, there are around 1,486 veterans in Dawson County, 55 World War II veterans, 150 Korean War veterans and over 700 Vietnam veterans.

The Hero Flight began in 2015 and was organized by a committee of volunteers representing Lexington, Cozad, Gothenburg, Overton, Eddyville, Sumner and Farnam. They also became an affiliated fund of the Lexington Community Foundation and were supported by private donations.

The first Dawson County Hero Flight took place in April 2016.

Each of the six Hero Flights was comprised of 25 veterans, an escort for each, four committee staff coordinators, a nurse and a photographer. The cost of each flight was around $60,000 or $2,500 per veteran.

The six flights have included 150 veterans, one World War II veteran, 36 Korean veterans and 113 Vietnam veterans.

McFarland shared some highlights and moments he had witnessed on the Hero Flights.

Each Hero Flight began at the Heartland Military Museum with the formal send off by the community and they were all driven to Epply Airport in Omaha by a Lexington Public Schools charter bus and driver.

The TSA agents at Epply were always right at the bus door with wheelchairs to help assist the veterans and make the airport process smooth. McFarland said it never failed to impress when the Southwest Airlines pilot would announce the presence of the Dawson County Hero Flight on board and the entire fuselage would erupt with cheers and applause.

At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the aircraft with the Hero Flight on board would be greeted by a water cannon salute from the airports fire engines.

McFarland said Congressman Adrian Smith was always on hand to greet the veterans on the Hero Flight and would give them a tour of the U.S. Capitol.

During one flight, a daughter who was the escort for her veteran father had to tell him at 2 a.m. that they had to stop and get some sleep. She told McFarland he was telling her stories about his time in the service she had never heard before.

Another time, while visiting the Korean War Memorial, McFarland said he was approached by a Connecticut teacher who was taking her class on a field trip. The class had written thank you paragraphs for veterans and the teacher asked permission for the class to present them to the Dawson County Hero Flight members.

McFarland said there was not a dry eye to be seen when the students approached each veteran with what they had written.

McFarland said they had to pause the flights in 2020 due to COVID-19 and so far they have 12 current applicants for a possible seventh flight in the future.

The Hero Flight committee has stated, We will continue to fly so long as there are adequate applications and the funding to support it.


Globally renowned US-based Islamic scholar Shaikh Omar Suleiman led the protest in Dallas, which was jointly organized by The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), and North Texas Peace Advocates (NTPA).

WASHINGTON, DC  Indian Americans in two of Americas largest states, Texas and California, protested last weekend against the increasing persecution of Muslims in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindu extremist government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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Globally renowned US-based Islamic scholar Shaikh Omar Suleiman led the protest in Dallas, which was jointly organized by The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), and North Texas Peace Advocates (NTPA). Shaykh Alaeddin El-Bakri of the Islamic Society of North America led the Bay Area protest organized by IAMC, which drew over 500 protesters.

We will continue to tell Modi, who is a wannabe Hitler, that you are a coward and that you are not welcome in Texas, Suleiman told a cheering crowd. We will hold elected officials accountable. We will hold corporations accountable when they deal with [Indias] fascist regime. We will not stand for the genocide of our brothers and sisters.

Shaikh Suleiman spoke of the connections between the Hindu extremist ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of Modis BJP, and Adolf Hitlers Nazi Party, saying both promoted a hateful and shameless ideology.

When we talk about the RSS we are talking about the child of Nazism [which] continues to rear its ugly head on this earth, he said. We are talking about people that are proud of their fascism. India says very openly it wants to follow the Israeli model. If India considers the Israeli model, expert a Palestinian resistance.

Shaikh Suleiman also questioned why Modi, who was banned from entering the US during 2005-14, was now being embraced by politicians of both major political parties.

What changed to where now a man who once could not even enter this country could address Congress? What changed to where Barack Obama wrote the introduction for Modi as reformer in chief among Time Magazines 100 most influential people in the world? What changed for President Joe Biden to do the exact same thing? What has changed about this man? Nothing has changed.

At the Bay Area protests, Shaykh Alaeddin El-Bakri condemned Indias persecution of Muslims, I was talking to someone from Al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine, and he told me to extend my support to the Indian Muslim brothers and sisters and tell them we are with them they are uniting us they are pushing us back, he said.

Protestors in Dallas Dealey Plaza withstood hours of sweltering heat to amplify their voices by marching together and chanting slogans of support for Indian Muslims. The slogans included, We Stand With Afreen Fatima, and Stop Indian Muslim Genocide. Fatima, a 22-year-old activist saw her house razed to the ground by bulldozers deployed by the Uttar Pradesh government, after her father was falsely arrested and accused of being the mastermind behind communal riots.

Protesters in both Dallas and the Bay Area called for a unified response from the American Muslim community to mobilize US Congress and the Biden Administration to pressure India to pull back from its severe persecution of its 200 million Muslims.

Many protesters waved the Indian flag, the tricolour that is made of saffron, the color of Hinduism, green, the color of Islam, and white, the color of peace, with a wheel in it.

Speaking at the Dallas protest, Sabiha Shariff, an Indian American, urged the community to speak up before it is too late. Dont wait for the day when the Indian national flag is changed to saffron and the chakra [wheel] is changed to bulldozers.

IAMC President Syed Afzal Ali urged the protesters to use social media to reach out to elected representatives and the Biden Administration asking them to act quickly.

Now is the time for the Biden administration to step in. No country, ally or otherwise, should be given a pass for genocidal policies against its minorities, Ali said.

We call upon President Biden to immediately and publicly denounce the Indian governments use of bulldozers and police violence against Muslims and to recognize India as a Country of Particular Concern for its ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedoms and human rights.

IAMC Bay Area President Jaweed Khan said, The world may not know yet what is going on in India, but if we continue to put together protests like these for people to see how many are truly impacted, we will be able to make a change.
Madison police on Tuesday identified three of the four teens arrested last week in a series of Downtown Madison attacks  two of which some in the Asian community have called racially motivated.

Abdoulah C. Traore-Flores, 17; Alijah C. Johnson, 19; Cashius E. Carter, 18, and an unidentified 15-year-old have all been referred to prosecutors for potential charges of disorderly conduct and battery.

Madison police have said theres no evidence the attacks over the last two weeks were racially motivated, and the Asian victim in one of them has said his attackers didnt say anything to him before beating him June 14 in the 400 block of West Gilman Street.

A group of about 150 to 200 people, including many Asian UW-Madison students, were skeptical of that conclusion and spoke out against anti-Asian racism during a rally Friday at the state Capitol. Two of the victims, attacked June 14, were Chinese UW-Madison students, according to a statement Tuesday by the universitys interim chancellor, John Karl Scholz.

Scholz also said Madison police told the university over the weekend that another incident of battery occurred Downtown on June 12 that involved a white male with no connection to campus and a Hispanic male undergraduate student who went to the hospital for his injuries. Another person not associated with the university was also attacked, Scholz said.

Johnson is Black, according to online court records. The races of the other suspects was unknown.

UW-Madison spokesperson Kelly Tyrrell said that three of the incidents involving four victims were handled by Madison police, and one  involving one of the June 14 attacks on a Chinese student  was handled by UW-Madison Police.

The suspects that Madison Police arrested over the weekend are believed to be connected to each of these incidents, Tyrrell said.

Madison police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer on Friday released a statement saying the attacks reported to city police appeared to be random but committed by the same group of people.

The next day, police announced they had arrested four people in the cases but didnt provide their names until Tuesday. Police typically do not provide the names of people they arrest who are under 17 because they are considered juveniles under Wisconsin criminal law.

Police said that in the most recent attack, the victim reported being knocked to the ground, kicked and punched.

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A 16-year-old boy was charged Tuesday with attempted homicide for an incident in January in which a homeowner alleged the boy fired a gunshot during a struggle that started after the boy tried to grab the keys to the mans car from inside his home.

In addition to attempted first-degree intentional homicide, Quamaine Kelly, of Calumet City, Illinois, was charged with possession of a firearm by a person adjudged delinquent and armed burglary for the Jan. 15 incident in the 7500 block of Crawling Stone Road on Madisons Southwest Side.

A criminal complaint states the man told police he had been warming up a vehicle in the garage and was inside the house when he saw the side door into the garage open, and a hand reach inside the house to try to grab keys from the wall just inside the door.

The man said he opened the door, reached for the intruders throat and forced him out into the garage, pushing him backward onto the vehicle. Within three to five seconds, the man told police, he heard a gunshot, the complaint states, so he let go of the intruder, who fled from the garage.

The complaint alleges the intruder was later identified as Kelly, who was known to the neighborhood police officer from past contacts.

At a court appearance Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Lilian Nelson said Kelly had recently been adjudicated delinquent for another crime in Dane County, and his supervision was transferred to Illinois. She said Kelly wasnt even supposed to be in Dane County.

Nelson asked for $1 million bail, describing what is alleged against Kelly as dangerous conduct. Reading from a statement written by the homeowners, she said they are frightened after what happened, as are their neighbors, and have beefed up security measures at their home.

State assistant public defender Guy Cardamone, appearing for Kelly, asked instead for $10,000 to $20,000 bail, conceding that what was alleged is serious, but not to the same level as a completed homicide, which often has bail set at $1 million. He said proving the attempted homicide charge will be challenging for prosecutors based on the evidence in the complaint.

Court Commissioner Jason Hanson set bail at $300,000.

According to the complaint:

The homeowner said he hadnt noticed a gun in the intruders hand before he heard the shot, which he said was fired from within six to 12 inches of his back, and was intended to hit him.

An officer who responded to the call said he saw a bullet hole in the drywall above a closet door.

Investigators reviewed security video taken nearby and saw a black sedan pull up outside the home and a person running from it into the garage of the home. After some silence, a disturbance is heard, then a gunshot, and the same person runs back to the car, which drives off.

That person was later identified as Kelly, through a clothing comparison to a suspect in another burglary nearby, which neighborhood Officer Nick Cleary said is Kelly. Video posted on the Snapchat accounts of others also shows Kelly wearing similar clothing and handling a gun.

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Four Dane County school districts are exploring plans to launch Spanish bilingual and bicultural programs, including dual language immersion, as early as the 2023-24 school year due in part to the countys growing Hispanic population.

Dane Countys Hispanic population increased 45% between 2010 and 2020, growing from 5.9% of the total population to 7.5%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. According to state statute, school districts are required to create a plan for bilingual and bicultural programming once a school in that district has reached a threshold of enrollment for English learners who speak the same language.

The threshold varies based on age: 10 students in grades K-3; 20 students in grades 4-8; and 20 students in grades 9-12.

Several schools in Sun Prairie meet that threshold for Spanish-speaking students specifically and the district plans to determine which type of bilingual and bicultural programming will work best for their students, dual language immersion or otherwise, said Rick Mueller, director of elementary teaching, learning and equity in the Sun Prairie School District.

This is really good for students who have extension of home language learning tied to their home culture as well, dual immersion programming is one type of programming we could implement, said Sarah Chaja-Clardy, director of secondary teaching, learning and equity in Sun Prairie.

The district is planning to pull a team together over the summer that will focus on implementation of the new bilingual and bicultural program. The district plans to work with members of the Spanish-speaking community in Sun Prairie to develop culturally responsive curriculum.

We really are excited about the opportunity to develop this program to serve our community and we really think that it is an opportunity to show what we believe about equity in Sun Prairie, Mueller said.

There were more than 3,600 dual language immersion programs across the U.S. in the 2021-22 school year, according to a survey conducted by the American Councils for International Education Research Center (ARC). The most common non-English language was Spanish, which was present at 2,936 schools, and the least common were American Sign Language, Bengali, Cherokee and Yiddish, present at one school each, according to the data.

DLI uses instruction in both a native and secondary language to expand learning opportunities for inclusive student populations, according to ARC, and roughly 82 schools offer the program in Wisconsin.

The Madison School District offers a Spanish-English dual language immersion program, open to all students who are invited to enroll through a lottery process, at 20 of its schools. Madison programs are two way, which means about half of the students are native Spanish speakers and half of the students are native English speakers, according to the districts website.

At least two other school districts in Dane County currently offers a dual language immersion.

The Middleton-Cross Plains School District has offered a Spanish-English dual language program, referred to as two-way immersion, since the 2017 at Sauk Trail Elementary School. Twenty-three bilingual staff members also provide English as a Second Language and transitional bilingual services to roughly 400 students, who represent approximately 40 different languages, across the district, spokesperson Shannon Valladolid said. The district plans to expand bilingual learning opportunities in the coming school year, and to offer two-way immersion to students in grade 5 at Kromrey Middle School.

I could not be prouder of the teachers and staff who have worked diligently to make our bilingual programs what they are today. They are passionate, dedicated, student-centered educators who are always seeking ways to make our bilingual learning experiences more engaging and meaningful for students. They see the languages that our students bring to school as assets to be built upon, and they work hard to make sure our students see their home languages as assets, too, said Mandi Sersch-Morstad, director of the districts bilingual services.

The Verona Area School District has offered a Spanish-English dual language program, also referred to as two-way immersion, since the 2013-14 school year. The district has also offered a Chinese immersion charter school, Verona Area International School (VAIS), since 2010. At VAIS, 50% of the curriculum is implemented in Mandarin, district spokesperson Marcie Pfeifer-Soderbloom said.

Other Dane County school districts that are exploring Spanish-English dual language immersion programs for the 2023-24 school year include Waunakee, Oregon and Marshall.

The Belleville School District will have more than 10 English-language learners in grades K-3 in the coming school years, which will trigger the state statute that requires the district to develop a bilingual-bicultural program, Superintendent Nate Perry said.

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The Madison School District is losing a second high-ranking administrative official ahead of the 2022-23 school year.

Nelson Render, the districts chief of secondary schools, announced that he plans to leave the Madison School District to lead the Bibb County School District, in his home state of Georgia, according to a Monday statement from district spokesperson Tim LeMonds.

Working at (the Madison School District), alongside Superintendent Dr. Carlton Jenkins and serving the Madison school community has been one of the highlights of my career, making this an incredibly difficult decision, Render said in a statement. Ultimately, this was a family decision, and for family reasons, I am returning to the state of Georgia to be closer to them. I want to thank all our students, staff and district leaders who made my experience at (the Madison School District) something I will always cherish.

LeMonds said the district is very grateful for all Render has accomplished.

The past two years have been very challenging, and throughout the pandemic, his leadership was instrumental in successfully guiding (the Madison School District) high schools through unprecedented times, he said.

Render joined the district in July 2021.

His departure comes after the districts chief academic officer, Marvin Pryor, announced his plan to move back to Atlanta full time to be with his wife and children in March.

A number of school building leadership changes were also announced in April in an email from Jenkins to students, staff and families. Among the schools are East, West and Capital High, Sennett Middle School, and Gompers and Henderson elementary schools. The changes came after Pryors departure in March.

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RACINE  The Wisconsin Office of School Safety is spending $1 million to help schools better respond to crisis situations by developing and training 12 regional Critical Incident Response Teams.

However, school districts remain largely in the dark about how the teams will function. One Racine County school district said they had not even heard about the program until contacted by a reporter.

Trish Kilpin, director of the Office of School Safety, wrote in an email that the goal of this project is to collectively improve the capacity and confidence of critical incident responders, ensuring that they are utilizing evidence-informed interventions to decrease the trauma symptoms that children experience after exposure to an acute traumatic stressor.

The Office of School Safety is part of the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which is led by Attorney General Josh Kaul. The Critical Incident Response Teams, which are undergoing training this summer, will aim to minimize the psychological impact of a school-related critical incident, identify people requiring long-term mental health support and provide help to school employees, according to a DOJ statement.

Wisconsin is the first state to implement the regional teams on a statewide basis, according to the DOJ. However, the makeup of the teams still needs to be determined by the state.

Area school districts seemingly werent included in the planning. In an email, a spokeswoman for the Burlington Area School District said the new Critical Incident Response Team is news to us."

She continued: "We'll have to see how they establish the teams.

Likewise, the Racine Unified School District last week said it had not been part of planning for the new CIRT.

The 12 regional teams will cover the same areas as the 12 Cooperative Educational Service Agency regions under the state Department of Public Instruction. Racine Unified is in the CESA 1 region, which includes more than 40 districts, with schools in Milwaukee and Kenosha, among others. All other Racine County school districts are in CESA 2, which is more sprawling, including schools in Dane County and Green County.

Volunteers will staff the regional response teams, though it is unclear how many people will be on a team.

Empowering caring volunteers who live in or near the communities impacted by the crisis will provide quick access to support in the event of an emergency, Kilpin wrote.

The $1 million comes from a federal grant through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice. It will be spent on summer training sessions and implementation.

The grant expires in September 2023, and OSS hopes to be awarded stable state funding that would enable us to continue this work beyond the period of the grant, Kilpin wrote.

Team members will attend one of four weeklong training sessions this summer. One training session occurred last week, one is currently taking place and two are in August.

The program should be up and running this fall. After that, the critical incident responders will have opportunities for continued training, learning debriefing and support, Kilpin wrote. Schools that experience a critical event will contact our office and resources will be deployed.


The fight for the Sarna Adivasi religious code is quite old. On November 11, 2020, Jharkhand Assembly passed a resolution asking for a separate religion code called the Sarna code for the tribal population. It was sent to the Union government but there has been no progress since.

Sami Ahmad | TwoCircles.net

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PATNA (BIHAR)  On June 6, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren pinned a tweet raising the issue of the Sarna Adivasi Religious code. He asked, Why there is no separate religious code for Adivasis when there is one for those who are much less than us in numbers.

                         

                              ? pic.twitter.com/COdwdBgQaF  Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) June 8, 2022

One Twitter user Hansraj Meena replied that Indias 15 crore Adivasis should get their separate religious code. Now, Adivasis would become neither Hindu nor Christian or Muslim. Another handle, Tribal Army wrote, Central government should give the Adivasis their indigenous identity back.

Another user Nakul Singh Sagwan wrote, If Adivasis claimed their original religion, the Hindu population would shrink by 11 per cent. The trend to write Adivasis as Hindus must stop.

Why is this demand important?

As the preparation for the Census of India is expected to start soon, the demand for a separate Adivasi Religious Code has been reiterated in Jharkhand.

Dr Karma Oraon, the former Dean and professor of Anthropology department, Ranchi University told TwoCircles.net that there are around 86 lakhs Adivasis in Jharkhand but only 3% have their religion registered in the census of 2011 as the other 97% have to tick the Others column as Sarna is not a recognised religion.

The official website of the Jharkhand government states that the population of scheduled tribes was around 26.3% as per census figures of 2001. The total population of Jharkhand was 26,945, 829 and 7,087,068 were from 32 scheduled tribes.

The fight for the Sarna code is quite old. On November 11, 2020, Jharkhand Assembly passed a resolution asking for a separate religion code called the Sarna code for the tribal population. It was sent to the Union government but there has been no progress since. Documents suggest that prior to the census of 2011, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes also recommended adopting Sarna as a separate religious code.

Uniqueness of Sarna

Dr Oraon said that there is a sea of differences between a Hindu and an Adivasi. Adivasis dont have any concept of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Instead, they have a different name for the Almighty. It is called Dharmesh by Oraons and Singhbonga by Mundas. The congregation of Adivasi nature worship is called Sarna. The place of worship is too referred to as Sarna by Adivasis. Also, Adivasis dont have a caste hierarchy.

Prem Sahi Munda is an Adivasi rights activist. He explains Sarna as something very near to nature and independent religion. We have Pahan Purohit instead of a Brahman Purohit. We have different religious festivals like Sarhul and Karma. Our clan names are based on rivers and trees etc, he said.

Jharkhand Mukti Morchas stand

Vijay Kumar Hansda is a member of parliament from Sorens party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The party has time and again urged the President of India to submit a demand to include Sarna Adivasi Religion in the coming census. Hansda is the coordinator of the proposed delegation slated to meet the President.

Talking to TwoCircles.net, Hansda said that they are awaiting a reply from the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the meeting. He had raised this issue in Lok Sabha also but he was told that since different tribes use different deities a Sarna code was not possible. We are saying that different names of deities do not mean that they cannot be given a uniform code. But the BJP government wants to put the Adivasis in a vague domain. Our demand is genuine but the government is not listening to it.

Hansda is pressing hard as he fears that if its not completed now, they will have to wait for the next census. He said that though the Bihar government has ordered a state-level caste census, the demand for a separate Sarna code cannot be met at the state level. We are demanding this for the entire country, not for Jharkhand only, Hansda added.

Benefits of the Sarna Code

Without the Sarna code, the Adivasis dont get identified properly, claims Hansda. People get confused between Sarna and Sanatana (Hindu). Adivasis are not Hindu. We have a very simple demand that we should be given a separate code which will guarantee our identity. There should be no problem for the central government in arranging this, he said.

Professor Oraon said that the resolution was passed after much pressure from the Adivasi rights groups but due process was not followed and it became a tug of political war.

If we get a Sarna religious code we could have our own religious trust to save our religious places like the other religious groups have their own trusts, Prem Sahi Munda said.

BJPs reluctance

BJPs Rajya Sabha member Samir Oraon told TwoCircles.net that BJPs stand is still not concrete. Even JMM has no stand. It is just their political gimmick. This is just to instigate people. Even if a Sarna code is provided the facilities will remain the same that are available for tribals. This must be kept in mind as they are getting the benefits as tribals. We are pondering over that but they are playing the sentimental game, he said.

On the question of why the BJP is silent on this debate in the Assembly, Samir claimed that their party leader Babu Lal Marandi was not allowed to speak.

Sami Ahmad is a journalist based in Patna, Bihar. He tweets at @samipkb
Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson tried to hand then-Vice President Mike Pence official-looking documents falsely affirming former President Donald Trump won Wisconsin and Michigan as Pence prepared to affirm Joe Bidens electoral victory on Jan. 6, 2021, according to text messages revealed at a U.S. House hearing Tuesday.

The Wisconsin document, signed by 10 Republicans who convened in the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, was filled out on the same day the Democratic slate of Wisconsin electors met in the same building to deliver the states 10 electoral votes to Biden. The meeting of Republicans occurred after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Biden had won the election.

Johnson needs to hand something to VPOTUS please advise, Johnson aide Sean Riley texted Pence staff member Chris Hodgson at 12:37 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021.

What is it? Hodgson replied.

Alternate slate of electors for MI and WI because archivist didnt receive them, Riley wrote back.

Hodgson responded: Do not give that to him.

The text messages were produced Tuesday by the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

The senator had no involvement in the creation of an alternate slate of electors and had no foreknowledge that it was going to be delivered to our office, Johnson spokesperson Alexa Henning said in a statement after the revelation. This was a staff to staff exchange. His new Chief of Staff contacted the Vice Presidents office. The Vice Presidents office said not to give it to him and we did not. There was no further action taken.

After being asked follow-up questions about whether Johnson was informed about the fake document being provided to his office, who provided it or whether Johnson was involved in the decision to contact Pences office, as the text implies, Henning said, I sent you my statement.

Later on Tuesday, Johnson told a CNN reporter, I was aware that we got this package and that somebody wanted us to deliver it to the vice president. We reached out. They didnt want it, we didnt deliver it.

In the interview, Johnson said he didnt know who delivered the documents to his office.

In the run-up to the vote certification on Jan. 6, 2021, Johnson indicated he would object to the certification of electors in key states Biden won. But he changed course after the assault on the Capitol and voted to certify key swing states whose results Republicans were trying to discredit.

He later told a liberal activist in comments that were secretly recorded, theres nothing obviously skewed about the results of the 2020 presidential election. Even so, the senator has consistently supported former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gablemans effort to review the 2020 election.

Wisconsin, we deserve better, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin stated on Twitter.

Two days before the text exchange between Johnsons office and that of the vice president, according to another text the House committee disclosed Tuesday, Wisconsin Republican Party executive director Mark Jefferson texted an unidentified person saying, Freaking trump idiots want someone to fly original elector papers to the senate President. Theyre gonna call one of us to tell us just what the hell is going on.

Wisconsin Republican Party spokesperson Anna Kelly did not respond to a request for comment.

Fake electors

Republicans have said the meeting to sign the document was to preserve their legal options amid litigation surrounding the election. Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro sent a memo to fellow Trump attorney and former Dane County Circuit Court Judge James Troupis on Nov. 18, 2020, detailing the Republicans eventual plan to pose as electors.

One of those fake electors, former Wisconsin Republican Party chair Andrew Hitt, told the U.S. House committee in a video presented Tuesday that he was told the fake Trump electors would only count if a court ruled in the former presidents favor.

Official-looking certificates were submitted by Republicans claiming to be electors in Wisconsin and six other states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Pennsylvania.

In a Dec. 9, 2020, memo obtained by The Washington Post and revealed this week, Chesebro called the plan to sign official-looking documents in Wisconsin and Arizona unproblematic but said the plan was slightly problematic in Michigan, somewhat dicey in Georgia and Pennsylvania and extremely problematic in Nevada  all states where local laws made producing such documents difficult.

The article didnt explain why Wisconsin was unproblematic, but explained that the slight problem in Michigan was state law requiring the electors to convene at a specific time in the Senate chambers, which is where the Democratic electors were already convening. Wisconsin law specifies a time, but not a room in the state Capitol where the meeting should be held.

In court

Chesebro, Troupis and the 10 Republicans who signed the paperwork are now subject to a lawsuit in Wisconsin  the first of its kind nationwide  alleging they played a role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

The lawsuit seeks more than $2.4 million in damages, including $2,000 in fines for the Republicans and their attorneys, and up to $200,000 in punitive damages for each plaintiff. Plaintiffs in the case include lawfully elected Wisconsin electors Khary Penebaker and Mary Arnold, as well as Bonnie Joseph, who is listed in court documents as someone who objects to Defendants unlawful interference in Wisconsins participation in the Electoral College.

Law Forward also filed a complaint with the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office and another with the Office of Lawyer Regulation  the agency that handles complaints against lawyers in Wisconsin  against Hitt. The U.S. Department of Justice is also looking into the matter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday issued an executive order declaring that an abnormal economic disruption exists in Wisconsin due to a disruption of energy supplies, allowing himself to trigger a statewide ban on gasoline and diesel price gouging.

In the order, Evers said that the disruption in supply poses a serious risk to the economic well-being of Wisconsin, both at the individual consumer level and to our essential tourism industry.

By making that declaration, Evers could implement a ban on the sale of wholesale and retail diesel and gasoline at unreasonably excessive prices. The order will remain in effect until Dec. 1.

The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Wisconsin on Tuesday was about $4.83, which is below the national average of $4.97, according to AAA.

Complaints of alleged price gouging can be filed with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, one of five Republicans running for a chance to take on Evers in November, dismissed the executive order.

Tony Evers disingenuous executive order is nothing more than an election-year stunt, attempting to deflect from his own failures, which include proposing a near 40-percent increase in the gas tax, she said in a statement.

Evers, in his first state budget proposal in 2019, called for raising the gas tax by 8 cents per gallon, with future increases tied to inflation. He also called for ending the states minimum markup law on gasoline, which he argued would result in a net savings for drivers.

The Republican-controlled Legislature rejected his proposal, but Republicans and the state chamber of commerce have been using it against him this year as gas prices soar and Evers is seeking reelection.

Wisconsin law prohibits gas stations from raising prices more than once in 24 hours, but there is no limit as to how much they can raise prices when they do so. There is a minimum markup law that prevents retailers from selling gas and other goods below cost in an attempt to attract customers.

While there is no law against price gouging, there is a mechanism that Evers used that allows for a governor to declare there to be an abnormal economic disruption, which prohibits the excessive raising of gas prices.

Evers on Tuesday also renewed his call for the federal government to suspend the federal gas tax. He also sent a letter calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to waive federal reformulated gas requirements for six southeastern Wisconsin counties through the end of the year.

Evers estimated that waiving that requirement would reduce the cost of gasoline by 30 cents per gallon in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington and Waukesha counties.

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ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkeys parliament on Tuesday extended for another 18 months a mandate that allows the deployment of Turkish troops to Libya.

The mandate was renewed with the votes of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling party and its nationalist allies which hold a majority in parliament. An opposition party also voted in favor of the extension.

The mandate first came into force in January 2020 following a security and military agreement that Turkey reached with Libyas U.N.-backed administration in Tripoli, western Libya. It was then extended by 18 months in December 2020.

Erdogan requested the latest extension citing the ongoing political uncertainty in Libya and risks and threats that could threaten Turkeys interests in the Mediterranean and North Africa. The request said Turkish troops were continuing to provide military training and consultancy in the country.

Turkeys support for the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord helped turn the tide of war in Libya. Turkish military assistance  including advisors, equipment and intelligence  helped block a year-long military attempt to capture Tripoli by forces loyal to Khalifa Hifter, a Libyan commander who ruled the eastern half of the country.

Ankara has been accused of sending thousands of Syrian mercenaries to Libya.

Turkey at the time also signed a controversial maritime agreement with the Tripoli government, giving it access to a contested economic zone across the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The deal added to tensions in Turkeys dispute with Greece, Cyprus and Egypt over oil and gas drilling rights.

Libya descended into chaos following the 2011 uprising that ousted and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
As an economist and business school professor, I teach about markets, valuations and the fundamental principles of negotiations. In any negotiation, strong positioning is the most important factor.

A key concept taught in bargaining courses is BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement)  which means the most optimal option each party would have without a negotiated outcome. Success in negotiations depends on the ability to accurately assess the other partys BATNA and, crucially, on the strength of your own. The stronger your non-negotiated option, the more leverage you have in the negotiation.

Why is this relevant to thinking about the Russia-Ukraine war?

Calls have been made for a diplomatic solution to the war, and they tend to be accompanied by the suggestion that negotiating a settlement runs counter to providing weapons to Ukraine. This is erroneous. Military aid and diplomacy are not mutually exclusive because both are needed in negotiating an outcome. They are complementary.

Assistance from the United States and Ukraines other allies would strengthen Ukraines negotiating position. Far from undermining negotiations, this gives Ukraine, the victim, more bargaining power to reach an outcome that might be acceptable, instead of immediate subjugation. Those who focus on Ukraine making territorial concessions or blame the United States for expanding the war only weaken Ukraines bargaining position.

Will poor negotiation tactics lead to lasting peace? Thats extremely unlikely, for the following reasons.

Next to bargaining power, the other crucial factor to a successful negotiation is trust. Both parties need to be willing to reach and respect an agreement.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin's only current proposal is the subjugation of Ukraine. Russia has openly mocked a diplomatic proposal by Italy, confirming the absence of Russias good-faith negotiations. And nothing suggests Russia intends to respect any commitments it might make in a winning position.

Russia broke all international agreements that ensured respect for Ukraines borders. Throughout negotiation attempts during the current war, Russia never reduced the intensity of its shelling of Ukrainian territory. And potentially trust-building outcomes, such as a prisoner exchange, have yet to be achieved.

Of course, wars do end in treaties, but history has taught that not all settlement agreements end wars. Think about the Munich Agreement of 1938. Did ceding Czechoslovakian lands to Germany end the war? No, it facilitated the unfolding of the worst war in human history. Why would ceding Ukrainian lands to Russia work any better?

So the question is not whether the war will end in a negotiated outcome (it will), but rather what kind of outcome is acceptable, and how can we get there?

The answer to the first of these questions necessarily lies with Ukrainians, citizens of a sovereign nation. They are interested in a diplomatic solution, but they plead for more weapons. That's because this war is existential, and they will fight with or without the support of allies.

Months after Russia's full-scale invasion began Feb. 24, 80% of Ukrainians are still against concessions or appeasement. At this point, standing with the Ukrainian people means buttressing that nations bargaining position enough to negotiate an outcome that leaves it free and territorially undivided.

So how can we get there? The suggestion that more help from the United States and other allies is prolonging the war or causing more Ukrainian deaths is akin to saying that arming an assault victim with a knife would prolong her suffering. That would be true if the assistance is deliberately insufficient. In Ukraines case, a salient point of debate is whether limiting the kind of military assistance supplied is the right policy.

Instead of promoting nebulous concepts of diplomacy, we should turn to the principles of negotiations and focus on concrete questions. What type of weapons does Ukraine need to reverse Russian advances and actually draw Putin to the negotiating table? How can we strengthen Ukraines BATNA position sufficiently to arrive at an acceptable settlement? In the absence of trust, how do we make sure the aggression doesn't resume.

Finally, how can the international community help ensure that negotiations are structured so that the important phrase never again will hold true?

Fedyk is an assistant professor at the UC Berkeley and a co-founder of Economists for Ukraine. Yuriy Gorodnichenko, Bohdan Kukharskyy and Ilona Sologoub contributed to this column, which appeared in The Los Angeles Times.
Question: A few years ago there was a story about an 1850 grave found. What territory was it at the time?

Answer: According to the Buhl Herald on June 28, 2017, J. H. Billin was buried about 13 miles south of the Three Creek post office in Idaho, four miles south of the Nevada state line and a quarter of a mile east of the road leading to the Pole Creek ranger station and one mile south of the forest boundary fence on a north slope where lies the lonely and unknown grave. Rolland Patrick a lad of 16, was out hunting horses in this region when he came upon a large solid piece of lava rock which appeared to have some inscription upon it. However he was able to decipher but little. Later he and others returned to the spot and it was found that a shadow thrown upon the stone caused the white moss-filled crevices or scratches, to stand out more clearly and with careful study the following inscription was deciphered. This marks the grave of J. Billin, killed by Indians with the date 1850, and on a rock directly to the left of the larger rock was scratched, Born 1794.

In 1850, Idaho was part of Oregon Territory. Maybe he had come to the territory on the Oregon Trail or perhaps on the California Trail and took a side trip, said Shauna Robinson, a board member for Preservation Idaho.

A local historian Karen Quinton said, He could have been here for a variety of reasons. The Oregon Trail travel began in 1843 but most travelers didnt stay in this area due to the dry hot conditions. Gold was not discovered in Idaho until about 1862 and trapping had pretty much died out. I read in one of the histories that beaver were scarce along Salmon Falls Creek by the 1830s. The region that became Idaho, below the 42nd parallel, was quitclaimed to the United States by Spain in 1819-20. This was a stipulation when Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. He must have been there with others, or he wouldnt have had a headstone. He could have been here earlier with one of the trapping parties and returned. Several of the earlier trappers became guides to the Oregon Trail travelers. The area, including the now Idaho, Washington and Oregon, was called the Northwest Territory. It was 1863 before it was referred to as Idaho Territory, and even then it wasnt quite what it is today.

By 1850, Nevada was part of the Utah Territory, said Chimalis Kuehn, Northeast Zone Archaeologist for the Forest Service Mountain City-Ruby Mountains-Jarbidge and Santa Rosa Ranger Districts Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It was acquired from Mexico in 1848 as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War.

I do not have much light to shed here as Im not sure what mister Billins business would have been in this area. While records for very early grazing are sparse prior the 1890s, it was reportedly prevalent in areas around Jarbidge Canyon. Cattle and horses would have been the primary stock grazed in northeastern Nevada prior to 1890. Prospecting is also a good possibility, though we have no records indicating much activity prior to the 1860s1880s. Local ethnography indicates that the primary Native American population in the area during the mid-1800s were the Western Shoshone and they are known to have traded with emigrants, as well as their subsistence resources having been heavily impacted by the influx of explorers, emigrants, and their livestock. Emigration to Nevada (and beyond to California) started in earnest in the 1840s and 1850s. The closest known emigrant trail is about 50 miles east of the reported grave site. Trappers may have largely left the area after the 1830s due to having wiped out the beaver populations, said Kuehn.

Have a question? Just ask and well find an answer for you. Email your question to Kimberly Williams Brackett at timesnewscuriousmind@gmail.com with Curious Mind in the subject line.

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TWIN FALLS  A proposed parking structure planned for downtown will get a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday during the City Council meeting.

The proposed parking structure will occupy the center of the block on Second Avenue South, between Shoshone and Hansen streets. The hearing is to allow the public to comment on the Galena Groups request for a height variance to allow the structure to exceed the maximum height of 50 feet. Developers are requesting a height of 60 feet.

Two mixed-use residential/commercial buildings will occupy either end of the block and have already received approval for heights of 85 feet.

The structure had originally been designed for 300 parking spaces, with 100 of those to be for public use.

As originally planned, the structure would have met the 50-foot height requirement, but a design change resulted in increased height. Original designs called for the parking structure to adjoin the two buildings at either end of the block.

An update to the design calls for breezeways to separate the parking structure from the buildings, giving the parking structure a smaller footprint.

In order to keep the 300 parking spaces, the structure has to go taller, according to Galenas request.

The new design incorporates pedestrian breezeways between the parking structure and the buildings.

The height exemption for the parking structure was approved by the city Planning And Zoning Commission on May 24, following a public hearing which received no comments.

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VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP)  Lithuania on Monday defended its decision to bar rail transit from Russia to a Russian Baltic Sea exclave of goods hit by European Union sanctions, in a move that drew Moscow's strong anger amid high tensions in the region.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said his country was simply implementing sanctions imposed by the EU, of which it is a member. He said the measures implemented Saturday were taken after consultation with the European Commission and under its guidelines.

Sanctioned goods (will) no longer be allowed to transit Lithuanian territory, Landsbergis added.

Goods on the list include steel, but are set to be broadly expanded to cover items from coal to alcoholic drinks.

The Kaliningrad exclave, home to some 430,000 people, is surrounded by Lithuania and Poland, another EU country, to the south and isolated from the rest of Russia. Trains with goods for Kaliningrad travel via Belarus and Lithuania. There's no transit through Poland. Russia can still supply the exclave by sea, without falling foul of EU sanctions.

Russia has demanded that Lithuania immediately lifts the ban, with the Foreign Ministry in Moscow saying that if transport links are not restored in full Russia reserves the right to take action in defense of its national interests.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov strongly denounced the unlawful ban.

This decision, indeed unprecedented, is a violation of everything and then some. We understand that it is connected to the relevant decision of the European Union to extend the sanctions to transit (of goods). This we also consider unlawful, Peskov told reporters on Monday.

The foreign ministry summoned Lithuanias chief diplomatic representative in Moscow for a formal protest and alleged the Baltic nation was acting in breach of international agreements. Lithuania has not had an ambassador in Moscow since April, when it downgraded diplomatic ties in protest at the killing of civilians in Ukraine by Russian troops after the Feb. 24 invasion.

Lithuania later summoned the Russian envoy in Vilnius to tell him the ban was in line with EU sanctions, and that there was no blockade of Kaliningrad.

The EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said Lithuanias move should not be compared to the situation in Ukraine. The rest of the world will not be affected by what is happening in Kaliningrad, but the rest of the world is very much affected by what is happening in Ukraine, he said.

Borrell added that Lithuania did not take any unilateral national restrictions and denied that land transit between Kaliningrad and other parts of Russia had been stopped, or banned.

There is no blockade, Borrell said. He added that the transit of passengers and goods that are not sanctioned is continuing.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted: Russia has no right to threaten Lithuania. Moscow has only itself to blame for the consequences of its unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.

On Monday, Lithuanian customs said the sanctions, which took effect in mid-June, were part of the fourth EU sanctions package imposed on March 15.

Lina Laurinaityte Grigiene, a customs spokeswoman, said affected items include Russian steel that cannot be transported over the territory of European countries.

"The land transit between Kaliningrad and other parts of Russia is not stopped or blocked. All goods that are not under sanctions travel freely, she said.

She added that starting July 10, similar sanctions will be implemented on concrete and alcohol goods, from Aug. 10 on coal and from December no Russian oil will be allowed into EU territory.

Anton Alikhanov, the governor of the Russian exclave, has estimated that the ban would affect some 50% of all goods flowing towards Kaliningrad by rail. He also said he would call on Russian authorities to take measures against Lithuania and would seek to have more goods sent by ship.

Kaliningrad, which is home to the Russian Baltic Fleet, is Russias only ice-free Baltic port. Moscow has also deployed there nuclear-capable Iskander missiles.

As part of its economic sanctions, the EU has imposed a number of import and export restrictions on Russia. The bloc said it has been careful not to harm the Russian population with its packages of measures and therefore excluded products related to health, pharma, food and agriculture. The list of sanctioned products include up to 90% of oil imports, coal, steel, iron, wood, as well as caviar and vodka. Bans are implemented by the EUs customs authorities.

Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Samuel Petrequin in Brussels contributed to this report.

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.

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On Monday, the McDowell County Board of Commissioners adopted a $54.4 million budget for fiscal year 2022-23 that doesnt call for an increase in the county property tax rate.

As part of their action, the commissioners decided to take away the county funding for McDowell Mission Ministries and spread it to other organizations.

Under the new budget, McDowells property tax rate will stay at 57.75 cents per $100 valuation, the same as last years. Counties like McDowell operate on a fiscal year that begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. Local governments have to adopt a budget for the next fiscal year by June 30.

The adopted county budget for next fiscal year is $54,425,329, which is $4,696,593 more than the 2021-22 budget of $49,728,636 or 9.44% greater.

Before adopting the budget, the commissioners made some changes to the county funding going to several nonprofit organizations. These include the Clerk of Courts office, the volunteer fire departments, New HOPE of McDowell, the N.C. Forest Service, the Health Coalition, Vaya Health, the McDowell Chamber of Commerce, the medical examiner, Historic Carson House, McDowell Mission Ministries, the TDA, the Rescue Squad, MACA, the Watershed Commission, Freedom Life Ministries and others.

On Monday, the commissioners decided to take away county money that goes to McDowell Mission Ministries.

Last week, commissioners held a public hearing about the 2022-23 budget. After the hearing was closed, Vice Chairman David Walker said he wanted to change the amount that the county provides to McDowell Mission Ministries. The local homeless shelter is one of the many organizations and groups that receive county funding. Previously, McDowell Mission Ministries got $17,500 a year from the county.

Walker said last week he wanted to change that amount to $5,000, which would match what the city of Marion provides to the mission. The remaining $12,500 would be distributed to the Lake James Environmental Associations Mill Creek project (which would get $1,000), Freedom Life Ministries and the McDowell Pregnancy Care Center (which would get $6,500).

But on Monday, the commissioners decided to change the funding even further. They agreed to still give the LJEA $1,000 but decided to increase the countys funding to Freedom Life Ministries to $17,500 and increase the countys funding to the McDowell Pregnancy Care Center to $9,000. This eliminates the $5,000 of county that would have gone to McDowell Mission Ministries.

Before taking this action, county officials heard from Commissioner Chris Allison, who sits on the missions board. He said McDowell Mission Ministries could change its name perhaps by this week. He added the bylaws have been rewritten by people from Burke County and with no input from people from McDowell.

The new board for the local homeless shelter will have seven members from McDowell and six from Burke.

Another change proposed for the 2022-23 budget concerned the funding for the school system. County Manager Ashley Wooten said the $100,000 for the One to One program (which provides laptops for students) should be moved to the current expense part of the budget. That is because the school system can get funding for the laptops from other sources, he added.

After a discussion, the commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the budget for fiscal year 2022-23 with those changes in the amounts of county funding. As part of adopting the budget, the commissioners approved two positions for the Sheriffs Office (a major and a public information officer/evidence custodian). They also approved the tax rates for the fire districts in McDowell.

At a previous meeting, the commissioners voted to approve increases for several fire departments. On Monday, they approved lowering the rate for the Longtown District from 15 cents to 12 cents in order to be consistent with the rate the Burke County residents are changed for the benefit of that fire department.

Furthermore, Wooten told the commissioners that the UNC School of Government is notifying counties they should have a contract with any nonprofit groups and organizations that get county funding. This contract would lay out the statutory authorities and obligations that come with public money.

In other business on Monday, the McDowell County Board of Commissioners:

Heard an update about the Department of Social Services from Director Lisa Sprouse

Heard a presentation from Recreation Director Chad Marsh

Heard a report from intern Maeva Hassani, who is a Lead for North Carolina (LFNC) Fellow. She was an intern with McDowell County this past year and worked on the countys social media policy.

Approved hiring the consulting firm of WithersRavenel to perform a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) about the water line extension possibilities for the area around West Marion Elementary School. The report would be used to help seek funding for water line extensions to the area.

Approved a sewer project that will serve county-owned property on College Drive as well as the Universal Advanced Manufacturing Center building.

Approved providing a local match for a water and sewer grant to provide utilities to a building site in the Industrial Park.

Authorized the inclusion of the public shooting range property in a Duke Energy Site Readiness program to study if any part of the property can be used for development.

Voted to approve Commissioner Brenda Vaughn to serve a four-year term on the board of trustees of McDowell Technical Community College and Recreation Director Chad Marsh to serve a two-year term on the MTCC board. Vaughn abstained from voting on these items.
The Rotary Club of Marion is asking the public, churches and other organizations to help them send 1 million meals to the people in war-torn Ukraine.

Rotarians in Marion have launched what is called the Million Meal March for Ukraine. The local Rotary Club is partnering with Servants with a Heart from Charlotte, a Christian organization that has held previous meal-packing events in McDowell County, on this ambitious effort. The goal is to raise $170,000 which can pay for the 1 million meals to Ukraine.

The idea for this project began on Sunday, April 3, when longtime Rotarian and Past District Governor Frank Dean watched a program about the war in Ukraine on 60 Minutes. The program showed the devastation in Ukraine and one segment focused on a hospital.

A young couple brought in their severely wounded 18-month baby girl in a blood-soaked blanket, said Dean. She died. It filmed the mother kissing her head, then placing the blood-soaked blanket over her head. It brought me to tears, but it also made me very mad. I was determined to do something.

The very next day, fellow Rotarian Chip Cross called Dean and asked if he would support the Marion club packaging another 100,000 meals for Ukraine. Cross has organized other meal-packing events in McDowell County.

Dean said no to the 100,000 meals but he would support packing 1 million meals for Ukraine.

Earlier in the year, the Marion Rotary, along with other like-minded organizations in McDowell County, packaged 100,000 meals originally going to Nicaragua, said Dean. We asked they be rerouted to Ukraine. They were delivered in country on Good Friday. The cost of the project was $15,000.

At that time, each meal cost 15 cents. Now, the cost has gone up to 17 cents. A typical meal consists of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and vitamin powder with six meals in a package.

These meal-packing efforts are coordinated with Servants With A Heart from Charlotte. The Christian organization provides the bulk food and materials necessary for the packaging, and the transportation of containers to Ukraine.

The total cost for packing 1 million meals is $170,000. The Rotary Club of Marion is submitting for a $30,000 district matching grant.

We feel very good about the likelihood of being selected for the grant, said Dean. To raise the additional funds, we will ask clubs from across the district to get involved. Our club plan is to raise funds via fundraisers, pledges and grants.

As of Thursday, more than $15,000 has been raised by the Marion Rotary Club. Our project is hands-on Rotarians making a difference in the world, said Dean.

A video explaining this project has been produced by Rotarian Ryan Bennett, who is the pastor of Cross Memorial Baptist Church, and he tells individuals where they can send their tax-deductible contributions.

You can see the video here: https://youtu.be/ia_W6a3FPu8.

A similar video has been produced and it will be aimed at local churches.

Donations can be mailed to P.O. 1127, Marion, NC 28752. The checks should be payable to Cross Memorial Baptist Church and they should indicate that they are for the Ukraine meals. Or you can take the donations directly to the Edward D. Jones office on Main Street and tell the staff that this is for the Million Meal March for Ukraine.

For more information, you can speak with Rotarian and Pastor Ryan Bennett at 652-6315.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman arrived Monday in Egypt as part of a regional tour that will take him to Jordan and Turkey.

President Fattah al-Sisi welcomed the de facto leader of the Gulf country at the airport. The Saudi Crown, according to Arab News, is travelling under the instruction of his father King Salman.

After Egypt, the Saudi leader will travel to Jordan and Turkey to hold talks with leaders of the two countries.

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt have been strong, with special significance for the Arab world. The two nations have historically regarded one another as important allies to the region, a policy that goes back to May 7, 1936, when Egypt officially recognized the Saudi state.

Last week, al Sisi thanked the kingdom and the UAE for their conditional support to the Egyptian sluggish economy after the two countries made significant investments in the North African country.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have moved together to support Egypt without a request from Cairo, he said. This is an opportunity to thank them.

He also reportedly called on the Arab countries who made deposits in Egypts central bank to convert them into investments. We welcome our brothers to make investments in Egypt, and we are ready to provide them with all the support needed, the Egyptian leader added.
Qatar and South Sudan have signed an agreement that will allow the national carrier of the Gulf country Qatar Airway to use the airspace of the African country, reports said.

Mohamed Faleh Al Hajri, who is in charge of managing the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, and Chief Executive of the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority Captain Subek David Dada signed an agreement for the permission.

The agreement comes in the context of connecting Qatar with more air services agreements that open airspaces for the national carrier to fly to more destinations around the world, state-run Qatar News Agency reported.

Both countries established diplomatic relations in September 2020. The latest development comes as Qatar Airways announced its profits during the past fiscal year stood at $1.5 billion.

The Gulf region carrier has indicated that his years revenue reached $14.4 billion, which is up 78% in comparison to last years. During the fiscal period between 2021 to 2022, the airline carried 18.5 million passengers, an approximate 200% surge from the previous year.
A drug trafficker, who was serving a 10-year prison sentence, escaped from the Abidjan prison on Thursday 16 June. And the circumstances of this escape are not trivial.

A communique from the Ministry of Justice gives the modus operandi of this escape. It happened last Thursday. The prisoner is a 39-year-old man, Franco-Senegalese, Mohamed Tambedou. He is serving since 2019 a sentence of 10 years in prison after being convicted of international drug trafficking.

On Thursday, Mohamed Tambedou managed to convince two prison officers and an officer of the social service of the Maca, the prison in Abidjan, to let him out to withdraw money from the bank in town. The three officers let themselves be bribed. Using a false document, they extracted the prisoner from his cell. But a few hours later, the three officers return to Maca without their prisoner.

What happened on the outside? The statement does not say much more. Except that, according to the three agents, Mohamed Tambedou led them to a residence in zone 4, in the south of the city, where he managed to escape in circumstances that remain unclear. The man is still actively sought. A procedure for escape was immediately opened. As for the three officers, they are being prosecuted for complicity in the escape.
On Monday 20 June 2022, more than 61 years after his death, the remains of Patrice Lumumba, the Congolese Prime Minister, were returned to his family and his country. It is a tooth that had been kept all these years by one of the Belgian police officers who had been responsible for removing all traces of the national hero.

The ceremony took place in the presence of Patrice Lumumbas family, but also of Belgian and Congolese authorities. It was marked by the speech of the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, in front of Patrice Lumumbas family, reiterated the governments apology. Apologies already presented in 2002 by Louis Michel, at the time head of Belgian diplomacy. This time, Alexander de Croo spoke of the regrets and the moral responsibility of the Belgian leaders in this assassination.

A man was murdered for his political convictions, his words, his ideal. For the democrat that I am, this is indefensible, for the liberal that I am, this is unacceptable. And for the human being that I am, it is odious, added the head of government who repeated several times, in an anaphora, that this restitution was far too late.

Then, the Congolese Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, took the floor to salute Lumumba, our national hero, adding that the date of 20 June 2022 goes down in the annals of history. It is a whole continent, Africa, which celebrates the return of one of its worthy sons.
M23 rebels announced on Monday the reopening of a border post between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda that they had seized on 13 June, at Bunagana, while fighting continued further west, local sources said.

Today we opened the border at the Bunagana border post, M23 spokesman Willy Ngoma said in a video released to the press, standing outside the immigration building on the Congolese side of the border. As you see, the population is starting to come back They have to come back, so that the children can go to school, he added.

Yes, the M23 has just opened the border () but some of the people who are crossing come to pick up some things and then go back to Uganda, said Damien Sebusanane, a local civil society leader.

Since the end of March, when violent fighting pitted the M23 (March 23 Movement) against the Congolese army in Rutshuru territory, thousands of people had fled to Uganda. Some have returned, but further fighting has resulted in further waves of refugees.

Bunagana is an important trading and transit centre for goods, where thousands of dollars a week in taxes and duties are collected. The reopening of the border at Bunagana does not mean that vehicles can travel by road to Goma, the capital of North Kivu. The front line is indeed nearby, with the FARDC positioned at the Rwanguba bridge, about 25 km from the border.

Fighting has also been reported since Sunday evening further inland, towards Bikenke, about 15 km from the Rumangabo military camp. We were attacked by the M23. Yesterday we lost four soldiers and another was wounded, said a military source on condition of anonymity. We are on the front line here with Monusco (the UN force in the DRC), he added.
Morocco has vowed to accompany the European Union in the deployment of the innovative Global Gateway strategy, which contributes to an integrated development and a strengthened connectivity that is mutually beneficial to Europe and Africa.

The remarks were made by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch at the opening Tuesday of the European Development Days (EDD), held in Brussels.

Morocco will accompany the European Union in the deployment of this important strategy for our continent. The strongest support we can give is that of exemplary successes that we share. This is the spirit in which the Kingdom is involved, said Akannouch.

Global Gateway, which places Africa at the heart of its strategy as the main beneficiary of the project, will help to take a qualitative step towards a world of sustainable co-prosperity, he said.

Recalling that Morocco, which has intensified over the past 20 years its trade with its home continent, is now the first African investor in West Africa, and the second on the continent, the head of government said that the place occupied today by Morocco is the result of the vision of King Mohammed VI.

The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline is one of the most striking illustrations, Morocco is planning long-term infrastructure projects with our continent, he said, noting that this gas pipeline project linking Africa to Europe should be included as a flagship initiative of the Global Gateway plan as it represents a powerful vector of regional and bicontinental integration.

He added that throughout its history, Morocco has played the role of a bridge  a kind of gateway  between Africa and Europe. Building sustainable and reliable partnerships is, so to speak, in the Kingdoms DNA.

Very soon after the launch of European integration, Morocco and the EU have built, patiently and over time, a partnership of exception, which continues to develop today, thanks to a strong and constant royal will, he recalled, noting that Morocco and the EU wanted [this partnership] to be comprehensive, ambitious, equal, based on shared values and carried by common interests, which makes it today a strategic, reliable, necessary and unique partnership.

Morocco and the European Union can now invest in fields of future cooperation, Akhannouch stressed, recalling that Morocco is the first country in the world to engage in the conclusion of a Green Partnership with the EU.

This avant-garde orientation of the Morocco-EU Partnership, and its proven ability to deliver results, gives it a force of emulation, projection and success, beneficial to both the African continent and the Euro-Mediterranean region, he said.

The head of government stated further that Morocco has proved its resilience to the pandemic and has succeeded in a high-level vaccination campaign, with more than 63% of the population fully vaccinated, while having the ambition to go much further to achieve effective prevention.

It is within this framework that Morocco has proceeded to launch the construction of a vaccination plant for Morocco and the African continent, he recalled, assuring that Morocco places the protection and fulfillment of its citizens in the forefront of its priorities.

Our country is currently carrying out three large-scale reforms, namely in matters of social protection, health and education to accompany, train and release the energies of our citizens throughout their lives, he said.

Noting, on the other hand, that Morocco is working to ensure greater connectivity between our continents, he said that the Kingdom has already built first-class infrastructure.

He cited Tanger Med Port, which is now the first port of transshipment in Africa and the Mediterranean, in addition to many new projects, which, combined with existing international airports, will connect the African and European continents by air, sea, rail and road.

These exchanges cannot take place without a stable and sustainable world. However, this stability is now threatened by global warming and the problems of price and energy supply, he said, noting that Morocco has taken its responsibilities by being a pioneer in renewable energy for over 15 years, while being in the forefront of new energy technologies, such as the development of green hydrogen.

Initiated by the European Commission, this years EDD aims to highlight Global Gateway, the EUs new strategy to invest in smart, clean and secure infrastructure in the digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems around the world, tackling inequalities and putting the Sustainable Development Goals on track.

Organized in a hybrid format, EDD welcomes 2,500 face-to-face participants, in addition to 10,000 online participants. Political leaders, civil society representatives and private sector actors from all over the world participate in these European Development Days.

The opening session was marked by the participation of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, the UNs MDG champion, King Letsie III of Lesotho, African heads of state and government, and officials from European institutions.

For two days, participants can take part in more than 90 sessions, including high-level panels, around the five key themes of the Global Gateway: digital, climate and energy, transport, health, and education and research. There will be specific sessions on the geopolitical context and the need for sustainable financing flows, as well as region-specific sessions.

In addition to the debates, the Global Village will allow participants to present innovative projects related to EDD themes, and to share their experiences on their initiatives.
For hospitalized patients with COVID-19 requiring supplemental oxygen, baricitinib plus remdesivir and dexamethasone plus remdesivir result in similar mechanical ventilation-free survival by day 29, but adverse events occur more frequently with dexamethasone, according to a study published online May 23 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

Cameron R. Wolfe, M.B.B.S., from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and colleagues conducted a randomized study enrolling 1,010 hospitalized adults with COVID-19 who required supplemental oxygen by low-flow, high-flow, or noninvasive mechanical ventilation modalities. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either baricitinib plus remdesivir plus placebo (516 patients) or dexamethasone plus remdesivir plus placebo (494 patients).

The researchers found that mechanical ventilation-free survival by day 29 was similar between the groups (87.0 percent in the baricitinib group and 87.6 percent in the dexamethasone group). The odds ratio for improved status in the dexamethasone group versus baricitinib group was 1.01 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.80 to 1.27). At least one adverse event occurred in 30 and 37 percent of patients in the baricitinib and dexamethasone groups, respectively. Overall, 4 and 10 percent of patients in the baricitinib and dexamethasone groups, respectively, had at least one treatment-related adverse event.

"Dexamethasone was associated with significantly more adverse events, treatment-related adverse events, and severe or life-threatening adverse events," a coauthor said in a statement. "A more individually tailored choice of immunomodulation now appears possible, where side-effect profile, ease of administration, cost, and patient comorbidities can all be considered."

Explore further Baricitinib does not cut COVID-19 progression in hospitalized adults

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While access to food is a national concern, college students are experiencing food insecurity at a rate four times higher than the general public. A research article featured in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior discusses how students' use of a campus food pantry can positively affect their physical health, mental health and lead to improvements in sleep.

"In 2015, we found that 40% of University of California (UC) students were experiencing food insecurity, a finding consistent with other research," states corresponding author Suzanna Martinez, MS, Ph.D., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, U.S. "This prompted the State of California to allocate funding so that by 2018 all UC campuses had a food pantry. Our study was the first to look at the impact these pantries had on changes in student health."

The researchers conducted an online survey of 1,855 students at 10 University of California campuses with questions about their general health before and after visits to the food pantry. The results showed that having access to a food pantry directly improved students' perceived health, reduced the number of depressive symptoms they experienced, increased their sleep sufficiency, and boosted food security.

Co-author Michael Grandner, Ph.D., MTR, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, U.S., adds, "More than half of the students in our group reported being a first-generation student, and nearly half were Pell Grant recipients. It's possible these students were already at a disadvantage when funding their basic needs while at college."

Lead author Suzanna M. Martinez, MS, PhD, University of California, San Francisco, discusses the impact of the availability of campus food pantries on students at 10 University of California campuses. Results show how their use of a campus food pantry can positively affect their physical health, mental health and lead to improvements in sleep. Credit: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

"While UC food pantries began as an emergency response to the high prevalence of student food security, this study provides evidence that they play a critical role in helping students meet their basic needs on a regular basis," Dr. Martinez concludes. "Long-term solutions to address student food security are needed."

Consequently, these findings could be used to advocate for state or federal funding to support the work required to establish food pantries on college campuses nationwide and review college student eligibility for and access to federal assistance programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Explore further Food insecurity common across US higher education campuses

More information: Suzanna M. Martinez et al, Campus Food Pantry Use Is Linked to Better Health Among Public University Students, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (2022). Journal information: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior Suzanna M. Martinez et al, Campus Food Pantry Use Is Linked to Better Health Among Public University Students,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2022.03.001
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Using high quality COVID-19 transmission data from a northern Chinese city, two University at Albany researchers concluded that young people were most responsible for an increase in direct and secondary infections, and also determined that county-wide lockdowns proved effective in stemming the spread of the virus.

The research study, led by Professor of Sociology Zai Liang, was given rare access to patient profiles and contact tracing data from every case accompanying the outbreak of the virus in Shijiazhuang from January to February in 2021. "Because of universal testing and digital tracing, the data are of high quality," said Liang, who was assisted by Sociology Ph.D. student and lecturer Han Liu.

The two UAlbany researchers, joined by two colleagues from China, are authors of the article "Sociodemographic and Policy Factors Associated with the Transmission of COVID19: Analyzing Longitudinal Contact Tracing Data from a Northern Chinese City," published online on May 31 by the Journal of Urban Health.

Liang writes that while individual-level contact tracing studies on the virus's transmission and mitigation efforts have been growing, "because of limited testing capacities and risks of infringing on privacy, surveillance data used in individual-level research usually have limited representativeness." His Shijiazhuang study, whose analysis included 99.52 percent (1,028 of 1,033) of the transmitted cases in Shijiazhuang, is designed "to fill this gap in the literature."

The research looked at such sociodemographic factors as age, gender and socioeconomic status, postulating that "certain sociodemographic characteristics may facilitate the spread of germs by exposing the host to more social contacts." This would include children interacting in the classroom, females having more contact with their relatives than do males, and less affluent workers working or living in overcrowded settings.

Among the study's results are:

Children aged 0-17 years had fewer close contacts than adults, but these led to more secondary infections32.1 percent infected children, 67.9 percent adults

Close contacts of children were 81 percent more likely to be infected than the contacts of those 18-49

Peasant workers, compared to non-manual workers, had 40 percent more secondary cases from the same neighborhoods.

Liang writes, "While children have a low probability of having severe symptoms after being infected by COVID-19, they can seed the spread in the larger society by infecting their household members and other adults living in their neighborhoods. These adults can then transmit the disease to their own social contacts. Future studies on how to control within-school infections are therefore urgently needed."

Another major conclusion of the Shijiazhuang study is that timely non-pharmaceutical interventions, including restrictions on gatherings and school closures, effectively contained further infections via contact reduction, especially when implemented in small areas with the highest caseloads. Liang acknowledged that school closures did have negative ramifications for children's education and socialization.

Right time, right place for data collection

How did Liang and colleagues obtain comprehensive data not yet publicly available to others? "We heard of this COVID outbreak in this part of northern China early last year, when I was working on a proposal to study COVID. I asked Han Liu if we had connections in that city. It turned out that he is originally from Shijiazhuang and has connections with that city's CDC research center.

"The two researchers who collected the data agreed to join us in this effort. I am lucky to ask the right question at the right time."

More information: Han Liu et al, Sociodemographic and Policy Factors Associated with the Transmission of COVID-19: Analyzing Longitudinal Contact Tracing Data from a Northern Chinese City, Journal of Urban Health (2022). Han Liu et al, Sociodemographic and Policy Factors Associated with the Transmission of COVID-19: Analyzing Longitudinal Contact Tracing Data from a Northern Chinese City,(2022). DOI: 10.1007/s11524-022-00639-1
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Sacramento's four hospital systems teamed up with WellSpace Health to tackle a longstanding challenge for the region's homeless residents: Where can they go to get the conditions needed to recuperate after a hospital visit?

As of this year, the answer is a spacious, well-lit center at 4990 Stockton Blvd. in Sacramento. Roughly five years in the making, this new recuperative care facility cost $9 million to acquire, renovate and furnish. The funds for the project came from Dignity Health, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, UC Davis Health, government sources and loans that WellSpace took out.

"Homelessness is what they call a wicked problem, a multifaceted problem that is very difficult to solve, and I don't think there will be solutions unless we all come together with our collective resources and with the community and work together to try to solve it," said Dr. Susan Murin, the interim dean for the School of Medicine at the University of California, Davis.

The building is named for longtime homeless advocate Gregory Bunker. Bunker, who died in 2010, led St. Francis House for 21 years, ministering to homeless Sacramentans.

A large graphic image of him greeting patients upon arrival in the lobby captures snippets from his favorite phrases. A few include "believe in miracles," "form the seeds of community" and "calls us to love and action."

Speaking at last Wednesday's ribbon-cutting ceremony, Bunker's son Jesse said: "I can't think of a greater way to honor my father's memory than this place devoted to overcoming adversity and hardship and hopefully giving people the opportunity to be great."

Wellspace has already begun taking patients for its 100 or so bed at the site. WellSpace has acquired a variety of bed types to meet patient needs, and there are closets where they can lock away personal possessions.

The facility has a number of amenities for patients. They can access the internet on desktop computers in the "empowerment room." There's a snack room where patients have access to items like soup, coffee, yogurt or fruit 24 hours a day. They also can gather in one of seven day rooms to watch TV, play board games or read books.

Hospitals arrange rides to "the Bunker" for patients, or WellSpace case managers go to pick them up, said Jonathan Porteus, chief executive officer of WellSpace, which served roughly 125,000 Medi-Cal enrollees and uninsured residents in the Sacramento region last year.

Often, he said, that ride in the car is a way for the case managers to create a connection with a patient that they can't get when they're typing in information on a computer in an office.

An alternative to shelters

Until now, the hospital systems had worked with local shelters to get beds for those whose injuries could have worsened if they went immediately back to the streets, Porteus said, and WellSpace rented space from the shelters to station its staff members there to provide care.

Computer technician Joe Clymer of Sacramento said he went through a rough patch two years ago and needed shelter and health services after a hospital stay. The services they had at the shelter were very limited when compared to what unhoused residents will receive at the new Gregory Bunker Care Transitions Center for Excellence, Clymer recalled.

"I'm amazed," Clymer said after a tour of the Bunker. "There is so much more open space. There are day rooms, there was the computer lab, which is near and dear to my heart. I'm a technician. I've done volunteer work at places for people coming out of prison who need help filling out job applications. ... They did a great job where they were, but now they can improve on that."

How homelessness affects health

Under the previous arrangement, 50-60 beds were available, Porteus said, but this new facility allows room to grow that number and to expand to accommodate other types of patients. WellSpace and the hospital systems are now looking at providing recuperative care to patients who were seen in emergency rooms but were not sick enough for hospital admission.

"We're designing a 25-bed program as a pilot," he said. "Essentially, if someone shows up to the emergency department and they don't actually need to be in the hospital, but the providers and the emergency department may have concern (about releasing them to the streets), they can say, 'I'd like you to go for three to five days to this safe, clean place and start on this medication' or 'I think you're really worn out and you need three days of recuperation in a safe, clean environment. They will prescribe that, and then we will receive someone for that time."

Generally, homeless residents have higher rates of illness and, on average, they die 12 years younger than other U.S. citizens, and in many cases, the cause of homelessness is injuries and illnesses that people have sustained, according to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council.

WellSpace has a team of case managers who work closely with patients to ensure they get benefits they qualify for and to find them housing for when they leave. Patients can stay up to 90 days if medically necessary, but many simply need time to get through a course of antibiotics or let a wound heal.

Explore further How moving the homeless to hotels during the pandemic helps everyone

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The chances that police will become involved in the care of a student who seeks help for their mental health on campus at an Ontario university health clinic depends on which university they attend, according to a new CAMH-led qualitative study published today in the journal CMAJ Open. The study is believed to be the first in the world to conduct in-depth interviews with physicians to examine policies and processes for transferring students experiencing mental health emergencies from university clinics to hospital. Investigators found that some Ontario universities mandate the use of police restraints in all circumstances when students need emergency mental health hospital care, while others have policies that handcuffs only be used in rare circumstances as a last resort.

"We wanted to identify university policies that facilitated most dignified transfers to hospital from campus for students in need of emergency mental health care. We hoped such policies could serve as models for other universities," said lead author Dr. Andrea Chittle, a family physician who has worked in a university health clinic. "We learned that at some universities, handcuffs are being used every time. It is routine to convey students to hospital in handcuffs in all situations."

This work is especially timely, as mental illness among Canadian post-secondary students is increasing and mental health transferswhen a student experiencing a mental health crisis is transferred from university health clinics to hospital for emergency psychiatric assessment and/or careare becoming more common.

The authors conducted interviews with 11 physicians at nine university health clinics in Ontario between July 2018 and January 2019. The interviews were confidential and the clinics were not identified to allow physicians to speak candidly about hospital transfer policies for students with mental health emergencies. At five of those clinics, police were always called to assist when a student needed to be transferred to hospital. At two of those clinics, police policy was to routinely use handcuffs during transfers of students to hospital.

Surveyed physicians at clinics where the handcuffing of students was common expressed concerns that it was traumatizing for students in a way that could deter them from seeking mental health supports in the future.

"To be taken in handcuffs and loaded up in a police cruiser seems brutal and traumatic for the patient and sends all the wrong messages about a caring, supportive environment," said one interview participant.

This study is the third collaboration of co-authors Drs. Andrea Chittle, CAMH Emergency Department Psychiatrist Juveria Zaheer and Shane Neilson, a student health clinic physician, examining mental health transfer policies at Ontario universities. Their first paper identified the issue of police handcuffing of students in mental distress as an area of concern. The second paper reviewed policies and processes for transferring people experiencing a mental health crisis from community-based clinical settings to hospital. This latest study examined the decision to involve police and use handcuffs during mental health transfers, and alternatives to that practice.

The researchers found that the involvement of police and the use of restraints when students are in need of a transfer to hospital for psychiatric assessment is often due to non-clinical factors, such as understanding of staff roles and responsibilities, human resources constraints, and staffing implications of long emergency department wait times.

"Before I was in the system, I didn't realize how intertwined policing was with mental health," said undergraduate university student and study contributor Gina Nicoll, who has lived experience of mental illness including being transferred by police to hospital for assessment. "It just felt really disheartening and I felt defeated and powerless. It made me feel I was doing something wrong just by being unwell and I felt I was criminalized for it."

The authors conclude that routine police involvement in student mental health transfers to hospital is harmful. They suggest engaging police only in rare circumstances when the risk of a student fleeing or becoming violent during transfer to hospital is assessed to be high. They recommend that province-wide policies to minimize police use of restraints during mental health transfers from Ontario university clinics be developed in collaboration with university administrations, municipal and provincial governments, hospitals, police departments, and people with lived experience of mental illness.

"As an emergency department psychiatrist, I see people on the worst days of their lives," said senior author Dr. Juveria Zaheer. "People experiencing suicidal thoughts. People experiencing psychosis. They may be afraid. They may have trauma. They may not want to be there. Similarly, in university settings, we have people presenting in distress and crisis in a myriad of different ways, including students who are racialized and had experiences of oppression and negative interactions with police. Although we can't say that we never need to use restraints, they need to be used rarely and judiciously as a last resort. It should not be the default, because that is stigmatizing and frightening. We need to be trauma-informed and safe and to minimize restraint, just as we need to do in all healthcare settings."

Dr. Chittle added that she hopes a public discussion over the role of police on campus will persuade universities to examine their policies and processes for students in mental health crisis. She notes that following her and her co-authors' previous work examining the practice of routinely engaging police and routine use of handcuffs at the University of Guelph, a more flexible procedure for hospital transfers was developed. At the same time, changes to police policies enabled the discretionary use of restraints when police were engaged in transfers.

"I think we are seeing society move more broadly away from police involvement in mental healthcare," said Dr. Chittle. "There are some pilot projects being undertaken that are non-policing models of mental health crisis care. My hope is that this is where we are going to move towards."

Explore further How do encounters with police affect the mental health of black Americans?

More information: Andrea Chittle et al, Physicians' perspectives on processes for emergency mental health transfers from university health clinics to hospitals in Ontario, Canada: a qualitative analysis, CMAJ Open (2022). Andrea Chittle et al, Physicians' perspectives on processes for emergency mental health transfers from university health clinics to hospitals in Ontario, Canada: a qualitative analysis,(2022). DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20210135
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What might a sustainable social health care enterprise look like as a mode of public health care delivery? Research from Thailand seeks to answer that question in the International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management.

Nuttasorn Ketprapakorn of the School of Business at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Sooksan Kantabutra of Center for Research on Sustainable Leadership in the College of Management at Mahidol University, both in Bangkok, explain that while there are many concepts covered in the research literature on social enterprise and sustainable enterprise little is found by way of theoretical models in this area. Researchers and practitioners alike need a model that allows this area to be developed.

Specifically, the team points out that the United Nations reported in 2020 that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for some 41 million deaths annually, almost three-quarters of all deaths. As such, the team has focused on exploring the role of a sustainable social health care enterprise in pursuing good health and well-being for all to reduce these figures. A model of sustainable social health care should help considerably in this regard.

The team has used a sociological research approach known as grounded theory to study the issues. They took Theptarin Hospital as a useful case study through which to develop their theoretical model of a sustainable health care enterprise. Theptarin is a small hospital founded in 1985 that has 80 in-patient beds. It is well known for its research into diabetes and its training in this area of medicine. Earlier work demonstrates that it is a sustainable health care enterprise. The team also points out that it has previously been described as meeting 15 of the 19 sustainable leadership elements.

The team developed a concept through their work that suggests that a health care enterprise might be sustainable if it incorporates five key factors: inspiring a social vision, developing a widely shared organizational culture, creating relevant knowledge, generating a national momentum, and having an international impact. Their study has implications for management and the future development of research in this area beyond the developing world.

More information: Sooksan Kantabutra et al, Toward a sustainable social healthcare enterprise development model, International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management (2022). Sooksan Kantabutra et al, Toward a sustainable social healthcare enterprise development model,(2022). DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2022.10046310
Graphical abstract. Credit: Cell Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110977

Investigators from Cedars-Sinai Cancer have discovered that cancerous tumors called soft-tissue sarcomas produce a protein that switches immune cells from tumor-attacking to tumor-promoting. The study, published today in Cell Reports, could lead to improved treatments for soft-tissue sarcomas.

The researchers focused on the tumor microenvironmentan ecosystem of blood vessels and other cells recruited by tumors to supply them with nutrients and help them survive.

"Tumors also recruit immune cells," said Jlenia Guarnerio, Ph.D., a research scientist with Cedars-Sinai Cancer, assistant professor of Radiation Oncology and Biomedical Sciences and senior author of the study. "These immune cells should be able to recognize and attack the tumor cells, but we found that the tumor cells secrete a protein that changes their biology, so instead of killing tumor cells they actually do the opposite."

Soft-tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that forms in the muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons and joint lining. It most commonly occurs in the arms, legs and abdomen, and kills more than 5,000 people in the U.S. each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

In comparing samples of a variety of soft-tissue sarcomas in humans and laboratory mice, Guarnerio and her team noted that most of these tumors have an abundance of immune cells called myeloid cells in their microenvironment.

"It was striking that such a large percentage of the immune cells were myeloid cells, and we thought that since they obviously weren't killing the tumor cells, they must be doing something to promote tumor growth," said Stephen Shiao, MD, Ph.D., division director of the Division of Radiation Biology, co-leader of the Translational Oncology Program and a co-author of the study. "And indeed, our analysis of tumor samples showed that many of the myeloid cells had adopted a tumor-promoting function."

To find out what was causing this change, investigators examined the proteins secreted by the tumor cells and the receptors on the surface of the myeloid cellsthe elements cells use to communicate. "We examined the cross-talk between these two populations of cells," Guarnerio said. "We found that the tumor cells expressed high levels of a protein called macrophage migration inhibitory factor [MIF], and that the myeloid cells had receptors to sense the MIF proteins. This makes them switch their biology and promote, rather than block, tumor growth."

When the investigators generated tumors from cancer cells that didn't express MIF, myeloid cells were able to penetrate the tumors and tumor growth was reduced.

"This means the myeloid cells might have attacked the tumors directly, or might have activated other immune cells, for example T cells, to attack the tumors," Guarnerio said.

The investigators believe this information could be used to create novel therapies against soft-tissue sarcoma. A medication designed to stop cancer cells from expressing MIF could be tested in combination with existing therapies, for example, to see if it improves outcomes for patients.

"Recurrent and aggressive soft-tissue sarcoma has proved resistant to our existing therapies," said Dan Theodorescu, MD, Ph.D., director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer. "Yet interventions aimed at targeting components of the tumor microenvironment, which have shown promise against many solid tumors, have been only marginally tested in soft-tissue sarcoma. This work may pave the way for much more effective interventions."

Guarnerio plans to pursue these investigations, and to begin addressing many additional unanswered questions about soft-tissue sarcoma.

"The majority of studies in cancer biology and immunotherapy have been done on carcinoma, the most common type of cancer," Guarnerio said. "Much work has been done to describe which types of immune cells infiltrate these tumors and how carcinoma cells interact with immune cells, but there is almost no research on sarcomas. We need to continue our investigation so that we understand the roles of many other cellsT cells and B cells, for exampleand how all the players work together."

Explore further How the cells within breast tumors communicate with each other

More information: Fernando H.G. Tessaro et al, Single-cell RNA-seq of a soft-tissue sarcoma model reveals the critical role of tumor-expressed MIF in shaping macrophage heterogeneity, Cell Reports (2022). Journal information: Cell Reports Fernando H.G. Tessaro et al, Single-cell RNA-seq of a soft-tissue sarcoma model reveals the critical role of tumor-expressed MIF in shaping macrophage heterogeneity,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110977
This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak. British health officials said they cannot tell if the spread of monkeypox has peaked in the country as they announced another 45 cases Friday, June 10, 2022. That makes for a total of 366 cases in the biggest-ever outbreak of the disease beyond Africa. Credit: Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regner/CDC via AP, File

British health officials will start offering vaccines to some men who have sex with men and are at the highest risk of catching monkeypox, in an effort to curb the biggest outbreak of the disease beyond Africa.

Doctors can consider vaccination for some men at the highest risk of exposure, Britain's Health Security agency said in a statement Tuesday. The agency identified those at highest risk as men who have sex with men and who have multiple partners, participate in group sex or attend venues where sex occurs on the premises.

"By expanding the vaccine offer to those at higher risk, we hope to break chains of transmission and help contain the outbreak," said the Health Security Agency's head of immunization, Dr. Mary Ramsay.

Last month, a leading adviser to the World Health Organization said that the monkeypox outbreak beyond Africa was likely spread by sexual activity by men at raves in Spain and Belgium.

Vaccines have previously been available only for health workers taking care of monkeypox patients or for cleaners disinfecting areas contaminated by the virus. The vaccine was originally developed for smallpox, a related disease, but is thought to be about 85% effective against monkeypox.

To date, more than 99% of monkeypox cases in Britain are among men, and the majority of those are in men who are gay, bisexual or who have sex with men. Scientists warn that anyone who is in close, physical contact with someone infected with monkeypox or their clothing or bedsheets is at risk of the disease, regardless of their sexual orientation.

There are currently 793 monkeypox cases in the U.K., out of more than 2,100 cases in 42 countries globally. No deaths beyond Africa have been reported.

Until last month, monkeypox had only caused sizeable outbreaks in central and west Africa; the continent has so far reported more than 1,500 cases and 72 suspected deaths in a separate epidemic. Vaccines have never been used in Africa to control monkeypox.

Last week, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the continued spread of monkeypox in countries that haven't previously seen the disease as "unusual and concerning."

Tedros is convening an expert meeting Thursday to decide if the expanding monkeypox outbreak warrants being declared a global emergency. That would give it the same designation as the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing effort to eradicate polio.

Explore further UK: 50 new monkeypox cases in biggest epidemic beyond Africa

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
TUESDAY, June 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- As a weekend heat wave that put more than 15 million Americans in the Northern and Central Plains on alert slowly moves east, the nation's emergency doctors have advice to keep you safe.

"Overexposure to the sun or heat can turn into an emergency faster than most people expect," said Dr. Gillian Schmitz, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). By Tuesday, the heat dome is expected to shift to the Great Lakes and the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, and then into the southeast by Wednesday, The New York Times reported.

Schmitz said Americans can enjoy the summer and avoid the emergency department by taking precautions against heat-related illness and knowing the signs of an emergency.

It's important to monitor how much time you're spending in the sun, especially for older adults and children, she said, and to drink plenty of water.

Wear sunscreen to protect your skin, and sunglasses to help keep your eyes safe. Wear loose-fitting clothing.

Consider limiting exercise and strenuous physical activity to the morning or evening hours when it isn't as hot, Schmitz advised in an ACEP news release.

And, never, ever leave a child or pet unattended in a hot car, she emphasized. Temperatures inside a vehicle can soar to dangerous levels in minutes, even with a window left cracked open.

"Many heat emergencies are preventable," Schmitz said. "Drink plenty of water and take breaks from the sun when the day's plans include significant time outside. If a medical crisis occurs, emergency physicians are ready to care for you."

Knowing what to do is key, because heat waves are longer and more frequent than ever, scientists say.

In the United States, the average number of heat waves has tripled, from two per year in the 1960s to six in the 2010s, the Times reported. Compared to the 1960s, heat wave season is also 45 days longer, it added.

As such, sunburns and heat stroke are dangers to be aware of and take precautions to avoid, Schmitz said.

For sunburn, mild irritation or blisters can be treated at home or as directed by a physician. A sunburn becomes an emergency when it is accompanied by fever or chills, nausea or vomiting, or confusion, Schmitz said.

Worrisome signs of heat cramps include muscle spasms in the legs or stomach. You can treat cramps by having the person rest in a cool place and giving those who are conscious small amounts of fluid. Do not administer salt tablets, Schmitz said. Check for signs of heat-related illness.

Early signs include cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, headache, lightheadedness or weakness. People with these symptoms should immediately rest in a cool place, drink non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated fluids, and apply a cool wet cloth or water mist.

If the person has continued or worsening heat-related symptoms and illness, place cold packs on his or her wrists and ankles, the groin area, neck and armpits.

Call 911 or seek immediate medical attention when symptoms include pale skin, rapid pulse, nausea or vomiting, confusion, loss of consciousness, or high body temperature. If the person becomes unconscious, administer CPR, if trained to do so.

Be aware that humidity can add to the misery of high temperatures. The National Weather Service has a handy guide to how hot it really feels.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on staying cool in hot weather.

SOURCES: American College of Emergency Physicians, news release, June 17, 2022; The New York Times, June 19, 2022

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You've made it through many of the hard choices in your breast cancer treatment only to confront another major one: whether -- and when -- to have your breast (or breasts) reconstructed after your mastectomy. Some women want a fully reconstructed breast that looks as much as possible like the original. Others want a new breast that simply helps them look the way they like in a bathing suit. Still other women have no desire for breast reconstruction at all.

Berkeley, California, civil rights lawyer Alice Philipson was diagnosed with breast cancer in the midst of an important trial. She had a lumpectomy that removed a third of her right breast, then a complete mastectomy after the first surgery failed to remove all the cancer. She opted against reconstruction.

"I had already undergone two surgeries and found them quite arduous and wasn't looking forward to a third surgery and its recovery," said Philipson, who was 49 when she was diagnosed. "I didn't have to have (reconstruction) right then, and I wanted to see how I coped with having one breast." She coped just fine.

"Psychologically, it's not important to my body image and my self-image as a woman to have two breasts. It wasn't necessary for my partner either. And people don't see it. I wear a lot of vests and cardigan sweaters. I wear business suits and no one notices." She will occasionally wear a prosthetic breast when she's in a bathing suit, but if she's on her boogie board catching a wave, the prosthesis is an annoyance and she'll go without it. "People just see one breast," she says, "and that's the way it is."

Many choices

You may choose Philipson's approach, or you may be eager to plunge right into reconstruction. You can have the reconstruction done at the time of the mastectomy, or you can wait until any additional treatment for your breast cancer, such as chemotherapy or radiation, has been completed. One study found that women who need radiation after a mastectomy may be better off waiting for reconstructive surgery. Among those who needed radiation, complications occurred in 44 percent of those who had immediate reconstruction, but only in 7 percent of those who did not have immediate reconstruction. Chemotherapy did not appear to impact complication rates.

An immediate reconstruction means a longer initial operation, but it spares you the distress of living for a time without a breast. On the other hand, delaying the reconstruction enables you to deal with your cancer and its treatment without the added burden of having to make more decisions right away. Depending on your medical condition, you and your doctor may decide that a lengthy initial surgery would put undue stress on your body.

How is breast reconstruction done?

During your mastectomy the surgeon will probably remove all the breast tissue, the nipple, and the pigmented skin around the nipple called the areola. Some of the lymph nodes in the underarm may also be removed if necessary. The amount of breast skin remaining (called the breast pocket) will depend primarily on the location and size of your tumor. The breast pocket can be filled with your own tissue, with implants, or with a combination of both.

What's involved in reconstruction with an implant?

Surgery to create a new breast from an implant takes less time and is less complex than reconstruction using tissue from another part of your body. However, the breast won't feel like real tissue.

If enough of your breast skin was saved, you can have a full-size implant placed in your breast pocket right away. If a lot of skin was taken in order to remove the cancer, your surgeon can insert an empty silicone sack called an expander. Then he or she slowly inflates the sack by adding saline (salt water) at weekly intervals over several weeks or months. As the sack enlarges, your skin stretches to accommodate it. Sometimes the expander is left in and acts as the implant; otherwise it's exchanged for a permanent implant once the breast pocket is the right size.

If you're having an implant inserted immediately after a mastectomy, the procedure will take two to three hours, and you may stay in the hospital for as long as three days afterward. If you decide to wait and have the implant put in later, the surgery will take one to two hours and will either be done as an outpatient procedure or require a one-night hospital stay. You'll probably be able to return to a desk job in about three weeks, but healing times vary from person to person.

Aren't implants dangerous?

According to the federal Food and Drug Administration they can be. The FDA has identified an association between breast implants and the development of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Implants filled with silicone gel were restricted in 1992 after hundreds of thousands of women filed lawsuits claiming that the silicone had leaked into their bodies and brought on health problems ranging from connective-tissue diseases to breast cancer. In November 2006, the Food and Drug Administration lifted its restrictions on silicone implants, approving their widespread use for breast augmentation and reconstruction. At that time, the FDA announced that it considered silicone implants to be safe and effective but today the FDA notes there are risks such as scar tissue formation, breast pain, or ruptures.

What are the risks of using today's implants?

Both saline and silicone implants can rupture. A rupture of a saline implant will cause the breast to deflate. Your body could easily absorb the salt water, but a deflated implant would need to be removed or replaced, which would necessitate another operation. If a silicone implant ruptures there may be no symptoms. Because of this, the FDA recommends monitoring silicone breast implants with routine MRI scans every two years, starting three years after the initial implant surgery.

The scar tissue that forms around the pouch has also been known to harden and cause pain or change the appearance of your breast, which again would require more surgery to correct. And because implants aren't part of your body, they have a greater chance of causing an infection in the surrounding tissue.

How do surgeons reconstruct a breast from your own tissue?

Reconstructing a breast from your own body tissue is a much more extensive procedure called flap reconstruction. It involves taking a section of skin, fat, and muscle from your abdomen (the transverse rectus abdominus skin-muscle or TRAM), upper back, or, less commonly, from your thighs or buttocks and using that to fill your breast pocket. Unless you're very thin, there's likely to be enough extra fat and skin in your lower belly to make a nicely shaped small- to medium-sized breast.

Leaving the flap of tissue partly attached to its blood supply, the surgeon slides it up under the skin to fill the empty breast. The additional skin on the flap can be used to replace any that was lost during the mastectomy, which makes an expander unnecessary. The abdomen is closed, with the scar extending from hip to hip, much like that from a "tummy tuck," and you'll get the same result -- a flatter stomach. Sometimes the surgeon will replace the muscle with surgical mesh to prevent a hernia. There's a permanent side effect from this surgery however: you lose so much abdominal muscle that you may no longer be able to do a sit-up or move from a lying to sitting position without difficulty.

If the tissue is being taken from your back, there may not be enough to fill the breast, and the surgeon may need to use an implant as well. Using tissue from the buttocks is a highly complex procedure in which the tissue (called a free flap) is completely detached from its original blood supply and reattached to blood vessels in your underarm. This operation, done only at certain hospitals around the country, requires the skills of a plastic surgeon trained in microsurgery.

Flap reconstruction usually takes six to seven hours and requires you to stay in the hospital for two to five days. Recovery times differ depending on the procedure and the individual patient. In general, it takes longer to recover from flap surgery than from implant surgery, and several months may pass before you're back to normal.

Some women choose to stop after this operation and live with a breast mound that fills clothes and bathing suits; others opt for the additional surgery that creates a nipple and areola.

If you choose to get additional surgery, you'll return after the previous incisions have healed. Your doctor will shape the nipple from the skin of the reconstructed breast or use part of the skin from your other nipple. This reconstructed nipple will always appear to be erect. An areola may be made with a tattoo or with a skin graft of dark skin, usually taken from the crease where the inner thigh meets the groin. During this operation the surgeon may do a lift, a reduction, or an enlargement of the other breast to make it match the newly reconstructed one.

What are the risks associated with flap reconstruction?

This is a major surgical procedure and will likely involve extended recovery and healing. You may also experience changes in breast sensation, and some loss of sensation at the tissue donor site. Poor wound healing and fluid collection and infection are additional risks.

Your reconstructed breast will feel somewhat firm at first but will soften as it adjusts to the new blood supply. In a small percentage of cases, part or all of the transplanted tissue fails to get enough blood and dies. If that happens, you may need further surgery to remove the dead tissue and reshape the breast. This is more likely to be a problem after a free-flap procedure. With the TRAM flap, the muscles in your abdomen are likely to be permanently weakened.

How do I choose which is better for me?

Having your breasts reconstructed with implants requires a shorter operation, which means less time under anesthesia and usually less blood loss, plus a shorter recovery time. And you'll generally have less scarring. A flap procedure involves surgery on the donor site as well as your breasts, which results in scarring and the potential for complications in both places.

On the other hand, implants don't have the consistency or feel of normal tissue; they don't move or hang like a normal breast and will always feel firmer. Sometimes you may be able to feel the edges of the implant beneath the skin of your breast. However, even a breast reconstructed from your own flesh will not feel like a normal breast. Women should be warned that reconstructed breasts will not have normal sensation and cause chronic pain from cut nerve endings.

Numbness after reconstructive surgery may not go away, according to some breast cancer survivors. In a letter to the New York Times, one woman reported that she could no longer feel her children when they hugged her.

The decisions surrounding breast reconstruction are complicated and personal. Your surgeon and plastic surgeon should be able to help you sort through the issues and come up with the solution that will work best for you.

References

U.S. Food and Drug Administration: What to Know About Breast Implants

Johnson, Debra. Numb After Reconstruction. New York Times

Rabin, Roni Caryn. 'Going Flat' After Breast Cancer. New York Times

Rowland JH, et al. Role of breast reconstructive surgery in physical and emotional outcomes among breast cancer survivors. J Natl Cancer Inst.Sep 6;92(17):1422-9.

Pusic A, Thompson TA, Kerrigan CL, et al. Surgical options for the early-stage cancer: factors associated with patient choice and postoperative quality of life. Plast Reconstr Surg Oct;104(5)1325-33.

Desch CE, et al. A sociodemographic and economic comparison of breast reconstruction, mastectomy and conservative surgery. Surgery April;125(4):441-7.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons: Northwestern University Medical School analysis of National Cancer Data Base figures.

University of Michigan. High mastectomy rates due to breast cancer patients' choices, UMHS study finds.

Healthy Women. Breast Reconstruction..

Lipworth, L, Tarone, RE, McLaughlin, JK. Breast implants and lymphoma risk: A review of the epidemiologic evidence through 2008. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 123(3): 790-793.

Mayo Clinic. Breast implants: Saline vs. silicone.

Mayo Clinic. Breast reconstruction with flap surgery: Risks.

Walker PS, Walls B, Murphy DK. Natrelle saline-filled breast implants: a prospective 10-year study. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 29(1): 19-25.

Christante, D., Pommier, SJ, Diggs, B, et al. Using Complications Associated With Postmastectomy Radiation and Immediate Breast Reconstruction to Improve Surgical Decision Making. Arch Surg. 45(9):873-878.

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TUESDAY, June 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A decline in cases of a rare heart disease in children during the COVID pandemic may provide clues about its cause and how to prevent it, researchers say.

Kawasaki disease (KD) affects fewer than 6,000 kids in the United States each year, but is the most common acquired heart disease in children. Symptoms include fever, rash, bloodshot eyes and redness of the mouth, throat, hands and feet.

Untreated children are at increased risk for heart attack, heart failure or sudden death.

"Kawasaki disease may be caused by a virus, a pollutant, a microbial aerosol or all of the above," said study senior author Dr. Jane Burns, director of the Kawasaki Disease Research Center at University of California, San Diego. "The fact that the pandemic affected each age group differently supports the idea that there are multiple triggers of KD, and different children develop the disease after exposure to different ones."

In a new study, Burns and her colleagues found that KD cases in the United States fell by 28% in 2020 and remained low during the pandemic's peak period. The drop in KD cases corresponded with school closures, mask mandates, lower air pollution levels and reduced spread of respiratory viruses.

Cases rebounded in the spring of 2021 as mask mandates were lifted and in-person schooling resumed, according to the report published online June 17 in JAMA Network Open.

Exactly how kids get Kawasaki disease  which is not contagious  is unclear. The fact that KD cases fell when COVID-19 prevention measures were in place suggests that whatever causes KD enters the body through the upper respiratory tract, the researchers said.

If confirmed, the finding could have a significant impact on KD research and prevention, they added.

"The pandemic provided an incredible natural experiment that we were poised to take advantage of," Burns said in a university news release.

The researchers found that male and Asian children have higher rates of KD, and these two groups had especially large drops in cases when COVID-19 prevention measures were in place.

Children aged 1 to 5 had a significant decrease in KD cases, the study found. There was no change in rates among infants  probably because they were not affected by COVID-19 prevention measures such as mask wearing.

More information

There's more on Kawasaki disease at the American Academy of Pediatrics.

SOURCE: University of California, San Diego, news release, June 17, 2022

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TUESDAY, June 21, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- While chronic stress is a key risk factor for heart disease and stroke, most cat and dog owners say pets help them chill out and stay active.

A new American Heart Association (AHA) survey of 1,000 pet owners found 95% relying on their animal companions for stress relief. About 7 in 10 said they'd rather spend time with their pet than watch television, and nearly half (47%) said their pets helped them be more active.

"Many pet owners have found emotional support from their pets, and science backs up the physical and mental health benefits to pet companionship," said Dr. Glenn Levine, chief of cardiology at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston and lead author of the AHA's scientific statement on pet ownership and heart disease risk.

"Chronic or constant stress is a key risk factor of heart disease and stroke, and studies show having a pet can improve mood, reduce stress and encourage healthy lifestyle habits like physical activity," Levine said in an association news release.

Having a pet may also improve other key health markers, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, the AHA said.

In the new survey, about 69% of pet owners said they take better care of their pets than themselves. About 70% of those who are employed said they would be happier and more productive if their pet could join them on the job, either on site or while working remotely. Owners under 40 were more likely to say they'd find value in working with their pets.

Respondents said their pets help them lower stress by snuggling (68%); making their owners laugh (67%), and relieving loneliness (61%).

To celebrate the bond between pets and people, the heart association is bringing back their campaign Best Friend Fridays.

Each Friday in June, July and August, people are encouraged to share photos on social media, showing how their pets help them reduce stress and practice healthy habits. Use the hashtag #BestFriendFridays.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tips for staying healthy around pets.

SOURCE: American Heart Association, news release, June 20, 2022

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The Lolo School District has sold its 30-acre school building and property for $4.1 million.

The district broke ground this spring on a new $26 million, K-8 building, which will open on Farm Lane in 2023. Voters in the district passed a $22.1 million bond in 2020 to help pay for a much-needed new facility. The school will use the proceeds from the sale of the old building, the bond money, and some federal COVID-related funding to pay for the new school.

The sale of the old building closed on June 15, according to a press release from the district.

"The school will begin to lease the property until it moves into the new building," explained district superintendent Dale Olinger. "The new building is presently under construction with a target completion date of September 2023."

Lolo voters also approved the sale of the old property in 2020.

It's not clear what will happen to the prime property in the middle of the community.

"The buyer has not provided a firm plan for the property but will likely begin to develop one now that the sale is complete," Olinger explained. "The purchasing company, MCG Vines LLC, is a subsidiary of a larger company with lots of development experience. The school has no influence over the development plans."

According to public documents, a company called DeNova Homes in California is the larger company. The registered agent of MCG Vines is listed as Dana Tsubota, who is also the executive vice president and general counsel at DeNova Homes.

The company offers new home construction, sales and financing. Home prices in western Montana have skyrocketed in the last decade, and especially since the start of the pandemic, due to increased demand and a lack of supply to accommodate that demand.

A representative for DeNova Homes did not return a call seeking comment.

The current Lolo School, which is a K-8 school, is scattered across multiple buildings near Highway 93 in the middle of Lolo. The district has been trying to build a new campus for many years.

Olinger said the original Lolo School building burned down in the late 1800s, and at least one of the current buildings was built in 1900. The district decided that something that is more suitable for highway-fronting land should be built at the old site.

The new facility will be about 86,000 square feet, with a bigger cafeteria and an additional gymnasium.

"Our current building is about 84,000 square feet, but it has lots of unusable or impractical space," Olinger said.

The district had been planning to build a much larger school, but surging construction costs have forced them to scale back their plans since 2020.

The district has had about 550 students every year for the past few years, but the new building will give them space for about 700. Olinger said they are planning for the old site to be developed with new houses, which could mean new families with kids in the district.

"That's our prediction for what's going to happen here," he said. "There's other developments in the county and in the Lolo area that are in the hopper."

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The invasive weeds infesting the hills surrounding Missoula have had a five-year break to multiply without disruption. Last weekend, they suddenly became fair game for 805 hungry sheep looking for lunch.

This year, the City of Missoula contracted with the Helle Rambouillet ranch in Dillon to graze sheep on public lands in order to beat back non-native species like Dalmatian toadflax, leafy spurge and spotted knapweed.

The energy those sheep get from snacking on the unwanted plants will be converted into their thick, insulating Merino wool, which will then end up on storeshelves as performance apparel from the Montana-based Duckworth brand.

"The grazing program is a cost-effective, sustainable way to control noxious weeds on conservation lands and encourage the beneficial and beautiful wildflowers and native grasses we all enjoy, said the citys conservation lands manager Jeff Gicklhorn.

The herd has started munching the North Hills, and will graze other areas through late July.

Because theyre attracted to flowering plants, sheep selectively target invasive weeds while native grasses are mostly left undepleted. The native flowering plants like lupine can handle a little bit of grazing, and almost all of the native bitterroot flowers are higher than the grazing area.

Gicklhorn said the plan is to graze the weeds for a few years before using a targeted herbicide to really beat back and destroy the invasive species, thereby returning the grasslands of the hills to their more natural state. The weeds wont be completely eradicated, but careful management can keep them from creating uncontrollable infestations. The grazing also reduces wildfire risk.

Grazing areas are completely closed to dogs this year because of the size of the sheep herd and the risks to both sheep and domestic dogs.

At over 800 head, this by far the largest grazing project the City has ever undertaken, Gicklhorn noted. In the past, weve had maybe 100-200 sheep on open space lands. With a herd this large, the potential for injury to both sheep and domestic dogs increases exponentially.

Thats because the horseback-mounted Peruvian sheepherder hired by the ranch also has a specially-trained Great Pyrenees guard dog that sleeps with the herd and is trained to protect the sheep.

No matter how well a pet dog is trained, the instinct to chase could put both it and the sheep in danger.

Livestock guardian dogs are not friendly toward other dogs or humans, Gicklehorn explained. They are trained to attack predators and can severely injure or kill a domestic dog.

He said nobody wants to see a sheep or a pet killed, so people should really take the dog closures seriously.

By working together, residents, pet owners and land managers can save money, preserve the natural landscape, and reduce the need for chemical herbicides, Gicklehorn said.

John Helle, the third-generation owner of the Helle Rambouillet ranch in Dillon, is a co-founder of the Duckworth brand. He said Missoulas grasslands are good-quality range for the animals.

Weve been doing grazing programs like this for 30 years and plan to have as little impact as possible on Missoulians who recreate on these lands, Helle said. Well be bringing in a larger herd than youve likely seen in the past, which means well be able to move from one location to the next quicker and finish in less time.

Next March, the Rambouillet sheep will be shorn and their Merino wool will be sent to facilities across the United States for spinning, knitting, dying and garment manufacturing. Helle said that wool has made a resurgence in popularity in recent years after losing ground to synthetic fibers.

"Merino wool is really a magic material," he said, noting that sheep have been selectively bred to make sure the wool is less itchy on human skin.

The initial North Hills temporary dog closure includes the Froelich (Orange and I-90), Waterworks, and Mountain View trailheads from approximately June 20 to July 10. The Waterworks trailhead remains closed for construction but should re-open by mid-July. During the temporary closure, dogs are permitted at the North Hills Sunlight Lands trailheads but must be under excellent voice recall or leashed. Later in July and into August, the herd will move to the Sunlight lands and then Mount Jumbos southern face and Saddle area. Missoula Animal Control will help enforce the closures.

The project is being funded by the 2018 Conservation Lands mill levy.

Visit Missoulaparks.org for closure maps, which will also be posted at trailheads.

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Dr. Jane Goodall, a world-renowned environmentalist and activist, will speak in person at the University of Montana on Sunday evening.

Goodall's talk, "Hope Through Action," is a part of the University President's Lecture Series. It will begin at 6 p.m. at the Oval on campus, and is free and open to the public.

If you can't attend in person, the event will also be streamed virtually.

Seating will be festival-style, UM spokesperson Dave Kuntz said.

The university will provide about 500 chairs under a shaded tent area, but Kuntz encouraged people to bring their own chairs. Seating is first-come, first-served.

"There is much that all of us can learn from Jane Goodall and her tireless efforts to protect not only the wildlife that inhabits our planet, but the people, too, UM President Seth Bodnar said in the release. She has proven that the well-being of one does not have to come at the expense of the other. Were extremely excited to have her visit UM, and I encourage all of Missoula to come hear her important message.

Goodall is in town on other business and was able to fit a lecture at UM into her schedule, Kuntz said.

The talk is co-sponsored by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center and International Wildlife Film Festival.

Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 and is a U.N. Messenger of Peace. Her environment-centered activism is known for galvanizing a better understanding of the natural world.

Her trailblazing research accomplishments in primatology and anthropology are recognized globally.

Goodall's work on wild chimpanzees in the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania is also among her many accolades  its the longest-running wild chimpanzee study in the world, according to the press release.

Her revelatory observation that chimpanzees make and use tools rocked the scientific landscape and forever redefined our understanding of the relationship between humans and other animals, the release states.

Through the pandemic, Goodall has connected with global audiences through Virtual Jane.

This program includes remote lectures and recordings, as well as her podcast, the Jane Goodall Hopecast. In 2021, she published her most recent book, The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times.

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The Missoula Public Librarys innovative approach to literacy landed it on the short list for the Public Library of the Year award from the International Federation of Library Associations.

Missoulas new library is one of four libraries worldwide on the short list for this years award.

Three other libraries from Denmark, Latvia and Saudi Arabia join Missoula on the short list.

I think its an incredible honor, said library spokesperson Karl Olson.

The nomination to the Public Library of the Year short list comes roughly a year after the Missoula Public Library opened last summer. Construction on the library started in 2018.

Local firm A&E Design partnered with Minneapolis-based MSR Design on the library project.

I do consider it a point of pride for the community, Olson said. It was a community effortso many people came together in support of it.

Olson highlighted the public-private partnership that funded the librarys construction as a defining feature of the project.

He also said the IFLA appreciated the Missoula Public Librarys commitment to encouraging diverse forms of literacy.

The award goes to a newly built public library that features open and functional architecture and creative technology solutions, all within the context of its local culture, according to a press release.

Libraries historically have been key proponents of reading literacy, and we are still that, said Olson.

At the Missoula Public Library, however, literacy transcends reading to incorporate literacies in the plural.

The spectrUM Discovery Center promotes literacy in science, technology, engineering and math education.

The Families First Learning Lab provides cultural literacy and family development education, and housing MCAT resources in the library helps with digital and media literacy, Olson said.

Olson also said including these different resources under one roof is something not being done anywhere else in the region and possibly in the country.

It puts Missoula on the map, he said. Its incredibly visionary.

The winner of the Public Library of the Year award will be announced at the IFLA world conference, sponsored by Danish information technology company Systematic, in Dublin, Ireland on July 29. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize.

Olson said the library team hasnt decided yet how it might spend the award money.

A jury of library experts selects the IFLA award winner each year based on eligibility including: the building designs interaction with local culture, landscape, and community connections; architectural logistics and functionality; flexibility and synergy of programmatic spaces; energy efficiency and sustainability; approaches to learning diversity and social mobility; and building-wide digital integration and access.

The 2021 IFLA Public Library of the Year was the Deichmann Bibliotek in Oslo, Norway.

Olson said this years crop of shortlist candidates is an amazing group to be a part of.

I hope well win, he said.

Further information about IFLA and the annual award can be found at: ifla.org/g/public-libraries/ifla-systematic-public-library-of-the-year/.

For a brief overview and portfolio of Missoula Public Librarys design features, go to: https://msrdesign.com/case-study/missoula-public-library/.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  A standoff over the security of voting machines between a Republican-leaning county in New Mexico and Democratic state officials that threatened to erupt into a wider political crisis was defused Friday after local commissioners voted to certify their election results.

The move by the Otero County commission reversed an earlier decision against certifying results of the June 7 primary because of unspecified concerns with Dominion voting systems, a target of widespread conspiracy theories since the 2020 presidential election.

The two commissioners who voted in favor said they had been threatened with prosecution by the state attorney general and had no choice under the law  but criticized their position as being little more than rubber stamps.

Commissioner Couy Griffin was the lone dissenting vote, but acknowledged that he had no basis for questioning the results of the election. He dialed in to the meeting because he was in Washington, D.C., where hours before he had been sentenced for entering restricted U.S. Capitol grounds during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

My vote to remain a 'no' isnt based on any evidence. It's not based on any facts, Griffin said, nevertheless requesting a hand recount of ballots. Its only based on my gut feeling and my own intuition.

The Otero elections clerk earlier told The Associated Press that the primary had gone off without a hitch and that the results had been confirmed afterward: It was a great election," said Robyn Holmes, a Republican.

Democratic Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who had appealed to the state Supreme Court to intervene, expressed relief at the Otero County decision and called it a shame that the commission pushed our state to the brink of a crisis by their actions.

The showdown provided a stark example of the chaos that election experts across the U.S. have warned about as those who promote the lie that former President Donald Trump was cheated out of reelection seek to populate election offices across the country and the usually low-profile boards that certify the results. Conspiracy theories mixing with misinformation has produced a volatile stew that has reduced confidence in elections, led to threats against election officials and created fears of violence in future elections.

The passions were on full display Friday, the final day for New Mexico's 33 counties to certify their primary results. The last six counties to certify all voted to do so, but it was not without outbursts of fury from some of those attending the meetings.

In one politically conservative county, angry residents greeted their three commissioners with screams and vitriol as they met to consider certification. As the visibly frustrated Torrance County commissioners indicated they were going to vote to certify their election, the audience shouted Shame on you, cowards and traitors, and Who elected you?

The commissioners pleaded with the audience for patience and said concerns about alleged election vulnerabilities eventually would be addressed.

The time and place to fight this battle is not by canvassing this election, Chairman Ryan Schwebach told the crowd in Torrance County.

In another county, a commission chairman pounded a gavel frantically and ordered law enforcement to clear livid protesters from the room. The 4-1 vote to certify the election by a Republican-dominated commission in Sandoval County was nearly drowned out by jeers of opposition in a divided audience.

Commissioner Jay Block  a failed Republican primary candidate for governor in the June 7 vote  noted his opposition to hoots of approval and applause.

It is imperative that we are presented with a complete set of facts about the election, Block said.

There is no evidence of widespread fraud or manipulation of voting equipment that could have affected the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, and no such fraud has surfaced in this years midterms.

To underscore the accuracy of election results, another Sandoval County commissioner read to the audience the findings of an audit that compared the votes recorded by the countys tabulating machines in 2020 with a sampling of the actual paper ballots. The difference was just a fraction of 1% in the races for president, U.S. Senate and other offices  almost insignificant, Republican commissioner David Heil said.

Certifying elections by typically under-the-radar local commissions has been a routine ministerial task for decades that has become politicized ever since Trump sought to undermine the process following his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

Otero County thrust the issue into the spotlight this week when its commission said it would not certify the local results from the primary because of concerns over Dominion voting systems, even though there was no evidence of problems. Had they stuck to their guns, the commissioners potentially would have disenfranchised more than 7,300 voters in a county that voted heavily for Trump in 2020.

New Mexicos primary ballot included races at all levels  including Congress, governor, attorney general and a long list of local offices. Those races would not be official until all counties certified.

The developments in New Mexico can be traced to far-right conspiracy theories over voting machines that have spread across the country over the past two years. Various Trump allies have claimed that Dominion voting systems had somehow been manipulated as part of an elaborate scheme to steal the election, which Biden won.

Dominion has filed several defamation lawsuits, including against Fox News, and in a statement earlier this week said the action by the Otero County commissioners was yet another example of how lies about Dominion have damaged our company and diminished the publics faith in elections.

Election officials outside New Mexico are taking notice. The secretary of states office said Friday it has been flooded with calls from officials concerned that certification controversies will become a new front in the attacks on democratic norms and could affect future elections, especially in 2024.

Associated Press writers Christina Almeida Cassidy in Atlanta, Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, and Terry Tang in Phoenix contributed to this report.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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GARDINER  The Friday before flood waters turned the small town of Gardiner into a dead end at the end of a mountain road, the town was pulsing with visitors, adventurers, rafters and fishermen.

In essence, the town was full of its economic lifeblood and gearing up for a season of "normalcy" after years of COVID-19 effects and changes. But just one week later  as the governor last Friday flew over the damage done by a historic flood  the heart of Gardiners economy, Yellowstone National Park, had stopped altogether. The town was drained of life with uncertainty about when that heart might reopen.

Along the towns main drag, gift shops, restaurants, cafe's and so on were closed. Signs posted near Yellowstone explained it was closed due to flooding. Lights were off in windows and signs everywhere said flooding had closed Gardiner indefinitely. But a flashing neon sign declaring open lured passersby to a little fly fishing shop and outfitter on Second Street.

Inside, owner Richard Parks and his staff were frantically calling dozens of would-be anglers to cancel nearly 85% of his planned business for the summer. His year-round employee, Cody Marr, was also trying to set up an online retail store so they could sell merchandise digitally to the world.

Parks' Fly Shop has adorned downtown Gardiner since Parks dad, Merton, set up shop in 1953. Richard Parks  10 years old at the time  has been a boy, guide or owner in the shop ever since. He guided his first fishing trip in 1961 at age 18 and took over ownership in 1970 after his father died.

Well, its a wild ride, Parks said of the week following flooding, and right now, we, like just about every other business in the region, is dealing with the flood after the flood  the flood of cancellation calls.

Still, with the potential for future revenue evaporating, Parks wasnt about to hang his crew out to dry. He had hired four plus himself for the summer. He was keeping his two regular guides as long as possible. His most junior guys were helping in the meantime but lining up work elsewhere as well.

My two most junior, were going to have to get along without 'em this summer and hopefully were not too bored, Parks said. But my two, Cody and Trevor [Robbins] here, are core people and Im gonna pay 'em.

Parks added that he would stay open for 2022 and was planning to guide and outfit as soon as possible, but if the park wasnt open going into 2023, he wasnt sure he or any other business in town could weather the downswing that long.

Im less concerned about trying to survive this year, but next year is potentially a killer for just about everybody, Parks said. If we dont have general public access to the park from the north entrance during the '23 season I dont think anybodys reserve extends to trying to survive two years of being out of business.

The flood

It didnt take decades of experience to know that a lot of water was falling in the mountains around Yellowstone, Parks said, and when he fell asleep Sunday night he fully expected to see the river swollen the next day.

In the time Ive been here, Ive seen four times when the river equaled or nearly equaled the alleged record flood of 1918, which suggests that calling that a hundred-year flood was probably not quite right, he said. And I fully expected to see the river up in that territory Monday morning. I did not expect to see 51,000 cubic feet coming down the river when the previous record had been 33 [thousand cfs].

The levels were so unprecedented Parks said he searched for the rock he's used for decades to judge the water flows without having to check the gauges. He couldnt find it, and it wasnt until Tuesday that the rock started to appear.

At that point, it was certain damage was being done, Parks said. How much damage? We didnt really guess. It wasnt until the park service released aerial footage of the roads that Gardiners residents learned how dramatic the damage had been. At the same time, the park evacuated tourists within a matter of days and countless people were stranded in Gardiner with high water blocking their egress to the north via Yankee Jim Canyon and washouts cutting off the way to the south through the park.

The park was pushing people out of the northern end of the park starting Sunday, Parks recalled. We had all the people that planned to be here plus a bunch of people that hadnt planned to be here so Monday morning all those people are looking around for something to eat and a way to get out of town. So that was out of hand, but what can we do except the best we can do?

The fallout

The damage was widespread. Not only had the road to Mammoth washed out but trails, bridges and roads across the region had vanished overnight. The sewer from Mammoth to Gardiner had been severed at the rivers edge and countless properties had been threatened, washed away or inundated by water. Even park employee housing had been swept away by the Yellowstones massive flow.

As images of the washed out road to Mammoth made their way to residents, the extent of the damage was beginning to sink in, along with uncertainty.

We had no reason to believe Yankee Jim Canyon wouldnt look the same way, Parks said of learning about water covering the main highway out of Gardiner to the north. Id seen water up to the [Yankee Jim Canyon] roadway, but Id never seen a current with waves in it overtop the roadway.

But as water began to recede, the assessments of infrastructure to the north were becoming clear and by Parks understanding they were something you could deal with. By Tuesday afternoon, a way out of Gardiner had been established and those trapped inside were able to return home.

The town was emptied in a matter of hours and the once bustling tourist hub was a ghost town.

By the end of the week, the public safety concerns of Gardiner residents were behind them and those worries shifted to their economy. Reopening the park and the river were their primary needs, they told Gov. Greg Gianforte. Cutting red tape to disaster recovery was a must. And promoting Gardiner as a destination, regardless of Yellowstones status, was key to the towns future.

Yeah, it's a dead end," Gardiner business owner Jeff Gingrich told the governor Friday, "but it's a great dead end."

And Gianforte wasted no time telling the media that the state was still open for business and people should keep their reservations and planned trips to the area regardless of Yellowstone's status. But much remained in question about openings and closings.

Back on the water

The sound of phone calls being made in Parks shop Friday and the closed signs on stores and eateries painted a conflicting picture of Gardiners business status. On Monday, the city water system was still on a boil advisory. Some businesses were open and others were closed. Roads in and out were not readily usable as repairs continued. Most of the towns restaurants were still closed. Employee outlook, which had been an obstacle for many seasonal businesses leading up to the summer months, was now a complete unknown as some hourly workers sought work in other areas.

Its taken us two days to call through our reservation book and tell people they cant come, Parks said, and run their credit cards backwards.

Some of Parks prospective clients expressed interest in supporting the shop in other ways by buying merchandise or looking to reschedule later on.

Parks agreed that Gardiner has way more to offer than just access to Yellowstone National Park. Once the water recedes and the river is fishable, he plans on guiding and outfitting anglers again. That would likely come after the various boat ramps along the river were cleaned up and rebuilt. The only thing left for his guides to do after that is find the fish and discover the new features where the trout will lay in wait.

Theres no reason to believe that once the water drops, which it will do, that we wont have fishing on the Yellowstone River outside the park, Parks said. He highlighted some damage to the insect populations that may have been decimated by the flood, but he didnt think there would be much impact on the fisheries themselves in the long run. But fortunately bugs being bugs, they breed like flies so it wont take too long to refurbish that.

Asked about his plans for the long-haul, Parks replied with a chuckle, Well, you can wonder how long long-haul is when youre looking at your 79th birthday next week, but I wasnt expecting to go anywhere.

For Marr and Robbins, the future of guiding on the Yellowstone following changes made by the flood was exciting.

I cant wait to see this brand-new river, Robbins exclaimed, Itll be brand-spanking new.

Yeah, we got a brand-new river installed, added Marr. He said he told his dad on the phone, There are brand-new waves under that bridge; I dont even know what Im looking at.

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Tourists in Australia were set to depart their lodge in the Northern Territory, but there was one problem: A crocodile blocked their path.

No worries. The lodge owner grabbed a large frying pan, boldly walked down the stairs and confronted the crocodile, which immediately charged the man. It didnt end well for the crocodile.

The June 17 encounter was captured in video by guest Shane Chambers and was posted online Tuesday.

Chambers explained to Storyful that it was a tense moment between lodge owner Kai Hansen and his pet crocodile named Casey.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Leopard runs out of forest and knocks man off his bike (video)

We were leaving the island via helicopter and the croc was blocking the path, Chambers told Storyful. [The owner] was worried about our safety, so he grabbed the frypan to shoo the croc away.

A couple of hard bonks on the snout with the frying pan was enough to do the trick.
Even before the sun rose over the trees in Downtown Mooresville, a crowd was gathering. First responders of all kinds lined the street as a pair of fire trucks suspended a large American flag as members of the Carolina Brotherhood prepared themselves for a six-day bike trek through the Carolinas.

We can never forget those that served honorably and made the ultimate sacrifice, Frank Falzone, assistant chief of the Mooresville Police Department, said. We just want to be able to memorialize them.

The annual Carolina Brotherhood Memorial Ride began its 600-mile journey through North and South Carolina on Monday morning. Thirty members of the organization took off from the Charles Mack Center, led by a procession of first responder vehicles, bound for Spring Lake.

This years ride will honor the 50 public safety officers (16 firefighters, 29 police officers and five K-9s) lost in 2019 and 2020. Among those is Mooresvilles own Jordan Shelton, who was killed in the line of duty in May 2019. Before the beginning of the ride, his mother, Susan Ledford, spoke to the participants and the crowd that had gathered.

Jordans greatest desire in all this was to help other people, she said. That is how I see all first responders. When people like you honor those that are killed in the line of duty, it warms the heart that have lost a loved one.

To know that someone remembers and cares is priceless to the families of those who have died.

The crowd that gathered bright and early to see the riders off put a smile on Falzones face.

It doesnt surprise me with the support this community gives us, he said. We very thankful here in Mooresville to have the great relationship we do with our community.

The ride will conclude on Saturday, June 25, in Hendersonville.

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A wanted parolee convicted of a 1975 Georgia murder was caught Sunday dumpster diving in Morganton.

Charles Thomas Corn, 68, of Zion Road in Morganton, was wanted on a felony fugitive from justice warrant out of the state of Georgia when an officer made contact with him Sunday night, according to information from the Morganton Department of Public Safety.

It was a little after 10 p.m. that an officer patrolling East Fleming Drive noticed a vehicle parked behind OReillys Auto Parts in the Morganton Plaza shopping center, said MDPS Lt. Josiah Brown. She got out to investigate and found Corn dumpster diving.

When the officer asked for a warrant check, dispatchers told her Corn had an outstanding felony fugitive from justice warrant for a homicide parole violation, Brown said. Corn was placed under arrest and taken to the Burke County Jail where hes being held under no bond.

Corn was first convicted in 1976 of the murder of a store attendant at a convenience store in Clayton County, Georgia, in 1975, according to records publicly available on Justia, a website that provides case law documents.

According to those documents, Corn stole $47 from the cash register in the store and dragged the attendant, Mary Long, into a storage area where he stabbed her to death with a steak knife. The documents said Corn, covered in her blood, waited on customers in the store, telling them he had been the victim of an attempted robbery.

When he was arrested a few days later for the murder, Corns wife came to the police station and asked him if he committed the crime, the documents said. They said he told her, Yes, I killed the girl, but I didnt mean to.

Corn originally was sentenced to death for Longs murder, but an appeals process that climbed its way to federal courts saw his death sentence overturned. He was released on parole in 2000 after about 25 years in prison, an official with the Georgia State Board of Parole told The News Herald on Tuesday.

Judicial sources with knowledge of the situation told The News Herald he first got a drivers license in North Carolina the same year he was released on parole. The Georgia State Board of Parole told the newspaper the warrant for his arrest for absconding parole was issued in April of this year.

Corn is due in court Monday, according to the North Carolina Judicial Branch website. Hes being held under no bond while the extradition process gets underway.
VALDESE  The Old Rock School is essentially the heart of Valdese. Its one of the oldest buildings in town still being used on a daily basis.

Its time it gets some loving care, say town officials.

And the town is getting some help to do it.

The town of Valdese has been awarded an $850,000 Rural Transformation Grant from the NC Department of Commerce to renovate the Old Rock School. The grant does not require a local match, officials say.

In addition to receiving the $850,000 grant, the town also has applied for a $500,000 grant for the rehab work, said Seth Eckard, Valdese town manager.

The Old Rock School is home to a 500-seat auditorium, four classrooms, four private businesses, three nonprofit organizations, an art studio, the town of Valdese Community Affairs & Tourism Department, and a large event space that is rented by the public year-round, according to information from the town.

Morrissa Angi, community affairs and tourism director for the town, summarized the Old Rock School renovations for Eckard, saying the project addresses accessibility and Americans with Disabilities Act needs for the building, develops underutilized spaces, and will restore the original design with expanded vehicle and pedestrian entrances while creating a large front lawn and sidewalk improvements to the east side of the building.

On the outside, plans call for the front parking lot to be replaced with a grassy area but the circular drive in front of the building would remain.

But a new parking lot would be built on the west side of the building, according to plans.

The proposed project would widen the entrance and connect the sidewalk from Main Street to the walking track. This would increase both pedestrian and vehicle safety. A two-lane entrance/exit would be created with an adjoining sidewalk, the grant application from the town says.

The proposed project also would expand the front lobby restrooms, resulting in additional facilities and improving ADA access. An additional 300 square feet would be gained, allowing for the addition of three stalls for both mens and womens facilities, the application says.

As for developing underutilized spaces, the project calls for the third floor to be renovated, which would add more than 2,400 square feet that can be leased to a business. The third floor is currently used for storage and has original hardwood floors and tin ceiling tiles, the application says.

In addition, the plan calls for Room No. 7, which connects to three adjoining offices, to be renovated for an offices/business incubation space, the application says.

It says the spaces could be combined to create either a larger community workspace or a business incubator.

The third floor and Room No. 7 renovations could generate an estimated $15,000 in additional yearly revenue for the building, according to the application.
The news last week was dominated by the historic flooding in south-central Montana and all the damage left in the wake of receding flood waters. As the flooding started to happen early last week, the state was putting out press releases with quotes from Gov. Greg Gianforte about the response from his administration about the flooding, and by Tuesday had issued a disaster declaration.

But there was something less than standard about that executive order, because it was signed by Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras acting at governor.

On this week's episode, Holly Michels of the Montana State News Bureau, talks about the governor's whereabouts last week and what's being done in response to the historic flooding.

This podcast from the Montana State News Bureau is created in partnership across five newsrooms  the Billings Gazette, the Helena Independent Record, the Missoulian, the Montana Standard and the Ravalli-Republic. You can support this podcast and our efforts by subscribing. Visit any of these newspapers websites, and click on the Become a Member button at the top of the home page. We appreciate your support of local journalism.

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Sixteen-year-old Gabriel Myo-Grant, who had been missing for more than two weeks, has been found, according to his family.

Myo-Grant, who is Blackfeet, walked away from his group home in Billings on June 5 and was among several Native Americans reported missing in southeast Montana in recent weeks.

His aunt, Rhonda Grant-Connelly of Browning, said Myo-Grant wasnt happy at his group home. She said he sought shelter under a pine tree outside a Walmart in Billings, where another homeless person had been sleeping.

According to Grant-Connelly, a formerly homeless man saw Myo-Grant dumpster diving in the parking lot for food and asked him if he was OK. The man later told his friend that he'd seen a young boy living unsheltered.

The friend showed him Myo-Grant's missing person poster. When the man confirmed that it was Myo-Grant hed seen, his friend called Grant-Connelly, whose number was listed on the poster. The man then asked Myo-Grant to meet him at McDonald's.

When Myo-Grant showed up, his sister and aunt greeted him.

I think we all cried, Grant-Connelly said. And then I told him, you never do that again!

Grant-Connelly said finding her nephew was a "big relief."

Now, I can finally sleep, she said. I thought for sure something bad had happened to him.

Though Native Americans comprise about 6.7% of Montanas population, they account for about 26% of the states active missing persons cases.

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A 5-year-old boy died after his mother left him inside a car outside the family's home in Houston while she prepared for her daughter's birthday party on Monday, a law enforcement official told CNN affiliate KTRK.

The mother was in a rush when she got home with her son and 8-year-old daughter, and the young boy was left in the car when she and her daughter went inside the house, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told KTRK.

It wasn't until two or three hours later that the mother realized her son was still buckled into his car seat, Gonzalez said.

"This time the child didn't make it out and again with the business of the activities that they were preparing for, it took a while for them to notice that the child wasn't in the house," Gonzalez told KTRK.

First responders pronounced the child dead at the scene, the sheriff said. It is unclear if the mother will face charges, KTRK reported.

Temperatures in Houston reached a record high on Monday, as the Houston Hobby Airport reported a high of 101 degrees, according to CNN Weather.

While the boy knew how to unbuckle himself, investigators believe he was not familiar with the vehicle because it was a rental car.

"The door did not have any kind of child safety lock enacted or anything like that," Gonzales said.

On average, 38 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a car, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Children's body temperatures rise much more quickly than adults, and they can begin to suffer heatstroke when their temperature reaches 104 degrees. A body temperature of 107 degrees can be fatal, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The majority of pediatric hot car deaths occur because the child is forgotten by a caregiver, according to data compiled by Jan Null, a lecturer at San Jose State University's Department of Meteorology and Climate Science.

While the hottest months see the most deaths, hot car deaths in children are a persistent problem across all months, and almost every state has reported an incident since 1998, according to the data.

The NHTSA recommends that caregivers never leave children unattended in a car, even if the car is running with the air conditioning is on or the windows are cracked. The agency also advises that people make a habit of checking the front and back seats of a car before leaving it and placing a personal item like a purse or briefcase in the back seat to ensure someone checks it before walking away.

CNN's Elizabeth Wolfe contributed to this report. The-CNN-Wire  &  2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

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News  Vietnam

Hanoi Metro incurred loss of $2.75m last year after opening Cat Linh-Ha ong railway
I get a little thrill every time I see folks lining up outside the Cameo Cinema for the next showing of "Top Gun: Maverick," which seems to be the sort of crowd-pleasing, big-screen-only, superhero-free blockbuster that's all too rare these days. I'm told of fans going back to see it two, three and even four times. What a boon for our mighty little Cameo  long may it thrive.

***

Never afraid of variety, Cameo proprietor Cathy Buck threw in a Science on Screen showing Sunday of "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind," a film about a 14-year-old Malawian who uses his knowledge of physics to build a windmill and save his village from famine. After the movie, about 40 viewers stayed for a Q&A on "Clean Energy: We Can Do It Here" featuring Anna Brittain, executive director of Napa Green, and Beth Novak Milliken, president and CEO of Spottswoode winery.

***

You probably noticed the news last week that a suspect was arrested on arson charges in connection with the June 8 fire at Angwin Valley View Auto. Friends of the family-owned business have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the husband-and-wife proprietors (Victor Ramirez and Natasia Bellah-Ramirez) and their six children. According to the campaign's organizers, the business was insured but the family could use help with short-term living expenses pending the usual investigations. Go to gofundme.com/f/fire-destroys-familys-auto-repair-shop.

***

Huzzahs to this week's academic star, Elizabeth Dunnington of St. Helena, who was named to the University of Alabama's Dean's List for the spring semester. Very nicely done!

***

The St. Helena Public Library will host a mindfulness workshop at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 30. Learn about the benefits of mindfulness in everyday life and a few basic approaches to meditation. Register at SHPL.org.
St. Helena is launching a robust and multifaceted reaction to wildfire season, fueled by grants and widespread awareness that the Glass Fire of 2020 could be a harbinger of even worse things to come.

We all have PTSD from that fire, said Christopher Warner, co-lead at the St. Helena Fire Safe Council. But that means people in St. Helena are very interested in figuring out what we can do together  to slow the spread of wildfires and protect ourselves.

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The city recently received Phase I of a $2.5 million Hazard Mitigation Grant from the state Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Once the city has completed assessments and awarded a contract, the bulk of the money will be available for vegetation removal and defensible space work beginning next March.

Work is tentatively set to take place at six sites encompassing about 150 acres. The project will create defensible space around 302 structures, according to the city.

This grant will give a tremendous boost to our critical ongoing fire preparedness efforts and City staff have done remarkable work bringing this together, Mayor Geoff Ellsworth said in a statement. While this grant will be addressing issues in 2023, the City, Council, and local Fire Safe Councils/Firewise Foundation are proactively working this year as we move deeper into the dry season to address defensible space and fuel load concerns.

Defensible space

As part of a different program, residents in the 94574 (St. Helena) and 94515 (Calistoga) zip codes can be reimbursed for 50% of the cost of creating defensible space around their properties, for a maximum of $2,000 per property.

That program is available through the Napa Communities Firewise Foundation thanks to a grant from Cal Fire. Apply at napafirewise.org/dspace.

Funds are limited to about 315 projects, but organizers hope this pilot program will lead to bigger grants in the future.

Two thousand doesnt go very far for a lot of these properties, but theres been a lot of interest so far, Warner said. What I love about it is that its local self-help, done at the grassroots level.

In conjunction with the St. Helena Fire Department, the St. Helena FSC will be arranging free inspections to advise homeowners on how to protect their properties: clean gutters, limb flammable trees, etc.

St. Helena residents were required to cut dead, decayed or uncultivated vegetation to no more than 4 inches high by June 1. Fire Chief John Sorensen told the City Council last week that his team has covered the entire city and left signs or door hangers for residents who still have work to do.

Sorensen said he also planned to tour the citys critical infrastructure  including the water treatment plant, which was threatened by the Glass Fire  and check for defensible space.

Spring Street clearing

Another short-term effort that got underway Monday is reducing wildfire fuels and managing roadside vegetation on Spring Street from Sylvaner Avenue west to the city limits. The work is resulting in a one-lane closure on Spring Street from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Friday.

That area is near the historic old White Sulphur Springs resort, which was mostly wiped out by the Glass Fire. Managing vegetation and reducing fuels will protect the Sylvaner subdivision in case another fire approaches from the west.

The NCFF is funding the project using money raised by state Sen. Bill Dodds December 2021 holiday party, which raised $1.4 million for similar projects around the county.

Evacuation preparedness

The St. Helena FSC is also reaching out to complexes like the Stonebridge Apartments, Hunts Grove Apartments and Woodbridge Village to prepare residents for possible evacuation.

Vineyard Valley Mobile Home Park got a head start by conducting a major evacuation drill last August. The St. Helena FSC wants residents of other complexes to be just as aware of how to evacuate quickly and safely, what to pack in their go-bags, and how to help vulnerable neighbors.

Jeff Farmer is a co-lead at the St. Helena FSC who recently attended an emergency preparedness orientation at Woodbridge Village along with Lt. Justin Tharp of the St. Helena Police Department and Celeste Giunta of Napa Valley Community Organizations Active in Disaster, known as COAD.

Farmer agreed with Tharps message that residents shouldnt wait to be told to evacuate.

If you dont feel safe, dont wait for the evacuations. Just go, Farmer said.

He noted that Hunts Grove residents left on their own as they saw the hills burning east of Silverado Trail.

They left in phases, so there wasnt a big jam-up, Farmer said.

A shifting paradigm

Wildfires were barely on the Napa Valleys radar 10 years ago, but a string of horrific fires and a prolonged drought have spurred local leaders and the community toward action. Instead of leaving everything to Cal Fire, locals are starting to take personal responsibility for their own protection.

The paradigm had always been a very robust emergency response to suppress wildfires, Warner said. But about 10 years ago California and some other western states started to adopt this model of local volunteer groups that band together to share information about wildfire preparation and also defense. These groups operate on a neighbor-to-neighbor level.

Seventeen Fire Safe Councils have formed in Napa County under the umbrella of the NCFF. Separate councils serve St. Helena, which was mostly spared during the Glass Fire, and Spring Mountain, which was hit hard.

The Spring Mountain FSC is finishing a community risk assessment and a community-wide wildfire protection plan. Based on those documents, the organization will prioritize specific projects and raise money to perform them.

In the meantime, the Spring Mountain FSC is participating in some work near the Bale Grist Mill and collaborating with the City of St. Helena, the St. Helena FSC and the NCFF on the Spring Street clearing.

The Spring Mountain FSC is also looking for private roads that could accommodate evacuees or firefighters in an emergency, as well as encouraging property owners to install reflective address signs to help first responders navigate the area at night or in heavy smoke.

At this point were mostly building awareness at the community level, said Shari Gardner, co-lead at the Spring Mountain FSC.

The St. Helena FSC is spreading the message that, during high winds, even fires that seem distant can spread through ember cast. Thats why its crucial for St. Helenans to reduce flammable vegetation and maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures.

There are already reports of insurance companies dropping coverage for local homeowners, even in the middle of town. Farmer said Measure L, the half-cent sales tax that was rejected by voters this month, would have demonstrated to insurance companies that Napa Valley communities have a reliable income stream to manage vegetation and thus reduce the risk of property damage during fires.

The failure of Measure L puts more pressure on local communities  and their Fire Safe Councils  to generate the will and funding necessary to reduce fuels and be more fire-smart.

People are paying attention, Warner said. You can palpably feel the anxiety rising in May or June. Again, part of its that PTSD from the last fire.

(This article has been amended. The original version incorrectly identified Christopher Warner, co-lead of the St. Helena FSC.)

You can reach Jesse Duarte at (707) 967-6803 or jduarte@sthelenastar.com.

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The man who was arrested earlier this month after a fire damaged a service station in upper Napa County has pleaded not guilty to a felony count of arson.

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.

At a June 14 hearing in Napa County Superior Court, 22-year-old Darian Preciado entered a not-guilty plea to arson, as well as to allegations of setting fire to an occupied structure and using an accelerant to do so. Preciado, who was released from the Napa County jail on $150,000 bail, is scheduled to reappear in court July 12.

A Cal Fire law enforcement officer arrested Preciado at his Santa Rosa home, two days after flames broke out inside the Chevron station in Angwin in the late afternoon of June 8. Napa County authorities briefly alerted passersby to avoid the area during the blaze, although no other structures were damaged.

In a complaint form filed after Preciados arrest, Kelsie Scott, an officer in Cal Fires Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit, described the suspect as an apprentice at the station at Howell Mountain Road and College Avenue, and said the station owner shared security video footage showing a man holding a torch-style lighter inside the garage bay.

According to Scott, video taken by three cameras showed the man test-firing the lighter before walking under a car that was hoisted in the air for a fuel filter replacement. The man then placed the lighter to a container surrounded by rags, and the first flames emerged about 10 seconds later, Scott wrote.

You can reach Howard Yune at 530-763-2266 or hyune@napanews.com

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The Napa City Council on Tuesday is set to pass the citys fiscal year 2022-23 budget, which aims to use rising tax revenues to build back city staffing levels, among other goals.

The city has been short-staffed through nearly all of the two-plus years of the coronavirus pandemic. In an attempt to prepare for an expected financial downturn in 2020-21, the city froze 32 positions and held many other positions vacant through the year. Economic outcomes didnt turn out as dire as predicted, and so the city, bolstered by federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, aimed to staff back up in the current 2021-22 budget.

But progress on staffing up has been slow this year, even as Napas local economy has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. So, with the extra funding gained from increasing tax revenues, the city plans to unfreeze all the frozen positions and hire for a few new ones.

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.

At the Tuesday meeting, the council is also set to discuss how to spend $1.15 million in ARPA funds allocated to a community recovery bank. Councilmembers will consider the results of an April community survey that received 358 responses about how best to use the funds.

About a third of respondents answered that housing assistance was the most important of five categories to fund, with slightly less than a third responding that addressing homelessness was the most important category. The other three categories, accounting for about 37% of the vote, included support for local businesses at roughly 17%, work force development at about 10%, and child care, also at about 10%.

The survey contains several more questions about how best to use the funds with more specificity. For instance, about 40% of respondents said they thought rental assistance would best address homelessness or support those in need of housing assistance. That compares to about 20% who said providing for food needs would be the best support, 15.6% who said supporting accessory dwelling unit development at existing homes would be the best option, 15% who supported housing location and barrier removal services, and about 9.5% who supported eviction prevention services.

In addition, the council will also hear an update on homelessness during the evening session of the meeting. That will include information on the one-day 2022 Point In Time Count, which tallied a slight increase in people experiencing homelessness compared to the 2020 count. The report will also update on the continuing transition to a new state homeless services system and a presentation of the Napa City-County Continuum of Care 2022 Plan to Address Homelessness.

The 68-page plan is a broad overview of homelessness in Napa. It includes an explanation of Napas current homeless system of care, a demographic breakdown of whos experiencing homelessness, and information on where current system gaps exist, and it includes five goals for moving forward.

Those goals include: expanding access to permanent housing; preventing people from becoming homeless for the first time; improving access to, and the quality of, homeless services; building on existing partnerships; and ensuring that diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are a central part of homelessness program development.

You can reach Edward Booth at 707-256-2213.

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Nashvilles culinary scene is constantly growing. Its on par with what youd expect from a big city. Youll find restaurants in Nashville serving up everything from traditional Southern cuisine to upscale, fine international dining.

However, the hardest part of dining in Nashville is deciding which restaurant to try next. Heres a guide you to the best restaurants in Nashville curated by experts from https://www.casinoclic.com/fr.

Rosie Food & Wine

Just 25 or so minutes northeast of Nashville in Hendersonville, Andy and Beth Hayes charming strip mall restaurant doles out stunningly plated Spanish-inspired feasts. The menu here changes  but look for tapas-style standouts like meatballs with garlic bread, Iberico ham, octopus, and patatasbravas (called Rosie potatoes here) to start, followed by house-made pasta, quail fideo, and striped bass as heartier portioned plates. Be sure to save room for dessert.

Lou Nashville

Open since late 2019, MaileaWegers cozy, Parisian-inspired Riverside Village cafe offers one of the most unique menus in the city (alongside one of Nashvilles best wine lists). Weger and the Lou team constantly adapted throughout the pandemic, adding curated picnic and wine sacs for home consumption, plus expanding outdoor dining options and hosting several first-class bake sale fundraisers for causes like Planned Parenthood and helping fight anti-trans legislation.

400 Degrees

Native Nashvillian and lifelong hot chicken fan Aqui Hines first started 400 Degrees  named for her hottest spice level offered  more than 15 years ago, gaining loyal fans via food truck and her Clarksville Pike restaurant. Hiness hot chicken recipe calls for deep-fried rather than skillet-fried chicken, a chief distinction between 400 degrees and most other restaurants. Hers is considered among the best in Nashville.



4. Pelican & Pig

Nick and Audra Guidry had their hands in every detail of their first full-service restaurant  a cozy spot carved into a former auto upholstery shop. Flavor-packed wood-fired dishes are equally enjoyable at the bar or in the socially distanced dining room (or most recently  at home for takeout). Standout dishes include fried provolone with chili crisp, local sweet corn ribs, and a frenched pork chop with gooseberry relish.



5. East Side Banh Mi

Industry vets Gracie Nguyen and Chad Newton opened their fast-casual banh mi shop early on in the pandemic, and its been a favorite ever since. Locals swarm for the concise sandwich menu  ranging from one with smoked Giffords bologna, ham hock terrine, and pate to a vegetarian-friendly option with chili crisp tofu and roasted eggplant. Salads, rice and noodle bowls, and specials are also on offer, all sourced locally: including Bear Creek Farm beef and pork, Bloomsbury Farm vegetables, and Nguyen Coffee Supply. The half and half, a caffeinated delight featuring toasted peanut rice milk and Vietnamese iced coffee, is not to be missed. You can enjoy games at real money online pokies from the restaurant while enjoying their meals.

Big Als Deli

Big Als homestyle hospitality and reliably pleasing homestyle cooking merge seamlessly, making the Salemtown spot a top pick among locals for breakfast and lunch. It opens at 7 a.m. during the week, serving classic breakfast items and Southern staple lunch features from fried catfish to spicy South Carolinian shrimp and grits in an atmosphere that actually feels like dining in a family members home.
The Canadian government is banning companies from importing or manufacturing plastic bags and containers made from foam plastic until the end of this year, selling them until the end of next year and exporting them until the end of 2025, the AP reported.

Canada had previously announced the ban, but environmentalists were concerned about the delays and that Canada's original plan was to ban the items domestically but continue to ship them abroad. The country's Environment Minister Steven Guilbeau announced the dates on Monday.

In addition to takeout bags and boxes, the ban will affect plastic straws, bags, cutlery, stir sticks and six-pack rings that hold cans and bottles.

Last year, the federal government listed plastics as toxic materials under Canada's Environmental Protection Act, paving the way for regulations banning some of them. However, a consortium of plastics manufacturers has sued the government over the designation of plastics as toxic, and a hearing is expected later this year.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first promised in June 2019 that his government would phase out the production and use of hard-to-recycle plastic products as it aims for zero plastic waste by the end of the decade.
White House announces conversation between Biden and Jinping in coming weeks

Georgia confirms: Traffic restored at 136th km of the Mtskheta-Stepantsminda-Lars road

EU countries agree to fill all gas storage facilities to at least 80% by next winter

Traffic restored at Lars, road is open

Erdogan promises to document 'hypocrisy' of Sweden and Finland

Armenia Economy Minister: Transport communication with Russia will be restored within two hours

EU energy ministers agree on energy conservation laws

Increased imports force Armenian producers out of domestic market

Scholz says return to pre-war relations with Russia is impossible

Armenia FM: Azerbaijan continues to hold Armenian POWs and civilians hostage

Israel to work with world powers to influence any deal with Iran

Azerbaijanis moving cross-stone on road of Berdzor

NATO to increase size of its rapid reaction force by almost eight times

'Armenian Genocide: Evidence from the German Foreign Office Archives, 1915-1916' published in Persian

Mohammad Bagheri says Iran will respond to Israeli intervention in region

Representatives of ICRC office in Baku visit Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan

Robert Habeck: Gas shortage this winter could lead to 'serious economic crisis in Europe'

Armenia FM: OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs play key role in Karabakh conflict settlement

US, European officials look forward to NATO summit to make progress on Finnish and Swedish accession

Leaders of NATO, Turkey, Sweden and Finland meet in Madrid

Zelenskyy tells G7 leaders he wants war in Ukraine to end by the end of 2022

Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia to hold joint military exercises

G7 leaders to support Ukraine for as long as it takes

EEU to provide duty-free import quotas for cheese, alcohol infusions to Serbia in 2023

Turkey announces creation of grain operations center

Dollar, euro go up after long decline in Armenia

Armenia premier: Reforming education sector is one of governments absolute priorities

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg promises to protect Baltic countries from external threats

Upper Lars checkpoint on Georgia-Russia border to be closed for 1 week?

Armenia ruling force lawmaker submits resignation from parliamentary seat

Artsakh FM pays working visit to Russia

Armenian FM meets Greek President

Azerbaijan-Turkey-Kazakhstan transport working group to be set up

Armenia legislature secret ballot for electing new judges to cassation court to kick off at 3pm

Welt: Putin is preparing a new raw material trap for the West through lithium mining in Bolivia

CNN: US intends to supply Ukraine with medium and long-range missile defense systems

Armenian FM's visit to Greece begins

Armenia economy ministry does not say when Lars motorway will reopen

Birmingham explosion leaves 5 people injured

Armenia Supreme Judicial Council member presents Court of Cassation candidate judges biographies

Israel may allow Iran to export oil under US supervision

Armenia appellate court considering appeal against PM Pashinyan

Ibrahim Kalin says Turkey has no enmity with Armenia

Heavy rain hits northern Turkey

Turkey doesn't impose sanctions on Russia because of its energy dependence

Cavusoglu says they are waiting to open Zangezur corridor as soon as possible

Process kicks off aimed at building new nuclear power unit in Armenia

European Commission head doesn't support G20 summit boycott if Putin attends

139 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia past 1 week

Aliyev: New weapons, most modern equipment have been, are being brought to Azerbaijan

Peskov rules out Russia's disconnection from global Internet

World oil prices dropping

Drug smuggling by Iranians is prevented in Armenia

Armenia parliament to convene special session

Copper rises in price

Armenia finance minister meets with Asian Development Bank representatives

Yerevan mayor to pay 12-day official visit to France

Earthquake hits Armenia-Georgia border zone

At least 4 dead after stand collapses during bullfight in Colombia

Microsoft to end support for Windows 8.1 in January 2023

95% blind Japan skateboarder breaks 2 Guinness World Records

NASA to launch Capstone satellite for future creation of habitats on Moon

US intends to raise $200 billion as part of G7 program, competing with China's Belt and Road project

Egypt signs contract with India to buy 180,000 tons of wheat

US Treasury Secretary discusses sanctions against Russia in Turkey

20 people die in mysterious circumstances in nightclub

Cavusoglu: Turkey is facing serious economic crisis

Armenian PM's spouse to hold official meetings and discussions in Nice, Monaco and Cannes

Media: Ukraine once again purchases weapons in Germany directly from manufacturer

European Council head cautious about G7 plan to ban imports of Russian gold

Iran launches second Zoljanah rocket into space

Britain and France agree to increase support for Ukraine

Armenian FM to leave on working visit to Athens

NATO to discuss largest military deployment since the Cold War

Artsakh Internal Affairs Ministry: Special measures in Stepanakert carried out in intensified mode

Biden thanks Scholz for leadership on Ukraine crisis at G7 summit

Iraqi PM arrives in Tehran

UN fears disease outbreak in Afghanistan due to earthquake

Johnson: Cost of Russian victory in Ukraine is too high

New Colombian president pledges to protect rainforest

Young man throws himself down from territory of Armenian Genocide Museum

G7 countries to impose a ban on imports of Russian gold

SADA CEO: Armenian startups are not yet well known on international market, they need to be strengthened

Turkey FM and Blinken discuss NATO expansion and grain supplies from Ukraine

Shoigu inspects grouping of Russian troops involved in Ukraine

Indonesian President to travel Ukraine, Russia on peace-building mission

Turkey intelligence agency captures alleged Greek spy

Armenia PM to answer questions from media and public organizations tomorrow

Ecuador's president lifts state of emergency declared due to strikes

Concrete placement starts at Unit 2 of Bushehr NPP in Iran

Eight corpses found at famous Mexican resort

US Army private admits plotting attack on military unit

Archaeologists discover remains of ancient tortoise with laid egg in Pompeii

Lithuanian president on sanctions against Kaliningrad transit: concessions to Russia are out of question

Founder of hypercar manufacturer Koenigsegg puts Toyota's GR Yaris up for sale

President Vucic says Serbia will seek replacement for Russia oil

China to provide $7.5M in humanitarian aid to quake-stricken Afghanistan

Chicken meat production drops in Armenia

MFA spokesman: Armenia reaffirms its readiness to establish peace, stability in the region

Putin announces, at meeting with Lukashenko, decision to transfer Iskander-M missile systems to Minsk
The speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia issued a statement Tuesday on the petition by Artur Vanetsyanleader of the opposition "With Honor" Faction of the NA and chairman of the opposition Homeland Partyto resign from his parliamentary mandate.

Pursuant to Article 155.1 of the Constitutional Law the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, the deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan submitted his resignation letter on June 21, the statement reads.

Pursuant to Article 155.2 of the Constitutional Law the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, if within a week, after the promulgation of resignation, the deputy withdraws his/her application for resignation with a written application, then the President of the National Assembly shall make a statement on that, if he/she does not withdraw his/her letter for resignation, then a protocol shall be made on the termination of his/her powers, which shall be signed and promulgated by the President of the National Assembly. The resignation shall be deemed adopted from the moment of promulgation of the protocol, the statement added.

As reported earlier, Artur Vanetsyan announced his resignation from his parliamentary seat and the termination of cooperation between the former ruling RPA and the Homeland parties.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took part in a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Minsk, the press service of the Armenian Prime Minister reported.

First, the Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko met the Heads of Government of the EEU member states, and then the video-shooting ceremony took place.

Prime Minister Pashinyan delivered a speech at the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, in which, in particular, he noted:

Distinguished members of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council,

Dear participants of the session,

First of all, let me thank the Belarusian side and personally the Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko for organizing the session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council and, of course, for the warm reception and the traditional hospitality.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank the presiding party, personally the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Akylbek Japarov, for his efforts to adevelop the issues to be discussed.

I sincerely welcome the representatives of the member and observer states of the Eurasian Economic Union.

The Eurasian Economic Union is gradually completing the stage of accomplishment, and is passing to the stage of revealing its integration potential for the benefit of creating a common economic space, sustainable economic growth of our countries, strengthening competitiveness, effective promotion of its economic interests in the international arena.

Given the new realities, the need to strengthen the close coordination of our actions increases as a basis for the member states to adapt to the modern conditions of the world economy.

In the context of modern economic challenges, one of the most important issues remains to ensure food security of our countries. At present, for objective reasons, some restrictions on the supply of certain types of agricultural products arise in the common agricultural market, which can negatively affect the sustainable agricultural activities in our countries, in general, the food security of the Union.

In this regard, I believe that the member states of the Union should respond to the risks first of all on a collective basis, using the potential of developing consolidated, mutually acceptable solutions, minimizing the possibility of food shortages.

Dear participants of the meeting,

As the continuation of the discussion of the key issues on our agenda that started yesterday, I would like to dwell on some aspects that are relevant for the Union.

Cooperation within the Union is a priority for our countries, which allows to strengthen the traditional cooperation, to establish new partnerships in order to realize the economic potential of the Union.

In this context, for the purpose of the operation of the Union's common market, I consider the removal of barriers to mutual trade, the formation of new export-import logistics chains, the development of import substitution, and the further improvement of conditions for doing business important.

The experience of the recent years shows that most of the obstacles faced by businesses arise due to the lack of unified, coordinated, consented rules of activity. Only the readiness for constructive dialogue, openness and transparency can help maintain positive dynamics in this issue.

I attach importance to solving the issue of the alcoholic beverages market. The establishment of common goals and principles, common regulatory measures can contribute to the creation of a common market without discriminatory restrictions or exceptions in mutual trade. This is a priority direction for Armenia, which has wide export opportunities.

Colleagues,

We are witnessing a digital transformation of the world economy. Without advanced digital tools and technologies, it is difficult to compete in the world arena

Since the formation of the digital agenda of the Union, a number of large-scale projects have already been launched, due to which the economic relations between our countries have become more simple and more transparent in terms of assessing their effectiveness.

I consider the development of the system for tracking cargo through navigation seals important, mutual recognition of digital signatures, as well as the discussion of cross-border e-commerce, the growth of which poses new challenges for us, requiring effective solution to issues related to product security, consumer protection, as well as ensuring the integrity of taxes and customs revenues.

Given the lack of shared borders with the EEU member states, the digitalization of processes will save time and material resources for Armenia.

Logistics is another field that requires digital solutions. In this context, I would like to emphasize the need for the member states to work out agreed proposals for cooperation on creation and development of transport infrastructure, multi-module logistics centers and Eurasian transport corridors. The Armenian side attaches great importance to the development of dialogue and cooperation with the People's Republic of China in the implementation of the "Belt and Road" strategic initiative.

Distinguished Heads of Delegations,

In the end, I would like to note that despite the objective difficulties that arise on the way to reaching compromises, we continue to move towards building an effective union that will work successfully in today's difficult realities.

Thank you for your productive work and constructive discussion.

The Prime Ministers of the Eurasian Economic Union member states discussed and adopted decisions related to the strengthening of the internal market, the development of transport infrastructure, and the regulation of customs tariffs. Reference was also made to cooperation on digital agenda.

By the decision adopted at the meeting, the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission was instructed to ensure, together with the governments of the EEU member states, the preparation of indicative balances on wheat, barley, corn, sunflower seeds, sugar and other products.

Tigran Sargsyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Development Bank, made a presentation on the forthcoming joint programs and steps in the direction of the digitalization process.

The agreed documents and protocols were signed at the session.

It was decided to hold the next session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Kyrgyzstan at the end of August.

After the session, the Prime Ministers visited the Victory Square in Minsk, laying wreaths at the monument to the victory in the Great Patriotic War, paying tribute to the memory of all the victims, the statement reads.
The term of With Honor' parliamentary faction head, Artur Vanetsyan, who has resigned his parliamentary mandate, will be terminated in a week after the announcement of his resignation by the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Vanetsyan's resignation is already posted on the official website of the National Assembly.

The next candidate on the With Honor' bloc's electoral list is former MP Martun Grigoryan. It is unknown whether he will take the mandate or not. Calls to Grigoryan went unanswered. No other members of the faction could be reached either. It is still unclear who will lead the faction.

Artur Vanetsyan resigned his parliamentary mandate today and the Homeland Party, which he headed, decided to continue its political activities outside of Parliament.

The Board of the Homeland Party has made a decision to continue [its] activities outside the parliament. By the decision of the party, the With Honor bloc we formed with the [former ruling] RPA [party] () [hereby] de jure and de facto ceases to exist."
Chinese real estate developer Central China Real Estate allowed customers to pay for part of the housing in new buildings with food.

As a down payment the company began to accept garlic and wheat grown on farms, Bloomberg reported.

Central China offered to pay citizens up to 160,000 yuan for grain to help them become shareholders in the River Mansion apartment complex under construction in Shangqiu, Henan province. The developer is trying to attract more customers for its projects by accepting crops as payment.

Such a benefit looks very profitable for farmers: a kilogram of wheat will cost four yuan per kilogram in a transaction with Central China, while state-owned warehouses are prepared to pay a maximum of 3-3.1 yuan per kilogram. A month earlier, the company offered to buy the garlic crop at 10 yuan per kilogram, while the wholesale price of the commodity is 6.92 yuan, China's Ministry of Commerce reported.

It is noted that Henan province is landlocked, but is considered the largest producer of grain in China - recently the region gathered an unprecedentedly large harvest of winter wheat.
At a European Council summit this week, European Union leaders are expected to criticize Turkey for its handling of disputes with neighboring Greece, EURACTIV reported.

The European Council will say it expects Turkey to fully respect international law, de-escalate tensions in the interests of regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and sustain good neighborly relations, media reports said, citing a copy of a document it obtained.

According to the draft, Turkey must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all EU member states.

Turkey and Greece are mired in territorial disputes that have almost led to direct military clashes, most recently in 2020 when Greek warships approached a Turkish ship exploring for natural gas off a Greek island. Although both neighbors deny accusing each other of territorial violations, military tensions have risen again in the past three months as the two countries accused each other of violating their airspace and Turkey conducted military drills near Greek islands adjacent to the Turkish coastline.

Turkey has demanded that Greece stop arming its islands in the Aegean Sea, arguing that they should be demilitarized in accordance with the Lausanne Treaty, signed early last century. Greece argues that circumstances have changed radically since then and the restrictions no longer apply. The two governments have sent letters to the United Nations outlining their contradictory positions.

Greece and Turkey are also feuding over migrants and Turkey's takeover of the island of Cyprus. Turkey has stationed 30,000 troops in northern Cyprus, controlled by Turkish Cypriots, since 1974, when it invaded. The Republic of Cyprus, governed from the south by Greek Cypriots, is a member of the EU and represents the entire island in EU affairs.

In an interview with the Athens News Agency, a source in diplomatic circles said it was unlikely that Turkey would raise the issue of demilitarization of the Greek islands at a NATO summit.

Erdogan could raise the issue of demilitarisation of the islands only if the problem with Sweden and Finland was not resolved by the Madrid Summit in order to distract from the main problem which is the accession of the two Scandinavian countries, the diplomat said.

If this happens, the Greek side will explain calmly, as always, that the NATO Summit is not the right place to make such absurd claims, the source added.
In addition to weapons that have already been tested on the battlefield, the Russian armed forces began to receive S-500 anti-air and anti-missile defense systems, which have no analogs in the world. Excellent results were obtained when testing the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, Vladimir Putin told to graduates of Russia's higher military educational institutions, MK reported.

The Russian president said that the first Sarmat system is to be put on combat duty in late 2022.

"We will continue to develop and strengthen our Armed Forces, taking into account potential military threats and risks based on the lessons of contemporary armed conflicts, and improve the combat staff," Putin said. Among the priorities is equipping the troops with new weapon systems that will determine the combat effectiveness of the Russian Navy and Army for years, if not decades to come.

"We will have to make wider, much wider use of robotics of the latest reconnaissance controls, unmanned aerial vehicles," the Russian president said, adding that Russia plans to actively develop weapons systems based on new physical principles, including electromagnetic and laser weapons.
Armen Hovhannisyan, the 32-year-old man arrested in a criminal case opened in connection with the shooting that took place two days ago in the Aparan community, according to information of Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Hovhannisyan is a resident of Dzoraglukh community of Aragatsotn province of Armenia.

According to media reports, on 19 June in Nigavan village of Aragatsotn, relatives of the members of the ruling "Civil Contract" party shot young people because they were scolding Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The relatives of Matevos Asatryan, an MP from the ruling party, and Edgar Parvanyan, a cousin of the deputy governor of the region from the "Civil Contract", quarreled with a group of young people, after which the relatives and friends of Asatryan and Parvanyan shot them dead with a Kalashnikov. Doctors said one of the wounded died and the rest were hospitalized at Medical Centers "Armenia" and "Astghik."

According to law enforcers, the incident had no political subtext, but was purely domestic. A criminal case was instigated.
YEREVAN.  Past daily of Armenia writes: On Sunday evening, shots were heard in Nigavan village of Aragatsotn Province, as a result of which 7 people were affected and hospitalized. It turned out yesterday that 3 of them have died. According to the statement disseminated by the police, a hunting rifle was used.

The media wrote that the incident took place on political grounds, as a result of which the authorities supporters (including the relatives of the authorities representatives) have taken such a step.

The authorities hurried to deny the "political context" and their connection with the mentioned, and the police especially emphasized in the statement that the incident has no political motive, and it took place exclusively on domestic grounds.

However, () in particular in Aparan [city] they note that in fact the tragic incident took place on political grounds.

In connection with all this, a number of new details have become known to Past newspaper. In particular, according to our source, after the incident [PM] Nikol Pashinyan organized an emergency meeting in the Sevan government summer house, which was attended not only by the Chief of Police and other law enforcement officials, but also a number of key representatives of the [ruling] Civil Contract [Party]. The meeting lasted until late at night ().

According to the newspapers information, Pashinyan first of all instructed not to circulate the incident and not to "publicize" the topic unnecessarily. Moreover, he especially emphasized that no one to give comments, and the law enforcement officers should emphasize the apolitical nature of the incident.
YEREVAN.  Zhoghovurd newspaper of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes. The statement on Rustam Bakoyanan MP of the NA [(National Assembly)] [ruling majority] "Civil Contract" Factionsubjecting his common-law wife to beating reached the NSS [(National Security Service)]. In particular, MP Bakoyan's common-law wife had made a noteworthy statement, noting: "Rustam Bakoyan told me, Publicize whatever you want; we are invincible."

According to the woman, Bakoyan beat her, demanded money. NA "Civil Contract" Faction MP Rustam Bakoyan had denied the information, noting: "I have two things to say. First, the disseminated information does not correspond to reality. Second, the case is at the prosecutor's office, it is in the investigation phase. I have petitioned, they will inform me whether or not they are already investigating the case. That's all I can say."

And, here, Zhoghovurd daily petitioned to the Prosecutor General's Office to learn about the investigation process, from where they informed in response: "That publication has been sent to the RA NSS to carry out inspection actions in connection with the circumstances noted in it."
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 21 (ANI/PRNewswire): L&T Technology Services Limited (BSE: 540115) (NSE: LTTS), a leading global pure-play engineering services company, announced that it has been Great Place to Work-Certified in India as it fared extremely well across parameters like credibility, respect, fairness, pride and employee camaraderie along with high global Trust Index(c) Survey Score. Great Place to Work-Certified is the global authority on building and sustaining workplace culture. The Institute serves businesses, non-profits, and government agencies in more than 60 countries, across all six continents, mission touching more than 10,000 organizations every year. 83 per cent Employee Participation in the Survey marked the trust that employees have in the organisation that their feedback will be acted upon. 81 per cent Of the Employees applauded Management for demonstrating Care for employee wellbeing during the Covid Period. Amit Chadha, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, L&T Technology said, "At LTTS, we encourage our workforce to increase their expertise by making them empowered in various roles and enhance their contribution to society. This has helped in creating a productive work environment and a leadership pipeline comprising of problem-solving, trustworthy, self-confident, and passionate employees. To be Great Place to Work-Certified is a testament to the efforts that every member of the LTTS family has put in, to make it a preferred workplace for engineers. It also validates, how we continue to progress on building a strong organization culture which is aligned to our Values." L&T Technology Services Limited (LTTS) is a listed subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Limited focused on Engineering and R&D (ER&D) services. We offer consultancy, design, development and testing services across the product and process development life cycle. Our customer base includes 69 Fortune 500 companies and 57 of the world's top ER&D companies, across industrial products, medical devices, transportation, telecom & hi-tech, and the process industries. Headquartered in India, we have over 20,800 employees spread across 17 global design centers, 28 global sales offices and 89 innovation labs as of March 31, 2022. For more information, please visit https://www.ltts.com/ This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 21 (ANI/PRNewswire): Accenture, specializing in IT Solutions & consultancy services, helps companies across a broad range of industries including automotive, financial services, energy, and consumer goods to build sustainability into the core of their business. Accenture with CIIE has launched the Accenture Sustainability Value Accelerator Programme(ASVAP), for which it chose 10 sustainability Green-tech start-ups in the first quarterly financial year of 2022. The programme focused on startups that can expedite the broader goals of working towards sustainable value chains, net-zero transitions, sustainable technologies, and measurements & analytics. Amongst a fierce competition between 80 companies, Oizom was successful in securing its spot among the selected. Oizom, headquartered in Ahmedabad, India, was established in 2015. It offers data-driven environmental solutions for better decision-making. Using its sensor-based hardware, Oizom monitors various environmental parameters related to air quality, noise, odour, and weather. Ankit Vyas, CEO at Oizom, stated, "Accenture's role in this programme was to identify and empower such existing companies that align with the Sustainable Development Goals towards cleantech and renewable energy. Oizom fits very well into such brackets, as we identify, diagnose and provide ideal air quality monitoring solutions to industries, authorities and communities." Accenture Sustainability Value Accelerator Programme has chosen 9 other Green-tech start-ups. Along with Oizom, these companies will be provided with seed funding and support towards business opportunities across the globe. This will also include support in identifying the best opportunities and elevating business models with risk assessment. The focus here is to support Green-tech startups from India who can help solve sustainability challenges faced by organisations across the world. Jainam Mehta, CBO at Oizom, stated, "One of the major problems we witness with air quality monitoring in industrial and non-industrial areas is the accuracy of the data. This is where Oizom aims to solve the problem by providing highly scalable and accurate data. Oizom's products empower various governmental and private bodies with data to better sustainable decision-making." Oizom's monitors have to date empowered several smart cities, smart campuses, industries, mining sites, wastewater treatment plants, and airports. With the push provided by Accenture, Oizom's products will be able to empower industries across the world towards sustainable decision-making. Oizom's flagship products include Polludrone, Odosense, Dustroid, Weathercom, AQBot, and Envizom. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
India has emerged as the voice of the developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the recently concluded 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, said Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal, who headed the Indian delegation to the conference. Minister Goyal, at a press briefing here, said several decisions have emerged from the conference after a long time, and India "batted on the forefront" during negotiations on various issues. "In fact, a statement also has emerged out of WTO after seven years," an official statement said quoting Goyal. "Almost every WTO decision bears India's signature, India is seen leading from the front and India's concerns are visible prominently in the outcome documents. We have been cent percent successful in stating our point of view, getting our agenda approved at the talks," he added. India not only secured the interests of its farmers, fishermen, and MSME sector but also ensured their concerns are preserved in the future. Goyal added that India neither came under any pressure, nor buckled under pressure at any time, but finally emerged as a 'Deal Maker' at the talks, which is far from being initially projected as a 'Deal Breaker' by certain countries. "In fact, few countries stated that India was not allowing any agreement. Reality was very different! The reality was that a few countries created hurdles towards agreement with the vain hope that they could rope in India later, make India hop the bandwagon and that India's voice is lost in the din," the statement quoted the Minister. While stating that everybody had written off multilateralism, mentioning that bilateralism is the way forward, however, the latest conference has been the most successful conference, he added. "No one expected agreements on an array of issues. We have come up with very important decisions. This WTO's success is largely because of India's leadership as we helped navigate everybody's view point," he said. Further, he stated at the briefing that the world has recognized that India has a point, its agenda has strong reasoning, whereas its arguments represent bare truth and sensitivity. (ANI)
New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI/PNN): Renowned psychologist Dr Jawahar Surisetti recently released an inspirational Hindi song, "Back to School", on the children affected due to school closures during COVID for the last two years and the disintegration of the school system. The song was broadcasted on all music channels like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Gaana, Jio Saavan, etc., on Saturday. The song is also available on youtube- https://youtu.be/LS4FJ1ZdFTs Talking about the song, Dr Jawahar said, "I received about 300 calls daily from parents in the last two years who were worried about the future and education of their children. Although conditions have improved and many schools are reopening, parents are still afraid to send their kids to the school. In this situation, children are facing many adverse effects of not being able to go to school daily. Many researchers have shown how this break has severely affected the children's education, which will impact their future. The need of the hour is to motivate these children to return to school without pressuring them." Dr Jawahar has penned this song on the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav intending to inspire our future generation, which has been sung by Jagrit, a researcher of Artificial Intelligence. In this song, there is a call to return to school to meet friends and teachers, to get back to those school days. It brings out the emotion of being deprived of that experience of the good old school days. Dr Jawahar dedicated this song "Back to School" to the nation and the children and hopes it will receive rave reviews like his previous song "India hoon main, Naaz hai" due to the inherent social message. Through the song, he appealed to the schools to create a positive and happy environment for the children where they can study in peace and overcome their fear of school. 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], June 21 (ANI/SRV): ZFW Dark Stores, a smart fulfilment platform for E-commerce brands, has announced a multi-city dark store partnership with personal care brands NATUREPRO to bring luxury, sustainable yet affordable products to customers through same-Day Deliveries across India. The Delhi-based startup enables brands like Rage Coffee, Epigamia, Renee Cosmetics, and HUL to offer customers an Amazon Prime-like Same-Day Delivery experience from their D2C websites- using its network of 150+ dark stores across India. This allows brands to significantly improve fulfilment costs and retention rates while selling through their own channels and maintaining complete control of their brand identity, customer journey, and data. Commenting on the announcement, ZFW Dark Stores founder Madhav Kasturia said, "We're seeing a positive spike in buying patterns of Indians towards clean sustainable products, especially after COVID. As NATUREPRO scales its D2C channel and enters new markets- supply chain and fulfilment costs would skyrocket. Online shoppers have also become accustomed to faster delivery and customer delight standards set by Amazon and Quick Commerce players. This is where our technology platform steps in to empower D2C brands through rapid deliveries, next-gen dark store fulfilment, and solid post-purchase experiences- without any operational hassles and upfront costs." Mohit Mohapatra, Founder of NATUREPRO said, "We have an amazing portfolio of sustainable luxury hair and skin care products developed by our in-house R&D team with over 2 decades of collective experience. In the first 3 months since our January 2022 launch, we saw an impeccable increase in orders but faced major challenges. 30 per cent of orders were from regions not serviceable from our warehouse in Odisha and to make matters worse- average order delivery times were 6-7days. ZFW Dark Stores came to our rescue and our partnership will help strengthen our D2C capabilities, reduce cart abandonment and RTOs, and scale rapidly pan-India." NATUREPRO develops 100 per cent safe, effective hair and skin care products using Ecocert COSMOS-approved ingredients that are ethically sourced from renewable feedstock. All products are Australian MADE SAFE certified, and the brand has also collaborated with PETA for its 'Global Beauty Without Bunnies' program to promote the use of cruelty-free products. "Selling sustainable products online can benefit from the speed and efficiency that we bring through our fulfilment and eco-friendly last-mile logistics capabilities. Brands have seen up to a 75 per cent increase in repeat purchase rates and fulfilment cost savings with us. Skincare is extremely competitive, so creating customer-centric experiences is a key driver of D2C growth. Our dark stores are strategically located close to major residential and commercial areas- enabling NATUREPRO customers to get rapid access to their favourite skincare products, on-demand," said Devendra Rachelkar, Head of Partnerships at ZFW Dark Stores. NATUREPRO is also developing a bottle that mimics a plastic bottle but is made from 70 per cent calcium carbonate. This would help reduce plastic waste generated at the end of the product life cycle. The Bengaluru-based brand was recently recognized for its commitment to sustainability by being invited to showcase products at the upcoming United Nations COP 27 conference in Egypt. Founded in 2021, ZFW Dark Stores has previously raised $1.6M from RiSo Capital, SEA Fund, AngelList, ice.vc, Archana Priyadarshini, and founders of brands like The Moms Co, Beardo, Epigamia, Rage Coffee, Dr Vaidya's, Neeman's, and Almo. ZFW started as a takeout store - 'Beijing Street' in South Delhi, India back in 2015. In 2020, Within 56 days of the commencement of the Lockdown, ZFW launched its first set of 8 Cloud Kitchens in the 'KIK' Format. Today, ZFW is running 80+ Internet Restaurants across 35+ Cloud Kitchens in Delhi and is scaling to Mumbai. ZFW OS platform was launched in December 2020 and ZFW has signed up with a couple of notable International and domestic brands such as Keventers, The Brooklyn Creamery, Tibb's Frankies etc. The company raised its pre-seed round of capital in April 2021 and is scaling to multiple metro cities in India now. Website: https://www.zfwdarkstores.com/ This story is provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 21 (ANI/NewsVoir): Bajaj Finance Limited (BFL), the lending arm of Bajaj Finserv Limited and India's largest and highly diversified NBFC company, has partnered with Worldline, a global leader in payment services, to develop point-of-sales (POS) payments acquiring solutions for its merchant network. Worldline, a company with a rich experience in the payment ecosystem in India and globally, has been chosen by Bajaj Finance Limited as a technology and service partner to develop and manage their merchant acquiring initiative, which will be present at pan-India merchant locations. With this tie-up, Bajaj Finance Limited aims to enhance its relationship with both their existing and new network of merchant partners, by providing point-of-sale terminals and enabling acceptance of a wide range of payment instruments such as EMI cards, credit cards, UPI and wallets on those terminals. In addition to the transactional services, the tie-up will provide value-added services like billing integrations, EMI offerings, transactions' processing, data analytics and fraud management services. The merchant value proposition will allow Bajaj Finance's 58 million customer base to avail of its various services such as Bajaj Network EMI Card, Bajaj Pay Wallet, Bajaj Pay UPI and Bajaj Coins' redemption at the point-of-sales outlets. Commenting on the partnership, Rajeev Jain, Managing Director, Bajaj Finance Limited, said, "As a part of our broader strategy to expand the digital offerings, we forayed into the digital payments business last year to offer an integrated payment solution to customers and merchant partners. Bajaj Finance has been consistently delivering seamless and agile credit solutions to consumers and merchants alike, and this partnership will only help extend our product suite to go beyond credit products to commerce and payments technology across our large and expanding network of merchant stores, spread throughout the length and breadth of the country. He further stated, "Bajaj Finance has always been at the forefront of digital technology, and we are confident of leveraging Worldline's cutting-edge technology to deliver a disruptive and game changing in-store payment acceptance experience for our ever-growing merchant partner ecosystem." Deepak Chandnani, Executive Chairman, Worldline India, SA and ME said, "Worldline India is proud to partner with Bajaj Finance Limited to provide easier, faster and secure digital acceptance solutions. Our expertise in creating and managing the entire merchant lifecycle journey will benefit BFL in offering rich experience to their valued customers. Our dedicated workforce will ensure seamless execution for Bajaj Finance's requirements which will contribute to the growth of both entities. We have successfully managed large-scale partnerships in India and other markets and are looking forward to a long-term mutually beneficial partnership with Bajaj Finance Limited." Bajaj Finance Limited, the lending arm of Bajaj Finserv Limited, is one of the most diversified NBFCs in the Indian market, catering to 58 million customers across the country. Headquartered in Pune, the company's product offering includes Consumer Durable Loans, Lifestyle Finance, Digital Product Finance, Personal Loans, Loan against Property, Small Business Loans, Wallet, Co-branded Credit Cards, Two-wheeler and Three-wheeler Loans, Commercial lending/SME Loans, Loan against Securities and Rural Finance which includes Gold Loans and Vehicle Refinancing Loans along with Fixed Deposits. Bajaj Finance Limited has the highest domestic credit rating of AAA/Stable for long-term borrowing, A1+ for short-term borrowing, and FAAA/Stable and MAAA (Stable) for its FD program. It has a long-term issuer credit rating of BB+/Positive and a short-term rating of B by S&P Global Ratings. To know more, visit www.bajajfinserv.in. Worldline (Euronext: WLN) is a global leader in the payments industry and the technology partner of choice for merchants, banks and acquirers. Powered by 20,000 employees in more than 50 countries, Worldline provides its clients with sustainable, trusted and innovative solutions fostering their growth. Services offered by Worldline include in-store and online commercial acquiring, highly secure payment transaction processing and numerous digital services. In 2021, Worldline generated a proforma revenue of close to 4 billion euros. Worldline India Pvt. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Worldline, is a partner to over 40 banks and over 5000 marque clients comprising e-commerce giants, leading insurance players, D2C players across sectors. In India, Worldline covers the whole payment value chain and end-to-end processes that facilitate services to over 1.5 million merchants across 5000 towns and cities in India, South Asia/Middle East. Services offered by Worldline in India are in the areas of Merchant Acquiring, VAS, Card Issuance, National Electronic Toll Collection, Risk Mitigation, Reconciliation, Loyalty solutions; and online solutions like NextGen Payment Gateway, Subscription Payments, Payment Orchestration Platform, Online Cross Border Solution, Tokenisation among others. Supported by over 2,000 members' team, Worldline India is constantly investing in its people and in the latest technologies to increase efficiencies, drive innovation and enhance digital payments adoption across the country. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI/PNN): Toewoe, India's first customizable slides brand, has successfully sold 10,000 pairs of customizable slides via the official website and other marketplaces within three months of its launch. Apart from Toewoe's official website, their slides are available in other online and offline marketplaces. The brand has increased its exposure to potential customers and sales opportunities by relying on this multichannel sales approach. As a result, the brand has reached significant sales in the first three months since its inception, keeping it ahead of its market competitors. Slides have long been a part of the fashion world but have never been considered a trendy choice of accessories - until now. Slides have become a hugely popular footwear option, as they tick all the looks, price, comfort, and convenience. Looking at this growing popularity of slides, Toewoe - a passion project from a family home - started its journey in the hands of a trio of a mother and her daughters with the motto 'Comfort for all.' The pure EVA slides brand is the brainchild of Sushma Mann (mother), while daughters (Pooja Mann & Aseem Mann) worked behind the scenes to build the company ground up. Toewoe is a first-of-its-kind slides brand in India that manufactures and sells customized slides at a competitive price. The brand takes exceptional care of the style and comfort without making its slides affordable. The Toewoe slides come in vibrant colours and unique styles, adding spice to your summer outfit. They are also lightweight and super comfy materials to prevent any strain on your feet. Moreover, the footwear brand has created an office environment for all highly-skilled, well-qualified artisans or ignored locals. Talking about the brand's success, Toewoe Founder's said, "While style is important, today's generation no longer wants to compromise comfort while choosing a pair of shoes. As a result, slides have gained considerable popularity with women over the past few years. Toewoe provides its customers with a unique opportunity to customize their slides as per their mood and personality. Moreover, Toewoe slides are versatile and go with almost every outfit." "Being first-generation entrepreneurs, nothing came to us with a full plate. We struggled and worked hard to earn every little thing for our sustainable slides brand. We are proud to have sold 10,000 units of slides within such a short period. However, it's just the beginning of a long journey. We are looking forward to achieving many more milestones in the coming months and years," they continue. The Toewoe slides are made with natural and sustainable material to provide your foot comfort and promote the need for vegan and sustainable fashion among youngsters. They are incredibly durable and lightweight for all-day ease in walking. In addition, Toewoe offers an easy and quick customization option where you can choose a wide range of unique colours and stickers to match your outfit and personality, keeping the fun and quirkiness intact. After its initial success with sales, the premium footwear brand is now focused on scaling its business and strengthening its brand presence through various offline stores. 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], June 21 (ANI/PRNewswire): Applauding his pioneering vision of giving a whole new dimension to hospitality education and training, Dr Suborno Bose, Founder Chairman and Chief Mentor of the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) was awarded the Times Men of the Year as Times Visionary Leader. This prestigious award added to his long list of pathbreaking achievements, most of which have been pioneering initiatives in the field of hospitality education. His latest accomplishment includes his unique initiative to closely connect academia with industry experts. Prof David Foskett, MBE, hospitality educator and Chairman of International Hospitality Council (IHC), London, said on the occasion, "The award has come at a very important juncture when the historic marriage between the largest and prestigious hotel group in the world, Marriott Group and IIHM, a universally respected leader of hospitality management education has just taken place. This initiative will create wider and better opportunities for IIHM students across the world. The award presented to Dr Suborno Bose is well deserving as he is a true visionary in the field of hospitality education, who has changed the relationship between hospitality academia and the industry." The MoU was signed by Dr Suborno Bose and Gaurav Singh, Market Vice President, East India and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. On the occasion, Singh said, "Marriott and IIHM have done many things together and this MoU will further celebrate this partnership and bridge the gap between academia and industry and create future talent in the hospitality industry. IIHM has been leading in the education platform of the hospitality industry and for us to partner and try to further enhance the education levels, ensure that we can have internships and eventually create job opportunities in our portfolio of hotels." IIHM, in association with the British Council, organised Bilateral Education Engagement by signing an agreement with five leading universities from the UK. A top-notch UK delegation arrived at the IIHM Global Campus to sign an agreement to identify education, research and innovation as the important pillars of bilateral engagement. The British delegation included representatives of leading UK universities, including Tracy Ann Bhamra, Senior Vice Principal, Royal Holloway, University of London, Sarah Louise Brown, Associate Dean, Internationalisation, University of Bath, Paul Marshall, Pro- Vice-Chancellor (Careers and Enterprise), University of East London, Dr Anthony Manning, Director and Dean for Global and Lifelong Learning, University of Kent, Piruthivi Sukumar, Pro Dean International, University of Leeds, Eduardo Ramos, Head of Transnational Education UUKi. IIHM (International Institute of Hotel Management) is one of the largest chain of premier hospitality and hotel management schools across India that started its journey in 1994 at Kolkata. IIHM is a part of Indismart Group, the conglomerate that operates Indismart Hotels. IIHM campuses are located across eleven National and International cities with the associate institute IAM-IHM located in Kolkata, and Guwahati. Students passing out of IIHM are armed with an international degree from the University of West London and equipped with global hospitality skills that enable easy placements in any hospitality brand across the world. IIHM is dedicated to its pursuit of excellence in teaching and placements. Real-time experience is the key to success in hospitality and that makes the institute popular. In recent years, IIHM has been instrumental in organizing the Worlds biggest Culinary Olympiad Young Chef Olympiad, with participation of over 50 countries, a unique idea and initiative inviting young culinary talents across the world. It has MoU's with over 50 countries for student and faculty exchange bringing the best of education for its students from around the World. The institute has bagged several prestigious awards in the past 24 years. The list includes the Best Education Brand Award from Economic Times consecutively in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. It was also featured in Forbes Magazine as Great Indian Institute and Great Place to Study consecutively in the year 2018 - 2019 and 2019 - 2020. IIHM was also awarded as one among the World's Greatest Brands and Leaders 2015-16 by URS International (IMEA - Process Reviewer PriceWaterhouseCoopers PL) and also received the Best Institute in Hospitality Education 2017 Award by Assocham from Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister of State for HRD (Higher Education), Govt. of India. Please visit for more information: www.iihm.ac.in This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 21 (ANI/PRNewswire): India's leading urban multidisciplinary university - ATLAS SkillTech University - held its inaugural graduation ceremony for its first batch of Academic Fellows on June 18, 2022, in Mumbai. Chief Guest, Ronnie Screwvala, Indian entrepreneur, philanthropist, opinion leader and author, graced the occasion with his presence. Over 1500 ATLAS Fellows with an interesting mix of diverse backgrounds, coming from more than 20 different states across India and overseas, participated in the grand ceremony hosted at Jio World Convention Centre. Congratulating the students, Dr Indu Shahani, Founding President and Chancellor, ATLAS SkillTech University, said, "ATLAS SkillTech University offers students a technology-enabled learning environment and represents the university of tomorrow. The knowledge and skills the graduating fellows have acquired at ATLAS during this fellowship has nurtured future-ready digital professionals. We are extremely proud of our talented students and wish them great success as they step out to create the new world order." These ATLAS Fellows have completed rigorous, new-age programs in Design (ISDI), Management, Entrepreneurship (ISME), Hospitality, Media, Digital Marketing, Film and Animation created in collaboration with world leaders in education. The cutting-edge innovation-focused interdisciplinary programs are designed to transform young and creative learners into inventors, innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs and technology leaders. The programs prepare students for high-impact careers with an entrepreneurial mindset. ATLAS has given students a phenomenal advantage to become part of the larger business community with its experienced faculty, corporate and global networks, state-of-the-art infrastructure and central location in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) with proximity to over 500 leading conglomerates. The first batch of graduating ATLAS fellows have secured top placements and internships across various industries in leading organisations such as Apple, Aditya Birla Group, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Colgate, Deloitte, EY, Gucci, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, HCL Technologies, HDFC Bank, Infosys, KPMG, Mahindra, Nykaa, Phillips, PWC, Reliance Industries, Samsung, Sabyasachi, Siemens, TATA Consultancy Services, Tommy Hilfiger, Viacom and Vogue. Those wanting to pursue further studies have been accepted for coveted Masters programs at the world's leading universities such as Columbia University, Imperial College London, New York University, London Business School, London School of Economics, John Hopkins University, Parsons School of Design, University of the Arts London, SCAD and Rice University among many others. For more information visit https://atlasuniversity.edu.in/ ATLAS SkillTech University is a state private skills university situated in Mumbai. Focused on emerging trends and skills for young India, ATLAS has adopted a futuristic multidisciplinary education model co-created with an international community of scholars, academicians, industry experts, and world leaders in education with an undivided focus on academic excellence. ATLAS delivers cutting-edge undergraduate and postgraduate education across the new-age streams of Design & Innovation, Management & Entrepreneurship and Digital Technology. The world-renowned faculty, start-of-the-art infrastructure, and unique corporate connect of ATLAS empower students to succeed in Industry 4.0 and become global leaders. The University is led by the Founding President and Chancellor of ATLAS SkillTech University, Dr Indu Shahani (Former Sheriff, Mumbai). To follow ATLAS SkillTech University on Instagram, click on: https://www.instagram.com/atlasskilltechuniversity/?hl=en For Facebook, click on: https://www.facebook.com/atlasskilltechuniversity/ For LinkedIn, click on: https://www.linkedin.com/school/atlasuniversity/ This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
E-commerce startup Mixe.Store plans to source edible items worth $100 million from India in the next 18 months to sell it to South Asian expatriate communities across Europe, the company's top executive has said. Venture capitalist firm Antler-backed startup's Co-founder and CEO Jagan Vysyaraju in an exclusive interview with ANI said that the company partnered with 12 brands including MTR, India Gate, Bikaji, Britannia, 4700 BC etc to source product from them and sell them to expats in European countries. Mixe.Store is a groceries e-commerce company started by the Indian entrepreneur in Europe. "We started operations 14 months ago. At present we are sourcing edibles in single digit in USD millions from South Asian countries with most of it coming from India. We are looking to increase our partnership with more brands in India. In the next three month we are looking to partner with over 80 brands in the Indian subcontinent out of which 50 will be from India," Vysyaraju said. He said that the start-up is helping the brands reach the European market and reducing the burden of building export infrastructure. "We are looking to source USD 125-130 million worth of edibles from the Indian subcontinent out of which about USD 100 million will come from India. We will enter into white labels soon which will provide us more scale and higher participation from firms from India in the European market," Vysyaraju said. Mixe has received fund support from Ventures Together and Kima Ventures. "We are closing our seed funding round by September to scale up our operations. We have received the funds from some other leading investors as well. It is in single digit USD million but it can be disclosed only after due diligence is completed in September," Vysyaraju said. He said that the company will foray in the B2B segment by September with products that are sourced from the Indian subcontinent. "We have established a product market fit for the B2B segment which is untapped and has immense potential growth. We are running pilots in France and Belgium. We will start full fledged operation from September," Vysyaraju said. The company does not operate in Switzerland and Finland, he said. (ANI)
New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI/SRV): Dabbawala, a start-up based in Mumbai, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, and other Tier II geographies is looking forward to growing on a larger scale in other locations as well. The application is available on both iOS App Store and Android Play Store for client and partner servicing. The application was launched in November 2020 and ever since then has recorded 10,000+ downloads. Capt.M.Chouhan, Director of Dabbawala says, "Our vision is to deliver customers Their favourite restaurant food at their doorstep at Restaurant menu price, without squeezing the restaurant vendors profits" The Dabbawala application is attempting to compete with other local food delivery apps such as Zomato and Swiggy. The brand believes in making the process of ordering food easily accessible for customers whenever and wherever. Shankar Shetty, Founder of Vrindavan Restaurant, says, "Online Food Delivery apps charge a hefty commission, pay food bill after 7-10 days, deducts illicit charges and then do not give any proper resolution on mail follow up. Whereas dabbawalla makes immediate payment with the lowest commissions". The brand's USP is On-the-Spot Payment to Restaurant which quickly offers liquidity to their restaurant partners while saving companies time on payment reconciliation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) screens for fraudulent order management as it identifies new customer activity. Additionally, existing customer order history and local lingual franchise give the brand the ability to connect restaurant partners/customer relationships locally, which improves Dabbawala's service by allowing for immediate problem resolution and drastically reducing returns/refunds compared to industry peers. Kailash Mahyawanshi, a Customer of Dabbawala, says, "Dabbawala has a good collection of local restaurants, gives very good offers along with cashback on every order. We get the best price on dabbawala" The application works by entering the address to which the customer wants the item delivered. The application will then redirect and display nearby stores where consumers may pick up their orders themselves. The application offers a variety of coupons and special deals, as well as 24x7 customer service to ensure the customer receives precisely what they want. Kritika Sharma, a Customer of Dabbawala, says, "Dabbawala has got the best price with the fastest delivery and their local manager resolve our order query in regional language" Dabbawala not only delivers food from nearby restaurants but also groceries, medicine, and other daily products. Customers are also given the option of selecting the store they want their products from. The brand offers the opportunity to become a franchise with rapid expansion, low investment, and the highest profits. Alongside this, the brand also offers to become a partner with them as a restaurant, delivery, and/or affiliate partner. Dabbawala continually strives to establish itself across India as the go-to and leading food delivery partner. As part of the brand's further plans, their services will soon be available in more parts across Mumbai. To know more about visit www.dabbawala.live/app This story is provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)
New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI/NewsVoir): LT Foods, a Consumer Food Company's flagship brand Daawat Basmati Rice has created a unique occasion for Biryani lovers across the World by celebrating July 3rd, 2022 as World's 1st Biryani Day across the globe. Daawat Basmati Rice is providing an opportunity to all the Biryani lovers to express their adoration for this dish that has distinctive Indian flavours, but still enjoys universalized appeal across countries and cultures. This day calls for Biryani Lovers across the world to celebrate this exemplary dish by enjoying Biryani with their friends and family in their own inimitable ways and keep the Biryani mania going. Many of the popular dishes from multiple cuisines have their own dedicated day. This has inspired Daawat Basmati Rice to coin the 'World Biryani Day' to celebrate the world's most favourite dish. Speaking on the occasion, Ashwani Kumar Arora, Managing Director & CEO, LT Foods Ltd. said, "Biryani is more than a product, it is celebration of being together. The love for Biryani is truly universal cutting across countries & cultures, transcending all age groups. As one of the leading Global Basmati Rice brands, Daawat believes Biryani should have a special day, an occasion to celebrate this delectable iconic dish, an appetite for which can almost never be satiated. LT Foods is committed to facilitate the consumers to celebrate the Biryani Day with its flagship variant Daawat Biryani and recently launced Daawat Biryani Kit. Biryani Day ko aaiye, jashn ke iss din ko biryani ke saath banaiyein aur manaiyein." To create awareness of the World Biryani Day, Daawat Basmati Rice will be launching an extensive 360 degree multi-country digital campaign supported by a television & radio campaign, an outdoor and an influencer both national and regional marketing initiative, which will all culminate on the 3rd of July with on ground events as well. Daawat Basmati Rice is the finest Basmati and it is available across 60 countries. The premium heirloom rice grain is aged to perfection with unmatched aroma and rich flavours making the Biryani made from Daawat a total standout. Daawat has also recently launched a Biryani Kit for the convenience of cooking authentic & delicious Biryani at home in three distinct variants Hyderabadi, Kolkata, and Lucknowi. Link - youtu.be/C2xR3OH15KE LT Foods Ltd. (NSE: DAAWAT, BSE: 532783), LT Foods is into Consumer Food business for the last 70 years, a leading player in the specialty rice and rice food products and organic business across the globe, delivering the finest quality and taste experiences in more than 60 countries. The Company portfolio includes a range of power brands that include Daawat- one of India's most loved and consumed Basmati brands, Royal- North America's no. 1 Basmati player and other regional leading brands. The Company is also proudly expanding its organic play by supplying organic food ingredients to leading businesses as well as offering organic staples to consumers in markets across the globe. The Company has consolidated revenue of around Rs 5,451 crore as on FY22. The Company has an integrated "Farm to Fork" approach with well-entrenched Distribution Network with Global Supply Chain Hubs backed by Automated state-of-the art and strategically located Processing Units in India, the US and Europe, and a robust distribution network with 1300+ distributors across globe. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 21 (ANI/PRNewswire): CARD91, a global payment infrastructure powering B2B payments, announced a strategic partnership with YES BANK and RuPay, the flagship product of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Through this partnership, CARD91 will create a card management system that will allow companies to launch a variety of co-branded card instruments as well as maintain a real-time dashboard to generate insights. This will enable CARD91 to expand its presence in the Indian payments market. CARD91's partnership with YES BANK and RuPay will enable the company to provide businesses of all kinds across various sectors with a range of card instruments for managing and securing payments. Businesses will now have an option to choose from co-branded or non-branded card instruments, thereby giving them an innovative solution to address specific use. CARD91 is a plug-and-play Payment Issuance Infrastructure designed to help businesses launch co-branded cards and simplify payments. By managing compliance, regulation, infrastructure, lending, issuance, and customer service, the company offers a seamless process for the launch of co-branded payment cards. CARD91 optimises costs, decreases launch time and provides real-time insights and data on card instruments. CARD91 allows businesses to monitor their payment flows, from onboarding to processing transactions and data reconciliation. Banks can offer their customers access to new-age payment services, as well as support card-based lending. The company is also in discussion with other brands about co-branded instruments. "We are delighted to partner with YES BANK and RuPay," said Ajay Pandey, co-founder of CARD91. "This partnership will help us offer businesses a simple and secure way to manage their payments, compatible with a wide range of payment networks across the country. By utilizing the scalable CARD91 infrastructure, businesses will be able to launch any type of card instrument quickly and gain real-time insight into their usage. Our aim is to further revolutionise and accelerate the Indian digital payments system." Speaking on the occasion, Naveen Chaluvadi, Chief Digital Officer, YES BANK, said, "We are pleased to partner with CARD91 on this technology-driven project platform. This is in line with our strategy of nurturing innovation, strengthening the payments ecosystem and creating commercial models that will provide value for our customers and clients. This partnership aims to provide technology support to propel go-to-market for businesses, enabling them to launch multiple prepaid payment instruments, thereby delivering the convenience of digital-first solutions to more consumers. We are looking forward to step-up our efforts to deliver a range of solutions that add value to customers and push the boundaries through this strategic arrangement with the help of partnerships across multiple programs." Nalin Bansal, Chief of Corporate and Fintech Relationships and Key Initiatives, NPCI, said, "We are pleased to be an integral part of CARD91's new-age solutions in terms of card management system for businesses. We believe such kind of initiatives will further add value to RuPay's journey of providing a seamless and tech-led corporate payment management experience to businesses. With RuPay's immense popularity among retail customers, we are confident to witness its increased adoption among the business fraternity as well." Bengaluru-based CARD91, which has offices in Mumbai and Delhi, is poised to become a major player in the global payment infrastructure market. CARD91 recently emerged from stealth mode and raised USD 13 million in a Pre-Series A round of funding. In August 2020, Ajay Pandey, Kush Srivastava, and Vineet Saxena founded the technology startup. All three have founded successful ventures in the past, including Myntra, Mastiff, and Quiklo. For more information, please visit https://www.card91.io/ This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India] June 21 (ANI/NewsVoir): Go Green Warehouses Private Limited, an integrated commodity management solutions provider, announced the raising of structured debt finance from a domestic financial institution. Founded by Maulik Shah in 2012, Go Green Warehouses Private Limited is a one-stop solution for Agri Value Chain. To make the agri-value chain smoother for farmers and FPOs, Go Green Warehouses also offer financial facilitation and collateral management for the harvested stock as services. They are currently present across 13 states. Go Green has raised funding to fuel its growth and feed its working capital needs. Go Green sought GetFive Corporate Advisors LLP, an Ahmedabad-based boutique Investment Banking and M&A Transaction Advisory firm, help to secure the required funding. GetFive helped Go Green define an efficient structure for financial institutions' potential investors and helped them find and get the right financer on board. True to their benchmark, they turned the deal in 2 months. An elated Maulik Shah, Managing Director, Go Green Warehouses Private Limited said, "The GetFive team took our requirements as their own and helped build the structure from scratch. They took the pain to understand our business model in-depth and analyze the optimal funding required. They handheld us through the entire process, ensuring a short turnaround time to secure funds." "It was exciting to work with Go Green's team. We as team Getfive is totally convinced on the vision of Maulik Bhai and It was the immense support of the Go Green team that the execution was smooth and as per the requirements of the company," said Shrikant Goyal, Co-founding Member and Managing Partner, GetFive. Founded by Maulik Shah in 2012, Go Green Warehouses Private Limited is a one-stop solution for Agri Value Chain. To make the agri-value chain smoother for farmers and FPOs, Go Green Warehouses also offer financial facilitation and collateral management for the harvested stock as services. They are currently present across 13 states. GetFive Corporate Advisors LLP is a boutique Investment Banking and M&A Transaction Advisory firm based in Ahmedabad. GetFive prides itself on being an agile and dynamic financial firm that believes in customer delight. GetFive, with the mission to unlock the business potential of its clients, offers financial consultancy in Fundraising, Merger and Acquisition, Transactional Advisory, IPO Readiness assessment, and Start-up advisory services. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat has offices in the USA, Australia, Canada, Norway and New Zealand. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
Pune (Maharashtra) [India] June 21 (ANI/Hunk Golden and Media): The Confederation of Digital Construction Practitioners - India (CDCPIndia), a not-for-profit, non-commercial organization conceived and set up by group of digital transformation process professionals from the Construction and Infrastructure sector across India, recently organized an inaugural virtual event for launching the "INDIA" Strategy for inclusive infrastructure digitalization. The event was attended by 500+ professionals from the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Owner Operator (AECO) community. The event was organized under the aegis of NITI Aayog and was co-participated by Building Smart International (BIM). The event observed thought leadership discussions and presentations from Abhishek Agarwal, Senior Specialist Director - NITI Aayog Policy and Infrastructure Development, Jugal Makwana - Board Member, Building Smart International, Malcolm Taylor (Expert Advisor - Crossrail International, UK), and V T Chandra Sekhar Rao (Vice President and Dean- L&T IPM). In the keynote address, Abhishek Agarwal, Senior Specialist Director - NITI Aayog Policy and Infrastructure Development emphasized "the acute need for adopting Digitalization in the Infrastructure Sector. While the government has already adopted BIM on several large projects including Roads, Railways, Metros, and Airports, it is yet to pick up on most mid-size and smaller projects. NITI is considering and evaluating strategies to provide a platform like Gatishakti or equivalent CDE platforms." Agarwal further added that the "Government is already monitoring all projects of about 150 Crores through an integrated dashboard system and is further working to include more projects into it. BIM and Digitalization can enhance project efficiency by almost 20 per cent. India will collaborate with the UK and other countries to exchange learnings and opportunities in BIM-related initiatives. From a Nationwide adoption perspective, India has been a major contributor (almost to a tune of 30 per cent) toward supporting Global BIM and Digitalization related IT & ITES needs. We would like to encourage CDCPIndia to further expand the activities and continue the efforts in this direction. NITI Aayog will continue to endorse their initiatives." According to CDCPIndia, "By 2030, India is positioned to be the 3rd largest economy and hit the $5T mark. Capital Delivery and Asset Maintenance across sectors shall contribute to more than 20 per cent of our overall economy. Complex infrastructure and massive scaling-up demands with limited resources will push us to deliver more with less. Effective Digitalization of the Infrastructure Delivery and Maintenance Processes will be one of the key success factors in achieving India's Infrastructure Goals. Digitalization will not only help improve our efficiency and it will be a great contributor to achieving India's net-zero goals. India's Digitalization Story will paint a new canvas, it will have its own unique advantages and its own unique challenges." The purpose of setting up CDCPIndia is to Inspire and collaborate to advance Digital processes and Technologies in the Indian infrastructure and construction sector. This forum has been created in the national interest to provide strategic contributions to help India advance in adopting Digital processes along with Digital Technologies in the Construction and Infrastructure sector. The philosophy works on the principles of collaborating with several existing Associations/Confederations and providing them with the required intellectual bandwidth to evolve a policy-level framework that will help them and their members in the Infrastructural/AECO sector in adopting Digitalization. The Vision of the Society is to "Inspire and Collaborate to advance Digitally enabled Processes and Technologies in India" Jugal Makwana from Building Smart applauded the program and elaborated on the vision of Building Smart International to promote a community-driven open and vendor-neutral BIM. Building Smart doesn't yet have a chapter in India and with so much potential it should happen sooner than later. Malcolm Taylor from Crossrail International, UK suggested the need of building up a standard for assuring consistent digital outcomes across sectors and projects. The lack of such standards will only create vendor-driven information and product specifications that may keep varying from project to project. VTCS Rao from L&T IPM explained from an India perspective key factor that can accelerate the Digitalization Processes, especially in the project management part where is a clear lacking due to which there is time and cost overruns. He emphasized the Digital Asset Creation Approach in terms of capacity, data, flow, and orientation of assets. The "INDIA" Strategy evolved by CDCPIndia provides a refreshing approach for Infrastructure Digitalization which will be unique, innovative and inclusive. President of CDCPIndia Swaraj Datta Gupta unveiled the INDIA Strategy, which means I (Inspiring Community), N (National Mandate), D (Democratization of Data), I (Incentivized Implementation), and A (Aid - Facilitation and Support). These 5 Pillars of the INDIA strategy will be key drivers governing the success of our Digitalization Initiatives. CDCPIndia will continue to engage public sector and policy think tanks to build the country-level governance and mandates recommendation. Founded in 2021, The Confederation of Digital Construction Practitioners - India (CDCPIndia) is a National Society registered in India under The Societies Registration Act, 1860. The Society has been founded by experienced Digital and Construction Professionals and the Board of CDCPIndia includes Swaraj Datta Gupta (Advisor - Infrastructure Digitalization), Sunil Joshi (Executive Director - DGTRA), Anil Mutalik (VP - Bhartiya Urban), Sonali Dhopte (Director - Excelize), Yash Pratap Singh (Partner - Business Consulting, KPMG India), Dr Ashwin Mahalingam (Professor - IIT Madras), Dr Venkata Santosh Kumar Delhi (Associate Professor IIT Bombay and Anantrao Jagtap Chair), Rajiv Nehru (In Market Lead - Asia Pacific RICS), P R Surendhra Babu (Ex. VP Digital Engineering - L&T Construction), Girish Thagaria (Founder - 4 Figure), Vinod Sudam (CEO - Architectural Solutions). The initial executive committee of CDCPIndia composed of Technical Experts and Academicians include Arunkumar Sambhu, Umesh Jamakhandi, Jeetu Soneji, Vijayeta Malla, Renuka Mandlik and Arunidhi Sharma. Vision and Objectives are as follows: The Vision of CDCPIndia is to "Inspire and Collaborate to advance Digitally enabled Processes and Technologies in India". Improve Asset Lifecycle Efficiency through Confederation and Collaboration with various Professionals and Communities relating to the AECO sector. Inspire Industry Stakeholders to adopt Collaborative, outcome-driven Digital Information Management Processes. Facilitate skill development in Digital Information Delivery for various industry stakeholders to help them deliver Project effectively and efficiently. Partner with Policymakers to facilitate consistent, collaborative, transparent and outcome-driven Digital Information Delivery Processes. "Initiate various AECO Digital Enablement Chapters (DEC) for knowledge sharing. "Partner with Academia to leverage recent research and align them with dynamically changing Industry trends and digital advancements. The Linkedin page can be visited for more details: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cdcpindia/ Website http://www.cdcpindia.org For further media queries, please contact: Sonia Kulkarni | Hunk Golden and Media 9820184099 | sonia.kulkarni@hunkgolden.in This story is provided by Hunk Golden and Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Hunk Golden and Media)
GMR Infrastructure Limited on Tuesday said it would give high priority to 'Agniveers' in providing employment through its subsidiary RAXA Security Solutions Ltd. Raxa Security Solutions Ltd is a premier security company of the GMR Group and provides man-guarding services, techno security solutions, fire services, and cyber security services. With an eye for detail and quality, RAXA is now one of the finest security solutions companies in India. The Government of India has recently introduced the innovative "Agnipath" scheme for youth willing to join the Armed forces and serve the nation. This scheme would produce trained soldiers, many of whom would be available for jobs beyond the defense services after the completion of the four-year period. Inspired by the scheme, GMR Infrastructure Limited has decided to give high priority to Agniveers who are willing to pursue a new career in the private security domain and offer them employment in its subsidiary, RAXA Security Solutions for a variety of assignments, the company said in a statement. "Corporate world would offer a vast horizon to these Agniveers after they retire from active duty of the Armed Forces. There are various fulfilling job opportunities that a security company like RAXA has and we believe that with their discipline, teamwork, and training skills, Agniveers shall be a great asset for RAXA," said Ashwani Lohani, CEO of GMR Services Business. RAXA Security Solutions provides security services to several premier clients including GMR Group in 15 states across India. RAXA Security Solutions has experts in the field of fire services and physical, electronic, and cyber security. RAXA has established many benchmarks in the private security domain and has also partnered with several companies of repute to provide appropriate security solutions, the company noted in the statement. GMR Group is the largest private airport operator in Asia and the 2nd largest in the world with a passenger handling capacity of over 189 million annually. (ANI)
New Delhi [India] June 21 (ANI/NewsVoir): P Udayakumar, Director (Plng & Mktg), NSIC assumed additional charge of CMD NSIC with effect from 20-06-2022. He is a Mechanical engineer from College of Engg, Guindy with post-graduation from IIM Bangalore with 12 years of Board experience. He is an expert in the MSME domain. He was part of many initiatives of Ministry of MSME and NSIC's growth story over 12 years. He is also an Investment Committee member of the PE growth fund namely SRI Fund, the Fund of Fund of Ministry of MSME. He will also be Chairman of NSIC Venture capital fund Ltd. He writes on MSME development issues. National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), is an ISO 9001-2015 certified Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). NSIC has been working to promote, aid and foster the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises in the country. NSIC operates through countrywide network of offices and Technical Centres in the Country. In addition, NSIC has set up Training cum Incubation Centre managed by professional manpower. NSIC facilitates Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises with a set of specially tailored scheme to enhance their competitiveness. NSIC provides integrated support services under Marketing, Technology, Finance and other Support Services. For more information, please visit www.nsic.co.in. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 21 (ANI/NewsVoir): HDFC Life has declared its highest ever bonus on its participating plans. The bonus of Rs 2465 cr. was announced in the Company's Board meeting held in April 2022. 5.87 lakh policyholders are eligible for this bonus. Out of the total amount of Rs 2465 cr., Rs 1,803 cr. will be payable in this financial year, as bonus on maturing policies or as cash bonuses. The remaining bonus amount would be payable in the future as and when policies cease to exist on account of maturity, death or surrender. Vibha Padalkar, MD & CEO, HDFC Life, said, "We are pleased to announce market competitive bonus payouts year after year. It is our way of exceeding the expectations of our policyholders who strongly believe in financially securing themselves and their loved ones and have entrusted us with their hard-earned money. We stay committed to uphold the trust they have placed in us. It is our promise to keep delivering value to all." HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited ('HDFC Life' / 'Company') is a joint venture between HDFC Ltd., India's leading housing finance institution and abrdn (Mauritius Holdings) 2006 Limited, a global investment company. Established in 2000, HDFC Life is a leading, listed, long-term life insurance solutions provider in India, offering a range of individual and group insurance solutions that meet various customer needs such as Protection, Pension, Savings, Investment, Annuity and Health. As on March 31, 2022, the Company had 39 individual and 13 group products in its portfolio, along with 7 optional rider benefits, catering to a diverse range of customer needs. HDFC Life continues to benefit from its increased presence across the country having a wide reach with 372 branches and additional distribution touch-points through several new tie-ups and partnerships. HDFC Life has nearly 300 partnerships, comprising traditional partners such as NBFCs, MFIs and SFBs, and including new-ecosystem partners. The Company has a strong base of financial consultants. For more information, please visit our website www.hdfclife.com. You may also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. 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) on Tuesday granted three months extension to banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to comply with certain provisions related to issuing credit and debit cards, including activation of cards without customers' consent. The RBI issued a notification regarding the 'extension of timeline for implementation of certain provisions of Master Direction - Credit Card and Debit Card - Issuance and Conduct Directions, 2022' "Considering various representations received from the industry stakeholders, it has been decided to extend the timeline for implementation of the following provisions of the Master Direction to October 01, 2022," the RBI noted in the notification. Banks and NBFCs that issue debit and credit cards were to implement the Master Direction on 'Credit Card and Debit Card - Issuance and Conduct Directions, 2022' from July 1. Now they have not three more months to comply with the Master Direction. One of the key provisions of the Master Direction relates to the activation of credit card. As per the Master Direction, card issuers must seek One Time Password (OTP) based consent from the cardholder for activating a credit card, if the same has not been activated by the customer for more than 30 days from the date of issuance. "Card-issuers shall seek One Time Password (OTP) based consent from the cardholder for activating a credit card, if the same has not been activated by the customer for more than 30 days from the date of issuance. If no consent is received for activating the card, card-issuers shall close the credit card account without any cost to the customer within seven working days from date of seeking confirmation from the customer," the RBI said in the Master Direction. Other provisions are related to credit card limits and levies. "Card-issuers shall ensure that the credit limit as sanctioned and advised to the cardholder is not breached at any point in time without seeking explicit consent from the cardholder," the RBI said in the notification. No capitalisation of unpaid charges/levies/taxes for charging/ compounding of interest, it added. The RBI further noted that the "stipulated timeline for implementation of rest of the provisions of the Master Direction remains unchanged." (ANI)
Cryptocurrency exchange Vauld on Tuesday said it has decided to reduce its headcount by about 30 per cent, as the global crypto market nosedives amid volatile market conditions. Darshan Bathija, Co-founder and CEO of Vauld platform, said that the workforce reduction impacts every team in the organisation "with a bias towards our marketing and talent acquisition teams". "The bias is because we're slowing down efforts associated with those teams. We are working with each person affected and pay them two months of their salaries as a severance payment and ensure that they retain their signing and/or joining bonus," Bathija said in a statement. The company is also reducing its marketing expenses, slowing down hiring efforts, reducing executive compensation by 50 per cent and pausing most vendor engagements. The platform said it will provide 12 months of medical insurance for the affected and their immediate family and work closely "with them to find a great place to work". "This is not a decision we take lightly but given the economic slowdown, we concluded that this was the right course of action. The market conditions have gotten more uncertain, even for crypto companies," Bathija admitted. Founded in 2018, the Singapore-registered startup raised $27 million and aimed to reach one million users in the US, followed by Europe, Singapore and India. "To the colleagues who we're parting ways with, I'm extremely grateful for your contributions towards helping Vauld serve 800k+ clients and offer world-class services, and I'm sorry," said Bathija. Vauld, which is more like a crypto bank for financial products than a crypto exchange, treats cryptocurrency as a core asset class. Earlier, Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange Bybit announced to lay off 2,000 employees -- around 30 percent of its workforce. Earlier this month, global crypto exchanges and firms including Coinbase, Gemini, Crypto.com and others announced to downsize their workforce Ain the crypto winter. --IANS na/vd ( 322 Words) 2022-06-21-19:24:01 (IANS)
American author Katherine Schwarzenegger shared glimpses of her second child, Eloise Christina with husband Chris Pratt, in a string of photos on social media. "May & June," captioned Schwarzenegger on Instaram. The picture revealed the 'Maverick and Me' author smiling at the camera while Eloise's tiny hand was peeking out, reported Page Six. As for the second image, the infant's tiny legs seemed to be resting on her mother's lap. Schwarzenegger also shared a picture of her elder daughter, 1-year-old Lyla Maria, picking a daisy from the ground. However, the author made sure not to reveal either of her daughter's faces in the images, reported Page Six. Speaking on her decision of keeping her kids away from social media, the former podcast host in a special appearance on the 'Today' show told journalist Hoda Kotb, "I didn't grow up with social media being a thing at all... I feel like we share so much in today's world." In May, the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' actor, Chris Pratt announced that his wife Schwarzenegger had given birth to his second child, reported Page Six. The couple tied the knot in June 2019, and their elder daughter was born in August 2020. Chris is also a father of 9-year-old son Jack who he shares with his ex-wife Anna Faris. Earlier, in an interview, Pratt shared his desire to have more children with his wife in the future. "I would love to have more, as many as the man upstairs will provide. We'll do it. I'll probably have to talk to Katherine about that but my plan is, let's go," he said at that time. The actor further heaped praises on his wife for her perfect parenting skills, reported Page Six. "Katherine just has the most amazing maternal instincts. She just really knows what to do. I'll follow her lead." said Pratt. (ANI)
Actor and producer Dia Mirza shared some behind-the-scene pictures of her shoot in Ladakh for the film 'Dhak Dhak', calling it 'an experience of a lifetime'. "This movie is an experience of a lifetime. Each day spent on this journey has given us the gift of grace. So grateful!" captioned the 'Sanju' actor on Instagram. In the first picture, Dia flashed a broad smile while taking a selfie against the backdrop of a Ladakh monastery, surrounded by mountains. Dia glowed in the picture without any makeup and let her brunette wavy hair loose as the sun shined on her locks. She looked quite graceful in the selfie. As for the second image, Dia could be seen wearing a sweater-like shawl having horizontal prints. Underneath, she sported a black high-neck cardigan, to beat the cold. The beautiful background of hills, blue skies, and clouds, makes the picture look quite aesthetic. The actor also shared glimpses of Ladakh, sharing an image of the monastery, having the typical red doors, carved with various colourful motifs and curtains hanging from the top. The fourth image revealed two kids, presumably belonging to the monastery, wearing Pandit hats and adjusting a carpet. Dia showed the breathtaking valley of Ladakh in the fifth picture with mountains on either side and a river flowing in between. The brown hills contrasting with the blue sky and river gave real travel goals. Helmed by Tarun Dudeja, the film 'Dhak Dhak' belongs to the adventure genre which follows the story of a road trip undertaken by a girl gang. Apart from Dia herself, the film also stars Fatima Sana Shaikh, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Sanjana Sanghi in lead roles. A powerful speaker, Dia even spoke on the topic of ageism in Bollywood. She said that she feels liberated and empowered by doing the role that has been coming her way. "Ageism is something that we have to contend with and I am glad the opportunities that are coming my way today in so many ways have fixed this problem. It is a powerful recognition and intervention that I am playing the best parts of my life now when I am 40. This is just so amazing, liberating, empowering, and wonderful," said the actor. (ANI)
On the eve of a second trial pitting the Kardashian family against former reality TV star Blac Chyna, a settlement deal has been reached. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the trial over Chyna's allegations that her former boyfriend Rob Kardashian intentionally released nude images of her in 2017 following their traumatic breakup was supposed to begin Monday, but the parties told the judge that they had agreed to a settlement, as per court fillings. Attorneys for both sides did not immediately respond to emails requesting comments and specifics on the conditions of the settlement. After a judge last week refused Kardashian's attorneys' petition to enforce a settlement agreement the two parties claimed they had struck, a trial appeared to be a foregone conclusion. The trial was to be a sort of follow-up to a defamation trial earlier this year, in which Chyna, whose legal name is Angela White, claimed that Kardashian's mother and sisters -- Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, and Kylie Jenner -- had defamed her as violent and unstable, leading to the cancellation of her reality show, Rob & Chyna. On May 2, the Kardashians scored a resounding victory in that trial. The four ladies had been present for the majority of the hearings and had all testified, despite the fact that they were in New York for the Met Gala at the time the decision was read. Rob Kardashian, who shares a kid with Chyna, was not a defendant in the trial, but he testified about the late-night brawl that ended their relationship. Chyna had originally filed a single case against the entire family, but the judge ordered that Rob's allegations, which included assault allegations, should be heard separately. Only Rob and Kris Kardashian were slated to testify at the second trial, as fewer members of the famous family were expected to attend. Jurors determined the Kardashians acted in bad faith in their interactions with producers of Rob & Chyna and executives from the E! network, which aired the show, regarding the couple's problems. However, they determined that it had no significant impact on Chyna's contract or the show's future, and she was not awarded any damages. After the verdict, Chyna's lawyer, Lynne Ciani, said she and her client were disappointed, but felt vindicated by the jury's findings, which she said demonstrated that Chyna had not physically abused Rob and validated their claim that the Kardashian women had tried to interfere with her contract to be on the show. (ANI)
Following the release of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's biopic 'Major', Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently met with the movie's lead star Adivi Sesh along with Unnikrishnan's parents to congratulate them on the film's success. Adivi Sesh showed 10 minutes of the film to the CM and also invited him to watch the entire movie. They discussed it at length and Yogi Adityanath promised to spread the word and legacy of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan to the world. The CM congratulated them on making a great film and presented the actor and Major Sandeep's parents with a shawl and silver coin as a memento. Speaking about the recent meeting, Adivi said, "I'm so overwhelmed with all the love that is pouring in for the film. People from all over the country are honouring Major Sandeep's memory and legacy and to us that is the biggest win. We recently met Yogi Adityanath ji and he had some wonderful things to say to me and Major Sandeep's parents. He presented us with a shawl and silver coin and also felt that Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's legacy is one that the world deserves to honour." Not too long ago, the actor had also met Maharashtra Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray, to discuss the plans for the Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan fund that will help CDS and NDA aspirants from remote corners of the country to receive the training, guidance and funding to pursue their dreams of serving the nation. The film revolves around Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who lost his life-fighting terrorists during the 2008 Mumbai serial attacks. 'Major' has been directed by Sashi Karan Tikka. It was shot simultaneously in two languages - Telugu and Hindi. At the same time, it will be released in Malayalam as well. Sobhita Dhulipala, Saiee Manjrekar, Prakash Raj, Revathi and Murli Sharma are also a part of 'Major' which was released on June 3. (ANI)
Shahid took to his Instagram handle and shared a video featuring of himself and his co-star Kiara Advani. Shahid looks handsome in a grey suit that he paired with a classy white shirt. On the other hand, Kiara wore a stunning off-shoulder white dress and completed her look by leaving her tresses open. The on-screen couple made a stylish entry.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CfD02qQDfqz/?hl=en

In the video's background, 'Wada wow' is playing while the on-screen couple made a stylish entry.

Sharing the video, the actor wrote, "3 years of Kabir and Preeti #KabirSingh".

The film 'Kabir Singh' was a massive success that brought Shahid nationwide acclaim. The film received controversial reviews from critics but positive responses from the fans. It was the biggest hit movie of Shahid to date.

The 'Haider' actor plays the role of Kabir, a short-tempered surgeon who goes on a path of self-destruction, consuming drugs and alcohol after he cannot marry the love of his life Preeti (Kiara Advani).

'Kabir Singh' is the Hindi remake of the Telugu hit 'Arjun Reddy'. The original blockbuster starred Vijay Deverakonda and Shalini Pandey.

Helmed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Murad Khetani, Krishan Kumar, and Ashwin Varde, the film was the highest-grossing movie of the year 2019. (ANI)
Following student backlash to his controversial Netflix comedy special, 'The Closer', comedian Dave Chappelle has decided not to have his name attached to a new performing arts theatre at his old high school. According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Washington Post reported, that Chappelle made the announcement at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts' theatre dedication ceremony on Monday night. The event had been postponed since November after students at the school chastised the comedian for his film The Closer, which featured a number of transphobic jokes. At the dedication ceremony, Chappelle addressed the rift between him and the student body, stating that the backlash had "hurt" him. As per HuffPo editor Philip Lewis, Chappelle said, "No matter what they say about The Closer, it is still [one of the] most-watched specials on Netflix," adding that it was a "masterpiece." Lewis wrote that Chappelle described himself as "maybe a once in a lifetime talent." Speaking to the student backlash, Chappelle said, "these kids didn't understand that they were instruments of artistic oppression." "The more you say I can't say something, the more urgent it is for me to say it", he added. Instead of his name, the theatre will be known as the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression, according to Chappelle. Following the initial Duke Ellington backlash in November, Chappelle returned to the school to speak with nearly 600 students about the controversy surrounding his special. Politico reported at the time, that the comedian received a chilly welcome, was accused of endangering trans lives, and was told that he was handling the storm of criticism like a "child", as per The Hollywood Reporter. Chappelle is Duke Ellington's most famous former student, having raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the school and bringing celebrities such as Bradley Cooper and Chris Tucker to campus. (ANI)
On the occasion of International Yoga Day on Tuesday, veteran actor Anil Kapoor is celebrating the event to the fullest, as he shares glimpses acing various yoga asanas on social media. On Tuesday, the 65-year-old actor who is well known for his timeless grooming secrets took to his Instagram handle and shared a series of images from his vanity van, as he could be seen performing yoga asanas and exercises. In the caption, Anil shared his secret to leading a happy and healthy life. He wrote, "Celebrating World Yoga Day! For a happy & healthy mind & body everyone should do some form of yoga every day! This is my advice so you can also #jugjuggjeeyo". In response to the series of glimpses, Anil's 'Jug Jugg Jeeyo' co-star, actor Varun Dhawan wrote a hilarious comment giving a shoutout to Anil Kapoor's intense yoga poses, he said, "Sir are u an alien please be honest how can u be 65 my god this man #inspirational". In the pictures, Our 'Mr India' could be seen performing various yoga asanas as he undergoes an intense workout session. Veteran actor Anil Kapoor is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming film, 'Jug Jugg Jeeyo'. Raj Mehta's directorial 'JugJugg Jeeyo', produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and Viacom18 studios. The family entertainer will hit the theatres on June 24 after suffering several delays due to COVID-19. The comedy-drama film has already created mass hysteria around it, has Varun Dhawan, Kiara Advani, Neetu Kapoor, and Anil Kapoor in lead roles. Reality TV star Varun Sood will also do a cameo appearance in the film. The film also marks the Bollywood debut of social media influencer-actor Prajakta Kohli. (ANI)
British film and documentary director James Marsh is all geared up to direct the latest hybrid animated documentary feature having the working title 'Oasis, Saving the Baghdad Zoo'. According to Variety, the new documentary is somewhat based on the book 'Babylon's Ark', written by authors Graham Spence and Lawrence Anthony which follows the narrative of two characters, namely, Saddam Hussein and his son Uday who undertake a rescue operation for one year in order to save abandoned animals across the territory of Baghdad. Described as the new version of the Noah's Ark story, the film is will portray how a group of Iraqi zookeepers, American soldiers, and international volunteers, risked their own lives to save and look after a wide variety of animal species, from lions, bears, camels, monkeys, exotic birds, and others amid a brutal battle. The production company, Submarine, which hosts a dedicated animation studio will work in collaboration with Sandpaper Films, who first developed the story of the 'Oasis', reported Variety. The animated-hybrid-documentary would include 2D, and 3D, including real-life interviews and archive footage as well. Bruno Felix and Femke Wolting will be the executive producers of the film. As per the director, Marsh this animated documentary feature will bring the 'story to life'. "It's going to be an exciting formal challenge to bring this poignant and uplifting story to life. I see the film as... a documentary, rooted in the eyewitness testimony of the people who helped rescue the animals and save the zoo. The choice of animation allows us a lot of creative freedom to visualize the story and... give the animals a point of view on the human world where they witness both the best and worst of humanity," said Marsh. According to the story 'Babylon's Ark', a zoo in Baghdad was abandoned in the year 2003 after the Battle of Baghdad, when the troops of Hussein battled against the U.S. military. However, during the chaos, a team of volunteers decided to venture out in the quest for the missing animal of the zoo which comprised a pride of lions moving forward toward Hussein's palace and a herd of Arabian horses nearing the war zone. Marsh has bagged both the Oscars and the Bafta awards for his notable works, reported Variety. He won the Oscars for his documentary 'Man on the Wire' as well as for his film 'The Theory of Everything', a biopic, based on the life of renowned scientist Stephen Hawking. (ANI)
Every year, International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21 for its umpteen wellness factors. The health benefits of yoga are indeed numerous. It offers relief from various physical ailments, improves one's mental health, and helps in detoxifying the body. However, it is quite an uphill task to make children understand the importance of yoga and tell them to follow a strict routine to engage in practising the asanas. But, fret not, as here is a list of 5 fun and easy yoga asanas for children that they can incorporate into their lives, and enjoy themselves while doing so! 1. Utrasana (Camel pose) One of the easiest yoga poses is the Utrasana which will strengthen and energize your child. All you have to do is ask your kid to kneel perpendicular to the floor with their toes apart and stretch back their hands in such a position that their fingers touch the heel. The position should be held upto 5-10 breath counts before your kid exhales. Utrasana helps in toughening the back and thigh muscles along with overcoming slouchiness. 2. Matsyasana (Fish Pose) Matsyasana or the Fish Pose is another interesting asana for children to try. To practise this pose, one has to lie on their back by joining their hands and feet together. Once the child is comfortable in the position, they should slowly lift their body and curve their back gently until their head touches the floor. The position should be held for a few seconds before returning to the original position. Matsyasana is known to stretch stomach, and chest muscles. It also improves digestion and cardiovascular systems. 3. Dhanurasana (Bow Pose) The Bow pose or Dhanurasana will relieve your kid from stress and improve their mental health. To ace this position the child has to lie on their stomach, keeping the feet apart. Next, they should fold up their knees while stretching their arms behind. Ask the toddler to gently lift up their chest and look straight in front. They should stay in the position for 15-20 minutes before relaxing. Dhanurasana is a great way to boost one's stamina as well. 4. Balasana (Child's Pose) Literally known as the Child's Pose, Balasana is one of the easiest to perform. Adolescents should keep their knees flat on the yoga mat while stretching out their arms, keeping their fingers and forehead planted to the ground for about 5 minutes. The child should focus on their breathing. Once your child gets in the habit of performing the Balasana, it would render a calmness in them. 5. Gomukhasana (Cow-Face Posture) Although the name sounds funny, if practised properly, Gomukhasana enables the release of stiffness from the shoulders and the hip area, enhancing flexibility and improving stress. To perform this asana, the kid has to sit upright on the ground, stretching out both of his knees. Next, the left knee should be bent while the right leg should be placed over the left thigh. After the position is achieved, both the arms should be stretched from behind, until the hands meet. This posture with hands clasped from behind and one leg of the other should be maintained for about one minute before doing the reverse. These asanas are not only easy to perform but also quite enjoyable for your kids. These yoga poses if practised with consistency will improve your child's wellness and help them in achieving physical, mental, and spiritual stability. During his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi first floated the idea of International Yoga Day. The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations. With universal recognition and growing popularity of Yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. (ANI)
A day after IANS broke the story about how a Dalit student of a reputed college under Delhi University was being harassed by her jilted lover, and the police allegedly didn't help her, senior police occicers took note of the matter and lodged an FIR. However, the women police officers asked the girl to go to the court on her own if she wanted to get her statement recorded. The girl then reached the Tis Hazari court on her own. Sameer Sharma, DCP, Outer Delhi, said that an FIR under the relevant sections of the IPC was lodged in this respect. The girl had alleged that her parents had asked her to quit education after the accused, Abhishek Rathore, allegedly circulated her photos. They had approached the cops but no action was taken. The victim's family then approached different authorities. IANS broke the story after which cops swung into action and lodged the FIR. However, they have not arrested the accused yet. --IANS atk/arm ( 187 Words) 2022-06-20-22:36:02 (IANS)
Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday demanded an apology from Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay over his "Hitler" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi to take action against him. Sahay on Monday sought to compare PM Modi with Hitler and said "he will die like Hitler" if he takes to tactics of the German dictator. Sahay said BJP had "pulled down" two-three Congress-ruled state governments and alleged that the Prime Minister was behaving "like a dictator". "I think he has surpassed Hitler's history. Modi will die Hitler's death if he follows his path," Sahay, a former union minister, said. However, Congress distanced itself from Sahay's remarks made at the party's 'satyagraha' protest against ED questioning of Rahul Gandhi and Agnipath scheme in Delhi, stating "we do not agree with any indecent remarks against the Prime Minister". "Seeing PM Modi's increasing popularity and his work for the welfare of the poor, the Congress leader has given such a statement in anger and panic. With what mentality do Congress leaders make such statements. They have made such statements repeatedly," Thakur told mediapersons here. The Union Minister said that Sahay should apologize to the nation because 130 crore people of the country gave PM Modi a full majority to form a government. "I wish to ask the Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) and senior Congress leaders what action is being taken against this leader. They should apologise to the nation and they should apologise to the Prime Minister," he asked. He further said that the voters will punish Congress as they did in Gujarat and elsewhere in the country if Congress continued to make such remarks against the Prime Minister but strict action should be taken against such a leader. "The remarks made by the Congress leader on respected Prime Minister Modi ji shows his petty thinking, the fury and irritability arising out of the state-to-state slipping base," the Union Minister said in a tweet. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh distanced the party from Sahay's remarks even as he accused the Modi government of following "dictatorial ideology". "The Congress party will continue to fight against the dictatorial ideology and anti-people policies of the Modi government. But we do not agree with any indecent remarks against the Prime Minister. Our struggle will continue on Gandhian principles and way," Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet. Sahay defended his remarks and said he had repeated a slogan in his remarks."Ask Narendra Modi, he too must have raised this slogan. It's a slogan- jo Hitler ki chaal chalega, wo Hitler ki maut marega. Ask him what path is he taking. We have been raising this slogan earlier too," he said. He said he was not aware of the comments of Jairam Ramesh. Congress has urged the government to withdraw the Agnipath scheme, hold wide consultations, and address issues of quality, efficiency and economy, without compromising on the welfare of the armed forces. (ANI)
The top saints in Karnataka on Monday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for showing the hidden strengths of India to the world and "revolutionising Indian politics with unprecedented development works the country has ever seen". Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji said, "We are immensely pleased to have with us the celebrated Prime Minister of the nation, a statesman, world leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. Being a blessed son of the centenarian Mataji Shrimati Heeraben Ji, Modiji has revolutionised Indian politics with unprecedented development works the country has ever seen." He said that a new chapter in the public life of simplicity and honesty was heralded by the Prime Minister "He has not taken a day off for the last eight years. And working 18 hours a day without an iota of strain is an enigma for us. Perhaps the world has not seen such a leader in the recent past. Today the world looks up to India for its leadership qualities which have brought magical information to the social and economic sectors. As the saying goes: if Modi is there, everything is possible," he said. Mahaswamiji further said that India managed the deadly pandemic like no other country under his leadership. Be it painful lockdown or management of pandemic, or vaccination, India became the undisputed leader of democratic nations, he said. "The enigma of political and economic problems are finding spontaneous solutions. Old problems like Kashmir and Ram Mandir issues have been resolved, which was never dreamt earlier. The hidden strength of India is not only being discovered now but finding concrete expression in every part of Indian society," he added. He further said that this was Prime Minister's third visit to Matt while adding that his presence would be propelling factor for all to do something for their motherland. Expressing happiness over the visit of the Prime Minister, Mahaswamiji said, "We are happy that the PM is visiting Matt for the third time, once as Chief Minister of Gujarat and twice as Prime Minister. The presence of the Prime Minister would be propelling factor for all to do something for their motherland. The love for one's country is no more an insipid duty but a mission for all. This is the change we all wanted to see and we could see in our lifetime because of Modiji, who has rewritten human values for the whole world." He said that India wants to be led by PM Modi for many more years to come as he is scripting the prelude for the greater India of our dreams where ideal human life could thrive. "It was PM Modi ji who was instrumental in making 21st June as the official day of Yoga. May God bless him with immense strength and continued vigour for the service of the nation," he added. Another saint, Sri Siddeshwara Swamiji, who is the author of the three books released by PM Modi on Monday at Suttur Math said looking at PM Modi is good luck because he dedicates every hour of the day towards the welfare of the people. He termed PM Modi as 'Janapriya' and 'Lok Hitaishi'. Taking note of the enthusiastic audience, he further said, "Even looking at the PM is good luck because he dedicates every hour of the day towards the welfare of the people." Swamiji further said that it is a divine blessing that India has a Prime Minister like PM Modi, who is loved not only in India but the whole world. "He is respected everywhere. Then he goes on to make a point at which people laugh. Look how happy and energetic he looks even in the middle of such a busy schedule and today when we are releasing three books on Yoga, they are being released by PM Modi as he himself is a yogi," said Swamiji. Lauding PM's oratory, he said that PM Modi speaks very beautifully and he touches people's heart and their thoughts come alive. He also said that when the Prime Minister speaks the whole world listens out of respect. Swamiji also wished that PM Modi lives for a hundred years. When somebody reminded him that recently PM's mother turned 100, he said "He was sure PM's mother would have blessed him so that he touches 100 years and lives beyond that." Swamiji further added that everyone needs to learn to work hard the whole day as well as keep smiling. PM Modi took part in a programme at Sri Suttur Mutt, Mysuru on Monday and said temples and Mutt kept the culture and knowledge alive in the difficult period of centuries. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister bowed to the goddess Chamundeshwari and expressed his gratitude to be present at the Mutt and among the saints. The Prime Minister dedicated to people, many 'Bhashyas' to the Narad Bhakti Sutra, Shiv Sutra and Patanjali Yoga Sutra by Siddeshwara Swamiji. (ANI)
Emphasising speedy and affordable justice by consumer commissions across the country, Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday urged that all Commissions to see how digital media such as WhatsApp and e-mail can be generously used to issue notices, replies and other documents. Goyal inaugurated the National Workshop on 'Effective and Speedy Consumer Disputes Redressal' with the President and Members of the National Commission, President and Members of State Commissions and Presidents of selected District Commissions along with Principal Secretaries of the State organized by the Department of Consumer Affairs. Addressing a national workshop here, he said the Consumer Commissions should religiously follow the timelines as per the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 for expediting the disposal of cases. He said that the commissions should be able to dispose of cases within three to five months of filing which will provide speedy justice to consumers. According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Goyal said that to provide a faster and amicable mode of settlement of consumer disputes, the new Act (Consumer Protection Act 2019 that came into effect from July 2020) also introduces reference of consumer disputes to Mediation, with the consent of both parties. "This will not only save time and money involved in litigating the dispute, it will also help in reducing the pendency of cases. The Government is also taking proactive steps in encouraging the use of electronic mediation (e-mediation). This will help in ensuring that location and distance do not act as barriers whenever parties wish to opt for mediation for the settlement of cases. So far 153 District Commissions, 11 State Commissions along with National Commission have established mediation centres. I would like to request all States and UTs to expedite setting up mediation centres and appointing mediators," he said. The Union Minister highlighted the importance of digitization of all documents that are required to be submitted and urged all the Commissions to implement e-documentation and facilitate all documents and process to be online mode to enable hassle-free procedures for consumers. He emphasized that simplification of process leads to more effective and affordable justice system. Goyal added that delayed disposal and huge pendency remain a major challenge towards redressal of consumer grievances. He mentioned that as per the data on June 14, 2022, the pendency in the National Commission was 22,608; State Commission was 1,49,608 and District Commission was 4,66,034. He said that those seeking repeated adjournments should also be dealt with. He suggested that pendency can be reduced by bunching of similar cases and disposing it together. Highlighting 'justice delayed is justice denied' he expressed that like e-filing, importance should also be provided for e-disposal. He applauded the progress of e -daakhil portal which enables online filing of consumer complaints and urged the authorities to facilitate virtual hearings in all cases. The Union Minister said that to expedite the disposal of cases, the Act of 2019 provides that the District Commission shall send a copy of the admitted complaint within 21 days from the date of its admission to the opposite party. "The opposite has to furnish its reply within 30 days which may be extended by a maximum of 15 days. These initiatives are expected to reduce the pendency and achieve speedier redressal of cases. It is expected from the Commissions that they will work with their full potential in the interest of consumers and dispose of the oldest pending cases on priority," he added. He pressed that consumer is King and consumer is the centre of all the activities of the Government of India. "Therefore, the State Commissions should strengthen infrastructure for which Centre will extend support," he added. Goyal further stressed it should be the moral responsibility of everyone working in Consumer Commissions to consider their work not just as any job but as a service towards citizens. The Union Minister was optimistic that six months from now during the National Consumer Day in December 2022, the Commissions would be able to review their work towards speedy disposal of complaints. He further proposed services of BIS and NABL accredited laboratories may be utilised by consumer commissions for timely resolution of consumer grievances which require product testing and analysis. Following the inaugural event, technical sessions were organized with the objective to deliberate on core issues faced by various consumer commissions and to address such concerns with the support of legal provisions and technology. Some key issues that were discussed in the technical sessions were: Deliberations with Voluntary Consumer Organisations, Present Status of Vacancies and Pending cases in State and District Commissions and prescribing a framework for the effective and speedy redressal of consumer grievances, Present status of E-filing in State and District Commissions, Popularising mediation as a pre-litigation measure in the redressal of consumer and suggestions for making e filing the preferred option for consumers, Present Status of mediation in State and District Commissions and suggestions for putting in place an effective mechanism for mediation as prescribed in Consumer Protection Act 2019, the Present State of Infrastructure in State and District Commissions and suggestions for improving the same and others. Format requesting to provide details of present availability of infrastructure and the future requirement was circulated amongst State and District Commissions. Based on the response received, DoCA will look into the gaps and provide facilities as per requirement. Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Rohit Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary Nidhi Khare, Joint Secretary Anupam Mishra and Vineet Mathur attended the event along with other senior officers, Presidents and Members of Consumer Commissions, and voluntary consumer organizations. (ANI)
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has invited All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi for a meeting on Monday to discuss the presidential elections. Owaisi has deputed AIMIM's leader Imtiaz Jaleel for the meeting. "NCP chief Sharad Pawar invited Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi for a meeting to discuss the upcoming presidential elections. Owaisi thanked Pawar for the kind invitation and has deputed Aurangabad MP Mr Imtiaz Jaleel to represent AIMIM in the meeting," AIMIM said in a statement. NCP has called Opposition parties meeting on June 21 to discuss upcoming presidential elections at the Parliament. "In connection with the forthcoming Presidential election, a meeting of Opposition parties has been arranged at 1430 hrs. on June 21, 2022, committee Room-1, Parliament House Annexe Extension, New Delhi. The meeting will be followed by a press conference," the NCP said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold its parliamentary board meeting here on Tuesday where it is likely to finalise its pick for the election slated to be held on July 18, sources said. The BJP has already formed a 14-member management team to oversee the election. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the convenor of this team. Earlier, Leaders of several opposition parties had urged Sharad Pawar to be the joint candidate but the senior NCP leader declined the offer. The Opposition meeting was called by Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and was attended by leaders from 17 opposition parties. Later, Banerjee mentioned two more names besides Sharad Pawar, which include the names of Farooq Abdullah and Gopalkrishna Gandhi. However, on these two names, no other party leader expressed an opinion in this meeting. Abdullah had also declined the opposition leaders' request to contest the presidential election. Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party did not participate in the meeting which was held at the Constitution Club. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) led by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao did not send a representative to the meeting. Congress participated in the meeting along with 16 other political parties. Apart from TMC, Congress and NCP, the parties which attended the meeting included CPI, CPI(M), CPIML, RSP, Shiv Sena, RJD, SP, National Conference, PDP, JD(S), DMK, RLD, IUML and JMM participated in the meeting held at the Constitution Club of India here. The polling for the presidential election is slated for July 18 and votes will be counted on July 21. (ANI)
An unidentified terrorist was killed by security forces after an encounter broke out in the Tulibal area of Sopore town in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The police said that the operation is underway. "Sopore Encounter Update: 01 terrorist killed. #Operation in progress. Further details shall follow," Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet. Further details are awaited. Earlier on Monday, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that seven terrorists including three Pakistanis were killed in encounters with security forces in the Valley. "An encounter began in Kupwara on Sunday. Two LeT terrorists from Pakistan were killed yesterday itself. Another Pakistani terrorist was gunned down early morning today. A local terrorist from Shopian, Showkat was gunned down along with him," IGP Kashmir told ANI. "In Pulwama, a local terrorist of LeT was gunned down. In Kulgam, a local terrorist of Jaish-e-Mohammed and one Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist were killed. A total of seven terrorists killed so far. Three of them were Pakistanis and four were local terrorists. Encounters concluded in Kupwara and Pulwama. Search is underway in Kulgam," added the official. According to Jammu and Kashmir Police, encounters broke out between terrorists and security forces in Chatpora area of Pulwama and in DH Pora area in Kulgam on Sunday. Meanwhile, Kupwara Police launched a joint anti-terrorist operation alongwith the Army's 28RR on the disclosure of an arrested terrorist Showket Ahmed Sheikh. Security forces are on alert as there have been incidents of targeted killings in Kashmir and sections of the minority community had threatened that they were preparing for mass migration if the government did not relocate them. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, had urged the people not to allow inimical forces to break the social fabric and noted that the electoral process is likely to begin in the coming months. Rajnath Singh also made a veiled reference to Pakistan and said some forces were trying to sow seeds of hatred in the Union Territory. He said there is a foreign conspiracy in the recent targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir and such attempts would be foiled. He was addressing an event held here today to mark the 200th anniversary of Maharaja Gulab Singh's 'Rajyaabhishek ceremony'. "I appeal to the people here that the social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir should never break rising above religion, caste. There are some forces here which have always tried to break this social fabric and promoted the radicals. Recently, attempts were made again to ignite hatred in J-K," he said. (ANI)
As several parts of the Cachar district of Assam including urban and rural parts of Silchar are totally submerged, the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) carried out rescue operations in flood-hit areas of the district in a massive way. The rescue teams on Monday rescued more than 3,000 people including pregnant women, children and senior citizens from different parts of Silchar town and the Cachar district, informed the Cachar district administration. In view of the continuous entering of water from the Barak River into the Silchar town, the Cachar district administration has restricted vehicular movement on many roads. Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday informed that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will carry one lakh litres of diesel and petrol to Silchar on Tuesday. Speaking to media persons at Diphu in Karbi Anglong district, the Chief Minister said, "For the first time in the history of Assam, a special plane of Indian Air Force will carry 1 lakh litres of diesel and petrol to Silchar on June 21. Nothing like this ever before happened in Assam history. The Northeast Frontier Railway has also agreed to run a special relief train." Meanwhile, the flood situation at Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve also continues. A total of 25 anti-poaching camps have been inundated by flood water till Monday. "In connection with this, essential rations are distributed among the anti-poaching camp staff of the Park," informed Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Mangaldoi Wildlife Division. The Chief Minister further informed that more than 2000 villages of Nagaon and Morigaon district are still reeling under flood waters in the state. "We are trying to help the flood-affected people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called me to enquire about the flood situation in the state. Today morning Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also called and all central government agencies Indian Air Force, Indian Railway, Indian Army are engaged in relief and rescue operations," he noted. "There is no fund problem. All this is possible only because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's instruction," Sarma said. Meanwhile, Assam State Disaster Management Authority on Monday informed that 11 people died in floods and landslides in the last 24 hours. As nearly 42.28 lakh people in 33 districts in Assam have been affected, Sarma on Monday directed all the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to prioritise relief operations instead of following procedures to avoid delays in supply relief. The flood and landslides have claimed 82 lives in Assam this year so far and 27 people are still missing. In the current spell of flood in the state, more than 12.30 lakh people have been affected alone in lower Assam's Barpeta district followed by 4.69 lakh in Darrang, 4.40 lakh in Nagaon, 3.38 lakh in Bajali, 2.91 lakh in Dhubri, 2.82 lakh in Kamrup, 2.80 lakh in Goalpara, 2.07 lakh in Cachar, 1.84 lakh in Nalbari, 1.51 lakh in South Salmara, 1.46 lakh in Bongaigaon, 1.34 lakh in Karimganj district. As the flood waters submerged Silchar town in the Cachar district on Monday, an order issued by the district administration stated that "The water levels at various places of the town are rapidly rising and the current of water is also very high. Considering the situation, it is very risky for vehicles(two-wheelers/three-wheelers/four-wheelers) to ply through the route starting from Bilpar to National Highway through Rangirkhari Point and from Bilpar to Link Road point through Sonai Road." "With a view to further augment our efforts, with a view to safeguarding the lives of people, vehicular traffic to, from and within the above-mentioned area is hereby restricted for the next 24 hours by exercising the powers vested with District Disaster Management Authority under section 34, subsection (b) of the Disaster Management Act 2005 w.e.f for the next 24 hours." (ANI)
On the occasion of International Yoga Day, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev on Tuesday performed yoga at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar. Ramdev began Yoga at 5 am where more than 10,000 of his followers performed various Yoga asanas till 8 am. They were briefed about various health benefits and cures of various illnesses by performing particular Yoga asanas. The event was streamed live on various platforms for Yoga followers across the globe. "The nation is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and we should aim to keep our body free of any illness. And for this one should do four-five Yoga asanas every day," Ramdev said. He added that Yoga is for everyone and urged people not to associate it with any religion or political party. "People of all religions do Yoga to keep their body fit and cure any prolonged illness. Some people with their agenda are trying to associate it with religion. I request all leaders of opposition parties including Rahul Gandhi to do Yoga because it is a spiritual activity," he said. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for getting Yoga recognized across the globe and making the entire world celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21. On the protest that erupted over the Agnipath recruitment scheme, he said, "Some people have agenda to create unrest in the country and entire opposition leaders could not stand in front of the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah." This year the theme for the celebration is "Yoga for humanity". The theme has been selected after much deliberation/consultation and it appropriately portrays, how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering and in the emerging post-COVID geo-political scenario too, it will bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over. Prime Minister's Yoga programme at Mysuru is also part of the novel programme 'Guardian Yoga Ring' which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga's unifying power that surpasses National boundaries. As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One earth'. The Digital yoga exhibition showcases the latest technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) to project the history and wisdom of Yoga. The static exhibition consists of 146 stalls which have been taken up by yoga institutions, Ayush institutions under the ambit of the Government of Karnataka and the Government of India. Keeping the overarching theme of the 75 years of India's independence the Ministry for Ayush also identified 75 locations for Union Ministers to participate in the Yoga Day celebration. This year International Day of Yoga 2022 witnesses many firsts, including the 'Guardian ring', a yoga demonstration by Union cabinet ministers at 75 iconic locations in India and a special digital yoga and static exhibition in Mysuru Dussera Grounds, Mysuru. The Digital yoga exhibition showcased the latest technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) to project the history and wisdom of Yoga. The static exhibition consists of 146 stalls which have been taken up by yoga institutions, Ayush institutions under the ambit of the Government of Karnataka and the Government of India. According to the Ministry of Ayush, as many as 25 crores of people are expected to participate in International Day of Yoga 2022 celebrations across the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi first floated the idea of the International Yoga Day during his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014. The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations. With universal recognition and growing popularity of Yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. (ANI)
On the occasion of International Day of Yoga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that yoga is becoming a way of life and has become a source of inspiration for health, balance and cooperation. The Prime Minister remarked that India is celebrating Yoga Day at a time when the country is celebrating its 75th year of independence, "the Amrit Mahotsav." This widespread acceptance of Yoga Day, is the acceptance of that "Amrit spirit of India which gave energy to India's freedom struggle." Mass Yoga demonstrations are being organised at 75 iconic locations across the country which have been witness to the glorious history of India and have been the center of cultural energy. "The experience of collective yoga at the historical sites of India is like tying together India's past, India's diversity, and India's expansion", he elaborated. He also informed about the novel programme 'Guardian Yoga Ring' which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga's unifying power that surpasses national boundaries. As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One earth'. "These practices of yoga are giving wonderful inspiration for health, balance and cooperation", he added. Prime Minister on Tuesday performed yoga at the main event of the eighth edition of the International Day of Yoga in the heritage city of Mysuru in Karnataka. More than 15,000 people participated in the Yoga celebrations along with the Prime Minister at the Mysore Palace grounds. Prime Minister said the yogic energy, which has been nurtured for centuries by the spiritual centers of India like Mysuru, is today giving direction to global health. Today yoga is becoming a basis for global cooperation and is providing a belief of a healthy life to mankind, he added. "Yoga has now become a global festival. Yoga is not only for any individual, but for the entire humanity. Therefore, this time the theme of International Day of Yoga is - Yoga for humanity", PM Modi said. He thanked the United Nation and all the countries for taking this theme globally. Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister for Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal, and officials of the Ministry of Ayush and the Government of Karnataka and other dignitaries performed yoga at the event. Addressing the gathering here, PM Modi said, "This whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us. And, yoga makes us conscious of everything within us and builds a sense of awareness. Yoga brings peace for us. The peace from yoga is not merely for individuals. Yoga brings peace to our society. Yoga brings peace to our nations and the world. And, yoga brings peace to our universe." He said that yoga is not only for any individual but for the entire humanity. "No matter how stressful we are, a few minutes of meditation offer relaxation and increase our productivity. Therefore, we do not have to consider yoga as extra work. We have to know yoga. We have to live yoga. Yoga is not only a part of life for us today, but is now becoming the way of life," he said. PM Modi emphasised that the eternal journey of yoga will continue in the direction of an "eternal future". "We will also accelerate a healthy and peaceful world through yoga with the spirit of 'Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramaya'," he said. Prime Minister further said, "The yogic energy, which has been nurtured for centuries at the spiritual centres of India like Mysuru, is today giving direction to world health. Today yoga is becoming a mutual basis for global cooperation. Today yoga offers the confidence in a healthy life to mankind." This year the theme for the celebration is "yoga for humanity". Prime Minister's yoga programme at Mysuru is also part of the novel programme 'Guardian Yoga Ring' which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate yoga's unifying power that surpasses National boundaries. As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One earth'. Keeping the overarching theme of the 75 years of India's independence the Ministry for Ayush also identified 75 locations for Union Ministers to participate in the Yoga Day celebration. This year International Day of Yoga 2022 witnessed many firsts, including the 'Guardian ring', yoga demonstration by Union cabinet ministers at 75 iconic locations in India and a special digital yoga and static exhibition in Mysuru Dussera Grounds, Mysuru. The Digital yoga exhibition showcased the latest technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) to project the history and wisdom of yoga. The static exhibition consists of 146 stalls which have been taken up by yoga institutions, Ayush institutions under the ambit of the Government of Karnataka and the Government of India. According to the Ministry of Ayush, as many as 25 crores of people are expected to participate in International Day of Yoga 2022 celebrations across the world. Earlier, Yog Guru Ramdev performed yoga at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar. Many children and other people also attend the event. It was during his speech at the UN General Assembly in September 27, 2014, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi first floated the idea of the International Yoga Day. The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations. With universal recognition and growing popularity of yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. (ANI)
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday performed various Yoga asanas at Chhattisgarh Sadan in New Delhi to mark the occasion of the eighth International Yoga Day and appealed to the people to add yoga to their daily routine for physical and mental well-being. This year the theme for the Yoga Day celebration is "yoga for humanity". "Sustained health and fitness is the biggest achievement of all. Yoga is a spiritual process, which binds mind, body and soul in one. Let's add Yoga in our daily routine for our physical, psychological and mental well-being. Yoga is more than just a workout involving both mind and body," said Baghel. He further said, "Covid-19 pandemic has shown us the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, practising yoga on a regular basis is important to stay healthy and fit. Yoga is an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition. It brings positivity to one's life." "You will be strong enough to face any adverse situation if your mind and body are both healthy," he asserted. "At present, we have taken only material resources as the measure of success, whereas every success is incomplete without a healthy body and mind," he said. Stating that the relevance of Yoga has increased "even more in the times of Coronavirus pandemic", the CM said, "We can turn our dream of 'Gadhbo Nava Chhattisgarh' (Building New Chhattisgarh) into reality only by staying mentally and physically fit. On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings of the eighth edition of the International Day of Yoga in the heritage city of Mysuru in Karnataka, and said, "I extend my greetings to all on this 8th International Yoga Day. Today, Yoga is being practised in all parts of the world. Yoga brings peace to us. The peace from Yoga is not only for individuals, it brings peace to our nations and the world." Mass Yoga demonstrations are being organised at 75 iconic locations across the country which have been witness to the glorious history of India and have been the centre of cultural energy. He also informed about the novel programme 'Guardian Yoga Ring' which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga's unifying power that surpasses national boundaries. As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One earth'. "These practices of yoga are giving wonderful inspiration for health, balance and cooperation," he added. More than 15,000 people participated in the Yoga celebrations along with the Prime Minister at the Mysore Palace grounds. Meanwhile, "Silent Warriors" of the Indian Army also participated in the Yoga session in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch. "These Silent Warriors remain operationally ready to respond to any contingency and are always relied upon by soldiers during sensitive missions. These brave, reliable and indispensable force multipliers along with their handlers have thus earned a mark of respect and garnered a lot of appreciation in the Armed Forces," said the Indian Army. Keeping the overarching theme of the 75 years of India's independence the Ministry for Ayush also identified 75 locations for Union Ministers to participate in the Yoga Day celebration. This year International Day of Yoga 2022 witnessed many firsts, including the 'Guardian ring', a yoga demonstration by Union cabinet ministers at 75 iconic locations in India and a special digital yoga and static exhibition in Mysuru Dussera Grounds, Mysuru. The Digital yoga exhibition showcased the latest technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) to project the history and wisdom of yoga. The static exhibition consists of 146 stalls which have been taken up by yoga institutions, Ayush institutions under the ambit of the Government of Karnataka and the Government of India. According to the Ministry of Ayush, as many as 25 crores of people are expected to participate in International Day of Yoga 2022 celebrations across the world. Earlier, Yog Guru Ramdev performed yoga at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar. Many children and other people also attend the event. It was during his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi first floated the idea of International Yoga Day. The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations. With universal recognition and the growing popularity of yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. (ANI)
The Indian Army on Tuesday celebrated the 8th International Yoga Day at the Amarnath Holy cave in the Pahalgam region of the Union Territory. The Indian Army informed that around 450 soldiers performed various asanas, pranayama and mediation at an altitude of 13,000ft including the Holy cave, Brarimarg, Sangam, Baltal and Domel. According to an official statement, Yoga is a part of the daily routine of the Jawans, especially the ones deployed in the high altitude area as it helps to keep them physically and mentally fit in harsh weather conditions. The Yoga practice session was also joined by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and police personnel who were deployed en route to Holy cave. They (Yoga performers) were also briefed about the benefits of Yoga and how its constant practice can change their life and cure many diseases without any medical prescription. The Covid-19 crisis has caused a psychophysical, emotional and physical impact on people of all ages in the country. The troops have been "successfully kept shielded from such effects to a great extent" because of the regular Yoga practices, despite all challenges. Apart from giving emphasis on physical fitness, the event was also aimed at popularising Yoga and spreading awareness among the soldiers. A large number of soldiers also showed interest in learning yoga asanas, pranayama and meditation. Earlier in the day, the "Silent Warriors" of the Indian Army also participated in the Yoga session of the International Yoga Day 2022, in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch. "These Silent Warriors remain operationally ready to respond to any contingency and are always relied upon by soldiers during sensitive missions. These brave, reliable and indispensable force multipliers along with their handlers have thus earned a mark of respect and garnered a lot of appreciation in the Armed Forces," said the Indian Army. On the occasion of the eighth International Day of Yoga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday performed yoga at the main event in the heritage city of Mysuru, where more than 15,000 people participated in the Yoga celebrations with him. At the event, PM Modi said that yoga is becoming a way of life and has become a source of inspiration for health, balance and cooperation. The Prime Minister remarked that India is celebrating Yoga Day at a time when the country is celebrating its 75th year of independence, "the Amrit Mahotsav." This widespread acceptance of Yoga Day is the acceptance of that "Amrit spirit of India which gave energy to India's freedom struggle." Mass Yoga demonstrations are being organised at 75 iconic locations across the country which have been witness to the glorious history of India and have been the centre of cultural energy. PM Modi also emphasised that the eternal journey of yoga will continue in the direction of an "eternal future". This year the theme for the celebration is "yoga for humanity". Prime Minister's yoga programme at Mysuru is also part of the novel programme 'Guardian Yoga Ring' which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate yoga's unifying power that surpasses National boundaries. As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One earth'. Keeping the overarching theme of the 75 years of India's independence the Ministry for Ayush also identified 75 locations for Union Ministers to participate in the Yoga Day celebration. This year International Day of Yoga 2022 witnessed many firsts, including the 'Guardian ring', yoga demonstration by Union cabinet ministers at 75 iconic locations in India and a special digital yoga and static exhibition in Mysuru Dussera Grounds, Mysuru. According to the Ministry of Ayush, as many as 25 crores of people are expected to participate in International Day of Yoga 2022 celebrations across the world. Earlier, Yog Guru Ramdev performed yoga at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar. Many children and other people also attend the event. (ANI)
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) celebrated the 8th International Day of Yoga on Tuesday and organised a massive Yoga demonstration attended by about 2,000 people at Gwalior Fort. The event was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia along with Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar, a member of Parliament from Gwalior. The Gwalior event started sharply at 6 am with the lighting of lamps by Jyotiraditya Sindhia.Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar and Jyotiraditya Scindia addressed the public and explained the contribution of Yoga to health and society. Jyodiraditya said, "Yoga aims to achieve health, unity and global peace." "We have been observing the International Yoga Day every year since 2014. We are marking 75 years of independence by organising the Yoga Day celebrations across 75 iconic locations across India to highlight Indian culture," added the Union Minister. He performed yoga asana with many others who participated in the event. Keeping the overarching theme of the 75 years of India's independence the Ministry for Ayush also identified 75 locations for Union Ministers to participate in the Yoga Day celebration. This year International Day of Yoga 2022 will see many firsts, including the 'Guardian ring', yoga demonstrations by Union cabinet ministers at 75 iconic locations in India and a special digital yoga and static exhibition in Mysuru Dussera Grounds, Mysuru. Many officials of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation registered their presence. Rubina Ali, Jt. Secretary, Ministry of Civil aviation while explaining the importance of yoga urged everyone to make yoga, a part of their daily life. Enthusiastic participants seemed full of energy as they explained the positive impact yoga played on their life. Among the visitors, a large number were youths who were studying in different schools and colleges in Gwalior and other parts of the state. All the health-concerned people followed sincerely the instructions of yoga demonstrator.The yoga instructor taught them different exercises involving different body postures. More than 15,000 people participated in the Yoga celebrations along with the Prime Minister at the Mysuru Palace grounds. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended greetings on the eighth International Day of Yoga and said that yoga brings peace to society. Addressing the main event of the eighth edition of the International Day of Yoga in the heritage city of Mysuru in Karnataka, PM Modi said, "I extend my greetings to all on this 8th International Yoga Day. Today, Yoga is being practised in all parts of the world. Yoga brings peace to us. The peace from Yoga is not only for individuals, it brings peace to our nations and the world."He said that yoga is not only for any individual but for the entire humanity."Yoga is not only for any individual but for the entire humanity. This is the reason that the theme of International Yoga Day is 'Yoga for humanity'," said PM Modi. This year the theme for the celebration is "Yoga for humanity".The theme has been selected after much deliberation/consultation and it appropriately portrays, how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering and in the emerging post-COVID geo-political scenario too, it will bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over. Union Minister for Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal and officials of the Ministry of Ayush and the Government of Karnataka and other dignitaries performed yoga with PM at the event. It was during his speech at the UN General Assembly in September 27, 2014, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi first floated the idea of the International Yoga Day. The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations. With universal recognition and growing popularity of Yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. (ANI)
After facing over 40 hours of questioning in the four days of interrogation, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday again appeared before the Enforcement Directorate to rejoin the investigation against him in an alleged money laundering case related the National Herald newspaper. The Lok Sabha member from Wayanad in Kerala arrived at ED headquarters at around 11.15 am accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi has been questioned by the ED for over 40 hours on three straight days from June 13 to June 15 and on Monday (June 20). The Congress leader was deposed before the ED investigators in the case for the first time on June 13. He first sought exemption from appearance on June 16, following which he was called on June 17. But the senior Congress leader wrote to the ED to postpone his questioning citing the illness of his mother Sonia Gandhi. The ED then allowed him to join the probe on June 20 at his request. On Tuesday, ED investigators questioned Rahul Gandhi till midnight. As per official sources, the Congress leader, a Z+ category protectee of the Central Reserve Police Force after the Union government withdrew the Gandhi family's Special Protection Group cover in 2019, has been confronted with several documents collated by the ED as evidence recovered so far in the case to get his version. Rahul Gandhi has been questioned in detail about the ownership of Young Indian Private Limited (YIL) by the Gandhi family and its shareholding pattern in Associate Journals Limited (AJL), the company that runs the National Herald newspaper, said sources. Investigators in the ED, sources said, have also questioned Rahul Gandhi to describe the circumstances under which AJL was acquired by YIL in 2010, making it the owner of all assets owned by the National Herald newspaper. The National Herald, started by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, was published by the AJL. In 2010, the AJL, which faced financial difficulties, was taken over by a newly-floated YIL with Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda as directors, both of them Gandhi loyalists. In a complaint in the Delhi High Court, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy accused Sonia Gandhi and her son, Rahul Gandhi, and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds. Officials familiar with the probe said Rahul Gandhi is being asked questions about the takeover of the AJL by YIL since the Gandhis have stakes in the latter. The Congress leader is being questioned under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED has also recorded statements of Rahul Gandhi to know about the incorporation of the YIL, the operations of the National Herald and the fund transfer within the news media establishment. The ED is also investigating the financial transactions as well as the role of party functionaries in the functioning of AJL and YIL. National Herald is published by the Associated AJL and owned by YIL. The ED has also taken the written statements of Rahul Gandhi under Section 50 of the PMLA. Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal were earlier questioned in the case. Rahul Gandhi's mother Sonia Gandhi has also been summoned by the ED to appear before the investigators in the case on June 23. She was admitted on June 12 to the Ganga Ram Hospital following post-Covid complications. She was discharged from the hospital on Monday. There are allegations that AJL was founded in the 1930s to print National Herald and had 5,000 freedom fighters as shareholders. AJL is now in the Gandhi family ownership. AJL declared in 2008 that it won't print newspapers anymore and will enter real estate. In 2010, a new firm called YIL is incorporated with Rs 5 lakh and with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi among other Congress leaders as directors. It pledges to do charity but does none till 2016, as per allegations. It is also alleged that AJL's nine crore shares (99 pc of all) are transferred to YIL, and that Rahul Gandhi alone holds 75 per cent shares while Sonia and other senior Congress own the rest. There is another set of allegations that Congress gave AJL a Rs 90 crore loan which Congress writes off in lieu of alleged ownership of AJL assets worth Rs 2,000 crore. However, Congress claims that the loan was given to pay the salaries of AJL staffers and to save National Herald and that YIL is a not-for-profit company and its ownership still vests with AJL. "YIL can't pay dividends to shareholders and not a penny has moved. How can there be money laundering without any money changing hands." The case to investigate alleged financial irregularities under the PMLA was registered about nine months ago after a trial court took cognisance of an Income Tax Department probe carried out on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013. Swamy had approached the court alleging that the assets of AJL were fraudulently acquired and transferred to YIL, in which Sonia Gandhi and her son owned 38 per cent shares each. The YIL promoters include Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Swamy had alleged that the Gandhis cheated and misappropriated funds, with YIL paying only Rs 50 lakh to obtain the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that AJL owed to Congress. Congress argued that YIL was a not-for-profit company under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 that can neither accumulate profits nor pay dividends to its shareholders. Calling it a case of political vendetta, senior Supreme Court advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi had said, "This is truly a very weird case -- an alleged money laundering case on which summons are issued with no money involved." The federal agency's move followed the questioning of senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Treasurer Pawan Bansal in April this year in New Delhi in connection with its money laundering probe into the National Herald case. The agency then recorded the statements of both the Congress leaders and then under the PMLA. While Kharge is the CEO of YIL, Bansal is the Managing Director of AJL. All roads leading to the ED office in central Delhi are barricaded by the police amid heavy deployment of Rapid Action Force personnel and Delhi Police. The Delhi Police has imposed provisions of Section 144 CrPC to prohibit assembly and entry of people on roads leading to the ED headquarters in Pravaratan Bhawan on APJ Abdul Kalam Road. (ANI)
The trouble of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra has intensified further as over 15 Shiv Sena MLAs have become "unreachable" on Tuesday. According to sources, a day after suspected cross-voting in Maharashtra MLC polls, prominent Shiv Sena leader and state cabinet minister Eknath Shinde has reportedly gone inaccessible with several party MLAs. Sources said the MLAs moved to a hotel in Surat in Gujarat. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also confirmed the developments and said, "Some MLAs of Shiv Sena and Eknath Shinde are currently not reachable. Efforts are being made to topple the MVA government but BJP has to remember that Maharashtra is very different from Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh." "I know Eknath Shinde Ji, he is a true Shiv Sainik. He will return without any conditions. I have heard that our MLAs are in Surat, Gujarat and they are not being allowed to leave. But they will certainly return as all of them are dedicated to Shiv Sena. I trust that all our MLAs will return and everything will be fine," stated Raut. Raut said that the party is in touch with the inaccessible MLAs. Discussions are also underway with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar. "We are in touch with our MLAs who are in Surat now. We are discussing the situation with Uddhav Thackeray Ji and Pawar Sahib. Those working with the thought that they are kingmakers will be unsuccessful," he added. Shinde is a big shot in Shiv Sena and has been instrumental in strengthening the organisation in the Thane region. A Bal Thackeray loyalist Eknath Shinde, who is reportedly upset with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will be addressing a press conference in Surat today, sources said.The developments may certainly add a web of worries to the Uddhav Thackeray-led government. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has called an urgent meeting of all Shiv Sena MLAs on Tuesday. All MLAs have been strictly asked to remain present in the meeting, said sources.Shinde was made the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 2014 after the Shiv Sena parted ways with the BJP. He was appointed as a cabinet minister in the MVA government. However, sources said Shinde has been feeling sidelined since the formation of the MVA government. His son Shrikant Shinde represents the Kalyan Lok Sabha seat. Meanwhile, Congress leaders met at party leader Balasaheb Thorat's official residence, Royal Stone bungalow in Mumbai. Former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan also attended the meeting. "BJP misuses its power. They are taking the Indian democracy towards untruthfulness. I am sure the truth will win. I have called a meeting of all Maharashtra Congress leaders today," said Maharashtra Congress leader Nana Patole. On the other hand, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil took a potshot on Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and said the political turmoil came up due to Raut. "Problems have cropped up in their party only due to instigating statements of Sanjay Raut. People will not tolerate it. Eknath Shinde's rebellion is an example. Sanjay Raut should speak politely. He does not need to speak harshly on every matter. When Nana Patole spoke about the Centre's intervention in Vidhan Parishad, I said that a script needs to be prepared after loss and he had already prepared it. Similarly, Sanjay Raut is writing the script of this rebellion (Eknath Shinde's)," Chandrakant Patil told ANI. Asked about Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Devendra Fadnavis' visit to Delhi, Patil said, "It is our tradition that we need to go to our national leaders with sweets, after winning an election. Devendra Fadnavis has gone to distribute sweets among our party leaders in Delhi." The Maharashtra BJP chief said his party is observing all the developments minutely. "We are minutely observing the turn of events. It is a little premature to say that it will lead to any changes. It is a handle-with-care situation. We have to see it very keenly. We are observing all situations," he said. Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council Pravin Darekar said the BJP is the largest party in Maharashtra and Devendra Fadnavis is the popular leader. He emphasised that the MVA government sid not work for the people hence it is his party's duty to set things right. "Whatever is right for the people of Maharashtra will be done. People's interest is more important than the power. If it is needed for Maharashtra such a movement can take place. BJP is the largest party here and Devendra Fadnavis a popular leader. What did the MVA government do in 2.5 years? It is our duty to set things right. We care for Maharashtra, they care about power," Darekar told ANI when asked about speculations that BJP will soon stake claims to form government in the state. "MVA government could not do anything in the public interest. People and public representatives are dissatisfied. In MLC polls all 5 of our candidates won. This is not only Devendra Fadnavis' strategy but people are also dissatisfied with the government," he added. BJP bagged five seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena won two each while Congress was able to clinch one seat out of the total 10 seats in Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) that went to polls on Monday. MVA candidate from Congress Chandrakant Handore had lost in the MLC polls. Taking to Twitter, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said, "Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad election results - Shiv Sena (Mafia Sena) got 52 votes. 12 MLA's revolted (55 Shiv Sena + 9 supporters = 64) Uddhav Thackeray's Mafia Sarkar's count down started." As many as eleven candidates were in the fray for the elections to the ten seats in the MLC. All the five candidates of the BJP -- Pravin Darekar, Ram Shinde, Shrikant Bharatiya, Uma Khapre and Prasad Lad emerged victorious. NCP candidates-- Ramraje Nimbalkar and Eknath Khadse-- and the Shiv Sena nominees- Aamshya Padavi and Sachin Ahir also secured their seats. Of the two candidates fielded by Congress, Bhai Jagtap secured the win while Chandrakant Handore lost. BJP's winning candidate claimed that cross-voting happened among members of Shiv Sena and Congress. "We are very happy. Maharashtra has shown faith in the BJP. Cross-voting happened among members of Shiv Sena and Congress. Otherwise, we would not have received so many votes. BJP will get more victory and received 134 votes," said BJP leader Pravin Darekar. The BJP has 106 MLAs, Shiv Sena 56, NCP 53 and Congress has 44 MLAs. A total of 285 members cast their votes in the MLC polls. Former Home Ministers Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik, who are in judicial custody in money-laundering cases were not allowed to vote. (ANI)
Ruling out rollback of Agnipath scheme for recruitment in armed forces, National Security Advisor of India Ajit Doval said on Tuesday that the government's move was "not a knee-jerk reaction that has come overnight" but has been debated and discussed for over decades. In an exclusive interveiw with ANI on Tuesday, NSA Doval said several committees over the decades have suggested brining down average age of armed forces. "There is no question of any rollback (of the Agnipath scheme). Let me tell you one thing. This is not a knee-jerk reaction that has come overnight. This has been debated and discussed for over decades," he said. "In 1970s, we had committees that talked about reorganisation and reforming the army including the usage of manpower, technology and others," he added. Several opposition parties have slammed the Agnipath scheme and demanded its withdrawal. Doval said under Agnipath scheme, every youth of this country who has got the desire and motivation and feels a sense of commitment to defend the country gets an opportunity. "His energy and talent are used to make this country strong," the NSA said. There have been protests against the Agnipath scheme in some states and the government has announced support measures to allay apprehensions. Lieutenant General Anil Puri, Additional Secretary, Dept of Military Affairs, had told the media on Sunday the reform in the form of scheme like Agnipath was pending for long. "We want to bring youthfulness and experience with this reform. Today, a large number of jawans are in their 30s and officers are getting command much later than in the past", he had said. The "transformative" Agnipath scheme, announced by Union Minister Rajanath Singh on June 14, in the presence of the three service chiefs provides for the recruitment of into the Armed services of youths between the age bracket of 17-and-a-half-years to 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. The Centre later extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022. The Union Cabinet had also approved Agnipath scheme on June 14 and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers. The government had announced that 46,000 Agniveers to be recruited this year. It had said that armed Forces will have "a younger, fitter, diverse profile" to face future challenges. The Indian Army issued its first notification on Monday for recruitment under Agnipath scheme. (ANI)
The Central government has decided to go ahead to implement the Agnipath scheme that triggered widespread protests in several states, with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval stating that there will be no roll back of the new short-term recruitment scheme for the armed forces. In an exclusive interview with ANI on Tuesday, NSA Doval said that Agniveers, the recruits of the special Agnipath military scheme will never constitute the whole army. "Agniveers will never constitute the whole army. Those Agniveers who become regulars eventually will undergo intensive training, acquire experience over a period of time," Doval said. NSA also termed the Agnipath scheme is not a "standalone" scheme and said that it was the Central government's priority to make India secure and strong. "There's a need to look at it in a perspective. Agnipath isn't a standalone scheme in itself. When PM Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, one of his prime priorities was how to make India secure and strong. That required many avenues, many steps - multitude of them," NSA Ajit Doval said. "Broadly speaking, they come under the four heads. It requires equipment, it requires change in systems and structures, it requires change in technology, it requires change in manpower, policies and they have to be futuristic," he added. The newly launched scheme had triggered protests from aspiring defence personnel who are asking for a rollback of the scheme. Several opposition parties have also voicing their reservations also called for a rollback. Seeking to allay apprehensions of aspirants that the bulk of them will be left with an uncertain future after four years, the NSA said: My message to the youth who want to become 'Agniveers' is that be positive, have faith in the nation, have faith in the leadership and also in yourself." "Every youth of this country who has got the desire and motivation and feels a sense of commitment to defend the country gets an opportunity. His energy and talent are used to make this country strong," Doval said. The government introduced the Agnipath recruitment scheme on June 14 under which recruits - called 'as Agniveers' - will serve for a period of four years after which 75 percent will be retired without benefits. The youngsters recruited under the scheme will be called "Agniveers", who will be in the age group of 17.5 to 21 years and receive a monthly salary of Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000. For 2022, the government has allowed people up to the age of 23 to apply. The scheme saw massive protests across the country with several states reporting incidents of violence. Speaking on protests against #AgnipathScheme, NSA Doval said, "I think that the protests, raising your voice is justified and is permitted in a democracy. But this vandalism, this violence is not permitted and will not be tolerated at all." "I think that the protests, raising your voice is justified and is permitted in a democracy. But this vandalism, this violence is not permitted and will not be tolerated at all." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on June 17 asserted that the Agnipath scheme is a golden opportunity for the Indian youth to join the Armed Forces and serve their motherland. In a statement, Singh, said that many youths did not get the opportunity to join the Armed Forces, as recruitment process could not take place for last two years. Keeping in mind the future of the youth, Rajnath Singh stated that the government, on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has increased the age limit for the recruitment of Agniveers from 21 years to 23 years for the recruitment cycle of 2022. "The relaxation of age indicates that the Government cares for our youth. Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence and the Services are committed to commence the recruitment process at the earliest. We invite the youth to join the Armed Forces and serve the Nation through Agnipath," the Defence Minister said. Addressing a tri-Service press conference on Sunday, Lieutenant General Anil Puri informed that 'Agnipath' is a long pending reform which was even recommended by the Kargil review Committee. He further mentioned that recruitment of soldiers under the scheme will increase to over 1.25 lakh in next 4-5 years. "In the next 4-5 years, our intake of soldiers will be 50,000-60,000, which will increase to 90,000 - 1 lakh subsequently. We've started small at 46,000 to analyse the scheme...and to build up infra capacity," Additional Secretary Lt Gen Anil Puri, Department of Military Affairs (DMA) said. "We want a mix of josh and hosh and that is why we wanted to reduce the age profile. The average age is 32 years at present and we want to reduce it as per the recommendations of the Kargil review committee and Arun Singh committee report," Lt Gen Arun Puri said. All three previous heads of Defence forces along with the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) worked for 2 years for the scheme. They analyzed meticulous details of the scheme, the top military officer said. On giving priority to Agniveers, he said, "The announcements regarding the reservations for 'Agniveers' announced by the different ministries and departments were pre-planned for solider recruited under Agnipath scheme." The 'Agniveers' would get the same allowance in areas like Siachen and other areas which are applicable to the regular soldiers serving at present. No discrimination against them in service conditions, Lt General Anil Puri further informed. "No discrimination against them in service conditions," he added. "This reform was long pending. We want to bring youthfulness and experience with this reform. Today, a large number of jawan are in their 30s and officers are getting command much later than in the past," he added. Notably, Agniveers' will get a compensation for Rs 1 crore if he sacrifices his life in service of the nation. By December first week, the Indian Army will get the first batch of 25,000 'Agniveers' and the second batch would be inducted around February 2023 making it 40,000, Lt Gen Bansi Ponappa said while addressing the tri-service presser. For the Indian Air Force (IAF), the registration process for the first batch of Agniveer will start from June 24 and from July 24 the phase 1 online examination process would begin. "The first batch would be enrolled by December and training would commence by December 30," Air Marshal SK Jha said. Notably, the Indian Navy will welcome the first naval 'Agniveers' (both men and qomen) batch at the training establishment INS Chilka, Odisha by November this year. "Both female and male Agniveers are allowed for this, "Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said while adding that 30 women officers are currently sailing on different Indian Navy ships. We have decided that the women recruited under Agnipath scheme will be deployed on warships also, he added. Under Agnipath recruitment policy, soldiers (between the ages of 17.5 years and 21 years) recruited in the defence forces will be inducted as 'Agniveers' - a distinct rank in the Armed Forces, different from any other existing rank. Once selected, the aspirants will go through training for six months and then they will be deployed for three and a half years. During this period, they will be provided an attractive monthly package of Rs 30,000 per month with upgradation upto Rs 40,000 per month in 4th year. After a four-year engagement period, up to 25 per cent of each specific batch of Agniveers will be enrolled in regular cadre of the Armed Forces. Importantly, during this period, 30 percent of their salary will be set aside under a 'Seva Nidhi' programme, and the government will contribute an equal amount every month along with providing accrue interest. At the end of the four-year period, Agniveer will be accorded Rs 11.71 lakh as a lump sum amount, which will be tax-free. Additionally, they will also get a Rs 48 lakh life insurance cover for the four years. (ANI)
Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a CBI inquiry over the role of key functionaries in the state Government in the sensational crime. "I would like to bring forth to your kind notice that the person who actually committed this heinous smuggling is in fact an IAS Officer, Shivashankar (principal secretary of the Chief Minister of Kerala). Due to the higher rank of the officials, few employees like me had to withstand the worst of this scam. I was simply obeying the orders of my line managers and doing this through the UAE consulate diplomatic channel and had no say in the matters. When it was brought to light by the customs, they left us stranded behind the bar for 15 months for not disclosing anything. Even Mr Shivashankar was in jail for three months. But the Government of Kerala favoured him bail and also granted him a reputed job, allowing him to live a dignified life," Swapna alleged. "After spending miserable months in prison, HRDS INDIA granted me a job a few months ago, as Director of Women Empowerment & CSR. The NGO has supported me by all means with moral and legal priors to its fullest. They have been standing with me during all my challenging times by securing my employment when I desperately needed one to run my family, and also have been extending their hands by providing all legal and other support", she further wrote. "Moreover, with the influence of the government, the case investigation has been handed over to the Customs and the NIA, who are trying to manipulate and divert the direction. With the influence of the Principal Secretary, the judicial commission has been placed against the ED & Custom. Fortunately, ED is doing its duty perfectly now. To my knowledge, NIA has no role in these kinds of swindles. Just after I submitted '164' in front of the magistrate they are brutally harassing my advocate and harassing me and my relatives emotionally and irrationally harassed my advocate and the current working Organization unwantedly by the government Of Kerala," she wrote. "I request you to take action against this issue with immediate concern. I plead with you to consider my case on humanitarian grounds, otherwise, I have no other recourse for help. Deprived and unfortunate employees like me will solely be punished, but the real accused will escape from underneath your nose. The Government of Kerala has been involved in such a swindle and used me as a scapegoat for their benefit," Swapna said. "Other than the Principal Secretary, the Kerala chief minister's family members were also directly involved in this big scam. We can't compare such scams with any other scams executed in India like Bofors, Vedanta, Lavalin or 2G Spectrum. The gravity of the scam is more powerful than theirs. It has jointly executed with other countries' consulates against India. CBI investigation is mandatory to find out the truth. It would be just and fair if the Government of Kerala do not intervene in this matter as government officials themselves are the prime suspects," she wrote asking for a CBI investigation. "Your strict surveillance is demanded in this case to identify the real culprits. Henceforth, I humbly request you to understand the gravity of the situation and take appropriate measures in this regard. I humbly pray to my Hon'ble Prime Minister to grant me an opportunity to meet you in person and confess my concerns and grievances before you. I am afraid that I'm a soft target and could be taken down by the party through their hostile measures, "she said. Swapna claimed that baggage containing currency was sent to Vijayan when he was in Dubai in 2016. The affidavit submitted by Swapna Suresh alleged that 17 tonnes of date imported to Kerala from UAE 'went missing' with the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Minister KT Jaleel's knowledge. The Kerala gold smuggling case pertains to the smuggling of gold in the state through diplomatic channels. It had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage was busted by the customs department in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5, 2019. After spending 16 months behind bars, Swapna was released from jail in November last year. The case is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate, National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the customs department. Earlier this year, Swapna Suresh had alleged that she was exploited and manipulated by M Sivasankar, principal secretary of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The statements came after Sivasankar in his upcoming autobiography "Aswathamavu: Verum Oru Aana" alleged that Swapna had trapped him by gifting him an iPhone.Sivasankar was arrested on October 28, 2020, after the Kerala High Court rejected his anticipatory bail petition. Sivasankar was released on bail on February 4, last year. (ANI)
The Gujarat government signed various memorandums of understanding worth more than Rs 2,000 crore on Monday in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Education, Science and Technology Minister Jitu Vaghani and others. "The state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has formulated an IT /ITES policy to accelerate job creation and attract investment has received wide response from investors. Distinguished industry-investors from these two sectors, company managers are coming for investments in the state inspired by the incentive benefits of this policy of Gujarat. Two MoUs were concluded in Gandhinagar today in the presence of the CM," an official release said yesterday. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Science Technology Department of the State Government and GESIA IT Association and an Ahmedabad-based group. "About 10 different companies of this association have a total of Rs 2,000 crore is to be invested in IT sector in next five years along with Ahmedabad-based Entigrity Group, which will invest Rs 100 to Rs 150 crore and together these companies will provide various employment opportunities to approximately 10,000 people," Sachin Gosia, Director (IT and e-Governance, Gujarat government) told ANI. GESIA will offer its services in lease, commercial office space, IT software and infrastructure, human resources, data centre, R&D, cloud etc. in the state. Shalin Parikh, CEO of Entigrity Group said, "Entigrity Group has been working in this field since 2015-16 and has a reputation in the global market including US, UK. India also has 1250 employees with office in five cities. We have signed an MOU with the Government of Gujarat, inspired by IT, ITES Policy-2018, in the next four to five years and will invest Rs 100 to Rs 150 crore and provide employment opportunities to about 3000 people." The MoU was signed by Vice Chairman and Director Pranab Pandya on behalf of GESIA, CEO Shalin Parikh on behalf of Entigrity Group and Science and Technology Secretary Vijay Nehra on behalf of the state government in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Kailasanathan, Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi, Sachin Gusia etc. were present on this occasion. (ANI)
On the occasion of the 8th International Yoga Day, the Gujarat government has selected 75 places across the state for the celebration of Yoga Day in the state. It includes 17 religious places including Modhera Sun Temple and Ambaji Temple, 18 historical places including Dada Harini Vav and Dandi Smarak, the desert of Kutch, and 22 tourist places including the Statue of Unity, and 17 natural beauty places including Mangarh Hill and Saputara. Approximately 1.5 crore people including many students, youths, young women, elders, and women have joined in the celebration of Yoga Day. The state-level program is being held today at Ahmedabad Riverfront. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi did yoga asana. The main theme of this year's International Yoga Day was 'Yoga for Humanity'. The main program at the state level was held at Sabarmati Riverfront. On this occasion, CM Bhupendra Patel said, "This year, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is celebrating the 75 years of independence. Therefore, yoga was celebrated at 75 iconic places in Gujarat." Talking about the achievement of the Gujarat State Yoga Board, he said, "The Gujarat State Yoga Board was established two years ago under the inspiration of PM Narendra Modi. More than 1 lakh trainers have been passed out from this board in Gujarat and these trainers are teaching yoga to others." On this occasion, the Chief Minister also appealed to all citizens to make yoga a part of life and to be free from disease by adopting yoga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended greetings on the eighth International Day of Yoga and said that yoga brings peace to society. Addressing the main event of the eighth edition of the International Day of Yoga in the heritage city of Mysuru in Karnataka, PM Modi said, "I extend my greetings to all on this 8th International Yoga Day. Today, Yoga is being practised in all parts of the world. Yoga brings peace to us. The peace from Yoga is not only for individuals, it brings peace to our nations and the world."He said that yoga is not only for any individual but for the entire humanity."Yoga is not only for any individual but for the entire humanity. This is the reason that the theme of International Yoga Day is 'Yoga for humanity'," said PM Modi. This year the theme for the celebration is "Yoga for humanity". The theme has been selected after much deliberation/consultation and it appropriately portrays, how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering and in the emerging post-COVID geo-political scenario too, it will bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over. Prime Minister's Yoga programme at Mysuru is also part of the novel programme 'Guardian Yoga Ring' which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga's unifying power that surpasses National boundaries. As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of 'One Sun, One earth'. The Digital yoga exhibition will showcase the latest technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) to project the history and wisdom of Yoga. The static exhibition consists of 146 stalls which have been taken up by yoga institutions, Ayush institutions under the ambit of the Government of Karnataka and the Government of India. Keeping the overarching theme of the 75 years of India's independence the Ministry for Ayush also identified 75 locations for Union Ministers to participate in the Yoga Day celebration. This year International Day of Yoga 2022 will see many firsts, including the 'Guardian ring', yoga demonstrations by Union cabinet ministers at 75 iconic locations in India and a special digital yoga and static exhibition in Mysuru Dussera Grounds, Mysuru. The Digital yoga exhibition will showcase the latest technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) to project the history and wisdom of Yoga. The static exhibition consists of 146 stalls which have been taken up by yoga institutions, Ayush institutions under the ambit of the Government of Karnataka and the Government of India. According to the Ministry of Ayush, it is expected that as many as 25 crores of people will participate in International Day of Yoga 2022 celebrations across the world. Earlier, Yog Guru Ramdev performed yoga at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar. Many children and other people also attend the event. It was during his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi first floated the idea of International Yoga Day. The draft resolution passed by India was supported by 177 nations. With universal recognition and growing popularity of Yoga, the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. (ANI)
The Shiv Sena on Monday decided to remove its cabinet minister Eknath Shinde as its Legislative party leader and Sewri MLA Ajay Chaudhary will be the new Shiv Sena Legislative party leader, sources said. This comes after Shinde and some Shiv Sena MLAs became "unreachable" today. According to sources, a day after suspected cross-voting in Maharashtra MLC polls, prominent Shiv Sena leader and state cabinet minister Eknath Shinde has reportedly become inaccessible with several party MLAs. Sources said the MLAs moved to a hotel in Surat in Gujarat. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also confirmed the developments and said, "Some MLAs of Shiv Sena and Eknath Shinde are currently not reachable. Efforts are being made to topple the MVA government but BJP has to remember that Maharashtra is very different from Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh." Shinde is influential in the Shiv Sena and has been instrumental in strengthening the organisation in the Thane region. Shinde was made the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 2014 after the Shiv Sena parted ways with the BJP. He was appointed as a cabinet minister in the MVA government. However, sources said Shinde has been feeling sidelined since the formation of the MVA government. His son Shrikant Shinde represents the Kalyan Lok Sabha seat. Meanwhile, Congress leaders met at party leader Balasaheb Thorat's official residence, Royal Stone bungalow in Mumbai. Former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan also attended the meeting. On the other hand, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil took a potshot at Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and said the political turmoil came up due to Raut. Asked about Shinde's removal from the party, Patil said neither Shinde has sent any proposal to BJP for government formation, nor the BJP has sent any proposal to him. "It's too early to say anything. We are currently waiting and keeping an eye on the situation. Neither Eknath Shinde has sent a proposal to BJP for government formation nor the BJP has sent any proposal to him," he said "So far, there has not been any proposal regarding government formation neither from the BJP nor from Eknath Shinde but anything can happen in politics at any time," he added. BJP bagged five seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena won two each while Congress was able to clinch one seat out of the total 10 seats in Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) that went to polls on Monday. MVA candidate from Congress Chandrakant Handore had lost in the MLC polls. As many as 11 candidates were in the fray for the elections to the 10 seats in the MLC. All the five candidates of the BJP -- Pravin Darekar, Ram Shinde, Shrikant Bharatiya, Uma Khapre and Prasad Lad emerged victorious. NCP candidates-- Ramraje Nimbalkar and Eknath Khadse-- and the Shiv Sena nominees- Aamshya Padavi and Sachin Ahir also secured their seats. Of the two candidates fielded by Congress, Bhai Jagtap secured the win while Chandrakant Handore lost. BJP's winning candidate claimed that cross-voting happened among members of Shiv Sena and Congress. The BJP has 106 MLAs, Shiv Sena 56, NCP 53 and Congress has 44 MLAs. A total of 285 members cast their votes in the MLC polls. Former Home Ministers Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik, who are in judicial custody in money-laundering cases were not allowed to vote. (ANI)
In his message to the youth regarding the Agnipath scheme, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday said they should remain positive, have faith in the country's leadership as also themselves. In an exclusive interview with ANI, NSA Doval said people join armed forces not just for money but for their partiotism and a feeling of what they can do for the country. He said the scheme is not for those who do not have such feeling. Doval also noted that Agniveers will have age as an asset, they have their future secured and do not need to worry about anything. "As far as the message for the youth is concerned, one thing is clear, nobody is working in the armed forces just for money. People work with the spirit of enthusiasm. People work for the nation. People invest their energies for the nation," he said. "In this scheme, it is important to have the right skill set, training and physical fitness. But what is more important is the ideology behind pursuing a career in this field. The youth, who wish to become Agniveers should be positive, have faith in the nation, the leadership, the society and also in yourself," he added.The NSA laid stress on the youth having self-confidence. "Swami Vivekananda used to say that an atheist is the one who does not believe in any religion. Our 'new religion' says that atheist is the one who does not believe in himself, herself," he said. The "transformative" Agnipath scheme, announced by Union Minister Rajanath Singh on June 14, in the presence of the three service chiefs provides for the recruitment of into the armed services of youths in the age bracket of 17-and-a-half-years to 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. The Centre later extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022. The Union Cabinet had also approved Agnipath scheme on June 14 and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers. The government had announced that 46,000 Agniveers to be recruited this year. It had said that armed Forces will have "a younger, fitter, diverse profile" to face future challenges. There have been protests against the Agnipath scheme in some states and the government has announced support measures to allay apprehensions. The Indian Army issued its first notification on Monday for recruitment under Agnipath scheme. Lieutenant General Anil Puri, Additional Secretary, Dept of Military Affairs, had told the media on Sunday the reform in the form of scheme like Agnipath was pending for long. "We want to bring youthfulness and experience with this reform. Today, a large number of jawans are in their 30s and officers are getting command much later than in the past", he had said. (ANI)
In a video making rounds on the Internet, a man was seen attacking a police officer with a machete. The incident was captured on a nearby placed CCTV camera.

"I caught him and seized the weapon (machete) and brought it to the station. He has been remanded. I have seven stitches on my hand and no serious injuries... DGP appreciated me for my timely action," Sub-Inspector (SI) Arun Kumar told ANI.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1539104913430499328?t=6gG91-tL3mO1Bo7acTykYA&s=19

The sub inspector said he was on patrol duty on June 12 when the accused stopped the cop's vehicle and attempted to attack him with a machete without any provocation

Meanwhile, the reason behind the man's action and his identity is yet to be ascertained.

Arun Kumar joined the service as the city police officer in the year 2007 and passed the examination for Sub-Inspector (SI) in 2019 after 12 years of service.

He took the charge as a sub-inspector at the Alappuzha Nooranad police station in November 2021 after completing his practical training at Agali, Chengannur and Pudukkad.

Nooranadu SI Arun Kumar was honored by the state police chief Anil Kant with a certificate of commendation. Kumar was also presented with a trophy by the Kerala Police.

Headquarters ADGP Manoj Abraham and other senior police officials were present at the function held at the police headquarters. (ANI)
Yoga helps in getting rid of tension and diseases entirely from the human body and helps attain peace inside a society, said Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia as the Ministry celebrated International Day of Yoga on Tuesday. "21st June is a landmark day for India as for this year, the festival of yoga will be celebrated at 75 historic places across the country. It is an important day for every Indian living in India or abroad. Yoga works for both body and soul and acts as an interlink between God and human. Yoga helps in getting rid of tension and diseases entirely from the human body helping attaining peace inside a society. Today, the entire world will do yoga which will outline the prime example of India's spiritual power," Scindia said. The Ministry celebrated International Day of Yoga by organizing a massive Yoga demonstration of more than 2,000 people at Gwalior Fort. The event was inaugurated and led by M Scindia. Following this, a virtual address by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was broadcast on the venue. Common Yoga Protocol, Lecture on Yoga by Experts, and Yoga demonstration from yoga experts from Rani Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education were some of the activities undertaken at the event. The mega yoga event was concluded with the singing of the National Anthem by the participants. Other than Scindia, the event was attended by state dignitaries and senior officials of the Union Ministry, Airports Authority of India, State government and Local administration. This year International Day of Yoga has fallen in the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" year for which the Ministry of AYUSH has planned to observe the International Day of Yoga at 75 iconic locations across India which will also help in branding India on a global scale. The theme for this year's IDY 2022 was "Yoga for Humanity" as it depicted how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering and in the emerging post-COVID geo-political scenario too, bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over. At the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the United Nations General Assembly took a historic decision in 2014 to declare 21st June as the International Day of Yoga (IDY). This worldwide acceptance of Yoga is a matter of pride for our country, as Yoga is an integral part of our nation's cultural and spiritual heritage. (ANI)
Amidst the backdrop of protests in different parts of the country against the Agnipath scheme, the Indian Air Force on Tuesday stressed that there is no change in the recruitment process of youth for the scheme. Notably, the Indian Armed Forces-- Army, Navy and the Air Force-- on Sunday announced a broad schedule for recruitment of soldiers under the Agnipath scheme. "There is absolutely no change in the process of induction, entry-level qualification, examination syllabus, or medical standards. All enrolments in Air Force will take place only through Agniveer Vayu," Air Marshal Suraj Kumar Jha, Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel (AOP), IAF said while addressing a press conference today. "The combat capabilities and readiness of the Indian Air Force are non-negotiable. The Indian Air Force and government of India will do everything that is required to keep us combat-worthy and combat-ready," he said. Amid massive protests across India, the Indian Armed Forces- Army, Navy and the Air Force- on Sunday announced a broad schedule for recruitment of soldiers under the Agnipath scheme. The move asserted that the short-term contractual scheme- Agnipath- is being implemented to bring down the age profile of the armed forces. Lt General Anil Puri, the additional secretary in the Department of Military Affairs, strongly defended the scheme, saying that reducing the age profile of the three services has been on the table for quite some time and even the Kargil review committee had made observations on it. At a press conference on Sunday, Lieutenant General Puri said the government was going ahead with implementing the Agnipath scheme and appealed to the youths to end their protest. The "transformative" Agnipath scheme, announced by Union Minister Rajanath Singh on June 14, in the presence of the three service chiefs provides for the recruitment of into the armed services of youths in the age bracket of 17-and-a-half-years to 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. The Centre later extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022. The Union Cabinet had also approved Agnipath scheme on June 14 and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers. The government had announced that 46,000 Agniveers to be recruited this year. It had said that armed Forces will have "a younger, fitter, diverse profile" to face future challenges. There have been protests against the Agnipath scheme in some states and the government has announced support measures to allay apprehensions. The Indian Army issued its first notification on Monday for recruitment under Agnipath scheme. Lieutenant General Anil Puri, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, had told the media on Sunday the reform in the form of scheme like Agnipath was pending for long. "We want to bring youthfulness and experience with this reform. Today, a large number of jawans are in their 30s and officers are getting command much later than in the past", he had said. (ANI)
"Hundreds of students and local public participated in this mega effort of practising Yoga together in the presence of Krishan Pal Gurjar, Union Minister of State for Power and Heavy Industries," read a Powergrid statement.

Rakhigarhi is one of the 75 iconic sites selected by the Government of India for conducting mass yoga sessions as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

During the event, the address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was telecast live from Mysuru through LED screens.

Speaking on this occasion, Gurjar said that Yoga is an important part of our lives and commended the initiative of spreading the message of Yoga among the masses.

The event witnessed the participation of a large gathering of students from different schools of Rakhigarhi Harayana. (ANI)
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) which is headed by the Prime Minister has asked Union Health Ministry for more names for the post of director of the AIIMS, Sources told ANI.

According to the source, it doesn't mean the names which was given earlier will not be considered.

Earlier, the search cum selection committee shortlisted three names of Doctors who were approved by the Institute body, which is the top decision-making body of the AIIMS and those names were sent to the ACC for approval.

But ACC has asked for a few more names that are going to be decided soon.

The names of doctors that were recommended earlier are Dr Nikhil Tandon, head of the department of endocrinology, Dr Rajesh Malhotra, Chief of AIIMS Trauma Centre, and Dr Pramod Garg who is a Professor in the Department of Gastroenterology at AIIMS, Delhi.

According to the sources, the chances of further extension of Dr Randeep Guleria's tenure as an AIIMS director is extremely less that will end after an extension for three months on June 24. (ANI)
A Directorate General of Shipping order issued by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways will provide Agniveers with the opportunity to join the Merchant Navy directly after completing their four-year training, an Indian Navy official said on Tuesday. Addressing a presser today, Chief of Personnel (COP) of the Indian Navy, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, said, "A DGS order issued by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways will provide Agniveers with the opportunity to join the Merchant Navy directly after completing their four-year training. A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Indian Navy and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to ensure the same." The Indian Navy official highlighted that recruitment under the scheme will start on June 22. "Our recruitment calendar was decided for June 25, but it will start tomorrow, June 22. Online registration will start from July 1 onwards," Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said. He said, "As per the Director-General of Shipping Ministry order for Agniveers, after 4 years of training, they can directly get into Merchant Navy." The Union Cabinet had also approved the Agnipath scheme on June 14 and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers. The government had announced that 46,000 Agniveers will be recruited this year. It had said that the Armed Forces will have "a younger, fitter, diverse profile" to face future challenges. There have been protests against the Agnipath scheme in some states and the government has announced support measures to allay apprehensions. The Indian Army issued its first notification on Monday for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme. Lieutenant General Anil Puri, Additional Secretary, Dept of Military Affairs, had told the media on Sunday the reform in the form of a scheme like Agnipath was pending for long. "We want to bring youthfulness and experience with this reform. Today, a large number of jawans are in their 30s and officers are getting command much later than in the past", he had said. (ANI)
Agniveers will be eligible for gallantry awards, the Department of Military Affairs said on Tuesday in the backdrop of protests against the Agnipath scheme in different parts of the country. "Agniveers will be eligible for gallantry awards. Patriotism or working in the army is a passion... it is not a provision for a job," Lieutenant General Anil Puri, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs said today at a presser. "Today, 50 to 60 people come for every vacancy to be recruited and only one is selected, so we need to take the best candidate for the country. The selection process will be transparent, fair, objective and centrally maintained," he said. The DMA official highlighted that the department undergoes 80 to 100 bilateral exercises with many countries and from such engagements, it got the idea that the average age of soldiers is 26-27 years. "We are in a profession which is the profession of soldiering, this is the biggest asset of the country and whatever solution we make will be for the defense of the country," he said. Lieutenant General General Bansi Ponappa, Adjutant General, Indian Army also addressed the press conference today along with Lieutenant General Anil Puri. Lieutenant General Bansi Ponappa said, "The entire recruitment schedule is ready and the recruitment notification for the Agnipath scheme has been uploaded on the 'Join Indian Army website'." On June 17, the three chiefs of Indian Defence services hailed the decision of the Central government to approve the Agnipath Scheme, a recruitment process for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces. "The Government has announced Agnipath scheme under which youth will be able to join armed forces. The age criteria will be 17.5 to 21 years. Happy to announce that for the first recruitment, the upper age limit has been revised to 23 years. It will benefit the youth. Air Force recruitment will begin on June 24," the Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said in a virtual address on Friday. Agnipath Scheme, which was approved by the cabinet on June 14, was launched in an effort to bring a change in the recruitment process of the Armed Forces. With the new military recruitment scheme facing criticism, the Centre has decided to bring a change in the upper age limit for recruiting Agniveers. Granting a one-time waiver, the Centre on June 16, 2022, announced that the Agniveer upper age limit for recruitments via Agnipath Scheme has been extended to 23 years from 21 years.Indian Air Force also appreciated the government for increasing the upper age limit to 23 from 21 for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme for the year 2022. COVID-19 halted the Army's recruitment for over two years. In 2019-2020, the Army recruited jawans and there has been no entry since then. On the other hand, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force had both recruited in the last two years respectively. The Ministry of Defence, in its statement on last Tuesday, said that the Agnipath scheme has been designed to enable a youthful profile of the Armed Forces. It will provide an opportunity to the youth who may be keen to don the uniform by attracting young talent from the society who are more in tune with contemporary technological trends and plough back skilled, disciplined and motivated manpower into the society. (ANI)
At a time when differences have arisen between rival groups and calls made for single leadership in the party, senior leaders of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Monday inspected arrangements at a private hall in Chennai's Vanagaram for holding a crucial party general body meeting on June 23. The leaders who inspected arrangements were AIADMK party's deputy coordinator KP Munuswamy, former Ministers CV Shanmugam, Thangamani, Velumani, RP Udayakumar, Dindigul Srinivasan, Senkottaiyan, Vijayabaskar, Benjamin, Talawai Sundaram, AIADMK Deputy General Coordinator Cellur Raju, Kadampur Raju, Natham Viswanathan and Kamaraj. Soon after the inspection, Munuswamy spoke to the media and said that AIADMK general council meeting will be held on June 23 as per the schedule. The party hasn't received any letter from O Paneerselvam (OPS) asking it to adjourn the meeting. As all the inter-party elections are over, the district Secretaries' meeting was held on June 14, the general committee should be convened immediately and the approval should be obtained and sent to the Election Commission, he said. "It was OPS who spoke as they could hold this meeting without special invitees and then convene another meeting. He was the one who approved the resolutions to be passed in the general assembly," he added. He further said that volunteers from all towns are eager to have this general assembly meeting, and to know whether there will be a resolution on a single leadership or not. The steps to bring the party back to power will be taken up at the meeting. The general committee is empowered and all the members of the committee have written a letter to hold this general committee meeting as planned, he said. "So of course, the general body meeting will be held in which the AIADMK coordinator OPS will participate for sure and the coordinator will all be bound by the decisions made in the meeting," he said. Meanwhile, former AIADMK Minister D Jayakumar said that the meeting General council meeting will be held on Thursday defiantly and also confirmed that he is in support of Edappadi K Palanisamy (EPS). "The General Council meeting will happen for sure on June 23. Most of the party members want single leadership and 99 per cent of them are supporting EPS. I am also in favour of EPS," he added. Last week, amid controversy over the issue of single leadership in AIADMK between party coordinator O Paneerselvam (OPS) and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palanisamy (EPS), the former held an "individual meeting" with his supporters and district secretaries at the party office here. Outside the party office, OPS and EPS supporters raised slogans praising their leaders and there was slogan war for a few minutes. One of the EPS supporters was allegedly attacked by the OPS supporters all of sudden and he left the party office immediately. There was a poster war too between OPS and EPS supporters all over Chennai on the single leadership issue. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court recently refused to grant interim protection from arrest to a person accused of confining a woman for a long time and raping her along with his friend. It is also alleged that the accused had got married to the victim by threatening to make her video and photos viral. The accused is absconding. His first bail plea has been dismissed by the lower court on May 31, 2022. A vacation bench of Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta refused to grant interim protection from arrest. Justice Mendiratta observed, "It cannot be ignored that the allegations have been made against the petitioner as well as co-accused, whereby they are alleged to have repeatedly committed forcible sex with the complainant. Considering the facts and circumstances, the gravity of offence and nature of allegations, no grounds for interim protection are made out at this stage." The bench took note of an observation made by the lower court while dismissing the bail, "As per the FIR the complainant was allured by the applicant to fall in love with him and thereafter, got conducted forcible physical relation with her under the threat of making viral her obscene photographs clicked by him. Thereafter the applicant forced her to solemnize their marriage with him under threat of making her obscene video viral. Thereafter, they remained in a room where he used to commit repeated forcible and unnatural sex with her. " The bench also noted, "In February 2022 the applicant, as well as his co-accused both, had done forcible sex with her under drunken condition several times. In her statement under section 164 Cr.P.C., she corroborated the version." The counsel for the petitioner had argued that the FIR has been lodged by the complainant after a delay of three months. He also submitted a consent letter in which she admitted that the marriage was voluntary. The counsel had also placed reliance on the photographs and WhatsApp messages to contend that prior to parting, the complainant and the applicant had been living happily as husband and wife. The additional public prosecutor and Investigation officer submitted that the accused applicant is not co-operating in the investigation and is still absconding. A non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) against the accused has already been got issued on May 27, 2022. Custodial interrogation of the accused is necessary and if granted bail, he may dissuade the complainant. This matter pertains to an FIR registered at Police station Binda Pur, Delhi. Now the matter has been listed on July 25 before the concerned bench. (ANI)
The CRPF personnel were part of a road opening party when they came under attack around 2.30 pm.

The troops of 19 Battalion CRPF were deployed for a road opening party near Sahajpani village under Boden police station in Naupada when they were attacked.

The deceased CRPF troops have been identified as Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Shishupal Singh (Uttar Pradesh), ASI Shivlal and constable Dharmendra Singh (both Haryana).

"The troops retaliated forcing the Maoists to flee," the CRPF said. (ANI)
Emphasising that the Agnipath scheme will not be rolled back and was not a knee-jerk reaction, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had shown the political will to bring about major change in recruitment to give armed forces a youthful profile. In an exclusive interview with ANI, he said security is not only thinking about the present generation but also about the future generations and the Prime Minister has got the clarity of vision and ability to take decisions. Referring to protests over the Agnipath recruitment scheme, he said there are "conflict entrepreneurs" with vested interests who are behind the protests over the scheme. "There is no question of any rollback. This is not a knee-jerk reaction. This has been discussed for decades. In the 1970s, we had the General Krishna Rao Committee of which General Sundarji, General Chhibber were members. They talked about reforming the Army, including the manpower policy, technology and others. Then there was the Arun Singh report in 1989 and then there was a Group of Ministers report...every time it was being felt... there was Subrahmanyam Committee report, the Kargil Committee report... All these consistently had a refrain go for a younger Army. But there was a problem. While everybody realized that it was necessary, no one had the will and ability to take the risk," Doval said. Citing an example of the UPA government, he said that the Ministry of Defence wrote a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2006 that they were thinking of implementing if CPMFs (central para-military forces) will be able to take some retiring people (from defence forces). Doval said Home Ministry gave a reply that they are forming a committee under the DG BSF to examine the matter but that committee's "report has never been seen by anyone". Citing a lack of political will, he said the then Defence Minister never sent a reminder. "The letter was sent in 2006 and the committee was formed in 2007. It was political will. It is such a big problem, it is such a mass, who will dare getting into it and bringing about the change." Doval said PM Modi visualises what happens to the Indian Army 15 years from now. "It (the change) can only happen with a leader like PM Modi, who will say that if this is in the national interest, if this will make India stronger and secure, then no risk is big enough, then no cost is high enough. Even if it is a political cost, I will pay it because he visualises what happens to the Indian Army 15 years from now," he said. "Security is not only thinking about your generation, also about the future generations, You will have an army which has been recruited and selected and manned by people who have got the highest level of fitness, agility, training, and capabilities. They would be manning it. There will be civil society in which there will be thousands of people who are there to bring about the change, they will be catalysts of change," he added. Asked if PM Modi has the defence forces and the bureaucracy with him to bring about reforms, he said the Prime Minister "has got the clarity of vision and he has got ability to take decisions". "He is very right in telling that all status quoits will have some doubts, some genuine fears. It requires certain clarity. There is a lot of clutter and confusion and to take it out, you need a very clear-headed leadership. When he is clear-headed, people down the line also become clear-headed. Probably the earlier regimes created a muddle because they themselves were not clear what did they want, what transformation they want to bring about and what is the cost and are they prepared to pay that cost." He said Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, who died in a helicopter accident, was also involved in the reforms aimed at making defence forces more youthful. Doval said there was total commitment to bring about change in the form of Agnipath scheme and they resolved the doubts. "I think it has been going on for the last three years that we have been deliberating and thinking...large number of meetings on this and others, smallest points, detail have been gone into and there is total support, total commitment, total desire and also enthusiasm about bringing about this change. The doubts were in our minds also. We resolved those doubts, we tried to find out how we can minimise that, how we can mitigate the possible threats and dangers," Doval added. The "transformative" Agnipath scheme, announced by Union Minister Rajanath Singh on June 14, in the presence of the three service chiefs provides for the recruitment of into the armed services of youth between 17-and-a-half-years to 21 for four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them. The Centre later extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022.The Union Cabinet had also approved Agnipath scheme on June 14 and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers. The government had announced that 46,000 Agniveers to be recruited this year. It had said that the armed Forces will have "a younger, fitter, diverse profile" to face future challenges.The Indian Army issued its first notification on Monday for recruitment under Agnipath scheme Doval said in terms of manpower, India must have a young, agile, fit and well-trained army. "It is a contradiction, a paradox that a country with one of the youngest populations has the oldest army. By 2030, it is predicted that over 50 per cent of our population will be under the age of 25 years in India. In this country, the average age of the armed forces is one of the highest in the world. We cannot afford that..India has a young population which needs to reflect in the armed forces also." He said over the last eight years, a lot of structural and systematic changes have taken place and referred to Defence Cyber Agency, developments related to satellite technology, modern equipment, and new assault rifles. He said Agniveers will never constitute the whole army. "Those Agniveers who become regulars eventually will undergo intensive training, acquire experience over a period of time." Doval said when PM Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, one of his prime priorities was how to make India secure and strong. "That required many avenues, many steps - multitude of them. Broadly speaking, they come under the four heads. It requires equipment, it requires change in systems and structures, it requires change in technology, it requires change in manpower, policies and they have to be futuristic," he added. He said Agnipath scheme does not tinker with the concept of regiments of Indian Army. "They (regiments) will continue... The regimental system has not ended," Doval told ANI. Asked about any political element involved in protests against the Agnipath scheme, he said, "FIRs have been lodged, accused identified, after due probe we can say who were the forces behind it". "An investigation must be done and thoroughly so." Asked about the inability of the police to prevent violence and arson during protest in some states, Doval agreed that there was a need of police reforms also. The NSA said there are people with concerns about the Agnipath scheme whose "fear of unknown" is getting addressed but there is another group which does "not care for the country or security of the nation" and resorts to violence and damage to public property. "There is another group. They do not care for the country or the security of the nation. They are conflict entrepreneurs. They want a conflict in society. These are the people who will go for stone-throwing, demonstrations, burning trains. They are with a vested interest. Whenever they have an opportunity they think they can mislead the people," he added. "I think that the protests, raising your voice is justified and is permitted in a democracy. But this vandalism, this violence is not permitted and will not be tolerated at all," Doval said. Noting that Agniveers will have secure future, Doval said they have age as an asset and do not need to worry about anything. He said there will be a plethora of opportunities for Agniveers in a rapidly growing economy which will become USD 5 trillion in the coming years. "We must have a fit, agile, young and well-trained Army. Those Aginiveers who will be regularised will go through more training and become experienced over time. So Indian Army at any point of time will have a large number of people who though recruited as Agniveers but are specially selected for their suitability, fitness, agility motivation and aptitude," he said. On Pakistan, Doval said, "We can't have peace & war at the choice of our adversary. If we've to protect our interests, then we will decide when and with whom and on what terms we will have peace. We have good relations with our neighbours including Pakistan. We would like to have normal relations with Pakistan but the certainly tolerance threshold for terrorism is very low." On Jammu and Kashmir, Doval said post-2019, the mood of the people has changed. "They are not in favour of Pakistan and terrorism anymore. Where is Hurriyat today? Where are all the bandhs? There are a few individuals who are misled and are getting into this. We are doing our best to persuade them. Their families are making efforts." On the ongoing impasse with China in Eastern Ladakh, Doval said, "We have got a long-pending territorial dispute with China. We have made our intention clear to China. They know we will not tolerate any transgression. There have been some unsavoury incidents. We have been able to resolve some issues through talks and negotiations. A few points still remain. We will continue our efforts. At the same time, we have to ensure we are vigilant and are able to protect our borders." In his message to the youth regarding the Agnipath scheme, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday said they should remain positive, have faith in the country's leadership as also themselves. He said people join the armed forces not just for money but for their patriotism and a feeling of what they can do for the country. He said the scheme is not for those who do not have such feelings. "As far as the message for the youth is concerned, one thing is clear, nobody is working in the armed forces just for money. People work with the spirit of enthusiasm. People work for the nation. People invest their energies for the nation," he said. "In this scheme, it is important to have the right skill set, training and physical fitness. But what is more important is the ideology behind pursuing a career in this field. The youth, who wish to become Agniveers should be positive, have faith in the nation, the leadership, the society and also in yourself," he added. The NSA laid stress on the youth having self-confidence. "Swami Vivekananda used to say that an atheist is the one who does not believe in any religion. Our 'new religion' says that atheist is the one who does not believe in himself, herself," he said. The NSA noted that no avenue is closed or debarred from Agniveers and they will have second career."Plus, Agniveers will have around Rs 11 lakh cash, they can join any course of their choice. They can go to University. They can acquire technical skills. So they will have a second career. Earlier people talk about one life and two careers. But now its one life and three careers," he said. "After four years of service, the training, discipline, background and the Army career, they (Agniveers) will have high stature in the society. On top of it there are several announcements by the government and several ministries for the absorption of Agniveers," he added. (ANI)
On the occasion of the eighth International Day of Yoga (IDY), Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw performed yoga at the magnificent Konark Sun Temple in Odisha. More than 2500 people from various Central government organizations, students of various schools and Colleges along with Yoga experts participated in the Yoga celebrations. Addressing the participants, Vaishnaw said that regular Yoga practice helps to stay energetic and have a strong immune system. "Yoga is an ancient high ascetic practice originated in India that combines physical, mental and spiritual pursuits to achieve harmony of the body and mind. There are numerous benefits of practising yoga which lead to humanity," he added. Remembering Swami Vivekananda who introduced the culture, tradition and heritage of the country to the whole world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced Yoga to humanity. In 20114, United Nations General Assembly decided to celebrate the International Day of Yoga which was implemented worldwide on June 21, 2015. Prime Minister graced the occasion through video conferencing from Karnataka's Mysuru and addressed the nation. PM Modi also appealed to the whole world to practice Yoga so that inherent humanity will be built up. This year International Day of Yoga has fallen in the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" year for which the Ministry of AYUSH has planned to observe the International Day of Yoga at 75 iconic locations across India which will also help in branding India on a global scale. The theme for this year's IDY 2022 was "Yoga for Humanity" as it depicted how during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering and in the emerging post-COVID geo-political scenario too, bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over. Focusing on Yoga for Humanity, special programmes have been designed this year for specially-abled people, the transgender population, women and children. Human values that are an integral part of yoga education in schools are also in focus. Later, Vaishnaw inspected Puri Railway Station and reviewed the proposed developmental works as a world-class station which will be constructed very soon. Briefing the media, the minister informed that, Railway is taking necessary steps to accommodate pilgrims during the ensuing Car Festival (Rath Yatra). As Rath Yatra was organized without pilgrims for the last two years due to Covid 19 protocols, Railway expects much more pilgrims will be gathered at Puri, this year. The railway is also planning to run special trains to and from Puri. (ANI)
On international Yoga day, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said that Yoga should be a part of one's lifestyle, as it keeps one fit not only physically, but also mentally. While speaking to ANI and stressing on health benefits of yoga, he said, "Yoga should be a part of lifestyle, it keeps you fit not only physically, but also mentally." He further said, "Everyone understands the benefits of yoga people should come forward to make it a movement." He added," People understand and are aware of the benefits of Yoga and therefore, they want to come forward and they should also make it an international movement." AIIMS Delhi also organised an exhibition on research in Yoga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the 8th International Yoga Day celebration by participating in a Mass Yoga Demonstration involving thousands of participants at Mysuru Palace Ground in Mysuru, Karnataka. Addressing the event at Mysuru, Prime Minister said, "Yoga brings peace to our society, nations, world and Yoga brings peace to our universe. I extend my greetings to all on this 8th International Yoga Day. Today, Yoga is being practised in all parts of the world. The peace from Yoga is not only for individuals, it brings peace to our nations and the world." He further added, "This whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us. And, Yoga makes us conscious of everything within us and builds a sense of awareness." (ANI)